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EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra CONTRIBUTORS Rhea LNath, Bageshri Savyasachi, Jyoti Shankar, Sydney Srinivas, Vishal Saddi, Mohan Dhall, Kalyani Wakhare, Dhanya Samuel, Petra O'Neill, Manan Luthra, Minal Khona, Auntyji SALES Anshika Maini

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

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BY

PAWAN LUTHRA he outrage in Sydney's Indian Australian community at the ongoing second lockdown is palpable. Similar frustrations were expressed by Melbourne's Indian community only weeks ago.

The displeasure is not aimed at our respective state governments but at the way the Federal Government under P M Morrison's leadership has handled the rollout of the vaccines. As migrant communities, the discontent will only grow the longer travel restrictions and international border closures keep families apart. No guidelines are forthcoming on whether those in Australia who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to travel.

This is over and above the continuing hurt regarding the unfair travel bans implemented against Indian-Australians trapped in India for months now.

Outside the co1nmunity, those in the mainstrean1 are also voicing their anger at the mismanagement around the vaccine rollout and the poor messaging by the Morrison government. In the early days of the pandemic, Australia

relished its island nation status that gave it relative freedom from the virus. Politicians of all persuasions spoke up for a strong zero tolerance policy towards COVID-19, rather than discuss ways to prepare for a possible - or inevitable - outbreak.

Vaccine management, an obvious strategy, was an important way out but the government bungled it by relying too much on a single manufacturer AstraZeneca, at the expense of other available options.

Though all these decisions were made in the early days of the pandemic, prudence and farsightedness should have dictated a more diversified approach.

When the media began to report highly adverse effects of AstraZeneca, the government, seemingly in a state of paralysis, put out no concerted messaging to stand up for its choice of vaccine. There was no one pointing out the fact that the probability of these hostile reactions occurring were extremely low. Better messaging by the government in the early days of adverse media reports on the reaction to AZ could have quelled the doubts. The correct narrative at that time could have helped put things in perspective for the public. Instead, rather than clarity, we saw conflicting messages from the Prime Minister, the Federal Health

OU

Minister and State Health officials. This did little to combat vaccine hesitancy, and probably turned off those vaccine­ ready. With limited alternatives, a largely unvaccinated population blunders in and out of lockdowns.

There will be much that Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be praying for as he prepares to call an election in the next nine months. Top of the list will be, no cause for more lockdowns - not only to keep Australians safe, but also to keep him away from the wrath of the people.

He'll also pray for the economy to show resilience against the pandemic -an increasing demand for iron ore from China, perhaps? Going into an election cycle with a bursting hip pocket is a good way to retain the Prime Ministership.

And perhaps like his 'good friend' Narendra Modi, he will also pray that there is no change in the leadership of the Opposition. (The sound of 'Prime Minister Albanese', perhaps like that of 'Prime Minister Rahul Gandhi' might not exactly be the most engaging for either electorate.) And yet, closer to the election, when the ALP rolls out its policies, the voters may well change their minds.

To score this perfect trifecta may indeed need a fair bit of praying.

i,ti NSW

GOVERNMENT

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JULY 2021 3

SPECIAL FEATURES MASALACHEF Announcing judges for Fortune's new cooking challenge

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Help Chandrakanth Madireddy fight leukaemia

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THE YOUNG ONES 18-year-old business student Himanshu Singh wins UNSW entrepreneur challenge

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NEWS

• • A Sydney saga of affray makes its way to communities in India and Canada.

BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI and RHEA L NATH report

ishal Jood, an Indian national arrested for aIIeged involve1nent in a series of gang attacks in Sydney's west, was due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on 1 July.

The case has now been adjourned until 12 August, with bail refused.

The saga has caught the attention of observers in India, including Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana, Jood's home state. Multiple demonstrations by Vishal Jood supporters in the north-Indian state prompted the CM to tweet about raising the matter with External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar.

Since 21 June 1nembers of the Ror community in Karna! and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana have been marching in the streets to demand Vishal Jood's release.

The community reportedly pressured ruling party leaders to put the issue forward to CM Manohar Lal who then brought it up with Dr Jaishankar.

Indian daily l-Iindustan Times reported that a statement from the Haryana CM's office said the 24-yr-old Jood was "innocent" and was jailed foIIowing a "conspiracy from anti­ national forces".

Jood's supporters also insist that he was framed by "Khalistani extremists".

Saga reaches Brampton, Canada

Meanwhile, the high-octane saga has made its way to the Indian comn1unity in Canada, a dire depiction that tensions are running high within the community across the globe.

In a thread of videos on Twitter, Jood supporters were seen rallying in the suburb of Brampton when they encountered opposition from Sikh community members. The two sides can be seen having heated interactions which then prompted local law enforcement to intervene.

Khalistan flags, cricket and baseball bats were also visible in the video thread;

''I know that consular access to Vishal Jood was granted on June 17. And our High Commission is in touch with the Australian authorities," Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson MEA.

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H&yana CM Ma.nohar LIi l<hattAt h.:ls lJ)Ok&n to tho Mlnl,st,y of Ext•n•I Aflalr1 to ..cur1 lm�l•t• r�lclld or Vi!:hal Jood

CM rr, khatt&< spoke to Eltum&J Attairs Minister, SIVI ""OtSJ at- ur for lmmecf.ate rele111a of V'aahaJ Jude, a Hary.irrvl youth lod(ed In Aimrafla"s jail & appealed for iMmediate riten-ent.on in the m,uet. The Foret.an Mlnlsterhlsc� fnd..a's conce,n to the Ausll n Embassy

Jood hu been lmpflc:11tt1d ln f se cues by l(haJlst.anl «11tnunilt• who had bffn bullying him for II long tlm;s boca=• of his 1-tlndu faith and lndmn nabonahty.

elements that affirm Project expressed the Jood case as a concerns regarding the . . alr5 W1r,11ter aaured th.at Vlihal catalyst for the growing Flnally, External Aff innocence campaigns JoQcl would be r&11tl1$0d from prison ,n Au$1t8'i3 VIIJY (and seemingly violent) !l001'I launched for Jood in parts of India, divide within the For the honor of lndlan Nallor,ll Ff-a in Sycfney, Indian diaspora.

Australia, and most Au;tniflca, Vi�I Jood � firmlywith Kholiat1Jni; & didn't allow Indian fl-a to b& insulted It has becon1e recently Canada.

We stand With Vishal "Our concerns are increasingly apparent , ,., a.4 that unprecedented with the narrative global connectivity being spun by certain ...

11111 •·••- H has led to a rising factions within trend of domestic Indian politics playing the Indian diaspora in Australia, as weII as out in diasporic communities - a trend that from India. These individuals hold firm the cannot be ignored and one to keep a close belief that Jood is innocent of any crimes, and is currently being held under inhumane eye on. conditions for 'protecting the Indian Flag and Identity'. These claims are being parroted Diaspora raises concerns across social media and are being amplified by ahead of court appearance A day before Vishal Jood was to appear before right-wing Hindu-nationalist entities in India Parramatta Local Court on 1 July, concerns and in Australia," the letter reads.

Noting that meetings had been scheduled were raised by sections of the community here between Indian ministers and Dr S regarding the mainstream narrative of his arrest.

Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of In an open letter to Sen Marise Payne, India, to intervene in the case, the group Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia-based ask for Jood to face the Australian courts for social justice advocacy group The Humanism the charges and "not be allowed to return to ,__..

India without justice being served."

They argue the campaigns atte1npt to paint Jood in a positive light, and that he was, in fact, arrested for his targeted assault of three Sikh men in Sydney. The Humanism Project also highlights the role of the farmers' protest in India in the case of Vishal Jood.

"Within this, the role of the current ongoing farmers protest in India cannot be dismissed.

Jood and those that support him, namely supporters of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party, have vocalised their opposition to the protesting farmers, many of them Sikhs, and have engaged in acts of violence and vilification against supporters of the protest," the letter states. "In fact, there is a video circulating currently, in which Jood purposefully attends a solidarity protest in support of the farmers, andantagonises the attendees."

According to the letter, The Hu1nanism Project believe "a commitment to justice fro1n the Australian government would go a long way to supporting and showing solidarity with the Sikh community, and wider Indian Diaspora community of Australia."

Since April, certain Indian media outlets reported that Jood was denied medications in jail, assaulted by other prisoners, and not allowed to meet his legal representation. There has been no evidence to support these claims.

In a virtual meeting with the media on 24 June, an official spokesperson from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confinned they were in touch with Australian authorities.

"I know that consular access to Vishal Jood was granted on June 17. And our High Commission is in touch with the Australian authorities," Arinda1n Bagchi, Official Spokesperson, stated.

Last week, Indian Link reached out to the High Commission of India in Canberra to inquire whether their office had received any official requests regarding the Vishal Jood case.

The High Commissioner refused to comment due to the case being sub-judice.

JULY 2021 5

YOUR SAY

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SCORN OVER SYMPATHY

International student Ashwin Chhaperia, currently studying from India, shared his unfortunate experience with racist comments in an online class.

Rhea Nath wrote: Thank you Ashwin for being so willing to discuss this incident openly. It would've been easy, maybe even instinctual, to shy away from naming the university or asking to remain anonymous. I really think your article will make a huge difference for many others who are scared to speak up. Here's to creating safe, inclusive bubbles for everyone!

Souryanl Mohlle wrote: I am really sorry that you had to face such racism! It is sad to see how misunderstood Indians and our country India are. I hope one day things improve and we no longer have to face such comments and behaviour.

Rupa P wrote: Thanks for being so brave in speaking up about your experiences.

Ashwln Chhaperla wrote: Racism has never been okay, and when you are on the receiving end of it, it can be highly unnerving and distressing. But always, always, always call it out. Because every time someone calls out something like this, the world becomes a slightly better place.

Suprlya Padhye wrote: This is so sad.

Deepak Vincent wrote: Students should be self-confident and ignorant to such comments. Focus on studies and (be) bold enough to reply back.

Becoming the victim to verbal comments is not good, they have to reply back with boldness.

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VISHAL JOOD SAGA CONTINUES

The arrest of the international student has caused ripples among the diaspora.

BAGESHRI SAWASACHI reports.

Virat Singh wrote: The charges are serious and evidence is strong.

Gursharan Singh wrote: Thanks Indian Link for being fair. Farmers happen to be Sikh and BJP team has turned this into a divide-and-hate campaign.

Bobby Saini wrote: This is Australia, not India. Without evidence, police cannot arrest anyone. Police have CCTC footage proof. Haryana government playing card against farmers protests .

Shabu Thomas wrote: Either way, (Vishal Jood) should be bailed and then the case can be prosecuted. No reason for him to be in jail. This is Australia, we don't reject bail for such cases.

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LITTLE INDIA PRECINCT

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KIRTHANA SELVARAJ IN HER 'GREEN SUIT'

The City of Parramatta Council in NSW allowed a certain section of Harris Park BAGESHRI SAWSACHI caught up with the queer brown artist and Archibald to be labelled 'Little India' Prize nominee.

• Trikone Australia wrote: Little India, or not so little!

•• Michelle Cahill wrote: Are women of colour invisible, UNSW? Professor •• Little India Australia wrote: "Little India", the heart and soul of the Indian­ Chandini Raina MacIntyre and queer artist Kirthana Selvaraj, alumna UNSW •• Australian community, shaping the future of the Australia-Indian bilateral COFA in the #ArchibaldPrize. #diversitymatters •• • • Satyarth Mishra wrote: This is brilliant! To each their own. Power to Kirthana. relationship. Progressing now towards installation of "Little India Gate".

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SAYIT AGAIN

6 JULY 2021

Scott Morrison sets example for Sydney by isolating himself from the nation.

The Chaser

The frustration of seeing wealthy Hollywood stars traveling here when your own country shuts you out... I just can't even.

Shalailah Medhora, ABC journo

Heal country like it heals us. Happy NAIDOC Week everyone, but especially mob. And remember, Blak excellence should be acknowledged and celebrated all year round.

Casey Conway, former rugby league footballer

www.indianlink.com.au

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SBS HINDI IN THE N EWS

The legal case involvingjournalist Pallavi Jain's unfair dismissal from the national network made headlines this month.

Ranbir Shauhan wrote: Fight, fight, fight (the) racist decision. So many IT

contractors have been (similarly) illegally sacked .

Rekha Rajvanshi wrote: Enough of bullying, SBS. Take Pallavi back.

Yadu Singh wrote: Good coverage of Pallavi's story by Indian Link. SBS management should fix the issues in SBS Hindi. Many have been the victims of SBS Hindi management. The fairest step for SBS is to reinstate Pallavi.

Inquisitive Soul wrote: Unfair treatment should be called out and rectified.

Saroni Roy wrote: I'm not surprised.

