2019-02 Sydney (2)

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

SOCIAL MEDIA

Neha Malude

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Pulwama attack: What we can do

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

There’s been an outpouring of nationalism in Australia’s Indian community.

Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Now over 700,000 strong in Australia, the community becomes mobilised within hours, thanks to social media.

These gatherings, while largely peaceful, also pointed fingers at Pakistan for harbouring terrorist organisations: calls were made at each meeting to highlight these alliances of the Pakistan government and its intelligence agencies.

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As India reels from a heinous terrorist attack that took 49 lives, community-based social media and radio platforms have been abuzz with tributes to the fallen, condemnation of the mentality that perpetrates such acts, and some pretty intense discussion about the larger Kashmir conundrum.

On 14 Feb, a car driven by 22-yearold suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar, a Kashmiri local, was responsible for the devastation of a convoy of trucks with CRPF personnel enroute from Jammu to Srinagar.

Shortly after the attack, the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed, through its leader Masood Azhar, claimed responsibility for this act of terrorism.

Indians in Australia joined their compatriots in mourning. Community groups organised peaceful gatherings in all capital cities, including Sydney,

Meanwhile, messages of condolence were issued from the Australian government at the highest levels - both Federal and State - to the Indian Prime Minister. The question is, is this enough, or should the Indian Australian community ask more of the Australian government?

Can the 30 million strong global Indian diaspora put pressure on the governments of their adopted countries to move strongly against cross border terrorism?

You don’t need to see the made-inAustralia movie Hotel Mumbai to learn how cross border terrorism is sanctioned in Pakistan. The horrific 2008 attacks on Mumbai (now referred to as 26/11) killed 174 innocent people: they were coordinated in real time via satellite phones by handlers of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan. Till date, while the rest of the world is in agreement to the identity and

current location in Pakistan, of those coordinating these attacks, little has been done to bring them to justice. Not only this, but there is evidence of Pakistan’s connivance in other terrorist attacks in India (2001 Indian Parliament, Pathankot Air Force base in 2016, Uri Army base in 2016). Perhaps Indian-Australians, either in a single petition or individually, could write to their local and federal members urging them to put the issue on the table condemning Pakistan for supporting cross border terrorism. Diplomatic pressure needs to be exerted to stop such attacks on India.

We have witnessed over the years an increasing presence of politicians of all persuasions at community gatherings, introducing themselves and soliciting our votes. Now is the time to ask for something in return. While community peace gatherings are a wonderful way to show our support for our country of birth, now is also the time to ask our leaders for more. The elections in NSW are around the corner, and Federal elections are not too far off. Now is the time to get our voice heard; it is also an opportunity for the Australian Government to stand for what is just and right, and speak out against cross border terrorism in other parts of the world.

Australian Registered Migration Agents and Mortgage Brokers.

Australian and New Zealand Migration related enquiries.

Harshad Pandhripande, Manan Luthra, Sahibnoor Singh, Devna Luthra, Aparna Ananthuni, Mohan Dhall, Petra O’Neill, Auntyji

YOUR SAY

PULWAMA

India was plunged into a state of shock in mid-Feb as a convoy of soldiers was attacked by a suicide bomber in Kashmir’s Pulwama region. 49 men lost their lives. 13-year-old Bangalore girl SAANVI TARA sent us this poem, capturing the mood of a nation in mourning.

LANTERNS

You were just born and it was a boon, Why do we have to mourn so soon?

It was on the 14th of February, The soldiers were tired and weary. All was well but turned into hell.

Around three 'o' clock, The Country got a shock.

A boy no older than seventeen, Was the cause of this bloodstream.

So people of my nation, Well up tears in your eyes.

But not of regret

Why should we take it as a threat?

These butterflies spread their sail on the sea of light, We won't give up without a fight. India salutes the bravehearts, The martyrs, the gallants.

So let's light the lantern

And unleash their return.

Rashmi Sharma wrote: Nice work.

Sonal Tara wrote: You pour your heart out. Jai Hind.

Garimaa Upadhyay wrote: Yes you really put your heart out - shows the emotion that every deshbhakt is going through. Salute to our martyrs.

Meena Sharma wrote: Beautifully penned to salute the bravehearts.

Supriya S Gainder wrote: Very well written.

Sheilly Sharma wrote: Way to go Saanvi, so very proud of you. Really very touching. Salute and gratitude to the martyrs.

Sathi Ramanujan wrote: God bless you for sharing the valuable thoughts.

Manjit Kaur wrote: Beautiful words.

Saanvi Tara wrote: Thank you Indian Link for giving me this platform.

SAY IT AGAIN

Definitely not your typical Bollywood flick. Really enjoyed the film and now have greater respect for India's former Prime Minister. Hopefully many more films will be shot like this and released on Indian politics.

Charles Thomson, YouTube journalist (the Delhi-based autowallah)

KINDY KIDS

At the start of the new school year, we ran a photo feature of young kids from our community who started ‘big school’. Preet Singla wrote: Your page on the little kids who started school this year, was pleasant to read. It brought it all back to me, having been through it as a stay-at-home mum with three kids, who are now all grown up and in the work force. I wish the ‘kindy mums’ all the best and hope they will enjoy their children’s school years.

An observation, if I may. The children have such fascinating -and different - Hindustani names! I suppose it is the trend these days, but am I to assume Anil, Sunil, Rakesh, Praveen, Ajay, Vijay (names from my generation) are now dead, never to be resuscitated? Couldn’t help noticing also, the overabundance of names starting with A: Aaryan, Aarya, Ayushman, Ayaan, Anahat, Aum, Atharv. (Surely that last one would be a difficult name in an Australian setting.) Makes me wonder what names my as-yet unborn grandkids will have!

Nimisha Modi wrote: Year after year it is the same feeling on their first day when the little ones go back to school. All parents must feel proud to see them. I see a little me in my child when I drop off now outside the gate, and he walks in with his school bag.

WHERE IN AUSTRALIA?

We shared a pic of this haunting tunnel, shining with glow worms. Readers Bipsha Poddar Saha, Chitra Iyer, Dale Moon, Sachin Wakhare, Anurag Singh, Amal Wilson and Utsav Patel correctly identified it as Picton tunnels in Helensburg NSW.

The school executives of Aranmore Catholic College (Perth) should go and consult Sisters of Mercy operating in India about cultural acceptance. They are the founders of the school and I am sure you need to learn a few things from them.

Waggacrow

BEING A PRAVASI BHARATIYA

Love Kumar Nagpaul wrote: Last month I attended the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Overseas Indian Conference) at Varanasi India, on the invitation of Government of India, along with delegates from 120 countries. It was a wonderful experience. The opportunity to interact in person with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State Retired General Dr V.K. Singh, CM Yogi Aditya Nath and the many foreign invitees over three days was very valuable indeed. The other great attraction was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to an audience of some 12,000.

Going to the KumbhaMela at Prayagraj, the dip at Triveni, and seeing the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi were equally memorable.

The arrangements by Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh were impeccable. Travel to and from the venues of the conference, food and sight-seeing trips were all of the highest quality.

Having lived out of India now for more than twenty years, the experiences at PBD 2019 further instilled in me the desire to give back to my country of origin in whatever way I can.

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat here between Ranbir and Alia?

Rishi Singh wrote: Hope this is not another 'Deepika' prank that you are playing on me, Ranbir.

Shweta Dogra wrote: Where do you want to go for destination wedding?

Rachna Gupta wrote: As long as that’s our wedding card in your hand, with my name on it, I'm all smiles.

Vandana D'souza wrote: Ranbir: I have the book of life in my hands. I think you’re in it. Alia: Ditto.

Ash Ash wrote: What you doing tonight after this?

Sanjana Vyas wrote: Alia: So awkward having these cameras in our face… I’m just going to pretend to read this. Ranbir: Me too.

Sahdev Vani wrote: Aayla, Aalia, apna time aayega, apun dono bhi shaadi baaneyen ga.!

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

ALIA BHATT OR DAISY RIDLEY IN MONSE MAISON?

CLEAN ENERGY

You loved our little feature on 75-year-old Selvamma, street-side vendor in Bangalore, who uses a solar energy powered technique to cook her sweet corn Global Solar World shared the post:Real distributed and innovative use of Solar Energy.

I know this observation is hardly new but the digital economy still has the power to stun me.

I'm on a long bus ride in rural India and via a hotspot to my laptop and cheap data, dealing with HR contracts & student admin in Sydney, while listening to the Sunnyboys via bluetooth.

Bill Pritchard, USyd Prof (Human Geography)

Wherever you go in #IncredibleIndia you are met with incredibly warm, generous and welcoming hospitality, which is incredibly nice – on this occasion my neck needed to grow to receive all of it!!

Rod Hilton, Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to India

FOR PEACE, FOR PULWAMA

Amidst the sorrow and the anger, the calls for peace are strong as the Indian-Australian community pay homage to slain soldiers in Kashmir

FIAN event

The mood was sombre at the Dezire Function Centre at Blacktown as over a 100 people gathered to pay tribute those martyred in the Pulwama terrorist attack in Kashmir. Organised by the Federation of Indian Associations of NSW (FIAN) along with community members, this was one of the many such condolence ceremonies held around Australia.

Demonstrating the manner in which the terrorist attack has hurt the community at large, those who were gathered were not only from different age groups but comprised of Indians recently arrived as well as those who have been living in Australia for over 25 years.

Dr Yadu Singh, President of FIAN, opened with his views condemning the attack on innocent soldiers by a terrorist group that had claimed to have been behind the plot. The martyred came from all religions and states of India, he said, making this essentially an attack on the concept of India. He further accused

Pakistan for supporting and facilitating the infrastructure of the groups which are involved in cross-border terrorism.

Shobha Ingleshwar’s rendition of the national anthem this time round seemed especially evocative.

Member for Epping and friend of India Damien Tudehope expressed his shock and support for India in his brief speech: his belief was that 300kgs of explosives (as reported then) could not have been organised without external support from another country. He felt that Australia should reconsider having cricketing ties with countries that support terrorism and such heinous attacks.

Hills resident Rajiv Chaudhri, one of the organisers, expressed profound sadness at the most recent attacks; being the son of an ex-Indian Naval Officer who had fought three wars, he felt deeply for the families of the fallen soldiers. Other ex-servicemen who also spoke, put the recent tragedy into perspective for all present.

Various members of the community also expressed their shock at this terrorist attack

in Kashmir. Indian-origin candidate for the NSW Senate in the forthcoming State elections, Pallavi Sinha said that terrorism in any form is abhorrent. “A lot of us may be experiencing various emotions ranging from shock and anger to sadness. I urge everyone to remember Mahatma Gandhi ji's words ‘An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind’. So let's channel any emotions we are feeling into constructive ways to find solutions to the horror of terrorism and the loss of innocent lives.”

A number of local poets Dr Prabhat Sinha, Dr Shailaja Chandra, Madhavi Mohindra and Pratibha Bhanushali expressed their grief through poetry.

With emotions running high, there was a strong backlash against Pakistan fostering and promoting terrorism against India. It was said that the Indians in Australia must exert pressure on the Australian government to condemn this cross border terrorism more strongly.

It was an afternoon of solidarity with the Indian defence forces and the many sacrifices they make in allowing Indians to enjoy their

democratic freedoms.

