2017-11 Sydney (2)

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

SSM vote: No straight answers

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Usha Ramanujam Arvind, Aneeta Menon, Tarini Puri, Ritam Mitra, Mohan Dhall, Ananya Wakhare, Sandip Hor, Auntyji ADVERTISING MANAGER 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

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

T

he results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey ended a divisive three-month campaign. 79.5% Australians voted and the final vote of 61.6% was in the Yes camp, while 38.4% said no.

The win by the Yes camp was largely predicted and to celebrate this victory, over 2,000 people gathered at Prince Alfred Park in Sydney. There were similar gatherings in other city centres around the country.

That the parties seemed to be confined to inner city venues and didn’t reach out to the outer western suburbs in Sydney was perhaps indicative of the how the voters cast their ballot. While the suburbs of Sydney, Wentworth and Grandler had over 80% of their votes in the Yes camp, Parramatta, Greenway and Banks were in the top 10 of the No votes cast. Bruce and Calwell in Melbourne, where over 50% registered

voters are born overseas, resoundingly voted No in the ballot.

These are the suburbs where there is a high ethnic mix of voters. The results indicate that social conservatism among many ethnic communities loomed large as a factor. Religion seems to have played a major role in the decision-making: the Yes vote was more in areas where a large chunk of population had, in the 2016 Census, identified as being part of the ‘No Religion’ group, as compared to localities where there are strong communities built around Christianity, Eastern Orthodoxy, Islam, Eastern Catholicism, Sikhism and Hinduism.

What also emerged was how the local politicians were so out of touch in these areas from their constituents.

While most politicians did not nail their colours to the post on the same-sex marriage debate, they largely went along their party lines on this topic. Labor MP Jason Clare’s seat of Blaxland had only 26 per cent of voters supporting the change in law, Tony Burke in the safe Labor seat of Watson had only 30% support for the Yes vote and both are strong advocates of being in favour for same-sex marriage.

This prompts the question as to where

the loyalty lies for elected politicians - to their political parties or to their electorate.

All of the above tells an interesting story. While it is said that there is a disconnect between the urban and rural people of Australia, it seems that the city is getting more and more concentrated around the CBD and the outer fringes of the country perhaps start from the 10 km radius of the city. These outer suburbs are getting more disconnected from mainstream Australians.

The same-sex marriage campaign did not have any major funding from political parties and those in the outer west seem to have relied more on the feedback and input from their local community and, to an extent, having religion to justify their decision. Local politicians seem to be out of touch as how to work through the religious beliefs of their constituents. In fact, is this the start of the possibility of a more focussed ethnic religious political party in Australia?

The results of the same sex marriage ballot seem to have raised many long-term social issues simmering in the community than what just the results show.

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NATIONAL EDITION

NOVEMBER

CONTENTS Indian Link

Indian Link

LINKING INDIA WITH AUSTRALIA

SPECIAL FEATURES THE YOUNG ONES Spelling bee runner up

MAINSTREAM Same sex marriage survey: Gay community speaks

ADVENTURE Desi daredevil Gurpreet Singh Chawla

SPORT India at World Polo Championships

14 16

14

21

21

33

26 COVER STORY

SCHOOL Surviving Year 7

NOVEMBER

33

26

In conversation with celebrity chef Ranveer Brar

12

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YOUR SAY

NOT QUITE A ‘DEMON’?

APARAJITA GUPTA’s piece questioning the efficacy of India’s demonetisation drew some sharp reactions Raghbjha wrote: This is a highly one-sided article that chooses to portray what it wants to portray and ignores the rest. So, all the data on the amount of suspicious deposits in some bank accounts, the number of shell companies closed, the ease of passage to the GST and many others are all irrelevant, according to the author of this article. Also, the article chooses to ignore the fact that the government prepared the economy for the demonetisation through opening up of Jan Dhan accounts and giving tax dodgers a chance to come clean. All this happened before demonetisation. The appropriate counterfactual for assessing the impact on economic growth is what the growth would have been had there been no demonetisation - not the actual rate of economic growth. In any case, growth picked up after one quarter of decline. Future growth will be faster, cleaner and more sustainable and inclusive.

Prakash Mehta wrote: This is a biased article on demonetisation in India due to many reasons. First, ordinary people had several opportunities to open up bank accounts (including Jan Dhan accounts) in which they could deposit their old currency notes. Second, those who had dodged taxes were given a generous opportunity to come clean, declare their assets, pay their dues and become part of the legitimate economy. Hence, the only people whose wealth positions were adversely affected by demonetisation were the dishonest. Others were affected only temporarily and to the extent that they had to stand in queue to withdraw cash and/or deposit money. Second, black money in the Indian economy has come down substantially. More than 300,000 shell companies that were being used for money laundering have been closed. Hundreds of thousands of suspicious deposits into bank accounts have been identified and will be pursued. A strong benami law and a regulatory authority for real estate are functional. Third, the tax base of the economy has gone up sharply as numbers of both direct and indirect tax payers have gone up. This will enable the government to spend more on health, education and infrastructure, among other things. Fourth, digitisation of the economy has rapidly expanded. Fifth, the shrinking of the informal economy has meant that the country could adopt the GST which has led to the creation of a unified Indian market for the first time since Independence.

WHO WORE IT BETTER? We asked who looked better in the Delpozo dress, Hillary Swank or Sonam Kapoor?

Vishal Gupta wrote: Dress ki bhi gharwapsi ho gayi… from hot to sanskari

INDIAN TEEN WITH DISABILITY WINS AWARD DHANYA SAMUEL wrote about the inspiring story of how young Mark Alvares put aside his challenges and embraced life.

Mythili Iyer applauded: Kudos to Mark Alvares for his resilience and positivity. May he find more success in his new challenges ahead.

Jayanthi Vellore said: Well done Mark! You have been an inspiration to all of us.

NOVEMBER

THE LABOUR PAINS OF ADOPTION

Liz and Adam Brook haven’t been able to adopt a child from India, thanks to a freeze on inter-country adoption, wrote RITAM MITRA A reader wishing to stay anonymous wrote: When we passed through the phase of adoption, no one can understand what we went through every moment, waiting for a phone call, snubbed off rudely by both Australian and Indian red tape and bureaucracy…tears, trials and tribulations. I feel very happy that Ritam has put all this together. I feel so privileged that by a very thin line, we have our daughter in our lives. We feel grateful and must have done some little good in the past or present to be able to have her in our lives, but equally we feel helpless for others who are victims of this limbo. A big heartfelt congratulations to Ritam for working on this bit which is so close to my heart, and hope it will be valuable information for all wishing to go down that line for starting a family.

Rajni Luthra commented: Wishing you all the best in your quest, Liz and Adam.

Liz Brook shared the article in her network and received plenty of encouragement Yan Hope wrote: Good things come to those who wait (And wait. And wait…)

Michelle Forbes wrote: I will keep my fingers crossed for you both. Sending love and hugs your way.

Elaine Brook wrote: Never give up! There must be someone in the authority who could help your cause. Thank you Liz and Adam for putting it out there. All the best. Hope you succeed before too long.

Jessical McNeill wrote: Such a sh**ty situation. Hope this story goes a long way in raising awareness and driving change.

Debbie Purtell wrote: Thanks to Indian Link. A good, informative article.

Nisha Prichard wrote: Great awareness raising. Keeping fingers crossed for you guys.

DESTIGMATISING DEMENTIA

NANDITHA SURESH wrote about the first-of-its-kind support group launched for Indian-Australians Nankana wrote: The need is real hands on support to the dementia patients and their carers and families. Mere forums and seminars are just to create awareness among the community. Need is to take the next step to give or obtain for them the direct assistance and give social support and volunteer help.

There are several persons who have recently sprung up in Indian community and it has become fashionable to start charity or community service groups, with the individual promoting themselves and just collecting funds.

Community must become more demanding and selective in supporting such attention seeking self-serving persons who are merely exploiting community and such patients and families.

Some such organisations, whose objectives do not even mention Dementia or mental health or old-age services, are also jumping on the dementia bandwagon to gain on the attention it is getting. They are not doing any good in this field. They must keep away and stick to their declared objectives not to dilute the resources and attention.

Please do not exploit those already suffering from the problems, which is already causing much problems and damage to such sufferers and confusing the community, as to who is the right organisation.

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

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cover story

Ranveerisms: food is all about stories Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar on India’s best culinary experiences, food in the time of hashtags, and more

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

D

id you know that paneer - a much-loved staple in Indian cuisine - is a rather modern introduction? It’s true. The ancient Hindus, for whom milk was sacred, would not deliberately curdle it to produce cheese.

This was one of many little-known facts about Indian food that we learnt from Ranveer Brar when he was in Sydney recently.

One of India’s best-known food personalities, Ranveer was in Australia, producing a series on the contemporary food scene in this country.

Ranveer is currently executive chef of Novotel Mumbai, but is better known as a TV chef, food writer and blogger. A former judge on MasterChef India, he has a massive social media following, with 1.5 million Twitter followers, some 501,000 Facebook followers and 103,000 Instagram fans.

Which makes him a celebrity in the ranks of film stars and cricketing heroes.

Yet, he will only describe himself as a “cook who got lucky.”

It is this trademark humility and boynext-door demeanour that is perhaps more endearing about the man.

Add to this, a genuine love for food and

NOVEMBER

everything related to it.

“Is life possible without food?” he asked simply, when we put to him that perhaps today’s world seems to be obsessed with food and gourmet culture. “What would happen if we did not eat for three days in a row? Three weeks in a row? Three months?

Let’s not underestimate food. It’s the most basic connection to life. And if it is the most basic connection to life, how can there ever be an excess of it? So why not excessively celebrate it?”

Ok, Ranveer, chill: we’ll continue to fawn over food shows on TV, try out the new cafés, photograph all our food, and buy up loads of kitchen gadgets we will never use.

“Gadgets! Now I actually endorse a lot of them,” Ranveer came back cheekily.

“They are basically a means of convenience.

For example, the mixie: if I had my way, I would grind my own spices by hand. Who has the time? Think of your gadgets as time-saving devices.”

What are the essential gadgets that an average family kitchen should have?

“You’d need a mixer of sorts, stick blender or bullet blender, and if you’re health conscious, then an air fryer… not because I endorse them!”

“In the north, you’ve got to go to Old Delhi. Travel the bylanes and see the food wonders the area has to offer. In Punjab, once you’ve done the Golden Temple at Amritsar, you have to eat around it.

Rajasthan, a visit to a chilli farm is a must: at Mathania, for instance, to sit out in a chilli farm, and to eat lal maas with its fiery red colour that comes from the chilli of the region, is an unbelievable experience.

“In Mumbai, you’ve got to watch the dabbawallahs in action. Check out this community of 80,000 lunchbox delivery men, and see how the whole system

works. They do more than 250,000 lunch deliveries a day, all in a non-computerised manner, with less than one in a million failures. They have nailed it down to a science. Absolutely amazing.

“Down south, the banana leaf meal is a unique experience. The banana leaf has antibacterial properties, which are released when hot food is put on it; as you eat with your fingers, these antibacterial properties are scraped off the leaf and into your mouth. Also, the food goes onto the platter in a particular order - it is not a random process - based on Ayurvedic ideas of

India: Food experiences

What Ranveer also endorses, of course, are food tours in India. What food-related experiences would he recommend?

“I curate a lot of these ‘food experiences’ for groups from Israel, Belgium and other places, so I can tell you a bit about that.

Let’s go region by region.

Parramatta MP and Indophile Julie Owens cooks up an Indian brekkie for Ranveer

www.indianlink.com.au

With Kanchan Kukreja of India Tourism Sydney and Indian Link editors

palatability and digestion; the sour and the salty are served first, to get the digestive juices flowing. Also, you don’t typically end on a sweet; you eat dessert, and then you have papad and chutney. Sometimes, there are 18 courses served. I’ve researched the thali composite meals of India, of which there are more than 170 authentic versions!

“In the east, Kolkata is one of the most amazing cities I’ve been to. China Town there is where ‘Indian-Chinese’ food originated, when the Hakka tradesmen came to India in the 1850s, pushed out of China. Pujo food is a must in Kolkata if you go there during the Durga Puja festivities.

“Overall, I think temple food in India by itself is a whole space that has not really been spoken about. In the 1,150-year-old Jagganath Puri temple in Odisha, the recipes for prasad (sanctified food) date back 1000+ years.”

generation. Being Indian, being desi, is finally cool. This generation is confident in themselves and secure with what is happening in the world. They understand that a lot of food in the west is starting to be driven by India, like coconut oil and turmeric lattes. Now they are beginning to look inwards. They want to discover hyper-regional, hyper-local, culturally relevant cuisine. We have realised political boundaries cannot define eating. So instead of ‘Gujarati food’, we have Kathiawadi food and Surati cuisine. Hence, food is automatically becoming more detailoriented. Across the world as well, responsibility and detail are becoming core drivers of cuisine.”

In Australia for instance, Ranveer was fascinated with the ‘Farm to Fork’ concept.

He noted, “I love it that you guys are

With Lance Carr of Mountain Range Nursery in Dapto

Foodie trends in contemporary India

Interestingly, it is these old times, that are currently fashionable again in the food scene in India, Ranveer observed.

“Today, we have an increasing awareness about eating locally. We’ve looked outwards for a really long time and we are very secure as a nation and in our identity. India has had four broad generations. The first generation was when we gained Independence from the British. They had no clue what was going on - they were just dealing with what happened. The second generation worked hard to consolidate. The third generation began to look outwards - travelling, and seeking inspiration from what the world had to offer. The fourth generation is the generation of today, a very secure

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recognising the importance of knowing the farmer and trusting the farmer. Another trend I’ve seen here, which is quite similar to ours, is the serious movement towards rediscovering your native food. I’ve just come off a cook with Indigenous chef Mark Olive and it is simply heart-warming to see the way in which native ingredients are being embraced by mainstream restaurants here.”

Blending the old with the new

We got to see Ranveer’s culinary prowess at an event hosted jointly by Indian Link and India Tourism Sydney.

Ranveer got together with Varun Gujral, chef of Manjit’s At The Wharf, and one of the most exciting young chefs in the city.

