2018-01 Sydney (1)

FREE Vol. 25 No.4 (1) JANUARY (1) 2018 • www.indianlink.com.au FORTNIGHTLY

SYDNEY

S S A L C OF

7 1 20 RIZINA YADAV

PAUL JOSEPH ZOHAIR KAZMI

LAVANYA KUMAR YOHANN GHOSH

MANAN LUTHRA

AKANKSHA SINGH

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EDITORIAL

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

Canadian Gurdwara ban sets a dangerous precedent

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Nanditha Suresh, Shampa Bhattacharya Bruweleit, Himani Kothari, Maria Visconti, Minnal Khona, LP Ayer ADVERTISING MANAGER Vivek Trivedi 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

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BY PAWAN LUTHRA

D

ays after 14 gurdwaras in Ontario Canada banned the entry of Indian government representatives, other Gurudwaras in Canada and US have followed suit. The Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (APGC) have claimed that 96 gurdwaras in the United States have resolved to ban the entry of Indian officials.

This ban has been extended to RSS and Shiv Sena members from entering gurudwaras under their control. The UKbased Sikh Federation has proposed a similar ban.

The gurudwaras that have passed the resolution have done so as they hold the Indian government responsible for the June 1984 events when the Army entered the Sri Harmandar Sahib or Golden Temple and

40 other gurdwaras, to flush out militants hiding there. They also have accused the Indian government of interfering in the internal affairs of gurudwara management.

These developments in the Indian and Sikh diaspora are an unfortunate setback to India as it continues to develop its soft influence overseas. What has also been surprising is the anti-India sentiment which seems to have surfaced amongst parts of the overseas Indian community. It seems that while Sikhs in India have long since been reconciled with the government, resentment continues to simmer among expatriates in Canada and the US. As we go to print, there have been no similar bans made by the Sikh gurudawaras in Australia. In a recent incident, the Indian High Commissioner Ajay Gondane was accosted at a Melbourne gurudwara by a group of passionate attendees who wanted to vocalise their support for what they believed were unfair issues in Punjab. The community rallied behind the High Commissioner, taking to task the organisers behind the protest, appalled at the uncivilised manner in which it was undertaken rather than the content of

their grievances.

Over the years, the Sikh community in Australia has been at the forefront of building tolerance and understanding between the mainstream Australian and Indian communities. From the time of the 9/11 World Tower attacks, when the Indian community here rallied together to explain that turban-wearing Sikhs are not terrorists, to the outcry through social media when a young Sikh boy in Melbourne was denied entry to an exclusive Melbourne school thanks to his headgear, to the pride that is felt when the Sikh regiments and their descendants march at Anzac Day parades, we as IndianAustralians of all backgrounds and regions have supported each other as we have built a better life for ourselves and our children in our new home in Australia.

The choice is ours: we can pass on to future generations an appreciation of our heritage which they can utilise to advance their modern lives as individuals and as communities, or we can be bogged down by politics of division and hate from over 30 years ago when even people in India have moved so far on.

JANUARY (1) 2018 5

CONTENTS 26

SPECIAL FEATURES ACCOLADES Rare honour for IFFM Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange

19

PHOTOGRAPHY Sydney’s icons after sunset

26

COMMUNITY Teaching Telugu to kids in NSW

29

FOOD Mango three ways

35

BACKCHAT New Year resolutions of world leaders

29

19

COVER STORY

44

35

School finishers share what Year 12 meant to them

10

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YOUR SAY

2017 IN PICTURES

Our video collage of the best images from 2017 ‘clicked’ with a lot of readers Avi Chandiok wrote: Looking at the YouTube pics just shows how much work you all have done this year and do every year. All to such a high standard.

Gaurav Masand said: The compilation of all pictures from the year was wonderful.

GOOGLE HOME: AT YOUR COMMAND

PRIYANKA TATER reviewed a smart gadget Jack Smith wrote: Had the Echo since late 2014 and now several Google Homes. The big difference is the Echo requires commands that you have to memorize to use versus the Google Home supports natural language for most things. Makes the Google Home far easier to interact with.

BOWLED OVER

The BBL is a great format to get kids - including his son -interested in cricket, wrote SANAM SHARMA Ila Upadhyaya Barmola wrote: God bless the future cricketer with abundant happiness, everlasting success n unlimited scores… Lots of love little champ.

A ‘BEHTAREEN’ WAY OF ENJOYING BBL

The Hindi commentary on selected BBL and WBBL games was a superhit and widely heard. A BBL Facebook post about it racked up 23,000 views and over 100 likes Amy Dixon wrote: I’m surprised at the balance of languages in the commentary, specifically the amount of English for concepts like offside and leg stump. Thanks for posting.

Rani A wrote: Lovely to hear Hindi cricket commentary. Some wonderful insights from Sanjiv Dubey Aman Agarwal wrote: Fan from Calcutta Swapan Basu remarked: Nice yaar Reeti Trivedi wrote: Fun and insightful at the same time. Brought back memories from my childhood

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

A few days ago, we asked who was looking better, Padma Lakshmi or Lea Michele, in a Cushnie Et Ochs dress?

Preeti Jabbal wrote: This dress needs oomph and curves and Lea Michelle is rocking it .Sorry PL Rajinder Kaur agreed: Lee Michele Leyla Singh wrote: Lea Michele

8 JANUARY (1) 2018

MAKING A MARK

CHARUTA JOSHI interviewed India women cricket team’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur on her selection in the WBBL. Krishna Neelamraju wrote: The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) is presenting exciting new opportunities to the Indian women cricketers, helping them expand their horizons and gain crucial overseas experience. More excitingly, with the recruitment of the Indian stars, WBBL has the potential to reap a bonanza in cricket’s hottest media market - India.

India women cricket team’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur broke new ground in 2016 by becoming the first Indian player, male or female, to play in the Big Bash League after being picked up by the inaugural champions Sydney Thunders. Even though the Thunders couldn’t sustain their form in the second edition, Kaur’s stellar performances for her team won all-round praise and she became an easy pick for two more seasons. This success story of the Punjabi lass from Moga will inspire other Indian women cricketers to set sights on the WBBL. The 2016/17 WBBL02 season saw two superstars of Indian cricket, 21year old Smriti Mandhana and the 28-year old Kaur making their debut.

While Mandhana failed to excite and could not renew her contract, Kaur grabbed the opportunity with both hands. She became the Thunders team’s lead scorer for the season with an enviable average of 59.20 and earned a permanent place with the team. The all-rounder is now an integral part of the Thunders’ strategy to reclaim their title.

Overseas T20 leagues present golden opportunities for young Indian cricketers to play in different conditions and improve their skills. Harmanpreet Kaur is a great example for that.

The Indian captain’s experience training with the Aussies in their own backyard helped her rise to the occasion during the 2017 edition of ICC Women’s World Cup Semi-Final against Australia. Coming to the crease with India under pressure at 2-35, Kaur unleashed a monster innings of 171* of 115 balls that included 7 sixes and 20 fours. The record-breaking effort helped India secure a berth in the final. The Aussies witnessed with awe what a formidable player Kaur is and this no doubt played a part in the two-year contract renewal Kaur bagged.

Kaur’s Aussie adventures have serendipitously come at a transformative moment for the women’s cricket. The Women’s World Cup saw record viewership of more than 180 million people worldwide of which 156 million were in India alone. The final between England and India was played in front of a frenzied, sold-out crowd on the Lord’s cricket ground, the likes of which Women’s cricket has never seen before. It is no secret that the hard-core cricket fans of India are driving the game’s popularity worldwide and they seem to have found a new interest in women’s cricket.

Considering this, it will be a very savvy move to include more Indian players in the WBBL line ups. The opening match of the 2017/18 WBBL03 season on 9 Dec 2017 saw Kaur take a spectacular forward-diving catch to complete the Thunders’ win. The Aussie media may not have given it a lot of coverage, but the Indian media rolled out ecstatic coverage of the catch and the contenthungry news channels played the video on loop. This kind of media attention can help WBBL fill a gap in the lucrative Indian sports market while IPL remains restricted to men’s cricket.

WBBL03 season saw another Indian player, the flamboyant Veda Krishnamurthy, join the Hobart Hurricanes. If she is able to replicate Kaur’s success, more doors may open. At a time when interest is fast rising in women’s cricket, seeing a familiar face or a crowd favourite on the TV screens may capture the Indian viewer’s fancy. It will be a win-win for both the Australian and the Indian women cricket if WBBL can break through the Indian market, even for a few years before the inevitable launch of women’s IPL.

STAYING SAFE IN TWILIGHT YEARS

An event to mark Prevention of Elder Abuse Family Day sought to raise awareness about this issue. CARL BUHARIWALA reported Dilnaz Billimoria wrote: Please accept my personal thanks for always supporting our endeavours to promote harmony in the Indian community and to build bridges of trust between organisations, government bodies and CALD communities. Carl, thank you for attending our Prevention of Financial Elder Abuse Forum for the Indian community and your report in Indian Link. Building awareness of sensitive issues is the way forward, be it elder abuse, family violence, women’s health, etc with CALD focus.

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COVER STORY

Higher, Stronger,

RIZINA YADAV

Merewether High School ATAR: 99.80 Subjects: English Advanced, Chemistry, Legal Studies, Economics, Society & Culture.

Honours: 9th in Society & Culture, 16th in Legal Studies, HSC All-Rounder.

W

ith your HSC now done and dusted, you’ve probably had much opportunity to look back at it all with some wisdom. What did you learn about yourself in the HSC year?

Akanksha Singh: Being of Indian origin, your Year 12 results are not just your business but also your parents’! Prior to receiving my results, I was preparing my family to get ready for an ATAR under 85 (85 being my goal through the year). When I received an ATAR of 86.55 which my parents round off to 87, I realised that I underestimated myself and doubted my abilities. I learned that I am capable of achieving my goals and as my maternal grandfather (Nanaji) says, “Labour always pays.”

Lavanya Kumar: I learnt that I can work well under pressure and that I am more independent that I thought.

HSC was a period of growth not only for myself as an individual but also a growth in friendships.

Manan Luthra: Since there is a wide range of subjects to choose from, with only one core subject, I entered the HSC year with an interesting choice of subjects. As I went about my combination, I discovered a real interest in media and the entertainment industry, slowly becoming the sector I most want to work in. Complementing my passion for law, I carved out a career aspiration that I look forward to continue engaging with as I start university. Also resulting from this, I found a capacity to work that exceeded anything I previously knew, definitely good for the future!

Paul Joseph: During the HSC year, my ATAR prediction was well below what I wanted and even below my course requirements. However, during the HSC period, I studied hard and eventually achieved a good ATAR, albeit, below what I had expected. From all this, I learned that I will not give up and that with enough determination coupled with hard work, anything is achievable.

10 JANUARY (1) 2018

YOHANN GHOSH

PAUL JOSEPH

St Aloysius College ATAR: 90+ Subjects: English Advanced, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, 2

Knox Grammar School ATAR: 97.00 Subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics Advanced, English Advanced, Ancient History

Rizina Yadav: Through Year 12, where passions, subjects, intelligence, friendships, as well as life purpose and meaning, were all challenged, I began to understand what I truly love doing, how I deal with adversity, and what matters most in life to me. Although I only did 10 units, which equated to five subjects, I became engaged in three and developed a considerable dislike towards the other two. This taught me about my strengths, weaknesses and interests, ultimately confirming my desire to pursue law and arts (psychology) at university.

Furthermore, as assessments piled up and things didn’t go exactly as planned, I learnt that I often give up too easily and need to multi-task to stay engaged. Finally, as different aspects of my life - academic, extra-curriculars, family, and friends - pulled me in different directions all at the same time, I began to realise what I value most. I value friendships, family, and extra-curriculars, and was often too ready to shove my academic pursuits to the side!

Yohann Ghosh: The HSC year, for me, was emotionally exhausting. Often, I would work very hard in some areas of study but other areas would ultimately bring me down. Through this experience, I can say that the HSC does not measure an individual’s passion, intellect or understanding but merely requires a certain minimum effort so as to pass the academic threshold of the curriculum. Further, for the majority of the year, this effort was simply writing back on paper what we were told by teachers in class. I treated last year as one for personal growth, emotionally and intellectually. In retrospect, it is my perception that all HSC students with a real resolve to grow as people should meet the minimum required by the curriculum whilst also searching for meaningful academic rigour, strongly founded sense of self-worth and purpose.

Zohair Kazmi: As clichéd as it may sound, anything is

possible. If you are determined and put in the hard yards, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals. I wish I learnt this a tad earlier in my HSC year because knowing that my dreams were within reach helped me overcome my procrastination and to finally get things done.

What were your expectations going into the HSC year?

How did reality compare?

Akanksha: I expected some sort of magical change in my attitude as if I would naturally want to study all the time.

In reality, I got tired very quickly and lost motivation easily. I had to consciously force myself to study and stick to a routine.

