2017-04 Brisbane

llUBL1_51-U:R, j>awan

Luthra _

EDITOR

f:"?ajni A_nar,d Luthi-a

ASSISTANTEDITOR: ·•·KiraSpucys-Tah;�,'

CONTRIBUTORS

Jyoti Shankar, Usha Ran:.anu}am Arvi�d; Sandip Hor, Ritam Mitra,Krishna Neela_r:riraju; l='arzana Ahmad,Chitra Sudarshan Gaurav Masand, MinalKhona: Dhariya Samuel. ADVERTISll'IG l'l.i�ior,��5,}11�?

Vivek,Trivedi 02 9262 1766

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT. Charuta Joshi 0292792004

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT' , se-'i;�;ht� w;s,�a'i;. ..

Indian Link is a monthly newspaper published in English. No material, includi�g· ad'.-'.E!r�i�ernents_, designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in partor in whole without the written consent ofthe2 editor.Opinions carried in IndianLink are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by lndiait1 •Li!'lk. AU ce>r�espon,?enc:e !iho1fld ?e a��res!i�cl to: '

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Pakistan revolution can be to India's gain

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

The Karachi StockExchange Indexbadanastonishingretnrn in2016.leisupmorethan52 percentoverd1epastyear•and theWorldBankhasforecastagrowth rateof 5.2percentthisyear.Thereis nodoubtaboutit:thereisaneconomic revolutiontakingplaceinPakistan.A cotllltr)'ravagedwithissuesof terrorism andsuicidebombersisnowmaking headlinesforotherreasons.

Pakistan'smiddleclass,which dominatesoverhalf itstotalpopulation, hasbeguntoexertpres.sureonthe governmenttostimulateeconomic growth.

This,coupledwithrelativelyimproved politicalstabilityinrecenttimes,has encouragedmultinationalbusinessessuch asApple,Samsung,Unilever,Toyota and Coca Colatoinvestmore tocapture themiddleclasseconomicstrength tipped to reachovet$I trillionby2030. Mulcioationalsarebeing increasingly attractedcoPakistanwithreturnsof over 25percentbeing expectedinthismarker.

PostBRICS(Brazil,Russia,Lidia, ChinaandSouthAfrica)and�ITNT (Me.xico,Indonesia,NigeriaandTurkey), wenowhavethenewacronymVARP (Vietnam,Argentina,Romaniaand Pakistan).Pakistanisabout to jointhe ,vell-res.pected"emergingmarket"index of theMSCIwhichincludesthe24 countriesthatrepresent 10percentof worldcapitalisatio1

Aneconomically strongPakistaniswell inIndia'sinterest Irisaneighbourwhich, withapopulationof approximately 200 millionpeople,isalsomesixmmost populouscountryintheworld.Anuclear powerinitself,apeacefulPakistanallows forbothnacionstofocusonsolving theirownproblems.Theirproblems, unsurprisingly,arenotdissimilar,mese bei11ginvestmentsininfrastructure, relianceonagcicukurewid1the interlockingproblemsof water,weather anddrought increasingeducation standards,andfindingsolutionscothe energy issuesfortheirrapidlygrowing populations. However,theproblemsin cross-border terrorismhavestalledanymeaningful discussionsbetween thetwocountries. W'hilethePakisca11igovernmenthas deniedanylinkstotheseattacks,India hasrepeatedlyproventhesourceof these terrorism attackscobefromPakistan. Thesecross-borderterrorattacksneed

costopif economiccooperationisto developbetweenthetwoCOlllltries.

Todate,allrequestsandthreats fromthe Indiansidehavestalledand failed.Alsoaddingtothetensionsis themuJtibillion dollarChina-Pakistan Econon1icCorridor,partof China's "OneBeltandOneRoad"ornewSilk Roadproject•aserjesof roads,railways, pipelines,hydropowerplanesandother developmentprojects,beingbuiltfrom theXi□jiangprovince inCl1ina to Gwadar in southwesternPakistan.Passingthrough territoryinKashmir,whichIndiaclaims asitsown,thiscouldcreatefurther tensionsbeLweentherwocotllltries.

Butnow,withthechangesemerging withintheecono11-1icallyambitiousmiddle classPakistanis,chiscanchange.An optionforthe lndiangovernmentcould be to workthroughastrategy to reach outtochismiddleclass.Softdiplomacy canworkthecharmoffensive•whether throughsportinginteractionsorarts andculture,inclucli□gfilms totake advantageof thechanging demographics and winthen1iddleclassPakistani populationovercoallowformore pressureond1epoliticalsystem. ThereisarevolutiononIndia's doorstep,andafreshapproachneeds tobetakencoperhaps.findsolutionsto problemswhich havefesteredforfarcoo Jongbetween neighbours.

YOURSAY

SECTION 18C: COMMUNITYSPEAKS OUT

PAWAN LUTHRA asked how the Coalition can disregard theflow-on effects within the multicultural vote bank, whileKIRA SPUCYS-TAHAR revealed that according to an Indian Link survey, ethnic minorities will change their votes based on 1BC reform

Jasvlnder Sidhu wrote: Welldone Indian Link and Indian Link Radio for running a community survey on proposed changes to Section 18c of Racial Discrimination Act. These changes simply mean racial discrimination becomes right of the offender under the argument of freedom of speech. Changes make it ok to offend, insult and humiliate anyone in Australia due to their race, colour or national or ethnic origin.

Alex Bhathal shared the post and wrote: Indian Link I think you should amend question three of the survey to include a response for people who are voting for parties that do not support the 18C amendment. Something like: 'No. The issue is important to me, but I am already voting for politicians/ parties who do not support these amendments'.

Mlchelle Rowland MP wrote: "What a shame that a Prime Minister, who was well supported by the multicultural communities at the last election, has allowed himself to be held hostage by fringe elements in his party, advocating Trump-type policies." Well saidPawanLuthra at Indian Link.

Jett Kerrlng wrote: 18c is about people getting vexatious for stupidreasons; Like in Bill Leak's case, the hate part was in the eye of the beholder.

ATROCIOUS BEHAVIOUR MARS EXHILARATING SERIES

A thoughtful DARSHAK MEHTA worries for the way in which the noble game of cricket is now being played

John Greentree wrote: Great article! Loved the idea the visiting team can select whether to bowl or bat. Sledging should be penalised.The umpires hear what is going on.

DrAhad Khan wrote: Well said, Darshak. Competitiveness is admirable. Not giving up the game, no matter how impossible the situation looks, is admirable. Fighting 'tooth and nail' is admirable.

Coming from behind against all odds (like Laxman andDravid did with that memorable partnership), is admirable. Using one's skills with the bat and ball to turn a game inside out (like Ian Botham's single-handed effort to win) is admirable.The way the West Indies, with a 'never give up' attitude, created the first tied Test Match, is admirable.

But, SLEDGING and ABUSING an opponent is not admirable - it is despicable. The phrase "It ain't cricket" is used to describe certain unpleasant behaviours. Such is this noble game of cricket.

I agree with Darshak - players who attempt to bring this noble game of cricket into disrepute must be removed from the game.

Dhanada Mishra wrote: We played sports to learn sportsmanship! Is our cricket teaching our youngsters the values that we need so badly in the real world? asks Darshak Mehta. Brilliant as usual - a must read.

Peter Lalor wrote: Good article by my favouriteNRI. Better behaviour and pitches needed.

Peter Lalor added: He's not really an NRI. He is a great man. Born in Mumbai lives in Sydney.Tireless charity worker. LBW Trust chief of many years.

Khushroo Dastur wrote: Good article, well said.

Shlshlr Hattangadl wrote: Valid issues, Darshak Mehta.

Ryan Carters wrote: Well said, Darshak. I agree.

David Peever wrote: Poignant article. Welldone.

Clayton Murzello wrote: Splendid piece. Great perspective.

Pradeep Kasllwal wrote: Toss to be done away looks to me one of the best ways, but we have done it away by playing on neutral venues in domestic matches.

GeoffArmstrong@garmstrong61 tweeted: If cricket has reached the point where the toss must be 'dispensedwith' to ensure a fair game,then cricket is done.

Vk22 @thirdaccountvk2 tweeted: Agree on the need for better pitchesespecially Australian test pitches which are flat as roads.

Angus Livingston @anguslivingston tweeted: Indian writer says Australia doesn't doctor pitches, visiting teams should choosewhether to bat/bowl first. I think it would really be interesting andmakeTest series more exciting.

Mathew lnkson @imathew tweeted: I've long wondered if visitors getting the choice would be good, not just because even pitches would be rolled, but it provides balance against general home ground advantage.

INDIANLINKCEO PAWAN LUTHRA ON Q&A EXTRA

WOMEN'S DAY,THE AIRINDIA WAY

India's national carrier flew an all-female crew to Melbourne in celebration of International Women's Day. PREETIJABBAL reported.

Rajnl Luthra wrote: It's amazing, I've never heard a woman pilot on Aussie f ights, but they seem to be qu te common when you fly domestically in India.

DhanyaSamuel wrote: That's wonderful... Air India has f nally got something right.

HarlnderSidhu @AusHClndia retweeted: Touchdown! Congrats to the @airindiain allwomencrew who arrived in Melbourne this morning

Rajan Vayakkattll wrote: Congratulations for supercharging and motivating all Indians, especially women!

lndla6AM tweeted: congrats. Women are thefoundation for our Indian culture. Happy to see their progress.

NeelamVasudevan wrote: Fantastic! What a proud moment.

Shabblr Bootwala wrote: Great honour to the nation for their performance.

Chandra Klshore wrote: Congratulations, ladies.

RajdeepSardesal tweeted: The day the Indian male becomes a practising feminist. India will be a better place! Happy women's day! #womensday

ABC News Radio's TRACEYHOLMES continued theQ&A conversation on the 'Festival of the Arts' with studio guest Pawan Luthra, taking calls and answeringquestions.

AvlChandlok wrote: Listening to the radio last night I heard Pawan Luthra. Pretty impressive.

Manjlt Ral Handa wrote: Arts thrive only if patronised by the rich, not when paid for by the taxpayer.

Melanle Smith wrote: So many people don't seem to understand or appreciate what the arts bring to society as a whole. If kids develop reading habits early enough, they will become lifelong readers and their lives and that of others will be immeasurably enhanced in many other ways as well. Put away the iPads!

Douglas Mciver wrote: No public funding of the arts seems very much like the Americanmodel of the arts being supported by philanthropy etc. Let's not go down the American pathway!

Shauna Roche wrote: I was quite disappointed in the (admittedly few) India art galleries I was able to visit in Mumbai, Jaipur andDelhi recently.The work thatwas 'hung' was extremely interesting and vivid, but thegalleries in such poor condition I was afraid for the culture. On the other hand, there seems to be a big 'art market'which is aimed at the hyper-wealthy.

SUNNYSIDEUP!

In an Australian exclusive, RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA spoke with little Lion star Sunny Pawar

AnnSharon van Beemen-Prasad wrote: He is cute, isn't he?

Maryanne Fonceca wrote: This fills my heart with sooo muchjoy!

DavidHersantwrote:He lovesAustralia, he'd probably stand for the anthem

LETTER TO THEEDITOR

To Indian Link,

My name is Li Max Joy from Hobart. I was assaulted andracially abused by 4 boys and a girl here in Hobart, Tasmania,Australia.

I am seeking help from associations registered under the Ministry of Indian Affairs. I am trying to contact the Minister for Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj to help me. I am attaching the details and forwarding the complaint given to Tasmanian police this morning.

To Tasmanian police, Respected Sir, I am an Australian Citizen of Indian descent holding an OCI card. I am a part time taxi driver in Hobart. Driving my taxi, between 4.30am and 5am on 25th March, 2017, three boys assaulted me in the McDonald's premises in Argyle Street, Hobart.

I went to the toilet of the McDonald's andwas going back to my taxi vehicle to continue my shift. I saw four boys and a girl inside the Mc Donald's arguing with the staff. I did not order any food as they were harassing the staff. I heard the staff telling them they would be calling cops if they did not leave. When they were coming out of the store they saw me. A boy wearing a black t-shirt called out, "Why you looking at us, you blackIndian**** ." I said, "Sorry, I am not looking at you mate."

All of a sudden, with no provocation, a boy wearing a white t-shirt and the boy wearing a hat punched me continuously in the face. I tried to block them and tried to get in the store. They continuously hit me while wearing metal rings on their fingers. My face started bleeding from the right upper eye area and myjaw was hit continuously by them.

I took their photos before they left McDonald's. While I was taking a photo they again came at me and hit me again and again.I called the police for help as soon as possible and police officers attended.

I am attaching photos of my condition on attending the emergency department at Royal Hobart Hosp tal. A police officer asked me if I will stand against the men who assaulted me. I said I will stand till my last breath to make sure they will be punished under Australian law.

I hope theTasmanian police will help me and make sure these men are charged under the law. I am ready to come to court if necessary. Kindly do the needful to investigatethe case.

Yours faithfully, LI MaxJoy

INDIANS MUSTSTOPFUNDING POOR GOVERNANCE

Indian citizens have to wake up to the fact that theyfunding the lifestyles of their politicians while themselves being made to lie in eternal wait for "achhe din" wrote SANAM SHARMA

ChandraKlshore wrote: The youngpeopleshould speak out and be part of the required change

WHAT A RACIST ATTACKINMOSCOW TAUGHTME

Societys hidden racism that comes out when it's dark, is a real fear, but we can't allowfear to control us, wrote KRISHNA NEELAMRAJU

Ken Dorge wrote: A beautiful story from a beautiful human being

SALTOFTHEEARTH

DHANYA SAMUEL wrote about the holistic approach to farming atAvani boutique winery

Australla Inlndlashared Indian Link's article: One of the best places to enjoy a glass of Avani wine in Victoria is at Tulsi restaurant, ownedby Shashi Singh and her husbandDevendra.Originally from Haryana, they both moved to Australia in 1983and today own the 15-acre Avani boutique winery in Red Hill South, Victoria.

Alan Davidsonwrote: After reading the excellent story of Shashi and Devendra Singh from Avani Winery, on the Mornington Peninsula, I wrote to them asking if they would do a story for my new local online publication The Peninsula Star. Your story, just published, is terrific and I wondered if there would be a chance that I could reproduce it with credits?

It could make a cover story with the right illustration.

eav1n

Ruchir and Santana, who lived inAustralia for 22years, decided to return to Jaipur, India in 2016.

RUCHIR

lndecidingtomovefromAustraliatoIndia, wechosetoskipdoinganyderailedresearch orplanningaboucwhatwewoulddoco 'setcledown'.Infact,ciis'go-with-the-flow' spiritwasprobablywhatrnadethedecision possible.Theimpetuswassimplythechance athavingafewqualityyearswithmyparents andsupportingthemastheygrewolder.

Whileeventsincludingdisease,deathand discordrockedourfriendsandfamilies, omanchortoAustraliasuddenlyfeltnoras steadfastasbefore.LivinginIndiaseemed likeadefinitepossibility,buoyedbythe familiarityand thegeneralwarmthand connectionweexperiencedfrompeople duringourfrequenttrips.

Webadconcernsaboutourabilitytoadapt tothechangescoourecosystemsandour dailyroutines(andhowourdogs,Nlisryand Elliewouldadapt).Thedarkersideoflndia usuallyremainscamouflagedduringholiday trips-asystemandcultureinwhichdayto-dayli£ecanbefullof hurdles,painfully strenuous,andunbearably'f-can't-believecliis'ridiculousattimes.Anyway,armedwith myunfetteredoptiniisrn,(andSantana's morecautiousvariety),webidfarewelltoour

AussiefriendsandheadedtoIndia.

AlthoughnostrangerstoIndia,wehave hadtogobacktoschool,re-learningand re-calibratingourlife'sroutinecodifferent rules,protocols,norms,beliefs,ecliics, e:,..'"Pecrations,choicesandboundaries.India hasdelivereditspromiseof servingupa tasteof theentiregamutof emotions.It hasbeeninteresting,refresliing,indifferent, loving,embracing,surprising,puzzling, playful,astonishing,frustratingand bewildering,sometimesallin oneday.1vlany timeswehavehadagoodlaughattheway things are, andat ochertimeswe'velostour patience.

