2019-10 Melbourne

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

SOCIAL MEDIA

Suruchi Sehgal

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Preeti Jabbal

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Festive times

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

Having just finished with the multiple events to mark a very special Gandhi Jayanti this year – the Mahatma’s sesquicentenary - you could say we are well and truly into our long-drawn festive season. The Garbas have been on full-swing (in more ways than one!), Durga Puja is upon us, the Diwali feels are gradually coming on, and the Sikh community is gearing up for its own milestone 550th anniversary.

With 700,000 of us Indian Australians, the celebrations - both religious and festive - now cater to all age groups, cut across regional divides, and vary in style and size. While the Garba events can bring together 600010,000 people over the course of a few nights, multiple smaller events are held across the community for revellers to meet on more intimate settings.

What has been wonderful to observe in recent celebrations, is the joining in of the younger members of the community. Whereas once these events

Happy Diwali

were the domain of the ‘uncles and aunties’ alone, now they are buzzing with youngsters not shy of bringing out their best traditional attire, ready to celebrate their cultural heritage.

Many of these are youthful New ustralians ho ha e high a liation and connection with the country of their birth India, and express this in many more ways than the old guard did.

On the other side of the spectrum ie the mainstream, there is similar change and increasing inclusivity, such as a broader awareness about Diwali for instance.

Kudos for this can be shared by many, not in the least our state governments who have facilitated these celebrations on the mainstage, such as NSW’s lighting up of the Sydney Opera House or Victoria’s mega Diwali at Fed Square. For the first time this year, the 550th birthday anniversary of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji will be marked across Melbourne thanks to a Victorian Government initiative, in which major monuments will be lit up on 12 November in the faith s saffron colour including olte ridge the rts entre el ourne Museum and AAMI Stadium. (This comes on top of a $200,000 grant to the Sikh community to organise a

range of events throughout October and November this year).

redit also must e gi en to the many community organisations who year after year ut in much effort towards their melas and big events, oftentimes their enthusiasm and zeal outweighing the resources at hand to ull these off. These large scale e ents have now begun to attract mainstream Australians, some who may just be passing through, others who may have heard about a fun day out and made an effort to e there. s al ays at Diwali, we’re putting the idea out to bring an Australian friend along to your favourite Diwali event, or have the family next door join you for your family’s Diwali celebrations.

In another welcome trend, Diwali is gradually making an appearance at work too, thanks to the extended reach of the working Indian Australian across various services and corporates.

It’s a heartening experience seeing such acceptance of diversity. With acceptance comes understanding, and with understanding, respect. With the Indian Australian community growing at an estimated 3 to 5% a year, this can only help make settlement in the new country a lot easier for new migrants, students and sojourning professionals.

Khushboo Patodia Gupta, Jyoti Shankar, Sunil Gautam, Gaurav Masand, Dhanya Samuel, Sandip Hor, Minal Khona

Jason Wood Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Member for La Trobe

Scott Morrison Prime Minister Member for Cook Authorised by A.Hirst, Liberal Party of Australia, Cnr Blackall and Macquarie Sts, Barton ACT 2600.

Josh Frydenberg Treasurer Member for Kooyong Wishing you and your family a

YOUR SAY

GANDHI AT MY SCHOOL

SHIKHA CHANDRA and RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA wrote about Darcy Road Public School’s annual Hindi Diwas celebration with special reference to its Gandhi anniversary events.

Mahesh Lodha wrote: I arrived in Sydney just a week back and picked your magazine up from a local Indian store. Your article Gandhi at my school is very timely and a tribute to the Apostle of Truth and Non-violence. Back in India as a Secretary of "Gandhi 150 West Bengal Committee" I have been conducting interactive quizzes on Gandhi in schools with the idea of spreading the Mahatma's philosophies among our children. I will be very happy to conduct the same here, if any opportunity arises. This may be a very positive program/ activity on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi.

On another note, the middle section Ganesha in 108 ways I found to be quite captivating.

A RELATIONSHIP OF PROMISE

PAWAN LUTHRA interviewed the outgoing High Commissioner of India to Australia, Dr Ajay Gondane.

Sheba Nandkeolyar wrote: Good insights into Dr Gondane’s humble, warm and strategic personality.

Ajeet Khullar wrote: Too many associations in the Indian community? No, he says, I welcome the diversity and the dynamism and the opportunity for leadership! I suppose that is one way of looking at it… spoken like a diplomat.

CALLING ALL FAUJIS

We featured a piece on the launch of the alumni association of India’s National Defence Academy in Australia.

Surender Anand wrote: I am looking to get connected with the National Defence Academy Alumni Association (Australian Chapter). I am an ex colonel of the Indian Army, having graduated from the 25th NDA course commissioned in Ordnance on 2 Aug 1964. I moved to Launceston Australia in 1994 and started the Bombay Café Indian restaurant. I live a retired life in Adelaide today as an Australian citizen.

SAY IT AGAIN

Everybody wants to know whether Gandhi is relevant whereas we need to ask are we deserving of his legacy.

Tushar Arun Gandhi, the Mahatma’s grandson

WHERE IN INDIA

We asked you to name the site of these ancient monuments. Readers Gurmeet Kalsi and Anurag Lall identified it correctly as Orchha Fort Complex, dating back to the 16th century and built by the Bundela Rajputs in Madhya Pradesh.

Ramesh V Morkhandikar wrote: Will appreciate more such quizzes which enhance the awareness of Indian culture.

WHERE IN OZ

We love this weird and wonderful architecture!

Reader Charmi Kapadia Shah correctly identified it as a vineyard in Devil’s Corner, Tasmania.

I am delighted to send my best wishes to everyone marking Navaratri, a significant festival for Hindus celebrating the victory of good over evil. As your communities come together on this special occasion, I hope you will be uplifted by its spirit of joy and energy, and by the fellowship of your family and friends.

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia

INSTA-HAPPY

Send us a photo or Instagram one of Indian Link in your daily life. We’ll pick one to feature in this column.

Abeer Sharma, 4, takes a copy of Indian Link to his kindy so that all his friends can colour in for Diwali Art Competition.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s Shilpa Shetty thinking here?

Ian Hendry wrote: Forgot the yellow wigs…

Jasveen Kaur Gosal wrote: What else can we match, I think I have everything covered.

Neetasha Sharma wrote: I paid a hefty sum to my designer for the outfits, I hope the pappz are clicking the best shots… smile!

Raka Mitra wrote: Should have gotten a few more metres of this fabric for the curtains...such a great sale.

Arix Bishnoi wrote: I better get 100K likes for this pic... You know how hard it is to find matching clothes for your husband and kid.

Shibani Dali wrote: Could this picture be any more yellower!

Poonam Mehra wrote: Glowing gloriously in yellow colour of glory and Ganesha’s blessings

Ryzara Harricharan wrote: Through all our positive experiences and moments and trials, negativity, tribulations, life's challenges, sacrifices, tension, issues, concerns, problems, and loss and grief, I still believe in and stand with God.

Vandana D'souza wrote: My family’s Bhakti colour is yellow!

Aarti Ag wrote: Ganpati Bappa blessed not only me and my family, but the whole world with peace and love, so everyone can smile like this.

Sunny Singh wrote: Feel good to have Ganpati Bappa in our home Sneha Shah wrote: Removal of obstacles and lord of success, may Lord Ganesha bestow his blessings on my family and all else this Ganesh Chaturthi.

Siddesh Jukar wrote: Hum sab pehene yellow, Bappa sab ke dukh lello.

Preety Sharma wrote: Feeling blessed with beautiful family

Vinay Pawar Khandelwal wrote: We are yellow yellow, beautiful fellow.

Rachna Gupta wrote: The family that prays together, stays together.

Deepak Shah wrote: Green and Gold! Australian!

Renu Sharma wrote: Twinning and winning

Shyam Khatri wrote: Bappa, aglesaal please IPL jita dena

Neha Mani Mishra wrote: Stop the click-click, let’s go and dive in the modaks already!!

Kavita Panchal Mistry wrote: Bappa ek hi taake me se sab ke kapde silaye hai, thodi kadki chalu hai… bhool chuk maaf Bappa

Arora Vijay wrote: Bappa, my only wish is to win the IPL cup this year

Sarita Ram Menon wrote: Gosh, ek modak khaliya... mera waist line ka kya hoga... kal se double yoga

Vinayak Muralidharan wrote: Tum dil ki dhadkan mein, rehto ho rehto ho!

Aarti Mehra wrote: Fabric thoda kam padh gaya, Raj Kundra ka kurta nahin ban paya poora. I hope kisi ko pata na chale isliye this big smile

Whenever we eat at our local Indian hawker store the owner hands our toddler an oversized papadum which Tobi happily stuffs in his mouth. Owner watches with delight while softly cooing “fat, fat baby!” It’s actually the most uncomplicated, joyous human transaction I’ve ever seen

Stephen Dziedzic,

ABC journalist based in Singapore

I've experienced mental health issues for as long as I can remember. Earlier this year, I attempted suicide. It's something we need to talk about openly and honestly. Help is available: @beyondblue@ LifelineAust

Tarang Chawla, writer, gender equality and mental health advocate

Diwali in children’s literature

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

We should all read a kid’s storybook now and then, it has been claimed. Children’s literature is filled with wisdom. It teaches important life lessons - empathy, for instance; the importance of a sense of self; the value of family and friend; to dream big.

