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PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CRAIG KELLY MP

l=�d�rral lVt�r1 � �w i?@t lH�tgJrn@$ IL�a d �t lU t1 ���ed. /i\l10�tu d l i a l"' a trt.y 6th April 2022 My fellow Australians Liberal and Labor have given Australia one Trillion Dollars of debt ($1,000,000,000,000) (a million million)

At the Government's proposed rate of repayment, it will take Australians 250 years to repay the debt.

A Trillion Dollars of debt will increase home loan rates to 4% in 2 years and to over 6°/o in 3 years.

At 4%, over 60% of Australians will default on their mortgages and will lose their homes, and at 6% or more over 80% of Australians will lose their homes.

The real estate market will then collapse and foreign buyers will flood our real estate market as they will have the money to buy up our properties.

We have to stop Australians from losing their homes!

A maximum of 3% interest on Home Loans

The United Australia Party will introduce a maximum interest rate for all home loans of 3% per annum for the next 5 years to save Australian homeownership.

My treasurer, Clive Palmer, has a wealth of business experience and the ability to save Australia. The Liberal and Labor finance teams just don't know what to do and they are keeping you in the dark.

Repayment of National Debt

Both Liberal and Labor fail to address the Trillion Dollars of National Debt, but not the United Australia Party.

We plan to address it head-on and save your family from its impact.

Australia supplies over 80% of all Iron Ore to the Asian manufacturing market, where tens of trillions of dollars are invested in manufacturing in China, Japan, Korea and the rest of Asia.

Asia achieves its position in world trade by using Australian Iron Ore. Asian economies and industry have no alternative.

In the 1960s, Australia had an export license on the export of Iron Ore. The United Australia Party will introduce a 15% export license on the export of all Australian Iron Ore. The export license receipts will be isolated for the sole purpose of repaying our National Debt which will relieve every Australian from that burden and set up our future. So Australia can be all it can be without the financial destruction the Labor and Liberal parties have imposed on our country.

Bring Australian Super Home

Australia has over One Trillion Dollars of Super invested overseas. Just like when John Curtin in World War 2 brought the troops back to save Australia, the United Australia Party will bring back a Trillion Dollars of Australian Super back to Australia, to save Australia.

To save your home and Australia, I need you to vote 1, for your United Australia Party candidate for your electorate, in the House of Representatives and for the United Australia Party Senate team.

We can save Australia and your home.

God bless Australia.

Craig Kelly Leader United Australia Party Authorised by: Craig Kelly, Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Canberra ACT 2600

UAP1 3469E4E

APRIL 2022 5

SPECIAL FEATURES INDIA-02

Re-evaluating educational qualifications from India

BOOKS

The military response in climate emergencies

ACCOLADES

Volunteer of the Year Jaya Manchikanti

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• FAMILY LIFE

Talking to kids about race

ARTS

Gurvinder Kaur: Art for activism

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by Uniting

6 APRIL 2022

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PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra CONTRIBUTORS Rhea L Nath, Bageshri Savyasachi, Natasha Jha Bhaskar, Dipen Rugani Jyothsna Rao, Neha Jain, Dhanya Samuel, Sandip Hor, Gopika Sambantham, Minal Khona, Auntyji SALES AND MARKETING Charu Vij ADMN Harmeet Kaur 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:

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

EDITORIAL

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oa 1 10n or a or: Who would be better for India?

BY PAWAN LUTHRA he 2022 budget, described by analysts and politicians alike, was an election budget.

Cash sweeteners were handed out to al1nost all sections of the public to entice the1n to vote for the ruling party. The war in Ukraine, linked with disruptions in global supply chains and the f:low-on effects of large government payouts during the last 24 1nonths of the pandemic, has led to higher cost of living, with fuel costs and daily living expenses going up. Sugar hits such as the $250 once-off payments and higher tax rebates will be welcomed by all, and PM Morrison is hoping that these financial 1neasures will be appreciated in the voting booths.

Financial management and international relations are the t\VO pillars that the Liberal-National Coalition is banking on to get them re-elected in Elections 2022. While strong economic management has always been perceived as their strength, international diplomacy will be another area of vote harnessing

in an increasingly polarised world. Both parties will want to position themselves to be better able to defend Australia and safeguard Australians.

India will increasingly come into the discussion. Firstly, whichever political party can show its closeness with India, will help influence the strength of an ever-increasing Indian-Australian vote.

With a potential vote bank of over 400,000 Indian voters, a large number of then1 in marginal seats such as Parramatta and Reid, these voters are well connected to their country of origin and would like to see a closer bond between these two nations.

The sign-off on the Australia-India Economic Commercial and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) has added to the Coalition's international credentials rhetoric. A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India has been likened to the Holy Grail of all FTAs - difficult to grasp.

No less then three Australian Prime Ministers have taken office since the FTA was first mooted, and only now has it come to fruition in a mutually beneficial form.

If there is a change of governn,ent in Canberra, it will be important for the Labor Party to take this relationship further. The Labor Party has not had

a strong track record with India other than the tiJne when former PM Julia Gillard convinced the party caucus in 2011 to sell uranium to India. The only two Labor Prime Ministers who connected with India were Hawke and Gillard. Of particular failure in building a closer relationship with India was Paul Keating who as PM all but ignored India. Worse still, this was at a ti1ne in the early 1990s when India was opening up its international trade and foreign investment opportunities. Labor's closeness to China, especially under former PM Rudd, has also been well­ documented.

But over recent years, China's stance on a number of issues has aggravated the Australian public and the Labor Party will tread carefully in their relationship there. Should they win government, their focus could be in pushing forward in the India-Australia space, perhaps with fresh ideas to reinvigorate the relationship.

Either way, both parties will work hard to close the gap between the two countries: the Coalition can build on its credentials of the last eight years; the Labor Party can bring fresh ideas to the table given the new directions that are opening up.

FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM Vote [I] United Australia Party Vote [I] United Australia Party Authorised by: Clive Palmer, United Australia Party, Level 17,240 Queen Street, Brisbane 4000

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APRIL 2022 7

YOUR SAY

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COMING TO AUS WITH INDIAN QUALIFICATIONS

RHEA L NATH reported on the new taskforce established to re-evaluate Indian qualifications in Aust.

Kalyan Ram wrote: What about degrees in Arts subjects from India, and degrees in Marketing and other similar subjects - hope these degrees from recognised universities in India would also be treated similarly. Presume any system proposed would at the least be based initially on select Indian universities and technical and technology institutes.

