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editorial

INDIAN LINK l>UBLISl-ll:R Pawan Luthra l:DITOR. Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT l:DITOR· · · Kira Spucys-Tahar

NRI opportunities for the government of India

MELBOURN!: COORDINATOR Pre�ti Jabl,al CONTRIBUTORS Dhanya Samuel, Chitra Sudarshan, Nan�y Jacle Al_thea, S_an.irn �h�rn;ia ADVl:RTISING WA Sales Manager Ram Naidu 0435 581 571 · .National SalesVivek Trivedi 02 9262 _1766 ADVl:RTISING ASSISTANT• Preeta Nair 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 !:mail: info@indianlink.corri.au·

• INDIANLINK

BY PAWAN LUTH RA

we go co print, India has st celebrated its 14"' Pravasi harariya Divas in Bengaluru. eralded as the largest ever gathering of overseas Indians, the event was attended, as per official estimates, by over 7,000 delegates, of whom 1500 were Ris and 500 were Aoating Rls. This from over 30,000,000 NRls globally. Yes, less than 0.007% of the target audience were in actendance.

Once the annual conference is over, it may be worthwhile for those in charge to question whether there is a becter way co engage witb global Indians. That they want to engage is clear from the ongoing staging of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), but is this annual talk fest winning and making inroads in the bea.rts and minds of the NRis? Do they deserve more from the government of India?

On one band, when NRls relinquish

their citizenship or residence status, they are less of a responsibility of the Indian government. Yet, wbat the NRI has co offer co India, should be enough of an incentive for the Indian government to work through ways of greater engagement with this community.

The 30 million non-resident Indians are largely highly successful in their new country. According to an estimate from a leading US source, ''If NRis were a country, their GDP would be in excess of US $800 billion, equal co 40% of 1ndia's GDP, even though their population is less than 3% of resident Indians." There also is an estimate that r Rls' remittances to India stood at US$68.91 billion in 2015, accounting for over 4°/<, of the cotmtry's GDP. This is growing as more Indians fan out across the globe.

Looking at the financial returns alone, without caking into account the soft power opportunities which this community can exert, chis is an e."<tremely important resource which should be marshalled and used co work cowards India's growth.

With an estimated 500,000 people of Indian origin in Australia, we do represent a very small part of the 'lndiaspora'. But what we lack in numbers, we do make up

in passion for all things Indian.Just look at the nunout during the India-Australia cricket series, or the revenue figures from Australia when major Bollywood blockbusters are released, to become aware that while the "lndian can be taken out of India, it is harder to take the lndia om of the Indian".

On a more practical basis, PBD details need to be circulated in the community much eadier in the year rather than a few weeks prior to 9 January. Most Indian Australians plan their India trip during this holiday time much earlier in the year, and knowing derails of PBD may allow for a greater participarion. Perhaps working on a delegation representing Australian Indians to attend as a cohort, may bring further momentum from the community.

PBD is bur one occasion of the many oppornmities for the Indian government to engage with d1e local community.

Inviting greater interaction from the community such as an Australia India Day for an open forum to meet with consular officials, could be one such new oppornmicy, by way of example.

After all, the passion for providing greater oppornmities for India is shared by both Indian government offices here, and d1e local Indian community.

Importer and Distributor: Ostlndo International Pty Ltd Tel: 1300 970 357 Email: sales@ostlndo.com.au Please visit our website: www.ostlndo.com.au

JANUARY 2017 3

YOUR SAY

DEMONETISATION: HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND DISILLUSION PEOPLE

ERA OF DHONl'S CAPTAINCY IN INDIAN CRICKET COMES TO AN END

Datwanl Chand wrote: Salute to the determined Sultan! Let's hope many more are generated with him as a precedent.

THE FORGOTTEN VICTIMS

DIPANJALI RAO reported on new research exploring the impact of gendered violence on children's health

nm Henry wrote: A great article. The subject is [hopefully] one of growth.

It also makes me wonder about children who witness violence in the family home where the behaviour is accepted, the child may be conditioned to believe this is normal. In turn this will perpetuate the situation and its negative effects.

Anll Cherukupalll wrote: Nice article, Dipa! This is really interesting research. Had always wondered about the impact of domestic violence on children. Beyond physical health parameters, it would be insightful to look at children's mental health parameters and how they are affected by IPV in the next stage of the study.

Prlya Srinivasan wrote: Great piece thanks for sharing Apama Ananthunl wrote: Critical research, and great writing!

A SEAT FOR THOSE IN NEED

Promoting goodwill on public transport, ROYSTON REBELLO reported on 11-year-old Anirudh's efforts to encouraging commuters to give up their seats to elderly, pregnant and disabled people

Physlcal Dlsablllty Councll of NSW wrote: We hope to see a few of you at Central Station!

Brad Rossiter wrote: I would like to be included, however the rail line down the NSW South Coast ends at Bomaderry and I live further south. Makes rail travel impossible. lntematlonal Day of People with Dlsablllty @IDPwD retweeted Indian Link: Anirudh, who we've spoken about before, gets more love, this time from @indian_link! Happy #idpwd everyone!

ADANI COAL MINE UPDATE

Work will begin in 2017 on the Adani mine in Queensland, amid assurances the Carmichael mine will not hire foreign workers on 457 visas.

Yadu Singh @dryadusingh tweeted: @indian_link Jobs and economic growth are absolutely necessary in the North. Assistance for infrastructure is right.

Let It Be Heard @Let_lt_BeHeard tweeted: @indian_link Is there enough local manpower to support the Carmichael mine then? Mining doesn't seem to be a popular career choice today.

SAYIT AGAIN 4 JANUARY 2017

After his recent trip to India, THE MUMBAI MUMBLER was unimpressed with Modi's demonetisation Vlkas Kesarwanl wrote: I think a decision of such a big magnitude requires time to make its effects known, and it is too early to make final decision for or against it. There will be troubled times expected with such decisions at large. This decision itself will not increase corruption as has been mentioned in the article.

What is foremost important is that the people who are opposing the issue the most in the media are the people who are not the big chunk of direct tax payers. They are the businessmen who transact a lot in cash, that too in millions of rupees (even the writer of the article is a businessman as it appears). Or they are the bunch of politicians who would be happier if this was a big blunder on the part of the government, but are the ones who have gone to the High Court and Supreme Court to get the ordinance back, which is a testimonial that they are badly effected to their roots and appear to be lost completely.

We have seen that the Indian media has tried hard to get people to speak bad words about the government's decision but failed. The opposition's tried to call for an all India bandh, but they failed. This shows the mood of the public who is largely incorrupt and wants India to change at any cost.

At least it now appears that India is alive and there are discussions of curbing corruption and people are supportive in what so ever way. Let's wait and watch... fingers crossed.

Uday Mitra wrote: I have read your article on the demonetisation issue. I entirely agree with the author on the points made. I was in India during 8 Nov to 20 Nov, and experienced firsthand the havoc it caused. The money I withdrew from the airport ATM upon arrival on 8 Nov proved to be valueless as soon as I stepped outside. The motive was noble, but the execution was poor having no regard for the plight of the ordinary Indians and small businesses. This does not even count the loss GDP for the country as a whole during the process. I could not believe that a highly intelligent, sophisticated country with its intelligent public service could prepare so poorly for such a significant step.

H.S. Subbaramalah wrote: Good review on demonetisation by The Mumbai Mumbler. Whether the purpose of the demonetisation of 86% of Indian currency achieves the target of our Prime Minister or not, one thing is definite, there will be a greater loss to the Indian national exchequer in the shape of lost man hours by bank employees and extremely co-operative citizens of India. They had/have shown the utmost faith in the ability of our Prime Minister by standing for hours, undergoing all the inconveniences mentioned above article. There is also the cost of printing the devastated currency as well as the new currency being printed with transportation and other overheads.

Apart from that, over 100 people have died while standing in the queue, about 53 bank staff risked their jobs, the income tax officials are on their heels to catch the bulk depositors, an police are on watch to seize bulk money transporters. With all this, the city corporations and municipal councils got back longstanding arrears, along with some banks. A few money laundering persons made news on TV channels which are totally busy in showing the hardship of the honest citizens of India struggling to restore their faith in an individual of their devotion.

Kala Raghunath wrote: Well, discomfort was a part of the deal but is not the entire story. I was there in India when this happened and my father was just out of hospital. I too found it very difficult, but the truth is most of us Indians do not really believe in following rules and they need to pushed down upon us by certain force to be implemented. The idea is brilliant but yes the implementation could have been better, but remember they had to keep this whole thing a secret so people suffering was always expected.

Klrltl Mortha wrote: Here's more ammunition to counter people with 'Modi­ blinders' on!

When I watch how Glenn McGrath is using the Sydney test to raise big monies for cancer, I ask myself: when will an Indian celeb do likewise?

Rajdeep Sardesal

In Australia for the New Year. And it's already 2017 here. Love you all. Thanks for being with me. Have a good year full of great changes!

Chetan Bhagat

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1�ou re s,o cool.

WELCOME TO OZ!

We welcome the new High Commissioner of India to Australia HE. Dr. A.M. Gondane [pictured here presenting his credentials to the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd)]

A WIN FOR IFFM

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PREETI JABBAL spoke with Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Festival Director of IFFM, after they won the 2016 Melbourne A ward for Contribution to Multiculturalism by a Corporation

lndlan FIim Festlval of Melbourne wrote: A big big big shout out to Indian

Link and Preeti Jabbal for this article. It has been days since we won and we still pinch ourselves sometimes to check if it wasn't a dream.

Mltumlndblowlng @mitublange retweeted Indian Link: Thank you for this wonderful write up @LordMayorMelb @MartinFoleyMP @IFFMelb #Melbawards2016 #Magicofmovies #diversityRocks

#BESTOF2O16 SERIES

Why Ignorance Is more dangerous than Musllm Immigration

This piece from RITAM MITRA sparked much debate on the dangerous ignorance and intolerance displayed by Sonia Kruger's comments

Aashath Kaamll wrote: Well written article. Full credit to the author Ritam

INTRODUCING A 24x7 TOURIST HELPLINE IN 12 LANGUAGES 1 Languages Supported

Mitra.

Bikinis as well as blndls

E""l"llh,�A,lhlic,.fflKlt.a.-,i,,..,._��l(��lft(CluNw��•1wui..

Perth beauty Chandrika Ravi spoke with our MIMA Young Journalist of the Year NAM/TA GOHIL about her path to stardom

Chandrlka Ravi wrote: What a fun interview this was! Definitely one of my

best of 2016's!

Trevor Pritchard wrote: So awesome! You're beautiful and a role model for

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She's still got it! RAKA SARKHEL on how Asha Bhosle rocked her Melbourne and Sydney concerts

Mahesh Berwal wrote: One of the best concerts I have been to. Love Asha What the IPL can learn from the BBL

SANAM SHARMA on what BCCI can learn from Cricket Australia about nurturing, managing, and promoting cricket

Aussie Phll wrote: I feel for you Sanam. It must be frustrating to see cricket

bastardised as it is now in the IPL and at the same time see how it can be run if only the BCCI could come out of their bunker and sniff the air. I bet they are very well paid but is it value for money spent? Hang in there though, with shrinking viewers these stick-in-muds may have to shape up or ship out.

Time will tell.

High School, Check!

Year 12 finishers from 2015 shared their experiences with RADHIKA BHATIA Rusequlthe wrote: Thanks for sharing these inspiring experiences of

learning, Radhika. I was so impressed how you showed some individual experience for each person who just graduated on from their course.