Together, they dished up a drool-worthy

With Joel Best of Bondi’s Best Seafood

With Varun and Manjit Gujral

(and immensely Instagrammable!) tuna tartare with achari spices and charcoal jelly (yes, there is such a thing).

And who knew you could replace tuna with watermelon, for a vegetarian version?

Genius!

Varun said later, “It was a privilege for me to cook with Ranveer and learn from him, while also showing him my own take on modern Indian food.”

Varun truly embodies the spirit of the advice Ranveer has for young chefs starting their culinary journey. “Be yourself. Don’t try to emulate others. Find yourself in your food.”

Ranveer had his audience spellbound as he spoke about India, its food and its history. His skills as a story teller came to the fore as he described the food of an

illiterate woman in rural Rajasthan who feeds travellers in her remote part of the world, using a centuries-old earthen cooling system in the lack of basic amenities.

Banished from her village after losing her husband, she eked out a living doing what she knew best - and today has put her children through university.

It is clear that food, for Ranveer is more than just cooking and eating - it is about learning other people’s stories, and telling them to the world.

After all the banter of thali meals, 1000-year-old temple recipes, bush tucker and tuna tartare, what would you say Ranveer’s choice of comfort food is?

“A good quality khichdi with desi ghee.”

Now that would qualify as a #Ranveerism.

RANVEER’S INDIA FOODIE TRAIL

With Aboriginal chef Mark Olive at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

> Visit a red chilli farm at Mathania in Rajasthan and have some fiery red laal maas > Watch the Mumbai dabbawallahs (lunch box delivery men) in clockwork action > Have an authentic South Indian thali - in a banana leaf. It’s good for your gut, seriously! > Drool over desi-Chinese? Slurp it up in Kolkata, where it originated > Explore temple cuisine. For instance, the recipe for the prasad (sanctified food) at Jagannath Puri temple in Odisha is over 1,000 years old

NOVEMBER

the young ones

Spellbound NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian congratulates Akshath

Akshath Senthil is NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee runner-up

BY USHA ARVIND

N

ine-year-old Akshath Senthil was named runner-up at 2017 NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee in the junior division.

Akshath, a Year 4 student at Sydney’s Homebush West Primary, was one of 3,700 students competing in 89 finals.

A total of 950 schools registered to participate in the 2017 Spelling Bee, with an astounding 154,000 students involved in the competition. Multiple elimination rounds at school and regional levels culminated in the State Finals held in front of a live audience at Eugene Goossens Hall at ABC Centre in Ultimo on 8 November 2017.

Spelling seems to be in the Senthil genes. An insatiable thirst for reading and a burning desire to emulate his brother Adirath (who was also a state finalist in 2014) ensured that Akshath was not only well geared up for the competition but also thirsting for the top gong.

In the end, he was tripped by the word ‘gondolier’. Calm and collected through the entire process, Akshath and Lena Zhu survived multiple elimination rounds as ABC TV and Radio newsreader Juanita Philips carefully enunciated each word.

The Premier’s Spelling Bee was first introduced in 2004 as a fun and educational way for primary school students to engage in spelling. The program includes activities to encourage all students to engage with spelling and to promote improved literacy in combination with the English K-6

NOVEMBER

syllabus. There are two categories - junior and senior. Junior spellers had to correctly spell words such as bitmap, acoustics and flannelette to compete in the state finals, while senior students were challenged with words such as pendulous, delicatessen and antiquity.

“Premier’s Spelling Bee is one of my most favourite competitions because you can learn new words, make new friends and, of course, improve your ability to spell in the future,” Akshath told Indian Link.

“It felt amazing to come this far to the State Bee. It all started back when our teacher held a written test to see who would get selected for the class Spelling Bee,” he explained. “I was one of the ten people because I got 20 out of 20. A few weeks later, we had the class Spelling Bee. I won that and then I went on to Regionals.”

His winning word at the Regionals was scenario. “I was very excited when I got that correct,” Akshath stated.

Nervous and confident in equal measure, Akshath prepared for the big day by systematically learning new words from the Macquarie English Dictionary that he won at the Regionals.

“At times, it was very annoying to study the words again and again but as I got used to it, it became fun. When my brother was preparing for his State Finals in 2014, I used to ask him the words and that’s how I got interested in it,” he explained.

Some of the words he had to contend with were wheel, inquisitor, fraternal, bicentenary, commodious, thermodynamics, paltry, non-descript, convivial and paparazzi.

The hardest word he got, Akshath said, was beleaguered. “Lots of rounds went by, more people got eliminated and the words got tougher. Finally, in the eleventh round, it was just me and another girl, she spelled

‘irrevocable’ correctly so I had to get this word correct to stay in the competition. So I prayed that I would get a word I know. I got ‘gondolier.’ I thought I knew that word but I spelt it G-O-N-DE-L-I-E-R instead of G-O-N-D-O-L-I-E-R,” he added.

Clearly disappointed, Akshath has promised Premier Gladys Berejiklian that he will be back next year.

When not grappling with words, Akshath can be found at Airey Park in Homebush playing with friends. He enjoys a number of team sports, particularly table tennis, soccer, cricket and basketball.

“I want to excel in table tennis, maybe get into a club and start playing competitions often. My long term goal is to get into the Olympics and represent Australia in table tennis,” the talented youngster said.

His favourite subjects at school are Maths, Arts and Sports.

Akshath started enjoying books even before he started walking, recounted proud mum Ponnu. Like every devoted Indian mother, she is clearly the driving force behind her boys’ success, encouraging a genuine love of all learning. “He was 8 weeks pre-mature and did not walk until he was 3. He loves to borrow books from the library and often finishes 10 books at a stretch with a packet of chips,” she noted.

Thanking parents and teachers for kindling this interest in literacy, Berejiklian said, “Spelling is the cornerstone of literacy and the spelling bee is invaluable in promoting development of skills, necessary for clear communication. It encourages

students to embrace love of spelling and, in turn, love of reading, which stays with them for the rest of their life.”

In the meantime, for Akshath, the countdown to the next bee has already begun, this time in the senior category.

Words that AKSHATH spelled correctly WHEEL INQUISITOR FRATERNAL BICENTENARY COMMODIOUS THERMODYNAMICS PALTRY NON-DESCRIPT CONVIVIAL PAPARAZZI BELEAGUERED

www.indianlink.com.au

NATIONAL EDITION

NOVEMBER

mainstream The wedding of Govind and Adrian

Live and let live Gay members of the Indian community in Australia talk about the same-sex marriage vote

BY HARSHAD PANDHARIPANDE

F

irst came relief, then jubilation and finally hope.

The gay community in Australia was over the moon after the resounding ‘Yes’ vote on the same-sex marriage survey was announced on 15 November.

With homosexual sex still illegal in India, GLBTIQ Indians in Australia got a sense of validation and acceptance. They said they were pinning their hopes on the Turnbull government to make good on its words and make same-sex marriage legal before Christmas.

Community reactions

However, the celebratory mood was tempered - on social media, at least - by some negative reactions. As with earlier debates, there were some voices that claimed that the decision would have NOVEMBER

several ill-effects. Some said it would spoil the sanctity of marriage, while others feared that the topic would be taught in schools and ‘make children try these different things.’ Some claimed it will flood Australia with illegal immigrants, while others foresaw a rise in paedophilia.

On the Indians In Sydney group on Facebook, one post on the subject drew close to 200 comments in a matter of hours. But for every negative comment that claimed homosexuality was against God and culture, there was a refreshingly positive one, such as this, that read, “Firstly ‘our culture’ is super diverse. So let’s not begin to treat everyone the same way. Because we are in a ‘multicultural’ setting now, ‘our culture’ has again shifted and changed. Homosexuality is not a choice, it’s just how people are and there is nothing wrong with it!” Another said, “Just imagine for one second, as a straight person a few of you live in the world full of GLBT and you are denied to have marriage with the opposite sex. How would you feel? The same goes to them.

They are suppressed for years. Let them live their life the way they want.”

Western Sydney ‘No’ vote

But this view certainly wasn’t shared by everyone. A sobering fact that came up again and again in discussion on 15 November was that Sydney’s Western suburbs, which are said to be the most multicultural, almost unanimously voted No in the survey.

Parramatta, which has a large Indian population, was one of the only 17 Federal Electoral Divisions out of 150 in the country to have recorded a majority No vote.

While the most natural reaction is to blame migrants for this, it is simplistic.

There are, of course, many conservative Christians who also voted No. So, it is pertinent to note that the No vote is a function of a conservative mindset - which many migrants from strong religious and cultural backgrounds may have, although not exclusively.

Many people also expressed surprise that there were many voices among the Indian community that condemned the Yes vote. Back in India, at least in major cities, gay pride marches have been taking place with increasing openness for some time now. While still not commonplace,

it is not unheard of either. And while mindsets are changing, for a perceivable change to happen, we might have to wait.

An example of that changing mindset and rising awareness came recently from spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Art of Living founder who said reportedly that homosexuality ‘is a temporary phase’.

The remark came in for a torrent of criticism on Twitter and social media.

But while such debates and doubts would continue, 15 November would be historic and for many, reserved for celebrations.

The gay reaction

Indian Link asked a few members of the gay community what the vote means now and what the way forward is. Those we spoke to are academic and Odissi dancer Dr Sam Goraya and his partner, creative artist Zlatko Varenina; Alan Maurice from Trikone Australasia, a community organisation for GLBTIQ South Asians living in Australia; and Govind Pillai, Director at Ernst & Young who also runs Karma Dance Inc. a Bharatanatyam teaching and performing company in Melbourne.

www.indianlink.com.au

The wedding of Sam and Zlatko

Excerpts from their interviews: What was your first reaction to the Yes announcement?

SAM: I was on a flight to Auckland when the result was announced. As soon the plane touched down and I turned the phone on, I was flooded with messages from friends and well-wishers. They said things like “Yes vote wins,” “Proud to be an Australian,” “Congrats on the Yes vote,” “Finally we are going to be part of this world,” “Australia has woken up from sleep,” “God bless you both and have a blessed life,” etc etc. I was so excited and overwhelmed to find so many people supporting marriage equality, whether they are heterosexual or gay. I was not surprised as all the people we know are very supportive of this. I am so happy that Australia is moving forward in a positive manner to embrace diversity as we are all different. This basically supports the slogan “Live and let live.”

ALAN: I got quite emotional when I heard about it. When you are so invested in an issue, it’s natural to be emotional.

It is an important day for the GLBTIQ community but it is more important that this message goes out to young children that being gay is normal. Kids are surrounded by jokes about homosexuality, which is not healthy. I hope this situation changes. The Prime Minister has promised to give this a push and I hope it happens.

ZLATKO: There is always some degree of trepidation when a country wants to introduce a new concept or law into a society bound by tradition. In today’s climate, I felt that gay marriage would happen, but I also expected that it would

come with its challenges.

GOVIND: As the polls leading up to the survey announcement were showing clear predictions of a ‘Yes’ outcome, I was expecting it. However, I was surprised at how emotional and touching it was to finally see and hear the outcome when it was indeed announced.

‘‘

I am so happy that Australia is moving forward in a positive manner to embrace diversity as we are all different

‘‘

Alan Maurice

NATIONAL EDITION

How are same-sex couples viewing this vote? What’s the way forward?

GOVIND: I think it is a wonderful (and important) endorsement of nature.

Meaning, same-sex attraction is scientifically proven to occur in many species (not just humans) and we have denied this for centuries due to social norms but we are finally now acknowledging nature. It is not just about same-sex couples, it is about the world view and acceptance that this will teach our children and their future generations. It moved me to tears watching the ABC and seeing an interview with a 70-something-year-old same-sex couple who had been together for 45 years. They said their joy was inexplicable, but not for themselves. They were overjoyed for all the young people who may soon get married and enjoy greater equality than they ever could in their lifetimes. They would have suffered a lot. Their sentiment said so much about the sufferance and service of the generations before us, the sadness I feel for all those lives and life stories that can no longer be changed, and the excitement and joy I have right now for the beautiful experiences and improved ‘world view’ this will bring to my generation and to all our children.

ALAN: It depends on the age of people.

Some will definitely rush to get married, in some cases, to make a statement or may be because marriage is a fundamental right and defines two people. Organised religions will have the option to say no

(to solemnising such marriages), so many same-sex marriages may be civil unions.

SAM: I feel now same-sex couples will find more stability and grounding in their relationships. In saying that, it doesn’t mean that all same-sex couples will get married.

(The Yes vote) basically brings confidence in their relationship and they will not feel uncomfortable in public places. And now it will be easier on their families as well to accept them.

ZLATKO: It now means that same-sex couples can have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. It’s important and a logical progression.

How do you see the situation in the Indian context?

ZLATKO: There are many transgender symbols in the Hindu-Indian culture which for me, indicates that the culture has always been very modern. Like any culture, there are those who support the change and others who disapprove - both for religious, personal and political reasons. India is no different. But the Yes vote will take away the taboo associated with the subject.

GOVIND: As Indians, what I think we need to really remember and contemplate is that the illegal nature of same-sex relationships in India is a British invention.

The illegality was put in place in our country during colonial times under their determination. There was, until then, a deeply historic understanding of the natural nature of same-sex attraction in ancient India which we have lost. The ancient Greeks also had this in their historic times. Today in India, we are taking a colonial perspective and holding onto it as though it is our own culture. I feel our culture is mature, wise and capable of once again seeing and acknowledging how natural same-sex attraction is to a portion of the population. We just need to undo the discrimination that the colonists installed in our country.

ALAN: The Yes vote gives us hope, and to all Indians fighting to overturn Section 377. The political leaders there will

NOVEMBER

mainstream hopefully see this change going on across the world. Australia was being viewed up as conservative on this subject so the Yes vote will send a good message. I hope it will turn hearts and minds and this will reflect in greater acceptance of gays by uncles, aunties, neighbours and the larger society.

SAM: I know many people in India, who are not heterosexual but still get married due to societal and family pressure and then lead a miserable life. I feel it is about time that India woke up as well and brought marriage equality. Living a fake life changes one’s personality and it is hard to be open and free in one’s views. Eventually, it (marriage equality) will happen in India but it might take another 10-15 years.

What do you want to say to people who are opposed to it?