Suchl Patel wrote: Jaya Sharma was a Melbourne journalist that SBS picked to lead SBS Hindi. However suddenly KumudMerani protested, and she was given the job instead! fdamodshere wrote: Not surprised but really annoyed that uncles try to pull this s**t in the first world. They get away with that mess in the homeland, but they don't understand that women like Pallavi Jain aren't going to put up with it?

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PROVING BROWN IS BEAUTIFUL

RHEA L NATH shared the story of Nitesh Pillai, a 20-year-old Indian origin model who made his big debut at the Australian Fashion Week 2021 .

Gautam Gordon Nath wrote: Nice to read the journeys of a variety of

individuals from across the globe! Well written!

Veda Gottumukkala wrote: He's gorgeous! Really hope he makes it big.

Nltesh PIiiai wrote: Great writing, really well put together and extremely cohesive piece of work, glad to be a part of it!

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WHERE IN I N DIA

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The only place in the world where you can find multiple temples on top of a hill - where is it located? Readers Smita Pawar Nashikkar, Deepak Vincent, WHERE I N OZ • Neha Mittal, and Sudha guessed it right: Palitana Temple on Shatrunjaya Hill We asked you, where can you find the Big Bundy Bottle? Readers Naresh • • • and Bhanu Kothari had the right answer: Bundaberg, Queensland!

• in Palitana, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat.

• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I had a highly respected virologist knock back a request for an in­ depth interview/Q&A this week because the media environment had become "too toxic." Brokens and drips on social media waging their own ideological crusades have destroyed informed public debate.

Kemal Atlay, reporterW

Few countries have gone backwards in their restrictions (let alone locked their citizens out at all) 18 months on. Why is Australia doing it again and again and again? Because it's politically okay, supported

by Labor& Liberals and most of the population. Sad, ugly truth."

Latika Bourke, The Age journo

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COVER STORY

EARLY EFFORTS

BY JYOTI SHANKAR ver since COVlD first struck in 2019-2020, responses to the panden1ic have differed according to resources available and the speed with which governn,ents took actions.

India was lauded internationally for its early efforts in bringing the beast under control, but when a devastating second wave struck a year later in March 2021, the world watched horrified as the extent of loss hit the news. The situation got 1nore real as news of illness and deaths of loved ones back horne trickled in. Life in Australia had almost returned to normal but Indians living here, with families in India, watched in sadness and hopelessness.

One such Indian-Australian was Dr. Rohina Joshi. As the head of the Global Health Workforce Progran, at the George Institute of Global Health and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at UNSW Sydney, Rohina felt impelled to take steps to support her fellow medical colleagues in India. " I was getting constant messages about oxygen cylinders and hospital beds, and spent many nights linking people," Rohina recounted to Indian Link. "It reached a point where I thought that doing things by 1nyself, alone, was not going to be sustainable."

A post on her own Facebook page and that of a local com1nunity won1en's group was her first attempt to reach out to doctors based in Australia. She also wrote to many medical groups.

The response was overwhelming. The result was the establishn1ent of COVID Connect, launched by Rohina and a colleague Liza Thomas, professor and staff specialist at Westmead Hospital. Their aitn was to provide a platform to connect healthcare professionals in AustraJia with their peers in India. Rohina's colleagues at the George Institute also joined in.

There was no time to lose. Explaining the sprint speed in which they worked, Rohina said, "A survey was organised to figu re out where various health professionals were based here in Australia, and what they could help with. Initially we worked via en,ails and phone calls. The launch of a website now has helped to ,nake processes more stream.Lined. The core group now 1neets weekly."

They decided that providing evidence­ based telehealth support, peer-to-peer support and 111ental health support, were the three things they need to focus on for in1n1ediate impact. Many of the doctors on ground in India spoke to Rohina about mental exhaustion. Doctors were trau1natised by being forced to choose which patients to save first, as they grappled with insufficient supplies of n1edicine and oxygen.

The underfunded healthcare system was under severe pressure and with 3000 deaths every day, it was in1portant to sitnultaneously train healthcare workers to educate the co1nmunity and reduce the rate of infections.

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ORGANISING TELEHEALTH SERVICES

They hit a legal roadblock with providing telehealth support. "If you are outside India, you cannot provide medical advice in India, even if you are trained there," says Robina.

Fortunately, they learnt of a volunteer effort in the US where expat doctors were providing telehealth services in collaboration with India-based doctors, to circun1vent such legal issues. So they decided to work through two telehealth platforins: the US-based MDTok, and Globa1Medics4COYID in Sydney.

"Practicing as a doctor here in Australia is different to India," admits Robina. "We are well aware that we do not know the realities of the current situation in India."

Sixty volunteer doctors in Australia were trained by their Indian counterparts to provide home-based care and practical advice to people in rural India where many ho,nes are small and often have no toilets.

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A COVID prevention poster created by Rabia Khan, epidemiologist and COVID Connect team member, for use in rural India

Sixty volunteer doctors i n Australia were trained by their Indian cou nterparts to provide home-based care and practical advice to people i n rural India

INDIA'S FRONTLINE WORKERS FIGHT ON

A 'vaccination on wheels' initiative at Kumartuly district in Kolkata.

8 JULY 2021

Doctors organise a candlelight vigil on the occasion of National Doctors' Day as a tribute to frontline workers and doctors who lost their lives to COVID-19 at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai

Ghaziabad's Dr Brajpal Singh Ty on a 39-year-old Mucormycosis

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"We learnt about advising on sin1ple things such as how to maintain spaces between people when living in tiny hon1es by not siltingor eating together, leaving doors and windows open, using the verandah, about pronation or sleeping on your tun1n1y to ease breathing difficulties ... very practical things," says Rohina about the takeaways of the training.

PROVIDING ONLINE TRAINING FOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

Liza Thon1as, through a classn1ate in [ ndia, found that COVID Connect could be part of another larger initiative by Madurai Kamaraj University. They could help with online training of graduate student volunteers on the prevention and control of COVID. To date COVID Connect has trained 600 graduate students and the faculty of seven colleges in Tamil Nadu. These students are now going to villages in Madurai to educate people about the virus and to counter vaccine hesitancy.

They also provide psycho-social support to counter the stigma caused by COYJ D, as well as grief support to people who have lost a loved one. "This is a beautiful model of how civil society can rise up and do something for prevention and control, and we play a small role in this 111uch larger move111ent," says Robina about this 'all hands on deck' solution.

What started as a pilot has now grown bigger than what they ilnagined. They have been asked to train 2400 n1ore graduate students. "We are bracing ourselves for this," laughs Robina, both excited and fearful at the enormity of the task.

While doctors on the ground in India are busy meeting their clinical responsibilities, these Indian-origin doctors in Australia are working with COV lD Connect to provide all the additional support they can.

CARING FOR CHILDREN DEALING WITH LOSS

Another activity in the pipeline is sourcing simple, clear evidence-based materials for children dealing with loss of a loved one

agi performs endoscopic surgery patient at Harsh ENT Hospital.

Rohina :Joshi

To date C0VID Con nect has trained 600 g raduate stu dents and the faculty of seven coll eges i n Tamil Nadu. These students are n ow going to vi l lages in Madurai to educate people a bout the virus and to counter vaccine hesita ncy. 2400 more students a re waiti ng to be trained. and 1najor changes in their life caused by COVlD in rural India. They have expanded their activities to cover North India where they will train more volunteers and alsothe NepaJ region.

Sharing resources such as posters and messages to be distributed on social media platforms, has been another effective support activity. This helps to counter the misinformation spread through what

Robina calls "The WhatsApp University".

In a matter of eight weeks, the movement has grown exponentially.

But given that India has seen more than 30 million COVID cases, and so1ne 403,000 deaths since March 2020, Rohina is aware that there is much to do. At the same time, she is confident that the work of COVID Connect will create the needed impact. "l am amazed at the response and the generosity of aJI our volunteers," she says with humility.

With COVlD Connect, she's proving again what anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

For more details and to find out how you can help, head to www.covidconnect.net.au

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Dr. Kedar Toraskar (centre), head ofCritical Care, operates on a C0VID-19 patient at the Mumbai Central Wockhardt Hospital.

A technician prepares a CT scan of a C0VID-19 patient at the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj

JULY 2021 9

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JULY 2021 11

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S u b m it a 2 m i n ute video to be pa rt of Fortu n e's Masa l aChef cooking cha l le nge.

Fi nd out m o re at masa lachef.com.au $ 1 ,000 RU N N E R U P T&Cs Apply. Entries clos&@���;f&9.2J Open to amateur chefs only. I ·an cuisine only.

Grand Final to be held in NSW

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PRESENTED BY

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MASALA C H E F

• Three elite judges are all set to check the contestants out in Fortune's MasalaChef cooking challenge he first of its kind in Australia's Indian conlillunity, Fortune's MasalaChef is a chance to showcase your take on the con1plex

flavours and diversity of India's world­ famous cuisine. The first round is nearly done, with video enh·ies continuing to flood in fron1 across the country.

We've seen some fantastic cooking in the form of prawn curries, biryanis, curry on the cob, and even a Bengali feast. Contestants put their best foot forward with their entries, so of

course we had to do the same with the judges!

Here are the talented chefs who will be judging the next rounds. Contestants, are you ready to meet your celeb judges?

SARAH TODD

Sarah Todd is an international chef, restauranteu1:, entrepreneur, and TV host. A Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, she is the proud owner of two restaurants in India: Antares Restaurant in Goa and The Wine Rack in Murnbai.

Since her time as a contestant on MasterChefAustralia 2014, where one of her dishes included a delicious aloo gobi for the judges, Sarah has becon1e one of the most famous faces for global Indian cuisine. She has published two hugely successful cookbooks and has nine TV shows to her name. In 2014, her six-part series My Restaurant in India was aired in almost 160 countries around the world.

In 2020, she was the official chef for the Australian Open in an all­ fe1nale AO Chef Series. In early 2021, she joined Australian Wo111en's Health magazine as their food and fitness colun1nist.

Sarah's huge digital presence and break into the culinary world has resulted in collaborations with international renowned chefs like Heston Blurnenthal, George Colambaris, Ranveer Brar, and Marco Pierre White. According to Sarah, her innovative cooking style comes from fresh, local produce combined with signature, elegant flavours.

SASHI CHELIAH

Sashikun1ar Cheliah, the winner of MasterChef Australia 2018, is a Singapore-born restauranteur and television cook.

The eldest of seven children, Sashi's passion for cooking started at a young age from watching his rnother, a cafe owner, cook meals for the family. On MasterChef, he won over judges and audiences alike with hfa fusion-style cooking like sambal prawn with herb salad, fish curry with cumin rice, and Singapore chicken rice.

In the finale of his victory episode, he received a record 93 out of a possible 100 score. He walked away with the title of MasterChef, a grand prize of $250,000, and a monthly column for Delicious magazine.

In late 2019, he launched GAJA by Sashi, a reflection of his Indian, Singaporean, and Malaysian food influences. Gaja is Sanskrit for 'elephant', a true reflection of his bold, robust, and flavourful dishes. Since its launch, GAJA by Sashi has received rave reviews for its ingenious nod to South-East Asian cuisine, and in 2021, it won the Adelaide Readers' Choice Award for Best Asian in South Australia.

DEPINDER CHHIBBER

Depinder Chhibber has been one of the most populaT contestants in the ongoing MasterChefAustralia 2021, despite a shock elimination.

Born in Delhi, she 1noved to Australia as a preteen and grew up in Newcastle. She took to cooking from a young age by watching her grandmother, murn, and aunties in the kitchen. Her food is inspired by sh·ong South Asian flavours, as seen by her impressive con1petition offerings like fried chicken with mango chilli, prawn moilee with coriander rice and peanut salsa, and crayfish kathi roll.

Depinder is also a self-taught baker, showing off her pastry skills with a Bombe Alaska with wasabi ice cream and lemon cuTd, and poached apple with brown butter crumb and rose1nary ice crea1u during her MasterChef season. She finished in seventh place.

She counts Sanjeev Kapoor, Tarla Dalal, Gordon Ramsay, and Donna Hay among her kitchen idols.

Depinder hopes to follow in their footsteps with her own cookbook one day, this time showcasing Indian fusion cuisine.

JULY 2021 13

AC C O LA D ES

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SEN I O RS ARE A VALUAB LE COM M U Melbourne's Dr Santosh Kumar, OAM For service to the Indian community of Victoria.

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'111 sad and happy," Dr Santosh Kun1ar OAM told Indian Link about his Queen's Birthday honour this year.

He had lost his wife of 57 years, Bala, just over a month ago.

"One solace is that she knew though, as we got notification before she passed.

And really, equal share goes to her in this achieven1ent." .Dr Kun1ar, 85, was facilitated for his service to the lndian community of Victoria.

