2013-06 Sydney (1)

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lena Peacock

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Gillard’s 457 rhetoric needs to tone down

PAWAN LUTHRA

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Vivek Trivedi

02 9262 1766

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Nitika Sondhi

02 9279 2004

DESIGN

Danielle Cairis

Proud member of:

www.indianlink.com.au

Since the beginning of this year, there has been increasing focus on why Australia needs to curb issuing 457 visas. Comments such as ‘Foreigners are taking Australian jobs’ and ‘There must be more jobs for Australian workers’ are being bandied about. It seems that this rhetoric is not only a class divide for votes by a desperate Gillard government but also benefits the factions in the union movement to whom Prime Minister Gillard is beholden. Most of the comments which have followed these assertions do not balance out. In fact, all they do is feed in to the lowest common denominator in the masses.

The Indian Australian community is more exposed to a backlash due to the events in the recent past with the students’ crises etc.

Let’s look at the facts. The number of 457 visas issued in 2003-2004 was about 39,000 which grew to 110,000 in 2007 just as the Howard government left office. With the GFC hitting Australia,

the number of 457 visas issued fell to 67,000 in 2009-2010 but has recently grown to 125,070. According to recent statistics, there are about 140,000 baby boomers retiring every year and with the economy growing by about 1% every year, an additional 120,000 new jobs are being created. Anyone using simple mathematics can work out that there is a gap of 260,000 currently in the job sector, of which the majority are filled by local job applicants, with the rest of about 125,000 being filled by 457 visa holders.

Do note that 457 visas are issued to fill a gap in the skilled work place in the economy. If this was not undertaken, the flow-on effects to the rest of the economy will mean a contraction in growth of the economy and less job opportunities.

One of the highest nominated 457 visas in the last eleven months, are for cooks. About 1,930 visas were granted. As the cooks settle in to their new jobs, they help build up a whole host of related jobs - waiters, cleaning staff, counter staff, produce handlers, transport, delivery staff etc. The ripple effect of the job creation adds activity and wealth to the economy.

The IT sector which is much maligned by PM Gillard and her Labor colleagues

is an area where a large number of Indian migrants are employed. That is because there are just not enough local skills available to meet the local demand.

According to figures released by the Australian Computer Society, it takes up to 247 days in the local market to fill a job position. In 2003, under the Howard government, there were 9,000 students studying in ICT fields; in 2010, under the Labor Rudd government with Julia Gillard as the Education minister, the student numbers had dropped to 4,293. This is at a time when 12,000 new jobs are being created, even last year in this sector. Rather than to malign this sector and the foreign workers employed in it, a large number of those who are Indians, perhaps there needs to be acknowledgement, and maybe even appreciation of their contribution to the local economy. But to expect this from a government which is a battering ram for the unions, pigs might fly earlier than this.

It is time for the true leaders in the Indian Australian community to step up to the plate, take issue with the Labor Party and tell them to tone down their rhetoric.

Pawan Luthra is the current Parliament of NSW Multicultural Journalist of the Year.

Sujith Krishnan, Christopher Cyrill, Sanjiv Dubey, Sudha Natarajan, Farzana Shakir, Priyanka Tater, Preeti Thadani, Minal Khona, Noel G De Souza, Mohan Dhall, Hasnain Zaheer, Chitra Sudarshan, Nima Menon, Petra O’Neill, Nance Jade Althiya, Ruchi Lamba

SPIRITUAL

Gopa Kuteeram

4th Sun of every month

4pm-5:30pm

The Global Organisation for Divinity runs free spiritual educational classes for children aged 4-12 years. Crestwood Community Centre, Crestwood Drive, Baulkham Hills. Parents can join in the devotional lecture by Sri Deepak Vinod. Classes are also being run in Liverpool.

Baulkham Hills

Details: Jayashree on 02 9620 4676. Liverpool details: Deepak Vinod 0422 127 956.

Chinmaya Mission activities

Classes

Shishu Vihar

Classes for children between the age of 2- 4.5 years, tailored to increase love and bonding between parent and child. Vedanta

Classes In Castle Hill & Epping on Wednesday nights.

Meditation Classes

10-week program at Castle Hill

Sanskrit Classes 10-week program for beginners (Course 1) and advanced students (Course 2) at Castle Hill.

Hindi Classes

Beginners level at Crestwood Community Centre, Baulkham Hills.

Details: Br Gopal Chaitanya 0416 482 149.

What’s on

Shri Shiva Mandir presents Shanidev Jayanti

Sat 8 June 11am-6:30pm

Shani Jayanti falls on Amavasya in Vaishakh month and Shani Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shanidev. Prayers are considered important to one’s prospective plans to avoid the Shani Dosham.

Abhishegam Archna $25 (11am5pm).

Shanidev Katha and Mantra Recital (5:30-6:30pm).

Shri Shiva Mandir, 201 Eagleview Road, Minto.

Details: Pt. Chetanbhai Sharma 0415 809 963.

Oonjal Sewa

Sun 23 June 10.00am-12.30pm

Sri Om Care is organising Oonjal Sewa at Sri Om Adi Sakthi Ashram, 62 Kurrajong Cres, Blacktown, with special guest H.H. Sri Om Adisakthiyendra Swamigal in attendance.

Details: Jay Raman 0410 759 906.

Gayatri Jayanti

Sun 23 June 10.00am-1.00pm

All World Gayatri Pariwar (Australia) celebrates the birth of righteous knowledge in the form of Vedmata Gayatri by conducting a nine-kund Gayatri yagya (hawan).

Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 1/44 Bessemer St Blacktown.

Details: Neeraj Ram 0405 777 539.

Lecture Series

10-14 June 7.30pm-9.00pm

Spirit of India NSW (Inc) announces a series of spiritual discourses entitled The Secret to Eternal Happiness (The Art of Managing Stress), to be delivered by Shri MK Angajan, based on the scripture Sadhana Panchakam by Adi Shankaracharya. Gujarati Community Centre, 12 Good St, Granville. Free admission.

Medical Health Organisation. NIDA Theatre, 215 Anzac Parade, Kensington.

Cost: $28-55

Details: www.mayaarts.com.au

MISC

Sydney Sakhi Sangam’s Teej function

Sun 14 July 11am-onward

Details: Suresh 0412 202 182

STAGE

Soorya Festival of Dance and Music

Sun 7 July

A fund-raising event for Sydney Ayyappa Temple, at Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby St Silverwater. Program includes Katahka, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam dances.

Details: Renga Rajan 0448 757 785.

Maya - Youth in Performing Arts

About a Brown - The Musical

Fri 12 July 8pm & Sat 13 July 3pm & 7pm

This production aims to encompass the day to day lives and idiosyncrasies of second generation youth with a sub-continental cultural heritage in a stage musical with live orchestra and dance ensembles. All proceeds will be donated to the International

This is their 15th year commemorating Indian women and their friendships.

Details: Nandini 0423 684 340, Sushma 0411 967 374.

Hindu Council of Australia opportunities available

Hindu Council of Australia invites expression of interests from anyone who wishes to expand their horizons and get involved with one of the biggest community events of Sydney. These are voluntary positions.

Details: Raman Bhalla 0401 057 224 or www.hinducouncil.com.au

Apply: info@deepavali.com.au

Osoniqs Samadhi

Sat 8 June 5:30pm-7pm

Osoniqs Samadhi is a process of deep relaxation and energy awakening through  music and sonic vibrations. The sound of instruments like the Sansula and Tibetan bowls will

help you release stress and the melodic overtones of the Hang will help you to reconnect with your natural state of ease and recharge your energy field.

Manly Yoga, 27 Pittwater Rd, Manly.

Details: Prabhu 0403 07 04 68.

Seniors Day Care Centre, Baulkham Hills

Sri Om Foundation is planning to open a Day Centre at Baulkham Hills early Aug 2013 for those resident in Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills and Cherrybrook areas. This will cater to all frail aged seniors aged from 70 and above. Structured programs for the frail aged will be organised. Sessions will be in one of the council facilities and Pick Up and Drop Off from home have been organised. Admission is limited.

Details: Shweta 0405 367 238.

Exhibition: A Tender Heart 22 June – 4 July Sydney photographer Katy Fitzgerald presents her images of India at ArtHere, 126 Regent Street, Redfern. She recently spent 5 months working and travelling in India. Funds raised from the exhibition will go towards Tender Heart School for disadvantaged children in Bhatola near Delhi, where Katy volunteered.

Details: Sandy Edwards 0402 112 755.

New BAPS mandir sanctified

for the community on the same hallowed premises sanctified by Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Eleanor Street in Rosehill. With the main phase of construction work coming to an end, the new mandir was opened and occupied on May 12, following a Vedic puja ceremony in the presence of BAPS sadhus, Jnanpurush Swami and Adarshmuni Swami. An assembly was also held to thank and appreciate the efforts of devotees and well-wishers who helped in the making of this mandir

Present at the opening of the mandir were a host of state government officials and prominent members of the Indian community. Congratulating the congregation Dr Geoff Lee, State MP for Parramatta said, “What a wonderful contribution the BAPS Mandir and the community makes to this area”.

Dr Lee, in whose electorate the mandir is located, also acknowledged the contribution that Indian migrants make to Australia, and thanked volunteers for their contribution.

“The BAPS Mandir here is the most organised group of volunteers that we have,” he added. Also present among the guests

were Mr John Chedid, Lord Mayor of Parramatta, who echoed Dr Lee’s sentiments, and Mr Peter Wood, Principal of Rosehill Public School, where Sunday Satsang assemblies were held during the reconstruction phase

of the mandir. Reciprocating devotees’ feelings of goodwill towards the school, Mr Wood said, “I want to congratulate you on this fantastic facility for our local community, because we are all here servicing our local community

and working together, and can I say we’ve had a great partnership”.

The mandir features a prayer hall, dining area and activity rooms for children and youth. This new complex will now be used to celebrate major Hindu festivals and

accommodate a range of social and spiritual activities.

to take place in early 2014.

The new temple’s facade

Temple priests with invited dignitaries (top row)

The sanctification ceremony (this row)

The sanctification ceremony

Cultural show

The Mvandir Murti Pratishtha (idol installation) ceremony is expected

Yogi Savania

Natasha Malani: Politics my way

Meet a politician who is equally passionate about promoting Indo-Oz business interests, as creating an Indian niche in Adelaide

Her familiarity with India has led Natasha to developing private business interests centred on fostering business partnerships and links between South Australian and Indian businesses

BY AVI CHANDIOK

Some may consider humanity with politics to be a contradiction in terms, but even a short while spent with Natasha Malani gives one the impression that it may not be so, after all! A welcoming smile and an engaging manner followed as we talked in her office, set in the grandeur of the Adelaide Town Hall where Natasha is a Councillor in the Adelaide City Council.

Born in Adelaide of an Indian father and Australian mother and growing up in an Englishspeaking household, Natasha does somewhat regret not having learned Hindi, her father’s language. But she is proud of being the very first female politician in local or state government in South Australia with an Indian background.

Natasha’s love affair with India started with a visit to the country in 2004 when she realised that it had triggered something, inherently filling a piece of her that seemed to be missing. Since then she has been passionately interested in India, with Mumbai feeling like a second home where she has many friends and family.

“I love the smells, the buzz and I feel very relaxed there,” says Natasha referring to Mumbai. “I realised India is the key to who I am and how I think”.

After graduating in Tourism, Natasha’s interests diversified towards professional services and advice. This, together with her familiarity with India, has led Natasha to developing private business interests centred on fostering business partnerships and links between South Australian and Indian businesses. She has been able to provide invaluable expertise in this field to the Australia India Business Council (AIBC-SA), and she is on their Committee. Her Council are looking at ways to improve bi-lateral trade with India, and one of Natasha’s initiatives is to set up space for a concept of ‘Little India’. This would bring in visitors, celebrate Indian culture and put the country on the economic radar. She is clearly serious about doing business with India.

Speaking to Natasha (38), it seems obvious that she thrives on all the challenges and activities she takes on. Often people can feel overwhelmed by their commitments, but not so with Natasha.

“The incentive has always been for me to work out what are my passions and incorporate them into a career and business. I’ve never compromised for myself in what

makes me happy,” reveals Natasha. Her passion for Adelaide, business, India and tourism are all part of her working life and I don’t think many would be able to come up with a better formula for managing their life.

Natasha’s commitment to Adelaide, the city she was born and bred in, led her into local government. Talking about politics she says, “I found something that I love with a passion. I’m quite good at understanding the process and how it works…the politics of it. There are always two sides to everything and 9 times out of 10 common-sense sits in the middle”. Her aim is to improve the wellbeing of the city.

Thus her decisions to favour developments of the Adelaide Oval, Rundle Mall and Victoria Square were all based on the premise that they would increase visitor numbers to the benefit of her council area, even though it did appear that public opposition to the projects was fairly vocal.

One of her favourite sayings is ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’ in that no matter what you plan, you need the people to go with you.

So what’s next for this confident, intelligent Councillor who loves to cook, is a staunch supporter of cyclists, plays some touch football and listens to a variety of music as she does the housework? Clearly, a second four-year-term starting

in 2014 is very much on the cards. Whether Natasha will run for a seat in State politics or even eventually join the Federal scene is too early to say. For my part, I would not bet against her moving into higher echelons. Natasha sees herself as the next generation of politicians who will be handed the reins of looking after the welfare of Adelaide. But then as she says her love of her business interests also needs to be kept in mind.

As we near the end of our conversation, Natasha reverts back to her father and his influence on her. “My father had an extraordinary life and I constantly reflect on what he achieved,” she says. “My Indian heritage has been a big driver in my success and I owe so much of that to him”.

I present Natasha with this quote from Barack Obama: “A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things”.

She turns thoughtful and replies in a slow and measured tone. “So many people make a contribution to this country. I see myself as a do-er; I see myself as someone not necessarily happy with the status quo, and I see myself as someone who can make a difference. I think I would be unhappy not to give all of what I am capable of,” she says with conviction.

One can’t ask for more. I think we may well have this sort of ‘ordinary’ person in our midst!

Natasha’s love affair with India started with a visit to the country in 2004 when she realised that it had triggered something, inherently filling a piece of her that seemed to be missing

Tabla man

An Australian musician has an evergreen passion for an Indian classical instrument

BY

Despite his humble upbringing in rural Australia, Sam Evans has carved a niche for himself in the realm of Indian classical music in Melbourne and beyond, with his instrument of choice being the tabla.

Sam has always had a fascination for drums from a very early age and has travelled the world for the sole purpose of discovering a percussion instrument that would electrify him. After extensive trips to Africa and different parts of Europe, Sam had his eureka moment in Varanasi when he spotted someone playing the tabla, and since then there’s been no looking back.

“I always wanted to excel at something and the tabla is what I’ve chosen to be good at,” he says.

Sam lived in India for nearly a decade, during which he learnt to play the tabla from renowned Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Armed with a Bachelors, Honours and Masters Degrees in music performance on this instrument, he has performed live on Indian and Australian television, written music for documentaries and has performed on both national and international radio. He continues his stellar career, performing with a variety of bands at international jazz and world music festivals.

In Melbourne, Sam performs solo at tabla concerts and plays with a number of traditional Indian ensembles. He has also toured with internationally acclaimed Indian classical guitarist Debasis Chakroborty in both Australia and India, with whom he has released the album Charukeshi

Apart from his music commitments, Sam launched the Melbourne Tabla School in Hawthorn in 2007 and currently has about 50 students from all age groups. Additionally, he holds lectures on Indian and world music, as well as running a program on Indian rhythms at Monash University.

So when did it dawn upon him that he could make a living playing the tabla? “I started to learn the

instrument when I was 19, and there came a time when some people from the audience would ask me if I was willing to teach their children. It was due to this demand that the tabla school came into existence,” the livewire musician reveals.

Having watched Sam perform at concerts, one must admit that he brings a lot of fun and energy to his performances. “It’s a reflection of my personality and comes naturally to me,” he adds. “Also, we need to enjoy and have fun when we learn something, otherwise there’s no point in learning it”.

Being proficient in the classical genre, Sam believes that Indian classical music is in safe hands, despite the advent of technology

With 37 years of experience inherited through family with reputation of helping people all over the world.

therefore I strongly believe that I can solve your problems in the quickest way. Are you suffering from influence, blockage, unknown diseases or unhappy situations that you cannot get out of it. If so, then do not hesitate to contact me Mr Habib who can solve all of your problems within 7 nights especially Sexual problems, or

in music. “Ten years ago I would’ve thought Indian classical music was on the wane but since opening the tabla school in Melbourne, I am surprised by the number of people still very keen to learn the tabla extensively,” he says. “Moreover, learning to play an instrument is beautiful just like the fascination to read and write or learn a new language. It was Pandit Ravi Shankar who modified the elaborate traditional music structures of Indian classical music in America, and adapted it to suit the modern society we live in where everything is expected to be instant and immediate. So, Indian classical music has adapted very well and will never die,” he adds vehemently.

The versatile Sam is also part

of popular Melbourne-based band Fine Blue Thread that is steeped in the genre of world music. He adds, “our target audience is limited but we are now working on an album throwing in elements of pop, yet retaining our world music sound.” Their last album, Red Mountain, received rave reviews in Australia and Europe, and one of the tracks from the album was featured on a world music CD compiled by the BBC titled A Beginners Guide to the music of India alongside compositions by legends such as Ravi Shankar, Nitin Sawhney and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

With a ceaseless desire to improve, the motivation to play the tabla after nearly 20 years comes naturally to Sam. “I don’t consider myself an expert yet and am still learning. I just want to keep going forward as there’s so much more for me to explore with this instrument,” he says.

As for the future, Sam is showing no signs of slowing down. He says, “I am almost through with writing a book on tabla notations primarily for the western audience which should be published soon. I hope to do a PhD in a few years’ time, and I want to see the tabla school grow into a few more outlets spread across Melbourne. Also, I would love to continue to explore different music genres with the tabla”.

He has also written a chapter on world music and the tabla in the Oxford Handbook of Music Education, which was released this year.

SUJITH KRISHNAN

Sam Evans

457visasfor Fast Food business (Pizzas,Burgers, SandwichesSubmarines,etc.)

Free Visa Advice & Assessment* for Students & their Employers

Course Admissions (Australia wide), Student Visas, Work/ Sponsorship Visas (457s, RSMS, ENS), Partner Visa, Family Visa, Tribunal Appeals & Waivers, General Skilled Migration. Our clients are our best spokespeople:

• Thank you so much for help. It was so quick & fast…Thank you again. – R.I., Potts Point, NSW (Student to 457 Visa)

• I really appreciate your professionalism as well as high level of commitment throughout the application process. I would without hesitation recommend to anyone to make use of your experience & comprehensive knowledge. Once again thank you so much for everything it means a lot to me & my family. – Rima Vyas, Strathfield, NSW (SC485 to PR)

• I felt helpless before I came to Mr. Ramneek but the way he responded & supported was beyond expectation. – H. Shah, Strathfield (MRT to 457 Visa)

• Ramneek brings in vast knowledge & experience of having worked many numbers of years in this industry to each case he takes up. This added with absolute professionalism & his responsiveness makes him one of the best in this industry. Ramneek brought all of these qualities to bear in my case to ensure that case was represented rightly with a successful outcome after stalling for almost 2 years prior to him taking the case up. – Alex, IT Manager, Sydney (SC 457 to PR)

• Thanks for handling my Partner Visa case extremely well with section 48 on our application...we got the grant of permanent visa in less than 10 days. – Priyanka, Parramatta

• If you want excellent customer service & prompt responses to any of your questions, then TGLT is your stop. Highly professional & friendly migration agent!! – Mrs. Michele Elkan, Shizam Enterprises Pty Ltd, Brisbane

• I am really happy with the services. He handled my case very well. – R. Kaur (Student Visa to 457), Echuca, Victoria.

• Ramneek helped me to sponsor couple of employees on 457 visa for my business...was extremely professional, always available & provided necessary info. We appreciate his work & would recommend him to anyone. – Navjas Pty Ltd, North Ryde, NSW

• We applied our 457 visa with the help of Ramneek & we got our visa in less than 4 weeks. – Bandhana Rani, (Student Visa to 457), Echuca, Victoria.

• Very courteous & attentive service. I had a few issues for my visa due to time restrictions but it was handled very professionally & without a glitch…great customer service & professionalism. Thank you for all your extended help & efforts, highly appreciated. – S.M. Athar (SC 457 visa), Windsor, NSW

• He knows exactly what is required & gets the results. I would recommend all to take his services. Thank you. – Pujan Sheth (485 to 457 Visa)

• For all your hard work you done & your timing advice, really helped me in getting my PR…thanking you from bottom of my heart. - K. Singh, Glenmore Park, NSW.

