2021-05 Melbourne

PUBLISHER PawanLuthra

EDITOR

RajniAnand Luthra

CONTRIBUTORS

RheaNath,BageshriSavyasachi, Sagar Mehrotra,RohinaJoshi, SmitaNashikkar,NidhiJoshi, Shafeen Mustaq,SydneySrinivas, Evangeline Mantzioris,Ritam Mitra, UmaS Kambhampati, MelissaDomingoRawat, PetraO'Neill, Minal Khona,Auntyji

SALES

AnshikaMaini

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senseo I

Australiansstuck there musthave the opportunityto comehome.

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

herecentvisuals from India, gut-wrenching, paint a picture of the despondency anddespair currentlybeingexperienced by the citizens.

Headlinessuchas "Indiagaspingfor oxygen" tellthe story of thehealth and socialsystems struggling tobattlethe pandemic.

With over400,000 dailyinfections andover250,000 deaths to date and counting, the tragedy thathas befallen Indiais in plainsight.

Seeing images ofovercrowded hospitals, mortuarieswith bodies, and make-shiftfuneral pyres onrooftops, theworldatlargeisfeelingthe pain andanguish of India's people,and respondingwithboth prayers andaction.

To theAustraliangovernment,thank youforyourmaterialaid towards medical facilities in India. Theseare indire need and will helpsavelives.

Thank youfor commencing repatriationflights from Indiaafter assessing thehealth risks. The 9,000 plus

To themedia, thelawyers, the human rightsactivists and themany community groups whoraised their voices atthe unjust penalties ofprison tenns and fines, thank youforyoursupport.

To allthestatesof Australia,especially Victoria, QueenslandandNSW whohaveagreed totakeadditional repatriationflights, thank you for your compassion.

I ambeholdentothe everyday Australianwhohas been sensitive to the pain thattheirIndianAustralian colleagues andfriends are going through. Ihave grappled to come to termswiththeever-narrowing circle of thosewe are losing in India: afew weeks ago, itwasafriend ofafriend, now itis someoneI have spenttimewith, laughingand sharing a mealon oneof my many trips to India. I wake in the morning to scrollthroughWhatsApp notices ofyetanotherdeath inthe extended family, or school community, or universitycohort.

For mostIndianAustralians, what is mostdifficultatthis timeis the inabilitytobe physicallycloseto our lovedones as theyexperience their bereavement, in somecases multiple

times in thesamefamily.

Lately, themessagesof supportfrom Aussiefriendshave beencomfortingas they reachoutto offertheirwishes and prayers to meand to those goingthrough these toughtimes. Phonecallsevenfrom distantAussieacquaintances whosaw India in the news andthoughtof meand myfamily. Strangers stopping me in the supermarkets and confirmingmy Indian heritage, and sharing their concerns and wishes forIndia. To these people, my profound gratitude.

Tothe wider communityhere, whohavedugdeep andhelped many charitableorganisationscaringfor people in India, ourgratefulness.Theseare individualswho haveset upGoFundMe pages;smallgroups ofpeoplerequesting donations; small businessescollecting funds toassist comn1unities inIndia. There arethoseorganisingvigilsin supportof healthcare workers inIndia, and others who arereadyto offer their professional time towards telehealth services directly to peopleinthe small towns and villages.

Toalltheseselfless volunteers, a heartfeltthank you.

The challenges inIndiaareongoing, and prayers forthemany suffering, willhelp.

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YOUR SAY

#BRINGTHEMHOME

AfterAustralia announced a temporary travel ban on returnees from India amid the country's devastating new COVID wave, readers hadmixed responses about the decision.

Emilie wrote: We need tofind away to bring back citizens and wealso need to ensure ourCOVID frontline healthresponse peopleandtheirfamiliesaren't putat greaterrisk.Theseare theheroeswho work thefrontlineeverydayin quarantineprotecting Australia

Nikki wrote: What'shappeninginIndiais tragic.Their government is failing their people.Thevaccinealso needsto be open-sourcedsocountrieslikeIndia canproduce their own.

Bruce Adams wrote: It's definitelyoneof the Morrison government'smost significant failsto date. However watchthe backflip,it will bea 10out of 10in theOlympicsgymnastics.

Mitramandal Downunder wrote:Thanksto allwhostoodagainst such discriminatory policyof banning flights fromIndia, when COVID numbersper millioninIndia arestill less than many other countries

Jodi McKay MP wrote: Agree withIndian Link and MohitKumar - theban onIndianAustralians iswrong and the NSWGovernment shouldhavedone more tohelp bring stranded Australianshome. Ajail sentenceandheftyfineis terriblyunfair.

GunJan M wrote: Strange that the world doesn't condemn Australiafor such inhumane decisionstowards its owncitizens. India onthe otherhand is supposed to accommodate illegalimmigrantsandgivethemrights ofacitizen.

RlteshAdalja wrote: Have you contactedall the politicians(liberal andLabor,State andFederal) who queue up at Indianevents for #ScottyFromPhotoOps to reverse thisracist decision onlarge fine/banasap, and double the flights to help stranded Australians?Government needs to apologise.

Tanveer Ahmed wrote:TheIndian variant islikelyto bewidespreadthroughout Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal. are they nexttobe targeted in thisban?

Nlshadh Rego wrote: Indiaisasphyxiating andburningat thesame time. Let usnot forget many ofthe thousands ofIndian-Australians withfamilyinIndia whoare *not* Australiancitizens, andcannot leave,and thatIndiaas awhole needshelp.

Krishna Neelamraju wrote:Theyshouldhaveannouncedaplanbeforethey announced the ban.They just took desi-Aussiesforgranted.The Divisionof Mitchell looksalot different these days thanwhatAlex Hawke wasusedto. Mr Hawke,ofall, shouldbeaware that peoplesaw through the doublestandard. Gladhe'sreaching out now

Joydeep Mondal wrote: In suchmatters,Ihaveseen Australiasimplycopying the policies ofeither the UK or the USA,it doesn'thaveits own position.This time it was UKafter they addedIndiainto their red list. Whenthe pandemic wasat thepeak inthe UKand the USA, did theysuspend flightsfromthose countries? If not, whythe differentialtreatment for India?

Prithivi Raj Nkv wrote: I partially agree with what yousay.Theywere given one year's time to returnhome, it was their own choice/luxuryto entertain themselves.Those travellersarelikeatime bomb now, whydon't they just quarantineand staysafe wheretheyare?Think ofthe risk tocitizensliving here. Whydon't youhave the gutsto influence onIndiansideto reduce COVID spreadandstopblamingsomeonewho is tryingto protecthiscircle.

Reghu Balaraman wrote: Agovernment banning itscitizensfrom entering the country becauseit isinefficient andincapableto managequarantine,is a violation ofhuman rights.

SAYIT AGAIN

AUSSIEARCHITECTS IN INDIA

RHEALNATH reported on TheAnganwadi Project, a Sydney-based notfor profit thathasbeen building schools for free inGujaratandAndhra Pradesh since2007. Ramu Marikanti wrote: Excellentwork donebyeveryoneinvolved.These kids needtheirimportantchildhoodyearsto bespentinourbeautifulanganwadis orchildcarecentres. Loving theirbeautifulandinnocent smileshere

Vlnod Kumar wrote:Goodinitiative. Maybe expandedto eastern UP Ben Dickson wrote: Very proud of mymum's work building anganwadis inGujarat and AndhraPradesh, alongside ManavSadhnaand Rural Development Trust.

Naveed Bagadla wrote:Thisis awesome!Theylook so good,especially given themoney required toturn themaroundislessthan $20,000.

Grassrootsimpact.

BarryO'Farrell wrote: Theirprojects inGujaratand AndhraPradeshhave successfullycombinedmodernity withsustainability to assist disadvantaged communities ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A KIDS' BOOK ONEARLY INDIANSETTLERS

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA reviewed new children's picture book Star of Anise, based on the early Indian hawkers in Australia.

N NavneetMaharajwrote: Looking forward toreadingthis.

Sujeet Dhanji wrote: Love thechildren's book onearlyhistoryofSikh traders inAustralia; beautifullyillustrated, particularly the turbans.

BarryO'Farrell wrote: 'Star of Anise', written byJaneJollyand illustrated by Di Wu,highlights thedeep connectionsbetweenourpeople.

Sidharth Bhatia wrote:Thissounds fascinating. So little is known about that history. Will the book beavailablehere inIndia?

Hot tip for the federal government: youcan'thopeto entice migrantsforthepurposeof economic recoveryif youalsokeep migrantsseparated fromfamily. Migration is directly linkedtosafe, reliable cross-border travel - which requires safe, reliable quarantine. Get onit.

Dr NeelaJanakiramanan, Melbourne-basedsurgeon

A kind morning. No sad news in frommy familyandfriends inIndia today.

SaraS,Twitter user

PAWAN LUTHRA ON ABC'S THE DRUM

His multiple appearances discussed the seriousness of the new wave in India and the Australian government's harsh response of closing borders to its own stranded citizens.

Norelle Feehan wrote:You wereterrific - soclear. Weare allinhorrible shock aboutIndia'ssituation.

Sanjay Bery wrote: Wellspoken,Pawan. Hope Australian government "brings back" theircitizens

Sarah Macdonald wrote:Terrifying anddevastatingnewsfromIndia

Thanksto Pawan Luthrafortheinsights.

Padmlnl SunderaJ wrote: Very goodpointsmade. Includingthefact that US has stoppedsendingraw materialstoIndia.Something wedon'thearhere. Meg wrote:Pawan Luthraseemsto beableto answerquestionsdirectly and withfacts.

PAINTING AUSTRALIA

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA on the art of RatnaSarma, the wife of diplomat Gitesh Sarma, who learnt to love a new country through painting.

Natasha Jha Bhaskar wrote: 'Every new posting startsasa blank canvasforme, whichIfillin with impression.' Veryengagingand inspiring write up.

Eugene Relnboth wrote: Lovely to readofthe meldingof cultures through the visual arts.

Barry O'Farrell wrote: Drawing inspiration fromIndigenousIndian and Australian art, theIndian HighCommissionerGitesh Sarma's wife has beenmaking paintings duringher timein Australia.

TONE-DEAF INDIAN GOVT FANS FLAMES OF COVID CRISIS

A comment piece byRITAM MITRA on why India's COVID-19 crisis is of global concern

Darshak Mehta wrote: Courageousand entirely accurate article. Theleast we canall dorightnow isexpress ouropinionswithout being trolled.Kudosto Indian Linkforpublishingthisand affordinga forumforhonestintrospection

The ModiGovthas beenan unmitigated disasterand noamount of PR or "alternate facts"candisguise that.

Khushaal Vyas wrote: Brilliant article as always Ritam.

Slmran Kaur wrote:Greatarticle. Cannot agreemore!

Betty Jager wrote:Youhaveone of theworld's mostspiritual and beautiful countries, please do not allow whoeverto destroywhat youhave

Vanl Shukla wrote: It'stimetounite, nottoblamewhosoeveris responsible. Rightnow Indianeedssupportespeciallyfrom NRls, unfortunate tosee our ownpeopledefamingandshamingIndia. Did we see anyarticle onTrump whenCOVID hit USA?

Vlrat Nehru wrote:Thisisa verywell written piece.Greatjob, Ritam.

WHERE IN INDIA

We asked you toidentifythis "Fish Building".Our readers Rohina Joshi, Ruth Griffiths, Sreeni Paladi, Raghu Rules, Meenaz Bhimani, Sushma Dhomal, Ambarish SN, Raj Ajay Singh, Vishal Mangal, Vikas Lal, Shruti Lal, Srinivas Boyapalli, and Barry O'Farrell hadthe correct answer: NationalFisheriesDevelopment Boardnear Hyderabad.

WHERE IN OZ

Weasked you,in which Australiancity will youfind this picturesque walk and whatisit called? Readers Srinivas Boyapalli, Naresh, Neha Mittal, and Mitramandal Downunder gotit right:it'sthe GrandArbourin the South Bank Parklandsin Brisbane Photo:Tatters/Flickr

Heart breakingmomentin mytutorial today -thiskidsays"Excuseme Dr Hunter, would youmindifIleft15 minutes early, myfamilyhas a zoom call with my granddadinhospitalinIndia andIdon't wantto missit - he hasCOVID."Isaid ofcourse, thenaskedifheneededto talkaboutit with someone. Helookedup at meand said, "Yeah, kinda."

David Hunter, Lecturerin Medical Ethics, Uni ofAdelaide

Treatment achcha miljata, to main bhi bachjaata. (Icouldhave beensavedhadI received proper treatment).

