2019-04 Sydney (1)

Shaking the money tree

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

SOCIAL MEDIA

Neha Malude

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

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BY PAWAN LUTHRA

In the last days of the recent NSW elections, internal polling of the Coalition indicated that the results could be very close, this being before the infamous ‘Asians with PhDs’ comment by then Opposition leader Michael Daley. At that time, there was the unthinkable chance of the Coalition actually being turfed out of government. All stops were being pulled to bring in more votes and with the NSW Treasury flush with money, it was time to play Santa. Former Multicultural Minister Ray Williams filled that role wonderfully for the Indian-Australian community as he came visiting with a sackful of money.

Of most interest to the community was the promise of $900,000 available in funds over a four-year period to help the community organise its various festivals, should the Coalition win government. The community zeal of our various organisations was now reignited. These festivals are not only an important part of keeping the traditional Indian customs alive in a

new country, they also serve to keep the communal bonds strong. Besides, they also offer a great opportunity to be photographed with powers that be.

The Coalition not only won the polls but did so convincingly.

And so in recent days, the conga line of various Indian community groups is building up outside the doors of the relevant ministers and organisations.

While there will be some wonderful projects which may find oxygen with this extra cash flow, it is also an opportunity to forensically examine those which come looking for funds.

Over the years, as the Indian diaspora has grown in NSW, so have the groups which lead them. Unfortunately though, there are some organisations which have become stale and stagnant. As just alter egos of their founders, their contribution to the social growth of the Indian diaspora in NSW is limited to organising melas or dinners where the leaders get a chance to be photographed with politicians. There is limited desire to give back to the rapidly growing community in areas where it needs guidance – such as advice to new migrants; a social service to help young migrants, especially women, to settle in the new country; education on rights and

responsibilities; domestic violence challenges, and tackling elderly abuse in the community.

Organisations which apply for grants should be screened for their record on social impact projects. Those responsible for distributing tax payers’ monies for the community festivals need to ensure that these organisations are properly registered, have current audited accounts and follow the right code of conduct expected from similar community organisations.

It is only through the correct screening process can one expect the deserving group to benefit from the funding available. It will also be a wonderful opportunity to encourage new groups to partake in this funding – youth groups in universities, orthose who may like to organise a festival of theatre or short films made by Indianorigin film-makers and/or actors.

Bigger organisations who have wellestablished structures for conducting melas have the formula in place – now could be the time to fund exciting new projects which can add another dimension to the Indian-Australian community.

The Minister for Multiculturalism and his team at Multicultural NSW can help strengthen the community at many levels with this initiative.

Aneeta Menon, Aparna Ananthuni, Tarini Puri, Hamsa Venkat, Saroni Roy, Binu Naikaraperambil, Jyothsna Rao, Minal Khona

YOUR SAY

BIG GIG FOR LILLY SINGH

We shared the big news about Indian-Canadian Lilly Singh becoming the first woman of colour to get her own late night talk show on NBC recently.

Kala Raghunath wrote: It’s definitely a BIG deal however what Hassan Minhaj is doing is the real deal. Gupshup shows are plenty... though we’re yet to see what the content would be.

Ryzara Harricharan wrote: Unreal. Hard-work, consistency, motivation, creativity, focus, time management, great personality, loving, warm hearted, compassionate, great work and life ethics and values, beautiful smile and laughter, intuitive, caring etc. Another goal achieved.

Rajni Luthra wrote: Happy to note her Parent LOLS will continue! Because as an Indian parent I've said everything she says Indian parents say.

SCHOLARSHIP SAGA

Our post on PM Scott Morrison’s announcement of a $15,000 scholarship for international students received a mixed reaction. Ankit Jain wrote: Great news!

Tj Purewal wrote: Just trying to make money by doing this. Jeet Patel wrote: He reduced 42% of overall residency file, and now he wants students.

Dhaval Gajera wrote: Jeet Patel, (that’s) because they want to maintain the quality of the graduates. It's true that many people come to Australia, and study to just get PR. After getting PR, they don't work in their occupation. Government will be targeting people with such attitude eventually.

WHERE IN INDIA

This incredible image is of a historic Shaiva pilgrimage spot. The lore is that when Shiva was going to Kashi with one crore gods he stopped here overnight. But in the morning, when no one but him woke up to go, he cursed them to turn to stone. We asked our readers if they could guess where this place is. Ekta Sharma came up with the correct answer: Unakoti, Tripura.

WHERE IN OZ

Look at this cute (a little creepy, too, perhaps?) picture of this place in Australia which is a town of gnomes. We asked our readers if they knew where it was. Readers Leyla Singh and Saba Nabi got the correct answer: Gnomesville, WA.

SAY IT AGAIN

Words have impact. We’ve seen that in Christchurch. Hate speech perpetuates, and it has consequences. As a society we need to be cognisant of the impact of the words we are putting out there.

Lakshmi Logathassan Graduate (Law and Policy) on ABC’s Q&A

Shouldn't the Commonwealth intervene and take over the administration of the United Kingdom because its political leadership has shown itself to be so utterly incapable of self-governance? A spell of colonial rule would do no harm, I think.

Salil Tripathi UK-based writer

HOTEL MUMBAI

In March we gave away 5 x double entry tickets for the Dev Patel starrer Hotel Mumbai. To enter into the lucky drow to win, readers had to answer the question: In which year was Mumbai’s iconic Taj Palace hotel built? Almost all of our 144 replies got the answer right: 1903. But some responses came with some extra information.

Anu Shivaram wrote: Opened in Dec 1903. It became a symbol of India's national pride during the British Raj.

Charmi Kapadia Shah wrote: Jamsetji Tata decided to build the hotel after he was refused entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time, Watson's Hotel, as it was restricted to "whites only". The hotel opened for business in 1903.

Vishal Gupta wrote: Its foundation was laid in 1898, and it finally opened in 1903.

Dina Shah wrote: 16 December 1903. Our prayers are with all those who were affected by all the tragedies to date. Let there be peace on earth.

Keyuri Thakkar Patel wrote: 1903. Can't believe it's 116 years old! It’s one of the most stylish hotels we have been to.

Raghwa Sharma wrote: 1903. We were at the Taj a week before the terrorist attack. We all need to watch the movie to understand the gruesome inhumanity.

Adam Brook wrote: 1903, and looks just as amazing today!

Dipanjali Rao wrote: Should we be giving out tickets to this considering New Zealand has withdrawn the movie from its cinemas?

Readers Samay Jain, Tripti Shukla, Raghavendra, Parth Monga and Bina Trivedi were announced as the winners in our lucky draw.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

SHRADDHA KAPOOR OR GIGI HADID IN PRABAL GURUNG?

Shraddha Kapoor: 78%

Gigi Hadid: 22%

This exercise is a reminder that Australia and India are quietly improving their ability to work together on defence and maritime security, including to remind China that other countries together can balance the possible future misuse of its power.

Rory Medcalf Head of National Security College, ANUon the largest AUSINDEX naval exercises between India and Australia in Vizag, 2-16 April

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat between Kirron Kher and PM Modi?

Aneri Upadhyaya wrote: Namo: What do you think about Rahul Ghandi? Kirron Kher: Maa da laadla bigad gaya!

Jindal Amit wrote: Kirron: Pata hai Modiji, pichle 1 saal me maine 5 baar janta ko bewkoof banaya! Modi (to himself): Pagli kahin ki. Itna to main ek din me karleta hoon!

Arix Bishnoi wrote: Kirron: Congress are saying pappu ki sister will be a great PM candidate. Modi: And his Jijaji will be a great Finance Minister?

Kulbir Minhas wrote: Kirron: Duniya ko kuch samajh nahi aya apne itna luta aur ullu banya.

Deepti Madan wrote: Kirron: We will both win second term for 5 years.

Tushar Choudhary wrote: Kirron: Ye dhai kilo ka hath jab kisipe parta hai to banda uthta nahi uth jata hai.

Lakshman Kumar wrote: Kirron: Modi Bhaiya, you are Bharat ke bhaiya.

Jatinder Pal wrote: Kirron: Modiji aap to poore 5 saal gayab hi rahe foreign tours pe.

Meena Sunder wrote: Kirron: Demonetise another currency and let us watch the fun.

Meenakshi Sharma Kalia wrote: Kirron: Maine to 5 golgappe khaye thodi der pehle. Majja aagaya, by god. Modi: Haha kya baat hai, namo namo.

Harpreet Singh wrote: Kirron: 5 more years for Modi.

Arti Asthana wrote: Modiji, ready for action replay?

Niraj Singh wrote: Kirron (showing her right hand) Mai Congress mey chali jaungi. Modiji (showing his left hand under neath his right hand): Yeh thunsa dekha hai?

Raghu Rules wrote: When you are free, come on my show India's Got Talent.

Willbur Glenn Colaco wrote: Kirron: I’ve got the rings of Thanos to change election results.

Rishi Singh wrote: Kirron: Yeh talent hamare show, India's Got Talent mein aaye to baat hee kuch aur hogee TRPs ke.

Sunjeev Sharma wrote: Kirron: Wah Modiji, Pappu ko 5 saal aur PM banne ke liye intezaar karna padega.

Shyam Khatri wrote: Kirron: Agle 5 saal fir Modi sarkar.

Prabhu Kiran wrote: Waah Modiji waah!

Rishabha Chitalia Nayak wrote: Paanch saal aur Modiji.

Ram Iyer wrote: Kirron: Anupam Kher will be a good PM - he did a movie role to prove it!

Sumant Kohli wrote: Kirron: Iss baar pappu phir se fail ho jayega.

Manmeet Sidhu Shergill wrote: Kirron: Yeh public haina, sab bevkuf hai, jitne jumle maarne hai, marijao, koi fark nai painda! Modi: Arre pata hai tabi to agle 5 saal ki tyaari meihu.

Sudhir Juneja wrote: Kirron: Kamal khil utha hai.

Raghwa Sharma wrote: Kirron: Bhag pappu bhag!

Varsha Mehra wrote: Kirron: Mere ko politics samajh nahi aata.

Modi: Mujhe bhi nahi.

Pankhuri Tandon wrote: Toodles!

How beautiful is our latest Little India artwork by internationally acclaimed Melbourne artist Julian Clavijo? A small boy wearing a marigold coloured turban welcomes you with a welcoming smile and eyes that follow you. The artwork celebrates Sikh culture and 32nd Australian Sikh Games coming soon to south east Melbourne. City of Greater Dandenong

Not that many?

Artists of South-Asian origin take a stand against the lack of diversity in our performing arts landscape

BY APARNA ANANTHUNI

Ihate watching Australian TV and film.

When I say that, I am referring to the so-called ‘home-grown’ offerings trumpeted by our major networks, the type of thing that smugly wins Logies, local film festival awards, and seems to, lissomly, effortlessly, get funding.

Why? Give you a clue: I’m a brown woman.

Yes - it’s the homogenous, tedious whiteness of it all, with the occasional ‘colour’ popping up in the form of the minor characters, background crowds, or as that token person of colour inexplicably named ‘Sarah’ or ‘Sam’ who clearly could have been switched out for a white character, except, you know… ‘diversity’.

According to Screen Australia’s 2016 report Seeing Ourselves: Reflections on Diversity in Australian TV Drama, ‘People of non-Anglo-Celtic background were represented in drama programs at just over half the rate that they are present in the population’. And 36% of all programs ‘had main casts entirely comprising characters of

What the industry still defends itself with, is that there are ‘just not that many’ Australian actors of colour and diverse backgrounds out there to cast. But now a group of artists has set out to prove the laughable inadequacy of that excuse, including a group of South-Asian origin female performers and artists, in a grassroots social media campaign they call #justnotthatmany.

Anglo-Celtic background’.

What the industry still defends itself with, is that there are ‘just not that many’ Australian actors of colour and diverse backgrounds out there to cast. But now a group of artists has set out to prove the laughable inadequacy of that excuse, including a group of South-Asian origin female performers and artists, in a grassroots social media campaign they have insouciantly dubbed #justnotthatmany.

As tongue-in-cheek as that name is, the campaign is dead serious and unapologetic in its intentions.

“The title of the campaign points to an insidious lie that exists around the pervasive whiteness of our screens and stages. That there's "just not that many" of us out there. That's demonstrably untrue. Our initiative calls out this lie - and it does so with joy and unity,” says actor, theatre-marker and artist Sonya Suares.

The idea for the campaign began when Suares organised a Bollywood-style photoshoot in December 2018, with 14 ‘desi’ women artists and performers. They posed together in a beautiful, bright location, dressed in South Asian finery, and celebrating each other’s presence and numbers.

