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Indian all-girl crew’s

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editorial INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR Harshad Pandharipande

Two Presidents & a PM

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Sai Narayan, Nikita Kulkarni, Carl Buhariwala, Ritam Mitra, Krishna Neelamraju, Margaret Redelman, Jyoti Shankar, Aneeta Menon, Frankey Gerard Fernandes, Anubhuti Madan, Dhanya Samuel, Vandana G, LP Ayer ADVERTISING Victorian Sales Manager Varun Pal 0490 705 729 National Sales Vivek Trivedi 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

Indian Link is a fortnightly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in part or in whole without the wri en consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to Indian Link Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email: info@indianlink.com.au Cover pic: Ravinder Singh Virk

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

I

t’s been an interesting month.

On one side of the world, the US President who continues to plumb to new depths as he battles on with everyone - international foes, media, domestic leaders, and people on the street. Donald Trump’s speech at the UN made headlines when he threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea, declaring that the “Rocket Man,” a.k.a. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was “on a suicide mission.”

Trump raged at “loser terrorists” and the “murderous regime” in Iran, and startlingly suggested that parts of the world “are going to hell.”

At home, he has raged against NFL players who are using their moment in the spotlight to call out police atrocities against African-Americans, and reduced a pregnant and grieving war widow to tears with his insensitive remarks about her departed husband.

As two natural disasters hit the US - Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico - Trump

belittled Puerto Rico mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz who sought more help, and then went on to unfairly compare Hurricane Maria to Hurricane Katrina based on how many people had died, implying what was happening in Puerto Rico wasn’t a “real catastrophe.”

And all this while there is an ongoing special inquiry into the Trump team’s colluding with overseas sources to win the last elections.

On the other side of the globe, China’s President Xi Jinping retained his position for another five years. At last year’s meeting of the Communist Party of China, President Xi was accorded the title of “core” leader, and at this year’s pivotal National Congress, a twice-adecade meeting, the 2,000 delegates voted unanimously to make “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” a guiding principle for the party. This makes Xi considered on par with stalwarts Chairman Mao (who founded the People’s Republic in 1949), and Deng Xiaoping (whose legacy in reviving the economy was labelled “Deng Xiaoping Theory”).

Labelling this as the third chapter of modern China, Xi has articulated a promise of “harmonious living between man and nature” - a call for better environmental control (as the US goes the other way to open oil drilling

in previously protected areas); set out a 30-year time frame for the country to become a “global leader” with international influence; including leading in “innovation” by 2035, with big data and artificial intelligence integrated in the “real economy.” However, there were no mentions of the issues such human rights and censorship which are widely condemned by leading world commentators.

And then in India, PM Modi seems to be fighting to successfully execute his new GST policy, which is threatening to weaken his party’s hold on power.

Elected on the promise of weeding out corruption, no substantial progress has been made in this regard in the last three years; unemployment in the country is rising and seems to have worsened after demonetisation; there seems to be low private investment activity on the ground, and very few land and labour reforms have been progressed. The Modi government seems to be blind to these issues at best, or has given up on them, at worst. The government, which won the last general election with a record mandate, needs to deliver for India, both internally and externally.

Of the two Presidents and one Prime minister, only one seems to have a vision.

Shame that the other two with strong people’s democracies are missing out.

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CONTENTS Indian Link

Indian Link

LINKING INDIA WITH AUSTRALIA

SPECIAL FEATURES FESTIVAL Federation Square Diwali celebrations

SPECIAL FEATURE Intercountry adoption from India: Will the wait end?

INDIA-OZ AIBC’s Annual Australia India event

SUSTAINABILITY Rally For Rivers campaign

DANCE Exploring the mystery of chakras

14

14

24

24 26

30

30 COVER STORY

32

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Indian all-girl crew’s circumnavigation expedition

10

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YOUR SAY

LESSONS FROM THE LAMB AD

HARSHAD PANDHARIPANDE wrote on how the community handled the infamous lamb ad featuring Ganesha eating meat.

Sadanandan Nambiar AO wrote: I was interested in your coverage of the concern raised by some members of the Indian community and subsequent media news about the protest related to the depiction of a version of Ganesh (an actor with a mask around a funny dinner table) in a TV advertisement promoting the consumption of Australian lamb meat. Around the dinner table were similar caricatures from several other religions and beliefs. The advertisement was a display of typical Australian humour, and a commonly seen marketing ploy. That is all. I gave up eating meat some years ago.

I understand the sentiments of Ganesh worshippers. However, with due respect to their views, I would like to share another perspective through your columns. In comparison with all other religions in the world, Hindu thought probably allows the highest form of flexibility, in matters of intellectual freedom, debates and multiple paths to spiritual enlightenment. Hindu gods are the embodiment of virtues and faults, passionate sexuality and deep and contemplation, acquisition of brutal power and detachment into nothingness. Krishna is an embodiment of just about every fault that we have, yet he is divine to millions. Hindu mythology is replete with paradoxes; Ganesh is a god to many, but also a jolly-good, indulging, over-eating guy to many. Creation (not by birth) of Ganesh himself is the ultimate paradox, an outcome of an unbelievably cruel act of impulse, anger, vanity and compromise. Yet, millions worship Him and find in Him a source of support and seek his blessings for wealth.

If Ganesh is a personification of God or God himself to a true worshipper, how can Ganesh be dishonoured by man’s jokes or stupidity? Is He not above such things?

Vegetarianism is not necessarily a Hindu belief; it came into practice in some sections of Hindu communities very long after Hindu philosophical thoughts were well advanced. Today, millions of non-vegetarians and Indians classed as “lower caste” worship Ganesh in India.

Explicitly and wildly sexual carvings on stone walls in our many great monuments and places of past worship would more than match the most pornographic displays found today. Such were the strengths of our ancestral thoughts, truth seeking and wisdom.

Our mythology and epics are full of humour and jokes. For centuries, Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu) and Shaivites (followers of Shiva) joked, abused and insulted each other, one calling the other “meat-eating, drunken mongrels”. There are brilliant Sanskrit plays written about this and such plays have entertained and enlightened Indians - Hindus - for centuries.

Some years ago, I played the lead role of Sathyasoma, a Shaivate monk, a drunken, cunning, half-mad, rude, womanising yet jealous fellow, to a packed audience (with repeat performance!) in a small theatre in Adelaide; my wife acted as Devasoma, my call-girl offering “hotpleasures”! That was a Sanskrit play written a few centuries ago and staged in temples. These are rich and intelligent traditions of Hindu thoughts and culture.

For an analysis of the extraordinary intellectual dimension of the deeper Hindu thoughts, as depicted in the great epic Mahabharata, I commend to your readers the scholarly and compelling book by the illustrious writer Gurucharan Das, called The Difficulty of Being Good: On the subtle art of dharma.

Our community would do well to take these things with a sense of humour, as intended by those who created the MLA advertisement, and take such stunts in our stride with a broader perspective, informed by higher order thoughts about the meaning of Hindu Gods and our philosophy.

Voice raised to draw attention to the recent misinterpretation of the Indian national boundary is a serious and important one. In future, we would make more impacts and gain respect, if we learn to target our concerns and protests more selectively and judiciously, and on matters that really count for India, Indian secular diaspora and Australia. If we fail to uphold Indian issues in judicious ways, we might descend to be seen as petty and immature.

NOVEMBER

BLACKTOWN DIWALI IN NSW

PAWAN LUTHRA was a judge for the Blacktown City Council’s Light Up Your Homes for Diwali competition organised in conjunction with Indian Link Arun Sharma wrote: Although it is lovely Diwali lighting and the winner must be congratulated, this is not the first instance in Australia as claimed. The organisation Celebrate India in Melbourne has held the Home and Office illumination competition from 2007 to 2012. That was the first ever!

CONFLUENCE, A TRICKLE?

With its limited reach and menu, the Festival of India in Australia runs the risk of not engaging with mainstream Australians, wrote PAWAN LUTHRA Preeti Thadani wrote: Parenting my son who is born and raised in Oz, I was delighted when he and some of his Aussie friends got exposure to Indian culture and performing arts outside of Bollywood, at last year’s Confluence Festival. This year, fellow school parents and I were eagerly waiting to feast on a smorgasbord of performances with our children. Sadly, Sydney got only one classical music performance and one Bollywood dance workshop (a formula, we all agree, done to death). Confluence 2.0 seems more about grant gatherings, political agendas and appeasing sponsors than about PM Modi’s vision, which he shared with Sydney audiences in 2014 about wanting to showcase Indian arts to mainstream Australians. Confluence 2017 has farcically disconnected the audiences.

AT LAST, FEMINISTS OF COLOUR: MELB WRITERS FEST

APARNA ANANTHUNI reported from the Melbourne Writers Festival about feminists of colour talking about taking control of their own narratives.

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art

Designer tram Indian-Australian artist turns Melb tram into a colourful canvas with a Kolkata connect

I

t s kitschy, it s cool and it s definitely colourful.

For commuters on the streets of Melbourne, it is hard to miss the bright vinyl wrapped tram that currently plies on route No 11 West Preston and No 86 Bundoora tramlines.

Tramjatra is first of the eight trams designed to bring colour and creativity to Melbourne’s daily commute and is eliciting mixed response for its visual imagery.

Using elements of popular Indian streets and tribal art, Lucknow-born IndianAustralian artist Bushra Hasan has designed Tramjatra to honour the 21-year-old tramways relationship between Kolkata and Melbourne.

Esoteric is the word that springs to mind as one absorbs the art that has been made inherently accessible and public, courtesy the Melbourne Art Trams project.

A Victorian Government initiative, the project is a collaboration between Creative Victoria, Public Transport Victoria and Melbourne Festival with Yarra Trams.

The annual Melbourne Art Trams project, now in its 5th year, invites Victorian artists and community groups to submit designs that transform trams into mobile artworks.

Apart from Bushra, this year the designs are by artists Robert Owen, Matthew Clarke, Emma Anna, Oliver Hutchison, Justine McAllister, Josh Muir and St Albans Heights Primary School’s Community Hub. Speaking animatedly, Bushra shared the story of how her art made it to the largest ever canvas she has worked with.

“My art exists beyond the gallery, it is in everyday objects from a simple spoon to a storage can, buckets, tins and now to a tram,” said Bushra, who is also the cofounder of Indybindi designs.

Bushra created Indybindi, along with her two sisters Maryam and Zoya, to give visual expression to ordinary items and transform them into masterpieces.

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‘‘

I want everyone who looks at the tram to smile. I want to communicate the vibrancy, colour and diversity of India Bushra Hasan, artist

‘‘

BY PREETI JABBAL

Their promising business venture also supports Ashiana, an NGO for underprivileged women and children in Uttar Pradesh. Rural women are encouraged to learn to paint items, generate an income and be self-reliant.

A graphic designer by profession, Bushra has worked in India with fashion and lifestyle magazine Marie Claire as a senior designer and Harper’s Bazaar as an Assistant Art director.

She migrated to Australia in 2013 and after brief stints in Sydney and Launceston, settled for the world’s most liveable city.

During a visit to meet her sister, who was studying at RMIT, Bushra visited Melbourne and the city worked its charm on her. “The artist in me wanted to live in this beautiful city and I moved here with my husband in 2014,” she said, sharing her migrant journey.

She worked for St Kilda News as a graphic designer and is currently working on freelance projects with Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV). She was also responsible for designing the two lifelike moving elephants at the Moomba Parade in 2015.

Tramjatra was initiated in partnership with Melbourne trammie Roberto D’Andrea.

A friendship society was started in 1996 between Melbourne and Kolkata as the two cities outside of Europe that have used trams since 19th century. This year, they celebrated their 21st anniversary.

“I must admit that initially when Roberto explained the concept to me, I was unsure how to incorporate all the past Tramjatra characters and over 20 years of history in my design. It was such a good story with so much to say but I did not want the tram to look cluttered so I decided to use truck art,” said Bushra.

“Truck art is funky, kitschy and I can juxtapose it with artworks from different regions of India that are reflective of its diversity,” said the talented artist.

According to Bushra, she added her own

touches like the eyes of Goddess Durga that ward off all evil and are symbolic of the complexities of India’s contemporary society, particularly notions of gender.

She tried to reflect the warm Indian welcome and hospitality on the doors with images of flowers being showered on the passengers and the Indian Namaste.

Characters like Bondhu, Calbourne, Sundari, Cricket, Baccha, Shared-Lung, Paribeshbandhu and Gitanjali were incorporated in the design. Orange-bellied Parrots next to Great Indian Hornbills were also included.

All of this was designed on computer and then reproduced on vinyl. It took her a month to create the design and then put it

on sticker art. It took nearly two days and specialised workers to wrap the vinyl in perfect alignment around the tram.

“I want everyone who looks at the tram to smile. I want to communicate the vibrancy, colour and diversity of India whilst retaining the rich Tramjatra history,” said Bushra. “I also want the colours to cut into the grey tone of Melbourne,” she continued with a smile.

The other seven trams, with their own unique design concepts, will also be hitting Melbourne’s streets soon. All the trams will stay on tracks till April 2018.

Throughout the lively conversation on topics ranging from challenges faced by her to her grasp of traditional art and technology, her politically inclined family and her rebellious siblings, Bushra was delightfully candid.

She also shared with characteristic enthusiasm the ‘overall positive’ feedback she has received for her design so far.

With art being subjective and open to multiple interpretations, people have made several comments on Bushra’s artwork ranging from incredible to hideous.

Whether you love it or hate it, you simply cannot ignore it.

NOVEMBER

cover story

#LookAtMeSail An all-girl Indian crew on a daring mission to circumnavigate the world stops by at Fremantle.

SAI NARAYAN and RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA report

E

vFor a young woman who grew up in the mountains, Vartika Joshi has done pretty well as a sailor.

The spunky Garhwal girl is leading a team of six Indian women who are circumnavigating the globe on a sailing vessel. Her boat, INSV Tarini of the Indian navy, is currently at remantle A, in its first stop on a 7-month voyage.

As she guided her crew in to Fremantle, the 56-foot Tarini had been at sea for 44 days and had sailed 4800 nautical miles.

A welcoming committee awaited, made up of the local Indian community, the Indian High Commissioner Ajay Gondane, Consul General of India (Perth) Amit Kumar Mishra and others of the diplomatic corps, and the media.

“It is wonderful to see this welcome,” skipper Lt. Commander Vartika Joshi said upon coming ashore. “Having been tossed about on the seas, and having been away from home for so long, it’s the warmth of this welcome from the people here that we will take with us when we go back to sea.”

The all-girl crew of the INSV Tarini, under the program Navika Sagar Parikrama, were flagged off from their base in oa by another woman, India’s Defense Minister Nirmala Seetharaman, on 10 September.

Their project, christened ‘Navika Sagar arikrama is the first attempt by Indian women to circumnavigate the world.

Lt. Cdr Joshi’s Team Tarini consists of Lt. Cdr ratibha amwal Hull fficer , t. Cdr atarapalli Swathi Navigating fficer , t.

NOVEMBER

Aishwarya Boddapati Electrical fficer , t. ijaya Devi Seamanship fficer , and t. ayal upta ogistics fficer . The average age on the boat? 26 years.

“Our aim is to promote the idea of sailing, even amongst men,” Vartika told Indian Link, in her trademark calm and collected demeanour. “Sailing as a sport is not exactly popular in India! We are also aiming to encourage more women to take up adventure sports.”

After a fortnight-long halt at Fremantle, the girls will proceed to Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands) and Cape Town (South Africa), before returning to home base on 18 April 2018.

To be technical, circumnavigation requires the vessel to be in open waters at all times and not in canals or straits. The Equator must be crossed at least once, and the total distance covered must be more than the circumference of earth, ie, 21,600 nautical miles.

Life on the high seas

What’s the journey been like thus far?

“We’ve had a mix of calm weather and rough seas in our journey so far,” Vartika recounted. “When we set sail, there were no head winds. This reduced our speed - it was frustrating. But that has been our only low point thus far.”

The highpoints have been many, the girls chipped in.

“Dolphins – we saw plenty of dolphins,” offered Swati. “I was on watch on one

occasion when some dolphins came around. The sailboat doesn’t make much noise, and these dolphins just roamed around us casually. hat we saw first was a streak like a white doodle, or a big white snake. I froze for 5 6 secs (anuradha), then I calmed down and realised what it was. It was a sight to see, as they came at us like a torpedo!”

