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Sudarshan Arvind, Nanditha Suresh, Saroni Roy, Puneet Anand, Ritam Mitra, Vinaya Rai, Kalyani Wakhare, Sachin Wakhare, Grahak Cunningham, Petra O’Neill, Saket Suman, Nury Vittachi, Madeleine Lovelle, Minal Khona, Auntyji
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BY PAWAN LUTHRA
When a newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, there seemed to be much promise for a future of closer contact and much collaboration. Increased engagement was the plan.
And so when seven months ago, a standoff occurred between the two countries over the Doklam plateau, a disputed area claimed by both China and Bhutan, diplomatic channels were opened to resolve what was labelled as a highly volatile situation.
However, recent events seem to reveal new patterns in the manner in which China views its neighbour, with whom it shares a 2,500-km border.
In a recent CNN interview on the China-India relationship, Yvonne Chiu of the University of Hong Kong, said, “I think China doesn’t see India as a genuine long-term rival. I think it
looks at India and sees a classic case of democracy gone wrong. India is incredibly corrupt , its infrastructure is terrible, and it is riddled with religious and demographic problems. Except it is very large. It does have a big population as well and it’s on the border. So it’s a regional rival, but I don’t think they take India seriously as a global rival.”
Commercially, China does well out of its trade relationship with India. India is its largest trading partner with over $100 billion of bilateral trade ongoing, largely in China’s favour. Chinese companies are supplying trains for the Delhi metro projects and have major stakes in Indian companies such as Paytm, Ola and Snapdeal to name a few. In fact last year, Oppo, China’s top mobile phone maker, paid $200 million for a five-year sponsorship to place their logo on the uniform of the Indian cricket team, displacing that of India’s leading broadcasting company, Star India. But it seems that while it benefits from the economic prosperity of India, China wants to undermine India’s role as a regional super power. China is isolating India from its traditional allies (Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives), notably through its Belt and
The BRI is a program for increasing infrastructural, economic, and political connectivity between China and other countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. BRI has irked India as China positions itself in the centre of the new world order and also forges closer ties with India’s traditional rival Pakistan.
That China has shown a willingness to meet the growing infrastructure needs in nations that have long been India’s allies, is also worrisome for India. These needs are met at the investors’ terms, as was evidenced recently in Sri Lanka. Unable to service a $2 billion loan for the development of the port city Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka, its government was forced to sign a 99year lease with a Chinese state-owned company. While the lease is purportedly for commercial use, the recent Chinese navy stopovers at the port have concerned the Indian government.
India needs to shore up its strategic stakes with its neighbours, and it needs to implement long-term solutions which will allow it to be a player in the global political scene.
Currently, it is being out-manoeuvred and outplayed by China.
Our stories on Year 12 students prompted other school finishers to share their experiences and performance
SONALI YARDI Baulkham Hills High School ATAR 99.85
Achievements Ranked 1st in School (Legal Studies), School Academic Achievement awards for Legal Studies and Economics
Sonali wrote: Having witnessed others go through the HSC, I had expected that the year would be filled with stress, piles of homework and an exam every week. However in reality, to my surprise, my HSC year, although plagued with these things at certain times, was much more fun than stress. I was able to strengthen my friendships and make new ones whilst having new experiences and enjoy the last year of school! The most important thing I learned about myself is to have faith in my abilities. By picking a notoriously “low scaling subject,” I was told that I wouldn’t be able to do as well because I chose this subject. But I ignored such negativity and tried to have faith in my ability and love for Legal studies. Further, moving to a new school helped me to realise that I had the strength to adapt to a new environment and excel. I also learnt that strong self-motivation is the only way one can achieve success as only you can get the best out of yourself
My advice to students would be to just relax and enjoy your last year of school. This is going to be a tough, long year but with hard work and perseverance you will get through it. Also, pick subjects you genuinely enjoy. This will make Year 12 a lot more fun and heaps less stressful. And finally, English (unfortunately) is very important, so put as much time and effort into it as you can. You won’t regret it.
Normanhurst Boys High School
ATAR 99.50
Achievements HSC Premier’s Award for All - Round Excellence, Year 12 High Achievers Award from school, HSC Distinguished Achiever Kiran wrote: Over the course of the HSC year, I learnt the importance of being able to strive beyond one’s comfort zone and reach success beyond my expectations. If I were given the opportunity, I would have extended myself to actively participate in more community events, allowing me to develop my interpersonal skills through communication and networking, all whilst having fun and helping others. Alongside pushing yourself to participate in a vast array of extracurricular activities, a boringly practical yet equally important piece of advice would be to purchase a comfortable pen for the year. Whilst a cheap pack of Biro pens maybe tempting, a couple higher quality pens will allow you to write clearer, faster and in higher quantity without as many painful hand cramps.
TANMAY GUPTA Mazenod College ATAR 99.70
Achievements College DUX, Subject Awards in Specialist Maths and Chemistry, Science Scholarship, Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award
Our coverage of the Class of 2017 stories got wide appreciation. Chandra Kishore wrote: Indian Link, your cover picture with our young ones’ HSC achievements is very much appreciated. We need to boost the image of our community and you have just done that. Much appreciated. Keep it up. Harshad Pandharipande wrote: Loving the jersey names of all the students. So clever and fun. Laughed out loud at some many of them and thinking what my daughter’s jersey name would be!
NANDITHA SURESH wrote about the man behind Telugu schools in NSW. He expressed his gratitude
Mallik Rachakonda wrote: Thank you for taking time out to writing about Telugu schools in Sydney. This article will provide much needed coverage about our schools and enable many parents to enrol their children in Telugu schools
Mittu Bhowmick Lange became the first Australian-Indian woman to receive the prestigious Jill Robb Award, reported PREETI JABBAL Sheba Nandkeolyar wrote: Mitu your professionalism, creativity and humility has set a new benchmark for the Australian Indian Diaspora. We are very proud of you.
Great to see #Bollywood actor #AishwaryaRai take part in the Queen’s Baton journey across #Sydney Harinder Sidhu, Australia’s High Commissioner to India
We haven’t taken care of our beaches as much as Australia has Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra
Our story on Adelaide’s sari-clad Indian doctor by RAJNI MADAN saw an outpouring of congratulatory messages
Nirmala Sekhar wrote: Congrats Jaya Pathi on this wonderful achievement.
Lakshmi Sreedhar wrote: Most humble and the bestest
Ganesh Ananthakrishnan wrote: Congratulations Jaya Aunty! Wonderful recognition of a stellar career and for dedicated service to the health needs of the Northern suburbs communities
Sukanya Ramachandran: Congrats Chitti. Ur eldest sister and all of us are feeling very proud of you. We pray to God for ur long healthy and happy life.
Take care
Here’s what you, the readers, said about some recent issues
Do you support same-sex marriage in Australia?
52% Yes
39% No
9% Don’t care
After all the controversy, will you still watch Padmaavat?
63% Yes, I can’t wait
18% No, it portrays history wrongly
13% Wasn’t planning to, but now I’m curious
6% I’m not interested in Hindi movies
Our quiz about Indian destinations got correct responses
Vaishali Patel wrote: It’s in Meghalaya.
Mythili Iyer wrote: It is in Meghalaya.
The video of the wayward wallaby expectedly got a lot of laughs
Certain developments in the Indian and Sikh diaspora are an unfortunate setback to India as it continues to develop its soft influence overseas, wrote
PAWAN LUTHRA
JK2020 wrote: The Indian government must stop interfering with Sikh institutions overseas. Bring the 1984 culprits to justice and stop abusing Punjab’s waters.
Our Hindi commentary was a hit among listeners NRIofTheYear wrote: #Hindi commentary during @BigBashLeague is so awesome to listen to. Thank you @CricketAus.
We must never stop learning from this man Vic Premier Daniel Andrews, visiting India, about Gandhi
Mark Pointer wrote: Think he was tryin to get the hell out of Sydney!!!
Raghwa Sharma wrote: Now u talkin, Straya!
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We have brought the World Cup back… The plan was well executed Prithvi Shaw, India’s U-19 cricket captain, after winning the World Cup final against Australia
For eminent service to medical governance, administration, and technology, and to medicine, through leadership roles with a range of organisations, to education and the not-for-profit sector, and to the community of western Melbourne
For Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, every day is a sense of celebration of what it means to be Australian. Therefore, to get the highest civilian honour on Australia Day is ‘truly life changing’ and ‘extremely humbling.’
The accomplished GP has been appointed as a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to medical governance, administration, and technology, and to medicine, through leadership roles with a range of organisations, to education and the not-for-profit sector, and to the community of western Melbourne.
“For me, to be in a position in my life and career to receive such an honour has only been made possible due to the unflinching support and unremitting encouragement of my closest circle, the people who have been with me through every step of endeavour, adversity, achievement, and success” said Haikerwal.
The eminent doctor, who runs a practise in Altona North, has received a string of accolades during his career for his contributions to the medical profession.
His leadership roles include being the youngest Federal President of the Australian Medical Association (20052007) and Chairman of Council for the World Medical Association (2011-2015).
Haikerwal was awarded the Order of Australia in 2011 for distinguished service to medical administration, to the promotion of public health through leadership roles with professional organisations, to the reform of the Australian health system through the optimisation of information technology, and as a general practitioner.
Haikerwal is particularly proud of the work he did with the specially-convened National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission as part of a team, and with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
“Allowing me the opportunity to make a difference has been due to the great organisations and people within them, that on the whole were kind to me and listened and learnt,” said Haikerwal.
“These are organisations that dedicate themselves selflessly to bettering the
lives of others. They are the collaborators and partners right across the nation and across the globe that have joined to help us all ‘do the right thing’ - to be brave and bold, and lead for the people,” he emphasised.
With increased focus on charity, he is currently on the board as director of Beyond Blue, providing guidance and contributing to its efforts to improve the mental health of health professionals.
He is working with Cancer Victoria with its aim to improve advocacy and knowledge of cancer, cancer care and facilities. He is also involved with Brain Injury Australia in response to his own recovery from a brutal attack in 2008.
In September 2008, Haikerwal survived a vicious gang attack and robbery near Dennis Reserve in Williamstown. The attackers inflicted serious injury with a baseball bat that left Haikerwal brain damaged and within inches of losing his life. He had to be put in a medically induced coma to survive and had to relearn how to walk and talk again.
Lucknow-born Haikerwal is the eldest
son of Dr Madhuri and Ishwar, both Indian-British citizens, who migrated to Australia in 1981. Haikerwal started his education in a London Boarding school at the age of 6 and went on to study Medicine in Leicester.
In 1990, he moved to Australia with his wife Dr Karyn Alexander and set up practice in Altona North. He has three sons Suresh, Ajaya and Jeevan.
“First and foremost, I am a GP – a local family doctor who serves his local community. This defines me,” said Haikerwal.
“It is a privilege to have as a basis, my foundation, the hard-working people, the salt of the earth, the everyday folk who have come from every corner of the globe to live and work in our proudly diverse and multicultural region. They give so much to this great country,” he continued.
“Our daily continuing challenge is to provide high-quality, patient-centred, holistic care in a region with pitifully low levels of investment. That daily challenge - those daily encounters with real people, real patients - has provided me with the
burning arrows of desire: to improve the lot of the common man,” said the soft spoken GP
Whether he is confronting racism by condemning abuse of international medical graduates or promoting technology and eHealth initiatives to deliver better patient care or debating voluntary euthanasia, Haikerwal is leading the charge.
According to him, expending energy on multiple commitments is possible by ensuring a healthy body and a healthy mind.
“I am careful with my intake of salt, sugar and saturated fats. I eat sensibly, exercise, visit my GP regularly and look after my mental and physical health,” he said referring to the physicians pledge as part of the WMA Declaration in Geneva.
He wishes to dedicate the Australia Day Honour to all his colleagues.
“I would have achieved little without my chariots of fire - my professional colleagues from within medicine, and from disciplines aligned to health, healthcare, welfare, and service planning and delivery,” said Haikerwal.
