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NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH 2020 3

4 MARCH 2020

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EDITORIAL

Drumming the beat…

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra

with bad humour and that virus

SOCIAL MEDIA Suruchi Sehgal MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Rhea L Nath, Edmond Roy, Hasveen Chahal, Mohan Dhall, Sandip Hor, Hamsa Venkat, Minal Khona, Melissa Domingo Rawat 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:

INDIAN LINK MEDIA GROUP Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email: info@indianlink.com.au

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

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urported to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times" is an expression typically used ironically. Life, it suggests, is better in ‘uninteresting times’ of peace and tranquillity, while ‘interesting’ times are usually marked by trouble.

The last few days have kept us all humming. The threat from the global expansion of the coronavirus has had different aftereffects. overnments globally are scrambling to send out the message ‘be alert and not alarmed’ while supermarkets are running out of toilet paper, of all things. One wag has said that it is the lack of trust in the government that’s causing people to do exactly the opposite they are told. While it is important to take this worldwide health emergency seriously, let’s keep in perspective that so far, the virus has led to about 3,500 deaths, whereas the annual influenza virus claims between 300,000 and 650,000 lives (and that’s from a 2017 WHO

study, just FYI).

So far, governments have looked at decreasing interest rates to stimulate the economy, and it will be a matter of time before the Morrison government hands out cheques to allow for more activity within the country. While on PM Morrison, the public outcry at his handling of the Australian bushfire earlier in the year has taught him well in leading from the front for his response to the coronavirus threat.

For his colleague Treasurer Josh Frydenberg though, this focus on the economy may well have been an excuse for a bizarre rant in Parliament that disrespected the Hindu religion. In what will be one of his political low points, the normally astute politician for several minutes made fun of Hinduism and some of its practices as he ridiculed a Labor call for a New Zealand-style “wellbeing budget”.

Many in the Indian Australian community were outraged at this brazen and racist display from the Treasurer, who is himself of Jewish background and vocal in his concerns of the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia. Humour is great to put a point across, but mocking a religion to convey a political message in this

manner can only be interpreted as illconceived.

To Frydenberg’s parliamentary colleagues from Labor - Michelle Rowland in particular - and community groups who called him out strongly on this unacceptable display, good on you.

The Treasurer has since apologised, and while it is time to move on, it was a low point of the week for our community.

Another discussion point for the keyboard warriors this week, came from the ABC show The Drum, which looked at riots in Delhi in the last fortnight. The discussion, as expected, ignited passion amongst those who believe that PM Modi should be called out for challenging the secularity of India and those who believe that the democratically elected Prime Minister has the mandate to carry through his 2019 election promises. And, indeed, whether the panel (which included yours truly) represented facts well enough. Check the episode out on iView to understand why I considered switching my phone to airplane mode, but do pay attention to the map of India that appears not so briefly. Kashmir is portrayed as distinct from both India and Pakistan.

It's been an interesting week.

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very happy Gladys Berejiklian MP Premier of New South Wales

Authorised by Chris Stone, Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division, Level 12, 100 William Street, East Sydney NSW 2011.

NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH 2020 5

CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURES OPINION Indian politics: Worthy of better coverage

15

YOUTH Elevate 2020: Annual convention of Young Sikhs Professional Network

20

CULTURE DIARIES What we’re loving right now at Indian Link

24

SCHOOL Help your child deal with bullies

25

20

15

COVER STORY TRAVEL Top Ten in Hanoi

26

24

A chat with writer Jamila Rizvi, 2020 Women’s Leadership Award recipient

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NAGLE N COLLEGE BLACKTOWN

Supporting

young women to face the challenges of the future

10 March 2020 4:00pm - 7:30pm l e ee e

a a es w ll e a a la le as well as s e lle e.

58A ORWELL STREET BLACKTOWN STH P: 8887 4500 www.nagleblacktown.catholic.edu.au

6 MARCH 2020

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Michelle Rowland MP

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M E M B E R F O R G R E E N WAY

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i l o H

Wishing everyone a very happy and colourful Holi!

Suite 101C, Level 1, 130 Main Street, Blacktown NSW 2148 PO Box 8525, Blacktown NSW 2148 @aph.gov.au (02) 9671 4780 Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au www.michellerowland.com.au MRowlandMP Authorised by Michelle Rowland MP, Australian Labor Party,Suite 101C, Level 1, 130 Main Street, Blacktown NSW 2148.

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Envisioning a Better Tomorrow: SKRM Holds 35th Free Eye Camp in Feb 2020 at Delhi, India

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senior citizen in a village in India notices that her eyesight is diminishing and getting blurred.

Her vision gradually deteriorates and activities of daily living become challenging, but she cannot afford medical care. This is the plight of millions of Indians who develop cataracts each year. Cataracts are formed when the clear lens inside the eye starts to become cloudy, thereby reducing the quality and clarity of vision. They are the leading cause of blindness and are treatable through cataract removal surgery.

Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission (SKRM) and Science of Spirituality (SOS) have stepped in to help people regain their vision by providing free Eye Camps, to help individuals regain their sight. The no-cost quality cataract surgeries have been lifealtering and allow patients to return to normal daily activities with improved vision.

NATIONAL EDITION

In one of its many endeavours to selflessly serve humanity, SKRM organized its 35th cataract removal eye camp in the first week of February, 2020. Held under the guidance of spiritual Master and head of SKRM, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, the EyeCamp coincided with the 33rd International Human Unity Conference (IHUC) that Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj presides over. The annual conference convenes global dignitaries of various faiths and traditions, and visitors from around the world to explore and celebrate our oneness and unity.

Day One of the week-long eye camp saw patients from Delhi and several states in India avail of the complimentary services at Kirpal Bagh, Delhi. They were treated with compassion and expert care by medical teams consisting of volunteer

physician and healthcare worker teams.

Following a thorough screening, patients were short listed and deemed medically eligible for the procedure. These patients were referred to ICARE Eye Hospital, Noida, for surgery. ICARE is a leading eye care hospital in India and keeps pace with the advanced technology available worldwide, including using the state-of– the-art Alcon Infiniti Vision System, for eye surgery.

Here, physician volunteers from the United States work hand in hand with ICARE doctors to help patients regain their sight. Many patients receive high quality lenses donated from businesses and are given comprehensive postoperative care planning before they are discharged. In addition to the no-cost surgeries, SKRM also provides free lodging, travel, food, eye drops, reading

glasses and other essential services to the patients.

SKRM holds these cataract eye camps twice a year in February and September.

Continuing with its tradition, SKRM ensured that the maximum number of people benefitted from the camp this year. The Health and Eye Camps sponsored by SKRM and SOS are free of charge and are provided in a spirit of selfless service to the community. They are inspired by the teachings of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, internationally recognised for his tireless efforts to promote inner and outer peace through spirituality and meditation.

www.sos.org www.sos.org/aus/australia Phone: Australia +61 431 718 888 India +91 11 722 3333

MARCH 2020 7

WHAT’S ON CLASSICAL

Dawn Raga Series 13 Mar, 27 Mar (7.30 am) Asia TOPA is bringing the main event of the raga series with the soothing sounds of raga whilst enjoying an authentic cup of morning chai. Yoga mats will be provided.

Performers: 13 March: Subramanya Sastry & Jay Dabgar 27 March: Josh Bennett & Jay Dabgar Venue: Bunjil Place Plaza but will be moved to the foyer in the event of wet weather.

Melbourne International Festival of Hindustani Classical Music Fri 6 Mar (7.30 pm) – Sun 8 Mar(10.30 pm) Melbourne Hindustani Classical Society Inc. has curated a list of some of the best classical Hindustani musicians in the world in their annually held festival. Venue: Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC), 207 Barkers Road, VIC 3101 In Concert Music’s Autumn Season 7-8 Mar In Concert Music’s Autumn Season is a two-day event; On 7 Mar, see TN Varadharajan in and as ‘Sri Thyagarajar’. Day 2 on 8 Mar features “Reflections”, a series of

short, scintillating performances by invited artistes and students of the Laya Vidhya centre celebrating 2019, which marked the 25th anniversary of the Centre. Day 1 is a ticketed event. Admission to Day 2 is free for all music lovers.

Venue: Rowville Performing Arts Centre, Rowville Secondary College, 9 Humphreys Way , Rowville.

Details www.inconcertmusic.com.au Swar Sandhya Sat 7 Mar (7.30pm onwards) An evening of Karaoke style singing of Hindi film music. This is a popular event for anyone who loves Hindi film music. You can bring your own tracks, or choose on the spot from our extensive library. Venue: Waverley Meadows Primary School Concert Hall, 11-27 Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill. Details 0416 930 416 The Southbank Dawn Raga Series 6 Mar, 20 Mar (7.30 am) In response to the overwhelming demand from previous events, Multicultural Arts Victoria and Melbourne Arts Centre are back with another series of therapeutic morning ragas. Attendees are encouraged to bring a mat or towel to sit on as they indulge in the calming melodies of traditional raga

with a hot cup of chai.

Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne Main Lawn but will be moved to Hamer Hall St Kilda Road foyer in the event of rain.

HOLI

Sat 7 Mar (11.30 pm – 7.30 pm) The Paddock, Federation Square.

SENIORS Classes in conversational English Saturdays (1.00pm – 3.00pm) IndianCare invites you to join in.

Come along to SMRC Building, 39 Clow St, Dandenong.

Details 03 8312 8805

SPIRITUAL

Sri M visit to Australia 15-30 Mar Eminent Kriya Yoga expert Sri M will visit Melbourne and will meet the public at a series of events.

Details 0401 350 310, 0407 821 342

FUNDRAISER

Think Peace India Run Festival Sun 29 Mar (8.30 am – 2.00 pm) Think Peace Organization is hosting a race to raise funds for charities in India and those of Victoria’s bushfires. With zumba and yoga sessions before the race, the event encourages the local Indian

community to get active for a better world.

Venue: Birrarung Marr, Federation Square, VIC 3004

STAGE

Stand-Up comedian Sunil Grover Sat 7 Mar Venue: Williamstown Town Hall. Details 0420 817 583 Singer Neha Kakkar Sun 29 Mar Venue: Palais Theatre.

Details 0432 573 333 Indian All Star Comedy Showcase 9-12 April The Melb International Comedy Festival presents Rohan Joshi, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Azeem Banatwalla and Urooj Ashfaq.

Details comedyfestival.com.au Three Legends of Bollywood Sun 19 Apr (7.00 pm – 11.00 pm) Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik will come together on one stage to perform live. Venue: 1 Convention Centre Place South Wharf, VIC 3006.

Details 0452 337 387

To add your notice email media@indianlink.com.au

Colours speak all languages.

A Happy Holi to all in Victoria!

OFFICE OF BRUCE ATKINSON MLC Member for Eastern Metropolitan RegionR19B | Level 3, West 5 Car Park Entrance Eastland Shopping Centre | 171-175 Maroondah Highway, PO BOX 508 | RINGWOOD VIC 3134

T -03 9877 7188 | E -bruce.atkinson@parliament.vic.gov.au| W -www.bruceatkinson.com.au Funded from Parliamentary Budget 8 MARCH 2020

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Happy

Holi Wishing you and your family a colourful and joyful Holi

Scott Ryan

Senator for Victoria

Alan Tudge

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Member for Aston

Scott Morrison

Prime Minister Member for Cook

Jason Wood

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

James Paterson Senator for Victoria

David Van

Senator for Victoria

Authorised by A.Hirst, Liberal Party of Australia, Cnr Blackall and Macquarie Sts, Barton ACT 2600.

NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH 2020 9

YOUR SAY

THE DRUM ON INDIA Indian Link’s PAWAN LUTHRA was a guest on ABC show The Drum to discuss the issues behind the recent sectarian violence in India.

Davender Jain wrote: Pawan Luthra’s presentation in Drum programme of ABC TV was inaccurate, misleading and nefarious. By talking all lies on CAA he had done grave harm to the reputation of his country and to Indian origin population in Australia.