Spectacular fireworks lit up the Sydney sky #happynewyear2017

Blpasha Basu

A 24X7TOURIST HELPLINE

The government of India has launched a 24x7 toll free tourist helpline in 12 international languages to provide information relating to travel and tourism in India for domestic and international tourists. The helpline will also be able to advise callers during times of distress, if any, while travelling in India and alert the concerned authorities, if required.

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> LOG on to your own Facebook or Twitter account > TYPE "Indian Link" into the s earch 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

Truth is Om Puri and Naseerudin Shah were truly the greatest actors of their generation and we never gave them that recognition.

Prltlsh Nandy

INDIANLINK

+ JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Glad to see new energy, keen desire and strong drive among our diaspora to connect more extensively with India's socio-economic transformation.

lndlan PM Narendra Modi

JANUARY 2017 5

newsmaker

Australia's GK Harinath among Pravasi awardees

D

r GK (Hari) Harinach OAl\f, Chair of 1v[ulticulmra.L NSW, has been awarded the Indian Government's 2017 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for community service.

He is among 30 awardees announced in Bengaluru on 9 January at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD).

Indian-origin Pormgal Prime :Minister Antonio Luis Sanws da Costa and Indian­ born US diplomat Nisha Desai Biswal are some of the other high-profile winners.

The 55-year-old Costa, a Chief Guest at the three-day 14th PBD (Non-Resident Indian Day) celebrations, is the son of Goan father Orlanda da Costa.

As a senior Indian-American diplomat, the 48-year-old Biswal, who hails from Gujarat has been overseeing the US foreign policy and relations with 1 1 countries in the region from Bangladesh to Uzbekistan since October 21, 2013.

Costa and Biswal have been awarded for public se.rvice and public affairs.

"Of the awardees, six are from the US, two each from Britain and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one each from 27 ocher countries the wodd over," noted the statement.

Five other overseas Indians from die

US sharing d1e honours wid1 Biswal are Hari Babu Bindal for environmental engineering, Bharat Haridas Barai, Mahesh Mehta and Ramesh Shal1 for community service and Sampatkumar Shidranrnpa Shivangi for community leadership.

Priti Patel and Neena Gill are the awardees from Britain for public service.

Vasudev Shamdas Shroff and India Social and Cultural Centre from Abu Dhabi in the UAE are me winners for community service and philanthropy.

Two more organisations Antwerp Indian Association in Belgimn and Singapore Indian Association in Singapore have been honoured with the award for community service.

The other winners for community service are), Naseer Abamed 1fohamed Zackiriah (Brunei), Nalinkumar Suman.Lal Kothari (Djibouti) and Ariful Islam (Libya).

Od1er two winners for public service are Pravind Kumar Jugunath (Mauritius) and Winston Chandarbhan Dookeran (Trinidad & Tobago).

Raghunach Marie Antonin Manet (France) and Sandip Kumar Tagore Qapan) bagged honours for arts and culture.

Ocher awardees are 1-fokund Bhikhubhai Purohit (Canada) and Susbeel Kumar Saraff (Thailand) for business; Vinod Chandra Patel (Fiji) for social service; Lael Anson

E. Best (Israel) for medical science; Tan Sri Dato Muniandy Thambirajah (Malaysia) for education & community service; Raghavan Seecharan1an (Qatar) for business management; Zeenat Musarrat Jafri (Saudi Arabia) for education and Catani Balaraman Sanjeevi (Sweden) for medicine.

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JANUARY 2017 7

cover story

BY KIRA SPUCYS­ TAHAR

A

lone and frightened. The young boy, just five years old, waits for his brother to return.

Thinking his brother is on board, the boy climbs aboard a waiting train which takes him thousands of kilometres across India.

He Lives on the streets of Kolkata for several weeks, far from home, barely surviving.

Urban India is not kind to yet another child beggar.

But Juel< shines ou the young boy.

He finds himself at an o.rphanage.

Adopted by au Australian couple, John and Sue Brierley, the little boy grows up in Tasmania.

Twenty-five years later, haunted by memories, be painstakingly pieces together railway lines and snippets of memory, using Google Earth co track down and reunite with his home town and birtl1 motl1er.

The story of Saroo Brierley and his remarkable journey, first co Australia and tl1en returning co India on a quest to find his birth mother, is now well-known. "It's not normal," Brierley admits. "1t's absurd really."

First written as an autobiographical book, A Long IW�y Home, the incredible story is now the subject of a new Hollywood film, Lio11, directed by Australia's Garth Davis, starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.

Brierley never forgot his Indian family, and the memories of his time in India never left him.

"It was definitely scary. 1 don't think tl1ose events you could ever forget. I

8 JANUARY 2017

think it's scarred in my memory," Bi:ierley cells Indian Link. "Those memories were daunting, but ultimately that intense memory is what helped me find my way home. Some people would go, 'You must have been so traumatised', but I think I was guice resilient. I wasn't taught how to decrypt it. I never had therapy or anything like that. It was left co me to make a decision about what ] thought about ic, how to process it."

Resilience is a key theme in Brierley's story. He wrote the book as a personal reflection in an attempt to help and inspire others who have become separated from their family.

"I had been carrying this weight ou my shoulders, but I achieved, I did it," Brierley says. "It was about sharing that knowledge."

The harrowing, against-the-odds story has captivated audiences.

"This has been a powerful journey and a whirlwind time for me," Brierley says.

"As I step back, I realise there are these themes - everything happens for a reason.

There was this nostalgia. I would bear songs that would bring memories back.

Watching children play in nuclear families would bring memories back. I bad lots of dreams on the astral project side of things.

I had these out of body experiences where 1 would materialise on the streets of my old hometown. That kept tl1e memories alive, perpetually in my mind."

Reflecting on the powerful ability of the brain to adapt, Brierley says, "The brain is a fascinating organ instilled with adaptability, instinct, emotions, ability to ,,,ander. I followed that and led to my accomplishment. This was just my destiny."

J\foving to Australia, growing up in Tasmania, Brierley says he never really felt singled om or different.

"I think that was there, but I was just so used co change and transition. One

minute I was with my family. The next I was on a train, wanting for, searching for my family. Then I was in Kolkata and then in Australia. Change just seems to be with me," he says. "There wasn't much of an issue. I didn't register what people thought of me. I just took it a day at a time and was grateful to be in a loving family."

Brierley was involved in the script development of the film, but then left it up to the director and actors to tell his story. "If you've got a great script, it's up to everyone else to bring it to life."

He watched the film for tl1e first time together with bis family.

"I was holding on to my seat so hard my fingernails were digging into the leather. I was so enchanted, so enthralled. 1 should be feeling desensitised, but it felt like 1 was reliving the whole thing again. I couldn't hold those tears in," Brierley says. ''At the end of the mo,rie we all got up and had a group hug. My dad turned co me and said, 'I didn't realise how much you went through.' We had talked about it, but this really showed him."

On the casting of Dev Patel and t icole Kidman, Brierley says, "l think it was a good choice of people. Nicole :Kidman has adoptive children and Dev Patel is an amaztng actor - from Sl11111dog Millio11aire, co Skins, to Chapp;e, there was nobody better out there to play this role. They're both wonderful people, botl1 on stage and off stage, full of effervescence and vitality."

Brierley met with Patel over several hours, and the actor also studied his character through reading his book and in ternet articles.

"He nailed that Australian accent," Brierley says. "He personifies me really well. And my adoptive motl1er and Nicole Kidman talked a lot. Mum's ecstatic she got Nicole to play her. " As an adoptee himself, Brierley sees the adoption process as ''a great thing" and hopes tl1e government will help break

,, Watching the film, it felt like I was reliving the whole thing again.

I couldn't hold those tears in ,, Saroo Brierley down the barriers. "l'v[y parents just \Vanted to help a child in need of care and love instead of producing their own," he says. "They should re-open the gates which have been shut for a bit. We can only wish. You have people like Deboral1 Lee Furness and icole Kidman trying to get things underway. We can only hope they help open those gates. And I hope this movie portrays that coo. My parents are so grateful to have us, but I'm even more grateful for being with them. They have shown nothing but genuine love for me and my brother."

Since reuniting with his Indian family, Brierley bas returned co India around 14 times iu the past four years. He has bought his biological rnother a house and looks after his remaining siblings. They speak on the phone at lease twice a month.

He says be would like to spend more time in India, seeing the country, travelling around as a tmtrist.

"Being in India, seeing tl1e old style of buildings, visiting my hometown, visiting my biological mother, the family home, the orphanage in Kolkata, it's a mental cleanser," he says. ''At the same time, my parents are here in Australia; 1 know the people, the culmre, the language. I get a bit homesick. Both places are great."

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#Honmovie

#lion movie

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Dev Patel on Lion ...._

INDIANLINK

oclian origin British actor Dev Patel, who los[ the Besr Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role award at the 74th Golden Globes to Aaron Ta�-lot­ Jobnson, in a surprise win for Noct11mal A11imais, says he never agrees to take up a project thinking about awards.

Dev was pitted againsc Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges, Sim.on Helberg, Mahershala Ali and Johnson for the Golden Globe, which was banded out a[ a glittering ceremony at Beverly Hills, California on 8 Janilllry.

Prior to d1e ceremony, Dev told TANS over the phone: "l am nm reall>' holding tny breath. I am feeling very grateful to get nominated in che category. Being just 26, 1 still have a lot to learn. I aru lucky that I aru able co represent lndia on an internati.ooal stage."

How important are a,vards for him?

1'I would be lying if 1 say chat awards are not amazing. Awards can really change someone's career. You get recognition. You might get scripts tha[ you didn't gee earlier.

But I never cook up a projecr thinJcing about a golden statue," said the actor, who made his debut in the Oscar-winning film Slt1111dog Millio11aire.

Talking about Uon, which he was nominated, he said, ''\X1hen we were shooting this film, we were shooting in difficult siruations. Walking on cbe red carpet was the farrhe5t tl1ing you can gee in mine!.

It's all about characters, the journey and the story."

Uo11, based on Samo Briecle}"s best-selling autobiography "A Long Way Home", is a true story about an Indian boy who falls asleep 011 a train only to wake Llp and realise he is miles away from home in a strange land where be does not speal, d1e language. He

experiences many challenges before getting adopted by a couple in Ausrralia. Years later, be sets om to find bis losr family.

This isn't rhe first time chat the actQr, with roots in Gujarat, is playing a character with an Indian connection. In Sl11111dog Millio11aire, he essayed the role of Jamal Malik, who was raised in d1e slums of Mumbai. His third film, Be.rt Exotic Mmigold Hotel, preseoced him as an Indian botel manager. His next, Hotel Pvlmllbai, is again set in India. It is based on the 2008 terrorist attack on the Taj Z...1.ahal Pa.lace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai.

Does he want people to remember him as rhe actor who represented fndia on international platforms? ''There y9u go. You said it fo a nmshell.

Absolutely. I want rhe wocld to embrnce stories from ln.dia. It shows that markets - Hollywood and England - are trying to explore stories about people...noc just about an Asian person or a rich person. It's about humanity," he said. "\Xlhen l decided to do tbe story on Taj, we looked past d1e colour and skin of the cha1."acters.... (and focused on) hdw some of the staff went over and above to protect their guests in times of terror," he added.

Asked about being attracted co "underdog stories" he said, "I've never been one of the supremely popular kids. I look at these stories as individuals who rise through adversiry and face challenges. Such stories provide me inspiration."

But is it difficnll for lnclian actors to work in Hollywood?

"No. \'iv'hac you have to do is mrn an obstacle into an opportunity. l've learnt to embrace my identity and not shy away from who I am in lilms that I choose. That's what has got me so far."