• I withdrew (my) first 457 visa application…& I got it the second time with Ramneek’s help. Thank you so much. – C. Koppela, Homebush, NSW

• Ramneek, handled our matter in a very professional way…was precise with what he wanted…his knowledge is deep & accurate. I felt very comfortable. – Shree Ram Pty Ltd, Lidcombe, NSW

• Because of his sound knowledge & experience, my 457 has been approved within 2 weeks. I would highly recommend. – R. Gaur, Bikaner

• Many thanks for acting promptly when needed. – K. Patel, 457 Sponsor, Sydney

• Thanks for the efforts you put in for this achievement. – T. Kaur & N. Singh (SC 475 to PR)

• I consulted couple of agents & was very disappointed as they were very much sure that there is no 457 & I was not eligible for that. This is a special note for thanking Mr. Ramneek for helping me throughout my 457 visa process. – M. Ramakrishna Jeksani, Homebush, NSW

• We were hopeless after our initial application was mismanaged. Now I got it successfully within 4 weeks my grant which was done skilfully without any questions from case officer, Thank you Ramneek. – S. Kola (SC 457 visa to PR), Liverpool, NSW

• Has understanding of the system & very helpful. He is reachable & responds to the queries very well. – Narendra Gupta (SC 457 to PR), Ashfield, NSW

• Everyone thought that I won’t get my 457 visa....thank you for making my application successful. – S. Rao, Casino NSW

• You have been excellent in handling our case & all its difficulties including my daughter who has already turned 19. – K. Sanyasi (457 visa), Warwick Farm

• Thanks lot for my sponsor (457) visa. It didn’t look possible, but I got it finally with Ramneek’s help & guidance. – Kiran Kumar Patel, Harris Park, NSW

• My 457 visa is granted. Thanks for the co-ordination, Ramneek Sir. – R.T., Cook, Westmead, NSW

• I was on a bridging visa...& I got my 457 visa within 28 days & without leaving Australia.

– Amandeep Kaur, Merrylands, NSW

• Everything was well planned & Systematic. Must recommend for Immigration issues.

– H. Gandhi, 457 Visa, Merrylands, NSW

• I got my 457 work-permit (from student visa) within 4 weeks. Mr. Ramneek done his work very accurately, on time, without any failure & provides perfect guidance. I am

State Sponsorship

457

very happy with his work & very thankful to him. – Chirag Patel, Kew, Victoria

• I was able to negotiate through the complicated process & retain a baker full time in my business. For 457 working visas, Mr. Ramneek Madahar’s services are highly recommended. Definitely a 5 star service. – Harry, Bakery Owner, Oatley, NSW

• We really appreciate Mr. Ramneek’s support for my 457 visa application. He was very organized & prompt, which we believe lead to successful & quick outcome even though we are a newly established company without much financial result. – H. Uzumasa, Penshurst, NSW

• I sincerely appreciate the time you spent reviewing my case as it became complicated due to time frames. Your advice was very helpful & gave me a new hope. Finally, I got my PR. Thank you so much for your help. – Vikas, Homebush, NSW

• Ramneekbhai, thank you so much for your help. I got my 457 visa… excellent service, thanks.

– Krushnakumar Patel, Parramatta, NSW

• Ramneek Sir handled my SC 190 visa & I got approval within 4 weeks of lodgement. I acknowledge my deepest thanks for his fabulous work- A. Shah, Perth

• I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ramneek Sir for his well done work in getting my PR.

– M. Marediya, Perth, WA

• Has impressed me with the accuracy of his guidance & the time frames he gave us for our (Sponsorship/457) applications were spot on. I personally recommend anyone to use his services.

– Sana Glass Pty Ltd., Lansvale

• Thank you very much for your support while organizing the sponsorship application for our employee. We are very pleased with your work ...will confidently recommend you & your company to our business partners & friends. – Vaucluse Auto Repairs P/L., Vaucluse, NSW

• Initially, I was a bit doubtful whether my company will get the (457) sponsorship or not because mine is a small company. Thank you very much for your hard work & guidance. – Prime Partners Pty Ltd, Casino, NSW

• Ramneek handled my sponsored migration visa with precision of a surgeon. I reckon, my application’s short processing times was owing to Ramneek’s immaculate understanding of the process, sharp eye for details in reviewing documents & presentation of the case. The first check list for submission that was customized for my professional background & situation) that Ramneek provided served as the ultimate guide in assembling the application. All my queries were answered in less than 24 hours. Such professionalism & efficiency made my visa process a breeze… highly recommended for anyone serious about his/her immigration plans.

– V. Srivastava, Melbourne, VIC

• Thanks for the effort taken in securing Ganga’s work (457) visa. I know it was a difficult case, much appreciated, thanks. – Dhaya Chandra Pty. Ltd., NSW

• Very satisfactory service provided by Mr. Ramneek Madahar regarding my visa complications.

– P. Singh, Ellenbrook, WA.

• I am really very thankful & overjoyed... lead me through the toughest situation to final success.

– N. Singh, Mohali, India.

• After 8503 (no further stay), condition waiver, my student visa was refused. Thank you Mr. Ramneek for a successful appeal at the Migration Review Tribunal without a hearing.

– P.D. Glenmore Park, NSW

• I was finally able to receive confident & correct advice in relation to my situation from Mr. Ramneek Madahar. – G. Bastola, 457 Visa, Homebush

• Thank you for your timely assistance with our restaurant sponsorship & 457 visa grant.

– CH Patel & DC Patel, Camberwell, Victoria

• Ramneek Sir has made our 457 visa 100% successful. Thank you forever.

– Shruti Shah, Merrylands, NSW

• I was a student in Australia. Mr. Ramneek helped me for a 457 visa.

– Chaudhari Prakash, Ashfield, NSW

• I was on a Bridging visa for my SC885 visa application on 110 points. Mr. Ramneek made my 457 visa possible. – C. Patel, Merrylands, NSW

• For any complex cases, to anyone who needs help in immigration... don’t worry you are in safe hands. – A.H., 457 Work Visa, Cronulla, NSW

• I sincerely recommend Mr. Ramneek’s services for immigration.

– K.K. (457 to PR), Central Coast, NSW

• Thank you Ramneek, I wish you all the best. – S. N., GSM Visa, Egypt

• Mr Ramneek Madahar, thank you very much for our PR. Your efforts are appreciated & thanks for looking after my case. – D. Patel, Business Skills, Melbourne, Victoria

• I am thankful to Ramneek for my permanent settlement in Australia.

– Vikas, GSM, Parramatta, NSW

• I applied for Regional - SC119 visa under the DRC… Mr. Madahar has handled my application very well. – Vijaya, Bourke, NSW

• Thank you Mr. Ramneek for my ENS PR under exceptional circumstances. – S. Kumar, Croydon (457 to PR), NSW

• Thank you for your support & help towards my ENS PR. – S. N. (457 to PR), Ingleburn, NSW

• I am very thankful to Ramneek Sir for his help & support for my ENS residency. I had no hopes left & was planning to go back to India with my family. – K. Shah (457 to PR), South Strathfield, NSW

The Great Learning Tree Pty Ltd

(Ramneek Madahar, RMA# 0428459)

For appointments, please call 02 9745 3106 or 0412 764 660 or email: enquiries@tglt.com.au

UNIT 6, 24-26 Morwick St., Strathfield, NSW 2135 (5 min. walk from Strathfield Station. Opp. Strathfield Recreational Club/Tennis Courts)

* Provision of complimentary advice &/or assessment for our eligible students &/or their employers is at our sole discretion.

Afghanistan archivist

William Dalrymple speaking at the SWF recounts the Britain’s botched attempt at mastering Afghanistan

BY CHRISTOPHER C YRILL

At the recently concluded Sydney Writers’ Festival, William Dalrymple, author of nine books about India and the Islamic world, including City of Djinns, Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India and White Mughals, spoke to a packed audience at the Sydney Theatre Company about his new book, The Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan

The book is the third, and arguably the best, book in Dalrymple’s history of the British in South Asia during the early and mid-19th century. He is acknowledged worldwide as the finest British historian of India. In his talk, Dalrymple described the hasty British takeover of Afghanistan in the 19th century, the First Afghan War, and the bloody defeat that soon followed.

Standing in front of a large screen onto which was projected various illustrations to the narrative he spun, Dalrymple talked fluently, if you can forgive him the odd expletive, about the first invasion of Afghanistan by the British in 1842.

Dalrymple described the first Afghan war as a battle between the two great imperial powers of the

day, Britain and Russia. The British were represented by the East India Company, and the expansion of their empire meant that they were heading up one side of the Himalayas while the expanding Russian empire was coming to meet them from the opposite side. This was the beginning of The Great Game. Or as the Russians put it, The Tournament of Shadows - a case of creating a regime as opposed to changing one, in Afghanistan, then and now a powerful strategic stronghold. He described the mid-19th century Afghanistan as a tense land of spies, deposed rulers and ambitious tribe leaders, a land of shadows.

The East India Company at the time was made up of British soldiers and French mercenaries leftover from the Napoleonic Wars, as well as adventurers and private citizens.

Dalrymple said that Afghanistan, even today, has a habit of sucking people in, people who think they can establish a friendly regime and then move away. History says otherwise, he argued. The British made a suicidal invasion of Afghanistan, taking an ill-advised route through territory they did not understand nor are equipped for. However, though half their army was lost due to snipers, malnutrition and thirst, when the British arrived in Kandahar, the prevailing rulers fled. A new order with a puppet king was installed, without a shot being fired.

But the British mismanaged everything. Through bad military strategies, disrespect and arrogance, a native insurgency began and flourished. In 1841, jihad was declared and the British lost their leaders, stores and ammunition, and were starved into surrender.

The small remaining army was marched out into the cold Afghan winter, over rough terrain where they were shot at by hill tribes, while also starving and freezing. Only one man survived to make it back to a safe British camp.

Dalrymple described this journey of 18,000 men, women and children through a wall of snipers and deprivation as the heart and soul of the book.

Dalrymple also talked the audience through the tiny occurrences in private lives, a man falling asleep on his horse inadvertently alerting the British to the approaching Russian army. He also described his travels along the route of the British Army, recalling how every villager to this

day could recount the narrative of the British defeat and the collapse of the East India Company. He also told an amazing story of the present day head of the secret Taliban police being a fan of his previous work!

Dalrymple spoke directly to the audience, prowling the stage from left to right and occasionally stopping at the podium to check his notes and finally to conclude. The illustrations he showed were mainly portraits of the key historical figures and a dozen or so depictions of the invasion and its aftermath, noting that the painters were predominately British. He had an effervescent manner and often had the audience laughing or shaking their head at the bizarre absurdities of the failed conquest. His talk went over the allocated time and there was a defeated groan from the audience when denied the opportunity to ask questions. However, his performance and the amazing parallels he had drawn between history and the ‘games’ being

Dalrymple spoke directly to the audience, prowling the stage from left to right and occasionally stopping at the podium to check his notes and finally to conclude

played in Iraq at the beginning of this century were frightening. The simple lesson from history which was not learnt by subsequent empires was, he stated, don’t meddle in Afghanistan!

Photo: Sydney Writers’ Festival

Assertive musings from mishra

Novelist Pankaj Mishra discusses the impact of Western influences on early Asian intellectuals and its current day implications

violence.

Mishra also cited the work of the late 19th century Chinese intellectual Liang Qichao, who was revered by Mao Zedong. Qichao advocated his ageing civilisation towards a kind of ‘enlightened despotism,’ after a radical break from Confucianism.

Mishra’s point was that by understanding these earlier thinkers, the West can stop seeing countries like China, akin to Cold War enemies, by understanding the imperatives these societies faced to survive. Mishra was also at pains to acknowledge the ‘huge blunders’ made by these societies, and the death and destruction caused by these blunders. He also questioned why any culture that aspired to ‘Western affluence’ is seen as a threat.

His book describes the first generations of writers and political activists, the first to be educated in Western style systems

BY CHRISTOPHER C YRILL

Indian novelist and essayist Pankaj Mishra is an articulate man with a beautiful voice, and an overriding knowledge of the ‘big’ picture of sub-continental history and politics. He is the author of previous books Butter Chicken in Ludhiana, The Romantics, An End to Suffering and Temptations of the West And he can court controversy as well. Last year he wrote a scathing review on a book called Civilization by Niall Ferguson, which created a great outcry in British literary circles. Mishra has been described as a left wing polemicist and an Asian radical, and said he expected his new book From the Ruins of Empire to receive widespread criticism as it defied conventional wisdom, but it was criticism he

welcomed.

“It obviously highlights Asian voices, which are conspicuously absent from the kind of histories that people such as Ferguson have authored, the kind of histories that have become very important in the West, though they exclude, almost entirely, some of the most important, interesting and resonant voices from Asia…” stated Mishra.

At the Sydney Writers’ Festival, the always engaging Julian Morrow from the infamous Chaser team was Mishra’s interlocutor at an event on the Wharf. Although the conversation touched on many of his previous works, Morrow was primarily concerned with the new book. Mishra has always stressed that it is the imperative of a writer to know the history of his country and region, and further, his sense of his own place in the world.

Mishra disagreed with the idea of modernisation theory which advocates that secularisation means prosperity. He also asserted that the West had not considered the intellectuals who had written

before and behind the famous names of Gandhi, Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong. His book describes the first generations of writers and political activists, the first to be educated in western style systems.

Mishra gave a short history of such an obscure figure, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, a Shia Muslim who passed himself of as a Sunni in order to wield political influence. He had been influential in making Muslims attempt to understand the workings of Western power after he had seen the ramifications of it in India. Al-Afghani foresaw the continuing weakening of Asian societies in the face of western imperialism. He “preached the necessity of reconsidering the whole Islamic position and, instead of clinging to the past, of making an onward intellectual movement in harmony with modern knowledge”. However, he was an inconsistent thinker and his hatred for the British coloured his world-view. In the end he advocated for

Mishra talked of the Japanese defeat of the Russians in 1905 as a key moment in the lives of Ataturk, Gandhi and Nehru, who received the news with a sense of ‘rapture’ because Japan had modernised to the point that it could defeat a ‘white’ country. He suggested that the West had underestimated the humiliation of non-white countries like India and China, who had been told of their inferiority. He stated that the history of modern Asia could be seen as beginning from this point.

But Mishra has also criticised those who he feels advocate a Western viewpoint saying, “In places like India, there are a number of people who think it is very important to stand with American ideologies. So I think this notion that people in the late 19th century in India, China, Turkey or Egypt were thinking of other alternatives to this Western model of politics and economy comes as a surprise to these Americanised commentators, who are either ignorant of these intellectual histories or see them as quite threatening to their own ideas about the world”.

The book has been described as “an engaging study (which) explores Asia’s intellectual response to western imperialism”.

Mishra is an engaging thinker and seemed to have genuinely challenged the mindset of the audience.

Masala FC is ready!

A multicultural team debuts with the Amateur Football Association

It’s atypical to come across Indians being part of an Aussie Rules Football team. And if it comes with an Indian name, the flavour is only accentuated. Masala FC (MFC) is a multicultural community team currently participating in the XVIII club competition organised by the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

Indian Link chatted with Trevor Banerjee, Operations Manager of MFC who works as a business and professional development coach in Melbourne. Trevor has a very positive outlook on life with loads of vigour and purpose, as was apparent in our conversation.

Having arrived in Australia 10 years ago as an international student, Trevor instantly embraced Aussie football, but at the time played the sport primarily for leisure.

“Opportunities for sport are very good in this country and I loved the fact that Aussie Rules Football offered me a platform to connect with the community,” he stated.

Masala FC is a club that came into existence in 2012. It was thanks to the Indian contingent that competed in the 2011 AFL International Cup in Melbourne, a tournament for non-Australian migrants, of which Trevor was a part. However, he gives credit to club president Ash Nugent, who is Australian, for coming up with the idea of forming a multicultural team.

“Ash and myself hit it off quite well in 2011 and when he came up with the idea of forming an AFL team I thought it was brilliant,” Trevor added. “I looked at it as an opportunity to integrate

therefore, got actively involved with administering the club”.

As for the title Masala FC, Trevor said, “Being a multicultural team we wanted a name that could encapsulate a mixture of communities and what better name than Masala!” When the club was in its infancy, it was decided to form a multicultural team in order to include players from various backgrounds, and not limit selection to just those from the subcontinent.

“The mission of our club is more than a football club, we are a social hub,” summed up Trevor.

AFL team Richmond FC, a fervent advocate of promoting the sport within the Indian community must be applauded for once

organising training equipment and players’ kits for MFC.

As of now the team is composed of eight Indians, five Sri Lankans, one each from Zimbabwe and Afghanistan and 10 Australians, but Trevor says the club is on the lookout for more players. “Sport offers a wonderful medium for people to assimilate within the community and the fact that we have welcomed two asylum seekers to be involved just goes to show how Aussie Rules helps one fit in. Moreover, we need more players and experience is not mandatory at all,” he added.

On what Australians think about MFC, Trevor says, “Some Australians have this impression of migrant communities forming their

own ghettos, completely refraining from assimilating within the community. Now I can tell them that we have an AFL team, so how much more integration do you need?”

As much as Australia wants the AFL to go global, there are some sections in society who haven’t yet come to terms with people from other backgrounds playing the game, as has been evident in recent times both on and off the field, with racial abuse being hurled towards players both at home and overseas. On this sensitive issue, Trevor vehemently comments, “We’ve only had support so far from the community. When I tell an Australian that I’m a part of an AFL team, there’s a sparkle in their eye which is priceless”.

MFC is here to stay and as a

club, they have some realistic and ambitious goals set. They hope to form a multicultural women’s team next year, along with an Aussie Kick team for children. And more importantly, they want to take the game to India for which the groundwork has already commenced. “We have contacts in India who have begun to organise coaching clinics for children in West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In the future we also hope to organise a few friendly fixtures in different parts of India to popularise the game further,” Trevor revealed.

If you’d like to be part of MFC, visit www.masalafc.com.au for further details.

Sujith Krishnan

Community cricket series thrills yet again

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Sikh Youth Sports Club register early victories

BY SANJIV DUBEY

Arecord 18 teams are participating in this year’s edition of community 20/20 cricket series which got underway recently.

The 2013 Cumberland Ford 20/20 Parramatta Cup cricket tournament, supported by Indian Link, Parramatta Park Trust and Bundu Khan, started with a note of unbelievable enthusiasm and zeal.

The series has in past years attracted cricket tragics from the subcontinent community as well as from the wider Australian community. Each winter they commit their Sundays to the tournament. Pass by the historic Parramatta Park and you will be amazed by their zeal and their energy, which is no less than that of players who represent their country. Indeed, representing their respective communities, they portray the same spirit as those that play for their country. Well known teams like Sydney Lankans and NSW Afghanistan Lions are once again part of this year’s competition.

This year again, some players are already strutting their stuff in style. Harshal Shitoot, an exRanji Trophy player representing a Blacktown side named Kings XI has already demonstrated his ability to win matches in Round 1 with an all-round performance, scoring 60 valuable runs and scalping 2 wickets for his team. Teams of the week were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

and Sikh Youth Sports Club.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is named in honour of champion cricketer turned politician Imran Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. PTI team have so far registered 2 wins out of 2 games. Azeem from PTI has shone brilliantly, scoring 117 of 50 balls including 14 sixes and 3 fours.

Sikh Youth Sports Club, last year’s winners, have also registered 2 wins out of 2 games. The team members come from all parts of India such as Punjab, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, playing regular cricket in the summer either in grade or shire cricket and have been doing well representing their nominated clubs.

Players of the week

Aziz Naibkhil from NSW Afghanistan scored the first century, followed by Taimoor Shah of Super XI Jaguars and Azeem from PTI.

We all understand that 20/20 is more of a batsman’s game but the game between Sikh Warriors and

Sydney Lankans ended in a tie. Both teams had to bowl an over to get the eventful winner and Vineetha Rajakaruna from Sydney Lankan was able to hit the stump to win a jackpot-like victory for his team against Sikh Warriors who couldn’t hit the stump in the stipulated over bowled by their bowlers.

This year’s event is aptly being managed by Sports Foundation Australia who is a leader in providing coaching and sports consultancy programs for next gen sportsmen.

