2021-08 Sydney

All things Indian. In Australia.

indianlink.com.au

SYDNEY I AUGUST 2021 I Vol. 28 No. 11 I FREE _.............

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EDITORIAL

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PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra CONTRIBUTORS Rhea L Nath, Bageshri Savyasachi, Kusum Singh, Mridusmita Borkakoty, Ritam Mitra, Chitra Sudarshan, Nidhi Joshi, S Gopika, Minal Khona, Sandip Hor, Auntyji, Anu Shivram COVER IMAGE BAKING Melissa Domingo Rawat CAMERA Shyamal Bhatia 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 lympics 2020 could well have been a blank page in the history of this four-yearly multi-disciplinary global sporting competition. With COVID-19 ravaging the world and borders closed internationally, science rather than sport was at the top of our minds. Host country Japan, which had run up a bill of $30 billion to stage the Olympics, was in limbo about the future of the Games, and the athletes who had spent years preparing both physically and psychologically were left in a vacuum.

The Games, like everything else in our world, were in a state of frozen motion.

But the decision was taken to move the 2020 Games to 2021. Opposition came from the Japanese people who were concerned about rampant strains of the virus entering the country as athletes from all over the world came to town, and fro,n these protests, the sponsors seemed reluctant to be overtly backing the Games. The Games did go ahead and will be remembered forever

as the COVID Games. Despite all the protestations, sport did what it does best - uplift us as we experienced the best in human athleticism, which when combined with the human spirit, showed how adversity can lead to resilience.

Against the background of empty stadiums, the athletes thrilled television viewers worldwide. For 70 per cent of Australians in lockdown at some time during the Olympics, this was the much-needed tonic that boosted spirits. That Australia did well in most events (or at least the ones being telecast), only helped in bringing a smile as people went for their 5 k- m­ radius walks.

What was indeed interesting as a migrant, was to see the greater proliferation of multicultural Australia on show. While one is used to seeing this on the football and hockey teams, the diversity on our basketball and women's beach volleyball teams was a pleasure. To have an athlete like Sudanese refugee Peter Bol stop the nation in the 800m men's final, was another example of how sport can bring a nation together.

As an Indian-Australian, one has engaged in many a discussion on the disparity in the performance of Indian

and Chinese athletes. Both countries have over a billion people to draw from, yet China almost beat the United States to top the medal tally whereas India was way down the list, surrounded by Armenia, Dominican Republic and Kyrgyzstan, and with its solitary gold, finished at 47th spot.

The Chinese will certainly play up their achievements both internationally and internally to build up national pride, and so they should. They have been strategic in their approach with their well-documented 119 principle, which targeted 119 gold medals on offer from athletics, swimming, sailing, canoeing and rowing. They also strategized the women's events with fewer participants. It worked for them, and has created a template for India.

India needs a long-term strategy in place to encourage a generation of non-cricket focused athletes. Then for a proud Indian-Australian, the Olympics can bring double the joy.

Meanwhile, this special Independence Day edition evokes some mixed emotions and reminiscences of India - a country on the cusp of greatness but not taking the next steps quickly and surely enough. Here's to the next 25 years and beyond of brilliance for India - in the field of sports and much, much more.

AUGUST 2021 3

SPECIAL FEATURES

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#MISSIONJAB

Have you had your jab yet?

COMMUNITY

22

ACCOLADES

24

New Melbourne Jain Temple: Stone-laying ceremony

20-year-old film-maker Vir Srinivas stuns at Cannes

ACCOLADES

USyd's Aditya Nair, wildlife enthusiast, in major photography contest

25

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OFFICE OF BRUCE ATKINSON MLC

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AUGUST 2021 5

YOUR SAY

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A YOUNG FILMMAKER MAKES HIS MARK

RITAM MITRA interviewed 20-year-old Sydney filmmaker Vir Srinivas, whose debut film Orders From Above has picked up international awards at film festivals including Cannes.

Tarun Laroia wrote: Awesome achievement, Vir. Congratulations and best wishes for a glorious future.

Sanjay Dar wrote: Congratulations,Vir! Absolutely wonderful.

Goplka Kaul wrote: Congratulations Vir Srinivas. So proud and super, super impressed. Can't wait to watch this.

Sanjay Bhartlya wrote: Vir Srinivas, congrats and wish you the best.

Sumeet Singh Chhabra wrote: Congratulations,Vir. You are destined for extraordinary things in life.

Rohlnl Srlnlvas wrote: Ritam, you capture Vir's incredible journey so well.

Krishna Srlnlvas wrote: Yes, very well written Ritam Mitra as always, you have hit it out of the park! Kudos Vir Srinivas.

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MASTERCHEF'S NOD TO SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY

What Kishwar and Justin showed on MasterChef 2021 finale was so much more than their food, wrote LISA SINGH and SHRUTI MATHUR: on display was their character as Australians.

Krish Na wrote: Definitely made a better representation for a Desi Aussie than Indian Matchmaking. And representation matters.

Betty Jager wrote: Congratulations to you all.

Mary Erisiotis wrote: Enjoyed everyone's cooking especially Kishwar's .

Mahesh Enjeti wrote: Good show in more ways than one. The tongue is a unique organ. While language might set people apart, taste brings them together.

100NatziScalps wrote: Okay MasterChef AU has always inclusive. This year they just had more great desi chefs than any other year.

Hollday_Border_2954 wrote: MasterChef AU always had the best vibes, encouragement and camaraderie on the show - unlike Shouty Joe on MasterChef US. Yet, someone needs to call out some basic dishes the desi contingent put out on MasterChef AU this year - daal bhaat and aloo borta, like, really?

Bleedybuts wrote: Don't get why desis need to denigrate their own cuisine .

Italians, French, Spanish have turned their peasant food into fine dining.

When desis do it, there's always an army of desis there to hate on it. Crab in a bucket mentality.

Chal1984 replied: I know, right... on the other hand my parents are impressed at how much Kishwar embraced Bengali culture. Australia's been inclusive for a while now - more than the USA at ground level although there are no Bobby Jindals here. Also, just because the cricketers sledge a lot doesn't mean the entire country's racist.

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JUSTIN: THE MINDFUL CHEF

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA chatted with MasterChef 2021 winner Justin Narayan, FORMER INDIAN OLYMPIAN NOW AN AUSSIE COACH who impressed with his inventive cooking as well as his affable personality.

• • • • Lisa Singh wrote: Love this: "Food is a great equaliser.

You eat delicious food, RHEA L NATH spoke to Rajeev Balakrishnan, an Indian athlete at the 2000 Sydney • • • • Olympics, now a Brisbane resident and coach at the University of Queensland.

• you can't deny it.

When you see and taste the food from various cultures, • • • • • • Lisa Singh wrote: What a great example of the contribution our Indian • when you relish someone else's food, you learn to accept their culture a little • • • ••• diaspora can make! bit more. I think through food, MasterChef has done a lot to increase our ••• • • Shabu Thomas wrote: I remember Rajeev from when I grew up in Chennai. awareness about other cultures."

• • •• • Shruti Mathur wrote: This is so well articulated by Justin.

•• Saw his name regularly in The Hindu and had the style/size of a top sprinter.

• • • •• •• Rupinder Singh wrote: Well done, Rajeev.

Sherley Coelho wrote: Congratulations Justin. Well deserved. Your journey •• • Adv Rajesh Nayak wrote: (Seeing Rajeev here) after a long time...Witnessed has been impressive. Congratulations to Pete and Kishwar. All the best.

•• •• •• •• Debbie Sequeira wrote: You deserve to win Justin, so down to earth. Well done! first-hand his hard work at lshwar Deshmukh Ground, Nagpur.

• •• • Kamal S Pooni wrote: India needs you. Australia already has top coaches.

• Kalyani Abhyankar wrote: Congratulations to every participant.

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SAYIT AGAIN

6 AUGUST 2021

Jawaharlal Nehru played a central role in the discrediting of European imperialism and gave a voice to people across Asia and Africa struggling for self-determination and racial equality.

Ian Hall, Griffith Asia Institute, on Guess the Game Changers on Saturday Extra with Geraldine Doogue on ABC Radio National.

When the news comes that someone has died, the fact they weren't vaccinated shouldn't be conveyed with blame, but with shame for not having a vaccination program that works CJ Josh, journo

www.indianlink.com.au

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PAY RISE OR WORK-FROM-HOME?

A ccording to a recent study, more than 40 per cent of Australians would rather work from home than receive a pay rise. We asked you what you thought.

Deepak Chltnis wrote: Both should be possible because companies save on infrastructure costs.

Hanish Rathod wrote: These 40% must be so well-off money doesn't worry them.

Deborah Fishburn wrote: Depending on how much you pay for transport, coffees, lunches etc., you may well get one when you do the other.

Nadir Flrflre wrote: Work from home Anand Bhosle wrote: Work from home Harmeet Sarabjeet Singh wrote: (As a teacher I'd want) Pay rise as well as go to work ... Face-t o -face teaching is so important.

Evelyn Jemima Jacob wrote: Pay rise for pushing through remote learning and back to face-to-face teaching.

Slddhesh Warerkar wrote: (I vote for) getting a pay rise for working from home!

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WHERE IN INDIA

We asked, #Wherelnlndia will you find the temple that is home to these three iconic deities? And what are they called?

Pie: Wikimedia Commons

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#MISSIONJAB

When 'London Thumakda' became 'Aussie Thumakda': How Indian Link Radio used a Bollywood tune to send the message out about vaccination .

Smita Shah wrote: Thank you for helping promote COVID vaccination in the community Ashish Verma wrote: Very creative and much needed initiative.

Scott Farlow MLC wrote: Well done my friend Pawan Luthra and the entire team at Indian Link Media Group on #MissionJab, encouraging the community to #getvaxxed!

Joseph LaPosta wrote: Great work, Pawan Luthra.

Anita Prabhakar wrote: Wow! This is so amazing and such a nice way to convey the importance of vaccination during these COVID times.

Dhawal Adhyaru wrote: Very innovative.

Jodi McKay MP wrote: How good is this? Well done Indian Link Radio on spreading the message about vaccination. This is so impressive and so important.

VP Chawla wrote: It is an excellent message to the community to go in for vaccination and adopt COVID safe practices. Congrats also to the team who performed their own version while maintaining social distancing. Everyone contributed from their respective homes - conveying "stay home stay safe" message.

Sandy Nagesh wrote: Thanks for the great initiative. I got myself vaccinated for the sake of the people I serve as a pilot and a JP. Might I also add, we are big fans of your magazine: it's the only Indian magazine we pick up when visiting Indian stores.

Sarah MacDonald wrote: Vibing... well done, Indian Link.

Nisha Khot wrote: Isn't it just fab. If you haven't, I recommend watching Queen, for the original of the song.

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WHERE IN OZ

We asked, #WherelnOz will you find this heritage steam train and what is it called?

Pie: Wikimedia Commons

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Readers Antara Guha Sen, Gaurav Masand and Nitu Sharma gave us the correct answer. The three deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are housed at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. They are made of wood as Readers Raj Saneja and Naresh gave us the correct answer. This is • opposed to stone, and are in the style of folk sculpture. They are carried out of Melbourne's Puffing Billy Railway. It operates in the narrow gauge heritage • • • • the temple in elaborate chariots in an annual Rath Yatra.

• railway in the Dandenong Ranges.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Watching the Olympics with my 3yo has been amazing both because she loves it, and because she has literally never seen an ad break before in her life and can't work out what they are Dom Knight, comedian and podcaster

Just had a very long and depressing argument with my uncle about vaccines and now he's sending me all the conspiracy junk videos. I don't think people are aware just how deep the misinformation trail is, or how poorly the rollout is going, both in terms of jabs and communication.