Natalia Ningthoujam

JANUARY 2017 9

b 10 JANUARY 2017

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Australia Day INDIANLINK

JANUARY 2017 11

interview

Indian television personality and current affairs commentator Abhigyan Prakash in conversation with PAWAN LUTHRA

H

e may be a charismatic current affairs presenter on television, but Abhigyan Prakash is also an astute political analyst.

Prakash has been presenting live election analyses for Indian elections, both state and parliamentary, since 1996 (Election Poi11t, Vote Ki]uni). lntenTiewing Prime l'vlinisters and top leaders, i\bhigyan has become known for his particular style of presentation - direct, honest and credible.

Along with national issues, in the past five years the focus of his hugely popular shows Newspoi11t and M11kabala has been on political economy.

Here, he shares his vie,vs on a variety of issues in a freewheeling interview.

Pawan Luthra (PL): The D word, demonetisation, continues to be the talk of the town amongst Indians the world over. PM Modi's stated views were that this will expose those with black money, weed out corruption and also, tackle counterfeit currenc.-y. Now two months on, where are we?

Abhigyan Prakash (AP): The key issue

here is chat the payout has been d1e problem of the process. Since the aru1ouncement on 8 November, 2016, the people have been facing huge difficulties, queuing up for hours at banks and ATMs, exchanging their notes. \Vhat has been criticised the most, is the process in which this entire exercise has been carried out. Better planning and proper procedure was needed. A large section of the population are in favour of the move, no doubt, they don't want the economy to run on black money. But you also have co accept the reality chat in India, only 3 per cent of the country's population are direct taxpayers, 97 per cent are indirect taxpayers. Abour 68 per cent of chat are members of the rural workforce, so you've got an economy whid1 is very complex as compared co othe.rs.

That's why 1991, the year of liberalisation and free market, which st'lrted u.nder the Narasinma Rao Congress government, is considered to be such a milescone.

PL: Was there much planning done prior to this radical announcement, or do you think this was done rather hurriedly or with very limited consultation?

AP: There are many theories, but my take on it is, of course there was planning, but that pla□ning was not shared with certain relevant people. This point has been rai.sed by the Opposition in Parliament as well.

PL: Would that have diluted the impact and been a case of too many people driving the car at the same time?

AP: Ir's not a question of too many people driving the car at tl1e san1e time, it's a question of how many roadblocks do you want the car to have to drive d1roughl The point is, could you have reduced d1e roadblocks? Were you able to convince the India□ middle class - which loved you in 2014 and voted hugely for you, giving you that magical number of 282 (seats in Paclian1ent)? The people were caught by 12 JANUARY 2017

surprise. Totally caught by surprise. So at 8pm on 8 November the announcement is made, and then you see at least half of urban India standing in queues! I think the surprise element could have been taken away. There could have been a more dialogue-oriented process of telling d1e people, 'd1e government is planning to do something and we need you to back it and support it'. Planning was lacking, from the perspective that the payout has created such problems. That was perhaps not calculated properly.

PL: The three reasons given for the policy are: exposing those with black money, weeding out corruption and tackling counterfeit currency. Eight weeks in to the scenario, how successful has demonetisation been?

AP: Eight weeks is a short time to judge d1e scenario, but definitely all eyes will be on the budget. I have already written about it in my regu1'lr columns for the major publications in India. One of my columns was titled, What 1vi/11JJeget 011t of it? And that's d1e key question Indians will be asking, and there should be a clear plan and vision given to that. Prime "Minister Modi has done what he wanted to do; and now people want to know from him, what are we going co get? \Xfill you be ab.le co give us competitive interest rates as compared to the global economy?

PL: Which he can't do. If you look at the global economy, outside the US, in most OECD countries they're lending at one or two per cent. In India it's 10-12 per cent!

AP: That's right, that's the same point I've raised in my columns. Can you slash that by half? No, you can't! When the economy is in a sluggish mode or struggling, you can explain it away by saying tbe global economy is in recession. AU governments do this BJP, Congress, whichever. You're □O\V living in a globalised world, so once your banks are back to being cash-rich, what is the average Indian getting out of it?

I've reported extensively on rural agendas, economies and farmers. It's an agrarian economy in India, wid1 68 per cent of d1e workforce in rural labour. Is the farmer now going to come out of the clutches of the local man who !ends hinl money, the sahuk.a1? \Vho eventually forces the farmer to commit suicide if the crop doesn't work out? The clistress of farmers, wiU that drnnge? Is the farmer going to get cash-rid1?

You've taken money away from d1e middle class, or those who you thought had a lot of black money, which was the right thing to do, no one is questioning that. Bur are people going to gee a share of that now? ls this farmer going to get it? Will he be able to plough his fields without the worry that 'I'U have co borrow money from the local lender who will eventually take my signature, own my land for che next "I 00 years and, every time, add interest?'

PL: So, do you think it will filter through?

AP: I'm not the right person to answer that.

That's the question that Narendra Modi has to answer eventually, with Jan Dhan or various od1er schemes d1at he's working on or has introduced. Will it actually reach these people? That is the question. Let's be honest, nowhere .in the world can you create a cashless economy. You can reduce it. Even in the most developed nations, you don't have a cashless economy. It'.s a great notion, but it doesn't happen. And about terrorism, yes, it is very in1portam to check counterfeits because chat's your main source of funding for terrorism. lndia bas been struggling with terrorism for the past 25 years, wid1 Pakistan's ISl regularly disturbing parts of India through homegrown terror. So all chis is the right move, but will it reach the people it needs to reach, and how fast? That is why I'll be very closel)' \Vatching the next budget.

PL: Anything else people can expect in the next budget which could be effected by demonetisation?

AP: Worldwide, look at the example of the second Obama administration: we all know he was struggling with a lot of his people becoming jobless. Economies have to be refunded in a way by governments pulling chem out of d1eir own crisis. If that is d1e agenda, if that is the reason the lndian government ha.s coliectecl money, then it will have to reinvest it into the economy. And that reinvestment has to be very evident for the people co know and realise. You can't build all the roads and hospitals and bridges in rwo and a half years. That reinvestment has to be highly visible and that will surely be one of the challenges.

PL: To your knowledge, how have corporates taken the demonetisation?

AP: A lot of chem have officiaUy said, yes this is short term pain for Jong term gain.

That has been the line. Again, corporates are very tax driven, what else is business about?

It's about how much tax they have to pay co the government, so they will also want to know, what are the concessions corning their way from the government? Already tl1ere has been a time-bound reduction suggested for d1e corporate ta.x in d1e last budget.

Everybody agrees, this cmmtry shouldn't be living off a cash, black economy. But if it's about getting organised, about inlpleme□ting structure, lee us know. That's my key point.

Let us know, what are we getting back from you? Tell us a clear plan of what Indians are getting back - be it industry, farmers or new business sectors, and of course d1e huge middle dass which has literaliy changed the landscape of India in the past 25 years.

PL: Is this the biggest gamble Modi has taken in his political career?

AP: I think you've hit d1e nail of the head.

I have written about this. In my columns for Outlook and Business World maga7.foes, my first paragraphs argue d1e point cbat Narendra M.odi will be judged very critically, just like Narasimha Rao '-Vas with the economic liberalisation and Bahri Masjid incident, Viswanath Pratap Singh for the

mandalisation of Indian politics. 1fany Prime i\,[inisters have been very critically judged by what they did in history, so will Nare□dra Modi PL: What drives Narendra Modi?

AP: I'm sure he has a certain conviction; he has his vision for the country. He has been kno,vn to be a person who works on that and takes a decision. This is a very bold decision N arenclra Modi has taken.

Any Prime Minister who has 282 seats in parliament and has a comfortable majority, has no threat to his government for the next five years, has co have a lot of conviction within him to take a bold decision like this, which could easily take away his entire popularity.

PL: You have spoken about the difference between being the 'Chief Minister of India' versus being the 'Prime Minister of Gujarat'.

AP: The reason 1 said that about Narendra Modi is, he was a very different kind of Chief Minister, compared to other Chief Ministers in Gujarat. Quick decision maker.

Would push the decis.ions. Bue Gujarat is a state. Now he has to deal with a very complex socio-economic scenario of a huge country like India. And yet, people want hin1 to rake decisions in that same manner.

He had nothing to worry about as far as this term was concerned. Still he rook d1e decision and he knows it can go against him if it doesn't work our the way lndians want it to, or expect it to. Has he treated India like Gujarat? In Gujarat he cook decisions very quickly and implemented things very fast, but this is India, a very complex country.

PL: What are his fall-back options should demonetisation not work and he hurts the very voter base who brought him to power?

AP: He is a very popular leader among the middle class. They are a huge, affable, loveable support base for him. So it will be very interesting to watch. Women, in particular will be an important factor because demonetisation has di.reedy affected them. Women, our home-makers, I feel are some of the finest economises India has - the way they run their households.

Remember, it was their savings that were brought our of d1e house du.ring d1e recent weeks; it's something which has never happened earlier.

PL: If you were Modi, what would keep you awake at night?

AP: The question that whatever I've thought of, is it being quickly in1plemented?

And also, an1 I getting honest feedback?

Feedback is extremely important in a country like India. Many politicians come to power and sic in an ivory tower; they don't get the feedback tmtil it's time to vote again! It happened to the Congress in 2014.

A majority government by a national party, went clown to a mere 44 seats.

PL: You have been a keen observer and

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,, Narendra Modi must decide whether he is the 'Prime Minister of Gujarat' or the 'Chief Minister of India' ,, Nawaz Sharif attending l\fodi's swearing in ceremony. And then Modi was criticised after he stopped by unannounced in L ahore to attend a family function. But there 11111s a lot of effort made. Sushma Swaraj went to Islamabad and announced talks. Then of course it all derailed after a series of terrorist incidents.

Narendra Modi bad a very good relationship witl1 Barack Obama and it should continue with Donald Trump. The key factor there will be to see tl1e kind of American pressure a President like Trump pms on Pakistan, and how his friendship with India goes fon.vard from here.

PL: What about Trump's xenophobic statements? How does that play into the extreme right elements of the world, including the BJP? AP: It will take time co understand the

reactions. The good tl1ing about Trump - of course he has a lot of people who disagree with him - bur his positions are quite welJ known. He's one person from whom there's noc much of an element of surprise. I don't tl1ink the BJP will have much of a problem on that front. commentator of politics in India for 20odd years. How has politics changed in this period?

AP: In a lot of ways! For a simple reason:

we're a very young nation, and our youth are very active in politics in terms of opinion making, in terms of contributing to that opinion, and of cmirse in terms of being part of the electoral process. There are new political par-ties that have emerged in urban centres like the Aam Aadmi Party in DeU1.i.

A lot has changed. 1 think politicians are coming closer to the reality that new ways of politics have to be adopted. But despite that, caste politics hasn't changed. It has segmented sections of Indian politics over the last five decades ... that hasn't changed the way it should have.

PL: Is there room for sensible discussion in politics today? Is there too much far left and far right but no middle ground?

AP: That's a very per-tinem, serious question.

1 was on a program recently with Javed Akhter and we both made this point: India's greatest socio-political strength has been in its liberal, centrist, secular position in key tin1es of crises. At tl1e moment, it's becoming diJficult because either it's extreme left or extreme right. People are looking for the oppornmity for the middle ground to come back. That's also why it's very important co see how Congress will go from here.

PL: Is the media in India stopping

sensible debate?

AP: A lot of tl1e time, yes. The solution is you have to change the way viewers look at the media. The media has to tmderstand it has been completely positioned - either

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against or for.

PL: Let's dive a little deeper into the politics of India. The Congress party had a resounding loss in the last general election. The BJP had an overwhelming majority. India, as the largest democracy in the world, needs strong opposition to any elected government. Fast forward 15 years from now, how do you see the political landscape in terms of central major parties and regional but strong parties?

