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Two of the most high-pressure jobs in Australia have been said to be that of the Prime Minister of the country and that of national cricket captain. Come to think of it, that is probably true for India too.
Indian
So, when one of them is exposed to have lied on the job, over time, people begin to take that for granted. And here, I am referring to the politician holding the highest office. In Australia, in modern day politics, it started with John Howard when he imposed a new tax on superannuation and called it a surcharge.
become more cynical, and the trust in what they say and do is at an all-time low. The politicians themselves don’t seem to be helping; they are pandering to the demands of a 24-hour media cycle rather than finding and implementing long-term solutions to problems, however unpalatable it might be to the public in the short term.
The loss of faith is so acute that even when President Trump does what he promises, no matter how impractical and abhorrent those actions, our belief in politics wanes further.
And then there’s the clergy, which is beleaguered with allegations of child sex abuse and cover up. And let’s not forget the financial institutions such as the major banks that are facing a Royal Commission following revelations of management exploiting customers to reach their goals.
the athletes come from any of the former Eastern Bloc countries. Codes such as AFL have struggled to shake off the tags of racism, and rugby league of player misbehaviour.
However, for a long time, Australian cricket has largely been free of such issues. Sure, there have been issues of sledging and mind games against visiting teams, but these have been put down to the tough sporting culture in this nation.
A team that withstood the onslaught of the bodyline attack and gained a reputation of fighting when their backs are against the wall, won the respect of all.
Smart branding such as the revival of the baggy greens under former captain Steve Waugh further added to the folklore of the team. Even management positioned the emerging shorter format of the game, the Big Bash League, as family friendly.
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Later, when Prime Minister Julia Gillard broke her pre-election promise of no carbon tax to propose a tax on carbon emissions, the public went up in arms, largely egged on by the then opposition leader Tony Abbott.
With time, in the last 12 years, people’s attitude about politicians and politics has
The sad truth is that one has got used to these misdemeanours. Indeed, it wouldn’t be wholly incorrect to say that we have become anaesthetised to these issues.
Even sporting codes have had their problems with winning the public’s confidence. Doping scandals are aplenty, and public distrust shoots through the roof if
But it all came crashing down when the country’s cricketing heroes openly admitted to cheating to win a game. The outcry has been huge and the fallout is still ongoing. An icon of trust has been shattered, it may be rebuilt again but how long that will take, only time will tell. For now, all we can do is wait and watch.
SAGAR MEHROTRA asked on Indian Link Radio: Have you forgiven Steve Smith in your books?
Ashok Pillai wrote: I strongly think that Smith and Warner will appeal against the sentence and it will be shortened. My guess is that Smith will return in less than 6 months even though the captaincy ban of 2 years will remain intact
Rachit Mehta wrote: Whatever u do on- eld/off- eld should be within the laws of cricket.
Sonali Shah Thakkar wrote: Galti ki hai toh bhugatni padegi (Do the crime, do the time). Their lives might not be the same again. They might be good men but they have to pay for the “lapse of judgement”. They are role models for many and having no penalty to face would have set a precedent that it’s ok to cheat. We all want to teach our kids to be honest and they need to teach the same. The public won’t spare anyone who does anything wrong and that’s what you have to contend with in the senior positions. Yes, their ‘crime’ may not be as severe as match- xing but cheating to win, done in all good intentions, is not acceptable. Azharuddin and Hanse Cronje were both great players and excellent captains but aaj bhi jab unka naam aata hai (today when their names are uttered) the rst thing we think of, is matchxers.
Ajay Punj wrote: This is not new. Sledging etc has gone on for long in the name of mind games. They have shamed themselves, their country and the game of cricket. Test cricket is played these days in such a way that you have to win at any cost, fair or unfair. Was the public meltdown coached by the handlers/media advisors? Poor Bancroft, I feel for him. He did as instructed by his seniors. But what he did was unpardonable.
Shivdev Kler wrote: High praise for this young cricketer. We are all human, we all make mistakes. Smith deserves our forgiveness. Sagar Mehrotra concluded: This incident is not going to fade away from our memory that easy, as you mentioned with the example of Azhar or Sreesanth or Cronje. I say this is just the tip of the iceberg: the culture that Australian cricket nurtures is far from fair go.
Writer Roanna Gonsalves has been shortlisted in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for 2018 for her book The Permanent Resident. Pearl Fernandes wrote: Congratulations Roanna Gonsalves!
Amazing!
Rajni Luthra wrote: Woohoo Roanna! Roanna Gonsalves wrote: Thank you for your generous words, dear Indian Link
Do you think the punishment meted out to Steve Smith and David Warner is too harsh?
No (58%)
Yes (42%)
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 @anonymouspumpkin: When a thoughtful headline stops me in my tracks
On the treadmill, thought I’d watch #SAvsAus. Watched two overs. Switched to Arsenal vs Stoke Harsha Bhogle, Indian cricket commentator
The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 are just around the corner (from April 4-15), and team India is all set to make its way Down Under. Here’s a quick lowdown on some of the players of the 325-member contingent from India. While athletics and shooting have the most number of participants (31 and 27, respectively), weightlifting has 16 and wrestling has 12 players.
Star shuttler PV Sindhu who has skyrocketed in popularity all thanks to her spectacular feats in the recent times, will be the official flagbearer of the Indian contingent this year. Back in 2014, pistol shooter Vijay Kumar had the honour. Sindhu, an Olympic silver medallist at Rio in 2016, also won a bronze in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Currently, the badminton player is at
World Number 3, and is a top contender, especially as top competitors Japan and China aren’t a part of the Games.
Vinesh Phogat comes from a family of winners. The daughter of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat’s (on whose life the Aamir Khan starrer Dangal is based) brother Rajpal, and cousin of international medalists Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, Vinesh is no stranger to the Commonwealth Games. The 23-year-old, who represented India in the women’s freestyle 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, won the gold medal.
She has also made her mark in numerous other championships, such as the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships (bronze), 2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships (silver), 2014 Asian Games (bronze) and the 2015 Asian
Championships in Doha (silver). In 2017, Phogat claimed gold at the National Wrestling Championships.
Her fans in India have high hopes from Phogat, hoping she can recreate the magic of the 2014 Games in Australia this year.
To call Manavjit Singh Sandhu a Commonwealth Games veteran would be an understatement. The 41-year-old has since 1998 proven time and again a boon for the Indian contingent. A former World Number 1 in trap shooting, Sandhu has won three Olympic medals, three team golds and two individual golds at past Commonwealth Games from 1998 to 2014.
It’s this winning streak at the past Games that made it sailing into the Gold Coast team a breeze for the shooter. In a nutshell, he’s worth his weight in gold.
Another sportsperson to make his debut at the CWG this year is 20-year-old Neeraj Chopra. The javelin thrower from Haryana is a top contender for gold – and for good reason.
Chopra first made waves when he won the gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championship in Poland in 2016. Not only did he win the top prize, he also, for the very first time for India, broke the world record with an impressive feat of 86.48m throw. It’s no wonder that his former coach Gary Calvert calls him a “once-in-a-generation-talent”.
Recently, Chopra officially made the cut in his sixth attempt at the Federations Cup Championship in Patiala where he managed 85.94m. If he can stick to his target of throwing consistently over the 85m mark, there’s a bright chance for him to win a medal for India.
This 25-year-old table tennis player is in the spotlight for his spectacular rise as one of India’s finest. Gnansekaran shot to fame in 2017 when he scooped up medals at the International Table Tennis Federation. In fact, he’s only the second Indian paddler to win a singles event in 2016, defeating local player Nuytinck Cedric 4-0 in the Belgium Open. He also won gold in the ITTF ChallengeSpanish Open in 2017 in the men’s singles category.
India has hopes pinned on this year’s table tennis team, especially since the top players of the sport from China and Europe won’t be taking part in this year’s CWG.
Gnansekaran is world number 49 at the moment and this will be his first Commonwealth Games.
followed it up with two golds in the 2016 Nationals, eight in 2017 Nationals and then one in the Asian Airgun Championships in Japan.
Interestingly, Mehuli ended up sliding into depression a few years ago following her suspension when one of her pellets hit a spectator at a shooting academy in Kolkata. Now, however, the girl who counts four-time CWG gold medallist Abhinav Bindra as her inspiration, has come a long way and definitely worth keeping an eye on.
He’s only 17 years old, but Bengaluru’s Srihari Nataraj is already making waves, pun intended. This young gun, who counts Michael Phelps as one of his biggest influences, won his first medal at the National Swimming Championship in 2010
Seasoned shooter Jitu Rai has put the setback of the Rio Olympics in 2016 behind him and is confident of a podium finish. The Nepal-born shooter, who was a 50m pistol gold medallist at the 2014 Glasgow CWG, says he’s been working on his mental and physical strength conditioning for the Games and is very happy with his preparation. The shooter recently said he was disappointed by news that the 2022 CWG may drop the sport but said that India shouldn’t boycott them.
The 36-year-old boxing champ from India is a special point of interest –wondering why? Although she has trailblazed her path into the world of boxing championships with numerous accolades – like her five wins at World Championships and an Olympic bronze medal – there’s one that has been out of her reach: a Commonwealth Games medal.
Teen shooting sensation Mehuli Ghosh, fresh from bagging two bronze medals at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, has now set her eyes on breaking a senior world record by the end of 2018. The shooter first made her mark at the West Bengal state junior championship with two silver medals in 2014 and
after which there was no turning back. His claim to fame moment came at the Senior Nationals in 2017 after winning all three backstroke events – 50m, 100m and 200m – in each of which he created a record. More recently in February, the swimmer bagged six golds and a silver at the Khelo India School Games. With great performances to his credit, Nataraj is one to watch.
Women’s boxing was included in CWG only in 2014 and unfortunately Kom didn’t qualify for the event back then. But the boxer isn’t giving up, not yet. Her return to the sport in 2017 when she won her sixth medal at the Asian Boxing Championships in Vietnam is proof that she’s a master of the game and could very well be counted upon to bring back a medal or two.
How can we talk about Indian sports and the Commonwealth Games and not mention hockey?
Although the Indian men’s hockey team has never won a gold medal at the Games, one can always hope. The team came home with silver during the 2010 and 2014 Games in New Delhi and Glasgow, respectively. Give their fifth position at the Azlan Shah tournament, hopes are running high.
The women’s hockey team bagged a gold at their debut in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, and then a silver at the 2006 Games in Melbourne. After winning their recent five-match series in South Korea, the team’s confident of making a mark in the 2018 Games as well. The recent changes in both teams in terms of strategy (more attack, less defence) promise to improve their game considerably.
Star shuttler PV Sindhu who has skyrocketed in popularity all thanks to her spectacular feats in the recent times, will be the official flagbearer of the Indian contingent this yearMehuli Ghosh Srihari Nataraj MC Mary Kom Womens Hockey Mens Hockey Jitu Rai
There’s only one major preoccupation in Rupinder Kaur’s life these days. Training.
Only days out from the big event, she’s currently training three times a day every day.
The 33-year-old is part of the Australian wrestling team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast.
“I’ve been working with the national coach as well as my personal coach in recent months,” Rupinder told Indian Link “I’m giving it my all.”
Looking forward to her second Commonwealth Games, Rupider admitted she feels stronger now than she did at Glasgow in 2014. She credits this to her young Russian-origin coach Kostya Ermakovich, himself a seasoned international competitor.
Rupinder will take the floor in the 50kg category, alongside an old friend from India, Vinesh Phogat, who was made famous by a certain Bollywood hit film not so long ago.
Does she see Vinesh as a major competitor?
“We’ll see on the day, won’t we!” she laughed. “There’s also Jessica MacDonald from Canada and another strong Nigerian
player in my category!”
But she is enjoying catching up with other friends from India’s boxing world Babita Phogat, Mary Kom and Sakshi Malik in various camps in the lead up to the Games. Her closest friend Navjyot Kaur, who represented India at Glasgow, will however, not be there this time round.
