2017-02 Sydney (1)

ISAMUST.

Enjoying the occasion is natural and mandatory at weddings hosted by us. When all detailsbig and small - are looked after. When both families know their biggest occasion is in good hands. When guests declare they've never eaten so well or danced so much in their lives.

That's when you know you're at a wedding hosted by Manjit's Total Event Management. Probably, the only reason to cry would be having to go home in the end.

Strength in diversity

doorsfurtherdividesUS.Lee'sall6.nd waystoconnectpeople,notseparate them. otallowingcountriesorrefugees incoAmericaisnotright,andwemust standwiththosewhoareaffected."

policies,i\,frTurnbullbasshownaside ofhimselfwhichisdisappointing.

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

Airportsandstreetsaround theUnitedScateshavebeen filledwithprotestorsshowing theirangeragainstPresident Trump'sexecutiveorderbanningpeople fromcertaincouncriesfromtravelling toAmerica.Unleasbmgchaosand outrage,thisexecutiveorderhasbeen condemnedforwhatitis-xenophobic, meanspiritedandracist.

\Vhiletheinternationalcommunity basexpressedshock,therehasbeen deafeningsilence,strangely,fromthe Australiangovernment.j\{oreontbat later.

Whatishearteningtonoteisbow thecorporateworldbasreactedtothe situation.Whetherdrivenbyhrn11anitarian concernsortheneedforopenglobal boundaries,anumberofcorporateshave reachedouttocountertheexecutiveorder.

Starbuckshassaidthatitwillrure 10,000refugeesovertbenextfiveyearsas theirwaytoallowforbestopportunities fornewmigrants.Airbnbsaidsoon aftertheTrumpannouncementthatit willprovidefreehousingtoanyoneleft strandedbytheban.Itsco-founderand chiefexecutiveBrianCheskysaid,"Open doorsbrings allofUStogether.Closing

Othertechnology-centriccompanies whichhavealargenumberofmigrant employeesalsoweighedin.AppleCEO TimCookstatedthatApplewouldnot existwitboutin1migration.JeffBezos, Amazon'schiefexecutivesaid,''We're anationofimmigrantswhosediverse backgrounds,ideasandpointsofview havehelpedusbuildandinventusasa nationforover240years."

NetflixcondemnedthePresident's'unAmerican'actions.

GooglecofounderSergeyBrinwas attheSanFranciscoairportprotest, "becauseI'marefugee",whileCEO SunderPichaijoinedtheocheremployees intheirprotest

GoldmanSachs,21stCenruryFoxand JPMorganalsovoicedtheiroppositionto thistra\7elban.

Irisattimesofcrisislikethesethat trueleadershipisshown.Corporate Americaisvociferouslyfightingbackand addingitsmightbehindprorestsaround rbecountry.

Whathasbeenshockingisthe Australiangovernment'scomplete silenceontheissue.PrimeMinister l\fakolmTurnbuUbasrefusedto condemnorspeakouragainstthe injusticeofthisracistorder.Hiding behindtheguiseofnorwanringto interfereinanothercountry'sdomestic

OcherworldleaderssuchasBritish PrimeJ\i(inisterTheresaMay,French PresidentFrancoisHolla.ndeandGerman ChancellorAngelaMerkelhaveallspoken outagainstj\,frTnunp'sclampdown, whileCanadianPrimel'vli.t:i.iscer JustinTrudeauhassaidhiscountrywould welcomerefugees.

Herewasachancetoreassure

Australia,acountryofmigrants,about theimportanceofdiversity.\Vasn'tit onlydaysagothatourPrimeMinster hadwaxedlyricalonchisverytopic?

OnAustraliaDay,Turnbullhadsaid, "OurFirstAustralianshave theoldest continuoushumancultureonearthand itenricl1esusall.Asdotheculturesof allourmigrant.�fromeverycornerof theworld.EachnewAustralianadds anotherthreadroournationaltapestry, magnilicentinitsdiversityandthe mostsuccessfulmulticulturalsociety intheworld.'\'Qecomefromnearly 200countriesofallfaiths,culrnresand backgrounds.Andyetinaworldwhere conflictandintoleranceseemmore intractablethanever,welivetogetherin peace (Our)strongsenseofjustice springs fromthesolidarity,themutual respectandmareshiptbacbindsus togetherinourdiversity.Togetherwe havebuilt-aremarkablenation."

Greatspeechthen,M:rTurnbull,but whenitcametospeakingupagainsta xenophobicPresident,youleeusdown badly.

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YOURSAY

DECOLONISING OURARTS AND MINDS

It's time the Indian community acknowledged First Peoples' ownership of the land, and decolonised our perspective on arts practice, wrote APARNA ANANTHUNI

FootscrayArts @Footscrayarts tweeted: 'Decolonising our arts and minds' a reflection on @Arts_Front held at FCAC last Nov

Arts Front @Arts_Front tweeted: It istime to envision a new future for the arts in Australia. A decolonised future @indian_link

THE CURSE OF THEMILLENNIALS

Gen Y aren'tlazy, they'redisadvantaged by the system, wrote SARGUN BHATIA

CulturalPerspectlves @CPerspectives tweeted: Agree - Millennials face societal stereotypes and over expectations in the work force today (Turn to page 12 formore about the great work our youth are involved in)

HELPING PEOPLE TURNTHEIRLIVESAROUND

PARAMVIR 'SINGHY'CHHATWAL talked to us about his work as a Custodial Officer

Justice NSW @NSWJustice tweeted: Paramvir Chhatwal saysworking for Corrective Services as a newly arrived migrant has been a rewarding experience

STRENGTH INDIVERSITY

When it came to speaking up against a xenophobic US President, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Jet us down badly, wrote PAWAN LUTHRA Krishna wrote: Turnbull is looking out for himself, wary of the Hansonites who have found a friendly voice in the world's most powerful off ce. Not just the extreme voices. I was surprised to see how many Indians made apologist noises supporting the travel ban ranging from the tame 'it's their right' to the outrageous 'India should do this too. See how Assam and Bengal are filled with refugees'. There is an urgent need to forcefully spank everyone who equates refugeeswith terrorists, or we are allgoing to hell for inaction!

SAYIT AGAIN

"I'm sure Dr Gondane will feel at home here in Sydney. We have Bangalore traffic, Mumbai house prices and Delhi bureaucracy."

BarryO'Farrellwelcoming HighCommissionerDrAM Gondane

RIPBHAVITA

Bhavita Patel, 33, has been named as the sixth victim of the Bourke Street incident. She died on 30January when her family decided to turn offher life support after she was injured in the 20January attack. Young mother and IT consultant Nethra Krishnamurthy is still recovering after the attack.

Smlta Sharma wrote: May your soul rest in peace. You are in a better place now.

Nandlta Bajaj wrote: Rest in Peace Bhavita, condolences to her family.

Anll Singh wrote: Very tragic event, deep sorrow.

Nallnl Singh wrote: Sad day for all Australians. RIP.

'THERE ISNO GODHIGHERTHANTRUTH'

Each year on 30January, India observes Martyrs' Day in honour of the anniversary of the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi in 1948.

Krlsh Na wrote: Gandhiji fought for the dignity of the most vulnerable people in society. He is sorely missed these days when even children running from certain death have become pariahs for the rest of the world!

"Australian politicians treat black and brown people like Pokemon cards, trying to trade them to other countries."

L-FRESHTheLIONon

BarryO'FarrellatAIBC

Australia'sasylumseeker policies

"Here's another thing common between India and Australia: the length of our main rivers, the Ganges and the Murray."

GENERAL PRACTICE ASWELL AS SOCIALWORK

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA spoke with Australia Day honouree Dr Purushottam Sawrikar OAM

Avlnash Kanetkar wrote: Well done!

SangeetaSharma wrote: Congratulations Dr Sawrikar

AnitaPlayoust wrote: Congratulations!

Kasturl Kalmath wrote: Congratulations Dr Sawrikar! Well deserved Kalyan Ram wrote: Dear Dr Sawrikar, my personal congratulations to you on the honour you have received. I am equally impressed with the work you have been involved with in the social sector for the community in general and our migrants in particular. I am keen to speak withyou about your interest in the area of aged care.

RECONSIDERYOUR DECISION, MELTONCHRISTIANCOLLEGE

RAJN/ ANAND LUTHRA reported on a Sikh boy denied enrolment at a Melbourne school for wearing the turban

Bastian Gianino wrote: The school has the right to enforce its uniform policies.These rules are for everyone who attends thatschool, those are the uniform rules; the boys at this school are not allowed to have their hair long or deviate from the standard uniform, i.e. wear differentcolouredsocks that are not in accordance with their dress code. This is a private Christian school and we too must respect their rules if we wish for our children to attend that school.

I am sure that there are a lot of suitable schools in the area which do not have a strict dress code so that you wouldn't have to compromise your religious beliefs, but having said that if a Christian child wanted to attend a school of a different faith and didn't, or couldn't, comply with the dress code of that school due to faith I am sure the outcome would be the same. If you want people to respect your religious beliefs, you too have to respect theirs. Babu wrote: Come on, this is Australia - a land of freedom of choices! A dominant section of our population that is of European origin appears to be feeling some kind of baseless insecurity and going through integration problemsthemselves in mingling with the other ethnic sections of our society such as Sikhs or Muslims. Wearing a turban or veil is in no way appearing to impact the basic Christian nature of Melton Christian College or the belief of any other school.

Any decision from Melton Christian College about its uniform policy points to a discriminatory attitude and passive aggression by a handful in its management committee. Even the law makers in our nation are poorly represented by ethnic groups - the numbers seem to be disproportionate with the percentage of the ethnic population.This is possibly leading to double standards when it comes to Court outcomes. As a moderate ethnic citizen of Australia, I strongly support Arora's case and hope to see his son being allowed to wear a turban to school. I urge one and allAustralians (allskin colours) to come together, evolve and make this nation a truly multiracialto achieve the best.

NoelLal, ExecutiveVP,GOPIOlntematlonal wrote tothePrlnclpal ofMeltonChristianCollege: The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is the largest organisation for the welfare of PIOs living outside India, and is a non-partisan, secular global organisation engaged in promoting their wellbeing and enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries.

GOPIO is extremely saddened with your school's decision to refuse a tiveyear-old Sikh boy admission just because he wears a turban, and it does not align with your uniform policy.

Your attention is drawn to a landmark case of September 2008, where a Brisbane private school was forced to back down on a strict uniform policy that would have forced a Sikh boy to cut his hair and remove his turban.

GOPIO is disappointed that in today's day and age, instead of uniting various communities, your institution is actually dividing them (even at the tender age of five).

GOPIO hopes that the school will reconsider its earlier decision and do the needful by admitting the five-year-old Sikh boy.

IT'S TIME

MOHAN DHALL wrote about the importance of teaching children about time management and goal setting for a smoothyear ahead Slrla wrote: Excellent article and very relevant in this day and age. Well written, Mohan Dhall.

"I willbe very surprised if the result of the series will be any different to the one between India and England recently but if Australia adapt well and bore the Indian batsmen, you never know whatcouldhappen."

Monty Panesar on the upcoming INDvAUS series

"Catching the wrong train can sometimes get you to the right station."

Saroo Brierley promoting the film Lion in Kolkata

"Australians inspire me - they are so physically tit and so far progressed in the physical fitness space. Australian physical therapy has helped.me during my injuries. I love the brightness of the people and the way they live."

Hrithik Roshan in Indian Link

AIBCwelcometonew HighCommissioner

BYRAJNIANAND LUTHRA

Erudite.Gentle.Evenspiritual. Thesewerequalirieswith whichthenewIndianHigh CommissionertoAustraliaDr A]\,[Gondanereachedouttothe lndianco1ru11tmityinSydneyrecently.

Hewasthespecialguestatawelcome eventorganisedbytheAustraliaIndia BusinessCouncilearlythismonth.

AlthoughtheHighCommissionerhas beenoutandahoutsinceherookoffice inDecemberlastyear,ilieeventmarked thefirstofficialwelcomewithintheIndian communityinSydney.

Some150people,mostlymembersofthe AIBCandcommunitypersonaliries,were presentattheevent

DrGondane,asociologistbytraining, hashadasuccessfulcareerindiplomacy thathastakenhimtosomeoftheworld's hotspotssuchasSyriaandPapuaNew Guineaaswellascentresofinternational affairssuchasNewYork.Butitisclearthat heisparticularlyhappytobeinAustralia.

"Myrolerequiresofmetoimmerse myselfintotheskinofthehosts,"hesaidat

the.event."Australiansarehappy,dynamic peoplewhoareeagertoshare,andIam lookingforwardtomakingmycontribution tocheAustralia-Indiarelationsbip.Every relationshiphasitsebbsandflows,andtl1is particularrelationshipiscurrentlyonthe rise."

Hesaidthathewouldlooktothe expertisewithinthebusinesscomrmu1ityto help11imfurthertberelationsl1ip.

Butbebadaspecialmissiveforthem.For peoplewhosebanteristypicallylitteredwith termsWee'economicsuperpo,ver','rising middleclasshungryforconsumption'and 'MakeinIndia',DrGondanebroughtthe

pointhomeaboutgroundrealities.

"Youmayhaveheardlargenumbers,"he coldhiscaptiveaudience,"ButIndiaisa smalleconomy,and"l!bignation.Noreven aminisculeproportionofmypeopleare liketl1epeopleyouhaveinteractedwitl1.We arehometoalargenumberofpoorwho can'taffordbasichealthandeducation.We beartheresponsibilityofO\Tercomingthese problems."

Andyet,hepointedout,wehave managedtoclearvariousstumblingblocks.

"\Y/e'vegotoverthefoodhmnp,"he noted."Ourlargestocksnowfeedour neighbours.We'vereachedthe80percent

Heendedby reiterating,"Theslow andsteady'Hindu rateofgrowth'of tl1e'60sisnowlong passed,andwehave hadagoodrunsince.Wewillconsolidate. WerememberPL480,andwewillpayback infollmeasure."

TheoccasionofferedAIBCChair ShebaNandkeolyaranopportunityto 11ighlighttheCouncil'sactivitiessince shetookoverasChair.Thenational conferenceorganisedwiththeAFR,the representationscoVibrantGujaratand significantinteractionsatlastmontl1's Pta\TasiBbaratiyaconferenceinIndia, foundmenrioninheraddress.

BarryO'Farrell,SpecialNSWTrade EnvoytoIndia,extendedhisownwelcome tothenewHighCommissioner.

"I'msureDrGondanewillfeelat homeherei.nSydney,"hesaid."Wehave Bangaloretraffic,Mumbaihousepricesand Delhibureaucracy:"

,, Australians are happy, dynamic people who are eager to share, and I am looking forward to making my contribution to the AustraliaIndia relationship ,, pointinliteracy,and higherinnumeracy -e\Tenourilliterates arenowpunching numbersintotheir mobilephones. Otherproblemswill begottenovertoo. \Y/e'vedemonstrated thatwehaveahuge capacitytoworkour wayupintl1eworld."

