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2 SEPTEMBER 2016

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editorial

INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER Pawan L,uthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR· · Kira Spucys-Taha/ MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal. . .

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India is fertile ground for disruption

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CONTRIBUTORS Usha Ramanujam Arvind, Royston Rebello, Shafeen Mustaq, Jyoti Shankar, Dhanya Samuel, · · Petra O'Neill, Nancy Jade Althe�.. ·· Ra�a Sarkhel. Appurva Raaj ADVERTISING . SA Sales · Naresh Valecha 0411 788 601.

National Sales . . .

Yivek :rrivedi 02 9262 1766 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Pree.ta Naii 02 9279 2004 Indian Link is a monthly newspaper published in

English. No material, includi�g advertisemen_ts designed by Indian Link, may be reprodu�ed in· part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian· . Link... AII correspondence shou_ld be addressed to• Indian link Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279·2004 l=ax: 02 9279:' 2005 Email: info@indianlink.corri.au ·

goes beyond innovation. It changes not only how we do business, but also how we think and behave as a society, even intruding on our daily habits in many instances. It is destructive in that it does a\vay with existing paradigms, but it is also much, much more creative.

In India, as the masses break through socio-economic boundaries, a population thus far steeped in tradition is hungry for change. The systems in place are challenged as they scamper to catch up with the fast-paced changes in social and business life. The government agencies are struggling to keep up with expectations, and so there a.re oppornmities aplenty for disruptors to step in and create greater oppormnities for themselves and others.

Many organisations are stepping up to the mark in this regard. The private banks and the telcos bave moved way ahead of their state controlled counterparts to offer new and innovative products.

In fact, only days ago, India's richest man Mukesh Ambani laid out his vision for his relecom firm Reliance Jio, offering rhe world's cheapest internee

BY PAWAN LUTH RA

A

n interesting observation during a recent conversation with a friend started me thinking of the professional work oppormnities in India versus those overseas, especially in western coLm tries.

This friend had his children study overseas, not only because he could afford it, bm also because he believed in the strucmred approach which gives the students a wider perspective on issues before settling into a more rigid and defined course. However, he was keen that the children ren1rn to India to pursue their corporate careers. The learning curve is steeper in India, he shared; and there's plenty of disruption taking place.

As a term bandied about in business circles for a few years now, disruption

data at $1 a gigabyte as compared ro ahout $5 pet gigabyte now available.

With a country where the market will be in millions of customers, this kind of disruption will revolutionise the industry.

One suspects Ambani's competitors will have their thinking caps on to find similar disruptive options to disrupt this latest offering.

Exciting times indeed.

Meanwhile, for chose of us who are more settled in our adoptive homeland, the issue is what kind of positive disruption we mal<e to our professional and personal lifestyles here, especially if tl1e feeling is char the career has plateaued. Will taking up a healthier lifestyle create a disruption ro the routine of work, television and social life? Will breaking away from corporate life ro start a new business create a professional disruption?

Perhaps it is tin1e to give up ideas to which one has snick to in the past or skills which we have fOLmd comfort in to try something bold and new.

After all, if ir is not hurting or being uncomfortable, then one is nor disrupting enough and changing enough.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 3

YOUR SAY

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT FOOD

ROMEA PROMODH interviewed food scientist Shyamala Vishnumohan about changing the school curriculum to help influence good habits

Food Revolution tweeted: Our ambassador Shyamala Vishnumohan featured in this article on teaching kids about food #food revolution Chris Elstoft @AusDHClndiaAustralian tweeted: Indian food scientist Dr Shyamala Vishnumohan is putting nutrition back on the menu for schools.

Note: Lupins, as mentioned in the article, are like other protein containing foods (e.g. peanut, soy, dairy, shellfish, eggs) and may trigger an allergic reaction in a small percentage of population. Some people who are allergic to peanuts may also react to lupin.

BIKINIS AND BINDIS

NAM/TA GOHIL spoke with Indian Australian model/actress Chandrika Ravi

Chandrlka Ravi @chandrikaravi_ retweeted: "'Ethnicity and race should

not define people. You can be anything you want to be,' says Chandrika Ravi." Loved this interview of mine!

Trevor Pritchard wrote: Love the write up on you, Chandrika, keep working for your goals... Love/support/wishes for you always Shoalb Nlshat wrote: Looking gorgeous, all the very best. Stay blessed always Chandrika Jasmin Calabrese wrote: Go girl, all grown up and killing it

COMMEMORATING THE INDIAN LINKS AT GALLIPOLI

VISH CHILUMKURTI wrote about the efforts being made by group of local Indians in Brisbane to create a monument for Indian soldiers of both World Wars

Smithson Planning wrote: It is heartening to note that efforts are being

made by the Australian government and also a group of Indian-origin residents of Brisbane to ensure that due credit is given to all the valorous Indian soldiers who sacrificed everything for the cause of peace. The Australia India Heritage Committee (AIHC) was formed in late 2015 with an objective to create a monument in Queensland that will have a distinct identity of its own, and which will commemorate the Indian soldiers of both World Wars.

Indian Australian @theausslelndlan tweeted: @indian_link more power to them!

Professor Krishna Somers wrote: I read with interest the article by Vish Chilumkurti on Indian links with Gallipoli in your August 2016 issue. Griffith University also needs to take into account the sacrifices made by Indian troops in the Pacific War. The War Cemetery in Lae, Papua New Guinea, is also the burial site of many unidentified Indian soldiers with grave stones recognised by a Sanskrit saying: Om Namo Namaha. I have myself visited the cemetery during a tour of duty in Papua New Guinea.

A NOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS

I am now in receipt of three or four editions of Indian Link and want to thank you and most importantly to congratulate you on the quality of the product.

I find the content a clever combination of serious subjects and light-hearted entertainment. It is a very readable publication.

For those of us interested in advancing Australia/ India relations, the paper does a great job in putting forward a contemporary and traditional image of India and the rich experience of Indians in Australia.

So thank you again and warmest congratulations.

Maurice L Newman AC, Sydney

SAYIT AGAIN 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

RIO OLYMPICS

Sakshi Malik won bronze in the 58kg freestyle wrestling as India got its first medal at the Rio Olympic Games, while PV Sindhu took home the silver in the women's singles Badminton final

Rajnl Luthra wrote: Trust the girls to save the day! Shabaash, Sakshi and PV! Sachln Wakhare wrote: Agree! Was longing to see Indian flag in medal

tally :)

Dhanya Samuel wrote: Congratulations Sakshi and PV; you have made us

proud

Dalwlnder Singh @Dalwinderperth tweeted: Hope after this mindset

regarding girls will change forever #Rio2016 #IND #nationpride @indian_link

Results of the Indian Link online poll:

Should Cricket be Included as an Olymplc sport?

Only if it's T20 format (49%) Yes, more cricket is a great thing (26%) I prefer Kabaddi (15%) No, I hate cricket (10%)s

ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

TIA SINGH wrote an open letter to Indian Australian youth about the importance of speaking out about domestic violence

Gopal Ganwanl wrote: A sad reality, but again, to all women, help is out

there - you need to take the fi rst step against it!

Our Watch @OurWatchAus tweeted: "When a woman leaves an abusive

partner, people ask why she stayed so long, not why he abused her in the first place".

BevJ @BevJohnst tweeted: @OurWatchAus @indian_link Yes. Always. [They have] No idea!

People of colour, I mean, who isn't? We've got our white whites, translucent whites, beige whites, red whites and dark whites, who are darker than the light-dark guys ... all religions, faiths and beliefs...You know what the best thing is about diversity? Everything! lndlan Australian actor Arka Das In Meat and Livestock Australia's You'll Never Lamb Alone ad

890 Australian students to live, work and study in India under #NewColomboPlan 2017 mobility round

Harlnder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to lndla

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STATE O F NOSTALGIA

To mark India's Independence Day, we asked Indian Australians to describe

the 'wow' factor of their state. What do you love most about your home city/

state?

Vlnaya Ral wrote: Happy Independence Day to the Indian Link team! Keep up the good work!

Shaoquett Moselmane tweeted: Wishing you a happy 70th #India Independence Day.

Gagan Sharma wrote: Jai Hind!

Malay Dave wrote: I was curious to observe the representative map of

India used under the title 'State of nostalgia' as it looked incorrect. I quickly searched and found a few important documents and links that I thought best to share with you so you can make an informed decision on whether to continue depicting India with or without Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh territories. There has been a lot of coverage of this matter in the news media recently. Hope this helps.

Pratlk Shah wrote: The gazetted map of India is incorrectly represented.

Arif wrote: I am an Indian Australian from Karaikal! [A district in the Union Territory of Puducherry, India] Pradnya Dugal wrote: Nicely written Mittu Gopalan. Kerala is one of my favourite places on this earth!

Dr Mrldula Nath Chakraborty wrote: It was great fun for me to read all the entries.

Mlchelle Cahlll @theherringlass tweeted: My Goan nostalgia 70 years on from India's Independence, though Goa wasn't liberated until 1961 @TheAusslelndlan tweeted: Fantastic work! Enjoyed the insights!

Freedman and Gopalan Sollcltors wrote: There's no place like home. Our principal Mittu_shares her memories of home in Kera la, India with Indian Link for their Independence Day issue!

Saba Nabl (@nabi_saba) tweeted: Loved the August edition of @indian_link.

Enjoyed reading your column [on Uttar Pradesh] too @dryadusingh Vlnaya Ral wrote: Such a beautiful poem [on Tamil Nadu] Appurva ... love it!

Kala Raghunath wrote: [What I love most about Delhi...] Sarojani Nagar market! Chaat at Rajiv Chowk, the metro, parantha at Moolchand Bridge, chole kulche, Haldirams restaurants, Durga Pandal in Chitranjan Park, Ram Leela's at Navratri time, di/Ii ki sardi, Lal Qui la and Paranthe Wali Gali... Holi is best played in Delhi, India Gate and its beautiful lawns with the whole evening atmosphere there, Akshardham Temple, beautiful flyovers and wide roads, and so much more... love my city!

Megha Sinha (Melbourne) wrote: Johar Jharkhand! Yes I take pride in saying that I hail from a town called Daltonganj, in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand (meaning bushland) itself is known as land of forests, gold, folk music, folk dances and tribals. It owns nearly 40 per cent of India's mines and mineral reserves.

Jharkhand is the root land of many famous Indian faces. Mahendra Singh Dhoni -he doesn't need any introduction though (most popular sportsman of our current times); Priyanka Chopra, R Madhavan, Meenakshi Sheshadri and more.

A traveller can find interest in places like Duari, Khaya Banaroo, Maloodah, wildlife sanctuaries (Hazaribagh & Dalma) Betla National Park, Saranda Forest and om Holy places like Deori Mandir, Basukinath Dham (Dumka) and Rajrappa Temple, not to forget our famous Chhath Pooja. Some of the state's uniqueness comes from cattle fairs held in Kolhaiya, Tutilawa, Belgada and Lawalong when animals are adorned and celebrated. Our authentic dishes like Ka/mi Saag, Dhuska, Jhinga, Thekua, Litti Chokha, Tilkut, Pua, and Mitha Haja are so heavenly and not to be missed!

CAPTION CONTEST

"What's the chitchat between Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor?"

Rupall Rastogi wrote: Let me capture my fittest Kareena... after pregnancy you will be my fattest Kareena

Saba Nabl wrote: This is the latest Camera I bought from Chor Bazaar :P

BLENDING IN

PREETI JABBAL spoke with renowned British Indian artist Seeta Patel on her unique blend of classical Indian dance, contemporary dance and design

@theGeometrlclan tweeted: @seetadances is in #Australia making her new work about airbrushed histories & was interviewed by @indian_link @UKTheatreDance tweeted: #lunchtimeread @seetadances talks to @indian_link in Australia about her new work on airbrushed histories #AIDF

LITTLE GIRL WITH THE BIG HEART

A SANGAM OF ARTS AND CULTURE

PREET/ JABBAL wrote about how Ryka Gulati, a former Leukaemia sufferer, celebrated her fifth birthday by raising funds for the Royal Children Hospital Foundation

Purush Blllmorla wrote: Not to be forgotten in this melange and mela

Vandana Aneja replied: Thank you very much Rajni Luthra for your kind

Rajnl Luthra wrote: Happy birthday to you Ryka. And to the Gulati family:

PREETI JABBAL and PA WAN LUTHRA reported on the launch of Confluence­ Festival of India

you have a little star in Ryka, congratulations. Great to see her looking well!

should be the long struggle, fears and tears and sweat of those of who came much before and helped change the landscape of this country. How do we celebrate them if all we are celebrating are the new glistening arts from a modernising Bharat? The temples and gurudwaras they have erected on this land are also standing testimony to the cultural arts of the communities; they did also perform (Louise Light and Siva ram legacies; performing 'Blue God' back in 1930s); there was the momentous visit of Srinivasa Sastri and Totaram Sanadhya (bhajans were performed for them). Today's performances happen as one-night stands and they vanish; then new performances come and the same circus occurs as in Bollywood.

Romea Promodh @romeaswork tweeted: @indian_link @FOlinOz @navdeepsuri This is so ambitious and amazing. Would love to be in audience whenever it's in Perth. Thanks.

A warm, friendly meeting with Prime Minister Modi, discussing strong Australia-India cooperation through trade, defence, education and sport.

Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia

INDIANLINK

words and wishes for Ryka. All the wishes and blessings mean a lot to us.

Dhanya Samuel wrote: What a wonderful thought! Wishing you a very blessed birthday Ryka...you truly have a heart of gold.

..f

[el

+ JOIN THE CONVERSATION > LOG on to your own Facebook or Twitter account > TYPE "Indian Link" into the search box at the top of the screen and click on the link that comes up > CLICK 'Like' to join the Indian Link Facebook community or 'Follow' @lndian_Link on Twitter

India's beautiful, intangible heritage on show at UNESCO: the timeless sk.ills of India's textiles industry

George Mina, Ambassador of Australia to UNESCO

The Indians they're the new Chinese

Sydney Theatre Company's The Wharf Revue 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016 5

youth

True representation

Youth Governor for the South Australian Youth Parliament 2017, APPURVA RAAJ discusses the need for better youth representation in Australian federal politics

T

he cornerstone of all democratic political systems is representation. _ That means, ensunng that politicians are truly representative of the people of their nation.

A popular topic of conversation during the recent election focused on voter disenfranchisement, especially of young voters in Australia. The under­ representation of youth and minorities in Australian politics is undeniably a factor contributing to this phenomenon.

The most alarming discrepancy in political representation would be the major under-representation of youth in politics. The average Australian politician is aged in their late 40s or early S0s. The youngest politician in Parliament currently is 28-year-old Senator James Patterson, showcasing the exclusion of a substantial quantity of the voting population from direct political representation.

The odds are unfavourably stacked against an eager 20-year-old Indian woman wanting to participate and make a difference in Australian policies.

Women make up approximately 50.5% of the Australian population and hence shmdd theoreticallir should comprise at least half of the House of Repr. esentatives and the Senate. However, the composition of the 45'" Parliament has just 29% women in the Lower House and 39% in the Senate. These figures are an in1provement from previous years, buc still show that women are still under-represented in Australian politics.

Australia also prides itself as a multicultural society, and it cercain . ly is, however this multiculturalism is not reAected in Australia's political platforms.

