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EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra

Women and money

EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

ASSISTANT EDITOR Harshad Pandharipande MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Aneeta Menon, Aparna Ananthuni, Dipanjali Rao, Rachel V Thomas, Kashif Harrison, Chitra Sudarshan, Minal Khona, Priyanka Tater, Nury Vittachi, Emie Roy ADVERTISING MANAGER Vivek Trivedi 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

Indian Link is a fortnightly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to:

INDIAN LINK MEDIA GROUP Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email: info@indianlink.com.au

F

or most migrants, the early years of settling into a new home are a time of careful money management, if not financial crunch.

From the smallest purchase of kitchen basics, to the major acquisition of their first property, their financial journey is fraught with cautious organisation, and navigated through balancing work and family life, kids’ schooling, and oftentimes, responsibilities of family back home.

Gone are the days when men traditionally took control of the family finances, especially as Indian migrants to Australia are increasingly falling in the educated middle-class category. Yet, the need is stronger now for more women to gain more knowledge and understanding about money and its management.

Today, when women have more choice than ever before, a higher level of education and qualifications than ever before, higher paid jobs than ever before (that significant pay gap notwithstanding), there is no excuse for them to lag behind in their financial management skills.

It is important that they do take time out and start understanding the bigger picture of wealth creation, so that they are

financially empowered and take those dayto-day decisions with proficiency.

Upon migration, men may find work quicker and start on their employer-funded mandatory superannuation savings sooner, while their partners may take longer to get into the work force or work less hours as they juggle with their maternal and family responsibilities and work.

With these constraints and a pay gap with their male colleagues, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, a woman’s superannuation balance is on average 43% less than that of a man. Their research shows that average super balances at retirement currently are $292,500 for men and $138,150 for women. Estimating that a single person needs about $800 per week in retirement, they need to have over $500,000 in superannuation for a comfortable old age.

Another issue to note is that the average life expectancy of women in Australia is 87 years, higher than that of men at 83 years.

This means that women will need more funds, and be able to manage their own savings at some point in their life.

So there’s a high likelihood that due to death or even divorce, women may have not only less savings, but will also be responsible for their household’s finances.

Women simply have to get serious about their own financial planning. They need to understand cash flow management, budgeting and planning their monies.

They also need to understand about the

various types of insurances available in Australia. In the past few years, there have been unfortunate incidents where a partner has passed away unexpectedly and appeals to the community have gone out to help with short-term expenses for the family.

The community has rallied behind the families at these times. However, to ensure there is long-term security for the family, it is important that the appropriate type of insurances are in place. Women must take greater initiative in understanding and implementing this for their families.

But where to start?

First up, ask questions. Ask friends and family about what they do, and how. Do not be afraid to ask questions on money matters, even if they appear trivial to you.

Get involved in the day-to-day management of your family’s finances if you are not already doing so.

Read about money matters in major newspapers, and listen to related discussions on TV and radio. Use social media to understand more details.

Take time out to attend financial management programs for women. A number of work places and superannuation funds run women-only seminars. Seek these out and let your partner mind the little ones for the evening, while you go out to learn more at these forums. Get empowered in any way you can.

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CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURES WOMEN Why NOT to be a domestic goddess

13

TRIBUTE Shine on, Chandni

18

FESTIVAL Holi Mela

26

MARDI GRAS All about the South Asian float

28

26

18

COVER STORY FOOD Reducing your salt intake

37

28

37

WINNER

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Tuition, Training & Children’s Services

What men can do to help forge gender parity

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OC Placement Tests (289.28) Selective High Schools Placement Tests (296.06) ng ic Ro m Er o r f e itud numerous Scholarship Winners to Prestigious Schools Grat er of

on, inati xam r. And ols e a scho r this ye North tive elec d earlie ng role S e re zi 6 in th s offe ama 296.0 mar I wa alise the re of my a sco ney Gram sults, I re years. re of o ved e re ls d the fi achie ip to Sy y of my hout th 2012 ling ss, and a n e d v ly a g in Ju rou to h holarsh humilit for k y succe ave bee d th e u g ts Colle ing in m . You h process ry pro e 100% sc ride and lishmen e g v in e lt h d ere ng th f, p ccomp I am ll as th Coac nt h ibute y resu relie a e hore directl a stude here duri contr cross as w njoy the d in my t, ly rth S a e k No ievemen time as atmosp certain ranches as I e has play ly than h b y ve ke to on for ac uring m a friend and ha merous Shore li ld u te u d ti , , I wo termina d me g to crea wledge ing the n They re o e of all d r mits.

First n and d ho tuto erstandin lt of kn e atten my li aries. Fo ls w io u d e to d w pass achers and un our va eryone e y ed m o boun ok Revie n v te d e f sh in e o u k n re o p th nd e with y and B mpetitio mely pieces . I am su a e d tr e x y. e spir owledg chnolog lving Co h Shore aring to my life me wa in sh y n rt ll o of ly e sa mS r No eir k s rea the Te ls th ense e ha ding th such as ve Proble of othe imm tion fee n olleg s ti ds a ing C ple, exte program on, Crea thousan the n oach e titi eo at ore C enge p lieve th Compe and th h S e y e h ll Nort to cha onally b ay Poetr c for m ifi D e rs striv ple, I pe other’s are terr M exam etition, rnaments p Com hess tou c and

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I wa s h g t of m ettin er my with s terrifi OC g y a suc e cess n offe test re tha a lot o d, bec t “co a , I re r into sult f ach home use I h of mem B w ing a ber eecroft 287 coll ork an d heard my ege first ” ste d you c that a exp reo o ll u c eri ld o typ e. It n’t pla aching is b y eca at all. centre use s B the ut No plagi y kn r ow t a cri ti Dea

I would like to thank North Shore Coaching College for their contribution to my achievement – the highest mark of 289.28 in the 2013 OC Placement Test.

The courses provided by North Shore, particularly the Young Achiever course and OC Trial Test, were very engaging, beneficial and enjoyable for me. They helped me to develop a sound knowledge basis, good study habits and useful exam skills for the real test. North Shore also provides opportunities for students to enter various challenging competitions. I took part in the ICAS and Problem Solving Competition last year. It was a stimulating and rewarding experience that provided another

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YOUR SAY

SRK AND THE TRUDEAUS

COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Ahead of his film’s premiere at Mardi Gras, gay activist and film director Sridhar Rangayan spoke to HARSHAD PANDHARIPANDE Rhythms-ofPeace Seva wrote: Congratulations to Indian Link and Harshad on the article Coming out of the shadows! This is an issue that needs to be aired and heard widely. Well done Sridhar on your initiative and good luck to you - you deserve it!

Indian Link Radio anchor Pavitra asked her Facebook followers to guess what SRK is saying to the Trudeau kids in this HP Patel wrote: May be he is asking, who do you love more, mum or dad?

Himesh Patel wrote: My name is Khan and I am not a…

INDIA’S SRI LANKA CHALLENGE

AMIT DASGUPTA wrote about China’s growing influence in Sri Lanka’s major infrastructure projects Jagannath Mazumdar wrote: I read with interest the thought-provoking article, India’s Sri Lanka challenge, by Amit Dasgupta. I think Mr Dasgupta should have written this article long ago, when he was occupying a powerful position in the Indian Foreign Service. Things are getting a bit late for India.

However, better late than never! The people and Government of India should realise the consequences of this development.

SRIDEVI’S TOP THREE

Indian Link Radio anchor Pavitra Shankar asked her Facebook followers which Sridevi movie was their favourite Manisha Vakiti wrote: Chaalbaaz and Mr India Haytinder Kaur wrote: Lamhe Jayanthi Vellore wrote: Sadma is my favourite

INDIAN LINK IN FOXTEL AD

Our writer CARL BUHARIWALA recently spotted INDIAN LINK in the new Foxtel advert on TV. Good spotting, Carl!

NO CREATIVITY IN INDIA?

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently said that creativity was lacking in most Indians Chandra Kishore wrote: To be creative, the country needs the infrastructure to facilitate it, not scamming on every opportunity. Creativity is in the pipeline. Wait for a few more years.

Ami Manoj Shaha wrote: Very true... No creativity Aman Bajpai wrote: Wozniak said the same thing that we already say about our country. Yet, no one does anything to change its dynamics.

SAY IT AGAIN 8 MARCH (1) 2018

While the gulal is thrown, we can acknowledge the celebration of Holi as a demonstration of Australia being the most successful multicultural society in the world.

PM Malcolm Turnbull in his Holi message

Post a picture on Instagram of Indian Link at home, work or anywhere else in your life, using the hashtag #indianlink. We’ll select the best pic and publish it here. This time’s entry is from @musafir_mommy

My visit (to India) coincided with the start of all the wonderful winter greens so I discovered lots of new ingredients hara chana, ponk, fresh toor dal, moras bhaji and lal maas.

Gary Mehigan, presenting his new show Masters of Taste with Gary Mehigan in India

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MARCH (1) 2018 9

COVER STORY

Time’s up for complacency

It’s important for men to fight structural inequality just as strongly as women

BY ANEETA MENON

T

he world of gender politics changed forever in October 2017 when the #metoo movement went viral. By the end of the month, over 500,000 women had used the hashtag to share stories of unwanted harassment and abuse at the hands of men, often in workplace situations. What first seemed like another empty, viral fad (remember #Kony2012 or #bringbackourgirls?), evolved into the catalyst for a lasting movement, fittingly titled Time’s Up. The Time’s Up movement is summed up neatly in its mission statement, “The clock has run out on sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace. It’s time to do something about it.” The goal of Time’s Up is paradoxically both entirely common sense and extremely ambitious, and it has, unsurprisingly, brought along with it the adage without which any discussion of gender isn’t possible: “What about the men?”

According to research conducted by

10 MARCH (1) 2018

gender equality firm LeanIn, as a result of the #metoo movement and ensuing cultural change, “Almost half of male managers (in the United States) are uncomfortable participating in a common work activity with a woman, such as mentoring, working alone, or socialising together.”

So, have we, in the quest for women’s liberation inadvertently created a climate which unfairly penalises and oppresses men?

The short answer is no.

The long answer, also no, is a bit more complex. As the world community continues to research gender disparity with interest, the news that women have not reached equality with men in many facets of life is not new. An Australian government study in 2014 revealed that the average weekly wage for a woman is 18.2% lower than that of a man performing the same role, and that women also generally have about half the amount of super as men, too. In India, that figure is higher still, which the wage gap being 24.81%.

The impacts of gender inequality are not strictly economical, though; more insidious still is the rate of violence experienced by women at the hands of men. Irrefutably

gender-based, male to female violence, specifically domestic and family violence, is the leading preventable cause of death, disability and illness in women aged 15 to 44, whilst sexual violence rates continue to skyrocket. Whilst the #metoo movement has begun to identify high profile men in the Western world who have been perpetrators of sexual violence and abuses of power, with some men now facing previously unheard-of consequences, the reach of the movement is limited.

In Bollywood, for example the problem endures. Power structures in the Indian film industry are so deeply entrenched that the ‘untouchable’ nature of its male superstars remains impenetrable. Recent sexual violence claims against Jeetendra, underreported by major outlets, failed to gain any traction.

Undeniably, men all over the world are feeling a collective apprehension which is less due to an unfair scrutiny on their behaviour, but rather a reframing of eons of privileged behaviour which is now being held to account. Instead of a witch-hunt, as some have described it, the #metoo and subsequent Time’s Up movements are an opportunity for men to reflect on the advantages they have been afforded, perhaps unknowingly, simply due to their

gender. In our progressive and modern world, it can be easy to mistakenly think that men and women are afforded equal opportunities just because they have equal status under many laws worldwide.

However, research and lived experience tell another story. A story of inequality which, according to the World Economic Forum’s most recent Global Gender Gap Report, would take around 200 years to rectify.

What can men do

Actually, a lot. It is understandable, in the face of concrete evidence, accusations and protests, that groups of men have become defensive, feeling unduly attacked even if they’re ‘one of the good guys’, since being male is no more their fault than it is ours being female. With this is mind, it is important to shift the focus to why it is important for men to passionately fight against structural inequality, rather than to continually find ways to convincingly articulate that a problem exists. It does, and it has been proven beyond a measure of a doubt over and over again.

Ways in which men can be allies in the fight against gender inequality include vocally standing up for the rights of women without diminishing their agency.