Davender Jain wrote again: The discussions and contents of your violence in India was both misleading and incorrect. Reasons: - purpose of Citizenship Amendment Act is not to take away any ones citizenship but to provide refuge to Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Paris and Christians who came to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before 2014 due the religious persecution there. Their numbers have steadily decreased in these countries. There are 20,000 Sikhs who fled Afghanistan as an example, and now leaving in India illegally. No Muslims will ever flea (sic) from these Islamist states to India. This was not brought out by Ms Siddique or

by Mr Luthra.

- Modi has several times made it clear in Hicks public address that he wants all inclusive growth and this CAA is not targeted to take away citizenship of Muslims.

- The opposition party, namely Congress, was paying the protestors Rs 500

per person per day and free food if they came and sat in the protest that was goings in a few parts of India.

- The protestors were being fed and making more than than they would in their normal jobs. So they quite (sic) their jobs to just sit and protest - Protest went on for about a month leading closure of schools and essential services and even traffic.

- Pro CAA protestor came to the places to counter anti CAA protest which led to clashes. There is clear evidence emerging that Muslims were well prepared and had been supplied arms and money by Pakistan to destabilise india.

The above facts were not brought out in your coverage.

Tracey Holmes wrote: Great to see you on The Drum, Pawan, your knowledge and considered thoughts are much needed.

Robyn Sefiani wrote: Incisive commentary Pawan Luthra. So sad to see what’s happening in India. And pretty shocking but not unexpected that President Trump seemed conveniently ignorant to the race riots during his recent visit there.

Mahadevan wrote: Pawan Luthra, the most factual statement unfortunately is you've been away from India for 35 years! Rest of the statements from panellists seem to be needing lots of corrections for the reality on the ground.

Today's news is that the main culprit behind the Delhi riots is the elected Muslim leader of AAP who attacked peaceful Hindu and other protestors with molotov firebombs, acid packets, stones and even inflammatory speeches to kill Hindus! That Muslim leader is on the run and has been sacked by his own AAP party. Planned riots aren't BJP creation! If needed, an Indian Muslim Retd General could create better factual awareness for Australian audiences.

Harish Velji wrote: At least you projected neutral position based upon facts.

Rajesh Kumar wrote: You were spot on. It's so sad to see what's happening in india right now. It looks like the leaders have lost the plot. They started with a big vision but now they're trying to compare and compete with the under development neighbours instead of comparing and competing with the developed nations like US, Australia, Germany, etc. For sure no country in the world can become a global player unless they change their focus from all sorts of communal issues.

Kamal Baluja wrote from India: I have heard the full discussion. Your comments are very lucid. Proud of you for speaking out in this manner and not mincing your words. Situation here is going from bad to worse. Mobilise the NRIs in Australia. Your voice can make an impact.

Watchdog wrote: This self-styled Indian media apologist running Indian Link and Indian Link Radio clearly doesn’t know what he is talking about. Watch and weep. Take note, Consul Generals of India in Sydney and Melbourne.

Gopal Ganwani wrote: This is fantastic Pawanji, I must say good on you.

Khushal Vyas wrote: Glad they had you on the panel. Unfortunately there are many NRIs in Australia who are taken in by the Modi mania and would not call a spade a spade. I am just completely at a loss and sick and tired of hearing toxic rhetoric that such educated and otherwise compassionate people can espouse. Incredibly saddening but at times like this makes me very happy to have someone like you representing us and having you at the forefront of Indian media.

DONALD TRUMP IN INDIA The speeches made by the US President Donald Trump on his India visit recently received much attention globally.

Paviter Kumar Noori wrote: 3 Bands in IHLTS (International Hindi Language Testing System) Krish Na wrote: The grotesque meets the ludicrous in a boorish display of balderdash. But hey, as Swami Vive-ka-mon-done said, ‘just another day in the life of Trump’.

Raj Saneja wrote: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. How many Indians can pronounce the following Hollywood celebrity names correctly: Amanda Seyfried, Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chloe Sevigny, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Weinstein Clay Ton wrote: In the world scheme Sachin is a nobody - pronouncing a name is the minor of things.

SAY IT AGAIN 10 MARCH 2020

After Treasurer Josh Frydenberg joked about the Hindu practices of yoga, ashrams and meditation in the House of Representatives last week, social media was abuzz, with many condemning his comments.

Mocking places of worship is just not on. These comments from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg are disrespectful to people of Hindu faith and have no place in our National Parliament. I call on (NSW Premier) Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee to condemn them as I do.

Jodi McKay MP

www.indianlink.com.au

POCKET FULL OF….

MOTHERHOOD MELISSA DOMINGO RAWAT’s piece on pockets in the life of a busy young mum paid tribute to her own grandma who insisted on having pockets sewn into her frocks.

Melissa Domingo Rawat wrote as she shared her piece on an online forum: Recently, I wrote something about my grandmother. I was excited to send her a copy of the publication once out to say that I’m making her famous. As fate would have it, she passed away just a day or two before it was published.The photo accompanying the article was taken by my husband and is an actual picture of my pocket. He was slightly alarmed when he walked into the house to find me trying to photograph my own bottom. I much appreciated his help.

Jean Coyne wrote: Nanna Beryl sure be must be proud of her granddaughter.

She has your copy already in heaven and guiding you to soar to greater heights.

Janani Chakrapani wrote: Beautifully written again, Melissa. Sorry about your loss. I was reminded of my paati too - she raised me literally as my mum was working full time. Wish we could have seen a photo of your grandma in one of her frocks!

Heba Abdullah wrote: Salutations to the Pocket! Wish you had shared a pic of your nanna as well.

Bryan Jude wrote: Our sincere condolences to you and family. God bless you all. May your nanna’s soul rest in peace.

Archana Suresh wrote: What a nice read! I bet your nanna is chuckling too.

Nancy G Francis wrote: May your words help others as they grieve their abuelita (Spanish for grandma).

Sohita Sharma wrote: Loved the way you described how you realised that you are becoming nanna yourself!

Renu Xavier wrote: Beautifully written - loved every word and can so relate. I'm sure your grandma in heaven is proud of you Christina Jane McKay wrote: A pocket full of wise words, and loads of fun.

Manisha Malhotra wrote: Your nanna must be looking down from heaven and feeling super proud of you! A beautiful tribute.

Rashmita Goswami wrote: Melissa, love the way you write. I could actually imagine your nanna popping out each of those items from her pockets! May she rest in peace.

Shruti Chib wrote: Beautifully written. Reminded me of my grandma back home: she recently suffered a back fracture and I can’t wait to go back and spend quality time with her.

Shraddha Kukadia wrote: Sometime, somewhere we all do it (work our pockets) as we juggle through our lives but never think about it. Also, such beautiful memories! Nanna sure would be blessing you for taking her legacy forward.

Missy Ann Mathews wrote: Very well written. Grandmas are so special.

Amrin Khan wrote: Missing my own nani after reading this…

Keiasha Naidoo wrote: Brilliant read and just so sentimental and wise. Love it.

Cecilia Muire wrote: Well written – just as interesting as the things that come out of the pocket!

Deepa Gopinath wrote: In a world where women's clothing has rudimentary pockets or none at all, your Nanna is a trailblazer who fought for her right to, well, Pocket! What a special memory, captured so wonderfully.

Latha Pandya wrote: You are a good writer with much positivity. I love pockets too.

Sandhya V Sunil wrote: I always used to get pockets stitched into my garments - even into my salwars. I find it very comforting when the pocket is rightly angled!

Seema Nair wrote: I could almost imagine your nanna, wrinkled skin and soft like cotton. Sorry for your loss.

CAPTION CONTEST What’s Ananya Panday thinking here?

Lily Gabriel Rodrigues wrote: I would like to thank my family, my fans, my critics…oh wait, I want to thank just one person, Karan Johar.

Amol Bhalerao wrote: Look Dad I made your dream come true. (She won an award for her first film, whereas her dad Chunky won none despite many hit films).

Manan Sehgal wrote: Now onwards, I’ll work really hard to prove that I deserve this award Sonal Desai wrote: Is this last time I’m holding this award? Thank you for the politics and the bad choices. Atleast I won...one.

Kulbir Minhas wrote: How can I win an award??

Ruchir Garg wrote: Dad, I told you I will do it. You should be a very proud father today!

Deepti Sharma wrote: No one noticed I got the best dressed award for dressing as Batgirl Keyuri Thakkar Patel wrote: This cost my dad more than what it weighs Jasmeen Singh wrote: Never imagined it would be so chunky Sequeira Cutinho wrote: The struggles of nepotism wins me an award Arora Vijay wrote: You have no idea how much I struggled to achieve this Ray Trevurza wrote: She wants a meal at Chimney restaurant Albury Kala Raghunath wrote: Thank you papa, your PR is great.

Gaurav Wadekar wrote: Dressing up for this was truly hard work!

Suruchi Sehgal wrote: Epitome of struggle Tushar Choudhary wrote: Now I can get my sleeves stitched…

Arix Bishnoi wrote: Say whatever you want people but nepotism rocks.

Lloyd D'Lima wrote: Papa kehte they bada naam karegha, beti humara aisa kaam kregha.

Janaki Rathod wrote: Who is this again??

Anurag Singh wrote: Kya mera struggle ab khatam ho jayega?

WHO WORE IT BETTER? MALAIKA ARORA OR DAKOTA JOHNSON IN GUCCI?

INDIAN LINK POLL Vic Health is calling for a mandatory 400-metre unhealthy-food-advertisingfree zone around schools. What do you think?

Ineffective for kids 38%, Will prove effective 62%

60% Dakota Johnson

The comments made by Mr Josh are derisive and offensive to the Hindu community as well as to the Yoga practising community of Australia for the following reasons: conjuring up a Hindu stereotype, mockery of Hindu practices and absurd references to Yogic postures to counter the Opposition’s well-being plan; use of the august floor of the Parliament for exhibiting Hindu phobia; general endorsement of the Liberal Party on the floor of the House including Prime Minister Mr Scott Morrison, to this charade.

Hindu Council of Australia NATIONAL EDITION

40% Malaika Arora

Hinduism is the fastest growing religion in Australia.

Today Josh Frydenberg used it as the butt of his political jokes. That’s disrespectful full stop, and esp when the Scott Morrison Govt is trying to convince faith groups of the merits of its draft religious discrimination bill.

Kristina Keneally MP MARCH 2020 11

COVER STORY

12 MARCH 2020

www.indianlink.com.au

GIVING FEMINISM A FAIR GO

This International Women’s Day, Women’s Leadership Award recipient Jamila Rizvi on how gender and cultural diversity can shake up Australia BY PREETI JABBAL

W

riter, political commentator and media personality Jamila Rizvi is the proud recipient of the 2020 Victoria Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership, in recognition of her advocacy, amplification, support and sponsorship of women in all facets of her career.

The nation-wide awards are instituted by Women & Leadership Australia, which aims to develop female leaders and support the increased presence of women in business and community leadership roles.

“It’s a really lovely piece of recognition for the work that I have been doing,” said Jamila as she shared her story with Indian Link.

In her columns for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, her podcasts for Nine (Future Women), her interview-based event series Tea With Jam and Clare and in her frequent appearances on radio and television, the 34-year-old has carved a niche for herself as a commentator on women s affairs.

Both warmth and strength define her work

NATIONAL EDITION

as she addresses issues that women should feel outraged or proud about, issues that they should support more or experience more, and women’s perspectives that all leaders, indeed the community at large, should consider more.

Her Twitter bio says it all: Without Hermione, Harry dies in book one.

On International Women’s Day, we put to her that there have been years of advocacy on the equality of women, and while certain indicators may have seen progress, overall, society seems to be taking its time to respond.

Are Australians slow on the uptake of the equality agenda?

“Australia has traditionally been a conservative electorate and we are resistant and wary of change,” observed Jamila. “In that regard the progressive movement can find it hard to forge a place in Australian society.”

At the same time, Jamila allows that Australians are deeply egalitarian, with their belief in a ‘fair go’. “Most people here believe that if you are given opportunities to work hard and you take them, you deserve the same success as anyone else -no matter who you are, what your background, gender or sexual preference is,” she remarked.

“I know this is a contrasting, almost MARCH 2020 13

COVER STORY contradictory way of describing the electorate; nonetheless, Australians are complex people. We can hold those two contradictory positions,” she said with a smile.

Another contradiction in recent times is that the term feminism is becoming unpopular, withsome women choosing not to identify themselves as ‘feminists’.

