2019-02 Sydney (1)

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PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

SOCIAL MEDIA

Neha Malude

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Jyoti Shankar,

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

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

INDIAN LINK MEDIA GROUP

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GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001

Ph: 02 9279-2004

Fax: 02 9279-2005

Email: info@indianlink.com.au

The honour code and beyond

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

An entrepreneur I admire a lot is marketing expert Seth Godin.

In a recent post, Seth wrote about the honour code:

Does introducing an honour code presume that the people involved have honour, or is it designed to create a space where honour can develop?

An honour code: The simple expectation that we trust you, that you call your own fouls, that you act honourably even if you think no one is watching…

As we think about implementing this, we need to decide between, “people are so dishonourable, it makes no sense to trust them” and, “the only way to help people become more honourable is to trust them.”

To trust people, to raise the bar, to insist on people finding their best selves.

Because that’s the best way to make things better.

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry recently

released their findings which indicated their view that there is no honour in financial services. They have tabled 76 recommendations which will challenge key aspects of banking, superannuation and financial advice.

That the industry had failed to selfregulate and had to be dragged kicking and screaming to confront facts, was clear to all.

The inquiry into the misconduct in the financial services also highlighted the exploitation of the vulnerable by those in position of power. Now, it is up to the authorities to implement the recommendations, while being mindful that there are a vast number of professionals who do create value for clients on a professional basis.

But how does this all affect you?

When the spotlight is on financial management, it is also an opportune time to analyse your approach to planning your own finances. It may be worth spending some time to initially educate yourself on the various financial issues which you come across on a regular basis - superannuation, how the tax system works, what is negative gearing, what are the different forms of investments, what are various costs involved in investing etc.

Talk to friends, talk to professionals, form an investment club and discuss Telstra shares over your tandoori chicken (or your samosas) – learn about it all so you are informed enough to take a rational decision. In today’s world of technology and access to information, it’s not really that hard, as long as there is an open mind.

More importantly, ensure that both partners are involved in this education so there is a person to bounce ideas off. Over time, even the younger generation can be involved in these family discussions.

As migrants to a new country, our journey is always going to be precarious as we establish ourselves professionally and personally. The demands on cash flow can be strong as assets need to be created and family responsibilities need to be met. Habits need to be formed to establish strategies enroute to creating wealth for your future.

While the Royal Commission report will spank those who are abusing their power, the ultimate responsibility is upon us ourselves, to ensure that we do not become vulnerable: rather we should aim to become financially literate.

With awareness comes power.

Dipanjali Rao, Hamida Parkar, Mala Mehta, Gaurav Masand, Minal Khona, Nury Vittachi

ingredients in a food processor until smooth. more olive oil/lemon juice if required.

a smooth texture.

dry jar in the refrigerator.

lunch box with cherry tomatoes, carrot, celery sticks, nacho chips or

BUTTER COOKIES

This is a very simple recipe that is made with a mix of five different flours.

Ingredients

200 gm unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 cup castor sugar

1/2 cup + 2tbsp wholewheat flour

CHOC-CHIP COOKIES

melt-in-the-mouth biscuits which make the world go mmmmm! Why feed store-bought cookies when you can bake these easily at home? cookies at home ensures

Grind the flax seeds and keep aside.

Dry roast the oats in a pan for 10 minutes, grind to a fine powder and keep aside.

Beat butter in an electric mixer with castor sugar until it turns pale and creamy. Mix all remaining ingredients and until it comes together as a dough.

Wrap the cookie dough in a cling film and refrigerate for 30 mins.

When the dough is cold, roll it out on a floured surface to about 1cm thick.

Using a round cookie cutter cut as many rounds as you can from the dough and line them onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 160 C, or until the edges start to

www.indianlink.com.au

YOUR SAY

AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

Kiran Jassal wrote: Congratulations Jas, truly deserving of this honour Mythili Iyer wrote: Congratulations Dr. Sundar and wishing you all the best for many more awards in future.

Sadu Nambiar wrote: Pleased to read about the Australia Day Honours to members of our community. Among them is Dr Menon Parameswaran from Shepparton VIC. We were good friends for years when he was a post graduate student at the University of Adelaide and later, but we lost touch with time. I’ll send him a nice letter, perhaps a pleasant surprise for him.

Natasha Jha Bhaskar wrote: Saw your Australia Day Honours issue - thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Great work.

WATER WOES

MADELEINE LOVELLE wrote about India’s new role in building a dam in Afghanistan, and how this may affect India’s relationship with Pakistan.

GregS78 wrote: I am very pleased with India in helping Afghanistan hasten its development. Afghanistan needs irrigation. Industrial hemp could be a great cash crop for Afghanistan. It has many uses from food, fabrics, bioplastics, building materials, fodder for livestock, paper, and biofuels. They can run a green economy, 100% sustainable if they learn to process the materials into end products.

INDIAN LINK ON INSTAGRAM

Our stories on Chef’s Hat winning restaurants Manjit’s @ the Wharf and Urban Tadka were shared by Australia Good Food Guide

SPICE ADVENTURES

We are so proud of Indian Link writer Dhanya Samuel, who for the fourth year in a row, was named Aus Good Food Guide’s Top 10 Bloggers in 2019. Check out her award-winning blog ‘The Spice Adventuress’

Rajni Anand Luthra wrote: Congrats Dhanya, so proud!

Neha Malude wrote: Always love your innovative recipes and the beautiful pictures, Dhanya.

SAY IT AGAIN

It's Australia Day and Republic Day in India. The former celebrates the Brits arriving, the latter, finally getting rid of them.

Dan Snow, host of Britain’s Dan Snow's History Hit, on 26 January

Farm loan waivers in India are bad economics and poor politics

Amitendu Palit, Indian economist, speaking at Australia India Institute

Melbourne

MEAT-LACED CURRENCY

We featured a Hindu group’s protest about animal fat being used to make Australian money

Saurabh Mehta wrote: Have nothing better to do?

Varun Goyal wrote: Why would anyone need beef to make currency notes, seriously?

Kapil Vatsa wrote: And if you purchase beef with it, it would it be a beef-to-beef transaction?

Dipanjali Rao wrote: How about respecting cows and not consuming dairy, dear NRI Hindus?

Anu Krishnan wrote: Dear NRI (Universal Society of Hinduism) Member, let’s start by respecting all animals: say no to leather seats in cars, leather furniture at home, leather clothing, shoes and sundry items, goose feather quilts, unethically sourced soap, and most important, let’s stop feeding cows all types of human food in the interest of improving personal fortune.

Vijay Bongale wrote: Are you for real? Doesn’t humanity come before religious beliefs?

Al Saran wrote: (This is) pure lunacy.

WHERE IN AUSTRALIA

We shared a pic of this unusual natural formation. Readers Yogesh Kasnia, Betty Jager, Amritpal Singh, Saba Nabi and Deepak Vincent correctly identified it as Wave Rock, Western Australia

Words which constantly crop up in Indian newspapers to my constant surprise and delight: rascal, tiff, hitherto, tizzy, jibe, chit…

Stephen Dziedzic,

Foriegn Affairs reporter for the ABC

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat between Narendra Modi and Ranveer Singh here?

Vaarun Malhotra wrote: Ab ki baar fir Modi sarkar.

Jatiner Pal wrote: Aadat se majboor.

Haniyur Sampangiramaiah Subbaramaiah wrote: Two of the most talented actors of the modern era.

Vijesh Khanna wrote: Ab ki baar Modi sarkar? Bhau, tell me something I don’t know.

Samantha Gray wrote: Together we are salt and pepper.

Rahul Bhasin wrote: Hum dono key achche din khatam.

Yagnesh Rajendran wrote: How’s the josh? Bhau….

Ulhas Bhovar wrote: Election nazdee khain, ab to gadhon ko bhi gale lagana padh raha hai.

Kavita PatelH wrote: Namoveer.

Rajesh Kumar wrote: Modiwood.

Sachin Sharma wrote: We give the best bear’ed hugs.

Khyati Raval wrote: Real life Simba with reel life Simba.

Chitra Iyer wrote: Achche din aa gaye.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Alia 71% Tiffany 29%

Why are Indian mums so deeply invested in their children’s education? Because they want their kids to be better than their husbands!

Prof. R Vaidyanathan, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

I have never been out of Australia. We went to India, Italy and Hong Kong. India was amazing. We had an amazing time in that country. We went to Bengaluru and Delhi. It was so beautiful.

Julie Goodwin, Australian celebrity chef

Jennifer Star OAM

Changing lives one child at a time

Two inspirational young women won OAMs this Australia Day for their work in India.

JYOTI SHANKAR reports

Accolades are not new to Jennifer Star. She graduated with First Class Honours from Macquarie University, represented Australia in Judo and achieved a bronze medal in the 2005 Youth Olympics, was named one of Australia’s 100 Brightest Young Minds in 2007 and won the 2012 NSW Young Australian of the Year.

This year she was declared a winner of Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

This last award, bestowed on Australia Day 2019, was given for her contributions to education.

Jennifer’s OAM citation commends her decade and over of work in the education sector supporting teachers to improve the quality of education for children in India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Never would have Jennifer imagined when she travelled to India that one day her life would be so involved with education.

She was studying to become an archaeologist, and though her father was a teacher, she herself was not inclined towards teaching. Until India happened. The reality of life in India changed her world view. Simple resources like classrooms, desks and books, taken for granted by students in Australia, were non-existent. Jennifer was appalled at the difference in the educational facilities but realised the exponential impact a single teacher could make on many lives. She returned home to Australia from her travels and decided to train to be a teacher.

Jennifer started Tara Ed in 2008 to improve the quality of education in India by training teachers. Starting with one school, 12 teachers and 400 children, Tara Ed aimed to improve the prospects of 20,000 children, 200 teachers and 20 schools by 2020. Now ten years on, this innovative organisation has trained over 600 teachers across the three countries of India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and impacted the lives of 18,200 children.And counting.

Jennifer returned to India after training as a teacher and has been living in New Delhi for the past nine years. She is very much at home in India now, comfortably navigating the cultural diversity of the country.

“I think I am more comfortable in India than Australia!” she declares.

While Tara Ed works predominantly in Maharashtra and Karnataka, Jennifer has also worked in schools in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.

“As I am based in Delhi, I speak passable Hindi and have a few words of Marathi,

Training teachers in India Jennifer Star, OAM

Bengali and Kannada,” says Jennifer, at ease in the Indian saree and salwar-kameez attire too.

Though a 100% volunteer-based organisation, Tara Ed has been successful because of the passion of volunteer teachers who have over the years put in over 35,000 hours in training local teachers. Its programs bring Australian teachers and pre-service teachers to India on a four-week immersion program in an Indian school. Jennifer explains that over the four-week period, each Australian teacher is paired with an Indian teacher. They collaborate with each other to complete an action research project.

“The collaborative nature of the program means there is great learning for both the Indian and Australian teacher, and the friendship often continues after the actual

program finishes,” Jennifer observes.

“In fact, the Tara.Ed Teacher Tour program often starts a relationship with India that continues throughout their career. Australian teachers have returned to India to travel or volunteer, they teach their students in Australia about India and generally have become great advocates for India and its people,” she adds.