SAM: I still respect their opinion but I feel it will take some time for them to come to terms with it. Zlatko and I got married in Denmark where same-sex marriage is a part of daily lifestyle. Samesex marriage was legalised in Denmark in 1989; that shows how forward thinking that country is. We are still debating about it in 2017. We got married at Georg Jensen’s flagship store right in the middle of the main square. Every single person walking past wished us a happy life. Ironically there was an Indian family who videoed us in shock, as that was something unheard of in our Indian culture.

GOVIND: I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect the beliefs of the opponents. And, therefore, I say to the opponents you are most welcome not to get same-sex married. I ask for the same respect in reciprocity, that I may have my beliefs and natural instincts and that I may marry according to those.

What I think many opponents don’t realise is how natural same-sex attraction is. I believe it is part of God’s design of the universe. Some people are naturally attracted to people of the same sex. This is something they realise even at a very young age. I have noticed that when SSM opponents can understand that it is part of the design of this world and that a small percentage of people are made this way, and then when they also meet and make friends with others who are attracted to the same sex, they begin to see this is not just a theoretical debate.

This is about allowing people to live peacefully and happily in alignment with how they were born.

ALAN: I have faced opposition within my family. The Yes vote will prompt people to revaluate their values and belief systems.

ZLATKO: There is nothing wrong with those who don’t support gay marriage.

We live in a democracy and this is how a democracy works. It is a change and there are always people who dislike change.

That’s life! We are lucky we live in a democratic country. Just think about all the FABULOUS weddings to come!

Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?

61.6 % [ ]

38.4 % [ ]

Yes

No

Overall participation rate for the survey

79.5%

The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey was mailed out to 16,006,180 eligible Australians.

12,727,920 (79.5%) submitted a response.

Source: Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 2017

I never considered being upset by a YES vote

Australian Bureau of Statistics | Australian Marriage Law Postal Surve

Equality campaigner ANEETA MENON on what the postal survey results really mean for multicultural communities

A

t approximately 10:04am on 15 November, the words “tired, relieved and grateful” were my reaction to the ABS announcement about the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. It’s a sentiment that slowly shattered over the next few hours and days.

Having grown up in Sydney’s conservative Hills district, I was never under any pretence that my electorate may vote Yes (and it did not), but being actively involved in many of the communities across multicultural Western Sydney (and having voted Yes myself), I found the strong No vote across this realm staggering.

These are sections of society that have undeniably felt marginalised over their faith or colour, so it is difficult to reconcile that they had no empathy - and in fact a rather strong intolerance - toward another marginalised section. This was despite the huge efforts the progressive Left takes to ensure equality of the multicultural community.

Just see the numbers. 17 federal electoral divisions out of 150 in the country had a majority No vote. And of the 17 No divisions, 12 were from NSW. They were Bennelong (50.2% No), Mitchell (51%

NOVEMBER

No), Greenway (54%), Banks (55%), Barton (56%), Chifley (59%), Parramatta (62%), Fowler (64%), Werriwa (64%), McMohan (65%), Watson (70%) and Blaxland (74% No vote).

The other No divisions across the country were Groom QLD (51%), Bruce VIC (53%), Kennedy QLD (53%), Maranoa QLD (56%) and Calwell VIC (57%).

Of course, we had read that the No campaign lobbied hard amongst religious communities and those with non-English speaking backgrounds. Evidence of completely fabricated claims about damage

to children and families turned up in various languages around major cities.

There was no legal requirement for either campaign to verify that the information was truthful and factual, and this combined with the ease of access to large multicultural groups with language barriers, greater social exclusion and a strong religious core - proved to be the perfect breeding ground for the No vote.

The face of social conservatism in Australia is changing, but the correlation between the Marriage Law Survey and most recent Census data indicate that areas

with strong religious affiliation are likely to be more malleable and result in further political struggles in the future.

Leadership over the last few months from community leaders and politicians alike, both of whom are deeply respected within the diverse Sydney electorates, has been extremely poor and bordering on non-existent. With an election looming, the predominantly Labor leadership in the area was careful not to visibly support the cause at a time when their reassurances would have made critical differences. As a result, the multicultural LGBTQ community (who do exist!) are now deeply wounded.

While this survey result has been a giant step forward for Australia, it is an undeniable indication of how much more work we, as multicultural communities, still need to do to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those most marginalised amongst us. As with all social progressions, I am confident it’ll plateau in the future when it becomes so pedestrian we can hardly remember why this was ever an issue, but that is decades away, at least.

Right now, there are people who need our collective, visible support because of the harm caused by a survey that should never have existed.

www.indianlink.com.au

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adventure

Desi Daredevil Gurpreet Chawla is a new Indian link at Valvoline Raceway

W

hen Gurpreet felt the first jolt on his car, his immediate thoughts were of Anupreet, his wife, watching from the stands.

“I want her to know I’m alright!”

Shortly after, he saw another car, not far from him, topple over a full 360 degrees.

That driver was fine too.

As he took a second hit, Gurpreet knew it would all be ok, and the crashes would not impact him.

Sydney’s Gurpreet Singh Chawla was participating in the Demolition Derby at Parramatta’s Valvoline Raceway.

The engines roared and the crowds screamed as the hits came from every side.

Of course he couldn’t hear the crowds thanks to that heavy-duty safety helmet, but when he got out of his car at the end, he saw them waving and cheering. He may have bowed out of the race early, but the

NATIONAL EDITION

‘‘

For his actual stint in the Demolition

Derby, the safety gear was provided for The highhim, as was the car itself. He decided on Indian theme for its look - and picked powered nature ana tiger-stripe pattern (he has long been passionate about tiger conservation). His of it, alongside bride Anupreet and a team from Indian Link paint the car. the sheer energy helped “Gurpreet was good fun,” revealed Wade who helped prepare him for the of the spectators, Aunger, event. “He’s very smart, and understood what was required of him. Enthusiastic and was simply ready to give it a go, he was proactive in whatever he did.” exhilarating Mumbai boy Gurpreet moved to Australia

‘‘

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

TV cameras rushed to him and interviewers urged him to jump on top of what was left of his smashed-up car.

Not only was this Gurpreet’s first ever Demolition Derby, it was also the first time the speedway had had an Indian-origin competitor - in what is essentially a rugged Aussie sport.

“I felt like a star, even though it was not exactly the best of results,” Gurpreet, the Desi Daredevil, told Indian Link later.

It all began when Indian Link and Valvoline Raceway jointly launched a campaign to find an Indian participant for the event.

Wade Aunger of Valvoline Raceway had been considering reaching out to the Indian community. “There’s a very large community directly around the region that we don’t usually market to,” he told Indian Link. “As a family sport we’re keen to have Indian families come in and enjoy the cars and the fast-paced action.”

Gurpreet’s application stood out at first because of his background in adventure sports, and he later impressed with his cando attitude. A daredevil at heart from early on, he has been attracted to all kinds of outdoor activity, including hitchhiking in the Jaisalmer desert in Rajasthan, dirt-biking in

the Western Ghats, mountain-biking in the Himalayas, cross-country motorbike riding from Vizag to Mumbai, and snowboarding in Japan.

The adrenaline junkie also appeared on an Indian TV show called MTV He Ticket, in which participants indulge in extreme adventures. Gurpreet’s activity here involved off-roading in 4x4 vehicles.

Preparing for the event at Parramatta, Gurpreet got a good feel of the dirt track in a sprintcar - the high-powered ‘winged’ car that has a 1000 hp engine and reaches speeds of 150 km per hour.

in July this year. When he’s not pursuing an adrenaline rush, he works as a data analyst with the Australian Stock Exchange.

“The Demolition Derby was a whole new level of adventure,” he said. “The high-powered nature of it, alongside the sheer energy of the spectators, was simply exhilarating.”

He’s keen to get back on the speedway, probably in a sprintcar. Such is his enthusiasm that Anupreet might even join him - an adrenaline and gym junkie herself, she was fascinated with the women drivers on the night. But first, both are looking forward to get a feel of surfing.

NOVEMBER

WHAT’S ON STAGE

Yugpurush Fri 24 Nov, Sun 26 Nov and Tue 28 Nov Shrimad Rajchandra Mission presents stage production Yugpurush, based on the spiritual life of Mahatma Gandhi. Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby Street, Silverwater NSW. Details sydney@ shrimadrajchandramission.org Nadanotsavam dance competition Sat 25 and Sun 26 Nov The Australian Migrant Malayalees Association (AMMA) presents Nadanotsavam, a two-day dance festival and competition, at Liverpool All Saints church hall, 48 George Street, Liverpool, NSW. Competition is open for participants in three categories: sub juniors (3-7 years), juniors (8-14 years) and seniors (15 years on). Details 0431 033 212 Classical vocal Fri 1 Dec (5.30pm-6.45pm) The Indian Cultural Centre, Consulate General of India, Sydney presents a classical vocal recital Bala Muraleeyam by Dr. Padma Govardhan (disciple of late Padmavibhushan Dr. Balamurali Krishna). Level 2, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000.

Details 02 9223 2702 (ext 232) Bharatanatyam Sun 3 Dec (4.30pm onwards) Mayura Academy presents its annual day at Sydney Baha’i Centre. Details Ramana 0433 463 115 BhangraFunk Thur 30 Nov (6.00pm - 8.00pm) Bhangra sensations Shivani Bhangwan and Chaya Kumar will be presenting Bhangra workshops at Castle Hill Dance Studio, Unit 10, 5 Gladstone Rd, Castle Hill NSW. Details Guru 0413 505 282.

Sufi Qawwal Music Sun 3 Dec (7.00pm - 10.00pm) Tahir Qawwal and Party present Music of

the Mystics - a concert of Qawwali music. Factory Floor, 105 Victory Rd, Marrickville NSW. Details www. tahirqawwal.com Mera Woh Matlab Nahin Tha Fri 8 Dec Stage play starring Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta and Rakesh Bedi.

Details Manish 0412 626 474 FILM Film For Thought The South Asia Study Group at the University of Sydney presents its film series ‘Films for Thought’, at the New Law Annexe Seminar Room 342.

This film series includes a set of films over the course of Semester 2, 2017 focusing on gender issues in different countries across the South Asian region and the South Asian diaspora in Australia.

Thur 30 Nov (5:30 pm – 8.00 pm) A Thin Wall Details Nishtha Sharma 0490 373 031 FESTIVAL Christmas Delights 2017 Sun 26 Nov (03:30pm - 07:00pm) St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church presents Christmas Delights 2017, a delightful evening with lots of entertainments featuring carols, concert performance by various church choirs, fusion music and Indian classical dance. Lucky draw, food stalls with flavours from Kerala and much more. The Aurora Centre, 96 Carlingford Road, Epping NSW. Details 0470 646 057 SPIRITUAL Discourses in Gujarati Sat 25 Nov and Sun 26 Nov Shrimad Raj Chandra Mission announces Pujya Gurudevji Rakeshbhai Jhaveri’s Dharma Yatra.

Discourses in Sydney at Roselea Community Centre, 645 Pennant Hills

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Redressal Camp at VFS Global Suite 1A, Level 8, 189 Kent Street, Sydney.

Ayurvedic Vegan cooking Fri 8 Dec to Sun 10 Dec (10.00am – 2.00pm) BIJA Yoga Studio Penrith presents Living Artfully and Deliciously, a cooking workshop

by Seema Johari Agarwal and Anushree Agarwal Gupta of India.

1C/3 Castlereagh St, Penrith NSW. Details www.bijayoga.com.au

White Party Sat 25 Nov (10:00pm onwards) Pritika and DJ Sam present Silsila White Party at Roma Function Centre, 467-A Northumberland Street, Liverpool NSW. Dress code: white.

Details 0406 727 983

Divya darshan and blessings 8 and 10 Dec Enlightened spiritual master Brahmrishi Shri Gurudev will receive devotees, present his teachings and offer blessings.

Fri 8 Dec (7.30pm onwards) Shri Ram Krishna Temple, 275 Fifteenth Ave, Austral NSW. Details Lakshmi Puran Singh 0412 442 032 Sun 10 Dec (10.00am onwards) Sai Temple, 25 Rose Crescent, Regents Park NSW. Details Harkamal Saini 0404 404 120 Family Yoga Fri 24 to Sun 26 Nov Looking for a fun-filled, wholesome family activity for the weekend? Families both new to yoga and experienced are welcome to join the fun. Gain or develop an understanding of how yoga can enrich family life. 300 Mangrove Creek Road, Mangrove Creek, NSW. Details 02 4377 4499 COMMUNITY Charity Gala Dinner Sat 25 Nov (6:30pm - 11:00pm) Teenager Simi Keswani is organising a charity dinner in support of White Ribbon Australia for its fight against violence towards women. Cherrybrook Community Centre, 31 Shepherds Lane, Cherrybrook, NSW. Details keswanisimi@gmail.com Visa issues?

Mon 27 Nov (11.00am - 12 noon) The Consulate General of India in Sydney is organising a Grievance

Hindi or Urdu speaking Disability Support Workers

Indian rapper Badshah at the ARIAs Tue 28 Nov India’s #1 rapper singer, music director and composer Badshah (of DJ Waley Babu and Baby ko bass pasand hai fame) will be walking the Red Carpet and attending the 31st Annual ARIA Awards at The Star, Sydney. Catch the broadcast on the Nine Network.

International Day of People with Disability Sun 3 Dec The International Day of People with Disability is celebrated in December worldwide recognising the achievements and contributions of people with disability. The day brings together people with disability and the general community and aims to showcase the skills, abilities, contributions and achievements of people with disability and promote a positive image of people with disability To mark this day, the Hindu Social Services Foundation, celebrating 10 years of service, invites all people with disability, their carers and the frail and elderly for a fun-filled afternoon at Ermington Community Centre, Ermington, NSW, 3.30pm - 6.30pm. The event includes presentation by the ‘Special’ people, inspiring speeches, mild yoga movements, music, art, Bollywood dance, games and of course delicious vegetarian food.

Details Akila 0450 117 372

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

Accommodation, Care, Respite & Planning

• Killara location • Do you speak Hindi or Urdu?

• Support a client with a spinal cord injury • Responsibilities include personal care, manual handling and respite support • Experience with bowel care and hoisting would be ideal.

