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EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR Neha Malude

The ref has ruled

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Krishna Neelamraju, Chris Lewis, Craig Jeffrey, Stephanie Newman, Natasha Jha Bhaskar, Ritam Mitra, Hamida Parkar, Nanditha Suresh, Tarini Puri, Minal Khona, Saroni Roy, Rishabh Malhotra, Salma Shah, Usha R Arvind, Nury Vittachi ADVERTISING MANAGER Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

Indian Link is a monthly 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

O

ver the past few days, referees from different walks of life have been in the spotlight.

One believes as we head into the Finals of the two dominant winter sports codes in Australia – the National Rugby League and Australian Football League, there will be more focus on those adjudicating on these final games. Their decisions have the potential to bring to naught months of hard work for those individuals and teams who may believe they have been unfairly ruled upon on the sporting field.

Serena Williams’ outburst against chair umpire Carlos Ramos at the US Open Tennis has grabbed headlines globally.

Observers are divided into two camps – those who believe Serena was unfairly treated because she is a woman and a mother, and those that believe Serena’s outburst was an overreaction and the umpire was justified in calling it out as

he saw it. Whatever be the final outcome, if any, one still has to admire Serena for the terrific sportsperson she has risen to become, and acknowledge the levels of racism and sexism she must have endured to reach her current position.

Speaking of Carlos Ramos, it takes a brave person to stand up and rule according to the letter of the law. No one refutes that he was within his authority to act as he did.

In today’s world where decisions are microscopically scrutinised with social media trolls ready to pounce, abuse and vilify, being an umpire, a referee or an adjudicator is not an easy job. With authority being questioned by even those in power (Donald Trump’s Twitter abuses against the judiciary are an ongoing example), it is small wonder that for even weekend games involving school children, few people are volunteering for umpiring duties.

But one umpiring decision largely being hailed as a giant leap for civil rights in India is the repeal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the law which criminalised consensual homosexual relations.

The Supreme Court announced that

the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community is equal to the other citizens of India and has the same human and constitutional rights. Even the British, who made this law in 1861, have moved on and have accepted homosexuality. The BJP is well known for its pro Section 377 stance, as homosexuality is perceived as challenging the vision of a traditional India.

The repeal by India’s Supreme Court opens doors for greater civil liberties - and with that comes individualism, which challenges far right positions that find strength in orthodoxy and conformism.

One of the judges on the bench, Judge Rohinton Fali Nariman, taking a swipe at the BJP government, who vehemently opposed the repeal, said, “The whole object of fundamental rights is to give courts power to strike down laws which a majoritarian government, swung by votes, will not repeal. We don’t wait for majoritarian governments to repeal laws.

If a law is unconstitutional, it is the duty of the court to strike it down.”

The umpires in this case take the game back from the players.

Good on them.

And on Carlos Ramos.

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 5

CONTENTS 17

SPECIAL FEATURES YOUTH AIYD launches 2018-19 strategy

17

HISTORY Gov Lachlan Macquarie’s Indian man-servant

18

FESTIVAL My favourite Ganesh

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FESTIVAL An eggless cake for Janmashtami

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THE YOUNG ONES Young violinis heads to India for Australia Fest

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NATIONAL EDITION

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YOUR SAY

IFFM MASALA AND MUSINGS

PREETI JABBAL channelled her inner fashion police for the stars’ red carpet.

Sonu Sodhi wrote: Preeti, your news stories are always lovely. A comment in reference to Rani Mukerji’s hair look – ‘an overzealous straightener’ had me chuckling. It’s a look that is very much trending and is referred to as ‘glass hair’. I feel sorry for the makeup artist who would have got her ready but I guess you were looking for something that did not go right.

A THANK YOU

Indian Link received a touching hand-written letter from 93-year-old Peter Pezas thanking the Indian community for helping out drought-stricken farmers in Australia. The community raised a whopping $5,000 at the recent UIA Independence Day event in NSW.

AUS-INDIA YOUTH DIALOGUE

RITAM MITRA reported on the newly launched 2019 strategy of AIYD, the track-two young leaders’ forum.

Karan Anand wrote: Really nicely written piece by @indian_link about the @AIYouthDialogue launch in Sydney!

Rajni Luthra wrote: Did not realise Australia India Youth Dialogue has such accomplished members: “In its now 200+ strong alumni community, 25% have the title CEO/Founder/Chair, eight are elected MPs and five are news anchors, while its alumni also boast two Walkley Awards, three Olympic golds and 240 one day internationals, and a collective 1.8 million Twitter followers.”

SAY IT AGAIN 8 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

Greetings to our Indian friends. I hope you are well and happy. I was pleased to read that Indian volunteers went and helped the farmers in their difficulties, following the damages caused by the heatwave that struck the state. As fellow citizens, I think we all should thank and congratulate them for the excellent job done as volunteers. May God bless you all good people.

I used to fly with Ethiopian Airlines in 1949-50, between Addis Ababa, Karachi and Bombay (as it was called then), and we used to pick up Indian passengers and fly them to India. They were friendly and polite. I have good memories.

Sincerely yours Peter Pezas 93 years old.

The right that makes us human is the right to love. To criminalise the expression of that right is profoundly cruel and inhumane. To acquiesce in such criminalisation… is to display the very opposite of compassion.

Justice Dhanajaya Y Chandrachud, Supreme Court of India

So thrilled! India has made it safer for their LGBTQ population and THIS IS NO SMALL THING. I am in awe of all those who fought for this change - to even get it to court took incredible courage.

Hannah Gadsby, Aus comedian

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GOODBYE, SECTION #377

Indian Link Radio’s KASHIF HARRISON spoke to Darshil, a campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights about the recently-quashed Section 377.

Baljeet Rana wrote: Love your energy Darshil! Kudos to everyone who made this possible! #sec377scrapped.

Kamalika Dasgupta wrote: You did a great job Darshil. We need more people like you!

Adrian Moodley wrote: Great job Darshil!

Harrish Iyer wrote: Good job.

Peter Cooper wrote: Wow Darshil! Fantastic! Well said, my friend! It’s great to see you so happy!

A CAKE FOR JANMASHTAMI

SARONI ROY on Falguni Shah’s eggless Janmashtami cake that combines folklore and flavour.

Jaskirat Sodhi Luthra wrote: Congratulations Falguni. Keep shining.

Mansi Joshi wrote: Heartiest congratulations. Keep going.

Aanchal Saxena wrote: Well deserved!

Kuntal Raval Grover wrote: Congratulations! We will see you reaching even greater heights.

Harsh Raval wrote: Congratulations…wifey.

Binal Tripathi wrote: Congratulations. Very well-deserved.

EMPOWERING MIGRANT WORKERS

CARL BUHARIWALA reported on the newly opened Migrant Workers Centre in Victoria that helps migrants understand their working rights better.

Migrant Workers Centre wrote: Thank you @indian_link for coming to our launch party! Look forward to fascinating opportunities to engage Indian communities in Victoria!

LIFELINE FOR NEW MIGRANTS

BEYONCE DOES BOLLYWOOD

A video of the Beyonce number ‘Put a ring on it’ synced to ‘Bole chudiya’ from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham got a lot of laughs.

Raghu Rules wrote: Tribute on her 37th birthday, and nicely synced.

Manishka Parekh wrote: Made my day!

Shivangi Bhowmick wrote: Neha Devarakonda, why didn’t we look like this at MUIC (Melbourne University Indian Club)?

Massive win for civil rights, public health and human decency. And it’s been a long fight. Progress ain’t always straightforward. Big congrats, India.

Benjamin Law, Aus writer

NATIONAL EDITION

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA wrote about the Indian Professionals Australia, a new community organisation that offers professional mentoring to new migrants.

Bala Murali Ganesh wrote: Keep up the good work.

Anubhav Kochhar wrote: Great work, Rakesh Gupta and Senthil Rajan! Kudos, team IPA.

September 6 will go down in history (as) a day when India became more equal Sir Elton John, UK entertainer

This idiot country irritates and exasperates and infuriates but every time before you have completely given upon it, it does something right and you are drawn right back in. What is this but the Indian cricket team?!

Rohit Pradhan, Indian blogger

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 9

COVER STORY STORY COVER

Time to empower LGBTQ, says SC

The court's unanimous judgement on Section 377 has THE joy COURT’S JUDGEMENT SECTION 377 sparked andUNANIMOUS hope among India'sONLGBTQ community

II

HAS SPARKED JOY AND HOPE AMONG INDIA’S LGBTQ COMMUNITY

n a landmark decision, earlier this nmonth a landmark decision, earlier the Supreme Court of this India last month the Supreme Court of India week decriminalised homosexuality decriminalised homosexuality between consenting adults by between consenting adults by declaring declaring Section 377, the penal Section 377, the criminalised penal provision provision which gay which sex, as criminalisedarbitrary”. gay sex, as “manifestly “manifestly arbitrary”.

In separate but unanimous verdicts, In separate but unanimous a five-judge Constitution Benchverdicts, of Chief a five-judge Constitution Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Rohinton Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Rohinton Nariman, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Nariman, Justice AM DY Chandrachud and Khanwilkar, Justice Indu Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Malhotra partially struck downIndu Section Malhotra partially struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as unconstitutional. The bench said it is no unconstitutional. The bench said it is no longer an offence for LGBTIQ (lesbian, longer an offence for LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, intersex and queer/questioning) intersex and queer/questioning) community to engage in consensual sex community to engage in consensual sex between between two two adults adults in in private. private.

Reading out the judgment Reading out the judgment that’s that’s being being hailed hailed the the world world over, over, Misra Misra said said attitudes attitudes and and mentality mentality have have to to change change to to accept accept others’ identity and accept what others’ identity and accept what they they are, are, and and not not what what they they should should be. be. “It “It is is the the constitutional constitutional and and not not social social morality morality which which will will prevail,” prevail,” said said the the court. court.

It It did did clarify, clarify, though, though, that that sexual sexual act act without without consent consent and and bestiality bestiality will will continue continue to to be be an an offence offence under under section section 377.

377.

“An “An individual individualhas hasfull fullliberty libertyover overhis hisoror her her body body and andhis hisor orher hersexual sexualorientation orientation is aa matter matterof ofone’s one’schoice,” choice,”said saidthe theChief Chief is Justice, adding, adding,“Time “Timetotobid bidadieu adieutoto Justice, prejudicialperceptions perceptionsdeeply deeplyingrained ingrainedinin prejudicial social mindset. mindset.Time Timetotoempower empowerLGBTIQ LGBTIQ social community against discrimination.

They community against discrimination. They

1036SEPTEMBER 2018 JANUARY (1) 2018

should be allowed to make their choices.” should be allowed to make theirsaid choices.”

Importantly, Justice Nariman Importantly,isJustice said homosexuality “not aNariman mental disorder or homosexuality is “not a mental disorder or disease”, and that members of the LGBTIQ disease”, and that members of the LGBTIQ community deserve the right to live with community deserve the rightoftolaw. live with dignity and equal protection dignity and equal protection of deny law. the Justice Chandrachud said to Justice community Chandrachud saidright to deny the LGBTIQ their to sexual LGBTIQ community their right to sexual orientation is a denial of their citizenship orientation is a of denial their citizenship and a violation theirof privacy.

“They and a violation of their privacy. cannot be pushed into obscurity“They by an cannot be pushed obscuritySexual by an oppressive colonialinto legislation... oppressive colonial legislation...

Sexual minorities in India have lived in fear, minorities in India have lived in fear, hiding as second class citizens,” he said, hiding as second class citizens,” he said, adding “the state has no business to adding “The state has no business to intrude on such matters”. intrude on such matters”.

Justice Indu Malhotra said that Justice Indu Malhotra said that history owes an apology to the LGBTIQ history owes an apology to the LGBTIQ community community for for all all that that they they have have suffered suffered on account of the ignorance on account of the ignorance of of the the majority majority about about homosexuality. homosexuality. “LGBTIQ “LGBTIQ people people have have aa right right to to live live unshackled unshackled from from the the shadow,” shadow,” she she said. said.

Interestingly, the Interestingly, the Supreme Supreme Court Court in in an earlier round of litigation in an earlier round of litigation in 2013, 2013, had had reversed reversed aa Delhi Delhi High High Court Court ruling ruling decriminalising decriminalising homosexuality. homosexuality. The The Delhi Delhi HC HC bench, bench, headed headed by by then then Chief Chief Justice Justice AP AP Shah, Shah, had had in in July July 2009 2009 legalised legalised homosexual homosexual acts acts between between consenting consenting adults adults by by overturning overturning the the 149-year-old 149-year-old law, law, finding finding itit unconstitutional unconstitutional and and aa hurdle hurdle in in the fight fight against against HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS. the In July July 2016, 2016, aa fresh fresh petition petition was was filed filed by by In LGBTIQ community community members: members: dancer dancer NS NS LGBTIQ Johar, journalist journalist Sunil Sunil Mehra, Mehra, chef chef Ritu Ritu Johar, Dalmia, hotelier Aman Nath and business Dalmia, hotelier Aman Nath and business

executive Ayesha Kapur, which was then executive Kapur, which was marked toAyesha the Constitution Bench bythen a marked to the Constitution by a Division Bench.

They, alongBench with 350 Division Bench.

They, alongInstitutes with 350of others that included Indian others that included Indian Institutes Technology alumni, students, staff andof Technology and faculty, said alumni, that the students, existence staff of Section faculty, thatthem the existence of Section 377 hadsaid caused “mental trauma and 377 had caused “mental trauma and illnesses, such asthem clinical depression and illnesses, such as clinical depression and anxiety and relegated some of them to anxiety and relegated some of them to second-class citizenship”. second-class citizenship”.

After the judgement, Dalmia said, After the judgement, Dalmia said, “Today, for the first time, I feel we are “Today, for the first time, I feel we are living in a functional democracy. It is a living in a functional democracy. It is a good day for human rights, for the country good day for human rights, for the country and for the Constitution.” and for the Constitution.”

Ishaan Sethi, activist and the founder of Ishaan Sethi, activist and the founder of Delta – India’s first LGBTIQ networking Delta – India’s first LGBTIQ networking app – said the urging counsellors to get app – said the urging counsellors to get requisite requisite training training and and sensitisation sensitisation for for police will ensure that police will ensure that the the judgement judgement is is executed executed on on the the ground ground perfectly. perfectly. Dipalie Dipalie Mehta, Mehta, also also aa part part of of Delta, Delta, added added that that the the judges and the media have handled judges and the media have handled this this issue issue with with unprecedented unprecedented maturity maturity and and impartiality. impartiality.

“I’ve “I’ve nothing nothing but but gratitude gratitude today, today, today today II will will celebrate. celebrate. Towards Towards marriage marriage equality, equality,

tomorrow.” tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) communication in-charge SanghKumar (RSS) lauded communication in-charge Arun the court’s decision Arun Kumar lauded the court’s but made it clear that “although decision not a but made it clear that “although not a crime, same sex marriages and relations crime, sex marriages and of relations are not same compatible with norms nature. are we notdo compatible withsuch norms of nature.

So, not support relations.

So, we society do not also support Indian doessuch not relations. have the Indian society also does notrelations.” have the He tradition to recognise such tradition to recognise such relations.” added, “Human beings generally learn He added, “Human beings learn from experiences that isgenerally why this issue from experiences that is why this issue needs to be taken care of at the social and needs to be taken care of at the social and psychological level.” psychological level.”

And while the Bharatiya Janata Party has And while the Bharatiya Janata Party maintained a stony silence on the subject, has maintained a stony silence on the the Congress has hailed the court’s subject, the Congress has hailed the court’s decision. join the the people people of ofIndia Indiaand and decision. “We “We join LGBTIQ community in their victory over LGBTIQ community in their victory over prejudice.