This mentoring model has worked so well that Tara.Ed has now created an online platform to train, support and empower returned refugees in Afghanistan to provide education for the next generation and help rebuild communities. While Australian teachers cannot physically travel to these conflict zones, they volunteer their time online to mentor an Afghani teacher over a period of 6 months. Jennifer is excited about this newest project empowering teachers in war-torn Afghanistan to implement microteaching innovations in the classroom. “So far we have trained 46 teachers, who have gone on to teach 5650 students in Afghanistan who otherwise wouldn't have access to education,” she says with justifiable pride.

Teaching is now the subject of Jennifer’s

PhD, investigating how teacher training and professional learning programs can be improved to develop high quality teachers that can cater to diverse classrooms. “Much of what I learn through my research is channelled back into Tara Ed's teacher training programs to ensure that everything we do is evidence based, best practice,” she says.

Jennifer Star is an inspiration to all around her. Doing good for others on one’s chosen scale, whether it is for one person or for many people thousands of miles away, gives one a contentment that only comes with giving. For Jennifer this has become her life’s mission. Shesays, “There are always challenges that come with running a volunteer organisation, but seeing the kids who benefit makes it worth it!”

Besides education, Judo has been a large part of Jennifer’s life. She retired from international competition in 2012 but says “Judo has followed me wherever I go. I always wanted to find a way to give back to the sport and jumped at the opportunity to teach girls in Delhi. It is often the highlight of my week but I am currently on maternity leave and really miss this aspect of my life.”

Ten years on, Jennifer Star’s Tara Ed has trained over 600 teachers across the three countries of India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and impacted the lives of 18,200 children

F"or service to international relations through educational and business initiatives”, reads Hayley Bolding’s citation on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This service is rendered through Atma, an organisation that Hayley founded when she was only 22. Reminiscing on her early days, she says, “I went to India to volunteer and see the world. It was meant to be for 6 months and ended up being 9 years.”

Hayley observed the stark realities of schools in Mumbai trying to proffer an education to vulnerable sections of society with little resources. However, instead of being overwhelmed, Hayley used her anger and anguish to channelise her energies to set about creating Atma, an organisation that supports those who support others, namely the educational institutions working at grassroots, to deliver quality education. She saw an urgent need for capacity building across such organisations and instead of reinventing the wheel she decided to be the oil in the wheel that helps it run smoothly over bumpy paths.

Atma’s programs have since supported thousands of children and young adults through school, health and nutrition programs, night schools and kindergartens and a skills centre in Dharavi, Mumbai’s biggest slum. All this and more has been achieved by partnering with over sixty NGOs who impact the lives of over 16,00,000 children. Over 400 volunteers from more than 25 countries have been a part of the Atma Volunteer Program, helping NGOs and enterprises in Mumbai and Pune to grow and achieve more than they could have by themselves alone.

Hayley understands that systemic challenges that face the educational NGOs cannot be dealt with overnight or single-handedly. She surmised that with proper support, these educators could widen their outreach and their impact.

“After all, they are educators, not strategic planners or fund raisers,” says Hayley.

She describes Atma as an “education accelerator”; hastening and multiplying the impacts that educators alone could possibly have on those who need them most.

“I was so humbled by the people who work so tirelessly on the ground, and these were

Helping Indian NGOs to grow Hayley Bolding, OAM

usually women,” says Hayley, recollecting the genesis of Atma.

The mission of accelerating the goals of Atma itself meant that Hayley has to often travel back and forth between India and Australia. Over the past 12 years, Atma has grown manifold. Besides a physical presence in Mumbai and Pune, it has now expanded to reach across multiple states within India, and across countries, with its online open source resources and virtual support offering.

“The more we help others, the more we know how to help better,” says Hayley happily.

How does the Atma model actually work? Atma helps organisations evaluate where they are at and make a plan moving forward. This evaluation model covers areas relating to the organisation’s governance, how they

communicate their work externally, and a range of other key factors that could take them to the next level of service.

“The difference is Atma’s hands-on relationship with organisations and this could be from a minimum of one year to up to three years,” explains Hayley. “We want to help organisations grow at a pace they want to but we want to also push them towards excellence, to reach out and do more”.

A team of professionals now run the organisation in India. “My work is now leading Atma Australia. I work to raise awareness and to raise funds to support Atma’s work in India,” says Hayley who balances this with her job as Executive Director Programs for Practera, delivering experiential learning programs.

A recent grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to run a pilot for employability skills technology in India means another opportunity to visit India. Hayley looks forward to such opportunities to engage with and visit India.

“My involvement with the Australia India Youth Dialogue since many years helps me connect to India even back here in Australia,” says Hayley, whose second home is now India.

When asked if she has ever felt overwhelmed by the scale of issues or doubted the extent of impact Atma could make, Hayley admits, “It can feel like that often in India.”

Without romanticising her ideas or glorifying her contribution, she conveys the extent of Atma’s impact over the years with a passion, “Atma may be a drop in the ocean but it is a good drop. By not worrying about failure but making sure things that you do are of a high quality and standard, I believe we can cause a ripple. We had no idea how big Atma would grow but it is the proof that if you start small, it will grow as long the intention is genuine and authentic at the core, and you surround yourself with people who have high standards.”

Hayley says that Atma’s phenomenal growth

from small beginnings has been organic. It is her passion for her beliefs that has created ripple effects and has brought people to work with Atma tirelessly to achieve their goals. However, there is no resting on laurels for this young lady. Humbled by the acknowledgement of her work through the OAM, she is also starkly aware of the unfinished work ahead. “There is always more to do,” says Hayley ready to take on more challenges.

Atma’s programs have supported thousands of children and young adults through school, health and nutrition programs, night schools and kindergartens and a skills centre in Dharavi, Mumbai’s biggest slum.

Why the beef with just beef?

Why don’t the ‘Hindus’ protest against the atrocities of the dairy industry?

BY DIPANJALI RAO

ANevada based organisation called ‘Universal Society of Hinduism’ has urged the Reserve Bank of Australia to produce ‘beef free’ currency notes. The $20 and $100 notes to be released contain traces of cow fat as an anti-static agent. A letter to the RBA by the founder of the organisation, Rajan Zed, urges the RBA to “show respect to the feelings of Hindus”. Of cows, it states, “Cow, the seat of many deities, is sacred and has long been venerated in Hinduism”. Curious.

This long-venerated beast apparently is only deserving of the respect of Hindus when it comes to the consumption of its flesh after slaughter. Milk, on the other hand, that magical, liquid white gold provided so magnanimously by the female bovineis celebrated by Hindus. Hindu ceremonies usually feature the munificent gifts of the ‘Gaumata’ - milk and yoghurt - consumed with ghee, err, glee. And ignorance, wilful or otherwise. As is the case with the Universal Society of Hinduism’s beef with beef.

If one really believes the cow is sacredand many Hindus do - one simply cannot ignore the dairy industry. Contrary to

popular belief, cows don’t just produce milk on tap (true story). They are impregnated, and because they’re mammals, like us, they have to give birth to produce milk.

Female calves born go on to be constantly impregnated like their mothers. As for male calves, they’re killed. The Australian dairy industry kills about 400,000 male calves a year. They’re trucked off to slaughter when they’re a tender five days old. It is legal to deprive them of food for up to 30 hours before slaughter. And they’re mammals, so the bond between mother and calf is strong. Cows and calves call out for each other for hours after separation. Digest that.

One cannot talk of sacred cows without acknowledging cow politics and ‘protection’ in India. Says Yamini Narayanan, Senior Lecturer in International Development at Deakin University, “Beef is politicised excessively - and wholly incorrectly - by Hindu nationalists to implicitly frame Muslims/ Christians as sole slaughterers of cows. By focussing on beef-beef-beef, milk conveniently gets depoliticised, or even celebrated as a sacred Hindu product, obscuring the role of milk - and Hindus - in cow slaughter.” While

India may pretend that it doesn’t slaughter dairy cows, Australia (and the USA, where the Universal Society of Hinduism is based) does. In nature, a cow’s lifespan is 20 to 30 years. In the dairy industry, cows are slaughtered between the ages of 4 and 5, when their milk dries up. Drink up! Besides, this obscure organisation that claims to represent Hindus ignores the diversity in Hinduism, as other Hindu groups in Australia do. “They are peddling the idea that this is ‘Hinduism’ when it’s actually Brahminism,” says Sangeetha Thanapal, artist, activist and writer who works on the intersection of race, gender and the body in Asia and Australia. “They do not speak for many lower caste Hindus for whom meat is quite normalised.”

On the aversion to meat, she explains, “Vegetarianism is historically very upper caste, and has filtered down the castes. It’s why being vegetarian is seen as a sign of caste and class. It is connected to notions of purity, with the lower castes being seen as ‘impure’ as their bodies are polluted with meat.” Chew on that.

The protest letter itself gets curiouser

and curiouser. It also accuses the RBA of not doing enough research to understand their consumer base: “Most of the large companies world over did extensive consumer research before launching a new product” (sic). Ah, the irony. If only Mr. Zed and the Society took their own advice and did a bit of research into the state of dairy cows, they might have written to a completely different organisation. Espoused veganism even, perhaps. Which would fit in very nicely with the Society’s mission of ‘empowering people to make positive social…and environmental changes”. Ironic, considering their letter advises the RBA, in a snarky tone, to “re-read and follow its own professed ‘values’”. (quotes theirs, not mine). Good advice.

The cruelty of the dairy industry aside, dairy has a huge role to play in our emissions: it accounts for nearly 12% of Australia’s emissions. Bottom line? “Take a more holistic approach,” says Sukhmani Khorana, author and Senior Lecturer at the University of Woollongong. “We should move towards a plant-based society for ethical and environmental reasons.”

Whatever your position is on cows or animal rights, looking at it purely through a religious or cultural lens is shortsighted. With the planet in crisis, it is our responsibility to question our habits and patterns of consumption and understand our impact on other creatures and the environment. After all, it’s our entire world at steak, err, stake.

Whatever your position is on cows or animal rights, looking at it purely through a religious or cultural lens is short-sighted

WHAT’S ON

HOLI

Faag Sammelan

Sat 16 March (7.00pm) Shree

Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Australia invites you to Faag

Sammelan 2019 to celebrate Holi. At Natraj Art and Music Centre, 10/71 Kurragong Ave, Mount Druitt 2770. Details 0433 242 077. Festival of Colours

Sun 17 Mar (10.00am)

Celebrate Holi with your loved ones at Parramasala 2019. At Parramatta River, Parramatta. Details 0426 155 227.

STAGE

Short + Sweet

Thur 7 Feb onwards The annual ten-minute theatre festival this year includes Story Teller by Jean Blasier (US) featuring Indian Australian director Upasna Ved and actors Brij

Parsahar and Urvi Sharma. Venue: Surry Hills’ Tom Mann Auditorium. Detailswww.shortandsweet.org/sydney

2 to Tango 3 to Jive

Sat 16 Feb (6.00pm) Noted

Bollywood artist Saurabh Shukla presents a Hinglish play starring Shukla with Bollywood actors

Achint Kaur, Sadiya Siddiqui and Preeti Mamgain. At Sir John Clancy Auditorium, 9 High St, Kensington. Details 02 9385 1515.

Sri Purandara Dasa Aradhana

Sun 17 Feb (9.15am - 2.00pm)

A program Sri Purandara Dasa Aradhana, that includes arathi andprasadam along with a prayer meet. At Ermington Community Hall, 8 River Road, Ermington. Details 0426 866 135.

