2018-10 Brisbane

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Neha Malude

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Usha Ramanujam Arvind, Chitra Sudarshan, Ritam Mitra, Sandip Hor, Shafeen Mustaq, Aneeta Menon, Stephanie Newman, Minal Khona, Auntyji

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Of leadership

and

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison, Bill Shorten, Gladys Berejiklan and now Michelle Guthrie, have all been in the news this past month with their management styles in focus, and found largely wanting.

While former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during his time in the leadership role could not define his style of management due to the many conflicting factors in his government, his successor current PM Scott Morrison is trying his best to show himself off as a regular bloke who plays footy, enjoys a beer and a sausage sizzle. His management style seems to be that of a boxer who will throw a ‘feint’ from the left glove but punch from the right glove. His recent positioning on the immigration debate seems to vindicate this. To appease the hard right in his party who want to reduce immigration as it puts pressure on urban infrastructure, his government

will stream new migrants to regional areas, which will also appease those who believe current migration levels need to be sustained at current numbers. The PM may well surprise a lot of sceptics of his management style as he is a good communicator who has a good grasp of policy and public pulse.

According to reports, these were the traits which Michelle Guthrie, the recently sacked head of the ABC, did not have. Among other things, she has been called out for her management style, and for her inability to communicate effectively with her staff. From an Indian-Australian point of view, perhaps it could be asked, did Guthrie do enough to help the ABC crew led by well-respected journalist Phil Adams when it was denied visas, as apparent retaliation to an ABC story on Adani – this despite the fact she worked closely with Indian government representatives here during the Confluence Festival, of which ABC was a sponsor.

The Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten has not been able to ‘cut through’ either with his leadership style. While the Coalition is busy changing leaders, the ALP has held on to their leader in spite of regular polls showing that he is just not making it. It is said

that stereotypes, shortcuts and shallow invective are effective in the short run, but they’re not useful, important or the best, and people can see through these. With less than eight months for an election to be called at the Federal level, it might be good for the public to know who he is, as at this stage it looks as though he will be taking over the Lodge after the next elections.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has had her leadership style questioned publicly with a spat between two of her senior colleagues, the Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and the Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Williams. With an attempt by the Treasurer to parachute himself in the electorate of Minister Williams, the very public spat has harmed the Premier with her inability to keep the battle behind closed doors. Her leadership during the post mortem of this will be interesting to observe.

Being a leader is never easy: all of your actions are under the microscope, looked at through the interpretive lens of all those franchised or disenfranchised by your decisions. But the opportunity to make a lasting difference is always at hand – just think of Gandhi, Churchill, Gates, Ma, Martin Luther King, Mandela, Lincoln.

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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.

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.

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!

SAY IT AGAIN

WORLD’S LARGEST STATUE

We ran an online story about the upcoming Sardar Patel statue in Ahmedabad, India, which will be the world’s largest, at 182m tall. Not for long though, as it will be surpassed by Mumbai’s Shivaji memorial in 2021 (212m). We asked readers if they are in support of this ‘tall’ trend Sivee Bhatia wrote: This would have looked good if other important issues were being handled with the same passion. And also, if we are keen on having more artistic stuff... we have a lot of archaeological heritage that needs to be saved from rotting.

Deepika Bharti wrote: Not at all. When I can’t see much happening on safety issues, water not safe to drink, public transport not safe to travel, roads and bridges not safe… and we can go on and on.

Aditya Narayan wrote: Roads, bridges, rail tracks, flood ravaged areas, drought ravaged areas, clean drinking water, electricity, clean food, toilets, houses, transportation, ambulances... All these can be done with the money being wasted on these statues. The work done there will be taller than these statues can ever be

Sushma Putta wrote: Wasting tax payers’ money.... that’s what it is.

Karl, if you cannot get another gig on TV, nothing wrong in working at 7Eleven… Twitter user XdulkarSydney, on reports that a move to Ch 7 could have saved Ch 9’s golden boy

Concudng the official visit to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi – a comprehensive program of start-ups, STEM, higher ed, research sciences, government, sport and the arts Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, currently touring India

ON THE AUSTRALIA INDIA YOUTH DIALOGUE (AIYD)

RITAM MITRA reported on the strategy launch for AIYD 2019

Karan Anand wrote: Really nicely written piece by Indian Link about the Australia India Youth Dialogue 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.”

Glenn Hunt wrote: Do smart people like Ritam really see anti-globalisation as a threat to economic and cultural cooperation? Well, he won’t have to worry if the globalist elites have their way: it will be one big nicely homogenised corporate controlled world, a la 1984/Animal Farm. The backlash against globalism is more a reaction to a constitutional crisis than anything else and about protecting individual freedom, independence, national and selfsovereignty and cultural identity from the Orwellian corporate/bankster elite agenda of homogenisation and control. It’s frightening that many ‘Intellectuals’ don’t get that and are speaking out against it.

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aradhya?

Gurpreet Kaur wrote: Mum to daughter, “No achievement is complete without the garland of your hug.” #CelebratingMotherhoodEveryday

Geetika Sethi Arora wrote: I don’t want my daughter to follow in my footsteps. I want her to go further than I could have ever dreamt possible

Leyla Singh wrote: You can have your trophy, Mum, but in my eyes you are my real-life trophy who I’m so proud to own

Saba Nabi wrote: A mum will always be daughter’s first and last friend

Nidhi Gupta wrote: Winning true love forever

Sahdev Vani wrote: Jaado ki jhappi for mum... for being the best at everything

Sunjeev Sharma wrote: No matter what you are giving me, I won’t let you go, mum

Khyati Raval wrote: Queen of hearts with her princess

Sabiha M Shaikh wrote: Miss World...with her little world

Dhiraj Arora wrote: You are the best mum in the whole world!

Arix Bishnoi wrote: I won my real price ages ago when I saw you for the first time!

Taran Bedi wrote: You are my universe, Mom

Anuja Wani wrote: Cake with cherry on top!

Falguni Shah wrote: Mumma, I love you!

Anuja Wani wrote: Another gem in her crown!

Gurmeet Singh wrote: Good on you, Mum! You are my Number One!

Sikander Rana wrote: Hum jeet gaye!

Raj Saneja wrote: Aishwarya to Aradhya: I just stole it from your grandfather’s collection. He has too many to notice.

Arix Bishnoi wrote: Let’s sell this and make a movie to relaunch dad again!

Kala Raghunath wrote: Beta, apko apna jeetna hoga…

BEYONCE DOES BOLLYWOOD

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)?

Bollygarchs (of India are) challenging the oligarchs (of Russia) for the title of the most obscenely rich of the global super-rich Peter Hartcher in SMH

WHERE IN INDIA?

A new edition of our regular social media post proved a bit difficult for readers

Saba Nabi wrote: Hampi, I think AShree AShree wrote:  It’s called Krishna’s butter ball at Mahabalipuram Tamil Nadu. Indian Link replied: That›s the right answer, Ashree!

How pretty is India’s newest airport! Sikkim’s Pakyong airport is a Himalayan beauty Conde Nast Traveller

So pleased to hear that Commander Tomy has been rescued. International cooperation between Australia, India and France at its best Harinder Sidhu

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.

Young leaders strengthen Aus-India relations

cooperation, bucking defiantly the apparently popular global trend.

BY RITAM MITRA

In the current geopolitical climateamidst 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 mindswhile 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

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.

The AIYD brought together the best and brightest minds at its successful 2019 strategy launch in Sydney

Photos: Nikhil Anand, Pixilation Photography

Eye on Wentworth

in

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

The stakes are high. A loss in the current by-election in the seat of Wentworth on 20 October can leave Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a tied House of Representatives. With the confidence of former Prime Ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull, the Coalition selected Dave Sharma as their candidate for Wentworth.

The Indian-origin Dave Sharma, who has had a distinguished career in the diplomatic services, has big shoes to fill in the Sydney seat vacated by Malcolm Turnbull. He talks here on Indian Link Radio about his debut in politics, his vision for Australia, and about his own Indian heritage.

PAWAN LUTHRA: Dave Sharma, welcome to Indian Link Radio.

DAVE SHARMA: Good morning Pawan, it’s lovely to be here with you.

PL: Dave, I am keen to explore not only your political views but also a bit more about your Indian links. So let me start with something that touches both of these. You’re a good Indian boy. You topped the state in the HSC and even went to medical school for a bit. But now you’re entering politics. Was politics always on your mind?

Also, why politics?

DS (laughs): That’s a good question, Pawan. You’re right, I am a good Indian boy. I’m a graduate of Law, I even studied Medicine for a year… as you know, all Indian parents want their children to go into one of those two professions.

But that said, politics is not in my family and I wasn’t necessarily expecting to get into politics. Where it’s come from for me, Pawan, is this: the past 20 years - serving

Australia overseas in places like Papua New Guinea, Washington DC and most recently as Ambassador for Israel - has given me a lot of great belief and passion in our country Australia, but also a sense that we need to do more to address some of the challenges we face. Attempting to get into politics in the seat of Wentworth is just about the next chapter of public service for me: helping to keep our country strong and secure, helping to keep our economy growing well, and helping to give opportunities for all Australians just like the opportunities I had (and my father had as well arriving in Australia as a migrant), making sure the country keeps delivering for all its people.

PL: So what are the challenges do you think Australia is facing at the moment?

DS: I think they’re twofold. Firstly the strategic environment around Australia is changing quite significantly: the centre of the global economic and strategic weight is shifting from a transatlantic axis to an Indo-pacific axis. That brings with it many opportunities for Australian trade, and I think we’ve done well in taking advantage of those. But it’s also bringing new uncertainties and new risks. You see that in the changing strategic balance of power in the region and growing assertiveness from some of the countries who are becoming more powerful and demanding a greater say in the affairs of the world and that creates challenges for us.