HavingjustreturnedfromIndia,his secondtripthereinrecentmonths,he offeredhistakeonthesituationthere. '1wasinIndiaatrheheightofme demonetisationdrive,andeveryoneIspoke witl1-thetaxidrivers,thehotelstaft�the businesscommunity-feltitwasagood move,theinconveniencenotwimstanding." HealsobadaspecialwordaboutIndia's Primel\1inister."NlrModiwantstomake realreform,andcommunicarestl1ereasons tothepeople,somethingournarional leadersseemtohaveforgotten."

"Indiacanbeahardnuttocrack,"he concludedto11isaudience,whoprobably knowthistoowelJ.''Butmosttilingsare aboutsuccessivemeetings."

TheoccasionalsogaveGunjanPagareof tl1eCommonwealthBartle,AIBC'splatinum sponsor,achancetotellthecommunity andilienewHighCommissioneraboutilie bank'sreachwithintheIndianandbroader diversecorumtmity.Theeventwasheldat d1eBank'sofficesinSussexStreet.

WillthetrittmvirateofnewHigh Commissioner,newAIBCChairandnew TradeEnvoyhelpboostthestagnatingtrade relationshipbetweenIndiaandAustralia? Timewilltell.

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LOOKING AFTER OUR ELDERS

Simran Rekhy 19

Bachelor ofCommerce and Science, Monash University

During the summer break, I volunteered at an aged care home. My visits consisted of organising activities and games for the residents, engaging in conversation with them as well as creating an atmosphere that would be visually inspirational and motivational. I had the opportunity to plan their birthday celebrations within the premises, which included decorating the lounge and organising food and drinks. It gave me immense pleasure to bring joy into the lives of the residents and see them celebrating with happiness. Some of my most memorable moments included playing scrabble with one senior, taking them out to the garden to pick flowers and actively listening to them talk about their past.

I strongly believe in the importance of giving back to the community, which is whatinspired me to volunteer at an aged care home. My grandmother has been volunteering at an aged care home for the past couple of years. Seeing how

. PUTTING E-WASTE TO GOOD USE

Anirban Ghose 24

Graduated in Robotics, University ofSydney

This summer I began building a microfactory. I hadthe immense privilege of working at the University of New South WalesSMaRT Centre to develop innovative solutions for recycling electronic waste (e-waste). We can

• all appreciate the challenge of the

• quantum of electronic waste that we

•

passionate she is about this, as well as the joy and pleasure she received from this role, made me extremely proud of her, wanting to follow in her footsteps. Volunteering an aged care home was an experience that I will cherish forever.

DISCOVERING MYSELF IN DANCE

Vishakha Iyer, 10 YearSix, Kings Langley Public School

I have always told my mum, "I wish I could dance 24hours of the day and do nothing else."

This wish has been coming true over the past two years as I go to India duringthe summer break to train in Bharatanatyam with Abhinaya exponent Bragha Bessel. Learning from Bragha Aunty is very special. When we enact everyday situations in dance she presents the ideas in such a refreshing way that we start to discover the same common things from different angles. The best thing about training under Bragha Aunty is that even when she makes corrections and is critical, she does it with such humour thatI never forget what she hassaid. As she was teaching me on how motherYashodha was caressing Krishna's face, looking atthe way I was holding my hands, she said, "You are holding baby Krishna's face,Vishakha, not a Halloween pumpkin!" Every time I practice, comments like these will not only help me never make those m stakes again but willalso bring a smile to my face. I am very lucky to have teachers who train me with love and patience like Chidambaram R Suresh in Sydney and BraghaBessel in India.

• are producing - all the old phones,

• televisions, microwaves, basically

•

• anything with a cord we throw out,

• making it the fastest growing waste

• stream globally.These devices are

•

• complex waste products, comprised of

• over 1000 different materials, some

• of which are toxic such as lead, others which are immensely valuable, such as copper. So, the SMaRT centre has been researching solutions to this global challenge which has now culminated in the design of a micro-factory. We are designing a containerised factory to disassemble, sort and process in furnaces to convert our waste into high-value materials based on our

patented micro-recycling technology. I have been working on the automated vision systems, drones and robotic arms to augment the material processing techniques being developed by the centre.

Soyou think millennials are over-privileged, lazy, narcissistic, entitled and out-of-touch? Have a look at what some of them have been doing over their summer holidays

REACHING OUTTO UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS

Brinda Ohri 23 Doctor ofMedicine, Griffith University

During my gap year I volunteered teaching English to disadvantaged children in Argentina. It was both an eyeopening and rewarding experience and I was able to immerse myself in their community, culture and way of life. I had always been interested in travelling to South America, and I whilst I was researching, I came across an NGO in Argentina, which was very passionate in helping their underprivileged population. I made contact with them and was lucky to join their incredible work.

BACK IN THE HOME COUNTRY

Anindya

Bhowmik 27

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from University of Technology, Sydney

I volunteered forYuva Australia and the Consulate General of India in Sydney last year and in January this year, representing Australian Indian youth at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. It was a pleasure participating in a Panel Discussion on youth NRI issues atYouth PBD 2017 with the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, and meeting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a lunch event.Youth PBD 2017 was a huge success, particularly the Q&A session with an audience of 700 PBD attendees. The three-day main affair from 7-9 January, 2017 in Bengaluru, entailed an inauguralsession on the "Role of DiasporaYouth in the Transformation of India", two plenary sessions anddiscussionsabout various aspects of NRI and studentjyouth issues.

SEEING HOWTHE OTHERHALF LIVES

Nishtha Chadha 19

BachelorofGlobalStudies & International Relations, University ofSydney

I am currently on a scholarship program in Southeast Asia for about three months.The program has two phases; the first is working with various charities in Cambodia and Vietnam that my college currently sponsors and assessing their impact and budgeting our donations that we raised throughout the year.The second phase is an internship, for which I am currently working at the SAELAO project - an ecologically friendly community development project in rural Laos. The project provides surrounding communities with education support, employment opportunities and promotes ecological awareness and sustainable practices across the surrounding villages. Both phases have

. A SONG FORYOU

MahekAnand 17 Year12, Melbourne

During the summer break I was a part of the David Jaanz School of Singing showcase. I got the opportunity to perform in front of a large audience.

• In the past year I have started doing

: gigs as a singer and since then have

• performed at various venues around

• Melbourne. I am passionate about RnB,

: soul and pop music but I like to keep my

• doors open to other genres as well.

• I have been singing for a few years

•

• now and aspire to gain more experience

• in live performances. I have always been

: fascinated with music, even in different

• languages- whether Latin, French or

• Bollywood - and would love to explore

•

been incredibly eye-opening and pushed me very far out of my comfort zone, but I've learnt and seen more than I ever could've imagined.

• more in the future. Something I enjoy

• thoroughly with music is being able to

• be versatile.

• Preparing for this showcase and

• having been giventhe opportunity to be

: a part of it has definitely been one of the

• best moments of 2016 for me.

REPORTING FROM THE DIASPORA

Arpita Singh 23 Graduatedin IT, CharlesSturtUniversity

Asthe secretary of Yuva Australia, I was invited by the Indian High Commission and the MEA to be a panellist at PBD 2016-17 on the topic of "Problems faced by Indian international students in Australia". I travelled to New Delhi late last year and hadthe honour of participating in the 8th PBD Panel Discussion chaired by the External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj.The issues we raised and the solutions we proposed were thoughtfully considered by the MEA and significant implementation strategies and solutions were announced at the annualYouth PBD 2017 held in January.

RELINKING WITH ARTS HERITAGE

Keerthana Parthiban 22 BachelorofScience in IT, UniversityofTechnology, Sydney

Over the past year I've been part of a team of students working hard to reestablish the UTS Tamil Society and its annual event Kathambamalai.

First established in 1999, the society has a long and rich history of organising cultural events to fundraise for communities in Sri Lanka and India. We have now brought back its annual Kathambamalai event, reinvigorated for a new and diverse audience.

These past months of summer, we've passionately been working on script writing, dramaturgy, dance and acting rehearsals with a great cast and crewto bring to stage a thrilling dance drama titled Kaya/ Vizhi. We're proud to have provided a platform for upcoming youth talent and to have used this opportunity to establish ties with ourTamil community in the form of donations to Vanni Rehabilition and Palmera Projects. Being able to bring this production to life has truly shown

ACCOUNTING: GETTING A LOOK IN

Tom Smith 18 BachelorofCommerce, UniversityofMelbourne

Since finishing high school in November I have begun developing the necessary accounting expertise to transition into the corporate world, by working at the accountingfirm Murdoch Partners. I have learnt the basic skills such as filing and archivingbefore undertaking a graduate accounting course in the CBD.

I hope that these experiences will prepare me for the Bachelor of Commerce and beyond.

EXPERIENCING THE LIFE Of INDIAN FARMERS

HazelJohal 20

BachelorofBusiness, UniversityofTechnology, Sydney

In January, I participated in a 21-day innovation and empathy workshop with BUiLD UTS in rural Maharashtra. I went with fve other students from UTS to study the local community and one of the challenges they are facing, agriculture. For 18 days, I studied the local agricultural practices. One of the things I noticed was that they didn't use any machinery, the farmers still handpicked their crop and used methods that their fathers taught them. Soon, I realised that the old-school method of farming is heavily dependent on a regular water supply, and in the

summer, lack of water makes farming impossible. Unfortunately, the farmers lack the training to do it any other way. On the other hand, meeting the local children was very exciting; they were so eager to share. I had a really good experience because everybody I met was kind and no one made me feel that I was from a strange, foreign country. For Makar Sankranti on the 14'\ the villagers bought all us girls matching sarees and took us to the local temple for an evening of culturalactivity and prayer. Meeting these people is something I will cherish forever.

• .

NOT-FOR-PROFIT LEGAL SERVICE

• •

• Azaara Perakath 21

•

• BachelorofLawand Commerce,

•

• UniversityofAdelaide

•

•

• Havingjust completed my third year

• of my law and commerce (corporate

: finance)double degree, and armed

• witha lot of enthusiasm, I decided that

• this summer,much as I would miss the : opportunity to sleep in, I would immerse

• myself in the opportunities available

• to me. The firststep was applyingto

•

• be a volunteer at JusticeNet, a not for

• profit legal service that provides free

: legal help for people who cannot afford

• a lawyer or who are low-income and

• disadvantaged members of society.

•

the potential of young people when we come together. Overall, it has provided us with an avenue to tap into our creative cultural roots in a university and community setting.

• This has so far provided me with

• invaluable practical experience in a

: variety of areas of law and increased my

• passion for justice. I was also fortunate

• enough to secure a summer position

• • at the Australian Financial Security

• Authority, a Commonwealth Government

• Department, doing corporate related

•

• work as part of a projectteam. Andjust

• to ensure I really did not have even a : moment to be boredthese holidays,

I have also been doing research and oral advocacy as part ofthe University of Adelaide's JessupInternational Law MootTeam. We will be representing the University atthe national round of the competition in Canberra in a few days. All in all, a busy butfulfilling summer and one that I am sure will shape my future!

COOKING WITH REFUGEES

Tara Mahapatra 21 BachelorofCommerce/Law, UniversityofSydney

I joined Enactus, an international organisation that encourages university students to use entrepreneurial action to create a better world for all, in my first year of university. Currently, I am part of the Enactus University of Sydney project, CulinaryTales, which empowers refugees to run their own cookingclasses in the community. The purpose of the project is to provide a social platform for refugees to share their stories, culture and recipes with the community, and to provide a source of employment. Being part of the project has been one of the greatest experiences in university, and has allowedme to meet so many wonderful people.

We offer cooking classes in Iranian, Indian, Lebanese, Tibetan and more cuisines. You can visit our website for further information about Culinary Tales and the classes www.culinary-tales.com

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY

Sujneet KaurJohal 17 BachelorofEconomics/Law, UNSW

I was extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to explore 9 European countries in the span of 4 weeks with the UN Youth Australia Young DiplomatsTour. I was amongst 15 other students selected from across Australia through an extremely demandingselection process which lasted a few months.

Throughout the tour, I had the opportunity to engage with key players in international diplomacy, including significant European politicians, UN representatives, diplomats, leading thinkers, grassroots organisations, media outlets and NGOs. I also met with well-knownfigures such as Helen Brady, Head of Prosecution Appeals for the InternationalCriminal Court, ABC's foreign correspondent Lisa Millar in London, German Negotiator for climate change Karsten Sach and UKIP member Raymond Finch.

THE BUSINESS SIDE OF SOFTWARE

Nehal Jain 19

BachelorofEngineering(Honours)(Software), UniversityofAdelaide

Although my degree is mostly technical, there is also an element of project management and business involved. I have always been keen on exploring this technical side and seeing how it all comes together. In the future, I aim to work in a position that combines both aspects, as opposed to being in a solely software developer role.

So, when I came across an opening for a role which required knowledge of technology, business and marketing, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I am now

doing an Internship with Microsoft, as the Program Manager of the Microsoft Innovation Centre South Australia. Through this role, I am expanding my networks as I am required to constantly be working with the local community, start-ups, universities and the government.This internship experience is also bringing to light the vast plethora of jobs that I did not even know existed. Hopefully this will help me evaluate whether or not I truly enjoy being in a hybrid role so that I can really nail down my career goals.

I gained a deeper understanding on the role of diplomacy and the evolution of nation states shaping our global community.This understanding came through intense workshops focusing on major historical events and eras, specifically WWII andits repercussions, which transcends European politics and heavily inf uences politicaldiscourse today.

Overall, this experience challenged my political views and enhanced my passion for politics and creating change. Most importantly, I engaged with many young people who have already created change and excelled in their respective fields which was highlymotivating. As an Indian Australian, UN Youth Australia has allowed me to voice my opinions, which have been nurtured by my cultural upbringing as well as understanding how I can convert my views into real change despite my young age.

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Dr Hugh MackayAO presents the 2017 Gandhi Oration and encourages us to recommit to the notion ofcommunity

BY KIRA SPUCYS-TAHAR

Neighhoun, everyhotfy needsgoodneighbours

Withalittle11nderstanding,yo11remji11dtheperfect blend

Neighbour,� shouldbetherefar·oneanother

That'.r111hengoodneighboursbecomegoodfriends

Thethemesongofthepopular AustraliansoapoperaNeighhom:rmigbtseem farremovedfromtheidealsofthegreat lndianfreedomfigbterandphilosopher MahatmaGand11i.However,thisyear's GandhiOration,presentedbysocial

researcherandauthorDrHughMackay AO,emphasisedtheneedforustobebetter neighbours,friendsandmembersofthe communityifwearetocombattherising raresofanxietyandhealthissuesbeing promulgatedbyanincreasinglyfragmented, individualisticsociety.

ReflectingoncontemporaryAustralian lifeinlightofGandhi'slegacy,DrMackay's address,titled'Thestateofthenationstarts inyourstreet',imploredustoundertake smallactionstoengagewithothersand makeameaningfuldifferencetoone another.Andbismessagecertainlystrucka chord.