That it’s ok to be different.

Young parents have taken frequent recourse to children’s books to teach their kids about upcoming milestones in their life, such as potty training, going to day-care, welcoming a baby sibling, or starting school. They are now finding a growing resource in children’s literature to teach their kids about diversity: that it’s ok to be different, whether that means being a single child, or biracial, or from a blended or same sex or sole parent family, or a person with a disability, or being a person of colour.

In the lead up to Diwali later this month, it’s been pleasing to see an increasing number of children’s books on the Hindu Festival of Light, where there were none available as recently as say five years ago. These come not only from India, but from Indian writers in the diaspora as well as writers of non-Indian background who are exposed to increasing plurality in their own urban centres.

One such book is Chuck Doolan: Let’s Do Diwali by the Sydney-based award-winning writer James Roy. It’s part of a series for young boys, particularly pre-schoolers, and affords the writer a perfect framework within which to tackle issues of significance for boys this age.

“Chook is not exactly your regular hero,” James Roy told Indian Link. “He’s sacred of everything, which is why his name is Chook. For chicken.”

Chook is anxious about walking to school, starting soccer, not having a pet to take to school for Pet Day. Each of these issues is addressed in separate storybooks.

“In Let’s Do Diwali, Chook faces something that’s culturally confronting, as the young Anglo kid who’s taken to something different.”

(Chook and his Indian friend Praj go to a Diwali fair. But big crowds frighten Chook…)

The book presents other young Anglo kids an opportunity to learn about a new culture, in whatever small way, and to accept that people with different worldviews make up our world.

Equally, it offers young Hindu kids in

Australia a chance to look at themselves through fresh eyes, as accepted members of society

“It’s different from what I normally write,” Roy admitted, adding, “Teacher librarians across Western Sydney where I live and work, tell me that it has been popular. If someone has picked it up and read it and been influenced by it, I’m happy.”

Besides exposure to the Indian community in Sydney, Roy grew up in Fiji, and so is well-versed in Indian sensibilities. He has fond memories of Diwali in Suva.

“Fireworks were always readily available, but they were cheaper at Diwali so my Indian friend and I would stock up on them then.”

He has also visited Singapore’s Little India during Diwali, and the Diwali Fair at

Parramatta in Sydney.

What draws him to diverse stories and characters?

“As a writer, for me kids are kids, regardless of where they live or what their background is. They all feel left out sometimes, and so they respond to my stories with empathy. Another book of mine, One Thousand Hills, is about a Rwandan boy affected by the genocide in 1986: I wrote it with Noel Zihabamwe, a member of Sydney’s Rwandan community.”

Clearly fiction has a role to play in teaching kids about the world.

“Certainly,” Roy agreed. “Joseph Stalin once said - and I know he’s not a great one to quote - ‘A million deaths is a statistic, but a single death is a tragedy’. When we tell individual stories, it is much more engaging. I’ve just returned from Japan, where I

James Roy

visited the Peace Memorial Museum at Hiroshima. It lists numbers and data, but its tales of individuals are more stirring.”

He added, “Children are sensitive to being preached at, being spoken down to. Teaching them through fiction carries muchmore weight.”

And so Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes will be remembered long after middle school, as will Mao’s Last Dancer, Goodbye Vietnam, Hana’s Suitcase, and Anne Frank’s Diary.

As the world around us becomes more and more diverse, literature from - or based in - other cultures can play a significant role in our primary schools, by helping to explore the world around us, and by breaking down social barriers and promoting understanding and acceptance.

Social psychological research has provided empirical evidence of the many benefits of multicultural literature for students. Those in the dominant culture are equipped with a greater awareness and deeper knowledge that builds an intercultural perspective and allows crosscultural relationships to be strengthened.

On the other end of the spectrum, ie for diverse participants themselves, such texts encourage identity formation, foster selfesteem, and keep at bay feelings of social isolation. Seeing like characters in print (or on screen) not only helps shape who they are but also who they aspire to be. (‘If they can’t see it, they can’t be it’ goes a wellknown slogan in media representation.)

Seeing themselves in literature also makes them more likely to read more.

Across both groups, research suggests that multicultural literature helps students look critically at the world and gain a greater understanding of the global community.

This is a much-needed skill in today’s polarised world.

There’s a wide variety of books on Diwali for your child, and they’re not all by Indian writers

A good variety of books based around Diwali has mushroomed in recent years.

Sometimes it is a straightforward retelling of the tale of the Ramayana (such as in Prince of Fire and Rama and the Demon King), or of the activities on and before Diwali day (such as in My Diwali Book where we follow a little girl as she prepares for and celebrates Diwali).

At other times, it is a Diwali tale told by a popular children’s characterPeppa Pig for instance.

Other instances are when the concept of Diwali is worked into an easily identifiable scenario closer to the life of the young reader. In Diwali, the Festival of Lights Shalu is scared of the dark as she walks home from

DIWALI BOOKS FOR KIDS

the library. In Lilu’s Lantern, Lilugoes to buy a lantern but can’t choose which colour – so she makes her own. In The Diwali Gift, three little monkeys get a mysterious gift. In Rani Saves Diwali, the palace decorator takes ill, and so it is up to the princess to finish the palace decorations. In Lights for Gita, Gita is miserable at the icy cold of her new home Canada during Diwali, and at not seeing the festivities around her. In Deepak’s Diwali, Deepak is miserable because things get lost or broken. These situations provide the perfect backdrop to impart the true meaning or essence of the Festival of Light.

Rhyming words (example Amma Tell Me About Diwali), large colourful illustrations and simple structure in sentences do their job to attract and

retain attention, and aid in making it a pleasurable experience for the young reader as well as the adult narrator.

In many instances, these Diwali stories have served a purpose for the creators of the books themselves. Writer Sana Hoda Sood, India-born but living in Washington USA, produced her book Diwali: A Cultural Adventure for her own son, as did Bhakti Mathur of Hong Kong with her Amma Tell Me series. Books on Diwali written by non-Indian writers reflect the valuing of diversity in modern life, and are sometimes part of a series of world religions or philosophies.

Activity books on Diwali, if you can find them, take the introduction to Diwali a step further, because they are fun as well as educational (see

overleaf). There are colouring books, books to fill in your own little Diwali details, rangoli books with patterns, even card games. They encourage various cognitive skills, and not in a school teacher-y fashion. In Lights, Camera, Diwali! for instance, the young protagonist gets a camera for a Diwali present, and then sets about photographing each Diwali activity in detail.

The learning opportunities are many: they inspire creativity as they teach how to make things of significance during Diwali.The importance of recycling can be an added bonus if using scrap material.

If you can’t find Diwali activity books, make your own by downloading from resources online.

Reading

PEPPA’S DIWALI

By Ladybird

On Diwali, Peppa and her family learning all about this Indian celebration. Mummy and Daddy Pig cook up a feast, and Granny and Grandpa Pig bring everyone special clothes to wear. Then it's party time!

HURRAY FOR DIWALI

By Anita Raina Thapan

(illustrated by Alankrita)

Dive into the world of Gittoo, Gauri, Gannu, Pia, Chia and Nono Paro as they learn about the magical story behind Diwali. A good and to-be-read option to engage kids in learning about Diwali and traditions.

LOTS OF LIGHTS

By Kavita Sahai (author) and Vladividal (illustrator)

A fun Diwali story that explains each day of celebration. Helping children understand Indian culture allows them to be better global citizens, and for Indian children in America, it allows them to learn about their culture in a fresh and relevant way.

ACTIVITY BOOKS

DIWALI, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS (SHALU)

By Nick Sharma

An activity based cartoonsketch with a gripping story line of a frightened Shalu’s walk in the dark street which ends well with a distant lamp guiding the way to brightness and safety.

THE DIWALI GIFT

By Shweta Chopra and Shuchi Mehta (illustrated

by Anna Koan)

This Mom’s Choice Award winner elaborates on the adventures of three curious monkeys Suno, Dekho and Jaano relating to a mysterious Diwali package. Help your child explore traditions through attractive illustrations.

DIWALI: A CULTURAL ADVENTURE

By Sana Sood Hoda (illustrated by Rubina Hoda)

An action packed brightpictorial story of a brave hero, an evil villain, who fight an epic battle. Young readers learn about Diwali as they follow Ram on his adventure to defeat darkness and despair.

GANESHA’S SWEET TOOTH

By Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes (illustrated

by

Emily Haynes)

A charming picture book illustrating the fictitious plot of elephant-headed god, Ganesha’s sugar-obsession with a penchant for ladoo, a traditional Indian dessert.