Representing their respective communities, the players portray the same spirit as those that play for their country

Team HCL

Prasanth Rai of Sikh Warriors

Singhs XI batting against Cheetahs

Can’t stop the RAIN!

Tributes, new resources and ministerial visits keep RAIN members busy

Minister’s visit to the group

Ms Julie Collins (MP, Minister for Community Services, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and Minister for the Status of Women) visited RAIN recently. Organised by Federal MP for Banks Mr Daryl Melham, Ms Collins and Mr Melham were offered a traditional welcome by seniors. The function was well attended by representatives from community services in the region, along with the RAIN community.

The honourable Minister also launched the RAIN website successfully built by Mr Shankar Vishwanath, Bala Vishwanath and Mrs RS Loga, our Chairperson.

BY SUDHA NATARAJAN

Resourceful Australian Indian Network (RAIN) members have been having a busy time recently with emotional switches between sorrow, and shades of happiness and total enjoyment.

Thank you, Harihar Patel

We lost our past Vice Chairman Mr Harihar Patel and RAIN seniors attended the funeral in full force, paying tribute to this great man who led them even when they did not have the structured form of RAIN supporting their needs. Our lives run at crossing paths, we meet and part with friends and strangers and along our journey we meet people who make an impact. One such person was Mr Harihar Patel, a quiet, committed, caring community leader who offered valuable advice to RAIN and its committee for several years.

At RAIN have known and experienced his spirit of community, his constant willingness to extend a hand in friendship, his involvement and commitment to the welfare of the community, his eagerness to help those who needed it, and his timely support and encouragement in all our activities. Even when he was unable to attend our gettogethers and functions due to

failing health, he was there ringing me and encouraging me about a media presentation or a day trip undertaken. Our group of seniors feel sorrowful to have lost a motivating factor in our everchallenging lives.

Hari Uncle (as he was fondly known) arrived with selected members of his Gujarati senior satsang group to assess the possibility of joining the newlystarted RAIN group way back in 2006. Seniors in his company stated that he was the leading star, always going ahead in advance to visit locations the group planned to visit, locating resources to keep them safe and comfortable, and then leading them on their day out. He was an excellent facilitator with initiative who expected no reward, doing this for several years and using public transport for trips.

On joining the RAIN group, Hari Uncle made sure his senior friends had better travel opportunities this time in community transport, and he was always happy to organise his part of the event. People remember such support and assistance with gratitude. This group of seniors even took trips out of Sydney, staying overnight, with all their needs catered to. Effective planning and management does not come from text books, but with the willingness to explore, experience and involve oneself with commitment and a fair amount of risk included to make it challenging. Hari Uncle took all this in his stride and was always a winner, with a smile that relaxed his group of seniors. We enjoyed bus trips on which Hari Uncle insisted on Rekha Aunty being a singing

star, and he looked on with pride as she sang his favourite songs.

People such as Hari Uncle do not simply ‘pass away’, but remain in the memories of those who have enjoyed the privilege of their support, generosity and well wishes. Their lives are to be revered, remembered and celebrated. RAIN committee and members join together in paying our respects to our 2007-2008 Chairman of the north wing and we request the family of Hari Uncle to carry on the torch of community service that this great man has lit, which will enlighten their lives forever.

Ramp construction planning begins

Sadness apart, we are strengthened in our belief that the good work started by our seniors needs to be continued with full vigour and commitment. To this end we have begun making an effort to create safe and secure premises for seniors at 501 Forest Road, Penshurst. The RAIN community cottage is evolving into a community centre for the Indian subcontinent community, looking into the needs of the frail elderly, their social inclusion and senior empowerment. Language barriers and refusal to our application for grants do not deter our involvement and commitment. With dogged determination, RAIN seniors march on with one goal: to be noticed and to work together for our betterment in society.

Mark Coure, State Member of Parliament for Oatley has come forward to support our cause, and we have secured a $15,000/- grant

for the construction of a ramp and disabled toilets for our premises at 501 Forest Road, Penshurst under the community building partnership project of the State Government. Victor Dominello (MP and Minister for Citizenship and Communities and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs), took time to meet up with the RAIN committee and senior members to make the announcement in early April.

RAIN seniors were delighted with both Mr Coure and Mr Dominello who made special efforts to listen patiently to the problems of seniors. With the support of Mr Coure, we have also secured a $5000 grant from the Premier and Minister for Ageing, for the ramp construction. We are indeed grateful to the Premier, Ministers and Mr Mark Coure for this timely support.

Our current requirement

While we are well set to proceed with the ramp, we still need at least $30,000 more to work on the disabled toilet facility, and additional work on safety requirements to be undertaken. It is worth mentioning that RAIN is a successful organisation with growing needs, and is run entirely by volunteers who are seniors and as the years go by, we are also growing old. Our efforts to have an effective ‘ageing in place’ system for our seniors can work well only with continued support from the community, and more volunteers who are capable of undertaking physical activities on a regular basis.

In this respect RAIN is planning for volunteering courses and the first of these called the ‘Effective volunteering course’ will run in June, funded by a volunteer grant from the Federal government.

Young Indian classical dancer Arpana Vishwanath entertained the audience with her excellent performance, and guests enjoyed a delicious Indian vegetarian lunch cooked by volunteers at the Hurstville Community Food Services. This is also an achievement our volunteers have managed to continue and maintain for the past six years. The support we receive from our Sabari food project sponsors and the Hurstville community food services for encouraging and supporting us through the years, has made this Indian vegetarian meals-on-wheels program a great success.

What we have achieved so far and what we continue to strive for is not easy, considering our limitations. But our seniors rise above all barriers because of their focus and determination to succeed. Our motivation comes from our leaders and community members who are staunch in their support.

Future fundraiser

We are planning a fundraising event on September 29 at the Marana Auditorium in Hurstville, at which the well known and talented Mrs Hamsa Venkat has generously agreed to do a dance program with her group, entitled Kaala Chakra, to raise funds for RAIN seniors. We are looking for sponsors, advertisements and support in whatever way possible to help us with our mission to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our frail aged.

To learn more, visit www.eager2rain.com or contact Dr Sudha Natarajan, Public Officer, RAIN Inc or email eager2rain@yahoo.com.au

The Member for Oatley Mark Coure with RAIN members

Haribhai Patel (26/04/1928-18/04/13)

Sydney to host Regional PBD

NSW, India and overseas Indians will be further strengthened during the 2013 Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Sydney”.

He added, “I look forward to officially opening the 2013 Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Sydney and meeting Minister Ravi in person. I am confident the event will be a major success”.

He also revealed that the event will generate an estimated $2.8 million of economic activity for NSW.

made an important contribution to our society. Each year I lead a delegation on a trade and investment mission to India – to further reinforce the message that NSW is committed to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with India”.

Sydney will host the seventh Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) to be held from Nov 10 to 13 this year.

This was jointly announced by Vayalar Ravi, India’s Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Barry O’Farrell, Premier of NSW through a video conference conducted between their offices in Sydney and Delhi.

Also present in Sydney for the announcement were the Indian

High Commissioner to Australia Biren Nanda and the Consul General of India in Sydney, Arun Goel.

Nearly 1,000 participants will attend this regional PBD from Australia and neighbouring countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Philippines and the Pacific Island.

“The objective of the regional

PBD is to reach out to those members of the community who have been unable to participate in the annual PBD in India and to provide a platform for the Indian community in Australia and the Pacific to contribute to the relationship between countries of the region and India,” Minister Vyalar Ravi said.

“I am delighted to be jointly announcing with Minister Ravi that the strong bond between

According to the premier, Sydney is the most important commercial city in Australia and has a large Indian community. It is the best location on the Eastern sea board of Australia in terms of connectivity with New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Mr O’Farrell took the opportunity to reemphasize his government’s engagement with India.

“The NSW Government is keen to forge even stronger ties with government and business leaders across India. (We have) welcomed many Indian people to our shores - tourists, students, business people and migrants who have

The aim of the PBD is to connect India with its vast Indian diaspora and bringing their knowledge, expertise and skills together. The central theme of the Sydney event is ‘Connecting for a shared future: The Indian diaspora, India and the Pacific’. The session of this regional PBD will include discussions on bilateral business opportunities, skill development and technology, education and culture.

Regional PBDs are organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with the collaboration of the host government, the Indian mission, prominent overseas Indians and organisations catering to the needs of the Indian diaspora. Last year, the sixth series took place at Port of Spain, Mauritius from October 27-28, 2012.

Premier Barry O’Farrell in video conference with India’s Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi

Grace and melody in bite-sized chunks

East and West converge in the harmony of music and dance, both traditional and contemporary

Sculpturesque poses and graceful transitions from the representation of one form to another started the evening off with a sense of peace and wellbeing. The solo Kathak piece Nritta by Shruti began as a trickle of bells, increasing to a stream of dance syllables, and finished with a torrent of rhythm.

Intense use of body language brought to life the myth of Narcissus. As the predicament of the drowning Narcissus was traced alongside the significant moments of the artist’s life against the background of a visual of swirling images, one could see the evolution of the self through time.

Dance Bites 2013 featured dancers and musicians from the east and the west, and dance styles both traditional and contemporary. The evening started with a Vandana performed by Aruna Gandhimathinathan and Shruti Ghosh, where the dancers seek the grace of the supreme Almighty in

Aruna’s solo in the Bharathanatyam style, a Jathiswaram in Ragam Rasali featured a variety of geometric patterns and sequences executed with beautiful stances and hand-eye coordination. In the ashtapadhi that followed, a collaborative piece, Shruti took on the role of the ever-charming Krishna and Aruna of the enraged Radha. This piece, a conversation between the two lovers, was interpreted very differently to what is usually seen, as Radha showed not distinct outrage at Krishna’s dalliance, but a gentler, chiding attitude.

Dark Dream by ES Kelly and Carl Tolentino was a striking presentation on how the mind and body shift roles in the state of slumber. The body goes into a state of inactivity as one enters the realm of sleep, but the mind awakens to heightened activity

The familiar cliché, last but not the least was a truth to behold as the evening came to an end, with Prabhu Acharya of Osoniqs playing The Hang. From what seemed like a shimmering bowl of silver arose the most exotic combination of melody and percussion, and what the audience was being treated to was a recently invented instrument called the ‘Hang’. Aruna and Shruti danced to the playing of this instrument in various rhythmic combinations of 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9, with the panchanadai bringing the evening to a fitting finale.

Prabhu seems to have a magical touch with instruments as he walked the path as an interlude earlier in the program. He meandered along the stage playing a flute. The audience wondered where the sound came from as we were plunged in total darkness,

BY HAMSA VENKAT

Rivers from different sources merge and flow into one ocean, a variety of flora grow together to make a beautiful garden and people of different cultures live in harmony to make a society. So it seemed the most natural thing to witness a confluence of varying art forms in one evening of entertainment at the Riverside Lennox Theatre Parramatta in their season Lineage, organised by Form Dance Projects and Riverside.

A Dip for Narcissus by Tammi Gissell explored the concept of perception and identity at different levels.

Aruna Gandhimathinathan and Shruti Ghosh (and below) with Prabhu Acharya

Carl Tolentino and ES Kelly in A dip for Narcissus

Photos: Maylei Hunt

Do you hAve ACCeSS to $100,000

If So you CoulD be pArt of thIS flAGShIp pIzzA frANChISe. thIS offer IS opeN for A lImIteD tIme oNly.

vICtorIA:

• Domino’s pizza vermont

• Domino’s pizza langwarrin

• Domino’s pizza mt Waverley

• Domino’s pizza malvern

• Domino’s pizza Sydenham

• Domino’s pizza Doncaster east

• Domino’s pizza Corio

QueeNSlAND:

• Domino’s pizza Nambour

• Domino’s pizza Ipswich

• Domino’s pizza Gladstone

GolD CoASt:

• Domino’s pizza palm beach

• Domino’s pizza burleigh heads

• Domino’s pizza helensvale

NSW:

• Domino’s pizza Narrabri

• Domino’s pizza Gunnedah

SA:

• Domino’s pizza elizabeth South

Gautam Jain 02 9552 1111

Indian Links in Oz

that go back 200 years

A new exhibition unearths evidence of early trade between the two countries

BY LENA PEACOCK

Although today’s links between India and Australia, including the often cited “cricket, curry and commonweath,” are clearly evident, what isn’t as well known is a much earlier link. Without India’s trade, Australia’s history could have been a very different story. The early Australian colonies needed nearby India, to both grow, as well as survive. A new exhibition: East of India – Forgotten trade with Australia at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) looks at these links, as well as modern-day ties between the two countries. And all of this is accentuated by the Indiathemed light show on the roof of the ANMM as part of Vivid Sydney.

“Many Australians are unaware that Australia has been trading

with India for over 200 years,” says Exhibition Curator Dr Nigel Erskine. “Quite simply, those early connections with India were crucial to the growth and survival of colonial Australia”.

The exhibition consists of over 300 objects, ranging from artworks, coins, textiles and more, from 15 different lending institutions across Australia and London, including the British Museum.

The exhibition hones in on the “links between Australia and India from the 1790s onward and documents how integral the supply of Indian goods was to the fledgling colony,” Erskine told Indian Link. “Rice, livestock, clothing, shoes, soap, textiles and many other household goods were shipped to Sydney from India”. The exhibition also looks at what Erskine describes as “some key Indian leaders such as Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Rani of Jhansi,” and the East India Company’s rise and dominance from the 16th century to its decline in 1857. In addition to this, the stories of everyday Indians who came to live in Australia, and a

contemporary short film in which, Indian Australians reflect on their culture, identity and what it means to be Indian Australian today, are also exhibited.

Erskine states “We are now much more aware of the scale of the trade and its influence on Australia. From archival research we know of 24 vessels wrecked enroute from Sydney to India between 1797 and 1849”.

Indian Link chatted to Michelle Linder, Curator Special Projects at ANMM to find out more about the colony of New South Wales, and just how crucial India was for it. A lot centered on the fact that a voyage from Britain to Sydney took around six months, yet it only took around six weeks from India. It also didn’t help that incorrect assumptions were made about Sydney based on James Cook’s eight day stay in Botany, which happened to be a whole 18 years earlier.

“Governor Phillip soon discovered that the land was far from fertile as attempts to grow crops failed,” said Linder. “As

a result, the colony was totally dependent on the supplies it brought out with it. As these dwindled, the situation of the settlement became desperate and when the supply ship HMS Guardian struck an iceberg south of the Cape of Good Hope, the colony was in real trouble,” she explained to Indian Link. “The accident to the Guardian changed official policy, and thereafter the colony was encouraged to trade with India”. Britain was still used as a major source of supplies, but trade with India became “increasingly important, particularly after the East India Company lost its monopoly on Indian trade in 1813,” continued Linder.

On the opening night of East of India on May 29th, Kevin Sumption, Director, ANMM, described the exhibition as “sumptuous,” and explained that it took over three years of research to pull the exhibition together. The exhibition was officially opened by Biren Nanda, High Commissioner of India, who spoke of the exhibition as being a “timely

of need Australia looked to India for help,” such as during first settlement, and “most importantly, for rum”. Nanda also explained the “increasingly robust ties” between the two countries, which has strengthened over the past few decades.

“It is fascinating to learn the history of contact between Australia and Asia, going back to the days of the spice trade,” said visitor Sue Spence of the exhibition.

One of the key pieces of the exhibition is the bejewelled sword of the Indian ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan, killed by East India Company forces at the battle of Seringapatam in 1799. This piece is significant because it belonged to Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore who was killed at the battle of Seringapatam in 1799. Erskine explained to Indian Link, “Tipu’s story highlights the stiff resistance to the East India Company’s (and later, British) encroachment on Indian territory”. He described Tipu as, “a symbol of Indian tenacity which ultimately leads to Indian Independence in 1947”. This piece, which has Koranic inscriptions on it, has never been exhibited outside of Europe before, so it’s a great chance to see the piece. The hilt is covered with Tipu’s tiger-stripe emblem and two of the tiger-head terminals have

Tipu’s Tiger Ceramic figure - The Death of Munrow, c 1830 Victoria and Albert Museum collection

jewelled (Moonstone) eyes. This

The other pieces of note from the exhibition, includes two Mughal miniatures paintings from the Art Gallery of NSW, a detailed panorama of Calcutta by artist Jacob Janssen, dated about 1830, and Tree of Life, a handpainted cotton hanging, made in India for the English market in 1810.

Also of note is an evening dress made from Bengal muslin for Anna King, the wife of Governor King. Linder said “This is one of the oldest surviving examples of clothing worn in colonial Sydney, from the collection of the National Trust of Australia”. It shows how casual colonial Australian dress was, especially when compared to examples from this time in England.

And the most bizarre object on display? A ceramic figurine showing the death of Lieutenant Hugh Munro by a Bengal Tiger. Tipu Sultan called himself the Tiger of Mysore and was so amused by his death, that he had a life sized automaton made to entertain him. It even roared like a tiger. The figurine reflects the unfortunate celebrity associated with Munro’s death, and is extremely kitsch.

The exhibition carefully leads the viewer through the displays, with plenty of information panels to give context to the objects. The use of numerous red panels and some Indian architectural elements helps to effectively tie the exhibition together.

The inclusion of the contemporary film and audio recordings are also nice touches. Unfortunately, the sound of the film made it a bit difficult to hear the recordings, as they share a common wall between the cinema space and the seated audio recording area. The recordings were of local Indian actors from Nautanki Theatre and Abhinay School of Performing Arts, who perform readings of testimony given by Indian servants who worked in Australia in 1819.

“These rare accounts enable voices of Indian workers, who were in Sydney in the 19th century to be heard by visitors,” explained Linder. They focus on a special inquiry about their complaints to Governor Macquarie. The ANMM makes a comparison between these Indian workers’ contentious work agreements and our current 457 visas. “The importation of workers was the subject of much debate in the Sydney press in the 1830s, [and] some commentators compared their employment contracts to slavery,” Linder told us. “These reports combined with accounts of mistreatment, resulted in the end of the short-lived scheme”. An employment contract between one such worker and their employer John Mackay is included in the exhibition.

A specially commissioned film, directed by Anupam Sharma of Films and Casting Temple, Indian Aussies: Terms and Conditions Apply,

explores the ties that bind Australia and India, and what is means to be an Indian-Australian through interviews. The film doesn’t offer a conclusion to its topic, but rather personal perspectives, and as Linder states it was “included to demonstrate that the growing Indian Australian community has enormous diversity and strength”. Indian Link Pawan Luthra is one of those included to offer his perspective.

Zenia Starr, Miss India Australia 2013 is also included in the film, as well as Professor Veena Sahajwalla (who also did a speech on opening night). Sahajwalla talks about how she gets told “You really are an Indian woman, so therefore shouldn’t you sometimes be wearing Indian saris? Well, I never really wore them when I was in India, why would I start wearing them in Australia? I feel that’s too restrictive”. During the film’s humorous ending, when the film pretends to conclude without talking about cricket, and then starts up again, Sahajwalla goes on to tell us that she doesn’t even like cricket, much to the horror of those that she knows.

Linder speaks of the film as being “very distinct from the historical components of the show and rightly so”. ANMM “would like visitors to leave the exhibition thinking of the future relationship between India and Australia,” and that is what we were left with.

Also linking Australia and India

is Colours of India, a lightshow projected onto the roof of the ANMM as part of Vivid Sydney. The museum commissioned Electric Canvas to produce the piece, and rather than telling a story, it’s purpose is just to add a dash of colour, sound and movement to the building, through its association with the exhibition.

“The primary challenge is conveying complex history in a dynamic and interesting way for a range of visitors and layering the information,” says Linder of the challenges faced in the planning of East of India. However, after viewing the exhibition,

it is clearly evident that they have been successful. By using a contemporary film and audio recordings, alongside historic objects, the early trade links between India and Australia are effectively conveyed. The stunning lights of Vivid Sydney on the ANNM’s roof only enhances this.

1 June – 18 August 2013

East of India – Forgotten trade with Australia

Australian National Maritime Museum

Colours of India - Vivid Sydney

4 May to 10 June 2013, 6pm –12midnight

Tipu’s Sword

Colours of India light show, Vivid Sydney

Indian Link’s Pawan Luthra in Anupam Sharma’s film

Biren Nanda, High Commissioner of India and Kevin Sumption, Director, ANMM, on the exhibition’s opening night

Doorie sahi jaaye na

The audience feels distanced from Atif Aslam at his Sydney show

credit, Tera Hone Laga Hoon from Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani, Aadat from his debut album Jal, and that intoxicating Pehli Nazar Mein from Race. As an RJ on Indian Link Radio I have quite enjoyed playing his songs, and know that he has quite a fan following out there.