Stand-up comedy: Alex in Wonderland

Sat 23 Feb (6.30pm) Evam and Natya Entertainment present Alexander Babu's hilarious stand-up comedy solo show.

Venue: NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills. Details www.ticketebo.com.au

The Foreign Star of Bengal 23-24 Feb Bollywood Central presents the production The Foreign Star of Bengal - The Musical,a stage musical inspired by a true love story set in Calcutta during the 1960s. Venue: Bryan Brown Theatre Bankstown. Details 0433 861 703.

COMMUNITY

Chinmaya Health Challenge: No Shoes Walk

Sun Feb 17 (9.30am - 12.30pm)

Join Swamiji and the Chinmaya family in the health challenge “No Shoes Walk”, to uplift ourselves, challenge, inspire and bring us together while raising funds for those who don’t share our privileges. At Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill. Details 02 8850 7400.

Bangla Art Exhibition

Sat 9 Feb (6.00pm - 8.00pm)

Performing Arts-Bangla Art Exhibition. Music, dance, poetry recitation and more. At Bankstown Art Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown. Details 02 9707 5400. Stay Well, Live Well

Sat 23 Feb (12.30pm - 4.30pm)

AASHA Foundation presents Stay Well, Live Well for seniors and their families. Free BP checks as well as yoga, music, dance and health talks. At Wentworthville Community Centre, Grevillea Hall, 2 Main St, Wentworthville. Details 0410 455 972.

MISC

Sydney Design Festival

Sat 2 Mar (11.00am - 2.00pm)

Join Anamika, Smitha and Shubhangi from Didi's Tribe to learn about some of India's different traditional designs and paint your own personalised calico bag. At 8 Victoria Rd, Parramatta. Details 02 9897 5744.

National Dowry Abuse Summit

Fri 22 Feb (9.30am - 4.30pm) The 2nd National Dowry Abuse Summit will be held in Sydney at University of NSW, co-hosted by a number of organizations such as NSW Department of Health, AWAVA, White Ribbon Australia. Details email pallavisinha1@hotmail.com

SPIRITUAL

Chinmaya Health Challenge:

Sundays 5:30pm to 7:30pm followed by community meals. Venue: Sant Nirankari Bhawan, 166 Glendenning Road, Glendenning. Details Devinder 0403 216 084. Free Yoga with Divine Life Society

Tuesdays 7pm Swami

Uditramanandaji of The Divine Life Society of Australia offers free Yoga classes every Tuesday from 7.00pm8.15pm at Strathfield Girls High School. All levels of fitness welcomed. Entrance via Oxford Rd. Details Karo 0413 535 157.

Lunch-time Meditation session

Thu 14 Feb (12.15pm - 1.00pm)

Brahma Kumaris Australia invites you to sit back, relax and be guided through a mind-body relaxation. At Indian Cultural Centre, Level 2 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney.

Saraswati Puja

Sun 10 Feb (9.00am - 9.30am)

Australian Bengali Hindu Association

– ABHA invites you to Saraswati Puja 2019. At Granville Town Hall, 10 Carlton St, Granville. Details 0418 413 740.

Saraswati Puja and Vasant Panchami

Sun 10 Feb (11.00am - 2.00pm)

Celebrate Saraswati Puja and Vasant Panchami at Sydney Kali Temple, 97 Asquith St, Silverwater.

Details 02 9836 4097. Saraswati Puja

Sun 10 Feb (10.00am - 10.00pm)

Celebrate the religious festival of Saraswati Puja 2019. At Glenfield Community Hall, Glenfield. Details 02 4645 4000.

BSPC Saraswati Puja 2019

Sun 10 Feb (9.00am - 9.00pm)

Celebrate the auspicious day of Saraswati Puja at Ermington Community Centre, 8 River Road, Ermington. Details prs_bspc@yahoo.com.au

FUNDRAISER

Bhartiye Mandir Sydney

Fundraiser

Sat 9 Feb (7.00pm) A fundraiser to rebuild the temple following vandalism. At 42 Kibo Rd, Regents Park. Details 0419 693 419.

Harman Foundation fundraiser

Sat 9 Feb (6.00pm)

Third Annual Fundraising Dinner with a night of fun, food, family and dance to raise funds for Harman Foundation. At Bowman Hall, Blacktown. Details 1800 116 675. Celebrate Rotary

Sat 2 March (6.30pm - 10.30pm)

Celebrate Rotary - Be The Inspiration to Light Up Lives through Rotary Global Grant projects to enhance living conditions of the people in the target communities in India and Sri Lanka. At Don Moore Community Centre, Cnr Farnell Ave and North Rocks Road, North Rocks. Details 0419 980 529.

Yaadon ki baraat

Sat 16 March (5.30pm)

A fundraising event for AASHA that will regale you with a team of singers and a retro Bollywood night. At Redgum Function Centre, Cnr Lane and Dunmore Street, Wentworthville. Details 0430 026 484.

ENTERTAINMENT

Film show:

Manjhi - The Mountain Man

Fri 8 Feb (2.30pm - 5.00pm)

Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Consulate General of India, Sydney cordially invites you for Bollywood afternoon film show Manjhi - The Mountain Man Level 2, Consulate General of India, 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney, 2000.

Entry to this event is free. Please RSVP to: icc2.sydney@mea.gov.in

Dard-e-disco

Sat 9 Feb (6.00pm - 12.00pm)

Enjoy performances by Mueen, Avikalp and Sunanda at this music festival. At Roma Function Centre, 167A Northumberland St, Liverpool. Details 0435 511 779.

Srijani Live In Concert Sydney

Sat 9 Feb (6.30pm) Taal se Taal

Mila 3:Srijani performs live in Sydney. At Pacific Christian School Auditorium, 9 Quarry Rd Dural.

Details 0401 230 046.

GuptaJi Live

Sat 9 Feb (6.00pm - 10.00pm)

GuptaJi Live in Sydney - Valentine's Special Comedy & DJ Night. At Don Moore Community centre, Carlingford. Details 0422 441 109.

Bollywood Valentine Night

Thu 14 Feb (10.00pm - 2.00am)

Non-stop music with live DJs DJ Ash and DJ Brix, drinks, dancing and more. At Blackbird Cafe – Cockle Bay Wharf, Balcony Level, Cockle Bay Wharf/ Harbour St. Details 0470 315 203.

Pehla Nasha

Fri 15 Feb (9.00pm onwards)

Celebrate Valentine's Day with your loved one. At Ivy Lounge, Level 2, ivy, 320 George Street, Sydney. Details 02 9240 3000.

Masquerade Love night

Sat 16 Feb (7.00pm onwards)

Choose your most exquisite masks, dress in your finest and dance the night away with your loved one. At The Godfather function centre, Harris Park Parramatta. Details 0423 588 428.

Valentine’s Masquerade Ball

Sat 16 Feb (7.00pm onwards)

Valentines Masquerade Ball & Live Concert at Blacktown Workers Club, 55 Campbell St, Blacktown. Details 0433 676 422.

Sahir Kee Yaden

Fri 22 Feb (7.00pm - 11.00pm)

A musical journey of Sahir Ludhianvi. Singers Lalit Bunty Bhatia and Shobha Ingleshwar. At Parra Villa Function Lounge, 42 Campbell St, Parramatta. Details 0412 071 277.

Divya Dutta - Me & Ma

Sat 23 Feb (7.00pm onwards) Divya

Dutta in Sydney to launch her new book, Me & Ma. Venue to be announced. Details 0411 314 356.

Bollywood Ka Hungama

Sat 23 Feb (7.00pm - 9.30pm)

Aman Pal with his team are all set to take the audience on a journey reminiscing the past era of legends of Bollywood - Kishore, Lata, Mukesh, Rafi, Asha Bhosle's evergreen songs. At Natraj Art and Music Centre 10/71

Kurragong Ave, Mount Druitt. Details 0433 242 077.

Sridevi: A tribute

Sun 24 Feb (2.00pm onwards)

Adrian’s Orchestra presents Sridevi Tribute ‘Remembering Roop Ki Rani’, live concert, one show only. At Bowman Hall, 35 Campbell Street, Blacktown. Details 0452 398 299.

Kool Jodis

Sat 30 March (2.00pm - 9.00pm)

Kool Jodis - Game Show with live music concert with Anand Aravindakshan and Pragathi Guruprasad. At Sydney Sri Durga Devi Devasthanam, 21 Rose Crescent, Regents Park. Details 02 9644 6682.

Is India ready to grill Twitter and send a strong message before elections?

After US President Donald Trump slammed Twitter for "shadow banning" Republicans last year - which the micro-blogging platform said happened owing to "technical glitch"-the company is now in the thick of a similar controversy in India.

Twitter will face a 31-member Parliamentary panel on 11 Feb which will be the first-ever hearing of a global tech giant in the country.

The allegation is that Twitter has bias against "rightwing" accounts as general elections loom - serious enough for the government to call Twitter for a hearing before a House panel.

This is in line with what we have seen with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai testifying and being grilled last year by lawmakers in the US and in the European Union (EU) over data privacy, political interference and fake news.

The big question is: Who will represent Twitter in the India hearing on 11 Feb at 3 p.m. in Parliament Complex?

The company currently has an interim head in Balaji Krish who is Twitter's global head of revenue strategy and operations after Country Head Taranjit Singh quit in September.

Mahima Kaul, who is Head of Public Policy and Government, is very active when it comes to fire-fighting.

Vijaya Gadde, Legal, Policy and Trust and Safety Lead at Twitter, who accompanied CEO Jack Dorsey to India in November last year, had to apologise on the "Smash Brahmanical Patriarchy" poster row.

The Parliament's Standing Committee on Information Technology, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur, is tasked with examining several aspects related to data security and privacy.

The house panel has 21 members from Lok Sabha that include Hema Malini, Prasun Banerjee, L.K. Advani, Raosaheb Patil Danve and others and 10 members from Rajya Sabha that includes Raj Babbar, Beni Prasad Verma and Subhash Chandra.

The tech giants are in a huddle over the abuse of their platform, especially when the elections are inching close.

Twitter told IANS that it is in touch with the Indian government on the issue.

"Discussions with the government on

this issue are currently on and nothing further can be commented at the moment till further clarity," said a Twitter India spokesperson.

The House panel has summoned Twitter India along with representatives from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) for the meeting to examine the issue of "safeguarding citizens rights on social media/online news platforms".

The Indian government has also formulated new IT guidelines where social media platforms have to remove within 24 hours any unlawful content that can affect the "sovereignty and integrity of India"which has not gone down well with them.

The message from the Twitter hearing will decide how Facebook and Google will later fall in line, at a time when governments the world over are gathering courage to protect the sovereignty and integrity of their citizens on social media platforms.

Indian communication satellite GSAT-31 launched successfully

India's 40th communication satellite GSAT31 was successfully put into orbit by an Ariane 5 rocket belonging to Arianespace early on 6 Feb, Indian space agency ISRO and Arianespace have reported.

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the telecommunication satellite, GSAT-31 was successfully launched from Kourou launch base, French Guiana.

The 2,535-kg GSAT-31 will replace the InSAT satellite which is nearing the end of its life.

According to ISRO, GSAT-31, with a mission life of 15 years, will be used for supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering, cellular back haul connectivity and more.

SAT-31 will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) for ATM, Stock-exchange, Stock-exchange, Digital Satellite News Gathering and e-governance applications. The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications.