Although he has been serving the com111unity in various capacities since he arrived in this country in 1970, he beca1ne widely known ever since he retired and took on the cause of seniors.

Dr Ku111ar saw a productive academic career in mathen1atics and operations research at RMJT, at the University of Melbourne, and also at universities in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He produced acade1nic papers prolifically, and guided research nationally and internationally, his last supervised PhD coming at age 83.

"I never really gave up acade111ic work, and have kept myself purposefully occupied twenty years after officially retiring. There hasn't been a dull mon1ent."

The passion for his own healthy and active aging has now taken hiin to advocacy, as he encou tages others in his age group and talks to policymakers about utilising the skillset and experience of seniors.

A driving force in Dr Kumar's comn1unity work has been to highlight that seniors are an underused resource, and many of the111 can and want to continue contributing to society.

"Are seniors a resource, or a waste to the country?" he asked. " I feel seniors have never been appreciated - the only discussions about them are in aged care.

People retire at about 65 or so, and have a good twenty or 111ore years of active contribution. With professional backgrounds behind us, we are a resource that must be harnessed. Why is there no infrastructure designed for this?"

He added, seniors who are keen, those that have a 'get-up-and-go' personality have forged their own pathways, but many others who may want to help - or have the skills to - are left disillusioned.

Perhaps seniors are to blame the111selves, he mused. "Many of us believe it is now time to take rest, and don't ask for much. But age is just a number. I myself changed countries at 59, moving to Africa for a few years, took up line dancing at 79, and was still acade111ically involved well into my 80s!"

Perhaps in play here is Dr Kumar's professional expertise in operations research - a discipline that employs advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions.

Dr Kumar founded the Northern Region Indian Seniors Association NRISA as a platform for seniors to get together regularly, interact socially, participate in entertainment and light exercise, and take in information sessions on topics such as health, elder rights and finance.

But Dr Ku1nar's enthusiasm for more purposeful engagement of the seniors in community, perhaps even senior employment, took him to larger platforms, such as Northern Federation of Ethnic Seniors Club and the Ethnic Comn1unities Council of Victoria.

Through these agencies, he has been talking to authorities at the state and federal levels about harnessing the valuable resource of those in their senior years.

Rajni Anand Luthra

M E D I CI N E AND M USIC Melbourne's Dr Selvanayagam Selvendra, OAM For service to multicultural organisations, and to medicine.

14 JULY 2021

t was with characteristic humility that Dr Selvendra OAM accepted congratulations for his Queen's Birthday honour. ''I'm grateful to the Australian government for recognising my services to the conununity," he said with understated elegance.

Many of Melbourne's recent Hindu migrants might not have heard of Dr Selvendra, but they would all have visited

community hotspots that he launched, or participated in iconic annual events that he began decades ago.

Foremost among these are three well-known places of worship that Dr Selvendra has seen grow from small­ scale gathering spots to large community structures that now welcome prime ministers and public figures. These include the Hindu Society of Victoria's Shiva Vishnu Temple, which sits on 1 5 acres of land a t Carrum Downs. Dr Selvendra was a founding member of the HSV when it was launched in 1982, and

continued to serve on its management committee until much later.

A devout Hindu, Dr Selvendra also founded the Sri Vakrathunda Vinayagar Temple at The Basin in 1990, and served as Chairman of its Board of Trustees for many years. The Temple was in the news last year for becoming the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere made with handmade granite stones in the traditional style.

Dr Selvendra also remains deeply involved with the Melbourne Murugan Temple and Cultural Centre in Sunshine,

www.indianlink.com.au

PROMOTING AWAREN ESS O F SPECIALIST DENTAL CARE Perth's Assoc Prof Ramesh Balasubramaniam, OAM For service to dentistry. t 44, the University of Western Australia's Associate Professor Ra1nesh Balasubramaniam is one of the youngest recipients of the Queen's Birthday honour from our con11nunity.

"I an1 surprised and honoured at this felicitation," an elated Dr Balasubra1nania111 told Indian Link.

Currently engaged in a complex field of medicine called dental sleep medicine, Dr Balasubra1nania111 has a special interest in research pertaining to orofacial pain.

Describing his niche field, he explained, "Chronic orofacial pain can be very distressing and hard to treat. I suppose that challenge excited me and drew 111e away from general dentistry. I really wanted to relieve patients' pain and suffering."

Sitting Principal of the Perth Oral Medicine and Dental Sleep Centre for over a decade, he was also the founding men1ber of the Dental Specialists Society of Western Australia. Launched in 2016, the society ai1ned at promoting awareness of specialist dental care within the community.

Dr Subramania111 is also President of the Oral Medicine Academy ofAustralasia.

The associate professor has delivered over 100 lectures in the field of oral medicine all over the globe and has numerous publications to his name.

Graduating from UWA in 2000, he travelled overseas and received diverse training in orofacial pain and orofacial medicine at the University of Kentucky and the University of Pennsylvania respectively, returning to Australia in 2008.

When he returned, oral medicine was not a recognised specialty in Western Australia.

"In 2009, along with a couple of other colleagues, I was instrumental in getting the specialty recognised," Dr Subramaniam revealed. "At that time, there was no national board; each state

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had its own. We 1net with the Health Minister at the time, Nicola Roxon, to effect a change in the Dental Board of Western Australia to see this discipline recognised."

Today he sees this as a significant highlight of his career, besides of course, his OAM honour.

"I hope this recognition will motivate others in the field of dentistry as well as other areas of un1net need in Australia to excel in those fields," Dr Balasubra1naniam expressed.

The Malaysian-born oral medicine specialist's Indian links run deep thanks

to hjs passion for the field.

"Besides some aid work in the past, I have ties to India within the oral medicine and radiology community. l f it wasn't for the global pandemic, 1 was going to go to India again this year to do some lectures in dental sleep medicine. Obviously, now they're all onli ne."

He added, "I have many dear colleagues in India. When I wrote my textbook, my colleagues in oral medicine in India were very generous in providing clirucal images of some of the rare diseases of the mouth, which was helpful for the textbook."

The Oral Medicine expert

acknowledged that being Australia-trained has probably made his journey to success easier than those who trained overseas.

"If you were to come here as a dentist qualified from overseas, and then sit the Australian Dental Council exam, it is challenging. It's not an easy exam; in fact, pass rates are very low because the standards are extremely high. But when one does hear of an overseas trained dentist practising in Australia, the first thing that comes to mind is, this person must be an excellent dentist, to be able to becon1e a student all over again and requalify."

a project irutiated and developed by his wife Mani.

The Selvendras' contribution to Hindu life in Victoria cannot be underestimated.

Dr Selvendra came to Melbourne in 1974 after his merucal education in England, Scotland and Ireland. He practised as General Medical Practitioner and Surgeon, serving at Sunsrune and at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, in a career that spanned 59 years.

The Sri Lanka-born doctor was also felicitated for hls contribution to the multicultural commuruty in the arts.

"In the 1970s, there really was not much in the way of arts for us in the South Asian community," Dr Selvendra recalled. "Those of us who were arts inclined had to initiate programs ourselves."

And so he became the organiser of dramas, film screenings, concerts, radio shows. The music festival platforms he organised have led the way to the high­ profile Sruthl Laya Kendra and the Academy of Indian Music, Victoria. As a Carnatic music fan and artiste, he founded the South Indian Music Festival to mark the ardently followed Thyagaraja Aradhana, a

tribute to the father of Carnatic music that fans all over the world celebrate to this day.

Melbourne's first-ever Thyagaraja Aradhana was held at the Selvendra residence. It was the start of the Indian classical music scene in the community, leading to a string of concerts and fund­ raising events.

As a performer himself - Dr Selvendra played the Jewish harp (morsing) - he can reel off a long list of high-profile touring artistes from southern India who he accomparued on stage.

Bageshri Savyasachi

Rajni Anand Luthra

JULY 2021 15

I N T ' L ST U D E N T S

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Appeal to community for i nternational student's medical treatment in Syd ney •

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA nternational student Chandrakanth Madireddy knew so111ething was wrong when he began to see clots appear on the side of his neck.

For about a 1nonth before, he had been experiencing severe body pains. Son1etin1es they were so acute that daily activities were curtailed, including his ability to even walk.

A fever had persisted.

Today, some four months in, he is at Concord Hospital, diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, a kind of blood cancer con1mon in males over 60.

Chandrakanth is 27 years old.

Currently undergoing level three chemotherapy, he is facing more extensive treat1nent involving bone n1arrow transplant, for which a worldwide search for a ,natch has just con1n1enced.

Luckily for him, specialists at Concord Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital believe he has good chances.

Also lucky for hi1n, a close friend is standing by, doing all he can to offer support - and raise funds for his treat111ent.

Childhood friend and fellow international student Sravan Elgamoni has launched a GoFundM.e campaign, seeking financial aid to the tune of $ 100,000 to help cure Chandrakanth.

"The costs associated with this treatment can tend to be extremely expensive, in usual cases making it hard to afford, however, ahnost impossible in Chandrakanth's case," Sravan says in his appeal.

"I've known Chandrakanth since our time together in priJnary school in Jadcherla, Telangana," Sravan told Indian Lin.le. "He has faced 111any challenges in his life so far, including the loss of his 111other when he was in Year 7. His father is an agricultural labourer, and very early on,

i ndianl ink.co.au 16 JULY 2021

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''I 've known Chandra kanth si nce our time together in primary school i n Jadcherla, Telangana. H e has faced many chal lenges i n his life so far, including the loss of his m other when he was i n Year 7. H i s father is an agricu ltural labou rer, and very early on, Chandra kanth took o n the responsibility to care for his two younger sisters."

Chandrakanth took on the responsibility to care for his two younger sisters."

Family responsibilities were front and centre in his mind when he came to Australia to study for a Masters' degree m Computing and Innovation from the University of Adelaide.

He hoped to build a career to help his fa1nily, and yet today the family have had to sell land to help fund his treatment here.

Just over $34,000 is currently

/ IndianLi nkAustral ia

accumulated. This made possible the $5,000 upfront deposit to the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) to begm the search for a donor. But there is a long way to go. Once a potential donor is found, Sravan notes on the appeal, additional costs will accrue associated with acquirmg the cells, and the courier or freight, which will depend on the type of collection (PBSC, marrow or cord) and the location of the donor. Recovery and

@ ndian_I i nk

rehabilitation will also need to be funded.

"Support and funds came from friends in Sydney and Melbourne, the Hindu Council of Australia, fro1n Telangana associations and from businesses like New Edge Consultancy," Sravan revealed. "Donations have also come in from India. Here in Australia, we are grateful for the help of Sreenadh Brahmapuram, who galvanised community support, helped launch our GoFundMe campaign, and took our appeal to the associations."

Sreenadh, an IT professional from Telangana himself, is well-known in Sydney's Indian community for his welfare activities.

"When I beard from Sravan and his friends about Chandrakanth's illness and his family and financial conditions, I thought of ways to help," Sreenadh told Indian Link. "I work in RPA myself, and was able to get some medical advice and intervention."

As he visited Chandrakanth in hospital and became more involved, his own family stepped up too. His 23-year-old son Sreekanta, a health 1nanagement trainee at Westmead Hospital, took less than an hour to raise the final $800 of the $5000 registration fee.

Meanwhile, Sravan laments that he has not been able to visit Chandrakanth in hospital since the Sydney lockdown. "I last saw him seven days ago," he recounted.

"We speak regularly on the phone, though.

He's currently fighting a stomach infection, but his thoughts are all about expenses of the forthcoming treatn1ent."

Indian readers may be aware of the ancient folklore of Sravan who moved mountains in the care of his elderly parents.

His modern-day namesake is attempting to do the same for a childhood friend.

Perhaps you can help him to help Chandrakanth.

For more details, contact Sravan Elgamoni on +61 466 554 402 or Sreenadh Brahmapuram on +61 425 216 499.

/ I ndianLi nl<A.Jstral ia www.indianlink.com.au

•

plague students keen to return to Australia Pnzer, Covishield or Covaxin?

M ust we be vaccinated upon a rrival o r get our jab here in qua rantine?

Answers d on't seem to be forthcoming

BY RHEA L NATH n June, news of the NSW govern1J1ent's proposed pilot plan to bring back international students received a lukewarm response frotn Indian students stranded overseas. After 15 1nonths of disappointing press conferences and continual delays, they've grown wary of false promises on their return. ln one of their recent Twitter storms, they sarcastically labelled the pilot plan a "lollipop", nothing more than a quick fix to keep hopes up and assw·e admissions in NSW universities as enroln1ents begin this month. lt hasn't helped that there are 111any unanswered questions surrounding the endeavour. Do students need to be vaccinated to return to Australia? Is there a specific vaccine they 1nust get?