Indian YouTube star Rahul Vohra, 35,in hislast Facebookpost before succumbingto COVlD-19.

'

Nidhi Upadhyay, Sydney Thisyearn1arkedasolen1nMother's Dayfortne,havinglostmy1nother-inlawlastyearand1nymotherthispast weektoCOVID.

Mymotherhadgottenherfirst doseofthevaccine.Butshefellsick nonethelessandspentalmosttwo weeksinthehospital.However,we weren'ttooconcernedbecauseshe wasstable,eatingnonnally,and seemingfine.Eventually,shewaseven dischargedfro1ntheCOVIDwardto jointheotherpatients.

Within24hours,hercondition deterioratedandshepassedaway.It wasashock,tosaytheleast.Noneof thefan1ilycouldattendthefuneral, andmy60-year-oldfathersatwithn1y n1other'sbodyforfivehoursatthe crematorium,waitingtosaygoodbye.

It'sterrifyingincircumstanceslike thistoseehowyoucanhavemoney, butnoresourceswhenitn1atters.Ifeel helplesssittinghere.

Thefamilycontinuestobeworried

asmybrother,32,nowfightsCOVID inthehospital.Hispregnantwife, expectingtheirsecondchild,is understandablyshaken.It'stakenme overaweektobeabletotalkabout anyofthisoutloud.

PeoplegotcomplacentinIndiaand it's1noreimportantthanevernowto stayathome,takeprecautions,andget bothdosesofthevaccine.Leadership declaredvictoryfartooearlyand fataldecisionsweremade.It'sheartbreaking.

Smriti Bagga, Melbourne It'sbeenahorrorweek.We'veseen sixdeathsinourfamilyinDelhi,allin thespanofoneweek.

Oneofthesehasbeenanelderly aunt,andtheresthavebeenofn1iddle age.

Myaunthadbeenfine,althoughshe reportedfeelinglethargic.She'shad weaklungsthoughforawhile.Tooka COVIDtestasaprecaution.Itcame backpositive.Sheshowednofever

oranyothersymptoms,andsimply collapsedonthethirdday. Asformycousins,theyhadallbeen relativelyunwell.Theyeachcoped athomeforawhile,andthenwent throughthestruggleoffindinga hospitalinpanic.Forsomeitwastoo late,andtheycouldnotevengetto hospital.

Madhu Vajpayee,Melbourne

It'sasadtimeinmyfamily.I'velost bothmysisterstoCOVID.Myolder sisterdiedlastyear,shewas74.She spentfourdaysinhospital.Welostn1y secondsisterthisweek,shewas69. Shewasinhospitalfortwelvedays. Bothnevercamehomefromhospital. Ifwewerecaughtunawaresthefirst timeround,whydidn'twepreparefor thesecondwave?

Theconcernisnowformybrother's family,allofthemcurrentlydownwith COVlD.Theyarebeingcaredforat home.

Rhea Nath, Rajnl Anand Luthra

on e as a er ere I

How a callous delay by the government changed AGAR MEHROTRA's life forever y application forexemption to travel to India, rejected on two occasions, finallycatne through on thethirdattempt.

Itwastoo late.

As 1scurriedto maketravel arrangements, 1 receiveda notesayingmy exe1nption had been revoked, because India was in the gripofasecondwave and it wouldbea crin1inaJoffenceifItriedto get backinto thecountry afterleavingit.

Dayslater, l watchedonFacetimeasa randomstrangercre1natedn1y Dad.

Ihadtopayhim, to perforn1 thespiritual dutyofa first-born,myspiritual dutyand responsibility.

InFebruarythisyear 1 askedtotravel to India to careformyfather, 71,who had had aheartattack. Helivedalone withmymu1n, also 71, in Lucknow. Aspartofn1y application,Iincluded hospitaldocumentation,doctor's notes, photographs,andsoughttravelon compassionategrounds.

Iwastold therewereno con1passionate

grounds here.

At a loss tounderstand whatis meantby the tern1 'co,npassionate grounds',I found therewas no one to tw·n to. So Igoton totheFacebook groupTravel Exemption Australia. Reapply,was theadvice Igot.

Idid, this tituewithdocumentationto provethatmyparents livedbythemselves, myyoungerbrothera US citizen.

No con1passionate grounds, Iwas told again.

WhenIapplieda third time, Dadwas backinhospital, thistimewith COVID. I attached the doctor'snotesuggesting that thepatientshouldbeallowed toseehis immediatefamily.

As Iwaitedforthereply,Ispentanentire dayon the phone, tryingto source that

elusiveoxygencylinder.Foundonefinallyforanexorbitant price,needlesstosay.

Breathedabit easier, untilIwasnotified that 1 would notbe able to travel.

Meanwhile, I read news ofa manwho was allowedto traveltoIndia forhis wedding,andgetbackintothecountry weekslater.

Howwashegranted permission,whileI wasrefused?

Sixdaysafterbeingadmittedto hospital, Dadleftus,hislungs notabletosupport himanymore. Iwatchedhelplesslyon video callas he took his last laboured breath. If onlyI could reachoutandholdhishand, orkisshisforehead orsupportmymum's saggingshoulders as herworldslippedfrom rightunderherfeet.

It waswith that same wretched helplessnessthat 1 bademydear Dada final goodbye later thatday, the flamescarrying himaway fromus.

Perfonningthelastritesformybrotherand 1,wasa totalstranger.Ahospitalattendant?A randompasser-by?AgoodSamaritan?Adaily wagerekingouthisliving?We'llneverknow.

But rightnow, I don't have timeto mourn.

Ihave to turnmyattentionto Mum, lockedupalone athomeata tin1ewhen ourculturerecommends thatshebe surroundedbyfa1nily, friends, and neighbours. Griefsharedis griefhalved.

It was an absolutelycallousdelaybythe government thathas changed1nyfamily's lifeforever. Ifmyexemption had come through at thefirstgo,I wouldhavebeen besidemy Dadthrough his illness. Iwould haveidentifiedthesymptoms early on, and takenthe necessaryactions.

AndifCOVIDwouldstill havewon, I wouldhavebeen there, right besidehim, holdingmyMum asthefinalcurtainfell.

I wastold therewere no compassionate grounds in my application

hesecondwaveofthepandemic hasstruckIndiawithadevastating in1pact.Withover300,000new casesand3,000deathsacross thecountryeachdayatpresent,thetotal nun1berofdeathshasjustpassedthe 200,000*mark-that'saboutonein 16 ofallCOVIDdeathsacrosstheworld.It isalsoevidentthattheIndiastatisticsare significantunderestin1ates.

Thevirulenceofthesecondwavein Indiaseemstoberelatedtoaconfluence offactors:govern1nentco1nplacency,driven bypoordatacolJectionandbeingindenial abouttherealityofthedata;anewvariant withahockey-stickshapedgrowthcurve; andsotneverylargeandunregulated religiousandpoliticalevents.

Itisclearthatthereisnowahumanitarian crisisofsignificantproportions.Indiaisa countryof1.4billionpeopleandmakesup asixthoftheworld'spopulation.Hereare somewaysinwhichitisalsogoingtoaffect theworldecono1ny:

1. A lost year for India?

Indiaisitselfthefifthlargesteconomyin theworldandcontributessignificantlyto worldeconomicgrowth.Withrelativelyhigh growthrates(ofbetween4%and8%)and itslargesize,ithasasignificantimpacton theworldeconomy.

Eveninearly2020,beforethepandemic tookhold,theIMFhadcitedIndia's indifferentoutputasthemainreasonfor sluggishworldgrowthfiguresin2018and 2019.TheIMFdowngradedits2020forecast to5.8%partlybecauseitexpectedmoreof thesamefromthesubcontinent.Nowitlooks asifworldgrowthfor2020wasdownby around4%,withIndiadown10%.

Everyonehasbeenexpectingagreat reboundin2021frombothIndiaand theworld,butthatnowlooksseriously doubtful.Forinstance,SonalVarma,India chiefeconon1istattheinvestmentgroup Nomura,predictsthatIndia'sGDPwill shrinkaround 1.5%inthecurrentquarter.

Serum Institute

ofIndia (SIi) has been giventherights to producetheAstraZeneca vaccine for64low-incomecountries inthe WHO'sCovax progamme.Theseexports have now been postponedorcalled off.

Coupledwithsignificantpandemic-related problemsalsoinBrazilandSouthAfrica, wemightexpectthein1pactonworldgrowth tobeconsiderable-evenbeforetakingany knock-oneffectsintoaccount.

2. International restrictions

Intermsofknock-oneffects,thescaleof thecrisisinIndiaislikelytomeanthat internationalrestrictionsremaininplace forlongerthanhoped.Inthewordsof SoumyaSwaminatban,thechiefscientist oftheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO): "Thevirusdoesn'trespectborders,or nationalities,orage,orsexorreligion." Asothershaveaskedrhetorically,cana coU11tryofthissizebeisolated?

OnarecentflightfromNewDelhito HongKong,forinstance,52passengers testedpositiveforCOVID.Wealsoknow thattheIndianvariantisalreadyintheUK (whilesomeofIndia'ssecondwave,notably inthePunjab,basbeencausedbytheUK variant).

PreventingthisspreadfromIndiarequires strictquarantinesandtravelrestrictions. Thisisbadnewsforairlines,airportsand

thebusinessesthatdependonthem,sothis toowillhavealargedampeningeffecton globaleconomicgrowth.

3. Pharma problems

ThepharmaceuticalindustryinIndiais thethirdlargestintheworldintern1sof volumeand 11thLargestintermsofvalue. Itcontributes3.5%ofthetotaldrugsand medicinesexportedgloballyandabout20% oftheglobalexportsofgenericdrugs.Ifthese exportsareindoubt,therewillbeallsorts ofconsequencesforhealthcarearoU11dthe world,whichwillagainfeedthroughtoglobal growth.

Aboveall,inthecu1Tentsituation,India produces70%oftheworld'svaccines. SerumInstituteofIndia(SIi)hasbeen giventherightstoproducetheAstra Zenecavaccinefor64low-incomecountries intheWHO'sCovaxprogamme,aswellas 5n1illiondosesdestinedfortheUK.

ThecrisisinIndiabasalreadymeant thattheseexportsofthevaccinehavebeen postponedorcalledoff,leavingmany countriesvulnerabletofreshwavesofthe virusandprobablydelayingtheireffortsto returntobusinessasusual.IfIndiaisunable

toprovidevaccinesuppliestotherestof theworld,wecanexpectspilJovereffectsin theformofrecurrentlockdowns,increased needforsocial-distancingmeasures,anda significantdecreaseineconomicactivity.

4. Services not rendered Indiaprovidesback-officestaffformany activitiesinwesternEuropeandtheUS, especiallyinthehealthandfinancialsectors. Withtheseservicesnowinjeopardy,the USChamberofCommerce,forone,is concernedthattheIndianeconomycould create"adragfortheglobaleconomy".

FortheUK,too,tradelinkswithlndia areespeciallyimportantintheaftennath ofBrexit.ThisisdemonstratedbyPrime MinisterBorisJohnson'stwoattemptsto visitin2021 -bothcancelledatthelast minutebecauseofthepandenuc.

Givenalltheseissues,andthehuma11itarian crisisunfolding,ithasbecomeimperative fortheworldtoactquicklytohelplndiawhethersuchhelpisrequestedornot.We areseeingsignsofthiscomingthrough,albeit afterashortdelay,fromtheUK(oxygen concentrators,ventilators);theUS(vaccineraw materials,drugs,rapidtestsandventilators); andGermany(oxygenandmedicalaid).

Whateverisprovidedislikelytobea dropintheoceanofIndia'srequire1nents, butatleastitdemonstratesarecognition thatweareinthistogether.TheIndian governmentmayhavebeenineffectivein thecurrentcrisis,butfailingtorecognise howitwillaffecttheworldwouldamount toanequivalentlevelofcomplacency.Ifthe leadingpowersfailtodoeverythingthey cantohelpout,India'scrisiswillbecome aworldcrisisinshortorder,notonlyfor healthbutalsofortheeconomy.

UmaSKambhampatiisProfessorof Economics,HeadofSchool,Universityof Reading,England.

*Thesenumberswereaccuratewhen thispiecewasfirstpublishedon29April 2021in The Conversation.

If the leading powers fail to do everything they can to help out, India's crisis will become a world crisis in short order, writes UMAS KAMBHAMPATI

India produces 70%ofthe world's vaccines.