The 2011 Census stated that two per cent of Australia's population comprised of people with Indian ancestry, meaning 1 in every 53 people in Australia is of Indian heritage. Given these figures, cl1e House of Representatives should have at least three members of lndian heritage, in order co be truly representative.

However, cl1is is not the case. The effect of multiculmral representative politics is more significant viewed as a whole. At least 26% of the Australian population are immigrants with multi-ethnic ancestry.

This would translate into 17 seats in the House of Representatives held by people representing Australia's multictdtucal population. The significance of such strong representation would tndy be felt in cl1e current parliament, with the Turnbull Government forming a fragile one-seat majority.

Political participation of young people, and especjally youth of multicnltucal backgrounds, cannot be cultivated overnight; it is an arduous, generational cultural shift in the social and political fabric of Australia. The first step to any change is always awareness. YMCA's Youth Parliament is an apolitical program that facilitates empowering youth co be advocates and leaders in their community.

The program enables young people to learn about the legislative process in their state, network with politicians and develop and present issues and ideas that will

6 SEPTEMBER 2016

better their states. lo my experience, Yomh Parliament is about personal development, about breaking down barriers and negating youth disenfranchisement in politics.

Australia is a democracy Hidden within cl1at simple statement is much political, philosophical and social controversy and inAuence that shapes the society we live in. A democratic political system operates on cl1e premise that power is vested in a

nation's citizens, and one of the ways in which Australians exercise this power is through their vote. Pol.icicians are elected by the people to represent them and their interests - the key word .in that sentence being 'represent.' The requisite relationship between democracy and representation is aptly presented in this quote by James Bovard; "De111ocracy 11111st he so111ethi11g 111ore tha11 hJJO 1110/ves and a sheep voting 011 what to

havefar dinner.''

1f you are aged between 15-25, apply for Yomh Parliament 2017 in your state and be a young leader in your community.

1 can truly say as a young, Indian woman interested in politics, my time in Youcl1 Parliament has made cl1e looming glass ceiling between me and my ambitions a little weaker and my confidence and self-belief far more resolme.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 7

coverstory

ss1e 1n a1 eresa ■

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How the Australian Missionaries of Charity are celebrating Mother Teresa 's canonisation

Sister Maria Lucy M.C. with Sister Antonine M.C. and their memorial to Mother Teresa

U

BY KIRA SPUCYS-TAHAR

11.iversaUy acknowledged for her work with the poor and needy, among the sobriquets she acquired over the course of her life, Mother Teresa became popularly known as the 'Living Saint of Kolkata'.

And so on Sunday 4 Septeruber, Mother Teresa was officially elevated to sainthood after being canonised by Pope Francis at the Vatican.

This is an especially holy rime for the followers of Mother Teresa, now officially known as Saint Teresa of Kolkata. Her veneration to the role of Saine took place one day before the 19'h anniversary of her death on 5 September, 1997, and 10 September marks the date she received her calling from God to leave the Loreto Order and found the Missionaries of Charity. :Mother Teresa was revered across the globe, including in Australia. Many people are familiar with her mission work in Kolkata, but few are aware that she visited Australia 10 rimes during her life and that there are 14 l'vfissionaries of Charity

8 SEPTEMBER 2016

houses across Australia. The fuse house was established in 1969 in outback Bourke

by Mother Teresa hersel� after she came to know of the needs of the Indigenous Australians through a connection to a Cardinal in Melbourne. In 1970 she founded the Melbourne Missionaries of Charity, followed by Katherine in 1973.

Now there are houses from Sydney to \X!agga Wagga in ew South Wales, from Brisbane to Perch, and several across the Northern Territor y including Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. There are also cwo houses in Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, one in East Tin1or and one in Indonesia (established 2010).

In 1979, Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prjze for her work, while in 1982, she was made an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia on Australia Day, in recognition of her social work in the region.

Sister l\.faria Lucy M. C ., Regional Superior of the Oceania Region of the Missionaries of Charity, says she and her Sisters have always known Jvforher Teresa was a Saint, and are excited about the canonisation, but it has always been just a matter of rime.

"Ir means that she has been publically recognised," she says. "\'<.le already knew that she was a Saint and now that the Church recognises chat, the world recognises that she's a saintly, holy person, and we can learn much about her and from her."

Sister Maria Lucy worked witl, Mother Teresa i n Kolkata for five years, and was at her side when she died. She joined the Missionaries of Charity after spending time with Mother Teresa in Kerala, where Sister Maria Lucy grew up.

"She visited my grandmother a few times, and inAuenced me a lot," Sister Maria Lucy says. "Knowing the ,vork she was doing, reading the books, having that personal contact with her made me want to join."

Sister Antonine M.C., Local Superior of the Missionaries of Chari[)', Sydney, became a nun in the 1970s.

"I saw Malcohn Muggeridge's documentary 'Something Beautiful for God' on ABC television and d1en I felt called to that kind of work," Australian-born Sister Antonine says.

The sisters at the Missionaries of Charity, Sydney celebrated Mother Teresa's canonisation by sharing experiences, memories and stories before attending a celebratory Mass at St . Mary's Cathedral in her honour. The Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher OP made d,e occasion "very special".

As he said during his honiily, "Perhaps no ride capmres her so well as the word '.Mother', a word drnt speaks of fruitfulness, tenderness and nurmre, both of a spiritual family that grew from a small handful of women in 1949 to somewhere around 5,000 Missionaries of Charity today; and of a

family of the poorest of the poor in India and beyond."

As the Sisters shared stories, Sister Antonine remembered how she met Moth.er Teresa in Melbourne in 197 5 when she visited Australia, then in Papua New Guinea several rears later, and again in South Korea.

"Mother (Teresa] was travelling to Soud1 Korea from Japan and she wanted to bring us somedung to make us happy," she recalls.

"So they packed some ice cream with dry ice co take with her. She brought it, wi th great joy, and said, 'I brought this from Japan to share'. She was a warm, htm1an person. It was that motherly love, with all of us sitting and earing ice-cream together at 10 o'clock at night."

Sister Maria Lucy recalled an incident while she was living in India at the Mocher House in Kolkata. Mother Teresa was to travel to Delhi lacer that monung. The novice mistresses gad1ered co say goodbye co her while she was having breakfast, slowly sipping her tea, as though it was very taSC)'• Not long after she left, the nuns gathered to eat their own breakfast. ''And ic was then we realised, we had put sale instead of sugar in her tea!" Sister Maria Lucy reveals. "But she never said a word."

Sharing another memory, Sister Maria Lucy detailed how, while travelling with Mother Teresa in America, they had a meeting with the Mayor of a major city who

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sent a stretch limousine to pick them up, along with a police escort.

"Mother [Teresa] got inro the car looked around and said, 'People outside will think, Mother Teresa muse have stolen something with all these police around!' She had a great sense of humour."

Working within the parish of Sc Peter's in Sydney's Surry Hills, the Sisters undertake a variety of activities in the community such as teaching scripture lessons to local school children. Along with members of the order across the globe, they also care for those less fortunate through their work with orphanages, hospitals and hospices, centres

INDIANLINK

for women, and soup kitchens co feed the homeless. They also provide a kind of companionship.

"We visit the sick and lonely people shut inside," Sister Maria Lucy e:,..-plains.

"Loneliness is one of the greatest sicknesses. Poverty, M . other caUed it, loneliness is one of the greatest poverties.

She often said, 'If a person is hungry, we can give them something to eat to satisfy chem, buc if they are lonely and feel unwanted, it is the greatest poverty."

As pare of their thanksgiving for the canonisation, the Sisters at the Missionaries of Charity of Sydney curated a special exhibition on the life of Mother Teresa, with photographs, icons and artefacts

including some of her iconic original shawls and saris.

Sister Maria Lucy shares that initiaUy Mother Teresa wanted the Order's saris to be all white. "Then people in Kolkaca started talking about it saying, 'We hope she won't make ic aU white, because the widows in mourning in KoUrnta wear only white so people wiU th.ink she is a widow,' so she added the blue stripes." The colours blue and \vhite are also associated with d1e Virgin Mary, and so d1e iconic white sari wid1 the three striped blue border is now widely familiar across the globe.

Mother Teresa's canonisation and elevation to Saint is not without controversy, however. There are some in Koikaca who resent that their city became known for its poveny through her work, and others who see the missionaries' efforts among tribal communities in the north-eastern Indian states as problematic proselytising. There are also those who question the miracles attributed to her.

The Sisters are amused by suggestions their Mother is anything less than a true Saint, caDing doubters and naysayers , "ignoran t ,. "\Y/e don't say anything co them. I feel they don't know much about her," says Sister Maria Lucy. "\Y/e just pray for them and hope mat one day they'U see," agrees Sister Antonine.

"They're entitled co what they think, you

don't know where they're coming from, so you don't argue the point."

"Her work shows how special she was,'' says Sister Maria Lucy. "Her lo\7e for everyone was so visible and equal."

Indeed the worldwide adoration and admiration of Mocher Teresa was on display during the canonisation. ceremony as hundreds of thousands gathered in St Peter's Square. The official Indian delegation included Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief M.i.nister Arvind Kejriwal.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement on the eve of her canonisation, "As Indians we have to feel proud about the canonisation of Bharat Ratna i\fother Teresa. She had dedicated her life for the upliftment of the poor. She was an Albanian, and English language was not her mother tongue, and yec she adopted ic as her language and served the poor."

"She is very well recognised and very weU loved in India," says Sister Maria Lucy.

"Christians, Hindus, Muslims, regardless of race and colour and language and religion, everybody loved her and she loved everybody."

And as Australian Catholic University theologian Joel Hodge told the ABC, "She did really capture the imagination of the world in a way that hardly any other Catholic did."

SEPTEMBER 2016 9

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10 SEPTEMBER 2016

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SEPTEMBER 2016 11

festival

USHA R. ARV/ND explores the complex symbolism behind the popular Hindu god Ganesha

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ooshika vaaha!la modbaka hastb11 Cha11101-a kama vilambitha suthra Vamana mpa mahes1w1rn p11thm Vigna vinqyaga padht1 twmaste

Vignavinayaka, Vakrathw1da, Lambodhara, Sarvasidhantha, Gajanana, Ganapati are just a few of the 108 names that extol d1e virtues of Ganesha.

The elephant headed, pot bellied elder son of Shiva and Parvati is not only the foremost God among the Hindu pantheon, he is perhaps me most loved too. In his capacity to remove all obstacles, Ganesha is remembered everyday by one and all.

Often associated with d1e auspicious 'Om', he is among the most enigm atic as well. . Ganesha's physical attribmes a.re themselves rich in complex symbolism. l n fact every part o f Ganesha's sumptuous body tells its own lirde cale.

Primarily, the image of Ganesha is a composite anduopomorphic one. Four living entities - man, elephant, serpent and mouse have contributed to the makeup of his figure. All of d1em individually and collectively have deep symbolic overtones.

Ganesha thus represents ma.n's eternal striving cowards integration with nature.

He has to be interpreted taking into consideration me face that despite evolution over many millennia, rnan remains closer to animal today man he was ever before.

Symbolism of Ganesha's form The most striking feature of Ganesha is his elephant head, symbolic of auspiciousness, strengili and intellectual prowess. On the forehead, the Trishula (weapon of Shiva) is depicted, symbolising time (past, present and fumre) and Ganesha's mastery over it. AU the qualities of the elephant are contained in the form of Ganapati. The

12 SEPTEMBER 2016

elephant is the largest and strongest of animals of d1e forest. Yet he is gende and, amazingly, a vegetarian, so that he does not kill to eat. He is very affectionate and loyal to his keeper and is greatly swayed if love and kindness are extended to him. Ganesha, tl1ough a powerful deity, is no less loving and forgiving and moved by me affection of his devotees.

Yet at the same time the elephant can destroy a whole forest and is in himself a one-man army when provoked. Ganesha is similarly most powerful and can be ruduess when conraining evil Again, Ganesha's large head is symbolic of d1e wisdom of d1e elephant. His large ears, like the winnow, sift the bad from the good. Although [hey hear everything, they retain only that which is good; iliey are attentive to all requests made by the devotees, be they humble or powerful.

While the large ea.rs and head receive all information, tl1e small mouth talks less and the tiny eyes represent utmost concentration.

Ganesha:, trunk is a symbol of his discrimination (viveka), a most important quality necessary for spiritual progress.

The elephant uses its trunk ro push down a massive tree, carry huge logs to [he river and for oilier heavy casks. The same huge trunk is used to pick up a few blades of grass, to break a small coconut, remove d1e hard nut and ear tl1e soft kernel inside. The biggest and minutest of casks are within the range of this mmk which is symbolic of Ganesha's intellect and his powers of discrimination.

The curved tnmk perhaps also represents the arousal of the powers of the kundtllini.

The trunk relates to d1e power of human mind. It must be strong enough to handle the external world, but delicate enough

co explore the subde realms of rhe inner sanctum.

Yet another intriguing aspect of Ganesha's iconography is his broken tusk, Ekdanta - Ek meaning one and dm1ta meaning teem. Theologists believe mar the rwo rusks represenr wisdom and emotion.

The broken left tusk signifies tl1ar one must conquer ernotions with wisdom to attain perfection. It carries an interesting legend behind it:

IVhen Pamsh11rc1111a, one of Shiva '.rfavouiite disciples, came to visit bim, hefound Gmresha gHanliug Shiva '.r inner t1part111mts. Hirjalhei· being asleep, Ganesba opposed Parsh11ra111a} mtty. P01mh11ra111a ne11e1the!ess tried lo 1trge his IVtl)\ and ti tussle em1✓ed. Gane.rho had at first the t1dvantage, seizing Parash11m111t1 i11 his trnnk, and giving hi,11 a t1JJirl that left him sick and senseless; 011 reco11e1i11g, Rama threJ/J his axe at Ganesht1, ivho recognizing it as hi.rfather's 111et1po11 (Shiva h,minggivm it to Pm¥1slmrama) received it J/Jith all h11mili!J 11po11 one of hi..r tusk..r, 1vhich it i1111mdiate!J severu� mid he11ce Ganesha has b1tt one tttsk.

A different legend naiwtes that Gm1esha 111c1s f asked to scribe dow11 the epic l11fohabhc1rata, diclt1ted to him try its t111th01; sage 1':)•a.ra. Taking into 11ote the enormity and significance f the tt1Sk, Ganesha realized the i11adeq11ary tll!J ordinaiy -pen ' to 1111dctt11k.e the task. He th11s brok.e one of f his own tusks and I/lade a pm 011/ it. The lesson q[fered here is tht1t no sacrifice is hig enough i11 the p11rmit k1101vledge.

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Ganesha i. s often portrayed with six hands. One is normally shown in the ahh'!)•a (fearless) pose of protection and refuge and the second holding a sweet (!JJodt1ka) symbolic of [he sweetness of rhe realized inner self. The tllodak represents the reward for st1dhant1, while me pmst1d at his feet represents the world at one's feet waiting to be conquered. Ganesha also holds an axe

to cut off bonds of attachment.

1n tl1e rwo hands behind him he often holds an a11k11sba (elephant goad) and a pasbt1 (noose). The noose is to convey mat worldly attachments and desires are a noose.

The goad is to prod man to me pad1 of righteousness and trutl1. With dlis goad Ganesha can botl1 strike and repel obstacles.