Fake university students knew they were committing visa 'crime': US

The US has accused the students arrested in connection with a fake university visa

scam of being "aware they were committing a crime" for visas when they enrolled at the institution while lawyers for those charged accused the government of tricking them.

The State Department said in a statement: "All participants in this scheme knew that the University of Farmington had no instructors or classes (neither online nor in-person) and were aware they were committing a crime in an attempt to fraudulently remain in the US."

The US reaction came after India's External Affairs Ministry issued a demarche to the US embassy in New Delhi asserting that the students "have been duped into enrolling in the 'university' (and) should be treated differently from those recruiters who have duped them".

Lawyers for the accused recruiters in the scam accused the government of tricking the students into enrolling at the University of Farmington, a fake institution set up by US law enforcement officials in a sting operation to crackdown on visa fraud, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Last week, US immigration officials arrested 129 Indian students and eight alleged recruiters involved with the university.

John Brusstar, a lawyer for one of the accused recruiters, criticized the sting operation saying "it is unfair for the government to set up something like this to entrap people", the Free Press reported.

The students face only civil immigration charges while the eight alleged recruiters have been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit and face maximum sentences of five years.

Some of the arrested students have been released from custody on condition that they wear ankle monitors that would allow authorities to monitor their movements electronically.

Release with electronic monitors is considered preferable to being detained with those accused of major crimes while awaiting trial or disposition of cases.

One of the arrested students is a Palestinian, according to the newspaper.

About 600 students who joined the fake university may be at risk of legal action.

Five of the alleged recruiters were produced wearing shackles in a federal court in Detroit and denied they were guilty, according to the Free Press

The lawyers for four of them agreed to their being held in jail because they face

A street-side vendor uses a solar energy motored fan to grill sweet corn near Vidhana Soudha, State Legislature of Karnataka, Bangalore, India, 6 Feb 2019. Photo: AP

detention by immigration authorities as they are undocumented, the newspaper said.

But Phanideep Karnati, who is represented by Brusstar and is on a work visa, was ordered released on a $10,000 unsecured bond by Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen, according to the Free Press

Another accused, Prem Rampeesa, has requested an interpreter and is to be produced in court later, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper quoted prosecutors as saying that the students enrolled at the fake university in order to get jobs under a student visa programme called Curricular Practical Training (CPT) that would allow them to work.

But lawyers for the accused countered saying that such programmes are legitimate and that the government had tricked them into joining the University of Farmington.

Many of the students had come to the US on legitimate student visas and studied at other universities but were trying to extend their stay through CPT visas by transferring to Farmington.

Although the arrests came during a period of heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, the fake university was set up in 2015 by Democratic President Barack Obama's administration.

The so-called university offered student visas without requiring them to attend classes, enabling them to work illegally.

This is at least the second fake university run by government agencies.

Obama administration officials set up University of North Jersey and ensnared over 1,000 students, most of them from India and China.

Twenty-one people who acted as student visa brokers were arrested in the crackdown in 2016.

US law enforcement frequently uses elaborate sting operations by undercover agents to deter crimes of all types.

Swedish PMO has a Maharashtra connection: NilaVikhe-Patil

A Marathi-origin 'mulgi' (girl) has been re-appointed as an Advisor in the Sweden Prime Minister's Office in-charge of the crucial departments of Finance, Housing and Financial Markets.

Nila A. Vikhe-Patil, 32, will be working with the new Swedish Prime Minister, K. Stefan Lofven of the Social Democrat

Foreign pilgrims perform a ritual at the Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India, 5 Feb, 2019. The Kumbh Mela is a series of ritual baths at the Ganges that dates back to at least medieval times. Photo: AP

and Green Party coalition government that assumed office on 18 Jan. She is the granddaughter of late Union Minister BalasahebVikhe-Patil, who served under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Her father, Dr Ashok Vikhe-Patil said that housing and finance are crucial portfolios and she would be in-charge of the country's central budget and taxes.

A member of the Green Party, Nila is also an elected member of the Stockholm Municipal Corporation's City Council.

"In the previous government, Nila handled departments like small and medium industries, social development, gender policy and the central budget for three years," her proud father told IANS on Nila's unique distinction.

Born in Sweden, Nila was educated mostly in Europe, and holds a management degree from Gothenburg School of Business, and studied economics and law and also acquired a MBA from Madrid's University de Complutense, he said.

Joining active politics from a young age, she has been associated with Swedish Young Greens, Green Party Gothenburg, Green Students of Sweden and on top executive positions of the Green Party, now part of the country's ruling coalition, Vikhe-Patil added.

However, Nila has not severed links with the country of her origin and comes visiting often, the last trip being in June 2018.

The niece of Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition RadhakrishnaVikhe-Patil, Nila's great-grandfather made history by setting up Asia's first cooperative sugar factory in Ahmednagar.

Hunt begins for Lokpal finally

A sitting or retired Chief Justice of India, any serving or retired justice of the Supreme Court or any person of impeccable integrity with at least 25 years of experience in issues relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance and law and management, will be eligible to become Chairman, Lokpal.

As the hunt has finally begun for the job of ombudsman after much delay just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the eligibility criteria has been put out by a search committee for Lokpal headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.

For the judicial member of the Lokpal, the applicant can either be a present or former justice of the Supreme Court or current or past Chief Justice of any High Court.

The non-judicial member could be anyone with 25 years of experience in anticorruption related fields.

The eligibility has been fixed as per the Lokpal Act. The applicant for the Chairperson cannot be an elected representative or anyone carrying any business or practising any profession. The candidate should also not be holding any office of trust or profit.

The tenure for Chairman will be five years and the salary will be equivalent to that of the Chief Justice of India.

After becoming Chairperson, no further employment will be allowed as a diplomat. The incumbent will not be allowed to hold any office of profit of the government.

The Chairperson will also be barred from contesting elections to Parliament or state Assemblies for five years after relinquishing the post. The minimum age criteria is 45 years.

The advertisement for Lokpal was issued after anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare had threatened to launch another round of agitation protesting against the delay. He was persuaded to call off the stir on the promise thatLokpal would be formed soon.

The applications have been invited just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections amidst much criticism.

Trump nominee Rao faces scrutiny over past writing about rape

The judicial wars returned to Washington as the Senate Judiciary Committee met to consider Neomi Rao, President Donald Trump's nominee for newest Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's now-vacant seat on a powerful appellate court in Washington.

Indian-American woman Rao, who serves as Trump's "czar" overseeing regulatory rollbacks, faced fierce questioning from Democrats not just for her work in the Trump administration but for commentary she wrote decades ago as a Yale University student suggesting women should change their behaviour to avoid date rape.

As most every Democratic senator on the dais mentioned her early writings, Rao stressed that they occurred nearly "two decades" ago at a "time of exploration" in

college.

In one piece for the Yale Herald written in 1994 titled "Shades of Gray," Rao responded to an alleged date rape incident on campus by writing: "It has always seemed self-evident to me that even if I drank a lot, I would still be responsible for my actions."

She added: "A man who rapes a drunk girl should be prosecuted. At the same time, a good way to avoid a potential date rape is to stay reasonably sober."

Rao said that when she was writing about the incident she emphasised that rape is a crime and no one should "blame the victim" but that she had attempted to make a "common-sense observation" that there were some actions a woman could take so it would be less likely she would become a victim. Rao said she hoped she has "matured" as a writer and a person.

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont seized on her comments and said that as a former prosecutor, he had dealt with rape cases. He said he feared her sentiments might lead some women to be too ashamed to report rape.

Rao responded that she had made it "very clear" that "rape is a terrible crime for which men should be held responsible."

"I was trying to make in perhaps not the most elegant way the sort of common-sense observation... It's the advice my mother gave me; it's the advice that I give my children. And I certainly regret any implication of blaming the victim," she said.

Other Republicans leapt to her defence, pointing out that the American Bar Association had given her a rating of "well qualified." The Senate committee is majority Republican.

Financial Chronicle shuts down as DNA bids goodbye to Delhi edition

In a strong signal about the future of print media in the digital era of news, Deccan Chronicle Holdings on 6 Feb decided to shut down the print edition of Financial Chronicle(FC) across five cities and Zee Media Group-owned English daily DNA bid goodbye to its Delhi edition with immediate effect.

Once a busy newsroom, FC was left with

a couple of journalists as salaries dried up.

A former FC journalist told IANS that they had not received salaries for over five months. Deccan Chronicle Holdings has shut down all five FC editions - New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

Zee Media Group-owned English daily DNA also shut down the Delhi edition on 6 Feb and will only retain a bureau in the Capital. The first DNA edition was launched in Mumbai on July 30, 2005.

Mughal Gardens open for public, displays exotic flora

The calming ambience of RashtrapatiBhavan's lush-green Mughal Gardens is all set to welcome the visitors to its 70 varieties of seasonal flowers, including specially imported flowers from the Netherlands and Japan, from 6 Feb to 10 March.

Set against the majestic backdrop of the presidential residence, designed by British architect Edward Lutyens, the 15-acre gardens will open as part of the annual 'Udayanotsav' - a long-standing tradition of the Bhavan.

With this year's colour scheme of the ornamental flowers being white, yellow, red and orange, the President's Garden is blooming with 2019's special attractions: 10,000 tulips in vivid colours, seeds of which were obtained from the Netherlands, and Matthiolaincana, a Japan-imported flower which blossoms into a beautiful white.

During a walk-through of the open space, P.N. Joshi, the garden's Superintendent for 30 years when R. Venkatraman was President, pointed to Rudraksha trees that were introduced by President Ram Nath Kovind.

"The Bhawan is constructed out of red stone, so we choose majority of whites and yellows to make the flower show stand out," Joshi, who has been responsible for designing and preparing the entire garden told IANS, adding that the garden has slowly moved on from planting just local flowers to more exotic varieties.

Usually hailed as a perfect day-out destination for visitors, especially children and nature lovers, the Mughal Gardens have around 137 varieties of roses on display, along with small patches of the Pasadena, Pansy, China Man, Marigold, Antigun, Pink Parfait, Dahlia, Zambra, and Laptosinia flower varieties, and creepers.

Floral carpets designed by over 40 gardeners will be on view.

Apart from the flower gardens, a spiritual garden showcasing plants significant to all religions, a herbal garden with patches of Brahmi, Giloy and Ashwagandha plants among others, a Bonsai garden and a musical garden will be open to public.

A beautified cactus corner with interesting varieties of cactus and succulents has been landscaped, along with showcasing of air purifying plants, and organic fresh vegetables and fruits grown in-house.

A ready relief from Delhi's choking pollution, the botanical treat will also be accessible to wheelchair-users. A tactile garden for visually impaired will be open on 11 March. According to the RashtrapatiBhavan's representatives, over half a million (5.54 lakh) visitors enjoyed the garden visits over a month-long opening in February and March last year.

IANS

I’m a now

JASMIN DAVE

Quakers Hill East Public School, Quakers Hill NSW

“I’m going to make new friends”

ATHARV SINGH

Kororoit Creek Primary School, Caroline Springs VIC

"I love it here Mumma, I don’t want to go home"

ZOE MULLINS

Warrawee Public School, Warrawee NSW “Mummy, when it’s weekend, am I done with big school?”

AUM

SOLANKI

Seven Hill West Public School, Seven Hills NSW

“My brother and I will go to school together.”