AP: There's no doubt that the national

parties, India's only two major alternatives to each other - BJP and Congress - have both ended up running the country through understanding the politics of coalition.

Traditionally, both of them were against it.

The new space will not entirely be left to a national party, or noc entirely to a regional party. It will always be a combination.

The national parties are not being able to reinvent chemselves in the states. They do come to power in the states, but ic's also very ob\Tious, whenever they're in power in the centre, naturally they also do very well in ilie states. Bm fr has nor yet come to a position where the regional parties are going to be finished. That is not going to happen.

TI1ey will have to live with that reality.

The senior party will be the main political parties, but you will not be able to ever look at Indian politics where regional parties are completely sidelined, it is not possible.

There are regional aspirations; the people want and demand more, and may feel that the regional players might provide becter.

PL: Moving on from national to

international affairs, within 24 hours of me demonetisation announcement, we had another seismic change in global politics with Donald Trump elected as the 45th US President. How did the world, and media, get this so wrong?

Nobody had predicted this result. ls media now more focussed 011 creating me news such as who should win rather than reporting on ground reality of what actually people are thinking?

AP: l don't know how to answer. Those

who are taking definitive lines or following definitive agendas in the media will have to watch out. The American election again is a lesson for tl1e media itself to learn, worldwide. There's no denying the fact that the credibility of tl1e media is at stake in India. A Joe of people now question ilie media, massive opinion has come against the media. People have to be very careful, because they generaUy feel media is not getting the kind of independence it should, by itsel£ I don't know about the American media, but of course I also watched the elections and results very closely. Your question is very relevant, because I saw, after news of Trump's winning in different states started coming in, the experts and their views also started changing on television.

PL: What does a Trump presidency mean for India?

AP: It should be good, for a very

straightforward reason: he bas his views on Pakistan which he has voiced in che past.

India has been putting a lot of pressure on Pakistan, given the last incidents of terrorism. The Indo- Pak relationship itself, started off welJ under Modi, with

PL: You have travelled extensively overseas and met with a number of

Indians abroad - do you see them playing any role in India's future or would you believe that as they have no

skin in the game, they should keep quiet about the reality in India?

AP: They should play a much larger role.

We are living in an era of information and change. There is a need to gather tl1e information and pass it on to ilie youngsters back home and make tl1em more alive to what the world is about and how the world is changing.

PL: What has been the most fascinating story you've worked on - something which has been an absolute game changer?

AP: \'{/hen tl1e Pokhran nuclear test took

place in 1998, l was the first reporter to break it. Acal Bihari Vajpayee was tl1e Prime :Minister then and I literaUy broke tl1e story from inside his house. I still remember tl1at very clearly. It was a huge game changer for India, because just a few days later Pakistan also rested. Thar was a momentous time for l ndo-Pak relations.

The disturbing bit was 26/11 - tl1e attack on Mumbai and at the Taj Hotel. I was tl1ere as a reporter all through rhe period. I had seen many terrorist incidents in ilie past, but when you realise how close terrorism can actuaUy get co a normal hmnan being's life, that's when you really understand how internal security is not just some phrase to be discussed intellecmally, it has to be implemented. It made me realise how absolutely vital it is to live in a safe and secure environment.

JANUARY 2017 13

indian news India's Sania Mirza and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands teamed up to take out the Brisbane International women's doubles title on 7 January, 2017, capturing the trophy with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. The win means Mattek-Sands overtakes Mirza as the No.1-ranked women's doubles player in the world.

from South Africa, Modi said this day marked the return to India of one of the greatest Pravasis and that his government's priority was co convert "brain drain" into brain gain". " Rls and PIOs have made outstanding contributions. Among them are politicians of great stature, scientists of repute, outstanding doctors, brilliant educationists, economists, journalists, musicians, engineers, bankers and did I mention our well known technology professionals," added Modi.

Northeast could feed India up to 1,100 MW of power by year end

Diaspora seeks more time to exchange old notes

The Diaspora comprising I on-Resident Indians (NRls) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) has sought extension of the deadline to exchange or deposit the banned notes till December 31.

"The deadline should be extended by six months till December 31 as aU those having the banned notes will not come to India just to exchange or deposit them by June," Thomas Abraham, a I Rl from Dubai, said at the Pravasi Bharatiya conference in Bengaluru.

The government had on December 31 extended the deadline to June 30 for the diaspora to deposit or exchange the specified bank notes (old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000) after the November 8 demonetisation.

Resident Indians travelling or living abroad temporarily have been given three months (up to March 31) to declare the banned notes they are carrying ac airports on arrival before submitting them in designated Reserve Bank of India (RB]) offices across the country. ''Though many of us may noc hold huge amounts of the banned notes as we transact in local currency and the Indian rupee is not fully convertible, we should be given enough rime to exchange chem since most of us come to India once or twice in a year," Abraham said on the margins of the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Another NRI from Oman said the government should allow the diaspora to deposit the banned notes ac Indian embassies or high commissions and credit them in their bank accounts in case the deadline is not extendable after June 30.

"The RBI or overseas branches of state­ nm banks like SBI (Stace Bank of India) should be advised to open counters at our embassies in all countries for depos.iting the banned notes whatever be their number as they are our hard-earned rnsh," said Gopalankutty Karnavar, a lvhiscat-based NRl from Kerala.

Several overseas Indian delegates attending the three-day biennial jamboree said they normal!)' keep or carry Rs 25,000-50,000 in cash when coming to India for contingencies despite having bank accounts and using debit/credit for payments or transactions.

14 JANUARY 2017

"W/e bring a few thousands of rupees with us whenever we fly to India for initial expenses at airports or food, local travel and purchases before converting dollars or other currencies," said Kanavar, a blue collar worker from Alappuzha in Kerala who heads the Malayli wing of the L,dian social club in the Gulf country.

The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin also urged the government co extend the deadline to December 30, 2017, for exchanging or depositing the high denomination noces in RBI or SBI. Terming the noce ban a welcome move, a majority of the diaspora said its implemenrntion was, however, poor as their kith and kin were at the receiving end of the cash-crunch and che economic disruption.

"If the high value notes were banned co fight black money, terror funding, fake currency and corruption, the move is laudable though ic exposes the governtnenr's failure to cmb the menace through ics enforcing agencies," a US-based RI said on the condition of anonymity.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked the diaspora for supporting the note ban, many NRls and IPOs said unlike their resident L,dians they were not impacted by it as they don't transact in rupee, which is not fully convertible.

"The sudden ban has taken us by surprise though not affected by it as the rupee is not used in our country and the value of our remittances is inrnct in our bank accounts," said James Mathew, an accountant in a private firm at Manama in Bahrain.

Modi asks diaspora to first develop India

Prime 'Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the Indian diaspora co first develop India by investing and contributing its expertise in che land of its origin.

"To me, FDI means First Develop India through Foreign Direct Investmem, whose norms have been fully liberalised for Non­ Resident Indians (NRis) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and made on par with domestic firms for availing same benefits," Modi cold the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non- Resident Indian Day) in Bengaluru.

Inaugurating the three-day mega event, J\fodi exhorted tl,e diaspora to participate in

the government's flagship program.mes like Digital India, Make In L,dia, Start-up India, Swacch Bharat (Clean lndia) and Namami Gange (Clean Ganga) for the country's all­ rorn1d development.

"Diaspora can contribute to India by sparing tl1eir time and energy on implementing our flagship program.mes and stay connecced," said Modi during a 40-minute special address in Hindi and English.

Asserting that engaging with the overseas Indian community was a priority area for him, tl,e Prime Minister said the government was trying co convert 'brain drain' into 'brain gain' by inviting the diaspora to contribute tl1eir mite in making India strong and self-reliant.

"Brain drain has been considered a loss for the country as Indians went abroad seeking jobs and better life. But for me and my government, such a movement is not a brain dcain bm brain gain as they can help us in the development," noted Modi.

For young Indians seeking jobs abroad, Modi said his government would soon launch a skill development programme. "\'v'e will shortly launch a skill development program.me, the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana, targeted at Indian yomh seeking overseas employment" he said.

The progran1me will train tl,e job-seekers w.ith soft skills so that they do not feel scrangers in the country they migrate to in terms of manners and culture.

Modi also appealed to all persons of Indian origin living tl,e world over to converc their PIO cards into Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card at the earliest.

"We are working on new procedures to ensure all descendams of Indians, especially th.eir fourth and fifth generations living in Fiji, Suriname, Guyana and Caribbean states co become eligible for OCI cards," Modi said.

Clarifying that the government does noc see che colour of the passport but the blood ties, the Prime Minister said the PIO card superseded the individual's passport as far as his or her ties to India were concerned.

When the PIO card is seen, "we don't see the colour of the passport but tl,e blood ties", Modi said to huge applause.

Referring to Mahanna Gandhi's rernrn

The north-eastern region, with its huge energy potential - 50,000 M\'\� by some estimates - could soon become the "power house of India". And caking a small first step in this direction, it is expected to feed the rest of the country up to 1,100 l\llW by the end of this year, energy expercs say.

Seven nortl1-eastern srntes, excluding Sikkim, currently have an installed capacity of 2,690 MW, but as some of the plants are very old, the output is some 1 0 0 MW shore of tl,e peak-hour demand of 2,200-2,300 '/vf\'v: However, there is a surplus of 300 i\fW during off-peak hours, while another 767 :r,.,f\'v' of capacity wilJ be added by year­ end. Sikkim is self-sufficient at 95.70 MW The stace-run orth Eastern Electric Power Corporation ( EEPCO), a min.i­ ratna company under the Union Ministry of Power, alone generates 1,290 MW from its seven power plams -- a mix of hydro­ electric, gas- and solar-based unics. "t EEPCO's generation capacity would rise to 2,060 MW by this end-2017 as commissioning of three more power projects would be completed much before the end of tl1is year," NEEPCO Chairman and Managing Director A.G. West Kharkongor told lANS. "The company is now commissioning three power projects -- 600 MW and t 1 0 NfW capacity plants in Arnnachal Pradesh and another of 6 0 MW capacity in Mizoram," he added.

"If the government allows NEEPCO, it would supply surplus power to other states of the country," Kharkongor said.

And, to feed the surplus power from the nortl1east to other parts of India, the state-run Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has erected 800-kv capacity and 1,728-km-long High Voltage Direct Currem (HVDC) transmission line from Biswanath Chariyalli in Guwahati co Agra in Utcar Pradesh at an investment of Rs 12,000 crore ($1.8 billion).

The power ministry has estimated the hydro-power potential of the nortl1-eastern region at 58,971 l\,f\'(� almost 40 percent of the country's total potential, but only less than cwo per cent (1,200 'MW) has been exploited rill Jase year.

Energy expert Sudhindra Kumar Dube said that the power generation potential of the nottl1-eastern region must be utilised with proper planning.

"The region has not only potential to

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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama interacts with devotees during the fifth day of the Kalachakra in Bodhgaya, India, on Friday, 6 January, 2017. Buddhist devotees from across the globe, including Hollywood actor Richard Gere and his girlfriend Alejandra Silva, have gathered in this small town to attend the 'Kalachakra' or Wheel of Time initiations by the Dalai Lama. Photo: AP

generate a huge amount of hydro-power but also has scope to set up more gas- and coal-based plant5 iu the region," Dube told IANS. NEEPCO also plans to generate at least 1,500 MW from non-conventional sources of energy such as solar and wind power in the next five years.

