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Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America in January this year. His elevation to the top job, and actions in it, have taken the world by surprise - to put it lightly. Known for his “bombastic” style of management, with more experience in reality TV than tactful diplomacy, Trump has set the United States down a path where it may face difficulty in maintaining its global leadership on a wide variety of issues.
Twice already this century, the US has been at war: first in Afghanistan in 2001, in retaliation to the terrorist attacks on US soil, and the follow-up, the 2003 war against Iraq, which has been seen by those who should know as unwanted and wrong. Not only has this war cost US taxpayers over $2 trillion, but more significantly, thousands of lives have been lost. With a proxy war in Syria looming, this propensity for
violence shows no signs of slowing down.
Trump burst onto the international scene in a year when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a group that works to promote nuclear disarmament around the world. And yet, under Trump, the possibility of a nuclear war with North Korea has increased exponentially, and the long-standing nuclear deal between US and Iran faces the likelihood of standing no more. In the Qatar-Saudi Arabia diplomatic rift, while Trump’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attempted to bring about reconciliation, the President himself lauded the Saudis for their “hard but necessary” move. Under his leadership, the US appears more content with confrontation rather than negotiation. His latest announcement of recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has been rebuked by almost all the international leaders, including the UK Prime Minister, the Turkish President, the French President, the Saudi King and even the Pope.
the USA” and withdrawing his country from UNESCO. Subsequently, while the US has been acting like a bull in a china shop, China is increasingly seen around the world as a power to be dealt with - extending to its rivals an economic embrace through its One Belt, One Road policy, meeting international environment preservation targets, and creating alliances with Russia to increase its influence in the World Trade Organisation. Why is this important? With economic might comes the ability to influence other geo-political situations, as one nation (and one nation only) sees fit. China is Africa’s largest trading partner and experts believe that Africa carries an enormous diplomatic weight in shifting the political influence away from a US- and a Western-worlddominated world order.
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President Trump has blasted the United Nations, semantically criticising them as “not a friend of democracy… not a friend to freedom…not a friend to
ARTS Centre Melbourne, 6–7 March 2018
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Without question, the United States’ mojo has diminished in the first year of Trump’s presidency, and with three years before the next election, its influence seems to be heading in only one direction. What India must do in response, is adjust its global aspirations - caught politically, diplomatically, at times ethically and of course geographically, between these two giants.
BY ROYSTEN ABEL A CAN & ABEL THEATRES PRODUCTION
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“ONE OF THE BEST SITAR PLAYERS IN THE WORLD”
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APARAJITA GUPTA’s piece questioning the ef cacy 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 identi ed 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 uni ed Indian market for the rst time since Independence.
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
USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND’s article on Pink Sari Inc winning at the Australian Multicultural Marketing Awards won praise from the woman behind the organisation
Shantha Viswanathan wrote: Thanks, Indian Link, for the great coverage as always! Usha has put together all our comments and so articulately conveyed our message in her article. Besides the community, the media has played a key role in spreading the Pink Sari message since its inception. On behalf of Pink Sari Inc, I would like to convey our sincere appreciation for your ongoing support and for your personal interest in what we do.
The University of Adelaide crowdfunded a project to produce low-cost water puri cation kits, reported TARINI PURI University of Adelaide wrote: Thanks for your interest in this, we appreciate it.
Deepika Bharti wrote: Thank you for your support. The University of Adelaide research team has reached their target and are going ahead with their water ltration project in Rajasthan. I am sure every bit would have counted.
We asked who rocked the Stella McCartney dress more - Deepika Padukone or Gwyneth Paltrow? The winner was clear
Meenakshi Seetharaman wrote: Hands down Deepika Padukone! She looks stunning!
Sylvia cc wrote: Deepika, the colour of her dress suits her better Dipti Desai wrote: Of course, Deepika, the Indian beauty.
Ishani Shah wrote: Indian beauty, Deepika Padukone!
Priyanka Chopra’s stand against Trump’s migration restrictions was impressive and again she is on an inspirational ride MasterChef Australia judge Matt Preston
In shock at reading what my dear friend is going through. Deepika you are one of the strongest women I know Actress Ruby Rose on Padmavati controversy
We were ooded with responses on this caption contest we ran a few days ago. Here’s a selection
Namita Sheregar wrote: Ranveer: Paani se bachao deepika..
Deepika: Chup raho mera camere se focus hat jayega
Arti Asthana wrote: Let’s create the same magic with Padmavati as well..... ngers crossed
Rani RJ wrote: Let’s enjoy the calm before the storm.
Khem Raj Kharel had this to say: Deepika: Quick Ranveer! Act evil, we are trying to promote Padmavati here...
Ranveer: Im trying my best here Deepika, but your perfume smells so good, can I hug you?
Deepika: Maybe you should stick to romantic movies Ranveer...wait so that’s why you wanted us to dress like Bajirao and Mastani?!
Anshul Kothari guessed: Pakde Rehna, Chhodna Nahi.
Gaurav Wadekar wrote: Deepika: How is it that we fall into Sanjay’s trap again and again?
Dahlia Ahmed wrote: We love each other and we are together no matter what other people think. We are meant for each other.
Lakshman Kumar wrote: When the public can accept a movie on Akbar, why can’t they accept this movie? Padmavati, request them with your magical eyes.
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 ngers 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 ngers crossed for you guys.
The way the senior Indian diplomat was cornered at a Melbourne gurdwara recently left the community shaking its head in disbelief, wrote RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA
Ashish Chawla wrote: The way they speak to the High Commissioner is a disgrace!
Varun Pal wrote: I found it appalling to say the least. Surely, there are better ways to put your point forward. Respect the High Commissioner. There are channels through which you can raise the issues. The slogans towards the end were uncalled for as well.
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 nd more success in his new challenges ahead.
Jayanthi Vellore said: Well done Mark! You have been an inspiration to all of us.
NANDITHA SURESH wrote about the rst-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 eld. 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.
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You’re not alone. We’re with you. That’s the sentiment, repeated over and over by hundreds of apparent strangers, that has kept Vikramjeet Singh going these last few days.
Scrambling to arrange funds for his visiting mother’s medical treatment and with very few people to turn to, Granville resident Vikramjeet - who moved to Australia just over a year ago - made an impassioned appeal on the 27,000-member-strong Indians In Sydney group (IIS) on Facebook.
How the community responded over the next few hours and days was part heroic, part human and deeply touching.
First came financial help (Vikramjeet had received $4,000 before the day was up), then advice (using which Vikramjeet set up a GoFundMe page) and then a lot of initiative (people tweeted out Vikramjeet’s story, tagging India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, the Indian Consulate, and the Indian insurance firm whose cover Vikramjeet’s mother had bought).
The result? A representative of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, visited Vikramjeet on 4 December, promising help. By 5 December, Vikramjeet’s GoFundMe page had raised over $65,000.
It is just the latest illustration of how migrants, both old and new, are finding solace and support from online communitiessuch as IIS. From desperate pleas for job opportunities, questions about visas and travel advice to restaurant reviews and shopping recommendations (and the occasional forwarded joke or three), the groups are the whole spectrum of human emotion on display.
The groups are also a fairly accurate representation of what the diaspora is talking about and thinking about. They offer an insight into the community’s aspirations and ambitions, its fears and frustrations, its hilarity and heartbreaks.
They are also an embodiment of Indians’ intrinsic unity but also, at times, their inevitable fault lines of regional and linguistic differences and political persuasions.
But despite this, and due to the spike in migration numbers in the last three years or so, the groups have become both increasingly populated and increasingly popular. For the typical FOB, they serve as an all-you-wanted-to-know-but-didn’tknow-whom-to-ask forum, with old-timers dispensing advice with avuncular patience.
And in these collaborative communities, some truly heart-warming stories have emerged of how the group members have come together to help each other out.
So, for instance, a new migrant who faced a last-minute glitch in his accommodation arrangements posted a message on the group, saying that he couldn’t afford to buy a mattress and asked if anyone had a spare.
Not only did people come forward, some even offered to drive to his place and drop it off themselves!
Then there was the time when the members came forward in aid of a fellow IISian (that’s what they call themselves) who sought a bicycle and a mobile phone to help him work as a food delivery person. One member who lives in Perth but was flying to Sydney that night offered to meet the creator of the post, Saiprasad, and buy him a bicycle. Several others wrote in, offering their old mobile phone. Some others asked Saiprasad to send them his CV so they could help him find a job related to his field, IT.
Even when it is not about material goods, the group has plenty of advice and moral support - sometimes a kind word is all you need - for several other queries.
Many posts are about the biggest concern of new migrants: finding a way to crack into the competitive job market. On every desperate post asking for a job - any jobthere are invariably several members who ask for the CV to be sent to them. Others who can’t help directly always have words of encouragement, general advice and tips and suggestions to make the CV more relevant.
Visa categories and subcategories can confuse the best of us, but trust the resident experts (or MARA agents) to bring clarity on the issue.
And then there are posts about the more mundane - but equally important - things. Things such as ‘What food items can I bring to Australia?’, ‘What’s the best way to transfer money to/from a bank account
in India?’, ‘Which is the best private health insurance?’, ‘Passport expiring soon, what to do now?’, ‘Which centre is best to clear driving test?’ and so on.
There was one post that even talked about how toilet paper doesn’t offer the same kind of, er, satisfaction as water. While many said they found the post utterly relatable, others quickly pointed to many options - jet sprays, bidets, and ‘lota by the railway tracks!’
But whether the topic is lofty or lowly, help is always around the corner. For someone who has arrived in Australia, leaving their comfort zone, social circle and family behind, the group is the new family and safety net. Which is the point of the whole group, its credo, says Nadeem Ahmed, the group’s founder.
An IT professional, he moved to Australia in 2006 and found that there was no one to answer questions about where to find apartments, look for jobs, what documents to carry to get a driver’s licence and many other issues. “I spent a lot of time looking for that kind of information but it was hard to come by. I realised there must be many people in a similar situation. So I thought of forming this group to help members share information and knowledge,” he says. Ahmed added that the group had grown steadily over the years, but the last three years have seen a rapid increase.