“I don’t think that there has ever been a point in history where the vast majority of population have embraced that word, and that says something about our community,” said Jamila.

She finds it hard that the world continues to be concerned about a movement that has equality at its core.

“Feminism is about the economic, social and political equality of women with men, not a radical concept at all. We haven’t achieved it yet, while some countries are getting closer than others and some countries are moving backwards from where they were,” she explained.

“For me that movement remains incredibly important and until I genuinely believe that women hold an equal part in the society as men, it’s not a movement that I will give up on,” she concluded with conviction.

In her first book Not Just Lucky Jamila articulated the many challenges women continue to face in the workforce and the societal forces that shape our attitudes at work.

What are the main things that will catalyse the change?

“I always hoped that the election of the first woman Prime Minister would be a catalyst for positive change,” replied Jamila. “At that time, I was hopeful that ulia illard s presence in the top job would normalise women as leaders in the community but sadly the country had the opposite reaction.”

Issues like equitable pay, representation of women in politics and lack of inclusion of diverse perspectives have all been on the equality agenda, but they continue to simmer on the boilerplate. For many ‘regular’ women, the basic issue about safety within their own homes is still a cause for concern. (The story of Hannah Clarke, the Queensland woman who was killed by her husband only days ago, is fresh in our minds.)

“Well, we are talking about domestic violence a bit more,” Jamila mused. “It is no longer a family issue to be worked out within homes. There is a shift happening in that space - unfortunately that shift hasn’t yet helped the number of women who are being hurt and until that starts to happen we haven’t got anywhere.”

She went on, “About equal pay, external factors play a huge role - like childcare, paid parental leave. Those are things that absolutely need to be on the overnment s agenda. They are certainly not on the current overnment s agenda.

Hope, though, characteristically springs eternal in Jamila’s world. “I do a lot of work with corporates, government and not-forprofit organisations and we talk constantly about recruiting, retaining and promoting more women - including women of colour.

Corporate Australia particularly is finally beginning to sit up and take notice. Research has told us definitively that increased gender and cultural diversity makes a better workforce, and people are finally understanding the value of gender diversity,” she said happily.

Jamila worked as a youth political advisor in the udd and illard overnments and was witness at close quarters to the rise and 14 MARCH 2020

fall of ulia illard. hen asked how far Australia is from getting another woman Prime Minister, she was quick to reply.

“I don’t see an Australian woman leading a political party at least for another decade, and it breaks my heart to say that,” said Jamila.

“Politics in this country has been incredibly exclusionary. It has been dominated by white men for most of Australia’s modern history.

However, things are changing and now there are more powerful women role models right from local councils through to Federal levels.”

The issue,of course, is to inspire more women to take up politics. Jamila encourages everyone, particularly migrant women who may be interested in public o ce, to have a go, cut their teeth, get involved and volunteer.

“I want my Parliament and representatives to look like my community, a melting pot of cultures, religions and people.” iven her own Islamic background, Jamila was vocal about the vulnerability that Muslims over the world are feeling currently.

“Personally I find it quite heartbreaking when I consider the way that the Australian Muslim community have been made to feel like outsiders over the past 20 years or so,” she revealed. “I have never met a more inclusive and engaging and kind segment of the Australian community as the Australian Muslims.These are truly good people being blamed for the actions of a tiny minority.

Kudos to the Muslim community for the fact that despite being the subject of really intense discrimination at times, they continue to be committed Australians, warm neighbours and wonderful friends.”

Keen to learn more about her connection with contemporary India, we asked Jamila about the current spate of religious violence in India, to which she replied diplomatically.

“I won’t pretend to be an expert in this space at all. India has been a country that has been plagued by violence between different religious groups throughout its history. I hope this resolves as quickly as possible and one day we reach a stage where India recognises that this is a country with many different faiths where we can coe ist with one another.”

Politics, media, commentary and broadcasting - Jamila has been involved in a variety of communication fields. Which of

these wields the most power when it comes to advocating gender parity?

“Television remains the most powerful medium at this point in time,” she replied after some thought. “Of course, it may be a different story five years down the track.

Digital is becoming increasingly powerful and younger people are increasingly turning to different mediums for communication, discussion and political discourse but at the moment in Australia, the majority of the population tends to turn to TV. It remains the single fastest way to create waves on a big scale throughout the country.”

“Having said that, one of the powerful things about the Internet has been the democratisation of political and public discussion. The Internet is available to everybody and voices that aren’t heard as often in the mainstream media, like women - particularly women of colour, for example Indian women - the Internet has been an incredible gift for voices that have been kept out of mainstream media.”

Jamila comes from mixed parentage; her father is Indian and mother Australian.

Her father was born in Lucknow, UP as the youngest of four children. His family migrated to Australia in 1965 when he was seven years old and settled in Canberra.

“My parents met in Canberra where they still live,” shared Jamila. “I grew up in a typically Aussie household as my dad had spent most of his childhood in Australia and my mum was Australian. Our Indian connections were through our grandparents, cousins and extended family. It’s because of them the link with India became really strong and unsurprisingly was cemented with delicious food.”

Is it true that Jamila’s grandfather decided to study in Australia rather than Yale because Australia had cricket?

“I have heard a few versions of that story,” laughed Jamila. “One is that he decided to migrate here because he liked cricket; the other one is he asked my dad, who was the youngest, where they should go and he apparently said he wanted to go to Australia because he wanted to see a kangaroo. Who knows what the actual truth was!”

Her own marriage is interracial and she finds it an ongoing challenge, especially for

her little boy Rafi who has blue eyes and long blonde hair and very fair complexion. She takes pains to make sure that he is culturally aware of where he comes from and what his cultural background is. y husband is Australian of erman heritage and we travelled to India a couple of years ago for his first visit there,” she revealed. “To me, it was very significant to take him to see my family. We did the same thing the year prior where we visited ermany. To be aware of our roots is an important part of reconciling our own person and also the kind of person we want our little boy to be.”

On the professional front, a third book is now in the pipeline.

She laughed aloud when asked about the progress of her new work Broken Brains, aimed at anyone who has been diagnosed with illness and their loved ones. Apparently a huge amount of work is still to be done as it needed copious research with lots of first hand interviews, and time spent in universities, hospitals and research labs, as well as with psychologists.

“I have finally drawn a line for myself to end the research and start some writing so hopefully there will be some more words soon,” said the feisty Jamila, who is currently waging her own battle with brain tumour.

She has successfully undergone a second round of brain surgery and is ‘feeling the best she has been in the last two and a half years’.

Her candid writing on her own medical issues have won her even more fans. (“I lie on top of a made-up hospital bed in the neurosurgery ward, after giving what felt like a litre of blood to the pathologists.

I am not getting under the sheet. I am not putting on a hospital gown. They are acts of acquiescence and I refuse to be sick again. I refuse,” she wrote this year) The latest award must surely have come as welcome respite.

“It is really nice to be applauded, and incredibly humbling. But this does not change what I am doing or trying to do. I have very clear goals in mind for the next few years around my work in gender equality, mental health and multiculturalism and I will keep going down that path regardless.”

www.indianlink.com.au

OPINION

Indian Politics: Worthy of better coverage As fair and frequent political reporting within India gets more difficult, maybe it’s time for Australian media to step up its game BY EDMOND ROY

L

ast Monday, 24 Feb, I received a message from friends in Delhi that the Indian capital was gearing up for some serious violence. Mobs of religious fanatics were attacking shops, homes and religious spaces, while police looked on either helpless or complicit. I did what I do in such situations. I went to the ABC’s webpage. There I was greeted with stories of the Corona Virus, the Sports rorts, several other important local and international stories, but nothing from India. Understandable, I reasoned. After all, news out of India never really makes the front page, television, radio or online in this country, unless of course there’s a nuclear threat or a cricket match in play.

Having scoured the internet for more information, I came back to the ABC’s page to see if things had changed. Nope.

Nothing.

It would not be until Wednesday the 26th that the first item would be displayed on the national broadcaster’s website with the headline: ‘Trump’s visit overshadowed by violence!’

Three days of violence in the Indian capital and the premier news website in Australia did not see fit to publish what was happening in the largest democracy, a close trading partner and a cricketing chum. The ABC was not alone in this delayed response to events in the region.

Nine’s Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and other Newscorp papers did the same. In other words, it was not until the death toll reached double figures, with the promise that it would rise, that news editors across this brown land decided this was worthy of coverage. And therein lies the problem.

By deciding to cover the story based on the number of people killed, the mainstream media is doing us, its clients, a disservice. It’s a story that’s devoid of context. There is no leadup to the events of last week. No context to the coverage of preceding events in Muslim universities, sedition charges against kids, nationwide protests, heavy handed state reprisals and so on. We are given this bone, this immediate news story that the Indian capital is in flames. But for the ‘why’ and the trajectory of the story, the flesh if you will, one has to go elsewhere.

For nearly thirty years, I worked for the ABC. First as a local stringer in Delhi, then as a foreign correspondent, later as a domestic reporter until I retired as an Executive Producer. All this time the

NATIONAL EDITION

general knowledge and understanding of India has been steadily declining. Not just within the general Australian community, but amongst the decision makers in newsrooms. And this, while the number of migrants from the subcontinent to Australia has reached an all-time high.

One can blame the rise of WhatApp groups, satellite television, the Internet and so on, where one can find news and information specific to one's requirements.

Add to this, the shutting down of South Asian bureaux by the mainstream media such as Newscorp, Nine (Fairfax) and the like. For instance, the ABC downgraded its o ces a while back leaving the coverage of the entire region to a “one-person-videojournalist”. A kind of experiment to see just how much one person can be stretched on a small budget. And the coverage shows.

The irony is that reporting on India

is getting harder and harder. Visas for journalists flying in are pretty much nonexistent these days. New Delhi takes any foreign reporting about affairs there very seriously indeed. Especially now, when sectarian foment appears to be state policy.

Add to this the fact that India’s economy is slowing down, taking with it the dreams of more than a billion people who were all promised ‘Ache Din’ not so long ago. Most outlets in Australia depend on the wire services, which means you get the same story repeated on all the major channels.

Dedicated journalists, correspondents and experts are few and far between, with newsrooms content on filling airtime with stock footage and cliched scripting.

At a time when we need more scrutiny of the world’s largest democracy, where state sanctioned violence is on the rise, where dissent is crushed and where the idea of a secular, democratic country is under threat, the Australian media has gone AWOL. We may well be watching the hijacking of a 70-year-old secular experiment in our region by forces intent on remaking it into a theocracy, but if we cover the subcontinent the way we have thus far, we may not hear or see about it until after it’s long gone.

MARCH 2020 15

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ne of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and your family is to give up smoking. While there are many benefits to giving up smoking, Chief Cancer O cer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor David Currow has narrowed down the top five reasons to quit for good: 1. Reducing your risk of many smokingrelated diseases Tobacco smoking is one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and death in Australia. Research estimates that two in three lifetime smokers will die prematurely from a disease caused by smoking. These diseases include many different types of cancer, heart disease, stroke and chronic bronchitis.

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how long you’ve been smoking for, is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing as it reduces your likelihood of smokingrelated diseases and improves your health,” Professor Currow said.

2. Looking after your family Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer. Non-smokers who live with second-hand smoke are at a 20-30 per cent increased risk of lung cancer and a substantially increased risk of heart disease.

“Quitting smoking for the health and wellbeing of your family is a great motivator. It allows you to have a healthier smoke-free home and sets a good example for younger generations,” Professor Currow said.

3. Saving a lot of money With the current cost of cigarettes, a pack-a-day smoker could save around $10,000 each year if they give up the deadly habit.

That’s enough for a nice holiday or to visit family and friends overseas. Within a few years you would have enough saved for a new car!

“The next tobacco tax increase, on 1 September 2020, will see the cost of cigarettes increase by a further 12.5%, so now is the time to quit and save that money for something more important,” Professor Currow said.

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www.indianlink.com.au www.indianlink.com.au

COMMUNITY

Sydney Nirankaris raise $20,000 for bushfire relief T he Sydney branch of the Sant Nirankari Mission Australia has raised in excess of $20,000 for bushfire relief.