With a population of 45.58 million iu the northeastern region, the eight states including Sikkim, have a per capita electricity consumption of 257.98 kilowatt hour (kWh) against the national average of 778.71 kWh. Seate Power and Transporc Nlinister Manik Dey said that Tripura has agreed to supply an additional 100 M\'v' of elecrricit:y to Bangladesh over and above the 100 MW being supplied since March 23, 2016.

"The Bangladesh government has sought more electricity from India co cackle its power crisis in the eastern part of the country. India's power ministry recently wanted to know whether the Tripura government is ready to provide additional 100 l'vf\V of power to Bangladesh. We have accordingly agreed," Dey told IAt'-JS.

US-based Sikh body gifts diamond-studded sa6re at Patna gurdwara

A US-based Sikh body gifted a diamond­ studded sabre with a silver hilt at Takht Sri Hatimandir Ji Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, during the celebrations of tl1e 350tl1 'Prakash Utsav' or bird, anniversary of tl1e l 0th Sikh master.

The 'Khalsa Raj' sword presented by me Sikh Dharma International (SDI) is plated in 24-carac gold and cost more man Rs 1 crore.

Hymns from the Sikh scriptures, both in English and Gurmukhi, have been engraved on both sides of the sabre.

The sabre was crafted especially for the celebrations held at the gurdwara near Pama from January 3 to 5. The sabre was a big attraction for thousands of devotees who thronged me celebrations from across the country and abroad.

The American Sikhs associated with the religious body showcased tl1eir skills with 'gatka' (Sikh martial art) during me celebrations, she said.

A delegation of more tl1an ·125 American men, women and children associated with the Sikh Dharma locernational visited gurdwaras in Patna and nearby Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib co pay obeisance. former USAID chief Rajiv Shal1 to head Rockefeller Foundation Rajiv Shah, who headed the US government's foreign aid operations, has been appoimed the head of the Rockefeller Foundation, a multi-billion dollar private global charity with programmes in India.

The New York-based Foundation said iliat its trustees had selected Shah, who is a medical doctor and was the administrator of USAlD, to be its next president. He will take over tl1e job from Judith Rodin in March.

The 43-year-old will be the youngest person and tl1e fust Indian-American to lead the organisation, which has an ambitious $75 million project to bring electric power to

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Indian villages.

Shah received the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman award for distinguished Indian diaspora in 201 1.

"I look forward to charting a course for The Rockefeller Foundation to engage witl1 partners to promote tl1e well-being of humanity, and to take on tl,e challenges of today and tomocrow both in the United States and around me world," Shal1 said Shah's appoinm1ent came a day after anotlier lndian American with the same surname and a similar first name, Raj Shah, was appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to be his deputy assistant and research director.

The Rockefeller Foundation, which sics on assets of $3.4 billion according to Bloomberg, says that it focuses on healtl1, ecosystems, "secure livelihoods," and urban problems.

Announcing tl1e appointment, tl1e Foundation said tliat Rajiv Shal1 "is best known for elevating international development in foreign policy, delivering results through public-private partnerships and tl1e respect he earned working with counterpart governments from Afghanistan to Central America and witli bipartisan leaders in the US Congress".

He will be taking over the Foundation at a time when the lndian governmem is tightening supervision of tl1e work of foreign charities and NGOs. The other major American philantliropy, the Ford Foundation, has bad run-ins with the government over its fi.mding of certain groups or individuals witli a perceived political bent Born in the US and educated in the US and Britain, Shah, as a medical student, had volunteered in a poor community in India.

He has a medical degree and a masters in health economics from tl1e Ivy League University of Pennsylvania.

He was the bead of USA.ID from 2010 to 2015 and among the highlights of his work tl1ere was mobilising action against d1e Ebola epidemic in Africa and organising relief for Haiti after its eartl1quake.

After leaving me government he was appointed Distinguished Fellow in Residence at tl1e Georgetown University, a Jesuit-nm instimtion in Washington.

He also fow1ded a private equity firm,

Latimde Capital, which ainis to finance power and infrastructure projects in developing countries.

He started in President Barack Obama's administration in 2009 as chief scientist and Agriculture Undersecretary and the next year was appointed USA.ID head. He has also worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Fow1dation .

In historic breakthrough, 5 Indian-Americans sworn-in as members of Congress

Sealing a historic breakthrough for Indian­ .Americans, five were sworn in mis month as members of the US Congress - one of them, Kamala Hards, becoming the first to become a Senator.

Ami Bera, who was me only Indian­ American in the 435-member House of Representatives and re-elected in the November elections, was joined by tl1e four others, increasing the Indian-American contingent to five members in the Congress.

Ali five are Democrats and tliree of them - Harris, Bera and Representative Ro Khanna - are from California. The otl1er two Representatives are Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois and Pramila Jayapal from Washington state.

Harris, whose mother was from Chennai and fatlier from Jan1aica, has a dual identity as botl1 an Indian-American and an African­ American. Vice President Joseph Biden administered her the oath of office which she swore on a Bible copy held by her husband Doug Emhoff.

Afterwards her family and friends gathered around the couple in celebration.

Two of tl1em were dressed in saris, although Harris wore a two-piece western outfit in blue.

In 1956, Democrat Dalip Singh Saund became the first Indian-American elected to Congress. Forry-eight years later, Republican Piyush Bobby Jindal was elected to the House in 2004 and re-elected in 2006.

Bue in 2007 he was elected governor of Louisiana and left Congress. After a five­ year gap for Indian-Americans, Bera was elected to Congress in 2012.

Republicans have the majority in both chambers. In the House of Representatives, they have 241 seats to Democrats' 194 and Republicans control the Senate \\,ith

52 seats to die Democrats' 46 witl, two Independents allied witl, them.

Banned Indian notes with special numbers could fetch a fortune

Am.id tl1e rush among Indian expatriates who scurried home to exchange tl1e demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes before tbe December 30 deadline, a Dllbai­ based numismatist who hails from India, has advised his compatriots to "hold onto ilieir old currency notes".

"Check the serial numbecs of the currency notes. Special serial nw11 bers, fancy and royal notes could fetch several times their face value in future," tbe Khalerj Ti111es quoted numismatist Ramkumar as saying.

The collector will never make a loss, said the 36-year-old numismatist who is fond of rare notes and has been collecting them from last 15 years.

Ran11.7Jmar, who is from Chennai, said people should "treasure" currency notes of any counrry.

"How much profit one can make on tliese notes, purely depends on demand and supply.

There is worldwide demand for fancy notes," Ramkumar said.

He said that rare notes have a beautifol history and from an investment point of view they give very high returns iu long term.

Ranikurnar has a collection of royal number 000001 from LO different countries.

He also owns an old note of Rs 1,000 which was demonetised in 1978 in India under the High Denomination Bank Notes Acc. Apart from the old Rs 1,000 bank note, he also has the recently-demonetised Rs 1,000 note, and botl1 have same serial number 666666. According to him it is ''tl1e only known fancy number that survived".

His collection also includes the oldest sucviving Indian banknote, dated September 1812.

Asked about the value of sucl1 notes, Rajkumar said, ''There are a few items for which price cannot be determined, as they are eitl1er one or two that are known to exist and mere is no previous sale history of sin1ilar items to determine the value."

Solid (or continuous) serial munbers are more valuable compared to royal numbers .in bank notes.

IANS

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special feature

A Victorian farm is determined to redefine silk farming for Australia, but for now, it's wine and liqueur

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

S

ilk Estate, a beautiful two­ hectare expanse on the South Gippsland Highway, is the dream project of Sarita Kulkarni, who is determined to help Australia rediscover its long lost silk growing industry.

In a bid to showcase chat growing mulberries can be a commercially viable and sustainable crop industry, apart from its seciculrure use, Sarita began growing mulberry trees on her estate. Today, it makes for a breathtakingly beautiful sight in summer, with trees laden with thousands of sweet berries. The fruit eventually gees bottled as mulberry wine or liqueur and as pure mulberry syrup.

A native of Karnataka, Sarita arrived in MeJbourne in 1987 following her engineer husband. Armed with a Masters in Zoology (specialisation in sericulmre from Dharwad University, Karnataka), she also had ample experience teaching and working in the sericultnre industry in India.

Sarita was very passionate and ambitious about her sericulmre work, so she decided to furd,er her expertise by doing a PhD. Bue, unformnacely, Australia's silk indusrry had died long ago and no one seemed to know anyd1ing about it. Quire often, she was taunted when people responded that they knew only 'Aussie culture' and not 'sericulture'.

Noc one to accept defeat, Sarita went on to gee a second Master's degree in Applied Agriculture/Entomology from Monash University, and in 1994, began work with rne Agricultu.re Depar011enc working her way up to be a quarantine officer. It is here drnc she got the oppornuucy to work closely wirn, and understand, tl1e farming practices and industry widun Australia, also working extensively with d1e grape vine industry here.

Being knowledgeable about Australia's golden sill{ era, Sarita was positive rnac it was only a matter of time before she would find mulberry trees here. And diat opportunity came after a chance encoLmter with Monnie Fenner who used to maintain silkworms to spin silk for her weaving and craft activities. Sarita's excitement knew no bounds when she came across a nursery which ·was selling C\vo-year-old mulberry trees to the public who were interested in growing these in their backyards for the sweet fruit.

This relentless enrnusiasm and passion for her subject made her place an order for 20 mulberry trees, a personal attempt to prove that the silk industry can be revived and commercialised in chis country. This evencnally led co the Silk Estate farm, which Sarita and her family purchased in 2003 and

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where they scarred the mulberry plantation in 2005.

Sarita refused to accept the fact that silk does not fare well here as depicted in the history of Australian silk, but her repeated attempt.� to get rne universiti.es or the government interested fell on deaf ears.

Projects and smdies were taken up and discarded for the silk venture; so she decided that ic was time to showcase the versatility of mulberry as a fruit and in a different light to rne public.

In an attempt co prove that it can be a cash crop and mulberry cultivation is an organic and sustainable venture, she began to package and sell the berries co markets across Australia. While Sydney took to rnese delicious berries in a big way, Melbourne markets were a bit sceptical. And chis presented another challenge; mulberries have an extrernely shore season. Sarita was forced to research how to preserve these for longer, and this led co rne mulberry liquem, wine, syrup and jam project.

When the Silk Estate Mulberry Llqueur won a bronze award at an international wine show in 2011, Sarita knew· she was on the right path.

Today, rne liqueur and syrup is produced in small batches every year, depending on the crop, in association wim a Victorian company and is available for sale on request. A boutique product handcrafted with loving tender care, the liqueur is sweet and vibrant on the palate reminding you instantly of port w111es.

The wine makes an excellent pairing with poultry, seafood, desserts and can also be used in making cocktails. The syrup is thick and sweet from the namral sugars present in mulberries and would be an incredible addition to any baking project. ln spite of a major healtl1 set back, Sarita is still passionate about taking her sericulture work fonvard in the hope that the silk industry of Australia can be revived.

Silk Estate also grows other produce, has a small temple on site and Sarita also has plans co build a museum to educate, increase awareness and showcase her studies with silkworms. ot one to sic still, she also runs a successful business and is tl1e Quality Assurance Inspector and Entomological/ Quarantine and Sericulture Consultant at Brij BugTrap Consultancy Pty Ltd. She

also works as Community Development Officer/Trainer/Llfe coach with the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee \\?omen's Coalition (VIC & R\\'i'C). She is also a trainer wirn Learn Locals in the community in many disciplines, to keep the project afloat and viable. "l am extremely rnankful co each and every one for their effort in making this venture possible," she cold

lndia11 Link.

While the mulberry liqueur and other byproducts make excellent business sense, Sarita's real passion remains for sericulrure.