We welcome welcome the the progressive progressiveand prejudice. We and decisive verdict from the Supreme decisive verdict from the Supreme Court Court andthis hope thisbeginning is the beginning and hope is the of a more of a more andsociety,” inclusivethe society,” equal and equal inclusive Congress the Congress tweeted.

Congress Lok tweeted. Congress Lok Sabha member Sabha member Shashi Tharoor said Shashi Tharoor said the “governmentthe has “government has no space in bedrooms”. no space in bedrooms”.

IANS IANS Photo: AP

History owes an apology to the LGBTIQ community for all they have suffered thanks to the ignorance of the majority www.indianlink.com.au www.indianlink.com.au

FOR QUEEN & COUNTRY FOR QUEER, FOR CULTURE Siddharth Sharma on living openly gay in the South Asian SIDDHARTH SHARMA oncommunity living openly nlike young for from were nlike most most the young Indians, Indians, for from people people were mixed. mixed. Some Some people people gay in South Asian community Siddharth Sharma, coming out

U U

were were very very nonchalant nonchalant about about it. it. Other Other people were awkward.

Someone told my people to were awkward.

Someone told my parents go take a parenting class, saying, parents to go take a parenting class, saying, parents to go we take a parenting ‘Don’t worry, can fix this’. class, saying, ‘Don’t this.

‘Don’t worry, we can fixchallenge. this.

But it worry, wasn’t we thecan onlyfix There’s But it wasn’t the only challenge.

There’s But it wasn’t the only challenge.

There’s a lot of racial discrimination within the gay a lot of racial discrimination within a lot of racial discrimination within the gay community and South Asians tend tothe sit gay South Asians to sit community and South Asiansintend tend to of sit atcommunity the bottomand of the pyramid terms at of in at the the bottom bottom of the the pyramid pyramid in terms terms ofto perceived attractiveness.

So we’re tryingof perceived attractiveness.

So trying perceived attractiveness.

So we’re we’re trying to flip that discrimination based on race and to flip on flip that that discrimination based on race race and and show thatdiscrimination we’re proud ofbased our culture. show that of culture. show that we’re proud of our our culture.

I want to we’re send aproud message to the wider I want to send a message to the I want to send awe message to the wider queer community: are here, we wider are South queer community: we here, we queerand community: weofare are here, we are are South South Asian we are part this movement.

Asian and we are part of this movement.

Asian and we are part of this movement.

And it’s also a message to the South Asian And aa message to And it’s it’s also alsoyes, message to the the South South Asian community: we do support queerAsian community: we do queer community: yes, wesupport do support support queer people, but weyes, also our culture. people, we also support culture. people, but wemy also support culture.

To thatbut end, team and our Iour decided To that end, my team and I decided To that end,that my team I decided to use symbols wouldand resonate with to resonate with to use use symbols symbols that would resonate with everyone.

We’vethat usedwould colours that are everyone.

We’ve used colours that are everyone. We’ve usedstreetscapes. colours that The are reminiscent of Indian reminiscent of reminiscent of Indian Indian streetscapes.

The elephant is a symbol ofstreetscapes. being proud.The And elephant is a symbol of being proud. elephant is a symbol of being proud.

And the The Golden Girls, Giti introduced And us Girls, Giti introduced us to the Golden Girls, Gitire-watching introducedit, usand to tothe theGolden show. We were show.

We were it, as the show.

We theme were re-watching re-watching it, and andYou as asthe soon as the came on, ‘Thank soon as theme on, soon as the the theme came came on, ‘Thank ‘Thank You For Being A Friend’, we realised that You it was For A we realised For Being Being A Friend’, Friend’, we trying realised that it was was perfect for what we were to that do. it perfect for what we were trying to do. perfect fora what were trying to do.

There’s lot ofwe resistance I faced within aa lot of II faced within There’s lot community, of resistance resistancemostly facedcentred within the There’s South Asian the South Asian community, mostly the South Asian community, mostly centred on ideas of the flagrant display of sex.centred In on ideas of the flagrant display of sex.

In on ideas of the flagrant display of sex.

In India, prudishness and the criminalisation prudishness and criminalisation India, prudishness and the the criminalisation ofIndia, same-sex relationships form part of the of form of of same-sex same-sex relationships relationships form part part of the the homophobic legacy of the British Empire. homophobic legacy of homophobic legacy that of the the British Empire.

Some of the content weBritish put upEmpire. about Some of the we put up Somefor ofsome the content content that wetoo putmuch. up about about sex... peoplethat it was sex... for some people it was too much. sex... for people was toodon’t much.

Indian andsome South Asianitparents tend and Asian parents don’t Indian and South South Asian parents don’t tend tend toIndian have “the sex talk” with their kids. to have sex with their toBut have “the sex talk” talk”will with their kids. kids. the“the judgement hopefully prompt But the judgement will But to thethink judgement will hopefully hopefully prompt people about these issues inprompt a people to about these issues aa people to think think about these issues in more humane way.

We’ve only just in started humane way.

We’ve only more humane way.Islamic We’vecommunity, only just just started started tomore reach out to the to to Islamic community, to reach reach out to the the Islamic community, talking to out people who are both Muslim and

Photo: AP

Siddharth Sharma, coming out to parents was “no deal”. to his hismost parents wasIndians, “no big big for deal”. nlike young me, Siddharth, founder of SydneySiddharth, of Sydneycoming outfounder to my parents was no based (Friends Family based FOBGAYS+ FOBGAYS+ (Friends and Family of big deal. Yes, thereand were issues,of Brown Lesbian, Queer, Transgender, Brown Gays, Gays, Lesbian, Queer, Transgender, but nothing compared to those Axesual and people), says there Axesual and Intersex+ Intersex+ people), says there with the wider community and the way my were but nothing to were issues, issues, but with nothing compared to those those family interacted the compared community. with community and way his with the wider community and the the to way his I’mthe gladwider for the court’s decision once family with community. family interacted with the thehomosexuality community. He He and for interacted all decriminalise talks to Link Supreme Court’s talks to Indian Indian Linka about about Supreme Court’s not because I have personal agenda, but recent decision on Section 377. recent decision on Section 377. because it will allow millions of Indians I’m court’s decision I’m glad glad for the court’s decision to finally livefor andthe love with dignity and to once and for all decriminalise to once and for all decriminalise openness. homosexuality not have homosexuality not because because have aaboth, I have always been confidentII about personal agenda, but because will personal agenda, but gay, because itbothered will being Indian and being but itit allow of finally allow millions of Indians Indians tospecifically finally live live me thatmillions hardly anyone spoketo and and and love love with dignity and openness. openness. about beingwith gay dignity in the South Asian II have been confident about have always always been confident about both, both, community, which is how FOBGAYS+ being Indian and being gay, but it being Indian and being gay, but it bothered bothered (Friends and Family of Brown Gays, him hardly anyone specifically him that thatQueer, hardly Transgender, anyone spoke spokeAxesual specifically Lesbian, and about being gay in the South Asian about being gay in the South Asian Intersex+ people) came about. community, which how community, which isother how FOBGAYS+ FOBGAYS+ The way that mostis LGBTIQ+ came came about. about. work is in a bit more of an organisations The most other LGBTIQ+ The way way that that most and other LGBTIQ+ Anglo-Saxon context, tend to focus on organisations is aa bit an organisations work is in in bit more more of an the individual’swork rights.

There’s moreof focus Anglo-Saxon context, and tend to focus Anglo-Saxon context, and tend Activism to focus on on on protesting and campaigning. the rights.

There’s focus the individual’s individual’s rights.

There’s more focus obviously needs to be active, butmore it doesn’t on and on protesting protesting and campaigning. campaigning.

Activism need to be harmful and it doesn’tActivism need obviously needs to be but doesn’t obviously needs to beinactive, active, but it itAsian doesn’t to be aggressive. And our South need to be harmful and it doesn’t need need to be harmful and it doesn’t need to community, shouting doesn’t work. Whatto be be aggressive. aggressive. works is slowly introducing people to things our South community, And in ourcelebrates South Asian Asian community, in aAnd wayin that cultural context: shouting doesn’t work. shouting doesn’t work. What What works works is is casual chats over chai. slowly introducing people to in slowly introducing people to things things in aato And so, that’s what FOBGAYS+ tries way that context: waybreak that celebrates celebrates cultural context: casual casual do: the cycle ofcultural misunderstanding, chats over chai. chats over chai. fear and intolerance.

I worked with my And so, what to AndGiti so, that’s that’s what FOBGAYS+ FOBGAYS+ tries to cousin and brother Siddhant to tries create do: break the cycle of misunderstanding, do: break the cycle of misunderstanding, the organisation, and the reactions I got fear intolerance.

II worked my fear and and intolerance. worked with my from people were mixed.

Some with people cousin Giti and Siddhant to cousin Giti and brother brother Siddhant to create create were very nonchalant about it. Other the and reactions the organisation, organisation, and the the reactions got people were awkward.

Someone toldII got my

Youth is the key India’s to India’syoungsters youngstersmust have continue to lead the lead the charge in bringing about major charge in bringing about major socialreforms reforms, says CraigJEFFREY Jeffrey social says CRAIG

O

nn September September 6, 6, India’s India’s Supreme Supreme n September 6, India’s Supreme Court overturned Court overturned aa British British Court overturned a British colonial colonial law law – – Section Section 377 377 of of the the colonialPenal law –Code Section 377 of the Indian – that banned Indian Penal Code – that banned Indian Penal Code – that banned consensual consensual sexual sexual acts acts between between adults adults of of the the consensual sexual acts between adults of same same sex. sex. The The Court Court ruled ruled unanimously unanimously the same sex. The Court ruled unanimously

NATIONAL EDITION

that that the the law law was was unconstitutional, unconstitutional, with with that the law was unconstitutional, with Chief Chief Justice Justice Dipak Dipak Misra Misra referring referring to to it it Chief Justice Dipak Misra referring to it as, “irrational, indefensible and manifestly as, “irrational, indefensible and manifestly as, “irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary”. arbitrary”. arbitrary”.

It was momentous day that will trigger It was was aaa momentous momentous day daythat thatwill willtrigger trigger It real change.

Authorities used Section 377 real change.

Authorities used Section 377 real change. Authorities used Section 377

talking to are Muslim talkingrights. to people people who are both both Muslim and and pro-gay Onewho person was Greens pro-gay rights.

One person was Greens pro-gay rights.

One person was Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi, an active Muslim MP Dr Faruqi, active Muslim MP spoke Dr Mehreen Mehreen Faruqi, an an active Muslim who out in support of the Same-Sex who spoke out in support of the Same-Sex who spoke out in support of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Australia.

Marriage Bill in Marriage Billimperative in Australia.

Australia.

I think it’s for people to tell I think it’s imperative for to I think it’sFor imperative for people people to tell tell their stories. any cause, you need to their stories.

For any cause, you need theirpeople stories.with For their any cause, you need to to have own experiences people with own to have people withbetheir their owntoexperiences experiences to tohave come out and willing share. come out and be willing to share.

And unless come out and be willing to share.

And unless And unless a story is told in a particular aa story in language, itit story is is told told in aa particular particular language, language, it doesn’t exist in that language. doesn’t exist in that language.

It’s been so doesn’t exist in that language.

It’s been so It’s been so important in communicating important in communicating the experience important in communicating the experience the experience of queerness in a way that queerness aa way is relatable ofrelatable queerness inaccessible way that thatto is the relatable and isof andin Hindi-and accessible to the Hindi-speaking accessiblecommunity. to the Hindi-speaking community. community. speaking

The court’s decision huge step Thecourt’s court’sdecision decisionisis isaaahuge hugestep stepinin in The that direction and that the judgement will that direction and that the judgement will that direction and the judgement will give give people courage to speak up.

It’s a give people courage to speak up.

It’s a huge people courage to speak up. It’s a huge huge opportunity to create a solid foundation for opportunity to create a solid foundation for opportunity to create a solid foundation for equality.

The pride parades, which have equality.The Thepride prideparades, parades,which whichhave have equality. been going on for few years, are getting beengoing goingon onfor foraaafew fewyears, years,are aregetting getting been bigger and bigger every time.

When you biggerand andbigger biggerevery everytime. time.When Whenyou you bigger have more groups and people marching for havemore moregroups groupsand andpeople peoplemarching marchingfor for have actions and calling attention to an issue, actions and calling attention to an issue, actions and calling attention to an issue, you create little bit more pressure on the youcreate createaaalittle littlebit bitmore morepressure pressureon onthe the you government to do something.

And it puts government to do something.

And it puts government to do something. And it puts the wheels motion for our culture start thewheels wheelsinin inmotion motionfor forour ourculture culturetoto tostart start the talking about this kind thing. talkingabout aboutthis thiskind kindofof ofthing. thing. talking As told to Stephanie Newman Astold toldto toStephanie StephanieNewman Newman As

to to harass, harass, ostracise ostracise and and marginalise marginalise in in to harass, ostracise and marginalise in colonial colonial times times and and during during the the postcolonial postcolonial colonial times and during the postcolonial era. era. Even Even recently, recently, there there are are several several reports reports era.

Even recently, there are several reports that the police used it to blackmail that the police used it to blackmail gay gay and and that the police used it to blackmail gay and lesbian lesbian Indian Indian citizens citizens and and attack attack NGOs NGOs lesbian Indian sexual citizens and attackItNGOs working working with with sexual minorities. minorities. It has has working with sexual minorities. It has almost almost certainly certainly impeded impeded activists’ activists’ work work almost certainly impeded activists’ work in in relation relation to to HIV HIV and and AIDS. AIDS. While While the the in relation to HIV and AIDS.isWhile the everyday everyday cost cost of of such such aa law law is difficult difficult to to everyday cost of suchbeen a law is difficult to chart, chart, it it must must have have been high. high. chart, it must have been high.

Progressive Progressive forces forces have have marshalled marshalled Progressive forces have marshalled arguments arguments with with consummate consummate skill skill to to arguments with consummate skill to overturn Section 377.

Some of overturn Section 377. Some of the the overturn Sectionbeen 377. Some of and the arguments arguments have have been national national and arguments have been national and historical historical – – the the homoerotic homoerotic sculptures sculptures at at the the historical – the homoerotic sculptures at Khajuraho Khajuraho temple temple complex complex in in central central India India the Khajuraho temple suggest complex in central have have been been invoked invoked to to suggest homosexuality homosexuality India have been invoked to suggest is not foreign to India. is not foreign to India. Some Some of of them them have have homosexuality isethical: not foreign to India. of been global and the relativity been global and ethical: the relativity of Some of them through have been globalforand ethical: sexual sexual norms norms through history history for example. example. the relativity of sexual norms through The The judges judges referred referred to to Shakespeare Shakespeare history for example.

The judges (“I referredwhat (“What’s (“What’s in in aa name?”), name?”), Goethe Goethe (“I am am what to Shakespeare (“What’s in a name?”), II am”) am”) and and Leonard Leonard Cohen Cohen (“From (“From the the Goethe (“I am what I am”) and Leonard ashes ashes of of the the gay/democracy gay/democracy is is coming”). coming”).

Cohen (“From the ashes of theabout gay/ The The alliance alliance that that brought brought about the the democracy is coming”). change in the law is diverse, including change in the law is diverse, including The allianceprivate that brought about the trade trade unions, unions, private companies, companies, change in the law is diverse, including trade artists, artists, student student groups, groups, mental mental health health unions, private companies, artists, student establishments establishments and and state state bodies bodies such such as as groups, mental health Rights establishments and the the National National Human Human Rights Commission.

Commission. state bodies such asprominence the National Human But But the the particular particular prominence of of young young Rights Commission. But the particular

people people in in the the drive drive for for transformation transformation prominence of youngBhan people in the drive is is notable. notable. As As Indu Indu Bhan shows shows in in her her for transformation is notable.