A total of $19,150 was donated to the Blacktown City Council Bushfire Appeal, while a small additional sum went towards food, water, toiletry and other essential items to the SES. The Mayor of the Blacktown City Council Tony Bleasdale OAM accepted the donation at an event held at the Mission’s congregation hall in lendenning, the Centre for Oneness.

“I am overwhelmed by the show of support to the appeal by local community organisations and their contribution such as Nirankari Mission,” the Mayor said on the occasion. “This goes a long way in providing relief to communities affected by bushfire.

He also appreciated the teachings of Mission which promotes love and peaceful coexistence.

The 23 Feb event coincided with the ission s uru oo a Diwas at which the current and erstwhile spiritual leaders of the mission are honoured and their teachings recalled.

“More than 300 members who make up the Sydney congregation donated to the

latest fundraiser, Dr urprit anda, a spokesperson of the Sant Nirankari Mission Australia, told Indian Link.

Throughout this summer of devastation, the Mission’s members have contributed actively and selflessly, helping out the SES and RFS by packing relief supplies such as water, clothing, food etc for those affected.

The Mission has, over the past few decades, held numerous blood donation camps, raising funds for the homeless and

organised cleanliness drives for which particularly, their order is well known in India.

The Sant Nirankari Mission is also a part of the Network of Faiths in Blacktown, given its central ideology is based on Universal Brotherhood and Peaceful Coexistence.

The Sydney Chapter also has a strong youth focus; the Mission’s worldwide head Her Holiness Sudiksha Ji blessed thousands of devotees from all over Australia and New

Zealand last year at the Nirankari Youth Symposium.

Dr anda said about the ission, “Founded by Baba Buta Singh Ji Maharaj in , the ission imparts od knowledge to eager seekers of salvation and then encourages its members to serve others with humility as the all-pervading od resides in the heart of all and the service of mankind with this attitude is service of od.

Rajni Anand Luthra

Happy Holi!

From Jodi McKay and your State MPs We wish you and your family a happy Holi!

NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH 2020 17

INDIAN NEWS A fresh batch of evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan arrive in New Delhi’s Chhawala quarantine facility on 27 Feb 2020. Authorities said so far none of the evacuees has tested positive to Covid-19.

Photo: AP

electronics enthusiast with a passion for UI/ UX design, and Hemant Joshi, a backend programmer. The team was selected after various rounds of competition online or through in-person events.

Covid-19 scare hampers Everest expeditions

Delhi violence brings out the best and worst in its people Three days of violence in northeast Delhi left over 25 people dead and over 200 people injured in some of the deadliest riots in the national capital, almost 28 years after the demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.

Residents of Seelampur, Jafarabad, Chand Bagh, Shiv Puri, Karawal Nagar, Maujpur, Joharpur, and Kardampuri woke up to sporadic violence that strained the harmony established by people of different communities living there after the riots in the aftermath of demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992.

The violence stemmed from growing friction between supporters and protestors of the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) by the Modi-led government. Streets were littered with stones, bricks, shattered glasses, burnt vehicles, and razed shops and houses.

However, unity among communities was also displayed in efforts to keep miscreants away by coming out to each other’s security.

Despite incidents of stone pelting and lobbing of petrol bombs by mobs in the Chand Bagh area, locals bonded together to save the Durga temple and the Jama Masjid that stand face to face.

Kalama Ahmed Khan, a Chand Bagh resident, pointed to signboards, saying, “You can see the buildings here have names of Hindus as well as Muslims. By standing united and forming a human chain, we prevented the mob from attacking the religious places. Both Hindus and Muslims stood like a wall and didn’t allow them in the area.”

While the temple and the mosque remained protected from any harm, miscreants torched shops and other establishments facing the road, including a petrol pump and several houses.

Vijay Singh, the owner of a petroleum gas agency that was razed, said a mob of over 3,000 people attacked showrooms and shops. “We heard the noise and provocative slogans being raised. We shuttered the showroom, went upstairs and locked ourselves there,” he said.

The story in Maujpur and Jafarabad was no different where miscreants roamed the streets with iron rods, hockey sticks 18 MARCH 2020

and other implements trying disturb the communal harmony.

Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, who is set to demit o ce by the end of the month, said there were adequate numbers of police personnel deployed, but people strongly doubt his claim. Sources said many calls were made to the police control room headed by I S o cer uktesh Chander but only some were attended. The figures of distress calls would never be made public as per Patnaik’s directions, the sources said.

Parts of north-east Delhi became completely inaccessible for police personnel and people were left to fend for themselves.

“We kept on calling the police control room, but no one came. Our shops were burnt down and houses were attacked,” said Amarjeet Paswan in Karawal Nagar.

At Joharpuri and Karawal Nagar, Special Commissioner of Police S.N. Srivastav, who has been tasked with controlling the situation, found that people armed with bricks were sitting on rooftops. He issued directions to his men to disarm them and catch the perpetrators.

The government has put the death toll at 24, but it is set to rise. An Intelligence Bureau o cial was found dead and his badly beaten body was recovered on Wednesday from a drain in Chand Bagh area.

The government’s figure of around 200 people injured, too, will go up substantially with hospital authorities claiming that many injured people have left for treatment at private hospitals. Many houses are still smouldering as fire brigade could not reach the places to douse the flames. “We were not allowed by the police due to safety reasons at various places,” said a fireman at Joharpuri.

After three days of horror, normalcy started limping back in the Kanda Market area of Maujpur. Speaking to media, a local resident said, “A few shops have reopened on Wednesday. But the people are scared amid rumours making the rounds.” His fear was apparent when he refused to disclose his name.

To restore normalcy, Hindus and Muslims in the Brij Puri area conducted a peace march, raising slogans like ‘Hindu Muslim bhai bhai’, challenging those who look to damage the social fabric of the community.

India to launch its r e e India is set to launch its first earth observation satellite eo Imagining Satellite ISAT- . Announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this state-ofthe-art satellite will provide real-time images of regions at frequent intervals. It will allow monitoring of natural disasters and other such events. IS O said ISAT- will provide spectral signatures of snow, glaciers, forestry, agriculture and oceanography amongst a slew of other geographical benefits.

Weighing over 2,200 kilograms, the satellite will be carried by the three-stage geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle S Vand will launch from the second launch pad at India’s rocket port in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

ISAT- will be placed in geostationary orbit 36,000 above Earth, putting it out of range of most anti-satellite weapons. It is seen as a step towards improving defence requirements for India’s national security.

Indian team comes second in Microsoft Imagine Cup re i An Indian student team have emerged runners-up at Microsoft’s annual “Imagine Cup Asia” regional finals. Hailing from Vellore Institute of Technology in Tamil Nadu and the Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Bengaluru, the team developed an Android app that allows scanning of RFID tags on prescription medication to ensure authenticity and allergen-compatibility with patients.

Named Team Blume, the team will receive $2,500 each for their projects along with fellow runners-up Tulibot from Indonesia and Zest from Singapore.

The Imagine Cup Asia Finals were held via Microsoft Teams between ten teams from seven countries to ensure a place in the World Championships.

“We’re glad to see student teams from across Asia showcase their unique solutions that have the potential to create lasting impact, said ennifer it inger, eneral Manager, Audience Evangelism, Microsoft.

Team Blumecomprised of VR Kathik, an Android developer; Hemant H Kumar, an

The global coronavirus outbreak has resulted in cancellations of major expedition trips to Mount Everest this year. Tour operators in Nepal fear that this will result in severe economic losses this Everest climbing season.

Climbers from coronavirus-affected countries like China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan comprise a large chunk of expeditions that have had to be cancelled.

Damber Parajuli, president of Expedition Operators Association Nepal, has said that this will have “long-term impact” on tourism businesses in the country.

Out of 381 applications for climbing permits in 2019, at least 60 applications had been issued to Chinese nationals. Moreover, China will not be opening its Tibet route to allow Nepali operators for Mount Everest, Shishapangma, and Cho Oyu expeditions.

There has also been a 2 per cent drop in January alone for the ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign. Climbing expeditions account for a large chunk of Nepal’s economy. The government levies $11,000 per person for foreign climbers to Mount Everest while Nepali climbers pay Rs 75,000 per person.

Indian-American appointed as federal court judge An Indian-American judge has created history by becoming the first person of South Asian descent to lead an American federal circuit court. A graduate of Stanford Law School, Judge Sri Srinivasan became the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

Originally appointed by the Obama administration in 2013, Srinivasan had been considered twice for a Supreme Court seat before receiving this position. He succeeded udge errick arland who has been a member of the DC Circuit since 1997 and will remain on the bench.

“It’s natural to doubt whether you belong and whether you’re worthy,” Srinivasan said, “But you do belong and you are worthy.”

Srinivasan’s family hails from Chandigarh, Punjab while he grew up in Lawrence, Kansas.

His appointment received congratulations from many American politicians.

“Congratulations to Judge Sri Srinivasan on becoming the Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit! A milestone for the Indian-American/Kansan community (and yet another piece of evidence my family can use that I’m underachieving),” joked US Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai.

Indian Airlines will now e re i fli i i Indian airlines have received o cial government notification allowing them to provide in-flight WiFi services to passengers.

This facility is widely seen as a move that will allow airlines and telecommunication services to increase revenues.

www.indianlink.com.au

The mood at Government Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, India, 2 March 2020.

Photo: AP

“The Pilot-in-Command may permit the access of Internet services by passengers on board an aircraft in flight, through Wifi on board, when laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, e-reader or a point of sale device is used in flight mode or airplane mode,” stated the Civil Aviation Ministry’s notice.

As per the notice, an aircraft is deemed ‘in flight’ when all external doors are closed following embarkation until any such door is opened for disembarkation.

Vistara Airlines, a joint venture between Tata roup and Singapore Airlines, has already partnered with Tata roup company Nelco for in-flight data services. It is likely to be the first domestic airline to provide WiFi on its flights.

In its latest notice, the government has said that it received no objections from the public with respect to these new rules.

Work towards Ram temple construction begins With heavy-duty machines moving into the 67.7 acres of the Ram Janmabhoomi site to clear the land, work towards constructing the much-debated Ram temple has begun.

Ram Lalla idols will be shifted from the sanctum sanctorum of the make-shift temple to Manas Bhawan where they will be placed in a bulletproof, fiber-glass structure until the temple is complete. No rituals have been formed in the temple since the Centre acquired the land in 1993.

“It is a memorable moment for Hindus,” said Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the makeshift temple.

The site is also home to more than 12 ancient temples including Ram Janmasthan and Sita Rasoi. A decision has yet to be taken whether these temples will be included in the Ram Janmabhoomi site or whether they will be relocated elsewhere.

Over 37,500 Indians werein the UK on student visa in 2019 Latest immigration data indicates that the United Kingdom continues to grow in popularity as a destination for Indian students to pursue their studies.

According to the UK Immigration Statistics, over 37,500 Indians received Tier 4 (or student visas) in 2019, a marked increase of 93 per cent from the previous year. lobally, Indians are the fastest growing nationality for student visas.

“This phenomenal increase in student visa numbers is a testament both to the UK’s leading education system and the exceptional talents of Indian students. We couldn’t be prouder that the best and brightest continue to pick the UK,” said Jan Thompson, acting UK High Commissioner to India.

In 2019, 95 per cent of Indian nationals who applied for a UK visa were successful.

This growth in issuing visas follows recent visa policy changes by the UK government.

They established a new point-based immigration system, along with a new graduate route that allows eligible students to stay in the UK for two years after completing their studies there.

Air pollution in India could lead to kidney diseases New research has found that people living in NATIONAL EDITION

countries with higher levels of air pollution, like India and China, might be at risk of developing kidney diseases.

“As rates of chronic kidney diseases rise worldwide, it is important to understand whether and how exposure to air pollution plays a role,” said study researcher Matthew F. Blum from the Johns Hopkins University in the US. The study’s findings were published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The research examined information of 10,997 adults from 1996 to 2016.

They found that exposure to higher amounts of ‘fine particular matter’ (tiny particles of air pollution) was associated with higher degree of albuminuria, a marker of kidney dysfunction. uture studies will look towards efforts to improve air quality yield health benefits and its impact of chronic kidney disease rate.