Yee a.nothe.r hand holds a lotus Aower (padma), and it symbolizes the highest goal of human evolution, me sweemess of d1e realised inner sel[ Ganesha's pot belly contains infinite universes. It signifies the bounty of nature and equanimity, d1e ability of Ganesha to swallow d1e sorrows of die Universe and protect tl1e world; the position of llis legs (one resting on the ground and one raised) indicate d1e importance of living and participating in cl1e material world as well as in me spiritual world, the ability to live in the world without being of the world.

The mouse The litde mouse that Ganesha is supposed to ride upon is ai10mer enign1atic feamre in his iconography. L ord Ganesha sits on a tray of laddus signifying d1e wealtl1 and prosperity that he gave to his devotees.

However, a mouse sits near d1e bottom of me stanie to represent the ego that can ear away at the goodness of a person.

Ar a cursory glance it seems strange d1ar the lord of supreme wisdom has been granted a humble obsequious mouse quite incapable of lifting d1e bulging belly and massive head d1at he possesses. But it in1plies that wisdom is an attri bute of ugly conglomeration of factors and further that the wise do nor find anything in the world disproportionate or ugly.

The mouse is, in every respect, comparable to d1e intellect. le is able to slip

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unobserved or without our knowledge into places which we would have not thought it possible to penetrate. In doing chjs it is hardly concerned whether it is seeking virtue or vice. The mouse thus represents our wandering, wayward [nind, lured to undesirable or corrupting grounds. By showing the mouse paying subservience to Lord Ganesha it is jmplied that the intellect bas been tamed through Ganesha's power of ruscriminarion.

Ganesha's mum, Parvati Any attempt co penetrate the depths of die Ganesha phenomenon muse note that he

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is born from Goddess Parvati alone, and as such he shares a very unique and special relationship with his mother. The sensitive nature of hjs relationship with Parvati is made amply clear in the following tale:

As a child, Ganesht1 teased a mt I:)' p11fli11g its tail, roili11g it over on the gro1111d and ca11si11g it gnat pain, t1s nattgh(J1 J101111g hqy s are }l)Ollt to do.

After so111e time, tir·cd of his game, he went to his tllother Parvati. .Hefo1111d her in great pain and covered 111ith scratches and dust all ove1: 1.17hen he questioned her, she put the bla111e on him. She explai11ed that she //las the cat }l)/;0111 Ga11esha had teased.

His total devotion cowards his mother

is the reason wby in the Soudi lnilian tradition Ganesha is represented as single and celibate. It is srud that he felt that his mod1er, Parvati, was the most beautiful and perfect woman in the muverse. Bring me a woman as beautiful as she is and I shall marry her, he said. one could find an equal to the beautiful Uma (Parvati) , and so d1e legend goes, the search is still on...

Jn variance with d1e South Indian tradition, in North India, Ganesha is often shown married to the two daughters of Brahma (the Lord of Creation) , namely Budclhi and Siddhi. Metaphoi:ically B·Jd-:l!�j sig1ufies wisdom and Siddhj achievement.

In die sense of yoga, Buddhi and Siddhi represent die female and male currents in die human body. In visual arts dus aspect of Ganesha is represented with grace and charm.

Om Likewise, no analysis of Lord Ganesha can be concluded widiout a mention of the mystical syllable Om - the most powerful universal symbol of the divine presence in Hindu diought. The written matufestation of rlus ruvine symbol when inverced gives the perfect profile of the god with the elephant head.

SEPTEMBER 2016 13

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••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CALLING ALL KIDS 12 YEARS AN D UN DER • • • • We want you to design our annual Diwan card. What do you love most about the Festival of Light?

• • Colour, paint, draw, make a collage... Be as creative as you can!

• • Send in your work, along with your photo, name, address, phone number and age, to: Indian Link GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001.

• • • • Last date for entries Monday 10th October 2016 • • The winning entry will be used for Diwali cards for 2016 and a selection of the best work will be printed in the Diwali editions.

• • For more details, ring the office on 02 9279 2004, or email media@indianlink.com.au • • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• www.indianlink.com.au l'J Indian Link's Indian Link

14 SEPTEMBER 2016

tribute

Indians mourn the passing of BAPS head ustralian Prime Minister Malcolm TurnbuU has offered his condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of the Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanscha (BAPS).

Pramukh Swami passed away at the pilgrim spot of Sarangpur, Gujarat, on 13 August 2016. He was 94 years old.

"My condolences to the Hindu community for the passing of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. His spiritual leadership, charity and support for interfaith harmony will leave an enduring legacy," Pi:ime Minister Turnbull said.

NSW Premier lVIike Baird also offered his condolences co the BAPS community.

"The Indian community of NSW mal<es up a large proportion of the BAPS congregation, and my thoughts and prayers are with them during chis difficult time," Mr Baird said.

The premier had visited the BAPS Manclir at Rosehill recently co receive Sunday blessings.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor in the guru parampara tradition of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. For more than seven decades, his unremitting sacsang travels, selAess services to society, saintly virtues and profound devotion to God earned him the respect and reverence of countless worldwide.

His untiring efforts in uplifting the tribals, liberating thousands from vices and addictions, providing relief and rehabilitation to innumerable people in rimes of calamiry and catastrophe, and inspiring character and faitl, in hundreds of thousands of children and youths were some of his many oucscancling services to society.

He also created and consecrated 1,100 mandirs and giant cultural complexes, like Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, to portray the cultural and spiritual heritage of India.

Swamishri met many heads of government and world figures, and all were profoundly touched by his spiritual personality and humanitarian services to society.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her condolences to the British Hindu community over the death of the Swarninaraya.n sect's spirin1al head.

"I would like to pay my condolences to the British Hindus, especiaUy the BAPS, on the passing away of Pramukh Swami Maharaja," May said.

"Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired miUions with his powerful motto: ln the good of others lies our own. This legacy of selAess service will continue to benefit humanity for a long time to come," she said.

Nihal Agar, President of Hindu Council of Australia, said in a statement, "The world has Jose one of its greatest inspirations. The need of the hour is to offer our gratitude to Shri Prarnukh Swami Maharaj and then to use his inspiration to manifest that great power time resides in us and is scarkJy visible in some of the greatest standing monuments on this earth."

INDIAN LINK

Early life

Swarniji was born on 7 December 1921 in the tiny village of Chansad, near Vadodara in Gujarat. ln 1939, he renounced home to become a renlll1ciate and received initiation into the sadhu-fold from his guru., Brahma.swamp Shastriji Maharaj and was named Sadhu arayanswarupdas.

On completing his Sanskrit studies, be was appointed as the kothari of che BAPS Swaminarayan Manclir in Sarangpur in 1946 at the age of 25 years. Then in 1950, aged 28 years, Shastriji Maharaj selected him as the President (Pramukh) of BAPS in his place. Since then, he had been fondly known as 'Pramukh Swami'.

Shastriji Maharaj passed away in 1951, declaring Yogiji Maharaj as his spiritual successor. Thereafter, Pramukb Swan-ii served under the guidance and blessings of Yogiji 1faharaj. In 1971, after tl1e departure

of guru Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swan-ii Maharaj succeeded hin1 as the fifth spiritual guru of BA PS.

Last rites

The mortal remains of Pramukh Swami Maharaj were consigned to the Aames at the Sarangpur Mandir campus around 3 pm on Wednesday 17 August in the presence of a congregation of political leaders and thousands of followers.

BJP President Amit Shah, Union Finance Mi,uster Arnn Jaitley, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Kathakar Morari Bapu, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh, businessman Anil Ambani, Gujarat Deputy Chi.ef Jvlinister Nicin ·Patel, state BJP President Jitubhai Vaghani, Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch L.K. Advani and state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki, among

others, offered their respects.

The news of Swamiji's earthly deparmre created a pall of deep sadness among countless devotees and weil-v;rishers.

A massive concourse of devotees and others streamed into Sarangpur for his last dtmh,111 and to pay their final respects to him.

Meanwhile, "palkhi yatra" (palanguin procession) of PramukJ1 Swanu's body had to be cancelled due to the alterations .in his body which was kept under minus 10 degree temperature in a glass container since the evening he breathed his last.

IANS and Temple comminiques

A tribute assemb!J in the honour ofHH Pramukh Swami is organised 5PM - 7PM25 Sept atBAPS Shri Swaminararayan Mandi,; 54-64 George Street, Green Fields, SA

SEPTEMBER 2016 15

entrepreneur

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Lawyer-turned-Chai Walli Uppma Virdi shows how to brew the perfect cuppa at the Sydney Tea Festival

S

BY ROYSTON REBELLO

lurp! Tea-mad patrons aren't able to stop at one-cup when the concoction is brewed by Melbourne-based Uppma Virdi • a tea blender by passion and a corporate solicitor by profession.

Virdi's chai recipe is a gift her grandfather, from the Punjabi city of Jalandhar, passed down to her. Each time she uses it in her blend, tea-dri11kers can't get enough.

In fact, tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world (next to water). 'Cbai' is a popular word for tea used in many parts of the world, especially in India where it is an integral part of our culture.

"It is a beverage that you should feel in your throat and stomach, not just d1e tongue," Virdi emphasises.

In the past couple of years, Virdi, 26, bas noc merely launched her brand Chai \X!alli (a term for a female tea maker), but has turned it inco a lucrative business.

Sydneysiders had the chance to enjoy an insightful chai making session in the hands of Virdi during her 'Bespoke Chai Blending' workshop at d1e recent Sydney Tea Festival, the largest tea event in Australia, held at Carriageworks in Eveleigh.

16 SEPTEMBER 2016

The sold-out workshop provided participants an insight into Virdi's use of tea. She demonstrated to participants bow to brew an aurl1entic cup of chai • spices should be crushed wirl1 a pestle, and not ground.

Virdi sells two types of chai, black tea with caffeine and caffeine-free.

The mixes are infused with 11 spices, including fennel seeds, cardamom, cmnamon, aniseed and ajwain.

"Fennel is mought to prevent gas and helps digestion; cardamom co open up the lw1gs; and star anise is for coughs and colds," she explained. Blends of mese were served for tasting at dJe Chai WaJli stall, and teadrinkers of all ages Aocked co her stand, eager to treat their palettes to delicious chais and treats.

When she was yom1ger,

Virdi lived and studied in Graz, a small town in Austria. People from different nations would garl1er to savour the aromas of her chai. Her kitchen would be crowded wid1 Europeans drinking tea while sharing stories and laughter.

Those cha.i sessions bloomed imo lifelong friendships and she earned the nickname Chai W'alli.

"I had a moment where l realised that I needed to share my family chai blends and knowledge of amhemic chai," Virdi said. '1n Australia, there aren't many places that brew cbai the 1ndian way."

The chai queen is seen as a trendsetter in me tea making business, and her name is synonymous with d1e local tearooms and tea shops of Melbourne. Hers is an online business tbat wholesales across Australia to around

100 outlets, including shops, cafes and supermarkets, \Vith srock travelling as far as Malaysia.

"Business is good," Virdi revealed.

"What I'm doing is quite unique in the sense mac I started sharing a story and not a product. The product came second, and wim the product no one is reaUy doing chai the way I am doing it, so I don't find any competition. \Vben you love somerning so much, you don't really look at the competitors • they don't really matter."

Indians have a rich culnire of tea making which Virdi feels should be shared wid1 the world. "\':(/e have so much of our culture to do wid1 tea. Come to think of it, everything that we do has chai involved; it's our way of coming cogether," she said.

Virdi has been an invitee of the Australian government to speak on how to market lndian tea to Australia. She also collaborates with me Tea Board of India on the promotion of tea constrn1ption for Australian markets.

Like most aspiring entrepreneurs, Vi. rdi has seen her share of challenges. Her parents were sceptical of d1e idea of a woman managing a tea business and running it successfully.

"For a lawyer in practice, to be a cbai walli is construed to be derogatory; it's more like a lower class term," she laughed.

"That's why I called it Chai \X!aJli, because 1 wanted to educate people to understand that even the chaiivallas and ivallis in India are entrepreneurial, although they might not have had an education. " Uppma Vircli has big plans

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,, What I'm doing is quite unique: I share a story and not a product ,, ahead for Chai Wlalli.

"It is growing quite quickly and I see myself becoming the 'Chai Gnm' of Ausu-alia, and that's where I'll keep going!" she remarked enthusiascically.

Earlier this year in May, she also parcicipated in the Melbourne Tea Fescival.

Both offered different experiences, she observed. "1 find that Sydneysiders were there for the love of amhencic chai and tea, whereas in Melbourne we had a lot of people interested in the diverse uses of chai such as our chai candles, chai infused desserts and chaiware. But the turnout at both fescivaJs bas been exceedingly good and it has bumped up our business up co another scale."

Keeping pace with both her jobs has been challenging, though.

"But I'm happy with the balance I have and the support I get from my Chai Walli team," she said.

Her employer is fully supporcive of her entrepreneurial spirit, and wants her to pursue it. ''As a commercial lawyer I'm lucky co be in a workplace drnt respects and embraces my business."

INDIANLINK

'.016 17

indian news Leaders of the BRIGS nations Brazilian President Michel Temer, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Jacob Zuma - pose for a group photo in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on 4 Sept, 2016. They met on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Photo: AP

more of Sun's energy, converting it into usable electrical energy at very low coses, the teams reported in tbe Journal of Applied Physics and the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics.

On an average, solar panels made from traditional silicon-based solar cells convert only between 15 and 20 per cent of the sun's energy into usable electricity.

The low efficiency is partially due to a property of silicon which prevents the semiconductor from efficiently converting the high energy blue, green and yellow light waves into electrical energy. Instead, only the lower-energy photons, emitted by the longer red light waves, are efficiently converted into electricity.

The new solar cell developed by d1e MIT­ Masdar team combines two different layers of sunlight-absorbing material - a gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) and silicon - to harvest a broader range of the energy from longer and shorter wavelengths of sunlight.

The researchers call the device a

Modi to visit Gujarat on birthday, and keep visiting

''step cell," because the two layers of biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global lnvestors

public-sector diagnosis, bur these statistics

serniconductor materials are arranged in a

Swrunit, an initiative that had helped him

stepwise fashion, on top of each od1er, with upper (GaAsP) layer.

Prime 1vt:inister Narendra Modi, who last

bui.ld a national image of the most industry­

were mostly compiled from expert opinion.

So, the new study provides an empirical

week promised he would visit Gujarat more

friendly Chief J\,t:inister in me country.

estiniate that is independent of such opinion.

often, will celebrate his binhday his home

The event is expected to be held in the

state on September 17 - the first of several

second week of January 2017 in d1e state

the burden of tuberculosis treated by d1e

incoming sunlight so that each can absorb

visits planned co the state that will hold

capital Gandhinagar.

private sector and improve surveillance," the

a different slice of the electromagnetic

researchers wrote, acknowledging me paper's

spectrum, the researchers claim.

elections next year.

On his 66th birthday, the Prime l'vtinister will celebrate the day with tribals in South Gujarat, official sources said. He is also expected co address a public rally at Navsari cown near Surat in the tribal belt.