As Indu Bhan book book The The Dramatic Dramatic Decade: Decade: Landmark Landmark shows in her book The Dramatic Decade: Cases Cases of of Modern Modern India, India, youth youth have have driven driven Landmark Cases of Modern India, youth change in thinking around issues change in thinking around issues such such have driven change in thinking around as as homosexuality, homosexuality, rights, rights, and and sexual sexual issues such as homosexuality, rights, practice practice in in recent recent years. years. This This reflects reflects aa and sexual practice in recent years.

This broader broader social social revolution revolution in in India India since since reflects a broader social revolution in India the the 1990s 1990s wherein wherein young young people people are are since the 1990s whereinversed young in people are increasingly educated, notions increasingly educated, versed in notions of of increasingly educated, versed in notions of universal universal rights, rights, and and adept adept at at utilising utilising new new universal rights, and adept at utilising new technologies technologies to to advance advance their their goals. goals. technologies to advance their goals.

Challenges Challenges remain. remain. Many Many colonial colonial laws laws Challenges remain. Many colonial laws remain remain on on the the books. books. A A lack lack of of police police remain on the books.

A lack of police that reform reform in in India India is is aa pressing pressing problem problem that reform in India is a pressing problem terms that profoundly profoundly affects affects all all minorities. minorities. In In terms profoundly affects all minorities.

In terms of of LGBT LGBT rights, rights, issues issues of of gay gay marriage, marriage, of LGBT rights,inheritance issues of gay marriage, adoption, adoption, and and inheritance remain remain to to be be adoption, and inheritance remain to be addressed.

And social revolution cannot addressed. And social revolution cannot addressed.

And social revolution cannot be be exaggerated: exaggerated: in in 2016-17, 2016-17, three-quarters three-quarters be exaggerated: in 2016-17, three-quarters of of Indian Indian youth youth continued continued to to disapprove disapprove of Indian youth continued to disapprove of of same-sex same-sex relationships relationships according according to to one one of same-sex relationships according to one important important survey survey by by the the Centre Centre for for the the important survey by the Centre for the Study Study of of Developing Developing Societies.

Societies.

Study of Developing Societies. will require Addressing Addressing these these challenges challenges will require Addressing these challenges will require new new creative creative alliances alliances – – including including with with new creative alliances – including with government government – – and and close close engagement engagement with with government – and close engagement with youth youth leading leading change. change. youth leading change.

Craig Craig Jeffrey Jeffrey is is the the Director Director and and CEO CEO of of the the Craig Jeffrey is the Director and CEO of the Australia Australia India India Institute Institute in in Melbourne.

Melbourne.

Australia India Institute in Melbourne.

JANUARY 2018 37 JANUARY (1) 2018 37 11 SEPTEMBER 2018

Section 377 Section 377 S377 REPEAL Timeline Timeline Timeline 1991 AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) is first to 1991

raise Bhedbhav its voice against 377 of IPC. The to NGO AIDS VirodhiSection Andolan (ABVA) is first comes out with a report about ostracism faced by raise its voice against Section 377 of IPC. The NGO the LGBTIQ community. comes out with a report about ostracism faced by the LGBTIQ community.

1994 ABVA in 1994 moves Delhi High Court challenging 1994

the legality of Section 377 after Kiran Bedi, then ABVA in 1994 moves Delhi High Court challenging heading Delhi’s Tihar Jail, refused to provide the legality of Section 377 after Kiran Bedi, then condomsDelhi’s to male inmates, saying to it will encourage heading Tihar Jail, refused provide homosexuality.

The petition is dismissed in 2001. condoms to male inmates, saying it will encourage homosexuality. The petition is dismissed in 2001.

2001 Naz Foundation, an NGO working on sexual health 2001

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?

CHRIS LEWIS*, CHRIS LEWIS*,an anIndian Indianstudent studentat at Sydney Sydney CHRIS LEWIS*, an Indian student at Sydney Uni Uniand andaamember memberof ofLGBTQ+ LGBTQ+community, community,isis Unicautiously andquite a member of come LGBTQ+ optimistic of out thecommunity, judgement not ready to of the closetis cautiously optimistic of the judgement

T “H T

here’s noistory denying thatanscrapping Section 377 is a owes apology to the members momentous occasion, but Chris Lewis, an Indian of LGBTQ+ community and their here’s no denying that scrapping Section 377 is a student at Sydney Uni, isn’t quite ready to come families...”

When Supreme Court momentous occasion, but Chris Lewis, an Indian out of the closetIndu entirely.

Hequite talks tothis Indian Link said income her student atJudge Sydney Uni,Malhotra isn’t ready to about why not. judgement while decriminalising homosexuality, I out of the closet entirely. He talks to Indian Link “History apology to the of LGBTQ+ knew thatnot. aowes newan chapter in my lifemembers had just begun. about why community andreminded their families...”

When Supreme Her statement metoofthe the millions of men “History owes an apology members of gay LGBTQ+ Court Judgeand Indu Malhotra said her judgement and women in our country who this haveinsuffered mental, community their families...”

When Supreme while decriminalising homosexuality, knew that atrue emotional physical abuse just their Court Judgeand Indu Malhotra saidfor this inIbeing her judgement new chapter in my life had just begun.

Her statement self.

I agree that this apology has been delayed while decriminalising homosexuality, I knew thatbya almost reminded me millions ofwrongs? gay men andstatement women a century.

Will itthe right all the No. But is it in new chapter inofmy life had just begun.

Her our country who have suffered mental, emotional and welcome?

Certainly. reminded me of the millions of gay men and women in physical abuse for just being their true self.

I agree that Earlier this month, when news broke that the our country who have suffered mental, emotional and this apology has delayed by almost a century; will it Supreme Court ofjust India wastheir ready to self. present its that physical abuse forbeen being true I agree right all theon wrongs?

No. But isbyitvalidity welcome?

Certainly. statement thebeen constitutional Section 377,itI this apology has delayed almost aofcentury; will Earlier this month, when broke the Supreme was confident that this time India wouldthat beCertainly. on the right right all the wrongs?

No. Butnews is it welcome?

Court of India was ready to present its statement on the side of history.

It made a mistake once in 2013.

It would Earlier this month, when news broke that the Supreme constitutional validity of Section 377, I was confident that not repeat it.

This time, during all the hearings it was Court of India was ready to present its statement on the this time India would be on the right side of history.

It heartening to see that the court was sympathetic to the constitutional validity of Section 377, I was confident that made a mistake once be inFollowing 2013. would not it.ItThis LGBTQ+ community. theside verdict, rainbow this time India would on theItright ofrepeat history. time, during all the hearings it was heartening to see that colours took over my social media feed.

Our moment made a mistake once in 2013. It would not repeat it. This the court was sympathetic to the LGBTQ+ community. had finally arrived. time, during all the hearings it was heartening to see that Following the over my my Or hadwas it? sympathetic Iverdict, began rainbow thinking: how willtook this change the court to thecolours LGBTQ+ community. social media feed.

Our moment had finally arrived. life?

I call myself an activist.

For the last two years, Following the verdict, rainbow colours took over my I’ve Or had it?feed.

I began change my been working in India around how issues of this climate change social media Ourthinking: moment had will finally arrived. life?

I call myself an activist.

For the last two years, I’ve and human rights.

I was proud of my work, and so were Or had it? I began thinking: how will this change my been working in India around issues of climate change my friends and family. life? I call myself an activist. For the last two years, I’ve andSo human I was ofmy mylife so were whenrights.

I in decided to proud uproot and and move been working India around issues ofwork, climate change my friends and family. to Australia for further studies, I faced a series of and human rights. I was proud of my work, and so were So whenand I decided to uproot myoflife and are move questions, mostly along the lines “Why youto my friends family.

Australia forI decided further studies, Iimpact faced ainseries of questions, moving when you can India?”

My So when tomake uproot my life and move to mostly along thebe lines of “Why are you moving when you answers would bland -- “to learn from a Australia for further studies, I faced askills series of questions, can make impact in India?”

My answers would be bland different country” or “the course in Australia is better mostly along the lines of “Why are you moving when you --than “tomake learn skills from a different country”would or “the thatimpact in India”. can in India?”

My answers be course bland in Australia is better than that in India”.

Let’s just say these answers were mostly true.

-- “to learn skills from a different country” or “theWhat course Let’s just say theseisthan answers were mostly What didn’t tellis people thatthat I wanted to movetrue. away from inI Australia better in India”.

Imy didn’t tell people is that I wanted to move away from loved ones to be in a place where I could stop hiding Let’s just say these answers were mostly true. What my loved ones to be in a place where I could stop hiding my identity and live a normal life, even if for a few years.

I didn’t tell people is that I wanted to move away from my identity ainnormal life, even if formore astop fewwhen years.

Now thatones I and think about I couldn’t my loved tolive be a it, place where Iagree could hiding Now that I think about it, the I couldn’t agree when petitioners from IITa told Supreme the my identity and live normal life, even ifCourt formore a that few years. petitioners from IIT told the Supreme Court that the mere existence of Section 377 is causing young Indians Now that I think about it, I couldn’t agree more when mere existence ofIIT Section 377 is causing young to leave their home country and settleCourt abroad. petitioners from told the Supreme thatIndians the to leave their home country and settle abroad.

Every LGBTQ+ person in India wants to live a simple mere existence of Section 377 is causing young Indians Everyatheir LGBTQ+ India wants to live aanymore. simple life where they areinand not fighting anyone totruth: leave homeperson country settle abroad. truth: a life where they are not fighting anyone anymore.

I’m blessed that I have the privilege to make such a Every LGBTQ+ person in India wants to live a simple

I’m blessed thateveryone I have the move, but not canprivilege do this. to make such a move, but not everyone can do this. to makewhat Most people in India do not understand I’m blessed that I have the privilege such a Most people in India do not understand what decriminalisation really means.

Many say that Section move, but not everyone can do this. decriminalisation really means.

Many say that Section 377 has hardly imprisoned anyone in India for Most people in India do not understand what 377 has hardly anyone in India for consensual gay imprisoned sex.

While this may besay true, most don’t decriminalisation really means.

Many that Section consensual gay sex.

While this may be true, most don’t understand that it’s not the law that the LGBTQ+ 377 has hardly imprisoned anyone in India for understand thatit’s it’sthe notsociety. thethis lawmay thatbe LGBTQ+ members fear, And tothe get over thisdon’t fear, consensual gay sex.

While true, most members fear, it’s the society.

And to get over this fear, we need to first let go of Section 377. understand that it’s not the law that the LGBTQ+ weSince need the to first letIthe go society. of Section 377. time knew I wasAnd gay, I’ve in members fear, it’s to getbeen overliving this fear, Since the time I knew I was gay, I’ve been living in fear.

How would people react if they knew?

Would we need to first let go of Section 377. fear.

How people they knew gay?

I get beaten up? IWill myIreact friends stop talking to me?

Since thewould time knew was if gay, I’ve beenI was living in Would I get beaten up?

Will my friends stop talking My poor teenage self could barely survive this trauma, fear. How would people react if they knew I was gay? to teenage selfFor could barely survive this butme? thankfully I got pastWill it. the last few years, I’ve Would IMy getpoor beaten up? my friends stop talking trauma, but thankfully I got past it.

For the last few years, begun to trust people, and have started to come out to to me? My poor teenage self could barely survive this I’ve begun to trust people, and have started to come out my friends -all of whom were nothing but supportive. trauma, but thankfully I got past it. For the last few years, to my friends -all of whom were nothing but supportive.

I’ve been lucky to be in a family where my parents have I’ve begun to trust people, and have started to come out I’ve lucky to or bewhom in a family parents have never questioned rejected mywhere queer my identity.

They’re to mybeen friends -- all of were nothing but supportive. never questioned or rejected my queer identity.

They’re taking their time to understand me, and I’m glad that I’ve been lucky to be in a family where my parents have taking their to understand andidentity.

I’m gladThey’re that they’re part time of this never questioned orjourney. rejected myme, queer they’re part of this journey.

I’ve been extremely lucky to also find a partner who taking their time to understand me, and I’m glad that I’ve been extremely lucky to also find a partner who treats me respectfully.

I’ve been with this person for they’re part of this journey. treats me respectfully.

I’ve been with thisa person for the past two years. Butlucky being gay couple in India is I’ve been extremely toaalso find partner who the past two years.

But being a gay couple in India is not easy.

My partner and I lived together in India for treats me respectfully. I’ve been with this person for not easy.

Myyears. partner I lived together India for thepast pasttwo two years.

Inand front ofa our friends, we could the But being gay coupleinin India is the past two years.

In front of our friends, we could be like every other couple.

But in public, we had to not easy. My partner and I lived together in India forbe be like otherFor couple.

But in world, public, we had to be different people. outside we were friends, the pastevery two years.

In the front of our friends, we could different people.

For the outside world, we were friends, colleagues, and sometimes even siblings.

You see, the be like every other couple. But in public, we had to be colleagues, andhad sometimes even You see,friends, fear of society to siblings. changewe the face ofthe love. different people.

Forthe thepower outside world, were fear of society had the power to change the face of love.

It has been two months since I’ve been in Australia. colleagues, and sometimes even siblings. You see, the It of has been two months since I’ve with been inface Australia.

And I’m slowly getting comfortable the ideaofoflove. fear society had the power to change the And I’m slowly getting comfortable with the idea being my true self.

I still remember the feeling of of holding It has been two months since I’ve been in Australia. being myslowly truehand self.

Iatstill remember the ofbut holding my partner’s the airport. It with felt feeling natural at the And I’m getting comfortable the idea of my partner’s hand at the airport.

It felt natural but at the same time it was also surreal.

Moments such as these being my true self. I still remember the feeling of holding same time it was also surreal.

Moments such as these is what India’s gay community is hoping for.

They may my partner’s hand at the airport. It felt natural but at the is what India’s gay community is hoping for. They may seem small, inconsequential even run-of-the-mill to same time it was also surreal.and Moments such as these seem small, inconsequential and even run-of-the-mill to other folks, but for us, it’s a huge victory. is what India’s gay community is hoping for. They may other folks, for us, it’shas a huge victory.

Now thatbut Section 377 been scrapped in India,to am seem small, inconsequential and even run-of-the-mill Now that Section 377 has been scrapped in India, am I ready to come out of the closet completely?

Well, I’m other folks, but for us, it’s a huge victory.

Inot ready toSociety come out ofbeen the closet completely?

I’m sure. has377 cruel us, and many will Now that Section has beento scrapped inWell, India, am sure. hasofbeen cruelrights. to us,Aand many still continue to out fight for change inwill the Inot ready to Society come theequal closet completely?

Well, I’m still continue fight forbut equal change inwill the lawsure. is theSociety firsttobig step, we rights. have clear many more not has been cruel to us,toAand many law is the first big step, but we have to clear many more hurdles before we finally proclaim that we’ve arrived. still continue to fight for equal rights. A change in the hurdles before westep, finally proclaim we’vemany arrived.

Here’s hoping. law is the first big but we havethat to clear more Here’s hoping. hurdles before we finally proclaim that we’ve arrived. *Name changed *Namehoping. changedon onrequest request Here’s

truth: a life where they are not fighting anyone anymore.

*Name changed on request

38 JANUARY 2018 12 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 38 JANUARY 2018

and Foundation, HIV/AIDS, files intereston litigation in Delhi Naz an public NGO working sexual health High Court challenging Section 377 and calling for and HIV/AIDS, files public interest litigation in Delhi decriminalisation of homosexuality.

High Court challenging Section 377 and calling for decriminalisation of homosexuality.

2004 Naz Foundation petition is dismissed. A review 2004 petition filed by itpetition is also is dismissed.

Naz Foundation dismissed. A review petition filed by it is also dismissed.

