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EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR Neha Malude

What the shenanigans in Canberra mean for Australia-India ties

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Preeti Jabbal, Emie Roy, Mohan Dhall, Aparna Ananthuni, Hamsa Venkat, Auntyji, Charuta Joshi ADVERTISING MANAGER Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

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

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

NATIONAL EDITION

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

H

e’s not getting much love at the moment, but to his credit, Tony Abbot has been the only Prime Minister this century who has shown any urgency of wanting to do business with India. With the shenanigans going on in Canberra, it may well be 2020 before we see a serious political engagement between the two countries.

At the turn of the century, India - still smarting from the Labor Government’s accusations after its nuclear tests in 1998 - took time to thaw to the new John Howard Coalition government. Howard, in his two visits to India, was able to convince the government of the Australian desire to engage, and move along the sale of uranium. The advent of Kevin Rudd at the helm in Australia put a brake on this relationship: rather India perceived that Rudd veered Australia towards the Chinese orbit. PM Julia Gillard did bring

India back in the equation in 2011when she strongly advocated and won the debate to sell uranium to India.

Narendra Modi took power in India when Abbott was at the Lodge, and went on a successful overseas charm offensive. he shared ideological background between the two men - and the ‘bromance’ that developed - further aligned the path of the two nations.

But with Malcolm Turnbull, the relationship floundered yet again. While Australian business has made inroads in India, the pace, by the sheer volume of opportunities, has been slow.

Case in point the recent white paper on Australia’s India economic strategy by Peter Varghese. The blueprint is a brilliant roadmap of how Australia can work with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Yet, the low-key launch of the report led to murmurings of a ‘burial’, as key geopolitical impacts were pointed out. Since then, various DFAT and other officials are working overtime to give oxygen to this report.

Though there are 90 recommendations made, the spotlight is on education, agribusiness, resources and energy and

tourism – all low hanging fruit which if grabbed, can initiate business momentum.

India would have liked more investment in infrastructure. The problem is that the ministers leading these portfolios need higher and constant engagement with India. Education Minister Simon Birmingham visited India in April 2017 with the PM; the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steve Ciobo also visited India in May 2017. Both have had their counterparts tour Australia.

However, the current situation in Canberra will have the ministers scampering to save their seats. As we go to print, Turnbull is still the PM, though the punters are not offering any ets on him being there in the short term. As Canberra bunkers down for the next election - due in May 2019 but which might be called earlier - Varghese’s 514-page tome on engaging with India will definitely not be on top of any reading lists.

Whoever wins, it may be a while before the Varghese report is brought out and dusted. With India also entering its 5-year election cycle in 2019, the starting point could well be 2020. The challenge is, will there be the will to make it work?

AUGUST (2) 2018 5

CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURES INDIA DIARY The big wet in Kerala

16

AUSTRALIA-WIDE The big dry

18

COMMUNITY Independence Day events

20

TRIBUTE Atal Bihari Vajpayee

25

18

16

COVER STORY

31

ARTS India and Pak in Oz

Coaching College

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AUGUST (2) 2018 7

YOUR SAY

REACHING OUT WITH FOOD

CARL BUHARIWALA wrote about a Melbourne-based food joint that provides free, warm food to homeless people.

Deen Parast wrote: Great work by Vishal Vohra and Meetu Arora, and business partner Ranvir Singh. Feeding the hungry is the greatest charity, as per many great saints. Keep up the good work and all the Forces of Good will bless you.

Rajni Luthra wrote: So inspiring Shivani Nikhil Dhawan wrote: This is such a fantastic and superb initiative you guys have taken. I was feeling so proud while reading this post. Keep going and good luck.

WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO ME

On the occasion of India’s Independence Day, INDIAN LINK asked what freedom means in a personal sense.

B Vanlalvawna, Sydney Consul General said: Freedom to me is the ability to make choices without being influenced by external factors. It’s a choice that comes from within.

Mala Mehta said: My parents used to live in Lahore and my father was in the Army and he fought many wars. That influenced and inspired me to become the person I am today. It’s because of my parents that I am able to appreciate my freedom.

7-year-old Ishan Mehrotra, said: Freedom means I can sit in my room and read books. It also means that I can watch a movie on my own.

Akshay said: Freedom to me doesn’t mean just one thing: it’s many things – it is to empower women, it’s being able to live freely, it’s being having access to education.

Bipin said: Freedom doesn’t just mean being able to speak freely, it can also mean having the choice to listen. But it doesn’t come without responsibilities. It’s our duty to enjoy freedom but according to the letter of the law.

Diksha said: Freedom means to be able to express yourself without hesitation and the fear of consequence. Just being yourself.

Pravina said: Simply put, to be able to do what I want, go where I want, any time of the day.

Sanul said: To be able to practise my values and enact my thoughts is freedom, to me. At the same time, it means keeping in mind others’ sentiments.

Usha said: Freedom to me means equality. I mean look at our girls! They are just as talented and able as our boys. They’re becoming astronauts, scientists. That’s what true freedom is.

Vkane said: Freedom to mean is to study whenever you want.

Shobhna said: Freedom to me means having no fear of life or death here and to live happily in coexistence.

Yash said: Freedom means living life free of judgement. We constantly live in fear of what people might say, so for me freedom means to live free of that fear. wrote: Congratulations lady! Next movie “Mary Kom strikes back”.

SAY IT AGAIN 8 AUGUST (2) 2018

SAGAR ON SUNDAY MATINEE

Indian Link Radio’s SAGAR MEHROTRA asked listeners on his show Sunday Matinee to list the apps that have helped make their daily lives easier.

Rachit Mehta wrote: ARCity-VPS (Visual Positioning System). It is good while you are walking on the roads or travelling by car.

Tunein Radio for all worldwide radios, you can download it on smart TV and listen to Indian link at home and keep your mobile free.

Parkmate: It’s from Wilson’s Parking, you can book your parking in advance anywhere in Australia where they have parking. They will send you their own card. Space shuttles are part of Wilson’s parking in Mascot and the shuttles are free. Cashrewards Australia gives you rewards for online shopping and doesn’t have an expiry date, you can claim back rewards for shopping or transfer to your bank account.

Velocity Frequent Flyer, it’s free (Qantas rewards are paid) and you can get rewards on flights, shopping, etc. And it’s valid for 2 years.

Stocard: you can save your all plastic rewards memberships in this app and scan where you want to use them.

Sonali Thakur wrote: There is a good app for yoga: Gaia. It’s a paid app but it’s not that expensive. I also use Indian Link app, Whatsapp and FB. Live 360 is a great one. I use this to track the whereabouts of family members.

Not to stalk them, mind you, but just to be aware. Particularly helpful if you have young adult kids who are out and about a lot.

I love Melbourne, the vintage shops in Chapel St and Collins St, the nightclubs and gay bars where I can dance with abandon without being recognised Bollywood actor Richa Chadha during IFFM 2018

India has BANNED all live exports indefinitely! The global tide is turning — at last — in the favour of animals. Come on, Australia.

Animals Australia, Australia’s leading animal protection organisation

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AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP

#INDIANLINK ON INSTAGRAM

This time’s entry is from @charumenon who shared this picture from Indian Link’s Independence Day special edition.

Post a picture on Instagram of Indian Link in your life using the hashtag #indianlink. We will select the best pic and publish it here.

A message from Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge explaining why Indian migrants have to wait to get citizenship IELTS8 wrote: What a coincidence. Bill was blocked in Oct 2017 and citizenship processing had been slowed down deliberately, I had applied since Jan 2017 and had already lapsed 18 months. I had my Freedom of information notes demonstrating that my application had already been finalized, waiting for approval on the date I attend the interview and no further progress had been done since then. DHA needs to stop telling lies to restore trust among Australian. The largest agency in the country with the least resource to deal with Australian.

NAAN STOP

We posted a picture of Victorian MP Daniel Andrews cooking naan and asked people to guess the ‘secret ingredient’ that made it extra special.

Remiya Goswami wrote: Ghee/butter/yoghurt/chilli sauce... list goes on.

Rupa Kumar wrote: Chilli flakes?

Aparna Raghavan wrote: Ghee!

All good guesses but Remiya got it right with butter.

Please send to Australia … rain welcome party will be arranged.

Australia’s ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey’s comment on Kerala floods

NATIONAL EDITION

Australians send our support to those affected by the devastating Kerala floods in India, and those here in Australia who have friends and family impacted.

Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition

It’ll bring in more visitors, boost our economy...and help us build our very own Vollywood.

Vic Premier Daniel Andrews on setting up a fund for Indian movies to be filmed in the state AUGUST (2) 2018 9

COVER STORY

M F IF

MASALA & MUSINGS From celebrity selfies and panel discussions to dance competitions and movie screenings, Indian Film Festival Melbourne 2018 was less about stars and more about stellar performances

BY PREETI JABBAL

A

lthough last year, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) was high on celeb quotient with the likes of Aishwarya Rai and Karan Johar, this year it was more a out off eat themes and ‘thinking stars’. Festival guests Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal and Mrunal Thakur may not yet be household names, like the A-listers of Bollywood, but their talent has gained them much respect from a discerning audience.

A new wave in Indian cinema is bringing to the fore a legion of talent that is less about Shakespearean strutting and more about natural, believable portrayals.

10 AUGUST (2) 2018

Riding that wave is Kaushal, who took home the IFFM 2018 Best Supporting Performance Award for his role as Sanjay Dutt’s friend Kamli in the latest Bollywood blockbuster Sanju. He wooed both critics and audiences with his roles in Masaan, Raazi, Love Per Square Foot, Zubaan and Raman Raghav.

When asked what he thought of being the poster boy of this new wave in Indian cinema, Kaushal said, “When I started I didn’t know what type of labels I’d be tagged with. My aim in life is to give 100% to my present; if I do that my future will be better than what I want it to be.”

“My job is to be completely honest to the characters between ‘action’ and ‘cut’.

Apart from that I am just Vicky Kaushal,” said the actor at the IFFM launch and press conference. Chadha, who won the Best Supporting Performance for her role in Indo-American film Love Sonia agrees, “My quest was never to be the number

one superstar, but to be an actor who has a long, successful and glorious career, someone who can look back at her filmography and be proud. I am happy to represent the off eat change from detour age cinema.”