Pawan Luthra

To make a donation to the martyred soldiers’ families, head to bharatkeveer.gov.in

Hindu Council of Australia event S

ome 1000 Indian-origin Australians came together at Parramatta’s Jubilee Park to pay tribute to the victims of 14 February Pulwama attack in Kashmir.

The last time they had gathered here was only months ago, when the President of India Ram Nath Kovind unveiled a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi. This time round, the apostle of peace stood mute witness as his beloved countrymen expressed sorrow as well as frustration at a tragic crisis situation that has endured for too long with no resolution.

The wish for peace was at the centre of the dignified ceremony organised by the Hindu Council of Australia along with 27 other community organisations.

Many of the attendees had left work early; others streamed in off the Parramatta station with their briefcases and laptops and sat patiently on the ground for the 45-minute ceremony.

The Indian tricolour was out in solemnity, sometimes wrapped around like a shawl. Community activist Rahul Jethi urged those gathered there never to forget the valour of the heroes of India and their supreme sacrifices for their motherland when he recited Shyam Sundar Rawat Gadarwara’s poem Hey Bharat Ke Ram Jago. The poem steeped in nationalism brought on the goosebumps and led to one of the many times during the evening when the slogans of “Bharat mata ki jai” (Hail Mother India) and “Vande Matram” ripped through the air.

Local politicians Tony Issa and Julia Finn from Granville speaking on behalf of the NSW Government and Opposition also expressed their solidarity with the people of India and those gathered at Jubilee Park, with their condemnation of this heinous act of terrorism. Issa said that he felt for the families of those who died in this terrorist attack. Julia Finn, in her speech said it was devastating to hear the news from Pulwama. “Terrorism needs to end and I sincerely hope that this is the last time India has to endure such an attack,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh leader Ramyavaran Ramaswamy urged all to remember the valour of those martyred. “It is important we acknowledge the families of the braves who were martyred. We also need to celebrate the lives of these brave men.” He then attacked Pakistan for harbouring the mastermind of this attack amongst their midst - the Jaishe-Mohammed terrorist organisation and its leader Masood Azhar, who has taken responsibility for this terrorist attack.

“And this is the same country which has allowed the world’s most infamous terrorist Osama bin Laden to live amongst them,” he reminded all. He urged all to keep up the fight against tyranny and make sure the sacrifices of those killed on 14th Feb do not go in vain.

With the sun setting in the background, the sole bugle call of The Last Post paid homage to the fallen soldier. The group rendering of the Shanti Mantra invoked the wish for peace, not just in the troubled Kashmir region, but also in the universal, collective and individual levels.

Pawan Luthra

Photos: Kiran Kumar Sirikonda

Vic Parliament

Nearly 150 people gathered at the steps of the Victorian parliament in a peaceful protest against the horrendous attack in Kashmir’s Pulwana district. Organised by community volunteer Karthik Arasu, the group included many leading lights from Melbourne’s Indian community, men, women and children.

They came armed with placards and the Indian flag, and many of them took to the microphone in tribute to the fallen soldiers.

Arasu himself called for an end to the violence and terrorism, emphasising that peace and love are what the Indian culture is all about.

Speaking to Indian Link about how the event came to be organised, he said, “There was pain and anguish, as the news came through, and of course anger too.

I wondered how we could register this sentiment, and show our solidarity with the nation. Coming together at the Victorian Parliament gave us an opportunity to vent and express our emotions to the world. I think we did that peacefully.”

Sentiments were running high – as they are even now – and everyone shared openly, in their own way. There was a bit of sloganeering, and calls for Indian Australians to contribute in whatever way they can.

Arasu added, “Our main motto was to stop terrorism in any form.”

He revealed that there is some discussion about registering protest in front of the Pakistan consulate, but much careful thought is going into it.

“Deliberations are ongoing at this very moment about whether such a step is required, and whether it is the right thing to do. Because we are all certain that the last thing we want to do, is to propagate hate.”

Photos: Senthill Sundaram, Karthik Arasu

The nose stud: Tradition or rebellion?

BY HARSHAD PANDHARIPANDE

When I started writing this article about Sanya Singhal - the Perth teenager who was barred from her school Aranmore Catholic College for refusing to take off her nose ring, it seemed to me there were no easy answers to the issue. It seemed to me as if the yarns of multiculturalism and tolerance, of modernity and tradition, of religious beliefs and secularism, of personal freedom and an innate sense of discipline, which normally blend together to create the social fabric of Australia, had suddenly got tangled into an unseemly knot.

Consider this conundrum: do Australian institutions uphold multiculturalism and personal freedom? If yes, is a student of a school of religious denomination free to wear a culturally significant piece of jewellery at school? If yes, does it set a precedent? If yes, is the school within its rights to enforce a grooming code? If yes, can it bar things such as nose rings? If yes, is it an infringement of one’s cultural beliefs? If yes, do Australian institutions uphold multiculturalism and personal freedom? An unseemly knot, you see.

Its very status as a symbol of tradition, is being touted as the reason for non-conformity

Freedom within limits - an oxymoronic term - emerged as one solution. The key is balance, said some interviewees. We are immigrants and, therefore, we must adapt, declared those of the ‘When in Rome’ school of thought. No, we must stand up for what we believe in, affirmed traditionalists. Naturally, the incident sparked debate online - chatter on Facebook groups, forums, even a Reddit thread - and offline, at dinner tables and in drawing rooms. The Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) weighed in, saying that “the recent misunderstanding … has a potential of affecting the harmony between our communities in Australia and the reputation of Catholic schools among Indians.” However, many - including the school - refuse to give the case religious or cultural connotations, pointing instead at the school’s uniform and grooming guidelines that allow “(a) maximum of one plain silver or gold small stud or small sleeper per lower ear lobe. Additional piercing or ‘taping over’ is not permitted. Diamantes and/or coloured stones are not permitted.”

Should the Singhals have been more flexible? Could the school have made an exception? Is this a cautionary tale for

Indian parents wanting to send their kids to schools with religious denominations? My interviews with fellow parents touched upon many of these questions and more.

IS THE NOSE RING A RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENT?

Most interviewees said that while the nose ring may be culturally significant, there is no requirement in Hinduism for girls entering womanhood to have their nose pierced and to retain the piercing for one year, as Sanya’s mother Kalyani has been quoted as saying.

Banker and parent Krishna Neelamraju, a self-professed atheist, says, “I am of Hindu background but none of the women in my family wear nose studs. Perhaps there is a sect or sub sect in which this custom is important.” So, yes, while it is important, it is not mandatory, not even according to the Hindu Council of Australia, which describes it as a “ritual” rather than a requirement.

“The nose piercing is not a fashion or rebellion statement of a teenager but is a deep rooted cultural and religious ritual for girls going through puberty,” an online statement released by the HCA reads.

Neelamraju says that because the nose

ring isn’t codified in Hinduism - unlike the hijab in Muslims - the issue did not get a lot of traction online and offline. Indeed, many Facebook groups closed discussion on the topic, saying it wasn’t a religious issue at all.

“Had someone with a hijab been barred, the issue would have blown up and it would have been discussed at a national level. I don’t look at the nose ring as a religious symbol but rather a fashion accessory,” he says.

Jaineet Malhi, a Perth-based mum of two daughters (the elder has just started working while the younger is in Year 6) agrees. She says that although she is Sikh, she does not know of any religious stipulation or mention in Hindu scriptures about nose rings per se, unlike the kada, which all practising Sikhs must wear. Even then, she says, her elder daughter had to make concessions at school.

“At her Catholic school she was asked to not wear her kada in the Chemistry lab but that was purely for safety reasons,” she says.

“The teachers feared it might knock over beakers or get caught in other equipment. A rule is a rule. Safety is safety.”

The school itself has claimed it is ascertaining whether there are significant religious grounds for allowing the nose piercing.

THE MIGRANT CONUNDRUM: ADAPT TO NEW CULTURE, OR STAY ROOTED IN TRADITION?

Of course, immigration and retaining cultural sensibilities are not mutually exclusive, and so many people advocate for a ‘bit of both’ approach. Vish Chilumkurti, who lives near Brisbane and is the father of a seven-year-old girl, is all for assimilation into our adopted home countries. He says that the fact that we’ve moved countries means that we are in contravention of a long-held but now-obsolete Hindu belief to never cross the ocean, because doing so entailed the end of the reincarnation cycle as the traveler was cut off from the regenerating waters of the Ganges. “We have moved overseas and it has not hurt us. We should make every effort to integrate with the society here. If we have adapted to so many things, why are we being inflexible about this (the nose ring issue),” he asks.

The better way, if the nose ring was that important to Sanya, would have been for her to wear it at home, he says.

Chilumkurti adds that the coming-ofage ritual is “outdated” and that no girl “would want to advertise it”. The Hindu Council, on the other hand, says Hinduism celebrates menarche, or the first period. In its statement, it said, “In Hindu culture, a girl who achieved (sic) menarche, or her first period, is feted, and pampered at a ceremony where family and close friends gather and lavish gifts on her. The girl would be bathed in fragrant water after applying oil, turmeric etc. She would be bedecked in fine clothes, flowers and ornaments and her feet would be washed. This is because Hinduism celebrates, and does not abhor, menstruation. The Shakti philosophy upholds it as a gift which is responsible for creation of life. Nose piercing of the girl and placing a metal stud is a ritual that is invariably accompanied. As is true of any cultural or religious tradition, most Hindu parents want to and do observe these rituals very sincerely.”

Chilumkurti, for one, disagrees. “It’s almost as if you’re putting the girl on show. It’s best if she concentrated on her studies,” he says rather bluntly. Once again invoking Hindu mythology, he recalls the story of Eklavya, who cut off his right thumb and laid it at his guru Dronacharya’s feet as gurudakshina (offering to the guru). “If the girl’s family believe so much in tradition, they should do what the girl’s teachers say without questioning it,” he says.

Neelamraju, who is an administrator of a number of desi Aussie groups online, sees this as a trend of a ‘minority such as Indians in Australia beginning to stand up for and practise what they strongly believe in’. He cites the example of a family friend, where the mum is a practising Jain and the son goes to a Baptist school. “The child learns Christian culture at school and about Jain culture and customs at home,” he says.

Most schools are also making the effort to become more inclusive. Shikha Chandra says Toongabbie Public School NSW, where her children study, has Hindu scripture class and the school celebrates Diwali each year. “Some girls come in with henna from time to time but no one has any issues,” she says. “They are just curious and say it looks nice.”

SHOULD THE SCHOOL HAVE MADE AN EXCEPTION?

The reflexive counter-question to this question is: would that have set a precedent? And the answer is: almost certainly yes. Jaineet Malhisays that is enough to convince her about the school’s rationale in asking Sanya to take off her nose ring. Chilumkurti agrees. “What if some other student wears another piercing for ‘religious reasons,’” he asks.

Neelamraju says that if the Catholic school has opened itself to students of all faiths, it should be flexible in accommodating their beliefs. “They should give some consideration as long as it does not interfere with studies,” he says.