TheAustraliandreamofegalitarianism, afairgo,harmonyandculturaldiversityis slippingawayamidsttheriseofindividual desire,suggestedDrMackay.Therehas

beenaglobalerosionofcommittnencto thecoliective.

Asanationinthegripofepidemicsof anxiety,depressionandobesity,witl1more thanamillionAustralianchildrenlivingi.n p017ert:y,andamassiveunder-empl0)menc problem,therehasbeenadismrbingretreat fromanopen,progressivesociet)'witha trendtowardsaggressionandviolence.

DrMackayproposedthatthiscould perhapsbeareflectionofgrowingincome inequality,as"inequalitycertainlybreeds insecurity",thoughourdecliningrespectfor community,organisationsandinstitutions wasamorelikelyfaccorinourgrowing nationalapprehensionaoddisillusionment.

BueasDrMackaytoldus,"Isuspect Gandhiwouldhaveremindedusthatif weloseourcapacityforunconditional

compassion,ifweJosesightofomtrue .natureasmembersofasociety,if\Vefocus toomuchonourownwants,ourown entitlements,ourowngratification,wirh littleregardfortheneedsandwellbeingof others,therewillbeaninevitabletl1reatto ourmentalhealtl1."

Referringtohisdecadesofsocial research,Dr1vfacka)'describedhowa senseofbelongingisfundamentalto ourwellbeing,"'\Xiedon'tknowour neighbours'hasbecomealmostaclicbeof contemporaryurbanlife."Indeed,many.in theaudiencethought,howeverAeetingly, abouttl1eirownneighbours.

Thisconceptoffeelinglikeastrangerin yourownstreetisboundcobreedasense ofinsecurityasbeingisolatedandalone isantitheticaltothehumancondition,

DrMacka)'said."Whenwelosesightof ourroleasneighbours,thehealthofthe neighbourhoodsuffers."

Citingscientificevidence,statisticsand ps)'chologicaltheory,DrMackayoutlined howchangingpatternsofmarriage andclivorce,aplununetingbirthrace, theincreaseinworkhours,andrapidly shrinkinghouseholdsareleadingto greatersocialisolation.Theseissuesstand alongsideanobsessionwithprivacyand securit)'amidstincreasinghighriseand highdensityhousing,whichisalmostat oddswiththealteredperceptionofprivacy andidentitybornofourdependenceon socialmecliaandtechnology.Theseare aUfactorsgeneratingamorefragmented, morecompetitive,lesscooperativesociety, exertinggreatpressureonthestabilityand cohesivenessofcommunities.

DrMackaysuggestedtheincreasing ratesofanxietyandviolenceinoursociety arereflectionsofourinabilitytocope withchechangingworldorder.Herai.led againstpowerfulpropagandaintheformof massmarketingtotheconsumerfromthe

loomoverus,ourgrowingsenseof vulnerabilityandfearseemstobeforci11g individualsintoastateofself-absorption, denyingusthecommunitarianneedofcivic responsibility.

Bue,asDrMackaysuggested,"Goodness isinherentlyaboutrespondingtoother people'sneedofourkindness,charity, compassion,respect ourlove."

loatimewhenwearedisillusionedwith

replacing theforceofviolencewiththe combinedforceoftruthandcompassion, or'sou.Iforce'.

Weshouldexpandthenotionof'lovethy neighbour',byreinterpretingwhatwemean by'love'andwhatwemeanby'neighbour', proposedDrMackay,toincludebeingkind andcompassionatetoeveryone,eventl1ose whoaredifferentorwhomwedisagree witl1.

Clockwisefromtopleft:DrHugh MackayAO;AttheRemembrance Ceremonyattheuniversitylawns; PatronoftheAustralia India Institute atUNSWDrNeville RoachAO;ViceChancellorProfessorIanJacobs welcomesguests;Apackedaudience

Photos: MajaBaska/UNSW

"happinessindustry"wherebywebelieve wehavearightandareentitledtobehappy, "Ifyoupursuehappiness,itwilleludeyou."

Thevaliclityoftheemotionalspectrumis whatitmeanstobehuman,DrMackay said,andwecanonlyexperiencehappiness incomrasrtothefeelingofotheremotions. Buritwasi10rsermonising.Drl\ifackay infusedhisaddresswithjokes,humourand cheekyasides,whileho.lclingupamirrorto Australia'ssou

"Ouridentitydependsonthegroups webelongto,"DrMackaysaid."Weare peoplewhowillshrivelup,emotiona.llyif notphysically,ifwearenotnurturedbythe experienceofsharingthelives,andeven sharingthepain,ofthosearoundus."

Asthegrowingthreatsofclimatechange, terrorismandamajoreconomicdisruption

thepoliticalelite,ratherthanrelyingona strong,electedleader,asindividualsweneed cointeractwithoneanotherandrecliscover ourcommitmentcobasicmorality-being kindandrespeccfuJcoeachother,nomatter ourclifferences.Thisishowwedefuse violenceandhostility.

lewasabasic,simplettuthbewastelling us,anditstirredapalpableshiftinthe audience.Itwaslikearecapofalessonthat wehadalllearnedlongago,butsomehow forgotteninrecentyearsthanksroour complicatedlives.

InvokingGandhi'swisdom,DrMackay reflectedontheMal1atma'spremisetime whenwefindourselvesinconflictwith someone'sideas,itistheconflictitselfthat isouropponent,nottheotherperson.At itscore,Gandhi'sphilosophywasabout

Atrulycivilisedpersonrenounces violenceandrevengeinfavourof forgiveness,saidDrMackay.

'�1ebuildabettersocietybyresponcling tobadbehaviourwithgoodbehaviour; byresponclingtouglinesswithbeauty;by respondingtotreacherywithintegrity;by responclingtolieswitl1truth,"hesaid.

Withageneraldeclineintrustin contemporaryAustralianpolicies,ora declinemorebroadlyasevidencedbytl1e riseofTrumpandtheBrexic,thereisa needto.lookinwardatourse.lvesandour behaviour,andtakemattersintoourown hands.

Espousingabasictenetof'chinking globalbyactinglocal',DrMackay encouragedustobemoregenerouswith ourselvesandourtime,andbemastersof

technology,notitsservants.Getconnected: that'sthelessonwealltookhomethatday. Andnotinasocialmediakindofway.

"W/ecanhaveapowerfulinfluence onthecommunitieswebelongco,"Dr Mackaysaid."Howwecontributecothese miniaturesofLifewillhelptodeterminethe bigpicture."

Weallknowhowtoactlikegood neighboursintheeventofatragedyor crisis,andweseeexamplesofthisregularly; thechallengeisinlearning cobeagood neighbourineveryday.Life."Ifenoughof usstartlivingasifthisisthekindofsociety wewantittobe,that'sthekindoJsocietyit ,vii]become."

AsGandhiputic,"Youma)'neverknow whatresultscomeofyouractions,butif youdonothing,therewillbenoresults."

,, The increasing rates ofanxiety andviolence in our society are reflections of our inability to cope withthe changing world order ,,

BYRAJNIANAND LUTHRA

Nikhi1Reddywasbutayoung childwhenhewatchedhis parentsplaychess.Fascinated, begothisdadtoteachhim.

Today,atthegrandoldage ofeight,hebasanationaltitletohisname. Infact,hehadn'tyetturnedeight whenhewontheAustralianJuniorChess Championship(AJCC)for2017,inBrisbane lastmomh.

Thebuddinggrandmasterhashada whirlwindofaweek,felicitatedbyhis Sydneyschool(StrathfieldSouthPublic School)andtl1eNSWJuniorChessLeague, aswellasatreceptionswitl1Strathfield mayorAndrewSoulosandlocal1fPCraig Laundy.

Nikhi1isareticentintervieweeas Indian Linkcatchesupwithhim.

Howdidhefeelwhenhewonthefinal game?"Good."

Howmanygamesdidheplayinthe championship?"Nine."

Washeevernervous?"No."

There'sclarityandeconomyinhis conversationalstyle.Asimplicityin execution.AUhallmarksofagreatchess player.

Anymemorablemoments?

"Somegamesweredifficult.Ilostt\vo gamesandwonseven."

se------"'1

HismumSandy,however,didfeelalittle ofthepressure,especiallyinthelastgame whichwenttoplay-offsinvolvingt\VOfast games.

"Theintensityoftheconcentrationwas obvious!Theearlyroundswerepretty smoothandIfigured,ikh.ilwouldtake secondorthirdpositiononthepodium,so itwasgoodcoseehimwinintheend."

Itisevidenttbefamilyis[ikhil'sbiggest fanclub,andheopensupabitmorewhen hetalksaboutthem

IsDadagoodplayer?"No."

\'(/bataboutMum?"1beatherallthe rin1e.''

AndolderbrotherNeil?"Beathimalso."

Buthe'smostanimatedwhenhetall,s aboutchess.

"Iplaychessforcwohourseveryday. Ialsogoforcoachingonceaweek,on Sundays."

Whydoeshelikethegame?

''Becauseit'sfLu1."

Nikhilwassixwhenbebeganplaying, Sandytellsus.''Neilandbewouldwatch meplaymyhusbandKarri,andbothwould wanttojoinin.Nikhilwouldlosealot, butitdidnotdampenhisinterestonebit. Ultimately,wedecidedtotakethemto lessons."

TheHomebusb-basedChessSb.ip AustraliahasbeentrainingtheReddyboys foroverayearnow.ChessSbipprovides trainingtoplayersasyoungassix.Its founderDeepMitra(NationalChess InstructorfromFIDE,theWorldChess Federation)isallpraiseforhisfirstbatchof sn1dentswhichincludesIikbilandreil.

''NikhilhasbeenshowingexceUem

intuitivejudgementand eagernesstolearn,two keyattr.ibutestosuccess inchess,"Mitratells IndianLi11k.

ChessShipAustralia isanewstart-upwith anobjectiveofbringing chesscochildrenina systematicwayfollowing theofficialcurriculum oftl1eWorldChess Federation.Ithasbeen growinginpopularity sinceitslaunchin2016, '",jthrecentsuccess storiesatvariouschess tournaments.

Tootherparents\vl10 mayhavespottedan inclinationtowardsthe game,Sandysuggests,get professionalcoachingearly.

"Chesshelpswithschoolworktoo,I've observed,"shereveals.

Followingthechessplayerstereotype, Nikhilisexceptionalinhisschoolwork,and alsoplayssoccerandbasketball.(Pokemon Duelalsofeaturesinhislistofinterests.)

Butitischesswhichistheoverriding passion.NeilandNikhilbothlapupnews fromtheworldofchessandkeepabreast ofupdatesErorntheworld'sleadingplayers.

Thet\voyoungstershavebeenplaying interschoolgamesandtournamentsat localfairs.lewasaronesuchcommunity cournamenrthattheboysmetanaval officerwhogavethembothanAustralian Navycap.Itbequnetheir'luckycap'-they

TheReddysaregearingupfor internationalmatchesfortheirgiftedson.

"ForNikhil'sagegroup,therearetwo eventswehaveidentified,inUzbekistanand inBrazil.Weareconsideringtakinghim," Sandysays.

The newAustralian JuniorChess Champion (Under 8) Nikhil Reddyon whyhe loves thegame

,, The Australian Navy cap is Nikhil's 'lucky cap' - he will not play a game without it ,, willnotplayagamewithoutit.

WHAT'SON

SPIRITUAL

SriHanumanPooja,Tuesdays

7 30pm-8pn

Devotees who wishto seek the blessings of Shri Hanuman should join the community at Shri Shiva Mandir 201 Eag1eview Road Minto on Tuesday evenings for the reciting of Hanuman Chafisa, reciting Hanuman Kasht

Nivaran, Hanuman Aarti and Prasad

Contact: Jagdish Chawla, 0421 376 384 or Priest Arul Muthulkumar 9820 1094

DeviJagran,Sat1Aprll 7pm10 45pm

Devotees who wish to participate in Navratri Devi Bhajans should join the community at Shri Shiva Mandir 201 Eagleview Road, Minto. There will be Devi Bhoj, Sankalp/Pooja by the sponsors Devi Bhajans, Aarti and Prasad Contact: Jagdish Chawla, 0421 376 384 or Sneh Gupta, 0418 415 739

SpiritofIndiaYoga,Saturdaysand

Sundays

Yoga classes are held in Ryde, Wentworthville, QuakersHill and

Epping Alllevels incl. beginners, senior citizens, children ' s To enrol in this 15 week course e-mail spiritof ndia2002@ yahoo com, visit www spiritofindia org or contactSuresh 0412 202 182

SantNlrankariMissionSydney, Sundays5 30- 730pm

Congregation helps us strengthen our devotion Weekly congregations held every Sunday at Sant Nirankari Bhawan 166Glendenning Road, Glendenning followed by community meals Contact: Devinder, 0403 216 084

Heartfullness Relaxationand

Meditation

Saturdays 4 30pm-5 30 pm; Sundays 11.30am-12 30pm

All are welcome to experience

Heartfullness There are no fees to join the group at SevaYoga Studio, 3c/8, Cowper St Parramatta

Contact: 02 8004 6547 or sydney@ heartfulness org

SrlmadBhagavadGita classes, everysecondSaturday

Learnthe proper chanting of each shloka and its meaning in English Students also learn Sanskrit as they progress and no prior knowledge of Sanskrit is required Participate

either through physical attendance at 20 StationSt, Pymble or online attendance through ZOOM:zoom us/j/6140211522 Contact: Babu 0402 115 223 or devbab@gmail.com

svrClasses-VedicChanting

Sundays 10am

The classestake place in Sri

VenkateswaraTemple Temple Rd, Helensburgh This course will cover pronunciation andthenpractise with Sanskrit before movingto Vedic chanting To register and attend, email enquiry@svtsydney org

HindiDadaBhagwanSatsang, Every secondSunday 5pm - 8pm

Held atWentworth Community Centre

Hindi SatsangTime: 5 00pm-6 30pm

AartiTime: 6 30pm-700pm Preeti Bhojan Time: 7.00pm-8 00pm Kids Gujarati Language Classes: 5.00pm6 00pmTI1e venueis Kurajong Room underneath Redgum Function Centre Contact 0421 127 947 for further information

VHPAustraliaclasses,Sundays

A local initiative of VHP Australia, Sydney Veda Patasala (SVP) holds weekly classes including vedic chanting, advanced veda classes and Sanskrit language program Bala Samskar Kendra (BSK) holds weekly Sanskritlanguage lessons as well as a culture and heritage program at various public schools Contact: R. Subramanian 0425 284 501

FUNDRAISER

Sri OmCare:Dine for acause,Sat

18Mar, 7pm-10 30pm

Get to know Sri Om Care in 2017! Dine for a cause and make a difference to the elderly of the community. Come and enjoy a four-course meal with entertainment and wonderful company Held at Parravilla, Parramatta Donations welcome Donations over $2 are tax deductible

Visit: sriomcare org.au Contact: Jay Raman 0410 759 906

SwachhBharat

Help providefinancial support for Swachh Bharat mission through the Sulabh Social Service Organisation The ongoing campaigninvites all persons of Indian origintogenerouslydonate for Swachh Bharat. Donations can be made to Sulabhthrough Western Union Bank details are below