Plus, I remember reading somewhere that he’s the first Pakistani pop singer to perform at The O2 Arena London, twice. Wow! That sounded good. I had made up my mind. Atif Aslam it would be.

So here I was at the Sydney Olympic Park sports centre looking forward to a supposedly great evening. Hats off to the audience who actually had the patience to wait until 9:15pm for a show that was to start at 7pm. (Every minute that passed by, I was only wondering what Udit Narayan must be singing over at his show!)

Of course organisers Milestone Entertainment had arranged for a local artist to entertain the audience, but they were in no mood to listen to him, especially as time wore on.

singing Kaisa Zamana Hai Yeh

And then the icing on the cake… the mike squeaked! Sorry, what was he singing? Could someone please lower the sound of the orchestra?

Then it was Doorie Sahi Jaaye Na a beautiful number which would have been appreciated more had the sound system been better.

Atif followed up with Sach ki talaash hai tu mere saath hai, Ek baar nahi ye dil sau baar hai tuta, Bakhuda tum hi ho, Allah hu Allah hu, Ali Maula Ali Maula, Woh lamhein woh raatein. Again, the sound system failed and my little ears gave up and refused to separate the words from the music. So what followed was Atif Aslam trying to sing rock versions and remixed versions of his songs (yes Tu Jaane Na and Woh Lamhe too) without realising that the sound system was poor. He jumped around with the mike stand, playing up to the 100-odd people standing in the mosh pit, rather than the wider audience. They were the ones getting all his attention and the rest of us (about 900 or so) happened to be eavesdropping.

BY PRIYANKA TATER

Choices, choices. Should I spend my Saturday night with Atif Aslam or with Udit Narayan?

Wish I could do both, but dammit, whoever thought of getting the two artists to perform live in Sydney on the same day and same time!

Alright, since I have to choose between the two, I thought to myself, I have grown up on Udit Narayan songs and have heard so much of him, so why not try the flavour of the season, Atif Aslam. After all, this Pakistani singer has some great tracks to his

But that was not all; after more than two hours of wait an announcement came on that we’d have a light show. Really? What had I come for, Vivid? And by the way, this was not even a patch on Vivid. It felt like some lighting at a local nightclub. While this was not what the audience wanted, they still put up with it patiently waiting for the main act.

So had Atif finally left Pak airspace, was he mid-air, was he already in Sydney… where exactly was he?

Just as patience was wearing out, the star of the evening came bundling on to the stage in his black and grey check jacket,

This was the same stage where I had watched Sonu Nigam entertain a full house, a performance that I will cherish for the rest of my life. What crowd engagement, what performance, what a show that was!

And here I was, watching a man trying hard to woo an audience but not winning. Whatever happened to that soulful, magical voice we hear on record?

As they say not every artist can be a performer and more so, not every artist can perform live. Atif Aslam, so brilliant in the recording studios, was not winning many friends in the open that night. I wonder what his performance was

like at the O2 Arena in London, where he had a second chance! Going back to where I was, the rest of us happened to be eavesdropping and quite strenuously. I could see faces which wanted more but the sound system was not working in their favour.

And then it was me subconsciously asking Udit Narayan for forgiveness. I had chosen Atif over him. Lesson learnt, experiments are not always a good thing. Sometimes it’s good to stick to the tried and tested. They do say ‘Old is Gold,’ don’t they?

So you have a passion for writing…. Indian Link Newspaper is seeking reporters in your city, to cover Indian community events, as well as India-related events in the mainstream.

Having been successfully operating in Sydney for the past 20 and Melbourne for the past 12 years, Indian Link has now established a presence in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. We would like YOU to be part of our exciting growth! Appropriate remunerations paid.

And here I was, watching a man trying hard to woo an audience but not winning. Whatever happened to that soulful, magical voice we hear on record?

Cheez badi hai mast mast …

It’s sheer Deewangi Deewangi as playback singer Udit Narayan wins over Sydney audience with his special brand of music

BY PREETI THADANI

Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega…

Udit Narayan could not have picked a better number to start off his Sydney concert.

We sat mesmerised as that QSQT number in his unmistakable voice - and his magnetic presence on stage - won us over instantly. It was worth it, we decided straight away, especially as we had driven out in pelting rain to the C3 Conference Centre in Silverwater. And even if the 6.30pm start had included no less than two hours of support act presentation! It was 8.25pm as the star of the night finally appeared on stage.

Organisers Nillo and Rohit Duggal and Jatinder Vicki of Special Events Entertainment Group (SEEG) had however catered for local talent to build up the mood. The audience were entertained by Manish Kumar (Indian Australian Idol 2012) and Chaitra Ravishankar (first runner up and Popular Choice winner) who did a good job with numbers such as Baharo Phool Barsao and Chikni Chameli

Sydney’s very own Jasmine Gill followed up with a superb rendition of Aami Je Tomar from the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Dancers from Swastik Institute of Dance captivated the audience with dance performances to a medley of popular songs in their shimmering silver on green and white costumes.

But as time ticked on the audience became restless. They had come to see and hear their hero the Badshah of Bollywood, and by 8.00pm their impatience was overtaking the ambience that our local artists had created. MCs Nitin and Divya ably compered the event, but their imploring the audience and assuring them that Uditji was on his way, was little consolation after some time.

And yet, all was forgiven as soon as the star made that entry, such was the audience’s love for Udit Narayan.

Padma Shri Udit Narayan is a living legend, having won three National and five Filmfare Awards. He has sung more than 15,000 songs in over 33 different languages.

There were wolf whistles and cheers as Uditji presented some

of the best known love songs of the last two decades, including Tere Naam, Jaadoo Teri Nazar, Bholi Si Surat, Ae Mairay Humsafar, Pehla Nasha, Aisa Zakham Diya Hai and Janam Dekhlo Mit Gayee Dooriyan

Numbers such as Yeh Taraa Who

Taraa, Main Nikla Gadi Lekay, Chand Chupa Baadal Main, Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala, Tip Tip Barsa Pani had the fans humming along.

Uditji also sang a popular song in his native Nepali which had some fans swinging in their seats.

As the audience applauded and called out for more of their favourites, Uditji gladly obliged. He sang continuously, breaking only once for a short interval.

Maya Da Dhaba had on sale an array of dishes for us to recharge

on including all time favourites like samosas, butter chicken and cholay accompanied by the ‘perfect pick me up’ on a winter’s nightmasala chai

After the interval Uditji sang more of the audience’s requests including the foot-tapping Nasha Yeh Pyar Ka, Mujhe Need Na Aaeh, Tu Cheez Bari Hai Mast Mast and Khaee Kay Paan Banao Ras Wala His duets (Do You Want To Partner with Manish Kumar, Radha with Chaitra Ravishankar and Kaho Na Pyar Hai with Jasmine Gill), appealed just as much. The finale however was by far the most memorable: Uditji teamed up with Manish, Chaitra and Jasmine to sing that fun-filled number Deewangi Deewangi from Om Shanti Om

Fans had been rocking in their seats all night long and didn’t need to be told a second time when Uditji asked everyone to join him on the finale number. As some people seated in the front rows made their way up on stage to dance alongside Uditji, the many security guards hired for the night demanded the audience sit down. And before things got too rowdy Uditji was ushered off stage, bringing the concert to an end.

Four musicians had accompanied Uditji from India and two were local artists. They complemented Uditji in perfect harmony, keeping pace with him as he sang one hit song after another.

Whether it was a song from a Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan or Shahid Kapoor film, listening to Uditji sing brought to life the silver screen stars that we’ve seen dancing and lip syncing in their movies. The Bollywood odyssey that Uditji took us on spanned songs over the last 30 years of his singing career. His versatility as a playback singer makes him the ideal first choice indeed for pretty much any Bollywood star.

Uditji’s down-to-earth personality struck a cord with the audience. His flawless performance was delivered with ease and charisma and he won the hearts of everyone with his signature smile. He blew kisses to his fans and said, “I am going to entertain you all till my last breath…aap log hain to hum hain, yeh kahani kabhi khatam na ho…” He followed this statement by kneeling on stage and bowing to the audience. Uditji connected with us and all that mattered in that surreal moment was the sacred bond between the Badshah and his many fans.

There were numerous audience requests and Uditji did his best to sing all of them, but alas one concert wasn’t enough to fulfil the insatiable appetite of his fans who kept asking for more. As I drove home high on the songs and music from the evening humming the tune of one of my favourite Udit Narayan songs from the film Mohra, I thought to myself, “Uditji, aap cheez bade ho mast mast, aap cheez bade ho mast…”

“Aap log hain to hum hain, yeh kahani kabhi khatam na ho…” Udit Narayan

Udit Narayan and organisers

Pull out 7 crore families from poverty in 10 years: Sonia India should take seven crore families out of poverty in the next 10 years, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said recently, while announcing that the government was preparing a special package for the northeast and hill states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

“In the next 10 years we have to bring seven crore families out of poverty. This is not an easy job,” Gandhi said at a function to mark Ajeevika Diwas in New Delhi.

About 30 percent of people in India were below the poverty line in 2009-10 - based on the monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) of Rs.673 for rural areas and Rs.860 for urban areas, according to information given to parliament by the government this year.

Gandhi said: “By adopting the Ajeevika Mission, many states have proved that through women SHGs (self help groups), economical and social changes can be brought in the rural areas.

“Seeing this success, it seems that now the Ajeevika Mission will have to be implemented fast across the country especially in central and eastern India.

“Today everybody has proved that this programme can free women from the curse of poverty. Such an emancipation is based on stable and self-made employment and not on the mercy and kindness of anybody. Our purpose is clear. We have to strengthen the women SHGs and their instruments financially,” she said.

Gandhi said Ajeevika, or the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), had proved that social and economic changes could be brought about through women’s SHGs in villages.

“This shows that the Ajeevika mission needs to be implemented across the country with special focus on central and northern parts,” she said.

She said a special package was being prepared for the northeast and hill states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

NRLM was launched by the ministry of rural development in June 2011. Aided in part by the World Bank, it aims at creating efficient and effective institutional

platforms of the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.

NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover seven crore BPL households, across 600 districts, 6,000 blocks, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and six lakh villages through self-managed SHGs and support them for livelihood collectives in a period of 8-10 years, officials said.

Gandhi sought quick implementation of the Ajeevika mission across the nation, especially its central and eastern parts. She said the empowerment of weaker sections and women had been the main pillar of the UPA government.

Hailing the NRLM as an important programme of the UPA, Gandhi claimed that in no other country did such an ambitious and huge scheme exist for the empowerment of women.

She said the capacity to bring changes in society were with the women most as they were the ones responsible for nurturing coming generations.

Sharif keen to boost ties with India: Pakistan

Pakistan Prime Minister designate Nawaz Sharif genuinely wants to take the process of improvement in relations with India forward, the Pakistani high commission said in New Delhi.

The incoming Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government has “clearly stated that improvement of relations with India is a foreign policy priority”, the statement said.

This has been “articulated with sincerity by Sharif in his interaction with noted Indian journalists and media,” it said.

“It is indeed heartening that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is widely respected in Pakistan, has responded positvely to the initiatives of Nawaz Sharif and sent a special envoy (S.K. Lambah) to meet the prime minister designate.

“Statements emanating from both sides have contributed to improving the atmospherics,” it added.

It said good neighbourly, friendly and cooperative relations between Pakistan and India based on mutual respect and mutual benefit were in the interest of the peoples of the two countries.

“While this must be the objective, both sides have to work the dialogue process to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir and explore new avenues of cooperation,” it added.

“It is exceedingly important that both sides do their utmost to build a positive narrative about each other.

“Media has an important role to play. Generating positivity would help creating space to move forward with confidence. In winning hearts and minds this is the foremost challenge.

“It is also important that the phenomenal societal change in Pakistan is understood and appreciated in India. It is time to shed the old way of thinking and using of stereotypes. There is every reason for optimism,” the statement said.

The high commission said Sharif had extensively interacted with the Indian leadership.

It said the high point was the Lahore Summit with then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in February 1999.

“He genuinely wants to take the process forward. A historic opportunity now exists to bringing about a qualitative improvement in relations,” the statement said.

Manmohan Singh sent Lambah to meet Sharif in Lahore May 27. Lambah had served as India’s high commissioner to Pakistan during Sharif’s first term as prime minister.

Manmohan Singh and Sharif spoke on the phone after the May 11 Pakistan election.

Mother’s milk bank to rescue of Rajasthan infants

This bank is not about money, just goodwill. India’s fourth mother’s milk bank in the Rajasthan town of Udaipur is saving the lives of frail or critically ill infants whose biological mothers are unable to feed them for a variety of reasons.

The Divya Mothers Milk Bank (DMMB) in Udaipur, 400 km from state capital Jaipur, has provided 173 units of mother’s milk in

about two months to infants in immediate need as they have been hospitalized with life threatening diseases or are suffering from other problems.

Each unit contains 30 ml of mother’s milk.

“Mother’s milk can save the life of an infant born in some particular condition. It is like giving blood to an accident victim who needs it immediately,” said Devendra Agrawal, founder of the Maa Bhagwati Vikas Sansthan, an NGO that runs the bank.

North India’s first bank of the kind was inaugurated by Rajasthan Health Minister A.A. Khan April 14. It is the fourth functional mother’s milk bank after Pune, Mumbai and Surat, Agrawal said.

“In over two and a half months, we have collected 307 units of mother milk from 30 donors. About 173 units were provided to infants on prescription of doctors,” said Agrawal.

He added that the bank had provided succour to many families in this area of the desert state that has a high infant mortality rate - 63 per 1,000 live births as compared to the India figure of 53.

“As per government records, one in eight babies is born preterm in our country and fewer than half of mothers who deliver a baby prematurely are able to provide their babies with breast milk. Through the milk bank, we can save 16 of 100 premature infants,” Agrawal said.

A survey conducted by the Rajasthan government, he said, found that 42 percent of newborns in the state were undernourished and needed mother’s milk.

Besides, through breastfeeding and donated mother’s milk, infant mortality rate can be reduced by 22 percent. If a child is breastfed, her chances of survival increases six times, he added.

According to Archana Shaktawat, project coordinator for the project, several women are coming forward to donate their milk.

“We are raising awareness in the area. Women who have surplus milk or can donate mother milk due to other reasons are coming forward. We don’t financially compensate the women who donate their milk,” said Shaktawat.

Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), those with life-threatening diseases or conditions or those whose mothers are HIV+ are provided mother milk from the bank. Besides, milk is also provided to multiple birth babies whose mothers can’t keep up with the milk required to nourish their infants or those who are on medication.

The donated milk is transferred to storage containers.

Each milk pool (from three-five donors) is mixed and six ounce glass bottles are filled with it prior to pasteurization.

“The pasteurized milk is frozen at -20 degrees Celsius and given to whoever needs it. It can last six months,” said Agrawal.

Dalai Lama’s teachings drawing young Indians

More young Indians are annually arriving in the Himalayan hill town of Dharamsala to lend their ear to the teachings and sermons of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, say Tibetans living in exile there.

Last year, a thousand Indians came to the town to listen to what the 14th Dalai Lama has to say on things spiritual and temporal. This year, the number has gone up by nearly 200.

“These teachings were organised the

Tarun Saikia, right, and Manish Kumar Deka the first mountaineer from Assam to scale Mount Everest wave to the crowd as they are welcomed back on their return in Gauhati, India, June 4, 2013

second time, especially on the request of a group from India. Out of the 8,000 participants, over 1,200 were Indians,” said Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office.

The four-day teachings, which recently concluded, saw participants from 69 countries.

“We have come from Bangalore for the first time to attend the teachings of His Holiness (Dalai Lama),” Supriya Sharma, a senior executive with a multinational company, said.

Her friend Isha Goel said: “Indians are known to rely on their spiritual and yoga gurus. Their inclination is often the result of the appearance of such gurus on television channels, but gradually there has been a shift from Hindu philosophy to Buddhism propagated by the Dalai Lama”.

“Quite relaxing. The visit was focused on understanding Tibetan culture and the sources of its spiritual sustenance,” Isha said.

On the first day of teachings, the 77-yearold pontiff expressed happiness at teaching the Indians.

“I am pleased to give teachings to Indians as these teachings originated from India,” the Dalai Lama, whose sermons on ethics, non-violence, peace and religious harmony have made him one of the twentieth century’s most popular and revered gurus, was quoted as saying by Tibetan advocacy website Phayul.com.

“Giving teachings on Buddhism back to Indians is like returning their ancestral Buddhism to a new generation of Indians,” the globetrotting monk said.

Aides of the Dalai Lama said that seeing how Indians are drawn to the Dalai Lama’s teachings, his official website (dalailama.com) is now available in Hindi too.

Octogenarian Tashi Dolma, who was part of the Indian Buddhist group, travelled along with over 100 Buddhist devotees from Keylong in Himachal Pradesh for an audience with the Dalai Lama.

The spiritual guru’s teachings are free and open to the public. Even board and lodging is free for the participants, says the Dalai Lama’s office.

The teaching sessions are held at the request of followers and devotees, mostly Westerners and Asians.

The Dalai Lama teaches in Tibetan, and there are simultaneous translations in English, Hindi, Chinese and Russian for the participants.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule in 1959. On reaching India, he first took up residence for about a year in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand, after which he moved to this Himachal Pradesh town where he continues to live.

In his addresses, the Dalai Lama is often quoted as saying: “India and Tibet share millennia old teacher-student relationship as Buddhism reached Tibet directly from India in the seventh century”.

Indian-American wins 2013 spelling bee in the US

Thirteen-year-old Indian American Arvind Mahankali won the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee breaking a personal four-year losing streak.

Arvind, of Bayside Hills, New York, correctly spelled “knaidel,” a German-origin word meaning a type of dumpling.

“I thought a German curse has turned into a German blessing,” NBC News quoted

him as saying after he emerged the winner. Even as he continued the tradition of Indian Americans winning the annual event, he also became the first boy since 2008 to win the title. He had finished third in the last two years.

There were 11 finalists in the bee that was held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Another 13-year-old Indian American, Pranav Sivakumar, of Chicago, came second after he was felled by the word “cyanophycean”.

In all, 281 contestants featured in the final stage of the bee.

Eight-year-old Indian American Tara Singh was the youngest contestant in this year’s edition.

Champion Arvind took home $30,000 and the Scripps National Spelling Bee engraved trophy.

He also received $2,500 savings bond from Merriam-Webster and a complete reference library. From Encyclopaedia Britannica, he got $2,000 of reference works including the Britannica Global Edition, 2013 Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite DVD-ROM, and a three-year membership to Britannica Online Premium.

Joneja, 15, becomes youngest Indian to climb Everest

At 15 years and seven months, Raghav Joneja has become the youngest Indian to scale Mount Everest, climbing the peak with five teenage mates from Lawrence School, Sanawar.

Lawrence became the first school in the world to send a team to the highest peak.

The boys achieved the remarkable feat May 21 when they summited Everest after a month-long gruelling expedition, backed by Hero Cycles.

The expedition comprised of seven boys with their sherpas, three fathers as a support team and another four old Sanawarians, who joined the group from New Delhi to the base camp for 21 days to give them moral support.

Col. Neeraj Rana, ex-director of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), was the

mentor for the expedition which April 9 arrived at Lukla, Nepal from where the group trekked for nine days to the base camp. At the base camp they acclimatised for nearly a month and began the final ascent May 17.

While they set off in a group of seven, one of the seven, Hakikat Grewal, developed a problem in his oxygen mask and couldn’t reach the summit, having to retreat from 27,600 ft.

However, the rest completed the expedition successfully.

Ajay Sohal (16) and Prithvi Chahal (17) together climbed the summit first, next came Shubham Kaushik (16), who was followed by Fateh Brar (16) and then Joneja and Guribadat Singh (17).

“Whatever we do through the rest of our lives, this is one achievement that will always stick to us and will always make us proud. The team is grateful to Hero Cycles and our school for making this ultimate achievement possible for us,” said Joneja.

Established in 1847, the Lawrence School is located near Kasauli, in the Shimla Hill in Himachal Pradesh.

Our aim is developing football in India: Chelsea academy coach

As the three-day Chelsea football club’s clinic here came to an end in New Delhi recently, Chelsea FC College Academy head coach Julian Hart said their main aim in holding the camp was development of football in India and bringing out the passion for the sport among kids.

“Our main motive here is football development. Obviously three days is not a long time but it’s all about showing the kids how it is actually done and then bringing out the passion in them to take football seriously,” Hart said.