Lavanya: I expected it to be stressful 24/7 but realised that only exam periods were stressful and that I could still participate in extra-curriculars, hang out with my friends and become a more well-rounded person - more so than my other years of high school combined.

Manan: I approached the HSC trying to be as objective as possible about my work, knowing I would develop a lot academically over the year and therefore there was no such thing as a ‘perfect’ essay or major work. However, particularly leading up to trials and the HSC, I found myself taking pride in what I had created - particularly with my creative writing in English, and a portfolio of theatre reviews I completed for Drama. I knew it wasn’t perfect, but I was still incredibly proud of the quality of work I dedicated a year to; I am certain I will never write to that level again for some subjects!

Paul: As a student before the HSC, I underestimated the difficulty and the amount as well as quality of work needed in order to attain a high ATAR. Going into the HSC year, I believed that an ATAR over 99 was an attainable task, given the right amount of effort, yet the reality of the HSC and its difficulty hit me. The

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Cleverer

MANAN LUTHRA

Knox Grammar School ATAR: 99.65 Subjects: Drama, English Advanced, English Extension 1 & 2, Legal Studies, Maths General 2, Modern History Honours: 2nd in state Drama, 18th Legal Studies, HSC All-Rounder.

competitiveness and hard work needed was something that I failed to keep up during the internal component of the HSC and unfortunately was only something I was able to realise during the exam period.

Rizina: I remember being bombarded with advice regarding Year 12 and also zealously seeking it from people I knew. Overwhelmingly, the notion was that the HSC year is incredibly challenging and you’ll be studying 24/7. But the reality was quite different. Yes, the HSC year is difficult, and a significant amount of studying is involved, but it all depends on the individual person: what your goals are, how quickly you learn, how much effort you need to put in, and what skills you already possess. And most importantly, the advice overlooked the incredible personal growth that occurs over this period and the multitude of meaningful relationships you form ultimately that’s what Year 12 is about.

Yohann: My expectations of the HSC had been based off the academic rigour in my junior years at St Aloysius. The mentality of this school took a very holistic approach to education and provided a very strong basis for individual passion to thrive. This level of education fostered in me a passion for scientific research. But in the HSC, such levels of freedom and individual education were snuffed out. The rigid state-wide curriculums, especially in the sciences, make the exams highly predictable and left almost no room for me to showcase my personal understanding of complex topics. This meant that for the first time in twelve years of education, even class time was boring.

What extra-curricular activities or hobbies helped you maintain a balance between work and play?

Akanksha: I really like watching movies and going out for dinners, so I tried to go out with family or friends at least

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How the HSC year helped personal as well as academic growth

AKANKSHA SINGH

Tara Anglican School for Girls ATAR: 86.55 Subjects: Drama, Mathematics, Advanced English, Modern History, History Extension, Business Studies

once a week. I also did sport in Term 2 (Basketball) but in all honesty, I don’t think I was able to achieve a true balance between work and play because I forced myself to think that in order to succeed, I must sacrifice my social life which led me to say ‘no’ to quite a few social events and outings, and this isn’t the right mindset.

Lavanya: Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music, cycling, reading, playing my instruments as well as playing sport with my friends all really helped me to relax and forget about the expectations. It also gave me an incentive to have all my work and study completed each day so that I could enjoy my hobbies.

Manan: I was lucky in many ways with my HSC, being able to take subjects I have a real passion in. Drama class was always very practical and creative which provided a fun outlet for my energy. Yet, my participation in my local Army Cadet Unit every Friday afternoon (and for a full week in April at Singleton Army Base) as Second-InCommand of 130 younger students allowed me to take my mind off school and engage in something completely different. I’m glad to say that I can handle a sword, communicate on a radio, and wear a kilt!

Paul: During the internal assessments, I did largely neglect extra-curricular activities, only participating in the mandatory school sport and mostly ignoring teachers’ advice for exercise. However, during the HSC exam period, although a more stressful period, I indulged in my hobbies, mostly cricket with friends and family.

Rizina: Writing, volunteer work, public speaking, and lunches and dinners with friends formed a considerable portion of my HSC year. Although I did try in examination periods to focus exclusively on my studies, I found this tedious. Instead, shifting from one activity or social outing to another made the experience more enjoyable.

ZOHAIR KAZMI

Hurlstone Agricultural High ATAR: 94.70 Subjects: English Advanced, English Extension 1, 2, Mathematics, Chemistry, Hindi Continuers, Studies of Religion I

LAVANYA KUMAR

Girraween High School ATAR: 98.50 Subjects: English Advanced & Extension 1, Mathematics Advanced & Extension 1, Modern History, Legal Studies, History Extension, Chemistry (2016 accelerant)

JANUARY (1) 2018 11

COVER STORY

A study group definitely would have increased my engagement and interest in my subjects Rizina Yadav

Yohann: School social volleyball was one of many key parts of my HSC experience.

The camaraderie formed between myself and my team mates made for some of the most integral relationships of the year.

Indeed, attending a plethora of University engagements such as being the community judge for PhD and post-doc posters at UNSW’s International Nanomedicine Conference placed in perspective the triviality of the HSC as only the end of the beginning in my academic pursuits.

Zohair: I kept myself busy with extracurricular activities throughout Year 12 in my roles as a cadet, debater and prefect.

What would you have done differently, overall?

Akanksha: Even though I reached my ‘goal ATAR’ and I am proud of my achievements, I do regret a few things that I did this year. I chose to go to my tutoring lesson over my friend’s birthday party which I still feel guilty about. I would

have avoided leaving things for the last minute so I could have done more of what I truly enjoy: hanging out with friends and watching films! I think I would have also stressed less as stressing led me to procrastinate more.

Lavanya: I would probably have been less stressed during my trial exams and worked more efficiently. However, I wouldn’t change the fact that I focussed more on my creative pursuits over extra tutoring and overall, I have no regrets with how the year played out.

Manan: I think I could have spent less time on my major works, being more efficient with the research and drafting processes.

It is easy to invest a lot of time on them because of their heavily self-directed nature.

Paul: For a successful HSC year, consistency is the key. This entails that you ‘juggle’ your subjects, meaning that you do every subject every night, including the night before an exam as well as after the exam, still making sure that you dedicate

Find something to love about each of your subjects. My passion for Drama made study as well as revision less cumbersome Manan Luthra

more time to the exam subject 1-2 weeks before. This is what I failed to do during my internal assessments and would have liked to do differently.

Rizina: I regret not forming study groups for each subject. Studying, especially over an extended period such as the HSC year, can become boring and tiring. Especially as the HSC exams approached, I became lethargic and unmotivated. A study group definitely would have increased my engagement and interest in my subjects.

I would also have been kinder on myself.

We tend to set high expectations for ourselves. Instead of feeling inadequate in my abilities or regretting that I hadn’t studied more, I should have been happy with what I had actually achieved, and looked forward by improving my skills.

Yohann: What I would have done is please my teachers and markers by giving them the simple memorised responses that they were looking for in order to get higher marks. Unquestionably, my single

biggest mistake during the past year was allowing my study life not to be a part of me but instead be me. This denial of social interactions led to an unhappy mindset.

Zohair: I would’ve spent more time and effort focussing on my weak areas rather than wasting time going over things I already understood in depth.

How did you feel at the end of your first assessment of the year? How did you feel at the end of your final HSC exam?

Akanksha: The first assessment in Year 12 was one for Mathematics in class test. I remember feeling like I started my HSC year on a bad note after the exam.

I remember that the whole class was stressing over how the task weighs 10% of everyone’s internal marks, which is quite petty, now that I think about it. My final HSC exam was Drama, the last exam on the HSC timetable. I winged quite a few exams over the year but I had 10 days before my Drama HSC exam and so I was

CAMBRIDGE Mathematics

12 JANUARY (1) 2018

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I learned that I am capable of achieving my goals - as my grandfather says, “Labour always pays.” Akanksha Singh

completely prepared for it! I recall feeling really proud of concluding my school career on a happy note.

Lavanya: My first ever HSC assessment was as a Chemistry accelerant - I still remember feeling nervous during the exam because I had forgotten my basic equations and everything on batteries. However, that ended up being my best score on a HSC chemistry task! By the end of my other HSC exams, I didn’t feel a sense of anxiety during or walking out of the exam because the exams finished with a whimper rather than a bang.

Manan: Coming out of my first assessment, a piece of creative writing on the topic of ‘Discovery’ for English Advanced, I felt like there was a long road ahead. I was determined to keep my focus and motivation over the next 12 months, and I believe I kept to it. My last exam, which was my Drama theory paper, was held on the last day of the HSC cycle in the last timeslot - meaning when all my friends

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were taking a well-earned break I had to carry through a few days more! When we were told to put our pens down, for the first time in a year I felt empty-minded. I didn’t think about how I went, nor what I could change. I just felt calm. It was the best feeling in the world.

Paul: After my first assessment, I was very anxious as I realised there was still much more to be done. This was very different for HSC: after I finished, I felt pure elation, not worrying about any study, assessments, minor questions or even my marks.

Rizina: I was incredibly nervous about how I had performed and already developing a considerable dislike towards studying. I was elated to have finished the HSC exam, and was looking forward to the future, and reminiscing the good old days when we used to go to high school.

Yohann: My first assessment was an English oral with the area of study being ‘Discovery’. As a person who enjoys expressing unique ideas, this first

Anything is possible. If you are determined and put in the hard yards, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals Zohair Kazmi

assessment was encouraging for the year ahead. However, this notion turned out to be misleading as every subsequent task became more and more rigid. Even until my final exams the demands by the HSC to just regurgitate information became more blatant. So, at the end of my last exam (Economics) I felt incredibly liberated.

Social media now plays a big part in the lives of many HSC students. Did you find Facebook groups such as the HSC Discussion Group helpful?

Akanksha: I checked the HSC Discussion Group at least once a day. As sad as it sounds, it was my source of entertainment.

Seeing other people doing the HSC, made me realise that 70,000 people are also on the same boat as me. The discussion group really helped lift the pressure off me.

Lavanya: I found them extremely helpful in motivating me to study and work hard because of a sense of empathy and support with my peers. Social media also allowed

me to connect with my peers in all my subjects which allowed us to share notes and tips that boosted our individual and collective results.

Manan: Regardless of all the media hype around HSC Discussion Group, I found a lot of strength in the memes, banter and jokes posted on it - it made me realise that my struggles were not just mine alone. I think it also changed how we see exams; I remember sitting in English Paper 1 and subconsciously trying to identify what would inspire the traditional memes that come from the only exam paper the whole state sits!

Paul: Although social media was a distracter during the year, the various groups did prove useful when posting difficult or ‘outside the box’ style questions for us to answer.

Rizina: A platform for recording and sharing the tribulations of the HSC year, the HSC Discussion Group was very useful in creating the group sentiment that ‘we’re all in this together.’

JANUARY (1) 2018 13

COVER STORY

(Extra-curriculars) gave me an incentive to have all my work and study completed each day so that I could enjoy my hobbies Lavanya Kumar

Yohann: For me, social media is a very large distraction. I deactivated my Facebook account for the duration of the year. Sure, messaging applications on my phone helped me organise socialising with friends, but large discussion groups only result in many notifications and mundane conversations. Ultimately, the self-motivated student will already know all the available opportunities which are presented in such groups, instead choosing to engage with knowledge friends and mentors face-to-face and having no need for (anti-)social media.

Zohair: The HSC Discussion Group was an unexpectedly valuable tool in my HSC year. The group became a place where we shared tips, sought career advice; and most importantly, shared memes. I cannot recommend the group more highly as a place to network, learn or just to have a laugh.

What would your advice to future final year students be?

Akanksha: My friend Anna, who ranked between 1 and 3 in all her subjects told me

14 JANUARY (1) 2018

that the only way she got to where she was, was not through her natural intelligence but through serious and consistent dedication. Anna preferred to study at school and only left school around 7:30 pm every day. In her study time, initially she typed up all her notes for each subject herself. Later, she attempted past papers and then practiced paragraphs for essays.

In order to do well in Year 12, just make sure that you are putting in the effort you need consistently; don’t leave everything to the last minute like I did. (My parents were very understanding and I had some really nice friends and teachers to help me out; not everyone has that!) I also feel that most students don’t need that high ATAR as they also receive academic bonus points from almost all universities. Except for one or two courses (such as Medicine or Law), admission is not as difficult as we start imagining at the beginning of the year. There are Early Entry Schemes, School Recommendation Schemes and Academic Entry Programs that allow students to receive an offer before their

Don’t overthink the solution to your problems. The HSC is not a complicated challenge by life’s standards, you will get through it Yohann Ghosh

ATARs are released. These especially look out for students with an all-rounder persona and can be extremely helpful. So, do continue to involve yourself with the extra-curriculars that your school might offer. I myself received three offers before my ATAR was released.