“The fact that it was relatively painless to coordinate and such a simple thing to achieve anywhere - you can shoot a photo on your iPhone if you want - made me think it was a fertile ground for a visual campaign highlighting the diversity that exists in our sector and all the talent that isn't tapped.” Suares reached out to colleagues Ra Chapman, Alice Qin and Artemis Muñoz at the Equity Diversity Committee, and #justnotthatmany was officially born, with other communities, including AsianAustralian performers, and transgender and gender diverse artists, set to join the campaign.

One of the actors in that initial South Asian women’s shoot was the prolific Leah Vandenberg, screen actor and voice artist, whose credits most recently include the award-winning ABC/Netflix show The Letdown, and who is also well known and loved as a long-time presenter on Playschool. Vandenberg remembers how confident

she was coming out of drama school - she felt full of “the limitless possibilities and the potential of what I could do”. However, she quickly became disabused of the notion that she was working in an equal playing field. One of her first casting experiences was seeing a manila folder labelled “Leah Vandenberg: ethnic Indian.”

“It just didn’t sit true with me, and I also then thought to myself, does the industry work like this? Does it categorise you like this? As it turned out, it was like that.”

Vandenberg found herself being excluded from auditions and opportunities, despite having the same training and agent as many fellow white actors. She has nevertheless since developed an extensive resume, but has felt increasingly unsatisfied by the roles she has had to settle for.

“I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had, but I’ve not been given the opportunity to do lead roles, major roles, main parts. It’s always on the margin or periphery… or a support. And that’s one of the issues of the lack of representation – the stories being told are not putting us in main role protagonist positions.”

She is also very aware of the pressure to be a ‘flagholder’ for people of colour, especially South Asian women, but has found the emotional labour of having to act as quasi-cultural advisor and token ‘brown face’, both exhausting and disheartening.

“It’s like you’re constantly on the diving board, just jumping up and down, up and down, waiting for that huge dive, and in between every beat you’re just giving yourself all the affirmations you can… reminding yourself… stick with this, choose wisely, say no more often, and really demand your worth.”

For her, #justnotthatmany not only gives

women of colour a sense of solidarity and support, but a vital visibility and value that actors of colour are constantly denied, even when they are part of a major project.

“#justnotthatmany, is, in terms of visibility, really important, because even when you are working as a person of colour, you’re not getting the visibility you deserve.”

She also points out that the presence of diverse communities needs to be palpable at all levels of a production.

“We need to have [them] in the writers’ room, we need them as producers. We need them on networks, we need them decision making, we need them in wardrobe, we need

them in make-up, in the crew, DOPs…we need to think even further than just artists. It’s got to be across all of the story-telling.”

At the heart of the campaign is also a recognition of how disingenuous it is to separate politics from art.

“The truth is that all arts practice is inherently political - anyone who tells you otherwise is either naive or incredibly privileged. Usually both,” says Suares. She cites the horrifying events of 15 March in Christchurch, firm about the connection between white supremacy on screens and stages, and the politics of hatred that we are increasingly seeing legitimised in this

country.

“Excluding or demonising communities from/within our national narratives, matters. The stories we tell via our media and cultural production, matter. Representation matters. The performing arts is not apolitical. We're supposed to be the critical thinkers. The time for good intentions and weak excuses has long past. We need to lead on these issues, and we're not leading.”

(From left to right) Ayesha Maddon, Rathna Gurusinghe, Suhasini Seelin, Vidya Makan, Leah Vandenberg, Sonya Suares, Georgina Naidu, Sarah Fitzgerald, Sacha Joseph, Vidya Rajan, Pallavi Waghmode, Sacha Joseph, Nisha Joseph, Anisha Senaratne

Photo: Sarah Walker

“I’ve not been given the opportunity to do lead roles, major roles, main parts. It’s always on the margin or periphery. And that’s one of the issues of the lack of representation – the stories being told are not putting us in main role protagonist positions.”

Leah Vandenberg

Seeking an Australia of colour

The impact of on-screen diversity on real life harmony

BY ANEETA MENON

Ask “Does Australia have a race problem?” and you will almost instantly receive a throng of responses as varied in their opinion as they are large in quantity. It’s an issue that almost everyone has a take on, even if no unified stance can be reached.

To some (particularly politicians on a campaign trail), Australia is the beacon of multicultural success – a haven in which countless cultures have integrated seamlessly bar a few lone misfits, and to others it is a failed experiment in cultural cohesion propped up by shiny buzzwords which hide bitter truths (see the annual criticism of the Howard government adopting the label Harmony Day for what is globally known as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, for example).

Research commissioned by SBS last year

found that “one in five Australians has experienced racism in the last 12 months, according to one of the biggest ever surveys conducted on racism and prejudice in Australia”. The research also shows that 86.8% of Australians believe “It is a good thing for a society to be made up of people from different cultures” even though only 41.4% of the same audience answered in the affirmative when asked “Are there any cultural groups that fit into Australian society?” (UWS 2018).

So, in short, Australia’s relationship with race is: “It’s complicated.”

Ask again, does Australia have a problem with representation of race and culture in its media, and the answer becomes far less complicated.

In her Logie acceptance speech in 2015, Miranda Tapsell urged the industry to “put more beautiful people of colour on TV and connect viewers in ways which transcend race and unite us." It was a sentiment echoed by Gold Logie winner Waleed Aly in 2016, who explored the significance to the multicultural community, of the recognition afforded him, explaining, “It matters to people like that, that I'm here.

I know it's not because of me. To Dimitri and Mustafa, and everyone else with an unpronounceable name, like, I don't know, Waleed.” He continued to express that he was “saddened” because this community “deserve(s) more numerous and worthy avatars” than the very limited selection available.

The impact on individuals, of representation in media, has been and continues to be studied broadly. Entire organisations exist to track the progress and current state of representation of minorities in films, television, news media and advertising. Slogans borne from these

campaigns, such as “If she can see it, she can be it” from the See Jane project of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media,have become universal catchcries and hashtags.

Screen Australia’s 2016 report Seeing Ourselves: Reflections on Diversity in Australian TV Drama is Australia’s biggest deep dive into the screen diversity issue and “aims to provide useful benchmarks for the industry on questions of diversity.”

On the topic of the importance of representation, it highlights television drama as a key component of meaningful representation, stating that “television drama matters in particular because of its capacity to create emotional connections, insight and identity. It reflects our sense of who we are as a society, and who we might be.”

The report also “explores some of the potential barriers that have limited change.” One such barrier to lack of onscreen diversity is a lack of diversity behind the scenes and in board seats. Perhaps unsurprisingly, but nevertheless dishearteningly, the report identifiesthat “there is a commercial imperative to focus on audience size, and a perception that Australian ‘niche’ audiences are not large enough in themselves to warrant programs produced ‘for’ them.” Whilst the report emphasises the word ‘for’ in commas, the word ‘them’ stands out much more starkly. Film and television production and profit generation models are based on the outdated notion that people can and will only consume content designed to replicate previously successful endeavours. In an age of abundant global innovation, the media industry, disadvantaged by its culturally homogenous leadership structures, are being left behind. Time magazine states, “We need diverse decision-makers greenlighting and funding content; otherwise, similarity bias leads us to seek out people who share our backgrounds or experiences.” And this, precisely, is what is wrong with the state of Australian television and broader media today. Speaking previously to Indian Link, Lena Nahlous, Executive Director of Diversity Arts Australia reiterated the need for diversity at all levels of storytelling, to ensure we are telling the stories of individuals and not just ‘ethnics’. To do this, she said, “We need to create opportunities and platforms that enable people from non-white backgrounds to have agency in the screen sector, to create artistic and screen work, to be makers, actors and decision-makers.”

Claims that there ‘just aren’t that many’ actors or creatives of colour, or representatives of diverse backgrounds have fallen,are comically untrue - with over 47% of the population born overseas, as well as one in ten Australians identifying as being of a diverse sexual or gender

Without proper representation, minorities remain in the eyes of the greater community one-dimensional beings serving little purpose than to pad out the narratives of Caucasian protagonists

orientation and just under one in five reporting they have a disability (Screen Australia, 2016), there is no shortage of talent coming from the communities, nor can anyone in good conscience call the interests, stories and needs of these communities ‘niche’.

Whilst studies have focussed on the impact of representation on those who are missing it, a greater risk exists and it is now unfurling maliciously through not just Australia, but the greater Western world, through the rise of ‘us vs. them’ far-right ideology.

Without proper representation, minorities remain in the eyes of the greater community one-dimensional beings serving little purpose than to pad out the narratives of Caucasian protagonists, and what begins as strategic decisions based on the commercial viability ofactors, transcends into the more sinister reinforcement of a dangerous ideology predicated on the very idea that whiteness is supreme and all other players are simply insignificant fodder or, nefariously, an enemy to be vanquished.

A brief foray into the comments section of any news article reveals that brown people, for example, are not seen as much more than Uber drivers and service station attendants, with best case scenario, doctors and worst case, terrorists and countrydestroyers. Apu memes and 7-Eleven jokes are reliably present in the comments of all articles pertaining in some way to brown men, whereas women sometimes get the more creative dowry jokes. What is neither represented nor reflected are the many intersections which the subcontinental (or brown) community represent. Countries which make up the “sub-continent” include not only India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, but also South

Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, and many more. People of Middle Eastern origin are also often conflated with people of South Asian origin in television’s limited lens. The nuance of many cultures represented by similar looking faces, each with its own rich history and specific culture, is completely lacking on Australian screens and, as a result, meaningful representation cannot be unlocked.

Nicholas Brown, an Australian actor of Indian origin who is a host on Australia’s longest running television show Play School, confirms this view. Reflecting on his decades-long experience in the screen industry both in Australia and abroad, he tells us, “I honestly believe that if we had more cross-cultural stories on our screens depicting interracial families, relationships and more cultural fusion, the subliminal message of ‘we are all one’ would be received by one and all. Television is a powerful medium and pop culture stays in our psyche, becoming a memory and reference point for the rest of our lives.”

When asked about the damage already done, and the road to reparation, Brown is optimistic about the power of the arts, claiming, “Onscreen representation of minority groups in the media has the power to re-programme and undo much of Australia’s psyche, which to me in many ways is still stuck in the era of the White Australian Policy.” Brown concludes that “Diversity must be normalised and not just be something that is trendy right now. I hope one day we can all be one big mixed-race family that only fights sometimes at Christmas not because we hate each other but because we care for and love

each other.”

In the present climate, intersectional representation of minority and marginalised groups in the community is forsaken in favour of tokenistic inclusion. The interconnected nature of a person’s racial or cultural background, along with their profession or class status, their sexual orientation and their disability status are all lacking, as there is no space to explore the wholeness of diverse characters when their existence is so limited to begin with. Instead, people are relegated to one aspect

discord, it is in part their responsibility due to the profits they earn through providing far-right speakers platforms, but also the power they wield in deciding whose stories get told and how.

There are many interesting people in Australia and just as many stories. Boasting the world’s oldest living culture, it could even be argued that this land and its original inhabitants invented storytelling, so if leaving out the stories of the descendants of those communities is the “best business decision”, then we need to rethink the whole structure. We are people from all over the world, each with our own trials, tribulations and successes. We are all humans worthy of representation, and at a time when representation onscreen correlates directly with our safety in the real world, our stories aren’t just interesting or viable, they’re absolutely essential.

Nicholas Brown:

"If we had more cross-cultural stories on our screens depicting cultural fusion, the subliminal message of ‘we are all one’ would be received by one and all."

Sydney surgeon on a mission

This man has his own mountain to climb in Nepal, and it’s not Everest

BY TARINI PURI

All it took to give dignified life back to a young woman, was a threehour surgery.

“She faced lifelong ostracism from family and society because of her physical conditions,” recounts Dr Ray Hodgson, a specialist gynaecology surgeon, describing his career’s most emotionallystirring medical case.

That was in Nepal, some two years ago. Hodgson has been working on improving the maternal health of women there since almost a decade. He is now drawing attention to the deplorable health conditions there, especially in the remote areas, in the form of a book, aptly called Heartbreak in the Himalayas

Fuelled by his life-long passion for global improvement of women's health, Hodgson has been focusing his attention on the cause of maternity health of women in rural Nepal, which is probably among the poorest regions in the world.

Since 2010, he has been travelling to Nepal every few months with teams of volunteers to tackle the extremely high levels of maternal and perinatal mortality in the tiny Himalayan country.

He has also founded Australians for Women’s Health (A4WH) with the same objective. The organisation is now raising funds (target $500,000) to build a state-ofthe-art 35-bed mother and baby hospital there.