The second challenge, which I particularly became familiar with during my time in Israel, is that the economy is changing. The nature of goods and services that people produce and make countries prosperous is changing: they’re much more information rich and much less physically based, they depend upon a skilled workforce, and are quite knowledge intensive - and I do believe Australia needs to do more to position ourselves to capture some of those industries that are highly skilled and work in some of those industries, and remain a country that has high living

standards with a generous social safety net to look after everyone.

PL: Australia has seen 27 years of continuous economic growth, the only country in the world to do so. What else can we be doing on a more practical basis?

DS: You’re right, we’re about to enter our 28th year of uninterrupted economic expansion - the economic growth figures from the last financial year I think are 3.4% which is the highest in the OECD. I think there’s always a risk with thatcomplacency comes with that continued success and we can take continued economic success for granted. The truth of it is that over the years Australia has become a successful and prosperous country because of people working hard, governments making difficult decisions and people tackling policy challenges rather than expecting the economy and the country to run on auto pilot. So I think we need to be looking at the next challenges. What we’ve achieved so far is great, but we always need to be mindful of what might be coming over the horizon. In particular what I’d like to see is the commercialisation and research and development of Australian ideas. Australia has some great universities and some great research minds but we don’t have a very good track record in commercialising these ideas, turning them into commercial propositions and into business plans and business models. Israel does that particularly well. India does that quite

well as well and I think we need to learn lessons from countries like these that have a well-developed, innovative start up and entrepreneurial sectors

PL: Dave, we’ll come to politics in a minute but since you touched on the international economic order, do you think Australia is doing enough to engage with India?

DS: No, I think we could always be doing more with India. I think it’s an incredibly important country in the Indo-pacific: it’s growing in size and in wealth, it’s becoming a more significant strategic actor and we have so much in common with India. There’s obviously a large and growing Indian population in Australia, we share the same language, the same love of cricket, and many of the same cultural and literary traditions. So I think it should be a natural relationship. It is in many ways a natural relationship but I don’t think we’ve invested as much in it as we should - there’s always a case to be doing more diplomatically, strategically and commercially with India.

PL: Dave, you gave me a segue into a number of issues with that, but I’ll come back to them in a while. I’d like to talk a bit about local issues first. Internal affairs in your own party at the moment are grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons – there’s back-stabbing, destabilising, bullying, the women are rebelling. Why should the people of Wentworth vote for you?

DS: Why I’m getting into politics Pawan,

I want to help raise the tone of the debate

Canberra, says Dave Sharma , the Liberal candidate in the crucial Wentworth by-election

I agree people in the public are unhappy about the news they see coming out of Canberra, the internal party games, the intrigues, the inside of politics

is that I agree people in the public are unhappy about the news they see coming out of Canberra, the internal party games, the intrigues, the inside of politics. They’re wanting to see more of the government working for the people responding to their needs, delivering for them. And certainly talking to voters in Wentworth, they want to see a government addressing issues they’ve identified and challenged, and dealing with that. I believe the new leadership team in the government in Canberra has made a very good start. The new prime minister, the new treasurer, the new deputy prime minister, the other ministers, I do believe, are doing well in addressing the challenges and issues of priority and concern to Australians. And I want to be part of that; I want to help raise the tone of the debate in Canberra, get the government to focus more on the people, and get politics focused more on the people and less focused on politicians.

PL: In an article we did on you some time ago, when you were appointed as Australian Ambassador to Israel, you had said, “My appointment proves that Australia is a meritocracy and even the highest positions are available to all comers.” There is a lot of debate on quotas in politics at the moment. What are your views on the meritocracy vs quotas?

DS: Well it wouldn’t surprise you Pawan, to learn that I’m a big believer in meritocracy. I think my story you referred to there, to go from being a migrant in Australia to an ambassador for Australia within a single generation, is remarkable

- and I think Australia is perhaps the only country in the world in which that sort of a journey would be possible. I think it’s one of the great strengths of Australia that we assess people on their merits and on the content of their character. We don’t need to assign them on the basis of labels or particular attributes. I’ve got three young daughters and I want them to have all the opportunities that I’ve had open to me, open to them as well. I certainly want them to be able to succeed in whatever their chosen profession is. But I’ve also always taught them that they should be assessing other people not on the basis of labels or the categories they belong to, but as individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses and with their own character, with their own integrity. That’s what I very much believe in. Now the Liberal Party does need to do better in terms of female representation, not only in the parliament but in the senior rankings of the party, and at the state and the federal level, I’m firmly of that view. But we’ve also always been a party - and Australia has always been a country - about assessing individuals on their merits and I think we need to keep that firmly in mind as well.

PL: So is there a solution to get more women into the Liberal Party?

DS: I don’t think quotas are the solution to that. I think we need to be looking at everything across the board, and to how we encourage more recruitment of women into the party, into the senior ranks of the membership, into the parliamentary wing of the party, and making sure they find it a

welcoming place to be members. I think the solution needs to be a bottom up one.

PL: Right, so it’ll take time to evolve?

DS: Look, it will take time but I think that we do need to do better there, and I believe the prime minister and others very much recognise this challenge. It’s not going to be able to be fixed overnight, but we need to start moving in the right direction and I believe we are.

PL: Moving on to other things, it’s expected that there will be pressure mounted on from One Nation and others for an enquiry into population and immigration. What are your views on immigration and multiculturalism?

DS: My father was a migrant to Australia and Australia has been built upon the success of migration…

PL (interjecting): I believe your family was the only listing of ‘Sharma’ in the phone book in the 1960s…?

DS: My father tells me the story that when we first moved to Australia, yes, we were the only Sharmas listed in the White Pages of Sydney…

PL: … I understand that today, in certain areas of Sydney, there are more Singhs than Browns in the phone book.

DS (laughing): That doesn’t surprise me! Look, I think every generation of newly arrived migrants to Australia has brought new skills and strength to the country - and strength to the fabric of our society - and have integrated well into Australia and certainly made a great contribution to Australia. I think the recent wave of Indian migration particularly since the ‘90s when it really started to happen has made an immense contribution to Australia. So I support Australia continuing to be a country which is welcoming to migrants. It does well in integrating migrants into the multicultural fabric of our society, and it has a non-discriminatory policy towards migration. I would say though that we must recognise that there has been some degree of public unease about the rate of Australia’s population growth in recent decades, a decade or so. But it’s not so much about the population growth, but about the pressures on things like >

We need to find a way to make sure we balance the supply of migration with the demands that Australia has, and find a better way to match those

> infrastructure, roads, schools, housing, housing affordability. I think we need to find a way to make sure the migration is matched better to the needs of Australia. We’ve been talking in recent days about making sure migrants go to the areas where they are most needed, where their skills are most needed. We know parts of regional Australia - states or cities aside from Sydney or Melbourne - are desperately looking for new workers and families and more skilled professionals to come there. We need to find a way to make sure we balance the supply of migration with the demands that Australia has, and find a better way to match those.

PL: But keep the supply as is?

DS: Look, I think that should always be assessed on a case by case basis. The immigration intake is anywhere from the 150,000 – 250,000 mark a year, and historically that’s been about where we have been. But I think we should always be looking to fine tune and adjust the skills mix, the mix of humanitarian intake versus the skilled migration intake and the family reunion intake. And we also need to be cognisant of Australia’s own population growth driven by the birth rate of Australian citizens and find a way to manage it. I think Australia will continue to be a successful migrant country but we need to make sure it’s not just about the numbers we take in, it’s about how we handle those people when they arrive - making sure they’ve got jobs and communities to go to, and that the infrastructure is there to support them.

PL: It’s going to be a difficult magic pudding to put together.

DS: Yes it will be. These things aren’t easy but Australia has been doing this well now for many decades. You always need to fine tune policies and make adjustments based on a range of factors and be prepared to

do so. You can’t get a range of policies and set them in stone. But I think we have been successful at this in the past and I’ve got no reason to doubt that we’ll continue to be successful.

PL: There have been some reports in the Australian Financial Review and the ABC about the role the media played in the political life of your predecessor Malcolm Turnbull. In fact he alluded to this himself. What are your thoughts on when the media, rather than being reporters, become players in the game itself?

DS: Pawan, I don’t think I want to comment on that too much. I am very focused on my own campaign in Wentworth which will be a very tough fight as you mentioned in the lead up. The media in a free society like Australia or India plays an important role in the political debate and public discourse in the country. We’ve got a very free and vibrant media here in Australia and they’ll continue to play an important role. But ultimately, politics is about the consent of the governed - about the public and the voting public - and that’s certainly what I’m focused on in my campaign, convincing the people of Wentworth that I’m the best candidate to represent them.

PL: Dave, let’s talk a bit about your Indian links. Do you know your name Devanand brings to mind a Bollywood heartthrob of the 1950s?

DS: I do, that’s exactly who I was named after. My father named me after him. Dad was an aspiring film star in London in the ‘50s and ‘60s but his parents as good Indian parents told him to give up that sort of stuff, to focus instead on becoming a lawyer, which he truly did.

PL: So he understands the issues of changing careers to achieve your dreams.

DS: Yes he’s responsible for my namehe’s a very big fan of Dev Anan

PL: Have you seen any of Dev Anand’s movies?

DS: I haven’t watched a movie in full but I’ve seen some clips on Youtube.

PL: Do you see a bit of yourself in him, you know, the tall gangliness, the dialogue delivery…?

DS: I’m not sure if I do. I wouldn’t be so immodest as to claim it. I’ll leave that to others.

PL: An Indian personality that has inspired you?