“The main aim is to help our fellow Indians. We have all come here to >
Rather than becoming forums for self-glori cation, online groups have become dynamic communities that care for fellow members and make a difference in real lifeVikramjeet Singh with his mum
> Australia, away from our comfort zone, and have each other to rely on. That’s what binds us together,” he says, adding that helping others ‘feels great.’
In fact, studies show that online interactions have positive outcomes for real-life, place-based communities, but the intersection between online communication and the offline world also forms two halves of a support mechanism for communities.
A report by Illinois News Bureau quotes a research by Caroline Haythornthwaite and Lori Kendall, professors in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Illinois, says, “From social networking, to civic participation, to community support during emergencies, to providing on-theground information in disaster areas, the professors say that the rapid development and widespread use of online technologies - for communicating and networking, for contributing and distributing content, and for storing, sharing and retrieving files - are creating ties that bind for offline communities.”
Which brings us back to Vikramjeet Singh’s case. The group’s conversation has been dominated by it ever since Vikramjeet’s first appeal for help on 28 November.
The group’s action has been a model of concerted action, with many members making the cause their own. “Irrespective of faith, background, language, we all came together to support him,” Ahmed says.
One such member was Gagan Bindra, who tweeted about Vikramjeet’s case and tagged India’s Ministry of External Affairs and its minister Sushma Swaraj.
A firefighter, Bindra is no stranger to helping people out. “When I saw Vikramjeet’s post, I knew I had to do
something,” he says, adding that he started by creating his Twitter account for the first time and tweeting to Swaraj because she is a ‘good lady whose ministry helps Indians in dire situations overseas.’
He says he was moved to act because ‘it could have been my mum.’ “Hundreds of parents come to visit their children here and take Indian insurance, but if the company doesn’t pay, then it’s no use. So, I also wrote to Religare, whose insurance Vikramjeet’s mother had,” Bindra said.
The company later tweeted, saying that it had ‘noted the concern’ and was looking into the case. The Indian consulate also responded with a message.
Bindra said he was glad his tweet had worked and was glad that the community had come together for a common cause. “Most
In July, banking professional Mayank Jain won praise after he helped return a purse containing bank cards and about $600 to a woman who had forgotten it on a train.
After finding the purse, Mayank wrote a post on Indians
In Sydney, asking what he should do.
In no time, Mayank got a string of suggestions that ranged from contacting the bank, handing over the wallet to the train station manager and approaching the police. He chose the last option.
“I went to Riverstone police station and handed over the wallet to them,” he said. Mayank kept updating the Facebook post about how he was going about returning the purse. Those who saw the post heaped him with praise. One person shared how they had also recently found a purse and returned it after tracing its owner through Facebook.
Then, around 10 pm on the same day, Mayank got a call from the police, saying that they had located the owner of the purse. “The policeman told me that scheduled to fly overseas the next day and had been saving the money to buy her husband a present,” he said.
“Good job, mate. Keep up the good work,” said a commentator on IIS.
“Imaandari zinda hai (honesty is alive). Proud of you, Mayank,” added another. Mayank, 37, however shrugged it off, saying what he did wasn’t ‘a big deal.’ “I have been a student, so I know how hard saving money is. I just did what I thought was the right thing to do,” he said. As the group members thanked Mayank for restoring their faith in humanity, one person summed it up, saying, “If my wallet ever gets lost, I hope you are the one who finds it!”
of us are first-generation migrants. We are far away from our motherland and that is what binds us together. We can put ourselves in others’ shoes and have sympathy for each other. We help rather than trying to pull each other down,” he said.
True enough, many retweeted and shared Bindra’s tweet, a factor that undoubtedly prodded the authorities to act. Each step forward - financial milestones, insurance
company taking note, Indian authorities promising to act - was posted on the group. Vikramjeet, on his part, was grateful too.
“First, I thought I was all alone,” he said. “But now I feel the whole world is standing behind me.”
No wonder then, that the group members were excited about the impact the campaign had had. “Great effort from everyone,” a member commented. “Unity rocks.”
In October, a group member Vicky Vikas posted a message on the group, saying that he was travelling to India and would be willing to help anyone with ‘parents, medicines etc.’
It was a simple enough post, but the spirit behind it left members applauding Vikas.
Many people from the group sent him requests to carry some goods. As Vikas responded to the comments, one member asked him why he was doing this. “The group helped me when I was in need of medicines for my mom,” Vikas wrote. “Just wanted to return the favour.”
In fact, there are many posts on the group asking fellow members if they would be willing to accompany ageing parents from India to Australia or back. For many, asking members on
social media groups to be travel companions to their senior mum or dad is quickly becoming something of a standard practice.
Often enough, someone responds, either by volunteering to be the seniors’ companion or giving helpful advice, for instance, which airline to take so that the parents would be well taken care of.
Requests to bring medicines - again, mostly for parents or other visiting seniors in the family - are also fairly common. Some months ago, Neer Vish was coming back to Australia from India and asked the group members if he could help bring some stuff over.
While he did get a few requests, it was his gesture that won him praise. “It’s no big deal,” Vish explained in a comment. “I may need help in the future so just paying it forward.”
Browse long enough through any Facebook group about recent migrants and you are bound to come across posts from people looking for a way to crack into the job market. Many of these posts betray a sense of urgency, desperation, and, in some cases, downright alarm: new migrants running out of savings from India with no job in sight in Australia. The financial situation may not be dire for others, but it is certainly frustrating as they face rejection after rejection.
Desi Referral Network is one such community that has thrown the veritable lifeline to quite a few such people. With advice about tailoring one’s CV for the Australian market, job hunt and networking strategies and job postings as well, it is a great resource for new arrivals and job aspirants.
One recent post on the group was by a member who had got a job after threeand-a-half months of struggle during which they claimed to have sent out over 600 CVs to potential employers. “This was the toughest time of my life and I want to
assure all of you who are struggling right now that you will get a job in your field. It’s just a matter of time.”
Another member posted that they were about to give up, ‘although I couldn’t afford to give up,’ when they came across the group. “It really gave me instant energy, giving hope that this is going to work,” they said, adding that they got information about a job vacancy and a reference. This finally helped the member land a job.
Gaurav Wadekar knows this drill all too well. A business analyst himself, he also runs a meetup group for new migrants and job seekers, although not particularly from India.
“I thought I was good at my business analysis skills, so started a meetup called Australian Business Analysts in June. Four people came, all looking for jobs. That’s when I realised there would be many such people, so I started the meetup called Finding A Job In Australia,” Gaurav said.
He said he started getting calls from people saying they hadn’t been getting
If you are an Indian-origin mum living in Australia, you’re most likely a part of an ‘Indian Mums’ Facebook page (Indian Mums Connect, IMC Sydney, IMC Brisbane, IMC Gold Coast, Desi Mums in West Melbourne, Connecting Indian Mums Melbourne).
You’ve no doubt marvelled at the information disseminated on these pages, and have most probably been motivated to contribute yourself.
As information and communication platforms, these vibrant pages are fast becoming the go-to place for your queries, indispensable particularly for new migrants. A wide variety of topics are discussed. “Eggless cakes” are a recurring theme for some reason, but so are women’s health issues, babies’ and childrens’ health matters, hot-housing of primary school kids (online resources for maths practice? Hindi lessons? Martial arts?) contraception-related matters (where can I get a morning-after pill?), house help, travel advice, even advice on interfering in-laws and recommendations for divorce lawyers. The suggestions pour
in in a matter of hours, sometimes minutes. With the quantity and quality of knowledge contributed, it is becoming a valuable support mechanism as we negotiate the demands of our fast-paced lives. Electronic word-of-mouth, you can say, does wonders.
One brave young woman is currently vlogging her way through her cancer treatment - and to see the massive outpouring of love and concern and prayers and virtual hugs from the online community, can only raise your faith in humankind.
True, the advice can sometimes be inauthentic (beware of migration advice from non-professionals, or medical issues dealt with in outlandish suggestions from alternative therapies such as “Skin rash? Apply chandan”). But overall, the users have themselves stated more than once, the groups are “better than Google.”
Clearly, Facebook can be more than “look at how much fun I am having.”
It can help reinforce local relationships, and indirectly, local identities. Rather
interview calls. “I looked at their resumés, helped them align their skills with the job requirements, gave them networking and interview strategies. I have been able to place about 15 people in the last four months,” he said, adding that while most of the jobs have been in IT, others have been in financial services, retail and construction.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach. I have to research for each sector to see what kind of opportunities are available. I also speak to the people who approach me to analyse what skills they have, what kind of experience they have, what their present circumstances are. So, it’s a very tailored strategy,” he said.
While most of Gaurav’s work is face-toface with a candidate, the initial contact is often on, or because of, the online meetup group that he has created.
The group also organises monthly meetups in which guest speakers talk on a relevant topic (how to write a resumé and cover letter, networking tips and so on) and where one can meet fellow job seekers and exchange notes.
Of course, there are many who still struggle to find jobs after moving to
Australia. This phase of uncertainty can stretch for months, and it’s easy to fall down the pit of hopelessness. For such people, the group can be a job referral network, or at least an agony aunt. And then there are those who finally land a job, and immediately write a post on the group, detailing their journey and urging others not to give up. One such recent post by Harshad Barge touched the hearts of many.
Barge detailed how he worked casual jobs and struggled to do any kind of saving, but kept at it to pay rent. “All the while I was applying for jobs but all I was getting was either silence or rejections. Then family arrived. Had to work more to sustain all financially. Took up casual roles. After a 1 year, 1 month 5 days, got a dream job again. Just don’t give up. Keep swimming. For those who think of going home, keep swimming the shore is there.”
The post tugged at more than a few heart strings. “Not everyone can share their struggle story but trust me everyone has one! Good to share, hope these words can inspire someone not to quit!” said one comment. “You would have inspired at least a few strugglers for sure,” added another.
than one-on-one or even small group communication, experts call this a kind of “whole community communication” that results in binding ties in a manner that longstanding community ‘associations’ have not been able to foster.
Of course, online communities are not without their limitations. As members
continue to communicate with their own ‘type’, they run the risk of limiting their exposure to new people and new ideas. But for the moment at least, in our own community, this growing social trend is becoming vital infrastructure, as members connect away online.