Please call Melinda or David on 1300 675 893 to apply

www.indianlink.com.au

india-oz

Help Adelaide scientists provide safe water in Rajasthan Number Crunching

The University of Adelaide is currently crowdfunding to produce simple low-cost, self-assembly water purification kits

BY TARINI PURI

W

ater-starved parts of Rajasthan back in India could soon have easier access to potable water, thanks to the work of researchers at the University of Adelaide.

The scientists intend to localise for Rajasthan, a simple water purification kit, already used effectively in Papua New Guinea. It uses the most basic materials - a glass tube, metalised plastic and sunlight - to turn dirty river water, stagnant rainwater and ground water into pathogen-free drinkable water.

“These kits use sunlight to kill pathogens, making the water safe to drink,” said project leader Dr Cristian Birzer, Senior Lecturer in the University’s School of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Humanitarian and Development Solutions Initiative at the University.

The researchers claim this simple device can reduce harmful E.coli from 1 million units to below 1, besides removing other pathogenic contaminants.

With each kit expected to benefit

NATIONAL EDITION

approximately 25 people by producing up to 10 litres per day of safe drinking water, the research team hopes to help a big chunk of the state currently sustaining on poor quality water.

Dr Birzer added, “In India, the water also contains heavy-metal contaminants and we need to do some onsite assessments for pathogen, heavy metal and other toxins to be able to modify the kits for Rajasthan.”

For instance, the local Indian plant Moringa can be used to remove arsenic from contaminated water and could be mixed into a sand filter as a simple addition to the system.

“Once we’ve designed the kits, they will be produced in Rajasthan and distributed to the community through local partners,” Dr Birzer revealed.

Further, the researchers will provide the blueprints and technical know-how to continue production and manufacturing for the local market.

The university is currently crowd-funding to raise a sum of $30,000, needed to produce 1000 kits. The fund raiser, active on the university’s website, has managed to garner much support from the Indian as well as mainstream community. More than one quarter of the required funds has already been raised by the research team and it will conclude the initiative on 28 November.

The University hopes to send a team to Rajasthan shortly to assess the water quality

in specific regions and at specific times of year. The research team headed by Dr Birzer includes Dr Georgina Drew who has over twelve years of experience working on the relationship between culture and water resource management in various parts of India including Rajasthan, and microbiologist Dr Stephen Kidd who specialises in identifying and characterising harmful bacteria that persist in environments.

The team will engage with communities and conduct assessments on local water quality, manufacturing capabilities, and supply-chain limitations to develop and implement a customised solution to tackle the high concentrations of fluoride and arsenic in the water, which come from the aquifers themselves, plus a range of pathogens found in storage systems.

With their experience in water reform, management, conservation and re-use, the South Australian public and private sectors are already working closely with Rajasthan - which enjoys a Sister State relation with South Australia - to develop options to improve water management and allocation.

Dr Birzer told Indian Link, “We are in touch with officials in Rajasthan and really want this to go through. The public support here for the project has been positive, and we are hoping to raise the required money. Our team is getting ready to travel to Rajasthan early next year to get this rolling.”

> Target Funds: $30,000 > Average cost of one water purification kit: $30 > One kit benefits: ~25 people > All donations over $2 are income tax deductible (in Australia) > WHAT A $30 DONATION (MINIMUM) CAN DO: > Provide one water purification kit to a family in Rajasthan > Help convert up to 10 litres of contaminated water into potable water/ hours

> About Rajasthan > Has a population of 79.79 million (5% of total Indian population) > Comprises approximately ten percent of India’s land mass > Has access to just one per cent of the country’s water resources > Over two-thirds area is classified as a desert > Still remains a major producer of agricultural crops Source: University of Adelaide report

Facts and Figures > 680 million people around the world do not have access to fresh drinking water > Approximately 1.5 million people, mostly children, die from drinking contaminated water each year Source: AusAid, 2012

To contribute, go to: https://universityofadelaide. pozible.com/project/world-firstwater-filtration-system

NOVEMBER

indian news

Twisted interpretation of history: Challenging times for artists, filmmakers

At the root of the controversy over the release of the Hindi feature film Padmavati is, first, the saffron brotherhood’s interpretation of history with a pronounced anti-Muslim bias and, secondly, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s overt and covert attempts to whittle down institutional autonomy.

Even if the BJP’s seemingly political use of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a continuation of the practice of its predecessor which made the Supreme Court call the CBI a “caged parrot”, the party can be said to have broken new ground by letting vandals of the Hindu Right vent their anger against Padmavati and, thereby, undermining the authority of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

In this case, too, there are precedents as when the Congress objected to the film Indu Sarkar, because of its focus on Indira Gandhi. But the saffron offensive against Padmavati is making a greater impact because of the clout which the Sangh Parivar affiliates enjoy in view of their proximity to power.

It is obvious that if they are not checked, not only will the authority of the CBFC be diminished, but also the board will be wary in future of clearing films dealing with history or issues which are close to the Parivar’s heart. Politics will, therefore, virtually take over the board’s functioning.

What is more, the filmmakers themselves will be dissuaded from touching subjects which may be deemed sensitive and deal instead with safe, insipid topics. Such a state of affairs will be unfortunate at a time when Bollywood has been breaking away from the earlier productions with their song-anddance routine and predictable storylines which were far removed from reality, except in a few exceptional cases which came to be known as the parallel cinema.

Not long ago, it was expected that the directors and producers will be able to breathe easily after the previous censor board chief, Pahlaj Nihalani, was unceremoniously removed so that he could no longer run amok with his scissors in accordance with his saffron whims, as in the case of reducing the duration of a kiss in a

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James Bond film or ordering 89 cuts in Udta Punjab or not clearing Lipstick Under My Burkha at all.

But any hope that the new board will be allowed to exercise its judgement in peace with the support of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been belied if only because the opponents of the idea of letting the artistes pursue their craft unhindered are far too influential politically.

The decision about what the audience will be allowed to see is being taken not only by the self-appointed guardians of culture but also the ministry which has banned two films - S Durga and Nude - from an international festival in Goa apparently because the letter “S” in S Durga stands for “sexy”, which is too strong a word for bureaucratic ears, and Nude is out for obvious reasons.

While the rewriting of history books is proceeding apace with Rana Pratap winning the battle of Haldighati against Akbar on the pages of the textbooks printed in Rajasthan, the Hindutva storm-troopers are laying down the rules on how historical events are to be shown on the screen.

India has already seen the exiling of a reputed painter, M.F. Husain, who was hounded out of the country by saffron vigilantes who were displeased with his depiction of Hindu deities.

It will be a sad day if filmmakers, too, have to leave the country or shoot their films elsewhere, as in the case of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, which was shot in Sri Lanka.

The standard explanation for demanding cuts in the films is to ensure that the sentiments of the people are not hurt.

It was for this very same reason that Galileo had to disavow his thesis about the earth moving round the sun since such an assertion offended the feelings of the church and the laity in medieval Europe.

It took the church 350 years to apologise.

There is unlikely to be anyone in the ruling dispensation or even in the opposition who will be courageous enough to say that the question of whether religious or cultural sensibilities are being hurt cannot be settled on the streets but should be left to the institutions to decide or, as a last resort, to the judiciary to determine with the

assistance of scholars.

The saffron ire against Padmavati is apparently over the belief that the film will be unable to do justice to the heroic reputation of the queen of Mewar, a legendary beauty, who killed herself rather than be captured by the invading army of Alauddin Khalji.

Although no one, except the censors, has seen the film, the Hindu Right is patently unwilling to take the chance of an erroneous presentation. So the group has donned battle armour to save the fabled queen (real or fictional) 700 years after her death - this time from filmmakers - and is issuing blood-curdling threats against the director and the leading actress.

If accurately presented, the turbulent period of early 14th century Rajasthan can be the subject of a rivetting drama. But whether cinema-goers will be able to see the film is still uncertain.

World Court: Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari re-elected as Britain withdraws candidate

India lauded Britain for its decision to withdraw its candidate, which led to the reelection of Justice Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“The UK decided to withdraw its candidate after a closely fought electoral process,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. “We appreciate the UK decision.”

The statement thanked “all those governments who supported India in this election”.

Justice Bhandari was re-elected to the ICJ after the UN General Assembly rallied behind him in a show of strength that made Britain bow to the majority and withdraw its candidate Christopher Greenwood.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Bhandari saying: “His reelection is a proud moment for us.”

Following Bhandari’s election, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted: “Vande Mataram - India wins election.”

She added: “Huge efforts by Team MEA.” She specifically complimented India’s Permanent Representative in the UN, Syed Akbaruddin.

Bhandari will start his term from February 2018.

Welcoming Justice Dalveer’s re-election to fill the fifth vacancy for the 2018-2027 term, the External Affairs Ministry statement mentioned that the Indian candidate received all 15 votes in the UN Security Council and 183 out of the 193 votes in the UN General Assembly.

“The extraordinary support from the UN membership is reflective of the respect for strong constitutional integrity of the Indian polity and the independence of the judiciary in India,” the statement said.

“It may be recalled that the Indian National Group to the Permanent Court of Arbitration had renominated Judge Dalveer Bhandari as India’s national candidate in June 2017. The government of India has been supporting the campaign of Judge Bhandari through diplomatic efforts at different fora.”

Bhandari’s election upsets what has become a traditional balance in the ICJ. Besides a permanent member going unrepresented, four Asian countries will be represented on the ICJ bench instead of the usual three.

Three incumbent judges of the ICJ President Ronny Abraham of France, Vice President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia and Antonio Augusto Cancado Trindade of Brazil - were elected in the first four rounds of voting on 9 November.

Bhandari’s election was a dramatic facesaving turn of fortunes for India as he lost the Asian seat on the ICJ to Lebanese lawyer-turned-diplomat Nawaf Salam, who had been campaigning for two years and had the backing of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation with 55 UN members.

He got a second chance only because an unpopular Britain could not get an Assembly majority for a remaining judgeship requiring a runoff where the two chambers of the UN split in their voting.

Indian American elected New Jersey town Mayor despite anti-Sikh propaganda

Two Indian American candidates have overcome bigoted propaganda to win local elections in New Jersey - one of them as the Mayor of Hoboken.

www.indianlink.com.au

< A kurta-clad Ed Sheeran performs at Mumbai on 19 November 2017, as part of his ‘Divide’ world tour Photo: AP

> Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar of India, with first runner-up Miss Mexico Alma Andrea Meza Carmona (L) and second runner-up Miss England Stephanie Jayne Hill (R) at the Miss World 2017 contest in Sanya, Hainan province, China, 18 Nov 2017 Photo: AP

Ravi Bhalla was elected as the first Sikh Mayor of the town that is a suburb of New York City.

A lawyer, who was a member of the city council, Bhalla was the target of an antiSikh campaign pamphlet that said “Don’t let TERRORISM take over our town!” next to a picture of the turbaned candidate.

Falguni Patel was elected to the Edison Township School Board. She and a Chinese American candidate, Jerry Shi, were targeted in mailings that said that they should both be deported and that “Chinese and Indians are taking over our town”.

Bhalla and Patel were born in the United States.

The candidates received wide support and their election rivals condemned bigoted pamphlets.

The pamphlets against Bhalla were sent in the name of a rival candidate, who denied any involvement in it and called for a criminal investigation.

The postcards targeting Patel and Shi were sent anonymously.

“We won’t let hate win,” Bhalla tweeted after the pamphlets were circulated.

Many New Jersey Indian Americans are active in politics and have emerged as an influential voting bloc sought after by candidates.

The winner in the governor’s race, Democrat Phil Murphy, was a favourite of Indian Americans who held a rally for him on Monday in Edison. He will succeed Chris Christie, a Republican close to President Donald Trump who could not run for re-election as governors are limited to two terms in the state.

Several Indian American candidates ran for local offices like school board, local council and borough councils, which are the springboard for higher positions, and many of them won.

The state has only one Indian American in the State Assembly, Raj Mukherji, who was elected in 2014 from Jersey City.

“Although it is 2017, people still treat the Dalit community as untouchables. The children suffer as the impoverished families are not able to afford education and often take their wards along while doing manual scavenging, cleaning tasks, etc. We wanted to do something for them,” Priyanka told IANS from Malda.

She also wanted to give in to her maternal instincts.

“By soul we are women and so there is a deep yearning to be a mother. Since we can’t do that, this is the closest possible; we can be with children and help them find their way,” said Priyanka, a commerce graduate.

So in June, Sapno Ki Udaan under the Gour Bangla Sanghati Samiti took wings in a room of a local club.

Ranging from the primary to middle school levels, the children, mostly dropouts, have only had snatches of education.

“Some children know the alphabet, some don’t. So the challenge was to customise the lessons. We are providing them lessons in basic science, maths, English, etc. The idea is to get them up to scratch so they can go back to schools,” Priyanka explained.

The beginning was shaky.

“The children were friendly with us. So we didn’t have much issues with them, but their parents were reluctant. It was not just that we were transgender, it was also the fact that they didn’t feel educating their children would be of much help,” Priyanka explained.

The idea was galvanised into action with the help of Bapon, a transgender from the Dalit community. He helped convince the parents to let the children come each evening to the school.

“In addition, we wanted to break stereotypes. There are taboos associated with our community and we wanted to show the other side.”

Salaries are supported through crowdfunding.

“There is no fixed salary. Whatever comes, we are fine with that. If we do any social work for some gain, then it’s not social work. We want funding to run the school,” said Priyanka.

According to Abhay Kumar Roy, a lecturer in Malda College’s department of English, who also supports the group in academic ways, the fact that the transgender community members chose to look beyond their own problems and work for the disadvantaged speaks a lot about what can be achieved if alternative gender identities are recognised.

“In ancient India, there were 20 to 25 gender identities which are not explored today. The transgenders have to accept themselves and have to rise up to the occasion and we have to support them in that for an inclusive society,” Roy, who researches on pluralistic interpretation of mythology, told IANS.

Transwomen turn teachers for Dalit children in Bengal

Motherhood transcends gender.

Unconditional love knows no caste barriers.

Defying norms, in a rundown neighbourhood in Malda in West Bengal, transwoman Arindam Saha Kundu (now known as Priyanka) and her fellow transgender friends (Abhijit Nag and Bapon Jemadar) are busy imparting education to more than 40 children belonging to the Dalit community that is largely engaged in manual scavenging.