"Sericulture is a vibrant, incredible, prodigious, sustainable, environmentally friendly and miraculous commodity given co mankind by accident, which should

give our agciculmre industry a boost not only in rne wine industry, bur also in tl1e fruit, healrn, and well-being of mankind," Sarita observed, her passion for the fruit coming through clearly. "The gurus of rne sillt world once said to me when I was in rneir country, to give d1em 100 hectares of land and they will make sure chat Australia will be seen as one of the top producers in che world market of silk production. Ir is this dream that keeps me alive. One day, l wish to see the silk industry of Australia gee up on its feet again witl1 a !or of help from families, government bodies, ventnre capitalists, and many entrepreneurial dreamers \Vho have a vision and similar goal."

JANUARY 2017 19

food

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Looking to eat healthier? Add variety and taste to a gluten free diet while still enjoying your favourite meals

W

hether you are coeliac or just enjoy following a gluten free lifestyle, these recipes use fresh, wholesome ingredients and show how you can add vaciety and caste into a gluten free diet.

From the petlect savoury or sweet

uten ee

breakfast dish to a gourmet sandwich for lunch, followed by the perfect altemati\7e to fried fish and chips, this summer menu has been created by Sophie Henley of Henley's Wholefoods, using Helga's Gluten Free bread. Some of the recipes are also dairy free.

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Indulgent Gluten Free French Toast

Preparation time: 10 minutes (plus 30 minutes soaking) Cooking time: 17 minutes Serves 2 Ingredients

4 slices Helga's Gluten Free Wholemeal bread 3 eggs 1/3 cup almond milk Pinch of salt 50g walnuts 1/3 cup maple syrup, plus extra to serve 4 rindless rashers bacon (optional) 2 small bananas 1 heaped. tbsp coconut sugar

Method

Place eggs, almond milk and salt in a bowl and whisk until combined. Place bread into lamington pan or similar rectangular dish. Pour batter over

bread. Leave to sit and soak in the eggy goodness for 30 minutes, gently turning after 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 1800 Line baking tray with baking paper, scatter with walnuts and pour over maple syrup. Stir to coat nuts evenly.

Roast 12 minutes or until nuts are toasted and caramelised, stirring occasionally. Set aside. Turn off oven.

Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat.

Cook bacon 2-3 minutes each side.

Remove from pan and keep warm in oven.

Remove bread from the batter, cook both sides until golden brown. Remove from

pan.

Cut bananas in half lengthways and coat inside lengths with coconut sugar. Place in pan, sugar side down and cook until golden and sticky.

Now it's time to assemble the stack!

Layer from the bottom up: bread - bacon - banana - nuts -bread - bacon banana - nuts - then drizzle with the extra syrup to serve.

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Savoury Spic;y Beef Breakfast James Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes M'lkes 2 lafftec Ingredients

4 slices Helga's Gluten Free 5 Seeds bread 1 tbsp olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 500g beef mince ( If you don't eat beef, you can substitute another meat proten) 1 carrot, grated 2 cloves garlic, crushed 3 tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp finely grated ginger 1 -2 red chilies, finely chopped (keep seeds if like a little extra kick) 400g can diced tomatoes ¼ cup tomato paste 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves Salt, to taste Olive oil spray 2 egg yolks Baby spinach leaves

Method

Heat oil in a frying pan over a medium

20 JANUARY 2017

heat.

Add onion and cook 10 minutes, until softened, stirring occasionally.

Increase heat and add mince, carrot, garlic and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, to break up mince, until browned.

Add ginger, chilies, tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme and salt.

Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, until very thick, stirring occasionally.

Spray a jaffl e iron with olive oil spray, then preheat. Spread 1 heaped tablespoon of spicy beef over one slice of bread, make a well in the centre of the beef mixture, then carefully place an egg yolk in the well. Top with a few baby spinach leaves.

Gently cover with another bread slice.

Repeat with remaining bread.

Carefully place the two sandwiches in the jaffl e iron and spray with olive oil spray.

Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes or until bread is golden and crunchy.

Refrigerate leftover spicy beef mixture. www.indianlink.com.au

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Henley's Chicken Sandwiches

Preparation time: 35 minutes (plus overnight chilling of coconut milk and 30 minutes cooling of chicken) Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes MakP-s 24 r.ocktail sandwiches Ingredients Poached chicken 1 whole chicken 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped 1 onion, roughly chopped 1 carrot, roughly chopped 2 bay leaves 1 sprig rosemary Henley's "sour cream" 165ml can coconut milk 3 tsp lemon juice ½ tsp apple cider vinegar ¼ tsp sea salt FIiiing ¼ cup finely chopped parsley leaves 3 spring onions, finely chopped 1/3 cup slivered almonds, roasted and roughly chopped Sea salt and ground black pepper 12 slices Helga's Gluten Free Wholemeal bread Garnish 1 Lebanese cucumber, thinly sliced Torn parsley leaves

Method

Place can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight to chill.

Place chicken, peppercorns, celery, onion, carrot, bay leaves and rosemary in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Remove chicken and set aside for 30 minutes to cool.

Remove chicken from bones and skin, then shred meat with 2 forks.

Carefully turn the can of chilled coconut milk upside down, then use a can opener to remove the bottom of the can.

Drain off the liquid and scrape the thick coconut cream into a bowl. You should have about 1/3 cup coconut cream.

Add the lemon juice, vinegar and sea salt. Stir until smooth.

Combine 2 cups chicken, Henley's "sour cream", parsley, spring onions and slivered almonds into large bowl, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.

Evenly spread filling over 6 of the bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices and press down gently. Cut each sandwich into 4 squares. Top each square with a slice of cucumber and garnish with parsley.

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Wholesome Crusted Flathead

Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 22 minutes c;.iP-,VP-c:. 4-6 Ingredients

5 slices Helga's Gluten Free Sunflower & Red Quinoa bread 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil ½ cup chopped parsley leaves 1 long chilli, finely chopped (remove and discard seeds) 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/3 cup pine nuts Sea salt and ground black pepper 750g fl athead fillets, halved if large Olive oil spray Quick lemon mayonnaise 2 egg yolks, at room temperature ¼ tsp sea salt 1 tsp Dijon style mustard 1 tbsp lemon juice 100ml vegetable oil 100ml extra virgin olive oil To serve Lemon wedges Sweet potato chips Green salad

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Method

Preheat oven to 180C. Tear bread into rough pieces and place on a large baking tray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and toss to coat. Bake 12 minutes or until toasted.

Place bread pieces in a food processor along with parsley, chilli, garlic, pine nuts, salt and pepper and the remaining olive oil, and process into rough crumbs.

Line the oven tray with baking paper and place fl athead fillets onto the paper. Evenly pile and compress the breadcrumb mixture on top of fillets.

Spray with olive oil. Bake 10 minutes or until fl esh is just cooked through and crust has browned.

Meanwhile, to make lemon mayonnaise, place egg yolks, salt, mustard and lemon juice in a tall jug. Combine oils and pour on top of egg yolks. Place a stick blender into the bottom of the jug. Blend for 10 seconds, then slowly draw the stick blender up, thus pushing remaining oil into the emulsion. Season with extra lemon juice, mustard and salt, to taste.

Serve fi sh with lemon mayonnaise, sweet potato chips and a green salad.

JANUARY 2017 21

travel

C

,, Every ancient wall in Xian l'eminds one of Xuanzhang, the gl'eat medieval traveller and Buddhist scholar who came to India dul"ing the reign of King Harsha , ,

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

hina roday is full of travellers fron 1 different parts of the world. .

Although our tour covered . . four cities, it is the city of Xi'an that left the greatest imprint.

Modern Xian is a large city and the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China. Once known as Chang'an (Eternal Peace), it is full of symbolism: it is where the great Silk Road began; it was the Old Tang dynasty capital, and capital of the Zhou, Qin, [-Ian and Tang dynasties and for many centuries, the centre of the Chinese Empire. lt was not without s.ignificance that Indian Prime Minister Modi met the Chinese President here in May, 2015. President Xi Jinping travelled to Xian to welcome Modi - the first time he has done so. It is very rare for Chinese leaders to accompany foreign guests outside Beijing. Xian also happens to be Xi's hometown.

Modern China is now reviving the concept of the Silk Route and has also Aoated the idea of a Maritime Silk Road (MSR) as an expression of its aspiration to develop a string of ports and coastal economic hubs along its maritime trading routes. This encompasses d1e One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at its core. The success of this vision would allow China co gate-crash as a powerful rule-maker of international trade and comrnerce, and is central to Beijing's rise as a mature global power. Xian is borh the centre of ancient China and the harbinger of a new, inAuential and powerful China as a world power.

22 JANUARY 2017

H.isroric Xian has three great sights to offer: The Old City Wall and d1e Palace; the '\Xlild Goose Pagoda and the famous Terracotta \Warriors.

Xian City \Xlall and the Old Palace are quite impressive. Once a sophisticated defence system protecting China's ancient capital, Xia.n's 637-year old l\ilin g dynasty city wall is now the only complete wall fortification left in China. After d1e establishment of me Ming dynasty in the 14"' century, Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor, began to enlarge the waU built initially during the old Tang Dynasty (618 907), creating the modern Xian City Wall.

The Soud1 Gate of the City Wall is the impressive Zhu Que gateway, where distinguished guests were once greeted and welcomed in times of yore. Reading the signs and placards in me Old Pa.lace, I in1agined how in 645AD, when the great Xuanzha.ng returned to Chang J\n after an arduous seventeen-year journey to India via the ancient Silk Road, he would have been warmly greeted at d1ar very spot by the Tang dynasty chancellor Fang Xuanling.

Today, you can rent bicycles and go riding

along the wall, and the view of the city from the cop of the waU is quite impressive.

Although Xian is apparently only a 'second tier' city, with a population o f abour 14 million, it has a large airport, wide roads, parks, shops and boasts several Indian restaurants as well. Since me discovery of d1e Terracotta Warriors, it has become a popular tourist destination.

To the history buff, Xian has several tales co tell, and every ancient wall in Xian reminds one of Xuanzhang, the great medieval traveller and Buddhist scholar who came to India during the reign of King Harsha.

For d1ose uninitiated, Xuanzhang started off from Chang'an (ancient Xian), along the Silk Road in 629, in defiance of the Tang Emperor's ban on travel. Helped by sympathetic Buddhists, he travelled via Kumu� following the Tian Shan mountains to Tmpa.n. He d1en crossed what ate today Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, imo Gandha.ra (modern Kandahar), reaching India in 630 AD. Xuanzhang travelled throughout the Indian subcontinent for me next thirteen years, visiting important Buddhist pilgrimage sires, studying at the ancient university at alanda., and debating the rivals of Buddhism.

After returning to China and having obtained permission from d1e Emperor Gaozong (628-683), Xuanzhang, established the Daci'en monastery and, as the first

abbot of the Daci'en Temple, supervised the building of a pagoda inside.

One of d1e pagoda's many funcrions was to hold the Sutras and relics of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by Xuanzhang. With the support of royalty, he asked 50 'hierarchs' in the temple co translate Sanskrit sutras into Chinese, totalling '] ,335 volum es!

Even today, this World Heritage Listed temple contains practising Buddhists in me monastery.

The now-famous Terracotta Warriors of Xian is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. They are the thousands of life-size, hand-moulded figures which were buried wid1 China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. 111e Terracotta Warriors and Horses are me most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at d1is site, ,vhich is around 1.5 kilometres east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum in Lintong, a few kilometres from Xian. Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later d1e first Emperor of all China, had begun to work on his own mausoleum. lt took him ' I 1 years to finish me project.

