SAY IT AGAIN

Spice Adventures

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

Rajni Anand Luthra wrote: Congrats Dhanya, so proud!

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

Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-E-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 Feb bombing. It can no longer allow extremist groups the legal and physical space to operate from its territory.

Marise Payne, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs

MEAT-LACED CURRENCY

DIPANJALI RAO wrote on a Hindu group’s protest about animal fat being used to make Australian money, and cited other aspects of animal cruelty that might well do with similar protest.

Darshak Mehta wrote: A very thoughtful article on our hypocrisy about beef. It is a considerably more complicated issue than the one that the "Hindutva" lobby of Indians (incl. NRIs) want to tackle. Are we mindful of the rights of ALL animals? I am certainly NOT, but will improve.

Kshama Mehta Patel wrote: I so agree on this; we just symbolise cow but do not care for it beyond that. However, on the other hand, why not be sensitive to all the animals? All lives deserve the same respect.

Sandeep Reddy wrote: A well-written commentary, Dipa. Saurabh Mehta wrote: Have (these protestors) nothing better to do?

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

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

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

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

Vijay Bongale wrote: Are you for real (for protesting in this manner)? Doesn’t humanity come before religious beliefs?

Al Saran wrote: (This protest is) pure lunacy.

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.

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)

Service To Community

PREETI JABBAL wrote about community leader Shashi Kochhar’s inspirational story. Harinder Sidhu (Australian High Commissioner to India) wrote, retweeting this story: Our relationship with India is built on our strong people-to-people links, and stories like Shashi Kochhar’s are a case in point. Recipient of Sir John Monash Multicultural Champion Award 2018, Shashi shares his journey from India to Australia.

Rajni Kanodia wrote: Awesome contributions to the community. Well-deserved recognition!

Mala Desai wrote: Wonderful tribute to a remarkable person.

Tara Chandramouli wrote: Great achievement, congratulations.

Hardeep Madan wrote: Excellent work. A well deserved recognition for your service to society. So proud of you Shashi ji.

Somya Kanodia Rastogi wrote: Fantastic achievement - something we can all learn from!

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 over-abundance 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.

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?

Something I really strive for with my students is for them to understand they have a place in the world and to help them find their voice. That’s why it’s so important to teach the humanities, and it’s so important for students to see that Australia is multicultural and they do belong here.

Yasodai Selvakumaran, SriLankan born Australian teacher, 31, named one of the top ten educators in the world

Thank you so much for the love and positivity. Words can’t describe how much it means. I appreciate you all. Group hug. Lily Singh, Indian-origin Canadian author and entertainer who came out as bisexual