“We wanted to interact with as many children as possible to point them in the right direction”.

Hart said it was important to instil a footballing-based education culture in countries that were weak in the sport.

“It’s very important to have education and football-based schools, so that children can

do academics and sport side by side. If a player shows exceptional talent then it’s the school’s duty to nurture that talent. This way more and more competent footballers as well as human beings will come out of the schools,” said Hart.

“It’s all about giving children ample opportunities, give them a proper insight so that they can choose a proper career option,” he added.

The foundation clinic was preceded by a two-day scouting camp and later, close to 400 kids from leading schools in the city, including Vasant Valley, GD Goenka, Shri Ram and British School, honed their skills at the camp at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.

The scouting camp yielded 180 of the best footballing talent from the city to be coached by the Chelsea youth coaches. The youth coaches also held a master-class training session with the respective school coaches, sharing essential training techniques to improve talent coaching and development.

A selection trial was conducted one week prior to the clinic, which saw over 400 kids showcase their skills to earn their ultimate footballing experience. Sixty kids were coached each day.

The adidas Chelsea FC Foundation Clinic was an open invitation to the city’s schools and garnered an overwhelming response. This is the second time the Europa League champions were in the city after their 2012 stint.

The 180 kids at the end received medals from Chelsea for participating and showing enthusiasm for the sport. The coaches also picked nine Most Valuable Players (MVPs) each day, based on their passion, enthusiasm and techniques grasped at the clinic. These kids were awarded prizes ranging from adidas caps, backpacks and the latest football boots - nitrocharge.

The Chelsea youth coaches are excited and gearing up for their next visit to the country later this year and this time they are heading to Mumbai for another adidas Chelsea FC Foundation Clinic.

IANS

Indian dock workers tighten ropes as the MSC Valeria, an ultra-large containership from the Mediterranean Shipping Company S. A., of Geneva, docks at Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone at Mundra, some 400 Km from Ahmedabad on June 4, 2013. India’s industrial output accelerated by a surprise 2.5 percent in March, its fastest pace in five months, fuelling hopes that a sharp economic slowdown could be bottoming out.

The Dilmah

brand names in tea

owned tea brand – after 30 years of being in the tea business. It is named after his two sons Dilhan and Mallik.

When he started out, the competition was tough and the challenges ahead were immense. He says, “In the early stages the Sri Lankan government was promoting Ceylon tea, and the marketing was aimed at multinationals and the big traders. The UK alone bought 180 million pounds of tea, and my biggest challenge was that I was competing with my own country’s tea. But I was convinced about my product and persisted. I started small with one estate, but expanded later as the government gave us local manufacturers tax benefits”.

The tiny, upstart tea company that Merrill dreamed of in the 1950s, to change the exploitation of his country’s crop by big traders, has today grown to become one of the top 10 tea brands in the world. Today, 20% of his total production is sold in Australia, and it is the number one brand in New Zealand.

Intrigued, I ask him how the sales in Australia came about. He replies, “When I started, Australia was importing only 8 million pounds of tea, and the quantity had dropped from 52 million pounds. Big names like Bushells and Unilever were selling blended teas along with 20 other family owned companies”.

huge volumes and countries like Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Vietnam and Bhutan among others, are all customers.

Dilmah has, of course, expanded its ouvre and one can sample various kinds of teas at the Tea Bar at the Radisson, which also has an extensive high tea menu, and offers various kinds of eatables along with the hot and cold teas.

As for teas worldwide and on the company website, there is a vast range on offer – Gourmet teas, Very Special Rare Teas which features some of Dilmah’s rarest teas; Seasonal Flush teas – where twice a year, if weather conditions are perfect, one can enjoy the rare indulgence of the Seasonal Flush.

A family-owned firm has managed to topple the big boys in the tea business and convert several coffee drinkers to a cup of chai

So what is the best way to drink tea, I ask the tea master in conclusion to our conversation.

meet me and through an hourlong conversation with interesting anecdotes and details, the story of Dilmah in Australia came to light.

When the Dilmah Tea Bar was launched at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Hyderabad’s swanky Banjara Hills area in India recently, it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. Familiar with Dilmah tea during my years in Sydney, I was keen to meet its founder and find out how he created a brand that is now synonymous with 100% pure tea. Merrill Fernando and his son Dilhan readily agreed to

Born in 1930 in the village of Pallansena, near Negombo town in south western Sri Lanka, Merrill J Fernando hails from a rural, middle class background. He moved to the capital Colombo, seeking better prospects. He wished to become a tea taster, which was then the domain of British expatriates who guarded their profession keenly. Merrill was fortunate to be selected to join the first batch of Ceylonese (Sri Lanka was then called Ceylon) to be trained in tea at what was then the ‘mecca’ of tea –Mincing Lane, London.

He recalls, “When I was in London, I was horrified to see

how tea was being mixed and blended, and being marketed as pure Ceylon tea. Tea, a finished product that was handpicked and produced according to a traditional and artistic process in Sri Lanka, was treated as a raw material and shipped at nominal value to Europe where value addition, branding and packaging took place. This meant that the producer received a tiny fraction of the profits from the sale of Ceylon Tea, while middlemen, mainly a handful of large corporations, benefitted disproportionately”.

This bothered him no end, and Merrill persevered with his dream of setting up his own company that manufactured and sold pure Ceylon tea. He established the Dilmah brand – the first producer-

In spite of the stiff competition, Merrill approached Coles in Melbourne. It took him two years to convince them, but they agreed to take two of his packs.

“I think that was more to get rid of me as I was really pestering them,” laughs Merrill. “But then they got a very good response and asked for more of my tea as they got several calls asking about it. The big boys in the business dropped their price to destroy my brand. But I was producing and marketing single origin 100% pure Ceylon tea and it was done ethically and in a manufacturing process that was different from the usual CTC. I was using the traditional methods”.

Gradually Woolworths came on board too, and sales in Australia went beyond Merrill’s expectations. Today Dilmah is sold in 101 countries with Russia importing

“Depending on how strong or weak you want it, boil some fresh water and place one tea bag or one teaspoon of tea in a kettle that is completely dry. Then pour the boiling water over it and let it stand for 3-5 minutes. Stir and serve hot. Do not add milk or sugar – that is heresy. Tea is best enjoyed when its natural flavours come through. Even the health benefits of its antioxidants are most effective when imbibed in this way”.

Taught to share from an early age by his mother, Merrill has also set up the MJF Charitable Trust which uses some part of the company’s profits to help the poor, the disabled, women and children.

While multinationals continue to advertise with Bollywood stars and celebrities endorsing their tea, Merrill decided to talk to the viewer himself in the advertisements made by the company. It worked wonders and people were convinced about the sincerity and the genuineness of the brand. But, as Merrill says, his Dilmah will always be a small, family brand because it represents integrity, which in the world of tea requires quality, commitment and passion.

Those are not qualities that can be extended to the mass market.

MINNAL KHONA

A tea taster’s dream has morphed into one of Australia’s biggest

Merrill with his sons and grandchildren

Dilhan, Merrill and Malik Fernando at the Dilmah Tea Office

Photos:

Dilmah story

Merrill says his Dilmah will always be a small, family brand because it represents integrity, which in the world of tea requires quality, commitment and passion

Tensions along neighbouring borders

China’s attempts at peaceful cooperation with India are significant and welcome

billion people, India should and can play an increasingly important role in international affairs”.

BY NOEL G DE SOUZA

The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent visit to India is highly significant. It is a fence-building or rather, mending exercise, and there is a lot to repair. A big war between the two Asian giants (China and India) took place in 1962. The Chinese overran Indian posts in both the North-West and North-East sectors of the Himalayas. India had not provoked the Chinese onslaught at that time. India had been unprepared for the assault. The then Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon, who had been sympathetic to both Russia and China, paid the price. Just months earlier he had become a national hero for reclaiming Goa from the Portuguese; that had earned the ire of the West. It was widely believed that India’s stock with the West had reached an all time low because of the takeover of Goa through India’s armed intervention.

However, when China invaded India, President Kennedy rushed aid to the Indian troops. Those were different times. China had problems with several of its neighbours which included Taiwan and Japan. Its radio broadcasts preached revolution to several parts of the world. Simultaneously, China helped communist parties in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia against US intervention.

Enrol today in the Band Score

The Chinese Premier’s reference to Mahatma Gandhi and the audience’s applause might seem to many as nice diplomatic gestures on both sides. However, just a few days later, a book of the teachings of Gandhiji was released in Mandarin. The translator of the book noted that China has always had peasant revolutions. The current development in China is urban, but it also needs to cater to the requirements of the rural population and that is where Gandhiji’s ideas are the most appropriate.

China is spreading its influence in the monsoon lands of Asia quite rapidly. For example, it has moved with its industrial abilities and financial might into Mauritius which has long been, ethnically and culturally, an Indian-dominated island. Indian warships regularly visit its waters.

The Chinese push for influence in East and South Asia is reminiscent of the Japanese onslaught during World War II.

At the present time, Pakistan is the great stumbling block in the effort to create a good relationship between India and China

One / Two Weeks Crash Course

• Money completely refundable, if not satisfied with the first tuition session.

• Lowest fee Guaranteed.

• Power packed sessions

*Conditions apply ( enquire before enrolling).

At the present time, Pakistan is the great stumbling block in the effort to create a good relationship between India and China. Pakistan is strongly fundamentalist and seen as an exporter of Islamic fundamentalism. Its internal politics are dominated by sectarian violence which is engineered by the Taliban, which Pakistan itself had initially created.

Significantly, Premier Jiabao has started his round of world negotiations in India. For China, South Asia is very important and as the American Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert O Blake Jr., stated in February 2013, “Any discussion of South Asia has to start with India”. He further elaborated that the US State Department views India as the “economic linchpin” in Afghanistan. America is thinking of a forthcoming postUS intervention era in Afghanistan. That era is approaching fast, and there exists a sense of urgency in the White House.

The emphasis of Jiabao’s visit is to promote friendship, and not rivalry between India and China. He quoted the Upanishads and Mahatma Gandhi saying, “India’s rise has enhanced the confidence and strength of all developing countries”. He also stated, “As a fast-growing big country with over a

The Japanese excuse at that time was that it was attempting to create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. That sphere integrated several ‘national’ governments including China, Philippines and the provisional Indian Government or Azad Hind of Subash Chandra Bose. Its provisional capital was Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. The Chinese move to create its area of influence is very different; it is through peaceful means.

The Japanese tried to create that ‘sphere’ through force and by inflicting much pain on the affected populations. China was arguably the most to suffer. The Chinese occasionally protest that school textbooks in Japan do not tell the truth about the war to their people.

After the war, Japan reconstructed itself and rebuilt its industries and agriculture with American aid. Japan was instrumental in helping the countries it had once conquered, to industrialisation. Japanese agricultural methods were also successfully exported, such as growing rice by transplantation which led to greater yields.

Currently, India has unsettled relationships with practically all its neighbours. But this is not uncommon. Germany for a long time, has had unsettled relationships with all its neighbours which resulted in two World Wars. Today, Germany is being blamed by the inhabitants of its Eurozone partners for their current economic woes. As noted above, China has had tense relationships with all its neighbours at some time. Avoiding wars and building co-operative relationships are to be applauded.

The distracted parent

Parents should consider the needs and demands of their child with attention and understanding

BY MOHAN DHALL

There is much talk about how children these days are the ‘distracted’ generation. How they cannot live without checking their smart phone every few minutes, to look up Facebook, or other social media, or replying to a steady stream of messages. However, there is very little discussion about the distracted, and even impulsive parent. In general, parents would characterise themselves as more hands on and engaged than parents of previous generations. While it is true that many parents are more involved in the lives of their children, this does not necessarily translate to being fully present and available.

The distracted parent may be defined as one who does not have, or make, the time to tend to their children. This may arise on account on demands from work, the competition arising from the immediacy of modern technology, and/or an inability to display the skills required to help their children discover themselves.

Like their children, a distracted parent may be continuously following up or checking emails, accessing and updating social media, and doing numerous things simultaneously. While parents may

argue that complicated lifestyles and work pressures combine to distract, children experience a situation where they have parents who are both more involved, but also less available, than ever. There are situations where examples of the distracted parent can be identified, which are:

Constant checking of multiple phones

An obvious sign of parental distraction arises when a parent has multiple phones and continually checks each, as they run work and private conversations side by side. A parent can have only one device, and still be distracted because of the continual need to check social media and their emails. Problems arising from such multitasking are disruption of conversations, and not noticing their children. The children’s needs, (in this context, emotional) can be an issue and attending to tasks can be compromised by a lack of attention to detail.

The distracted parent in this scenario may get angry when disrupted, rather than stop the source of distraction (the use of electronic media), and attend to matters that affect the immediate people around them.

Seeing a problem through to its resolution

Children are growing up more

distracted and less known or understood than at any time in the past. This is a strange paradox because there is far greater awareness about children and their needs.

Parents these days give their children everything. They say, “I will give my child anything they want”. This stems from a noble aspect of love and caring. However, it can be fraught with problems.

Unfortunately, it is often what a child wants, they do not get. For example, a child who cannot study because of distraction by electronic media needs parents who can effectively manage and role model the issue of distraction. Similarly, a parent who says, “I always tell my children what I expect of them,” may be missing a central point, what is the child telling you about themselves and how do you (the parent) meet their expectations?

Consider the following: A child says, “Mum, Dad – I need a new phone/MP3,” may be met with the reply, “Why? You already have one”. The child may then say, “But everyone is getting the latest smart phone”.

At this point a distracted parent will say something like, “You are not everyone!” or something else to stop, or limit the conversation, to avoid conflict and to continue with what the parent is doing. However, it might be better to start with a better sense of time

and openness. For example, the parent could say, “Hmmm… so you would really like a new phone/ MP3…. Do you feel that what you have now is leaving you behind?”

It may surprise parents to know that this type of response is NOT an admission or agreement to buy the phone or MP3. It is simply starting with the child. The child’s response may then be clarified by the child as follows, “Well, I know that all my friends are able to play (a particular game) and I can’t”.

The parent can now hear the real issue – the child feels left out. In this way, while the original issue sounded like a technology issue, the underlying message, which will not be heard by a distracted parent, is that the child feels left out.

A response like, “You feel like you can’t keep up or be included because the technology you have is different,” provides a strong sense of understanding and connection. It is also NOT an undertaking to buy anything. In this way a child can feel listened to and supported. Once this has occurred, problems can be effectively resolved. For example a parent could then say, “I wonder how we can solve this issue. What is the game called?”

Of course, all of this takes effort and attention. Through such a conversation, a parent will be clarifying how best to support their child without being distracted by the words, when the underlying feelings matter most.

While it is true that many parents are more involved in the lives of their children, this does not necessarily translate to being fully present and available

A parent can have only one device and still be distracted because of the continual need to check social media and emails

Cyberspace brain strain

The information highway might be a great resource, but what is it really doing to us?

Maryanne Wolfe, a developmental psychologist says, “The Internet has promoted a style of reading that puts efficiency and immediacy over everything else. It makes us mere decoders of information. We no longer make rich mental connections”

BY HASNAIN Z AHEER

For several years, I have produced Everyday Infotech for Indian Link in which I talked about the best ways to use the Internet as a resource to advance your business, career, education, and even entertainment. I’ve talked about search engines, social media, smart phones, digital devices and more.

It’s been a very popular topic. After all, life has become fairly Internet and mobile centric for most of us. And why not? It’s done wonders to our productivity. We are connected 24/7, we multitask, and we get instant access to anything that can be delivered in bits.

Today, however, I’ll take a different position. I’ll tell you about how the Internet is changing the way we think, and why should we be aware of what we are losing, in order to get the many benefits we are so used to from the virtual world. It doesn’t mean that we need to halt our digital progress, we just need to be aware of the changes that are happening in our brains to make this progress.

Is everything hunky dory in the digital world? Not really, says Nicholas Carr, one of the leading thinkers on new media. He came

up with a profound article on how the Internet is re-shaping the way we think.

“Over the past few years, I had an uncomfortable sense that someone has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuits, reprogramming the memory,” writes Carr. My mind is changing. I am no longer thinking the way I used to. “I can feel it most strongly when reading. Earlier I could spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. I could follow the turns of arguments, get caught up in the narrative, dive deep into the text”.

That’s rarely the case now. The concentration drifts after two or three pages, or sometimes even less. “I start fidgeting, lose the thread,” Carr continues. “I start looking for something else to do. I feel as if I am dragging my wayward brain back to the text”. Now, let’s go deeper into this. If we can.

Marshall McLuhan, the wellknown media theorist pointed out way back in the 1960s, “media are not just passive channels of information. They supply the stuff of thought but they also shape the process of thought”.

Print media: books, magazine and newspapers, give us the opportunity to concentrate and contemplate. But, our thinking has now begun to resemble the media we consume. “My mind now expects to take in the information the way Internet distributes it: in a fast moving stream of particles,”

McLuhan adds. “Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface on a jet ski”.

We are not only what we read, we are also how we read.

Maryanne Wolfe, a developmental psychologist says, “The Internet has promoted a style of reading that puts efficiency and immediacy over everything else. It makes us mere decoders of information. We no longer make rich mental connections”.

The human brain is almost infinitely malleable. The connections between 100 billion neurons in our brain are not fixed. Our brain is capable of reprogramming itself all the time. Let me illustrate this with a few examples:

Way back in 1882, while talking about how his writing style changed as he switched from writing with hand to a typewriter, an author had observed: “Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts”.

Another example of how our brain has changed to suit a specific piece of technology is the mechanical clock. In deciding when to eat, to work, to sleep, to rise, we stopped listening to our senses, and started obeying the clock.

At one time, people used to think of their brains as operating like clockwork. Today, in the age of software, they think of operating like a computer. But the Internet promises to go

much further than a timepiece or a typewriter in its effects on cognition. The new media is not just eating old media, it’s making old media play by the new rules. Think of all the tickers, scrolls and pop-ups we see on TV and the short, snappy articles and capsule summaries in magazines and newspapers.

Nicholas Carr does not know if this mass re-programming of our brains is good or bad for our collective future. However, he does make a point about how our brains are being modeled to an industrial philosophy. The philosophy of the industrial revolution was about doing a task in the ‘one best method,’ and was about the ‘system over the person’. It was almost like an algorithm of doing tasks in the most efficient manner.

Carr and other thinkers are worried that many of us are trying to find the ‘one best method,’ and the ‘perfect algorithm’ to carry out mental work.

In the process, we are losing the fuzziness of undistracted reading and contemplation, to algorithms and big data. So, are we wise in industrialising knowledge (mental) work at the cost of changing the way our cognition, our reading skills and our brain works? Only time will tell.

For the full article by Nicholas Carr: www.theatlantic.com/ magazine/archive/2008/07/isgoogle-making-us-stupid/306868/

The new media is not just eating old media, it’s making old media play by the new rules

Looking after your smile

Apex Dental Centre provide exceptional care for your teeth

Back in 2000, Drs Mahesh and Rajya Gantasala started their first Dental Surgery in Liverpool. Now, they have four branches located at Liverpool, Baulkham Hills, Quakers Hill and Wentworthville. There are a number of dentists and visiting specialists working between their practices, including male and female dentists at all locations. They also have highly experienced, friendly dentists who can speak Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Guajarati, as well as English.

Through their prevention techniques, they strive to help you keep your natural teeth. Their ultimate goal is for you to have functional, comfortable, good looking and pain free teeth, now, as well as in the future. To make this possible, they provide services in all aspects of dentistry, for all ages. A typical treatment starts with the patient’s history, a comprehensive examination, radiograph and diagnosis. From this process, an initial treatment plan is determined to treat the urgent needs, and then

the long term management plan is discussed. All of this is done in a stress-free atmosphere aided by an enthusiastic and dedicated team.

Apex dental Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. With the use of autoclaves, the cross-infection control is of highest standards. These measures are routinely monitored for efficacy and accuracy.

Teeth, and sometimes entire faces, can be permanently changed by dental treatment. Therefore it is extremely important that the treatment be done correctly.

Apex Dental Centre has a highly qualified and experienced prosthodontist, who specialises in cosmetic dentistry, dentures, crowns and bridges, implants, veneers and enhanced smile designs. A natural, brighter looking smile can be achieved through the simple procedures of teeth whitening, bonding or complex procedures like porcelain veneers and crowns. Missing teeth can be replaced by implants or bridges as a more permanent, natural looking alternative to dentures. If you are

concerned about your dentition, or have been advised to have a prosthodontic procedure, you can make an appointment today with Dr Mahesh.