Each soldier looks different, and for rourists, there is the mandatory visit to me site where mey demonstrate how the figures were made and many shopping opportunities!

Modern Xian has excellent infrastructure, wid1 a very modern airport, train station, wide boulevards, stately buildings, good public transport, and several Indian restaura.n ts as well!

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JANUARY 2017 23

MATRIMONIALS SEEKING BRIDES

Match required for a well-established actuarist, handsome, Hindu/Pm1jabi boy, 6ft 3in, 35 years old, slim, fair. Citizen of Australia and UK. Looking for beautiful, tall, fair, educated girl from a cultured farnil)'- Caste No Bar. Respond with phoco and profile to puran@ prasand.com.au or call +61 412 563 757 Hindu Punjabi p:trents looking for a suitable match fo.r their son, 26, based in Sydney, with good mix of Indian and modern values, graduated from a reputed Australian university with first class honours, well setded and working with consulting company. We prefer graduates. Email: jvaid312@gmaiJ.com.

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foretell PREDICTIONS FOR JAN 2017

BY NANCY JADE ALTHEA

------------------------------------ARIES March 21 - Apri l 19 Things have been a little unsettled for you of late. The cards are indicating a time when you will be trying to sort out matters from the past. There will be some financial issues to organise and there will be new opportunities to bring in funds. There will be some unsettling discussions around family relationships. Try to keep calm and positive. You will be thinking of moving to another area, and will be making plans for the coming months.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 This month you will be looking a t new opportunities and making plans to climb higher up the corporate ladder. The cards are indicating a time when you will be concentrating on finances, your career and progression. Romantically, you will be wanting movement within a relationship or someone you like. You will plan a holiday and there will be some good news regarding tests you have had recently.

There will be a great feeling of energy and determination around you this month.

GEMINI May 21 - J u ne 20 You have started the year feeling slightly tired and under the weather.

It would be a good idea to look at your diet and start eating more fresh food. There is a feeling of optimism when you and your partner start sorting out your relationship which has been a little stressful of late. The cards indicate you will be doing well financially and at work.

You may decide to buy a new car and help a friend in trouble.

CANCER J u ne 21 - J u ly 20 There may be some re-organisation at work and you may be asked to take on more responsibility this month. This will come with benefits and might well lead to a promotion. The cards are indicating you will be feeling a little restless in your relationships.

You need to start relaxing more and communicating better with your partner. There will be some interesting revelations with regard to a matter that has been bothering you for a while to do with the family.

LEO J u ly 21 - Aug 22 �-��yr.1 You need to keep an eye on your health this month as there may be some ups and downs. The cards are indicating you may be thinking about moving to a new career. Take some time out and decide what you would like to do. There will be some interesting developments in the love area of your life and you will be feeling quite content. Take time out to go for walks and get some exercise included into your routine.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 A very passionate and fiery month will be enjoyed between you and your partner. There will be some discussions with regard to where and when your next vacation will be. There is some important paperwork that you need to sort out. Make sure that your car is checked at the mechanic. The cards are indicating you will have a .,. hectic and productive time. There will be a lot going on, but progress in business and finances is expected this month.

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LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22 As usual, you will have started this year with a lot of thinking and planning. You will be making sure you have arranged your next holiday, finances and affairs. The cards are indicating you will be able to take hold of opportunities with success and ease. There will be some interesting developments with an old friend you have reconnected with. Your partner may not be feeling very well, so it is a good time to go on that much needed break together.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - N ov 21 This month you will feel passionate, renewed and full o f energy.

You will be feeling extremely loving and highly sensual. The cards are indicating you will want your love life to be sorted out and contentment to prevail. There will be successful negotiations at work and you will be able to obtain what you desire most. It will be a month of kindness and excessiveness at times. You will have to exercise restraint and make sure you do not spend unnecessarily.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 You will be making some important resolutions with regard to your relationship this month. You may also have to make some difficult decisions with regard to financial aspects of the relationship. You have been working very hard lately and you will be at the point of feeling that you efforts are going unnoticed. The cards are indicating a time when you will speak up and get what you desire and deserve. A good time to meditate on your issues.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19 This month you will be deciding what you would like to do with regard to your career. You have a mindful of ideas and plans.

There will be some dizzy spells of excitement and your head will be spinning. In your love life, you may be heading towards a more settled, committed phase of your union. The cards are indicating you need to think about your health more. Plan to walk and take some outdoor holidays to revive your motivation.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 This month will start with bold plans and decisions. Your current job is very busy and hectic. There will be new superiors hired and there may be some upset around the workplace. Ideas and plans may be a little muddled but there is an indication that things will settle down. Finances will be healthy. The cards are indicating a time when you will want to get back in touch with people from the past and start the year with positive energy.

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20 You may be feeling a little up and down with your moods this month. There will be definite plans with regard to career and relationships, and you are determined to make everything work just how you want it to. There may be confl icts with colleagues as you're not in the mood for soft words. You need to get your point across and you know how to do it. You need to look after your spending and not exceed your limits.

JANUARY 2017 25

entertainment ■

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .- - - - - - - - .- - - - -

....

DANGAL

STARRING: Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra DIRECTOR: Nitesh Tiwari

,\

There are outstanding films. Then there is Dangat. A film so rich in the fl avours of home-grown emotions you feel you are floating in a field of aromatic sensation for close to three hours without feeling manipulated. You come away from this experience so moved and so much wiser that you wonder why cinema can't be so rewarding more often.

But then again, if every other fiIm was a Dangal how would we know the difference?

There I go, raving about a film which, let me state right away, will be remembered by posterity as one of the landmarks of Indian cinema in the same breath as, say Mother India, Sholay or Lagaan. Yes, Dangal has that kind of an impact. Not because it has anything new to say. On the surface it is another

rags-to-riches sports film where a girl, Geeta Phogat, from a small dusty town of Haryana brings the gold medal in wrestling to India.

No. It is not the theme. It's in the heartbreaking directness and artlessness, the absolute absence of artifice, in the narrative that we discover that mysterious oft-abused entity known as the Real India. These are places and people with real dreams and ambitions.

These are characters whom we live with, sometimes within ourselves. It takes a Mahavir Singh Phogat and his mulish obstinacy to pull India's perverse patriarchy dragging kicking and screaming out of its heavily cordoned lair and to say, enough is enough.

It takes an Aamir Khan to bulk up to the extent of looking like a tired but undefeated has-been to play the I wrestler whose determination saw his daughters break through the masculine bastion of wrestling to prove women can do anything men can. Aamir lives the role of Phogat, sternly manoeuvring

Know Thysel s S ul

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.

in the expansive script, this is clearly the other elder daughter Geeta' s story, her blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with her father and her ultimate triumph in the wrestling ring. Aamir and Zarina Wasim/Fatima Sana Shaikh (the two girls who play Geeta) play against each other with vivacious credibility. While we watch Geeta wrestle her way to the gold medal - and she fights her opponents in the wrestling ring like a true pro - we also watch Geeta and her father wrestle in ways that are not manifested physically.

Geeta's change as she becomes famous is mapped with no judgmental regret. This is not a film that wastes time trying to slot judge or condemn human failings. It breathes with the characters and lets them exhale at their own will.

That is the real beauty of Dangal. It is what it is not because it tries to be great. but because the story it has to tell is effortlessly ensconced in excellence.

Director Nitish Tiwari simply plucks the fruits of a tree whose roots go deep into our culture penetrating societal biases towards the girl child, with a cluck of the tongue that is barely audible.

The climactic wrestling bout shot with adrenaline-pumping immediacy could have avoided reducing Geeta's coach to a scheming villain. Neither the film nor Aamir's timeless portrayal of Mahavir Phogat needed to be propped up and peppered with scriptural spice.

Dangal has no patience with judgement values. It is so precious and so valuable because it lets us look at home-truths with wisdom rather than cunning. This film will be remembered by posterity as one of the landmarks of Indian cinema, not because it tries to be one.

Thank you Geeta Phogat, Nitesh Tiwari, Aamir Khan. India is proud of you.

Phogat's sake, Dangal must be watched.

Subhash K. Jha

Kenyan of South Asian background? _ esea c studv see ·s particip ts Are you from Kenya, East Africa? Did you arrive on a skilled worker visa or other category? Would you be willing to share your experiences in Austrnlia? If you have answered yes to the three questions, then you are invited to participate in a research study that explores yom career experiences as a skilled migrant and how you pursued

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Participation is voluntary and involves face to face or telephone interviews. The

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26 JANUARY 2017

his daughters' destiny to a glory denied to a lot of women in this country. ls this his best performance? Can't say whatever he has done earlier pales into insignificance.

Significantly, Dangal doesn't play the feminist card at all. There are no speeches tirades and pushy homilies on feminism. The men in fact are not shown to be excessively sexist for the sake of aggrandising the dramatic impact of girls' ultimate victory. While Aamir plays the epitome of gender equality, Aparshakti Khurrana who plays Geeta and Babita Phogat's goofy kind-hearted cousin is a feminist even without knowing what the word means.

No one in the cast and crew - not even the eternal attention-seeker Aamir Khan and not Sethu Sriram's cinematography - seeks attention here. Not even when fighting so ferociously in the wrestling akhaada. These people do what they have to. They fight inner and outer adversaries because - well, they are there and they must be fought.

Danga/ neatly and nimbly avoids all classifications and isms and emerges as one of the strongest cinematic statements on women's empowerment in recent times. The performances go a long way in imbuing a sense of unrehearsed classicism to the simple tale of a simple father who lives out his sporting dreams through his daughters.

As simple as that.

And such doughty daughters! The two sets of actresses who play the younger and older versions of Geeta and Babita Phogat are so liberating in their spontaneity that they at some point, cease to draw attention to their skills at character assumption and simply invite us to follow the girls' journey to victory.

While the younger Phogat daughter Babita, played ably by Suhani Bhatnagar and Sanya Malhotra, does have her say

interview process will be totally confidential and you will not be identified in any way in the final document. If you do decide to volunteer and share your exper iences, please contact the principal researcher Khalida Malik, PhD candidate from Western Sydney University, 011 the email 9161730 !@student.westemsydney.edu.au for further infonnation.

This .fllll(11 has been apprr>1· ed by the Western Sydney Unil'ersit_v. The approval number is HI1832.

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

DEV PATEL: SEXIEST MAN ALIVE?

O M PU R I : AN ACTOR FO R ALL S EASONS

H

is craggy, pockmarked but distinctive face may have kept him from becoming a leading man in films, but Om Puri used the remarkable range of expressions he could convey, from impotent rage to blazing menace to comic exasperation, along with his trademark baritone, to play some immortal roles on the big and small screen in India and abroad.

The true tribute to any actor is in remembering some of their performances and for Om Puri, who succumbed to a sudden heart attack this month, there is no shortage of roles, big or small, heroic, comic or villainous, in masala or art films to recall his skill.

Will we remember him for his depiction of the victimised tribal of Aakrosh (1980), conveying his anguished helplessness by facial expressions till the very last shocking scene when he finally opens his mouth in a loud protest, the hapless policeman in Ardh Satya (1982), the enthusiastic poetry-lover in In Custody/ Muhafiz (1993) or sinister terrorist Sanatan in Maachis (1996).

Or will we prefer to remember him in another light, as suspicious secretary Banwari Lal in Chachi 420 (1998), the jovial and kind but dutiful Inspector Khan in Pyar To Hona Hi Tha (1997) or determined Inspector Udham Singh in Gupt (1997). Then there is also his portrayal of British-Pakistani George Khan, who is loving but can be authoritarian and abusive towards his mixed family in East Is East (1999).