Can students be vaccinated in Australia?

WhatsApp groups and en1ail chains have been inundated with these inquiries, but few official answers are available. lt's especially worrison1e considering there are thousands of students who have waited for guidelines from the Australian government before getting the jab in India, to avoid jeopardising their return in any way. Accounting for the tense COVID situation in the country, the haunting silence could be a matter of life and death.

Indian Link reached out to NSW Health with these vaccination inquiries and were told to "redirect (these) queries to the Commonwealth Governn1ent". lt's a worrisome response considering the program is to be supported by NSW Health and NSW Police as per all official communications.

"There's a general understanding that regardless of vaccination status, international students returning to Australia will still need to quarantine as part of the pilot progra111," said Belle Lim, National President, Council of International Students AustraUa. (She adds that, like many others, they await official communication to fully understand the plan moving forward.)

However, with the recent approval of South Australia's proposed quarantine hub for returning students, based in north Adelaide at Parafield Airport, Lim remains optinustic of the same in NSW. Currently, the plan is pending final review from the Federal Govenunent.

"The plan hopes to bring back 250 students to Sydney every fortnight. It's slow considering there are at least 50,000 students waiting to return, but it's a start," she told Indian Link.

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Studying online from his town in Maharashtra, Prayag Sawai is the only member of his family who hasn't been vaccinated yet. He's been waiting to know more about the requirements to return to AustraUa. "There's been no support or information from the Australian government. lf they could at least give us some guideUnes, we could be prepared on our end," he explained. "In my town, vaccinations are easily available, but I waited."

The 25-year-old is pursuing bis Master of Professional Engineering in Telecommunications from the University of Sydney. Every day, be relies on his mobile internet to sign into online classes.

He elaborated, "I'm from a town called Arvi in Wardha district, Maharashtra which has no WiFi providers. It's a big struggle."

He decided to opt for the Covishield

(AstraZeneca) vaccine, but news came in that it will be phased out in Australia.

Like many others, he worries that India might not be one of the countries approved in the NSW plan, even if students can provide vaccination certificates.

"I'm at a point in n1y career where I can't lose time," he sighed. "l'm also a sponsored student from the state of Maharashtra and if l discontinue my studies, they will rescind the scholarship. l have no option but to continue. If it were in my hands, I would definitely consider universities in other countries."

For students Like Aishwary Mandloi, who has received both doses of India's indigenous vaccine Covaxin, there could be a possibility he will need to get vaccinated agam.

"It was very difficult to get a slot with the COWIN vaccination portal. Ultimately, I got the option of both Covishield and Covaxin, but the latter had an earlier appointment and given the tense situation in India at the time, 1 didn't want any delays," Mandloi explained.

As he continues to complete his Master of Data Science online from the University of Sydney, he hopes it isn't a decision he will con1e to regret.

Currently, Covaxin and the Russian Sputnik V are two of the three vaccines approved for use in India, but they do not feature on the emergency use listing (EUL) of the World Health Organisation. This listing is crucial when it is being used by many countries as a benchmark for allowing international travel.

"As long as I'm in India, it's better to be vaccinated. I don't have any hopes of borders opening any time soon," he admitted.

"I hope to at least attend my convocation in Australia," he said wistfully.

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JULY 2021 17

NOtllS

With mentor, Maz Zaman

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The 1 8-year-old business student H i manshu Singh's prod uct aims to transform classroom resou rces for the digital age 450 schools and 35 teachers have already expressed interest i n the early­ stage product Teach Flows.

BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI irst-year business student Himanshu Singh's early-stage entrepreneurship idea for an education technology (EdTech) con1pany has won first prize in UNSW's prestigious Peter Farrell Cup (PFC) competition.

Na1ned after Peter Farrell, 2001 Australian Entrepreneur of the Year and founder of ResMed, the contest is an ideas challenge aiined at fast-tracking the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Singh's teain pitch, an EdTech start-up con1pany TeachFlows was selected from 10 team pitches that qualified.

"Our product saves teachers over five hours a week," Himanshu explained to Indian Link. "It ii1volves three siinple steps: upload a workbook, lesson content, or physical worksheet, 1natch questions with answers using our online tool, and distribute engagmg, auto-marked digital activities in less than 2 1ninutes to the students."

He added, "Our unique utilisation of evolving 1nachine learning and Al models (generates) dynamic mathematics, science, econo1nics, technology and engineering questions which adapt to an individual student's skill levels. The questions automatically change m difficulty as a student better grasps key concepts. The product also provides detailed reports to teachers and principals to get a 360-view of their students' knowledge gaps."

TeachFlows was designed by working closely with teachers.

81 teams participated in the competition.

Other pitches mcluded a new generation of vending n1achines, bushfire detection syste1ns, solar panel recyclmg, and bioprintii1g.

School captain at Girraween High School and champion debater, Singh graduated with an ATAR score of 99.9.

The young impresario's interests include problem-solving, debating and entrepreneurship.

As he searched for a pitch idea for PFC, he zeroed in on the world he was most familiar with, one that defined 13 years of his life from Kindergarten to Year 12, the world of education.

"Education is the one pillar of society

that most clearly defines the discoveries, innovations and movements of the generations to come," the UNSW scholar remarked. "So, I talked to teachers, principals and well-known educators to find out core problems they've faced that ranged from fundamental issues of access to global education to completmg simple, repetitive tasks that took up hours of teachers' valuable tin1e."

The PFC competition helped facilitate the early start-up journey by providing world­ class mentors.

"To win this competition we worked up till 2am alongside our mentor Maz Zaman, practicing our investor pitch slides

and presentation as he guided us on go­ to-market and startup growth strategies," Singh said.

The PFC tean1s pitched their early-stage ideas to judges like Narelle Anderson, founder and MD of Envirobank Recycling, investn1ent pundits Gary Zamel and Trevor Folsom, and the UNSW Science's Deputy Dean of Education Alison Beavis. Some of the most successful CEOs, start-up mentors and experts across multiple industries were also seated in the audience.

Singh's start-up co1npany TeachFlows, a pertinent product for the foreseeable future, aims to transform classroom resources for the digital age.

450 schools and 3 5 teachers have already expressed thefr interest in their early-stage product.

"We are releasing an early version of our product, where education resources can easily be made into unforgettable digital activities very soon," Singh told Indian Link.

"By the end of this year we hope to release our machine learning, adaptive question generation engine that makes assessments, and homework creation much easier for teachers."

Especially now, since observing the rapid transition towards online exam formats for Selective, Opportunity Class and NAPLAN, and also witnessing a broader industry demand for students to have digital expertise, TeachFJows presents as an opportunity to gain a co1npetitive advantage.

"TeachFlows opens up a new era of personalised learning that is not tirne­ consuming, but rather, uses the power of technology to engage and enrich children's learning journeys," Himanshu Singh concluded.

JULY 2021 19

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20 JULY 2021

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JULY 2021 21

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Paediatric Sleep and Respiratory specialist Dr. VISHAL SADDI on making your child's hospital stay comfortable leeping we!J at night can make you feel better, give you 1uore energy and promote health and healing. There's no denying that sleeping well in hospital can be hal'd; it's an unfan1iliar environn1ent without the conuorts of home, but there are things patients, parents and carers can do to ensure they get the best night's sleep possible during their hospital stay.

How the hospital environment can affect your and your child's sleep Many parents and children find it hard to get a good night's sleep in the hospital environn1ent. There are many factors that could affect your and your child's sleep in the hospital. These include: 0 Lighting in the hospital room can be too bright at night or dark during the day 0 Sharing the room space with other children and families 0 Regular check-ups and observations during the night 0 Symptoms caused by your child's underlying disease or treatment such as pain, anxiety or trouble breathing.

0 So1ne medications might make your child sleepier or keep them awake at night 0 So1ne parents and children find that sleeping on a different mattress affects the quality of their sleep

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caffeine such as chocolates and cola drinks.

You and your child should finish dinner at least 3 hours before you want to go to sleep.

How to improve sleep in the hospital If you or your child have trouble sleeping in the hospital, try the ideas below: Bring items from homeYou may want to consider bringing certain ite1ns from home to 1nake you feel more comfortable. These include: 0 Fan1iliar pillows 0 Your child's favourite sleeping toy, blanket or comforters 0 A good book for you, nightwear and son1e toiletries 0 Earplugs 0 An eyemask

0 Slippers

During the day Open windows (if your room has one!) or sin1ply include some light physical activity in the sun. Light helps set your body's internal clock.

Limit day time napping Taking naps late in the afternoon can make it difficult for you and your child to fall asleep at night Speak to your doctor or nurse Where possible changing medication times and reducing frequency of observations overnight might help you and your child have uninterrupted sleep.

At bedtime Avoid caffeine containing foods and drinks. Beware of hidden sources of

Other tips to help you sleep better 0 Have a sleep routine in hospital You and your child could sti!J try and keep a sleep routine in hospital. Pick any three activities such as reading, massage, meditation, listening to soothing music using headphones etc consistently before bedtime.

0 Make your bed sleep-friendly Turn off a!J electronic devices (phones, laptops and iPads) at least an hour before bedtime.If you or your child can't fall asleep, try a short activity such as reading a book for 30 minutes.Some adults and children may find deep breathing exercises before bedtime relaxing.

0 Keep your room dark Close the curtains. Use an eye mask.

0 The right temperature Make sure your room is not too cold or hot. Nursing staff can provide or remove extra blankets if needed.

There's no denying that it can be tricky to get good sleep in hospital, but working with your treating team and implen1enting the above tips will give you the best possible chance at much needed sleep.

u 0 su ns 1 ne •

RHEA L NATH on how to work on your Vita min D levels

s we continue to work from hon1e, n1any of us 111ay find ourselves going days without stepping outdoors. While it's in1portant to keep up this social distancing, there's a good chance it ,neans we're not getting all the sunlight we need. When was the last time you took a good, long stro!J and soaked in some rays?

With Vitamin D deficiencies rampant in our con1n1unity, it's n1ore important than ever to learn what we can, and should, do to stay healthy. The vitamin plays a bigger role in our immune syste1n than we think!

The benefits of Vitamin D The so-called "sunshine vitamin" is produced naturally by our body with exposure to sunlight. It plays a crucial role in the absorption of calcium and in moderating our inm1une systen1.

Vita1uin D is also believed to help keep away other health issues like diabetes, bacterial infections, heart diseases, and even regulating our body weight.

Ironically, Vita1nin D deficiency prevails in the Indian subcontinent, with so1ne studies suggesting that 70%-90°/o of Indians have the deficiency without knowing it. This is often linked to our darker skin - the higher the melanin levels, the lesser vitamin D the skin absorbs. Surprising, right?

22 JULY 2021

Additional factors that affect Vitamin D levels Other than the melanin levels of our skin, there are other factors that can affect how well our body absorbs Vitamin D. Location The further away we live from the equator, the less UVB light (which produces Vitamin D) reaches us.

Weight Some studies suggest that people with more body weight 1uight actually observe lower vita1uin D levels. This is attributed to the fact that the vitamin is stored in fatty tissues, so people with more body fat may need greater amounts of

Vitamin D to maintain the necessary levels in their blood stream.

Age Older people may see lower levels of the vitamin as their body's ability to process the vitamin slows down with time.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency Unlike other vitamin deficiencies, this one can be particularly hard to notice because it doesn't exhibit outward symptoms.

Instead, the things to keep an eye out for include fatigue, difficulty sleeping, muscle cramps, and stress fractures (particularly in the hips, legs, and pelvis).

How to get your dose of Vitamin D Of course, the best way to meet your daily requirement of Vitamin D is by simply going out for a walk. It's suggested that you spend at least 20 minutes in the sun every day.

However, there are ways to include the vitamin in your diet apart from supple1nents.

0 Focus on necessary oils like cod liver oil and oily fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel 0 Increase you1· dose of fortified foods like yoghurt, cheese, egg yolks, and breakfast cereals 0 Turn to seasonings like turmeric, garlic, black mustards seeds, and coriander 0 Include more mushrooms in your dishes If you suspect that you ,night have a Vitamin D deficiency, get in touch with your GP for possible tests and/or supplements to include in your diet. If you decide to turn to supplements, keep in nund that too many supplements might cause issues like nausea, dehydration, and poor appetite. Luckily, you can't rea!Jy get too much vitamin D from the most natural source of all, the sun.

So while you work away on your laptops and keep up with social restrictions, take some time out of your day to walk in the sun. It'll help your mood and it'll definitely help your health!

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B O O KS

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A new children's series a bout language and identity BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI efore we got to Fiji, I had never really talked to Nana. Mu,n would s01netinies give 1ne the phone to say hello. I would say hi and quickly run to 1ny roo,n. I could only speak English, and I could not speak my Nana's language.