The actor, who’s acted in films such as Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Fukrey, Gangs of Wasseypur and Masaan, praised the presence of women in media today.

“When people question, object to or raise their voice against a zoomed-in shot of their midriff or reasts it promotes a positive body image.”

Her partner Ali Fazal was also present as a judge for the short film competition.

Chadha said one of the reasons she came to Melbourne was to spend some quality time with him. During her last visit she enjoyed dancing in nightclubs and gay bars to live bands. “I cannot party like this in India for fear of being recognised or videographed,” Chadha said.

Everyone loves Melbourne

The love for liveable Melbourne was a common theme among the celebrities from India. Director Rajkumar Hirani and writer Abhijat Joshi professed to have lost their hearts to the city, its rising cityscapes and breathtaking views.

It was Rani Mukerji, however, who stole the show. The actor who was here to hoist the Indian flag at Federation Square articulated her affection not ust for the city but also for its ‘really handsome Premier’.

Daniel Andrews, the Victorian Premier, had just finished announcing plans to establish a $3 million Indian Cinema Attraction Fund to enable more filmmakers to explore Victoria as a shooting location when he was left at a loss for words by Rani. Andrews blushed as the actor took his hand, ushered him to the stage, cupped his chin and serenaded him with her own version of the famous Bollywood song >

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All photos: Ravinder Singh Jabbal

Premier Andrews with Rani Mukerji

Richa Chadha Mrunal Thakur

Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi

Malaika Arora with Richa Chadha

Taran Adarsh

Rani Mukerji AUGUST (2) 2018 11

COVER STORY

Tabrez Nurani and Freida Pinto

> Tum paas aye as thousands of onlookers cheered.

Although a picture of elegance in her soft chiffon sari with just a stole to keep her warm in the chill, Rani seemed unfazed.

And why wouldn’t she? The quintessential drape is associated with the Bollywood song-and-dance routine where Indian actresses brave freezing conditions to sashay down snow-capped mountains or run around trees, while the heroes are snug and toasty in their trendy woollens. “I wore this to remind you of all those Bollywood films,” said the actor to the crowd.

About inclusion and diversity

Freida Pinto of Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire fame, who’s also starred in several American and British productions including Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna, accepted her IFFM Diversity Award. “Diversity or diverse roles is not something I do alone or can ever do alone. It is because of the writers, team members, agents, managers and filmmakers. Most importantly, it is the stories past and contemporary that inspire people to make films and make those

12 AUGUST (2) 2018

Ali Fazal

characters come to life. That’s what makes stories diverse,” she said.

This year, the IFFM theme of inclusion was celebrated by sharing the work of the two winners of the BMW Short Film Competition at the Red Carpet Awards Night held at Palais Theatre in St Kilda.

Jeyachandra Hashmi’s winning entry from India was titled To Let, based on prejudices one comes across when renting a place. Kauthar Aboualam was the Australian winner with her short film Found, based on Islamophobia and the risk to Islamic women wearing scarfs, which according to her is statistically 79.6% more frequent today.

Awards and awardees

Actor Manoj Bajpai was the surprise entry as he snuck in to claim the Best Actor award for his role in Gali Guleiyan (In the shadows), an intense, enthralling psychological thriller. The Dipesh Jain film also found special mention under the Best Indie Film category.

Love Sonia, which was screened on the opening night, won the Best Indie Film award. Tabrez Noorani and David Wormack’s dark and confronting drama

on international sex trafficking created quite a buzz and provoked both thought and debate among film enthusiasts.

Also very well received was Mahanati, Nag Ashwin’s Telugu biographical film based on the life of South Indian actress Savitri. Actor Keerthi Suresh who played the lead accepted the IFFM Equality in Cinema award for the romantic tragedy.

Interestingly, actor Sanjay Dutt who was to attend the festival was allegedly refused a visa due to his previous conviction, much to the disappointment of his fans and the director of his biopic, Rajkumar Hirani.

But Sanju took the coveted IFFM Best Film award while Hirani accepted the Best Director. Ranbir Kapoor deservedly took the title of IFFM Vanguard in the lead role, but couldn’t be present because he was shooting overseas.

Mukerji, who snapped up the Best Actress award for Hichki had her fans wrapped around her little finger as she spoke, sang and happily posed for selfies with them.

Despite another style faux pas at the awards night with unflattering, super straight hair extensions and a middle parting, she came, smiled, flirted and

conquered – especially at the Q&A session with Rajeev Masand where she invited children to sit with her. She also made a point to congratulate and hug IFFM real life heroes Ryka Gulati and Alle Sayers who were acknowledged for their bravery and courage.

During the awards function, IFFM jury members Simi Garewal, Sue Maslin, Jill Bilcock, Nikkhil Advani and Geoffrey Wright were invited to introduce the artists. They praised the calibre, diversity, creativity and talent that made their task of choosing the best tough.

Caroline Pitcher, CEO of Film Victoria, said, “Cinema is not just entertainment.

It can provide opportunities, education and understanding and can often address issues that can change attitudes, moral values and behaviour. It can be a medium for social change.”

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange was described as a powerhouse and Garewal thanked her team for working tirelessly to make the festival a roaring success.

With the Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition for Talent, discussion panels and a variety of movies, there was something for everyone.

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IFFM WHEN SANJU CAME TO MELBOURNE Film-maker Rajkumar Hirani talks to PREETI JABBAL about his latest blockbuster, the ‘whitewashing’ rumours, and why we need more film festivals

H

e is known as Indian cinema’s most bankable director, a master craftsman and a creator with an intuitive Midas touch.

It’s no wonder Rajkumar Hirani (of 3 Idiots, PK, Munnabhai MBBS and Sanju fame) won the IFFM 2018 Best Film and Best Director award. He talks to Indian Link about his latest offering Sanju, the controversial buzz surrounding it and of course, its reception at the festival.

Preeti Jabbal (PJ): Sanju has raised all sorts of interesting questions about the character and the interpretation. Have you achieved what you set out to achieve?

Raju Hirani (RH): When every film ends you always feel you could have done more.

In hindsight, you wish that you could have done something differently, but finally it boils down to making choices due to limitations of time or restriction of budget. In Sanju, we talked about media using the guise of ‘our sources’ or sutron ke anusaar to get away with allegations and character assassinations.

We focussed on the dreaded question mark that almost always goes unnoticed.

PJ: But the media is mum about the whole thing…

RH: It is hard when you turn the mirror around and they have to face it. I won’t make a sweeping statement and say everyone in the media is unethical, but the sad reality is that negativity sells and that’s what some people focus on to create news. After the release of Sanju the word ‘whitewash’ was thrown out there by some in the media and it stuck.

We have been accused of whitewashing Sanjay Dutt’s story. But we clearly showed

NATIONAL EDITION

that he did drugs, he confessed to sleeping with over 300 women, he cheated with his best friend’s girlfriend and that he went to jail. So where is the whitewashing?

PJ: But people loved the film. And you even managed to reach out to the visually challenged. Did you have any role in achieving this?

RH: Yes of course they couldn’t have done it without my involvement. Saksham, the organisation behind this, had trialled something similar with my film PK but for DVD. This time, they managed to make it possible for the visually challenged to enjoy the movie in the cinema halls. You download an app, link it to the audio of the theatre and use your headphones. Plus, you get a visual description of the scenes. Like any new initiative, it will grow with time.

are a great platform for films that aren’t commercially appealing or don’t boast of big stars. They are a great way to reach film lovers. I find that if movies get a good review in a festival, they get a better release.

What Mitu Bhowmick Lange does with the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne is amazing. It may be easy to curate films, but bringing guests out from India is tough.

I know how much effort she must be putting in to convince people to come here.

We were here a few years ago when it was a much smaller event, now it is getting bigger and better.

PJ: Coming now to Oz, do you think the Victorian government’s $3 million fund for Indian cinema will attract more artists?

RH: Melbourne is a fantastic city to shoot.

It has a distinct character. And apart from the CBD there are some wonderful locations, like the Great Ocean Road.

But there’s no denying that it’s expensive.

I tried shooting here once but it was too costly an affair. The fund is a great initiative, but it’s not clear as to how they are going to distribute the $3 million.

Usually, we get tax rebates when we shoot abroad. They offer free locations to shoot or reduce the taxes by 25% because the country attracts tourism. It’s a win-win.

PJ: What will it take for Bollywood to make a sizeable impact on the western world?

RH: I don’t think we should worry about that. People who are exposed to a certain milieu and culture make cinema. It’s not necessary that it will travel across the world and honestly, there is no harm if it doesn’t.

We make films for India. Americans, for example, have little exposure to India whereas we in India have more exposure to America. Generally, they tend to see the poverty and so movies like Slumdog Millionaire work. Maybe they are not yet able to associate with us.

PJ: Film festivals: what’s your opinion?

RH: The more, the merrier! Festivals

PJ: Actors like Vicky Kaushal are becoming poster boys for a new wave of

Indian cinema. What are your thoughts?

RH: It’s not surprising. In fact, it reflects the intelligence of the audience. Back in the ‘80s, there was one (basic) formula on which multiple films were made. Sure there were great films too, like Ardh Satya, but they had limited audiences.

Over the years, filmmakers have become bolder in their experiments, and people have become accepting of different genres of films. They like watching commercial cinema but they are also interested in contemporary movies or films that are based on out-of-the-box subjects.

PJ: On the personal front, what is your stabilising influence in this rapidly changing world?

RH: Not being judgemental or cynical helps, as our view of the world is completely made up of what we fill in our heads. The more we judge and are cynical, the more these stories will bother us, so it is important to remain sane.

PJ: Do you ever fear disappointing your fans, critics or even yourself?

RH: Yes. Whenever you make a film you want it to be accepted, you want your work to be loved, you want people to find resonance. With that expectation comes fear, but it is a good fear as it makes you strive for more.

AUGUST (2) 2018 13

COVER STORY Sachin

Rani Mukerji with Mitu Bhowmick

IFFM

WHO WORE WHAT Who sparkled and who shone? Did we gush or did we moan?

Let’s hear the verdict from the fashion cops at IFFM Awards Night 2018

Richa Chadha

THEY GOT IT Little Freida Peep..er..Pinto exuded vintage vibes in her gorgeous Elie Saab gown. There’s a lot going on there, but Freida, ever the picture of elegance, managed to pull it off. And unlike Rani Mukerji, who chose to freeze to death in her beautiful but sheer sari, Freida layered the number with extra tulle. Full points, Freida.