IMMIGRATION &VISAADVICESINCE 1999

VictorS. Lamba

RegisteredMigrationAgent9901093,CivilMarriageCelebrantAS147

Member:MigrationInstituteofAustralia,MigrationAlliance

BMC MIGRATION CONSULTANTS

269PacificHighwayHornsbyNSW 2077 Mob: 0412 268 568

Tel/Fax:0299404430

AlltypesofWorkVisas

Employer, State SponsoredVisas

Regional SponsoredVisa(RSMS)

ReligiousWorkerVisa

Partner,De-facto, samesexvisa

EOI,AlltypesofSkillVisas

DomesticViolencePartnerVisa

CarerVisa

email: bmcvisa@gmail.com

StudentVisa

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RemainingRelativeVisa

SponsoredVisitorVisa

MRT,RRTReviews

MinisterialAppeals

AllSkillAssessments

Infavour of: Sulabh International Centre For Action Sociology (SICAS)

Account No: 63012660749, IFSC Code: SBIN0030262 MICR: 110002347

Name oftl1e Bank: State Bank of India Branch Name: C 28 Community Centre

Janakpuri, New Delhl-58 Contact: bharatramvasudevan@gmail.com

NationalBloodDonation Drive

bySathyaSaltnternatlonal Organisation

Sathya Sai International Organisation of Australia & PNG is again having a blood donation drive and is encouraging all of its members who are able to contribute in this wonderful and much needed service. Giving blood is giving life What better wayto 'Love all; Serve all' and honour Sathya Sai Baba Contact: Mayavan 0404 059 093

COMMUNITY

GYAAN2017,Sat 11Feb 6pm

GOPIO Sydney presents GYMN 2017 at Castle Hill Community Centre, 14Pennant Street, Castle Hill With Bollywooddances, a three course meal, and raising awareness against domestic violence, GYMN 2017 will honour HSC highachievers in a memorable way Tickets are $50 per person. Kids underthe age of 5 free. If you buy 9 tickets, you get 1 ticket free To purchase tickets, visit eventbrite. com.au/e/gopio-gyaan-2017

PERFORMANCE

Sunderella,17,18,24,25Feb 8pm; 19,26Feb6pm

A queer, all-male, Bollywood twist on the familiartale of Cinderella. Held at PACTTheatre, 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville Tickets: $35.Visit: sunderella.com au

Sammohanam,Sun19Feb, 6pm

A pan-Indian celebration of music and dance by Aruna Sairam and Malavika Sarukkai Come and experience the Sammohanam, 'enchantment' as the

artists explore some ofthe myriad moods and landscapes associated with Lord Krishna Visit: riversideparramatta.com au

MISC

QueerScreen Mardi Gras FIim Festlval,15Feb•2March

Angry Indian Goddesses Screening,Thurs16Feb, 7pm AsiaPacificQueerFIimFestival AllianceShorts,Sun26Feb 1pm

To showcasethe amazing queer films being made inthe Asia-Pacific region the Alliance, with ACON Asian Gay Men's Project, has put together a package of the best in new, Asian cinema A highlight is The Threshold, about an Indian teen caught between atraditional upbringing full of genderstereotypes, and his natural urge to identify withthe opposite gender.

Forum:The ImportanceofQueer Cinema In theAsia Pacific, Mon27 Feb, 6.30pm

The Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Alliance (APQFFA) hosts this forum at the University of Sydney. Hear from delegates from the Alliance member countries, including China, Hawaii(USA), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea Taiwan, and Thailand In addition, there will be representatives from Brisbane and Melbourne Queer Film Festivals At the end ofthe forum, you will getthe chanceto ask your own questions

Visit: tix.queerscreen.org.au

HindiClasses Saturdays 2.30pm4.30pm Located at theIndian Cultural Centre, Level 1, 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Hindi classes are $5 per one hour class or $40 for ten classes. Registration is essential as there is a maximum of 20 peop.le per class. Paid parking is available in the vicinity.To register email hindi@ indianconsulatesydney.org or contact 9223 2702.

Forfullcalendarof WHAT'S ON listings

(nation-wide)checkout: www.indianlink.com.au

You canalsosubmityourlistingonline

KenyanofSouthAsian background? _esearc1s dySPeks par ici ants

Areyou from Kenya,EastAfrica? Didyouarriveonaskilledworkervisaorother category?WouldyoubewillingtoshareyourexperiencesinAustralia?Ifyouhave answeredyestothethreequestions,thenyouareinvitedtoparticipateinaresearch studythatexploresyourcareerexperiencesasaskilledmigrantandhowyoupursued yourcareergoalsinAustralia.

Participationisvoluntaryandiuvolvesfacetofaceortelephoneinterviews.The interviewprocesswillbetotallyconfidentialandyouwillnotbeidentifiedinany wayinthefinaldocument. Ifyoudodecidetovolunteerandshareyourexperiences, pleasecontacttheprincipalresearcherKl1alida Malik,PhDcandidatefromWeslem SydneyUniversity,ontheemail9161730l@studeut.westemsydney.edu.auforfurther infonnation.

Thisstut�)'hasbeenapprovedbyrheWesternSydneyUniversity. Theapproval11umberis1-fl/832.

Trump'svisa ban: Indian scientists readytowelcome stranded peers

RefusingtobowbeforeUSPresident DonaldTrump'scontroversialtravelban, scientistsacrosstheworld,including lndia,haveopeneduptheirlabspacesto counterpartsstrandedoutsideAmerica.

UndertheScienceSolidarityLlst(SSL) initiative,researchersfromover30countries haveagreedtohosttheaffected.

Whatbeganonsocialmediaas spontaneousoffersofhelpfromscientists toaccommodatebannedpeersawaiting USclearance,followingTrump'sJanuary 27order,hasemergedasaelm-ioncallto supportthoseinneedofimmediatework spaces.

AnchoredbytheEuropeanMolecular BiologyOrganisation(E:tvIBO),theSSLisa "listofscientistsofferingtempora1-ybend1 ordeskspace,Libraryaccessandpossibly evenaccommodationforUS-basedscientists whoarestrandedabroadduetothe\'{flute HouseExecutiveOrder13769,'Protecting theNacionfromForeignTerroristEntryinto theUnitedScates'of27January,2017."

AUSjudgeinSeattlerecentlyissueda temporarynationwideblockonTrump's banontravellersfromseven·Muslim nations.However,theWhiteHousesaidtl1e JusticeDepartmentwillchallengeattorney's decision.

Offerscontinuetopourinasscience, literally,attemptstotrumptheban.

Therearecurrentlyover800offersof assistanceandthelistgetsanewentryevery fiveminutesorso.

"Wefeltwehadcodosomething.Itis verydiscriminating.Thisimpactsscience alot.Itimpactstheworkofth.elab.Their project.5donotgetdonebecausethe scientistsarenussing.Itimpactseveryone," MariaLeptin,directorEMBO,toldJANS overthephonefromHeidelberg,Germany.

"\'v'e(scientists)seeourselvesasa worldwidecom!"nunityanditisacompletely namralclungforustodo,"shesaid.

E:rvIBOisanorganisationofmorethan 1,700leadingresearchersthatpromotes excellenceinLifesciences.

ltsprogrammesandactivitiesare fundedbytheEuropeanMolecular BiologyConference(EMBC).TheE1rnC,

foundedin1969,isaninter-governmental organisationcomprising33member-and partner-states,includingIndia,whichcame underitsfoldinFebruary2016.

Thesolidarity listcomprisesoffersfrom bothEJl,,fBCandnon-E:tvIBCcow1tties.

Leptinwasthefirsttojointl1elist, extendinghelptohoststrandedresearchers inherownlabattheUruversityofCologne. Whilemostoftl1ehostoffersarefrom Europe,thelistincludeslabsinIndia, Canada,Israel,Japan,SaudiArabia,Me..'tico, Singapore,Brazil,andChina.

TI1e"overwhelmingresponse"fromthe fraternityistrendingunderthehashtag ScienceSheJrers.

Amongtl1efirstcomakepersonaloffers ofassistanceviaTwitterwerepopulation geneticistMagnus ordborgandplant biologistJurgenKlei11e-VehnfromAustria.

Alookatsomeofthetweetsreflectstl1e gravityofthesimation,relegatingscientists coa11almostrefugee-likestatus.

"Anotl1erexampleofconsequences biologypostclocmeanttojoinourSchool w/newfacultyhasvisabmcannotcomeIranianpassport,"tweetedGeorgialnstimte ofTechnologyProfessorJoshuaWeitz.

"Iwasprettyexcitedtojoin@soumya_ boston'slabbutdeniedboardingduetomy Iraniannationality Feelingsafer?"tweeted SamiraJ\sgari.

TheKleine-VelmLabtweetedinresponse toanupdateof420offersofassistance: "Tooklessthan24h,reflectingthestrong politicalstatement!#ScienceShelcersAgainst Trump'simmigrationbanand discrimination!"

Comingtotl1erescueoftheirpeersare alsoscientistsfromIndia.

TillFebruary4,tlueeofferswere madefromthecountr);allofthemfrom Bengaluru-basedNationalCentrefor BiologicalSciences(NCBS).

TheoreticalphysicistSandeepKJ:ishna hasproferreddeskspaceandaccessto computers,,vhileShashiThutupalli'slab, dealingwithexperimentalphysicalbiology, isalsoavailable.

"Canprovideexperimentalfacilities, deskspace,labspace,libraryaccessand awarmwelcome."NCBS'sAratiRamesh hassteppedforwardwith"deskspace,lab benchspace,accesstolabequipmentand

computers"inberlabthatworksonRNA biology.

"Iamatheore.ticalphysicistwhouses toolsandideasfromphysicsandmaths totryandposenewkindsofquestions aboutbasicprocessesinbiologicalsystems. Thus,whatIcanofferissimplydeskspace andaccesstocomputersand,ascientifie environmentwhereasu·andedscientist cancontinuetheir,vork,atleasttosome extent,"KrishnatoldlANS.

Expressinghisviewsonthe"Muslim ban",Krishnared<onsitwoulddomore harmthangoodtotbeUS.

"Ibavenodoubtitisreall)'aMuslim ban,whateve.rlegaldevicestheyuseto cloakitandjustifyit.Assuch,itseemsto mequiteagainsttheConstirutionofthe USA,andpracticallyspeaking1would predictwoulddomoreharmthangoodto ti-mtcountry.Thinktluswillsimplyspawn anothergenerationofhurtanddisgruntled youngpeoplewhocouldbeexploitedby extremists,"hesaid.

Headded:"lnIndia,thoughwecan hardlycaketl1emoralhighgroundhere becauseourgovernmentssinularlyfail repeatedly,inmyopiiuon,coprotectthe . rightsofm.inorities,includingMuslims, anddonothaveahumaneapproachto immigrantsorevenaconsistentpolitical andlegalframeworkforthem."

Indian-origin USacademics denounce Trump'stravel ban

AsectionofIndian-originresearchers basedincbeUS,whohavejoined51Nobel lallteatesandover27,000academicsfrom acrosstheglobeindenouncingPresident Dona.leiTrump'stravelban,havewarned againstsuchprohibitionsextendingtoany groupofpeople.

Inresponse,over20,000faculty mei-nbersfrommanyofthemost prestigiousuniversities,acrosstheUS,as manyassnmembersoftheUSNational AcademyofSciencesandhundreds ofawardwinningscientists,signedtbe "NoTolmmigrationBan"petition,opposing theorder,apprehending"theunrealistic conditionsrequiredfordiscontinuingthe suspensionmake.itverylikelythatitwill turn.intoapermanentban".

Dubbingitthe"worstformof

Vegetablevendorswaitontheirboats atafloatingmarketonthe Dal Lakein Srinagar,the summercapitalofIndian Kashmir,on5February,2017.The Srinagar-Jammuhighway,theonlyroad linkconnectingtheregionwithoutside world, remained closedfortraffic.

superstitiontl1atwehaveseeninrecent times",veterananthropologistVeenaDas urgedeveryonecojoinagainsttheban. "ScientistsandscholarsinIndiashould alsorallyagainsttheslowcorrosion ofincellecrualautonomythathasbeen happeninginlndia,perhapsslo,vly,but surely,''Das,K.t:ieger-EisenhowerProfessor ofAnthropologyattheJolmsHopkins University,toldIAt'\IS.

"Responsibility towardknowledgeisnot anationalenterprisebutonethatwilleither nm1.rishorcorrodethehumanspirit.Itisup toustocrushtherisingrideofstupidity," shesaid.

MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology's (i\lITT)computerscienceandengineering professorArvincl,whohas"outstanding colleaguesandsmdenrs"fromSyria,Iran, Palestine,Egypt,PakistanandIndia,many ofwhomareMuslims,questionedthe justificationoftl1eorder

"ItisabanonMuslimsonlybecause Christiansareexplicitlyexcluded.Should al]Muslimspaytheheavyprjceof dasheddreamsbecauseofafewMuslim terrorists?"

"Indiansshouldrealisethatsucharbitrary banscanbeextendedeasilytoanygroup ofpeople,forexainple,IndianMuslimsor evenallbrownskinnedpeople,"Arvincl, JohnsonProfessorofComputerScience andEngineeringatNilT,told1ANS.

Apartfromacademicssigrungthe petition,asmanyasI71leadingscientific, engineeringandacademicorganisationsin theUShavecalledonTrumptorescind theexecutiveorderdeclaringitdamaging toscientificprogress,innovationandUS scienceandengineeringcapacity.

Das,whosaysonereasonfortl1e dominanceofUSuniversitiesinthe generationanddisseminationofknowledge, wasthe"hisrodcalopennesscoscholarsand scientistsfromotl1ercountries",believes universitieswillsufferenormouslyin tangibleandintangibleways,intheageof networking.

"TI1ereisthelargerguestionchatlooms onthehorizon,whichisthatifpolicyis goingtobecomesodivorcedfromanyfacts ontl1egtound,bowwillrationalgovernance bepossible,"shequestioned

Asananthropologist,Dasiterated concernsofthecommunity,primaryof whichveersonthethoughtthatasborders closedown,therewillbelesspeopleready togoanddofieldworkinareasoftheworld thatrequire"diligentattention"toknow whatishappeningonthegrom1cl.

ArvindopinedthattheMIT(known foritsdiversityinfacultyandsmdents) andbyimplicationtheUS,wouldloseits pre-eminenceinscienceandtechnologyif doorswereclosedmthescholarsfromany pareoftheworld.

"Suchabanwillcauseinoreharmto Americainthelongrunwithomincreasing oursafety.Iristimetospeakuptodefend ourMuslimcolleaguestomaintainscientific excellenceinAn1erica,"hesaid.