Fiji- Baat is a child ren's series about a 9-year-old Aussie boy spending tilne with his Fijian Nana (maternal grandfather).

In book one, the young boy flies to Fiji for Christ111as and 1neets his Nana for the first time; in book two, Nana co1nes to Sydney.

The title translates to 'Fiji talk', a language spoken by Indo-Fijians - mostly Hindi n1ixed with Bhojpuri and South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu and Malaya lain.

"The language is the product of influences from other languages that have existed since the Girmit period (when Indians were brought to Fiji by British settlers to work in plantations)," author Salvin Ku1nar told Indian Link, a descendant of the Tamil Girn1itiyas himself.

Ku1nar - a Sydney-based teacher and social worker of lndo-Fijian background

- wrote, illustrated and self-published the book. He was n1otivated by the ongoing identity conflict he observed among his community's younger generation.

"Our children were feeling like they weren't Indo-Fijian enough because they couldn't speak Fiji-Baal. It was then that I decided to write the book," Salvin revealed.

At the spice shops in Sydney, tnu,n would so1neti1nes bu,np into other wo111en she knew fro111 Fiji.

They would smile and talk. S0111etimes they would ask 111e, "You kno1-v Fiji-Baat?"

Mum would look at me and ask, "Can you say Nan1.askara111 to Aunty?''.

"Na-Ma- Sss-Ka-Ra,n, Aunty," 1 would say.

The two-part series encapsulates the experience of a second-generation Australian kid (of Fijian or any minority background) interacting with relatives

who are either very well connected to the country their parents migrated from or who still live there.

The shyness, newness, and curiosity are all too relatable.

The boy assumes that his Nana does not speak English, but in Fiji, he finds out he does! The two teach and learn new things from each other, and their little exchanges in Fiji- Baat are fun and informative.

When Nana comes to Sydney, he accompanies his grandson to Taronga Zoo where the nine-year-old learns the words for different animals in Fiji-Baat.

"Illustrations such as the image of driving home from the airport, seeing his Nana waiting for their car to arrive, are all inspired by my upbringing. These images have shaped a huge part of my cultural and identity connection," Salvin reminisced. " 1

''I hope that pa rents of migrant backgrounds who feel that they aren't a ble to give enough cultural knowledge to their children are able to have conversations with them while reading the book."

Salvin Kumar

knew this to be love as a child, the sense of belonging to a country and grandparents showering us with love. They would wait for us to arrive and would have sweets and all kinds of food ready for us to eat."

Fiji- Baat is about connecting with grandparents, language, identity and all the sweet moments that accompany a diasporic homecoming.

The series is special because it highlights the experience of n1igrant comn1unities, a step away from stories of mainstrean1 experiences or personified animals lea1·ning morals. Simultaneously, the Fiji­ Baat series also widens the label of stories that are considered 'typically' Australian.

It can be puzzling and lonely for ethnic kids from diverse backgrounds to feel confident in their identity, but it doesn't have to be a challenge, especially when there are stories like Fiji-Baat to help them through it.

"I hope that parents of migrant backgrounds who feel that they aren't able to give enough cultural knowledge to their children are able to have conversations with them while reading the book," Salvin expressed. "I also hope that children who are born in countries where migrants live will learn to understand that their identity is valid even if they don't speak their mother tongue, and that they can include cultural learni11g and language in the books that they read."

K0n<:hl korto?

JULY 2021 23

A RTS

BY RHEA L NATH his year rnay have been tough on travel plans and wanderlust, but Niyati and Gavin Libotte have spent a fair bit of tin1e talking about ballooning over Paris.

For the Sydney-based n1usicaJ duo, travel plans in 2020 were only linuted by their in1aginations.

They give into their whin1sical sides in 'Ballooning over Paris', one of the little treats featured in their award-winning eponymous debut album Goldfynch., which released in June this year.

"Goldfynch started as a creative outlet during a difficult time," Niyati told Indian Link. "We were witnessing rnany personal tragedies and music became a constructive way for us to work through our feelings."

"It was cathartic to write together and ultitnately create this n1usical art project.

I think Goldfynch will appeal to listeners who appreciate creativity and a cir1ematic approach to 111usic."

Indeed, from the first track 'Brighter Day' to the last track 'Little Bird', the album evokes strong visuals as Goldfynch take us along their it1credible highs and mournful lows. Their 1nusic traverses genres - dipping mto jazz, folk, rock, and even funk - but they stop short of a specific label. Instead, it's all about mood and feel.

Meet independent musicians :;t I and Gavin 1bo of Syd ney band Goldfyn ch In April, they dedicated their song 'Brighter Day' to India amid the catastrophic new COVI D wave.

"The last few months have been an upsetting tin1e for the Lndian diaspora," Niyati elaborated. "We wanted to share this song of solidarity about turning to a higher power, whether that's God or luck or an unnamed energy, when problen1s seem overwhelming."

India holds a special spot for the couple, being Niyati's country of birth and Gavin's "soul home."

Revealing bis Lndian links, Gavin recalled, "I was asking the really big questions of life in my early teens. I read the Bbagavad Gita and a few years later, got the chance to visit India. I just fell in love with the culture there.

Over the years, I've gotten in touch with my spiritual side through yoga and meditation and breathing exercises with the Art of Living."

Niyati moved to Australia at the age of five, growing up in a Punjabi-Gujarati household.

She studied dental surgery, "as was the expectation", till she decided to answer the call of creativity. (Years later, her mum would do the same. Today, she sings and dances on

The Nannas and The Poppas on ABC).

In Goldfynch, the musical duo tap into their' wells of creativity, remaining heavily mvolved in the lyrics, composition, production, performance, and video shoots.

Certainly, there's an easy-gomg chenush)' between them that translates well on screen.

"That's great to hear, we do have fun with our music videos," Niyati laughed.

"We're blessed to fit together like a puzzle, blendmg our pomts of view together really well. Goldfynch has been an amazing creative partnership." lo 'Ballooning over Paris', she sings in both French and English, and Goldfynch's repertoire includes performances in Italian, Portuguese, and even Spanish. Should listeners expect some Hindi too?

"There are definitely Lndian influences in the album. 'Little Bird' is m English and French and includes the harmonium.

Meanwhile, the song 'Maya' is about Vedic philosophy and features the flute," Niyati said.

The project first began in 2015 when she was 8.5 months pregnant with their- daughter Saffron. As self-described perfectionists, the

Libottes took their time to create this labour of love, balancing work and fan1ily life.

It worked out for the best. Even before the album's release, Goldfynch was already receiving accolades. It went on to win Silver (Outstanding Achievement) at the Global Music Awards in January while 'Maya' was a finalist at the International Acoustic Music Awards in February.

"Lockdowns in the past year have not been a good time for live n1usic, but it taught us to become self-reliant as musicians. We had time to sit down and really work on the craft," Niyati reflected.

As independent musicians then1selves, Goldfynch are no strangers to the consistent battle with online streaming algorithms.

Last year, The Rolling Stone suggested that Spotify's 2.9 million mdependent rnusicians receive just 10 per cent of the platform's total royalties.

"The best ways to support independent artists are come out to live shows, follow our social media, buy merchandise, and share ou1· music. There's an ongoing frustration with online streaming platforn1s because most algorithms prefer music from record labels. Even though they dedicate their- hearts and lives to their art, independent musicians exist outside of the structure," she asserted.

Still, much like their namesake, the couple continue to radiate positivity.

"The European goldfinch was a caged songbird that was bred in captivity around the world. Despite this, it remained a syn1bol of hope. We see it as a great spirit animal for musicians," explained Niyati with a grin.

1na

Charity concert on the occasion ofInternational Yoga Day

24 JULY 2021

and daughter Saffron

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BY

RHEA L NATH rom always seeking out a good deal to throwing a bit of turmeric into every concoction, South Asians can be a funny bunch to understand. Over the years, thanks to the Internet, 1nillions of young South Asians have embraced these quirks online.

"Honestly, the first video l made was about an Indian dad bargaining to get the price down or something like that," laughs Jeremy Franco, a Sydney-based TikToker and vlogger.

With over 193,000 followers, he's become the latest Indian-origin comedian to find success on the platform, releasing short video clips almost every day that are bound to entice a chuckle.

In his latest video, he pokes fun at first­ generation teenagers and young adults who still shy away from their South Asian background.

"What's your nan1e?"

"It's Ryan."

"Then why does your license say Rajesh?"

According to Jeremy, these kinds of videos are inspired by his own experience as a rare South Asian in his year in high school.

"Growing up in a different country, people who don't have a big South Asian friend circle kind of feed into the negativity that people target towards them. We've all experienced it, we've all gone through it," the 24-year-old explains.

"Eventually, we grow out of it and become proud of our heritage. My video teased the stereotypes, the few people who leave school and don't grow to love their own skin and ethnicity."

Within hours, the video had garnered nearly 15,000 likes and more than 150 comments. lt's a brand of desi humour that's become widely popular among the new generation, powered by comedians like Lilly Singh and Facebook groups like Subtle Curry Traits.

"To me, it's always felt like there was an absence of South Asians in the media industry. It's been hard to find people onscreen who look like us.

Through TikTok, I found a way to create my own opportunity," Jeremy confesses.

Pointing out that his videos aren't only for South Asians, he elaborates: "When 1 started last year, 1 was targeting a sort of nostalgia around Australian culture, so l was making content about carnivals and PE captains and funny stuff that everyone can relate to. Now, 1 would say that I have a broad audience in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States... and I'm sure that there is a brown section right in middle of aU this!"

In Australia alone, there are almost 2.5 million TikTok users, most of whom are less than 35 years old. It's no wonder then that the platform has become the go-to destination for comedians like Jeremy to find their voice.

He released his first video in early 2020 and over a year later, it remains a fun outlet as he balances a TikTok career alongside a full-time job in strategic

talent partnerships. His videos might have the older generation scratching their heads, but he captures new-age humour perfectly: self-deprecating, absurd, and at times bizarre in the best way.

"The feedback has been really great. I heard fro1n one viewer who said, 'I'm Russian and even my parents do this!' It's funny that we come from different backgrounds but it's like (migrant children) can live through sin1ilar experiences," Jeremy chuckles.

With so n1uch of his content inspired by his Goan parents, does he ever share his videos with then1?

«Honestly, I don't know if they've ever seen them! I told my father recently that my videos about bargaining at a store were inspired by hin1, and his first response was 'You didn't put my picture up, did you?"' he recounts, laughing.

Born in Mumbai, the comedian still recalls flying back to visit the extended family every year since moving to Sydney at the age of four. Today, he's a proud Australian of Indian heritage. Was he affected by recent government policies like the travel ban? " Hearing what came out from recent decisions was really horrible because those laws weren't imposed on any other country. For it to be illegal. .. that's such a crazy word to use for Australians trying to come home. Even I had family members who couldn't return because they were trapped over there," he says.

"You know, you can't disagree that there is a stigma that people have towards South Asians and Asians. These recent decisions just perpetuated an ideology that wasn't beneficial and wasn't going to help the grassroots issue."

With his comedy and massive social media presence, this is something that Jeremy certainly hopes to change.

"The goal is to create opportunities for brown people in the mainstream media, whether that's comedy, behind the can1era, or even on radio. I want to really open doors and be that voice for others in the community who want to join this field," he tells lndian Link.

He's also passionate about showing off the diversity of what it means to be Indian.

"The biggest misconception is that everyone believes all Indians are the same, but our country is like 20 countries in one! I'm often asked about my name. 'If you're Indian, why is your na1ne Jeremy?'

Well, it's because I'm Catholic and I'm fro1n Goa. Indian culture is very different across regions, but we stick up for each other. My videos aim to celebrate these differences," Jeremy smiles.

''I heard from one viewer who said, ' I 'm Russian and even my parents do this.'

It's funny that we come from different backgrounds but it's like (migrant children) can live through similar experiences."

JULY 2021 25

PA R E N T I N G

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B u i l d ing a foundation for critical thinking is vital in today's world .

BY

MOHAN DHALL t is extremely u11portant in the current wodd to help our children to think critically. Towards this end, there is a lot that parents can do, as primary initial educators of their child1·en. So, where to start?

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

ARISTOTLE

the answers is not a weakness. Rather, being able to say to a child, "I'm not really sure why don't we find out together?" is a strength.

In this way you'll be demonstrating that everything can be found out, and that son1etimes the greater strength is admitting that something isn't understood or known.

Humility is not weakness.

Focus on process, not product

Curiosity is the starting point for building an approach to problems. Ask questions like, "Why is that so?" You can back this up with, "I wonder what would happen if... " Wonder is a separate approach to critical thinking. It allows us to respect that there are things that we may not fully understand even if we mquire. Wonder allows us to appreciate.

and cognitive maturity is being able to hold a point of view, argue a point of view, perhaps also argue against that point of view - in other words, critiquing your own beliefs (and not feeling threatened whilst doing so).

