2020-02 Sydney (2)

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

SOCIAL MEDIA

Suruchi Sehgal

MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

HEAD, SALES AND MARKETING

Vivek Singh

SALES OPERATIONS

Charuta Joshi

Indian Link is a fortnightly 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:

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Media, stock market and Coronavirus

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

As we go to print, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is about to enter its third month. According to the European Centre for Communicable Diseases, the majority of the confirmed cases - more than 73,000 - are in China.

More than 800 are confirmed outside of China in more than two dozen countries which include Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Finland, Spain, Sweden, United States, Canada, Australia, Belgium and Macau. Singapore, Japan and Thailand are the countries with the most cases outside of China.

It is interesting to note the emotional and practical reactions to this health emergency.

One of the biggest markets for collective human emotions is the

stock market. As of date, the stock markets around the world seem to be taking this virus in their stride. The biggest equity market in the world, the US market, has hardly paused in its ground-breaking run from the last two years as it scales new heights. The Australian equity market is mirroring this record breaking run. The collective wisdom of this rather emotional group which is easily swayed by an overblown fear of bad news or over exuberant greed, is that this too shall pass. The markets have seen the Asian SARS crisis in the 2003 with its mortality rates of 9% and spread across 30 countries, and then the Middle East Respiratory System (MERS), and it believes that if the hype is taken out of the reporting of this virus, the markets will recover from any downside quickly and strongly. And so the investor is preferring to hold on to their stocks, and in fact, look at buying on weakness. It is still to be seen if this bravado will be tested.

It is the reporting of the issue which has caused alarm for the world health authorities. ABC Radio only recently featured three different reports describing it as ‘deadly’, ‘life

threatening’ and ‘the killer virus’ - all correct no doubt, but one can imagine the reporters scrambling to find these adjectives. Consider the numbers, though: according to a NSW Health spokesperson, the number of cases cleared is 1,186; number of cases confirmed is 4, and of the four confirmed cases, a 53-year-old male, a 35-year-old male, a 21-year-old female and a 43-year-old male, all patients have been discharged.

At Sydney Airport since Sunday 2 February, a total of 17,783 people have been assessed. Of these 0.3%, ie a total of 65, were sent for testing.

While the investigations into cause and cure are ongoing and precautions need to be taken, perhaps a bit of perspective is called for as well. There are reports of racial vilification of the Chinese community worldwide, Australia included.

As one politician said, it is not where you are from, but where you have travelled, that should be the message.

It is also time that the politicians did more visits and door stops which involve the affected communities in places like Chinatown, Eastwood, Burwood etc.

Ritam Mitra, Ravinder Singh Jabbal, Vishal Saddi, Dhanya Samuel, Manan Luthra, Melisa Domingo Rawat

to face the challenges Supporting young women of the future

YOUR SAY

SYDNEY WEATHER

The rains wreaked havoc this month after months of drought. Sydney saw travel delays, ooded homes, fallen trees, electricity blackouts, Internet outage, car damage.

Aparna Dave wrote: At about 10pm last night we heard a loud crash. We peered out of the windows and saw this massive eucalyptus tree across our driveway. The SES arrived in less than fteen minutes and were amazing. They quickly sawed away the branches obstructing the driveway and rushed off to the next emergency. They were back promptly this morning to further assess the situation, and sawed off branches that might pose a risk to the public. They left after cordoning off the area safely. The rest of the clearing will be done after other high priority sites have been attended to. Wahroonga being the wettest suburb in NSW, we are so grateful to have such a world class service at our doorstep. Thank you, SES!

Purva Bhujbal Borawake wrote: Was stuck at Macquarie Park for long this the morning

Suruchi Sehgal wrote: Was stuck in the train for two hours on Friday, and then it was terminated at Granville. Sydney trains are a joke!

Shirish Thakur wrote: Took a train from Central to Westmead. Train terminated at Ash eld. Took another train and got off at Lidcombe as train was super slow. Took a cab to Westmead. Ended up spending two and a half hours in train!

INDIAN LINK POLLS

A local restaurant is charging $57 for a cauli ower dish. "It's brined, twicecooked, covered in harissa paste and served with a zucchini and pomegranate medley. The nal result is so delicious that it reminds our guests there's room for more on their plate than meat." Would you pay?

27%

Absolutely! In a blink!

73%

Never! It’s $7 in the markets

Cannabis possession now legal in ACT. Do you think it should be legalised in NSW?

Yes. Easier for people seeking drug treatment. (80%)

No. Raise in number of organised crimes. (20%)

SAY IT AGAIN

COVID-19

The Coronavirus is claiming lives around the globe. We asked, what are you doing to prevent this infection?

Ekta Sharma wrote: Frequent hand washing. The best thing to do! Most effective too.

Manan Sehgal wrote: Since Coronavirus has no treatments, the prevention is better than cure, literally. So, being aware of surroundings, cleaning hands, avoiding close contacts on public transports are some of the measures I have been taking.

Suruchi Sehgal wrote: Washing hands often, no close contact with anyone who is sneezing, wearing a RP2VR2 mask and eating only homemade food. Aman S. Shah wrote: True, I completely agree. Also, most people working and who are forced to take public transport, I recommend to carry sanitizer with them all the time. Also, keep one on your desk as well.

Priyank Parmar wrote: Along with all preventive measures mentioned above I would recommend to follow the updates and informative action plans provided by the Australian Department of Health. You can nd the link below https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019

Petra O’Neill wrote: Working at Sydney's White Bay Cruise Terminal yesterday it was great to see a team from NSW Health arrive to check all passengers before giving clearance for them to come off the ship. Hand sanitiser gel is always a great thing to have in your pocket, now just use it more often, when you get off public transport, after visiting the rest room and before handling food.

JAI HO, JACKFRUIT!

GAURAV MASAND, presented traditional vegetarian jackfruit recipes in the wake of increasing use of the vegetable as a meat substitute.

Akidat Gazali wrote: I dont understand why people are making vegan steak that looks like meat. I thought the whole point of being vegan is not to eat anything that is animal-based. Strange

Atiya Gazali wrote: AkidatGazali, my point exactly. Why would anyone who doesn’t eat/like meat, try to use veg options to make something that tastes like meat?

So it’s my birthday and I ew down with my very Aussie boyfriend to meet my very Indian parents in Udaipur. I was a bit nervous because this was the rst time they were meeting a partner, and my father had this welcome card with a kangaroo waiting for us at the airport. Danish Sheikh, Twitter user

Words matter. Coronavirus is not a Chinese disease and actions matter too.

Racism stops with all of us. Andrew Giles MP

SENIORS

You liked the information we put out about the activities by the association AASHA for Indian community seniors, held across Sydney.

Mohina Raj Garg wrote: So happy to see such a post!

Shobha Saxena wrote: Is there is no centre near Riverwood or Revesby?

KN Saxena wrote: This is good. If there’s any event in future nearby Riverwood, it will be appreciated.

AASHA wrote: Thank you Indian Link for your ongoing support for AASHA and our seniors.

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat between Susanne Khan and Malaika Arora here?

Smita Pawar Nashikkar wrote: It’s good to be single again

Rum Jum wrote: Thelma & Louise

Raj Saneja wrote: We better get back home before the kids nd out we have burgled their wardrobes.

Arix Bishnoi wrote: Malaika: My legs are nicer than yours.

Rishi Singh wrote: Here we come, peeps, all single and ready to mingle. Farzana Nisha wrote: Susanne: I obviously didn't get the dress code… Malaika: I know… I did.

Roshni Majumdar wrote: Hotty meets Naughty!

Aman S. Shah wrote: (In Beyonce's voice): All the single ladies, Now put your hands up

Sree Vidya wrote: Birds of the same feather ock together

Hemal A Chauhan wrote: Malaika: Arre mera photo khicho, heroine main hoon! Susanne: Pehle maine pose diyatha, woh mere baad aayi hai!

Bipasha Podder Saha wrote: Husbands ko kaise lootein…?

Nalin Sharda wrote: Yeh kaunsa club hai ki nasha bemisaal hai!

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

WHERE IN INDIA

A poor cousin of the Taj Mahal? Readers Farida Lehri Barodawala and Manisha Belani correctly identi ed this structure as the ‘Black Taj’, the tomb of Mughal Shah Nawaz Khan at Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, made of black stone.

The reason I took up this game was because of Sachin sir. My whole family has not just idolised but literally worshipped him. Today is a special day for me as I got to meet my childhood hero. It was a dream come true for me.

Shafali Verma, Indian cricketer

Signing off after four wonderful years in India. Thank you all for making it so special.

Harinder Sidhu, nishing her term as High Commissioner of Australia in India

For those of you who haven’t seen it already, I took over ICC’s Instagram stories for the T20WorldCup Media Day. Super fun! Go check it out!

Jemimah Rodrigues, Indian cricketer

HOMETOWN HEROES vs far-travelling champions

It's anyone's game at the ICC T20 Women's World Cup

demeanours were a nod to the side’s consummate professionalism, with no sense of overawe at the magnitude of the occasion.

BY RITAM MITRA

This Australian summer of cricket may have so far under whelmed, but its marquee event is yet to begin. After the one-sided drubbings of Pakistan and New Zealand meted out by the Australian men’s team, and the peculiarly-timed week-long tour to India in January, fans have started looking ahead to the seventh edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Making its Australian debut on 21 February, the tournament will culminate in a blockbuster final at the MCG on 8 March – International Women’s Day – which organisers hope will set a world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event. Though Australia took out the pretournament tri-series against England and India as expected, each of the teams beat the other in the group stages, which was not in the script. Each team can claim to be in good form, but as has been proven time and again, form is only part of the puzzle; the allure of international trophies carries with it an altogether different kind of pressure, and there are a host of challengers seeking to dethrone Australia, the rightful hometown favourites.

Australia

The defending champions, winners of four of the six Women’s World T20s to date, and number one side across all formats, Australia seem veritably unconquerable. It is almost scary that all of Australia’s wins have come in foreign conditions; the T20 World Cup (whether Men’s or Women’s) has never been played in the southern hemisphere.

Since January 2018, Australia’s record in T20 matches reads a formidable 26 wins from 31 matches, with two losses coming in the tri-series itself. It is a stark contrast from the team’s performances before this time, when it had a winning percentage in T20s of only 55%, and stems from the team’s new “fearless” philosophy – not being afraid to lose wickets, and relying on the exceptional depth in its batting order. With 13 of its 15 squad members having played in the victorious side that won the 2018 title, Australia have the crucial advantage of knowing the sustained

excellence required to beat the field, particularly in stalwarts Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and captain Meg Lanning, each of whom is destined to go down as a great of the game.

Although Australia will be playing with the weight of expectation that comes with home tournaments, importantly, it will be playing with perspective too, as the country reels in the aftermath of the devastating bushfire crisis. "That's pressure, defending your house and your home and family, that's pressure,” said Australian coach Matthew Mott. “[The Australian team] are going to go out, have the time of their lives, have fun with their mates, so we're really going to embrace the tournament, have as much fun as we can”.