Veronica Rosario wrote: When I came to Australia in 1994 and got my educational qualifications assessed, they granted me an equivalent degree for Bachelor of Commerce but did not recognise my diploma in teaching (ranked #1 from Sophia College in Mumbai) at all, even though I had taught at a very prestigious school in Mumbai for 5 years. In fact, no credit was given at all, and I would have had to do a 2-year full-time degree to be able to get a job as a teacher and not a teacher's aide.

S Bhatia wrote: I was an All-India 49th ranked chartered accountant when I arrived in Australia in 1997. They assessed my degree as equivalent to a BCom. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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GAPS IN MIGRANT HEALTH

High COVID-19 death rate in migrant communities was reported in a recent report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. BAGESHRI SAWASACHI spoke to experts for their opinion.

Esther Morrison wrote: Whether you were born overseas or born in Australia makes no difference when it comes to health. It is a load of crock to say that people coming from other countries have poor access to health care and hygiene. Everyone has equal access to medical care, the hygiene depends on the individual. If there were more deaths from Covid of people who came from overseas it is because they are the larger% Australians. And don't go off on me as I have come here from India.

Reddit user purple green girl wrote: Australia should prioritize the wellbeing of all Australians, not just migrants. People also need to take personal responsibility for their own life choices. If you choose to move to a new country, you will get the most benefit by learning the language and how the country works so you can then access services and supports.

Dr Nisha Khot wrote: Great article. Well done for highlighting the issues that migrants face when trying to access healthcare.

Patricia Turnbull wrote: Before you arrive, you are supposed to have a clean bill of health, illegals don't apparently so they are obviously a strain on our already fragile health system.

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WHAT DRIVES SHALAILAH MEDHORA

On International Women's Day last month, RHEA L NATH spoke with Triple J's political affairs reporter Shalaifah Medhora about women, women of colour, and women of colour in journalism.

Jimmy Medhora wrote: I wonder how she managed to find the time to do an • • • • interview while nursing her five-week-old baby.

Professional, as always .

• • • • TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT RACE Arnaz Bana wrote: Very impressive!

• • • • • • • Tracy W wrote: Loved this piece - sending it to my child's primary school Pheroza Daruwalla wrote: So interesting.

Loved the photos too.

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Cyrus Madon wrote: Proud of your achievements and success, Shalailah.

••• ••• •• • Tony Sutherland wrote: Kids don't generally 'see' colour. If they ask, say, Yasmin Toddywalla wrote: That's awesome!

Liked her in the red sari and •• •• "People come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes people's families came • tika as well. God bless.

•• • • •• •• Dolly Shahlori wrote: Balancing a 5-week-old baby with work is so from places where most of their friends and family looked more the same."

•• • That's it! Enough! Average child is already bored and just wants to return to impressive. Happy women's day.

•• •• •• •• Brenda Billimoria wrote: A rare breed of young women empowering their previous activity.

• •• • Zahra A wrote: A very good conversation starter, and allows one to self-reflect.

• • own to rise up from traditional roles!

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SAY IT AGAIN

8 APRIL 2022

I will not let anything get in the way of trips to India to go shopping at Fab India. Especially not an Australia-India FTA threatening me with affordable Fab India imports Dr Erin Watson, Academic

... another secretive trade agreement, negotiated without any oversight, without any meaningful consultation with unions or other civil society stakeholders.

Michele O'Neil, ACTU President

There has been a tendency, here and elsewhere, to take India for granted; but under PM Modi, a very good friend of Australia, India is rapidly developing its latent potential. This deal helps to add an economic dimension to the Quad.

Tony Abbott, Former PM of Australia

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THE KASHM I R FILES' IN NZ

New Zealand's censor board briefly put the release of this Hindi film on hold after concerns were raised it would cause communal unrest.

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Shanti Raman wrote: We need similar response in Oz! Yash ShaTal wrote: Colonisers have no right to interfere as colonialism itself is based on hypocrisy in each genocide of colonisation. Hollywood can make countless movies on the Jewish Holocaust or 9/11 without outcry and censorship because their movies are based on true events, and because the mass population viewing it understands that there is no hate targeted against any communities responsible for the Holocaust. But when Bollywood creates a film based on India's reality, the true history of the Kashmiri Hindu Pandit Genocide, why are people causing outrage and suppressing this factual movie from exposing Kashmir's history to the world? What makes New Zealand any more special than Australia, UK US, Canada etc where capacity is houseful in the cinemas as people are paying tribute to The Kashmir Files on the big screen, tickets all selling out because India finally has one film which portrays the real Hindu genocide. The only people offended by this film would be those in terrorist organisations. Why empathise with anyone who supports terrorism?

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WHERE IN OZ

As part of 'Australia's largest outdoor gallery', these metal statuettes live permanently in a desert expanse. Where in Australia?

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OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

Last month, a child's rant against puttu (a South Indian rice dish) had India's social media buzzing. Turns out, nine-year-old Nilaa Sampathkumar of Melbourne had some equally strong opinions of her own... this time about broccoli!

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ShobanaV wrote: My son agrees with Nilaa.

Bhuvana G wrote: Exactly my child's attitude.

Prlsha Chakraborty wrote: Nilaa has a career in writing or media/ communications waiting for her.

Adam D'Sena wrote: Wish I could see the teacher's comment on that assignment.

Mayank Mishra wrote: Nilaa, I agree that you don't always have listen to adults. Be an independent thinker and find out for yourself.

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I absolutely despite vegetables they're so disgusting and chewsy. Green vegetables like broccoli, spinach and celary are the worst! The only good vegetable Is a carrot because they're so fresh and crunchy. The worst of vegetable Is... broccoli! Its so chewy, flavourless, and, and, and there ·s no words to describe it that's how broccoli tastes/ & The second worst vegetable is... tomato! Who likes those watery, red vegetables? Grown ups! They make us kids who are perfectly healthy eat them because they say Its good for you and Ifyou say no they'll say but scientists say they are so healthy and it will help you grow! But here's my advice DON'T LISTEN TO THEM/

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WHERE IN INDIA

These giant squirrels boast all-natural multicoloured coats. Where in India will you find them?

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• • •• •• • u • •• •• • Q_ Reader Anu Shree provided the right answer: Lake Ballard near Menzies in • •• •• •• Western Australia's Goldfields. This is award-winning artist Antony Gormley's •• •• •• •• •• •• creation called Inside Australia. There are 51 statuettes in total, spread over Reader Anu Shree had the right answer: the Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa •• • •• • • • roughly 10 square kilometres of the Lake's surface. lndica), known locally as shekru, is the state animal of Maharashtra .