Explain, explain, explain

Opinions can show that son1eone has passion, and conviction. However, an opinion of itself is not a sign of critical thinking. informed or reasoned opinion is a sign of critical thinking.

Consequently, children should be encouraged to read and to listen, u1 order to know more about the world. Help then1 to find sources that ru·e authoritative and trusted. Authority, appropriately understood and quoted, helps to inform opinion.

Hone in on process, or how things are done, rather than on product. When parents are fixated on outcomes, they lose sight of the learning that characterises the journey.

Being right may be valued by some parents but understanding how to do things is probably more valuable both in the short tern1 and long term. lf we want children to be resilient, then we need to teach them to think about thinking - not to be focused or smitten by being correct. lf we focus on the product, or the end in itself, then we lose sight of the learning on the way. This can make us blind to a number of things.

It can lead to ambition that neglects friendship or teamwork. It can lead to obsession. It can also lead to extremely low self-esteem and a lack of academic risk taking. Children may become unwilling or unable to try - crippled by the pain of potentially being wrong.

Not having all the answers is ok

Understand thinking yourself

Focus on inquiry and wonder

Provide clear explanations for why things are.

Explam around cause and effect. For exan1ple, you can answer the question, "Why do people live u1 apartments?" by explai.J.ili1g the benefit of conservu1g land through vertical rather than horizontal living. However, you can also add, "1 wonder what the issues are with living m apartments?" In this way, explanation and wonder can lead to discussion about different aspects of issues and varying perspectives.

A significant developer of critical thinking is understanding different perspectives - even those that oppose the things that parents 1night believe. A sign of academic 26 JULY 2021

Instil that having an opinion is fine, but an informed one is better

Role modelling openness and humility, parents can demonstrate that not having all

It's common for parents to think that the way they think is the only way to think. It should

be clear to any adult that different people have different approaches to problem solving.

This is no different with children. One of the greatest gifts that a parent can give themselves is to understanding thinking. This means learning the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning, understanding different types of thinking skills that arise from reasoning, understanding logic, distinguishing between creative think.mg and critical thinking but also understanding how they can work together. lf parents understand thinking, then they can better appreciate how their children think.

Expect critical thinking to take time

A significant hurdle for parents to overcome is understanding that critical thinking takes tin1e. You cannot expect children to become critical thinkers by force. You cannot expect knowledge by itself to lead to understanding. You cannot expect the name of a school or the entry into a particular course or occupation to indicate that someone can think critically.

Critical thinking takes time. Exposing children to different ways of thinking, and then being still, is important. Allowing the mind with its processes of cognition to adapt to new things requires significant maturity from parents, patience, and a sense that critical thinking is not a race but rather a series of processes that are built from a young age - through life - and which increase with maturity over tilne and with expenence.

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FAS I O N

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bought a 'shacket' or 'mum jeans' / 'dad cardigan'. Oversized clothing seems to be the theme lately, but make sure you balance an oversized piece with a fitted one, like a flattering legging pant with an oversized cable knit cardigan.

BY

KALYANI WAKHARE s the mercury drops and days shorten, do you think you need that extra bit of motivation to get dressed up each mor11ing? In current tin1es, working from ho1ne has been the perfect excuse to stay in your fluffy robe and UGGs ... but there's no better time than now to curate a perfect winter wardrobe.

Here are four things to keep in ntind while shopping to create a fabulous and functional winter wardrobe:

Stock up

Be smart when it comes to stocking up during sales. The best value-for-money pieces to buy are tuneless ones like neutral­ coloured sweaters and cardigans, black or tan ankle boots, ponte pants and perhaps a luxurious coat. Stocking up on smart casuals and sporty sweatshirts/tights will prove to be a great choice too as you will end up reaching out for these on weekends and on work-from-hon1e days too.

Basics vs trends

Just because every other person wears a

Accessories have the potential to give a basic outfit some character. If you like to play it safe with neutral clothing, you can always add a bright scarf, a cool belt or a beanie to suit the occasion. Also, the beauty of neutral basics is that you can make it look like a completely different outfit by mixing and matching accessories. You could throw on a plaid scarf and wear white sneakers with a camel sweater and jeans or combine the same camel sweater with black jeggings, tall boots and a puffer coat, the outfit possibilities are literally endless! Men can experin1ent with accessories too, like a cool winter hat, a bright tie or a looped scarf.

Tips

Edit

Always 1nake sure you take a good look at your winter clothes. l strongly recommend taking every piece of clothing out of your wardrobe to exa1nine it closely and if you haven't worn it for the last two winters, ask yourself why you are still holding on to it!

Do a serious cull and either sell, donate or discaTd, especially those worn out, tired looking sweaters and over stretched pullovers.

Finishing touches

black coat, don't feel compelled to fit in. Invest in clothing that not only flatters you but also expresses your personality. Trends are short lived, and you may never weal' the piece again next winter, so be wise about how n1any trendy pieces you pul'chase.

I like to follow the 80-20 rule, where 80% of your wardrobe has timeless pieces and 20% h·endy. l f you are a keen trend follower then you may have already

♦ Take advantage of mid-year sales to buy cool investment pieces that will last you for years to come. ♦Before embarking on an exciting shopping trip, do a gap analysis of items you already have, what you need this winter, and this season's attention-grabbing trends. ♦ lnstagram and Pinterest are my greatest sources when it comes to trends and style ideas. ♦ There are some fun apps like ClosetSpace and Stylebook that you can use to do a stocktake of your clothes and create outfits.

This winter, go the extra mile!

Plan your outfit the night before instead of grabbmg whatever you see first. Planning not only gives you a boost of confidence but also ensures you get more wear out of the clothes that sit behind on your shelf.. :JULY 2021 29

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FOOD

• A rich and del icious gravy makes this gg curr perfect for a winter night BY

DHANYA SAMUEL urma, also referred to as Kor1na/ Qorma is a traditional [ndian curry that has a creamy consistency fron1 the use of yoghurt, spices and aromatics. The preparation of a kurn1a varies between regions; the North Indian versions often use crean1 or nut pastes (cashewnuts, aln1onds) for richness and this also adds to the crean1iness of the final curry. But in the Chettinad version (quite si1nilar to other South Indian versions), the yoghurt and crea1n are instead replaced by coconut to achieve that crean1y consistency.

This Chettinad-style kurma also uses poppy seeds, a surprise ingredient but often used in many Chettinad curry pastes for its unique nutty flavour and the creamy thickness it lends to the gravy.

When we think of a kurma, it's either a vegetarian version or a meat-based version that co1nes to n1ind. Egg i s an unlikely choice, but you will be surprised just how delicious this choice can be. It's a great option if you are an egg-etarian or if you prefer to avoid meat during the weekdays yet crave for a rich and delicious curry especially in this freezing winter.

The key flavours of this egg kurma are in the wet paste. The spices, aron1atics, poppy seeds and coconut are slow-roasted to draw out the flavours and then ground to a paste. This i s the only step that requires patience and care as to not burn the spices or coconut. The rest of the recipe i s super simple and straightforward.

When n1aking a curry using hardboiled eggs, a good tip would be to slit the hardboiled eggs into halves or to score the eggs lightly lengthwise if you prefer to keep the eggs whole.

This allows the eggs to absorb the flavours from the gravy. Egg yolks when drenched in the curry sauce are just out of this world!!

The Chettinad Egg Kunna can be paired with all kinds of Indian flatbreads like parottas, chappatis, rotis, naan etc, but it i s best with different types of rice preparations like to,nato rice, cumin rice or with hoppers (appams) and string hoppers.

INGREDIENTS

10 eggs 3-4 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp ghee/clarified butter 2-inch cinnamon bark 5 green cardamoms 2 small red onions (100gm); finely chopped ½ tsp turmeric powder 2 tomatoes (approx 1 cup); pureed Salt. to season Wet paste

2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp fennel seeds ¾ tbsp cumin seeds

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3 green chillies: slit 5 medium garlic cloves; coarsely chopped 1-inch piece ginger; coarsely chopped 2 tsp white poppy seeds 1 tbsp roasted Bengal gram; split 10 unsalted cashewnuts ¾ cup grated coconut METHOD

Hard boil the eggs. shell and slit in half lengthwise. Keep aside.

To prepare the wet paste. heat oil in a large kadhai/wok. When medium hot. add the fennel seeds, cumin.

chillies. garlic. ginger and poppy seeds. Fry lightly for 30 seconds to a minute till you begin to get the aroma of the spices.

Next add the split Bengal gram. cashew nuts and coconut: continue to fry on low to medium heat stirring constantly till the coconut starts to get light brown.

Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Grind with a little bit of water to get a paste-like consistency.

Heat the remaining oil and ghee in the same kadhai/wok and when medium hot. add cinnamon and cardamom.

When the cardamoms turn plump. add the onions and saute till translucent.

Then add the turmeric powder and continue to saute for another minute.

Pour in the tomato puree and the ground wet paste; season with salt and mix well to combine. Cook on low heat till the oil has separated from the masala.

Add enough water to get a thick gravy, mix well and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Finally add the boiled eggs and turn carefully to coat well with the masala.

Remove from heat and keep for at least 15 minutes before serving.

JULY 2021 31

T R AV E L

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,

Dust off those hiking boots and explore southern Tasmania

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Painted Cliffs, Maria Island _-..s

BY PETRA O'NEILL y adventure began as soon as I boarded Coral Expedition's Coral Discoverer from Hobart's Sullivan's Cove. For the next 11 days we cruised along the coastUJ1e, taking in the sights and sounds of southern Tas1nania, and learning about the wealth of its natural history. There are many hikes here that will take you to pristine wilderness areas - these are just some that you can do.

Bruny Island

Renowned as a holiday destination, Bruny Island caters to multiple hiking abilities, with many walking track options, from undulating to strenuous.

From Adventure Bay, we hiked to Green Point along a track that hugs the coastline, lined with sedgy grass, yellow banksias and she oaks. After reaching Cairn Cove, the track beco1nes steep and slippery, the landscape n1ore dramatic, with waves swirling and pounding against the sheer dolerite cliffs below. Hiking back to Adventure Bay, along the Fluted Cape walk, the track passes through a dense blue gum forest filled with birdsong, and if you are lucky to sight one, ra1·e white wallabies.

Cape Hauy

Cape Hauy forn1s part of the spectacular Three Capes Track that takes in tall

Mt Milner Track, Bramble Cove

eucalypts, coastal heath and Australia's highest sea cliffs. The hike is challenging with lots of steps - I counted 1750 of them.

Com1nencing at Fortescue Bay, the track is well constructed, 1nade of cut stone and co1npacted gravel that dips like a rollercoaster before snaking between in1posing cliffs, towards the fa1nous dolerite stacks knows as the Candlestick and Totem Pole, which soar 300 metres above the ocean below, and are renowned as one of Australia's most spectacular sights.

Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour

Tasmania's southwest is wild, rugged and so remote it's accessible only by sea, private air charter or by hiking overland for several days to get there.

As we entered Bathurst Harbour at sunrise, white bellied sea eagles circled overhead, and the mountains were blueish black, with a faint red outline as the sun was breaking through the night sky. The shallow water - stained by tannins from button grass - was dark brown, resembling strongly brewed tea.

After cruising along narrow waterways by tender boat, we arrived at Melaleuca Inlet. 1;ere we followed the Needwonnee interpretive walk alongside a forest and lagoon, the stories unfolding through installations of the way of life of the indigenous tribe that once lived here.

That afternoon and the next day we muddied our boots hiking through boggy button grass heathland to Mount Beattie and Mount Milner with panoramic views

Wombats, Maria Island

of a spectacular, pristine wilderness and my favourite hikes of the trip.

Freycinet National Park

This panoramic coastline is dotted with white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and sits against a backdrop of dramatic granite peaks that make up the Hazards range.

From Hazards Bay, we followed the n1arshy Isthmus track past a lagoon, with loud croaking frogs to picturesque Wineglass Bay, which curves long around the clear and calm water, pink granite boulders and a white sandy beach.

A well-made but challenging track with over 500 steps leads from Wineglass Bay through a forest of eucalypts, tea trees and she oaks and banksias to Wineglass Bay lookout. With the Hazards on either side of the saddle, the view as you look across to Wineglass Bay is stunning.

On the way back down J stopped to take in the sounds and sights of the forest.

Small nectar feeding birds including honeyeaters, wattlebirds and scrub wrens darted about, and raucous yellow tailed black cockatoos flew overhead. Looking down at my feet, l also saw a black tiger snake sunning itself on the track.