India gained 34 new billionaires in 2019 According to the Hurun lobal ich ist 2020, India jumped two spots to rank third in a global billionaires list despite economic slowdown in 2019.

The rich list is a compilation of the richest 3,000 people across the world with a net worth of $1 billion or more. While the top ten billionaires are familiar names like eff Be os , Bill ates , ark uckerberg and ukesh Ambani , India has added 34 new names to the list to have a total of 138 billionaires in the country.

Data reveals that Mumbai hosts 50 billionaires followed by New Delhi with 30 billionaires and Bengaluru with 17 billionaires.

“A boom in tech valuations and strong stock markets across the US, India and China have propelled the billionaires to record highs,” explains Hurun Report Chihairman and Chief Researcher, Rupert Hoogewerf.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd, was the only Asian in the top 10, but other Indian billionaires witnessed improvements in their net worth. autam Adani of Adani roup saw an increase from $7.1 billion to $17 billion while Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd, saw an increase of $1 billion.

Uday Kotak, chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, joined the top 100 list this year at $15 billion.

Anas Rahman Junaid, Hurun Report India MD and Chief Researcher, said that Indian billionaires are “defying gravity” and that structural slowdown in the economy did not dampen the growth of their wealth.

e i e e r Indian to receive premium ‘Green Card’ in Saudi Arabia An Indian retail tycoon based in Abu Dhabi has become the first Indian to receive premium residency in Saudi Arabia. usuff Ali was ranked as the richest e pat in the United Arab Emirates by Forbes Magazine in 2019. He has now received premium residency, informally called the Saudi reen Card, that allows him the right to live, work, and own business and property in the Kingdom without requiring a sponsor.

This ‘Premium Residency’ is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 that was announced

by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It looks to target key investors and personalities in fields like sports and arts who have played a definitive role in building the nation.

In 2019, 73 foreigners of various citizenships were granted this ‘premium residency’ by Saudi Arabia.

“This is a great honour not only for me but for the entire Indian expat community and I sincerely thank His Majesty the King Salman, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the government of Saudi Arabia,” said the 65-year-old tycoon.

He is chairman of the u u roup that owns and operates more than 35 hypermarkets and supermarkets across Saudi Arabia.

Indian-origin researcher e re r tuberculosis detection An Indian-origin researcher was lead author of a medical science team who found a blood test that can detect tuberculosis nearly six months before its onset in patients. ishi upta of the niversity College London and his team published their findings in Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal that they believe will help in using antibiotics better and curing tuberculosis

(TB) patients earlier.

The researchers conducted a systemic review of public gene signatures in blood samples from TB patients. Through this, 17 ‘gene expression’ signatures for the disease were identified and tested against blood samples in data sets from South Africa, The ambia, Ethiopia, and the K. They found that measurement of a single gene expression could predict TB diagnoses within three to six months. This could result in new diagnostic tests as per World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. “(This) provides real hope for the management of infectious diseases,” e plained upta.

Trump rejects broccoli samosa Would you eat a broccoli samosa?

No thank you, you say? Right!

There’s been a brouhaha about the Trumps ‘not touching’ anything from the special high tea prepared for them - it was all vegetarian, and included that fusion attempt at the humble samosa.

Award-winning chef Suresh Khanna reportedly invented the preparation for his high-profile guests as they visited Ahmedabad s andhi Ashram. The guests had already caused something of a stir, given the President has no palate for vegetarian food, so you’d expect the chef to take great pains. Well, he did apparently: he created a menu featuring khaman, said samosa and apple pie. That last one was intended to add a touch of familiarity, but no, it did not go down all well.

Are we surprised? Indian Twitter wasn’t. And now Broccoli Samosa has become a thing.

Deepal Trivedi, a local journalist who as at the presidential high tea, tweeted: “The BroccoliSamosa is a miserable snack. ot a single person finished a full one! Wish there was something genuinely Indian for high tea rather than this bastardised version of our yummy samosa.

Rachita Prasad, another Indian journalist, said BroccoliSamosa is OT a samosa and added, “If you change a samosa’s fillings, you are playing with feelings!” onder if andhi i would have finished his broccoli samosa…

IANS MARCH 2020 19

YOUTH

What we ca for future

Elevate 2020, the annual conference of t deliberates on communi BY HASVEEN CHAHAL

T

he realities of the changing composition of the Sikh community in Australia, most of whom are migrants working in structurally declining industries, has provoked a group of young Sikh professionals to think about how best to serve the migrant community. iven this desire to serve the community, “Sangat (community) of the Future” was the aptly chosen theme for the Young Sikh Professionals Network (YSPN) annual conference, Elevate 2020, held on 22 February in Melbourne. The purpose of this annual conference is to inspire young Sikhs and to collaborate on solutions to some of the most pressing issues affecting their community. The conference, attended by 120 delegates from across Australia and New Zealand, featured some of the most eminent Indian leaders from the region who canvassed their career successes and spoke on the broadened scope of sewa (selfless service) to create a more visible community.

In the report Economic Impact of Sikhs prepared by YSPN for Elevate 2019, an analysis of data from the last three census findings revealed that Sikhs are the fastest growing ethnic minority in Australia. Between 2006 and 2016, the Sikh community experienced 404% growth, with a current population of 125,000 people. However, a deeper look into this

20 MARCH 2020

data shows that there is a disproportionately high representation of Sikhs in structurally declining industries due to factors such as rapid automation. This risks forming a divided community with an underclass of less-skilled migrants, a disengaged middle and an upper-class elite. Against this backdrop, YSPN challenged the delegates to take ownership of these issues to help shape the ‘Sangat,’ or community, of the future.

Delegates learnt from the success stories of eminent Sikh leaders from political, health, business and entrepreneurial backgrounds. Dhruv Deepak Saxena, Director of Riverina Oils and Bio-Energy, captivated the audience in his keynote speech as he spoke about overcoming the struggles of building credibility during his career as an Indian immigrant. Mr Saxena called for the audience to strive for a future where the Western world recognises more than lone figures of success such as Ajay Banga and Sundar Pichai as representatives of the Indian community.

Rather, he expressed the dire need for the Indian diaspora to band together to create collective success, which will bolster the credibility of the entire community.

In the panel discussion ‘Igniting the Dormant Potential of Migrants’ speakers Amit Singh (Senior Advisor for Alpha Beta), Mandeep Sodhi (founder of Hash Ching) and Shamila opalan, CEO of Herwit discussed the inherent desire for every person to be seen and to be heard. The insight gained here was that the established community can and must support new migrants in navigating their new environment. s opalan s female perspective was particularly inspiring as

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an do now e sangat

the Young Sikh Professionals Network, ity trends for the future she spoke of the need for women to guide, motivate and embolden their sisters, especially recent arrivals, to pursue their goals.

Recognising the surplus motivation, skills and energy that exists in our community, a second panel discussion explored how we can channel these resources to ‘Coordinate Sewa Across the Community.’ Dr Malvindar Singh-Bains, a neuroscientist at the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research and Young New Zealander of the Year finalist, amazed delegates when she described how she took brain specimens to her local urdwara to teach children about brain disease. Ms Singh-Bains used this as an example to illustrate the ease of how we can selflessly serve our community with our pre-existing knowledge and skillset.

As the day progressed, the energy in the room became palpable as delegates felt empowered and excited to develop the solutions to the community’s most pressing problems. YSPN challenged delegates to diagnose and solve these problems through a facilitated workshop session centered on the pillars of migration and sewa. The groups distilled their ideas down to eight solutions that delegates were invited to pledge their commitment to. In addition to the delegates pledging their time to execute these initiatives, over $5,000 in donations was received on the day through a crowdfunding campaign, which reinforced the enthusiasm among delegates to see these initiatives come to life. Among the solutions were: a comprehensive migrant support website, gurudwara pop-ups for migrants, partnering with migrant service organisations, and an online platform to

NATIONAL EDITION

connect sewadars (volunteers) with those migrants who need help navigating through life in Australia.

The event concluded with a ala Dinner, which was an opportunity to celebrate Divine Steps Festival, Australia’s largest interfaith music festival for uru anak Dev Ji’s 550th birthday hosted by Sikh Youth Australia in November 2019.

The night also featured a Q&A session with corporate leader Pam Bains, CFO Aurizon, who spoke on how networks and mentorship were instrumental in her career success.

The night’s proceedings concluded with Ramneek Singh, Chair of YSPN, presenting the new strategy of YSPN. In his speech, Mr Singh described the renewed objective of the organisation is to ‘channel sewa to develop ethical Sikh leaders for a productive and inclusive broader community.’

The conference demonstrated the ambition that exists among young professionals to take on the issues that are currently hindering the progress of the Sikh community.

Personally, I believe this event was immensely successful and forward thinking.

With the seeds now sowed, I’m excited to see these projects come to life and the legacy they will leave for the community.

YSPN was formed in 2012 with the aim of empowering young Indian diaspora in the workforce by providing mentorship, developing networks and building advocacy in the Sikh and Australian professional communities. To learn more, visit www.yspn.org.au

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NATIONAL EDITION

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MARCH 2020 23

CULTURE DIARIES

Loving right now A list of Indian Link’s current favourites

DRINK

WATCH

For those people always caught between homely chai and the much-needed kick of coffee, we present the best of both worlds – dirty chai! This unique beverage has become the newest fad, combining milk and earthy spices with a shot of well-roasted espresso. It may leave some baristas scratching their heads, but believe us, you’ll be savouring every cup of this quirky drink.

Aptly released on Valentine’s Day, Netflix’s Taj Mahal 1989 is about love stories before the days of dating apps. Taking place in Lucknow University the same year of Sachin Tendulkar’s debut and the infamous Mandal commission, the series evokes nostalgia, sometimes bittersweet. Enjoy glimpses of forgotten cassette tapes, landlines, and old currency notes in this sweet, binge-able (but not altogether ground breaking) series.

READ

LISTEN

Acclaimed British-Indian-Australian author Bem Le Hunte returns with Elephant With Headlights, a love story that reminds us of the cultural clashes of tradition and modernity. An Indian daughter refuses to wed, her brother finds love with an Australian woman, and their forlorn parents can’t do anything about it! Breathtaking from the first page, this warm tale will keep you reading through the night.

There’s so much going on in the world, it can be hard to keep track, right? 3 Things, the flagship podcast by the Indian Express, helps you out here. Featuring both Indian and international news, 3 Things distils everything down to the must-know information.

Available on Apple Podcasts, each episode is less than 20 minutes long. What better way to catch up on headlines?

24 MARCH 2020

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SCHOOL

A plan to deal with bullies

How to help your child transition through school and adolescence without being brought down by bullies BY MOHAN DHALL

T

he story of Quaden Bayles, the Queensland nine-year-old who was bulled for dwarfism, has touched hearts worldwide in recent days. It has raised the issue of bullying in school, which worries most parents and is a problem for a surprisingly high proportion of children during their school years.

Bullying is harmful behaviour that can leave a long-term impact. It is the repeated use of aggression to dominate, intimidate or terrify, and can be verbal, physical, social or online.

It can take place on the playground, subtly in classrooms, or before and after school.

Many children from our own community have to deal with the taunts of a dark and/ or hairy skin, smelly food or BO. In essence though, all kids during adolescence face bodily changes as they mature into young adulthood. These changes can be confusing as there is a search for identity, and peer relationships can change, become strained or even fracture.

In times of change, psychological and physical, adolescents are vulnerable.

Children who go through physical maturation earlier than their age peers may be taunted for showing adult features – such as a boy’s hairy face or a girl’s breast development. This can be extremely disconcerting for the young adult who may feel self-conscious, ashamed, isolated and uncertain about themselves and their changing body.

The physical changes are met with identity questions such as what it means to be a young woman or man or what is the nature of my gender. These questions come in a period of psychological flux in the sense that the adolescent does not feel settled or supported. At such time comments about a young woman’s facial hair or a young man’s lack of facial hair can be particularly confronting.

Bullying can occur in a range of settings, targeting extrinsic factors like school name and uniform, to cultural group or religious

NATIONAL EDITION

Ensure you know the Anti-Bullying Policy at your child’s school; and that any approach to the school should include a written record including minutes of meetings and follow up e i r e er r i happened in any meetings. beliefs; how a person gets to school; what their parent’s occupation is, and more directly personal aspects such as physical changes, features and normal body adaptations. iven this, what can parents do to help their child transition through school and adolescence without being brought down by bullies?