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#lndiaAustraliaFTA is useful but no one is saying #India can replace #China as a trading partner. According to #DFAT's White Paper, in 2017 the rise in China's purchasing power to 2030 will grow by more than the rise in US, Japan India & Indonesia combined. Size Matters Tim Harcourt, Economist

The signing of ECTA with Australia would prove to be a big game changer for India's exports and manufacturing competitiveness.

Getting zero duty access on almost 97percent of value of India's exports immediately is a remarkable gain for Indian industry.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CH)

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Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan during a press conference about the signing of the trade agreement with India, Melbourne, 2 April, 2022.

(Photo AP)

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The historic Australia-India trade deal lndAus ECTA is one of a raft of measures signifying new geo-economic and strategic a m bitions

By Dipen Rughani and Natasha Jha Bhaskar

OVERVIEW

Australia and India have finally broken their ten-year jinx of negotiating a bilateral trade agree,nent.

On 2 April, as ,nany parts of India marked Gudi Padwa, the traditional new year festival, the two nations signed off on an interim trade agreen1ent, called India Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreen1ent (IndAus ECTA), with the conunittnent to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of this year.

The deal is a categorical reflection of Australia's ambition to build an engaging economic relationship with the world's fastest growing economy, and nurtu1·e a new understanding of the opportunities that India offers. China is no longer Australia's best trading 'friend', and COVID-19 has spared none. For naysayers, the signing of the trade deal is also a lesson in 'strategic patience' and 'opportune tin1ing', a statement on the convergence of aspirations for the relationship, and new geo-economic and strategic ambitions.

With federal elections just a few weeks away, PM Morrison has with this deal 10 APRIL 2022

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affirmed his governn1ent's commitment to build Australia's economic resilience and security by focusing on the need for economic diversification. IndAus ECTA will allow tariffs to be elin1inated on more than 85 per cent of Australian goods exports to India (valued at more than $12.6 billion a year), and 96 per cent of Indian goods imports entering Australia. Australia's

goal is to lift India into its top three export markets by 2035, and to make India the third largest destination in Asia for outward Australian investment.

PAST AND PRESENT

Since the elevation of Australia-India bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2020, the engagement

on both sides has an1plified across multiple platforms and sectors, clearly focused on building tangible co111n1itments and actions, to embrace a win-win partnership. If 2020 was about CSP, 2021 was about bringing pace and energy, and solidifying the bilateral economic engagement through numerous announcements and engagements, and 2022 is already proving itself to be scripting a new and committed engagement narrative .

There has been a holistic approach to build the Australia-India bilateral story.

At the political level, this is evident in the announcen1ent of annual summits at the level of the Heads of Government, making Australia only the third country with which India will hold such an institutionalised review of relations.

At the econo,nic level, the release of the Updated India Economic Strategy to 2035, which chalks out a post-COVID bilateral economic engagement road map, will focus on investment to strengthen linkages with India's key policy, finance institutions and enhanced business engagement.

At the diaspora level, the release of Australia's Indian Diaspora report, a national asset description, focuses on

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a better understanding of the Indian diaspora's reach into the bilateral economic relationship and integrating the Indian diaspora as co1npelling change 111akers in overall ties. The Diaspora is a living bridge between nations, with a natural advantage of language skills, cultural understanding and transnational networks that can be brought to use in a meaningful way.

Australia's investinent of over $280 million in initiatives will drive deeper economic and cultural ties, including "green steel" partnership, critical 111.inerals, innovation and technology, space investinent and a new Centre for Australia-India Relations, along with proactive Ministerial engagetnents, MoUs and com1nitn1ent to finding shared values and partnerships that meet 1nutual needs.

Australia and India have also launched the Australia India Infrastructure Forum, to promote two-way investinent in infrastructure and support broader trade and investn1ent bilateral objectives. Both countries have also decided to focus on manufacture and deployment of ultra-low-cost solar and green hydrogen technologies, as part of the low emissions technology partnership. Over 90% of solar cells globally use Australian technology. India in the next 10 years will be one of the largest adopters of solar technology in the world and Australian and Indian innovators have significant potential to work together in this area. The focus is to have a wider economic and strategic growth strategy and access that is inclusive, respects the rule of law be it with the QUAD in specific, the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative or the ludo­ Pacific region as a whole.

Overall, the focus has been to keep

the Australia story thriving in India, and the lndia story thriving in Australia on a consistent basis in public memory, involving a holistic 111ulti-stakeholder strategy and approach that deepens understanding and appreciation of each other.

The 'New Normal' diplomacy narrative between Australia and India is aware that it must be entrepreneurial, creative, and be led by a nuanced understanding of dynamic factors like consun1erism, capability, and capacity.

REFLECTIONS

India has set itself a target to achieve 5 per cent share in world merchandise exports and 7 per cent in services exports by 2025. IndAus ECTA will facilitate market-seeking approach of both countries, assist in building brand India and brand Australia in respective n1arkets and develop business confidence. It will bring India to the centre of Corporate Australia's business aspirations and connect Australian corporates to the New India growth story, along with witnessing tariff reductions on traded goods.

The twin impact of geopolitical tensions and COVID-19 has exposed the weakness of the Australian trading economy. lndAus ECTA is likely to secu1·e new growth opportunities to support long-term secw·ity for the Australian economy.

The past 1 8 months in bilateral ties have been exciting and actioned packed, perhaps more so than ever before. The constant shuttle between gloom and doom of COVID and the ambitions of government to maximise options and opportunities for producers, tnanufacturers and industry

sectors has been an interesting lesson in how tough times can become a lever for new .. . pronus1ng gains.

The goal for professional consulting firms (such as Newland Global Group) is of simplifying and strengthening trade and investment ties between Australia and India.

The journey may have been arduous, but it has definitely transitioned today from 'Why India' to 'How to in India' - an educated withdrawal from treating India as an option to engaging with it as an informed choice.

However, it is important to note that in any trade deal, governments can open the door, but it is up to business to find the courage to walk tluough it and strategise and capitalise on existing opportunities. The governments have delivered. Will business follow?

As renowned business strategist and author Ram Bijapurkar aptly writes in her book We Are Like That Only " lndia needs to be understood on its own terms. It will always march to its own tune. Let's ask ourselves the right questions, deal with diversity, design for digital media, ride the youth boom, understand urban markets, understand rural India, learn from countries and companies who got it right, learn from startups and micro-entrepreneurs! It is not just about consumption or how much money people have. l t is about their aspirations, pain points and the larger community context. India is where the future will be made. Let's get it right."

Dipen Rughani is the Founder and CEO, and Natasha /ha Bhaskar General Manager, of Newland Global Group, a Sydneybased Australian corporate advisory firrn specializing in the Australia-India space.