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WOM EN'S DAY SP

What does this mean? Men need to stand up for women and stand with women, without standing over them. Often men fall into the two archetypal roles: The White Knight who swoops in to save a woman, or The Punisher who exacts revenge on a woman’s behalf. It seems ‘natural’ for men to behave in this way, as these traits have been communicated through every conceivable medium as ‘masculine’ and ‘noble’. These notions are equally harmful to men, who subsequently face unreasonable cultural expectation to be an infallible protector. In addressing and refining this behaviour, we undo the patriarchal building blocks that prop up lasting inequality.

Time’s up for the unearned assertions that feminism is ‘anti-male’ or that ‘there’s nothing in feminism for men’. Rather than viewing the Time’s Up movement as a confirmation of anti-male sentiments, it’s crucial for men to acknowledge themselves as partners with women in undoing the underlying cultural knots that lay under abuses of power, violence and economic inequality. In order to do this, men must listen to women, and empathise. It is important for women, also, to recognise men as powerful allies in the fight against discrimination. Common sense once again dictates that if the men have the majority balance of power, then surely we’d need them on our side.

In the workplace

Men, particularly professionally, often have access to information and opportunities that women do not. Share

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Share with women information that is crucial to your success such as salary; invite them to networking events; mentor them into leadership positions; share household responsibilities; listen; empathise; actively teach your sons a gender-parity mindset with women information that is crucial to your success. This could be sharing your salary information to help women understand their bargaining power, inviting women to networking events and mentoring women into leadership positions. Men must consciously recognise that women’s voices have been suppressed, particularly at leadership levels. And men should be inclusive of a diverse range of opinions. Listening to women requires empathising - finding ways to see things from the points of view of female colleagues, leaders, customers and the community.

At home

Gender norms tend to assert themselves most stringently at home. The 2016 Census showed that women are still doing the lion’s share of household duties, despite being equal earners. On average, an Australian woman spends 5-14 hours a week doing housework, compared with less than five hours a day for a typical man. Being an advocate for gender equality means rethinking who does what around the home to create a more equitable family life. Men who share in equal care of babies and toddlers are

shown to have greater relationships with their adult children and their partners.

Visible caregiving helps lessen the effects of toxic masculinity from an early age, providing young children, particularly boys, with healthy and respectful behaviour to role model.

Boys will be the boys we teach them to be

Another excuse time is definitely up for is the old “boys will be boys.” Boys, girls and anyone who identifies as anything else will be who we teach them to be through education and role modelling. Gender inequality starts before birth, given the cultural and structural advantages afforded to young boys, who in many cultures are still revered and prized as superior to girl children. As we wrote on IWD a few years back, “We need to go that extra mile with our sons, to teach them to treat their female peers with respect, and as equal and worthy partners at every stage.” Telling or laughing at sexist jokes, memes and stereotypes encourage the trivialisation of harassment and violence against women. Crucial, more so, is instilling the inflexible idea that no matter what you feel, no one is entitled

ECIA L

to the attention, reciprocation of feelings or physical dominance over another person’s body. This is equally true of all genders, but most often manifests as a result of the bravado young men acquire through problematic cultural messaging.

In order to make the personal changes needed to truly embrace a future that is equitable for both men and women, it is up to us all to ‘unlearn’ what we think we know about gender roles and how they operate. By clearing well-trodden, often-biased neural pathways, we lay new foundations to create a better future for both ourselves and our world.

We have no excuse not to.

WHAT MEN CAN DO TODAY 1 Commit to speaking out against discrimination. Talk to your family and friends about gender equality and call out sexist remarks when you hear them.

2 Remember that rethinking gender norms is a big win for men and boys worldwide. In time, we can weed out the toxic masculinity that causes, for example, family violence, suicide and mental illness that leads to gun violence.

3 Talk to your boys about treating women and girls as equals and stop telling our girls that boys who hit or tease them do it because ‘they like them’. Respectful relationships are equal.

MARCH (1) 2018 11

COVER STORY

Let women be angry The anger will initiate the positive shifts that will kickstart the transformation process BY APARNA ANANTHUNI

T

he last time I tried to explain to a group of men that women are (shock, horror, indecorum, whaat) angry about the inequality and violence our gender - over 50% of the population - has faced for centuries and centuries of recorded human history, it just made me angrier.

I was stared at in amusement, condescension, and in some cases, discomfort, as if I had started talking about how heavy my flow is on the first day (god forbid).

Do you know what really made me furious? The fact that I felt like I was ranting, not telling an important truth.

Or rather, the idea that the one (ranting) automatically precluded the other (truth) in the eyes of my audience.

Angry women are always given short shrift, and I want to know why.

What is it about our anger that sends off alarm bells?

Statistically, our anger isn’t a major cause of violent crimes - we are overwhelmingly the victims, not the perpetrators.

And, just as undeniably, our anger has been amply justified by the fact that we are still fighting the most basic battles to

be heard and believed and respected as equals to men.

Also, guess what? Our anger, when we express it, has more often than not, exposed our inequality and galvanised society to change. Votes for Women, anyone? #MeToo, anyone?

But here’s the thing: humans are creatures of the stories they create and tell each other. And we like to tell the same ones over and over again, in different forms and mediums.

And for too long, the stories of angry women have been stories of bloodshed and disaster.

Euripides’ Medea: Kills her own children in a vengeful rage.

Draupadi of the Mahabharat: Sets off a cataclysmic war in which almost everyone is killed, and craves to run the blood of her enemy through her hair.

The warrior Durga: Loses control when she gets angry to the point of nearly destroying the world.

The Tamil epic heroine Kannagi: Threatens to destroy the entire city of Madurai unless her husband is brought back to life.

Wonder Woman: Her anger at her lover’s death turns her into a raging goddess figure who could destroy the world.

Every angry evil female character in fairytales: Does crazy psychotic sh*t.

Women, in the stories we tell ourselves as humans, screech, howl, rage, and then wreak havoc. Our anger, even when justified, equals destruction.

Anger is our rational weapon that we are deploying strategically.

And it is working.

I have to bring up the ‘vengeful goddess’ trope here: woman as enraged force of nature, destroying everything in her path. She strides through religious texts, classical literature, comic books, movies, novels, and she is often seen as an example of a “powerful woman” by those desperate to sidestep the fact that she is largely the creation of patriarchal male writers, who, surprise surprise, aren’t particularly keen on gender equality.

She also, I would argue, lurks behind every accusation of “angry feminist” and “crossing the line” and “going too far”: our collective cultural consciousness of the moral inherent in “hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned”.

We almost never tell stories of angry women who create peaceful change, who wield their anger strategically, and with

purpose.

Right now, there is much talk how we women need to start talking about solutions, instead of just accusing and ‘shaming’ and speaking out. We need to invite men to the table. We need to look beyond our anger.

But guess what? Anger is how we were heard in the first place. Anger is our rational weapon that we are deploying strategically. And it is working.

So, it’s time society learns to accept the Angry Woman, and considers the possibility that her anger, instead of destroying the world, might just make it a better place.

Indian Link would like to confirm that Aparna Ananthuni was, in fact, angry when she wrote this piece.

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12 MARCH (1) 2018

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Why NOT to be a domestic goddess A thought for Women’s Day: It’s time to change our gendered expectations

BY DIPANJALI RAO

S

omeone said to me a few months ago, commenting on a project I was working on, “How do you manage to do so much?” I usually chuckle and dismiss this question, but the other day, my kitchen sink flashed before my eyes. I didn’t laugh this time. I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I don’t clean.”

I genuinely don’t. And nope, no cleaner either. As I write this, there are three dust bunnies in my living room waiting idly by for their next chance to swirl gaily around my living room. There’s an envelope from ANZ from 2016 that sits next to my TV. There’s cat litter on my bathroom floor, a layer of dust on my TV table, and the kitchen sink is full. (The only thing I do regularly is laundry, because, personal hygiene.) I regularly have aha! moments when I find long lost things stuck between the cushions of my couch. Hmm, maybe that’s where that DVD remote is.

Now I don’t try to be messy person, I just don’t really care enough about the state of my house to do anything about it regularly. And this is particularly important. Because time I don’t spend on cleaning is time I spend on, dare I say, more interesting and important things. And it is a lot of time. The average Australian woman does between 5 and 14 hours on housework a week, according to the 2016 census. The typical Aussie man?

Less than 5.

Carnatic classical singing, wrote half a dozen pieces for this newspaper, worked on two community projects on domestic violence, completed a leadership course and was nominated for an award on domestic violence reporting. I also lost three kilos of fat, put on two kilos of muscle and can now do two pullups. Ok

achievement for women. According to research, women pick to spend time on housework over employment. Such is the pressure housework puts on women.

Plus, turns out that cleaning can actually be dangerous to your health. Women do the lion’s share of cleaning and are exposed to more chemicals, which likely cause substantial damage to women’s lungs, according to a study published in American Journal of Respiratory and

The key is to change our gendered expectations, including what we expect of ourselves. My mother did very little house work around the house (we had maids, which is problematic in different ways) so at least at home, I escaped that socialising.

Walking over a sock that’s been lying on the floor for two weeks is possibly easier for me; my sense of worth isn’t tied to how neat my house is. And any insecurity I had about this behaviour was put to rest by a

The time I don’t spend on cleaning is time I spend on, dare I say, more interesting and important things So what did I do with all that spare time? Apart from working full time, I presented at my first ever IT conference, presented on five other occasions for work, was on two panels for a documentary I’m working on, emceed an event at the Jaipur Literature Festival, worked for the Melbourne Writer’s Festival, curated and performed in a concert, trained in

NATIONAL EDITION

fine, only 1.5 pullups.

The point is, I had time to do a lot. (I acknowledge that privilege enables these activities, including that I can indeed choose not to do housework) This is time men usually have and women don’t because it is expected that they keep house. And this has significant implications for both personal and professional

Critical Care Medicine. So stop cleaning, right?

How’s this for a cruel joke: we still suffer if we reduce the amount of housework we do. As women, we’re socialised to believe that keeping house is our responsibility, and we’re judged by it. So when we don’t think we’re doing enough, we feel guilty about it and our health suffers, as evidenced by a study in the Sex Roles Research Journal. What is a woman to do?

younger, feminist friend who called me her role model because my house was messy.

Maybe that’s what we need. More messy female role models. And reassurance that our home is not the measure of our worth.

My reassurance comes in the form of a mother who steps over socks in tandem with me. And a fridge magnet that reads, ‘A Clean House is a Sign of a Wasted Life.’

This International Women’s Day, perhaps we should all get one.

MARCH (1) 2018 13

14 MARCH (1) 2018

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SYMPOSIUM

Eye on India

Alyssa Ayres

Sadanand Dhume

PM Modi and India at centrestage in talks at Sydney think tanks

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

I

n early March, Alyssa Ayres, a Senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations was a guest at Sydney’s Lowy Institute at a lunch time discussion on India.

A few days later, only a street away, her husband Sadanand Dhume was the keynote speaker at a debate hosted by The Centre for Independent Studies.

Dhume is the Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, and South Asia columnist for Wall Street Journal.

Ayres, with more than 25 years of experience in India and South Asia, has recently published her book, Our Time Has Come: How India is Making Its Place in the World. In her lunch time discussion with Lowy Institute Research Fellow Aaron Connelly, she stressed that the title of the book comes from quotes made by two of India’s Prime Ministers, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

“I felt that both these Prime Ministers are encapsulating a belief in India that it is now emerging as one of the superpowers in the world,” Ayers said at the event.

“And the facts back them up: India, in the past three years, has been the world’s seventh largest economy and on track to be the fifth largest by 2018, surpassing even the UK.” Ayres added that there are still restrictive tariffs and other urgent economic reforms needed in India and that if India needs to accelerate forward, it will

have to look at these issues very closely.

Ayres also spoke about India drawing its foreign policy from traditional Indian thinking and linking it to its contemporary direction. “This government uses a term from Sanskrit, which says the World is One Family, and so it builds a relationship with countries such as United States and Russia, which are so different politically to each other.” Ayres also praised India’s ability to achieve some of its foreign power objectives through its strengths in private diplomacy or back channelling.

“India is a net provider of regional assistance in its area and is focused on working under the UN flag,” she said. India is also working on deepening its ties with Vietnam, Singapore and other South East Asian countries while engaging more with the United States, Japan and Australia.

Ayres, however, believes that in spite of India’s rising self-confidence, it is still sensitive to foreign criticism. “India feels it is not given its fair credit for work done and the outside world does not see past its shortcomings,” she said.

While Ayres’ discussion was focused on India’s economic power and foreign policy, the debate at the Centre for Independent Studies, was concentrated on contemporary Indian politics.