Known for its juicy mangoes, Malda district has a high percentage of children not attending school, as documented in the book Dalits and Tribes of India (a compilation of Papers presented at a three-day National Seminar on “Agenda for Emancipation and Empowerment of Dalits and Tribes”).

Children from the scheduled communities are even less likely to do so. The railway colony in Malda town harbours the Dalit community.

Choosing to look beyond their own share of problems (discriminated for their gender), Priyanka and the rest, hailing from the town itself, decided to be a ray of hope to the marginalised kids, who lose much of their childhood to manual scavenging, gambling and drugs.

NATIONAL EDITION

Haryana’s women achievers are rescripting the state’s reputation for sexual discrimination

Can Haryana’s women achievers help wash off ‘girl killer’ tag?

Success as in the movies, international sporting medals, scaling Mt. Everest and now bagging the coveted Miss World title. Women achievers from Haryana - which has lived

with the tag of being a “girl killer” with the worst sex-ratio among Indian states - are rewriting the script of the state’s infamy.

The crowning of Manushi Chhillar, 21, who was born in Rohtak town and whose family hails from the dominant and conservative Jat community, as Miss World 2017 on Saturday, has again brought the focus back on women from the state making it big at the international level.

The odds that women in Haryana face are all too well known.

Till last year, Haryana had the dubious distinction of being the worst among all states in terms of sex ratio - a dismal 850 girls for every 1,000 men. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, now claims to have arrested the rot with the sex ratio improving to around 930.

Yet, earlier this year, an official magazine of the government showed a rural woman in a ghoonghat (veil), sparking off angry reactions from women achievers and organisations that the state was still trying to project women in an outdated way.

Manushi’s achievement lies not only in winning the Miss World, or earlier this year the Femina Miss India, title. She is pursuing her MBBS degree from a government medical college in a rural part of Sonepat district and aims to be a cardiac surgeon.

That’s not all. Manushi is a poet, painter and also a dancer, besides her keen interest in fashion and beauty. And she has joined a long list of women achievers from Haryana.

The story and struggles of wrestler sisters Geeta and Babita Phogat - who bagged medals for the country at the international level - was well depicted in Aamir Khan’s superhit movie Dangal. The film not only did roaring business in India but also overseas,

including in Hong Kong and China.

Another woman wrestler from the state, Sakshi Malik, brought glory to the country by winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Mountaineer Santosh Yadav became the first Indian woman to scale the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest, twice. She was also the first woman to scale the peak from the tougher Kangshung Face.

The Indian women’s hockey team has been dominated by players from Haryana, particularly from a hockey nursery in Shahbad Markanda town, about 60 km from here. Be it captain Mamta Kharab or players like Suman Bala, Jasjeet Kaur, Surinder Kaur, Pritam Rani and Sita Gussain -- all hail from Haryana.

Former Miss India and Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, actresses Parineeti Chopra and Mallika Sherawat have been born in Haryana, a state where killing the unborn girl child in the womb has been a common practice.

Ace international badminton player Saina Nehwal too has her family roots in Haryana.

In 1997, Haryana-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla took the state to unprecedented heights when she went on a NASA space mission. She went on another mission in 2003 and met with a tragic end when the spacecraft disintegrated on its return journey.

On the political front, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who has made her mark in international affairs in recent years, is from Ambala.

The achievements of these women is guiding hundreds of other women in the state to break long-established conservative barriers and make a mark in various fields.

IANS

NOVEMBER

sport

Still they ride India manages to keep pride intact at 11th World Polo Championships in Sydney

BY RITAM MITRA

L

ast month, Sydney played host to the 11th World Polo Championships which saw the world’s top eight polo teams battle it out on horseback across pristine playing surfaces at the Sydney Polo Club in Richmond.

This year’s final saw Argentina emerge victorious over reigning champions Chile in a thrilling, golden-goal, South American showdown, a fitting finale for a tournament which was broadcast to an estimated 100 million viewers in 88 different countries.

However, hometown heroes Australia, and the popular but relatively unheralded Indians, also emerged with their heads held high after a tournament labelled as the biggest event ever to have taken place in the Hawkesbury region.

The world championships, which are held every three years, are essentially the Olympics of polo; although polo was last played at the Olympics in 1936, the championships impose a team handicap limit which is such that the best players in the world often miss out. But the tournament was no less spectacular for it;

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many have labelled this year’s tournament one of the best ever, the hosts having made available 280 of the highest quality horses to visiting teams. Add to that a festive atmosphere, including world-class dining, pop-up dessert cafes by the likes of Adriano Zumbo, live music, and art and sculpture exhibitions, and it’s no surprise that the tournament was so well-attended.

In a sport traditionally reserved for aristocrats and royalty, polo’s popularity has been growing steadily over the past few years, including amongst children - it’s a shift that has been linked to the global financial crisis of 2008, which resulted in a downturn in professional players.

Polo is perhaps one of the most historically and culturally significant sports of all time, having been played, in various forms, by Persian emperors and the neighbouring Byzantine Empire in around 350 AD; women in particular during the Tang dynasty; Turkic sultans during the 1200s; and later on, throughout the Indian subcontinent since at least the 15th and 16th centuries.

But despite the long and storied tradition of polo before its spread to the subcontinent, India has a special and pivotal place in the history of the sport - the modern game of polo, as distinct from its predecessors, is derived from Manipur in India, where it was known variously as Sagol Kangjei, Kanjai-bazee or, Pulu. Of course, it was an anglicised form of the

latter, being a reference to the then wooden ball central to the game, which became the game we know today, albeit now played with a plastic ball.

The Indian team today is a combination of youthful exuberance, seasoned experience and more than its fair share of royalty and class, including the 18 yearold Maharaja of Jaipur, HH Padmanabh Singh - who was also the youngest in the tournament - and as captain, the five-cup veteran and serving army officer, Col Ravi Rathore. It’s part of a concerted effort to inject some energy into the side, and the team’s qualification for the final rounds of the world cup is clear evidence that the policy is paying dividends. “This is the first time we’ve got an actual mix of both youth and experience in the side,” said fourtime cup veteran Dhruv Pal Godara in an official reception at the Indian Consulate in Sydney. “It’s already shown results. In (the qualifiers in) Iran, we had two forwards who were both very young, and we had (threetime world cup veteran) Angad Kallan and myself. We keep control at the back and in the middle, and a lot of pressure being put on the front by the young boys, so it’s working well so far.”

Indeed, it was in a heart-stopping qualifier in Iran earlier this year that India secured its spot in the top 8, winning 8-7 thanks to a penalty in the dying minutes against none other than neighbouring Pakistan.

However, the Indian side’s experience at the

www.indianlink.com.au

Photos: World Polo Championship Sydney 2017

POLO TRIVIA > Polo is played in over 77 countries, professionally in 16 countries > Polo must be played right-handed > Players are not segregated based on gender or age > Historically, some of the world’s best polo ponies have come from Argentina > In a tradition known as ‘divot stamping’, spectators replace the mounds of earth torn up by the horses’ hooves at half-time > Cloning of horses is common in professional polo

top level was more of a steep learning curve for its youngsters and veterans alike than the triumphant expedition that the team no doubt dreamed of.

India was pummelled 16-1 in a brutal opening round clash against England, put to the sword particularly at the hands of England’s Indian-origin captain, Satnam Dhillon. However, a strong showing against the Chileans, generally regarded as the world’s best, as well as a nail-biting 9-8 loss against New Zealand after squandering an 8-5 lead, saw India finish off the tournament with pride - and hope for the future restored.

It was an apt finish for Indian fans, whose support was labelled “overwhelming” by Kallan. “It’s heartening to know they’re with us and behind us. The key factor for any team to do well overseas is the support of your fans and your family members, they need to be with you through thick and thin,” said Kallan.

After such a promising tournament in Australia, Kallan and the rest of the Indian team are hoping they will be able to follow Australia’s example in breeding world-class, polo-specific horses, and bringing up to scratch the quality of the playing surfaces back home.

After all, having competed well with such a young team on the biggest stage, an improvement in local facilities could see Indian polo on the cusp of something special.

NATIONAL EDITION

NOVEMBER

youth

Access to justice Young lawyer Jyoti (Joy) Jadeja is recognised at the 2017 Justice Awards for her work through the Law Society Pro Bono Scheme

L

ast month, the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW recognised the most pre-eminent contributions to the improvement of access to justice in NSW at the 2017 Justice Awards. In a prestigious ceremony held at NSW Parliament House, over 300 attendees celebrated the extraordinary work done by individuals and organisations across the state to help make the law more accessible, particularly to those from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

One of the youngest honourees this year was Joy Jadeja, a solicitor at Westside Legal who was nominated for the Law Society President’s Award in recognition of her work through the Law Society Pro Bono Scheme.

Joy, one of four nominees for the coveted award, was recognised for her exceptional litigation skill, professionalism and her tireless dedication to advance the fairness and equity of the justice system.

She was nominated from over 30,000 solicitors performing work under the pro bono scheme, which refers disadvantaged individuals to solicitors prepared to act on a pro bono basis.

The Law Society encourages pro bono assignments as part of a solicitor’s wider community responsibility - in fact, the National Pro Bono Resource Centre has an aspirational target of 35 hours of annual pro bono work per lawyer. Speaking to Indian Link, Joy says it’s a responsibility that she takes very seriously. “I have always seen it as my duty to help those that can’t help themselves,” she says. “We all need help sometimes and I am lucky enough that my particular set of skills and knowledge can

I’m reading >

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and I absolutely love it. This is the third time I have read this book and yet I still get lost in the pages. It’s written from Death’s perspective which makes it even more intriguing! A great read every time!

NOVEMBER

I’m listening to >

AM radio. It’s good background noise when I’m working as I just cannot work in silence! You’d be surprised at how it grows on you! I love listening to the different opinions offered by talk back radio, as I believe seeing things from a different perspective enhances one’s understanding of the world and oneself.

‘‘

It’s a testament to Joy’s excellence that of the four nominees in her category, she was, by some decades, the youngest

‘‘

BY RITAM MITRA

be used to assist people in navigating the legalities of the world. My social justice radar is always on overdrive - I sincerely believe that it is my civic duty to help wherever and however I can.”

It’s a testament to Joy’s excellence - and her transcendent awareness of the importance of access to justice - that of the four nominees in her category, she was, by some decades, the youngest.

To Joy, it was a surreal experience to be nominated alongside experienced individuals held in such high regard within the profession. “With the thousands of solicitors who are out there working hard every day for their clients, doing their best to ensure everyone has fair and equitable access to justice who weren’t nominated, I am simply honoured to have been nominated. My fellow nominees are exceptional solicitors with decades of experience and legal knowledge, pillars of the community and an inspiration to all the young lawyers out there including myself. No one dedicates their career to a cause for external validation; we do it because we love it and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. However, it was still immensely gratifying and humbling. I still can’t stop smiling!”

Joy accepts referrals from often desperate individuals facing complex and critical legal problems of an inherently personal nature, including immigration, employment, family and criminal law. She often finds herself - like many others in her profession - sacrificing time and energy that would otherwise be dedicated to family, friends and other personal endeavours. “It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle,” notes Joy. Preparing for court demands perfect preparation - sleepless nights spent writing submissions, working through several briefs, double and triple checking - all in the pursuit of doing what is best for the client.

“It doesn’t matter to me if it looks like I might not have time for a life outside of work,” says Joy. “You must expect that is

going to happen, especially when what’s at stake is someone’s very livelihood. You just have to make time.”

In such a demanding line of work, with so much at stake, motivation is key - and it often transpires from the most unlikely of sources. Joy notes in particular her interactions with a very elderly client who had been in disadvantaged and maligned circumstances for the majority of his life. His positive attitude and friendly disposition were in stark contrast to what Joy recalls as his “extremely troubling experiences”, including

I’m watching >

Suits on Netflix. I don’t get much time to relax and watch shows but I always make time for Suits! I love that it’s a dramatic and romantic depiction of the legal profession.

Although our work is not at all like that, it makes for great TV!

having been taken advantage of on countless occasions due to his inability to read and his difficulties with writing. “He has taught me a lot about resilience and stoicism in the face of great adversity. Together we turned his fortunes around, obtained the justice that was so long overdue, and yet, even though it was he who had gone on this journey, I felt like I was the one who changed. Clients like these teach you more about yourself and help you reflect on what’s really important.”

Important, too, for Joy has been her support network of friends and colleagues guiding her through the more difficult and demanding moments of her young but burgeoning career. In a profession which consistently ranks among the highest for instances of depression, particularly for young lawyers, the role of those mentors and colleagues is even more pronounced.

“I am a big believer in speaking to your colleagues and mentors on a regular basis,” she says. “I call it ‘dial-a-friend’!”

I’m planning >

my wedding to my fiancé Brandon Etto in my ancestral home, Dharmadwar in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Dharmadwar has hosted and celebrated many a wedding of family and global friends, so thankfully it’s been a breeze! I’m very excited to see my Aussie friends at the wedding in India soon!

www.indianlink.com.au

business

SBI backs nightclub in Melb Bank extends loan to hospitality chain from India

I

n a refreshing departure from its somewhat strait-jacketed image, the State Bank of India (SBI) is in final talks to back a luxury hospitality chain from India investing in a nightclub in Melbourne.

Sources said that the bank is investing less than 1 million in the nightclub, which is coming up on Little Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD. Confirming this to Indian Link, Pranay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of SBI Sydney, said that SBI wants to support investments from India and that discussions for this project are on the ‘last mile.’

“We have enough checks and mitigation measures in place to ensure that this is a sound financial decision and that the risk is minimal,” Kumar explained, adding that the most important factor to consider is the reputation of the investor. “We always check the background of the investor or business house, their past success and see how much they are investing in the venture,” Kumar said, adding that the bank will also closely monitor each day’s sale of the business to ensure that it is running viably.

In this case, since this a hospitality chain that has several properties around India, SBI believes it is on a firm footing.

However, this is not the first time that SBI Sydney has supported investment in such a venture. SBI has also backed a highprofile pub in Barangaroo.

SBI Sydney is also in talks to advance loans to people who want to invest in franchises on 7 11 stores and Australia Post.