“In particular, I salute those who have lost their lives in their pursuits, for whom I will continue to strive, as they would have, to improve the health of the nation and the happiness of those who pursue it,” he said.
Preeti JabbalFirst and foremost, I am a GP – a local family doctor who serves his local community. This defines me
For significant service to medicine as a specialist in the fields of sexual health and forensic medicine, as an educator and clinician, and to professional associations
The girl was just 15 years old. She had been raped, and was understandably in deep trauma. She needed not just immediate medical help but also forensic attention to gather evidence of the ordeal she had gone through. Unfortunately, the Australian Capital Territory did not have a forensic medical service at the time, in year 2000.
That’s when the ACT government dialed Dr Vanita Rajul Parekh for help.
Dr Parekh, a practising sexual health physician, had done significant work, visiting brothels and interacting with the women working there to monitor their sexual health and awareness.
The government asked Dr Parekh to head a forensic medical service, and she took up the challenge. Since then, she has been working to help victims - women and men - of sexual violence. Till date, Dr Parekh has lent her expertise in 2,500 such cases.
Since 2006, Dr Parekh, who is 48 years old, has been the unit director of Clinical Forensic Medical Services (CFMS), which includes Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care and Clinical Forensics ACT. She provides a comprehensive range of medical care to individuals who have been sexually assaulted or are in police custody, and provides regular evidence to the courts in the ACT.
For her work in the field of sexual health and forensic medicine, she was conferred with the Member of the Order of Australia in the 2018 Australia Day Honours, something she says she is humbled and honoured about.
Dr Parekh’s journey to Australia is quite interesting. Her grandparents migrated to East Africa from Rajkot in Gujarat. Her parents then moved to Edinburgh in Scotland, where she was born and raised. “It was very different growing up there,” she remembers. “I was the only brown kid in school.”
She studied medicine in Glasgow and moved to Australia in 1995 as there was a ‘massive shortage’ of doctors here at the time. “My first day, I walked in to work and the people there, surprised by my Indian features, said, ‘But we’re expecting a doctor from Scotland.’ I told them ‘Yes, that’s me!’” she remembers with a laugh.
Dr Parekh had planned to work in Australia for just a year but says she fell in love with the place and its kind people. “I remember getting nine invitations for
Christmas the first year I moved here,” she says. “Everyone made me feel as if I belonged. That’s when you feel a commitment to give something back to the society.”
And give back she did. Dr Parekh’s foray into sexual health came when she started meeting ‘working women’ in brothels - prostitution was decriminalised in the ACT in 1992. “I realised then everyone, irrespective of background, had a right to sexual wellbeing,” she says.
The turning point came in the year 2000 when, after the 15-year-old girl’s rape case, Dr Parekh was asked by the ACT government to head the medical forensic service to help victims of sexual violence and domestic violence. “The forensic aspects were not as developed then as they are now. But we had a team of committed doctors who wanted to make a difference,” she says.
The team got a lot of help from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the government in terms of funding and know-how.
After building the CFMS from the ground up, Dr Parekh has been paying it forward. She provides specialised education and training programssomething she has developed - in sexual assault medicine and clinical forensic medicine. She has trained medical students, medical practitioners, nursing
staff, police and community groups. “I also trained police personnel in Namibia and Uganda on how to handle sexual assault cases and look after the victims,” she says.
Of course, her task is tough. Dr Parekh says sexual violence and domestic violence are prevalent across the world. “It’s important to acknowledge it, to destigmatise it. That’s why, movements such as #MeToo are a big positive step. It is the victim that feels shame after being sexually assaulted. And it is this shame that the perpetrators feed on. That is what needs to be taken away,” she explains.
Having worked with thousands of sexual assault victims, Dr Parekh has some sobering observations.
For one, in a large number of cases, there are no visible physical injuries because rather than fighting or fleeing, there’s a third ‘F’ – a hidden one –that’s involved: Freeze response. This is where the victim is virtually paralysed with fear, is threatened into submission or ‘negotiates’ with the perpetrator to be silent so the kids won’t hear them. That’s why, a lot of victims have trouble reconciling to the fact that they were sexually assaulted. “They say, ‘I was not beaten up. So, was I raped?’” Dr Parekh explains. Even the jury members at times find sexual assault hard to believe when there is no overt sign of physical injury on the victim. And while the media
portrayal of a beaten and bruised woman to depict sexual assault may be convenient, Dr Parekh says it glosses over a more disturbing reality.
The media is also wrong is portraying the perpetrator as someone unknown, ‘who jumps out from behind the bushes’ to assault the victim. “In a large number of sexual assault cases, the perpetrator is someone the victim knows. In fact, marital rape is one of the least reported forms of sexual assault,” Dr Parekh says.
While Dr Parekh’s role is providing medical help to sexual assault victims, appearing as expert witness in court necessitates her gaining trust of the victim in a short span of time, something that is most challenging. “But the best prize is when, at the end of the consultation, the victim gives you a smile and says thank you. That’s what makes it worth it,” she says.
However, even all that work doesn’t always translate into courtroom success as conviction rates in sexual assault cases continue to hover around the 16to 20% mark. “But we tell the victim that an acquittal doesn’t mean the assault didn’t take place,” Dr Parekh says.
Another way to deal with the problem is to work towards prevention. Dr Parekh says her aim is to make Australia the world leader in sexual violence prevention. “No rape,” she says. “That’s the goal.”
Harshad Pandharipande
Anant Kaur Sandhu, AM
For significant service to the restaurant and catering industry in South Australia, and to the community through support for charitable organisations
At 86, with a career spanning over half a century of cooking and feeding people, restaurateur Anant Kaur Sandhu felt ‘humbled’ to be appointed as Member of the Order of Australia 2018.
The sprightly octogenarian received the prestigious award for significant service to the restaurant and catering industry in South Australia, and to the community through support for charitable organisations.
Cooking and food have always been a big part of the Sandhu family’s lives and when it was time to give back to the community, they came together to feed the homeless.
For the past 17 years, the familythrough their restaurant The Jasmine - serve hearty meals to the homeless, socially disadvantaged and isolated.
Queues of homeless people line up outside their restaurant, every Thursday evenings to not only find a meal but also a sense of belonging and community.
It all started nearly 18 years ago when Anant saw Anglicare volunteers handing out food packages to the homeless in a park near her restaurant in Hindmarsh Square.
“I really felt for them as the bread and sausages they received may well have been the only meal they ate that day or for days. After a discussion with my family, we decided to provide a freshly cooked, nutritious proper meal to the homeless from our restaurant,” said Anant.
“Many of them suffer medical conditions or have dietary restrictions so we ensure that the meal is light and not spicy. There is always a meat dish, vegetables and rice,” said Anant, describing the menu for the homeless.
Every Christmas, The Jasmine also serves up a fully traditional Christmas meal with ham or turkey and Christmas staples for the disadvantaged.
“My children, grandchildren and staff - everyone pitches in to cook and serve the food and we all enjoy giving back something to the community,” said Anant.
Born and brought up in Kuala Lumpur, Anant and her family migrated to Australia 42 years ago with the help of a friend who sponsored them.
She felt there was a better future for her three sons and two daughters in Australia and never regretted the decision.
“Australians are very welcoming as long as you can hold your own. I have always received tremendous support from people and patrons and I am really grateful for it,” she said.
“I love cooking and used to run a small place called The Maharajah in Malaysia along with a small business training Telex Operators. It was difficult to run both together so we closed the restaurant and then moved to Australia,” said Anant.
The heat of the kitchen still holds charm for Anant who was one of the first to bring Indian food to South Australian tables
with her restaurant.
What started as a small takeaway place is now a 130-seater restaurant with private function rooms and a warm earthy décor.
Kevin Rudd, Gough Whitlam, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Nawab of Pataudi, Billy Connelly and Elton John are among the celebrities who have gorged happily on The Jasmine’s curries and breads.
What started as a hobby developed into a culinary journey that brought many rewards for Anant, who is now semiretired but is always around to give advice.
According to her, the secret to her active 80s is good living, nothing in excess and an enormously supportive family.
The Australia Day Honour is something that she did not expect at all and she finds the experience very humbling.
“We did not get involved with charity to get anything back. I was very surprised when I received the news and am grateful to those who nominated me,” said Anant, a glowing example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Preeti JabbalArmogam Murgan, OAM
For service to the Indian community of Sydney
“Iwas giddy with excitement and asked my wife Siromani to read the letter to me. I could not believe that I was one of the recipients of the Australia Day Honours,” Armogam Murgan shares excitedly.
“I feel incredibly honoured to receive this recognition,” says the 75-year old OAM recipient. His excitement is palpable as his wife, Siromani Naidu, weighs in on how childlike he was upon receiving the letter.
Hailing from a small village in Fiji, Armogam arrived in Australia with a head full of dreams to make a better life for himself and his late first wife
Lakshmi. A holiday to New Zealand followed by a visit to Australia, inspired the then 32-year-old Armogam to move to Australia in search of building a life in the country. “It was 1975 and there weren’t as many people from Fiji or India as there are now. It was all too new for us but I was determined to make this life work for us,” he recalls.
“It gave me great pleasure in being part of the Indian diaspora in a new country,” he muses.
His passion for community service - something he had done in Fiji as welland his urge to connect with the Indian community sparked an idea to form the
Behind every success, there will inevitably be many failures, says Professor Sharad Kumar. Spanning several decades, his professional journey to the top end of Australian biomedical research has certainly not been without hurdles. It has been a bumpy road for sure, he admits.
The NHRMC Senior Principal Research Fellow and Centre for Cancer Biology codirector has been appointed to the Order of Australia. The prestigious Australia Day Honours recognises his outstanding work in key research interests such as programmed cell death pathways and mechanisms of protein modification in cells.
“It is the recognition of many years of teamwork that has culminated in this. For us, it is an honour and a humbling experience - these awards recognise both individual achievement and the fundamental contributions of the team as a whole,” says Professor Kumar.
“It is humbling to receive an award such as this which represents a more public recognition of contribution to the wider community,” he added.
Featured in over 225 publications, Professor Kumar has won many professional accolades including the 2003 ASBMB Amersham Bioscience Award and the Ranbaxy Research Award. He also holds Affiliate Professorships in the Faculty of Medicine and School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, and and Chair of Cancer Biology & Research and Professor of Cell Biology, University of South Australia. Professor Kumar studied Biochemistry
in India before moving to Australia to complete a PhD at the University of Adelaide. He then undertook postdoctoral work in Queensland and spent time as a Research Scientist in Geelong’s CSIRO Animal Health Laboratory.
As the recipient of a Japanese Government Science and Technology Fellowship, Professor Kumar subsequently spent five years at the renowned RIKEN Tsukuba Life Science Centre and Cancer Institute in Tokyo, inspiring his current research interests in apoptosis and ubiquitination.
Returning to South Australia, he started his own lab in 1994.
“We wanted to bring like-minded people under one umbrella - with the focus on cancer biology. Since 2009, we have expanded to 160 people, the largest concentration of this type in our state,” he says.
“Science is a global field and the same issues afflict humans around the world,” Professor Kumar points out, regarding his
extensive experience both in Australia and around the world.
Nevertheless, Professor Kumar admits that his path had not been devoid of challenges, one that scientists across the country have faced and continue to contend with.
“Funding at large is tight everywhere. As a nation, we spend a comparatively smaller proportion of our GDP on scientific research.
“At the moment, we rely primarily on public funding. The public is generous and there is great support in the community, especially for medical science.
“The excitement, passion and commitment of working as a scientist greatly outweigh negatives like funding and insecurity,” he says.
“It’s never easy but you do it because you strive to learn new things and have the opportunity to contribute to society on so many levels.”
Indeed, Professor Kumar’s research on genes controlling cell survival and protein
modification has implications for an array of medical outcomes, illuminating exciting developments in personalised treatment.
“Cancer is definitely a key focus area. When you know the exact genes that are defective in a particular lesion, we can design individualised chemotherapy. This helps us avoid the ‘sledgehammer’ approach, preventing side effects by sparing normal cells.”
The discoveries made by his laboratory have also opened up new avenues in other areas such as inflammation, kidney disease and blood pressure homeostasis.
