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EDITORIAL

Embraced by the light

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR Neha Malude MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

CONTRIBUTORS Gaurav Masand, Mallika Mathur, Rani Jhala, Minal Khona ADVERTISING MANAGER Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004 C OV E R I M A G E Ananya Wakhare, 11 years Indian Link is a monthly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to:

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

I

t’s thrilling to note the activity in the community at this time of the year.

With the festive season now in full flow, weekends are spent rushing from one celebration to another. The beauty is, they stretch across the length and breadth of the community, and based on your preference, you will find something to do and friends to enjoy it with.

For those in the party mode, the Garba evenings have been exhilarating.

Like the various Durga pooja festivities, this is a chance to dress up in your best clothes and grab a group of friends and make an evening out of it. With some of these fun evenings being attended by thousands of people, one suspects it will be but a matter of time before an enterprising organiser looks at booking out the SCG or the MCG or the Gabba!

How far have these festivities come when 20 years ago, getting 200 people

to a function was a major achievement.

Kudos to the hard-working entrepreneurs - professional as well as part-time - who have stuck with their passion through those times to see the massive gatherings of the clan today.

And kudos to all those who have worked hard to create the mandirs, the gurudwaras and all the various places of worship where the communities gather to mark the religious basis of our festivals. We should not take these places for granted, but rather, acknowledge the early settlers of our community who fund-raised for these monuments to come up, some of them even by mortgaging their own properties.

Let’s also doff our hats to community trailblazers who organise the mammoth melas we’ve all begun to enjoy. Whereas at one time, the Diwali gatherings were held for a few hours in the local school courtyard around the Diwali weekend, today the banks of the Swan River, or Federation Square, or the parklands of Parramatta, host up to 30,000 on a single day. Some organisers have taken the option of charging for entry, while others prefer to keep it free for the

crowds: either way, the zeal shown by the organisers must be supported and encouraged.

Perhaps one of the ways to do this is to bring a non-Indian friend along to these gatherings and acquaint them with Diwali festivities. Our politicians love to bring out the saris and sherwanis (anyone remembers the upturned jootis that Sam Dastyari rocked up in once?)

Perhaps it’s time to introduce your friends or neighbours to an item or two of traditional Indian clothing. A short - or long - discussion on the philosophy behind Diwali could turn out to be interesting.

And the mithai might be a welcome change from cheesecake and macaroons.

If getting them to join you at the Garbas or Durga pooja or the mela is difficult, why not bring Diwali to them.

Many of us probably already do this, in the form of a plate of mithai and sparklers taken round to the neighbours, and candles for colleagues at work. You are spreading the Light or awareness of Diwali your way.

From all of us at Indian Link to you and yours, khushhaali aur sammriddhi.

Happiness and prosperity this Diwali.

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NOVEMBER 2018 3

YOUR SAY

TEMPLE ATTACK

25TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

PREETI JABBAL wrote this month about her work with Indian Link Virosh Perera wrote: Preeti you connected us to the Indian community 20 years ago. Thank you so much for the friendship and growing.

Samina Naeem Ansari wrote: Wow Preeti your dedication towards your work really worked good job Mira Mehra wrote: Well done, Preeti. The Indian diaspora should be proud to have a dedicated journalist in their midst. Indian Link too, I am sure, are proud of what you do and the news and views you disseminate. You are a true professional who is ably merged your passion with your profession.

Pushpinder Kaur wrote: Preeti well done and keep going. Kaam he pooja, pooja he kaam.

Ramandeep Kaur wrote: What a great projection of your passion. You do an amazing job. Keep up the excellent work.

Manisha Chaubal-Menon wrote: Wow!! 25 years and you still have so much passion towards what you do for Indian Link and for the Indian community here in Melbourne. Love your work and so proud of you.

Ashish Chawla wrote: Great work Preeti Jabbal , love your work, honesty and dedication towards your work at Indian Link Ruby Ranjan wrote: Keep the spirit and passion going, Preeti. May you be always passionate and dedicated to your work, family and friends. Stay blessed!

Sujata Singh wrote: Preeti you’re such a committed, curious, intelligent, talented n lovely person n a great asset to the newspaper! Well done.

Sonia Jay wrote: Proud of you Preeti. Agree that when your passion becomes your work, there is no stopping... kudos to your efforts and passion.

Ritesh Chugh wrote: Great work Preeti Jabbal!! Well done.

Ajay Naidu wrote: Kyo Netflix ko band karane pe tuli hai aap. Indian Link will stand the test of time anyway.

FUNDRAISER

CARL BUHARIWALA reported on a charity concert organised by a Melbourne-based community association to raise awareness about Leukodystrophy Leukodystrophy Australia wrote: We are truly grateful to Shirdi Sai Sansthan for raising $10,000 for Leukodystrophy support and research.

SAY IT AGAIN 4 NOVEMBER 2018

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA’s interview with the priest of the vandalised Hindu temple in Regents Park drew the support of many.

Keith Wolfson wrote: The Australian politicians, both fringe and mainstream, who have successfully used race and religious fear and bigotry to strengthen their power gain from acts like this, but Australia should actually weep in despair and shame at our having become this sort of nation. Please ask them to create a GoFundMe account and publicise it through the media and I and others will give money to help rebuild.

Neha Malude wrote: Keith Wolfson that’s incredibly thoughtful of you.

Betty Jager wrote: Anyone who does such a hateful crime against peace loving people is nothing but negative, hateful beings. You will build it and it will be better than before, Good luck.

Ryzara Harricharan wrote: I am a true believer of Karma, not revenge.

Dorothy Bell wrote: Bless you & I hope Karma works here.

Krish-Ravina Ballu wrote: Very sad news. Let’s all of us help and support to build this temple.

Galvin David wrote: Evil is evil whether a temple is destroyed or a church is burnt. Hope the bad guys are brought to justice.

Peter McKenzie wrote: I think it would be nice if as many people as possible could send them a small donation, as a gesture of friendship and solidarity.

ETHICAL CLOTHING

SHAFEEN MUSTAQ wrote about her resolve to stop buying new clothes to pitch in for sustainability.

Petra O’Neill wrote: Buying from stores like Vinnies and the Red Cross has led to some great designer finds, for me at a fraction of the cost. All your old but clean clothing, towels, and sheets can be taken there, and what is unsaleable will be sent off and resorted with the items that are beyond it, sold as rags.

But if you do buy new clothing, avoid synthetics as the particles end up in our oceans and they don’t break down. If you have old homeware, pack it off to Vinnies or the Salvos and the Salvos will pick up furniture and large items at no charge. Makes sense. Saves money and reduces waste and landfill.

Always grateful and impressed by how accessible doctors, including specialists, are in Mumbai. I have a minor wound that’s been challenging to heal. Was able to see surgeon and dermatologist straight away! Would’ve faced a very long wait indeed in Australia.

Sharell Cook, India-based Aussie travel writer.

My years at Monash from 2000-2002 were the best three years of my life.

Raghav Sachar, Indian musician, during his recent visit to Melbourne

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CAPTION CONTEST

Looks like we all had great fun with the pic of Will Smith out and about in an autorickshaw in India.

Sujatha Sunil Kumar wrote: If there is a WILL there is a way.

Leyla Singh wrote: Midget mobile, so if we hit a bump I guess the horn will go off.

Jayanthi Vellore wrote: Love the tuktuk bro, I will travel around the world now.

Raman Bhatia wrote: India to USA nonstop.

Arix Bishnoi wrote: Long trips only.

Murali Venkatraman wrote: Where there is Will with a rickshaw, there is a way.

Saba Nabi wrote: Aaja meri gaadi mein baith ja, Aaja meri gaadi mein baith ja!

Mukesh Rai wrote: Sir, return fare lagega. Vapis khali ana padta hai.

Shashank S Singh wrote: Borivali....borivali..borivali!

Raj Saneja wrote: What kind of cheap car is this?

A TOUCH OF ZEN

Our recent Monday Motivation quote from Zen Pencils (‘Cartoon Quotes From Inspirational Folk’) touched a few hearts Laura Englund wrote: Inspiration for service and well-being Sidharath Jain wrote: Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette Sydney, this reminds me of you guys. Keep it up.

Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette Sydney replied: You are very kind Sidharath Jain! Thank you.

Shin Chan Nohara wrote: Surely service is a joy when you can put a smile on people’s faces and Zen Pencils Art always do. Thank you.

EMOJI NOSTALGY

Indian Link Radio’s SAGAR MEHROTRA asked listeners what this popular emoji means: some of the interpretations were hilarious!

Bindu Dubey wrote: Namaste, welcome.

Enough now, bhai - tere pair padta, ab mujhe chhod bhai apne faltu jokes se.