Glasgow is a memory that Rupinder has put squarely behind her. As someone who had always played in the 48 kg division, she was shocked when she weighed in at just over 49 kg before her selection. The gain in weight meant that she would be placed at the next level, the 53 kg division. With but a week to go, Rupinder worked hard to lose the extra kilo, but ultimately weighed in at 48.2 kg. She ended up competing in the 53 kg division.
“I’ve been a steady 50 kg for some time now,” Rupinder revealed. “I’ve had a baby since Glasgow – who is now two. I weighed 70 kg after she was born and have worked my way down steadily.”
We are not surprised, especially after seeing her do her squats and HIRTS. She may be petite, but she is strong!
As a vegetarian, she is packing those proteins in with some hearty Punjabi meals.
Yes, she remains a simple Punjabi girl even after more than a decade in Australia.
She came here as a hospitality student from Tarn Taran in Punjab - where she felt shy to put on her first wrestling costume at school.
“I did not know a thing about wrestling in Australia, but I was hell bent on finding out”.
It was at a local Diwali function that a family member introduced her to Kuldip Singh Bassi, founder and president of the United Wrestling Club in Melbourne. Rupinder was back on the mat in no time. Before long, she was winning championships such as the Australia Cup.
To compete at the international level though, she had to wait for her citizenship to come through.
She won the bronze at the Commonwealth Championships at South Africa recently.
Rupinder started her fight career in judo as a Year 6 student. In Year 12 she was asked to give wrestling a try.
“Yes I felt a bit shy to put the costume on – with judo there had been no costume issues! Mum was concerned about injuries. But Dad told us both to stop being silly! As an army man he wanted his children to try as many new experiences as possible. My first performance came good, and I have never looked back”.
Kuldip Bassi, who also helped bring out Kostya Ermakovich from Uzbekistan in 2003, has been in constant touch with his ‘protégé’.
“I see a much stronger and more dedicated Rupinder these days,” he told Indian Link. “The training has been methodical and of a high standard, and she is much more determined herself.”
The hardest part about the training, she revealed, has been long periods away from her daughter. “We packed her off to India for 6 months to be with my mum. Mum has brought her back now and will be with us
for a while. My husband Sikander is very good with the bub too and helps out a lot.”
As well, she admitted, the lack of a local sponsor has been worrisome.
“My team mates all have sponsors; some have three. It goes a long way considering we spend all day training. At the moment my husband supports me, but I wish my call out for a sponsor would be heard.”
There are many in our own community who sponsor events and shows and it would be nice to see some support from them, she added.
A medal at Gold Coast would also go a long way for the sport in this country.
“Wrestling ka status high level ka nahin hai (wrestling does not have high status),” she lamented. “Most wrestlers have moved in from Mixed Martial Arts or jujitsu, and there are just not enough girls, sadly. The team for Gold Coast has only 8 wrestlers, 5 males and 3 females.”
Rupinder follows fellow-Melbournian Sandeep Kumar, another Indian-origin wrestler, who represented Australia at the Beijing Olympics. Vinod Kumar, another Indian-origin wrestler was dropped from the Rio Olympics team after a failed drug test.
Days before Glasgow, we had asked Rupinder if she knew the words to the Aussie national anthem. You know, just in case.
“Bilkul aata hai jee,” she had come back then. This time round, she informs us that she’s been singing it frequently, together with her team mates.
Here’s hoping she gets to sing it a few times at Gold Coast.
The first thing that springs to mind is the colours that greet you –purples, reds, yellows and blues. And then it occurs to you, ‘But of course!’ Australians love a great splash of hues (and let’s face it, so do Indians) so why should this be any different?
From April 4-15, as part of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018, some 6,500 athletes will call the Games Village home. In fact, with the facilities at their fingertips, getting them to leave the Village may well be a challenge! We decided to take a look ourselves and bring you a little peek of the place where some of our most talented sportspersons are going to live for two weeks.
There are three zones in the Village: Operational, Residential and International. It is quite obvious that careful thought has gone into incorporating natural elements of water, wind, sun and shade into the construction within the zones.
The Operational zone houses a comprehensive, airport-like security system that athletes will be required to
clear. Special holding areas for team managers to check in and receive passes ensure that athletes focus on what they do best: sporting.
Once you’ve cleared security, make your way up to the residential zone. Named by Griffith University students, the residential zone is further divided by iconic Queensland features: Beach, Outback, Rainforest, Reef, Sunset and Surf. Mind you, it’s easy to lose your way in the labyrinth, but the designers and architects involved in creation of this masterpiece have used cartoon-like graffiti to indicate pathways to the different residential zones.
The 3,300 rooms are comfortable with two single beds and basic amenities. The residential areas boast of games-first cooling residential pools and state-ofthe-art digital spaces. At the heart of the zone, an artwork that reflects Gold Coast’s hinterland waterfalls and natural rock formations spans a water fountain instalment, it’s quite the spectacle.
Close by, the seven-hectare green area features enough space to hold concerts and live stage entertainment. Recreational options are aplenty, with dedicated rooms such as the Games Room that’s filled with arcade and video games, Village Gym that is upkept by professional staff, and the Athlete Recovery area that provides massages and consults from Sports Medics.
There’s also a dental van, doping test area and a poly-clinic that provides regular and emergency support 24 hours a day.
This year the Games are also hosting the largest ever population of para athletes for the para-sport programme, so the entirety of the zone is fully accessible with specific prosthetic services as well.
Athletes will move around the Village in a fleet of shuttles and Games-branded cars as well as via the Gold Coast light rail network (G:link) station right across the road.
The last stop is the international zone, where players can mingle with friends and family and kick up their heels after a long day on the field. They can also enjoy events together, shop or visit the salon if they like. The zone also has multi-faith rooms, with one featuring artwork that represents the One Million Stars campaign to end violence.
Daytime cafes will convert to bars at night to keep the party going till the wee hours and promote camaraderie within and between teams. The main dining area has catering options to suit every taste, including a special section dedicated to Indian food!
Every requirement is taken care of by the 300-odd chefs, including dietary, religious and medical, among others. On the way out, you also pass by dedicated country-specific rooms, with Australia’s room getting a front seat to the house! Those green and yellow colours are unmissable, to say nothing of the cute koala sticker to indicate authenticity. These spaces together will see every sportsperson, regardless of sport, come together and unite through patriotism.
Each player also gets to take home a canvas uniquely designed by a Griffith University student and a Commonwealth Games Branded Quilt with an indigenous design.
The Village now hosts Australia’s first 6-star green rated building. With over 1,06,423 trees planted on site; the area is a breath of fresh air, quite literally.
The accessibility decision was a purposeful effort, not only to the 300 para athletes that visit but also to their families, by including accessible sinks in kitchens and hearing loop systems in major meeting rooms.
With so many meals prepared in a day it was imperative to have a comprehensive waste management plan including industry leading waste streams to maximise recycling and avoid landfills.
The Parklands redevelopment where the village now stands has 1,170 apartments that after the Games will become homes, many of which will likely be for Gold Coast Private Hospital staff and Griffith University students. The hub of retail and commercial space is likely to expand and integrate into what Queensland calls Gold Coast Knowledge and Health Precinct. All these units are available for purchase and rent soon after.
Last word: the one-hour tour was simply not enough to see all the amazing things the Games Village has to offer! One thing is for sure: we’re in for one hell of a time with this event. And if you haven’t already booked your tickets, now’s the time.
Cooling pools, cafes that turn into bars by night, arcade games and more… here’s a quick peek inside the Commonwealth Games Village
The Village now hosts Australia’s first 6-star green rated building. With over 1,06,423 trees planted on site; the area is a breath of fresh air, quite literally
The First Home Super Saver Scheme helps you save faster through voluntary super contributions. You can now take advantage of generous tax concessions and contribute up to $15,000 in any one financial year, and up to $30,000 in total.
We’ve committed $1 billion to accelerate the supply of new housing and ensuring underutilised Commonwealth land is put to better use, including land that is suitable for new homes.
If you are 65 and over and want to sell your current home, you can now put up to $300,000 from the sale, per person, into your super account. This offers greater flexibility and extra tax advantages to older Australians.
For a three-day community event, the numbers are pretty impressive. Thirteen sports including athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, golf, hockey, kabaddi, netball, tennis, touch footy, soccer, volleyball and AFL. Nearly 3,000 athletes. 170 teams. 300 volunteers.
The number of spectators? Reports range from 100,000 to 130,000. At one communal meal (langar), some 27,000 plates were served.
The Australian Sikh Games were held in Sydney on the Easter long weekend. An annual Easter tradition, the Games have been bringing Australia’s Sikh community together for a glorious weekend of sport for 31 years now.
The event is organised by the Australian National Sikh Sports and Cultural Council (ANSSACC) and is hosted in a different city every year. What began in Adelaide as a hockey weekend, has today gone on to become a massive sporting event. In recent years, it has attracted participation from overseas, with clubs flying in from NZ, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, UK and India.
The logistics in terms of organisation are stupendous, especially as it is all
catered for by volunteers. There are team registrations to be organised; sporting fixtures to be arranged; sport officials, security and medical personnel to be organised; travel and food arrangements to be made. It is an enormous undertaking.
Yet the Sikh Games have now become more than sport – they are also cultural events. Besides the opening gala, this time round there were cultural shows alongside the sporting events at Western Sydney, a mega cultural night at Kings School North Parramatta, a Sikh Forum at Rydges Hotel Bass Hill, an exhibition of Sikh portraiture by South Australian artist Daniel Connell, an exhibition of Punjabi sath depicting traditional musical instruments and farming and kitchen implements, and a kirtan tour of Sydney gurudwaras.
Preparations for the Sydney Games began two years in advance, Jasbir Singh Randhawa, Secretary of the ANSSACC tells Indian Link. “These were the biggest Games ever, and it was satisfying to see a cross section of the entire community pitch in. The gurudwaras, the sports clubs, corporates as well as individuals, all cooperated to pull off a successful event.”
Help came from other sources too such as local government, and Punjab university alumni organisations. “Nearly half a million dollars was raised from within the community,” Randhawa reveals.
The Bathla Group, a Western Sydneybased construction company, was a major sponsor this year, taking responsibility for
all the food over the three days in what, reports say, turned out to be a $150,000 affair.
The benefits of the entire exercise are manifold, points out Dr Pavitar Sunner, who coordinated the volunteers at this year’s event. First up, there is the sport of course, but it puts community kids back in touch with their culture, especially as they get to see - and participate in - traditional sports such as kabaddi.
“There are benefits for the mainstream as well,” says Sunner. “A study conducted on last year’s event at Adelaide showed that it added $6 million to the local economy.”
It is not surprising then to hear that the Mayor of Melbourne, next year’s host city, attended this year to get a feel of what it was all about. The social spinoffs as the community gathers from across the country, cannot be discounted either.
What is the stand-out memory from the Games this year?
“As a physician, to see a player suffer a cardiac arrest, and to see that two of his team mates, also doctors, take care of him before the ambulance arrived,” Sunner recounts. “But really, my take-home from this year is the spirit in which the Games were held: the community, the free langar, and how smoothly it all ran, despite the warm weather.”
“For me, the satisfaction comes from the fact that after two years of hard work, the participants and spectators went home happy,” Randhawa says. “The Games are really a mini Olympics, and it is amazing that we can pull them off. Nowhere else does the Sikh community have an event as wide ranging as this. In the UK, in the US and in Canada, community numbers are much larger, and it is only now they are beginning to show an interest.”
Perhaps an international Sikh Games is not far off, with Australia leading the way.
The kabaddi event from the Australian Sikh Games is always a crowd favourite. This time round though, it made the news for all the wrong reasons. The nal of the kabaddi competition – to be played between Singh Sabha Sports Club Melbourne and Baba Deep Singh Club Woolgoolga – had to be scratched.