The Reddit thread on the issue also has some lively comments on the issue. “What is with the obsession that the private and religious schools have with insignificant parts of a student’s appearance? Who cares if a student has a nose piercing or if a male student has long hair, or facial hair,” asked user LordWalderFrey1. Another user, BenCelotil weighed in: “Individuality is a threat to these authority figures who see any deviation from their standards as a personal insult to themselves and, in most private schools, an affront to “gawd”." However, HotdogAccountant, another user, countered: “There is something a bit rich about sending your non-Catholic (not

even Christian) children to a Catholic school and then seeking exemptions from their policies on religious grounds.”

To this, MightiestChewbacca argued: “Then the Catholic school (sic) should be denied taxpayer funding until they end descrimination (sic).”

However, there is no apparent discrimination at Aranmore Catholic College; far from it.

Being from Perth, Malhi says she has heard good things about it. “The school is quite liberal and a lot of Muslim girls, who want to study in a Catholic school, go there and they wear a hijab. So, it is very surprising that this school is in the news on a dress code-related issue,” she says.

The bottom line is that schools are well within their rights to enforce a dress code. Most schools do expressly state what isand is not - allowed. But there are some exceptions as well. Queensland-based Indooroopilly State High School is among a handful of schools that do not have a uniform at all, but rather broad guidelines of an “acceptable standard of dress that promotes a quality learning environment for students and staff and the good image of the school in the community.” But even here, non-compliance with the dress standard “will be considered a failure to comply with school procedures and direct consequences will result.”

Not all schools are so “chill”, though. In 2012, another state high school in Queensland, Mountain Creek State High School, was accused of bullying by the then 15-year-old Amanda Gane over - guess what - a tiny nose piercing. Even then, it was the girl’s mother who had stood by her side. “I understand their policy but the nose ring won’t affect her study,” she pleaded. News reports suggest that school did not budge from its stand.

And just last year, another Queensland school, The Gap State High School, was in the news for giving a detention warning to any students who were found to be wearing shoes with heels that were too high or too low. Of course, a lot of people would remember the 2017 case of Sikh boy Sidhak Singh Arora, who was refused admission by Melton Christian College in Melbourne for wearing a turban. The case had reached the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal, which ruled in Sidhak’sfavour.

So, going back to the question - should the school have made an exception?Melton Christian College did make the exception. And yes, the case did set a precedent, so much so that the school amended its uniform policy to “allow exceptions where genuine medical or religious grounds exist.”

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE (AND WHAT PARENTS AND SCHOOLS SHOULD DO)

Communicate, communicate, communicate. That is what the Singhals - and indeed Aranmore Catholic College - should have done and the issue would not have come to this stage, a lot of interviewees said. Chilumkurti says, “If they had told the school and negotiated beforehand, the outcome would have been much better.”

Indian Link’s Pavitra Shankar agreed, “Both the parties should have sat and talked it out. It certainly wasn’t worth having all this negative attention.”

Chilumkurti recalled a similar incident about his friends’ daughter who studied at an Anglican college. “She also got her nose pierced but the parents spoke to the school beforehand and the girl could continue to wear the stud,” he said.

Sadly, it appears now that the biggest loser in this saga may be Sanya herself.

“As a teenager, she’s already going through a lot of changes. She should focus on her studies,” notes Chilumkurti. Neelamraju believes the parents and school could have met each other halfway, but he says that any parents sending their children to schools with religious denominations should not expect any leeway in terms of rules for religious reasons.

Chilumkurti says that the Indian diaspora across the world is known for its adaptability, skills and education. “Assimilation and peaceful coexistence are our core values,” he says. “That is what we should be known for.”

While the nose ring may be culturally significant, there is no requirement in Hinduism for girls entering womanhood to have their nose pierced and to retain the piercing for one year. It is not mandatory, not even according to the Hindu Council of Australia, which describes it as a “ritual” rather than a requirement.

BY MANAN LUTHRA

Now in its eighth year, the 2019 Gandhi Oration, kindly hosted by the University of New South Wales, continually reminds us that the best way to combat injustice and xenophobia is with an open mind and a big heart.

Delivering the Oration this year, Reverend Tim Costello AO told us just that. As a National Living Treasure, a man who has dedicated his life to others not only in his current position as the Chief Advocate of World Vision Australia, but also in his activism in the areas of gambling, alcohol and gun violence, Costello was an ideal speaker for the night’s event.

Much like the subject of his oration, Costello comes from the legal industry; and his activism, like Gandhi’s, draws deeply from his faith – he is a Baptist minister.

In his address, Costello discussed a variety of topics, ranging from the success of the work done by World Vision Australia, the current state of our increasingly globalised world, and the shortcomings of Australia’s investment in foreign aid. Yet, it was his ability to link the old with the new that truly stood out. Costello observed that poverty, hunger, marginalisation, violence and war remain among the forefront of global issues – as they did in Gandhi’s time. And the solutions today, Costello said, might arise from the Gandhian values of ‘self-sacrifice over self-interest, individual obligations over individual rights, renunciation over consumption, and nonviolence over violence’.

We each have a responsibility to ensure a fair and just society, Costello reminded us.

"All of us have to be a part of the solution. We all have gifts, privileges and talents to make a difference," he said.

‘Do not succumb to apathy: choose hope’

Humanitarian and social justice campaigner Tim Costello

AO delivered UNSW’s annual Gandhi Oration this year

But it was clear that it was individual agency that was crucial to Costello. He ended his speech with a rousing quote from Gandhi himself: “In a gentle way you can shake the world with the power of your beliefs, with the power of your conviction, with your devotion to the invincible truth. Love and truth… are the only things worth living for.”

To do this, Costello concluded, “We must not succumb to apathy. We must choose hope: then, anything’s possible.”

The sentiment was the crux of Costello’s address.

In it, also, we find the very essence - and timelessness - of Mahatma Gandhi.

His own work in this regard is exemplary: he detailed the outcomes of projects undertaken by World Vison Australia in disaster management as well as transformational development worldwide and within Australia.

The government on the other hand, Costello noted, could be taking its responsibility much more seriously. The startling facts he shared with the audience resonated particularly strongly: “Australia’s foreign aid budget is a mere 0.22% of its gross national income, a record low in both our national history and in

current OECD data.”

The Netherlands, he pointed out, sets aside 0.77%.

Talking of Gandhi’s espousal of nonviolence and its relevance in contemporary times, Costello said, “I believe, whatever purposes war achieved, it has now outlived all its uses.”

In this context, he derided the current government’s “credit facility for arms exporters to get us in the top ten of the world’s arms exporters – a credit facility equal to our aid budget.”

Remembrance ceremony: From left, UNSW’s Laurie Pearcey, Fiona Docherty and VC Ian Jacobs with High Commissioner AK Gondane and Consul Chandru Appar

“Australia’s foreign aid budget is a mere 0.22% of its gross national income, a record low in both our national history and in current OECD data.”

Over 80k persons donate for Pulwama martyrs through 'Bharat Ke Veer'

More than 80,000 persons have come forward since February 14 to contribute over Rs46 crore to the ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ corpus for the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack, the Indian government has said.

Over 40 troopers were killed and many more injured when an explosive-laden vehicle was rammed into a CRPF convoy in Pulwama on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on 14 February.

The ‘Bharat ke Veer’ website and mobile application was launched by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in April 2017. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was also involved in the initiative.

A total of Rs 46 crore has been collected and mostly disbursed under the initiative to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers who lost their lives in terrorist attacks, the government said.

Technically supported by National Informatics Centre (NIC) and powered by State Bank of India, the website and app allow anyone to financially support the brave hearts of their choice or donate to a general corpus. A person can donate a maximum of Rs 15 lakh to an individual trooper or the next of kin. If the amount exceeds Rs 15 lakh, the rest of the money is diverted towards the account of another trooper or the Bharat Ke Veer corpus.

The corpus is managed by a committee of eminent persons of repute and senior government officials who decide to disburse the fund equitably to the families of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel on need basis.

The CAPFs are armed forces under the Union Home Ministry and comprise of Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

India Inc offers support to Pulwama victims' kin

India Inc has come together to support the families of CRPF troopers killed and injured in the Pulwama terror attack, at a time when the central government is taking stern economic measures against Pakistan.

In the worst-ever attack in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy erupted in 1989,

a suicide bomber rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pulwama district, killing as many as 40 troopers and leaving many injured.

Soon after the attack, the government ended the 'most favoured nation' (MFN) status of Pakistan besides hiking customs duty to 200 per cent on all goods imported from the neighbouring country.

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) said it will contribute an amount equivalent to one day's salary of all its group employees to the ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ trust, set up by the government to support the families of the central armed police forces (CAPF) killed or injured in the line of duty.

Other companies such as the State Bank of India (SBI) too have announced special initiatives for the slain CRPF troopers.

"All the CRPF troopers were customers of the bank under the Defence Salary Package where the bank provides insurance of Rs 30 lakh to each of the defence personnel. The bank is taking steps to expedite release of insurance money to the next of kin of the martyred troopers," the SBI said in a statement.

"Twenty-three troopers had availed loans from the SBI. The bank has decided to waive all outstandings with immediate effect," it said.

The bank has also created a unified payments interface (UPI) for the ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ initiative to help people easily make monetary contributions.

SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said, "It is extremely distressing and disturbing to witness the loss of lives of soldiers who always stand for the safety of our country. In this moment of grief, our sincere thoughts are with the families of our brave hearts."

"These initiatives by the bank are a small gesture towards the families which have faced irreparable loss," he added.

The Reliance Foundation said it was ready to "assume full responsibility" for the livelihood of the Pulwama terror attack victims' families, besides taking care of the children's education and employment.

The foundation also said it was prepared to provide "the best possible treatment to the injured troopers."

"We shall also deem it to be our duty to shoulder any responsibility the government may place upon us in service to our beloved armed forces," it said in a statement.

Reliance Foundation is the philanthropic

arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, headed by founder Nita Ambani.

In addition, Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, has offered to bear the education expenses of the children of security personnel killed in the Pulwama attack.

"Bharti Foundation will reach out to the individual families and bear all education related expenses for their children till they graduate from college," the foundation said in a statement.

Supreme Court to consider PIL on Article 370

The Supreme Court has said it would go into a PIL challenging Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Give mentioning memo to Registrar. We will see it," a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi told petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, advocate and a BJP leader, who mentioned the matter before the Bench.

The petitioner said the matter was of extreme national importance and should be heard on priority.

The public interest litigation (PIL) said the issues that court should decide are whether the powers of the President under the Article 370 are executive or legislative or constitutional and by virtue of nature of powers, whether there are any express limitation upon such powers while making any modification and in the matter of application of any Article to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The court should also decide whether the powers of the President under Article 370 are not co-extensive with the powers of Parliament and whether Article 35A, whereby the powers of Parliament to make law violating the fundamental rights have been transferred to the state legislature and such a law having been rendered non-justiciable under the central law is beyond the powers of the President to make modifications and restrictions under Article 370.

Upadhyay, in his plea, has contended the special provision was "temporary" in nature at the time of framing of the Constitution and Article 370(3) lapsed with the dissolution of the J&K Constituent Assembly on January 26, 1957.

The petition contended that Article 35A was "arbitrary" and "contrary" to various provisions that guarantee fundamental rights to citizens.