SHANAYA SARDANA

St. Joseph’s Primary School,

AARYAN POULOS

Lady of the Rosary School, Kensington NSW

“I’m going to my sister Kristelle’s school.”

PRIYAL TONGIA

School, Parramatta NSW

Sings a song from Playgroup: "Look at me, I am going to school soon!"

Glenelg SA

“I loooove school, I like colouring, my friends and Miss Mason”

SARADHA ASHOKKUMAR

Whitefriars Primary School, Woodville Park SA

“There are two play kitchens in my classroom.”

North Balwyn Primary School, Balwyn North VIC “My veerji (brother) is in the same school.”

HRIDHAAN PRATAP

Harvest Home Primary School, Epping VIC “I’ll see my brother at break time”

Quakers Hill Public School, Quakers Hill NSW “I’ll eat all my lunch, Mummy.”

HELI BHATT

Harrisdale Primary School, Harrisdale WA “Mummy picks me up and my

The Pines Primary School, Parafield Gardens SA “I have my own desk with drawer.”

Sanctuary Lakes VIC

helped my mum pack my lunch box.”

NAVNEET KAUR

Parklea Public School, Glenwood NSW “I love Parklea Public School.”

PRABHNOOR SINGH

Parklea Public School, Glenwood NSW “I like playing on the swing.”

Lucas Heights Community School, Barden Ridge NSW “I’m a big boy like my brother.”

ANAHAT MARHALA

SAANVI SHARMA

AARYA DALWADI

Westbourne Grammar,

“I

PESAL CHIDANAND

Thinking about

AGED CARE

How community seniors are accessing My Aged Care

BY HAMIDA PARKAR

If you and your children or your parents haven’t yet broached the conversation about aged care, this is a good time to start. It will help your family be prepared with information to take the decision well in time and stay in control of the future.

To address the needs of a growing older population in Australia, our government has been administering changes to the aged care system since 2012. While the aim is to offermore choice, control and easier access to a wide range of aged care services, the reality is that it has added additional layers which could be a challenge to navigate through.

My Aged Care, launched on July 1 2013, aimed to provide ageing and aged care information to older people, their families, and carers, as well as assess their needs, and support them to find and access services. The Home Care Packages Program also went through a major reform on July 1, 2015 and was mandated to deliver on a consumer directed care (CDC) basis. It gives a consumer the choice of deciding their access totypes of care and services, the how and when of delivery, service provider, as well the use and control of their care funds.The first stage of the Increasing Choice in Home Care measure was implemented on 27 February, 2017.

The first step is to apply for an assessment via My Aged Care and figure out your own care needs and home care package. Care needs vary between basic, low-level, intermediate and high-level. Services may include personal; nutrition, hydration, meal preparation and diet; continence management; mobility and dexterity; nursing, allied health and other clinical services; transport and personal assistance; and management of skin integrity. Depending on the level of support required, either the Regional Assessment Service or the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will contact you.

If this seems like too much information, you could start here or simply call 1800 200 422. To register the first time, Medicare card is needed.

We spoke to four individuals who have started their applications journey for home care packages.

Like many other seniors, my husband and I wish to live in our own home for as long as possible. We’ve been receiving Domestic Assistance from CHSP since 2016 and have used Community Transport occasionally. With the introduction of the home care packages from My Aged Care, our hope of not wanting to move into a facility appears more achievable.

As we are getting older, our capacity to manage our home without external help is becoming more and more difficult. We need help with basic maintenance, lawn mowing and gardening. When I rang our contact person at Regional Assessment Service in August 2018 and communicated our needs, he was very helpful and referred us to My Aged Care.

I was told that once the referral

is sent, the matter goes to different department in My Aged Care: my application will bein queue and I have to wait for my turn. I was pleasantly surprised to receive the phone call earlier than expected, and have our assessment organised with ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) in Dec 2018. Our assessor got a thorough idea of our needs in a detailed 3-hour meeting. Withour limited capacity as a result of various health problems my husband and I were having, the assessor listed our needs for home assistance and explained exactly what she was going to ask for in our home care package application. She left us handouts to read, only after explaining what they were about.

We received a reply within the week despite the festive season. My husband was already referred to the local provider for restorative care. The service provider called us within a day, and

provided details of the next step of the whole process. We were told someone will get in touch with us in the 3rd week of January – we are still waiting.

Meanwhile, we are organising the assessment for co-payment from Centrelink and reading about various providers. With so many providers in the market, it is quite daunting. We will need to do our homework before we sign up with one.

So far, our experience has been good. We understand that the government is really trying hard to put a system in place and readyingto face the problem of an ageing population. It is going to be a steep learning curve for providers and users. It is time-consuming but they are being transparent at each step, I am sure it will fall into place.

My advice to the seniors is to be proactive. Start the process well in advance. There will be many in queue, so the time factor is going to be crucial.

Hardika Hirani

Hardika Hirani with RAIN President Adarsh Sachdev

Iam 87 years old. I was leading a comfortable life at home when misfortune hit me one morning, just before Christmas. As I was picking flowers from my garden for my morning prayers, my saree got caught in between two bricks and I fell hard on the grass patch.

I didn’t feel any pain so I ignored the bruises on my knees and subsequently carried on with my chores at home. A week later, I slipped in the bathroom while stepping out of the shower, fell on my back, and hit my skull. I wasn’t able to get up and didn’t know what to do and so I crawled towards my bedroom. With great effort, I picked myself up with the support of the bed. There was some pain, and a bump appeared at the back of my head.

My daughter took me to the GP. He tested me, advising that if I experience more pain, vomiting or headache, I should go for a scan.

I was taken for a scan after 3 days as the headache persisted. I had internal bleeding, they called for an ambulance and I was admitted to the hospital. They also detected a fibula fracture from my previous fall. I was discharged after four days and advised four weeks rest,

repeat the scan and then consult the neurosurgeon.

Since all members of my family are working, I asked my GP to refer me to a home care package. Being a member of social support group RAIN made me happy: I was able to meet my peers, and participate in interesting sessions and activities.

I also got referred to another CHSP service provider for getting domestic assistance services, which I was not happy with as they senda new person every time. I wasn’t comfortable with strangers in my home, and some did not know how to clean! One left puddles of water while mopping, which I had to dry with a towel after she left. Finally I refused cleaners.

After two falls, I feel the need for services, so I have askedfor the home care package so I have more options, including personal care. I have been assessed by Regional Assessment services, but my assessment with the ACAT team is yet to happen. It’s been two months now. Given my age, deteriorating health, and the falls, I don’t know how long I can wait.

I believe as a pensioner, being frail and old, I am eligible for such services. I pray that I get the support urgently and hope I won’t have to wait too long.

Nirmal Kapila

We all want to live a better life. But as we get older, it becomes harder to manage everything alone. The family is busy though they try to help. Some parents find it hard to trouble their children, as they have their own family to look after.

In that sense, the Government’s idea of funded ‘home care package’ within the comfort of our own home sounds great. One just has to register for this wonderful new idea. Children were happy with home care for parents, as they would be free to look after their own family, almost like good riddance, bad rubbish. Their parents will have

good care and children are free from financial burden. So children started registering their parents. They are now relaxed and happy that their parents will be taken care of by professional carers.

Excellent. So far. But hang on! Is it really that good? We have seen some televised examples of shocking carers. Is life really better for parents? An old man was beaten with a shoe by his carer. The family had a camera on and were shocked.The carer was dismissed from the job, but who knows where he is employed next? How did the father feel? In a another case, cleaner supposed to assist a 93-year-old lady was shown hurting her. The cleaner was perhaps fined and thrown out, but what about the trauma the old lady suffered?

It was a hot October day and a busy day for me. We had to visit Helensburgh Temple for Vijayadashami Puja. It has been a tradition for us last 35 years in Sydney.

After we returned home, I felt I had a UTI infection. The doctor said he could not notice an infection and gave me some tablets. After four days, I acquired a high temperature. Since it was end of the week, we tried an afterhours medical assistance which took many hours to arrive. I had become delirious and started speaking to my husband Srini in Hindi! (It is not our first language). He realised that urgent help was needed and phoned for the Ambulance service. They asked us to consult our doctor, which we did the next day.

Within hours, I was admitted at the Emergency Ward of St. George Hospital. The specialists tested my blood right away, and the surgeon visited me that night a couple of times. Next morning, they informed me that my blood and some organs were infected. The Specialists, Doctors and staff were very kind and comforting through my treatment. I was discharged after eight days.

My sister, my daughter and all my friends, Sudha in particular from the

RAIN group, helped me with food for a couple of weeks. Since we are vegetarians, we need help with food availability.

The social worker at the hospital observed that my husband (82 years) and I (77 years) lived alone at home. She advised us to call “My Aged Care”, where we had already registered, for help. I did it promptly and they organised an assessment within a week. They gave us a code to call some providers.

I have put my name forward for a few services and am waiting for another assessment. I am looking forward to a good home care package, which will help us live at home independently, for as long as possible.

Veda Srinivasan

Radhamani

Bharatiya Sammelan (Overseas

at Varanasi this year

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) has been celebrated on 9 Jan every year since 2003, to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India. This day was chosen to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi, India's greatest pravasi, from South Africa to India in 1915, and change the lives of Indians forever. During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India's growth.

I was honoured and privileged to represent our IABBV Hindi School "parivar" at the PBD 2019 held in Varanasi as an invited guest of the Government of India. This was my fourth visit - the first was in 2008 in Delhi, then in 2009 in Chennai which was followed by 2015 in Gandhi Nagar when I was the recipient of the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award. It was conferred on me by the President of

The Pravasi Bharatiya

EXPERIENCE

India in acknowledgement of outstanding achievement in the field of education and community service and in recognition of valuable contribution in promoting the honour and prestige of India and in fostering the interests of overseas Indians.

This year’s conference was very special as it was an opportunity to reconnect with some of the past awardees from 2015 and get to know others from 2017 and 2019. It was great to hear about all the wonderful work that is being done by the Indian diaspora across the world, making a difference to their community and the countries they now call home. It was a proud moment for both Dr G. Harinath (awardee 2017) and I, to see our friend Professor Nihal Agar, someone who I respect and admire, receive the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award in 2019. It was great also to meet up with some of the other participants from Sydney.

VARANASI

The 2019 PBD was also special because it was held in Varanasi and we were given the opportunity to see some of the historical sights of Varanasi and Sarnath, visit the Kumbh and the Republic Day Parade. The Ganga Arti at the Ghats was incredible, as was an audio-visual laser presentation on Mahatma Gandhi. Varanasi, one of Hinduism’s holy cities, is home to the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This temple has been an integral part of practising the Shaiva philosophy for a very long time. Destroyed and rebuilt a number of times, the present structure stands near the original temple site. Hindus from around the world try to visit the temple at least once in their lifetime - the belief being that the temple darshan and a dip in the Ganges will lead a devotee to Moksha, salvation.

The hospitality extended to us by the Government of India Ministry of External Affairs was amazing as were the arrangements made for all delegates. Special counters/desks were set up at Mumbai, Delhi and Varanasi airports from 19 to 27 January 2019, to facilitate smooth arrival/ departure/transfer of PBD delegates from these airports. Detailed security arrangements were in place at all convention venues with personal, baggage and other equipment subject to security screening before they were permitted into convention venues. Varanasi city came forward to greet us with garlands, and with beautiful colourful murals painted on walls depicting its diverse religions and history. People on the streets came forward to ask us if we were enjoying being in their city.

