2019-06 Melbourne

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

DEPUTY EDITOR

Sneha Khale

SOCIAL MEDIA

Suruchi Bhavsar

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Janani Karthik, Sangeeta Thanapal, Minal Khona, Nury Vittachi

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004

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

INDIAN LINK MEDIA GROUP

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Ph: 02 9279-2004

Fax: 02 9279-2005

Email: info@indianlink.com.au

The strong, decisive, alpha male

the nation needed a strong decisive leader to step up; a card well played by the party machine.

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘alpha male’ as the most successful and powerful male in a group, or a strong and successful man who likes to be in charge of others. By all accounts, after the overwhelming mandate for Modi and the BJP in India’s recent elections, the country has showed its preference for a strong, decisive alpha male as leader.

It was a textbook victory. The narrative of economic development in the 2014 elections shifted to one of national security and nationalism. Narendra Modi made the election about himself and in fact, his taking up (and after the election victory, letting go) of the twitter handle Chowkidar (Hindi for ‘watchman’) was a stroke of genius. A chowkidar who would watch over the country and the people, and protect them from any attack on their person or their religion, seems to have played out well. Wary and weary from the actual incursions on its freedom and borders,

That there was no effective opposition also worked well in their favour. The Congress party has become a fatigued institution, showing its age of nearly 140 years. It has failed to reinvent itself, stuck in the fifth generation of the Nehru dynasty. Among the 84 million first-time voters this election, the 15 million between the ages of 18 and 19 held no ties to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

India’s youngest voters are bubbling over with drive and ambition: they want to progress from being a Zomato delivery person to owning a Subway or Domino franchise. Resting on past laurels or old glory is simply not their style - the famous surname in fact antagonises them.

Equally, the BJP was able to cut through the regionalism and casteism of politics. It stood as one party and this election showed, possibly, the end of patchwork politics which has dominated India over the last 20-odd years. While on one hand, BJP consolidated its position and grew its vote bank, the Congress’ paltry gains came at the expense of other regional parties rather than winning from the BJP. Analysts have indicated that in the next election, Congress

will need a swing of at least 15% to get it to 125 seats. In a parliament where the first party to take 271 seats, wins the elections, it’s a grim future indeed for the Congress. So, with this mandate, the expectations from the BJP and from Modi are huge.

According to the World Bank, India’s GDP in 2015 was 8.2% and a recent State Bank of India report has growth for the 2017-18 fiscal year at just below 7%. Reserve Bank of India has forecasted inflation at 4.5-4.9%. The actual growth is then ranging around 2.5-3%. This must increase, to allow people who voted for the BJP to feel economically secure. Government-led policies to accelerate growth will need to be implemented. Internationally, India will need to position itself in a more strategic position as the trade wars with the US and China continue under the foreign policy effect of the Trump administration. Modi will need to address issues related to the minorities in India and their position in the fabric of the 5,000-year-old society. Social cohesion and a common purpose of advancing India and ensuring all move forward, will be a challenge for a country of 1.3 billion with over 9 different religious beliefs - but perhaps easy for the alpha male as elected leader.

So long, farewell

Indian and Australian leaders and community members bid adieu to Consul General Rakesh Malhotra

The Indian community in Melbourne got together recently to offer a warm farewell to Rakesh Malhotra, the Consul General of India in Melbourne. He has now been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Cameroon and is scheduled to commence his assignment shortly.

Mr Malhotra was appointed as the Indian Consul in Victoria and Tasmania after the departure of former CG Ms Manika Jain. He worked as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, before joining the consulate in Melbourne.

In the past, he served in the Indian diplomatic missions in Oman, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Suriname, Canada, South Africa and Peru.

During his farewell speech, the Consul General shared the fond memories he and his family had during his time in Melbourne and Tasmania. “I will always remember Australia as a highlight of my career because of the support I have received from the community and the relationships built by me and my wife,”said Mr Malhotra.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind’s historic visit to Australia late last year was a clear highlight of the Consul General’s tenure. He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his term in office, and was able to fulfil his aim to support the Indian community in Melbourne, create bilateral ties with Australia and support cultural, political and academic exchanges.

At the reception held at the consulate office in St. Kilda, many speakers took to the stage to bid him farewell and thank him for his contribution and support.

Generous tributes flowed from Kaushalya Vaghela, Ted Baillieu, Monica and Rakesh Raizada, Prof Ajay Kapoor, Subhash Sharma, Neeraj Nanda and Prabhat Sangwan who was also the MC for the evening.

He stated that Mr Malhotra was known for his infectious laughter and the consulate

staff would miss his wholehearted guffaw.

According to Indian High Commissioner Dr Ajay Gondane, Mr Malhotra was very well liked and respected within the community and has left some good footprints in Australia. He remarked that the large turnout at his farewell was testament to the love and admiration Mr Malhotra commanded from the community.

“Mr Malhotra has done very good work here,” said Mr Gondane in his formal speech, before launching into some Hindi shayari. He was confident that Mr Malhotra would be equally loved for his exceptional qualities in Cameroon.

Lisa Singh, Labor Party member of the

Australian Senate for Tasmania thanked Mr Malhotra for his ongoing involvement withthe Tasmanian Indian community while Tanvi Mor, founder of Mor Events, spoke about his inspiring influence on her.

The reception continued with delicious food provided by a local Indian catering company. Mr Malhotra and his wife Mrs Neeraj Malhotra met with the many leaders, community representatives and media who were present to wish him well.

Mr Raj Kumar, Consul General from Jalalabad, has been appointed as the next Consul General of Melbourne and will be joining the consulate shortly. He has served in various capacities at the Ministry

of External Affairs, Government of India, including diplomatic missions in Libya, Malaysia, Kenya, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Panama and Sri Lanka.

Simmi Singh

“I will always remember Australia as a highlight of my career because of the support I have received from the community and the relationships built by me and my wife,” said Mr Malhotra.

YOUR SAY

REMEMBERING BOB

Bob Hawke’s passing threw us back to a 1998 feature written by PAWAN LUTHRA Pawan Luthra wrote: Had the privilege of interviewing Bob Hawke in 1998 just as One Nation was on the rise. His views on the inclusivity ingrained in Australian values are as relevant today as they were then. And yes on my query of what he would have liked to be if he was not a politician, an academic or businessman was an unexpected answer. Vale Bob Hawke.

Sri wrote: Indeed Pawan, and of course, shows you were a big hitter even 20 years ago Ramu Chakravarthy wrote: I remember this one.

SCHOOL SUCCESS

You liked our post about young Indian student Neha Verma who topped her school exams despite difficult family circumstances

Dee Durran wrote: Well done, you are a shining star!

Shezuti Shazneen Hasan wrote: Respect.

Salim Shafeek wrote: Amazing achievement; true star.

Alan Mowle wrote: Bravo!

Manoharan Thottarath wrote: This is very good news. Congratulations to young Neha for her very remarkable achievement. What makes her success so special is that she fought all odds.

Seema Gladston wrote: God bless you beta, congratulations

Savitri Naraine wrote: Congratulations to you - humility and contentment are (traits) that take you a far way in life.

SAY IT AGAIN

In the wake of #australiavotes2019, multicultural communities need to come together to scratch the veneer of diversity that many social and political institutions are putting forth to tick a box.

TAMIL FEASTS

In our new video series AUSSIE BITES, we followed India’s TV chef RANVEER BRAR as he travelled around Oz trying new foods, making new friends and trading stories. In Episode 2 (TAMIL FEASTS: Food for Social Justice) he met with Tamil asylum seekers who use food to overcome socio-political obstacles as they rebuild their own lives.

Janine Holgate wrote: Very heart-warming and informative. I loved the stories told and the format of casual conversation around the dinner table. I look forward to the next episode! Have subscribed.

Natalie Moshegov wrote: Thought it was excellent!

Lillian Meyerhans wrote: Food is definitely a good way to bring people together. Great job. Feeling hungry now!

Sunita Lakhanpal wrote: Ranveer is a wonderful story teller, over and above being a chef.

Georgie Kyrikos wrote: Interesting video. How wonderful that you have brought awareness of these people through your work.