Rajni Anand LuthraHaving spent the better part of the week working on a story on the wonders of social media in building caring online communities with real benefits for members, this one comes as a bit of a shocker.
You’ve all seen by now the disturbing video of a school team of Indian hockey players currently in Australia. As they missed their match second day in a rowthanks to poor coordination, or indeed a complete lack of it - they spoke on camera about their situation. The video went viral, and left viewers quite distressed.
It was, of course, all sorted out, with the local community as well as Indian government agencies chipping in.
But the damage was done: the interviewer, who claimed he was a taxi driver, clearly showed the distress of the girls in a manner that was disquieting, and tut-tutted about the ‘Indian government’s apathy for women’s sport.’
The sensationalist and alarmist nature of the video, including accusations being made with no absolute proof, is evidence for the dangers of citizen journalism.
There certainly is a role for citizen journalism in today’s world, especially as the media industry undergoes tumultuous changes. As news comes in from every direction, traditional media which cannot be everywhere might even be relying to some extent on such efforts. Technology allows for easy access to recording events, and the transmission of images and films can now be accomplished with the click of a single button. In short, it is easy for regular folk to emulate news journalists, and thanks to social media, there is a ready audience for such material.
Lost in the midst of this burgeoning ‘news-type’ activity, and the rush to get the story out, is the understanding that this is a role that must be taken on with responsibility, ethics, and proper checks and balances.
Could the Adelaide video, with its nearcomplete lack of verification, tick any of these? Indeed there was no mention of which competition the girls were participating in: it was left for the viewer to figure out even which sport the girls play!
The Indian Consulate stepped in immediately and sorted the issue out with the help of the local community, even though it was a private institution that had organised the tour and should really have been responsible.
Meanwhile, the story on the scene is that the Pacific School Games had contacted local Indian association IAASA (Indian Australian Association of South Australia) for volunteers.
Indian Link’s Vinaya Rai reports from Adelaide, “IAASA sent out a message to some 1,400 of its contacts, through email, WhatsApp and Facebook. Although a few members did register, only one person ended up working as a volunteer. When the video went viral, there were hundreds
of comments blaming everyone from the Government of India, High Commission, Consulate General, Indian Assn etc. Several people tried to contact the manager of the hockey team (whose number was public on Facebook) and offered help, advice, sympathy. The Sikh/Punjabi community got in on the act first and provided transport and organised food to be delivered from Indian restaurants. Surinder Chahal made the most concerted effort, and Pacific Games made him an official Liaison Officer/ Coordinator for the Indian team.”
To conclude, the initial post did draw attention to a situation that needed intervention, but could the hysterical nature of it have been toned down?
As consumers, we must be vary of what comes through our news feeds: the potential for unverified information to do more harm than good is ever-present. So, before you hit ‘share,’ you might want to pause and reflect.
Rajni Anand LuthraA viral video this week shows we must be wary of what comes through our social media news feed
Air India wishes you all a wonderful MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR. So keep flying and keep celebrating!
organises third annual Children’s Day
from Rajasthan and Kalighat painting from West Bengal. This would introduce the kids to the centuries-old arts of their homeland, as well as provide these dying arts a new avenue for survival.
Art. Sport. Performance. These are endeavours that come to mind when we think of kids’ activities.
There was plenty of each of these, at the recent Children’s Day celebration organised by the Federation of Indian Communities of South Australia (FICSA). The Dennison Centre at Mawson Lakes was filled with laughter, joy, colours and giggles.
There was opportunity for dress-ups too. The event started off with a fancy dress competition, and saw a robot, a cowboy and a fly, yes a fly, walk off with the first of many prizes on the day.
The highlight of the event though was the painting competition. Children aged 3-5 were given colouring options whereas kids aged 5-11 and 12-15 were given topics such as ‘A day at the beach’ and ‘Favourite Indian festival’. Many little ones seemed highly involved in this competition.
Local Indian artist Shampa Bruweleit judged the competition and widely appreciated the artistic talent in the Indian community. Honing in on the enthusiasm all around, she told Indian Link that events like this could also involve workshops in Indian folk arts such as Madhubani painting from Bihar, tribal Warli painting
The kids got to sit back and relax as magician Simon took the stage; he kept everyone entertained for a good hour. The event was concluded with a presentation by the Australian Air League and its cadets. This popular civilian-operated youth organisation aims to inculcate an interest in aviation, and has had a fair few interested Indian-origin kids joining in. The interest could be seen yet again on this occasion, as many parents spent a lot of time with the commanding officer and cadets, learning about the outfit.
Apart from all these artistic and sports endeavours, the kids also got an opportunity to showcase their performing arts skills.
From dancing to singing, stand-up comedy to playing musical instruments, kids took over the stage with their creativity.
The event was inaugurated by City of Salisbury Lord Mayor Gillian Aldridge who acknowledged the contributions the Indian community brings to the region. FICSA President Umesh Nagasandra told Indian Link that the events like this encourage confidence and self-esteem in young children.
The event, the third of its kind, was widely appreciated by local parents and the community. All the children received a certificate of participation and winners in each category of the different competitions received prizes.
BY SILVANA ZERELLA
In October this year I decided I would join a group led by Vani Shukla from Himalayan Yogis, to experience life in an ashram in India.
We arrived at Swami Rama Sadhaka
Grama Ashram on 7 November all excited about our 10-day stay. On arrival I was a little taken aback especially as I realised that all meals were to be taken in silence. My mind suddenly went into
overdrive and I thought I could not handle this!! Our mornings would start with a bell ringing at 4.45am. From here our day would begin and not end until 9.00pm at night. I have to be truthful and say I really thought that the whole experience was going to be too much for me to handle, but then I decided to take a deep breath and see what the days would unfold. I am so glad I did this, as it all became so beautiful and calming and enlightening.
Everyone at the Ashram was calm and helpful and could not do enough to make our stay memorable. They tailored a program specifically for us and I learnt that yoga does not have to be so hard. Yoga in actual fact is all about soft movements that
stretch our body and calm the mind. We do not need to do strenuous stretches or impossible poses. From yoga we would then go into silent meditation for an hour - which once again I thought would be impossible - but what an experience this was to mediate with the Guru and his disciples. The aura in the room was amazing and so very calming.
We experienced chanting at night and joined in with cymbals.
We learnt what the Himalayan tradition of meditation and yoga is all about and we learnt how to put this into our everyday practice. We learnt an authentic way of experiencing ashram life and we learnt an authentic way of bringing this into our lives. We learnt all about mantras and how
important these are to our meditation and we learnt that life is beautiful no matter how rich or poor we are, and no matter where we live in the world.
Would I have gone had I known the extent of the restrictions in ashram life?
Most probably not…
Am I glad I went? Definitely so glad I went, and so glad I was able to experience such authenticity.
I am so grateful to Vani Shukla Himalayan Yogis for allowing me the experience of a lifetime.
Silvana travelled to India with Adelaide-based Vani Shukla’s company Yoga Begins, organiser of the Divya Darshana Yoga Retreat
Child Care Safety Net to help disadvantaged families and children with additional needs.
new Child Care Subsidy replaces the two current child care payments. Starts 2July2018.
The Australian Government is investing more funding in child care through the new Child Care Package. Look out for more information on what you need to do to prepare for the changes in early 2018. For more information visit: education.gov.au/childcare
a common risk among animal activists.
BY YESHA JOSHIMost of us have fond memories of being told childhood stories of farmyard animals and singing the nursery rhyme Old MacDonald had a farm. These farms are happy places where ducks swim in a pond, little piggies roll around in the mud, cows and sheep graze on the lush green grass and chickens happily cluck away in the far distance, playing until the sun sets, only to wait for their next adventure.
I have certainly grown up being told of such a happy place, where animals of all shapes and sizes live a decent life, out of harm’s way. Through these stories we teach children to be respectful towards other beings and that most often stories will have a happily ever after ending.
Sadly, the reality of these animals tells a different tale - one that some might find too confronting to bear.
Animal welfare advocate Apoorva Madan knows the reality facing animals in animal industries too well. As a psychologist, she is clinically trained to provide assistance to those who suffer from compassion fatigue,
News about animal abuses in the dairy industry has begun to come in with increasing regularity. The confronting footage of bobby calves being taken away at just a day old, the forced pregnancies and the inevitable slaughter of cows that can no longer produce high quality milk is brought to the forefront of traditional and online media - courtesy of a handful of animal activists.
Speaking to Indian Link, Apoorva said:
“Over the recent years, there has been a large amount of footage collected from various farms around the country showing the immense fear and pain that these animals experience every day,” Apoorva said.
“This is confronting work for animal activists who seek to capture and share what is happening to our animals in these industries so that people are better informed when making consumer decisions.”
She added, “The animal welfare standards in Australian meat, dairy, egg (and other animal use) industries are alarmingly poor. For example, to produce milk for human consumption, cows are forcibly impregnated almost yearly, which is an immense physical burden on the body.”
Voiceless, an organisation seeking to be a voice for the voiceless released ‘The Life of the Dairy Cow’ report in 2015. This report stated that around 800,000 dairy calves are considered ‘waste’ and are “either killed
on-farm or sent for commercial slaughter within just five days of life, often ending up as pet food or used by the pharmaceutical industry.”
The report disclosed that farmers can slaughter calves by “chemical euthanasia, the use of a firearm or stunning by a captive bolt.” It is even more distressing to know that “a newborn calf can also be killed by striking their head with a blunt instrument, such as a hammer.”
The lack of animal welfare laws across Australian jurisdictions means these practices are considered acceptable across other animal industries, as Apoorva explains. “In the egg industry, it is standard practice to kill male chicks in the millions, as they are considered ‘waste’ products to the industry. In the farming of pigs, it is legal for pregnant pigs to be kept in ‘sow stalls’ - which are metal enclosures so small that the mothers are barely able to stand, let alone move forward or backward. Mother pigs will stay in this condition during their pregnancy. It is also standard practice to cut the tails of piglets and remove their teeth without any pain relief.
“This is done so that pigs do not cannibalise each other, which often happens because pigs become so psychologically distressed in these conditions.”
The Australian Pork Limited announced that the use of sow stalls will be voluntarily phased out by the end of 2017.
commitment in most jurisdictions. Only the ACT and Tasmania have enforced legal restrictions on the use of sow stalls.