India

The Indian side was welcomed to Australia by Governor General David Hurley last month with a morning tea at Admiralty House, and their relaxed and candid

Professionalism and self-belief will be key for India as they seek to lift their firstever ICC trophy. Despite the pedigree of its players, India’s record against the stronger countries leaves much to be desired; India has won only 5 of its 18 T20Is against Australia, 4 of 19 against England, and 3 of 11 against New Zealand. To win the title, India will need to believe it can beat each of these teams.

And India will not have to look far to find that self-belief; having beaten England to reach the tri-series final, they are also the only side other than England to have beaten Australia in any format over the last two years. This includes the team’s record run chase in the group stage of the triseries and a win in the group stage of the 2018 T20 World Cup. Earmarked by Mott as the “most feared” batting line-up in the tournament, there’s plenty of evidence why.

India’s is a side littered with experience and youth, including the peerless captain Harmanpreet Kaur (who smashed 171* against Australia in their 2017 World Cup semi-final in one of the greatest all-time innings), the 2018 ICC cricketer of the year Smriti Mandhana and the barely 16-year-old prodigy Shafali Verma, who herself blasted 124 against Australia A in December 2019.

Like their men, the England women are the reigning 50-over World Cup champions, and will be able to draw on plenty of big-tournament experience.

With 13 of its 15 squad members having played in the victorious side that won the 2018 title, Australia have the crucial advantage of knowing the sustained excellence required to beat the field, particularly in stalwarts

Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and captain Meg Lanning, each of whom is destined to go down as a great of the game.

The tri-series presents an enormous opportunity for India, allowing them to test themselves against the two premier sides on Australian pitches. If India’s spinners, led by Cricketer of the Year Poonam Yadav,

find their lengths ahead of the tournament, the Women in Blue stand a chance of going the distance.

England

It was an astonishing 2019 for their male counterparts, but the England women’s team will be hoping to make 2020 their own. With new coach Lisa Keightley at the helm – the first woman to coach England in nearly 20 years – England have no uncapped players in their squad, with 12 of their 15 having previously played in global tournaments. The absence of inexperience can often be a double-edged sword, particularly when it comes to England’s record against its archnemesis on the global stage. Many players will still carry scars from previous editions of the tournament, in which the side has lost three finals to Australia, a solitary win coming in the inaugural 2009 edition. More

recently, the team suffered a 12-4 loss to Australia in the Women’s Ashes last summer, which followed its loss to the same opponent in the 2018 T20 World Cup final in Antigua and Barbuda.

It’s no wonder England has appointed an Australian in Keightley as its head coach, and it seems to have already paid dividends with the team notching up a rare win over

Australia in the tri-series group stage. But like the men, the England women are the reigning 50-over World Cup champions, and will be able to draw on plenty of bigtournament experience. Led by Heather Knight, who lit up the 2018-19 WBBL for the Hobart Hurricanes, anything less than a semi-final for a strong English outfit will be viewed as a failure.

India will not have to look far to find that self-belief; having beaten England to reach the tri-series final, they are also the only side other than England to have beaten Australia in any format over the last two years.

Meg Lanning of Australia and Harmanpreet Kaur of India

When CRICKET DREAMS do come true

Scintillating Shafali Verma is ready to light up world cricket

BY RITAM MITRA

Three months ago, a 15-year-old girl broke one of Indian cricket’s most nostalgic of records. Cricket has long been enamoured by the tale of a baby-faced Sachin Tendulkar facing up to the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and notching up the first of his 164 international half-centuries at the age of 16. Almost exactly 30 years to the day, Indian opener Shafali Verma brought up an audacious 73 against the West Indies at just 15 years of age, supplanting Tendulkar as India’s youngest ever to score an international half-century. Verma, whose batting has drawn comparisons with Virender Sehwag in both its audacity and effectiveness, is now a lock at the top of the order alongside Smriti Mandhana in India’s T20 World Cup campaign. In an exclusive with Indian Link, Verma has announced her fierce ambition to light up the world stage.

Speaking to Indian Link before the ultimately washed-out warmup match against Pakistan, Verma betrays no nerves or emotion about playing against Pakistan for the first time, belying her age. “I’m feeling no pressure,” she says, without a moment’s hesitation. “I’m taking it like any other game and not thinking about the team opposite. My only aim is to play well and always do well for the

Verma speaks directly and with conviction; it is no surprise that she wields the willow in a similar manner. In December, she blasted a 78-ball 124 in a one-dayer against Australia A in Brisbane, leaving the Australian team coach in awestruck admiration. “She’s just an amazing talent, she’s only 15 years old and she’s got so much power,” said Leah Poulton. “She just had so much composure at the crease, she didn’t look fussed at all. She’s definitely going to be one to watch over the next few years.”

Verma’s bright future is one that she has never taken for granted. Like many in the Indian team, Verma faced struggles finding teams who would play against her. Local teams across several towns would often refuse, citing their concerns that she would get hurt and that her father would complain. Verma’s father Sanjeev, found a novel solution: he cut his daughter’s hair to give her a more “boyish” appearance, and Verma promptly began playing regular cricket on weekends.

With her father busy making jewellery for a living, Verma would often cycle

twenty kilometres just to make it to cricket training. “I faced a lot of challenges growing up,” acknowledges Verma. “But dad never let me feel like there were financial issues in the house. He always encouraged me to play. Today, everything I am is because of my father.”

Earlier this month, Verma met for the first time another big influence in her life, incidentally the very man whose long-standing record she broke – Sachin Tendulkar. More than six years ago, then ten-year-old Verma travelled a long way to see Tendulkar in his last domestic Ranji trophy game, and labelled the moment she met Tendulkar in Australia as a “dream come true”.

“I didn’t meet him for very long, but I was very excited and happy to even get to meet him, because he is my idol,” said Verma. Tendulkar, who was in Melbourne for the successful Bushfire Cricket Bash charity match, responded in kind, writing “Hearing from you on how you had travelled all the way to Lahli to see my

last Ranji game and now seeing you play for India is amazing. Keep chasing your dreams because dreams do come true. Enjoy the game and always give your best.”

The youngest of four teenagers in India’s T20 World Cup squad, Verma is used to taking advice from senior players in what she says is a welcoming team atmosphere in which none of the youngsters have been made to feel out of place. The clear team unity across young and old heads alike is a critical reason this Indian side is shaping up as true title contenders, particularly after an impressive showing in the lead-up to the tournament.

Verma is committed, however, to ensuring the Women in Blue go beyond merely impressing. It’s an ambition she is well suited for; like most teenagers, Verma loves listening to music, but asked for her other hobbies and interests, Verma responds, deadpan: “Only cricket”.

Yet not far beneath Verma’s composed exterior, there remains some of the youthful exuberance that typifies young Indian

cricketers, along with a humility that stems no doubt from Verma’s modest roots.

“I like that [people] are starting to know my name. I want to do even better, I want the whole world to know me. If I start becoming more recognised and doing well, I want to help poor people that can’t play cricket,” says Verma.

For Australian fans of the explosive 16-year-old, there may be some exciting news ahead on the horizon, with Verma revealing to Indian Link her desire to follow in the footsteps of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opening partner Smriti Mandhana by playing in the Women’s Big Bash League.

“I would love to play in the WBBL. It will help me develop my game and also adjust to different conditions,” says Verma.

If she does make it out to the WBBL, we can expect to see some Australian domestic cricket records to come tumbling down very soon.

“I like that [people] are starting to know my name. I want to do even better, I want the whole world to know me. If I start becoming more recognised and doing well, I want to help poor people that can’t play cricket.”

Teenage superstar

Jemimah Rodrigues is one of Indian cricket’s most exciting stars

women’s cricket doesn’t just exist. That has changed. Before, you didn’t have too many girls practising cricket together. Now, there are so many girls’ academies, and so many girls come up to me and say, ‘We want to play cricket, where can we play?’”

At the time that Jemimah Rodrigues picked up her first cricket bat at the age of three – a plastic bat handed to her by her grandfather – she was barely aware that organised women’s cricket even existed. Today at 19, she bats at Number 3 in the Indian team.

Another product of Mumbai’s sprawling maidans, Jemimah grew up playing cricket under the guidance of her father Ivan, and alongside her two older brothers Enoch and Eli.

The unwavering support of her family, however, saw Rodrigues flourish, even as women’s cricket struggled to find its voice in India. “In India, it’s hard for girls especially to play cricket,” says Rodrigues. “My family was never bothered by what people would say. Through tough times, my family believed in me and gave me strength.”

Some of the “tough times” included being turned away from cricket nets where “only boys” were allowed to practice, and being virtually ignored as the only girl in a boys’ academy. Yet even in the two years since Rodrigues made her international debut, women’s cricket in India has

advanced beyond recognition.

It’s a shift Rodrigues attributes to the 2017 Women’s World Cup, in which a

talented Indian side lost a close final to hosts England by just 9 runs. “After the 2017 World Cup, people realised that

That’s changed dramatically for us in India. I think the better we do as cricketers, the better [women’s cricket] is going to get in India. It means there’s a bigger responsibility on our shoulders.”

Jemi, as she is affectionately known, has always been earmarked for greatness. A precocious talent with hockey stick and cricket bat alike, having played at a state age level in both sports, Rodrigues was only 13 years old when she was selected for Mumbai’s under-19 team. Just three years later, Rodrigues made international headlines when she smashed an unbeaten 202 off just 163 balls for Mumbai’s under-19 side in a 50-over match.

Since then, the achievements and honours have continued amassing at a staggering rate. Rodrigues made her Indian debut in February 2018, and in June 2018, was awarded the Jagmohan Dalmiya Award for Best Domestic Junior Women’s Cricketer by the BCCI. By the end of the ICC Women’s World T20 in the same year, Rodrigues was seen as the player to watch in a star-studded Indian line-up.

Speaking to Indian Link about her path to the top, Rodrigues is humble, but noticeably excited for what lies ahead.

BY RITAM MITRA

“Growing up, the dream was always to play for India. Then the dream became to win a World Cup for India. Now, the dream is to win the World Cup in Australia in front of90,000 people at the MCG.”

“It’s been a crazy journey for me,” she reveals. “There have been ups and down. I’ve seen a lot of progress [in myself] over the last few years from when I joined the Indian team, but there are still more areas I could get better. Sometimes I pinch myself and think, ‘Am I really playing for India? Did all of this really happen for me?’ All of a sudden one day you’re playing for India and doing well. I hope to continue the same thing and keep getting better and not worry about scores and trophies. I want to keep playing cricket for the reason I always have – because I love it.”

With a 100,000 strong social media following, Rodrigues is popular for uploading the type of light-hearted, candid content that you might expect of any teenager. In an era where athletes are coached at an early age on how to conduct themselves with restraint and reservation, it is refreshing to see Rodrigues so comfortable in her own skin: a bubbly, chatty and goofy teenager with a passion for sport, music and animals. A keen singer, Rodrigues’ guitar travels with her everywhere, and the teenager enjoys “jamming together” with her teammates.

But it is Rodrigues’ self-awareness of her roots that holds her in good stead for the bright future which now seems inevitable. “Something my parents have taught me from a very young age is that no matter where you go, never forget where you started. [The pressure of social media popularity] does come into my mind. What keeps me grounded is what my parents have told me. They always say, ‘What you’ve gotten is a gift from god and not fromyou’.