Lavanya: You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on tutoring or a million hours studying. It’s about being efficient in how you study, taking breaks, setting goals and, more importantly, seeing that you reward yourself when you achieve them and work on improving yourself.

Also, don’t push away your friends or hobbies for school - you will be unhappy and have no incentive to study and get the results you want.

Manan: Find something to love about each of your subjects. Too many students choose subjects they dislike or find things to dislike about what they’ve chosen. I agree, sometimes it is hard to process what you’re being taught, but because the final exams assess everything you’ve been taught holistically, you must find out what appeals

to you in each module. It also makes revision and study less cumbersome if you are passionate about what you’re learning.

Paul: Pace yourself throughout the year.

Don’t let the weight of Year 12 make you go all out during the first weeks of the year only to find yourself tired and worn out during the rest of the year. Also, make sure to do each subject each night, meaning do your homework as well as a little extra (such as questions, essays etc.) and prioritise subjects when needed Rizina: Form study groups, maintain a balanced lifestyle, make sure you have friends you can always vent to, submit practice responses to your teacher, always do more than 10 units (Murphy’s Law + personal experience). It’s a challenging year but it’ll be over rather quickly and each time you make it through an examination period, the next one will be easier. And finally, remember that the education system is inherently flawed.

Yohann: Don’t overthink the solution to your problems. The HSC is not a complicated challenge by life’s standards,

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you will get through it. No matter how far away the end may seem or how difficult it feels, remember that it’s only thirty-six weeks or so of class. Further, never forget the HSC is extremely simple - just write down what the marker wants and you will be fine. In addition, get involved with everything you do. Never be the silent observer, be the active learner and this way you will learn more for yourself.

Zohair: Put the work in. It’s as simple as that. There are no shortcuts, and no hacks to success. If you manage your time wisely, you’ll realise you have everything it takes to smash the HSC. What moments from the past year do you remember most?

Akanksha: I think, because studies took over my life in 2017, I distinctly remember how my parents were extremely supportive and nice during all my weekly breakdowns. I also remember being sleep deprived and basically craving coffee 24x7.

I remember waking up at 3am on the day of my English exam to memorise 2 essays.

The night before each of my HSC exam was just hectic memorisation.

Lavanya: Hanging out with my friends, participating in interschool sporting competitions and extra-curriculars as well as being exempt from chores to “study”!

Manan: I threw a large party in April to celebrate my 18th birthday, inviting friends I hadn’t seen in a while because of school and work commitments. Organising it took a bit of time but luckily many of my friends were able to make it and we all got a nice study break after half yearly exams!

Paul: My first physics test where I missed a 7-mark question and thinking that it was impossible to achieve a Band 6, and then later achieving a high trial mark as well as doing well in the HSC, to ultimately allow me to receive a Band 6.

Rizina: The moments spent with close friends and teachers. The inside jokes, intellectual discussion, group events, and post-exam adventures.

Yohann: Biology and Chemistry labs were the highlight of my high school career.

Being so involved with the practice of science allowed me deviate from the very limited curriculum and make genuine discoveries about how the physical world works. From forming fruity esters with volatile chemicals to deconstructing a cow eye with surgical precision, learning was in my hands. Also, graduation night with my peers is a memory that will not fade from

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my mind for a long time.

Zohair: Spending time with my friends after school, and chatting the hours away in the library is a memory I’ll fondly cherish. Graduation was also a highlight as well - seeing my peers all across the finish line was an amazing feeling.

How did you celebrate the end of your exams?

Akanksha: After the HSC, I holidayed in New Zealand with my family. This is also where I celebrated my birthday and the trip really helped me destress!

Lavanya: Making a big deal about going out with your friends to your parents - then ending up at the food court in Westfield, window shopping at Kmart because you’d spent all your money on food then going home to your bed and Netflix (which you subscribed to DURING your HSC).

Manan: At the end of every HSC exam, I always treated myself to home-cooked dumplings and I found they reflected my mood quite well - if it was a bad exam I had less, whereas if it went well I had more! When all my exams were finished, six of my friends and I flew down to Melbourne for a week, staying in our own rented Airbnb and exploring the streets until the late hours of the morning!

Paul: I came home and watched movies for 6-7 hours without sleeping.

Rizina: An express two-week family trip visiting five countries in Europe and a weeklong stay in Queensland with a close friend.

Yohann: With family over dinner. My cousin also finished his HSC with me, meaning that the end of exams was a momentous occasion for four parents in our family. To celebrate, my aunty made an amazing dinner and we spent time with each other after many months of ‘study seclusion’. Also, the following day, I went on an overseas holiday with my parents and a close friend.

Zohair: I caught the bus home, snuggled up in bed, and started bingewatching Netflix. It wasn’t a very grand celebration, but for me, it was important to decompress. And for me, Netflix and Nutella worked best at doing just that.

Favourite quote from a teacher?

Akanksha: “Remember that, although I know you will do your best, these exams don’t define who you are or where you are going to go in life’s wonderful adventures.” - My English teacher

For a successful HSC year, consistency is the key. This entails that you ‘juggle’ your subjects, meaning that you do every subject every night Paul Joseph

Lavanya: “Remember that nothing is impossible - you just haven’t worked out how to do it. Your future is a choice, not a chance.”

Paul: “The HSC is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure to pace yourself.”

Rizina: “We live in a bourgeoisie capitalist society where the superstructure, through maintaining an archaic system of education, indoctrinates us to conform to their established way of life.”

Yohann: “Stay cool like a cucumber.”

Perhaps one of the most relatable quotes for any anxious student before an exam.

My biology teacher believed in me and this support allowed me to regain a confidence that had almost been beat out of me by the HSC year. To Mrs. Shih, thank you.

Zohair: “Never let perfection be the enemy of the good.” Thanks Ms Chapman.

Know any good HSC jokes?

Akanksha: No but HSC itself is such a joke…

Rizina: My HSC Results…

Yohann: M.A.N.G.O.

Zohair: Apart from the infamous mangoes, not really.

What was your Jersey name?

Akanksha: It’s just my surname, “SINGH” Lavanya: C’est LA Vie (my nickname is Lavi and it means ‘That’s life’ in French, but also literally means ‘It’s Lavi’- so a little wordgame for you all!)

Manan: Luthra King Jr (a play on the late Martin Luther)!

Paul: Appauling Rizina: RIZ_RAZ Yohann: Mundane but necessary.

Zohair: KamiKazmi Describe your HSC year in three (or four) words.

Akanksha: Chronic sleep deprivation Lavanya: A sine curve!

Manan: Reap what you sow.

Paul: Stressful, frightening, competitive Rizina: A year of concurrent growth and pain!

Zohair: Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

JANUARY (1) 2018 15

INDIA OZ

IABBV Hindi School students who recited the poems

Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani

Consulate General marks Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and World Hindi Day

G

ive back to the society, but don’t forget your motherland.

Continue to excel but also explore new frontiers. Be a responsible resident of your adopted home but also a proactive NRI. Promote Hindi.

These were some of the messages speakers gave at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) event organised by the Consulate General of India, Sydney on 9 January. The CGI also marked World Hindi Day in the same programme.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915.

Acting Consul General Chandru Appar began the proceedings, reminding the audience that it was the Atal Behari Vajpayee government that first began celebrating the day. Chandru called for a greater engagement of India-bound travel

by Australians. “NRIs in Australia should motivate Australians to visit India. Even if each of us can interest two Australians about India, cumulatively, it will make a big difference,” he said.

He praised Indians in Australia for the sizeable remittances to the motherland - pegged at close to USD 2 billion last year - and urged NRIs to contribute to the Swachh Bharat Fund and India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians.

Acting CG Chandru said that NRI should make a conscious effort to portray a positive image of India and curb the

16 JANUARY (1) 2018

tendency to say negative things at first.

Indian community elder Neville Roach, who spoke next, said that India can be ‘overwhelming’ for some people, but it is still a place to be experienced first-hand.

Referring to Shashi Tharoor’s book ‘Inglorious Empire’ and how the British exploited India, Roach said the Aboriginals were treated ‘far worse’ by European settlers in Australia. “We can naturally empathise with the Aboriginals and therefore should support them,” he said. He added that while PBD was a good initiative, a good NRI shouldn’t wait for one day in a year to raise their concerns to the government of India. “The feedback should be continuous and constructive, so that it helps the government improve its processes and mechanisms,” he added, reminding the audience that it also had an obligation to serve their adopted home.

Dr GK Harinath, Chair of Multicultural NSW, carried forward this thought when he said that while India is his janmabhoomi (land of birth), Australia is karmabhoomi (the land where one works).

He emphasised that Australia was a land of opportunities, where anyone who worked hard could make their mark.

And close to half a million Indians, with their dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, certainly have made their mark in Australia, said Sheba Nandkeolyar, National Chair of Australia-India Business Council (AIBC), who spoke next, also

recalling the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event she attended at Bengaluru, India, in 2017.

Giving back to the community also formed the crux of what Council of Indian Australians (CIA) President Mohit Kumar told the gathering. “Australians are some of the best in terms of giving back to the community. This is something NRIs should emulate. This doesn’t necessarily have to be in terms of money; you can also donate your time or labour,” he said. Kumar also said that NRIs should try to break the

audience in fluent Hindi, talking about his 40-year-old association with India and how being bilingual enriched one’s personality.

Charles’s remarks set the tone for the second part of the evening, in which seven students from the Indo-Australian Bal Bharathi Vidyalaya recited celebrated Hindi poems. To see Australia-raised children enunciating in chaste Hindi the stirring compositions written by the likes of Maithili Sharan Gupt and Dwarka Prasad Maheshwari left the audience

Even if each NRI can interest two Australians about India, it will make a big difference Acting CG Chandru Appar stereotype and pursue new career avenues.

“I would love to see the first Indian professional surfer in Australia, or the first Indian federal politician,” he said.

Harmohan Singh Walia of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) recalled his journey - and struggles - of establishing himself when he first came to Australia.

Rekha Rajvanshi of ILASA strongly called for promotion and preservation of Hindi.

Charles, a true-blue Aussie, addressed the

visibly impressed. The children and the poems they recited were Jayesh Nauriyal (16) - Koshish karne walon ki haar nahi hoti, Aryan Jatyan (17) - Sapne, Neha Saini (16) - Maa, Ronen Gupta (10) Haunsla, Pavani Chanana (14) - Jhansi ki Rani, Stuti Doshi (14) - Nar ho na nirash karo mann ko and Arya Wadhwani (11) - Itne unche utho. Thirteen-yearold Hritwik Nauriyal deserves special mention as he recited a poem, titled Lagan, that he himself had written.

A fitting conclusion to the evening!

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ACCOLADES Mitu (2nd from right) with the other winners

Woman of substance

IFFM Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange becomes first Australian-Indian woman to win the prestigious Jill Robb Award

BY PREETI JABBAL

T

his holiday season, Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Director of the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne (IFFM), had much to celebrate as she became the first Australian-Indian woman to receive the prestigious Jill Robb Award.

Mitu took home the Screen Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership, Achievement, and Service to the Victorian Screen Industry and for fostering cultural collaboration.

Jill Robb was the inaugural CEO of the Victorian Film Corporation (now Film Victoria) and a member of the Film Victoria Board from 1983-1989. As a producer and executive, Jill has been a role model for many screen practitioners, particularly women working in the screen sector.

Mitu is also the director Mind Blowing Films, a film production and distribution company that distributes Indian films throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Mind Blowing Films is three-time winner of the highest grossing foreign language

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film award at the Australian International Movie Convention for the films Dhoom 3, PK and Dangal.

Mitu’s passion and commitment as a proponent of Indian cinema in Australia is visible in her impressive drive in leading IFFM to its current form.

Since its inception in 2010, IFFM has progressed in both scope and scale under her direction. It is an initiative of the Victorian Government that aims to strengthen ties between the Indian film industry and Victoria.

IFFM was the first Indian event to win the 2016 Melbourne Award in the category of Contribution to Multiculturalism by a Corporation.

IFFM aims to showcase the diversity, quality and vibrancy of cinema from India and the sub-continent. Every year, the Festival attracts a line-up of Indian film industry celebrities and stars. It also provides a platform for up-and-coming filmmakers, dancers and performers to showcase their work.

In December 2017, the International Film Business Awards (IFBA), supported by the Government of Telangana, honoured IFFM with the title of Most Popular Festival Abroad.

Most recently, the Jill Robb award added another impressive accolade to Mitu’s

profile. She was understandably elated to be recognised for the prestigious honour.

“The award is decided by Film Victoria and to be honest I had no idea how it came about,” said Mitu, flashing an infectious smile.

“I was happily travelling in Bombay when I got a call informing me about the honour. What made my heart burst with pride and joy was that I am the first Indian to win this - especially when the past winners have been legends like Sue Maslin, producer of Dress Maker, Oscarnominated Jill Bilcock and other women who I really respect and admire,” she said.