Fashion siren Malaika Arora brought her A-game on the red carpet at IIFM in a House of Kotwara outfit. The soft mint and cream lehenga, with a sexy choli paired with statement oxidised silver necklace from Apala by Sumit, dewy makeup and a soft bun ticked all the boxes.

Richa Chadha, darling of the masses, looked quite chic in a sparkling navy gown by Namrata Joshipura. The muted makeup with smoky eyes and soft curls went perfectly with the bold colour of the dress and took the focus away from the tuck shop arms. A mention for the Label Sreya Samanta dress sari, though, that she wore on the opening night. Such a spunky yet gorgeous outfit and no one could have pulled it off better than her.

Talented Actor Vicky Kaushal filled his tall frame snugly in a well cut, long achkan style jacket with white bottoms and it was love per square foot for all the fans in the audience.

We fell in deep for this dark maroon, soft silk saree with a delicate gold border and hand embroidered blouse carried off beautifully by festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange.

Super woman sure knows how to rock her sarees.

14 AUGUST (2) 2018

Malaika Arora

THEY DIDN’T

Simi Garewal

Best Actress Rani Mukerji was also nominated for fashion’s best in a trademark black Sabyasachi anarkali, paired with a grey and gold dupatta. An overzealous straightener let her down, though, as did the hohum smoky eyes. Elegant, sure, but spectacular? Nah. Sachin of the Sachin-Jigar duo chose to go monochrome. The funky jacket that shone on stage didn’t quite cut it, nor did his performance, by the way.

She loves her white – we know that from the time she hit the screen in the ‘70s but this fur meets furls failed to flatter our generally elegant yesteryear actress and talk show host Simi Garewal. The fresh botox looked furious not fashionable.

Vicky Kaushal

Preeti Jabbal

Freida Pinto

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AUGUST (2) 2018 15

INDIA DIARY

The big wet Lessons of resilience come through from a flood-ravaged Kerala

BY EMIE ROY

T

he southern Indian state of Kerala has always been a popular tourist destination with its idyllic beaches and lush greenery owing to seasonal rainfalls. Since the beginning of the monsoon season in June this year however, the state has seen torrential rain – some 42% more than its usual amount.

The price Kerala has had to pay for these rains has been substantial. Nearly 400 people have been killed, with the death toll expected to rise. About 800,000 are displaced in a state that is only 1/200th of the land area of Australia. The cost to the state and its people stands at a staggering $A4 billion.

Kerala has not seen a crisis such as this in the last 100 years. Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of the state, said to the media, “We’re witnessing something that has never happened before in the history of Kerala.”

A state that is known for its high levels of education, health index and record of social development, Kerala is estimated to have gone 10 years behind in its economic development, following this crisis. It is said it will take at least five years to get through the short-term rehabilitation process, with the long-term rehab remaining.

16 AUGUST (2) 2018

Why were the floods so destructive?

The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) during 2016-17 stated that Kerala has been the worst performer among southern states when it comes to effective management of water resources. The shortcoming certainly proved disastrous. The BBC quoted experts advising that Kerala gets no early flood warning from the Central Water Commission (CWC), the only government agency authorised to do so, which resulted in no flood forecast. Combined with this, the riverside homes in a densely populated state with 44 rivers flowing through it, did not provide enough space for the rivers to expand in times of relentless rains. The copious amount of water that poured down, along with the opening of the shutters of 35 of the 39 dams in the state, submerged a major part of the region. Landslides exacerbated the destruction exponentially.

Water was everywhere, and the resultant massive confusion too, to a set of people who have never seen a natural calamity in their life. The whole state was stupefied for a day or two, as they saw rising water levels around their homes. Every single person in the state was affected in some way or other.

Steny Sebastian, a resident of the Ponds in the western suburbs of Sydney told Indian Link, “My parents were stranded in my hometown in Kerala – they stayed in the second floor of my house for a week.

They did not have power supply, and hence they could not charge their phones.

That terrible feeling of texting your parents and waiting to receive a text back to see if they are safe or not, is the worst thing ever.”

After the initial shock subsided, people began to react. Information on people who were stranded was circulated first within their friends’ circles and then in wider groups. The requirements of food, clothing, shelter and basic necessities were circulated, and everyone that was safe lent a hand – to rescue stranded people, to cook food for the relief camps, to supply clothing and so forth. Life changed in one night; but people bounced back. Schools, universities, churches – all were converted into relief camps. It was a humanitarian crisis; however, humanity was not at stake.

An unprecedented development was the emergence of social media platforms as the biggest monitors during the catastrophe.

In addition to Facebook safety checks and Google person finders to report missing persons, people kept vigil day and night on Facebook and WhatsApp. There were no official instructions, but these platforms suddenly started to be used as citizen-led control rooms. People live-fed the situations that triggered the rescue missions. They passed the information which helped procurement and transfer of amenities. Being a highly computersavvy community, different avenues of technology were explored and utilised, something never seen before in any natural disaster, anywhere in the world. Simple yet thoughtful initiatives, like Engineering students developing use-and-throw power

banks to keep the mobile phones and torches alive, proved to be very helpful.

The Kerala Government centralised all the rescue efforts in a single website https://keralarescue.in/, for effective collaboration and communications between authorities, volunteers and the public – where you could do everything from requesting for help to donating to volunteering to mapping the places in need of help, all at the click of a button.

One single website was established for channelising all the much-needed monetary help in the form of donations to the state - http://www.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/, something that was relied on by everyone including the Chief Justice of India to contribute to. The active involvement of young District Collectors who worked at grassroot levels was another novel phenomenon that inspired many.

Many things were done on a war footing. A Kerala Flood Resources Map - an interactive map to find helpline numbers, relief camps and other essentials like ambulance - was implemented by Google. True Caller pay was linked up with the Chief Minister’s disaster relief fund to allow people to contribute.

Amazon Cares was established to donate for relief operations through NGOs. Rescue operations were stepped up by the involvement of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and disaster management agencies such as National Disaster Response Force, along with the efficient Police force of the state.

Amidst all this, the real heroes who

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That terrible feeling of texting your parents and waiting to receive a text back to see if they are safe or not, is the worst thing ever Steny Sebastian, The Ponds, Sydney emerged – who were escalated to the ‘Superheroes without capes’ status - were the fishermen in the coastal areas. They were termed ‘Kerala’s army’ by the chief minister himself. In their mammoth efforts, they travelled and transported their boats to long distances to engage in rescue missions and save about 16,000 affected people. Their service proved to be invaluable, especially in areas with massive undercurrents.

It is interesting that these couple of weeks of terrible catastrophe have been named ‘Kerala’s finest hours’ by Muralee Thummarukudy, the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the UN Environment Programme, a Malayalee himself. He said that never before in its history has Kerala experienced such unity and collaboration.

The hashtag “We Shall Overcome” was used widely in all the platforms, wherever people spoke about the floods, reinforcing the spirit of resilience.

Yet, normalcy is still a long way away. The state and the Government machinery are equipping themselves for the rehabilitation process which might take years to complete. Generous donations are needed from kind-hearted people and organisations for this. The infrastructural damages like the loss of

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bridges and roads are manifold. Smallscale industries, small businesses and trades are back to square one. Majority of people who lost their homes did not have any kind of insurance. Many farmers who lost their crops and animals will have nothing to look forward to in the coming months. There are people who come back to their water-destroyed homes, to see what they gathered in a lifetime has been damaged or lost.

Expat Keralites, who have migrated all over the world, are extending their help to their home state, in cash as well as in kind. Malayalee-Australians are playing their own part too. The harvest festival Onam, which the community usually celebrates with pomp and gaiety, stands cancelled across the country, or has been converted to fundraising campaigns. Aligning with these activities, the Malayalees in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne are holding a public vigil on 26 August. John Jacob, the Secretary of Sydney Malayalee Association commented when asked about this, “This is a community vigil of reflection, solidarity and connection to help rebuild Kerala.

Every thought, every prayer, every penny and every presence counts.” There is no better way of summing it up.

AUGUST (2) 2018 17

AUSTRALIA WIDE

all of them seem to be able to bear with it. Dying animals also affect farmers and their families. Those with young families are the ones who are really affected–just like a young family in the city would suffer if the breadwinner lost a job.”

Asked about farmer suicides, Mark told Indian Link, “The meagre subsidy for farmers here as compared to that in other western countries is causing a tight squeeze.

It’s not just the farmers who are the victims.

The rural economy itself is getting affected.

Usually, the farmers will spend their money in the businesses in the country towns, who in turn source products manufactured in small Australian companies. When farmers stop spending, it creates a cascading effect and impacts the entire economy.”

Sydney’s Lucinda Coble, whose father is from Charleville, an outback town in Queensland, said, “We were out there a few weeks back and the place is a dust bowl.

We couldn’t believe it, really terrible.”

And the big dry It’s time to brace ourselves for the ongoing drought in NSW and Queensland, and to pitch for afflicted farmers, writes EMIE ROY

W

hile Kerala soaks wet like never before, closer home to us here in Oz, the states of NSW and Queensland are in the middle of the worst drought in years. The Big Dry has been around for a few months and the situation looks dismal, thanks to a critical lack of rain this year among other things.

What exactly is drought?

Dr Avanish Panikker, Senior Wastewater Engineer in Sydney explains in his paper Predicting the drought: the needs and the haves: “Identification of the beginning or end of drought conditions is debatable.

Low rainfall in itself does not constitute the commencement of drought; rain or flooding during prolonged periods of drought does not necessarily signal the end of drought”.

So what exactly is drought? Apparently, drought can be felt in four different ways: meteorological drought (deviation from normal precipitation conditions over a period of time), agricultural drought (lack of adequate soil moisture for crops or pasture), hydrological drought (reduced precipitation for an extended period of time) and socio-economic drought (recognises the relationship between supply and demand for water, how low water supply negatively impacts communities in terms of businesses and social behaviour.)

substantial. Also, our position under the subtropical high-pressure belt encourages the air to push down, preventing the lift required for rain.

Other systems called climate drivers like El Nino and La Nina in the central and eastern tropical Pacific can make things worse from time to time. The Bureau of Meteorology’s Climate Updates also mention that climate change and extreme weather events might exacerbate the risk of droughts.