According to international statistics, a mother dies every four hours and a baby dies every 20 minutes in the country, often due to preventable causes and lack of adequate health facilities. Many of the women who survive often end up forced to live life-long with problems like urinary incontinence, dragging pain, infection and great difficulty when undertaking even simple tasks like sitting or walking.

Prior to his continuing commitment to Nepal, Hodgson also spent a few years in southern India volunteering his medical services through Equal Health in the early 2000s.

His book details the challenges that he and the volunteers have faced over the years, including working out of dilapidated buildings with very limited supplies, working in tents under flashlights with team members giving their own blood in order to save their dying patients, as well as managing the cultural challenges in what is a highly patriarchal country.

Describing the book, Hodgson says, “You can’t help being moved by the heartbreaking stories of these women. We wouldn’t stand for this in our country and we shouldn’t stand for this in any country. But most people are blind to the appalling conditions these women and babies suffer. I want this book to open people’s eyes, and to realise how very lucky we are in Australia. And I want people to realise that every single one of us can help

these desperate people.”

Currently based in the mid north coast of NSW, Dr Ray Hodgson graduated from Sydney University in 1981 and took his surgical training in Sydney and London. Among the other feathers in his cap, he is currently also an Associate Professor at University of NSW where he is actively

THE CASE OF JUMARI

The true story that inspired Dr Hodgson to move mountains in Nepal 22-year old Jumari lives in rural Nepal. She suffered severe genital prolapse after her only pregnancy three years ago, but sadly lost the child during a traumatic three-day labour at home. The genital prolapse began shortly after that. It had progressed to a painful lump between her legs, and as a result, she also suffered from continuous urinary incontinence. Her

involved in education of medical students, registrars and consultant surgeons.

His book was officially launched in Sydney, Melbourne and Port Macquarie last month and profits from its sale are going towards the hospital's construction in east Nepal on the site of Gaurishankar Hospital. It will have modern labour wards, an operation theatre, OPD as well as teaching facilities for local doctors, nurses and mid-wives.

The encouragement for the book from his fraternity has boosted the morale of the doctor, and he is sure it will be appreciated by the general readers as well. "We are currently on the second print run of the book. The readers say it is hard-to-put down, but they are forced to, as it frequently brings tears in their eyes. The book will be available on Amazon International so everybody can buy a copy," he says.

Dr Hodgson fondly describes Indians and Nepalese, who he says share close ties.

clothes smelt of stale urine, she could perform very limited physical work on their farm, and her husband had thrown her out of home as intercourse was impossible. Due to the shame of being cast out by her husband, and her continued urine loss, Jumari was shunned from most people in her society, including her parents. She somehow reached Dr Hodgson's team and they performed corrective surgery to end her physical pain.

"They are truly gentle, serene and caring communities with big brown eyes full of magic and wonder," he says.

He is trying to involve more Indians to help the Nepali women and improve the facilities for maternal health. "The Indians do have an affection for the people across their border," he says.

Uterine prolapse is a debilitating condition that plagues 10% of Nepal’s 13 million women. Symptoms include urinary incontinence, dragging pain, infection and great difficulty when undertaking simple tasks like sitting or walking.

The root cause is poor diet and heavy workloads for women. This stems from deep-seated culture of gender discrimination from early childhood, early marriages and pregnancies and limited access to health services.

“We wouldn’t stand for this in our country and we shouldn’t stand for this in any country”

Dr Ray Hodgson

WHAT’S ON

SEMINAR

Why there's more to learn from Mahatma Gandhi's activism

Thu 11 April (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm) The University of Sydney program Sydney Ideas presents Gandhian scholar

Dr Shobhana Radhakrishna of the Gandhian Forum for Ethical Corporate Governance in a conversation about the transformational leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and its ongoing relevance.

Venue: Charles Perkins Centre Auditorium, Johns Hopkins Drive (off Missenden Road), The University of Sydney. Details 02 8627 1444.

Politics and Fashion

Fri 12 April (6:30 pm - 9:30 pm) The Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas (SCCI) presents Bandana Tewari, former Editor-At-Large for Vogue India and currently one of the nation’s foremost authorities on fashion, in a talk entitled ‘Gandhi’s Mindful Luxury’.

Venue: Museum of Sydney, Phillip St Sydney. Details 02 8376 0850

Saffron and Silk

Sat 27 April (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)

Blacktown City Libraries presents author Anne Benjamin talking about her latest book Saffron and Silk: An Australian in India. Married to an Indian national she met in Canada, Anne spent years struggling with the frustrations of being a ‘foreign wife’ and uses her personal experiences to explore the larger issues of India’s culture and history. She brings a unique insight into a country that is of increasing significance to contemporary Australia. Venue: Max Webber Library Function Centre, Level 1, Cnr Flushcombe Rd & Alpha St, Blacktown.

Details 02 9839 6640.

COMMUNITY

Mela Melna Da

Sun 7 Apr (12.00noon - 5.00pm)

A ladies only event celebrating the Punjabi festive season of sisterhood with stalls, food, shopping and entertainment. At Bowman Hall, 35 Campbell St, Blacktown. Details 0451 786 205.

Baishakhi Mela

Sat 6 Apr (10.00am – 11.00pm)

Enjoy the festival of Baisakhi this month at Fairfield Showground, 443 Smithfield Rd, Prairiewood. Details 0433 448 022.

Gangaur

Sun 7 April (11.30am - 3.00pm)

Rajasthan Association of NSW Inc presents the ladies only Gangaur Sinjara event, titled Glitzy Gangaur 2019. Venue: The Grand Marion, 85 Marion St, Harris Park. Program includes 3-course vegetarian meal, interactive games, henna, dancing, colourful photo booth and superb entertainment. Part of the proceeds go towards Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of Australia. Details www. rani.org.au

Boishakhi 2019

Sat 13 Apr (2.00pm onwards) The Multicultural Society of Campbelltown Inc presents Multicultural Boishakhi/ Vaisakhi Festival 2019. Performances from the local language schools, children’s performances, local singers, bands, dancers and a diverse range of models will be displaying international designs in the fashion show. At Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Cnr Rose Payten Dr and Pembroke Rd, Leumeah, Campbelltown. Details 0408 028 446.

ANZAC day service

Sat 13 Apr (1.00pm - 3.00pm) Event to commemorate services of Indian origin servicemen who had joined Australian forces during the World Wars. At ANZAC Jawan Cenotaph, Cherrybrook Greenway Park, in front of Carlisle swimming centre, Shepherds Lane, Cherrybrook.

Details 0403 163 002.

Punjabi harvest, Tamil new year

Mon 15 April (10.30am - 1.30pm)

RAIN presents a multicultural festival at Park Road Anglican Church Hall, 34 Park Road, Carlton. Rangoli, fashion parade, seniors’ presentations, folk dances, Indian vegetarian food.

Details Sudha 0420 271 570

STAGE

Curry Kings of Parramatta

18 - 20 April Lennox Theatre, Riverside Parramatta. Details 02 8839 3399 or online at www. riversideparramatta.com.au

Kanan Gill

Fri 26 Apr (9.15pm – 12.00am)

Indian stand-up comedy and YouTube superstar Kanan Gill is coming to Australia for the very first time with his solo show Teetar. At The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville. Details at http://www. sydneycomedyfest.com.au

Mickey Singh

Thu 18 Apr (8.30pm – 3.00am)

Urban Asian icon Mickey Singh will be bringing his headline World Tour to Sydney this Easter. Home The Venue, 101/1-5 Wheat Rd, Darling Harbour.

Details 0431 026 656.

Sartaaj at Opera House

Sat 27 Apr (7.00pm – 10.00pm)

Sartaaj performs live at Opera House in Sydney. At Sydney Opera House, Bennelong. Details 0411 709 559.

SPIRITUAL

Chinmaya Mission youth camp

5-7 April Inviting youth in the age group 18-35 for the annual national youth weekend, titled ‘Be fearless’, with Swami Swaroopananda. Venue: St. Joseph’s Convention Centre, Bringelly. Details www.auschykcamp or call Naman 0425 262 103.

Motivational speaker and social advocate

Sat 13 April (6.00pm onwards)

Lokenath Divine Life Mission

Sydney, in collaboration with MuktiGupteshwar Mandir Sydney, presents a divine evening of mindfulness with Sri Sri Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari. Venue: Cherrybrook Community and Cultural Centre, Ironbark Hall, 31 Shepherds Lane, Cherrybrook. Details Sharmila Maitra 0479 043 252

Guru Nanak anniversary

Sat 13 Apr (4.30pm – 9.00pm)

National Sikh Council of Australia invites you to celebrate 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji. At Don Moore Community Centre, Corner North Rocks Rd and Farnell Avenue, Carlingford. Details 0401 211 111.

Pilgrims Paada Yatra

Fri 19 Apr (5.30am - 8.30am) This is strictly a devotional, non-profit endeavour to promote tradition and culture to pass on the legacy to our future generations. The event starts at Sri Murugan Temple, Westmead. Details 0433 972 160.

Journey to Wellbeing

Sat 4 May (1.00pm – 5.00pm)

Tamil Women's Development Group presents Journey to Wellbeing an afternoon with inspirational speakers and a workshop addressing our mental wellbeing. At Parramatta RSL 2 Macquarie St, Parramatta. Details 0417 210 268.

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

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

SENIORS

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

MISC

Business networking session

Sat 13 Apr (9.00am onwards)

India Aus Leadership Organisation

presents a session to learn, lunch, network with professionals and business owners. At India Aus Leadership Organisation, Parramatta. Details 0422 757 846.

Documentary movie screening: Ride For Rights: An Indian Odyssey

Wednesday 24 April (7:00 pm - 10:00 pm) In 2016, four friends began a motorcycle journey through India, visiting and advocating for child rights. This is a documentary about their travels. Palace Chauvel Cinema, 249 Oxford St, Paddington. Details 02 9361 5398.

Traditional South IndianVegetarian

Thu 2 May (5.30pm - 8.30pm) A cooking class by Sue Kumar that will teach you all the essentials of a vegetarian South Indian meal. At The Essential Ingredient Newcastle, Junction Fair Shopping Centre, 200 Union St, The Junction. Details (02) 4926 1991.

ENTERTAINMENT

AASHA

Bollywood Night

Fri 5 Apr (6.00pm - 1.00pm)

Showcasing the iconic live Bollywood Dance Showfollowed by DJ Sasha & DJ Sonu. At River Canyon Restaurant 96 Phillip Street, Parramatta. Details 9689 2288.

Desi Me Rollin

Sat 6 Apr (10.30pm - 3.30pm) Get ready to flaunt all the moves on the desi beats of Bollywood. At Marquee Sydney, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont. Details 0411895770.

Rhythms of Bollywood

Sat 13 Apr (6.30pm - 1.30pm) Ekal Youth Australia is back with the most anticipated Bollywood dance event of the year. At Hurstville Entertainment Centre, 16 MacMahon St, Hurstville. Details 0429 041 997.

Desi Swag Bhangra

Thu 18 Apr (9.00pm onwards) An invasion of Bhangra and Bollywood at Sydney’s best party spot. At Zeta Bar, Level 4, Hilton Sydney. Details 0412739020.

School holiday program: Bollywood dance class

Wed 24 Apr (1.00pm - 3.00pm)

Cumberland Council School Holiday Program and Swastik Institute of Dance present Bollywood dance classes for kids aged 5 to 12 years that live in the Cumberland Local Government Area. Venue Westmead Progress Hall, 43 Hassall St. Details 02 8897 2218.

Bollywood dance night

Sat 4 May (6.30pm - 9.30pm) DJ, entertainment, fashion and fun at Bollywood dance night. Dinner included. At Oz Funland, 2/11 Hollylea Rd, Leumeah. Details 02 4626 7777

WhatsApp unveils tipline to report fake news in India

WhatsApp has launched a service in India where over 200 million users in the country can tip off fake news, misinformation and rumours related to elections. Launched by PROTO, a media skilling start-up, the tipline will help create a database of rumours to study misinformation during elections for Checkpoint - a research project commissioned by WhatsApp, the company said in a statement. People in India can submit misinformation or rumours to the Checkpoint Tipline on WhatsApp at +919643-000-888.

Dig Deeper Media and Meedan, who have previously worked on misinformationrelated projects around the world, are helping PROTO to develop the verification and research frameworks for India."The goal of this project is to study the misinformation phenomenon at scale - natively in WhatsApp," said PROTO's founders Ritvvij Parrikh and Nasr ul Hadi.

When a WhatsApp user shares a suspicious message with the tipline, PROTO's verification centre will seek to respond and inform the user if the claim made in the message shared is verified or not.