Penny Pavlakis wrote: I loved it. Makes me feel like cooking a curry. Ranjan Bora wrote: Amazing how food is so closely associated with our sense of identity. Wonder what the (horror) stories were behind why these guys left their home to seek refuge in Australia.

ONE NATION CANDIDATE

We interviewed Nikhil Aai Reddy, One Nation’s candidate for Petrie, QLD in the 2019 Federal Elections.

Krish Na wrote: Is this the same Nikhiul Reddy who is an active OFBJP-er and Secy of the FICQ? To be fair, Malcolm Roberts was the first Indian guy to represent One Nation.

Jonathan Steffanoni replied to Krish Na: That is clever and also correct: as soon as we conflate ethnicity with nationality, we create racism.

Rochelle Fernandez wrote: I don’t think Nikhil has been listening when he says, "One Nation started the debate over issues the major parties refuse to speak about – Immigration, Foreign Ownership, Water Security, Energy Prices, Fuel Prices, Safe Schools, and Political Correctness." That is all the major parties speak about. Why would he want to be part of a party that hates him?

The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw a proincumbency vote. Chemistry prevailed over old-school arithmetic.

Sukhmani Khorana, Culture Studies academic and writer

Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KASHIF

Indian Link Radio broadcaster KASHIF HARRISON’s weekly show Good Morning Shanivaar had a special birthday edition recently

What a memorable birthday I’ve had on air this year! Firstly, we had Mrs Kler as a guest live in the studio – the one and only Mrs Kler, who is one of our first listeners, who everybody loves dearly, and who loves us all like her own children. Fantastic to have you on my Facebook live stream segment, thank you Mrs Kler! Touched to hear also from many listeners who rang in with birthday wishes. And then the boss Pawan Luthra rocked up to wish me happy birthday, and began this unrehearsed segment, sort of like “Let’s Know You Better, Kashif”. Caught me unawares, I can tell you, but I did enjoy the q-and-a! And that was not all: just as my show finished, the phone rang and I answered; it was none other than ScoMo on the other side – the Prime Minister of Australia, calling me on my show! To wish me many happy returns? No, not quite, he had an interview lined up with Pawan. But still, you’ve got to agree, WHAT a birthday on air! Thanks, guys!

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat here between Hema Malini and Dharmendra?

Nikita Patel wrote: Dharmendra: Yunki, aap toh jante hi hain ki iss Basanti ko zyada bolne ki aadat toh hain nai, toh woh vote mange gi nahi, par aap isiko apna vote dena!

Manish Mendhe wrote: Dharmendra: Basanti, yeh log is umar me humara duet dekhna chahte hai, without payment… kya karein?

Deepak Vincent wrote: Dharmendra (reprising his famous one-liner from Sholay): Hum kaam sirf paison keliye karte hain

Gopal Ganwani wrote: Dharmendra: Agar tumne Hema ko vote nahin diya… to mai tumhara KHOON pee jaoonga

Ajay Naidu wrote: Dharmendra: Basanti, tum chaaho to inke saamne naach sakto ho

Hema lA Chauhan wrote: Dharmendra: Chun chun ke vote lenge warna chun chun ke maarenge

WHERE IN OZ?

This self-proclaimed “largest maze complex in the world” is a quirky family attraction with no rides or anything mechanical/electrical.

Readers Rishabha Chitalia Nayak and Roshni Majumdar correctly identified it as Tasmania’s Village of Lower Crackpot and Tasmazia.

After each one of these sessions (the show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction) I think to myself, it is a very smart, very lovely person from whom I have learned things. Shah Rukh, would maybe be at the top of that list.

David Letterman, Talk show host, after interviewing Shah Rukh Khan

WHERE IN INDIA?

High up in the Himalayas, surrounded by glaciers, lies this secluded and picturesque lake. And yet when the snow melts, the water body reveals its spine-chilling secret – human skeletons, some 600 in number.

Readers Tushar Choudhary, Aniket Deshkar, Rajeev Ramakar Tiwari and Rajiv Gupta identified it correctly as Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand, also known as Skeleton Lake.

Hey @HBO , you can reshoot the entire #GameOfThrones Season 8 in India. It'll cost you half and we like to serve tea in earthen cups and water in steel glasses. GIVE US AN ENDING WE DESERVE. Also, locations lit AF: Gulmarg, Madhya Pradesh, Udaipur Rosa Barks, Twitter user @therosabarks

Oz-based supporters revel at Modi victory

Vijay Parva (Victory Festival) events held nation-wide by the Overseas Friends of BJP.

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA and SNEHA KHALE report

It's a level of political obsession that's unimaginable to many. Very few real people inspire that kind of fervent devotion, especially in politics. But Narendra Modi is no ordinary person. His god-like status in India stands cemented, with chants of 'Har Har Modi' (a play on the religious chant 'Har Har Mahadev') from his followers, as the results of the 2019 Indian elections began to come in. By likening Modi to the great god Mahadev aka Shiva - the Supreme Being; the Lord of Divine Energy, time, destruction; Supreme Destroyer of Evil; Lord of the devas (gods) - his supporters have made their devotion to the Indian Prime Minister very clear. And this devotion transcends national borders.

As the western hemisphere was still waking up to the election results on Thursday 23 May, NaMo supporters in Australia had a clear advantage with regard to their celebrations. With trending hashtags like #ModiAaGaya (Modi has arrived) and #NaMoAgain, they rejoiced in Modi's re-election in quintessentially Indian fashion, i.e. loud and proud.

As we write this, late on Thursday night, there are Vijay Parva (‘Victory Festival’) events organised in every metropolitan

centre, with dancing, dhol music and the big screen TV at the back that has been blaring the resounding results all afternoon.

Members of the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) are celebrating into the night.

“We want to thank the Indian people and the diaspora who have supported the politics of development and rejected the politics of dynasty,” Jay Shah of OFBJP Melbourne told Indian Link.

“There’s 150 karyakartas (volunteers) here at the Dosa Hut restaurant - we started dancing at 2pm.”

In Sydney, the General Secretary of the OF BJP Rahul Jethi said, “We had a Vijay Diwas (celebration day) back in 2014. This time round it’s a Parva, a festival in continuation!”

Some 300 people gathered at the Parravilla Function centre, most joining in after work. (Among the revellers was Scott Farlow MLC - well-known for his own Indian links - who made an impassioned speech congratulating Modi).

Keyur Kamdar of OFBJP Perth shouted over the dhol in Fusion6 Restaurant at Wembley, “Junta ne bumper voting karke government ko second term di hai. They showed confidence in Modi’s development

Photo: AP

Melb

policies and acknowledged his hard work. And so we thought it was time to bring out the band-baaja and the mithai!”

All agreed that it was a tremendous victory, predicted by the polls, no surprises there.

The BJP is the first political party in India to reach out to the diaspora and build a base that can contribute in multiple ways, even if they can’t vote.

Take the NRI4NaMo community for example. Touting themselves as the biggest volunteer community of the Indian diaspora, this organisation of 20,000+ volunteers across 121 countries and boasting 100,000+ Facebook community members, invested 70,000+ volunteer hours with the sole intention to ensure that Narendra Modi got re-elected and continued to be the Indian PM.

In our own backyard, the OFBJP claims it made 10,000 calls to India to garner support for Modi; put campaign stickers on no less than 1000 cars; organised 40 events at iconic locations such as the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Optus Stadium Perth; had a social media reach of 2 million impressions, and featured some 30 articles about their activities in Indian newspapers.

“The global outreach of the BJP is not new,” Brisbane’s Malpe told Indian Link. “It began in the Indian diaspora in the US, giving the community there the opportunity to be involved in Indian politics. With social media, the movement has spread.”

Keyur Kamdar agreed, “At OFBJP we want to ensure that people living outside India continue to be attached

strongly to major trends there.”

The sentiment is seen in other diaspora communities as well. Jay Shah observed, “The American diaspora have active platforms such as Republicans Overseas and Democrats Abroad. We all have very strong links to our home country and want to do our bit to help it develop and prosper.”

Yet the BJP karyakartas seem to be a different breed of animal altogether. Many of them have taken time off from work to

go back home and contribute. And such is the utsaah (enthusiasm), Kamdar reported, that some Perth residents are planning a trip back home just to be around for the swearing-in.