Rachit Mehta wrote: Ab bas, bohot ho gaya.

Lokesh Saraswat wrote: This was probably invented by an Indian. Jab koi usse paise udhaar maang leta tha ya fir udhaar mange hue paise koi vapas maangta tha toh bhai ko koi lamba chouda dialog chipkna padta tha so he creatively created this emoji to escape the embarrassment.

Kritika Bose wrote: Was originally meant for ‹high five› and is now commonly used for thank you or appreciation.

Smiti Khurana wrote: Maaf kar bhaiiii Nirmala Bisht Katyura wrote: Namaste in Hindi and Amen in English.

Preeti Saini wrote: Dafaaaa ho!

So was asbestos in schools.

Ash Sarkar, British activist and academic, on US commentator Megyn Kelly’s comment that Blackface at Halloween “was okay” when she was growing up

WHO WORE IT BETTER

Robin Wright 37%

It’s helpful to examine the Quad less as a bloc of four countries and more as a matrix of trilateral and bilateral relationships.

Dhuva Jaishankar, nonresident Fellow with the Lowy Institute in Australia

Shilpa Shetty 63%

On a personal note, I have this year witnessed two historic events - legalisation of gay marriage in Australia (I was in Sydney when it happened in December 2017) and the scrapping of 377 in India.

Namita Bhandare, author at Hindustan Times

NOVEMBER 2018 5

INTERVIEW

“The regional migration concept is not new”

PAWAN LUTHRA in conversation with David Coleman, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

T

he newly appointed Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman was emphatic in his support for a multicultural Australia when he dropped in at the Indian Link offices earlier this month.

Minister Coleman was elected to the seat of Banks in 2013, which itself is a very diverse seat with over 30% of its electorate from a Chinese background, a large Vietnamese population and now a growing Nepalese community. David won the seat for the Liberal Party for the first time since the seat of Banks was created in 1949.

Prior to entering politics, Coleman was worked in corporate roles with McKinsey & Co, LookSmart, dStore, PBL Media and the Nine Network and Yellow Brick Road Holdings Limited.

He discussed a number of wide ranging issues about his portfolio.

On the success of the Australia’s immigration program The results speak for themselves. We are one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. Our history and heritage is steeped in the successful integration of people coming to Australia.

In the post war period, we had successful migration from various parts of Europe - Greece, Italy etc. and now we have a number of migrants coming in from China, India, Vietnam and all of them contribute to our country. I want to emphasise on the positive impact of immigration in our society and our economy: there are over 1.4 million people employed in small businesses started by migrants. We need to be celebrating our successful migration program.

6 NOVEMBER 2018

Even in my own electorate of Banks, I have some wonderful contributions made

by Indian migrants. Sudha Natarajan from RAINS is such an inspiration, who wanted a place for the Indian elderly to meet and so she got the community together and was able to from the funds accumulated, buy a house on Forest Road which is now a great community centre. I am also aware of the work which Terry Sidhu and his team at the Revesby Gurudwara do, to make sure there is lots of interaction with the local community. And these are only two stories - there are many, many more.

On the issue of big Australia vs sustainable Australia, and the proposal for migrants to live outside big cities It is not a matter of numbers but rather that the program should match our needs.

For example, South Australia is desperate to get 15,000 more migrants, as are places like Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, Cairns in Queensland, the Northern Territory and other places. In recent years, the gap in skilled migrants required in regional parts of Australia as compared to those settling in Sydney and Melbourne has widened. We believe that by better planning, we can match the needs of the regional communities with the needs of the migrants. For those who feel that we may lose some migrants to Canada or US where there is no restriction of where people might live, we feel that there is enough of a demand of people wanting to come to Australia. The regional concept is not a new concept, we just need to finetune it.

On infrastructure ‘bursting at its seams’ with new migrants

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has appointed a minister for Population and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge because he understands the importance of this issue. Minister Tudge is looking at ways in which the federal government can improve infrastructure and though the states have the responsibility, we can help as well.

democracy, the acceptance of equality between men and women, and to accept people of who they are. We also believe that some level of English is appropriate so migrants can participate in normal daily life activities in Australia. Having that degree of English is necessary to be involved in Australian life.

On sending detainees at Nauru to New Zealand, where they have been offered refugee status We cannot forget what happened under the previous Labor government, when we saw over 1,200 people drown at sea, and when 8,000 children were placed in detention. There were significant human tragedies, so we cannot allow people smugglers to go back to the market and say come to Australia. We have a special arrangement with the New Zealand government according to which their citizens can live and work in Australia.

Even today we have some 700,000 New Zealanders living here. By sending detainees from Nauru to New Zealand, allows a back door entry into Australia and so the people smugglers can get back to their evil work.

On the blow up of the backlog for processing citizenship applications from 23,000 in 2014 to 210,000 in 2018 (the average processing time is now sixteen months) Firstly, the number of applicants for citizenship has increased by 177% from 2010, so that means our resources are stretched. Also, there are still some boat arrivals who we are processing - they have limited documentation with them which means more time is being spent on their applications. And for overall security issues, we need to make sure we do the right diligence before we welcome anyone as an Australian citizen.

On the issues of overhauling citizenship laws by increasing the general residence requirements from one year to four years, and on introducing a standalone English proficiency test We need to make sure that there is a full understanding and appreciation of what Australian citizenship means.

Prospective citizens need to understand that Australian values mean that we maintain the rule of law, the value of our

On the destabilising issues within the Liberal Party and why people should vote for it at the next election The Liberal government has delivered great outcomes. In 2017, more jobs were created in Australia than ever before.

Free trade agreements were signed with Japan, China and Korea, which is very beneficial to our farmers. Our party has invested in education and health and we have been very successful in managing our economy very well. We have kept Australia safe and along with our economic management, on national security, we have a very strong record.

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FESTIVAL

What I know about Diwali The only thing I know is that it’s a Hindu festival.

Natalie Moshegov, Sydney

Diwali seems like a beautiful festival with all those lights. I have never been to India, but if I ever had the chance to, I would love to be a part of the festival and experience the culture.

Karen Wang, Sydney

Ok, I know nothing about it but my mum says “It’s an Indian festival, a celebration, but unfortunately I do not know what or how it is celebrated.” Maxine Feldman, Sydney

I don’t know very much about Diwali. I know that it’s a special celebration in Indian culture that goes for a number of days. People exchange gifts and eat lots of delicious food. It seems like a wonderful time to share with family and friends. Kate Romeo, Sydney

Diwali is celebrated by decorating homes with lamps and candles, bursting of fireworks and sparklers. You eat plenty of sweets, pray to your gods and goddesses, wear new clothes, and send wishes to loved ones. Victor Chan, Melbourne

Diwali for me means a delicious feast of Indian cuisine. Diwali for you, probably means exchanging gifts with friends and family?

Daniel Chen, Melbourne

For me Diwali is a spiritual celebration of what’s good in the world, appreciating the light within no matter what your creed or colour. My knowledge if it’s origins isn’t so great. I think it comes from lighting lamps upon Rama’s return from exile in the Forrest. An ancient celebration of happiness that is wonderful I’m is still going strong! Grahak Cunningham, Perth I believe it is a very traditional festival of India, and involves a lot of special activities with family and friends. It is so warm and welcoming with all those lights and colours and food and fun!

Mary Hammer, Adelaide 8 NOVEMBER 2018

I know it is a very important Hindu cultural celebration. I googled it, and now I know why the family across the road have every light on in the house once a year. Penny Pavlakis, Sydney

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I’ve heard of it, but not sure what it is or means.

Georgie Kyrikos, Sydney

I have heard of it. It is a Hindu Festival. Is it to do with colours? Lorraine Moolman, Perth

I’ve been to a few Diwali celebrations, both in Australia and overseas and it’s been a magical and joyous experience every time! It’s a beautiful celebration of life and good over evil.

Lyndsey Stoney, Perth

Diwali is a celebration of life. However, you can say the same about all Indian holidays! Does Bahubali have something to do with this one?

Christopher Vanek, Brisbane

As far as I know it’s the Festival of Lights. In South Africa, Indians celebrating this would light little clay containers with oil and wick. There were also lots of tremendously tasty Indian sweets offered!

Janine Holgate, Sydney

I love that I get to celebrate Diwali. It’s really nice that the Indian community is so open and inviting.

I am looking forward to the food, music, dancing and colours. Donna Nygaard, Adelaide

Diwali is an opportunity for me to engage in the diversity and richness of the Indian culture.

Susie Wilke, Adelaide

Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness – people celebrating will illuminate their homes with light. Ben Zhang, Melbourne

I believe Diwali celebrates religious customs, specifically the rituals and practices partaken to show gratitude and belief Ben Jackson, Brisbane

I have always been fascinated by Indian celebrations as they are so vibrant and colourful.