ORIGAMI FESTIVALS

By

Robyn Hardyman

Diwali-themed origami activities that are explained in full colour and detailed instructions. A unique way to engage children while making them learn more about Diwali.

RANGOLI: AN INDIAN ART ACTIVITY BOOK

By Suma O’Farrell

This award winning art activity book introduces kids to the popular and versatile art India called Rangoli, and offers designs with easy-to-follow coloured to simplify, inform, and inspire.

Diwali

LET’S CELEBRATE DIWALI

By Anjali Joshi

(illustrated by Tim Palin)

A culturally diverse and inclusive narration through Harini’spersonal learning at her class circle about Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist Diwali traditions!

RAMA AND THE DEMON KING

By Jessica Souhami

The epic of Ramayana through eye-catching illustrations, based on the Indian tradition of shadowpuppetry. A novel execution to convey an age old saga.

PRINCE OF FIRE: THE STORY OF DIWALI

By Jatinder Nath Verma

(illustrated by Nilesh Mistry)

An action-packed take of Ramayana with Rama, the Prince of Fire, and his friend’s journey to defeat the demon king of Lanka and return light to the world. Dramatic storyline and vivid illustrations make it a good read for elementary students.

MY DIWALI COLOURING BOOK

By Moksha Publishing

Not just any colouring book. As you go through the colouring pages, you find that it describes the festival in great detail and there is a lot of information hidden within the book! A great gift for kids of all ages.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, DIWALI!

By Amita Roy Shah (illustrated by Diane Lucas)

Diwali from the perspective of a young girl who captures the integrated spirit of Diwali through her newly gifted Diwali gift; a camera. Highlight is the sense of family belonging and traditions captured through pictures.

DIWALI: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

By Rina Singh

Critically acclaimed author Rina Singh explores the multicultural Diwali traditions. Spiced with festive recipes and enriched by personal stories and vibrant photographs.

MY DIWALI BOOK

By

Rakhee Iyer

(illustrated by Gayathri Manikandan, Priya Kuriyan, Taposhi Ghoshal)

Learn how a little girl celebrates Diwali with her family - buying new clothes, preparing sweets, decorating the home with a rangoli, and then lighting diyas and firecrackers.

HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD: CELEBRATE DIWALI

By Deborah Heiligman

This stunning National Geographic book takes young readers on a global tour to visit Diwali celebrations with dynamic photographs and lively text, recipes, a glossary, a card game, a map, a resource list of books and websites, and a note to parents and teachers.

art form from offers a variety of coloured lines inspire.

The home coming

From Kallidai to Adelaide and back: The journey of a stolen Indian idol

BY LP AYER

Friday the 13th, a date dreaded in the West, turned out to be a very auspicious day for over 25,000 people in the southern Indian village of Kallidaikurichi.

Several of them travelled 600 km to Chennai Central to welcome home an old resident, converting the railway station into a temporary temple as they conducted the rituals of puja and aarti. Returning from

Australia, where it sat at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) in Adelaide, was an ancient statue of the Dancing Shiva (Shiva Nataraja), stolen from their village 37 years ago.

The bronze idol was coming home thanks to the efforts of a special police team in Tamil Nadu and a gracious gesture of the AGSA.

The AGSA, the Dancing Shiva’s temporary home in Australia, is a couple of kilometres away from my home in Adelaide. Its original abode - for some 700 years - is just one kilometre away from my ancestral home in Kallidaikurichi.

Kallidaikurichi, at the foothills of the Western Ranges some 50km north of

Kanyakumari, has over a dozen temples large and small. Kulasekaramudayar temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, from where this idol was taken, was possibly built by the powerful Pandyan king of the same name in the 13th century. Being on the outskirts of the village it might have been an easy target for temple raiders, who on June 6, 1982 stole this and three other idols. The local police, having failed to trace the culprits or the lost items, closed the case after two years.

The 76cm tall bronze idol weighing 100kg found its way to the London antiquities dealer Oliver Forge and Brendon Lynch, from whom it was bought in 2001

for the AGSA by then director Ron Radford. The price – a whopping US $255,000.

The Gallery’s current director Rahana Davenport told local Adelaide radio that “the acquisition followed standard protocols accepted as professionally rigorous in that era.”

Following are velation in 2014 that a larger Dancing Shiva idol at Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia was stolen from another South Indian temple, AGSA revised its Due Diligence Policy and its curator of Asian Art, James Bennett, started provenance research on the idol although there was no reason to believe it had been improperly acquired. (The Canberra idol,

Shiva Nataraja arrives at Chennai Central.

bought from the noted artefacts smuggler Subhash Kapoor, was personally handed over to Prime Minister Modi by the then Australian PM Tony Abbott when he visited India).

In 2016 Bennett visited the Pondicherry French Institute that holds archives of Indian antiquities and after checking 6,000 photos found a small image matching the idol in the Adelaide gallery. Next year he visited Kallidaikurichi temple to confirm his finding.

This January, the Government of India requested the return of the idol and the AGSA Board approved its repatriation in April. However the return was delayed by months thanks to some petty politics in Tamil Nadu. This is one such story where the protagonist commands as much interest as the narrative itself.

Enter Pon Manickavel, a super sleuth who can outclass any Bollywood action hero in busting gangland dons. As an IGP (Inspector General of Police) he was entrusted with the task of retrieval of stolen antiquities in 2012. With a trade mark pointy moustache – a la Capt. Abhinandan of the Indian Air Force – and his unorthodox methods of tackling culprits, he has become a cult figure among the public, while at the same time earning enemies amongst his own ranks. (Such is his repute that a biopic movie of him has already been made). The day after he retired, the State Government decided to transfer all cases he was working on, to the CBI. On challenging this, the High Court extended his tenure at the Special Idol Wing for a year. He then told a riotous press conference, “I will retrieve the Adelaide idol before my retirement.”

He has lived up to his words.

After a 19-year stay at the gallery, the Dancing Shiva, valued at Rs 30 crores, was handed over to a team of the Archaeological Survey of India in New Delhi by James Bennett and AGSA Registrar Jan Robinson, who graciously paid for the idol’s air transit as the Tamil Nadu Government was dragging its feet. (God is said to move in mysterious ways.)

Lamenting the lack of Government support, Pon Manickavel told the gathering at Chennai Central, “There are over a thousand statues overseas and my mission is to back as many as I can before I retire.”

AGSA’s Davenport said, “We are happy to send the idol to its rightful home.”

India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Dr. Gondane, who himself is returning to India soon, said, “This is a very propitious beginning of co-operation between AGSA and the Indian Government which will open new cultural vistas.” Writer’s note: My thanks to my Indian source Swaminathan who kept me posted on this story for several weeks. A video of the temple arriving at Chennai Central can be viewed on www.indianlink.com.au

The AGSA, the Dancing Shiva’s temporary home in Australia, is a couple of kilometres away from my home in Adelaide. Its original abode - for some 700 years - is just one kilometre away from my ancestral home in Kallidaikurichi.

The High Commissioner of India Dr AM Gondane and AGSA officials with Shiva Nataraja just before its repatriation

A photographic tribute, and lessons in relevance

The Consulate General of India (Melb) marks Gandhiji’s sesquicentennary

BY KHUSHBOO PATODIA GUPTA

Indians the world over have marked a special Gandhi Jayanti this year, his 150th. Sesquicentennial celebrations have taken the form of talks, discussions, film screenings, stage productions, exhibitions and commemorations.

Here in Melbourne, the Consulate General of India chose to present a photographic tribute, and a talk on the contemporary significance of Gandhi’s leadership style.

An exhibition showcasing photographs from the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and his quest for Indian independence was launched on 2 Oct. Inaugurated by Member of Parliament Kaushalya Vaghela, the exhibition was open to the public for a week.

“I am very proud to say that I am from the same state as Gandhiji,” Vaghela said on the occasion. “This particular leader led with truth and non-violence. So many world leaders say that they get inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. In fact, 100 nations have released stamps of Mahatma Gandhi.”

The photos allowed us to step inside Gandhi’s world, as we saw him across the country in Ahmedabad, Shantiniketan, Bihar and other spots. One of the more endearing pics was a well-known one of him with a 6-year-old Indira Gandhi in 1924. Smiling ear to ear even as he fasted for 21 days as a penance for communal disturbances, the grit and determination despite the frailty came through loud and clear.

Another intriguing image was of Gandhi in South Africa in 1906, as leader of the

Indian stretcher-bearer corps during the Zulu Rebellion.

In yet another image, he appeared deeply engrossed inwards, at a public prayer meet in New Delhi’s Birla House in 1948, perhaps a few days before he was

assassinated there.

Gandhi’s favourite hymn Vasihnav Jana to set the mood for the afternoon. Melodiously sung by speaker and author Sriram Iyer, the song written by Narsin Mehta resonates with Gandhi’s own

ideologies of truth, equality, compassion and tolerance.