The next day we arrived on tiny Schouten Island, located off the southern tip of the Freycinet Peninsula. As we walked onto the beach at Crockett's Bay, it wasn't sand we were walking on but fragments of oyster shells, given the area is abundant with shellfish. We visited the remains of an old coalmine, kayaked to explore the bay and had a refreshing swim.

Later that day, we circun,navigated Ile Des Phoques, a small rocky outcrop, and home to black cormorants and a fur seal colony.

Maria Island

Maria Island was named in 1642 by Abel Tasman after the wife of the then Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Anthony van Diemen. Maria island is also known for being Tasmania's Noah's Ark, home to an abundance of wildlife such as Bennett's wallabies, wombats, Tasmanian devils and is also rich in geological and convict history.

As we made our way from the jetty, we passed the Commissariat store built in 1825, to the forn1er penal colony of Darlington dating back to the convict era.

We then walked over to the nearby Fossil Cliffs the site of a former limestone quarry that exposes 300 million year old fossils embedded into the rocks. An easy walk then led us to the Painted Cliffs, which display colourful layers of weathered sandstone.

Our most challenging hike was the 620m climb to the top of twin peaks known as Bishop and Clerk. The track leads across flat open grassland and then a forest before opening up to large loose stones to scramble over, a steep switchback and then a final large granite boulder to climb that I couldn't reach without wriggling up and over. The views from the summit across the Freycinet Peninsula are breathtaking.

Southern Tasmania has so much pristine wilderness to explore.

Black swans, Adventure Bay, Bruny Island

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------------------------------------I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

: STARSTRUCK 1 {ABC iView) I

I I

1 I I 1 I I I I

I I STARRING: Rose Matafeo, Emma Sidi, I Nikesh Patel, Minnie Driver I DIRECTOR: Karen Maine 1 WRITER: Rose Matafeo and I Alice Snedden I Fresh from its launches on BBC I Three and HBO Max earlier this year, 1 Starstruck puts people of colour I (POC) in an unfamiliar spotlight.

Simultaneously placing them at the I forefront of Western entertainment 1 where they are the action stars (instead I of, say, the action star's taxi driver) I whilst also giving them the romantic,

professional, and social peccadillos normally ascribed exclusively to non­ POC actors, the show is a refreshing chance to see diverse characters represented as normal people.

The premise in Starstruck is straightforward: after a chance meeting in a nightclub on New Year's Eve, Jessie (Rose Matafeo), a New Zealand millennial living and working in London, begins a relationship with famous Western film star Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel). As their relationship progresses, natural issues arise that force them to fight, make concessions, and figure out how to traverse their modern-day prince-and-pauper tale.

That's it. There's no deeper story.

I I 1 I I 1 I I I I I

No wacky narratives that border on ridiculous. No crazy Costanza or Kramer-esque side characters.

It's just them; two people living as normal a life as they can together, notwithstanding one's superstar status, the other's Kiwi accent, and the difference in skin colour. All equally troublesome issues for sure.

It's a story marked by simplicity, and this simplicity also ensconces the production. The direction by newcomer Karen Maine and co-writing by the previously New Zealand-based I Matafeo and Alice Snedden exude the relaxed, wine-in-hand programming I of other shows made by millennials I for millennials. They utilise a witty

I I 1 I

I I I

I I I I script and strong characters (courtesy I their roster of up-and-coming I actors and actresses) rather than elaborate production elements or I expensive casting to sell Starstruck to I audiences. As is typical from comedy­ I based British programming, there are no extravagant sets, profuse I costuming or complicated plots; what I you see is very much what you get.

But that doesn't mean such surface­ I level simplicity is bad - indeed, it's I quite the opposite. See, it's nice to I be able to watch people of colour I lead normal lives with normal problems. Just as we struggle with our I relationships in the real world, so do I the characters in Starstruck. Just as I young people have either shed their overseas accents or embraced them I for their distinctiveness, so have the I Starstruck characters. Also, I must I admit it's pretty cool to hear Indian people being consistently labelled I as 'hot'. All these elements come I together to reveal something special: I rather than living in a domain crafted by individuals whose insight into I people of colour toes the line between I ignorant and racist, the universe I Jessie and Tom Kapoor inhabit is very much like the one young people of I colour know. Now that it's on TV, the I world can come to know it too.

I Ultimately, thanks to a short first season driven by the characters with I whom we as an audience can actually I relate, Starstruck is an expertly I crafted, simple-yet-entertaining look into the world of young POC. I With a second season currently in I development, and its tenure on ABC iView uncapped, it's never been so I enjoyable (and so easy) to see normal I people dealing with normal problems I in a normal world.

Manan Luthra I

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E N T E RTA I N M E N T I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I RAY (anthology series on Netflix) I STARRING: Manoj Bajpayee, Gajraj Rao, I Shweta Basu Prasad, Anindita Bose, I Ali Fazal, Kay Kay Menon, Bidita Bag, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Harsh Varrdhan I Kapoor, Radhika Madan, Chandan Roy I Sanyal, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor DIRECTOR: Abhishek Chaubey, I Srijit Mukherji, Vasan Bala I I It's compulsively dark for most parts, I often strangely so, the way Satyajit I Ray's oeuvre rarely was. Ray had a way I of serving the sombre in layers, with simplistic emotions often acting as I masks for deeper subtexts.

I The short stories adapted to create this anthology are direct in comparison I while establishing grave discomfort.

I But then, they never said they were I recreating Ray. The series is only based on Ray's writing and the three new-age I filmmakers who call the shots on the I four stories between them, take creative I liberty to alter plots as well as moods, rendering a darker edge to the tales and I tweaking the thriller quotient to satiate I new-age tastes.

I Ray makes for a good watch, although the series could seem erratic along the I way. The show starts on a high note, I maintains the tempo for most parts, I slumps a bit in the final story onl y to I come alive right at its end.

You note a couple of things. First, I the sheer universal appeal of the I stories that set up the narratives. The timelessness of Ray's legacy becomes I obvious watching these tales, crafted I for a medium that far from existed I in Ray's time, and interpreted to I suit an audience whose definition of entertainment has drastically altered I since the decades when the auteur I lived and created his art.

The other thing that strikes is the fact I that despite substantially moving away I from Ray's idiom, the director trio have credibly maintained an aesthetic quality I with the material at hand. In characters I

U N EVEN, BUT WO RTH A B I N G E

and content, the stories could appear vastly different, but each of the stories retains Ray's creative spirit somewhere.

Abhishek Chaubey helms 'Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa', the breeziest among the four segments based on Ray's short story Barin Bhowmiker Byaram (Barin Bhowmik's Ailment). Manoj Bajpayee is Musafir Ali, a popular ghazal singer who is travelling from Bhopal to Delhi by train. His co-passenger in his first-class compartment is Baig (Gajraj Rao), a wrestler-turned-sports journalist. As they get acquainted, Musafir realises Baig is someone he knows - from a similar train journey 10 years ago. A quirky secret from back then ties their fates.

The mood turns bleak in the second story as Srijit Mukherji narrates 'Forget Me Not', based on the Ray short story Bipin Chowdhury'rSmritibhrom (Bipin Chowdhury's Memory Loss). The protagonist here is reimagined as lpsit (Ali Fazal), a corporate creature soaked in his ambition to scale the heights.

Dashing lpsit boasts of a razor-sharp memory, till a chance meeting with a woman named Rhea Saran (Anindita Bose) puts him in a tizzy. Rhea claims

I they have spent a night together in I Aurangabad, and gives vivid details about not just their blind date, including I details a stranger would not know. He I has absolutely no recall of Rhea, or I visitingAurangabad ever.

The slow burn suspense drama I has a n intriguing story of vengea nce I at its core. The trumpcard is Shweta I Basu Prasad as lpsit's secretary Maggie, who walks into the narrative I as discreetly as a secretary might walk I into a senior's room. It is a casting that I value-adds to the story and, without giving away spoilers, Shweta impresses I with a n act that allots minimum I footage and limited dialogues, but I keeps you guessing all the way.

Mukherji returns to direct I 'Bahrupiya', easily the most twisted of I the four stories and highlighted by Kay I Kay Menon's outstanding performance.

The segment is based on the short I story Bahurupi (Impressionist). Kay Kay I plays lndrashish Saha, a timid makeI up artist who is basically a loser in life.

Then, when his grandmother passes I away, she leaves him a substantial I amount of money and, more 1 importantly, her book on prosthetic expertise. Suddenly, lndrashish is I equipped with the power to 'become' I just anybody. He begins to imagine I he is invincible and starts abusing his newfound 'power', to his peril.

I 'Bahrupiya' is a modern-day I allegory, and its metaphysics need to I be interpreted for one to savour the story. The plot is gripping and Mukherji I maintains tension all through, spreading I his narrative all across Kolkata in varied I hues - from the lush Maidan overlooking a resplendent Victoria Memorial to I the restlessly dingy surroundings of I Sealdah station where the city never I sleeps. This third story, in many ways, is the high point of Ray. It is a story well I told, is engaging for the way it gradually I introduces the metaphorical subtext

as her groom, who seem far from her idea of Prince Charming. The guy from bigtown Mumbai is, well, bald. The other suitor is an engineer with decent looks, but he lives in boring Jwalapur.

Between bald and boring, Rani settles for the latter. An amusing 'ladki dikhaai' sequence later, Rani is married to Rishu (Vikrant Massey), the nice guy from Jwalapur.

All of the above, incidentally, is a crisp flashback that follows the point where the film begins. The film starts off showing us Rishu's death, in a cylinder blast at home when Rani has just stepped out. The local inspector

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and, importantly, lets the fantastic Kay Kay Menon take centrestage.

Vasan Ba la's 'Spotlight' ends the quartet. Based on a story of the same name, the finale focuses on Vik (Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor), a young actor whose stardom seems to rest on a particular 'look' he gives to the camera. "One Look Vik", as critics dub him, is gunning to enter Hollywood, although he wears a fake T-shirt that has ·scorse Dada' written on it in Bangla (he means Scorsese, right?). On an outdoor trip to Agra, Vik finds himself in a quandary. A godwoman who goes by the name Didi checks in at the hotel where Vik stays and, just like the rest of the town, the managerial staff falls at her feet. Vik is upset because, suddenly, he is no longer the star around. Didi has stolen his spotlight.

'Spotlight' is a moody and strange piece, uneven in parts. Just like Vik's 'one look', the segment seems to be salvaged by a single incidence - the entry of Radhika Madan close to the very end, just when you were wondering if Didi exists at all. Her act gives the story - indeed the anthology - a fitting closure, as she (literally) runs away with the 'Spotlight'.

The four episodes primarily bank on interesting storytelling and acting. While the primary cast is laudable across the board, you spot truly engaging moments thanks to a few in the supporting cast, too. Raghubir Yadav as the hakim ('Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa'), Anindita Bose as mystery girl Rhea ('Forget Me Not'), Dibyendu Bhattacharya as a mystical fakir ('Bahrupiya') and Chandan Roy Sanyal as Vik's assistant ('Spotlight') are perfect props who enrich each story with their roles.

Competently executed, Ray manages to sustain interest despite the uneven patches. Definitely worth a binge, and a second season with new stories.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

---------------------------------------------I I I STARRING: Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Harshvardhan Rane, I Aditya Srivastava, Ashish Verma I DIRECTOR: Vinil Mathew I I Hand it to these guys you'll get the pun in that statement once you've I watched the outrageous end - but this I is one wild Bollywood thriller, mixing I suspense with wry humour.

Kanika Dhillon's writing is as much I the 'hero' here as Taapsee Pannu, who I breathes life into the titular protagonist with trademark relish, or Vikrant Massey I -just give the guy a meaty role and watch I him go. That's not to say there are no I rough edges in the script, you'll spot plenty of loopholes here. But despite I glitches, the film regales sufficiently and I there are few dull moments. Importantly, the film underlines the changing whiffs of I storytelling in mainstream Hindi cinema.

I Delhi girl Rani Kashyap (Taapsee I Pan nu) has the enormous dilemma of having to pick one of two candidates I

I

Vinayak Chakravorty

HASEEN DILLRUBA (Netfilx)

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(Aditya Srivastava) believes Rani is the killer as does most of the 'mohaIla·, as does Rishu's buddy Afzar (Ashish Verma). Moving in time cycles between flashbacks and the present, Rani's narrative tells you why - she had a torrid fling with Rishu's handsome cousin Neel (Harshvardhan Rane) when he arrived in Jwalapur to river-raft for a few days. The entire neighbourhood was soon aware of the fact.

Nothing that goes on in this story actually prepares you for the end. If the test of a thriller lies in keeping its audience guessing, Haseen Dillruba would pass the test. The end could seem over the top, but that's probably why it's fun to watch.