For Rahul Jethi, the strong investment in BJP is an ideology he grew up with. “The BJP is about enterprise and opportunity; it’s about giving people the means to create a better life for themselves, not to handicap people by dishing out benefits. As well, to do the right thing by your country. The Liberal Party here in Australia, of which I am a member, has that same

Jethi was actively involved in the launch of the OFBJP ahead of its election win in 2014. Since then, the organisation has grown nation-wide, and has organised some highly attended events with visiting BJP members of rank such as Sambit Patra (official spokesperson) and Prakash Javadekar (Minister of Education).

The Perth branch was launched only in March this year. Keyur Kamdar revealed, “We held our first event, a Chai Pe Charcha (Modi’s favourite mode of interacting with individuals and small groups over tea), and 70 people turned up even though we did not advertise. At the Vijay Parva, 90 people turned up, and I’m happy to say we come from all parts of India - Himachal, Kerala, Gujarat, even Arunachal Pradesh. Our next events are screenings of the films Narendra Modi and Tashkent, a film about the death of Prime Minister Shastri.”

Rahul Jethi has the last word: “The OFBJP’s activities in the future will be to bring our two countries together culturally and socially, to work together to help make the world a better place.”

For the moment, though, the members of this organisation are simply ecstatic about the election results.

"Landslide" is a term being used in relation to the BJP's momentous win for a second straight term, and it's not uncalled for. As we now know, the BJP on its own won more seats this time round than it did in 2014, and it wouldn't be foolhardy to say that all of it was thanks to Modi's cult of personality.

We're sure the celebrations won't stop anytime soon.

Such is the utsaah(enthusiasm) that some supporters are planning a trip back home just to be around for the swearing-in.

Perth Perth

Melb

Sydney Perth

Pillar of the community

Four Indian-origin artists commissioned by Dandenong Council transform utility poles into bright creative artworks

Peace and Love

by Sohail Yamin

The brightly coloured motifs, symbols and slogans are inspired by popular truck art in India.

Natasha acknowledges that the pole was once a tree and wishes to reactivate latent energies within it. Her design is linked to the heritage of the Bengali Kantha, and her concept is of a tree in a garden filled with sunshine, care and flowers.

Kantha Totem by Natasha Narain

Prakriti (Nature)

by Rashmi Gore

Inspired by indigenous Warli art from Western India which dates back to Neolithic times, the intricate geometric patterns show the relationship of humans with nature, particularly respectful exchange and cultural economic sustainability.

Thoonu (Pillar)

by Yoge Biju

Pillars are a key architectural element and design aesthetic of Indian monuments and structures.

All of the artworks play an important role in the continuation of the City of Greater Dandenong’s ongoing street art program in the Indian Cultural Precinct. The art project was initiated in 2015 with four large scale murals on Mason St, followed by shop front improvements and veranda decorations. Melbourne’s south-east region is home to more than 52,000 people of Indian origin. Approximately 12,400 first generation Indian residents currently call the City of Greater Dandenong home.

Melb lad’s AR Rahman tribute

Fan says Rahman’s music motivates him every day

BY JANANI KARTHIK

Melbourne-based Chander Ram, an ardent fan of Indian music director AR Rahman has inscribed the maestro's name on the number plate of his brand new BMW Z4, which he says is his dream car.

When Chander tagged AR Rahman to a tweet featuring the picture of the car, which reads 'I Love ARR', there came a surprise! Rahman replied to his tweet saying,'Drive safely'.

Well, that was it – Chander went viral. "800 friend requests on Facebook and some hundred requests on Instagram, many followers on Twitter,” Chander told Indian Link. “I certainly didn't expect any of thismy intent was not to become famous!"

About the novel choice for the number plate of his dream car, he revealed, "It was purely to show my love and respect for Rahman. I tagged him to tell him that I'm one of his biggest fans; I have not missed even a single track of his ever since Roja. My day begins and ends with his songs. I wanted to have a memorable number plate to cherish all my life, and obviously, I was listening to Rahman's songs when I thought about the number plate. That's when I decided that I should have his name on the car. I tried to have his full name on the plate but due to space constraint, I chose 'I love ARR'."

He added, “It was overwhelming to see his reply on Twitter. Actually, I was heading to a marathon on the Great Ocean Road when lots of people congratulated me on Twitter after Rahman's message. It gave me all new positive energy to kickstart a marathon."

Chander, an IT professional from Bangalore, is also an avid fitness enthusiast. He runs marathons and competes in all the major events in Sydney and Melbourne. No prizes for guessing what music he listens to while running!

“An electrifying song like Chale Chalo from Lagaan for example, keeps me motivated all through."

The songs of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam and Kandukondein Kandukondein title track are his favourite tracks. But it is Khwaja

Mere Khwaja from Jodha Akbar that he considers ‘life-changing’.

“It has been a ritual to listen to Khwaja before I head to important meetings and crucial job interviews. I believe that this song is magical."

Chander has met his beloved idol once, at a concert in Delhi for which he had travelled all the way from Melbourne. “When I met him, I told him that I want to be his bodyguard and just listen to his songs all day. He just smiled and replied, 'You will be bored after two days'. Not only his songs but the way he made me feel comfortable, also touched my heart. There is much to learn from him."

Chander's tribute to his icon is not going to end with this fancy number plate: he revealed he has other plans as well.

“Rahman helps many underprivileged kids learn music through his music school KM Conservatory. I have plans to contribute something to this school in the future as yet another tribute to my maestro."

AR Rahman: The Quiz

Chander Ram (nearly) aces Indian Link Radio’s quiz on ARR, live on air with RJ MANOJ

What’s AR Rahman’s daughter’s name?

Khatija

What’s Rahman’s first composition?

Roja, but he had an unofficial composition called Set me free before that.

No! It was a Malayalam film, but Roja did catapult him to fame. Rahman was called Dileep then.

His music academy’s name? KM Conservatory. Correct, he launched it in 2008.

You obviously know Rahman’s birthday.

Of course, I do. He invites his fans to his place and celebrates his birthday with them with cake etc. Two of my friends work as assistants for Rahman, which

works great for me. It’s 6 Jan 1967.

Rahman shares his birthday with someone very close to him. Who?

You put me on the spot! I don’t know the answer.

Rahman’s son, who was also born on 6 Jan in 2003.

There’s a specific window of time when Rahman composes his music. When’s that?

Only at night. He also has the habit of lighting the candle when he composes. I’ve tried doing it myself when stressed and have had to concentrate for work. It does help!

Correct answer! The only time Rahman made an exception was when he was composing/recording with Lata Mangeshkar.

“It has been a ritual to listen to Khwaja before I head to important meetings and crucial job interviews. I believe that this song is magical."

Brown women pissed off about colonialism

A review of Nautch, as it recreates the dance, music and splendour of the natch girl of the Indian Court

Set in Tasma Terrace and asked to reimagine a British merchant’s drawing room as an opulent Indian palace, Nautch is a show that is part classical music and part social commentary. It’s also a show that attempts to transport its audience back to the British Raj.

The word ‘nautch’ itself is a British bastardisation of natch, simply meaning ‘dance’. Historically, nautch girls were just that-dancers. These women often travelled in troops and performed at different occasions for a variety of audiences, from children to princes. However, with the coming of colonialism came the onslaught of Christian moral norms around dance, and the nautch girls were eventually written out of history. Women who were once acclaimed for their skill were now charged with debauchery. Their sensual singing was no longer considered art, but was deemed a reflection of their base nature. The impact of colonialism was to end a way of life and consign to the annals of history an entire beloved dance form.

In 2019, Nautch the show encourages us to ask what else we might have lost to colonialism.

The show opened with a Thillana in Dhanashree, a song whose lyrics directly

reference the beauty of the natch dancer. Dancers Aparna Ananthuni and Manjusha Rajan, with singer and spoken word artist Dipanjali Rao, wove classical Indian pieces into short conversations on feminism and imperialism. They were accompanied on the tabla and kanjira by Kirshan Sabeshkumar, on the mridangam by Kanusan Mukunthas and on the violin by Maiyurentheran Srikumar. The latter was a stand-out, being able to play both Western and South Asian notes with equal skill, as well as set the mood by providing background music for the performers as they moved from dancing to singing to speaking.

