2013-08 Perth

on Gandhi s iconic charkha

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INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR f?ajni Anand Luthra · ASSISTANT EDITOR Lena Peacock · Sheryl DiJ<it .MELBOURNE.COO.ORDINATOR · Preeti Jabbal

It's on: The election we had to have

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t was a prayer that Tony Abbott probably said every night. With a parliament evenly splir., it came down to cwo men: Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, who decid ed to case their lot in favour of the G illard camp. To ny Abbott has been spi rting bricks ever since that fateful announcement and has continually called on tbe Gillard and Rudd governments r.o call the election.

God has listened and an election has now been called, but perhaps not with aJl o f che advan tages whid1 To ny Abbott had a few months ago. This time, the contest is between two formidable opponents, unlike the battle between Abbott and Gillard, which was heavily tilted in tl1e favour of the leader of the Coalition.

The Labor Party change of leadersh ip was a change which had r.o happen.

Labor was slipping in tbe polls and all indications were tl1at they would be totally annihilated. \'(/bile ilie Gillard led government was putting groundb reaking reforms in place, the message was just not getting tl1rough. Too mum noise about leadership spills, backgrounding of journalists by chose in tl1e anti Gillard, pro Rudd camp, all caused a toxic atmosphere. To the Labor Party and aU political observers, Rudd was whiteanting his leader and the more he did so, the mo re popular he became with the electorate and ilie poU numbers in his favour shot up. The public loved him , bur his own party, other than a select few, despised him.

However, it was self preservation as Gillard was deposed and Rudd became the new leader of the Labor Party, and the fourtl1 Prime Jl.,finisrer of Australia in six years. Since then, poll numbers have shot up.

For tl1e Indian A ustralian community, Kevin Rudd has never openly demonstrated his friendship with India, milike his lo\·e for C hina. The Labor Party has been more dismissive of the smdent issues than tl1e Liberals. The issue whim will emerge is which parry aligns itself witl1 the aspirational Indians

who have now made ilieir new h ome in Australia. Trends have been changing in the l nclian Australian commmu1:y. A large number which cam e down under in the last I 0-15 years have changed from being migrants in employed positions to t hose who have dabbled in small businesses.

These businesses might be &ancluses of Subway, 7-11, or Australia Post, o r even small businesses in exporting/importing, accounti.ng services, food outlets, travel agents etc.

T hey now need a governmem which can support cbern in these activities by n:un imising red rape and the restrictions which lead co a free Aow of services.

The Liberals have form on this bur Labor is erring to narrow this gap.

PM Kevin Rudd has increasiJ1gly spoken about his plan to connect wicl1 business. ln his first term, he could not do chis. If he cannot assure tl1e migrant community iliac he now has a new plan ro help tl1e migrant comm unity hoping to make a better life here, it is goin g to be difficu..lt to get their ticks in ilie ballot box for t he Labor Parry.

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

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COVERSTORY

66 years after Independence, a powerful symbol ofself-reliance, industry and determination still retains its followers and admirers, find RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA and SHERYL DIXIT

choosing locaJ.ly produced ones instead.

T his was a significan t boost to India's Aeclgling economy. The 'sm1desbl (homegrown) movement had taken root, and was here to stay.

More than a message

fter trying his hand at Mahatma Gandhi's cherished spinning wheel at the Sabarmati Ashram, Arnitabh Bac.hchan, one of India's best loved film personalities, wrote that 'peace and serenity' descended upon him. There \Vas never a stronger modern advocate of the cause of using this simple, yet highly sym bolic piece of equipmen t.

Gandhi hin1self had said of the spinning wheel, "Take to spinning to find peace of mind. The music of the wheel will be as balm co your soul. I believe that the yarn we spin is capable of mending the broken warp and woof of our life".

Many symbols epitomise India's independence from British rule, b~it the 'charkhc/ or spinning wheel is perhaps one of tbe most powerful signs of the values and aspirations of India's people of the ti.me.

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The wheel of history The legacy of the spinning wheel is an ancient one, hailing back to the traditional role of women in Indian society. Wo men

6 AUGUST 2013

would spin as part of their daily routine, which would often become a social activity as they spun in groups and rook the opportunity to socialise as weU. Cotton and silk fibres were generaUy spLm on the rharkha, into c.loth o r rugs. The charkha was generaJ.ly included as part of a bride's dowry, when she left her father's home for that of her husband.

British imperialism at its worst Durii1g the colonisation o f India, the British realised that growing cotton was a cash crop that could enrich their coffers.

Cotton was grown in India, then harvested and shipped to Britain by the colonialists, where it was woven and spun into cloth.

This was then shipped back to India and sold at unaffordable prices.

Natural.ly, Mahatma Gandhi opposed this blatantly unfair practice and propagated tl1e concept of weaving homespun c.loth on charkha in India, and wearing tl1is ii1 defiance of the price of English-made cloth. He made spinning on the charkha a symbol of ilie passive resistance movement in India, through this seemi_ngly mild, yet powerful activity.

The homesplm cloth was cal.led 'khaddm' o r 'khadt', meaning 'rough'. Always one co lead by example, Gandhiji began spinning his own khadi on a cbarkha, and through his rnAuence, thousands of Indians took to the spinning wheel, dealing a severe economic blow to the British.

Swadeshi self-sufficiency The entire network of cotton g rowers and pickers, weavers, carders, distributors and charkha makers benefitted from tlus rno,, ement that represented self-sufficiency and interdependence on themselves as a comrnrnucy. Khadi embodied the dignity of labour, equality, unity and independence, as India rook con u-ol of her indigenous industries. le employed millions from smvii1g of cotton seeds to spinning the final c.loth, to creating an outfit; it provided the basic need of clotl1ing for the population, also creating a feeling of patriotic pride in the product. indeed, Nehru called khadi 'the livery of our freedom'.

Besides helping local business, this gesture heralded the start of a nascent 'be lnruan, buy Indian' movement, as Indians began boycotting foreign goods and

Altl1ough it's likely Gandhiji began the ch,11khc1 movement to make a statement to tl1e colonialists, he soon discovered the merit ii1 spinnii1g, as it aided him in silent meditation. It is recorded that he found tl1e action of the spinning wheel soorb.ing and pleasing to the psyche. Gandlu ji spent many an hour placidly spinning on his charkha, engulfed in the silence of his own thoughts.

To ta.ke this concept to the masses, Gandluji also spun in public. It is said tl1at since the traditional chm·kha was bulky and difficult co move, Gandluji held a contest co design a charkha that woLtld be compact, portable and easy to afford. The winner was me box design of the chark.ha, and history recounts that tl1e accelerator wheel was his idea. Also, the role of spinning chat was traditionaJ.ly associated wim women, morphed into an activity that could be performed with ease and relatively pleasing results by men too.

Embedded in Independence So powerful was the infl uence of the charkh,1, that tl1e first designs of the Indian flag created inclLtcled the traditional spinning ,vbeel, a symbol of self-refoince.

However, a few clays before India became independent, a specially constituted Constimenc Assembly decided that the Aag of India must be acceptable to al.I parties and communities, and the colour scheme, saffron, white a.nd green \Vere chosen for the three bands, representing courage and sacrifice, peace and truth, and faith and chivalry respectively. The charkha was

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replaced by the Ashoka chaknt, representing the eternal wheel of law.

The Rag of lndia is only allowed to be made from khadi, although in practice many Rag manufacturers, especially those outside of Tndia, ignore this rule. Some Indian currency has a charkha on it and even political parties use the cbarkha as their symbol ro d enote their patriotism.

Iconic image The black-and-white image (above left) of Gandhi wich his spinning wheel tbat has become an iconic image of the Mahatma, was taken by American phocographer Margaret Bourke-White in 1946, and published in Ufa magazine in 1948.

Margaret Bourke-\Xi'hice said lacer, "It would be impossible to exaggerate the reverence in wh ich (Gandhi's) 'own personal spinning wheel' is held in the ashram".

In notes accompanyi ng the .image, Bourke-White observed, " (Gandhi) spins every day for 1 hour, beginning usually at 4. All members of h is ashram muse spin.

He and his foUowers encourage everyone to spin. Even M. B-W was encouraged to lay (aside) her camera to spin ... \'Vhen

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l remarked that bod1 photography and spinning were handicrafts, d1ey told me serio usly, 'The greater of me rwo is spinning.' Spinning is raised co the heights almost of a religion with Gandhi and his followers. The spinning wheel is sort of an ikon (sic) co ilie111. Spuming is a cure all, and is spoken of in terms of the highest poetry".

Even though some of Gandhi's contemporaries did not understand his obsession wich the spinning wheel (Rabindranath Tagore d1ought the chm-kha and khadi movemem were akin to a cult), ic cannot be denied that it became an agent of change, by heralding d1e Sll'adeshi ed10s, recognising d1e dignity of labour, bringing in social and economic upliftment, and importantly, unifying the Indian masses against a common t hreat.

Modern mission The charkha remams an icon of me swadeshi movement, and despice economic, u1dusrrial, political and social change, has never lost irs popularity. Homespun kbadi is still in demand despite mechanisation of the production process, and the cbarkha

COVERSTORY

is stiJJ used to create wonderful, rare and uniqlle pieces of clothing, rugs or other decor. Charkha spinners are sought after for thei r trade which, while not as aggressively promoted since the past 66 years, still retains its followers and admirers. Indeed, some are found here in Australia, keeping alive the legacy of the spinning w heel.

Gandbiji's charkha and alJ that it embodies stiJJ lives on as a symbol of resilience, selfreliance and strength in a changing world.

The charkha in Australia's Indian community \':(/e may have the impression that the cl1t1rkha is indigenous co India and ics

8 AUGUST 2013

(Above) The Mahatma spins on the 'box' or 'book' charkha (Below) Sydney's Dr. Nana Badve channels the Mahatma for his friends

colonial history, but ic certainly made its presence felt through exponents of the art.

For Dr Nana Badve, a much-loved member of Sydney'.s Marathi community and the RAIN seniors group, the charkha ·was a lifelong passion until he passed away in 2010. He worked in the textiles industry for most of his Life, and there is little doubt

that it was his early introd uction ro the char-kha at just 12, chat inEluenced bis career choice.

His daughter Swari Lele remembers fondly, ''The foLmder member of the Spinners and Weavers Guild in Australia, the late Mrs Pat McMahon asked my dad if he would demonstrate tl, e use of the chark.ba. This was the beginning of a rewarding journey for h im as he conducted

many workshops over 25 years around Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains, Gosford and Sydney. In J anuary 1989, he was a special invitee to the Melbourne Craft convention where he held a large workshop on spinning".

Nana's wife Sarojin.i Badve was always by his side, and a helper at the workshops.

Nana not only owned many spinning wheels, but also sourced some 100 charkha.s

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Guru l ru1ak used it as a metaphor for life's exigencies.

This year's Teeyat1 festival in Sydney is coming up shortly, ru1d once again, V irinder Grewal's cherished cht1rkha will get a good workout.

The Powerhouse Museum Another rhr1rk.ha sits in state at the Powerhou se MuseLUJ1 in Sydney. A prized boxed charkha dating from the 1060s, it was donated by a fabric spinner of many rears.

Accompanying documentation claims a friend bought the item in Bombay for $4.00 and presen ted it to the donor as a gift. The donor approached d1e museum to see if it would acquire cbe artifact, and the gift was gladly received.

(Left) Nana Badve at an early charkha demonstration in Sydney, and above, his woven portrait of Gandhi that now hangs at Cavalry Hospital

(Below) A charkha demo and contest at the annualTeeyan Festival

from India for spinners here.

Born in 1929 to a family much influenced by the Mahatma, young Nana was encouraged co spend some ti me spinning daily, like others in the family. He fu:st learnt to spin cotton on a spindle, called takali. le was hard not co feel drawn coward s the political struggle of the times.

"He stayed at Gandhiji-led ashrams and got involved in the movement for lndependence," Sarojin.i reveals. '1n bis early childhood, he enrolled himself as a volLmteer at youth organisations and was a member till almost 1950. He attended many meetings ad dressed by Gandh iji and his contemporaries" . ln fact, with his charkha, I ana reminded many here of the great man bin1self. Sudha Nararajan, a close friend from the RAIN group, recalls, "Nana would often quote Gandhi: 'Live ;imp(y, so thaJ othu:, l!Jtl:)' .rimp(y live'. These words ring so true today in these times of wasteful exa:avagance. Nana would insist that we need to simplify our lives.

Following in Gandhiji's footsteps, Nana even visited several Indian v illages, where he encouraged the use of the chr1rkhtl'.

Towards the end of his life, ana would often pl)' the cl1r1rk,ha for bis RAIN friends. ''\'v'hen he passed away, we mad e sure to display his favourite charkha during his memot;al service," Sru:ojini says. " His woven poru-ait of Mal1atma Gandhi, which he made as part of his Bachelor's degree in 1952, has now been donated to the Cavalry Hospital in Sydney. It hangs in d1e foyer there".

And a cha rkha contest!

The charkha makes a regular appearru1ce at one specific annual event here in Australia.

The Teeyru1 festival held in the Prn1jabi communities of Sydney ru1d Melbourne is doing its bit to keep the age-old tradition

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T he Mahatma advocated the Lise of the chrnkha as a spirin1al act, ,vith t he hope that its inherent attribute of fostering sel fsufficienC)' would alleviate poverty and bcing about much-needed social upliftmen t.

And indeed, history proves tl1at it did!

This intended message of d1e ,hmkha, to become self-reliwr and to live more local and commun al lives as a means of resisting che globalising power of corporations, is perhaps even more relevru1t today d1an it was in Gandhi's time. It is hoped that d1e cbmkha will continue to inspire generations to com e throLigh its message of hope, humility and perseverance.

alive. Organised by the Indian \Xlomen's CLiltural Association of Australia, chis festival, celebrated primarily by women, strives to provide a 'culmral renaissance' for wome□ of PLmjabi heritage now settled here. It was launched in 2005 by Harpal Kaur, Virinder Grewal and Amandeep Grewal.

"Arts, crafts, music, poetry and dance are all packaged in to a day-long affair, witl1 presentations and compecitio□s in a variety of categories," Harpal Kaur says.

O ne co nrest involves the art of working cbe rharkha. The o rganisation owns four specially created Pw1jabi style charkha flown in fro m India, ,vhich are brought out for each year's event. "\V/e provide the participants with cotton pm1is (roUs of carded cormn) w hich they have to spin into thread," explains Harpal.

JLidges note the time taken to spin me yarn, as weU as the quality of the final product; t11e finer the thread, the better the quality.

Harpal Kaur says, "Our attempt is really to reconnect to our roots by having the older members of our communi ty den1onstrate o ur traditional arts and craft, and to encourage t11e yoLmger members to cry their band ar tl1e u-adicional charkha".

A nmnber of young women have given the charkl1r1 a go at the annual Teeyan festival. While it may not bear much significance to their daily lives, tl1eir grru1dmothers in tl1eir day, would probably have been judged by their prowess at their ch111khr1 abilities. For d1em, it was an important skill of 'cultured living', ru1d girls of 'good upbringing' ,vere expected to be adept at it.

Over the ages, the chat-k.h,1 pervaded many aspects of t11e cultural life o f P1mjabis.

Philosophers and poets from Bu1Je Shah to

AUGUST 2013 9

COVERSTORY

Keeping the wheel turning Exponents of the art ofspinning share their experiences in keeping alive this dwindling craft with FARZANA SHAKIR

Valerie Walker uses a Bliss spinning wheel made by Woo/makers, a Dutch company. The Bliss is a single belt, Scotch tension, single treadle wheel.

he spinning w heel or die 'cbarkhcl carries a special reverence for Indians. It was the symbol of the lndian Independence movement and originaUy held pride of place on the ruuiorutl Aag, before being replaced by the Ashoka wheel. Bur with the advancement iu technology, die faithful spinning wheel is facing extinction. All is not lost though, as Indian Link discovered diehard aficionados striving to keep d1e art of spinning and weaving on the wheel, alive in Australia.

1 caught up ,vith two such devotees, Jennifer Hopper and Valerie Walker, born accomplished spinners and weavers doing their bir co keep die wheel mming.

Jennifer Marjorje Hopper lives in Diamond Beach on the east coast of S\XI, and reaches spinning and weaving at the Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild of NSW (HWSG-NSWI).