DS: To my mind, Gandhi is one of the most inspiring Indians, with his movement of non-violent resistance that he used to liberate India. Sunil Gavaskar, the cricketer, I know he’s not as well-known these days but he was a fabulous cricketer, a great role model for leadership. And then of course my father and his family as well who came to Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies as migrants in the late 19th century and worked hard and saved and established a small business and sent my father, who is the youngest of nine children, off to London to receive a formal education. Their values of hard work and the importance they put on education, and on self-reliance, these are values that have very much informed my own approach to life.

PL: Read any books by Indian writers?

DS: I’m a big fan of VS Naipaul, a diaspora Indian. His book A House for Mr Biswas was about his own childhood and modelled loosely upon his father and his own frustrations as an aspiring Indian writer in Trinidad. I really enjoyed that book: it helped me understand my own father’s childhood in Trinidad and Tobago. Other than him there’s Arundhati Roy... I think Indian authors are some of the best out there in the English language at the moment

PL: Tendulkar or Bradman?

DS: Well I guess I’ve seen Tendulkar play, Bradman I’ve only ever seen on replays. If I have to choose the best batsman, I’d have to go for Brian Lara though, a Trinidadian and a West Indian. I did see him play, and I think he is one of the most fabulous cricketers of his generation, and certainly of the modern era.

PL: Priyanka Chopra and Nicole Kidman?

DS: I’m more familiar with the work of Nicole Kidman, but I wouldn’t pick favourites.

PL: Ever been to India?

DS: Yes but I haven’t spent long enough. I’ve spent much more time in Trinidad and Tobago where most of my father’s family is. I am intending at some point to make a long trip to India and get to know the country much better than I do.

PL: What’s your favouring order at an Indian restaurant in Sydney? Your boss, the current PM, answered that question here on Indian Link Radio as ‘Sco-mo-sas’. DS (laughing): Did he? I always like a Rogan Josh. I also like a chicken vindaloo, the spicy one. I love Indian flatbreads - naan, garlic naan, chapattis and rotis. My oldest daughter Diana has got quite a taste for spicy food. So she’s signed up. The younger two still need to have their tastebuds acclimatised. But they all enjoy dal. My dad makes them dal in the winter and they’ll always enjoy a cup. And of course they all like basmati rice.

PL: Introduce them to butter chickenthat’s the easiest way to get them across the line.

DS: I agree butter chicken is the best introduction for children!

DS: Finally, Dave, your message for Indian Australians who may be having a very jaundiced view of Australian politics at the moment?

DS: I’d say to them that I can understand their jaundiced views. And to get involved would be my message to them. Play a part. Indian Australians make a tremendous contribution to Australia and have over the last few decades. Increasingly, we should be seeing Indian Australians in public life and not just in the commercial sphere and as professionals. I would like to see more Indian Australians getting involved in public life. I was one of the first Indian Australian ambassadors, (like) Peter Varghese who is also a leading light in the Indian Australian community. But that’s the way we help improve politics in Australia. By people getting specifically involved. So if people are frustrated, and I can understand they are, then, you know, do something and become active. Join the Liberal political party, support your local member, put your views forward on issues. That’s what politics is all about and what it should be about - improving the lives of people. We can only get better politics if we get better citizens involved.

If people are frustrated (with the state of our politics at the moment), and I can understand they are, then, do something and become active – get involved

Left: Graduating from Cambridge

Above: In Papua New Guinea

Drumming to his own beat

Sam Evans has just been awarded Australia’s first PhD in tabla

Australia on an Indian instrument.

BY USHA R ARVIND

When Sam Evans first encountered the tabla in India, he claims it blew him away.

“I always played drum kits as a child, and at about 18, I began to study the drumming traditions of other cultures,” he told Indian Link. “I travelled to Europe and Africa, and when I spent six months in India I found the tabla. It had much greater repertoire, a greater level of complexity compared to other traditions. It was far more sophisticated and played in such a musical way. It was wildly different from anything I’d played before.”

Today, as a contemporary musician and musicologist, Sam Evans has just been awarded a PhD by Monash University for his innovative performance research on the tabla. Completed with the prestigious Sir James McNeil Scholarship, it is the first performance-based doctorate in

“Traditionally, PhD research was a purely written pursuit, but now doctorates can include significant performance components,” Evans said. “The performance aspect is perfect for music PhDs – the final outcome is writing as well as composition and performance at the doctorate level.”

For Evans, who has always been fascinated by the world of percussion, this achievement marks yet another milestone in an unusual odyssey that crisscrossed many continents, ultimately finding true purpose in India.

A regular international performer of traditional Indian music and contemporary world genres, the composer, educator and researcher has ever since been working tirelessly to showcase Indian musical instruments on the Australian stage.

To this end, he established the Melbourne Tabla School, which now boasts of numerous accomplished students from a range of ethnic backgrounds.

“As an Australian tabla player, much

of my work has centred on integrating the tabla in the musical culture here in Australia,” the Melbourne based artiste, who teaches at numerous educational institutions, stated.

“I wanted my PhD research to reflect that. In doing so, my research considered the role of the tabla in contemporary intercultural music. It looked at the musical conventions present in world music and devised ways in which the tabla could be integrated within those conventions. That required the creation of a new repertoire for the tabla that included musical elements that are not accounted for in the traditional repertoire, such as harmonic function. As performance-based research the final portfolio produced CD recordings and musical scores that document the practical application of the theoretical components contained in the thesis,” he explained.

The performance component has been released as a CD titled The Tabla Project and is available via iTunes and Bandcamp. Displaying skill and expertise, the album demonstrates the variety of ways in which the tabla can be incorporated into contemporary music ensembles that include Eastern and Western instruments.

Evans enthused, “It’s an exciting time, where we are moving beyond theory only. You can now do a Bachelors or a Masters or a PhD on how to play music rather than just theorising.”

Renowned for cross-cultural collaborations, he has effortlessly combined rustic and modern influences to create a distinctive musical approach.

Over the past decade, Evans has divided his time between Australia and India, performing concerts as soloist and accompanist.

It helps also that he felt drawn to Indian culture from early on. “I was vegetarian, I loved Indian mythology –

there were lots of things that attracted me to India.”

Given he does his bols so well, has he picked up the language as well?

“My Bengali was not bad – I learnt it to an ok level, I’d say, enough to get by. And then I tried Hindi, and could not pick it up at all. It’s been one of my regrets, not gaining fluency in Bengali. I should have stuck to it and not gone towards Hindi!”

Besides live shows on Indian and Australian television, national and international radio as well as at international jazz and world music festivals, Evans also lectures on Indian and world music at Monash University where he co-founded and directs the highly successful Monash World of Music Orchestra.

His forays in the international scene have been largely possible through generous funding grants from the Australia Council for the Arts, the Ian Potter Foundation and Monash University, including the prestigious Sir James McNeil Scholarship.

In true guru shishya parampara, Evans has dedicated his life to passing on the rich legacy he imbibed from Pandit Anindo Chatterjee.

At first in India, he learnt from

anyone who would teach him as a beginner, and then with some experience under his belt, he reached out to Pt Anindo. “When I first saw him play, I thought the sound was incredible, the speed was amazing, and the depth of knowledge simply astounding,” he recalled.

He has since inspired many youngsters to learn the tabla. Tapping into Melbourne’s vibrant cultural scene, he wants Australians, young and old, to share his passion.

Back in 2011, Evans was instrumental in tabla being included as part of the VCE curriculum. “Now young tabla players perform traditional tabla for the final high school exams, which contributes to their university entrance score,” he pointed out. “It’s the only Indian instrument in the VCE course of study alongside other western instruments. About ten students have been through it and almost all have got high distinctions so it ranks really well. One student actually stood second in the state in music.”

He has big hopes for this to pick up. Not only is he thinking of past students as assessors, but hopes to see the instrument at the school level in other states as well.

Perceiving himself as a conduit between eastern and western musical frameworks, Evans has successfully combined his skills as both performer and educator to establish a pathway for musicians playing Indian instruments, such as the tabla and the sitar, to earn performance degrees at university level in Australia. “It’s great to see Indian instruments accepted in our formal education systems these days, it’s now becoming representative of the society we live in,” he explained. His goal is now to set up a South Asian orchestra.

In fact, Evans has been fascinated by the rich diversity of Indian culture, with its deep grounding in performing arts. Evans believes there is a bright future for students of Indian music in Australia as the landscape undergoes a radical shift.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Tabla School will celebrate a unique milestone of its own

shortly, as it completes a decade of existence.

Today the school has a presence in different suburbs, and boasts some 60 students.

“About 60% have a South Asian heritage and others are western musicians,” Evans revealed. “It presents a beautiful picture of who we are in contemporary Victoria, really.”

What about girl students? “Of course we are reaching out to the girls. There’s always been a minimum 25-30% participation by women, and one year it was up to 40%. It’s much higher than that in India. They learn just the same as the men really, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t take up the tabla.

In fact, of the handful of my students who are currently performing at the professional level, two are women.”

As he prepares his students for the big day at the Abbotsford Convent, Evans could not be prouder. He will also perform at the upcoming Diwali Festival at Federation Square.

High flier

My job title

Senior Cabin Crew at Virgin Australia

My educational qualification

Bachelors in Aviation, Tourism & Hospitality Management from Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT) Chandigarh, India

What my job entails

As a Cabin Crew team member, I am responsible for the safety, welfare and comfort of guests throughout the flight. To become a cabin crew team member, I was required to complete a training course which includes learning all the safety and emergency procedures, which we then need to update every year.

What a typical day is like

The day starts off two hours prior to departure of the flight we are operating, with sign on and a pre-flight briefing.