Nautch speaks to the consumption of marginalised cultures - all the things termed ‘ethnic’- and how this others brown and black cultures, while making white cultures the norm. It specifically pays attention to the

exotification of South Asian women. Nautch also brings up an interesting question: what happens when culture is commodified and sold by the very people attesting to its authenticity? What happens when the white gaze requires that we sell ourselves in order to be seen?

In one particularly poignant part of the show, Ananthuni and Rajan play a word association game. They throw out words at each other and what comes up says a lot. Saris are associated with FOBs (Fresh Off the Boats), a term meant to delineate newer, less modern-meaning, less westernized immigrants, from older ones. Cultural artefacts, clothing and way of expression are derided, all the while multiculturalism and ‘ethnic’ things are being sold.

The show does a lot within 45 minutes, and it does it well. One reason for this is

because it does not seek to explain to its white audience what any of this means. Its efforts at decolonisation require that white people watching this show keep up without being catered to.

Nautch ends with a spoken word monologue by Rao in which she explores the incongruities of being a brown feminist in a white world. She speaks about being asked to cook a curry (the racist-misogynist version of ‘make me a sandwich’) and the ignominy of being ‘whitesplained’ to, while being told what a turmeric latte is. Her piece brought up a painful aspect of colonisation - that of theft and appropriation.

The nautch dancers are long gone, but Nautch the show reminds us of what once was, and, if remembrance of our past is a way forward, what could be again.

Women who were once acclaimed for their skill were now charged with debauchery. Their sensual singing was no longer considered art, but was deemed a reflection of their base nature.

Photo: AGNSW/Jenni Carter

Grace and elegance

Adelaide’s Anant Kaur Sandhu becomes Mrs Singh in artist Tsering Hannaford’s Archibald portrait

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

As she sits, regally, in her beautiful blue green costume with gold motifs, her AM honour proudly pinned to her shawl, Anant Kaur Sandhu is a picture of grace and elegance, accomplishment and distinction.

Who is this eminent lady, a member of a tour group asks.

“She’s a well-known restaurateur in Adelaide,” the tour guide replies. “Everyone knows her simply as Mrs Singh. At 88, she’s still active, visiting her kitchens twice a week to oversee the functioning.”

Murmurs of appreciation are heard from the group.

Gazing upon Mrs Singh, artist Tsering Hannaford’s arresting portrait at this year’s Archibald Prize Exhibition, is like a dream come true for me. Having followed Australia’s most prestigious art exhibition for nearly 30 years now, the thought has crossed my mind often about possible Indian links at this annual event.

While there have been Indian-origin artists - the Mumbai-born Nafisa Naomi won the Packer Room Prize in 2010 for her portrait of journalist and commentator Glenn A Baker, and this year Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran presents Hindu iconography in his Multilimbed Self Portrait – we’ve never had an Indian sitter. Flaunting their Indian identity.

Mrs Singh is paving the way yet again.

She’s come a long way since 1980, when she launched her restaurant Jasmin, putting her family recipes to use. Today it is an institution, frequently called ‘Australia’s best Indian restaurant’, its refined take on Indian cuisine having attracted pop stars, politicians and prime ministers.

Equally, as a devout Sikh, Mrs Singh is known for her seva (religious service) to homeless people: her restaurant has been preparing and serving hot and nutritious meals for socially disadvantaged people for nearly twenty years now.

For her service to the restaurant and catering industry and for her philanthropic activities, Mrs Singh was given the AM honour by the Australian government in 2018.

“Everyone in Adelaide knows Mrs Singh,” Tsering Hannaford said when asked why she picked Mrs Singh’s portrait as her Archibald entry.

The portrait was commissioned by Mrs Singh’s son Amrik, as an 87th birthday present last year.

“She was reluctant at first,” Amrik revealed. “But after the first sitting, she got right into it! I have no doubt it was because of Tsering and her whole attitude to it – the two got along famously and now often ring each other just to chat.”

The portrait was unveiled on 18 June 2018, Mrs Singh’s birthday, as the extended Singh-Sandhu family gathered to celebrate the matriarch.

“There were plenty of oohs and aahs,” Amrik recounted. “Tsering has done a wonderful job; she’s captured the essence beautifully of the persona that is Mum.”

Mrs Singh has given Tsering her fifth consecutive appearance in the Archibalds

as a finalist. (And that’s no mean feat for a young artist who only became professional in 2012. In 2015, she was a finalist alongside her dad, acclaimed artist Robert Hannaford, in what was the first time ever that a father and daughter duo made it to the Archibalds.)

“Mrs Singh is one of my best portraits from last year,” Tsering observed.

Describing the process, she said, “We had eight sittings at my West Hindmarsh studios in Adelaide. Mrs Singh would come in and stay for three hours. We would do three poses, break for tea, and then do three more poses.”

Did the sessions involve an Indian meal?

“No,” laughed Tsering, “but she’d always bring me something, like short bread biscuits she’d baked, or pickings from her garden.”

Interestingly, Mrs Singh lent Tsering her salwar kameez, so she would be able to get the pattern just right.

“Tsering paid attention to every stroke,” Mrs Singh revealed. “She was very precise, and would remember every little detail, like the rings I had worn on my fingers at the last sitting. What impressed me also was the calm and patience with which she worked. I admire her for her patience: she was soft and gentle, and took her time. She was caring too: she’d ask often if I was tired, and if I would like a break.”

She loved the final work when she got to see it. She said with characteristic humility, “Initially I thought why are the kids making such a big deal about a portrait? But at the

end, I was impressed with Tsering’s work – it came out good, don’t you agree?”

How did she feel when she heard the portrait was to be hung at the Archibalds?

She replied without hesitation, “I felt proud and happy for Tsering. It was her work.”

Mrs Singh is keen to travel to Sydney to see the portrait at the Art Gallery of NSW. “We get it back only after August next year, after it tours the country.”

Tsering Hannaford claims portraits are the most cherished part of her practice, even though she is also known for her still life and landscape works. “I feel privileged to meet such an array of interesting people. As I paint from life I take the time to get to know them, their stories and their lives. Mrs Singh has been a lovely lady to meet.”

Perhaps that’s why she loves the Archibalds. “They are a beautiful celebration of people, in subject, and include a wide range of different styles.”

She agreed that the event this year is particularly diverse, thanks to the hijab (Angus McDonald’s Mariam Veiszadeh), the Buddhist robe (winner Tony Costa’s Lindy Lee), to list a few. “In recent times, the Archibalds are becoming a true reflection of our society.”

Here’s to an even more diverse Archibald Prize Exhibition from here on: we look forward to more salwar kameezes, multiple arms, hijabs, and more body paint. The Archibald Prize Exhibition is on at the Art Gallery of NSW until 8 Sept.

“The Archibalds are a beautiful celebration of people, in subject, and include a wide range of different styles.”

Tsering Hannaford

“I felt proud and happy for Tsering when I heard about the Archibalds. It was her work.”

Mrs Singh

Photo: Josie Withers

Photo: Josie Withers

Emerging talents

Budding artist in the Young Archie 2019 competition

Two young artists of Indian origin have made it to the shortlist at this year’s Young Archie competition at the Art Gallery of NSW, held concurrently with the Archibald Prize exhibition.

Sydney’s Lakshman Nitish Ramesh is hung as a finalist for his self-portrait Me Myself and I, and Melbourne artist Hazel Thenamkodath has received an honourable mention for her portrait of her mother, titled Elizabeth

Both were picked from 2100 entries nation-wide.

The contest is open for young artists aged 5-18 in four different age groups. They are asked to present a portrait of someone special in their lives.

“I am the most important person in my life, so I chose to make a self-portrait,” Lakshman, 17, told Indian Link about his pencil drawing.

His artist’s statement reads, “I chose to draw myself as my life is in my hands and I am responsible for my own actions. I drew

myself with a neutral expression, (and) in black and white to symbolise that I am yet to experience life to the fullest. The red, orange and yellow gradient symbolises my future experiences, opportunities and life that will soon fill me with colour.”

Hazel picked her mum as her subject because “I cannot think of another individual who has provided me with so much support and love during my 17 years.”