These are values we need to re invigorate in our contemporary lives, as Consul General Raj Kumar pointed out.

“Gandhiji never wanted to influence through his life, but his life itself became an inspiration,” he said in his reflection.

“I believe as long as Gandhiji’s philosophy remains embedded in humanity, he will remain relevant. The path which he has shown us of truth and non-violence, it’s still valid in the present day when the world faces many challenges including terrorism.” But how did his belief systems and his behavior ultimately help India achieve independence?

Speaker Sriram Iyer explained in an interactive talk entitled ‘Belief in Leadership - the Gandhi Way’, that the Mahatma used his own strong faith in non-violence, noncooperation and satyagraha to influence his followers positively, so that they could be on the same page as him. Putting this in contemporary context, Iyer suggested using the framework of belief, behavior and business. He explained through the life of the Mahatma, how our beliefs shape our behavior and ultimately the outcome of the work we are doing, just like Gandhi who had very strong beliefs, which determined his behavior, and the result that he was after - to free India - was a natural byproduct of that.

“This is one man, if he were alive today, who could have walked into the CEO role of any large conglomerate, just as easily as he led a nation, if he wanted to. He showed exemplary leadership in every stage, every arena of his life,” said Iyer.

One of the greatest leaders the world has seen, Gandhi led with trust, and walked with his people hand in hand.

To those who question the relevance of the Mahatma in modern times, this is but one of the many lessons we can still learn from him.

The role of dance in my life

Stage and screen come together in this telling of South Asian artists’ careers in the arts in Australia

BY PREETI JABBAL

Reinstating their difference whilst reshaping their sense of belonging, five accomplished female artists from the South Asian diaspora got together to tell their stories in Melbourne recently.

Stage and screen combined in Patra, an inspiring documentary-theatre production created by Shastram TV under the creative direction of Ghirija Jeyarraj.

Patra (‘role’) provided an insight into the lives, art, struggles and roles of Monica Singh Sangwan, Dr Priya Srinivasan, Christina Prakanthan, Janani Venkatachelam and Ghirija Jeyarraj in relation to Indian classical dance in Australia.

According to Ghirija, practising this art form is hard in modern society, but in the arts hub of a western country the challenges are much steeper.

The sentiment was further endorsed through glimpses of the practitioners’ lives and journey as they untangled the many factors that defined their success in Indian arts in Australia.

The live performance on stage interplayed with the documentary to create a stimulating conversation between the seasoned artists and their enthralled audience.

The event also marked the relaunch of Shastram TV. Shastram is Ghirija’s ongoing project to inspire and educate many on the journey of dance. Having met many wonderful artists and enthusiasts

around the world, she has recorded and shared their journey in an attempt to spread knowledge of Indian classical dance.

Ghirija handles her moving portraits with expertise as she is familiar with the complex, codified language of the dance forms and the artists’ stories resonate with her own.

“I am currently discovering my own role in the arts world and I could relate to the artists, at different levels,” claimed Ghirija.

“I also understand how artists need to integrate their intuitive and experimental side with the structure, values and compositions of their art.”

Monica Singh Sangwan, Odissi practitioner and Principal at Sohamasmi dwelt on her experience of teaching Odissi in Australia. She also spoke about her

passion for encouraging others to find their own creativity and artistic enjoyment through art.

Dr Priya Srinivasan, dancer, choreographer, writer, creator of ‘talking dances’ and theatre producer, spoke about her personal experience of growing up in Australia and navigating the art world here. She emphasised on the real struggles in getting funding, support and success as a multicultural artist.

Christina Prakanthan, Bharatnatyam practitioner, founder of Matyatharu School of Performing Arts and President BAAVA offered a diverse perspective of feeling accepted and encouraged as an artist in Australia in comparison to her native Sri Lanka. She also outlined the issues faced by her as an arts teacher and how shemanages the expectations of students,

parents and community.

Janani Venkatachelam, Kuchipudi practioner and Senior Management Consultant, remembered inheriting her mother’s love for classical dance. With immutable demands placed on her time Janani shared how she accommodated her passion for dance in her life, alongside career and family.

The choreography of the dancers, with no exception, was expressive and emotionally intense, the element of frisson made more dynamic with their personal storiesin the background.

An engagement between the artists’ inherited identity and the orientation towards their adopted country made for an interesting narrative that the audience grappled with as they enjoyed the beautiful performances.

Janani Venkatachalam

Ghirrija Jeyarraj

Dr Priya Srinivasan

Monica Singh Sangwan

Christina Prakanthan

Mandala magic

WINNER (8-12) AKHASH KARTHIKEYAN 10

RUNNER UP (8-12) AVIKA GURRAM 10

AARNA JAIN 8

BIANCA GOEL 10

AARUSHI MALIK 8

ELENA D'LIMA 8

AKSHAY KRISHNA KUMAR 11

ARYA KALANTRI 12

AASHI CHOKSI 8

YASH MANDOWARA 9

Fabulous! A wonderful effort yet again from our little ones in this year’s Indian Link Diwali Kids Art competition. Congratulations to our winners Akhash Karthikeyan (8-12 years category) and Maanvi Dayal (upto 7 years category). Akhash and Maanvi win book vouchers worth $75 each.

Congratulations also to Runners Up Avika Gurram (8-12 years category) and Saanvi Patnia (upto 7 years category) who win book vouchers worth $50 each.

Akhash’s design will feature as Indian Link’s official Diwali card for 2019. Wish you all a joyous, colourful, artful Diwali season. Hope our mandalas bring you balance, harmony and peace.

WINNER (UPTO 7 YEARS) MAANVI DAYAL 7

RUNNER UP (UPTO 7 YEARS) SAANVI PATNIA 7

AASHVI SRI RAMESH 4

SHAARAV ARYA 6

DEVANSHI MANDOWARA, 6

SHIRIN CHAUHAN 7

PIA PANCHAL, 7

SRADDHA SHAILESH 6

SAMIK BOHRA, 6

TEJA PRABHAKARAN 6

A tender look

Katy Fizgerald’s exhibition of photos from India

BY JYOTI SHANKAR

Indefatigable - a term to describe a person who persists tirelessly. This is the word that comes to mind when I hear of yet another effort on the part of Katy Fitzgerald to raise funds for her work supporting Tender Heart. Based in Bhatola, a village two hours from Delhi, this NGO founded by Renu Bali, runs classes for local children, including a special needs unit for children with disabilities. It also supports women’s empowerment by running courses for local women to learn handicrafts in order to earn a living.

Raising funds through crowdfunding, organising trivia nights, asking her friends and family for donations and selling her photographs, has been an ongoing activity for Sydney-based Katy, since her association with this Indian non-profit.

Never disheartened, she starts again soon after each trip, with yet another idea to make a difference to the lives of the kids at Tender Heart. This time round, it was an exhibition of photos she took on various trips to India, that helped her raise funds.

The photo exhibition at Gallery 371 at Marrickville was well received and Katy will soon be heading back to Bhatola. The funds raised will provide art materials to run

workshops for the kids and take them on excursions to art galleries and museums in Delhi, an opportunity seldom available for them.

The photo exhibition drew a lot of people through the three days it was open.

“I feel really grateful for that,” Katy told

look at India

India raises funds for Haryana NGO Tender Heart

than that.”

The colour, spontaneity and vibrancy of the lives of Indian people, from Nainital in the north to Mahabalipuram in the south, have been captured over five trips made to India.

A die-hard Indophile, Katy is ever surprised by what she describes as the “ingenuity in the way they do things” to get so much more out of life.

On past trips, Katy has conducted writing, art and photography workshops and taken children on many excursions to Delhi. With an aim to making sure her time at the school is well spent, Katy plans her trips well in advance with a loose idea in mind. “You can’t really plan for India,” she laughed.

“Things have a way of ultimately falling into place though,” she added sagely, now with a better understanding of how things work in India.

Downplaying all the hard work put around organising her photo exhibition, Katy said, “I feel things just happen around India for me. It is never a chore.” It is this that keeps her going.

Indian Link later.

Describing her works, she explained, “There is so much about India that I love but I wanted to capture the quirky, light-hearted side of India. People often talk to me about all the poverty in India and I don’t want to gloss over that, but India is so much more

The exhibition raised more funds than her expectations and this makes her happy as well as humbled.

“If the kids at Bhatola did not have Tender Heart, they would have very diminished lives,” she said of the difference the school has made for the kids.

Learn more about Tender Heart at www.tenderheartngo.org

Loving right now

A list of Indian Link’s current favourites

READ

Meera Sodha serves a master class in her new vibrant plant-based cookbook, East. With veggies as the focus, Sodha presents here a fresh serving of novel recipes inspired by a range of Asian cuisines, from India, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Easy to make, these eccentric recipes run the entire gamut from noodles to salads, curries to bakes, laksa to Kimchi pancakes and silken tofu. It’s modern, vibrant, fuss-free food for any foodie. A must-have whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or simply want to eat fresh, delicious plant-based dishes.