Mitu’s creative and commercially astute approach helped her in overcoming the many challenges that came her way. “My favourite song is Tagore’s Ekla Chalo Re, and that’s my mantra in life as well,” said Mitu.

According to her, the one characteristic that has always helped her is tenacity and moving forward no matter what.

“The biggest challenge is usually to ensure that we are able to live up to everyone’s expectations. As the festival is growing and getting such immense love and following, there is more pressure on all of us to keep doing better, and live up to the love,” she added.

Mitu’s recipe for putting together a successful show is to create a programme

that has something for everyone and is a balance between arthouse and pop culture with a lot of fun and informative and interactive events.

Not one to rest on laurels, Mitu claims she has many goals to achieve. “I want to make IFFM stronger and start a small film fund around the Festival. I also want the initiative of ‘Educate the Educators’ to become stronger and more widespread,” she said.

“Educate the Educators was launched by our ambassador Vidya Balan, as a platform to help equip educators with the mind and skill-set required to address the teaching needs of special needs children. We had a good outcome in Delhi with our pilot program and we want to build on that,” shared Mitu.

According to Mitu, Mind Blowing Films have now started releasing films in Fiji, along with Australia and NZ, so she needs to build on that and also get her dream film up and going.

Asked to provide a message for the women leaders out there who wish to break the glass ceiling and the bamboo ceiling, Mitu said, “Sky should be the only ceiling that can contain us. If we believe and push forward no matter what, the ceilings do stop existing. I truly believe in that and live that!”

JANUARY (1) 2018 19

WHAT’S ON REPUBLIC DAY

SPIRITUAL

Flag hoisting at Consulate Fri 26 Jan (9:30am-11:00am) On the occasion of the 69th Republic Day of India, a flag hoisting ceremony would be held on Friday, 26th January, 2018 at Consulate General of India, Sydney.

The programme includes flag hoisting ceremony, singing of the national anthem, reading of the speech of the Hon’ble President of India by Consul General and cultural programmes.

Members of Indian community and friends of India are invited to take part in the flag hoisting ceremony.

Refreshments will be served after the ceremony. Consulate General of India, Level 2, 265, Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Details 02 9223 2702

Bhajan Kirtan Sun 28 Jan (4:00pm-6:30pm) An event by Shri Shiva Mandir in association with ISKCON Hare Krishna South West Sydney. Krishna Bhajans by Sripati Prabhuji. Discourse on Bhagvat Geeta by Achal Krsna Prabhuji. Details 0421 376 384

COMMUNITY Kite Fun and Family Festival-2018 Sun 14 January (9:30am-6pm) Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Blacktown’s Kite Fun and Family Festival. Fairfield Showground, 463 Smithfield Road, Smithfield. Details 02 8897 2949 POETRY Guftagu with Gulzar Sahab Sat 27 Jan (5:30pm to 9:30pm) An unforgettable evening with the celebrated poet, lyricist and director Gulzar. Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW, 9 High Street, Kensington.

Details Arun Nanda 0401 230 046

Holi Mahotsav Sat 14 April 10:00am to Sun 15 April 7:00pm Tumbalong Park, Pier St, Sydney, Australia 2000. Details: www.holimahotsav.com.au

Swami Vivekananda birthday celebration Sun 14 Jan (from 10.30am, concludes with lunch) Spiritual music, silent meditation, Vedic chants, live music by sarod player Tanim Hayat Khan Rajit, panel discussion on ‘Exploring: Swami Vivekananda in the Media, Then and Now’ With Fred Schnerring, Uma Srinivasan & Robert Grant, talk by Pravrajika Gayatriprana.

Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon. Details 0408 029 336

Rockdale colour festival Sat 3 March 11:00am to Sun 4 March 9:00pm Rockdale Bicentennial Park, West Botany St, Rockdale.

Details kameroevents.com.au

FESTIVAL

Free Yoga with Divine Life Society (Tuesdays 7pm) Swami Uditramanandaji of The Divine Life Society of Australia offers free Yoga classes every Tuesday from 7.00pm8.15pm at Strathfield Girls High School. All levels of fitness welcomed.

Entrance via Oxford Rd. Details Karo 0413 535 157.

Pongal celebration Sat 20 Jan (9:00am to 5:00pm) An event by Sydney Tamil Mandram.

Seven Hills West Public School, Sackville Street Details Indu 0448 697 948 Holifest (Festival of Colours) Sun 25 Feb (11am-4pm) Apart from colours, this multicultural festival will also feature live on stage performances, food stalls, children’s fun rides and entertainment

Spirit of India’s Community Development Initiatives

a

a

Holi Mela Parramatta Sun 4 March (11:00am-5:00pm) Between Wilde Avenue and Queen Street, Parramatta. Details Anuj Kulshretra 0426 155 227 YOGA

Nominal charges applied to Children Yoga, mat essential

Yoga Classes for Children

(Specially Designed for Age group 5 to 12 years) Day

Saturday Saturday Sunday

Time

9.30 -10.30 am 5.00 – 6.00 pm 5.00 – 6.00 pm

Free* Ongoing Yoga Classes for Seniors

At Auburn, Epping, Pennant Hill, Homebush Age 55 + Auburn Epping Pennant Hill Pennant Hill Homebush

Address

Community Hall Basement Library Basement Library Leisure Centre 1B Bates St

Day

Tuesday Thursday Friday Sunday Thursday+

contactus@spiritofindia.org

Time

11.00 – 12.00 11.00 – 12.00 10.00 – 11.30 4.00 – 5.00 pm 11.00 – 12.00

+fortnightly FREE Meditation Class at Wentworthville 8.30 am till 9.15 am on Saturdays

20 JANUARY (1) 2018

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

Yoga Classes Every Saturday & Sunday

Enrol by Email or WEB

Children are our Future & Seniors are Asset

Centre

BSK/SVP classes, Saturdays A local initiative of VHP Australia, Bala Samskar Kendra (BSK) holds weekly Sanskrit language lessons as well as a culture and heritage program at Oran Park School, 390 South Circuit, Oran Park. Details Akila 0450 117 372.

Limited Seats, 15 Weeks Course Admission First Come First Serve Basis

www.spiritofindia.org

2 Lane Street 70 Lalor Rd Leisure Centre

Hindi Classes Saturdays 2.30pm to 4.30pm Located at the Indian Cultural Centre, Level 1, 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Hindi classes are $5 per one hour class or $40 for ten classes.

Registration is essential as there is a maximum of 20 people per class.

Paid parking is available in the vicinity.

Details email icc2.sydney@mea.gov.in

a

For Update visit

Wentworthville Quakers Hill Pennant Hill

LANGUAGE

Hath Yoga Batch starting from 20th Jan 2018

Starting from 20th Jan 2018

Address

Spirit of India Yoga (Saturdays and Sundays) Yoga classes are held in Ryde, Wentworthville, Quakers Hill and Epping. All levels incl. beginners, senior citizens, children.

To enrol in this 15 week course email spiritofindia2002@yahoo.com, visit www.spiritofindia.org.au or contact Suresh 0412 202 182

Yoga: The way of life (Saturdays 8am; Wednesdays 7pm) A retreat for body, mind and soul, join weekly yoga sessions at Glenwood Public School (Saturdays) or Moorebank Community

New Batch of Yoga

Centre

Centre (Wednesdays). Details Meera 0433 125 708.

activities, non-stop music and heaps of entertainment. Castle Hill Showground, Doran Dr, Castle Hill.

Details 1300 338 368

www.spiritofindia.org

Batch

42

spiritofindia2002@yahoo.com Not For Profit Organization Yoga Batch # 42 NEXT

Ryde

Wentworthville

START

Temporarily CLOSED Due to stiff rent Rise by Ryde Council

20th Jan till 28th Apri 18

FROM

West Ryde Community Hall 3-5 Anthony Rd, Ryde

BATCHES

Batch 43 12 May 2018

Batch 44 1 Sep 2018

Batch 45 19 Jan 2019

Saturday Morning

Quakers Hill

Saturday Morning 10.00 am to 12.00

Bankesia Hall 2 Lane St, Wentworthville

Epping

Saturday Evening

5.00 p.m. till 7.00 p.m.

Sunday Morning 7.00 am to 9.00 am

20th Jan till 28th Apri 18

21st Jan till 28th Apri 18

Performance Space

Epping Community Hall 9 Oxford St, Epping

Quakers Hill High School 70 Lalor Road Q.H. Ample Free Parking

Ample free Parking

For More info Contact:

Suresh 0412 202 182, Raja 0402 789 109

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INDIAN NEWS People watch a huge kite fly during annual international kite festival in Ahmedabad on 7 January on the Sabarmati riverfront. Photo: AP

“In times of crisis in abroad, the Indian government has launched several rescue missions too.”

She said that the current government has one mission to remake India into a great nation and the “mission in which every Indian and equally every overseas Indian arrive at equal fate.”

“The government of India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been especially proactive in making bonds with Indian diaspora,” she said.

Relief for Indians as US says no change in H-1B visa extension policy

National anthem no longer must in cinema halls: Supreme Court

Modifying its earlier order, the Supreme Court on 9 January said playing the national anthem before screening movies in cinema halls was no longer mandatory.

The ruling by a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud followed an order of November 2016 when an apex court bench, including Justice Misra, had made the playing of the national anthem compulsory in cinema halls before movies are screened.

However, the court also made it clear that where the anthem is played, people must stand up in respect. Physically challenged and senior citizens who cannot stand up may be exempted from this, it said.

The central government told the top court that it has set up an inter-ministerial committee to frame guidelines to decide the circumstances and occasions when the national anthem should be played or sung with decorum and suggested that the earlier order could be reviewed.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal urged the court to modify its 2016 order substituting “shall” with “may” for the playing of the national anthem in cinema halls.

The top court by its 30 November, 2016, order making mandatory the playing of national anthem in cinema halls before the start of movies described the national anthems as a “symbol of the Constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality.”

It had said “...it is the sacred obligation of every citizen to abide by the ideals engrafted in the Constitution. And one such ideal is to show respect for the National Anthem and the National Flag.”

Seeking to put on hold the 30 November, 2016, order mandating the playing of national anthem in cinema halls before the start of the film, the government in its affidavit filed on 8 January told the court that the inter-ministerial committee would examine all aspects of the playing

22 JANUARY (1) 2018

and singing of national anthem and would submit its report within six months.

The government had told the court that the 11-member inter-ministerial committee, set up on 5 December, 2017, would require extensive discussions on wide-ranging issues.

The government said the committee has been set up to look into all aspects relating to the playing or singing of the national anthem.

After considering the recommendation of the committee, the government may bring out notification or circular or rules to enforce them, the court was told.

The 2016 order had said that all viewers in the cinema halls should stand up when the national anthem was played.

Disposing of the petition by Shyam Narayan Chouksey, the court allowed him and other petitioners to make representations and suggestions to the interministerial committee.

Naidu calls for global consensus to fight terrorism

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu called for a global consensus to fight terrorism and criticised those who are supporting the global menace in the name of religion.

Naidu also sought support of over three crore Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) across the world in building a “New India.”

“The biggest challenge to world order today is terrorism and we must build a global consensus to fight the menace,” Naidu said in the valedictory session of the first-ever PIOParliamentarians Conference here.

The Vice President said, “All of us must recognise terrorism as a threat to humanity and take concerted action to curb it.”

“Unfortunately, some people are clothing terror in the garb of religion, but in fact, terrorism has no basis in any religion of the world,” he said.

Naidu said the Indian diaspora, the secondlargest such community in the world, “has contributed enormously to strengthening India’s cultural, literary, political and

economic bonding across the world”.

Citing an example of a squirrel, who participated in making of a bridge across the sea for Lord Ram to reach Lanka, the Vice President urged the PIOs to contribute in “an appropriate manner to the ongoing efforts to build a New India.”

Naidu asserted that the success of Indian diaspora in different parts of the world was a clear reflection of the strength of the Indian values of assimilation and inclusivity.

“The presence of such a large number of elected representatives of Indian origin in legislatures of such a large number of countries from across the world goes beyond the symbolism of the expanding horizons of the influence of India in the global scheme of things,” he said.

The Vice President noted, “When we talk of Indian Nationalism, we refer to the pride that is associated with such inclusive humanism, which is native to this land.

Some deviant words and deeds of some misguided persons can in no way dent the quality and strength of the core values of our motherland.”

He asserted that while the citizens took pride in the spirit of Indian nationalism that unites the people of different social and religious hues cohabiting in the country, “PIOs imbibe and uphold the ethos and values of those countries which again is a manifestation of the spirit of assimilation, which is at the heart of core Indian values.”

In all, 143 PIOs from 24 countries participated in the event organised here at Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the conference will help in opening new vistas for regular dialogue and exchange of views.

“I am confident that this historical conference will help open new vistas for regular dialogues and exchange of visits and views of PIO parliamentarians,” she said, adding global Indians had become India’s friends currently because of the several successful initiatives launched by the government to connect with Indian diaspora.