Omar Sakr, poet

Get the best of Indian Link straight in your inbox. Scan the QR code to sign up to our weekly enewsletter AUGUST 2021 7

C O V E R STO RY

It's been a year unlike any other for India, and for many in the diaspora, it's been a whirlwind of emotions to be away from the motherland.

Whether it's the inabil ity to visit home, watching the cou ntry fight a pandemic from afar, or prayers for our loved ones to stay safe and sound, our hearts have gone out to the country, one way or another. So on this 75th Independence Day, we asked you to dig deep and tel l us: what is your message to India?

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Dtar India

bul ,,,- for lh< WOl'd, � l"'41 ir<r<dl>ilj an tnl ntlion. Il has bt<n indtptrid an as l'"":\ < l"'rid<tric,, ru in lht �< of lh � \,, j 1ru \urn l'\ �- �"'"'l faud abrul lh< tliol<"']<' s«n 0"4 ,.;d , wriHtn n has btt <Vtn (W)I'< so for �(jJ. A lol 2021. riant had in ar\11 va l>e.l+a l +h impac.. + ,rid d«f as in lh< uid< so v « nr. ops tsptc-ia\11j -\hl dlvas+a+il1L:J pt rh lim<. bul n l,sl<d """� , bt< h,v< boc.11 lo brur<-< 1wr r,.siltnc.< ,rid .M"j +, bkd and wlp+. hur '1CJJ. of + par 9k of h<f's in '1 r • lVl as soll s .-.:I n+h .,.\\, (Yl() l +wdv � las+ uSUti r<r<l,i,r\l Wlh 1,,....lh< tt'Offl sl.-l<d lo r<·"""9' of 'l"'lh. � is som<lim<S n<< Ws<d o,:1 0,ll<r<d, ':I"' n<V< arub<ro < l h """ in for"'1liv< �"rs ..-id lht "4" r lh n,lion lol as , rOdd oh"'d as lh< on bt 1ou lulv< shruid lion- Whi\sl lh< fotUS c.onlwy\o OWi rul sis Wl h n ptr"'\" on •nt":\ <V< ,rid ion lt"V'i"'J lo (WI< on d<f<n"\ rdkd lwo of nl , '"""1<nl or ""rr, do intidtnh ,.;r-ror, som< of fu,-, r 1.3 1,1\orl ch!dr<n lo fou lhis �ind �d lo lh< r'4r-�<w wouij n<v« """' �ru �ru &,.ous< asl\ 1 ""� on< of 1<ssons luml". 1.1,\,':i l of odv<rsi"j- I'm s ntss lvtr apin. onsl,u/'l hoptks and •" 1:1 dvrin<J l xi an or unpr'l""'<dn<SS, '""\'"'-<"'-� il bt • o\\ts kornl for us lo tm<<q< bt o l W< ,i kom frOOl rur misl kssons or< Jh,l lh«< ,rid dqt ocl<,nouk o l is frsl sl<p c.on/id<nl �ru ""1 loo; lht r blttlr and s+rongtr. l< �., in ol 'l"' ukbr, lo W!it l utn' 75 ""-'lon< • I r �ru for qo lo r �u VIVEK BHATI A On< (W)I'< (Syd ney) Group CEO and MD. Link

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Hmu s, 9io r Ind a, a onc.. p oud mul+ ,d r W � up, Inlandiac..l, blfis +hor pit'sic.. ooW \atpa�. for what jo�­ £+l nal vi9 r I'm afraid h(\V no+ blln v�i� . r Bu thl idta of IndiQ. of a �nd ho.-\- lt'Vbrac..ts man� a uis-\-l, c..r td o.nd e,olru is wcrlh a

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ri9h+ful plo.c..l in +hl world. taint our +�s-\- with dts+in'1.

Ll-\-'s no+ k-\- wannabt fasciS+s and usurplrs rur forlblars +ook. +o dgt pk l +h m dll l r o + -\n l m i-\mm o . c. our rm i Le+'s rlaff dwdl' ia whlrl o.11 hlr c..h�drln ma'1 d In rtl f of sion n <YK1 k 'nob a d bu� ing, wor+h prlSlrving.

I+'s an idla wor+h fi9h+ing for, wor+h sav Sinc..lre.1'1 '1ours,

EDMOND ROY

(Sydney) Journalist an d broadcaster

Dharani... 75 �lars �oun 9• �ou havt pu+ �our on c..ol ial �o�t asid!. You havt movld on if Slt . O 9fla+ £kph obs of ' so an+, removtr ms h +"I"'• yru liovt ¼I(,n so ""ny slnd,s on +h< llV'ihn :r-l s+•�JC fl'!ovi a!, d <duuifol qrls, worl!nJa WOr'l'lln, sfro™ b J kad<rs ,II in lhtir OWn G .,,,,rous movk sfors, "1sskal, ""°"" r-·111:1• pcpular danc..!rs + ,nd .

-.1\t on 1nc.rtd1 bk India. U Sic./ons ' "' ors "1U rdl 4 h on """Y fronts W#t bi l on irts, mdl1 onairts' mlddlt cl,ss p-owlh in oll lft, "«l� Y '.""'k rs, spdl1 n9 b!l c.hampIons, sc.hol ars, tnainl!

J rs, +w, 9""""''· lnfrlprlnturs, lV!n C£0s . in Si!<.n v,u.y <tr< no+ bt �ond �our rlac.h, so if Stlms. . !<_1c.hes •brund wlft anc..1.lnf ftxfs a nd � tr Pnz.l winnina novels J .

And �t+ shaU\s SI·+ VCSJd L•., (. sh ,� · malls. Plas+1c.. and diamonds, cpp mud hu+s and c..all c.lnfrts, rap; and C.hris+ian D·IOr \OOIV l a I.AKlrp and Wlf + as c..as+l and c.lass 1nl, au1+·l<S <.ontinu, Unifld housts of pra�lr ' fltm Tks• """\,""• T auru£Iwaras, c.hurdils onu "'9<lfttr yt+ """ •por+. Conno+ blat'l'll +ht ""' ' +<r frooi "-<OSs #it "' ,n �r'\'lOrl, whtn +hl mas+lrs o n w' <d w v, #t Co llX, prl(lcJ,i whill +htu J'bb fnnno+ Sll or htar +ht c.rils. Th< <nts .

J of brulal ,nd unsrvn 1 kabk . �r-� vKJttnc.t of bodits' n, d,kls 'f"r+ w11, iron rods on bus """1< . . ts, rttlna1™ ,_ in #t< ti<�. n,, SIkn+ �ll1n9s of drubk XX or murdl JJ r in + rtt ' nl.lt'l'll f K"""'1i<nu who hos alrtadJu bttn sk_·inn!d for h I o h tr l<tthtr "'J lit< CfO MIO fOWs aHlr and rithlr.

Incr«/hk Indio I Slarc.h for +ht proofist �ou Wtrt . , on +ht s+ro�< of oudnigi So f\1..IC.h passibilH�. How l in l'lYl. c..an W< fmd you? How c..an Wt hllp c..rlafl �ou i.n +ht ViS/on Wl nlld uru lo b ' l.

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r r r r r r r r r �andhi in our \ive.s r Our na90. dd rs a\wo.�s spc�t abru+ maha+m!I G.o.ndhi. W wtrt old undtrs+ood our ' +ht !\op Hills al fr"" n +.o "J' dd a + ""ht 11.

1'1'· In · ni11J r probltMs and •� as a '-""""' stinting suppe and CAlmld un is of tm +h d ur ass k · l i. l D In n� c..olo i r his ashram in Bhan9 nt l� indtptndtn c..oun �+h ir fto.rs abou +h r Sinc.. +h n, +h Indo-na90. c..onflie,+ d tpl� impae,+td \1vlS. Th lXptritnc..lS of vioknc..t and wi+h +h c..onflie.gr t, min in9 ud inc.. o.s, na9 of s ion ra+ G. n . +al r mili arl1A ion o.v bt n b r and +h viokne,t. � s-1-udtn s s-+ud�in9 in Ddhi during +h \990s, wt wtrt dr wn into As �oung univ rsi r e,onv rsa+ions bt+wttn no.go. ddtrs and G.o.nd io.ns. Tht� �t abou p of non­ sions fowss d on +h ws s di t Th ic.. . nf\ o e nago. doIn , o +h tion r viokne, and findin9 a solu nc.. in pursuit of pali tie,al 9001s. viok of its lim r mtt+ings. fts s+ud n+s, + +tr f o. n� olo c. an� B ! vis o d i+t txc rt Our n p ld rs wt r wtrt e,onfustd h� +ht� wan+td o 90 htr and wal� arcund. Lo.+ r, rtaUstd a i+ r was a plae,t of pi�rimagt. a \ifttiml. Toda�, in lS +a� i+ ing . e,+ic. pra ust a , bte in9 n9 alk e,h art r ltssons abou+ non-viaokproune,td nap - would asK +ht c..oun� +o visit B an� c.olon� and walk. m� no+t +o India, I r +htrl li�t our tldtrs dld.

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In mu VilW, I·+'s about +Im t fLria+ India has r<sponsibl J . t p,,11ics u.ith • OCUS on pokj ra+htr +hon f"l'UNsm. Affiro.� . vt ac.tion in form of r ' lStrva+,.on s�s +oYi is '+1/b" (' in fovour of#,t C-astt, · . j tht "1lrll . which in lo"9 ftrm is not good' tspll..1 all�in+ht fitlds of mtd· . and stitnc.t. Afttr aI, India K-1 nt (' nttds +oP notc.,L1 doc.+ors an .

I d sc.,.tn+is+s· A +rmll,nt for rtstrva+ion ::,r dilufina . �L icuId bt dtvtlrn .

J ,t d I -r · ':lus+ic.t aaains+ an� , , . is wr""J, "o/"<nl of # t SOOt"J J irrtSOll_fIVt of whtth,r #, . . t •rdroo, Sl9fYlln+s or from +ht Upptr . . <,sf<s. .4£.+ rs btr� rnc.. . rtasinal ' Ju "'SUS<d and its <>isust must b l addrlSStd. 0Vtr lur"'"S of th, Supr,'"' (<JUr+·s iM •,arc.h 2018 d<cision about SC/Sr Ad b� tht c.urrtn+ Govm1"'< ""' a b,d polle.�- It's rtftrabk If nt p Indo has • •nar•noI .

Cai,ntt• + II\, what Australia has and COVID . . a nationol objll..fiv . · t. Bktmt gamt and p<> (' 1n sc.onnQ art ba d· 0n +ht su�tc.+ of faiths Indan J oovtrna , r ' nc.t mus+ +rta+ all ra1 r '.+hs with . ua1·+ i t o+htr ("' frttina H;�.1 L� faiths, J 'iuu +tmplts from +ht G.ov+ c.lu+c.hts is a mus+ fL q I �· rit� should bt """'9"' "'J Hindus and +htir funds shcuId bt ustd f; or +ht nurfu""J of Hind UJS. m. fi.naUtj. Indo not onl� a unifom, cis1 codt but olso nttds on tff<,,fivt f"l'UO-llon c.on trol p<>k�. Pol�qim� must bt i... and hovina mart +h11n two c.hi Vl(nntd J drtn should bt l ptnalisld. ,.. {

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(Sydney) · Cardiolo91st n d Presid en t, � Federation of Indian A ssoc,ations of N SW

e. +ane, e. ae,c, and e. p rane, wtrt no\ il\t th, To\e. who pw,>k,lhos< Oivtrst lo 11,tk w,s inc.\lsiVt and W\" 11,a+ India an I <flW up in prac.+le.ts.... rd1grus sions, profts �s, maj>ri� in +rlldi+ions, 11,t� wtrt 11,t °""J u>\trt slm+ , ... rs. Ours was, us. for tw up with ('/)Jsim nt4tbru As , cl,;ld, I qr •�• uilh 11,t rtsl of lht +o wtnl tVW lOljlthu. Tht� \AA'jtd �els 11,t al but - <IJ\II C1JSlhoid, m,s.,, h d il\t ntvtr b<.fort -� ltd tht� os adults, lht� "� Tcxlot prt<sl.