Jeruufer developed an interest in spinning at school. "i\lfy father was involved in wool

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10 AUGUST 2013

production in the country," she reveals. "At Hornsby Girls High Schoo~ I chose Textiles as one of my subjects for the Intermediate School Certificate. I enjoyed it and chose it for the Leaving Certificate. At the end of high school, 1 chose to train as a lugh school Textiles & Design teacher".

She continues, " Both sides of my family included teachers for many years, so I was familiar with die role of tea.clung. I trained for two years at d1e Sydney Teachers College and was first employed by the NS\XI Department of Schools as a full time qualified high school Textiles teacher at Bmwood Girls High School in Sydney, and later at Sydney Girls High School. Wlille living in Sydney I attended evening TAFE courses at Brookvale with Eve Rashley, die 'guru' of spinning. Over tioie, I ran workshops teaching spinning and weaving, using wool. This expanded into d1e use of wool for felting, 1:nain.ly because of d1e standard quality of Australian wool. I have taught many workshops in various parts

of Australia, given demonstratio ns in high schools and been invited to oilier countries as weU".

Jennifer was granted life membership at the H\XISG-NSW a considerable tin1e ago.

Formed in 1947, the Guild is a not- forprofit organisation aiming to bring togemer people from various backgrounds who practise hand-weaving, spinning and other associated crafts. Efforts arc also put into fostering and encouraging these crafts by providing opporm1uties for instruction, discussion and exlubition of work. The Guild boasts a membership of hm1dreds of enthusiasts from all over d1e state who meet once a month at their current premises in Burwood.

Even d1ough spinning on d1e wheel does not have any meditative effect o n Jeruufer, she says, "l am inspired by d1e simplicity of me treadling and d1e rhythm achieved. 1t is possible when on d1e wheel to talk to others, listen to music, have a comTersarion, ask 9uestions and sort out current p roblems in one's life".

Jennifer beJjeves diere is enough interest amongst )'ounger Australians to keep me art of spinning and weaving alive, but she adnuts it needs conviction. "Wlille it is not a hard craft to master, it depends on the access to people interested in teaching, d1e 9ualiry of the teacher and the smdent's own interest," she states candidly.

Valerie Walker, treasurer at the Canberra Spinners and Weavers Inc (CSW') has been teaching the a.rt of spinning and weaving for over 30 years. She is also proficient in dyeing, knitting, sewing, wool tapestries, patchwork and embroidery.

Por Valerie, the interest in weaving runs in tbe fanilly.

"Two of my great great grandfad1ers were weavers; diey came to Australia from England in the early 1800s as convicts. Also, my mother was always knitting and I wan ted to learn where the yarn came from;' she says.

She learnt the craft in Canberra in 1974. Shedding light on die CSWValerie reveals, "The CSW was formed in 1966 by a group of ladies doing dus craft. Today there are 140 members and we meet every week.

Member's interests include felting, weaving, knitting, spinning, rag rugging, dyeing and tapestry weaving. Apart from workshops and group activities, CSW also o rganises an exlubition and sale of members work every year".

Valerie adds, "The organisation created an International Scarf Exchange in 1994.

A different Australian guild conducts tlus activity each year, and we have entrants from d1e USA and NZ this year. Memberslup of CSW grew to 180 about 4 years ago, but is now going down due tO rising fees and members ageing".

The actual part of sitting, spinning and seeing the Aeece being turned imo yam is what inspires Valerie about spinning on me wheel.

"It is very calming, l enjoy seeing my foushed bobbin of yarn," she states.

Describing the basic steps and techniques of spinning Valerie explains, ''It involves deciding what the fleece is good for,

SPINNING AUSTRALIA HAND SPINNERS AND WEAVERS GUILD Of NSW INC. 205 Burwood Rd Burwood NSW 2134 Ph: 02 9745 1603 www.nsweave.org.au HANDWEAVERS AND SP INNERS GUILD Of VICTORIA INC. 655 Nicholson Rd Carlton North Vic 3054 Ph: 03 9387 9222 www.vicnet.net.au/~ handspin/ CANBERRA SPINNERS AND WEAVERS Majura Oval, corner of Angas and Sherbrooke Streets, Ainslie, Canberra.

Ph: 02 6247 1048 www.csw.org.au QUEENSLAND WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND FIBRE ARTISTS Fibrecraft House, 12 Payne Street Auchenflower, Brisbane Ph: 07 3371 0009 www.qldspinners.org.au HANDSPINNERS AND WEAVERS GUILD Of SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC 196 South Road Mile End Adelaide South Australia 5031 Ph: 08 8352 4843 www.handspinweavesa

preparing the fleece: combing, washing etc.

Then spinrung, once bobbins are spun they are plied and then maybe dyed, and finally used in knitting or weaving. One bobbin of spinning 100gms takes about tbree hours you need two bobbins to make one skein of yarn. There ate different techniques like the long draw, short draw, d1e wooUen med1od, worsted mediod, fine and mick. My personal favourite is the fine lace spinning".

Asked what she sees as the fumre of spinning and weaving in Australia, Valarie was honest in voicing her opi.tuon, ''It will still be as now, a small amount of professional spinning, but mostly a hobby craft''. She also does not beJjeve diere is enough interest in spinning on me wheel amongst youngsters. ''\Ve are always trying to recruit younger people - knitting has upsurged in the last four years, though. The CSW is always out demonstrating to schools, fairs and markets, promoting diese skills. We hope other guilds a:rorn1d Australia are doing d1e same," she says.

Both Valerie and Jennifer tbjnk more can be done to promote and preserve this craft.

In the meantime, experts like diem all over the coll.lltry are trying to keep the wheel spinning by passing their skills on to die next generation of weavers.

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WHY HSC SCALING MATTERS

BY RICHARD CHUA, FOUNDER OF TALENT 100 AND EDUCATION THOUGHT LEADER In this article, Richard Chua explains how to target and achieve an ATAR. Richard graduated from Sydney Grammar School with a UAI of 100 (ATAR equivalent 99.95). He currently works as a Strategy Associate for Google in Mountain View.

Next week, HSC students will finally get their ATARs - four digits which could determine what careers and professions they may be doing fo r the next 20 years. Your ATAR Is your t icket to University, so Its important to know exactly how t his is calculated.

WHAT IS SCALING?

The UAC basically converts the averaged HSC Assessment and HSC Examination Marks to their own UAC score through a process of scaling to a UAC score. Each unit is converted to a score of 50 and the best 10 units (Including English) are used to calc ulate a score of 500. Most students are unaware that their ATAR is calculated from this base score of 500. The table below illustrate the relat ionship: ATAR 99.95 99.5 99 98 95 90 85

UAC Score 476 456 446 432 404

371 344

You now know what ranks you need in each subject to score any ATAR. The next steps are to ensure that you achieve t hose ranks.

At Talent 100, we've examined the scaling of categories of subjects such as Mathemat ics, English, Science and the Humanities. When you examine the scaling graphs. some clear trends emerge:

If you are in Year 9-12, Talent lOO's courses can help you do just that. We've consistently had the best results in t he industr y since 2008. Our courses will help you develop the three skills and resources you need to ace any exam:

1. Understand the theory: We teach in small gr oups of up to 13 to ensure you understand every syllabus dot point.

2 . Perfect exam technique: With regular tests and homework set in examination style, we he lp you train your exam t echnique on a weekly basis.

3 . Online learning system: Need extra help on a topic? Our c lasses are supported by the most advanced on line learning system ever c reated for HSC student s.

At Ta lent 100, we·ve helped 7000s of students achieve their dreams, and we"d like to help you.

For a THREE WEEK free trial, simply call us on 1300 999 100 or you're welcome to v isit www.talent-100.com.au

Scaling Graph (fig 1) Categories

Highest Scaling Sub1ects

Decision Rules

Maths

3Uand4U

3U and 4U Maths are by far, the highest scaling subjects that are readily accessible students. Because of their high scaling, you should take the highest level of malhematic,; that you are capable of. For Instance, to be on target for an AT/\R of 99+, you only need to be av,rage In 4U Maths, whereas you would need to be in the top 4% of 2U Maths.

English

Advanced &Higher

Where possible you should take at least advanced English. The higher English as a group, scale well above Standard English. For instance, students who scored in the 25% of Advance receive scores higher than those students who score in the top 1% of standard.

Physic,;&

Physic,; and Chemistry are the highest scaling sciences, and scale significantly better than biology.

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., _ _ _ _ _ _ _" - - - - - . . , i :......~ --source: Report on the scaling of the 2011 HSC (UAC) You should use this g raph to target the UAC score out of 500 you need to achieve your desired ATAR. This way, you can be fairly certain what ATAR you are heading for well before you sit your exams, and adjust your study patterns accordingly. For instance. if you wanted to score an ATAR of 99, you would need 449, or roughly 45/50 for every subject.

12 AUGUST 2013

p / 1300 999 10 0

STUDY SMARTER, NOT HARDER

HOW DO THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS SCALE?

ATARVSUAC

www.ta l ent-lOO.com .au

The most important thing to note is that not all subjects are created or scaled equally. Some subjects that are considered harder are obviously scaled higher, whilst some subjects in which it is easy to score high marks w ill be scaled downwards.

What you now have are t he relative benchmarks for performance to score any ATAR. Hence, suppose you were aiming for an ATAR of 99.00: If you were in the top 20% for Maths Ext 2. but in the top 20% for English. t his graph clearly indicates that your time w ill be better spent in English, because an improvement to the Top 10% in English is going to deliver much better gains than a similar improvement in Maths

Scaling Is the process of standardising marks so that they can be compared across subjects. In scaling marks, the UAC will adjust the highest mark, median mark and standard deviation so that all subjects are directly comparable. The reason it is needed is that without scaling, it would be impossible to compare a 95 in Economics with a 95 in Mathematics Extension 2.

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SCALING GRAPHS

The graph below (fig 1) gives you a good Indication of how subject scales. From the previous table. you should be able to see If you wanted to score an ATAR of, say 99, you would need to score -45/50.

Following those marks, you can see that you would need to score in the top 56% of Maths Ext 2, the top 23% of Maths Ext 1. but in the top 4% of Maths Advanced. For simplicity's sake. we've shown w hat it takes to score ATARs of 95, 97 and 99 respectively.

At Talent 100, we·ve consistently had more than a quarter of our students achieving ATARs over 99. Last year, we had 7 students who achieved an ATAR of 99.95. This week I'm going to share w ith you the secrets to t heir success - how to break any ATAR down into smaller. more achievable g oals in each of your subjects.

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Economics is t he best scaling humanity, and scales just as well as Physics and Dlemistry. Apart from Economics, the other humanities scale significantly worse - you will need exceptional ranks to score an overall ATAR if you choose humanities.

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PEOPLE

GROW for maintaining mental well-being A unique organisation helps people with mental health problems through strategies to build self-confidence I

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m the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, almost half (45.5%) of the coral population in Australia experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. One in five or 20% of the Australian population aged 16-85 years experienced mental disorders in die previous 12 monrns of rneir survey. This is equivalent to about 3.2 million Australians.

Depression and anxiery are die most prevalent mental disorders experienced by Australians.

Depression alone is predicted ro be one of the world's largest health problems by 2020.

One of the people at the forefront of efforts to improve mental wellbeing in die community is Gaurav Chawla, the young branch manager of GROW in Western Australia, GROW is a community-based organisation that has developed a unique program for improving and matntaining ment.'ll well-being of all Australians. GROW started operations in Sydney but now has groups across Australia. For over 50 years, d1eir program has helped thousands of Australians recover from a range of mental heald1 issues, including depression,

INDIAN LINK

anxieC),~ panic attacks as well as diagnosed mental illness.

According ro Gaurav, "People who seek help with GRO\XI are those struggling with mental heald1 issues, anger issues, depression, anxiety or even people who just wam co improve their lifesryle. As the name suggests, d1e program is about growth, growing friendships and leading a more 'rational life,' rather than an emotional one, The program is free of charge, people do nor need diagnosis or referral co participate". lo a safe and confidential environment, GRO\XT members get together for weekly meetings to participate in die organised program. The meetings last for two hours approximately, and are followed by refreshments.

"The group sizes vary from 3-10 members and are run by experienced 'Growers' who have taken a voluntary leadership role within the group. Working in a group provides peer-support ,vhere the group members help each o d1er:' reveals Gaurav.

He highlights one of cbe many thinking strategies used wid1in the program to ask oneself the four stabilising questions when one is emotionalJy upset * What is it char I an1 troubled about * Is ir certain, probable or only possible * How imporrant is it? * What shall I do about it?

Every group has a leader and a recorder. Once people start improving within d1e group, they are empowered co take leadership

roles. GROW provides weekend leadership training to group members, so chat members can take o,voership. lt al.so drives their personal growth. It is a voluntary program, completely funded by the Mental Health Commission.

The success of the program is measured qualitatively through the personal testimonies of people when d1ey scare recovering, and stare celling ochers about the improvement in their lives.

Are there clients who may nor be suitable for mis program?

"The program is a 'complement' or 'addition' to the medical treatment route for mental health issues, and does not seek co replace traditional medical recommendatio ns," exp lains Gaurav. "It looks at improving the thought process; 'you alone can do it but you can't do it alone', is the dictum being practiced". As state manager for WA GROW, Gaurav oversees the program in the stare, which includes both metropolitan and regional groups, o ut of his office .i n Perch. ''However, it is a ream and collaborative effort.

We inclLtde all the growers and the facilitators into the decision making process," he stares.

Gaurav was born in Delhi, and worked in London and New Zealand, besides work.mg with asylum seekers and agencies dealing with mental heald1 and alcohol issues. His passion is co work for non-profit social service organisations and not-for-profit seeking corporates. This led him to his current role in GROW. And does GROW provide support to migrant communities?

"GROW is crying co work with Red Cross for migrant and asylum seekers. I personalJy come from a migrant background, my parents migrated to India from Pakistan and I migrated co Australia," he says. "Migrants sometimes don't get what they expect when rney migrate co Australia, and d1eir dreams are shattered. This results in disappoinanenc".

As part of his shore-term plans for the organisation, GROW is celebrating 'Odd socks day' o n October 4, encouraging participants co wear different socks co support me anti-stigma campaign. The motivation is to break d1e stignia associated with mental health, and the need for compassion.

"We want people co make friendships and realise that we are all human beings despite the mental health issues," Gaurav scares emphatically.

In his spare time, Gamav runs free yoga and kite surfing classes on die beach in North Perch. His maxim is, "As we connect ,vith nature, bealm improves".

The cop three suggestions from Gaurav ro readers co make sure they are on top of their mental well-being are to (1) Connect with J\fother I atme; (2) Look after holistic health; do yoga, go for a walk, do tai chi, or any od1er different activiry; and (3) Live a humorous life, laugh, focus on the positive side of things - look at what you have and nor what you don't have.

Gaurav is happy to receive queries and to co1mecr with more people wirnin the wider

communiC),', and can be contacted on orangeasia@gmail.co m. More information about d1e program is avail.able ar www.grow.net.au, including group meeting locations.

AUGUST 2013 13

INDIAOZ

Empowering women in rural India /-India Australia gets together with Franklyn Scholar to launch a vocational training centre in Rajas than

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SALONIKOBER

wenry-yea.r-old Jaipur girl Santosh has serious physical impairment as a result of comracting polio as a child. Losing both her pa.rents at a young age, she grew up under the care of her grandmother as part of a nomadic community of ba1ljams (gypsies) in a .r emote slum area of Jaipur. Growing up with absolutely no self-respect, she felt like she was a brn-den on her grandmother.

Determined to change her desciny, Sancosb d eveloped her skills as a jewellery and handicraft student and gained back her confidence. Today, she works as a trainer at the Franklyn Scholar Training Centre at Jhag Children's Village just outside of Jaipur and earns a regular income. She is able to fully support her 90-year-old grandmother and does not ler her physical disabilicies hinder her.

Sancosh owes her new life co Abha Goswami, founding director of tbe NGO I-Iadia, who encouraged her to parcicipate in the Ladli Vocational Training Centre in Jaipur in the year 2000.

Franklyn Scholar, an Australian workforce education provider, a.long witb I-India Project, inaugurated the Franklyn Scholar Vocational Training Centre earlier this year at tbe J hag Children's Village, located 45km south of Jaipur on the Jaipur-Ajmer national highway.

Opening th.is vocational centre has bee□ a long standing endeavour for I-India

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14 AUGUST 2013

Australia, the local chapter of f-lndia, a registered not-forprofit organisation established in 2007. The centre is built on a 5-acre block of land in Jhag, which was sold co I -India by the Governmeor o f Rajasthan at a nominal cost. It aims at empowering women and children from troubled bad{grounds who are living below the poverty line with only d1e bare minimum required to stay alive.