EAT

“Indian…ish, Modern…ish”. ISH at Fitzroy presents Indian flavours re-interpreted with Australian sensibilities. Owner Ganeev Bains, drawing inspiration from the vibrant dining scene of Chandigarh, gets together with Head Chef Michael Stolley to present a menu that pays homage to the culinary traditions of Indian food yet showcases the quality and variety of Australian produce. Indian origin whiskies sit proudly alongside Australian boutique wines, even as a Sambar Arancini shares space with Tandoori Australian king prawns and Tandoori Malai Broccoli. Other favourites: Victorian lamb cutlets, black garlic naan, King mushroom moilee and a special ISH butter chicken.

LISTEN

The ghazal is back. Ask Indian Link Radio presenter Samay, and he’ll probably say, but it had never gone away! On his nightly show Mehfil-e-Ghazal, Samay rekindles your love for this gentle artform with his inimitable andaz, dulcet tones and tenderness of manner. The playlist of loss and love, pleasure and pain, with interweaving sher-o-shayari, is carefully handpicked, and updated on listeners’ requests too. It puts you in a gentle frame of mind as you finish your chores for the day, and all’s well in your world as you end with a little hum yourself.

WATCH

In Aisi Taisi Democracy Rahul Ram (Indian Ocean band), angry satirist Sanjay Rajoura and popular lyricist/comedian Varun Grover illustrate a refreshing political-musical act full of satire, nitpicking all that’s wrong with the current system. As stand-up comedy, it’s a part-musical part-biting-diatribe on socio-political issues. It tackles a range of bold issues including sarhad (border) relations, chunav (election) analyses and social codes and mores, daring to pose some uncomfortable questions while keeping you in splits all along with its clever rehash of popular Bollywood tunes. Definitely not for those who get easily offended.

With contributions by Tejas Vaidya, Dhanya Samuel and Ekta Sharma

Easy Diwali

Oldies but goodies. With Diwali just round the corner, GAURAV MASAND is inspired to go back to some all-time favourites

Nutty Chocolate Bites

Who doesn’t love a good chocolate bite? These delights presented here are easy to make and store well for a few days too.

Ingredients

1 ½ cup cooking chocolate

½ cup cooking cream

¼ cupchopped nuts (almonds, walnuts) and raisins

¼ cup milk

1 tbsp cake sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Dry roast almonds and walnuts in a pan for a few minutes. Add raisins and roast for a couple of minutes. Keep aside.

Add the chocolate and cream to a double boiler. Stir continuously until they melt to a smooth consistency. (Alternatively, you may cook the cream and chocolate in the microwave for 10 seconds. Mix it

with a spatula and then again cook for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until the chocolate has melted.)

In a silicon mini muffin tray, pour the melted chocolate until it fills half the mould.

Add a spoonful of roasted nuts.

Pour some more melted chocolate over this to the top of the mould.

Set in the fridge for 2-3 hours. Once it sets, you can remove it easily from the tray.

Add the remaining cream and milk to leftover chocolate to a pouring consistency.

Spread the chocolate bites on a grill, pour the melted chocolate on top. This makes it decadent and extra yum. You may decorate with some cake sprinkles and let cool for few hours in the refrigerator.

Baked Namak Para

Traditionally, these savoury delights are deep fried; here’s a healthier baked version.

Ingredients

1 cup maida/plain flour

½ cup atta/whole wheat flour

1/8 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin seeds

Water to knead

¼ cup oil +2 tbsp oil for tossing

Instructions

Mix all ingredients and knead to a tight dough. Divide in two equal parts and roll out flat like a roti on baking paper. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut into desired shapes. Place the pieces evenly on baking paper.

Preheat the oven for 5 minutes at 160 degree centigrade. Bake in a 160-degree fan forced for 20 minutess.

Toss the crackers in 2 tbsp oil and bake again for 15 minutes. Store in an air-tight container once it comes to room temperature.

Anardana Goli

This pomegranate candy is a wonderful pachak or churan, ie, digestive. It is a must, post that heavy Diwali dinner or brunch! This candy aids digestion and also gives a relief during motion sickness. Add as much or as little sugar as you wish.

Ingredients

½ cup anardana/dried

pomegranate seeds

1/8 cup amchur/dried mango powder

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp kala namak/black salt

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp fennel seeds

½ tsp cardamom powder

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

Coarsely grind all dry ingredients, add lemon juice and mix.

Roll spoonfuls of mixture intoballs.

Optionally, coat the candies in some powdered sugar. Store in a dry jar.

Lebanese spread

Historic as well as natural attractions make up the itinerary

BY SANDIP HOR

Say the word Lebanon and what comes to mind instantly is round and fluffy bread, shawarma, tabouli, shisha, high pitched music, belly dancing… and perhaps, thanks to news reports, mortar shells and machine guns.

AsI visit there, I experience everything listed above, except the sense of danger.

A safe, friendly and high energy environment engulfs us – with quite literally nothing to remind us of the brutalcivil war of the 1970s.

Fast forward four decades, the Mediterranean nation has returned to its original flamboyant lifestyle, with capital Beirut - which was reduced to rubble during the 15-year carnage - regaining its title as ‘Paris of the Middle East’.

The Lebanon we visit today is a young nation. It came into existence only after the First World War during the cutting and sharing of the Ottoman Empire. Clubbed with present Syria, the new nation lived

as a French mandate until gaining own independence in 1946.

However the history of the land dates back several millennia. Many civilisations marked their footprints here from Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans to Crusaders, Mamluks and the Ottomans.

For modern day travellers, their leftovers create a great itinerary, which includes not only a hedonistic Beirut but also many

natural wonders like sandy beaches, cedar wood forests and mountainous caves.

ELECTRIFYING BEIRUT

Lebanon is a small country, only 10,400 square km in size. Seafront Beirut is positioned almost in the middle with most of the iconic sites within easy, day-trip distances. Most visitors prefer staying here to enjoy its bustling atmosphere,

which becomes electrifying after sun down when almost everyone hits the streets to have dinner at a restaurant, drink at a trendy bar, sample Arabic coffee and shisha at a café or simply for a stroll along the Corniche to get swayed by the Mediterranean breeze. Beach lovers generally go to nearby Jounieh, a seafront suburb infected with high-rise buildings.

OLD CITY BYBLOS

Located 42km north of Beirut, Byblos today is a quiet seaport, but according to archaeologists it’s probably the world’s oldest city, said to be continuously inhabited for 7000 years. During the Bronze Age, when the Phoenicians lived here, it was a major trading hub. Several artefacts found during the excavations and now displayed at the National Museum in Beirut testify to the glory of the time. After the Phoenicians came the Greeks and the Romans who were followed by the Crusaders, a castle built by them still exists in dilapidated form. Wandering through its quiet streets today means shaking hands with antiquity.

ROMAN BAALBEK

Unquestionably one of the planet’s most

beirut downtown

Beirut Mosque

impressive ancient Roman sites and Lebanon’s number one attraction, this sprawling complex of temples dedicated to pagan gods Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus outshines anything in Rome. It lies 86km northeast of Beirut, close to the Syrian border. Everything here isin ruins, but the assembly comprising of columns, platforms, podiums, stairways, figurines and numerous stone-pieces - some embellished with expressive artworks - is good enough to suggest how extravagant it was when the Romans built them at the start of this millennium. The Temple of Jupiter is the main attraction. Its remaining six columns are an apt memoir of the size and stateliness of the original structure. An amazing feature of the temple-remains are its megalithic foundations, said to be the planet’s largest building blocks, each weighing over 800 tons.

ISLAMIC ANJAR

Not far from Baalbek and almost at the door steps of Damascus in Syria is the only important Islamic quarter from the period when the faithjust started evolving. The mighty Umayyads built this walled city and ruled from there in the mid-7th century for almost hundred years. Discovered by archaeologists only in the 1940s, the remains of colonnaded streets flanked by the ruins of palaces, mosques, shops and other dwellings give an idea of how busy this settlement was during its heyday.

TRAVEL NOTES

Getting There Emirate Airlines (www.emirates.com) have regular flights from Australia via Dubai to Beirut.

Accommodation Golden Tulip Serenade Hotel in Beirut (serenada-hamra.goldentulip. com)

Visa Australian passport holders do not require any prior visa for entry to Lebanon

Currency Lebanese Pound (1 USD = 1500 Lebanese Pound) Local tour operator Nakhal (www.nakhal.com)

NATURAL WONDERS

While history dominates in Lebanon, its natural lures are no less significant, the Jeita Grotto and the Cedar Forests being the two highlights.

Often referred to as the ‘Pearl of Nature’, Jeita Grotto, tucked 18km north from Beirut, is a dramatic cave complex holding one of the planet’s most amazing conglomerationsof stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and sizes to push the imagination. The cedar trees are the most defining identity of Lebanon and Qadisha Valley is the best place to see their natural spread. The two-hour journey up from Beirut to the valley along a winding mountainous road offers Lebanon’s best scenic outlook.