However until I got to know my Indian neighbours I had no understanding of their significance or true meaning. I now know that Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Lights and symbolises light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Kerren Lumsden, Sydney

It’s the Festival of Lights – similar to the Christian “Christmas” with a focus on family and sharing. Love the yummy sweets and bright colours as it has a true Festival feel!

Antoinette Mullins, Sydney

NOVEMBER 2018 9

INSPIRATION

Lead Kindly Light

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

Aristotle His high endeavours are an inward light That makes the path before him always bright.

William Wordsworth

See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.

Wayne Dyer

10 NOVEMBER 2018

We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.

Ben Sweetland

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

Albert Schweitzer

Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.

Maya Angelou

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.

Marianne Williamson Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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THE YOUNG ONES

GET LIT! Nerdy Diwali: Fun facts about sparklers Early man may have discovered sparklers by accident when some bamboo leaves may have got thrown into a fire and resulted in a sizzle or explosion.

Sparklers and fireworks were invented by the Chinese in the 6th century.

The skill of creating and setting off fireworks is called pyrotechnics. It’s from the Greek word pyro, “fire,” and techne, “art.”

The “classic” type of sparkler consists of a thin metal rod that has been dipped in a thick batter of slowburning combustible material and allowed to dry.

Chemistry: Sparklers are made from metallic fuel (including aluminium, magnesium, iron, titanium and ferrotitanium).

Sparkler burns can land you in hospital.

At first fireworks were only orange and white. In the Middle Ages new colours were achieved by adding different salts. For example, barium burns green, while calcium creates orange. Blue is known for being the most difficult colour to create, from copper. There still isn’t a full-proof chemistry to make bright blue. However, red, green, orange and white are very easy to produce.

A sparkler reaches a temperature of up to 2,000°C, which is 20 times the boiling point of water. To put that in context, iron out of the ground can melt at around 1510°C and steel often melts at around 1370°C. Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch

Sparklers remain too hot to touch for several minutes after they have gone out and will therefore still cause burns.

Light one at a time.

Put burnt sparklers in a bucket of water.

Fireworks came first, not weapons.

Since gunpowder is linked with fireworks, many people may think fireworks were created from weapon ingredients, when actually it is the other way around.

Sparkler bombs are constructed by binding together as many as 300 sparklers with tape, leaving one extended to use as a fuse.

The resulting blast can approach the power of a stick of dynamite. These devices have caused deaths – they can also be ignited accidentally by heat or friction.

Many firework sounds are created on purpose. The sizzling, booms or screaming sounds that accompany certain fireworks are created using elements like organic salts, aluminum or titanium powder.

Sparklers can be used to make funny pictures. All you need is a totally dark setting, a sparkler to draw with and a camera recording a long exposure.

You can learn how to make your own sparklers from science websites.

A safer (better?) alternative could be to use glow sticks and glow necklaces which are non-toxic and can also last for up to 8 hours.

If sparklers can be dangerous, why do they use them on birthday cakes and at weddings?

NOVEMBER 2018 11

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NOVEMBER 2018 13

FIRST PERSON

(Very) Special assembly

Principal Ms Gail Cluff leads the special guests in

ADITI SADAKALE, a Year 12 student at Parramatta’s Macarthur Girls High School, on her recent brush with royalty

I

t was Friday, and we were getting ready for a special assembly at school.

It’s a state visit, we were told; the Premier would be visiting, along with the Minister of Education.

Oh, the Premier. Is that why we’ve had the police around here so much, with their sniffer dogs, and the helicopters above?

The assembly began and the Premier began to make her speech. And somewhere along the line she said, “Please welcome our special guests the Duke and Duchess of Sussex!”

And the royal couple just walked in!

We just erupted in surprise – everyone

had their mouths open as Harry and Meghan, er, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, entered, waving.

I have to tell you, I got a wave – yes I do believe the two of them were waving to me directly!

The official program then began, with performances and presentations for the special visitors. Harry and Meghan went around the school as we had a special event on, based on the extra-curricular initiatives at our school, especially by the students involved in the ‘In League in Harmony Youth Advocate’ program. We had visiting students from other schools too.

They told Harry and Meghan about their activities in mental health, poverty alleviation etc.

Prince Harry spent a fair bit of time with the NRL students, and learning about their activities for In League In Harmony.

Meghan spoke very well. She said that being at our school reminded her of her own school years – she went to an all-girls school which was very diverse, just like Macarthur Girls.

Both seemed very polite and so nice!

Rest of the day, we were simply too excited to concentrate in class, digesting what had happened at our school that

morning. Even the teachers were surprised – they had no idea either!

It was also the second day of the HSC exams for the senior girls that day, and they felt it was a delightful post exam surprise.

It was a great day really, I never dreamed I would get to see royalty up close, and that too at school. Next day, I was busy spotting myself in the pics that came out in the media. But I’m so proud of the photo I managed to get (main pic above) of Harry and Meghan as they walked in, even though I was in shock!

As told to Rajni Anand Luthra



14 NOVEMBER 2018

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NOVEMBER 2018 15

KIDS

COLOURS OF DIWALI

WINNER 8-12 Yash Mandowara 8

RUNNER-UP 8-12 Gauri Tripathi 9

Aarushi Patangay 8

Hashini Senthilkumar 9

Manoghna Ramagiri 12

Pavani Pathak 10

Ariba Omar 8

Ronen Gupta 8

Shirin Agarwal 8

Zalak Bhatt 9

16 NOVEMBER 2018

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What a fantastic effort by our younger readers! It’s been an overwhelming response to Indian Link’s annual Diwali art contest for kids. We loved each and every artwork that came in. Congratulations to our winners Yash Mandowara and Adwita Guru, who win book vouchers worth $75, and runners-up Gauri Tripathi and Maneet Brar, who win $50 vouchers each. Yash Mandowara’s design will be featured on Indian Link’s 2018 Diwali card. We hope to see even more colourful designs next year! Wish you all a joyous Diwali.

WINNER 7 AND BELOW Adwita Guru 7

RUNNER-UP 7 AND BELOW Maneet Brar 7

Aisha Anand 7

Jaskeerat Kaur 7

Nikhil Matta 7

Saanvi Patnia 6

Zia Bharuchi 7

Vidhaat Jagadish 5

Saanvi Chaudhary 6

Shreya Vudayagiri 7

NOVEMBER 2018 17

18 NOVEMBER 2018

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MILESTONE

A

few of our supporters have picked up on the fact that Indian Link is entering its 25th year of serving the Indian Australian community.

“How do you feel?” they’ve asked.

An interesting question, because it raises a range of emotions.

Happy, satisfied, proud, humbled, honoured to be trusted.

Did we expect, when we sent our very first edition to print on 24th October 1994, that in our 25th year we would be printing 72 editions a year, with over 3,200 pages of information and advertisements, that we would boast a 24/7 radio station with over seven hours daily of live programming, and that our social media platforms would have over 20,000 genuine followers? Did we expect our passion for media would reach a stage where it would evolve into a city-based company with a team of employees? And finally, did we expect to have remained true to our core values? The answer is that we had no idea.

We just went on the journey, met some fantastic people, learnt a lot, opened a window into the local Indian Australian community, and helped many micro businesses get off the ground, some of which have become juggernauts.

We are proud to have encouraged discussions on issues like gay rights, elderly abuse and community association rules, without the fear of reprisals.

It is exciting to note that going forward, we can see our role as observers of the community becoming more important, as the Indian Australian community inches towards 1.3 million in the next 13 years, as per recent reports. There will be successes, failures and challenges as we evolve into our own blend of migrants, adding colour to the fabric of multiculturalism.

Our job is to work with the community and ensure that in the next 25 years, we are able to reflect the journeys of our people.

We are eager to venture into new avenues. Print will remain our first love, but the thrill of taking a new idea out to the community - whether on radio, social media, podcasts or YouTube - is unmatched. Newer, technologically adept audiences are urging us on, and for that we are grateful.

And underpinning all this is the pleasure we have in delivering a trusted brand, especially in the light of fake news, fake likes and fake print-run invoices. Trust is in short supply in our current world.

For all this and more, we are thankful to our team of writers who put in late nights and weekends to be a part of the Indian Link family. They can well garage their journalistic talents and spend time in other leisurely pursuits. Instead, they are a role model to us, their friends and family for their dedication.

To our advertisers who trusted us with their money, many who have been with us from our early years, thank you for your confidence in us. We hope we have in some small way been a part of your success too.

To our own team in our office, we admire you for your dedication in taking forth the Indian Link brand and for constantly seeking ways to improve it, as well as make our operations more effective in the light of the growing diversity of roles we seem to be taking on.