Dr Mahesh Gantasala has completed an MDSc in Prosthodontics from the University of Sydney. He has also had extensive general practice experience prior to commencing his specialist training, and has a fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in the Special Field of Prosthodontics. Dr Gantasala is the first prosthodontist in Australia to pass this fellowship examination. He is also a part time Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney teaching post graduate students. If you decide to proceed, you will be surprised to see what a difference a treatment or series of treatments can make.

The clinicians at Apex thrive on building lasting relationships while inspiring their patients to maintain a lifetime of dental health. Their constant pursuit of higher education allows to provide the

patients with the latest techniques dentistry has to offer. They are committed to making our patients feel comfortable, providing customized aesthetic dental care in a relaxed and caring environment.

The staff at Apex develop a strong partnership with each of the patients. They will help you learn about the importance of taking care of your teeth, working closely with you to obtain optimum dental health. Their focus is on treating the cause of any problems you may have, rather than just treating the symptoms. That means you will be on your way to a lifetime of healthy, trouble-free teeth and gums.

If you are looking for a new dentist to look after your family, want a second opinion, in need of complex dental treatment or want to enhance your smile try

Apex Dental Centre. They offer free initial consultation (with dentists only) for patients without health funds and no gap policy for most preventative treatments for health fund members. Give them a call, so they can set-up your first appointment for a free consultation. Remember, they want your positive dental experience to begin the moment you walk in to their door.

Did you know that the team at Apex Dental Centre is committed in their involvement in community sponsorships? They support many Indian activities in Sydney, and are one of the major sponsors for Kellyville Ridge cricket club.

1300 APEX DENTAL

www.apexdentalcentre.com.au

Truths about tribes and trafficking

Two powerful books highlight very real problems, generally glossed over in the euphoria of India’s growth

What Addison wished to do with this novel was to get the message across that the illicit sex trade is a worldwide phenomenon, limited not only to countries like India, but happening right under our very noses everywhere

By CHITRA SUDARSHAN

In June we cast our attention on two books, one nonfiction and the other a novel, that throw light on two very urgent humanitarian issues that animate India of the 21st century, all the hoopla about Indian economic growth and India becoming an ‘emergent power’ notwithstanding. The first is a book on Binayak Sen, a physician who had chosen to work with the tribals of Chattisgarh whose people, in the words of one activist, “have fallen off the collective conscience of the nation”. The second is a novel written by Corban Addison, that intends to draw our attention to the global sex trade, of which India is inexorably a part. Chattisgarh may be in the throes of a Maoist rebellion, but most people in India’s malls and gated communities don’t spend time agonising over this. Dr Binayak Sen chose to work there and stand up for the rights of the very poor and dispossessed, which were

being trampled by the state. How does one begin to understand a man like Binayak Sen? What makes a man trained in medicine from Christian Medical College, Vellore, go and spend his life with the poorest. Tending to them and championing their cause when he could have worked in any of the best hospitals in the world and made a wad of money for himself?

Dilip D’Souza, the author of this biography of Sen, seeks to answer some of these questions.

D’Souza’s book charts Binayak Sen’s story beginning with his arrest in 2007, when he stood accused by the state and charged with sedition. Yes, sedition: the worst offence a citizen can be charged with. He was accused of being a go-between for a jailed Naxalite leader and a businessman, before being released in 2011.

D’Souza delves into news reports and other material to understand what motivates Sen, and cites instances of his constant engagement with issues as basic as malnutrition among the tribals. He contrasts this with the image of a doctor which the prosecution – the state – sought to create, which sought to challenge Sen’s credentials as a doctor in

an attempt to undermine him. In examining the case against Sen D’Souza is scathing in the book about the ‘evidence’ that was cooked up by the state, simply to bring the good doctor down. Sen spent more than a year in prison, part of it in solitary confinement, after which he was set free for ‘appallingly weak evidence’. This deeply sympathetic and moving account of a man of conscience who stood up to the powers that be and suffered enormously for it, is a ‘must read’ for all, especially the cashed up Indian diplomats and officials who hop from country to country touting India’s arrival as a ‘big power’. This is a much-needed corrective to all the recent selfcongratulatory articles and books that gloss over the deep challenges to India’s open-slather free market growth.

A Walk Across the Sun is a novel on the global trade in human trafficking, by author Corban Addison. In the summer of 2008, Addison embarked upon an odyssey that took him to India and Europe and into the corridors of power in Washington DC. In immersing himself in the world of modern-day slavery, he spent time with experts and

activists in the field and went undercover into the brothels of Mumbai to meet trafficking victims firsthand. Out of this journey, A Walk Across the Sun was born. It is a novel that brings together three of Addison’s great passions – storytelling, human rights, and the world’s cultures, in a narrative that enlightens while it entertains. Addison is a supporter of international justice causes, including the abolition of modern slavery, and this novel is his contribution to increasing awareness and doing something about it.

The novel is the story of Ahalya Ghai, a seventeen year old whose village is struck by the tsunami, leaving her and her sister Sita as the sole survivors of their family. With nothing to go on, their only hope is to find refuge in a convent in Chennai, many miles away. A driver agrees to take them, but the second they get into that car they are doomed – the two sisters are sold. Ahalya doesn’t quite understand why any man would pay so much money for them. She soon finds out.

On the other side of the world, in Washington DC, a lawyer, Thomas Clarke witnesses the kidnapping of a young girl.

Struggling to cope with the death of his baby daughter and the collapse of his marriage to Priya, he takes a sabbatical from his high-pressure job and accepts a position with the Bombay branch of CASE, the Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation. He is now on a path that not only involves saving himself and his marriage, but the lives of Ahalya and Sita Ghai.

A Walk Across The Sun is about cruelty and loss, about family and survival, and ultimately about love, and the immeasurable strength of the human spirit.

What Addison wished to do with this novel was to get the message across that the illicit sex trade is a worldwide phenomenon, limited not only to countries like India, but happening right under our very noses everywhere. As he pointed out in an interview, according to UN estimates, profits in illicit sex trade are upwards of $32 billion a year, just behind those in illegal drug and gun trades. His objective in writing this novel are to inspire his readers to learn more about the topic, to discover and support organisations that do “heroic work in this field,” and to “put pressure on people in positions of power,” who have the ability to do something to help girls caught in the vortex of the global sex trade.

Illicit sex trafficking in young children is not a pretty topic and this book may not be for everyone, but it is a real international concern and one that needs to be addressed openly. Addison has made a good start with this novel.

Royal Rajasthan delights diners

A menu unlike any other in Sydney, five star chefs and friendly service make a memorable night

As soon as we entered Rajasthan Delights we were greeted with colourful wall photos of Rajasthan, including its monuments, people, costumes and more, lanterns and other colourful and cheerful decorations. Our ears were greeted with authentic music and we were seated by friendly staff. We knew immediately that this was going to be a memorable dining experience.

Chefs Ganesh Bisht and Ravinder Singh were going to be cooking up a feast for us. Both Indian born chefs have a background working in top class hotels, with Ganesh having worked at Sydney’s Shangri-La, and Ravinder having worked with the Oberoi Hotel Group. This could only mean good things, and we had never experienced the authentic Rajasthani experience in Sydney before.

As most of us know, Rajasthan is famous for its rich heritage, vibrant colours, and of course, its exquisite cuisine. It was the latter that we were excited about. We couldn’t wait to taste the

cuisine with its hardy ingredients that reflects both the desert and tropical rainforest landscape. But most importantly we couldn’t wait to try their food because its made with friendship, which can be seen in the care of the careful preparation of each and every dish.

After being seated we started with the Aloo Tikka.

The combination of chutney and yoghurt worked perfectly with the dry nuts, peas and potato patty. It was a great starter. Next up, the Jaipuri Seekh Kebab delighted our tastebuds. The minced lamb was infused with chopped chillies, ginger, garlic and coriander, skewered and cooked in the tandoor. The Murg ke Shooley was incredibly tender, and you could tell that it had been marinated, boneless in yoghurt for a long time. Unfortunately we couldn’t get the chefs to reveal their secret blend of spices.

And then it was time for the Rajasthani specials, which are the traditional dishes found only in this restaurant. Although if you’re in the mood for something else they have a wide range of other

Indian dishes, including IndiaChinese, and many vegetarian offerings.

And there’s no need to worry, because they can adjust the spices in terms of heat for each diner.

We were served up Lal Maas (a royal fiery lamb dish), Kesari Safed Morgh, Gatta Curry (vegetarian) and Dal Batti (vegetarian). Each dish had a different texture, and if you’ve never had authentic Rajasthani food before, they are all must tries. The Dal Baati is wholegrain dough balls, served with ghee and light Dal over the top. The Dal and the Kesari Safed Morgh were the first to disappear on our table, quickly followed by everything else.

And to finish with we had the mango and chunky fig ice cream, which was the perfect end to our delicious meal. We knew we were going to be back some time very soon to try the rest of the menu.

Melissa Twist

280 Pennant Hills Road, Thornleigh www.rajasthandelights.com.au Contact

Stub it out!

Kicking that butt will help restore health, well-being and happiness, although the journey getting there may be a tough one

By NIMA MeNoM

Tall and lanky, with a high powered motorbike and a lit cigarette between his fingers blowing out circles of smoke – sinister, mysterious and exciting – this is the picture of a macho male in the 1970s. But the truth of the matter is that there is nothing macho, mysterious or exciting about smoking a cigarette. Sinister – yes, because the consequences of smoking can be quite menacing, disturbing and disastrous.

May 31 is marked as ‘World No Tobacco Day’ by WHO. The aim is to highlight the risks associated with tobacco use. It is believed that tobacco kills six million people every year, including 600,000 who are passive smokers. The message of this year’s campaign is “Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”. The WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control requires governments to impose a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, but unfortunately only 19 countries have such national bans. Keeping in line with the WHO call, Australia introduced the law on tobacco plain packaging in 2012, which meant all tobacco products were sold in dark brown packaging with explicit images and health warnings.

Surveys show that an individual’s social economic milieu has a direct bearing on his smoking habits. In Australia smoking is believed to be the largest single cause of disease and death with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations; 2.8% more are likely to die of tobacco related diseases. New research has revealed that tobacco outlets in the poorer WA suburbs are four times more in number than their affluent neighbours.

Smoking rates are higher among manual and factory workers than among office workers and professionals. This is reflected in

the 2004-2005 National Health Survey which showed that current smoking rates among ‘professionals’ was 13.3% while among ‘labourers and related workers’ it was 39.8%. The WHO survey “Socioeconomic Inequality in Smoking in LowIncome and Middle-Income Countries”, revealed that 46.7% of poor men in India smoke in comparison to 21.8% of the rich. And while only 3.1% of wealthy women smoke, 12.4% of women from the lower-income groups have picked up the habit.

A 2010 report reveals that China is the world’s smoking capital, consuming one in three of the world’s cigarettes. One of the reasons for this may be that cigarettes in China are cheap and easily affordable, even by the poorest. China also the largest grower of tobacco in the world.

There is evidence to prove that there is a relationship between smoking and education, as kids who leave school early are more likely to smoke than those who pursue higher levels (university) of education. This in turn affects the quitting process.

The younger the smoker, the more difficult it is to quit. It is believed that a person who starts smoking at 13 years of age will have a more difficult time quitting and has more health-related problems than a person who takes their first puff when they are 21. A person is also more prone to smoking if both their parents are smokers, or if most of their friends smoke.

Cigarettes, it is said, can contain more than 4,000 ingredients including arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia and 43 known carcinogens. Many of these when burnt, can produce chemicals that have been linked to lung damage. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke were 25% more likely to have coronary heart diseases compared to nonsmokers not exposed to smoke.

When women smoke during pregnancy they expose the baby to more carbon monoxide, thus affecting the development of its

brain and nervous systems.

So in spite of all these harmful side effects, why do so many people still smoke? It is because most smokers are physically addicted to the nicotine in tobacco smoke and the strength of this addiction depends on the number of cigarettes being smoked. It takes a lot of courage and determination to quit smoking. Most people are engulfed by fear at the thought of quitting, but quitting is possible. I have met a number of people who have been smokers in the past, but are completely off cigarettes and have stayed ‘tobacco sober’ for nearly 25 years.

Quitting is not an individual process; it is a family commitment with the whole family standing by the ‘quitter’ as there are bound to be withdrawal symptoms when one is on the path to recovery. Common withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting include nicotine cravings, anger, frustration, irritability, anxiety, depression and weight gain. But these will pass. The human body is incredibly resilient. Studies show

that within the first 20 minutes of quitting, the healing process begins. The risk of a heart disease reduces within the first 24 hours, with the ability to smell and taste better, and the re-growth of nerves begins in 48 hours. These benefits will continue to improve your health, the quality of your life and the lives of those you love for years to come. During this time, staying away from triggers like places or things in your daily life that would make you want to smoke, also helps.

It is important to break the psychological dependence on nicotine and get over the fact that smoking helped calm the nerves, or that lighting up and taking a puff made a party more enjoyable. It is important to remember that a cigarette is not a ‘buddy’, and cannot give anyone companionship. You have to break the shackles, you have to break free and for this to happen, you have to want to do it. When it comes to smoking it is good to be a quitter, a quitter of nicotine. So, come on mate, stub out that last cigarette and stop seeing this world through a smoke screen!

The message of this year’s No Tobacco Day campaign is: “Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”

Keeping in line with the WHO call, Australia introduced the law on tobacco plain packaging in 2012, which meant all tobacco products were sold in dark brown packaging with explicit images and health warnings

By PeTRA o’NeILL

When I first visited Beijing 30 years ago, China had just opened its doors to travellers and even though I carried a sign in Chinese saying vegetarian, I found it almost impossible to eat. I was relating this story to Chef David Pooley, of contemporary European restaurant at the China World Hotel: Aria, who, being under thirty, found this difficult to comprehend. He had come over to my table to ask how I was enjoying my meal. It was the most exquisite meal that I have ever had. Each dish resembled a miniature work of art that I had to forgive myself for eating. Beijing is now the epicentre of cuisine in China, a magnet for chefs such as David Pooley, who previously worked at Sydney’s Quay and Claude’s.

I didn’t find this city of over 20 million inhabitants daunting. While there are ultramodern innovative buildings that defy gravity, Beijing is more horizontal than vertical, with a large urban sprawl that extends outwards in rings. There are many sights to see: temples, palaces, museums and monuments, as well as neighbourhoods to explore, the 19th century Legation or European quarter, and even corners of traditional China, where alleyways crisscross, called hutongs.

Bustling

Tiananmen Square, built to venerate the Communist Party, is the world’s largest public square, where tragically in 1989, hundreds of mainly student demonstrators were killed. The square is busy with Chinese sightseers, many from the outer provinces who make the pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

The mammoth National Museum of China, which covers 5,000 years of Chinese history is also here. This is Beijing’s ancient central axis. Along the main arterial boulevards leading here are signs of new China, with gleaming skyscraper headquarters of major companies and shopping malls that sell the world’s leading designer brands: Gucci, Prada and Chanel. Directly north is the Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world, which has monumental proportions, with imposing halls, courtyards and museums.

Beijing’s most visited religious site, the Lama Temple, is a Tibetan Buddhist masterpiece with halls and galleries set in vast courtyards, each hung with religious scroll paintings and decorated with Buddha images.

A short walk away is the Confucian Temple, built in 1302, which is a serene place to absorb Beijing’s historic significance, with grand halls and shrines dedicated to Confucius. This neighbourhood, known as Dongcheng, is where a network of alleyways branch out. Quaint dwellings built of grey slate dating back 800 years have courtyards occupied by families who have

Buddhist temples, busy hutongs and boulevards of designer goods fill China’s heavily populated northern city

The entrance of the Lama Temple Walking through Tiananmen Square

Beijing Yoghurt Looking onto the street from a teahouse

Pictures this page (clockwise):

lived there for generations, who have escaped the bulldozer unscathed, while most other hutong areas have disappeared.

Some hutongs, such as Guozijian and Nan Luogu Xiang, have undergone a dramatic shift, having morphed into a hub of youth culture with quirky boutiques, teahouses, including the delightful Songfeng, small bars, restaurants and cutting edge Chinese clad in skinny jeans and stilettos.

The ancient Drum and Bell Towers are impressive, but climbing the steep stairs to the top of each one left me weary. Between here and Hou Hai Lake are more hutongs busy with Chinese tourists following in pursuit of their tour guide holding a raised flag. The hutongs offer the chance to experience the character of Beijing street life with reminders of old China, like elderly men cycling by on rickety bicycles and pots of yoghurt sold in clay pots that I remember from my first visit over 30 years ago.

With snowflakes beginning to fall, I continued on to the massive Mansion of Prince Gong, which has a series of lavish ornate halls and grand courtyards. With crowds of Chinese tourists and over eager rickshaw drivers, it can be a bit overwhelming, so I instead walked around Hou Hai Lake. I walked past elderly men preparing for an icy swim, onto the

more austere Former Residence of Song Qinglin, the wife of Sun Yat-sen. Qinglin, a feminist who campaigned for the emancipation of women, as well as a spokesperson for modern China’s, rose to become Vice President of the People’s Republic of China. I was the only visitor.

The next day I visited the other must sees: the Temple of Heaven, a series of stunning shrines where the sons of heaven, China’s emperors; came to pray. And just beyond was my favourite neighbourhood of Beijing, the Old Legation Quarter of tree lined streets, including Dong Jiao Min Xiangto, the longest alley of old Beijing, with European architecture including banks, government offices, churches, embassies, a delightful Sichuan restaurant in the former French Post Office, and Hongdu Tailors (once the tailor to top communist officials). A hotel here quaintly describes the area as filled with “daydreams and nostalgia”.

On my final day, I had plans to visit the Great Wall, but decided instead to dine at a restaurant that I’d read about, Made in China, which features specialities from northern China including Peking Duck and Beggar’s Chicken. The bean curd and vegetable hotpot served with rice was the high note I was hoping to find before leaving this amazing city.

Travel noTebook B e I j ING

GETTING T h E r E

Qantas and Cathay Pacific have regular flights to Beijing.

G ETTING Arou N d

Beijing is flat, easy to navigate, and ideal for walking. Unfortunately at the time of my visit, smog levels were high. The subway is convenient, cheap, easy to use and crowded at peak times. While taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, ask your hotel concierge to give an indicative price and write down the destination for you and ensure the meter is on, or opt for hiring a car and an English speaking driver for sightseeing.

Wh E r E To STAy

Travellers are spoilt for choice in Beijing and the standard is very high. A good moderately priced hotel is the Novotel Beijing Peace. T: 8610-6512 8833 W: www.novotel.com.

A chinese style hotel is the Dongjiaominxiang Hotel T: 8610-6524 3311 W: www.bjdjmx.net

There are many small boutique hotels. At the deluxe end, the hotel of choice for visiting world leaders and dignitaries, including Hillary Clinton, is the Shangri-La China World Hotel. Named one of the world’s best hotels, the attention to detail and service are quite extraordinary. T: 8610-6505 2266 W: www. shangri-la.com

Dining Beijing has a vibrant restaurant scene and night life with hundreds of bars and indie nightclubs. Again, standards are very high in the better restaurants, given that Beijing is regarded as China’s showcase city to the world, with regional cuisine well represented. Award winning Made in China at the Grand Hyatt Beijing is excellent. T: 8610-8518 1234 W: www.beijing.grand.hyatt.com

And for contemporary European cuisine, Aria shines. T: 8610-6505 2266 W: www.shangri-la.com

Shopp ING

High end malls including the Oriental Plaza are found just east of the Forbidden City and at the China World Trade Centre. Boutiques in Dongcheng, including The One and Lost and Found sell quirky gifts, accessories and clothing. Avoid the Disneyland style hutongs near Qianmen geared at tourists and unless you know your silk, cashmere, jade and pearls, avoid buying them from markets, as they may not be the real deal.

I NSI d E r’S TI p

English is not widely spoken. Credit cards are not widely used. ATM’s are plentiful, or exchange money at the Bank of China. Visit the most popular sites early, before the crowds arrive, and because most attractions charge entry fees, the cost soon adds up. A word of warning; resist any invitations to accompany anyone who approaches you on the street to go to a teahouse. You may be presented with an exorbitant bill. Visas are free for those transiting in Beijing for up to 72 hours. Visas for longer stays are for single, double or multiple entry.