Wearelearningcorecognisethe magnitudeof disruptionandtoacceptthe slowpateandmeanderingnatureof cl1e voyageof 'setcllngin'.Thehardestpart hasprobablybeenaboutwhatwealwa)'S knewhappenedhere,butwemisjudged oure:,..'"])ecrationsabouthowwewould reacttothesituationsathand.lnthepast few mouthswehavebeenadjustingour e.xpecrations,'beingkindtoourselves'and regainingtheability torespondingoodhumour.

Tbesnunblingblocks?Acclimatisation

Ruchir,Santana,MistyandEllie at homeinJaipur

They share their initial experiences and thoughts on this bigmove withJYOTI SHANKAR

-Mistywassic.kandEUieisstillscaredof thenightlyfireworks.Diwaliisoverbutthe weddingsgoon.\XietoohavefaUensic.k multiplerimes.Waitingforcradiesandtheir lackof skills,toolsandprofessionalism hasbeenadampener.Wearegettingused tosensoryoverload,tonoise,rnbbish, and mayhem.Dogsarenotallowedinparksand hazardsliketraffic,garbage,andstraysmean thatourdailyrelaxingwalksarelessso.

Actl1eriskof generalising,weIndians wearourhearts andbeliefsonoursleeves. Welo\Teexpressingouropinionsandgiving advice,witl1aJotof emphasisonwhatyou 'should'or'muse'do.TI1ereisaclearand sharpdividebetween'right'and'wrong'. Logicisoftenconfoundedbytraditions andbyspecialcasesanddispensations. Conversationsareloud,dramatic,andontop-of-each-otber,muchlikethetraffic.It certainlyt.'lkesgettingusedto!

Andthehighlights?Warmconnections withfamilyandfriends,oldandnew.Culture andfood-weloveallthehappeningsand eventsinJaipur.Irisfascinatinghowhistory andtraditionareeverywhere.Thoughwe're notfullythereyer,asasongfromarecent BoUywoodfilmgoes .'Loveyou,zindagi!'

SANTANA

"So haveyousettled in nicely?"This is the question1havebeenaskedmostoftenin thepast fewmonthsand Istill struggle todelivera coherentresponse!I leftOz armedwith aJifetimeof memoriesand dozensof love-fiUed fareweUs.Weanived inJaipurandrealisedchat our aparanent renovationswerestillalong\vayaway from completionbmwent aheadwith a housewarming anyway.Wehadnodearth of peoplewillingcohelp ussettleinand giveustipsonwherecogoforwhat,which wasagreatsupporttohave.

Indiaissurelyaland ofextremesand inthe spaceof adayitdrivesmecoboth endsof the happiness spectrum,multiple times!Itis sonoisy,chaotic,dirty,dusty, hot, loving,caring,inventive,hilarious, maddeningandiospi_ringalJ atonce.

Ar themaddeningendofthespectrum, I donotadviseanyfaint-heartedindividual coundertakeanysortof renovationsin India.TheconceptofstraightJines,spirit levels,smootl1surfacesandtimelinessare aUconspicuouslyabsenthere. Havingbeen advisedthat theonlywaytherenovations would finishwouldbeforus tomove

in and evicttl1etradies,it tookweeks ofcajoling,begging,dummy-spitting andhistrionics togettheworkto 95°/c, complete andgeerid of thetradies.95% completeis ho-wI-suspectitwillstay.

Another quesdonI amoftenaskedis "DoyoumissAustralia?"Andtheanswer isyes I do, butmostofche time.icisnot a consciousmissingofthis orthat.Itis moretherealisationthatyoutakesomuch of your environmentforgranted andwhen someof iliose thingsaremissing,you rend togetfrustratedorunpleasantlysurprised.

lndiahasneverbeenaneasyplaceto live,but Australia reallyspoiltme. Iam slowlybutsteadilyseeking thewonder intl1elittle things that havealways beenamazinghere-likethesense of communityand tl1e time that everyonehas foryou;likethetinycupsofteaandcoffee youcangetanywhereandeverywhere;like thewayanythingispossiblewhennotli.i.ng should be;liketheincredible tenacity of thedispossessedandthehorrifically poor;liketl1ereallyoldplacesandtheir magicalhistories,and last butnor theleast, rediscoveri.ngthefamiliarwaysof being and acceptingIndiain alJitsextremes,tl1e wayIwasabletodowhenJ Jivedhereover 22yearsago.

Manywisepeopletel1methat it takes at .least ayearormorecotrulyfeel settledin anewplace,soaskmeagainin afewmore monthsand J mayhaveamorecoherem answer!

Anotefrom Misty and Ellie Thisplac.ehassomanywonderfulnew creatures-somanymorepigeonstohark atandshoo-off fromtl1ebalconies,and squirrelsi_osteadof possums,andratstoo!

,, India has never been an easy place to live, but Australia really spoilt me ,,

Indianpriest returns to his parish after racially-motivated attack

IndianLink.

BYUSHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

earingnoillwilltowardsbis attacker,FatherTomyKalathoor Mathew,theMelbournepriest whowasrecentlyscabbedinan isolatedbutracially-motivated hatecrime on 19_March,hasresumedduties at StMatthew's CatholicChurchinFawkner North,celebratingSundaymasswith parishioners.

The48-year-old cleric,who hails from Kerala, wasstabbedintheshoulder bya disgruntled parishioner whocook exception tohisIndian background.Hewasluckyto escapewitl1non-lifethreateninginjuries.

"YouareIndian,so youmusebeHindu orMuslimand are notqualified todeliver mass,"themanstatedbefore attackingtl1e priestwitha lmife.

Theincident took place in tl1echurch foyer,asthepriestwasabouttobeginthe 11amItalianmass.Themanhassincebeen chargedwitl1intencionalJyandrecklessly causinginjuryandwill facecourtinJune.

Narratingtheincident,FrMathewtold TnrlianLinkthattheparishioner,whowas notaregular visitor,had accostedand racially abusedhimaweekprior aboutbis ethnicity.Healsolater found omthattl1e attacker,whoisofItaliandescent,had enqLtiredabomtl1e"Indian"priest while he wasawayfor holidaysinJanuary.

"Iwasuneasyaboutbisanger towards meandmy Indianheritageand notified theParish Council,butI never expected th.ismovefrom hllll,"Fri'vfathew told

StMatthew's welcomesbelieversfrom many differentlinguistic andcultural backgroundsincluding thoseof Italian, Polish,lndian,SriLankan,Vietnamese,Iraqi aswellasAngloandlrishbackgrounds,and hascelebratedth.isdiversitybyemplO)'it,g min.iste_rsfromdifferentnationalities.

"\Wehaveawonderfulco=uniry hereandnaturallytheywereallshockedparticularly theItalians, who wereashamed bytheir compatriot'signorance,"FrMathew said."Theattackwasnodoubtthework of amentallysickpersonwhoneedsour supportandsympathy.\Veshouldprayfor suchpeoplesothattheymaynotcause harmcoothers,andtheymaybeablecoget melightof truth."

"IamalsotrulygratefultoGod for havingmadeth.isincidentforpromotingme virtueof forgivenessandGod'severloving care,"hesaid.

Downplaying tl1eracialovercones,Fr Mathewemphasisedthatitwaspure ignorancethatfuelledtheunfortunate incident.Indeed,therearenearly20mill.ion CatholicsinIndia.

"ManypeoplechinkthatIndiaisaHindu country.Theydonotrealisethatmereisa substantial Christianfollowingchatdaces backmanycenmrie.s,aswe.11asmanyother religions.Wenrnstbeloversofhumani.ry iJ1 allitsdiversity,whichisverysignificantina nationlike Australiawhereweareallfrom differentorigins."

FrMathewhasneverthelessbeen overwhelmedbythegesturesof support hehasreceivedfrom workcolleagues, parishioners,police,healthcareprovidersas wellastheIndianConsulate.

"Theconsularserviceofferedtomewas promptpersonalandwellbeyondthecall of duty,"henoted.

"They createdmelikecheywould their ownfamilymember,"headdedwith gratitude.

Thepriesc,who arrivedin Australiafive yearsago,also has nothing but praisefor d,egenerosityof chisbeautifulcountry.

"Iamnotconcernedaboutsuch happeningsin future,"hesaid."Ihave alwaysbelieved Australiaisnot aracist country.Itis trulywelcomingand mulriculcural.Th.iswaswhatIusedto tel1myfriendsandfamilyback in India whowereconcernedabouttheracismin Australia.Iwouldlovecobe.lievethesame evennow."

FrMathew, whorelocated toMelbourne in2012,belongsto Kalathoorfamily of Karimbuin Anakkampoyilandbecame a priescunder dieTharnarassery diocese in1994.Hehad previouslyservedat churchesin Adakkakundu,Vettilappara,

KallurntciandChundadrnmpoyil,and woi:kedasa teacher atAlphonsaSchoolin

Thamarassery

Expressing shockat theappalling incident,theCatholicJ\rchdioceseof Thamarasserywasrelievedtohearabout miraculousescape.

"DuetoGod'sgraceandthespecial robesfortl1emasstheknifedidn'tgo deepandjustinjuredtl1eneckmuscles," AbrahamKavi1purayidathi1,chancellor and spokespersonofThamarassery diocese stated,adding matFrMathew isdetermined tosmyon andcontinuehisgoodwork.

"Peopleshouldneverbetreatedliketh.is," said ShaneHealy,aCatl10lic Archdiocese ofMelbournespokesman,condemningthe attack."Fr_Mathewisdoingwonderfulwork for hisparishionersandchisisreallyablight ontl1egreatworkthatmany,manyCatholic priestsaredoing."

Instanttransferisavailablesubjecttocertainlimitsontheamountsentandalsoclearingmandatorycomplianceverificationprocesses.

"Estimatedinternationalwire-transferfeeforbanktranslersfromAustrall;itoIndia

Remit2ndia-MoneyRemittanceto1!1diaatanaffordabeprce.Remlt2IndiaisasecureonlinemoneytransferserviceforNRISLosendmoneytoIndiafromUnitedStates,UnitedKngdom,Australa,Singapore.Canada,U.A.E., HongKong.Germany,Spain&othe,EuroCountres. TheservceallowsNRlstosendmoneysafeyusingwiretransferandACH/DirectDebilThemoneycanberecevedinIndiathroughdirectaccountcredits.

When two childhood friends struggled to find shoes that would fit them correctly, their entrepreneurialventurewith a social conscience, SolefulShoeswas born.

PradhirnaShyamsunderand Kuppal Palaniappanarewomen aftetyoursouls.

"Giveusyoursouls," demandedPradhimaduring ourrecentchat.Relax!Shemeant'soles' andwas referringtotheirshoestoreand donationdrive,SolefulShoes.Niceplayon words!

Together,SriLankan-bornPradhimaand SouthIndianoriginKuppalownSoleful Shoes,anonlinestorecateringtowomen withlargeandsmallfeet.Theirpassion forhelpingothershasseenthemlinktheir producttocharitybygivingtheircustomers anopportmtitytodonatetheiroldsho.es whentheybuyanewpairfromtheirscore.

SolefulShoesisa productof theSydney pair's personalfrustrationat notbeingable tofu1dliceshoesin theirsizes.

"'iX/eareexactlyombrand,"Pradhima explained,referringtoherown shortstan1re at4ft l1inchwith petitesize5feet,and Kuppal'stoweringheightat5ft10inchwith size 11feet.

After tinkeringwiththeideaof abusiness forseveralyears,Pradhillla,aFinance Managerat SocialVentures Australia, andKuppal,aconsultantwithDeloitte, approachedDivyaJSechmarnof Plumtree Shoes.TheSydneyshoedesignerproduces qualityhandmadeshoesfromherworkshop inBengaluru,India. lncollaborationwith Sethuram,SolefulShoeswaslaunchedin 2016.

''\XlhenIstartedworking1worehigh heelsallthetime. Itwouldtakemeages tofindshopschatstockedmysize.Mostly,

theyorderedonlyafewinsmallsizeswhich weresold outbythetimeIgotthere.So, Iendedupbuyingshoesthatweretoobig anduncomfortable.Istartedbingingon shoesduringmytripsoverseas,"Pradhima shared."Kuppal,ontheotl1er hand,could onlyfu1dshoesinhersizeinchain store.5 andsometimesresortedto shoppingin the men'ssection.\'Q'ewerespendingtoomuch moneyonfootwearthatdidn'tfit."

Bothwomenyearnedforasolution.

Fromtheageof 18,Kuppaldreamed of startingabusiness sellingshoes for womenwithlargerfeet,bmsatontheidea. Meanwhile,Pradhima gotherfeetwetwith OnlineshoeretailerTeacupShoesatage27. Thatearlyvenntrecateringtotinyfeetwas shortlived,asshegotmarried and took upfull-timeemployment. Still, Pradhima insists,itwasaninvaluableexperience.''l learned somuch thatIcannowsharewith Kuppal."

Thepair insisttheirbusiness isabout motetbanprofits;it'saboutaddressing rheneedsof peoplewho.find themselves outsidemainstreamfootwearoptions.

"Wedon'twantSoulfulShoestobefor petiteandlargeshoesonly,"Pradhimasaid. "Ourultimatevisionistocaterto anyone whoisnotanormal shoesize,likewomen withonefootsmallerthanmeother, orthosewithdisabilitiesaffectingshoe choices.Ourbrandis allaboutinclusion. Wewanttobeknownasspokespeoplefor inclusivefootwearinAustralia."

As partof tl1eirsocia.lmission,Soleful Shoesbaspartneredwithnon-profit organisationDressforSuccess,encouraging

,vomen copurchaseapairof shoesand donateapairof lightlywornshoestothe charitypartner.

"DressforSuccess providesexceptional servicestowomenlooking forwork," Pradhimasaid."ltgiveswomen professionalclothes and shoesand prepares tbemwith trailingand supporttoachieve economicindependence.\Ve'reproud tobe associatedwithic."

Just sixmonthsinto operation,thepublic responseto tl1eventmeencouraging.

"Customerslovethestylesandmaterials inourfirstcoliection of handmadeshoes," Pradhimasaid."Divya'sexpertiseisguiding usto explorecreativesideswedidn'teven thinkexisted"

Withfulltimejobsandfamily commitments,thewomen agreeitis challengingtorunabusiness.

"Butwhat'simportantis tokeepit sustainable,"admittedPradhima. "Instead of puttingintoomuchandbmning ourselves out,we'retaking itslowand supportingeachother.Werealisechatas mebusinessgrowswemustmakeacall,but fornmvwearemanagingitwitheverything else."

Underthebannerof SolefulShoes, thewomenareorganisingaclothesand

shoedriveon9April.The'DonateYour Soles'event is Aaggedasafunaffair atBicentenrtial Park,SydneyOlympic Park.TheeventwiUfeatmespeeches, entertainmentandfood. Donationsforall men'sandwomen'sclotl1esandshoes are welcomed.

Theproceeds fromtbedrivewillgo to DressforSuccessandassociatednonprofitorgartisationDressforWork,which providessimilarservicestomenlooking forwork.Theorganisationimpartsjob readinesstrainingandsupporttojob seekers,inaddition togoodqualitysuits, shoesandaccessories,forinterviewsand formaloccasions.

"Thisissuch atangiblewayforpeople comakeadifference.Inthis luckycountry, weallhavestuff thatwecanspare,"said Pradhima "Socomealong,donatesome stuff,grababiteandchatwithus!"

Pradhima andKnppalwouldLiketosee allwomenembracetbeirtmiqnenessand ownwhotheyare.''If wedidn'thaveour differences,wewouldalllookthesameand lifewouldbe soboring.Insteadof feeling insecureandhiding omdifferences,we mustcelebratethembecausechatiswhat makesusspecial.That'swhat SolefulShoes stands for!"

FARZANA AHMAD reports

_f,, Our ultimate vision is to cater to anyone who is not a normal shoe size. We want to be known as spokespeople for inclusive footwear in Australia ,,

AIMGA condemns dodgydoctor

Indian-origin medical community comes outstronglyagainst fake doctor

OG!J�

TheAustralianIndianMedical GraduatesAs . sociation(AIMGA) hascondemned tbeactionsof anIndian-originman,vhowas caughtmasqueradingasadoctor inNS\\7.