Chaired by Tom Switzer, Executive Director of the Centre, and titled Modi: A transformative figure?, the debate featured - apart from Dhume - Balesh Singh, President of the Overseas Friends of BJP Australia; Manoj Sheoran, National President of the Indian Overseas Congress,

Alyssa Ayres spoke about India drawing its foreign policy from traditional Indian thinking and linking it to its contemporary direction NATIONAL EDITION

Australia; and Rahul Jethi, Director of the India Foundation Ltd. Dhume in his keynote address addressed the question of whether Modi has been a transformative figure for the Indian economy. His analysis was that for Asia’s third largest economy, Modi has not been a transformative figure so far.

“To a large extent, Modi has mirrored the same collectivist, socialist thinking that has marked Indian politics and economic thinking,” Dhume observed. “When you compare the economic policies which have been put in place in India with the high performing economies of North East Asia, those of us who had believed that his election in 2014 would produce compelling structural reforms have been proven so far to be overoptimistic.”

Dhume then prosecuted his case by stating that for the 2014 election, Modi campaigned on development and marketfriendly reforms. Yet, fast forward to 2018 and, though the government has succeeded in keeping the GDP rate over 7% and encouraging large amounts of foreign direct investments in 2016, it has failed in achieving substantial reforms in areas like labour laws, land bills, and privatising lossmaking state-owned enterprises.

“Tariffs increased in Dec 2017 and have increased again. India, which in 1991 wanted to open its economy, is moving in the opposite direction. Tax terrorism is up under this government and then there was the 2016 blunder of demonetisation,” Dhume said.

Introspecting as to how even he, an experienced observer of all things Modi, got it so wrong before and after

the 2014 elections, Dhume acknowledged that he took the slogans at face value.

“For example, the slogan which Modi used - ‘maximum governance, minimum government’ - was not a Thatcherite type of politics but rather meant that all decisions were to be concentrated in the Prime Minister’s Office. We also misread the RSS, who are at the root of Modi’s BJP party’s economic ideology. The joke about RSS economics is that it is Marxism plus a cow,” he said.

He then progressed his arguments that India cannot get to the next level without these economic reforms which should have been achieved under Modi. “Economic urgency is what India needs to create over 12 million jobs per year, and it is not even creating a fraction of these,” Dhume added.

With Tom Switzer opening the debate topic, the rest of the evening took a predictable turn with Balesh Singh as President of the Overseas Friends of BJP and Rahul Jethi from India Foundation true to their calling waxed eloquent about the progress and the positive transformation which Modi has brought to India. The Congress representative on the panel, Manoj Sheoran, was clearly outflanked by the two and found it difficult to present his point of view.

What was meant to be a debate became more monologues from the vocal individuals on the panel, with a number of assertions and facts misrepresented or simply untrue.

What could have been a fascinating evening of discussion and debate, degenerated into hyperbole that went unchallenged.

MARCH (1) 2018 15

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NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH (1) 2018 17

TRIBUTE

Shine on, Chandni She may have been Bollywood’s first female superstar, but Sridevi insisted she was just getting started, writes RADHIKA BHIRANI

A

rre, maine kuch achieve nahi kiya (I haven’t achieved anything)... There’s a long way to go. I feel my career has just started. Haan... let me tell you that,” said Sridevi, laughing.

Sridevi’s lilting laughter - much like her screen presence, beauty, grace and unmatchable talent - lingers on as I remember my last conversation, in November 2017, with the actress, who spent 50 of her 54 years of life living the cinematic dream.

“I feel like a newcomer. I feel that my career is going to start now. It’s not finished, It’s going to start now,” she asserted, dismissing any desire to treat her fans to an autobiography replete with stories from her glorious life - starting as a child actor at four to superstardom in India.

Born in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu on August 13, 1963, Sridevi began her career at the age of four in the devotional film Thunaivan. That marked the beginning of a journey in filmdom that saw her work across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi productions, leading her to become one of the most formidable actresses of the 1980s and 1990s in Bollywood - and in fact, the only female superstar the industry has seen.

As filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma put it, “She was like a creation of God which he does whenever he is in a very special mood as a very, very special gift to mankind.”

Sridevi grew up to be known for not just her ability for slip into myriad roles whether the double role inChaalbaaz, as a

18 MARCH (1) 2018

woman with retrograde amnesia in Sadma, a shape-shifting woman in Nagina, a goofy crime journalist in Mr. India, the warm mother act in English Vinglishor the fierce and revengeful mom inMom - but also for her expressive eyes, sheer comic timing and her fluid dancing skills, all of which made her a director’s delight.

Hawaa hawai, Main teri dushman, Morni,Na jaane kahan se aayi hai, Mere haathon mein are some of the iconic and classic dance numbers which gave cinema fans a chance to see the dancing talent of Sridevi.

As filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who directed her in Karma, said “Introvert by

competition to her daughters - commanded popularity like few others.

“Her popularity and stardom had to be seen to be believed. We were shooting for the climax in Nandyal for Kshana Kshanam and the whole of Nandyal came to a standstill when they came to know that Sridevi was in town.

“Banks, government offices, schools, colleges everything in town closed as everyone wanted to see Sridevi,” Ram Gopal Varma recounted in a tribute after the sudden demise of the actress in Dubai on 24 Feb night of a cardiac arrest.

Sridevi could also be extraordinarily warm and compassionate.

I feel like a newcomer. I feel that my career is going to start now. It’s not finished nature, she was electricity with thunder in front of the camera. She would shock directors with each shot - be it dance, drama or romance. She was uncrowned queen of acting in all languages in her time.”

In 2013, the government feted her with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourthhighest civilian award. Her work was widely lauded with a slew of other richly-deserved honours.

Sridevi, who over the years became quite a fashion icon - sometimes giving tough

Co-producer K. Ramji of Tina Films International, recalls, “In 1986, while shooting for Sindoor, the heroine Neelam Kothari was staying in the same hotel as Sridevi. Neelam was a great fan and wanted to meet her, but was apprehensive about approaching an established star like Sridevi.

“Finally, when she took courage and entered her room, Sridevi got up to receive and welcome her, commented on Neelam’s lustrous hair and they became instant friends.”

In an industry where women beyond a certain age struggle to find roles, a 50-plus Sridevi proved she still had it in her when she carried two films - her “comeback” vehicle English Vinglish and last year’s Mom - on her shoulders.

The 2012 film English Vinglish marked her return to films 15 years after the 1997 movie Judaai. And what a comeback it was - playing the role of a traditional Indian housewife’s struggle with the English language in the US, she was simply outstanding.

In real life, she was indeed a “purely traditional housewife - a great mother and perfect host for guests at home,” says Ghai.

A mother of two daughters, Janhvi and Khushi, whom she had with husband Boney Kapoor, Sridevi was as doting as a mom could get. She was excited for Janhvi’s upcoming debut Dhadak, just months away from its release.

Confident of the upbringing she gave her daughters, Sridevi said, “Janhvi has chosen this path and profession, and I have been in this industry for long. So I am mentally more prepared than her. She has been watching me, and knows what she is getting into.

“Nothing is going to be a cakewalk in any profession. So you have to work hard, and there will be challenges. I’m sure she is ready for it.”

And to cite the unpredictability of life, who knew Sridevi wouldn’t be there to see her daughter take baby steps into a world where she was the uncrowned queen for so many years.

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NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH (1) 2018 19

TRIBUTE

Sridevi’s top three Indian Link Radio anchors list their favourite moments from Sridevi’s work

Top three films

PRIYANKA TATER 1 Mr India: The title should really have been Miss India because Sridevi was the backbone of the film. This film had it all - her flair for comedy (with a special mention to the Charlie chaplin sequence), her sensuous grooves in the song Kaate Nahi Katate to her exotic act as Hawaa Hawai.

2 Lamhe: A film ahead of its time. Sridevi aced her performance in a dual role as a mother and daughter.

The daughter falls in love with the man who loved her mother but his love was never reciprocated.

Sridevi handled the nuances of this very complex characterisation brilliantly.

3 English Vinglish: Watching Sridevi in the film was like sneaking into the life of one of the many thousands of middle-aged Indian women, wives and mothers draped in five metres of vulnerability and identity diffusion.

Sridevi nailed it.

Top three fashion moments

KASHIF HARRISON 1 Virushka reception: Dressed in a unique pashmina velvet saree with regal zari tilla embroidery from Kashmir, she looked like a true empress!

2 Mom premiere: She nailed the look in an embroiled jacket style Anarkali suit by Rohit Bal for the premiere of Mom in Russia in 2017.

3 Lux Golden Rose Awards 2017: Wearing a beautiful and elegant pink gown by Manish Malhotra.

1

Top three non-Hindi movies

PAVITRA SHANKAR 1 Moondru Mudichu: Tamil movie where Sridevi, only 13, played the role of a widow 2 Kshana Kshanam: Telugu movie for which she bagged the Best Actress Filmfare Award 3 Meendum Kokila: Tamil movie for which she bagged the Best Actress Filmfare Award

3

2 1

2

2

3

1

Top three songs

SAGAR MEHEROTRA 1 Chandni: The title track, O meri Chandni 2 Lamhe: The title track, Yeh lamhe, yeh pal hum 3 Chaalbaaz: Na jaaney kahan se ayi hai

2

3

Top three dances NEELAM VASUDEVAN 1 Lamhe: Morni baga mein 2 Chandni: Mere haathon mein 3 Mr India: Hawaa Hawai

2

Three words to describe Sridevi MANOJ MENON Talent, beauty and grace

Top three dialogues

ANUP KUMAR Ghar Sansar: Badon ke mooh se nikli hui gaaliyan, chhoton ko dua bankar lagti hai. Jo badon ki daant khaa leta hai, woh zindagi ki thokarein nahi khaata Lamhe: Sabhi badey hote hai, magar koi apne badon se badaa nahi hota Ram Avtar: Shaadi toh kabhi na tootne waala ek bandhan hai, ek haqeeqat hai. Yeh woh rishta hai joh saans tootne keh baad hi tootta hai

20 MARCH (1) 2018

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WHAT’S ON ARTS Parramasala 9-11 March A free, public celebration of the diverse and rich cultures in Sydney, the multicultural arts festival Parramasala will offer entertainment, food, markets and music from over 40 different cultures in a positive, diverse and friendly atmosphere. Details www. parramasala.com Bangla Art Exhibition 2018 Sat 10 March (10:00am)-Sun 11 March (3:00pm) A celebration of the vibrant Bengali arts with a program that includes short film, performing and visual arts from Bangladesh, West Bengal, Australia and New Zealand.

State Library of New South Wal Macquarie Street, Sydney. Details www.banglahub.org STAGE Hindustani vocal Fri 16 March (5.30pm-7.00pm) Indian Cultural Centre (Consulate General of India, Sydney) invites you for Sacred Songs of Hindustan: A Thematic Concert with vocalist Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat, accompanied by Maharshi Rawal on tabla, Roopak Haridasan on harmonium, and Charan Vedurumudi on mridangam. Venue Level 2, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000.

RSVP to library.sydney@mea.gov.in Dances of India Fri 9 March (5.30pm onwards) Consulate General of India (Sydney) and Sandalwood Arts present Bharat Yatra, Indian classical and folk dances by Bangalore-based dance group Shivapriya. Venue Level 2, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000.

Details Roopa 0423 187 325 Bappi Lahiri show Sat 10 March (7:30pm) Whitlam Centre, 90A Memorial Avenue, NSW. Details Rakesh 0411 621 371 Anoushka Shankar Sun 11 March 8.30pm. Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Details www. ticketmaster.com.au Kannada Musical Melody Night Fri 16 March Multiple award winner Santhosh Venky, melody queen Nanditha and rapper Chandan Shetty to perform. 108 Silverwater Road, Crn Egerton Street. Silverwater. Details 0401 432 282

Naada Sambhrama Sat 17 Mar 6.00 pm Hindustani instrumental music night featuring Nagaraj Hegde on flute and Bharavi on tabla. Venue Wattle Grove Public School, Cressbrook Drive, Wattle Grove. Details Narayana 0423 634 979.