To our readers and listeners and followers, we are deeply in your debt for your trust in us. We’ve grown together in our journeys as New Australians, and we hope to continue this journey together.

Pawan Luthra

W

e woke up bright and early at 6. We’d only had three hours of sleep, but you wouldn’t have known it.

There was precious cargo to be transported, already packed and labelled, which we loaded into the car.

This was a large box of A3 sheets of paper, each with bits of text that had been printed off and stuck together manually, to make up a cut-and-paste job of what looked like newsprint. Photos were packed separately, as they had to be converted to bromides and then manually stuck on to the specified spots on each page.

The craft work for Indian Link’s maiden issue was nearly ready for press.

At press, there was more gluing to be done, and this time our fingers were black with the ink that was everywhere.

Some seven hours later, the thrill was unmistakable as the first edition rolled off the presses. It was a sight we had seen many times on film - newsprint hurtling down the conveyor belts - but this of course, was the real thing.

That was 24 years ago.

Today, it’s press day again. We’ve risen bright and early at 6. We’ve only had three hours of sleep, but you wouldn’t know it.

There is precious cargo to be transported:

our collective work from the past week, but it’s going to be done digitally, in a few hours from now.

While there’s been no cutting and pasting this morning, there has been so much else to put together to bring the activities of our busy office into a coherent whole. The Diwali art contest for kids is coming to a close, and just as we expected, the last minute entries are rushing in, with desperate mums calling to ask if they can send in digital copies instead of posting. The phones at Marketing are constantly ringing, as special deals are on for the festive season. Media personnel attached to politicians are getting in touch, with their special Diwali messages. Last minute checks are currently being made on editorial copy.

Promotional material is being delivered by couriers - aimed at the upcoming Diwali fairs and the cricket season - having been designed and ordered early this week. The printer is spewing out sheets of information for today’s live reads on radio. Social media posts and replies are being monitored in the background, prompting a chuckle now and then. Someone’s just shouted out about this morning’s coffee run.

Some seven hours later, the thrill will be unmistakable yet again, as our latest issue comes alive in its final form.

Rajni Anand Luthra NOVEMBER 2018 19

MILESTONE

Thinkers and Linkers

Telling stories, they say, is an art. And 25 years on, we can say without a doubt that our writers have created for us a canvas that’s as full of colour as it is of substance. This issue, our valued contributors weigh in on their long-standing association with the publication, and what it has meant to them.

PETRA O’NEILL While dining at my favourite Indian restaurant in Sydney, I’d always read the latest issue of Indian Link that was delivered there. My daughter said to me one day “Mum, why don’t you write for Indian Link.”

So I did. I always wanted to be a travel writer and it was Rajni who gave me the opportunity to publish my work. Years later, back at the same restaurant, I watched as one of the customers slowly turned the pages of the new issue, taking it all in. It was with enormous pride that I saw him reach the article I’d written. He paused, then flicked the pages to the movie reviews.

Congratulations, Pawan and Rajni, for all that you do. to keep writing.

USHA ARVIND Congratulations Rajni and Pawan. May you grow stronger and achieve many more milestones.

For me, it’s a relationship that began nearly two decades ago and one that has shaped my Australian identity. My association with Rajni, Pawan 20 NOVEMBER 2018

and Indian Link was the outcome of a casual phone call by my husband to find out if I could write for them. All these years later, as a loyal Indian Linker, I continue to do just that. Not to mention, roping in every member of my family (including my visiting mother) to also contribute.

Along the way, I have had the opportunity to delve into so many personal stories, encounter so many unique individuals and forge so many interesting connections. Always aspiring for perfection, Indian Link’s stellar achievement mirrors that of the community it proudly represents

SHAFEEN MUSTAQ As a contributor to Indian Link for over a decade, I am in equal parts proud and inspired by the growth and journey of the Indian Link family and brand.

Since my very first contribution, Rajni and Pawan have been supportive and encouraging of contributions that were diverse, thought provoking, funny and/or serious. In addition to providing my eclectic writing a platform, the Indian Link family also provided me opportunities – the most memorable of which was the chance to not only meet but also interview Rani Mukerji when she came to Sydney. Thank you Indian Link and congratulations on this significant milestone. I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

product that is designed to connect the Australian and Indian communities.

My years with Indian Link have been exciting, challenging and fulfilling and on their 25th anniversary I wish to thank them for the wonderful association that has enriched my life.

PREETI JABBAL My association with Indian Link is over 15 years old, and I am often asked: Why? Why do I want to stay up late in the night working on stories after a full-on day at my regular job, when I can get a healthy sleep instead? Why do I spend some weeknights and weekends attending events when I can relax and watch Netflix instead? Why do I continue to work for Indian Link when I already have a full-time job?

My response is, why not?

Why should I not want to be associated with one of the most prestigious, multiple award winning Indian magazines in Australia? Why should I not attend events and learn so much with every experience, get quality updates on what’s going on within our Indian Australian community, get better entertained and connected?

Why should I not work with the best team led by people like Rajni and Pawan who I respect enormously?

They say the path to progress is when your passion becomes your work, and in this case it is an entire publication/media unit led, driven and fuelled by passion.

People and professionals who are dedicated to the dissemination of news, views and analysis with creativity.

A dynamic media that thrives on caring for and sharing with the diaspora. A quality

MOHAN DHALL Being of part North Indian heritage I have always celebrated the best of Indian culture in my own life. Of relevance to my calling in education, scholarship is a valued part of Indian culture.

That I contribute to Indian Link to the conversation around education, parenting, schooling and the like, makes me feel like I may be able to help families navigate the complexities of education as they raise their children. As scholarship is highly valued, sometimes we can forget about the child and focus too much on their performance or how well they achieve.

Indian Link provides an opportunity to bring insight into how valuing effort over outcomes will achieve the same results without estranging our children from themselves.

In this way my association with Indian Link means that we can together discuss what we truly value in the pursuit of scholarship within our communities

JYOTI SHANKAR Congratulations on your 25th anniversary, Indian Link! Great to be part of this publication that brings us closer to India and Australia.

The professionalism and love that Rajni and Pawan impart to this free magazine’s publication is commendable.

They work tirelessly each fortnight to get yet another issue out on time.

Being a writer for Indian Link has been an important part of my life in Australia. It gives me a voice to reach out to the community and tell stories of people I meet along my life journey – amazing stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, as well as stories of amazing people visiting Sydney such as Vandana Shiva, Atul Gawande and Madhu Trehan. It feels nice to be introduced, “Meet Jyoti. She writes for Indian Link”.

Once an Indian Link writer, you never cease to disconnect from the mindset. Wherever in the world you travel, you see the Australian-Indian links everywhere. I email Rajni excitedly, “Can I write about this”? These chance ‘stories’, triggered by such encounters are my favourite - an Australian who painted portraits of patients in a hospital in Kerala, a Salman Khan poster in Shanghai, a Daler Mehndi song in an Aboriginal performance in Sydney.

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VINAYA RAI The year was 2001. A friend called me from Sydney to say she liked my poem in Indian Link. “What?!” I was flabbergasted. “What poem?

I haven’t sent anything to Indian Link. It must be someone else’s.”

“No, I’m sure it is yours,” she said. So off we went as soon as we could to get a copy of the paper, and lo and behold, there it was! A few poetic lines that were part of another bit of work! I called up the editor immediately, very indignant that they had published something without my permission. But Rajni Luthra was ever so nice saying they had actually been trying to locate me as they had liked my original work (in a multicultural radio play).

They had hoped that this exact thing would happen.

That they would ‘find’ me after I saw the issue. Rajni convinced me to start writing for Indian Link and I did. I stopped some time later due to lack of time, but started again a few years ago.

I feel very privileged to share my views - and Adelaide news - on Indian Link whenever I can. And very grateful to Rajni Luthra for encouraging and pushing me to keep writing.

ANEETA MENON Being part of the Indian Link family means having the privilege to write for a truly independent news outlet.

This is something that young journos both yearn for and find near impossible in Australia’s extraordinarily concentrated media landscape. The success of Indian Link is surely credited to the quality of its content and the integrity of its editors in their pursuit to report, represent and celebrate the world around us.

LP AYER Congratulations on the occasion of your Silver Jubilee.

It is no mean achievement to run a news magazine covering the interests of a wide-ranging community, more so in a foreign country. In a span of 25 years you have already stacked your trophy cupboard with a number of awards. I wish you another 25 successful years.

RITAM MITRA My involvement with Indian Link began in 2009 - to capture, in the furtherance of my own self-interest more than anything, the emotion of my last days at high school.

But it quickly became clear that this was not to be a brief dalliance.