As a member of the Indian-Australian community, Professor Kumar is delighted at the opportunity to give back to his new home.
“We make a conscious decision to relocate to a different country - we thus have a responsibility to contribute to the community which has taken us in while also maintaining our old links,” he says.
Sudarshan ArvindShri Sanatan Dharam Sabha of New South Wales in 1975. He founded the Sabha to enable the Indian community in Australia to meet, socialise and gather for religious ceremonies. Every Friday, the 20-odd members would gather in one of the members’ home for a satsang and often would get together for celebrating community events, he tells Indian Link
In addition to his day job at Port Botany Terminal as a supervisor, Armogam made time to teach young students Hindi at the Sabha each Sunday. He was also the culture teacher there.
This small initiative has grown manifold in scale. The Sabha is now 2000+ members strong. As the founder of the Sabha, Armogam has always nurtured a dream to build a temple in NSW for the Indian community. Thus came about the Shree Ram Krishna Temple about five years ago situated in a sprawling 3-acre land in Austral.
The never-ending desire to give back to
the community has resulted in Armogam founding several community groups like the Satyam Shivam Sundaram Society of NSW, Sangam Society and the Indian Senior Citizens of NSW.
The Satyam Shivam Sundaram Society of NSW, according to Armogam, has especially played a vital role in many community changes. Besides being a platform to preserve the Indian culture, the group has helped raised funds for those in need. “We have been able to assist the Blind Society, providing doctors to patients in need, especially those with heart conditions,” he says. They have even extended their services to poor and disaster-stricken communities in Fiji.
Another noteworthy contribution of Armogam is being actively involved in forming Satyam Ghat. At a picnic with the Satyam Sivam Sundaram members, he witnessed the Moorebank Lake strewn with flowers and waste from last
rites of people being performed there. He wanted to do something about it and helped plan the Satyam Ghat in 2006, which is now a site to conduct religious ceremonies and pay respect to the departed. He and the members meet often to clean up the lake after the rites.
This retired government official has his hands busy as a marriage celebrant and Justice of Peace. He officiates many Hindu civil weddings in the country.
His wife, Siromani Naidu, he says is his greatest support in all he does. “He never had kids but now he has several 100 kids he has lent a hand to over the decades,” she proudly shares. “Even at this age he is ready to give anyone the support they need - morning, noon or night,” she adds.
Quizzing him on whether he has any time for himself amidst all the activities he is otherwise busy with, he says, “Not really. I have this incredible hunger to help people. I will do so till my very end.”
Nanditha
SureshDr Peshotan Homi Katrak, AM NSW
For significant service to rehabilitation medicine as a practitioner, to medical education and professional organisations, and to the Zoroastrian community.
Mr Robert Kumar, OAM VIC
For service to the law, particularly through the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
Mr James Mohan Savundra WA
For service to medicine in the fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
In something that will undoubtedly make Indians in Australia proud, probably the very first Hindi novel written in Australia was launched in Western Australia on 27 January.
Padaav (the leg of a journey), authored by Success WA resident Laxmi Tiwari, was unveiled in the presence of Consul General of India in Perth Amit Mishra.
Laxmi has been living in Australia for the past three decades but with this novel, she has paid a tribute to her Indian roots.
The novel, set in a village, talks about
antiquated customs still prevalent in modern-day India and other contemporary issues facing the country and its citizens. Although a fiction, it picks up real-life instances to create a very relatable narrative.
The writing conjures up visions of the Himalayas, rivers, grasslands, cattle, beautiful farms and villagers, instantly transporting the reader back to India. While the setting is idyllic, the story talks about protagonist Gautama as she navigates some social evils that were once part of Indian society. The plot sheds light in some dark spots from India’s past, particularly in rural areas, such as child marriage, the feudal system and the tendency of traditional zamindars to usurp land. The story also tackles issues which are not limited to the village but towards
STAGE
Stand-Up Comedy
14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25 Feb
Ruven Govender presents Ethnic Cleansing at Universal Bar.
Details www.fringeworld.com.au
Carnatic Vocal Sat 17 Feb (6.00pm) Sa Ri Ga Ma 2018 features vocalists Uma Nair and Ananthu
Koloth at Marist Auditorium Newman College, Churchlands. All proceeds got to Autism Association of WA.
Details Uma 0433 345 418
Gujarati Comedy Factory Show
Sun 4 March (5:30pm) Star
Alliance presents Gujarati Comedy Factory Show at Beasley Auditorium, Perth Modern School, 90 Roberts Rd, Perth. The Comedy Factory is the first of its kind in Gujarat.
Conceptualized by Manan Desai, Co-Founder & Programming Director, who has an experience of hosting prime time shows for over 7 years in different FM Radio Stations of Gujarat. A time of great laughter and entertainment will be awaiting you.
Details Chirag Parikh 0417 244 724
COMMUNITY
Mela Vaisakhi Da in Perth Sun 11 March (11.00am onwards)
the whole nation. The source of inspiration can be tracked to the bold writing style of Munshi Premchand, which was also acknowledged by the author at the launch event. Women of all ages can relate to the story presented in the novel, which Laxmi said couldn’t have been possible without the support of her family.
In her brief address, the author thanked the audience, readers, her close friends Ratna and Suman, brother Brij Mohan, her husband Ravi Prakash Tiwari and her family who supported her endeavour and encouraged her to fulfil her literary potential.
Laxmi’s daughter and husband also addressed the audience on the occasion, talking about Laxmi’s gifted narrative skills. Ravi Prakash recalled an incident from a few years ago when Laxmi and
their daughter were driving to Murdoch university from Bibra lake and suddenly a snake crossed their path. “I remember our daughter telling me about the incident later in the evening, but the way Laxmi vividly described it - in great detail and with a lot of flair - was memorable. I was impressed by her story-telling skills. We were always aware of her potential and encouraged her to nurture it,” he said.
The novel has received positive reviews from many newspapers and authors in India and elsewhere in the world. Praise for the novel continued at the launch event as well, with many from the audience sharing their appreciation for the work.
Laxmi also read a paragraph from the novel. The warm applause it elicited proved that Laxmi’s labour had been worth it.
House of Bhangra and Cobot Square present Mela Vaisakhi Da at House of Bhangra Productions 5/253 Ocean Keys Blvd, Clarkson, Western Australia. Details Manjinder Gill 0452 439 001.
TECH FOR KIDS
Annual Code Challenge: Your school is invited!
DXC Technology Foundation announces its Annual Code Challenge using Scratch, a fun and free coding platform for beginners. Free event, open to all children aged 10-14, groups and schools welcome to join. All that is
required is access to a computer, an internet connection and an imagination! Teams will have until April 27, 2018 to develop and submit an online project. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges for creativity, originality, technical merit and accuracy and good programming practices. Details dxc.technology/dxccodes or email dxcgivesback@dxc.com
To have your event listed, email media@indianlink.com.au
most likely first Hindi novel Padaav, written by Laxmi Tiwari, unveiled
Alisha Kapoor is like a regular 4-year-old - chatty, active and full of imagination. She likes to laugh and is learning how to play the violin. But there’s one way in which she is different from a regular 4-year-old girl - she cannot breathe without ventilator support.
Born with a very rare lung disease called Surfactant protein C deficiency, Alisha is
admitted to the hospital and becoming entirely dependent on a ventilator 24 hours a day to keep her lungs working and ultimately, to keep her alive. While Alisha is on the ventilator, her condition can be managed. However, due to her complex medical needs, it also means that she cannot go home. The only real cure for her is a heart-lung transplant, a gift that her parents are desperately hoping will come soon.
“Alisha was 6 months old when she fell very sick. We were based in China then. The doctors there could not diagnose the issue and therefore there was no treatment. We flew back to Sydney and went to the Children’s Hospital at
Alisha is so young and small, it’s too risky to separate the lungs from the heart and do the procedure. “The diameter, length and breadth of the trachea and the bronchi is very small so it’s very difficult to connect to new lungs to it. If Alisha had been older, we could’ve just replaced her lungs. So for her, it has to be a block transplant and she will also be the youngest heart-lung transplant recipient in Australia,” Dr Pandit says.
Alisha’s daily cost of bed, tertiary ICU care for 24x7 ventilation, nursing, as well as kindergarten is about $4000$5000 per day. But because it’s a public hospital, it is borne by the government of Australia under the Medicare system. Alisha cannot survive more than a few seconds if the ventilator is disconnected. It is indeed a massive support system for Alisha’s parents, who are able to keep their daughter alive because the Australian government and medical facilities are
interactive, intelligent and imaginative she is. She has directed the nurses to decorate her room. She has a wonderful sense of humour and is learning to play the violin. The occupational therapists and physiotherapists train her every day to keep her muscle strength intact. She keeps a tab on all the patients around her and all the nurses and doctors are her friends!”
Alisha has been on the transplant list since March last year and is now waiting until her family receives that phone call that she has received a heart and lung donor. When this happens, Alisha will be flown to The Alfred in Melbourne, where the life-saving surgery will take place. What makes Alisha particularly special though, is the fact that if she receives her transplant and her heart stays healthy, she will be able to gift her heart to save another child.
“In Alisha’s case, the donor has to be essentially of her height with the same
supporting them to this extraordinary length. Without this support, they would have lost Alisha years ago.
missing the vital protein needed to inflate her lungs. Without this protein, her lungs collapse immediately like a deflating balloon whenever she tries to breathe.
This little girl is hoping for a heart-lung transplant so that she can breathe without ventilator support, like any other child.
Alisha has spent almost all of her life living at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney. She spent just six months at home after birth before being
Westmead straight from the airport,” recounts Alisha’s father Raj.
Dr Chetan Pandit, who took charge of Alisha’s case since she landed in the hospital, says, “We have had at least five similar patients of different age groups at our hospital and some of them died in the neo-natal phase. The only curative treatment for Alisha is that she needs new lungs.”
But even here, there’s a hitch. Because
“I had approached a few other hospitals in USA and UK where transplant facilities are available for such young children, but it was too expensive and risky for her to travel. It would have cost me roughly $4 million plus we would have had to move there for at least a year with no job while also dealing with visa issues,” says Raj.
Children’s Hospital at Westmead has been Alisha’s home for the last four years but that hasn’t suppressed her zest for life. Alisha is chatty and smart that can give you a complete account of her medical condition. Dr Pandit talks about Alisha’s daily life endearingly. “You have to see her to believe how active,
blood group so that her/his heart and lungs can be harvested. Most common donor case is if someone dies in an accident. If all the organs are in good condition, they can be harvested,” Dr Pandit says.
He adds that anyone can be a donor. You can just go to the website (www. donatelife.gov.au) and sign up anytime. “There is no monetary transaction involved, it’s just that your family needs to know that you’re a donor and would like to donate your organs after your death,” says Dr Pandit.
Alisha’s family also has a fundraising page for Alisha (www.gofundme.com/ helping-alisha), to support her financial costs as well as the two hospitals caring for her.
Suffering from a rare disease, four-year-old Alisha Kapoor awaits a heart-lung transplant
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead has been Alisha’s home for the last 4 years, where she is on ventilator 24 hours a day
What is the Australia India Youth Dialogue? How did it originate?
AIYD is the leading Track II bilateral young leaders’ dialogue between Australia and India. Each year we bring together 15 young Indians and 15 young Australians under the age of 40, all demonstrated leaders in their fields, to engage in a four-day dialogue about matters that affect the bilateral relations between the two countries with a focus on youth engagement. This year was the seventh dialogue.
AIYD has its origins in the 2009 student attacks in Melbourne. The thesis of the founders was that there was no (existing) mechanism to bring young leaders together to discuss in a proactive and constructive way such issues that were misconstrued in the media. AIYD has grown beyond that and has now become an important forum to bring young leaders together and start to inform government on both sides on how to shape policy and create opportunities going forward. It takes place every year, alternating between India and Australia. This year, it took place in New Delhi and Mumbai from 21 to 24 Jan.
Who can apply to participate in the dialogue?