BY RITAM MITRA

uchhasbeensaidandwritten abouttheshortageofhospital bedsandoxygenasIndia continuesitsdevastatingbattle witharelentlesssecondwaveofCOVlD-19. Lessdiscussedisthegrowingimportanceof in-ho1necare,inasocietywherehospitals havetraditionallybeenaccessibleonlyto thewealthy(puttingasidethelevelling effectsofCOVID-19).Now,asCOVJD-19 decin1atesIndia'sfragilehospitalsystem, accesstoin-ho1necarefortheelderlyhas beco1neanincreasinglyscarceluxury,anda sourceofunabatingconcernparticularlyfor thoseoverseas.Buteveninsuchchallenging circumstances,innovativein-ho1necarestartupssuchasEmohaElderCarearestillfinding waystoprovidecarewhereothershavefailed -andindoingso,providinginvaluablepeace ofmindforrelativesnearandfar.

India'syoungpopulationiswell docu111ented:thereare600millionpeople undertheageof25inthecountry.But India'syouthanditselderlyareinextricably linked,recentstudiesshowingthat68% ofdaughters-in-lawand51%ofsons provideson1eforn1ofphysicalcaretotheir elderlyin-laws.Theseresponsibilitieshave historicallytraversedinternationalborders evenasnewergenerationshave1nigrated awayfromIndia,butasbordershave shutinrecentmonths,sotoohavethese responsibilitiesbecomehardertofulfil.

Emohaisatechnology-powered con1munityplatforn1whichrespondsto thesechallenges.ltconnectselderswith caregivers,doctors,familyandfriends,with subscription-basedmembership1nodels thatprovidefor24/7emergencyresponses, regulartele-consultsforCOVID-positive patients,supportforhouseholderrandsand onlineemotionalwellbeingactivitiesand events.E1nohaclaimstohavesavedmore than 120livesduringCOVID-19-nowat arateof5to7livespernight-including havingcarriedoutmorethan 100,000"care calls"toitscommunityofelderlypatients.

E1nohawasco-foundedtwoyearsago bySaumyajitRoy,nowalsoitsCEO,after heidentifiedagapinthemarketforelder services.InaninterviewwithIndianLink, Royla1nentstheperceptionthataging meansbeing"sick,aloneandhelpless"."I

knewthen,andnowweallsee,thatthenew generationofeldersareallveryeducated, alert,haveloadsofself-respectandan innatesenseofindependence,"hesays.

EventhoughRoymayhaveanticipated thesurgeindemandformoreholisticelder careservices,itisclearthatEmoha'swork isnowploughingaheadatafuriouspace thatevenhecouldnothavepredicted, particularlyasotherwisehelplessNRis seeksupportandassistancefortheirelderly relatives.

RoytellsstoryafterstoryofEmoha's recenteffortstoassistNRisandprovide themwithsomesemblanceofcomfort, eveninthedarkestmoments.Hespeaks forinstanceofsiblingsintheUnitedStates andAustraliawhowereunabletotravelto IndiatocarefortheirCOVID-19positive father.Emohacaredforhimthroughouthis

COVID-19battle,fromnavigatingvarious emergenciesandeven,sadly,performinghis lastrites.

Thenthereisthedaughterbasedin theUnitedStates,whoseelderlyfather's dippingbloodoxygenlevelswereinitially causeforconcern,butultimatelymanaged successfullythroughEmoha'saccessto rapidlaboratorytestingfacilitiesand otherclinicalsupport.Orthesonwhose COVID-19positiveparentsEmohaferried byambulanceallnighttovarioushospitals, ultimatelyreturningthemhon1ewithoxygen supportintheearlyhoursofthemorning.

Emoha'sonlineservices,including accesstoinformationandevents,andteleconsultsbydoctors,areavailableacross India-allthatisrequiredisatablet, PC orsmartphonewithareliableinternet connection.Emohaalsooffersin-home servicesinDelhi,suchasdoctorvisits, physicalresponders,and"careangels". Thesehigher-endservicesincludefacilitating accesstohospitals,ICUcare,oxygen, vaccinationsand,morerecently,cremations. Itplanstoexpandtheseservicestoother areasinthecomingmonths,beginningwith MaharashtraandPune.

EvenduringCOVID-19,"healthcareis nottheonlyneedthattheseeldershave," saysRoy.

"ThisiswhereEmohaco1nesin-we bringinthecare,thelove,andthetouchof whatasonanddaughterwoulddofortheir parents,"heconcludes.

FurtherinformationforNRisabout Emoha'seldercareservicesisavailableat https://emoha.com/empower-covid-care1/ orbycalling+1 8888660486.

A tech-based start-up is providing critical in-home care and saving lives during India's devastating second COVID-19 wave

HowIndian medical �raduatesinAustralia can helpCOVID-ravaged India

Seeking doctors to provide standardised telehealth services to patients requiring home-based care

peer-peerclinicalsupport,and

BY ROHiNAJOSHI

ndiaisexperiencinganoverwhelming

secondwaveofCOVID-19,withover19

1nillionreportedcasesandover219,000 deaths.Inthepastweekalone,350,000 newinfectionsarebeingreportedevery dayonaverage.It'snothingshortofheartbreakingtoseethescenesatcremation grounds,hearthecriesforoxygensupplies, medicines,andhospitalbedsthatare plasteredonourtelevisionscreens.

Healthcarefacilitiesareatfullcapacity, andthehealthworkforceisgoingabove andbeyondtheircalling.Theyarestretched physically,mentally,andemotionally.Many havesuccumbedtothevirus(744bythe firstweekofFebruary,accordingtothe IndianMedicalAssociation)andthemorale inthemedjcalcommunityislow.

Inanaddjtionalblow,thevirusisnow movingtosmallertownsandruralIndia wherehealthfacilitiesarelessequipped, andpopulationshavelimitedaccessto doctors.Intheseparts,30%ofIndia's

doctorssupport70%ofthepopulation.

Itisfrighteningtoseehowthingshave escalatedoverthelastfewweeks.AsIndian medicalgraduatesbasedinAustralia,many ofushavefeltdisheartened,andarenow driventodosomethingtohelp. Manyhave beensupportingfamilyandfriendsinIndja byprovidingmedicaladviceoverphoneor videocalls.

Indianeedsmoresuchinitiativesto providestandardisedtelehealthservices topatientsrequiringho1ne-basedcareto takeawaythepressurefromhospitals.We

alsoneedtosupporthealthprofessionalsin India-especiallytheyounggraduateswho needguidanceandmentoring.

Withsuchinitiativesslowlygaining momentumintheUK,USA,andCanada, IndianmedicalgraduatesinSouthAustralia, Queensland,NewSouthWales,andVictoria arejoininghandstoprovidetheircollective supporttocolleaguesinIndia.Theaimof thesegroupsisto

• supportindjvidualsrequiringhomebasedcare

• supportthehealthworkforcethrough

• buildthemoraleofyounghealth professionalsandrecentgraduates Webelievethatprovidingpeertopeer supportmightbeofimmensevaluetoboost theirmoraleaswellassupportthernintheir clirucalduties.

Weplantoseekpermissions,provide standardisedtraining,andguidelines/ protocolsforhome-basedmanagement withoutprescriptions. Individualphone numberswillnotbesentoutandwewillnot dealwithlinkingpeopletoresourcessuch asoxygenandmedicine.Wewilllinkinwith theavailabletelehealthplatformsinIndia.

IfanyIndianMedicalGraduatein Australiaisinterestedtovolunteertheirtime andsupportthisinitiative,pleasecontactus oncovidinruatelemed@gmail.com.

RobinaJoshiisanIMGfromCMCLudhiana andcompletedherMastersinPublicHealth fromSreeChitra TirunalInstitute,Kera/a andPhDfrom UniversityofSydney.Rohinais theHeadoftheGlobalHealth Workforceat TheGeorgeInstituteforGlobalHealthand ScientiaAssociateProfessoratthe University ofNewSouth Wales. SheisaSeniorManager atTheGeorgeInstitute, India.

6.25M grantfor an Indian aged care facility in NSW

ulticulturalNSWisseeking expressionsofinterestforan agedcarefacilityinthestate's Indiancon11nunity.

Jthasearn1arked $6,250,000tosupport theconstructionorrefurbishmentofa multiculturalagedcarefacilityforthe Indian con1munityin NSW.

Culture-specificagedcarehasbeena con11nunitypipedrea1nformanyyearsand willbeco,neagrowingneedintheshort termfuture. Numbers in theagegroup an1ongAustralia'sIndianco1n1nunityare steadilyincreasing,andaneedhasbeen identifiedforanagedcarefacilitythatwill catertodietandcareconcernstowhichour seniorsareaccuston1ed.

OnbehalfoftheNSW Governn1ent, MulticulturalNSWis seekinginterested partiesfromtheNSWIndianco1n1nunity whoarelookingtoundertakeacapital worksbuildingprojecttoincreaseagedcare

supportforIndianand,nulticulturalseniors inNSW.

Theearn1arkedan10W1tistobemade availableovertwoyears.

InVictoria,concernsraisedfro1n the con11nunityatelectiontimehadeliciteda promisefromDanAndrewstosetaside $14.5 n1illiontopurchaselandfortwo Indian-specificagedcarefacilities.An ethno-specificagedcareisnowabout to con11nenceconstructionatNoblePark.To beconstructedandmanagedbyMiCare, the 108-bedfacilitywillhavelanguage-based staffandvolunteers,prayerroo1nsand a 300-capacitycon1n1unityhall.

In NSW,thegovernn1enthasallocated a similar$7 million fundtotheMaronite con11nunitytohelpwithanagedcare projectspecifictotheneedsoftheirseniors.

Tofindoutmoreandsubmitaproposal headtohttps://multiculturalnsw. s1nartygrants.com.au/indianagedcare

Grantsto support Indian-Australian community in NSW

rganisationsprovidingsupport totheAustralian-Indian con1munityinNSWcannow applyforfundingtodeliver projectsandeventsacrossthe State.

MinisterforMulticulturalism Geoff Lee saidgrantsofup to$10,000 for eventsandupto$40,000forprojects areavailableaspartofthe Stronger TogetherGrants Program.

"OurAustralian-Lndiancommunity hasbeenindispensableinresponse totheCOVID-19pandemicand supportingthosemostvulnerableinour society," MrLeesaid.

"Thisgrantsprogramwillensure volunteer-runorganisationsare supported inprovidinginvaluablehelp andcaretoourcommunity."

Fundedprojectscouldinclude

migrantsupportgroups,community a1·tandsportsprograms, Englishand job readinesstrainingandsupport,and programssupportingtheparticipation ofwon1enandyoungpeoplefrom migrant backgrounds.

Fundedeventscouldinclude interfaithandmulticulturaleventsthat bringourcommunitytogetherina COVID-Safemanner.

"Thesegrantswillbreak barriers, combatsocialisolationandensureevery men1berofoursocietyhasaccess tothe sameopportunitiesnomatterwhere theyarefrom,orwhatlanguagethey speak," MrLeesaid.

Grantapplicationsarenowopenand canclose Spn,Thursday20May2021.

Formoreinformationsee: https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/

An ovarian cancer diagnosis changed the lifeofSrividya Iyer and her young family, pushing them to spread awareness.

BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI

t tookallbut fourweeks forSrivdya and Ravi Iyer'sfundraisingca1npaign to reach itsgoalof$200,000.

Thelarge sun1of1noneywasneeded to fundSrividya'streatn1entfor ovarian cancer -111aintenance therapytobe 111ore precise; she now has alarge networkoffamily, friends and well-wishers tothanktorthis.

Shock diagnosis

In January lastyear,DrSrividya Iyer left her ho1netown Perth topursue a postgraduate degreeindentistryatMelbourne University. At the peakofMelbourne'ssecond COVID outbreakin August, shewasplaced atthe PeterMacCallun1 CancerInstitute.

While atworkoneday,Srividyabegan experiencingunusual bloating. Soonshe went from asize 8 toa size 12 injustone week.Abuild-upofgroinpainforced her to checkintothe hospital'semergency depart1nentwhere she waited for a diagnosis.

"I'dneverthoughtthatI would hearthat C word, really," Srividya told IndianLink.

"BecauseI have n1edica1 literacy, l could ask whattestswere required. I toldthemthey wouldhavetodo aCTscanfora conclusive diagnosis. Whenthe results camein, a 13cmtun1ourwasfound onmy rightovary, and ithad already spread into 1nyabdomen. That'swhenit reallyhit bigtime, thatthis wasovariancancer."

Srividyawasbyherselfwhenshereceived herdiagnosis ofstage-3 advancedovarian cancer. Extensive COVIDrestrictions1neant Raviand their 3-year-old daughterRaima had to stayhome.