"Their homes a.re generally one room mud-brid dwellings witb an outdoor kitchen and few meagre possessions," recalls 1-lndia Australia committee m=ber Renate Barnett, who recently visited me village herself.

"I always feel so concerned about d1em when the weather conditions are extreme. TI1e mid-40 degree hear that is commonplace through the summer is unbearable for a day, let alone a whole season," she adds.

Last August, many villagers lost everything they had in the wo.rlcl when their homes were washed away in d1e monsoon floods.

"With the construction of tbe Franklyn Scholar Vocational Training Centre, I -India Auma.lia hopes to not only improving the living conditions of the people, but also at developing a feeling of self respect amongst them," says Renate.

A leading provider of workforce education across a range of industry sectors and qualifications, Franklyn Scholar rook on the role of the sponsor and financed d1e entire construction and fir out cost. ln a difficult financial climate, Franklyn Scholar is a company that has nor shied away from its social responsibility of giving back to tl1e community. lnstead, me organisacion has =braced this task with an open heart and has been helping I-India Australia since 2010. le began when Franklyn Scholar bad starred raising money for I-India Australia through 'Franklyn Footpr ints,' a project that was d eveloped with die desire to give back to the community and raise awareness.

"A footprint leaves an enduring mark and tbis is exactly what the Franklyn Footprint has been set up co do - allowing each and every person working for Franklyn Scholar co leave their lasting impression by engaging and participating in their State's fundraising activities and creating awareness of this incredibly important project," says Victoria Woodfall, Tasmanian based training consultant and coordinator of Franklyn Foo tprincs.

Since 2010, Franklyn Scholar has donated more than $100,000 to help build tbe vocational centre.

20% of this ammmt has been ra ised by d1e staff of Franklyn Scholar through various ftmdraising activities suc.h as raffles, morning teas, golf days, Bollywood dinners and movie and trivia nights. "The Jhag Children's Village is in a rather remote corner of Rajasthan, off the tourist track and out of public view, so it is fantastic that the company is prepared to invest such a huge ammmr of its time and capital where it will not receive maximum exposure and recognition," says Renate.

Besides the Franklyn Scholar Vocacional Training Centre, the Jhag Children's Village is planning rwo shelter homes for orphaned and homeless children, a health centre, sports field, produce garden, transport vehicle, as well as staff accommodation.

With tl1e construction of chis village, ]-India aims at improving tbe quality of life for people in

nine surrounding villages d1.tougb provision of medical services, educating children and providing vocational training services. The goal is to make tl1e commLmity self-sufficient and in nirn, pm an end to the high numbers of people migrating to the big cities in search of h igher income but who unfornmarely, due co d1eir lack of educacion, join thousands o f similar!)' disadvantaged people struggling to survive in atrocious conditions.

Anod1er focus point is educating women of the community in skills that can help d1em become self-sufficient and may even evenmally help mem to set up their own micro-businesses or cooperacives. \'(/ith the resources and connections d1at I-India has to offer, women will be able to sell items they make without having to give a large cue of their profit

www.indianlink.com.au

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to the Lu1wamed middleman. Not only w ill this benefit their lo cal economy, it will also help build a feeling of self respect amongst the women and along with it, a feeling of self reJiance and independence.

"Improving the status of women in these very traditional regions is a Jong and slow process, but throug h empowerment initiatives such as those o ffered at the Franklyn Scholar Vocational Training Centre, it is assured," says Renate.

Du.ring die first phase of operatio ns, the centre will offer smdents a munber of vocational courses including tailoring, jewellery design, CAD, block printing and mam~facturin g of different kinds of handicrafts, paper products etc. Since its inaugmatio n, d1e centre bas been organising regular personal contact programmes, home smdies of locals, and orjencation camps co spread the word amongst neighbouring viJJages and inform d1em abo ut how they can use the skills and trruning programme co improve d1eir quwty of life. As a result of this

INDIAN LINK

effort, the centre has already sr.arted teaching die Tailoring Trrucing course, as well as Computer Studies. Additionally, die local communi ty is offered employment opportunities for construction and maintenance of die school and shelter homes.

The prospect of improving their quwt:y of life has created an eagerness co learn skills and

work togedi er harmonio usly.

In d1e funtre, Franklyn Scholar plans to continue its support for die Jhag Crulclren's Village by financing their recurring costs for die next two years, at wluch po int the centre wiU be able to support itself. They have already started fundraising to rruse money for a van iliac will provide transport to teachers co and from the

vocational training centre.

"I-India Project Austrwa is immensely proud of die Franklyn Scholar Vocational Training Centre, as it is a shining e.-xample of how corporate Austrwa has a heart and conscience," says Renate.

For more decruJs of d1e work done by 1-lndia Project Austrwa, visi t d1eir website www.i-indiaproject.org.au

AUGUST 2013 15

SCIENCE

Helping ambulances get through 1

Year 9 student Viney Kumar s app makes it to the finals at the International Google Science Fair, reports FARZANA SHAKIR

oogle announced chis year's 15 finalises for its third annual Science Fair in June, ,\~th ]4-year-old Viney Kumar making the 'A: list as the only Australian, for his innovative PART project.

The Google Science Fair provides a p latform for budding inventors all around the world to showcase their innovative solutions, gain recogn.irion on an internarional scale and realise their dreams of making a difference.

The comperirion is divided inro three age groups 13-14, 15-16 and 1 7- I 8. This year Viney will be arnonge die 15 whiz kids who wi.U head to Google's headguarters in California on September 20, to presenr their projects and compete for the prize of a 10-day trip to die Galapagos .Islands with Narional Geographic E,1Jeditions, and $50,000 in scholarship funding.

Viney's PART program (Police and Ambulance Regularing Traffic) is an android app designed to give an early warning ro vehicles, of an approaching emergency rescue vehicle (ERV). The aim is ro give traffic enough time to get out of di e way of die ERV, which in turn, \Wl enable che rescue persoru1el to arrive more guickly at the scene of an emergencr "My app has die potenrial to save lives as ic is up ro

G

16 AUGUST 2013

eight rimes more efficienr than the current method of sirens which allows vehicles a reaction rime of only 7 seconds ro clear the way," explains V iney.

Inspiration ro develop the PART programme came to Viney during his recenr trip to India where he was sntck in traffic and could hear an anibulance crying ro get through. The helplessness of die ERV drove Viney co explore ideas of improving the system and making it more efficient. rle started working on his app in January, delving into extensive research and eventually devising the early warning system employing a web server. "l conducted numerous trials using two cell phones, one sending the warning and the other receiving ic," says Viney. After recording the response rimes and comparing the existing staristics, I was confident of the success of my program".

Viney saw the ad for the Google Science Fair online and decided to enter. He says the concept of sucb a fait was very artracrive. "It appealed to me as ic presented a crearive approach to science, plus die range of participants was from all over the world. G lobally 8,000 teens from 120 countries cook pare and die process was all online," he explains.

The PART program was entered inro cbe Google Science Fair on

April 30 as a prorotype, after the process of oudiuiug the concept and writing the report to ei..1Jlain die hypothesis. After rigorous screening, 90 regional finalists were announced on June 12. This was followed by a face-ro-face interview on die Google bangom.

A second round o f judging later, Viney was declared as one of die 15 finalists, and die only one from Australia co make it ro mis level.

Viney hopes his PART program will be available in Australia in die next couple of years on car dashboards. ''Using a web server, cbe cars will be able to receive early audirory warning of approaching ERVs within 800m via GPS cedmology," he adds. "Also, die confusion associated widi determining the direction of die ERV will be eliminated as the image and direcrion of the rescue vehicle will be displayed on Google maps".

Viney bas oo plans of putting his app on the apps market as he realises people won't be able ro use their phones \Vhile driving. He believes the on car dashboards will be the ideal home for his in vention.

But widi so many amazing entries from die finalists, like green technology for degrading detergents, a flashlight powered by cbe buman hand, and the rnediod of using banana peel m produce bio plastic, does Viney consider any of chem close competition? lc(js response to chi~ guesrion displayed manLrity beyond his years as Vinay

replies, "J find ic hard to name any entry that I perceive to be cough competition because each one of the final 15 projects is on a unigue topic in different fields of science.

The)' vary greatly from each od,er, but each and every one of d1em bas the potential ro change die world".

Viney is a Year 9 student at Knox Grammar School in Sydney \Vhere he has received a great deal of support in developing his program. He wishes to d1ank his mentor for die help wid1 GPS coding, his science teacher Ms De Ridder, Dean of Sn1dies Ms Karen Yager, his parenrs and grandparents for their tireless support in helping hin1 reach his goals.

Currently Viney is working on a wilderness survival app and hopes to compete in the Google Science Fair next year as well. In the meantime he has sec his sights on taking out d,e grand prize in September. He is also hoping to win die Inspired Idea Award which ,vill be judged by public voring.

Viney is looking forward ro all die support he can get from Australians in general, and the Indian community in parricular, as his PART program is the first-ever from Australia co reach this stage at the Google Science Fair.

Voting for [he Vo[ers Choice Award starts on 1 August. You can help Viney succeed by casting your vote in his Favour .1t: www. googlesciencefuir.com/

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AUGUST 2013 17

• ~

INDIAN NEWS The charge-sheet says the interception of the phone calls between numbers in foreign countries was normally not possible, bm in chis case, due co traffic congestion, Delhi Police rnanaged to trace a call between a Dubai number used by Churani and a Pakistani number used by Dawood with the help of the International Telecommw-ucation Union.

This revealed t hat Chut:u-u had been in touch wid1 Tinku Mandi in India. Chutani himself is not wanted in India and therefore any communication made by him wim an Indian entity would normally have remained beyond suspicion and would be treated as a normal ct1nversation. Which means mat Chutani was freely speaking to Tinku Mandi.

While oo one hand, Cbutani conspired with Tinku Mandi, who was looking after the betting syndicate in nord1ern lndia, on the other, he con spired with Ramesh Vyas, who looked after the betting syndicate in soud1ern lndia.

Delhi Police had July 30 filed its chargesheet in a MCOCi\ (l'vfal1arashtra Control of Organized Crime Act) conn in the national capital.

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Muslims offer prayers on Juma-tul-wida, or the last Friday of Ramadan, at Jama Masjid in New Delhi, Aug. 2, 2013

Attempts to jeopardise IndiaPakistan relations worrisome, say experts As anger over the killings of Indian soldiers by Pakista1-u troops reverberated in parliament in t ew Delhi recently, experts said the attempts to create tens ion wid1 the Jalalabad suicide attack and the Poonch killings were a worrisome trend and d1at despite talk of friendship, India should harbour no illusions abouc Pakistan.

Five soldiers were killed when men in Pakista1-u n-ulitary uniform ambushed an army patrol at Chakan-da-Bagh sector of the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Kashmir betv.;een India and Pakistan early o o Aug 6.

While former foreign secretary Kan\\7al Sibal said the Jalalabad attack and the Poooch killings showed that the combination of Pakistani military, the ISI and jehadi groups had become active again, former deputy national security advisor Leela K. Ponappa said India should calibrate ics engagement with Islamabad in order co give the message that the attacks were unacceptable.

Former Indian consul general in Karachi Rajiv Dogra suggested drnc India put a pause to the dialogue process drnc is set to be resumed.

Veteran jomnalist Kuldip Nayar said bilateral relations were becoming better, but the kiUings would "definitely jeopardise talks which were to start".

"This process will stop again," said the former 1vlP. "The opposition parties will gee a handle. Everybody is looking towards elections. le might be exploited to d1e extent ic should nor be.. .The ruling party is going to be afraid of what happens now," said Nayar, an ardent proponent of good IndiaPakistan good tie5.

Sibal said d1e positive atmosphere sought to be created because of me feeling that Prime Mjniste.r Nawaz Sharif could open up a new chapter in bilateral ties have received a jolc.

Tbe former foreign secretary said mat India should be "genuinely concerned about

18 AUGUST 2013

what seems to be emerging as attempts co create. tensions between d1e two countries".

He said the recent Jalalabad suicide. attack near d1e L1dian mission in which nine Afghans were killed and me killing in Poonch "suggests that d1e Pakistani military, 151 (Inter-Services fnceUigence) and jihadi groups combine has become active.

This is consistent with Nawaz Shari f's design to project Jammu and Kashmir on the international stage and the longstanding concexc of his party's link wim jehandi groups and the lack of mutual trust between hi m and the military.

These are worrisome trends, he said, and added that Sharif has been "too slow" i.n taking any concrete gestures such as granting Most Favomed Nation status to India or i.n e,'[pediting che trial o f the accused in me 2008 Mumbai attack in o rder tO improve relations.

"What we have been seeing is negative trends," Sibal added.

Ponappa said that people " tend to forget realities" and " chis is the kind of behaviour you have to expect from Pakistan".

The former deputy natio nal security advisor said India should keep Pakistan's behaviour in mind and calibrate its engagement " in a way that it does not send mixed signals - drnt we can't accept mis kind of thing".

She said she had " always maintained that Pakistan ,viii try co make you move on positive things - because iliey are seeking legitimisation with their own people and the international community, while carrying on this kind of activity. Given d1e realities of Pakistan, you cannot expect anything better".

Ponappa said Sharif's saying he wanted normalisation of ties with India was no thing new. "(Zulfikar Ali) Bhutto said it, Benaz.ir (Bhutto) said it, nothing has changed. Everybody says they wane good relations bm you have co see the reality on the ground".

She said she hated ro sound pessimistic but "unfortunately, dealing wiili Pakistan has to be based on not what you wane but

what you are dealing wid1".

"You have to recognise the reality o f what you are. dealing with, then you will never have illusions about it," Pooappa added.

Dogra said that India must stop the dialogue process. "The first step should be to put a pause button on d1e (secretary level) talks and depending o n Pakistan's delivery in terms of apology and correction, we can consider the fate. of the talks at the PM level," added .Dogra.

Three-layered syndicate in IPL6 spot-fixing: Delhi Police A dlree-layered betting syndicate was involved in spot-fixing during the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL6) with d1e prime movers being Karad-ubased underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his lieutenant Chhora Shakeel, three months of painstaking investigations by Delhi Police have revealed.

Apart from Dawood, Shakeel and Javed Churaoi, also based overseas, d1e first layer included Indian bookies like. Ashwani Aggarwal alias Ti.oku Mandi, Ramesh Vyas, Feroze, Jitendra Jain and Chaodresh Jai11 alias Jupiter, according to a recently obtained Delhi Police charge-sheet.

The next layer comprised Indian bookies like Su.nil Bhatia, Cbandresh Patel and Manan Bhatt.

"W/e found fixers and their associates, like ex-players 1\{anish Guddewar, Amir Kumar Singh and Babu.tao Yadav, were facilitating d1e contacts of fixers with the players, who executed the conspiracy on the playing field," d1e charge-sheet said of d1e third layer.

Three IPL players - S. Sree.sand,, Ankeet Chavan and Ajeec Chandila - were arrested o n spot-fixing charges May 16.

Subsequently, 27 bookies were nabbed from me various parts of India in May,June and July, and one Aug 4.

Delhi Police goc d1e initial lead in d1e first week of May when a phone call between a Dubai number and a Pakistani number was traced in India.

Raghuram Rajan appointed RBI Governor Rag hmam Govind Rajan, chie f economic advisor in the finance ministry, will be the next governor of the Reserve Bank o f India (RBI), d1e government announced recently in New Delhi.

At 50, Rajan will also be among the youngest to occupy the high of/ice at M:inc Street in Mumbai, where he takes over from incw11bent Dnvvuri Subbarao on Sep 5. " Prime Minister (l'vfanmohan Singh) has approved the appointment of Raghuram Rajan as the G overnor of Reserve Bank of India (R.Bl) for a term of three years," finance ministry said in a statement.

Before jo ining d1e Indian government, Rajan bad served as chief econon-ust at the International 1\fonetary Fund (IMF) and pro fessor at the U niver sity of Chicago. He. joined as advisor in the finance n-u1-ustry last year in August.

His appointment comes at a time when the Indian economy is passing through rough wead1er and d1e government and the central bank are not particularly seen to be in sync on ways to handle the sinrntion.

The RBI is struggling to control the slide in the value o f the rupee that hie a record low of 61.86 against a doUar on Aug 6.

"These a.re challenging times for the Indian economy, though no one can have any doubt about die cotrntry's promise," he said after being named governo r, adding that d1e government and the central bank were working together on this.