However, officials were nor clear about

India may have up to three times more TB patients than assumed Ground zero of the global battle against

one of humankind's deadliest diseases, India

"This study illustrates the need to address

the lower silicon layer jutting our beneath d1e This step design exposes both layers to

limitations, including d1e failure to capture

It allows the top GaAsP layer to absorb

TB patient� who do not approach a doctor,

the high-energy photons (from blue, green,

use the informal secror or are being treated

and yellow light) leaving tl1e bottom silicon

for multiple-drug resistance.

layer free to absorb lower-energy photons

"This study also raises an urgent need

(from red light) not only transmitted through

could have between two and three times

co revise current estimates of mberculosis

top layers but also from the entire visible

more rnberculosis (fB) cases d1an currently

burden, informed by more systematic

light spectnun.

Modi usually stares his birthday by visiting

assumed, said a recent paper released tn The

evidence relating to tuberculosis management

"Adding that one layer of GaAsP can

his mother Hira Ba in Gandhinagar and has

Lwcet, a medical journal.

in the private sector," d1e researchers wrote.

really boost efficiency of tl1e solar cell,"

his detailed itinerary for September 17.

maintained this tradition for many years.

The study found chat in 2014, the private

Although the incidence of TB in India

sector treated between 1.9 million and 5.34

has been declining, drug resistance and its

concept can reach theoretical efficiencies

million cases - or about double the cases

interaction wim other diseases, such as HN,

above 40 per cent and the product might be

Jamnagar on August 30, on his second

handled by government-run hospitals.

have slowed progress.

ready for the PV market \vithin the next year

Before this study, India was believed to

Throughout history, TB has killed more

note with the people, admitting he had not

have about 2.2 million TB cases, a quarter of

humans than any conflict, disaster or disease

been co111.ing to Gujarat as often as be was

d1e global TB burden, thus far estimated at

known to mankind. In d1e 5th century, Greek

expensive to manufacture, but the

expected to.

about 6.3 million.

philosopher Hippocrates advised doctors

researchers brought down the manufacturing

to stay away from TB patients, since there

cost by using a process that allows the

was no cure. In d,e 17th, it was called tl1e

"substrate," a key component in fabrication

great white plague of Europe, as it swept the

of the step cell, to be reused.

In his speech after inaugurating an

ambitious water and irrigation project in

visit in a month, l\fod.i struck a personal

He said there had been complaints, including from former Chief Nlinister Anandiben Patel, that he was ignoring the state and added diat he could not come often

However, the private seccor both helps and hinders TB treatment, the study implies.

Although standardised tuberculosis treatment in India is delivered by the public

contine.nt, killing thousands over 200 years.

for be was stuck in Delhi where the work

sector, early diagnosis and treatment are

In the 21st Century, it infects 10 million

was new for him.

bimpered by the presence of a vast and

people every year, killing a fifth of d10se.

the researchers report. The ream's step-cell

or two, it is claimed.

Such layered solar cells are typically

Centre tryin� to combine education with skill development

The Prime ivlinister said now that he

unregulated private health-care sector, said

TB bacteria have in-built armour, acids

has learnt the ropes, he would visit Gujarat

d1e study, whose eight authors come from

that protect them against the body's cellular

more often. He said he was implernenting

a variety of instirntions, including London's

defenders. Most people infected with it

to meet the huge demand for skilled

nationally the lessons learnt while running

Imperial College, the Indian government, me

have latent rnberculosis, where the bacteria

workers, Union Skill Development and

the government in the state.

World Health Organisation and the Bill and

are walled off in clw11ps by the cells of the

Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap

The visit on August 30 was his second in d1e month after Sarangpur, again in

Melinda Gates Foundation, which funded

immune system. Sometimes, the containment

Rudy on September 6 said the governrnent

fails, particularly in people with weakened

is taking steps to integrate skill development

Saurashtra, to pay tributes to popular

the study.

"Poor diagnostic practices in this sector

immune systems. If a drug doesn't kill tl1e

wid1 education.

godman Pramuk.I, Swami of the Bochanwasi

prolong tuberculosis transmission by

bacteria completely, it becomes immune to

Akshar Purshottam Swaminarayan sect on

delaying diagnosis, whereas a general lack

that drug and can evenn1ally overwhelm the

has been killed. Make in India will not

August 15.

of counselling and support of treatment

immune system.

happen if d1ere are no makers. The biggest

The Prime Minister is ,,isiting Gujarat

again in the first week of

ovember

adhere.nee hampers successful, relapse-free cure," said the srudy. ''Moreover, most cases

to inaugurate the World Kabbadi

treated in the private sector are never notified

Championship in Ahmedabad. The

to public health authorities."

chan1pionship will be held in me Maninagar

Analysing sales patterns of 189 drugs

High-efficiency 'step cell' to harvest sunlight

Lamenting the lack of ecosystem required

"The entire skiU eco-system of tl1e country

challenge now is to put up an eco-system.

"So far the prime focus in d1e corn1try had been only on education, but formal

ln a collaborative project, researchers from

education should be supplemented with at

me Massachusetts Institute of Technology

least 10 weeks of training which would make the youth employable," said Rudy at ru1 event.

area, which used to be Mod.i's assembly

containing rifampicin - a key anri-TB

(JvlI1) in tl1e US and the Masdar Instin1te of

constituency during his tenure as Gujarat

formulation -- over 2013 and 2014, me

Science in Abu Dhabi clain1 to have found

Chief Minister.

researchers estimated how many were sold

a way to develop very high-efficiency solar

developing skill sets among the youth the

to me private sector. In 2014, the \VHO

cells at low cost.

states will be provided witl1 funds.

Modi is expected yet again early next year for the Eighth Edition of me prestigious

18 SEPTEMBER 2016

estimated d1at 800,000 TB patients escaped

The new photovoltaic (PV) cell harvests

The minister said me for the purpose of

"The ministry has set up a corpus of

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l'J

An idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh is transported through the streets to a place of worship ahead of the annual festival Ganesh Chaturti in Mumbai. Photo: AP

Rs 32,000 crore provided jointly by World Bank, Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Apprentice Yojana for the purpose," he said adding that the centre would be giving special focus on the northeastern part of the country.

He also lauded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her endeavour to develop skilled work force in die state and assured the Centre's continued cooperation.

"Bengal is a very important state for us and I am aware that the chief minister is very keen on skill development In die remotest parts of Bengal, there is a great potential to expand the skilling network and I am sure we will partner with the Bengal go\7ernrnent and start working at a bigger level," added Rudy.

Digital learning tools can positively impact kids

Fifty-eight per cent of Indian children have showed positive behavioural changes after using digital learning platforms, say parents diar took part in a survey conducted

by AppySrore.in - a subscription-based chiJdrens' edutainment service provider.

The survey, which looked closely at parental expectations and concerns regarding chiJdren's cognitive growth, also showed diat digital learning has now become almost at par with traditional learning tools.

"This reflects a progressive relationship between digital learning and developing minds," said l'vianoj Barot, Director (l\farketing) at Mauj Mobile -- the parent company of AppyStore.in, according to a statement.

With 68 per cent parent� using online platforms to teach new concepts, die study revealed increasing tendency of parents to use digital media as a redressal mechanism.

Further, die sn1dy found diat 49 per cent parents use worksheets and toys to teach children, whiJe 42 per cem parents were fowid to use DVDs of nursery rhymes as well as mobile apps for helping children hone their intellecnrnl capabilities.

Nearly one-fifth of die participating parents claimed co give dedicated digital devices to their children, bur die general trend revealed that kids do not use these devices for more than one hour on average, the statement said.

While 17 per cent of parents do depend on digital learning to see positive behaviour changes in their young ones, 43 per cent of parents reported monitoring their child's usage of the device as they are conscientiously wary of die negative impact of handsets on children's health.

In addition, 26 per cent parents claimed cultivation of good habits in children was dieir primary concern, whereas 24 per cent desired sharpening the kids' language skills tbe most.

While only 12 per cent participants admitted to consulting a doctor when worried, a strong 38 per cent claimed they n1rned co die internet to clear their doubts.

The survey was based upon responses from 1,167 Indian parents and covered a wide range of topics concerning the progress of young minds.

Pradhan urges state-run units to launch Start-up Funds

Petroleum l'vfi.nisrer Dharmendra Pradhan on September 6 urged die public sector undertakings to create starr-up funds, as is being done by Indian private players, in order co promote innovation and nurture new ideas

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in the energy sector.

'1 am advising my CEO friends in PSUs that if Racan Tata can put his private funds for start-ups and if Narayana Murthy can do that for new start-ups, dien why cannor you," Pradhan said addressing a conference on methanol organised by the NITI Aayog.

"ONGC has already offered Rs 100 crore for start-ups. Can we create a synergy in innovation and this kind of start-up fwid?

This can be a win win simation for all of us. Let us create a platform for our yorn1g Indians and scientific brains," he said.

On the occasion of its dianiond jubilee tliis year, state-run explorer OiJ and Namral G-as Corp (ONGC) in August announced die launch of a Rs 100 crore start-up fond to incubate and foster new ideas for oil and gas sector development.

As part of the initiative called 'ONGC Start-up', the company will provide die entire support chain for start-ups including seed capital, hand-holding, mentoring market linkage and follow-ups.

According to Pradhan, an economy based on a clean fuel like methanol can create a lot of employment and entrepreneurship.

"The raw material (for methanol) should be coming from the Indian market. If we could monetise the agriculture waste and bio waste in urban areas to energy then there will be two benefits - si2eable reduction of healtli expendirure and our economy can be multi­ fold," he said. ''How do we reduce our import dependency? My ministry is ready to offer Rs 1 lakh crore business to scientific commmiity.

Now India is importing Rs 4.5 lakh crore worth of hydrocarbons. Teclmology is there. Blending of 85 per cent of etlianol in transportation fuel is possible," he said.

In this connection, he noted that petroleum consumption is increasing in die country. ''Last financial year, where the prediction of petroleum consumption was 7-8 per cent, die actual growth was 11 per cent. Petroleum need is growing in a bigger way. Rural India is emerging in a big way. Petrol consrnnption is increasing in hinterland of the country," he said.

On the occasion, NITI Aayog signed a

Statement of Intent with the US Methanol fostimte to work further on the technology.

NITI Aayog has set up an expert group to develop a roadmap for lndia to adopt the 'Methanol Economy' and this will explore various techno-commercial angles to enhance production of metl1anol dirough natural gas, high ash content coal and through bio, agri and municipal solid waste.

It will also draw out a technical roadmap to adopt both methanol and dimetliyl ether (DME) as chemical feedstock and for power generation

Countdown for Indian weather satellite's launch

The 29-hour countdown for die launch of lndia's weatl1er satellite INSAT-3DR using geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle GSLV-Mk□ will start at 11.10 a.m (1ST) on September 7, die Indian Space Research Organisation (!SRO) said.

The Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and the Launcli Authorisation Board (LJ\B) cleared the GSLV rocket launch slated for 4.10 p.m (1ST). on September 8, ISRO said.

Blasting off from the second launch pad at India's rocket port at Sriharikora in Andhra Pradesh, the GSLV rocket will put the 2,21 I kg INSAT-3DR an advanced weather satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit The satellite from there will reach the final geosynchronous orbit on its own.

The satellite wil.l supplement the meteorological and data relay services of its predecessor INSAT-3D, which is in operation since July 26, 2013.

Earlier a senior ISRO official had said the Indian weadier satellite will be lawiclied on August 28.

However, whiJe carrying out the tests, a technical issue was found widi a satellite component postponing die launch to September 8 .

According to TSRO officials, ISRO will launch ScatSat -- a weadier monitoring and forecasting satellite -- with polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) end of next mondi.

The Indian satellite will be a co-passenge r to an Algerian satellite-Alsat.

Both die satellites will be put into different

orbits. So the fourth stage/engine of the rocket will be switched off after ejecting ScatSat first. Then after a gap of around 30 minutes, the engine will be switched on and put the Algerian satellite into its intended orbit.

Care24 launches new neurological rehabilitation service

Home healthcare service provider Care24 on September 6 announced the launcli of a high-quality neurological rehabilitation service, which may address the physical, functional, cognitive and emotional aspects of patients suffering from trauma.

The new segment will specifically deal wid1 child neurology, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke rehab, neuro physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, neuro­ psychology and other neurological disorders.

"We are confident that the addition of tliis category will assist patients in need of neurological rehabilitation in their recovery, and will allow them to move and communicate as soon as possible," said Vipin Pathak, Co-Founder & CEO of Care24, in a statement.

Neurological disorders require careful monitoring of the patient and adequate rehabilitation.

The new category may aL�o help in the reconstruction of muscle strength and improve balance, coordination, posnue and control, as well as develop carcliopulmonary endtuance and stabilise the mental bealdi of tl1e patient.

These services will be achieved dirough a step-by-step process comprising rehab nursing, trained attendants, nutrition counselling and recovery tracking.

Previous Care24 services include excellent professional medical services in cancer care, pregnancy and infant care, physiodierapy treatments.

The home healthcare provider has 1,500 trained professionals delivering a comfortable and hassle-free experience to all its patients and assisting diem in reaching die highest levels of independence and functioning in daily life, die statement read.

IANS

SEPTEMBER 2016 19

teachers day

tomorrow's future Teachers tell us what they like best about their job

A

great believer in education, the second President of

birthday. Dr Radhakrishnan's response

as Teacher's Day in India, as a mark

making their day special. We adults fondly

was, "Instead of celebrating my birthday

of tribute to the contribution made by

remember our teachers who made us what

teachers co society.

we are today.

India, and a great teacher, Dr

separately, it would be my proud privilege

Sarvepalli Radhakrisbnao was

if 5 September is observed as Teachers

asked by few of his students

Day."

and friends if they could celebrate his

From d1en onwards, the day is observed

To mat:k me occasion at Indian Li11k,

Every year on Teacher's Day, school children in lndia are busy presenting

we asked a few teachers what makes this

cards co their favourite teachers and

profession so special to d1em.

• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

MOHAN DHALL I teach in both Australia and Vietnam,

creative minking must premise assessment

and 1 teach stndents in high schools,

that is creative - including open book

pre-service teachers in university, and

exams and tasks d1at use technologies in

academic school staff in several schools.

real time.

Across mis diversity of people and

1 am lucky enough to work in the

contexts, I have noticed that the mings I

supplementary education (private tutoring)

love are cornn1on to all settings.

sector and publishing sectors as well.

It is important to know subject matter

It inspires me to see how tutoring can

very well and continue researching to be

become more accessible tQ low-income

np-to-date and to keep my mind active.

famiJ.ies and students who have low levels

The changing narure of teaching and

of literacy and or numeracy; I am very

assessment, the technological and funding

disappointed that the government does

challenges, me,an mat creative strategies

not engage wim private tutors in creative

must be found to engage and mentor.

and accountable ways to support Ollt

One of the most important things that keeps me alert is the need to listen

most needy students. Surely; in education, narrow sectoral interests should not

'inside' the words. Teachers can effect

predominate over supporting 20% of

change by not allowing mere content and

all cbildren - the most disadvantaged

assess1nents to determine 'value'. These

children i n d1e country.

are so srnali in d1e scheme of life. 1 am inspired most by students who work hard even when only small gains are evident.

I believe that me focus on critical and

I f any teachers find their work easy, then they are in me wrong profession. Even

experienced teachers must continua.Uy push memselves to i::ole-model learning for life.

LAKSHMI SAMPURNA I am currently reaching at Canning Vale College, WA. I teach Matbetuatics for Year 9 and up to Year 12, ATAR level. l chose this profession as it gives me an

to be accomplished at d1e end of tbe day.