The plea also seeks a declaration from the apex court that the separate Constitution of J&K was "arbitrary" and "unconstitutional" on various grounds, including that it was against the "supremacy of the Constitution of India and contrary to dictum of 'One Nation, One Constitution, One National Anthem and One National Flag'".

"The Constitution of J&K is invalid mainly for the reason that the same has not yet got the assent of the President, which is mandatory as per provisions of the Constitution of India," the plea said.

Article 370 is a "temporary provision" with respect to J&K and restricts the applicability of various provisions of the Constitution by "curtailing" the power of Parliament to make laws on subjects which fall under the Union and Concurrent lists, it said.

Chandigarh's Rose Festival to be dedicated to CRPF martyrs

The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has decided to dedicate the 47th Rose Festival to the CRPF troopers martyred in the Pulwama terror attack.

"It was unanimously decided that the whole festival will be dedicated to the nation. It was decided that patriotic songs and instrumental performances will be showcased during the event," a Corporation spokesman said.

The event will also see traditional competitions for children in simple functions including Rose Prince and Princess, display of photography competition, kite flying competition (in tricolour only), Rose Quiz and on-the-spot painting competition, he added.

"The savings from the Rose Festival's approved budget will be dedicated to the families of CRPF martyrs," the spokesman said. A cultural evening of patriotic songs and plays will be organised at the main stage of the Zakir Rose Garden in Sector 16, dedicated to the brave soldiers.

The Municipal Corporation has decided to set up an enclosure right in front of the entrance dedicated to the CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack. It will enable the dignitaries and visitors coming to the Rose Garden to pay their tributes to the soldiers during the three-day event.

The Rose Festival is a popular annual event being organised in Chandigarh for the last 47 years.

Bhopal school girls pay tribute to the martyred Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers, 15 Feb 2019.

Photo: AP

The three-year-old son of slain soldier Tilak Raj watches as his father’s remains are brought back home to Dharamsala, India, 15 Feb 2019. Raj’s second son is four weeks old.

Telangana Police's face recognition tool reunites missing girl with family

Telangana Police's face recognition tool 'Darpan' has reunited a seven-year-old missing girl with her parents after two years.

The girl who went missing in January 2017 in Hyderabad was traced in Shahpur block of Madhya Pradesh's Betul district through 'Darpan'.

This was achieved by batch processing of photographs of missing persons in Telangana with persons found across the country, police said.

After getting the match, state CID traced her to the Ebenzer Education Society, an NGO.

The CID team informed the girl's parents and they rushed to Betul, where the girl was united with the family.

It was on January 4, 2017 that the missing case was registered at Bahadurpura police station in the old city of Hyderabad. It was later transferred to CID and its Women Protection Cell was investigating the case.

"This is the 18th case in which Darpan has united a missing person with his/her family through remotely processing images available in the public domain. This is an example of how artificial intelligence can be used to make things possible," said Additional Director General, CID, Govind Singh.

Last week, a 14-year-old special needs boy, who went missing from his house in Madhya Pradesh was traced in Bengaluru by 'Darpan'. The boy was handed over to his family.

Salman Shaik, a resident of Chiman Ganj Mandi police station limits in Ujjain, had left his house in June last. The boy was traced to Government Balak Ashram, Hossur Road in Bengaluru.

Indian product designed to stop bleeding poised to go global

A product to stop bleeding, made by an Indian company with extract from shellfish, is poised to become a global brand with its widespread use by the defence forces and hospitals in various countries besides Indian forces.

The first Indian haemostatic product to be approved by USFDA, Axiostat, manufactured by AxioBiosolutions, is gearing up to give multinationals a run for their money.

According to the company, all front-line

Indian defence and security forces are currently using the product, as well as forces of five other countries, mostly in the Middle East as its customers while trials are under underway for use by the military in three European countries.

The company, during last three-and-half years, has shipped 5 lakh units of Axiostat from its facility in Ahmedabad and is looking at doubling this number next year.

With majority of fatalities in road accidents occurring because of bleeding, axiostat can help saving the lives as it stops bleeding immediately. Surgeons are also finding the product useful in controlling the bleeding during surgeries, especially during cardiovascular surgeries.

So far the hospitals were using haemostats developed by multinationals with their price ranging between Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 for single use. Axiostat is available in India at onefifth of these prices, Axio founder and CEO, Leo Mavely told IANS.

Axiostat is available in 12 different variants designed for different applications. It is for dental use is priced at just Rs 30 while the one for dialysis patients it is available at Rs 50. The one used for military personnel costs Rs 2,000 and personnel of the Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Rashtriya Rifles, Greyhounds, Black Cat commandos and Para Commandos carry two of the variants in their field kit.

"We use a novel polymer called chitosan. Its unique property is that it is positively charged while the blood is negatively charged. When applied on bleeding injury, it becomes extremely sticky and stops bleeding. It was found it safe to use on all patients, even those with blood disorders," said Movely, a bioengineer.

Extracted from shellfish, Chitosan gives structural strength to its shell. The company extracts and purifies it for medical use.

The company has research collaboration with Harvard Medical School and Stanford Medical School. Dr Shiladitya Sengupta, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has joined Axio as the chairman of Scientific Advisory Board.

The USFDA approval, coupled with collaboration of top US medical schools, is expected to help the company foray into US market. As US Army buys products made by US firms, Axio plans to float a US subsidiary for supplies to the army, hospitals and also over-the-counter sales.

Axio is currently exporting to 15 countries

and the number is expected to double. "Primary market for us is conflict-hit countries in Middle East," the CEO said.

The haemostat market is estimated to be over $2.5bn globally. There are 4-5 companies worldwide who have succeeded in commercialising a haemostat capable of controlling arterial bleeding. However, unlike their products which carry protein and cause a reaction, Axiostat has no additives.

The equity investment in AxioBiosolutions so far has been $9.5 million including $7.4 million raised from Ratan Tata's UC-RNT along with Accel Partners, and IDG Ventures India.

University of Sydney partners with Indian B-Schools to offer Rs 25 million scholarships

The University of Sydney has announced a partnership with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Tech Mahindra and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to provide scholarships worth more than Rs25 million to Indian students.

The scholarship scheme aims to help discover India's next leaders and the "one idea that will bring positive change to the country".

"We live in a globalised world and when our students enter the workforce, they will have to work with colleagues, clients and stakeholders from around the world," Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Sydney, said in a statement.

"The best way for us to give them the intercultural and interpersonal skills they need for their future careers is to ensure that they have international experience as part of their degrees," Spence added.

The scheme includes three scholarships of approximately Rs 2.5 million each for undergraduate students paid over the duration of any undergraduate degree up to four years; 10 first-year scholarships of approximately Rs 1 million each for undergraduate and postgraduate students; and 15 first-year scholarships of approximately Rs 500,000 each for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

It is open to applicants who are Indian citizens currently residing in India and applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at the University of Sydney.

The University's TISS partnership will look at real-world projects, developed and managed by both universities' academic

staff, focusing on economic development, environmental sustainability and social inequality.

With Tech Mahindra, the varsity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at allowing student groups to work with an academic supervisor and industry experts on problems around Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

With IIT Bombay, the University will facilitate the mobility of doctoral students between the two institutions -- with research projects focusing on a broad range of areas including nanoscale science and technology.

Abu Dhabi adds Hindi as third language

in courts

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has added Hindi as the third official language to be spoken in the city's courts, alongside Arabic and English.

According to the ADJD, this step was aimed at helping foreigners to learn about litigation procedures, their rights and duties without a language barrier, in addition to facilitating registration procedures via unified forms available through the Department's website, The Khaleej Times reported.

"The adoption of multilingual interactive forms for claim sheets, grievances and requests, aims to promote judicial services and increase the transparency of litigation procedures," Yousef Saeed Al Abri, undersecretary of the ADJD, said.

"This is in addition to facilitating registration procedures to the public through simplified and easy forms and raising litigants' legal awareness via interactive forms of the statements of claims, to ensure access to the legal materials related to the subject of the dispute."

Al Abri explained that the adoption of new languages comes as part of the bilingual litigation system, the first phase of which was launched in November 2018, through the adoption of procedures requiring the plaintiffs to translate case documents in civil and commercial lawsuits into English, if the defendant is a foreigner.

Of the United Arab Emirates' population of over 9 million people, 88.5 per cent are expatriate workers, according to official figures.

Indians account for 38 per cent of the population. IANS

Photo: AP

At its inaugural conference

Elevate 2019 held in February, the Young Sikh Professionals Network (YSPN) explored the concept of sewa in a rapidly changing world.

Hosting what was described as the “largest gathering of Sikh professionals globally”, YSPN made sure the atmosphere was buzzing - with 165 local members, interstate visitors and international panellists coming together to dissect current trends and share stories of what it means to be Sikh in the working world.

Sewa, which means ‘to serve’, is a core principle of Sikhism. Chair Ramneek Singh launched the day by challenging the idea that sewa is just serving langar and doing dishes at the gurudwara once a week.

Sikhs have a proud history of driving the community forward, he said, so what does sewa mean in today’s world?

The theme was unpacked through five panel discussions, beginning with a session on the migration and development of Australia’s Sikh community. Harjit Singh, one of the co-founders of the Australian Sikh Heritage Association had the audience chuckling when he fondly referred to the community as “members of a gang”. When asked on their views about the future of the community, the panellists remarked that there is still a long way to go for the wider community to understand what a Sikh is. The audience was challenged to broaden the scope of sewa to create a more visible community.

The business and politics panels both discussed the practice of sewain professional and personal circumstances. Most of the panellists had a similar notion: that daily gestures of reaching out to your colleagues or community were forms of sewa in the modern world. Vivek Bhatia, Chief Executive Officer of QBE Insurance Group, emphasised that “sewa is not what we do on the side, it’s what we do on a day-to-day basis”. Politics itself is a form of modern day sewa, in reaching out to the community regularly.

Sikh roles in politics are becoming more prominent. Australia’s first Sikh councillor John Arkan of Coffs Harbour, stated, “In Australian history, we are entering a new era, an era of inclusion with the sight for more women and more Sikhs in parliament.”

It was the former Singapore MP, Inderjit Singh’s words that hammered in the final nail of inspiration. “In India, we are a minority. Here, we are a minority within a minority. Yet, we still make an impact.”

The panel that elicited the most laughter from the audience was the entrepreneurship panel. With four diverse guests speaking about their experiences in creating businesses under the teachings of Sikhism, the panel was sure to be a hit. But it was Simran Gambhir, the Director of Ganemo Group, who had the room in splits with his brutal honesty regarding start-up businesses. His quips ranged from “Balance is an unattainable goal as an entrepreneur”, to “Mentorship? That’s just old people telling you what they got wrong when they did it. So don’t get a mentor.”

However, the panel connected their passion to something more than just personal goals. They explained that being an entrepreneur is built into the very DNA of Sikhs. Being an entrepreneur is a sewa of its own.

For a conference aimed at the youth, there

were few young panellists on stage. It would have been interesting to see what earlycareer professionals have to say on some of these matters.

However, the event was certainly successful in inspiring the audience to reconsider and extend the notion of sewa in their contemporary lives. With the bar set high, we can’t wait to see what the conference brings next year.

Sahibnoor Singh and Devna Luthra

YSPN was formed in 2012 with the aim of empowering young Indian diaspora in the workforce by providing mentorship, developing networks and building advocacy in the Sikh and Aussie professional communities.