2006 Naz Foundation files special leave petition in Supreme 2006 Court which is then to the Delhi High Court.

A Naz Foundation filessent special leave petition in Supreme host of gay rights organisations join the petition.

Court which is then sent to the Delhi High Court. A host of gay rights organisations join the petition.

2009 Creating history, a Delhi High Court bench headed 2009

by then Chief Justice AP High ShahCourt strikes downheaded Section Creating history, a Delhi bench 377, saying it violates fundamental right to life, by then Chief Justice AP Shah strikes down Section liberty and equality. bench legalised homosexual 377, saying it violatesThe fundamental right to life, acts between consenting adults. liberty and equality. The bench legalised homosexual acts between consenting adults.

2009 The judgment is challenged in Supreme Court by 2009 astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal.

The judgment is challenged in Supreme Court by astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal.

2013 In a big setback to gay rights movement, a Supreme 2013 Court of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice S In a bigbench setback to gay rights movement, a Supreme Mukhopadhaya sets aside the high court ruling Court bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice S and re-criminalises homosexuality.

Mukhopadhaya sets aside the high court ruling and re-criminalises homosexuality.

2016 The matter is resurrected when a fresh petition is 2016

filedmatter by members of LGBTIQ community: danceris The is resurrected when a fresh petition NS Johar, journalist Sunil Mehra, chef Ritu Dalmia, filed by members of LGBTIQ community: dancer hotelier Aman Nath and business executive Ayesha NS Johar, journalist Sunil Mehra, chef Ritu Dalmia, Kapur.

This is marked to the Constitution Bench. hotelier Aman Nath and business executive Ayesha Kapur. This is marked to the Constitution Bench.

2018 Top hotelier Keshav Suri, who identifies himself as 2018 gay,hotelier joins theKeshav fight, moves the identifies Supreme himself Court. as Top Suri, who gay, joins the fight, moves the Supreme Court.

2018 A five-judge bench of Supreme Court headed by 2018

Justicebench DipakofMisra begins hearing petitions AChief five-judge Supreme Court headed by against Section 377.Misra begins hearing petitions Chief Justice Dipak against Section 377.

Asked to reply, the Modi government leaves the decision on Section 377’s constitutionality the Asked to reply, the Modi government leavesto the court’s wisdom. decision on Section 377’s constitutionality to the court’s wisdom.

July 2018 Supreme Court reserves verdict.

July 2018 Supreme Court reserves verdict.

September 2018 In a unanimous verdict, September 2018bench led by CJI Misra decriminalises In a unanimoushomosexuality. verdict, bench led by CJI Misra decriminalises homosexuality.

IANS IANS

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The closet in your living room India’s Supreme Supreme Court may have passed India’s passed aa historic historicjudgement judgementon onSection Section377, 377, but the the onus onus is is on the civil society but society to to lead lead the thecharge, charge,just justas asititdid didininAustralia Australia BY KRISHNA KRISHNA NEELAMRAJU NEELAMRAJU

I

know some gay people in the Indian know some gay people in the Indian community. community.

I have routinely met trans people in I have routinely met trans people in India – called kojja in Telugu or hijra in India – called kojja in Telugu or hijra Hindi. in Hindi.

Some of my gay friends are now married Some of my gay friends are now married to straight women, so I’m assuming they to straight women, so I’m assuming they are bisexual. are bisexual.

I know these people from my social I know these people from my social circle, and from work. circle, and from work.

Some, I look up to as role models.

Some, I look up to as role models.

Of course there are some gay people I Of course there are some gay people I don’t like, but their sexual orientation has don’t like, but their sexual orientation has nothing to do with it. nothing to do with it.

What the hell are you on about, you ask.

What the hell are you on about, you ask.

Allow me to elaborate.

Allow me to elaborate.

The Indian Supreme Court’s decision to The Indian Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the archaic S 377 is a massive strike down the archaic S 377 is a massive victory for the LGBTQ community. This victory for the LGBTQ community. This epic battle for equality can now move from epic battle for equality can now move from the court rooms into the living rooms. And the court rooms into the living rooms. And the living rooms need to get ready to help the living rooms need to get ready to help this change. this change.

As Indian origin people in Australia, we As Indian origin people in Australia, live in a society that acknowledges its sexual we live in a society that acknowledges its diversity, and recently voted for equal civil sexual diversity, and recently voted for rights. Australian living rooms do not treat equal civil rights. Australian living rooms the topic as taboo. Just the other day, I do not treat the topic as taboo. Just the saw a TV spot touting the first same-sex other day, I saw a TV spot touting the marriage on the Neighbours show. My son first same-sex marriage on the Neighbours was next to me, so I got my answers ready. show. My son was next to me, so I got my No questions were asked, though. It was just answers ready. No questions were asked,

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another the way he saw it. though.family It waswedding just another family wedding Indian living rooms too are not far from the way he saw it. thatIndian day when sexual diversity be living rooms too areceases not fartofrom athat taboo.

Changing the TV channel is not day when sexual diversity ceases to be going to help, because just crossed a taboo.

Changing theIndia TV channel is nota tipping point. going to help, because India just crossed a I knowpoint. there is a long distance to go tipping before that change. the first I know there is aHowever, long distance tostep go is tobefore be able to TALK about sexual diversity. that change. However, the first It amuses to see how some people step is to beme able to TALK about sexual dance around the topic.

During the same diversity. sexItmarriage vote in Australia, the Indoamuses me to see how some people Aussie media saw both outrage dancesocial around the topic.

During theand same passionate support, much like thethe restIndoof sex marriage vote in Australia, the country.

What caught attention Aussie social media sawmy both outragetheand most was how some people referred those passionate support, much like the to rest of ofthe LGBTQ persuasion.

‘The Yes people’ country. What caught my attentionisthe what them,people probably feeling mostthey wascalled how some referred totoo those awkward even to say the word ‘gay’. of LGBTQ persuasion. ‘The Yes people’ is Thisthey is a called direct them, reflection of thefeeling social too what probably attitudes in India as well.

A majority awkward even to say the word ‘gay’.of the Indian viewsreflection its LGBTQ members Thissociety is a direct of the social with a mixture of ignorance and prejudice. attitudes in India as well. A majority of the

The terms Court ‘gay’ orcited ‘lesbian’ actively Supreme a 7%are figure in its avoided.

The word ‘kojja’ is as much an judgement. A corporate study estimated insult as an identity.

Many tweets this that 5-10% of the Indian work force past week used as ‘Karan Johar’ as a proxy forthe identifies non-heterosexual.

Given LGBTQ! numbers, chances are very high that every S 377Indian itself isknows now the preferred single at least one LGBTQ euphemism even for people supporting person. Acknowledging that fact instead equal rights. it, is the first step in achieving of avoiding If even uttering the words ‘gay’ equality. or ‘lesbian’ stillmore such an issue,task would The nextisand difficult acknowledging that some of our friends be to accept people different from us as and family identify that way is going take equals. When the Delhi High Courttofirst time.

Studies show that LGBTQ are not decriminalised non-hetero sex in 2009, I awas miniscule fringe in India.training The Supreme in a 2-day corporate program Court cited a 7% figure in its in Mumbai. I connected withjudgement. the well-read Atrainer corporate that 5-10% whostudy was aestimated globalised progressive ofhailing the Indian work force identifies as also from South Bombay. He was non-heterosexual.

Given the numbers, from a religious minority. If he didn’t chances are an very high that every qualify for ‘intellectual elite’,single I don’t Indian knows at least one LGBTQ know who can. He also brought aperson. minority Acknowledging thattable. fact instead avoiding perspective to the When of I got the it,news is theduring first step achieving the in lunch time, Iequality. excitedly The next andhim more difficultpresuming task would shared it with wrongly

Indian society views its LGBTQ members with a mixture of ignorance and prejudice.

The terms ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ are actively avoided. The word ‘kojja’ is as much an insult as an identity. Many tweets this past week used ‘Karan Johar’ as a proxy for LGBTQ! S 377 itself is now the preferred euphemism even for people supporting equal rights.

If even uttering the words ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ is still such an issue, acknowledging that some of our friends and family identify that way is going to take time. Studies show that LGBTQ are not a miniscule fringe in India. The

where he stood on the topic. His face immediately morphed into absolute scorn.

“I don’t know what these people want,” he said derisively, walking away.

If even that gentleman had difficulty accepting that sexual minorities deserve

be to accept people different from us as equal rights, I can imagine what the equals. When the Delhi High Court first larger population must be thinking. This decriminalised non-hetero sex in 2009, I change is not going to come overnight. was in a 2-day corporate training program Politicians are not going to take the lead in Mumbai. I connected with the well-read on this. While the Indian Government trainer who was a globalised progressive deserves partial credit for playing weak hailing from South Bombay. He was also defence, it also warned the Supreme Court from a religious minority. If he didn’t against opening the doors to civil rights. qualify for an ‘intellectual elite’, I don’t The onus then falls on the civil society to know who can. He also brought a minority lead the charge, just as it eventually did in perspective to the table. When I got the Australia. news during the lunch time, I excitedly In order to do that, it’s important shared it with him wrongly presuming to open up to LGBTQ topics in daily where he stood on the topic. His face conversations (and get them using the immediately morphed into absolute scorn. terminology!) It is important for people “I don’t know what these people want,” he to acknowledge and accept that their own said derisively, walking away. brothers and sisters, their own children If even that gentleman had difficulty could identify as non-heterosexual. It is accepting that sexual minorities deserve important for heterosexuals to say that I equal rights, I can imagine what the larger am friends with someone who is gay, and I population must be thinking. This change is am not afraid to say it. not going to come overnight. Politicians are I am a cynical man, but I also believe not going to take the lead on this. While the that human progress is impossible to stop.

Indian Government deserves partial credit This Supreme Court judgement makes for playing weak defence, it also warned me very hopeful – it’s a victory that has the Supreme Court against opening the now opened doors for what is biologically doors to civil rights. The onus then falls on normal to become culturally normal. the civil society to lead the charge, just as it What’s more culturally normal to say than eventually did in Australia.

I have friends who are gay?

In order to do that, it’s important to open up to LGBTQ topics in daily conversations (and get them using the terminology!) It is important for people to acknowledge and accept that their own brothers and sisters, their own children could identify as non-heterosexual. This Supreme Court judgement is a victory that has now opened doors for what is biologically normal to become culturally normal.

It’s important for heterosexuals to say that I am friends with someone who is gay, and I am not afraid to say it

SEPTEMBER 20183913 JANUARY(1) 2018

FATHERS DAY

Our dad, a superhero Melbourne based Indian father chosen as 62nd Victorian Father of the Year

BY TARINI PURI

A

father or father-figure stands rock solid besides their children to provide them moral support, confidence, mentoring, education and the strength to face multiple challenges of life.

So says Sandeep ‘Sunny’ Jadhav, named recently as the 62nd Victorian Father of the Year for 2018.

Jadhav was chosen from over a thousand nominations from across the state for an outstanding father figure by the organisers YMCA Victoria in association with the Father’s Day Council of Victoria.

Declaring Jadhav as a winner, the organisers lauded him for being a fatherly figure dedicated to young people. “Sandeep is an incredible dad and mentor for many. He is a true role model, who inspires the next generation of Australia’s brightest young people,” Chair of the Father’s Day Council Barry Novy said.

49-year-old Jadhav lives in Melbourne with his wife Kiran and two teenage daughters, 13-year-old Sachi and 16-year-old Khushi – who secretly sent his nomination for the award. Nagpurborn, he moved to Australia in 1996.

While he works as a Land Maintenance System Electrical Engineer for the Defence Force, his true joy comes from teaching and inspiring others in maths, science and engineering subjects.

For over 15 hours a week, for the past 16 years, Jadhav has voluntarily tutored primary school aged kids, VCE and university students and army officers from all cultures and backgrounds. Mentees and

their parents appreciate his passion and involvement, besides his calm and stressfree demeanour.

Many of Jadhav’s 200-odd students and mentees have gone onto become pilots, surgeons, doctors and scientists across Australia.

They continue to be in touch and hold him in high regard, which makes his wife Kiran observe that he is “really a dad to so many.”

As well as being a dad to others, Jadhav is dedicated to his family. He takes his daughters for runs twice a week at 5.15am,

Our dad is a real life superhero.

He doesn’t wear a cape though because he wears the army uniform cooks breakfast for the family, makes his wife tea, drops off and picks up his daughters from school and helps them with their a homework. In the summer months he plays cricket with his family.

Jadhav says mentoring and being a positive role model to his daughters inspires him every day.

His own inspiration is his father, a retired public servant back in India who ingrained early in him the attitude he carries to this day. “My father always told me, never ever lower your moral values for anything. He used to travel a lot while I was growing up, but would always manage to

< Sunny (Victorian Father of the Year), Sally Capp (Lord Mayor of Melbourne), Kiran (Wife)

14 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

find quality time for me. I am trying to do the same with my daughters. I am ever-engaged and in touch with them, and always try to leave a small inspiring note for them before setting out,” he says.

Jadhav admits there are challenges in the father role. “Parenting is an extremely challenging role. The responsibility of shaping young minds is a herculean task.

I have never walked alone on this path, as my wife has always supported me. It feels wonderful to be recognised with this award,” he says.

The best stamp of approval came from his own daughters who expressed their pride for their father in their nomination entry for Jadhav. “Our dad is a real life superhero. He doesn’t wear a cape though because he wears the army uniform. We love our dad so much because he does so much for the community,” they wrote.

No doubt this year’s Father’s Day, Sunday 2 Sept, will be a special one for the Jadhav family.

They’ll be spending it by cheering Sandeep on, as he runs the YMCA Father’s Day Fun Run at Melbourne Tan. He’ll be raising money for YMCA youth programs that build resilience and positive mental health.

Since 1956, the Father’s Day Council of Victoria has named a Father of the Year for Victoria, to celebrate and recognise the important role fathers and father-figures play in family life. Since 13 years, it has been partnering with the YMCA to first identify local YMCA Community Father of the Year awardees before selecting a statelevel winner.

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10/7/18 10:18 pm

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 15

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YOUTH

Young leaders strengthen Aus-India relations The AIYD brought together the best and brightest minds at its successful 2019 strategy launch in Sydney

BY RITAM MITRA

I

n the current geopolitical climate amidst a burgeoning trend towards deglobalisation - the values of diplomacy and international collaboration require fierce protection more than ever. Yet often, effective international cooperation is enabled not at the highest levels, but through backchannel, non-government diplomacy between non-state actors. The Australia India Youth Dialogue (AIYD), the pre-eminent track-two young leaders’ dialogue between the two nations, is one such organisation, whose ability to bring together the best and brightest minds while generating tangible outcomes - was on full display at its successful 2019 strategy launch in Sydney recently.

The post-truth world flummoxes in many ways, but to Generations Y and Z, the most curious of its quirks is no doubt the rise of sweeping, insular protectionism - a trend which they have never seen in their lifetimes. After all, since the 1980s, but especially following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the modus operandi for most governments has been to follow the yellow brick road of globalisation, removing barriers to international trade and strengthening international ties. It is, in part, in recognition of the importance of these principles that AIYD and its cast of under-35s continues to foster international

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cooperation, bucking defiantly the apparently popular global trend.

Hosted by AIYD partner Macquarie University at its Sydney CBD campus, the 2019 launch event marked the beginning of an exciting new phase in the organisation’s history, with AIYD Chair Karan Anand announcing a renewed focus on leveraging the substantial asset that AIYD - including its distinguished network of alumni - has become since its inception in 2010, to help the organisation reach new heights and conquer new challenges.