Firstly, parents must learn to understand the feeling associated with being bullied. Telling a child to be strong or fight back does NOT tell a child that they are known or understood. Victims of bullying need to know that their fear and anxiety is real.

They need to have understood that they

will feel trepidation going to school as bullying makes children feel uncertain and lacking in trust. After all, if schools were safe spaces, how could bullying occur in and around them?

Once it is clear that a parent can identify and name feelings without judgement, then children will know that they are understood. Understanding a child’s feeling normalises and validates the experience and will help them not to blame themselves.

Secondly, a parent needs to reassure their child that the child is not alone and that the parent will help them through and make sure they are safe and protected. This should be articulated and not assumed. Parents should show leadership in this sense.

In terms of schools, often parents and more particularly children are reluctant to approach schools due to the fear of being labelled a ‘dobber’ or a troublemaker. It takes courage to call out bullies and even greater courage to follow processes that trust an authority (the school). The feeling about the school may be ambivalent. There have been some well publicised instances when schools have failed in their duty of care to properly support victims of bullying.

Parents should ensure they know the School Anti-Bullying Policy and that any approach to the school includes a written record including minutes of meetings and follow up by email or letter confirming what happened in any meetings. This is essential so that the child and the parents can be sure of what support is being given and are clear about the processes and steps undertaken to resolve bullying issues.

Counselling children, enrolling them in self-defence classes, spending more time with them, watching for any changes in behaviour are all forms of support that can assist a child to feel safe when bullies have struck.

Parents should be alert but calm, assuring and supporting, strong enough to take actions through appropriate channels calling it out for what it is - and be more present and focused. These are the keys to supporting children and overcoming bullying.

MARCH 2020 25

TRAVEL

French legacy

Urban Hanoi

Top Ten Hanoi The bustling capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is one of the oldest capitals of the world, as well as one of the fastest growing cities today freshly baked croissants or a baguette, the church's most noteworthy features are the impressive twin bell towers, sumptuous altar and fine stained-glass windows and the towering façade.

BY SANDIP HOR

L

IMPERIAL CITADEL OF THANG LEONG

ike with any Indian metropolis, Hanoi is a picture of crowds, chaos and cacophony. It’s perhaps one of the reasons why travel connoisseurs from the nearing one-million strong Indian diaspora down under love visiting.

With its gorgeous French colonial and traditional Vietnamese architecture and teeming with history, culture and friendly locals, the city’s attractions are endless.

If you are a first-time visitor, here’s your ‘must-visit’ list.

Over 1300 years old, this World Heritage listed site is the nation’s historical and cultural pride. As the home of ancient Vietnamese Emperors, the walled complex included many palaces, temples, pagodas towers, observatories, ponds and wells. The foundations of the site were discovered by archaeologists during recent excavations.

TEMPLE OF LITERATURE

HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM Ask a local about the sites to visit in this bustling city, and the unanimous answer first up will be the final resting place the country’s greatest leader Ho Chi Minh.

His preserved body lies in a glass co n inside a colossal granite structure solemnly guarded by immaculately white uniformed military personnel.

HOUSE OF STILT A site of pilgrimage for most Vietnamese people, this modest and traditional stilt house was the home of Ho Chi Minh over a decade after becoming President of North Vietnam in 1954. It stands today in a leafy complex as a clear representation of the great leader’s simple lifestyle.

FRENCH MEMOIRS The French colonisers lived in Hanoi for almost 70 years and built the city, formerly called Thang Long, as a modest replica of Paris. Their leftovers mark the older part of the city where mustard yellow European 26 MARCH 2020

Water Puppet Theatre

styled buildings fitted with green window shutters flank tree lined avenues and boulevards. Amongst several, the most lens-captured are the Beaux style former French Presidential Palace, Hanoi Opera House and the Metropole Hotel.

HOANKIEM LAKE Hanoi breathes around this water mass throughout the day and night with locals and tourists walking, jogging, exercising, playing badminton and even romancing to drinking tea, getting their portrait drawn or simply doing nothing but sitting on a bench and lazily gazing at the rippling water. A sight not to miss here is the revered Ngoc Son Temple which sits on a small island connected to shore by a red coloured bridge.

HANOI OLD QUARTER The city’s most captivating area, this quarter full of life, colour and vivacity was established in the 15th century with 36 lanes each specialising in one of 36 trading guilds. Things may have changed now, but the streets are still lined with shops of different kinds, making the area a nest of fusion between past and present. Best way to browse this area is by taking a ride on a cyclo – a three wheeled rickshaw pedalled by the driver from the behind.

ST JOSEPH’S CATHEDRAL The -inaugurated neo- othic St Joseph Cathedral is again a key leftover from the French era and currently the hub of Hanoi’s catholic community. Surrounded by cafes and patisseries serving frothy latte,

One of the city’s most picturesque tourist attractions, this complex started its journey in the 11th century as a university dedicated to Confucius. The buildings, which were once used by the Ly and Tran dynasty royals, display traditional-style Vietnamese architecture. The ancient site also presents a small lake, well, turtle steles, pavilions, passageways and courtyards once used by scholars and sages.

WATER PUPPET THEATRE A city icon, this ancient art form of water puppetry reveals the nation’s cultural heritage and showcases many interesting legends like the one linked with HoanKiem Lake and the giant tortoise.

LONG BIEN BRIDGE Built by the French architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris in 1902, this 1682m long cantilever bridge was the first across the Red River and stands today as a city landmark like the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata.

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Thang Long Royal Citadel

Long Bien Bridge

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK Getting There Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com) offers direct flights from Sydney to Hanoi on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and other days via Ho Chi Minh.

St Joseph’s Cathedral

Ngoc Son Temple

Stay Thang Long Opera Hotel (opera.thanglonghanoihotels. com) located close to all the attractions Ground Operator Vietravel (www. vietravel.com) is one Vietnam’s biggest and most trusted tour operators with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Visa 30-day tourist visa from the Vietnam Embassy (vietnamembassy.org.au) in Canberra or Consulate in Sydney.

Temple of Literature

Old Quarter food scene

House of Stilt

Hanoi Opera House

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Indian Restaurant Yes the city has a few: Namaste Hanoi (www. namastehanoi.com ) in the citycentre is popular with curryloving locals and visitors.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

MARCH 2020 27

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WOLLERT’S MAGNETIC NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

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MARCH 2020 29

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MATRIMONIALS to 26 years, settled in Australia. He is an Australian citizen, a degree-holder and is working full time. Please email details with photo to chandshaadi2020@gmail.com

SEEKING GROOMS Seeking professionally qualified, settled match for 46-year-old Sydneybased, 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 to Indsyd2016@gmail.com.

SEEKING BRIDES Seeking professionally qualified, settled match for 45-year-old Sydneybased, never married Australian Citizen, Hindu Punjabi (Khatri) man,6’,athletic build. He is aproject manager with an engineering background, working in a private organisations.

Please email details with photo to Indsyd2016@gmail.com.

Parents of Fiji-born,26-year-old Hindu boy, tall, from respected family are looking for an educated and honest bride aged 23

30 MARCH 2020

Brisbane-based 46-year-old male, Australian citizen, Hindu, seeks match. Divorced, kids living with former partner. He is an engineer by profession in the mining industry. Seeking Australia-based bride aged 45 years and below; religion no bar, divorced/widowed ok, but must be willing to relocate to Brisbane.

Contact 0448 323 029.

Himalaya Spice Centre

‘You name it, we have it’ YO U R O N E - STO P S P I C E S H O P

Seeking suitable match for a handsome, never married 34-year- old Hindu Malayalee boy. 5’9”, born and brought up in Australia.

Well educated and works for a leading bank in Sydney. Seeking a girl between 24 -31 years old, caste no bar. Please send details with photos to bausv2020@gmail.com Seeking match for Australian born Punjabi Sikh (Khatri)man. 30-year-old, respected lawyer in Melbourne. Girl must be Sikh and permanently settled in Australia. Please emailchanpreetmohali@yahoo.com or WhatsApp +61423932282.

Indian Christian Protestant parents seeking a suitable match for their 39-year-old son.

He is a Software Engineer, born and brought up in Australia. Seeking a Protestant girl between 31-36 years old. Please email sammy5073@gmail.com or call 0403836360.

1 Station Street Thornleigh, NSW • 9481 8200

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FORETELL

March 2020

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

TAROT

ARIES March 21 - April 19

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

CANCER June 21 - July 20

Someone close to you could cause you a major disappointment; it could even be your spouse. Self-protect and withdraw from the situation till you can recover from this setback. At work, you could feel burnt out. Some depressing news about a friend or family member gets you down. Constipation could add to your woes. Be assertive when it comes to asking for what is owed to you moneywise. If someone has to come back to your life, they will.

Those looking for a new apartment might just find one close to where they grew up. The card drawn for you also stands for the sign of Sagittarius so the normally placid Taureans might decide to spend more time outdoors. You are not fully convinced that the relationship you are in, is one of depth. A new approach to your work could be lucrative. Finances are improving but there are still blocks in collecting money owed to you. Don’t ignore any persisting health problems.

This month could signify an important event in your life. You are impatient to reach your goals in your personal and professional life. If a marriage is on the rocks, it might end in a divorce. Unexpected arrival of money is a good sign as you have been feeling a cash crunch lately. If there is any unresolved issue at work, just wait it out and it will resolve.You have completed one destiny cycle and a turbulent time will end soon.

The card drawn for you stands for the sign of Pisces so the July-born could find themselves indulging in creative pursuits.

Work related projects keep you busy. Your routine could undergo a sudden change.

You could reexamine your priorities in life and an office romance could be in the offing. Problems with your feet or knees could be indicated. Your income is currently more than enough to let you indulge in retail therapy. A much sought after answer to a problem will be given.

LEO July 21 - Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

You could find yourself at a crossroad in life in your work, love life or even future decisions. You could meet someone with whom you might feel an instant soul connection; it will lead to a meaningful relationship. Tensions at work make you question whether it is worth it but this is only temporary. Pay attention to your dreams and your gut instincts. They will be accurate in their message. Money remains blocked but some comes in from another source.

A change in lifestyle or giving up of certain habits is indicated with this card.

New opportunities, a new start on the career front could also come your way. A rocky relationship could end though you might continue to have feelings. Delays could eventuate in travel plans. Don’t get depressed at the current turn of events.

Things will change for the better soon. A loss of income is also indicated. Let go of certain people or situations that are not in your favour.

Sevens in the drawn cards denote a period of solitude or introspection.

They also indicate unexpected gains.

Disappointment in love convinces you to go it alone. Anxiety at work will encourage you to save more. Health issues like panic attacks or anxiety will leave you unable to take on any more stress. Right now your financial situation is iffy but it will change for the better in the future.

The right kind of help will arrive soon to take you forward.

This month you focus on financial security as you seek to consolidate your resources. A good financial opportunity is coming your way - perhaps a business with a close friend - and you will make profits. If in a long-distance relationship, logistical issues can be overcome if one is determined. If you encounter obstacles, trust the Universe because it means you could be going in the wrong direction. Don’t ignore a persisting health condition or it could get worse.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20

You might be feeling oppressed at work and want to get out. No matter what comes your way, use your intellect and determination to fight it. You could change your mind and refuse a job offer; trust your instincts. Negative events leave you feeling trapped but you can walk away with new solutions at hand. Money is tight so spend carefully. Watch your health at home and while driving; be wary of electric gizmos. Unexpected gains are foretold.

Aces are drawn for you, indicating new beginnings and new perspectives. With the coming of Autumn, expect to see your issues in new colour and from new standpoints. You will wish your partner was more loving if involved, or will long for a relationship if single. You might consider travel. Your business will start to thrive though it has been slow in the past. If you have been unwell, you will recover. Keep your attitude positive as prosperity is around the corner.

Success at work is a given this month. Your efforts come to fruition and you might even do something different that brings you into the limelight. Watch what you might inadvertently say as their reaction might surprise you. A much-needed break is on the cards so make sure you get enough rest. A payment is also in the offing. What has looked like a lost cause so far suddenly works out to your benefit. Things come together in your work and personal life.