To learn more, visit www.yspn.org.au

Unpacking concept sewa

International Sikh conference 2019 shows how faith practices in professional

ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS

YSPN launched a report entitled 'Economic conference’s gala dinner. The main

Demographics

n There are 125,000 Sikhs in Australia

n Sikhism is the fastest growing religion in Australia, with a 404% growth rate from 2006 to 2016

n Sikhs have outpaced population growth with a 17.5% annual growth rate, compared to Australia’s growth rate of 1.6%

n Sikhism is the youngest religion in Australia with 84% of the population under the age of 40

Unpacking the concept of sewa

conference Elevate faith can guide best professional life

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SIKHS TO AUSTRALIA

'Economic Impact of Sikhs 2019' at the Elevate findings of the report are as follows.

Productivity

n 87% of the Sikh population above 15 finish secondary school, compared to 52% of the Australian population

n 70% of working aged Sikhs in Australia were employed compared to 56% of the overall working-age population

n Sikhs contributed $8.1billion to Australia’s GDP in 2016

n Australian Sikh GPD contribution grew 6 times between 2006 and 2016

WHAT’S ON

HOLI

Blacktown Holi

Sun 10 March (11.00am-4.00pm)

Fraser Property Australia in association with Indian Link and Gujarati Samaj NSW organises Holi at Fairwater Park (off Richmond Rd) Blacktown. Free entry.

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.

STAGE

Short + Sweet

7 Feb - 27 April Short and Sweet is a festival of ten-minute plays and theatre pieces. Upcoming Indian links include:

Red Jacket by Hemalatha Swaminathan of Chennai theatre company 4swithin. Directed by G Krishnamurthy and starring Tejaswini

Vijay and Dvij Krishnamurthy

The Eye of the Storm by Sonal Moore. Directed by Taufeeq Sheikh and starring Conchita Desouza, Suman

Mathur & Dinesh Karuthedath

#MeToo by Liz Crawshaw. Starring

Avantika Tomar and Abhiskek

Mehotra with choreography by Zarmar Pandya Joshi of Iksham Dance School.

Venue: Surry Hills’ Tom Mann

Auditorium. Details www. shortandsweet.org/sydney

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

Bharathanatyam Recital

Mon 4 Mar (8.00pm – 9.15pm)

Solo Bharathanatyam Recital by Sharanga Satchidanandam on the occasion of Maha Sivarathiri. At Sydney Murugan Temple, 217 Great Western Hwy, Mays Hill. Details (02) 9687 1695.

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.

Harbour City Bhangra

Sat 2 Mar (3.00pm – 8.00pm)

Harbour City Bhangra 2019 celebrates its 5th anniversary with crackling performances and an after party show. At Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. Details 02 8839 3399.

Qissebaazi

Sat 9 Mar (7.00pm – 9.00pm)

Qissebaaziis a playful telling of stories, derived from dastangoi. Nautanki Theatre Company and Macquarie University will also run an interactive masterclass followed

by a Q & A session with Danish Hussain. At T1 Theatre, Building Y3A, Macquarie University, 10 Hadenfeld Ave, Macquarie Park. Details 0432 832 311.

BollyAus Nationals 2019

Fri 15 Mar (6.00pm – 9.30pm)

The BollyAus Network presents Filmy-Fusion dance competition, BollyAus Nationals 2019. Over 130 competitors, from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra battle it out to be crowned Australia's best FilmyFusion dance team. At UNSW Science Theatre, F13, UNSW, Union Rd, Kensington. Details 02 9385 1515.

Vir Das in Sydney

Sat 23 Mar (7.00pm – 9.30pm)

India's top comic, Vir Das comes back to Sydney. At Sir John Clancy Auditorium, 9 High St, Kensington. Details 02 9385 1515.

COMMUNITY

Prayers for Pulwama

Sun 24 Feb (6.30pm)CIA is organising a prayer meet for slain Indian soldiers in light of the Pulwama attack. At the Shree Shirdi Sai Baba temple, 25 Rose Crescent, Regents Park, NSW. Details 0400 300 111.

Diabetes education seminar

Sat 2 Mar (2.00pm - 4:30pm) SEVA

International Inc. in collaboration with Diabetes NSW & ACT presents a free Diabetes Education Seminar with a panel of health professionals for the Indian sub-continent community.

Venue: Uniting Church Hall, 11 Carrington Ave, Strathfield. Details Shantha 0422 082 608

MISC

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 organisations such as NSW Department of Health, AWAVA, White Ribbon Australia. Details email pallavisinha1@hotmail.com

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. Film Premiere: A Prayer for Compassion

Thu 7 Mar (7:30pm -10:30pm)

Sydney premiere of A Prayer For Compassion, a film by Films For Change Sydney. The film follows Thomas Jackson on a quest across America, to Morocco for the UN Climate Conference and throughout the Indian subcontinent to ask people about compassion.

Venue: Govindas Cinema & Restaurant 112 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst.

Details 0425 333 086.

Empowering migrant women: Settlement pathways

Sat 16 March (10.00am - 3.00pm) Free workshops organised by Lean

In, featuring resume writing and resume review, interview skills, professional guidance, dress for success, business set up skills, and migrant women’s success stories.

Venue: Hornsby RSL, 4 High St, Hornsby. Details Sue Advani 0417

210 268

SPIRITUAL

550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanank Dev

Fri 22 Feb (5.30pm-6.30pm) Talk by Manjinder Singh, President Punjabi Sahitik Forum Sydney “Life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji”. Venue: Consulate of India (Sydney) Level 2, 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Details 02 9223 2702.

Sant Nirankari Mission Sydney weekly congregations

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 Uditram

ananda ji of The Divine Life Society of Australia offers free Yoga classes every Tuesday from 7.00pm-8.15pm at Strathfield Girls High School. All levels of fitness welcomed. Entrance via Oxford Rd. Details Karo 0413 535 157.

Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Public Celebration

Sun 10 Mar (10.30am to 1.00pm)

Silent meditation, vedic chants, panel session exploring experiences on generating spiritual joy in our lives. At Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon. Details 0408 029 336.

FUNDRAISER

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.

International Women’s Day

Sun 10 Mar (11.00am - 3.00pm) UIA presents a fundraiser for Opportunity

International Australia. Venue: Haveli Function Centre, 1/57 Main St, Blacktown. Details Sue Advani 0417 210 268.

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.

SENIORS

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

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

talks. At Wentworthville Community Centre, Grevillea Hall, 2 Main St, Wentworthville. Details 0410 455 972. AASHA

Hornsby Every second and fourth Friday of the month, 11.00am2.00pm. Venue Hornsby Youth and Community Centre, cnr Muriel and Burdett Sts, Hornsby, close to Hornsby Station. Programs feature yoga, music, dance, games, health and tech presentations, health checks and light lunch. Details 0412 786 569.

Crows Nest Every third Wednesday of the month, 10.00am -11.30am. Venue 2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest. Social event with free tea. Details 02 9439 5122.

ENTERTAINMENT

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. Unity Bollywood Concert 2019

Sat 2 March (7.00pm onwards)

This event returns with another impressive line-up of performers including live music by Sydney’s premier band, Saaz Band Sydney. At The Diamond Showroom, Blacktown Workers Club, 55 Campbell St, Blacktown. Details 0412 779 418.

Sapna Chaudhary Live

Sun 10 Mar (7.00pm onwards)

Sapna Chaudhary performs live in Sydney. At Whitlam Leisure Centre, 90A Memorial Ave, Liverpool, Sydney. Details 02 9600 9333.

Indian Rhythms Zumba

Sun 10 Mar (5:00pm - 6:30pm)

Venue: Polish Club 73-75 Norton St, Ashfield. Details 02 9798 7469.

Kool Jodis

Sat 30 March (2.00pm9.00pm) Kool Jodis - Game

Show with live music concert with Anand Aravindakshan and PragathiGuruprasad. At Sydney Sri Durga Devi Devasthanam, 21 Rose Crescent, Regents Park. Details 02 9644 6682.

Regarlanding THE BODY

BY APARNA ANANTHUNI

asmine. it might simply be a pretty flower in the Western gaze, but in South Asian cultures, especially in South India, the jasmine is replete with connotations of youth, sensuality, sexual awakening, and delicate femininity.

Just as the jasmine expresses a multilayered meaning, so does the Indic dancing body. And in their new show ‘Third Nature’, Raina Peterson and Govind Pillai (In Plain Sanskrit, Bent Bollywood) meld these two in a joyous, sensuous, and vulnerable celebration of the non-binary, ungendered, uncolonised body.

Instead of examining deloconisation, this show - in an entrancing departure from other contemporary South Asian dance work - celebrates a state in which the body is utterly free, a time before we as people of colour, as colonised people, and people of varied and fluid gender identities, were bound and corseted into hard notions of dual gender, cautious sexuality, Eurocentric ‘propriety’, and Victorian guilt. Using their respective dance vocabularies of Mohiniyattam, and a seamlessly blended soundtrack of popular and traditional Indian music, and, most of all, sprawling, abundant garlands of jasmine hung from the stage ceiling and piled on the stage itself, Peterson and Pillai create a world of enchantment, fantasy, and above all, unfettered, joyous pleasure.

Bare-chested, clad in only simple white shorts, the pair explore the possibilities that the jasmine – as much a third performer in this show as a beautiful, fantastical prop –offers them, separately and together. Pillai’s hand reaches through the jasmine, shaping

itself into dance ‘mudras’, beckoning to Peterson. Peterson’s character entices Pillai’s into enjoying the touch of jasmine on the body. And at the piece’s peak, the pair began to tear down the jasmine garlands, laughing, kissing, throwing them at one another, winding them around each other’s bodies, tussling with one another through riotous piles of flowers, in a game of pure sexual liberation and joy. This part of the show struck me not just for the raucous, melodic celebration of identity and self, but as an evocation of the ‘divine pleasure’ that Indic dance often celebrates. The destructive workings of colonialism and nationalism meant that today in Indic dance and music, transportative bodily pleasure is almost exclusively reserved for the portrayal of gods and goddesses. After all, jasmine is also a flower that is used to decorate – in fact often envelop - divine bronze bodies in temples or private shrines. But Peterson and Pillai re-inscribe divine pleasure onto their own human bodies, and in doing so they free them, and us, from the falsehood that to be human is to be limited.

The other highlight, for me, was the solo, improvised, expressive section Peterson performed, after the jasmine revels ended in sudden fall and depression. Evoking the withering of the flower with hands and face, they harnessed the deeper potential of the Indic dance body and its emotional expression (called ‘abhinaya’ or ‘bhav’). This particular kind of expression has a unique power – it allows the dancer to tell multiple, fleeting, intense stories at once, through the play of expression, the pathos of the hands.

Peterson’s character is saved from their melancholy by Pillai’s, who, rising from their sleep/depression, reaches out across the drifts of jasmine to them.

There is hope. Our abundance is not lost. We have no limits. And we can give ourselves permission to play.

When strings of jasmine celebrate not only identity but also the ungendered body

Raina Peterson and Govind Pillai re-inscribe divine pleasure onto their own human bodies, and in doing so they free them, and us, from the falsehood that to be human is to be limited.