APRIL 2022 11

SCIENCE

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Years of work in developing athematical m del of infectious diseases came usefu l in describing the workings of COVI D-19 vaccines BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI hile it is known that COVlD-19 vaccines grant a high degree of protection against the SARS­ CoV-2 virus, the factor that detennines the efficacy or effectiveness of these vaccines has stu1nped scientists and researchers.

Queensland University researcher Dr Pranesh Pad1nanabhan along with co!Jaborators Prof Narendra Dixit (Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru) and Dr Rajat Desikan (Certara, UK) have been developing mathematical 111odels of infectious diseases to understand the underlying n1echanisms and optimise treatn1ents for more than a decade.

"This experience allowed us to develop a model describing the workings of COVID-19 vaccines swiftly," Dr Padmanabhan told Indian Link.

The team analysed over 80 different antibodies generated against the surface spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVlD-19. " Based on this analysis, we developed a model to predict vaccine-induced antibody responses i11 vaccinated individuals," he said. "We then extended the 1nodel to predict how vaccine-induced antibody responses control the dyna1nics of infections in infected individuals. This allowed us to predict the protection conferred by eight approved COVID-19 vaccines in clinical trials."

In the past, the task of predicting vaccine efficacy proved too taxing because vaccines induce diverse sets of antibodies within and across individuals, and each antibody has a different capacity to control virus growth in the body.

"This diversity of antibody responses was a

indianlink.co.au 12 APRIL 2022

Mathematical biologist Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan ofthe University of Queensland

The new model quantitatively captures the reported efficacies of eight major COVID-19 vaccines and generates quantitative links between the vaccine­ induced antibody responses and the resulting protection against infection. challenge to quantify," Dr Padmanabhan said.

The new n1odel quantitatively captures the reported efficacies of eight major COVl D -19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Astrazeneca, Sputnik V, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson, CoronoVac, Covaxin), and more importantly, generates

/lndianlinkAustralia

quantitative links between the vaccine­ induced antibody responses and the resulting protection against infection.

Dr Padmanabhan says this should help expedite future vaccine development and optimize vaccination strategies.

"We started this work because it can have

@indian link

a huge health impact," he added.

What's the next step?

"Our model is designed to predict vaccine efficacies against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain,"Dr Padmanabhan described. "It turns out in addition to antibody response, the other arn1s of our imn1une system, such as T ce!J response, may be at play to determine the vaccine efficacies against the new SARS­ CoV-2 variants.The immediate next step will be to expand the framework to incorporate key immune responses necessary for the protection against new variants."

The n1athematical biologist is interested in understanding mechanisms underlying several infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. Lately, he's been focusing on COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease.

"There are currently no disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease," he revealed. "By combining computational mode!Jing, advanced imaging, and biological experimentations, l aim to improve ou1· understanding of Alzheimer's disease and help develop new treatments".

Dr Padmanabhan is from Coin1batore and received his PhD at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.

"It is a fantastic institute to start one's career," he mused.

He was the recipient of a three-year University of Queensland fellowship which brought him to Australia in 2015, and allowed him to join the Queensland Brain lnstitute.

He started his career as a chemical engineer. Over the years, he developed an interest in using mathematics to understand biological systems and what might go wrong in disease conditions. "l realised that technological advancements have created a unique opportunity to identify mathematical principles, or even laws, of biological systems. I am quite excited to find out if there are universal laws of biology," he said.

/lndianlinkAustralia www.indianlink.com.au

APRIL 2022 13

H E A LT H

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Experts comment on the gaps in preventative healthca re for people born overseas BY BAGESHRI SAVYASACHI

he COYlD-19 mortality report released recently by the Aust:raUan Bureau of Statistics has revealed a dark disparity in the country's healthcare. The report, which recorded 2,639 deaths until 31 Jan this year, found that the COVID death rate was three ti1nes higher in people born overseas than people who were born in Australia.

The report raises deep concerns considering nearly half ( 49%) of all Australians were either born overseas or had at least one parent who was born overseas, according to the 2016 Census.

Melbourne's Dr Nisha Khot, an obstetrician working at Royal Women's Hospital and Western Health, told Indian Link she was aware of increased rates of COVJD infection in migrants in her everyday experience but was shocked by the

disparities in mortality rates among ethnic minority comn1unities.

"The infections also tended to be more severe in these con11nunities," she noted.

"Data fron, overseas (UK and USA) also showed these striking differences between infection rates based on race and ethnicity.''

She mentioned that people fron1 minority co1nmunities are more likely to have poor health because of poor access to healthcare and poor preventative healthcare.

"The number of GPs per 1000 population in areas with higher 1ninority ethnic populations is tnuch lo\ver than in non­ minority populated areas. "[People fron1 minority con1munities] are more likely to have obesity, hypertension, diabetes which puts then1 at higher risk of severe infection."

She explained that health is determined by a number of factors such as good quality heaJthy food, stable and safe housing without overcrowding, preventative messages that are cuJturally appropriate, access to secure employ1nent, access to GPs and specialist heaJthcare.

''It saddened me to see that despite having the information on these disparities and time to prepare for mitigation, we still did not achieve comparable outcomes for ethnic minority communities."

Dr Nisha Khot, Board director for RANZCOG and the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria 14 APRIL 2022

"It saddened me to see that despite having the information on these disparities and time to prepare for mitigation, we still did not achieve comparable outcomes for ethnic minority communities," the Board director for RANZCOG and the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria, said.

In fact, the report showed that people with a country of birth in the Middle East (about 5% of the overseas-born population) had a COVID death rate which was 10 times higher than those born in Australia.

Dr Devaki Monani, lecturer in social work at Charles Darwin University, said she was not surprised by the findings in the ABS COVID mortality report. Her research into the report explains that for most migrants, irrespective of their ethnicity, economic participation in the workforce takes priority over well-being.

"This means their health is often neglected. Additionally, navigating the health care system is also problematic; public hospital wait times are enormous, and often people from migrant communities are time poor and tend to place their health on a back

burner," she said.

She added that the pandemic demonstrated a stark reality of time-poor working-class migrants such as security guards, aged care workers, nursing hon1e workers.

"They were time-poor, unlike mainstream middle class who were afforded opportunities of working from home etc, due to the nature of their jobs. This meant that migrants have to mostly choose between going to the hospital or heading to work."

It has become increasingly clear that Australia is dependent on a migrant workforce, and Dr Monani, an expert in comparative social policy, stressed the importance of early intervention around health literacy for migrants and the wider population.

"It is now imperative more than ever to prioritise 1Ttigrant well-being and en1bed these aspects as part of their workplace.

Workplaces of frontline workers need to prioritise health and well-being opportunities for migrants," she said.