Who’s affected?

“You have no idea what it is like here. We have absolutely no rains at all,” said an anonymous volunteer in Central NSW who works amongst the farmers. “The farmers

How does it affect me?

are in a terrible situation. We are trying to provide as much assistance as possible to sustain life here. Life is tough here, to say the least.”

Indian Link was able to engage in an in-depth conversation with Mark Judson, a NSW farmer who owns or leases about 5,000 acres in the country town of Bogangate, between Parkes and Forbes.

“Farmers here are a tough lot, as they have seen many ups and downs,” said Mark, as he confirmed the information on the Bureau of Meteorology’s page.

“This drought did not just commence right now, it has been around for months. The livestock as well as mixed crop farmers have fallen victims, and as an outcome the winter crops like wheat, barley, oats and canola are affected too. The fact that there was not much rain when seedlings sprouted will certainly take its toll on these crops. Without rain most will die within three weeks.”

He added, “There is not much hay or grain available to feed our sheep. Whilst we are feeding them a ration, and also providing them mineral supplements, not

A predicted pinch in bread and red meat will be hitting markets soon. Bread prices could go up since wheat production is affected. Red meat’s availability will increase initially due to farmers offloading their sheep first, and then it is expected to limit itself as the breeding stock would have perished and it takes time to establish a new stock.

Can I help?

The most important thing seems to be donating to genuine organisations, so do your research before doing so. We have been advised that some of the farmers never want to ask for help. In those circumstances, the volunteers will just leave parcels and care packages at the farmer’s front gate and drive off without going in. This makes it even more important to donate to the right people. A few charities that have set up fundraising efforts for these farmers are Drought Angels, Aussie Helpers, Buy a Bale, Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal run

by Australian Red Cross.

Volunteers advise that it’s better to donate cash rather than in kind, to get the money rolling in the rural economy. Even better, you can volunteer yourself. Or take a trip and spend money in these rural towns to inject life into their businesses.

Dry sowing (left) and temporary water points as dams go dry

Why is there drought in Australia at the moment?

The Bureau of Meteorology’s autumn summary advised that this year’s April to June period has been the fourth-driest since the Bureau of Meteorology started taking records back in 1900. Being the driest inhabited continent, Australia’s rainfall and natural climate variability is

18 AUGUST (2) 2018

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AUGUST (2) 2018 19

INDEPENDENCE DAY CIA event

Sydney’s ‘India week’ INDIAN LINK was out and about across the city, attending multiple celebrations of India’s Independence Day BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

I

t’s taken Sydney’s Indian community an entire week to celebrate India’s Independence Day. We’ve had repeat celebrations by the government, by community organisations, and by the Indian government representatives here, even as messages from the Prime Minister, Federal and State ministers, and members of parliament have jammed our inboxes.

The NSW State Parliament marked the occasion for the first time, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian in attendance, and kicked off the weeklong celebrations.

The actual day was of course reserved for the festivities at the Indian Consulate: the Consul General read out the message of the President of India, raised the Tiranga, and led the most vociferous rendition of the national anthem of the week.

In between these two ‘bookend’ celebrations, we went along to a variety of events.

20 AUGUST (2) 2018

In a wonderful new initiative this time round, Local Councils chose to mark India’s national day. The Tricolour fluttered proudly in Parramatta and Blacktown, shown due respect by mayors Andrew Wilson and Stephen Bali respectively. As areas of significant numbers of Indian-origin residents, the move was welcomed with much enthusiasm in both local areas. Kudos to Local Councillors Sameer Pandey (Parramatta) and Moninder Singh and Susai Benjamin (Blacktown).

The celebrations of our large community organisations were to a large extent the same as previous years, with repeat programs including the same main guests and speeches (as well as similar entertainment and food). While the UIA did surprise with a wonderful venue (Parramatta riverside), it did nothing for its march-past, a hallmark item in its program for years. CIA’s venue, event and format were all pretty much exactly the same as last year. FIAN actually went down a couple of notches: a car-park venue does not exactly sound exciting when you look at the manner in which our Melbourne cousins celebrated – a landmark venue such as Federation

Square, a major Bollywood star as chief guest, and the community turning up in their thousands to support – even if there is government and private sector funding to it all.

In all of these events, it was the politicians that livened up the proceedings, with their speeches, their mingling with

the community, and frequently with their choice of Indian attire.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s words were sincere as she described the outcomes from her recent India trip, as well as when she commended community volunteers for their efforts, having been there herself before rising to the position

CIA event

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UIA event

UIA event

UIA event

Parramatta Council event

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AUGUST (2) 2018 21

Photo: Binu

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Consulate event

FIAN event

of Premier. The cricket references in Opposition Leader Luke Foley’s speeches were clever and just as entertaining as the touch of showmanship in Minister Ray Williams’ appearances. MPs Julie Owens, Jodi MacKay, Julian Leeser, Geoff Lee, Julia Finn and Michelle Rowland, all regulars at community events, continued to amaze us with their knowledge of - and engagement with - the Indian community.

By acknowledging India’s national day, they highlighted the value of the diasporic community in contemporary Australia.

Here are some of our stand-out moments from this week.

Premier’s reception for Indian community The high point here must surely be the announcement that Dr. Hari Harinath will serve a second term as Chair of Multicultural NSW UIA’s Mateship Fair The donations to NSW farmers suffering from drought; Federal Member for Parramatta Julie Owens’ particular take on Indian and Australian ‘mateship’ including a hark back to the days of Anzac Cove; the speech by Julian Leeser, Federal Member for Berowra, delivered in Hindi (“Indian community upne moolyoun, jaise ke kathin parishram, paarivaarik sanskaar aur shikshaa se Australia ko sumridh bana rahi hai.” The Indian community is enriching Australia with its values of hard work, family and education.)

FIAN’s India Day Fair Crooner Shobha Ingleshwar’s crisp renditions of both Indian and Australian national anthems; Luke Foley’s words about “celebrating India” as well as “mourning with it” for its recent cricket performance in England; the Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Willaims’ advent on stage waving India and Australia flags

22 AUGUST (2) 2018

CIA The charity auction of items in aid of Westmead Children’s Hospital, at which the pollies livened up the proceedings: Minister Ray Williams threw in a lunch at Parliament House hosted by him, for one of the items, and the Opposition one-upped him by throwing in a lunch for six people with four MPs. The bidding by the audience matched suitably.

Parramatta Local Council The crowds that descended on Parramatta Town Hall at Centenary Square, despite the winds: those from the Indian and local community, as well as passers-by out for an early lunch who stopped to record some of the colour and the festive sounds.

Blacktown Local Council The walking down the aisle of the Indian and Australian flags by Consul SK Verma and Mayor Stephen Bali. The two flags will fly side by side on Blacktown Village Green for a week, so grab the photo opportunity.

Blacktown Council event

Indian Consulate The singing of the National Anthem here, which you’ll agree, is totally something else. Great to see the Indian Australian community drop by even if for short periods (such as one visitor Bipasha Poddar who came in for 10 minutes on her way to work). This is the place to be on 15 Aug. Consulate dinner The swanky venue of the Calyx inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, despite its difficulty of access especially afterhours on a weeknight.

The giant flower-bedecked wall added much splendour as a backdrop, and proved to be a hit with selfie hunters for that final glamorous end to a week celebrating India.

NSW Parliament event

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ADVERTISEMENT SOS Centre - Science of Spirituality Meditation Centre, National Headquarters, Lisle, Illinois

SANT RAJINDER SINGH JI MAHARAJ, HEAD OF SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY, INAUGURATES SPECTACULAR NEW NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY MEDITATION CENTER, IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SUBURB

O

ver the last three decades, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj has impacted the lives of millions of people throughout the world with his message of personal transformation through meditation on the inner Light and Sound. As witness to his global influence, thousands of people from 30 different countries gathered in Lisle, IL on Saturday, July 28, for the inauguration of the new National Headquarters for the Science of Spirituality.

Accompanied by a delegation of dignitaries from local cities, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj cut the ribbon to inaugurate the iconic building. The organization’s new home embodies love, grace, and universality, bringing together design elements from the East and the West, just as the spiritual Master’s message brings together people from all walks of life.

The ribbon-cutting took place in front of the reflecting pool where a threeton sculpture named “The Meditator” embodies the Science of Spirituality logo and represents a person in meditation.

The gently rippling pool in which it sits echoes the inner stillness and peace a person experiences in meditation. In the middle of the main building, the circular, gold-colored main hall rises up from the tinted, curved glass arms that surround it, evoking two hands cupped in prayer and reaching to the heavens for divine inspiration and love..

Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the building is a separate golden circular structure designed as a meditation sanctuary. It sits on a floor that was poured separately so that sound or vibration cannot travel from any other part of the building. The sanctuary is only for meditation. With its transitional lighting and serene atmosphere, the sanctuary will serve the community as a place to sit in silence and discover the peace and joy embedded within.

The architect, Gensler, is widely recognized as the world’s largest and leading collaborative architectural design

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firm, while the general contractor, Skender, has been the builder of choice for many of the world’s leading brands.

The Science of Spirituality Meditation Center, built in accordance with green standards, represents one of Gensler’s and Skender’s most recent iconic successes The inauguration program, featuring a panel of honored guests as speakers, took place on the stage of the main hall immediately following the ribbon-cutting.

Speaking first, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj expressed his appreciation to the guests, after which he outlined the main purposes of the Meditation Center.

He said, “We have a wisdom awaiting us deep within. Instead of only logging onto the Internet, we can take some time daily to log into our own inner essence to lead to a wisdom to enrich our lives. We can discover how to enter our personal sanctuary through meditation, leading to inner and outer peace and lasting joy. Meditation can help us uncover our spiritual side and discover the wonders within.”

U.S. Congressman Bill Foster, from the 11th District of Illinois, commented on how the Science of Spirituality has brought together people from all backgrounds. “I cannot tell you how proud I am to look out at the wonderful diversity in this audience and think how it reflects the diversity of these communities, of the state of Illinois, the United States and all of humanity.

Thank you for representing them.”

Kathryn Kruger, PhD read a welcome letter from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois: “There’s an old saying: travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light. The Science of Spirituality has been the light in Lisle, Illinois for years, and today, with the inauguration of its new meditation center, that light shines a little bit brighter. Thank you for all you do and all you will continue to do in this community. Your work matters and makes a meaningful difference in all the lives you touch.”