Asawayom,Dassaiditistimefor international GOsandfoundationsintl1e fi.eldsofhealthandeducation,tostepup theirefforts

"Alotwilldependonwhatunderstanding ofthesituationemergesandtheurgency withwhichthesequestionsareaddressedby

Photo:AP

AnjaliLamaofNepal,centre,becomes thefirsttransgendermodeltowalkthe rampattheLakmeFashionweekin Mumbai,India. Photo:AP

leadinginstimtions,"Dasobserved "Ademocracisationofknowledge would beaverygoodthingbutIarnnotsure thatochercountriesinEuropeorAsiaof AfricaorLatinAmerjcawillheahleco stemtheriseofparanoiaandshuttingof boundaries,"sheadded.

lndian-ori�in artist Anish Kapoor wins 2017 Genesis Prize

Britain-basedIndian-originartistand humanrightsactivistJ\nishKapoorhas beenhonouredwiththe2017GenesisPrize givenbytheGenesisPrizeFoundation.

TheprizewasawardedbytheGenesis PrizeFoundation,theGovernmentofIsrael andtheJewishAgencyonFebruary5.

Kapoorhasdecidedcousethe$1mjllion awardmoneytohelprefugeesandtryto expandtheJewishcommunity'sengagement inaglobalefforttosupporttheSyrian refugees,accordingtoastatementissuedby GenesisPrizeFotmdacion.

f--jjsfamouswot:k'Turning theWorld UpsideDown'sculpturehasbeenplacedat theIsraelM.useurninJerusalem.Someof hjsotherworkswhichgainedworldwide attentionare'CloudGate'placedin Chicago'sMillenniumParkand'Orbit'in London.

BorninMumbaicoaBagbdadjJewish motheraodIndianfather,Kapoormoved toIsraelattheageof16andisbased inBritainsince1970.Hebasalsobeen apublicadvocateandfoughtforthe bettermentoftherefugees.

NatanSharansky,HeadofGenesisPrize selectioncommitree,said,"AnishKapoor hascampaignedagainstindifferencehjs wholelife.Hismessageisclear,powerful, andinspiring.IamconfidentthatAnisbwill usetheGenesisPrizetobuildonthegood workandhisvoiceandenergywillhelpto focusmorepeopleontheneedcoalleviate thesufferingofrefugees."

Establishedin2012,theannualGenesis PrizehasbeendubbedbyTimeMagazine asrhe"JewishNobel".

Peacock feathers inspire new variety of non-pollutingfabric dyes

Thebeautyofpeacocks,witbtheirdazzling multi-colouredfeathers,hasalwaysprovided inspirationtopoetsandartistsintheir creativework.

Now,peacockfeathershaveinspireda teamofChinesescientistscodevelopa newwaytocolourfabricswithouttheuse ofttaclitionaldyesthatenterstrean1sand rivers,causingenvironmentalpollution.An addedadvantage:thesecoloursdon'tfade easily.

The.non-pollutinggreenermethod tocolourtextilesusing"3-dimensional colloidalcrystals"hasbeendescribedby BingtaoTangandcolleaguesatChina's DalianUniversityofTechnologyinthe AmericanCbemicalSociety(ACS)journal AppliedMaterials&Interfaces.

Traditionaldyesandpigmentsused ontextilefabricsarechemicalcolours thatproducetheirvisualeffectby selectivelyabsorbingandreAectingspecific wavelengthsofvisiblelight.

Ontheotherband,thecoloursof peacockfeathers(orbutterflywings)result

fromphysicalinteractionsofvisiblelight with"microstructures"onthefeathersthat areperiodicatthescaleofthewavelength oflight.Accordingtothereport,the Chineseresearcherswantedtofindawayto colourvoile,orsemi-transparent,textilesby creatingthe"rnicrostructures"alcincothose onpeacockfeathers.

AccordingtoanACSrelease,they accomplishedthisbydevelopingasimple two-stepprocessfortransferring3-D colloidalcrystals-astructuralcolour material-tovoilefabrics.Theirnonpolluting"dye",apartfromwater,"included polystyrenenanoparticlesforcolour, polyacrylateformechanicalstabilityand carbonblacktoenhancecoloursaturation".

"Usingcolloidalcrystalswithcolouring functionsforfabricshasresultedin significantimproveinentscomparedwith chemicalcoloursbecausethestructural colourfromcolloidalcrystalsbearsmany uniqueandfascinatingopticalproperties, suchasvividiridescenceandnonphotobleaching,"thereportsaid.

Thecolouredvoilefabrics,according to thescientists,exhjbithighcoloursaturation, goodmechanicalstability,andmultiplecolourpatternsthatareprintable."Testing showedthemethodcouldproducethefull spectrwnofcolours,whichremainedbright evenafterwashingthefabric."

Theyconcludethatcolloidalcrystals arepromisingpotentialsubstitutesfor organicdyesaodpigmentsbecausetheyare environmentallyfriendly.

LFW Summer/Resort 2017: Where handlooms, creativity were under spotlight LakrneFashionWeek(LFW)Summer/ Resort2017notonlybroughtthespotlight onIndianhandlo.omslikeKhadi,muslin andcotton,whicl1werebeautifullyblended withglamourandluxury,butalsofocussed onsustainablefashionlikerecyclingof wasteintofinergoods.Apartfromcelebrity showstoppers,otherswhostoodomwere modelslikeAnjaliLama,atransgender,and PetrNitka,whoisgenderneutral.

Thefashionextravaganza,whichstarred onFebruary1,hadanewvenue-the RelianceJioGarden-andsawalotof designerswithmenswearlines.

"Ithinkthescaleatwhichwehavedone LFWthistimeisthelargest.Havinganopen venueinthe16yearsofhistoryofLPW,is reallypushingtheboundaryforfashion," JaspreetChandok,Head-Fashion,IMG RelianceLtd,toldIANSonthesidelinesof thegrandfinale.

Talkingaboutthemodels,Chandoksaid, "Ithinkd1estoryaroundinclusivitykeeps gettingbigger.Thisyearwehadagender neutralmodelandatransgendermodel.We arereallyhappy."

LF\'v"sroleasalaunchpadforpromoting youngdesignerswasvisihleontheopening dayoftheS=er/Resotteditionwhenfive newfacesshowcasedtbei.runiquecreations. Presentedby INIFD, dieGen extshow witnesseddesignsthatwereanamalgamation ofcreativity,styleandinnovation.

Someofthosewhoimpressedwiththeir creativitywereSoumyadeepDutta,PotPlant bydesignerduoReshamKarmchandaniand SanyaSnri,NakitaSingh,Poochk:ibylshani MukherjeeandAnirudhChawlaandPalla,ri Singh.

Thefirst-dayalsosawastar-studdedshow, wheredesignerKuna)Rawalpresented hislatestmenswearrange'TheRaceof Seperates',whichwasattendedbytheyoung gunsofBollywoodlikeSonakshiSinha, ArjunKapoorandVarunDhm.van,who walkedd1erampasashowstopper.

Over90designersshowcasedtheir collections.at40plusshowsattheevent, whichguaranteedattendeesadoseof divetsity,innovationandcreativity.

Thefasruoneventhasbeendedicating adayjusttoJndiantextileseachyearand daytwoofd1eeventthistimepromoted sustainablefashion.Thedaystarredwitha showtided'Reincarn.ation',wheresixlabels showcasedaccessoriesandclochesmadeom ofrecycledwaste.

Thehighlightofthisshowwasthatthe modelsditchedd1eirtoweringheelsand insteadwalkedtherampbarefoottoshow thecollections.Theseconddayalsosaw acollectionbytheKutchartisansanda presentationbyNGOKrantibyMandeep Nagi,wherethedaughtersofrescuedgirls fromdieredlightdistrictsshowcaseda presentation.

Thedayendedwithatrendsetting showcalledSustainable1\1an,showcasing

sustainablefashionformen.Thedesigners usedIndigoastheircoretextileandworked withyarnsfromwastefabricsandplastic.

VeteranslikePaya]Singhal,Tarun Tahiliaru,NarendraKumar,R.ituKumar, Kotwara,AnushreeReddy,Gau.rangand J\nitaDongredominatedtherunwayon daysthree,fourandfive.Theirshowswere notjustaboutclothes,butwerealsoavisual delight.

Singha!chosetodeckupthenmwaywith sparklesandretrochandelierswhileTahiliani, whosenamehasalwaysbeensynonymous wid1bling,chosetodecoratetberampwith beautifulmograAowers.

Trendsthatstoodoutwerelayered.looks, asymerricallehengas,dresses,floor-sweeping anarkalis,Aaredpants,sarisandbomber jackets.

Thecollectionssawanabundance ofluxurythroughd1euseoffabrics, weaves,work,prints,intricatewot:kof embellishmentsandzardoziinfusedwid1 handloom.Thecolompallerethatdominated theLP\'v'runwayvariedfromwhites,ivories, indigo,goldtobrighterhuesofpinks, mustardandsubtlepastels.

TherewasaoabundanceofBollywood faces,whorooktotheramp.

CelebritieslikeKareenaKapoorKhan, PadmaLakshmi,MalaikaArora,Varun Dhawao,SushmitaSenandmanymore wereseenwalldngthecatwalkforseveral designers.

Thefive-dayfashiongalacametoanend wid1agrandfinaleatd1eBandraFort,where KareenawalkedtheruowayforDongre's collectioncalled'Alchemy'inspiredby Lakrne's'liquidgold'theme.

Kareena,whowalkeddierampafter46 daysofherdeliveringhersonTaimurAli Khan,glitteredingoldasshesportedanoffwhitegownpairedwithagoldembellished jacket.

Theeventwasgreatforseveralbuyersand designerstoo,saysChandok.

"It'sbeengreat.Everybodywasworried abomthede[nonetisation,butthefactthat wehavebeenabletoscaleupandprovide astrongerinterfacebetweenbuyersand designers Ihaveactuallyheardverygood things abouthowtheinteractionsbetween thetwowent."

IANS

Working in Hollywood

1amabsolutelyopentoitasitistherighttime forme.Iwouldlovero,asastudent,goandlearn newwaysofacting.Hopefully,lwillgersomething goodthatwillignitemyinterest.Ihaven'tgivenita solidrhoughtastohowIwillgoaboutitbutIam definitelyopentoit.Let'sseewheremyactionstake me.

On his love forAustralia and physical fitness

IlovedthetimeIspentinAustralia.Australians inspiremeastheyaresophysicallyfitandsofar progressedinthephysicalfitnessspace.Australian physicaltherapyhashelpedmeduringmyinjuries.I Jovethebrightnessofthepeopleandthewayrhey live.

IhopetolaunchmyclothingbrandHRXin Australiasoon.HRXrepresentsanextremestate ofmindrhatinspirespeopletobethebestversion ofthemselves,rokeeponpushingandtokeep achieving.

IhaveincorporatedalotofAustralian philosophiesinmylifeaswellasmHRX,sothank youAustraliaforinspiringme.

What success meansto Hrithik Roshan

Successliesintheappreciationandloveofthefans. Successistobeabletocontributetosocietythrough yourskillsandgivepeoplejoyandentertainthem. Fromabroaderperspective,successiscowake upeachdayenthusiasticaboutwhareveryouchose todowirhyourlife.Ifyouarewakingupeveryday withpassionanddoingwhatyoulove,that'swhat reallymakesyourlifesuccessful.

PreetijabbalinterviewedHrithikRoshm1attin invitationofMindBlowingFilms

On the emotlonal Impactofa good script

,, The box office is not true success; it is a one or two week episode in your life. Your worth should be b�ond your work ,,

Sense of . community

Traditionalsocieties continue to remain connected in modern times, theirnotion ofcommunitygoing beyond the sociologicaI

BYSAROJA SRINIVASAN

Howdowedefinecommunity?Is icthefamily,theneighbourhood, checountryorthesub-cultural group?Eachofthesehasa limitedframeofreference.lnacosmic sense,thetermcommunityshouldextend coglobalinclusionofhumanandocherlife formswhichinhabittheworldasweknow it.Unlesswelooktothewholepicn1re, whereeachofusisinterconnectedtothe other,wefallintothetrapofindividuaLity, whereintrust,toleranceandcompassion disappearatarapidrate.

Recently,socialresearcherHugh:!V[ackay deliveredtheGandhiOrationatUNSW Heaptlytitledhistalk"Thestateofthe nationbeginsinyourstreet".Withhis cheekyhumour,behigh.lightedtherather sorrystateofaffairsinmoderntu:ba.n commtuutieswherealargepercentageof peopledon'tknowt.l1eirneighbours,and

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don'tmakeeyecontactast.l1eywalkonthe street,iftheydohappentowalk.Urbanites areincreasinglybecominginsulatedinour pigeonholes,hesaid;wearebecon1ingless andlesssocial.

Theindustrialisedworldhasledtous spendingmoretimewithmachinesthan wimpeople.Yetintraditionalsocieties, opportunitiesforcommunalcelebrations arestillvalued.Justamonthago,on14 January,millionsofHindusinIndiaanda.ll overtheworldcelebratedMakarSankra.nti.

MakarSankra.ntiisoneoffourmajor festivalscelebrateda.lloverIndia.

Sankranti.isaSanskritwordthatmeans 'movement'or'transition'.Makaris theHindunameofthezodiacmondi Capricorn.Asthesuntransitsonits northernjourney,chisdayiscelebrated astheendofwinterinPunjab(Lori), MakaraBighuinAssam,MakarSankranti inGujarat,Ponga.linTamilNaduandthe firstsighti.ngoftheMakaralightinthe Sabarima.laQull)inKera.la.Everywhereit isheld,thecelebrationisajoyousonewith avarietyoffoodmadefromdienewly harvestedingredientslikericeandpulses.

Tbema.inthemeiscelebratingthe harvest,givingthanksconamre,and prayingforagoodyearahead.Thereisa reaffirmationofbeginningtheyearwith purityofheartbybatllingintheholy

river,andgivingalmsandfoodtothosein needybeforepartakingofit.Thefestivalis celebratedinacommunal\Va)�reminding usoft.lieiniportanceofcommtu:tity,from ourimmediateandextendedfatruliesto chewidercommunitywelivein.It'salsoa reminderofourdependenceontheearth, sun,andfire,andourcoexistencewith animalsandbirds-inshort,appreciating thebeautyoftheworldwelivein

PongalinTamilmeansanoverAowing abundance.Thenewharvestofriceis cookedinn1ilk,inlargepotsonanoutside fire,allowedtoboiloverandwhenready, offeredtothesun.\\;/omendancearmmd thepotandsharethemealwit.Iifamilyand friends.

Thedaybefore,calledBhogi,involvesa bonfire.madeofunwantedmaterialthings; symbolica.lly,onealsoburnsdienegative emotionssuchasanger,jealousyandhatred tocreatespaceforbenevolentthoughtsco fillthemind.

ThedayafterPonga.liscelebratedasdie daytoappreciatethehardtoilofthebulls onthefarmbydecoratingdieirhornsand givingthemadayofrest.Thebirdsarefed withcolourfulriceballs.lntbeHindubelief system,birdssymboliseourforefathers,

onceagainrenundingusofthegratitude weowetoa.II of nan1re'screationsasweLIas outheritage.