Killer whales were sighted too, she revealed. “ e saw some baskets floating around, with some fish underneath them. It was like ‘man overboard’. We thought we’d do a drill, pretend the fish is a man. e tried recovering the whole thing for over an hour, tempted by the fish which was very colourful and attractive, but gave up ultimately.”

Another highlight was Diwali at sea, and a call by the Prime Minister himself.

Vartika recalled, “We were an hour and a half ahead of India, expecting PM Modi’s call at 1600 IST. We set about making our flour diyas and drying them in the sun. A call came through and we thought it was be a trial call, but it was the PM… he had called early! We were like, oh no, we’re not ready!!” Of course the call was shared nationally.

There has been plenty of work was well.

The ladies have been collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Indian Ocean has seen some horrific natural disasters in recent times and many resources are being invested to

gain a better understanding of weather conditions.

They’ve also been also monitoring marine pollution, and have recorded lower levels south of the equator.

Food and watch duties were shared on a roster.

“We keep fresh food to last us for about 10-15 days,” Vartika described. “Then we switch to dry rations which we reconstitute with hot water.”

There was however, a particularly rough patch with the weather.

“We were expecting to hit a cold front in the southern hemisphere and had been preparing for it even five days in advance,” Vartika revealed. “We had no idea though of what the intensity would be. When the storm came it was high in intensity – with winds of 35 knots that picked up much more. We hadn’t ever experienced winds like that before, so it was a little bit scary but we came through it well.”

How it all began

The Sagar Parikrama (literally, circumnavigation) program began in 2009 when Cdr Dilip Donde set off on the first-ever solo expedition. ollowing him, Cdr Abhilash Tomy bettered the record by accomplishing this feat nonstop and unassisted. Both sailed on the INS hadei, the navy s first sail boat that Donde helped build.

In an attempt to keep up this newly established tradition, the Indian Navy struck upon the idea of having an all-girl

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The Tarini team with Consul General of India (Perth) Amit Kumar Mishra, and WA Parliamentarians Paul Andrews, Yaz Mubarakai and Simone McGurk

INDIAN LINK

NOVEMBER 2017 11

Photos: Ravinder Singh Virk and Indian Navy website

cover story

crew take up the challenge.

“The call for volunteers went out in 2014,” Vartika said. “Three women sailors including me were picked for a mixed crew, on an experimental basis. Although the Navy had female officers by then, they were not serving in the field. There was no history of women on ocean-going platforms. But we coped well in our little experiment, and it was agreed we could take it up further.”

Volunteers were sought then for INSV Tarini. “Twenty applications came in; six were picked. We belong to different cadres two of us are naval architects, two are from training, and two from air traffic control.

The Navy gave us the option of pulling out whenever we wanted.”

Vartika loved the experience, having sailed since 2010. But one of the younger girls revealed she found it much harder.

“My first few days of sailing were very tough and I thought I would never come back to it. But soon I was hooked!” The girls mentored by Cdr Dilip Donde, came together as a team in 2015. They clocked up nearly 25,000 nautical miles onboard INSV Mhadei and Tarini as part of training, including an expedition from Goa to Vizag for the International Fleet Review 2016, two expeditions to Mauritius (in 2016 and 2017), and a voyage from Goa to Cape Town.

They also participated in the sailing race Cape to Rio earlier this year.

Fremantle

In its fortnight-long break at Fremantle, INSV Tarini is undergoing regular maintenance checks and replenishment of supplies for her onward journey.

“There is much to prepare for the next leg of our travels,” Vartiuka noted.

“Southern Ocean conditions are known to be even rougher so we are preparing the

12 NOVEMBER 2017

boat as well as ourselves.”

The young crew have also been out and about, meeting and talking to people. They have been welcomed warmly at schools and universities, at media interactions and within the local Indian community, the curiosity always high about a group of young Indian girls on a daring sail across the world. Particularly interesting for the girls themselves, have been their meetings with women in high profile positions, such as WA Governor Kerry Sanderson, the Deputy Mayor of Fremantle Cr Ingrid Waltham, President of the WA Legislative Council Kate Doust, and Deputy Lord Mayor of Perth Cr Jemma Green.

One of the stated aims of the program has been to showcase Nari Shakti, or women’s empowerment. “This would also help to discard the societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India by raising visibility of participation by women in challenging environments,” a government communique had declared.

Pratibha is particularly keen on this showand-tell feature. “We want to meet people and tell them that Indian women are doing this, on a boat that’s made in India.”

In recent years India has been taking a renewed look at its naval program.

Programs to modernise – and indigenise – its platforms have been announced in the backdrop of increased naval activities in the Indian Ocean Region, and also as concerns grow for it as a trade route and as a region vulnerable to natural disasters.

In light of this, its attempts to find larger roles for its women officers is a welcome initiative.

No doubt the next level up in the Sagar Parikrama program will be a solo circumnavigation - unassisted and non-stop of course - by an Indian woman.

We keenly await this announcement.

INSV TARINI >> INSV Tarini, the Indian Navy’s second ocean-going sailboat, was inducted in February this year. >> Designed in the Netherlands, she is a sloop built by Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd at Divar, Goa.The hull is made of a wooden core fiberglass sandwich that performs better than aluminum and steel. >> NSV Tarini carries a suite of six sails including a main sail, head sails, downwind sails and a storm sail. It is made out of wood covered in fiber glass. >> The mast is 25 meters tall and has been custom-built by Southern Spars, Cape Town, for sailing in extreme conditions. >> It also boasts of a Raymarine navigation suite and an array of latest satellite communication systems through which she can be contacted anywhere in the world. >> INSV Tarini is almost identical to its predecessor, INSV Mhadei, which has sailed over 115,000 nautical miles in the past eight years. >> This includes path breaking voyages like the first Indian solo circumnavigation undertaken by Captain Dilip Donde (retd) in 2009 and first solo, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation by Commander Abhilash Tomy in 2013. >> The successful construction of both the Mhadei and Tarini in Goa are a tribute to the Government’s Make in India policy. >> The Indian Navy is currently operating two other sailing vessels also built in shipyards at Goa - Tarangini and Sudarshini - capable of open ocean deployments. The Navy is attempting to revitalise open ocean sailing and will shortly be inducting four 40-feet, state-of-the-art open ocean racing sail boats. >> INSV Tarini draws her origin from the famous Tara-Tarini temple of Orissa’s Ganjam district. The word Tarini means boat and is also a Sanskrit word for saviour. >> Tara-Tarini is the patron deity for sailors and merchants and is worshipped for safety and success at sea. >> Tara-Tarini of Orissa is known to have historical linkages with the river Goddess Mhadei -- the exclusive boat deity of Goa’s Mhadei river. Both deities have sculptural similarities.

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NOVEMBER 2017 13

festival

A cracker of a Diwali

Fed Square leads a slew of Diwali celebrations in Melbourne

BY PREETI JABBAL

F

rom shedding copious tears on Diwali days and desperately missing the celebrations ‘back home’ to having way too many Diwali celebrations to attend in Melbourne this year, I have a modern dilemma.

Everyone including politicians, banks, local markets, corporates, AFL and other sporting clubs as well as educational institutions celebrated this popular Indian festival. Even Uber sent an invite this year.

It was great to be spoilt for choice.

This most significant Indian festival has gained such significance in Melbourne city that one really has to have their head in the sand in order to miss it.

Commuters travelling back home after work from Flinders Street station, prior to Diwali, may have felt a tad less weary from watching the colourfully attired Bollywood dancers performing there.

Those who were in Bourke Street Mall that evening would also have heard the upbeat Bollywood beats and seen the vibrant performances and wondered what was going on.

The Indian music from the illuminated Diwali carriage plying the streets of Melbourne would have piqued many people’s curiosity.

Many may have wondered why the Parliament, Old Treasury, Museum and other iconic buildings are illuminated with spectacular lights, that too much before

14 NOVEMBER 2017

Christmas.

The Melbourne Star Giant wheel was also illuminated in the tricolours of the Indian flag on Diwali and a 40% discount was offered on all tickets to the ride to mark the Festival.

Leading up to Diwali, a 10-day exhibition of Indian folk art and craft, called Colours of Diwali, was also on display at the Fracture Gallery of Federation Square.

Even if one missed out on any or all of these subtleties, they surely would not have missed the tens of thousands of people who gathered at Federation Square to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Federation Square Diwali is organised

by Celebrate India, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to share and develop a better understanding of Indian culture among all Victorians.

Now in its 12th year, this annual festival forms an important part of the Victorian events calendar. The volunteer-run organising committee puts in months of efforts to ensure that the event is bigger and better.

Luckily this year, the weather held up with clear skies, beautiful sunshine and just a slight nip in the air.

The Celebrate India team of volunteers started the prep early as vehicles bumped in and out, depositing their products, points of sale and banners for the Diwali stalls. Food vendors started setting up for what would undoubtedly be a very hectic day.

It was all hustle and bustle as aesthetically decorated traditional Diwali lanterns were strung up to add to the festive colours.

Soon, curious onlookers started trickling in, followed by participants of the morning program of free entertainment. The festivities then warmed up with children’s activities,

circus acts, magic show, yoga, meditation and a meet-and-greet with AFL players.

The foot traffic picked up in the afternoon as the food vendors started getting busy along with the other stall holders and henna counters. Ghar ka khana, homemade kulfi, paani puri, chhole bhature, pav bhaji... there was an amazing array of mouth-watering Indian street food and other delicacies on offer.

By evening, the food queues were enormous and standing space was limited as an overwhelming number of people gathered for one of Melbourne’s largest Diwali celebrations.

According to information provided by Federation Square, approximately 55,000 people visited the prominent location during the festivities.

The Premier, Daniel Andrews, declared to thunderous applause in his speech later that evening, “I think this is not only Australia’s biggest Indian Community but in Victoria we have Australia’s best Indian community.”

He added, “In Victoria, the multicultural capital of our nation, we don’t just tolerate diversity, we celebrate diversity.

No community makes a bigger and more profound contribution to our diversity, strength and inclusion than the Indian community with all of its diversity.”

The formal part of the evening saw bipartisan support to the event with the presence of the Victorian Premier, Shadow Multicultural Minister Inga Peulich and Deputy Mayor Arron Wood.

They were all invited on stage, along with the Indian High Commissioner Ajay M Gondane and Indian Consul General Manika Jain, to light the traditional lamp.

Amongst the fireworks and tricoloured confetti that burst on the stage was a

cracker of a comment from the Indian High Commissioner. Pointing out his concern for the audience that stood for most part of the evening, he remarked that seating should not be restricted only to the VIPs and dignitaries.

According to the HC, due to the lengthy duration of the event the public should be provided with some arrangement in order to enjoy the event in a more relaxed manner.

He requested the organisers to arrange something next year and also offered his assistance, if required, to make it happen.

Needless to say, his words were met with great applause and cheering from the crowd.

Hopefully he will remember his words closer to time, though the logistics of it will be mindboggling considering there were easily several thousand people present at the festival.

During the evening program, audience interest was held by musical treats and some vibrant folk dances from India.

The performers were provided with a refreshingly different theme by Celebrate India. The teams rose to the challenge by performing various dance styles of India, with a contemporary twist, based on Bollywood music from the 1960s and 70s.

Arun Sharma, Celebrate India’s Chairman and White Ribbon Ambassador, led the White Ribbon oath ceremony supporting “no violence against women”. This brief ceremony has been an interactive part of every Celebrate India Diwali Celebrations and encourages the community to support the White Ribbon cause.

The audience also enjoyed the novelty of the conch-blowing competition. They witnessed a unique collaboration of African and Indian drummers and dancers, led by master drummer and choreographer Frederick Nii Kpakpo Addo from One

www.indianlink.com.au

Photos: Ravinder Singh Jabbal

‘‘

No community makes a bigger and more profound contribution to our diversity, strength and inclusion than the Indian community Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews

INDIAN LINK

‘‘

Spirit Africa.

Another highlight was the fusion of dances by artists from China, Mauritius, Fiji and India.

Upbeat bhangra and contemporary Bollywood dances were easily the crowd favourites and were met with hearty applause.

Security was tight and alert during the nine-hour program that concluded with spectacular fireworks on the banks of the River Yarra.

Sharma said, “I believe the celebration of Diwali in the heart of the city plays a significant role not only in helping new migrants to settle

in and feel at home but also by generating revenue and social cohesions among the wider community.”

Slowly but surely, the wider community in Australia is getting to know what Diwali is and what it stands for. Speaking to those present revealed how popular the event is amongst Victorians.

Aman Dhillon has been attending this event for the past four years with his entire family. “Rain or shine, we come every year because we really enjoy the food, entertainment and there is always something new to look forward to. This is the best way I can recreate the joy associated with this festival for my children,” he said.

Heena Patel claims she comes to the festival every year with her Anglo Saxon friends so they can also experience a ‘snapshot of Indian Diwali.’ “They love it and look forward to coming with me every year. This year even their siblings joined us and we all had a great time,” she said.

To quote HC Gondane’s words, “Diwali is not just about light over darkness or triumph of good over evil, it is about sharing. So continue to share the spirit of Diwali with your neighbours, colleagues, friends, business partners and the community around you.”

Thanks to all that sharing, I am now off to my Diwali celebration number 5.

NOVEMBER 2017 15

festival

AIII Diwali T he Australian Indian Innovations Incorporated (AIII) reached out to Melbourne’s Indian community yet again during this year’s festive season with its Diwali Mela. Filled with fun activities, some wonderful cultural performances and mouth-watering food, this Diwali was spectacular.

The start of the traditional new year, it brought new beginnings to a whole host of new talent this time, in terms of entrepreneurs exhibiting at the fair, as well as performers on stage.

As the crowds gathered at Tatterson Park in Keysborough to enjoy the Diwali mood, they were joined by Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Inga Peulich, and Greater Dandenong Councillors Tim Dark, Heang Tak and Roz Blades.

Turned out it was Inga Peulich’s birthday on the day, and so the gathered community wished her cheerily.

The rides outside satisfied our inner child, and then we ventured in for some pooja

16 NOVEMBER 2017

(prayers), and pate pooja (snacking).

Chef Aarati Ilanko’s Cake ‘n’ Chai was a wonderful Diwali surprise, with unique baked treats with flavours like mars, snickers, bounty, chai and falooda. Pooja Patel, the chocolatier for Chocolates by Design, did well with her own inventive offerings of chocolates in paan and saunf flavours. Yummo! The more traditional fare like pani puris, lassis and pav bhajis were great too.

On stage as well, the entire gamut from classical and traditional to modern and contemporary was represented. Ananda Dance Group’s semi-classical number dedicated to Ganesh was outstanding. The pumped-up Natya Entertainment brought us all-time favourites, and Bollywood Bindass, fast-paced and full on, took our breath way.

As night fell, a fabulous display of fireworks brought us the true thrill of Diwali.

Nikita Kulkarni

www.indianlink.com.au

festival

Swinburne Diwali P acked to the brim with events, food, activities and a touch of tradition, the Atrium at Swinburne Uni transformed into Diwali Central last month.

Diyas were lit, the dhol rang out, the dandiyas were tapped, the ghaghra skirts swirled and the bhangra danced, in an impressive burst of colour.

Put together by the Swinburne Punjabi Club and the Swinburne Student Engagement Team, the south Asian students of the university - as well as many others were able to get a feel of the open, inclusive and party atmosphere of the Hindu festival on campus.

Joining the students on this festive occasion were Vice Chancellor Prof Linda Kristjanson, VMC Commissioner Sam Almaliki, State Member of Parliament

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John Pesutto, the Consul General of Democratic Republic of Srilanka W.G.S Prasanna, the Head of Chancery of the Republic of India Rakesh Malhotra, and the university’s Director of Multicultural Engagement, Chin Tan. The MCs, the lovely Reet Kaur and the charming Mithun Rajan, took the audience on a cultural journey through the region, with bhangra from Punjab, garba from Gujarat, bharatanatyam from Tamil Nadu and traditional dances from Nepal. A fashion show introduced the audience to traditional wear, while Bollywood beats brought in a feel of the energy and enthusiasm of contemporary India. Who could keep the crowds from joining in?!