The light at the end of this sad tale is the existence of consumers who make informed decisions. They are the heroes of this story. As they vote with their wallet and demand improved animal welfare standards by purchasing free-range eggs or by making changes to their diet, the industries listen to the consumer dollar as Apoorva explains.
“Veganism is spreading rapidly, which makes sense - we are living in the age of social media where information is widely available. Industries can no longer hide behind their false advertisements convincing customers that animal products come from happy and willing animals. People are learning the truth about the lives of animals, and as a result, are making changes in their lifestyle choices. I am confident we will continue to see veganism grow.”
As consumers, the choices you make will decide the ending of this story.
Write to your local MP about seeking animal law reform in your state.
We need more animal welfare laws, argues advocate Apoorva Madan
Ifirst became aware of Indian-origin Australians who served in our wars, about a year and a half ago as a first year student of architecture.
This part of our history was introduced to us in the form of an assignment/competition: we had to design a war memorial to honour the Indian participation in the World Wars, especially alongside our own forces, as well as Indianorigin Australian soldiers.
The history of it all, buried so far, has come to light only recently, and we were left to do our own research.
It turned out to be quite an emotional experience for me. As I delved deeper into the context, I gained a sense of realisation regarding our history as Australians, but also regarding the wider meaning of war itself.
I imagined to myself what it must have been like to be forced to fight a war they
had nothing to do with, and to represent a country which was not their own. Many words came to mind: honour, loyalty, bravery, commitment, heroism.
But then to have to comprehend the truth behind the matter - the fact that their sacrifice and contribution was - and still islargely unrecognised, made me feel a sense of sadness, betrayal, anger and disbelief. I wanted to express this in built form because I wanted other people to feel it too.
Visiting the Sunnybank RSL premises where the monument would sit, the design concept began to take shape in my mind.
The concept I came up with involved a missing piece, as well as a revelation of the truth.
The design features a large sphere representing our earth and the unification of humanity. The weight of the monument embodies the heavy death toll of the wars,
and the sadness that I felt and want others to feel. I want viewers to touch and feel the coldness of it all.
The missing piece of the sphere is intentional, as it symbolises the missing piece of history in which the story of the Indian soldiers was previously omitted. By “unearthing” this piece of history, we are able to able to reconstruct these stories as we commemorate, honour and preserve them in loving memory.
The major element in the design, is the hundred-year-old artillery case, which is fashioned into “trench art”, piercing through the centre of the sphere as it gently touches its core - creating a water ripple effect within its reflective surface.
The cracks upon the surface, were originally intended to allow light to come through from within somehow, to represent the story coming to light. But upon
deliberation with the Indian architect who helped construct, it was decided to leave the cracks in gold.
To conclude, the internal portion of this monument represents “reflection”, of both sacrifice and healing, while serving as a tangible link between past, present and future. By changing the way in which we orientate ourselves when viewing this design, we ultimately influence our ability to change the way in which we perceive war.
As my first real-life project, it gives me a thrill to see it listed on www. monumentaustralia.org.au I’ve never designed a memorial before - it’s usually houses!
I’m a spiritual person, passionate about holistic health and wellness and want to incorporate that with architecture.
I can see now that the memorial means so much to the community. It has been inspiring to be part of this entire endeavour.
On Remembrance Day 11 Nov this year, a monument was unveiled at Sunnybank RSL Brisbane to commemorate Indian participation in Australia’s war e orts. Gri th University architecture student BIANCA ARCHER won a competition to design the memorial. The two-year project was initiated by Brisbane’s Indian community led by SURENDRA PRASAD OAM.
The idea for a memorial to Indian soldiers who served the Australian cause came in 2015. The history about their contributions were being unearthed and it touched a deep chord within me, especially as it went unrecognised.
I started discussions with others in our community about building a memorial, and the support I received was overwhelming.
The Federal member for Moreton, Graham Perrett arranged a meeting with the President of the RSL Sub Branch Sunnybank, Hugh Polson, and we discussed a possible space to house the monument.
A management committee - the Australians of Indian Heritage War Memorial Committee (AIHWMC) - was
formed in July 2015. It drew members from different sectors of the Indian community, the RSL sub-branch and politicians from both major parties. Capt Chetan Chandegave, Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission also offered his support.
Much support also came from a good mate of mine, Lewis Lee OAM, who, as Chairman of the Australians of Chinese Heritage War Memorial Committee (ACHWMC), was instrumental in the installation of a similar Chinese monument a few years ago.
The cost to build our monument was estimated at around $30,000: we raised some of this money ourselves, but very soon the federal government came on board with a $30,000 commitment. We thank Nick Monsour and Ross Vasta MP (Federal member for Bonner), for their
efforts in obtaining this grant.
For the monument itself, we requested Griffith University, Gold Coast, to design the memorial. Dr Ruwan Fernando from the Griffith University School of Architecture became directly involved, designing a four-week project with his first year students. A group of 90 students participated in the preliminary design competition. The students were encouraged to research cultural aspects, including art and customs and incorporate this into their model. Eleven students were picked as finalists to develop the design further.
A panel of five judges was appointed to evaluate the design entries. At a gala dinner on 12 November 2016, Bianca Archer’s submission was announced as the winner.
We are very proud to see this project, the first of its kind in Queensland, finally
come to fruition, thanks to the joint efforts of the AIHWM committee, RSL Sunnybank, and the staff and students of Griffith University.
Depicting a turban-clad Indian-origin soldier together with a mainstream peer, this monument will serve as a reminder and tribute to all Australians of Indian heritage who served in our armed forces.
Apart from the monument, in memory of the fallen Australian-Indian soldiers, the committee has set up an educational bursary for high school students valued up to $1000 a year. This financial support has gone out to deserving students in the past two years and we hope to continue providing this assistance in coming years as well.
have revealed to Cricket Australia after the match.
The drawn encounter was called late in the day when the CA XI were 4-364.
Speaking to Indian Link about the way he approached his innings, Sangha said, “What worked for me was just sticking to my game plan, which was simply to keep the scoreboard ticking. I had a clear plan of how I was going to score my runs and I’m glad it really worked. I wasn’t thinking too much about the bowler, but focusing on the ball.”
Sangha, whose family migrated to Australia from Punjab four generations ago, has had a phenomenal run since he began his career with the U-15 Schoolboys carnival in Darwin in 2015. Cricket Australia’s National Talent Manager Greg Chappell has previously described the top order batsman as an elegant stroke-maker with a touch of class.
And while cricket experts laud him for his solid defense, stylish drives, nimble footwork and insatiable appetite for runs, the talented Novocastrian says his latest innings has boosted his confidence. “I’ve learnt so much about my own game here, but I’ve also got the confidence and self-belief that I can compete at this level now,” he told Indian Link from the sidelines of another match.
Sangha rates mental strength as the key to success on the field. “Everyone has skill, but whoever has the better mental side of the game will come out on top,” he says, pointing to the calm and relaxed on-field demeanour of former India cricket captain MS Dhoni, from whom Sangha says he draws inspiration for his own batting.
Recalling his family’s reaction to the feat, Sangha says, “Oh, it has been amazing. My family has been with me through my whole journey. But this is only the beginning.”
For now, the talented cricketer is now focusing on further improving his game. “To be the best player, you can’t have any weaknesses, so I’m continuing to work on all parts of my game so they are all strengths,” he says.
Indian-Aussie cricket prodigy Jason Sangha, who became the 2nd youngest player after Sachin Tendulkar to score a rst-class hundred century against England, says he’s ready for the top level
BY TARINI PURI
The best way to handle pressure is to think there is none, says Indian-Australian cricketer
Jason Sangha, who is now in the record books of the game as the second-youngest player behind only Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class century against England, and the youngest to reach three figures in a first-class game in Australia since Ricky Ponting in 1992-93. Playing against the visitors in their final warm-up match in Townsville before the Ashes began on 23 November, Jason, who is from Sydney, saved the game for Cricket Australia’s XI scoring 133 in a 263-run third-wicket stand with 22-year-old Matt Short. The young cricketer, who finished school just two weeks ago, counts it as one of his best performances so far.
With their 144-run lead against the young CA XI (3-121) at the start of play, England were eyeing an innings victory. But Sangha, along with Short, held his own against the opposition attack which featured several international players including Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.
In his stunning innings, Sangha, who confidently weathered the barrage of short balls from England, even hooked speedsters like Craig Overton. Sangha brought up his maiden century when he worked Woakes to the leg-side. He was finally out sweeping to leg-spinner Mason Crane in the final session, the only wicket England took all day.
Brushing off questions of how he dealt with the nervous 90s, the young cricketer said, “You can’t be nervous or anxious about being in the 90s or who you are facing. You just can’t. If you are nervous or at one stage you feel like you can’t do it, you won’t get there.”
The series of bouncers he faced that day was the most intense in his short and bright career so far, Sangha is believed to
January 20, 2009. Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and on the very same day “an enigmatic billionaire from Bombay” and his three sons settle in New York’s Greenwich village. An aspiring filmmaker who lives in the neighbourhood finds “the perfect subject” in the immigrant family. This rather simple plot forms the background of Salman Rushdie’s The Golden House, his 13th novel. Most of the novel revolves around Nero Golden and his three sons - Petronius, or Petya, Lucius Apuleius, or Apu, and Dionysius, or D. Petya. Petronius, 40, is an agoraphobic and an alcoholic, and Apu, 41, is a desperate artist. They were born a little less than a year apart and share the same mother and the same zodiac sign. The youngest, Dionysius, is just 22 and has little memory of his own mother. The father, Nero Golden, in his late 70s, now brings into their home a new wife, Vasilisa, a Russian expatriate.
Their neighbour, Rene, an aspiring filmmaker, loves nature; he adores the gardens and sees beauty in all things. This man of simplicity is drawn to the Goldens and in them sees a story that deserves to be told.
“He leaned forward when standing or walking, as if struggling constantly against a strong wind only he could feel, bent a little from the waist, but not too much. This was a powerful man; no, more than that - a man deeply in love with the idea of himself as
powerful,” Rene notes in one of his early observations of Nero Golden.