Anyone who is a citizen of India or Australia under the age of 40. Our selection criterion is quite rigorous. We are specifically looking for people who have demonstrated leadership in their field. We take a diverse set of delegates. This year, we had politicians, CEOs of for-profit and not-for-profit companies, bureaucrats, diplomats, corporate senior executives, a couple of people in the sports space, and many in the arts space. We keep a 50-50 male-female proportion and try to have balanced regional representation.
What have been your main focus areas? This year the theme was Digital Disruption, with three sub-themes - Future of Democracy, Future of Information and Future of Work. The reason we picked digital disruption was because it’s high on the agenda of both Prime Ministers Modi and Turnbull - in India, with initiatives such as Startup India and Digital India, and National Innovation and Science Agenda in Australia. It’s also an area where the senior leaders look towards youngsters for guidance as we are already at the forefront of shaping the digital economy - not just at the periphery and inheriting it, but doing the thinking around it. Last year, the theme was ‘innovation’ with a focus on health, start-ups etc.
Who were some of the most interesting people you had this year?
All of them were interesting! We had two sitting members of parliament - Scott Farlow MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the NSW Premier and the leader of the Liberal party in the Upper House, and Matt Keogh, a Labor MP from Burt, WA. We also had Sachin Kumar, the head of strategy and scheduling, Cricket Australia. On the Indian side, among the notable participants were Madhav Singhania, special executive with JK Cement and co-chair of the Young Indians branch of the Confederation of Indian Industries; Bhakti Sharma, one the youngest and the only female panchayat leader in Madhya Pradesh; Tasneem Fatima who is a wheelchair basketball player and founder of the Delhi State Wheelchair Basketball Association; Shaili Chopra, a former news anchor and founder of an online women’s platform called SheThePeople.TV; and Bindu Subramaniam, an outstanding musician who is the daughter of violin virtuoso L Subramaniam and singer Kavita Krishnamoorthy.
How do people such as Bindu and Tasneem fit into the digital disruption discussion?
A musician like Bindu would be interested to know about the rapidly changing business models of music. For Tasneem, the topic on Day 1 - The Future of Democracy - was quite relevant as it talked
about building awareness through social media about challenges faced by disabled athletes in India and build a positive dialogue around it.
What have been some of the most tangible outcomes from the AIYD?
We do document our outcomes that have been sparked either directly as a result of discussion within AIYD or the people-topeople collaborations that are generated by the relationships formed during the dialogue. A lot of outcomes are from what we call the Group Challenge, an initiative we started two years ago.
In this, we divide up our delegates into six groups of five and give them eight hours to work together, over the course of four days, to unpack a problem related to the theme and solve it. The reason it is compelling is that it allows us to have something tangible at the end and it really talks to the enterprise of youngsters. At the end of the four days, the team has to pitch the idea to a panel of judges.
So, the winning idea in the 2017 dialogue was based on the fact that there is a huge imbalance in the two countries in regard to incidents of drowning. The number of people who drown in Australia is a very small fraction of the number of people who drown in India. Also, Australia has a strong culture of surf life-saving. So, there’s this group that is trying to mobilise a partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia and piggybacking on some
As the Aust India Youth Dialogue concluded in India, Chairperson Karan Anand told us of the role the organisation can play in the bilateral relationship
initiatives in Karnataka and Goa where some Australians have already made the first steps to industrialise and essentially export life-saving from Australia to India. These people are connected to the Coogee Lifesavers Club. Then, there is the instance of the 2014 alumni of the AIYD. A delegate called Hakimuddin Habibulla, a former Indian Olympic swimmer, has a partnership with Aust Swim around training swimming teachers in India. And in fact, the people connected to Coogee Lifesavers Club and Hakim are finding a way to work together. They came together at AIYD 2018 to take it forward.
There is the example of Talish Ray, our 2015 alumnus and a Delhi-based lawyer, who has developed an online resource girlsgottaknow.in, with help from the University of Tasmania, for women seeking legal assistance in India, with information on everything from renting to dealing with harassment.
So, it’s not about just those four days of the dialogue but what it can activate and the on-the-ground outcomes it can deliver.
So what was this year’s winning idea?
Both countries have a strong culture of indigenous art, but those who create that art aren’t always fairly compensated for the hard work they put in. There are other challenges they face such as the fact that you can’t always attribute who the original artist is and some fraud takes place. So the
programme amongst high school students in regional parts of both countries.
How do you interact with governments of the two nations?
One is an informal feedback mechanism,
between Australia and countries such as the US, Japan, Vietnam, China and Indonesia. We have good relationships within the governments and these continue to develop as we move mature as an organisation.
idea is to put a blockchain type of system to validate and verify authentic pieces of art so you can trace who the original artist is. The idea like that is not intuitive and it comes from the enterprise of youth. So, it’s thinking about something that the governments aren’t necessarily contemplating in their formal meetings, but something that is of significant mutual value using, in this case, blockchain which is significant digital disruption in the world right now.
Some other good ideas from AIYD 2018 were about sharing cultural intelligence and experiences and another around piloting a critical thinking exchange
but the other is a formalised way. So, for instance, we worked with the Victorian government to bring out the VictoriaIndia Strategy. We hosted a round table with our alumni and provided formal feedback that went into the drafting of the strategy. A section of the Strategy does talk about AIYD and the importance of youth engagement. We provided a formal policy submission to (retired diplomat and public servant and current Chancellor of University of Queensland) Peter Varghese AO who is currently putting together an India Economic Strategy. We have also contributed to a few youth dialogues
One of the sub-themes this year, The Future of Democracy, seems quite interesting... Yes, it was. Substantively, we had a panel discussion involving three MPs, one from Australia and two from India. They were Tim Watts from Gellibrand in Western Melbourne, Jay Panda from Kendrapara in Odisha and Meenakshi Lekhi from New Delhi. The two points of discussion were the impact of social media and how it has changed the way politicians communicate with their constituents and how Indian politicians use it as a way of on-thespot problem-solving that Australians
politicians don’t necessarily do or have to do. There was also a very good discussion about how digital disruption impacts the structure of democracy itself: ‘Do we need representative democracy going forward? If you have direct citizenry, why do you need public representatives?’ It was very interesting to contemplate a future without politicians, although the resolution of all and sundry was that democracy is the best governance model yet.
So what’s next for AIYD?
Seven years in, we have a cohort of about 210 alumni. If we are to be successful and impactful, the way we manage, engage and mobilise our alumni is really important. My plan during my tenure as Chair is to unlock the opportunities of an alumni programme. And using the dialogue is the way to stimulate that.
It’s not about just those four days of the dialogue but what it can activate and the on-the-ground outcomes it can deliver
AIYD has become an important forum to bring young leaders together and inform governments on both sides on how to shape policy and create opportunities
In late-December 2017, the Indian Government implemented a 30 per cent tariff on imported pulses, effective immediately. The move sparked concerns that Australian farmers will experience a significant decline in income, particularly after India’s high demand for Australian pulse crops in recent years. In the 2016-17 financial year, the value of Australian chickpea and lentil exports to India reached $1.14 billion and $196 million, respectively. The latest tariff to be implemented follows an earlier decision by the Indian Government in November 2017 to impose a 50 per cent tariff on field peas, and a 20 per cent tariff on wheat.
Since 2011-12, the value of Australian chickpea exports to India increased by 995 per cent. In the last six years, the value of Australian lentil exports to India has increased by 2,003 per cent. Due to the significant growth in both crops, many farmers have been introducing pulses into their crop rotations. The new tariff imposed by India, however, is likely to have a major effect on the Australian pulse industry. According to the Chairman of Grain Producers Australia, Andrew Wiedemann, the impact on farmers could be as much as a 30 per cent immediate loss of earnings.
When the Indian Government announced the new trade tariff, about 200
thousand tonnes of Australian chickpeas and lentils, worth about $150 million, were in transit to India. The immediate decision meant that the value of the pulse shipments in transit became unknown. News of the tariff implementation has been particularly disheartening for some farmers in Victoria after parts of its grain belt experienced destructive frosts and damage to crops, earlier in the season.
Federal Agricultural Minister David Littleproud visited India in mid-January 2018 to discuss, among other issues, advance notice to the Australian grains industry for any future increases in tariffs. While India agreed to provide earlier notice in the future, the commitment cannot reverse the loss and shock suffered from the sudden imposition of the tariff in December. The Australian delegation also hoped to discuss the need for a longterm and sustainable free trade agreement (FTA). While the government has secured a win for pulse farmers, Mr Littleproud was wary of using “megaphone diplomacy” to resolve the current tariff issue because such efforts may impede the progress of generating a FTA with India. Mr Littleproud has stressed the importance of continuing to work collaboratively with the Indian Government while negotiating various trade deals.
Agricultural economist, Ashok Gulati, from the Indian Council for Research on
Relations, has suggested that Australia should consider exporting agricultural expertise. Australian knowledge exports could help to develop Indian agricultural supply chains, and would help to secure greater trade relations beyond trade in raw commodities. In particular, Australian agricultural expertise could assist in developing processing and storage facilities to help reduce food waste and increase Indian domestic commodity prices. With over 300 million people living in poverty in India (one-fifth of India’s 1.3 billion population), such a tactic could help to improve agricultural production and food security within the country.
While the Australian Government is working to open up access to other pulse export markets, including Nepal, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, some farmers have decided that they will not plant pulses next season. A FTA with India may assist farmers who wish to grow chickpeas and lentils by generating
agricultural expertise to India would alleviate some of the problems associated with tariffs on raw commodities. If the government is successful in securing a FTA, it will make it more difficult for India to impose tariffs on Australian goods in the future. Given that the government is torn between a slow and methodical approach in securing this agreement with India and advocating for Australian farmers’ best interests, however, it seems that local producers are likely to suffer in the short term.
The author is a Research Analyst, Global Food and Water Crises Research Programme. This article was originally published by Future Directions International. You can read the original here http://www.futuredirections.org. au/publication/india-implements-newagricultural-tariff-australia-seeks-fta/
India’s new agricultural tariff will result in Australia’s lentil and chickpea farmers losing as much as a 30 per cent of their earnings, writes MADELEINE LOVELLE
peers better in the playground, which will help in their social development.
BY VINAYA RAIThe school year has just begun and a question on social media about combined or composite classes got me thinking. When my children were in primary school, and often in a composite class, many parents (especially migrants) thought gifted children were put in a composite class and were thus able to be ‘extended’. When the same child was put in a composite class with lower class students, for example in a 3-4 class with his year level being 4, then the parents’ angst and anguish were palpable.
No amount of the teacher or principal explaining that composite classes were based on student numbers and not on intellectual ability of the student satisfied the parents. They felt that their child would not progress academically.
In contrast, I found that my son became better when in a composite class with younger children. He helped the younger kids when he had completed his own work. So much so that shy kids who did not like to put up their hand and ask the teacher for help, often asked him.
So if you have a shy child, they will have more people to ask for help and the comfort and ease of having a peer to turn to. This may then translate to being able to relate to
When my children were in composite classes with older kids, I found that they did better probably due to a perceived higher level of competition, and also that they had greater confidence. They learnt better study habits by observing the older kids and had more social interactions, not just with their classmates but with children in other classes as well.
Children also learn cooperation, responsibility and appreciation of individual differences. I rarely heard any child being mocked as being dumb or slow, or given more importance for a talent. They saw that if a classmate helped them with computing, then the same classmate might be helped by someone else in English or another subject.
In fact, younger children find more role models in the older students and are able to integrate better into the class. They also learn the class routines quickly as they imitate the older kids.
When older children help the younger ones, they are reinforcing their own skills and get more practice at what they have learnt. So this not only makes them more confident but eager to learn more. I remember my son was good at computing and by Year 7 was reading magazines like Computers Today only because he wanted to know more. In fact, I think he thought he knew more than the teacher!
Being in a class with older kids helps children socially too. Kids from our
community are often smaller physically than most others in the class. But being in the same class as older kids, they develop ways to communicate better and interact assertively with a wider variety of children in the classroom. They are then more confident and assertive outside of the classroom, in the playground as well as in other places.