A great reason for a dance party just before the exam season set in…

Nikita Kulkarni

NOVEMBER 2017 17

Photo:S Foodie Trails

festival

Dandenong Diwali Festive fair gets warm response on a wet day

A

rainy day could not dampen the spirits of the close to 1,000 visitors at the Diwali fair held at Dandenong Market on 22 October.

With plenty of peppy Bollywood dance, plenty of colourful costumes and some lip-smacking street food, it was a showcase of the best of India. Activities such as free henna art and turban tying gave the nonIndians a quick primer into Indian culture.

Indian Link was associated with the event.

The parking lot of Dandenong Market wore a decidedly festive look as stalls popped up and a stage was put in place for the fair. By mid-morning, a mixed crowd of shoppers and actual visitors started building up.

Upbeat Bollywood numbers built up the festive mood as several groups performed on popular songs, much to the delight of those gathered. For some enthusiastic

18 NOVEMBER 2017

visitors, the foot-tapping songs were too good not to shake a leg and they broke into impromptu jigs close to the stage.

There were a couple of drizzles but who doesn’t like a bit of rain dance in any case!

The performers included Sikandar, Bollydazzlers, RANJHE, Tiya Dance Troupe and The Fifths.

Meanwhile, wafting aromas from the food stalls lured the visitors with kebabs, vada pav, dosa, biryani, curries and more.

Those in the mood to indulge could dig into kulfis and mithais as well, and a warm cup of chai was just the thing to have on the overcast day.

It was heartening to see a good crowd at the henna art and turban tying stalls.

What better way to partake of a rich culture while having some fun along the way! After all, isn’t that what Diwali is all about too?

www.indianlink.com.au

Divine fun Huge turnout for Sri Durga Temple’s Dussehra fair

W

hile Diwali fairs are the highlight of the cultural calendar of the diaspora, the Sri Durga Temple at Rockbank has made Dussehra an equally festive occasion.

Like each year, the Dussehra celebration of the temple was a much awaited event and got a massive response from not only the strong concentration of Indian-Australians living in West Melbourne, but from throughout the city. By some estimates, the footfall throughout 1 October, when the event was held, was close to 15,000. Indian Link was a partner of the event.

While there was significant religious undertone, the event itself was more of a fair with a lot of emphasis of family fun, with alcohol out of bounds. There were plenty of activities for children and family sports to keep everyone occupied.

Stage performances included traditional

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dances such as giddha and dandia, and of course the evergreen crowd-pleaser, bhangra. There were religious songs and bhajans as well.

There was a variety of stalls including those of various banks, migration agencies, real estate developers and even set top boxes for Indian channels. The winner of lucky draw at the Indian Link stall won a voucher for a 2 nights, 3 days accommodation at Gold Coast.

Those peckish from all the activity headed to the food stalls to tuck into some delicious samosa, chaat, tikki, jalebi and more.

As the daylight faded, the fixture of Dussehra celebrations in North India, the Ram Leela and burning of the effigy of the demon king Ravana, took place to much cheering from the gathered crowd.

As fireworks filled the night sky with countless colours, it was the perfect finish to a day well spent.

NOVEMBER 2017 19

festival

Diwali cocktails Bank of Melbourne marks Festival of Lights

T

he Bank of Melbourne recently hosted an inaugural cocktail event to celebrate Diwali.

Inclusiveness took centre stage as the colourful evening brought together community leaders, dignitaries, customers and Consulate representatives as part of the Bank’s ongoing support of Victoria’s multicultural diversity. The joyful celebration provided a great opportunity to network as well.

“As Victoria’s local bank, we support the uniqueness of Australia’s many cultures from around the world that are nurtured and celebrated here,” said Huzi Bagasrawala, Business Development Manager, Asian & Migrant Banking.

The bank provided special offers on banking services throughout the Diwali festival and sweet boxes were distributed to selected multicultural branches.

According to Bagasrawala, Bank of Melbourne provides customers with a dedicated relationship manager who

is familiar with cultural and language differences and takes the time to understand each customer’s personal banking requirements.

In addition to multilingual ATMs and 24x7 online banking, Bank of Melbourne’s multilingual staff can provide personal support in a customer’s native language, including Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Kannada, Tulu, Bengali and English.

The cocktail event was held at the Collins Street-located Bank of Melbourne headquarters that had been transformed to give guests an atmosphere of colours and taste of India.

Several guests and BOM staff arrived in traditional Indian attire and enjoyed the special Indian cultural entertainment on offer.

The mood picked up from the registration desk itself that was decked with flowers, traditional thalis (decorated trays) and vermillion.

Shikha Chhangani from Tatkaar Kathak

Academy presented a beautifully executed dance that invoked the special blessings of Lord Ganesha. The quintessential Bollywood flavour was provided by The Jalwa Dance Company as they presented a peppy performance to Bollywood beats.

Michelle Winzer, Chief Executive of Bank of Melbourne, was on hand to welcome the guests, alongside other executives and staff.

Also sharing in the occasion were Jonathan Ayers, Head of Premium Banking and Business Growth and Acting Head of Retail Banking, and Irene Yu, Director of Migrant and Multicultural Banking.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott, Consul General of India in Melbourne Manika Jain, and Consul General of Sri Lanka WGS Prasanna were

among the VIPs that attended.

Raj Khillan, who is the Senior Paediatrician with Western and Mercy Health Services and pioneering leader for healthcare in the Indian community, was a guest speaker at the event.

Raj is also the Founder of Doctors against Domestic Violence and he writes columns in various Indian newspapers in Melbourne.

He shared his inspiring journey and migrant story with those present.

“Wonderful to celebrate the Diwali festival of light with our customers and colleagues at Bank of Melbourne. A diverse and inclusive community where differences are not just tolerated, but embraced, is vital for a thriving and happy society, and business,” said Winzer as she wished everyone a safe and happy Diwali.

Preeti Jabbal

MP celebrates Diwali with Indian-Oz community MP and Minister Kelly O’Dwyer hosts a Diwali event for the second year running

F

ollowing a successful Diwali celebration in 2016, Member of Parliament Kelly O’Dwyer hosted another Diwali event this year.

With members from the Higgins electorate invited to attend, O’Dwyer, the Federal Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, encouraged the Indian community to join her in the festivities.

“I feel blessed because in Higgins there are approximately 6,150 people who identify with their Indian ancestry. There are a lot of people who are either born in India or identify with their Indian ancestry because their parents, grandparents or great grandparents were born in India,” O’Dwyer explained. “Interestingly, approximately 1,500 residents in Higgins speak Hindi,” she added.

Political leaders in Australia are starting to host a variety of Diwali events. However, it is rare to find a politician host a cultural event on their own. “Instead of the Indian community inviting political leaders to Diwali, Kelly has taken action to host her own Diwali event and invite the community at large,” said Rampal Muthyala of AUMSAI Sansthan. “This truly shows her commitment to fostering stronger ties with the Indian community.”

20 NOVEMBER 2017

Encouraging the Indian and Australian community to come together at a time that celebrates new beginnings, friendships and the hope for a better future showcases Australia’s vibrant multicultural initiatives. “I am pleased to see so many new faces at this event and it is a pleasure to host such an important festival in the Indian calendar,” O’Dwyer remarked.

More than 100 people from the community attended the celebration at Carnegie’s Packer Park Pavilion. The event included lighting of the traditional lamp and a religious puja. In addition, Nikita and Priya Kulkarni choreographed their own Bollywood dance to entertain the guests.

With traditional Indian food and a hall filled with residents, the occasion presented the ideal opportunity to network and make new friends.

The guests were joined by community leaders including Consul General of India in Melbourne, Manika Jain. Jain commended O’Dwyer for hosting her second consecutive Diwali event and reminded the gathering how fortunate the local community is to have a federal politician in Australia who strives to recognise important cultural events.

Carl Buhariwala

www.indianlink.com.au

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NOVEMBER 2017 21

WHAT’S ON DIWALI Hindi Niketan Sat 11 Nov (6:00pm – 9:30pm) Bollywood dance and music, entrée and 3-course vegetarian meal. Clayton Town Hall. 264 Clayton Road, Clayton.

Details Rahul Gupta 0431 700 646.

RSVP essential by 7 November at hindi.niketan.inc@gmail.com SENIORS Legal issues Sat 11 Nov (10:00am-2:00pm) Eastern Community Legal Centre organises a family day for the Indian community. Room 1, 45 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley. Details 03 9285 4822 SPIRITUAL Brahmrishi Sri Gurudev Sat 2 Dec (10:00am) Receive personal grace and blessings from the spiritual master. Prasad will be served.

Sai Temple, 32 Halley Ave Camberwell Sun 3 Dec (10:00am) Shiva Vishnu Temple 52 Boundary Rd Carrum Downs Details Brij Panwar 0414 937 633 STAGE Dance: Reverberations Sat 4 Nov (5:00 pm - 6:00 pm) Just Beat It dance group presents Reverberations at The Castle, 61 Princes Highway, Dandenong 3175.

Details 0459 337 081 Theatre: Sandhya Rang Fri 10 Nov (7.00pm - 9.30pm)

Natyadarpan presents three short skits in Sandhya Rang at Chandler Theatre, Chandler Secondary College, 28 Isaac Road, Keysborough. Details www.natyadarpan.com.au

Humphreys Way, Rowville. Details 0426 616 455 Stand-up comedy: Pammi Aunty Live in Melbourne Fri 24 Nov Details 0425 795 135

Poetry, music and dance: The Colour of Desire Sat 11 Nov (3:00pm - 5:30pm) Urban Layas presents a two-hour exploration of female desire in South Asian music and poetry, through a unique combination of vocal, instrumental and dance performances by some of Melbourne’s emerging artists. South Oakleigh College, Bakers Road, Oakleigh South. Details 0433 277 205

Hindustani Classical Vocal & Saxophone Sat 25 Nov (8.00 pm-11.00pm) Melbourne Hindustani Classical Music Society presents artistes Bikram Malhar (vocal) and Nicolas Buff (saxophone). Kew Court House, 188 High St, Kew. Details www.mhcms.org

Punjabi entertainment Akhaada Sat 11 Nov Punjab artists Rupinder Handa, Prab Gill and comedian Deedar Gill live on stage.

Details 0405 939 994 Theatre: Romeo Is Not The Only Fruit 14-26 Nov Poppy Seed Theatre Festival features musical romp Romeo Is Not The Only Fruit starring Nisha Joseph and Pallavi Waghmode. Fun, campy, politically irreverent and casually incisive.

Details poppyseed.net.au Classical dance: Nava Darshanam Sun 19 Nov (6.00pm – 8.00pm) Sindhubhairavi Centre for Indian Arts and Culture, presents Nava Darshanam, a Bharatanatyam production in the Thanjavur style.

Rowville Performing Arts Centre,

Bhangra competition Sun 26 Nov (2.00pm – 9.00pm) Bhangra dance-off with Basement Bhangra Battles. Details 0469 393 460 FILM November Swar Sandhya Sat 4 Nov (8pm) Sharda Kala Kendra’s event. Karaoke style singing of Hindi film music. You can bring your own tracks, or choose on the spot from an extensive library. Brandon Park Primary School, 1-5 Ninevah Cres, Wheelers Hill. Details Sandeep 0407 612 622 Hare Krishna: The Mantra, the Movement & the Swami who started it all Sun 19 Nov 2:00 pm - 4:00pm Village Cinemas Werribee, Heaths Road, Werribee 3030 Sun 26 Nov 1:00 pm - 3:00pm Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton Details 0425 333 086

COMMUNITY Musical Night Sat 11 Nov (7:00pm - 10:00pm) Association of Young Indian Talents of Australia (AYINA) organises its evening of music at Laverton Community Hub, 95-105 Railway Avenue Laverton.

Details ayina.com.au Poetry Sun 12 Nov (2:00pm - 5:00pm) Sahitik Shaam: An afternoon of poetry St Albans Community Centre, 309C Main Road East, Saint Albans 3021.

Details www.bowerystacc.com.au Kalaraipayattu 5 Nov - 21 Dec Introduction to Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s ancient traditional indigenous healing and martial art. Studio J Dance, 1/147 Swan St, Richmond.

Details 03 9088 0779 Rockers Rajyotsava Cup Sat 11 Nov Mark the foundation day of the Indian state of Karnataka with sport. Cricket and Throwball at St Louis De Montforts Community Hall, 37 Dolphin Street, Aspandale. Details 0423 954 126

To list your event email: media@indianlink.com.au

A gift from Indian Link Congratulations to this year’s Lucky Draw winners from the Indian Link stall at various local Diwali fairs

Jyotsana Goyal WINNER Hindu Society of Victoria’s Diwali fair

22 NOVEMBER 2017

Usha Rawat WINNER Hindu Society of Victoria’s Diwali fair

Taranjit Singh Saini WINNER Sri Durga Temple Dusshera fair

Siobhan Allan WINNER Victorian Festival of Diwali event

Joyce WINNER The Australian Indian Innovations Inc Diwali celebrations

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special feature

Labour pains of adoption Liz and Adam Brook’s story shows how a freeze on adoption from India has kept Australian childless couples in limbo

BY RITAM MITRA

B

y some estimates, India is home to between 20 and 30 million orphaned children, the overwhelming majority of whom are orphaned by abandonment, rather than because of the death of their parents.

Lost in a sea of some 400 million children - the largest child population in the world - the outlook is bleak for those left behind. Crippling poverty and poor literacy rates form an unforgiving couple, leading to a vicious circle of child labour, child trafficking and systemic abuse.

Yet, even as India’s population continues to skyrocket, and adoption becomes more accepted within its borders, adoption rates in India have plummeted over the last 7 years.

Over the same period, almost under the radar, the Australian government has upheld a ban on the adoption of children from India, amid a cloud of bureaucratic smoke and mirrors that continues to frustrate prospective adoptive parents and denies some of the world’s most desperate children the chance of a new beginning.

It’s now been seven years since Australia suspended its adoption program with India, when the then Attorney-General placed a hold on applications to India, purportedly in response to ongoing investigations into illegal adoptions and child trafficking.

Although the Indian adoption environment has been overhauled since the hold was first announced, the Australian government’s position remains inexplicably unchanged. It’s been a period largely characterised by misinformation, a dearth of transparency and, most dishearteningly for Australian couple Liz and Adam Brook, relentless uncertainty.

It’s quite a contrast to the spirit of National Adoption Awareness Week that will be marked from 8 to 14 November.

The Week aims to increase awareness about adoption and remove the stigma around it.

Actress and adoption advocate Deborralee Furness and her husband, actor Hugh Jackman, recently launched a hashtag on social media called #ahomeforeverychild, to encourage Australians to think about adoption reform. News presenters Louise Ransome and Angela Bishop and journalist Sandra Sully are just some public figures who have supported the Adopt Change campaign.

Just as importantly, it is also worth noting that former Australian women’s cricket 24 NOVEMBER 2017

captain Lisa Sthalekar, who has Indian biological parents, was adopted as an infant from Pune.

A subcontinental romance

Liz and Adam form part of a crushing but unavoidable statistic: they’re one in six Australian couples who experience infertility. Even at an early stage of their relationship, the couple discussed openly the avenue of adoption with each other.

Liz had been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome as a teenager. It was around this time that Liz also fell in love with the subcontinent.

“I have been fascinated by India since I was a child,” says Liz. “My parents made sure we were exposed to different cultures, races and religions. But it wasn’t until Boxing Day in 1998 or 1999, when I was about 13, that India became a larger part of our lives.”

That was when, as Liz recalls, multicultural broadcaster SBS aired the 1996 film Raja Hindustani. “I was hooked,” says Liz. “It took years and a lot of development until Google was good enough to find me that film again, but my sister and my mum contented ourselves with whatever we could find on eBay.” By 2013, Liz and Adam owned dozens of Bollywood films, and were regulars at their local Indian restaurant. That year also marked Liz’s first visit to India; she would return again in 2015 with Adam to tour Rajasthan and its surrounds, Adam learning how to play several Bollywood tracks on the guitar along the way. With Adam having since taken Hindi classes, and the couple notching up another trip to India this year, it’s no surprise that now, as ever, Liz and Adam picture themselves with an Indian child.

“I remember early on in our relationship, going through a drive-through and the

server was a young girl of Indian descent, her name was Anjali - which of course got my attention, reminding us of Kajol!” laughs Liz. “From then on, we had this fantasy that our daughter would be Anjali, the first female Formula 1 champion.”