Over the years, it is the variety and calibre of people I’ve been fortunate to meet that has made my time with the paper truly remarkable. From interviewing sporting royalty in my first year as a member of the accredited cricket media, to speaking with prominent chefs, inventors, an aspiring astronaut and internationally renowned photographers, my experience has been a wealth of diversity at every stage.

In many ways, diversity is what makes Indian Link so special; its focus on quality content, creative storytelling and its willingness to embrace new media sets it apart from other community papers.

In fact, the high editorial standards – and the team’s innate sixth sense of what will make a good story – has seen the paper edge out even mainstream media outlets at marquee awards functions.

Having been part of the family for nearly a decade now, I have no doubt there will be decades more. Happy 25th to us!

SANDIP HOR Congratulations to Indian Link for its 25 years of continued existence, linking the Indian diaspora in Australia with a variety of local and international news and features, ranging from politics, current affairs, business, finance and community matters to sports, food, cinema, entertainment and travel.

As a travel writer, I feel extremely proud to be part of this successful team. My journey began in 2010 when a travel feature of mine on Dubai -›The World in a City› hit the printer for the August-2 edition. Since then I have been regularly contributing to this award-winning fortnightly and hope to continue until my pen dries. My writings here connect me with the Indian diaspora in Australia. It’s a big joy for me when I meet someone for the first time, and they say they know me through my writings in the Indian Link.

During my time I have witnessed many changes with the publication and surely all for the better, such as print version frequency changing to fortnightly, digital platform expanding, social media strengthening, content becoming trendier, format remaining consistent, paper quality improving and much more. All of this has been possible because of a strong and talented professional team behind the scene which works tirelessly to bring out every edition on time.

FARZANA AHMAD Indian Link will always hold a very special place in my heart. I joined the list of contributors in 2007 after having a sour experience with one of the biggest national

publications of Australia.

I was losing hope of ever getting printed and it was a massive shock since I had enjoyed significant success as a freelance writer before migrating to the lucky country.

Indian Link gave me a chance to write again and lifted me when I was almost giving up.

My confidence in my abilities as a writer was restored, and with the publication of that first article on sun safety, it became a part of my life that I will always treasure.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed immense support from Rajni and the rest of the team. I’ve covered varied topics in my articles, interviewed some interesting characters and felt the adrenaline as I met tight deadlines. Even though I’ve embarked on a new journey recently, Indian Link is never far from my heart and I always look forward to writing a piece or two as soon as I get the opportunity. Thank you Indian Link, for being my literary family to whom I will always be connected, and to whom I’m forever indebted. Power to you and success!

EMIE ROY Of all these 25 long years Indian Link has been active amongst the Indian-Australians, my association is rather short yet most fulfilling. I am just a 5-year-old Indian Linker with only 31 articles behind me.

However, what these five years and a few thousands of printed words have taught me, is way beyond these numbers. I have observed the team pioneering a dream – bringing the Indian community in Australia together, while fostering its assimilation with the mainstream society. The second generation is always welcome to join the party too - several innovative initiatives await them.

On a personal level, the team at Indian Link empowered me to voice my opinions. The space and comfort my editor, Rajni Luthra, provides me is ineffable. Always open to new ideas, she has given ears to many of my late evening calls.

It may not always be ‘yes’ to

some of those over-the-top ideas. But no matter what the answer is, it is always fair and perfectly aligned to the team’s vision. I believe it is this clarity of her vision that keeps Indian Link a champion in its field.

Over these years, I have developed a strong sense of bonding with her. Of late, Rajni made a passing comment, “I know how your mind works”.

Such a profound comment, it refuses to leave my thoughts even after a few weeks’ time.

An editor with the ability to read the mind of the writer – isn’t that the best thing to ever happen in a media house?

I wish you never lose this adeptness.

March on, Indian Link, to a future well above and beyond these 25 years!

YOGENDRA BHATNAGAR Congratulations to the Indian Link for completing 25 years of success in providing yeoman’s service to the vast Indian community in Australia! Only a dedicated team bonded with passion and devotion, can cross such a long journey and continue to outshine others in business and become the number one Indian newspaper in Australia.

Indian Link has become a shining example for serving the community with unbiased, quality, selfless and dedicated services. With your commitment and sincerity, you have time and again proved your worth and have been decorated with much-deserved accolades, awards and fame.

I take pride in saying that I was one of those fortunate people to have been with this great institution since its inception. Indian Link has worked against all the odds that occurred in these 25 years to make what seemed impossible, possible! I extend my heartiest felicitations to the team for reaching this Silver Jubilee milestone.

May you continue to reach greater heights in the years to come and continue to strengthen the bond between the two truly great democratic and multicultural nations of the world.

NOVEMBER 2018 21

FICTION

The anatomy of a diya

A simple symbol can become a powerful element that helps one discover the soul and understand divinity

BY RANI JHALA

“C

ome, my child,” Ma said as she led the way.

I took my first step as I heard her add with a smile, “There is much I need to learn from you.”

‘Ma’, as Mata Sitamayee was lovingly called, was among the many neo-saints of modern India. As society moved towards materialistic success, Gurus and Mas were sprouting everywhere. It was normal to see each of these saints amass large followership, amidst them several famous and materialistically successful people. It is these folk that become the true evangelists for these saints, to whom they give the bulk of their donations.

So when Ma asked me to come forward, I was elated at the privilege, yet matter-offact about the honour. People knew of me, the world-renowned actress, more than they knew of Ma. Of course she would pick me from the crowd, and of course she would want to learn from me.

I followed Ma and her assistants into the prayer hall. There in the centre of the room was a fountain. Around it was a winding waterway that meandered around, in a serpentine formation. A waterfall slid over a rock face that made up one wall of the great hall.

“Come, child, it is a special night; help me prepare the lamp,” said Ma. “Special night? Oh I see, thank you Ma, that is very kind of you,” I replied, trying to sound modest. Of course it would be a special night. It was not often that fame

22 NOVEMBER 2018

graced a modest ashram such as this. I looked up to see Ma smile.

As we reached the fountain, several of her assistants came in with trays and placed them on the ground. Ma sat on the floor and motioned for me to sit beside her. As I moved to her side, I watched as more women arrived with trays, placing them besides the ones they had already put down.

“What would you like to be - the lamp, the wick or the oil?” Ma asked.

“I do not understand,” I replied.

“We are preparing the lamps for tonight.

Everyone will help by adding that which represents them best,” Ma clarified, and then added, “I see confusion. What does it take, my child, to make a diya (lamp)?

The container, the wick and the oil! If you think your life is like a container, then decorate these earthen lamps. If your life has been like a wick, roll this cotton into slender wicks. If your past resembles the oil, take this jug and pour the oil into the painted lamps.”

“How do I know which item represents me best, Ma?” I questioned.

“Ah, I see that some things are not taught in the celluloid world,” she said, smiling. “Come, we will learn together.”

We sat down and Ma picked up an earthen lamp. With the colour yellow made from turmeric paste, she painted dots along its entire rim.

“Here take this bit of pottery, a vessel made for our convenience, so that it can hold that which is put in it. It is made of earth, air and water, and represents us. It has great capacity to hold and imbibe that which is put in it, and it has the strength to let burn without being burnt. It is the Karmayogi,” she explained.

I looked at the lamp in Ma’s hand and then back at her, “Ah Ma, it represents

us,” I whispered.

“Yes, child, it is our body,” she confirmed.

Then, pinching apart a small ball of cotton, she rolled it gently between her fingers, transforming it into a slender thread.

“This bati (wick) is made from the softest of things. It twists and merges to form a strong twine. It thirsts for knowledge, it hopes for direction. It knows its purpose. It is the Dharmayogi,” Ma stated.

“I see Ma, it is our mind,” I marvelled at my own intelligence.

“Yes, it is the Dharmayogi who wanders through life burning fiercely for knowledge and is ever-thirsty for answers,” she replied.

Then Ma picked up the pitcher and poured the oil. I watched as the wick absorbed the liquid until saturated, and could absorb no more.

“Fuel, the power behind every action; the strength behind every deed. It is the source sought by all. The final part, that unites and completes. It is the Purnayogi.”

Ma handed me the lamp tenderly.

Seeing me frown, she explained, “Child, this is your soul. It is that which connects

and that which empowers. It is that which enlightens and that which liberates. It is your powerhouse.”

“Ma, I see now, the lamp is man, useless until the mind and soul unite to enlighten,” I said.

“Yes my child, did I not say, I have much to learn from you?” Ma smiled.

I knew by now, the game Ma had just played. From the teacher I had become the taught. Now aware of how Ma worked, I asked, “What is so special about tonight, Ma?” Even as I asked, I knew I was no longer the reason.