Salad and Dips

baalbek

entering Byblos

Pigeon's Rock- a landmark of Beirut

Jeita Cave

Illuminated mosque and church

All your Diwali needs at Woolies

Woolworths helps customers celebrate Diwali with expanded Indian product range

Diwali preparations are now made easier and more convenient with special South Asian products available in selected Woolworths stores across the country.

As a traditionally joyful time, Woolworths has embraced the importance the role food plays during Diwali by offering tailored products for the Indian community, available in over 200 stores nationally and also online.

The range of products includes snacks, spices, rice and other cooking ingredients to help you create your special dishes during the Diwali celebrations. Specially sourced to not only offer popular food items from home, the products selected also create greater convenience for the Indian community in Australia when preparing for their upcoming festivities.

Popular Indian snacks such as Haldiram sweets, Britannia and Parle biscuits, Bikano and Haldiram snacks are available, providing the opportunity to easily enjoy these little treats for Diwali.

For those short on time, MTR Tasty Delights Ready to Eat meals are available, along with popular Haldiram’s frozen foods and sweets such as Kaju Katli and Motichoor Ladoo. Accompanied by popular beverages such as

Wagh Bakri, Taj Mahal tea and MTR Badam Drink Cans, Woolworths has customers’ meal, snack and gifting needs covered this Diwali.

Lastly, special prices are offered on key household ingredients such as India Gate Basmati rice, Pillsbury Chakki Atta flour and Sundrop Sunflower oil, used for everyday cooking.

Woolworths Director of Buying, Peter McNamara said, “We understand Diwali is an important time for family gathering, celebration and feasting. We have been working on continuing to expand our Indian product range, to meet the needs of the growing Indian community in Australia. With Diwali, we have the right variety of local and international products offering great value to help our customers during their busy preparations leading into the Diwali festivities.”

“We would also like to wish the community a very happy Diwali,” he added.

The Diwali product range varies from store to store and the Diwali Sale is available from now until Tuesday 29th October 2019, unless sold out earlier.

For more information on Woolworths stores that stock the Diwali range, head to www. woolworths.com.au/diwali.

ASK AUNTYJI

Indian migrant, 34

DEAR AUNTYJI

So you just have read Pawan's note to the 34-year-old Indian immigrant. How interesting is it that we now have so many Indians in Australia and the average age is 34. It seems like everywhere I go, I see so many young Indian people, especially young men. It must be that they come here for many things, but mainly professional opportunities. My family too came here many years ago from India and now we consider ourselves Australians. So what is your rai on Pawan's note, and do you think he raised good points and good messages to our desi naujawans coming to live in Australia? Would you care to add your message to this mix as well, Auntyji?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Oh my little gulabo, I am pleased to read about your positive impression of Pawan Bhai's note. I too was very happy to read his remarks because he offers practical and sensible tips on what young people should do when they come here. Pawan Bhai offers a very encouraging note on assimilation, and mai kyun add karoon unki note par. Unki baton mein ek sachchai hai ki it does not need any polish, nah. His advice was spot on. But agar you insist that I add my do paisa worth ki salah, then I am happy to oblige. To here is my advice to the 34-year-old naujawan who lands on our shores. So, aap humare desh ki moti ho, after coming here, make sure you don't behave in a manner that brings sharam to our people. For example, summer aa rahi hai. Isska mutlab hai ki girls will be working around in short dresses. Unko ghoor ke mat dekhna. Apne pe kabu karna seekho. Zaleel harkat mat karo. Bas. Itni si salah hai hamari. And jug jugjiyo Pawan Bhai - for offering such wonderful advice to our future leaders.

Mere Naina…

DEAR AUNTYJI

My son married an Italian girl and they have just had my first grandchild - a beautiful little girl called Naina. Now my daughter-in-law Rachel is really nice, but I have noticed that she is always speaking Italian to Naina who is only 4 months old and mostly cries. Now Auntyji, I have told my son to tell Rachel to speak English to Naina so I can understand what is being said, but Rachel says she wants Naina to learn to speak Italian, and even Hindi. Auntyji, how do I know what zaheerile shubd are ensuing from the mouth of Rachel? What if she is bad mouthing me to my own granddaughter. How do I deal with this?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Oh you bad tehzeeb kalmoohi! Sharam nahi hai tujhko, ki you are casting aspersions on your daughter-in-law? You are the worst saas ever and it's dayan women like you who give all mothers-in-law bad names. Are you really that ignorant, that small minded, that you think that the words of a new mother are sledging you? Is that how you think, you zaleel kalankani? Seriously, you should be ashamed of yourself. Here you are with a daughterin-law who gave her baby a beautiful Hindustani naam, and is encouraging you to speak Hindi to your poti, and you are looking for flaws with this. Why would Rachel waste her time talking rubbish about you? You know, I think aap ka mun bahut hi neech hai, and it's a lost cause for me to try to change your way of thinking. I am disappointed in you. You really need to do some selfanalysis to see why you are such a nagin.

MATRIMONIALS

SEEKING GROOMS

Beautiful, highly educated girl with very good family background, soft spoken, career-oriented 33-year-old vegetarian Brahmin, working, well settled in Sydney, seeking an educated match, teetotaller with good family background. Prefer Australian citizen or PR. Please contact rajsyd83@gmail.com

Seeking a suitable match for our 25-yearold daughter, working as a junior doctor in NSW. Boys from a similar academic background or qualified professionals based in Australia are preferable. Please contact ajaygupta101@hotmail.com or +919329666301

Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu Punjabi Khatri, 46, 5'3" slim, fair,attractive girl. Girl is postgraduate and is working on a good position in government organisation. Please send details with photo to Indsyd2016@gmail.com.

Seeking groom for my niece, beautiful, 30, 5’ 5”, fair, pleasing personality, Management Consultant in Ernst and Young, Singapore, caste no bar. Only child in family, both parents are doctors. Seeking responses from ‘never married’ only. Please contact lalitm67@gmail.com, phone: 0411 058 064

SEEKING BRIDES

Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married

Aus citizen, Hindu Punjabi Khatri, 45, 6', and athletic built man. He is project manager with engineering background and is working in a private organisation. Please send details with photo to Indsyd2016@gmail.com.

Seeking match for educated man, well settled with own home in Sydney, working with NSW state government, divorced, 5’9", 39 years, Australian citizen. I am looking for suitable match from Sydney who wants to settle-down with easy life (can enjoy work-life balance). Interest invited from Student Visa Holder/PR/ Citizen/Divorcee/Single.

Contact: 0490 970 281 or SMS/ WhatsApp basic details or send biodata to patelbrij1980@gmail.com

Seeking match for educated, divorced, 5’9', 1975 born Sikh man, self-employed, on bridging visa with full work rights. Looking for PR/citizen match from Australia. Phone: 0422 812 939 or email: jas_ghai01@hotmail.com

Seeking match for 34, 6' Tamil Hindu man, IT professional, working for a top organisation in Sydney. Possess PR Visa. Girl should be Hindu preferably citizen/PR. Please send profile to aravind7778@gmail.com

Match for Aggarwal man, 34 6’1", never married, has a financially adopted child, Ph.d in Nephrology working as Medical Scientist in LA, USA. Father retired GM from Reliance Industries India.Sister well settled in Sydney with her family. Can relocate to Australia if needed. Caste no bar. Ph:+61423104499

October 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 good month for those born in late March or the first half of April as promotions, advancement and financial gains are indicated. You might meet someone special at work or a social occasion. A new job offer or help with money comes your way. Hold out for what you really want in a relationship. Fill the void by concentrating on work. Avoid too much drinking this month. All business dealings will be successful this month. Promote yourself and your business.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

A half-hearted relationship is not what you want, so you will end it especially if it is an extramarital affair. A business venture might fail but you could meet someone special. Good news about your financial situation is expected along with backing for an idea at work. Your teeth might need attention and a health condition will not be serious. A new line of work is predicted. An opportunity that leads to a very successful future comes your way.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

A busy month for Leos but make sure you don’t take on more than you can handle. Keep doing your best and wait for things to pan out. Travel for business or social reasons is successful and you will have a good time. Work brings money too whether at a job or self-employed. You might feel run down. Change physicians if you are not sure of the diagnosis. Good luck comes through your connections and your past efforts at work.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22 - Dec 21

TAROT

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

A good month for Geminis as this card indicates the start of all things good –new ideas, a new romance and even creative endeavours. You will soon acquire something you longed for. A profitable trip is foretold. Work is on a good track with recognition and opportunities coming your way. Someone in the family could get engaged or married. Health – physical, mental and spiritual – is excellent. If you have new ideas, act on them as they will be successful.