It has been widely reported that the reason so many from migrant and n1ulticultural communities have contracted COVID and died is because of living in crowded and cramped conditions in densely populated areas.

"However, this brings us back to the broader conversation about housing affordability in Australia. If Australia will continue to depend on a n1igrant workforce, then the liveability, health and well-being options for migrants also need to be considered in the overall workforce planning. A healthy migrant workforce will contribute toward a healthy nation," Dr Monani said.

What about the government's multicultural messaging of COVID related information towards ethnic minority communities? Did that have an impact on the prevention of infections?

"While translations are tricky, the vast majority of skilled migrants have medium levels of English if not high," Dr Monani said. "Translations are in one way offloading the broader problen1 of engagement to deeming it to being an English language situation, whilst it is a little n1ore complicated."

"Here, bringing Government in the discourse is one side of the story. There is a broader problem around giving resources to multicultural services to manage the delivery of key messaging, rather than allocating that job to interpreters.

"We need to acknowledge that broadly really no one was prepared for COVID-19.

In this post-COVID era, we have a chance to make a difference in shaping the engagen1ent around the multicultural context."

''If Australia will continue to depend on a migrant workforce, then the liveability, health and well-being options for migrants also need to be considered in the overall workforce planning."

Dr Devaki Monani, Charles Darwin University www.indianlink.com.au

From Chris Minns and your NSW Labor MP's We wish you and your family ajoyful and prosperous Vaisakhi

Chris Minns MP

Prue Car MP

Steve Kamper MP

Stephen Bali MP

NSW Labor Leader Member for Kogarah

Member for Londonderry NSW Labor Deputy Leader

Member for Rockdale, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism

Jason Vat-sen Li MP

Julia Finn MP

Hugh McDermott MP

Edmond Atalla MP

P 9637 1656

P 9756 4766

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P 95879684

Member for Strathfield P 9747 1711

P 9833 1122

Member tor Granville

P 9597 1414

Member for Prospect

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Member for Mount Druitt

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Greg Warren MP

Sophie Cotsis MP

Shaoquett Moselmane MLC

Guy Zangari MP

P 4625 3344

P 9718 1234

P 9230 2526

P 9726 9323

Member for Campbelltown

Member for Canterbury

Member of the Legislative Council

Member for Fairfield

Authorised by Chri s Minns, Prue Car, Steve Kamper, Stephen Bali,Julia Finn,Jason Yat-sen Li, Hugh McDermott, Edmond Atalla, Greg Warren.SophieCotsis, Shaoquett Moselmane, and Guy Zangari. Funded usmg Parliamentary Enti tlements.

APRIL 2022 15

NSIO

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.

16 APRIL 2022

www.indianllnk.com.au

I N O IA-OZ

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It's about time, say migra nts who have spent considera ble time and resources on requalifying procedures

BY RHEA L NATH ver the years, tnany new migrants to Australia have faced a common problem: their hard-earned degrees haven't always been recognised by the Australian education syste1n, leaving them to start afresh in a new country.

A new taskforce by the Governments of India and Australia ai1us to develop updated qualifications recognition arrange1uents to address this issue. It was announced in late March by Prime MiJ,isters Scott Morrison and Narendra Modi, in a virtual meeting.

"The taskforce will determine the most appropriate process to strengthen the recognition of Australian and Indian qualifications, with a focus on enhancing participation in higher education and, where feasible, access to general employment, for both countries," a spokesperson for the Department of Education, Skills and En1ploy1nent told Indian Link.

"The work of the taskforce will 1·eflect international qualifications recognition best principles which seek to n1axin1ise outco1nes for the recognition of an individual's qualifications where possible."

Intended to be implemented iJ1 2023, the taskforce will report by the end of the year.

This has left n1any to speculate the fields of study this could impact.

Details awaited

Last year, the Sydney Institute for Cominunity Languages Education (SICLE) at the University of Sydney was the fil·st of its kind to provide a bridging course for overseas-trained teachers, helping 2,000 professionals to become accredited in Australian schools. But new migrants trained in other fields contiJ1ue to face hurdles in starting their careers.

Ran1neek Madahar, a Sydney-based migration agent, is cautiously optin1istic of the announcen1ent.

"There could be significant implications of these changes. Mobility of Indians to Australia could become easier and quicker, making this a good step forward," he stated. "However, I don't expect tlus to flow through directly to medical and dental qualifications. There's a far n1ore rigorous process into assessing those qualifications."

Typically, migrants with medical backgrounds have a tough time building their career in Australia. They shell out thousands of dollars to retrain, undertake exams, and gain practical experience towards local certifications.

Speaking to the ABC TV program The Drum, Pawan Luthra of Indian Link looked at the n1ove through a broader lens, bringiJ1g

in "changing geopolitical situations".

In Light of the possible drying up of an education market in China, the pivot to India, another major source of international students and professionals, was but natural, he said.

of seven people who passed. ln fact, Dr Sikka Bhatnagar adds, many migrant couples to Australia have had to sacrifice at least one of their careers to be able to afford these massive costs. For many women, retraining has come in the Time and resources to way of fanuly planning. requallfy "You don't get loans for 29-year-old Mehak Sikka Bhatnagar, these kinds of things. It an experienced dental surgeon from takes a lot of patience and India, estin,ates that she's paid financial support. Even if around $25,000 so far to retrain here you're the best dentist, it's in Sydney. a hard journey if you're "I can1e in 2018 and found that not financially sound," she my overseas experience wasn't recognised anywhere. I needed local warned. training on my CV and started work In Australia, n,any organisations turn to the as a dental assistant in 2019," she Country Education Profiles explained.

(CEP) as an information "The hours were overwheln,ing and there was a lot of pressure. l tool to support Australian really felt like any knowledge gap in recognition authorities practices between Australia and India assessing overseas qualifications. When could've been covered by someone asked, the Department simply talking us through it, but it of Education, Skills and wasn't made available to us."

In India, she had been among Employment stated the dozens of volunteer specialists on taskforce wiU work beyond the Lifeline Express (Jeevan Rekha this.

A spokesperson explained, Express), a seven-coach train that acts "The work of the taskforce as a rolling hospital to serve people India-trained dentist Mehok Sikka Bhatnagar in rural areas with poor access to goes well beyond this scope practices on her home set-up for the final hurdle in her healthcare. As the lead medical officer requalification process, which has already taken three as it will establish a process on the train, she earned valuable to improve outcomes for years and cost $25,000 the recognition of both practical skills over the years by Australian and Indian qualifications, interacting with patients on a daily basis. sighed. "Now I've created a home set up including where recognition settings in This important philanthropic work, operating that cost a1·ound $ lSk, just to be able since 1991, has been widely covered by both to practice." (She's invested in a dental Australia and India can be made more international and Indian media. simulation unit intended for practical con1plementary, to enhance two-way higher In Australia, however, Dr Sikka training purposes from One Dental, also the education mobility."