The card drawn for you stands for Libra, so the dreamy Pisceans could find themselves on the horns of a dilemma. You want to get ahead and seek clarity; in a conflict, try to see the viewpoint of others as well. A lack of a sense of purpose could leave you frustrated at work. You or a family member could need medical attention for an infection. If caught in legal tangles, the decision will be in your favour.

NATIONAL EDITION

MARCH 2020 31

VALENTINE’S DAY

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

Prabhu and Neetha Maligapogu

P

rabhu 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

32 MARCH 2020

Sangeeta and Bhavin Solanki with their son Arhaan

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

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

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, o ce romance memories, Ekta described. “One contestant wrote to ‘The one that got away’ and signed it off as rom 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.

‘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.

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FOOD

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

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

S

alad – 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 o ce 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 e tra virgin olive oil too. rate in some garlic to boost up the flavours which make this chickpea, carrot and radish salad a really delicious one.

NATIONAL EDITION

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; finely sliced ¼ cup pine nuts; toasted 3 celery sticks; chopped 3 sprigs parsley leaves; finely 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.

MARCH 2020 33

ENTERTAINMENT

The BUZZ UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT’S HOT AND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD

SINGING ABOUT WOMEN’S DAY Singer-composer Vasuda Sharma brings together some of Bollywood’s biggest names to create a Women’s Day special song. It features an all-women cast, of course. Singers include the likes of Shreya Ghosal, Neeti Mohan, AkritiKakar, Suzanne D’Mello, Shruti Pathak, Shashaa Tirupati and Aditi Paul amongst others.

“Everybody coming in, supporting each other, and wanting to create this piece of music together itself was overwhelming for me,” says Sharma.

The song will be titled Aashna ban jaayein and the rest of the all-female cast includes female technicians, videographers, make-up artists and musicians. Talk about girl power!

Sharma points out that the song isn’t about how women can outdo women. “The theme is centered more around sisterhood, women supporting each other, women coming together, and creating something beautiful,” she beamed.

AS INDIA BURNS, A NEW COP FILM IS SET TO OPEN

S

BOLLYWOOD FOR BUSHFIRE RELIEF

ome of our favourite Bollywood women are putting their fame to good use by turning their sights to bushfire-devastated Australia. Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja will be selling select pieces from their fashionable personal wardrobes to raise funds for the recovery of wildlife affected by the recent bushfires out here in Oz. This will be the seventh edition of Mi Wardrobe is Su Wardrobe (MiSu), Alia’s closet sharing initiative, on saltscout. com. The collection is set to feature stunning pieces previously owned by these actresses who routinely feature on Best Dressed lists.

Earlier wardrobes by MiSu has

supported social enterprises like Being Human – The Salman Khan Foundation, The Corbett Foundation, and Salaam Bombay Foundation.

“The bushfires were an ecological disaster and the effects can be seen well beyond Australia’s geographical limits,” said Alia, explaining why Australia’s bushfires were chosen as her closet sharing initiative’s newest cause.

The Gully Boy star also called images of burnt and bruised animals from the bushfires “heartbreaking.”

Sonam added, “Many organisations are working tirelessly on the ground to rescue and rehabilitate the birds and animals – sharing my wardrobe through MiSu is another small way in which I can

continue to support their efforts.”

This year saw one of Australia’s worst bushfire seasons with over 18.6 million hectares of land burnt, more than 5,900 buildings destroyed, and over thirty people killed. An estimated one billion animals are believed to have died.

Priyanka said the initiative was just one of many ways “to come together in support of this global tragedy.”

Good on you, ladies, for your donated goodies, and for helping the animals in our backyard.

Check out Alia’sjootis and sneakers, Priyanka’s studded pumps and jumpsuits, and Sonam’s asymmetric dresses and kaftans at saltscout.com

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty says that he doesn’t believe in showing police brutality in his films.

The director is known for his Bollywood cop universe like the Singham series, Simmba, and upcoming Akshay-Kumar starrer Sooryavanshi. The film stars Akshay Kumar as DCP Veer Sooryavanshi, head of the Anti-Terrorism Squad.

At the film’s launch, director Rohit Shetty was asked about glorifying police brutality in his films, especially regarding the ongoing unrest in Delhi.

“I have never shown (police) brutality in my films,” he insisted.

He said that a lot of research went into Sooryavanshi and many police officers contributed to making the film.

Regarding recent events in Delhi, Rohit Shetty urged fans to remain calm.

“We have no idea about the ground realities. None of us know what it feels like

GUESS REASSESS GUESS WHICH SUPERSTAR? After an A-lister walked out at the eleventh hour, this filmmaker approached a superstar. But the latter went on to ask for modifications like changing the film's title, script alteration, choosing other actors - one of them being his small-time actor brother-in-law and two others that he has launched. He also wanted to have a say in the music. The final straw was when one of the recommended stars was called for a screen test, and he asked for a script before committing for the film. The producer and director decided to shelve the movie entirely 34 MARCH 2020

rather than make a compromised version and put up with the superstar's tantrums.

GUESS WHICH REMAKE?

it looks as though all the complaints have paid off, since the producers of the remake gave everyone a big fat paycheque – except, reportedly, the director.

Talk has been around for a while about the remake of this yesteryear superhero flick, but now that it's finally happening, it’s riddled with controversy. The original team was furious as nobody had been consulted, no permissions sought, no rights asked for. Then the director and writer of the original work got into a battle of words. The actor remained silent but his star daughter expressed her displeasure quite publicly. Finally,

A young starlet who claims she has struggled for her Filmfare award, is said to be dating her co-star who has been on and off with a young star daughter.

Not so long ago, the starlet was spotted regularly with another co-star who was dating the starlet's BFF! We are losing track of the racy musical chairs of this new gen!

GUESS WHICH STARLET?

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us on our Facebook page /IndianLinkAustralia to be in riots or in situations like that,” said the director.

Akshay Kumar of course has played the cop in many films. How does it feel to put on the wardi (uniform) yet again?

"It’s nice,” he replied. “There is dignity attached to uniform.Not just the police uniform, but whenever I wear any uniform - Army officer, Navy or Air Force - it feels very nice. I feel very fortunate that we (actors) get the opportunity to get into the shoes of so many individuals."

Set to release on 24 March, we’ll just have to wait and see how fortunate the Sooryavanshi team feels!

DISHA PATANI FOR EK VILLIAN SEQUEL This girl is going places! Disha Patani is set for another action-packed outing on the big screen, having just come on board for the sequel of 2014 sleeper hit Ek Villain.

Reportedly, Disha, starring alongside Aditya Roy Kapur and John Abraham, will play a character inspired by Rosamund Pike's role in the 2014 Hollywood film Gone Girl. Director Mohit Suri said of her, “Disha walked up to me and said I want to do more action, beat up people, perform stunts, kick some butt. I want to be the hero," Mohit said.

On Disha's character in the movie, Mohit said, "While the recent Malang brought Disha's freespirited avatar to light, this one will showcase her as an integral part of the action-franchise."

Disha's latest release Malang is seeing profits at the box office. She will soon

be seen doing a special dance number in Baaghi 3. Later this year, she stars opposite Salman Khan in Radhe and also has the film KTina coming up.

Busy busy…

WORTH WAITING FOR? YOU DECIDE! Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has announced an international spy thriller series Special Ops. Based on events of national significance spanning a period of 19 years, it is currently being shot across international locations including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Jordan and India. With a keen focus on quality and research, Special Ops has been written by Pandey himself along with two other writers."We have tried to recreate real-life events that have somewhere affected our lives over the past few years," Pandey said.

We’ll check it out for sure.

DILJIT: MOVE OVER KYLIE? Just like his name, Punjab’s favourite Diljit Dosanjh won over Twitter this month with his Ivanka Trump post. You know the one we’re talking about (if not, then you’re living under a rock, kar lo gal!)

“Me and Ivanka. Piche hee peygaee.

Kehndni Taj Mahal Jana Taj Mahal Jana… #tajmahalmaifer ley geya,horkikarda?”

(She was after me to see the Taj Mahal so I took her, what else could I have done?”)

Of course it grew even cuter as Ivanka herself played along.

DISHA PATANI

Thanks for taking me to the Taj, she replied to Diljit.

The post has been trending on Instagram and has garnered over 150,000 likes. You’ve got to admit, it’s cute in its simplicity, and surprisingly powerful enough to generate a million more sitting-Ivanka memes.

Diljit is known for his sense of humour, especially regarding American personalities. Most famously, he declared his love for reality show star and Kylie Cosmetics founder, Kylie Jenner.

ON TWITTER THIS WEEK

Match the following stars to the tweets below.

Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan, Ram Gopal Verma

What’s Shilpa Shetty thinking as she eats her makhan-malai breakfast?

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WINNER

A director standing by his film rejected by the audience is like him telling a girl “I love myself and I don't care if you don't love me” I idolized Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj since school. Of course, when making Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior, I got reintroduced to his bravery and emotions.

Salute one of India’s bravest sons on his birthday anniversary.

Being a father (3x) has been my greatest source of pride, humility, inspiration and even achievement. It has taught me to choose innocent honesty over smarts in every aspect of life. My li’l one told me I look better than him in his drawing cos I am smiling without a reason....

SONAM KAPOOR

What’s Ananya Panday thinking here?

This cost my dad more than what it weighs Keyuri Thakkar Patel Congratulations Keyuri! You win a movie ticket.

AY KUMAR

NATIONAL EDITION

DILJIT DOSANJH

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MARCH 2020 35

ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK ON SYSTEMIC SEXISM

THAPPAD STARRING: Taapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati, Kumud Mishra, Ratna Pathak Shah, Tanvi Azmi, Maya Sarao, Dia Mirza, Manav Kaul DIRECTOR: Anubhav Sinha

HHHH Thappad, Anubhav Sinha recently declared, is meant to be the concluding feature of his ‘discrimination trilogy' the other two being Mulk (2018), which spoke of bigotry in the name of religion, and Article 15 (2019), his manifesto on oppression on the basis of caste.

Thappad trains focus on gender discrimination to complete the picture.

Gender can be a sensitive subject, more so if you look at it through the prism of subjugation. A conversation on the topic could easily turn into sermonising.

Sinha's biggest credit as far as Thappad goes is that he maintains a balance in tone, never getting overly preachy with what his narrative has to convey.

Thappad is not about domestic violence, unlike what the title or prerelease promotion may have indicated.

The film merely utilises a random, impulsive act of slapping to lay out an intricate portrait of marital exploitation that could be happening within the confines of any household that might maintain a picture of calm on the outside.

Importantly, the film questions the male entitlement of superiority in a relationship.

Sinha and co-writer Mrunmayee Lagoo set the tone for that idea right from the early frames, long before the film's highlight, titular act of violence actually happens. We spot it in little things that define the life of protagonist Amrita (Taapsee Pannu). It is a given, for instance, that she is the one who must wake up to turn off the alarm clock that her husband Vikram (Pavail Gulati) sets, so that he can get up on time for work.

If he must work all night, she should be around to fix the printer, and she must also be there to brew the perfect cuppa for her in-laws early next morning.

For Amrita, according that advantage to Vikram would seem like a natural thing, mainly due to the superior stature

of his family that is unsaid in the script and yet subtly portrayed. She is okay with the idea of being a housewife who has given up her dream of being a dancer, and is now satisfied putting her talent to use only in giving dance tuitions to the neighbour's daughter.

Amrita's sole purpose in life, it would seem, is to be happy and proud about the fact that Vikram is all set to be transferred by his firm to London, where he will take up a top job and they will set up home in a house with a cute blue door.

The trigger that sets off turmoil in her seemingly content life is the slap that Vikram lands on her cheek, at a house party to celebrate their London transfer, in an uncharacteristic and frustrated fit of rage.

The very brief scene, masterfully written and executed, resonates for the sheer sense of disparity it so simply conveys. You understand the deepseated chauvinism about Vikram, an otherwise sophisticated guy with a pleasant demeanour, which drives him to instinctively take umbrage when his wife tries stopping him as he enters into an aggressive showdown with a colleague at the party. Amrita, on the other hand, is expected not to make too much of the incident because, as her mother-inlaw (Tanvi Azmi) says, there are guests outside waiting to be entertained.