This profession gi\7es me an opportunity co make a difference to the smdents' lives.

I consider mentoring an important skill a

opporruniry to impart my knowledge to

teacher must have. I especially feel proud

the fum.re generations. I take every day as a

when my smdents win a Qeadership)

new challenge.

position.

delivering the content, but relating it to

parents and teachers, from whom I

1 believe that teaching is not limited to

me real world applications. This includes

problem-solving, analytical thinking and

helping to evaluate tbe distance between

where me student has started and the target

20 SEPTEMBER 2016

I dedicate my achievements to my acquired tliis wisdom, and for what I am today. l am also thankful to d1e Australian Gmrernmem for giving me an opporrunity to teach in public schools.

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VANI SAMBHARA I teach Economics to Years 1 1 and 12. I am also the Coordinaror of Academic Intervention (Years 7-12) for gifted children and those with special learning needs.

I have been formnate in selecting a profession where I can positive.Ly influence the lives of )'oung people at an important stage.

The best thing abom my profession is my belief that students wbo pass thrqugh my classroom will shape d1e future wotld, and l have tbe privilege tO prepare diem for d1is d1allenge.

I feel proud when ill)' students perform well in competitions or exams, or when they behave

as active citizens. .A proud moment for me is when one of my student performs well in the Stare for Economics, or gets selected for a prestigious institution or progran1.

Recently my student� participated in an academic competition held in Bangkok against 4,000 smdents from over 36 cotmtries. We went inro this competition with minimal preparation ru1d knowledge. .A special moment rook place when one of my reams ranked 32nd out of 600 teams ru1d qualified for tbe !inal round to be hosted at Yale in America in November. As well, one of my students came 3rd out of 1800 students at tbe competition.

PRATIBHA BHALLA I teach Year 3 smdencs at Australian Islan1ic College at Kewdale.

I have been a teacher for 17 years in Austra.fut, and prior co that, for 10 years in Zambia and Kenya (in Africa).

There are a multitude of facets to being a teacher. One of the parts I cherish the most is my interaction witb young children, playing a small pan in shaping iliem for

their futures and watching chem blossom before my eyes.

One of my favourite or best moments as a teacher is something tbat I call the 'lightbulb moment'. Thls is when one of my student� grasps a new concept or a skill. lt is a pleasure to witness the joy on die child's face at dlis point. I am glad iliac I have had many such moments and ead1 one is special

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- �l'll!-'"tl:'!r.ii - ;.,�1'!1

DIANA ROBINSON I am an Early Childhood Teacher and I reach at Communicare Occasional Care Centre.

1 chose to be a teacher as I believe diat children a.re our future and I wanted to be a part of making a difference in ilie lives of our future generation.

The best part of my job is tbar I gee to see how much the children grow developmentally as d1ey move ro higher elasses. It affirms the hard \vork aJ1d effort I put in during d1eir early childhood years.

On one occasion, I had a four-year-old child who came in to my care. He had developmental

INDIAN LINK

delays. He clung to my leg during the initial days and was very shy. Hm.ve\rer, he seemed to blossom W1der my care. l was very emotional when the batch moved on to Primary Class.

L ater on, l learm from a friend who knew d,e faJUilj; wbo said the boy was doing very well in his class, excellent i n fact, and was one of ilie top students! l fell immensely proud of ilie boy. 1 was glad th11t 1 was instrumental in making a difference in his life.

Lt's these moments chat help me to have a great sense of satisfaction d1ac 1 chose co be a teacher.

SEPTEMBER 2016 21

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T

he 'Ocher' is nor a new concept.

As a society we have marginalised minorities, and those that we misunderstand, for hundreds of years. It is a social construct by which we develop not only our own identity but shape the identity of others. It is the groups with greater political and economic influence that have the superior ability to shape and represent identities. Therefore, it is important to note that an identity, especially

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SOCIAL MEDIA

on infrastructure and fight in wars that were of no material benefit to them? How else were mernbers of the Pakistani Army and society convinced that Bengalis were not Muslim, nor human and drns ripe for raping, looting and killing? l\fan identifies with man until society finds an economically beneficial reason to distinguish differences and draw boundaries.

Societies of economic influence wield the authority of social institutions to hold power through their representation of what is Normal and what is Other. Organisations such as d1e UI are an �,ample of powerful economies distinguishing themselves as amhorities to interfere in societies and economies of od1er countries. Our world is governed by a man-made awareness of who we are and who we are not based on

,, When we strip away the fear we associate with people we brand 'Other', we can remove the animosity that drives decisions like the burkini ban in France ,, the identity o f the Other, i s not something we are born with - rather it is a social construct we seep into and live in by design.

We form our own identity through the inclusion of an element of exclusivity. l n order to define the self or society you must also define what you are not. ivfan identifies himself as a superior being by comparison to the animal in attributes that are simiJar but also attributes that are different or lacking. Societies have advanced by defining identities of civility as opposed co barbarity, colonial as opposed to indigenous, black as opposed to white, and free as opposed co oppressed.

These same societies have ,vielded their substantial political dour to shape and re-shape the identity of the oilier based on characteristics that would be most

the economically motivated decisions of me politically and financially privileged. \Xfhen we Ltndersrand and are aware of chis concept, and remember that none of us are born as the Other, our minds can awaken to the political hegemony being played out on a global scale. Our minds can awaken to the realities of being me Jewish Other in Europe in d1e 1940s. Of being the Asian Other in l 970s' Australia. Of being the African American Omer in America . . . always. Of being the Muslim Other in America, Australia, Europe and Burma. \Xlhen we understand d1at we have a choice to accept or reject the identity of the Other, we can explore and seek to learn about the so-called Other. If we only venmre outside of the propaganda sold 24/7 on mainstream media we can strip away the

,, Identity is not something we are born with - rather it is a social construct we step into and live in by design ,,

D 22 SEPTEMBER 2016

CJ

economically beneficial at the time. When Colombus 'discovered' America, the marginalisation of the Indian as Other was economically motivated. How else would Columbus and the ensuing British colonisation have been able to usurp land and build profitable a profitable society?

When d1e British colonised India, Africa and Australia, rhe characteristics of being poor, dirty and inferior were associated \vith the colour of one's skin and black became the Other to white. This too was economically motivated. How else could the Ducch East India Company convince its men d1at Indians were slaves to be herded onto ships bound for me fields of Africa?

How else would d1e British have been able to commandeer and mobilise large contingencies of colonised peoples to work

fear we associate with d1e people we brand 'Ocher'. \Xie can remove the animosity that drives decisions like the burkini ban i n France and we can celebrate m e diversity through embracing our similarities as well as om differences. \'\There there is knowledge and enlightenment mere can never be fear and animosity no matter how profitable it is to the ruling elite. We are me masters of our own fate and we the masses shape the direction of our society. Don't let an economically motivated Big Brother cell you who to like and dislike. Don't lee faceless corporations teach you co hare. Go out and t,,Jk to people who you don't know, who you don't Lmderscand and who you don't like - you might just find you have more in common with them than you dunk.

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l'J

TH ERE'S STI LL TIM E TO COM PLETE YOU R CENSUS. We took our system down as a precautionary step to protect Australians' data.

We're sorry for the inconvenience.

The o n l i ne form is running smoothly and securely. Your data is safe.

Please complete it online or in paper form now. You will not be fined for completing the Census after Census night.

If you have your Census letter and would l i ke to order a paper form, please call our automated paper form request service on 1300 820 275. It's open 24 hours.

If you haven't received your household's Census materials, a Field Officer will visit you soon.

Remember, the Census helps plan for Australia's future.

For more information, please visit the Census website.

PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS.

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Census

census.abs.gov.au

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SEPTEMBER 2016 23

iffm

irl ower at IFF

It's all about women 's empowerment at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

M

BY PREETI JABBAL

elbourne played host to both the famous and the hopeful celebrities of the Indian film industry at the recently concluded Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2016. With a focus on gender equality and liberation, die overarching tlieme for tlijs year was 'women's empowerment', and the program included a choice of over 50 broad ranging films in 1 7 languages. t ow in its sixth edition, the format was predictably similar to previous years witli die remrn of festival favourites wid1 a few fresh tweaks.

Glitter and glam was prevalent at die gala awards presentation held at the Melbourne Recital Centre. ABC journalist Del I.ram, as the MC, clad in a modern version of a sari, introduced the guests along witli Festival Director Mjtu Bhowmick Lange. The screenwriter of The lf7ater Diviner Andrew Anastasios regaled the audience whilst raking the mkkey out of die Austrwan Census debacle. Veteran actor Risru Kapoor, who was awarded d1e Excellence in Cinema prize, spoke proudly about hjs family's 88 years of contribution to the 104-year-old luscory of Indian cinema.

The hjghlight of the Awards Night was undoubtedly the beautifully execmed

24 SEPTEMBER 2016

Empowerment Concert by singers Suzanne D'Mello, Sara Haider and Sbalmali Kholgade. With voices trained to produce enormous power on demand, che three singers revealed great strength of pitch and passion in tlieir performances. Raebel Lim, a visually impaired singer from Western Australia, endeared herself ro the audience with her talent. Rachel's musical journey formed die subject matter of die award­ winning short film enti-y by Josh Walker tided Out on A Li111.

Bollywood has a global appeal, judging by the many film fans among the \Xfestpac Awards Night audience from non- Indjan commuruties. Cinema lm7ers from the Pakistani community were visible and vocal in dieir support for Pakistanj actor Fawad Khan and singer Sara Haider. There was a rense moment when someone in the aucLience started chanting slogans of 'Pakisldn Zind,1ht1d' to be counter-acted immediately widi chants of 'Hi11dusta11 Zindabad'. Common sense prevailed, however, and die misplaced chants ceased as soon as they started.

The stars wgned as the film industry's best converged at the IFFM Awards Night, ushered on to die red carpet by dl10I players and dancers. The jury comprising of Bilcock, Sue Maslin, Paul Ireland, Rajeev Masand, Andrew Anastasios and Simi Garewal picked !(ppoor and S011s as the Best Film. The Festival's Opening Night femirust film Parched won the Best IncLie Film Award and its ditecror Leena Yadav bagged the Best Director award for 2016.

The Best Actor award went to awazuddin

Jill

Siddiqui for his convincing portrayal of a psychopathic serial killer in Roman Raghav.

He was one of die surprise guests at die Awards Night along with Sonam Kapoor who looked stunning in an Ana11-uka Khanna creation and took home the Best Actress Award for her role in the high grossing film Neerjo.

The film fervour continued as Melbourne witnessed a record crowd at Federation Sguare for tl1e Aag hoisting ceremony conducted by actor Rishi Kapoor, accompaiued by hjs wife, yesteryear actress eeru Kapoor (nee Singh). Emotions rati high as the tricolour was tmfurled by d1e actor alongside Indian High Commissioner Navdeep Suri. In his characteristic impassioned speech, die enormously popular on screen loverboy of the 1960s and '70s spread the rnessage of peace and love. This was followed by the Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition which saw another sea of crowds at Fed Square to wicness a vibrant contest of dancers from across Victoria and die oilier stares of Austrilia.

There was no deardi of talent as tbe stage came alive in a display of colours, vigour and awe-inspiring energy. There were gaudy sequins and lycra galore as the contestants stepped dirough medleys of kitschy song and dance nwiibers synonymous widi Bollywood. Outstanding performances came from d1e Provocative Dance group, .Nfandy Dance Group, die Bhangra group and incLividuals fil.,e Gerard, Afzal and Cyrus. arya Bollywood, Dancing birds; JJ 's Dance Group,

Bollywood Dimensions and Cyrus were declared winners in the various categories.

In a Festival first, celebrations were also held at Harmony Square in die City of Dandenong with a live cross to the Telstra Bolly\vood Competition taking place at Fed Square.

There were a few luccups at die dance competition when judges Malaika Arora Khan and director Shakun Batra arrived late, leading to some disgruntled concerns about fair judgement. Bollywood's dancing sensation Malaika Arora made up for her late arrival by mingling wid1 d1e winners for selfies and shaking a shapely leg or two widi die little ones. Best Actress awardee Sonam Kapoor was allegedly also caught up in Melbourne's CBD traffic while her fans wafred patiently at Federation Square ro catch a glimpse of the supremely chic actress. When sbe finally arrived, the selfie brigade went into overdrive trying to capture some srar style to be instantly shared on social media.

Running on Indian stretchable time was a somewhat recurrent theme as Fawad Khan also apologised for bdng late for the Awards Night presentations. In his dream}' voice, the debonair stat cited diabetes and die need to bave an early meal as die reason for his delay and d1e audience instantly forgave him. Near hysterical adulation follows die good­ Jookjng actor everywhere since bis foray i11to TV and films. The Melbourne crowd was no exception as the audience clapped and wlusded at every word he uttered. The Pafilstani actor received a Diversil)' Award

www.indianlink.com.au

l'J

for his contribution in proving that art has oo boundaries.

The auctience was rather sparse at some of the l'vfasterclasses despite some thought provoking content from accomplished speakers. Topics ctiscussed were in line with the Festival's dieme of women's empowerment. On the Rip side, there was oo dearth of spectators at tlie Rendezvous chat between actor Rishi Kapoor and his co­ star Simi Garewal. Interest was also piqued with Richa Chadha's canctid conversation on body image a.nd earing ctisorders a.nd her personal e,,:periences i n showbiz.

No one was better placed to comment on censorship and pushing the boundaries with filmmaking than independent filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who experienced major censor pressure on his recent film Udta Pu,ya/J. Famous for his bold and fearless aesthetics, Kashyap is regarded as die face of emerging new wave cinema in lnctia and his session thrived on brainy debate. Kashyap also provided some well-measured responses as one of the guests during the Conversation Hour with Jon Faine on ABC Radio. He was accompanied by Fawad Khan and Richa Chaclha i n a chat session c o -hosted by Festival Direccor Micu Bhowmick Lange.

Towards the end of what could only be termed as a Herculean effort on the pare of the organisers "Mind Blowing Films, the 1 1 -day festival concluded with a visit from Festival Ambassador Vidya Balan. She was present at the meet and greet prior to the Australian premiere screening of her debut Marathi language film EkkAI/Jela.

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Vidya also visited La Trobe University to launch the 'Educate the Educator' initiative, made possible in partnership berween the University and IFFM. Selected students will participate in a study tour of India in order to learn how to assist children with special needs in lnctia. "Train the Trainers is yet another example of how d1e Festival reaches far beyond stage and screen to make a real impact," the versatile actress claimed.

Vidya, who has led die way in playing ctiverse and strong female characters on screen, was thrilled to receive the Westpac Women Empowerment Award presented to her in an inti.mate ceremony at Victorian Parliament. The closing night of the Festival saw another quality film on the theme of the quest for gender equality followed by a Q&A with lead actress Tannishd1a Chatterjee. Pan Nalin's At�O' lndian Goddesses, classified by some as the better Indian version of Sex and the Ciry, was a refreshing celebration of friendship and girl power.

Bengali film actress Rimparna Sengupta, Marathi actress Radhika Apte, filmmaker/ screenwriter Srijit Mukherjee and Punjabi singer Amrinder Gill attracted decent crowds at pre-screening events as part of the Festivals ctiverse offerings. Filmmaker Gurmeet Sran, with his film The Hiddm Tmth, and musician Girish Makwana, with his debut film Colourqf Darkness, provided the local contributions to a predominantly international movie line-up. Too soon it was a wrap and d1e last time for Festival goers to soak up the fun and style of an event that proved to be a fabulous winter warmer.