Where I have reached is because of the people around me – I can’t take the credit.”

Her first World Cup will present myriad challenges, though Rodrigues admits she has warmed to the Australian pitches, which she rates as “the best wickets to bat on”. Having played a key role in India’s record chase of 173 against Australia earlier in the tri-series, the explosive toporder batter cites the wins over Australia and England as critical confidence boosters for the entire team, despite losing a close final to the hosts from a winning position. “The team has done really well, honestly. [The group match against Australia] was a total team effort. It wasn’t just one person who did well in batting or bowling, but everyone chipped in at the right time. It was so nice to see the whole team involved.”

With the ICC hoping to break the world record for highest attendance at a women’s sporting event by filling up the MCG for what promises to be a historic final, Rodrigues and her teammates are not short of motivation to go far in the tournament.

“Growing up, our dream was always to play for India,” says Rodrigues. “Then the dream became to win a World Cup for India. Now, the dream is to win the World Cup in Australia in front of 90,000 people at the MCG. It’s really exciting. I can’t explain in words what it means to me and the team.”

And with wins against pre-tournament favourites Australia and England under her team’s belt already, it’s not out of the question that Rodrigues will keep seeing her dreams come true.

Who you need to know

RITAM MITRA’s pick of players to watch in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020

With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup coming to Australia for, somewhat surprisingly, the first time, Australian fans will finally have an opportunity to see first-hand some of the game’s biggest stars, many of whom have never played international cricket in Australia.

As the tournament gets underway, we take a look at some of the key players to watch, including an exciting mix of carefree youngsters and seasoned veterans across a wide cross-section of teams.

Smriti Mandhana (India)

Perhaps the most elegant batter in the game, the stylish left-handed opener has been in fine form in the lead-up to the tournament. Mandhana has notched up 621 runs in 19 innings since the beginning

of 2019, and was particularly impressive against Australia in both the group stage and final of the curtain-raising tri-series.

Mandhana, who played in the 201819 WBBL season, has a great depth of experience behind her in Australian conditions, despite being just 23 years old. With her rare ability to strike at a ferocious pace while maintaining her shape and form, Mandhana is our pick to be the player of the tournament.

Shafali Verma (India)

The tournament’s most exciting youngster, 16 year-old Verma – Mandhana’s partner in crime at the top of the Indian order –could well be the X-factor that sees the Women in Blue lift their first World Cup in any format.

Verma has widely drawn comparisons with Virender Sehwag, and is seen as

an “atypical” Indian opener. While in the past, the Indian women’s team has produced “technical” batters with a more subtle elegance, Verma is poised to launch blitzkrieg after blitzkrieg in an aggressive brand that will put the pressure on opposition bowlers from the outset.

Danielle (England)

Wyatt was the top run-scorer in the 2019 KIA Super League, England’s franchisebased women’s T20 cricket competition. Along with Verma, Wyatt will be the most feared opening batter in the tournament, having scored at a strike rate of 166.42 in the Super League.

Crucially for England, Wyatt also scored a mountain of runs in her stint in the latest edition of the WBBL, and England will be hoping Wyatt can put behind her some very ordinary performances in the tri-

series against Australia and India.

Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Probably the greatest women’s cricketer of all time, no list of women’s cricketers is complete without Perry’s.

A formidable all-round talent with bat and ball, Perry is once again shaping up as the critical lynchpin in Australia’s middle order. With Alyssa Healy’s form taking an alarming dip at the worst possible time, Australia may once again look to its most well-known and accomplished player to deliver the hosts a fifth T20 World Cup.

Sophie Devine (New Zealand)

The leading run-scorer in the 2019-20 edition of the WBBL, the newly appointed White ferns captain piled on 769 runs in her summer down under, at an average

Javeria Khan

Shafali Verma

Chamari Atapatu

Sophie Devine

Chanida Suttiruang

Chloe Tyron

Ellyse Perry

THIS WORLD CUP

of 77 and strike rate of 130. Devine also picked up 19 wickets at an average of 20. To cap off an already stunning summer, in February, Devine racked up three fifties, an unbeaten century, and four wickets in four T20 internationals against South Africa. Expect Devine to lead from the front once the tournament gets underway.

Chamari Atapattu (Sri Lanka)

Another player with impressive credentials in Australia, the Sri Lankan captain has already notched up two tons down under this summer, having racked up 113 off just 66 balls in a T20 against Australia in September last year, followed by another ton against the same opposition in Brisbane in the third ODI.

Notably, Atapattu was also the first Sri Lankan player to play in the WBBL, in the 2017-18 edition.

Javeria Khan (Pakistan)

Unlike many players on this list, Khan has never played a T20 in Australia, and has under whelmed in her 9 ODI innings here, scoring just 152 runs.

Khan was steady in 2019, scoring at a strike rate of just 100, but it was in the 2018 T20 World Cup where Khan really shone, scoring at an average of 45 and a strike rate of over 130. Pakistan will be heavily reliant on their second-highest ever T20 run scorer to step up again on the big stage.

Chloe Tyron (South Africa)

The South African vice-captain loves playing in Australia. In this year’s WBBL, Tyron bashed 248 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 178.41. For comparison, that’s the highest strike rate across both the men’s and women’s Big Bash seasons this year, edging out Tom Banton’s 176.98

for the Brisbane Heat.

A fearsome hitter, Tyron’s familiarity with the conditions, and the value for shots on offer on Australian grounds all point to an explosive tournament ahead for the experienced all-rounder.

Chanida Sutthiruang (Thailand)

The ICC’s 2019 Emerging Player of the Year, fast-bowler Sutthiruang is a product of Thailand’s Under-19 program and will be rearing to go in Thailand’s historic T20 World Cup debut. Sutthiruang, who has long been the country’s best bowler, was also the leading wicket taker in the qualifiers, picking up 12 wickets at the excellent economy rate of just 4.16.

Fargana Hoque (Bangladesh)

A team that has won only one game in their 12 T20 World Cup matches to

date, Bangladesh may have to rely on individual players to come up with moments of brilliance to force an upset in unfamiliar conditions.

One of those players is Fargana Hoque, who is the only Bangladeshi woman to hit a T20 international century (albeit against the Maldives). Hoque has performed under pressure before, starring with 67 in Bangladesh’s tense serieslevelling chase of 211 against Pakistan in November last year.

Danni Wyatt

Fargana Hoque

Smriti Mandhana

QUIZ: The Women’s game

BY MANAN LUTHRA

1. When was the first Women’s Cricket World Cup held?

a. 2009 b. 1999

c. 1989 d. 1979

2. Who won the first edition of the tournament?

a. New Zealand b. Australia

c. England d. India

3. Australia is hosting the 2020 edition of the tournament. How many times has it hosted before?

a. Once b. None

c. Twice d. Three times

4. What is India’s best result in the Women’s World Cup?

a. Semi-finalists

b. First Round knockout

c. Grand finalists

d. Winners

5. Australia has won a record 4 World Cups. Which other two countries have won the tournament in other years?

a. India and England

b. England and New Zealand

c. West Indies and India

d. England and West Indies

6. India hosted the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup. Which cricket ground hosted the final?

a. Eden Gardens, Kolkata

b. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru

c. Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

d. Rajiv Ghandi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

7. Conversely, where is the final being held this year?

a. WACA, Perth b. SCG, Sydney

c. MCG, Melbourne d. Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

8. Which Indian bowler has taken the most wickets for

India in a single edition of the tournament?

a. Diana David b. Rumeli Dhar

c. Ekta Bisht d. Anuja Patil

9. Which country is making their debut in the Women’s T20 World Cup this year?

a. Ireland b. Nepal

c. Thailand d. Sri Lanka

10. Of the total games played over each edition of the World Cup, India has won how many?

a. 13 b. 26

c. 30 d. 20

11.Who is the youngest member of the Indian Women’s cricket team squad?

a. Shafali Verma

b. Radha Yadhav

c. Jemima Rodrigues

d. Pooja Vastrakar

12. Harmanpreet Kaur is how many centuries away (rounded up) from eclipsing Mithali Raj as India’s leading T20 run-scorer?

a. 1 b. 2

c. 3 d. 4

13. Who is the leading wicket-taker for the Indian Women’s Cricket team?

a. Anuja Patil b. Poonam Yadav

c. Deepti Sharma d. Jhulan Goswami

14. Which team have twice been runners-up in the Women’s T20 World Cup?

a. England b. New Zealand

c. India d. West Indies

15. Where is the 2022 Women’s T20 World Cup being held?

a. India b. England

c. West Indies d. South Africa

16. What is the date of the first match of the 2020 T20 World Cup?

a. 21 February b. 22 February

c. 28 February d. 29 February

17. Who is the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer?

a. Mithali Raj

b. Ellyse Perry

c. Suzie Bates

d. Tammy Beaumont

18. Which nation recorded the highest score in a Women’s World Cup final?

a. West Indies b. Australia

c. England d. India

19. Which country has the lowest win percentage of any in the World Cup?

a. Bangladesh b. Thailand

c. Ireland d. South Africa

20. The final of the 2020 T20 Women’s World Cup coincides with a special day. What is special about this day?

a. There will be another Bushfire Bash

b. It is same day as the opening match of the Indian Premier League

c. It is on the same day the first World Cup final was held

d. It is International Women’s Day

VIEWFINDER

BY RAVINDER SINGH

The energy and passion that the Indian fans bring to the grounds are an essential element in the cricket experience glass snakes and the beach balls. I took this pic at the G in 2018: loving the crowd participation, I used a Canon 6D with a Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lens and an ISO

VIEWFINDER

SINGH JABBAL

experience in Australia when India is playing. The dhol is now as much a part of it all as the placards and the beerparticipation, I got close to this animated group and they put on a ne show for my camera, thanks guys! of 1600, with an aperture of f4.0 and shutter speed of 1/80 sec.

Coronavirus: All 406 inmates at Delhi camp test negative

All 406 people housed at the quarantine facility at Chahwla Camp near Delhi, a quarantine facility run by Indian Tibetan Border Police are set to be discharged in a phased manner as of 18 Feb.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research - submitted a report to the ITBP, mentioning negative coronavirus findings.

The Camp hosted 192 female and 204 male evacuees from Wuhan, including seven from the Maldives, seven children and one infant.

They were brought back from Wuhan -- the epicentre of the deadly infection -- on 1 and 2 February and kept under observation of an expert team of doctors and medical professionals.

India to send medical supplies to China

In the wake of outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China, India will send a consignment of medical supplies there, Vikram Misri, Ambassador of India to China, announced on Twitter.

The Ambassador, in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of the Indian embassy in China, expressed his solidarity with Chinese people and the government in the fight against the epidemic.

"As a concrete step to tackle the outbreak, India will soon send a consignment of medical supplies to aid and assist China in tackling this outbreak," he said in the video, adding, "This is a concrete measure which will fully demonstrate the goodwill, solidarity and friendship of the people and government of India with the Chinese people."

The Ambassador also added that "India will do everything within its means to support the people of China in this hour of crisis."

"The people of city of Wuhan and the province of Hubei are the worst affected by the epidemic. They have a very special place in the hearts of the Indian people. With courage, persistence and effective measures we will be able to overcome the crisis," the ambassador tweeted.