“It is Deepavali, my child. The night when good triumphs evil: when darkness is overcome by light. The moment when a nation welcomes back justice, truth and divinity! It is the event that confirms the return of righteousness and gives back the power that once belonged to the Gods,” said Ma passionately.

I looked down, ashamed. Here I was, Bollywood’s leading lady, thinking I was the centre of the night, when all I really was or would ever be, was another spark of the mighty flame that Ma was uniting with its source.

When I looked up, Ma held three items in her hand - the lamp, the wick and the oil.

Here I was, Bollywood’s leading lady, thinking I was the centre of the night, when all I really was or would ever be, was another spark of the mighty flame, whom Ma was uniting with its source www.indianlink.com.au

NOVEMBER 2018 23 DSOSET0002_SS_SATS_CP_ENG_360x250_Boy.indd 1

14/9/18 9:43 am

FOOD

Guilt-free Diwali Indulge your sweet tooth, but with these oats-based recipes by GAURAV MASAND for a healthier Diwali this year

OATS LADDOO Atta ke laddoo or pinnis are rich and tasty sweet treats. They are one of the easiest of preparations when you want something sweet yet healthy. Oats laddoo is our Aussie take on it.

Ingredients

2 cup oats, powdered using a mixer

Keep stirring to avoid burning.

½ cup ghee

Then add ghee along with nuts and desiccated coconut.

¾ cup nuts

Mix well for a few minutes, then turn off the heat.

3/4 cup desiccated coconut 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Add powdered sugar and mix it all well.

Method

Heat a pan and dry roast oatmeal for 10 mins on low flame or until rawness disappears.

Make equal sized laddoos or balls out of it before the mixture cools off.

Store in an airtight container.

OATS CHIKKI Chikki or brittle is a traditional Indian recipe which is an essential at Diwali. It is made in many variants with coconut, peanuts and even with chana dal (split bengal gram). Here we make it with oats, nuts and dried berries. You can also make a vegan version by using olive oil. For best results, cook the jaggery until it turns brittle as mentioned below in the recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup oats ½ cup nuts (almonds, walnuts), chopped ¼ cup dry berries (eg blueberry, goji berry) 1 ¼ cup jaggery 1 tbsp ghee or clarified butter 1 tsp cardamom powde

In bowl of water, add a drop of hot jaggery to check if it is brittle. If not, cook further for a few minutes and retry the same process.

Add cardamom, oats, nuts and mix well.

Switch off flame, add the berries.

Method

Spread mix on baking paper or a greased tray. Press evenly using a rolling pin.

In a pan, add ghee and jaggery; mix on low flame and stir for 10 mins.

Draw desired incisions using a knife.

Allow to cool, and then break along the incisions. Store in an air tight dry jar.

Dry roast oats for 10 mins on low flame, then keep aside.

OATS DHOKLA Ingredients

1 cup oats ½ cup semolina ½ cup yogurt ½ cup water 1 tbsp ginger-chilli paste 1-1/4 tsp eno fruit salt ½ tsp sugar Salt as per taste

For tempering

2 tbsp oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 1-2 slit green chillies Handful of curry leaves

24 NOVEMBER 2018

Method

Dry roast oats for 10-15 mins on a low flame and then grind into a coarse powder, keep aside.

Dry roast semolina for 10 mins on low flame, keep aside.

Mix all ingredients into a smooth batter except eno fruit salt.

Pour the batter into thegreased bowl.

Steam for 15-20 mins or until cooked.

Allow to cool, cut into pieces.

Tempering

Heat oil and add mustard seeds, curry leaves and chillies.

Grease a dhokla pan (or bowl) with oil.

Spread this mixture on the steamed dhokla.

Add eno fruit salt to batter and mix well.

Serve hot with chutney.

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ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK

PLAYING THE MARKET

BAAZAAR

DIRECTOR: Gauravv K. Chawla STARRING: Saif Ali Khan, Rohan Mehra, Radhika Apte, Chitrangda Singh

HHHHH

I can’t recall a single notable (or even non-notable) Indian film based on the plunging dips and giddying highs of the stock market. Do you remember Harshad Mehta? How could you forget the podgy stockbroker who made thousands of Indians rich overnight and then it all ended in a financial mess in no time at all?

Saif Ali Khan’s Shakun Kothari’s destiny run on the same lines.

Except that Saif as the wily ruthless

Machiavellian stockbroker is everything that Harshad Mehta would have wanted to be. This is Saif’s most gloriously written and performed part, meaty witty and wicked. He chews into it exposing a sacred hunger that I didn’t notice in his last over-hyped outing.

Saif as Shakun is a true-blue Gujju who won’t let neo-affluence corrupt his cultural integrity. He slips into Gujjufications with the unrehearsed cuteness of tycoon, who has long ceased to be cute to everyone, including his own wife and children.

When debutant Rohan Mehra enters the plot as Rizwan there is no Shakun Kothari around. We know Rizwan idolizes Shakun and wants to be like

him - a very dangerous ambition to have. And who knows this better than Rizwan’s wife Chitrangda Singh, who in a role severely conscripted by the plot’s bristling sinewiness, manages to find her redemptive moment in the grand finale.

There is no redemption for Shakun.

He is showman a ball of fire hurling down an abyss, and enjoying every moment of it. The film takes great pride in being clued into the inside workings of the stock market. Yet it never lets the tone of know-all self-congratulation come in the way of telling us the story of ‘When Shakun Met Rohan’.

My quibble with the rivetting script (Nikhil Advani, Parvez Sheikh, Aseem Arora) is that it takes its time in bringing

the mentor and the protegee together.

Saif and the very fine and confident debutant Rohan Mehra just don’t have enough scenes together. In fact Rohan builds a better bond with Saif’s screenwife Chitrangda Singh in just one scene where the teary-eyed protegee tells his mentor’s wife that sometimes you just need to give the one you love a tight slap. The written word seldom gets to be conveyed with such unvarnished directness in commercial Hindi cinema where everyone either talks florid or over-casual.

In Baazaar the emotions are tightly reined-in as caustic vitriolic conversations are let loose with not a care about who’s eavesdropping.

My favourite line, and the one that says it all about Shakun Kothari, is the one in the run-down Gujarati bhojanalaiya. “You think I come here because I love the food? No, the food is terrible! But it helps me never forget where I came from.”

The brilliance of the line is never forgotten in a morality tale that never pushes its righteousness into our face. In fact I suspect the very assured debutant director Gauravv K. Chawla actually enjoys his grey protagonist’s amorality.

Saif’s blustering warmth keeps Shakun Kothari from falling apart even when the stakes are heavily weighed against him.

While some of the other supporting performances just don’t match up the ever-brilliant Manish Choudhary struggles in an underwritten role; Radhika Apte as Rizwan’s go-getting colleague makes space for herself. In a way she tokenizes the film’s morality. In today’s times you have to push your way into attention.

Subhash K. Jha

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NOVEMBER 2018 25

HUMOUR

Get your summer beach bod Simple diet and fitness tips that should get you beach-ready in weeks BY NURY VITACHI

M

y wife’s pick of magazines makes me laugh. On the cover, one headline is always something like “Learn To Love Yourself As You Are”. Another is “Lose 5 kg In Two Weeks”. And a third: “New Pasta Recipes”.

It seems these days we all want to be slim.

One colleague shared a motivational tip that is “guaranteed” to make one eat less. “You put a large mirror by your dining table and eat all your meals naked.”

Nice idea, but it would be hard to get buy-in from the wife and children.

Googling for better advice led me to stumble on an interesting true story.

A guy called Mike Lee, due to have a beach wedding, decided

26 NOVEMBER 2018

to get in shape. A fitness trainer handed him a pencil and a book of numbers, telling him, “Add up the calories of everything you eat, and deduct the calories of everything you burn in physical activity.”

Ding! Mike had a flash of inspiration. Being a nerd, he wrote a programme to do it automatically, called it “MyFitnessPal”, and later sold it for something like half a billion US dollars.

A colleague who swears by this app explained its magic. “You don’t have to keep typing in foods because it learns your eating habits, and you don’t have to type in your activity level since it takes the information from how much your smartphone moves around every day.”

In other words, it is a fitness app for people who think a bit of typing is way too much hard work. Ooooo-kay. My kind of people.

Fun fact: did you know that the Germans have a word for comfort eating? “Kummerspeck” literally

means “griefbacon”. If you point at a German’s bulging midriff, he or she will say, “My life is stressful so what you see is the bacon of grief.”

One colleague said we should all buy that Samsung Galaxy smartphone which has a built-in filter that makes you skinnier in photos. I said, “But the downside is that you can never meet your relatives faceto-face again.”