Parents’ concerns about composite classes centre around bullying, children not being challenged enough, the
the school. The fault may not be with the composition of the class but there may be other dynamics at play.
It is important to have good communication with your school, and with the child’s teacher first and foremost, but also with other staff and parents too. Make sure you get involved with your child’s school. This makes it easier to ensure your child has good experiences at school and also you get to know more about the school and its workings.
curriculum not being covered adequately for both year levels etc. If any such concerns crop up, the best way is to approach the teacher or principal and discuss these issues openly.
Whether your child is in single-grade class or in a composite class, it is important to keep open communication with the teacher. Don’t be shy to take your concerns to the principal or higher, if nothing is done. Issues can arise in straight-grade classrooms as well.
So if your child who was happy to go to school last year suddenly does not want to go to school any more, or struggles with his or her homework, then speak to
As you can see, I think composite classes are quite good. Research mostly indicates the same. Academically, composite classes don’t seem to make much of a difference to most kids. However, some of the research indicates that socially and emotionally there is a greater advantage.
But we have to remember that it is not so much class structure that influences learning, but the quality of teaching. And the child’s involvement in the learning.
So is your child involved and engaged, not only academically but in other activities as well?
And are you? Are you involved in your child’s education?
Remember that it is not so much class structure that influences learning, but the quality of teachingPhoto: Sacred Heart
For Sydney’s Aishoholics, it was Christmas - and Diwali - all over again.
The news had gone out only days before, that India’s sweetheart Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would be in town for Swiss watchmaker Longines again this year, to launch a new store in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building.
Keen observers had already spotted her in the ad for the luxury watch - especially that giant drop-down inside the QVB.
And so on the appointed date, they thronged the building, people of all ages, as close as they could get to the newest Longines store in Sydney.
As the stipulated time approached, the quiet chatter was that Indian celebs always take their own sweet time to arrive… (eye roll). And that in 2016, she was nearly two hours late (even as ambassador for a timekeeper. Oh, the irony!).
But very shortly after, as the grand clock struck 6:30, there was a loud cheer and to everyone’s surprise, ‘the queen’ was walking down the aisles of QVB.
As she sashayed in style towards the stage, she stopped briefly, only a few feet away from me, to wave to the crowd.
My heart almost skipped a beat, which is exactly when I realised what the words ‘star struck’ mean in the real sense!
She blew kisses to the adoring fans who screamed, wide eyed and amazed by her stunning looks.
Yes, her beauty is amazing. And we swooned.
She looked impeccable - not a strand of hair out of place, not one pleat of her Gauri and Nainika dress out of kilter, not one wrinkled brow even as people thrust their camera phone at her.
The gathered media-wallahs, informed of the boundaries beforehand, still chose to disrespect the special guest’s privacy somewhat, and had her minders in a flurry. But it was not as bad and mad as the 2016 event, when the media pack behaved exactly like that - a pack. Either the security was better prepared this time round, or the reporters were better behaved.
And yet through it all, she remained graceful as ever, as though far removed from it in some divine sort of way.
When Aishwarya addressed the crowd the response was phenomenal, her fans clearly lapping up every moment, and furiously clicking away with their phones. She spoke politely, acknowledging the Longines Vice President and Head of International Marketing Juan-Carlos Capelli, and the stunning athlete and model Amy Pejkovic, new ambassador for Longines. She also welcomed the Queen’s baton for the Commonwealth Games, carried to the event by Amy. Longines is the Official Timekeeper of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and Official Partner of the Queen’s Baton Relay. Aish’s not-so-subtle comment that she would of course be cheering the Indian
athletes at the Games in April this year, was received with big smiles and a loud applause!
She then proceeded to cut the ribbon for the official store launch, delighting the photographers and fans every moment with graceful waves and warm smiles. She looked picture perfect as she autographed her poster in store with the trademark ‘God Bless.’
Aishwarya may have stunned us with her grace and poise, but she truly won us over with her warmth. All requests for autographs were graciously accepted, and she was especially generous with kids, posing for photos as beaming parents couldn’t stop admiring and clicking. Some fans were overcome with emotion. One young man appealed to Aish to sign a sketch he had made of her, and she indulged cordially.
It was a privilege to be in the store with her as she treated a select few to selfies and more autographs. Amidst the white flowers, delicate finger food, oysters and crystal champagne flutes, as we got to mingle more closely, she came across as self-assured and confident, yet a warm human being - with good old-fashioned values like politeness and humility. I handed my little sheet of paper too as requested by my daughter and to our great delight she actually personalised her autograph with my daughter’s name! It is now going to be a keepsake for sure.
And that, in a nutshell, is my take-away from my brief encounter with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: that beauty is as beauty does. It’s a lesson I would like to teach my own two daughters - a lesson that perhaps millions of young women who idolise her could learn too.
The event wrapped up neatly in 30 minutes, not a single minute more, very impressive indeed. The fans continued to scream, of course, and some even ran down the stairs in the hope of catching one last glimpse of her as she exited the lift. Security had the challenging task of constantly managing the crowd and even being appropriately forceful. The star’s popularity was evident and so was her down-to-earth, humble nature and love for children. Aish is an icon loved by generations and people were singing her praises long after she had left.
If ever there was a brand ambassador
Aishwarya may have stunned us with her grace and poise, but she truly won us over with her warmthPhotos: Sachin Wakhare and Ken Leanfore
AARAV SEDHA
Jasper Road Public School, Baulkham Hills NSW
Enough of this kindy now. I will come back some other day
AMORA TRIPATHI
Parramatta NSW
I had THREE lunch breaks, yay!
REEHA
PANDHARIPANDE
Summer Hill Public School, Summer Hill NSW
I feel a bit like crying when I go to school, but when I see Mrs Thompson, I feel happy. I think I love her
KRISHAY SHAH
Blacktown South Public School, Blacktown NSW
Daddy, I didn’t cry at all but mum cried when you dropped me to school in the morning.
SRADDHA
SHAILESH
St Antony’s Primary School, Girraween NSW Finally I get to go with my BIG brother to BIG school
AISHANI SINHA
Glen Huntly Primary School, Glen Huntly VIC
(When her Mum said she would miss her): Maa don’t worry, I will be back soon. That’s my school, not my home
ATRI TEJA
Christ the King, Warradale, South Australia I love playing in the playground
Kellyville Public School, Kellyville NSW
(Singing her favourite rhyme) Look at me, I am going to school!
Seven Hills North Public School, Seven Hills NSW
I am excited to go to big school but I will be super happy if Mamma and Daddy can stay with me!
Beresford Road Public School, Greystanes NSW
I am a big boy so have to go to big school
Campbelltown SA
I like my new uniform. I also like playing in the playground
Riverbank Public School, The Ponds NSW Maybe 1 week and I’ll become a pilot
Ashfield NSW
Mum, you can go catch the train if you want. I know everything about school!
Stella Maris Parish School, Seacombe Gardens, SA
I like to play with friends and with my star board
St Ives Park Primary School, St Ives NSW
Do I have to go back to school again today? But I went yesterday
BY RITAM MITRA
This year’s BBL schedule saw 43 T20s played in just 48 days. With so much cricket being played, each match tends to fade into the next, and it is easy to forget the most captivating moments of the BBL season. Chances are, your favourite moment became outdated within the same match. As journalist and author Malcolm Knox noted with no ascertainable hint of pleasure, “In one hour, I saw four of the best catches I have ever seen.”
With the tournament now wrapped up, and the spoils of victory settled in favour of the Adelaide Strikers, here are our picks of some of the more special performances from BBL07.
At just 19, Rashid Khan may have been one of the youngest players in the BBL, but he was also its most valuable, picking up 18 wickets at 13.83 and a miserly
economy rate of 5.65 an over. Khan’s overall performance may have him at the top of the table in terms of both the first and the last of those statistics, but it is his first match which perhaps most revealed his pedigree.
On debut in front of a packed house at the Adelaide Oval, Khan’s first three deliveries went for 9 runs. In fact, Khan’s figures were an underwhelming 0-16 after two overs - hardly the kind of debut the aspirational teen would have been dreaming about in the lead-up to the tournament. But Khan’s next over broke the game open for the Strikers in a modest chase, with two wickets including a stunning wrong’un to Sydney Thunder veteran Ben Rohrer. Khan finished with figures of 2-22, along with man of the match honours on his muchawaited BBL debut.
A baseballer until the age of 13, you could be forgiven for thinking Hobart Hurricanes opener D’Arcy Short never stopped running through the bases. A powerful left-hander with particularly fearsome bat speed across the line, Short is a journeyman in every sense of the word - born in Katherine with indigenous heritage, Short grew up in Darwin, before
moving to Perth, where he was told by WA coach Justin Langer that he needed to lose weight to make it at the highest level.
After spending some time in the wilderness, Short roared into the national spotlight this season - with international selection and now a $775,600 IPL contract to boot - after piling on consecutive scores of 97, 96, 42 and a BBL record of 122 not out. In doing so, Short also broke the record of most runs in a BBL season, piling on 572 runs at an average of 57 and a strike rate of 148. The previous record: Shaun Marsh, with 412 runs in 9 games at a strike rate of 128.
Did we mention Short bowls quality leftarm wrist spin as well?
Having never before reached a BBL final, the Adelaide Strikers were once again on the verge of being bundled out before the last hurdle in their semi-final against the Melbourne Renegades.
The Strikers put 178 runs on the board thanks to an unbeaten 85 from 57 by skipper Travis Head, on late release from his international duties. But in the second innings, with two overs to go and 20 runs required, the Renegades seemed destined for victory, particularly with big-hitting
at the crease.
In the last over, Pollard crashed the first ball for a boundary, leaving Strikers’ Ben Laughlin with 9 to defend from 5 balls, and then 3 from 1; but Pollard failed to put a hittable last ball into orbit, sending the Strikers to their first BBL final by a margin of just 1 run.
When Dwayne Bravo blasted a lofted offdrive off Rashid Khan at Etihad Stadium, it seemed for all money to be destined for 6 runs. Then, many things happened in a very short period of time.
First, Ben Laughlin ran and dived backwards at the cover boundary to miraculously hold onto the ball, but his momentum was carrying him – at pace – over the rope and into the advertising hoardings. Laughlin then flung the ball with a backwards flick some 30 metres to his right, where teammate Jake Weatherald ran and dived forward to complete a stunning dismissal.
On commentary, Damien Fleming anointed it the “greatest outfield catch ever taken”, but we haven’t yet decided whether it was two catches or one.
subcontinental players in the BBL so captivating; it warrants respect and is a genuine mark of quality.
BY RITAM MITRAThe year 2018 marks a decade since the Indian Premier League first kicked off, in a thrilling fashion that many would (with a whisper, of course) say was almost scripted in its perfection.
Since then, geographical borders in the cricketing world have become increasingly irrelevant a concept, bucking the global geopolitical trend. Despite the BCCI’s ongoing refusal to permit Indian players to play in overseas domestic T20 leagues, this year’s edition of the Big Bash League was evidence enough that the league continues to expand its horizons, attracting for the first time talent from Afghanistan in the raw yet brilliant teenager Rashid Khan and the experienced Mohammad Nabi.
Since its inception, the BBL has relied
The Afghani duo are not new to topflight franchise cricket - both played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL last year. While Khan was successful, picking up 17 wickets in 14 games, such is the demand for marquee players - and, admittedly, the quality of the overseas contingent - that Nabi only played three games. Notwithstanding their mixed success in the IPL, the pair are a natural fit for the BBL, as they are - despite being in every respect the quintessential underdogs - charismatic, aggressive in their approach, and they play for every ball as if they are playing for their lives.
Melbourne Renegades’ import - and this season, a key player - Nabi, is still pinching himself. “It was my dream that I would play one day in the Big Bash League and this dream came true,” said the 33-yearold former captain of the national team. “There was nothing at all, no proper grounds in Afghanistan, when we first
heavily on the strength of domestic cricketers, with a maximum of two international players permitted in any playing XI. In comparison, the IPL and Pakistan Super League allow four internationals. This is no small reason that the BBL is perhaps the most competitive of all the leagues - a team’s international players, whose availability is often fickle and allegiance variable, are not as deterministic of its fortunes in the BBL as they might be in other leagues. The balance between bat and ball, too, is vital - scores above 200 are exceedingly rare in the BBL, while they are bread and butter on the small, unforgiving grounds and pitches in India. It is perhaps this distinction which makes the success of
started cricket there.”