The crowds, waiting for two hours in the heat of the day, grew unruly and hurled plastic bottles on to the eld. As the police were called in, it was revealed that some of the kabaddi players had refused to provide urine samples for the random drug tests.
Calls have gone out for the organisers to reveal the names of the players, with speculation abounding about the Indian ‘imports’ (kabaddi is the only event in which teams are allowed to bring in players from outside the country). Yet ANSSACC Secretary Jasbir Singh Randhawa would not reveal anything to Indian Link, other than to reiterate strongly that the Games have a zero-tolerance policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Vice President Mohinder Singh Bitta has sent out a similar message via the Punjabi media here in Australia and in India.
Drug tests were introduced two years ago for select sports hockey, soccer and kabaddi. The doping controversy has put a shadow on an otherwise impeccable event this year. As the Sikh Games increase in stature, organisers will need to ensure stringent measures are in place to avoid recurrence.
Nearly half a million dollars was raised from within the community, reveals Jasbir Singh Randhawa, Secretary of the ANSSACC
BY SAHIBNOOR SINGH
Emotions ran high over the three days of the 31st Sikh Australian Games this year as teams competed for the big win. But for the players, it wasn’t just the feelings of winning or losing the Games, it was also a feeling warmth and joy as the community from all over the country came together for one spectacular event that showcased Sikh pride in all its glory.
We spoke to six medal winners –Tarneet Kaur (Women’s Basketball), Simranpreet Singh (Men’s Basketball), Nitin Verma and Sachin Nayyar (Tennis Doubles), Sujneet Johal (Under 19’s 1500m Race) and Harmandeep Singh (Touch Football) – to get their perspective on what is now a landmark sporting event in the community.
Was this your first time participating?
Tarneet: I’ve been participating for the last four years and have always played netball, but this year, I played basketball as well.
Simranpreet: This was my seventh time taking part, and I’ve always played basketball. For the last five years, though, I’ve been playing soccer too.
Nitin and Sachin: Yes!
Sujneet: No, I’ve participated once earlier and loved it. It’s just because it’s such a good community gathering and it makes sense for me to also be involved in sports.
It gives me purpose for all the three days, you know? This was my second time, the last time was when it was held in Sydney six years ago.
Harman: Actually, I was a part of the Games when they were held in Sydney in 2012. All in all, it’ll be four times now. What was your favourite part of the experience?
Tarneet: I loved seeing the huge crowds and the spirit of service. The langar was phenomenal. And it was so great to see that people were watching the events regardless of whether their children were participating or not. I think it was also really well-organised this year.
Simranpreet: It’s always nice when you can have a large Indian community coming together, and you can see everyone having fun like a big family.
Sachin: I loved that there was a cultural
touch. On one side, you could see the competitive games being played, and on the other, young kids performing to traditional Punjabi songs with bhangra and gidda. It’s wonderful how our community can do something like this on such a grand scale.
Nitin: I was amazed at the fact that there were no hiccups, everything was properly planned, like the transport facilities. The buses were a real comfort to people travelling between the venues. Also, some of the games don’t have international/ national recognition like kabaddi, but at an event like this, you get to see the regional Punjabi games at a professional level. Seeing all the communities come together to represent Punjab at such a level, it’s like a mini Olympics!
Sujneet: I think it’s just amazing to see that, despite everyone being so busy in their lives and having their own issues to deal with, we can take out the time and make an effort to come together and celebrate being ourselves and being Sikh. And what bonds us more than playing together? The games, langar, folk dances – it was fantastic to see such a grand celebration of just being us and celebrating our identity.
Harmandeep: I’d say my favourite bit was the atmosphere. What I really like about the Games is that it brings a lot of people together, from all over Australia. I have family across the country so this was a great opportunity to meet them again. At our house, we had cousins from Melbourne staying over and we’d stay up chatting the whole time which you can’t usually do because they’re in a completely different city. You get to catch up with old friends and meet new people.
Describe to us your most memorable win or match
Tarneet: Winning a match is can cause such a weird mix of emotions! There’s an adrenaline rush from playing, anxiety and fear of things going wrong. It was a very close game so it was hard to tell whether we would win or lose, so we were very nervous. But mostly it’s all a blur. All you do is focus on your own game and work together as a team to get it done. My girls played extremely well, and in the end, it was pure luck that we won, but it was phenomenal. I mean, I cried after the winning match because I couldn’t believe the result. It felt great because my parents were proud, and the trophy is pretty good as well (laughs).
Simranpreet: Our basketball team won against New Zealand in the finals and it was… intense. They have defeated us before in other events, and even in the Games leading up to the finals in this tournament, so we were incredibly nervous. But we told ourselves that we would give it our best shot and work as a team and most importantly, just play the game. It was a relief when the final buzzer went off and we realised we’d won (laughs). It was a long game.
Sachin: To tell you the truth, the game was hard. We did struggle because of the intense heat. But we definitely enjoyed the match.
Nitin: Yes, the final was awesome. We actually lost the first set which made us nervous since it’s a game of three sets (best of three). Obviously, losing the first set put a lot of pressure on us and we had to rethink our strategies. But it was a great feeling. I feel like I’ve gotten a lifetime achievement award.
Sujneet: I think the first thing was “how can I breathe again”. I wanted to participate in other running and athletics events but I missed them, and that was the only event left. So, I did it! But I guess the winning moment… I just remember trying to catch my breath and then hugging the girl who came first in the under 17s division. It felt great, but more than that, it felt amazing to see my parents’ faces. They were screaming hoarse! Knowing that I made them proud just made me unbelievably happy. Harmandeep: We versed Woolgoolga and we won 5-3, and earlier in the day we had
lost to them 4-3, so it was great to get on top, especially in the final, where it really mattered. It was a pretty close game, and fast paced as Touch Footy usually is, so it was quite exhilarating. It was also stressful during the actual game because we were constantly wondering about how much time had surpassed, so when it finally finished, we heaved a massive, massive sigh of relief. The excitement came later when it actually sunk in that we won Touch Footy competition for the very first time.
How does it feel now that the Games have come to an end?
Tarneet: A bit sad, to be honest. Every year it’s the one thing I look forward to because it brings us all together. People come together and eat and play together, and you get to meet friends you don’t have time to meet otherwise. But I was also relieved because you spend a couple of months training before the event. And of course, I was ecstatic about the win!
Simranpreet: At the end of it all, I was absolutely drained, both physically and emotionally. But it was so much fun! You don’t think too much about it in the months leading up to the Games because time flies in training and competing, but when it all gets over, it feels rather strange. So yeah, glad it was over because I can rest now, but it was worth it.
Sachin: I think we were very happy, and not just because we won, but because we were part of this mammoth event! We’ve loved seeing the solidarity among people. It was not just a sport to us, it was a beautiful experience.
Nitin: Yes, altogether we had a great experience. The opportunity to play against various people across various parts of Australia, that was pretty good.
Sujneet: I know you’ll think it odd, but it was quite a warm feeling. It’s a combination of things: playing a team sport alongside other Punjabi girls, making great friendships, and the selfsatisfaction of individual sport. Plus, the dancing and singing…it just left me feeling really good inside.
Harmandeep: I was a bit, I don’t know… I wish they weren’t over because we had such a good time. Maybe ‘disappointed’ isn’t the right word, but definitely felt a bit down. I don’t know how to describe it. Pick your best memory from the Games this year.
Tarneet: For me, it would have to be the moment before the Games when you put your hands in with your teammates, that’s my stand out memory of the Games… (pauses), and the jalebis from the langar.
Simranpreet: I think the most memorable moment for me is after the three long games on a Friday, when I finally managed to go to the chiros and got a really nice leg massage. The chiros were free for players and assisted them in recovery, and I’m pretty sure each
player who went to the chiro definitely benefitted.
Sachin: I saw a lot of kids at the Games doing sewa, and the enthusiasm with which they were distributing the bananas and water bottles to everyone… it was a very proud moment for me to see the kids welcoming everyone with open arms. Nitin: I was amazed by the way they arranged the food – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And despite the humongous crowd, they served it so good-naturedly. It was truly astonishing to see.
Sujneet: I think the thing that touched me the most was the opening ceremony where the kids started off, and then there was such a classic, old school Punjabi folk dance. It was so traditional and nostalgic, I honestly teared up when I saw it all happening. It felt like we went back in time and were in the old, original Punjab. I don’t think I’ll forget that feeling for quite some time.
Harmandeep: My favourite memory has to be the bhangra in the opening ceremony performance. I thought it was fantastic to start the event on such an energetic note, you know? It was so colourful and fun to watch, especially for the audience, and there were some 175 kids performing, that was really great to see.
It was so traditional and nostalgic, I honestly teared up when I saw it all happeningSujneet Johal 1500m Men;s Touch Footy team Doubles Tennis: Sachin Nayyar and Nitin Verma
STAGE
Bharatanatyam
Fri 20 April (5.30pm onwards)
Indian Cultural Centre, Sydney invites you to Samarpanam, a traditional Bharathanatyam repertoire by Deeksha Sharma. Level 2, 265 Castlereagh street, Sydney, 2000. Please RSVP at library.sydney@mea.gov.in
Stay Tuned
Sat 5 May (7.00pm onwards)
Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK), the youth wing of Chinmaya Mission presents comedy drama Stay Tuned at UNSW Science Theatre. All proceeds to social outreach projects in Sri Lanka and India. Details Niyati 0425 262 103
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 Rd, Bankstown. Details 0411 015 396
Tribute to Ra
Sat 7 April (7:00pm-11:45pm)
Rakesh Maharaja & Heavens Sydney Productions’s live orchestral concert, a special tribute to Mohd Ra . Bonnyrigg Sports Club 610 Elizabeth Dr Bonnyrigg. Details 0416 025 675
COMMUNITY
Punjabi & Bollywood Touch
Fri 6 April (7:00pm) Vodafone
Presents Punjabi & Bollywood Touch live concert. Parramatta RSL Club, Cnr of O’Connell St & Macquarie Street Parramatta.
Details Amit 0433 211 986
Mela Vaisakhi Da
8 April (11:30am-5:30pm) A family, non-alcoholic event with Jazzy B, Miss Pooja and more. Free entry for kids under 10. Castle Hill showground, Castle Hill.
Details Ginna 0402 931 000
Boishakhi Mela
Sat 14 April (11:00am-10pm)
Bangabandhu Council Australia’s event. Bengali New Year Festival on the rst day of Boishakh. ANZ Stadium Edwin Flack Avenue, Sydney.
Details 0433 351 662
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
Colorfest Sydney
Sun 8 April (11am-4pm) One-of-akind colour festival that will fuse all elements of EDM. St Ives Showground, 450 Mona Vale Rd, St. Ives. Details 1300 338 368.
ENTERTAINMENT
Stand Up Comedy: Zakir Khan
22 April Bowman Hall, Main Street, Blacktown.
Kumar Sanu & Anuradha Paudwal
28 April Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool.
Vivacious Diva: Step up to express your style statement
28 April (6.00pm – 10.00pm)
Dezire Function Centre, 107 Main St. Blacktown. Details 0431 611 348
Teen Patti competition night
Sat 7 April (7:00pm) Full-on entertainment with Sydney’s best DJs. Live food stall, live singing and entertainment. Dezire Function Centre 107-109 Main Street Blacktown.
Details 0477 777 548
SPIRITUAL
Free Public Talk by Paramahamsa
Prajnanananda: Yoga and Meditation
Thur 19 April (6:45 pm to 8:30 pm) Experience the divine presence of self-realised (enlightened) yogi Paramahamsa Prajnanananda as he shares practical wisdom and naturally exudes pure love, compassion, peace and bliss. Marrickville Town Hall, 303 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW. Details 0422 334 573 or email nsw@ kriya.org.au
Shri Navadurga (nine forms of Durga) installation
Sat 28 April & Sun 29 April
Venue:Shri Shiva Mandir 201 Eagleview Road, Minto NSW. Details Jagdish Chawla 0421 376384
Chinmaya Mission public talks
Sat 28 April to Fri 4 May Chinmaya Mission Sydney presents Exceeding Excellence a series of public lectures
based on the Hanuman Chalisa. Sri Durgadevi Devasthanam, 21 Rose Crescent, Regents Park NSW. Details 02 8850 7400, 0416 482 149
Simran and Meditation Diwan 4 and 11 April (6:30pm – 8:30pm) Waheguru simran at Gurudwara Turramurra Sikh Temple Sydney, 81 Kissing Point Road, Turramurra. Details 02 9449 8253.