Tarang Sat 17 March and Sun 18 March (3:00pm onwards) On the occasion of Rhythm Dance Academy Sydney’s 9th annual day, experience various art, music and dance forms with three well-renowned overseas artists, 15 Sydney-based artists and RDA’s whole bunch of students in a twoday festival Tarang. UNSW Science Theatre Kensington, Sydney. Details harshudance@gmail.com Sitaron Ki Mehfil Sat 24 March (7:00pm) Chesterhill RSL Club 20 Chesterhill Rd, Chester Hill. Details, Hema 0423 464 517 Sydney Dance Festival of Classical Indian Dance Sat 7 April (2:00pm-8:00pm) Madhuram Academy of Performing Arts presents dance festival featuring Odissi recital by Sanatani Rombola, Bharatanatyam by Praveen Kumar, Kuchipudi by Sailaja Narayanaswamy, Kathak by Gauri Diwakar. Bryan Brown Theatre, Cnr Rickard Road and Chapel Road, Bankstown NSW. Details 0411 015 396 Tahir Qawwal Sat 17 March (8:00pm) Byron Theatre, 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay. Details www.tahirqawwal.com Indian Stand-up Comedy Festival Sat 24 March (7:00pm) Featuring Mahdeep Singh, Manish Tyagi and Gaurav Gupta. 632 Old Northern Rd, Dural. Details gumberv@yahoo.com FESTIVAL Holi Mahotsav Sat 14 April 10:00am to Sun 15 April 7:00pm Tumbalong Park, Pier St, Sydney, Australia 2000. Details: www.holimahotsav.com.au SPIRITUAL Events at Regents Park Sai Temple (25 Rose Crescent Regents Park) Fri 23 Mar Mata Chowki 9:00pm to 12 midnight.

Sun 25 Mar Ram Navami 9:00am to 9:00pm, with Ram Janam celebration at 12:00 noon.

Details 1300 524 724; www.shirdisai. org.au; Facebook.com/saimandir Life enrichment program (Fortnightly) G.O.D. Australia Sydney Chapter invites school children to Gopakuteeram, A life enrichment program imparting universal values through stories from Indian scriptures, slokas, bhajans, choir, games, drama, art festivals and more. These twohour, fortnightly classes start from 4 February at 4.00 p.m. Namadwaar 44 Oakes Road Winston Hills. Details Jayashree 0420 522 629 Simran and Meditation Diwan in Sydney Wed 14 March (6:30pm-8:30pm) Gurudwara Turramurra Sikh Temple Sydney 81 Kissing Point Road, Turramurra. Details 02 9449 8253.

The Journal of Dharma Studies http://www.springer.com/ philosophy/philosophical+traditions/ journal/42240 (previously, the International Journal of Dharma Studies) through Springer Publications, has been launched under the editorship of Rita D Sherma and Purushottama Bilimoria. For submissions and details ldunn@ses.gtu.edu COMMUNITY Women’s Day celebrations Sat 17 March (10:30am-3:00pm) International Women’s Day 2018 celebrations hosted by UIA Women’s Steering Committee. Haveli Function Centre, 57-59 Main Street, Blacktown.

Details 0450 450 191 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 our panel of judges for creativity, originality, technical merit and accuracy and good programming practices.

Details dxc.technology/dxccodes or email dxcgivesback@dxc.com YOGA Learn Kriya Yoga Sat 17 March (8:30am-5pm) This Kriya Yoga initiation ceremony is a twoday program of teaching, reviewing and practicing the Kriya technique. Suitable for all ages 12+. Held at Australia Kriya Yoga Ashram, 226 Macdonalds Road, Lisarow NSW. Details 0422 334 573 MISC Fijian Bollywood party Sat 24 March (9:30pm to Mar 25 3:00am) Club Crystal event. Roma Function Centre 167A Northumberland Street, Liverpool, NSW. Details 02 9600 8888 Sikh Games 30 March 7:00am-1 April 10:00pm McClean St, Bass Hill NSW. Details australiansikhgames.com.au The Great Khali meet and greet Sat 31 March (7:00pm) Meet wrestler the Great Khali. Dezire Function Centre, 1/107-109A Main St, Blacktown NSW. Details 0431 871 002 Bollywood Night 31 March (6:00pm to April 1 2:00am) Easter Long Weekend Party.

Canyon Restaurant 96 Phillip Street, Parramatta, NSW. Details www. rivercanyon.com.au SENIORS AASHA at Hornsby Every second and fourth Friday of the month, 11.00am - 2.00pm. Venue Hornsby Youth and Community Centre, cnr Muriel and Burdett Sts, Hornsby, close to Hornsby Station. Programs feature yoga, music, dance, games health and tech presentations, health checks, and light lunch. Details Bijinder 0412 786 569 Crows Nest Every third Wednesday of the month, 10.00am - 11.30am. Venue 2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest. Social event with free morning tea. Details 02 9439 5122

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NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH (1) 2018 23

INDIAN NEWS Pakistani revelers play with colours during Holi celebrations in Quetta on March 4, 2018. Photo: CrowdSpark

17 BJP supporters.

He warned all that law would take its own course against the attackers irrespective of party affiliations.

Google India launches #HerStoryOurStory campaign

RSS loyalist Biplab to be Tripura’s 11th Chief Minister

Biplab Kumar Deb, the Chief Ministerdesignate of Tripura, has been a long-time RSS volunteer who is largely credited for the BJP’s turnaround in the state elections - winning 35 out 60 assembly seats and demolishing one of the last citadels of the Left Front in the country.

Deb replaced Sudhindra Dasgupta, the longest-serving BJP state president, in January 2015 after he was handpicked by BJP’s “Prabhari” (central incharge) Sunil Deodhar to lead the party in the state.

BJP leaders say the idea of letting Deb take charge of the party in Tripura was well received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah.

The 48-year-old leader is said to have played a crucial role in making some of the former Congress MLAs join the BJP last year - a move that proved vital in BJP’s spectacular win in the state where the Left Front had been ruling for the last 25 years.

With the slogan “Chollo Paltai” (let’s make a change), Deb led the BJP’s door-todoor campaign that ultimately saw the BJP increasing its vote share to over 43 per cent in the 18 February elections from just 1.5 per cent in 2013.

The BJP had no member in the outgoing assembly as 49 of the 50 candidates it had fielded in 2013 even lost their deposits.

And credit for the turnaround -- from nil to 35 seats -- goes to Deb, who defeated CPIM’s Amal Chakraborty in the Banamalipur constituency by a margin of 9,549 votes.

This was Deb’s first electoral battle.

He credited the party’s performance to Modi, Shah and all other central and state party leaders who “worked very hard and continuously guided us before and during electioneering”.

“The credit must go to all,” Deb said in his first media interaction after winning the election.

Deb will be the 11th Chief Minister of Tripura succeeding Manik Sarkar, 69, who governed the state for 20 years. He said his priority would be to make Tripura a model state in India in terms of development with

24 MARCH (1) 2018

the help of the Prime Minister, central ministers, central and state leaders and workers of the BJP. Born on 25 November, 1971 in southern Tripura’s temple city of Udaipur, Deb had completed his graduation from Tripura University in 1999 and went to Delhi before he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a volunteer.

From Delhi, Deb is said to have moved to Pune and Nagpur in Maharashtra where he attended RSS camps. He is believed to have spent much of his time at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

Lenin statues razed in Tripura, post-poll violence continues

The post-poll violence in Tripura continued for the fourth consecutive day even as the administration, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) urged everyone to maintain peace.

Calling for maintaining peace, Chief Minister-designate Biplab Kumar Deb repeatedly urged the people not to disturb peace and attack the rival party members.

According to the leaders of CPI-M, two statues of Vladimir Lenin were razed by the BJP activists in Tripura.

“A statue of Vladimir Lenin was knocked down by the BJP activists on Monday night at Sabroom in southern Tripura. The statue was set up a few years back,” Tripura CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar said.

Sabroom is 135 km south of the state capital.

According to an earlier report, an 11.5feet fibre statue of Vladimir Lenin was brought down with a bulldozer by the BJP activists in Belonia in early March.

“The BJP supporters, chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, knocked down the statue of Lenin near a government college in Belonia,” CPI-M leader Haripada Das told the media.

He said the statue was set up a year ago in Belonia, South Tripura’s district headquarters, around 90 km from Agartala.

“We are getting huge number of reports from different districts on Tuesday about

BJP and IPFT (Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura) workers attacking CPI-M members and supporters and demolishing their assets,” Das added.

State’s Governor Tathagata Roy said in a tweet: “What one democratically elected government can do another democratically elected government can undo. And vice versa.”

Roy is believed to have referred to instances of statues of leaders iconic to other parties demolished or defiled in the past in the state.

A media report said Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Governor and Tripura Police chief Akhil Kumar Shukla, requesting them to take steps to control the violence in the northeastern state, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government.

Dhar alleged around 520 CPI-M supporters were injured in attacks by rival BJP-IPFT party workers in more than 225 places across Tripura, after the declaration of the poll results.

“Arsoning, attacks and loot were carried out in around 1,745 houses. Many rubber gardens and small vehicles, hundreds of small shops, were forcibly occupied, ransacked or burned at around 500 places,” Dhar told the media.

According to him, a middle-aged man Taher Mia died of heart attack when the BJP workers exploded crude bombs in front of his house at Baxanagar in western Tripura.

He said that around 535 party offices and CPI-M’s frontal organisational offices were attacked, forcibly captured and set on fire across Tripura.

“We urge the administration and the BJP party leadership to take adequate measures to stop these post-poll violence immediately,” said Dhar, also a CPI-M central committee member.

On the other hand, accusing the CPI-M for “deliberately provoking and indulging in violence and attacks on BJP supporters”, Tripura BJP vice president Subal Bhowmik said that there have been 49 incidents of attacks on party workers and supporters by CPI-M cadres in the past 48 hours, injuring

Aiming to celebrate women’s voices and uncover their inspiring stories of trials, hope and success in everyday life, Google India on 6 March launched its #HerStoryOurStory campaign ahead of International Women’s Day. As part of the campaign, Google will be sharing woman hero stories through online videos, putting spotlight on women who have not just fought societal, cultural and economic barriers to achieve their dreams but are also redefining women’s role in the society and business through technology.

The campaign will showcase stories of trials, hope and success of women across India.

“Many studies show that one of the major barriers that prevent women in India from growing is the lack of relatable and realistic role models from a similar background.

“We are committed to empowering women, across both urban and rural India, by investing in providing access to tools and skill sets required to grow and succeed,” Sapna Chadha, Director Marketing (SEA and India) Google, said in a statement.

“On International Women’s Day, we want to bring forward stories and voices of women who are not just transforming their lives but also their communities along the way. We are celebrating the success of women from all walks of life - who can inspire many more women to follow their dreams,” Chadha said.

Women, both in urban and rural India, who are overcoming barriers and succeeding, can post their inspiring stories across social platforms using #HerStoryOurStory, the statement said.

Novel blood test may detect Zika more accurately

A new blood test may extend the window of accurate detection from weeks to months after the onset of Zika infection, giving clinicians a powerful new tool to screen for Zika throughout pregnancy, a new study led by an Indian-orgin researcher suggests.

Infection with Zika virus during pregnancy raises risk for neurodevelopmental problems in the offspring, including fetal microcephaly - a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected - in at least one in ten pregnancies.

The blood test called ZIKV-NS2B-concat ELISA improves on existing options, providing an accurate and cost-effective means to determine whether a patient was infected, days or months after exposure, the researcher said.

“Many people infected by Zika have only mild illness, or are unable to see a clinician in the early, acute phase of infection. Our new test greatly extends the window during which an individual can be assessed with accuracy,” said Nischay Mishra from the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University.

The blood test quickly detects up to 200 samples in four hours and the researchers

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Indian men associated with the Rape Roko Movement, or Stop Rape movement, participate in a protest march at New Delhi on 6 March 2018.

Photo: EPA anticipate its cost will be similar to other ELISA tests used in clinical settings, the researcher said.

“An affordable and accurate test for Zika virus is critical for public health,” said W. Ian Lipkin, co-author of the study published in the journal mBio. To develop and evaluate the test, the researchers analysed blood samples collected from children in the Nicaraguan Pediatric Dengue Cohort Study, all of whom had previously tested positive for Zika virus.

Using a microarray, they identified a unique peptide sequence - a short section of amino acids - that binds with antibodies to Zika virus but not with antibodies to similar viruses like dengue, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.

Next, the researchers customised a low-cost testing technology called enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to work with the sequence-improving on current versions of the ELISA test which use larger sections proteins that bind to the virus.

Conservationists sound alarm as India loses 106 leopards in 2 months

A staggering 106 leopards have died in the first two months of this year in forest areas across the country - a number that conservationists and officials said was alarmingly high for the “vulnerable” feline species in India.

According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), which compiled the data, the maximum number of deaths was due to poaching as evident from seizures of leopard hides and other body parts. Only 12 of the big cats died of natural causes.

Uttarakhand tops the list with 24 leopard deaths, followed by Maharashtra (18) and Rajashtan (11). The incidents of mortality were reported from 18 states.