Kumar also said SBI has tied up with Macquarie and launched Macquarie SBI Infrastructure Fund (MSIF) in India, an unlisted private equity style infrastructure fund with approximately 910 million USD of committed capital. The fund provides its investors located outside of India opportunities to invest in infrastructure and infrastructure-like assets in India. “We invest in small and mid-sized companies in various sectors such as roads and telecom, hospitality and hospitals,” Kumar said.

Similarly, SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Trust (SMIT) is an unlisted private equity style infrastructure fund with approximately 260 million USD of committed capital.

For its customers in Australia, SBI Sydney on 9 November launched two digital products. The first was the SBI Australia Anywhere mobile banking app. The SBI describes the app as a safe, convenient and easy to use application with a host of features to help users manage their banking on the move. The functions that users can do with the help of the app are check account summary, request a cheque

The SBI Australia Anywhere app launch

book, make transaction inquiry, inquire status of requests, change password and so on. The app is available on Apple, Android and Windows platforms.

SBI Sydney also launched Online SBI Global, an internet-based electronic payment system that will enable SBI customers to conduct a range of enquiry and financial

transactions through the bank’s website.

During the launch event, the bank also honoured prize winners who participated in the bank’s Diwali flash sale for remittance business. SBI Sydney also announced that it is now a sponsor of Chatswood West Cricket Club, a club affiliated to North Shore Cricket Club, NSW.

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NOVEMBER (2) 2017 31

school

Do not compare!

Distinguishing between your kids - or your students can have long-lasting repercussions

W

hen parents and teachers invest in comparing between children, the dividends are anger, jealousy, guilt, low selfconcept, and years, if not decades, of unresolved feelings between siblings and also peers.

I was talking recently with a parent about his child who has a need for remedial support. In the mix of issues for this student, is low self-concept. I said to the father, “Your daughter has several struggles, but one of them is that she may be comparing herself to her older siblings - please do not compare your daughter to her older siblings.”

The father’s response was immediate and emphatic. He called his daughter into the room and said, “I never compare between my children. Never compare. You know that, don’t you?” He then turned to me and said, “Her older sister, for example, is brilliant! Amazing! My God, if you only knew how amazing her sister is! She is killing it at university, is focused and - my gosh! Absolutely amazing! I could talk for hours about how amazing her sister is.

Anyway, I don’t compare and never would.

This girl is different. She needs to be more disciplined…work harder - I am right, aren’t I, Sweetheart?”

His daughter looked down and was lost for words. Her face was flushed.

I changed the subject and spoke about what I would do to help his child sitting in front of us.

Later, I took him aside and told him that, in my opinion, what he had said was actually very damaging to his daughter because he did directly compare her with her older sister. He looked at me quizzically. He then argued that he did not compare and never would. I had to point out that comparison can be subtle. That by praising one child in the presence on another, the effect on the unpraised, unrecognised child can be very negative. That vociferous support and acknowledgement of an older child can make a younger child feel unworthy, particularly if they are not succeeding in similar areas of endeavor that the parent, or teacher, clearly and overtly values. In law, an omission can be as grave as an act.

Parents and teachers often ‘distinguish’ between siblings, and in so doing cause problems between them. The obedient child is often closer to the parents and will be lauded for doing what the parents want - even at cost of their own self. It may take years for the obedient ‘parent pleaser’ or ‘teacher pleaser’ to find themselves, if they opt to know themselves outside of the locus or definition of parental expectations.

The ‘mis-fitting’ child will generally be misunderstood and feel out of place. In craving a place, or to be recognised and known, such a child may rebel, further compounding the differences between that 32 NOVEMBER (2) 2017

‘‘

‘‘

BY MOHAN DHALL

The ranking system in schools can turn a safe space between friends into a competitive space where there are winners and losers

child and their siblings. Energised by anger, the unpraised child may seek validation in risk-taking and anti-social behaviour.

Intervention, even if corrective or coercive, is at least attention. Sadly for families who may never actually realise it, the ‘mis-fit’ if accommodated and understood, can actually be the change agent that grows the whole family up, makes it more open, adaptable and resilient. However, this would require a redefinition of what is valued, especially if the locus is obedience and academic success as measured by outside standards and grades.

It is common for people to say they never compare. Like the father mentioned earlier, they conflate their innate love for their child with everything they do and say being motivated by love. Alas, this is not the perception of the child. The child hears

inconsistency, and judgement. They perceive the parent’s disappointment, despite the parent’s reassurances. They never feel good enough.

Schools too compare between children, partly because the nature of assessment compels a system of ranking that is premised on comparisons between students.

Schools are directed by educational authorities to not only rank students against one another, but also to ensure the gaps between students reflect their relative academic strengths.

Accordingly, a student who writes an excellent piece may score 20 out of 25 because others did better. That the child is battling a learning disability and still feeling the loss of his grandfather, is not considered. That he works to his best capacity, is academically honest, has learned

how to learn, and takes his academic studies seriously, is not conveyed in this system of ranking.

The ranking system frustrates and obfuscates. It makes young people wary of others and forces them to value themselves in comparison to their peers and colleagues.

This can turn a safe space between friends into a competitive space where there are winners and losers. There is only room on the dais for one winner and these days the ‘winner’ will speak of humility whilst broadcasting ‘success’ on every available social media outlet. This literally amplifies the differences between those who are ‘successful’ and those who are not.

It is incumbent on parents and educators to value all children for their innate abilities and to avoid, overtly and covertly, comparing between them.

www.indianlink.com.au

year 7 diary

My high It’s the last term of school, and the last edition of this column

BY ANANYA WAKHARE

O

MG, where has 2017 gone!

This last term of school has been more of Year 8 than Year 7, in preparation for next year. Many important things have happened in the past month. Such as another camp (a different type!), more assessments, and getting used to new timetables.

A few weeks ago, my Mum and I went to Mother Daughter camp. There were many bonding exercises and it was a great time for some downtime - well, sort of! It all started from getting to place called Tallong. We reached at around 7:30pm on a Friday. We ate surprisingly amazing camp dinner and listened to another few mothers and daughters giving speeches. Then we chose from a bunch of

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activities for each of the 3 sessions, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. I picked bush art, low ropes and cooking. When we walked into our cabins for the night I felt like this wasn’t camping - the cabins were spacious and wide. There were a lot of bunk-beds spaced out in the room for lots of mothers and daughters to sleep in. The next day we ate scrumptious breakfast (seriously, is this really camp?) wonderfully made by the cook, Jeff. Then it was time to start our first activity. We walked deep down into the bush with some others in our little

group and one of the camp coordinators, Ally. In my head I was a bit confused, and I asked myself, how is this bush art? Later, deeper in the bush, Ally told us to collect as many bush things as possible, and handed each mother-daughter pair a giant plastic bag. We picked many pretty leaves and twigs. When we reached a grassy area with a sort of flat surface, she told us to use our collection to make a depiction about our family. It really touched everyone’s heart while listening to other families’ stories. As the day progressed we did low ropes but first some problem solving. The instructor gave us many tasks that everyone had to complete as a team.

One of them was a mums vs. daughters activity: the mums won, but mainly because us daughters couldn’t focus as we laughed uncontrollably!

After Saturday night’s dinner we went to a bonfire (finally it sounds like camp)! We toasted some

delicious s’mores and then headed our way back to the cabins. The next day we cooked scones, and then it was time to say good-bye. It was a great experience and I really loved those s’mores!

Another thing that was quite significant this term was getting used to new timetables. For me, I thought it wasn’t so bad since I had to do the same thing for Year 7. Our new technology project is to make customised pyjamas for ourselves. I can’t wait to work on the sewing machine and make the cutest jammies ever!

As sad as it sounds, this is my last diary for the year. It has been really great to share all my first high school experiences with you and I can’t wait to see what else there is in this journey. So, if you’re going to high school next year or anytime soon, I hope my experiences help you in prepping for this big step! It was daunting for me as I reflect back on that first day too, but you do get used to it. So, keep calm and enjoy high school life!

NOVEMBER (2) 2017 33

this month

People! Places!

Parties!

DO YOU HAVE A PHOTO FOR THIS PAGE? EMAIL IT TO INFO@INDIANLINK.COM.AU

Little Miss Two: Birthday girl Arianna Tater with mum Priyanka and dad Adit

Austin Waugh, son of former Aust cricket captain Steve Waugh, celebrating his 18th birthday with family at Manjit’s At The Wharf. Austin plays in the Under-19s for Cricket NSW

Some 575 community members joined The BAPS Annual Walkathon on 12 Nov raising $9,000 for Nepean Hospital and $5,000 for the Chappell foundation

Indian Link Radio ‘Good Morning Shanivaar’ host Kashif Harrison chats with his guest actor, photographer/ videographer Sangeetha Gowda

34 NOVEMBER (2) 2017

Little Miss Two: Birthday girl Nishka Gujral with mum Natasha and dad Karandeep

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NOVEMBER (2) 2017 35

art Bold and beautiful

Bold and beautiful Sydney-based solicitor outs herself as artist

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

W

hen happiness blooms for artist Mittu Gopalan, it does so in bright red.

When the magnolias mesmerise, it is because their whiteness stands stark against a deep redness. And even when darkness falls, the

36 NOVEMBER (2) 2017

redness doesn’t dissipate.

The vitality and excitement suggested by the colour red, were quite the recurring theme in Mittu Gopalan’s first solo art exhibition held recently.

Happiness in Bloom, When Darkness Falls and Mesmerising Magnolias are the names of some of the works included in the exhibition entitled Add Colour to Your Life.

It is a title that is apt, because as special guest Victor Dominello (Member for Ryde and Minister for Finance, Services and Property) pointed out at the opening, the rush of colour is one of the first things that grabs you in this exhibition.

Water is bluer than normal - and the leaves greener - in Mittu’s world. Even her vineyards are so filled with colour (see pic) that you have no doubt that the wine they produce is full-bodied!

A Sydney-based solicitor and hobby artist, Mittu Gopalan presented some 75 of her works at Brush Farm House in Eastwood. Ranging from oils and acrylic to water colours and resin, the body of work included a variety of subject matter - still life, landscape, some portraiture, even a smattering of abstract.

“Art has been enjoyment for me,” Mittu told Indian Link. “As a young child I spent

hours painting, and won awards at school and uni. Moving to Australia as a young adult, work and family life came in the way of my art, even though I tried to keep it up as a leisure activity. In recent years, a hobby course at Macquarie Community College rekindled my passion, and well, here I am!”

The exhibition included the early pieces Mittu had made in India, as well as more recent ones. (They all went up for sale, alongside merchandise based on the art, in the form of bags and cushion covers, purses and stationery).

The older pieces are clearly defined with an Indian sensitivity depicting the

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Irises and Pears

Tear Of An Angel

ethos in which they were created. Fellow Keralite Raja Ravi Varma, one of India’s best-known modern painters, was a clear influence. More recent pieces include Australian elements (Gumnuts, Waratahs), and some highly detailed paintings with vibrant imagery (For the Nocturnals, Dancing Peacock, Where is the Current Going).

There are tributes as well to the great masters of western painting, such as to Monet, quite unabashedly (A Tribute to Giverny came out of a trip there); to Cezanne in the many still lives, and to van Gogh more subtly, with the irises. There’s even an unreferenced Renoir, as the iconic

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Toucan in Solitude

The Crossroads

Dance at Bougival takes on a new avatar as It Takes Two To Tango.

Mittu’s evolution as an artist is interesting to observe. Her early works (The Intrigued and The Tear of an Angel, for example) suggest more than depict, causing the viewer to linger somewhat.

The newer more representational work is less subtle: Arrum Lillis in Spring, Birds of Paradise, Irises and Pears etc, all look at life up close and less passionately. The vision is simple, clear and focussed. And finally, with the abstract pieces, it is a tentative or experimental quality that communicates through the loudest.

Mittu at the launch

“Clearly I was expressing myself differently in each of the phases,” Mittu explained. “As a young person I travelled a lot and explored landscapes (in the outer as well as inner worlds). As an adult with responsibilities, art was release, and I found comfort and happiness in my flowers! I actually wanted to be a florist, so I managed to fulfil that through my paintings. More recently, with my abstracts, you could say I’m exploring my spiritual side a bit more deeply.”

No wonder the gold makes a stronger appearance in the abstracts: as a colour it is associated with spiritual illumination,

above: The Vineyards

a connection to the divine, even divinity itself.

“I do see the world through colour,” Mittu revealed. “The colours that you wear or choose to keep around you, speak a lot about the person you are. In my own work as a solicitor I find that it helps me gauge the person I’m dealing with.”

It is almost as if the quiet observer has come into her own - Mittu’s done with observing; now she wants to make a statement. She’ll do it with her bold strokes of colour on the canvas, just as much as with her steady gaze and her vibrant pink sari.

NOVEMBER (2) 2017 37

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travel

Golden islands Solomon Islands still have their fabled gold reserve, but their unspoilt sights are far more precious

BY SANDIP HOR

A

few years back, when wandering around the Temple Mount precinct in Jerusalem, my guide said that 10th century BC legend King Solomon used gold from a South Pacific island to build a grandiose shrine, known in fables as King Solomon’s temple. Sixteenth century European explorer Alvaro De Mendana perhaps heard about this story. So, in 1568, when he landed on an archipelago in the South Pacific and discovered some gold in the area, he named it Solomon Islands, thinking it to be the place from where the biblical monarch sourced his gold.

That gold reserve is still there, but the lure for modern day travellers to visit Solomon Islands is not the glitzy metal.

Rather, it is to experience a paradise-like destination, which unlike its other Pacific Ocean neighbours, still lives without many modern-day trappings.

“In fact, many come to our country just to relax, chill and enjoy that isolated and time-stopped setting, not to be easily encountered anywhere else in this world,” says Stella Lucas from Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau.

As I encounter the islanders’ laidback and slow-paced lifestyle - and see them guarding an unspoilt natural environment comprising coral reef-rimmed lagoons, sandy coastline, tropical jungles, rainforests, waterfalls and

40 NOVEMBER (2) 2017

volcanoes - the essence of this statement reveals itself to me.

A British protectorate until 1978, Solomon Islands today is an independent nation comprising of a cluster of around 1,000 islands, lying 3,200 km northeast of Australia. Only around 30% of the islands are inhabited by a population of around 623,000, mostly by people of the Melanesian origin though there are some of Polynesian and Micronesian roots as well. Their combined culture and tradition form the backbone of the nation’s social structure.