"The Reserve Bank is a great institution wid1 a tradition of imegriry, independence and professio nalism," he said, honoured by the new responsibilities reseed on I-um.

The RBI has also been tmder pressure from die industry and a section of d1e government to cut policy rates to rev ive growth. Rajan bas also been advocating a rate cue.

In the first quarter review of the monetary policy announced July 30, the central bank has left key policy races unchanged and lowered the growth forecast for d1e current financial year to 5.5% from its earlier projection of 5.7% .

www.ind ianlink.com.au

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INDIAN NEWS

Sikh Americans remember gurdwara tragedy with community service Sikhs in America marked the first anniversary of the Oak Creek tragedy when a gunman attacked a gurdwara in Wisconsin killing six worshippers, with a day of community service and remembrance.

Prayer meetings were held across the US on August 5 to honour those who lost their lives on the same date last year - Paran1jic Kaur Saini, Sica Singh, Ranjic Singh, Prakash Singh, Suvegh Singh Kharcra, and Sacwant Singh Kaleka - and pray for the full recovery of those critically injured. "\'(/e are proud that Sikh Americans nationwide have responded to this tragedy with open hearts and heads held high, consistent with the Sikh belief in Chardi Kala (eternal optimism)," Sikh Coalition, an umbrella organisation of the community said in a statement.

Sikh communities nationwide and California's SEVA organisation partnered with the Sikh Coalition on a l ational Day of Seva (Selfless Service) co pay tribute to the Oak Creek community, it said.

Detroit SiJ{hs partnered with Kleis Against Hunger co package 20,000 meals for needy famil.ies and Houston Sikhs volunteered at a local library and partnered with Urban Harvest to clean a garden at a local elementary smool.

In New York City, Sikhs cleaned Morningside Park while Sikhs in California's Central VaUey and Bay Area packaged and .served food to the homeless.

Washington area Sikhs marked the anniversary of Oak Creek tragedy with prayers and reAection at Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, RockviJJe Sikh Centre coo.

"Since the Sep 11 attacks, too man y Sikh Americans have been wrongfully subjected co hate crimes and discrimination," said Ami Bera, the lone Indian American member of the US House of Representatives vowing co keep working closely with the community for protecting domestic civil righ cs.

Other members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) also pledged to "work to ensure that discrimination and hateful acts based on intolerance do not have a place in our . ". naoon South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), leading a network of 41 Sonch Asia organisations, started a blog series "to place the Oak Creek tragedy in a broader hiscory and context of racial and religious injustice in our country".

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAJR) issued a statem ent saying American Mus Lims "stand with their Sikh brothers and sisters" after the Oak Creek tragedy.

Reversing brain drain? Better research facilities see Indian scientists return Finall)', the brain drain appears to be reversing. Better researcl1 opportunities in lndia, passion co do som ething for their native couotry and family obligations have started co lure back Indian scientists working abroad. Around 500 scientists have come back in the last seven years - and only six have gone back.

Going by the figures maintained by the union science and technology ministry, the majority of the reverse brain drain has happened from the US, Germany and

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Indian cricket great Kapil Dev travels to Melbourne for the official launch of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

Britain. Recendy, scientists have also started coming from Somh Korea and Japan.

"About 500 scientists have come back from abroad and are working in various institutions across the country.

Of these only six have gone back for various reasons," T. Ranrnsami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, said recendy in New Delhi.

Credit must also be given to the several schem es run by the Indian government to encourage scientists and engineers of Indian origin from al] over the world to take up scientific research positions in India, especiaUy those scientists who want to return to lndia from abroad.

The Ramanujan Fellowship, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme and the Ramalingaswamy Fellowship are among those that provide a platform to scientists willing to return and work in India.

An internal analysis by the ministry of the reasons for the reverse brain drain revealed that cough competition abroad, better research opportunities in lndia, love of work for the mod1erland and aiming to contribute to science were some of the major factors that drew L1dian scien tisrs co their homeland.

Family obligations was another reason that attracted chem back home.

Sheeba Vasu, who was doing her postdoctoral research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, said she came back as she always wanted to work in lndia.

"I wanted to come back and scart my work in India after getting trained in the US. Moreover, it is not easy to get a job as a faculty in any of the universities in the US as there is a tough competition," Vasu, who is a Ramanujan Fellow since 2008, said. She was in the US for six years.

Vasu, who is now doing her research in the Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit of Bangalore's Jawal1aclal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, says d1ere are more research opportunities in Indian universities and elite instimtions Like the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute t1f Science (llSc), Bangalore, and Indian lnstimtes of Science Education and Research (IISERs),

among others.

Echoing similar views, another Ramanujan feUow, Vidya T.N.C., said competition is much higher abroad as compared to lndia, where there is a shortage of experts and qualified faculties.

"There are issues with research facilities in lndia. He.re, we do not have many advanced research laboratories. We also face a funds crunch. But overall it's a good platform that gives you a kind of startup w hen you return to lndia," said Vidya, who worked at Columbia University.

Some scientists feel conducting research iu India is more relaxed while d1ere is a rat race in d1e advanced cow1tries. "l think academic work outside India is stressful and it is a bit more relaxed in India and I am saying that in a positive way," Ashwin Srinivasan, a professor at Delhi's lndraprastha Institute of Information Technology, said.

Srinivasan, who had worked at Oxford University, said there is an economic crunch in the academic setup abroad and it is cough to get research grants.

"The research setup is better in lndia and the opportunity to work in science in India is not as bad as it being said. Yes, there are d1ings like most of the big science ideas are explored in institutes abroad and lack of options to do inter-disciplinary research that hurts," said Srinivasan, who has been abroad for 15 years and took a four-fold cut in salai·y when he remrned co India.

The figures show that the majority of researchers prefer to work in Kamataka, :l',faharashtra, Andbra Pradesh and \'Vest Bengal. The reason is chat these states have d1e largest munber of good research instirutions.

"Through various schemes, we provide a p latform under which scientists in the age-group of 30-45 years can work in any of the scientific instirutious and Ltniversities in India and would be eligible for receiving regular research grants and a monthly remuneration," he said.

Srinivasan, who is a US citizen, suggests some changes - for instance, schemes should be flexible co ensure people of Indian origi11 who are nor fodian citizens cai1 also take up jobs at central government universities and institutions.

"Some more initiatives are needed to make India a very attractive destination for scientists wanting to work for their motherland," he said.

ASI unearths a slice of Harappa in north Rajasthan Artefacts elating to the Harappan era have been excavated in Karai1pura of Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan, the first time remains of d1e Indus Valley Civilisation have been found in dus part.

"The excavation has brought to light house comple..'<es built of mud bricks of both Early (3300-2600 Before Common Era) and Mature (2600-1900 BCE) Harappan periods. Even though scattered remains ai1d fragments of baked bricks are available, it \Vas not found in any building," said Archaeological Survey of India superintending archaeologist V.S. Prabhal<ar in a Jecrure at the India International Centre in New Delhi recendy.

"The presence of bichrome wme consisting of red ware, decorated with black and white-colow:ed painted motifs, is also noticed from d1e Early T-:larappan period, a few of wluch continues du.ring the Mature Harappan period," he added.

"Presence of rlunoceros bones point to d1e marshy environment the Harappans were accustomed to," said Prabhakar.

Harappai1 pottery along with terracotta bangles, grincling stone fragments, beads of agate and an animal terracotta figurine were excavated. Numerous copper artefacts reveal trade ties people here had with od1er civilisations. Apai·t from motifs like circles, pipal leaves on various items, graffiti on pottery and artefacts like the spindle whorls are distinguished features.

The Indus Valley civilisation is one of the earliest urban civilisations and also known as the Harappan civilisation.

Karanpura is located on the right bank of D1ishaclvati river, now Chautang, in the upper reaches and is located between Siswal, Ha.ryana (upstream) and Sodu, Rajasthan (dO\vnscream). The river is dried up now.

The archaeological remains at Karanpura were first discovered in 2010 and the exca\7ation branch started work in December 2012. The work wil l end soon.

IANS

AUGUST 2013 19

INDEPENDENCEDAY

Free om

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August 15 is a date Indians across the world associate with nationhood, and freedom from British rule.

SHERYL DIXIT and RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA find out what the term 'freedom' means to Indians today The textbook definition of'independence' is 'freedom from control or influence of another or others'. Freedom means being responsible enough to enjoy the feeling of doing what one wants without restraint.

But what does the term 'freedom' mean to Indians living in Australia? Is it an association that is still kept alive through links with the motherland, or has it taken on a completely new and liberating meaning? And does India's Independence Day in particular still mean something to us desi Australians? Or is it a past memory of flag hoisting at dawn, followed by bhajjias and garam chai? Indian Link asked people of Indian origin what independence rea lly means to them, with surprising results.

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Say it loud, say it clear I think India has been experiencing more freedom than ever before, and there is scill more to come. In the past year we have seen many issues that were hidden brought to light, like corruption and rape, which people never wanted co confront in public in the past. The freedom of expression has become more pronounced, and I feel this is a good thing. This is what India needs, people co coUectively voice their opinion and feelings about injuscice, and make a demand for righting wrongs. It is a good feeling to know char there are so many people wbo supporr the cause of right and who are willing co take a stance, as we have seen in the case of the New Delhi rape victim and the public frenzy that followed, to ensure justice for the young girl who tragicaUy died from her injuries. In saying chat I bave co admit d1ac sometimes d1e press in India makes too much of an issue, they give social issues as much importance and coverage as Bollywood celebrities! But overaU, it is great to see that India ls going through a change where

20 AUGUST 2013

the freedom to speak openly and without fear is gathering strength. I o nly hope it lases!

Ashlsh Chawla St. Albans

My list Can I have freedom to go to bed whatever time I want? And have McDonalds for dinner on more nights. Not have pumpkin soup for cl.inner or yellow rial. Watch TV whenever 1 want. Skip my shower when I am coo tired?

Please?

Vihaan Chawla

Doing what I like Freedom means not being dependent on anyone. So wby single om Independence Day for chis. I enjoy this freedom every day! I love the freedom to do what I want in my daily life, raise my family as I see fit, make merry with friends, go out and enjoy beautiful Melbourne!

And yet I manage to do my duty to our extended family back home, and the community that I interact with at different levels here.

Deepti Chawla

Here and there!

For me, living here in Australia, 'freedom' in an Indian context means independence from pollution, corruption and poverty back there. And for my family back home, 'freedom' would mean the same thing - co have running

water and electricity throughom the day, and to breathe in clean air instead of the dust and pollution from a million rickshaws, buses and cars! Bue they also have another kind of freedom, they have the love and support of their entire family, which is what I miss. They keep traditions alive rneecing at weddings and parties, they help each od1er in times of need.. When J go back they treat me like royalty! After 66 years of Independence, corruption and poUucion have got worse, bm family ties have gotten stronger, they have become more multicultural and they last longer.

Their freedom is special and they will all celebrate Independence Day together with march pasts and !Nasti, while I will buy a flag from a local l ncliao shop and stick it in a mLtffi.n while si.nging]rwa g,ma 111at111!

N iti.ka Sondhi Sydney

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•• ...• ............................................. . .•• Choices ..•. . .• ..•• • ..•• .•• .•• .••• .•• .•• .•• .•• ... .•• .•• Freedom to me is being independent co make my own choices, to be able to express myself freely without restrictions, to be a part of th is wonderful life where I can respect others and have the same respect returned ro

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To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others Nelson Mandela

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me. To be true to myself without the fear of anyone or anything . .. a reminder how lucky I am to wake up each morning and feel these words i:ing true every clay and every minute!

Ncclam Vasudevan Oakleigh East

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Those who deny freedom to others deserve it notfor themselves Abraham Lincoln

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Young and free India may be celebrating 66 years of Independence, bm it is still a young country and in opinion, it is getting younger. There is a new breed of professio nals, politicians, industrialists that are the new youthful face of India .in tbe international arena, which indicates a change in the way the world sees us - modern and trendy, instead of conservative and obsolete. The old are making way for the young, who are not

tbat much interested i.n money-making and are keen to scamp our corruption. Maybe because they themselves were born rich, so it doesn't marter as much to them. They mar not have much experience like the older generation, bur they are smart and quick learners. India today makes me wish tbac l was getting younger too!

Sheryl Dixit Kellyville Ridge Sydney

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Live and let live As an lndian woman, freedom to me means being ab le co exercise the same rights and liberties enjoyed by men in the society with n o questions asked. Freedom from hypocritical values, freedom from double scandards, freedom to disagree and not conform to superstition and blind faith.

Freedom from fear, prejudice and hate.

Around the \vorld in varying degrees, women are treated unequally. In some places they are not aJlowed to be seen or heard. Right to education and work opportunity for everyone

irrespective of his or ber sex, race, wealth or religion equates to cme freedom in my opinion.

Peter Parker's (Spiderman's alter ego) quoce, "With great power there must also come great responsibility," can be reworded to suir the context: "\'{/ith freedom there must aL~o come responsibili ty". I believe freedom given/ available to a few, causes more harm than good. A sociecy is truly free only when it's free from inequality and ignorance. True freedom is co be able to live and lee live.

Shraddha Arjun Sydney

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Freedom to create Freedom to me, personally, is all abom having the option to be creative in life. I believe that if God is watching us, the least we can do is be emert.c'lining and co be entertaining one needs to be creative. During my wonderful childhood my parents ga\7 e me the freedom to explore, learn and in mm create. My dad \Va$ in a role that required a lot of travel and we lived in many part~ of India. In all the travelling we did there was always so much to !earn from tbe divers ity and utilise the !earning in my own life be it in cooking something from a region, dancing a local folk dance, learning a new

language, adopting a new fashion or being inspired by a new book.

All of it inAuenced and enriched the way I lived and enjoyed my life.

The experience for nu1ately continued even after l grew up and finished my education, got married and migrated to Australia.

Despite the challenges of seeding in a new country, adjusting to new relationships and working in a new environment, there was always freedom to create, freedom to learn and be inspired and freedom to do my own dung. I rate that as one of the highest facmrs in my ability m enjoy my life and be happy.

Pree.ti JabbaJ Glen Waverley

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I depend on me!

It's, like, cool!

Fun freedom

TV time for me

1 enjoy my freedom. I am a mother and a homemaker, but even with all this, I am free. To ha\'e a cup o f tea at 11am, to rend to my t11/si and karne pt1k trees .in my garden, co chat with my friends, to enjoy the occasional mums' night om, to not have to feel the pressure of answering too many questions about my life from inquisitive neighbourhood aunties and nor being draw□ coo deeply imo fami.ly politics back home. r work, cook, tend to my family and enjoy life - without the aid of cooks, maids or ,9ahs. And 1 survived, learning to depend on myself. Living away from India has made me more independent, so 1 guess I have every reason to celebrate its 66th.

Asha Pujari Hawthorn East

Freedom, like, it'~ a really cool cbing! My idea of freedom is to go clubbing with my friends, but my parents won't let me until I'm 21. They're.like, really, reaJly OTT with stuff .like that, d1ecking FB and my Mac. Bur like, I'm not a kid! I'm 16, and y'know, I'd like to p lay on the PS3 all day, or sleep in late every day, or not go to school, or bang out at tbe maJI all weekend with my friends. I wane an iPbone 5, a WiiU, designer skinny jeans and a cool haircut.

My parents don't let me do ani'thing! I guess someone needs ro explain wbac freedom is to theml LOU Na111r 1J1itbheld 011 request, or his pr11r11/s 1111:r gil'f hi111 theji-redo111 lo ltal'f ho111pf

l'ru called the 'chanya choli queen' and I love it! Freedom for me means the chance co wear gorgeous Indian clothes and jewellery and dance to bha11gra and Bollywood beats even in the middle of winter in Melbourne! My cousins in Mumbai don't do this, they d ress in western clothes co go to rave parties and dance co Timomatic! I love the freedom co be more lndian d1an lndian's back in lndia. Ir's great] Surabhi Shah Carlton North

Freedom is co be able to watch the TV I want, peacefully. 1 o st1as-bah11 dramas for me, or even your T/oicc, lvlastcrchej, Big Brother or whatever d1e latest reality series is. I've made arrangements to be able to watch the cricket wherever it is being played in the world, and am on top o f the foory here. l'vfy wife and I now bave out own separate TV sets, and I am enjoying my TV freedom.