11,t u.ilh 1:..innrulo tuil\ons

st' or 'Th<lan', 'Chin< +his brta�s M'j htar+. lhll'I w«I Wt from 11,t Oorlh'4Sl. Wtft wl,o ls sludw Al � I "1ITit ac.ross lht� wtrt from 11,ol \a,rnt 1/Jl or,c.t 11,ll'I 11,,tl ""'1· Sut lo rtltr olhus hurd sit'Y'J bw\uSl 1/Jl +ha+ and movld on. trld rtmtl'VV Wl T npura. wt oc.lion lo ra'<l lht (Ynz.oram ar ,ff..,..\ of form a " \'lWs, rn 11,t slarl«l lion rtstrv<1 whw +hm 1/Jlrt pw,k in I rll'llolxr �ltw a 1/Jilhin ,s of our S«.it"Jsa,ho, disodvanl� m<nl. hrsloriu1111j (4Jc.alion and "'l"'J in up �l"J of \It for k < J t 11,,tl pcsiliv of uill,<>!l tr 1,ovt ortam<D ntv @� 11,t� u>ttn <>lC 11,ol d b,$l0 on c,slt """r< wtrt n's hocl\t� '""' u,x,,< +ht of SOM< h<MI of 11,t '-""'"'J TOOll:I I rud """' olhtr in iv< \o Oorlh<J1Sl froM 11,t fo r is il <lffwil � 1""1 i<,;l. I r<A<i tnC-t, whtrl art wt'?

Indtptnd of ' 1 tars 15 Af+tr VINAYA RAI (Adelaide) sellor Educational coun

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Dtar India

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SO(Yl 'j -\-h<.r<. for righ+ now.

/lbrut who did sham<. of lo-\a <. , b\am 11 lo-\- of <. in -\-odo.'j, +h<.r<. is \iv w<.

-\h il t world In -\-h<. o.r<. whck <. +ho.-\- m'j c..\i<.n-\-s <. v b<.1 I C,O(IC,n, <. a minds -\nt wrong, <.-\-c,. As w<. g s n thi how who.+.

-\-h<.'j ar<. c.or,,m-\--\-<.d if "'9', ch a of k (,(lpab -hs and f\o.ws, -\-ht'j ar<. s+rtng-1 -\h <.ir ll a with haP?tn<.d o.nd abk; has wha-\mo.-\-\<. r no (JJ.. ru-\'j <.V<. -\-o b<. +ru<. ab b<.li I what tl <.X!lc, is -\h a-\And 1-\-.

-\-o 'j Wl sur<. (,(In\ If fist, and r h< c,h o-\. w<. wan-\- -\-o <.�<.r lll -\-ha-\-\o do.' j c,id<. <. d w<. if w< "'1 so fo.r, i><\\<e, do tAn 1,dsli< "'1•\ c\1,,rs dd Wl'on<j, i:u\ ml\ no\ on /OCUS<S muHipk <V<":1 \"rson <.f'jon<., dqit<. -\-h<. <.V of n<.SS <.

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VANDANA MOHTU RE

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(Sydney) alist huma n behavior speci

r r r r r r r r r r r Dtar India r As c,d<.br -\- our 15+h Ind p nd,nc,<. Da'j I am V f'j proud of -\-h<. sp of our MS o.nd our grow-\-h-kd .iru 'j drl!I our of di!I In an ld bui +o v<. sol r rur , r fr<.<.dom -\-ru99 ro.9,, o.Y'ld r,sili<.Y'IC-<.. c.ru h, fai+ of < om -I,pi O.Y'I . i a ai l IY' ing ris , Th . r so farI Qm proud A +r li1J.Y'I I dian, who s+rongl bdi VlS +h -\- "'India' +i(YI(. has r I dilJ.'s growing +ra+<.gic,, (.C,OY'lomic,, Qnd g\obQI signific-Qnc,<. i a m<.ss0.9l for to.ch IY'ldian 9 o.nd il"IV<.Sti� in i+s d,vdop ,n-\Usin qooi b'j 'j pu i h -\in r vd +ro. c,oa r o.broo.d +o b, r goQ\s(Yl'. j hop<. i for IY'ldilJ. +o t'V10V forw1J.rd wi+h s+ ong<.r ac,c.run+1J.b�it'j, +ro.nspa 'j, r ff c,+iv<. gov rl"\o.Y'IC, d b'j +imd <.X e-u+ion. (Yl'j wish is +ha+ +h, o.sp of m'j fd\ow i+abk al"ld su +o.in11bk gr h. u ,q, , iv, us ind 9 rin ivl dd d, f l ful Qr< l"I ml . i r C,OUY'lt , ro+ur1J.I p r+n,rship of both Aus+ra�a and IY'ldia, mt

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In th On India's 15

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DIPEN RUGHANI

(Sydney) CE O. Newland Gl ob al Group

r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r rY1e.dal-wor+hu! r £vtn +h�h I hav Uv. Jd in Au +raha rcor ovtr +wo d w, uwkl I�, to +honk. '"I :::: no I bi If I +I ' in ' Mo ck r �ind of r- r+J,,I'Vl"ba..om« ¾_ . "" Ina\, · "a tvt I'vt ac..(,Qf\'lp11sht . d - and +h blc..aust of . upbrrnq 9, c..ul+ur<., and lXDt. r r·<nus in Ina\, r I1l aIwa�s b Sl n as an In •n· · Aus+r,�n ,nd I don't hav a p ltfl'l wi+h + +, ha I'm <. proud of"' a . s fa . d nd an ou r ba� r � <. nc.

In +, +h n �_ af\'lls fl'l� so 9"" b' or, r nc d +o "') in nd I ndIll a +o 1<.at d J Ct� r Tliru p,s+ · fYfrcs-,-, +ht"'J Uici\d, f'"j<r !(,pl UJUn+n .. ::J did us so p : our h�tI stars 5<1+ us' M<d,I r YI �c.ars, and ou firs+ q>J "1«1,1 in o\hk+ic.s. ,1+,r .

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AUGUST 2021 13

•

Even as the javelin soared th rough the sky for the second of his six attempts, Neeraj Chopra put his hands up in triumph and let out a guttural roar while looking in the direction of the small Indian contingent in the stands. It felt good as soon as the javelin left his hand and sometimes you just know. He didn't even turn to look. He knew.

Ashlsh Magotra, sports journo

Dear Neeraj, Many congratulations on becoming India's second Olympic Gold medalist. To win a Gold at the grandest sporting event in the world, which is held once every four years, is in itself so improbable that less than 3% of the 11,707 athletes competing in Tokyo will end up with one. Add to it the weight of expectations from an extremely proud nation starved of Olympic success, and your achievement becomes even more memorable.

Javelin throw might not be the most followed sporting discipline in India, but your historic achievement has brought it to the limelight, capturing the imagination of billions watching at home. The impact your victory will create on promoting your sport amongst the country's youth is immeasurable. You have crossed the first barrier; the gates are now firmly open. Budding Olympians will now look up to you as they set out to fulfil their dreams of bringing glory to the nation. ,, Thanks to you, we have finished our Tokyo endeavour on a great high. Your ············..... ....... ............ ... .............. .... ................. ... ............ ......_,_,.

Milkha Singh wanted to hear the performance has further elevated what has been evident throughout the Games national anthem in a stadium.

- that our athletes are not only capable of going toe to toe with the best but are He is no longer with us but his firmly establishing ourselves as the favourites. dream has been fulfilled.

Our first individual Gold might have taken over a century to come, but the NeeraJ Chopra, dedicating his comparatively miniscule time taken for you to bring home the second is a solid Gold medal to legendary Indian indication that we, as a sporting nation, are on the rise. There might still be a athlete Milkha Singh lot of work to be done for us to become a sporting superpower, there might be , disappointments in the future, and progress might even be slow, but we do know Realised my unfinished dream now that we are on the right path. We are stronger than ever because of the after 37 years. Thank you, my spirit you and your fellow Indians showed in Tokyo. son, Neeraj Chopra.

Abhinav Bindra, shooter, the first Indian to win an individual Gold Medal at the Olympics.

PT Usha, former athlete

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.._.,

_____

Thank you Neeraj Chopra!

Haven't been able to visit India since 2 years due to COVID-19 yet this is the closest I have felt home despite being in Australia.

Thanks for the memories.

Devdutt Kshirsagar, journo Congratulations to Subedar Saab Neeraj Chopra our golden boy!

Unbelievable at 23!

Karishma Hasnat,

Indian journo

As we celebrate Neeraj Chopra's success at Tokyo 2020, spare a moment to remember Davinder Jhanjhariya, an athlete who has won two gold medals in the same discipline 0avelin) for India at the Paralympics.

Shaun Fathome, podcaster

Aditi Ashok played really well.

Missed the medal by whiskers and finish 4th in the Olympics.

And who's her caddie? Her mother. That is the kind of support our sportspersons need.

Parveen Kaswan, IFS officer

She stormed the fortress of golf and put India in the reckoning ... Thank you for making us a force in the game's future, Aditi Ashok.

Anand Mahindra, billionaire businessman

I can't believe this. Indian Men's Hockey team are back on the Olympic podium. It has been 41 years. It has been decades of heartbreak. Never thought this was possible 5 years ago.

Reads a Bronze, this is Gold for me.

DigviJay Singh Deo, journo

In Mary Kom's Olympics swan-song, she found her successor too - Lovlina Borgohain. Like her mentor, she has technique, technical awareness and composure to be more than a one-off, to be a talisman of women's boxing in years to come, to rule the world for many more years.

Sandip G, sports journo

Heartbreak!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India.

That itself is a victory Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood actor

www.indianlink.com.au

Lovlina Borgohain, Silver. Boxin�

Women's Hockey, 4th

Mirabai Chanu, Silver, Weightlifting --===-�=-===--K-

Bhavani Devi, Fencing

AditiAshok, Golf, 4th

PVSindhu, Bronze, Badminton

AUGUST 2021 15

I N CLUSION

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Some of India's recent Olympic wins have brought into spotlight the racism encou ntered by those from the N ortheast BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI hy is it that when athletes from Northeast India win medals, India celebrates then1, but once the sporting events pass and the fervour dies down, the conm1unity goes back to being invisible?

At thjg year's Tokyo O1y1npics, ace lifter and world number three, Manipur's Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in wo1nen's weighlifting, while Assam's Lovlina Borgohain beca1ne the third Indian boxer after Mary Korn and Vijender Singh to win an Olympic 1neda1 in boxing.

Both have received n1uch public acclaitn in recent days.

H.owever, for 1ne1nbers of the Northeast Indian conununity, such fanfare only leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

"They only want to acknowledge us when it's co1nfortable for them," 24-year-old Tendel Phintso, a Northeasterner born and bred in Mumbai, told Indian Link. "l'm used to it, but other Northeasterners who didn't grow up here [Mumbai] hate it because they're not used to being treated like second-class citizens,"she said. "Even when they n1ake movies about our conununity, we are erased."

Just think back to the tune when Bollywood casted Priyanka Chopra-Jonas in Mary Ko1n and Aanur Khan as Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots. These characters were based on real people, from Manipur and Ladakh respectively, but filnunakers still misrepresented the commwuty by using other actors and profited from their stories (3 Idiots made $90 million USO, highest box office film gross for a Bollywood filn1, in 2009).

"The government neglects Northeastern states. In tenns of education, it is completely removed," Tendel stated. "And so when Northeasterners are forced to seek education 16 AUGUST 2021

outside of Northeast India, they are frequently discrinunated against and become targets of racial slw·s."