Although Australia and India enjoy a close relationship today, it was an entirely different environment when AIYD was founded in 2011 in the aftermath of the spate of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, one of the lowest points in bilateral ties between the nations. It’s a history that AIYD wants to see never repeated, with the organisation citing an aspirational “north star” as its vision for the relationship: that Australia and India are “globally recognised as the closest of bilateral partners, working collaboratively and equitably across a range of sectors for mutual prosperity”.

The audience - which included MPs, business executives, consulate officials and, above all, emerging leaders - heard a keynote address by Beau Leese, cofounder and co-CEO of EdTech start-up Intersective. Anointed AFR Best Young Executive of the Year in 2013, Leese’s involvement with AIYD began as a delegate to the 2017 Dialogue, which tackled a broad range of issues, including health innovation in Australia and India,

the role of gender in skill development and the future of work, and a group challenge in which the winning group aimed to reduce drowning deaths by training cooperation with Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs.

It was this diversity which Leese found most compelling and rewarding in his experience as an AIYD delegate. “The cross-fertilisation of ideas, in a new context, in a new sector, was an amazing little experience,” he said. “It fires the imagination - it makes you think, it makes you weave the India-Australia relationship a little more into what you do and into your day-to-day. That’s the massive thing AIYD does - it’s an accelerator for bilateral people-to-people linkages, it’s an accelerator for friendships and hopefully for business relationships.”

Speaking about the 2019 strategy refresh - which he referred to as an “immense labour of love” - Anand focused particularly on the change in context between AIYD in its formative stages and its status today. “Whilst we weren’t formed to be risk mitigants, that was an important part of our DNA and fabric when we were established,” he said. “But now we fastforward eight or nine years in the future, and those risks are well behind us. They may still exist, but that’s not the prevailing narrative of the bilateral relationship now. It’s certainly one where it’s fuelled with momentum; there’s certainly a lot of positivity, and a lot more activity happening.”

Since its inception, AIYD has amassed a formidable wealth of talent, experience

and knowledge both within its ranks, as well as across its expansive network of partnerships, affiliations and friendships with a range of influential organisations and individuals in the government, educational and business sectors. In its now 200+ strong alumni community, 25% have the title CEO/Founder/Chair, eight are elected MPs and five are news anchors, while its alumni also boast two Walkley Awards, three Olympic golds and 240 one-day internationals, and a collective 1.8 million Twitter followers.

With this pedigree, it’s no wonder AIYD alumni, like co-founder Sanushka Seomangal, see it not just as an opportunity, but a responsibility, to harness these capabilities to generate enhanced outcomes for the bilateral relationship.

“The 2019 dialogue will be yet another milestone for the AIYD,” she says. “A dialogue in Australia just following the release of Peter Varghese’s report to the Australian Government – India Economic Strategy to 2035, and an opportunity to further build on the relationships and collaborations between alumni, partners, including university and government partners, and other stakeholders, to continue to demonstrate the significant driver that is the AIYD in the context of the bilateral relationship.”

“The current context of the bilateral relationship is one that is ripe with opportunities, and the AIYD is best placed to leverage those opportunities to create sustainable outcomes for both countries,” she concludes.

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 17

HISTORY

The curious story of George Jarvis Governer Lachlan Macquarie’s Indian man-servant is the subject of new enquiry

Robin Walsh

BY HAMIDA PARKAR

I

n 1795, Lachlan Macquarie and first wife Jane, stationed in Calicut, India, ordered the purchase of a five-year-old boy for Rs 85 from the slave market of Cochin. He was named George Jarvis, joined their domestic staff and travelled with them around India, Egypt, Scotland, Britain, Europe and Australia for over 20 years. Lachlan arrived as Governor of New South Wales in 1810 and stayed for almost 12 years, and left behind significant Indian effects when he moved back. They stayed in Old Government House, a convict-built Georgian structure, now a heritage site, overlooking historic Parramatta. When Lachlan died in 1824, he had left enough money in his will for George, his valet at the time, to live in comfort, having freed him by then.

Historian Robin Walsh and author Roanna Gonsalves attempted to unravel the elusive man servant in a recent talk entitled Finding ‘George Jarvis’ at the Parramatta Lecture Series, hosted by the National Trust. It was part of Tales from the East, an exhibition that concluded last month. The event was an initiative to gather rich stories from 1788, capturing links between India and colonial Australia, and celebrate the current cultural expanse of Western Sydney.

T U L I

Robin has spent 30 years exploring Lachlan Macquarie, Jane Macquarie and George. He describes George as an Indian-born child slave, man servant, and valet to Governor Macquarie. He also adds a caveat, “At the outset, I want to stress that we are dealing here with the question of historical reminisce: there are few certainties about George.”

And yet, according to him, “It’s a compelling story and challenging narrative of personal friendship and transnational journey. The fragmented elements of one boy’s life raise some really important questions about slavery, domestic servitude, personal devotion and human worth.”

“It’s also a deeply personal account.

One that allows us to see the complexities and contradictions of Lachlan Macquarie’s life and puts both of them in quite a unique light. George is also a cipher for wider questions that relate to ideas of race, colour, ethnicity, child slavery, the Indian Ocean slave trade, the place of coloured servants in 18th century polite British

George was a mute observer to Australian colonisation and history. He was complicit in the whole process, a beneficiary of colonisation but also a colonised subject Roanna Gonsalves

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the present by examining the past. “I look around contemporary Sydney and Indian restaurants, waiters and waitresses, petrol station attendants, of which I was one in the past, cab drivers, call centre workers, thinking about this history of Indian labour in Australia. I am interested in the collective memory this place holds of Indian labour.”

Secondly, Roanna is curious about the role gender played in hierarchies then, particularly the way the constellations of gender, race and class collided. Lastly, she wants to consider the instinctual and material significance of place on people of the early colony of New South Wales, particularly servants.

She says, “I am personally interested in the intimacy of the local, the collision of the ragged and the sublime. This place that holds the interactions between the memories of the Gadigal people, the Burramatagal people, the colonisers, the convicts, and those other colonised people.”

So what happened to George? He married a convict Mary Jelly who had reached Sydney in 1820, and served as a chambermaid at Government House.

Their first child died within six days, then they had a daughter Elizabeth. The couple left with the Macquaries in 1822 for Britain and then to Mull, Scotland.

George did not live long after Lachlan to appreciate his inherited material comforts; he died in 1825. His wife and daughter survived and enjoyed the fruit of his labour and loyalty.

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18 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

society,” observes Robin.

Roanna, who is currently penning a novel on George, is trying to make the slave visible, led by three impulses. She is interested in the intricacies of the time when slaves were entrenched with their masters. “I am delving into the archives of my imagination, standing on the shoulders of giants like Robin and other Australian historians. As he articulated so well, George was a mute observer to Australian colonisation and history. He was complicit in the whole process, a beneficiary of colonisation but also a colonised subject.”

Inspired by the works of Tom Griffiths, Grace Karskens and Dolores Hayden, Roanna is trying to imagine a version of Australian history from the point of view of the vanquished and not the victors.

“They were co-opted, beholden to their masters, who provided them with an education in English. But the learning of the language came at the cost of forgetting their mother tongues.”

Her first instinct is to make sense of

Roanna Gonsalves

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32 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 20

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SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 21

WHAT’S ON FESTIVAL 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 www. 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 eco-friendly 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.

Navratri Mela by Kirtidan Gadhvi Sat 6 Oct (5:00pm-10:00pm) Navratri Mela in Sydney with Live Performance of Kirtidan Gadhvi, an eminent name in the world of folk, at Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill.

Various Food and variety stalls plus special dandia spot for kids. Details 9761 4567.

Raasleela with Parthiv Gohil Sat 29 Sept (6:00pm onwards) Raas Leela 2018 with Parthiv Gohil organised by Gujarati Samaj of NSW. Held at Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope Cnr of Stanhope Pky & Sentry Dr, Stanhope Gardens. Details Kiran 0449 966 955.

Navratri 2018 Sat 13 Oct (6:30 pm onwards) Garba and Dandiya night with proceeds to Variety ISKCON, New Gokula Farm and Spunks (Super Parents of Unique Non Neuro-typical Kids Support) Group. Held at Newcastle Basketball, 27 Young Road, Newcastle. Details 0432 324 465 ENTERTAINMENT

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

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.

star Bohemia live in concert at The Club 33 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point.

Details 0411 537 183 Tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sat 6 Oct (7:00pm onwards) A tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan by Rizwan-Muazzam at Orion Function Centre 155 Beamish St, Campsie.

Details 0402 931 000.

STAGE Bharatanatyam Sat 15 Sept (6:30pm onwards) Bhakthi Pravaham, a Bharathanatyam recital by Vaishnavi Umashankar (disciple of Mrs Pathmaranjini Umashankar) with upcoming dancers of Pathmalaya Academy of Fine Arts in support of “Dementia Australia”.

Accompanied by a live orchestra.

Details 0431 302 159.

Y Gee Mahendra Drama 16 – 22 Sept Legendary actor Y Gee Mahendra will perform in hit comedy play Ragasyam Parama Ragasyam. Granville Town Hall, 10 Carlton St, Granville. Details John Niven 0411 259 978.

Bengali production Konjush Sun 30 Sept (6:30pm-8:30pm) Shokher Theatre presents Konjush, adapted from Moliere’s The Miser, at Brian Brown Theatre and Function Centre, Rickard Road and Chapel Road, Bankstown. Details 0412 366 093.

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.

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.

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.

Rendezvous with Jazim live Sat 15 Sept (7:30pm onwards) Castle Group presents Rendezvous with Jazim, a live concert at Tivoli Hall, Rooty Hill RSL, Sydney (part of Novotel Hotel). Details 0401422 630.

Sat 29 Sept (6:00pm onwards) Gujarati Samaj of NSW in Association with Spice Entertainment presents independent artist, playback singer and live performer Parthiv Gohil in Raasleela at Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope (cnr of Stanhope Pky & Sentry Dr, Stanhope Gardens).

Details Kiran Desai 0449 966 955.

Biggest Friday Night Sydney Fri 21 Sept (9:00pm-3:00am) Celebrity DJ from Mumbai, DJ Paroma, a complete clubbing soul, hip hop hustler, night life lover, bling freak will perform at Ivy, 330 George St, Sydney. Details 02 9240 3000.

COMMUNITY

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.

Safal Talent Hunt Sun 23-Mon 24 Sept (10:00pm5:00pm) Calling all Talented individuals and groups to come and showcase your art at Ryde Multicultural Centre / Lions Park, 2 Shaftsbury Road, West Ryde 2114.

Details asaf.org.au

Paada Yatra Sat 29 Sept (5:30pm-5:00pm) Annual walk from Sri Murugan Temple in Westmead to Sri Sai Mandir in Strathfield. Details 0433 972 160.

Kirtidan Gadhvi Gujarati Lok Dayro in Sydney Fri 5 Oct (7:00pm onwards) Gujarati Association of Australia presents Kirtidan Gadhvi Gujarati Lok Dayro at Whitlam Leisure Centre 90A Memorial Ave, Liverpool. Details 0452 337 387.

22 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

Shilpa Shetty Meet-and-Greet Sat 22 Sept (7:00pm-10:00pm) MMG group & Indian Beauty Secrets present a meet-and-greet with Shilpa Shetty Kundra at 1/107-109A Main St, Blacktown. Details 0410 000 165.

Bollywood Meets Arabic Fri 28 Sept (9:00pm-4:00am) 50B Worldwide presents the Punjabi rap

Hinglish Stand-up Comedy Varun Thakur & Kunal Kamra Sun 14 Oct (6:30pm-9:30pm) Fortune World Tours presents stand-up comedians Varun Thakur and Kunal Kamra at Bowman Hall Blacktown, Campbell Street, Blacktown. Details 0430 042 041.

Hindi Divas Sat 15 Sept (2:30pm-5:30pm) ILASA organised Hindi divas at Indian Consulate Sydney, Australia.

Details 0403 116 310

Safal 2018 Wed 5-Thurs 6 Oct (6:00pm9:00pm) Australian South Asian Forum in association with The City of Ryde presents Safal 2018, a festival of films, art and literature at next Gen Ryde 504a Victoria Road, Ryde.

Details 0425 377 572.

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.

Bangla Utshob 2018 Sun 30 Sept (11.00am-11.00pm) Bangla Utshob Association presents live music and dance by legendary Bengali singers, performers, eye catching fireworks and laser show, children amusements and kite flying.

Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore South. Details 0416 784 471.

Blacktown Diwali Mela Sun 14 Oct (11:00am-7:30pm) Fun filled Diwali at Blacktown Showground, Richmond Road, Blacktown. Lots of entertainment and plenty of food. Details 1300 338 368.

MISC 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.

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-12.00noon) 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.

Australian Indian Wedding Expo in Sydney Sun 7 Oct (12:00pm-5:00pm) Mix of wedding bazaar, fashion shows and entertainment, at Hyatt Regency Sydney 161 Sussex Street, Sydney.

Details 02 8099 1234.

Pre Karva Chauth & Diwali exhibition cum sale Fri 12-Sat 13 Oct Niche Collections presents its annual 2-day exhibition cum sale at Unit 1,112 Tallagandra Drive, Quakers Hill. Details 0431 138 234.

To add your event emai media@indianlink.com.au

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SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 23

24 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

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FESTIVAL

Eco-friendly Idols A Sydney duo spread the word about a sustainable Ganesh Chaturthi BY NANDITHA SURESH

G

anesh Chaturthi is one of the major festivals in the Hindu calendar. It is held in honour of the elephant-headed Ganesha, one of Hinduism’s most loved gods. The eldest son of Lord Shiva, one part of the Hindu Trinity, Ganesha is celebrated as the god of wisdom, power and remover of obstacles.

The festivities at this time are resplendent with beautiful artisan-made Ganesha idols, food, prayers and much more.

After the festival, the idols are immersed in a water body.

Unfortunately, the festival is also associated with polluting water bodies thanks to the materials used to make the idols.

A Sydney couple are on a mission to produce, sell and encourage the use of ecofriendly Ganeshas.

Kartik Surisetty, an analytics consultant and his wife entrepreneur wife Greeshma Malla take particular interest in sustainability, and believe the festivities and rituals don’t have to cost the earth.

“The idols are commonly made with Plaster of Paris and other nonbiodegradable materials, which severely affect the marine ecosystem and environment in general,” muses Kartik.

In 2017, the couple along with a close

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friend, created over hundred Ganesha idols for the festival. They were made with the sole purpose of encouraging those celebrating in Australia to use eco-friendly idols as part of the ritual. Made with terracotta pottery clay, the idols dissolve in water upon immersion and do not leave a layer on the bottom of the water bodies or pollute the environment.

“We sold many idols and it was amazing to see a lot of people coming forward to share our vision for a sustainable and ecofriendly Ganesh Chaturthi,” shares Kartik.

In addition to being gentle on the earth, Kartik and Greeshma donated 100% of the proceeds from the sale to educate two students in India.

“The God being a symbol of wisdom, it only felt fitting to give the proceeds towards the education of children belonging to economically disadvantaged families,” he adds.

This year, eight volunteers joined them in producing the eco-friendly Ganesha idols, in preparation for the festival.

After the reception and success of the eco-friendly idols last year, the initiative has seen a surge of interest to volunteer and sell more of the idols to Sydney’s Indian community.

“The volunteers - Richa Bhasin, Prasanna Rondla, Seema Verma Meanger, Vipin Payyanadan, Tejaswini Raghupathi, Harita Jagana, Yamini and Sonal - have been the reason we were able to make 150 idols this year,” beams Kartik.

The team has been working for a month, ahead of the festival which falls on Thursday 13 Sept.

“It is absolutely heart-warming to see more people coming forward to be part of a huge change and paying it forward to those in need,” he adds. He believes that more hands make the whole process that much more special.

Just like they did last year, Kartik and the volunteers intend to give the sale proceeds of this year towards education of someone in need.