Padmanabhan T Rowville

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AUGUST 2013 21

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It is essential to maximise jobs for long term socioeconomic stability financial instinitions which !em D etroit money, may weU see their assets greatly reduced in value ('from doUars co cents').

BY Detroit as a whole has become disadvantaged.

One needs to prevem NOEL G DE SOUZA Geelong going down the same path.

The Government in India has reserved numerous industries co the rural sector such here has been an emphasis in Australia in recent as soap and beedies (the Indian hand rolled cigarettes). The idea years,for onwrongs the ' ' remediation is to maxirnize employment. The which were done tO certain Western idea, a heritage from the groups in the past. These days of the indu strial revolution, The same GFC made is to reduce employment and include Aboriginals, children who were forcibly and Australia, particularly thus to increase prolics. Potential secretly brought from tl1e with its high interest \1<:Testern investors in India, particularly from the USA and United Kingdom, and rates, a safe haven Britain need to absorb the tl1ose who are physically forforeign investors Indian viewpoint because of handicapped. and this ensured As a country with a strong its prevailing socio-economic the strength of the conditions. The underl)fog economy, it might be safely Australian dollar assumed chat Australia can philosophy is that ·what is good look after its disadvantaged. for the greater number should prevail But the term 'disadvantaged' The Government in Australia has suddenly begLJn to has foreseen that it needs a assume a newer and broader meaning in Australia. As the Global Financial we!J trained workforce. Large amoums Crisis (GFC) began to unfold, a lifeline had of money have therefore been spent in co be thrown co those who depended on their bringing Australian education up to the superannuation earnings for mere sustenance, best levels. And this includes those who because share portfolios had begun co are disad vantaged. Kirn Carr, cl1e !vl.inisrer for Innovation, Industry, Science, Research dranrntically fall in value.

The same GF'C made Australia, particularly and Higher Education claims d1at Australia with its high interesr rares, a safe haven now has twenty per cent of disadvantaged for foreign investors and this ensured the studen ts in higher education. strength of the Australian dollar. However, These are important facts which will a strong Australian dollar added to the cost determine the reshaping of d1eAustral.ian of producing goods in Australia, made tl1ern economy. As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tmcompetitive on the world stage. This has said in a recent policy speech entitled affected both manufacturing and agriculture.

The .Australian Econot1!)' in Transition: Thus muuerous manufacturing units either B11ilding A Nell' Co111petitivemss /lgendrr. closed down or were downsized, and some "Because d1e China resources boom is moved to a mucl1 cl1eaper New Zealand. coming off, Australia's core economic Closing down or downsizing a strategy for the future must be one which manufacturing plant is a very traumatic affair diversifies our economy by creating more jobs in manufacruring, food production, for its workers. The whole community gets infrastl'Ucture, construction, and our many affected. The price of houses might fall, sp ouses jobs might have to abandoned and other services industries, rather than having children's education could get disrupted. all our eggs in just one basket - the resources 111ere have been large government handouts and energy sectQr".

Indians in Australia are found in all to keep mannfacruring planes from being socio-economic g roups which range from shut down, but the results till now have been the very advantaged or rich industrialists dubious. and en trepreneurs (who are found in An e.'lample of a diversified economy is in small numbers) co d1e very disadvantaged Geelong in Victoria. It has been the home (best examples include recent migrants or of tl1e ford Motor Company since 1925, including other manufacturers like Backwell asylum seekers who lack such skills such as proficiency in the English language). The IXL and MHG Glass. Nor surprisingly, latter groups (migrants and asylum seekers) the A L1s ttalian Amomotive Research Centre is located there. Complementing have become the subject of submissions b y the automotive industry is one the largest The Federation of Ethnic Communities' petroleum refineries in Australia. There are Councils of Australia (FECCA) to the food processing unit.5, including seafood, Australian Government. FECCA, currently and these add to Geelong's economic under the leadership of Pino :Migliori.no, diversiJicati.on. receives funding from the Department of A similar example to Geelong is found Immigration and Citizenship. in D etroit in the USA. Once a thriving city An example of d1e healthcare sector will with the automobile industry as its crown illu strate the large expanse in which Indians are found. Indian doctors fill patient needs in jewel, Detroit has now become a ghost of its former self. Wid1 its population reduced, botl1 cities and rural areas. There are besides, manufacturing unit.5 in tatters and dilapidated lndian scientist.5 and doctors who do research housing, the city's income has fallen to the in sucl1 fields as cancer and diabetes. There extent diat on July 19 this year, it declared are, at the other end, Indians who ate patients itself bankrupt. Pension funds and other and some who are handicapped.

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EVERYDAYINFOTECH

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ramm1n Getting familiar with the basics in a world literally being eaten up by software could be helpful

n one of the recent issues of fodia11 Ll11k (Issue 2, July), 1 had made a case for why kids should be taught programming.

Today, I am going to argue why you, an adult b usiness owner or employee, should also learn programming. Like last ti.me, I would like to mention that learning programming is not limited to learning the syntax or the rules of a programming language. Or learning how to configure a system such as SAP, although that kind of knowledge is not bad to have either.

My recommendation is to be capable of understanding general principles of how internet and mobile applications work, what factors can make them succeed or fail, and knowing how to work with IT, mobile and internet vendors and workers - ro understa11d what they are saying and their scope of work and limitations, and to be able to provide them great requirements.

As business owners, you should understand online business. As employees, you should know how to automate part of your work that

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INDIAN LINK

is manual or repetitive, so you can be more prodL1ctive.

But before we venrure further, Jet me clarify why 1 am making this recommendation.

About rwo years ago, Marc Andreessen, a pioneer of commercial .internet wrote how 'software is eating the world'.

He argued that .internet and mobile communication and their convergence with commerce, entertainment and business modeJs, is disrupting and taking over entire industries. This is contrary to the general belief in which today's popularity of Facebook and other dominant websites are seen as just another 'bubble'.

As proof of his assertion that alJ industry is going online, Andreessen cited Amazon and the way it transformed the books retail business and even the way we read books now (on Kindles, rather than on paper). He aJso cited streaming music services such as Spotify and Apple iTunes and their effect on the music industry, Linked.in and its effect on recruitment etc. The po.inc is, whole industries are being eaten al.ive by software and the internee. Your industry may just be waiting in line. Get ready to meet the new reality of an ITdriven world before the business or job is eaten by it (or IT - pun unintended). It does not matter

whether your .industry is content, media or sofrv;;rare driven; many employees of banks, insurance and mining woLtld find their skiJJs inadequate to deal within the new environmen t.

If Mark Andreessen has convinced you enough to give software a shot co preserve your career o r do better in business, here are a few resources ro enhance your ski.11s.

To get a feel of programming in an entertaining way, check om amateur game development platform developed by MIT Scratch (scratdunit.edu). This is as good for adults to have a flavour of sofrware development, as for kids.

When you are ready for serious stuff, then you can learn programming online interactively at Codecademy (www.codecademy.com). General Assembly (generalassemb.ly / sydney), an educaror of start-ups and entrepreneurs, offers classes in web development, computer science fundamentals, data science among others. Classes are beld in U ltimo near Sydney CBD. Before enrolling i.nto one of d1eir comprehensive courses, you can attend a few of their workshop sessions that are offered for as .low as $40 for a 2 hours session. They also have several videos on.line (generalassemb.ly/ online) that are offered co paid members (about

US$25 per mond1-).

Do you thi nk your Excel skiJJs needed a little update? Need to brush up Powerpoint skills? Head over ro udemy (www.udemy.com), enter w hat you want to learn and you would have a choice of dozens of online courses offered by other people like you and me, nor necessarily colleges, and who are experts and experienced u sers. You may subscribe to their courses and complete on udemy's platform.

Interested in learning how to build an online strategy for your business? Attend Internet Business Strategy (cce.sydney.edu. au/course/Il3S1) at the Centre for Continuing E ducation (CCE) in University of Sydney to learn about business m odels online, work on tl1e new business for a month and then come back to learn how to implemen t it· (cce.sydney.edu. au/ course/IBst). O ther one- day workshops at CCE (cce.sydne)'.edu. au) include mobile strategy, social media and project management. All these are reasonably priced and are quality courses.

Wlbether you have a preference for planning and strategy, or you are creativelr inclined, love numbers, play with data, or create grea t art, there is a role and an area waiting for you in on.line, software and mobile. So, polish your programming skills and let's develop that game. And I am not saying this to kids!

AUGUST 2013 23

SCHOOL

•

Oncewas a en1us.

Reiterating four basic values to children can help them discover and manifest their true ability

Underachievement It is common nowadays for

high proportion of parents have experience of a child who demonstrates ability in a particular field of endeavour, only to notice that over ti.me the child no longer appears to manifest the talent. This ability may be linguistic/verbal, sporting, mathematical, musical or other.

'Namral ability' evidenced when yo1mg can fade as children grow and fall back into the pack - either they underachieve or simply allow themselves to become o rdinary. Unfortunately th.is can be highlighted by the tendency of pa.rents and schools to re.cord and measure everything. I t is common for even very young children to bave extensive portfolios managed by their parents.

A

I have a certificate, therefore I am There was a time once, when participation was valued for itself.

These days, putting o n a shirt at an athletics carnival wins house po ints and bonuses. Entry into a mathematics competition gets a certificate of participation, and in sporting contests the 'player o f the match' is rotated so that every child is a 'winner,' regard1ess of the effort they bave made. Over praise leads to Lmderachievemenc and undermi1Jes resilience.

24 AUGUST 2013

most admired arc those who work hard but do not achieve to tl1e standard they desire. The key factor that is admired is tenacity.

Why? Because success in life comes to those who arc consistent a.nd disciplined. Discipline begins projects and finishes them off.

Discipline sees sometl1.ing through to the end, and builds resilience a.nd strengtl1. l t a.lso builds selfcon fidence. Incidentally, also never fret for the child who can focus for hours o n things that matter to them, but do not matter co you.

The capacity to focus for h ours is a facet of discipline.

parents to report that a child is underperforming. That is, they believe that their child has far more ability tha.n is being manifest. They will say to tbe child, "Why don't you jL1st see that if you tried harder, you would see how good you ca.n be". In saying this, the pa.rent hopes to 'transmit' a value that will become intrinsic to the child. Alas, it is rarely the case that what a parent values will be what their child also values, particLtla.rly while the child is still in school. Why, for example, should a school child 'listen' if the teaching is insipid and uninspiring? Why should a child value 95% , when 82% o r 73% is good enough to them?

Why too, shmtld a child enjoy training for sport when a coach favours the children who appear to have greater 'natural' ability? ln this context, parents need to understand that children best learn when there is broad understanding of the factors li kely to encourage a.nd engender success.

There are four values that all children and young adults must be taught if they are to consistently manifest to tl1eir true ability, or even if they a.re to uncover ,vhat they are truly capable of. These values are discipline, openness, strucrnre a.nd coachability.

A second key factor to build in young people is a capacity to be open to new things. Risk-caking can be scary, particularly for children to whom tl1ings come easily. To take risks requires allowing oneself to be open a.nd to be humble. Humility makes a person learn empathy, understand others, le.'lrn from their mistakes and also the mistakes of others. Hw11ili1:y is the basis of forgiveness when there arc misunderstandings. Of course, humility cannot be taught through self-righteousness, arrogance or the intellect. Humility is the scuff of an open heart.

1. Discipline

3 . Structure

Never fret for the child who works hard, but does not achieve.

Educacors find hardworking smdents who achieve quite easy to mentor. However, the student,

The greatest of all achievers, tl1e ones who sustain success, have one thing in common.

Ability a.nd the capacity to apply structure that develops, applies

2 . Openness willingness to try new things

and hones that ability. Structure is, in effect, a.n extension of discipli ne.

Structure requires a person to have th~1ught about goals a.nd what is possible. Structure invests time in improvement and says, ''This matters, a.nd I a.m prepared to coalesce other things in my life around the goals that l value".

4. Coachability Underachievement is overcome when people arc 'coachablc'.

This means that they believe they can learn from the expertise of ochers, a.ad they seek it out. la essence, all people seek mentors and guides through their life. However, finding such a person ca.n be hard.

Underachievement and the key values Too often parents say tlrnt their children are underachievers - that tl1ey are not mani fesc:ing to their fuU ability. However, co have such an expectation may be misplaced.

Achievement should not be seen as an end, but rather as intrinsic to the process o f learning.

If pa.rents focus on instilling values sud1 as discipline, structure, humility and coachability in their children, they a.re giving them a.II of the tools they need co utilise their natural talents at their highest capacity. [n di.is way, the means takes care o f tl1e end. Success in li fe is not found solely io a school report, or in a trophy, ribbon or Speech r ighr list Sometimes, true success comes from time and experience - from the stuff of life. Experience helps children to integrate the val ues tlrnt engender success.

www.indianlink.com.au

ij

WELLBEING

Sweet and spice success The miracle combination of honey and cinnamon is a cure for countless ailments

o you find yourself going through medication after medication to cure a cold, an upset tummy or other illness but nothing seems to work?

Look no further! You can zap diseases and boost your health with rwo miracle ingredients char are probably sitting in your kitchen cinnamon and honey!

Honey and cinnamon have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, and no\v scientists across the wodd also accept honey and cinnamon as effective mecl.icine for all kinds o f diseases and disorders.

The m1tcitional values of honey have been documented in Vedic, Greek, Roman, Christian, Islamic and other texts for centuries; all mentioning honey co be 'good'.

According to scientists honey contains powerful anti-bacteria.I properties which can fight against at leas c sixry species of bacteria, unlike antibiotics which are useless against many rypes of bacteria.

Honey is made up with a number of vitamins and minerals such as cal.cium and iron amongst many others, as weU as vitamins such as vitamin B and C. \Xlhen used topically, for wound dressings, as the hooey dilutes with the bodily Auids hydrogen peroxide is produced acting as an antiseptic.

Every time l have fallen ill with a cold my parents always teU me co have a spoon full of honey. As a young girl, whenever I feU ill, I remember how I absolutely used to dread diat spoon full of honey

D

first dung in the morning and before going to bed and never quite undersrood their fascination with honey even though it use to do the job. Now I do. So the next rime ym1're ill and someone re.Us you co have a spoon fuU of honey chink of all of the good that one spoon of honey, is doing to your health and body.

Cinnamon on the odier hand, is an ingredient I absolutely love, whedier ground or whole, cinnamon is one fragrant, warm and versatile spice which can be used in bod1 sweet and savoury foods.

Cinnamon is obtained From die bark of several trees and for centuries has been believed to have meclicinaJ properties from die essen rial oils found in the bark, and was used co cure sn.akebi tes, common colds, and kidney troubles to name a few.

So you might be wondering how these two miracle ingredients can benefit you?

Here are a few of the benefits when both ingredient.~ are combined together.

Heart ~as,e Create a paste of honey and cionamon powder and apply to bread/toast or chappati regulady for breakfast. This wil.l reduce cholesterol and keep you miles away from a heart attack.

This also revitalises die arteries and veins and strengthens the heartbeat. lnsect bites A paste of one part

honey, rwo part.5 luke warm water and a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder massaged onto the itcJi.ing bite is said to relieve d1e pain tn-

scandy.

Arthritis To cure chroo.ic arthritis cake a cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder twice a day regulady.

llair loss Apply a paste of

hot olive oil, a tablespoon of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder to your hair before taking a bath, and keep in for approximately 15 minutes.

Bladder infection Take two cable spoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of hooey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink. This will kill bacteria and germs in me bladder.

Tootbo.dia Make a paste using these cwo ingredients and apply to the affected area at least three rimes a day.

Cholesterol Mix two table spoons of hooey w ith three teaspoons of cinnamon powder. It is also said diac having a spoon full of pure honey with a meal daily relieves cholesterol.

This is one that I'm familiar with, although instead of cinnamon, I was always given a spoon full of honey with mrmeric powder or made to mix honey into warm water and drink...

Colds Take a tablespoon of lukewarm honey with some cinnamon powder regularly. It is said that this will instancly cure coughs and colds and help you bread, easyily once again. lnfen!Jhy For men: It is said that caking a tablespoon of honey before going to bed will solve al.I problems.

For· ,vomen: lo countries such as China and Japan, women who are unable to conceive take a pinch of cirrnamon powder and half a teaspoon of honey and rub diis on dieir gums. This is said to strengdien the ute.rus.

There are many odier facrors for which these two ingredients are said co work as miracle healing aid, amongst which are: stomach upsets, pimples, skin infections,

cancer, bad bread1, hearing loss and many many more... the list is almost endless!