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
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
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
MISC
Household Chemical CleanOut Event
April 8 (9.00am – 3:30pm) Location
Parramatta Operation Centre 316 Victoria Road Rydalmere. Household Chemical CleanOut is a mobile
collection service. Use it to safely dispose of a range of household chemical products, including household cleaners, pool and hobby chemicals and pesticides.
Community Recycling Centres are permanent drop-off facilities, open year round. Use them to safely dispose of selected common household problem wastes such as paint, gas bottles, re extinguishers, motor/cooking oils, car and household batteries, uorescent tubes and globes, smoke detectors. Find your nearest Community Recycling Centre at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/ managewaste/comm-recycle-centres. htm. Details 131555
SENIORS
Free Tech Savvy Seniors Workshop
Learn basic computer skills at your local library Liverpool Library (10.00am - 12 noon)
3 April Introduction to computers.
10 April Introduction to ipads
17 April Introduction to Internet
24 April Introduction to Email H.J. Daley Library Campbelltown (10.00am to 12 noon)
1 May Introduction to Computer
8 May Introduction to Internet part 1
15 May Introduction to Internet part 2
22 May Introduction to Email Parramatta Library (10.00am–12 noon)
2 May Introduction to ipad 1
9 May Introduction to ipad 2
16 May Introduction to Social Media part 1
23 May Introduction to Social Media part 2
Denis Johnson Blacktown Library (10.00am – 12 noon)
6 June Introduction to Internet 1
13 June Introduction to Internet 2
20 June Introduction to Email
27 June Introduction to Social Media
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 tea. Details 02 9439 5122
How Sunita Williams is continuing her career in space
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is now helping privately-held companies like Space X and Boeing to develop their new spacecraft systems, which will eventually provide round-trip crew transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS).
After completing two missions to the orbiting laboratory, she is continuing her career in space on Earth as a member of NASA’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap).
She is among the four astronauts who were selected by NASA in 2015 to train and prepare for commercial space flights that will return American launches to US soil and further open up low-Earth orbit transportation to the private sector, according to the US space agency.
Since the discontinuation of NASA’s Space Shuttle programme in 2011, US astronauts have had to rely on Russian shuttles to get into orbit.
The goal of the commercial crew programme is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station from the US through a publicprivate approach.
NASA, Boeing and SpaceX have significant testing underway, which will ultimately lead to test missions when the systems are ready and meet safety requirements.
Boeing’s Starliner will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon will launch on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A, according to NASA.
After completion of each company’s uncrewed and crewed flight tests, NASA will review the flight data to verify the systems meet the requirements for certification.
Upon NASA certification, the companies are each slated to fly six crew missions to the ISS beginning in 2019 and continuing through 2024, NASA said in January this year.
Williams, 52, has spent 50 hours and 40 minutes outside the ISS and part of her new
job is to verify that the companies’ spacecraft can launch, manoeuvre in orbit and dock to stationary spacecraft like the ISS.
“This is really different from my old job, you know,” Williams was quoted as saying.
“She is currently assigned to the cadre of astronauts training to fly the initial test flights for America’s first commercially built spacecraft the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Dragon,” according to the biography of the astronaut at the NASA website.
Alberta allows Sikhs to drive motorcycles without helmets
Canada’s Alberta province, which has the third largest population of Sikhs after British Columbia and Onatrio, will allow turbanwearing Sikhs to drive motorcycles without a helmet from 12 April onwards.
British Columbia and Manitoba already allow Sikhs to drive motorcycles without helmets.
Alberta’s Transportation Minister Brian Mason revealed that the exemption was granted at the request of the Sikh community as recognition of their civil rights and religious expression. The exemption applies to drivers and passengers over the age of 18 who are members of the Sikh religion.
“Our government is committed to these principles,” Mason said.
According to an Alberta government spokesperson, a rider wearing a turban, but not a helmet, would have to self-identify to be considered a Sikh. At that point, it would be up to the discretion of the officer. If the officer doesn’t believe the rider, a ticket may still be issued. The rider would then have to challenge it in court.
As per the 2011 census, there are 52,335 Sikhs in Alberta.
Baltej Singh Dhillon, who became the first Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer with a turban, welcomed Alberta’s decision.
In a statement, he said, “The decision by the government of Alberta to allow Sikhs to be able to ride their motorcycles without having to remove their turbans, which is an integral part of the Sikh identity, demonstrates a deep respect for the traditions and customs of the Sikh community. This
exemption is a testament to the government of Alberta’s continued commitment to respecting diversity and religious rights of all Albertans.”
Gurpeet Pandher from the Sikh Motorcycle Club of Edmonton called the announcement a “milestone and memorable day” in Alberta’s history.
Canada’s top Sikh real estate tycoon Bob Dhillon has donated $10 million to the University of Lethbridge in Alberta.
The university has renamed its business school after him. It will henceforth be called the Dhillon School of Business.
The Calgary-based Bob (Navneet) Dhillon is the president and CEO of the real estate giant Mainstreet Equity Corporation which he started from the back of his car in the 1980s.
With its assets over $1.5 billion, the company owns over 10,000 apartment units across Canada.
The university said the Dhillon School of Business will drive futuristic learning and focus on new technologies such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies and new growth industries, including artificial intelligence and robotics.
“I’m a first-generation immigrant and I’m very fortunate that I’m in a position to make this contribution. This is my way of giving back to Canada,” said Dhillon whose family hails from Tallewal village near Barnala in Punjab.
Dhillon, who is an alumnus of Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, said, “I am an immigrant and a businessman and I’m extremely thankful for the opportunities I’ve had growing up here in Canada. I was very fortunate that the importance of education was drilled into me by my family, my parents, my brother, really everybody around me growing up.”
The Sikh real estate tycoon, who also holds an MBA from the famous Ivey School of Business at Western University, added, “Education is what drives successful global nations and Canada is unique in that there is so much opportunity here. The University of
A woman watches through a window a religious procession on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti festival celebrated by Jains in Allahabad, India, 29 March, 2018. The festival celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, who created the de ning rules of Jainism.
Lethbridge is a world-class university that the world needs to discover.”
University President and Vice Chancellor Mike Mahon said the donation from Dhillon will be transformational for his institution.
“Our university was founded by forwardthinking mavericks... Here we are, 50-plus years later, and we’re still looking ahead, pushing boundaries and creating an educational experience like no other. This gift, this commitment from Dhillon, will help drive us forward.”
Jayamma Bhandari was orphaned at the age of three and spent her childhood in grim poverty. She was forced into the sex trade by her husband. But unlike other victims who are forced into the murky business, she decided to challenge her destiny - becoming, in the process, an inspiration for many other women like her.
Now 40 years old, Jayamma runs the Chaitanya Mahila Mandali (CMM) in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, to help sex workers leave the exploitative profession and find respectable livelihoods. CMM works in high-risk slum communities to raise awareness on sexual rights and reproductive health, and takes up skilling and livelihood courses.
According to India’s National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), there are 1.65 million registered sex workers in the country - the actual numbers would be much higher - who lead very sordid lives. Though they are not in the profession by choice, they have to bear the stigma associated with it, feeling ostracised, alone, unwanted and disposable. There are the ramifications of the exposure to various sexually transmitted diseases too.
Jayamma is credited with directly impacting the lives of some 5,000 women in sex work and nearly a thousand of them are now engaged in alternative livelihoods. Also, over 3,500 children of sex workers have been provided vocational training through her efforts.
Fondly called “Amma”, or mother, her efforts were acknowledged by the government and she received the Nari Shakti (Women Power) Award on International Women’s Day last month. Earlier, the Confederation of Indian Industry conferred her with the Exemplar Award in 2017 Jayamma grew up in her uncle’s home in Nakrakal in Nalgonda district, about 300 km from Hyderabad. After a tough childhood and a difficult adolescence, she was married to a man in Hyderabad who, soon after she had a baby, started pressurising her to join the flesh trade.
Her refusal led to her being tortured, both physically and mentally. With minimal education and no one to support her, she succumbed to the wishes of her husband.
Selling not only her body, but also her soul, Jayamma toyed with the idea of suicide many times. But the thought of what would happen to her daughter after her death - that she too could be pushed into the same trade - gave Jayamma the strength to go on.
For Jayamma, it was a meeting Jai Singh Thomas, an NGO executive from Hyderabad, that proved a turning point. He encouraged her to leave sex work and do advocacy for the community. With Thomas’ help, she decided to set up an organisation that would enable sex workers to find viable alternative professions. Thus began her journey as a change agent.
Now Jayamma - who finally mustered the courage to part ways with her husband in 2012 - and her organisation reach out to victims like her, counsel and try to convince them that there can be a better ways to lead their lives.
“It’s really a daunting task to convince them as some of these women have become addicted to alcohol, drugs, smoking, sex and living in that vitiating environment,” says Jayamma. “They have many questions: will they be able to earn enough to support themselves and their kids? Won’t their situation be more miserable if the world doesn’t accept them due to their past? We have the challenge to win their confidence and persuade them by offering help and support. Forcible rehabilitation doesn’t work in such cases and, as such, de-addiction, counselling, and slow, long-term therapy become necessary to restore their lives.”
The tragic life of sex workers is not limited to them - children born to such women are bigger victims. Being vulnerable, they usually end up finding themselves trapped in this or allied professions.
Hyderabad has no designated red-light area, and sex workers go out and solicit clients. They usually take their children along as they have nowhere to go. The sight of their children sometimes getting abused in front of them is disheartening for these mothers.
Jayamma thus felt that working to prevent the victimisation of children of sex workers was important. She set up Chaithanya (meaning awareness) Happy Home in 2011 where children of sex workers are provided with all basic necessities of life - food, access to education, life skills and a safe roof.
CMM not only rehabilitates the children but also carries out routine follow-ups to check whether they are safe. The initiative today has 43 such children with big dreams of becoming teachers, engineers and doctors.
With the aim of changing societal attitudes stigmatising sex workers - and with the belief in building a system equipped and sensitive to address the issue of trafficking - Chaithanya also conducts sensitisation training for police officers in Telangana.
On being asked whether sex work should be legalised in India, Jayamma comes back with a firm “no”. “First the law needs to be in place. Policymakers, police and activists need continuous sensitisation on this issue.”
Prostitution itself is not illegal in India, but soliciting and living off the earnings of a prostitute are. And the law is open to a lot of misinterpretation and manipulation by the police and pimps.
Bangkok’s Indian eatery No. 1 restaurant in Asia – again
Indian cuisine restaurant Gaggan in Bangkok has again topped the list of
“Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” for a fourth consecutive year.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at Wynn Palace in Macau on 3 April this year.
The Indian eatery, operated by chef Gaggan Anand, eclipsed stiff competition from Tokyo’s Den and Florilege, which took second and third spots respectively.
“Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” list was voted by a 300-member committee, whose members included food writers, chefs, restaurateurs and gourmands from across the region.
Members based their decisions upon their dining experiences of the past 18 months to list their favourite restaurants.
A restaurant from the Macau Special Administrative Region, Jade Dragon, was also included this year.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Special Administrative Region government Tourism Office, said at the ceremony that Macau was committed to promoting creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable development.
Fernandes added that it was also seeking exchange, innovation, cross-field collaborations while treasuring traditions and training the next generations of culinary talent.