The response will indicate if information is classified as true, false, misleading, disputed or out of scope and include any other related information that is available.

"The centre can review rumours in the form of pictures, video links or text and will cover four regional languages including Hindi, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam, other than English," said WhatsApp.

Following the project, PROTO aims to submit learnings to the International Centre for Journalists to help other organisations learn from the design and operations of this project.

"The research from this initiative will help create a global benchmark for those wishing to tackle misinformation in their own markets," said Fergus Bell, Founder and CEO, Dig Deeper Media.

It’s election tourism time in India

Being promoted as the Kumbh Mela of elections, international and national tourism firms are hoping to cash-in on the world's largest polling exercise - the Indian General Elections 2019 - to give a boost to their businesses.

Accordingly, everyone from tour operators, online sales agents and niche guide-touring firms are promoting the electoral process as a theme-based holiday package.

"I think the process in itself is amazing. Just the sheer number of people voting. We have customers travelling in India at the moment and they have been following the polls," Nicholas Wood, Director of the

London-based firm Political Tours said. "They are interested in how Prime Minister Modi has managed to maintain his popularity despite blemishes to his record - notably demonetisation and the lack of significant job creation."

Interestingly, it’s not just the average adventure seeker but students, teachers, heritage, history and even art lovers who are flocking to destinations like Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Delhi and Nagpur to witness the mega event.

"Election tourism is new a phenomenon which is fast gaining popularity. It is being marketed as an additional attraction to those who are already planning a trip or have made their bookings for holidays in India," said Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra.com.

"As it is a major world event and international attention is focused on it, tourists have shown interest in extending their stay by adding major election battleground states and cities like Varanasi and Gujarat in their itinerary."

Ahmedabad-based firm Election Tourism India, which started to sell niche political tour packages during the Gujarat assembly polls in 2012, is expecting to attract around 10,000 foreigners for the elections. "The Indian election holds everything of their interest, right from the election campaign till the announcement of the code of

A tourist checks out the flowers inside the Tulip Garden in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, 01 April 2019. Spread over an area of about 12 hectares, Kashmir’s Tulip Garden is one of the largest of its kind in Asia.

INDIAN LINK SOCIAL MEDIA

conduct," Manish Sharma, Chairman, Akshar Travels and Election Tourism India said.

"This year we have almost 1,600 confirmed bookings and are targeting approximately 10,000 tourists from across the world. The packages are designed to answer all the curiosity and amusement of the visitors regarding the world's largest democracy, its electoral procedure."

The package which is spread across seven days and six nights with a cost of $500 (Rs 35,000) without airfare, will take tourists to political rallies and show them local attractions at the same time.

Dipak Deva, Managing Director, Thomas Cook India said, "If a client wants to see something of it while he or she is here, we certainly take them to a rally and explain the background and the processes. I don't think foreign tourists are interested in travelling specially for witnessing elections in India."

The first phase of the 2019 general elections will be held on April 11. Ninetyone Lok Sabha constituencies from 20 states will vote on that day.The elections will be held over seven phases from April 11 to May 19, and the results will be declared on May 23.

Voters feel ‘India is progressing’

Majority of voters across social barriers feel

Photo: AP

An undying demand for Indian masters was seen yet again at Mumbai auction house AstaGuru’s sale in end March.

(From left) V.S. Gaitonde’s Untitled (1963) fetched

Rs 9.6 crore; Ganesh Pyne's Raktakarabi, (1957) based on a similarly titled play by Rabindranath Tagore fetched Rs 2.4 crore, and FN Souza’s Last Howl

From the Cross (1963) fetched Rs 4.6 crore Photo: IANS

that India is moving forward and their lives too, most are optimistic about the future as they believe their living standards will improve in the next one year. According to the latest findings of CVOTER-IANS poll tracker 2019, 73.2 per cent of government servants, 65 per cent of the unemployed and 63.3 per cent of self-employed among the respondents felt satisfied with the situation in the country.

When asked if they expected living standard to go up in the next 12 months, 63 per cent of unemployed, 45.9 per cent of housewives, 61.5 per cent of those involved with fishery, 65.2 per cent of government servants said "yes".

Those with negative outlook was less across the same sections.

Only 4.3 per cent of unemployed, 7.9 per cent of housewives, 5.7 per cent of land owning farmers said that could not say much about today's India.

The number of respondents who said that their living standard would deteriorate over the next one year was around 10 per cent or less across various categories. Those who said that both the country and their lives were in poor state remained less than 20 per cent across all sections.

Now, Hindi innings for French bestseller Asterix comics

Launched in 1959, the French comic classic Asterix boasts having sold an unmatched 370 million copies in more than 100 languages. After capturing the global comics market, the series is now available for Hindi readers - after five years of painstaking translation.

The Hindi translation of the first four albums of the Asterix series was released recently by French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler, who called the comics' total of 33 albums "a monument of French pop culture" and "opportunity to learn not French, but about the French (people)."

The series follows the adventures of a group of Gallic villagers as they resist Roman occupation in 50 BCE. It was originally written by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo.

Published by Om Books International, the "albums", as they are called, were cotranslated by Dipa Chaudhuri and Puneet Gupta beginning from 2014. Sharing that

translating each album took at least 6-8 months, the task was "not merely a word-toword translation".

"There are so many cultural references. You have to find equivalent Hindi words, terminology, proverbs, jokes, songs. There is Latin used as well," Gupta, who also translated The Adventures of Tintin, said.

Explained his French-speaking cotranslator Chaudhuri, "There was a huge translator's block when we started. It wasn't just any translation. These were graphic novels and the graphic form imposes a lot of restrictions as to how you can translate.”

“Besides finding the right word, we had to find the right length, because there were speech bubbles. The Hindi script practically is much longer than the French. There are matras on the top, side and bottom, whereas in French they are only on top. We couldn't be waffling with the translation," Chaudhuri added.

What the translators also has to be mindful of is that each language has its own aural space and one size does not fit all.

"While you'd hit a person with a 'Paff' in French, it'll be 'Bang' in English and 'Thak' in Hindi," Gupta explained, adding that they identified 100 sounds in four of the 33 albums.

The French equivalent of the India's iconic Chacha Chaudhary comics or Amar Chitra Katha, Asterix is a journey into French mindsets and is widely translated and adapted into animated films, video games, live action films, and even theme parks.

The translators shared an interesting anecdote while preparing the Hindi comic."They've used the (military) terms decurion and centurion. We couldn't have used 'major' or 'colonel'. So we had to come up with 'dashpati' and 'shatpati' for commanders of 10 and 100 soldiers," Gupta said.

"We called up people in the armed forces and asked them how they'd say this."

Asked if they came across similarities between the Indo-French cultures, Chaudhari said that while there are culturally distinct experiences, human experiences remain the same."We talk of warfare, historical hostilities, cultural chauvinism. The comic has strategies, cultural superiority and talking down to the Germanic tribes or Romans. This kind of a comic has a universal resonance.

Added Gupta, "Human emotions of fear, hatred, faith, satire and greed transcend time and culture. All these emotions are depicted here and one can correlate."

The translation rights were acquired by publisher Ajay Mago from the French Hachette Livre after over five years of negotiations. The first four albums are priced at Rs 295 and are available online at Amazon and Flipkart, as also offline.

Vote out hate politics, Indian writers, artistes appeal

Over 200 writers and artistes including Arundhati Roy, Girish Karnad, Keki Daruwalla, T.M. Krishna, and Nayantara Sahgal appealed to citizens to vote against hate politics and for an equal and diverse India.

In the appeal issued on Indian Cultural Forum, the 210 signatories said that the last few years saw "citizens being lynched or assaulted or discriminated against because of their community, caste, gender, or the region they come from".

"Hate politics has been used to divide the country; create fear; and exclude more and more people from living as full-fledged citizens. Writers, artists, filmmakers, musicians and other cultural practitioners have been hounded, intimidated, and censored.

"Anyone who questions the powersthat-be is in danger of being harassed or arrested on false and ridiculous charges," they said in the appeal.

Terming voting out "hate politics, division of our people, inequality, violence, intimidation and censorship" as the critical first step, the writer-artiste community said that it was the only way we can vote for an India that renews the promises made by the Constitution.

"We don't want rationalists, writers and activists to be hounded or assassinated. We want stern measures against violence in word or deed against women, Dalits, Adivasis and minority communities.

"We want resources and measures for jobs, education, research, healthcare and equal opportunities for all. Most of all, we want to safeguard our diversity and let democracy flourish," the appeal added.

The appeal has also been signed by prominent names like Amitav Ghosh,

Vajpeyi. It has been issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu, Bangla, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.

Changes in UAE visa to benefit Indian expats' kin too

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced new visa guidelines as per which family members of foreign citizens, including Indians, working in the country will now be able to get an "expat visa" if the working relative fulfils an income criteria.

The UAE Cabinet recently adopted a decision to amend provisions of the resolution on sponsoring of foreign workers to their families in the country, WAM news agency reported.

According to a statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions now indicate "income" as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed "professions" which allowed workers to sponsor their families.

The amendment was in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it said."The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life," the statement added.

The Cabinet decision, according to the statement, called on relevant government entities to conduct studies to assess and enhance the services provided to residents, including aspects of education and health, and encourage the active participation of their family member in the job market as an alternative to recruiting new workers from abroad, within the existing policies and regulations.

Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Nasir Bin Thani Al Hamli said that the Cabinet amendments will undoubtedly strengthen family ties of workers, reflect positively on the labour market, boost productivity and support the national economy.

IANS

Vivek Shanbhag, Urvashi Butalia, Meena Kandasamy, Benyamin, Vivan Sundaram, Namita Gokhale, K.N. Panikkar, Ranjit Hoskote, Jeet Thayil, Jerry Pinto, Romila Thapar and Ashok

all need a bit

in our lives! the Indian Link Radio family, as NAIKARAPARAMBIL

BY HAMSA VENKAT

The essence of Bharathanatyam is its inherent spirituality and though on the surface level, most people are taken in by the sheer beauty and glamour of the artform, it takes a deep sense of commitment to understand its core values. In her journey towards understanding this, Yasheeka Patel took her first few steps as she ascended the stage in March this year, performing her arangetram (debut performance) at UNSW’s Science Theatre.

Yasheeka’s tryst with dance started at the age of five. She recounts, “My parents enrolled me in folk dancing and a year later, under the guidance of Aunty Savithri, I became a student of Bharatanatyam at the Vadhini Indian Arts Academy in Cape Town, South Africa.”

Naidoo also addressed the gathering as guest of honour that evening.

aspiring allied health professional, Yasheeka is currently in her second year, studying a Bachelor of

What dance has taught me

Dance debutante Yasheeka

Patel on her Bharatanatyam takeaways

Applied Sciences in Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney. As an energetic nineteen-year-old, she’s not only a full-time student, but works part time while nurturing her passion for

“Dance has played a huge role in my day-to-day life,” she asserts.“The rigours of training have taught me respect, discipline and perseverance, and have helped enhance my self-esteem and build

Through dance, she has also formed very close friendships with other talented individuals who share her passion, she reveals. Yasheeka thanks her guru Padma

Balakumar for nurturing, inspiring and moulding her into a dancer.

Evidence of her passion and hard work characterised Yasheeka’s repertoire for the evening as she started with a vibrant opening piece on the dancing Ganesha. Her jathiswaram in ragam Saraswathi was characterised by crisp jathis punctuated with a diverse range of chalam (walking back) which brought out guru Padma Balakumar’s variations in choreography. “The varnam (central piece) has to be my favourite,” claims Yasheekaas this was one of the first few pieces that she started learning for the arangetram and has seen it come a long way since then. That is one of the most satisfying aspects of any learning process. The satisfaction gained from the lift of the upward curve of learning cannot be measured in any manner. The procession of the lord, with the musicians and dancers accompanying as the nayika (heroine) waits in passing, was effectively presented; and the game of dice and the disrobing of Draupadi in the Kaurava court was beautifully brought to life both through dance and music.

The way in which one can explore beauty and express one’s creativity and imagination through movement, is what

attracts Yasheeka to dance. This was portrayed in her graceful presentation of Shri Ramachandra, a Tulsidas bhajan, where the alternating reciting and singing of the verses by vocalists Prema and Sanjay added various layers of depth to the music and the dancing. Yasheeka’s vibrant energy was a highlight in the keerthanam

‘Aadum Deivam’ on the Lord of Dance, and her nimble abhinaya (interpretative dance) came to the forefront in the song ‘Jaya kamala’ presenting the beauty of the goddess through the lotus motif.