Hopes dashed

But the couple were dealt a harsh blow at the very beginning of their journey in 2017, learning that Australia’s adoption program with India was on hold. Having spent countless hours reading about the Australian and Indian adoption regimes, including trawling through outdated Australian government websites, navigating broken links and weeding out general misinformation, Liz emailed a number of government agencies and politicians – including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull - seeking clarification. “I could have accepted it if the answer was no,” laments Liz, “but the limbo is killing me.”

On each occasion however, Liz was given the same, bitter pill to swallow: that the Australian government is “continuing to monitor” India’s adoption system.

India’s adoption regime

Australian governments have - rightly - consistently adopted a conservative and cautious approach to Australia’s intercountry adoption programs; and particularly so since 1998, when Australia ratified the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

But the procedure and regulation of adoptions in India has changed significantly since applications were suspended in 2010.

In February 2011, a delegation comprising officials from the AttorneyGeneral’s Department and the Victorian Department of Human Services met with

the Indian Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), the statutory body for the adoption of children in India, and had meetings with the Australian High Commission in India as well.

During these meetings, delegates discussed the approval and implementation of the new Guidelines Governing the Adoption of Children, a key milestone in India’s quest to abolish illegal and mismanaged adoption practices. The guidelines, which were based partly on the Hague Adoption Convention (to which India is also a signatory), were implemented later that year.

More recently, in 2015, amendments to the Indian Juvenile Justice Act further revolutionised India’s adoption program, making adoptions faster and more transparent by moving the application process online, creating a centralised waiting list, and most importantly, requiring closer monitoring of the practices of adoption agencies.

And it’s not just pen on paper - CARA and the Ministry of Women and Child Development have already begun cracking down on illegal adoptions and adoptions facilitated by unauthorised agencies.

A culture of finger-pointing

Despite the significant steps taken between

by Indian lawmakers and authorities over the best part of the last decade, the position of Australian authorities with respect to the India program remains overwhelmingly unclear, and authorities seem determined to avoid the issue at all costs.

An intercountry adoption kit issued by the Victorian Department of Human Services, for instance, cites that the decision to place the adoption program on “temporary hold” was actually in response to “current investigations being undertaken by the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation in relation to illegal adoptions,” while a Daily Telegraph article wrongly accuses India of suspending its adoption program with Australia.

Even in the wake of the most troubling child-trafficking allegations from India, which surfaced in late 2013, the then Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the establishment of a taskforce to report back to the government on Australia’s intercountry adoption regime, citing the “millions of children in orphanages overseas who would love to have parents,” and that “tens of thousands of those could come to Australia.” Despite recommending that Australia “reinvigorate” its efforts to establish new country programs across the world, the ensuing report essentially ignored the plight of one of the largest, poorest populations of adoptable children the

www.indianlink.com.au

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National Adoption Awareness Week (8 to 14 November) aims to increase awareness about adoption and remove the stigma around it

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Liz and Adam Brook at Pushkar, India

world; instead, the report failed altogether to consider India’s renewed adoption regime, and merely noted the fact that the hold on the India program remained in place.

The relevant state and territory adoption bodies also appear to have been left in the dark, and the bureaucracy is deflating for prospective parents. Having requested only to attend an adoption information seminar facilitated by the NSW Department Family and Community Services - the only agency in NSW which can arrange intercountry adoption - Liz and Adam were turned away, with a FACS case worker notifying the couple that the “India program has been on hold for several years and we don’t know when the hold will be lifted,” and that there would be no room for “newcomers” to attend the seminar.

CARA CEO, Deepak Kumar, suggested to Liz that the ball was in the court of

Australian authorities. “We had a few sessions of interaction with the Australian central (adoption) authority and their embassy in India at CARA & through Skype,” said Kumar. “The Australian authorities were convinced but have been non-committal. In fact, every time (we speak to them), they say the Minister) for Social Services, the Hon Christian Porter MP) is yet to take a decision. We are committed to recommencement of the program but you must ask the Australian government to take the decision at the earliest.”

Yet Kumar’s comments, too, are to be taken with a pinch of salt. Campaigners in India are currently calling for an immediate end to intercountry adoptions, on the basis that they do not provide adequate protections for children. These calls have come following the death of a threeyear-old girl, ostensibly at the hands of

her adoptive father. The toddler, Sherin Mathews, was adopted from the Mother Teresa Orphanage and Children’s Home in Bihar, India, just over a year ago.

More recently, local media outlets reported that Assistant Social Services Minister, Zed Seselja has confirmed that discussions are in final stages to allow Australian parents to adopt children from India. Yet the irony is that no such confirmation has been provided to the couples most affected by that decision, or to the public more generally. Once again, no information appears on any relevant government website.

In fact, in response to a query by Indian Link, the department of social services said via a spokesperson that there has been no change to the status of the India-Australia intercountry adoption program. “Australia’s hold on sending new intercountry adoption applications to India remains in place.

Representatives of the Department of Social Services visited India earlier this year to see the changes in India first hand and understand the steps India has taken to improve adoption practices as well as how the current adoption process operates. While there is no specified timeframe for lifting the hold on the India-Australia program at present, the Australian Government continues to actively engage with India’s adoption program and Indian officials.”

It’s also unclear whether Indian authorities have been kept in the loop; as recently as last month, CARA noted that it was unable to shed any more light on the situation and was in continued discussions with Australian authorities.

An inconsistent approach

Deborra-lee Furness and her husband, actor Hugh Jackman Photo: Twitter

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Aside from the prevalent culture of red tape and buck-passing, there’s a particularly cruel irony in the position taken by Australian authorities: although Australian state and territory adoption authorities will consider “ad-hoc adoption” applications for children

from countries with which Australia does not have an active intercountry adoption arrangement, ad-hoc adoption applications are not accepted for countries where an adoption program exists. In other words, if the adoption program with India had been cancelled altogether in response to child trafficking allegations - rather than put on hold - it would have been possible for prospective parents to submit to their respective state and territory central authorities ad-hoc applications to adopt Indian children.

It’s also curious that the Australian government - whose recent human rights track record, for the record, is unconvincing, at best - should cite its Hague Adoption Convention responsibilities in relation to its reluctance to reinstate the India program, despite other major signatories to the Hague Adoption Convention, such as the UK and the USA, continuing to allow their citizens to adopt children from India. The Australian government’s seven-year long vigil is, in essence, an indirect suggestion that other Hague Adoption Convention countries have violated their obligations under the Convention - of which there appears to be no evidence.

The harsh reality for couples like Liz and Adam is that managing intercountry adoption sits low on the priority list for elected officials in Australia, where successful intercountry adoptions are, by numbers, few and far between. It’s certainly a path that merits careful traversing; the risks of poor oversight and blasé due diligence can hardly be overstated. Yet, for those few dozen children in India each year who could quite literally be given a second chance at life in Australia - and equally, for the Australian couples desperate to give those children that chance - the very nature of the industry demands a more balanced, transparent and functional approach to policy and governance.

NOVEMBER 2017 25

Photos: Kulbir Cam & Kumar’s Media

india-oz

Boosting Oz-India relations New strategies emerge at AIBC Australia India event

BY PREETI JABBAL

V

ictoria Premier Daniel Andrews is getting geared up and genuinely excited about his first trip to India scheduled for January 2018.

The Premier announced the news of his upcoming trip as part of his keynote address at the Australia-India Business Council (AIBC) Annual Australia India event held at The Langham recently.

Speaking at the well-attended lunch event organised by the AIBC Victorian chapter, the Premier celebrated the latest census results that declared Indians as the highest migrant group in Victoria.

In his speech, the Premier attempted to convey a sense of optimism, talk about growth and share his confidence in the relations between Australia and India.

“More people of Indian descent than ever before are calling Victoria home and that is something I am just so proud of,” said the Premier, receiving great applause from the predominantly Indian crowd.

“This milestone comes on the back of

26 NOVEMBER 2017

recent figures that show that about 20% of Victoria’s skilled and family migrants come from India. It is clear that the Indian community has successfully laid their roots here and stayed to share all things that we hold so dear right now,” added Andrews.

The Premier went on to speak about the Diwali celebrations in Victoria, particularly the one at Federation Square, and the progress of the Indian Precincts in Dandenong and Wyndham.

According to the Premier, the key to Indian Australian relationship is to work together, and to go further with the soonto-be-released new India strategy.

He revealed that the strategy, made in consultation with the community, is a decade-long plan to further strengthen the state’s engagement with India and the Indian community.

“The India strategy lays out a comprehensive plan based on personal connections, meaningful engagements and equal exchange and is crucially one based on long-term commitment to the VictorianIndian partnership,” he said.

The Premier ended his speech by congratulating the community on its profound contribution to Victoria.

According to him, the next challenge will be to make sure that the next part of the Australian-Indian partnership is stronger than ever before.

“Australia’s relationship with India is indeed inevitable,” said Rashi Kapoor, the current President of AIBC’s Victoria chapter as she welcomed the guests. She acknowledged her new team and the national team for their efforts.

She also pointed out that it was the first time ever in history that the AFL Premiership Cup and ICC World Cup were seen together at the AIBC event. The two trophies held a place of pride on stage through the afternoon and attracted a lot of interest. Rashi went on to acknowledge the Premier by presenting him with a pin.

Next up was an address by Consul General of India in Melbourne Manika Jain. She spoke about the robust relationship between Australia and India and the exchange of recent delegations, agreements, collaborations and other noteworthy engagements between the two nations.

She will soon take up a new role as the Ambassador of Cambodia and she claimed that her tenure in Melbourne had been very productive.

She wrapped up a rather lengthy speech by saying, “With the shifting political gears in the world, there could not be more urgency than today for open and democratic economies to work together for the betterment of their people and communities. This can only be possible for

governments if their various institutions, businesses and people come together and work for the common objectives.”

As the lunch progressed, the audience also heard from Lisa Maher, Regional Manager Premier and Mobile Banking from Commonwealth Bank.

MC Stephen Manallack, former Victorian President of AIBC, held the afternoon well together with good humour.

Sheba Nandkeolyar, National Chair of AIBC, launched the AIBC National Sports chapter and presented a lifetime membership pin to Harish Rao, former Victorian President and National Chairman of AIBC. Once the formalities were completed, guests were encouraged to stay back and network. Many lined up to take photos with the treasured AFL Premiership Cup (Richmond FC) and the ICC World Cup. A lucky winner was delighted to win a new ‘Google Home’ device, courtesy Australian Super.

Towards the end, AIBC VIC vicepresident Preeti Daga offered a formal vote of thanks and expressed her enthusiasm at being part of AIBC’s new direction.

The Victorian Chapter of AIBC may be in the process of navigating the dynamics of its newly-elected committee. However, this annual event could set the course for potential progress and improvement.

www.indianlink.com.au

opinion

Are you free to disagree?

BY KRISHNA NEELAMRAJU

T

rue freedom is best witnessed when the minorities in a society can raise their voices without repercussions from the establishment. The Indian community in Australia had a taste of such freedom recently. Hindus of Indian origin, despite being an ultra-minority in this country, turned up in healthy numbers to express their opposition to the Meat and Livestock lamb ad. The protests caught mainstream attention and politicians of all parties expressed support. Some of the protestors’ energies were spent in a futile attempt to get the ad banned, which is really a hangover of the ‘ban’ culture in another part of the world. Nevertheless, the best outcome of the episode was proof that minorities in Australia enjoy the unrestricted freedom to protest without a fear of violent backlash.

Granted, the lamb ad was a harmless distraction for the average Australian who did not care enough about the outcome.

Another minority issue, a thoroughly mainstream one, of the British statue inscriptions raised by Stan Grant of ABC provoked rigorous debate and hot tempers.

Even that was largely devoid of threats,

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violence or economic blockade. Contrast this with the incidents such as the assassination of Gauri Lankesh in India just for being a contrarian or Donald Trump’s call to fire the kneeling NFL athletes in the US, and Australian freedoms shine in the brighter light. When the majority starts reacting viciously to those who dissent, the idea of freedom becomes an illusion. The implicit message is, you are free only until you agree.

Especially in the Indian context, it is essential to preserve the freedom to disagree, given the diversity of cultures, languages, and religions in the country.

Disagreement is inherent to Indianness.

It’s impossible to get the whole country to agree on any one thing and the argumentative Indian takes pride in being adversarial as a matter of principle.

Disagreement was also one of the most active tools of India’s non-violent freedom struggle. The civil disobedience movement, for example, was built entirely on the idea of peacefully disagreeing with the law of the land.

A couple of months ago, a remarkable document from 1930s India surfaced from archives and was shared on Twitter, shining the spotlight on the disobedience movement. The document showed a list of freedom fighters sentenced to prison by the City Magistrate of Bombay for violating a government ordinance. The offences were flimsy, but the punishment was rigorous.

The British colonialists were bent on crushing dissent and imposing order. The draconian laws had very little effect on

the freedom fighters who not only broke the law openly, but also did it in style, as the document shows. The names on the prison manifest are remarkable, to say the least. Not needing to prove their identity, prisoners renamed themselves ‘Son of India, God’, ‘George V Ram’ (King George V was the British regent in 1930), ‘Zindabad Mahatma Gandhi’, ‘Inkhilab Mahatma Gandhi’, ‘Bharat Shevak Mahatma Gandhi’ etc. for the court records. It is a fascinating window into the thinking of the foot soldiers of the Indian freedom movement.

Freedom is a sanguine concept. It evokes powerful, positive imagery - people in pastel coloured clothes, glowing with laughter, running through lush green fields; soldiers saluting a fluttering flag; perhaps a famous singer blowing up her lungs singing an anthem. Freedom always looks good visually, particularly on TV. But, is that the freedom ‘Zindabad Mahatma Gandhi’ yearned for? In 1930, Indians weren’t actively seeking a full exit by the British. They were only aiming for better representation in lawmaking, to put it bluntly. No matter the lesser cause, the protesters were happily filling up the prisons by violating the civil law and in the process, experiencing a freedom they didn’t have - the freedom to disagree.

Seven decades after independence, some Indians are still fighting for that right.

British-era laws such as sedition have seen a resurgence in recent times. Sedition is now unapologetically used against political protesters while the government runs

‘‘

The best outcome of (the lamb ad protests) was proof that minorities in Australia enjoy freedom to protest without a fear of violent backlash

‘‘

The real test of freedom is dissent without fear, not silence

amnesty schemes for armed Naxalites accused of murder.

Rationalist voices are being silenced through terrorist tactics. More shockingly, these atrocities have widespread public support in the name of ‘order’. Decades of corruption, poverty and political inaction are making Indians forget the roots of their independence struggle. They seem to be ready to surrender their freedoms in favour of ‘order.’ The same old ‘order’ that the colonialists promised, peddling the same old arguments - ‘agree with us and enjoy peace, enjoy prosperity; disagree and face prison.’

Indian Australians can perhaps use their recent experiences to remind their friends and family in India that the real test of freedom is dissent, not silence. Minorities with limited political power need the freedom to express themselves without fear of repercussions or their freedom lacks meaning. Protest against your government, criticise an ideology, ridicule politicians and if you are not forced to go into hiding for the fear of personal safety or incarceration, you can be sure you are free.

NOVEMBER 2017 27

wellness

Calling migrant Indian women A survey by renowned sexologist Dr MARGARET REDELMAN is asking Indian migrant women questions about sexuality, sexual health and men

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28 NOVEMBER 2017

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All religions stress the woman’s obligation to fulfil her sexual duties within marriage but are poor on teaching how this should be done well to enable pleasure for the woman as well as her husband

‘‘

n every corner of the world, when people live in groups, the problem arises as to how to control sexuality so that there is some inhibition or control of negative sexual expression which disrupts society and enough positive expression to allow for good enough sexual gratification and reproduction.

Sexuality is so much more than the behaviours between a man and a woman that are driven by the need to reproduce. Sexuality is the personal sexual expression resulting from the each person’s biology, psychology, family of origin experiences, social experiences both good and bad, personal sexual experiences both good and bad, and the cultural and religious variables within any particular group. No one culture has the ownership of the “correct” way to be sexual. And no cultural description is completely accurate of the whole culture or each individual within that culture.