Thappad digs deep to establish the fact that gender discrimination is an outcome of the upbringing that not just men, but also women, get in our country.

The screenplay is quietly effective in the way it shows how the thought of saying sorry, even long afterward, never quite crosses Vikram's mind. For Amrita, his lack of remorse sparks off the realisation that her marriage was always built on

Vikram's ego and not love.

For maximum impact, the story draws up subtexts utilising prop female characters. As Amrita decides to walk out of her marriage, we meet her lawyer (Maya Sarao). She is a successful career woman who fights for women's rights and yet cannot escape her husband's (Manav Kaul) brutish ways in the privacy of their posh bedroom. At the other extreme is Amrita's domestic help, who suffers physical abuse regularly at the hands of her husband because he feels it is only right that a man beats up his wife.

If these sub plots appear too familiar while setting up a broader picture, Sinha does well to execute them with authenticity.

Yet, despite the film's overall profundity, you get a sense that not everything about Thappad is perfect.

The only man who seems to have a sense of gender equality is Amrita's father (Kumud Mishra), but he does not get anything substantial to do in the film apart from being there for her.

We understand Amrita's awakening happens primarily because she is slapped in public. Does that mean she would have glossed over the issue had Vikram assaulted her in private? Also, gender equations in a marital relationship cannot always be explained in black and white. The film never quite delves into the grey areas of Amrita and Vikram's marriage.

Still, Thappad resonates with impact.

It is without a doubt one of the finer films you will see this year, simply because it tackles a difficult and powerful subject with credibility. A cast of proven talents excels in well-crafted roles, toplined by Taapsee Pannu's career-defining act.

Contrary to what many felt, this film is not about creating circumstances that might open up room for a battle of the sexes. It is an urgent call for a world where there would be no battle of the sexes.

Vinayak Chakravorty

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ENTERTAINMENT

FUN BUT FORMULAIC GAY ROMANCE

SHUBH MANGAL ZYADA SAAVDHAN STARRING: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta DIRECTOR: Hitesh Kewalya

HHH Despite sounding like a cliched Bollywood rom-com of two lovebirds fighting parental censure and societal diktats, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was always going to be different. The film grabbed eyeballs the day it was announced that the lovebirds weren't going to be a guy and a girl, going against the formula of Bollywood’s money-making love stories. Instead, this was commercial Bollywood's first

ever homosexual rom-com.

To retain every stereotype of the genre and turn the lucrative package into a quiet little snub at homophobes, amid standard hilarity and melodrama, is actually quite an experiment to pull off. Debutant writer-director Hitesh Kewalya deserves kudos if only for that much.

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is set against a small-town, middleclass backdrop. This is the world of Aman Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), who completes a happy family album with his mother, father and siblings – till he is swept off his feet by Kartik Singh (Ayushmann Khurrana). Thus begins an affair that will leave his conservative

family lost for words.

The struggle of the gay couple, as they try to convince their kin into acceptance, is played out with humour and Kewalya's script credibly avoids getting flippant about it. Rather, as Aman's family go on a desperate matchmaking spree to hook him up with a girl, you realise the joke's on homophobia.

Being Kartik Singh has to be Ayushmann Khurrana's toughest challenge among his recent films if only because this role would seem at loggerheads with mainstream Bollywood heroes, but it continues his latest adventures in disrupting Bollywood tropes.

NARRATIVE DOOMED LIKE A SINKING SHIP BHOOT PART ONE: THE HAUNTED SHIP STARRING: Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, Ashutosh Rana DIRECTOR: Bhanu Pratap Singh

HH Vicky Kaushal fans have waited over a year for a new film post the blockbuster Uri and unfortunately, Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship just doesn't seem worth it. Why Kaushal opted for an assembly-line horror flick at a time when he was expected to take his game to the next level is anybody's guess.

In Bhoot…, an abandoned ship named Sea Bird gets stranded off the coast of Mumbai, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Vicky Kaushal plays Prithvi, a shipping officer who becomes obsessed with unravelling what might have happened on-board though he is warned that Sea Bird is widely believed to be haunted. He believes he saw a girl inside and grappling with a personal tragedy, he is convinced that NATIONAL EDITION

he needs to solve the mystery.

Kaushal renders Prithvi with gravitas in a screenplay that is mostly about throwing the hero into a quagmire of special effects and sound effects. The

strong psychological subtext of his character forms the defining core in the story, but he has taken a calculated risk signing up for a mediocre horror film that barely lives up to his talent.

For Jitendra Kumar, playing Aman would seem like a perfect launch to the big screen. His fans would previously know him from web series The Viral Fever. He carries that understated screen presence into playing Aman, the perfect Yin to Ayushmann’s Yang.

The chemistry between the two actors owes itself to an author-backed plot, but the film wouldn't be the same without the supporting cast of Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao. The elderly couple of Badhai Ho return to the screen as Aman's parents, primarily to shock as the supportive parents of their gay son.

Rao and Gupta benefit from the fact that this film, like most of Aanand L. Rai's productions, sets up every character with a balance of the real and the entertaining. Proven talents like Manu Rishi Chaddha and Maanvi Gagroo, who play out vital cogs, also impress in interesting roles.

The film's biggest assets are its actors and its quirky comedic appeal. However, the finale is not altogether unpredictable. In exploring gay romance through a formulaic Bollywood love story, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan skims beneath the surface while addressing a subject as gay relationship, which has acquired topicality in our times.

Given the reach of the film and its lead actors, one could look at this film as an opportunity lost.

Vinayak Chakravorty

Bhumi Pednekar’s cameo and Ashutosh Rana in a small role, too, are left with roles that suffer due to weak writing.

Debutant director Bhanu Pratap Singh falls back on familiar tropes like a haunted confined space in this film, which has been touted as the first release in a planned franchise.

Perhaps it would still have worked if the story had a few original scares.

But the film reels under generic cliches in the horror genre as it meanders aimlessly from one stock scare to another.

At a runtime of just under two hours, it uses stereotypical sound and music effects, blending it with formulaic jump cuts, some nifty cinematography, and lots of mediocre special effects. Even Vicky Kaushal, with his proven screen presence, valiantly struggles to salvage a narrative that is as doomed as a sinking ship.

Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship might satiate hardcore horror buffs who are game for anything that the genre offers. All others, including Kaushal fans, would be hoping that Part Two is better crafted.

Vinayak Chakravorty MARCH 2020 37

ENTERTAINMENT

Section 18C cine TALK Curd cultures and A protection we cannot afford to lose whey-ty wisdom PLAYING THE MARKET BACKCHAT

Australians value freedom of expression but laws against hate speech are still essential Life is always a combination of curds and whey.

Sometimes pot-set and thick,

sometimes runny. Best kept free of tart talk.

BY MELISSA DOMINGO RAWAT

A

I

t was way past midnight. As if losing my grandmother wasn’t enough, my son was having another asthma exacerbation – I needed to stay up late into the night to administer his medication. Of course, this was alongside the regular daily grind. My finger lazily scrolled through social media to kill time. That’s when I saw it - someone urgently asking for a culture of Indian curds. Then there were others asking what I had asked myself many times, “Why is the Australian yogurt (or curds) just not the same as the humble homemade curds of India?”

Australia boasts of countless varied, beautiful cultures, except for the culture which would probably make me happiest - a culture of curds from India.

My sleepy eyes widened, maybe some wise souls knew the answer? Or better still, maybe someone had legally brought Indian dairy into good ol’ Oz? But even as I wondered this, my mind DIRECTOR: Gauravv K.wandered Chawla to the STARRING: Saif Ali Khan, Rohan Mehra, fond faces of the immigration personnel Radhika Apte, Chitrangda Singh who keep Australia’s borders safe.

I wrote HHHHH in the Comments section, spontaneously “If immigration catches you bringing curd can’t recall a single notable (or even intoIAustralia, they’ll turn you into Lassi (a non-notable) Indian film based on the sweet, churned, yogurt-based beverage)”.

I plunging dipsatand giddying highs actually LOL’d my own comment forofits the stock market. you remember sheer stupidity - madeDo funnier by the truth of Harshad Mehta? How could you forget knowing the strict rules around Australian the podgy stockbroker who made borders. That innocent little laugh somehow thousands of Indians rich overnight and lifted my mood as my day drew to a close. then it all ended in a financial mess in When to bed that night, I was just no timeI went at all? a tired mum who needed a laugh and a good Saif Ali Khan’s Shakun Kothari’s rest.

When I awoke the next morning destiny run on the same lines. I was still a tiredthat mum who a laugh and a Except Saif asneeded the wily ruthless good rest - or so I thought…

A glance at my phone revealed that

BAAZAAR

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

Saif as Shakun is a true-blue Gujju who won’t let neo-affluence corrupt his cultural integrity. He slips into Gujjufications with the unrehearsed cuteness I had seemingly awoken as a different of tycoon, who has long ceased to be person - foreign even including to myself. A couple cute to everyone, his own wife ofand people had responded to my innocent children. comment that I Mehra was silly, rude, Wheninforming debutantme Rohan enters condescending and sanctimonious - heavy the plot as Rizwan there is no Shakun words fromaround. a coupleWe of sombre individuals Kothari know Rizwan who don’t know meand fromwants Adam.toAbe fewlike idolizes Shakun

Becoming highly ‘civilised’ has led us to becoming highly sensitised, easily e e r winked into a sense of ‘progress’.

matter-of-fact exchanges later, I found myself being analysed (for free) - my way of thinking,

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I’m just an observer of life and my opinions complete lack ofmarket. decencyYet in not offering an of the stock it never lets colleague makes space for herself.

In a Comments today can also In That section makes the tone know-all areway certainly not for everyone.

But I will apology for of joking aboutitself-congratulation people being turned she tokenizes the film’s morality. come intothe of in telling us the story of say, life is always figurative into Lassi. reviveayou memories ofpush pastyour wrongs. unlawful do way an act today’s times have tocombination way ‘When Shakun Met ofinto curds andUnfortunately, whey - the ratiofew doesn’t always I’m reminded weRohan’. live in ‘civilised’ As a society, weattention. ethnic public which “isthat reasonably My quibble with the rivetting script meet personal preference.

However, times. groups have been spareddon’t the likely… to offend, insult, recognise that (Nikhil Advani, Parvez beSubhash too quickpain to toss out the whey.

If you look I’m amazed every time ISheikh, chat withAseem older K. Jha of racially justified humiliate or intimidate restrictions free Arora) isgrew thatup it takes its time in bringing on close enough, the whey isExamples just as valuable folk.

Theyperson ‘savage’ times.

They persecution. such as another or in a group speech do not hurt the curds. regularly laughed at each other, vociferously of people” if “the act our democracy or as slavery in the United States and the Holocaust are well is done because of the way of life. Indeed, known. In recent times, the race, colour or national or we understand world has seen genocides in ethnic origin of the other they are necessary Rwanda and Bosnia, while person”. to maintain it. And today in North Korea There is no doubt You are apersecution soul of a is permanent laws against hate justified by that freedom of speech unchangeable nature, speech are no less racial supremacy.and if is important but it is you would live as a we soul, Together, haveyou built important because of necessary, because would never be aff ected or a vibrant, rich and diverse the role it plays in our racism and bigotry changed by outer changes. democracy. Freedom tear at the heart of society. A society not focused on Singh the differences between of speech ensures that our social-Sant fabricBaljit us, but founded on the when you or I go to the Nurture your spiritual life strengths our differences ballot box we can make through meditation on the afford us. Section 18C an informed decision inner Light (Jyoti) and Sound stands, not as a threat to about who to vote for.

(Naad) and realise your true freedom speech,are but free. as a protector of Freedom of speech is necessary so that as self. Allofevents the purposes which that freedom serves, and a community, we can debate political ideas for further information as a guard to an achievement exceptional in and so that individuals can have a say on 1800 462 193 this time and rare in times before. decisions that affect them. Sant Baljit Singh www.knowthyself.org Matt Kean is the Member for Hornsby and Section 18C ensures that everyone has a Parliamentary Secretary for Communities. role to play in that debate.

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