Forget the dearth of facilities and resources that characterises even an elite Afghani player’s rise through the ranks though - at the turn of the last century, cricket was only played in hiding under the Taliban regime.
Pakistani players too, have enjoyed significant success down under. From Yasir Arafat, one of the most reliable BBL death bowlers in its early editions, to legspinners Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah this year, players from cricket’s most mercurial talent corner have thrilled Australian and international audiences alike.
With no Indian players having ever taken part in the BBL, it is in some ways surprising that the BBL has generated the
popularity it has, including in India.
Yet although the IPL remains the pot of gold in the rainbow of T20 leagues, even the BCCI would acknowledge the sheer depth of international-standard T20 leagues; they need look only at Chris Gayle, who, after becoming unwelcome in the BBL, has plied his trade in the Bangladesh Premier League, with no damage whatsoever to the BBL brand following his departure.
Naturally, there are scheduling issues: Indian domestic competitions take place over December and January. Also of concern to the BCCI is protecting the IPL brand - and competitive advantageby restraining its players’ freedoms and ensuring that the IPL remains in every
respect the premier league. More unclear is the rationale behind restricting lesserknown players who are either not yet on the radar of national selectors, or have for all purposes retired from international duty - think of the learning curve of playing on hard, bouncy pitches for young guns such as Rishabh Pant or the thrill of playing in front of packed houses for forgotten stalwarts like Suresh Raina.
There have been some positive signs, with India’s female cricketers having been given clearance to play in the WBBL last season - but despite other ICC members making concessions to allow their players to play in the IPL, for now, it doesn’t appear as though the BCCI is interested in reciprocity.
With no Indian players in the BBL, it is surprising that the League has generated popularity inMohammad Nabi Rashid Khan
If you were glued to the TV like me for this year’s Australian Open, you may have noticed India’s Leander Paes competing. He was one of the oldest at the event, an 18-time major winner, and at 44 he is still going strong. He made it to the final 16 of the tournament with doubles partner Purav Raja. At 44, Paes is the oldest man in the Open era to reach the fourth round in a major. “It’s what keeps me going now, to rewrite the history books,” he said. “It’s fun. What else is there?”
I first started following him after he visited Sri Chinmoy a few times in New York. He was very soulful when he was around Sri Chinmoy and Sri Chinmoy was equally happy being with him as he was such an avid tennis player and fan himself. Paes received the “Lifting Up the World with a Oneness Heart Award” from Sri Chinmoy in August 2004.
In this program, the US-based Indian spiritual leader, who was a keen weightlifter, lifted large objects such as people on special lifting platforms. He lifted many icons of the world, including Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Ravi Shankar and they were often very moved by the spirituality that accompanied the process.
Paes’s career started early. In 1990 he debuted for India in Davis Cup at just 16 and he has just kept going. He’s won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, and is the oldest man to have won a Grand Slam title. He holds a career Grand Slam in men’s doubles and mixed doubles, and achieved the rare men’s doubles/mixed doubles double at the 1999 Wimbledon tournament. His mixed doubles Wimbledon title in 2010 made him only the second man in history (after Rod Laver) to win Wimbledon titles in three decades.
He competed in consecutive Olympic appearances from 1992 to 2016, meaning he has been to seven Olympic Games. He took a bronze in the men’s singles event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. With the Olympics only coming around every four years, it is a coveted trophy. Rumour has it some players would swap a slam for an Olympic medal.
He went through some tough times in 2003 when he was admitted to hospital after a series of dizzy spells with a suspected brain tumour. Grace descended though, and it was later found to be a parasitic infection. Not something pleasant, but it has a much better prognosis. A credit to his character, his then mixed doubles partner Martina Navratilova phoned and said she’d skip the upcoming US Open and wait until he got better before playing again.
While I am sure he would have preferred a title, Leander Paes has to consider this year’s Open a success. Let us hope he comes back next year.
Perhaps there’s a spiritual side to Leander that’s seen him last the distance
(Paes) was very soulful when he was around Sri Chinmoy and Sri Chinmoy was equally happy being with himPhoto: Ravinder Singh Jabbal
A Surf Life Saving Club has been established at Mangalore with help from Australia
BY PETRA O’NEILLIwas three years old when it happened. It was a hot summer’s day with picnickers sitting under the shade of red river gums. A teenage boy was pulled from the muddy Murray River. He had told the boys that he could hold his breath for a long time and had jumped into the water to prove it. They waited for him to resurface but he never did. He was dead. I’ll never forget that day.
The tragedy is that many of us have witnessed something just as haunting. Each year around 300 people drown in Australia, a statistic that pales in comparison to the number of fatalities in India, where almost 30,000 drown each year, amounting to 43% of the total drownings worldwide.
When Coogee surf lifesaver Doug Hawkins visited India in 2015, he found out why. Hawkins, who was in India to provide training in surf lifesaving funded by the Australia-India Council, observed that many Indians didn’t recognise the dangers of the ocean. They waded in chest deep, were unable to swim and were weighed down since they were fully
clothed. As well, surfing is a fast growing sport with sixteen Indian clubs now established, but many surfers lack training in swimming and water safety. Doug was determined to do something about it.
Fast forward to 2018 and a new organisation, Surf Live Saving India, has been established. A Surf Life Saving Club has also been set up at Tannirubhavi beach in Mangalore. Forty-eight children aged 8-16 have now been provided training based on the Australian model in water safety, rescue skills/CPR, fitness, health and teamwork, and they have adopted the Australian name of Nippers.
“This is a great start for beach lifesaving in India,” says Doug, as he walks along Coogee beach that he helps to patrol. “It’s not just the kids who benefit, but the community as a whole, and opens up the subject of water safety awareness for the people and families who are involved.”
In January, two members of the Mangalore club - swim coach Niroop G R and surfer and coach Srikrishna (Satya) Vasantha - came to Australia to undertake a rigorous training program in beach patrol, gain know-how to run a Nippers program for children and become qualified Australian Surf Life Savers.
And that’s only the start. In August this year, a team of Surf Lifesavers from Coogee and other Sydney clubs will travel
to Mangalore to provide training for 100 participants with the goal of having highly trained local lifesavers who will then have the capability to train others in surf lifesaving. The goal is to establish Surf Life Saving across India to make all beaches safe. That would be a remarkable achievement and one that would foster a spirit of goodwill and collaboration between Australia and India.
“The aim,” says Doug, “is to get a defined Beach Safety Centre Model up and running in Mangalore that other Councils can then adopt along the beaches of India to make the beaches safer.”
In Australia, there are currently around 65,000 Nippers aged 5 to 14. From the Nippers program, hundreds of new lifesavers graduate each season with their Surf Rescue Certificate to assist on the beach. They also learn water awareness skills, how to identify rips and people in danger and how to respond to these situations safely.
Doug Hawkins is a patrolling member of Coogee Surf Club, Trainer, Assessor and Facilitator, and Director of SLS Sydney Nippers.
This project is being funded by Australian Surf Lifesavers. For more information or if you would like to support their endeavours go to https://chuffed.org/project/india-surflifesaving-training-in-australia
> Swim only between the flags so lifesavers who have already determined that this is the safest part of the beach can see you. Swim outside of the flags or at an unpatrolled beach and you’re on your own.
> Read the signs for information on rips and other dangers and ask the lifesavers for advice.
> Never swim at night or alone.
> If you go on your own to the beach, stay close to other swimmers.
> If you get caught in a rip, don’t panic. Fight it and it will tire you out. Stay calm, float on your back and try to attract attention by raising your hand. The rip will not take you under, just out to the end of the break, and may even bring you back on the broken waves.
> If you see someone in trouble in the water, call out for assistance. That’s the best help you can give.
> Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and each year almost 2,000 people die from Melanoma. So protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Always apply SPF50 sunscreen, wear a hat and sunglasses, avoid the sun during the middle of the day, and wear a “rashie” or swimming top with sleeves. Never enter the water fully clothed.
Why I Am A Hindu by Shashi Tharoor. Aleph Book Company, 2018
Shashi Tharoor’s new book on Hinduism - the religion followed by a majority of Indians - comes at a crucial juncture when there is an upsurge in fringe elements that practise and propagate the ideology of Hindutva. The book, therefore, was being thought of as Tharoor’s response to Hindutva. However, limiting Why I Am A Hindu to the debate between Hinduism and Hindutva will be a grave injustice to this riveting offering as the book is much more than the sum total of this debate.
At the onset, it is a layman’s account of his journey of discovering the “extraordinary wisdom and virtues of the faith” that he has practised for over six decades. Tharoor himself makes it clear in the Author’s Note that he is neither a Sanskritist nor a scholar of Hinduism and, thus, did not set out to write a “scholarly exposition of the religion.” The book comes across as the author’s attempt to understand the religion that he follows; calling it a self-discovery of sorts will be accurate. Tharoor’s exposition travels between personal accounts and his understanding of the religious scriptures as well as the values propagated by the likes of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Pramahamsa and others in the league whom he refers to as the “Great Souls of Hinduism.”
It is thus imperative for the reader to have a clear state of consciousness before setting on to read the book because more
than anything else, it is about Hinduism, a religion, and religions are, after all, the reason behind most conflicts.
The book is divided into three sections, the first of which is titled “My Hinduism”. This answers the question raised by the title of the book: Why I Am A Hindu? Admitting as sincerely as is expected of a liberal intellectual as Tharoor, he sets the record straight and confides that he is Hindu “because I was born one,” and goes on to elaborate that religion is selected for most people at birth, “by the accident of geography and their parents’ cultural moorings.” But this analogy is not to suggest that he is not a proud Hindu. “I was never anything else: I was born a Hindu, grew up as one, and have considered myself one all my life.” The section talks at length about Tharoor’s early days, highlighting how his personal understanding of the religion developed with time. “My Hinduism was a lived faith; it was a Hinduism of experience and upbringing, a Hinduism of observation and conversation, not one anchored in deep religious study,” he points out. The section also explains at length what he calls “My Truth,” where he describes the reasons why he is “happy to describe” himself as a “believing Hindu”, before going on to present a fair perspective on the values propagated by the “Great Souls of Hinduism.”
The second section is titled “Political Hinduism” and this is where Hindutva comes into play. It is interesting to note that the author takes 140 pages (about half of the book) to reach to the burning
debate of our times and in doing so, he succeeds in providing a background on his belief of the religion, supplemented by the values propagated by the likes of Swami Vivekananda before explaining Hindutva. He begins this section by providing a clear distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva. For Hinduism, he presents an imagery of a banyan tree, in whose shade, “a great variety of flora and fauna, thought and action, flourishes.” From here, he moves to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
It is from page 183 of the 302-page book, that he unleashes a storm of arguments on “the politics of division” that has led to “a travesty of Hinduism.” Next, the author eloquently elaborates on the uses and abuses of Hindu culture and history in the contemporary scenario, resulting from “the politics of division” that he earlier mentions.
The 28-page-long last section of the book is all that he spends on addressing what most would have expected from the
Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its ideologues - Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and MS Golwalkar, explaining their perspectives on Hindutva. Using original quotes, he mentions Savarkar’s assertion, “Hinduism is only a derivative, a fraction, a part of Hindutva.” The book then moves, at an incredible pace, to the advent of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and then to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Tharoor then devotes 40 pages decoding the philosophies of Hindutvanot as he perceives it but exactly how its ideologues propagated it. Contrary to all expectations, he does not criticise them or counter their views, at least at this stage.
entire book, “Taking Back Hinduism.” Beginning with a reference to former US President Barack Obama’s speech where he mentioned that “India will succeed so long as it is not split along the lines of religious faiths,” he elaborates on the “travesty of Hinduism” in the contemporary times.