Nearly universally, it is men who have shaped and who control the public expressions of sexuality. With the need to control lineage and property, men have determined what socially acceptable sexual behaviour is for women. The punishment for acting outside the proscribed boundaries has usually been severe.

When marriage is central to male status, the notion of ‘femininity’ becomes dominated by the female roles of wife, mother and, mother- and daughter-inlaw. Women are needed and valued for domestic and sexual roles. How, then, does each woman gain a sense of herself as a sexual being and learn how to express her sexuality in ways that please her within this setting? Sexuality is part of us from birth till death and we express it to others whether we want to or not. The question is - what do we express? There is much confusion about what is normal, what is acceptable, what is healthy and how to get the best for ourselves sexually.

How a woman feels about sex, sexuality and sexual relationships depends on many factors which come together quite uniquely for each individual woman. These factors include each woman’s unique physiology (how easily orgasmic she is), psychology (anxiety levels), family of origin role modeling (was her parents’ marriage happy), her experiences of sexuality in her environment (what was she taught at school or shown in films), the person/s she has had experiences of sexuality with (being praised, told she is valued, beautiful, sensual) and her partner’s experiences and sexual competence (how confident and able is he with his sexuality). The experience of happiness in life is often dependent on relationship wellbeing, which, in turn, is often dependent on sexual wellbeing.

Good useful sex education includes specific sexual content about female physiology, menstruation, childbearing, contraception and how women have successful sexual relationships. In reality, it is most commonly composed of myths, jokes, fears and denial of the existence of female sexuality except as a service to be provided to men within the boundaries of marriage. All religions stress the woman’s obligation to fulfil her sexual duties within marriage but are poor on teaching how this should be done well to enable pleasure for the woman as well as her husband.

Today, especially in Western cultures, women are being given greater freedom to be sexual within themselves, greater freedom to choose who they express their sexuality with and are more entitled to

enjoy sexuality for themselves apart from the provision of a sexual service to their husband. How this is incorporated within each woman’s sense of what is “correct” for herself and her family is an interesting creative journey for each woman.

What Indian women think

The ideas and beliefs each woman has about sex, sexuality and men are important and are needed to help educators give the appropriate sexual education for each cultural group. This questionnaire has been developed to understand what Indian women believe about the penis. There is no

right or wrong answer and all the answers are confidential and will be added together to give statistical values for the group.

Your participation is greatly appreciated and the results will be made available.

The survey is at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/iwpofps (Dr Margaret Redelman, OAM, works as a Sex Therapist and a Relationship Therapist in private practice in Bondi Junction. She is on the executive committee of Society for Australian Sexologists (SAS) and has held multiple executive positions in the Sexual Health field including President of SAS NSW in 2014 to 2016)

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sustainability

Revitalising India’s rivers Isha Foundation’s Rally for Rivers campaign finds support in Melbourne

“E

veryone who consumes water must rally for rivers,” says Jaggi Vasudev or Sadhguru, as he is better known. Sadhguru is the founder and spiritual leader of the Isha Foundation, an organisation known for its free yoga programs, self-development programs such as Inner Engineering and environmental initiatives such as Project GreenHands. In September this year, he launched a Rally for Rivers to rejuvenate the rivers in India, many of which are drying up drastically.

Leading a convoy across sixteen of the most affected states in an attempt to raise awareness, he broke partisan and political barriers, successfully getting several state governments to offer their support to the cause. It also received support from famous sportspersons, artists and other celebrities across India. Hundreds of thousands of people showed up on the rally route.

Simultaneously, Isha Foundation also ran a ‘missed call’ campaign and 12 crore (120 million) people have already shown their support this way.

Why rally for rivers? The seven major rivers of India and their tributaries have been the lifeline for millions of people living on their banks and along their courses for hundreds of years. Rivers carry water and nutrients to areas they flow through.

They provide sweet water for drinking and are home to many creatures. Rivers provide a transport channel and can be a source of hydro energy. Most of the world’s civilisations such as Indus, Nile, Tigris, Euphrates and Yellow River have emerged on river valleys.

In India, people have a spiritual association with rivers, addressed reverentially as ‘mother’, a source of life.

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together and prevent erosion, preventing the destructive cycle of droughts and floods that occur otherwise. Trees can provide a source of income for the farmers too. A win-win situation for people and the environment.

Some sceptics have argued that solutions, such as these proposed by Isha Foundation, do not consider many ecological issues of riparian vegetation

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Recognising the need for urgent action, a simple solution to reverse the trend is proffered by Sadhguru maintain a minimum of one kilometre tree cover on both sides of the river

‘‘

BY JYOTI SHANKAR

Most rivers are named after goddesses. Up until now, rivers have helped us maintain the fragile balance of eco-systems by absorbing and carrying away waste and effluents, but we have battered them to a point that they cannot recover without our help.

Recognising this and the need for urgent action, a simple solution to reverse the trend is proffered by Sadhguru - maintain

a minimum of one kilometre tree cover on both sides of the river. Where the land belongs to government, forest trees can be planted and where land is privately owned, income generating fruit trees could be the planted. By afforesting the banks, river basins are given a chance to recoup. Trees are essential to capture moisture from the air and rainfall. They also hold the soil

systems and groundwater systems or the logistics of agro-forestry. Will tree saplings planted in various abhiyaans (drives) survive without further nurturing? How will this be ensured? How will horticultural produce reach markets? Without such arrangements, will such an enterprise be viable for farmers? However, no one can deny that trees are good for the environment and

afforestation does stabilise micro-climates, increases rainfall and contributes to general health of rivers and groundwater.

Amod Datar, an Australia-based volunteer with Isha Foundation, told Indian Link that this simple idea of planting trees along river banks is backed by scientific research. “The ‘missed call’ campaign which has garnered so much support in India and among Indians the world over, is proof that people realise the seriousness of the situation and want to do something about it. What the Sadhguru is trying to achieve with the rally is a long-term commitment from the government, as reviving the riparian ecosystem will take many years to happen, way beyond the term of a state government.”

In Australia, Isha Foundation volunteers and friends have met over the past few weeks in Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney to show support to the cause. The Indian High Commissioner in Canberra and many dignitaries in other Australian states joined in supporting the Rally for Rivers. Amod said that in future Isha Foundation plans to meet up with the Murray Darling Basin Authority and exchange notes on how best they could contribute towards enhancing river systems in Australia, while at the same time taking ideas to implement the Rally for Rivers plan in India.

Australia is also very prone to droughts and its river systems are under threat. It is the world’s driest continent and less than one-fifth of the rain that falls in Australia ends up in its rivers. The government here has formulated catchment management plans to protect riverine eco-systems and manage water use effectively. Working together and sharing lessons learnt could be a great way to enhance cooperation between our countries.

As Kalidasa wrote in Raghuvansham, “Rivers are like mother for the country and mountains like the father… These water-filled streams fill the earth with the power of procreation and energy. It is these streams flowing on the landmass which act as the blood-pumping arteries in the body”.

No doubt a cause worth rallying for.

NOVEMBER 2017 29

work

Service to the nation We look at vocations in which members of our community are involved. RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA talks to AMARJIT SINGH BHANDAL about his work in the Australian Defence Force My job title Weapons Electrical Engineer. I hold the rank of Lieutenant Commander I have been in this job for Eleven years My education I came to Australia as a student aged 23.

I’d completed an undergraduate degree in India, and was interested in studying Microelectronics Engineering.

RMIT in Melbourne had a good course and I felt Australia would offer me great opportunities to pursue my career ambitions. While at university I met and befriended a group of students from the Navy. They had a real sense of mateship, community and were able to share what life in the Navy was really like. I loved the sense of camaraderie that existed between them.

I decided to join. I have a bit of family history of service; my grandfather had served in the Army.

Since joining the Navy, I have further completed a Masters in Systems Engineering, funded by the Navy. I am currently undertaking a Masters degree in Reliability Engineering, through the University of Maryland, funded by the Australian Defence Force.

What my job entails I have been a Weapons Electrical Engineer in the Navy for the past 11 years. When I am out at sea, I have responsibility for the weapons, combat system, sensors and communications equipment on the warship.

A career highlight to date has been acting as Head of Department for Weapons Electrical Engineering on a Major Fleet Unit, HMAS Ballarat, whilst on deployment.

I’ve also been part of exercises with the Singaporean and Malaysian Navies.

Three months deployment on Operation Sovereign Borders was hugely memorable, not only for protecting our nation’s borders and our maritime interests but also for the human element involved.

Life at sea can be challenging – you’re living in close proximity to lots of other people (180 on HMAS Ballarat, for instance), and the workload is intense, but it

30 NOVEMBER 2017

is wonderfully rewarding at the end of the day.

When I am ashore, I am involved in various system engineering roles during my two-year posting tenures. Currently I am manager of AMPS (Asset Management and Planning Systems) Assurance Cell, maintaining systems and providing advice.

My team ensures that AMPS is technically fit for use in the fleet. We are involved in training the users, ensuring that the system is used correctly, and provide advice on all aspects of AMPS to various stakeholders.

What’s hard about my job As with everything else, the communications aspect is always a challenge, coordinating various stakeholders to deliver good and acceptable AMPS. The positive aspects…

There’s a sense of accomplishment. I feel that the work I do makes a difference to the Navy’s operations. I love the technical aspects of the job – I enjoy playing with systems and presenting to those higher up, new and better ways to help our processes.

Being in the Navy, I get to travel a fair bit. With two deployments in 2008-09 and 2012-14, I have seen South East Asia and New Zealand quite extensively. In 200809, I was in Tonga as part of the King’s coronation; that was memorable.

I’m also very proud of the sense of belonging that I’ve experienced. There are people from diverse backgrounds and we’re all made to feel at home. It’s a level playing field. I think the ADF is more accommodating of diversity than the civilian world. People are valued for their contributions and the work they do, not judged by their appearance or where they have come from.

There’s job security as well, and a sense of respect from the community. That’s particularly true of my own (Indian) community: there’s high regard for the job.

How the job has changed my life The Navy is not just a job – it’s a way of life. This lifestyle has seeped into my personal life in a major way. Small things like being punctual and being organised, or

bigger things like helping others out, have made a big impact on my life.

In many ways, the Navy culture aligns with my own Sikh culture: both are about discipline, and the concept of ‘seva’ (helping others).

Advice for people who may want to get into this line of work It’s a great career. There are wonderful opportunities to do things that you wouldn’t be able to do easily in civilian roles. You can progress your career well too.

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NOVEMBER 2017 31

stage

That fine balance Exploring the human body’s chakras (energy centres) through dance

BY PREETI JABBAL

R

eplete with style, substance and soul, the recently held Mystery of Chakras performance worked its full range of enchantments on its Melbourne audience.

The trio of male dancers, led by Melbourne-based artist Dr Sam Goraya, offered a veritable treat for all senses with their Odissi repertoire.

The production was a creative exploration of the highly complex internal subtle nonphysical functions of a human body using the six-chakra system of Tantrism.

Chakras are focal points for meditation within the human body where human beings experience emotional and/or spiritual energy.

The main purpose of any chakra system is the installation of mantras and deity energies at specific points of the body.

Mystery of Chakras was entirely attuned to aesthetics, lovingly presented, without disturbing the character of the original dance form much.

The program comprised of Ksahdadhar Mangalacharan (exploration of nadis and prana), Pallavi, Panchaksra Stotra, (exploration of lower five chakras) Ardhanarishwara Stotra (exploration of sixth chakra) and Mahakali Stuti (exploration of mental modifications and the rising of the kundalini piercing the

32 NOVEMBER 2017

lower six chakras).

Sam, the producer of the show, has spent decades in refining his art and perfecting his technique in the Odissi style of classical Indian dance. His commitment to his art was visible in the meticulous planning and execution of this production.

His partner Zlatko Varenina, an acclaimed creative designer, was responsible for all the tastefully creative visuals that supported the event.

“Through this collaboration between Australian and Indian artists, we wanted to share the central tenets of Indian life presented through centuries-old Tantric traditions and ancient Odissi dance,” said Sam, describing the intent behind his content.

A disciple of Padmashree Madhavi Moudgil, Sam started dancing at a very young age. Post migration to Australia, in 1992, he danced with the Chandrabhanu Bharatam Dance Company and also trained under Monica Singh at Dance House Carlton.

In between his pursuit for excellence in his art, he also completed four masters’ degrees and a PhD in Mathematics and Oceanography.

Most recently, Sam worked closely with Guru Bichitrananda Swain from Rudrakshya Odissi Foundation where he met Kamal Kumar and Samir Panigrahi.

The two gifted artists from Odisha accompanied Sam in weaving pure magic on stage with their mastery over chakras.

Samir Panigrahi is one of the most sought-after emerging talents in Odisha.

Armed with a Visharad in music, his

strength lies in his detailed methodical teaching approach and innovative Odissi choreography.

Kamal has won many scholarships to pursue his dream to be an Odissi exponent and makes the most difficult Odissi movements look effortless. Holding a masters’ degree in music, he is currently pursuing an MPhil degree in Odissi dance.

They have performed at various prestigious festivals such as Konark Dance Festival, Khajuraho Dance Festival and Odissi International Dance Festival.

Samir and Kamal introduced a sense of excitement as they danced in perfect synchronisation or changed their bearings and intensity of movements to suit the segment.

With great timing and endless stamina, they danced in unison with Sam or complemented him by blending their individual strengths on stage.

Sam, who has gained guidance in Navarasa (the nine emotions), illustrated extraordinary proficiency in his expressions.

He expertly held and directed the conversation of the dance.

The three dancers deftly captured the feminine sensuality and masculine virility of Odissi through a seamless performance.

Together they built the pace and colour of the dance and held the audience captive.

The Southbank Theatre’s Lawler section presented the right ambience for their welldefined performance. The commentary that introduced each section was rather lengthy but informative Both the shows held in Melbourne ended with a standing ovation from the

delighted audience.

“Good on Sam and his team for presenting such amazing shows with important and profound messages. May your spreading of this message and wisdom go far and wide,” commented Elizabeth Celi.

The trio also performed to audiences in Sydney, Adelaide and Auckland in New Zealand. The funds raised through these performances will support the Rudrakshya Foundation’s dancers with basic necessities and support underprivileged children and artists in India.

The proceeds will also help boost the careers of upcoming talent, providing them a bigger platform and connecting them to the art-loving audience in Australia and New Zealand.

According to Kiran Sekhon Gaillard, “Divinity ascended itself in the Lawler theatre. The three dancers were brilliant and they enthralled the audience.” So impressed she was with the performance that she returned the second day for an encore.

Consul General of India in Melbourne Manika Jain, Chairperson of Celebrate India Arun Sharma and the voice of SBS Hindi Radio Program Jaya Sharma were the special guests in attendance.

In their brief speeches, they echoed similar sentiments, praising Sam and his team for showcasing Indian arts and artists in Australia. They praised Sam for fostering collaboration to generate goodwill and for supporting a good cause.

Touched by the beauty, amazed by the skill and enchanted by the style, this show will deservedly linger on in memory.

www.indianlink.com.au

stage

There’s a bear in there, and Nick as well!

Indian-Aussie presenter makes it to iconic kids show

I

f you’ve grown up in Australia, or been around children who have, you’ve likely heard of Play School. Widely considered one of the most iconic television shows in Australian history, Play School has been a staple of children’s edutainment since 1966, making it the longest running children’s show in Australia.

In 2003, the ABC estimated that 80% of pre-school children under six watch the program at least once a week, a percentage that correlates to around 1.5m viewers each week! For the last few weeks now, those 1.5m viewers have met Aussie-Indian musician and actor Nicholas Brown.

Born and raised in Australia by Indian parents, Nick moved to Mumbai in 2007 to pursue a Bollywood career. Having trained at NIDA and having an above-average interest in song and dance, Bollywood felt ‘like a second home’, Nick tells us.

After finding success and collaborating with Hrithik Roshan in 2010’s critically acclaimed Kites, Nick returned to Australia but not before starring in a stage show of

INDIAN LINK

‘‘

is so important for young people to have At a time where positive role models and see themselves the brown male body depicted on screen, especially young Indian kids”. Additionally, it is just as important remains the single for children of non-Indian backgrounds most vilified image to see the brown male body represented in the Western world, in a positive manner to counter-act all the negative representation. A huge focus of Play School takes a Nick’s work is around “normalising diversity, phenomenal step in the which is important for future generations. At the moment, it is such a buzzword and actors direction of positive are cast for the sake of it.” representation In the future, he hopes that diverse actors

‘‘

BY ANEETA MENON

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in India. Nick laughs, recalling the experience, “A lot of Bollywood stars attended the stage show and complimented us on our flawless lip syncing. We had to tell them that we actually sing and dance at the same time.”