Reminiscing about a highlight that marked her arangetram, Yasheeka speaks of the power of music and the new understanding she gained about theinterdependence of the two art forms. She eagerly watched both dance and music come together to bring stories to life during the lead up and final rehearsals with musicians.“Working with them and performing all of my dances that night, has to be the best part of this entire experience!” Yasheekasays, acknowledging the support of the admirable orchestra.

Yasheeka was supported by Prema Anadakrishnanand Sanjay Ramaswamyon vocals, Balaji Jagannadhan on the violin, Sivakumar Sethupathi on the mridangam and Venkhatesh Sritharan on the flute.

Bharathanatyam is not the only dance form that keeps Yasheeka on her toes. She has performed in numerous cultural, community, fundraising events and productions both in Cape Town and Sydney across a dance spectrum of folk, Bollywood and classical forms. Yasheeka has also choreographed Bollywood-style pieces for local community events, allowing her to explore her creativity more widely.

Dance is not merely a hobby that Yasheeka pursues or an artform that she learns. “Though it is centuries old, it never ceases to remain relevant,” she feels.

It is what keeps her rooted to her culture and traditions in a fast-paced world of change.

Photos: Binu’s Photography

Walking for Mum

Melbourne siblings fundraise for Lymphoma Australia

BY PREETI JABBAL

For Melbourne-based siblings Rohit Sawhney and Priya Dias, the process of healing - following the loss of their mum Anjali Sawhney to lymphoma last year - included a positive ritual to share with family and friends.

While many choose to release butterflies, hold prayer ceremonies, write poems or offer flowers in memory of their loved ones, Rohit and Priya invited people to join them for a charity walk to support those currently fighting lymphoma.

The group raised over $12,000 for Lymphoma Australia to support lymphoma care nurses around the country.

Making every step count, nearly 300 people participated in the Legs Out For Lymphoma event held at Princes Park in Carlton North recently. The 5-km walk was suitable for all abilities including strollers and wheelchairs. Sharing details of the fundraiser with Indian Link, Lymphoma Australia CEO Sharon Winton OAM said, “It was an amazing event. We are very appreciative of the people who came and helped create awareness of lymphoma, and the lime colour made it so much fun.”

According to Sharon the total sum raised was $27,000: this will go towards the dedicated lymphoma care nurses who support patients through their diagnosis and treatment.

Legs Out For Lymphoma is a national event raising awareness of this complex cancer, the sixth most common form of cancer in Australia. According to statistics provided by Lymphoma Australia, over 6000 people are diagnosed with lymphoma and around 1500 deaths are attributed to it each year in Australia.

The Legs Out an announcement by Health Minister Greg Hunt to spend $19 million to list Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) medicines Adcetrics on the PBS list, with patients able to access them for $40.30 per script or $6.50

with a concession card from April 2019.

Rohit and Priya chose this event to express their gratitude to the many family and friends who supported them and their mother Anjali through her painful journey that ended on 18 July 2018. Her legacy, however, continues, living on in the hearts of many people that she touched.

“Mum was our everyday hero,” Priya said emotionally. “She lived her life doing good things for others and we wish to continue that tradition by giving back, by supporting Lymphoma Australia in their wonderful work. We miss her tremendously but we also are assured with the knowledge that she would

Rohit voiced similar sentiments as he balanced his super cute toddler on his shoulders and manoeuvred her pram around the park. Little Rhian, all of 20 months old, happily sported the lime-coloured theme and was among the youngest members at the event.

“We are very grateful to all for their support and the many kind donations to this same charity at the time of Mum's funeral,” Rohit said.“She was not just our mum, she was dadi, chachi, bua, aunty, friend and confidante for different people and it’s great to see so many join us to honour her memory,” he said.

“This is the ideal way to celebrate the life of our Aunt -she had great appreciation for the comfort and compassion provided by the nurses who helped her

through her treatment in hospital,” said Simmi Singh, Anjali’s niece, who was also at the event. “In her last days, her close circle of family and friends were with her day and night, and witnessed the sensitivity with which most of the nurses conducted their noble profession. I am glad the donations will support these wonderful angels in scrubs.”

Amongst the participants were people who had lost their loved ones to the cancer, some in remission, some getting treatment, some survivors and many supporters. Besides the walk there was food, drinks, fundraising merchandise, music and positive vibes galore for the fundraisers.

Emily Somers from Bravery Co demonstrated an interesting headwear technique of tying a turban that was inspired by African women. Based on her own experience of battling Hodgkin Lymphoma twice, Emily started Bravery Co by sourcing headscarves from around the world for cancer patients. 10% of all the profits from Bravery Co go to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

The scenic green of the park was uplifted with the lime green clothing as well as the delighted smile of the man who won the bestdressed prize for decorating himself and his wheelchair in the zesty colour.

For those involved, it was either a fitness opportunity, help raise much needed funds, or plain socialise and have fun. Whatever their motivation, they were moved enough to move for charity.

The total sum raised was $27,000: this will go towards the dedicated lymphoma care nurses who support patients through their diagnosis and treatment.

Ravinder Singh Jabbal

Uni students fundraise for Pulwama

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

When 19-year-old Brisbane student Sahil Singh read about the terrorist attacks on CRPF personnel in Pulwama in midFebruary, he knew he had to do something.

He discussed it with his friends at uni, and suggested fundraising for the bereaved.

“You can understand the effect it had on us: the paramilitary troopers were regular working people just doing their job… 46 families are now deeply affected,” Sahil told Indian Link.

Soon a plan was put it into place, and the University of Queensland Indian Students Club (UQISC), of which Sahil is Treasurer, was talking to Event Cinemas.

Days later, the students were watching the Hindi film Uri in a 300-seat theatre, filled to capacity.

Proceeds from the screening, nearly $2000, have now been donated to the Government of India’s Bharat Ke Veer (India’s Bravehearts) program, via their website.

“The response was overwhelming,” a beaming Sahil, third year law and commerce student, revealed. “Not only students, but also members of the wider Indian community, rocked up to support us. Attendees lit candles in tribute to the fallen.”

He added, “It’s a great achievement for us as students to have pulled off such a large event.”

Siddharth Sree, President UQISC and third year electrical engineering and IT student, said, “The horrific incident touched our hearts. We felt it was - not so much our patriotic duty but our humanitarian duty - to extend help to the affected families.”

The Indian students association at UQ began the year with a vision: to fundraise for worthwhile causes in the community, both in India as well as here in our own backyard.

Film screenings at affordable prices looks set to become their modus operandi.

Sahil explained, “We’ve negotiated a nonstandard agreement whereby we are able to bulk purchase movie tickets at a lower cost. What this means, is that while normally a standard movie ticket for a new movie may be $20, we are able to offer a $6.95 early entry ticket and still have proceeds to pass on to a cause. Our power to bargain with Event Cinemas regarding cost is linked to how many people are able to support us at screenings.”

Aside from the fundraising, the intention is to pick meaningful films that have powerful messages. With their first screening, they were able to retell the story of the 2016 Uri attack, and the sacrifice of the soldiers involved there.

Their next event, a screening of the

sets a noble agenda for 2019

Akshay

If you wish to support UQISC as a studentled non-profit association, head to their Facebook page www.facebook.com/ UQISC/

Kumar starrer Kesari, will raise funds for mental health programs here in Australia.

UQISC executive

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Explore India in slow-mo

industry experts attended the event, with guest of honour, Dr. A.M Gondane, High Commissioner of India to Australia.

the North East of India shares its border with Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. You will see the influence of these neighbouring countries in the languages spoken here, in the architecture, design, clothes, food, music and culture. For instance you will find the Buddhist monasteries of Nepal, Tibetan food and clothes, and so on.”

Tripura, elements of Bengali culture, such as Bengali cuisine, literature especially Rabindranath Tagore’s work, and music are widespread.”

BY SARONI ROY

On the 27th of March 2019, the Consulate General of India in Sydney and Australia India Travel & Tourism Council (AITTC) jointly organised a Tourism roadshow event, ‘Know North EastIndia Better’ at the Indian Consulate’s Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre. Over 80 distinguished guests and

In his speech, Dr. Gondane highlighted the benefits that the tourism and hospitality industry brings to the bilateral relations between India and Australia. And with India’s focus on the Act East Policy and the India Economic Strategy to 2035, there is significant amount of interest in this region, particularly in this sector. He encouraged the tourism industry veterans based in Australia to visit and experience theseenchanting and unexplored eight states, to be able to recommend this ‘one of a kind’ experience to their Australian clientele.

“A unique but common thread that connects the eight North Eastern states of India, would be the confluence of international flavours, art and culture,” Sandip Hor, Chairman, AITTC told the gathering.“Being the frontier region,

The event showcased the multiple dimensions of these states including a live Bihu music and dance performance by Nabonita Banerjee and her troupe, video bytes from eminent BBC travel journalist Rajan Datar and Northeast India Tour Operator (NEITO). Caroline Poiner, Founder, Artisans of Fashion, a social enterprise working directly with the artisan communities across rural India, in her video presentation displayed the master craftsmanship of the indigenous handloom silk and textile weavers and artisans from these regions.

“Some of the most memorable sights and experiences when I visited these regions were spending time at the banks of Brahmaputra, seeing the magnificence and beauty of the Himalayan range, the Kanchanjenga from Sikkim; the onehorned rhinos at the Kaziranga National Park - which are almost extinct - basking in the wilderness,” Sandip added. “In spite of having a common connection, each of these eight states also have something unique of their own. For instance in

The North-Eastern states were established during the British Raj of the 19th and early 20th centuries, therefore, “most people in these states know at least 3 languages, English, Hindi and a regional language, so we didn’t quite face a language barrier when we travelled through these states,” said Chris Packett, an ardent traveller, as he shared his experience of travelling in these regions.

Some of the other speakers included Chandru Appar (Acting Consulate General); Motti Abraham (Business Development Manager, Air India) and Burt Niu (Sales Manager, Air Asia). The event was concluded with a vote of thanks by Phillip Boniface, Co-Chairman & Treasurer AITTC, and lucky draw prizes sponsored by Khaver Ali Khan of Secrets of India and Thushara Liyanarachchi of Taj Hotels.

An experiential taster for travellers to the pristine and tranquil North East of India

Neermahal Palace, Tripura

Tourists in Sikkim try on the local wear

Assam’s endangered one-horned rhino AITTC for north-east India

Constantly tired? You could be anaemic

About a medical condition widespread in women of Indian ethnicity

So, how much iron do you need?

BY JYOTHSNA R RAO

When Popeye the Sailor Man sang “I’m strong to the finich, ‘cause I eat me spinach” he was definitely on the right track. Iron (also found in spinach) is an essential micronutrient for the body as it helps to transport oxygen, fight disease and keep our brain and muscles functioning well.

Constant tiredness, a result of low oxygen supply to the vital organs

The majority of iron in the body is present in the protein haemoglobin, which transports oxygen around the body. Low haemoglobin from lack of iron leads to low supply of oxygen to important organs such as the lungs, causing extreme fatigue or tiredness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Lack of iron also causes substantial hair fall and in the extreme, a craving to eat non-food items such as dirt and ice. This is anaemia, a condition caused due to iron deficiency.

Anaemia is hugely prevalent in those of Indian ethnicity, more common in teenage girls and women of child-bearing age. In fact, 1 in every 2 Indian women is anaemic, an alarming statistic. The significant prevalence of anaemia led the Government of India to launch a public health campaign in 2018 titled “Anaemia Mukt Bharat”, which aims to reduce its pervasiveness by 30% by 2022.

How is anaemia diagnosed?

Usually, symptoms of tiredness and shortness of breath leads us to the GP clinic, where a routine full blood test picks up anaemia. More excitingly, scientists from the department of biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, have developed a new Smartphone app which promises to do away with invasive blood tests and, instead aims to use photos and an image-based algorithm to detect anaemia (see Figure 2). This development shows promise, especially from an Indian perspective, as it is mobile and can be used to detect anaemia in interior India where the prevalence of anaemia is high.

Can you improve haemoglobin levels from food?

Of course, you can! A common cause of anaemia, other than blood loss due to heavy periods in women and adolescent girls, is an inadequate diet or a daily diet low in iron-rich foods.Ensure that the food you eat has sufficient iron levels. Red meat, chicken and fish are all important sources of easily absorbable iron, a form known as heme iron. Generally, these foods help, but what about vegetarians? There is a common misconception that vegetarians are unable

to reach adequate iron levels, compared to non-vegetarians, due to not eating meat; this is completely false! Plant-based foods also contain iron in a form known as non-heme iron, found in kale, spinach, pomegranate, plums, figs and broccoli. Legumes such as rajma, chana, lobia and grains such as brown rice are also rich sources of iron. Add them to your meals!