Theassociationsaidinarelease,"W/eat AllVfGAaredisturbed andconcernedabout therecent newsof a personwho wirb an allegedlystolenidentitymanagedtoenter J\ustral.iaand withfalsedocumentation acquired medical.registrationand wenton toworkfraudulentlyasaJuniorMedical Doctorinthehospitalsystemint SW over aperiodof 11years."

AThfGAPresidentDrSunilVyastold IndianLinkthe actionsof tbemanindirectly taintsIndiandoctorsaswellasrl1eIndian community.

"Posingasadoctorisonething, but activelypractisingasoneandperforming invasiveprocedurescouldwellbephysical assault,"hesaid."Thispersonprovided

opinion that patients reliedupon,andthus putthematrisk."

HoweverDrVyas admittedthecase was notcommon.

"What'sreassuringischatJ\PHRA (AustralianHealthPractitionerRegulation Agency)isverystringentinassessing and grantingof registrationstanisboth tolocallyandoverseastrainedmedical practitioners."

"\'(/ehavenoinformationof whether this manbadmedicalbackgroundof anysort," DrVyassaid."lewasonlyinthelastthree years apparentlyrbarhisactionsbecame suspicious."

TheconartistShyam Acharya,whostole theidentityof UK-basedrbeumatologist DrSarangCh.itale,hassince beenlocated in lndiaandfacesa$30,000hneuponhis return.ThelSW HealthMinisterBrad Hazz.ardhasannounced aninquiry andsaid hewantstoseizeAcharya's$1.5million North Rydehome.

Cardiologist DrYaduSingh, acommentator onIndian community affairsinhisrole asPresidenrof theFederarionof Indian Associationsof NSW (FIAN),said the punishmentshould bemorestringent. "Norjustfines,ajail termshouldalsobe giventofakedoctors,"hedeclaredina media release.

"Irisnotfor ustodecidepuoishmenr," DrVyas said. "Itisuptorhelegalsystem

todothat.Burwestronglysupportthe MinisterforHealthandtheregulatory authoritiesatbothstateandnationallevels intheireffortsroinvestigaterl1ismatterso thatsuchincidentsdonotoccurinfuture andtomaximisetheireffortsiobringingrl1e allegedmiscreanttofacejustice."

He added.,'1nd.ianoriginmedical

practitionershavealongbisroryof honourableandethicalservicenotjustin Australiaburalsow0rldwide."

Doctorsmust surelybeoneof India's largestexports,adoctorat arecentAIMGA eventdeclared.("Nocityiscomplete without aChinatown and Indian doctors," hejoked.)

"Itisinterestiogtonorerbesecondcase thaternergedrecentlyof afakedoctor inMelbournepractising unregistered ata cosmeticclinic," DrVyasobserved."The clinicwillbeliablethere,butthis man faked his documentstogetregistration andso his crimeisalotmoresignificant."

Rajni

Anand Luthra

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BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

ShubbaVilasDascookon a monumemalcaskofwritinga bookontheRamayanain2013abookthatwouldbringtheepic outof thedosetandrevealto theworldthedepthoflearninghiddenio jc.Heembarkedooanambitiousprojectof writinga6-volnmeseries titledRa111qyanaTheGm11eofLife Thefirstthreevolumes, RiseoftheSul/Prince(Book1) andSbt1ttcred Dreams(Book2) andStole11 Hope (Book3) fromhis bookserieshavebecomenational bestsellers,andhehasnowcompletedthe fourthvolumeintheseries. Hewasaguest atthe2017JaipurLiterary Festival,andhe is nowamuchsought after motivational speakerandcounsellor.

Icaughtupwithtl1eautl1orrecentlywhen hespoke atISKCONl'v[elbourneandthe Vedic Societyof Victoria.

ShnbhaVilasDas'tl1.reevolumesin the Ramayanaserie.svividlybringalivetheepic which,tl1eautl10rfelt,hadbeenlargely ignored asphilosophicalliterature.

"Idecidedtowi:itetl1eRamayanafrom anew,modernperspective,yetremaining trueco irsuniversal andperennial messages, becauseIsawthat either therewere versionsthatwerewrittenfromatraditional perspective,orthosetl1atwerebeing reinterpretedandrehashed for modern

cin1esbyignoringthespiritinwbichitwas originally composed,"hetoldme.

Heembarked onanexcensiveresearch oforiginalliceratureslike Vt1!111ikiR£1mt1y,mr1 inSanskrit,Kt1111baRamqyana,theoldest Ramayanaversionin avernacular language; and Tulsidas'immortal R,u11chmita111atl(JSin Avadhi

"Formethisepicwas full of lifelessons whichcanbeprofitablyusedto inform our livesintheC\venryfirstcenrury."

Theresultisawonderfulretellingofthis popularepicwhichprovides deepinsights oncontemporarysubjectssud,ashow humanrelationshipsworkorwhythey fail, howleaderscanmaximizetheirpotential, andhowtheancientepiccanprovide a moralcompassinarapidlychanging world. Thesebooksinterpretscoriesfrom theRamayanaanddistillessonsfrom themtohelpusbetterunderstand aocllive meaningfullives.

ShubhaVilasDas'fourthbooktitled Opcn-E:Jcdl\lleditationswaslaunchedin MumbaiinSeptember2016.Itisa beautifulcompilationofthoughtswhere eachmeditationtakesona journey tothe pastto healaproblemin chepresem. He helpspeoplepractiseandmaster the arr of meditationwitheyeswideopenasbe believesthekeenobservationoftheworld around us(ratherthanshuttingit out),is anequallylegitimatewaycoenlightenment. Heoffersvaluable nuggetsof wisdom and action pointresourcestodealwithevery moderndilemma.

Givenhisloveforbooks,ShubliaVilas DassetupTulsiBooksPublications,a publishinghousediat promotesbooks

thatencouragespicimalthinkingand reasoning. Hewasnotalwaysanautl10r: hebeganhiscareerasanengineerwith theTataGroupand later moved toan internationallawfirminBangalore. After tlusstintinchecorporateworld,bejoined theInternationalSocietyforKr.ish.na Consciousness (ISKCOl'\1) andthendecided toservesocietyinas manywaysashe could.Hebecameamonkandchosecobe aspirimalseekerandpreacher.Hiskeen interestin findingagoal forlifeledhim cochannel hisenergiesintodeepstudies andinterpretations of Vedic Scripmres. HeisnowPresidemof ISKCONGoa, andspendsagreatdealof timeaddressing peoplefrom allwalksof lifethrough d1ought-provokingseminars. Hehas becomeamuchsought-after motivational speaker.(Forasample,thereaderwould beablemfindseveralwonderfultalkson YouTube).

ShubhaVilasDasgaveatalk attheVedic SocietyofVictoriaon"Ancientwisdom formodernlife"andatISKCONhespoke abouthowto"Stopworryingandstart living".Asmetopicssuggest,Vilas Das's forteistofindanswersto problemsin21" cenrnrylife,bylookingatourancient- yet universaland perennial-wisdomsfrom our traditions,especiall)'theRamayanaand tbe Mahabharata.

ShubhaVilasDas'RamayanaVolume4 iswichthepublishers. Heisnowworking onsomeunusualandunheard of stories fromchePtm11u1s,inabookheisgoingto callNfysticalTalesfaraMagicalUfa Heis alsoworkingon a book for theyombon how[Oaddressandhandlecenainemotions

inourliveslikeenvy,insecurity,etc. He issimultaneouslyworkingonRamayana Part5,andabook onmeBhagawadGira -whichwillsuccinctlysummarisethe messageof theGita.

AllhisbooksareavailableonAmazon or throughISKCON.

SOME NUGGETS FROM SHUBHAVILAS' TALKS

"The Mahabharata demonstrates how a person's true greatness can be seen in the way they handle provocation. It is always easyto be greatwhenthings are going well.However, when provoked, we should becomelikethetortoise, that is, withdraw and think. In the Mahabharata, Kama's life teaches us this, that happiness comes from within us, andthat waiting for others' approval and validation makes us deeply unhappy."

"One of the ways in which we can improve our self-image is by contributing to the world; being consumeristic is being like Ashwattama, who tried getting gratification from possessions and owning things.Arjuna, on the other hand, tried to get the most from what he had."

Dalai Lama in Arunachal: India tells China notto interfere in its matters India-Chinadiplomatic tensionsroseafresh over theDalalLama'svisitto Aruuachal Pradesh, with[ewDelhiassertingthis month thatnopoliticalmotiveshouldbe attributedtothevisitand askedBeijingnot tointerfereinitsinternalaffairs.

Beijingina freshsalvoslammedthe DalaiLamaasan"anti-Chinaseparatist" andattackedNewDell1iindirectlyforits support cotheTibetanleader.

Union1Ylinisrerof StateforHomeKiren Rijiju,who isfromArunachaJPradesh,said thatnopoliticalmotiveshouldbeam·ibuced toDalaiLama'strip."Indiahasalways beennon-interferingintheneighbours' internal affairsinourapproach,"Rijiju toldreportersinNewDelhi.''lnthesame manner,weexpectthesamefromour neighbours."

TheDalaiLama'stripwaspurely religious,headded.

RijijusaidIndiahasneverquestioned China'ssovereignty and"hasrespecrfuUy adheredcotheone-Chinapolicy".

"SoweexpectthatChinaalsoshouldnot interfereinourinternalmatters,"hestated.

The DalaiLamahasvisited thestatesix timesearlier andno "additionalcolour" shouldbegiventohisvisitstartingfrom April5.

Reactingtothevisit,theChineseForeign MinistrytoldEfe news: "The 14thDalai Lamaisan anti-China separatist whohas longlivedinexile following afailed armed rebellion bythereactionarygroup of highrankingfeudalserfownersinTibetin March1959."

"TheChinesegovernmentisresolutely opposedtoanycountry'ssupport and facilitation forthe14thDalaigroup's anti-Chinaseparatist activities,"read the statementwithoutalludingdirectlytoIndia.

Meanwhile,theDalaiLamaarrivedby roadinBomdila,ArUJ1acbalPradesh,after inclementweatherforcedhimto call off the scheduledvisitbyhelicopter.

InBomdila,theDalaiLamawasreceived by ArunachalPtadeshChiefiVlinisterPema Khandu, andmembersof theTibetan community.Khanduwas accompaniedby BJPleaderSudhanshuMittal.

FromBomdilahewouldvisitDi.rang, LumlaandTawangduringhisoversevendaytripco ArunachalPradesh.

ArunachalPradesh holdsaspecial significancefortheTibetanleader, asitwas thefustterrirory- tl1en calledtheNorth EastFrontierRegion -in Indiaheentered whlefleeingChinesetroopsin 1959before movingcoDharamsala, wherehenow resides.

AssertingthatArunachalPradeshisnot adisputedterrirory,Rijijusaid,"Wehave certainissueswith regardtodellneationof theboundaryonthespots,ontheground alongMcMahonLinebecause itisnot beingdemarcatedonthegrow1d.Thar iswl�ythereis atalkbetweenthespecial representativesofIndiaandChinaandthe peopleofArunacbalPradeshhopethat anamicablesolutioncanbereachedinthe foreseeable futuretime."

ChinainMarch saidtieswithIndiawmtld behitif NewDelhiaJJowed theDalaiLama tovisitArunachalPradesh,whichisclaimed byBeijing aspart of SouthTibet.China's ForeignMinistryspokespersonGeng ShuangsaidChinawasstrictlyopposed co thevisit.

GengsaidIndiaknewthesensitivityof theborderissuebet\veenbothcountriesand allowingtheDalaiLamatovisitArunachal PradeshwoulddamageitstieswithChina.

Changed H-18 visa norms don't mean muchforIndia: Nasscom

The Indian ITindustrylJodyNasscomhas said theclarifyingguidancebytheUSCTS oneligibilityforcomputerprogrammers undertheH-1Bvisanormswillhavelittle impactonitsmembers,astheclarification hasbeentheadjudicatorypractice foryears.

"TheMarch31USCISmemorandum reinforces anexistingpracticeby adjudicators andclarifiesrequirements for certaincomputerprofessionals,"saidthe NationalAssociationof SoftwareServices andCompanies(Nasscom)inastatementin Bengaluru.

TheUSCitizenshipandImmigration Services(USCIS) OnMarch31 issueda clarification thatcomputerprogrammers,to be eligible under theH-1B visa norms,must provechattheirsisaspecialcyoccupation.

Merelyobtaining acompucerdegreemay notbeenough.

Comingjustaheadof startof thenew seasonforH-lBvisasforskilled workers,it waslargelyseenasthetighteningof norms bytheUSautl1oritiesforhiringcomputer programmers,thusputting asqueeze on IndianITcompanies.

USembassiestheworldoverstarted acceptingnextyear's H-1Bvisapetitions fromApril3. Indian techieshm7ebeen the biggestbeneficiariesof theH-1Bvisasobtainingabout70percentofsuchvisas -wicb companies postingthousandsof employeestotheUS.

Thisvisaallowsworkin the particular areaforsixyears,extendableafterchat.Itis alsotheroutecoaUSpermanentresidency or aUSGreenCard.

Notingthatseveralofitsmembers haveapplied forvisasforhigherlevel professionalsthisyear,the apexbodysaid theevidence showedtl1atthejobs were complexandrequiredprofessionaldegrees.

"Ourmembercompaniesprovideskilled talentandsolutionstoUSfirms.TheH-lB visasystemexisrsspecificallybecause of thepersistentshortageof highly-skilled domesticITtalentin theUS,"thestatement pointed out.

Indian ITcompanieswouldcontinueco provideskilledtalentandsolutionstofill thatgap andkeepUSfirmscompetitive globally,itadded.

Initspolicymemorandum,theUSCIS mentioned,"Basedonthecurrent versionoftheHandbook,thefactthata personmaybeemployedasacomputer programmer andmayuseinformation technologyskillsandknowledgetohelp an enterpriseachieveitsgoalsinthecourseof hisorherjobisnotsufficienttoestablish theposition as aspecialtyoccupation."

Thememorandumsaid,"Apetitioner may notrelysolelyontheHandbookco meetitsburden when seekingcosponsor abeneficiary for acomputer programmer position.Instead,apetitionermust provideother evidence toestablishthat theparticular positionisoneinaspecialty occupation "

TheUS Congress hasset acapof 65,000 H-1Bvisasperfiscal year.AdditionaJJy, 20,000suchvisasaregivento chose with

Amantakesaphotographata memorialformusicianKishoriAmonkar inMumbai,India,4April2017.

Amonkar,renownedforherinnovative interpretationofclassical Indian music, died this monthaged84. Photo: AP

Master'sorhigherdegrees from theUS. Atthesan1etime,theimmigrarion services havemovedtodetectH-1B visa frauds in theUSbytaking a"motetargeted approach" onsitevisitsacrossthecountry aimedatfindingourif employerswere evadingtheirobligationstomake agood faithefforttorecruitUS workers.

''Toomany Americanworkers,whoare asqualified,willinganddeservingtowork iathesefieldshave beenignoredorunfairly disadvantaged,"says apressreleaseissued bytheUSCIS,addingthat"protecting Americanworkersbycombatingfraud inouremployment-basedimmigration programsis apriorityof USCIS".

TheImmigrationServiceswarned employerschattheywouldnorbeallowed co "abusetheH-lBprogramme",whichitsaid affectsUSworkersnegatively,decreasing wagesandjob opportunities- aposition thatUSPresidentDonaldTrump hasofren endorsed.

Combatingprejudiceagainst Africans: Indiahasa lotto lose India has agreatdeal tolosebymistreating andbeatingup Africanswhocometostudy orliveinthecountry.Thelatestattackson March27, 2017 on Nigeriansrudent.�living inGreaterIoidaborderingNewDelhi andpartoftl1eNationalCapitalRegion have madebreakingnewsonallTVnews channelsandfront-pageheadlinesinleading newspapers.