Almosrallactiviti.esduringvarious celebrationsinHinduhouseholdsarefilled wimsrmboLismandillustratemevery natureoftheacta.nditssignificance.The freshproducefromtheharvest,andthe uniquecelebrationofnature'sultimate inclusionineverythingwedo,bothcompel uscorevereandrespectandnurmre everythingaroundus.

Asnugranrsinadifferentculture,there isatendencycodiscounttraditionalbeliefs andactivitiesasrimalistic.Whenpeopleca.re coinformtliemselvesaboutdiemeaning behindaspecificspiritualactivityand thencarryitout,itbecomesanuplifting experiencebeyondjw;taritual.Forinstance, kiteAying,anotlierpopularHindurimal attl1istimeofdieyear,isenjoyableasan activity,butitalsogivesasenseofhopeand 11.igheraspirations,lookingtothecosmos andthewindforinspiration,andthe enjoymentofdiefreedomofourspirit. Communiti.esnurmrethosewit.Ii woundedheartsandgivehopetopeoplein despairasmuchaswedoublethehappiness derivedfromtheactofcommuna.l celebration.Letuscelebrate,share,enjoy andenrichourlivesandthecommunitywe livein.

,, When people care to inform themselves about the meaning behind a specific spiritual activity and then carry it out, it becomes an uplifting experience beyond just a ritual ,,

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Lightinglives in India

InaneffortcohelpsocioeconomicaUy disadvantagedwomen,not-forprofitorganisationsSolarBuddyand FairBreak.necpresented600lights cotheCricketCluboflncliaand GlobalCricketSchoolstobedistrihucedto impoverishedlocalitiesinIndiawhiche."isc offtheelecrricirygrid.

Thelights,whichwereprovidedby sponsorscheAustralianCompurerSociety, wereformallyhandedovertoSachiBajaj fromtheCricketCluboflodiaandGlobal CricketSchoolson17Januaryacan announcementandpresentationceremony atDarlingHarbour,Sydney.Thelightswill bedeliveredtotheSriAyyappanSchoolin Bangalore,alongwid1othercommunities throughoutIndia,particularlyinthesourh. Eachlightwillprovideeighthomsof chargeandeighthoursofillumination.

ThecollabotativeprojectbyFairBreak. net(whichalsoincorporatesthe Women'sInternacionalCricketLeague) andSolarBuddy,wasinitiatedwhenthe organisationsrecognisedthesignificant nwnberofpeopleinIndialivinginthedark.

ShaunMartyn,Co-FounderofWomen's InternationalCricketLeague(\.VICL)and FairBreak,saidthatapproximately20 percentofpeople,globally,areaffected byenergypovertyandJiveindarkness.

"InIndia,weseealotofcommunities andareaswherepeoplearelivingoffthe electricitygridandthat'sasignificanrissue," MartyntoldIndianLink.

Additionally,bod1FairBreak.necand

S9larBuddydecidedtofocus onwomenduetotheiroften limitedopportunities.

"Womenandgirlsin thesecommunitiesdon't getdieopportuuirytoread andeducatethemselvesas muchastheyshould-it's mostlyboys,"Martynsaid. "Ifyoucaneducatewomen, everythingabouttheirlives improves."

SacliiBajajexpressedhis gratitudeforreceivingthe lights,andsaidtheywere partofd1eestablishmentof "awonderfulprogramfor India".

TheCEOoftheAustralian ComputerSoc.ieryJohnRidge, expressedhispleasurein workingwithSolarBuddyand FairBreal<onchis.initiative.

Otherpartnerswliich werealsopresentattheceremonyincluded TheEdinburghBusinessSchool,Pymble LadiesCollege,TheCommonwealth Bus.inesswomen'sNetwork,ProfShirley RandellAOandGeoffLawsonOAM.

Indescribingtheinitialideaandpurpose behindPairBreak.net,ShaunMartynsaid hewascompelledtoworkonacorporate socialresponsibilityprogramthatwould enrichthelivesofthoseinneed.

"Overfouryearsago,wescarredand createddie\Xlomen'sInternationalCricket

League,"hecoldIndianLink."Rigbtfrom tben,wewerelookingforacorporatesocial responsibilityinitiativetoworkon,creating opportunitiesforwomenwhileusingcricket asavehicleforthat.Allourworkisfor educationandcreatingopporrmiities."

FromhereMartynhopes to continue toworktowardshostingdiefirscWICL tournamentinSingapore.Healsohopesto creaceasmanyopportunitiesaspossiblefor womenarow1deducationandknowledge alongsideSolarBuddyandotherpartners.

Whilemanylightshavealreadybeen distributed,effortsbythepublicand comrnuniryinAustraliaarealsovitalfor ensuringthatlightsaresenrmaslll,'lny communitiesanddevelopingregions. SchoolchildreninAustraliaareableto gatherlightstogetherandsendthem to od1erpeopleind1eworld.Additionally, smallandlarge-scalecorporationsareable tohavetheirlightsbranded;chesearealso taxdeductible.

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hyIlovetheAFL

methereisnoothergamethatepitomises thesequalitiesmorethantheAFL.

Athleticism

BYKHUSHAALVYAS

henIwasaboutthree-anda-halfyearsold,mybrother insistedIstartplayingcricket. Thedrawcardswereobvious. Skill,coordination,massexcicementanda playingculturesecondtonone.Ofcourse, beinglndianensuredIwasnostrangerto thesportandalwayssawitis'ourgame'. Soitcameasabitofasurprisewhenthat verysamebrotherofmineinsistedIstart watchinganothergameentirelynewtome.

Theballwasred,andlikeincricket, italsohadstitches.Beyondthat,the differenceswereobvious.Fourgoalposts oneitherside,aballwhichlookedlike ared,elongatedeggandabsolutegiants competingagainstoneanotherwhich mademedoubtwhetherthisgamewould haveitsown"Little"master.AussieRLiles

FootballandtheAPLwasundoubtedlya farcryfromanything1wasusedto,yetit ishasveryquicklybecomemyfavourite sport.

Likemostpeople,entertainmentinsport stemsfromanabilitytoconnectwith thegame,participateandwitnesshuman athleticismatitsabsoluteelitepeak.To

WhatappealstomeaboutAFLandwhy itsplayersconstantlyhavemeinaweisthe sheerathleticismrequiredbyeachandevery player.Thissportisamassive,uniquely Australianspectacleshowcasingpeak humanstrengthandcompetitiveness.

Thinkofeveryoneofyomfavourite sport5.Thinkofthesortofbroadskills thatarerequiredtosucceedinthatsport. Throwthemallinablenderandout emergesagamewhichputseachofthese qualitiestothetest.Preciseaccuracy, technicalfinesse,strategy,strength,agility, massiveleapsandmid-airscreamers. Seriously,ifyouliketheclassiccatches segmentateverycricketmatch,you'regoing coloveAFL.

Diversity

Weoftenhearthatpareoftheallure ofsportstemsfromitsabilitycobring peoplefromallwalksoflifetogetherto celebrateacommonpassion.Assomeone whoisAustralian-lndian,theopportunity cocelebrateandencouragediversityis somedungchatisincrediblyimportantto me,asIimagineitiswithmanyofus.After watchingafewgamesasayoungster,what developedmypassionevenmorewasthe focusondiversitywithintheAFLitself.

ThattheAPLhasspecilicIndigenous

and1vfulticulruralRounds topromotethehistoryand LmiquecultureofAustralia speaksforitself.Butwhat's moreimpressiveandgenuinely hearr-,varmingistbeAFL's continuedefforttopromote wellbeingamongstminorities acrossAustraliathroughits variousgrassrootssporeand culnrraldevelopmentprograms.

It'sthiscelebrationof multicultmalismthatmakes thisgametrulyAustralian;a gameforanyonefromany background.

Excitement

Itgoeswithoutsayingthat ultimately,muchofthe enjormentfromsporecome_s fromtheexcitementitgenerates. Picnrrethis:TheSydneySwans aredownbyseveralgoals throughoutthematch.Inaill.St quarterblitztl1eysnatchvictory fromthejawsofdefeat.Or theRichmondTigers,trailingformostof tl1egame,kickagoalafterthesirentoseala victoryfortheunderdogsoverSydney.These typesofmatchesoccmonaregularbasis whereeveryterunisinwithafightingchance. Allthisexcitementacrosstl1eyearthen culminatesinahugegrandfinalwhichpacks outtheMCGandrivalstl1eattendancelevels

ofmajorsportingeventsliketheCricket

Withareamforvirtuallyeverymajorcity orstateacrossthecotmr.ry,whatareyou waitingfor?Getbehindyourteainand joinmeforwhatshouldbeanabsolutely cracking2017seasonintheAPL!

IRDUND♦I

NABAFLWomen'sGrand Final Venueand Time TBA

Double-hoadermatch-pl.ayt'daftora2017JLTCommunity Seriesmatch,Gates.wm bf!openedtod'lepublicfOf' rrHe-nttytotheNABAFLWomen'smatchnttJ\Ctolldofthe th rdquorteror�prec:eding.JLTCommunltySeriesmatdl. Atid<etwi01't?cdtobepurchasedforentrytothe JLTCommunitySerJesmatchInitsentirety.

Double-hecidermatch-plil;ye<Ibeforea2017JLTCommunity Seriesmatch. Atkkettothe2017JLTCommunltySeries matchwlll needto bepurchasedforentryto bothmatches..

UnstopP.ableIndia await r�juvenated

On the eve ofa pivotal chapter in modern cricket's most passionate rivalry, India find themselves in the unusual position ofbeingfavourites to whitewash Australia

BY RITAM MITRA

Fouryearsago,theAustralia□ cricketteamendureditsworstevertourofIndia,andarguably ofanycountry,whenthe unsettledtourists,beleaguered byimernaldivisionsanddisciplinary issues,succumbedmeeklytOabuoyant hometeam,whichreco.rcledfou.rwins inarestseriesforthefirsttimeinits 81-yearhistoryMorerecently,asurging Indianteamrepeatedthatfeatagainsta haplessEngland,nodoubtwatchingon whileAustralialimpeditswaythrough aturbulentyetseminalliomesummer, whichinvolvedalmoscasmuchsoulsearchingasicdidfetchingtheball

frombeyondtheboundaryropeAhead ofAustralia'simminenttourofthe subcontinent,Indiaarethetop-ranked testside,ru1dthetouristsnumber2;yet youwouldbeatoddswithfansofboth teams,formercricketers,bookmakersand,onesuspects,theAustraliancricketers themselves-ifyoufavouredanythingbut a4-0resultinLidia'sfavour. We ' vecrunchedtl1enumbers,checked thefacesandanalysedtheplayers-here's ourrakeonwhatwiJJmakeorbreaka highlyanticipatedseriesbetweenthe fiercestofrivals.

Familiar and fresh faces

Asurpr.isetobeginwithistl1acofthe squadslikelytofeacurei.11tl1eseries,both willhaveretainedatleastsevenplayers fromthe2013tour.Eachsidehaslost greatplayers,ru1dleaders,sincethelast tour.WhileAustraliahasfarewelled MichaelClarke,11irchellJohnsonand ShaneWatson,Indiahavesaidgoodbyeto

MSDhoni,SachinTendulkarandVi.render Sehwag.But,basedonthecomposition oftheirmostrecentpla)�ngXls,Australia istl1emore"serried"team,albeitthisisa misnomer;Australia'splayingXIinIndia isasuncertainastheycome Thedifferenceofcomse,Liesinthe newbloodRelativenewcomerstotl1e Indiansec-upincludeKarunNai.t,Jayru1t YadavandKLRabul,eachofwhom knowshO\vtoscorebiginsubcontinental conditionsagainsttop-flightopposition However,Australia'sentirebattingorder iseitl1eruntestedorunproveninthe subcontinent.Thebattingaverages, inparticular,don'tmakeforpleasant reacting:Warner(24),Smith(40)andWade (18)havenotmade500runsbetween them,whileUsmanKhawaja,along withyoungstersPeterHandscomband MatthewRenshaw,areyetcoplayinIndia Australia'sfornmeswill,toagreat extent,dependontheirrisingstars-Smith and\Varnercannotbecountedontocarry

thesideastheyhaveovertlielastfew bornesummers.

SmithvKohli

Thepre-eminentbatsmenoftheir generation,thetalismanicpresenceof thesetwocaptainsisunrivalledinworld cricket.TbeimportanceofSteveSinith andVi.ratKohlitotheirrespectivebatting ordersisaredundantcliscussion;their talentisimmutableItistheirabilitytolead thatformsafascinatingsub-plot. TakeSmith.Thiswillbethebiggest restofhiscaptaincyyet;hestandsatthe helmofamotleycrew6JJedwithbits-andpiecesall-rounders,ahastily-assembled mixofyoucbandwisdom,spinnerswho occasionallyspintheball,andadepleted fast-bowlingarsenalSmithwillbesmarting fromadisastroustourofSriLanka,and hewillbavelearnedplenty,butgivenhis questionablemanagementofNathan Lyonduringthehomest1mmer,itisopen todebatehowwellhewillleadtheless-

experiencedO'Keefeandpotentialdehutant leg-spinner1fachellSwepson.

Kohli,ontheorherha.nd,hastherare chancetoleadhiscountrytowhatwould certainlybeitsmostsuccessfulsummerin history-thechancetodefeatboththeold enemyandthenewenem)'inconsecutive serjesisararity.Rarerstillistheopporturuty tohumiliatethembothinfrontofan adoringhomecrowd.Remember,inAshwi.n andJadeja,Kohlihasthetwobestsubcontinentalspinnersintheworldathis disposal-anditmakesrusjobthatmuch easierthanSmjth's.

ToSmith,avoidinga4-0whitewashwill beavictory;toKohli,anythjnglesswould beinexcusable.

In a spin

Australiahavefourspin-bowlingoptionsin theirsquad,andgettingthemixrightwillbe critical.focumbenttweaker,andAustralia's greatest-everoff-spinnerNathanLyon willbeunderenormouspressuretodeliver results,withrusinabilitytobuildpressure inSriLankaleavinghimvet-ymuchiothe spotlight.SteveO'Keefe,theveteranleftarmspinnerwhohasmadeasteadyyet unspectacuhrstarttohisTestcareer,ismore likelytotieupanend,butlesslikelytoturn aball.Thetwootheroptions,leg-spinner MitchellSwepsonandpart-timerGlenn Mai..'Well,arenotevenassuredagame. foiliafindthemselvesblessedwithspinbowlingoptions;JayaocYadavformsthe perfectfoilfortheindefatigableAshwin andJadeja,withMishra(shouldhebe selected)waitinginthewingstopickupthe scraps.Eachbringssomedungilifferentto thetable,anditisastrategythatAustralia haveattemptedtoemulate-atleastwith theirselections.

Australia'ssquadsuggestsadesiretobeat

Indiaatitsowngame;thereareonlythree seamersinthesquad,withPatCumnws andJamesPattinsonfailingtoreceivea calJ-up.Givend1eimmenseworkloads ofStareandHazlewoodi.nrecentti.mes, however,tbjsputsimmensepressureonthe largelyinexperiencedAustralianspinners comanufacture20wkketsineachmatch. Luckily,intheircounterparts,theywillhave ampleopportunitytolearnfromthebest.