Macau had one restaurant, Robuchon au Dome, in the list of “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” in the first four years. In 2017, two local restaurants, Jade Dragon and The Tasting Room, were ranked on the regional list.
Launched in 2013, “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” list was the regional version of the famous list of “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” since 2002.
Faced with alarming levels of muck and choking weeds, Dal Lake, the main tourist attraction in the Kashmir Valley, is gasping for breath - and the once-pristine waterbody seems to be in dire need of intervention by a specialised global agency to prevent further decay.
Despite a separate budget plan and the spending of several crores by successive governments for its conservation, the Dal Lake - once known for its clear, potable water - is currently dying because of the continuous flow of untreated sewage, waste material and wild creepers that are together destroying the area’s ecosystem.
“We need a specialised agency to tackle the problem and to prevent the lake from dying. The existing local agency, with its conventional cleaning methods, has failed to deliver,” a senior Tourism Department official, who declined to be named, told IANS.
The countrywide Swachh Bharat campaign also seems to be missing here.
“We have not got any funds under the Swachh Bharat programme. While our annual state capital expenditure on Dal Lake is Rs 80 crore, we have been allocated Rs 356 crore from the Centre for Dal Lake conservation and rehabilitation of dwellers from the lake to outside the area,” said Masoodi Hafeez, Vice Chairman of Lake and Waterways Development Authority.
The Authority, responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the Dal lake, has sought Rs 1,488 crore from the Centre for a holistic project that would involve relocation of dwellers from near the lake and its conservation.
Asked about the need for seeking help of a specialised agency from abroad, Hafeez declined to comment.
“There is a need for strong political and bureaucratic will to take up the cleaning issue as the turbulence in the Valley is pushing it to the backburner, with law and order becoming the priority of the government,” said the Tourism Department official.
Acknowledging that Dal is in deplorable condition and in desperate need of a massive cleaning exercise, Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi said strong political will is required to prevent its further deterioration.
The lake’s area has shrunk to 21 sq km due to encroachments and untreated dirty water being discharged from houseboats and nearby hotels - as well as houses on the shore.
While the lake needs a sewerage treatment
plant of 80 million litres capacity daily to keep the water clean, the authorities have so far managed to install a plant that can only treat 36 million litres daily, resulting in massive depletion in water quality. Only 30 per cent of houseboats are connected to the plant, with the rest discharging untreated waste into the lake.
The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) recently held its annual convention in Srinagar to attract more tourists to the Valley, which is currently witnessing a decline in footfalls due to the separatist violence in the state.
The event, aimed also at changing the perception about the situation here, has returned to the Valley after 31 years, said TAAI President Sunil Kumar.
While the Dal Lake is the central attraction for tourists in Srinagar, about 500,000 local people depend on it for their livelihood.
At present, the Dal is home to about 1,200 houseboats and 4,000 shikaras and pheriwalas, Bashir Ahmed, the caretaker of a houseboat, said. However, official data - which does not take into account unregistered boats - contends there are only 923 houseboats and 2,700 shikaras. There are also some 150 floating shops and 58 hamlets with about 10,000 families staying around the lake.
The flow of untreated water and sewage from hotels and houses along the lake is also affecting the aquatic life of the water body.
As for those responsible for the health of the lake, Ahmed said, “Sometime they come to clean, sometimes they don’t.” And the result of this dangerously lackadaisical attitude is there for everybody to see - the Dal Lake is in peril.
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan is the latest celebrity whose wax figure has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds in New Delhi. He stands in his classic romantic pose with his arms wide open, sporting a blue sherwani. Following a special unveiling, the figure was taken on a tour of Delhi.
.IANS
BY NANDITHA SURESH
Fans of Indian miniature paintings, especially of the Rajasthan style, will be aware of Bani Thani, a painting from the mid-1700s which now hangs in New Delhi’s National Museum.
Created in the Kishangarh style, the portrait depicts a young maiden in full shringaar mode, ie, ‘bani thani’, which is Hindi for ‘dressed to the nines’. The side profile and exaggerated facial features have since become typical of this school of portraiture.
In its very latest iteration, you can see Bani Thani at the ongoing Sydney Royal Easter Show, created by artist Shweta Bhargava.
The showcase is a step forward in the Sydney artist’s many efforts to bring Indian art to the mainstream.
“The Bani Thani, originally painted by Nihal Chand, is iconic and has even been
called the Indian Mona Lisa,” Shweta tells Indian Link. “It was my top choice for the exhibition. Apart from the iconic value of the 18th century painting, this is a famous work of art from Rajasthan, where I am from. This seemed a fitting tribute to my roots and the rich art heritage of India.”
The stunning replica sits inside an intricately created border, another strongpoint of the Indian miniature tradition.
Unlike the traditional method though, the artist did not work with naturally occurring material for the paints, choosing acrylics instead.
This is not Shweta’s first appearance at the Easter Show though. In 2015, three of her works were picked for the show. She is also no stranger to art exhibitions here. 2013 was the year Shweta was presented with an opportunity to exhibit her art; she was a finalist at the Agendo Exhibition for Young Emerging Artists, Melbourne.
Many opportunities to showcase her work followed; she was a finalist in the Hornsby Art Exhibition 2013, and Eutick Memorial Still Life Award (EMSLA) in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, as a finalist in the EMSLA, her painting titled Classic Red Car was among the paintings that was displayed in New South Wales Parliament Gallery.
None of this came easy for this biotechnologist-turned-artist. According to Shweta, art has always had her heart since she was a child but when it came to career choices, she picked her other passion, science. “I didn’t see art as more than a hobby back then and never imagined it will be my life as I know it,” she muses. After a stint as an assistant professor teaching biotechnology, Shweta realised art was her calling.
With no formal training in art but with faith in her talent, support from her husband Sandeep and a whole lot of passion, the artist made a life-changing
career decision to follow her heart.
“I was dealt my fair share of struggles, including rejection from galleries and all the disappointments that come with them,” she reveals. “The breakthrough came with the opportunity to exhibit at the Agendo Exhibition for Young Emerging Artists, which reinforced my faith in my own abilities.”
Today Shweta works with acrylics, oils, water colours and sketching.
While Shweta enjoys contemporary art and capturing the mundaneness of everyday life, it is Indian art forms and mythology that she gravitates most towards. “My love for my culture and its deeprooted importance for art and story-telling fascinates me and I incorporate those principles in my art,” shares Shweta.
Shweta is equally passionate about teaching art to young children. She teaches her students, aged between 4 and 12, basics art skills, hand control, sketching doodling and even Indian art. “My students learn about famous artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and even about Indian art styles like Madhubani and Warli,” she says.
In addition to her art classes, she also does art work upon commissioning.
The Bani Thani, originally painted by Nihal Chand, is iconic and has even been called the Indian Mona Lisa
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India is modernising in the 1920s, but at its own pace. Even in Bombay, which, as one of the British Empire’s greatest ports, is open to outside influences, change is slow. Some professions are still not fully open to women, and there are situations where the law must tread carefully - especially in the brutal murder in a house full of “purdahnasheen” Muslim women.
But there is someone who can operate in such a tricky situation - due to her profession and her background. And while for feisty Parsi lawyer Perveen Mistry, writer Sujata Massey draws from Indian legal history, she matches it with her thorough research and a compelling plot to create a mesmerising mystery set in Rajera Bombay, against contemporary Japan and colonial Bengal that have served in her other books.
It is February 1921, and Perveen, the city’s first woman solicitor, has been raring to show her skills after six months in her father’s law firm - the only one that will employ her. Since she cannot yet practice in court, she handles the legal paperwork for the firm - wills, contracts and so on.
Among them is a recently-deceased Muslim businessman’s will pending for execution, but now the estate’s trustee sends a letter from his three widows, who want to donate their “mehr” (wife’s settlement agreed at the wedding time) to the family “wakf”. An intrigued and concerned - we learn why laterPerveen wonders if the women, in their cloistered existence, fully understand the consequences of their decision and obtains permission to go and ask them.
When she goes to their secluded Malabar Hill mansion, her concerns are not assuaged, rather they are exacerbated. Not only do the three wives have some secrets from each other, they also seem unaware what the estate trustee has in mind. This man also turns out to be an unpleasant character who is dominating the household with threats - express or implied.
While Perveen tries to counsel the women against leaving themselves vulnerable by signing away their wealth, she is overheard by the trustee, who turns on her and she has to leave to avoid an unpleasant and even untoward scene. However, she forgets her briefcase and when she returns to pick it as it contains some important documents, she finds him stabbed to death.
Perveen is determined to aid the women by helping catch the murderer. But even with her connections - her recently-arrived Oxford college-mate happens to be the daughter of a senior aide to the Governor - there is only so much that a woman in 1920s India can do on her own or convince the authorities to do.
But as our heroine tries, there is danger for her personally. Will she be able to survive to unravel the mystery?
Meanwhile, a parallel story, occasioned by the sight of a strange gentleman who appears to be Bengali by his garb, and evokes in her memories of Calcuttaa city of happiness, humiliation and heartbreak - gives her background and her stress on women’s rights.
While the mystery set nearly a century back in a time with a different pace of life and governance - the colonial rulers more keen to maintain order and avoid antagonising any touchy community - is
captivating, it is the skilful evocation of an era of political and social churning that sets this far above a mere “whodunnit”, no matter how exotic in time and space.
The freedom struggle is yet to pick up pace among professional classes, but Massey intertwines it subtly into her narrative with episodes like Perveen’s telling-off of some neighbourhood activists, her father’s legal defence of a “subversive” client and an Indian policeman in a crucial role. The social aspect is more marked - though some points may surprise those who think her community largely Westernised.
Along with the range of memorably drawn characters - ranging from the widows to the policemen, British and Indian - it is an engaging read with enough matters left unresolved to create interest and anticipation for the next instalment. For Massey promises it will be a series.
Given the political and social milieu in which it is set, Sujata Massey ’s new book is more than a mere murder mystery, writes VIKAS DATTA
Her depiction of feisty Parsi lawyer Perveen Mistry draws from Indian legal history to create a mesmerising mystery set in Raj-era Bombay
Akram Khan , in his last solo performance at the Adelaide Festival, left his fans with an unforgettable experience
from them’.
BY AVI CHANDIOKHaunting. Grim. Spellbinding. Superstar dancer Akram Khan’s swansong at the Adelaide Festival 2018 was all that and much more in his latest production, Xenos Adelaide audiences have a fond association with Khan. Thirty years ago, at the tender age of 13, he took part in Peter Brook’s benchmark-setting all-night adaptation of the Mahabharata held at Anstey Quarry in Adelaide.
Xenos revisits the power of myth and absorbs the story of Prometheus, a culthero of Greek mythology, who gave human-kind fire and who, as Khan said, ‘knew that humans would keep repeating their mistakes but hoped they would learn
So wars are human folly where lessons are never learnt. Xenos, which means stranger, is the story of one Indian soldier out of millions who fought for the Colonial powers and suffered the agony of fear, deprivation, toil and death. It was not his war; he was a stranger to the conflict and to the alien lands where it took place.
Talking about Xenos, Khan says, “Indian soldiers had a very specific role in the first World War – to lay down telephone cables so teams could share information. So I play, for instance, a cook who is thrown into the trenches and feels completely alone, and the dance is inspired by the idea of shell-shock. It’s really about trauma…”
The dance depicts the back-breaking work of cables being dragged around through the mud and slush in the trenches while artillery shells fly and chaos abounds. The first passage of the dance shows the soldier at peace before war.
Accompanied with a beautiful on-stage rendition of Babul mora naihar chooto hi jaye, we see Kathak at its finest, delivered with precision and flair from the master himself. Ghungrus fly but are eventually unwound and placed around the torso like chains binding the soldier, as the dance moves into the initial phases of insidious battle.
The performance is relentless and has the soldier falling, rolling down the steeply sloping stage, moving as if he’s not quite in control of mind or body. Of the narrative, Khan said, “Words are used in a much
more poetic, philosophical approach to lay down the seed of an idea or to provide atmosphere.”