"In school, we never study about what happened in the Northeast during India's independence in any of our textbooks. There is no representation at all. Even the media channels ignore us," Tendel la1nented.

Most Indians remain unaware of the issues faced by the eight Northeastern states because mainstrean1 media channels rarely show news of un-uniform land laws, differentiating citizenship rights, or violence perpetrated under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and other local issues when broadcasting nationally.

Bollywood fitness t1·ainer Ankita Konwar tweeted recently, "If you're from Northeast India, you become an Indian ONLY when you win a medal for the country. Otherwise we are known as 'chinky', 'Chinese', 'Nepali' or a new addition, 'corona"' .

Australia-based anthropologist, author, and Naga woman Dr Dolly Kikon concurred. "'Chinky girl', is a co1nmon slur Northeastern girls encounter in Delhi, tl1e capital of India.

They are harassed simply for looking different.

When iliey go to the police to report it, they refuse to lodge con1plaints, and ask them if iliey're 'dancers'."

A Senior Lecturer in Anthropology and Develop1nent studies at Melbourne University, she pointed out how ilie Olympic victories

display "a momentary fetishised success".

Dr Kikon thinks this is especially true since most of iliese Indian athletes come from rural areas and have had to overcome class, caste and gender barriers to n1ake their country proud, and yet, they don't receive the proper training, nurturing, safety and job security they so deserve.

"Stop tlus celebration fron1 getting to your head, if you're not going to look out for them at home," Dr Kikon said.

"Look at the kind of sports these women [Chanu and Borgohain] are excelling in weightlifting and boxing! These athletes are vocal and determined to challenge patriarchal structures in India. On one hand the country rewards them for it, and on the oilier, iliey are harassed in the streets."

This harmful and discriminatory 'acknowledging-when-convenient' attitude also extends to other minority athletes in India.

Verbal abuse of hockey player Vandana Katariya's family made headlines after India's semifinal loss, when it was reported that uppercaste men sarcastically bw·st crackers outside her house and claimed the team lost in because it had 'too many Dalits'.

Acknowledgment and being actively anti-racist Moving forward, how can Indians acknowledge this misrepresentation and be active allies to our Northeastern fanilly?

"Firstly, the erasure needs to end," Tendel Phintso remarked. "Erasure from history books, education systems, news, media and especially Bollywood movies."

While India has national comn1issions dedicated to Scheduled Tribes and Castes, without adequate representation in government and media it is unlikely that the con11nunity will see any form of resolution.

"I think it's a long journey," Dr Kikon mused. "We have to think together about issues of sexual crimes, caste, and racis1n through renewed lenses of justice and equality. But right now, we need regulations and policies on the ground to safeguard the community."

Tired of the hypocrisy and erasure, Tendel Phintso shares what non­ Northeasterners can do at the individual level to be an ally.

"People need to stop talking over Northeastern voices and listen when the minority are speaking," she said. "Many people think because they're 'woke' about discrimination against us, they have the right to talk over us and discredit our experiences. They like to gate keep what is considered 'racist' and what is not, without acknowledging ilie role they the1nselves play to perpetuate these cycles."

She added, "Spread awareness about the community. Most recently there's been a string of hate-crunes against Northeasterners because of COVID-19.

Question your own biases and be an ally by stopping others from engaging in discrimination."

Note from the author: The article does

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-- .<TL()VLINA

not intend to club together different states or place an entire co111111unity under one umbrella. However, this article employs the terms 'northeast India' and 'Northeasterners' to merely allow discussion around major issues these communities face while acknowledging thefr rich, diverse, and individual cultures.

www.indianlink.com.au

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AUGUST 2021 17

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COVID

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Have you had your COVI D vaccine yet? Well hashtags #MissionJAE s we continue to work from home, many of us may find ourselves going days without stepping outdoors. While it's important to keep up this social distancing, there's a good chance it means we're not getting all the sunlight we need. When was the last time you took a good, long stroll and soaked in some rays?

As we face many weeks ahead in lockdown - and varying levels of restriction when it is eased - one thing is clear: we need to raise our vaccination rates.

The n1essages that have bombarded us so far in this health crisis in Australia, have confused us and clouded our decision making. ls one vaccine better than the other?

How can I get the 'better' vaccine? What role does age group play in vaccine efficacy? How good is my vaccine in

controlling the Delta variant? So now I'm being asked to shift the gap between doses? Can I get out and about now that I've had my two shots?

Whether the sluggish rates of vaccination uptake are because of shifts in messaging, poor supply, or general vaccine hesitancy, the need of the hour is to get the community to take that first step and make a booking to get the jab.

And so we launch #Mission)AB. A con1n1unity campaign by Indian Link, this endeavour is aimed at getting the message out to as n1any people in Australia's Indian community as possible - to get vaccinated and be safe.

The messaging in #MissionJAB takes a multipronged approach: I. Community connect We are encouraging all (even those who've had their first jab) to take to social media

Poornima Bha tt

..

Dr Sakshi Budhiraja, Mumbai

Dr :Jaya Dogra, Chandigarh

ehrotra

Indian Link Radio's :JAB song Use the OR code below to see it.

ShwetaDoke 18 AUGUST 2021

ah

www.indianlink.com.au

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•

,I jab (when) you do, tell the world using our l or #jabwegotvaxxed. with a "vaxxie", or vaccine selfie, using the hashtag #jabwegotvaxxed.

Vaccine selfies, it has been shown, help normalise the vaccine procedure, reducing hesitancy around perceived risks and increasing vaccine trust within sociaJ circles.

2. Messages from the frontline in lndia

The Delta variant wreaked havoc across our home country India, with many of us affected directly by its onslaught. In our short video series, we bring 1nessages from health professionals describing the devastation they have witnessed, and stressing the absolute urgency of vaccination at this time. You can hear these messages in various languages.

3. Messages from friends of the Indian community Our short video series also includes messages from friends

of the Indian community here in Australia. Many of our state and federal politicians across the politicaJ divide are well liked in the Indian community.

As frequent and willing guests at our community events, they have forged strong bonds with us. Easily identified, they make wonderful influencers for MissionJAB. 4. Bollywood calling To appeal to the younger generation, the Indian Link Radio team led by Ekta Sharn1a have created a parody of iconic Hindi song in which London Thu,nakda becomes Aussie Thu,nakda. The reworking of the lyrics sends the vaccination message out.

We thank the health professionals, celebs, poUies and others who have already joined us in #MissionJAB. Can't wait to see you on social 1nedia, getting on the bandwagon with us.

Aribam Prem;

:Jodi McKay, MP (NSW)

lndianl.ink @)

akhare AUGUST 2021 19

V I EW F I N D E R

20 AUGUST 2021

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MAA TU:J H E SALAAM Arrangement KUSUM SINGH Camera RADHA SINGH Operations KARISHAMA SINGH Concept RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

AUGUST 2021 21

C O M M U N I TY

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Melbourne's Shwetambar Jain community rejoice at stone-laying ceremony of "first Jain temple BY MRIDUSMITA HALOI he foundation stone laying cere1nony or 'Shilanyas' for the first fain Derasar (te1nple) in Melbourne was perforn1ed in the early hours of Wednesday 4 August in Moorabbin, Victoria, under the spiritual guidance of Pujya Acharya Bhagwant Jagvallabh Suri Maharaja.

Scenes of jubilation broke out as the 21 beautifully carved 1narble Shilas (stone slabs) were laid into the ground amidst chanting of prayers, in the presence of many dignitaries and prominent me1nbers of the co1nn1unity, including leaders of various religious organisations.

Jain temples in India are incredible architectural marvels, and the Melbourne Jain temple will be no different - must-see for all. It will be made of white Makrana marble from India, verysiinilar to the kind used to build many iconic 1nonu1nents in India, including the Taj Mahal.

More than 5,000 pieces of beautifully carved marble, weighing about 1500 tonnes, will be i1nported from India to build the temple. Currently, more than 300 artisans are undertaking the carving work, which is expected to take around 30 months to con1plete.

The temple, including the community hall, is set to cost millions of dollars, 22 AUGUST 2021

od with Nitin

mostly to be funded by the members of the community.

"It is a remarkable feat for a such a small community of about five hundred families to embark on such a n ambitious

project," said Mr Jason Wood, Federal Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

Attending the event, he pledged his support towards the completion of the project.

The temple is expected to welcome

devotees by 2023.

The Consul General of India, Mr Raj Kumar, described this historic event as "another feather in the cap of the Indian diaspora."

www.indianlink.com.au

Mayor of Kingston City Mr Steve Staikos congratulated the Jain co1nn1unity, while observing that the construction of a temple of such magnitude and beauty will help in forging ahead Melbourne's multiculturalism.

Mr Nitin Doshi, the President of Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS) told Indian Link, "A beautifully carved white marble temple of Shri Sumatinath Bhagwan will be an iconic development in Melbourne. One of its kind, it will become a go-to place for all Jains in Melbourne for religious rituals, and will provide a spiritual sanctuary for generations to corne. We hope it will continue to show the path of liberation through Jainisrn values and enhance positivity for the surrounding co1nmunity."

The property was acquired in 2017 and since then a temporary facility in the site has been functioning as a com1nunity centre. This was upgraded in the recent past, thanks to the Victorian Government's Multicultural Co1nmunity Infrastructure Fund (MCIF)of $230,000 dollars.

The te1nple project was envisaged in 2015, and since then the co1nmunity has dedicated itself physically, emotionally and financially towards this goal. For devout me1nbers like Ekta Shah, it is a drea1n come true. ''We are so excited that the Shilanyas is finally taking place," she remarked. "There have been delays due

to lockdowns and other obstacles along the way - these have made our resolve only stronger."

Jignesh Shah summed up the mood of the Jain con,munity succinctly. "This is a historic moment, one for which we have waited for years. As we launch the construction of our temple, we hope it will be a stepping stone for our future generations to connect with our faith."

Jasma Sutaria added, "Living away fro1n India, we are extremely fortunate that we get to participate in a ceren1ony such as this one.

It is a key step in the building of a monument that will 111ean so much to so many people.

Many people even in India do not get to participate in this - as temples are mainly renovated, so foundation stones do not need to be laid again. So to be able to build such an edifice from scratch, is a matter of great pride and spiritual satisfaction."

Another congregation member Nimita Bagadia told Indian Link, "I1nagine the number of prayers that will be chanted here, and the concerns that will be calmed across generations of devotees that will enter this temple. This historical Shilanyas event fills me with joy, happiness, and so much gratitude."

It is quite clear that for this 4000-strong Australia-wide community, faith is a strong guiding light, especially at a time when our worlds have been turned upside down in the current pandemic.

The community rejoices

AUGUST 2021 23

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Syd ney-based fi l m m a ker, 20, picks u p i nternational awards with his debut fi l m BY

RITAM MITRA he ongoing spectre of COVlD-19 lockdowns has elicited fron, many of us some previously repressed talents: cooking, home improven,ent, arts and crafts. During Sydney's 2020 COYID-19 restrictions, 20-year-old Yir Srinivas en1barked on a much more ambitious lockdown project than most: writing and directing his first feature length film, despite having no background in filrnmaking and no n1oney to make a filn,.

It is all the more astounding then, that Vir's 87-minute writing and directorial debut, Orders Fro111 Above, has racked up international awards at a staggering rate, most recently winning three categories, including Best flistory Fihn, at the Cannes World Film Festival.

Vir's award-winning spree n1arks a stratospheric rise for the young Sydneysider, but belies his humble beginnings in the world of filn1. Having studied a year of Commerce at UNSW, Vir knew a corporate career wasn't for him, so he enrolled in a one-year Diplo1na of Screen and Media at the Sydney Filn1 School. But, as Sydney entered a three­ month lockdown in March 2020, so too was Vir's enrolinent delayed to July. Undeterred, Vir decided to give hiinself a head start, and fulfil what had long been a d1·ean1 of his: to write a script for a feature film.