Enhance your absorption of iron:

Eat a ‘clever food combination’

Iron from foods needs to be well absorbed in the gut to raise haemoglobin levels. Some foods such as oranges, capsicum and tomatoes enhance the absorption of iron because they are rich in Vitamin C. So, a ‘clever food combination’ is rajma cooked in a tomato-based gravy. Beta-carotene found in pumpkin also helps to enhance iron absorption, adding roasted pumpkins to a brown rice salad is good.

Are there any foods that block iron absorption?

Unfortunately, yes. Foods that block absorption of iron are *insert drumroll* coffee and chai, favourite Indian lifelines! These contain tannins which inhibit the efficient absorption of iron. More depressingly, the more kadak the less your iron absorption. But there is a way to enjoy your cuppa: drink it a couple of hours after your meal!

Calcium, an important micronutrient

for bones and teeth, found in dairy is also an inhibitor of iron absorption. In fact, calcium prevents absorption of both heme (meat-based) and non-heme (plant-based) iron. However, the good news is that your body understands its needs well and this inhibition is more applicable when calcium

Iron needs depends on the age, stage and gender. For example, growing infants, toddlers, and teenagers require more iron than their grandparents. Similarly, pregnant women need more iron and so do menstruating girls and women. (See table for recommended dietary intake).

What if iron-rich foods don’t work?

There are other ways to increase iron, through iron supplements which are commonly recommended by clinicians during pregnancy. In extreme cases, regular iron injections are given; sometimes a one-time iron infusion is suggested. These have to be under the advice of a registered medical practitioner. Dr Sanjivi Jayasinghe, a busy south-east Melbourne GP, sees a large number of Indian women with anaemia. She prefers an iron infusion and says, “We generally don’t do iron injections now, because if not done correctly, they can stain the skin and this can last for years. Infusions are better and given into a vein. The effectiveness, otherwise, is the same and lasts for about 18 months, though each woman is different.”

A word of caution!

Do not self-diagnose an iron deficiency; it needs to be diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner. Yes, we are all unique with personal nutrition needs, and general information sourced online does not address these. Seek guidance for diet modifications from a university-qualified professional, not Dr Google!

Dr Jyothsna R Rao is a university-qualified nutritionist with a background and expertise in human physiology, who has studied and lived in Australia for 19 years.

Recommended dietary intake (RDI) for iron

AGE IN YEARS RDI

4-8 10mg/day

14-18 Boys 11mg/day

14-18 Girls 15mg/day

19->70 Men 8mg/day

19-50 Women 18mg/day e.g. 1 cup rajma = 3.1mg (https://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/iron)

Some practical tips to improve your iron intake if you are vegetarian

n Keep pepitas, dried figs and apricots, fresh fruit such as peeled pomegranate at work to munch in between.

n Drink your chai 2 hours after a meal

n Eat a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetable in a day

n Swap white rice for brown rice

n Combine legumes such as rajma and chana with tomatoes, tamarind and lemon (‘clever’ food combinations!)

n Make hummus with tahini to pack an iron punch, team it with carrot sticks for another ‘clever’ food combination.

BY NEHA MALUDE

Vegan Holi seems like an oxymoron at first – how do you celebrate a festival in which you have to use ghee and milk to make sweets?

It’s not entirely impossible, as Sydneybased Swati Tiwari recently demonstrated.

“Three years ago, I went through a period of shock and depression when I realised the cruelty in the dairy industry,” Swati tells Indian Link about her journey with veganism. “You can imagine my despair because as Indians, milk goes in everything! That was the start, I think.”

In 2016, she created a Facebook group called Desi Vegans of Australia, a small community of like-minded people who want to explore this kind of lifestyle.

On 10 March, this group celebrated their first ‘vegan Holi’. “Holi is a festival of fun and forgiveness and a fresh start. Celebrating a festival in a kind, compassionate way is the best way to bring people together for a cause, to tell them that it is possible to avoid animal cruelty and still not compromise on the traditional flavours, not miss out on the fun,” Swati explains.

Of course, the question everyone asked was ‘Gujiya kaise banegi? Thandai kaise banegi?’

“We can’t imagine a life without milk, and so that was my chance to jump in and show everyone that it can be done.”

At this year’s Holi, she helped organise a Holi feast with papdi chat, gujiya, chole, pohe and samosa, accompanied of course by thandai. The difference? The entire spread was fully vegan, with milk alternatives and nuts in use.

So confident is Swati about her vegan recipes that she challenged us to a blind tasting, and guaranteed we wouldn’t know the difference.

Veganism is a way of life that seeks to avoid, as far as is feasible, any and all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals. Obviously, there were challenges on the way. Practising veganism isn’t easy, not at first at any rate.

“It was overwhelming because so many Indian recipes use animal products,” Swati agrees. “But even more overwhelming is the pain we put animals through. Pumping chickens with steroids, introducing hormonal changes in cows so they give us milk all year round. I couldn’t live with that anymore.”

But animal products percolate every aspect of modern life – clothes and accessories made of leather and wool, skincare and make-up products that are

A vegan Holi

Dairy-free mithai and thandai? It can be done!

tested on animals. Then come the circuses and zoos where animals are exploited in return for money.

“It’s impossible to avoid every single thing, I’ll admit. But I’ve tried my best. We worship elephants as Ganesha, monkeys as Hanuman, so why is the concept of veganism so skewed to us?”

Swati, who came to Australia 20 years ago, adds that her husband and daughter were incredibly supportive. “Veganism is an inner transformation. I didn’t force veganism on my family but I made it clear that I won’t ever cook or buy (certain items). And they were on board!

Sure, there are those who say, ‘Krishna used to drink milk, so why can’t we?’

She replies, “During Krishna’s time, industrialisation hadn’t happened. Cows didn’t get slaughtered. They didn’t get hormonal injections. And why compare ourselves to a god?”

Swati also credits her mother for guidance, whose family generations ago used ‘milk’ from moong dal to prepare their yoghurt.

What’s next for Swati?

“I want to make vegan Holi and Diwali an annual tradition. At some point, I also want to start classes where I can teach people how to cook simple Indian recipes without using animal-derived products. They might be small changes, but I think they add up to make a big difference in the end.”

VEGAN GUJIYA

Ingredients for the pastry

n 2 cups plain flour (maida)

n ½ cup oil

n Water to knead

Ingredients for the filling

n 2 cups fine cashew nut powder

n ½ cup water

n ½ cup rough ground pistachios

n ½ cup sultanas and chironji mix

n ½ cup coconut flakes

n 1 cup fine brown sugar

n 2 tsp cardamom powder

n Oil for frying

Mix oil with flour. Combine well to get a crumbly texture. Knead with water to get a firm dough. Cover with a wet cloth and set it aside while you get the filling ready.

Heat a pan on sim and add the cashew powder and water. Keep stirring until it forms a lump and is cooked. Let it cool completely. Gently crumble it to get your vegan mawa/khoya base. Add the rest of the ingredients to get the delicious filling.

Roll out small rounds of the dough prepared earlier and stuff with filling. Use a gujiya mould to make the gujiyas. Deep fry in medium heat. Serve hot or cold

Optional: you could dip gujiyas into a light sugar syrup to make them even more decadent.

उसे रीस़ाईककल के ललए ल़ाएँ

उसे रीस़ाईककल के ललए ल़ाएँ

You can drop off:

You can drop off:

को जिसे फेकऩा

You can drop off:

ललए ल़ाएँ

समस़्ा है, उसे रीस़ाईककल के ललए ल़ाएँ

जिसे फेकऩा

समस़्ा है, उसे रीस़ाईककल के ललए ल़ाएँ

You can drop off:

You can drop off:

You can drop off:

लनःशुलक सेव़ा

लनःशुलक सेव़ा

लनःशुलक सेव़ा

लनःशुलक

लनःशुलक

लनःशुलक

सेव़ा

सेव़ा

सेव़ा

की बोतलें आग बझाने के उपकरण रग-रोगन

आपके स़्ानी् स़ामुद़ाल्क रीस़ाईककल केन्द्र क़ा पत़ा:

आपके स़्ानी् स़ामुद़ाल्क रीस़ाईककल

आपके स़्ानी् स़ामुद़ाल्क रीस़ाईककल केन्द्र क़ा पत़ा:

आपके स़्ानी् स़ामुद़ाल्क रीस़ाईककल केन्द्र क़ा पत़ा:

आपके स़्ानी् स़ामुद़ाल्क रीस़ाईककल केन्द्र क़ा पत़ा: अलिक ि़ानक़ारी के ललए प़्ायावरण फोन ल़ाईन (Environment Line) को 131 555 पर फोन करें, अपनी

अलिक ि़ानक़ारी के ललए

अलिक ि़ानक़ारी के ललए प़्ायावरण फोन ल़ाईन (

अलिक ि़ानक़ारी के ललए प़्ायावरण फोन ल़ाईन (Environment Line) को 131 555 पर फोन करें,

आपके स़्ानी् स़ामुद़ाल्क रीस़ाईककल केन्द्र क़ा पत़ा: अलिक ि़ानक़ारी के ललए प़्ायावरण फोन ल़ाईन (Environment Line) को 131 555 पर फोन करें, अपनी स़्ानी् क़ाऊजन्सल से संपकया करें ़्ा www.epa.nsw.gov.au/recyclingcentres पर देखें

स़्ानी् क़ाऊजन्सल से संपकया करें़्ा www.epa.nsw.gov.au/recyclingcentres पर देखें

स़्ानी् क़ाऊजन्सल से संपकया करें़्ा www.epa.nsw.gov.au/recyclingcentres पर देखें

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SEEKING GROOMS

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Australian citizen, male, professional, working for Government department, owns house in Sydney, huge assets. Seeking suitable match for marriage. Contact sydneyboy293@yahoo. com or 0438 029 833

April 2019

BY MINAL KHONA

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

ARIES March

21 - April 19

The card drawn for you stands for the sign of Virgo, so the usually impulsive Arians might display analytical, practical traits, surprising themselves. If a marriage is in the courts, divorce is likely. Change, in-depth thinking and the desire to venture into new territory, is imminent. Heartbreaks are painful but healing will come from within. Short trips are on the anvil. While you wait for new ideas to come, find satisfaction in all that you can do on your own.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

TAROT

GEMINI

May 21 -

June 20

The practical Taureans might display Scorpio-like intensity this month. They should avoid feelings of martyrdom; and instead, focus on research, effective communication and dealing with disputes. The single might meet someone interesting. A trip could get postponed. Work gives you an opportunity to venture into new areas. Emotional strain or sudden weight loss needs medical attention. Money and favours come your way in heaps. Spiritual healing will increase your intuitive abilities.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

A Libran might play the influencer for Leos this month, which might make the usually decisive Lions a bit cautious. Inner and outer conflicts plague your mind, but new friends, mended relationships with old friends and pending matters will get sorted out due to a sudden burst of clear thinking. Drive carefully; watch for sudden mishaps on a trip while travelling. Tension in money matters is predicted. Success in legal matters is assured. See things from others’ perspective for best results.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22 - Dec 21

This could be a stressful month for Sagittarians as there is discord, blocked progress, ill health or hospitalisation of a loved one. A separation in a relationship is temporary; the worst is over. A bit of soul searching will help bring clarity. Fears in a romantic situation are baseless. Those who have just had a break-up could go through bouts of depression. Money though, is especially good and a new project, deal or settlement brings in the finances from multiple sources.

CANCER June 21 - July 20

You focus on learning, assimilation and spiritual growth. A short trip for work is possible though a long holiday might get cancelled. Female Geminis need to see a doctor in case of gynaecological problems, however minor. Business might be slow but it will pick up and fortunes increase. Avoid being secretive in relationships. Once you make a decision regarding something of importance, stick with it. Help will come when needed and the outcome might be quite different, but in a good way.

LIBRA

Sep 23 - Oct 22

Virgos can brace themselves for a fresh start, clarity and problem solving this month. Though there is pressure, tension and anxiety, using your mind to solve every problem is the only way. A new love can sweep the single off their feet. A marriage could go through a rocky phase. Working with new ideas can be enjoyable. Tension in money matters is possible due to delayed payments. A new career direction and good luck can come through a friend.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 - Jan 19

A reconciliation or reunion is on the cards, as is a lot of planning before making a move. You direct your energy towards self-improvement and improving your social image. A position of power at work improves your attitude and determination. An estranged ex tries to win you back. You could even reconcile with a family member. Profits at business increase. Eat healthier food to increase energy levels. Proceed in a systematic manner and do only that which is required.