So die next ti.me you fall ill and find medication just isn't doing clie trick, rry giving your body a spoon full of sweetness and spice!

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INDIAN LINK

AUGUST 2013 25

FICTION

Renouncin

eroc

Confronting the Mahatma reveals the greater truth ofhis principles of non-violence

y father was a farmer and we grew cotton.

While we were not rich, we had a comfortable living just on tbe outskirts o f A hmedabad. I had enjoyed a carefree childhood playing witl1 the v illage children and under the care of loving parents. It was a happy home and while we knew that die British ruled our homeland, it was not of any real significance. Generations of our ancestors bad served one master or the ocher. The Maharajas, the MoghuJs and even our village head, all expected some kind of obedience, so it was easy to transfer that dependence and loyalty to the British.

During those frrst five years of my live, I bad not e,, en seen a 'British sahib' though my mum often spoke of our 'Queen Victoria,' and my teacher showed us a painting of her at school.

It was when l was five and a balf, chat an incident happened that would change tl1e course of my life and would sec it on a patl1 where 1 would see g reat struggle, offer immense sacrifice and live to see evenmal success. As a nation we would find freedom and evennially become 'independent'.

I remember one afternoon, when die villagers came running

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26 AUGUST 2013

to our home. They brought my fatl1er in tl1eir bullock cart. His white km-ta was stained with his blood and h is Jeft eye had been swollen shut. My mother began wailing even before she came out of her room. The villager explained what had happened, for my fatl1er who was still in shock, was unable to speak for himself.

The two villagers who had accompanied my father to the city to sell out cotton had w itnessed it all. They were boarding the u·ain atAhmedabad station when my father was scopped from entering, even though he and his men had bookings. When he asked that they permit him to enter, he was pushed to die ground. When he tried to reboard his compartment, be was beaten up by tbe guards who were accompanying the niece of the local 'sahib'. They told him chat no Indian could travel in tl1e same comparm1enr as the Sahib's niece. My father should have let it be, but remembering a similar incident that occurred with Gandhiji, be was determined to make a st.'lnd. A stand that ultimately cost him his left eye.

My father never regretted that move. Instead he called it the day 'he truly began to see,' because for the fust time he saw India for what she was, a mere mistress to an alien monarch.

Two days after that incident, mere was much anger among die villagers and I too carried a rock to tl1row at die next 'sahib' tl1at crossed my path. Many spoke of burning tlieir homes and of abductions. My father remained

calm, bur did not object to what was being suggested.

On tl1e fourth day after die incident, I beard great commotion coming from die road leading into o ut village. There were more than twenty people coming o n foot.

At die front was a strange man, skinny, bald, wearing glasses and a plain white dhoti. I heard someone call o ut, 'Gandhiji is coming!' l ran and hid behind my father, and watched as the villagers began to gather around my fatl1er too.

As the man reached my father, I saw my father rise. It was the first time that he had stood up since he was brought home after the attack. .He cried to touch the man's feet but was instead pulled imo his embrace. And tl1e man said, "You silly man, did my experience not teach you anythin g?" Then after a smile he added, "But I am glad, you stood up for your right!"

Gandhiji spent that e,, en.ing at our bome along with his twenty followers. We had a simple communal m eal and everyone helped in cleao.i.og up. Then we sac outside as someone sang Raghupati &igh11v Raja Ra11J, one of Gandhiji's favourite bhaja11s.

Our counyard was already full, but more and more people kept coming from the neighbouring villages. Finally tl1ere were too many to fit inside our walls, so we garnered around die local well instead.

There, Gandhiji talked of his dream of a free India, of an independent India and of his wish tO see die British leave Indian soil.

Seated near my father, I shouted,

"Then let us al] throw stones at them and make diem go away!"

Gandhiji froze and looking directl)' at me said, "And that will make you no better clian those that hit your fatl1er''.

He tben added, "To kill for freedom will legitimise killing after freedom". \"Xlhen I continued to maintain my silence he added in a softer cone, "Do you not see child, chat 'an eye for au eye' will make the whole world bli.nd?"

He continued, "1 need volunteers who will fight for a free India, but tliey must come \Vith the commiunenc co non-violence and a promise to honesty. lf there is anyone here who cannot commit to these principles, do not join my cause. D o n ot pollute it with hatred and anger. I w ish co free my homeland, not enslave it to a greater evil".

My five-year-old mind could nor decipher its true meaning, bL1t I know that tl1e rock fell &om my hand and I have never lifted one up again.

The entire gathering chanted witli one voice, " \Ve give you chat promise, Bapu. Lead us to independence and we will follow as your non-violent army!"

And so, ] too gave my pledge.

I walked in tl1e Dandi Salt March alongside m)' pa.rents. I visited my father i.n jail on so many occasions, tl1at l almost felt incarcerated too. I even learned to ,veave cotton on a cbmkht, or spinning wheel as Bapu did. I wrote patriotic songs and J o nly wore a white garment.

At e,,ery step of th.is movement, I knew tl1at history was being made and that I was a part of it. l was part of an India mat had served its queen with love and devotion, but which now wanted to respectfully severe tliose ties and stand o n irs own. An India that wamed to decide its own fun1re witli 'Self-Rule'!

I am now 83. Like Bapu, l walk with a stick and 1 wear glasses.

Like him, l sit in my little home, spinning tl1e wheel and watching independent India revolve around me.

I still have great hopes for the country mat was so loved by 'die fatl1er of the nation'. I have dreams of it being restored ro its former glory. But I have great fears too. That just as Bapn was gunned down when tl1e couutry most needed him, I fear m y free India will be enslaved by greed and corruption. The only way to stop this is to keep that struggle for non-Yiolem alive.

1/Jis is a work officnou. Most co1111ersfl1io11s m-e p11rt ofthe lllltbor's i111ngiuarion.

www.ind ianlink.com.au

ij

FOOD

I

ree

Indian Independence Day cuisine, done with a fair dinkum Aussie twist

M

ostofus already have 0tLr favourite

dishes to whip up for friends and famil)' for Independence Day. But what about dishes for o ur Aussie friends? Here are some recipe ideas to share with them to get them into the mood (or for us if we're feeling a little bit creative).

Although it's hard to pin-point exactly what Australian cuisine is (no-one really seems sure about this one), it's even harder to think about what you could combine to make an Aussie-Indian fusion meal. There could be some real disasters waiting to happen - like adding vegemite to hi1ya11i (eww) or tandoori chicken to lamington s (ok - that's taking it a bit coo far!)

But the diversity of flavours in Indian cooking means that tl1ey can jazz up lots of Aussie favourites. Before you start reading die recipes, go and get some chapatis and spread with butter and Vegemite to get you in tl1e mood. Here are fun options:

• : •

-------.. ..••• • • ...•• • .•• .•• • ..••

•

: : :

..•. ..• .•

• •• • •• • • •

• • • •

...

• ..•

.. .• :

•

.

: Independence Day pie

: This recipe could easily be • swapped witli most curry options.

•• Serves 8 : Pie ftlli11g : 1 crushed garlic glove : l 1 curry leaves : 1 long, hot, finely chopped chilli : (or more if you prefer) • 6cm of ginger, finely chooped 1 Lps hot english mustard 1 small onion, finely d1opped : 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds : 200g goat (or other meat) Freedom dessert : 1 tsp olive oil There are many clifferent options : 1 00g cauliflower, cut inco small for this one. Bue che ide::i is to : pieces take a traditional Indian recipe for • 300g chickpeas something sweet (like barft. s11khd1; 2 tomatoes, finely diced chheflt1poda, l11dd11, shiro, pakhctla, Pas!iy rosgulla, etc.) and combine with 250g chilled butter crushed pieces of pavlova (either 1 egg, beaten store bought or home made) or 500g plain flour larnington (either store bought : Preheat oven to 200 C. In a Erypan or home made), and serve wicli icecream with an Indian and : add oil, garlic, chilli and ginger and : fry tmtil coloured. Add mustard, Australian flag scuck in it.

•••

fenugreek and curry leaves and cook for a few minutes.

Combine witli remaining ingredients.

Pastry: sift tlie flour with a pinch of salt. Rub in butter with fingertips until pastry comes rogether witl1 tl1e water. Dust Aour over a clean work bendi a□ d rolling pin and roU clie pastry our to 3mm in thickness, after dividing into 2 sections. Butter a pie pan and place pastry (worked to a round shape) co bottom of pan. Cut off any excess pastry on tl1e edges with a knife.

Place filling into pie pan. Place section piece of pastry over the top and brush the top of the pastry witl1 a little beaten egg.

Press the edges d o,vn w itb your fingertips o r a fork.

Bake for around 30-35 minutes until golden.

Senre with a mint and 1oghurt side.

..•• • .••• ..••• ..•• ..• .•• ..••• .••• • • ..••

: Nutella naans : Serves 8 : This is a 5j1nple one, but a good

•• one.

: 8 naans (either store bought or : made at home) : 1 jar of Nutella (or si.111.ilar) : 200g icing sugar

I punnet of strawberries/ or 2 bananas Simpl)' thickly spread nutella onto 11aa11 bread. Slice strawberries/ bananas o n top and dust with icing sugar.

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AUGUST 2013 27

INDIADIARY

•

I ana • 1veu to its ectations?

e's

The Congress strategy to create a separate state could mean an election win, but losses for its denizens, writes PARTHASARTHYCHAGANTY

Members of the Australia Telangana Forum welcome the recent announcement of Telangana as India's 29th state

t 66, Mocher In@ gees ready for the 29th baby. So ran the headline in an Indian national daily, highlighting the Congress party's decision co carve Telengana out of Andhra Pradesh as the 29th state of the Indian U nion, in the 66th year of Independence.

The modalities need ro be worked out, which could cake about four mo nths, before the new state comes imo being, bm no difficulty is envisaged as the move has wide support across the political spectrum.

The demand for a separate Telengana state is about half a century old, with periodic agitations of varying intensity in its support. And it is more than tbree years since the government announced in December 2009, its firm resolve to address the issue. The Justice Srikrishna Commission, constinaed in its wake, was not categorical witb its reco mmendations but its report v iewed bifurcation with disfavour,

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28 AUGUST 2013

its preference being greater autonomy and increased resource allocation for the region within the ambit of the existing unified state.

However, d1e governmem had not acted on the report and continued to dither, bedevilled as it was widi multiple corruption scandals, apart from odier preoccupations. \1(/ith die general elections looming (due in May 2014), and fearing a rapid erosion of its electoral base, the Congress was probably desperate to get a move on, and hence the sudden urge to grant statehood to Telengana.

The party seems to have strud, a deal with TRS (Telengana Rashtra Samid1i), the force behind die latest agitacion for a separate state.

Even if die two parties do not merge immediately, diey are sure to contest on a common platform and are expected co sweep the poUs, capturing most of die 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 assembly seats that the region offers. l c is a foregone conclusion chat diere \\~ll be a backlash against d1e pany in tbe rest of the state, comprising

coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, which account for no fewer than 25 Lok Sabha seats, besides 175 assembly seats. That the Congress bas vi.rmally given up on this larger area, being content with its prospeccive hold on Telengana, appears co be indicative of the party's low morale radier dian any weU thought-out strategy.

In such a scenario, the clear winner appears to be Jagan (moniker for Jaganmohan Reddy), chief of d1e YSR Congress, the party named after his late fadier and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Jagan has the advan tage of being consistent in his opposition to the formation of Telengana, unlike die major regional party, TDP (Telugu Desarn Party), and the major natio nal parry, BJP. Jagan has been embroiled in corruption cases and may not even be able to contest elections as per a recent Supreme Court order, but diat is not likely to come in his way. otwithstanding the grandstanding of duly "hurt"

Congress ivfPs and ivrLAs from th.is area, some of whom could in face be resigning their sears, the Congress will have no alternative bm to come to terms widi him.

He will acquire die kind of done now enjoyed by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati by virtue of their outside support to die gover11D1ent. If die Congress had been more accommodative of Jagan in the wake of his father's death and not driven him away from its fold, the party may not have had to concede Telengana, bm history is not about conn terfacmals.

ArgLUnems like smaUer states being more amenable to effective administration are just academic.

Issues like division of states will almost invariably be based on poli tical considerations in a democracy. Therefore, it is futile to deride the Congress' decision on Telengana as political oppormnism. But a major concern here is diat the main protagonist, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, chief of TRS, who is sure to wield enormous influence in running tbe fledgling state, at least in the initial rears, is noc known for his integrity or administrative experience. And his party seems to have thrived on extorrion dllting the past few years, hence die nuanced agitacion, which perrn.itted the Congress to sit on the issue for years.

People from Telengana have often complained abom ''loss of jobs". It is not that people from the region are at present discriminated against: what they want is a distinct preference for sons of tbe soil - and tliis is where the rub lies. A major national party like d1e Congress owes it to itself to check the parochial tendencies of its ally and ensure peace and harmony.

Considering diat Hyderabad, which will serve as a joint capital for the rwo states for the first

''

Even if the two parties (Congress and TRS) do not merge immediately, they are sure to contest on a common platform and are expected to sweep the polls, capturing most of the 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119

assembly seats that the reg ion otrers

'' IO years and diat the city is not even going to be a union territory in die interim peciod, people from Andhra could suddenly fi nd themselves reduced to the status o f second class citizens in d1e megalopolis, which has been home to millions of them. Every care should, therefore, be taken to ensure diat Andhras do not feel alienated and there is no flight of capital or business from d1e city.

The first few years are bound to be marked by mrmoil, but it is to be hoped chat Telengana, which is well-endowed in terms of natural resources, will eventually come to occupy a proud place among states and prove that the sacrihces made by thousands to realise the dream have not been in vain.

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AUGUST 2013 29

FASHION

'

Celebrate Independence Day with your very own lndo Australian fusion creation

'~

KALYANI BY WAKHARE

Indian women; chis one's a nobrainer fusion look for sure! Quirk it up by pairing tl1e kurti top with coordinated coloured denim.

2. Colour tis remarkable bow we are influenced by the fashion and style of the country we live in, and how easily we adapt this into our own personal sryle over time. However, our cultural heritage is timeless and so very special to us that we look fonvard to celebrating festivals and occasions, and love sporting traditional outfits to these.

Typically, weekdays probably see you Lil pencil skirts and pantsuits busy ar work, or tunics and leggings paLted with boors, rushing to finish numerous errands, before you pick up the kid s from school.

Sometimes, I'm sure that like me, you wait eagerly for that weekend soiree to dress up in a gorgeous suit o r swish arotmd in an exquisite s,m1 Don't we all love an occasion to flatmt our splendid Indian wardrobe and jewellery co match!

Ever wondered how you'd successfully sport an IndoAussie fusion look that is effortlessly chic? Come a day like Independence Day, it's your perfect chance to try a new lookl Contemporary Australian fashion is all about looking and feeling stylish in a relaxed and smart-casual manner. Traditionally inspired by the Far East more so than Europe, J\ustralian fashion has always included prints and flowing forms in their outfits.

And that's what makes the fusion challenge much easier!

The key to a great fusion outfit is co blend tl1e l ndian piece seamlessly; trying too bard or adding coo many pieces will only ruin the look. So how do you do it? Here are four easy pointers to get the look righr.

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1. Indian prints Indian prints are so distinct and charming tbat yo u would create an instant winner witl1 delicate paisley printed pants or a ha11dba11i (tie and dye) skirt. The rest of your o utfit can then be fairly plain with a neutral coloured Aowing top, paired with a smai:t tote hag. One could safely say that printed kmtis paLted witl1 jeans is al.most I.be uniform for contemporary u.rban

30 AUGUST 2013

\Vhen we think of Independence Day, the colours that come to mind su·aight away are saffron, white and green. Can you actually team tl1ese up to create a l.ook dedicated to patriotism? Ok, it's not as outrageous as it sounds.

One way to do it elegantly is to just wear a white or beige shirt witl1 jeans, and throw in a subdued green scarf and a lovely baigara mirror-work orange bag. Wear your fancy wedges or sandals and finish tl1is look in style witl1 a pretty ser of silver and oxidised metal bangles.

3. Jewellery That brings us to d1e next and perhaps one o f the most important elements of an Indian look, jewellery. Statement necklaces are all the rage right now and you'll be surprised how easy tl1ese are to work into a shirt 'n' jeans look, or even with a pretty evening dress. Indian jewellery is so versatile be ic k1111da11, delicate gold and silver, or pearls. You can instandy glam up an ourht with pretty stone earrings, intricate bracelets or tantalising anklets.