Misri expressed hope that the epidemic will be effectively controlled in the very near future,

praising the "determination of the Chinese people and government in dealing with this epidemic" being "evident" to the world.

With bigger role for women officers, Army set for new chapter

After the Supreme Court ordered the Indian Army to grant permanent commission to women officers within three months, a new chapter in the Indian Army will start with the women officers looking for a bigger role to play.

All women officers serving in the force from now on would be considered for permanent commission.

A communication dated 25 February, 2019, for the grant of permanent commission to SSC women officers in eight arms or services of the Army, in addition to the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps (AEC), which had been opened up earlier for permanent commission, will be fully applicable, sources in the Indian Army stated.

All women officers with over 14 years of service will be given options for permanent commission and pension at 20 years of service. All women officers with over 20 years of service and not qualifying for permanent commission will retire with pension.

"The command appointment will be open to women officers subject to meeting the suitability criteria as decided by the organisation," sources said.

The court insisted that typical arguments founded on the physical strengths and weaknesses of men and women and on assumptions about women in the social context of marriage and family do not constitute a constitutionally valid basis for denying equal opportunity to women officers.

"To cast aspersion on their abilities on the ground of gender is an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army - men and women - who serve as equal citizens in a common mission," noted the top court.

Arvind Kejriwal: From activist to astute leader

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) basked in the glory of its consecutive thumping victory this month, the spotlight shifts on

its supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Over the past decade, the former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer has crafted himself into a political brand that has virtually demolished the Congress, and is giving sleepless nights to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The AAP came into existence following the hugely successful ‘India Against Corruption’ campaign, launched by Anna Hazare. Kejriwal broke away from his mentor Hazare to set up the AAP with other anti-corruption crusaders, like Prashant Bhushan, Baba Ramdev, Yogendra Yadav and Kumar Vishwas.

Braving derision from the likes of Robert Vadra, who termed it ‘mango man’ party, Kejriwal went ahead to make the AAP into a viable political option for Delhiites, who until then had to choose between the Congress and the BJP.

The AAP made tentative forays into Delhi’s political landscape, winning 28 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly in 2013. On outside support from the Congress, Kejriwal formed the government. But it survived only 49 days.

At that point, the odds seemed stacked against the AAP and it looked as if the party was on the verge of extinction. But Kejriwal was made of tougher stuff. He galvanised his cadre and targeted the core Delhi voters through ‘nukkad’ (street corner) meetings. A slew of freebies and public service benefits propelled the party to a formidable victory with 67 seats, leaving just 3 seats for the BJP and none for the Congress.

The simple, unassuming person wearing trademark half-sleeve shirt, trousers and sandals and moving around in a hatchback captured the imagination of Delhi’s denizens. His winter avatar, in a monkey cap, is an enduring image of Kejriwal.

At a time when Delhi was a battlefield for the Congress and the BJP, Kejriwal deftly appealed to the middle-class aspirations and needs of the average Delhiite. He has had to counter the national narrative of the BJP, which rules at the Centre out of Delhi, and also controls the local bodies.

Kejriwal and his motley crowd of MLAs went about their task of endearing themselves to voters across Delhi. The promise of free power was a game-changer. The AAP also brought in changes in the

A rose for good health: Quarantine camp inmates evacuated from Wuhan China are sent home after being cleared of the coronavirus infection.

primary education and the health delivery systems. Free bus rides for women and free Wi-Fi were among the many sops that the party showered upon residents.

In between, Kejriwal also set his sights beyond Delhi and ventured into Assembly elections in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. But it proved a mixed bag and Kejriwal made a tactical retreat to the safer political climes of Delhi. He focused his energy on strengthening the AAP in Delhi with an eye on the 2020 Assembly polls.

The new citizenship law (CAA) raised the political temperatures across the country. The heat was most felt in Delhi, with Shaheen Bagh, JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia emerging as anti-CAA agitation hotspots. While the BJP campaigned on the nationalism plank with a pro-CAA strategy at its centre, Kejriwal with advice from master political strategist Prashant Kishor, maintained strategic silence on the CAA and the Shaheehn Bagh protests.

The 2020 Assembly poll became an electoral battle between development and nationalism. The Congress had stridently opposed the CAA in the hope of attracting Muslim voters. But sensing the seriousness of situation, the minority community went for the AAP.

Kejriwal’s smart manoeuvring paid rich dividends, much better than the wildest expectations of the AAP and political pundits. The AAP won 63 seats, 4 seats short of 2015 tally. The BJP ended up with 7 seats, 3 seats more. The Congress was again decimated and failed to open its account like last polls.

It’s an exemplary story of a former IRS officer graduating to an anti-corruption crusader, appearing as a novice politician and finally turning out to be a seasoned politician in 2020.

India saw record $45bn VC investment in 2019

India saw a record $45 billion investment from venture capitalists (VCs) in 2019 and the growth sentiment was more towards fintech and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies, experts said in New Delhi recently.

Amid the growing confidence in the Indian market, consumer tech and the BFSI sectors continued to dominate annual investment by value, said Prabhav Kashyap, Manager, Bain & Company, during the Indian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association's (IVCA) ninth annual conclave here.

IVCA Chairman Padmanabh Sinha spoke about the growth of PE and VC industry and its contribution to the Indian economy.

"PE & VC clearly have become anchors of the economy and playing a structural role in economy... it provides the right momentum to the Indian economy as investee companies create new jobs as well as give through increased tax revenues," Sinha said in a statement.

However, he added that for the industry to grow, the country needs more capital as well as a talent pool.

The two-day conclave is being attended by nearly 80 private equity, 65 venture capital funds, 50 Limited Partners and Family Offices, 20 start-ups and 15

Photo: AP

The Museum of Indian Paper Money in Bengaluru is currently hosting an exhibition of banknotes and coins used in the Indian Subcontinent over the centuries. The museum is owned by Rezwan Razack, antique banknote collector and property magnate.

government representatives.

Sanjay Nayar, CEO, KKR India, said that corporate governance is vital for the industry.

"Some of the government's reforms may seem painful in the short-term but provide a gain in the long term," he added.

According to Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Advisor to the Centre, free markets should be allowed to function in an appropriate way in the country.

While discussing where we are lagging behind, he said: "The bureaucracy, judiciary, and the private sector... all lack correct lenses."

Rishi Sunak UK's new Chancellor of Exchequer, Priti Patel stays Home Secy

Indian-origin Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak was appointed UK's new Chancellor of the Exchequer as incumbent Sajid Javid quit over differences with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a cabinet reshuffle following Brexit.

Sunak, 39, who is married to Akshata, the daughter of Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, was Chief Secretary to the Treasury since July 2019. His appointment comes merely four weeks before the Budget is due to be presented, the BBC reported.

However, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab retained their posts, while International Development Secretary Alok Sharma was appointed Business Secretary and Minister for the upcoming climate conference COP26, in Glasgow.

An analyst with Goldman Sachs before joining politics in 2014, Sunak, whose grandparents were from Punjab and emigrated to the UK from east Africa, is MP from Richmond (Yorkshire). He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government in the Theresa May government.

Pakistani-descent Javid, who became the first Asian to become a Cabinet Minister when he was made Secretary of State of culture, Media and Sports in the David Cameron government in 2014 after stints as Economic Secretary to the Treasury (2012-13) and Financial Secretary (2013-14), was earlier the Home Secretary in the Theresa May government.

He had then cleared absconding businessman Vijay Mallya's extradition to India in February last year following the decision by the Westminister Magistrates Court in December 2018.

Javid, who ran for Conservative Party leadership after May quit but lost to Boris Johnson, was made Chancellor by the latter. In the reshuffle, he was offered to retain the post if he fired all his advisors but declined, the BBC reported.

NRI deposits in Kerala banks grew more than domestic ones

Non Resident India (NRI) deposits in Kerala's banks grew at a higher rate than their growth in domestic banks, state Finance

Minister Thomas Issac revealed this month.

Tabling the government's Economic Review in the Kerala Assembly, Issac said the total NRI deposits as on March 2019 grew by 11.83 per cent from Rs 1,69,944 crore in March 2018, to Rs 1,90,055.

"This growth is more than the growth of the domestic deposits which grew by 9.45 per cent to reach Rs 3,03,507 crore, up from Rs 2,77,291 crore during the same period. This has happened even when we see that there is reverse migration and at this moment, we do not know what will happen in the years to come," said Issac.

The Economic Review revealed that the NRI deposits in public sector banks were one per cent (49 per cent) below the share of the NRI deposits in the private sector.

According to the latest Kerala Migration Survey conducted by the Centre for Development Studies, there are 2.1 million migrants from Kerala across the world.

12-year-old Mumbai girl youngest to scale Mt. Aconcagua

A 12-year-old Mumbai student, Kaamya Karthikeyan has set a record of becoming the youngest in the world to summit Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, South America.

Kaamya, a Year 7 student of Navy Children School, achieved the feat atop the 6962-metre tall mountain on 1 February where she unfurled the Indian Tricolour.

No stranger to tall mountains, Kaamya had summited Ladakh’s 6,260 metres Mt. Mentok Kangri II, under extreme cold weather conditions on August 24, 2019.

“Years of physical, mental preparations, regular participation in adventure sports combined with a strong character helped Kaamya in overcoming many hurdles and extreme climbing conditions to achieve this rare feat,” an official told IANS.

While her father is an Indian Navy Commander S. Karthikeyan, her mother Lavanya is an early childhood teacher.

As a child, Kaamya had developed a deep passion for mountaineering as she listened to her father’s stories of Himalayan-scaling expeditions.

Initially, she started with basic treks in Lonavala (Pune) at the age of three, and

by nine, she had completed several highaltitude Himalayan treks with her parents including Roopkund (5,020 metres) in Uttarakhand.

A year later, she reached the Everest Base Camp in Nepal (5,346 metres) and then became the youngest mountaineer to conquer Mt. Stok Kangri (6,153 metres) in Ladakh.

Not looking down, Kaamya continued on the upswing by scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres) the highest peak in Africa, Mt; Elbrus (5,642 metres), the highest mountain in Europe and then Australia’s tallest mountain Mt. Kosciuszko (2,228 metres).

She learnt the basic skills under her father’s tutelage with a stringent regimen including daily distance cycling, running, half-day treks on weekends to improve stamina and endurance power.

By next year (2021), she aims to complete the exclusive ‘Explorers Grand Slam’ –which involves the competitors to climb the tallest mountains in all continents besides skiing on the North Pole and South Pole –that has been achieved by just a handful of dare-devil adventurers on Earth.

California gurdwara pays unique tribute to Kobe Bryant

Hundreds of Sikh worshippers turned up wearing the Lakers colours - purple and yellow - at the Gurdwara Nanaksar in Fresno, California, in a special prayer meet for the late basketball great Kobe Bryant who was killed in a helicopter crash last month.

While men and children wore Lakers jerseys, many women showed up in the traditional salwar kameez in purple and yellow.

The organisers at the Gurdwara held the prayer meet after it witnessed that many Sikh men and children were affected by the untimely death of the NBA icon, who was a reason they began playing basketball.