Marina Faz-Huppert, the Chicago Director for U.S. Senator Tammy

Speakers at inaugration 2018 - Inauguration of the new Science of Spirituality National Headquarters, Lisle, Illinois. L to R: Wheaton Mayor, Michael Gresk; Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s wife, Mata Rita Ji; Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj; U.S. Congressman, Bill Foster; and Village of Lisle Mayor Chris Pecak

Duckworth, Illinois, read the Senator’s congratulatory letter, in which she said, “I am particularly appreciative of the Center’s mission to support people from all walks of life in coming together to encourage peace. Your efforts are vital in uniting people all over the world and emphasizing the values of kindness, goodness, and harmony.”

U.S. Representative Grace Meng from New York, after mentioning the organization’s affiliation with the United Nations as an NGO and praising its commitment to enriching the lives of those it serves, wrote: “I commend Science of Spirituality for its unwavering dedication to supporting its community and beyond.”

All the thanks and appreciation are a testament to the tireless efforts of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj whose vision for humanity is both individual and global. It is one in which all people can realize the true value of their deepest self. Through meditation we deepen our commitment to serving the world with love and compassion. Through meditation we realize that all life forms

are vital and valuable members of one family of God. When the Meditation Center opens its doors to the public in September, not only will the community find a sanctuary of peace where they can spend time in meditation, but they will also be able to register for a variety of classes, programs, and events. These, as with all Science of Spirituality programs, are free. From vegetarian cooking classes, to learning how to meditate or participating in retreats, the Meditation Center will offer the community a full schedule of activities. All are welcome.

As you enter the doors of this meditation center, May you be illumined with golden light, May you discover your sanctuary of inner peace, and May you bask in the spiritual sunshine within.

For more information see: www.sos.org www.sos.org/aus/australia Phone Australia +61 431 718 888 USA 0011 1 (630) 955 1200

AUGUST (2) 2018 23

WHAT’S ON

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STAND WITH KERALA Sun 26 Aug (11.00am-1.00pm) Show your support for Kerala’s people and help rebuild their lives. At Martin Place, Sydney. Details 0470 111 154.

sensation Parhwanath Upadhye and Kathak by Ruchi Sanghi Dance Company. At Bryan Brown Theatre, cnr of Rickard Rd & Chapel Rd, Bankstown.

Details 0411 015 396.

Janmashtami at The Ponds High School Hall, via 25 Wentworth St, The Ponds.

Features include Ras leela, Dahi handi, Bhajans, Jhanki jhoola, Aarti and kids’ fancy dress. Details 0409 981 355.

COMMUNITY Diabetes Education Seminar Sat 8 Sept (1.00pm-4.00pm) Diabetes NSW and ACT presents information on connecting with diabetes services in your local area.

Topics covered include understanding the NDSS, making healthy eating easy, physical activity, and the annual cycle of care. Light lunch included.

Venue: Wentworthville Community Centre, Grevillea Room, 2 Lane St, Wentworthville. Details Jayashree 0405 650 072 or Shantha 0422 082 608.

Bhakti: Art and Devotion Sun 9 Sept (3.00pm-4.30pm) Arjunan Puveendran and Indu Balachandran present a recital as part of the Sydney Sacred Music Festival. At Old Government House, 1A Pitt Street, Parramatta. Details 02 9635 8149.

Grand Janmashtami Festival Sat 8 Sept (1.00pm - 9.00pm) Sri Krishna Kirtan Society presents celebrations at Sri Rama Krishna Temple, 275 Fifteenth Avenue, Austral (near Liverpool). Program includes bhajan, harinam sankirtan, kids’ dance, Garba and prasadam.

Making you job-ready Sat 25 Aug (11.00am-5.00pm) New migrant? Mum getting back to work?

Get job-ready at seminar on resume preparation, cover letter, networking with local recruiters, interview skills, dress for success, and more. Granville Youth and Community Centre, 3A Memorial Drive, Granville. Details 0437 877 771.

Tamil Literary Meet Sun 26 Aug (4.00pm-8.00pm) Iniya Ilakkiya Sandippu, a Tamil literary meet at Redgum Function Centre, Wentworthville. Details 8757 9000.

Calling Type-2 Diabetes patients Are you an Indian-origin Diabetes (Type2) sufferer? You might be able to help a research team at the University of Sydney, investigating ways to optimise medicine-taking. If you are aged 18 and over, are on at least one anti-diabetic medication, and live in Sydney, you are invited to participate in an interview on your experiences with the condition.

Please call Dr Akram Ahmad on 0424 237 664 or email akram.ahmad@ Sydney.edu.au You will be reimbursed for your time at the end of the interview.

STAGE Kannada music Sugama Kannada presents the following events: Sat 25 Aug (5.30pm onwards) Bhaavayaana at Wattlegrove Public School Sun 26 Aug (4:30pm onwards) Old is Gold with Ratnamala and Pancham, and Sydney-based singers at Toongabbie East Public 27-28 Aug and 29-30 Aug Light music (bhaavageethe) Workshop with singer Smt Ratnamala in the Liverpool area and Pendle Hill area respectively.

Details www.sugamakannada.com Navarasas: The Nine Emotions of Life Sun 2 Sept (10.00am-4.00pm) A dance workshop with Padma Menon to learn the nine archetypal emotions as described in Indian philosophy (Navarasa theory). No previous experience of dance is required. At Kangaroo Valley Hall, Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley. Details 0447 643 646.

Vasantha Nrityam Sat 8 Sept (6.30pm-8.30pm) A performance by Bharatanatyam

24 AUGUST (2) 2018

Majestic Brindavan: A stage production by G.O.D Sat 6 Oct (5.00pm onwards) Kids of the Sydney Gopa Kuteeram present a play based on a mystical land of love and trust. Durga Auditorium, Rose Cres, Regents Park. Details 0423 041 111.

FUNDRAISER Salute Event Wed 8 Sept (5.30pm - 11.30pm) A fundraiser for India’s soldiers

by Pecosa Australia. At Parra Villa Function Lounge 42 Campbell St Parramatta, Parramatta. Details 0430 167 283.

GOPIO Charity dinner Wed 15 Sept (6.30pm onwards) GOPIO Syndey North West chapter presents its 9th Annual ‘Caring and Sharing’ charity dinner to support underprivileged children in India and communities struck by natural disasters. At Bowman Hall, Campbell St, Blacktown. Details 02 9839 6000.

SPIRITUAL Simran and Meditation Diwan Wed 29 Aug (6.30pm – 8.30pm) Simran and meditation at Gurudwara Turramurra Sikh Temple Sydney, 81 Kissing Point Road, Turramurra. Details 02 9449 8253.

Yoga for beginners Wed 1 Sept to Sat 8 Dec Sat (7.00am – 9.00am) Ryde East Public School (Entry via Badajoz Rd.) 12 Twin Road, North Ryde.

Sat (10.00am – 12.00pm) Banksia Hall, 2 Lane Street, Wentworthville.

Sat (5.00pm – 7.00pm) Quakers Hill High School, Performance Space 70 Lalor Road, Quakers Hill.

Sun (7.00am – 9.00am) Epping Community Centre 9 Oxford Street Epping.

Details 0412 202 182.

Chinmaya Mission’s Annual Retreat Sat 29 – Sun 30 Sept Chinmaya Mission presents its annual family retreat ‘A Reality Check’ at Bundila Scouts Training Centre, Winston Hills.

Details Chinmaya Sannidhi 02 8850 7400, 0416 482 149.

FESTIVAL Janmashtami Sat 1 Sep (6.30pm - 9.30pm) Celebrate the festival with kirtan, meditations, darshan and dance performances at Granville Town Hall 10 Carlton Street, Granville. Details 02 9806 5140.

Janmashtami Sun 2 Sept (5.00pm – 8.00pm) Hindu Council of Australia marks

Ganesh Chaturthi Satsang Thur 13 Sept (7.00pm onwards) Jai Guruji Sydney presents a special Ganesh Satsang with Puneet Khurana at Sai Mandir, 25 Rose Cres, Regents Park. Details jaigurujisydney@gmail.com Western Sydney Ganeshotsav 13-23 Sept Daily at Swaminarayan Mandir, 1/44 Bessemer St, Blacktown.

Cultural program at Model Farms High School, Gooden Drive, Baulkham Hills.

Details: westernsydneyganesh.org.au Ganesh Festival Sat 15 Sept (10.00am-9.00pm) Telugu Sandadi presents Ganesh Festival at River Foreshore Reserve (between Wilde and Queens Avenues), Parramatta. Highlights include ecofriendly Ganesha statues, cultural activities by local and overseas artistes.

Details www.telugusandadi.org.au Ganesh Visarjan at Helensburgh Sun 16 Sept Special festivities at the Helensburgh Temple, including grand Ganesha procession around the temple and to the beach, to the beat of traditional drums. Sri Venkateshwara Temple. Special buses from Parramatta and Homebush. Details 02 494 3224.

Vinayak Chavithi Sun 16 Sept (2.00pm-8.00pm) Australian Telangana State Association celebrates Ganesh festival at Ermington Community Centre, 8 River Road, Ermington. Details www. telangana.org.au Garba Night Sat 22 Sept (6.00pm -11.30pm) Garba night with Gujarati Garba queen Geeta Raba. At Stanhope Pkwy & Sentry Drive, Stanhope Gardens.

Details 0430 182 299.

King of dandiya Sat 22 Sept (7.00pm onwards) Enjoy dandiya with Devang Patel. At Whitlam Leisure Centre, 90 Memorial Ave, Liverpool. Details 02 9600 9333.

ENTERTAINMENT Uni students’ cultural night Sun 23 Aug (6.30pm-11.00pm) Ekansh USyd, IndSoc UNSW, UTS Indian Society and Dilwale MQ present Shaam Shaandaar, a night of Bollywood dancing, music, comedy and drama. Venue USyd Manning Bar. Details ekansh.sydneyuni@gmail.com Royal Indian Rendezvous Sun 26 Aug (1.00pm – 5.00pm) A ladies-only event with a fashion show, dinner and dance as well as live performances. At Dezire Function Centre, 107-109A Main Street, #1,

Blacktown. Details 0401 321 070.