Regularhealth check-upsand having bloodworkinorderwassomethingSrividya had always followedreligiously.Yet noneof it showed anyindication ofcanceruntil the diseasehad progressed significantly.

"I don'tthink Icanquantifywhatthe emotional and psychologicalin1pactofthe diagnosiswas," Srividya revealed.

At the Royal Women's Hospital, six and ahaU:litres offluidweredrained from Srividya'sabdomenjust tokeep her conlfortable. She could notwalk 10 meters without huffingand puffing.

"Itwasprettymuch likebeingseven months pregnant," Srividya recalled."It wasoneofthehardestthings,worse than childbirth."

Raviremarked, "You heartheword 'cancer' andyou neverassociate itwithyour immediate family. The shockofhearingthe newsand adjustingtoit tooka littlewhile. But Ithinkwe arebothquitepractical people,sowewereable toprocessit. Since then,theemotional support fromallOUT family,andextended familyand friends, has obviouslybeenvery bigforus."

Smiling through the pain

Some 60-70%ofovaTian cancerdiagnoses onlyhappen atstagethTee. Called the deadliestgynaecologicalcancer, ithasno earlydetectiontest,itsvaguesymptoms makingithardertodiagnose.

Symptomslikefrequentmination and backpaincouldbeeasilyignored, and evenbloatingiscommonduringperiods.

Srividya's menstruationcycle wasso regulaithatshe didn'thave reason tosuspect anythingwasoutofthe ordinary.

Nevertheless, Srividya trulyemergedas anironwoman.

Throughouthercancertreatment,she continuedworkingatherjob, specialising in specialneeds dentistrywhereshelooked

afterpatientswith intellectual disabilities andthoseclassifiedas medicallycomplex.

"Workingat theCancer Institutegave mea broadoutlook," Srividya observed. "Whenever Imetsomeoneyoungbattling cancer and unabletocope, Iwouldtellthem mystory."

Impressively,Srividyamanaged to completeall herclinics andsat herexams beforeher majorsurgery. She finished the firstyearofher master's degreewith flying colou1·s.

lnoncology,a tumour markerisused to depict how active a canceris. Below the 35 markisconsidered normal. Srividya's tumourmarkeron thedayofherdiagnosis was6700.

ButSrividya respondedwell to chemotherapytreatn1ent. Afterthefirst cycleofchemo, her tumour markerdropped to 3000.

"Afterthethird cycle,CTscanrevealed thatmytumourhad shrunkenoughforthem to comfortablyoperateandgeteverything out," she stated.

On 13 November, twosurgeons performeda six-hoursurgerytoextractall the cancerfromSrividya'sbody. She losta lotofblood.

"Itwasoneofthe scariestdays ofmy life," sherevealed. "Afterthatthelast threecyclesofchemowerebasicallylike vacuuming,gettingrid ofanymicroscopic evidence ofthe disease.Mytumour markers bythe fifthcyclecamedownto 31, and around cyclesixitwas at21."

Funding maintenancetherapy

Justwhenitseemed like theworstwasover, Srividyawasinformed thatthe maintenance therapyrequired tokeephercancer fromreturningwouldnotbe coveredby Australia's PharmaceuticalBenefits Scheme (PBS).

"WhiJe l wasinagoodposition, I was hit withanotherbigsetbackwhere [ was told because Idon't have the BRCA mutation n1y treatmentoptions wouldbe limited."

Onlycancerpatients with BRCA mutations (about 15%)qualifyfor n1edication subsidisedbythegovernment. Thisn1eant that Srividya's 1naintenance therapywouldcostabout $7,000-$7,500a month insteadof$40 a month.

"The majorityofpatients don't have BRCA mutation," Srividya said. "Evenin termsoftrialsinAustralia, onlyfemales with the mutation have been included. Thegovernmentevensaid the 1nedication worksbetter for those with the mutation. Countries like USA and UKhavebeen on the forefront where regardless ofyour mutation, you're put on maintenance therapy. Manystudies therehave shown that it actuallygives BRCA-negative females also a cha11ce oflonger progression-free survivalperiods or potentiallya cure as well."

Herhusbandconsideredsellingtheir home in Perth topaytor thetreatment, but the thoughtofitbroke Srividya'sheart; it waswhere theyhad begun theirjourney and where theirdaughterwasborn.

Meanwhile,Srividya'soncologist suggested theystart afundraisingcampaign through the non-profit Rare Cancers Australia.

Itwasalsoawayfor the familytoput pressureon the government and other agencies,whileat the same time raising awarenessabouttheharrowingfactors surroundingovariancancer.

"Anyone whogoes throughcancershould begiventhatopportunitytolive, and to explore the optionofanymaintenance drugwhichcankeeptheircanceratbay," Srividyaconcluded. "Femaleslike me also deserveachance to live."

COOGEE BEACH NSW

Image by SMITA NASHIKKAR lnstagram: smitanphoto Drone photography (OJI Mavic Mini)

A note on Mother's Day about -finding the new normal as young mums

BY NIDHI JOSHI

hisyearonMother'sDay, someofuswereableto givemumahuginperson -agesturewewiUnever againtakeforgranted. Mothers havealwayshadtojuggleniany responsibilities,butinthepastyear thestrugglehastruJyamplified withlockdowns,homeschooling andthewholefa1nilybeinghoLne, aUthetime.Newmothersin particularhavehadatoughtime navigatingtheeal'lystagesoftheir child'slife,isolatedfromextended familyandwithlimitedsocial interactionwithfriendsandother mums.

Jhadn1ysecondbabyright beforethepandenuchitinJanuary 2020.Therealityofthatfirstyear couldnotbemoredifferentto whatIbadimagined.Goinginto lockdownwithanewbornand toddlertolookafterwasnotwhat Ihadplanned,andthosefirstfew weekswereintensetosaytheleast. IsoonrealisedIwouldneedsome copingmechanismstobeableto navigatethisunexpectedchangein lifestyle.Now,havinglivedthrough awholeyearwithanongoing globalpandemic,countlessmothers including111yselfhavefoundour newnormalandlearnedhowto carveoutsomepeaceandsanity duringthesecrazytimes.

Make timefor yourself

Dailywalksbecameagodsendduringlockdownandhave nowbecon1eingrainedinto1nyroutine.Beingabletogethalf anhourto1uyselfinthefreshairallowedn1espacetoreenergise,thinkaboutmygoalsandtojustenjoysomemusic orpodcasts.Everyone'sideaofself-careisdifferentbutwhat iscertainisthatitisvitalfor1nentalhealth,especiallywhen anxietyanduncertaintyareatanaU-timehigh.

Take advantage oftechnology

Whilewehavebeensociallydistantfromfamilyandfriends,technologyhas allowedustofeelconnected.

"WhenIgavebirth,onlymypartnerandIwereallowedatthehospital,"says Priyanka,whogavebirthtoababygirlinSydneyinOctober2020."Wewould facetimeourfamilieseveryday,especiaUymymotherwhowassoin1portantfor emotionalsupportinthoseearlydays.Jtwasdefinitelyasurrealexperienceand notsomething1everimaginedwouldhappen."

Sheadds,"lnhindsightitwasactuaUyanicewayforustoconnectasa family,withjustthethreeofusatthehospitalforthedurationofourstay.We madedailyvlogstosummariseeventsoftheday,whichwesharedwithour extendedfanilly".

Mothers'groupsmovedonline,regularZoomcatchupswithfriendshelped ussocialiseandbeingabletoattendonlinepartiestocelebratemajormilestones wasabonusconsideringmostnewmothersarehomeboundanyway.Nothing canreplacemeetingpeopleinreallife,buttechnologycertainlyplayedabig partthisyearinconnectingnewmotherswiththeoutsideworld.

Outsource, Outsource, Outsource

Havingthewholefamilyathomeforweeksonendmeant anoutrageousamountofhouseworkandad111in.Itis temptingtotrytodoitallandcallyourself"supermun1", butweallknowitcomesatacost.Duringthecourseofthis pandemic,manymothershavelearnedtooutsourcetasks anduseonlineservicestogetadmindoneefficiently."1did

;

Mother'sDayturnedouttobean opportunityforustotakeastepbackand thinkaboutbowfarwehavecomeandall thethingswehavelearnt,acknowledging thesacrificeswehavehadtomake; especiallythosemadebyourlovingand caringmothers.Whilethepandemicisfar fromover,whatwecandoisbegrateful forthefreedomsthatwehaveandifwe areluckyenoughtobewithourmothers inperson,toholdthemalittlecloserand appreciatealltheyhavedoneforusduring thisrollercoasterofayear.

allmyshoppingonline,whetheritbeColes,BunningsorK-mart,"saysNeeru,motherofan18-montholdgirlfro1nSydney."AJotofservice-basedorganisationswerealsoconvenientlyonline,suchasmy localyogastudio,soIcouJddomyclassesinthecomfortofmyownhome." Theseconveniences haveallowedmotherstokeeptheirbeadabovewater,andwheninsurvivalmode,anythinggoes!

ydneymumSmitaNashikkarhas claimedthetopprizeinIndian LinkRadio'sMother'sDay talentcontest Main Bhi Kalakaar (Season2),forherphotographicworks. HiraiAdhyaru,alsoofSydney,tookthe HighlyCommendedprizeforherYouTube poetryrecitations.

Askilledphotographer,S111ita'sphotos areseenoftenonco1n1nunitysocial media,andincreasinglyonthatofABC. Breathtakingintheirbeauty,theyarealmost alwaysoflandscapes-mountains,oceans, sunsetsandsunrises.

Hiral'spresentationsofpoetryandprosein HindiarereachingalargeYouTubeaudience andareoftenheardon Indian Link Radio.

SnutaandHiral'sentrieswerepickedfom 38entriesnationwidetlusyear.UnlikeSeason 1ofthiscontestin2019whichwasrestricted tosonganddance,tlusyear'stalentquest

Indian Link Radio's Mother's Day talent quest

openeduptoavarietyofskillgenres.Besides photographyandpoetry,theparticipants showcasedtheirtalentinfieldsasvariedas painting,mandaladotpaintings,Worliart, mehendiart,sketching,crochet,knitting,travel videography,dance,singing,handmadepaper crafts,decoupage,dollmaking,ceramics, keyboardplaying,cooking,baking,jewellery makingandfancydressmakingforkids.

Smita'sworkinphotography,including herrecentinterestindronephotography shonethroughasanoutstandingentry. CheckoutherpieceintheViewfinder columnthisveryissue(page20). Hiral's cleardiction,choiceofliteraryworksand personablestyleofdeliveryalsosuitably impressedthejudges.

Thecontest Main Bhi Kalakaar (I'm an artiste too), designedbyIndianLinkRadio's StationManagerEktaShar1na,ranfornearly threeweeks.Kidsnominatedtheir1nums,

butself-nominationswerewelcometoo.

Thewinnerswereannouncedlive onaironpresenterMeenakshiKalia's eveningshowSundaySunsetonMother's Day9May.Bothwinnersdroppedbyin thestudiosthefollowingdaytoaccept theirawardsliveonairwithpresenter EktaSharmaontheshow Good Morning Australia.Theladiesacceptedtheirprizes fromIndianLinkCEOPawanLuthra.

"Icouldn'tbelieveit,"Smitasaidlater."It feltgreattohavewon."

Sherevealedontheshowthatinfactit washerroleasamumthatgotherinto photography."lstillcallkids'photography myfavou1·itekindofphotography. Ilove creatingportraitsofkidsandnewborns,the morecandid,tbebetter!"

Hiraiopenedupaboutherothercreative endeavoursinmandalaart.

Bothmumsspokeaboutbowtheirside

passionsoverandabovefull-timeworkand familyresponsibilitieshavetouchedtheir children.

i-:liral'ssons, 11and9,havebeguntoshare herpassionsandfollowinherfootsteps. "Idobelievethatourkidsdoaswedo, notaswesay,"shemused."Ilovethe precioushoursIspendwithmyboysdoing mandalaart-wegettoshareourthoughts andfeelingsaswepaintanditbindsus closer,inawholenewdimension."

Smitarevealedthatherbiggestfanisher 11-year-olddaughter,whourgesheronto producemore."Sheisherselfnotinterested inphotographythough,herpassionliesin techatthemoment.I'mwillingtoallowher toexploreherownpassions."

TheintentbehindtheMother'sDay contestwastopresenttoouryoungfamilies thatourmumsaremorethancare-givers andbread-winners,thattheyareindividuals withtheirownparticularpassionsand loves,andthatwemustacknowledgeand highlighttheseevenastheynourishthe verysame1nus.