“We also plan to set aside some funds to contribute towards Kerala flood relief,” he shares.

Expanding from last year, this time around the clay idols are available in two distinct styles: Maharashtrian turban style and South Indian crown style, priced at $15 each.

The idols are handmade with moulds sourced from India and clay sourced from Blackwattle Pottery in NSW. The moulds are purchased from a producer dealing solely with clay products.

Kartik and Greeshma are motivated solely by philanthropy, and refused to be photographed for this piece, supplying us with images of their idols instead.

Kartik says the joy of making the idol right from scratch, and knowing it will cause no harm to the environment, is unmatched.

“Even the families of the volunteers get involved, including the kids; this not only becomes a great family bonding activity but helps teach the kids about Indian traditions,” muses Kartik.

Clay is biodegradable and inexpensive, and using it to make the idols will have no serious impact on the environment. “After the festivities end, you could immerse the

Ganesha in a bucket of water or give it to a temple that collects for mass immersion, thereby not harming your surroundings,” assures Kartik.

With each year Kartik has observed growing interest in the activity and believes in the coming years more people will volunteer for a good cause while enjoying the festival without causing pollution.

WHY WE IMMERSE GANESHA IN WATER Believe it or not, the original intent of immersing Ganesha idols in water may have been to replenish the environment, rather than to degrade it. As entire villages took their revered Ganesh idols to the water, it was believed that the clay in the idols would help river water settle rather than washing out to sea and leaving the land less fertile.

The clay of course needs to be dry in order for it to settle, hence the tradition of keeping it for ten days before immersion.

Idols are typically immersed with 21 varieties of herbs: it is believed these purify the water, and might also have benefits for marine life to thrive.

Philosophically, it is believed that the immersion signifies that ultimate truth - destruction - whatever is created must perish in the end as nothing is permanent; and perhaps also that one must learn to let go of that which one loves dearly.

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 25

FESTIVAL

My favourite

GANESHA HE SAVED HIMSELF FOR US! Meera Joshi If you’ve been to our restaurants Tellicherry and Nilgiri’s in Sydney’s lower North Shore, you probably know that both my husband Ajoy and I love Ganesha – he’s all over the place! We’ve inherited our love for Ganesha from my dad in Bangalore, an avid Ganesha collector; he is said to have the largest private collection in the country.

One of our prized Ganeshas is originally from Kerala, apparently. He sits on a lion. Of course there’s a story behind him.

We first saw him, a big fellow, years ago at a shop in Willoughby where we lived. We fell in love immediately, but he was priced at $2000 which we could not afford then.

We would often saunter in on weekends, just to look at him. No one seemed to be interested in him, because the price began to drop gradually. Finally he was down to $800. Within reach probably, we thought.

But hang on, where did the shop go? It vanished, all of a sudden. We were very disappointed. Hamare naseeb mein nahin tha (not destined for us), we reckoned, but could not forget him.

One day while on our regular shopping spree in Surry Hills, we saw a shop with Indian-looking artefacts. It was the same guy – I was forced to move here, he told us.

I asked him immediately, any chance you have a Ganesha statue, about this big… Why, yes, he said. And there he was.

After all these months, I wasn’t going to look at the price tag. I brought the credit card out in a flash.

NAUGHTY GANESHA Rajni Anand Luthra In 2001, we got an opportunity at Indian Link newspaper to interview a leading Indian artist Milon Mukherjee. Milon had been invited by a North Sydney-based art gallery to live and work in Australia for three months.

He was interviewed at his studios in Ettalong, north of Sydney. The article on him that appeared in the newspaper, carried a photo of him sitting on Ettalong Beach, working on his painting of Ganesha, in the open air. I found the halffinished painting quite intriguing.

A few days later, I went to the opening of the exhibition. It was the Ganesha I wanted most to see. There it was, now properly finished. Nata Ganesha (Dancing Ganesha), it was labelled. It depicted Ganesha as I had never seen him before – dancing. Dancing the Tandav, apparently, imitating his father Shiva, who danced the Dance of Destruction. By imitating his father, Ganesha was being

26 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

‘naughty’, so the painting was re-titled Nata (Naughty) Ganesha, in a wonderful play on words. I loved the spinning off from tradition.

I wondered aloud if I could take it home.

“Seen the price tag?” my husband asked. Oops.

I revisited on two more occasions during the course of the exhibition. Both times, I was secretly relieved to see that no red dot (ie, ‘sold’ sign) had been placed beside ‘my’ Ganesha. The exhibition ended.

My birthday came around shortly. “I hope you like your birthday surprise,” my husband said.

“Loved it,” I said, thinking he referred to the surprise party he had organised for me the night before.

“You haven’t seen it yet. The kids and I got you something.”

Naughty Ganesha now dances on the wall of my formal room.

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PERFECT PAIR Priyanka Tater

A WISH COME TRUE Neelam Vasudevan The first time I saw a Tanjore painting was in Chennai about 25 years ago. I had gone to meet my fiancé Arvind’s family for the first time. Besides the excitement of meeting them, I also had one test to pass - their approval. I was nervous…who would not be?

Arvind’s uncle’s home in Chennai is like a tribute to art and music. Beautiful paintings adorn the walls, crystalware gleams in the light, music gently wafts into your ears and every little object has a story behind it, no matter which part of the world it comes from. The walls of the house were adorned with Tanjore paintings, mostly about Lord Krishna.

Some of them were as old as 60 years.

One particular painting caught my eye - a beautiful Ganesha. I had never seen deities embossed with gold and jewels.

The uniqueness of the painting was its extraordinary gold leaf work, attractive jewellery with red and green stones, dazzling colour design and a beautiful carved wooden frame.

That meeting went off really well, and I won the family’s approval too.

But I came back wanting something. I know I made a wish that day. I wanted a Tanjore painting - a Ganesha with an ornate frame. Somehow I never went back to Chennai after that.

In between all these years my mother-in-law got me a Tanjore painting every Diwali - Saraswati, Krishna and Hanuman. But no Ganesha. I was told that only a few select artisans make them, one of these being Surya, the artist who makes them for my in-laws.

Surya has been painting painstakingly all his life, and can be located in Chennai’s Adiyar area even today.

Ten years ago, when on a visit to Australia my in-laws brought me an unexpected surprise. I opened the wrapper of a big package. In my hands was this beautiful Tanjore painting. Of a Ganesha! It was made by the very humble Surya whose family tradition is making these paintings that are so unique and priceless. Finally I had my wish come true after so many years.

I was over the moon and I am still showing it off to all.

I would like to credit my husband for instilling in me the passion for collecting Ganeshas and Budhhas.

Big, medium, small... pricey (of course, within means) or not so pricey, we do love adding them to our home.

My husband got his first Ganesha when he began his first job after finishing uni. His parents visited from India, and he asked them to bring him a Ganesha statue.

A few years later he brought me to Sydney as his bride. Guess who greeted me when I first entered our home? The very same Ganesha sitting in a glass shelf facing the door. He looked radiant, and I fell in love with him instantly, even though I thought he looked

different.

And our conversation at home began with me asking him about this striking piece: in retrospect, it was a great ‘new beginning’.

This particular Ganesha is from Nepal with a distinctive physiognomy, very characteristic of the Nepalese sculptural tradition - long languid eyes and a wider face. It was handmade using ‘panchadhatu’ (the five metals copper, bronze, brass, silver and gold) and the face gilded with 24-carat gold.

The next thing I did was open my luggage and bring out my own ‘cutie pie’ gold Ganesha, given to me by my mum. I placed him right next to my ‘international’ Ganesha!

BROWN GANESHA Harshad Pandharipande The Ganesh idol sat forlorn in a corner, almost as if it wasn’t pretty enough to be displayed. To be fair, it certainly was unconventional: it had none of the traditional fair skin, fine features and intricate ornaments that Ganesh idols usually have. It was brown - the colour of the clay it was made of - and unadorned, save for a few strokes of paint to define its facial features. To me and my wife, Reeti - who loves environmentally-friendly everything - it made perfect sense to buy Brown Ganesh.

This was years ago when awareness was just starting to grow about how idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP) and toxic paint ended up choking lakes and destroying fragile aquatic life.

Of course, PoP idols could be mass produced, were sturdier, easier to carry and offered a much smoother texture for paint to be applied for an attractive, more saleable finish. Convenience and commerce had again led traditions astray.

Traditionally, the idol was supposed to be made with clay and immersed in a well or lake, where it would dissolve into the water. Many people use the clay from their garden to make the idol and, at the end of Ganeshotsav, immerse it in a bucket where it would dissolve and be returned to the garden.

This self-same clay would probably be used again to make idols and be returned at the end of the festival - a symbol of the circle of life itself.

We fell in love with our Brown Ganesh in the

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corner: unvarnished, basic and as natural as could be. We brought him home and installed him with the usual fanfare. Of course, its brown colour was a sure-fire conversation starter with all those who visited our home for ‘darshan’. It gave us opportunity after opportunity to talk about ecofriendly idols. I am sure we convinced more than a few people to switch over to clay Ganesh idols.

Reeti, however, went a step further. During the installation ceremony of Ganesh, a betel nut is also installed to symbolise Ganesh. The betel nut is immersed along with the main idol. Reeti asked the priest if we could do without immersing Brown Ganesh and reusing it. The priest, after hearing Reeti’s rationale, said yes, as long as we immersed the betel nut each year, we could indeed reuse the idol for three years. (Some technical/religious loophole, I guess!)

So, for the next two years, after each Ganesh festival, we would immerse the betel nut - the symbolic Ganesh - in our well. We would simply keep Brown Ganesh carefully wrapped up in a cloth for the rest of the year.

Then, at the end of three years, we bid Brown Ganesh goodbye. We immersed him in a bucket, where He became one with the water in no time.

We tipped the bucket in our garden full of flowering trees. Earth to earth.

Brown Ganesh was back where He came from.

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 27

FESTIVAL

A cake for Janmashtami Falguni Shah’s Indian-themed cakes are a delightful combination of folklore, flavour and craftsmanship

BY SARONI ROY

T

his Krishna Janmashtami we saw an exquisite piece of edible art a Janmashtami special matki (pot) cake by Falguni Shah, a Sydneybased baker. The eggless cake is custommade, keeping in mind Krishna’s love for maakhan (butter) and stealing it, which he was both infamous and much-loved for.

Falguni, a self-taught baker, first began baking in 2016.

“My first successfully baked eggless cake was for my son’s third birthday,”

28 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

she recalled. “Before that, I used to experiment with cake mixes from Coles.

But they didn’t work well, plus I’m a vegetarian, and without eggs, the cakes just would not taste as good.”

Eventually, Google and Pinterest came to the rescue. Countless trials later, she got the right mix and taste, in spite of skipping the conventional cake ingredient: eggs.

“I felt there was a need in the international baking market to create uniquely designed, eggless but tasty cakes, as there is a large vegetarian population to cater to. So I had to get the recipe right not just for myself but also for consumers who seek delicious, egg-free cakes.”

With winning recipes and the artistic looks of her creations, customers were sold. With the Janmashtami matki cake

posts, her Facebook page for her homebased small business reached a whopping 50k viewership.

“I don’t usually accept cake orders unless the concept or the event inspires me to create something out of the ordinary!

Like the Janmashtami matki cake, I took inspiration from Krishna’s childhood tales. I first baked a 6-inch thick chocolate cake, then carved out the matki shape, added fresh butter-cream inside it as Krishna loves fresh home-made butter, hand-crafted the peacock feather, the flute, and painted each motif with edible colours. So it’s not about the business, it has to inspire me to create edible artwork.”

For this cake and many others, like the dholki (drum) cake or the Paithani

Saree cake, Falguni needs a painstaking 6-7 hours. And each cake has a story embedded in Indian culture.

“I made the dholki cake for a client’s mehendi ceremony. Dholki is such an integral part of our mehendi and sangeet functions at Indian weddings; it signifies all the song and dance, the fun, the frolic of this milestone event. So I chose that as the shape for my cake and carved a single-tier vanilla sponge cake with strawberry jam, painted it bright blue, and handcrafted the golden ornamental designs.”

Falguni, who in 2017 won the ‘World’s Most Favourite Cake Designer’ award by Amazing Cake Ideas, USA, shares her love and talent for the art of baking through baking workshops and classes.

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PROUDLY PRESENTS

Little India Fair 2018

Celebrating Deepavali - the Festival of Lights

Colourful Festival Stalls Henna Artists

All Day Entertainment & Bollywood Cultural Performances

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COMMUNITY

A love of Hindi IABBV Hindi School marks Hindi Day with a bit of show and tell BY RISHABH MALHOTRA

T

hornleigh’s IABBV Hindi School commemorated its 31 years in the teaching of Hindi by celebrating Hindi Divas on 2 September. It marked the occasion in partnership with Multicultural NSW and the Indian Cultural Centre, Consulate General of India.

Hindi was adopted as the official language of India by the Indian Constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949. People at home in India and Indians overseas celebrate this day with a tribute to a language which is the thirdmost spoken in the world. In Australia, it is the tenth most widely spoken language in Australia.

Hindi Divas is the celebration of not only the language but also the culture in which it is spoken. In keeping with this, the Hindi students of IABBV showcased their learning of the language by means of presentations in song, dance, skits and poetry.

A song on the need to avoid single-use plastics to save the environment, joined other popular numbers such as Choti Si Asha and Tik Tik Tik. The students of IABBV Hindi School also presented a short play entitled Chahiye Kurta Raja Ko that conveyed that money can’t buy happiness. The highlight of the event was the Rajasthani folk dance Ghoomar and Bhangra choreographed by the teachers of IABBV Hindi School.

The performances showed the rich diversity and colour of India. Along with diverse performances, the event

30 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

had a wide variety of food from different parts of India ranging from idli and apams to chana and kulcha. The students of Hindi Samaj Girraween Hindi School also participated in this event and rendered a prayer Prathna: Daya Ker Daan.

Earlier, the event commenced with an amazing rendition of We are Australian by an IABBV student and accomplished singer Tanaya Kumar; she was accompanied by Peter Kirkwood on the didgeridoo. This was followed by the singing of the Australian and Indian National Anthems and all were welcomed with the lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries of the day.

Kusum Chaudhary, Hindi teacher, IABBV Hindi School, was honoured on the release of her Hindi book Meri Priya Shayan Bela Hindi Kavitayen (My Favourite Bedtime Poems).

Yours truly got to make a presentation as well, as an IABBV alumnus and Ambassador for Languages DET NSW. I spoke about the importance of studying a second language for students in Australia.

The proceedings were closely coordinated by Mala Aunty, founder of IABBV Hindi School, who with her warmth and nurturing qualities has become the community’s favourite Hindi personality.

The event was attended by Damien Tudehope (State Member for Epping who was representing Ray Williams, MP Minister for Multiculturalism & Minister for Disability Services); B Vanlalvawana (Consul General of India); Julian Leeser (Federal Member for Berowra); Geoff Lee (State Member for Parramatta & Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Western Sydney and Multiculturalism); Jodi McKay (Member for Strathfield);

Julia Finn (Member for Granville); Phillip Ruddock (Mayor Hornsby Shire Council); community elder Neville Roach AO; Dr Peter Freidlander (Lecturer Hindi, Australian National University); Peter Kirkwood (President, PCYC); Police Officers from the Hornsby Local Area Command, and other community leaders.

Damien Tudehope, Geoff Lee, Jodi McKay, Julian Leeser, Julia Finn and Peter Freidlander gave some rousing speeches that illustrated multiculturalism in Australia. Highlighting the need to study a second language, they endorsed the NSW Community Language Schools Program and encouraged students to study Hindi. The Consul General B Vanlalvawna also gave an excellent speech and reminded all present of the significance of celebrating Hindi Divas and honoured outstanding students for excellence in Hindi.