Our flight manager will provide us with all relevant information about the flight, everyone’s working positions, and any special requirements. We are also quizzed on safety, emergency and first aid. The aircraft is then checked to make sure it is neat and tidy and we welcome guests on board and direct them to their seat. We then perform our safety briefing to our guests and check the cabin to make sure it is secure before the flight departs. Inflight service then commences once the seatbelt sign is switched off. When it’s finally time to land, the captain will then turn on the seatbelt signs and we secure the cabin

again. Once our guests have disembarked and we’ve performed all safety checks, we will then make our way to the crew room for sign off and this is where I usually check my roster too.

What is tough about my job

I think the hardest part is when I miss my family on trips away.

The positive aspects

Great workplace and rewarding career: Virgin Australia has a safe and collaborative working environment, where each and every employee is encouraged to reach their full potential. It provides you the opportunities to further spread your wings by offering you world class training and a promising career path.

Work life balance: There’s a good selection of roster bidding system to suit your lifestyle and flexibility, given our work hours are so varied.

Team work: I really enjoy working in such a diverse workforce, and have been able to learn a lot about different cultures since my time here.

Travel: I’ve always had a love of flying and of travel. I’ve travelled so much with this job and made fantastic memories! For instance, I’ve always wanted to travel to Hong Kong and this job made my dream come true. I fly frequently on that route now.

Lifelong learning opportunity: I love that

we’re constantly upgrading our skills; there are exams every six months to keep us current. We’re not only refreshing our skills but also learning about new developments in the industry, such as the new 777 (which I will be flying on to LA tomorrow!)

Advice to others who may want to enter the industry

Cabin crew are the face of the airline, so we are all expected to provide a highly polished and professional service, and always remain friendly, approachable and enthusiastic. Becoming a cabin crew team member will give you the

Over 55 Community Lifestyle Apartments

perfect opportunity to get away from the repetitiveness of a normal 9 to 5 job. If you have a passion for travel, dedication and commitment, then I say go for it! Every day will be different, you will learn fantastic customer service skills, become a team player and learn a lot about yourself too. For instance it amazes me that I’m able to speak comfortably with so many different people from different countries! One of my favourite parts about the job is the feeling of pride when a passenger appreciates and recognises my hard work after a long day.

Ramneek spoke with

Rajni Anand Luthra

In this column, we look at vocations in which members of our community are involved. In this issue, Ramneek Dhillon tells us about her work with Virgin Australia

Six iconic Aussie trains

Exploring Australia by rail i s a unique experience if you have the time

BY SANDIP HOR

The celebrated travel writer Paul Theroux once said, “I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it.”

I’m sure every train aficionado will relate.

In Australia, trains made an advent only in the mid-19th century. Today the country boasts some of the world’s greatest journeys on wheels that are filled with luxury, heritage, scenic splendour, romanticism and even adventure.

1 The Ghan

A national treasure, The Ghan has enthralled travellers since its inaugural journey in 1929. It continues to be a top choice for savvy travellers seeking authentic Australian adventure with all the comforts and luxury that come with travelling by rail. Covering a distance of nearly 3000 km, the trans-continental journey between Darwin and Adelaide in either direction weaves through the spectacular outback following the footsteps of pioneering Afghan cameleers. Guests travel in style with the choice of Platinum or Gold Class, both of which offer an all-inclusive package comprising of on-train accommodation in well decorated individual cabins with ensuite, premium lounge facilities, all meals and beverages both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and immersive off-train excursions to showcase the very best the heart of the continent has to offer. This

includes exploring the scenic Katherine Gorge, city of Alice Springs, opal mining settlement of Coober Pedy, and outback towns of Marla and Manguri, depending on direction of travel.

2 Indian Pacific

Another Aussie icon, the Indian Pacific connects Sydney and Perth via Adelaide, each way covering a distance of 4352 km in 65 hours. Offering similar classes of all-inclusive travel packages like The Ghan, Indian Pacific guests explore the vast beauty of the spectacular coast-to-coast landscape between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in most impressive way. Off-train excursions include outback experiences at Rawlina and Cook, and exploration of cities like Kalgoorlie, Adelaide and Broken Hill, the birthplace of Australia’s industry giant BHP which started its journey there as Broken Hill Proprietary Company. A memorable experience of the voyage is crossing the famous Nullarbor Plain, the name Nullarbor being Latin for ‘no trees’. The 478-km stretch through a dry, desertlike, tree-less, rocky terrain features the world’s longest length of straight railway track.

3 The Overland

This bi-weekly 800-km journey in each direction provides a scenic way to travel between Melbourne and Adelaide, passing through picturesque Aussie townships of Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong in 10.5 hours. As the journey is during the day, only seating options are available: the Red Premium category includes all meals and non-alcoholic beverages.

4 Spirit of Queensland

Travelling 1681 km between Brisbane and Cairns in 24 hours, five times a week, the Spirit of Queensland, a pride of Queensland Rail, redefines the modern train travel experience with a comfortable and convenient way to access spectacular Aussie holiday destinations in sunny Queensland like the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, Townsville and Cairns and everywhere in between. All passengers enjoy the nostalgia of long-distance rail travel while unwinding in leather Premium Economy seats or indulging in the ample space of innovative RailBed - a conveniently spacious seat by day, lie-flat bed by night. RailBed guests can enjoy all-inclusive meals prepared using seasonal Queensland produce and served directly at the seats.

5 Puffing Billy

Australia’s premier preserved steam train, Puffing Billy takes holiday makers through the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, located only one hour east of Melbourne, the same way it did its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook. Many visitors from around the world enjoy travelling aboard

Puffing Billy as a stand-alone experience or sometimes as part of a Melbourne day tour to relax and breathe in the fresh air whilst the train makes its way through the temperate rainforest brushing past lush fern gullies and Mountain Ash trees.

6 West Coast Wilderness Railway

Claimed as the world’s steepest steam railway, this railway started its journey in 1896 as a lifeblood of a copper mine in remote Queenstown in Tasmania. Its construction in a rugged terrain was conquered by using an inventive rack and pinion track technique that’s still in use. Unfortunately after 67 years of successful freight runs between the mine and foreshore at Strahan, located around 40 km away, miners abandoned its operation. The whistle toot was heard again in 2014, when the journey was resumed on the same route as West Coast Wilderness Railway, a touristy venture, to bring alive history and to offer guests a deep immersion into a unique cooltemperate nature, only accessible by this extraordinary rail odyssey.

MORE INFORMATION

The Ghan, Indian Pacific and the Overland are operated by the Great Southern Railway (www.greatsouthernrail.com.au)

Spirit of Queensland is operated by Queensland Rail (www. queenslandrailtravel.com.au)

For Puffing Billy and West Coast Wilderness Railway, check respectively www. puffingbilly.com.au and www.wcwr.com.au

Dragons and elephants

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

The world has been transfixed by the rise and rise of China, the ‘Dragon’. There’s been a plethora of books written on it; ABC and BBC radios have broadcast a series of programmes and interviews; The Economist has brooded over how ‘we got China so wrong’, and the inimitable Kishore Mahbubani’s numerous books including The New Asian Hemisphere: the Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East have presaged a new international order. Almost all of these commentaries have made attempts to make some sense of this tectonic shift in world economic and political power.

The books on the challenges and opportunities that the new China presents are far too numerous, and we cannot even begin to look into this vast and expanding literature. We thought we will get a handle on the subject by exploring some books that look at both China and India, and use the words ‘Dragon’ and ‘Elephant’ in the title (no marks for guessing which one is the elephant).

Lo and behold, we found quite a few books matching that criterion. Never mind that the Indian economy is still a few decades behind China in terms of development, and of course, the Chinese leadership has haughtily elevated its own claim to the status of a global superpower as ‘manifest destiny’ and dismissed Indian claims as that of an upstart. Indeed, China has worked quite assiduously in some ways to undermine Indian claims in that regard, but that is another subject altogether.

We will press on, in the hope that India’s economic growth will gather steam and catch up with China’s in the not so distant future. Many economists believe it will, so we will assume that will be the case.

The first book that caught this reviewer’s eye was one by David Smith, the economics editor of The Sunday Times, called The Dragon and the Elephant: China and India in a New World Order

In a nutshell, Smith argues that the rise of China and India will be seen, in hindsight, as the defining development of the 21st

century. The world is already tipping eastwards, and Smith alerts us to the implications of a shift in global power to Beijing and Delhi. Smith’s comparisons of the two are interesting. How aggressive a superpower will China be? Will India’s growing population and economic prospects place it in a more advantageous position? The book combines sharp analysis with a highly entertaining writing style, and engages the intellectually curious reader thoroughly, even if he or she is not particularly literate in economics.

The second book is called The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What It Means for All of Us, by Robyn Meredith, a journalist (Forbes magazine, Hong Kong) like Smith, but American. Like Smith’s, this book too examines the rise of the two powers and how they are reshaping the world already. The two countries have embraced capitalism and globalisation, and this has startling consequences for the world: huge buildings are going up in India, housing workers who work exclusively for US companies; huge manufacturing corridors in China produce goods for the US market; US companies employ engineers in India to design goods which are then used as blueprints and produced in China for the US market. This cycle is drawing more and more people into an integrated world economy which is benefiting everyone. Being an American, Meredith enjoins fellow Americans to take stock of the changes, understand them and adapt to the new environment. She believes the US should respond by being innovative in their job-creation strategy in the face of global competition.

I was also surprised to find a monograph produced by the National Research Council in the US, titled The Dragon and the Elephant: Understanding the Development of Innovation Capacity in

China and India (2010) authored by Stephen Merrill, David Taylor and Robert Poole. They argue that there has been remarkable growth in innovative capabilities in a number of countries that 30 years ago were classified as developing economies. Taiwan and South Korea, followed by China and India, are the leading examples of this phenomenon. How well China and India succeed in this endeavour will have a huge bearing not only on the welfare of their own populations, but global economic welfare as well.