Mohd Rafi Nite Sat 1 Sep (6.30pm onwards) Shashi Lal presents Mohd Rafi night at Bonnyrigg Sports Club, 618 Elizabeth Drive, Bonnyrigg Heights. Details 0406 449 474.

Shaam-e-Mausiqui Sat 1 Sept (7.00pm onwards) Enjoy a wonderful night of celebrating IndoAustralian music. At Parklands Function Centre, Fairfield Showground, 443 Smithfield Road Prariewood. Details 0423 464 517.

Disco Deewane Aka Tambola Night Sat 1 Sep (6.00pm - 11.00pm) Join everyone at the bi-annual tambola night in your best disco attire. At Don Moore Community Centre Cnr N Rocks Rd & Farnell Ave, Sydney. Details 02 9871 5506.

Rangtaali 2018 by Aishwarya Majmudar Sat 1 Sep (7.00pm - 11.00pm) Enjoy the performance of renowned singer Aishwarya Majumdar at Whitlam Sports Centre Liverpool Copeland St, Liverpool. Details 02 9600 9333.

Bhangra Night 2018 Sat 8 Sept (6.30on – 10.00pm) Enjoy a night of dancing with friends and loved ones at Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall, Crawford St. Queanbeyan, NSW. Details 0430 681 984.

Salaam-E-Ishq Sat 8 Sep (6.00pm onwards) Enjoy a night of scintillating music at Roma Function Centre, 167 Northumberland St, Liverpool. Details 0434 511 779.

Desi bash Wed 12 Sept (7.30pm onwards) Ekansh and PakSoc bring to you the biggest annual party yet again on campus, Desi Bash 4.0. At Manning House, Manning Rd, University of Sydney. Details 02 9563 6000.

Open Mic Sydney Fri 14 Sept (7.00pm onwards) Open Mic is back in Sydney with DJ Shailen, Shyni Joseph, Bindu Khattar and many more artists in action. At Sky View reception, Liverpool. Details 0490 807 274.

Shehzada-e-Ghazal Sat 15 Sept (7.30pm onwards) Rendezvous with Jazim live in Sydney.

At Tivoli Hall Rooty Hill RSL, Sydney.

Details 0401 422 630.

Kishore Kumar night Sat 22 Sept (7.00pm onwards) Moods of Kishore Kumar. At Club Maitland City 14 Arthur Street, Rutherford. Details 0401 182 295.

MISC Garden to Table - Indian cuisine Sat 8 Sept (12.00pm – 3.00pm) In this sustainable workshop, Chef Gerry will prepare some classic Indian recipes utilising the aromatic and colourful spices that are the hallmark of Indian cuisine. At Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living, LOT 1 Mount Annan Drive, Mount Annan, NSW. Details 02 4647 9828.

www.indianlink.com.au

TRIBUTE

A moderate among hardliners A tribute to India’s former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a reformer the nation needed, and got

H

e was a man of moderation in a fraternity of jingoistic nationalists; a peace visionary in a region driven by religious animosity; and a man who believed in India’s destiny and was ready to fight for it.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (93), who died on 16 August, will go down in history as a person who tried to end years of hostility with Pakistan and put development on the front burner of the country’s political agenda. He was also the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full five-year term.

In his tumultuous tenure, Vajpayee made India a declared nuclear state and then almost went to war with Pakistan before making peace with it in the most dramatic fashion. In the process, his popularity came to match that of Indira Gandhi, a woman he admired for her guts even as he hated her politics.

He became PM, but only for 13 days, from May 16-28, 1996, after his deputy, LK Advani, chose not to contest elections that year. His second term came on March 19, 1998, and lasted 13 months, during which India stunned the world by undertaking a series of nuclear tests that invited global reproach and sanctions.

Although his tenure again proved shortlived, his and his government’s enhanced stature following the world-defying blasts enabled him to return as Prime Minister for the third time on October 13, 1999, a tenure that lasted a full five-year term.

He finally stepped down in May 2004, after losing the election. The BJP’s election strategy rested on seeking a renewed mandate over three broad pillars of

achievement that the government claimed – political stability in spite of a multi-party coalition; a “shining” economy that saw a dizzying 10.4 percent growth in the last quarter of the previous year; and peace with Pakistan.

Vajpayee was born on Christmas Day in 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, into a family of moderate means. After a Masters in Political Science, he worked as a journalist with Hindi publications such as Rashtradharma, Panchjanya, and two Hindi dailies, Swadesh and Veer Arjun. By then he had firmly embraced the ideals of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

But even as he struggled to win electoral battles, his command over Hindi, his conciliatory politics and riveting oratory brought him into public limelight.

His first entry into Parliament was in 1962 through the Rajya Sabha, and in 1971, he won a Lok Sabha election.

Vajpayee spent months in prison when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency rule in June 1975 and put her political opponents in jail. When the Janata Party took office in 1977, dethroning the Congress for the first time, he became the foreign minister.

The lowest point in his career came when he lost the 1984 Lok Sabha polls, that too from his birthplace Gwalior, after Rajiv Gandhi won an overwhelming majority following his mother Indira Gandhi’s assassination. In no time, Vajpayee was replaced and “eclipsed” by his long-time friend LK Advani.

Although they were the best of friends publicly, Vajpayee never fully agreed with Advani’s and the assorted Hindu nationalist

groups’ strident advocacy of Hindutva, an ideology ranged against the idea of secular India. He was often described as the right man in the wrong party. Often he found his convictions and value systems at odds with the party, but the bachelor-politician never went against it.

It was precisely this persona of Vajpayee — one merged in Hindutva ideology yet seemingly not wholly willing to bow to it — that won him admirers across the political spectrum. It was this trait that made him the Prime Minister when the BJP’s allies concluded they needed a moderate to steer a hardliner, pro-Hindu party.

Vajpayee’s diplomatic initiative to start a bus service between New Delhi and Pakistan’s Lahore city was lauded, although it was suspended after the 2001 terror attack on the Indian Parliament.

The freeze was cracked in 2003 when Vajpayee, while in Kashmir, extended a “hand of friendship” to Pakistan, which led to the historic summit in January 2004 with then President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad — a remarkable U-turn after the failed summit in Agra of 2001. Despite the two men being so far apart in every way, Musharraf developed a strong liking for the Indian leader.

He was not known as “Atal-Ji”, a name that translates into firmness, for nothing. He could go against the grain of his party if he saw it deviate from its path. When Hindu hardliners celebrated the destruction of the 16th century

Babri Mosque at Ayodhya, he was full of personal remorse and called it the “worst miscalculation” and a “misadventure”.

In his full five-year term, he successively carried forward India’s economic reforms programme with initiatives to improve infrastructure, including flagging off a massive national highway project that has become associated with his vision, went for massive privatisation of unviable state undertakings despite opposition from even within his own party.

However, his judgment was found wanting when his government was rocked by an arms bribery scandal that sought to expose alleged payoffs to some senior members of his cabinet. His secular proclamations and failure to speak up against the killing of more than 1,000 Muslims in Gujarat, allegedly by his party members, were questioned by the liberal fraternity. He wanted then chief minister — now Prime Minister, Narendra Modi — to take responsibility for the riots and quit but was prevailed upon by others not to press his decision.

Vajpayee wanted to devote his time to writing and poetry. But fate ruled otherwise. The man who once said that “I have waited too long to be Prime Minister” found his last days in a world far removed from the adulation and attention. Although people prayed for his well-being, he was surrounded only by care-givers and close family whom he even failed to recognise.

IANS

A POET AND A POLITICIAN Sydney-based poet and musician Abbas Raza Alvi talks to Indian Link Radio’s CHARUTA JOSHI about his links with Vajpayee

Photo: Gurmeet Kalsi

“Mere prabhu, mujhe itni unchaai kabhi mat dena, gairon ko gale na laga sakun itni rukhai mat dena (God, don’t ever give me heights that I’m not able to embrace strangers).”

Abbas Raza Alvi narrates the first lines of Vajpayee’s book of poems Meri Ekyavan Kavitayen with ease that can only come from genuine love for poetry. “His poems reflect the reality of life as he saw it,” says Alvi. “His words are replete with irony, pain and empathy for the common man’s problems.” Alvi set to music a select sample of Vajpayee’s poems, in an album called Sandesh featuring local singers.

NATIONAL EDITION

“No other political leader made a more earnest effort to thaw the tense relationship between India and Pakistan,” Alvi recalls.

“When I met him, he told me how much he liked one of the compositions, Jung na hone denge (We won’t let the war happen). He was appreciative of the fact that I had roped in both Indian and Pakistani singers for this song.”

Vajpayee the poet, Alvi tells, was not very different from Vajpayee the politician. He talked about the ordinary man and his daily struggle, but he talked about politics in his poems too. “Desh ki rajdhani me Sansad ke saamne dhool kab tak udegi? Meri ankhen

band hain, mujhe kuch dikhai nai deta (How long will dust fly in front of the Parliament in the nation’s capital? My eyes can’t see anything). That’s Vajpayeeji talking politics.

What other politician writes about things like these?” Alvi asks.

Giving music to Vajpayee’s poems was no mean feat, but Alvi insists that it was a gratifying experience to breathe life into the words of the man who gave so much, both to the country and the common man.

“His death is a great loss to us. Vajpayeeji was a Prime Minister for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, everyone. He was India’s true Prime Minister.”

AUGUST (2) 2018 25

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EXHIBITION

Muslim tales from the east A Parramatta exhibition offers insight into how Islam came to be a vital part of the state of Kerala

BY EMIE ROY

O

ld Government House was abuzz with the sounds of the traditional Oppana (a ritual dance performance for brides) as we entered the courtyard. Little girls aged 4-6 years, clad in kachi (a kind of wraparound skirt), kuppayam (blouse), and thattam (scarf) moved delightfully to the traditional tunes. As their scarves glazed in the winter sun and shone bright like their sparkly eyes, they became the perfect introduction to the exhibition Kerala’s Muslim Culture staged at the historic venue.

It was part of the exhibition Tales from the East: NSW and India. (on till 26 August 2018). Organised as a joint venture between Australian Malayalee Islamic Association (AMIA) NSW chapter, National Trust Australia and Old Government House, this exhibition offered an insight into how Islam evolved as one of the major religions of the state of Kerala.