Vir settled on a story that was interesting, yet possible to be shot in one or two simple indoor locations: the true story of the interrogation of Nazi war criminal, Adolf Eichmann, by Israeli police. Once Sydney's restrictions eased, Vir snapped into action to bring his story to life, finding passionate actors (Richard Cotter, Peter Donnelly, Darrell Hoffn1an and Emn1anuel Drakakis) willing to act for free, borrowing an old camera, and buying an old voice recording device which Vir would ultimately sell the satne way he bought it: on eBay. "Being a fan of history, the 1noral culpability of the Holocaust and the banality of evil were things that lingered in my mind," says Vir. "Without much production value, and it being set in one location and consisting of mostly dialogue, it was important that the story be strong enough to engage audiences."

Vir scoured through hundreds of pages of official transcripts from Israeli police archives, with much of the dialogue from the film taken verbatim from the 24 AUGUST 2021

List of awards for Orders From Above CMANNHEIM ARTS AND FILM FESTIVAL Winner Best History Film CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL Winner Best Historical Film Winner Best Jewish FIim Winner Best Black & White Film Nominee Best Biographical Feature Film Nominee Best First Time Filmmaker (Feature) VENTOTENE FILM FESTIVAL Finalist INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLIC ART FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection

A scene from the film transcripts. Even still, it only took him one month to write the script, a feat which be acknowledged was aided by Sydney's lockdown.

Then came perhaps an even more difficult task: bringing his debut script to life, using pockets of time after school and on weekends over the course of two months.

There were many obstacles in bis way, not the least of all were budgetary and, courtesy of COVID-19, movement constraints.

"I filmed with a 3 -person crew including myself, a friend's old camera, one lens and no practical lighting," says Vir. Incredibly, the entire film was shot in just two locations: a friend's small studio apartment, and a classroom at school.

Despite all the constraints, Yir's biggest challenge was his necessarily verbose script.

"My actors did very well in memorising the long 111onologues of detail, but to help them, I used h·icks like hiding the script in props or somewhere on set for them to use as a reference," reveals Vir.

ACCOLADES

Once the ftlm was finished, Vir entered various film festivals, despite knowing that he would not be able to physically attend due to the pandemic. The global success of Orders From Above has since surpassed even Yir's ambitious expectations, having picked up awru·ds or nominations at four festivals, including Cannes and Mannheim. Yir has also written a short film - The Proselyte which has also been nominated for several awards.

Vir's success is unique and ground­ breaking for many reasons, including his Indian heritage. Speaking to the issue of diversity in Australian media - a topic about which much bas been said and written over the last two years - Vir sees some positive signs, and sees bis own success as evidence that the industry is changing for the better. " I think the film industry is getting better in terms of recognising the talent that people from different walks of life can bring to the table," he notes. "I've seen a few avenues

where people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures can prove themselves and [ hope that the industry continues to encourage these voices."

Vir's parents, Rohini and Krishna, are unsurprisingly ecstatic. "To say we are proud would be a huge understatement," says Krishna. "We had no idea he had this kind of talent in him. We still need to pinch ourselves sometimes".

Looking forward, it is not lost on Vir that a year has passed and at least from one perspective, nothing has changed.

"Now, as if we have come full circle, the film is complete and we are once again in lockdown," he muses. But Yir's journey is just beginning, with the impressive 20-year­ old already planning another short film this year.

"The future is uncertain but I am going to comn1it myself to this career and give it my best shot," he concludes. "It's my goal to make films full time."

Vir produced the fi l m i n lockdown last year with a friend's old camera, one lens, no practical l ighting and just two locations. www.indianlink.com.au

•

• USyd student's image of cheetah wins accolades at this year's Africa Geographic Photogra pher of the Year competition BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI -year-old Aditya Nair's photo 'The Murderous Pharaoh' was highly comn1ended in this year's Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year co1npetition.

Nair's stunning capture taken on safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve depicts a 1nen1ber of the Tano Bora (largest known male cheetah coalition of five) in the n1iddle of a zebra meal.

Whether the image is evocative or disturbing, we leave it to you to decide. "l absolutely love the big cat fa111ily,the1·e's so n,uch character to the1n," Aditya told Indian Link. "The guides, locals, and industry staff track theiJ· stories and constantly keep updating visitors. That way we create more of an emotional attachn1ent to these animals. J wouldn't say I have a specific anilnal 1 love shootiJ1g, but I love a good leopard sighting."

Aditya Nair was born in Trivandrum, Kerala, and at the age of thxee his family moved to Mon1basa, Kenya, where he spent a 111ajority of his childhood exposed to the warm African savanna.

"Growing up in Kenya gave me a unique upbrmging," the young photographer pondered. "We have a laidback beach life as well as the adrenaline-filled wilderness-bush experience."

Though he always had a passion for wildlife photography, Aditya only began taking the craft seriously after he left Australia, where he was a n1arketing student at the University of Sydney. The onset of the COVI0-19 pandemic led him to return ho111e to Kenya just before borders closed.

"I came back to Kenya for a change in environ1nent and with the intention to spend more tin1e with wildlife," he said.

"The fast paced, money-oriented city life took a lot out of n,e. When I looked back at all the titnes l felt at peace, the fust thing that came to mind was waking up to a sunrise iJ1 the Maasai Mara National Reserve, hearillg the roar of a lion," he mused.

As for inspirations, Aditya revealed TV shows that began his fruitful fascination with wildlife. Progra1ns like Animal Planet's Mad Mike and 1\1.ark, and the likes of late

Most of Aditya's shots are taken on a camera bean bag that rests on the window of a safari vehicle.

The Murderous Pharaoh

Australian icon Steve Irwin reinforced the allure of the wild.

With regard to photography and art, Aditya names NatGeo Wild photog,·apher Shaaz Jung's work as a source of encouragement to push the boundaries of photography and addmg touches of surrealism.

Due to the nature of the setting, 111ost of Aditya's shots are taken on a camera bean bag that rests on the wmdow of a safari vehicle. At other times he prefers to take hand-held shots, and rarely uses tripods.

The photographer camps ill national parks for fow· to five nights at a stretch, every couple of months. That n1ay sound like a lot to some and very little to others, but money-wise it can be quite a pricey venture, especially if you're not making a lot of money fro1n the activity itself.

"However, dw·mg my time at these national parks, I spend almost 8-12 hours out on safari. Sometimes going from sighting to sighting, and others simply

stationary in one spot," Aditya said. "As for planning, plenty of tour agents make our lives easy but wherever l can avoid the middleman, I do. It doesn't take time, it takes initiative."

Social n1edia and assorted wildlife documentaries have also played a role ill his understanding of the practice.

He says his maill source of research is spending time with animals in the wild, observing them with the help of guides.

"As for wildlife photographers, there are a lot of us; l just know that there are two thmgs l aim to stick to when creating and posting content. One is quality over quantity. Two is to stand out," Aditya stated.

What is something people don't know about wildlife photography?

"That every image is a different story and there's always someone illCredibly passionate about wildlife behind the lens," Aditya remarked.

The Africa Geographic competition entries were judged on their ability to tell a story, evoke emotion and capture the essence of Africa, which over the years, Aditya seems to have gotten the hang of.

"To already have my name in the san1e conversation as all the other talented photographers mentioned is 1nind blowing," he gushed.

In the future, Aditya hopes to work in the tourism industry to help the rest of the world experience what he does in the awesome African savanna.

AUGUST 2021 25

B O O KS

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This issue, we look at three books that have something to do with 'killing' - one way or another •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • • • • ••••• •••• •• • ••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••• • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • •• • • •• • • •• • • •• • • • • •••

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CHITRA SUDARSHAN

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short new debut novel Deciphering a Kill (published by Notion Press Media, Cbennai, 2021), by Krishnakumar (KK) is a whodunnit set largely in Bengaluru and Chennai. It's a racy page-turner and moves at a fast pace, and the denouement is a real surprise. KK packs a lot of punch in this short novel, sketching the profiles of the main characters deftly. As good murder mysteries generally do, this novel is also a commentary on modern Indian society. The ebook is now available on Amazon.

ravind Adiga's new novel, Australian husband who exerts brutal home and brutally tortured. Desperate to get away, Danny uses his father's control over her. Her lover Prakash A1nnesty (Picador, 2020), is freeloading on her, yet at the sa1ne short-listed for the 2021 Miles savings to come to Australia on a student Franklin Literary Award, visa to study in a nondescript school, time resents the residual obligations is one which will resonate with n1any which turns out to be a big scam. His she feels towards her husband. When subsequent request for asylum is rejected, Rad ha turns up dead, Danny must either new migrants in Australia. It cleverly because, after all, he had arrived legally choose to tell the police what he knows • inverts the idea of 'the other', by giving or remain silent to avoid getting into on a student visa(never mind the torture •: a voice to an (illegal) immigrant in this :• country. Its protagonist is a Sri Lankan scars). Consequently, Danny goes into trouble.

•• hiding, livingin a grocery storeroom for Adiga makes scores of astute •: Tamil Dhananjaya Rajaratnam or Danny, •• observations about Australian attitudes, four years and moves about the city with : who wades through the maze of Sydney ••• a vacuum cleaner strapped to his back. mindset and outlook on life in general : life trying to eke out a living cleaning •• : homes for cash, and generally steering through Danny's voice. Adiga hiLnself As Danny negotiates the world of ••• •• clear of the authorities - and police - to had lived for some time in Sydney and Living and working in Sydney as an ••• illegal, trying to blend in by emulating avoid getting arrested. He is in this purportedly still carries an Australian •• predicament because his attempt at being the accent and streaking his hair - we passport - so they feel quite authentic.

••• His reflections on Australia are nothing are privy to what he thinks of Australia •• • recognised as a refugee has failed. 1-le •• and Australians. Danny knows Radha­ short of searing, as his Man Booker •: had worked in Dubai for son1e time, but • :• had been mistaken for a LTTE terrorist at whose home be does odd cleaning Prize winning White Tiger was on India's •• • :• by Sri Lankan authorities on his return • nouveau riche. jobs- and that Radha is cheating on her ••••••••• •• • • • • •• • • ••• • ••• • • •• • ••••• •••• •••• •••••••••• • • ••• • ••• • • • • • • • • ••••• • ••••••••• • ••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •••••••••• • •••••••••••

•• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••••••••••••••••••••• • ••• • ••••••• ••••••••• • •• • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••• •• •• •• onia Faleiro's novel Good Girls: the villager's reaction et al, are laid out ••• for the reader to behold in great detail. All •• An Ordinary Killing (Bloomsbury, •• •• •• the complexities of what it means to be a 2021) is based on real events •• • that shook the village of Katra young woman in intrinsically conservative •• •• •: rural North India are made apparent as in UP in 2014 when two teenage girls, •• •: •• Faleiro carefully navigates disturbing :• one 16 and the other 14, cousins and best •• and delicate themes. It is a most telling :• friends-were found banging from a mango ••• revelation of how ideas like honour, shame • : tree in their village one night. Faleiro •• has attempted to get to the bottom of and collective village morality come head­ :• •• •• to-head with modernity, mobile phones :• the 'killing' by spending a great deal of • • and media. time in the village, interviewing scores of : The Good Girls is a harrowing tale that : people, and working on it for four years. says as 1nuch about India's underbelly :• It is a wonderfully written book that is of political corruption, violence against : reportage at its best. I will not disclose the women, and caste prejudice - as it does •: actual 'truth' behind the event for fear of •• spoiling it for our readers, but Faleiro's about the two young women who fall : ••• prey to it. The book has already been : description of the brave stand taken by the •• • :• women - who form a circle around the two chosen by a host of literary newspapers ••• and magazines as a 'must read' for 2021. : girls handing from the tree, refusing to let • • :• their bodies be taken down for a full 48 • Readers may recall that Faleiro has • • • previously published a widely acclaimed : hours, for fear there might be a cover-up; • • • book on the sex industry in Mumbai the journalists who descend on the village : • • :• eager for a story; the fathers' responses; • called Beautiful Thing.