4. Accessories If you are not able to identify your s1:yle in any of the above, I'm sure this on e will have you nodding )' Our head and smiling, because it can't get simpler tlian tl1is.

Yee1 promise these accessories can't be underestimated ac all! I'm talking about scarves w ith Indian prints and colours; just adding this one piece to an outfit will insrandy make your fusion look complete, irrespective of whether it's silk, wool or chiffon. The other easy accessory is an exclusive Indian dutch with embellishments, perfect arm candy, you will agree!

And lase but not least is footwear.

Attractive lndian sandals, rllf]i-is or k.olhapmi chappals all work magic in an Indian fusion look.

So go out there with confidence, sporting a fusion outfit to your Independence Day gathering-and leave your friends spellbound by your super-stylish look!

WELLNESS

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1an cu1s1ne

Common misconceptions about Indian food are that it's too spicy, oily or takes too long to make

ndi.an cuisine is more than 7,000 years old and has survived many cultural and geographical changes. It has evolved significantly over tl1e years, gaining in richness and variety iliroug h tl1e influence of various traveUers and invaders over ilie years, rather than losing its identity.

Early Indians ace nantral food, w hile frui t, wild berries, meat and fish were che main foods of the nomadic people. But now witl1 modernisation, development of communication, infrastructure, information technology and globalisation, global food is easily available such as pastas and spaghetti from Italy, tl1e ever-popular ch01v111ei11 from China, tacos and enchiladas from Mexico, continental pizzas and burgers, French Aambe, ro name just a popular fe\\r.

But most of us thinJ( that Indian food is coo spicy or oily, and involves a long and tedious cooking process. So is this really true or a misconception? Another factor iliac .inHuences popular perception of l.ndian food is chat many people's exposure to this cuisine is in restau.rants th at o ften prepare dishes jusc co make tl1em tasty and easy co prepare. Here are some the misconceptions abom Indian cuisine.

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Indian curries All Indian foods are nor 'curries' as most of tl1e people mink. Curry is a word that was invented by tl1e British co describe a dish tl1at is made with a b lend of several spices. Curry powder is a blend of different spices, and is not the key ingredient to every Indian dish. \Xlbar .is often used however, is a blend called gara!fl 111asala, which is added to many dishes but not all, and often in combination with other spices and Havou.rs. Each is different, and a lot of families like to make their own.

Hot and spicy Although Indian food o ften contains a lot of spices, chis doesn't make every dish spicy.

Chillies are just an option when making an Indian dish, and can easily be o mitted or added as per your liking and taste. Another misconception is that there have

INDIAN LINK

co be four to five, o r even more condimems and spices in every dish. However, chis is not true as sometimes even one condiment can enhance and Aavour a dish, such as roasted and ground cumin seeds in ntilas.

High in fat, rich and oily A dish can. vary depending on who makes it, like any o tl1er cuisine. A lot of Indian cuisine might seem rich, but this doesn't necessarily mean fac; as with any national cuisine, lndian food also has its rich and decadent dishes.

When preparing Indian food at home, omit as mucb fat as you like, adding just as mucb oil as you prefer, depending on your choice.

Crean1 can be replaced with yoghurt. Ghee or clarified butter is also not an essential ingredient in any food and again, the quantity depends on you. You can also prepare rhe dish by ro asting, steaming o r grilling and therefore cutting om added fat while retaining maximum nutrition.

Of course, hldian cooking also includes a Joe of vegetables and spices such as ginger, garlic, nu:meric and chilli, all of which have medicinal qualities. Not co mention the freshness o f ingredients in Indian cuisine.

Long and tedious Though ] ndian dishes may appear complex, there is really no additional process in cooking them, than there may be with any other meal. Nor is tl1e cooking time any longer. Most Indians like to prepare their foods from scratch, even down co preparing their own masa!tis rather than using co mmercial produces or pre-mi.....es. This is what adds more time ro d1e cooking process, but helps you to eat healthier food and avoid preservatives. le is just like preparing the bread, sauces and meat at home co make a simple hamburger. Try out a recipe like cbicken o r fish tikhi and you'll see how simple it is co make delicious Indian food. Most grocery scores would have the ingredients needed co prepare these simple dis hes. Like all cuisines, there are techniques to learn for proper cooking, bm once learned, many popular Indian dishes can be fixed quickly and easily. Also, standard dishes and utensils can be L1sed co fix meals with no special equipment required.

All Indians are vegetarians Although Indian food has very refined, delicious and diverse of

vegetarian dishes, there are also locs of wonderfuUy prepared meat dishes as weU. India's religious beliefs and cul ttu:e have inHuenced d1e evolution of many o f irs dishes. Cows are considered sacred by Hindus, but goat, chicken and fish are quite popular.

Even a meat-eater can enjoy Indian vegecacian dishes. As per the food pyramid, half of your dietary inta ke should be fruit and vegetables, you.r intake of protein sh ould include beans and nuts, and your meat portions should be lean and small. This is a perfect march for an Indian food diet.

All Indian foods are similar Tradition, echnicit:y, geographic location, religion and individual preferences all play a major role in Indian cuisine. Each region and culnire in lndia has its own unique specialties and exclusive style of cooking. Use of ingredients is influenced by race, religion, history and geography, and each person preparing the dish adds their own special much and flavour ro it. Punjab is famo us for its 71/akki ki 1·oti and saag, the use of dairy products and also for its use of the tandoor. Whereas

in the arid areas of Rajasd1an and Gujarat, a great variety of dais and preserves (achars) are used co substitute the lack o f fresh vegetables and fruit. Goans boast of delicacies like cangy pork vindaloo, the ever-popular Goan fish cmry witl, rice, whereas Bengal's greatest contribution to the food heritage of India is a magnificent spectrum of sweets made fro m milk and cued.

RasognlltJ. g11/ub jmmm, cbam challl, 111altti s1md1vich, chentt 11111rki, mwrka!i, rtfihhog - me list of moutl1-ware.ring delicacies is endless. Dosa, id/i, wda and bonda wid1 sambbar from d1e soutl1 are famous aU over India.

Soud1 Indian chutneys are made o f tamarind, coconut, peanms, dal, fenugreek seeds, and cilantro.

Do we still ch.ink Indian food is aU the same? lndian food has become steadily more prevalent in recent years d1roughouc the western world, bringing with it bocb popularity and misconceptions.

Knowing the actual options available, you can prepare a healtl1y meal to cover tl1e various tastes of your guests, and enrich the quality of food in your perso nal diet.

AUGUST 2013 31

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ARIES March 21 - April 19 This month you will have a tendency to spend far too much. You are usually very careful with your finances so make sure you do not overspend. The cards are showing that you will be spending time with loved ones and friends and want to keep everyone happy. You may be feeling a little restless in your job. Speak to you superiors for a better position. Look after your health and eat healthy foods.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 The cards are indicating a time of change around you.

You may be looking at moving home or work. However, work will be satisfying later in the month, you just need to keep your mind on the job. There are a lot of things on your mind and a feeling of being restless. You will have some challenging moments in your relationships.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20 This month is going to be very interesting for you. You may be thinking of taking a holiday or a break which you badly need. Take time out to solve difficult situations with your loved ones. With regard to your home, the cards are indicating some plans to get new furniture or decorative items. If you have started a gym regime, keep it up, as you need to keep an eye on your health.

CANCER June 21 - July 20 This month you will be very energetic and feeling good about yourself. The cards are indicating you may have some fluctuations in your health, so make sure you keep your health in peak condition. Keep your checkups up-to-date.

Be careful not to get into any financial commitments that you do not want to get into. At work you will achieve great headway and your superiors will notice your good work.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22 This month the cards are showing a time of passion in every aspect of your life. You will be looking at new projects and working with all your efforts towards creating a more balanced working life. If you are in a relationship, your focus will be on making things comfortable at home. The first half of the month will be frustrating as you will want to spend time with others, but family commitments will come first.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 This month sees your enthusiasm on super turbo charge.

You will be feeling very loved and wanted, as you have some lovely caring friends around you. There is also a special person who is showing you the right signals. There will be some developments with a project or work you are hoping to start. Children will be a little restless this month, as there are some problems at school that need to be dealt with.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 The cards are indicating a time of putting a lot of plans into action. You have been thinking about making major changes at home, with your work/ family life balance. ·, Financially you will feel a bit more relaxed, as you have enough to pay for your outgoings. You may have to get yout car seen to, as it may need to be serviced. Romantically, you will be wanting a lot of attention this month.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 The cards are showing a great hunger for success this month. You will be enthusiastic and motivated to achieve anything. Those of you who are working in the education field will be particularly successful this month. You may think of taking up a course to learn some new skills. Your energy levels will be high and you will be feeling rather happy. Maintain an exercise regime.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 This month the cards are indicating a great month for career advancement and new possibilities. There will also be travelling this month, and you may decide to look at the possibility of a venture in another country. Financially you are managing to save a little money and you are feeling good about that. Your love life needs to be spiced up... boredom sets in with you Saggi's.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19 This month you will be looking at ways of increasing your income. You will also be feeling healthy and relaxed as you are taking good care of your health and trying to lose those extra pounds. The cards are also indicating a time of travel.

You will be thinking of purchasing a house or maintaining your current premises. There are a lot of exciting changes coming up for you this month.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - f=eb 18 This month you will be feeling restless as there is a lot of pressure on you at work. You will have to take care and J get enough rest as you have a lot of demanding work and projects to handle. Take care when driving, especially if you , drive a red car. There is some news relating to a health test you took, which will be favourable. You will find little time for relaxing. The heat is on.

PISCES f=eb 19 - March 20 The cards are showing a time when you will be taking more interest in spirituality meditation and chanting of some kind. You will be feeling stressed out, so will need to relax your mind and body. Taking a massage will be a very good idea. Relationships are a little on and off, but you need to decide what you really want. Start a savings plan.

The making of

Madras Cafe

SRK FOR SYDNEY!

S

o the rumours are true! Shahrukh Khan, Bollywood's most loved personality, is due to come to our shores for Parramasala.

There was much buzz about this, with the Indian Link office taking a few calls by fans who wanted to find out if this was true. The authorities when asked were tight-lipped, giving us the feeling that something was abuzz.

Apparently, SRK was asked, and the Sydney authorities were waiting for him to get back to them.

So, get set for SRK, Sydney!

The mighty King Khan will be here for Parramasala 4-7 October, the Premier of NSW Barry O'Farrell announced.

He will headline a two-hour Indian variety show of music, dance and comedyTemptation Reloaded as part of the Festival.

Parramasala is NSW's arts and culture festival centred around Sydney's South Asian population which was launched two years ago. It includes free concerts and performances, exhibitions, food and handicrafts markets, and a communities stage.

While it started off with much promise, last year's event was decidedly lacklustre, and no doubt the message was brought home loud and clear that a 'celebrity' was needed to infuse more enthusiasm.

Well, who better than SRK to bring in the bums on seats!

Mr O'Farrell observed at the announcement on July 31 ;'Shahrukh Khan's show will attract an audience not only of Indian origin, but will also appeal to his fans overseas including Fiji, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. In addition to international visito rs, we are also expecting SRK and the Temptation Reloaded show to attract more than 5,000 people from Sydney and interstate".

"Temptation Reloaded offers a unique cultural experience and it is a great event for Western Sydney with many hotels and restaurants expected to reap the tourism rewards;' Mr O'Farrell added.

SRK's popularity is not lost on the Premier, a Twitter fan himself, who could not help noting that"Shahrukh Khan has more than four million Twitter followers and is one of the most popular and influential Bollywood actors''.

SRK will no doubt be a coup for Dr Hari Harlnath, Parramasala Chairman, who has been looking at ways to make the event more profitable since taking over last year.

Temptation Reloaded will be held at All phones Arena Homebush on Monday 7 October.

34 AUGUST 2013

It's a long awaited spy thriller w ith loads of action, but will appeal only to a selective audience, admits John Abraham when describing his soon-to-be released second co-produced film.

With no confusion or ambiguity in his mind, model-actor-producer John Abraham is aggressively promoting Madras Cafe, saying it is not a multiplex movie and that he is targeting a selective audience who can appreciate it.

After his first successful production venture Vicky Donor, this is his second film and he is also acting in it.

"We are not trying to make our film a mass entertainer;' John said recently. "I am an actor and can make 10 other mass entertainers, but t his film is to reach out to a specific audience and I don't have a problem with t hat''.

The political thriller is directed by Shoojit Sircar. Explaining the concept, John stated, "This is not Welcome Back or Dostana where you get your audience. For this film, you have to search for your audience. I am sure people will appreciate the effort that we have put in; at least that's the intention with w hich we have done it. I hope it does not go unnoticed''.

Describing the movie John said, "I am sure people down south will appreciate what we have done. It's a story about an agent and the story is told from his point of view. We researched for it for six years and it has honest content. The 30-plus audience will relate to this film immediately''.

Meanwhile, Nargis Fakhri is excited about her lead role in which she plays a war journalist. She says it was wonderful to learn about the real women who risk their lives on war fronts to get truth across to people.

"My experience of working on Madras Cafe was intense and interesting, like doing a lot of background work on what these women do_. I think most of us watch the news and we don't really care what's going on in the world," said the 33-year-old in an interview recently.

"It was great for me to do so much research on certain events that happened... as well as learning about these amazing women that are out in the field, in a war zone risking their life to get truth out to us," she added.

Nargis believes Madras Cafe is very different from typical Bollywood fare.

"It was a wonderful experience where I play a journalist, an on-field war correspondent. This film is very different from typical Hindi films;' she added.

Also part of the cast is model-turnedactress Raashi Khanna, a tinseltown beauty, but by her own admission, a geek.

This graduate in English Honours from Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College is currently

NARGIS fAKHRI

doing her masters in psychology. Raashi plays the wife of an army officer (John Abraham) in the film.

John is obviously proud of Madras Cafe, but doesn't want to use Bollywood's new yardstick of the Rs. 100 crore club to measure its success.

"All Rs.100 crorefilms are not the greatest films. There are Rs.20 crore to Rs.30 aore films that are brilliant,"he said.

Well, good luck to Madras Cafe, let's hope it's a thriller at the box office.

Naseer nugget Naseeruddin Shah has always been one of the most revered and respected veteran actors in Bollywood. So when he makes a pronouncement about anyone else in the pack, people sit up and take notice. This time Naseer had something to say about actor Arshad Warsi, with whom he worked with for lshqiya.

"Arshad is one of the finest actors we have today. He is the most secure actor in Bollywood. He is very sure about himself;' Nasser said in an interview recently.

Nasser, who will once again be seen with Arshad in lshqiya sequel Dedh lshqiya, said his co-star doesn't take himself too seriously, a trait that he finds admirable.

The Abhishek Cha ubey directed 2010 lshqiya featured Vidya Balan in the lead role, but for the sequel the director has roped in Madhuri Dixit for the female lead. He has also cast Huma Qureshi in it.

Talking about the sequel, Naseer said, "We have shot almost the entire film, now the dimax portion is left, which will be shot soon. The sequel has nothing to do with the first one. It's altogether a different story:' So will Dedh /shqiya be as popular as the original, with these two bigwigs in it? Well, let's wait and see...

Riteish the romantic!

Lucky Genelia D'Souza, she seems to have found a w inner in hubby Riteish Deshmukh. Their love story is as Bollywood as it can get - the Masti star made sure he sent a telegram to his wife

www.indianlink.com.au

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JOHN ABRAHAM

GENELIA D'SOUZA

PRATEIKBABBAR on the day that the 160-year-old service ca me to an end.

"Received my 1st telegram on the last day of its service from my navra (husband).

Thank u Riteish #happy me;'Genelia posted on herTwitter page.

She even posted a part image of the special telegram sent by her romantic and thoughtful hubby! The telegram service faded into history on July 15.

Riteish and Genelia were rumoured to have been in a relationship since they featured together in their debut film TujheMeri Kasam in 2003. Neither of them confirmed their romantic liaison, but they finally sealed their relationship by tying the knot in 2012. Theirs certainly seems to be an enduring love story. Apart from Tujhe Meri Kasam, the duo has worked together on the big screen in Mastiand the more recent Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya.

The boys of Bollywood could pick up a few romance pointers from Riteish, I'm sure!

Al's a pal, says Akshay Of all the unlikely people watching Bollywood's buzz, would you believe Al Pacino has actually seen Akshay Kumar in a promo of Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara!? And apparently, Akshay's role reminded Hollywood superstar Al Pacino of his own blockbuster, The Godfather.