According to official records, a total of 431 leopards died in 2017. These included 159 incidents of poaching. Some 450 big cats died in 2016 and 127 of them were found poached.

Leopards have been targeted by poachers for their expensive hides and other body parts. However, habitat loss, especially due to farming, has posed a new threat to them.

According to experts involved in tracking illegal wildlife trade, an animal skin changes lots of hands before it reaches a possible market in China where it can fetch around Rs 50 lakh - sometimes even higher than that.

A poacher in India sells it to a procurer for about Rs 3-4 lakh. It reaches a trader in Nepal or other neighbouring countries where it is sold for Rs 8-10 lakh. The traders in Nepal and other countries then smuggle an animal hide to China notoriously considered the hub of wildlife blackmarketing. By the time it reaches the final trader in China, an animal hide can get Rs 40-50 lakh, experts said.

The WPSI said there are 10 possible general causes for leopard deaths. Of 106 leopard deaths so far this year, 36 were without clarity on what caused the deaths.

There were 23 cases of seizure of hides, skulls and claws. But in such cases, it is usually not known if the animal died of a natural death or it was killed for some of its

NATIONAL EDITION

parts and then the body left behind.

However, there were 18 cases of clear poaching. The clarity on such deaths comes because there are clear signs of gunshot wounds or trap marks or poison found on an animal’s body.

The WPSI said eight leopards died in road or train accidents in January and February this year; five were killed by villagers; seven of fighting with other leopards; five were killed by tigers or other animals.

Two of them died in rescue operations or treatments, and one due to electrocution and one was shot dead by a police official in Uttar Pradesh.

Beside this, four leopards were rescued alive from smugglers in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the WPSI said.

“The number is unusually high. We don’t see such a large scale of killing or mortality in such a small span of time. It’s a bad start in terms of wildlife conservation,” Tito Joseph, a programme manager at the WPSI, said.

Y.V. Jhala, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), said the number could actually be higher because the available figure is what could be detected or reported.

According to Dehradun-based WII, there are at least 9,000 leopards across 17 states where tigers are also found.

However, the actual leopard population is unknown as no assessment is done in other states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir where incidents of leopard sighting is random.

The Indian leopard is listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Men walk shirtless to support DCW’s anti-rape campaign

With an aim to convey a strong message that ‘clothes do not cause rape, sick mentality does, the male volunteers of

Delhi Commission for Women’s Rape Roko movement marched on the streets of national capital without wearing shirts on 6 March.

Marching from Mandi House to Central Park in Connaught Place with placards stating “her clothes are not short, your mentality is” and “what clothes was the 8-month-old baby wearing?” the volunteers in a unique manner challenged the mindsets who tend to shame the survivors.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal stated: “Rape Roko movement’s strength is its volunteers.

They are campaigning for bringing about a change in system as well as mindsets and need to be supported.”

Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt also extended his support to the campaign and said that the toughest punishment, which is death penalty, should be given to the guilty of raping children.

“All our countrymen, all good people who respects their sisters, mothers, wives should come out & support #RapeRoko movement as today the victim maybe someone else but tomorrow it may be our sister or mother too,” Dutt commented.

Last week, the Indian Medical Association and the district court bar associations had also extended their support to the campaign.

How the Mughals inspired iconic 17th century Dutch painter Rembrandt

A museum in Los Angeles is launching an exhibition “Rembrandt and the Inspiration of India” that reveals how the 17th century Dutch painter was inspired by artists from a dramatically different culture in a country thousands of kilometres away.

The March 13-June 24 exhibition of paintings by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn at the J. Paul Getty Museum will include 23 of his works, closely based on portraits made by artists from Mughal India.

“These drawings mark a striking diversion for this quintessentially Dutch ‘Golden Age’ artist, the only time he made

a careful and extensive study of art from a dramatically different culture,” a J. Paul Getty Trust statement said.

The trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the Getty Foundation.

“Rembrandt may be one of the most famous painters in European art history but there are still remarkable discoveries to be made about his work,” said Timothy Potts, director of museum.

“This exhibition is a case in point, demonstrating how Rembrandt turned to the art of India to produce some of his most exotic and intriguing images. This vivid example of cultural exchange reminds us how artists on different continents take inspiration from one another, a reality that of course continues to this very day.”

The exhibition pairs 20 of Rembrandt’s surviving drawings depicting Mughal emperors, princes, and courtiers with Indian paintings and drawings of similar compositions, which had been brought to Amsterdam from the Dutch trading post in Surat.

Rembrandt’s portraits reveal how his contact with Mughal art inspired him to draw in a newly refined and precise style.

“The critical eye and attentive curiosity Rembrandt turned towards Mughal portrait conventions still captivates viewers today.

At this late stage in his career, around 1656-1661, this meticulous rendering is exceptional,” said Stephanie Schrader, the organiser of the exhibition.

The exhibition also examines how global trade and cultural exchange impacted artists working for Mughal emperors in India, who were in turn inspired by Dutch and Flemish printed images of European rules and scenes of daily life.

Among the treasures found in a Dutch East India ship, which sank enroute to China in 1597, was a package that contained 400 prints by and after Dutch and Flemish artists.

IANS

MARCH (1) 2018 25

FESTIVAL

UNITED COLOURS

26 MARCH (1) 2018

www.indianlink.com.au

S OF HOLI

Blacktown Holi Mela (left page) and Hindu Council of Australia’s Holi event at Pendle Hill (right page)

Photos: Vishaal Kumar of Evergreen Memories NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH (1) 2018 27

Photos: Anieszka

MARDIGRAS SPECIAL

YASSS!

The 40th Mardi Gras parade was a celebration of the Yes vote in the marriage equality survey, writes Indian Link Radio anchor KASHIF HARRISON

I

t was about glitter, rainbow colours, make-up, feathers, body paint and superheroes - something that we see at Mardi Gras parade every year. But more importantly, it was about brides with brides and grooms with grooms for the first time in Australia with full state sanction. It was, after all, the first Mardi Gras parade after the resounding ‘Yes’ verdict on the samesex marriage vote last year.

The 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, that took place on 3 March, definitely lived up to the hype (kind of) for me. There were dances and glittery costumes - some a bit too much for daytime public attention especially when there were kids amongst the watchers, but others pleasing to the eye for sure. Most eye-catching were the candy-coloured pink drag divas and a Qantas float dedicated to American pop sensation and gay icon Cher who made an appearance around 8:30pm at the parade.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, with his wife Lucy and New South Wales

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian, too took part in the parade around the same time. The appearance, which lasted a few minutes, was captured by every camera possible and later ended with a selfie with Cher.

The seemingly innocent selfie caused a social media storm, with users claiming Turnbull placed unwanted pressure on the LGBTQ community with the postal survey, criticising him for his stand on refugees and his apparent support to US President Donald Trump.

All that notwithstanding, Turnbull said during a broadcast, “It (the parade) was like the nation gave same-sex couples an enormous hug.” “Really?!” said one of my friends and a parade marcher in his Facebook post.

But I digress. This is not about Turnbull.

It was about the hundreds and thousands of people who came out to march to celebrate marriage equality.

An estimated 150-plus floats appeared at the parade this year, including Netflix which had the stars of Orange Is The New

Black, American comedian Lea DeLaria and Australian actress Yael Stone. Dannii Minogue too joined the float and confessed that it was her first parade. But isn’t she too a gay icon? Hmmm, interesting…!

Amongst the floaters was Trikone Australasia, an organisation of South Asian members of the LGBTQ community. The theme of the float was, of course, a big fat Indian gay wedding!

In an exclusive access to the pre-parade ground, I caught up with the Trikone marchers to get to know their level of excitement. The float had colourful Indian costumes for sure, jhoomars, guys in mini ghagras with jhumkas, Bollywood drag queens and pagris! The dancers accompanying the float comprised straight people supporting their LGBTQ friends and family. Everyone was high on the spirit of Mardi Gras and marriage equality.

“It’s a happy day,” one of the grooms said while hugging his glittered-up groom for the parade.

Trikone has been a part of the Mardi

Gras parade over the years, and this year was yet another milestone for them. The crowd also included marchers from history who had started the protest march 40 years back.

Later Cher, as they say, slayed the afterparty which was an instant sell-out three months back. The parade was closed by Samantha Jade at the famous Laneway party held at The Beresford, Surry Hills the next day.

Many, like me, experienced the parade for the first time. The thing I learnt was how to strike a pose. In my own wishful thinking, I almost felt like a huge celebrity in my eye-catching embroidered gold blazer! But there were people who genuinely came for love, although there were some who just wanted to show its wild and extreme version, if you know what I mean.

I guess it just proves that with love, celebrations and crazy parties, Sydney’s Mardi Gras is nowhere near slowing down, even at 40!

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MARCH (1) 2018 29

THIS MONTH

PEOPLE, PLACES, PARTIES SEND YOUR EVENT SNAPS OR PARTY PICS TO MEDIA@INDIANLINK.COM.AU

Aditi Upadhyay and Dipti Hatewar in full Holi glory

Aruna and Anurag Shankar at the Valentine’s Day Ball organised

by Preeti Thadani

Holiday!

It’s a cruise to Tasmania for Sonal Chopra

Little Rhea Nair celebrates her first birthday with her sister Tanya

30 MARCH (1) 2018

Reeha Pandharipande (left) is happy to see Aunty Neeti and little cousin Vasundhara, visiting from India www.indianlink.com.au

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Deeksha Chopra Chopra Deeksha

Chitra Chitra Sudarshan Sudarshan

Kalyani Kalyani Wakhare Wakhare

Usha Usha R R Arvind Arvind

Uttam Uttam Mukherjee Mukherjee

Sukrit Sukrit Sabhlok Sabhlok

Sanam Sanam Sharma Sharma

Raweena Raweena Raval Raval

Shafeen Shafeen Mushtaq Mushtaq

Kashif Kashif Harrison Harrison

Vishma Vishma Mistry Mistry

Kira Kira Spucys-Tahar Spucys-Tahar

Priyanka Priyanka Tater Tater

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Priyadarshini Priyadarshini Chidambaranathan Chidambaranathan

Tim Tim Blight Blight

Sai Sai Narayan Narayan

Neelam Neelam Vasudevan Vasudevan

Deepa Deepa Gopinath Gopinath

Raka Raka Sarkhel Sarkhel

Gaurav Gaurav Masand Masand

Ashish Ashish Chawla Chawla

Komal Komal Utsav Utsav Jagad Jagad

Saloni Saloni Kober Kober

Purnima Purnima Ruanglertbutr Ruanglertbutr

Raka Raka Mitra Mitra

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Tasneem Zavery Zavery Tasneem

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The team at Indian Link www.indianlink.com.au

BOOKS

Remembering the emperor A look at the Vijayanagar ruler’s pursuit of his love interest and the influence of those around him

I, Krishnadevaraya by RK Rangarajan (English translation by Shantha Krishnamachari). Westland publishers, 2017

R

obert Graves’ autobiographical novel I, Claudius - ostensibly told by the eponymous Roman Emperor spanning a period from 41 BC to 44 AD - has been acclaimed as one of the 100 best novels ever written in English. Impressed by the book’s scope and depth, Tamil writer RK Rangarajan set out to write a similar novel in Tamil

about the famous and towering historical personality, the Emperor Krishnadevaraya (KDR) and called it Naan, Krishnadevaraya. The English version, translated by Shantha Krishnamachari, I Krishnadevaraya has been recently published, and is not a bad rendering of the original, although its language lacks the flourish and the finesse of the original.

For those history buffs - particularly Vijayanagar-spotters like myself - it is not a book one could resist, especially when the elegant cover of KDR stares at you from the window display of a bookshop.

The Vijayanagar empire has fascinated me from as far back as I can remember, and I have devoured every book or article on it that I could lay my hands on over the years. It culminated in a visit to Hampi -

the magnificent but ethereal ruins of this once-great empire, reduced to rubble by the Deccan Sultanates after they defeated the Vijayanagar army in the battle of Talikota.

During their six-month occupation, they sacked and systematically destroyed this once-proud and thriving cosmopolitan city, extolled by Italian and French travellers, and prominently identified in the European maps of the Middle Ages.

I digress. If you, however, expect to read an account of the glorious reign of KDR, his conquests, his temple-building, its scientific achievements, its marvellous architecture and sculptures - you will be disappointed. The book does not cater to those looking for a catalogue of Vijayanagar achievements from the great emperor’s mouth. Instead, its focus is almost exclusively on KDR’s pursuit of a beautiful dancer named Chinna Devi, with

whom he becomes obsessed, and who becomes his second principal wife after he pursues and wins her over - spanning a few years.