Tharoor is brutal in his criticism of the saffron brigade but equally accommodating when it comes to presenting their views.
Why I Am A Hindu is a well-researched exposition and is yet a charming personal account - and it floats seamlessly in rich prose and diction synonymous with one of the most widely-read and revered authors of our times.
Shashi Tharoor ’s new book is a self-discovery of a ‘believing Hindu,’ writes SAKET SUMAN
For Hinduism, (Tharoor) presents an imagery of a banyan tree, in whose shade, a great variety of flora and fauna, thought and action, flourishes
STARRING: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte, Amitabh Bachchan
DIRECTOR: R Balki HHHHH
The concept for this film, Padman, is credited to Twinkle Khanna for the story that is based on the short tale in her book, . This story has been inspired by the life of Arunchalam Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu who revolutionised the concept of personal hygiene during the menstrual cycle in rural India by creating low-cost sanitary pads.
Incidentally, the film shares the same premise as that of which was released in June 2017.
Set in rural Madhya Pradesh, Lakshmikant Chouhan (Akshay Kumar) a mechanic by profession and a loving and devoted husband to Gayatri (Radhika Apte) ensures that his wife leads a comfortable life by introducing small inventions to enhance her daily life. But when he learns about the stigma and taboos that surround menstruation and the unhygienic methods used by women during this period, he is pained. So he embarks on a mission to make affordable sanitary pads. How he succeeds in his endeavour, forms the crux of the tale.
Lakshmikant’s story is truly inspirational and writer-director R Balki leaves no stone unturned to magnify it for the large screen. Narrated in a linear manner and laced with light humour, stellar performances and statistics-filled
dialogues, this film conveys the strong message with ease and is entertaining from word go.
But the graph of the story is flat and the plot, laden with and certain elements truly stretched a la Bollywood style especially Lakshmikant’s invention and his speech at the UN, truly makes the film, “filmi.” It loses the charm of a realistic, biographical film.
Akshay Kumar’s portrayal of Lakshmikant Chouhan is sincere. He delivers on every front and is the soul of the film. You are with him during
his struggle and obsession. He is aptly supported by Radhika Apte as his wife Gayatri. She is every inch the submissive, rural lady struggling to survive within societal norms. Their onscreen chemistry is palpable.
Sonam Kapoor as Pari the city-bred, tabla maestro and a freshly minted MBA, is a misfit and strictly mediocre. She walks through her role and what makes her further unacceptable is the frivolous demeanour that she is forced to portray.
On the technical front, the film has all
the trappings of an A-lister. Cinematographer P C Sreeram’s camera work is definitely commendable. He captures the locales in all its glory. Amit Trivedi’s music is effective and it does elevate the viewing experience. The songs has interesting lyrics and that celebrates womanhood is wellchoreographed. The other two songs don’t register at all.
Overall, though entertaining, Padman is like a long-drawn public-service film that’s worth your ticket money.
Troy Ribeiro
Having just come off an intense project like Padmaavat, and the equally intense drama off-screen, you can hardly blame Ranveer Singh for wanting to try something different.
How about an innocuous masala entertainer? It’s Rohit Shetty to the rescue, of course!
Ranveer will soon be seen in Rohit Shetty’s upcoming film Simmba
“A masala entertainer is something I’ve been longing to do for some time,” the actor said. “It’s got all the ingredients - action, comedy, drama, romance, songs. All the good stuff that goes into a Rohit Shetty film. It’s the kind of film I grew up on and the kind of film that reaches out to a broad spectrum of audience. I am very lucky to have that film coming up.”
He will play policeman Sangram Bhalerao in the film.
But first of course he will finish with Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy with Alia Bhatt, based on street rappers.
Also on the cards for Ranveer is the film ‘83, based on India’s incredible 1983 cricket World Cup victory. He plays star cricketer and captain of the winning team, Kapil Dev.
The film follows how, under the captaincy of then newbie Kapil Dev, the Indian cricket team defeated the mighty West Indies. It tracks the coming-of-age of not just a cricketing team, but of a young nation in the eyes of the world.
We’ll have to wait until 30 Aug 2019 for that one.
Hmm… historical tyrant, street rapper, star cricketer. Talk about versatility, eh?
Aaaaand the saga continues. Thought you had enough of the Padmaavat controversy? It’s now the turn of Manikarnika, a biopic on the valiant Rani Laxmibai, starring Kangana Ranaut.
A new religious outfit has upped and claimed they would like to check out the film-maker’s version, to make sure there are no improprieties or tampering of facts.
The group claim they will not allow filming to proceed in Rajasthan till such time as all details about the project are aired.
The film’s producer Kamal Jain has said, “As responsible filmmakers, we have taken utmost care while portraying Rani Laxmibai’s character and have consulted historians and scholars. Rani Laxmibai was a
freedom fighter and one of the most respected leaders our country has seen. She is a symbol of valour and the film’s story depicts the same. The film doesn’t portray anything objectionable about Rani Laxmibai and nor has the film distorted history in anyway. The film showcases Rani Laxmibai in a most respectful manner and is an inspirational story. We are proud to showcase the bravery, courage and heroism of Rani Laxmibai to the world.”
Isn’t it amazing: every single thing that you’ve just read here, you’ve heard before. And only weeks ago…
Any bets that this project will end up in the courts as well? Who knows, it might even have to change title from “Manikarnika” to “Manikarnik” before release!
Film-maker Sudhir Mishra’s latest project, called Daas Dev, has been described as a film about power, love and addiction. It is set in the Hindi heartland, and stars “thinking” actors Rahul Bhat and Richa Chadha.
So it’s a political thriller, you’re guessing.
Not quite, the film-maker points out. While all of the above may be true, the basic premise has sprung off that old classic Devdas
“We didn’t want people to misunderstand Daas Dev as a political drama,” Mishra explained recently. “Politics is the conflict in the love story and music is an integral part of the film.”
Richa also explained the film’s fresh take on Devdas is an advantage for them.
“We are in a position of advantage because people are aware of the classic ‘Devdas’ story,” she revealed. “Hence, the film-makers will not have to take extra efforts to establish the characters. Sudhir Mishra has flipped
their personalities and brought them into contemporary times.”
Oh, okay. Interesting.
Daas Dev also features Aditi Rao Hydari, Vineet Singh, Saurabh Shukla, and Vipin Sharma. It is releasing on 9 March.
… the cutesy kid in that emotional tearjerker Masoom? Well, he’s all grown up now and still in the industry he has always loved.
After a wonderful childhood debut, Jugal was an easy pick for big banner projects like Papa Kahte Hain and Mohabbatein but his acting career failed to take off. His attempts with direction with Roadside Romeo and Pyaar Impossible! also bombed at the box office.
Yet, not disappointed with the failures, Jugal soldiered on exploring new things creatively. Currently, he writes scripts at Dharma Productions and has turned an author by writing an adventure book for children.
He continues to be open to acting though.
“I have been acting, but not that frequently. I was in Kahaani 2 and did a web series Time Out,” he said to IANS recently. “(Happy to look) at anything interesting that comes my way. To be honest, I enjoy directing more than acting. So I would love to direct again. In fact, what I would love is make my own book Cross Connection: The Big Circus Adventure into an animated film.”
How has his aspiration changed over time?
“When I entered the field, I was in awe... I didn’t know how to go about the movie business but I enjoyed being a part of it. What has changed now is that I don’t want to stick to one thing. In the beginning, I wanted to act and I only wanted to do lead roles; but now I have matured over time and am open to doing interesting things. There is good content, good writing, good directing and good opportunities, so I am happy as long as I am in the creative field. I am happy to try different things.”
Jugal’s animated film Roadside Romeo, for which Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan lent their voice,
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won a National Film Award. He rues the lack of Indian animation projects.
“There is talent. The animators are doing fantastic work and projects are being outsourced to India, but it is something new for the Indian audience. I think it is only a matter of time - the audience will soon get used to and accept these kinds of films and it will be huge like it is in the West.”
Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, who is looking her best these days after shedding all the extra weight following the birth of her son Taimur, says her journey in the film industry has been enriching and she would like to work another two decades in Bollywood.
“It’s been honourable and I would say enriching,” Kareena told IANS. “Eighteen years and still counting. I hope to work for another two decades.”
Kareena, who made her acting debut in 2000 with Refugee, has many successful films like Jab We Met, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Talaash: The Hunt Begins..., Yuva, Omkara and Udta Punjab, to her credit. And she is also considered one of the most flawless beauties in Bollywood.
Kareena is now gearing up for the release of Shashanka Ghosh’s Veere Di Wedding, a romantic comedy costarring Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhasker
and Shikha Talsania.
Speaking about the film, Kareena said, “It hits the screens on 1 June and is a perfect summer watch. It is an exciting story about four friends. It was so much fun. and inspiring to be a part of, and even the film was shot with a lot of fun Also, there are two female producers on board and that is also exciting. It’s a different time in the industry as people are watching more women-centric films. This is a lot more fun and nothing serious. Hopefully, people will enjoy it.”
Only days ago, the stunning actor wowed us with her turn on the catwalk - appearing for Anamika Khanna as grand finale showstopper at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer/ Resort 2018.
It’s been a while coming…
Director Neeraj Pandey’s film Aiyyary will finally hit the screens on 16 Feb. The film first bowed out to make way for the beleaguered Padmaavat to have a solo release, and then had to do the same for Pad Man
In the middle somewhere, it got caught up in censor hassles, and modifications had to be made after the Ministry of Defence intervened.
Set against the backdrop of the military, the film features Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee playing
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the roles of army officers over a storyline that brings to the forefront corruption within the system.
But now, with an all-clear from the authorities, the film-makers must surely be breathing a sigh of relief.
The film also features Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Rakul Preet Singh and Pooja Chopra in pivotal roles.
Early in February, Twitter had to temporarily shut down the account of veteran actor Anupam Kher, after it was allegedly hacked by pro-Pakistani Turkish cyber army Ayyildiz Tim.
RSS leader and BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav and senior Indian journalist and Member of Parliament Swapan Dasgupta syffered the same fate.
Kher’s account handle was changed from @anupampkher to @anupampkhertc and his tweets bore unusual messages. The messages were later deleted.
After the accounts were hacked, #AnupamKher became one of the top trending hashtags on the microblogging site with 1,221 tweets bearing the actor’s name.
Match the following stars to the tweets that appear below.
Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Salman Khan, Anupam Kher
I AM BACK. Thank you @TwitterIndia for your fantastic and efficient handling of my twitter account getting hacked. Thank you friends & members of the media for alerting me in Los Angles in the middle of the night. As for hackers: I LOVE INDIA. Bharat mata ki jai
Mujhe ladki mil gayi
Happy to share, our film #PadMan becomes the first Bollywood film to be released in Russia on the same day and date. So Russia, see you at the movies on 9th February, 2018!
Thank you @UNinIndia and @smritiirani for all your support and for ensuring that the message penetrates through all sections of society #PadManTalks
What’s the chitchat between TWINKLE and AKSHAY here?
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LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNING ENTRY
What are DEEPIKA and RANVEER saying to SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI here?
Lalmani Kharel
Deepika: Sanjay, you legend! Our movie is such a big hit!
Ranveer: The movie was a hit but somebody is gonna get really hit if they keep coming in between my bae like this.
Congrats, Lalmani. You win a movie ticket!
ANOTHER GOOD ONE Vilas Degaonkar
“Movie released, movie hit. Now for some Chummi Seva!”
Boys and girls, remember that it is extremely stupid and dangerous to pour explosive fuel on to the flames of a backyard bonfire or barbecue. Let DADDY do it.
I know a father-of-three who did this and created a fireball of Hollywood proportions that instantly vaporised the bonfire and a nearby tree. The children loved it. (The mothers less so.)
I was reminded of that anecdote by a news item which soon grew into a list of seven examples of things which are too successful for their own good.
1) A “stress-releasing” massage chair relaxed a shopper so much that he fell into a deep sleep - and missed the closing of the shop and departure of all staff. When he eventually woke up in the chair it was dark, the electronics shop in Japan was locked, and police had to be called to let him out. “It was a good advertisement for the chair,” said reader Mark Chinney, who
sent me the news item.