And there was something for

NATIONAL EDITION

everyone – from mehndi (or mylanchi in Malayalam) to checking out the tastefully curated artefacts from Keralite life, tom Duff Muttu (a dance in which boys dance to the rhythmic beats of duff, a percussion instrument), to authentic Keralan snacks like Unnakka (stuffed banana) and Unniyappam (snack made from rice, jaggery, banana, spices), and to cooking demos. Consul General of India (Sydney) B Vanlalvawna inaugurated the event.

A very unique addition to the event were the talks run in two sessions, almost throughout the day-long event.

Commencing with one of the curators, Ian Stephenson from National Trust Australia talking about Gen. Macquarie and Kerala, it ranged from Kerala’s Islamic bequest to the tales of Eastern Medicine. It was quite interesting to go through posters hung on topics like ‘How does Islam elevate the status of women?’ and ‘What do Muslims think of Jesus’, that conveyed positive messages on balanced thoughts and religious integration.

Dr Ali Parappil, a representative of AMIA mentioned during a conversation that “this is an ‘Open day’ to portray the Malayalee Muslims that live in Australia”.

Talks that ranged from Kerala’s Islamic bequest and the tales of Eastern Medicine were the highlights of the event HOW ISLAM CAME TO KERALA Islam first came to India not via the north, as is commonly believed, but via the south. Unlike in the north, it came first as a peaceful religion, in the days of the Prophet Mohammad.

Arab traders often visited the Malabar Coast as well as other destinations of the Far East and South Asia. In India, they were welcomed by the rulers. Around 625 AD, the Chera king Cheramun Perumal of Kerala came into close contact with Arab merchants who helped him out with a perplexing personal problem.

He travelled to Mecca with them

to meet Prophet Mohammad and converted to Islam, taking the name Taj-Ud-Din. He was the first Indian to accept Islam. However he fell ill on his return journey and died, but not before asking his chieftains to allow the new faith to be practised freely.

He also bequeathed land for the first ever mosque in India, in Kodungallur town in central Kerala, 30 km north of Kochi. The town is known today as Cranganore, and the mosque, known by the name Cheraman Jum’ah Masjid, continues to stand to this day since it was first built in 628 AD.

AUGUST (2) 2018 27

SCHOOL

Lost in translation Although school reports have become more articulate and detailed, the jargon is leaving parents confused about their child’s performance

BY MOHAN DHALL

T

he reporting systems in schools keep changing and this can make reports confusing to parents.

There is a current shift in education from measuring ‘performance’ to measuring ‘learning’.

Unfortunately, these aspects are not mutually exclusive, as one can reasonably assume that learning can be evidenced by improved performance. However, this change impacts on reports and can leave parents wondering what they are saying.

Reports need to be far more readable and should be easily understood, otherwise it can seem that schools and educators are not interested in having a dialogue through reporting but rather shutting the door on parents under the guise of ‘professionalism’.

The context

The reason for the shift in emphasis from measuring ‘performance’ to measuring ‘learning’ is, in my opinion, in part a result of greater accountability being brought to the schooling sector. The MySchool website is highly utilised by parents but disparaged by many educators. Moreover, the schools that disparage published league tables quote these self-same tables when they improve their published ranks.

Unfortunately, this selective emphasis has created a problem for schools. Lauding student results on school billboards and school newsletters backs educators into a

28 AUGUST (2) 2018

corner. The pressure from school leaders is for continual improvement as measured by external exams, competitions and the like. Realistically, however, schools will experience some annual variations in student performance. Accordingly, they are finding alternative means of showing how well they are doing, for there must be annual and incremental improvements.

This has led to a new form of reporting that focuses on ‘value adding’. Value adding means the emphasis is not on the performance of students, rather it is a measure of how students have improved over time, compared to their own predicted trajectory.

How this affects reports

Parents will have seen that reports are more complicated than they have ever been. No longer can parents simply rely on marks. There are grades, ranks, marks, bands and detailed comments derived from ‘outcomes’.

These might run on scales from A-E, 1-6, progressing towards, beginningachieving-exceeding, and from acquiring skills/knowledge to competence.

Among these, there are varying levels of cognition that can be recognised: the capacity to recall, evaluate, analyse, describe in detail, synthesise, critique, assess and many more. Each of these verbs has their own descriptors.

This richness of detail means that

assessment and reporting is both more ‘granular’ and also more technical. The use of jargon can mask a child’s true achievement whilst being articulated to sound professional. Herein lies a serious problem.

Confusion requires simplification

Here are some samples of report comments and their ‘translation’ into language that can be understood.

Comment: “Jack is working towards the achievement of monitoring and modifying the implementation of plans designed to solve commercial and legal problems and issues. He utilises commercial terminology in different contexts.”

Translation: Jack is disorganised and does not write as clearly or as succinctly as required. The expectation here is that Jack should be more organised and should read more widely so that he knows exactly how to use the terminology for the subject (Commerce).

Comment: “Jamila attempts a judgement about the effectiveness of legal and/or non-legal responses to a contemporary human rights issue. It would assist her if she integrated authority to support her judgement.”

Translation: Jamila has unsuccessfully tried to judge the effectiveness of the law when addressing human rights concerns.

One measure of a school is in how open it is to helping parents understand reports

Jamila was opinionated rather than using facts, statistics or other sources to strengthen her claims. Her opinions are not required.

Comment: “Jacob makes a sound judgement, using explicit or implicit criteria, about whether the legal system changes as it seeks to achieve justice.

He can learn to make his use of explicit criteria more patent. ” Translation: Jacob is competent, but not very strong, at writing in a way that, by deduction, has answered the question.

Jacob has not done this directly and so the marker has had to ‘read into’ the responses. He will underachieve is he cannot clearly write what is required.

Comment: “Joselyin explains skillfully how the portrayal of inferiority/mortality/ social class/longing/love is reimagined for a new audience. This is evident in the accuracy of her written responses.”

Translation: Joselyin is smarter than me, for though this is English I do not understand it.

What parents need to do

Though it can seem daunting, parents need to allow themselves to approach teachers and ask for clarity on what report comments mean. One measure of a school and its teachers is in how open they are to helping parents understand reports.

This is important because if reports are understood, parents can ask informed questions about what teachers are doing to assist their child in the learning.

If educators are authentic to their calling they will make sure that parents understand reports. They will then take the responsibility to address any educational issues those reports have disclosed.

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ARTS

Breaking down borders Two Melbourne artists bring to the forefront their Indian and Pakistani heritage in their work, only to find the differences dissolve in the diaspora BY APARNA ANANTHUNI

O

n 17 August, 1947, the border between the newly independent states of India and Pakistan was officially created. Drawn up

by British lawyer Cyril Radcliffe (hence the name The Radcliffe Line), it was the product of inexperience (Radcliffe had never been to India before), ignorance (he was consulting out of date maps), and indifference to the possible human cost of such a hurried, ill-considered slicing up of an ancient, vast and complex polity.

This turned out, as we know, to be cataclysmic: the largest migration in human history and at least one million lives lost in the bloody conflict that accompanied it.

That a physical, legal and political border exists between the nation-states of India and Pakistan today is fact. But does it have any other existence? Where does it reappear, and where does it dissolve?

One space that it arguably disintegrates is in the South Asian diaspora. It is this ‘third space’ relationship that is explored by contemporary artists Anindita Banerjee and Wardah Alam in their joint exhibition, Sarhad, recently on display at KINGS Artist-Run in Melbourne.

In it, Ray and Alam, both immigrant artists, explore the “fragile, transitory and melting” nature of the Indo-Pakistani border in the Australian South Asian diaspora.

The artists have spent 15 months working together, exploring the role contemporary art can play in, as Banerjee phrased it, “dissolving borders and creating connections”. “We went through a whole process, starting with the question of whether it [the border] exists,” she said.

While recognising the fraught, tangled nature of the relationship between the two nations, the artists offer us works that find and embrace commonalities and confluences. In the video work Instant Jalebi, for example, we see each artist making their favourite sweet from home:

‘What is it that makes us different?’

Single channel video

the jalebi. But the jalebi is more than just a symbol of shared culture; as Alam explained at a panel discussion of the exhibition, it is also a metaphor for the endless political debates that rage around that connection.

They began the project thinking about using performance and prayer rather than the motifs of food, costume and colour that emerged. “But we found we wanted to avoid the religious theme,” Alam said.

Instead, they preferred to use visual metaphors and symbols.

Religion is of course a vexed and bruised issue. As Dr Zahid Shahab Ahmed, research fellow at Deakin University said at the panel, “Religion is central to both countries.” Australia, on the other hand, he said, is “a very individualistic society”.

But he also pointed out that Indians and Pakistanis face “common challenges” in Australia: being ‘other’, the outsiders. “We connect better in Australia,” he said.

Dance artist Joshinder Chaggar brought

a unique perspective to the panel as an Indian who migrated to Australia as a child, lived and worked in Karachi, and has now returned to Australia. Working in the arts in Karachi, she said the environment was “always welcoming, always safe”, and Indian and Pakistani artists were always excited to meet and work together. However, while she has “no border in her”, she believes “that for the majority of people [in Australia], the border is real”, particularly in her own Sikh community. This, she believes, is due to generational suspicion, lack of curiosity and lack of exposure to cosmopolitan, multi-faith spaces.

This brings us back to Banerjee and Alam’s project of using art to question and destabilise the very idea and existence of the border here in Australia. And art itself is another space altogether – perhaps even a ‘fourth space’ within the ‘third space’ of diaspora, and a space with its own ethos; in fact, Banerjee and Alam

have experienced criticism of their work as being an ‘artificial’ representation of the state of relations between their nations.

Nonetheless, Sarhad is a potent embodiment of what it means to reach across a divide, and it comes down to two women and two artists taking that journey together. In my favourite work, the video work What Is It That Make Us Different, the two women, dressed in the grey-beige of army uniforms (Banerjee in a sari, Alam in kameez/salwar), simply sit across from one another and stare.

Eventually, though, they can’t keep straight faces, eyes crinkling, mouths twitching into laughter.

Banerjee said this started as a serious exercise, to try and tap into the importance of the issue they were exploring. The ‘serious staring game’, however, failed.

“We sat there staring at each other trying to be serious, and we just started laughing…thinking what is the difference between us really?”