While playingup adnauseLunthe sensational newsstoryissupposedto increasetheviewershipof TVchannels andboostdwindlingnewspaperreadership, itiaAictsmassiveharmtoIndia-Africa bilateralrelations,Indianinvestmentin Africa,andIndian diasporainAfrica.The mediumandlongtermrepercussions andmassivedamagetolndia'sgoodwill internationallyislostontl1eangry,racist andviolentIndiangoonswhoassaultand injureAfricans.

Thetragedyis thatdtisisnot anisolated incidentresultingininjuriesto Africans LnA.ictedbyboorishlocals.Suchincidents havebeenhappeninginmajormetrosfor years,especiallyinandaroundDelhi.Sure, they arereportedinthemediabutnolasting remedial actionisdevisedorimplemented. After somehue andcry,thepolicebold somemeetings increasepatrolling andit thenfades awayuntild1enextAare-up .African envoysmakestrongprotests tothe lndian governmentandthe responseisworded in diplomaticjargon. Butnosustainedcampaign islaunched in the media,onthestreetsorinbigher educationalinstitutionstoinform,educate andsensitize localIndians aboutracial disc1:iminationand lndia-Africacooperation onmanyfrontsandlevels.Themedia hardlyeverreportson Africanaffairs, leave aloneAfricansuccessstories.The newspapersreportonlywhenan Indian companysecuresamajorcontract,startsan investmentprojectorexpandsitsoperations LUAfrica.

ThewoesofAfricanslivingin India arecompoundedby frequentnewsitems when they areapprehended at airportswith

Indianworkerscultivatecalendula flowersinafieldontheoutskirtsof Amritsarcity,India,04April2017. Besidesuse in decorationsand in religiousoffering,thecalendula flowerisalsomarketedforitsmedicinal properties. Photo: AP drugs.Thus,asustainedimageofalmost allAfricansasdrugcatriershasfrozenin themindsof l.ndians.Ortheythinkthat Africanwomenmakemoneybysellingtheir bodies.Africans-from54courn:ries-are viewedanddealt withonthebasisof these mediastereotypes.

It'shigh cirnethatchisstereotypedimage was smashedforalltimeand thefactthat tbousandsof Africansmdentsareobtaining highereducationinIndiaandhundredsof AfricanpatientsarecomingtoIndiafor specialisedmedical treatmentisboosted. If thesesmdentsaretreatedwithconcern andunderstandingwhentheyareaway frorntheirhomeinacomplicatedsociety, tbeywillgobackasthemosteffective ambassadorsof India.Similarly,if the patientsand their relativesaretreatedwith careandsympathyinlndia,theywillgo backasthetoppromotersforIndia.

Butno!lntheirracistandbrutalreaction toanysimation withAfricans,allthis never comes to mind. Nothoughtfor tbemassive IndianinvestmentsinAfrica, hundredsofjointventures,andespecially thethreemillionlndiandiasporainAfrica.

Morethan 1.2millionIndiansUvein South Africa;another200,000livein EastAfrica andsmallernumbersin thousandsinmany countries.TheseIndianscanbeattacked andinjuredin revenge,theirshops and factoriescanbedamagedordestroyed and theirgoodwillwashedaway.

At thenationallevel,the Indian governmentismakingspecialeffortsto wooAfricaand obtain thecooperation of the54Africancountriesformumalbenefit andasablock forvotesintheinternational foraliketheUnited ations.Indiahas beenholdingIndia-AfricaSummitwithall Africancountriessince 2008topromote bilateralrelationsinmanyspheres.The mostrecentsuchmeetinginDelhiin2015 wasattendedbyalmostallheadsof African statesand PrimeMinister arendraModi madespecialeffortsto,velcome andmeet eachoneofthem.Cooperationinmany fields wasproposedandagreedupon. lnvesanentand exportcreditsweretop fearmes.Betweensummitmeetings,like rhe conclaveinNewDelhiearlierthismonth, carriestheeconomicagendafurther.Indian hasmountedadiplomaticoutreach to Africawithvisitsbyitspresident,vicepresident,the primeministerandministers toAfricanstates.

However, repeatedboorishbehaviour andviolentassaultswipeoutallthese goodwillgesn1reswhileseriouslydamaging Indiareputationandthefateof the Indian diasporacontributingtothedevelopment ofAfrica.Sowhatcanbedonetoretrieve thispatheticsirnation?

First,thepolicemustcrackdown onall accusedof racialinsultsandviolenceto Africans.Athoroughinvestigation,afoolproof prosecutionandtoughpunishment istheprimaryresponsebytheauthorities. Andthat'snorenough;thepunishment mustbereportedbythemediaasa deterrenttoallothers.

Second,inadditiontopacifying diplomaticstatementsbytheExternal AffairsMinistry,otherministriesand

organisationsmustbe roped i.ntolauncha ,5trongandaggressivepubliccampaign to promote racialharmony.

Third,thePublic Diplomacydivision ofd1eMBAshouldlaunchacampaign to informand educateIndiansn1dents in high schools,universitiesandhigherinstitutesof learningaboutAfricaanditsimportanceto India.Africaisstillundiscoveredbyalmost allIndians.AlltheyknowaboutA£ricaare thecricketteamsfromSouthAfricaand Zimbabwe!

Fom,inaddition to offering higher education andmedicaltreatmentfor Africans,Indiashouldurgentlyestablish branchesof itsuniversitiesandspecialist hospitals,atJeastinease,west,central andSouthAfrica.Theseprojectshave languishedforlonginthepreliminarystages andnowd1etimehas come toimplement themurgentlytoreducetheflowof African studentsandpatientstoIndia.

Theprejudiceandviolenceagainst AfricansinIndiaisnotgoingawaysome timesoon.Strong,drasticandsustained action.isoverdue.

India snubs US offerto de-escalatetensions with Pakistan

IndiahassnubbedtheUS'offertohelp de-escalatetensionswithPakistan,saying thatitsposition onbilateralredressalof all issuesbetweenthe twoneighbonrshasnor changed.

lt alsosaidtl1artheinternational communityneedstoaddress tl1eissueof terrorismemanatingfromPakistan.

"Government'spositionforbilateral redtessalof allIndia-Pal<lsranissuesinan environmentfreeof terrorandviolence hasn'tchanged,"Ministryof External AffairsspokespersonGopalBaglaysaid.

"\Ve ofcourse,expecttheinternational communityandorganisationstoenforce internationalmechanismsandmandates concerningterrorismemanatingfrom Pakistan,whichcontinuestobethesingle biggestthreattopeaceandstabilityinom region andbeyond,"hesaid.

ThereactioncameafterNikkiHaley, theUSPermanentRepresentativetodie UN,saidthattheUS was concerned about thestateof India-Pakistanrelationsand

PresidencDonaldTrumphimself mightget involvedinapeaceprocessbetweend1etwo SouthAsianantagonists.

"Thisadministrationisconcernedabouc dierelationshipbetweenIndiaandPakist.'ln and verymuch wantsto see bow wedeescalateanysortofconflictgoingforward," Indian-AmericanHaley,who holdsacabinet rankintheTrump administration,said.

"Iwouldexpectthattheadministration isgoingtobeintalksandtryandfind itsplacetobepartofchatprocess,"the fonnerGovernorof SouthCarolinasaid, adding,"And also wouldn'tbesurprised if thePresidentparticipatesaswell."

New liberalised visa regime being implemented: Minister Commerceand IndustryMinister irmala Sicharaman hasseatedthatd1egovernment hasstartedtoimplementthenewliberalised visaregimefrom April 1,2017.

TheUnionCabinetheadedbyPrime MinisterNarendraModihadonNovember 30,2016,approved variousmeasnres for liberalisationof thevisaregime.

"Multipleentrytouristandbusiness visasforaperiodoffiveyearswillnow beavailabletonationalsofmostof d1e countries,"Sitharan1an saidinaseriesof tweets.

Thenew regimehad sub-divided e-Visa intothreecategories-e-touristvisa, e-businessvisaande-medicalvisa-for nationalsof 161countriestoenterIndia through24airports.

"E-visafacilityextended toCochin,Goa andMangaloresea-ports(tobenefitcruise tourism)soonalsoatMumbaiandChennai sea-ports,"Sitharamantweeted.

"Upon urgentrequests,businessvisaand medicalvisawillbegrantedwithin48 hours ofapplication."

Theministerpointedom,"Separate immigrationcountersandfacilitationdesks to assistmedicaltouristat Delhi,Mumbai, Kolkata,Chennai,BengluruandHyderbad."

Thegovernmenthasalsointroduceda new categoryof visa forfilmproduction in India-(F)Visa-whichhasa maximrnn dmationofoneyearwithmultipleentry facility.

"AnothernewVisatitledIntern (I) Visarolled ourw.e.f 1stMarch,2017,to

foreignersforimernshipincompanies, educationalInstitutionsand nongovernment organisations(NGOs),"d1e ministeradded.

Tatato launch SUV byyearend

TataMotorswillbelaunchingtheNexon compactSUVbytheyear-endaspartofits strategytoimproveitssharein passenger vehiclessegment,acoinpanyofficialsaid.

Withfivepercentmarketshare,Tata Motorsiscurrentlyatfourthplaceinthe domesticmarketandhassetthegoalof reaching tl1ird positionby2019.

PrarapBose,Headof Design,Tata Motors,saidthey didn't haveapresencein 60percent ofthemarket.

"\Vedon'thavepresenceinsome segn1entsandcompactSUV isoneof them,"Bosetoldreportersonthesidelines of tlielaunchofTataTigor,itslatest product,in Hyderabadmarket.

Thescarringex-showroompriceof Tigor inHyderabadisRs4.85lakbforRevotton 1.2L (petrol) variantandRs5.77lal<h for Revocorq l.5L(diesel).

Heclaimedtl1atmanycarswerein design and engineering phases.Hesaid these werepartof thecompany'sstrategyfor asustainedgrowthinpassengervehicles segment.

TataMotor's marketshareinpassenger vehiclessegmentgrewby0.64percentlase year Thecompanysold1.53 lalcbunitsin 2016-17against1.25lakhintheprevious fiscal.

lnl\.forch2017,the companyrecorded salesof 15,433vehicles, agrowth of84per centoverMarch 2016.

TigorisTataMotor'sthirdproductin oneyear,havinglaunchedTiagoandHexa earlier

Bosesaid tl1atinTigor tl1eybrought togetherthebestofthefeaturesoflarge hatchbacks and.smallsedan.Hesaid tl1ey criedtofillthe gapinboththecategoriesin termsof spaceandstyle.

TigoristhethirdproductfromTata i\ifototsbasedonimpactdesign technology. Heclaimedd1atTiago receivedahuge responsewith80,000bookings.Over 50,000Tiagowerealreadyonroads.

BYSANDIP HOR

IassumeMessilovesBarcelonawhile Ronaldopuncheshisweightbehind Madrid,theirfondnessobvious!)' arisi11gfromtheirrespective associationwiththetwocelebrated Spanishfootballclubs,BarcelonaFCand Reali\fadrid.

However,wheninSpainit'snot difficulttospototherpointsofrivalry betweenthenation'stwomostvisited destinations.Foremostisperhapsthecry fromBarcelonansforseparationoftheir state,Catalonia,fromSpain.Thecapital Madridhatesthisideaandasaresult someideologicaldifferentiationhasbeen explodingbetweenthetwocities.For example,there'snomorebullfightingin Barcelonabecauseit'snowthoughttobe brutal,butinMadriditcontinuesinfi.tlJ

swingasapartofage-oldSpanishtradition Eachofthetwocitiesclaimtobethe 'bestdestination'inSpain.However,asa firsttimevisitor,Istayneutrala11dstamp bothasequallyappealing,eachhaving theirownurbancharacterandhistorical, architecturalandcontemporarycharmsto dutchvisitorsintheirgrips.

TuckedbetweentheCollserolaHillsand ?vfediterraneanSea,Barcelonarepresents apatchworkofcharacteristicdistricts, narratingthestoryofitsevolutionfrom amedievalmaritimehubtothe19'h centuryextensionsandtoday'shighenecgy

boroughsetup.

Beingahistoryenthusiast,Istartmy BarcelonaodysseyatBarriGotic,orthe GothicQuarter,whichisthemedieval nucleusofBarcelona.Thisareainsidethe OldTownisalabyrinthofpavedsquares andtwistedstreetslinedwithseveral pivotalbuildings,themostsignificant beingthemightyBarcelonaCathedral, ablendofGothicandRomanesque designItsconstructionbeganin1298 onthefoundationsofaRomantemple andl'Yfoorishmosqueremindingmodern generationsthattheRomansandthe Muslimsearliermarkedtheirfootstepsin Barcelona.

SotoodidtheJews,whowerealso occupyingpartsoftheOldTown,Antiga Sinagogabeingtheirmostnotableliving landmark.EdgingtheGothkQuarter isLaRa.mbla,thecity'srnostillustrious tl1oroughfare.Denselypackedwith restaurants,cafesandbars,thiskilometrelong,tree-linedavenueisadawn-to-dusk frenzyofhwnanactivity.

BarcelonaclaimstohaveEurope's greatestcollectionofArtNouveau buildingsdatingfromtheearlyI9'hcentury. Manyofthemweredesignedbyprodigious Cat.'lia.narchitectAntoniGaudiwhose distinctivestyleisbrandedbyfreedomof shape,riotofcolourandtexture.Acluster ofhiscreationsinBarcelonaareWorld Heritagelisted,mostvisitedamongthem beingPalauGi.ie.11,CasaMila,CasaBatU6 andLaSagradaFamilia,amonumental dmrchwhoseconstructioncontinuesto thisdaysinceitwascommencedin1883.

Ifthereistimetoseejustonething inBarcelona,ithastobetl1istowering building,deemedGaudi'smostfabled

concept,based on the traditionsof GothicandByzantinecarbedrals.His design calls for atotalof 18 spires, some of which are stillunderconstruction. TheyaresupposedcorepresentJesus, theVirginMary,Four Evangelistsand the Twelve Aposrles.Whencomplete in 2026,thisbandof spires willrepresent auniqueadditiontotbeskylinevistaof Barcelona.The cathedral'sinterior,whjch isalmostcomplete,reAectsinnovativeuse of lighttobequeaththe architecture with eloquenceandgrandeur.Gandidiedof atragicaccidentin 1926andhisbodyis buriedinsidethecrypt,sothatheremains fortimeeternalwithhisdistinguished formation.

If LaSagradaFamiliaranksatthetop of anyBarcelonaitinerary,thenMuseo Nacionalde!Pradoaptlyqualifiesfora similar rankinginMadrid. Accordingto artgums,itfitsinthesamebracketasthe Louvrein Parisand theUffiziGalleryin Florence,allof chembeingatreasuretrove of extraordinaryartandsculpture.Housed inavastneoclassicaledifice,thePrado embracesartfromthe12'1,co2Q•hcenturies andexhibits theworld's largestcollection of Spanishworks.Itsdistinctfeatureis thedisplayof thecollectionsof former Spanishmonarchswhichreflectthetaste

andpoliticalalliancesof theroyaltyduring 15,1 to17'"century.i\fanyvisitheretosee theworksof FranciscodeGoya,themost eminentSpanishcourtpainter,whosebest creationswerecompletedasapartof his officialduties.Severalof hismasterpieces, liketheNakedMaja andtheClothed Maja,arehousedinthismuseum.\X-'hi.le thePradopresents Spanish art,thereare museumsinBarcelona,suchastheMuseu Nacionald'ArtdeCatalunya,thatshowcase mosrlyCatalan arr.

The Sparushcapitalsince1619,Madrid isengravedwithmanyimperialemhlems, withrl1e18•hcenturyRoyalPalacebeing thebiggestcrowdpuller .Manyof its3000 roomsareopen to thepublic towitness rl1eopulentlifestyleof monarchslil,eKing CharlesII&IV andKingAlfonsoXIV.

LikeLaRan1blainBarcelona,the medievalquarterof Puertade]Solis rl1ewheretheheartof Madridhasbeen racingfor centuries.The areaisfilledwith churches,monasteriesand government buildings,recentadrutionsbeinghordesof restaurants,cafes,bars,boutiqueshopsand othetoutletsvisirors lookfor,likemoney changersandmobilephonesuppliers. It'sclosetotheexpansivePlazai\fayor,a paved square whichbegan lifein rl1e15" centuryasamacketplaceandthena venue

for bullfights,carruvalsandimportant ceremoniesof imperialMadrid. Astatueof 17'1 centurymonarchPhillip lII standsat itscentre.Thesquaretodayisanimportant hubof socialgarl1eringsandis surrounded bysomeof Madrid's bestrestaurants;Los Galayos, servingauthenticSparushcuisine since 1894,beingoneof them.