LIBRA

Sep 23 - Oct 22

You can expect partial success but more is foretold. A reunion is in the offing. A short trip for work is on the anvil but a plan for a longer trip will get cancelled. Business may be slow right now but it will pick up. Those who have been ill will recover but women should have their reproductive organ tests up to date. Luck is on your side in all financial negotiations. Help will be available should you seek it.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 - Jan 19

Matters you thought were past, resurface to test your problem solving skills. Simply by redirecting your energies you turn a negative situation into a positive one. Travel plans get postponed as you take a break and rest at home. Desire for change at work is intense enough for you to manifest it. Loss of income is predicted. Success comes from your ability to main control over chaos. Don’t be afraid to face your fears, divine help is yours for the asking.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20 - Feb 18

CANCER June 21 - July 20

The focus is on a situation or a pause in progress which causes anxiety and makes you reevaluate your life. Romantic affairs take a turn for the better. You feel dissatisfied with your business affairs or financial state but good news about a financial gain is on the way. Extreme anxiety or nervous exhaustion plagues you and you need to have it looked at. You have what it takes to succeed; help will arrive to get you there.

SCORPIO

Oct 23 - Nov 21

A Taurean could influence your behaviour this month. Unexpected developments in your personal relationships are foretold and you won’t be able to walk away from a painful situation. Travel plans might fall through. Keep cool with people who oppose you. An unpleasant circumstance at work will end and things get resolved. Problems with muscles or teeth need looking into. Money matters remain unresolved despite your best efforts to sort them out. Your current situation is temporary; things will get better.

PISCES

Feb 19 - March 20

You are in a stage where you are laying the foundation for the future and things are in progress. If single you attract a new romance; if already in a relationship, it will get better. Your boredom at work ends as you are compensated for previous efforts or new orders come your way. Don’t let any oncoming changes throw you off balance. Ill health could besiege you by way of loss of appetite or being out in the sun too long.

A person with a Piscean temperament might influence you. There is a feeling of dread in a situation that is important to you right now. Beware of deception in all areas. Conflicts at work are predicted which require emotional control. A clandestine love affair too could be on the anvil but be careful, you could be in for a major disappointment. Lots of unforeseen changes and unexpected occurrences lead you to a state of acceptance. Change makes you stronger and happier.

An old flame could re-enter your life but nothing comes of it. You seek completion of certain projects or phases and moving to the next. Lonely spells will end as you transition into a new lifestyle. Travel for work is predicted. Paperwork connected with the home or insurance will be successful. At work, results are slow but you get a lot accomplished and rewarded for it. Your love life and finances improve. The future looks good but don’t try to force a resolution in any situation.

Unforeseen problems, conflicts and setbacks make you depressed this month. Be prepared for an internal struggle on a decision you have taken. Others who promise and fail to deliver will cause disappointment. A recurring illness might cause problems and you might have to learn to live with it. Money is enough but you are not fully secure. A negative situation will end and you will be able to handle any crisis by yourself. Avoid clashes with colleagues at work.

The BUZZ

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

WAITING IN THE WINGS

Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff are two budding stars, one of a kind. Together, they could be the last of the industry kids whose primary ambition is superstardom.

What sets apart these two spirited youngsters from a host of others of their generation is that, looking at their overall filmography, you realise that both are agreed upon the fact that in commercial cinema, it is the hysteria that ultimately counts. When it comes to audience expectation, both these young actors raise expectation of the good old paisa vasool entertainer. What's more, although both actors have delivered a fair amount of boxoffice hits, they are still to be serious contenders to the throne yet.

At a time when many say the days of superstars are over - that the numbers game is all but goneVarun and Tiger seek to defy that contention with a good dose of old-school glamour.

Varun Dhawan: Salman + Govinda + Gen-Now Spunk

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that he is the son of the phenomenal David Dhawan, but Varun Dhawan's on-screen image in his mainstream entertainers has always constantly reminded of a mix of Salman Khan's happy-go-lucky charmer and Govinda's funnyman prankster. Varun has consciously lent that mix his own originality, with ample new-generation spunk. Yet, Varun has managed to impress with a couple of performances of depth too, such as Badlapur and October. These roles are perhaps an announcement to rivals, fans and critics alike: in an era when content is fast dominating every other aspect of mainstream Bollywood cinema, Varun Dhawan is ready for the complex scripts too. For everything else, being the old-school entertainer of Judwaa 2 works just fine for him for now. He needn't experiment with misplaced ambitions as Kalank, and he will be on cruise mode.

SHAH RUKH: QUICK WITH HIS WIT

Tiger Shroff: Fight, Dance & Be Macho

He is a dream as long as he dances or fights. The trouble starts the moment he utters his lines and tries to emote. Tiger Shroff's career is over five years old now. He has become a better dancer and a more invincible fighter. The trouble is there seems not much movement in the emoting aspect.

Look at the bright side. Despite revealing limited histrionic talent, Tiger's fan base has only grown with every new release. Clearly, the young audience likes him - which should be enough for now. Many industry watchers see a lot of Akshay Kumar's early years in Tiger, owing to his dancing and stunt skills. In his early years, Akshay, too, was often written off because of his dialogue delivery and awkwardness before the camera. Today, Akshay has scaled the heights, as a superstar survivor who is counted among the industry's most restrained actors. There's a lesson over there for Tiger, if he must emerge beyond being a traditional commercial star and survive a rapidly changing Bollywood.

Vinayak Chakravorty

Cheese, wine and SRK… few things only get better with age.

One of the things we love most about SRK is his self-deprecating humour. When a fan asked him recently whether he would burn copies of his film Ra.One on the occasion of Dussehra, he replied, “Arre kitna jalepe namak chhidkoge!” (Why rub salt on my wounds?)

He was speaking with fans online in an “Ask SRK” Twitter session.

It did seem though that the festive season had him in the best of spirits, given his quick wit in reply to the quirky questions.

When does he plan to do films with his son AbRam, one questioner asked.

“As soon as I get his (AbRam’s) dates,” King Khan replied.

Q: What’s your secret to looking cool

VIKRAM SETH FOR BBC ONE

Acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair has commenced work for the screen adaptation of the Vikram Seth classic A Suitable Boy in Lucknow. The film features Tabu, Ishaan Khatter and newcomer Tanya Maniktala. Tanya will play the central role of Lata, in the project adapted by Andrew Davies.

The creative forces behind the showNair, Seth, and Davies - got together in Mumbai recently to start rehearsals and read through scripts alongside the cast.

"The talent in the room sizzledVikram Seth, author of the masterpiece that I have loved since the day it was written; Andrew Davies, the great craftsman of distillation of epic stories into screenplays; cutting-edge actors,

first-timers and legends from across the subcontinent, all coming together to make a human, funny, political, sexy chronicle of India," Nair said.

A Suitable Boy tells the story of spirited university student Lata in 1951 at the same time as the country is carving out its own identity as an independent nation and is about to go to the polls for its first democratic general election.

It is a tale charting the fortunes of four large families and exploring India and its rich and varied culture at a crucial point in its history.

The six-part BBC One drama will be shot on locations across India. Produced by Lookout Point, it is slated to launch next year.

always?

A: You mean apart from Photoshop?? Always cool.

VICKY KAUSHAL: GHOST TROUBLES

Actor Vicky Kaushal is not a fan of horror films.

Yet he has just signed on for Bhoot Part 1: The Haunted Ship.

How come, you ask?

“Before I read the script I was like, pata nahin…” he admitted. “But as I read it, I found it easily spooked me out and I really got sucked into that story.”

As well, he added, “It is a Dharma Productions and Bhanu (Pratap Singh) is directing. Horror is something that comes naturally to him. I knew I would be in safe hands.”

The film, which also stars Bhumi Pednekar will release on February 21, 2020.

SHAHRUKH KHAN

VICKY KAUSHAL

RANVEER: MUSICAL VENTURE

With his music label IncInk Records, actor Ranveer Singh is trying his best to create music for people with hearing impairment. During an episode of the hip hop reality show MTV Hustle, the label's artist Spitfire aka Nitin Mishra, the writer and composer of the hit song Asli Hip Hop from the film Gully Boy, performed his song Vartalap alongside a sign language interpreter for the benefit of the hearing impaired audience.

Talking about the initiative, Ranveer said, "I can't imagine my life without songs, and there are so many people who don't have the option of experiencing music at all! We wanted to attempt to change that.”

Hmm, he never ceases to surprise us, Ranveer.

THE NAME IS BOND, PRIYANKA BOND

Priyanka Chopra has put herself in the running to be the first female James Bond. The 37-year-old actress is a massive fan of the British spy drama franchise, and thinks it's time for a female 007 agent.

When asked which actress she could

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

KANGANA RANAUT OR KATY PERRY IN ABODI?

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see stepping into Daniel Craig's shoes, she jumped up to say, "Me!"

"I've always been keen on playing Bond but I can't put myself into the race obviously," she told Britain's Metro newspaper. "I think, in my lifetime it would be amazing to have a female Bond. Whether that's me or someone else, it's something I would love to see."