There are evocative vocals and a small ensemble of musicians that provides mood and intensity to the threatening atmosphere of attrition. The dance goes on to show the soldier at a loss to understand why he is in battle at all until suddenly, a loud gunfire fills the air and he falls to the floor, writhing as lights flash.
The strength of the performance comes from showing historical events and the failings of human nature as seen through the eyes of an ordinary person. At one stage the narrator calls out names of Indian soldiers giving their professions such as farmer or teacher, which simply highlights the incongruity of the worldwide scale of war in contrast to the ordinariness of the individuals involved in it.
The team behind the show included Ruth Little from Sydney as Dramaturg and they have created a truly marvellous production. It’s an emotionally draining topic requiring stamina and endurance at the very least, and Khan delivers in every aspect. For his fans in Adelaide, though, unfortunately this was the artist’s last performance in a major solo show. “I’m just tired. My body is wrecked. Just can’t sustain it unless I change the way I dance. Classical Indian dance I would love to continue but full length contemporary work is now difficult,” Khan tells us. To someone who has already given so much, who can deny him well-earned rest?
Xenos highlights the incongruity of the worldwide scale of war in contrast to the ordinariness of the individuals involved in itPhoto: Jean Louis Fernandez
BY KALYANI WAKHARE
My heart skipped a beat in the darkness of the wings, the stage was a few footsteps away. There was one thought stuck in my mind: What if I fail? What if I fall?
I still remember the first day Harshala Vaidya dropped in, the day my daughters had their first Kathak trial lesson under her. Of course, they’d much rather have done contemporary or ballet, but I wanted them to give it a go. The girls took to Harshala’s easy going style and sense of humour straightaway but to my horror, Harshala suggested I should learn with the girls too.
My first reaction was a spate of excuses: “No way! I’m too old for that”, “I’m not fit or flexible” and the good old “I have no time!” But the girls jumped at the idea and the rest, as they say, is history.
Sunday afternoons were now dedicated to dance lessons, and before we knew
it, we had gone from being a handful to a big group. We spent the first few classes at Rhythm Dance Academy trying to tie the ghungroos, and the next few trying to say Sanskrit prayers and kathak bol (words like dha dhin tin ta), they were like tongue twisters to all the little Aussie girls! Harshala taught us well, and understandably so. After all, she herself is a qualified and professionally trained Kathak dancer who learnt from masters of the art. I later found out that she also won the 2016 Indian Australian Dancing Star title. We fledgling dancers were in the right hands.
A few weeks into the routine, and we were really beginning to enjoy ourselves, but we never really practised, despite Harshala’s reminders. And then one day, she announced that we’d be performing on stage! Everyone was visibly excited, except me and my teenage daughter, Ananya. She had never danced formally, and I couldn’t even remember the last time I had stepped on a stage.
Practice sessions began in earnest and one thing was clear: we’d get constant encouragement but criticism too. No one was spared, not even the little ones! Sometimes there were tears but now when I think about it, it was well worth it,
to everyone.
In March, the stage was set and the excitement in the air was unmistakable. Harshala opened the show with a dazzling performance. Tabla player Nikhil Phatak and harmonium player Chinmay Kolhatkar followed with their powerful performances. Pt. Shaunak Abhishekhi was next, and his rendition of the evening raga Marwa was soulful and set the mood perfectly. The thunderous applause that ensued made me even more nervous.
Finally, it was time. We took our positions and I plastered a deliberate smile on my face, remembering the feedback Harshala always gave us. The familiar beat on the tabla was our cue to start, and we entered and managed to take positions. As the audio filled the auditorium, we found our familiar rhythm and managed our parts with as much
grace as possible.
I vaguely remember making a couple of mistakes but powering on so that we looked coordinated. Ananya made sure the younger girls were in line and in my heart I was pleased to see her take the lead and display her commitment. We did our challenging spins and tricky formations, all the girls lip syncing the bols perfectly and in time. We finished with a fabulous piece of footwork jugalbandi and our hearts filled with joy when the audience applauded! Harshala gave us a nod and that was what made our day!
It’s been a few days since that fateful day but now, my daughters and I can’t seem to get dancing out of our heads and hearts. I find the girls subconsciously tapping their feet and humming to Indian classical music, and it makes me unbelievably happy. What can I say?
I’d secretly started enjoying Kathak, until one day we were told that we would be dancing on stage
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Oberoi Hotels, this has been a dream run!”
BY EMIE ROY“It is about time the music scene changed in India.”
India’s Grammy winning violinist Manoj George ditches his characteristic gentle, soft-spoken demeanour for a moment, and allows his passion to come forth.
“There are umpteen independent musicians who lose ground when it comes to competing with the multimillion rupee film industry in India,” he laments. “Here in Australia, you listen to independent music on radio and television. How many Indian television or radio channels play independent music? How many Indians even buy an original music CD or pay to download their music?”
Yet, he acknowledges, life has been kind to him as a musician. Fresh from a successful string of concerts in Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong, Townsville, Newcastle, Perth and Brisbane, he describes how his original compositions went down well with the audiences each time.
“I’ve now played in 45 countries, with endless number of artists from all around the world. For someone who started my music career playing at the lobbies of
The ‘dream run’ includes the album Winds of Samsara, which took the Grammy for Best New Age album in 2015.
“The recognition came home for arranging the string section for a track in the album titled Mountain Solitude and coordinating the choral harmony for a song titled Mahatma. The project brought together 120 musicians from five continents and showcased five languages. Ricky Kej, the Indo-American composer drew me into this album. By the way, the album has a major Australian connect too – the flautist and master composer Woulter Kellerman, one of its two creators, is Melbourne-based.”
In India, Manoj’s work with other new age musicians Raghu Dixit and Lucky Ali, and in his own band ManojGeorge4Strings, is slowly but surely bringing in a breath of fresh air.
“The logic is simple. Every type of music is beautiful and we love all genres of music. You could call our style world fusion music – it’s a combination of ethnic, non-western and contemporary styles. On stage, I try to improvise a lot; when I see the audience enjoying a certain type of music, I provide them more of it.”
His particular brand of music has led to collaborations with some of India’s music heavyweights such as Dr L. Subrahmaniam, Hariharan, Shankar
Mahadevan, Sivamani, Dr K.J.Yesudas and Mattannur Sankarankutty.
For the scores of other talented independent musicians though, this ‘dream run’ remains exactly that, a dream.
What does Manoj see as a resolution?
“It is a vicious cycle that feeds itself. Mainstream media supports the film music, as they provide what their audience wish to listen to. Audiences listen more to the film music, as that is the most accessible form of music. This cycle needs to be broken. Everyone can play a part here. The media can devote specific slots for playing independent music, which will slowly build up an audience. It will be great if the audience, for their part, can be more appreciative of the fact that independent musicians are putting in a lot of effort too.”
In a recent TEDx talk, he spoke of how he turned a childhood passion into a fullfledged career, interspersing his address with samples from Mozart as well as Arijit Singh to give an idea of the breadth of his craft.
Whilst agreeing that YouTube promotes
independent broadcasters, Manoj feels that a nudge in the right direction from the authorities will be a welcome change too. “How about instating awards for independent musicians? And while we’re at it, let’s attach some pomp and glamour to it, so that it does not go unnoticed!”
Who will bell the cat? Manoj George himself, to start with. He has already approached the authorities in his home state, Kerala, and is holding discussions with the cultural ministers to make this happen.
“Once this materialises in one state, the word will gradually spread, and this will initiate a social change in the industry. I believe that only about 25% of our talent pool achieve fame by striking it big in the movie industry. The rest struggle to find their footing. My intent is to harvest this massive potential to liberate authentic Indian music out of the clasps of the indigenous movie industry and bring it onto the world stage.”
There’s no doubt that Manoj is willing to be the change that the current music scene in India needs.
is calling
We must liberate Indian music out of the clasps of the indigenous movie industry and bring it onto the world stage
Rohan migrated to Australia from New Delhi in June 2011. Being in a new country miles from home, he had to accustom himself to the very different culture of his new homeland. Setting up his home was going to be a huge task. Unlike back in Delhi, he didn’t have the electrician or carpenter who were just a call away then. And of course he didn’t have family around. However, he soon found an extended family welcoming him in his new innings – his fellow community members.
From choosing the appropriate home to rent, to identifying the best school for his kids, Rohan leaned on the experience and genuine advice that his friends gave him. Microwave meals
soon gave way to pot-luck dinners with neighbourhood buddies and lazy weekends became frenetic cricket league days. Today, Rohan actively helps new migrants coming to Australia by recommending the best shops, eateries, suburbs, schools, holiday spots, the list goes on.
Businesses too realise how important people like Rohan are in making sure their own positive experience are passed on to fellow community members, and how it is important to encourage such positive in uencers.
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Admit it. There’s never a bad time for chips. They are some of the best accompaniments for a movie, a game or any party. Most of us love to have a bag of chips when we travel or serve them when guests
Potato chips are a crowd favourite. However, the store-bought ones contain a lot of oil and salt, spices and preservatives. So, the homemade variety is far better. You can actually dehydrate them and fry them in batches whenever you want.
Ingredients
1-2 large potatoes
1 tbsp salt
1 litre water
Oil to deep fry
Red chilli powder or paprika, to taste (optional)
Method
Using a mandolin slicer, thinly slice potatoes.
Drop in boiling salted water for three to ve minutes.
Remove from water and spread evenly in a dehydrator tray. Alternatively, you can dry them in sunlight.
arrive. But having the regular store-bought variety regularly is both unhealthy - think oil, copious amounts of salt, chemical flavourings, colouring and preservativesand unaffordable.
What most of us don’t realise is that
Baked sweet potato chips are a low calorie snack and much healthier than the fried version. They taste great even without salt. You can also make baked potato chips in a similar fashion. Just remember that the oven temperature should not increase beyond 160 degree Celsius. Otherwise, you will be left will horribly burnt chips.
Ingredients
1 large sweet potato (around 300 grams)
1 tbsp olive oil
Method
Using a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife, slice the sweet potato lengthwise. Toss the chips in olive oil. Spread them evenly on a baking tray, making sure they don’t touch each other. Bake for 15 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius in a fan-forced oven. Flip the chips and bake again for 10-15 mins.
Once done, take out of the oven let rest in the baking tray for 5-10 mins. If you want to store them, let cool completely before putting them in a dry, air-tight jar.
chips can be made easily at home with some prior preparation. Because you are in charge, you can control the amount of oil and salt in them. Here are three types of chips, made using three cooking techniques – baked,
Dehydrate for 4-7 hours until completely dry and crisp. Store in a dry air-tight jar. To eat, deep fry in hot oil until light golden brown.
Season immediately with chilli powder or paprika, if using.
Apple is a versatile fruit. You can eat it raw, juice, bake or cook it and, in this case, even dehydrate it. If you have a picky kid who just wants to eat munchies, apple chips are what you need. You are happy that they are eating healthy and so are they as they get to eat chips. You can use a dehydrator to dry these chips or alternatively just sun-dry them. A dehydrator is great in places where you don’t get adequate sun or in winters when you want to dry chips or crisps outdoors.
Ingredients
1-2 large apples
1 tbsp lemon juice
Using a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife, slice the apple in thin chips. Toss them in lemon juice. Spread them evenly in a dehydrator tray.
Dehydrate for 4-7 hours or until crisp. Store in a dry, air-tight jar.
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The Australian Border Force protects our border and our community. ABF officers work to stop dangerous items like drugs and firearms from coming into Australia, and to stop visa fraud and the trafficking and exploitation of foreign workers.
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Flag suspicious immigration, customs and border-related activity at australia.gov.au/borderwatch
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.