Naturally, Akshay is thrilled that a person of Pacino's stature noticed his film.

"It feels good that such a big star talks about our film and it's a big thing for our industry;'the 44-year-old said recently.

Al Pad no played Michael Corleone, son ofVito, played by Marlon Brando, in 1972.

Meanwhile, Akshay feels that comparing him with Ajay Devgn, who played the lead in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, is unjust.

"We make a fi Im for the sake of filmmaking and not to pull down someone else. I don't work thinking that I have to do better work than Ajay Devgn,

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WI-IO WORE IT BETTER?

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or Jennifer Hudson in Roberto Cavalli?

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I think only about my work;' Akshay said.

"You should do your own work and that's important. I have never thought this way and I don't believe in competition.

We are not horses that you can bet on us," he added.

Directed by Milan Luthria, Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara! will release soon, and also stars lmran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha.

Well, at least Al's a pal, if Ajay isn't!

Prateik's passionate pal Actor Prateik's gently intense performance in lssaq has received rave reviews from some critics and has been savaged by others. But the one person who stands firm by the young actor's talent is Ravi Kishan, who plays a pivotal role in the film. In Ravi, Prateik has found not just an unlikely ally, but also a mentor and advisor.

Ravi, who plays a powerful role in lssaq, was resoundingly vocal against negative reviews of the film, which is director Manish Tiwary's rugged adaptation of Romeo & Juliet.

"Not liking a film is every critic's right and prerogative. Please feel free to dislike our fi lm by all means. But why these personal comments? Why hit out at Prateik just because he has had some setbacks lately?" asked Ravi recently.

"Other actors too go t hrough a lean phase. Prateik has worked really hard on his body language, voice and performance in /ssaq. I think he has a very bright future;' said the actor.

Ravi, who has assumed the role of a protective brother in the younger actor's life, feels there is a lobby operating against Prateik.

"I don't know how or why he has offended people. But there is a lot of hostility towards him . Maybe because he is not media savvy. He likes to keep to himself. That isn't a crime. Don't punish the boy for nothing. Look at the way the audience reacts to him in the theatres;'he said.

For Prateik, Ravi has been "a great source of strength and support''.

"I've no words to describe how much strength I've derived from just being in his company,"Prateik said.

Well, good actors enjoy each other's company, so don't worry, Prateik, you've got a friend!

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AUGUST 2013 35

ANOTI-IER GANDl-ll'S EXPERIMENTS WITI-I TRUTI-I SHIP OF THESEUS STARRING: Aida AI-Kashef, Neeraj Kabi and Sohum Shah DIRECTOR: Anand Gandhi

*****

ometimes ailing and healing become a unified process. Just as suffering is a precursor to wisdom, so too a film about the curative process can, and in this case, does, provide some profound insight into the workings of the human heart.

There are three stories of infinite reverberations in debutant director Anand Gandhi's film. And what a debut Gandhi has made! Ship Of Theseus is so luminously layered, so spectacularly segmented, and yet so cohesively assembled, that you fear the entire burden of existence would weigh down the narrative. But no. The 'Gandhian' miracle is that there is a sense of lightness running through the three stories.

We can comfortably say, this is the neo-Gandhi's 'experiments with truth'.

Anand Gandhi doesn't fear the unknown. He explores the darkest areas of the human soul and waits patiently for answers to emerge in the questioning light. Often we see the three protagonists walk that talk to an area of enlightenment through intersectional interactions that don't subscribe to basic rules of engaging cinema.

The film's three editors - Adesh Prasad, Sanyukta Kaza and Satchik Puranik (presume each edited one of the three stories), don't prune down the shots to get our attention. Instead, we are invited into this world of spatial scrupulousness where cinematic rules oftimemanagement are undermined for the sake of something much larger and vital.

Hence, when in my favourite story, the ailing monk (played with inscrutable veracity by Neeraj Kabi) speaks to his young beatnik lawyer-friend as they walk briskly across the bustling streets of Mumbai, the camera trails their dialogue without cuts.

No one would dare interrupt a discourse on the exigencies and practicalities of a non-violent protest against medical experiments on animals when two such iconoclasts are at it with an extempore exuberance.

The importance of this film lies in its complete eschewal of self-importance.

36 AUGUST 2013

Anand Gandhi takes on questions that echo across eternities. Rather than assume a position of infinite disposition, the film's tone is one of contained exposition.

As a writer and director, Gandhi doesn't get carried away even when his characters do. Not that they are susceptible to extravagant self-expression. The one trait that connects all three protagonists is their aversion to overt emotional display.

In the first story, the very beautiful Aida EI-Kashef plays Alia, who in blindness, discovers an inner incandescent vision that enables her to become an outstanding photographer. Alia tends to get argumentative with her patient boyfriend in her state of non-visibility.

Even when Alia loses her cool, she loses it coolly. Very coolly. The disposition to allow the characters an emotional and spiritual freedom is pre-empted by a stark austere state of expression which doesn't encourage self-indulgent narrative devices. The images that run through the film are qualified by a minimalist beauty.

Even the streets, sights and sounds of Mumbai are not used to convey the overpowering desolation of the dispassionate bustle that we saw in, say Kiran Ra o's Dhabi Ghat.

Monks walking bare feet through acres of windmills, or the solitary monk barely able to walk through his illness plodding through Mumbai's compromised hinterland... For some reason, the best visual images occur in the monk's tale.

Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar (what a maestro of the lens!) is given the daunting task of visually manifesting a series of abstract intangible images of suffering and redemption that run through the director's head. The camera never lies. This film wouldn't allow it to, even if it tried.

The visuals constantly assume positions that manifest the lost inner world of the characters while making sure not to lose sight of the ambience that fosters their individual space. As the characters seek to find a centre to their fractured conscience, we are privy to an extraordinary process of filmmaking where the director builds a connecting bridge between the world of ideas and their outward manifestation.

The most straightforward and the least lyrical of the three stories is the third story where Sohum Shah (born to play

his character) is a stockbroker, who sets off on trail to Stockholm to retrieve the stolen kidney of a poor chaw/ dweller.

Retrieval and redemption run across the length of this unconditionally nourishing cinema. Gandhi's narration is so devoid of cinematic affectations and so emphatically rooted to a reality that shuns coyness, that we straightaway become a part of the world that the director has built brick by brick into this edifice of uncluttured beauty.

Indeed, the more profound the ideas get in Gandhi's narration, the less complicated is the storytelling. Finally, when the three stories come together through the theme of organ transplant, we are no longer looking at and for binding threads. Ship OfTheseus takes us so far away from the acceptable prerequisites and definition of'good

cinema'that we forget that so far, we have never forgiven cinema that dares to be self-indulgent.

Ship Of Theseus is a cinema of selfindulgence at its most sublime. Gandhi weaves his ideas into coiled urgent vignettes that tell us so much about the quality of life without engaging us in unnecessary polemics. This is a film of ideas.

What we come away with is a sense of loss even as the film weaves a hypnotic tale of repair, redemption and renewal.

This is a sombre, meditative, profound and yet weightless work of unfettered beauty. A life-changing experience.

No less. Anand Gandhi defines life's mysteries in mysterious ways, showing a command over his mammoth philosophical world that Mani Kaul and Jean-Luc Godard would have envied.

SUB HASH K. JHA

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SAMBARAND SANDALWOOD CHENNAI EXPRESS STARRING: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone DIRECTOR: Rohit Shetty

ammit! No out-takes!! Is this really a Rohit Shettyfilm? Every film of the Go/ Maal director has so far ended with out-takes giving us entertaining glimpses from during the making of the fi lm. Here those trademark Shetty out-takes are replaced by a Honey Singh track which celebrates Rajnikanth and the fungi.

The rest of the film resembles those typical sambar-and-sandalwood creations by K. Raghvendra Rao, and worse still, Raj Kanwar's Dhai Akshar Prem Ke where Aishwarya to escape her parental wrath at her elopement, introduces to her family a man she has just met as her soul-mate.

Of course, there are the flying cars exploding in the air to make sure we know that all said and drummed, this is a Rohit Shetty presentation.

Packaged with pickled precision, peppered with just the right doses of naughty jokes and precocious pranks that go well with Shah Rukh's 40-yearold brat's act, Chennai Express is the kind of non-toxic comic entertainer where the most damaging double-entendres you'd get is a Tamil word that sounds like Angelina Jolie's name.

Come again?

That brings me to another major hurdle in the heap of hilarity that Shetty builds so meticulously in the first-half.

The generous outflow ofTamil that seems initially engaging (more so, since Shah Rukh shares our noncomprehension of the rapidfire Tamilian cloudburst that accompanies Deepika's quicksilver character) begins to come in the way as the narration grows older and runs out of energy.

But then there is the sprightly Deepika as the runawayTamilian girl who piles on to the North Indian mithaiwala stranger to escape marrying the boorish fiancee back home in her village in Tamil Nadu.

We've seen Kareena Kapoor do the chirpy runaway train traveller in Jab We Met. Deepika brings a special filteredcoffee flavour to her chirpy character.

Even that broad hammy accent grows on us.

Yes, we like! Here she is the only Roh it Shetty team member (and I use the term 'team' since Shetty generously credits the direction to himself and his team) who seems to have a firm grip over her rudderless dithering character.

Deepika plays Meena Amma with

D

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flavourful flourish. She is specially delightful in three key sequences, two of them comic and the other unexpectedly sombre.

In the sequence where her character turns into a sleeping, kicking and convulsive zombie, she's unbelievably goofy. It's not just Shah Rukh who gets a kick out of that scene.

Would Rohit Shetty please do a fullfledged out-and-out comedy with Deepika?That, Chennai Express is not. It is a half-hearted but laugh-hearted effort that makes the fatal error of taking itself too seriously.

Towards the end when the utterly shammed climactic fight ensues, we even have a long speech by Shah Rukh on the social status of the girl child.

Not now, please!

As we squirm at the attempt to turn comedy into a serious business we look back at the rest of the film with some amount of warmth and affection.

Some of the long shots of the train winding through green acres are breathtaking. And Shah Rukh's first meeting with Deepika's father over a bridge over a fast-flowing river is shot with amazing brio.

There's a wonderfully-shot sequence where Shah Rukh has to carry Deepika to a temple over hundreds of steps.

Deepika here goes from amusement and mockery to a sense of belonging and pride in her man's arms. It's a moment built with care and love.

But then, such tender affection really has no place in this comedy of cultural dispossession where the Punjabi boy

Rahul gets embroiled in Tamil girl Meena's family affairs and comes out... well not quite wiser, but fi lled with selfmocking laughter.

Shah Rukh pokes a whole lot of goodnatured fun at his now-aging lover-boy persona. There are tongue-in-cheek references to Di/wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and several other Shah Rukh Khan films and songs including the introductory South Indian lines from the Jiyajale song in Oil Se. All these self-tributes work better than what Puri Jagganath did with the Bachchan persona Buddha... Hoga Tera Baap.

Rohit Shetty is more in command of his canvas here than in his last comedy Bo/ Bachchan. But the self-deprecatory laughter is still not good enough.

Somewhere you feel the one-line plot (okay, if not one then two-line plot) is stretched into an unwelcome secondhalf where nothing really happens. Even the humour tracks stops short beyond a point.

But there is some genuine steam and spark in the early part of Chennai Express.

Towards the beginning of the train journey when Deepika and Shah Rukh play a kind of antakshari of Hindi film songs to put the goons off her trail, Deepika completely overshadows her kingly co-star, who should be okay with being upstaged by his female co-star.

After all he has given Deepika priority over his own name in the credit titles.

And Deepika takes the lead very

seriously. She has never looked better and never been funnier on screen without even trying too hard.

But then the plot and the situations let her down. The antakshari-speak that was amusing in the beginning recurs during a stale fight sequence in the second-half.

We are no longer laughing.

Not when Shah Rukh's purported big chase sequences end in embarrassing dead-ends. Not when an item song with incoherent words and even more misguided logistics pops up like a joke whose punchline has gone missing.

Through all of this, Shah Rukh Khan braves it with a delicious sense of self-mockery bordering almost on a masochistic absence of heroic pride.

Yes, he likes it when the joke is on him. But that happens once too often here.

So it's finally here. The film that all Shah Rukh Khan fans (which covers half the hemisphere) have been waiting for. The good news first.

Chennai Express is a pleasant and likable film in parts. The bad news is, it does nothing for Shah Rukh Khan's imdomitable star power except to tell us he can still play a 40-year Rahul without faltering.

That we already know.

SUBHASH K. JHA

AUGUST 2013 37

BACKCHAT

PNG: Problem Never Goes The PM finds a dream solution to stopping the boats

'

;

BY LP AYER

~:; ; R 4111'.

Hello, is this the Pi:ime l\un ister's office?

PM's Secretary: Ye: it is. Who is calling please?

Caller: This is Sultan Dhow Dinghy from Cisarua, currently the busiest coastal rown in south Java.

Secretary: Excuse me, how did you get our number?

Caller: We picked it up from one of your many navy vessels that come here every day. In fact we have aU the nw11bers of your Immigration, Customs and Emergency Services, senators, lawyers and many more.

Secretary: Ok .... why do you want to talk to our PM? Caller: I can stop the boats and save him billions of dollars.

Secretary: Wait a minute... (doin1 a hurried check on the computer) Did you say your name is Sultan Dhow? We will call you back in ten minutes. \Xlhac is your number there?

Caller: 01 l 62 420 420.

C Lick.

Secretary to colleagues: Guys, the leading people smuggler has made contact. Get the treasurer, immigration and defence ministe1 and tl1e defence chiefs of Navy into the PM's office asap.

Ring ring.

PM: Sultan, tlus is the Australian PM: \Xlhat can I do for you?

Sultan: Nor much you can do for me, Prime Minia~ter Sir. Bue I can save your job and billions of dollars.

PM: Not even my treasurer can do that. How can you do that for me?

Sultan: By stopping the boats.

PM: Our Opposition has been saying chis three-word slogan for months. Bm they are not sure now. By the way, our intelligence tells us you are the one sending the boats om.

Sultan: True. That's why I can stop mem. You can tweer co your hordes of followers that your tough srnnd did the trick, and win !.heir votes.

PM: Brilliant, Sultan. But what's in it for you?

Sultan: It's simple. Every boar l send out makes me a million but costs you hLLndreds of millions. So for every boat I stop sending, you

38 AUGUST 2013

pay me two million. Imagine the savings. VIP jaws drop in unison.

Buttons on ca.lcubtors are tapped furiously. No word exchanged for a few nunmes.

PM: Sultan, two miUion a boar a day, is a bit too much!

Sultan: Think of tl1e savings I am making for you. I ow that we choose aU the in1migrants, you can abolish the Immigration Department. Cnsroms too, since mese arrivals bring in their own customs. Look at the ones we send - well-fed and in designer clotl1es. They won't be a burden.

Quite affluent They pay 10K per head for such a short journey in a leaky boat, almost the price for a

world cruise in a luxury liner.

PM: Yes but two million ...

Foreign Affairs Minister: Look, we have PNG to help us. We are scouring new islands roo.

Sultan: Listen Sir, PNG stands for ' Problem I ever Goes'. Look at the work we do for you. \Y/e provide valuable training for your navy chaps calling them over here every other day. That's the only exercise they ger to do. Without tl,ar they may get into their o ld games, sexual harassrnem.

The Navy Chief in a very low tone: Mr PM Sir, let me give you a couple of buUec points for bargaining.

PM: I can do with cannon-size

points. What have you got?

Navy Chief: Tell him we will undercut his business. We now go almost 10km close to their shore. We can pick up liis cargo right from the port at half the price. We can even provide aid to build that pore to world class standard. The journey wiU be risk free. We'll take om full page ads in d1e papers there.

PM: Brilliant. Any other point~?

Navy Chief: Our defence b udget is severely cur. This discount offer will bring in nullions. We can also pick tl1e brains of the boat crew iliat wiU become ic!Je. PM: In what way?

Navy Chief: Many of their boats

start sinking witlun minutes of setting off. Our Collins class subs can't dive. We can ask their technical know-how to make our subs 'hole in' class.

PM: ExceUenc suggestions.

PM to Sultan: You there, Sultan?

OK then. Two million bucks a boat.

Everybody cheers to a done deal.

The applause goes on and 011• .• and on.

1he PM wakes to see he is in the midst ofan election mlfy, having dozed offas a remit of extreme exhamtion. Sultan DhoUJ Dinghy.. .

UJas but a dream.

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AUGUST 2013 39

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