First-time film-maker Leela Varghese wins big at Tropfest 2019

Crushing it

BY NEHA MALUDE

'It’s the biggest highlight of my film career,” Leela Varghese tells Indian Link

The 27-year-old (with the maturity of a 22-year-old, she insists) Bundaberg-born film-maker is talking about being one of the 16 finalists in Tropfest 2019, the world’s largest short film festival.

Started in 1993 by Australian film-maker John Polson, it’s one of Australia’s most iconic cultural events that creates platforms for film-makers to generate new content and share their stories. These ‘stories’ are short films that must be less than seven minutes long and have to feature that year’s Tropfest Signature Item (TSI).

This year, Leela’s film Crush was the only entry by an Indian-origin film-maker. It won three awards – Best Actor for lead Shabana Azeez, Best Editing for Pip Hart and Best Screenplay for Leela.

For Leela, it’s all been a ‘really big deal’. Interestingly, her plan to enter Tropfest was… well, unplanned. “I had just finished working on a kids TV show Totally Wild as a presenterproducer,” she recounts. “It was the first time I was totally free – no job, nothing. After always having worked, it felt strange and so I wanted to fill the void and do something productive. I wanted to make something that would launch my career as a writer-director. It was totally spontaneous and last minute. The deadline was super close so I hustled around and got a crew of 20-odd together. We shot the entire film in one day!”

For Leela, everything fell into place so well that “it just felt like it was meant to happen”.

Crush is the story of Lizzy, who’s obsessed with novelty candles. But the truth is her “burning” desire isn’t just for candles - it’s for the girl selling them. The story follows her as the question remains: will she work up the courage to ask her out or will she just buy out the whole store?

(Note that this year’s TSI was ‘candle’).

You can’t miss the fact that the protagonist is from an ethnic background and queer. But Leela is quick to clarify that her story isn’t about “being queer” or “ethnically diverse”, rather it’s just a love story. She did, however, in a subtle way want to challenge stereotypes.

“We make assumptions and generalisations – like a person from an ethnically diverse background doesn’t generally play the lead, or that a gay person is supposed to look a certain way. With Crush, I wanted to thrash those stereotypes out.”

But for Leela, whose father is Indian and mum Lebanese, it wasn’t easy to go through with the film, not at first at any rate. “I thought about going with a boy-girl story first, even

though the original idea involved two girls,” she reveals. “I think I was scared. Add to that the fact that I come from a multicultural background. Even when this interview with Indian Link was scheduled, I wondered, ‘Hmm… is an Indian newspaper going to be willing to write about a film about queer people? Is an Indian audience going to be okay reading it?’” she laughed.

Eventually, she says, the film felt unauthentic and she decided to stick to the original idea. “It just wouldn’t have had the same impact,” she says, “more so because of the ending which I obviously can’t give away right now. When you see the film, you’ll get it.”

As for her parents’ reaction to the film, Leela laughs yet again. “You know, I think they didn’t actually get it. But that’s okay. They’re very proud of me, but dad didn’t even know what Tropfest was. Having said that, Crush really isn’t a film for parents, it’s made for a younger demographic. And that’s okay.”

And for her target audience, Leela had hoped the film “makes them laugh”, which it did. “I’m not trying to make some groundbreaking political statement. I am just trying to surprise people. That it might make them think about other issues, is a bonus.”

Leela, who’s already scored a funding for a new web series pilot starting this year, says mediums like web series and short films are perfect for the new generation. “Viewers today have shorter attention spans. They want something snippy, engaging and easy to watch. It’s why new platforms like these are so popular now. Bear in mind, though, you can tell a lot in seven minutes.”

A second later, she adds with a smile, “And of course, it doesn’t cost as much as a feature film!”

“Viewers today have shorter attention spans. They want something snippy, engaging and easy to watch. Bear in mind, though, you can tell a lot in seven minutes.”

Why being a number - not a name - is necessary

Assessment is at its most effective when students are unidentifiable

BY MOHAN DHALL

Students need to be known for who they are. Teachers knowing student names, understanding who they are and supporting them as they need, is a characteristic of safe schools. However, sometimes being known can be incredibly unfair and can lead to destructive outcomes. There are good reasons for students at times in school to be anonymous, unknown and unidentifiable.

This is particularly the case when writing exams or doing other written assessment tasks involving measurement, comparison and ranking.

There are schools throughout Australia that do not allow students to have the benefit of anonymity during exams and assessments. This had led to destructive and scarcely believable outcomes as the following case studies will attest to.

At one particular school I know, the principal refuses to allow students in Years 11 and 12 to use their Stategiven student number on assessment tasks. At this school, the students find they are judged by their family name, their prior history and the personal likes, dislikes and preferences of the teachers. The effect of a lack of anonymity is that students feel that any exam taking is a useless, frustrating, personally devaluing and a counterproductive exercise.

Requests by parents of the students for the school to act in accordance with basic standards have been refused by the principal and the teachers. In one instance, the principal’s door was closed on a parent’s face.

The parent in question is an educator whose child refuses to play games and praise the teachers. This child will not even question fundamental factual errors in content, because to do so will bring criticism and a public scolding.

At another school, a student was given a mark by a replacement casual teacher who assessed the work on behalf of the regular teacher. The student was given a mark of 16/20 against criteria supplied for the task. The mark given by the replacement teacher was then crossed out and reduced to 11 by the regular teacher before returning the work to the student.

The teacher’s comment to the casual

teacher was, “He could not have done that well. I think you wrote the wrong mark down.”

The replacement teacher was confounded by the exchange. This teacher had been a Head of Department and had experience as a senior marker of HSC exams.

“What hope does this boy have?” the replacement teacher remarked later. “His work was well-prepared and well ordered. Comparatively, against peers and the marking guideline, it was a superior effort. I am not sure what has transpired between this teacher and that boy, but against the criteria, he could not have obtained less than 15/20.”

These practices, occurring in some schools have the effect of undermining student confidence, eroding confidence in the system and affecting self-esteem for years.

Is the system of numbers failsafe?

Even in schools where numbers are used, problems can exist when teachers have their pre-determined winners and losers. This is evident in a private school English Department where a student with dyslexia reversed two of the numbers of her assigned student number when sitting her English exam

When she received her task back, it had full marks. However, as the teacher handed the scripts back, she said, “This cannot be you.” The student said, “Yes, that is me. It is my writing.” The teacher repeated, “No. This is not you. You have made a mistake.”

The teacher was right – the student had made a mistake. It transpired that the student’s numerical error had given her the same number as a top achieving student. The English markers had access to the student numbers prior to the marking and had therefore marked accordingly.

The common theme here is that when teachers know who the students are, bias and preconceptions can affect the marking process. When students are “known”, marking processes can be corrupt. When I have said this to colleagues in schools where names, not numbers are used, the usual repost is that the teacher can identify the student through their handwriting anyway.

That this is even a consideration suggests that some teachers will do anything they can to keep students from doing well. That is, they mark on the basis of what is supposed rather than what is evident.

All parents should expect that their child is anonymous and that this anonymity be consistent with the principle espoused by Themis, the Lady of Justice. Wearing a blindfold, she dispenses justice without bias, favouritism or personal preference. It should be a fundamental expectation and even a requirement of school registration that students be anonymous when they sit an exam, in any year of their education.

The balance of students being both known and unknown should be the goal of every school.

When teachers know who the students are, bias and preconceptions can affect the marking process

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aUSTraLIaN BraNCHeS

The southern coastline of Sri Lanka

Check out the stunning beaches, rich cultural heritage and abundant wildlife

and whale watching at Mirissa (between November to April).

BY PETRA O’NEILL

COLOMBO

I set out early on my first day in Colombo, heading for Galle Face Green, a strip of well-trodden lawn, with vendors selling ice cream, hot snacks and grilled seafood, and where locals mingle, play cricket and fly kites. I walked along the Green to the Fort, the heart of Colombo with a rich cultural heritage reflective in the architectural melting pot of Dutch, Portuguese and British influences, including the 17th century Dutch-built ramparts, Old Dutch Hospital, President’s House, Lighthouse Clock Tower and Grand Oriental Hotel.

Following the winding laneways and narrow streets of the Fort, I then entered the bazaar district of Pettah - a frantic, noisy and fascinating neighbourhood, with traders selling aromatic spices, fruit and vegetables, Ayurveda medicine and herbs. Following the disorientating lanes, I eventually arrived at Cinnamon Gardens - an upscale area with grand mansions, high-end boutiques, and sights including the grandiose Old Town Hall, Victoria Memorial and Viharamahadevi Botanical Gardens, with its giant Buddha.

One of the benefits of visiting Sri Lanka is how easy it is get around, as the island is so compact: cities are walkable, roads are generally good, and touring with a car and driver allows you to sit back, relax and take in the lush tropical scenery.

HAMBANTOTA

The following day I arrived at the islands’ South-Eastern tip, to visit the expansive grounds of the Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort and Spa that hugs the Indian Ocean, offering spectacular views.

That night, over a delicious Sri Lankan curry, Moshi Perena, the General Manager of the Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort, recommended local suggestions for renowned National Parks. Yala National Park, which I explored the following day, has the world’s highest concentration of leopards, as well as boasting impressive numbers of elephants, sambars, sloth bears, jackals, and crocodiles. Bundala is an important wetland area for migratory birds, flamingos, pelicans, herons and egrets, and Udawalawe, is home to a large elephant population. Other local suggestions include surfing at Arugam Bay,

TANGALLE

After a tuktuk ride past orchards, rice paddies, tea plantations and rainforest, I arrived at Tangalle. We drove down a succession of scenic bays until we reached a narrow, winding road leading down to the Amanwella Resort with views that stretch out across a stunning crescent shaped beach of golden sand, regarded as one of Asia’s finest.

The town of Tangalle is attractive, with a large fishing fleet, colonial buildings, a busy market, and nearby temples. I visited the magnificent Mulkirigala Rock Temple– that rises steeply toward the sky, with reclining Buddha statues, and cave temples painted with ancient murals and after climbing 500 steps to the top I was rewarded with glorious views of the lush landscape below.

GALLE

The drive to Galle follows golden sandy bays, rocky headlands and a string of settlements that stretch along the coastline. Most of these settlements are rustic except Unawatuna, a former fishing village now bustling from international development and Koggala beach, a popular tourist destination to view the renowned stilt fishermen.

Founded in 1505 by a Portuguese captain seeking refuge from a storm, Galle became popular when it was discovered to offer a

TRAVEL FILE

rich array of spices, and was taken over by the Dutch in 1640 and the British in 1796.

UNESCO has world heritage listed Galle, one of Sri Lanka’s highlights; a place that reveals itself slowly and well deserving of several days’ stay.

A fortified town that is best discovered on foot, start from the old ramparts which offer glorious sea views before descending to discover the labyrinth of alleyways, warehouses and low slung former merchant’s bungalows. As the winding streets run into one another, lined with boutiques and cafes, you will also see locals who call the streets home, thereby preserving the town’s unique, cultural charm.