Lakshman and Hazel have both been drawn to art since a very young age, and have benefitted from extra training outside of school.

Lakshman was encouraged to enter the Young Archies program at ACE Art and Design (Eastwood NSW) where he takes lessons, and Hazel is grateful for the weekly drawing lessons from “my absolutely phenomenal teacher Gwen.”

Their entries took them 12-14 hours to finish.

“I felt ecstatic when I heard I had been shortlisted,” Hazel revealed. “When I saw

the other works accompanying my own, I was honoured to be a part of a group of very talented young individuals.”

Lakshman agreed. “I had seen previous years’ entries and was impressed with the detail, so being in the top ten was a very big deal.”

Victoria Collings, Gallery’s senior coordinator of education and family programs, said of this year’s entries, “I can’t believe the standard – it gets higher each year. Talent and passion lifts each year. I love the stories too, and the fabulous range of techniques. Personally I love the idea of kids being excited about such a program, creating their works and sending them in.”

Describing the program she said, “It began in 2013. The Archibalds were very popular and schools were engaging with it in a major way. We looked at how we could engage further and make young visitors feel part of it, and so began a junior version.”

There are four prize winners in each age category: they get a cash prize of $200

and an artist’s pack. All finalists get $50 from the presenting partner ANZ and an Archibald catalogue. This year’s winners will be announced on 10 August.

The finalists are exhibited at the Gallery, and the Honourable Mentions at the SH Ervin Art Gallery.

“Everyone’s works of course can be seen on the website, where they are archived each year,” Victoria added.

Lakshman and Hazel both are keen to continue with their art.

“Submit an entry for the Archibalds?

Maybe one day,” Lakshman said with promise. “I might even study fine arts at Uni, or perhaps architecture, I don’t know yet. But I will always have my art.”

Hazel claimed she had “no intention” of retiring from painting anytime soon! “I imagine there are many projects awaiting me in the future. Hopefully a couple will be worthy of submitting to the Archibalds.”

Rajni Anand Luthra

The Young Archie exhibition is on at the Art Gallery of NSW until 8 Sept.

Lakshman Nitish Ramesh: Me Myself and I

Photo: AGNSW / Diana Panuccio

Hazel Thenamkodath: Elizabeth

Photo: AGNSW / Diana Panuccio

Disha raises $60,000 for hospitals

Three hospitals to get new equipment thanks to community effort

For the first time in the thirteen years since its launch, the two generations of Disha joined forces to bring a gala event this month. Together they raised funds to support the Alfred and Box Hill Haematology and Oncology units and the Royal Melbourne Hospital Kidney Care unit.

Disha’s Masquerade Ball was held at the RACV City Club with 265 guests in attendance who helped raise over $60,000 that will go towards purchasing vital equipment across the three hospitals.

The Disha community of Melbourne has a long-standing commitment in raising funds for worthwhile causes especially cancer, bringing passionate, like-minded people together to foster involvement in the community. In more recent times the Disha community has grown, uniting two generations for a common cause.

Founded in 2006 this not-for-profit organisation’s broader scope and aim is to establish a positive and collaborative relationship with society. Funds raised by friends and volunteers has supported major hospitals across Melbourne for the purchase of equipment critical in providing care for patients suffering from cancer and mental health disorders.

For this sold-out ball seniors, and youngsters glammed and masked up to enjoy a night filled with glamour, fun and entertainment, coming together with full energy and enthusiasm for a noble cause.

“We are forever grateful to our parents, aunts and uncles for laying the foundation and we hope we can continue on to make an impact, leave a legacy as we grow together for generations to come,” said a young member of Disha committee.

Guests at the masquerade were welcomed with a pianist in the foyer and butterflies on stilts. For entertainment they enjoyed Lalita Luna’s spectacular fire show and a DJ.

Guest speakers from Box Hill Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital briefly touched upon the need for the patient care equipment and its benefits and conveyed their sincere appreciation for the Disha community’s generosity.

The funds raised will be presented to The Royal Melbourne Hospital for Replacement Dialysis chairs and ultrasound machine for use in patients post kidney transplant. The Box Hill Hospital will utilise it for a Citadel ICU bed and The Alfred will purchase 4 eTQC machines worth $4,800 each.

“Disha is nothing without the support and backing of our connected community that we are so lucky to have. An event like this would be impossible without our major sponsors and supporters,” said a member on behalf of the Disha committee.

The attention to detail at the event was visible throughout the night from the tasteful décor to the carefully selected menu. Months of planning by the Disha family finally came to fruition offering a spectacular and memorable evening.

Photos: www.danielleallison.com.au

Eat, drink, art, repeat!

A menu of delectable experiences at Manningham

BY PREETI JABBAL

It turned out to be a perfect day for us to explore nature, encounter art and experience taste through one-of-a-kind art and food famil in Manningham recently.

In the beautiful setting of this iconic suburb of Melbourne, we were invited to a culinary experience complemented by diverse art, and the combination of the two made for some magical memories.

Indulging in our specialised itinerary, we savoured coffee, sampled grappa, created fresh pasta, sipped Sangiovese and tasted the local produce. In the process, we discovered the delights and flavours of cultural immersion, uncovering the best of what Manningham has to offer.

HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

A bright sunny day under a clear sky made for a great drive. Our trip started with a visit to the famed Heide Museum of modern art. The vast grounds of this culturally significant home of art patrons John and Sunday Reed stood sprawling and

impressive in the middle of suburbia. We learnt about the fascinating history of Heide, from its establishment in 1934 to its current status as a public art museum and sculpture park. We marvelled at the creative concept behind collaborative works of Janet Burchill and Jennifer McCamley and their philosophy of material conceptualism.

This was followed by the visually stunning collection of photographs by acclaimed artist

John Gollings, featuring indigenous sites. Spirit of place delves into the historic art and architecture of First Nations people around the world.

Curator Sue Cramer also guided us through other exhibitions, sculptures and Heide 1: House of ideas, presenting works from various artists supported by the Reeds.

The artworks currently on display include Albert and Barbra Tucker’s exploration of

the apocalypse in the landscape and body, Isadora Vaughan’s Climarte - inspired installations and some of Mirka Mora’s distinctive art.

The morning was taken up admiring the ever-expanding repertoire of art mediums and enjoying the bucolic idyll in an urban setting. The wonderful coffee at the trendy and welcoming Heide café helped set the cogs of wheels in my brain into motion.

STONEHOUSE GALLERY, WARRANDYTE

Next, we were driven to the scenic setting of hilly Warrandyte, where we drooled over the indigenous and eclectic art created by local artists at the Stonehouse Gallery.

In 1972, eight potters dedicated to promoting ceramics created this artistrun art gallery and shop. The location has since changed and the new gallery with its stained glass windows is the ideal backdrop for the large variety of exhibits.

The Collection showcases several styles of art grouped by artist. Items range from clothing and other textiles, sculptures to jewellery and paintings. I went completely trigger-happy with my camera with the many beautiful pieces on display.

I now have it down as my go-to place for gifts and special occasions.

OLIVIGNA RESTAURANT AND PIETRO GALLO ESTATE

Saving the best for the last, we arrived at the picturesque Pietro Gallo estate. Famous for its award winning artisanal grappa, liquor and fine Italian dining, we discovered how this famed winery creates its diverse range of liquid gold.

For John and Anna, the owners of the estate and Olivigna restaurant, grappa is more than a tipple. The passion for fresh produce, knowledge of the fine art of distilling grappa, and the management experience of a team that’s been doing business for generations, are key to their success.

Anna offered us a taste of Grappa Al Caffe - a grape spirit with coffee inspired by the Italian classic Caffe Corretto. Aninsider’s tour of the premises followed, which also offered an informative session on the production process by master distiller Nathan Rigby. We tasted some more refined grappa and Limoncello and saw the purposebuilt grappa still, named Scarpone after John’s father.

Next up was a fun pasta making class under the guidance of an experienced Italian chef. Our attempts at making different varieties of pasta were awarded with a sumptuous lunch prepared inhouse, using our freshly, though not expertly made batch of pasta.

Paired with the most amazing Sangiovese from the estate, the meal was exceptional in quality and taste, lulling us into a sense of pure decadence. We could easily have spent the entire afternoon sipping the excellent wine and soaking up the ambience of the private dining room, but sadly it was time to leave.