But while Rushdie, as in his previous works, displays immense skills of observation, he perhaps takes it a little too far in matching these with the filmmaking traits of his personality. He invokes analogies from pop culture and classical literature, and lists so many people and places and events and movies - American, European, Indian - to the point where it becomes a nightmare for the reader to keep track of.
Obama’s term as President ends quite
early in the novel and creates anticipation of “what next” among readers. The election for the 45th President dominates everybody’s minds in the next few pages and then enters this presidential candidate whose actions, words and followers bear similarity to those of Donald Trump.
“He was dangling his wickedness under our noses, revelling in it, challenging us to see it, contemptuous of our powers of comprehension, convinced of his ability easily to defeat anyone who rose against him,” Rushdie writes.
Rushdie’s astute political references and observations set the rest of the novel on a new course. And his thoughts about the real President are evident in the way he portrays “the joker” with “coloured hair”, who would become President. “Sometimes, watching him, I thought of Dr Frankenstein’s monster, a simulacrum of the human that entirely failed to express any true humanity.”
Rushdie has many references to keep the interest of readers in India alive. He invokes 26/11, traces the hyperloop from slavery to corruption, the 1993 Mumbai blasts, the beef ban and, yes, Marvel comics too.
An uncannily prescient novel that shows one of the world’s greatest storytellers at the height of his powers, The Golden House is about seduction and treachery, lies and loss, and everything that we crave for in contemporary fiction. Despite its slow and overdone pages, the novel attempts to imagine a great deal about identity, truth and terror, particularly relevant in today’s world order of alternative facts.
The novel differs a great deal from most of Rushdie’s previous works in that even the casual reader will be able to access its depths and read between the lines. Unlike the many pages from most of Rushdie’s previous novels that usually escape the readers, The Golden House will connect seamlessly with you. If you have not read any of Rushdie’s titles, this is a good novel to begin with.
It has a simple, easy-to-handle plot, but is relevant in a world of alternative facts, writes SAKET SUMAN
t’s party time, folks. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the holidays will soon be upon us and you’re probably getting friends or family over for a celebration. On New Year’s Eve, perhaps.
This fortnight I present to you my favourite nger foods. Tested time and again, these come out great as appetizers. True to my trademark
anthem - Minimum Effort for Maximum Effect - most of these are no-fuss recipes. You won’t nd a deep-fried snack here (or puff pastry based dishes). Who’s got the time? Plus the seasonal produce is wonderful this time of year, so why not retain original avours and textures, I ask you.
3 large kransky sausages
½ cup parmesan cheese
½ cup grated cheddar cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
¼ cup breadcrumbs
1 egg, lightly beaten
>> Mix cheese, herbs, breadcrumbs and egg in bowl.
Cut kransky sausages diagonally into
1-cm thick rounds.
Put 1 tsp mixture onto each sausage slice and smoothen.
Cook under hot grill until lightly browned. (Best warn the guests what they’re eating. Indian vegetarian guests often mistake the red of the sausage for tomato).
Seedless watermelon
Danish Feta cheese
Basil leaves for garnish
Freshly ground pepper
Extra virgin olive oil.
>>
Cut up watermelon into neat bite-sized rectangles. Arrange on a white platter. Place a basil leaf on each – keep the leaf whole or tear up. Crumble the Danish feta and arrange on top of the leaf. Drizzle some good quality olive oil over, allowing some to splash on the platter. Grind fresh pepper over the top. Great as a starter.
2 cups plain our
3 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
¼ cup sundried tomatoes in oil, drained
3 tbsp oil from the sundried tomatoes
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
Red chilli powder to taste
>>
Sift our, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Add in sugar and red chilli powder and mix.
Chop up sundried tomatoes.
Beat oil, milk and eggs together until combined. Pour into dry ingredients. Add in sundried tomatoes and basil. Mix well. Grease a mini muf n pan. Put mixture in up to the three-quarters mark. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Serve hot or cold with a good mayonnaise and chilli jam.
2 rounds pita bread
¼ cup olive oil
1 clove garlic crushed
¼ tsp red chilli powder
Plenty of shredded cheese
Fresh parsley, chopped
>>
Mix garlic and red chilli powder into olive oil. Spread over the pita bread. Sprinkle cheese over, and then the parsley. Cut into thin wedges using a pizza cutter. Gently pick each one up and arrange on lined oven tray. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for about 12 minutes.
500 gms chicken breast llets
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups yoghurt
1 egg white
2 slices bread, crusts removed
1 tbsp soy sauce
Red chilli powder to taste
Large spinach leaves, white stalks removed
1 cup white wine
>>
Put into a food processor chicken, onion, yoghurt, egg white, bread soy sauce and red chilli powder. Blend till smooth. (There’s no need for salt if you’re using soy sauce, but do a taste test regardless, and add some if you feel it is needed).
Spread out spinach leaves on bench top, underside facing up. Flatten as much as possible without tearing. Spread mixture thickly over each leaf. Wet your palms and roll the leaf up gently.
In a large at bottomed pan, bring the wine to a gently boil. Put the rolls in one by one, ap side down. Cover and cook for about ten minutes. Keep checking to see liquid does not evaporate completely. Take out and cool completely.
Slice gently into circles. To serve, put a toothpick on each, and serve with a sauce of your choice.
(You can substitute chicken stock for wine).
210 gm can salmon, drained, forked down and skin and bones removed 4 eggs
½ cup each red, yellow and green capsicum, chopped
½ bunch dill, nely chopped OR chopped shallots
½ cup shredded tasty cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
>>
Mix all the ingredients together. Grease a mini muf n tray and spoon egg mixture in. Bake in a 180 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot or cold with a good mayonnaise and chilli jam.
Salad vegetables
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers
Celery
For lling
375 gms cream cheese
200 gms plain yoghurt
Red pesto sauce
Green pesto sauce
For garnish
Fresh herbs such as basil, mint, dill and chives
Walnut halves
Red caviar
Sliced olives
Sliced red capsicum
>>
To prepare llings, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in yoghurt and whisk till smooth. Put into three separate bowls. To one bowl add green pesto sauce, and to the second red pesto sauce. Keep the third bowl as is. You now have three different colours of lling.
To prepare vegetables, wash and dry. Slice tops from cherry tomatoes (take a thin slice off the bottoms too, so they can have a base to sit on). Slice cucumbers thickly (or, you can cut into thick batons and scoop the centre out to make a hole for lling). String celery and cut into 2.5 cm lengths (slice at an angle).
To prepare garnishes, wash and shake dry herbs, slice olives and capsicum thinly and cut up walnut neatly.
To assemble, arrange vegetables on platter, spoon lling over and arrange garnishes on top. Mix and match for colour, the vegetables lling and garnish - presentation is important here.
You could use other vegetables, such as button mushrooms: remove stalk and place on platter like a boat, and then ll in.
Walking 16-20 kilometres day after day with 1000-metre daily ascents is not everyone’s idea of fun. But, for me, it was a dream come true, a longing fulfilled and happiness to look back on.
Ever since the idea of trekking entered my head, it was the Tour du Mont Blanc I had wanted to experience because it is perhaps the oldest and most iconic of treks in the world.
Many do this trek on their own but I was in a guided group which comprised six women and me. The chances of such a skewed mix are small but lightning has definitely struck the same place twice for me: on a previous trek, I had been in a group of eight with me being the only male. Would my wife allow me to go on another trek, I wondered.
But those concerns apart, sharing meals, discomfort, long walks and pleasant exchanges easily creates an interesting cohesion that kept us going for the duration of the trek.
Our first day dawned with low clouds as we started the walk from Les Houches in France. The track zig-zagged steeply higher as the weather worsened. The fabled views were obscured as a cold, misty drizzle saw us all put on wet weather gear that must be carried at all times.
A curious feature was the tiny sheds in the gardens of houses in this area. As Alpine houses are typically built of timber, people use these sheds to store valuables that would remain safe in the event of fire destroying the house. There was a greater fear of fire than of theft in these trusting mountain communities.
Easily the hardest day for me was the second, with an ascent of 1200m over a 22km walk. A clear, sunny day saw us on a steady climb through beautiful woodlands before reaching a flat area of meadows and cattle pastures. Ahead, the mountain starts to show its grandeur and far, far below lay our starting point, now no bigger than a dot. Past the tree line, there were massive boulders lying around and soon we could see patches of snow amongst the serrated, bare fang-like peaks. As I brought up the rear of our party, I was glad to see our destination, the Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme at 2400m, as it came into view.
Our accommodation was a mix of hotels and, in isolated places, Refuges. In Refuges, almost every inch of space is given over to sleeping and eating arrangements. Bunk beds are crammed into the smaller rooms.
Larger unisex rooms have the interesting feature of a raised platform with narrow mattresses placed next to one another over a huge area. Ear plugs are recommended and if one gets up at night, it is helpful to remember the location of your spot! The dining rooms are all tables and chairs in a trestle style and at 2500m, I was impressed to be provided with a four-course meal.
Once below the tree line, the track wound its way through breathtaking alpine flowers. For me, these were probably the highlight of the trek. All possible colours as far as
The Tour du Mont Blanc trek is as spectacular as it is challenging
the eye could see. At lower levels, the flowers were no longer ground-cover but shrublike, still retaining their profusion of colour and shape. The Edelweiss flower, which is quite rare now, is protected and not to be plucked. Wild strawberries bursting with flavour were a real treat.
We crossed the border into Italy at a very windy Col de la Seigne (2516m), heading for Rifugio Elisabetta. The track changes constantly from shale to rock and follows a line of cairns. All through the walk, we encountered mountain streams. One or two had bridges, but mostly it was a case of stepping stones across fastflowing water. One false step could have had dire consequences but our ever alert guide often provided a helping hand, making for a safe crossing.
We were heading for our rest day in Courmayer, a stylish Italian town. The walk through Val Veni has views of eyecatching mountain peaks and glaciers. Walking along the valley floor, I saw marmots on guard scurrying off, before I could even reach for my camera. The descent into Courmayer was long and steep and I was thankful for all the training
I had put in, without which the walk would have been impossible.
Coming out of Courmayer, the climb is reputedly the toughest of the trek with endless zig-zags to reach the high point through a forest of trees and then eventually down to Rifugio Bonatti. After we crossed the Swiss border, sure enough, there was a sight of very pretty cows ringing their bells. Champex has a delightful lake and I recall my dinner of freshly caught trout and a pleasant walk back to the hotel in good company.