As a port of call for passengers travelling by ship between Europe and Asia and Australia, Galle during the 19th century built several first class hotels, which have all been beautifully preserved and restored. The most splendid is Amangalla, formerly the New Oriental Hotel – the former residence of the Dutch governor, built in 1684. This hotel is one of Asia’s oldest and is simply exquisite, with the décor blending in perfectly with the original antique furnishings and fixtures, and a lush tropical

GETTING THERE Singapore Airlines

GETTING AROUND Driving your self in Sri Lanka is not advised, trains offer postcard views, but cover only part of the island. Buses are impossibly crowded. An English-speaking driver/guide is recommended. All hotels I stayed at can make touring arrangements and offer daily excursions.

WHERE TO STAY Sri Lanka offers exceptional accommodation choices with exemplary service. In Colombo, the historic Galle Face Hotel or brand-new Shangri-La Hotel are the best places to be. Along the southern coastline, the Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa is deserving of several days’ stay. At Tangalle, Amanwella is architecturally stunning in an idyllic location, and in Galle, Amangallais one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in.

garden of hibiscus, fragrant frangipani and mature banyan trees.

Amangalla also offers a variety of meals to be eaten along the gorgeous, long colonnaded verandah, from breakfast of tropical fruits, thick buffalo curd, drizzled with kitul palm syrup and savoury hoppers, to the afternoon tea of fluffy scones, to a dinner of assorted traditional Sri Lankan curries.

Feeling disinclined to leave I reluctantly bought a train ticket and hopped aboard to Colombo. The route hugged the coastline, as we passed swaying coconut palms along the beach, local markets and fishing villages. All along the way, waves lapped just metres from the track. I ended my time in Sri Lanka with a final night in Colombo at the Galle Face Hotel, a grand colonial seaside hotel dating back to 1864. As the bagpipes played and the flags were taken down and neatly folded, a longstanding tradition at the hotel, I enjoyed a fruit-filled cocktail and reclined in my wicker chair to watch the sunset casting its orange glow, and felt more relaxed than I had in a long time. Sri Lanka far exceeded expectations, and I know that I will soon return to enjoy the beautiful tranquillity the island has to offer.

DINING Sri Lankan cuisine is one of the most complex cuisines in Asia, drawing on influences from India, and from a long legacy of trade with Asia, the Netherlands and Portugal. Seafood is a highlight and vegetarians are well catered for.

WHEN TO GO Sri Lanka enjoys pleasant temperatures year-round, and has two monsoon seasons – South West between May to August and North East from October until December.

SHOPPING Tea and locally produced artisan products, including woven linens, batiks and traditional woodcarvings.

TRAVEL TIPS Obtain an electronic e-visa prior to arrival and bring a copy with you. Cost for a single-entry tourist visa is USD$35. Avoid changing money at the airport, upon entry or exit. I found the best rate from ‘Prasanna Money Exchange’ in Colombo.

Clockwise from top left: Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa, Buddha at Mulkirigala Rock Temple, Galle Face Hotel, Amangalla at Galle, Colombo street, Playing cricket at Galle, Buffalo curd, Langur monkeys

Chocolate love

RASPBERRY AND VANILLA CHOCOLATE BLISS BALLS

Ingredients

n ½ cup cashew butter (homemade or store bought is fine)

n 3 tbsp rice malt syrup

n ½ cup desiccated coconut

n ½ cup coconut flour

n ½ tsp vanilla paste

n Zest of 1 lime, plus juice of a half

n ¼ cup freeze dried raspberries

n 1 bar of Pana Chocolate

n ½ tsp coconut oil, melted

Method

1. Place cashew butter, rice malt syrup, lime juice and zest into bowl & mix together.

2. Break off 2 squares of Pana Chocolate, chop into small cubes.

3. Combine the dry ingredients, crumble the freeze-dried raspberries and sprinkle in the chopped chocolate, and massage together with hands to combine.

4. Divide the mix into 10 portions, then roll into balls and place them in the fridge.

5. Melt remaining chocolate in a bowl over another bowl filled with boiling water, add coconut oil to help it melt to a nice smooth consistency.

6. Take the bliss balls from out of the fridge and drizzle the melted chocolate over them with a spoon.

7. Return to the fridge to set the chocolate.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

Ingredients

n 150g organic dark chocolate, chopped roughly

n 500g fresh organic strawberries (stems on), washed

n Optional: 50g organic milk or white chocolate, melted

Method

1. Add dark chocolate to a heat-proof bowl over simmering water, stirring until chocolate is smooth and melted.

2. Holding strawberries by their stem, dip each one in the melted chocolate (about ¾ of the berry) then lightly place on a baking paper-lined wire rack, stem side down. Place wire rack in the refrigerator until chocolate is hardened.

3. Optional: drizzle melted milk or white chocolate in crisscross lines across the hardened chocolate, then place back in the fridge until set.

Recipes and pictures courtesy Flannerys Organic & Wholefood Market

RAW BROWNIES

Ingredients

n 2 cups organic walnuts

n 1 cup organic raw cacao

n ¼ tsp sea salt

n 2 ½ cups Medjool dates, pitted

n 1 cup organic walnuts, roughly chopped

Method

1. Blend 2 cups of walnuts until finely ground. Add cacao and salt to blender until combined.

2. Add dates gradually to blender. Mixture will appear crumbly, but should be slightly sticky when pressed. Add more dates if needed.

3. Transfer to a large bowl and add the roughly chopped walnuts. Press into a lined baking tin and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve. Sprinkle with extra cacao powder lightly then enjoy!

Yes, chocolate can boost your health, from improving your mood to being anti-inflammatory, lowering blood pressure, thinning the blood, reducing stroke risk and helping stop a cough. So what are you waiting for?

cineTALK

HEAD-IN-THE-SAND MENTALITY

THE FAKIR OF VENICE

STARRING: Farhan Akhtar, Annu Kapoor, Valentina Carnelutti and Kamal Sidhu

DIRECTOR: Anand Surapur

HH

In his first acting assignment, Farhan Akhtar is splendidly in form as a bit of a jerk. He plays a production controller who can get a film crew anything they want - from a monkey performing tricks to an exotic fakir performing monkey tricks.

Adi is okay with supplying anything, as long as he gets paid.

The monkey and the monkey tricks are aptly equated in the hugely original ferociously flawed script (Rajesh Devraj). When Adi is asked by a museum in Venice to produce a fakir who can bury himself completely in the sand for hours, the narrative brings into play the crass touristic culture of peddling exotica to the West.

Annu Kapoor, in a stellar performance as the spaced out alcoholic chawl dweller who desperately needs to make money, is that performing monkey.

Though the theme is one of exploitation at the most basic level, the plot moves in mysteriously non-toxic ways, creating pockets of empathy between the two men with a languorous equanimity. It all comes apart after the first half with the storytellers hell bent on force-finding a crisis and a climax to round off the quirky tale of the human 'bandar' and the 'madaari'.

Farhan and Annu Kapoor play off each other effectively. But the space provided for them to manoeuvre their differences and conflicts frequently gets crowded with humbug. They are unlikely companions separated by class and culture and also by the fact that the more sophisticated of the two men is an exploitative so-and-so.

Sportingly, Farhan plays the morally compromised gogetter with conviction. Annu Kapoor is magnificent as the reluctant monkey, while JhilmilHazrika as Annu's sister leaves a lasting impression in a brief role.

The Fakir Of Venice builds its narrative pyramid on a solid foundation of exploitative tourism. But the plot falls apart in the third act when a good-hearted local Italian woman (Valentina Carnelutti) intervenes to rescue the Fakir (with a tragic unconvincing secret) and even falls in love with him.

If only the imaginative mind knew where to stop, so many global calamities could be prevented.

Subhash K. Jha

28 Years of Success Stories

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The BUZZ

BOLLYWOOD TO JAWANS: WE STAND WITH YOU

It’s been amazing to learn of the entertainment industry’s response to the Pulwama tragedy. The team behind Total Dhamaal, this week’s new release, have announced aRs 50 lakh donation for Pulwama martyrs' kin.

"It is a sad thing to see the Indian soldiers suffer through this event and we are keen to do our bit in support," a spokesperson of the film unit said.

Actor-producer Ajay Devgnas well as colleague Riteish Deshmukh announced that the film will not release in Pakistan.

Total Dhamaal is the third instalment of the successful franchise Dhamaal, which originally starred Arshad Warsi, Javed Jaffrey and Riteish alongside Sanjay Dutt.

Amitabh Bachchan has announced he will be donating Rs 5 lakh each to the families of 49 CRPF troopers who died in Pulwama. Akshay Kumar made a Rs 5 crore donation, and Daljit Dosanjh announced Rs 3 lakh to the CRPF Wives Welfare Association.

Salman Khan swung into action at his Being Human Foundation to mobilise funds for Bharat Ke Veer, the Indian Government’s fund for soldiers (bharatkeveer.gov.in)

A YOUNG KASHMIRI BOY MEETS A CRPF SOLDIER….

The coincidence of it all is spooky. Hindi film Hamid, scheduled to be released on 1 March, will now be delayed.

Hamid is the story of a relationship that develops between an eight-yearold Kashmiri boy and a CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) trooper.

In the wake of the Pulwama attack, the makers of the film have pushed back its release of the film, which explores the conflict in Kashmir through the perspective of the little boy.

"The film was made with the attempt to bridge the gap of alienation because that is the very root cause of what is happening in the valley," director Aijaz Khan said.

"At this time, we feel that the very attempt of peace and the work that our jawans are doing is being undermined," Khan added.

Hamid, which is produced by Yoodlee Films, is a sensitive portrayal of the fragility of the human condition in the conflict-ridden Kashmir. The film stars Talha Arshad Reshi as the young protagonist, Rasika Dugal, Vikas Kumar and Sumit Kaul.

In the film, a little boy rings the “phone

number of God”, 786, to ask after his father, who his mother says has “gone to Allah”. One day, his phone call is answered…

Yoodlee Films had been planning a special screening for CRPF troopers in Srinagar, scheduled for four days after a suicide bomber rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pulwama district. 49 soldiers lost their lives.

Siddharth Anand Kumar, Producer at Yoodlee Films, said, "The attack to the CRPF troopers in the Pulwama district can only be termed as a heinous and dastardly act by those who have negated all sense of humanity within them. We at Yoodlee Films stand in solidarity with the families of the soldiers whose lives have been so cruelly erased."

Kumar said the film carries a message of peace and hope in the most unlikely circumstances.

"We are under attack now and this is neither the time nor the right atmosphere for us to release our film or for people to absorb the narrative of the film. We will take a call on the subsequent release date shortly," he said.

Shabana Azmi and husband Javed Akhtar, usually proponents of close artistic ties with Pakistan, cancelled an upcoming tour of Karachi to take part in centenary celebrations of Shabana's poet-father Kaifi Azmi.

Singers Rekha Bhardwaj and Harshdeep Kaur have withdrawn their names from Shaan-e-Pakistan 2019 gala in Lahore next month. Rekha's multi-faceted husband and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj was also planning travel to Pakistan for research on the Netflix series Midnight's Children, based on Salman Rushdie's novel. However, as of now the plan of the web series' showrunner stands cancelled, said a source in the know.

Music labels are also dropping works by Pakistani artistes and stopping collaborations with them. T-Series has already removed Pakistani artistes' videos from their various channels including some recently released songs - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's single and Atif Aslam's Baarishein from YouTube. The promotions of these songs on television and radio have also been stopped.