And let us not forget two cameos where he well marked his presence - Nahari, the unrepentant rioter in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), and as Gen Zia ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson's War (2007), which shows how the Americans began their slide into the Afghan quagmire.

Vikas Datta

28 JANUARY 2017

Popular American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres thinks Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel should be named the sexiest man alive.

Dev appeared on The Ellen OeGeneres Show recently to promote his film Lion, and DeGeneres encouraged him to start a campaign for "Sexiest Man Alive".

"Because you look so good, and people are saying you look buff and everything, I had this made for you," DeGeneres told Dev before presenting the 26-year-old actor with a fake magazine cover of him as People's annual hot man honouree.

"You can hand this out, it'll help your career" Patel responded, "I'll give it to my mom, she'll put it at the entrance to her house."

"This is very awkward," he went on, leading DeGeneres to quip, "You don't understand Hollywood."

Awww, simple, lovable Dev! Meanwhile, Ellen is making many new Indian friends. Recall how well she got on with Priyanka Chopra not so long ago? She had PeeCee downing vodka shots one after the other (in an obvious send up of apni Priyanka's vodka confessions at a red carpet just prior).

And if news is to be believed, Ellen has signed Deepika Padukone to appear on her show, in the lead up to the release of xXx: Return of Xander Cage.

Vodka for Priyanka, People magazine cover for Dev... wonder what Ellen has in store for Dippy? Need any help there, Ellen? How about good looking boys names Ranbir, Ranveer, Ranvir maybe... ? Just a suggestion!

Dev, PeeCee, Dippy, we can't wait to see you in your new films.

And on more TV talk shows!

IT'S A TOILET BREAK FOR BHUMI PEDNEKAR

Her first film Oum Laga Ke Haisha contained the message that over-sized women are not at a disadvantage as long as there is love.

Bhumi Pednekar's second film too has a societal message. It's about... toilets? No, it's a love story. Heck, no, it's a love story set in a toilet. No, no, no, it's a story where toilets fall in love.

Excuse our confusion. But the film­ makers are not telling us much about the film other than the fact that it's called Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Now you understand our foggy minds...

The 27-year-old actor said the film isn't preachy.

"It is a beautiful love story that taps into aspects of our society as well," she noted.

While it is quite apparent from the title that the film is about personal hygiene, the producers are keeping the storyline close to their chests to retain interest in the movie that is set to release in June. Akshay Kumar stars alongside Bhumi.

Bhumi is more than happy about Bollywood making message-based films and says cinema is the easiest way to communicate with the people.

"I feel that today's people, audiences and filmmakers, we all have become very aware of the problems and the situations that we have around us," she remarked. "Earlier, we were in a position to ignore them but I think we have now reached a point where we cannot ignore certain things and I think that's fantastic. Cinema is the largest and the easiest way to communicate with the masses and if you can put it to good use, then why not."

She went on, "What attracts me is real stories about real Indian girls."

You go, girl!

Bhumi, who before entering the world of films was a casting director, considers herself to be lucky for bagging realistic roles.

"I think I have been really lucky that I have been getting roles where I can play the girl-next-door or a girl... My roles are not similar at all," she said.

Oum Laga Ke Haisha came in 2015 and Bhumi's next film is all set to release in June 2017.

Will the time gap help her build a new image?

"The time I took off was planned because I had to come back to being Bhumi (my natural self) and it took me this much time. I had gained an insane amount of weight for the film and I had to drop it off," she explained.

WHEN PRIYANKA GLITTERED IN GOLD

Priyanka Chopra made a glittering statement at the Golden Globe Awards in her custom-made Ralph Lauren golden gown.

Priyanka's outfit was described as 'one-of-a-kind hand-embroidered evening dress' by the official Twitter handle of the designer brand.

In a candid confession to IANS before the 74th edition of the award gala, www.indianlink.com.au

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Priyanka had said that she likes to have a "fun on red carpet as I meet people I work with. It's fun time for me."

Bollywood's 'desi girl' made her debut appearance at the Golden Globe Awards, which recognise excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign, to present the award for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama. She was joined by Hollywood actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan. She gave away the trophy to Billy Bob Thornton for his role in Goliath.

Colleagues Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson certainly liked her look.

"Bad is an understatement. Why I love her! Stunning tonight. Being 'Baywatch' Golden Globes," Johnson tweeted.

"Congrats Priyanka! Teams killin it tonight! You look beautiful! 'Baywatch' babe," Efron tweeted.

Many back home complain that most Indian celebrities opt for international labels for their red carpet appearances.

Does Priyanka feel such comments are justified?

"I think people wear clothes that work for an event. I have worn Indian designers internationally, and vice versa. There is no harm in it as clothes are clothes. People should wear what they feel like wearing," Priyanka said.

AUSSIE HOLIDAY FOR BIPS

Bipasha Basu was in Australia recently and on extended honeymoon with her

bridegroom Karan Singh Grover. Sydney and the Gold Coast featured on their itinerary, with the loved up duo bringing in the New Year in Sydney, an arms' length away from the world-famous fireworks on the harbour. The bubbly actor tweeted pies of herself and her miyan at the Opera House forecourt, at Pitt St Mall, in Myer in the city, on a boat in Sydney Harbour, fish and chips at Watson's Bay, in Leura in the Blue Mountains, beach-bumming, at various restaurants... all accompanied by the hashtag aussiemonkeys.

On ya, Bipasha!

WORTH WAITING FOR? YOU DECIDE!

Ohhhhh, here's another unfortunately named film: Haramkhor, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shweta Tripathi.

Shweta (of Masaan fame) has been gushing all over the place about her talented colleague.

"At first, I was worried sharing screen with an actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui because he is a remarkable actor and an outstanding person," she said recently. "(But) he didn't make me feel like a newcomer. Nawazuddin brings himself down to match the level. I felt as though I was working with an actor who has same experience like me.

WHO WORE IT BETTER? KATIE STEVENS or MALAIKA ARORA KHAN in ZEYNAP ERDOGAN?

+

Share your views with us on our Facebook page /lndianLinkAustra/ia

INDIANLINK

That's why I respect him so much. I don't know anybody who does that. He gives space to another co-star."

Er, okay.

Shot in a small village in Gujarat, the film explores the romance between a 14-year-old school student and her teacher.

The main characters of the film are the teacher, the student, a boy who has a crush on the girl and his friend who helps him and the teacher's wife.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan is headed to Morocco with former squeeze Katrina Kaif, for director Ali Abbas Zaffar's Tiger Zinda Hai, a sequel to 2012 blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger.

Zaffar is currently busy scouting locations in Morocco.

Produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, the film is gearing up for a Christmas release this year.

What's the chitchat between LION stars DEV PATEL and SONNY PAWAR Send in your responses to win@indianlink.com.au and win a surprise prize

WHAT TWEETY BIRD TOLD US THIS WEEK

Match the stars to the following tweets Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Karan Johar, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar Sometimes too many options aren't a good thing... #GoldenGlobes #GirlProblems ... suggestions?

The Sunday well wishers ... always an occasion to consider that life is worth what it gave me ...

Jaan se #Zaalima tak.... Hope you all like it!

Joining hands on a project where @ akshaykumar is the hero and will be co produced by @karanjohar and #SKF Here it is... #GoPagal with our first song, my favourite song from #JollyLLB2!!

Cried my heart out in #LION ....and absolutely loved #DevPatel ....sad and cathartic ....but so magical in many moments....

Thrilled to announce that #XxX:TheReturnofXanderCage will release in India first! before anywhere else in the world! #14thJanuary #VinDiesel

What's the chitchat between AKSHAY KUMAR and SAJID NADIADWALA during their grand entry to the set of Yaaron Ki Baraat Everybody get ready for Houseful/ 4!

SIMONE SI NGH, Werribee, VIC wins a ticket to OK JANU

JANUARY 2017 29

backchat

o ern famil The in an e ition ■ ■

■

What'sApp-ening on your online family group? Can you identify your electronic parivaar here

The Famil� Gang

Bondin g FiGood Ti.m·esy 1es Stron Ties g

Happy Ho�l!US Q People world

BY SANAM SHARMA

A

big part of the Indian social fabric are the rishtedaars (relatives). 1n India, one grows up on an overdose of 'relatives', sometimes those you're not even really related to, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are the nice ones with whom you seem to spend your cwo­ month-long summer vacations each year.

There are the not-so-nice ones, who you try, usuallr unsuccessfuli)', to avoid. There are the ones \vho are only concerned abom che exam grades scored by the other kids in the family (aapkc bache ke kitne m11J1ber ac!)'C types).

And the competitive ones who are always there to outdo you in everything - but with

30 JANUARY 2017

a charming smile, of course.

Family gatherings, birthdays and ,veddings have traclitionally been the bonding grounds for the tribe. It is during these occasions that all the relatives in the khandaan (clan) come together over a hearty mix of celebrations, feasting, and gossip (in no particular order).

However, with the advent of social media, the Indian 1ishtedcJaris have moved online. Facebook and WhatsApp are the two most conm1on platforms where modern lnclian families play out d1eir e.xtended social scene. Social meclia has brought families closer, especially the Indian ones. Relatives who used to catch up and converse maybe annually now ping each od1er 'round the clock.

With this online migration of India's extended families, the Indian 1ishtedaari. etiguette seems co have seamlessly transitioned into the World Wide Web. Internal family politics, gossip, jealousies, disputes and grudges all seem co have

adopted an online avatar. For those 'good' relatives, social media is a great forum co keep a tab on the welfare of the extended family. For d10se borderline to mischievous risbtedaars, Facebook and WhatsApp are potent cools to dish out concealed sarcasm and sometimes, not so concealed outrage.

There has never been a better time to be a sp)' in the Inclian extended family.

Just 'friend' d1e entire clan online and d1en peacefully sit back, with a drink in hand, and scroll mrough your Facebook tirneline at leisure. In no time, you will have enough verifiable data to come up with educated conclusions about the break-ups, link-ups, factions and frictions within your kba11daa,1. Gossip and glory of the entire famil)7 at your fingertips, ready co unleash at d1e slightest trigger. It is die Wikileaks eguivalem of the on.line desi.

WhatsApp and Facebook also cater for those who fancy keeping a grudge going.

Drop in a subtle hint of displeasure and \mfriend' a 1isbtedaar on Facebook, or leave a

family group on \X/hatsApp. Tius will get the entire fan1ily talking. Group speculation will give war to one-on-one messages, debating the cause of your discontent while soliciting ways co bring you back into the family fold.

Some may even be courageous (or stupid) enough to message you directly - either to discreetly share d1eir displeasure with the family as well, or co cry and plead a case for you to re-join the electr01uc pe11ivacJr. Then there are d1e online passive­ aggressive relatives. They resort co creative status updates which are adeguately vague enough to give away identities, yet keep tbe rest of the clan guessing about who's d1e target of meir rams. The ones in the family who are most boggled by such updates are bound to reacl1 out and probe for further clarification (if only to rule themselves out).

Last but not d1e least, if you claim to be a writer, you mar end up getting yourself thrown out of d1e online family network for writing such a piece. You know, kbcmdacm k.a naam hadnaal/l karue ke ljye!

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RAL AN Elect WESTERN AUST

March 11 State Election

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On Saturday, March 11, 2017 a state election will be

You can do this online at elections.wa.gov.au/enrol

held in Western Australia and voting is your right

- but you must complete your enrolment application

and your responsibil ity.

before 6pm on Thursday, February 9.

If you are 18 years or over, an Australian citizen,

For more information visit elections.wa.gov.au

and have lived in the same district for one month

or call the election line on 13 63 06.

or longer, you are required to enrol and vote.

It's your future - don't miss the vote.

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