The film is more than its thriller quotient The psychological play of emotions in the relationship drama between Rani and Rishu, Rani and Neel, or Rani and her in-laws in the flashback portions maintains a humorous tempo, and is deftly balanced by director Vinil

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Mathew with the suspense narrative of the present. The film isn't a technical marvel but cinematography (Jaya Krishna Gummadi) and editing (Shweta Venkat) have done an adequate job capturing the overall mood.

Taapsee Pannu is impressive in bringing alive Rani in all her strengths and foibles. Harshvardhan Rane as Neel and Adi tya Srivastava as the investing cop are effective, while Yamini Das and Daya Shankar Pande as Rishu's parents get ample space to excel, though their inexplicable absence from the latter half definitely marks a loophole in the writing.

The act that resonates comes from Vikrant Massey, thanks to his nuanced precision. He gets to travel a complete arc as Rishu and makes the most of it, consuming screen space with a slow burn impact. Understated in his shift between the moods his role demands, Massey proves once again he is among the most underrated actors around.

I

Vinayak Chakravorty

JULY 2021 35

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Wo rth wa iti n g fo r? You decide!

Six I ndians films and series to watch in J u ly 2021 I I I I I 1

COLLAR BOMB (Disney+Hotstar) What happens when a celebrated cop must follow the commands of a suicide bomber to save the lives of hundreds of school children? In this action thriller, Jimmy Shergill plays SHO Manoj, a decorated police officer caught in an unimaginable hostage situation.

Collar Bomb begins streaming on 9 July.

I I I I I I I I

NEVER HAVE I EVER, SEASON 2 (Netflix) I Mindy Kaling's much-awaited teen drama returns for its second instalment this month. Never Have I Ever made waves last year upon its release, especially because it featured an Indian-American in a lead role for the first time. After a tumultuous year and a new love triangle on the horizon, what lies in store for Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan)?

You'll just have to watch to find out.

Never Have I Ever returns on 15 July.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

MALIK (Amazon Prime) Director Mahesh Narayanan and actor Fahadh Faasil are back, joining forces after the successful C U Soon last year. Revolving around a fishing village in Kera la from the 1960s to present day, Malik features Faasil in the lead role, and promises to be an exciting socio-political thriller.

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TOOFAAN (Amazon Prime} After essaying the iconic Milkha Singh, Farhan Akhtar returns for another sports film, this time playing a fictional goon turned national level boxer. Expectations from the project are high, especially as the much­ awaited flick is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

The cast is rounded up by Mrunal Thakur (previously seen in Super 30 and Ghost Stories) and Paresh Rawal.

Toofaan releases later this month on 16 July.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

FEELS LIKE ISHQ (Netflix)

Who doesn't look a good romantic comedy after all?

After anthologies like Lust Stories and Ghost Stories, Netflix India brings us a romcom anthology, featuring a n ensemble cast like Tanya Maniktala (A Suitable Boy), Radhika Madan, Neeraj Madhav, Rohit Saraf (Mismatched) and Amol Parashar. Told from the perspective of different characters, Feels Like lshq aims to capture the feeling of love over the years.

The anthology releases on 23 July.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Malik begins streaming on 15 July.

__,.............

HUNGAMA 2 (Disney+Hotstar} Director Priyadarshan returns after a six-year hiatus and Shilpa Shetty makes her comeback after 13 years in Hungama 2, the "spiritual successor" of 2003's Hungama. It's a remake of Priyadarshan's Malayalam film Minnaram, rather than a sequal to Hungama, and involves big names like Rajpal Yadav and Johnny Lever, alongside Pranitha Subhash and Meezaan Jaffery.

Hungama 2 premieres on 23 July.

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36 JULY 2021

I NDIAN LINK SOCIAL M EDIA

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F O R ET E L L

July 2021

BY M I NAL KH O NA Mina I Khona has been reading tarot cards for the last two decades. She uses her intuition and connect with the cards mostly to help people.

--------------------------------------I I I I I I I I I The card drawn says that it could be I a month fraught with stress, work pressure or unpredictable outbursts.

I You seek satisfaction in your career and I proactive interest in what you do can help. A new love affair is on the anvil I for those who are single. If married, I your relationship could go through I turbulence. Any stress causing health issues should not be ignored. Money I owed to you could still be blocked.

I You are on the road to success; stay I mentally focused.

I I I I I I I I I I Divine protection and all things good and I positive are predicted for Leos. If single, I your responsibilities won't leave you I any time to mingle. A sudden argument or an unforeseen event can lead to a I misunderstanding. Family get-togethers I and meeting with friends will make you happy. You or your pet could need a visit I to the doctor. Your investments will be your I source of income this month. Discard any I patterns that no longer serve your higher interests and an important cycle will end.

I 1 - - - - - - - - -

I I I I I I I I I You can expect a busy month ahead I as you will have more than you can handle on your plate. A relationship I leaves you uncertain about its future.

I You may be dumped with extra work by a colleague but you will complete I the tasks. You could move to a new I home if you are planning to. Try and I take regular breaks as being over­ burdened could leave you exhausted.

I You may lose money due to a deal I falling through. Don't accept less than I what you deserve.

I I I I I I I I I I Picking the card representing Sagittarius I implies that the usually finicky Virgo may be I a little carefree this month. You want to dwell I on the spiritual and expand your horizons.

Your insecurities regarding a relationship I are real as it needs more commitment I A new idea related to work can become a money-making venture. Take medical I help for a health condition, however minor.

I Money owed to you continues to be blocked.

I Referrals will help you expand your business.

Learn to avoid situations that stress you out I 1 - - - - - - - - -

I I I I I I I I I The card drawn for you this month I indicates things coming together in synchronicity. Your relationship could I leave you wanting more affection from I your spouse. If single, be prepared for I some romantic interest. Any problems related to documents will get resolved.

I Business improves and money starts I to come in. Invest wisely - whether it is time, money or effort. If you feel blocked I at work, take up a course to enhance I your skills. Stay optimistic and indulge I in retail therapy.

I I I I I I I I I I The wheel of fortune indicates the ending I of one cycle and the beginning of a new I one. Unexpected developments could I make you change your plans and even cause upheaval of sorts. An ex may return I but you may not be so willing. Expenses at I home increase, while new developments at work force you to make changes. A I hitherto unpleasant situation will end.

I Your work or personal life will keep your I moods in yo-yo mode. Avoid binge eating and suppressing your emotions.

I 1 - - - - - - - - -

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I You have to correct a wrong before a I I situation changes for the better. Being I undecided about a rocky relationship I continues as you can't make up your I I I mind. Life will force you to confront I some harsh realities about yourself I and you will have to make the relevant I changes. Work too is full of disputes and I I I arguments. Overall, a difficult month for Cancerians, except those financial I problems will end. Be grateful for the I I support you get and strengthen your I I faith in God. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The card drawn says you need to spend I some time introspecting on your situation; a I I pause is sometimes good for future progress. I Money will come in through an unexpected I source, not that which is owed to you.

I I Expect anxious moments at work. Deal I I wi th your anxiety and depression before I it becomes a chronic health issue. Don't I get despondent even if things look bad; a I I turnaround is about to happen. Take on only I what you can handle and avoid brooding I about situations beyond your control.

I I I 1 - - - - - - - - - 1

--------- --------- --------- ---------

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Expect a change in lifestyle, a loss of relationship and new beginnings. A rocky relationship ends though you may still love the other. Avoid travel for now.

Changes and hurdles at work prove to be frustrating. Spend time with friends to cheer yourself up. There could be a loss of income but it will be temporary.

A situation you thought would never change, will get better. You have to rise like a phoenix and start afresh which will also help you grow spiritually.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The practical Capricorn picks the card of I Work pressure, personal commitments I Virgo, which means you will be extremely I and clarity in a relationship keep you busy practical, to the point of putting emotions this month. Problems related to money, I on the back burner. If you've had a recent I your family members and business can I break-up, you will stay calm and fearless. I catch you unawares but you will mu l titask I Your home may need some maintenance I with ease. Despite hurdles, you will be work done. You might be looking for a able to soldier on with courage. Avoid I different career. There could be some sad I taking on more than you can handle.

I news on the family front. You will act on I A lucky break regarding money could debts owed to you. A month of emotional come your way. Work on your inner self I detachment no matter what the issues I to change your outer surroundings. Your I that besiege you.

I challenges will lead you to success.

I --� I I I I I I I I The focus this month is on listening I to your gut instinct, hoping for positive changes all around and the I role of the universe in your life. You I hesitate on the brink of a relationship, I unsure whether to go all in or take it slow. A wish will be granted. Expect to I go through a lot of paperwork. A new I business opportunity may come along or you may think of looking for a new I job. Let go and let God if you want I happiness.

JULY 2021 37

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

BAC KCHAT DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR AUNTYJI? EMAIL INFO@INDIANLINK.COM.AU

-------------------------------Zoom barab.aI li Zoorilil DEAR AUNTYJI

I need your advice post haste. please. I work in corporate Australia. and because of the nature of work and COVID. we have all moved to working from home. I don't mind working from home because I can water my garden in the middle of the day if I wanted. Now Auntyji. working from home means I am mostly on Zoom calls all day long. I have a colleague - let's call her Natasha for that is her name - and each time I am on a Zoom call with her, I notice that she has a picture of herself in the background. wearing a striking white swimsuit while on holidays in the Maldives. I only ever saw Natasha as just a colleague. until we all started Zooming. and then I saw all her charms on display, right there in front of my face at each meeting. Auntyji, as a middle aged man. I want to say something but I don't. for fear of making a mountain out of a molehill. But you understand how distracting it is to be staring at twin peaks during meetings, nah? What to do Auntyji. what to do? The worse thing is that Natasha knows that I know that she knows that I stare at the picture. Please help me.

AUNTY JI SAYS

What? What is this I-know-she-knows-I-know nonsense? Saaf saaf kyu nahi kehta. ki tere maan me paap hai. you shaitaan ka bhiaya.

Listen up harjaaee. your job is to remain focused on what your colleagues are saying. and to remain professional during Zoom calls.

You should be actively listening. and not let your dhyan (attention) wander away to twin peaks or Khajuraho or Ajanta or wherever your paapi mind takes you. Let me guess. even if Natasha was in a chador, you would probably be thinking about a glimpse of her finely tuned ankle. nah? Arre paapi, you say you are middle aged, but you are no sanyasi. It is not your place to make comments on what people keep in their homes. or what photos they have. And I am most surprised because Zoom calls are not in such good quality that you can make out what's in the background to that degree. Please don't tell me you have a monitor that allows you to perve on your colleagues in such high definition. you goonda.

38 JULY 2021

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Compliments for tffie DEAR AUNTYJI

Since COVID happened. my talented and hard-working wife has taken our life up a notch, where she has become like a superstar. But I have one little problem with her. Auntyji. So she has been working very hard at work. but at home. she works even harder. We work from home 4 days of the week - and due to her exceptional planning skills. we all have the most delicious dinner at 6.30 each day, as a family. She keeps the house looking spotless. and she is always looking for ways to help our boys. Neila is like a highly efficient machine who makes everything look effortless. But Auntyji. whenever I say thank you to her for everything she does around the house. and when I compliment her for all her effort. she just smiles and says little. But when I tell her how beautiful she looks, or how smart she sounded during a work meeting. she usually asks me to explain and wants to know details. But when I praise her for her efficiency at home. she just smiles and says nothing. She remains chupchaap. Khamosh. Like a pathar ka sanam. Auntyji. I want my wife to be more gracious in how she receives compliments from me. I want her to say thank you or use some words and to acknowledge my recognition of her efforts. Do you have guidance for me?

AUNTYJI SAYS

You are the lowest of lows, you rakshas. I have wise words for a useless man like you. Of all the things, you actually want your hardworking. talented. efficient and beautiful wife to acknowledge your recognition of her effort in a way that pleases you. Are you that stupid that you really want this one thing from your wife - even after all that she does for you and your family? Let me point out a few home truths to you, you sukada hua purple baingan. Your wife sees your insincere, inauthentic and superficial compliments for what they are - pointless ravings of a bekaar aadmi who highly likely does little around the house, and who sees how much his wife does. and so he offers fuzool platitudes in an attempt to make himself feel like he is adding value. You are adding zero value, and you know it and your wife knows it. That's why she does not even acknowledge your redundant compliments. Let's be honest here - how much do you actually contribute around the house? Or does Neila do everything - which is why you feel compelled to say something? So instead of saying nothing of any use to anyone, why don't you start helping around the house? Instead of sitting around like a plate of day-old khichidi wanting to be acknowledged for your compliments. how about making yourself worthy of compliments? Is this what you want - your wife to acknowledge your most meaningless, most trivial, most inane contribution? Why would she acknowledge your one tiny dona (grain) of effort when she moves mountains every day? How you manage to hold on to Neila is a mystery to us all. Perhaps her silence at your dishonest tareef is because she is wondering the same thing as the rest of us.

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