Thebiggest similarityberweenBarcelona andMadridisrl1eirpassionforfootball. Thoughtapas,paellaandflamencoare othercontributorstoharmony,noneare possiblyasstrongas rbeworldgame.

Both Can1pNouandSantiagoBernabeu Stadiums,thehomesof BarcelonaFC

Clockwisefrom topleft:Barcelona square; Gaudi building,Barcelona; Madridbullfightarena;Gaudi's ParkGuell,Barcelona;Sacred BlackMadonnainsideMontserrat Monastery;RegalentrytoMadrid; RoyalPalace,Madrid

andRealMadrid, are pilgrimage sites for footballfansirrespectiveof theircityof origin.If theirclubsarenotplaying,these fanshavenohesitationinunitingtostand behind rl1e Spanish nationalteam during anyinternationalgame.

QatarAirways (www.qatarairways.com) have regularflights fromSydney, Melbourne, Adelaideand Perthto both Barcelona and Madrid,with ahighspeedtrain connectionbetweenthetwocities.

HotelGataloniaBarcelonaPlaza(en.cataloniabcnplaza. com) andHotelNH Madrid Eurobuilding(www.nh-hotels.com)areconveniently located and wellserviced.

• Tuckedatamountainous location40km awayfrom Barcelona, Montserratisabasilicaand monasterywherepilgrims stormtoseetheBlackVirgin.

• Dotted72kmfromMadridistheformer imperial cityofToledo.still deemedthe nation·sregaland cultural epicentre.

TablaoVilla Rosa(www.tablaoflamencovillarosa.com)in Madrid presentsanexcellent dinnerandflamencoshowpackqge.

SpanishTourism Board (www.spain.info)

,, Like La Rambla in Barcelona, the medieval quarter of Puerta del Sol is the where the heart of Madrid has been racing for centuries ,,

Clickbaitdominates cricketmedia

TheAustralian sports media revelled in negative sensationaIism throughout the India Australia Test series

BY RITAM MITRA

0n theeveoftheconclusionof oneof themostenduringly captivatingsportingcontests inthepastdecade-aseriesof Testcricketwhichcaptured the attentionof cricketfansaroundtheworld - theonlineedition of oneof Australia's leadingnewspapersfeaturedasitstopswry apiecewiththeheadline: 'Thril/ingfinaltest marredfo1allegationso chet1ti11g".

''Allegationsof cheating"isinitself a misnomer,arisingonlyfroma lip-readof an inadvertent and, originally,privatetwo-word outburstbyAustralian captainSteve Smith. Soirrelevamwastheincidentinthecontext of theseries,thatthebeadJinewaschanged after less than an hour,andtheincident sinceforgotten.Buritwasarevealinglapse; theseries thatTestcricket hadbeen crying Outfor,alikelyseminalbattle between theworld's rop-tworankednations,was asitsroot,merelyanopportunityforthe Australiansportsmediatoscratchout anothercringe-worthychapterin itslongrunningwaragainstpositivity.

ItbasJongbeenacknowledgedthatthe Australiancricketmedialovestocreate monsters-inrecenttimes,thinkStuart Broad,F'af duPlessis,Vi.ratKohli.The commonelementundedyingthethree istheircombativenature;theyarenot afraidtogivebackaswellastheytake,and againstAustralia,theycertainlytake.Yet theAustralianmedia- and the journalists, producersandcriticsof whichitis comprised-knowshowtoappealtod1e baseinstinctsof sports fansbycreating controversyandincitinghatred.Recently, rniscolumnisthadarevealingconversation withd1eindividualsbehindapopular Australiancricketwebsiteandsocialmedia hub.Lamentingtheclickbaitnatureof the articlesandtheincentionaJlyincendiary narnreof theposts,theadministratorsof dlesiregrinned sbeepish.ly. "\V/ehateittoo," rneysaid.''Butitworks".

Andherein liesthecruxof dleissue: mediaisamulti-billiondollarbusiness,and if postsonsocialmediagarnerattention, advertiserswillflock.Unformnately,social mediaisalsothehomeof sensationalism: "traction"is critical, andina fast-paced onlineworld, thereisnorimerovet real-timeinformation. Instead,content producersrelyonyeUowjournalism:

eye-catchingheadlineswithlittleorno legitimate,well-researchednews.Irisa bidto pit fansagainsteach other -a.nd one suspects, dleplayers,too.Some popularinternationalcricketsocialmedia pageshavebecomeacesspoolof tacisin, vilification andonlinebullying-propagated byfansfrombothsidesof thefence.Itis farbeyond traditionalsports banter,and difficultto imagine that such adescent wouldhaveoccurredif reportingwasnot sounabatinglyinflammatory.Evidencelies indlerelativelysanguinecommentsbyfans onpostsbyESPNCricinfo, forinstance, whichhasmaintaineditsjournalistic integrityandsteeredclearof posting attention-grabbingheadlineswithlittleto nosubstanceunderpinningthem.

Ornermediaoutletswerenotso measured.Onthewebsiteof aleading Australiansportsbroadcaster,oneparticular journalistdealtexclusivelyinvitriol,singling outtheIndiancaptainKohliandtheBCCI for criticismwirnnorefrain.Thewriter's lackof awarenessof theintricaciesof Test cricket-thestorieswhich deservecobetold intheuniquemilieuof thefivedayswhich make upaTestmarch-was matchedonly byhisaversiontofactualinformation. Instead,hismodusoperandiwasthe regurgitation of over-usedandunfounded conspiracytheories-forinstance, suggestingthatrneICCisunableco sanctionIndiancricketersduecorneBCCI's influenceon thegaine.Aheadof thethird

Testin Ranchi,thejournalistwentonto stated1at"thereputationandintegrityof Indian cricketis onthebrinkof complete embarrassment"basedonhisill-informed assessmentof theRanchipitcb.Hindsight willshowthatd1epitchprovedtobefine. Therewasnoretraction.

Atonepoint,thisjournalistevenwentas farastocompareVicatKohliwithDonald Trump,notingwithnosenseof ironythat "JustlikePresidentTrump,Kohlidecided toblamethemediaasameansof tryingro bidetheeggsmearedrightacrosshisface." Ironic,because bytheendof it, hismedia outlethadgiven up onreportingfacts altogerner,itsFacebookpagedeclaringthat

Biasin sportsmediaisalmostuniversal. TheIndian mediacontingentisjustas guiltyof inherentbiasasitsAusu·alian andEnglishcounterparts.Sensationalism, too,isaconceptwithwhichIndia'sraving 24/7newschannelsa.re-allcoofamiliar. Burperpet1alb: negativesensationalismisa craftinwhichrneAustraliansportsmedia is unparalleled.Whetheragainstirsown playersorthe opposition,me preferenceis todivertrnegaze fromachievements,act asaflamefortheignorantmotl1,andwave ared flaginfrontof ragingonlinebulls.It wouldbe aninconsequentialapproach,if rnemediadidnotplayatangiblerolein the relationshipbetween i\ustraLianandIndian nationals.Buritdoes.

Theetaof greatAustraliancricket columnistsis allbutatanend-since the saddemiseof the eruditePeterRoebuck and d1ewinding-down of dleeloquentMike Coward,therehasbeenanoticeabledearth inreasonedscribes.

Thisisnottosayrnetalentisnotthered1eanalysesof GregBaum,Malcolm Knox andPeterLalora.rethoughtful,measured, andweU-resea.rched-andimportantly,they areaboutdieg(l111e.Buttheya.refewandfar between.

Intheageof clickbait,sensationalism and instant gratification-Australianspores media'sintegrityis certainlyatitslowest ebb.

,, The eraof great Australian cricket columnists is allbut at an end - since the sad demise ofthe erudite Peter Roebuck and the windingdown ofthe eloquent Mike Coward, there has been a noticeable dearth inreasoned scribes ,,

Steve SmithwastheManof theSeries (he \vasn't).Again,d1erewasnoretraction.

esweetest victories

A look back on India's come-from-behind 2-1 series victory overAustralia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy

operandiforthesurrm1er:\\�norlosethe toss,butbesuretopileontherunsinthe firstinnings.

far,cameroaringbackwid16-41,leaving Australiatolickitswoundsafterbeingwithin agonisinglyclosesightofafamousfinish line.

accuratebowling.Pujara's202off525balls wasthelongest-everirmingsbyanIndian intermsofballsfaced,and,despitehis dismissal,abrutalhalf-centurybymanofthe seriesRavindraJadejasawIndiatakeafirst inningsleadof152runs.

At4-63onthefinalday,andwid1 talismaniccaptainSteveSmithbackin thedressingroom,itseemedasthough anIndianvictorywasallbutaformality, butShaunMarshandPeterHandscomb allayedAustralianfears,keepingthetourists intheserieswithadiligem,matd1-saving partnershiplastingmorethan60overs.

Dharamsala decider

Themostpicmresquegroundinworld cricket,Dharamsala'sTestdebutwas magnificent.Foreachofthefourdaysit wasabread1takingsight:d1eplayersintheir off-whites,rmrningalongthelushgreen grasswithsnow-cappedpeaksrisingabove therusticredTibetangrandstandbehind them.Tbecricketwasexcellent,andthe matchwasplayedinthebestofspirits. Arguablymough,d1epitchmaded1ebiggest contributiontothedecider;wid1paceand bouncetosurpassanyoficsAustralian counterparts,andenoughturnandconsistent bouncetosatisfytbefussiestofspinnersand batsmen.Indeed,theevennessofd1edeckis evidentinthefacttbatIndiawonthematch despitelosingthetoss.

AsABCRadiocommentatorPrakash W1akankarnoted,theHimalayanpeakswere nottheonlyimmovableforcedeckedourin whiteind1edecider,asanothercenturyby captainSteveSmithinAustralia'sfirstinnings sawhimbecomeonlythesecondcaptain (afterAlastairCookin2012)copeeloff3 centuriesinaTestseriesinIndia.Having been1-144,however,Australiawasshotout for300,leavingmedooropenforanIndia fightback.

AtG-221inreplyondaythree,Indiawere yetagainlookinglikeconcedingafirstinningsdeficit.Bueacrucialpartnership betweenRaviJadejaandWriddhimanSaha broughtIndiabackfromthebrink,sealinga vit.'1132-runleadwd1anattimesexplosive 96runpartnership.

BY RITAM MITRA

Afteramonth-longarmwrestle involvingamyriadofon-field theatrics,severalcombativepress conferences,andconsistently heart-stoppingcricket,leading intochefinalTestinDharamsala,there remainednothingtoseparateAustraliaand Indiainthe2017editionoftheBorder­

C',avaskarTrophy.Aseriessokeenly contesteddeservedathrillingfinale-and againstthestunningbackdropofmajestic Himalayanpeal<s,thetwosidesdelivered afittingcrescendo.Ultimately,itwasIndia whoprevailedby8wickets,sealinga2-1 seriesvictorythatwillgodownasoneofits sweetestever.

Poor in Pune

TbefirstofthethreenewTestvenuesind1e series,Punewillconsideritselfluckytohost anotherTestmarch.Labelled'poor'bythe ICC,thePunepitchproveddiabolicalfor bothsides,bucstunningly,itwasIndiawho blinkedfirst.

ReducingAustraliato9-205inicsfirst innings,Indiawasintheascendancy;but asmnni.ngripostebyMice.hellScareled Australiaco261.Inreply,despitesuffering earlysetbacks,at3-94andwithtwoset batsmenatthecrease,Indiaappearedto beinprimepositiontocontinueitsmodus

BueonDayTwoofthePuneTest,the moststunninghourofTestcricketsawL1clia onitsknees,�thSteveO'Keefe,d1esteady left-armspinner,caking6-5inoneofthe greatestspellsbyaforeignspinneronIndian soil.Indiacapintlatedforjust105,handing Australiaa155-rnnadvantage.Nottobe outdonebyO'Keefe'sheroics,inAustralia's secondinnings,SteveSmitbplundereda calmcenturyinnear-impossibleconditions, scoring109oucofAusa·alia's285.Another 6wicketstoSteveO'KeefeinIndia'ssecond inningssawAustraliawinby333runs,taking a1-0seriesleadinaseriesinwhichicwas predictedtolose0-4.

Biting back in Bengaluru

TnBengaluru,Indiaonceagainfounditself indeficittoAustraliainthefirstinnings, givingupanadvantageof87rnns.At4-120 inthesecondinnings,Indiawerestaring downthebattelofascarcelybelievable sicuation:ifAustraliawonthematch, AustraliawouldretaintheBorderGavaskar trophy.

EnterAjinkyaRahane,andIndia's answertoSteveSmith,CheteshwarPujara. A118runpartnership•iliefirstcentury partnershipofilieseries•seemedcohave putthemarchbeyonddoubt,untilIndialost itslasr6Mcketsfor36runs,settingAustralia atargetof188onadeterioratingwicket.

WithAustralia4-98,d1emarchwasscill ind1ebalance.Thethen-worldmm1ber onebowler,RaviAsh�n,whohadbeen conspicuouslymissingfromtheseriesso

Stalemate in Ranchi

ForthesecondconsecutiveTestmatch, Australiaseemedtohaveonehandonthe trophycourtesyofitshugefirstinnings of451,,vbichfeaturedanunbeaten178* bySteveSmithandarnaidentestcentury forGlennMa}.'Well.Butasithaddoneall summer,Jncliafoundawaytocanceloutthe firstinningsafterlosingthetoss.Coming toged1erat6-328,WriddhimanSahaand ChetesbwarPujaraputonarecord199runs in63.2overs,gruellingagainstin1pressively

Thencametheactualfireworl,s,inthe mosthostilespelloffastbowlingever producedbyanIndianattack,asUmesh YadavandBhuvneshwarKumarranrampant withd1ene,vball,pickingup3\\�cket.�•and onesuspects,inflictingmanymorebruises• beforeAustraliahaderasedthedeficit.

Fromthere,itwassmoothsailingforthe hosts,whowreckedtheAustralianmiddle orderandchaseddowntheeventualtarget of106wid1cin1eandwicketstospare.

Thenextchapter: IndiainAustmlia,2018-19.

r1 1nasas oiticians

Analysing the nexus between crime and politics in India

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

MilanVaislmav'snew book WhenC1imePc!Js: Mon�)'andlvi.mcfei11T11dian Politics(YaleUniversity PressandHarper Collins

India,January2017)is asuperbanalysis of thenexusberweencrimeandpoliticsin lndia.Vaishnavhasstudiedchesymbiotic relationshipbetv,eenmoneyandmuscleon theoneband, andpoliticalpoweronthe ocher; he setouttodelveand explain how widespreadcrime andimproprietyco-exist in Indiaalongsidefreeandfair democratic elections;andtounderstandwhy vorers readilyforgive politiciansandlookaway fromchecrimestheyperpetrare,and indeed,elecrandre-elecrthem.

Usingadat,'lbaseof candidates' self-disclosures,whicbrheElection Commissionbasmaintainedsince 2003, Vaishnavcrunchesdata fromnearly60,000 candidatesspreadacross35stateelections andtwonationalelections.Hesupplements his deskresearchwichfieldworkinIndia spanningoversevenyearswherebe conduceshundredsof interviewswith variousstakeholdersinthesystem.The finalresultof allthisacademic diligenceis asuperlJ,candidanddevastatinglybonest bookonpoliticsinIndia-notasitis taughtinuniversitiesoracademia.

Vaishnav,Carnegie Endowmentscholar, trackschedisturbinganddistressingrise of criminal-politiciansin India:Indian politicianswhohavebeencharged withor convictedof seriouscrimesarethreetimes morelikelytowinparliamentaryelections thandiosewhohavenoelWhat makeschese murderers,rapists,blackmailers,tbievesand kidnapperstick?Vaishnavtriestoexplain thispuzzlingphenomenonin diebook.