Yet another book titled Dragon and Elephant, co-authored by Ashok Gulati and Shenggen Fan, looks at agricultural and rural reforms in the two countries. It also provides policy insights for the

continuing reform processes there and in other developing economies. Does the sequencing of reform and an agricultureled package matter? How can the two largest countries cooperate in agricultural economic development, and work together in multilateral organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, to address concerns of developing countries? These and other question are addressed in the book. Unlike others writing on the subject, Gulati and Shenggen look at ways the two giants can learn from each other.

Making sense of the tectonic shift that is causing the economic world to tip eastwards

The two countries have embraced capitalism and globalisation, drawing more and more people into an integrated world economy which is benefiting everyone

Is there blood on clothes?your

There are some very high costs behind cheap clothes

BY SHAFEEN MUSTAQ

There is a documentary on Netflix called The True Cost that has left me a little shook.

The documentary is about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world.

While I have known this because of coverage of garment factory collapses, protests for fair working conditions and the amount of clothes in landfill - the breadth of the collective damage this is doing to our planet, our fellow humans and our own sense of worth, has escaped me till now.

The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human

and environmental costs have grown dramatically. We jump for joy as we run to the sales, but forget that the process to make these cheap clothes comes at a cost.

Our Earth is a finite resource that we do not respect, take care of and cost accordingly.

Our fellow humans’ efforts are not ‘cheap labour’ and should be costed accordingly.

Our footprint from buying clothes almost every day or week is collectively leaving tonnes of material in landfill that will be there for 200 years.

Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, the documentary invites us on an eye opening journey around the world and into the lives of the many people and places behind our clothes.

The documentary makes you think about who really pays the price for our clothing. The workers? The planet? Us? Or all of the above?

INDIAN LINK SOCIAL MEDIA

What is the true cost of your chosen skin?

I have decided that I will:

• Stop buying anything new My wardrobe is colossal and I need to acknowledge it.

• Evaluate what I have Go through my clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery to compartmentalise my wardrobe more thoughtfully so that I can be creative with what I have by styling and restyling pieces and thereby avoiding the temptation to buy more.

• Use sites like Gumtree and places like

fashion markets Find people to give or sell my old or outgrown clothes tothey will actually wear it rather than it end up in landfill.

• Buy ethical If I must buy, I will focus on ethical quality long lasting pieces over price.

• Reflect on my style Focus on what suits me rather than fashion ‘trends’ I will outgrow or won’t suit me.

• I promise to ask myself ‘what is the true cost’ of every item I pick up. Do you?

The cricketers have to wear white, but not us! So let us dazzle the crowds on Day 3 of every Test Match by turning out in our best saris, sherwanis and kurtas! The best dressed will win fantastic prizes!

It’s time to stand up, not stand by

Passive bystanders have great power to intervene in violent situations

BY ANEETA MENON

Our community cares about violence and abuse. They rarely need to be prodded to care about the 37 women in Australia who have been killed by violence this year, nor the overwhelming majority of Australian women who have experienced physical, sexual, emotional or financial violence from either their partner or a person known to them. They “Like” and Share posts and articles about gender-based violence, and they support initiatives which work to combat the impact violence has on the people who endure it. These people, it can be fairly said, do not sound like passive bystanders who enable violent abusers.

Except, many of them are.

Increasingly, people in our community are grappling with a heighted awareness of domestic abuse and violence, and the nuanced ways it presents, yet remain fundamentally unsure or unwilling to respond to it. This has resulted in a frustrating sociocultural atmosphere which continues to permit abusers and discredit victims.

What is a bystander?

In the context of bullying and violence, bystanders are the people who either witness the problem happen or hear it about it afterwards. Often assuming a passive role, bystanders tend to think of themselves as neutral entities in the ‘drama’ of others. This is rarely the case. Whilst some bystanders encourage or incite abuse by openly goading and supporting abusers, the vast majority are passive bystanders. The Centre for Education’s “Eye on Bullying” program explains, “Most bystanders passively accept bullying by watching and doing nothing. Often without realising it, these bystanders also contribute to the problem.”

How come people don’t speak up?

Most commonly, people come to know about abuse impacting those in their immediate lives either from first-hand experience (rare, as most family abuse takes place behind closed doors) or through the disclosure of someone who has experienced this abuse.

Largely, we are inclined to believe our friends and families when they disclose abuse to us, however the question of ‘what really happened’ and the notion that ‘there are two sides to every story’ often permeates silently in the room. Additionally, there is the stereotype of the ‘crazy-ex girlfriend” trope, which disproportionately demonises women. Oftentimes after the dissolution of an

abusive relationship, men are freer to circulate stories about the women with whom they were involved, whereas women are bound by family violence interventions, other legal orders or, grimly, they have been silenced by death.

When stakes are this high, it is understandable that the instinct is to distance one’s self from the situation. Research shows that the most common reason passive bystanders do not intervene are:

• They think, “It’s none of my business.”

• They fear retribution or becoming another victim.

• They feel powerless to stop the abuser and don’t know what to do.

• They don’t want to draw attention to themselves.

In subcontinental culture, the pressure to remain silent and removed is immensely greater. The impetus is greatly on the victim to bear the abuse, often as a familial duty, rather than to speak out and seek support. Attitudes are changing in this regard, and more and more women are leaving abusive relationships, however the preference for silence endures.

Why is this a problem?

Passive bystanders prop up abusers by providing them with the acceptance they crave. Many abusers display narcissistic tendencies and seeking approval from peers is paramount. Passive bystanders provide this very thing by condoning their behaviour and allowing it to continue. As the victim incurs abuse, passive bystanders give social acceptance to the abusers. Everything from actively continuing relationships without a word to more discreet connections, such as maintaining “Facebook friendships” all send the message to abusers that their behaviour is fine, and they are fine to go on with their lives as though nothing is amiss. It is this silence which leaves the abuser free to continue the abuse.

What can you do instead of standing by?

Speaking up is hard. Confronting friends and relatives is hard. It is even harder if they are your elders, or people with more social and economic power than you. It can be daunting, often because abusers either are outwardly intimidating or so charismatic and lovely that it would seem

preposterous that they could be abusive. However, to create a society that is safer for everyone, we must stand up to abuse. You can do this by:

• Cutting off ties with the abuser, even connections on social media, whilst seemingly fickle, inversely affetcs the abuser’s sense of self and community acceptance. Saying, “I will be involved with this person no more” sends a strong message that you believe their actions are intolerable and sends an equally strong message of support to the victim.

• Ask yourself, “Do I take the courageous step of saying something when my loved ones are suffering?” “Do I even talk about any of this stuff at all?”

• Believe victims and follow through. Offer support, educate yourself on ways to provide support and encourage victims to seek assistance if they are in danger. Check in on them again later.

Passive bystanders have great power, in their masses, to intervene in situations and call out behaviour before it escalates. And as the old adage goes, with great power comes great responsibility.

For culture, for queer

SIDDHARTH SHARMA on being openly gay in the South Asian community

Unlike most young Indians, for me, coming out to my parents was no big deal. Yes, there were issues, but nothing compared to what many others faced. I’m glad for India’s decision to once and for all decriminalise homosexuality not because I have a personal agenda, but because it will allow millions of Indians to finally live and love with dignity and openness.

I have always been confident about both, being Indian and being gay, but it bothered me that hardly anyone spoke specifically about being gay in the South Asian community here, which is how FOBGAYS+ (Friends and Family of Brown Gays, Lesbian, Queer, Transgender, Axesual and Intersex+ people) came about.

The way that most other LGBTIQ+ organisations work is in a bit more of an Anglo-Saxon context, and tend to focus on the individual’s rights. There’s more focus on protesting and campaigning. Activism obviously needs to be active, but it doesn’t

need to be harmful and it doesn’t need to be aggressive.

And in our South Asian community, shouting doesn’t work. What works is slowly introducing people to things in a way that celebrates cultural context: casual chats over chai.

And so, that’s what FOBGAYS+ tries to do: break the cycle of misunderstanding, fear and intolerance. I worked with my cousin Giti and brother Siddhant to create the organisation, and the reactions I got from people were mixed. Some people were very nonchalant about it. Other people were awkward. Someone told my parents to go take a parenting class, saying, ‘Don’t worry, we can fix this’.

But it wasn’t the only challenge. There’s a lot of racial discrimination within the gay community and South Asians tend to sit at the bottom of the pyramid in terms of perceived attractiveness. So we’re trying to flip that discrimination based on race and show that we’re proud of our culture.

I want to send a message to the wider queer community: we are here, we are

South Asian and we are part of this movement. And it’s also a message to the South Asian community: yes, we do support queer people, but we also support our culture.

To that end, my team and I decided to use symbols that would resonate with everyone. We’ve used colours that are reminiscent of Indian streetscapes. The elephant is a symbol of being proud. And the The Golden Girls, for its theme song ‘Thank You For Being A Friend’ - it was perfect for what we were trying to do.

We’ve only just started to reach out to the Islamic community, talking to people who are both Muslim and pro-gay rights. One person was Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi, an active Muslim who spoke out in support of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Australia.

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

I faced a series of questions, mostly along the lines of “Why are you moving when you can make impact in India?” My answers would be bland — “to learn skills from a different country” or “the course in Australia is better than that in India”.

Let’s just say these answers were mostly true. What I didn’t tell people is that I wanted to move away from my loved ones to a place where I could stop hiding my identity and live a normal life, even if for a few years. Now that I think about it, I couldn’t agree more when petitioners from IIT told the Supreme Court that the mere existence of Section 377 is causing young Indians to leave their home country and settle abroad.

have people with their own experiences to come out and be willing to share. And unless a story is told in a particular language, it doesn’t exist in that language. It’s been so important in communicating the experience of queerness in a way that is relatable and accessible to the Hindispeaking community.