Amitoj Singh, a student at Terronez Middle School in Fresno, who attended the prayer meeting said, "While Kobe was hugely popular across the globe, the Sikh Americans keenly followed him."

Angad Sandhu, Lakers fan said, "I started playing basketball because of Kobe and his game and conduct really inspired me."

On why Kobe remained such a popular figure particularly among the Sikh American community, Amandeep Singh, an actor and

model says, "Kobe was a brave leader. He led without fear, he conquered his missions with unbelievable determination, passion and commitment. He was a role model to many in the Sikh community, especially to children."

Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among the nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas on January 26.

SBI creates unique artworks from e-waste

Some 400 computers, 2000 microchips, 400 keyboards and 200 discarded credit cards were used to create two large artworks unveiled in New Delhi recently.

Manasvi (meaning ‘the intelligent one with pure thought’, and Tapasvi (meaning ‘a saint in a state of meditation’) were commissioned by India's largest lender, State Bank of India. Intended to reflect the bank’s continued commitment towards environmental sustainability, the two sculptures now sit at the bank’s Head Office in New Delhi. They showcase the bank’s trademark logo on their faces.

They were designed and built by Jaipurbased artist Mukesh Kumar Jwala in 3 months under a series called 'Mother SBI'.

And now, a Khadi Titan watch

Leading Indian consumer goods company Titan this month announced the launch of a limited edition wrist watch in collaboration with Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

The collection named "Khadi Collection", is a set of two watches crafted in authentic Khadi, a hand spun, handwoven and sustainable fabric.

This is the first time Titan has used a nonhorological material like Khadi on the dial and strap of the watches.

Available in two variants for men and women, the watches are priced at Rs 4,995. The straps of the watches are treated with a special coating to make them more durable without compromising on the authentic texture. They feature a distinctive weave and texture, and present a unique blend of simplicity and modernity.

Titan launched in the early 1980s with watches exclusively.

IANS

Photo: AP

WHAT’S ON

STAGE

Stand-up Comic Navin Noronha

Fri 21 Feb (8.30 pm) Presented by Milstead Company and Seymour Centre, as a part of Mardi Gras 2020, traiblazing international comedy stars will put up a show including India’s only out gay standup Navin Noronha

Venue: Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale.

Fresher Thoughts by Kunal Kamra

Sat 22 Feb (6.30pm; 9.30pm)

UNSW Science Theatre Barker St, Kingsford.

Comedy Night with Sunil Grover

Sat 29 Feb Famous TV personality and comic Sunil Grover live in Australia. Venue: Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope Gardens.

FUNDRAISER

Hindu Council of Australia for Bush re Relief

Sun 23 Feb (5:00pm onwards) The Hindu Council of Australia’s Hindu Benevolent Funds presents a cultural event to fundraise for Bush re Relief. Dance, music and magic show by Saksham Sharma.

Venue: PIA Auditorium 2 Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park.

Details 0433 037 080

AASHA for Bush re Relief

Sat 11 April (6:30 pm onwards)

AASHA presents ‘Singing Stars of Bollywood’, a musical tribute to all our star singers; an enticing evening of melodies by popular community singers. This is a charity event for Bush re relief.

Venue: Redgum Function Centre, 2 Lane Street, Wentworthville.

Details 0412 786 569

CLUB

Mateship Fair

DJ Rhea: India’s leading female DJ Fri 28 Feb (9.30pm onwards)

Zeta Bar (488 George St, Sydney) presents DJ Rhea in Page 3 Night: Bollywood & Bhangra.

Details 02 9265 6070

Unity Bollywood Concert

Sat 29 Feb (7:00 pm onwards)

Diamond Showroom, Blacktown Workers Club, 55 Campbell Street Blacktown NSW 2148.

Details 0412 779 418

CLASSICAL

Re-imagining Dance: Brown bodies on the global stage

Fri 21 Feb (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

Swarnamalya Ganesh draws you in to the world of the yesteryear darbars with her signature Sadir for the Rajahs and Nawabs; Mallika Sarabhai performs a Padam she penned herself that asks the question, ‘Radha was years older than you Krishna yet your love is celebrated as eternal and gloriouswhy then am I scorned for the same’; and Anita Ratnam captivates in a contemporary interpretation of the mythical demoness Soorpanakha.

All three internationally acclaimed dancers share anecdotes of their dance and candidly re ect on their practice spanning multiple decades in a conversation hosted by Indu Balachandran.

The evening will culminate in a unique opportunity to meet the three artists visiting from India over dinner catered by 2 Boys in Saris.

Venue: Information &Cultural Exchange, 8 Victoria Rd, Parramatta, NSW 2150.

Details 02 9897 5744

Sri Purandara Dasa Aradhana

Sun 23 Feb (9.15am - 2.00pm)

The 20th annual Purandara Dasa Aradhana will be held at Redgum Function Centre, 2 Lane Street, Wentworthville 2145. In its 20th anniversary year, the theme is Sri Purandara Dasara Kshethra Darshana. Details Lakshmi Kumaraguruparan 0435 825 533, Shrikant Rao 0416 167 417

Con uence With Kaushiki

Chakraborty

Sat 4 April (4:00pm onwards)

A musical evening with vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty and Ojas Adhiya on Tabla, Murad Ali Khan on Sarangi, Ninad Mulaonkar on Flute,

Vishal Dhumal on keyboard, Rickraj Nath on Guitar and Vaibhav Wavikar on Percussion. Venue: C3 Church Auditorium, Silverwater, Sydney. Details 0470574177

HOLI

Sun 1 Mar (12noon – 7:00pm) CIA presents Harmony Week Holi Festival Of Colours 2020: Holi celebration with Indian food, dhol drums, a fun- lled family event.

Venue: Girraween Park, Toongabbie Rd, Toongabbie. Details 0477 370 179

Sat 7 Mar (11.00am onwards)

Wyatt Park, 49 Church St Lidcombe. Details 0466 587 627.

Sun 8 Mar (11:00 – 1.30pm) Team India presents Holi at Railway St Parramatta. Details 0470 130 891.

Sun 8 Mar (11.00am – 5.00pm)

Federation of Indian Associations in NSW presents Holi at Freame Park, Burnett St, Mays Hill. Details 0401 449 929.

Sat 14 Mar (4.00pm – 9.00pm)

Hindu Heritage Society presents Holi at Reg Byrne Community Centre, Fyall Ave Wentworthville. Details 02 9806 5140.

Sun 15 Mar (11:00am – 5:00pm)

Festival of colours – Holi celebration along Parramatta River Free Entry | Non Stop Music | Food Stalls | Business stalls.

Sun 5 Apr (6:00pm – 8:00pm)

Team India presents Holi Comedy Night at Franklin St, Parramatta. Details 0470 130 891

Sun 15 Mar (11.00am – 5.00pm)

Hindu Council of Australia presents Holi at Civic Park, Targo Rd, Pendle Hill. Details 0408 625176

MISC

Indian Bridal Expo

Sat 22 Feb (10:00 am – 3:00 pm)

Fair eld Showground - Parklands Function Centre, 443 Smith eld Rd, Prairiewood, NSW 2176. Details 0431 005 869

Indian Women Empower

Fri 6 Mar (5:30pm – 7:30pm) Launch of INDIAN WOMEN EMPOWER (IWE), an initiative led by Community Migrant Resource Centre. The purpose of IWEis to ensure that women from the Indian diaspora living in Australia are safe, enjoy full healthy relationships and have every opportunity to succeed. Venue: Lachlan's Old Government House, Macquarie St, Parramatta.

Details 02 9687 9901

Bharatanatyam

Fri 28 Feb (6.00pm onwards)

Renowned Indian dancer Shobana Suresh presents a recital at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Level 2, 265 Castlereagh St.

Details 02 9223 2702

SPIRITUAL

Maha Shivratri at Sydney Uni

Wed 19 Feb (11:00am – 1:00pm)

The festival of Maha Shivaratri will be observed for the rst time on-campus at Sydney University. Program includes Puja, discourse, guided meditation, Q and A and prasadam lunch.

Venue: Seminar Room 350, Carslaw Building (F07) ,Eastern Avenue, Camperdown Campus.

Details 0405 657 257

International Gita Mahotsav

Sat 21 Mar (11:00 am – 2:00 pm)

International Gita Seminar at Darling Harbour Theatre, International Convention Centre, Sydney.

Sun 22 Mar (03.30 pm – 08.30 pm)

Gita SadbhavanaYatra starting from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple to River foreshore, Parramatta.

Mon 23 Mar (12.00 noon – 03.00 pm) Reception in Federal Parliament, Canberra.

Tue 24 Mar (11.00 am – 01.00 pm) Valedictory function at NSW Parliament, Sydney.

Details 0410 616 463 or email: igm2020@myaha.org.au

Sri M visit to Australia

15-30 Mar Eminent Kriya Yoga expert Sri M will visit Sydney and will meet the public at a series of events. Details send message to +61413098814 on WhatsApp.

Rahul Lachman Commercial Law

Sharon Ramsden Criminal Law

Krystle Wolthers Estate Planning

Vayshali Chandra Family Law

Joe Bonura Personal Injury

Amit Kumar Property Law

Simon Kumar Dispute Resolution Law

THE TEAM

Encouraging good sleep habits

As the family gets back into school routine, help your child learn good sleep habits

BY DR. VISHAL SADDI

Sleep is a big part of your child’s good health. Children who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved attention, behaviour, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health.

Back to school may mean a rapid close to staying up late and leisurely mornings for many children. Here’s what you can do to help your child adjust your child’s sleep schedule:

Gradually adjust sleep and wake schedule 10 days to 2 week before the start of the school: A gradual transition helps them adapt better to the challenge of a stringent sleep schedule that comes with the start of school.

Get the right amount of sleep: This varies

with the age of the child. For toddlers and pre-schoolers a nap during the day averages 1 to 2.5 hours. They need 12-13 hours of sleep a night. From about five years of age, children no longer need a day nap. School-aged children and pre-teens should get about 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night for optimal health. Adolescents, on the other hand, need to get a little more than 9 hours of nightly sleep.

Improve bedtime practices: Children should have a relaxing age-appropriate bedtime routine. The routine should be same every night, so they associate all steps with sleep.

There are several strategies you can use to help your child sleep better. I have listed a few of my favourite strategies below:

He only wants Mom at bedtime: Sleep association is a routine that lets the baby know it is the appropriate time to go to sleep. Parents will often induce sleep by feeding, co-sleeping, rocking their baby. While it may

be effective, it needs the parent to be present each the baby wakes up as they form a sleep association with the parent assisted activity. Try a sleeping toy to form a positive sleep association. Make it fun by getting them to choose their favourite sleeping toy and use it only at bedtime and naps.

For the toddler or pre-schooler who asks for something each night at bedtime after lights go out: Try using a “bedtime pass”. These are index cards that you can design at home. Give your little one a few index cards at bedtime (usually, one to three).

Let your little one know that they can use the cards after lights out for those last requests. The little one can exchange the card for hug or small request that usually comes once the lights go off. If they do not have any more cards, then give a consistent response such as “It’s bedtime, goodnight.”

Or, “You don’t have a pass, I love you, goodnight.” For many little ones, simply having the cards helps reduce the number of times they ask for things.