The event ran over three days commencing with a joint inauguration of Youth PBD by External Affairs Minister and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports. The event offered limitless opportunities for the young diaspora to engage with New India and to reconnect with the roots. They had been encouraged to participate in the “Bharat ko Janiye” Quiz competition and awards for this were presented by Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India in the presence of Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Pravind Jugnauth, before his inaugural address of 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2019.

The key note speech by Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Pravind Jugnauth was most

Prof. Nihal Agar (extreme left) with others honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award

MALA MEHTA was a delegate at the Pravasi

Indian Conference)

Hema Malini’s dance drama, staged for the first time, gave a heartrending depiction of the condition the river Ganga has been reduced to in ‘Kalyug’, bringing to us her message: ‘It is our duty to take care of Ganga’.

impressive; it showed how much the Indian diaspora of Mauritius is doing to preserve their Indian culture and language through the World Hindi Directorate.

Interesting plenary sessions were held throughout the convention - Role of Indian diaspora in capacity building for affordable solar power; affordable waste management and artificial intelligence in India; Giving back to India- opportunities and challenges; Indian community organisations working for Indian nationals in distressed situations; Indian diaspora's role in capacity building for developing cyber capacity of India.

Cultural endeavours in the evenings kept us entertained as well as informed. An exhibition titled "Ancient India: Modern India" was organised to portray significant developments and progress made by the Government of India, highlighting specific schemes and initiatives launched by the Government and various State Governments, including schemes meant for Indian diaspora like NRI voting etc.They had also created an “Atul Bhavan” which showcased the life of the late former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The exhibition on different Benares weaves in silk, cotton, wool and linen had me, a textile freak, completely absorbed.

One of the highlights of the event was the dance drama by Bollywood diva Hema Malini, who along with her troupe, presented a dance drama on Ganga. Making splendid use of cinematic effect and drama, the ballet had many among the audience moved. The dance drama, staged for the first time, gave a heart-rending depiction of the condition the river has been reduced to in ‘Kalyug’ bringing to us Hema Malini’s message “It is our duty to take care of Ganga”. The local audience welcomed her with the signature greeting of Har Har Mahadev.

PRAYAGRAJ

Our visit to Prayagraj for Kumbh was truly a memorable and spiritual experience. I had

been wanting to visit the Kumbh for a few years and could not believe that this was actually happening. It was a special moment to join the others in taking part in the Ganga Snan (holy dip) as the Sun was setting. As a lay Hindu I was not familiar with the rituals, but learnt about them from others in the group who were extremely knowledgeable. It was amazing to see the devotion with which everyone immersed themselves in the Ganga. Since we were taken to a special area we did not have to battle through the immense crowds that we had heard about. An amazing number of portable change rooms were provided for all.

The Kumbh is of special significance in Indian culture and is the biggest spiritual, cultural and religious gathering of humanity in the world. It also reflects the harmony of India's many diversities - spiritual, cultural, intellectual, social and historical. In view of its greatness and uniqueness, the Kumbh has been recognised by the UNESCO asan 'ethereal cultural heritage of humanity'.

The coming together of seers and scholars on the holy Sangam waterfront, in a way signals the symbolic presence of the Saraswati in the physical communion of the Ganga and the Yamuna. The Kumbh is believed to be the granter of all wishes and boons, hence described as 'SarvasiddhipradahKumbh'. It is celebrated on the recurrence of those auspicious combinations of planets and constellations when drops of nectar had splashed on the earth, according to Hindu mythology.

In order for it to be an enriching experience for all devotees, the Uttar Pradesh Government had ensured the provision of full security and other necessary facilities, in an environment in tune with the spirit of the moment which were indeed praise worthy.

NEW DELHI

After Kumbh Mela, participants travelled from Prayagraj to Delhi by train (two-tier AC coaches). These trains were called

the “Pravasi Bhartiya Express” and were inaugurated by our travel. Gen. (Dr.) V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, travelled on the train with us and made time to meet and chat with all delegates. The event concluded with the witnessing of the 70th Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2019 for which special passes for foreign delegates of PBD 2019 were arranged. Although I had seen this parade many times and had the privilege of marching in it in 1962, it was still a memorable and nostalgic moment. This year the parade was special as it was dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi commencing the celebration of his 150th birth anniversary.

* Travelling and coordinating for a big group such as ours was indeed a mammoth task for the organisers and we have to acknowledge the efforts of Mr Rajeev Jain and Mr MP Singh and their team at the Ministry of External Affairs under the leadership of Mrs Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of India, for making it a memorable experience.

I would encourage members of the Indian diaspora to attend the next PBD as it makes us even more determined to help at every level to take the relationship of Australia with India to even greater heights.

When the Minister himself (Gen VK Singh) checks up on you on your train journey

Lunch box treats

Looking for healthy snacks that appeal taste-wise? Try these treats by GAURAV MASAND for a nutritious lunch box

HUMMUS

Hummus is a silky smooth versatile dip which is both vegan and gluten-free. You can be pair it with pita bread, carrot and celery sticks or just whole wheat bread rolls.

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas / 2 cup boiled chickpeas

2 cloves garlic, grilled

1 red capsicum, grilled

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp sesame powder (avoid in case of nut allergies)

2-3 tbsp lemon juice

Salt to taste

Method

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Add some more olive oil/lemon juice if required. Sieve to get a smooth texture.

Store in a dry jar in the refrigerator.

Pack in lunch box with cherry tomatoes, carrot, celery sticks, nacho chips or pita bread.

BUTTER COOKIES

This is a very simple recipe that is made with a mix of five different flours.

Ingredients

200 gm unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 cup castor sugar

1/2 cup + 2tbsp wholewheat flour

1/2 cup + 2tbsp plain flour

1/2 cup + 2tbsp oats powder

1/2 cup + 2tbsp rice flour

1/2 cup + 2tbsp flax seeds

Method

Grind the flax seeds and keep aside. Dry roast the oats in a pan for 10 minutes, grind to a fine powder and keep aside. Beat butter in an electric mixer with castor sugar until it turns pale and creamy. Mix all remaining ingredients and until it comes together as a dough. Wrap the cookie dough in a cling film and refrigerate for 30 mins. When the dough is cold, roll it out on a floured surface to about 1cm thick. Using a round cookie cutter cut as many rounds as you can from the dough and line them onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 160 C, or until the edges start to turn golden brown.

CHOC-CHIP COOKIES

These are melt-in-the-mouth biscuits which make the world go mmmmm! Why feed the kids store-bought cookies when you can bake these easily at home?

Baking cookies at home ensures you have a healthier variety as you know what goes into it all.

Ingredients

150-gm soft unsalted butter at room temperature

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup plain flour

½ cup flax seeds

1 1/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup chocolate chips

Method

Grind the flax seeds and add to 1 1/4 cup of water. Keep aside.

Dry roast the oats in a pan for 10 minutes and grind to a fine powder. Keep aside

Beat the butter with sugar in a stand mixer or hand mixer until pale.

Slowly add all the ingredients except the chocolate chips.

Once mixed, introduce the chocolate chips.

Scoop 2 tbsp of mix in a baking tray or cookie tray, 3 cm apart. Press down slightly. Decorate with extra choc bits

In a pre-heated oven, bake for 25-30 mins at 160 C. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, then store in an air tight container.

February 2019

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

Strong bonds, concerns regarding worldly matters and some negative conditions might take up space in your head this month. Things might seem like they are going wrong on all fronts and it is not the time to push for results. You might feel like you are overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated. If recently separated from a significant other, attempts to reconcile will not succeed. But a marriage going through a rough patch will not break and singles could get hitched too.

LEO

July 21 - Aug 22

The unexpected dominates this month, and a successful business or financial transaction will leave you pleasantly surprised. Travel for work or personal reasons is successful. Business is in flourish mode and practical help will be offered. An excellent time to say yes to that persistent suitor if you’re single. The health of a family member concerns you, but you need to rest it out. Listen to your heart in moments of doubt and luck is on your side.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22 - Dec 21

TAROT

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

Tarot indicates the presence of a person with a Virgo kind of temperament. Or, Taureans might find themselves being extra finicky in their work. You might consider a new line of work. A relationship coming apart is likely to end; going with the flow will make it easier on you. Some unhappy or upsetting news from the family is predicted. Relinquish your ego and let the universe do its thing. Trust in the divine plan and do the right thing.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

A busy month for Virgos with a lot of comings and goings, get togethers, short trips and what not. A happy time as you will be much sought after personally and professionally this month. A new job or project will give your spirits a much needed boost to lift them out of the mundane. Yet, the busy time can make you tired or irritable, so make sure you get enough rest. Self-employed people could make more money than they anticipated.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 - Jan 19

Any decision Sagittarians make this month should be taken after weighing pros and cons. New relationships, business ventures and improved conditions are round the corner. A short trip will prove beneficial. Change in consciousness through spiritual evolvement and selfimprovement will add meaning and depth to your work. Someone you care for deeply could have a heart attack or you will have health problems due to stress. Accept what is coming your way from the universe; it could change your life.

If things have not been going well lately, it is time to confront some hard facts about yourself and come to terms with your situation. Travel brings good luck and positive changes. You might quit or lose your job. Family needs attention as not every situation is hunky dory. Money problems will come to an end though it might not seem like it right now. Don’t give up on yourself or loved ones and move away from selfdestructive patterns.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

A period of action, movement and perhaps even struggle that includes some anxious moments, is foretold for Geminis this month. A new relationship could be in the offing. If married, the relationship could be on the rocks but a new approach could stabilise matters. Stress and tension add to your woes but you will take remedial measures to not let it affect your health. Have faith though, and tensions will ease off, and you will experience improved conditions all around.

LIBRA

Sep 23 - Oct 22

You will want to devote time and attention to interpersonal relationships, short or long trips and a quest for enlightenment. Unpleasant scenarios at home leave you feeling victimised. A marriage or romantic relationship too could see friction this month. Try and control your temper this month as you might be tempted to fly off the handle. Irritability, aches and pains besiege you. Income will come in chunks rather than small amounts. Do your best regardless of what others think.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20 - Feb 18

CANCER June 21 - July 20

Activities centered around home improvement, financial independence and seeking an ideal relationship occupy the minds of Cancerians this month. A changed outlook, the arrival of a lover or a new job offer is likely to come by. You might even move to a new home. Watch out for over indulgence and avoid binge eating. Money will come from a business or a new venture operated out of home. Success comes through personal integrity. Have faith in what is to come.

SCORPIO

Oct 23 - Nov 21

A positive time for romance and a significant love affair – one that will take you by surprise. Travel for work or pleasure or a trip back home is on the anvil. Good luck is on your side in business or at your job. You will be in a positive state of mind and sudden activity and movement keep your spirits up. Improvement in financial matters is foretold. Delays in all matters end; plans for the future will be set in motion.

PISCES

Feb 19 - March 20

A major Arcana indicates an important event or month. This time it is about the appearance of someone that changes the status quo or will present an opportunity for a new relationship, partnership or lifestyle. There will be unexpected progress, especially in financial matters. Health concerns bother you – that of your own or of a loved one. Teeth need attention, if experiencing problems in love, may want to seek help. You will choose to move on from a failed relationship.