AdamGikhristrecentlydescribedIndia asacountrythat"weighsyoudown",but theslightesthintoffoiliancomplacency couldsoonseetheshoeontl1eotl1er foot,andtheJndianplayersareawarethat anythinglessthanawbitewasbwillbe perceivedasafailure.

\'(/ebaveamomenttopauseaheadof writinganotherchapterinmoderncricket's mostpassionately-contestedrivalry.Trus writer'spreiliction?4-0toIndia,withtwo inningsvictories.

,, Australia's fortuneswill, to a great extent, depend ontheir rising stars. Smith and Warner cannot be countedonto carrythe side, as theyhave over thelast few home summers ,,

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Banana based snacks for school and after

BY ANUJA VIJAY

tissaid,"Jv[orhersholdtheirchildren's handsforawhile,buttheirhearts forever''.Jbelievethatthefoodwecook forourchildrenholdsaspecialplace intheirheartsandcreatesbeautiful memories.Oneofthepersistentchallenges forworkingmumsisfindingwaystofeed thekidssomethinghealthyandnutritious thatsciJItastesyummy.It'snotalwayseasyco tantalisethoselittletastebuds,bmthereis nothingmorerewardingthanseeingahappy babywithafulltummyandanalertmind. Thisissue,thescarisbanana.A wholesomefoodburstingwiththegoodness ofvitamins,mineralsandfibre,bananais apowerpackofenergyandhelpsinbone development.Bananasareagreatsnack forschool(bewaretheschool-bagsquash, though)andforafterschool,tryoneoftl1e preparationspresentedhere. •

Whole wheat banana bread

dC1

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup whole wheat flour

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

½ cup sugar

½tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. baking powder

1/3 cup walnuts

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

""""111111111······················· .

Whole wheat banana pancakes

1 cup whole wheat f our

1 banana mashed

1 tbsp. honey

1 tsp. ghee

½ cup milk

r"

Mix all ingredients together to form a free f owing batter.

Heat a pan and add 1 tsp ghee. Pour the batter to make a pancake and let it cook evenly on both sides.

Repeat as necessaryto make more

Chop walnuts and keep in the oven for 10minutes or untillightly toasted.

In one bowl, mix dry ingredients - sugar, four, salt, baking soda and baking powder.

In another bowl, mix wet ingredients- eggs, mashed banana, butter and vanilla extract.

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients together.

You just need to mix all ingredients together using a spoon, no beating

required like with cakes.

Add toasted walnuts to the mixture.

Pour in a greased pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until you insert a tooth pick and it comes out clean.

Serve warm or keep for your child's lunchbox.

Tip: The key rule of using banana in cooking is to use ripe ones.The riper your banana, thesweeter your final product.

Power smoothie ts

1 banana

½ cup milk/almond milk

1 tbsp. rolled oats Cinnamon powder, pinch

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend together until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Serve Immediately

Tip: In hot weather, you couldadd ice to make this a refreshingly cool drink

MATRIMONIALS

SEEKING BRIDES

MatchrequiredforaweU-establishedActuarisc,handsome,HinduPLU1jabiboy,6ft3in,35 yearsold,slim,fair.CitizenofAustraliaandUK.Lookingforbeautiful,call,fair,educated git:!fromaculruredfamily.Castenobar.Respondwithphotoandprofiletopuran@ prasand.com.auorcall+61412563757

HinduPllnjabiparentslookingforasu.itablematchfortheirson,26,basedinSydney, withgoodmixofIndianandmodernvalues,graduatedfromareputedAustralian muversit:ywithfirstdasshonours,wellsettledandworkingwithconsnltingcompany.We prefergraduates.Email:jvaid3l2@gmail.com

IndianChristianProtestantparentsseekingastutablematchfortheir36-year-oldson,a SoftwareEngineer,bornandbroughtupinAustralia.PreferProtestantgirlbetween28 and34years.Email:sammy5073@gmail.com,Mob:0403836360

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SEEKING GROOMS

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SuitablematchforAustraliancitizen,Sydney-based,Sikhgirl.199-1born,170cm,qualified charteredaccountant,workingforAustralia'sleadingbank.Parentshighlyeducatedand wellsettledinSydney.Pleaserespondcohs52216a@gmail.com

Seekingprofessionallyqualified,settledmatchforSydney-based,nevermarried, Auscitizen,Hindu,PunjabiKhatri,43,5'3",slim,fair,attractivegit:!.Girlispostgraduate andisworking.inagoodpositioningovernmentorgarusation.Pleasesenddetailswith phoco:Indsyd2016@gmail.com

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•AustralianProfessionalEducationInstitutePtyLtdreservestherightoffinalinterpretationfortheaboveoffers

ARIES March 21 - April 19

This month you will feel in a motivated and energetic mood. You have a list of things to do and you are determined to get things done.You willfind ways of making extra money but you need to makesure you do not overspend. Romantically, you will be feeling content and happy. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep as you seem to be burning yourself out.Take some time out to sort out matters at home.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

This month you will be concentrating on your business and implementing new ideas with regard to bringing in new clients. If you are working for someone, you will be looking at new job opportunities as you may be a little restless. Relationships are a little unsettled and you may decide to let things roll asthey are for now.You are advised to take care of your health as you seem to have a lower back issue that has been troubling you lately.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

You will be feeling like you are not sure if you are coming or going this month.There is a lot of energy around you that is making you feel restless andimpatient.There will be some friends or relatives visiting from abroad.Take some time to look at your diet and exercise regime as you are feeling a little low on energy.Your partner may be a bit moody and troublesome, but you know how to handle them.

CANCER June 21 - July 20

You have been trying to move on with life and you are now ready to take that final plunge.This month you will be thinking about moving to another house, or maybe even another state. You will also be looking at your career as you are now ready for a change. Lovely energy of movement and motivation surrounds you.There will be someone you are interested in romantically who may also be living where you are planning to move.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

�-"i,ilt!J��r.1 This month you will be going through some testing times, but you will get through with ease and patience. You have a tendency to want everything to be completed immediately. There will be some matters relating to property that need your attention. A family member may not be feeling too well, but they will soon bounce back. Finances and career seem to be going well, but get excited as you are in line for a promotion and more money.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

You have your hands full with family matters and your home this month. You will be feeling slightly over tired and need to pace yourself.There will be some exciting news with regard to your partner's workwhich would mean more money coming in.There will also be some stress around your children, as they will be confused with regard to learning or what they want to study. Property matters andmatters relating to your vehicle will need your attention.

PREDICTIONS FOR FEB 2017

BY NANCY JADE ALTHEA

LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22

This month you willbe wanting to travel and get some matters of finance sorted out.You are trying to get your financial affairs and will in order.There will be some complications regarding taxation that you will need to deal with and pay. Do not let these matters go unattended. Romantically, you will be feeling a little less enthusiastic with your partner as you are just feeling quite tired and worn out. Take some time for yourself and recharge.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

You will want to make some movement with regard to matters of the heart this month. You are feeling as though there are things that need to be discussed and dealt.Valentine's Day stirs your emotions. Financially, you are looking at your investments andwanting to make some changes with regard to your property. Children will need your attentionthis month and you will needto paysome outstanding bills. You will be thinking of booking a holiday.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

This month you willbe travelling with work and dealing with some difficult clients. You can handle them with your charm and diplomacy.There will be some extra work on your shoulders as there seem to be a number of colleagues leaving your workplace. Try to maintain your routine.Your partner will be in the mood to travel andstart planning your summer holidays. Financially you are saving, but allow yourself to splurge a little when it comes to relaxation.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

You will need to make sure you get proper rest and relaxation this month as you will be working long hours. There is a lot going on. You will be thinking of buying another property, as you are now looking at an extra income.You willalso be looking at possible renovations. Travel plans and meeting old friends will be on your agenda. Romance is not on the cards as of now, but this may change in the near future.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

This month you willbe busy.You will need to find afine balance as you do not have enough time for yourself. Home life will be happy and cordial.You are planning to meet a relative you have not seen for a while andthis will be quite nerve racking for you.There may be some matters relating to property that you will be helping your parents with. A sibling is also going to be needing your help.

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

You will have a calendar full of activities this month, in line with your desire to achieve a lot more this year.You have set out some goals and you will be making plans to buy yourself a new car. There will be some news relating to a possible job opportunity.You will be feeling quite energetic, taking on tasks and getting things done. Make sure you get those tests done, you will be fine and are panicking for no reason.

KAABIL

STARRING: Hrithik Roshan,Yami Gautam, Suresh Menon, NarendraJha, RonitRoy, Rohit Roy

DIRECTOR: SanjayGupta I ,..-; ' ,.,

Loosely inspired from the 2013 Korean film Broken, which was based on a novel written by the Japanese writer

Keigo Higashino, Kaabil is a morality I tale wrapped in a fascinating revenge drama.

Rohit Bhatnagar (Hrithik Roshan) is a blind dubbing artist, whose newly-wed wife, Supriya (Yami Gautam) a pianist, who is also blind, is raped by Amit Shetlar (Rohit Roy), the youngerbrother of local MLA Madhav Rao Shellar (Ronit Roy) and his friend Wasim, the son of a

Hari Jassal MortgageBrokersince2011

butcher.

When the couple approach police to file a complaint, they are rebuked and turned away. Disappointed, they return home only to realise that the perpetrators of the crime, are emboldened to repeatthe crime. Soon, Supriya takes the drastic step of ending her life.

With no hope left for justice, Rohit considers vengeance as his only recourse, and so he throws an open challenge to Inspector Amol Chaube (Narendra Jha) and his assistant that he would take revenge for his wife's death by executing the perpetrators. He tells them that his ingeniously planned execution would neither be detected nor solved. In other words, he would commit a perfect crime. How he goes about keeping his word, forms the crux of the narrative.

A three-way game of cat and mouse chase ensues between Rohit, as he hunts the culprits, and the police hunting him.The drama and action that blurs the line between the victim and the perpetrators of crime, is exciting. But the script lacks the chutzpah of an engrossing, nail-biting thriller.

With a blend of romance and thrill designed to suit the Indian audience, the story adapted by Vijay Kumar Mishra, is engrossing. But unfortunately, the pace of the story telling is its undoing. Also, the tell-and-show technique used for the plot progression, robs the audience of its thrill factor.

On the directorial front, the frst hour

focuses on the romance in a perfunctory manner and makes the inciting moment seem forced. From the very word go you are compelled to anticipate trouble from Amit and his friend Wasim. Also most of the hero's journey is dealt superficially. The complex issues are smoothened with cinematic liberties.

The second hour can't sustain the initial energy, as the story focus becomes diffused and an excessive flashbacks andtime jumps cause some narrative confusion.

On the performance front, while Yami and Hrithik are charming, their portrayal of a blind couple, with unblinking eyes and robotic movements is far from natural, making the characters seem unconvincing.

Ronit Roy in his introductory scene tries to emulate Nana Patekar as the Marathi-speaking MLA, but he soon runs out of steam. Rohit Roy playing his brash younger brother is effortless.

NarendraJha as Inspector Chaube and his assistant have their moments to shine.

The music is nothing extraordinary and the item number 'Haseeno Ka Deewana', a remix of the yesteryear song from the 1981 film Yaarana, is just run-of-the-mill.

The action sequences are wellchoreographed.

Overall, the film does not offer any tension nor a gripping portrait of a grieving husband. It is a mediocre fare at its best. TroyRibeiro

RAEES

STARRING: Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Sidd.iqui and Mahira Khan

DIRECTOR: Rahul Dholakia

It's the same old wine - hooch wine - in a not-so-new battle, and I do mean battle.

Prohibition in Gujarat is the playground for this pulsating saga of twisted morality. As the goodpoliceman Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) wages

an all-out war against hooch seller Raees Khan (Shah Rukh Khan). What emerges from the smoke, fire and ashes is a kitschy 1980s-style potboiler that tells the story of a gangster'sprotege who grows into a Robin Hoodlum, the do-gooder whose Ammi (Sheeba Chadha, so brilliant and yet such a fugitive figure in the screenplay) teaches him that no job is too small or petty. Taking that maternal advice a bit too seriously (probably uttered by the short-lived Ammi-jaan in an unguarded

moment after she may have heard it being said by Alok Nath), Raees spends the next 40 years of his life and two hours of ours, selling illicit liquor and killing opponents with an impunity that defines death by Dawoodian ideology.

A hai-haifor a hai and bomb for a bomb.

There is plenty of gratuitous action, rapidfire movement andswift reflexive responses to violent impulses. But Raees never succeeds in getting its act all together. It's all too hazy, scattered andsketchy, except when Nawazuddin walks in as the ·good cop' who vows he willget Raees by hook or crook.

Nawaz's Majmudar is funny without trying to be. Habituated to being transferred on his job, he insists on his seniors giving their orders in writing, and when he realises that the sweets he is savouring have come from his arch-enemy, he continues to nibble on them while reiterating his vow to get the bootlegger.This is a man who probably laughs twice a year and that too because his wife expects him to.

While Nawazuddin makessure his character is coherently defined, Shah Rukh's Raees remains surprisingly hazy, and we are not talking about his moral values alone. It's the way he plays Raees, as though he doesn't really like the man for his immoral acts. But what to do? He must do the job to the best of his ability.

At many points in the plot, Shah Rukh's Raees falters as he attempts to come to terms with the rapid changes in his fortunes. Failing to fnd a feasible centre to his character's doddering ethics, Shah Rukh plays Raees with an arrogant indifference.

In his defence, the material provided by the writers (Rahul Dholakia, Harit

, NSW Officeof ......,.,., StateRevenue

Mehta, Ashish Vashi, Neeraj Shukla) is at best derivative. We have seen the same story about the rise and fall of the 'Gangster With The Bloodied Gun· in scores offilms by Ram GopalVarma and Anurag Kashyap.

There is nothing even remotely novel in the shootouts and the other shindigs (the latter includes a sudden sunny swing of Sunny Leone's 'Laila' kind into an item song). Even the tender relationship that Raees shares with his coy wife Asiya (Mahira Khan, assuming the Mere mehboob persona all pert, pouty and silky) has been done so much more effectively by Manoj Bajpayee and Shefali Shah in Ram Gopal Varma s Satya.

Such considerations are perhaps unwarranted in Raees. Director Rahul Dholakia attempts to assemble an inherently messy saga of gangsterism set in the 1980s, told in the way films were narrated in that era. There is even an action sequence in a drive-in theatre where an Amitabh Bachchan film plays while Raees intimidates a builder.

Deliberately stagey and selfconsciously 'retro', Raees gathers its strength from the voluptuous resources of drama in the protagonist's life and the power of the narrative to make cliches come alive by their defiant reiteration. The director knows his material is weather-beaten and he doesn't pretend it is any other way. The shoot-outsfilled with bombast and bravado, are from an era when such violence was considered macho.