Bhatnagar had to start from scratch. This major supplier of many teaching institutions May, she will finally be undertaking the Last and examination bodies like the Australian Mixed feedback Dental Council.) step in a three-prong process to register With few details available so far on the with the Dental Boa1·d of Australia. It's "lt's a huge financial drain to keep giving taskforce, feedback on the announcement a practical examiJ1ation that il1cludes a has been nuxed on social n1edia. Many these exams, especially if you're unable to language element to address commurucation pass in the first attempt. A lot of people remain sceptical of the move and its barriers, a common complaint by naysayers drop out because they can't afford it." impact on Australian employment, with of Indian qualifications.

Ahead of her first written exam last year, one user citing widespread "cronyism and there were new guidelines and changes to "Unfortunately, because of the pandemic corruption" in India. and in being an assistant, I haven't worked the question pattern. From a batch of 200 "Would you trust a medical degree issued on a patient for aln1ost three years," she in India the same as one conferred in Oz, people in her coaching classes, she was one UK, EU or USA?" Another asked, "Is it right to align with the standards of other cow1tries so we come across as a better trading partner?"

Others, especially those who have faced these struggles firsthand, see it as a step in the right direction.

One Twitter user noted, "In the 80s my mother did a postgraduate diploma at Uni of Tasmania to get her Indian Bachelor's degree recogrused in Australia so she could work as a librarian. This was very disruptive for our family in Darwin so my brother and I were sent to Live with relatives in India for Mehok comes with extensive experience in India a year."

APRIL 2022 17

H O Li

''We must call out those that think they or their religion is better than everyone else's. We must call out those who take away our right to be."

NSWMinister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure with guests

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Rev Bill Crews AM

The fundamental message of the Festival of Colours H ali is brought forth at an interfaith celebration in Sydney BY

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA he fundamental rnessage of the Festival of Colours - of amity and goodwill - was brought forth in a rare interfaith Holi celebration in Sydney recently.

Have you noticed how at the end of a round of I-Ioli festivities with gulal (coloured powder), we begin to match each other in skin colour?

Our new colour at Holi is not brown or black or white, but an amalgam of hues.

The gulal rubs off on others as we e111brace to say 'Happy Holi', and as we look at each other smeared in colour, we cannot but help laugh at the absurdity of it all.

The differences in skin colour obliterated, other differences diminish too, and the result is an overall increase in bonhomie.

These are the real takeaways from Holi: acceptance and inclusivity, peace and harrnony, values of which we need ample booster shots, given the polarised world in which we find ourselves currently.

Organised by four like-minded platfonns The Humanism Project, Hindus 4 Human Rights Australia and NZ, NRI Affairs, and Indian Crescent Society of Australia ICSOA, the event attracted people from various faith and political backgrounds.

"Green, red and blue have aH come together," Nathan Haggarty of Liverpool Council remarked as he gestured towards the politicians in the front row.

Before him, David Shoebridge, Greens member of the NSW Legislative Council spoke passionately about the need for greater understanding between cultures, religions, and languages. "We cannot progress cross-cultural issues in Australia till we acknowledge the major dispossession and crin1es against First Nations people," he added.

He also spoke about the looming threat

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of lslamophobia in India spilling over to the diaspora. Abbas Raza AJvi of ICSOA recalled his memories of an interfaith Holi in India. "I never thought of Holi as a Hindu festival. We would call on our neighbours, greet them with an embrace, play some Holi and share sweetmeats. And they would do the exact same at Eid." He also detailed the festivities at the Dewa Sharif shrine at Barabanki town in UP, which marks the Festival of Colour annually.

The tomb, a fusion of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, is in memory of the Sufi saint Haji Waris Ali Shah ( 1809-1905) whose best-known teaching remains /o Rab hai wahi Ram hai ('Hindu and Muslim god is but one').

Echoing a similar sentiment, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said, "The essence of multiculturalism is a spirit of inclusiveness. It benefits us all as we participate in each others' cultures. On Holl, l wish you aH vibrant fresh beginnings."

'Fresh beginnings' is a term that is meaningful in many ways. Charishma Kaliyanda, Liverpool Councillor, touched on this as she brought up an oft-forgotten significance of Holi. "Holi is also a festival of forgiveness. It is a time to bury bridges, overcome chaHenges, and build sympathy and understanding."

An important Holi lesson is to let bygones be bygones as we embrace and have a laugh together. It is a time to start anew with old acquaintances, and a time to make new ones.

Earlier, Dr Shanti Raman of Hindus 4 Human Rights set the tone for the event with her Sanskrit invocation to Mother Earth, of who we are all equal children: Oh Mother Earth, salutations to you. Please forgive the touch ofmy feet on Earth, which is your holy body.

Rabbi Sacha spoke of the role of diversity in society, calling the multiple groups present on the occasion "to build a better Sydney."

Another Jewish representative Jess Harrison from Sydney Alliance, spoke of the recently concluded Jewish festival of Purim, marked somewhat like Holi with feasting and merrymaking, exchanging of gifts of food, and street parades with masks and costumes.

Many cultures around the world have a festival of "letting go" like H.oli that include boisterous festivities such as the throwing of flour or water at each other.

"I'd love you all to join us at our next celebration of Purim," l-Iarrison told the meeting. Rev Bill Crews AM, one of our nation's 100 "National Living Treasures", had the audience in thrall as he brought up the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The dance interlude performed by kids just before he spoke, reminded him of the footage of Ukrainian kids affected by the military aggression. He said, "We must call out those that think they or their religion is better than everyone else's.

We must caH out those who take away our right to be."

It was a wonderful encore to Nathan Haggarty's statement earlier: "We must caH out that which divides us, and celebrate that which brings us together. Because there is much more that binds us than divides us."

USYD student Shani Patel, providing a youth perspective on what Holi means in contemporary Australia, was a welcome addition: the youth element is too often missing in community celebrations. Shani spoke of how she rejected her "brown roots" to identify with her peers. "Yet it was at celebrations like Holi that the real me emerged. The Radha Krishna aspect particularly appealed to n1y queerness."

The messages on the occasion, which had "strength with humanity" according to another attendee former NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon, helped make it a different - and wonderfully reflective - Holi.

www.indianlink.com.au

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APRIL 2022 19

C L I M AT E E M E R G E N CY

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Flooded scenes in Usmore, NSW, March 30, 2022.