Overall, Nick’s experiences in Bollywood were favourable, despite the expected culture shock. “When we take risks, I think they almost always pay off. I had nothing to lose and wondered what it was like to live and work over there with no expectations or idea what I was in for. India is an assault on the senses, even for people of Indian origin.”

But any discomforts were made up for by the overwhelming ‘adventure, excitement of the unknown’. Upon asking if he’d return to Bollywood, Nick says, “I could never be Bollywooded out but TV is so great right now, and so many great actors are doing television,” so he decided it was time to pursue the medium.

Nick’s next move was LA where he faced “absolutely blatant racism”. Roles for actors of Indian appearance are often restricted to doctors, nerds and terrorists. “My agent kept telling me to be geekier and nerdier, but I am a big, beefy guy. I can’t hide that, and I didn’t want to be a career terrorist.”

So, how did a big, beefy guy navigate his way to children’s television?

“I had auditioned for Play School many times when I was younger without any

luck.” However, now he feels “the timing is right, now I am a bit older and more mature”. Nick also has real live children in his life now with whom he interacts and admits that absolutely provides “more of an understanding of the work”.

At a time where the brown male body remains the single most vilified image in the Western world, the importance of being able to see one’s self represented on screen and across media and advertising, is a crucial element of developing one’s sense of self, especially from an early age. Men of Indian appearance are routinely seen through a media lens as dangerous, so the introduction of a presenter of Indian descent into Play School is a phenomenal step in the direction of positive representation. Something Nick is absolutely thrilled to be a part of. “It

are presented with opportunities as diverse as their respective backgrounds.

As for his own future plans, Nick is presently content with where he is working on Play School and is also lending his voice and using his platforms to aid the Yes Campaign for Marriage Equality of which he is a big proponent. “I am a Yes campaigner!

And I believe in equality for all”.

Saving the most important question for last, Nick confirms that he would indeed always and without hesitation choose to go through the Arch Play School window (earning a thumb’s up from us!) but also goes on to explain, “There is a diamond window now! We went through it the other day!” Change is well and truly in the air, even on Australia’s oldest television sets the sort of change that is both long overdue and wholeheartedly welcome.

NOVEMBER 2017 33

community

Goan food festival Saligao claims top prize yet again

BY FRANKEY GERARD FERNANDES

I

t was all a wide array of Goa, Goans and Goan culture down under as the Goan Association of Australia Inc (GAA) conducted its third Goan Food Festival 2017 at the Menzies Hall in Dandenong North, Australia.

It was yet another successful event as almost 450 people attended the festival, which consisted of Goan music, cuisine and art. Shezwan SOS entertained the crowds with Konkani, English and Portuguese music.

There were eight stalls in total representing Carmona, Siolim, Benaulim, Chandor, Ucassaim, Saligao, Tivim and Sangolda. The menu included beef (roast, tongue, cafreal, potato chops, croquettes and sandwiches), chicken (caldeen, xacuti, cutlets, patties and ros omlette), pork (chourico, sorpotel, solantlem and

34 NOVEMBER 2017

vindalho), fish/seafood (fish cutlets, shark ambot tik, prawn chilly fry, tisreos and reichado xinaneos), vegetarian (patal bhaji, peas pulao, steamed boiled rice, carrot and chutney sandwiches and forminha).

The sweet treats on display included allebele, baathk, bebinca, bol de sans reval, bolinhas, dedos de damas, doce, mango toffee, marzipan, nankatai, neuris, pasteis de nata, pinagr and serradura.

Saligao was adjudged the winner of the best stall at the competition, for the third year in a row.

The stalls were judged on their props, evidence of Goan connection at the stall by way of artefacts, display of food items, menus and overall presentation. Stall member Joseph and Terence along with their respective teams were commended for their efforts and their ongoing patronage year after year.

This year, the festival had two new stalls, Sarojini DeSa representing the Tivim stall, and Oliver Fernandes representing the Carmona stall.

Councillor Zaynoun Melhem and his wife Caitlyn of the City of Greater Dandenong visited the festival and were impressed with

the display of Goan tradition and the large response from the community.

He has promised to step up the ongoing commitment from the City of Greater Dandenong towards the association so it can continue to flourish, grow and showcase Goa and its rich culture.

“We received some very positive

feedback, which is gratifying and greatly appreciated,” said GAA President Gerard Lobo. “People thanked us for this opportunity that brought them some of our traditional delicacies they had not tasted in years! It brought back childhood memories for many, and for us it was great to showcase the best of Goan cuisine.”

www.indianlink.com.au

pastimes

Aww-dorable Melb mum creates cute images with her infant daughter and some household stuff

W

e all love making memories and capturing them on camera, because a memory captured is a memory that we can live each time we

look at it.

With this idea, a mother originally from India and now settled in Melbourne made her then 2-month-old daughter the centre of some cute and creative images she created.

Krinzal Chauhan, whose hobbies include painting, drawing and doodling, found herself a bit lost after the birth of her daughter. Overjoyed without a doubt, the school teacher had no creative outlet while on her maternity break.

That’s when Krinzal’s husband Himanshu suggested that she combine her passion for craft, painting, and of course the endless

INDIAN LINK

‘‘

BY ANUBHUTI MADAN

‘‘

“I created her and she inspired me to

create this,” Krinzal says. “I arranged the I created backdrops first and then positioned my napping daughter with the props, making her and she her an integral part of each scene,” she inspired me to explained.

Kudos to this mom for her creativity and patience which it takes to make an infant create this pose. For her, this is her way to tell a story

Krinzal Chauhan

love for her daughter into creating some beautiful portraits. That’s how Mommy Creates came to life.

With Mommy Creates, Krinzal created fantastical and whimsical scenarios from household stuff like bedsheets, blankets and clothes, all with her daughter Shanaaya in various moods.

She then patiently clicked the pictures to create some unique memories, and also posted the images of Facebook.

and the inspiration can be drawn from everywhere, including kids’ storybooks.

Asked about the future of this project, she says she still hasn’t really made up her mind though now that her daughter is a year and five months old. “The floor backdrops would soon be replaced with wall paintings since it is now impossible to make our active toddler stay in one place for a very long time,” Krinzal said.

For Krinzal, it all started with a colorful crotchet mermaid dress and her baby. For you, your next inspiration could be right in front of you. All you need to do is keep an open eye, grab what interests you and the rest will follow.

You can view Krinzal’s beautiful work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ Mommycreates/

NOVEMBER 2017 35

books

Mirabai modernised

Photo: Ravinder Singh Jabbal

Melb writer Nandita Chakraborty’s new book draws on myth as well as her own personal journey

Meera Rising by Nandita Chakraborty.

Busybird Publishing, 2017

W

ith her latest literary offering, Meera Rising, Melbourne writer Nandita Chakraborty folds myth into modernity to create an interesting tale of a modern Mirabai.

The book is inspired by the life of Mirabai, a 16th century Rajasthani princess renowned for her devotion for Lord Krishna.

Mirabai was known for her compositions dedicated to her beloved Krishna and for breaking traditional boundaries for her spiritual yearnings.

Nandita, who conducted a three-year research into the subject of Mirabai, claims her novella is not so much a book of God as it is a book of love.

“I have nieces and nephew who are millennials born and brought up here. It will be too blasé to put a culture in front of them that they don’t understand at all.

So I decided to tell them a tale of love that they will relate to,” said Nandita, sharing the main reason why she wrote the book.

“I want to convey through this book that God is not a myth but just a higher form of love,” said Nandita.

The book’s main character Meera Sen lives in Australia and returns to her homeland India to reconnect with her family.

36 NOVEMBER 2017

‘‘

I have nieces and nephew who are millennials… I decided to tell them a tale of love that they will relate to

‘‘

BY PREETI JABBAL

Meera’s journey of love starts with Walkley award-winning photographer Brian who wins her heart despite starting off on the wrong foot. The passionate relationship that ensues, however, does not end in happily ever after as Brian succumbs to his insecurities and drives Meera away.

A heartbroken Meera returns to her parental home in India to be married off to Vikramaditya. Life, however, has other plans for her and another tragedy leads to the rebirth of Meera.

Similar to Mirabai, Meera’s soul mingles with the divine as she finds an awakening and expansion of love beyond the physical.

The book continues to dwell on Meera’s spiritual unrest and inner quest for fulfilment. The characters in Nadita’s book are few but complex and interesting.

This is Nandita’s second book. Her first self-published book Missing Peace: Love, Life and Me was drawn from her personal journey, shades of which are also found in Meera Rising.

Nandita was born in Kolkata and she started writing from the age of 9. She wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and was delighted to receive a response from him that inspired her to continue writing.

“As a middle child, there was certain madness in me and I considered being normal as being lifeless,” said Nandita, sharing her personal story. “I expressed my feelings through writing,” she explained.

“I cannot be Tagore nor Shakespeare, I am simply me. I write what I feel and hope that it is relatable and readable,” said Nandita, when asked what literary flavour she brings to the table.

In 2010, when Nandita was in India, she watched a 1940’s movie on Mirabai and was

Nandita Chakraborty

intrigued. She embarked on a three-year research into the life of Mirabai, curious to know everything about her. The seed for her second book was sown.

Nandita’s own story interlinks writing to therapy as she found solace in writing again after suffering a serious brain injury that led to permanent cognitive disability.

In 2011, while rock climbing with friends, Nandita fell from a height of 40 metres and fractured her skull. Her initial recovery took 9 months in rehabilitation. In 2016, she had to return to rehab after she found herself lost on Melbourne streets with no memory of who she was.

“For a few minutes, I had no idea who I was and where I was going. I looked at the phone in my hand and that triggered the return of my memory,” said Nandita, recalling the horror of her predicament.

Post another lot of rehab, she continues to suffer from a blind disability along with other related complications.

According to Nandita, her psychologist Dr Joseph encouraged her to start writing again as she had given up writing during rehab and was suffering from mental health issues. Nandita is very thankful to him and the Royal Melbourne Hospital Community

Services for supporting and assisting her during her long recovery.

During the recent launch of Meera Rising, hosted by Busybird Publishing at Montmorency, Nandita shared her story with family and friends and many supporters. Author-screenwriter Les (Lazarus) Zigomanis, the Publications Manager and Chief Editor at Busybird Publishing, officially launched her book.

According to Nandita, Les’s unstinting support has been very important to the development of her work. “He has been in this industry for over 20 years and I am inspired by his honest writing and defined voice. His novels Just Another Week in Suburbia, Pride, Overload are wonderful reads,” she said.

Nandita is currently finalising her third book, another story that straddles between two cultures. The plot revolves around an Indian Muslim Girl who falls in love with an Australian diplomat. They have a daughter Rosemary who is brought up in an orphanage. She grows up and returns to Melbourne to seek revenge, hence the title Rosemary’s Retribution.

Nandita is currently all set to travel to Paris ‘to interview a lot of 70-year-old French men on their take on life’ for her next project and a tale that she has always wished to tell.

Nandita’s story, like that of her protagonists, is about bouncing back. For those open to receiving guidance within the pages of her books, Nandita has one simple message for all: you need to love yourself first in order to find a higher form of love.

www.indianlink.com.au

the young ones

I can.

I will.

‘‘

Mark has learned a lot in Springvale Park SDS, going on to become School Captain in his last year there in 2015

‘‘

Mark Alvares: How to put aside your challenges and embrace life

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

I

can. I will.

These are the words that sum up Mark Alvares’s life, who was awarded the Samantha Sophia Ramsey Memorial Award at the Dandenong Civic Centre a few months ago.

This national award celebrates the achievements of a young person with a disability, recognising outstanding achievements in training, education or employment.

Mark received a one-off $2000.00 grant towards TAFE or RTO fees to further his education and employment opportunities.

Mark was born in UAE and moved to Australia with his mum, dad and older sister in 2006. The Indian-origin family lost their dad in 2014.

Mark’s ADHD had been noticed when he was 3 years old with mild status but a proper diagnosis and treatment plan was made only after he moved to Australia.

Within a few years, he was also diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The diagnosis was a difficult phase for the family as they understood the impact of how difficult and different the journey would be for Mark. Michelle, his older sister, recollects that Mark was too young to understand any of this and was a normal happy child in spite of the fact that he achieved his milestones at a slower pace.

But soon the differences became

obvious especially after he was enrolled at a mainstream school.

Michelle recalls, “Mark had some trouble coping with others’ teasing and such, but there were some that stood up for him and watched his back. He only lasted about three months in the school - his teacher realised he was different. She assisted the family to find help based on the diagnosis, and also helped with the transition to a much better suited school (Springvale Park SDS). Mark has learned a lot in Springvale Park SDS, going on to become School Captain in his last year there in 2015. He is friendly and helpful and cheeky too, which made others happy.”

Mark had been attending the holiday programs provided by Youth Services along with Michelle. His cheerful and pleasing personality made him popular amongst the staff and he also started attending committee programs such as Holiday Leadership and Freeza.

In the Freeza committee, Mark and his team helped organise youth acts on stage for the Dandenong Show 2016, Australia Day 2017 etc, with the support from Dandenong Council.

Winning the Samantha Sophia Ramsay Memorial Award has been a big boost to Mark’s confidence and has helped him continue work towards achieving his goals.

The money will also help Mark to gain knowledge in his education in literacy, numeracy, computer and warehouse skills.

Sponsored by the WPC Group, the annual award is in memory of Samantha Sophia Ramsey, the late daughter of Skilling Australia Foundation Director Sophie Ramsey.

Speaking to Indian Link, the spokesperson for WPC Group said “Mark was nominated

by a youth program worker at City of Greater Dandenong Youth Services, and was a standout candidate. He has shown exceptional motivation to strive and achieve his goals and that he is committed to an expansive future armed with a plethora of skills and showing no limits to his personal growths.”

The ride has not always been smooth.

There have been plenty of challenges along the way as our society is still judgemental when it comes to people with different abilities.

Michelle observes wryly that the biggest challenge they faced has been society itself.

“Everywhere we went people would stare and laugh. Recently Mark was dancing at an event and some boys decided to laugh

and video him. These boys had an older brother who sang as part of a church group at that event. It is such a shame that some people see such challenged children as an entertainment and this award proves how much more he has achieved.”

Mark was lucky to have some wonderful people who helped him along his path with opportunities: right from the teacher in the mainstream school, to the staff at City of Greater Dandenong Family and Youth Services. These individuals and groups have allowed a young life to blossom and deserve our appreciation.

But it is Mark that should serve as an inspiration to us all: his attitude - give it a go - is one that we could all adopt in our own lives.

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NOVEMBER 2017 37

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TAROT

foretell NOV 2017 BY VANDANA November ushers in warmer days and balmy nights. With a glorious full moon lighting up the skies with its gentle rays on the fourth, this month will be a time of bringing to balance all we may have missed earlier so as to conclude the year with a contented drumroll.

ARIES March 21 - April 19

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

CANCER June 21 - July 20

Aristocratic Aries, you are spirited and spontaneous and it may not be easy for you to slow down for those who may not be at your mental cruising speed or merely unable to appreciate the larger picture that you so clearly envision. So weigh anchor for a bit! The Alchemist asks you to weigh the alternate ways of achieving your goal. Soon you will wear away the wisps of doubt with wit, determination and charisma as only you can, Aries.

You are strong-willed, Taurus, once you set your mind to something and your sense of purpose is unbeatable. The Magician invites you to edify yourself with in-depth knowledge and to temper your actions with kindness as the universe awaits ripples of your positive energy. A long-standing friendship stands you in good stead and brings you great contentment. You may consider a partnership or collaboration with this person who understands you well.

Friends such as these are precious gems.

The Lovers card appears in your reading and brings you to a point where you have to take an important decision.

Your head and heart have a mini tugof-war, Gemini, as you contemplate two paths that appear attractive to you in equal measure. Will long-nurtured ambition win the day or will the option of the easier path beckon? Sometimes it is easier to let others in on your thoughts when decision-making gets nebulous. You need to choose that someone wisely!