Everything you thought was in control seems to be coming apart and testing your resolve. Seek spiritual guidance to find solutions to your problems. Maintain a fine balance in everything you do; avoid going overboard if indulging in some retail therapy. Trips get postponed but that is for the better. The desire for change is intense and it brings the very thing you want in your career. A previous health issue could resurface. Confront your demons and work on yourself.

cineTALK

A POST-377 WAKE-UP CALL

actually just the opposite. The resonance of the drama that we call life is to be heard throughout this charming brew of light and dark. While on the surface the narrative remains splendidly sunny, with the Punjabi town of Moga coming alive to the sounds of R.D. Burman's immortal tune Ek ladki ko dekha under the hustle and bustle of provincial preoccupations, under the bubble and the banter, the film secretes a sombre truth about gender biases and sexual preferences.

Normal is what we crave to be. But what, pray tell, is 'normal'? For the film's quiet and lovely protagonist Sweety, normal is to love another person of her own gender. But how can she share this secret with her well-adjusted, warm and hospitable father Balbir, played with genuineness by Anil Kapoor. Needless to say, the father-daughter sequences ring a hundred and ten per cent true. How could they not, when the two players are not playing?

Debutante director Shelly Chopra Dhar effectively conveys the mutual love between Kapoor and Ahuja, and yet when we realise how little this dad knows about his daughter, we never hold that against him.

EK LADKI KO DEKHA TOH AISA LAGA

STARRING: Anil Kapoor, Sonam K. Ahuja, Juhi Chawla, Rajkummar Rao

DIRECTOR: Shelley Chopra Dhar

HHHH

At the end of this tender and supple saga of segregation and acceptance I was surprised to see an end-credit line that declared the film to be inspired by a P.G.

Wodehouse novel.

Finally it all makes sense. The chaos of diverse viewpoints coalesces in what looks like a manufactured finale, but is

I mean, have you seen Anil Kapoor's smile? Sonam plays the sexually disoriented small-town girl with the effective blend of bewilderment and resignation. She never gives way to exhibitionist grief. I wish the script gave her more space to mourn, to celebrate her solitude. Rather, Sweety is constantly crowded with attention. It's almost like the gods have somehow conspired to make sure she never wallows in her dark secret. It all comes apart by mid-point and then together again when a play is staged by the affable Sahil Mirza (Rajkummar Rao, investing that extra something into his character to make it special) where Sweety's secret gets a public platform.

Rao's Sahil is the catalyst we all need in our lives when we are stuck for a solution. A very charming Mr Fix-it, he won't let his father's affluence corrupt him.

Anil Kapoor's "acceptance" speech had me in tears. When his character opens its arms to his daughter's homosexuality, he also acknowledges his own suffocation at not being able to do what he liked best in life. Cook.

The film cooks up a small storm in a large tea cup. To put the theme of social acceptance of homosexuality on a small town stage, is a stroke of genius. All the societal and gender prejudices are addressed in a light effervescent manner where nobody gets offended, at least not in the audience down here from where I was watching.

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha… is a timely post377 wake-up call for mainstream Indian cinema to look beyond the stereotypical relationships, and into the abyss where many kinds of unexplored relationships languish. This is not a "mind-shattering" experience (a term Juhi Chawala's loud over-the-top Punjabi character loves to throw around). But it’s a heart-warming story filled with music, sunshine and compassion. Anil Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Sonam K. Ahuja are splendidly joined at the hip by a script that bleeds empathy but never pleads for sympathy.

Feel this tender tale unfold as if in the silken rustle of a beautifully threaded quilt gently pushed aside as the early-morning sun beams into the room through the slit in the curtains.

Brave and beautiful, this film should embolden other bolder explorations of alternate sexuality in our cinema. This one does seem a little chaste: the closest the same-sex lovers come to physical intimacy is a clinical embrace. Nonetheless, it is a big leap ahead for our cinema as far as matters beyond the heart are concerned.

Subhash K. Jha

India, you have

the whole world”

FLAWED BUT FABULOUS

MANIKARNIKA: THE QUEEN OF JHANSI

STARRING: Kangana Ranaut, plus stalwarts reduced to junior artistes

DIRECTOR: Kangana Ranaut & Krish HHH

There is plenty that is openly wrong with this beleaguered aspiring epic. Its rhythm of storytelling feels all wrong. One minute we are looking at Kangana Ranaut playing herself - wide - eyed, tight-lipped, defiant, stubborn and sinister - the next minute she forgets herself and immerses herself in her character. Much like the warriorQueen herself who never could decide whether she wanted to be a wife, mother, warrior or rebel, and ended up being an amalgamation of all these roles.

But country always came first. Oh yes, Rani Laxmibai was a desh bhakt and she made no bones about it. It is when Ranaut speaks about putting country above all else that her eyes light up. And so do the frames. When Rani ticked off the British General - goosebumps.

The film is never short of visual luminosity. The co-directors together create a fairly impressive imitation of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's style without seeming slavishly devoted to the notion of glitter.

The battle scenes that take up plenty of the lengthy narrative are heavily influenced by Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani. But Ranaut manages the horse-riding and sword-fencing with impressive self-assuredness. I wouldn't agree with Mr Manoj Kumar when he says Kangana was born to play Rani Laxmibai. But she certainly gives the complex character a kind of cutting edge that makes the Rani empowered and powerful. The

NO HIDING THE BLATANT CHAUVINISM

THACKERAY

STARRING: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Amrita Rao

DIRECTOR: Abhijeet Panse

HH

Bal Thackeray - sorry Balasaheb Thackeray (an unsuspecting character in the film gets slapped by a Shiv Sena cadre for uttering the Demi God's name without the reverential suffix) - played the chauvinistic card with a masterminded focus. He knew how to tap the Marathi manoos' latent pride and also how to harness it into a violent outpouring.

Many of his opponents, including the unfortunate Morarji Desai (unfortunate, as he is played by Rajesh Khera) thought of his campaign to cleanse Maharashtra to be almost a ratification of Hitler's Nazism.

The film certainly does not squander the opportunity to portray the man as infinitely intolerant of migrants. That he was, was a well-known fact. But did anyone ever think that his blatant chauvinism and his politics of ethnic cleansing would one day be so unabashedly celebrated on celluloid?

Writer-director Abhijeet Panse celebrates Balasaheb's spirit of separateness with a straight forwardness that we immediately recognise as a sign of traditional entitlement which sanctions certain behaviour among males as "normal".

For outsiders - and who is not an outsider these days - the normalising of cultural marginalisation may seem like a celebration of a culture of anarchy and despotism.

Sanctioning bloodbaths is not something we associate with charismatic national leaders.

Siddiqui plays Balasaheb as an impatient, intolerant man of many words and even more action. At the start we see him quit his job as a cartoonist to start his own Marathi paper. In Panse's Maharashtra in the 1950s

there are migrants everywhere - jostling, pushing and bullying Marathis on the streets and out of their jobs. Something has to be done, and who better equipped to tap into Marathi pride with a hammer?

Apparently the inflammatory speeches are all used in the film just as the Great Man made them. Balasaheb had a hypnotic hold over the audience. Nawaz seems to think he has a similar sway. In his last film he recited Saddat Haasan Manto's revolutionary thoughts with a fervent lucidity that gave the actor a sense of ownership over the words. Here the Balasaheb speeches sound deeply ironic, coming from an actor has been marginalised on many levels in different stages of his life.

Nawaz and the film's director choose to overlook the irony of an ethnic leader saying the nation always comes first to him.

"I always say Jai Hind first, and then Jai Maharashtra," Nawazuddin's Balasaheb proudly tells Avantika Akerkar's Indira Gandhi.

Mrs G's arched eyebrow at that declaration is truly a chart-topping moment in a film that legitimises hooliganism and elevates extra-constitutional muscle power to the summits of validation. There are some interesting unknown actors playing Balasaheb's devotees - I loved the veteran who plays his father and mocks the ‘Saheb' in his son's name in a way no one else would dare.

Nawazuddin plays Thackeray with the crafty casualness of an over-confident actor who is rightly arrogant about his skills. The other actors walk by in the gallery of bhakt sanointing and celebrating the cult of Thackerayism with a religious fervour, the violence and bloodshed notwithstanding.

supporting cast is largely wasted, barring Jishu Sen gupta as the Rani's husband, somewhat delicate.

More than the politics of invasion and acquisition I like the petticoat politics of the film, the friendship between Rani Laxmibai and the uncommonly valorous commoner Jhalkaribai (played with spirited affection by Ankita Lokhande).

In fact, the way all the women of Jhansi come out of their kitchens to battle it out on the preying field, is one of the great charms of this flawed but fabulous fable, as are Prasoon Joshi's dialogues which suggest a kind of deep-rooted empathy between history and girl power.

The British, as per the demands of all colonial dramas in Indian cinema, are portrayed as sadistic buffoons. One particularly distasteful sequence has a nasty British General hanging a young girl by a tree after he gets to know she is named after his pet peeve Laxmi.

Manikarnika could have easily avoided these violent bouts, concentrated more on creating a drama of disambiguation that destroyed the Indian kingdoms during the British Raj. I am sure there was more to Rani Laxmibai than the expensive saree and jewellery, the mystery and the dancing eyes. But what we see is what get in this film. And that is quite a lot.

All said and done, Manikarnika moves us, though not in ways it should have. There is too much going on at any given time to focus on the heart and thoughts of a woman who defeated the British with a child in her lap. Did the child ever wet the Rani's costly silk sarees? We would never know. The characters of this film are not prone to human frailties.

Subhash K. Jha

But hey, there is also redemption. After a brutal communal riot we see Balasheb bring a Muslim family to his home. He even allows the man to do his namaaz in his living room.

Subhash K. Jha

The BUZZ

REMIX? AGAIN?

Sure, they were fun when it started. It was nice, nostalgic even, to hear our favourite old songs being remixed into new, foot-tapping numbers with snazzy videos, but now, it’s gotten old. So old. Karan Johar certainly seems to think so.

"Oh God, another remix?" Johar rightfully asks in the reboot version of Aankh Marey in Sara Ali Khan and Ranveer Singh starrer Simmba. It’s as though there’s no originality anymore, he laments. Some of these “new” songs include Tere bin, Chamma chamma, Paisa yeh paisa and the latest Mungda starring Sonakshi Sinha.

Interestingly, some musicians believe they are like tributes to legendary composers. "The 1970s' and 1980s' music was so legendary that our new generation is rediscovering it in their own way and recreating it. The current generation is dancing to those tunes and paying tribute to those legendary composers and singers," says Subhro J Ganguly, who’s sung Paisa yeh paisa and Mungda.

Yeah, right.

Arshad, who also featured in the remixed version of his own song Aankh Marey from the film Tere Mere Sapne, finds the viral trend fun. "I personally feel there is no harm in recreating songs. I did Aankh Mareyin 1996 or 1997. A whole generation did not know about the song, but today everyone knows it because they all went back and Googled it. It's fine, and something that is nice for people to go back and see, and for the new generation to seeing it too," he says.

FALGUNI AT GRAMMYS 2019

Look out for the US-based Indian singer Falguni Shah at this year’s Grammys: her album Falu’s Bazaar has been nominated in the Best Children's Music category.

Growing up in India, Falguni (aka Falu) was trained in the Jaipur musical tradition and the Benaras style of Thumri. She moved to New York in 2010, and worked with several internationally celebrated musicians like Wyclef Jean, Philip Glass, Ricky Martin, Blues Traveler, Yo-Yo Ma and A.R. Rahman.