SEPTEMBER 2016 25

26 SEPTEMBER 2016

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india-oz

The backlash against sweatshops has created a 'slow clothing' movement that is ethical and sustainable

T

he SS r-sh.irt and the $l 5 dress at the local chain store look like a steal. Bur wair. Think. How is it possible to sell clothes at such low prices? Think twice before you grab this bargain.

The Rana Plaza coliapse of 2013, in which 1136 garment workers died, brought to the fore tbe poor conditions experienced by workers in mass-production clothing factories. For many years, big brands and clothing chains from Australia have somced their cheap garments from such overseas factories without checking the credentials of their supply chain. Customers at these stores, like you and me, have fuelled demand and indirectly promoted modern­ day slavery, child labour and exploitation.

But there is so much changing for the good. It took this disastrous incident for companies to stare investigating where their products come from and the conditions in which they are made. The good news is many corporations now realise tl1ey have the power to make a difference.

The 2016 At1stmlian F-ashio11 Report, which grades clothing brands based on the strength of their labour rights management systems, has shown substantial improvements being made in chis area.

Though it is no surprise that top A+ ratings go to Fairu-ade brands such as Etiko, ir is a shame chat an expensive, high end brank such as Oroton is ranked at a D. 1n comparison, K-Marc is far better at B grade.

The sustainable or ethical fashion movement and tl1e slow clothing movement, which have taken off since this accident, promote social and environmental sustainability. Many smaller operators in the clothing industry, such as Kim and Kath from Sydney's The Possibility Project, use new and recycled materials to create

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,, Kath creates products for the slumwear108 range by reimagining materials like old silk sarees and converting them to garments with a Western sensibility ,,

BY JYOTI SHANKAR

sl111111nar108 range,

beautiful garmems with a story.

At The Possibi. lity Project, it all started when Kirn, a former high school teacher of Economics and Business Smdies, decided to teach her students abom practical entrepreneurial skills, creative chinking and social justice. The srudents collected their favourite home recipes and put togetl1er a cookbook which tl1ey sold and raised $4000.

They sent these funds to I -India, an GO working with street children in Jaipur. The realisation that tliis amount was enough to feed 20,000 children made Kim and the smdents wake up to the possibility of using their gifts for a bigger cause.

Kim then mer Kach, a fashion designer and mum whose kids went to the sarne school as hers, and tl1ey struck up a friendship of "great healing and immense purpose", as Kath describes it. Unlike the self-obsessed, satirical suburban duo Kath and Kim of the ABC television show of the sarne name, tl1is pair decided to use their creative gifts and good fornme of comfortable lives on Sydney's orrh Shore, to work on charity projects with I-India.

Engaging with tl1e I-India vocational training program, Kath uses her eye for design co create products for the

reimagiuing materials like old silk sarees and converting them to garments with a Western sensibility. These are sold tl1rough their online store as well as at their 'possibility' talks to schools, corporates and tl1e broader community, where they tell the stories behind these products.

Kim says she considers tliis engagement with tl1eir customers a win-w·in for all • people feel good about buying something that supports those in need, the creators of these garments receive a good wage and the satisfaction of creating something special, and the environment benefits from reuse of materials. "It's not just a pity purchase which remains unworn in tl1e cupboard; our customers buy a beautiful creation with a story behind it," says Kim. "Hopefully they also take away empowered attitudes."

These enthusiastic ladies do not consider themselves any kind of 'savioms of humanity' or 'crusaders of sustainability' but rather, the purveyors of possibility.

They travel to India ti.vice a year to somce materials for their garments and train the people who stitch them at ]-India. .Kirn, who is of an Anglo-Indian background and originally comes from Chennai, has lived in Australia for most of her life. She says that tl1ough it is easy co be overwhelmed by the poverty in India, they go iJ1to those spaces with curiosity and love and look upon the opporrunity to work with I-India at the grassroors level as a complete privilege.

They have also starred the Sparrow Sanitation project which supporrs tl1e making of compostable sanitary pads out of wood pulp. Deepak and Tulsi, former street children supported by I-India, now lead this project.

Katl1 and Kim wish to inspire others into action and have little desire to be portrayed as heroes. As Katl1 jokes, "We are all heroes, only we have a website!"

Another ease-west collaboration is Bhalo (Bengali for 'good'), a design label established

by Shinrnl Minhas Uddin from Bangladesh and Jessica Priemus from Australia. Their clothing is woven and tailored in rural Bangladesh. This keeps traditional crafts alive and stems tl1e Aow of migrant labour into Dhaka city, keeping families rogetber.

Bhalo uses 'slow' techniques i n their clothing • hand- loomed cotton fabrics, hand embroidery and applique, as well as chemical­ free dyes. Bhalo garments are available at various stores in Australia and tlirongh their online shop.

Another label, Bhumi by Vinita Baravkar seUs Australian Certified Organic products online and tl1rough tl1eir Melbourne store.

The entire supply chain of Bhumi's range of clothing and home furnishings is closely monirored; from orgaiiic farmers planting their cotton seeds to the dyes used and the weaving of cotton tluough ro its tailoring.

These small businesses prove tliar our choices as a consumer can help to make the world a better place. They also prove that style and conscience can co-exist. Etliical fashion doesn't have to be frumpy. Be it recycled, Fairtrade or organic, buy less and buy better.

SEPTEMBER 2016 27

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28 SEPTEMBER 2016

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food

Feast fit i for a king .•• .•.

•• •

Celebrating Onam with a selection of delicious dishes

•• •• at least 24 to 28 dishes served, son1eci1nes !

0

even nJore! The feast is predon1inantly :

: : : : • a specific spot on the 1eaf. Rice is the : predon1inant ele1nent v.1hich is to be enjoyed • with pa.rippu curry (dal), sambar, rnsam and curd along with a range of sides and also plantain chips, pappadum and pickles.

The feast ends with the traditional dessert, paayasm (also of different varieties).

Here we have a small selection of some of the favourites that can be prepared easily with locally available ingredients. vegetarian, but there are certain parts of

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

n11111 Satfya, the iconic 'banana leaf feast' is the way that Kerala says welcome to her favourite king, Mahabali. .

Every year the state comes together irrespective of caste, creed and religion to celebrate this festival of prosperity.

The Om1111 Satfya is a lavish affair with

the state that love co include non-vegetarian dishes, even though it's not traditional.

The feast is always served on a fresh banana leaf with each dish occup)ring

. ........................................................

•

Avial (Mixed vegetables in a

creamy coconut yoghurt base) Ingredients

½ cup drumstick vegetable ½ cup plantain ½ cup pumpkin ½ cup potato ½ cup carrot ½ cup beans 4 green chillies, slit ½ tsp turmeric powder Salt, to season Handful of curry leaves 5 tbsp grated coconut ½ tsp cumin Curd/yoghurt, enough to make thick gravy 2 tbsp coconut oil

Method

Cut all the vegetables lengthwise into long strips. (The shape matters!)

•

Cook all the vegetables in a pressure cooker with turmeric powder, slit green chillies, salt, curry leaves; no water required. Cook for 1 whistle or 5 minutes, whichever happens first. If you do not have a pressure cooker, then cook in a regular pot; add just enough water to cook the vegetables.

Grind coconut and cumin seeds with a bit of water to a fine paste and add to the boiled vegetables.

Add enough curd to this, stirred through to get a creamy consistency.

Prepare tadka or tempering by heating coconut oil and curry leaves. Switch off the fl ame and add a few drops of water to this and then pour over the dish.

There will be some spluttering so make sure the flame is off.

Enjoy!

Beetroot Thoran (Stir fry

wi.th beets, greens and coconut) lngredlents

Kootu Curry

(Kerala style Black Chickpea Curry)

Ingredients

1 cup black chickpeas; washed and soaked overnight 1 medium sized raw plantain; cut into large chunks 100gms yam; diced ½ tsp turmeric powder ½ tsp red chilli powder ½ cup grated coconut 1 ½ - 2 tbsp black peppercorns 2 large garlic cloves 2 tbsp coconut oil ½ tsp black mustard seeds 2 sprigs curry leaves 2 dry red chilli Salt, to season

Method

To a pressure cooker, add the black chickpeas with 1 ½ cups water, season with salt and cook till 80 per cent done.

In another pan, cook the plantain along with red chilli powder, half of the turmeric powder, salt and 1 ½ cups

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water till done. Drain and keep aside.

Add the diced yams to the black chickpeas and cook till the yams are lightly mushy (use the back of the ladle to mash the yams if necessary). Then add the drained plantain and mix well to combine.

Coarsely crush the grated coconut, peppercorns and garlic in a mortar and pestle or grinder and add this to the cooked chickpeas. Add the remaining turmeric powder and mix well to combine.

Taste and season with salt if necessary.

Cook in low heat for 1-2 minutes and remove.

To temper, heat coconut oil in a small pan and crackle the mustard seeds.

Then add the curry leaves and dry red chilli. Pour this over the prepared chickpeas and mix well to combine.

Keep covered for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy with a bowl of rice and dal/lentils.

••

..

.•• •• •• •• •• •• •

. .

2 medium beetroots with the greens attached ¼ tsp mustard seeds 2 sprigs curry leaves 2 dry red chillies Salt, to season 1 tbsp Coconut/vegetable oil For coconut spice mix ½ cup grated coconut 1-2 green chilies (depending on heat preference) ½ tsp cumin seeds 2 cloves garlic

Method

Peel and grate the beets and finely chop the greens with the stalks.

To make the coconut mix, coarsely grind all the ingredients.

In a pan, heat oil and crackle mustard seeds. Add curry leaves and dry red chilli.

Add the beets and greens; stir fry on high heat for a minute.

Then add the coconut spice mix, season with salt and continue to stir fry on high heat for another 2 minutes.

Serve hot with rice or Indian fl at breads.

Cut Mango Pickle Ingredients

•

2 raw mangoes, cut into tiny pieces ½ tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp red chilli powder (add more if you like it really hot) ½ tsp mustard seeds Big handful of curry leaves Salt, to season 4 tbsp vegetable oil (Since I store the pickle in the fridge, I added less oil. You will need to add lots more if you want to keep it outside)

Method

Place the chopped mango pieces in a large bowl.

Add salt, turmeric powder and chilli powder and rub well into the mango pieces.

Heat oil in a large pan, crackle mustard seeds and add the curry leaves.

Add the mango mixture and stir on high flame for 2 minutes.

Cool and store.

Pickle ready!

SEPTEMBER 2016 29

travel

1se co ■

Choose your own adventure on board a luxury cruise liner

E

BY PETRA O'NEILL

ach morning as I walked briskly around the Promenade Deck . counting die number of laps, I would look om on the horizon.

On this day the Tasman Sea was quire scill when suddenly a female humpback whale, followed by her young calf, on the migracory path back to the Antarctic Ocean, leapt our of the water.

On other days I saw an albatross, bottle nose dolphins, sea lions, fur seals and penguins. There is perhaps no more pristine a sea than the Tasman to be found anywhere in the world.

30 SEPTEMBER 2016

I was on board the Diamond Princess, a mega 2670 passenger cruise ship, for 58 days. W/e completed fom cruises between Sydney and Auckland and I was there to ta.lJ< on tbe destinations visited and provide directions. To do that I had to learn the layout of 18 decks without getting lost, bur I did that quite a lot. On Deck 2 was a vast laundry tbe size of a footbal.l field and, after entering a fire escape, I eventualll' exited in the gal.ley - much co the annoyance of the head chef. As the days passed by the ship felt more like home. On board I met Ray and Barbara King from Tasmania who spend most of their time at sea having taken over 200 cruises.

A cruise is easy. You unpack once, and get looked after. Cruise ships offer a varietj' of dining venues from fine dining co buffers, sushi, pizzas and burgers available poolside. Activities include a gym

and spa for luxurious indulgences to yoga, bingo, bridge, zumba, art auctions, ice sculptures and cooking classes. Lecnires and Broadway-style shows are offered in the theatre, while in the lounges you'll find a pianist or musicians.

The journey began with us sailing out of Sydney Harbour, one of d1e world's most breatlitakingly snmning harbours, Aanked by the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. As we followed the coasdine and day mtned co night, twinkling lights came into view. With a clay in bod1 Melbourne and Hobart we then spent two days at sea crossing the Tasman when at daybreak the clouds parted to reveal the majestic peaks of New Zealand's :Milford Sound. On d1e South Island we visited Dunedin, a city with a strong Scottish heritage showcased by srrilcing cathedrals, gracious terraces and the steepest street in the world. You can visit L arnach Casde, Speight's Brewery,

with reputedly d1e world's best beer, gee up close with fur seals and rare yel.low eyed penguins, and join tlie Taieri Gorge Railway travelling oo a series of steep viaducts past stunning mountainous scenery.

Nearby Akaroa is a pretty seaside rown with the quirky Giant's House, brightly painted craft shops, cafes and arr galleries.

You can also explore d1e scenic lush countryside of the Banks Peninsula, visit Christchurch or swim in the bay with playful Hector's dolphins.

On the North Island, Tauranga has beautiful beaches or you can view the bubbling mud and geysers at Rotorua.

The cruise ended in Auckland, a friendly vibrant city wedged between two harbours, with neat timber houses, boutiques, restaurants and many attractions. And while many passengers disembarked here, I still had many more days to enjoy at sea.

,, A cruise is easy. You unpack once, and get looked after. There are a variety of dining venues on offer, and activities include a gym and spa for luxurious indulgences to yoga, bingo, bridge, zumba, art auctions, ice sculptures and cooking classes ,,

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Decide on and whether cruising is the best way to explore. From October to March ships of all sizes visit our shores. If you haven't cruised before consider a sampler cruise. Cruises t-0 Australian ports, the South Pacific, Asia and New Zealand are the most popular.

Cruising to New Zealand provides an excellent overview with the best itinerary including the Bay of Islands and Milford Sound. Avoid school holidays and times of year when monsoon or inclement weather is likely.

Wet. blustery days with an ocean swell are no fun. , More than one million Australians take a cruise every year, with many ships to choose from. They include P&O and Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess. Celebrity, Azamara, Holland America, Oceania, Regent, Crystal, Silversea and Seab ourn as well as expedition cruise ships.

Critical to your enjoyment is travelling with like minded people. Consult an accredited CUA travel agent to help you choose. · , as gratuities, beverages and excursions all add r. to the cost of the cruise. ....,...,._....."""""""""............. Steer clear of noisy theatres, restaurants, elevators, stairwells, promenades, laundry, engines and anchor chains. Be i n close proximity to places you'll visit often. If you are prone to sea sickness choose mid ship for greater stability. Balconies are best but obstructed ocean view cabins are great value. I would avoid interior cabins.

For must see , book in advance but don't be restricted by the ship's choices. Research local tour operators or, if you want to self explore, have your day planned out with a map, transport options (shuttle buses are usually provided), local currency, a list of places to see, and the port agent's contact and terminal details in case you get lost. Terminals that are in the city centre - Auckland, Sydney, Hobart and Akaroa - are perfectfor self exploration. In New Zealand and Australia strict quarantine rules apply.