"Main Bhi Kalakaar Season2wasjustas specialaathefirstseason,"EktaShanna reflectedlater."Everymumisa kalakaar. Wejustneedtogivethemalittlecheerand energytocomeupandshowtheirflairs!

Radioisapowerfulmediumtoshowcase thesame,aswecelebrateandhonourthe maternalfiguresinourlives.Thankstoall themun1swhosentintheir kalakaaris."

Giventheimmenseresponse,Ekta believesthethirdseasonhastobeeven biggernow.Startgettingcrafty,mums!

Rajni Anand Luthra

CheckoutSmitaNashikkar's workonPage20

's no...e 0

SHAFEEN MUSTAQ wrote this late one night in the week her -first child was born

Dear body,

Thank you. Thankyou. Thankyou.

Ia,n writing thisin case Iforget with the passageoftin1e. Incase Ibegin tooverlook and undermineyouagain.

Because thisweekyoushowed mejust howwonderfulandcapableyouareand l hope nevereverto forget.

Thfa weekwasoneofthe 1nost, no,TJ-lE mostintenseexperienceoft11ylife. 1tcalled onyouasmybody tostep upandprovide fornotone,but twopeopleasyouhave been doingforthe lastfew 1nonthsbutin warpspeed.

Yougot me throughtheshockoffinding out about the imminentdelivery, through preppingfora c-section, through the operationitselfwhichaseveryone kept reminding 1ne, is majorabdominal surgery! Through theafter-effectsofsurgery,

through theadrenalinrush postop to pee, poop, getupandseemybaby.

Through the painand post trauma as babystayedinNlCUandyou pushed yourselftoabsorball the medication, food and nutrientsnotonly to keep megoingbut to start expressingfor baby.

And even as 1 write thisyoucontinue to labour. To heal thecut that brought mybaby into the world.

To processall the medication I'm pushing inand makingsureit'sgoingwhereit's needed. To turn foodintonutritionforbaby and 1, to keepus n1entallyand physicallyfit. Youdoall thisjust formeand have the bumps,bruisesand scarstoproveit,the discoloration,the stretch marks, theextra skin l waslearning to live with itall but now l respectandlove it!

Iunderstandyouasmybodyareagift

BY SYDNEYSRINIVAS

fterwatchingBharatanatyam dancerAnkithaShashidhar presentherarangetram(debut), onecouldn'thelpbutponderover theserendipityofhername.ItisSanskritfor 'markedforprominence'.

TakeforinstanceherVarnam,orthe centrepieceoftherecital, Mathe, Malayadhvaja Sanjathe. AwellknownkrithiinragaKamach, manysingershavesungitandbrought outitsgrandeur.Interestinglythough,this nun1berholdsitnmensepotentialforadancer -1nagnificentdiction,chittaiswaras,jathis andfluentsancharas,apartfron1 1nanyother characteristics.

Itwashearteningandpleasingtowatch thewinso1neAnkithabringoutbrilliantlythe variousshadesanddepthsofthismasterpiece.

Adancersabilitiesaresaidtobetested duringaVarnan1,amixofNritya(pure abstractdance)andAbhinaya(acting).Ankitha shonethroughwithflyingcolours,asan avalancheofmridangabeats,jathisandswaras ca1neather. Shematchedeach,quiteskilfulJy, withherbeautifulandintricatemovements.

Arms,hands,wrists,legs,ankle,feet,eyes, lips,allperfonnedin unisontoheightenthe experience. Sparklingwithglee,shecovered theentirestagewithherrhythnucfootwork.

MatheessentialJyspeaksofgoddess Meenakshiandbringsoutvariousaspectsof herpersonality.Accordingly,intheAbhinaya segmentsforthisitem,thetalesandlegends ofthedeitywereenactedbyAnkitha.

MeenakshicouldbeShakodari,Shankari, Chamundeswari,chandrakaladhari,iliaye, Gowri. Sheissometin1esalover,occasionally acaringmother,andattin1es,sheisthe verydestroyer. IvividlyrecolJectAnkitha cha1mellingChamundeswaritearingupthe demon'sbody,roudraoozingoutofherface. Yet,in theend,shestoodasShukapani(one whoholdsapan·otineachhand).Afterall,she isSakala BhuavanaSarvabhoume,isn'tshe!

Ankithaisadiscipleoftheacclaimeddance teacherSashiBalaattheNatyadarshanSchool ofDanceinSydney.AgraduateinMedia (PublicRelationsandAdvertising) fro1nthe UniversityofNSW,sheisthedaughterof AtuthaandShashidha1·ofSydney.

lf Mathewasthehighlightoftheshow, anotheritemthatstoodoutwasthePadam BhoSha,nbho, acon1positionofSwanu DayanandaSaraswathiinraga Revathi. lt addressesLordShiva,whoistheredeemer andpurifierofhumanbeings.Thisnumber startedslowinpaceandbuiltupasthe swarasandjathisjoinedin.Atilitha'sdance convergedwiththe1nelodiousvoice ofNamrata,tl1egreatfluteandviolin background,mridanga beats,the outstandinglyricismoftl1ecomposition, andthepervadingraga,increating asublimeexperience.

Thespellbound audiencecould feeltheiinpact oftheitem

whenAnkithadancedtonijaguhanihitanit AntaanantaanandaatishayaakSayalinga. It reachedagrandclimaxtofinishoff.

Theperformancehadotheritemsaswell. ItstartedwithPushpanjaliwhenAnkitha dancedtoSriVignarajamBhaje,followed byNateshaKavithvamand JathiswaraminRagrunalika.It wasatreattowatchAnkiilia

dancetothepw·enotes-Sa nisarisaa nidapadani, da pa,nagaa, ,napadanisaa. lnBaroKrishnayya, onesaw anenactmentoftheepisodes ofBali,Viduraand Muchkunda.The itemreachedits peakwiththe reverberating wordsDasaninna padadasa.The padamKadai Kann

Ankitha Shashidhar wraps up her Bharatanatyam arangetram with

finesse

Parve, alsoendeddramatically.Ankitha's repertoirealsoincludedSrinivasaand Thillana,bothinragaHamsanandi.

All through theperformance,the accompanistsprovidedlivelysupporttothe dance.There were entertainingdialogues between thevocalists and flute, violinand Mridangam. Namrata remarkably rendered Thamburi /\1.eetidava, aninterlude between items.

LakshnuNarendraandNamrathaPulpaka gavevocalsupportwhileguruSashiBala deliveredthenattuvangam.Anessential accompanimenttodance, mridangasupport camefromSumukhaJagadeesh.Itwasa feattowatchhimplay,sometimeswithtwo instruments.Lakshmialsoprovidedveena supportwhileJathusenJayarasaplayed

theflute. KranthiKiranMudigondagavethe violinaccompaniment.KavithaSathiaku,nar andAnagbaCbaudhariactedasMCs.

WatchingyoungsterssuchasAtilithaon stagegivesushope tl1attheancientclassicalart ofBharatanatyamwillliveonforever. Indeed, herverynamesaysitall.

Australia.

n1s e coo •

From pharmacy to food: MasterChef Australia's Depinder Chhibber

0op.ndc,

BY RAJNIANAND LUTHRA

twasmybiggestnightmare ever,"saysDepinderChhibber, assherelivesamo1nentfrom thecurrentseriesofMasterChef

Shehadjustcookedacomplexdish,with averydifficuJtingredient,wasabi.Most viewersprobablyonlyknowofwasabiasa pungentJapanesespiceeatenwithsushi,but hereDepinderhadturneditinto-waitfor it-anicecrean1.

Andyet,asshepresentedherinventive concoction,judgeJockZonfrillotookone lookandsaid,"Ihatewasabi."

Thisca1nejustafterfellowjudgeMelissa LeonghadwarnedDepinderthat"amillimetre thiswayorthat"couldruinherdishentirely.

"Thisisagreatstart,ltold1nyself,asI stoodatthejudges'table,"Depinderrecalls. "IthoughtI'dpulledoffagreatexperiment!"

Intheendofcourse,shedidpullitoff, andwithflyingcolourstoboot.Herdish, BombeAlaskawithWasabiIceCreamand LemonCurd,provedtobeasensation.

"I'dnevercookedwithfreshwasabi before,butItookthechallenge.Itasted andtastedbeforeIputitinthaticecream churner-musthaveusedup50spoons!"

AsexpectedofatypicalMasterChef contestant,Depinderhaslearntnottobe intimidatedbyunfamiliaringredients.

"Thekeyistokeeptastingand

readjusting,"sheobserves."lgratedthe wasabi,playedaroundwithitforabit,and figuredoutwhatIwouldliketodo."

Sofar,shereveals,thatdishhasbeen herbiggestchalJenge,althoughanother highlighthasbeenhersignaturedishfor whichshetookthewhiteapron:Rajasthani GhevarwithMalaiRabriandCarrotSorbet, anothercomplexdish.

"JwasaskedwhyIchoseanIndian dessertforthisinitialsegment,giventhat theyarenotthebestrepresentationofIndian cuisine.ButIfiguredghevarisdifferent,and Iadded1nyowntwist,soitpaidoff!"

Andperhapssomewillclaimshestruck itluckyintheimmunitychallengewithher pickofingredients-mangoandchilli.But whenMelissadidalittledanceasshetasted Depinder'sFriedChickenwithMangoChilli Glaze,youknewthiswouldbeawinner. Shetookhometheimmunitypinforher goodlookingdishwhichusedthemango andchillibriefnotoncebuttwice(that scrumptioussidesaladincluded).

Early starter

It'sclearbynowthatthe29-year-old''Pinder" or"Pindo"astheothercontestantshave startedcallingher,isagiftedandadventurous cookassheworksawayintheMasterChef kitchen.Butasanyonewho'sfollowingthe 13thseasonofthehitshowwilltellyou,her appealliesinhergood-naturedgirl-next-door charm,andwarmandaffablepersonality.

DepinderwasborninDelhi.Shesays ofherchildhood,"Growingup,Iwas surroundedbyfood,butofthehome-made variety.I'dhangoutwithMumandthe

help,theauntiesandthecousins,constantly askingquestions.Anearlymemoryismaking asimplenorthernIndiansaladformy grandmotherwhenIwassevenoreight-she wassoimpressedshegavemeapresent."

SoonshewashookedontoSanjeev Kapoor,India'sbestknowncelebritychef, andbegantofollowRanveerBrar.Buther all-timefavouriteremainsTarlaDaJal.

DepindermovedtoAustraliawithher familyasapreteen.ShegrewupinNewcastle andnowworksasapharmacistinSydney.

Asayoungmigrantwhocameherein 2002,shefoundpopularcultureunfamiliar. OnTV,nothingappealedexceptthe cookingshows;shehasfondmemoriesof watchingIainHewitsononhisshowsHuey's Kitchen and Huey'sCookingAdventures.

Thenshefound MasterChef

MasterChefSeason 13

Havingthoughtforthreeyearsaboutentering theworld'sbest-knownfoodcompetition,she finallytooktheplungelastyear.

'1alwaysaskedmyselfifIwouldactuallybe goodatthis,"sheadmits,adding,"Icooked alotduringlastyear'slockdown,justlikeall theothercontestants,andsofinallyworkedup theconfidence.Theauditionwasatwo-month process,applicationandinterviewsuntilthe finaljudges'auditionstage."

Wastheshowanythinglikesheexpected?

"Ididn'tknowwhattoexpect,"shereveals. "I'veneverbeenonTVorfilmedanything before.Icomefromasimplehousehold,and evennowhaveasimplelifestyle.Soitwasa differentworld.I'mjusttheretocookmyheart out!Andalsotohelpandsupportothers."

Thepressureishigh,shead111its.

"Ct'shardtothinkupwhatyou'regoing tomake.ButformethestressstartswhenI finishthecook!"

Depinderbringstotheshow,besidesher calmandcollecteddemeanour,extensive experienceincooking.

"Ilikecookingdessertsandamconstantly baking.Myhusbandboughtmeanice creammachinesothatexperiencecamein handy. I'n1veryfondofFrenchcuisine. It's aJmostapolaroppositetoIndian,which comesnaturallytome.Oneisrusticandthe othersophisticated."

Post1'vlasterChef,Depinderhopesto continueinthefoodindustry."I'dliketo writeabookaboutfoodfromregionalIndia, simplifyingitandmakingitaccessibletoall." She'salsoconsideringanoutletofher own,butaftergainingmoreexperiencein thefield.

Sodoesthatmeanpharmacywillbecome athingofthepast?

"Idon'tthinkI'llevergiveuppharmacy! I'llcontinueworkingwithmypharmacist dad.Butitmighttakealittlebitofbackseat initially."