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GOOD GIRLS: AN ORDINARY KILLING by Sonia Faleiro

S O N I A FALE I R O

AN ORDI NARY KILLIN G

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www.indianlink.com.au

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Help Syd ney-based Ben Chapple raise funds for Adivasi and tribal commu n ities in northern India BY

BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI iwi by birth and lndophile by choice, volunteer Ben Chapple's tryst with India first began on a trip to Chandigarh as a mature age student pursuing a social welfare degree.

Five years on, the 56-year-old reached out to Indian Link to continue to help serve the cause of Indian Adivasi (indigenous) con1munities he came to know on his travels, and that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pande1nic.

Describing his maiden trip to India, Ben told Indian Link, "It was a cultural progra1n hosted by Punjab University.

We received lectures from different faculties which illuminated a very broad understanding of Indian culture. We visited welfare organisations and did son1e touring, including the Golden Temple. At that point, l decided I loved India and just vowed to return."

When he did return in 2018, he caught upwith friends he'd ,nade. These included the Prince of Rajpipla in Gujarat, Manvendra Singh (the only 'out' Indian prince) - Ben had been impressed by his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. After striking up an e1nail friendship, the prince invited Ben to stay with him in his countryside cottage. They did yoga in the mornings and the prince would tell him stories from his life.

This was where Ben grew aware of how the Indian upper class lives. Though the Prince leads a sin1ple life now, stories of his past generation's classic car collections and elite events with dignitaries only encouraged Ben to work towards the upliftment of landless and homeless Adivasi people.

Ben began to investigate how feasible it would be to conduct personal Child Welfare advocacy. He conducted multiple meetings and conferences with a cross section of people. It all went sn1oothly until 28 AUGUST 2021

''I nternal fu nds have mainly been a l l ocated to the big cities.Village people in rura l settings received absolutely no support through the second wave, and they were ravaged

by COV I D." he was mugged at gunpoint in Delhi the day before his departure from India.

The rnishap turned out to be serendipitous - it brought him in close contact with the international coordinator of the Jai Jagat Movement (JJM), a global campaign for justice and peace rooted in Gandhian philosophy.

::Jai ::Jagat Movement's Peace March: Delhi to Geneva

With the JJM, Ben became initiated in a gruelling physical adventure that would truly test his devotion to social welfare. As a participant in Jai Jagat's 2020-21 Peace Yatra from Delhi to Geneva, he set off on a 1 1 ,000km journey on foot, traversing 17 countries, advocating for non-violence and justice.

Participants of the peace convoy would walk while their luggage was transported by trucks. Fortunately, Ben had retained a good level of fitness because he was an active sportsperson as a youth.

Yatris (travellers) would join on different stages of the Peace Yatra from the own countries and stay in dorm rooms with others. They would wake at 7 am, make sure all the washing was done and get their bags ready to be thrown on the truck. Chores and communal activities were assigned to all. Yatris would be given responsibilities for the day or they would meet and engage with local community men1bers.

"You quickly learned to not be too precious," Ben remarked. "Your individual

egos were diminished as you realised you had to fit well in the group. And then of course, you might have been tired from doing upto 38km a day. You would also be exhausted because you were quite exposed; all your outer layers of skin had been peeled off like an onion revealing different things. As each layer came to pass you were forced to confront who you were, and how you wish to relate to whatever you were going to confront in the day."

He went on, "Once we were walking through a thick forest area along the tree line and 10 metres off the path were an old couple sitting outside their home. Seeing them struggling to stand up, I rushed to them. They donated 1 and 2 rupees respectively in my kalash. I saw that they were both weeping, l think they were really upset that they couldn't come up to us. It was beautiful witnessing the weakest and poorest of us desperate to contribute to society. If only there was good leadership in place."

Just before they were to sail across the Black Sea, close to reaching its final destination in Europe, COVlD struck. The Jai Jagat volunteers,having walked 2,400 thus far, had to turn around and fly back to thefr home countries in disappointment.

COVID relief for Adivasis

Ben's current fundraiser in association with the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI), supports a holistic health development project for Adivasi peoples and the rural tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.

"We're raising n,oney to bank them off against the next wave of COVID. We've been functioning with funds from foreign donors because India's own internal systen,s don't have much in place," Ben revealed. "Internal funds have mainly been allocated to the big cities. Village people in rural settings received absolutely no support through the second wave, and they were ravaged by COYID." India's latest census in 201 1 depicted that out of the 100 million people living in the three key north-Indian states that fonn the Adivasi movement, about 17 million were Adivasis and Indigenous tribes.

Ben's bond with India is so strong partly because of familiar indigenous beliefs in Australia, where he has lived for the last two decades.

Having worked with Aboriginal housing in Sydney's Redfern, Ben came to learn the three 'pillars' held by the indigenous community: "Respect, sustainability, and providing for future generations."

"This is really the focus for Australian Aboriginal people - providing for the next generation. I haven't been to any other indigenous communities, but when I went to India, I saw the same value system, except the Adivasis adopted a fourth pillar - consensus," Ben said optimistically.

Historically, India's Adivasi and tribal people have been excluded, suffered neglect from political governance, land grabbings and other injustices.

Ben choked up reflecting on the plight of the Adivasis.

"Yet on my travels, I saw that because of the church's activities and social welfare support network, there's a good, positive sprinkling of education," Ben said. "They are seeking equity irrespective of faith or language. I'm not religious at all, but the Catholic Church is providing the social welfare networks that we might take for granted in Australia."

Donate to Ben Chapple's fundraiser for aid to Indian indigenous tribes and Adivasi communities at: https://au.gofundme. com/f/dare-to-dream-of-a-covid-free-india

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PA R E N T I N G

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A young mum shares her tips on keeping the l ittle ones engaged while we're all stuck i ndoors

BY

NIDHI JOSHI t's shaping up to be a long winter, especially for those of us with children to entertain at home during lockdown. Many families find the,nselves in the stressful situation of hon1eschooling kids or looking after toddlers and pre-schoolers at home, all while juggling their work and home life. ·1-1ere are some tips and resources to help you get through it like a pro.

Get your child's input and come up with a routine

Weekends are for slow starts and chilling out but creating a siinple routii1e during the week can help keep everyone sane. Spend tin1e together with your child writing up a rough routii1e for the day so they know what is planned and can refer to it as needed.

This helps structure the day for both the child and parent.

Ask for activity packs from your child's day care/ preschool

Many day-care centres and preschools have asked for children of non-essential workers to stay home if possible. If your child is in this category, you can ask the day-care/preschool to provide online links to activities that can be printed at home, or to create activity packs/ art and craft packs to take ho1ne.

So,ne preschools are also open to setting up a toy library to be able to borrow your child's favourite toy for a week or two. All you have to do is ask!

30 AUGUST 2021

Get outdoors

The weather may be terrible, and it may be easier to stay indoors, but you will be surprised how good you feel once you step out. Why not take the kids for a walk or bike ride to the park? Whenever siblings st.art bickering or your child is throwing a tantrum for no good reason, rug up, step out and aU yow· problems will be solved. It's a great way to let the kids spend aU their extra energy so that when they get home, they will be more than happy to do a quiet activity while you get dinner ready.

Rotate toys and get creative

Rotating toys is an age-old trick that has always worked wonders in our house. Use lockdown as an excuse to do some spring cleaning and bring out son1e old toys that have not been used in a while. In addition, get creative with your space and make a cubby house out of your beach tent or take your picnic rug and put it in the middle of your living room.

Children love playing with their toys in new environments and even the simplest household items can spark their imagination.

Make use of online resources

Lucky for us, we live in the digital age and can access aU corners of the globe via an internet connection. There are some phenomenal resources online suited to kids of aU ages, providing activities, projects, information, education, live streaming and media tailored to their specific interests. Our favourite picks are: National Geographic Kids: Perfect for the curious child who is interested in the world around them. There are plenty of activities and videos for free or you can get a subscription to the monthly magazme delivered straight to your door.

Twinkl: A fantastic educational site tailored to the Australian curriculum created by teachers.

This is a great resource if you are looking for age-appropriate educational activities from

kindergarten to year 10 across aU subject areas.

ABC Kids: It may come as no surprise that ABC kids has a plethora of educational videos in all subject areas, catered to children of aU ages.

Screen tin1e in this case is also a way for your kids to be engaged and learn about the world.

Educating Young Engineers: If your child loves Lego, check out this organisation, determined to introduce engineering to children from a young age. The website has some ti.tn Lego challenges as well as interactive activities.

BBC Good Food: If your child wants to be the next MasterChef, check out this list of over 50 recipes tailored for cooking with kids.

Questacon: Some fun science activities and experiments to do at home for curious future scientists.

Sydney Olympic Park - Park Live: If you have a buddmg park ranger, this might be the perfect way to spend the afternoon without leaving yow· lounge room. You can take a virtual tour, hear fron1 park rangers, and print out arts and craft activities that will keep the kids entertained for how·s.

Ken Done: For budding artists who want to explore their creative side. Ken Done is a prominent Australian artist providing free resources on his website for art lovers everywhere. tory Factory: A fantastic resource for those interested in creative writing. The site provides activities and prompts for your child to unleash their imagination and create their own magical characters and stories.

Who says lockdown must be a maddening endeavour with kids? Hopefully our simple tips give you some ideas to keep your little ones occupied, and give you much needed 'me-time' during the day too.

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Colour in or paint the pattern presented here. Photocopy the pattern if you need to.

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AUGUST 2021 31

LA N D S C A P I N G

oor

We may not b e e nterta ining now, but it's the perfect t i m e to get your outd oor space winter- ready for n ext year, writes la ndscape designer GOP I KA S o you're locked down and are 1nissing having friends and family over. Well, what better time to think about entertaining - or rather, how to go about your entertaining!

Get out into your backyard, and see what you can do now to have your place all ready for party tin1e come next winter!

Here are some tips for outdoor winter entertaining.

entertaining all year round. Choose the blinds that fulfill your needs and fits your budget.

Firepit and Seating

Warm food and heat - these are two essentials for winter entertaining. Add in the magic of a fire pit, and you're bound to have a memorable evening. Fire pits create an inviting space like Little else, providing more reason to linger outside than crouched inside. Have your seats either built-in or position loose furniture around.

(Do note though, fire pits come with safety considerations, such as avoiding enclosed or unventilated areas and overhead branches.

So ensure you have that sorted out before throwing in that pinecone fire starter.

Garden Lighting

Illuminate your personal su1·roundings with clever lighting. Throw some light over trees with smooth barks, foliage plants, walls, pathways, entertaining areas, garden sculptures if you have any. Lightscaping your outdoor space will not only fulfill the functional needs of the space but also add aesthetic quality after dark. Lighting your outdoor space also prevents trip/fall hazards and provides safety. There are a plethora of choices when it con1es to solar lights in the market: choose a quality one that will last longer. A well-designed garden with lights encourages us to venture out.

Outdoor Heating

The fire pit may be an intimate setting for its warmth, but the clever use of outdoor heating can set up a similar ambience.

Choose heating for the patio, underneath the pergola and near the pool. With plenty of options to suit your taste and budget, you can continue entertaining outdoors through the winter months.

Garden Furniture

When it con1es to outdoor furniture, comfort and durability play a vital role. There are loads of options out there that add style to these. Look for designs best suited for positioning, such as in the patio, around the pool, or around the fire pit. For guests, 32 AUGUST 2021

Outdoor Blinds

experin1ent with furniture arrangements to create ambience as well as to build small intimate spaces to enjoy your outdoor area.