On the way out from Olivigna, I purchased a bottle of their unique Grappa Al Caffe. I have to admit - I have polished off half of the contents already. The exclusive famil was part of #Explore Manningham - reflection of the artistic diversity and distinctive dining experiences within Manningham city.

Mumpreneur with designs on tasteful décor

A young mum takes a gamble by starting her own design label

Inching away from her fulltime employment hold and weaning off her regular pay cheque, she chose to go after a long cherished dream. Putting all her fears aside, Melbourne based young mum

Preet Taneja recently launched her design label HH Collective and ventured into the intricate business of styling interiors.

Preet’s eclectic collection incorporates customised, individual, bespoke items, often sourced from artisans and craftspeople from rural India.

According to Preet, who is also the director of Taneja Interiors, if we do what we love it will never feel like work.

Her 20-month-old daughter Hazel Heer inspired her brand and is the motivation behind the decision to showcase the HH Collective interiors, accents and jewellery lines infused with myriad personal touches.

“Ever since I have become a mother, my world has changed,” said Preet. “I do not have the heart to leave my child for long periods of time in care and go back to a 9-5 routine. I will not be able to handle it. So even though this is a financial risk, I am going ahead with the confidence that there will be more potential than pitfalls.”

Preet has worked with interiors and furniture for many years under brands like Plush, Kiki and Weylandts. She has gained formal education in marketing and also dabbled in advertising. She can enhance a space and craft an aesthetically pleasing, thoughtfully styled look that immediately sparks emotions.

“Working with various retailers and dealing with hundreds of clients and buyers made me realise that handcrafted designs and antiques are preferred over mass produced, factory made goods,” said Preet, sharing her experience.

She finds that each piece in her collection has a story to tell. Talented artists handcrafted them and there is poetry in their finished designs. She feels that her pieces are suited to anyone who is home-proud as well as those purchasing their second or dream home.

“The recent inaugural launch of HH Collective was well attended and most of

the jewellery was snapped up in no time,” claimed Preet. “I was very pleased with the response I received. My website will also go online soon, so it’s a very exciting time for my husband Anmol and me.”

“It is by no means easy,” claimed Preet.“I have to juggle parenting and running a business, create networks, visit client sites and manage all the pain points. With a lack of corporate infrastructure, I am doing the job of 4-5 people. However, the flexibility and freedom that it affords me gives me motivation to persist.”

She is always on the lookout for more pieces from around the world. Collecting gives focus to her travel. “I always have hopes of spotting that next piece that I love and that can add character to a home. I try

that are technically competent, both in design, balance and colour,” she said.

The premise of her latest collection is to explore traditional Indian crafts and integrate them into mainstream living.

“I believe that my concept is niche in Australia and benefits the artisan community in regional India. There are a lot of kitschy

Indian items available in the market here, but my aim is to expose Australians to the diversity ofrefined Indian art. I want them to enjoy the warmth, comfort and craftsmanship of all things handmade,” said Preet enthusiastically.

Her future plans include opening her own showroom in Melbourne city and to introduce her business and designs in ‘hotspot places’ like Byron Bay and other Australian towns.

Pushing the design envelope, Preet is among a burgeoning number of mothers that have married maternity with entrepreneurship. Her business is in the seed stage and there are miles to go. However for Preet, this journey that reflects her passion was well worth taking.

Preeti Jabbal

Loving right now

A list of Indian Link’s current favourites

READ

Are you a meat eater who loves animals? Are you an environmentally and ethically conscious person who feels a tad uncomfortable eating meat? Author Josephine Moon herself struggled with this for many years. Her conundrum led her to write Buddhism for Meat Eaters – a practical book that encourages readers to be more mindful about their choices, without judging them. You can eat meat and still be ethical and guilt-free by making wiser decisions on how you live your life and consume your food – and this book helps you do that!

LISTEN

The selling point of The Intersection is right there in its set-up – it’s a podcast with two journalists (Padmaparna Ghosh and Samanth Subramanian) taking us on a journey through India’s uber-rich history and culture while discussing all sorts of interesting, important and sometimes quirky topics through lots of research, interviews and anecdotes. Topics include our plastic addiction, lab-grown meat, and the science of the stampede (a topic they covered after the deadly stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone Bridge in 2017). Episodes come out every fortnight and the knowledge drop is absolutely legit!

EAT

Like your ginger chai? Then try Spice Zen’s ginger juice. Cold-pressed from fresh, raw, whole organic ginger root grown right here in Australia, this 100% ginger juice contains no preservatives or additives. It mixes easily in beverages and has a smooth texture and a spicy, earthy, pungent flavour. Down it as a shot in the morning or add to a cold or warm drink, juice or smoothies. Or splash it on your stir fry, salads, marinades, seafood or meat; use it in baking, or simply freeze the juice as cubes.

WATCH

Set in Mumbai, Little Things, a Netflix show is a story of a young couple living together. Between their work, friends, chores and relationship, it’s a snapshot of millennial life that resonates deeply. Starring Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal, it’s a refreshing look at life in an age that sometimes seems saturated with Instagram posts, brunches and constant FOMO. Whether it’s sitting back and watching TV, or spending a quiet evening reading, the show is a reminder to take life slow, and enjoy and savour these “little things”.

Impressions of India

A collection of short stories from the beautiful but complex weave that is Indian society

Sandwiched within the provocatively titled book, The Assassination of Indira Gandhi, Upamanyu Chatterjee’s collection of short stories takes a wide sweep of rural and urban India’s landscapes and ‘peoplescapes’, through a range of extreme narratives, which deal with the figurative as well as fecal.

The titular short story comes towards the end of the book, where a jaundiceridden and fatigued young Sikh boy learns about the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while recuperating in the comfortable confines of his parents' home in Mussoorie. It makes him wonder about the futility of an unstable world, where fate is indifferent to effort.

The assassination barely plays out in the story, through inputs from primitive television and informed neighbours in the remote hillstation home, where the young boy and his parents discuss the events which followed the killing. But the shock value of the short story's title apparently does enough to cloak it on the cover.

The 12 short stories are written in varied styles, some of them delightfully complex, jargon-filled, while others are stunningly simple in both style and content.

By the way, when one gets the opportunity to chance upon phrases like ‘iambic pentametre’, ‘decolam’, ‘varlets’, among others, in course of the stories, there really is no call for raised eyebrows, as you reach for a dictionary to understand the meaning. After all, Upamanyu Chatterjee was a Shashi Tharoor ahead of his time, when it came to bringing the spotlight on rare nuances of the English language, much before Tharoor’s literary

adventures trended on social media.

The collection opens with a cloak and dagger story, about how British ambassador Sir Thomas Roe dawdles his way through local customs, courtiers, satraps, the weather and corruption in order to present himself at the court of Emperor Jehangir.

The other stories include ‘Othello Sucks’, in which a seemingly upper middle class couple comes to terms with their daughter's warming up to

a dark-skinned boy of half Mauritanian descent, after they engage with each other at school, against the backdrop of rehearsals for the Shakespearean play about the Moorish prince. The other stories are about a young boy avenging his sexual predator, the death of a teenage girl and her classmates’ coming to terms with her demise, and the disappearance of children from the village following an encounter with a professional catcher of rats.

The collection of short stories also marks the comeback of the irreverent, but affable young trainee bureaucrat Agastya Sen, the protagonist of Chatterjee’s English August in the short story ‘The Killings in Madna’, which is a throwback to the stifling, bureaucratic settings of the author’s debut novel.

A bureaucrat himself, it would not be too difficult for the author to recreate the dourness surrounding a young city-bred bureaucrat’s life in a dusty district. But Chatterjee is a master of this craft, which he unleashes through his fictional sub divisional magistrate under-training and the air of futility through which he plods on.

Another story titled ‘Sparrows’ tackles the phenomenon of sparrows disappearing from modern Indian cities and the doomed efforts of a man who tries to make a pair of birds feel at home in his city home.

‘Can’t Take This Shit Anymore’ is also a gripping story, which tugs at the heart, about the daily humiliation faced by the children of manual scavengers in rural India, especially those involved in the dehumanising chore of cleaning dry toilets, which ends on a valiantly optimistic note.