The late Mr Dinesh Shrivastava, who did much for the cause of Hindi teaching in Australia, was also remembered: he passed away in June 2018.

Julian Leeser, Federal Member for Berowra and himself an alumnus of IABBV Hindi School, honoured HSC Hindi state-toppers Pratyush Charde and Naetik Saini for coming first and second respectively in NSW for Hindi Continuers in 2017.

Peter Kirkwood of PCYC addressed the audience elaborating on the Hornsby/ Kuringai PCYC and honoured the sponsors and volunteers of IABBV Hindi School.

This year the annual poetry recitation competition was supported by the Luthra family in memory of their mother, Aunty Vimla. Aunty Vimla, a strong supporter of the IABBV Hindi School, was passionate

about writing poetry and was the author of two books.

This year about forty students enthusiastically took part in the competition, their recitations focussing on the humorous as well as the more thought-provoking. India’s former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, himself a poet, found himself reincarnated on the occasion. Winners were presented gift vouchers and trophies. The event ended with a light Indian lunch which had dishes from various Indian states.

Hindi Divas promoted Hindi as a language and encouraged people from Indian and non-Indian backgrounds to engage with the language. It was great to interact with parliamentarians from both sides of the spectrum as they enjoyed the Indian presentations. For parents and teachers, the event aroused much nostalgia.

For the kids, who were at the centre of it all, it was an occasion to have some fun, while showing the community what they had learned this school year.

Ayaan Uttam recites his poem

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COMMUNITY

T

AHIA: Picking up the strings

here’s been a flurry of activity in one of the oldest associations in Sydney’s Indian community.

The Australian Hindi Indians Association (AHIA) is seeing a revival after a lull of a few years, and its new lease of life showed at its recent annual dinner held at Cheerybrook. A hall filled with members enjoyed the tastefully organised festivities on the occasion.

Days later, an AGM was held, at which a new Executive Committee was elected.

“There hasn’t been an AGM for five years now,” community elder Tilak Kalra told Indian Link. “So it was good to see 200 members turn up.”

Santram Bajaj, another elder, agreed, “It is a healthy trend, as more and more members are becoming interested in the Association and its activities.”

The Association was formed to bring together the Hindi-speaking community,

34 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

at a time before people associated on Facebook and WhatsApp groups. Its intent was to celebrate cultural events such as Diwali and Holi on large scale, promote the Hindi language, and provide a platform for seniors to have a better quality of life.

Years down the track, it is the third of these that seems to have maintained the highest agency, with the AHIA Senior Citizens Forum growing in its popularity and relevance. Its members meet on a regular basis in neatly organised events: they mingle and engage in group activities such as yoga and bingo, listen to presentations on health and financebased information, and have a light meal.

Picnics and outdoor events are sometimes organised, and birthdays and anniversaries are marked.

At a recent event, a much-needed service for seniors was facilitated with the help of the Indian Consulate and the

Indian Migrant Centre, to ease the process of pension remuneration for Indian citizens living here. Consul Mr SK Verma was present to personally help with the documentation.

In an upcoming event, a grand Grandparents Day is being planned at which extended families will be involved.

The success of the Senior Citizens Forum is due largely to the small bunch of people who have been organising this platform for over twenty years now.

Their sense of service – and the respect accorded to those who are but seeking a sense of value – has kept the group going.

In a new initiative, a van has been acquired to help transport members.

It was purchased for $25000 with a special grant of $12000 provided by the Department of Home Affairs. Members have for years been ferried to and from the stations by volunteers. It is hoped the van

will enable, among other things, visits to the frail and needy in their own homes.

Early signs are that the same level of activity and dedication will be shown by the incoming AHIA Executive Committee to serve the larger association which is now 500-strong. Yash Bhasin is the new President, with Rajendra Channa serving as Vice president, Kali Gupta as Secretary and Vipin Dogra as Treasurer. They will be assisted by volunteers Sushma Ahluwalia, Mita Sharma, Preeti Thadani, Sarita Sachdev and Sudha Ramdev. Many of these names had already shown their active involvement at the annual dinner - at the very venue where it all started in 1994: their upbeat and energetic program is hopefully a harbinger of AHIA 2.0.

AHIA Seniors Forum holds its meeting every second Saturday of the month at Wentworthville Community Centre.

Rajni Anand Luthra

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THE YOUNG ONES

A tune for India Up and coming musician Sagar Nagaraj heads to India for Australia Fest BY USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

W

estern classical violinist Sagar Nagaraj has been invited to perform in India later this month as part of the prestigious Australian World Orchestra (AWO).

Each year, the AWO Academy offers emerging musicians a place in the orchestra for a fully immersive, touring experience.

The invaluable opportunity includes professional mentoring, rehearsals, travel and tour with the orchestra as well as performances during the concert season.

“It is a huge honour,” Nagaraj, who is a member of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra, told Indian Link.

“There is really nothing I can compare this with. I am just profoundly grateful for this opportunity to join an orchestra that produces an incredible sound. I have been following them and attending their concerts since their inception in 2011.

Simply watching them play, I can see the decades of experience each player has with their control over the sound – playing in perfect synchronicity even the most challenging parts of the music. I expect playing with them to be an exhilarating, life-changing experience. I am simply seeking to learn as much as I can from these musical experts and incorporate it

into my own style of playing, to become the best player I can be,” the early career professional added.

AWO’s upcoming India tour will be a highlight of ‘Australia Fest’, which celebrates and showcases the focus by Australia on India following the visit of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last year to deepen bilateral ties in the cultural sphere and build on the peopleto-people links that are vital to promoting mutual understanding and respect between the two countries.

Led by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Alexander Briger AO, the tour returns to Chennai and Mumbai, besides a maiden performance in Kerala of a western symphony orchestra.

The program, including operatic and symphonic works by Mozart, Bizet and Beethoven, will be performed by 52 of Australia’s finest musicians from the world’s leading orchestras including the Vienn and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras, the Antwerp and London Symphony Orchestras and musicians from the Australian state orchestras.

In conjunction with the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation (established by Zubin Mehta), the group will also deliver workshops and outreach music education programs in Mumbai, culminating with a performance by the students and AWO together on stage at the Tata Hall, NCPA in Mumbai.

This year’s education program will extend to the Centre for Autism India in Kerala, where the AWO education team will travel to Tiruvalla to conduct

workshops and performances with the children and their teachers to enhance both experiences and opportunities. All proceeds of these concerts will go back to educational and charitable organisations.

Nagaraj, who commenced playing at age of eight, has been extensively involved with the Sydney Youth Orchestras since 2012, playing as Associate Concertmaster for the Philharmonic Orchestra, and principal Second Violin for the flagship orchestra under esteemed Australian conductors like Matthew Coorey, Fabian Russell, Max McBride, and Alexander Briger.

It was during this time that his love for orchestral playing was fostered and paved the way for further opportunities such as playing with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute, The Metropolitan Orchestra and at the Four Winds Festival in Bermagui. He has also had the opportunity to perform in Europe as guest concertmaster of the Schweriner Jugendsinfonieorchester and Orchestre Symphonique du Conservatoire de Bordeaux.

Currently completing Bachelors in Psychology, Nagaraj regularly plays in chamber music concerts throughout Sydney. Alongside his performing and academic duties, he conducts various string ensembles in public schools and teaches violin. Equally proficient in German, he is also assisting research into the effects of brain stimulation on musical improvisation.

“Playing in an orchestra requires dedication and preparation. Dedication to the instrument and the music – making sure you are on top of your part in the pieces and are able to play everything and be flexible to different ways of playing the same piece,” he explained.

“One must also be highly organised and prepared for every rehearsal, so that one can be depended on and maintain a professional level of playing. The symphony orchestra is like a high functioning machine, and if a part is loose or not functioning well, it gets replaced before the machine is compromised,” he added.

According to the high achiever, core skills like time management and concentration are crucial for survival in this field.

So what is his typical schedule like?

“There is no real ‘average week’ for me,” he revealed. “I find that in some weeks my ‘academic’ side takes priority, and on other weeks my musical side does.

The ‘academic’ part involves completing assignments, weekly readings, and generally staying on top of university commitments. Other weeks are filled with concerts and recitals, (either performing or watching) and practising – so finding an overall balance for my activities is definitely not easy.”

Nagaraj therefore believes in taking each day as it comes.

“I have a general idea of what I need to achieve by certain deadlines, but the rest I leave up to my impulses and judgments.

They have served me well before.”

Nagaraj commenced playing at age of eight, and has been extensively involved with the Sydney Youth Orchestras since 2012 NATIONAL EDITION

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 37

THE YOUNG ONES

Budding photographers Brothers Krish and Ishaan Choudhry are finalists in the City of Sydney’s Little Sydney Lives photography competition

D

riving back home from a day trip to the countryside, 9-yearold Ishaan asked his dad to stop the car. He had seen a lonely tree in the distance, and wanted to take a photograph.

The photograph has just found him a spot on the shortlist at the City Of Sydney’s Little Sydney Lives photography competition.

“The landscape with the lonely tree showed the emptiness of the countryside,” Ishaan told Indian Link. “I liked how isolated it was.”

The Holsworthy youngster is thrilled at this achievement, not only because it is his second appearance as a finalist in this prestigious contest, but also because his

11-year-old brother Krish joins him this year in the shortlist.

“My photo is of Ishaan, as he played with autumn leaves on the grass,” Krish described.

The Choudhry boys have been dallying with photography since they were five or six.

“I like photographing buildings and people, and my dog Pixel,” Krish revealed.

“But my photo of Ishaan is my favourite image. I got him to pose for it, and took many shots before finally finding one which I was happy with.”

“I like being outdoors so my favourite pics are landscapes,” Ishaan chimed in.

Both boys claimed they like sharing their pics with others, having taken to school

their holiday shots from America and New Zealand.

They were introduced to the camera by their dad Abhijit, himself an accomplished hobby photographer, and who has submitted to the adult version of the competition, Australian Life. “The selected shots from both boys were clicked on my Canon DSLR,” Abhijit revealed.

Brave of him to allow them to tinker with his camera, you might think, but Abhijit is all for it. “It’s my back-up spare, but I do want them to get used to the feel of a good camera,” he said.

Ishaan and Krish are among 20 kids, aged 3-11, whose works were picked this year. Their photographs will be presented

on bedsheet-size canvases at Sandringham Gardens, Hyde Park North, from 13 September to 7 October.

Winners will be picked in two categories, 3 to 7 and 8 to 11 years, and announced on 13 September at the opening of the Little Sydney Lives exhibition. Each prize is $500 in photography equipment and accessories.

“I think I’m going to win,” Ishaan told Indian Link with confidence.

We hope you do, Ishaan.

Little Sydney Lives is part of the City of Sydney’s year-round Art & About program of events and temporary art projects in unusual spaces throughout the city.

Rajni Anand Luthra

Top: Ishaan and Krish; above: Krish’s image ‘Amongst the Leaves’, Ishaan’s image ‘Lonely Tree’; 38 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

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NATIONAL EDITION

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 41

MATRIMONIALS SEEKING GROOMS Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri, 45, 5’3” slim, fair, attractive girl. Girl is postgraduate and is working on a good position in government organisation. Please send details with photo to Indsyd2016@gmail.com.

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FORETELL

SEPTEMBER 2018

BY MINAL KHONA Minal Khona has been reading tarot cards for the last two decades. She uses her intuition and connect with the cards mostly to help people.

TAROT

ARIES March 21 - April 19

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

CANCER June 21 - July 20

Action happens in the realm of the mind this month for Arians. You will be given the solutions for any problems that come your way – your mind will do the solving. You might feel restricted in a relationship but are actually in a protective space. You might abandon a project. Watch your health and be careful or you could have an accident around the house. Any oppressive situations or circumstances will dissolve as you find your way out of them.

Unfinished business or stagnant conditions must be cleared away before you make any progress spiritually or in your work. Your relationship could hit rock bottom but the worst is over.

Pray, let go and let God take it where it has to. Watch for illness as you or a family member could be hospitalised.

Disputes at work could even lead to a dismissal so keep a low profile. Stay away from negative thoughts. Your success comes from financial gains.

You can expect ups and downs, conflicts of interest and unexpected developments in work or your personal life. A lover from the past returns but you don’t know whether to reconnect or not. Financial responsibilities increase due to living expenses or incomplete repairs. Mood swings due to work or personal issues are indicated. A problematic cycle ends and a new one commences, causing a change for the better. Letting things take their own course leads to good fortune.

A long term condition could change suddenly for you this month. You will focus on living arrangements, love affairs and impending decisions. You could meet someone with whom you establish a rapport and feel very deeply for. You might even want to move in with this person. Things could stall due to an unexpected illness or an uncomfortable occurrence. Problems related to finance will get resolved positively. Tensions will dissipate and events will work out in your favour.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

Conditions are taking shape and you experience satisfaction on the work front. An unexpected clash with someone important due to a financial matter could take place. New elements enter your life that make the future look more hopeful. A pet or family member might need medical attention. You could also inherit some money. Correct what is wrong in your life – at work or at home – by taking the right step. Let go of behaviour patterns that no longer serve you.

There is renewed business activity and financial security. A powerful love affair could sweep you off your feet. Several short trips are indicated. A prosperous phase at work is imminent – through a promotion. Spiritually, you are in a relaxed frame of mind as you are willing to let the universe direct your life. You will have luck on your side in love and money matters. A good time for new projects and any assistance you seek will be given.

An idea manifests or the space for things to grow is created. This happens because of a destined change that has come about. Old habits give way to a new lifestyle, caused by health or relationship issues. Travel plans get delayed. A relationship could end but feelings remain. A loss of income is also indicated. The future causes anxiety but look inward and pray as a new direction comes forth. What you thought was a lost cause will flourish again.

A lover could cause disappointment; and accepting a relationship that goes against all that you believe in won’t make you happy. Restlessness due to delays cause frustration which seeps into your work as well. Suppression of what worries you can cause constipation. An outgrown friendship or emotional attachment to a situation is going to end. You success comes through your ability to use the metaphysical elements in your daily life.

If someone has to return, they will on their own.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

Career opportunities come your way this month, as do potential investments.

New elements at work can help but you still feel unsettled. Guard against accidents at home and be careful of what you eat; you could get sick. Money is in abundance from multiple sources but don’t lend any. Unfinished business causes anxiety. New work or educational resources lead to success. There are answers available but stop thinking about problems – that is the only solution. Defer instant gratification for the moment.

Things might seem to go wrong and leave you confused. But an unpleasant event becomes a lucky break. A depressed, life-is-at-a-dead-end kind of feeling overwhelms you but the best option is to wait it out. If a relationship is on the rocks, it will tide over the bad times because of a strong bond.

Material concerns occupy you more than the metaphysical and that is okay. Don’t take any rash decisions and risks. Play it safe on all fronts.

You share similarities with another air sign; a Gemini influence leads to focus on communication, mental absorption, the arts and beginning new projects.

Your love life is at an impasse and the give and take is missing. Your health improves on all counts, and financial transactions will lead to prosperity.

Everything going wrong in your life will get sorted out and friends will help out.

Past hurts come to an end. A reunion or reconciliation is on the cards.

Exams, travel, meetings, new experiences dominate this month. You could be on the horns of a dilemma regarding a new job or love. The home front keeps you busy but watch out for faulty appliances. Money through commissions, trade or an unexpected source is indicated. If you are in a confrontation with someone, stick to your ground and don’t give in. What looks like a loss will actually be the opposite. Fate brings serendipity so depend on the universe.