Tounderstandthe motivation of criminal candidatesinstandingforelectionsandof votersinelectingthem,Vaishnavusesthe frameworkof anelectoralmarketplace. Writingaboutthesupplysideof the criminalpoliticians'market,the author contendsthatitwasthe weakening of che Congresspartyand agrowingassertiveness inthepreviouslymarginalisedgroupsthat initiallyledtostronglinkagesbetween criminalsandpoliticians.

Inrecenttin1es,however,wehavethe phenomenonof criminalsthemselves turning intopoliticiansandrunningfor elections.Whyandhowdidthishappen?

Vaishnavusestheconceptof 'vertical integration'toexplainit:itisasystem wherebycriminalssubstitutemarket exchangewichpoliticiansbyinternal organisation(becomingpoliticians themselves). "Bydirectly contesting elections,criminalscouldreducetl1e

uncertaintyassociatedwichnegotiating (andrenegotiating)contracts,"saysthe auchor.Criminalschusjoin politics forselfpreservacion, protection,and thepotential financialbenefitstheystandtogainby holdingoffice.

Thesupplyof criminalpoliticians cannot,however,beexplainedwichout w1derstandingchedemandsideof tl1e equation.Thedemandforcriminal politiciansby political partiescanbe Lmderstoodonthebasisof chesoaring costsof electioncampaigns, whichparties areunabletoafford.Therefore,parties increasinglylookforcandidateswhonot onlyself-financetheircampaigns,butalso addtothepartycoffersandlinetbepockets of partyelites.Whydo voters electthese criminalpoliticians?Voterignorance,he found,wasnot acompellingexplanation of voterbehaviour. Forstarrers,candidates whohaveoutlawreputationsoftenmake agreat showof highlightingtheircriminal reputations.Far frombiding them,d1eyare

often wornasabadgeof honour.Voters consciouslyelectsuchcandidatesfortheir abilityco"get thingsdone".Intheface of aweak rule of lawandsalientsocial divisions,checriminality of candidates gainscredibilityamongvoters,whorelyon criminalpoliticianstoprotecttlieirinterests andcoactlikediecrmchthathelpschem "navigate asystemthatgiveschemsolittle accessinthe firstplace".

Clearly, dieamalgamationof criminality andpolicieshasseriousimplications forsociety.Constituenciesrepresented bycrookssuffereconomically.Sowhat shouldbedonetobreakd1isequilibrium thatthemarketforcriminalpoliticians hasreached?Forsustainablesolutions, itisimpetacivethatbothchedemand andsupply of criminalpoliticiansbe diwarred.AsVaishnav pointsout,of utmostimportanceisclearingrhemorass aroundelectioncampaign linancesand improvingtransparencyandtnclusionin politicalparties. Fmther,chestatecapacity

indeliveringpublicservicesshouldbe improvedandinstitutions<lea.lingwidirule of lawstrengthened.Of course,noneof these.solutions,ascheauchorpointsout,.isa silverbulletbyitself.

\\Tharis fascinatingischeextraordinary deftness wid1wbichVaishnavinterweaves differentdisciplinesof political science, sociology,economicsandhistorytocreate anuanced narrative.Hetakesthereaders behindche scenesandregalestl1emwicha plethoraof anecdotesaboutthefouland fiendishmen(whileconspicuouslyleaving outtliewomen)wbowininIndianpolicies. Hewritesin aproseaccessibletolayreaders witl1outlosingacademicdeptb.ltishis thoroughanalysisandgreatsrorytellingchat make ff/hmCti111ePqysanengagingread. Thebookisoftengrimly amusing.ln 2008,governmentwbipsgotsixl'vfPs releasedtemporarily fromjai.lfor afew dayssothattheycouldvote,andavoida parliamentarydefeat-nevermindtl1e100oddcasesof kidnapping,arson,murderand soon chatthel'vfPsfaced between them! Someof chegangster-statesmenappear cobestraightomof Bollywoodfilms. Onelocalfanof apoliticianatonepoint explainedtoVaishnavdiatbis]\,fpwasnot a murderer,"Hemerely managedmurder!"

Modibaspledgedtoclean upthe system-andhisrecencscrappingof large-denominationbanknoteswas meanttoclean upcorruption. However, hehasappointed 13allegedlawbreaking l'vfPscohisfirst cabinet-eightof whom faceseriouscriminalcharges!One wondersif theysupportedModi'srecent demonetisationat all?

T/aish11avisco-editoi·(,vithDeveshKapurand PmtapBham1Mehta)ofRethinkingPublic Institutionsin India (OxfardU11iversity1Press) tobepublishedsoon.

,, Voters consciously electsuchcandidates for their abilityto "getthings done"theyrelyon criminal politicians toprotect theirinterestsandto actlikethe crutchthat helps them ''navigate a systemthat givesthem so littleaccess inthe first place ,,

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ADVERTiSEMENT

PHYSICIAN SPEAKSAT UNITED NATIONSABOUT MEDITATION

When you can gotothe United Nationsto hear atalk about meditation, you knowsomething haschanged in the world.

0nFriday,March10,2017,Dr.

KunwarjitSingh Duggal,guest of cheUnitedNationsSaluS Well-beingNetwork,spoketoapacked audienceintheSecretariatConf.Room 8on"CultivatingInnerPeaceforOuter Peace."He began:"Mymainmessagehere is totalkaboutpeace.Howdoweachieve peace? Inordertotakepeacetothe nextlevel,wehavecofindpeacewichin ourselvesfirstbeforewecangoonhelping tl1erestof society."Bybisownadmission, Dr.Duggalisquitepassionate abottt meditationasanintecventionformany of life'schallenges,whetherworldlyor personal-auniversalparadigm.

HistopiconFriday,particularly timelytoday,derailedthelatestscientific researchontheprovenbenefitsof meditation.Notingthemanydifferent typesofmeditation,hetalked about severalsignificantstudies,mostfocused onpeace,stressandanxiety.Hequoted onerandomizedcontrolledsmdyin whichpeoplewereaskedcomedicate eachmorningfor21 daysstraightfora shortdurationof time.Theresearchers measuredcortisol(tilestresshormone)

levelsbeforeandafter21daysand foundasignificantdecreaseinevery participant.Notablesmdies alsofound thatforpatientsundergoingortl1opedic rehabilitationthosewhomeditated benefictedtwice asmuchasthosewho weretreatedonlywitbtherapeuticexercise

Onetellingexamplewas anexperiment doneinatroubledSanFrancisco schooldistrictinwhichtwo15-minute periodsof quiettimewereinstituted forstudents.Theresultswereimproved testscores,attendance,psychological stateandenhancedconcentration.These studentsalsoreportedincreasedcalmness anddecreasedanger.Byincreasing thecalmnessinthesestudents,cheir correspondingtroubledgeographical regionsnoteddecreasedcrimeratesand improvedsafety.

Dr.Duggaltllen presented the meditationtechniquepracticedinScience of Spirituality,Jyotimeditation,afterwhich everyonehad achancetomeditatefora shortperiod.

Theafternoonconcludedwith alively questionandanswersession.

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Dr.Duggalis aBoard-CertifiedPhysical T\'1edicineandRehabilitation Specialistand Assist.'U1tProfessoratRushUniversity

MedicationCenterinChicago. Helectures extensivelyonmedit.'ltionas aneffective interventionforphysicalandemotional medicaldisorders.

FormoreinformationaboutScienceof Spirituality: www.sos.org www.sos.orgt'aus/australia

ScienceofSpirituality,4S 175Naperville RoadNaperville, IL60563

BYMINALKHONA

tis autumn alreadyand,beforeyou knowit,the\Veatherisgoingtoget colder. Evenpeoplewithnormalskin willfinditgoingdryanditchy.Instead of slatheringonthecreamsafterthe temperaturesdrop,whynotstarttaking care.of yourskinweJlinadvance.withthese basic at-home productsyoucanusetokeep yourskinmoisturisedduringwinter.

Sunscreen

WeusualJytakebettercareof ourskinin summerthaninwinter.W/eareextracareful withthestmscreen,moisturisersandlip balms.But,doyouknow thatweneed sunscreeninwinter roo?Justbecausethe sunis notblazingdown,itdoesn'tmean theUV raysaregonetoo.Thefirstthingro rememberisthatasunscreenormoisturiser withaminimumof SPF15shouldbe somethingyouuseal1throughtheyear.

Honey

Thisversatilekitcheningrectientisagreat moisturiser.Takeaspooneachof yoghurt andhoneyand applyital1overyourface andneck.Rinseoffonceitisdry Dothis regularly for softandsuppleskin.

Extra virgin coconut oil

Thesedaystheorganicorextravirgin varietiesof thiswonderfuloilare avai!Jible everywhere.Just applyingitallover your face andneckisenough to giveyourskin themoismreitneeds.That'sbecause coconutoilhasfattyacidsthatcan nourish theskinanditiseasilyabsorbed.Youcan also applythisoiltoyourhairandleaveon for anhourbeforeyoushampoo.Itwill preventhairfrom becomingextradryand frizzydmi.ngwinter.

Atipto gaugeif theproductisgenuine: Purecoconutoil will alwaysfreezeincolder weather.Itbecomes almostlikeasolid whitemassinsidethebottleandyouhaveto placethebottleinhotwatertillitmelts.

Fruit

Whileweeatctifferentfrnitfo.rtheir multiplebenefits, applyingtl1e111 totheskin isalsohelpful.Take abit of papaya,banana

ororangepulpandmixitwithhoney.Apply italloverthefaceandneckandyouwill havemoisnirerichskinintenminutes.This worksfor all skintypes and notonlydry skin.

Cream and milk

If you havedrylips,adabof gheeor clarified butter,honeyorevencrean1will workwonders.Tryboiling alittlefullcream milk,thecream willfloattothetopandyou canusethat asabaseforfacemasks(cream mixedwith crushed almondsorwalnutsis anexcellentmask forverydryskin);aface scrub (mixcreamandgram Aour and scrub yourfacewithittoremovedryskin);or evenas aheavydutymoisruciser(mix cream andalittlemilkand rubitintotheskin gently).

Extra virgin olive oil

Wintercanleadtodreadeddandruff.This oilworksveryweJltoeliminatedandruff duetoitsanti-microbialqualities.Warmit upandapplytoyourscalp.If yourhairis onthedrierside,blendtheoil with araw eggandapply-theoil willtakecareof thedandruff and theeggwillnourishthe so·ands androotswithe.xtraprotein.

Antioxidant-rich diet

Makesureyouincludeoneormore 'superfoods' inyourdiet.Tbese arefoods thatarehighin nutrientsevenwheneaten in smallquantities.Walnuts,pomegranates, salmon,quinoa,sprouts,leanmeats and seedsLikechia,sunflower and flax,giveyou energy, and the antioxidants andnutrients thebodyneedsto stayhealtl1yonall fronts.

Water

Duringwinterwedon'tfeelso tbirsty, butitisimportanttodrink enoughwater throughthedaysothecellsof theskin staymoismrised.Youcaneven scareyour daywitl1a glass of warmwatermixed with honey-itis agreatdetoxfor tl1esystem, especiallyif youhave alifestylewhereyou areindoorsat work orpartyoverweekends This willhelpcounterthesideeffectsof air conditioning and alcohol.

Talktoyourgrandmothers,readabout seasonal foods and tryroincorporate tl1ern into yourdietandbeautyroutines.Your skin andhair will show theresultsof tl1e extra careandwinterwindswon'thurttl1em anymore.

As theseasons change, so mustyour beauty routine

ew-wor w1nes

It's avant-garde wines with an artisan approach at Tasmania's DomaineSimha

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

Tasmania,theisland stateof breathtakinglandscapes,unigue wildernessandexquisiteproduce

isalsohometoDomaineSimha, whereartisanalfinewinesare crafted basedon ancientknowledgeand intuition.

Fotu1dedbyhusband andwifeduo,Nav Singh andLousieRadman,DornaineSimba hastransformedthefinewinelandscape andfosteredanewoutlookonwhat Tasmaniahastooffer.Justa fewyearsafter theirfirstvintage,theexceptionalwines of Domaine Simhaare highlysoughtby collectors, sommeliersandconnoisseurs across Australasia.

SpeakingcoJudianU11k,NaYSinghsays tliatatDomaineSimha,tliephilosophy of winemakingcentresonterroir(howa particularregion'sclimate,soils andterrain affectthetasteof tliewine).Thewinesare shaped'aunature!'coreflectepicsingle vineyards.Livingwinesareproducedhere relyingonancientwisdomasmucl1as science.

"Ourwinecomesstraightfromthe

earth,"saysSingh.''\Vestrivefor subtlety anddetailtliatcanonlybeachieved naturallyinvery fewplaces.\.'i(/eparethings backtorevealthepurestessenceof terroir andtliecharacterof theseason."

AtDomaineSimha,tl1eirdevotionco qualityisevidentineverystagefromthe vinetotheglass.Craftedbyhandinmicro batches,just 2-3 barrelsof eachwineare made.Anavant-gardeapproachembraces naturalmethods;harvestingbylunarcycle onfmitandAowerdays,wholebunchwild fermentationwitlitraditionalfootpigeage, maturationincustomlarge formatoak barrelsandclayamphorae,basketpressing andbottliogunE.nedandunfilteredwines withperfectnaturalbalance.

AccordingtoSingh,Tasmaniaisme ttlcimatefinewineterroit!

"TasmaniaisAustralia'sfinal frontier andthenatural advantageswehaveare unparalleled.Makingwinehereislike standingontliebrinkof anewworldwhere everytliingis possible,"hesays.

Bornandbought upinDell1i,Nav SinghmovedtoAustraliatopursuehigher educationii11996.Whilecompletingstudies ineconomics, Singhfoundhehadapalate fordifferent flavours anddevelopedan interestinwine.A stimworkingat Sydney's Park Hyattfuelled bispassionandhe decidedtoundergoformalwinemaking trainingatAdelaideUniversity.

:rvfasteringhiscrafr,Singhhonedhisskills

atsomeof tlieworld'smostprestigious wineestares,inclL1dingDomainede L'ArlorinBurgundyand Cbateau LePin .inBordeaux,Franceaswell asworkingin AustraliawitliChandonandMountadam andheadingupoperationsinMargaret RiverandClareValley.

1n2012,Singh alongwithhiswifeLouise Radn1an(whobasahostof impressive winecredentialsof herown),relocatedto Tasmania toestablishDoma.ineS.imha.

Averyuniqueandinterestingname, DomaineSimhapayshomageto!av'srich Indian heritage.Thename Singhoriginates fromthe Sanskritword Simha,whiclimeans lion.Thelogo featurestheIndiaGate flankedbyC\VO lions,andmanyof thewines taketheirnames fromhistoricroyaltitles likeRani,Rana andRaja.

Someof thecollectionsunderthe DomainelabelincludeAmphoraeand Sanskrit.Makingwineinthetraditional amphoraisanage-oldmemod datingback tliousands of years.Craftedinwhiteclay vessels,DomaineSin1haAmphoraewines areenergeticwimexpressivecharacter.The clayallowsthewinetobreathe andevolve, whilecirculation of naturalconvection currentsenergisestl1ewineandmaintains astablecemperanu:e.Thebeautifully patterned,goldenAmphoraelabels referencetheexquisite architectural beauty of jaliscreens foundthroughoutIndia.

TheSanskritrangeisareflectionof

thepoetic languageof loveandbeauty; mewinesshinealightonlesserknown grapevarietiesand styles such as gamay andcabernet franc.TheSanskrit pinot gris andschonburgerareskinfermentedwhite wines.Essentially,thisinvolvesmakingan oxidative-stylewinematuredbyleaving on thegrapeskinsasyouwouldnormally doforredwines.Tberesultisatextured, 'orange'styleof winewitl1characterful gingerspiceandeartliyflavours.

DomaineSimbawinescanbefound onlineandinspecialistwineretailers.Their productshavealsobeenembracedbysome of Australia'stoprescauramslikeAria, Quay,Rockpool,TheFatDL1ck/Dinnerby Heston,Aloft,Smolcandmore.