Indian techies in the US can heave a sigh of relief after the Trump administration said it was not considering any regulatory change that will force H1-B visa holders to leave the country.

The announcement by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) came after last week’s report by US-based news agency McClatchy DC Bureau that Washington was considering new regulations to prevent the extension of H-1B visas, largely availed of by Indian IT firms.

“The USCIS is not considering a regulatory change that would force H-1B visa holders to leave the US by changing our interpretation of section 104(c) of AC-21, which provides for H-1B extensions beyond the 6 year limit,” said Jonathan Withington, chief of media relations for USCIS. “Even if it were, such a change would not likely result in these H-1B visa holders having to leave the US because employers could request extensions in one-year increments under section 106(a)-(b) of AC21 instead,” Withington was quoted as saying

by Kansas City Star.

“The agency is considering a number of policy and regulatory changes to carry out the President’s Buy American, Hire American Executive Order, including a thorough review of employment based visa programmes,” he said.

Earlier reports said the Trump administration was considering tightening H-1B visa rules that could lead to deportation of 750,000 Indians.

Withington said that USCIS was never considering such a policy change and that “any suggestion that USCIS changed its position because of pressure is absolutely false.”

Representatives Kevin Yoder, a Kansas Republican, and Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat from Hawaii, sent a letter to Trump, obtained by McClatchy, urging him “not to deport H-1B holders awaiting permanent residency processing.”

“We strongly believe this action would be harmful to the American economy, credibility and relations with India and the Indian-American community,” wrote Yoder and Gabbard last week. Both are members of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

The US Chamber of Commerce had warned it would be “tremendously bad policy” to tell highly skilled people they were not welcome to stay in the US. The H-1B programme offers temporary

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A Delhi Police contingent marches during the rehearsals for the upcoming Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi. India celebrates Republic Day on 26 January. Photo: AP

US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers.

Indians get most of the H1-B visas, although there are no national quotas for the facility nor is it specifically designed for Indians.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has been talking about cracking down on the visa scheme.

The Indian IT industry also lauded the US administration for not considering any regulatory change in the H-1B visa extension policy.

“It’s a good decision. We are relieved that there won’t be any change in the H1-B visa extension policy. It is beneficial for us as well as our clients in the US,” a software export firm executive said.

“Raising the visa issue has been a regular feature in the US media and rhetorical among the lobbies despite the fact that there is an acute shortage of skilled professionals in North America and enterprises there need those who have them (skills),” said another IT firm executive on the condition of anonymity.

With internet and communication technologies bridging the space and distance, the need for deploying more techies on onsite has reduced drastically over the years.

“We do more projects from offshore (India) and provide a range of software services remotely through seamless networks. The need for deploying more of our employees is not so much as it was in the past,” added the executive.

According to Nasscom estimates, the use of visas by Indian IT firms has declined 50 per cent over the last two years.

Modi to address plenary at Davos World Economic Forum

This year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos will have the first Indian Prime Minister participating since 1997, with Narendra Modi slated to address the plenary session of the prestigious global business meet, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu announced on 9 January.

According to the Commerce Ministry, WEF 2018, to be held over January 2326, will be attended by 350 political leaders, including over 60 heads of state or government, and CEOs of the world’s major companies.

“The Prime Minister is going to attend the World Economic Forum for the first time, at a time when the whole world is looking to India,” Prabhu told the media here.

“The WEF is the single most important gathering of business leaders and bankers of the world... virtually, it is a global decision making place. The Chinese president’s visit there last year created a big buzz,” he added.

While Modi is slated to address the inaugural plenary session on January 23, he is to be followed by an impressive array of Indian ministers who will take part in various group sessions.

Besides Prabhu, they include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railways Minister

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Piyush Goyal and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as well as the respective Ministers of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh and for the External Affairs Ministry MJ Akbar, a Commerce Ministry release said.

Prabhu also said that two states Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra - will be represented at Davos through their Chief Ministers Chandrababu Naidu and Devendra Fadnavis, respectively.

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said that Modi is also scheduled to interact with top business leaders in Davos at the meeting of the International Business Council consisting of 120 top chief executives of major multinationals.

The theme of AWEF 2018 is “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World,” the statement said.

According to observers here, Modi’s first visit to WEF is an opportunity to interact with foreign investors following the implementation of the major structural reform of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), as well as the demonetisation measure of November 2016.

Prabhu said that he would be taking part in a mini-ministerial of trade ministers at Davos, which assumes significance following the deadlock at the World Trade Organisation’s ministerial held last month in Buenos Aires on the issue of public food stockholding.

Government restricts use of national flag made of plastic The central government urged everyone not to use a national flag made of plastic and asked the states and union territories to ensure strict compliance of the Flag Code in view of the Republic Day celebration ahead.

An advisory from the Union Home Ministry said that that the “national flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of the country and hence should occupy a position of honour,” but since plastic flags are not biodegradable like paper flags, these do not get decomposed

for a long time and ensuring appropriate disposal of a national flag made of plastic, commensurate with dignity of the flag, is a practical problem.

As per Section 2 of The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

The advisory said that on important national, cultural and sports events, flags made of paper only are to be used by public in terms of the provisions of the Flag Code of India, 2002 and such paper flags are not to be discarded or thrown on the ground after the event.

Such flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the flag.

Indian-origin chemist discovers new recipe for early life

A team of chemists led by an Indian-origin researcher at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed a fascinating new theory for how life on Earth may have begun.

The experiments demonstrate that key chemical reactions that support life today could have been carried out with ingredients likely present on the planet four billion years ago.

“This was a black box for us. But if you focus on the chemistry, the questions of origins of life become less daunting,” said Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, Associate Professor of Chemistry at TSRI and senior author.

For the study, described in the journal Nature Communications, Krishnamurthy and his co-authors focused on a series of chemical reactions that make up what researchers refer to as the citric acid cycle.

Every aerobic organism, from flamingoes

to fungi, relies on the citric acid cycle to release stored energy in cells.

In previous studies, researchers imagined early life using the same molecules for the citric acid cycle as life uses today.

The problem with that approach, Krishnamurthy explained, is that these biological molecules are fragile and the chemical reactions used in the cycle would not have existed in the first billion years of Earth - the ingredients simply didn’t exist yet.

The new study started with the chemical reactions first. They wrote the recipe and then determined which molecules present on early Earth could have worked as ingredients.

The new study outlines how two nonbiological cycles - called the HKG cycle and the malonate cycle - could have come together to kick-start a crude version of the citric acid cycle.

The two cycles use reactions that perform the same fundamental chemistry of a-ketoacids and b-ketoacids as in the citric acid cycle.

As they ran these reactions, the researchers found they could produce amino acids in addition to CO2, which are also the end products of the citric acid cycle.

The researchers think that as biological molecules like enzymes became available, they could have led to the replacement of non-biological molecules in these fundamental reactions to make them more elaborate and efficient.

“The chemistry could have stayed the same over time, it was just the nature of the molecules that changed,” said Krishnamurthy. “The molecules evolved to be more complicated over time based on what biology needed.”

Making these reactions even more plausible is the fact that at the centre of these reactions is a molecule called glyoxylate, which, studies show, could have been available on early Earth.

Krishnamurthy said more research needs to be done to see how these chemical reactions could have become as sustainable as the citric acid cycle is today.

IANS

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Disclaimer: Please check accuracy of religious holidays closer to the dates specified

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JANUARY (1) 2018 25 www.indianlink.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sydney by night Self-taught photographer Ajay Sharma’s muse is the resplendent city and its icons

I

t was Diwali week, and Ajay Sharma was out and about along Sydney Harbour, armed with his cherished Canon 5D Mark IV. “When are they going to light up the Opera House?” he messaged Indian Link’s Facebook page.

8 pm, we messaged back. The NSW Government’s Diwali ceremony was on at the time at the rooftop of the Museum of Contemporary Art, and like everyone else in Sydney’s Indian community, Ajay was waiting for those world-famous sails to light up in Diwali colours.

26 JANUARY (1) 2018

Days later, the young hobby photographer shared his stunning images with us.

Ajay Sharma claims that his first ever view of Sydney out of his airplane window took his breath away. That was way back in 2008, and Sydney Harbour has held a special place in his heart ever since.

He knew he would be back up in the air again to take a closer look, this time through his camera lens.

The opportunity would come years later, when Ajay joined a photographers’ collective, and boarded a helicopter. He

brought back some spectacular visuals.

“I am self-taught as a photographer,” the Amritsar-born Sharma told Indian Link. “I played with my first ever camera as a Year 10 student.”

His favourite subjects are nature and travel photography, and he claims his best work has involved night scenes. Looking at the images on this spread, we are not surprised!

When he is not chasing that perfect shot, Ajay works for State Transit as a mechanical engineer.

Rajni Anand Luthra

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JANUARY (1) 2018 27

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COMMUNITY Annual day celebrations of Telugu Badi in Sydney

Let’s learn Telugu Sydney grandfather creates syllabus for Telugu language schools in NSW BY NANDITHA SURESH

“E

very child should be given the opportunity to learn their mother tongue; even more so if the child is born or raised outside of their country of origin,” says Mallik Rachakonda, author of Let’s Learn Telugu book series and convenor of Telugu Badi.

Telugu Badi, which translates to Telugu school, is the initiative of the Telugu Association Inc., Sydney. Having originally begun at Summer Hill Public School, the association has five schools across Sydney today.

Currently, Telugu Badi runs 2-hour Sunday classes during NSW school term in Holsworthy Public School, Eastwood Public School, Darcy Road Public School, Strathfield South Public School and Hornsby South Public School. The school recently celebrated its annual day in Sydney.

“Sadly, many children born and raised outside India are not taught to read, write or much less talk in their mother tongue,” says Mallik.

“The access to language schools and study material and learning the mother tongue outside of homes was limited back in the 1980s when I moved to Australia,” recalls the author. “Today, families and children have a lot of community associations and community language schools enabling easy access to learn their languages,” says Mallik.

“All those years ago, study material would have to be acquired from India, and it was not very relevant to the Indian kids in Australia,” he shares. Mallik explains that these books were typically pictorial

NATIONAL EDITION

and that they contained how alphabets are written and have the basic words and sentence formations. “Coming from a Telugu Australian child’s perspective, this is neither easy nor relatable,” he adds.

The 65-year-old retired IT professional found an opportunity to change this. So, he embarked on a mission to simplify the study material to help the kids learn the language easily, effectively and efficiently.

He went back to India, perused several books, and spoke to academicians in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to improve study materials. He even went on to understand how other language schools in NSW function and found that the concern was quite similar.

He explains that the challenge was not merely creating study material. “These kids take up Telugu classes on Sundays every week in addition to their regular school and extra-curricular activities.

Getting them to keep coming back largely depends on how this language can be presented as interesting and fun.”

So, Mallik developed Telugu Badi’s syllabus from scratch. With help from Telugu Association members and closely following K-10 Framework for Languages defined by NSW Education Standards Authority, he came up with a series of Let’s Learn Telugu books, which were launched in March 2016 at Telugu University, Hyderabad. He even roadtested the course material with the help of his 11-year old granddaughter Sejal, born and raised in Australia.

In this book series he caters to different grades, implementing simple methods to teach Telugu to kids. The books cover everything from pronunciations, phonetics, small words with pictorial representations, and identifying alphabets. There are puzzles, poems, exercises and real life examples, which a child can use in everyday life. However, the highlight of the book

These kids take up Telugu classes on Sundays. Getting them to keep coming back largely depends on how this language can be presented as interesting and fun Mallik Rachakonda series is that it employs simple teaching methodologies in English to help the child understand Telugu easily.

Mallik has kept up with the times by offering mobile lessons via Quizlet where the students could access rhymes, pronunciations and more. According to the author, several more activity books and course material are ready for press in 2018.

The materials have been created with the sole purpose of preparing the children to speak in simple Telugu among family and community events and also to cherish their rich cultural background.

There are 100 students ranging from ages 5 to 16, spread out in the five Telugu Badi schools. “There are 10 teachers, who

are all mothers of the students themselves, which makes the learning a bit more personable and less intimidating,” says Mallik. Six out of the ten teachers are qualified in language training from the University of Sydney.

Mallik is currently working on K-10 syllabus according to NSW Education Standards Authority’s framework for languages 2017. This syllabus is lot more comprehensive and is based on achieving language outcomes as outlined by them.

He along with Telugu Association has greater plans for the language they hold dear. “We are working towards making Telugu language a part of the NSW mainstream school curriculum,” he shares.

JANUARY (1) 2018 29

A muddy party

Chitrakalavani Govindaraj

INDIA DIARY

The simple - and fun! - activity of seed balls is helping improve greenery in parts of India BY SHAMPA B BRUWELEIT

A

n amazing group activity has sprung up in parts of India recently, in which the enthusiastic participants get their hands really muddy, all for a good cause.