Hey, Cancer! Your friends and family are determined to get you out of your shell and it seems you’re in a bit of a quandary about whom to engage with socially. You feel safe within your shell and the thought of people getting you out of it gives you a bit of a shake. The Materialist card assures you of fun if you are willing to go with the flow. So dump that internet surfing and emerge into magical moonshine.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

Travel is on the cards for you, Leo, as The Chariot wheels itself into your November plans. A planned vacation or an impromptu trip necessitated by a pesky publisher (if you’re writing) or a weekend invite, you’re definitely packing your bags sometime soon.

Zoom away! You’ll be your best Lion-self once rested and will bring new ideas, zeal and commitment to your place of work. You’ll be open to innovations and suggestions which fall in line with your long-term aspirations.

The Emperor exalts your reading as you orient yourself to tap into the potential of your own mental prowess and the depth of knowledge you have acquired.

It is a strong card that resonates with power both internal and external. This becomes a source of joy for you and a friend or partner when you extend yourself a bit and include newbies in your friends’ circle. Who can be better than you, Virgo, in organising a meeting of the minds?

Witty, intellectual Libra, you’ve got sunshine in your pocket this month!

Sunrays bring you happy tidings and a ceremony - is it a wedding that’s in the offing? Or a betrothal, perhaps? It’s definitely a happy street where you’re taking a walk! Should you turn your hand to a humanitarian cause, you will find within you resources you hadn’t been aware of previously. Contribution to community welfare will bring you joy and oh, charming Libra, also an ardent fan following.

You like going it alone, Scorpio, whether it is thinking, action or decisions. You might make an exception this month.

Graced by the Guru card, you have an opportunity to receive the benefit of wisdom from an elder person or a professional that leads you beyond where you would reach by yourself.

You stand to gain in terms of a greater cash flow and also, a wider circle of acquaintances. You deserve a pat on the back for being astute!

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

Happy changes are coming to you this month which signal a closure to something that has been of grave concern to you in the past. Whether you experienced workplace woes or were harried on the home front, the change that’s coming gives you great relief. You break free of all that and fly!

Some centaurs may be moving house - perhaps to another state or even another country. You have worked hard and you deserve the change. Settle well, Sagittarius!

You are at your creative best with The Enchantress stirring up your reading, Capricorn! Copywriting, advertisement, jingles, lyrics or art – you ace it. Like the proverbial mountain goat that climbs the mountain with ease, your personal development goals are easily conquered with the power of the mind. The inner faith with which you motivate yourself each day lends you a magnetic quality and you will revel in meeting people from different creative fields and sharing your brand of creative expression.

Surrounded as you are by a lot of love, Aquarius, you may yet feel the need for more of everything, indicates the card of The Devil, which brings devious, selfish thoughts into your mind. You may want to get away by yourself or spend on a few extras for you alone, which may not go down well with a partner. Fulfillment will certainly come your way with the Knight of Cups shining the path to favourable partnership and relationships.

A phase comes to a conclusion and another commences with The Tower urging you to prioritize health issues and take a much needed break from your routine. Sensitive to everything around you, Pisces, you tend to absorb energies and get exhausted. Be aware of the energy flow around you but shield yourself and build again your precious inner resources. You feel your best when you explore your talents so dabble in that which fascinates you – painting, poetry, prose or photography.

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NOVEMBER 2017 39

entertainment

cineTALK UNBEARABLY UNFUNNY

GOLMAAL AGAIN

STARRING: Ajay Devgan, Tabu, Parineeti Chopra, plus the usual Golmaal gang DIRECTOR: Rohit Shetty

HHHHH

Rohit Shetty has actually made a Golmaal film without speeding cars crashing into one another.

And that’s about the sign of maturity you will see in this franchise which seems designed for the mentally challenged.

Car crashes are the least of the worries in this, the fourth and arguably the unfunniest film in the Golmaal series.

There are other catastrophes awaiting our attention in this stretched-out horror of a comedy.

The writing is so frail as to be almost non-existent. From Frame 1, the narrative saturates itself with bright inviting colours in the hope that they would dazzle us into surrender and acceptance. There is, however, a quivering absence of credibility and self-

control in the narration.

Throughout we see the team’s desperation to get noticed. Hence Tusshar Kapoor mimicry of a mute man’s monosyllabism is twice as insolent as compared to the earlier films in the farcical franchise.

Shreyas Talpade’s lisp is far more aggravated. And Sanjay Mishra’s nonsensical lines based on references to celebrated people (example: “Justin Bieber ke besure aulad”) is three times more nerve-grating than medically acceptable.

Throughout this non-stop binge of vapid gags, Ajay Degan remains sportingly in the shadows, blending with his costars’ antics which include getting into Talpade’s lap each night as he sings a parody version of the Lata lullaby Zu zu zu zu, with a touching team spirit that would have held him in good stead were he doing a film about, say, a football team fighting to win against all odds.

Here, Devgan’s sporting spirit is sadly misused to give the film a misleading face-value.

Many other enormously talented actors like Sanjay Mishra, Sachin Khedekar, Kunal Khemu and Ashwini Kalsekar are content playing perky props in this droopy comedy-horror where it’s hard to say when the comedy ends and the horror begins.

Parineeti Chopra playing a ghost looks lost and ill-at-ease. Maybe she took her ‘spirited’ role too seriously.

As for Tabu, as she grapples to make sense of her presence in this dull and pointless energizer, she almost looks like she was waiting for Gulzar to rescue her from a predicament worse than death.

Indeed, if there is a real hero in Golmaal Again, it is Nana Patekar who not only appears as a leading leitmotif in the ghost roast, he also makes a guest appearance in voice and person in several scenes that are in dire need of spicing up.

A bewildering blandness runs through this instalment of the Golmaal franchise.

Not that there is any dearth of activity and counter-activity. The camera and the background score (which includes a refrain from Lata Mangeshkar’s immortal Kahin deep jale kahin dil, no less) are constantly on the prowl. But in vain, it’s like hunting for paper tigers in an artificial jungle.

Everything about Golmaal Again is compromised and corrupted. Every character speaks his lines with a growing hopelessness. One whole gag involves characters driving up to Devgan to ask what he’s doing standing there.

Waiting for the script to finally show up, perhaps?

Subhash K. Jha

EMOTIONALLY ENGAGING SECRET SUPERSTAR

STARRING: Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij, Aamir Khan, Raj Arjun, Harsh Jha, Kabir Sajid, Aryan Ashik, Farrokh Jaffer, Manuj Sharma and Tirth Sharma DIRECTOR: Advait Chandan

HHHHH

What one likes about Aamir Khan is that, with every act of his, he transcends as an actor. He surprises you by eerily getting into the skin of the character. With his various unconventional get-ups and demeanour, he makes you believe that he is the character he plays. And that too convincingly.

In Secret Superstar, with highlighted hair, stylized beard and a flamboyant getup, he depicts an out-of-luck music director, Shakti Kumaarr who is looking for a muse to revive his failing career. His performance is surely outstanding and entertaining.

His character takes a backseat in the narrative, but he is prominent. And the film is not about him.

Borrowing heavily from the 2015 released indie American film Rock the Kasbah, this film is smartly remodelled with cultural relevance 40 NOVEMBER 2017

into a melodramatic mother-daughter relationship tale.

Narrated in a simple, old-fashioned, heartfelt manner, you expect the story to be that of an ambitious young girl pining to be a superstar at a reality contest.

But instead what you get is a clichéd yet sublime story of a prodigy and the bond she shares with her mother.

Insiya is like any other teenager living in a middle-class locality of Vadodara, with a supportive mother Najma, loving brother (Kabir Sajid), an old relative and an abusive father. She dreams of becoming a famous singer, but the environment in her house is vitiated by the domestic abuse inflicted by her father. How she struggles to overcome her problems with the help of her school friend Chintan Parikh and the crass music director (Aamir Khan) to live a life on her terms, forms the crux of the tale.

Director Advait Chandan’s writing is brilliant. The script is taut and focused.

The screenplay has the right combination of light and poignant moments. The characters are well-etched and the dialogues are excellent, packed with wit and sentiments which are well portrayed by the ace cast. Naturally then, this

keeps you glued to the screen.

The metaphors in the dialogues too, are fresh and apt, especially when Aamir compares the effervescence of the soda to the rise of the prodigy. Or when the mother and daughter are arguing and comparing opportunities with the train on the platform and planning of the journey.

All the actors are natural and effortless. With a gamut of emotions, Zaira Wasim as Insiya is earnest and adorable. She is brilliant when she sulks with her classmate Chintan or reasons with her mother, “What is the use of getting up in the morning and not try fulfilling the dream that you saw during the night?”

Meher Vij as Najma, the loving mother and an insecure wife, is equally sincere and arresting. She portrays the silent pain with ease. Balancing her part is Raj Arjun as the oppressive father and husband. He is potent and effective.

Farrokh Jaffer as the old relative living with the family and Mona Ambegaonkar as a lawyer have their moments of onscreen glory.

Technically, the film is well-mounted and the music adds an additional flavour to the narrative. The lyrics and the pitch of the songs hit the right chords. Main kaun hoon and the other one with the lyrics Meri pyari ammi jo hain dedicated to mothers, go well with the flow of the narrative and the snazzy last number which runs through the end credits reemphasises Aamir’s character.

Overall, Secret Superstar has an old film charm that is simply remarkable.

Troy Ribeiro

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OLD-FASHIONED BUT EFFECTIVE

JIA AUR JIA

STARRING: Richa Chadha, Kalki Koechlin and Arslan Goni DIRECTOR: Howard Rosemeyer

HHHHH

Why should boys have all the fun?

Just the sheer pleasure of watching two of our feistiest actresses in a road movie set in Sweden is enough of a kickback to sail through what is at best a girl-bonding flick with plenty of perk and pizzazz, thanks to the crackling

chemistry between the two lead actresses.

The basic premise is promising.

Two very dissimilar girls share the same name and nothing else. Kalki is outgoing, loud, gregarious and bindaas. Richa is quiet, withdrawn and repressed. One wants to live every moment. The other wants her life to end - the sooner, the better.

Though the aggression between them is overdone, their initial bickering is well-scripted and gives away some of

what the characters are holding back.

The striking visuals help anchor the two protagonists’ road journey. Very often, the film looks like a pretext for promoting Swedish tourism. But then debutant director Howard Rosemeyer has some surprises for the second half when the narrative sobers down to a trickle of tears.

Despite its manipulative mould of getting our attention - if one of the protagonists is dying and the other one just wants to die, then the audience is

bound to get concerned - the characters move us into believing in their grief and spurts of joy.

It’s hard to imagine the film working without the Jias. Richa Chadha and Kalki Koechlin sneak a seductive synergy into the proceedings. They know they are playing ‘sober’ and bindaas and they bring their most cherished acting chops into the picture. You will be thoroughly regaled by the two actresses, especially in the way they reverse gender biases.

Kalki openly lusts after Swedish men on the streets, the way a single Indian male would if he saw firangi women in a foreign town. The two girls sing raunchy songs, swig beer and swing together through some madcap adventures which don’t always make sense.

A third interesting character, played

by Kashmiri actor Arslan Goni, adds a bit more glint to this curiously quaint yet feisty and sexy road film which adds value to its zany touristic good-timesin-distant-lands theme with a sobering message on why life needs to be valued beyond the calamities that are bestowed on us.

Watch out for the sequence in a hospital bed where Kalki talks about her future and why she can’t have it.

See the film for the Kalki-Richa jugalbonding and yes, for the way the film uses the evergreen song Jiya oh jiya kuchh bol do to reiterate life’s most valuable lessons.

Subhash K Jha

LACKLUSTRE CHRONICLES RANCHI DIARIES

STARRING: Himanshu Kohli, Soundarya Sharma, Taaha Shah, Harry Bala, Pitobash, Pradeep Singh, Anupam Kher, Jimmy Shergill and Satish Kaushik DIRECTOR: Sattwik Mohanty

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Contextually, director Sattwik Mohanty’s Ranchi Diaries showcases Asia’s largest mental hospital, which is situated in Ranchi.

But unlike the hospital which treats its patients, director Sattwik Mohanty treats (read entertains) his audience with low-IQ, physiologically-challenged characters. In this quirk-of-fate film, they are supposed to ignite the humour factor.

The plot, with a botched abduction followed by a bank robbery that lands the gang in more trouble, forms the crux of the tale.

Narrated in a non-linear manner, the plot and the screenplay are lazily crafted in a slipshod manner. The narrative begins on a dramatic note with a rural bank being robbed on the RanchiPatratu highway. While the police have surrounded the bank in the hope of arresting the robbers, speculation about the burglars abounds. Some are even as preposterous as the robbers being aliens.

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Then to enlighten us on the current scenario, the narrative rewinds to events that occurred a week earlier.

We are introduced to a load of characters. Instead of being organic, this information overload is indolently dumped on the audiences by a voice-over, which is unenthusiastically rendered by Vijay Raaz.

Anupam Kher plays Thakur Bhaiya, the quintessential local mafia king who has his fingers in every pie of Ranchi. His nephew Lallan (Jimmy Shergill) is the principled police officer of the region, who is at constant loggerheads with him.

Monish (Himanshu Kohli), an engineer also known as a “master mechanic,” is in love with Gudiya (Soundarya Sharma), a singer who has dreams of becoming a pop sensation like Shakira. Her talent draws the unwanted attention of Thakur Bhaiya. So they are constantly deciding to elope.

One evening, in an inebriated state, Monish abuses Thakur Bhaiya and hence is picked up by Thakur Bhaiya’s goons.

Meanwhile, Monish’s friends Pinku

(Taaha Shah) and Bunty (Pradeep Singh), the two “matric-fail sons” of a retired postmaster who are bullies and consider themselves to be the Godfathers of the younger generation, unknowingly, along with their friend Babloo (Harry Bala), kidnap Thakur Bhaiya’s younger brother. Their van gets intercepted by the goons carrying Monish.

The four friends land up at Thakur Bhaiya’s bungalow who decides to teach them a lesson. Lallan interrupts Thakur’s plans by saying that if the four are involved with kidnapping, the law

will investigate and punish the four.

So, he hands over the four friends to his junior, Sub Inspector Choubey (Satish Kaushik) to proceed with the investigation. Instead, the corrupt officer insists on being bribed. So, how the five of them successfully rob a bank and later lose the money, is what keeps you hooked.

While the characters are stereotypical, the performances of the entire cast are perforce perfunctory.

Overall, Ranchi Diaries tries hard to be quirky but fails miserably.

Troy Ribeiro

NOVEMBER JULY (1) 2014 2017 41

entertainment

the BUZZ UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT’S HOT AND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD

AAMIR KHAN

GOOD DIWALI AT INDIAN BOX OFFICE

The Indian box office witnessed a “tremendous” response during the special Diwali weekend with the release of Bollywood films Golmaal Again, Secret Superstar and Tamil film Mersal.

All the three movies started on a positive note, say trade gurus.

Made on a budget of Rs 15 crore including the cost of production and prints and publicity, Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim-starrer Secret Superstar, which released on Diwali on 19 October, has minted Rs 31.31 crore in four days.

Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Again - the fourth film in the Golmaal franchise starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Parineeti Chopra and Arshad Warsi among others - collected Rs 87.60 crore in three days since its release on 20 October.

“Diwali weekend has brought abundant cheer and spread sunshine,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted.

As for Mersal, Tamil actor Vijay’s Diwali release, it is also receiving a positive response in India and across the world.

The film was already much-awaited given the triple role that Vijay essays in the project, and it grabbed more headlines after the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the removal of specific dialogues from the movie which take a dig at the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and digital India.

Mersal chased a massive total in the international markets, despite stiff opposition posed by the two Hindi releases.

SALMAN KHAN: BHARAT

C

ontinuing the tradition of releasing his films on the festive occasion of Eid, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has booked the auspicious date for his 2019 release titled Bharat.

The film is an official adaptation of 2014 South Korean film Ode to My Father, which depicted modern Korean history from the 1950s to the present day through the life of an ordinary man.

It showcased events such as the Hungnam Evacuation during the 1950 Korean War, the government’s decision to dispatch nurses and miners to West Germany in the 1960s and the Vietnam War. The film was identified as potential content for the Indian audience following its screening at the Berlin Film Festival, which was attended by filmmaker Atul Agnihotri who will be backing Bharat as a producer, read a statement.