It does, nevertheless, capture the zeitgeist of the era, the social and religious mores, KDR’s contemporaries, et al as Rangarajan has done his research fairly thoroughly.

He has brought to life several of the people in KDR’s coterie, and they have an authentic ring to them. KDR’s mother, his long-suffering first wife Tirumala Devi, his able and loyal general Appaji, the head of the Vaishnava Mutt Thathayya, the bold and talented Gayatri etc, are memorable characters who leave their imprint on the empire in their own ways.

A must read for those interested in a sort of retelling of a chunk of Indian history.

CHITRA SUDARSHAN

Love, mystery, drama A novel by Melb-based Dr Madhu Vajpayee has all the makings of a good story I Owed You One by Dr Madhu Vajpayee. Lifi Publishers, 2018

A

letter from someone he would rather forget, and a mysterious disappearance, set the course of action for Dev Khanna, the protagonist of Dr Madhu Vajpayee’s latest book I Owed You One. Spanning a volatile childhood deprived of paternal love in India and a dream life in Melbourne, the story, as the name suggests, is about a debt of gratitude for a favour.

Dev settles down in Melbourne after his mother’s death and deliberately distances himself from his father and family in India.

He meets, romances and marries the love of his life Radhika and then becomes a doting father to his son Neel.

His tranquil suburban life in Melbourne, however, is shaken with the arrival of a letter from India.

In response to the letter, Dev feels compelled to embark on a journey back to his homeland with mixed feelings of trepidation and hope.

NATIONAL EDITION

He travels to the clash-ridden streets of Moradabad, an Indian city suffering from communal riots, senseless acts of violence and deserted streets.

What follows is an emotional journey interspersed with religious foibles and tension between the Hindu and Muslim communities.

With courage and persistence, Dev tries to fulfil his commitment despite several setbacks. In his earnest attempt to unravel a mystery, he discovers his own fate.

Dr Madhu Vajpayee has sturdily crafted a tale that goes beyond being an intellectual indulgence for a medico.

Madhu completed her MBBS from KGMU Lucknow and MD from AIIMS New Delhi. She currently lives in Melbourne with her family and devotes most of her time to writing.

She began her writing journey at an early age, encouraged by her father, and shared his fascination for written words.

Several scientific papers and chapters in books later, she decided to venture

into the literary world with her first book.

Seeking Redemption is about a medical graduate who gets caught into corruption and caste politics.

I Owed You One is Madhu’s second book. According to her, this book also has a bit of love and drama interwoven amidst the uncertainty of life.

The writer has skilful control on the narrative and smoothly transports readers from an idyllic life in the world’s most liveable city to hostile and conflict-ridden surroundings.

The battle that rages within Dev is captured with sensitivity and portrayed

with substance. The momentum and interest is maintained in most parts with minor lapses towards the end.

Zoya’s disappearance is the root cause of Dev’s journey but details of what exactly happened to her remain rather sketchy.

Madhu has remarkably voiced the story from a male perspective, capturing the complex landscape of Dev’s mind and nudging her protagonist back to a place of hope.

I would stop short of calling it a pageturner. However, the writer definitely offers the readers a good story.

Preeti Jabbal

MARCH (1) 2018 33

INDIA DIARY

HEARD THIS? Nearly 360 million people, nearly one-tenth of them children, suffer from hearing loss worldwide Nearly 60% of these could have been prevented from an early age if the right measures were taken early A new-born screen test can help detect hearing impairment early Generally, there are two types of tests, both painless and lasting no more than 10 minutes. They can be done while the baby is asleep or lying still

Photo: IANS

In India, about 50-60% of hearing loss in babies occurs due to genetic causes 25% of cases are the result of environmental factors such as maternal infections during pregnancy, complications during/ after birth or accidents

All ears

Brett Lee pitches for mandatory auditory screening for newborns in India.

RACHEL V THOMAS reports

N

early 60% cases of hearing loss in children are preventable with early intervention, says former Australian cricketer Brett Lee, emphasising the need to make the “newborn screen test” mandatory in India.

Deafness, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), refers to the complete loss of hearing ability in one or both ears, while “hearing impairment” refers to both complete and partial loss of hearing ability. Nearly 360 million people, nearly one-tenth of them children, suffer from hearing loss worldwide, WHO says.

However, “nearly 60% of these could have been prevented from an early age if the right measures were taken early,” Lee said.

“Early intervention is the most important thing for a kid to have normal hearing. There is an urgent

34 MARCH (1) 2018

need of making the ‘new-born screen test’ for hearing mandatory, as well as for educating parents of children with hearing loss so that they make the best intervention at the earliest,” said Lee. Lee began spearheading the cause of hearing loss three years ago, in wake of an accident that temporarily impaired his son’s hearing.

The former pace bowler is also the Global Hearing Ambassador with global implantable hearing aid firm Cochlear.

According to a 2016 study published in the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 63 million people suffer from significant auditory loss in India. Four in every 1,000 children suffer from severe to profound hearing loss. With over 100,000 babies that are born with hearing deficiency every year, the estimated prevalence of adult-onset deafness in India was found to be 7.6% and childhood-onset deafness to be 2%.

This is because “in India a lot of people wait till the child is five or 10 before they take him/her to an ENT specialist. Parents don’t understand the consequences of suffering hearing loss in the long term, if they don’t intervene in the first or in the second year,” Lee said.

Weighing in on Lee’s suggestions, Ameet Kishore, a Senior Consultant Surgeon, (ENT - Neurotology & Cochlear Implants) at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, said that “while new-born hearing screening is certainly recommended, it is not yet mandatory. It is being carried out across various parts of the country at the behest of various professionals, professional groups, local government bodies and other organisations, but it is yet to become a universal phenomenon.”

Lee, citing the example of Kerala, the first and only Indian state to have all government hospitals implement

the practice, said every state and each hospital should work towards “preventing hearing loss and making sure that every child has the distinct life that you and I have got.”

“I want to see in India that every single baby that’s born has a new-born screen test for hearing loss,” said Lee, whose son Preston Charles was five when he fell from the roof of their home in Sydney in 2011, causing him to lose his hearing in the right ear.

“I was playing in the IPL and my son had a fall back in Australia. He landed on his head and suffered a major blow on the right side of his head, his right ear and then his active hearing was impacted. For 8-12 months, there was partial hearing loss in his right ear,” Lee said.

While Preston got his hearing back after nearly a year, the incident made Lee think about parents with kids suffering from hearing loss.

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FOOD

Worth your salt Do you know how much salt you are consuming every day?

Photo and recipe: Hausmann Communications

A

head of World Salt Awareness Week (12 – 18 March), dietitian Susie Burrell is calling on Australians to be aware of how much salt they consume.

The average Australian is consuming 9.6 grams of salt each day, double the World Health Organisation’s maximum daily recommendation of 5 grams.

Reducing our salt intake is easy if you’re aware of what’s in the food you’re eating.

“Australians are consuming worrying levels of salt, but it’s an easy fix if you’re aware of what’s in the food you’re eating.

Swapping to lower salt food options is one of the best ways to make positive changes to your diet, so it’s essential to read the labels of packs and make comparisons between brands,” Susie Burrell says.

Susie suggests learning to read the labels of packs and make comparisons between brands.

Here, Susie puts the spotlight on a common pantry item, wraps.

“Not all wraps are the same, and the market’s leading brand contains high levels of salt,” Susie notes.

A team of researchers from the University of Newcastle undertook an evidence-based analysis of 22 of Australia’s top selling wraps brands and found some of the top sellers, which are often considered healthy options, are packed with salt and contain artificial preservatives.

The study found Helga’s Traditional White and Mixed Grain wraps contain 40% less salt than the market leading wrap and no artificial preservatives.

It’s for this reason Susie is urging people to check and understand food

labels and what they’re consuming: “Wraps that contain around 600mg of sodium per 100g or less are considered to be moderate in salt according to the UK Food Standards Agency. Steer clear of anything over 600mg of sodium per 100g

as that’s considered to be high in salt,” explains Susie.

But lower in salt doesn’t have to mean bland. Here, Susie presents a delicious, lower-salt recipe using Helga’s wraps to try at home.

THAI SALMON CAKES AND SALAD WRAPS > Makes 4 serves INGREDIENTS

METHOD

4 Helga’s Mixed Grain Wraps 1 red chilli, roughly chopped 1 green chilli, roughly chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled 2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, roughly chopped 2 tbsp shredded coconut 500g skinless pin boned fresh salmon, roughly chopped 1 egg white 1 tbsp cornflour 60g green beans, trimmed, thinly sliced 1 cup coriander leaves, chopped Olive oil spray Sweet chilli sauce, lime wedges, to serve

Place chilli, garlic, ginger and coconut in a food processor, process until finely chopped. Add the salmon, pulse until finely chopped. Add the egg white and cornflour, pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in the beans and coriander.

Shape mixture into small cakes (about 2 tablespoons per cake) using wet hands. >> Preheat fan forced oven to 160°C. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat.

Spray both sides of the salmon cakes with oil, cook in batches for 2 minutes on each side until golden, transfer to a baking tray. Bake for 3-5 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and transfer to a tray. >> Combine all the salad ingredients together. Place wraps onto a board. Top with salad and salmon cakes. Drizzle with a little sweet chilli sauce and a squeeze of lime. Roll the wrap to secure the filling.

SALAD 1 carrot, cut into thin strips 2 Lebanese cucumber, cut into thin strips 2 cups shredded cabbage (red or green) 1 cup bean sprouts, trimmed ½ cup Thai basil or mint leaves

NATIONAL EDITION

TEN TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR SALT INTAKE

1. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruit which are naturally low in salt.

2. Cut back on salty packaged or processed foods such as potato chips and other salty snack foods, packet soups and sauces, pies, sausage rolls, sausages, pizzas, and ready-made meals.

3. Check food labels or use the FoodSwitch app to choose lower salt foods. On food labels, look for foods with less than 400mg of sodium per 100g. The best choices are foods with less than 120mg of sodium per 100g.

4. Buy ‘reduced-salt’ breads and breakfast cereals, or check the food label to find the lower salt option.

5. Cut back on processed meats such as bacon, ham, chorizo, and salami.

6. When cooking, limit salty sauces and condiments such as stock, soy and fish sauce, and table salt. Choose lower salt/sodium varieties if available.

7. Use herbs, garlic, and pepper as seasonings as they are naturally low in salt.

8. Take the salt shaker off the table.

9. Eat takeaway meals and foods only occasionally.

10. Follow the Australian Dietary Guidelines. For more info: .eatforhealth.gov.au.

MARCH (1) 2018 37

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MARCH (1) 2018 39

SURROUNDS

Illawarra’s cantilever marvels

Exploring two bridges - one over the sea and the other over treetops

BY EMIE ROY

W

e had heard about the must-visit highlights around Illawarra many a time, and there were no more excuses to not explore them. After all, Illawarra is just above an hour from Sydney, and of course the magical Grand Pacific Drive is truly enticing! In addition to that, there seemed quite a few different locations we could visit within and around the drive.

However, the pick this time was Sea Cliff Bridge, the balanced cantilever bridge in the Northern Illawarra region.

Whilst doing the basic online research before visiting somewhere new, the key words ‘cantilever’ and ‘Illawarra’ brought up a new result - that of a steel walkway with two gently swaying cantilever arms. It’s called the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk. Just another hour from the Sea Cliff Bridge, this sounded like a perfect combo deal.

Following the Princess Highway and M1 to reach Helensburgh through the leafy Royal National Park, we changed directions to get on to Lawrence Hargrave Drive. Before we experienced the actual bridge, we decided to stop over at Bald Hill lookout to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the bridge, and it was totally worth

40 MARCH (1) 2018

it. A glistening seashore lay beneath, transitioning gradually from the azure sky, with the bridge appearing at the edge. A couple of kilometres downhill from the lookout point, there emerged the Sea Cliff Bridge, one of the only seven off-shore parallel-to-coast bridges in the world!

The bridge has two lanes for traffic, a cycleway and a walkway. One could either drive through, or pull over the car and walk up and down the bridge; enjoying the views of the water on one side and cliffs on the other side. A must-do is to look down, and feel the sea right underneath you with its aquamarine waters and the waves that crash on the rocks!

I recollected reading somewhere that the bridge was built after the road had to be closed almost 10 times between 2002 and 2003 - for several days at a stretch on some occasions - due to loose rocks and heavy rain. The bridge opened in December 2005. An 11-year-old school girl, Makenzie Russell, named the bridge, and so aptly too!

An abundance of love padlocks that adorn the bridge symbolise not just the unbreakable love of couples, but the popularity of the bridge as well.