Meanwhile the All Indian Cine Workers Association announced ban on Pakistani artistes in the country. The announcement comes a day after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) said Indian filmmakers must not work with Pakistani artistes and must not release their films in Pakistan.

WHY THE EMPHASIS ON OPENING WEEKEND BIZ: SWARA BHASKER

Actress Swara Bhaskerhas questioned the constant emphasis on a film’s box office collection, calling it ‘damaging to the art of cinema’.

"The whole system of emphasising the opening weekend business of a film is damaging the art of cinema. I believe there is no connection between the box office collection and the value of a film or to the artistic part of it," Swara said recently. "I understand that cinema is an art that involves a huge amount of finance and it demands a steady economy. But the business part of a film should not overpower the core of a cinema, storytelling," the actress said. The Veere Di Wedding star continued: "Some of the cult films were flops at the box office when they were released. Now, when we revisit those films, we call them classics. I think this system needs to be changed."

ZARINA WAHAB: MODI’S MUM

Veteran actress Zarina Wahab will be seen playing the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi in the upcoming biopic PM Narendra Modi.

"It's an honour to play this role,” she said. “This is going to be one of the most special roles I have ever played. I hope the audience like it."

Television actress Barkha Bisht Sengupta will be playing Modi's wife Jashodaben in the film. She had a great experience shooting for the film, Bisht said.

"I am grateful to Sandip Ssingh (producer) for giving me an opportunity to be a part of such an amazing film. I had a great experience working with him earlier in Goliyon Ki Rasleela RamLeela and I know playing Jashodaben is going to be interesting too," Barkha said.

The film also stars Manoj Joshi (as BJP chief Amit Shah), Prashant Narayanan, BomanIrani, Darshan Kumar, Akshat R. Saluja, Anjan

ARJUN

Shrivastav, Rajendra Gupta and Yatin

Karyekar. Actor Vivek Anand Oberoi will be playing the title role of Modi.

"These two characters are quite crucial in the film. I am glad that Zarinaji agreed on doing it as no one other than her could have done a better job. Barkha is playing his wife and she is doing a great job," Producer Sandip Ssingh said.

PM Narendra Modi, the biopic will discover the journey of Narendra Damodardas Modi from his humble beginning to his years as Gujarat Chief Minister onto his landmark win at the 2014 general election, finally becoming the 14th Prime Minister of India.

It is being directed by National Awardwinner Omung Kumar. The biopic will be shot extensively in Gujarat and across locations within the country.

GOING DIGITAL: ARJUN

RAMPAL,

EMRAAN HASHMI

Binge-watchers, get ready for more Indian content.

Actor Arjun Rampal is set to make his debut on a digital platform with a web series titled The Final Call. He plays the role of a pilot with a dark past, a psychological thriller that talks about mental illness, spirituality, and destiny.

The show is based on Priya Kumar's novel I Will Go With You: The Flight of a Lifetime.

The Final Call also features actors like Javed Jaffrey, Anupriya Goenka, Neeraj Kabi, Sakshi Tanwar, Bipin Sharma and Pradeep Rawat in pivotal roles.

Arjun said recently that he would like to explore all the avenues of film making, including directing. Arjun begun his career as a model and then forayed into Bollywood as an actor. He has recently turned producer with the film Daddy.

Meanwhile Emraan Hashmi is on the final schedule of his maiden Netflix show Bard of Blood, an adaptation of Bilal Siddiqi's novel of the same name. Set against the backdrop of the Indian subcontinent, the multilingual series will tell the story of an expelled spy Kabir Anand, who is recalled from his new life as a Shakespeare professor in Panchgani to save his country and long lost love.

On making his debut in the web world, Hashmi said, "It's different. Through a web show, we are not only pitching the content to the Indian audience, but to audiences in over 180 different countries. Web shows can't be only Indianised versions... A fair balance should be maintained in terms of performances and content."

He added, "I am sure our audience will like it and I hope international

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

audience like it too."

WORTH WAITING FOR? YOU DECIDE!

Bipasha Basu will be making a comeback on the big screen after four years with Aadat, which stars her husband Karan Singh Grover. The pair was last seen together in Alone, which released in 2015.

Directed by Bhushan Patel, Aadat is a romantic thriller. The film also stars former Miss India Natasha Suri and former Bigg Boss participant Sonali Raut. Singer Mika Singh has turned producer with the film.

Bipasha claimed she enjoys working with hubby Karan, and says he is a dream co-star.

"He is a wonderful spontaneous actor and a live-wire on set,” she said recently. “He can make any boring day exciting on set. He keeps the energy levels up for everyone and every unit member."

Hmmm, okay. Let’s see if this onset bonhomie translates to on-screen success…

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK

Match the following stars to the tweets below:

Poonam Dhillon, Will Smith, AnupamKher

Being part of New Amsterdam broadens my horizons. Both as an actor and as a person. It is also fantastic to represent my country in a show which deals with love, compassion and diversity

YoRanveer! Congrats man. I am loving what you doing, Gully Boy. I have seen old school hip hop, seen hip hop all over the world. I am loving it. Go get ‘em.

All who ask when my next film coming - It's time for 'Jai Mummy Di'. Excited to be alongside Supriya Pathak and the wonderful cast of Sunny Singh and SonnalliSeygall. Directed by Navjot Gulati, wait for July 12.

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNER

RAMPAL

BIPASHA BASU

EMRAAN HASHMI

SWARA BHASKER

ASK AUNTYJI Box-ticking,

Yak yak Priyanka

DEAR AUNTYJI

My husband and I were recently discussing Priyanka Chopra, and how she seems to be everywhere, and we wanted your rai. Both Neil and I happened to come across the YouTube video of Priyanka on Jimmy Fallonand we were both really disappointed in her. She was wearing something that revealed a lot, in particular her fake silicon charms, and we thought she was bringing shame on Indians everywhere. Why does she have to be everywhere - on TV, on YouTube, Facebook, everywhere. And she is now even writing a book. I think she is overexposed, and sometimes, literally. What are your thoughts?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Yakhuda - in shaitaan ki aulad ko muaf kijiye, because they are such jahiliya ki they don't realise they do not have the huq to judge anyone. You na samajh paapin! Kyun mujse panga le rahi ho? You know nothing good will come from this, nah? Priyanka is one of the finest actresses of her generation. Have you

MATRIMONIALS

SEEKING GROOMS

Wanted a suitable match for 39-year-old Brahmin girl 5’-4’’ fair complexion well settled in Australia having government job and has own residential property. Contact kumar. sham@bigpond.com

Well-settled/professional match invited for Sydney-based Punjabi girl, IT Professional/ Business Analyst, never married, 44/5'6"; attractive, fair, jolly nature good mix of Indian and modern values. Working in MNC. Australian citizen. Educated family. Parents well settled. Send details with photo: sydgirl09@gmail.com

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

Parents of 33-year-old highly qualified, vegetarian Hindu girl working and well settled in good locality in Sydney seeking an educated, teetotaller and good family background boy. Prefer Australian citizen or PR. Please contact ausshubham123@gmail.com

Wanted professionally qualified, well settled match for a pretty, smart, charming B Tech (CS), 30 years old, 5'7", AnshikManglik Agarwal girl, working with NAB in Sydney. If interested, please contact +91 9990953751 or +91 8505911149 or email1952@gmail. com or Chatterji.anita9@gmail.com

Seeking well settled boy in Australia

not seen Barfi? Have you not seen Mary Kom? She is a wonderful actress and the only Indian entertainer to have crossed to mainstream Hollywood in recent years. Here she is, minding her own business, perfecting her craft, trying to keep everyone entertained with her talent - and bewakuf log like you and your husband come along and judge her. And what vast personal experience do you and your na samajh hubby have that you know silicon from real? Tumhare paapi man me to sub kuch silicon lag raha hoga, nah? Look, unless you yourself have entertained millions of people, and have achieved fame east and west, then you have no right to judge Priyanka. Leave her alone. And if she is on TV, YouTube, Facebook, then you need to review your own social media accessibility habits, you bud tehzeeb. Go hide in sharam in the corner for exposing your backward samajh.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR AUNTYJI? EMAIL INFO@INDIANLINK.COM.AU

(businessman or professional) for a Hindu Khatri (never married) India based girl, 5'3", beautiful, slim, very fair, vegetarian, postgraduate, December 1985 born. Brother settled in Melbourne. Call or whatsapp: +61456604747, +91 7087879898 email: 9gannu@gmail.com

SEEKING BRIDES

Australian citizen, Indian man, in 50s, university educated, seeking honest lady for marriage. Contact tamavu@hotmail.com.au or 0406 688 262

Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 44, 6', athletic built boy. He is project manager with engineering background and is working in a private organisation. Please send details with photoIndsyd2016@gmail.com

Wanted suitable match for 35-year-old Brahmin boy 5’-8’’ fair complexion well settled in Australia having his own successful business. Contact kumar.sham@bigpond.com

Seeking suitable preferably Sindhi match for my only son, age 31 years, Sydney based, in his own business, planning to relocate to Mumbai, affluent and professional family. Please contact Mrs. Chitra Sadarangani on 0412 500 142/raunak62@hotmail.com

Seeking 25-30 year old Hindu/Punjabi girl from Australia for our 32-year-old Specialist Doctor son 5'9", born and brought up in Sydney. Please respond: gupta_rsr@hotmail.com or ph 0414282510

Seeking professional alliance for 31-year-old Sindhi non-alcoholic, vegetarian businessman, no siblings, settled in Sydney since 18 yrs. Please correspond: saibless2019@yahoo.com

DEAR AUNTYJI

or true recognition?

My name is Jaitun Nisha and I am a data scientist working a large bank in Sydney. I am also a hijaban - which means I wear the hijab to work. Now our bank has been talking about our diversity measures, and last week, my manager advised me that I was getting a promotion and that I was being put forward for a management role. Auntyji, I have been working really hard, and at first I was really pleased with this recognition - however, I have begun to think about this and am wondering whether they are giving me a promotion because I am a token Muslim and I help make their diversity numbers look good. I don't want my colleagues to think that's the only reason I got the promotion. What should I do - should I turn down the role?

AUNTYJI

SAYS

Taubatauba! What is going on in the month of February that I am getting all sorts of dimwits writing to me about crazy stuff. Well, listen to me, and listen to me real good Jaitun Nisha. While it's true that organisations want to improve

their diversity measures, this must not come at the risk of tokenism. It is always going to be a meritocracy - because everyone will see through any box ticking exercise. So if your naseeb khul gayi hai and you have been offered a promotion, then masha Allah, you must give thanks for it, acknowledge the barakat that has come your way and work damn hard to ensure no one will ever think you got the role because you tick a diversity box. You yourself have said that you have worked hard - and do you know how rare it is to find good data scientists? So here you are, being smart, working hard, getting recognised and you immediately allow the shaitaan to colour your thinking? Now that's not very scientist-like, is it? In fact, if you really are a data scientist, you will also know that diversity metrics need to yield results - and if there is tokenism, very soon, the whole thing will fall apart, like a boondi laddoo in the hands of a fat little petu. So stop thinking like an unpadh ganwar and accept your recognition and show the world what Jaitun Nisha the ninja data scientist can do. Salaam.