Modernity, particularly in terms of infrastructure, is pretty much absent in the country, other than in capital Honiara, where one can see only a few contemporary urban elements. But this doesn’t worry the 20,000 visitors arriving here annually: they are not here to taste modernity but to get away from it. The best way to achieve this is by moving out of Honiara to other island provinces where the natural scenery reminds one of documentaries on the Discovery Channel.

I travel to Munda and Gizo, which are petite settlements dotted in the islands of New Georgia and Ghizo in the western part of the country. In no time, I pick up the local lifestyle by following ‘island time’ in which the word ‘rush’ is out of bounds. I feel utterly relaxed and healthy when I sleep with the soothing sounds of water splashing the doorsteps of my modest hotel room, eat island food - mainly locally caught fish with sweet potato and slippery cabbage, plus fruits like papaya and banana - and drink plenty of coconut water. I even start chewing betel nuts like the locals do, though it requires me to brush my teeth a few extra

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‘‘

Though hinterland experience can be refreshing and historically thrilling, raw encounter with the sea is the key theme in Solomon Islands

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times to avoid the red stains. The stained smile, by the way, is almost an emblem of the happy Sollies.

I go inland for bushwalking, rainforest cruising, waterfall bathing or visiting local villages to experience life so far removed from the new world. While exploring inland locations, I notice extensive logging going on and come to know that this is one of the country’s economic stimulators. But I can’t help but feel concerned, knowing how the land is losing its vital ecological balance, with large primary forests disappearing.

While wandering in the bush, I come upon many ruined tanks, weapons and barges buried in the jungle. They remind me that Solomon Islands during World War II was the stage for many fierce combats between the Japanese and Allied troops. Around 37,000 lives were lost on both sides. Several battle sites still remain virtually untouched and bring alive scenes from legendary war movies such as Battle of Guadalcanal and Guadalcanal Diary, the island of Guadalcanal, which is home of Honiara, being one of most significant battlegrounds of WWII. Though hinterland experience can be refreshing and historically thrilling, raw encounter with the sea is the key theme in Solomon Islands. Some of the world’s best sites for scuba diving and snorkeling

are located here. Underwater adventurers not only see a mesmerising galaxy of coral reef and multi-coloured marine life, but also something else, which perhaps can’t be found to this extent anywhere else in the world.

It’s the submerged WWII relics which comprise battleships, bombers, fighters and many other dumps from the war era. The seabed near Honiara is strewn with so much wreckage that it’s now nicknamed as ‘Iron Bottom Sound.’ I am not a diver, so I don’t get to see any of these through my own eyes, but after hearing stories from some visiting divers and going through some of their photoshoots, I can easily imagine the extent of the war and damage.

When subaquatic time is over, abovethe-surface activities occupy my time.

These include swimming, kayaking, fishing, rafting, poly-crafting and wharf jumping to cruising the lagoons on a small dinghy or shuttling between islands on a motor boat, sometimes through the open sea. Many of these isolated islands have natives stories associated with them, like the one called ‘Skull Island’ which still is home to many human skulls left as a souvenir from the land’s brutal ‘head hunting’ time. Surely, an eerie feeling engulfs when you are there.

History greets me when I reach the shores of the isolated Lubaria island filled

with tales of a 26-year-old American lieutenant named John F Kennedy who later became world famous as the 35th US President. It was here that Kennedy and his 11 crew members swam to after their patrolling boat, PT 109, was sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri on 2 August 1943 during the peak of WWII. All of the Americans were eventually rescued with the help of two local islanders, Eroni Kumana and Biuku Gasa.

To immortalise the significance of this heroic episode, the island has been named after Kennedy whose birth centenary is being celebrated worldwide this year.

Kennedy didn’t forget Eroni and Biuku.

After becoming President, he invited both of them to Washington DC but it’s said that a British colonial officer prevented them

Clockwise from top left: The pristine sea; the culturally diverse population; motor boats to shuttle between islands; Lubaria island that houses the Kennedy memorial; Eroni Kumana who rescued Kennedy; ruins of a WWII-era tank; snorkelers in action; a typical village from going because they spoke no English.

That surely disappointed the Sollies, but it never stopped them from taking pride in proclaiming that their two countrymen saved the life of a future president of America.

Both Eroni and Gasa died in the recent past, but no one leaves Solomon Islands without hearing their stories.

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK SOLOMON ISLANDS GETTING THERE Currently, Solomon Airlines (www.flysolomons.com) and Virgin Airlines (www.virginaustralia.com) fly from Brisbane to Honiara.

WHERE TO STAY There are some nice hotels of international standard in Honiara, Coral Sea Resort (www.coral-sea-resort.com) and Heritage Park Hotel (www.heritageparkhotel.com.sb) ranking at the top. Accommodation options in other islands can be fairly basic but comfortable; Agnes Gateway Hotel (www. agneshotelsolomon.com) in Munda and Fatboys Hotel (www.solomonislandsfatboys. com) on Mbabanga Island near Gizo are two of the better ones.

PRECAUTION Plenty of mosquitoes around, so don’t leave home without some strong insect repellent and consult doctor for anti-malaria medication.

MORE INFO www.visitsolomons.com.sb

NOVEMBER (2) 2017 41

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cineTALK BEST TRAVEL ROM-COM SINCE JAB WE MET

QARIB QARIB SINGLLE

STARRING: Irrfan Khan, Parvathy DIRECTOR: Tanuja Chandra

HHHHH

Look, there are lots of problems in Qarib Qarib Singlle - as there are in life. But that’s what makes life, and life in the movies, worth living.

Qarib Qarib Singlle is a delightful ‘romp’-com about two middle-aged strangers - one a widow and the other a vagabond - travelling together to meet his ex-girlfriends. Don’t giggle.

Nothing new here. But then if you want something new, please visit your nearest mall and buy yourself a fresh coat of paint for your living room. Movies make sense only when they bring us characters we know in ways that we never knew that we knew them.

And I can swear I have met Yogi and Jaya somewhere. The fact that they are played by Irrfan and Parvathy (a prized find for Bollywood) is just so providential for director Tanuja Chandra. The director gets the best possible actors for the two

principal parts. I can’t imagine what Yogi and Jaya would have been like had they been played by George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

What follows after the flawless casting for the flawed protagonists is sheer serendipity, as Yogi and Jaya so mismatched they make chalk and cheese appear like long-lost twins - take off on a journey that they, and we, can never forget.

More than anything else, it is just so refreshing to meet protagonists who are over-the-hill and not afraid of the view on the other side. At least not afraid to peep with brazen curiosity to see what lies in store after middle age.

So, I was telling you about Jaya and Yogi. Jaya is a 35-year-old widow and Yogi is an obnoxious ‘chipkoo’ - a human leech - who just doesn’t know when to stop trying to get the other person’s attention. In real life, we avoid the Yogis, although we know they are helpful, kind, generous, considerate and wellmeaning.

Irrfan pulls out all stops to play Yogi.

He redefines the word ‘obnoxious’, and manages to make Yogi endearing, like a distant benign loud and crass cousin who makes politically incorrect ambivalently sexist comments sound plausible and acceptable.

I doubt any actor, except Irrfan, could have played Yogi so honestly.

Irrfan has a terrific co-star in Parvathy, a well-known name from Malayalam cinema. She plays Jaya with the right doses of insecurity and swagger, pulling in her breath when tense, exhaling exuberantly when relaxed, making Jaya one of Bollywood’s first post-30 heroines whose insecurities define rather than obstruct the free flow of feistiness.

There are memorable cameos dotting the devilishly flippant plot. Sidharth Menon as Jaya’s brother on Facetime, is a part that shines for its writing.

Navneet Nishan as a ditzy gossipmonger shows up twice with lumbering languor. And the wonderful Brajendra Kala is terrific in a cameo as a hotel receptionist wondering if he should allot a single or a double room to Yogi and Jaya.

Our thoughts, exactly.

Though we know how this would end (movie hai na, baba), we get sucked into Yogi and Jaya’s crazy Bharat Darshan,

probably because we have all been in such situations thrown together with people whom ideally we would avoid. Also, the journey is so strikingly captured.

Cinematographer Eeshit Narain makes Hardwar, Rishikesh, Gangtok and even Rajasthan look inviting enough to make us want to leave everything behind and rush for a vacation.

But not now, please! There is business yet to be finished between this criminally unmatched couple who seem to share nothing in common except trains, planes and taxis. Speaking of taxis, there are two interesting cameos by chauffeurs whom Irrfan’s Yogi insists on calling ‘Betaji’ and who, again, like much else in the film, are people whom we’ve all met at some point in life.

The film persistently strikes up conversations we have had, or overheard somewhere or the other.

Tanuja Chandra’s film doesn’t simply touch your heart. It runs against the most sensitive portions of the heart, tugs and pulls at your emotions in ways that are far from manipulative or gratuitous. Yes, some portions after the midpoint get repetitive. The narrative tends to sag in parts. But nothing that Irrfan and Parvathy can’t swoop up in their arms and revivify.

The film is a gloriously joyous journey into the heart and the heartland. It is refreshing to come across a film where the protagonists sound neither overrehearsed nor strenuously casual. The conversations are real. Mercifully, when these protagonists talk or sing they are not afraid to make mistakes.

And yes, get ready to fall in love with that vintage Amit Kumar-RD Burman number Bade achche lagte hain all over again.

Subhash K Jha

Submissions are closing soon for the Greater Sydney Commission’s draft Greater Sydney Region Plan and five revised draft District Plans that will support Greater Sydney to become more liveable, productive and sustainable over the next 20 to 40 years.

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Have your say by 15 December 2017.

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Greater Sydney will become three connected cities over the next 40 years, linked by new

For more information: Visit www.greater.sydney to read the draft plans, make a submission or for more information on how to have your say.

44 NOVEMBER (2) 2017

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LIGHT FILM, STRONG PERFORMANCES

TUMHARI SULU

STARRING: Vidya Balan, Manav Kaul, Neha Dhupia, Malishka Mendonza DIRECTOR: Suresh Triveni

HHHHH

Tumhari Sulu is the story of Sulochana Dubey aka Sulu (Vidya Balan), a middleclass housewife with an indefatigable spirit who is in the constant pursuit of excelling and winning contests and competitions, which give her immense satisfaction. Perhaps subconsciously, it stems from the fact that she is Class 12 fail as her banker sisters and father constantly remind her.

Sulu, as she is fondly called, is always eager to participate in contests and win - whether it is a night lamp or a pressure cooker. Her enthusiasm and confidence keep her going and her middle-class humdrum life does not deter her from giving these a shot.

It is on one such occasion that she comes across the announcement for an RJ hunt and sets about pursuing it.

The film’s main body revolves around how Sulu becomes a popular RJ, on a night show, tastes success and yet, faces flak at home.

Director Suresh Triveni manages to create the middle-class milieu

complete with Sulu, her husband Ashok (Manav Kaul), a manager in a smalltime mill and their 11-year-old son, Pranav, to perfection.

Whether it is Ashok’s constant bickering with the TV company for having sold him a faulty piece and thus seeking replacement or Sulu’s family giving her advice to leave the RJ job at night, are all palpable instances that the audience can fully relate to.

A performance-oriented light-hearted film, the treatment in some parts however is a tad amateurish. While the first half establishes Sulu, her spirited personality and her secret longing to

prove herself, the second half drags and, at times, lays undue emphasis on unnecessary trivia, which makes for tedious viewing. A lot of the situations seem forced and trite, as if to create some drama.

Vidya Balan shines as the effervescent, determined, yet vulnerable Sulu. She is endearing with her simplicity and innocence as a middle-class housewife, who unabashedly asks for a TV instead of a pressure cooker as she has already got one.

Ashok (Manav Kaul) excels as the loving husband, who willingly plays second fiddle to his wife, supporting her in her realising her dreams. A complete natural, he effortlessly slips into the role of a middle-class husband and brings the right element of subtlety to his character.

Neha Dhupia as Maria, the big boss of Radio Wow, fits her role like a glove and delivers with the requisite confidence and panache.

All other actors portray their roles with sincerity and shine on several occasions.

The music of the film is melodious and Ban Ja Tu Meri Rani is sweet and well-picturised. It brings out the chemistry of the couple.

The film has moderate production values but befitting the class of society depicted. Nothing seems incongruous.

Troy Ribeiro

little concern for narrative smoothness.

Many dramatic portions are done in the spirit of desi soap opera, and the “happy” finale seems more a hasty send-off than a real solution to a relationship which rapidly swerves into a messy tangle of irreversible wrongdoings.

Many of the small-town rom-com stereotypes are way too obviously flashed into the frames to be convincing.

Aarti’s sister awkwardly holding a cigarette in her hand in the night time and giggling about Aarti’s prospective sex life is that token “frumpy-mofussil-womantalking-sex” scene that we have seen in all

the recent small-town rom-coms.

All the habitually competent actors including Manoj Pahwa and KK Raina do their bit efficiently. But the narrative doesn’t allow them to soar higher than the glass ceiling that the film’s strenuous pro-feminism tone imposes on the characters.

All said and done, though, the film is worth a try for its unquestionable sincerity of purpose and its winking familiarity with small-town mores and quirks.

If only these were not used with such placard-flashing righteousness.

Subhash K Jha

CRUELTIES OF SMALLTOWN ALLIANCES SHAADI MEIN ZAROOR AANA

STARRING: Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Kharbanda DIRECTOR: Ratnaa Sinha

HHHHH

Kanpur joins the growing league of north Indian towns that have lately been used to locate and pin down charming smalltown romances about men and women with large families and loud voices who eat, belch, fart and insult one another without the fear of being judged.

Before you holler about cultural and regional stereotyping, let’s quickly move on to meet Satyendra, alias Sattu, and Aarti. They are the aspirational 20-something small-towners with stars in their eyes. He thinks she looks like actress Juhi Chawla. She thinks he is her superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The thing about Rajkummar Rao and Kriti Kharbanda is that that they can play their aspirational characters with endearing assuredness. For Rajkummar, this is child’s play. But Kriti comes into her own imbuing her small-town character with a sense of mounting exuberance and plummeting disappointments.