NATIONAL EDITION

SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 43

ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK

UNMADE IN CHINA PALTAN

Starring: Arjun Rampal, Harshvardhan Rane, Gurmeet Chowdhary Director: J.P. Dutta

HHHHH

For what seems like an intermittent period of acute stock-taking Paltan looks like J.P. Dutta’s LOC Kargil minus the stars. In LOC, we had the likes of Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Abhishek Bachchan Aand Nagarjuna playing soldier. In Paltan, it’s the likes of Arjun Rampal, Gurmeet Chowdhary and Luv Sinha playing soldier-soldier.

Recession is upon us.

The film is very beautifully shot in a toasted-brown splendour and the background score (by Sanjoy Chowdhary) is effective even when it has to support some of the cheesiest dialogues on valour written outside Doordrashan’s Shaktimaan.

But the songs by Anu Malik are insipid re-hashes of what Malik made in Dutta’s Border. Where are the great J.P. Dutta melodies from his war movies?

And where are those heart-stopping moments of patriotic heroism that made Border so unforgettable? In sequence after sequence, we see Indian soldiers indulging in juvenile fistfights across the fence (more barbed than the verbal abuse) as though they were fighting for a spot in the school playground rather than land for the country.

The Chinese soldiers are portrayed as buffoons and caricatures. But then that is only to be expected in a film that mistakes border-bashing as patriotism. To his credit, J.P. Dutta manages to make the frames look energised when the soldiers run across the borderline with rifles.

However, repetitive shots of border dispute and territorial skirmish make this war film a tedious watch.

Among the performers, Harshvardhan Rane acts with passion his part of a hotheaded soldier determined to avenge India’s humiliating defeat with China in 1962. But to have Rane and Gurmeet Chowdhary take off their shirts merely because they have the physique is akin to triggering off a war just because the troops are ready.

Esha Gupta appears in two shots wearing a white saree. Hard to recognise her fully clothed.

Fine actors like Arjun Rampal and Jackie Shroff struggle to keep the proceedings dignified in the midst of a maelstrom of hefty hamming. The actors playing the waiting and wailing family members of the soldiers pull out all stops.

In an early sequence, a postman delivers sobering news of martrydom in house after house in one housing colony.

The sounds of wailing are so clocked they seem like recorded messages. The

emotions are thus rendered clinical.

The flashbacks are platitudinous to the point of being absurd. In one such romantic flashback Gurmeet Chowdhary’s screen beloved nibbles on a large container of gur (jaggery) as he suggests they move into the nearby khet for some serious hanky-panky I almost expected the above scene with the gur to merge into pun-filled dig at the ‘Chini’ (Chinese, also sugar). But it seems no one thought of getting clever at the characters’ cost.

It is not their fault if they are in a film that is relevant but ultimately of no consequence to us. We expected J.P. Dutta to tell us why war is not a viable option for India at any given time.

Instead, all we get is repeated shots of the soldier-heroes exercising their soldierly right to be a bully with the neighbours.

Subhash K. Jha

INDIAN LINK SOCIAL MEDIA 44 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

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SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 45

ENTERTAINMENT

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

ABHISHEK BACHCHAN

ONE FOR THE SIKHS: ABHISHEK BACHCHAN

#RIP377 ON TWITTER Apurva Asrani (National Award winning film-maker and scriptwriter of Aligarh fame) At the stroke of the mid-day hour, as the conscience of many slept, India’s LGBTQ awoke to light and freedom. This moment came 71 years too late in history, 71 years after our brethren attained freedom; but the soul of a community, long suppressed, has found utterance. Congratulations!

Sonam Kapoor This is the India I want to live in. Not one filled with hate, bigotry, sexism homophobia and intolerance. THIS is the India I love.

Anupama Chopra And night will fall on a different world!

Kirron Kher Ma ka laadla legal ho gaya!! Congratulations to the LGBT community and the honourable SC for this much awaited judgement!

Karan Johar So proud today. Decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing Section 377 is a huge thumbs-up for humanity and equal rights. The country gets its oxygen back Alia Bhatt: Such a momentous day in the history of our country. Thank you thank you thank you!

Dia Mirza Equality for India. Equal love. Equal rights.

Hrithik Roshan Which are the other remnants still keeping our society in the dark ages?

Aamir Khan We thank the Supreme Court for its decision to strike down article 377. It is a historic day for people who believe in equal rights for all. The judiciary has done its duty, and now we must do ours.

Farhan Akhtar Bye bye 377. Thank you Supreme Court. No more discrimination.

Love is love.

Arjun Kapoor Sanity prevails for once we can believe we have some sensible decision makers and lawmakers available to this generation. Section 377 gone with the wind.

Vidya Balan I am what I am. So take me as I am... Hail the Supreme Court of India. Grateful that so many people I love won’t need to live in fear of ‘being found out’ anymore.

Nimrat Kaur RIP Section377. Happy birthday 2018. Equal love. Equal lives. Proud Indian today.

Ayushmann Khurrana RIP Section 377.The new sunshine of this day is that of a progressive India. Love all.

Karan Johar Today is the beginning of a new India Priety Zinta If you have a heart you should be free to love who you want. So happy to hear that Supreme Court of India has abolished section 377.

Konkona Sen Sharma We won. Thank you SC. 377 is history.

Abhishek Bachchan Well done India.

John Abraham Stand tall in honour with pride. LGBTQ. Apurva Asrani Feels fab to feel free

46 SEPTEMBER (1) 2018

In his upcoming film Manmarziyaan, Abhishek Bachchan plays a turbanclad Sikh. Ahead of its release on 14 Sept, Abhishek fondly remembered his grandmother the late Teji Bachchan, a Sikh by background.

“Dadima would’ve been happy to see me play a Sikh,” the actor said. “So there’s an emotional attachment to the role. But when I first put on the turban, I must admit I was more focused on my performance. But later when I saw the footage, I felt special.”

His dad Amitabh had proudly shared the picture of his turbaned look early on.

Manmarziyaan, featuring Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal, is set in Amritsar. He plays Robbie, a banker based in London who returns to his home town to get married to a girl, who, he finds out, is in love with another man.

It is abundantly clear from the trailer that he plays the brainy-rather-thanbrawny dude, as opposed to the ‘cool’ guy who has the heart of his bride-tobe. Hmmm, wonder how this tale will end…

Whether Dadima would be proud, we’ll find out on 14 Sept.

AND ALSO FOR THE SIKHS: DEV PATEL

Dev Patel, who plays the role of a Sikh waiter in Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai based on the November 2008 terror attacks, said he felt compelled to be part of the film after his family watched the city burning across TV screens.

Citing an old link with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel from Slumdog Millionaire, the actor said Danny Boyle did a dance sequence there as an ode to India and its cinema.

“As much as I hated doing it, the dance sequence captured the movie. Then to see in my house in London with my parents, the TV screens showing Mumbai burning, it was horrible... And when there was a film being made on it, I felt very compelled to be a part of it,” the actor revealed.

About his role of Arjun, the Sikh waiter, he said, “This film has so many amazing characters. For me, I wanted to do more with the character of Arjun.

I had read this article about Sikh cab drivers in New York being targeted after the September 11 attacks and being labelled ‘terrorists’. I thought we can make this Sikh man, a community extremely underrepresented in cinema, to break stereotypes and educate the audiences about a culture.”

Patel visited the hotel and spoke with some of the staff before starting work on the film.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

At Indian Link, we are keenly awaiting the release of the film, not only because it is made in Australia with Indian actors, but also because it stars one of our very own, Gaurav Paswala, who gave up being a broadcaster on Indian Link Radio to try out his luck in films. He’s going places, we hear…

NAWAZ, INDIA’S MASTROIANNI?

What does Nawazuddin Siddiqui have to say about Hollywood Reporter calling him ‘handsome’ and comparing him with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni?

“To be called handsome by one of the most authoritative publications on American cinema, is something I value,” the actor’s actor Nawaz said.

“I have never been called handsome in my own country, not by the people I know, not by critics who love my work.

So it’s a great kick.”

He added, “As for being compared with Marcello Mastroianni…oh, my God. He is such a brilliant actor, so skilled and with such a riveting screen presence. When I’d see him perform in the films of (director) Vittorio de Sica, I’d wonder how that level of naturalism can be achieved in a performance.”

Surely he’s getting there? His performance in Manto is something Marcello Mastroianni would have recognised.

“I’ve tried to keep my interpretation of Saadat Hasan Manto as quiet, restrained and controlled as possible.

Manto never raises his voice. Yet he never has a problem in getting people to listen to him. The louder we speak, the more we expose our insecurities about losing our identity. We Indians speak too loudly.”

He has something there: Marcello Mastroianni never had to raise his voice to be heard…

“You know, I was in Rome for oneand-a-half months, shooting for my friend Tannishtha Chatterjee’s film.

And I visited the museum devoted to Marcello Mastroianni. Just to see all the artefacts from his films, to savour and experience his life, was a tremendous high for me. Where are the museums for our great actors like Ashok Kumar and Dev Anand?”

Yes indeed, where are they?

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ON MENTAL HEALTH

Now that we’ve gotten somewhere with giving dignity to our LGBTQ+ folk, here’s hoping many new frontiers will be similarly conquered.

Mental health could be one such.

Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming film The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City said that India is lacking in generating awareness about mental illness.

His film addresses many sensitive issues like loneliness, communal harmony and mental health that exist in contemporary Indian society.

Talking about growing cases of suicides in the society, Bhatt said there is much help available that should be made use of. His own daughter Shaheen, older sister to Alia, was diagnosed with clinical depression at the age of 16.

“In October, Shaheen is launching her own memoir in which she talks about the struggle she has gone through in that phase,” Bhatt said.

In The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City, Bhatt, who has directed many critically acclaimed film like Saaransh, Naam and Zakham starts his new innings as an actor.

Sharing his experience about acting in the film, Bhatt laughed, “Acting is a difficult task! I think it is easier to tell how to act from behind the camera (than being) in front of it.”

The trailer of Dark Side shares much similarity with Mahesh Bhatt’s own production Life in a Metro which depicted the struggle of daily life in Mumbai city.

The film is slated to release on 5 Oct.

BLIND DEVOTION: AYUSHMANN KHURRANA

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who plays a visually challenged pianist in Sriram Raghavan’s forthcoming thriller Andha Dhun, went to a blind school for three months to prepare for his role.

“I wanted to look 100 per cent genuine on screen,” Ayushmann said about his role. “It is extremely sensitive to portray someone who is visually challenged and some of the great actors, the world over, have played these characters perfectly with sheer brilliance. I didn’t want to let down my director who had faith in me and in my acting skills.”

He added, “At the blind school I observed body language, mannerisms, reactions and nuances. It was tough and rigorous and needed all the attention in the world to pick such tricky nuances but acting is as much talent as it is attention to detail. Today, when I’m seeing the love that the audience is pouring for the trailer and my character, I feel glad that I put myself through this drill.

Andha Dhun also stars Tabu and Radhika Apte.

WHO WORE IT BETTER? KATE MIDDLETON or MALAIKA ARORA in GUCCI? Share your views + with us on our

Facebook page /IndianLinkAustralia

NATIONAL EDITION

BABY LOVE

It’s 2018, and anything is possible!

Even for your 50-year-old parents to be expecting another child…

Yes, that’s the theme of Badhaai Ho, an upcoming film starring veteran actress Neena Gupta, Ayushmann Khurrana and Sanya Malhotra.

Yes, Neena plays the expectant mum, and Ayushmann and Sanya her older kids.

So, how would Ayushmann react if he knew that his parents were expecting a baby at a later stage of their lives?

Ayushmann replied, “I think I would react like the way my character in the film reacted, because it is really awkward and embarrassing to know that at the age of 50 our parents are becoming parents again…”

He revealed that the film was right up his alley, though.

“I think such quirky subjects and storydriven films are my zone. I felt the same during Dum Laga Ke Haisha when I took no time to agree to do the film.”

Neena is also thrilled to be part of the project.

“Female actors of our age don’t get a chance to play such interesting characters,” she said. “This phase of our life is not addressed in our Hindi cinema. But I think the change is happening because of the youngsters who are writing such scripts.”

Check out the trailer to get the feels the film releases on 12 Oct.

WORTH WAITING FOR? YOU DECIDE!

Actors Rajkummar Rao and Boman Irani have commenced work on Made In China, which is being directed by Mikhil Musale whose Wrong Side Raju bagged the National Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati. The film, also starring Mouni Roy, is a hilarious take on a struggling Gujarati businessman and the bizarre journey he undertakes to become a successful entrepreneur. It releases on 15 Aug 2019. Hmm, interesting date for a film of that name…

Meanwhile, actress Iulia Vantur, better known for her real life roles in Salman Khan’s life, has been roped in for a film titled Radha Tu Kyu Gori Main Kyu Kaala. Dear oh dear. She will be seen playing the role of a Lord Krishna disciple, apparently.

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SEPTEMBER (1) 2018 47

BACKCHAT BACKCHAT

Where’s the remote?

A wave of self-reliance sweeps the world… but misses some people A wave of self-reliance sweeps the world… but misses some people BY BY NURYVITACHI VITACHI NURY

TT

columnistonce oncewatched watched hishiscolumnist a 60-minuteBBC BBCTV TV a 60-minute documentaryononthe therailways railways documentary Lahoresimply simplybecause becausethe the ofofLahore remotecontrol controlwas wasononanother anotherchair. chair. remote Heartlesspeople peoplecall callthis this“laziness”, “laziness”, Heartless but I prefer the term “terminal but I prefer the term “terminal indolence”,which whichsounds soundsmore more indolence”, medical. medical. a bidtotoencourage encourageme metotobebemore more InIna bid active,colleagues colleaguespointed pointedout outthat thata a active, noble,dramatic dramaticwave waveofofself-reliance self-relianceis is noble, sweepingthe theworld worldatatthe themoment. moment. sweeping It started with a video report from It started with a video report from China a few days ago showing a woman China a few days ago showing a woman out shopping for food.

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injured.“Oops, “Oops,sorry sorryforforcrashing crashinginto into injured. you, someone shot my head off so I can’t you, someone shot my head off so I can’t seeanything.” anything.”“No “Noproblem, problem,bud.” bud.” see Self-reliancewas wasdemonstrated demonstratedinin Self-reliance SoutheastAsia Asiaatatthe thesame sametime timetoo. too.AnAn Southeast economypassenger passengeronona Kuala a KualaLumpur Lumpur economy HongKong Kongflight flightupgraded upgradedherself. herself. totoHong Theflight flightattendant attendantsent senther herback, back,but butshe she The sneaked forwards three times.

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thembesides besidesdamaging damagingtheir theirelitism. elitism. them I toldcolleagues colleaguesthat thatthese thesewere were I told trivialexamples examplescompared comparedtotothe the trivial ultimatedo-it-yourself do-it-yourselftale. tale.Jadav Jadav ultimate PayengofofAssam Assammoved movedtotoa large a large Payeng sandbar in a river.

He spent years sandbar in a river. He spent 3030years plantingtrees, trees,and andeventually eventuallyturned turned planting intoa new a newforest forest1,360 1,360acres acresinin it itinto size.The Theforest forestwas wassososuccessful successfulthat that size. tigersand andelephants elephantsnow nowshare shareit itwith with tigers him. him.

Andpossibly possiblythe theworst worstdo-it-yourself do-it-yourself And true story is that of Oscar Taylorofof true story is that of Oscar Taylor California.

He performed a surgical California. He performed a surgical operationononhimself himselfinin1909.

1909.HeHedied died operation andhishisfamily familymembers membersdidn’t didn’teven even and havea doctor a doctortotosue, sue,sosothey theymissed missed have importantUS UStradition. tradition. ananimportant ownhome homerecently, recently,the thekids kids AtAtmymyown werewatching watchinga viral a viralvideo videoabout about were a dognamed namedDrewbert Drewbertwho whowas was a dog playing “fetch” with himself.

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