Whatadvicedoesshehaveforwannabe MasterChefcontestants?

"Ifyouhaveadreaminfood,thengofor it.There'sneverarighttime.Trustyourself, yourinstinct,andyourfood.AJso,beopen tolearning,andtotakingfeedback.Think ofitasanadvancedclassincooking,or ahighlyacceleratedcookingschool.And don'tbeafraidofnewingredients."

So...who'sinspiredtomakewasabiice cream?

Confronted with a pricey quote for her daughter's birthday cake, self-taught baker MELISSADOMINGO RAWAT decided to have a go herself

Toannk, oreat?

CABEl�NET

A cakeforapetrolhead...

Acakethatlightsup

...andoneforamangomaniac

.

·scake-mak• Anengineer coconutoilcake

I use my Electrical Engineering degree to steadily redefine people's approach to cake, while still slaving over creating multiple moist, delicate layers of cake and icing.

Melissaputsfinishingtouchesonawedding cake, with each tierinadifferentflavour

... and what to avoid. Worth thinking about if your iron levels are low, writes

drinkwithyourbreakfast,lunch ordinJ1ercanmakeyourmeal 1noreenjoyable.Buthaveyou consideredwhetheryourdrink ofchoicemayaffectthewayyourbody absorbsthenutrientsinyourfood?

Dietaryfactorsthatcanincreasethe uptakeofothernutrientsarecalled enhancers,whilethosethatcanreduce theuptakeofothernutrientsarecalled inhibitors,oranti-nutrients.

Oneofthemostco1111nonnutrient deficienciesworldwideisiron,andcan resultinaconditioncalledirondeficiency anae111ia.

Soifyou'relookingtoincreaseyour ironlevels,it'sworththinkingnotjust aboutwhatyou'reeating-butwhatyou're drinkingtoo.

A bit about iron

Irondeficiencycandevelopwhenwedon't getenoughiron,ordon'tabsorbirontothe extentourbodyneeds.It's1norecom111on inwomen,andcancauseweaknessand fatigue,amongothersymptoms.

Jfyou'reworriedyoumaybeiron deficient,youcangetabloodtestfromyour generalpractitioner.

Therearetwofonnsofironinow·diets; haemironandnon-haemiron.Haemis aniron-containingproteinthatformspart ofthehaemoglobin,aproteininyourred bloodcellsthattransportsoxygenaround yourbody.

Haemironisfoundinanimalsourcesof food,like1neat,andis1noreeasilyabsorbed intothebody.

VA l:i A Z U �

Non-haemironisfoundinplantfoods, likegrains,beansandnuts,andislesseasily absorbed.

ChoosingadrinkthatcontainsvitaminC -suchasorange,tomatoorgrapefruitjuicea1·oundthetimeofyourmealwillincreasethe amountofthenon-haemironyoucanabsorb.

Inonestudy, 100mgofvita1ninC increasedironabsorptionfour-fold.Thisis roughlyequivalenttowhatyou'dgetfrom oneglassoforangejuice.

Keepingthisinmindisparticularly in1portantforpeoplewhodon'teatmeat,as alloftheirdietaryironwillbenon-haemiron.

Sone · rs

Teaisapopulardrinkwithmealsandis oftenenjoyedwithAsiancuisine.Buttea containsabioactivecompoundcalled tannin,whichisaninhibitorofnon-haen1 ironabsorption.

Tanninisclassedasanorganiccompound calledapolyphenol.It'salsofoundinmany foodsincludingcocoa,almonds,grapes, berries,pomegranates,andspices(for example,vanillaandcinnamon},which1nay findtheirwayintod1·inkslikesmoothies.

Kombucha,apopularfermentedtea drink,stillcontainssometannins.

Unfortunatelythenewsisnobetterfor coffeediinkers-coffeecontainstanninstoo. Andthechlorogenicacidincoffeeisalsoan iinportantinhibitorofironabsorption.

Teaandcoffeeareconsideredthestrongest inhibitorsofiron.Acupofteareducesiron absorptionbyabout75%-80%,andacupof

Beerincreasesironabsorption.But thatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldhaveit witheverymeal.

coffeebyabout60%.Thestrongeryoumake them,thegreatertheeffectwillbe.

Soit'sbesttoavoidteaandcoffeewhile eatingandfortwohoursbeforeandafter themeal.Thisisroughlythelengthoftime foodanddrinkssitinyourstomachbefore they'refullyabsorbed.

Thisincludesbreakfast,amealatwhich manypeoplemostcommonlyconsume teaandcoffee.Formostofusbreakfast normallyconsistsofcerealand/orbread. Bothofthesenaturallycontainsignificant levelsofironandsometimestheseproducts haveironadded.

Soifyou'reirondeficient,itmaybe timetoconsideroptingforasmallglassof orangejuiceatbreakfast,orpreferablythe wholeorange(asyougetfibrewithittoo), andsavingtheteaorcoffeeforalittlelater.

A little from column A, littlefro ol nn B Therehasalwaysbeenspeculationdairy mayinhibitironabsorption,buttodatethe evidenceseemstosuggestithasnoeffect.

However,plant-basedmilks,suchassoy milk,containphytates,acompoundthat storesphosphorusinplants,whichinhibit ironabsorption.

Meanwhile,alcoholincreasesthe absorptionofiron,soabeerwouldbe classedasanenhancer.

Ifyoufavouraglassofwine,youshould selectawhiteoverared. Redwinecontains moretanninsandotherpolyphenols,so overallredwineinhibitsironabsorption.

Butasweknowdrinkingalcohol increasesilieriskofcancerandislinkedto otherhealthconcerns,youshouldn'tstart drinkingalcoholtoincreaseironabsorption. So what•s the take-home mess� ?

ThebioactivesI'vementionedalsoprovide manynutritionalandhealthbenefits,and they'reallfoundinplantproducts. Itwould bevirtuallyimpossibletoavoidtanninsin yourdietandstillbeconsumingthehealthy numberofservesoffruitandvegetables.

Thisadviceismostlyrelevantifyou've beendiagnosedasirondeficientorwith irondeficiencyanaemia.Andevenifthis isthecase,youcanstillenjoythesedrinks outsideofmealtimes.

Ifyourironlevelsarewithintilenormal range,there'snoneedtobeconcernedas yourbodyisabsorbingenoughtomeetyour needswithwhatyou'redrinkingandeating.

EvangelineMantziorisis theProgram DirectorofNutritionandFoodSciencesat the UniversityofSouthAustralia. ThearticlefirstappearedinTheConversation.

Fourspots in and around Sydney where the kidscan learn where fruit comes from

BY NIDHI JOSHI

CANOELANDS ORCHARD

Located about anhour north ofSydney, Canoelands Orchard n1akes forthe perfect autun1n daytrip. Theorchard is set an1ongst a family runfarm, so along with fruit and vegetable picking, childrencan also seefann animals such aschickens, pigs,horses,goats, and ducks.

No visit to Canoelands is complete without a stopoverat Glenoriebakery. Thisfat11ilyrun business is a traditional bakerywith a rusticfeel, serving breakfast, lunch,andafternoon tea

stheweathercoolsdown,we longforcrispautumnadventures outinthewilderness.The changeinseasonalsobringswith itfreshnewproduce,perfectforunleashing

(Dot1't miss the apple turnover!). It is afantasticspot to relaxwith agreat outdoor children's playarea.

Address: 27 Canoelands Road, Canoelands, New South Wales2157

Booking: Bookingsvia the website

Distance Crom Sydney: approx. l h1·

Entrance fee: Adults $5, Children under 5 $3

Opening times: Weekends 10am - 3pm

Fruit/vegetables currentlyin season: To1natoes, Eggplant, Oranges, Mandarins.

Photo: www.canoelandsorchard.con1

theMasterChefwithinyou.Luckyforus, there aremanyworkingfarmsandorchards rightonourdoorstep,providingagreat opportunityforafundayoutinnaturewith thewhole family.Teachthekidsaboutfarn1

totablefreshnessandtakehome some deliciousgoodiesto inspireyoutogetback intothekitchen.Seeourround-upbelow ofthe best places togofruitpicking near Sydneyinthenextfewweeksandmonths.

FORDS FARM

Fords Farm is a citrus orchard specialisingin mandarins. Theygrowfourvarietiesof mandarins as well as various varietiesoforanges, lemons, and limes. You canalso pick up some fresh homemade jams, chutneys, butters, oils, andhoneytostockup for

yourautumn/winter cooking adventures. Nestledon the banks of the Hawkesburyriver, thefarm is anidyllic picnic spot toenjoyyourloot!

BILPIN FRUIT BOWL

BiJpin has aplethora of orchardsbest known for apple picking. Bilpin Fruit Bowl, however, has a variety of fruitsand vegetables harvesting upuntiltheend of May.Thewebsiteand Facebookpage are updated weekly to inform customers of produce that wiU be available

yourlunch tobecookedforyou, then we highly recommend HillbillyCider, just a 5-minute drive from BiJpin Fruit Bowlforthe mostdelicious ciders paired with woodfired pizza anda gorgeousoutdoorseatingarea. A winningcombination in oureyes!

Address: 2093 BellsLineofRoad, Bilpin NSW

Booking: Not required for picking that weekend. Currentlyyoucan sample the lastofthe apples, black & green olives, and figs.

Onceyou'vedoneyour share of fruit picking, headover tothenearby MtTomah BotanicGardensfora picnic with a sublime view of the Blue Mountains. lfyou prefer

Distance from Sydney: approx. 1hr 15min

Entrance fee: Adults $5, Childrenover 3 $3

Openingtimes: Weekends 10am-4pm

Fruitcurrentlyin season: Apples,Figs, Black & GreenOlives

Photo: bilpinfruitbowl.com.au

RICARDOES TOMATOES & STRAWBERRIES

Ifyou areinthe moodfora longer road trip, then Ricardoes, justoutside Port Macquarie isa great option. There are two acres ofgreenhouses thatproduce hydroponicallygrowntomatoes andstrawberriesallyear round. Thereis a cafe onsite, andyou canalso purchase freshlymade strawberryconserve, tomato relish andrich tomato pasta sauce along

Address: 1275 Singleton Road, Laughtondale (via Wisemans Perry), NSW 2775

Booking: Book via thewebsite.

Distance from Sydney: approx. 1 hr 30 mins

Entrance fee: $10 percar(up to 6 people per car)

Opening times: Weekends 8an1 - 3pm

Fruitcurrently in season: Mandarins, Oranges, Lemonsand Limes

Photo: fordsfann.com.au

with other localdelicacies. Worth a stopoveras partof a weekend getaway.

Address: 221 Blackmans Point Road, PortMacquarie, NSW

Booking: Not required

Distance from Sydney: approx. 4hours

Entrance fee: FREE

Openingtimes: 7 days a week 7am - 5pm

Fruitcurrentlyinseason: Tomatoes and strawberries all yearround

BY PETRAO'NEILL

t'sn1id-afternoonand1nyexplorationof HobarthasbeenpausedwhileIindulge inchocolatehour,helddailyatTesoro's 1nodernItalianrestaurant,withatrayof chocolatesandachocolatecocktailtoenjoy.

HobartisAustralia'ssecondoldestcity havingbeenestablishedin1803, 15years afterSydney,withaseafaringpastof n1erchants,whalersandshipwrights,and whileitshistoricGeorgianarchitecture, andpicturesquesettingontheDerwent Riverarerenowned,it'sthevibrantbar anddiningscenethat'salsoattracting visitorsfromthemainland.

ThebestwaytodiscoverHobart'smany attractionsistocombinewalkingwith diningstopsalongtheway.Firstheadto SalamancaPlace,alongrowofsandstone warehousesdatingbacktothe1830s,with bars,restaurants,andgalleries.Time

yourvisitforSaturdayfortheSalamanca Markets,whenmorethan200stallholders offerhandicrafts,handspunwoollensand homen1adechutneys,jams,cheeses,bread andpastriesforsale.

Fromhere,proceedupthesteepflight ofKelly'sstepstoBatteryPoint,toview quaintcottages,antiqueshops,bakeries, andcafes,manywithinvitingcosywood fires.AHobartmusttryisthecheese toastie,witharguablythebestfoundon HampdenRoad.