At the end, when Raees's world falls apart with a close encounter of the 'thud' kind, there is no surprise left in the plot. It isn't only Raees who has nowhere to run to.

SubhashK.Jha

Land taxsurchargeforforeign persons

The 2016 NSW Budget introduced a 0.75 per cent surcharge land tax to be paid byforeign persons whoown any residential land in NSW, including theirprincipalplace of residence. The surcharge is in addition to any land tax which may be payable.

Aforeign person may be a person, corporation, trustee, beneficiary or government, among others. This includes people who do not usually live in Australia. Australian citizens are not foreign persons.

Foreign persons will receive assessment notices from March 2017.

To find out more, visit www.osr.nsw.gov.au/surcharge

STRONG ROLES FOR STRONG WOMEN

Kangana Ranaut, who will soon be seen as 'Jaanbaaz (fearless) Julia', an actress who travels, performs and entertains soldiers of the British Indian Army in Vishal Bhardwaj's period drama Rangoon, says the film is a perfect Women's Day watch as it's about a strong woman.

The petite 29-year-oldhas built up a reputation for herself as a strong woman, not holding back about broken relationships, or other actors who were born with the proverbialsilver spoon, and evolving an enviable style quotient.

But hang on, Fearless Julia, does that name ring a bell? Oh yes, the character's based on Fearless Nadia, aka Hunterwali, aka Mary Ann Evans, the Australian actor who moved to India in the 1930s and found fame as a stuntwoman.

Hmmm, how we wish a real life Aussie actress could have taken on that role Kangana may be a strong woman, but she is not exactly known for a Hunterwali vibe. Nakharewali, now that's something else. Lately, Kangana has taken to driving around Mumbai in an exquisite vintage car. Clever promotional gimmickusing a vehicle that features in the film.

Kangana drove to the airport recently in the magnificent car, en route to Jammu and Kashmir. The film's promotions willbe launched at an army base there, given the film, set in 1940s India, is centred around troops that were entertained by Julia.

Co-starring Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor, the film is due for release on 24 February, ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.

KABIRKHANANDSALMAN KHANALLSETTODELIVER AGAIN

It'llbe their third film together as director and actor. Come this Eid, everyone will be going gaga over Tubelight, the Salman Khan-starrer directed by Kabir Khan.

The duo have workedtogether inthe 2015 hit film Bajrangi Bhaijaan and the 2012 blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger. But this time round, it's going to be very different.

"If you thought Salman was special in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, then his performance in Tubelight is five times better," Kabir said recently. Worth waiting for? You decide!

VARUN DHAWANINSALMAN MODE

Varun Dhawan is all excited about Judwaa2, his next film in which he reprises the double role of Salman Khan in the 1997 filmJudwaa.

It's a readymade role for him to move to the next level, and boy does he know it... have you seen him on Koffee With Karan lately, allso cocky and confident? Nah, just kidding, we think he's a cutie, can't wait to see him in Badrinath ki Dulhaniya with that other cutie Aalia Bhatt. Gosh, the sheer energy of the two on KFK nazar ne lag jaye.

Anyway,Judwaa 2, directed by Varun's father David Dhawan, also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu, and is scheduledfor release on 29 Sept.

RANADAGGUBATl'STRIBUTE TOTHENAVY

Rana Daggubati's new film The Ghazi Attack is set in the Indian Navy, based on a true event in the 1971 war with Pakistan. Pakistanisubmarine Ghazi had attempted to destroy the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

At a recent promotional event, Rana said,"I think this is a very important story to tell. Also, we've seen many films that glorify the army and the police. This is somewhere a tribute to our navy."

Rana is one of the few lucky owners of a Bajaj V motorbike, made from the recycled metal of the much-loved aircraft carrier INS Vikrant when ii was decommissioned.

The film will see him playing naval officer Lt. Commander Arjun Varma, who was said to have remained underwater for 18 days during the war.

"Besides my love for the bike, I am also a keen deep sea diver," Rana

revealed. "There are a lot of underwater stunts in the film."

He claimed he missed sunlight while shooting 18 daysnon-stopunderwater the Telugu-Hindi war-at-sea drama.

"When you haven't felt the sun on your face and you've been breathing recycled air for months, getting on the surface of water and on land is like freedom at last!"

Recollecting the experience of shooting underwater in a submarine setting, he said, "The sailors possess tremendous grit as they live life without surfacing from underwater for days altogether, breathing the same air virtually every day."

Directedby debutant Sankalp, the f lm is partially based on the book Blue Fish, penned by the director himself.

"For the last one year of my life, I've been researching the incident and what India went through during that war. INS Vikrant was one of themost celebrated warships in the Indian naval feet. I know the importance of it at that time. It's lovely to be part of the entire thing," he said.

Also starring Taapsee Pannu, Kay Kay Menon and Atul Kulkarni, The Ghazi Attack releases on 17 Feb.The f lm also stars Nassar and late actor Om Puri in a pivotal role.

Rana also awaitsthe 28 Aprilrelease of Baahubali: The Conclusion starring Prabhas,Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj.

BANATERAHO,MUNNABHAI

Talking of reprisals, Arshad Warsi will reprise the much-loved character of Circuit in the third film in the Munnabhai franchise.

He revealed that the script for the third instalment is ready.

"Rajkumar Hirani the director spoke to me to give an idea about the story. It is simply superb, very relevant to the times. He was peaking at a press conference for his upcoming film lrada. Thefilm willgo on the f oors as soon as Sanjay Dutt's biopic is complete next year.

Talking about the film, the 48-yearold actor said, "You will soon see the same innocent idiots coming up witha

UP-TO-DATE NEWSON WHAT'S HOTAND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD

SALMAN KHAN

social issue once again.They willmake you see the world we want to see. It's a feelgood story."

Meanwhile, let'swaitfor lrada, directed by Aparnaa Singh and featuring Naseeruddin Shah and Divya Dutta. It hitsthe screens on 17 Feb.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT: ANUSHKA SHARMA

Her first production was the gritty thriller NH10, and now she is coming up with her second outing Phillauri, which is a quirky tale featuring Anushka as a ghost named Shashi.

While asked about choosing an outof-the-box subject, Anushka said, "I think the idea came out because my brother Karnesh and I wanted to tell a different story and present a new idea as well.That is why NH10 was made, which was well-received by people.

"Similarly, the Phi//auritrailer is getting a good response in all aspects. The vision is to create good content and introduce new talent. It's a very relatable character. I have tried to be honest playing the role. Finally, it depends on the audience how they react to the film."

The film is scheduled for release on 24 March.

CLICHES, OR QUIRKY CONCEPTS?

There's much going on in the trailer of Phillauri- but it has little to go for itself.

It is a beehive of activity with a beautiful ghost played by Anushka Sharma hounding a nerdy NRI (played by Suraj Sharma of LifeOfPi fame) while a gaggle of relatives and freeloaders addto the progressively increasing volume of intended vitality.

Suraj Sharma is clearly the poor man's Dev Patel.Throughout the trailer, he is a screechy, whiny mass of bewilderment - something like Omi Vaidya in 3 Idiots.

Suraj clearly can't come to terms with being accosted by a ghost. Hopefully, we can, when the film releases.

This is ruralPunjab. We all know what that means.There will be noisy revellers, a whole lot of head-banging Bhangra, wide-open spaces flled with colour the works. And if it is Punjab, there is boundto be that mandatory shot of the Golden Temple. And guess what?

Female fans of Diljit Dosanjh get a bonus because they get the Punjab's superstar to emerge from the holy waters of the Golden Temple. Dosanjh clearly wants to slothimself as India's first turbaned stud. Our best wishes to him.

If Dosanjh is a stud on demand, he is also a singer by choice. As the roving ghost's past love, we see him wandering across spaces in Phillaur with a song on his lips and an ektara in

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

NATASHA POONAVALA or KIM KARDASHIAN in BALMAIN?

+ Share your views with us on our Facebookpage /lndianLinkAustralia

his hands.

Just how all of thisfits into the comic cosmos of a film that is eager to show us its quirky side, only time will tell.

In the meanwhile, the trailer leaves us with a sense of infuriating incompleteness. There are seeds of novelty in the plot. But the intended humour is way too predictable. The intended novelty of a nerd accidentally married to a ghost in a tree somehow gets frittered in a free-for-all of frisky romantic yearnings.

Going by the trailer, it seems doubtful that first-time director Anshai Lal has been able to hold together the slippery satirical strands of the whimsical rural fable. But miracles do happen. We have one in the film.

A ghost released from a tree that the nerdy NRI is persuaded to marry because he is maanglik.

Not sure though whether mocking superstition actually helps us to understand why it exists, let alone eradicate it.

Two stars for this trailer.

WHAT TWEETY BIRD TOLD US THIS WEEK

Can you match the following tweets to the stars that tweeted them?

Deepika Padukone, Twinkle Khanna, Karan Johar, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan

Boys and girls new song from Raees coming up in a bit. Didn't make it to the film butwillmake it to ur heart I hope.

App download kiya? #BeinglnTouch

It's 37 years of 'Do aur Do Panch' a happy ride filled with some delightful moments!

When plays can be banned for using the word 'Bra' here's a bit from my book readwonderfully by @ AzmiShabana about the best bras in the world

As Padmavati I can assure you that there is absolutely no distortion of hlstory.#Padmavati

This Holi,jam with @varun_dvn and @ aliaa08 http://bit.ly/BadriKiDulhania

What is KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN thinking here?

Send in your responsesto win@indianlink.com.au and win a movie pass

What'sthe chitchat between DEEPIKA PADUKONE and ELLEN here?

Ellen: Ok, challenge accepted - it's going to be a badminton match between Deepika and me.

SANJANA PUROHIT WESTMEAD, NSW

Sanjana wins a ticket to see Raees

Awar sallaroun

Prominentpeople who deserved an award this Australia Day/Republic Day

BY LP AYER

January26isnotooJyaspecialday ofnationalimportancetoIndiaand Australia.Thisdaymeansmuchmore toaselectgroupofcitizensinbod1 d1esecountriesastheyaregiven awardsford1eirexemplaryserviceinvarious walksoflife.Honouringtheirdistinguished citizensispartofthesocialfabricofmost countriesinmeworld,andeachcountryhas itsownmethodofselectingsuchpersons andnomenclatureforthoseawards.

InIndiaitrangesfromBharatRamato PadmaSriwhereastheAustralianhonours havecategorieslikeAO(Officerofthe OrderofAustralia),Al'vf(M=berofthe OrderofAustralia)andOA.t\'[(Medal.ofthe OrderofAustralia).

Ihavenoclueofd1elndianselection processexceptperhapscoguessitisona 'whoyouknow'basis.Thankfully,Down Underitisalotmoreopen.Anyone cannominateafellowAustraliancitizen consideredtohavemadeanoutstanding achievement.TheAustralianHonours Secretariat,anindependentbody, considersallthenominationsandmakeits recommendationstotheGovernorGeneral. ocbeingprivytomeselectionprocess,I cooktheLibenyofcomingupwithaListof prominentpersonswhoareworiliyofsome award,basedonwhatIhavereadinthe mediaofmeirfeats.

KevinRudd: Citizeno the fV'orld everonetobecoweddownbyobstacles, andnotcontentwimhisclainlstohave savedAustraliafromtheGFCbyemptying awarchestofsome$32billionsquirreled awaybythepreviousCoalitiongovernment, heUNearthedbisambitiontosavethe worldtobecometheUNSecretaryGeneral.

UNdaumedbyAustralia'svetocohis approachtoendorsehimford1ejob,begot UNclisclosedsupportfromanUNknown Africancountry,Botswana.Turnbullmrned downbis'endorsemeorelse'messageand, alas,theworldbaslostagreatopportunity.

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Someaboveawardissomeconsolation.

NickKyrgios:Sports111a11ofthel'ear Nickoff,hesaidtohisfans.W'hointhe sportsworldwoulddaresaysuchathing?He basmoregutsmanbisracquet.Histennis talentmaybematchlessbuthistemperament isnotd1atgrand;itismeoned1acstandsin thewayofhisnettinganygrandslam.Since eleventimegrandslamwinnerRodLaver basvouchedthatcrankyKyrgi"couldbethe besttennispL-lyerintheworld",whoan1.Ito acetheAustralianlegend'scomment?

DerrynHinch:GoldenlV'agonlPheel Havingfallenoffd1ewagon,d1eAustralian wineindustry'stopawardgoestothisguy forgivingaboosttomeirboozebusiness, claimingdrinkingwon'tharmbisborrowed Liver. ·atasba,thelatestexofthisfive-tin1e married,tweetedthatbeliogsbisnewliver withaAagon.Hewatereddownherclaim sayinghedrinksd1e'oddglassofwine,one thirdwine,two-thirdswater'.Doesanodd glassmakeshimsotipsyastochangehis mindthreetimesonmeBackpackersTax

bill,back-trackinghisownproposal?This formerpresenterof A C11rrentAffair(some ofiliemcooked-up),afteralife-savingliver transplant,vowednottotouchanomerdrop. Nowquotingthathissurgeonhascleared hisdrinking,heseemstohaveagolden endorsementandtheawardtoo.

Narendra Modi:AladdinM"gicu11;pAJVard Tryingto'sell'newmoneyforold,Na.rendra /Jabihasletagenieoutofthebottleinhis battletocurbcorruptionbybrii1gingblack moneyoutinilieopen.Butthelongqueues ofordinaryfolksoutsidethebankstoswap theirnotesmaybelengtheninghisodds ofwinningpublicacclaimfrom.500/1to 2000/1,atleastintheshortrun.

SalmanKhan: HoudiniEscapeLoop Itwasafourteen-yearsagaofmehit-andruncourtcaseoverchargesofcausingdeath roaguysleepingonaMumbaifootpath whiledrivingafterheavydrinking.Atlase, oneSessionsCourtjudgeDeshpandefound himguiltyofmanslaughterandhewas expectedtospendtimeinside.However,

laterd1eBombayHighCourtturneddown melowercourt'sverdictobserving"strong publicsuspicionofguiltcannotbeusedto boldapersonguilty".Inanearliercasetoo, whe.nhewaschargedwithkillingadeer, sacredtod1elocalBishnoipeople,hegot awa),.NoIndianconldbetl1atsillytoexpect ourheroSallutobelockedup.Hebears Houclioianydaybandsdown.

Donald Trump:1viultipletJIJJt11-d.s Everyprofessionalassociation.iscompeting toconferitshighesthonouronhim. AmericanHairDressersInc.givesitstop 'GoldenComb'awardforhisinimitable hairdo.TheUSConsortiumofConstruction L1dusrriesconfersirsprestigious'Master BuilderofAmerica'(nottobeconfusedwith d1ecommonplaceMBA)forhisproposal cobuildawallalongtheMexicanborder d1atwillboostmeirbusinessandpromote employment.China,ofcourse,isnotchuffed sincethiswillrivalitsGreatWallasthe ooJyman-madefeanireseenfromspace. Unformnarely,spacehereLimitsmeinlisting manyotl1erawardsforthetriumphantTnunp!

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