March 21 - April 19
A Libran in uence will make you act in a balanced manner instead of in the Aries style – initial enthusiasm that quickly burns out. For new perspectives, you might seek professional help. Use your thoughts and mental strength to solve problems instead of thinking with your heart. A delay in legal matters or a lack of purpose causes anxiety at work; but you will complete a project successfully despite hurdles. Money is not a problem. An Aquarian might give you insights into your behaviour.
LEO
July 21 - Aug 22
Introspection, solitude, a pause in the progress of a situation and re-evaluation of one’s life’s goals dominate this month. You might feel disappointed in love and resigned to continuing alone. Someone will provide the missing link needed to ensure the success of an idea. Travel is predicted. Nervous exhaustion causes health issues but friends are supportive. Finances improve but after a while. Romantic relationships take a turn for the better. You have what it takes, just be patient.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22 - Dec 21
April 20 - May 20
Focus on your own work and be the star of the movie of your life. The universe will provide insights into the future and positive inputs make things better. Karmic ties with someone you love make it dif cult to let go so nurture yourself well. A friend provides a safety net and you will stop wasting time on unproductive matters. Picking up a new skill enhances your long term prospects at work. Follow your heart and things will work out better than expected.
VIRGO
Aug 23 - Sep 22
Inner con icts arising from unexpected desires make you seek clarity to effectively handle a situation. Romance will nd you but you will be preoccupied with other things. You might feel out of control due to what seems like an insurmountable problem caused by others. Completion of a project brings gains. A love you had given up on might return. Health is good and obstacles are temporary. Be honest with yourself and keep a positive outlook at all times.
CAPRICORN
Dec 22 - Jan 19
GEMINI May 21 - June 20
Unpredictable and sudden changes lead to interesting experiences. You might have a dilemma about a situation as both options are equally tempting. Separation from a loved one causes frustration. Social commitments keep you busy. Ideas ow and good luck comes with diligent paperwork. A failure will prove to be a blessing in disguise as new avenues open up with better opportunities that are more aligned with what you want. Anxiety makes you look inwards for a solution.
LIBRA
Sep 23 - Oct 22
You look for material prosperity, an organised structure and stability in all things. You are no longer willing to settle for a love that does not feel 100 per cent right. Travel for work is predicted. Your teeth might need attention. Friends are supportive even though boring work or an extra marital affair causes stress. Success in everything is assured as Lady Luck shines on you. An opportunity for the foundation of a very successful future might present itself.
AQUARIUS
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Any break up in a relationship is only temporary though it is a very stressful time. Extreme stress due to ill health or hospitalisation of a parent or loved one is predicted. You might make losses but they are temporary. You might inherit some money or spiritual guidance. Stomach or prostate gland problems could occur. If married and having issues, it could lead to a separation due to an extra marital love affair. Things can work out so lie low and resolve issues.
A Sagittarian in uence makes you outspoken and forthright this month; with a longing to be outdoors. You are future oriented at work and discussions, inventories, analyses and new activities keep you busy. Happy surprises are in store and you might even move closer to your childhood home. A certain health condition might need medical intervention. An upset stomach or anxiety due to repression could be the cause. You want to pursue philosophical interests till things get clear.
The focus is on career, work and energies dedicated to self-improvement. You long for something and a lonely soul might enter your life and look after you. It could be someone already married. Good fortune through a benefactor and stability is indicated. Work remains stable and you will achieve success. An estranged ex might try to win you back. Your fears are put to rest as you regain perspective; family differences get resolved. If an offer doesn’t feel right, say no.
June 21 - July 20
You will indulge in some risk taking and look for the best course of action to an ongoing problem. Compensation for your efforts at work cheers you up and your attitude has a positive impact on workmates. Material gains in small sums in indicated. Social activities will be highlighted but don’t let yourself get forced into making a commitment. Change for the better is indicated and you might even get an employment offer. Consider seeking help if you feel stuck.
Oct 23 - Nov 21
You might want to try something new after a setback in your current work. It could also be that your expectations have not been met and you are forced to look for alternates. Explore options fully but this time, go without any expectations. If you have been the cause for a ght in a relationship, be the rst one to do damage control. You could be sad about something; be grateful for what you have and things get better.
Feb 19 - March 20
Impromptu departures from home, rest and recreation from work and conventional relationships are the focus this month. An old ame could re-enter your life. You might have a backlog of correspondence to deal with at work. If single, marriage could be on the cards. You will recover if you have been sick lately and money prospects improve as well. Celebrations are in the of ng as you get support from all quarters. Success through work, love and hobbies is indicated.
in vivacity that shoot across the narrative with splendid sincerity. Not a moment in the storytelling is lost in humbug. Every minute counts. And while some of the scenes showing Rani’s ourishing bonding with her students is keenly melodramatic the actress sails above the stagnant pools of water that the plot often encounters.
Rani Mukerji makes her Touretteinformed character unwavering in her upbeat personality, yet she is no giddy-headed breathless optimist. The pain comes gushing out in a sequence where she pounds and pummels her uncontrollable mouth almost as though she were sparring with her destiny.
The astounding Neeraj Kabi as the cynical teacher who thinks slum is synonymous with scum keeps his character grey without getting into grime.
STARRING: Rani Mukerji, Neeraj Kabi; DIRECTOR: Sidharth P Malhotra
HHHHH
There is a disarming idealism at the heart of this inspirational tale told without frills of fancy. The ights of daring that the protagonist Naina Mathur undertakes never seem irrelevant. On many occasions the plot veers towards a sweeping sentimentality that, given other circumstances, would be considered manipulative. Not here.
Hichki dives deep into the collective consciousness of a nation inured in prejudices and comes up with some well-served lessons on humanism tolerance and generosity. It may not be
India’s To Sir With Love. But by Jove, Rani Mukerji in what easily ranks as her career’s best performances (yes, better than Black) gives Mr Sidney Pottier a run for his heroic stature.
The plot derives its creative juices from a real-life British teacher who suffered from the Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes painful verbal dysfunction in the sufferer. It’s astonishing how Rani takes over the sufferer’s role without allowing the disease to impede her character’s ingrained sunniness of countenance.
When faced with a classroom lled with students from the slums (played by young actors who frequently act with representational emphasis) Rani’s Naina never falters, never mind her tongue. It’s only when she is with her
PAY NLESS DENTA L
Dr.
estranged father (Sachin Pilgoankar) that she loses her cool. Rani’s two dining-table sequences with her screenfather are marvels of screenwriting drama, packaged and performed in pitch-perfect harmony. When the father’s patronising sympathy gets too much, Rani marches off to the kitchen to make rotis, venting her need to exhale in the kneading.
It is the slum students who needed to be a little less soap operatic. In a lm where the message is emblematised in gloriously lucid episodes, the ragged bunch of slumkids go too swiftly from rebellious to sweet-natured. Their changeover seems almost pre-ordained.
Not that their abrupt character transformation takes away from the blithe reformatory mood and reined-
What I liked about Rani’s Naina more than her textbook-perfect rapport with her students is her bonding with her mother (Sipriya Pilgaonkar) and brother (Husain Dalal). I wish there was more of them in the lm. I wish there were more Naina Mathurs in this world who can teach all of us a thing or two about being human without making humanism a logo on a T-shirt.
Hichki is a work of wondrous lightheartedness. Its absence of cynicism and its touching belief in the power of benevolence and generosity could get overpowering for many of us who face brutal betrayals every day. But isn’t life in cinema all about alchemising the pain and hurt into art? Hichki does that quite often and quite effectively.
Subhash K Jha6,
INDIA
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STARRING Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani, Manoj Bajpai, Randeep Hooda, Deepak Dobriyal DIRECTOR Ahmed Khan.
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What Jacqueline Fernandez does to the iconic Ek do teen number is the least of the problems in Baaghi 2, an overblown, padded-up and puffed-out adaptation of last year’s engrossing Telugu hit Kshanam about an NRI who is summoned back to India by his former girlfriend to nd her kidnapped daughter.
Finding the missing girl is not all that concerns the Hindi remake’s hero, now re-christened Ranveer Pratap Singh, an army man who gets a chance to use his battle tactics to a wage a kinetic war on drug dealers in an elaborately staged
Rambo-like climax that nds Tiger Shroff ying high literally.
He somersaults over ying choppers, ips over conifers, ies across cars and vanquishes adversaries with the quickthinking machismo of a sumo wrestler thrown into a ring with a cunning and dangerous canine.
Tiger’s Ranveer stops at nothing. The trouble is, the lm doesn’t know where to stop either. The original plot had some interesting twists and turns in the kidnapping drama.
In the remake the drama of a distressed mother (Disha Patani, so one-note and so pale and pretty your heart reaches out to her for all the wrong reasons) and her saviour is converted into a loud scream-fest where everyone has a ‘bawl’.
There is so much sound and fury in the storytelling that I was convinced it
STARRING: Surveen Chawla, Parul Gulati, Rajeev Khandelwal, Parvail Gulati
DIRECTOR: Ken Ghosh
HHHHH
It requires guts and audacity to yank
Louisa May Alcott’s 19th century novel about women’s empowerment into a modern-day tale of love, lies and heartbreak in Kashmir.
Director Ken Ghosh, with the persuasive help of writers Devika Bhagat and dialogue writer Renuka Kunzru, translocates and refurbishes the original with a full lot of air and feelings in this Hindi web series.
I was hooked to the deeds and misdeeds of the women in the Mirza family - their patriarch has gone missing at war - from the rst episode. While one sister lives in the world of music and poetry, another thrives on being Kashmir’s hottest supermodel (strictly in her mind, that is). There is an aunt (played with grace and restrain by Simone Singh) who is in a doomed and disgraced relationship with a
outdated bravado, an expired bluster which no amount of stunt-baazi can camou age. Tiger Shroff’s action scenes are a saving grace, though most of the stunts are staged with chairs tables and glass doors breaking with preorchestrated regularity.
The surprises in the original lm are here rendered utterly ineffectual as the narrative pounds and pulverizes the plot with puerility.
spineless politician Ghosh captures the romance of Kashmir without undermining presentday tensions in the Valley. We must remember that Alcott’s novel was more about nding love than pursuing dreams. Ghosh’s series is not only about love and dreams but also the accompanying nightmares in a society that is in a febrile state of bloodied ux.
The series captures the sweaty tensions of a people who assume a life of ‘normal’ pursuits like courtship, romance, commitment and heartbreak as guns blaze and res rage across the horizon.
The performances are evenly compelling. The Mirza women are played by beautiful credible actresses who don’t spend time on screen posing and preening in local out ts but are actually seen getting into the skin of their characters. Surveen Chawla as the progressive yet repressed doctordaughter of the family, and Parul Gulati as the outspoken blogger-beti stand out, as do the ever-dependable Rajeev Khandelwal and Pavail Gulati as the two
signi ed something. Alas, all I came away with was a convoluted attempt to regurgitate a solid thriller by injecting large doses of bombast and melodrama into the original.
Nothing in Baaghi 2 is done gently. Certainly not the editing which bulldozes through the event-packed narrative caring little for niceties like pace and momentum. Every move is a slog, every slap is a sledgehammer.
Julius Packiam’s background music which tries to keep up with Tiger’s rush of bravado, could wake up a pack of comatose wolves, although it could do nothing to keep me from falling into a dreadful numbness of the spirit, the kind one feels when a bunch of overenthusiastic kindergarten boys try to do a stage version of an Amitabh Bachchan actioner from the 1980s.
Throughout there is a feeling of
Everyone hams. Pratiek Babbar and, surprisingly Manoj Bajpai ham so much it is an embarrassment to watch them whenever they are on screen. With Babbar that’s not a major problem as the script has little time for him. The only one who gets away with the hamming is Randeep Hooda. His longhaired cop act does have a certain degree of intelligence, otherwise found to be lacking in almost every sequence.
Tiger Shroff seethes in anger. No wonder he erupts with the vehemence of a battle-bound gun blazing at enemies across the border. His Rambo act in the third act of this horriblybotched remake saves the day but fails to rescue the lm from its numbing nemesis.