The court’s decision is a huge step in that direction and the judgement will give people courage to speak up. It’s a huge opportunity to create a solid foundation for equality. The pride parades, which have been going on for a few years, are getting bigger every time. When you have more groups and people marching for action and calling attention to an issue, you create a little bit more pressure on the government to do something. And it puts the wheels in motion for our culture to start talking about this kind of thing. As told to Stephanie Newman

my friends — all of whom were nothing but supportive. I’ve been lucky to be in a family where my parents have never questioned or rejected my queer identity. They’re taking their time to understand me, and I’m glad that they’re part of this journey.

“History owes an apology to the members of LGBTQ+ community and their families…” When Supreme Court Judge Indu Malhotra said this in her judgement while decriminalising homosexuality, I knew that a new chapter in my life had just begun. Her statement reminded me of the millions of gay men and women in our country who have suffered mental, emotional and physical abuse for just being their true self. I agree that this apology has been delayed by almost a century: will it right all the wrongs? No. But is it welcome? Certainly. When news broke that the Supreme Court of India was ready to present its statement on the constitutional validity

of Section 377, I was confident that this time India would be on the right side of history. It made a mistake once in 2013. It would not repeat it. This time, during all the hearings it was heartening to see that the court was sympathetic to the LGBTQ+ community. Following the verdict, rainbow colours took over my social media feed. Our moment had finally arrived. Or had it? I began thinking: how will this change my life? I call myself an activist. For the last two years, I’ve been working in India around issues of climate change and human rights. I was proud of my work, and so were my friends and family.

So when I decided to uproot my life and move to Australia for further studies,

Every LGBTQ+ person in India wants to live a simple truth: a life where they are not fighting anyone anymore. I’m blessed that I have the privilege to make such a move, but not everyone can do this.

Most people in India do not understand what decriminalisation really means. Many say that Section 377 has hardly imprisoned anyone in India for consensual gay sex. While this may be true, most don’t understand that it’s not the law that the LGBTQ+ members fear, it’s the society. And to get over this fear, we needed to first let go of Section 377.

Since the time I knew I was gay, I’ve been living in fear. How would people react if they knew? Would I get beaten up? Will my friends stop talking to me? My poor teenage self could barely survive this trauma, but thankfully I got past it. For the last few years, I’ve begun to trust people, and have started to come out to

I’ve been extremely lucky to also find a partner who treats me respectfully. I’ve been with this person for the past two years. But being a gay couple in India is not easy. My partner and I lived together in India for two years. In front of our friends, we could be like every other couple. But in public, we had to be different people. For the outside world, we were friends, colleagues, and sometimes even siblings. You see, the fear of society had the power to change the face of love.

It has been two months since I’ve been in Australia. And I’m slowly getting comfortable with the idea of being my true self. I still remember the feeling of holding my partner’s hand at the airport. It felt natural… but also surreal. Moments such as these is what India’s gay community is hoping for. They may seem small, inconsequential and even run-of-the-mill to other folks, but for us, it’s a huge victory.

Now that Section 377 has been scrapped in India, am I ready to come out of the closet completely? Well, I’m not sure. Society has been cruel to us, and many will still continue to fight for equal rights. A change in the law is the first big step, but we have to clear many more hurdles before we finally proclaim that we’ve arrived. Here’s hoping.

*Name changed on request

Tick tock: Oz awaits humbled India

Opening up

Keeping the faith

BY RITAM MITRA

As Virat Kohli looks back on his latest tour of England, he may well feel at least some degree of satisfaction - after all, having scored more than a third of his team’s runs in the Test series and putting behind himself at last his tortured past in English conditions, he has won the right to do so. Yet Kohli will be rueful too. It was, despite his personal successes, overwhelmingly a tour of “what ifs”. What if India had managed to seize the key moments in the series? What if their team selections had been more astute? What if injuries hadn’t cruelled his swing spearhead and lead spinner?

Ultimately, the 4-1 scoreline flattered England, but that will give India little comfort; as Indian fans become increasingly restless with the team’s performance outside the subcontinent, so too will they begin demanding results rather than mere competition. With a tour of Australia looming large on the horizon - one which, particularly given the current state of the Australian team, has the potential to be a watershed moment for Indian cricket - the kinks need to be ironed out, fast.

Despite its woes in England, India’s batting line-up is unlikely to change materially by the time the first ball is sent down in Adelaide in December. Pujara must bat at 3, Kohli at 4, and Rahane at 5, with either Pandya or Vihari at 6. Each must bat without feeling the pressure of being dropped: an Indian Test batsman certainly does not need any more weight on his shoulders.

However, at the very pointy end of the order, matters are less certain. It is one of those strange but fantastic quirks of Test match cricket that, over the course of the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of a long Test series, a team’s entire make-up can be turned quite dramatically on its head.

Rahul, who began the series batting at 3 but was eventually pushed up the order, is suddenly the most assured of all opening candidates, having notched up a stunning second-innings century at The Oval, and with excellent credentials against Australia at home and abroad. Meanwhile, Vijay, who was by some distance India’s best batsman in the 2014 England tour - was discarded after just two Tests. Dhawan, who was himself dropped after the first Test, also continues to flatter to deceive in overseas Tests. Either will feel hard done by to miss out, but three cannot fit into two.

The modern-day wicketkeeper must not just keep - he must score runs quickly during the good times, knuckle down and stymie batting collapses during the bad, and mix aggression with steadiness when batting with the tail. It is a role that the English keepers Bairstow and Buttler played with precision over the English summer.

If there was a singular point of failure in the touring Indian side - and it is perhaps unfair to pick one - it was the performance of the team’s replacement wicketkeepers in each of the five Tests. Dinesh Karthik was nothing short of abysmal at Edgbaston and Lords, scoring 21 runs in 4 innings including two ducks. Pant, though a precocious talent, barely fared better, scoring 43 runs in his first 4 innings before a barnstorming century in the dead rubber offered a glimpse into a bright future.

Once he recovers from injury, Wriddhiman Saha can be quietly confident of adding to his 3 Tests down under.

A problem of plenty

At a glance, India’s fast bowling stocks have never looked healthier. It is safe to say - although impossible to prove - that never in history have four Indian seamers bowled faster than each of the opposition seamers, as was the case in Trent Bridge.

India’s main problem in Australia will be deciding who sits out between Kumar (who returns from injury), Bumrah, Sharma and Shami. Of course, India could play four quicks, but this would mean sacrificing lower-order runs, a critical commodity on the unforgiving Australian pitches. Three seamers and Pandya, too is an option - but Pandya’s tale is one of feast or famine, and India may instead opt for a more modest but reliable meal in a pure batsman.

For a change, India’s spinners do not pick themselves. Ashwin’s performance in England - like his performances in Australia - left much to be desired, particularly being comprehensively out-bowled in favourable conditions at the Ageas Bowl by England’s Moeen Ali. Jadeja’s record in Australia, too, is miserable.

This could mean giving left arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav - who mystified the touring Australians in the previous edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy - a more extended run in the side.

Excited for the summer of cricket?

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There will be only one tour on Virat Kohli ’s mind, as he ponders what could have been in England

The BUZZ

MEANWHILE, IN BANGLADESH….

Indian actor Irrfan Khan-starrer Doob - No Bed of Roses , which was once banned in Bangladesh, has been chosen as the country’s official entry for the Academy Awards 2019.

Doob stars Irrfan - also its coproducer - as a successful filmmaker facing a midlife crisis when he has a tryst with his daughter’s childhood friend, causing a national scandal.

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BACK ‘VILLAGE ROCKSTARS’ IN OSCAR RACE?

Noted Assamese actor Adil Hussain has urged the government to release Rs 5 crore for the promotion of Rima Das’ Assamese film Village Rockstars ahead of the Oscars, where it will represent India in the Best Foreign Language film category.

The Film Federation of India (FFI) made the announcement of the selection of the film for the Oscars recently. But its selection committee chairman S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu, a veteran film producer, said there is an acute lack of funds to carry out the required promotional processes effectively, which is why many Indian movies haven’t made it to the final round, barring three, Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001).

Adil said he was “flummoxed” by the statement and took to Twitter to blast the government.

“After selecting ‘Village Rockstars’, jury says there’s acute lack of funds to promote film at Oscars,” tweeted the actor, who starred in the 2017 Norwegian film What Will People Say which went on to become Norway’s official entry to the Oscars this year.

Adil drew the attention of the Assam government, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, his office and of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to the matter, hoping they “will immediately release Rs 5 crore for the promotion of Village Rockstars, since all other countries have already started their campaigns in the US”.

As Rajendra Singh Babu rightly pointed out, “It is impossible for independent and small producers to promote their film all by themselves. It is important that they receive funds to do so. It is important we follow these processes to reach all the Academy members and critics.”

Adil’s tweets got much reaction.

Actor Annup Sonii expressed disappointment, and wrote: “For the smallest achievement they have big funds but for this... ‘Acute lack of funds’. Eventually it will come down

to the filmmaker asking for favours or donations... Sad... Very sad.”

Actress Renuka Shahane questioned: “Why don’t we from the film fraternity join hands and create a fundraiser for our Oscar entry? Let’s not depend on the government. It is important that we support this gem of a film onwards to the Oscars.”

When a Twitter user pointed out that “filthy rich, big stars and producers” from the industry “can afford your Oscar thingy”, Renuka retorted: “What do you mean ‘Our Oscar thingy’? It should be a matter of pride for the entire country that a young girl with no background or training in filmmaking makes an incredible film like ‘Village Rockstars’ that compels the jury to select it for the Oscars. Let’s not be myopic.”

But other users commented that the taxpayers’ money should not be used for Oscars.

“Is it some kind of national service? Why should we care about an American award? Why can’t the film industry fund these expenses?” the user questioned.