The views on this trek vary depending on where you are. We had seen the Rhone valley of France, looked at Swiss villages, seen Mont Blanc covered in snow, moraines and glaciers and barefaced mountains. Over time, walking was becoming a habit even though the backpack never seemed to get any lighter.
It had been many days since the start. We had been blessed with good weather. What was previously anticipation with some nerves, now turned into sheer pleasure and a sense of achievement. I said goodbye to my group and au revoir to delightful Chamonix.
Once below the tree line, the track wound its way through breathtaking alpine flowers. For me, these were probably the highlight of the trek. All possible colours as far as the eye could see
Rajkummar Rao may be on an awardwinning spree, but humble that he is, he says that he is not dreaming about the Oscars.
Rajkummar was named the Best Actor (Critics) for Newton and also won the Best Supporting Actor honour for Bareilly Ki Bar at the Star Screen Awards in early December. Newton is India’s of cial entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.
But the actor said, “I am not dreaming about Oscars. I know it is better to be just neutral and be happy about the fact that it is India’s of cial entry for the Oscars this year.”
In 2017, Rajkummar had six releases in a row, and they were successful. “It is kind of a sixer! I am happy about the fact that most of my lms did well and people like my efforts and sincerity,” he added.
Next year, Rajkummar will be seen in Love Sonia, 5 Weddings, Omerta, Shimla Mirchi, Fanney Khan and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga
The actor will be attending the Oscars ceremony next year with the Newton team. And we’ll keep our ngers crossed that Newton makes the nominations.
Alia Bhatt was “heartbroken” after the Shaandaar debacle. But she says she is now more prepared to face failure.
The daughter of lmmaker Mahesh Bhatt talked about the ups and downs in her career with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in an episode of Lux Golden Divas- Baatein with the Badshah
“Touch wood, 90 per cent of my lms fared well at the box of ce. But there has been one failure, and because of that failure, I am more calm now... for some strange reason. Shaandaar didn’t work at the box of ce. I was heartbroken. I could not believe it,” Alia said.
“I turned to my father. He was the only person I was speaking to and then I went on a holiday solo to mourn the loss.”
The Udta Punjab star added, “I felt terrible, but after that I felt ho gaya (it’s done). The bandage has been ripped. I have faced my rst failure, and I will be ready for whatever comes. Getting up after the failure is very different. My father sent me this poster with Frank Sinatra’s quote ‘The best revenge is massive success’.”
Alia also talked about the Shaandar failure at the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Goa. “That made me stronger as a person. It made me that realise if a lm is good, it will do well, if it doesn’t that means it didn’t deserve to do well,” she said.
Highway was the lm in which Alia got a lot of praise. Talking about it, she said, “It changed me as a person and an actor as it pushed me out of my comfort zone. The process of working on such a complex character made me hungry as an actor. Imtiaz is very protective of me and keeps telling me that we haven’t nished yet. There’s a lot to be explored in you as an actor.”
Alia was recently praised by some critics to the extent that they compared her acting skills with yesteryear iconic female stars. “It becomes slightly uncomfortable when people compare you with yesteryear actresses like Madhubala, Nargis and Waheeda Rehman. It sort of disrupts me and changes my thought process, so I never allow such thoughts to come to my mind,” she said.
While Tiger Shroff looks up to Hrithik, there are people even Hrithik looks up to.
The actor, who will be seen as Patnabased mathematician Anand Kumar in a biopic titled Super 30, says it’s an exciting role as teachers are the stars in everyone’s lives.
The biopic, which is being helmed by Vikas Bahl, will showcase the life of the mathematician, who trains 30 deserving, economically backward students for IIT-JEE - the entrance exams of IIT - each year, with a commendable success rate.
“I am very excited because I am on the heels of doing a very inspiring lm called Super 30,” Hrithik said.
“I feel one of the most glamorous things and the biggest stars we have in our life are our teachers because they educate and help in progress of human species,” he added.
One of the stylish stars of Bollywood, Hrithik was asked about his personal style statement and whom he looks up to as a style icon.
He said, “It’s a dif cult question because I feel I don’t have a personal style statement. I look up to people for other things and not necessarily for style. I think what inspires me and what I nd very stylish is con dence.
I feel con dence is one thing that comes from your accomplishments and accomplishments come from hard work. So in short, if you work hard, you will eventually look stylish.”
Hrithik’s last big screen outing was Sanjay Gupta’s Kaabil with Yami Gautam.
Tiger Shroff, who will be seen sharing screen space for the rst time with Hrithik Roshan in lmmaker Siddharth Anand’s yet untitled project, says he will have to prepare a lot to try and match his ‘idol.’
“I am more keen on working with Hrithik Roshan. I am the most excited about the lm and really thankful that I am getting an offer to work with him so early in my career. He is my idol. Whatever I am today, it is because of what I saw of him while growing up,” Tiger said.
“I will have to prepare a lot. He is a very hardworking actor. He gives it his 100 per cent, and then I will have to give 200-300 per cent to match up to him... Although I know I will never be able to match up to him,” he added.
We think that with both Tiger and Hrithik being amazing dancers, a dance-off in the lm would a feast for the eyes, and really give Tiger a chance to shine.
The new project will be under the Yash Raj Films banner. It will also feature Vaani Kapoor.
Tiger will next be seen on-screen in Baaghi 2. He sports a new avatar sans his long hair for it.
Sunny Leone is excited about featuring in action sequences in a period war lm in Telugu.
The actress has been signed up for a movie to be directed by VC Vadivudaiyan. Ponse Stephen is producing the lm. The yet untitled lm will be “based on the culture of south India,” read a statement.
For this project, she is all geared up to learn sword- ghting, horse-riding and other stunts. Go, girl!
Sunny has given a call sheet of 150 days, and around 70 minutes of the
movie is said to be computer generated imagery-driven. It will be released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.
“After this movie, I am sure my image will change completely. I have always liked doing action sequences. I was waiting for a script like this for years.
“I have a special love towards south India, so I am very happy to do a straight Telugu movie. I have a lot of my fans in south India, especially Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.”
The shoot will start from February.
Salman Khan, who will soon be seen in Tiger Zinda Hai - as an action hero with a romantic touch - says it’s “always good to romance.”
“It is not good to ght, but always good to romance,” Salman said of his role in the Ali Abbaz Zafar directorial. The movie also features Katrina Kaif. Their latest song Dil diyan gallan, a love ballad shot in a classic Yash Chopra reminiscent songs, has been loved by fans.
“Everyone has really appreciated the songs. And now on 22 December, we will nd out the destiny of the lm,” Salman said.
Salman has not been in good health, and lack of rest is not helping him at all.
“The environment is not suiting me these days. I am suffering from viral,
which refuses to leave me because I am not getting a break from work. I was at HT Leadership Summit recently, then I graced IFFI, and I have to host Bigg Boss on the weekends. And on top of that, the Tiger Zinda Hai dubbing is going on. So, I am not getting any rest.”
Looks like this ‘Tiger’ needs some R&R.
Actress Swara Bhasker says the lm industry is a powerful carrier of messages, speci cally when it comes to raising awareness about different social issues.
The Nil Battey Sannata actress was in Gurugram recently to help raise awareness about autism.
She says autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder which is a “rampant phenomenon”, is considered a taboo subject in India.
Swara said, “The lm industry is a very powerful carrier of messages. Since the industry involves people who have a vast following, the individuals become tools to communicate varied messages to their fans.
“We as an industry try to make movies which help people understand the issues at hand. I’m so honoured to be that message carrier, spreading awareness about autism and negating any inhibitions that are associated with it.”
KATRINA KAIF or KRIS JENNER in lemon print
DOLCE & GABBANA?
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Richa Chadha recently reprimanded some enthusiastic fans for following her on bikes.
“Got followed by some over enthufans on bikes in Bandra. You are a hazard to the safety of pedestrians and other vehicles on the road. Certainly no way to ask for pictures. Sudhar jaiye (Please improve),” Richa tweeted.
Looks this is the kind of fan ‘following’ actors don’t appreciate, and good on Richa to speak up.
Celebrities often get chased by fans for autographs and sel es, irrespective of where they are.
Just last month, Mumbai Police issued a challan to Varun Dhawan for obliging a fan by taking a sel e from his car. He was photographed partly out of his car’s window and taking a sel e with a female fan who was seen travelling in an auto rickshaw.
But Varun later apologised for his behaviour, and said, “Next time I’ll keep safety in mind and won’t encourage this.”
Akshaye Khanna says that for the longest time he had a fear of facing the media. However, he now understands its importance in the business of cinema.
Akshaye, son of late actor Vinod Khanna, maintained the image of a recluse for a long time.
Asked why, Akshaye said, “I do not know why. Quite wrongly, for the longest time, I thought that the media peopleall the journalists - are here to criticise me, to pull me down and to put me under a bad light. So, I kept avoiding... and I maintained a distance.”
He has since overcome it, thankfully.
“I sat down and analysed the role of media to promote an art form. Now I know that you people are here as our collaborators, to promote a lm, so that it can reach out to the larger audience. Now I am comfortable talking to journalists. Media plays an important part in the business of cinema, I have learnt it,” he added.
That’s right, Akshaye. We’re not all bad!
What’s the chitchat here between MISS WORLD MANUSHI and PM MODI?
Send your response to: media@indianlink.com.au TO WIN A MOVIE TICKET!!
What’s the quiet chitchat here between RANVEER and DEEPIKA?
Lalmani Kharel:
Ranveer: Umm Deepika, why are we dressed as Bajirao and Mastani when Padmavati is releasing in a week?
Deepika: Why does it even matter Ranveer? We are married now, you dress exactly how I tell you to dress, ok?
Ranveer: Damn it! What has Shahid done to you! I thought I wore the pants in this relationship?!?!
Congrats, Lalmani! You win a movie ticket!!
For other responses, see the Your Say section (Page 5)
As the couple hitches a ride with four sinister ‘strangers’ (billed simply as ‘strangers’), the intuitively improvised narrative gathers its cumulative strength by letting the couple’s destiny hang in abeyance.