I witnessed this closely last year in an apartment complex called Cyprus-Oaks located in the bustling southern city of Coimbatore.

Indeed, the culinary actions so familiar to us, of mixing and rolling flour into balls to produce rotis or parathas, are now being duplicated in many urban and rural centres of India. Not in kitchens, but in backyards, fields and playgrounds, and in the compounds of housing colonies.

And the balls are formed, not with edible items, but natural elements taken from

30 JANUARY (1) 2018

the world of farming and forestry.

The product, a seed ball, contains seeds of trees and foliage native to the area, formed from a mixture of clay, red soil and manure.

The moist seed balls are dried in the shade. Then they are strewn on forest peripheries, clearings, roadsides, and on waste or uninhabited lands, just before the rainy season sets in.

Rain moistens the seed ball, leading to germination of the seed within. The sprouting seed draws sustenance from the nutrients inside, which strengthen its overall growth and its chance of developing into a tree.

Seed balls help to increase the green cover on the land by generating seedlings, and keeping these protected in their tender primary plant life. Therefore, perhaps seed wombs would be a better name for them.

This technique of planting, actually a long-forgotten tradition in ancient Egypt, was rediscovered in the last century

by Japanese natural farmer Masanobu

Fukuoka. Natural farmers like him follow the practice of dispersing seeds on their fields with zero or little cultivation. The seed ball idea developed by Fukuoka rapidly caught the imagination of not only like-minded natural farmers, but of keen ecologists throughout the world.

In fact, many organisations took part in the Seed Ball Maha Abhiyana (Seed Ball mega mission) last year in parts of India.

Making seed balls does not involve much time and cost. Their subsequent dropping on land is a comparatively easy option for ecological recovery, especially when the dispersal is done on difficult, far-flung or mountainous terrains that cannot be easily ploughed.

If naked seeds are dropped on land, the chances are that they may be swept away by wind or water, or eaten up by birds or rodents. Encasing them in balls made of well-mixed soil and fertiliser is ideal for them to emerge as seedlings after the first rains.

There is surely an underlying social element that makes seed balls a prized

initiative for restoring the earth’s green.

The basic feelings of love and care that go into preparation of meals for family and friends are certainly also present in the making of seed balls.

And rolling balls from moist lumps of clay is sheer fun. Which child, or the child in an adult, can resist the delight of shaping clay balls on a pre-monsoon mild afternoon, enjoying the companionship of like-minded people?

In Coimbatore’s Cyprus-Oaks Apartments, this green engagement got underway in the monsoon season last year, with more than 800 seed balls rolled and then dispersed in the forest area of Siruvani.

Since then, the rains have come and gone, and a New Year has now set in. And somewhere in the forests near Coimbatore, sprouting from the seed wombs created by many loving hands, stand a good number of tiny neem and teak tree seedlings. New plant life on the lap of Mother Nature, spreading their tender roots on the forest floor, promising to grow into stately and strong trees. Beautiful!

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Timeless love What happens when former lovers reconnect after 35 years?

A Hindi play with a stellar cast delves deep

BY PREETI JABBAL

D

espite being a story full of emotional memories, whatifs and unfinished business, Rakesh Bedi’s play Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha provided its art-loving Australian audience a great sense of contentment.

The live theatrical two-hour play with its stellar cast comprising Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta managed to tick all the right boxes for quality entertainment.

The central pair masterfully covered the emotional territory of childhood sweethearts meeting after a gap of 35 years to clear some misunderstandings.

Delivering alternating accounts and flashbacks of their lives since they were separated, they walk us through their memories without slackening the pace of the narrative.

Neena Gupta as Hema Roy and Anupam Kher as Pritam Chopra visibly pour themselves into the execution of their roles. Along with Rakesh Bedi as Kapoor,

32 JANUARY (1) 2018

the nosy but well-meaning neighbour, in a supporting role, the three actors deliver impactful performances.

Neena Gupta clearly outshines the other two equally versatile actors as she seamlessly shifts between enacting the role of the feisty Hema and the conservative Nigar (Pritam Chopra’s wife).

Anupam Kher offers an impeccably emotive performance as the man who loses the love of his life to be forced into marriage to someone else. Rakesh Bedi, who has written and directed the play, provides comic relief during the tense moments of conversation between the two childhood lovers.

As the plot proceeds to unravel the truth behind why the two lovers from Chandni Chowk were separated and their experiences with their respective spouses, the audience is kept engaged, curious and interested.

The set is simple yet effective in the form of a public park that provides the location for the former lovers’ rendezvous. Without resorting to any mush or sweet nothings and with little or no physical contact, the lead pair maintains the romantic intrigue.

A refreshing change from the melodrama of TV soaps and the glitz of Bollywood cinema, Mera Who Matlab Nahi

Tha is a play that leaves you caring about the characters.

Did they eventually split again or did they consider a future together, did they go their separate ways or were they on the brink of a new commitment? The end keeps you guessing.

Mera Who Matlab Nahi Tha talks about how circumstances can be misinterpreted by humans in relationships, it talks about

the bitter-sweet memories of young love and it talks about age being irrelevant when two people reconnect.

In parts clichéd, in parts unexpected, the story can get somewhat predictable but is pulled off by some brilliant acting.

During the curtain call, the delighted audience leapt to its feet to give the accomplished cast a standing ovation, and deservedly so.

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Photos: Kulbir Cam Creative Art media

STAGE

BOOKS

A satire-cum-thriller, inspired by politics A new novel by Manu Joseph spares no one - not even India’s PM with its biting humour, writes HIMANI KOTHARI Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous by Manu Joseph. Fourth Estate, 2017

A

lanky woman, arms akimbo, wearing a tucked-in white shirt, divided skirt and red high heels is standing with her back to us.

There’s a mike in front of her and she’s addressing a nondescript crowd, waving flags - the Bhagwa Dhwaj (the saffron flag of Shivaji, adopted by the RSS) to be specific. But what catches the eye is her dress - specially her khaki shorts.

The cover of Manu Joseph’s Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous is telling.

“Just the sight of Hindu patriots this way in the uniform of the Sangh reminds Muslims of death,” writes the novelistjournalist in his new book.

The woman in the Sangh outfit is Akhila Iyer, one of the protagonists in the book. And if the way she dresses is any hint, Miss Iyer is that rare breed that has both a sense of humour and strong political views. She is all that and much more.

In Miss Laila..., Joseph is having fun.

He is unapologetic and out to offend.

NATIONAL EDITION

And he spares no one. If you’re a Rightwinger or a Left lib, Arundhati Roy fan or Modi bhakt, a feminist or an activist or a journalist, Anna Hazare follower or Irom Sharmila sympathiser - this book is NOT for you. Or maybe it is.

The novel opens as a political satire, with Miss Iyer - a neurosurgery student who has a love-hate relationship with Left liberals (in possible revenge at her mother who had abandoned her to carry out her ultra-Left activities) - playing pranks on everybody, and exposing their hypocrisy.

As far as the “patriots” go, Joseph also makes fun of them, though in a subtly indirect way, with characters like Damodarbhai - DaMo for short - and his minions, a certain Professor Vaid, and through “White Beard”.

There are two gripping narratives running parallel to each other. One involves Miss Iyer helping a man caught in the debris of a collapsed building survive by crawling to him through a tunnel and feeding him. Then he whispers to her something which has the intelligence agency racing against time to avert a terror attack.

The other concerns Miss Laila - of the title - whose character is loosely based on the 19-year-old Ishrat Jahan, an alleged terrorist killed in a “gunfight” with police while on the way to assassinate the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whom most of us will only recognise from that picture of four dead bodies strewn on a road besides a blue Tata Indica.

There have been many theories on the Ishrat Jahan case, some holding that she was an innocent girl who got mixed up with wrong people. Joseph seems to subscribe to this view in his fictionalised tale that is too close to the real thing.

Miss Laila... is not an investigative piece in that it doesn’t provide any new information. But it brings a fresh perspective to the story of a “hip” Ishrat Jahan from Mumbra - a sister to six siblings, their idol and bread winner.

Instead of letting the character of Laila speak for herself, the author lets her younger sister to be the narrator and that’s what humanises the story.

With his earlier works Serious Men and The Illicit Happiness of Other People, Joseph has already established himself as a

prolific writer in English. With Miss Laila... he has set a new benchmark for anyone looking to spin newspaper headlines to write an everyday politics-inspired thriller.

While anyone can write a political satire-cum-thriller, which is at once funny and dark, it is a writer like Joseph who can make you question and laugh at your beliefs. (Unless you are a bigot, in which case the only literature you should be reading is that recommended by Dina Nath Batra).

Joseph addresses many issues in this stylishly-written 210-page book. Capturing the themes of identity, selfishness and inefficiency, he talks about the life of extras in the film industry, poor disaster management in the country’s financial capital and journalists who swing facts to show the poor in worse condition than they actually are in. He does all this while maintaining the flow of the narrative and never losing the plot.

There is so much happening, the moment you finish reading the book feels like you just got off a roller coaster. And you want to take the ride again. Luckily for us, the book is being made into a movie.

JANUARY (1) 2018 33

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FOOD

Mango tango As mango season continues, we bring you three different ways to enjoy your favourite fruit

GRILLED KING PRAWNS WITH MANGO, YOUNG COCONUT > Makes: 4 serves > Prep time: 20 minutes > Cooking time: 2 minutes Ingredients

2 young coconuts 2 mangoes 200 ml (7 fl oz) coconut cream 1 long green chilli, seeded and finely chopped Juice of 4 limes 1 tablespoon fish sauce 6 spring onions (scallions), sliced 20 Crystal Bay Green King Prawns

Method

1. Peel and finely dice the mangoes and put in a large bowl. Add the coconut flesh, coconut cream, chilli,

lime juice, fish sauce and spring onions.

2. Preheat the barbecue hotplate to medium.

3. Cut the prawn in half lengthways and remove the intestine. Season with salt and pepper and cook for a couple of minutes until opaque and just cooked through. Serve drizzled with mango dressing.

Tip: Ask your grocer to cut open your young coconut or, if you have a cleaver at home, you can do it yourself. Using a spoon, scoop out the soft flesh from the inside and dice.

DUCK AND MANGO NOODLE SALAD > Makes: 4 serves > Prep time: 20 minutes > Cook time: 2 minutes Ingredients

2 duck breasts, trimmed 200g rice noodles ½ red capsicum, cut into strips 2 green onions, sliced ¼ cup coriander leaves ¼ cup mint leaves 2 teaspoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce 1 mango, thinly sliced Lime wedges, to serve

Method

1.Peel and finely dice the mangoes and put in a large bowl. Add the coconut flesh, coconut cream, chilli, lime juice, fish sauce and spring onions.

2. Heat a nonstick frying pan over low heat. Add the duck breasts, increasing the heat as the duck cooks. Cook until duck skin is golden brown and middle is still slightly pink.

Remove from pan.

3. Soak the noodles in a bowl

of boiling water until soft then drain and run under cold water.

4. Transfer the noodles to a bowl and toss with capsicum, green onions and herbs.

5. Combine the fish sauce, lime juice, oil and sweet chili. Toss with the noodle mixture and fold through sliced mango.

6. Slice duck breasts and serve with mango noodle salad.

Serve with lime wedges.

Tip: It’s best to cook duck breasts starting them in a cool pan

MANGO CROISSANT PUDDINGS

> Makes: 4 serves > Prep time: 15 minutes > Cook time: 35 minutes

Recipes: Aussie Mangoes

Ingredients

3 croissants, torn into small pieces 1 mango, chopped 3 eggs, lightly beaten ½ cup caster sugar ½ cup cream 1 ½ cups milk 1 teaspoon vanilla essence Ice cream, to serve Mango curd, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170C. Lightly

NATIONAL EDITION

grease four 1-cup capacity ovenproof ramekins or dishes.

2. Divide the torn croissants and chopped mango among the ramekins.

3. Whisk together the eggs, caster sugar, cream, milk and vanilla until fully combined and transfer mixture to a large jug.

Pour over the croissants and mango then place the ramekins in a baking dish.

4. Pour boiling water into the baking dish, coming half way up

the sides of the ramekins.

5. Transfer to the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until golden and set. If the puddings start to brown too quickly cover the baking dish with foil.

6. Allow the puddings to stand for 5 minutes then serve with ice cream and mango curd (optional).

6. Allow the puddings to stand for 5 minutes then serve with ice cream and mango curd (optional).

JANUARY (1) 2018 35

TRAVEL

Desert in the sky Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley may be harsh and remote, but it brings out the gentle and welcoming side in people

BY MARIA VISCONTI

T

he Zanskar Valley in North India’s Ladakh region is a land of legends and snow leopards, of yaks and yak herders, of farmers and monks, of chortens and prayer flags, of solitude and isolation. Well above the tree line, the landscape is harsh and rugged, a kind of desert in the sky.