Whenasked if hehaseverhad toface anychallengesduetohis country of origin, NavSinghrepliestl1at hiscttlturalheritage isonetobeembracedasitgiveshima uniqueadvantage."lbelievemyIndian backgroundgivesusaninterestingstoryto complementourwine.Agoodmeasureof self-belief has always helped."

And to all chosewhoaretakingsteps intomewinemakingbusiness,Singhhas this advice,"Findamentor and gain as much practicalexperienceas possible aroundtheworld.Always keepanopen mind and positive attitudewhiletasting wines.Build goodnetworkswid1in the winecommunity andbereadycowork hard andlong hours."

EasyEaster bak1ng

From traditional European treats to an Aussieclassic, celebrate Easter in style, writes GAURAV

MASAND

.

ForChristians,Good Friday marks theendof 40daysof Lent, whi.leEasterSunday,marking theresurrection,isthe rimeto

celebrate!Butno matterif youcelebrate Easterornot,herearesomelip-smacking recipesperfectfor partiesandfamily reumoas. .

Black Forest Cake

Impressive and rich, Black Forest cake is always a crowdfavourite; this family recipe will never let you down.

Ingredients

For cake (Double layer)

1 ½ cup condensed milk

1 cup self-raising plain f our

1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour

½ cup cocoa powder

¼ tsp baking soda

½cup/ 100g butter

2 tsp vanilla essence

¼ cup brown sugar

½cup milk

For filling

2 cups heavy cream

2 tbsp caster sugar

½cup morello cherries, chopped

10-12 maraschino cherries for garnish

Dark chocolate

Bowl for whippingcream and electric mixer attachments, kept for 1 hour in freezer

Method

Melt the butterand beat it with sugar until mixed.

Add condensed milk, vanilla essence. Beat togetheruntil you get a smooth mixture.Add the dry ingredients with milk and mix with electric mixer.

Grease two pans evenly with butter. Divide and pour the mixture equally in two pans and bake in a pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Using an electric mixer set on high speed, whip the cream with sugar, until medium to stiff peaks form, for about 1 minute. Do not overbeat.

Spread 1/3cream mix on one cake and top with chopped cherries.

Add the second layer of cake and spread 1/3of whipped cream evenly on the cake.

Grate a dark chocolate block with mandolin slicer.

Spread the chocolate on the sides and top of the cake.

Addthe remaining whipped cream to a piping bag and decorate the cake.

Refrigerate for4-5 hours.

Garnish with maraschino cherries and serve.

"Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns, one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns." This old English nursery rhyme, associated with the end of Lent, is a favourite childhood memory. These buns are a crowd favourite and usually eaten on Good Friday

Ingredients

2 cups plain f our

1 cup wholemeal flour

¼ cup currants

3½ tsp dry yeast

30g melted butter

½ cup water fordry yeast

1 ½ cup lukewarm waterand milk

mixture

2 tsp spice mix (cinnamon, nutmeg)

Ginger, small piece

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp salt

¼ cup self-raising f our (for the cross)

Method

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Add sugar to lukewarmwater, mix until it dissolves.Toactivate the yeast, add to sugar water mixture. This will make

the mix frothy and yeast willactivate within 15 minutes.

Add this yeast, water and milk mixture, along with currants, to the four. Knead the dough, this willbe sticky at the start. Addmelted butterand remaining ingredients. Keep dough aside for 30 minutes to rise

Once it has doubled in size, punch it down and knead it again.

Divide the f our into 9 equal portions, give them a roundshape and arrange them on a baking tray with some space in between the buns.

Let them rest for 30 minutes. You will see thedough rise and the sides might touch each other.

Mix self-raising flourwith 1 tablespoon of waterto form a paste, and add it to a piping bag. Mark a cross on the buns with the paste.

Bake the buns for 10 minutes at 225 degrees and a further 6-7 minutes at 200 degrees.

Check the readiness by inserting a toothpick. If it doesn't stick to the dough, the buns areready. Serve fresh with butter or fruit preserve.

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Upside Down Plum Cake

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Australia is blessed to have a bounty of sweet plums at this time of year. Enjoythe seasonal producewith this delicious cake recipe

Ingredients

¾ cup condensed milk

1 cup self-raising plain f our

¼ cup wholemeal self-raising f our(can replace with 1/3cup plain self-raising flour)

¼ cup/ 50 grams butter

2 tsp vanilla essence

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp milk

¼ cup brown sugar (for glaze)

350gm Satsuma plums (or any variety of plums with red flesh)

Method

Cut 4-5 plums in thin slices, and the rest into small pieces.

Heat the sugar with an equal quantity of water.Let it cook until it forms a thick and brown glaze. Line a spring form cake tin with baking sheet, including the sides. Spread plum slices in concentric circles, glazing them with sugar. Melt the butter; beat together with sugaruntilmixed.

Combine with condensed milk and vanilla essence.

Beat tillyou get a smooth mixture. Add thedry ingredients and themilk. Mix with an electric mixer.

Pour the mixture evenly into the cake tin and bake in a pre-heated oven for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

Let it cool for 15 minutes

Place cake on a plate upside down Garnish with fresh plum slices Best served with ice-cream.

POORNA

STARRING: Rahul Bose, Aditi lnaamdar, Dhritiman Chatte1ee and Heeba Shah

DIRECTOR: Rahul Bose

At one crucial point in thetelling of this I simple and heart-warmingtale of a tribal girl's climb from the pits of poverty I to Himalayanheights, Rahul Bose, I playing an uprightbureaucrat, asks the little Andhra girl what is her purpose for I climbingEverest. I

I "I have no purpose_ Ijust wantto do

it," shetells her mentor honestly. I

The simple confessional articulation

exemplifies this film's mood. So rich in its message, so far-flung in its intentions and purpose and yet so intimate in treatment and execution, Rahul Bose wins youover with his honesty of purpose_

There are no duplicitous bones in the structure of this film.

Sure, there are passages in this motivationaltalethat follow the rags-

to-richestrajectory with textbook-ish precision. Butthe heart is inthe right place, bringing to the narrative a kind of non-negotiable integritythatis at once compelling and winsome.

Authenticity is thekey tothe cogency of Bose's vision. He chooses actors and locations as trueto the original milieu as cinematically possible. The restjust follows.

Thenarrativesweeps us into an emotional realism that is at once sparse and dramatic, pumpingupthe saga of resilience andhumanism with vignettes and frames that form a panoramic arc overthe film's rugged landscape.

Poorna's saga begins in an impoverished villageof Andhra Pradesh and ends on the world's highest summit - Everest. It is an ambitious arc, navigated andtemperedwith a lavish affection for the downtrodden and an absence of patronisingpride in depicting the rise of a young underprivileged girl to heights of glory.

Little lshaan in TaareZameen Par had his Ram Shankar Nikumbh to steer him into the light Poorna has Praveen Kumar, a bureaucrat who belongsto that rare breed of civil servants who still believes hetook on thejob with the purpose of improving lives of the underprivileged. I've read some very strange comments on how Rahul Bose has casthimself in a self-glorifying role.

Wait is that againstthe law? To play noble characters? Has that been declared a cognisable offence by a social order thatthinks cynicism is cool?

Itis easyto getcynicalabouta character whose heart bleeds for those who are notgiven one square meal a day.There is an emotionally surcharged moment in the narrative wherethe conscientious bureaucrateats a midday meal with schoolgirls to get a feel of the awful food thatis served up by

government-funded canteens. Rahul's Praveen Kumar doesn't flinch as he swallows morsels ofthe garbage Uunk food atits purest?)

But we do.

Throughoutthetelling ofthis inspiring tale of a girl who won't buckle under the pressure of poverty and cynicism, Rahul gives usthe portrait of a bleak landscape litup by a distant hope. He is theartiste who won'tjudge a value system that condemnsthe downtrodden to doom. But he won't condone it either. He can laugh with Poorna at her poverty - don't miss the sequence where the girls atthe boarding school giggle and compare each other s poverty - but he won't laugh at her condition.

Poorna is a little gem with a big heart. It has many virtues. Aditi lnaamdar who plays Poorna is a prized find. So is young S. Mariyaas Poorna's spunky buttragically vanquished cousin_ The scenes showing the two girls bonding are so heart-warming as to make us overlook thefilm's obvious faws of overstatement.

However, some of the other actors in incidental roles seem to have come on boardjustto feel good about themselves for helping a noble cause.

Thefilm is shot with minimum fuss and optimum feelings. Whenlittle Poorna stoodatthe peak ofEverest,I feltI was standing uptherewith her. Gloriously triumphant and hoping that what Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote 45 years ago for ajustsocialorder would cometrue soon:Kitne din aankhen tarsengVKitne din yundi/tarsenge/Ekdin tohbaadal barsenge/Ae mere pyaase diVaaj nahin toh ka/ mehkegi khwabon ki mehfil.

Take a bow, Rahul Bose. Poorna is not just a tale of the triumph of the human spirit.We all have a Pooma inside us waiting to conquer our own Everest.

Subhash KJha

INDIAN LINK RADIO APP

NAAM SHABANA

STARRING: Manoj Bajpayee, Taapsee

Pannu, Akshay Kumar, Prithviraj

Sukumaran, Danny Denzongpa, Anupam Kher,Taher Shabbir

DIRECTOR: AShivam Nair

1rlc-\- -\

Naam Shabana, a spin-off from the 2015 popular film Baby, is purported

ANAARKALI OF AARAH

STARRING: Swara Bhaskar, Sanjai

M shra, Pankaj Tripathi, lshteyak Khan

DIRECTOR: Avinash Das

Nothing inthis unexpected storm-trooper of a film has prepared you for its hig� velocity energy and ferventstatement on female sexuality. Without exaggeration, AnaarkaliOfAarah (AOA) isthe surprise ofthe season.

Itis stunning in thought, spellbinding in plot and utterly gripping inthe way the story of a small-town dancer-singer's adventures in lecher-land unfolds.

AOA is manythingsatthe sametime. It is a shimmering sun-soaked mirror of small-town valueswherein every sneeze or fart is notedand evaluated across the communities. And yetthestory of Anaarkali (Swara Bhaskar, spectacular) is alsothe story of every woman, urban or rural.

Lady, you maybelongto Aarah or Arizona, therewillalways bemen who feelthey'vethe birthrightto own your body as and whenthey wish.

So, here'sthe simmering provocative scenario. Anaarkali, thesmall-town hottie who makes every guy in town horny, is on stage giving robust voiceand bodyto her raunchy songs - yes, she does dirty dancing for a living and enjoys herjob as much as Swara enjoys acting and I enjoy writing - whenthetown's prime educational institution's Vice Chancellor (Sanjai Mishra) decides to takethe 'Vice' too seriously.

Hejumps on stageto molestthe

to be an action thriller where Shabana Khan (Taapsee Pannu) is a middle-class girl who liveswith her mother and has a devoted boyfriend, college mate Jai (Taher Shabbir).

An incident one nightconvinces herto put her martial artstraining to use and she chooses tofollow an uncharted path thereon. How shejoins an intelligence groupto save her country dancer, as her performing partner (played with poignant panache by Pankaj Tripathi) watches in mutedhorror.All hell breaks loosethereafter.Whilethe lechers of Aarah seethein anti-climactic rage, Anaarkali gives them a long rope to hang themselves with.

In one sequence, Swara strides, looking crushed, into the vice-ridden Chancellor's den only to make him look ridiculous atthe end of it.And atthe end her dance of defiance and exposure she is so volatile and so deliciously over-thetop I found myselfjumping out of my seat to congratulate Swara.

No walkover, ourAnaarkalitakes ontheacademic loutwith such vigour and strength that you willfind yourself cheering and clapping forthis female hero ofthese times of sexual ambivalence when men in positions of power misusetheir strengthto subjugate women in workplaces.

This is a sublime flm aboutthe dignity of labour narrated witha raunchy rigourthat is often appealingattimes exasperating.

Swara Bhaskar hits all the right notes in the shrillest of scenes, bringing outthefeisty Bihari woman's inner strength and an extremely appealing moral grounding even when confronted by the demons of her disreputable profession. There are scenes where Swara is required to push aside all her inhibitions, even her innate feminine grace, to appear predatory in her aggression. To her credit Swara sidesteps sleaziness even when she is requiredto sing and shakeher booty to

from unwanted elements beginning with a global arms kingpin, forms the crux of this two-hour plus f lm.

This is a film which exudes an aura of intrigue and being much-anticipated, one goes in with a lot of expectations. Butalas,the first half which starts with a fair amount of promise and an emotional quotient, degenerates into a mindless action film which fails to grip you and drags. The weak and far-fetched plot meanders aimlessly, hinged on a weak motiveboth of the protagonist, Shabana as well as the intelligence group she works for.

The action scenes are expectedly well-choreographed and executed, but lack freshness as these offer nothing new. The foreign locales too don't help in elevatingthe film. The characters, perhaps with the exception of Shabana, whose back story is sharedto make her look complete, are all one-dimensional and appear out of nowhere.The dialogues aretrite and lack punch.

Thefilm is Taapsee's canvas all the way and one must laud her martial arts prowess and hard work which shines inthe action sequences.Her feisty persona and agility are praiseworthy. Butthat is where it ends. She fails to make an impactwhen she emotes and thescene duringher childhood, when she witnesses her parents f ght, is particularly tacky and unconvincing.

Prithviraj Sukumaran as the arms dealer Mikhail aka Tony, has a strong screen presence and portrays his character with conviction.

A melee of good actors appear for no real reason at all and naturally fail to impress owing to the poor script and characterisation. Anupam Kher and Danny Denzongpa in a miniscule role, are wasted.

Even Akshay Kumar's presence as fellow agent. Ajay seems forced and uncalled for. Manoj Bajpayee, as the mysterious 'Sir' with no name, who tracks andappoints Shabana has nothing much to offer by way of histrionics and neither does he appear comfortable in the skin of his character, merely mouthing patriotic lines.

Taher Shabbir as Jai, Shabana's boyfriend, is earnest and endearing. The actor playing her mother too is competent.

The music too is nothing to boast about and in fact the background score creates an unnecessary din, drowning everything else. "Rozana" by Shreya Ghoshal, is however, pleasant.

Overall, Naam Shabana tries hard to be an action-packed woman-centric film and while it lets Shabana deliver the last punch in the predominantly male bastion in which she supposedly shines, itfailsto convince.

TroyRibeiro

lyrics that would makeYoYo Honey Singh blush.

Butthereis a certain grace and dignitytothe double meaning thrown out ofthe erotic dancer's pelvis thrusts, likefire leaping into the sky. Swara dances to these ribald lyrics withsuch familiarity and trust, you won't notice the sexuality in her thrust. You will seethethirstand dare I say,theinnocence,the determinationto remain an artiste even when pushed so much againstthe wall thather body is stiffened and stymied by socialorder where men havethe rightto 'own'women s physicality.

In this nimbly-written ode to feminine grace, a cheesy dancer who probably moonlights as prostitutetells the predatory man whereto get off. It kicks where ithurtsthemost andits does so withoutthe flourish of schisms. It is a terrific premise for a post-feministfilm. Writer-Director Avinash Das doesn't focus on remaining fashionable about women's empowerment.

The smell,the feel,the favour and theemotions of the stif ingly patriarchal small-town is so palpable, you are swept into the vortex of the film's vibrant vista. Full marks tothefilm's cinematographer Arvind Kannabiran for making Aarah and Anarkali seem weddedto one another, and of course Rohit Kumar's authentic folk songs they add so much

valueto the proceedings! A dizzying, combativeexplosiveexpose of smalltown hooliganism and a spunky girl's determinationto survive all odds, AnaarkaliOfAarah has a memorable gallery of actors givingthe goings-on a sterling push and a bracing vigour with their performances.

But above allthereis Swara Bhaskar givingwhathistory wiII record as one ofthebravest and most important performances by a female actor in postmodernistBollywood.

Don'teventhink aboutseeing any other film. Withthis towering achievementaroundthe others don't stand a 'ghost' of a chance.

Gimmethe spunk queen of Aarah any day ratherthanthe bhoot of Phillauri.

Subhash KJha

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

ALI FAZAL GOING PLACES

You probably know ofhim from his small roles in 3 Idiots, Fukrey and Happy BhagJayegi. But our Ali Fazal is now going places.