STARRING: Rajshree Despande, Kannan Nayar
DIRECTOR: Sanal Sasidharan
HHHHH
The rst 15 minutes of this jolting experiment with truth and nails seems completely unrelated to the rest of the lm.
This is what you get when there is no formal screenplay. S Durga (S by the way, stands for ‘Sexy’ but shhhh!) was shot over one night on a barren highway with no script. The lm is a marvel of improvisation. Director Sanal Sasidharan is not afraid to plunge into the abyss of the unknown as he explores the sexual dynamics of caste,
gender and religious discrimination on a scarily dark desolate stretch of a road less travelled.
In some unexpected way, the highway becomes a metaphor for the sociocultural imbalances in our society where the bullies often posing as custodians of the country’s moral values take over the destiny of ordinary citizens.
And so it happens with the couple Durga (Rajshree Despande) and Kabeer (Kannan Nayar) who are on the run.
The girl is Hindu and North Indian. And the boy is a Muslim from Kerala. Yup, this is the forbidden frightening world of ‘love jihad’ as seen through the eyes of a director who suffers with the couple and is able to transmute their feeling of growing dread to the audience.
We never know till the end what will happen to them. When we leave the couple, we are given no assurance that they will be safe from predators and perverts. But we do know that the strangers who have given them a ride, are taking them for a ride that is most likely end in a horrible crime. Will the girl be raped? Will they be murdered? Or will the couple be robbed and allowed to escape with their lives?
As the scriptless voyage into the unknown reaches an end, you will nd yourself sending up a prayer for Durga - who is sexy because she is not doing what sexy people normally do in lms, namely act wounded vulnerable and hysterical under stress - and Kabeerwho is Muslim and in the company of his Hindu soulmate on a desolate highway… can it get any scarier? Can we ever hope for a balanced social order when two young adults can’t feel safe together?
S Durga is not an easy lm to watch. Its aura of uncertainty makes
STARRING: Kapil Sharma, Monica Gill, Ishita Dutta, Anjan Shrivastava, Edward Sonenblick
DIRECTOR: Rajiev Dhingra
HHHHH
In his second - and far superior to the rst - outing as a feature- lm star, Kapil Sharma has a special skill. He kicks ass. Literally. With one foot in the butt, he can heal the most stubborn backaches.
It doesn’t take long for the curious British of cer - yes, Firangi is set in the colonial Raj - to hone in on our hero Manga’s unique talent. The rest of this wildly enjoyable pokerfaced comedy has a lot to do with how Manga uses his talent to get his way with the Gora Log.
First things rst. Firangi is an original and frequently clever take on the tricky relationship between the colonizers and the colonized. And though Kapil Sharma is no Aamir Khan and this is no Lagaan, Firangi often careens audaciously towards making a complete fool of itself but pulls back just in time.
Take a bow, then, Kapil Sharma. And his director Rajiev Dhingra for a lm that offers the elementary pleasure of cinema that relies on simplicity artlessness and a humorous candour to glide across a well-executed colonial saga where the British are not barking tyrants and the Indian peasants are not always the doeeyed oppressed innocent creatures we want them to be.
For a lm that aims only to alchemise British India into primal entertainment - and succeeds in doing so - Firangi displays a great eye for visual detail.
From the clothes and mannerisms of the British characters to a matchbox with the British ag painted on it, Shabana Kannnam’s art direction and Rashid Rangrez’s production design are top-notch.
Throughout the lengthy but never dull narration, the director employs an offhand tone, that suggests we don’t take the quirky colonial saga too seriously. But look closely. You will see the lm leaves nothing to chance. From the attractive songs and the eye-catching authentic locations in rural Punjab to the absolutely delightful supporting cast, Firangi gets it
right in the bright light.
Every cameo of the villagers in revolt against the local British ruler (Edward Sonenblick, playing the white oppressor with some arrogance and some compassion) is well-etched. Kumud Mishra as buffoonish royalty sucking up to the Britishers represents a very true chapter of history from British India when princely states sold themselves out to the British. Inaamulhaq as Kapil’s pal has to run around in a bridal out t for the climax
you uncomfortable and queasy. It is thoroughly unpredictable and frequently out of control.
The cinematographer (Prathap Joseph) goes with the couple’s fears and insecurities capturing, not the outside world that creates these negative thoughts but the emotions that ow from within the couple as they try to remain calm under stress.
The thing about S Durga is, nothing happens to the couple. Not really. Till the end they are unharmed. And the social transgressors who offer them a ride keep reassuring the couple that they are safe in their company.
But are they? Director Sanal Sasirdharan constructs a spiral of terror without actually surrendering to the rituals of horror.
Watching S Durga, you may feel at times like a wayward traveler who has lost his way while trying to escape from a situation of oppression. In doing so, the lm creates yet another level of ineluctable terror. Tyranny, oppression and persecution are inescapable in a society where children are taught to look at the opposite sex with curiosity and other religious communities with caution.
It’s not love jihad we should ght. It is the aversion to love - and not just romantic love - that needs drastic revision in our social order. S Durga, in its unrehearsed improvised way, tells us why love is such crime on the highway to hell.
Subhash K Jhawhile Anjan Shrivastava as a Gandhian freedom ghter must project righteousness without seeming pompous.
Those who think Kapil’s days are numbered should make it a point to see what unrehearsed energy he brings to even the most mundane conversation about a bar of soap.
And guess who makes a very special appearance at the end? No, it’s not Sunil Grover.
Subhash K Jha
You wouldn’t have even considered this a few years ago: a mainstream Bollywood film winning an Australian cinema award.
Aamir Khan’s super-duper hit Dangal took the Best Asian Film at this year’s AACTA Awards held in Sydney on 6 Dec.
No, the diminutive superstar wasn’t around to accept the award and say his thank-yous. Nor was director Nitesh Tewari. This honour was left to cast member and former soap opera queen Sakshi Tanwar. And what a perfect ambassador, given the film is about women’s empowerment.
Sakshi accepted the award, and an awkward hug, from Russell Crowe.
But it was Lion that roared the loudest, taking all five big awards - Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. It also took seven craft awards, making it 12 awards out of 12 nominations.
Sunny Pawar’s Best Actor Award - in a category that boasted some of the nation’s top talents - is history-making. At nine years of age, little Sunny is the youngest winner of the Best Actor Award.
Indian thespian and head of the Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India Anupam Kher was on stage to announce this category alongside Aussie star Martha Dusseldorf, and he perhaps said it best: this is one actor we can all
learn a lot from.
Sunny wasn’t in the audience to collect his award in person, but spoke on screen from India, remembering to wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Sunny has upstaged Simon Burke who was 15 when he won the Best Actor award 41 years ago.
Besides Sakshi and Anupam, the other Indian personality gracing the occasion
was Shabana Azmi, who served on the Grand Jury adjudicating for the Asian Film category, in its debut appearance at the AACTAs. Two other Indian films - Pink and Kaasav: The Turtle - were among the nine nominated in this category
The other films came from Japan, South Korea, China and the Phillippines Will Dangal pave the way for more Indian films winning Aussie awards? Time will tell.
Rajni Anand LuthraThe youngest of the famous Kapoor brothers of Bollywood, he did not have their one defining and enduring cinematic image - Raj’s simple, honest ‘tramp’ in the Charlie Chaplin tradition or Shammi’s Elvis-like jiving, rebellious ‘playboy’ persona.
Shashi Kapoor, however, surpassed both in sheer variety of acting. Be it romantic heroes, ‘common man’ roles, decadent princes, aging poets and even angels, he brought the same charm and intensity to all of them.
He died at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai on 4 December at age 79 after a period of hospitalisation.
Though among his first appearances onscreen were as a young Raj Kapoor in his elder borther’s directorial debut Aag and the more acclaimed Awara, his first lead role was a Hindu fanatic in Yash Chopra’s bold Dharmputra (1961).
This happened to be one-off as Shashi, with his copybook good looks, rakish smile, infectious charm, toothy grin and languid drawl, was more suitable as a lover-boy who always got the girl. In this avatar, he once even pipped Amitabh Bachchan - in Kabhie Kabhie.
He was also famous as a reasonable foil to the smouldering angry man in a number of films and it was in one of these roles where he once spoke the four most iconic and immortal words in Bollywood’s history - Mere paas maa hai in Deewar.
Born on March 18, 1938 in the then Calcutta to Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarn ‘Rama’ Devi, Balbir Raj ‘Shashi’ Kapoor not only straddled commercial and ‘art’ cinema, but also became India’s first international star, starring in several acclaimed IvoryMerchant films among others.
In these he was not only cast in predictable roles - a decadent nawab (Heat and Dust), a prince-turned-ascetic (Siddhartha) or a devious local notable (in The Deceivers, opposite Pierce Brosnan) - but also in more realistic, nuanced ones - a lower middleclass teacher (The Householder), a flamboyant Bollywood star (Bombay Talkies), a narrator to Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s life (Jinnah) and a poet in the twilight of life and reputation (Muhafiz/In Custody).
But Shashi Kapoor, for all his international prowess, was also a major player in Bollywood with appearances in 148 films between 1945 and 1998, in which he was the sole hero in 61 and a lead hero in 53 multi starrers, supporting actor in 21, did 7 guest appearances and did four roles as a child artiste (including the two RK films).
These included such evergreen hits such as BR Chopra’s Waqt (where he again happened to be the youngest brother to flamboyant elder siblings Raj Kumar and Sunil Dutt); Jab Jab Phool Khile opposite Nanda; the madcap Pyar Kiya Jaa (which happened to be among the funniest movies made in Bollywood); Haseena Maan Jayegi opposite Babita, who later became his sister-in-law and mother
of Karishma and Kareena; Fakira, Kaala Patthar (where he held his own against Amitabh and Shatrughan Sinha), Do Aur Do Paanch, Silsila, Shaan, Namak Halaal and New Delhi Times, where he played a crusading newspaper editor.
Then, there were some grey roles in films like Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Kalyug - a contemporary retelling of the Mahabharata in which his character is named Karan, and is totally like his mythological namesake, including in the manner of death.
This was still not the entirety of Shashi Kapoor’s contribution.