Debutant director Ratnaa Sinha often loses the plot in the flurry to catch the sweaty revelry of the Indian middle class NATIONAL EDITION

as it cruises from its tradition-bound attitude towards social issues such as arranged marriage and dowry, into a new virtual world of smart phones and not-sosmart life’s decisions.

Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana is a very ambitious film.

It wants to keep its protagonists Sattu and Aarti in the “cute” area. But it also dares to take them into the grey zone. Aarti runs away from the mandap like Amrita Singh in Aaina and Vani Kapoor in Shudh Desi Romance because she wants to compete in the civil services.

Not caring about making her prospective bridegroom and his family look like stood-up idiots, she does her own selfish thing (prodded, I might add, by an intellectually-challenged sister who should really have minded her own business).

Then it’s Sattu/Rajkummar Rao’s turn to be mean and vengeful. The moral makeover and the dramatic leaps of mood are achieved abruptly and with

NOVEMBER (2) 2017 45

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SHABANA AZMI

SHABANA AZMI: VERY ANGRY

THE PADMAVATI OUTRAGE

B

ollywood is officially outraged. The strong opposition to the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical drama Padmavati by many groups claiming to represent the Rajput community has upset film personalities.

We don’t blame them. Outraging over a possibly fictional character from history without having watched the film sounds ludicrous to us too. Just as ludicrous are calls for a ban on the film - and the beheading of Bhansali and actress Deepika Padukone.

The “voluntary” postponement of the release of the film from 1 December by the film-makers seems to have become the proverbial last straw, prompting several celebrities to speak out (further reading ahead in these columns).

The film has been mired in controversy over conjectures that it “distorts history” regarding Rajput queen Padmavati, a contention that Bhansali has repeatedly denied.

But that hasn’t stopped Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, from protesting against Padmavati for the last few months. The Sena now wants a ban on the film.

Kunwar Surajpal Singh Ammu, a ruling BJP leader in Haryana, has gone several steps further and said he firmly stands by his announcement of Rs 10-crore reward for beheading Bhansali and Padukone. Ammu has also issued a threat to break the legs of actor Ranveer Singh.

“Padukone is just like our daughter and she must stay away for playing roles like the one she played in Padmavati,” he said, adding: “If anyone raises an eye (sic) at our sisters and daughters, they will be punished.”

The issue has taken political hue as well, with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan announcing that the film will not be released in the state because he claims it has distorted facts.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also said that the film would not be allowed to release in the state unless its controversial portions were removed.

Even Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje wrote to Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani to ensure that Padmavati is not released without necessary changes.

Some people are smelling a conspiracy and are saying the controversy is a ploy to ensure that the film releases after the Gujarat assembly polls.

No wonder then, that in such a charged atmosphere, the film-makers have ‘voluntarily’ decided to defer the film’s release.

46 NOVEMBER (2) 2017

Never one to mince words, Shabana Azmi is vocal about her distaste for the baseless anti-Padmavati protests.

She feels it’s time for the film industry to take a collective stand against the ugly controversies and protests surrounding the release of Padmavati.

Shabana wonders why so little action has been taken against the perpetrators of violence against the Padmavati team. “The CM of Rajasthan is sitting pretty. The first FIR lodged is under the Arms Act because there was open firing. Beyond that no action is taken against the criminals threatening naked violence.”

Shabana also lashes out at the censor board for delaying the certification of Padmavati. “The CBFC sends the film back because some paperwork is not complete!!! Only after 63 days will the film be screened for CBFC when Gujarat election is over and done with! Are we fools to not see through the design of fomenting unrest and polarizing votes?”

The formidable actress-activist does not hide her resentment at what she sees as a victimisation of the entertainment industry for political purposes.

“I am very angry. The film industry needs to take a strong unified action and refuse to be sitting ducks anymore.

If such threats had been made against any member of the political class would the reaction have been the same? Are the people in the film industry not equal citizens of this country?”

OTHERS UPSET TOO

Reacting to the controversy, actor Naseeruddin Shah said, “Having a Central Board of Film Certification is sheer hypocrisy when the government has set itself up as censor.”

Another veteran Kamal Haasan said, “I want Deepika’s head… saved.

Respect it more than her body. Even more her freedom. Do not deny her that. Many communities have opposed my films. Extremism in any debate is deplorable.

“Wake up cerebral India. Time to think. We’ve said enough. Listen Ma Bharat,” Haasan tweeted.

Bollywood’s ‘showman’ Subhash Ghai also extended support to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, saying he is entitled to “cinematic liberty” and that it is wrong for his detractors to pass an opinion without seeing a film.

“I will not comment about the Padmavati issue because I am not a politician. I respect my filmmakers.

You have to understand one thing that you cannot judge something without seeing it,: Ghai said here during his masterclass at the ongoing 48th

International Film Festival of India.

“One artiste has made a film based on his imagination. He has not said that he is uniting with 15 organisations to make a historical film,” he added.

The filmmaker added, “You haven’t seen the film and you are already assuming that something will be wrong in it. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a responsible person. But there will be some colours of cinema in the project.

He will take some cinematic liberty.”

Ghai also suggested a solution to the whole issue.

“First watch the film. If you have a problem after watching the film too, then talk it out,” he said.

Director Tanuja Chandra, whose film Qarib Qarib Singlle released recently, added, “In a country like India, bursting at the seams with real, huge issues, when a film with possibly a fictional character becomes a cause to fight for, the government must be clinical, swift, absolute, in protecting it and in dismissing the ridiculous ambitions of anyone threatening to break the law.

Any deliberation or delay in doing this is wrong and honestly, kind of tragic.”

The atmosphere of “intolerance” and “barbaric” statements on “beheading” of filmmakers and actors has also upset Rohit Roy, who says he is frustrated about being an Indian living in India.

“For the first time, I’m sad, frustrated, enraged that I’m an Indian living in India... Never thought I’d ever say that. Indeed, very sad. Jai Hind,” Rohit tweeted.

He said, “India is what it is because of its diversity, sense of democracy and importantly, it’s secularism. Hinduism, a way of life, is inclusive in nature.”

“India and Indians have become intolerant,” he stressed, and added that “one doesn’t know what wrath of which faction one will incur while even making a statement.”

TRYING TO RESOLVE ISSUE THROUGH DIALOGUE: CENSOR BOARD CHIEF

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi said the Board was trying to follow a process of dialogue vis-a-vis the stalemate surrounding Padmavati, whose release has been delayed because of

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opposition from conservative groups.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural function of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) near Panaji, Joshi said, “We are trying to follow processes. Instead of arguments, attempts are being made to have a dialogue on the issue.”

CINEMA IS ALL ABOUT LOVE: SRK

Amid the raging Padmavati controversy as well as the row over exclusion of two films from a section of the 48th IFFI, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, through a mixture of symbolism and subtlety, spoke of cinema as a balm of love for dissent and a catalyst for unity, at the inauguration of the movie jamboree in Goa. “There is a term in Sanskrit ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. It means bringing the world together like a family. I believe no matter what your language is, no matter what country your story comes from, and no matter what your ideology is, storytelling and listening should be a familial experience which binds us together. It makes relationships stronger, even in the face of dissent and discussion as it usually happens in a family, instead of tearing us apart,” he said.

“I truly believe that films are made with the collaboration of hundreds of people coming together, working relentlessly for an idea they believe in

and they love and they want to share it with the world. This idea becomes the film which we all watch, and sometimes we feel very happy watching it,” said the actor.

“Sometimes, we dance along with the film. At other times, we get angry, disturbed or agitated. That exactly is the magic of storytelling, a magic which has the power to touch all our senses and in doing so, actually binding us together. The essence of storytelling is incomplete, if there is no listener,” he said.

SHAHID OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RELEASE

Actor Shahid Kapoor, one of the three lead actors of Padmavati, said he is confident that the historical drama will release and will be as loved and celebrated as his Udta Punjab.

“It will be a precedent which I am not proud of if the film finds it difficult to release. I believe that the film will release. I believe that this process is difficult; I went through a similar process with Udta Punjab. I eventually saw the film come out - and loved and celebrated,” Shahid said.

“Any kind of conversation which is violent in nature is absolutely uncalled for anD unfortunate,” Shahid said.

“I believe in the process of certification and I am very confident that eventually Padmavati will come out and it will come out in full force. I don’t

WHO WORE IT BETTER? GWYNETH PALTROW or DEEPIKA in STELLA MCCARTNEY Share your views with us on our Facebook page /IndianLinkAustralia

NATIONAL EDITION

think there is anything in the film that is unacceptable or not in good taste.

I think our constitution says you are innocent until proven guilty,” he added.

In the film, Shahid plays Rawal Ratan Singh, husband to Rani Padmavati’s character essayed by Deepika. Actor Ranveer Singh plays Alauddin Khilji.

What’s the quiet chitchat here between RANVEER and DEEPIKA? Send your response to: media@indianlink.com.au TO WIN A MOVIE TICKET!!

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNING ENTRY

I STAND BY PADMAVATI, BHANSALI: RANVEER

Ranveer Singh, one of the three lead actors of Padmavati, said he stands by the movie and its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

“I am 200 percent with the film and I stand by it as well as Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Given that it is a very sensitive time right now, I have been specifically asked not to say anything.

Whatever official communication with regards to the film needs to be made, you will receive it from the producers,” Ranveer said.

Before any further questions could be put on Padmavati, Ranveer told the media, “Thank you very much for coming out today and before some ruckus happens here, I need to get out of here.”

The actor plays Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji in the movie, which Bhansali says is a tribute to the valour of Rajput queen Padmavati.

WHAT TWEETY BIRD TOLD US THIS WEEK

Match the following tweets to the celebs that made them.

Karan Johar, Twinkle Khanna, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan Life is great when Ed Sheeran loves the shape of me Opening the festivities at 48th IFFI, 2017 in Goa. A great platform for filmmakers to showcase their talent and art.

The FRANCHISE continues!!!! The college opens its doors to a new Student!

SWAGat karo toh dil se karo aur swag se The nation wants to know-Is this 10 cr beheading fee inclusive of GST?

What’s the chitchat here between DEEPIKA PADUKONE and ALIA BHATT? Vishal Gupta: Deepika: I am done with Ranveer. Alia: You go girl!

Me: Happy imagining that she is single now Vishal wins a movie ticket A FEW OTHER GOOD ONES Manjoo Sharma Lalwani: Deepika: “Where did you find those jeans with bigger holes than mine” Raghu Rules: We make loads of money but we both are wearing ripped jeans. Isn’t it funny?

Rakhi Chaudhary: Let’s do ghoomar!!!!

Ashika Jagdish: Alia: So, what did you think of Badrinath ki Dulhania? Deepika: Look Alia, aapakee film achchee hain, but let’s face it, my movies are just so much better!

NOVEMBER (2) 2017 47

backchat

ask AUNTYJI Quoted vs Actual vs Invoiced DEAR AUNTYJI

Now that summer is practically here, we thought it would be a good idea to tidy up the house and get some small renovations done. We have a lovely home and I want to keep it looking wonderful all the time. So we needed to get some light fittings installed and we called up some tradies for quotes. Now, most of their quotes were around the same, however, two of them gave us quotes for a cash job. This incensed my husband, who is upset that these folks are not paying taxes. One of the tradies seems like a nice fellow and appears to be very much aligned to attention to detail. This is the guy I want working on my house but my husband keeps carrying on about not engaging tax cheats and that he has issues with such folks. Can you please provide me with some guidance here, Auntyji? I just want the job done.

AUNTYJI SAYS

Oh dear, how easy it is to be high and mighty and gaze upon the world with such a stalwart single-minded view of

the idea of one’s self-righteousness. I wonder what the view is like from that pedestal he has placed himself on. The solution is really quite simple. If your straight and narrow patidev has issues with the tradie giving him a quote for a cash job, then ask the tradie to provide a quote for an invoiced job. There, simple.

The tradie will add another $500 to the job, and your husband can sleep easily at night knowing that there is a tax invoice traceable back to the job and the tradie is doing the right thing by Australians everywhere. This really is a simple solution. But do let me know what hubby’s position is after he sights the quote for an invoiced job. I am sure his principles aren’t as deep as he thinks his pockets are.

Baby brain DEAR AUNTYJI

Recently we caught up with former neighbours of ours who had moved away to be closer to their parents - as after the birth of their baby, they needed help. Auntyji, previously, Ashley and Kal were the most interesting people. They

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could debate for hours about global geo politics, about global warming, gender pay parity, euthanasia, animal rights etc, you name it. They were the font of all knowledge, and regularly kept us informed and entertained with riveting information. But, when we met them on the weekend, and this is 2 years after Larissa was born, they had become the embodiment of spectacularly dull people.

All they spoke about was Larissa. They did not have anything interesting to say and when I tried to venture into the subject of Trumponomics, they looked at me with a vacant stare that chilled me to the bone. It’s as though Larissa was a demon child who had sucked out all life from her parents. And don’t even get me started on Larissa. God, what an obnoxious child - always wanting attention. I had to fake a smile and spout insincere and hypocritical observations such as, oh you dance so well, when Ashley insisted that Larissa bust a move, or oh you’re sho-shmart when Kal encouraged Larissa to sing a rhyme.

I am so disappointed about this that I have vowed to my husband that when we have kids, and I become like this, to euthanase me post haste. How do I ensure this does not happen to me?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Well, Ashley and Kal are those dull, boring people who are probably so fascinated by the fact that they have created a little human, and are so caught up with what they have done, that all they can do and say is, look, we did that, and point at little Larissa. They are the adult equivalent of a toddler who builds a sandcastle and who thinks he has conquered the universe. Hopefully, much like a bully who kicks the sandcastle down, Kal and Ashley will soon learn that they are as dull as lassi with no salt. So it’s simple. Write yourself a note of all the things you never want to say and be like when your kids come along, and put that list somewhere where you can see it every single day. And until the kids arrive, make sure you stay reading and educating yourself on world affairs - because kids are terrible little sponges who take up all of your time and leave you with little. This means that you can kiss reading The Guardian or Washington Post or The Atlantic goodbye for a couple of years when kids arrive. So be grateful that Kal and Ashley gave you a vision of your future. You don’t want to become them. But only you can stop this eventual decline. Happy reading!

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