Outdoor blinds are worth the money if you have a large patio and alfresco area for entertaining. You will be sheltered from the elements, and it will create an ideal space for

Outdoor Cooking

Now, this is a great way for relaxed entertainment. Most modern homes have the inside of the house connected with the outside by n1eans of an alfresco or patio.

Installing an outdoor kitchen with either a built-in barbeque or stove enhances the functionality and ambience of the alfresco or patio. When planning, ensure you position your outdoor cooking in close proximity to your existing inside the kitchen for ease and access while entertaining.

A con1bo of lighting, furniture, warmth, and food will make your outdoor space more appealing not only in winter but throughout the year.

www.indianlink.com.au

FINE DINING

Indian-inspired cocktails at Foreign Return

• I nd ian restaurants jump on the bottl ed cockta il bandwagon BY

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA f you've been doing a celebratory take­ away night on say Friday nights this lockdown period, you've probably seen bottled cocktails on the n1enu.

Packaged in cute little bottles, you can now enjoy a martini or a negroni before

yotu· 1neal - without having to make one yourself.

Select lndian restaurants are jumping on the bandwagon.

Urban Tadka, based in Sydney's Terrey Hills, has had on offer three varieties for a while now - Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini and Margarita. Besides being a way of expanding their services in COVID tin1es, co-owner lnder Dua says, "Bottled cocktails are a fun new addition to our products. It's great to see our clients

loving it, and we've really enjoyed bringing on this innovation too."

Gaw·ang Gahoi of new Indian restaurant Foreign Return in Sydney's Surry Hills, says, "As a trend adopted by the industry, it's about creating an in-house experience of all our on-site experiences. When you go out, you savour the experience of a good bartender - we're taking this to your home."

Foreign Return's takeaway cocktail range is slightly different though. It is "proudly Indian," Gaurang (or 'gG' as he likes to be called) describes.

"We define our food as modern Indian fare based on age-old Indian recipes. So our cocktails are similar - traditional favourites, but edgy, with a spin that's Indian-inspired."

How would you lndianise a Negroni?

Add gul, or rose flavour, and viola, the Gui Negroni is born.

Foreign Return's Gui Negroni is a tribute to the 16th century Mughal emperor Babur, (cue factoid here) who loved the rose so much that not only was he known to order camel loads for personal use, he also named his four daughters after his favourite flower.

Gaurang created the Gui Negroni himself.

He admits cheekily, "I've always been fond of beverages... but having a rum distillery right next door, helps too!"

Other favourites currently are Spice Rum Old Fashioned and Saffron Fennel Old Fashioned Whiskey.

The whiskey is infused with spices and flavours on site, as are the flavoured syrups such as cardamom syrup, and the dehydrated fruit garnishes such as citrus and blood orange.

"Of course, we ensure there's no compromise on spirits, using premium

Photos: Leigh Griffiths

quality supplies only. So it's painstaking effort: there's recipe development, execution, labelling of ingredients, and then bottling."

The restaurant's regular cocktail menu has always been a winner, its "pauwa­ chakhna" experience especially relished

by Indian clients. (Hip Indian readers will know the "pauwa" as the quarter bottle, and the "chakhna" as the nibbles that accompany alcohol - usually deep-fried and served inside a newspaper roll.)

"We are now also batching 500 ml bottles for your home bar, which you can use over the week," Gaurang reveals. "They con1e in handcrafted bottles that I'm sure you'll enjoy."

Urban Tadka on the other hand, has tied up with an outside manufacturer who prepares the concoctions to the recipes they provide.

"Our bottled cocktails are labelled, sealed, chilled and ready to go," lnder reveals. "At home, you could drink straight from the bottle, or pour into a glass."

If you are an Urban Tadka regular and love their signature lycheetinis, you can still order then, - as part of the Special Isolation Pack, a unique meal for two that con1es in a beautiful box.

Pre-batched cocktails are not new of course, having been around for 111ore than a decade now. But they seem to have 111oved beyond the corporate event and the hotel mini bar, to become the new lockdown luxury.

Seeing a cocktail being made is an experience that cannot be replaced of cotu·se, but this comes close. And with the convenience of it aU ... what are you waiting for? Go on, treat yourself!

Old favourites at Urban Tadka AUGUST 2021 33

T R AV E L

Red Fort Delhi

"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom."

This historic state1nent was made by Nehru during a broadcast prior to raising the Indian Tricolour fron1 the Red Fort in Delhi on the n1orning of 15 August 1947, marking India's independence from British rule. Since then, this t 7th century bastion, which is one of the city's top tourist attractions, acts as the setting for Independence Day celebrations every year.

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India's freedom struggle: Where the battles were fought, blood spilled, and lives lost BY SANDIP HOR s the day of independence fro,n British rule, the date 1 5 August is ted-lettered in the calendar of modern India. This year the day is more special as we n1ark the start of the 75th year of this hard-earned freedom.

On 24 August 1608, the British landed in India as hu1nble traders, soon shifted their interest into making territorial gains, and finally stayed back as ruthless rulers of the land ltntil granting complete freedon1 in 1947.

The long-drawn struggle for this independence is associated with many sites in India where battles were fought, E 0 blood spilled, lives lost and Mahatma (.)

Gandhi's non-violence movement thrived. Q.) The 1nodern generation may not be aware of these places. As an avid traveller, I list "O so1ne of them here, so that they know C co Cf) the significance of each in the making of C CAPTURE OJ' DELHI ( fl � i..,G<.1$11 I PRISE DE DELHI I NI w,$ A.<ce:.t.-:. I 0 today's India. If interested further, they 0.

Oa .. -,..,_., .!1':'t.. 14!.! w H•tt,£• ••a-i, o.-.-.l�....... .., .,...,. •• .t'-6 ,�, �'-• 1., 14 So:zr.:k-t ....... a.1,, Gr.,,,n1,..,.._.-W:11iX -:c..oe !'� ....... cri.-. V r... ,I co '11...n:...d..---wloyl I n1� .. lid...&6n.o.-� t1• .... S.-.t � <l.1H,u■ N'ptt'IUIIAlt.e !.?«1,o l, i:.,i-,.. ...,.. ;,. t� L,.,.•- S&:W_ ..,, �· .. 0- .... iM..� can visit these locations when opportunity Q.) �.,..}..4•1,l.,•.,.,.. ..•w,.-.a.tS&te ..lfflM�.. ,�fd c.,,:t-.;.,e,W•• t•t.�J••�• _,....m•��• ...,_Mf� ..,___._....•..-.,,.:..,...,. ' •A .. �• ... fW) .......... 1ft .._ strikes to pay respect and express some (.) gratitude towards the freedom fighters. a...____________________________________________________,

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► Calcutta West Bengal r

As the capital of British India until 1911, Calcutta was the stage for many liberation movements to get the British ousted. The four buildings which still stand as silent witness to this spirit of freedom are the Lalbazar Police Headquarters where police atrocity was cultivated, the High Court where the freedom fighters were trialled, Alipore Jail where many were imprisoned and some executed, and the Writers Building from where orders were issued.

Cellular :Jail r Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Built after the Sepoy Mutiny as a penal colony, particularly for the freedom fighters, the remotely located Cellular Jail stands today as a witness of British barbarism. Thousands imprisoned there were inhumanly tortured and executed. Today it's a national monument where a sound and light show honours the freedom fighters and narrates their heroic tales while behind the bars there.

:Jhansi r Uttar Pradesh

·ootted 300 km south of Lucknow, this city fa1nously connects with the reign of legendary Rani Laxmi Bai, the queen who fought the British heroically during the Sepoy Mutiny from the ran1parts of a majestic fort built 250 years earlier by her predecessors.

One of India's n1ost illustrious citadels, this fort survived heavy bon1bard1nent by the British forces and stands gallantly today as an emble.1n of lndia's first battle for Independence.

�a lianwala Bagh r Punjab

► Dandi Gujarat

The mass extermination of thousands of freedom fighters who gathered for a protest meeting inside Jallianwala Bagh, a walled garden arena in the Golden Temple city Amritsar on 13 April 1919, marked a turning point in India's modern history and left a permanent scar on lndo-British relations. British army officer Oyer on that fateful day blocked all the exits from the venue and opened fire on innocent people.

The garden is a national monument now where the bullet marks can still be seen on the walls of the garden.

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The 1882 Salt Act gave the British a monopoly in the manufacture and sale of salt. Even though salt was freely available on Indian coasts, Indians were forced to buy it from the colonisers. Dandi, a village near Surat, was a salt mine. While driving his non­ violent movement against the British, Gandhiji decided to march on foot with his followers from his ashram in Sabarmati near Ahmedabad to Dandi to break the Salt Law. The 386 km march with thousands of people took 24 days. Reaching Dandi on 5 April 1930, Gandhi marched into the sea and picked up lumps of natural salt. The act was syn1bolic but became a turning point in the Indian independence n1ovement.

Murshidabad r West Bengal

The British presence was in effect cemented in India at this riverfront settlement on 23 June 1757. This date marks the end of the infamous Battle of Plassey fought at a nearby mango grove, between the British who were based 150 km away in Calcutta (now called Kolkata) and Nawab Sfraj-ud-Doula, then the powerful ruler of Bengal. Murshidabad was his bustling capital. The battle ended without many gunshots fired as the British bribed the Nawab's army to throw their weapons and surrender prematurely. independent India's ffrst Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described this mockery of a combat as "an unsavory beginning" of British rule in India. Full of dilapidated palaces and 1nonuments, this shabby district town today draws visitors to narrate stories of lust and passion, greed and power that changed the fate of a nation for centuries ahead.

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Barrackporer West Bengal

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PLASSEY

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The first strike of India's independence was the 'Sepoy Mutiny' which began in 1857 at this arn1y barrack located 24 kin north of Kolkata, when a Hindu soldier Mangal Pandey refused to follow the orders of his British commanders to bite the rifle cartridge rumoured to be greased with beef fat. Soon other native soldiers followed suit. Mangal Pandey was court­ martialled and hanged on April 8, 1857, but by then the rebellion had spread into other cantonments in the country. Filmmaker Amir Khan's 2005 blockbuster hit Mangat Pandey: The Rising is worth watching to learn more about this patriot and the uprising he began.

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Standing on the banks of River Gomti, this North Indian city was founded in 1775 as the capital of Awadh, an independent sovereignty. However, the state was annexed to the expanding British E1npire in 1856 with a large army base. When the 'Sepoy Mutiny' moved in, the rebel soldiers killed 2000 British people who took refuge inside the British General's residence. The walled compound, called Residency now, still stands as it was in 1857 with ruins of many buildings marked with bullet wounds.

Like Gallipoli, it's a place of pilgrimage for the visitors from the UK while for many Indians it's a site of bravery and courage.

Unfortunately, the mutiny was brutally ended with the killing of almost all the rebels. The result of this was abolition of the East India Company in favour of the direct rule of India by the British government.

AUGUST 2021 35

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

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7 Indian films and series to watch in August 2021 I ATRANGI RE

I Directed by Aanand L Rai (Raanjhanaa, Tanu Weds

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NAVARASA (Netflix) Inspired by the concept of Navarasas (nine emotions evoked by art forms), this Tamil anthology series features nine stand-alone episodes on each emotion: fear, anger, laughter, compassion, valour, wonder, peace, disgust and romance. Navarasa is directed by Mani Ratnam and features an ensemble cast including Siddharth, Suriya, Poorna, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and Revathi.

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Manu), this film stars Dhanush, Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan in a double role. It marks the second collaboration between Rai, Dhanush and music producer A R Rahman after Raanjhanaa in 2013. The musical drama will also feature a song performed by Dhanush, who many will recognise as the singer of Why This Kolaveri Di in 2011.

Atrangi Re hits cinemas on 6 August.