The always balanced Librans will display an extra dose of practicality because of the influence of Taurus-like qualities. Unexpected developments in personal relationships are predicted, resulting in workable ideas and further growth. Don’t let emotional problems affect your work. Control your emotions; maintain a cool and detached attitude. Watch out for dental problems or muscle sprains. Success comes through studied effort, gradual growth and unexpected opportunities.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20 - Feb 18

The usually blunt Aquarians will be even more outspoken and forthright this month. You may even show a sudden affinity for the outdoors due to the influence of Sagittarius. Your analytical abilities come to the fore as you want things to change with a loved one, or break free from a restrictive situation at work. A new approach to work proves to be more lucrative. A health condition needs to be looked at by a doctor. Success comes through social connections and business associates.

Your persevering nature and practical, conservative side is even more evident this month due to the influence of a Capricorn type of personality. Work and professional endeavours are your focus. Relationship-wise, basic incompatibility will foster a divorce; if seeing someone, the same reason will keep you apart. Health issues with the throat, back and stomach indicate suppressed emotions. Money is slow but unexpected financial gains are foretold. If something is meant to be, it will come on its own.

SCORPIO

Oct 23 - Nov 21

Important events, mostly pre-destined, could shake up your life this month. Being unexpected, they could be devastating and could be about business, money or relationships. A lie or infidelity breaks up a relationship. Drive carefully as sudden accidents could occur. Medical expenses could shoot up too. What looks dismal is not the final outcome and a resurrection is predicted. If something has reached its nadir, let it go as things get better from now on.It is time to remain calm.

PISCES

Feb 19 - March 20

All aces denote new beginnings but the ace of wands denotes new bouts of creativity; which is a bonus for Pisceans who are born creative. A desire for romance is underlined by wanting a full-time partner, not a parttime one. Travel for work proves to be financially rewarding. Creative activities give you satisfaction as they are lucrative too. Get productive and work on your new ideas. Being busy proves to be a blessing. A new start or way of life is predicted.

cineTALK

UNPALATABLE TRUTHS

some of the real-life crime dramas on television (some of which are not bad at all) mainly for the level of performance director Mehta gets out of the cast especially Shefali Shah.

But it doesn't achieve that level of emotional impact that I expected from the product considering the fine talent that's gone into it.

There are two reasons why Delhi Crime stops short of being a masterpiece on real-life crime. For one, it holds back way too much of the angst probably to appeal to a global audience. The attempt to subdue the sheer insanity of the crime is admirable but eventually a fatal error of judgment.

DELHI CRIME (Netflix)

STARRING: Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal

DIRECTOR: Richie Mehta

HHHH

It isn't easy being on the right side of the law when all you get for your efforts is brickbats and insults from fence sitters.

To say that this disturbing but finally redundant real-life crime drama whitewashes the khaki uniform, would be frivolous and irresponsible to the extreme. What it does do, is to humanise the police force by showing a cluster of fiercely committed police officers (women, in this story) driving themselves

over the edge to nap the perpetrators of the crime.

Did the cops on the case really show this level of commitment? Does it matter? Heroism on a level where it heals society is unquestionable.

Recreating in vivid vicious colours the events before, during and after the life-changing ‘Nirbhaya’ gang rape in Delhi, this seven-part series spares us the brutality of watching the rape but protects from none of the trauma and horrific aftermath of a crime that shook the conscience of the nation.

As we hear our drama's hero Vartika Chaturvedi say, this crime was different,

the savagery was unprecedented. She got it right.

I will never forget the sequence where the ravaged girl is rolled into the hospital bloodied, brutalised beyond all human explanation, in pain beyond all endurance, and yet tells her father, "I will be fine".

We do that all the time. We keep saying things will be fine when we know they will only get worse.

Director Richie Mehta negotiates with powerful hands the many hurdles that a crime investigation so complex must face. This is a very professionally handled crime drama, superior to

A more immediate crisis of efficacy emerges from the fact that Delhi Crime resembles a very recent Netflix film Soni which was in every way a superior work. The domestic disarray in the life of the female cops and the professional dynamics between two female officers in Soni is echoed here in the rapport that grows between the two cops played by Shefali Shah and Rasika Dugal, both in fine form, imbuing the contours of crime with an implosive reined-in anger at a system that fosters inequality and brutality.

Shefali Shah is especially powerful. She is compelling because her anger is internalised, palpable. She not only anchors the series with her persuasive presence, she also diminishes and decimates the rather disturbing feeling we get that this sort of stark recreation of India's most well-known sex crime serves no purpose except to remind us that the change we hoped to see in the number of rapes in our country, never happened.

Nirbhaya lives, and dies, again. Long live Nirbhaya.

Subhash K. Jha

NOTEBOOK

STARRING: Pranutan Behl, Zaheer Iqbal

DIRECTOR: Nitin Kakkar

HHH

It is significant that Salman Khan is a producer on this tender most lyrical

THE LEAST OF THESE

STARRING: Sharman Joshi, Stephen Baldwin

DIRECTOR: Aneesh Daniels

HHH

From the outset of this profoundly moving though flawed recreation of the ghastly Graham Staines murder, director Aneesh Daniels and writer Andrew Matthews, make it very clear to us whose side they are on.

And that's perfectly fine by me.

A work of art is most welcome to take sides if it knows the truth. And truth in this case was this: Odishabased Australian missionary Graham Staines did not indulge in conversion of the locals. He was cleared of all malafide intentions by an investigative committee after he and his two little sons were burnt to death by goons with suspicious political affiliation. Nobody is suggesting saffron in the blood. This has gone far beyond mere suggestion.

It is interesting how the director has chosen Sharman Joshi's character of the out-of-luck desperate journalist with a pregnant wife to support, to create an arc from cynicism about Staines' work of faith to a resounding

love story of his career. Salman has repeatedly expressed his aversion to physical love on screen, PDA at its most public if you please. He doesn't ever kiss his heroines.

Neither does his new discovery Zaheer Iqbal, young debutant.

This is a romance where the lead pair doesn't meet. They touch each other's lives through words. Not poetry, mind you. This is not an occasion to do a Pakeezaah on us.

Director Nitin Kakkar whose last film Mitron is a neglected gem, creates a stirring alchemy in the romance. The mood is as sombre as the Valley when the guns are silent.

This is a love story that dares to be pure. And sublime. It defines the concept of echo-walking, where one protagonist walks on the footprints left behind by another, bringing together the two polarised protagonists in ways that they themselves wouldn't comprehend.

Hence there is Kabir and Firdaus who are in love with the idea of being in love with one another.

(Kabir takes up a new job as a teacher in a remote village, and happens upon the diary of his predecessor, Firdaus. As he begins falling in love, the roles are reversed, and she is back in her old job. Now she finds his scribblings in her old diary….)

Kakkar and his writer Darab Farooqui keep it simple all the way, On the surface the narrative courts tranquility with negative earnestness. It refuses to submerge its consciousness in the political issues of Kashmir, knowing fully well that it can't escape the reality of violence. But then there is always that escape route where the artiste can con himself into believing love conquers all. Notebook takes the quiet gentle route.

That it actually makes us invest in its belief, that it avoids making us

THE GRAHAM STAINES STORY

feel cynical about its pure-hearted depiction of love, is a very rare occurrence in cinema today.

One wishes though that Kabeer and Firdaus’ meeting would have been more tellingly crafted.

The two newcomers are fluent in their movements expressing growing fondness for their doppelganger love.

Zaheer Iqbal is unconventionally heroic. Pranutan has a fragile yet strong presence. With time this talent can be polished into a definition of gleam.

There are some very capable new actors, some Kashmiri, in supporting roles. And the seven children who are an integral part of the film's winsome aspirations, will win your heart.

I know we say this each time Kashmir is put on celluloid. But this one is truly shot like a dream by cinematographer Manoj Kumar Khatoi. Every frame tells the story of a Valley bruised battered and wounded by violence while preserving the sanctity of the love that runs through the film like a colt in the wide-open. In every frame the protagonists seem to hold each other's hands without being together.

Notebook is a film replete with rich resonance. The unhurried pace ensures we absorb the emotions that trickle down from the frames. But the desperate effort to forge a clumsy climactic shootout from the raw yet resonant material was uncalled for. This film needed no manipulative hands. It wins us over without trying.

And the symbolism of a gun being drowned in the lake is out of place in this polished work.

Subhash K. Jha

missionaries to take on impossible odds?

That's the question I wanted to ask as Stephen Baldwin's altruistic role of the Christian missionary filled up the screen with a sunlit dazzle.

Shooting the film in rural Odisha is just about the best way the director could have chosen to not allow the wild improbabilities of the plot (a newspaper editor hell-bent on proving Staines' conversion scheme turns out to be a leper's son). The characters and their environment exude the stifling air of a social condition that breeds inequality and disharmony.

Rural Odisha is captured by cinematographer Jayakrishna

ratification of his intentions.

Sharman is as usual, a portrait of earnest brilliance.

The Least Of These takes a very dangerous stand on the issue of conversion by whittling down the religious issue to a far deeper spiritual crisis.

At the end of the film the journalist speaks to us and draws a contrast between religious conversion and conversion from "nothingness to significance". There is a moment that can easily be seen as an attempt

to glorify Christian evangelism and manipulate our emotions into submission, when Staines' wife is informed of the ghastly tragedy.

"I forgive those who have done this," Gladys Staines says when informed she has just lost her husband and two children.

Such a far-reaching level of forgiveness is hard to achieve in the human context. We can dismiss it as pamphleteering. And yet this is exactly how the real Mrs Staines had reacted. What sort of a passion drives the

Gummadi with a striking lack of selfcongratulations. In this week's other release Notebook it is Kashmir and Kerala in Junglee. Is our cinema going back to its roots? But it's not where the story unfolds that matters in The Least Of These. It's the sheer barbarism of a religious order that championed tolerance that bothers us while watching this moving but dissatisfying film.

How many more Graham Staines to prove how dedicated we are to preserving our religious sanctity?

Subhash K. Jha

The BUZZ

U P-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT’S HOT AND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD

BEAUTY IN THE BURNS

Bollywood is growing up, surely. Filmmakers are increasingly tackling ‘real’ issues and daring to tell stories that aren’t always pleasant, but have a message that’s worthy of being heard. Chahapaak is one such story. Based on the life of Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor, who went through a harrowing experience of being attacked by an older man whose advances she rejected, the Meghna Gulzar film stars Deepika Padukone as the protagonist.

The actor went through a major transformation in terms of make-up for the role, a transformation that’s being lauded by everyone, including Laxmi herself.

"I was happy to see Deepika's first look. The response and the messages I

got on social media was overwhelming. A lot of make-up artistes changed a natural face to acid distorted face after that (on social media). And I felt, 'see, they are finding beauty in an acid-burnt face',” she said.

Asked about her involvement in the film, Laxmi added, “I am always open about my life because I have seen several people in my journey who are doing a lot in front, but are suffering behind. I feel if you are an inspiration for someone, then you should come out and talk about these things. Laxmi is an open book."

Deepika is equally ecstatic about having landed the role, calling the role is a “character that will stay with me forever”.

We can’t wait.

KALKI PLAYING SACRED GAMES?

What’s better than Nawaz and Saif in Sacred Games? Nawaz, Saif and Kalki Koechlin together, of course. We have been wondering what was keeping Kalki away from a series that is absolutely perfect for her repertoire, don’t you agree? Well, the news is that the actor will be part of the highlyanticipated season 2. The season picks up from Sartaj Singh (Saif) pursuing his relentless battle of saving the city and Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin) facing bigger challenges to retain his position as the legendary kingpin of Mumbai.

Acting genius Pankaj Tripathi, who plays Nawaz’s father, plays a pivotal role in unfolding a chain of events that shape the next season - a development that makes us incredibly happy. However, although Anurag Kashyap will continue directing Ganesh Gaitonde's track, director Neeraj Ghaywan will take over Sartaj Singh's plot. With a powerhouse of so many talents in one series, we can’t wait to see what the next season has to offer us.

REEL REFLECTS REAL: TABU

Bollywood films have always flirted with notorious ideas, one of them being the relationship of older men with much younger women. This idea was once explored in Yash Chopra’s Lamhe and not very well-received in a conservative society. It again shocked audiences in the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Nishabd. And now, Ajay Devgn’s film De De Pyaar De, which also stars Tabu, is all set try the formula of a 50-year-old man's relationship with a 26-year-old girl. Interestingly, Tabu herself played the much younger love interest of an older Amitabh Bachchan in Cheeni Kum. Odd how it’s never the opposite, isn’t it? Someone asked the actor the same question and she had to say one thing: “If certain things are accepted in society, then I think films will reflect that. I think the older man and younger woman concept is more widely accepted in the world and in society, so, we see more of it on-screen. I am sure that societal choices and the way we live will reflect in cinema because cinema is not happening in isolation." Food for thought…

PANKAJ IN POLITICS?