It traces the journey of a man that starts in 1947 and ends in 2002.

Agnihotri, who is also Salman’s brother-in-law, said, “It’s the journey of a country and also a person, both of whom go by the name of Bharat.”

“That film is just the starting point for us, but since it was an inspiration, we wanted in all fairness to officially own it and acquired the remake rights before going ahead with Bharat,” he added.

Bharat will be helmed by director Ali Abbas Zafar and will feature Salman as the protagonist. The project goes on the floors in April next year and will be filmed in Abu Dhabi and Spain, besides Punjab and Delhi in India.

42 NOVEMBER 2017

IT’S A DREAM RESPONSE: DEBUTANT DIRECTOR

A new director, a 17-year-old lead and a cameo by Aamir in a quirky avatar.

A new film has been drawing in the audiences this month.

Advait Chandan, who has made his directorial debut with Secret Superstar - a simple tale about a teenaged girl chasing her dreams - says the response to the movie is like a “dream”.

“I went to a theatre full of people and they clapped and laughed and were moved by the film. It gave me goosebumps... I keep pinching myself to check if it’s real,” Chandan said in a statement.

The film, backed by superstar Aamir Khan, features Dangal girl Zaira Wasim as Insiya, who sets out to follow her dream of being a singing superstar under the confinement of anonymity.

Chandan acknowledges that Aamir’s presence has helped the film pull the crowds in. He said, “No production house was ready to support the film.

The way Aamir Khan Productions has supported the film with all resources and mounted the project, is great. Only AK can do that.”

Chandan is a former manager of

Aamir, who plays Shakti Kumaarr in the movie.

“I wrote the part of Shakti Kumaarr and convinced him to play it, so I take full credit of his casting. In the beginning, he was hesitant, but then he also started enjoying the character.”

According to the makers, the Diwali release was made at a budget of Rs 15 crore, including cost of production and print and publicity.

It made a total of Rs 31.31 crore in the first four days of its release at the Indian box office, the makers said in a statement.

IT’S TIME TO EXPOSE BOLLYWOOD’S WEINSTEINS: PAHLAJ NIHALANI

Former censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani says people like Harvey Weinstein exist in Bollywood too, and need to be exposed.

Weinstein, a popular Hollywood producer has been accused of sexual harassment or abuse by more than three dozen women, including several top actresses including Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cara Delevingne, Lupita Nyong’o and Angelina Jolie.

In a recent interview, actress Priyanka Chopra spoke up about the Weinstein element being prevalent everywhere, including Bollywood.

Nihalani concurs. “Priyanka is right. There are Harvey Weinsteins in Bollywood too. They continue to exploit hapless strugglers because they are not held liable for their dirty deeds. This is the time to expose them.”

“I am talking about aspiring actors and actresses being forced to offer sexual favours in exchange for job opportunities. Bollywood has a very clear list of offenders who misuse their position,” added Nihalani.

The Weinstein episode seems perfectly timed for Nihalani’s new film Julie 2, which he is presenting and distributing: it is about the casting couch menace in Bollywood.

Appalled that actresses have not come forward to name these offenders, Nihalani now intends to shout out their names at a press conference.

“But for that we need victims to come forward. We are in the process of getting

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together voices of the victims to speak up publicly. The time to nail the Harvey Weinsteins of Bollywood is now.”

POOJA BHATT TO PEN ALL ABOUT BATTLE WITH BOTTLE

Just after Diwali this year, actressfilmmaker Pooja Bhatt announced a new project. No, it’s not a film, but a book. One that too, that tells her own story. Yes, about her battle with alcohol.

In March this year that Pooja spoke to journalist Roshmila Bhattacharya on her battle with the bottle, saying, “If I didn’t quit now, I’d have drank myself to the grave.”

It’s been ten months since she quit alcohol.

“It hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been too difficult either,” Pooja said recently. “We announced the book on Bhai Dooj, when traditionally Indians have just ushered in a new year. As the Diwali lights continue to sparkle around us, please support me on this journey the way you always have through all my films,” added the daughter of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

“I would like to emphasise that it is not an autobiography. At 45, I am too young to write my memoirs. As they say in filmi terms, ‘Picture abhi baaki hai, dost’. But I can help others like me deal with their problem by talking about my journey,” Pooja said.

She described it as an “arduous yet life affirming journey into my own heart”.

Roshmila Bhattacharya will co-author, and the book will be released early next year by Penguin India.

VIRUSHKA IN NEW AD

Real life lovebirds Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma appeared in an ad together recently and literally broke the internet. In a little film that screams #RelationshipGoals, the good-looking couple, attending someone else’s wedding, end up taking their own vows, albeit rather unconventional ones.

The chemistry in palpable as the two promise the little things they will do for each other. Sigh!

Twitter went into a meltdown.

Don’t say anything. Just LOOK at them.

Way too much cuteness to handle.

Cutest couple on the planet.

Just check out #Virushka for yourself.

RIBBONS…. OF LOVE? OF HOPE?

Actor Sumeet Vyas, soon to be seen in the film Ribbon, says the title is a metaphor of what holds a relationship together.

“We tie a ribbon on a present to add a finishing touch and to hold things together or to make it look pretty. Just like that, we tie a ribbon on a relationship to hold it together.

Sometimes you go through challenges,

WHO WORE IT BETTER? MIRA KAPOOR or KRISTINA BAZAN in SELF PORTRAIT? Share your views with us on our Facebook page /IndianLinkAustralia

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the ribbon loosens up…”.

On his character in the film Sumeet said, “The character will be very relatable to the people in and around my generation. They are all very smart, educated, watch English films, read newspapers and they believe they have evolved and practice gender equality. But as soon as they face some problems, everything changes and they start practicing what they have been seeing since childhood. They become ‘the man of the house’ and patriarchal.”

Directed by Rakhee Sandilya, the film is about a young urban couple trying to strike a balance between family life and work, while overwhelmed with the birth of a baby girl. Kalki Koechlin and Hitesh Malhan also star. The film releases on 3 November.

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WORTH WAITING FOR? YOU DECIDE!

Salman Khan-starrer Tiger Zinda Hai is slated to release on 22 Dec. It’s been filmed in five different countries, but each location lent itself to a turning point in the film’s story, says director Ali Abbas Zafar. With locations in Austria, Greece, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and India, the sequel of Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger will bring Salman back together with Katrina Kaif. They play intelligence agents Tiger and Zoya, who travel across the world fighting against the odds to fulfil their life-threatening mission.

Actor Arjun Kapoor embodies the heartland policeman in the first look of his character in Dibakar Banerjee’s Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (Yash Raj Films). To play the 30-year-old police constable from Haryana in a “realistic and unique” manner, Arjun spent extensive amounts of time prepping under Banerjee’s supervision. He interacted with police recruits across all ranks in Delhi Police and Haryana Police, and also visited a training academy to witness all that goes into the making of a police officer. The movie, set to release on 3 August 2018, also features his Ishaqzaade costar Parineeti Chopra.

It was India’s long-awaited moment of cricket glory. The 1983 World Cup will now come to our cinema screens, in a film entitled 83. Starring Ranveer Singh as captain Kapil Dev and directed by Kabir Khan, the film has been written by National Award-winning director Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan.

What is HRITHIK ROSHAN thinking here?

Gaurav W: Kaash ki Jadoo sach mein hota aur mujhe saari powers deta, to mein meri life theek kar sakhta!

Gaurav wins a Hoyts movie ticket Some other good ones: Raka Mitra: Bindia chamkegi, ‘Kangana’ khankegi, meri neend ude, te ud jaye!

Nisha Sharma: Thank god! These fans don’t know know my reality!

Nivedita Kunder: Jaadooo yaar, kidhar gayab hai tu! Please come take me with you.

Raghu Rules: Wear watches on both hands.

Time is valuable.

NOVEMBER 2017 43

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backchat

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Miracle or mirage? A A mid-term report card for PM Narendra Modi

N

ow it is customary for political leaders to produce a report card after 100 days in office.

Who could forget the colourful booklet Kevin Rudd put out on this milestone occasion. Looking back, that may be the only memorable achievement of his short stint at the Lodge. By western standards, things move a bit slowly in India. So it is fair to add a ‘0’ and make a 1000-day report card on Modi’s ‘achche din’ promises. Writing a report of this kind from a distance of 7,000km and out of on-line news reports would be unfair, I felt.

So I decided on a short visit to India at my own cost to take on this national duty. (Ok that’s a bit of an exaggerated claim: I had a personal agenda too.)

Mr Modi’s political journey has now reached its half way mark. Unlike the Indian leader, America’s Donald Trump made only four simplistic promises during his campaign - halt the Hispanics, scrap Obamacare, stop the Islamists and send home the Indian ‘softies’ (software techies).

After six months he hasn’t kicked a single goal. He hasn’t even gone out of the White House very much, whereas Modiji has logged lakhs of air miles and hugged every leader of some standing.

Now about his other track records.

Narendrabhai’s narrative included a multitude of ‘yojanas’ like Digital India, Make in India, 100 smart cities and, my own favourite, ‘Swaatch Bharat’ the launch of which that I had the privilege to watch in 2014. Modi may well be the only world leader to talk about public toilets in a national public address. Besides these major announcements, he shocked the nation with a ‘bolt from the blue’ broadcast on demonetisation (DeMon, for short) to flush out black money. De-monised common folk flocked at bank branches to convert their

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The benefits of demonetisation are not worth the effort and the cost of printing millions of new notes is phenomenal. The other objective of choking the funding of Kashmir terrorists has not materialised

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BY LP AYER

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banned high-value currencies.

Now that that bitter episode has become part of history, the Reserve Bank of India in its report card recently has revealed that 99% of banned notes had been sucked out of the system, a record feat for any nation. While Modi’s supporters gloat over this, his critics are equally vociferous, saying the benefits are not worth the effort and the cost of printing millions of new notes is phenomenal.

They also claim that the other objective of choking of funding Kashmir terrorists has not materialised. Who could stop Shandong presses copying new notes and pumping them through One Road to the all-weather ally in Pindi. Regardless of this, I give eight out of ten to Modi for his daring move.

Another major reform that was not part of Narendrabhai’s narrative before the election is the introduction of GST in a

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country where every State has a multitude of taxes at multiple levels. The only problem with GST is, it is not set at a uniform rate for all goods and services, resulting in some confusion. These two reforms have caused some drop in consumer demand and GDP, obviously due to drying up of black money and teething troubles of GST. For pushing through such a mega tax reform Modi deserves eight points.

On to Digital India. I saw in a remote village, dozens of semi-literate people walking into the banks and printing their own statements. A score of six is okay, I’d say.

The public toilets program is not flushed with great success as the others above. Some ‘user pays’ communal loos remain closed since some loose ends need to be tied up.

Of all the countless ‘yojanas’ Modi has proclaimed one that really interested me

is ‘Swaach Bharat’. It was launched with great fanfare, with every politician wielding a broom in front of a garbage pile to grab a photo opportunity. At that time Modi set October 2019 as the target date to have a ‘Clean India,’ that is five years hence. The cynic in me then wrote “I dare say it may take not five years or even 50 years before one sees a Modified clean India.” Unlike the toilet ‘yojana’ that requires counting a lakh of nondescript cubicles, this ‘swaach’ program can easily be assessed. On landing in India I started taking pictures of roadside rubbish piles, but after two days, gave up for fear of my SD card running out of space. I see very little progress and, if anything, it is worse than before. So should Modiji get a zero for this?

No, that honour should go to every Indian.

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NOVEMBER 2017 45

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nbn offers three superfast wholesale speed tiers to providers ‑ 25Mbps, 50Mbps and 100Mbps.* There’s also 12Mbps, which is not considered superfast broadband.* Talk to your phone and internet provider about speed tiers available in your area, as well as the actual speeds you can expect to experience on your new plan (particularly during peak times like the evening).

your particular experience will be affected, speak

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The nbn™ access network and your provider’s network are likely to slow down when more people are online at once. Maximum speeds will also vary based on your modem, Wi‑Fi

you’ll need to find an alternative solution. It’s also important you register safety‑critical devices with nbn by calling 1800 227 300 or visiting nbn.com.au/compatibility.

Contact a phone or internet provider *Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the technology over which services are delivered to your premises and some factors outside our control (like your equipment quality, software, signal quality, broadband plan and how your service provider designs its network). nbn is a provider of wholesale speeds to internet providers. nbn™ wholesale speed tiers available to your phone and internet provider vary depending on the access technology in your area. ^ Services offered to phone and internet providers over the nbn™ broadband access network will be replacing phone and internet services provided over most of the existing landline networks, including copper and the majority of HFC networks within the fixed line footprint. Services provided over existing fibre networks (including in‑building, health and education networks) and some special and business services may not be affected. To find out if your services will be affected, please contact your current phone or internet provider. For more information, visit nbn.com.au/ switchoff or call 1800 687 626.† The rollout of the nbn™ broadband access network will involve new technologies, and some existing devices (including many medical alarms, autodiallers and emergency call buttons) may not be compatible with these at all times. You should contact your device provider to find out if your alarm or other device will work when connected to the nbn™ broadband access network and what alternative solutions are available. For more information, visit nbn.com.au/compatibility. © 2017 nbn co ltd. ‘nbn’, ‘bring it on’, ‘Sky Muster’, ‘gen nbn’ and the Aurora device are trade marks of nbn co ltd | ABN 86 136 533 741.

46 NOVEMBER 2017

BWMNCO0578/250X358/CALD

www.indianlink.com.au

NBN READY

Home Bundle

UNLIMITED DATA + PHONE LINE $

59

99

MIN CHARGE $189.94

NO LOCK-IN CONTRACT

Mobile

4GB

NO LOCK-IN CONTRACT

UNLIMITED CALLS & SMS to Standard AU Numbers

100 INTERNATIONAL MINUTES

15

$

/mth

for the 1st 6 months MIN CHARGE $25

$29.99 monthly fee applies after 6 months

13 14 23 Home Bundle: Min charge includes $20 Prepayment + $99.95 Setup + $10 Delivery (if applicable). Only available in selected coverage areas. This plan is also available as an nbn™ plan. If the nbn™ network comes to your area, TPG will invite you to move your service to the nbn™ network on 18 month contract with Wi-Fi modem included at no additional cost to you. Some call types not supported, incl. fax, pay TV program purchase, back to base alarms and similar. Mobile: Min charge includes $10 SIM. New mobile registrations only. Unlimited Calls & SMS to Standard Australian Numbers are for use within AU only. Standard rates apply for other usage types such as Excess Data, Video Calls, International Roaming & other Enhanced Services. Calls and SMS to 19 Numbers and Premium SMS/MMS are not supported. Data usage is charged per KB or part thereof. Excess Data $10 for extra 1GB blocks. 100 International Minutes offer does not include calls to satellite phones. Unused 100 International Minutes and Included Data are forfeited at the end of each billing cycle. Excluded or excess usage is only possible with sufficient Prepaid Balance. General: These offers may be withdrawn at any time. Plans are for residential customers only and not for commercial use. Visit website for full terms & conditions.

INDIAN LINK

NOVEMBER 2017 47

10GB

Prepaid Ultimate Plus

3GB + 7GB bonus

+ 10GB extra to stream on

30

$

Recharge

First recharge of $30 or more for new customers by 04/02/18 All for use in Australia within 28 days. Fair Go Policy applies.

Bonus data: Includes $30, $40 and $50 SIM Starter Kits. Bonus data may take up to 72 hours to be applied and will expire at the same time as that recharge unless data rollover applies. Excludes SIM swaps. Bonus data is available as a once off and is not available on subsequent recharges of any eligible value. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Limit of once per customer. Video Streaming: Expires within 28 days or upon next recharge, whichever is earlier.

Streaming services subject to change and may require paid subscriptions. Content such as ads, authentication and app analytics are excluded and will be deducted from any standard or bonus MyData allowances you have. Streaming services may not have apps available on all mobile operating systems. Tethering and downloads not permitted.

Indian Link_Nov 30 Streaming Advert P_30 Hero Streaming Ultimate Plus_250x358mm.indd 1

48 NOVEMBER 2017

26/10/2017 10:24:28 AM

www.indianlink.com.au