Known for an “Indie Hindi” sound (even though you can identify five

different South Asain languages in her work), Falguni’s music blends Indian classical and folk western pop, rock and electronic styles.

"I am honoured to be representing not only India at the Grammys, but also the millions of immigrants who have travelled to the US to achieve success," Falguni said.

She also hopes to use the platform to "motivate others to dream big and achieve their goals, whether it's through music or any aspect of life".

The 61st Grammy Awards will take place on 11 Feb in Los Angeles.

Singer Arjun Kanungo says he’s really tired of remixes. But are music directors to blame? He doesn’t seem to think so. "I think it is nothing to do with singers or composers. It has to do with record labels who are pushing out their old catalogues... because they can see a business opportunity. Ten years down the line, the record labels won't have anything to recreate. If you keep recreating a song again and again and make no new content, then you are really not thinking about the future very much."

Wiser words were never said. What do you think?

CHADHA’S TRIBUTE TO MANDELA

Confused? We would be too. After all, whatever does Richa Chadha have in common with Nelson Mandela. Well, she’s full of surprises. Seems that Richa has penned a handwritten tribute to late Nelson Mandela which will feature in The House of Commons Book of Tribute.

The book, as you’d guess, is a

collection of handwritten notes by prominent people like Barack Obama, Paul McCartney, Russell Crowe and Will Smith, compiled by NicCareem.

“His struggle as a world renowned leader to fight for the rights of downtrodden people of his race has made him a legendary inspiring figure,” Richa said. The actor is happy to be part of "this tribute the proceeds of which will be given towards a campaign to end poverty".

‘DEEP’ OF RANVEER’S LIFE

Ok so that was a bad pun, but the sentiment is right there. Of course we are referring to Deepika Padukone, who in hubby Ranveer’s words is “the light of my life”. And how did he say it? In a letter! Recently, when Deepika launched her website, Ranveer posted the letter on it that praised the actress to no end.

"I find it particularly challenging to articulate all my feelings about her, and even though I find language to be a limiting means to express myself, I shall try. I can safely say I'm the closest person to her in this world. I know her deeply as a person and I've collaborated closely with her as a professional," he said.

He added that her discipline and “commitment is unparalleled”, so much so that the woman “commands respect”.

"She inspires me to be the best man I can possibly be. She makes my life worth living. She is true light of my life," he added.

Sigh, these two are relationship goals, huh? Nickyanka? Who’s that?

TIME TO KILL CENSORSHIP: ADOOR GOPALAKRISHNAN

Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Adoor Gopalakrishnan, whose oeuvre prominently placed Malayalam cinema on the world map, feels it is time for India to completely do away with censorship in films as that would help the art form thrive.

“Censorship is a big mistake - and one that has been perpetuated by the commercial cinema of Mumbai because

DEEPIKA PADUKONE

they want the censor board's certificate as a shield against any litigation filed by other parties, both inside and outside the industry,” he said recently

"I feel abolishing censorship would certainly help cinema to thrive as an art form. Nobody should be allowed to interfere in filmmaking, not even the government. They are no specialists in this, so how can they interfere? The government often uses its authority in a wrong way," contended Gopalakrishnan, considered one of the greatest filmmakers of India and a pioneer of the New Cinema movement in Kerala.

Referring to a 1979-committee that he, Shyam Benegal and Bengali filmmaker Mrinal Sen were part of, Gopalakrishnan said they decided to recommend that censorship be abolished from Indian cinema but faced strong resistance from a number of director-producers of commercial cinema.

"When the time for the final decision came, there was a strong plea from both Ramanand Sagar and B.R. Chopra against it. They said censorship gives protection from unnecessary legal battles over films. So the recommendation couldn't be made," he reminisced.

Gopalakrishnan, who has often highlighted the socio-political issues through his use of symbolism in films, said talking openly about the loopholes in the Censor Board and the government's

malpractices against films that question institutions, have turned him into "an enemy of the administration".

Asked about the protests and violence over a number of recent films, including Padmavat, The Accidental Prime Minister and Manikarnika, Gopalakrishnan said the trend of resorting to protests even before a film releases, is propaganda.

"People have their right to protest as long as they first see the film. We cannot stop that. But if people or groups are protesting even before they have seen the film, it must be some sort of a propaganda," he added.

HAS THE KHAN TRIUMVIRATE LOST ITS HOLD?

2018 was definitely not the year for the three Khan superstars in Bollywood. While Shah Rukh Khan delivered a box office debacle in Zero, his Khan fellowsuperstar Aamir Khan too came up with one of the biggest duds of his career, The Thugs Of Hindostan

Earlier during the year, Salman Khan's Race 3 underperformed abysmally at the box office.

Is the Khan triumvirate losing its touch?

Says trade analyst Amod Mehra, "The writing is very clear on the wall. It is time all three Khan superstars switched to more mature roles, or else they would no longer be superstars."

However, film and trade analyst Girish Johar doesn't see the setbacks of 2018 as detrimental to the Khans' careers. "The three Khans are superstars: a film here or there doesn't matter. Their fan following does not decrease, nor does their stardom get affected. Yes, all three failing together in one year does raise eyebrows but I am sure they are bound to bounce back with their next outings. Also yes, they have to be much more careful now as audiences are growing, their taste patterns are changing. So what they bring to the table has to be extraordinary, as anything below neither suits their stature nor is it any longer expected from them."

Warns critic Raja Sen, "Their films may have underperformed this time, but each of the three Khans is just one hit away from being on top of the heap again. Any obituaries or celebrations by gleeful rivals would be premature."

What’s next for the Khans?

While Salman Khan has the eagerlyawaited Eid release Bharat which spans the life story of one man from India's independence in 1947 to present day, Aamir Khan is taking a sabbatical from the big screen to do a web series based on the Mahabharat. Shah Rukh Khan is not committed to any new project.

All three Khan superstars need to do some serious career thinking and revamping. Their fan-following remains intact. Only their selection of roles needs to change.

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK

Match the following stars to the tweets that appear below:

Neha Dhupia, Anil Kapoor, Sonali Bendre

Being back on a set after a major sabbatical - one that has been testing in many ways on so many levels - is a surreal feeling.

I don't owe anyone an explanation because fat-shaming like this doesn't bother me one bit. But I do want to address this as a larger problem because fat-shaming needs to stop for EVERYONE and not just celebs.

Never have I been so proud of you @ sonamakapoor. It has been my honour sharing the screen with you beta.

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNER

RICHA CHADDA

SARA ALI KHAN

SONAKSHI SINHA

Rock star accountants

The waiting, the screaming, the crying, the fainting… it’s one helluva ride

BY NURY VITTACHI

Amiddle-aged man in a boring grey suit walks on to the stage and waves his calculator. "Are you READY TO ROCK?" he shouts. The audience goes wild.

Apparently, accountants are the new rock stars, according to a spate of news reports.

"I'm a rock star now" was the headline on a feature on accountancy in The Washington Post. An almost identical report in The Wall Street Journal was titled: "The tax law makes Chartered Public Accountants interesting for now." The Mercury News said: "Tax bill turns America's accountants into rock stars."

In Asia there have been waves of identical headlines several times, the most recent case being the occasion when the Indian government made a surprise decision to get rid of almost all physical banknotes, apparently after taking financial advice from YouTube pranksters. ("Cancel all the banknotes! Everyone will have a good laugh! What could go wrong?")

Indian accountants become rock-star popular. Even in remote, rural parts,

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accountancy fees rose from a chicken to a medium-sized bullock, which is probably what B-list Indipop rock stars get paid these days.

Major changes in finance laws anywhere cause accountants to instantly become superstars in the eyes of the media.

But here's the thing. I was reading that particular Washington Post edition in a radio studio where several deejays had met actual rock stars. Realistic?

"Yeah, right," sneered the morning show

host. "If accountants are being treated like rock gods, that means crowds of people are chasing after them, screaming and fainting and crying."

I told him that that was a pretty accurate description of the business people I know trying to get the attention of tax advisers as reporting season approaches.

In India, people desperate for financial advice camped outside the offices of accountants - classic groupie behaviour.

In the United States, accountants are turning their secretaries into booking agents. "Tax adviser Mr. Rodinksi will visit you Tuesday morning. He requires a private dressing room with white roses, a bowl of M&Ms and a chalice of virgin's blood."

You don't see this happening in Asia, where people avoid blood as it is high in saturated

Also, 99 per cent of rock musicians in Asia earn less than accountants.

I guess Mick Jagger is the most famous example of someone who started as an accountant and became an actual rock god. (Incidentally, did you read that a letter by the flirtatious Mr. Jagger was sold at an auction?

Given his advanced age, I wonder if it said "Dear Wilma Flintstone...").

Much more interesting to me is Duff McKagan, who went the other way. He was one of the wildest rock gods (he used to drink 10 bottles of wine a day - not a misprint - as the bassist of Guns 'n' Roses). Then he changed careers and became an accountant. His firm specialises in giving finance advice for rock stars and he writes a money column called Duffernomics.

Which career does he prefer? The one with all the crying and screaming and hysterical tears.

Yes, there's something about tax bills that makes people emotional.

Anyway, the final triumph of accountants proves the truth of that ancient holy scripture which talks about "the revenge of the nerds". Wait. Maybe that was a movie? Whatever. It's still true.

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Major changes in finance laws anywhere cause accountants to instantly become superstars in the eyes of the media.

Photo: teespring

My sister has a promising future

Aditi’s family wanted to know the Navy was a smart career choice. Now Aditi’s joined they’ve discovered her Navy engineering education and training is also recognised by many industries outside of the Australian Defence Force.

But that wasn’t the only thing they found out. In fact, the Navy is supportive of all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.

Aditi works in one of many diverse roles, with great career advancement opportunities, offering her a rewarding career as a Marine Engineer Officer that makes her family proud.

Find out for yourself. Watch Aditi and Priya’s full story. defencejobs.gov.au/family

The Stockland Lifestyle Fair

To celebrate the Home Sweeter Home Sale, Stockland Elara is hosting a special FREE event featuring lifestyle demonstrations, workshops by Jamie’s Ministry of Food, dog obedience training, food trucks and so much more!

Plus, there will be a special guest appearance and live session with Australian Cricketer Simon Katich.

With loads of freebies and kids’ entertainment including craft workshops, rock climbing and face painting, this event is not to be missed!

Book your free tickets now at stockland.com.au/elarahome

Stockland Elara

1 Elara Boulevard, Marsden Park

Sunday, 10th February, 12pm – 4pm

Meet Australian Cricketer

Simon Katich

NSW SCIENCE SYLLABUS UPDATES

In 2018, the New South Wales Board Education Standards Authority (NESA) updated the HSC and Preliminary curriculums for Chemistry and Physics to have a stronger focus on depth of scientific concepts. Students now face a more challenging, conceptually difficult HSC which covers more olympiad and early university content.

Tuition colleges across NSW have been re-writing their curriculums to stay up to date with the changing HSC. Our staff already had significant Chemistry and Physics Olympiad experience, even at an international level.

We have also had Mr Mansour Khoury ,one of James Ruse Agricultural Highschool’s most experienced Science Teachers, join our staff to guide Ace through an exciting transition as Head Teacher.

The excellence of our work and staff has meant through this curriculum update, more students than ever have changed to Ace for their Chemistry and Physics tuition. Come and join the most successful, most highly awarded tutoring team in the state.

(02) 9874 7045

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