There is a general perception that getting to Ladakh and beyond is difficult but nothing can be further from the truth.

You can fly or drive to Manali and do the exhilarating Manali to Leh road over high passes, or fly direct to Leh from Delhi.

Airfares are very competitive on this route.

I had been to Ladakh before and couldn’t wait to get back to this region.

This time, I had the opportunity to explore the Zanskar Valley and do it from the back of a Royal Enfield ‘Bullet’ motorcycle, a legendary machine, although this trip can be done by car as well.

Sparsely populated and breathtakingly beautiful, the Zanskar Valley has no paved roads, a few high passes, hanging glaciers (the Drang Drung glacier is said to flow with garnets and sapphires), a collection of ancient Buddhist monasteries clinging to dizzying cliffs and a few hamlets of Balti farmers who converted to Islam in the 16th century.

There are three very small hubs in this narrow valley: Rangdum, Padum and

36 JANUARY (1) 2018

Zangla where the valley closes in and you cannot go any further.

We had our share of flat tyres and delays and were ultimately rescued by a Balti family of farmers who took us in on a blustery night when we rocked up to their village Parkachick, exhausted after pushing a disabled bike for four kilometers. The family gave us a room in their farmhouse, fed us dinner and helped us the following day to get the flat repaired. We spent two nights at their farmhouse and became part of the family.

Aside from the awesome landscapes, it’s the people you meet that makes this trip so memorable. Chance encounters - which were nothing short of miraculous - allowed us to overcome some serious difficulties.

There was always someone ready to help in the most extraordinary way.

At one point, after the patched tyre of our motorbike exploded under the rough conditions just before Penzi-La, we had to hitch a ride back to Rangdum, abandoning the bike by the roadside. The first truck that appeared (after a half an hour wait, such is the scarcity of vehicles on the road) generously gave us, our luggage and the Enfield’s back wheel, a ride back to Rangdum. The motorbike had to stay behind overnight by the side of the road. This would have been a worrying thought anywhere else in the world, but we were confident it would be untouched. As we were riding inside the highly decorated and spacious truck’s cabin, a lone rider appeared on the horizon. We stopped him to ask if he had a spare tube we could buy, knowing that Rangdum had neither a service station nor a repair shop. Basheer, an English teacher

from Kerala teaching in Chandigarh, gallantly parted with his only spare tube and would take no money for it. There still are people like that in this world.

The following morning, we were hoping for another truck to take us back to the bike when a distinctive Australian voice in the Rangdum hotel’s restaurant attracted my attention. Tsering, a Nepali-born woman living in Sydney, happily shared her vehicle with us, dropping us by the untouched bike, a four-hour drive away towards Padum. Until then we had not seen any Australians. Miracles do happen.

By the time we cleared Penzi-La we were very hungry as there are no eating places between Rangdum and Padum, the next town. But again, something extraordinary happened. A yak herder’s temporary encampment came into sight.

A short conversation in Hindi resulted in an invitation to join the herders and have lunch with them. We were very grateful to receive from the nomads’ weathered hands a bowlful of paneer, dahi and freshly made rotis, accompanied by glassfuls of yak butter tea. What else can one dream of?

Padum, with its busy two streets was a bit of a shock after riding through such remote and solitary rockscapes.

Overwhelmed by the sudden business of the place, the Mont Blanc guesthouse at the end of the road, surrounded by an organic vegetable garden, appealed to us.

There we met, again by chance, the owner of another guesthouse in Zangla, the last village at the end of the valley. The Padum to Zangla road is being widened and improved at the moment and this made an already tough road even tougher. Riding

over sharp rocks scattered all over is a teeth-shattering experience. The actual roadworks fill the air with dust and grit.

The road seems tortuous and unending, but Zangla is worth the pain.

Harvest time combined the hum of bumblebees with the hum of distant grass cutting machines. The smell of haymaking made us drowsy and high at the same time. Dorjay, the owner of Dragon Guesthouse in Zangla, made sure we were pampered and treated us as his children.

He practically carried me off the bike to our cottage, removing my boots and giving me a leg massage all while uttering endearing words. I must have looked shattered after hours of riding on the bad road. The two-room cottage (separate from the farmhouse), is cozy, warm and has a terrace to relax and have drinks at.

With the Royal Castle overlooking the entire ancient village, Zangla is the best place to visit in the Valley. Meandering lanes take you past whitewashed farmhouses with wood piled up on top of the roofs to last the winter or to have in store for a family cremation. Rows of stupas melt like wax candles in the harsh environment, lending the village and air of holiness. The King’s Castle being restored by a group of Hungarian volunteer architects and engineers - is worth the climb.

The Zanskar Valley will stay with you forever. It is the trip of a lifetime.

Clockwise from top left: Rangdum monastery; the Balti family; view from Penzi-La; Lamayuru monastery; Tsemo, Leh; Chortens in Zanskar, A typical road in Zanskar; Drang Drung glacier

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Photos: Vikas Panghal

Chance encounters - which were nothing short of miraculous allowed us to overcome some serious difficulties

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JANUARY (1) 2018 37

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foretell

PREDICTIONS FOR JANUARY 2018

BY MINNAL KHONA

TAROT

ARIES March 21 - April 19

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

CANCER June 21 - July 20

For energetic Arians, the focus this month is on travel, new opportunities and long distance communication. If you are in a romantic relationship, it is a positive time. If single, the start of a significant love affair will come as a pleasant surprise. You might want to do more with your life or move home and live closer to the water. A sudden boost or progress in your career also brings an end to delays and improvement in your financial affairs.

For practical and sincere Taureans, a fresh start could have anxious moments. You are looking for personal gratification on the career front and work that is more meaningful. A new love affair could sweep you off your feet. Travel plans could change due to an urgent work-related matter. Stay calm and don’t let strong emotions rock the boat - whether in a marriage or a business partnership. Minor frustrations are temporary and you will take active steps to improve your health.

The influence of an Aquarian in your life makes you interested in humanitarian matters; you will want to engage in social work and help those less fortunate than yourself. A different job offer or business opportunity comes your way. A holiday or planned trip will be a happy one. New information you receive related to work will make things more positive all around. Success in financial matters is predicted and things will work out better than you think.

Those in creative professions will receive money for their efforts. Other Cancerians stuck in mundane jobs might look for fulfilment through art, writing or other creative pursuits. A financially rewarding business trip is in the offing. You will have a breakthrough in the form of inspiring ideas that will enhance your productivity. If in a romantic relationship, you might seek more permanence, but be patient.

Several promising options are in the offing for those looking for work or a change of job.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

You are in a sensitive and emotional frame of mind, so go slow if in a romantic relationship. People around you make you re-examine your objectives and what it is that you really seek out of life. Cash flow is not an issue but avoid over-spending.

A long-term niggling problem that is work related will get resolved. Taking decisive action on a matter will lead to success so don’t waver once you have made up your mind. Don’t take on more work than you can handle.

Virgos have a practical approach to most things in life and this holds them in good stead. But, if you have to take a decision, be firm. A friend may play matchmaker for single Virgos, or even help with business affairs. Feeling good about yourself this month keeps you on top of everything, even in a stagnant relationship. Your emotions might swing high and low. Take care of your health as you could have stomach and back ache-related problems.

You are in a reflective frame of mind where you want to find your life’s purpose. Let the higher power handle your problems. An unexpected financial opportunity comes your way. Avoid feelings of martyrdom in a relationship.

New beginnings are indicated but you have to be prepared to let go of the past and break destructive patterns.

Spiritual growth too is predicted and unsettled issues get resolved. Listen carefully to the universe; it is trying to tell you something.

Your intense and secretive nature might cause health issues that are entirely stress-related. So stay calm and balanced and if there are internal conflicts going on in your head, they will end. A positive change is in store and you will find a solution to an ongoing problem. If you are feeling stuck in a relationship, you might have a change of heart and decide to end things. A social event could be the buffer that provides clarity.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

If you are with a significant other and feelings run deep on both sides, you might still not want to make a commitment till the creases are ironed out. A short trip is fruitful. Aspire for bigger things at work to ensure success. Financial problems will end.

With work mates or your spouse, communicate your needs clearly and let the matter go if you want to resolve any conflict. Beware, a glamorous offer is not as good as it looks.

You are influenced by someone with the temperament of a Libran so you might indulge in some self-analysis for clarity. Stay detached in a troublesome situation but be upfront and candid.

New friendships are in the offing and letting go of the past or a painful relationship is round the corner. Be careful while driving and do not dither while taking a decision. The heart takes a backseat while making up your mind.

A fresh start is indicated for some.

A reunion with friends or loved ones is possible this month. New partnerships, business ventures challenge the freedom loving Aquarians; and a change of habit is predicted. A situation or the occurrence of an event makes you rethink a romantic relationship; use your judgement before making a decision about it. Improvement in work conditions, a short trip, a new admirer, and resolution of inner and outer conflicts will keep you occupied. You will seek purpose in what you do.

You will focus on wanting to move home or do something unusual. There are no fireworks happening in your current relationship. You might even have to make sacrifices if you want to keep it going. If you are just getting over an affair, you will want to move on from it.

Things will change for the better. Money could be tight this month and watch out for eye infections. Your skills will be called upon for business expansion at work.

NATIONAL EDITION

JANUARY (1) 2018 39

entertainment

cineTALK DIRECTOR MAKES THIS TIGER ROAR

TIGER ZINDA HAI

CAST: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sajjad Delafrooz, Girish Karnad, Kumud Mishra, Paresh Rawal DIRECTOR: Ali Abbas Zafar

HHHHH

When did this Tiger ever stop roaring?

Well...okay, Tubelight didn’t quite work.

Salmaniacs didn’t want to watch him as a whimpy whiny crybaby hero. The message is hammered loud and clear in Tiger Zinda Hai (TZH), an homage to Salman Khan’s indomitable powers of hero-giri. From the first frame to the last blast, this is a fanboy director making sure that every moment of the narrative is paisa vasool for the Salman fans.

Tiger Zinda Hai is a 2 ½ hour homage to Salman Khan’s superstardom. In the cinema of the Southern superstars like Rajinikanth or even Mammoothy (see his latest release Masterpiece where in almost every frame the star

DENTIST ..

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is eulogised) it is common practice to extol the virtues of the Man Of The Moment, to the extent that the other members of the cast appear to be afterthoughts.

Almost every supporting actor in TZH - and that includes the diligent Katrina Kaif - is an extension of Salman Khan’s superstardom, his or her existence defined by how much he or she herowosrhips our intelligence officer Avinash Singh Rathod a.k.a Tiger. The lengthy eulogy gets tedious only when the actors pause to tell us what a daunting one-man army our hero is.

And since that happens quite often, we are frequently asked to hold our horses, while the compliments flow and the speed breakers are served up.

Once those are out of the way TZH is a lot of fun to watch. The sheer silliness of a one-man army mowing a mayhem across terrorism, at a time when heroes in cinema across the world are

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exposing their vulnerability more than their virility (watch the haunting Call Me

By Your Name to know what I mean) is laughable.

So is the attempt to infuse a political urgency to an endeavour that is clearly on a one-point mission: no, not save the tiger, but celebrate the hero’s macho-giri until it hurts. And I don’t mean the muscles.

To his credit, the director packs in quite a punch. The narrative takes us through a collage of quirky, appealing locations where some really wellchoreographed action scenes are shot with breathless zeal. Full marks to cinematographer Marcin Laskawiec and action director Tom Struthers, not to mention the pulse-pounding yet discreet background score by Julian Packiam, for uplifting the viewers’ gaze to a level comparable with the Hollywood franchise.

A thought, though. Are we so short

of international-calibre talent that we need to import important technicians to make our onscreen action look competitive and competent? And does Salman’s stardom really need a boost?

A no to the first question and a yes to the second. Salman’s superstardom is like a pitcher of brackish brew whose bitter hue is best tasted when recycled with gusto.

TZH looks like many other antiterror films including Baby and Naam Shabana. And if you really want to see a taut intensely-felt take on the same plot about the kidnapping of nurses in Iraq, try the Malayam film Take Off. Admittedly, the action sequences in TZH are better staged than in the first Tiger film. Except for the Iranian actor Sajjad Delfarooz who stands out as the terror mastermind, the splendid supporting cast is criminally wasted.

It’s sad to see actors like Girish Karnad, Paresh Rawal, Kumud Mishra and Angad Bedi hanging around only to make sure the leading man looks his Sunday best. Still these actors ferret out their moments from a script that allows no breathing space for anything but comicbook vigour.

As for Katrina Kaif, she remains as deadpan as ever. Thank God some things never change. But she’s surprisingly effective in the action scenes, more so than she was in a similar role in Kabir Khan’s Phantom, or for matter in Ek Tha Tiger.

As for her chemistry with Salman, his eyes melt like an ice cream cone left out in the sun, each time she’s around.

Will someone make an intense love story with the two?