Anindita and Wardah spent 15 months working together, exploring the role contemporary art can play in “dissolving borders and creating connections” Orange + Green = Brown NATIONAL EDITION

Instant Jalebi AUGUST (2) 2018 31

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DANCE

A joy to behold Ruby Bhave presents an outstanding arrangetram

BY HAMSA VENKAT

S

he was a playful peacock, a lovelorn nayika, a Draupadi in torment, a mischievous Krishna, an Ardhanareeshwara in balance.

Bharatanatyam dancer Ruby Bhave was all of these and much more at her recent arrangetram (debut performance).

The young debutante was able to convince the audience, at the end of her performance at Newcastle’s St. Phillip Christian College, that she was indeed blessed with wonderful talent, her charming stage presence spreading joy just like it should.

Ruby began her special night with a sprightly ‘Pushpanjali’ followed by a ‘Ganesha sthuthi’. The mayura alarippu that followed, a traditional opening dance item choreographed to imitate the graceful lines of a peacock was a perfect choice for Ruby as she regaled the onlookers, spreading her plumage in royal blue.

The keerthanam ‘Kanchadalayadakshi’ on Goddess Kamakshi was presented with poise; Prema Anadakrishnan’s resonating voice and the nadai variations

by Guru Vrinda Ravi and Pallavarajan Nagendran on the mridangam added dignity to the piece. The varnam on Lord Krishna in Charukesi gave ample

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scope for Ruby to demonstrate her skills in abhinaya and natya, the storytelling element of dance.

The nayika or heroine questions her lord as to his indifference. The innocence with which the heroine wonders about her Lord’s neglect of her was beautifully expressed by Ruby. The clash of wills between the aggressive Duryodhana and diffident Yudhishtra as they played a rigged game of dice, Draupadi’s pleas as she was disrobed in public, the many leelas or pranks of Krishna as he weaves in and out of various situations were brought to life on stage with her endearing expressions. Krishna the enchanter who draws the entire universe into his folds with the melody of his flute was also well depicted as animals and humans gravitated to be near the Lord.

Venkhatesh Sritharan weaved his own magic on the flute breathing life into the performance. The second half had a well balanced mix of dances starting with the grand splendour of the half male and half female form of Lord Shiva. Ruby effectively emphasised the tandava (majestic male) and the lasya (graceful female) aspects of the form of Ardhanareeshwara reminding one and all about the importance of how the masculine and the feminine need to complement the other.

A lively kavadi chindu followed where the lovelorn heroine sings the praises of Lord Muruga. Ruby’s portrayal of the lamenting heroine who attempts to write

a letter to her beloved ending up with a long essay of his noble virtues brimmed with the qualities of a mugdha nayika experiencing the first flush of love.

Variety adds flavour to life and what better than a lover’s tiff to add spice to a relationship. The dancer brought this idea to the forefront with the abhang ‘Rusli Radha, Rusla Madhav’, narrating how all of Brindavan came to a standstill when Radha and Krishna quarrelled. Ruby presented this tale with all the multifaceted emotions of jealousy, anger, pride and finally a selfless surrendering by both Radha and Krishna to the king of all rasas, Shringaram (the emotion of love).

Jeiram Jagathesan on rhythm pad and Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda on the violin brought the cooing cuckoos and the buzzing bees alive on stage. The performance concluded with a vivacious ‘Thillana’ and ‘Mangalam’ where Ruby paid her respects to the almighty, her teacher, the musicians and friends and family that supported her. “Seeing my parents and family beaming from the front row and being the biggest cheer squad, my Guru Vrinda Ravi’s encouraging speech and seeing how the community came together to ensure the

whole evening went smoothly, was worth all the effort,” Ruby told Indian Link later.

Talking about her journey working towards this arrangetram, Ruby recalled the many challenges that ultimately helped her to grow. “There were many amazing new experiences throughout the process, but one that I will cherish forever is working with the highest calibre of talented musicians,” Ruby singles out with deep appreciation.

Prema Anadakrishnan on the vocals, Venkhatesh Sritharan on the flute, Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda on the violin, Pallavarajan Nagendran on the mridangam and Jeiram Jagathesan on rhythm pad and morsing and Vrinda Ravi on the nattuvangam supported Ruby seamlessly, inspiring her to awaken to the many shades of rhythm and emotions.

A mention must certainly be made of the compere for the evening, Nikita, who paved the way for each presentation with panache. “While there are surely things to improve as there always is in any aspect of life, I’m glad I can look back and say that I genuinely put in the effort,” Ruby said. “I truly have had the best time and want to rewind and do it all again!”

Seeing my family, guru and the community come together made the effort worth it Ruby Bhave AUGUST (2) 2018 33

ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK

NOT QUITE THE TRIUMPH SATYAMEV JAYATE

STARRING John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee, Aisha Sharma and Amruta Khanvilkar DIRECTOR Milap Zaveri

HHHHH

Satyameva Jayate which means, ‘Truth always triumphs’, is designed as an action thriller. It is a revenge story, where a son fights the system, and makes it his raison d’etre to restore his father’s lost dignity.

The film begins with Veer (John Abraham) an ex-army man becoming a vigilante, killing corrupt police officers in the city of Mumbai. The first police personnel killed was from Santa Cruz police station. The second from Andheri

police station. The police force is baffled with the ghastly deaths.

The Commissioner puts his favourite and most honest DCP Shivansh Rathod in charge of the investigation. No sooner than he takes charge, the vigilante calls DCP Shivansh and forewarns him about his next target.

The DCP accepts the challenge only to realise too late, that the killer had a systematic approach in targeting his victims. He decodes the motive too in a jiffy. But then, nobody can break the law, so the vigilante has to be arrested.

Thus begins the cat-and-mouse chase between the vigilante and the investigating officer.

The plot disrobes the police and exposes the horrific level of corruption

prevailing within the system. While the premise of the film is anti-corruption, it does have a patriotic tinge, but all that is lost in the drama.

While the narrative is earnest, the plot, laden with cinematic liberties although credible, takes you by surprise.

It seems like a Manmohan Desai fabrication with all the tropes of a good Bollywood masala film, which include an item number Dilbar picturised on Nora Fatehi.

The dialogues are intermittently impactful. They seem to be over-egged in an attempt to give its characters a larger than life image.

The first half of the film is done up in a slick and exciting manner which is intriguing and keeps you glued to the

screen.

The second half that starts with the back story of Veer, off tracks the momentum set in the first half and hence, the tale drags.

Being an action hero, John Abraham is sincere as Veer, who has turned into a large-hearted and conscientious citizen who loves the oppressed immensely, after the death of his father.

He essays his part with panache. John is aptly supported by Aisha as Veer’s love interest Shikka, Manoj as DCP Shivansh Rathod, and Amruta as the DCP’s wife Sarita. Though the film with its messages is kind of fascinating, its impact as a vengeance drama lacks the superhero punch.

Troy Rebeiro

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BACKCHAT

ASK AUNTYJI Bole chudiyaan, bole kangana

DEAR AUNTYJI

I need your advice desperately. Ours was an arranged marriage. Neel’s family is old school, almost princely and very well off. I fell in love with Neel almost immediately after the shaadi, and I like to think we had three happy years together. Our honeymoon was in Switzerland, Maldives and Oslo, and I received many gifts from the family.

Neel is handsome and charming. I knew how his family lived and was looking forward to a good life.

Now my family was not as well off, but we were very comfortable. In any case, teen saal baad, Neel decides that he doesn’t want to be married anymore, saying there are a lot of differences. I don’t know what differences he means, but he says that all we seemed to do was go on holidays, and he is more social minded about helping poor people.

I was desperately unhappy when the shaadi ended: I wanted my life back.

But what broke my heart was that Neel asked for some jewellery back, saying that it belonged to his family. Auntyji, those family jewels were given to me as a wedding gift, why should I give them back? They rightfully belong to me. Neel

calls me at least once a month to ask if he can take them back, but I tell him he should have stayed married. It’s been a year since we separated. What do you think, Auntyji?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Thodi si bhi maryada nahin hai aap mein? The family heirlooms are probably generations old, and if I know the way of these nawabs and thakurs, they pass jewels down to bahus.

You turned out to be a lousy bahu instead of serving the state and helping the less fortunate, you wanted to live a glamorous life like a desi Kardashian.

And I would think that Neel’s family - having old money - would be more inclined towards social pursuits that included philanthropy, a foreign concept to you. Hence the barbadi of the shaadi.

Baat rahi gahenon ki, they do not belong to you. They belong to Neel’s family - and you’re not part of it anymore. I recommend that you give back what does not belong to you.

And maybe start doing some social work? Maybe the marriage can be salvaged. That might be a start to finally acknowledging that you have been a selfish little thing.

Kya khubsoorati hi sab kuch hai?

DEAR AUNTYJI

I am happily married, but I am a little concerned about my wife’s behaviour. I love my bride of one year, lekin uski ek baat gives me much trouble. She likes to say that I am very handsome, and that I look like Hrithik Roshan. Even other people have told me this. Auntyji, I don’t care about looks. I have many other good attributes - I am a good person, I read, I help my friends and I always try hard not to say unkind things about others. But Jiya never talks about that - she only tells me, at least once in the morning and once at night, that I am super handsome. Am I an object? I am a man with many qualities. Why is she only focussing on my khubsoorati?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Arre mera chikna shonu monu, kyon apna man kharaab kar rahe ho with wifey’s compliments? Shukar karo ki you are such a hunk, such a hero, ki your wife is besotted. Ok, so ye such hai ki your wife is a superficial person, who

only sees the skin deep beauty of the god that you are, but you have only been married for a year. Enjoy this while you can, because who knows how long this will last? What if she gets used to you and starts picking on other things? Like the fact that you might be lazy, or that you don’t acknowledge and appreciate that she is complimentary of your physical traits? Your other option is to ask her which of your qualities she likes the most.

If she only lists your mardangi, ok, then there might be a problem. We will know she has a major crush on Hrithik Roshan - and who can blame her. He is, after all, a god. You can also nudge her towards a more nuanced appreciation of your traits by being more explicit and grateful when she highlights other features. Perhaps it’s your reaction she seeks. Maybe you puff up and walk around like a hero looking for a villain each time she says you look beautiful. Maybe it’s time to look at your own behaviour to see why your begum chooses to compliment your badshah jaisi surat.

Do you have a question for Auntyji?

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