Overall, The Assassination of Indira Gandhi is a book which encases many slices of India and some of them are really savoury.

Mayabhushan Nagvenkar

The 12 short stories are written in varied styles, some of them delightfully complex, jargon-filled, while others are stunningly simple in both style and content.

The collection of short stories also marks the comeback of the irreverent, but affable young trainee bureaucrat Agastya Sen, the protagonist of Chatterjee’s ‘English August’…which is a throwback to the stifling, bureaucratic settings of the author’s debut novel.

Upamanyu Chatterjee

Photo: Outlook India

June 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

A complete reversal in your affairs makes you focus on your life, values and way of thinking. Try and let go of a problematic situation and let God handle it. An unexpected financial opportunity comes your way and you will also be able to handle a difficult situation effectively. A fresh direction will also come along to give you new meaning and impetus. Take rest and get rid of those who zap your energy. Emotional problems come to an end.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

TAROT

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

Trying situations that make you test your faith or beliefs, unexpected victories and romantic commitments are forecast this month. A new enterprise, or a successful business transaction makes you happy. Business is good and help on all fronts is on offer. Slow down, you are in need of rest. An idea you had is manifested and it can result in goal achievement. Focus on constructive ideas and cooperative partnerships that are aligned with your beliefs. Have a little faith.

A difficult month for Geminis as the Tower is about problems on all fronts, a separation, and betrayal of trust. These situations are beyond your control, so it is best to deal with them as well as you can because the final picture is yet to emerge. Prepare for some internal conflicts of what is right for you and what isn’t. A new beginning after the upheaval will bring peace, emotional balance and power. Your financial situation will improve considerably.

CANCER

June 21 - July 20

A romantic reunion is what you aspire to. An event at work or in your personal life will prove to be a blessing in disguise. Business grows and a job offer could come by. Beware of substance abuse and avoid drinking too much. Take it easy as health could be a detriment to work. Bouts of dissatisfaction and disillusionment push you to end matters that serve no purpose. Take your mind off your problems and take a break. Think positive.

July 21 - Aug 22

Multiple pursuits, such as philosophy, desire for expansion at work, spirituality or even new ideas at work, possibly triggered by a Sagittarius type of personality, keep the Leo preoccupied this month. If in a relationship, you might feel it is going nowhere, or that it is superficial. A new approach to work can be very lucrative. A health condition needs attention. Finances are improving but money owed to you is still delayed. Pursue hobbies in the intellectual realm.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22 - Dec 21

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

You are in a dream state this month and you aspire to get involved with humanitarian concerns. A very unusual person interests you romantically and the feeling is mutual. A personal dilemma has you confused. New information at work gives you a brighter outlook. If you’ve been moody, you will be happier. A spiritual cleansing practice will improve your health too. Financial matters are successful and blocked money starts to free up. Things are working out better than you think.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 - Jan 19

A Capricornian practicality takes over the outdoor loving, outspoken Sagittarian this month. You tackle romantic issues with maturity, even if the relationship is headed nowhere. You can expect good news from someone who cares, and a friend will want to play matchmaker. Those in a relationship feel the heat. Problems with your throat or ears indicate you are suppressing what you wish to say or unwilling to hear the truth. Be willing to listen to and act upon new ideas.

A new beginning awaits you this month, in a creative field. Introspect on some untapped potential inside you that needs expressing. A financially rewarding trip is on the anvil. If you’ve had problems in a relationship, you can expect reconciliation, and misunderstandings will be resolved. A marriage or live-in arrangement is also indicated. Creative ventures prove to be financially rewarding. Success comes through innovative ideas and new concepts, and reviving a declining business.

LIBRA

Sep 23 - Oct 22

A person with a Leo type of personality could influence you this month. Family matters or spiritual pursuits could keep you busy. You could also start a relationship with someone you met recently. A sudden upswing in business or an unexpected call from a lover will be a pleasant surprise. If you’ve been low key at work, you will bounce back with a bang. Avoid impulsive shopping. You might want to pursue new age remedies for a health issue.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20 - Feb 18

Aquarians might have to come to terms with something they have buried for long. An unexpected event or confrontation could lead to a misunderstanding, so maintain clarity on all fronts, especially financial. New elements lift you out of the doldrums, leaving you positive. A family member or pet needs looking after. Money will be good and bad, but you have divine protection so it will come if it has been blocked. A chain of events will culminate, leaving you detached from problems.

SCORPIO

Oct 23 - Nov 21

The intense and emotional Scorpio takes on a practical approach this month, as finances, assets, expansions and selfimprovement dominate over other issues. Singles will attract romance and an encounter with someone will leave a lasting impression. Your positive outlook helps others. If you have been feeling despondent at work, you get upbeat again due to compensation for past efforts or new orders and projects. Stay out of the sun and any sudden weight loss needs to be checked.

PISCES

Feb 19 - March 20

A reconciliation or reunion is on the cards, though it might not be a romantic one. If business is slow, don’t worry, it will pick up and good money is indicated. You might want to utilise a skill you have or follow through on an idea. Emotions swing from detachment to impatience and you will be right in your discerning abilities. If you have been ill, you will recover. But if you have a gynaecological problem, have it double checked.

cineTALK

LESS HISTORY, MORE MYTHOLOGY

No. This is not even a biopic. It is a mythological saga, a passionate pauranic paean to the powerful Indian Prime Minister who took his tea-selling childhood to a glorious Himalayan summit beyond ‘Chai-na.’

Seen in that dazzling hagiographic light, this film is not so offensive.

Vivek Oberoi handles the principal role with a certain amount of flair and decency. His eyes speak more than a thousand words. Lamentably, this is a film that believes in the power of verbal lamp-posts. Every self-glorifying thought that this celluloid holographic Modi feels must have a verbal counterpoint. Every rhetoric and retort, every aphorism that our PM has uttered or not uttered (the line between fact and fiction in this ersatz biopic is nonexistent) is given the status of a large hoarding.

You have to be blind to miss the message. PM Narendra Modi is very clear about its agenda. And Vivek obliges with overt obsequiousness. In one sequence, he communicates on metaphysical ideas with his spiritual guru (played by Suresh Oberoi) which ends with the guru declaring his shishya ready for politics.

For a brief interlude, I thought I was watching The Karate Kid.

Tragically, Vivek is in awe of the character he plays, thereby robbing even the genuine moments, like those shared with his mother (a severely under-utilised and over-wigged Zarina Wahab) of their shine.

PM NARENDRA MODI

DIRECTOR: Omung Kumar B

STARRING: Vivek Oberoi, Manoj Joshi and Suresh Oberoi HH

This is not the Narendra Modi biopic that we’ve all been waiting for. The one that shows this powerful and sincere statesman making hard decisions and taking on opponents like a lion in a jungle of craven wolves.

What shines through is the resilience of a filmmaker - far more intense than anything that PM Modi has ever attempted in his political career - to venerate the subject of the ostensible biopic. In most of the scenes, Vivek, in his role as Modi, talks. Everyone listens

approvingly.

Even Amit Shah (Manoj Joshi), whose camaraderie with PM Modi is described as Jai-Veeru’s friendship from Sholay , is no more than a sounding-board for the protagonist.

The less shadowy figures are those who play negative parts, like the conniving corrupt businessman (Prashanth Narayan) who controls an even more corrupt media person (DarshanKumaar) and manipulates monstrous lies about Modi’s intentions. It’s always the media to blame for the negative stories about statesmen who are dedicated to building a nation. While the world conspires his downfall, Modiji stands smiling with a picture of Sardar Patel in the background.

You get the picture?

On the plus side, the film is shot with a reasonable amount of efficiency. The narration from the protagonist’s childhood to his coronation as the Prime Minister moves at a brisk, though pre-ordained, pace.

The climax at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan where Modi was saved from a terror attack gets it all wrong. But that is only to be expected in a film which isn’t overly concerned about facts as long as the central figure comes across as a flag-waving nationalist who cares only for the welfare of his country.

No one is bothered with the facts. Least of all the audience. There were loud cheers and applause in the theatre each time Vivek made a Modi-inspired speech (a National award for his travails?). And the celluloid Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were booed and hissed at.