To which, Adil wrote: “Government can use taxpayers’ money to promote India’s image as a supporter of high quality art.

That’s what all civilised governments do! ‘Village Rockstars’ is an independent film. It’s not a mainstream run-of-the-mill film.

Set in Das’ own village of Chhaygaon in Assam, Village Rockstars is the story of “poor but amazing children” who live a fun-filled life.

The film won the Best Feature film Award at the 65th National Film Awards.

As for Das, she is hoping for the best as far as funds are concerned to put her film on the Oscars map.

“Village Rockstars is a film about dreams and hope. It has transcended so many barriers right from the time of its inception and I am hopeful that this time too, it will.”

Here’s hoping the Village Rockstars get their chance to be rockstars at the global village stage.

The India-Bangladesh bilingual co-production, written and directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, features Rokeya Prachi as Irrfan’s wife, while Nusrat Imrose Tisha plays the daughter and Indian actress Parno Mittra plays her childhood friend.

In a statement about the film, Farooki had said he took inspiration from a real-life incident “which shook the very foundation of Bangladesh’s judgmental Muslim society” and “how women struggle in our society and find strength in despair”.

The film walked on a path full of thorns as it was banned in Bangladesh on the grounds that it might be based on revered real-life author and filmmaker Ahmed, who divorced his wife of 27 years and married an actress 33 years his junior.

The ban was eventually lifted and the film released in October 2017 in Bangladesh, France, India and Australia.

Irrfan, who is currently undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour in London, is thrilled that the Bangladesh Oscar Committee has chosen Doob to represent the country at the Academy Awards.

Bangladesh has yet to secure an Oscar nomination, though it has been sending entries to the foreignlanguage category since 2002.

The 91st Academy Awards will be held on 24 Feb, 2019.

ON THE TANUSHREE DUTTA SAGA

It was bound to happen.

Tanushree Dutta may have opened a floodgate with her sexual harassment allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar.

Only weeks ago in Melbourne, actor Richa Chadha had told Indian Link’s Preeti Jabbal on the sidelines of the IFFM, that the Indian industry is rife for its own version of #MeToo.

Today she is one of the many newgeneration film professionals who has come out in strong support of Tanushree as her story of harassment and intimidation - not to mention pushing out of the industry - comes to the fore more and more clearly.

A gamut of stars like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna, Hansal Mehta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vir Das, Swara Bhaskar and Anurag Kashyap have spoken out strongly in support of the Dutta, a former beauty queen: they’ve called for people to listen to her story and not judge her, as well as the need for others to come out about their own experiences.

Old-timers and the more established stars have chosen to remain silent, sadly even when pointedly asked. (We’re looking at you, Mr Big Amitabh Bachchan, at your lame, pussy-footed reply to media).

The social media backlash has been strong, and this class of ‘privileged’ Bollywood-wallahs seems now to have learned some lessons. Everyone one must be taking instruction on how to answer that inevitable question from the press this past week: what do you think of the Tanushree Dutta allegations?

Current favourite Varun Dhawan for instance, passed muster when he made an inane comment about “safe work places for everybody” or some such. Old-timer Asha Bhosle gave a long-winded answer about how important it is for women to talk about issues that affect them, and listed everything she has done for women’s upliftment.

Blah blah, you guys. How about: I am shocked to hear this, I hope the perpetrator is brought to book, I’d like to see Tanushree get closure, this kind of abuse is rampant, let’s clean up our industry.

Tanushree had first raised the allegation against the actor in 2008. She brought the spotlight once again on her unpleasant experience of working with Nana during the shooting of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss , in a recent interview. Eye witness reports have confirmed the story. The allegations were followed up by the release of a video in which her car was attacked.

Nana, 67, denies all allegations.

“What can I do about what one says? You tell me. What does it mean by sexual harassment.” Sounds very much like he does not know what acceptable behaviour is.

IRRFAN KHAN

RIP, KALPANA LAJMI

Filmmaker and screenwriter Kalpana

Lajmi, niece of the legendary Guru Dutt and acclaimed for making women-oriented films like Rudaali, Ek Pal, Daman and Chingaari , died in Mumbai on 24 Sept following a multiple organ failure. She was 64.

Lajmi breathed her last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital, where she was admitted in the intensive care unit six days before due to kidney-related issues.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal paid condolences, as did a slew of well-known names like Hansal Mehta, Nandita Das, Soni Razdan and Raveena Tandon from the film industry.

“Sorry to hear of the passing of Kalpana Lajmi, a filmmaker of rare sensitivity. The repertoire of her work, from depicting strong and resilient women to cinematic renditions of Assamese life, was remarkable. Condolences to her family and wellwishers,” read a post from the official President of India Twitter handle.

Her contribution to Indian cinema will be remembered forever, said Sonowal.

Lajmi had been undergoing dialysis for a couple of years, and true to her indomitable spirit, had said in an

interview last year, “My kidneys have failed, but I haven’t.”

She had forayed into filmdom as an assistant director under renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal, following which she made her directorial debut with a documentary film D.G. Movie Pioneer based on Bengali filmmaker Dhiren Ganguly in 1978.

Her feature film debut came with Ek Pal . She also directed the TV serial Lohit Kinaare (1988) for Doordarshan and 26 episodes of a serial Dawn , on the freedom movement of India.

Lajmi’s last film as a director was Chingaari , based on the novel The Prostitute and the Postman by the late Bhupen Hazarika, her long-time companion.

She also penned a book, Bhupen Hazarika: As I Knew Him . It was launched on 8 September by Benegal and Lajmi’s mother, painter Lalita Lajmi.

The filmmaker, who was hospitalised at that time too, could not attend the event as her doctors had refused to allow her a long commute.

Known for fearless filmmaking with women in strong roles, Lajmi’s 1993 Dimple Kapadia-starrer Rudaali was even chosen as India’s official entry to the 66th Academy Awards.

KRISHNA RAJ KAPOOR: BOLLYWOOD’S ‘FIRST LADY’

Krishna Kapoor, the widow of the legendary Bollywood actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, died on 1 Oct at the age of 87, bringing an end to the second generation of the influential clan.

A gamut of film fraternity celebrities mourned her demise, and remembered her as the pillar of the Kapoor family, and as someone who personified grace, dignity and affection.

Krishna, who married Raj Kapoor in May 1946, is survived by her sons Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, and daughters Ritu Nanda and Rima Kapoor-Jain.

“She died peacefully,” Randhir said in a statement.

Mrs Kapoor was due to attend on 2 Oct the inauguration of Raj Kapoor’s dream project - the planet’s biggest pillar-less dome in Pune on a property formerly owned by the late actor-filmmaker, which she sold to Vishwanath Karad. But fate willed otherwise.

Krishna was the sister of the legendary villain, the late Prem Nath, and comedian Rajendra Nath. Their brother-in-law is the other Bollywood baddie, Prem Chopra. She is known to have conducted herself with great dignity when Raj Kapoor had an affair with Nargis, but she put her foot down and moved out of the house when her husband got inclined towards Vyjayanthimala, Rishi Kapoor had shared in his book.

“He did all he could to woo her back, but my mother wouldn’t give in until he had ended that chapter of his life,” Rishi wrote.

In the industry, Krishna commanded a lot of respect, and that was visible as a string of celebrities turned up to pay their last respects.

Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, Kajol, Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu, Alia Bhatt, Rani Mukerji, Ayan Mukerji, Anil Kapoor and Salma Khan were among those who were present.

KRISHNA RAJ KAPOOR

KALPANA LAJMII

TANUSHREE DUTTA

Merchants of Bollywood

The international smash hit returns to Australian stages after a triumphant world tour

The glamour and glitter that is Bollywood returns to the Australian stages in 2018 following its worldwide success and rave reviews.

The Merchants of Bollywood features a cast of more than 30 performers direct from Film City Mumbai – the home of Bollywood Cinema. This dazzling performance features songs from Bollywood blockbusters; 2,500 glittering hand-crafted costumes, and an astonishing 5,000 pieces of jewellery!

A fictional story, yet based on real life, The Merchants of Bollywood will reveal to the Western audience the workings of cinema and the part it plays in the heart and soul of Indian society in an extraordinary evening

of music and dance, at the heart of which lies a heartfelt story of a young girl, her grandfather and their love of dance.

Since launching The Merchants of Bollywood fifteen years ago, the show has had worldwide success playing to more than 2 million patrons, 4 sold out London shows followed by sell-out performances in the US, Europe and South East Asia. Finally The Merchants of Bollywood returns to Australia, and are very excited to present in all major capital cities the glitz, glamour, sheer spectacle, song, dance and romance that we know as ‘Bollywood’. Bangles and beads, swirling colours in costumes and sets, and high-energy music, will excite the senses in this lavish new production

that is bigger, bolder, brighter and features all the smash hit songs from the biggest Bollywood The Times, London, wrote about the show: “Their energy is electrifying, their movements suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise and the frenetic flow of onstage activity is almost nonstop. It’s a high octane pleasure!”

A theatrical dance spectacular, The Merchants of Bollywood charts the enchanting history of the world’s largest and most prolific film industry, and a dynasty of stars that have lit its way over generations. It transcends time and is a touching tribute to the Bollywood greats of yesterday and the box-office hits of

today, complimented by the outstanding music arrangements by Salim-Sulaiman.

The Merchants of Bollywood has captured the essence of India, its rich and diverse culture and its people, in a world of technicolour brilliance acclaimed by patrons and reviewers alike.

The London Metro said, “Taut and buff bodies glisten…dazzle, shimmer and sparkle…the choreography and visual appeal is as slick and sexy as any MTV promo”

The Birmingham Post called it an “uplifting show….a real dazzler”

The Manchester Evening News declared it the “most exhilarating musical seen this year”. See ad on Page 19

OCTOBER 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.