Do not take food off the ship. , is a must as the ship's medical centre is expensive.

Ensure you've had a recent dental check-up. Bring all medications, including travel sickness tablets, with you.

Dress appropriately. Consider the ship's dress code and number of formal nights, and for excursions think about what might be needed to visit religious sites etc. O n -board laundries mean you can pack lighter. For footwear, wear flat shoes with non- slip soles. Pack a shawl for chilly air-con and carry a tote bag. Take a water bottle that you can refill.

Wear a lanyard to hold your access carcl.

Arrive preferably at least one day before your cruise departs to overcome jet lag, acclimatise and allow for any flight delays........,.....,._....., avoid peak time usually 12-2. Drop off your bags with luggage labels and return later or queue early. Keep your valuables and fragile items with you. Have your passport, credit card and cruise documentation (checking in online will save time) ready to show plus a completed customs form. explore the ship to get your bearings. Using the ship's map, visit alI the areas that you are likely to use. Go to the Iibrary to borrow a book as the good ones soon disappear. Ensure everything in your cabin works and if you have any cause for complaint refer it without delay to the ship's purser. Choose that day's activities and book a dining venue. During the cruise, don't eat and drink too much, establish a routine, exercise to maintain your fitness and get to know key staff by name. Whenever you use a restaurant use the hand sanitiser.

- always give thanks to the crew and pass on any positive feedback. Exchange contact details with new friends. As debarkation is always early, plan your time before your flight home. Consider an excursion booked through the cruise line so that you get to sightsee while your bags travel with you on the coach.

SEPTEMBER 2016 31

MATRIMONIALS SEEKING GROOMS Well-settled, professional match invited for Sydney-based Sikh. Beautiful, fair, unmarried, 43, 167cm, Double Masters, IT professional; lively and jolly with strong family values. Working in MNC. Brought up in India. Parents currently in Sydney.

Australian citizen. Email photo and details: ausgirl101@gmail.com Professional match for Australian born, attractive, Aggarwal girl, 29 years old, 5"4' tall, doctor, pursuing specialisation in Obstetrician and Gynaecology. Doctor family, well established in Sydney outer suburbs over 36 years. We don't believe in caste system. Please email details to vspgupta@westnet.com.au Graduate, Hindu vegetarian girl, 40, of Brisbane, Australia looking for compatible single or divorcee Hindu boy who has good personality, character and takes marriage/commitment seriously. If suitable please send full details with at least 2 photos to emku_8416@outlook.com Seeking alliance for our daughter, Sikh Brahmin, 26 years old, 5.0 feet. Bachelor of business and commerce in human resources and industrial relations. Currently working in finance as a finance consultant, Sydney-based, Australian citizen.

Seeking a qualified boy, well educated, working, well settled, non-smoker, non­ drinker and an Australian citizen. Please contact 0412 308 816 Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney-based, Australian Citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri, 43, 5'3", slim, fair and attractive girl. Girl is postgraduate and is working in a good position in government organisation. Please send details with photo to lndsyd2016@gmail.com.

Suitable match invited for Hindu Kadva Patel, innocent divorcee girl, born in 1981, 5' tall, fair and currently living in India. Her brother is a well settled businessman in Australia. Contact via email: am.jain1081@gmail.com Seeking well-educated, professionally employed, clean shaven Sikh match from Australia/Canada for very fair, beautiful, 5'5", homely, educated and working Australian citizen Ghumar Sikh girl, 1984 born. NO DIVORCEES please. Contact: 0421 775 525 Email: ab09hii@hotmail.com

Suitable match for Australian citizen, Sydney-based, Sikh girl, 1991 born, 170cm, qualified chartered accountant, working for Australia's leading bank. Parents highly educated and well settled in Sydney. Please respond to hs52216a@gmail.com

Manglik, MBA, Prof. qualified, well settled boy in Sydney/AUS for beautiful, Manglik, Rajak Rajput girl, 10-01-1986, 5 feet 3.5inch, B.Tech (IND), MBA (Sydney), Permanent job MNC. Email biodata and photograph to shivgauri1532@gmail.com

SEEKING BRIDES Suitable match for our son, Australian Citizen, BCom, LLB, LLM, 5'9", age 31, lawyer in a multi-national law firm in Sydney. Seeking preferably local Sydney girl, professionally qualified, age 26-31 years and career-oriented girl from Hindu family. Please reply to bhel101@hotmail.com Australia settled, Kashmiri Hindu family seeking bride for handsome engineer son, 27, 183cms, professionally qualified settled in Australia / New Zealand.

Please contact with full details and family background to proceed further. Contact kashaust@gmail.com

Australian Citizen Jatt-Sikh handsome boy, 25 years, 6' tall, family oriented, cultured, athletic, clean•shaven, serving in Australian federal government. LLB, B.Com from Monash University Melbourne; belonging to well settled family in Australia for last 21 years, having capital assets in Australia, NZ and India. We are aspiring for an Australian/NZ Citizen beautiful and harmonious girl belonging to Punjabi cultured family, professionally qualified in medical sciences. Please respond with biodata, kundli and photographs at navee64@gmail.com

Goel, handsome, 32-year-old boy, (innocently divorced), look ing for an issueless girl between 27 and 34. Australian citizen, Grade 2 govt job, Masters degree, lives in Sydney. Parents in Australia. Prefer match in Australia. Please contact: goelsyd2016@gmail.com with bio-data and photo or call 0413 866 005. Caste no bar.

Seeking alliance for 27-year-old, 5'9" tall, very fair boy. Working as Systems Engineer, well-travelled speaks Hindi, English and German. Vegetarian, teetotaller and non-smoker. Girl should be upper caste only, very pretty and well educated.

Contact sudhirchowdhary@y7mail.com or arun60kumar@gmail.com

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR 'THE ONE'?

List your matrimonial with Indian Link!

Email sales@indianlink.com.au or phone (02) 9279 2004

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Our content features blockbuster shows across genres like drama, comedy, reality shows and children's program which have a mass following in India and among the Indian diaspora internationally.

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The latest blockbuster movies like Holiday, Happy New Year, It's Entertainment, Chennai Express, Welcome Back etc. round up our bouquet of wholesome family entertainment.

Come immerse yourself in non-stop family entertainment, only with Zee TV.

32 SEPTEMBER 2016

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foretell PREDICTIONS FOR SEPT 2016

BY NANCY JADE ALTHEA

------------------------------------ARIES March 21 - Apri l 19 September will be a wonderful, calm and progressive month for you.

There will be significant developments in your personal relationship where you will find a good balance with each other. If you are single, the cards are indicating a time for meeting new people. Make sure you get all your important documents and paperwork sorted out this month. Work will be reasonably stable. You are looking at going in to new directions. Finances will be a little up and down.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 This month you will b e feeling stressed out with your love life and will be feeling quite uncertain as to what is going on. Your work life will be very contented and successful, there will be opportunities to progress which will last throughout the month. The cards are indicating a time when you will need to be a little careful with your finances and spend prudently. There will be someone in your family who will need some advice and help.

GEMINI May 21 - J u n e 20 You will feel very motivated and energetic this month. You will be enjoying meeting new people and having a fun, happy and carefree connection. On the work front, you may be going through a time of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. The cards are indicating a time when you may find it hard to focus and your mind will be jumping all over the place. This month you are advised to take it easy and not rush or make decisions rashly.

CANCER J u n e 21 - J u ly 20 This is a great month for you, the cards are indicating a time when you will be supercharged and making great progress. You have so much going on it's like your mind is driving at 1O0km/h. The cards are indicating new opportunities at work, while financially you will be looking at savings and bonds. You are also planning a move to another city or residence. You will be feeling happy and content, and at a good place in your relationship.

LEO J u ly 21 - Aug 22 �-��yr.1 This will be a hectic month, with many changes taking place.

There will be some new developments in your relationship. You will be feeling romantic and in love. There will be some interesting discussions taking place between you, but you will sort things out. The cards are showing new opportunities for you to further your career and climb the ladder. You may be worried about some test results for an older member of your family. A positive result is indicated.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 You are working towards spending more time with your partner this month, to strengthen the peace and harmony in your relationship.

There will be some matters relating to joint finances and accounts that need to be settled and organised. There are some aspects of work that need your attention. Your colleagues will be trying to outperform you. .,. The cards are indicating you may have some stress with young children and their welfare and health. Time to have an eye test.

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LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22 This month you will have luck on your side. There will be a fabulous opportunity to meet someone who makes you feel comfortable, and make your relationship permanent. There will be some cosy nights in, and you will be making plans to commit and make things official.

There may be some family members who are not too keen. The cards are indicating a time when you will be very determined and strong.

New opportunities are around the corner, keep looking.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - N ov 21 This will be a mixed month when you will be feeling a little unsettled in your relationship. There may be some stress between you which you will need to resolve. Take time out and have a long talk.

Otherwise you may experience distance and confusion. The cards indicate a time when you have to keep a close eye on your finances.

At work there may be a difficult situation which needs to be handled diplomatically. Take some time out for yourself.

SAGITTARIUS N ov 22 - Dec 21 You will be feeling a little burdened with house, work and personal matters this month. There will be a lot of demands made of you professionally, and you may not be able to work the usual hours.

Working long hours and keeping yourself away from family is causing tension in your relationship. The cards are indicating a time when you will also be thinking of moving. There is the possibility of a new work opportunity in another city or town.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - J a n 19 This month you will be a little confused in your love life. You will be getting mixed signals, so you will be unable to understand what steps to take. There is a need to have some open conversations and clear matters up. The cards are indicating a very good time to make extra money and increase your income by speaking to people about a new venture and ideas you all have. Take time out to meditate and relax.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 You and your partner have both been very busy and may not have been spending quality time together. This month it is important to speak openly with each other. There may be some misunderstandings between you that need to be cleared up. The cards are indicating a great time for you to travel abroad with work or to study or take up research. There will be opportunities which will help you to climb the ladder. A rental property needs maintenance.

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20 This month seems to b e a little difficult and stressful for you. You will need to take some time out and decide what you want to do.

The cards are indicating a time when you will be on the verge of leaving your employment. You are advised to sit calmly and think about things carefully. Speak to your superiors and come to an agreement. Take some time out with your partner or friends to take your mind off things.

SEPTEMBER 2016 33

entertainment

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- - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ... - - - - - - AN AG ONISING SHTI CK

A FLYING JATT

STARRING: Tiger Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, Amrita Singh, Kay Kay Menon, Nathan Jones; DIRECTOR: Emo D'Souza

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A Flying J att, is the story of the local

superhero of the same name. Apart from the name, there is nothing original about the film. The character, chiselled on the lines of the DC Comics fictional character Superman, is an lndianised version of the superhero, which includes his traits and costume.

It is the story of a reluctant martial arts teacher, Aman Dhillon (Tiger Shroff) who is forced to fight a prominent and powerful industrialist, Mr. Malhotra and his goons, when they forcibly try to

usurp a track of land which his mother, Mrs. Dhillon (Amrita Singh) owns.

How Aman transforms from a meek person to the local crusader A Flying Jatt forms the crux of the tale.

The film is director Remo D'Souza's pretentious plea to save the planet.

Pretentious because the film, in all sincerity, is treated with an artificiality which includes his direct appeal -"Everything has an alternative, except Mother Earth."

The plot is layered and complex, but not without flaws. It ropes in all the tried and tested formulas of film marketing; Deus ex-machina as a plot device, a superhero who tugs on patriotic themes and religious affinity, bonding with the mother, romance, fight between good and evil and moreover, it tackles

the serious issue of environmental pollution.

Apart from this, the film is replete with tell-and-show expositions, half­ baked characters, plot holes galore and interplanetary fight sequences.

Tiger Shroff in the titular role is sincere and charming. With a stubble and turban he is striking and he lights up the screen with his presence. His character is designed like a satire and he excels in its caricature, but the poorly scripted drama does not back him enough.

Jacqueline Fernandez, in a relatively small role, is competent as Aman's love interest, the giggly headed Kriti.

She looks radiant, performs ably and matches Tiger in histrionics. But she fails to be consistent in the accent. Her

dialogue delivery fluctuates from an anglicised accent to a local one.

The hulk Nathan Jones plays the stereotypical henchman with aplomb and elevates the character to the rank of an antagonist. Kay Kay Menon as the pivotal bad man essays his role in a hackneyed manner.

The two characters who make their presence felt are Amrita Singh, as the drunk Mrs. Dhillon, and the character who plays Rohit - Aman's friend, accomplice and brother-figure.

Technically, the film boasts of ace production values, but the spirit is diluted with poor craftsmanship.

The effects are not at par with international standards and though the computer generated images mesh seamlessly into the live action, the finesse is missing.

The songs are well choreographed and well picturised except for the Beat pe booty. This one seems forced and poorly mounted in a studio environment.

Overall, the director seems to have lost the plot after the second act, as the narrative meanders making the entire comic affair agonising.

Troy Ribeiro

Know Thyself as So I

You are a soul of a permanent unchangeable nature, and if you would live as a soul, you would never be affected or changed by outer changes.

-Sant Baljit Singh Nurture your spiritual life through meditation on the inner Light Uyoti) and Sound (Naad) and realise your true self. All events are free. for further information 1800 462 193

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34 SEPTEMBER 2016

Cl-l�CK US OUT AT WWW.I N DIAN L I N K.COM.AU www.indianlink.com.au

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AKIRA

STARRING: SSonakshi Sinha, Anurag Kashyap, Konkona Sen Sharma DIRECTOR: A R Murugadoss

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The biggest takeaway from this brutal depiction of police atrocity is the cop Rane. As played by Anurag Kashyap, the character acquires sharp spiky edges that pierce the plot and penetrate into a region far deeper than where director Murugadoss rests his case.

Don't get him wrong. Murugadoss means well. Akira takes up the cause of women's empowerment, but only on a superficial level. When Akira is still a child (which is to say, she is

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played by little Mishiekka Arora) she takes revenge on an acid thrower by, well, learning karate (prompted by her inspiring mute dad) and throwing acid back on the guy who did it.

So there!

As simple as that. If only life was as uncomplicated. As though to make up for the paucity of clutter and plain substantiality in the first half, Akira suffers a severe midlife crisis and goes into spasms of tortuous torture scenes meant to show Akira reaching breaking point before she explodes.

Instead of Sonakshi's Akira exploding on screen, the plot crumbles and falls apart under the weight of the gross violence. Murugadoss excels at showing

his female protagonists being brutalised.

Iron rods are a favourite weapon to torture subjugate and almost lobotomise spirited women. In Ghajini, Asin was bludgeoned to death because she was too sunshiny for the villain to bear.

In Akira, Sonakshi sulks ceaselessly (troubled childhood, super-troubled adulthood), until the villainous cop and his hysterical deputies, accomplices in law-sanctioned crime (one of whom at one point falls to the ground whimpering as Kashyap looks alarmed and I embarrassed), take her out to a forest J and decide to eliminate her because well, r they got the wrong girl. ' Ditto the film. It got the right girl Sonakshi is sufficiently restrained and implosive - but it put her in impossibly sadistic situations. The scenes of her torture in a mental asylum, run by a doctor who looks like a pimp at a run-down brothel, are prolonged and unnecessary. If only the narrative, so gripping to begin with, had not grown fl abby as it progressed.