Such is life in politics. No matter what the ‘sach’ in the life of a politician. Subhash K. Jha

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The BUZZ

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FRILL SEEKERS

Rihanna wore it back in 2017. Last year, J Lo wore a hotter, pinker version of it for the premiere of her movie Second Act. OTT outfits have been a fashion staple for the stars, so we were not at all surprised when the Bollywood poster-girl of “extra on the red carpet” Deepika Padukone chose a similarly ultra-puffy (and neon green, because why not?) Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown for her second appearance at the Cannes red carpet this month. Padukone’s satin pink turban accentuated the pink bow on her dress and gave out some serious Carmen Miranda vibes. Which isn’t a bad thing, per se. And while the neon green of her tulle gown didn’t make her look as princess-y as Kacey Musgraves in her pink Valli gown at the 2019 Oscars or as much of a fluffy cloud as Lana Candor at the Met Gala a couple of weeks back, it was still quintessentially Giambattista Valli –

whimsical, feminine, statement-making and perfect for Cannes. These fluffy dresses have been a fixture in the Italian designer’s haute couture collections for the past few years. His Fall/Winter 2019-20 collection had at least a dozen such designs, including the dresses worn by Musgraves and Candor. And while Rihanna, J Lo, Musgraves, Candor and Araya Hargate (pictured below) all won rave reviews for their sartorial choices, Padukone’s outfit was a bit more divisively received by the fashion world this time round. Being called a “tall loofah” certainly isn’t flattering, but we’re sure she doesn’t give a hoot about what people think of her outfits when she’s getting paid to travel to the French Riviera, wear designer gowns and be the spokesmodel for a legacy brand like L’Oreal. You keep doing you, Padukone!

SNEHA KHALE

BEYOND THE CANNES RED CARPET: WHERE ARE INDIAN FILMS?

As many as 1,854 feature films were submitted to be part of the 2019 Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival from across the world this year. As many as 39 nations are represented as production or co-production countries. India is missing.

Filmmaker Onir rightly questioned, “What are we supposed to celebrate about Cannes 2019... The cinema that’s being celebrated or just the clothes our actors wear and the parties they attend. Somehow that is all that seems to be talked about.”

Barring the overwhelming red carpet or party looks of Bollywood actresses making a splash on social media, an India Pavilion organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and FICCI, is doing its bit to forge international partnerships in distribution and production, to pitch India as a shooting destination and promoting film sales and syndication.

India may be one of the largest film producers in the world, but no film from the country made it in the competition categories. There was nothing to boast about in the key sidebars - Director's Fortnight, Un Certain Regard and Critics’ Week this year either, but for one respite - Achyutanand Dwivedi’s three-minute short film Seed Mother which won the third prize in the international section of Nespresso Talents 2019.

National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who is a part of the government-led delegation, found it “unfortunate” that Indian cinema had no presence at the gala, but said the prerogative of the festival line-up lies on the jury.

“The jury decides what movies should be shown, and we should respect what they want. We should be proud because people have taken India seriously in terms of our cinema and our digital content. People are watching Indian cinema in a big way. They know our stars very well,” Bhandarkar said.

To make inroads into such a festival, Bhandarkar said it was essential that Indian filmmakers follow the Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak kind of cinema with “Cannes value”.

Mira Nair was the first Indian to win the Camera d’Or in Cannes for Salaam Bombay in 1988. The last Indian film to compete for the coveted Palm D’Or at the prestigious gala was Shaji N. Karun’s Swaham in 1994.

Producer Guneet Monga, who has leveraged the power of co-productions, said creative collaborations with producers across the world play a major role.

“When you get more creative collaborators and you structure films

internationally like with Europe, there’s a lot of mentorship that comes with it in terms of storyline and process. That’s what we did with The Lunchbox and Masaan (both of which were shown at Cannes),” Monga said. “I genuinely feel co-productions help with the quality of filmmaking and for a global launch. It challenges us to make better versions of our own stories, and I would highly encourage people to do more co-productions to be able to tell more Indian stories to the world,” said Monga, whose co-production Period. End of Sentence won an Oscar this year.

Actress Huma Qureshi, whose twopart film Gangs Of Wasseypur was showcased at the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at the film jamboree a few years ago, is at the gala this year -representing a dose of “desi girl power” as part of a brand association with Grey Goose.

She told the media, “In 2012, my first film Gangs of Wasseypur was showcased at Cannes, and it was a fine example of an Indian film making waves in the French Riveria. There have been a few others over the years like Masaan and Manto. But the fact is that we as an industry are not making and supporting enough films like these.If we really want to be noticed and showcased at world festivals like Cannes, are we ready to make films where art is celebrated for art’s sake?”

Malayalam filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan however finds a silver lining in Bollywood stars glittering on the red carpet.

“This is the only reason when a film goes to Cannes, even in a sidebar section, the media gives some attention.”

Radhika Bhirani

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

PRIYANKA CHOPRA OR SUKI WATERHOUSE IN CHANEL

OSCAR ACADEMY TO OPEN OFFICE IN MUMBAI

Hollywood’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) which presents the Oscar Awards will open an office in Mumbai. This will only be its third office across the world.

This was announced during the visit of AMPAS President John Bailey and his wife Carol Littleton in Agra earlier this month. This is a huge milestone achievement for India’s film industry.

Bailey and his wife visited the Taj Mahal during their trip and were sufficiently overwhelmed by the welcome they received. They also visited Mumbai and Delhi.

Attending the 56th Maharashtra State Film Awards in Mumbai as the chief guest, John Bailey praised India’s cinema culture.

“Thank you Mumbai. This has been an extraordinary experience. We’re so touched, our hearts are so full. Congratulations on your wonderful cinema culture. We have experienced a small bit of it,” Bailey said at the event.

Bailey added that he was looking forward to learn more about Marathi cinema in particular.

“This has been just extraordinary. We’ll always remember this, and we’ll tell all the Governors back at the (Oscar) Academy what a wonderful experience this has been,” he added.

The Academy opening an office in Mumbai had been in discussions for a while, and their decision to go ahead with it has been greeted favourably by the film industry.

WILL SMITH WANTED “BOLLYWOOD LEVEL” SCENE IN ‘ALADDIN’

Wannabe Indophile (and everyone’s favourite ‘Man in Black’) Will Smith loves Sab sahihai bro, a song that Indian rapper Badshah has created as a promotional number for the Hollywood star’s forthcoming release Aladdin Badshah took to his Instagram page to share a video in which Will has shared his appreciation, as well as spoken about how he wanted a sequence in the movie to be “Bollywood level” - whatever that means.

Smith, who plays Genie in the movie, saw the song in Japan, and said, “Badshah, great work man...that is beautiful...looking at the things that you shot against what is in the movie, that is some good production you got going on there.”

He added, “It’s funny when we were making the sequence, what I kept saying to Guy Ritchie (director), is, it’s gotta be Bollywood level, man....don’t let the sequence not be Bollywood level. You know I always wanted to be in a Bollywood dance sequence, so this is beautiful, man. Love the work, really appreciate it. Thank you.”

Badshah is thrilled with Smith’s words. But of course.

“I guess Will Smith paaji likes the song I did for Aladdin. In theatres May 24! It’s high time you do a proper Bollywood film sir,” Badshah wrote tagging the actor, who shook a leg on the set of Student of the Year 2 on a visit to India last year.

Aladdin is a live-action adaptation of one of the most beloved animated classics of all time. IANS

What’s the chitchat between Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas here? Send

What’s the chitchat between Dharamendra and wiifey Hema Malini here?

Dharmendra: Yunki, aap toh jante hi hain ki iss Basanti ko zyada bolne ki aadat toh hain nahi, toh woh vote mangegi nahi, par aap isi ko apna vote dena!

Nikita Patel

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The waiting, the screaming, the crying, the fainting… Rock star accountants

BY NURY VITTACHI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Yeah, right," sneered the morning show

DIRECTOR: Gauravv K. Chawla

STARRING: Saif Ali Khan, Rohan Mehra, Radhika Apte, Chitrangda Singh

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

Saif Ali Khan’s Shakun Kothari’s destiny run on the same lines. Except that Saif as the wily ruthless

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

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

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

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My sister has a promising future

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

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

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

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