“How is that a downside?” he asked. Good point.

Tip for husbands: if you ever walk into a bathroom and see your spouse weighing herself, you say, “Ignore the weighing sales. They don’t measure sexiness.” (Seriously. They totally like this.)

This columnist used to just stick to Ms. Piggy’s Rule of Nutrition, which says, “Never eat anything that you can’t lift.”

But lately I concocted a threepart dieting plan. * Get rid of all the bad food

from your fridge. (I did this. It was delicious.) * If you eat illicit snacks, always eat the whole bag of chips at once because if you save half for later that’s two failures instead of one. * When you weigh yourself, always deduct 3 pounds or 1.4 kilos as it would be wrong to count your amazing brain against you, right?

In the end, this columnist decided to skip the diet and take a philosophical stance instead. I shouldn’t complain about carrying a couple of extra kilos because it would be unfair to everyone else if I was this intelligent, cute, warm and slim too.

And if anyone comments, I shall simply point to my stomach and tell them, “I have children.

This is the bacon of grief.”

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FORETELL

NOVEMBER 2018

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

TAROT

ARIES March 21 - April 19

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

CANCER June 21 - July 20

The key is balance: this month, you should learn to balance material and spiritual prosperity, as one without the other can make life difficult. A destiny card drawn for you indicates that if issues regarding old friends, health, money, business or habits resurface, it is time to test you and check your growth. You will be able to turn a negative situation around, even though there could be anxiety or confusion.

Stress can cause an old health issue to surface again.

A new beginning, mostly creative, is on the anvil. You might decide to use a hitherto untapped skill or talent to monetise a hobby. A financially rewarding trip lifts up your spirits, and resolving of conflicts in a relationship is foretold: you might even take it to the next level.

A cleansing detox will improve your health and productivity on all fronts.

Success comes through innovative ideas and revival of a business or property.

Do something different and act on alternatives.

If you are at the start of a romance, chances are it will fizzle out even though it has come into your life quite unexpectedly. Some news that will shed new light on your present outlook or financial status will come as a relief.

Finances increase, and conditions improve. Avoid being too rigid about anything - you might even look at a new line of work. Minor health issues might arise: is a dentist visit due, or a regular health scan?

A pause in your progress causes anxiety and you re-evaluate your life’s goals.

Disappointment in love convinces you to go it alone. Your attitude of indifference stems from a deep rooted depression and a feeling of hopelessness. Anxiety and nervous exhaustion could make you visit the doctor if you are not careful.

Things might look bad but they are actually going to improve. You might buy something expensive for yourself. You have what it takes, just be patient

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

Media, arts, communication, money, new projects and a person with a Gemini type of temperament make up this month for Leos. An impasse in romance is annoying. You might associate with some influential and powerful people who will help you. Paperwork keeps you occupied and travel for business is successful. In demand as always at work, you impress your seniors. Health improves and financial transactions are very successful. A new project based on your past work is likely to come up.

This month calls for sacrifice from Virgos, and along with letting go, letting it be might be an option till things improve.

If in a relationship, pent up resentment can create feelings of alienation or make matters worse. You might have to give up on a much desired outcome in your personal life, but business will be good.

Take care of your eyes. Finances are tight, so be prudent with expenses. The future worries you but you will overcome all challenges.

A Taurean personality trait like stubbornness could overshadow your usual easy going demeanour. You might want to break away from a painful relationship but you are hoping things will improve. Be patient, because they will.

Don’t let emotional problems impact your work. Creative projects bring satisfaction and might even bring a new start on the work front. Success comes through hard work, gradual development and a few lucky breaks that can turn precarious events into new potential.

A month of abundance as you are presented with promising enterprises or investment potential. To seek help from someone difficult, try diplomacy instead of intimidation. Travel for work is indicated. You are in a positive upbeat mood so make the most of it. An attitude of gratitude brings more of the good stuff into your life. Debts get cleared and money comes in from multiple sources.

The key to solving problems sometimes, is to stop thinking about them.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

A new love could sweep you off your feet though this month has many anxious stressful moments. Strong emotions rule and a marriage could go on the rocks. Good news on the career front is indicated and delayed payments add to the stress. But, the situation is temporary and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Think with your head and not your heart for any challenge. Have faith in your capabilities and persevere towards achieving your goal.

November calls for adjustments in thought and attitude. You might experience anxiety or frustration due to circumstances. Someone younger might try to win your affection. Cooperation on the personal and professional front is on the cards. Success is assured, especially on the work front and matters of financial settlements. Take a much needed break and do something you enjoy. Even a workshop that enhances skills will help you succeed. Negative conditions come to an end as a renewal is round the corner.

A busy month where you focus on work, spiritual ideas and the desire to expand your horizons. A happy surprise is in the offing. As self-protection, you might put on the façade of being indifferent, but your heart longs for a meaningful connection. A new approach to work makes it lucrative. Health will need attention, and stop worrying about money as gains are indicated. Change is in the air and pursue intellectual hobbies till things settle down. Let things be for a while.

Pay attention to your work front and focus on improving yourself or your image. A loner might attract you but be careful, it could be someone who is already married. A chance encounter brings unexpected gains and promotion or success at work increases your determination to do better. An estranged ex might try to win you back. Profits increase for the self-employed and a new business idea is in the offing. Don’t sell yourself short if you are not convinced, however. Proceed methodically.

NOVEMBER 2018 27

ENTERTAINMENT

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

SUREKHA SIKRI

MIRZAPUR SET TO SEE A GLORIOUS BLOODBATH

CALLING YOUNG SCRIPTWRITERS

I

f you’ve got a film script you’ve been nurturing quietly while you work away in the week as an accountant/marketing consultant/IT nerd, here’s your chance.

Celebrated filmmaker and screenplay writers Raju Hirani, Juhi Chaturvedi and Anjum Rajabali have invited young scriptwriters to be a part of a ‘Cinestaan India’s Storytellers Script Contest’.

This will be the second edition of the contest announced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan.

“Last year when we announced the Cinestaan India’s storytellers script contest, it was an attempt to give an opportunity to budding writers. We hope that through this contest, we are able to reach out to all those who want an opportunity to write a film script,” said Aamir Khan.

The contest follows a transparent process of accepting only those entries that are registered either with the Screen Writers Association (SWA) or with any other organisation where registration is considered valid.

Rajabali, who is also the jury chairperson, said, “We are currently shortlisting the scripts from the first edition. The winners will be announced before the year-end.”

The Sanju filmmaker, while sharing the details of the contest said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for writers and I am happy to be a part of the second edition of the contest.”

Think you have what it takes?

28 NOVEMBER 2018

From the look of its trailer, Mirzapur - Amazon’s new bust-or-boom series - promises a fusillade of flamboyant fights and bloodshed.

First things first. It feels reassuring and comforting to see the very gifted Pankaj Tripathi finally taking centrestage. He was plainly riveting as the Shakespearean mafia don in Shankar Raman’s Gurgaon. He returns to play a restless crime lord with a problematic son in Mirzapur.

It’s a world that perhaps Francis Ford Coppola or Martin Scorcese would approve of. There is sly deceit and tormenting treachery as Tripathy’s Kaleen Bhai (he deals in carpets) tries to control his wild son, played by that extraordinarily credible actor Divyendu Sharma, last seen stealing every scene from Shahid Kapoor in Batti Gul Meter Chalu.

Divyendu is the Sonny Corleone of this sanguine saga of internecine wars. The dollops of aggression and trippy retribution are served up with a dash of humorous relish.

Ali Fazal has bulked up and trimmed his hair to look menacing, and the super-talented Vikrant Massey looks positively mousy as his sibling. These two brothers promise to turn the rugged terrain of Mirzapur into an area of a subverted Mahabharat.

The series is splattered with superb actors. Rasika Dugal turns up as Pankaj Tripathi’s sex-starved wife reminding him that he always leaves her unfulfilled.

Well, we won’t come away from the series with that feeling.

SHORTER CONTENT: YAY OR NAY?

A gradual increase in demand for shorter content, on digital platforms, seems to be creeping in. So says director Tariq Naved Siddiqui, who has just released his short film The Playboy Mr. Sawhney.

“Audiences these days have smaller attention spans so the consumption of shorter content has increased over the last few years, especially, among the younger generation,” he said.

The film debuted at the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films in late October. The 25-minute project boasts a huge star cast, including Jackie Shroff in the lead role, Arjan Bajwa, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Divya Dutta, Neetu Chandra, Manjari Fadnis, Pitobash, Samir Kochhar and Sudhir Mishra.

Perhaps that’s why Siddiqui calls it the “Sholay of short films”.

Or is it because the long form continues to exert its magic, despite what the film-makers say?