ARIES

March

21 - April 19

The number six card drawn for you indicates the ability to transcend difficulties; remember that because troubles could multiply this month. Trips get postponed and work issues frustrate immensely. Insomnia could cause health problems and financial losses too are indicated. However, things will work out and difficulties in relationships will wither away due to a bond of destiny that you share. Proceed with caution in everything. Go with the flow, have faith that everything will work out in your favour.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

TAROT

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

A major arcana indicates an important event that is about to begin or culminate. You focus on hope and faith, spiritual growth and happiness. If on the brink of a relationship, you proceed with caution. A new work initiative gives you a chance to work with a larger audience; and some of you might consider changing jobs. Money expected will come in. Trust your gut instinct and be wary of all interactions that demand your trust, as someone could cheat you.

VIRGO

Aug 23 - Sep 22

Emotions dominate this month for Leos, and relationships, reunions and reconciliations will take up your time. If in love, you have to be clear about what you want before you can take things further. A short trip proves fruitful. You aim higher at work and financial problems get resolved. An unexpected source will help you in your profession. Success comes through following your path and communicating your needs effectively. A love affair goes nowhere if you are involved.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22 - Dec 21

You will exhibit Taurean traits such as being realistic, practical and patient while unexpected developments take centrestage. You will want to walk away from a painful situation but will be unable to do so. A lover returns unexpectedly. Beware of emotional problems affecting work. Maintain a detached demeanour in spite of turmoil. Start organising your finances if they’re in disarray. Success will come through effort, gradual growth and opportunities. Your pessimism will vanish when things get better.

CANCER

June 21 - July 20

A month of stress with depression and discord, stalled projects and worry about the future dominating. A separation from a loved one is temporary as your fears are baseless. A reunion is on the cards. Success at work is on the anvil despite all the hurdles. Stomach-related health issues could besiege you. Spiritual guidance from the universe will change your perspective. What looks like a setback is an opportunity for growth and wisdom. Wait for things to resolve themselves.

LIBRA

Sep 23 - Oct 22

If you wish to give up on a habit, start now, as the stars align to help you along. A change of lifestyle, perhaps enforced by circumstances is foretold. A relationship is likely to end though your feelings for the person remain. A sudden loss of income might shake you out of complacency so start saving. A negative situation will work out positively and you should let go of situations that no longer assist in your spiritual evolution.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 - Jan 19

A time of introspection and decisions, besides reaching a plateau in your life, making you question - what next?

Spiritual growth is indicated for those seeking insights, but you clam up when it comes to sharing your deeper feelings for fear of being vulnerable. Slow down or you risk falling sick. Outstanding debts owed to you will get cleared. Success come through perseverance in spite of obstacles. Work on your inner net to ensure smooth sailing in the outer world.

Tarot denotes a Leo-type personality for you this month: family gatherings, spiritual pursuits, love affairs and seeking personal fulfillment will keep Librans busy. A passionate love affair is in store for singles, or someone will reveal how they feel about you. If a relationship is going downhill, you might just want to end it. Impulsive purchases will be wise buys in retrospect; and money is on its way. You will attract whatever you need and true guidance will come to you.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20 - Feb 18

In a difficult situation, bide your time and wait for destiny to play out the future. Do your best no matter how tough the situation is currently. Business is good and your skill set helps you make money. Any new age or metaphysical ventures will be successful. A health issue could be misdiagnosed so seek a second opinion. Major changes in the way you handle problems are indicated. Go it alone for the time being and focus on your goals.

You yearn for more but you don’t know what. Work, meetings, new projects keep you busy this month. Health issues come up due to emotional stress and you could have problems with your legs or feet. A need for love and companionship occupies you but now is not the right time. The work environment could suffer due to disturbing influences, unforeseen obstacles etc. But you will succeed through your ability to take decisive actions and positive responses from colleagues.

SCORPIO

Oct 23 - Nov 21

Whatever you may be experiencing this month, remember that you have divine protection. Practical concerns like family ties and daily life occupy your time. New developments make the future look better. Money can be blocked but it will come even though living expenses will be high. Anxiety about your inability to forge a strong bond, and a falling out or misunderstanding with a friend or employer, is also predicted. In the end, you will be grateful for resolution of conflicts.

PISCES

Feb 19 - March 20

New ideas and beginnings, along with anxiety and pressure, will keep you preoccupied this month. You seek satisfaction and recognition in your career. A new love affair could sweep you off your feet while a marriage could be on the rocks. Some tense moments in your financial life could frustrate you. However, this is all temporary and you will move into an easier situation. You will get what you want; remember to have faith because your work speaks for itself.

ASK AUNTYJI Never go without earrings Bollywood baby

DEAR AUNTYJI

Both my husband and I have very good jobs and are reasonably comfortable. I work in corporate Australia and I love clothes, so I tend to make an effort to look my best every day. I work hard, and I feel if I look polished, this will impact my confidence. Auntyji, it’s true that I tend to spend a fair bit of money on clothes, but I never spend beyond our means. Now I call my husband our finance minister because he is fairly fiscally prudent and I love that about him. He has just booked us a two-week holiday in New York for Christmas, and has said that we should curb our spending so we could shop there. But I saw a beautiful pair of very expensive antique turquoise earrings and on a whim, I put it on lay-by. They are beautiful and I can’t wait to get them. Auntyji, I feel guilty, because I did not tell this to Andy. I am slightly shamed by my behaviour. What to do? Should I tell him?

AUNTYJI SAYS

You besharam, lying to your husband

SEEKING GROOMS

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like that! But tell me, kaise hain ye beautiful earrings? They must be exquisite - especially if they are antique turquoise. But what to do. Aap ne jhoot bola hai - even if it’s lying by omission. So, if you want trust in the relationship, Andy ko batana padega. Imagine if he did this to you. Imagine if, aap ke peeth ke peeche, he went and bought a new set of golf clubs or a new set of wheels for the car and didn’t tell you? Would this bother you? If it did, then you need to think deeply about what you have done. But if he is your minister of finance and he decided that he wanted a new set of golf clubs and he could afford it, then I don’t see why you would have an issue with this. Which means that by the same token, you should be allowed to buy what you want - seeing that you are also financially responsible. But, you feel a sense of shame, my little kabootri, because you weren’t honest with the pati dev Jaa kar batao unko aap ne kya paap kiya hai. Then go and feed some gulab jamuns to the gareeb to get some redemption. Jug jug jiyo, meri pari

DEAR AUNTYJI

Recently I’ve developed a new habit and I wanted to share this with you, because I know you will appreciate this too. So I was generally reading up on Bollywood gossip shossip on the internet, and I came across some pictures of Taimur Ali Khan! Now Auntyji, I don’t know how I missed all this, but he is so so beautiful! He is the most adorable baby I have ever seen in my life and now, every single day, I log online just to see if there are new pictures of him. I could stare at him for hours - he is a bundle of cuteness! Have you seen his pictures? Kitna pyara baccha hai, nah? I am even thinking of making up a gift package and sending it to Kareena and Saif. I am besotted by this little bubba. Would you be able to get me their address so I could send him some love from Australia?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Ya allah, mujhe sabar de in zaalim logon se. My na-akl paapin, my kaali mirchi, kuch to sharam kar. Thousands of miles away is the Chota Nawab, minding his own business, being loved

Please send details with photo to deshpande.reshma@gmail.com or call 0487 305 750

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

SEEKING BRIDES

A professionally qualified Maharashtrian Hindu 33-year-old boy settled in Perth (with PR), never married, well-built, fair, 6’ tall, seeks a qualified Hindu girl.

Seeking 25-30-yr-old Hindu/Punjabi  girl from Australia for our 31 year old Specialist Doctor son 5’9”, born and brought up in Sydney Please  respond gupta_rsr@hotmail.com or call 0414 282 510.

Australian citizen, university educated Indian man, early 50s, working in a government organisation. Contact 0406 688 262, email tamavu@ hotmail.com.au

Match for boy aged 26, Telugu Brahmin family. Master’s degree IT, 5’10”. Working in Sydney, parents well educated and settled in Sydney. Seeking Indian girl brought up in Australia aged

by his Ma and Pa and from the other side of the duniya, kisi ki kaali nazar ne un ko lomari ki khayalat se dekha Don’t you have work to do, or a hobby, or other people pareshan karne ke liye? Leave our Chota Nawab alone, because everyone knows that evil eyes exist, and if you keep staring at our Chota Nawab, he will likely fall sick. Is that what you want - for India’s darling Taimur to fall sick? How will you feel then? Granted, Taimur bahut hi pyara baby hai. And with all the best of the Kapoors and Pataudis coursing through his veins, he was destined to be a celestial darling. But, you need to find something else to occupy your kaali nazren. Go find a hobby, or jaa kar volunteer kar hospital me. This fascination of yours is disturbing. And no, koi zaroorat nahi hai care package send karne ki. In fact, go and donate some gifts and money to poor children and that will bring you redemption. Hum abhi bata dete hain, if our little Taimur, our beautiful khajoor, our kohinoor, our sartaj gets sick, it will be on you and your kaali nazar. I hope baat samajh me aa gayi hai aap ko.

22-25 degree, qualified, fair, slim and at least 5’3”, working, able to drive.  Call 0425 224 614 or email umarajaj. matrimony@gmail.com

Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Australian Citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 44, 6’, athletic built boy. He is project manager with engineering background and is working in a private organisation.  Please send details with photo to : Indsyd2016@gmail.com

A 43-year-old, issueless divorcee, 5’5”, PR holder, non-smoker, non-drinker, spiritual, Bihari, Hindu, Srivastava Kayastha working in one of the biggest IT companies of world, seeks an Indian girl willing to relocate to Sydney. Caste, language, state no bar. Ph 0415 063 532

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The story of Deepavali