Why does every actor go down the same path? Acting and politics? The latest to join this list is Pankaj Tripathi – no, he hasn’t joined a political party - yet. But he’s pretty sure he will pursue it.

“I believe that only a well-read, wellaware individual can make a great leader and build a progressive nation. I tend to read a lot of books and believe in a certain ideology. I think reading and travelling not only make us good

artistes but also broaden our horizons and open our mind. It really helps us to become a good human being."

The ‘political statement’ probably follows his role as a lawyer in a new web series called Criminal Justice, which is interestingly an Indian adaptation of the British television series of the same name.

We do hope that Pankaj remains in the acting profession - mainly because we already have such excellent actors in politics already!

INDIA CALLING: CHRIS HEMSWORTH

THe is not the first celebrity to claim his love for India and he won’t be the last. But do we love him for it, anyway? Yes, we do. Christ Hemsworth, the Aussie Hollywood heartthrob, who’s filming Avengers: Endgame, says it is one of the best places on the planet.

The actor, who went to India last year to shoot for his film Dhaka, said, "Our director Joe Russo has come to the beautiful country. I have come myself. It is one of the best places on the planet. Sorry couldn't be there this time. Joe thinks he can handle some spicy food and I have told him to try some rogan josh and some butter chicken... see if he can handle the heat. Lot of love guys and hope to see you soon."

"Beyond thankful for the kindness and generosity that the people of India have extended to us while making our little film here," Hemsworth had posted on Instagram along with three photographs in which he is surrounded by fans, especially children.

HOW INDIANS INSPIRED AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Surprised? We’re too. But turns out it’s the truth, says the film’s co-director Joe Russo. The filmmaker tells a rather interesting story about the making of the film.

“There was a recording of Indian audience watching the Avengers: Infinity War and the cheer when Thor lands in Wakanda... The cheers

CHRIS HEMSWORTH

HEMSWORTH

sounded like (coming from) a football stadium. We used to listen to that recording whenever we would get tired (working) on '...Endgame' because it took us a very long time and it was a difficult movie to finish. It would inspire us. We feel very connected to Indian audiences because of that," he added.

The film is a continuation of Avengers: Infinity War, which left Marvel fans in shock with the failure of the superheroes against the supervillain Thanos. It stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson and will release in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

Talking about Indian fans, he said, "We are paying attention to the way people are reacting to films and it was very clear to us how India is responding especially with Infinity War. Marvel has become very popular in India very quickly."

Well, we are quite crazy about films, aren’t we?

AS CRAZY AS RANVEER: GUESS WHO?

Ranveer Singh is… nuts. We can all agree on that, even Ranveer. So if someone tells you they’re as crazy as Ranveer Singh, it’s got to be someone like…Lilly Singh!

The YouTube sensation, who recently made headlines for being the first and only woman of colour to have her own late night show on NBC, met Deepika Padukone’s husband and said she finds him as "crazy" as herself.

Lilly, popular as Superwoman, tweeted a photograph along with Ranveer and captioned it: "I never thought I would meet someone as crazy as me... and then I met Ranveer Singh. Obsessed. Such vibes."

She even shared a video in which Ranveer is seen rapping lines from his film Gully Boy, in which he plays a street rapper, and Lilly is seen with him. "That one friend who doesn't know the lyrics... Ranveer Singh," she wrote. Funny.

Well, one thing is for sure. If anyone can match Ranveer’s ‘crazy’, it’s Lilly Singh!

MODI, SANS CONTROVERSY

Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it?

Filmmaker Umesh Shukla, however, begs to differ. His new web-series

Modi: Journey of A Common Man (why does that sound more like the title of Aam Admi Party?) does not plan to talk about the controversies attached to the man.

Why not, we wonder."I have attempted to tell the story from a

humane point of view. Even if the audience keeps aside the fact that Modi is the Prime Minister, he/she can enjoy the journey of a common man who started from zero and become the hero of the new generation. My show is non-controversial," says Shukla.

He says he does touch upon the subject of Godhra, but that’s it.On whether the web series will include Gujarat's industrial development, which became a turning point in Modi's political career, and the 2002 riots that tore apart the state's communal harmony, Shukla said, "I surely have addressed the issue and his contribution to control the Godhra riots". In the 10-episode series, "My story ends in 2014 when he starts his journey as the Prime Minister."

The web series will showcase three phases of Modi's life -- his childhood, from adulthood to becoming the Gujarat Chief Minister, and his journey to become the Prime Minister in 2014.

Three actors - Mahesh Thakur, Ashish Sharma and Faisal Khan - are playing Modi in the three phases of the story.

How Shukla plans to leave out the ‘controversies’ out of this series will be interesting to watch.

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK

Match the following stars to the tweets below:

Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Anupam Kher, Sanjay Dutt

The rumor (sic) about me contesting for the Loksabha elections is not true. I stand with my country and in full support for my sister.

I grew up on #AmarChitraKatha ! The treasure trove of stories!

It’s been 20 years but I am glad Sanjay and I are finally back in his next film, Inshallah. Looking forward to work with Alia.

It’s here!! Go watch go watch! #JustOneThing

A kashmiri welcome, kashmiri food, kashmiri conversations last night in New York had its own healing qualities.

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNER

KirronKher: “We both belong to the drama profession!”

Monica P Nanda

Congrats Monica, you win a free movie ticket.

For more caption entries, see YOUR SAY Page 9

LILLY SINGH

TABU

KALKI KOECHLIN

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

Our mission at Indian Link is to see kout Indian links in Australian life. One such major link can be found in street names in all of Australia’s major metropolitan centres. Sydney’s roads for instance are replete with references to India that tell us a lot about the links between our two countries (and in some cases, reveal the real nature of the people who live on them – example, you know the average weight of the residents of Motu Place, Glenfield).

There is some dispute about whether Indian settlement in Sydney began at Indus Place (Kearns) or on Indus Rd (Erskine Park). There are those who will tell you it all actually began at Hind Place (Chipping Norton).

Yet others will swear that the largest Indian ghettos in this metropolis are to be found along Currey Place (Fairfield), Currie Ave (Annangrove), Curry Rd (Forestville), Currey Rd (Oakville), Curry Lane (Artarmon), Curry St (Rooty Hill), Curry St (Eastern Creek) and Currie Place (Seven Hills).

Legend has it that the early town-planners had a number of Indophiles amongst them, who are responsible for names such as Delhi St (Chatswood, Lidcombe), Bombay St (Lidcombe), Anduman St and Nicobar St (both in Kings Park), Lucknow St (Willoughby), Agra Place (Riverstone), Baroda Place (Elizabeth Bay), Himalaya Cr (Seven Hills), Kashmir Ave (Quakers Hill), Orissa St (Cammeray, Campsie, Doonside), Simla Rd (Denistone, Lidcombe), and Malabar Ave (Dural, Coogee, Maroubra, Canley Vale).

Perhaps some of these early townplanners had served as officers of the British Raj. How else would you explain Gymkhana Place (Glenwood), Motorkhana Rd (Lippington), Burrawalla St (Caringbah), even Durbar Ave (Kirrawee)??

These very same culprits (or heroes, as the case may be), filled with nostalgia for the days of the Raj, gave us nomenclature such as Bangalee Place (Bangor), Bindi Place (Beacon Hill), Bindee Close (Glenmore Park), Naranghi St (Telopea), Sitar Place (Plumpton), Guru Place (Glemnore Park), Wazir St (Bardwell Valley), Mynah Close (St. Clair), Myoora St (Pymble), Koel Place (Ingleburn) and Bulbul Ave (Green Valley).

And when their imagination was running low, they picked random Hindustani words they could remember, falsely believing they were safe from the scrutiny of Hindustanis who would never travel to their shores. And so we got Besant Place (Rooty Hill), Canoon Rd (Turramurra), Garema Ct (Kingsgrove), Geewan Ave (Kellyville), Hera Place (St. Clair), Kalyan Ave (Bradbury), Kanya St (Frenchs Forest), Lodi Close (West Hoxton), Patanga Rd (Frenchs Forest), Mahan Way (Minto), Mera St (Guildford), Milon St (Prestons), Pukara Place (Cromer), Tarana Ct (Casula), Cuscus Place (St. Helens Park) and Biman Place (Whalan).

While these may still sound exotic, how about this sample: Atka St (Tregear), Bunda Place (Glenmore Park), Pyalla St (Northbridge), Carrara Rd (Vaucluse), Maida Rd (Epping), Milmil St (Milson’s Point), Gully Gully Rd (Mooney Mooney), Dilkara Ct (Menai), Nyari St (Kenthurst), Nada St (Toongabbie), Mulla Road (Yagoona), Mowla St (Jamiesontown), Tambu St (St.

Road

(Newington), Sharan Place (Forestville), Singh Lane (Chester Hill), Tara Rd (Blacktown), Ramu Close (Sylvania), Tarun Place (Dharruk), Thackeray St (Winston Hills), Feroza St (Riverwood), Kannan Place (Kirrawee), Malti Way (Parklea), Narang Place (St. Marys), Navins Cr (Zetland), Neeta Ave (Cambridge), and somebody’s grandmother, Bebe Ave (Revesby).

Cherrybrook’s Zulfi Place, many of us already know, is named after Sydney entrepreneur Firdaus (Freddie) Zulfiqar.

Even Bollywood links can be found on Sydney’s roads. While we don’t have an Aishwarya St yet (we’re working on that one), old-timer Nanda lives on in Pennant Hills as Nunda Close and in Lane Cove as Nundah Ct, and an Aishwarya contemporary has already beaten her to it at Rani Place (Kareela).

India’s spiritualism has been felicitated as well: we have devout Hindus living on streets dedicated to gods Varuna (Doonside), to Indra (Baulkham Hills) and to Nandi (Frenchs Forest).

Pendle Hill’s Nirvana St and Holsworthy’s Sanananda Rd are home to the self-actualised, while those who believe in rituals rather than philosophy prefer Jupp Place (Eastwood) instead.

On the other hand, high levels of depression have been recorded along Rona Cl (Berowra), Rota Place (Kings Park), Rulana St (Acacia Gardens) and Rulwalla Place (Gymea). Daraya Rd (Marayaong) is home to those afflicted

with delusions of persecution, and we don’t even need to tell you of the kind of gentry that patronises Goonda Ave (LaPerouse), Gundah Rd (Mt Kuringai) and Daru Place (Glenfield).

And there are some on which the local councils have got the spellings wrong, such as Weemala Ave (Northbridge), Wandana Ave (Baulkham Hills), Hilwa St (Villawood), and, not to be missed, Amitaf Ave (Caringbah).

But no true-blue Punjabi will live on Moya Cr (Kingsgrove) or Nunga St (Baulkham Hills) or Shoo-ter Ave (Ramsgate – that’s spelt with a Chu, actually) and the Malayalees who live on Kundi St (Blaxland) have been campaigning hard to get their street name changed.

Ives), Tawa St (Ashfield), and this is true, Becharry Rd (Blacktown). Becharry street, is all we can lament, for that last one!

And then, many years later, when the Indians did invade their shores, there were many who the local councils chose to honour, by naming the streets after them. Today we have Abhay Place (Glenwood), Amur Place (Kearns), Raj Place (Mt Druitt), Gouda Close (Abbotsbury), Reddy St (Edgecliff), Rima Place (Hassell Grove), Rita Place (Merrylands), Rohan Place (Naremburn), Rohini St (Turramurra), Roma Place (St. Ives), Mala St (Smithfield), Maya Close (Bossley Park), Munni St (Newtown), Pinto Place (St. Clair), Priya Cooper Ave

‘Linking’

A tribute not to that well-known Mumbai thoroughfare, but to some right here in our own backyard

Pendle Hill’s Nirvana St and Holsworthy’s Sanananda Rd are home to the selfactualised, while those who believe in rituals rather than philosophy prefer Jupp Place (Eastwood) instead.

TALKS FOOD MUSIC BLESSINGS MEDITATION

AUSTRALIAN TOUR

SYDNEY

22-23 April 2019

Sydney Boys High School

Cleveland St, Moore Park

FREE Public Programs

22 April 10am & 7.30pm

23 April 10am & 7pm Devi Bhava (World Peace Program)

“The sense of being welcomed and loved, despite being a complete stranger, was amazing. ” BBC News

ammaaustralia.org.au