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entertainment

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

SALMAN KHAN

PADMAVATI TO RELEASE AS PADMAVAT ON 25 JAN

After months of uncertainty, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial Hindi film Padmavati will release on January 25 as Padmavat with a U/A certificate. It will clash with Akshay Kumar’s Pad Man. “It will release as ‘Padmavat’ on January 25. The film has got U/A certificate,” sources said.

Padmavati - now Padmavat - was earlier slated for release on December 1 but the studio had voluntarily deferred it following a long-stretched controversy.

The movie, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been mired in a row after the Shree Rajput Karni Sena claimed it distorted historical facts related to the Rajput community.

The group has been persistent in its demand for a ban on the movie despite Bhansali’s clarification before a Parliamentary committee that the row over the movie was just based on rumours.

Last month, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) - in consultation with a special advisory panel -- decided it will grant U/A certificate to the movie but subject to five modifications, including title change.

The makers were asked to add disclaimers -- one of them regarding not glorifying the practice of Sati and also relevant modifications in the song Ghoomar to befit the character portrayed.

SALLU GETS DEATH THREAT

PAD MAN’S NOBLE WISH

N

ational Award-winning actor Akshay Kumar, who is addressing the issue of menstrual hygiene in his forthcoming film Pad Man, says women should get sanitary napkins for free of cost as it is a basic necessity for them.

Asked if the Toilet: Ek Prem Katha actor wants to reach out to the government to cut down on GST rate of sanitary napkins, Akshay said, “Why just cut down on GST? I think women should have free access to sanitary napkins. This is their basic necessity.

It is about menstrual hygiene and not luxury.”

“It is unfortunate and I am ashamed to say that 82 per cent women in this country have no access to sanitary pads and they are mistreated during those five days of their menstruation period. This is unfortunate,” he added.

Pad Man is a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganantham, the inventor of a low-cost sanitary pad making machine in India. The subject of Pad Man is considered a taboo or a sensitive issue. So what are the elements that 42 JANUARY (1) 2018

he has kept in mind while promoting the film?

“First, do not call it a sensitive issue. It is a natural process of a human body. It is time to get rid of those taboos attached to it. It is time to treat the issue maturely. Also from the women’s end, they should not shy away from talking about the issue, and certainly should not whisper about it,” he said.

He feels that the way festivals like Holi and Diwali are celebrated, people should also “celebrate when a girl meets with her puberty.”

“When you celebrate it, the girl who is already going through a physical and hormonal transition, will feel confident and secure. But we excluded our women from the normalcy of life during those five days. So from the first experience, women feel that period is something they should hide. So you know where we should start from,” he added.

Produced by Akshay’s wife Twinkle Khanna and directed by R. Balki, Pad Man is slated to release on January 26.

His fans fondly call him ‘bhai,’ but Salman Khan has received a death threat from a real-life bhai (gangster).

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi of Rajasthan issued a death threat to Salman Khan, saying the Bollywood actor will be killed in Jodhpur.

“Salman Khan will be killed here, in Jodhpur... Then he will come to know about our real identity,” Bishnoi told media persons while being taken to a Jodhpur court in police security.

Bishnoi was being produced in the court following his arrest on charges of terrorising traders and extorting money from them.

The gangster claimed that he had been framed in false cases and that to date, not even a single witness had deposed in the court to prove the charges.

“Now, if police want me to do some major crime, I shall kill Salman Khan and that too in Jodhpur,” he added.

Bishnoi’s death threat to Salman is being linked with the black buck killing case of 1998, in which Salman and his co-actors are accused. It was the Bishnoi community which had brought up the black buck hunting case, and ever since the community considers the Bollywood actor a “villain”.

However, some onlookers felt that the gangster talked of killing Salman just to create a sensation.

RAJPUT OUTFIT FIRM ON PADMAVATI BAN DEMAND

Despite a series of modifications being made in the controversial film Padmavati including its renaming as Padmavat, Rajput outfit Karni Sena has again raised a demand for a complete ban on film.

Speaking to media, Karni Sena observer Lokendra singh Kalvi said that filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali should forget dreaming about the film’s release.

“All efforts of Bhansali and CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) shall go down the drain as we will never allow the screening of Padmavati anywhere in India or abroad.

“We are still adamant on our demand.

Let there be a complete ban on the release of Padmavati,” he added.

Kalvi also demanded a complete ban on the Ghoomar song. “We don’t want any changes in the said song - we demand a complete ban on it,” he said.

He also questioned the ‘authenticity’ of the panel formed by the CBFC to review the film.

Not all of them were historians, hence, their suggestions hardly make a difference, he said, adding that the CBFC proposed to bring in nine historians in the panel but ended calling only three historians “which speaks volumes on their seriousness to justify our demands”.

IN FILM INDUSTRY FOR MARATHON, NOT RAT RACE: RAJKUMMAR RAO

He debuted in the Hindi film industry with Love Sex Aur Dhokha and went on to grab the limelight by delivering powerful performances. Geared up to enthrall cinema lovers with more thought-provoking projects, Rajkummar Rao says he is here for a marathon and not a rat race.

From performing on the stage at Shri Ram Centre in Delhi to picking up the nuances of acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, the 33-year-old actor started in the industry with no godfather. In a span of eight years, he has cemented his space with his work in films like Kai Po Che!, Shahid, Aligarh, CityLights, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Newton.

Rajkummar believes the times are

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changing for outsiders seeking a break in Bollywood.

“Being an outsider, I know it is not easy for an outsider to (get a break) in the industry; but I think times are changing. Writers in this generation are coming with some wonderful stories.

Our directors too are experimenting with their storytelling and that is the reason why actors like me and so many of us are getting great characters to portray on screen,” Rajkummar said.

“I just hope this journey continues and I keep challenging myself. I just want to push the envelope with every film. I really do not want to find any comfort zone. It is just a very humble beginning.

I have just started and it feels like Love Sex Aur Dhoka is just released... It has been seven years and there is a long way to go. I am here for a marathon actually, not a rat race,” added the actor.

He says there was never a Plan B for him.

“This is the only thing I have always thought of doing since my school days. I always wanted to be a film actor. I always chased that dream and I started by doing theatre in Delhi. Then I went to FTII from where I landed in Mumbai in 2008,” said Rajkummar, who says FTII gave him the confidence to face the camera.

“Somewhere, I feel that people take FTII actors seriously because we commit two to three years of our lives to learn acting,” he said.

The struggle began when the

Gurugram boy landed in Mumbai.

“For me, the first two years in Mumbai were a bit tough. As Mumbai is an expensive city, it was not easy for me to cope up with a lot of expenses here. But my family really supported me.”

Rajkummar’s popularity has also not affected his attitude. Besides his performances, people often compliment him for his humility.

Brushing that off, he said: “I just be myself as I am doing this (acting) for myself. I wanted to work all my life in films, not because I wanted to prove a point to anyone. I genuinely fell in love with acting. When there is true love, there is no other feeling. I think this is what I breathe for every day, to act in front of the camera.”

Rajkummar’s Love Sonia, 5 Weddings, Omerta and Shimla Mirchi are slated to release this year.

TV STRONGER MEDIUM THAN FILMS: KARAN JOHAR

Filmmaker Karan Johar says that there should not be a divide between the small and the big screen as television is a stronger medium than cinema.

Karan has been a part of the small screen with shows like Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and India’s Got Talent and will be now be seen co-judging a reality show titled India’s Next Superstars.

The filmmaker, 45, says the digital platform and television has become huge.

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NATIONAL EDITION

“Today it reached out to at least nine times the audience... If three million people watch cinema and 27 million people watch television. So what is a bigger platform? Today digital and television is going to be huge. I respect those who earn name and money from television,” he added.

SANJAY DUTT’S BIOPIC TO RELEASE ON JUNE 29

For those awaiting to see how Ranbir Kapoor brings alive the story of Sanjay Dutt on the big screen, the wait has become a little longer. The biopic on the Khalnayak star will now release on June 29 instead of March 30.

Apart from Ranbir, who even put on weight to fit Sanjay’s shoes for the biopic, the film stars Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Karishma Tanna, Vicky Kaushal and Jim Sarbh.

Presented by Fox Star, the untitled Dutt biopic is co-produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani.

Meanwhile, actress-producer Dia Mirza, who will be seen playing the role of Sanjay’s wife Manyata in the biopic, says she is excited to work on the project.

“I’m very very excited about the Dutt biopic and my work in it. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself by thinking about the fact that it might take my career as an actor in a new direction,” Dia said.

After winning the Miss Asia Pacific 2000 title, Dia made her Bollywood debut in 2001 with the film Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein.

Despite having a successful debut, she could not sustain the golden run in the Hindi film industry. She featured in Bollywood films like Deewaanapan, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, Dum and Kurbaan that bombed at the box office.

Apart from acting, Dia has stepped into the filmmaking business. She coowns a production house, Born Free Entertainment, with her husband Sahil Sangha. Her last production venture was Bobby Jasoos in 2014.

The actress hopes to evolve as an actor and a producer with each project.

“As an actor and a producer, I hope I can continue to evolve, grow and contribute. That’s what my primary focus is... to just keep making better choices, keep learning and growing,” she said.

What’s the chitchat here between SAIF ALI KHAN and his son TAIMUR? Send your response to: media@indianlink.com.au TO WIN A MOVIE TICKET!!

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNING ENTRY

What’s the chitchat here between ANUSHKA SHARMA and VIRAT KOHLI? Vishal Degaonkar Anushka: I wish you a long innings Virat: I wish you a blockbuster Congrats, Vishal!

You win a movie ticket!

Another good one by Kanchan Katoch Virat: Get ready Anushka, we are gonna play a long innings.

JANUARY (1) 2018 43

BACKCHAT

Year of bluffs, or year of blasts?

How our leaders are hoping to influence the world in 2018

BY LP AYER

F

or most of us, New Year resolutions are like fireworks on the last night of the year - they fizzle out after a brief sparkling moment.

But the resolutions of some movers and shakers at the world stage have real fire power, impacting millions of people. So it is only natural to get curious about what some of those VIPs (very irritable persons) have jotted down to jolt the world.

Let’s take a peek at what some of our leaders were thinking as they began their new year.

Starting from the East where the New Year dawns first, our first man to watch is who else but the stubby chap who strikes terror in every terrestrial creature - Kim Jong-un.

His cryptic Korean notes read, “I need to keep my finger on that button on my desk to keep that White House dotard seething with white fury. Our bulky missiles paraded along Pyongyang public square, I hope no one will find out, are mere tin cones packed inside with my dissidents to be blasted off. UN sanctions, ha! They are as powerful as hen’s teeth.

My bosom buddies in Beijing will always back me - I am doing all this rattling at their bidding, to pack up the Yankees from this part of the world.”

Flying at a missile speed, the next stop is at the big man’s Oval Office where Trump is busy tweeting his messages.

“Mine is bigger than that Little Rocket man’s. I mean the Red Button. After all, size does matter… and when I press my button, DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) will instantly become DARK (destroyed, annihilated, razed and

knackered). Each time this Pyongyang pigmy fires a missile, I ratchet my tweet to fire and fury but that doesn’t seem to rattle him. Have tightened sanctions, yet he manages to get his supplies of oil. It seems there are too many merchants of snake oil out there. In the New Year, I resolve to fight him with my tweets - a tweet a day should keep his missiles away.”

(Meanwhile, on every American’s wishlist this year: “We want Trump to change from a man of tweets to a man of deeds.”)

At the Forbidden City, Xi Jinping’s scroll reads, “Each time Kim tests a missile, the Americans come knocking on my door to do more to restrain him.

This is what boosts China’s stature as the next superpower. Told our UN delegates

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to raise their hands for all the sanctions against North Korea but not lift their little finger to act on them on the ground or on water. It is just a coincidence - or Chinese whispers - that our oil tankers berth next to North Korean ones in Hong Kong or Shanghai. If the West expects me to pull the plug on Kim, they don’t know he is playing my game to perfection to drive them off the Pacific Rim… China can then rule the waves.”

In India, Narendra Modi has a few things to worry about. “Must be wary of China’s One Belt One Road roadshow. It is just a ruse to tighten their belt around our neck (as the PLA is already trying this at the ‘chicken neck’ near Doklam) and drag us along the road to Beijing’s eco-

nomic domination. Hope I can convince all the South East Asian leaders I have invited to our Republic Day function. Must also be wary of close links with Canberra as part of the mooted quadrilateral alliance to contain China since Beijing has bought out all leading Aussie politicians on both sides.”

It is domestic issues that are foremost on Prince Phillip’s mind. “Aah, a royal wedding soon. That is the only thing that may be going for England’s economy, with Brexit looming… Beatrice and Eugene may be peeved about commoners getting into the royal fold, but hey, I didn’t have a right royal time myself in my early days. My only concern is that if Kate and Meghan ever get into a tiff, we may end up becoming a royal TV soap opera…”

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