The distraction plan: This one is for the parent. Your sleep is equally important. Sleep training your child can be stressful especially the first few nights (things get worse before getting better!). Have a distraction plan for yourself. For example, after putting your baby into bed, take a long shower or read a chapter of your favourite book. Setting up calls with friends or family members who know what you’re doing and support you can also be incredibly helpful!

Babysleep.com has some excellent comprehensive and expert-based information on baby and toddler sleep that you may find helpful.

The information and other content provided in this article, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. See your doctor if you have a sleep problem, or call 000 if there is a medical emergency.

Dr. Saddi MBBS DCH FRACP is a Paediatric Sleep and Respiratory specialist.

Luv shuv te mask lagana

It’s a masquerade ball for AHIA’s Valentine’s Day event

The fourteenth day of February, Valentine’s Day, is earmarked for the Significant Other in your life, who you honour with flowers or chocolates or jewellery.

That is, if you’re bae’d up.

If you’re baeless, you lament the crass commercialisation of it all.

But if there’s a fun party happening in your circle, such as a masquerade ball, then you’ll go along regardless, especially if it’s a Friday night affair.

The party-lovers at the Australian Hindi Indians Association (AHIA) did just that: organise a masquerade party on 14 Feb.

Heart-shaped balloons welcomed the followers(and non-followers) of St.Valentine, some 150 masked guests, at Manjit’s Concord Function Centre.

Great pains were taken with the masks, given a competition had been announced for the ones most in the spirit of it all.

A fusion dinner, raffles for fund-raising (thanks to donations by Twinkle Diamonds and Angad Homewares), and some spectacular dancing defined the night.

What added to the fun of the evening were the flashmobs that swayed to Michael Buble and the Latin beats of the Rumba. Event organiser Preeti Thadani said,“I didn’t want the event on 14 Feb to merely be an end point, which is why I choreographed and taught dances to a wide age group of people. Everyone who

enlisted to be a part of the dances was enthusiastic and game to try something new. The youngest in the group was 15years old and the eldest in their 70s. To co-ordinate movement, rhythm and synchronicity amongst people who haven’t danced together before was a challenging journey but a very rewarding one. Over a few weeks new bonds of friendship were formed crossing the generation gap. Every dance practice ended with drinks, supper, laughter and good times.”

(For the popular Preeti, the Valentine’s Day motto that best suits must surely be ‘Let everything you do be done in love’.)

And for those who preferred a more desi flavour, emerging talent from the Natraj Academy kept all on their feet.

The event also gave AHIA management, head Sushma Ahluwalia particularly, to tell the guests about the activities of the organisation. Their community-based agenda has been strong over the years, especially for seniors, but it can safely be concluded, they also know how to throw a good party.

The art of love lettering

A Valentine’s Day contest on Indian Link Radio inspires some beautiful - and unusual - love letters

Prabhu Maligapogu knew his wife Neetha was listening as he read out his Valentine’s Day note to her live on Indian Link Radio.

“Every time I hold you and breathe in the scent of you, I’m taken to a peaceful and contented place. More than the walls and floors and ceilings, more than the trinkets and personal trappings of the place, you are my HOME.”

His 450-word letter won him the “Ishq Waali Chitthi” contest (Melbourne listeners category) organised by Indian Link Radio this Valentine’s Day. In it, he spoke of her smile that still reminds him of the girl he met seven years ago. The stray wrinkle and odd grey hair that bother her now, he described as ‘new trophies’. About their future, he said, “Life won’t always be mountaintops; sometimes we’ll have valleys to trudge through. I look forward to those days too, knowing that there is no other person I’d rather be with, rain or shine.”

Funnily enough, Prabhu revealed on air that he had participated in a similar contest way back in 1995 organised by the Times of India. His submission had not been picked then: all we can conclude is, the love has grown deeper as the years have gone by!

Prabhu and Neetha won a visit to Sea Life Melbourne at Coral Atoll, with a special four-course intimate Valentine’s Day dinner thrown in.

“I couldn’t believe Prabhu had won such a contest for me!” Neetha laughed. “We dropped off the baby at a close friend’s, and loved every minute of our evening at Sea Life.”

In the Sydney competition, physiotherapist Sangeeta Solanki claimed

the top prize with her video submission of a series of post-it notes for her husband Bhavin. In it she detailed the history of their relationship in words and quirky stick-figure drawings.

“I had thought it up as this year’s card for Bhavin on Valentine’s Day, and I just sent it in when I heard about the contest,” Sangeeta told Indian Link. “I had no idea it would win!”

Sangeeta won a $100 dinner voucher from Dosa Hut restaurant in Dural.

Results were announced

live on air on 14 Feb on presenter Priyanka Tater’s show Funday Friday.

Prabhu and Sangeeta were two of thirty letter-writers in the contest which ran from 4 Feb to 11 Feb. Designed and executed by Station Manager Ekta Sharma, the activity saw litterateurs from the community – Anu Shivram, Preeti Thadani, Suda Narayana - come in as guests to give tips on how to write love letters.

“Letters came in from other cities in Australia and even India, despite the prizes being announced for Sydney and

Melbourne only,” Ekta said. Of course the submissions were not restricted to Indian-origin participants alone.

Allison Dew, a teacher from Melbourne, wrote this for her husband: I love that I can now call you my husband and that after ten years together, I am still finding out new and interesting things about you. That we can act like it’s a first date, even if it’s been so many that I lost count. It’s more than love. It’s an overwhelming feeling of joy, fulfilment, excitement... but also peace. Being able to talk to you, no matter what time of day or night, can

you, and ask, will you be my Valentine? I promise I won’t go home without you.

“In other submissions we had an infographic, Bollywood song inspired notes, office romance memories,” Ekta described. “One contestant wrote to ‘The one that got away’ and signed it off as ‘From the one you set free’. It was wonderful in its acceptance and forgiveness. She wrote, I wish for you to be happy, loved and respected not just by your special someone but by everyone around you.”

Other stand-outs were a letter written to a lost pet cat; a handcrafted card; a letter to oneself, and one for the family.

“A selection from the letters have been put into a podcast,” Ekta revealed. “Read out by our own presenters and set to music, you can listen to it on the Indian Link Radio app’s podcast section. Who knows, you might want to present it to your own special Valentine!”

The contest as the latest in a series of contests Ekta has created and executed for Indian Link Radio.

make the feeling of anxiety that constantly settles in my stomach, dissipate as if it was never there. Thank you for the constant peace that you provide, even on the roughest of days.

Samantha took the opportunity to reach out to Mitch: I am writing to express my sincerest apology… It was a heartfelt gesture, turning up to the airport to surprise me after I had been away on a work trip. Believe me, I DID NOT see you when I walked out those airport doors, straight into a taxi, all the way home without realising you were there. Maybe our paths weren’t supposed to align that day.... I feel it’s time that I owe

‘I love getting the community involved –on air and on our social media channels,” she said. “In this latest activity, I was pleasantly surprised to see that oldfashioned letter-writing still appeals to many of us. You should see the length of some of the letters we received! In these times of WhatsApp and Facebook communication, it’s good to know that the art of wooing by letters is still not forgotten. If you enjoyed this contest, write us a letter to tell us! And watch out for our next community activity with prizes to be won!”

Download the Indian Link Radio app on your mobile phones if you haven’t done so yet.

Prabhu and Neetha Maligapogu

Sangeeta and Bhavin Solanki with their son Arhaan

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MATRIMONIALS

SEEKING GROOMS

28-year-old girl seeking genuine marriage. Currently in Sydney until January 2020. Tall (5'8”), pretty, fair and medium built. Works as a manager in the nance industry. Potential partner must be above 5’11” in height and have permanent residency of Australia. Call 0416 812 117.

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

Seeking a professional match for a 29-yearold Indian Hindu (Ravidasia) girl with excellent family background. She is a doctor doing MD (Pharmacology) in India, with relatives professionally settled in Sydney and Brisbane. Caste no bar. Please contact with details and photo at aeracus29@gmail.com

Seeking professionally quali ed, settled match for 46-year-old Sydney based, never married Australian citizen, Hindu Punjabi (Khatri) lady, 5'3" slim, fair and attractive. She is a postgraduate, working in a good position in a government organisation. Please email details with photo Indsyd2016@gmail.com.

Seeking professionally quali ed, well-settled match from Sydney for a 5’3’’ Hindu Punjabi girl born in 1988. She is divorced (concluded) with a brief marriage of 1.5 years, and is working full time with one of the leading universities in Sydney. Teetotaller preferred. Aus PR or citizen only. Email: matrimonial.ml@gmail.com

Seeking a suitable match for a dynamic, highly-educated, career-oriented 23-year-old teaching professional who is 5’4'' slim, fair and attractive. She is from a well reputed and established business family in Delhi. Caste no bar. Prefer Australian citizen or PR. Contact 0452 225 341 or mverma2001@gmail.com

Telugu girl from a traditional Hindu family, late 30s, working in a reputed company as an accountant, well-mannered and good looking, divorced, seeks caring life partner settled in Sydney. Currently in India, willing to relocate. Interested call 0433 420 918 or email Sampath_sarega2000@yahoo.co.in

Seeking suitable match for a never married Hindu Khatri girl, beautiful, slim, 5'3", very fair, vegetarian, post-graduate, 1985 born and currently in Melbourne. Seeks businessman or professional match based in Australia. Brother settled in Melbourne. Contact +61 456 604 747 or email kapr.matrimonial@gmail.com

SEEKING BRIDES

Seeking match for educated, divorced, 5’9'', 1975-born Sikh boy, 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

25-year-old boy seeking genuine marriage. Plans to visit Sydney soon in 2020. Tall 6’, handsome, well-built, wheatish complexion. Works as a Police Of cer. Potential partner must be above 5’7”, pretty, fair, slim, trendy and have permanent residency of Australia. Call 0416 812 117.

A beautiful, slim, trim, tall, well-educated girl from Kumaon, Uttarakhand required for a smart, fair 5’10” tall boy, 36 years, born in Australia, running his own business. Caste no bar. Please send biodata with photos to email: ram@ramworldtravel.com.au

Indian Christian (Protestant) parents of 39-year-old software engineer, born and raised in Australia, seek a Protestant girl between 31-36 years. Email: sammy5073@gmail.com or call 0403 836 360.

Seeking match for well-educated, wellsettled Australian citizen Gujarati boy, born in 1980s, 5’9’’. Has his own home in Sydney, earns 180K per annum, and

is divorced. Looking for a suitable match from Sydney who wants to settle down forever and enjoys an easy life (no need to work full time but should have a good work-life balance). Interested invites accepted from students/PR/citizens/divorcees/singles. Phone: 0490 970 281 (SMS if busy) or email patelbrij1980@gmail.com.

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

Seeking quali ed match for a handsome never-married 36-year-old Indian Brahmin boy, Australian citizen, living in Sydney since 2005. He works in a leading bank, Parramatta CBD. Parents are retd govt engineer/ lecturer from Delhi. WhatsApp details with photos to 0422 361 702, +9198717 35858 or email sharma.brijmohan07@gmail.com

Seeking professionally quali ed, settled match for 45-year-old Sydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu Punjabi (Khatri), 6’, athletic built man. Project manager with an engineering background working in a private organisation. Please send details with photo to Indsyd2016@gmail.com

On chickpea salads

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

Salad – that boring component of our meals that most of us force feed ourselves in the name of good health!