Priyanka, it has long been suggested, usually gets what she wants, so you never know…

AKSHAY-KATRINA REUNION

The hit jodi Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif is back together again after nine years in new film Sooryavanshi, which just got off the floors.

The film is directed by Rohit Shetty and is the new addition in the director's cop drama universe after the two Singham films and Simmba.

Akshay's character Veer Sooryavanshi was first given a glimpse as an antiterrorist squad officer in the 2018 Simmba, starring Ranveer Singh.

The movie, which is scheduled to hit the screens on March 27, 2020, also stars Gulshan Grover.

We’re waiting to see if the star pair can recreate the chemistry of Namastey

London, Sing Is Kinng, Humko

Deewana Kar Gaye, Welcome and Tees Maar Khan.

WAS WORRIED 'THE ZOYA FACTOR' ROLE WOULD BE CUT: GANDHARV DEWAN

If you’ve seen The Zoya Factor, you couldn't have missed the spirited performance of rising actor Gandharv Dewan as the fast bowler Harry. Although the film disappointed many, and despite the fact that Gandarv's wasn't a fullfledged role, he is garnering praise for his performance as a cricketing star who has blind faith in prophecies.

Yet the 28-year-old was apprehensive about his role. “I’ve heard stories of how roles were chopped off for actors like me,” he revealed. “And you don’t even know it till after the film is released! So I was a little worried – I didn’t even tell too many people I was doing this film. But I’m fortunate that I got enough screen time to display my acting skills on the big screen.”

The National School of Drama graduate has featured in the international production The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir, in the web show Office vs. Office, and has acted in several plays. We’re hoping to see more of him in Hindi cinema.

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK

Varun Dhavan, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Saif Ali Khan

This is also most definitely wrong but what wrong has been done in the past doesn’t need to be repeated. It’s not a blame game Dalvi Saab. Let’s do what’s right now (On Aarey Movement)

Toofan Uthega!

It was really interesting, I quite enjoyed it. I felt she (#KareenaKapoorKhan) should have let me talk more. She said it’s a short show, keep your answers to the point

Moose and Panda's motto: Never Give Up! Watch how this family stands the test of time, in cinemas Oct 11

For more caption entries, see YOUR SAY Page 09

PRIYANKA NICK JONAS

AKSHAY KUMAR

Learning the local lingo

When you take those questions from Aussie etiquette a little too literally

Secrets of the gender pay gap

BY SUNIL GAUTAM

Does Wonder Woman get paid as much as Thor? NURY VITTACHI tries to find out

TWhis columnist, who is also a writer of books, was at a school as a Visiting Author when one of the children asked a question: “How much does Thor get paid?”

“Good question,” I said. “Superhero salaries are never revealed. However, they seem to do just fine. Definitely they get paid more than authors or teachers!” (Always good to get the academic staff on side.)

Then a teenage girl’s hand shot up. “I bet Thor and Iron Man get paid more than Wonder Woman,” she snarled.

hen you step out of your country, regardless of your background, it’s quite natural to feel a bit lonely. Yes, there are fellow-Indians all around you. Dabur Amla hair oil is available. Mukesh and Rafi nights are held regularly. But it’s hard to belong to a place unless the locals show a sign of acceptance. Now, this piece is not about the deeper issues of migration so please keep xenophobia out of the picture. Instead, let us look at some expressions in Australia that are used without a care by most people, but have a completely different effect on a FOB desi.

How are you?

“Yeah,” the other girls growled - and so did the teachers. The atmosphere turned to ice. Teaching staff (all female except two) nodded sternly at this timely reminder of evil gender inequality.

insightful! Is my nose still leaking?

than this. My angel was a confident looking man who seemed to have a solution to all my problems. But after pulling me out of a queue at the bank, he started shaking all over and called his supervisor who called his manager and together they decided that I actually belonged back in the queue. After trudged back in line and overheard the same hotshot planning someone else’s ruin with

Now I know that “May I help you” actually means “I promise you nothing but your time

“In superhero land, boys and girls get paid exactly the same,” I said, trying to dodge the bullet.

The first time I heard this question, my heart melted and my eyes grew moist. It was my second day in Australia and no one so far had bothered to check how I was feeling about leaving my Sheela Mausi behind. When I heard the question, I took a quick five seconds to prepare my answer: “Well ...”, I began.

Well, I had to stop there, because the lady questioner offered me her hand, which I promptly accepted, until she made it clear that it was money she was after - she was actually the check-out girl at Woollies.

What I was thinking (but didn’t say) was this. Many male superheroes clearly have massive incomes (think Iron Man, Batman, Black Panther, Mr Fantastic, Nighthawk, Professor X, Green Arrow, etc). But Wonder Woman, if memory serves me, was a nurse! Probably earned peanuts!

of tissues used so that I can give an accurate answer, the questioner was bending to take a closer look at my car as well. warmly.

fine, but wait till you hear about my night last night.

parking ticket and moved on to enquire about someone else’s health. Another heart-breaker.

Here is something that gives the kind of hope reality it’s just another spectator who saw you Unable to pick you up and unwilling to try, he merely asks, “You okay, mate?” That said, he bravely marches on, content in the knowledge that he showed compassion towards a fellow human being. As I stare at my outstretched hand that found no takers, I also contemplate whistling furiously to catch his attention. But

answer, they’ll assume you’re doing fine and

Why was everyone in a bad mood about this? The previous month, a news report said that in the creative industries generally, male stars get paid more than female stars. Earlier that week, a study of the BBC showed that women presenters earned significantly less than men.

Here I was, thinking this kind salesperson wants to know all about me, but she seemed more concerned with how I was going to pay for my nostalgia-curing Patak’s curry paste. Worse, she was already handling someone’s tinnea-removing cream!

Sadder than before, I slunk back home and made a hash of the dinner that night.

The internet was filled with outrage at what they saw as horrendous sex discrimination, as were the three women in this columnist’s family.

Now I know that “How are you” actually means “I have asked you a question but don’t bother answering ‘cos I ain’t listening”. I am very well now.

How are you today?

Here’s something else I didn’t say. This writer has spent years in the creative industries (including working for the BBC), and knows full well that financial chiefs of these organisations are heartless automatons who see nothing but bottom

Now this is a little more focussed but equally inspiring question. My first encounter with this one was a bit of deja vu: how does this person know I was sick yesterday? How

actually means “I have no interest in your past life and as a matter of fact, not in your current life either”.

So, I will be fine tomorrow as well.

much concern that I wanted to hug her and say “I will, my dear, you be good too.”

lines. They honestly don’t care if you are male, female, transgender, hermaphrodite or a googly-eyed alien from the planet Zorg.

See you around

To the friend-starved me, this random question was just the assurance I needed. So, I landed at the newsagent’s again the next day. His “How are you today” told me that he certainly remembered yesterday. Giving him a warm “It’s good to be back again, my old friend” smile, I settled down in a corner just like back home to chat the day away. But today he seemed quite different, showing no signs of familiarity.

So while it’s true that discrimination exists, that’s not the whole story.

Academic studies repeatedly show that women at certain stages earn less money by choice, because they have a superior attitude to work-life balance. Guys sign up for every promotion and burn out into early graves, while women make smart compromises and live happier, longer, healthier lives.

“I bought a newspaper yesterday,” I tried to jog his memory.

“So what do you want to buy today?” he

As I turned to express my emotions, I found myself looking straight into her bottom because she was picking up another bouquet for the next customer. I used that as a perfect escape and ran out before she could see a grown man cry into his tulips.

Researchers call this the “self-selected pay gap.” Journalists never write about this because outrage sells more newspapers and gets more clicks.

The gap between male and female pay at the BBC is much smaller than the UK average, indicating the organisation is unusually successful at finding ways to steer money into the hands of female staff.

Now I know that “Take care” actually means “I don’t want you dead, so stay alive and bring your business back to me again some time”.

At first I thought that is a really stupid question. I mean I was obviously walking. Now, I may have a funny walk but no one has the right to watch me walk and still wonder how I am going to the shops.

A friend was less lucky: he faced this question from the customs official at the airport.

“Wonder Woman is a nurse,” he said. I was about to tell him to shut up for his personal safety (female teachers were hovering nearby), when he added something that got me thinking, “She’s an army nurse with the rank of Major.”

Interesting. There is no gender pay gap in the military, and US army Majors earn a fortune, more than $100,000 a year.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “If Manjit comes to pick me up then it’s fine otherwise I’ll take a cab.”

Thor, being a minor Norse god, probably doesn’t get paid anything at all.

Needless to say the officer suddenly found other passengers more interesting.

Can I help you?

After my school talk, I was signing books when I was approached by a nerdy boy who was a fount of knowledge about superheroes.

If words could look like a rescue boat in stormy seas, you can’t find a better sentence

Oh well, Wonder Woman seems like a nice person - she can buy Thor a drink.

Now I know “How’re you going” is not a transport-related question.

In that case, I am going all right.