Kashyap's diabolic cop's performance holds the film together. He had played a dirty lawman in his own film Ugly. He builds on the earlier cop role and hones the art of lawlessness to such an extent that we miss him whenever he isn't around in this film. Sadly, the actors playing his khaki-wearing colleagues emerge as caricatures of desperate criminality. You can take Murugadoss out of the South, but you can't take the South out of him.

The other very interesting character is

that of a righteous pregnant cop Rabia, played laconically by Konkona Sen Sharma. She imparts a sort of stubborn idealism to her character, compounded by her heavily immobile state. Tragically her slow painful physical movement becomes a metaphor for the plodding righteousness of the script.

Though well-intended, Akira tends to slow down its own virtuous journey with implausible roadblocks, including a mentally-disturbed eunuch who helps Akira escape from the mental asylum where the villains lock her away while her family looks the other way. Oh yes, there is a sympathetic lover played by Amit Sadh who looks on helplessly as the villains wreak hectic havoc on the heroine.

To mend the holes in the plot, Murugadoss stuffs the storytelling with messages on the physically and mentally disabled and on police brutality. While the sermons don't get shrill the smothered cries of 'Enough!' can be heard from miles away.

That's us screaming in protest, as Sonakshi Sinha tries bravely to make her tortured character braver than what the story writers allow her to be. Akira is a film that could have gone very far, if only the theme of women's empowerment had not been overpowered by the Murugadoss school of villainous barbarism which does not discriminate between man and woman.

Is that what the neo-feminists mean by equality of the sexes?

Subhash K. Jha

I N D IAN LI N K

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SEPTEMBER 2016 35

entertainment

----------------------------U P-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT'S HOT AND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD

IS SANJAY DUTT OUT OF WORK?

Ever since actor Sanjay Dutt finished his prison term in Pune's Yerwada in February, everyone is awaiting his comeback film. However, six months down the lane, the 57-year-old actor has not started shooting for even one project.

Currently, except for Marco Bhau, whose story and screenplay is still being worked on, he has nothing in hand except for the long- in-the planning Munnabhai. But with Rajkumar Hirani busy with the biopic of Dutt starring Ranbir Kapoor, part three of Munnabhai will take time.

RICHA CHADHA TO THE RESCUE

AM ITABH BACHCHAN 'S M UCH TALKED ABOUT LETTER TO H IS G RANDDAUGHTERS

B

eing a woman in this big, bad world is not easy and Amitabh Bachchan knows it. Maybe that's why he has written such a heartfelt letter to his granddaughters, Navya and Aradhya. Though we think that this letter also has something to do with his upcoming movie, Pink, a courtroom drama which tells the story of three girls caught in a patriarchal society that blames women for all things wrong that happen to them.

The Bollywood megastar wrote a very personal and inspirational letter to the girls in which he tells them to make their own choices and not worry about what the world will think or who they should get married to. He tells Navya, 18, that even her big surname will not protect her from the difficulties that come with being a woman, while he gloomily tells Aaradhya, four, that he may not even be there by the time she is old enough to understand this letter.

But does he extend this mindset to his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?

Reports claim that intimate scenes with Ranbir Kapoor in the teaser of Ae Di/ Hai Mushki/ have Amitabh Bachchan seeing red.

In the past, both Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan shared the posters and trailers of Aishwarya Ra i's previous two films, Jazbaa and Sarbjit, but not this time. Abhishek Bachcan put up a very supportive front and shared the teaser 'as a formality'. Amitabh, on the other hand, stuck to his guns and refused to budge from his decision of not sharing the link on his social media.

It is sad to see that someone who has written such a heartfelt letter outlining the adversities that women face in this world and the need to stand against these hardships, is seen to be the one creating them in his own home. For someone who has been in the industry for decades, how does he not understand that if the story demands an intimate scene between the characters of the film there is a degree of professionalism that all actors (male and female) must possess and do their job, irrespective of their personal lives.

Double standards much, Big B? 36 SEPTEMBER 2016

In Melbourne recently, the actor was out shopping one evening when a girl, the manager of the store, approached Richa for help. She looked scared and on enquiring further, told Richa that a guy in the store had been stalking her and harassing her. On hearing this, Richa not only decided to help her, but also waited with her tilI it was time for the store to close for the day. After that, she took her out for a quick bite and assured her that everything would be fine and she should lodge a complaint.

Richa says, "I was shocked to find an upset girl at the counter when I was shopping at Chapel Street. Since it was winter and it was getting deserted, I decided to stick around till the girl was done with work and then took her out for a sweet treat. She lodged a complaint the following day I think. It's shocking how this happens everywhere in the world."

VIRAT-ANUSHKA S POTTED IN PRAGU E

Anushka Sharma and beau Virat Kohli are enjoying some quiet time together in Prague. The Indian cricketer, who fl ew to the Czech Republic to spend some quality time with his actress girlfriend, were spotted on a long romantic stroll in the city.

The couple, who are reportedly giving their relationship a second shot, were clicked by fans in Naplavka, a place popular for its fine dining restaurants and bars. Dressed in smart casuals, the couple were photographed engrossed in their conversation as they walked along the sidewalk.

BIG B AND AAMIR KHAN TO SHARE THE SILVER SCREEN?

Reports suggest that Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan will be seen working in Vijay Krishna Acharya's Thug. When asked whether this is true, Aamir

neither confirmed nor denied these reports. However, he looked excited at the prospect of sharing screen space with Big B .

Now Big B himself, in his latest interaction, confirmed the news saying, "It's a great honour and privilege to be working with Aamir and to be working with Yashraj again and also to work with Victor. I just look forward to that moment. I don't know if I can talk much about the film at this moment. I haven't been given permission. All I can say is that it is a very exciting subject."

WILL SMITH PARTIES WITH BOLLYWOOD

India is a country that believes in

Atithi Deva Bhava (guest akin to God).

And Bollywood swears by it, or so it seems, thanks to their warm reception for Hollywood stars visiting India.

Most recently, actor Akshay Kumar hosted dinner at his Mumbai home for Hollywood actor Will Smith, and invited film buddies like Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Karan Johar and Ranbir Kapoor.

But is there a more ulterior motive to these social interactions? A Bollywood insider claims that social gatherings like these help Indian celebs work on their image. He adds, "Bollywood stars are hungry for Hollywood attention. This is why they make efforts to meet up these star diasporas of the world."

SO NAM LAU NCH ES WORLD'S LARGEST LESSON PROGRAMME

Sonam Kapoor joined Gems Education, UNICEF, Reliance Group and the Global Goals Campaign to launch the World's Largest Lesson India programme on the occasion of Teacher's Day in Gurgaon on September 5. The actress says that a proper education can build a great future and lead a child to imbibe good qualities.

"The Worlds' Largest Lesson India" is a unique initiative which aims to teach every child in India - nearly 360 million - a lesson about the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

Speaking at the occasion, Sonam said how she is planning to finish her undergraduate degree at the age of 30 as she feels not finishing her schooling www.indianlink.com.au

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What's the chitchat between KATRINA KAIF and SIDHARTH MALHOTRA? is her biggest regret.

"I am somebody who is very regretful of the fact that I didn't finish my school after 12th grade. At the age of 30, I am trying to finish my under grad," she told while interacting with members present during the launch and with kids.

It is refreshing to see the fashionista explore the education field for a change.

KOFFEE WITH KARAN TO RETU RN WITH FA WAD KHAN AS THE FIRST GU EST

Filmmaker and television host Karan Johar is ready to return to the small screen with his coffee chats again and we can hardly wait. The upcoming season of Koffee with Karan won't open w ith his mentor and best bud Shah Rukh Khan, instead Johar's first episode will have his new favourite: Fawad Khan.

Fawad's popularity has been on a steady rise, he's been stealing the show in every film he's been in.

We hear that almost every A-lister heroine has been pestering Johar to be interviewed along with Fawad. As per most recent reports, he was considering a toss between Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt.

RISHI KAPOOR TURNS 64, B-TOWN CELEBRATES

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor turned 64 on September 4, and his friends and colleagues from the Hindi film industry have wished him a year full of love and

happiness.

And the celebrities also had a special message for the Bobby star.

The actor has been part of the industr y for over four decades and has given hits like Mera Naam Joker,

B obby, Khel Khel Mein, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Karz and Prem Rog.

We wish him a very happy birthday and hope that the year ahead is not filled with mindless tweets and comments.

SONAKSHl'S AKIRA MINTS OVER RS.1O CRORE IN TWO DAYS

Actress Sonakshi Sinha's action-packed avatar in Akira is having a steady run at the box-office. The film has amassed Rs 10.45 crore in two days of its release.

On the first day, the film collected Rs 5.15 crore and Rs 5.30 crore on the second day. This gives it a total collection of is Rs 10.45 crore so far.

Presented by Fox Star Studios, Akira brought Sonakshi and Murugadoss together once again. He had previously directed Sonakshi in the film Holiday, which was a success at the box offi ce.

The film sees Sonakshi's character coming to Mumbai from Jodhpur, where she gets into a tiff with the goons of the college she enrolls in. The story is about her fight to come out of a case, where the college goons, a corrupt policemen

WHO WORE IT BETTER? KANGANA RANAUT or KRIS JENNER in DOLCE & GABBANA?

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played by Anurag Kashyap and another played by Konkona Sen Sharma, are crucial characters.

Looks like Sonakshi will be headed for huge box office collections again!

Send in your responses to win@indianlink.com.au and win a surprise prize

JOHN ABRAHAM KEEN TO SHOOT FILM IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Bollywood actor John Abraham, who has been named the brand ambassador of Arunachal Pradesh Tourism, says he would like to shoot an entire film in the north-eastern state since he feels the region is alienated.

"I just told (State Tourism Secretary) Dr Bedathat that I would like to shoot an entire film to Arunachal Pradesh.

I am excited to explore it and we are responsible as film makers and we hope it grows in the arena of tourism.

Rangoon was shot there and we hope even we shoot our film there," said John.

He further added, "Historically and geographically we have alienated the northeast from the rest of India. I think it's really sad. I think it is high time that we include the northeast in India."

Perhaps in a movie with the Arunachal Pradesh as the setting, we MAY just be able to take our eyes off the hunk and focus on the scenery.

WHAT TWEETY BIRD TOLD US THIS WEEK

Match the stars with the following tweets: Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan I Write.. a letter.. because I wanted to .. !!

Coming your way in 2 mins!! #ADHM Wow Liam wore me out yest @jazmasri haha #more City Sweet City. .. Feels sooo good to be home & we're back to the grind already @ShashankKhaitan here I come!!!! #B adrinathKiDulhaniya Might b switching from playing Pokemon Go 2 watching movies on the go. U wit too,with these superfast speeds on @Re/ianceJ/o #JioDigita/Life

What's STEPHANIE RICE saying here?

I don't need the pool, I'm making a big splash in my purple sari!

Meena Kumar Burnside Heights VIC Meena wins a ticket to A Flying Jatt

And here comes Big Boss Season 10.

SEPTEMBER 2016 37

backchat

hining about wine

When buying stemware becomes a daunting task

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BY RAKA SARKHEL

ecenrl)� when ilie last of my wine glasses succumbed to an inadvertent knock, we (a family of rwo) kJ1ew it was ti.me for a trip to fKEA. We are a one­ stop-shop family and as recent migrants to Sydney, that's me only one-stop shop we knew. Until a Victoria's Basement ad made its way to our letterbox.

This is not to say we are particularly fussy about stemware and such things. But, after being forced to drink unpalatable Nashik wines back at home (often in plastic cups), when you find very drinkable options at only double the price of packaged water, you offer mem your full attention, respect, and pretension, if you please.

In shore, you might as well make a fuss.

And so we ctid.

I, a seafood lover, decided rime we needed white wine glasses to savour my chardonna)� alternati.ngly with a bite of rose-flesh salmon or a crispy calamari ring. (Do nor go with my food and wine pairings, I am still stuck at me right kind of glasses!) He, being a steal, freak and thus, a red wine guzzler, decided mar even the mere sight of white wine glasses upped the acidity levels in his sromach.

We reached a consensus and decided that we wanted to be all prim and precious about the whole experience of drinking cheap wine. So separate glasses for whites and reds it would be.

We both knew it was going m be a very long day.

A wine glass is wickedly divided into a bowl, a stem and a foot. If he liked the stem of a particular brand, I found me bowl not quite to my taste; when I liked the foot, he hated the stem. We slowly moved towards che stemless glasses which a.re in vogue right now, only to nod disapprovingly and rush back to the more traditional offerings.

As we began me bunt for the red wine glasses, we were faced by several grievous and grave questions.

38 SEPTEMBER 2016

"ls it goi11g to be crystal or glass?" he asked.

"Crystal looks more sparkly, no?"

"It has lead in it, BT\X"�" he said, as he proceeded to list the effects of lead poisoning from a health website, stopped shon at 'altered testicular functioning', and put the crystal glass down and moved on to the next brand.

On the shelf to the right sat a nice, mid- sized bowl with a dainty stem that drew our Aatcery. The very next instant, we discovered a longish variety of the same ware. "A burgundy glass and a Bordeaux glass!" declared my beau in a quick display of one-upmanship. We had not even gone past one variety and we already were hit by sub­ divisions!

"Burgundy for the more aromatic wines, like pinot noir, and Bordeaux glasses (the longish ones) for full-bodied ones like rl1e shiraz or cabernet sauvignon," he rattled on.

"What about a merloc!" I asked with a whiff of sarcasm.

He pretended to ignore me and read out loud, "The contents of a burgundy glass should hit the tip of your tongue while that of a Bordeaux glass should be directed towards the back of your mouth."

We were once again faced wiili the crystal versus glass dilemma when anomer article on rl1e web informed us that glass stemware will have a Lip at me rim for durability which is not a desirable feature for wine enjoyment. It was one of tl1ose moments when you start to regret the World Wide Web and its entrapmem.

After much ado and finicky comparisons, we settled for a set of burgundy and

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,, Burgundy for the more aromatic wines, like pinot noir, and Bordeaux glasses for full-bodied ones like the shiraz or cabemet sauvignon ,, anomer o f Bordeaux glasses for the reds, dreading what was in score next. \Vhite wine glasses were my department, and thankfully they are a straightforward lot. AH you need is a nice and upright u-shaped bowl on a stem to maimain cooler temperatures. Easy! Or so I thought . . .

I was pelted with several manifestations and in_1aginings of the letter "u" whicb slowly paved the way for an hour-long bout of indecision.

My otl1er half had conveniently disappeared amidst the racks of cryst.'ll only

to be found puffing away at a cigarette in the carpark. On being caught, he Hashed a sheepish grin and proceeded to help me out wirl1 glasses for my Riesling. \Vim not many to our liking, we agreed these would be our temporary options for d1e time being.

Champagne Autes were next in L. ine, and given chat the bubblies give born of us an acid attack, we went past them quickly. \1<.7e mrnst six traditional Aures into the cart and made a dash for the counter when my visibly bored better half asked, ''\Vhac shall we serve a rose in?"

A salesman overheard and said rl1ey had run our of rose stemware. He was heaven­ sent, my partner and l born agreed.

As we walked past the aisles towards me payment counter, on a board beside the wjne glass racks was written: Age Like Fine Wine.

I think I may have aged a little after that wine glass buying experience. And not quite like fine wine.

Be mat as it may, chin-chin!

www.indianlink.com.au

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