Two sides of a coin really! Because all salads are not healthy and all salads are not boring. Let me explain.

Buying a dressing from the supermarket shelves that’s often high in salt, sugar and a dozen other unwanted ingredients and then tossing a bunch of veggies through it does not make a healthy salad. To make a salad that’s actually good for your health means buying fresh, seasonal and locally grown (if possible, organic) vegetables and using a homemade low calorie salad dressing. The addition of nuts, seeds and protein takes it up a notch higher on the goodness quotient.

And salads are not boring either. When made with the right combination of ingredients, they can not only be delicious but also double up as a full meal.

Chickpea based salads are a favourite of mine because they can be a meal in themselves, or a more hearty accompaniment to grilled fish or meats. Apart from adding a protein boost to any meal, chickpeas are also great to use in salads as they pair well with many different flavours.

A chickpea salad is perfect for any party, be it an office team lunch or a summer barbecue.

I am not a big fan of canned chickpeas; instead I prefer to soak the chickpeas for a few hours (mostly overnight) which ensure the cooking process is faster; the taste and texture is much better too. You could also use other dried beans instead of chickpeas like borlottior cannellini beans.

Whenever I use carrots in a salad, I like to use a julienne peeler to get those beautiful thin, wispy strips. While the crunchy texture is still retained, the julienned carrots are also ideal to really absorb the flavours from the dressing, and they make great presentation too.

Baby radish not only adds crunch and freshness but also a slight pepperiness to the overall flavours.

Nuts are often a part of most of my salads and for this chickpea salad, I added a handful of toasted pine nuts. But remember nuts go in only just before serving so that the texture is retained. Other nuts or seeds like almond flakes, crushed pistachios, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds etcalso make delicious and healthy additions.

The dressing is a simple vinaigrette but I used apple cider vinegar and a chilli infused olive oil; you can use white vinegar and extra virgin olive oil too. Grate in some garlic to boost up the flavours which make this chickpea, carrot and radish salad a really delicious one.

CHICKPEA, CARROT AND RADISH SALAD

INGREDIENTS:

● 1 cup dried chickpeas; soaked overnight (or at least 4 hours in warm water)

● 1 large carrot; julienned

● 4-5 baby radish; nely sliced

● ¼ cup pine nuts; toasted

● 3 celery sticks; chopped

● 3 sprigs parsley leaves; nely chopped

● 4-5 fresh oregano leaves (optional)

DRESSING:

● 1 small garlic clove; grated

● 4 tbspchilli infused olive oil

● 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar

● Salt, to season

● Freshly crushed black pepper; to season

Method:

● Cook the chickpeas in salted boiling water; drain and keep aside.

● In a salad bowl, add the chickpeas, carrot, radish and celery.

● To make the dressing, add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper to a small capped container. Shake well to form an emulsion.

● Before serving, add the toasted pine nuts, oregano leaves, parsley and the dressing to the salad bowl.

● Toss well and serve.

So you’ve always curried your chickpeas: now try them in your salads to pack a protein punch

The India Club of Sydney featured on Channel 7’s Sunrise program on Friday 31 Jan 2020. They represented India and Indian culture in the show’s week-long exhibition of world cultures.

AASHA Foundation Australia (Ltd) organises social hubs for seniors at various centres across Sydney. This month, it launched a new venue at West Ryde.

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VUNBEATABLE WINS AGT

The Mumbai-based dance group V Unbeatable has won the second season of America's Got Talent: The Champions.

The dancers found international glory with their victory on the US show on 18 Feb. Congratulating V Unbeatables on their win, a post on the of cial page of America's Got Talent read: "Give it up for your new #AGTChampion winners, @v_unbeatable."

A video is doing the rounds on the internet in which the group members can be seen hugging each other after hearing the result.

The audience gave a standing ovation to the group after their winning performance. V Unbeatable, which is composed of 29 dancers from Mumbai aged between 12 and 27, rst appeared on America's Got Talent in 2019, winning a Golden Buzzer from guest judge Dwyane Wade. The group came in fourth place last year, but this time round, V. Unbeatable took home the trophy in America's Got Talent: The Champions.

Typically, the troupe’s dance routines are Bollywood-based, but choreographed with added acrobatics, coordinated dives and stylised stunts that have left judges and audiences in awe. In one stand-out

moment, one of the youngest members of the group leapt from behind the judges and landed straight on the stage; it brought the house down with thunderous applause.

(In fact, the V in the troupe’s name stands for Vikas Gupta, a teammate who died performing the stunts on the show. In one of their recent dance routines on AGT, they displayed the name ‘Vikas’ on their blazers in his honour).

The group, already popular from Indian dance shows before their US sojourn, have had some stellar support in recent weeks, such as from dance guru Remo D’Souza and of course, Bollywood’s popular dancer-actor Ranveer Singh, who they have claimed to be fans of for a very long time.

Ranveer wished them luck before the nale's announcement.

"We are so proud of you. We love you for your dedication, commitment and honesty. Keep it going till the nals. Put in all your energy and perform with your hearts and bring it home. C'mon V Unbeatable," Ranveer said in a video message.

Congratulatory wishes are now pouring in for V Unbeatable from across the US and India.

GUESS REASSESS GUESS WHO?

This Gen Y star is confused about his next and wants to walk out of the already announced lm.

A promising young actor, he has been experiencing a lull in his career of late, which is worrying him and in turn, making him all picky-choosy!

Our lovely hero has signed 3 lmsone releases this year and the other two are yet to get off the ground. But a li’l birdy told us he might opt out of one of the projects that has already been announced.

The lm in point is actually being helmed by a director who the hero has a 100% track record with, and the rst poster has also been launched.

So his behaviour has come across as a little surprising. As of now, he has sent the script for a rewrite, but insiders tell us he doesn't want to risk his career.

It remains to be seen whether he opts out or decides to push ahead…

GUESS WHICH SHOW?

According to Bollywood grapevine, a streaming giant betted big on a supposedly sure-shot show that now appears to be in trouble. This show was to have a multi-episode story which was a spin-off to one of the country's biggest box-of ce blockbusters. This would be the backstory of the lm's central female character and her journey. Given the mass popularity of the lm and the character, there was no reason to believe that the show wouldn’t work. But the bosses at the streaming service are unhappy with what has been delivered by the producers. Also the massive sets have been dismantled and the actress is now busy with other lms. So the show is being rushed to completion with smaller sets,heavily reliant on computer graphics and visual effects.

We'll have to wait and see how this turns out!

GUESS WHICH FILM?

We are shocked to learn this, but the producer of this recent movie was stunned when he saw the rst rushes of the lm, just a week before its launch! He decided to cut the trailer himself, but alas, couldn't save the lms from the trolls.

With his money riding on the movie, he lividly called up the director, a long-time friend, and red him for his reckless attitude. Otherwise known for good quality cinema, the director’s latest project was completely haywire and haphazard, felt the producer. We hear he also made hurried calls to leading stars for some damage control. The two former friends are now busy having a cold war!

FILM FARE AWARDS THE TARGET OF UNHAPPY FANS

Discontent over Gully Boy winning big at this year’s Film fare Awards raged on onsocial media till a few days after.

The haashtag #BoycottFilmfareAwards began to trend on Twitter after the Zoya Akhtar directorial bagged 13 awards across categories.

Accusing the awards of propagating nepotism and awarding actors and lmmakers who are star kids, the mood was re ected in one user’s words: “They have to promote betis of some renowned people Akhtar, Bhatt and Pandey... nepotism rules in Bollywood. So sad that quality cinema does not matter. #BoycottFilmfareAwards”.

Others pointed out htat some wonderful work such as lyricist Manoj Muntashir’s song 'Teri Mitti' from the lm Kesari, the lm Super30, and the critically acclaimed actor Shushant Singh Rajput (Sonchiriya, Chhichhore) were all ignored.

One netizen, not happy with merely trolling the long-running event, vandalised the Wikipedia home page of the Awards.

In the list of winners over the years, next to the name of Gully Boy the user keyed in the words "paid award" in bracket. (This particular lm was targeted repeatedly, given it featured current favourites who hail form leading Bollywood families.) However, the original Wikipedia page was restored after a while.

Although the Wikipedia page was restored, the hashtag #BoycottFilmfareAwards continued to trend for a while.

NEW 'MR. INDIA' NOT A REMAKE OR SEQUEL

Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, who has helmed blockbusters like Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, will write and direct the new Mr. India.

The makers of the project clari ed that it is not a sequel or a remake of the 1987 classic. Rather, it is a reimagination of the original that starred

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor.

Zafar is currently working on the script and building the superhero universe and, contrary to reports in sections of the media, he avers that the casting process is yet to begin.

"I have just commenced working on the script, no actor has been locked so far. Once the rst draft of the script is ready, we will begin the casting process. The lm involves massive amounts of pre-production and will go on the oors early next year," said the director.

Uncon rmed reports have stated that Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan might come together for the project.

Zafar's Mr. India will be set in a new, relevant and contemporary superhero world. "It is a huge responsibility to carry forward an iconic character that has been loved by Indians for so many years," the lmmaker shared.

The 1987 lm narrated the story of a poor man (Anil) who gives shelter to orphans. After he accidentally discovers his late scientist father's invisibility device, he uses it to save his children and all of India from the clutches of the villain Mogambo, played with iconic aplomb by the late Amrish Puri.

KANGANA’S NEXT SOUNDS FASCINATING

She’s back in the news… no, not making one of her ery speeches on an issue of national importance, but for her work. Again.

This time round, she’s playing a

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ghter pilot. All decked up in Top Gun gear, with mandatory ghter jet behind her and helmet in hand, her rst look form the lm Tejas is winning her rave reviews. Tejas of course is the name of an Indian Air Force ghter plane.

Directed by Sarvesh Mewara for Ronnie Screwvala's production house RSVP Movies, the lm pays a tribute to the Indian military after the immensely success Uri: The Surgical Strike. Turns out Tejas is also the name of Kangana’s character in the movie.

Coming a day before India announcedthat its army will grant permanent commission to women of cers, the lm’s launch could not have been better (although of course women have been ying ghter planes for the Indian Air Force for a while now).

NO STUNT DOUBLES FOR ISHAAN KHATTER

Actor Ishaan Khatter has shot the action sequences for the climax of Khaali Peeli without any cables or stunt doubles.

Film's action director Parvez Shaikh said, "Ishaan did all the stunts himself, without any cables or harness. He expressed the wish to do the stunts himself, and I agreed.

"We were shooting for a chase sequence on a bridge, and Ishaan had to drive his taxi, stop at a point, come out and do a ght scene. Even though a taxi doesn't match the speed and technology of the latest cars, Ishaan did it perfectly."

A source reveals that Ishaan lmed

the action sequences for the climax of the Maqbool Khan directorial for ve days straight.

"Everybody on set was shocked to see Ishaan perform dangerous stunts on his own. There was limited time, but he pulled off the stunts on his own without any rehearsal or harnesses, which came off on the second day!