MuchofthelifeofHobartcentres onthewaterandatConstitutionDock, whilethewhalingboatsthatonce dockedherearelonggone,you'llfind fishingboats.Youcansa111plethecatch ofthedayfromoneofthefloatingtake awayseafoodstalls.Continueonto

HunterStreetlinedwithGeorgian warehouses,beforeloopingbackto MacquarieandDaveyStreetstoview

thechurches,cathedralsandgrandcivic buildingsincludingtheTownHalland CustomsHouse.AttheMaritimeMuseum, Hobart'sseafaringpastisretoldandat theHistoryMuseumyou'lllearnaboutthe Tasmanianaboriginalsthatoncelivedhere. Wanderbackintheeveningandyou'llhear livemusicbeingplayedattheseafrontbars.

There'snoshortageofgreatcoffee shopsintownsuchasBurymeStanding onCriterionStreetandalongElizabeth StreetinNorthHobart.OnSunday,there isafarmgatefarmer'smarketonMelville Street.Manyrestaurantsaresmalland hardtofind,tuckeddowntheendof carriagewaysorinarcadessuchasthe CatandFiddle. Hereyou'llfindKorean, Japanese,Indian,ThaiandVietnamese restaurants,reflectingadiversityof Hobart'sresidentswith29%bornoverseas.

Hobarthasaconvictpastandtolearnmore aboutthe13,500femaleconvictsthatwere

transportedtoTasmania,visittheCascades FemaleFactoryinSouthHobart,endingyour visitattheCascadeBrewerythatproduces someofAustralia'sbestbeer.Hobarthas manypleasantwalksincludingthe2.7km Rivulettrackthatwillleadyouhere.

Anotherscenicwalkisthe4kmDomain walktotheRoyalTasmanianBotanical GardenspassingGovernmentHouse,native bushlandandprovidingsweepingviewsof theDerwentRiver.TheBotanicalGardens hasavarietyofgardensincludingaJapanese garden,conifergardenandveggiepatch.

SinceMONAthrewopenitsdoorsin 2011,plentyofbuzzhasbeengeneratedby thosewhohavevisitedtheunderground artgalleryofeclecticart.Youcanvisit bytakingascenic30minutejourneyby catamaranfromConstitutionDock.

FurtherAfield

Thebestvantagepointtoviewthefull sweepofthecityisfron1thetopofMount

A vibrant cultured city, this southern gem has a compact size that's ideal for discovering on foot

ElizabethandMacquarieStreets

Wellington, though tilne yourvisit since it'softenshroudedin mist, and while it's possibleto hike there alongbush tracks, at anelevationof1270m, mostvisitorsdrive.

Bonorong, wineries and Richmond

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuaryis where you'll seeTas1nanian devils and other Australian wildlife includingwombats, quolls,potoroosand koalas. The sanctuaryis a short drivefromHobart, nearbya wine growingregion. Tasn1anian wines have a longtraditiondatingback

to the early nineteenthcentury withboutiquevineyards offeringonsite tasting rooms.Take time toalso stop forfreshlygrown produce straight from the farm.

Rich111ondisone ofTasinania'soldest settlements, founded in the 1830s. Itis Australia's finest GeorgianviJlagewith thecourthouse,churches,

includingthe oldestCatholic ChurchinAustralia,gaol, com1nercialbuildings, and cottagesbuilt from stone cutby convicts. Retainingmuchofitscharm itnowoffersboutiques, rosegardens, antiqueshops,and tea houses.

PortArthur

Almost80,000convictsweretransported toTasmania.Youcanrelivetheirstoriesat PortArthur,ahaunting,n1elancholy,and beautifulplace.Joinaguidedtour,visitthe museun1wherethestoriesofthecrimesthey committedare compellinglyretold,andspend timestrollingthroughthegardens.Thisisone ofAustralia'smostsignificanthistoricsites.

Bruny Island and the Huon Valley

Forwine, freshberries,fudgeandoysters take the45-minutedrive souththen the ferryacrossto Bruny Island,witha stop en-route in the HuonValleyforfresh apples. You canalsoexperiencethe Tahuneforestairwalk, theworld's longest treetopwalk,ortake a rivercruise along the Huon River.

� SalamancaMarkets

PortArthur

- C

Six Indian shows and movies to watch in the month of May

I MILESTONE {Netflix)

I StarringLakshvirSaranandSuvinderVicky,this I filmisaboutthestrugglesofatruckdriver,facing emotionaland physicalchallengesas he navigates 1 life.It'sgotgreatfeedbackfromthefilmfestival I circuit, promisesto bequitethemovingdrama. I Setto releaseon 7 May.

LAVA KA DHAAVA {Netflix)

WereyouafanofTakeshi'sCastle?JavedJaffreyis backwithhishilariouscommentaryLavaKaDhaava,a HindiadaptationofNetflix'spopularshowTheFloorIs Lava.Watchcontestantstrip,stumble,andsometimes fallface-firstinagameofhilarioushurdles. Begins streamingon 5 May.

RADHE (ZeeS)

1 ALMA MATTERS (Netflix)

I Everwonderedwhatittakestobean IITian?In I thisthree-partdocuseries, learn all aboutwhat goesinto becomingastudentofoneofIndia's 1 mostreputededucationinstitutionsfromitsown I alumni,whosharetheirexperiencesinarangeof I interviews. Funfact:they'vealsoroped inafamous alum, Indian comedian BiswaKalyan Rath. I Releaseson 14 May.

:

HUM BHI AKELE, TUM BHI AKELE (Disney+Hotstar)

I Aroadtripmovieaboutanopenlygaywomanand I aclosetedgaymanonaroadtrip,HumBhiAkele, TumBhiAkeleisamuch-anticipatedreleaseonthe 1 platform. It'salreadydonethefilmfestivalcircuitand I won Best Film -AudienceChoiceatthe HBOSouth 1 Asian International Film Festival in NewYork. Isiton yourlistyet?

I Releases on 9 May.

1 SARDAR KA GRANDSON (Netflix)

I In herdirectorialdebut, KaashvieNair leadsa

I talentedcaseofArjun Kapoor, NeenaGupta, Rakul PreetSingh, Soni Razdan,JohnAbrahamandAditi RaoHydariinthisdrama. SardarKa Grandson I I isaboutthemuch-awaitedreturn oftheUSI returned prodigalgrandson,whohopestofulfil his grandmother'sunconventional lastwishes. Beginsstreamingon 13 May.

Asishistradition on Eid,Salman Khanisbackwitha newrelease. Directed byPrabhu Deva,Radhelooks tobeyourtried-and-tested Bollywoodformulaofan angryherocopseekingrevenge.Thefilm alsostars Randeep Hooda, DishaPatani,andJackieShroffin supportingroles

MATRIMONIALS

........ ... ................ . ........... .......... .. ........ . ......... .................................. ..........

SEEKING GROOMS

Seeking a professionally qualified match ofgood family background, teetotaller, preferablyAustralian citizen or PR holder, for highly qualified careeroriented Brahmin girl 35, 5'2", vegetarian with good family background, workingand well settled in Sydney. Please contact aussyd08@gmail.com

Seeking a professionally qualified, settled match forSydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu Punjabi Khatri, 48, 5'3" slim, fair, attractive girl. Girl is a postgraduate and workingata good position in a government organisation. Please contact at ausind26@gmail.com

SEEKING BRIDES

Seekinga professionallyqualified, settled match forSydneybased, never married Aus citizen, Hindu Punjabi Khatri, 47, 6', athletic built man. He is a project manager with an engineering background and isworking in a reputed organisation.

Please contactausind26@gmail.com

I On Netflixstarting18May.

WANTED GROOM

Beautiful, Slim, Fair Girl 29 Years, 5ft. 4" convent educated strong family values. Widely travelled, done her Masters from top UK University Belonging to a very affluent reputed & renowned high status family from Delhi / NCR.

Looking for a well settled boy in Business or Professional from respectable family.

Interested parties may send their resume at replyadvt92@gmail.com

PHOTO PREM (Marathi film on Amazon Prime)

STARRING: NeenaKulkarni, Arnita Khopkar, VikasHande,Chaitrali Rode, PradnyaJawle-Edke, Sameer Dharmadhikari

DIRECTOR: GayatriPatilandAdityaRathi

Fifty-something Maee hates being clicked. Which inturn leadsto a peculiar problem. Sherealisesthere's no decentphotographof her inthe house.That's no petty issue if you

consider your primary source of remembrance, whenyou're no more, will I bethepicturethathangsinthe living room. So, Maee decidesshe mustfix

I

I gives her a character archthat moves I subtly, asher protagonistMaee plays outavery unlikely coming of age drama.

I There aretwoaspectstothe I narrative, as Maee sets outtofind a I waytogetthe perfectimage to frame for posterity.First,thefilmis aplain I and enjoyable adventure of a woman, I who has been ahomemaker allher life, in her questtofind aperfect photo-op. I Her interestintheidea isstirred as I shestarts observing photographs at I funerals, and feels mostimages ofthe I departed seem farfrom perfect -not

at leastintheway she would hopeto appear onthe walls ofher home. Patil and Rathi execute this aspectofthe narrative withassuredness.

THE DISCIPLE (Netfllx)

STARRING: AdityaModak,Arun

Dravid, SumitraShave,Deepika Bhide

Bhagwat

DIRECTOR: ChaitanyaTamhane

ChaitanyaTamhane'snewfilm The Disciple intricately weaves diverse threads.Ittalksofthestate of Hindustani classical musicandits 'Guru-Shishyaparampara'.There is adequate referencetotheblatant commercialising of music, as well ashow mythsare created around iconsinthe worldof art. Importantly, in asublimefinalscene,thefilm leaves alingeringquestion. What reallyisthe mark of purity in art: doesitlie in rigorous learning, or isitaboutsimplisticrenditionthat communicatestoall with sincerity?

Tamhane'snewfilm, which boasts of Oscar-winnerAlfonso Cuaronas anexecutive producer, isexceptional forthewayitreiteratesthevalueof the musicalasacinematicgenre.

Richlylaced with remarkable classical recitals,the narrative uses its music quotientto domorethanmerelymove the story forward. Here, musicis a characterinthe plot.

TheDisciplemarksTamhane's returntodirectionafterhisglobally acclaimed2014debutdirectorial featureCourt. Whilehisnewfilm has similarnuanced portrayal of charactersand a keenintrospection of reality,thevaried plotlendstoa differentapproachin storytelling.

an unflinchinggaze atjudiciaryand I caste discrimination. Whilethefilm I conveyed quietanger oversocietal I imbalance andcorruptioninthe I system,Tamhane'sneweffortlooks within, intothe protagonist'spsyche I in search ofangst. TheDiscipleisa I difficultcoming-of-agesaga,tracinga I journeyfromyouthtoresignation,and encompassing elements ofdoubtand I confusioninits wake.

I Tamhane'striumphhere isnotjust I aboutbrilliantwriting and execution. Alarge partoftheauthenticityis I because oftheperfectcasting.

I The protagonistSharad Nerulkaris essayedby AdityaModak,atrained I classicalsinger. AsSharad'sguru I PanditVinayak Pradhan,Tamhane I castsArun Dravid, aclassical I exponentand Kishori Amonkar's disciple.

Courtunfoldedascausticsatire, using I The narrative beginsinSharad's

The other aspectthat drivesthestory is Maee's internaljourney, unfolding asthefilm'ssubtext. Patiland Rathi the situation goforhumour-laced simplicity as Debutant duo Gayatri Patil and Aditya Rathi's Marathi film is a bittersweet I comedy crafted out of middle-class 1 quirks andthe deeper question of

I

I Maee makesanimportantrealisation rightatthe end, aboutwhatreally defines memories - a moment's perfect pose beforeacamera oralifetime's impression that one may leave behind. identity, withoutgettingtoo heavy about I it. Rathi'sscriptmaintains a feel-good rhythmallalong,andends witha spot

Simply photographed (Kedar Phadke)and adequately edited (B. Mahanteshwar and Rohan Sarode), PhotoPrem is one ofthosefilmsthat of black humour.

Thestorytelling derives its major impetusfromthe cast, led by a flawlessNeena Kulkarni. She isthe quintessential lady-next-door, coyand withdrawnin her own world.The story

I I I

I leavea message even astheyentertain, 1 withoutforcing youtothinktoo hard about whatithasto say.

I Vlnayak Chakravorty

I

I twenties,andshiftstimeframes betweenhispastasachild,with I afocuson his father who wasalso I aclassicalsinger,andthentohis 1 thirties.

Sharad ofthe mid-twenties is I devotedtohis pursuitof excellence. I Hefailstowinataclassicalmusic I competitionsomewherearoundthe startofthestory,and acceptswith I factbetrayingnosadness.Itis a J temperamenthemaintainsthrough muchofwhatunfolds. Sharad's I I anguishismoreprivate:heisracked by astreak of self-doubtthat,among I otherthings, oftenhampershisability toperform onstage. Much later,he I is plagued byasenseof confusion I anddisillusionmentwhen he realises I certaintruths aboutideals.