(Photo AP)

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A new book by Syd ney's --1AJO GENERAL MARDEEP BHA DWAJ, PhD (Retd) considers how to optimise global military responses to disasters.

BY RHEA L NATH he Australian Defence Force has had a busy few years on the ho1ne front, stepping in to assist after the Black Su,nmer bushfu-es, helping with pandemic relief efforts, and more recently, helping in the clean-up after floods devastated parts of Australia's east coast in the last two 1nonths.

Still, concerns continue to be raised as to the timeliness and effectiveness of the response in coordination with other agencies in the event of disasters. In early March, NSW Pre1nier Dominic Perrotett conceded that the emergency flood response 20 APRIL 2022

had not been good enough after hund1·eds of people were left without food, water, and fuel, and many were stranded on rooftops awaiting evacuation. By 14 March, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) commissioner was forced to comment on a controversial decision to reject ADF aid on two separate occasions, days before the deadly flooding began.

There are now more than 3,000 ADF personnel and assets on-ground in northern NSW to assist with flood relief, as of 30 March.

It's evident that governments call on the military to help with crises, but as many have been recently wondering, how optimal is the response? A new book by a Sydney­ based retu-ed Indian Army General aims to tackle these questions head-on.

Major General Amardeep Bhardwaj, PhD (Retd) explained,"Throughout history,

militaries around the world have been at the forefront in responding to disasters; saving lives, bringing succour and dispensing aid.

The Military is a country's biggest resource, with better logistics, manpower, and guts than any other agency, to tackle disasters.

Considering that most militaries are often not engaged in warfighting, there is vast scope for them to play a bigger, more meaningful, role in disaster response."

Many Indians are familiar with the military's long history of providing aid in the time of crises, outlined in the Disaster Management Act passed in 2005. Here in Australia, though, it isn't quite as straightforward. ADF involvement in disaster response can be traced back as far as the Hobart Fires in 1967, but as the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements recently noted after the 2019-2020 bushfires, there's a lack of

understanding about the role, capacity, and capability of the ADF in relation to natural disasters.

1n the last few weeks, n1any of us have seen images of flood-relief efforts on the ground, including ADF personnel clearing personal belongings from waterlogged homes. The author points out that instances like this, when given adequate coverage in the 1nedia, catch the people's attention, raising pertinent questions about the efficiency and timeliness of the disaster response.

"When I saw the graphics of soldiers in Lismore, helping to carry items like clothes and mattresses out of houses, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the best way to employ the military," he said. ''That is why I favour a 'competency-based approach' in assigning tasks to various agencies, including the military, in disaster operations. My book

www.indianlink.com.au

''When not engaged in their primary role of war­ fighting, there is tremendous scope for (the military) to accrue much higher 'peace­ dividends' in serving humanity."

R E S PONSE Major GeneralAmardeep Bhardwaj (Retd)

posits proper role definition, task assignment, training, equipping and organising a military - and this applies to all nulitaries in the world - for more efficient disaster response."

In Disaster Management: Optiinising The Global Military Response, published by Partridge Publishers, a Penguin-Random House Company, readers can expect to find well-sequenced chapters, each focussing on one major aspect of the military's role in Disaster Manage1nent. A review of the latest disaster trends, how to leverage technology, and wisdon1 drawn from the United Nations as well as other countries, add completeness and flavour to the book.

"There's need for a systemic review and, if needed, an overhaul rather than knee-jerk reactions during crises," elaborates General Amardeep. "The hidden truth is that militaries are not optimally trained, equipped, organised or mandated to undertake such specialised humanitarian tasks. They are, in fact, optimised for co1nbat. But when not engaged in their primary role of war-fighting, there is tremendous scope for then1 to accrue much higher 'peace-dividends' in serving hun1anity."

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The book combines Major General Bha1·dwaj's 40 years of professional

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ADF andAirForce personnel clean up after flooding in Bexhi/1 near Usmore

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experience in the n1ilitary, including disaster/ emergency operations, their planning, policymaking and advocacy,and over a decade of focused research in the field.

His career in the military began immediately after leaving school as a 17-year­ old when he joined training at the National Defence Academy (NOA) in Pune for three years, followed by a year at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.

"Early in my career, I was placed in an Emergency Management Committee," he recalled. "When I inquired about what that meant, I was told that it's a pre-constituted team in the army to be ready and provide assistance towards disasters and emergencies."

Fast forward a few years and he found himself among an emergency response teamflying Ml-17 helicopters into fierce weather conditions in the Himalayan heights of Himachal Pradesh, where in July 2018, locals described "a 100-feet high wall of water" blasting through the BaspaRiver Valley at midnight, destroying everything in its path, especially the villages around Karcham.

"I still remember the terrible weather and how it was dangerous for any aircraft, even army helicopters, to be flying in. No one in their right mind would go into that storm, but we did," he said. "At the time, l'd turned to my superior and asked, 'how long will we need to be here?' He told me, without a moment's hesitation, 'as long as it takes."'

Over the years, he played a role in various disaster responses by the Indian Military, being involved in field operations as well as their management at higher headquarters.

He still recalls his experience with man­ made disasters, having served as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Angola in 1997.

"AIDS and other diseases were rampant while the warring factions fought ceaselessly with military weapons and laid extensive mines. Life expectancies were short, it was hard to find a local who could survive till 60 and have grey hair! It was a solemn reminder of how disasters, man-made or natural, can be devastating," he shared with Indian Link.

After this experience, he decided to supplement his practical knowledge from the field with a certificate in disaster management, becoming perhaps one of the fust Indian military officers to do so.

1n 2012, Major General Bhardwaj successfully defended his thesis on "Role of the Indian Military in Disaster Management" to earn his PhD in Defence Studies (specialising in Disaster Management) from Chaudhary Charan

Singh University, Meerut. His supervisor was Dr Harvir Sharma, an esteemed Indian scholar and perhaps the only D.Litt in the field.

"After n1y PhD, I began to wonder what is the case with other countries? I then started studying how the militaries of China, the United States, Australia, Japan and many others engaged in disaster response; also how various organs of the 'United Nations and so1ne of the global NGOs participated in disaster management.

Two realisations dawned; firstly, it seen1ed there were identical proble1ns in almost all militaries, and secondly, couldn't the solutions be the same or at least similar?"

Inspired to look into the issue on a global scale, the idea for his book took seed.

"This book is especially relevant to the military, para-military, civil-defence, police, and other emergency services, irrespective of country or nationality. It offers valuable insights for policy-n1akers, practitioners, students and stakeholders in the field of Disaster Management, all around the world," Major General Bhardwaj noted. (He adds that he has reached out to the of.fices of the Australian Federal Ministers for Defence as well as Emergency Management, National Recovery and Resilience, to contribute his insights buthas not received any response from them).