Does Tiger nd the kidnap victim? Does anyone really care what happens to the missing child when we have more urgent concerns, like trying to hold on to our senses while characters talk nonsense like “Muslims are not only known for biryani but also for qurbani.”
This, coming from an actor as able as Deepak Dobriyal is a shame. But then, what is not?
men in their lives. There is a constant ow of interesting events, bolstered by dialogues and lines that do not appear to be borrowed from greeting cards and online poems. These people speak a convincing ménage of Hindi Urdu and English and the Mirza sisters often lace their heated arguments around the house with the ‘F’ word.
Haq Se is well worth your time. Interestingly, this is the second series in a row produced by Ekta Kapoor after the riveting Test Case to show women challenging men at their work place. This social awakening on the digital platform is welcome. Perhaps Ekta Kapoor can nally move on from those regressive serials for day-time television. Subhash K Jha
He has choreographed action for Christian Bale in The Dark Knight and Tom Hardy in Dunkirk among over three dozen lms in a career nearing 30 years. Hollywood’s famous action director Tom Struthers, who is now working on some high-octane stunts for Bollywood lm Race 3 in Abu Dhabi, nds Indian superstar Salman Khan no less a professional.
He considers Salman as an actor who is sought after and “well-liked”.
“I am very fortunate that in my career I have worked with good, professional people,” Struthers said recently. “Never once have they been unprofessional with me. Salman is in the same category. He was kind, caring about his people, and concerned about his artistes. He cares about where he is going as an actor and about what he is doing about the character he is playing,” adds Struthers.
Well, what can we say about Sallu bhai that hasn’t been already said? Everyone in Bollywood knows what a heart of gold he has!
She turned 46 recently, and she couldn’t possibly look a day over 30. On her birthday recently, actor and model Lisa Ray says she is grateful for everything in her life and that she received grace from her battle with cancer.
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and politician Aditya Thackeray recently inaugurated a public toilet, fully funded by the actor following a tweet from wife Twinkle Khanna, at the famed Juhu Beach. The bio-toilet, costing around a million rupees, was handed over to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). “Good morning and I guess here is the rst scene of Toilet Ek Prem Katha part 2 #WhenYourWalkGoesDownTheToilet,” said Twinkle’s sarcastic tweet on 19 August last year, showing a picture of a man defecating in public.
Though the tweet evoked mixed reactions, with many complaining about her lack of compassion for the poor, it spurred Akshay into serious activity and he decided to fund a bio-toilet complex at the beach.
The toilet has a running water facility and separate enclosures for men and women. Akshay described the effort as “a small contribution on his part to our dear city... but just the beginning” which is expected to be a boon to several thousands of locals and tourists who throng Juhu beach daily.
Thanks for doing your bit, Twinkle! Behind every successful man, there’s a wife who knows how to wield her weapon of sarcasm!
“Because there’s so much to be grateful for. Because there’s so much grace I received from cancer. I send strong currents back to you, to persevere in nding what makes you happy and to feel at home in your body and spirit. Happy Birthday to Lisa 2.0,” Lisa tweeted on her special day.
In 2009, Lisa was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells known as plasma cells, which produce antibodies. A year later, she announced that she was cancerfree, after a stem cell transplant. As multiple myeloma is an incurable disease, Ray is not completely cured of the disease.
On the Bollywood front, Lisa was last seen on screen in Dobaara, a Hindi remake of the Hollywood lm Oculus Here’s to you, Lisa!
Indian actor Anupam Kher has received nomination for the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards in 2018 for his work in a BBC project. Anupam is nominated for his performance in the adaptation of Satnam Sanghera’s
memoir The Boy with the Topknot, a TV movie.
The actor, who has featured in about 500 lms, is up against Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty), Brian F. O’Byrne (Little Boy Blue) and Jimmi Simpson - USS Callister (Black Mirror) for the Best Supporting Actor trophy.
Anupam tweeted, “Thank you Bafta for the nomination. I feel honoured and humbled.”
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the nominations for the annual Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards early April. It will reward the best television programmes broadcast in the UK in 2017. The ceremony will be held at the Royal Festival Hall on 13 May.
The legendary Indian actor de nitely deserves the award, we wish him all the luck!
Nope, it’s not a fellow actor, folks! Actor Kangana Ranaut says she admires ace designer Neeta Lulla for effortlessly fusing contemporary and traditional fashion. “The one thing I truly admire about Neeta is how effortlessly she fuses contemporary and traditional, giving the wearer the best of both the worlds,” Kangana says.
Lulla, best known for her bridal couture, is currently styling for Kangana-starrer Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. The actor will also be inaugurating the designer’s store shortly.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is gearing up for the release of his rst production Missing, says that producing a lm is a dif cult task when you are also a lead actor in the movie.
The actor was talking at a recent promotional event along with Tabu and Mukul Abhyankar. He has turned producer for the rst time and spoke about his experience: “It was a dif cult thing. I wouldn’t say it was a cakewalk because this was a job that I have never done before but the pressure of the lm was taken by many capable people like line producers and executive producers.”
He added, “However, at the end of the day, taking a nal call was always in my hand and taking the right decision was a dif cult task because on one day you are playing the lead role in the lm and the next day when you are doing a scene the executive producer suddenly starts telling you about the problem he is facing and he doesn’t know which way to go.
“In that kind of circumstances when your mind is completely stuck in the role, you have to take a fantastic decision for the entire production,” Manoj said.
It ain’t an easy job, Manoj, but somebody’s got to do it!
Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji says she channelises all her emotions and energy into her work. The actor says she turned her joy of having baby Adira and the pain of her father’s death into work.
Rani, who is married to lmmaker Aditya Chopra, gave birth to their daughter in December 2015. Has motherhood changed her?
“Yes, with a child we undergo a huge transformation,” Rani says.
“I felt what true love is. That happens with motherhood... Till I had my child, I did not realise how I can love someone more than myself. At the same time, a
few months ago I lost my father. So I know what extreme pain feels like,” she says.
“As an actress, I channelise all my emotions and energy into my work. I feel the vacuum of my father, but instead of crying and brooding over it, I channelise the emotions,” Rani adds.
Rani’s comeback vehicle Hichki, in which she plays a person suffering Tourette Syndrome a neurological disorder, has won her praise. She is enthused about working more in lms and she is glad her daughter has started understanding this.
“She is a very playful child and stays without me when I am working. She is a happy baby. She has begun to understand that I go to work. And I wanted to teach her for a certain time I will go out for work. She should have the security that I will come back,” said the 40-year-old.
We all know him as India’s Michael Jackson, and for good reason!
There’s no one who can bust out a move like Prabhudheva can, after all. The actor, dancer, choreographer and lmmaker, who turned 45 this month, says he cannot imagine life without dance.
“I think dance is my extension. There is nothing that I can imagine without
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dance. I see the visual rst... I approach dance in a very raw way and then I am a bundle of emotions. It is a very pure thing that happens between my emotions and physical movements, and nothing comes in between.
“Everything changes when I dance. I am a taskmaster there, I am the creator, I am high on dance, my expression, body language... I am like a re,” Prabhudheva says.
From Muqabla, Urvasi Urvasi and Kay sera sera, Prabhudheva has choreographed several songs in Hindi cinema as well as in the southern lm industry. When asked which star he’s worked with has given him a tough time, the choreographer responds, “You see, if anyone is calling me to choreograph a dance, they know my style and they know I am a taskmaster. They want to present themselves as a good dancer before their fans, and that is why they want me to choreograph. So I would say no one gives me a tough time.”
“Yes, they might be doing more rehearsals than that of a regular dancer, but I do not mind working hard with stars. For instance, in Kay sera sera for which Madhuri and I danced together.... She is a great classical dancer and my style is different. She kept on practising until she felt con dent to go for the nal take,” he adds.
A truly diplomatic way to put it, Prabhudheva!
Match the following stars to the tweets below: Karan Johar, Big B, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Big B again Oye ..!! VODAFONE .. nothing going through .. all messages failing .. you show 4G .. but nothing is going ji .. Chalo .. !! sun li sun li VODAFONE ne hamari baat sun li .. messages going now ..
She said Papa! Time for a mini meltdown now!
New Team. New Threats. Get ready for a new thrilling season of @QuanticoTV Thursday, April 26 on ABC!
Thank you for the good wishes everyone. I’m good. It’s just a labral tear in my left shoulder. I intend to come back stronger
What’s the chit-chat between SUNIEL SHETTY and AKSHAY KUMAR?
Send your response to: media@indianlink.com.au TO WIN A MOVIE TICKET!!
What’s the chit-chat here between ALIA BHATT and RANVEER SINGH?
Vandana D’souza: Don’t talk to me. I’m concentrating on my photo shoot.
Congrats, Vandana! You win a movie ticket!
Some other good ones: Rishi Singh: I’m a free bird and you are still stuck with ‘weight’y issues.
Leyla Singh: U better drop those weights & rescue me if I fall
“An alligator can eat a quarter of its bodyweight in a single meal, equivalent to a human eating 89 bowls of rice,” a reader told me in an electronic conversation.
I was not impressed. Ever seen teenagers eat? Eighty-nine bowls is just the appetiser. This exchange was triggered by a March 3 news report that a snake in Florida was seen eating a deer larger than itself. The snake became a new Dining Hero for my son and me, replacing TV’s Miss Piggy, whose sensible eating plan is: “Never eat anything you cannot lift.”
So how did the snake eat something larger than it? Snakes temporarily dislocate their upper and lower jaws so that they can eat big things, including cows and buffaloes, said a herpetologist friend via email. (Humans have to do the same when eating those extra-tall burgers.)
A bird-lover in my office commented that some songbirds eat a meal of insects roughly every two seconds during their waking hours. That’s 30 meals a minute!
Definitely worth adding them to our Dining Heroes list.
Listening to this conversation was a colleague who was on a diet where you have six small meals a day. (I told her I totally loved the sound of that, except for the word “small”.)
The discussion became a competition. “Forget alligators. A growing hummingbird consumes twice its weight in food every single day,” the bird-lover said. Impressive. In human terms, that would be equivalent to a teenaged boy eating a couple of sheep a day. Could teens really do that? I texted one to ask. “If you put them on a pizza, or cooked them as rogan josh, sure,” was his reply (after translation from teenspeak).
But hang on, you say, would that not be dangerous? I asked a doctor friend, and he said that physicians used to think it was impossible to eat yourself to death. But in 1985, medical journal The Lancet reported a case in which a 23-year-old woman consumed one pound (450 grams) of liver,
The T-Rex, a nine-patty cheeseburger created by an outlet of Canadian burger chain Wendy’s, has been safely extinct since 2013
two pounds of kidneys, an eight ounce steak, two eggs, a pound of cheese, two slices of bread, a pound of mushrooms, two pounds of carrots, a cauliflower, 10 peaches, four pears, two apples, four bananas, two pounds of plums, two pounds of grapes, and two glasses of milk. She was rushed to hospital where surgeons cut her open – but she died before they could remove her lunch.
It reminded me of a true story from this column in 2014. A woman ate so much to celebrate Lunar New Year that she exploded. A nutritionist at Beijing Friendship Hospital said the 58-yearold patient felt ill from overeating and demanded a lunchectomy. The electric
knife used by a surgeon provided a spark which met combustible gases from alcohol, causing a messy explosion in the operating theatre.
I don’t wish to be morbid or anything, but you have to admit, if you have to die, this is pretty cool way to go. You eat all your favourite foods, and before even your weighing scale can reproach you, BOOM, you’re done.
And someone else gets to clean up the mess. Now, please excuse me while I go dislocate my jaw.
By replacing and upgrading parts of the existing phone and internet network, nbn is bringing more Australians access to fast and reliable broadband services.*
As most existing landline phone and internet services will be disconnected, it’s important you switch a ected services before your disconnection date.^ nbn will notify you by mail once you can switch to a new plan over the nbn™ access network. You’ll then have up to 18 months before existing services are disconnected.^
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