Animportantaspectofthestoryis I Sharad's relationship withhisguru, I PanditVinayak. Sharad worships

I Vinayak who,inturn, wasa disciple ofhis mother, or Maai. Wenever see I Maai inthenarrative, butSharad's I silentdeifying ofhismotheris I conveyedinthenarrative bythe way he valuestheaudiotapesshe left I behind, oflectureson musicandthe I musician's code(voicedimpressively bySumitraShave).

I TheDisciple celebratesthecraft I offilmmakingasfew filmsdo.Itis I aharmony ofcinematic excellence I ineverydepartment.Tamhane's visionaswriter, directorand editor, is I broughttolife bytheentire cast, and I alsogets exquisite expressioninthe I cinematographyof MichalSobocinski andtheefforts ofthemusicteam, I led by AneeshPradhanand Naren Chandavarkar.The film demands I yourinterestif youtrulyvaluethe I aesthetics ofcinema.

I Vinayak Chakravorty

HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN TOUCHED BY HEPATITIS C?

Ifyou area migrantin Australia and have everbeen diagnosed with hepatitisCand haveconsidered orundergonetreatment,a LaTrobe Universityresearcherwould liketo talktoyou.

The projectaimstoevaluatepeople's experiencesofhepatitisC,treatmentand post-treatmentlife inthisnewage inwhich hepatitisCeliminationseemspossible.

Research participation involves an audiorecordedone-hourinterviewwith atrained universityresearcher. Partcipantswill be reimbursed $50fortheirtime.

DrAdrian Farrugiaofthe University's Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health andSociety,told Indian Link, "Weare keen to includethe perspectivesofmigrants includingIndian-Australians in ourresearch.

Thisispartlybecauseofelevated rates ofhepatitisCand becausecontracting hepatitis Coverseasoffersa unique perspectivenotalways included in research ofthiskind."

Themajoroutcomesfromthisstudy will benew knowledgeofimpedimentsto treatmentuptakeanda publiclyaccessible websitepresentingpersonalexperiencesof the newtreatments.

(Thestudyhasattainedethicsapproval from LaTrobe'sHuman ResearchEthics Committee:approval number: HEC20078).

Ifyou orsomeoneyouknowiseligibleto be a participantinthisstudy,pleasecontact

DrAdrianFarrugia

Phone: 0492 150 050

Email: a.farrugia@latrobe.edu.au

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BY MINAL KHONA

MinaI Khona has been readingtarotcardsfor the lasttwodecades. She uses herintuition and connectwith the cards mostlyto help people.

You can expectsome destiny-related eventsto occurthis month. Group activities like spiritual meet-ups or a trip could be onthe anvil. Something could be botheringyou butyou can't putyourfinger on ityet. Introspect to see what it is you want, or need. A longingfora meaningful relationship could beonyour mind. Those ofyou lookingto changeJobs mightwant somethingthat is moresoul-satisfying and creative. Listento your heart while makingdecisions.

TheearthyTaureansdrawthecard for Piscesso could becreative orromantic instead oftheirusual practical side. A relationship is movingalongslower thanyouwould like. Inworkand life, youwishforeverythingtofall into place and will examinewhatyou can doto make itso. Emotional overload and problemswith yourfeetcould cause issues. Moneyflows smoothlyand you will have enough foryour needs. A long-standingproblem receives an answerfromthe universe.

I TheSeven ofSwordsdrawnthis month I indicatesthefinal stages ofactivity I beforecompletion. It also indicates a lotofthought because swords standfor I the mind. Becarefulofdeceitful people I this month andstayawayfromoffice politics. Travel plansarestressfulso I avoidtravellingifyoucan. No matter I howtempting,you will notcompromise I yourstandjustto bewith someone. Achesand pains could bogyou down. I Keepingthings in perspectivewill help 1 you solve problems.

I You will wantto shine atworkand I polish yourself-imagethis month. You will alsowantto gowithin for I somespiritual soul-searching.TheSun I card drawn foryouwill keepyou I busywith home improvement, health issuesora pointlesstrip. There could I bean engagement in thefamily; or I thoseengaged could call itoff. I Finances are upbeatthis month. You will have good luck in legal I matters. Forany problem in yourlife 1 right now, keep an open mind.

You could be onthe hornsofa dilemma this monthortorn betweentwotempting options. This could beacrossanyaspect ofyour life. Ifyourrelationship isrocky, you couldseparatefornow. Rejectionsat workcould leadtoneweropportunities. Familymemberscould experience problemswith health ormoney. Money comesthrougha loan beingrepaid or rent. You will be in a mood tosocialise this month. A negative experiencewill end upasa blessing in disguise.

I Therecould bea delayora pausein your careerchartandthatcouldfrustrate

I flow. Introspectionwill leadtospiritual I you. Don'tfocusonyourproblemsalone. I growthand lettinggoofunnecessary I Singleswill preferto beontheirownthan baggage. Matters relatedtothesaleor compromise. Someonewill helpyou undo

You have divine protection this month I when itcomes tofinances even though I money may be blocked or come in

I phases. Everyday life keepsyoutoo busy I to look for romance. Ifyou have been I purchaseofpropertywilltakea sudden I a negativesituation andgeta postive I low, an eventor occurrence will liftyour I turn. Don'tletyournegativeemotions I outcome. Watch outfordepression as I spirits. A petora relative may need I overpoweryourrationalside.Slowdown if I itcan leaveyouanxiousand exhausted tosee a doctor. Work on yourselfand you wanttoavoidfallingill. Moneyowed besides makingyou indifferenttowards I with friends and familyfor new ideas.

I will be paidtoyou. Despiteobstacles, I loved ones. Financeswill improve inthe I Discard any paradigms that no longer I stayon courseforfuturesuccess.Things I nearfuture. Everythingtakestimeso be I worktoyouradvantage. A new cycle is will workoutbetterthanyou expect. patientbeforeyousee results. beginning.

I I

Sevens in a reading indicateaspell of goingslowand introspecting. Especially

ifeverythingaround you isfallingapart. Destinymay knockyou down butthe worst is overandthingswill improve.A relationshipcould breakduetoinfidelity ordeceit.There could be upheavalswhich haveyouremotionsall overthe place. I

I I I

I This month mayfind theJanuaryand I late December born upagainsta wall; be brave no matterwhatthe situation.

I You mayeven workfrom homethis I month and ace multi-tasking. Ifmaking

I a decision abouta relationshipwith your heart insteadofyourhead,some sacrificewill be needed. Don'ttake on Drivecarefullytoavoid accidents. Medical I morethan you can handle oryou could expensescouldgo up.Thingscould I fall sick. Friends aresupportiveand an gowronga lotthis month butyou will old pal mayshow up.A decision made overcomeeverythingeventually. I clears up unresolved issues.

I Abusymonth forAquariansas meetings, I shorttripsand plans ofexpansion at worktakecenterstage. Forthesingles,a I new loveaffairis ontheanvil.Travel for I workis indicated.Sudden progressand I improvementinyourfinancesatworkis foretoldthoughtheself-employed could I lose money. Health isgoodandyouare I in a happy place mentallytooas negative I emotionswitheraway. Delays in all projectsgoingslowcometoan end and I everythingmovesahead.

I Thecardindicates newpossibilitiesin I I therealm ofloveandcareer. Multiple I I tripsforbusinessare indicated.You I will be in demandsociallyand atwork. I Writersandthoseincreativefieldscould I I getrecognisedfortheirwork. Familyget- I togethersare predicted butwatchoutfor I fatigueand depression, healthwise. More I I moneythanyou expectedtoearn could I comeyourwaythismonth.An excouldalso I reappear. Overall,everythingwillworkout I I betterthanyouthoughtpossible. I

AMajorArcana indicatestheworkof I destinyatplaythis monthsogowiththe

Meat or veg?

DEARAUNTYJI

Iama45-year oldmanwhohas beena meateaterfor20years.exceptforthat onetimein2006whenItriedtobea vegetarianfor10 months LatelythoughI havebeeneatingless and lessmeat,like mywifewhoisastrictvegetarian But everynowand again,Igetahankering forporkbelly Lastweekend,bychance, Ididn'tmanage mydaywellenough, and decidedat2pmthatIreallywanted Chinesefood Iordered sweetand sour porkfromarestaurant Ididn'tseetheir messagethattheyhad cancelled my order Soin desperation,Iordereda chickenburgerfromalocalcafe.and when itwasdelivered late,itwasatbest lukewarm Iwolfeditdowntoalmost immediateregret Ihavebeen unwell eversince. Mywifetellsmethisis selfinflicted.Doyou haveanysympathyfor me,Auntyji?Amanhas gottaeat, nah?

AUNTYJISAYS

Arre,listen up,youpetu,Iwillsaythissirf ekboar. Haveyoulearntnothingover the lasttwodecadesofyourlife,you wackybhediya?HasCOVIDnottaught youanything?WhataboutSARS,AIDS, birdflu. swineflu. mad cowdisease?

Posting kids' pies Ofi)lirae

Well,IwilltakeadeepsaansbeforeItell you whatIthink.Allofthesestrangeand crazydiseasesuspeopleJogaresuffering from,haveananimalorigin-andthis isbecause weeattheseanimals,orwe drivethemoutoftheirnaturalhabitats, orwelivetooclosetothem.Soofcourse wearegoingtogetthesediseases. OurpeoplefromtheIndusValleygave theworld vegetarianism-andwehave shownthatanentirecontinentofpeople canbefedonatasty, wholesomeand whollynutritiousplant-based diet.Then youcomealong, having learntnothing onyourpenthalissaaJonthis planet, wantingtoeatthefleshoftheswine. Ohyoushamelesspaapi. Tumhare mouhmekidapade. Weallknow weare what we eat. sobythis logic,youare a janwar. Actually,youare lowerthana janwar- becauseatleastsomejanwars like cowand sheep,don'tgoaround eating us insaan. I'mpleasedthatchickenburgerexacted itsrevengeonyou.Ihopethiscontinues foranotherweekatleast.Andas yousituponthethroneyoudeserve, merekwahishhaikiyouseriously contemplate goingfullyveg -you hopelesskhali(empty) box.

DEARAUNTYJI

Ilove readingyourcolumns,Auntyji, youprovidesuch good guidanceand youalwaysmake melaugh Youarejust toogood, yaar,toogood! Tosunomera conundrum.IamaPunjabiman,and my wifeisChinesefromBeijing.Sheis very beautifuland somepeoplehavetoldme thatItooam veryattractive Butthis is nothing newnah, everyone knows kiPunjabimundeyasaretopnotch.So anyway, we nowhaveatwo-year-old sundari, ShanaAravi.AndIknowIam biased,butshe reallyis veryattractive. When wepostherpicturesonFacebook, we getlotsofcomments Boatyehhai, Auntyji,kiwhen weareoutinpublic, minding ourownbusiness, we notice peoplestaringatShanaAravi. Mywife thinksit'sbecause noonehaseverseen aPunjabiChinesegirlbefore.Aapkirai kya hai?

AUNTYJISAYS

Oh mygoodness.kahanseshuru karoon?PehJiboattoyehaikimain totallyagreekartihoonkiPunjabi mundeyasaresuchchicknas. Many summersagoImetthis Punjab ka naujawannamed Kulwant.Oh.hewas

suchasher. Hestood6feet4inches and had adeepand booming voiceand sometimes, hewouldsing waitIam gettingdistracted.AchchaJo, main hash meoohgayi. Ok,let'sjustassume thatpeoplearelookingatShanaAravi becausesheisexoticallybeautiful.Also, sheisatoddlersoalltoddlersarecute, exceptPushpabahen's granddaughter Roopa- whoisas uglyasagrainof mungdalleftinthesuntoolongand whois nowawalkingtalkingexample ofhavingthemostmismatched name ever Anyway,mybehas withyouisthat youareposting picturesofyourbabyon Facebook.Kisnetumhepermissiondiki bacchekefotoyou uploadtoFacebook? Ihavebeen sayingforatleastadecade nowthatFBis nota good place -but jahiJs likeyouboathinahimante. You canputyourownpicturesonthere becauseyouareanarcissist,thatwe allget. ButourlittlegulabjamunShana Aravinetopermissionnahidiyanah? Andyou wonderaboutrandoms staring atyourbabyintheraastaandgalibut youdon'tworryabouttheeyeballsand commentsonFB?Well,atleastyouare good looking-becausewhenitcameto aka/, you drewthe shortstraw.nah?