In 1980, he started his own film company, using his Bollywood earnings into making films with the likes of Shyam Bengal and Aparna Sen. These included gems like 36 Chowringee Lane, which saw his wife, veteran theatre actor Jennifer Kendall as an aging teacher in a changing, oblivious world, Junoon, Vijeta - a paean to the Indian Air ForceUtsav and Kalyug.
He also had acclaimed performances in some of them, particularly the 1857 revolt drama Junoon where it takes a stern Naseeruddin Shah to remind him of his duty.
His contribution was recognised with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement award in 2010 and the highest accolade - the Dadasahab Phalke Award in 2015.
In his life too, he played several roles - a member of an already famous film clan marrying into another performance-
inclined family of Jennifer Kendall, India’s first international star, arguably the most handsome Hindi film actor of that period, a producer who backed some of the best independent movies in India in the 1970s and 1980s, a theatre enthusiast, the family man who did all he could to support his household - even if it meant acting in a few rather terrible (but well-paying) movies, as recent biographer Aseem Chabbra maintains. A star definitely, he was, above all, an eminently likeable star as all his contemporaries and co-stars attest willingly. And that is ultimately what’s important.
You are ready for the season well in time, Aries. While others ap and op in the holiday frenzy, you like being a step ahead and why not, dashing Aries? You play host in your inimitable style, welcoming people into your well designed space with an exuberance that is fetching. You waltz away the season gathering hearts and a trail of the starry-eyed as only The Magician can. There is a surprise addition to your gathering that gladdens your heart.
LEO
July 21 - Aug 22
Spiritual power and personal fortitude are yours, Leo, with the card of Strength edifying your reading this month. You are acknowledged for your skills yet you may choose to still yourself in the whirlwind of action, quietly believing in yourself. Keep things on the go as the Three of Wands shimmies creative ideas into your mind for jingles, advertisements and catch-phrases. You will be working on partnership as you party and expanding your reach will be easy as Christmas pie.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22 - Dec 21
Your intuition is your best friend this month and will guide you with mysterious accuracy. As the blessings of Lady Luna herself grace your reading, take a deep breath and wrap yourself with swathes of comforting moonshine. Are you considering a change in your home environment? You’d bene t best from your own advice. Whether you move house or refurbish an existing one, it is certain to have more comfy corners and vibrant hues as you generously wield your magic touch.
April 20 - May 20
It’s been work all the way for you and it’s time for you to reap its reward, Taurus. The Chariot indicates that you could loosen up a bit, though. You have accomplished all you set out to achieve and you can bask in that knowledge. The Page of Wands invites you to consider a new activity for these holidays. A trek or an outdoor sport may prove interesting. With loved ones joining in, it promises to be a memorable time.
VIRGO
Aug 23 - Sep 22
You may want to stop the world and get off for a bit, Virgo, but you may need to reconsider since you are not alone. Weaving loved ones into your plans may take more effort than you planned but do prioritize that as it will be rewarding for all. Most of all for you, Virgo, as you have had to hold yourself back due to circumstances. You experience great joy when you give others what you most want to receive.
CAPRICORN
Dec 22 - Jan 19
We all love you, December! You swirl in with ribbons of red, green and gold binding families in abiding love. Around hearths and trees go stockings, buntings, candy and gifts, carolers bring us joyous tidings. May times of togetherness be opportunities for us to create happy and lasting memories.
GEMINI May 21 - June 20
The Sovereign card appears in your reading asking you if there is a career matter for which you need someone older and wiser to come along and provide you with perspective. Your path is smooth sailing once you take this person on board. The Two of Cups brings a cherished plan to fruition - a dear project, a fresh advertisement, the launch of a new product or book will be all you envisioned and more. The key is to persevere.
LIBRA
Sep 23 - Oct 22
You are in the midst of a lot of planning. And it’s all happily connected with love! It might be trousseau shopping, honeymoon reservations or wedding plans - you’re neck deep in the stuff of dreams. You are at the centre of the activities and you’re happy for it’s a wedding. Wedding bells may even chime for you this Christmas! The Knight of Cups further invites you to actively participate in all activities with gusto. Fly you to the moon, Libra!
Jan 20 - Feb 18
The art of balance is a challenge this month, Capricorn, as you seek to deliver at deadlines, tame targets and save your sanity! It’s really time to switch off the electronics and sink into a comfy spot by yourself. With music of your choice you’ll be restored soon enough. The only balance you need is the mind-body equilibrium. Small handwork projects might interest you and you receive joy in collaborating with family members as you make and pack personalized gifts.
You’ve been going solo for a bit, Aquarius, and you’re ready to make a change now. Work and family concerns had you in their grip but you’re not going with that anymore… the phase is over. Yes, you’ll party-hop till the right folk get you to stay! You will easily acclimatize with those who offer you conversation on mystic matters and opportunity to meditate and go within. The Ace of Discs brings you greater cash ows and you’re pleased as punch!
June 21 - July 20
If devoting time and energy into a project has left you feeling emotionally drained, Cancer, you need to slow down a bit. When you look back, you may feel you could have avoided some of that but hey, look ahead… life beckons! It is likely that there will be a happy change soon. Your burning the midnight oil hasn’t gone unnoticed. With the Eight of Wands your creativity touches a peak to secure for you a new and higher position.
SCORPIO
Oct 23 - Nov 21
The Queen of Wands asserts her creative presence and asks people to take notice. Prepare yourself for being in the public eye, Scorpio. You will be sought after for your advice on matters professional and personal. Your dynamic presence together with depth of knowledge reassures everyone around that you are the person to whom they can go to for the right direction. The card of Judgement brings you gently into a new phase
Feb 19 - March 20
The Wheel turns and you move forward in a new direction. New circumstances, new awareness and new ideas emerge and you feel the transition to a different level of existence. It’s exhilarating as you’ve been waiting for this change for some time now. Your friends nd your charm and affable wit irresistible so prepare for a guestfall! The Page of Discs urges you to humanitarian work and you reach out to your community. This is what completes you this Christmas.
confirmed it.
BY NURY VITTACHILazy dad tip: you can answer any question asked by your child with “Go ask your mama”, including “Where’s mama?”
The tragedy of modern life is that people look down on lazy individuals, not realising that Advanced Indolence is an art form.
And it’s better than working. Consider this. A man was sacked recently for working too hard. Bosses at Lidl supermarket in Barcelona gave Jean P. the boot after seeing security footage which showed him toiling from five o’clock in the morning.
A news cutting about this was put on this columnist’s desk by a colleague with a note saying it should be added to a file headed: “Things Which Will Never Happen To You.” Ha ha, very funny.
But it did reinforce my belief that hard work may actually be a bad thing, and I phoned a friend in human resources who
“Actually, you’d be surprised, but working over long hours is considered bad for the company,” she said, and sent me a link to the work of HR expert Suzanne Lucas, who showed that people who over-work prevent bosses from knowing how many man-hours any particular job needs.
But I’ll admit this is mostly a Western attitude. Bosses in Asia take an opposite stance, as shown by the case of Li Jianhua, who worked himself to death at his desk in Beijing in 2015.
His employers, the Chinese Banking Regulatory Commission, held him up as an example other staff should follow, saying (and I am not making this up): “We can all learn from Comrade Li Jianhua... who gave an unremitting struggle to perform his best and to sacrifice everything.”
Then a report flashed up on the news monitor which said that Richard Thaler, who just won the Nobel Prize for Economics, revealed the secret of his success: “Terminal laziness.” His “default tendency of avoiding work” led to him to focus only on the most intriguing puzzles, leading directly to his winning the Nobel Prize.
Match required for 40-year-old Christian Methodist female. Separated after brief marriage, no issues. Australian citizen, working as a teacher. 5’4”, wheatish complexion. Send bio data to rattan_16@yahoo.com
Brother based in Sydney seeks match for 39-year-old Mumbai-born, never married Gujarati girl. 5’4”, well-cultured, medium built, B.Com, working for international shipping company in Dubai. Hindu grooms please contact on 0416 475 948 or komaldxb@gmail.com
Seeking a professionally quali ed, settled match for Sydney-based, never married Australian citizen. Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 45, 5’3” slim, fair, attractive girl. Postgraduate and working on a good position in government organisation. Send details with photo indsyd2016@gmail.com
Looking for a match for our very good looking daughter, New Zealand citizen, 32-year-old, never married. 5’2”, very slim and talented. Masters in Taxation and works as a project manager in Melbourne. Ours is an upper middle class Sikh Arora family settled in Auckland. Looking for a good-looking, well settled and quali ed male preferably from Melbourne or New Zealand, from Indian good family background. Email shummirekhi@gmail.com with groom’s full details, photos and contact details
Match required for a well-settled, beautiful, 45-year-old Hindu female (looks much younger). Divorcee, professional educator, own house. Seeking well-settled and fun-loving groom for marriage. Caste no bar. Email deelgq@gmail.com or call 0422 794 566
Indian Christian Protestant parents, seeking a suitable match for their 37-year-old son, a software engineer, born and brought up in Australia. Prefer Protestant girl between 28-34 years of age. Email sammy5073@gmail.com or call 0403 836 360
Seeking a life partner of Indian origin, aged 25-35, for an Indian 54-year-old guy. Australian citizen, never married, living in Sydney, with engineering background. Contact Arun Tiku 0401 387 747 or email arun9tiku@yahoo.com.au
So there you have it. Your boss thinks you are a “work-shy waste of space suffering from terminal laziness” (to quote the sort of phrases used in this writer’s school reports) when actually this is the secret of high achievement.
Top role model? My files have two people tied in first place, both from India.
Government engineer A.K. Verma stopped going into work in 1990 but wasn’t actually sacked for 23 years. Teacher S. Kashyap who was fired only after bosses noticed she’d been absent for 23 years of her 24-year career.
But I also have a soft spot for police officer Albert Muraglia, 53, of San Remo, Italy. He lived in same block as the police station, so every day he would wake up, walk down to the time-clock in his underpants and check himself in to work. Then he would go back to bed. Sometimes he was too lazy to even do that, and he sent his child, in her pyjamas, to clock in for him.
Bonus lazy dad tip: when your wife tells you to round up the children for dinner, you don’t have to move. Just reach for the router and turn the wi-fi off. The kids will appear like magic.