Pictures this page (clockwise):

If music be the food of love…

Indian Link Radio broadcaster SHRADDHA ARJUN on how she preps for her show, her wide taste in music, and how to

connect with listeners

Ask me what my current favourite song is, and I’ll say Tere Ishq Nachaya by Sona Mohapatra. Or Mo Funk by Advaita. Or No man will ever love you like I do by Raghu Dixit.

For someone whose love for music is not limited to any genre - I enjoy Lady Ga Ga just as much as MS Subbulakshmi - my work at Indian Link Radio is something I absolutely enjoy.

To keep our Bollywood-savvy clientele happy, I am uptodate with the very latest in Bollywood. And while I do enjoy much of what’s on offer, my special passion has to be with the more non-filmy stuff like Indian pop/rock/metal bands that dare to experiment. My regular listeners will vouch for that!

Saturday Night Unplugged

My current show on Saturday nights Saturday Night Unplugged, 5.00pm – 8.00pm is entirely based on music. Good music!

In half hour segments, I present Bollywood songs based on a particular genre (jazz, electro, rap, folk etc); rag/taal based film songs and general discussion about the chosen rag/taal; an artist in focus (a new/upcoming musician/ band, not mainstream Bollywood if possible); local talent (live interview/performances), as well as new numbers, popular hits, retro and yesteryears musician/ composer/lyricist.

The story of a song interests me the most: how it came about

and what it signifies. Like Satrangi re from the movie Dil Se: it establishes the foundation of the love story between Amar and Meghna (the protagonists) in the film, which then goes through 7 stages of love as described in ancient Arabic literature. These shades are defined as attraction, infatuation, love, reverence, worship, obsession and death.

I try to look beneath the surface to understand and appreciate the nuances and finer details of a composition. For example, Minds Without Fear, a number by Grammy Award winning artist Imogen Heap and Vishal Dadlani, came about when Imogen read Tagore’s famous poem Where The Mind Is Without Fear.

Indian film music tends to take us away from other kinds of music that is made in India. There are several musicians wellversed in classical/folk and other genres of music based in India who are sometimes better than the most popular playback singers. Sometimes we find that artists crossover and create beautiful fusion of musical styles that is not necessarily mainstream. I try to research and include their creations in my show.

I’ve had some artists from my playlist such as Raghu Dixit, Advaita, Rekha Bhardwaj retweet me or tweet back in reply when I tweeted that I was dedicating a half hour to their music on Indian Link. This is very encouraging and is definitely as good as a compliment in my opinion!

My show involves a minimum

of two hours of research. I don’t always feature the artists I love or admire the most. I sometimes play music that I don’t necessarily listen to. I try exploring something new every weekend, stepping out of the comfort zone and expanding my knowledge about music and that of the listener.

Baby steps

For my very first show over two years ago, I wrote a thorough script. I read from it word for word. It was very informative, however it lacked in spontaneity and sounded very rehearsed. I then realised how important it is to connect with the listeners, and simply reading from a website/ piece of paper would never help me do that.

At the moment, I do my research well ahead of my show, have a few pointers and speak spontaneously, often including references to current events around me at the radio station or in the news.

Of course much work has gone in to develop my current style. At one stage I was presenting the morning show 7.00am - 9.00am, five days of the week. This included an hour-long segment on spirituality and positive thinking accompanied with bhajans, and another hour on news stories of the day from India and Australia plus stories about the box-office, film releases, horoscopes and books.

The spirituality segment was the most challenging, for a young 20-something party babe like me!

Although I have a certain amount of familiarity and understanding of the vedas and spiritual texts, I am no expert at it. However this segment actually got me a lot of praise and appreciation, especially from older listeners. I’ve had listeners invite me for lunch to their homes (Mrs Kler, Neelam) and sometimes even visit me at the radio station (Ashaji). It was an interesting experience - the reaction from the listeners was completely unexpected. There was a lot of participation from the listeners and many called to tell me that the show helped them prepare for the day and cope with stress.

A desi girl at heart!

Initially when I had started off as an RJ at Indian Link, I tended to speak mostly in English. This actually did not go down too well with my morning show audience. I was able, however, to turn that around by up-skilling. I ended up getting compliments about how shudh my Hindi was on my morning shows, which in my opinion was the best compliment that I’ve ever received (specially because Hindi is not my native tongue, I’m a Tamil speaker! I once had a listener who called in from Perth to correct my pronunciation of the name of a hill station called “Chail”. While it was true that he was a bit unhappy about it, I was actually quite thrilled to know that someone was listening to my show in Perth! (This was before the Indian Link app was introduced and much before it was on Facebook).

I’ve had some artists from my playlist such as Raghu Dixit, Advaita, Rekha Bhardwaj retweet me or tweet back in reply when I tweeted that I was dedicating a half hour to their music on Indian Link

Link up with me on Indian Link

I have enjoyed both the phases of my time at the Indian Link Radio and grown not only as a presenter but also as a human being in more ways than one. Now that I am working elsewhere full-time, I look forward ardently to Saturday nights to present my show and play some great music. Look out for my updates on Facebook, and come join me on a radio date Saturday nights!

Telstra puts us in a spin

Helping families stay in touch with high speed internet and free calls: An Interview with Alister Park, GM of Niche Marketing, Telstra

limited time, there are no upfront costs. So now you can stream your favourite content – like the IPL and Bollywood movies – from your favourite websites fast with Telstra!

We all use the internet at home to access our favourite sites. What does this bundle offer us for the best internet access?

Telstra has recently come out with some fantastic calling offers for both the home phone and mobile. What is the latest offer for the household?

We have just launched a fantastic new offer for your Internet and home phone. You get 200GB of high-speed cable broadband, home phone line rental and some great family calling benefits – all for $80 per month! What’s more, for a

200GB per month of cable Internet , maximum speeds faster than ADSL2+, and we include a free high quality modem, so the whole family can watch their favourite online videos from their favourite websites. You can watch your favourite films and TV shows when you want them.

What is the difference between Cable Broadband and ADSL2+?

Cable broadband is a different technology to ADSL2+. While ADSL2+ is good, the maximum download speeds on cable broad-

band are faster. It’s not available in all households, so give us a call at Telstra and we’ll set you up with the best internet option that suits your house or apartment.

It’s important for all families to stay in touch throughout the day. Tell us about the Family Calls Benefit in this offer. The Family Calls Benefit allows families in Australia to call each other for free. You get free calls

from your Telstra home phone to four Telstra mobile phones - they just need to be on the same Telstra bill.

So for example - a mother can use her Telstra home phone to call her husband’s Telstra mobile for free. The husband can then call his son’s Telstra mobile also for free. And any calls the son makes back to either the home phone or one of the mobiles will still all be at no charge! It’s easy to set up and helps keep your family connected.

$80 a month with a free modem and fast cable broadband speeds is a great deal for any household! Are there any installation costs?

For a limited time, there are no activation or installation costs. And with a free high quality modem included, this is a great deal!

This offer ends 30 June 2013 so we encourage you to call 1800 760 652 if you’d like more information.

Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition at IFFM

Contact Details:

Amrit P Jagota (MARN 0532014)

Mobile Contact Number 0414 338 423

Manvinder K Josan (MARN 0962796)

Mobile Contact Number 0410 719 375

Suite 4, Level 1, Murray Arcade 127-133 Burwood Road, Burwood NSW 2134 Phone: (02) 9747 6071 Fax (02) 9747 4031

Cool as a kiwi

Here’s a fruit that is a testimony to Mother Nature’s artistic genius, writes FARZANA

Sitting on the supermarket crates, these fuzz covered rather ugly looking brown fruits don’t seem very inviting. But slice one open and you’re in for a jolt. Vibrant green flesh, glossy with juice, vividly contrasting to the small black seeds arranged in a careful pattern, with a medley of sweet and tangy flavours, force you to admit: appearances are often misleading. Unarguably kiwifruit is a testimony to Mother

Nature’s artistic genius.

A popular addition to fruit platters around the globe, kiwifruit originated from China. It is the country’s national fruit and was in fact known as the Chinese gooseberry until the 1960s. Since its introduction to New Zealand in the 1900s it has been renamed after the country’s native bird to which it bears a resemblance of sorts. New Zealand is now the leading producer of kiwifruit along with Italy, Chile, Greece and France.

Owing to its many health benefits kiwifruit is growing in popularity in India as well where, it was first planted in the Lal Bagh Gardens of Bangalore as an ornamental plant but successful research and commercial cultivation has seen it become a common fixture at the green grocers around the country in recent years.

For a small fruit, kiwi packs a mighty punch of health benefits. It sits on the top rank of the nutrition density model, which means that it gives you more minerals and vitamins per gram than most fruits.

Eating a kiwifruit could be likened to popping a multi-vitamin pill as it is such a rich source of essential vitamins and nutrients. It is cholesterol free and has low sugar, salt and fat content. It is high in potassium and also contains phosphorous, copper and magnesium.

For colds and flu

The amount of vitamin C present in kiwifruit is twice that found in oranges and three times the amount present in mangoes. So with winter approaching and the need to stave off colds and flus with a high vitamin C intake, go a bit easy on oranges this year and try something different.

SHAKIR

Consuming just one kiwifruit per day gives you your daily recommended amount of vitamin C.

For strong bones

Vitamin D present in kiwifruit is good for strong bones, and combined with vitamin C it fights off free radicals responsible for aging skin.

For glowing skin

Vitamin E which is usually present in fatty foods, has also found a home in kiwifruit which is quite unusual, given that it is a fruit naturally very low in fat. Vitamin E helps maintain a healthy heart and is also well known for its antioxidant properties to maintain healthy, glowing skin.

Essential for women

Kiwifruit is especially recommended for pregnant women as it is a rich source of folic acid. This important nutrient is essential before, after and during pregnancy to ensure proper development of organs in the baby. An adequate amount of folic acid in the mother prevents birth defects, which is why the dietary intake of folic acid is strongly suggested for women, even those just contemplating pregnancy. Research has shown folic acid to be so vital to the brain, heart and cognitive development of children, that many countries are thinking of adding it to flour.

For blood pressure

Potassium is plentiful in kiwifruit. It contains almost the same amount as bananas, only minus the calories. Potassium is helpful in maintaining blood pressure and heart health.

For the eyes

Kiwifruit can help reduce age related deterioration of eyesight as it contains one of the highest concentrations of carotenoid lutein in fruits. Lutein helps prevent muscular degeneration of the eyes, glaucoma and cataract.

For fighting cancer

Containing a host of phytochemicals, unique enzymes,

carotenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids, kiwifruit is high in antioxidants which help fight against oxidative stress and cancer.

For the heart

Including 2-3 kiwifruit in your daily diet helps reduce blood platelet aggregation to improve cardio vascular health.

By stopping deposits and plaque from accumulating on the walls of the arteries, kiwifruit is known to prevent

immune system

Kiwifruit provide natural protection against the effects of stress, inflammation and viruses by modulating the immune system.

For the DNA

To protect your DNA from mutation, eat just two kiwifruits a day as it has been proven to reduce the amount of oxidative damage to the cells and repair the damage caused to DNA by oxidative stress. Eating kiwifruit with or after meals reduces the effect of oxidative stress caused by high fat foods.

For digestion

Owing to its unique combination of dietary fibre and other elements, kiwifruit is considered a natural digestive aid. Consumed after meals it helps relieve the blocked and bloated feeling,

associated with poor digestion.

For anaemia

As kiwifruit facilitates the absorption of iron, it is a recommended fruit if you suffer from anaemia.

For asthma

Consuming kiwifruit lowers the risk of developing respiratory problems like wheezing, cold and coughs. It is useful in treating asthma

in children.

Kiwifruit is also a great energy booster which is another incentive for including it in our diet and making it a regular feature on our tables and lunch boxes.

SEEKINg grOOmS

Well settled parents looking for suitable match for their 32-year-old daughter, who works for a multinational company in Sydney in a senior corporate position. pretty, beautiful, 163cm tall, brought up in, and values both Indian and western culture. Seeking hindu professional man, preferably from a well settled family background. please contact: sur6958@gmail.com or mobile: 0404 147 744.

Seeking suitable match (from Australia, never married) for hindu girl 35 years old, chartered accountant (non-veg), living in Australia over 25 years, with eastern and western family values. please email: ganesh2011v@gmail.com

Match wanted for 42-year-old highly established, tall, slim, very pretty and smart doctor. Looks around 20-25 years of age and belongs to a highly educated and affluent family. divorcee but marriage was nonconsummated. please contact: ladoctoroz@gmail.com

Well settled parents looking for suitable match for their 30-year-old daughter working as a clinical psychologist in Sydney hospital. pretty, beautiful 165cm tall, brought up in and values both Indian and western culture. hindu professional man from well settled family background

mAT R I m O n IAL s

preferred. please contact: fame46213@gmail.com or: 0452 227 920.

Suitable match for beautiful slim, Jatt Sikh. Born on 22nd october, 1987. height: 5’, 3”. Graduated from p u Chandigarh. Is in final year of studying interior design. Belongs to well settled family. Living in Mohali. Looking for a clean shaven, permanent resident/ citizen of Australia. please contact: ravinder_perry2007@yahoo.com.au

or: 0434 331 143 (Australia)

or + 91 987 201 0496 (India).

Respectable Punjabi Khatri family of New delhi seeks alliance for their smart good looking sweet natured family oriented dentist daughter pursuing M.d.S(pedo), 28/159cms, looking for a boy from a cultured family, well settled in same profession. Email: drsobti1984@gmail.com

Seeking groom for Hindu Punjabi 30-yearsold, 5’1”, Australian citizen, well qualified, fair, charming, family oriented, responsible girl in Sydney. Brought up in India. Well settled, qualified, professional suitable matrimony match required. Caste no bar. previous marriage annulled. Contact: +614 062 82 784 or: Lifepartner145@yahoo.com.au

Suitable qualified match for beautiful Ramgharia Sikh girl 32-years-old, 5-3’ divorced after brief marriage, issueless. Aus citizen. MBA (hr-Commerce) presently working in good

position at bank in Sydney. God fearing and cultured family. Girl’s parents visiting Australia in June. Local phone: 0412 254 015 or ranveer.singh787@gmail.com

Gursikh, khatri, Doctor/engineer/PQ match in Australia, for 5’6” Nov.90 born, very beautiful girl having oCI, convent educated in delhi, software engineer in Australia. only well settled and educated family based in delhi should email profile, and photos to: sr_imex@yahoo.com.au

Parents seeking match for fair, slim hindu Khatri girl, 26 years, CpA Australia, working as an accountant in Sydney. Born and brought up in Kenya in a loving family with high moral values, our daughter is now an Australian Citizen with a double degree (Accounting and Applied Finance) from MQ university. We are a small, tight knit, professional family and are looking for a well educated, family oriented boy who is willing to settle in Australia. please email proposal with education, job details and recent photo to rits.bahal@gmail.com

SEEKINg BrIDES

Seeking bride for a 27-year-old well settled Catholic gentlemen 5’6”, permanent resident, studied Electronics Engineering and working in a steady job as a technology officer earning a good salary.

Living in Canberra. please email: catholic_guy_1985@outlook.com

I am a 50-year-old hindu , 5’4’’, Australian citizen, never married, and issueless. I am looking for a lady to share life with. Contact Arun: arun9tiku@yahoo.com.au or 0470 626 483.

Bangalorean gentleman 43-years-old, born in Coorg, India. Sincere / God fearing. Alliance for genuine girlfriend aged 27-45 yrs, possibly early marriage, student, tourist, pr ladies interested. please call Mr davha for appointment on: 02 9676 2512 or: 0458 153 193.

Seeking match for highly educated, nevermarried, 5’ 9”, 1975 born Sikh Khatri boy. Full-time permanent job with decent income in customer service role. Looking for well-educated, never married Sikh girl from Australia. Early marriage. phone: 0422 102 242 or email: jas_ghai01@hotmail.com

TAROT

ArIEs March 21 - April 19

The month is off to a sizzling start with love, romance and togetherness on your mind. You will feel more settled in your work life, with great news relating to a transaction or idea that you have been working on for some time. There will be difficult situations with people in authority, so take care and don’t get over stressed. make sure your paperwork is in order. It is time to seriously look after your teeth, have a check up.

TAUrUs April 20 - May 20

You will be thinking about making more money, but be careful not to invest in stocks and shares, you may not make as much as you think. You may book a holiday as you have not been away for some time. You may bump into someone you have not met for some time. The meeting will be really pleasant and fun. There may be some issues with your lower back this month. Take care and have it seen to.

GEmINI May 21 - June 20

You will be feeling very passionate and loving this month, and your partner will be feeling very loved and appreciated. If you are single, you will want to find a loving partner. Work will be hectic and demanding, but there are good opportunities to gain promotion and more money. You will think of getting your hair styled differently. You will be feeling very energetic and adventurous. Watch out world, here you come!

cANcEr June 21 - July 20

make sure you get a lot of rest, as you will be feeling irritable and restless. There will be interesting developments at work, you may have to eat humble pie if things get tense with colleagues.Finances may be tight, so curb spending. The cards show that you may be looking to buy a new vehicle. Take your time to decide if it is feasible right now. make sure you get plenty of exercise.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

This month will be about work and gaining more projects and contacts. You will look at taking your business overseas as much as possible. relationships will be strained and you may not be enjoying family life. There will be difficult situations with elderly family members. You are feeling a bit restless and overwhelmed. make sure you take care of your bones this month, the cards indicate some pain around your knee area.

VIrGO Aug 23 - sep 22

You will be in the mood to get things organised and change a lot around you. It’s time to spring clean around the house and de-clutter, letting go of unwanted items. Your energy levels will be a little low at times, so make sure you are drinking enough liquids. A relative may not feel too well, but don’t stress out and things will be fine. Take time to relax your nerves, as there is anxiety and stress around you.

predictions for JUNE 2013

By NANcE JADE ALThIyA www.cosmick-aura.com

LIbrA sep 23 - oct 22

The month starts off very slowly. You are result orientated, with great ambitions to progress further. You will be stressed out with work and burdened with family commitments. You may argue with your spouse, so take time out to speak to them. You will spend time with friends to de-stress, but your family may not be happy about this. The cards indicate a time of highs and lows, fresh air will clear your head.

scOrpIO oct 23 - nov 21

The month will be difficult to start with, as you are confused about work, as you are bored and not in the mood. Try and look for another job or position in this company. If in your own business, try to bring in more business and clients. There will be a tendency to lose your temper, so keep cool and relax. There will be good news relating to property that will cheer you up. Balance is needed.

sAGITTArIUs nov 22 - dec 21

June will be a turning point, a make or break month. You will feel like you are getting nowhere fast. Work is busy and keeps you very occupied, with not much time for you or your family. There may be plans for another child. If single, you may think of getting engaged. There will be brilliant news about a loan application. The cards indicate a time to give to the less fortunate.

cAprIcOrN

dec 22 - Jan 19

You will be making plans to bring in some extra income. Work will be slow, but things should look up mid-month. Some people will try to test your patience with their criticism and questions. There will be new projects coming your way but you need to look into them carefully, as you have a tendency to rush into things. The cards are indicating a time to meditate and undergo yoga sessions.

AqUArIUs Jan 20 - feb 18

You will be feeling pretty good this month. Work will be challenging, but you will maintain a good home/work balance. reignite the flames of love and passion by taking your partner on a surprise trip. A friend may need you, as there will be some unsettling factors around them. Do not use harsh words with people, as you may upset important friends and colleagues. relax and rest, June will be power-packed.

pIscEs feb 19 - March 20

June is a good month to make travel plans and get away. You may start a new venture or begin studying in an evening class. Your social life is not too busy, you want to make new friends and meet new people. You will look for new work, and/or plan to move to a different city in the future. Family may be bossy, telling you what to do. The cards indicate a time to celebrate inner peace and happiness.

ThE bUZZ

Freida Pinto in Ethiopia

It may seem like an exotic location for hollywood or Bollywood, but international actress Freida pinto is in Ethiopia for neither. She visited the country for the first time as the global ambassador of the Because I am A Girl Campaign (BIAAG), as part of her role to support plan International’s projects. Freida says educating and empowering girls is the way forward worldwide. BIAAG is plan’s global initiative, aimed to create sustainable projects in developing countries to give girls access to clean water, food, health care, education and protection from violence and exploitation.