“I haven’t seen a short film till now which has such a huge star cast. We have also shot it like a feature film.”

Point proven! “Star cast” and “shooting like a feature film” still define the worth of a film till it hits the screens.

But Siddiqui makes a quick comeback. “It doesn’t matter what’s the duration of your film. Now what matters is the subject of your film and how it will impact the audience.”

O-kay….

TAKE A KAAGAZ KI KASHTI IN NOV

No prizes for guessing who this upcoming film is based on. Kaagaz Ki Kashti which traces the life of legendary ghazal singer and composer late Jagjit Singh, will release on 2 November.

Born Jagmohan Singh in Rajasthan and belonging to a Punjabi Sikh family, Jagjit Singh left an indelible mark in the world of music with his treasury of ghazals, many of them sung jointly with his wife Chitra Singh.

The duo, credited with the revival of and popularising ghazals, also composed music for several Bollywood films including Arth, Saath Saath, Sajda and Prem Geet.

During his musical career starting 1961 till his demise, Jagjit Singh released some 80 ghazal albums which are popular to this day. He passed away on October 10, 2011.

Kaagaz Ki Kashti is an evocative film of not just Jagjit Singh’s life, but also of the monumental legacy he has left behind. The film includes in-depth conversations with friends, family, colleagues and archival footage.

RICHA CHADHA, BELLY DANCER

Actress Richa Chadha is working on her belly dancing skills for a special promotional song for a biopic on south Indian glamour actress Shakeela.

Richa plays the titular role in the movie, directed by Indrajit Lankesh.

She is training under the guidance of Mumbai-based belly dancing instructor Shaina Lebana.

Richa has been taking lessons from

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AAMIR KHAN

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JAGJIT SINGH RICHA CHADHA

Shaina for the past three weeks and will be training for some more weeks.

“I have always loved learning newer forms of dance,” Richa said in a statement. “Belly dancing is not only very attractive and graceful but is also a very tough dance form to learn.”

This is not the first time Richa has attempted the dance form. She took lessons three years ago, so she seems to be drawn to it somehow.

AAMIR KHAN IN CHINA

You know how they love him in China.

Now Aamir Khan wants to make movies there.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan met a top official from China’s film regulator in Beijing recently to discuss cooperation between India and China in making films.

Khan said that he would like to share his filmmaking experiences with industry colleagues from China, seek inspiration and create more excellent works.

His sentiment was echoed by the professionals he met, who hoped that China and India could strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation, share excellent films, carry out indepth cooperation in making films and encourage filmmakers of both sides to produce more quality films.

Can’t wait to see what comes out of this.

NEW ROLES FOR OLDER WOMEN

Older women are invisible in the entertainment industry? Think again.

Surekha Sikri is enjoying her time in the spotlight all over again, at 73.

Even after some 40 years, the sprightly Surekha has no plan to slow down, and says she has no desire to retire either.

And why should she?

She is currently seeing much love coming her way after her portrayal of the nagging grandma in the surprise hit Badhaai Ho. She chuckles when asked about retirement. “Retirement? Hello, I don’t even know that word. What does it mean?”

She adds, “That’s a very oldfashioned English concept, that you do something and then you retire and mostly it applies to government servants. Fortunately, I am a freelancer; I can just go on and on.”

Surekha made her debut in 1978 with political drama Kissa Kursi Ka, and created a name for herself by working in films, theatre and television.

She is credited for projects like Tamas, Mammo, Sarfarosh, Zubeidaa, Jo Bole So Nihaal and Humko Deewana Kar Gaye.

But of course she is best known as

WHO WORE IT BETTER? KANGANA RANAUT or PIXIE LOTT in NEDRET TACIROGLU? Share your views + with us on our

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Dadisa from Balika Vadhu.

The National Film Award-winning actress says there are interesting roles being written for senior actors these days.

“The whole (scene) has changed.

You could never think of making a full movie with older characters like Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in 102 Not Out. They were the main characters of the film. I think there are far more chances for people like me who belong to a certain category, image wise.”

Here, she praised director Amit Ravindernath for taking an unusual subject with Badhaai Ho a film about a man whose mother becomes pregnant.

“There’s a whole heap of interesting directors and interesting script-writers in present-day Bollywood. They are tackling all kinds of subjects and I think it is a very exciting time for any actor to be in the industry right now,” she added.

After Badhaai Ho, Surekha has several projects lined up.

What’s the chitchat between RANVEER and DEEPIKA here?

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LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST

WINNER

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK Match the following stars to the tweet they made: Twinkle Khanna, Aamir Khan, Deepika, Kajol 1,200 weeks and still running! Thank you all for all the love that you have been showering on ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ for so many years! It was, it is and will always be an incredibly special film for all of us.

We thank you for all the love you have showered upon us over the years and seek your blessings as we embark on this incredible journey of love, loyalty, friendship and togetherness ‘Once we hit forty, women only have about four taste buds left: one for vodka, one for wine, one for cheese, and one for chocolate.’

Here come the Thugs! It’s a big day for all of us. Missing Yash ji. Wish he was here with us. I hope that TOH will make your Diwali a fun and enjoyable ride!

What’s WILL SMITH saying about his fun auto ride here?

Meter se nahi jaayega 150/- lagega station tak!

MUKESH ROHIRA WON win a movie ticket!

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NOVEMBER 2018 29

BACKCHAT

It’s beginning to look a lot like Diwali

Exam time: Desk lamp Diwali

Exams, jacaranda rangolis… and macaroons for mithai: Diwali traditions at MALLIKA MATHUR’s place

I

t’s jacaranda season. The purple flowers are sprouting, and they look just beautiful from afar.

Up close and on the ground, they crumple and crinkle and get stuck on the soles of my shoes, and stress me out somewhat.

Then again, perhaps the stress comes from the fact that exams are looming, at this time of the year. The old wives’ tale at my university is that “if you haven’t begun studying by the time the jacarandas are blooming, you’re in trouble!”

The jacarandas also remind me of another thing: that Diwali is round the corner.

So I celebrate the Festival of Light under my desk lamp bulb.

Because we have a giant jacaranda tree in our backyard, the purple beauty used to feature in our family rangolis a

lot. This rangoli would be made with flowers gathered from the garden (ours, as well as a few that spilled over the fence from the neighbours). It was outlined with leaves from the garden, only the ones that had fallen on the ground, though.

Since the admission of a fourlegged furry family member, we have been unable to do rangoli successfully. The dog sees rangoli as a garden that has been brought in purely for her leisure.

“Beta (my child),” mum says to her, “I love you very much but if you eat and walk through my flower rangoli again I will eat and walk through your bed… how would you like that?”

Even with this floral reminder that Diwali is upon us, my parents will remain acutely unaware of the fact that they

have traditionally forgotten to organise their social plans until the festive day is less than two sleeps away.

“Oh gosh, is it really on Friday? Work has been crazy this week.... Call the Kumars and see if they want to come over.”

“No, they organised their Diwali plans months ago. Let’s see if the Singhs are free.”

“We can’t call them, they are not talking to the Jains.”

“Let’s call the Jains then?”

“The Jains are going to the Kumars’ event.”

When the day does arrive, mum will spend “three hours of the day” cleaning and setting up her makeshift temple on the long telephone table. Our puja (worship) needs to be done at a height, so as to avoid the dog walking all over it.

So this means mum will clear the table of the phones, phone chargers, keys, opal cards, receipts, important mail and all other functional household items, and put them away safely where no one will be able to locate them for two weeks after.

Diwali at my place means we are going to lose our library cards, documents and USBs, which have made way for framed effigies and silver statuettes whose foreheads are defaced by years’ worth of vermillon.

Yet there could be many not-so-traditional twists during Diwali at my place. One year we swapped mithai for western fare.

Ganesh got a bite of chocolate macaroon, Lakshmi enjoyed a bite of raspberry macaroon and Vishnu was lucky enough to score a bite of pistachio and

lemon macaroon.

When we were kids we used to preserve the number candles from our birthday cakes, to light at Diwali as ‘our special candles’.

I think now though, that that was because there could be no other use for a partly used 7 or 8 shaped candle. One year we also got to buy our own novelty candles from the bargain shops: the parents were not impressed when my brother brought out his skull candle and thong candle.

I am looking forward to this year’s Diwali though. It will be the first in many years where I do not have exams to keep me away from the celebrations.

I am almost as excited as the creators of those WhatsApp greeting pictures that will soon cause the world’s internet to come to a standstill.

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Indian Christian Protestant parents, seek a suitable match for their 38-yearold son, software engineer, born and brought up in Australia. Seeking protestant girl between 28-34 years.

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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.

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30 NOVEMBER 2018

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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

NOVEMBER 2018 31

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