From the bridge, we headed to the gorgeous coastal town of Wollongong, about a half an hour away, for a quick bite. We were back on the road for the second destination - the treetop walk.

What awaited us was a warm temperate rainforest, where inhabited chirping

cicadas, tree ferns, eucalyptus as well as poisonous snakes.

Grabbing a map from the visitor information centre, we embarked on our journey. The walk is just 1.5km return, and you get prepped to get on the treetops, by doing a brief stroll in the moderately dense rainforest. The walk is quite engaging, with interactive information stands and photo frames spread across the pathway. Passing the sight of woody vines, lilli pillies, soft and hard tree ferns and inhaling the heady smell of crushed eucalyptus leaves, we reached the

something that accelerated the swaying of the rails!

It was interesting to note about the soft environmental footprint of this 500-metrelong structure which was built on an existing fire trail in 2007, with only 10 support towers. The 45-metre-high Knights Tower, the tallest point of the walk, can be reached by a spiral staircase. From here, one can see the Illawarra escarpment, along with the coast - chiselled mountain ranges that nestle gentle valleys and a sneak peak of Tasman Sea. For the more adventurous, zipline tours are available on

The Sea Cliff Bridge is one of the only seven off-shore parallel-tocoast bridges in the world cantilever structure. One can climb on the rails from the ground just as you would on a ramp. It is after you gradually walk a fair few steps that you realise the swaying nature of the rails. The swaying movement grows on you as you walk further, and slowly it sinks into your head that you are walking from one treetop to the other! On one side, we could see people mustering up courage to stand still and look down through the gaps between the rails, and on the other side, there were chirpy children who ran on the structure without a worry,

the site too, where you can fly on the cable spans. The treetop walk will cost you $25, whereas the zipline tour will cost $75 per person. You could also do a sunrise tour or after-the-dark zipline tour which provide starkly different experiences.

I guess a comment made by a fellow visitor that we met at Knights Tower sums it up: “$25 is a smallish figure as compared to what we pay for many other means of entertainment. However, this also is the ticket to being a bird, to see life from up above the trees.”

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predictions

MARCH 2018

BY MINAL KHONA 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.

TAROT

ARIES March 21 - April 19

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

CANCER June 21 - July 20

It is time to make a difficult decision regarding a new relationship. Financial transactions are beneficial and practical help will be given if needed.

For those who are single, it is an excellent time to enter into a new relationship. A trip may not work out as planned. Work life improves greatly, and if already in a relationship, it is strengthened - perhaps with the birth of a child. Focus on constructive ideas or partnerships aligned with what you want.

An idea starts to manifest and the space for it to grow is created. You focus on work, success, financial security and a safe environment.

Obstacles in the form of work, logistics or geography cause an impediment in a romance but can be overcome if those involved wish to be together. If disappointed in love, work provides respite. Health needs medical attention. Be honest with yourself at all times. A family member or a beloved pet could pass away.

A Libran influence makes you want to evaluate pros and cons as matters of fair play, justice and getting ahead occupy you. Let go of the past or an unhappy relationship. You will want to mend old relationships that are frazzled, forge new friendships and be more tuned to the feelings of others.

Be cautious while driving. Low-grade infections could bother you. Anxiety about the future and frustrations about work help in giving you an insight into yourself.

Fluctuations and material prosperity are forecast but if matters of the spirit concern you, seek spiritual sustenance to maintain balance. An ex could return, or a chance meeting with them will bring closure. You can change a negative situation to a positive one by redirecting your energies. Postpone making travel plans as rest at home is a better option. Improved health and finances after a period of suffering is indicated. Moderation on all fronts is recommended.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

New beginnings and a creative phase make you more upbeat than usual.

Increased business, social activities and new avenues of fulfilment keep you busy. A part-time relationship is not your cup of tea as you seek more stability and commitment. You might have new ideas for work. Issues in existing relationships get resolved amicably. A positive outlook and new ideas about work bring clarity regarding the future. More money and better public relations are also predicted.

If you have been stuck in a rut, a positive change is indicated. You will want to get out of an oppressive situation or change your line of work due to stress or other issues. Though you might feel restricted, you hold the solution to your current problem in your mind. Be careful, there could be accidents around your home and car from sharp objects, appliances and other drivers. Personal relationships will improve and issues will get resolved. Don’t blame yourself for everything.

Highly charged emotional events related to personal affairs and material wellbeing dominate this month. A chance meeting could lead to financial gain.

Travel plans get postponed and work has ups and downs. Bouts of insomnia due to worries about the future can occur. Enjoy your material luxuries without feeling guilty. You will get the love and fulfilment you seek as there are no mistakes in the universe. Everything works out - differently from what you had envisioned, but work out it will.

You are in a studious, productive and practical frame of mind. If you have issues in your relationship and you deal with them in a responsible manner, it has a future. Home appliances could go on the blink and you might indulge in some retail therapy. Back aches or a problem with the ears or throat could recur. Speak openly and be willing to listen to what is being said. Money is slow but financial gains are predicted soon.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

Matters regarding the future, spiritual growth and looking for a purpose dominate this month for Sagittarians.

Lack of romance can make you feel unfulfilled but you have reason to be hopeful as someone new could enter your life. You could win a lottery or at Bingo or even sell property. People are helpful, and you might look for a new job. Money prospects get better and guidance will be given regarding longterm professional goals. Destiny is your motivator.

Delays, setbacks and disappointments cause exhaustion on all fronts. Enjoy solitude and family gatherings equally, as you feel burnt out at work and these could help you recharge. Money is tight for a brief while. You will succeed through your own efforts, and positive thinking will see you through this trying time. You don’t want to settle for less than a complete relationship. Wait for what you really want, even if it is a dearly beloved ex - he or she just might return

Healing the self and a spiritual awakening is predicted for Aquarians.

You need to change yourself to change your world, and love yourself first if you want others to love you. A personal dilemma gets resolved sooner than expected and for the better. An upsetting incident regarding a pet or a family member could cause upheaval.

Avoid going on a binge of any kind.

Ask the universe for clarity as it is a sensitive time and choose your words carefully.

Reconciliations, reunions and new personal relationships are indicated.

New business ventures too could come your way. Conditions improve - at work and at home - because of a change in your consciousness. In a romantic relationship, you could change your mind if it is at a nascent stage; perhaps the actions of the other person will cause a rift. A short trip is beneficial.

Someone close to you could fall sick. Investments are profitable and setbacks if any, are temporary.

NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH (1) 2018 43

entertainment

cineTALK NO FAIRY TALE ROMANCE THIS

PARI

STARRING: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chatterjee, Rajat Kapoor, Ritabari Chakraborty DIRECTOR: Prosit Roy

HHHHH

A supernatural thriller, Pari is an unusual love story albeit with a good measure of thrills and chills.

Set in Kolkata, Arnab (Parambrata Chatterjee), a Bengali gentleman, is an introvert and hence readily agrees to an arranged match to please his parents. Heading back home after meeting Piyali (Ritabari Chakraborty), his father at the wheel, he accidentally knocks off an elderly woman, who falls in front of their car and dies.

Aiming to help the lady’s daughter Rukhsana (Anushka Sharma) now an orphan, Arnab gives her shelter

44 MARCH (1) 2018

in his home for a few days as she is ostensibly scared of “those men who want to harm her”.

Their unusual bond amidst startling revelations of her identity, forms the crux of the film.

The first half of the film has you on the edge of your seats, as there are jump scares galore, some well-timed, others deliberate and uncalled for.

The horror elements - gore and gloom, torrential rain, evil spirits, accentuated by sound design - end up seeming a trifle inane and ludicrous, as these are grossly overdone.

The pace of the narrative however drags before half time, leaving you unsettled and bored as the core of the film till then appears confusing and unclear.

The second half picks up and you discover there is a full-fledged story

after all, albeit poorly told. And that is the undoing of the film. The manner in which the narrative propels forward, is a let-down.

The story, although fiction, is heartwarming and touches your heart, but fails to engage you, as it unfolds after a long and convoluted run, making for tiresome viewing.

Director Prosit Roy sadly does not let the film rise beyond the initial horror elements and fails to focus on storytelling.

On the performance front, Anushka Sharma as Rukhsana, delivers a strong and unconventional performance, as the vile, feral, yet, loving and vulnerable girl. You empathise with her instantly.

The range of emotions she displays are astutely handled by her.

Parambrata Chatterjee as the quintessential introvert, essays

his character with ease, delivering a restrained performance. His demeanour and dialogue delivery are in synch with his character from word go.

Rajat Kapoor as the Professor with a damaged eye, espousing the cause of a movement, is effective, but not necessarily outstanding.

Ritabari Chakraborty as Piyali, has a pleasant on-screen presence and appears effortless.

The background score heightens the viewing experience as it resonates with the setting of the film.

The production values are decent and conform to the genre of the film.

Overall, this film with a promising story had a lot of potential, but it is the weak writing that becomes its Waterloo.

Troy Ribeiro

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LOSERS HAVE FUN IN NEW YORK

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

STARRING: Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Johar, Boman Irani, Lara Dutta, Ritesh Deshmukh DIRECTOR: Chakri Toleti

HHHHH

NATIONAL EDITION

First things first. This is not a proper feature film but more of a promotional pitch for the IFFA awards. The main thrust of the narrative - if we may call it that - is to spotlight the awards through a fictional plot about two losers who get a chance to go on stage.

The initial sparring between Diljit Dosanjh and Sonakshi Sinha as they descend from their home town into the sophisticated bustle of NY, is steeped in an acid tongue.

Writer Dhiraj Rattan and director Chakri Toleti have a thankless job of weaving a story around the staged event. And to that extent, they do a competent job of threading the off-stage manoeuvrings at New York into the antics of the wannabe star from Punjab and the dress designer from Gujarat.

Diljit Dosanjh plays his Punjabibumpkin card with an infectious gusto. He is the life and breath of the proceedings, injecting every scene, no matter how mundanely written, with an effusive warmth.

Welcome To New York revels in corny contrivances. Lara Dutta looking smoking hot in her colourful businesses dresses, plays the villain with relish. Her scenes with Boman Irani, who plays the IFFA organiser, could have been more elaborately written.

It’s Karan Johar’s double act as Karan and Arjun which brings the house down. As Karan, he plays himself. Camp and fashion conscious sneering at everyone around

for their lack of familiarity with high-end snobbery. The other part of a vengeful mobster is played with a tongue-in-cheek solemnity that dares us to laugh.

By the time the thin plot closes in on its ersatz climax, the narrative is a messy game of mistaken identities, with the two Karan Johars huffing and puffing, bringing the house down. Truth be told, a lot of the writing here is purely puerile, meant to prop up the comings and goings of stars at the IFFA. The stars glide across the film’s skyline with the intention of providing star value.

Some of the cameos, like the one featuring Aditya Roy Kapoor, are cute.

Others, like Salman Khan’s half-baked interpolatory hurrah, just seems to be thrust into the glamour-driven event-oriented plot for the sake of conmpensating for the absence of true inspiration.

This film is fun as long as Dosanjh and Johar get to innovate and explore the ‘dork’ side of comedy about two losers who come together to prove that two can do it better than one.

I wish the screenplay were better written.

And that the narrative didn’t try so hard to convince us that the film has not been made to justify the presence of the entire Bollywood fraternity under one roof.

Subhash K. Jha

MARCH (1) 2018 45

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JANHVI KAPOOR

HOLLYWOOD HONOURS SRIDEVI, SHASHI KAPOOR AT OSCARS 2018

A QUEEN BOWS OUT

E

ven days after the news of Sridevi’s death, I am still coming to terms with the fact that the cinematic icon who I grew up adoring, is no more.

I have replayed in my mind the times spent with my sister dissecting every Sridevi act after each of her movies. The spontaneity, the impeccable acting, the ultimate dance moves, the comedic turns. Those eyes spoke volumes, the mischief in her smile could make anyone’s heart skip a beat, and her very presence onscreen could give any male superstar a run for his money. In a male dominated industry she held her own, at times taking home a bigger pay packet. Yes, she was the first ever ‘female superstar’ of Hindi cinema.

Of course we also spoke of Jaya Prada along with Sridevi: two contemporary competing forces during their prime, both beautiful, powerhouse performers and great dancers. In their famed rivalry, the two really pushed each other to become better at their craft. But what made Sridevi stand apart was her versatility, especially when it came to her mastery over comic timing and even action. From playing a retrograde amnesiac in Sadma, to a contrasting double role of a coy vs a happy-go-lucky girl in Chaalbaaz, to getting into the skin of a ‘nagin’ in the insanely popular snake-woman film Nagina, to the ultimate romantic in films like Chandni and Lamhe, Sridevi nailed every character with her ‘range’ of acting prowess.