Kaali-peeli is the colloquial name of the traditional black-and-yellow Indian taxis. So you’ve guessed by now that Ishaan plays a taxi driver in the lm. The story of the lm is a roller coaster ride that kicks off when a boy meets a girl one night.

The masala entertainer, which also stars Ananya Panday, is produced by Ali Abbas Zafar with Zee Studios and Himanshu Kishan Mehra.

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK

Match the following stars to the tweets below.

Ananya Panday, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh 36 years... ab toh Valentine's bhi hum se pooch kar aata hai. Wishing you all, love beyond restrictions....

When my Little Lady met my Black Lady

Grateful, blessed, honoured and humbled! Filmfare award for Best Debut Female 2020!

Absolutely baseless stories making the rounds of SOTY 3! My request to everyone publishing this fabrication is to please stop!

What’s Ananya Pandey thinking here?

Send your response to: media@indianlink.com.au TO WIN A MOVIE TICKET!

LAST ISSUE CAPTION CONTEST WINNER

What’s the chitchat between Susanne Khan and Malaika Arora here?

In Beyonce’s voice: All the single ladies, Now put your hands up…

Aman Shah

Congratulations Aman. You win a movie ticket.

For more caption entries, see YOUR SAY Page 09

RANVEER SINGH

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cineTALK

REMIXED ROMANCE LACKS FIZZ

about a slowburn impact. His lms start off on a simplistic note, and acquire a deeper context as they move.

Ali bases his concurrent stories in the early nineties and presentday. The rst love story, between Raghu and Leena (Kartik Aaryan and Aarushi Sharma) is played out in small-town Udaipur of yore. Ali spins a quaint little story of the struggles of love. The second story is of Zoe (Sara Ali Khan), a ercely ambitious young woman who wants to crack the events management business before she gives her affair with Veer (Kartik in a dual role) a serious thought.

LOVE AAJ KAL

STARRING: Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Arushi Sharma

DIRECTOR: Imtiaz Ali

H H H

You know the gig if you’ve seen Love Aaj Kal 2009. There are two love stories, across two time frames, driving home the point that love these days is very different from what it used to be. And then, after the generational gap between romances then and now has been dissected over 140-odd minutes, writer-director Imtiaz Ali ends up with a message that's not exactly original: love is a process, a journey. If love is honest, it will nd a way.

For Ali, a tale of love invariably becomes a scope to spew pop philosophy too, about self, sel essness, identity, soul and soulmate. It was an idea that he tapped in Highway, Tamasha and Rockstar, and even Love Aaj Kal 2009, which he goes about reinventing with his new effort. Larger re ections about life continue to nd resonance in this remixed tale of mush, too, although the idea seems less impactful this time.

Thematically, and broadly in terms of execution, the new Love Aaj Kal is the same lm, although the two plots sustaining the runtime are different from the original.

Imtiaz Ali's storytelling has always been

WICKED BUT FLAWED

AFSOS (AMAZON PRIME)

STARRING: Gulshan Devaiah, Anjali Patil, Heeba Shah

DIRECTOR: Anirban Dasgupta and Dibya Chatterjee

HHH

Afsos, an eight-episode web series by Anirban Dasgupta and Dibya Chatterjee, is cheeky black humour that drives existential questions about some profound topics.

The tone of wry wit is set at the onset as Nakul (Gulshan Devaiah) gears up for suicide at a rail track. This is his twelfth attempt. As the train approaches, Nakul decides he needs a pillow as headrest on the rail track.

We understand he is good for nothing – the sort of guy who cries out for help while jumping into the sea. Even the

neighbourhood kids call Nakul a loser.

The suicidal hero nally gives out a contract for his own killing. And then, just when all is ready for his foolproof death in the hands of a professional expert (Heeba Shah), Nakul nds a reason to live.

The catch is, the assassin assigned to

In terms of melodrama as well as the existential challenges that the lovers face, Raghu and Leena's lives and love would seem more simplistic and sorted out than the world of Zoe and Veer. Yet, as the two stories move parallel to each other, they are cloaked by the same sense of ennui.

Ali was obviously trying to initiate a deeper conversation about the con ict between love and career that Gen Now faces, through Zoe's life. Yet Director Ali is let down by Writer Ali in this context.

It is interesting to note how a distinct palate is reserved for the two stories. If Raghu and Leena's small-town milieu of the nineties bears the visual template of Bollywood love stories of that era, Zoe and Veer live out a far more complex relationship.

‘help’ Nakul end his life, isn’t giving up on her commitment to kill him.

Afsos talks of life and death in the most matter-of-fact manner, through cheeky scenes that would de ne everyday humdrum. (For instance, a couple of housepainters perched precariously high up on a multi-storeyed building discuss how a slip in balance could actually be lucrative for their families). The story gets a sarcastic edge as Nakul is made out to be ‘the celebrity who can never die’.

Trouble is, after the initial novelty wears off, the narrative never really picks up.

An interesting dash of humour precedes every episode if you look closely, especially for Bengali viewers. The series, the casting declares, is based on a Bengali novel named Golper Goru Chaande. Translated, that means ‘in ction, a cow can scale the moon’. The catch is, no such novel exists. It is a tongue-in-cheek assertion of the fact that this is a story that cannot happen

Since Ali chooses to look at the saga primarily from the viewpoint of Zoe, Sara Ali Khan naturally gets the most signi cant protagonist in the story. Zoe's con icts as a con dent career woman and a confused lover-girl make for a fascinating character, and threelm-old Sara exudes a strong screen personality. However, her effort is marred by hamming.

On Kartik Aaryan, you could do a double take when he tries to pass off as a school student in uniform, but he does well to balance his acts as the impulsive teenager of the nineties and the awkward geek of today. The script lets him explore his image as a romantic hero beyond the comic vein that has established his stardom over a short period of time, and he takes to the role with eagerness. Sadly, awed storytelling hampers his effort, as well as his chemistry with both Aarushi and Sara.

Randeep Hooda is a delight to watch, in the role that Rishi Kapoor played in the original Love Aaj Kal, although Hooda's protagonist gets to essay it with a twist. The actor, bankable as ever, pulls off a role that offers limited scope with understated nesse.

This is a beautifully shot lm (cinematography by Amit Roy), although Aarti Bajaj's editing could have been tighter all through. The lm moves at a lazy pace, only to arrive at an ending you would have guessed by interval.

If Ali wanted to re-tell an old story to a new generation with a twist, one fails to understand why he chose Love Aaj Kal for the experiment. For one, the original Love Aaj Kal is only a decade old, therefore too young for a remake. Importantly, changing perceptions of love across decades is no longer a novel theme in lms.

Vinayak Chakravorty

– just like the ctional cow jumping up to the moon. This is a clever throwback on the famous pre-credits announcement gag in Coen Brothers’ Fargo, declaring the lm is based on true events, which it wasn’t. On cue, we seea van displaying a ctitious product named Fargo in a pivotal scene.

Such intelligent slant at humour is a breath of fresh air in Indian showbiz. It re ects good creativity, as does a narrative track that discusses the eternal tussle between science and religion.

In fact, telling the story of a man who cannot die, the lm intelligently pitches a science-versus-religion tussle over the fantastical ‘amrit’, or elixir, which can render a man immortal. And while doing so, it also leaves you with an uncomfortable question — if indeed there is immortality, wouldn’t life ultimately become a terrifying trail of afsos (regrets)?

Vinayak Chakravorty

POCKETS

BY MELISSA DOMINGO RAWAT

My grand-mother Beryl (‘Nanna’ as I call her) is British/Russian/ Portuguese – an exotic mix indeed! Born and raised in India, my 95-year-old Nanna has a sworn love for all things Indian – especially spicy Indian food. On the flipside, she doesn't look Indian and has zero understanding of Indian languages. Then there is her uncompromising sense of dress: frocks only.

As a child, I admired Nanna’s style - bright floral frocks, exquisite crystal brooches and her favourite perfume "Charlie". Her frocks were strictly hand-tailored to a checklist – 6 piece skirt of modest length, collar with lace trimmings, a sash, fancy buttons on the bodice and most important of all; a sidepocket. The lace could be omitted on "house frocks" but the sidepocket was non-negotiable.

As an earning adult, I began to buy fabric and have dresses tailored for Nanna. By this stage, she didn’t leave the house much and all her dresses were "house frocks". Nevertheless, my otherwise easy-going Nanna still cares much about “fit” - never forgetting to provide a sample dress and a firm reminder, “Make sure to put in a pocket!”

Almost anything we ask for magically emerges from Nanna’s infamous pocketsweets, combs, hairbands, prayer books, candles/matchboxes, safety pins, a rosary, band aids, loose change. Nanna, however, has never carried any make-up. According to her, “Only empty heads waste time titivating".

Yes, Nanna and her pockets have afforded me many laughs.

Recently, on a school morning, I fixed my daughter's hair with a hairbrush and hairband casually whipped out from the pocket of my dressing gown. I then retrieved a pen from my pocket and signed her school diary. The phone rang inside my pocket. I silenced it and fished out my lip balm instead. Putting on some lip balm with one hand, I rummaged through my pocket with the other. I took out a band aid and slapped it onto my son’s

forehead. Finding the band aid was difficult amidst the guitar picks, roll-on sunscreen, erasers, lollies and other random objects.

I laughed as I realised I had turned into Nanna! I finally understood her wisdom regarding pockets. I smiled even wider, realising that I had succumbed to it a long time ago.

Through high school and university, I preferred to carry a guitar instead of a handbag. The pockets on my jeans held my essentials - chewing gum, guitar picks, keys, lip gloss, nail polish, graphs, a list of physics formulas, cell phone, driver's license and money. On the odd day, I even stuffed my scientific calculator into my pocket.

As a mother, I’ve carried all manner of novelties in my pockets - toys, thermometers, paracetamol and breakfast bars. If the pockets were roomy enough (like on a jacket), they have famously held a diaper, a pack of mini wipes and a bottle of water. I find that the best way not to lose one’s handbag is not to carry one!

Over the years, I’ve begun to see that Nanna’s deep wisdom around pockets extends far beyond the literal to the things that ultimately define us – the unseen that we choose to carry and that which we choose not to.

Pockets must carry a ready smile and a touch of sunshine for a rainy day. Pockets must carry a desire to share - Nanna shares even the tiniest piece of candy irrespective of how many of us are around; never about the quantity, always about the heart. The coins in one’s pocket are powerful seeds of change. Pockets must carry a pinch of salt to mix with the rude and the unjust. Everything we carry, of course, is wonderfully offset by the things that we must choose NOT to carry – un-forgiveness, anger, gossip and jealousy.

Pockets are everyday things - fascinating in an everyday kind of way. The laws of 'pocket' are simple. Pockets must never have holes. They must be deep enough to keep things safe and must never carry substances that may leak. When using a pocket, preferably avoid any unsightly bulges.

I'll now leave you to discover the joy of working a pocket - front, side, top, back, plain or fancy - just make sure it's your own!

Pockets are everyday things - fascinating in an everyday kind of way.

The wisdom around pockets extends far beyond the literal to the things that ultimately define us – the unseen that we choose to carry and that which we choose not to.”