He got a small role in Furious 7 and found himself thrust in a new world of greatopportunities.The Lucknow lad acquitted himself well enoughthereto getnoticed, and before long, had bagged the title role in the Judi Dench starrer Victoria and Abdul.

The Stephen Frears-directed film should opennew doors for young Ali, and has probably already done so, nowthattalent managementfirm Julian Belfrage Associates has signed him on.This company looks into the work of the big names such as Dench as wellas Jude Law and Daniel Day Lewis.

Victoria and Abdultells the story of Queen Victoria's close relationship with a tall and handsome Indian Muslim called Abdul Karim. It is based on a book by the same name by London writer Sharbani Basu.

Abdul Karim wasjust 24 when he was sentto England from Agra to waitat tables during Queen Victoria's goldenjubilee in 1887. He was given to her as a "gift from India".The queen took such a liking to himthatshe soon elevated him in rank and he became a close confidante. He introduced her to the food and culture of India - she soon took to eating curry regularly andevenlearntto read and write Hindi and Urdu.

The film releases on 22 September.

Meanwhile, news isthat Ali Fazal has bagged a role in an upcoming Hollywood production opposite Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson's daughter. Richa Chadda is also saidto bepartofthisfilm, amusicalcomedy along Bollywood lines.

As well,there's a projectwithEddie Izard in the off ng, who Ali worked alongside in Victoria and Abdul.

BHAGYASHREE'S SON TO MAKE BOLLYWOOD DEBUT

Bhagyashree's son? She has a grown up son?

Weall remember her asthe Pretty Young Thingthat Salman Khan - and the whole of India- fell in love with, in thatsuper-duperhitMaine PyarKiya (1989). She leftthe industry soon after, never having done another Hindifilm, to wedthe love of herlife, aged only 19. Today, 28 years on, her son Abhimanyu Dassani is allsetto make his Bollywood debut.

He hasjust been announced asthe lead in a quirky action comedy called MardKo Oard Nahi Hota. Thefilm, which willalso launch Radhika Madan, is directed by Vasan Bala, who wrote and directedthe 2012 crime-thriller Peddlers.

Thefilm isto be produced by Anurag Kashyap, whose long-time assistant Vasan has been since the heady days of DevD.

"Vasan has written a superbly funny and kickass martial arts film,the likes of which I have neither read nor seen.It's so local and so newthatyou can'thelp butmarvel atit," Anurag Kashyap said.

Thefilm also features Tamil starVijay Sethupati in a key role.

SHABANA AZMI: NO SLOWING DOWN

India's very own Meryl Streep, Shabana Azmi feelsthe film industry has definitely been age-centric, butthatthis is grad.ually changing.

"If you look in my owncareer graph in thelast10 years, I haveprobablyhad themostchallenging roles of my life," she remarked recently."I havefive films lined up for release.Two ofthem are American productions - one is called Signature Move andtheother is The Black Prince."

"Then I have Premchand's ldgah, Sonata andThe Wishing Tree. Allthese roles are as differentas you can possibly imagine."

Shabana says it's a rich variety of roles that is coming her way at 66, and it makes her happy.

HINDU SUPPORTERS PROTEST AGAINST SCENE IN UPCOMING FILM

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) supporters protestedoutsidefilm producerT.P. Aggarwal's office claimingthat his forthcoming releaseLaaIiKi Shaadi MeinLaaddoo Deewana includes a scene which can hurtthe Hindu community's sentiments.

They demanded the deletion of a scenewherein a pregnantwomen is seen being married.

However, Aggarwal stood firm against the protestand said he won't make any edits inthefilm as ithas been passed bytheCentral Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

"It is not a crime for a pregnant

woman to marry," the film producer, who is also President of theIndian Motion Picture Producers Association,toldthe protesters.

He also asked them to show where in the scriptures it is mentioned thatthis is taboo.

Directed by Manish Harishankar,the film, slatedto release on XXXX, features Naseeruddin Shah's son Vivaan and Kamal Haasan's daughterAkshara. It is based onthetheme of teenage pregnancy, a rising concern in India's metropolitan cities.

WEB SERIES FOR SHAMITA SHETTY, APARSHAKTI

It's goodto learnthatthefilm industry is growing by looking at various modes of consumption.Theterm 'web series' is now being bandiedaboutwith increasing frequency.

Shilpa Shetty's baby sister Shamita Shetty will soon bejoining actor Aparshakti Khurrana for a web series.

The series, in works for Viacom18's Over-The-Top (OTT) platform - VOOT, will mark Shamita's digital debut. The storylineoftheseries and allthe other related information is being kept under wraps.

Shamita had recently teased her social media familywitha postthat read: "Doing what I love best! Work mode, shoot life, new beginnings,happy me."

According to an official statement from VOOT,the series willalso feature Gaurav Pandey - last seen in Badrinath Ki Dulhania - and Ridhima Pandit.

Thetitle of the series will be revealed soon.

RANI MUKERJI IN COMEBACK MODE

Bollywood star Rani Mukerji returned to face the camerathis month for her comeback film Hichki.

Theannouncementwas made via a video posted onthesocialmedia platforms of production banner Yash Raj Films.

After her power-packed performance as a policewoman in Mardaani, the actor took time off for motherhood when she had daughter Adirawithhusband and film producerAdityaChopra.

Then she wantedto returnto do what

she loves doingthemost.

Coming out undertheYash Raj Films banner, Hlchki is being directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra andproduced by Maneesh Sharma.

Thefilm will feature Rani in a positive and inspiring story about a woman who turns her biggest weakness into her biggeststrength.

In an earlier statement, Rani had said she was onthe lookout for a scriptthat would challenge and excte her.

The factthatHichki came with a positive premise, urgedtheactressto takeit up.

KAJOL: SOUTHERN SOJOURN

Meanwhile, Rani's first cousin and equally loved actor Kajol, hasjust finished work on her comebacktoTamil cinema.The Soundarya-directed VIP2 hasjust wrapped up.

Lastseenin 1997 Tamilfilm Mlnsara Kanavu, Kajol has returnedto Tamil filmdom after nearly two decades.

VIP2, a sequelto the 2014Tamil blockbuster Ve/aIlla Pattathari stars Dhanush in the lead role while Kajol plays a suave businesswoman in a pivotal role.

"The role is something I am really very happy about.I really can'treveal much aboutthe film, as I have got strict orders from my director nottotalkaboutthe film," the Dilwale actor said. Apart fromtheTamilf lm, Kajol is also working withher husbandAjayDevgn for

their home production.

"It is too early to talk about my home productionfilm. We willmost probably startshooting in the coming two or three months," she said.

AND SOME OTHER COMEBACK FEATURES

Speaking of comebacks, Sridevi is all setto bewitch yet again, this time as Mom.Directed by Ravi Udyawar, Mom, a woman-centric film, is produced by Sri's husband Boney Kapoor.Itwillreleasein Hindi,Tamil andTelugu onJuly 14.

Andwhathas RaveenaTandon been doing, while her contemporaries have been working away ontheir comebacks? She's beenjudging a children'stalent show on TV called Sabse BadaKalakar.

"Judging a kids' reality show is very easy," ravishingRaveena said recently.

"Kids are very uncomplicated. For them, life is very simple - either it is black or it is white, with no hidden agenda.It has been a great and wonderfuljourney filmingthis show withthem."

Really Raveena? Simple?? Wellthen, this next story below, is aimed at you.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A MUSIC REALITY TV SHOW

Thereareawe inspiring stories of unknowntalentdiscovered onTV reality shows who go onto strike it big inthe world of entertainment. But what about

the equally good talentthat does not make itto thetop? How are they left to pick up the pieces after they have 'failed'?

This is the unusualthemeof upcoming flick Blue Mountains, directed by Suman Ganguli and produced by Rajesh Jain. Itstars youngtalent Yatharth Rutnam, real life winner of a children's talent show on Indian TV, even though he takes on the role of someone who did not win. Gracy Singh (of Lagaan fame) playshis mum, failed classical singer who urges him on in a bidto realise her own dreams vicariously through him.

Thefilm has already taken out various awards inthe international film festival circuit.

MADHUR BHANDARKAR IS AT IT AGAIN

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's upcoming project lndu Sarkar will release on July 21.

The movie is reportedly basedon the infamous Emergency era, a 21-month period from 1975to 1977, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across the country. It features Anupam Kher, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kirti Kulhari and Bengali actor Tota Roy Chowdhury.

A recipient ofthe Padma Shri, Bhandarkar is known for his socially relevantfilms likeTrafficSignal, Chandni Bar, Fashion and Page3. He feels youth will be eagerto watch lnduSarkar.

WHAT TWEETY BIRD TOLD US THIS WEEK

Matchthe stars to the followingtweets: Karan Johar, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhur Bhandarkar

Thank u forthe lovethe passion andjust sticking by ur team. KKR fans u make us!

It's anEmergency! Your date with an important chapter from post independence history of India, 'lndu Sarkar' releases on July 212017

My baby nursery designedby @gaurikhan with so much love and care it's my paradise! Love you gauri.

Nice. @SohailKhan inaugurates @bebeinghuman 53rd store at Seawoods Mall, Navi Mumbai

What's the chitchat between DEEPIKA PADUKONE and NEETU KAPOOR?

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

What's the chitchat between PRIYANKA CHOPRA and JIMMY FALLON?

SMEAR CAMPAIGN!!!

SUNEETA ROSARIO St. Agnes, SA

Suneeta wins a ticket to Hindi film Phillauri

How to survive immigration

Inside secrets are revealed byOne Who IntegratedSuccessfully

BYKRISHNA NEELAMRAJU

Migratingto anewcountryis probablychehardest thing you'll everdo. Ifyourlife were-amobilephone,this islike pressingthe'factory reset'button.AUtheappsyougotusedto? Yeah,they'regone.I'mafraidyou haveto installthem again.

Iwrote oncebefore:.Migmntsp,,ckalo!of worriesintheirsligbt/y011en1Jeightcabinbaggage.

Understandingthelocalaccentis probablythe leastof yourworries.Bigger battleswillbefoughtwhenyou'rejob huntingandconvincingrealestateagents thatyourcurry doesn'tsmellchatstrong.

Havingspemalmosttwoyearsin Australiaandnotrun awayyet,I'vedecided tocomp.ilesomeinsidesecretsthatwillhelp newdesiimmigrams survive.Readyforit?

Heregoes:

Fire Alarms

The very firsccrisisyou w.illfaceintheWest ischebleepingfirealarm.Everytimethe littlebuggersgooff,thestressw.illmake you willlose twodaysof yourbalance life.Theyseemmintuitivelyknowhmvto harassyou.Justwhenyouthinkyou'vegot thehangof makingthatbmcerroti,chefire alarmdisagreesandputsyouinyourplace.

Oneofmydeepescfears,Iconfessed tomywifeonce,istl1atour son'sprecious childhoodmemorieswillbefiliedwichhis immigramfacherfanningthefumesaway fromthefire alarm.He'llprobablywrite ascand-uproutine aroundit, a laRussell Peters.DidIhearyousaysomethingabout removingbatteries?Yonslydog!

Tip:IfJOflwanttohingeongbeesmeared cbapathis,h11msome{[[loriesbeforehand. Standdi,·ect(yhelo}/JtheJirnalarm,holdalarge super111"rketcatalogue111ithboth,117maho11eyom· headandja11an1qyJi1rio11.r61,It'salsogoodexercise for'o!lrlatissivmsdrmimuscles

Shopping centres

There's sometl1ingmisleading aboutthese big,air-conditionedboxesthatlookthe sameeverywhere.1fyouwalkinlace,after

allthe shinylightsare tmned off, you'd think thatdesisare halfthe Australianpopulation.It'saType 1samplingerror.While the restof thecountyiseitherat anall-nightbeach-parcyoralreadyinbed,thedesifamily strapsitssnonykidtoche backof ametal trolleyandhatrntsthe aislesofadiscount megastoreorasupermarketinthelocal shoppingcentre.Smdy:ingthepricesof unsaltedbutterbrandsat9pmonweekends hasnever beensopopularinthehiscory of hmnanicy.

Myfam.ily'sweekendshave beenmore productiveeversinceIshiftedtogrocery shoppingaloneonweekdays,onmyway homefromwork.

Tip:Ihawaone-111ordtipjoT]OIII'fVRT111"/lsi11 general:AvoirL

Indian TV Box

Itisanessentialaccessory to everydesi household.Likethe tintedfilmforyour carwindows,itprocectsyonfromthe harmfuleffectsof overexposuretolocal emercainmenr.Acleastforfirstgeneration immigrants,theTVboxisthe only connectiontod1emothershipwhennoton aSkypecall.That,andthepiratedDVDs yougetforfreewitha$100grocerybillac the Indianstore.Getoneif yonmust, buc don'tbecome too attached to it.The TV box,Imean.

Tip:Reshictthelndia!ITVhoxto50%ofJ'om· idiothoxtime.Patroniselocaltalenttoo.If)'OIi mn't,111/;(lt'sthepointofevtigroting,really?

'These People'

Righcfrom day one,I have been getting genetousadvice abouthowtodealwid1 'thesepeople'. leisd1eproduceof decades ofcollectiveimmigrantwisdom,crunched imobite-sizedstereotypesaboutthehost country.

'Thesepeople' don'tworkatall.All theytalkaboutislawnmowingandhome renovations.

·r ever trust'tl1esepeople'.They willturn againstyouany rime.

'Thesepeople' earn tillThursday and spenditallon boozeind1enextthreedays.

Iconfess,I'vealsobeenguilryof generalisingabout'thesepeople' -thoughin mydefence,mystereotypesonlyincreased myadmirationfor'thesepeople'.

'Thesepeople,no?Theyarelikethis only!'

Tip:Tfrokaytoindttlgein abito'thesepeople'once in,11JJhile.'Thesepeople' doittoo.]11.rtdontoverdo

Pressure Cookers

Sowepressuredonrlandlady aboutche leakingtapsuntilshesent ahai1dyman tofixthem.Therehewas,intheshower, grapplingwiththecomplexproblems of waterdripswhenheheardanearthshatteringsoundof somedlingblowing upoutside.Suspectingmortalclanger,he rushedouttosavehimselfandalertlaw enforcement.

Nodoubchewasembarrassed torun intomytoddJercoollybuildingwooden traincracks,obliviousmthehullabaloo.My braveson,unlikecheburly handyman,grew upcothesoundsofchepressurecooker blowingwhistlesfourtimeseverymealI amsuredesikidscould eve□handle anoil rigblowing upinthene.xtroomandnot 8inchamuscle.

Adesifriend's Aussie auntonceplayfully mockedthesuburbwelivein.'Every cwo seeps,yo1.1hearapressure cooker gooff.Ir's almostlikeIndia!'Saysicall,doesn'tit?

Tip:The111orldh(lsmovedontofnsta11tPots, b11lifyo11w,mttos11rvi11etheftrstfa111)'Cars ofit11migrotio11,makesure)'Ol/1'40kgbaggage allowancebasa10kgsublimitforiHductionfrimd!y press11recookers

New Immigrants

Afavouritepastime of olderpeopleis to complain aboutho\vthings were 'sogood' beforeand'notatallgood'now.Keeping upwith thetradition,a desiformercolleague oncetoldmethattl1equalityofnewdesi immigrantsisreallyfalling.Sheshould knO\V.Sheemigracedto Australia atthe samerimeas cbeDandekars.Iwasabout threemonthsoldinthecouna-ywhenshe gaveherqualityassessment,soIassumed shewasmikingabomcheones whocame afterme.

Tip:Thei'eis110/hing111oredesithanbeing discti111i11atedagainstbyafallowdesi.Tflkein lihemldosesofgoodolddesimohhe1y1J1heneve/')'Ot1 ca11.1t's"IJ)01ide,j11/mreforhomesickness.

Adjustingto thenewenvironmemcakes time.'iXfhacmakesiteasyiswhenyouknow insidesecrecslikethese.Withmeonyour side, you're never short of excellentinside info.

Fin"/Tip:Takeit(l/1111ithapinchosalt.Ifitis stillunp(lf(lf{l/;/e,sp1i11k/esomechat11uuala011the top.Th(lt011ghtadoit!