Fiercely private in her real life - and a known introvert often called an interviewer’s nightmare – it is inexplicable how she flowered in front of the camera, bringing every role to life in a seemingly effortless fashion. As an entertainment journalist back in Mumbai, I still remember, what an uphill task it was to get a Sridevi byte, let alone an interview.

Starting at the tender age of four, Sridevi got to rule the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada film industries both as a child artist and as a lead actor.

Her foray into Hindi films kickstarted with the 1979 film Solva Sawan but what catapulted her to instant fame in the north was the 1983 film Himmatwala and its kitschy song-n-dance number Naino mein sapna, sapno mein sajna. Her body of work kept expanding and so did the diversity in the choice of characters that she took on. Here was yet another star from the south, destined to rule the Hindi film industry after the likes of Rekha and Hema Malini.

The other ‘range’ in Sridevi’s acting career was the generations of heroes she was paired opposite: Kamal Hassan, Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, to Salman and Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar right up to Adil Hussain, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna.

With her 2012 comeback film English Vinglish, Sridevi proved yet again that she was born to act.

The last we saw her on screen was in Mom (2017). And the last we will see of Sridevi will be as herself in SRK’s forthcoming Zero, directed by Aanand L. Rai. Summing up the enigma that was Sridevi?

Na jaane kahaan se aayi hai, na jaane kahaan ko jaayegi? Deewana kise baanayegi ye ladki?

We know the answer to that last question: an entire nation that will never cease to love her.

PRIYANKA TATER, Indian Link Radio

46 MARCH (1) 2018

The passing away of one of India’s most iconic stars still feels surreal.

After all, it happened just a few days ago. But it’s heartening to know that Sridevi was loved not just by Indians, but fans the world over, especially in Hollywood.

At the 90th Academy Awards on 5 March, Sridevi, along with veteran actor Shashi Kapoor, received a musical tribute by Eddie Vedder who took the stage to sing Tom Petty’s Room at the top.

Kapoor, who was one of the first few Indian actors to put Indian cinema on the world map, passed away in December 2017. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan - the third highest civilian honour - by the Indian government in 2011.

Sridevi, who died on 24 February in Dubai, is touted as India’s first female superstar by many. The actress, although a complete recluse off the camera, transformed into a bubbly, talented and awe-inducing performer in front of it.

Both actors were included in the annual montage along with stars such as John Heard, Toni-Ann Walker, June Foray, Robert Osborne, Martin Landau, Glenne Headly, Roger Moore, George A. Romero and Jerry Lewis.

JANHVI TURNS 21

Janhvi Kapoor, the elder daughter of veteran actress Sridevi whose sudden demise in Dubai last month left her family and fans in shock and disbelief, turned 21 on 6 March.

It was perhaps her cousin Sonam Kapoor who said it best while sending birthday greetings.

“To one of the strongest girls I know, who became a woman today. Happy birthday, Jannu,” Sonam said on social media, captioning a smiling image of Janhvi.

Janhvi and her sister Khushi impressed all with their grace and dignity as they stood by their dad during Sridevi’s funeral and the days following.

Janhvi’s own note on her birthday, about a “gnawing hollowness” within her, revealed more of that strength and dignity.

“On my birthday, the only thing I ask of all of you is that you love your parents. Cherish them and devote yourself to making them feel that love. They have made you. And I ask that you remember my mother fondly, pray for her soul to rest in peace,” she wrote.

“Every morning, all that I would do

was (wake up) with the hope that one day you’d be as proud of me as I was of you. But I promise I’ll wake up every day with the same thought. Because you’re here and I can feel you.”

Janhvi is slated to make her Bollywood debut with Dhadak, produced by Karan Johar. It is a launch pad Sridevi was most excited about.

The late actress had stated more than once that she was confident that her daughter is ready to take on the challenges that the industry will throw at her.

As fate would have it, Sridevi won’t be

by Janhvi’s side when Dhadak releases in July, but an entire nation of Sri fans will surely be there, cheering Janhvi on.

SUNNY TURNS MUMMY… AGAIN

That’s right, folks. Former adult film star turned Bollywood babe Sunny Leone is a mum again. The 36-year-old actor and husband Daniel Weber, who had adopted Nisha in July, are now parents to twin baby boys, Noah and Asher.

Leone shared the news with her fans on Twitter along with an adorable picture of the entire family with Sunny and Daniel holding each holding a baby boy, and Nisha grinning from ear to ear.

She captioned it, “God’s plan! June 21st, 2017 was the day Daniel and I found out that we might possibly be having three children within a short amount of time. We planned and tried to have a family and after so many years are family is now complete with Asher Singh Weber, Noah Singh Weber and Nisha Kaur Weber. Our boys were born a few weeks ago but were alive in our hearts and eyes for many years.

God planned something so special for us and gave us a large family. We are both proud parents of three beautiful children. Surprise everyone.”

No one knows at this time if the babies are adopted or born via surrogacy because the couple hasn’t spilled that secret. But, who cares?

Right now, all we are doing is going nuts over this aww-dorable family portrait. Aren’t you?

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SUNNY LEONE

I’D WORRY IF MY FILM DIDN’T GET AN A CERTIFICATE: VISHAL PANDYA

If you remember the Hate Story franchise and were lucky (or unlucky!) enough to watch it, then you would also know that you’d better put the kids to bed for the latest installment on the block, Hate Story 4.

The films are a racy mix of thriller, erotica and revenge, definitely not meant for underage audiences.

Director Vishal Pandya says that his new film is clearly meant for adult audiences, and has received an ‘A’ rating by the Censor Board.

Pandya said in a statement, “The theme of the film is based on multiple issues faced by women and how it has built the emotion of hate in them and thus, their revenge. I would be worried if the censor board gave my film franchise a ‘U/A’ certificate.”

With the way the Censor Board has been handing out merciless cuts, it’s a wonder Pandya’s film has even got the certificate, eh?

I LOVE YOU, SAYS BABA SEHGAL TO KATY PERRY

He is one of India’s most loved rappers (even if he doesn’t really command the spotlight anymore), but Baba Sehgal is out to make news again, this time with Katy Perry.

The inimitable rapper-composer has hinted that he’s working on writing a pop track on American singer Katy Perry. Sehgal tweeted a photograph of himself, which also featured a blonde model.

“I love you Katy Perry. Very very very. Main Punjabi tu angreji. Mera dil very crajy crajy. I love you Katy Perry coming soon,” he captioned the image.

Looks like Sehgal needs to drink some thanda, thanda paani, and calm down.

Of course, it’s not just Sehgal who’s going ga-ga over global celebrities.

Singer Diljit Dosanjh had jumped on the bandwagon some time ago, when he composed the song Do you know for reality TV star Kylie Jenner.

ARE YOU ALL SET TO GO MENTAL WITH KANGY?

She’s unpredictable, ballsy and her devil-may-care attitude reflects in her work - and we love Kangana Ranaut for that. And if the first look of her latest film with Rajkummar Rao called Mental Hai Kya is any indication, you’re in for a fun ride.

After their runaway 2014 success Queen, the two have paired up for Ekta Kapoor’s new venture and the first look is causing quite a stir among

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NATIONAL EDITION

fans. While Rao is seen flipping the bird (a gesture we’re sure will ruffle some feathers down at the Censor Board), Ranaut is seen making a crazy face.

Rao tweeted about the film, “Crazy is the new normal.” And Balaji Motion pictures described the film as “…time to bring out the crazy in you... because sanity is overrated.”

We already know the talent powerhouse that Rao is, but let’s be honest here: we can’t wait to see what Ranaut has up her sleeve with this film. The actor has an uncanny ability to slip into any character - be it the heartwarming and laughable Rani in Queen or the ambitious and arrogant Shonali in Fashion (2008). And we’re sure she will leave the audiences spellbound with Mental Hai Kya too.

What’s the chit-chat here between KAREENA and KARISMA KAPOOR? Send your response to: media@indianlink.com.au TO WIN A MOVIE TICKET!!

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST

WHAT RARE DISEASE IS IRRFAN SUFFERING FROM?

Actor Irrfan Khan has revealed that he’s suffering from a rare disease - but hasn’t given out any more details.

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj had announced recently that he was pushing back his film, starring Deepika Padukone and Irrfan. “Both my lead actors are down with different health problems. Irrfan is down with jaundice,” he had said.

But since when did jaundice become a rare disease? Looks like something much more sinister is up with the actor. And a tweet from him definitely points in that direction. “Sometimes you wake up with a jolt with life shaking you up. The last 15 days, my life has been a suspense story. Little had I known that my search for rare stories would make me find a rare disease.”

“I have never given up and have always fought for my choices and always will. My family and friends are with me and we are working it out the best way possible. In trying times, please don’t speculate as I will myself share with you my story within a week - 10 days, when further investigations come with a conclusive diagnosis. Till then, wish the best for me,” he added.

We hope the actor recovers soon, our best wishes are with you, Irrfan!

We have cancelled last time’s caption contest, featuring this picture of SRIDEVI with her daughter JANHVI, as a mark of respect to the departed actor

MARCH (1) 2018 47

BACKCHAT

Secrets of the gender pay gap Does Wonder Woman get paid as much as Thor? NURY VITTACHI delves into it

T

his columnist, who is also a writer of books, was at a school as a Visiting Author when one of the children asked a question: “How much does Thor get paid?”

“Good question,” I said. “Superhero salaries are never revealed. However, they seem to do just fine. Definitely they get paid more than authors or teachers!” (Always good to get the academic staff on side.)

Then a teenage girl’s hand shot up. “I bet Thor and Iron Man get paid more than Wonder Woman,” she snarled.

“Yeah,” the other girls growled - and so did the teachers. The atmosphere turned to ice. Teaching staff (all female except two) nodded sternly at this timely reminder of evil gender inequality.

“In superhero land, boys and girls get paid exactly the same,” I said, trying to dodge the bullet.

What I was thinking (but didn’t say) was this. Many male superheroes clearly have massive incomes (think Iron Man, Batman, Black Panther, Mr Fantastic, Nighthawk, Professor X, Green Arrow, etc). But Wonder Woman, if memory serves me, was a nurse! Probably earned peanuts!

Why was everyone in a bad mood about this? The previous month, a news report said that in the creative industries generally, male stars get paid more than female stars. Earlier that week, a study of the BBC showed that women presenters earned significantly less than men.

The internet was filled with outrage at what they saw as horrendous sex discrimination, as were the three women in this columnist’s family.

Here’s something else I didn’t say.

This writer has spent years in the creative industries (including working for the BBC), and knows full well that financial chiefs of these organisations are heartless automatons who see nothing but bottom

lines. They honestly don’t care if you are male, female, transgender, hermaphrodite or a googly-eyed alien from the planet Zorg.

So while it’s true that discrimination exists, that’s not the whole story.

Academic studies repeatedly show that women at certain stages earn less money by choice, because they have a superior attitude to work-life balance. Guys sign up for every promotion and burn out into early graves, while women make smart compromises and live happier, longer, healthier lives.

Researchers call this the “self-selected pay gap.” Journalists never write about this because outrage sells more newspapers and gets more clicks.

The gap between male and female pay at the BBC is much smaller than the UK average, indicating the organisation is unusually successful at finding ways to steer money into the hands of female staff.

After my school talk, I was signing books when I was approached by a nerdy boy who was a fount of knowledge about superheroes.

“Wonder Woman is a nurse,” he said.

I was about to tell him to shut up for his personal safety (female teachers were hovering nearby), when he added something that got me thinking, “She’s an army nurse with the rank of Major.”

Interesting. There is no gender pay gap in the military, and US army Majors earn a fortune, more than $100,000 a year.

Thor, being a minor Norse god, probably doesn’t get paid anything at all.

Oh well, Wonder Woman seems like a nice person - she can buy Thor a drink.

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My sister has a promising future Aditi’s family wanted to know the Navy was a smart career choice.

Now Aditi’s joined they’ve discovered her Navy engineering education and training is also recognised by many industries outside of the Australian Defence Force.

But that wasn’t the only thing they found out. In fact, the Navy is supportive of all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.

TS0465P - Dee_360x250_v1.indd 1

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Aditi works in one of many diverse roles, with great career advancement opportunities, offering her a rewarding career as a Marine Engineer Officer that makes her family proud.

Find out for yourself. Watch Aditi and Priya’s full story. defencejobs.gov.au/family

6/2/18 4:46 pm

MARCH (1) 2018 49

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