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In this fast- paced thriller film, Officer Nikhil (Manoj Bajpayee) receives a threatening call one night that begins the longest, life -changing night of his life. Will he be able to stop the mysterious caller before it's too late? Directed by RensilD'Silva, who previously directed Kurbaan in 2009, Dial 100 also stars Neena Gupta and Sakshi Tanwar i n supporting roles.

--------------------------------------------It's all set to release on 6 August.

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SHERSHAAH (Amazon Prime) Releasing just i n time for Indian Independence Day, this film is about the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee and army captain Vikram Batra, a war hero from the 1999 Kargil War. Siddharth Malhotra essays a double role in this one, portraying both Batra and his twin brother Vishal. The biopic is directed by Tamil cinema's Vishnuvardhan in his Hindi film debut and co-produced

by Karan Johar. The film gains its name Shershaah (lion king) from the code name believed to have been used by the Pakistani army for Batra.

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(Disney+Hotstar)

Set during the Inda-Pakistan War of 1971, this film portrays the life of IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik. It shares the real-life story of 300 women from the local village of Madhapur, who helped Karnik reconstruct the IAF airbase from scratch. It's believed to have one of the pivotal moments that helped India win the war. Ajay Devgn portrays Karnik, joined by big names like Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharad Kelkar and Nora Fatehi.

Shu}: The Pride of India releases on 13 August.

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The film premieres on 6 August.

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In this film targeted at a younger demographic, Abhay Deol takes on his first 'dad' role, playing the father of a 15-year-old daughter. His daughter Rhea Kumar (Avantika Vandanapu) aspires to be a DJ, while exploring her identity as a young Indian-American. Will she be able to convince her father of her dream? Spin is also directed by Manjari Makijany, who recently directed Netflix's Skater Girl.

--------------------------------------------Shershaah releases on 12 August.

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Spin drops on Disney+Hotstar on 15 August.

COMEDY PREMIUM LEAGUE (Netflix)

Spotted any of your favourite Indian comedians yet? In this weekly series, some of the country's most popular faces unite for some stand-up and sketch comedy. They're divided into four teams: the Lovable Langoors (Amit Tandon, Rytasha Rathore, Aadar Malik, Samay Raina), Naazuk Nevle (Mallika Dua, Urooj Ashfaq, Rahul Dua, and Rahul Subramanian), IDGAF Iguanas (Sumukhi Suresh, Rohan Joshi, Sumaira Shaikh, and Tanmay Bhat) and Gharelu Gilaharis (Kenny Sebastian, Kaneez Surka, Aakash Gupta, Prashasti Singh) and hosted by none other than Prajakta Kohli (who was last seen in Netflix's romcom series Mismatched). Could we ask for any more?

Comedy Premium League begins on 20 August.

MATRI M O N IALS SEEKING BRIDES

Seeking a suitable match for 45-year-old Sikh Khatri male, divorced, no child, self-employed, on bridging Visa.

Preferred Australian PR/citizen match.

Contact 0422812939 or email jas_ghai01@hotmail.com Seeking a professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Auscitizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 47, 6',

36 AUGUST 2021

athletic built man. He is a project manager with an engineering background and is working in a reputed organisation.

Please contact ausind26@gmail.com

SEEKING GROOMS

Seeking an affable and handsome professional groom for a 5'7" attractive academic lawyer, Hindu Jat, 29. Brought up in an Army family, settled in Delhi-NCR, Greater Noida. Being kind and caring, she is passionate about social causes and loves animals. She takes pride in being active and fit. Please contact via

email: saven05@hotmail.com Seeking a professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Auscitizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 48, 5'3" slim, fair, attractive girl. She is a postgraduate and working at a good position in a government organisation.

Please contact at ausind26@gmail.com Looking for a tall, handsome, educated, well settled Australian citizen match (preferably from Sydney) for a beautiful never married Hindu Khatri girl, 36 years

old, well educated, Australian citizen, raised in Australia, living in Sydney. Please contact Preeti Kothari +61404316288 or Heena Kajaria +61416787526.

Seeking a professionally qualified, teetotaller with a good family background boy preferably Australian Citizen or PR holder for highly qualified career-oriented Brahmin girl 35, 5'2", Vegetarian with good family background, working and well settled in Sydney.

Please contact aussyd08@gmail.com

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F O R ET E L L

August 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 A good month for Aries as improved I work conditions, new partnerships and renewal in existing conditions is I foretold. A new job offer could come I your way. You may meet someone a social event if I special at work or at single. Holding on for what you believe I you deserve in a relationship will work I for you. Beware of too much alcohol consumption. Praise and rewards at I work due to your efforts will come in.

I Your financial condition is good and will I get better.

I I I I I I I I I I Leos will look for more meaning and I purpose in their lives. You could meet I someone special who adds meaning to I your life. Those in the real estate business could sell or lease out a property. An I event or person could motivate you to I revive your work or personal life. A family member could face travel related issues.

I Your health could need a medical check­ I up to get to the root of a chronic problem.

I Your financial future is bright. Spiritual assistance guides you.

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I I I I I I I I I You've drawn a destiny card: keep in I mind that any important occurrence this month is destiny related and was I always meant to be. Allow the higher I powers to handle a long-standing Introspect I problem you may be facing. on what life is trying to teach you by I repeating a pattern that you need to I shake off. Business is good and profits are in store. Finances could play the I villain i n your love life. Take more I rest and avoid those who drain your I energy.

I I I I I I I I I I You want to just be rather than do; and I focus on your feelings, connections and I things you love at this time. Singles I will want a deeper relationship and not settle for the superficial. Those looking I to get pregnant just might. At work, some I may move to a job with more people interaction involved. Watch out for upper I back related issues. Money could be held I back but it will come. Follow your gut I instincts in every decision you make this month.

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I You have a lot of activities going on this I A major change is on the way - either I month related to paper work and money I you will move home or change the city issues. If you can't take a decision on you live in. Perhaps you will change I something, keep it aside for now and let I your line of work. You may have to I things progress. If a relationship is I finish old assignments and work on new ones simultaneously. Regardless, I going through a rough patch, you will I be prepared for a major change work at it to make things better. An old I in perspective. Trying to revive a I project, or old issues and challenges, I could get revived. Things at work could I relationship will prove to be a waste of time. Taking on too much will have you get difficult. Money matters could lead I to disputes. Hang in there, as eventually, I feeling run down and exhausted. You I what is yours will come to you, and it I will get a lot of work if self-employed.

I Pursue your goals.

I will end well.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Watch out for obsessive traits this month You have drawn the card for Pisces so I expect a creative phase or interest in the I - be it for a new job or a person. You pine I metaphysical. A relationship will progress, I for an ex hoping for a reunion if you have recently broken up. However bad things I but slowly. Singles could meet someone I may be, don't lose hope: issues that you special at work. On the professional front, I expect to feel stifled and dissatisfied.

I might consider closed, will open up again I The balanced Librans may even find I as a blessing, whether in the form of a promotion, a new love or more money themselves extra emotional and feel I drained. A new project could come along I coming your way. A health condition will I and you may also find an answer to a long­ I improve too. Don't succumb to stress.

Bad times don't last forever: you'll soon I standing problem. Proceed cautiously and I learn the truth of this. only take on as much as you can handle.

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You only want to focus on work and your career goals so that you can have a better lifestyle right now. Singles are ready to mingle again after a heartbreak.

If in a relationship, you might move in together. A new business opportunity or partnership is predicted which will also bring in more money. Binge eating to deal with emotional turbulence will lead to other health issues. Focus on your goal and the challenges you face will make the result worthwhile.

I I I I I I I I I You are besieged by self-doubt and I obstacles caused by others, your love life or a run of bad luck. If meeting I someone new, make sure they are I not married. An accident or medical I problem could occur for someone close to you. There could be a loss of mental I peace at work due to disagreements.

I Though you may feel a lack, you do have adequate finances and more will come.

I What is not right for you will have to be I let go of.

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I The always practical Aquarians are I not as dreamy as presumed; and now the focus is on financial security and I productive efforts. You look for success in I every sphere of your life. Logistics could I affect a new relationship. A chance to make money through sale of property I or a business will come your way. A I health condition should not be ignored.

A new job could also be on the anvil.

I Your obstacles are rooted in your own I insecurities. Forge ahead regardless.

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A long-held idea could be realised and you turn more spiritual this month as you let the universe guide your life. You are undecided about a relationship whether to commit or hold back. You may be considering a new job or a line of business. Money that is due to you will come in. Don't be impulsive while making important decisions. You need to let go of the past and break out of selfimposed restrictions if you really want to change your life.

AUGUST 2021 37

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 1 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

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B o rd e r closures ... . of a d ifferent kind DEAR AUNTYJI In 2015 I wrote to you with my sad story about meeting the most beautiful girl while at the India-Pakistan World Cup match. It turned out that the girl was Pakistani. Your advice to me was that the geographical barrier was arbitrary. and we had the same colour blood and that I should pursue this dillagi. So based on your advice I did. Seven years later, we are very much in love. and we are both completing our medical training to become cardiologists. But the trouble is this. I am very from a very high ranking military family in India with political connections. and by a strange twist of fate, so is her family. in Pakistan. We are also living in a shared house with two other roommates - and the four of us have the best time ever. Neither of our families know about our secret - because I am certain they won't allow this union. We are desperate to marry, but not sure how to overcome this challenge. We avoid being on social media but with only a few random photos on Facebook. we easily pass for gore Jog. My family thinks Heena is a memsahib and because I have blue eyes and brown hair Heena·s family thinks I am a random Australian. Please tell me how we can solve this particular insurmountable problem - I have had seven years of bliss and would love to marry the love of my life.

AUNTY JI SAYS

Hey Ram! Wala haul walakuwat - what have I just read? l You bewakuf Majnu, you bud tehzeeb deshdrohi - do you even know what you have done? My heart

is beating so fast that I can barely think. You jahil, I should have suspected you of kaminapun from the moment you wrote to me in 2015. because what kind of a shaitaan ka chamcha g oes to a cricket match where Virat is playing and instead of watching the cricket. eyes the girls in the spectators? You are going straight to jahannum for this insanity - and what's worse is that you lied to me by omitting key facts about the situation. So. both of you belong to high-ranking military families. Let me reiterate that. High-ranking military families. Do you know what high-ranking military people do? They make world-changing decisions. Haven't

you grown up on all the stories about skirmishes and incidents that happen from isolated moments that nearly always have escalated into catastrophic situations for the two countries? Don't you remember as recent as 2019 when the entire planet was watching to see if there was going to be a war between the two nations? Do you and your beloved want to be the cause of the next major world event? Here you are. both studying the heart when you both should have chosen to study the brain instead - because both of you need to take a moment to reflect on why you have taken such a high-risk high-likelihood situation and have made dosti with it.

Even a Bollywood blockbuster could not capture the tension of this situation.

Ok, now that I have done my daatna. my verbal pitai of you. let me give you some advice.

It is love which makes the world go round - and you two have demonstrated that deep and abiding love is what triumphs - not this rivalry for our brothers across the border. It's been decades since our judai. and seriously, someone needs to show the world a living example of how to be, and how to show that love is better than aggression. So what to do about your military families who will probably not be in favour of this match? Well, you can just continue to live together and resist all demands by your families to get married. Eventually they will give up and leave you alone and you can continue your happy existence. Alternatively. you can just get married and then let your families know - it'll be too late for them to do anything.

And preferably tell them after you have had your first child - because which Nani and Dadi are going to remain unhappy when there is a precious laadla in the picture. haan?

Kitne shaitaan ho, choosing a girl from a conflict zone to be your beloved. But good for you - you show these politicians that it's the heart that rules. Ultimately. you will start the trend of marrying people from across the border. You are such a badass, but good for you. You have my ashirward. Don't forget I have naming rights on your firstborn.

lndianlinkAustralia

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38 AUGUST 2021

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