2) It reminded me of that super-scary ghost movie Bhoot launched in India in 2003, after which a cinemagoer was found dead of a heart attack. In a rare case of good taste, filmmakers resisted the temptation to capitalise on it with a challenge: “HE didn’t make it - will YOU survive our movie?”
3) Then there was a Hong Kong emigration advisor whose business appeared to contain the seeds of its own destruction. “We’re losing all our clients,” he told me in his third year of operation. “They’re moving away.”
4) “At the end of last year, the Delhi municipal authorities announced that their anti-plastic bag campaign had been so successful they had collected 1,200 kilos of polythene bags,” said Amithaba Kumar, a reader from that city. “Then they admitted that they had nowhere to put them and were planning to throw them into a
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landfill!” Ah. Right.
5) A Reddit user sent a link to a post by a US woman who joined a weight loss group and managed to shed 100 lbs - after which the other members wanted her to leave because she made everyone else feel like a failure.
6) Another sad example came from a stressed woman who pre-paid for a course of relaxation therapy sessions at an expensive hotel spa in Jakarta. “I slept through the first two sessions, so I drank a pint of coffee before the third - but still slept through it,” sighed the woman, Jacqueline Wan. “It was probably very good but I can’t remember any of it.” So basically she paid a fortune for
the same Saturday afternoon nap this columnist achieves on the sofa for nothing. I expressed my deep sorrow for her by pointing, laughing, and feeling smug.
7) “Surely the ultimate example of being too successful is IKEA,” said a colleague, referring to the Swedish furniture shop now found in most countries. “Roughly once a month, somewhere in the world, people are found to have slept overnight in IKEA bedroom display.”
True. I once saw people in a Chinese IKEA store having lunch in the dining room display.
Column done, now it’s time for a sleep. I recommend the IKEA Stockholm 2017 sofa in blue velvet. Good night.
Minal Khona has been reading tarot cards for the last two decades. She uses her intuition and connect with the cards mostly to help people.
This is a time for introspection and uncertainty. What takes centre stage is family matters, your significant other, health issues etc. An unexpected appearance of an old friend, lover or business associate gives you much joy; you will enjoy socialising this month. Be diligent about any paperwork and don’t rush through it. Pressure at work builds up because you are taking on more than you can handle. Conflicts at work will get resolved amicably; be on guard regarding office politics.
LEO July 21
You are in a creative state of mind and feelings, emotions, intuition rule this month. Something is missing as you long for love, affection and a deeper connection with someone. Relaxation, travel and the outdoors beckon. If trying to conceive, now would be a good time to plan a baby. Patience in financial matters is recommended for success. You will no longer accept what is counterproductive and take steps to change it. Don’t let distractions affect you at work.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22 - Dec 21
The focus is on material aspects and physical well-being; mortality and spirituality. If in the initial phases of a relationship, remember that familiarity breeds contempt, so keep a distance and don’t rush anything. Some personal issue brings you despair and you might even consider ending a relationship as it is going nowhere. Avoid drinking or smoking too much. You might have to let go of a project due to a health condition. An offer of employment is on the horizon.
VIRGO
Aug 23 - Sep 22
You need to flick that off button and detach from stressful situations. Setbacks drain you and you feel burnt out. Some Virgos will seek a real relationship and may even consider ending an unhappy marriage. Emotional attachment to a situation will end and you will take charge for your own wellbeing. Constipation or haemorrhoids take you to the doctor. Be assertive in financial matters. A significant male in your life could be the reason for a major let down.
CAPRICORN
Dec 22 - Jan 19
A debilitating illness, business disagreement or an emotional issue could cause a loss of income or job. A short trip improves things for the better. Travelling overseas is also possible as is a journey for health reasons. Concentrate on the present. The work environment improves if there are hurdles. Money is tight but an increase in income is predicted. Headaches and tummy issues could be bothersome. If there are family problems, they don’t go away completely but tensions will ease.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
Home improvement is on the cards. You may receive a new business proposal but chances are you will reject it. There could be some turbulence in your relationship, but it is temporary and everything will work out. Take a break from stress, work and other worrisome matters. Negative conditions will clear up on all fronts and something better will come along. Your success will come from venturing away from original plans or ideas. Any delays that happen are in your favour.
LIBRA
Sep 23 - Oct 22
Move ahead despite fears, doubts and confusion. A new romance or a potential love affair with a charmer is on the cards. Unexpected problems are a blessing in disguise and the solution will improve on the original concept. You could buy something major for the house. Work gives opportunities to mix business with pleasure. Your energy levels swing high and low; watch your health during the low times. Any kinks in a tense situation need to be ironed out.
AQUARIUS
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Work, success, financial security, obstacles in romance and anxiety take the front seat this month. Logistics, distance or priorities cause anxious moments in a serious love affair, but they can be overcome if you want to be together. A financial opportunity lands at your doorstep. Any health condition you have may need medical attention immediately as it could get painful. An unexpected inheritance, new car or job could come your way too. Be honest with yourself at all times.
SCORPIO
Oct 23 - Nov 21
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.
Feb 19 - March 20
A Taurean influence makes you inclined to be even more practical, patient and security minded than you usually are. There could be unexpected developments in matters of the heart. A break-up is not likely and misunderstandings get resolved. Plans to travel may fall through. Don’t let emotional problems affect work; you could be considering taking on projects that take your career in a different direction. You could have problems with your teeth, gums or muscles. Straighten out financial matters.
You behave more like a Piscean this month as you channel your inner artist. There are feelings of dread and disillusionment in a relationship. Conflicts at work require emotional control to master the situation. Someone close may let you down leading to a huge disappointment. Sleeping disorders, lumps and cysts could cause health issues. Things will end on a happy note but take the middle road as unforeseen changes bring new perspective. Due payments come in but you still feel short-changed.
A short trip or a change of residence is indicated. A change of routine and practical challenges lead to a new way of life that is emerging, so professionally and personally there is a lot to be finished. Helping others gives you joy; don’t waste time on an impossible relationship that is burdensome. You are taking on way too much responsibility and could feel run down or tired. Go for what you want but only after the course of action is clear.
I am 40 years old and married to an Australian lady for the last twenty years. While I try to follow some aspects of my Indian culture, I have generally become Australianised. Of course, I still support the Indian cricket team! Now Auntyji, my wife - while she is a lovely lady - has mostly been ignorant of the Indian culture. We don’t have any friends of Indian descent, and all my relatives are in the US. So Auntyji, here is what happened a few years ago. One day, while I was watching cricket, my wife got angry and switched the channel to SBS where a Bollywood movie was playing. I don’t recall what it was - because I have not seen one Bollywood film, even when I was in India because my parents didn’t consider it high culture. But Auntyji, my wife was hooked. She and I had a massive argument. Since that day, Jennifer became hooked on Bollywood. She watches these films all the time, listens to Bollywood music and even when she is on the iPad, I can see her reading up on film stars. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but she says she is imbibing Indian culture from watching these films. And slowly she is changing. She has made herself some new friends who are Indians who arrived here recently. She goes to every new Bollywood film that opens. And just the other day, she insisted that this year, she was going to keep Karva Chauth. Auntyji, when I heard this, I went on an automatic fast myself for the entire day.
I could not eat or drink. What has overcome of my poor ignorant wife? When do you think she will return to her old, ignorant, uncultured ways instead of trying to do an adaab whenever she sees an appa in a burka because that’s what happened in Mere Mehboob, or so I’ve been informed. Please advise, I am at my wits’ end.
Oh, you crazy, crazy man! You are such a philistine! Don’t you know that Bollywood is a key tool that the Indian diaspora utilise to understand who they are and where they came from? Today, if you go to Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, Maldives or Malaysia, you will find people of Indian descent whose ancestors left India over a hundred years ago, and these folks watched Bollywood to learn about India and the traditions of its people. Bollywood has its place in society. It allows people all over the world to be entertained, amused, perplexed, flabbergasted and occasionally outraged by what they see and hear on the screen. They then try to emulate this in their lives - why else would brides insist on doing the saat phere when everyone knows it’s a Marathi custom, and why else are Fiji Indians now having a sangeet night at weddings - when this was never part of their culture.
As for Ms Jen, she has seen the beauty of Bollywood. You should be happy that she is learning more about your peoplethere is nothing wrong with educating oneself. In fact, if I may be so blunt, it is you who is uncultured by looking down on an important educational tool. Something that has given people so much joy, happiness and understanding should
not be mocked. I suggest that you leave your wife alone, and instead go and watch a few Bollywood films yourself. You should start with Raj Kapoor films, because as everyone knows, this was the hey day of cinema. And then evolve to Amitabh Bachchan films. Jug jug jiyo.
I am an Australian girl and have started going out with an Indian man who is wonderful to me. I have had a strange experience I was hoping you can shed light on. A month ago, I met Neel’s sister and her husband and we decided to have dinner together. Afterwards, we went back to their place, and for some reason, Neel’s sister’s husband had done something to upset her. She was cranky with him, but the way he was trying to placate her left me gob-smacked. He started speaking to her like a little boy - and tried to get her attention and favour. He kept on walking to her and saying “suno nah” or something like that, but in a little boy’s voice. At one stage, he even grabbed her hand and tried to get her to look at him, shaking it as though he was six years old and had done something to upset his mother. Alisha, meanwhile, was hell-bent on ignoring him and was trying the silent treatment. I was so baffled by this perplexing drama going on in front of me, but not as much as I was all shook up when last week, Neel did something to
irritate me, and then tried the same behaviour with me! He kept on talking in a little boy’s voice, like a petulant little brat. And then, he started accusing me of not loving him and not caring for him because I wasn’t giving in to what he wanted. Auntyji, I am still in trauma from this ridiculous event. I don’t know many Indian people, but I need to know immediately if this is how Indian men are. When they are in trouble with their wives and girlfriends, do they carry on like little boys? And more important, how do I deal with this? My natural inclination is to tell him off, or walk out the door temporarily to avoid the horror of a fully-grown man regressing to an infant during moments of stress. But what do you suggest I do? I am all ears.
AUNTYJI SAYS
Oh, there are so many options available to you, my dear girl, that I do not know where to begin. You do not have to tolerate this rubbish for a second. But allow me to digress a little and tell you what I did when Uncleji tried this on me when we got married 55 years ago. Now Uncleji was the youngest of seven brothers, and as you can imagine, he was an absolute laadla. Family lore has it that he did not walk until he was five years old, because everyone carried him everywhere because he was cho chweet, cho precious. And would you believe, his mother, Rani Ma made him kheer every single day with her own two hands for the first seven years of his life, and fed it to him? Further, one day, in his youth, he came home from a shikar and fainted because he did not have anyone to
pour him a pitcher of water and he didn’t know how to do it himself? So you can see he was as cosseted as they come. Apparently this is normal nawabi behaviour. So one day, after we had gotten married, he did something to irritate me and then when I glared at him with my hirni jaisi aankhen, he threw himself on the ground and literally pounded the earth in a full fit of fury. My reaction was immediate. I was so surprised and incensed by this child-like behaviour that I drew myself up to my full five feet one inch glory, puffed out my chest, and hissed at him that if he ever behaved like a child again, I would talaq him on the spot! My face was red, I was quivering with rage and breathing like a witch on roids. That got his immediate attention. I then declared that I was going to take my favourite horse Sheru out for a ride and needed to be left alone, because I had never seen such despicable behaviour in a grown man. He never behaved like that again. So what do I recommend for you, my dear? Two options. Secretly record the event and then play it back and laugh uproariously at your poor paramour, and he will be humiliated enough never to try this again. Or, you could be mature about this, and do what I did. Give him a withering look, stare at him for 60 seconds, and with a dismissive and contemptuous tone, declare that if he behaves like a child ever again, the relationship is over. Tell him that you don’t find this attractive in any way, and if anything, it makes him repellant to you. It is just as annoying as women talking like little girls. It’s not cute. It’s disturbed. Good luck my dear Anarkali, let me know how you fare.
(Desi) Men behaving badly