“If we educate and empower girls, they will reach their fullest potential, pulling themselves and their families out of every problem they might possibly face,” said Freida.

rIp rITUpArNO

It seems as if not very long ago,

rituparno Ghosh was conducting a Masterclass at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in June 2012, enthralling a rapt audience with the topic ‘realism in Indian cinema’. And now it’s hard to believe that this talented filmmaker is no more. he passed away from cardiac arrest in Kolkata on May 30, at just 49.

rituparno Ghosh was one of India’s best filmmakers in the post-Satyajit ray generation, who started a new wave in Bengali cinema exploring human relationships with bold depictions of sexuality against social themes.

Winner of 12 national and several international awards during a twodecade journey spanning 19 movies, Ghosh was the maker of acclaimed and award-winning Bengali films like Bariwali, Asukh, Utsab, Shubho Mahurat, Chokher Bali, Dosar, Shob Charitro Kalponik and Abohoman, excelling in treating both contemporary issues and period pieces. Born Aug 31, 1963, Ghosh time and again called ray his mentor and inspiration. Just like the master, Ghosh shifted to filmmaking from advertisements. And both enviably picked up awards with almost every film they made.

In 1992, Ghosh made his first film Hirer Angti, a movie for children, which never got released.

however, he shot into prominence two years later with Unishe April that bagged the national award for best feature film. Three years later came another award winning film Dahan showing the trials and tribulations of two contemporary women - one of them molested by goons, and another who

had rushed to help her.

Ghosh’s last released film was Chitrangada (2012), while a few days before his death, he finished shooting a crime thriller Satyanveshi

In 2007, Ghosh made his only English movie The Last Lear starring Amitabh Bachchan.

he directed two hindi movies, the National Award winning Raincoat (2004) and Sunglass (2012).

Ghosh had a great ability to get the best out of matinee idols like Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, and rakhee Gulzar, and helped commercial actresses like raima Sena and rituparna Sengupta to take their career to the next level through their sensitive work in his movies.

The filmmaker was known for his alternate sexuality, enjoyed cross-dressing and had fascination for make-up. he boldly portrayed women’s desires in almost all his films, as he himself battled his sexuality and identity - somewhat of a woman wrapped in a man’s body - through his life.

But the unpretentious portrayal of physical relationships played a major role in Ghosh’s films like Chokher Bali, based on Tagore’s novel, and Antarmahal

he also acted in queer characters in three movies - Chitrangada, Arekti Premer Golpo and Memories in March.

Ghosh would have turned 50 in August. rIp rituparno Ghosh, may your legacy live on forever.

“I am truly inspired by the determination and courage of the girls I have met in the places I have visited in Ethiopia,” she added.

The actress stayed in the country for three days, visiting projects that have been undertaken in different areas of Ethiopia, including schools.

Campaigning for a good cause is not new to Freida, who was the only Indian actress to join tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in support of their annual fundraiser for the Agassi Foundation titled, the ‘15th Grand Slam for Children’, aimed at raising funds for the education of under-privileged children.

In 2013, Freida appeared in a video clip for Gucci’s Chime for Change campaign to raise funds and awareness of women’s issues in terms of education, health and justice. In April 2013, the actress collaborated with uN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and World Bank president Jim yong Kim for the Call to Action-Girl raising Campaign representing plan. It is her interest in supporting children as well as girls that made her the ambassador since July 2012. She voices, advocates, and lobbies about girls concerns on international forums. It’s a commendable cause and hats off to Freida for taking on the role with dedication and personal involvement! Bollywood belles, how about taking a page out of Freida’s book?

Karan can’t connect with TV

his TV chat show Koffee With Karan was a hit, and he’s been a judge of TV shows, but filmmaker Karan Johar says categorically that he won’t be delving into fiction on the small screen because he can’t find the right connect. Karan’s had a series of Bollywood hits like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 and the more recent Student of the Year, but he says candidly that he’s unable

Freida Pinto

to understand the nitty-gritty of fiction shows and their rating systems on TV.

“I am not interested in producing fiction for Indian television at all, the reason being that I don’t understand the medium. I can be a judge or a host; I can do that as an individual. But to produce TV content, you have to know the game,” said Karan in an interview. “you have to know how to cater to the Trps and I think I will be the wrong choice for it. I don’t get it and I don’t belong to it”.

It’s a strange statement for someone who produced and hosted Koffee With Karan, and made Lift Kara De, both for the small screen. “The ratings go up and down every week and changing your content as per that (is tough). It is bad enough that we have to combat box-office pressures, I don’t want to play the Trp game and ruin things for myself,” claimed Karan candidly.

Karan feels the calibre of TV stars has also taken a hit. “The popularity quotient of TV stars is diminishing. We don’t have the ram Kapoors and ronit roys any more. Besides ram and Sakshi, who are still very popular, I guess our quotient of popularity has reduced. I think the whole impact of creating a star on TV is not there too much. I don’t think that mania for TV stars is there,” he said, adding that an overdose of the same genre is the reason.

But he’s still happy in his role of the judge in the sixth season of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, and takes it quite seriously.

“It is important that you get the right tonality even when you are judging, because what you say matters a lot to the contestant who has worked so hard,” he said. “you can’t treat it frivolously. So many careers depend on what you say as everyone wants to win it. All the

Rituparno Ghosh with Melbourne’s Mitu Bhowmick-Lange at last year’s Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

comments which we make are what they take back with them”.

Well, at least fans will still be seeing Karan on TV!

This year it’s a massive party for IIFA returning to Macau, the Las Vegas of the East, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards and weekend will be a “party” celebrating the magic of Indian movies across different domains, says Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft International Entertainment, the organisers of the event.

he promises many surprises in the forthcoming 14th edition of the gala, to be held July 4-6 at the Venetian Macao, a luxury hotel and casino resort. The first time that Macau hosted the Indian film event was in 2009.

“There will be tonnes of stuff, all of which is different. We are holding back some of the information for the excitement, but we are celebrating the magic of the movies across different spectrums - from fashion, movies and dance...you will see that as we unveil it,” Joseph said.

whO wOrE IT bETTEr?

Kate Beckinsale and Chitrangada Singh in Roberto Cavalli

Share your views with us on our Facebook page

e says the edition held in Macau was one of “the most successful IIFAs in the history of IIFA”.

“In many ways, we wanted to repeat the experience as it is a home for all of us. We thought we would develop that one as a stronger platform and make it memorable. This year it is not a weekend, it is an IIFA party,” he

Bollywood’s glitterati swarms the annual event, and this year would be no different.

“I think we have Abhishek Bachchan, deepika padukone and many others. We never really get into names at IIFA. We talk about the entire industry, we talk about nominations and technical awards. We never really speak about the stars,” he said.

IIFA is usually a three-day event comprising press conferences, parties, film premieres, film festivals, business forums, celebrity special events and the glamorous IIFA awards ceremony. So far, the event has gone to places like London, Sun City, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, Malaysia, Bangkok, Toronto and Sri Lanka.

The choice of venue depends on two things every year - there should be a provision of a good stadium and proper rooms, and secondly, the funding needs to be taken care of.

“Second is in terms of funding to make it possible. Going to another country is not cheap, so (while choosing) countries, we look at these efforts. What they are doing for IIFA and what they are doing for Indian cinema,” he said.

Actress Jiah Khan commits suicide

Bollywood actress Nafisa alias Jiah Khan, who was seen opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Nishabd, committed suicide at her residence in Mumbai’s Juhu area, on 3 June. She was 25.

The Britain-born actress was found hanging at her flat in Sagar Sangeet Building in the posh Juhu area of northwest Mumbai around midnight. The cause of the suicide is not yet clear, police said, adding that autopsy reports were awaited.

Police are questioning her domestic help, security personnel and neighbours to ascertain what could have triggered the extreme step.

News of her death was first reported by actress Dia Mirza through a social networking site around 1.45 a.m.

Jiah shot into the limelight in 2007 with Ram Gopal Varma’s Nishabd in which she played a teenager besotted with a man old enough to be her father. She got a Filmfare Best Debutant nomination for the role. “Shocked and choked to hear about Jiah,” Varma tweeted after hearing the news.

“Never seen a debutant actress with more spunk and more spirit than Jiah when I was directing her in Nishabd,” the director said in another tweet.

In 2008, she was seen along with Aamir Khan and Asin in the blockbuster Ghajini, a remake of A.R. Murugadoss’s Tamil film by the same title.

She was last seen in Sajid Khan’s Housefull with Akshay Kumar, Reiteish Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone and Lara Dutta. She was born Nafisa and changed her name to Jiah before going back to her birth name. Her mother is Rabiya Amin, an actress in the 1980s who was seen in the Tahir Hussain movie Dulha Bikta Hai

What’s the chitchat between Padmini Kolhapure and Anil Kapoor?

LAsT IssUE cApTION cONTEsT wINNING ENTry

Big B: “I know they said we looked awful at Cannes, but if it’s any consolation I thought you looked stunning”.

Sunny Maharaj Carlingford NSW

Sunny wins a ticket to new Hindi film release

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

What’s the chitchat between Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan?

Karan Johar

Jiah Khan

Of bUDTAmEEZ DILs AND OThEr yOUThfUL fOLLIEs

and thoughts between the couple. None of it is pointedly profound or even self-consciously clever, where, contrary to current rules of mainstream movies, we are invited to read between the lines.

Ayan Mukerji’s second film lays out an elaborate game-plan for a romantic liaison between two discernibly incompatible human beings who just happen to be thrown together, in two very stylishly planned scenarios. Shot with panache by V Manikanandan in Manali, Spain and udaipur, the film boasts a screenplay that revels in silences rather than screams.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a very confident film. outwardly it exudes the air of being a conventional boy-meetsgirl saga. But scratch the surface, and out comes some refreshing mockery of what we have come to recognise as audiencecapturing tactics. In a startling subversion of convention, director Ayan Mukerji very often allows his characters to seek out their own destination in a journey where unpredictability is not usually a possibility. here, we know where Bunny and Naina’s liaison is leading. But the journey is somehow exhilarating beyond the situation.

In the film, ranbir and deepika, both in their element, are not afraid to do those things that couples in our mainstream films are generally forbidden from doing. There are lengthy exchanges of ideas

Indeed, the central romance develops with the kind of unassuming realism that we rarely find in our overcooked love stories. put plainly, the repressed Naina (deepika) discovers she is hopelessly in love with the footloose Bunny (ranbir). It takes some major journeys through continents and festivities before Bunny, the roguish lover-boy who dreams of traveling the world (and never mind how many hearts he breaks in the process) says ‘I do’ to Naina.

Significantly, deepika’s character seems to pay more than a passing homage to preity Zinta in that other Karan Johar production Kal Ho Na Ho. In that film, preity throws off her spectacles to, well, make a spectacle of herself in the disco song. here, Naina (gosh, the two repressed girls even have the same names!) throws off the chashma for a not-too-impressively choreographed holi song where she simply freaks out.

Easy does it, you want to tell her. Specially since the song-and-dance binge doesn’t really take the character anywhere she wants to go. Barring the Badtameez dil song, most of the music and choreography is puerile with the senseless Madhuri dixit ‘item number’

hitting rock-bottom.

In terms of inventive dance steps or even creating a compatible chemistry between two major stars from two different generations, this one sucks.

And yet at the end of every suffocatingly catchy song, we somehow come up for fresh air and find the lead pair’s romance making a claim for our attention. And yes, there is the other very engaging pair played with understated sensitivity and curbed verve by Kalki Koechlin and Aditya roy Kapur. While Kalki introduces tender moments into her under-written parts, Aditya plays an unanchored alcoholic individual for the second time in a month.

Though there is no conventional aashiqui for Aditya’s character, this time around he manages to make his relationship with his buddy ranbir look interesting and filled-out without being allotted too much space.

The ranbir-Aditya duo has one very interesting confrontational sequence in the second-half where director Ayan Mukerji allows the pair to let its stressful relationship play itself out without extraneous pressure.

That, we soon realise, is the beauty of this film. It doesn’t seem to get anxious

don’ts of a palatable rom-com. Instead, the director provides ample space for his characters to breathe and manifest their innermost secrets and insecurities without the fear of appearing less ‘cool’ than they would like the world to think. ranbir of course, is a natural-born student of the cool-school. Though here his character and performance lack the uncut raw innocence of Wake Up Sid, ranbir still plays a self-centred commitment-phobic with extraordinary self-assurance.

deepika gets into her character’s skin. She is a revelation to herself and to the audience.

The film boasts of some well-written cameo characters played by very skilled actors like dolly Ahluwalia, Tanvi Azmi and Farooque Sheikh, who inhabit Naina and Bunny’s world just long enough to let us know how disparate the world of two made-for-each-other people can be, and how desperate their need to find a mutual centre.

A ravishing rollicking romp into the realm of romance done in a rush of emotions, experience and incidents that ring true, this movie is a delightful pilgrimage into precocity and introspection.

S UBHASH K.jHA

ye H jAWAANI H AI

Dee WANI

STArrINg: ranbir Kapoor, deepika padukone, Kalki Koechlin, Aditya roy Kapur

DIrECTOr: Ayan Mukherji HH

prEITy shOws Off hEr ZEsT fOr LIfE

I SHKQ I N PARIS

STArrINg: preity Zinta, rhehan Malliek and Isabelle Adjani

DIrECTOr: prem raj

Love, as the sages say, is a manysplendoured thing. you can look at it as an occasion for stress and heartbreak (which is why we fall, never rise, in love). or love can be a celebration of life.

director prem raj’s debut film Main Aur Mrs Khanna took a quaint capricious look at love during times of adultery. on this occasion (Ishkq In Paris) he takes flight in a parisian paradise where two strangers, both single, attractive and commitphobic, spend the night together.

No, it’s not doing what you’re thinking in your dirty mind. They roam the cobbled, mysterious, pleasurable lanes of paris in pursuit of a good time and then decide “never” to meet again.

If you’ve seen how Kareena Kapoor affects the sober, staid and repressed Shahid Kapoor in Jab We Met, you’d know that feminine exuberance is a hard aphrodisiac to resist, specially if you are a closet-romantic like Akaash (rhehan Maliek), who in no time at all (the first five minutes of this crisp and delightful slice of love-life comedy) is eating out of Ishkq’s lovely hands.

Ah, Ishqk! She is that kind of a girl. half-French and fully desi, Ishqk fills up the frames with an unbridled joie de vivre I can’t think of a role better written for preity Zinta. Missing from the screen for a couple of years, she bounces back with a performance that derives its zing and sparkle from the actress’ inbuilt zest for life.

preity takes her character Ishqk beyond her own personality.

From Frame one we see Ishkq as a girl trapped in self-deceptions that leave her unnecessarily wary of relationships.

Ishkq hides her real emotions in romantic nonchalance. This is not the first time preity plays a repressed character.

In Nikhil Advani’s Kal Ho Naa Ho, preity had to make a ‘spectacle’ of her character

Naina to bring out her commitment phobia in the absence of a father, who abandoned her when she was young. here, in this parisian homage to all things romantic, preity’s character blossoms before us without props and yet looks immensely fetching. It is a nonaccessoried performance, very basic and liberated from humbug. preity brings out the highs and lows in her emotionally awash character without taking flamboyant leaps of on-camera conceit. It’s a beautifully written and directed part, replete with restrained resonances that give the actress a chance to show her skills in subtle ways.

rhehan as preity’s ‘other’ gives the actress just the right cues. Confident and yet not cocky, rhehan seems poised for a

satisfactory innings in hindi films.

Looking at how well rhehan partners the screen-filling preity on the screen, one wonders if this big-hearted romantic-comedy would have worked with any other two actors! These two may not be mad for each other (at least, not until we leave them at the end of the film). But by Cupid, they are definitely made for each other!

prem raj allows the couple plenty of space to let their feelings breathe freely and easily into the narration. The two protagonists may be in a hurry to get

somewhere, but the film isn’t.

The exquisite camerawork by Manush Nandan sweeps languorously through the neon-lit seductive night-life of paris and the daytime bustle of the streetside cafes without getting into touristic awe. one shot where reity treats rhehan to the wondrous sight of all the lights coming alive in the Eiffel Tower stays with you. If only love could be captured and frozen in its most majestic manifestations!

Interestingly, the narration is fashioned like a fable, with the legendary French actress Isabelle Adjani telling us about Ishkq’s brief encounter with Akaash and its aftermath, without letting us in to her own role in the romance. It’s a cute little secret kept away from us for a while in a film where the main protagonists play out their emotions in full view and with disarming transparency. preity, paris and prem raj whip up a souffle romance. Fresh, frothy, feel good and, yes, look good, and with a solid undercurrent of emotional frisson to guide the love story to its heart-warming culmination, Ishkq In Paris makes you thankful for that thing called love. The tone of narration is umistakably European.

Welcome back, preity. And yes, bon appetite to all moviegoers. Go, tuck in.

SUBHASH K.jHA

Meat market

A vegetarian family works out the bacon-fish from the sausage animal

By RUCHI LAMBA

There is virtually nothing I dislike about Australia, but for years the one thing I could not get accustomed to, was Australian cuisine.

I have always been a vegetarian. It was one of those things which was never discussed in the family. Meat was just never cooked in our house, or the houses of those we visited in India. At least, they wouldn’t cook it before us anyway. You don’t miss something you have never had, and no one in my family had ever had meat. Meateaters, or “non-vegetarians” were a separate class - and a minority as far as I was concerned. And the concept of eating meat disgusted me, until I came to Australia.

I had some Bengali and Maharashtrian friends who ate a lot of fish, and the Punjabis were fond of their murga-shurgas kebabs and tikkas. But since most of my friends were Gujratis or Tamils, I pretty much grew up knowing little about food which did not grow from the ground.

Australia was a learning experience. The grazing cows were bred for their meat, not milk. And wool is not the only thing farmers raise sheep for either.

“It’s not just sheep and cows they eat here,” Singh Uncle told my parents at a dinner at our house one night, when we had newly arrived.

“They eat horses, and pigs and snakes and frogs,” he elaborated. “No, not horses,” interrupted his wife, Singh Aunty. “They use them for their races - especially that big one in Melbourne”.

“Yes, ok, maybe not horses,” murmured Singh Uncle.

“And the snakes and frogs were also introduced by the Chineseyou never heard about the British eating them, did you?”

“But, they do eat frogs in France, especially the legs. Quite a delicacy, I’m told”.

This was all very disturbing for my parents, who were hoping the Singhs would refrain from discussing this topic at dinner. I could see dad having trouble swallowing his morsels, while

FISH??

meat-eaters, or “non-vegetarians” were a separate class - and a minority as far as I was concerned

mum was serving more food on their plates. It’s what she always does when she wants us to shut up, but I don’t think the Singh family knew that. They thought it was silly of us to stick to vegetarianism after moving to Australia, and believed we would start eating meat by the end of the week. Their family had.

My seven-year-old brother was the only one eating like a pig, oblivious to the discussion about what part of the pig was edible.

Mum joined in at this point, asking what animal was “ham”. There was a disagreement over this. Uncle Singh thought ham

meant pig, but Aunty thought pigs were called pork.

My brother wanted to know about flavours. He was still angry at Mum who made him put back the chips packet at Coles because it contained chicken.

“What animal does Coke come from?” he asked and everyone laughed, confusing him even more.

“Coke is vegetarian, stupid; Dad just told you it wasn’t because you were having too much of it,” I whispered to him. Geez, he was so embarrassing in public.

“You stupid,” he said to me aloud. I lifted my leg to kick him

hard under the table, then thought of something better.

I complained to mum instead, who told him off sternly. Then I kicked him anyway, just for the sake of it.

Beef came from cows, we learnt from the Singhs, and salami was probably a type of fish. A sausage was the intestine of an animal called sausage. We still hadn’t worked out bacon, when Singh Uncle told us he had had it for breakfast at a posh hotel he once stayed at in Hobart. Since Hobart was known for seafood, we concluded bacon must be a type of fish.

mum asked what animal was “ham”. There was a disagreement over this. Uncle Singh thought ham meant pig, but Aunty thought pigs were called pork

No one knew what animal was killed for a McDonalds burger, but we were warned that chips were cooked in beef oil, and so that place was a no-no.

Needless to say, we could never eat out because we either did not know what we were being served, or we didn’t like what we were given. We also had little money in those days, and even the Indian restaurants served bad food. Plus my parents liked to convert everything in rupees at the time, which made things too expensive.

I remember looking at a piece of steak, boiled potatoes and peas on my plate at a Year Six camp and asking the teacher for a vegetarian meal instead. My plate was taken away and another one was brought. It contained boiled potatoes and peas.

My family never did eat meat. After nearly 30 years in Australia, we are still vegetarian. The first year was the hardest, but like I said, you don’t miss something you have never had.

Oh, and did I tell you - the Singh family have turned vegetarian!