Advocating for climate action and sustainability

"We've tinkered with mother nature a bit too n1uch and now all of mankind's resources are falling woefully short. There's an ever-widening capability gap," the General observed. "Disaster trends are unambiguous that in future the frequency and ferocity of dfaasters will increase manifold. But governments around the world are going about business as usual.

Mankind's capabilities to cope with this growing threat need urgent and exponential upscaling. It is here that the idea to assign a bigger role to the world's 1nilitaries, in disaster response, can be a life -saver for planet earth."

As a scholar in disaster management, he's well-versed in the ways that n1an's actions, no matter how harmless, can go on to affect our natural surroundings.

"Ancient cultures of the world, including in India and Australia, have fantastic wisdom about the right way to interactwith and respect nature. I believe it's i1nportant to preserve this knowledge. One of the ways to go forward is, in fact to go backward to preserve and utilise this ancient wisdom," Maj Gen Bhardwaj stated.

APRIL 2022 21

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AC C O LA D ES

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Jaya Manchikanti wins Vic Premier's Vol u nteer of the Yea r award for 2021 BY

JYOTHSNA RAO elbourne's Jaya Manchikanti, founder of IndianCare, has won the Vic Premier's Volunteer of the Year award for 2021 for her selfless work supporting the growing Indian co1nmunity living in Victoria.

Jaya also won the Volunteering Leadership Award for her efforts in establishing IndianCare, a not-for-profit seeking to address the welfare needs of the diverse Indian and South Asian community in Victoria. lt has impacted the lives of more than 5000 Victorians to date.

As the Premier's Volunteer of the Year, Jaya receives the Dan1e Elisabeth Murdoch Award and a $10,000 donation to a not­ for-profit organisation of choice. The funds this year wi!J go to IndianCare.

"I am grateful to Volunteering Victoria and the Victorian govern1nent for these awards," Jaya told Indian Link. "I hope to use this platfonn to enable better outcomes for tnigrants and refugees. I also wish to bring greater attention to the good work of community service organisations, and increase collaborations, as I believe that will assist towards a n1ore sustainable future."

Jaya launched IndianCare in 2013.

Utilising a strengths-based comn1unity developn1ent approach, she has led

her team to address issues such as the prevention and early intervention of family violence, prevention of alcohol harm, support for South Asian international students, COVID-19 relief and re-building as well as the provision of an inforn1ation and referral helpline service.

IndianCare has now grown to become a respected agency that works co!Jaboratively with government and other agencies. The boa1·d, staff and the volunteers are of Indian heritage, and are a mix of first- and second-generation 1nigrants. They are professionally qualified, tertiary educated, have lived experience as migrants, speak 1 1 Indian languages and have the ability and experience to provide an empathetic and a culturally sensitive response for \Varro referrals to mainstream support services.

The tea1n has representation from the various professions seen in the Indian commu11ity, such as software developn1ent, law, account, health promotion, small business, social work and community develop1nent. They work in the growth

corridors of Melbourne in the South Eastern and Western suburbs, areas heavily populated with young families of Indian background. Notably, 35% of Australian Indian migrants choose to live in Melbourne, 51 % of Indian migrants are families with children. Our community is young (average age 31 years) - they need support post migration and we as the diaspora need to support them.

I myself met Jaya in 2018, when a friend invited me to the AGM of IndianCare. I had just moved from academic research into the community sector. Inspired by Jaya's President's speech then, the penny dropped about the urgent need for an organisation such as lndianCare in a community as diverse as ours, with many religions, languages, thinking and socio­ economic levels. I got on board soon after.

The IndianCare values of respect, honesty and compassion strive to unite and support without bias. These are the very values that make Jaya the woman she is, and they have become the essence of the

With its strengths-based community development approach, lndianCare has grown to become a respected agency that works collaboratively with government and other entities.

platforn1 she has founded.

Jaya is an inspiring leader who works quietly and tirelessly. She has taught me the ethos of comn1unity development, importance of active listening, and the value of patience in community engagement.

Many times, as I reflect on her advice and experience, I conclude that I have given my best for that moment in time.

For someone who never seeks the spotlight, this moment is truly hers.

Jaya moved to Australia as an 8-year-old in 1970, arriving in Melbourne with her parents and siblings. The family settled in Bendigo during the era of the White Australia Policy.

Currently, Jaya is a PhD candidate at Victoria University. Her topic of research is 'Exa1nining Australian third sector com1nunity develop1nent praxis in relation to progressing the Sustainable Development Goals'. She will particularly focus on women, COVI D -19 responses, and the marginalised/disadvantaged. This is a critical area needing attention.

Jaya notes, "More recognition is needed for community development in the Third Sector, and progression of the Sustainable Development Goals is needed. Both these issues of community development and sustainable development don't get enough attention in Australia."

Contact IndianCare on 1300 00 50 40, email help@indiancare.org.au, or visit their website www.indiancare.org.au

APRIL 2022 23

A D V E RT I S E M E N T

Pramukh Swami Maharai: Tra nsformer of Lives Butterflies have a beauty that draws us to understand youth and liberated countless What for many years had seemed look and admire. To become a butterfly, youths from the harrowing issues of life. impossible happened by the association the caterpillar must undergo internal of a pious saint like Pramukh Swami change. A caterpillar gorges on food to Mohanbhai Patel, a devotee from Bolton Maharaj. Mohanbhai said that after giving facilitate this. Similarly, to facilitate our in England, used to smoke 80 cigarettes up his addictions he began to experience inner transformation, we require food in and drink 16 pints of beer a day. In 1994, true inner peace. the form of true knowledge. We get this in Ashton, England, Mohanbhai came into from a person who is perfect in mind and contact with Pramukh Swami Maharaj for Jayesh Kedariya, a BAPS devotee in Surat, the very first time when he was invited by India approached his cousin brother heart. a friend to attend the murti-pratishtha Anand, who was addicted to alcohol.

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj ceremony at the BAPS mandir. Pramukh The addiction was ruining Anand's life.

(1921-2016), Bhagwan Swaminarayan's Swami Maharaj learnt about Mohanbhai's After a lengthy chat to persuade him, fifth spiritual successor had the ability chain smoking and beer drinking habits, Jayesh offered prayers for Anand to to transform people in this way. A rare and encouraged him to give up these vices. Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Pramukh soul who always lived for others and He lovingly blessed, "God will give you Swami Maharaj. Anand observed all this. simultaneously remained totally absorbed strength to give up these addictions." He Some months passed, but his cousin had in God. He had a unique aptitude to firmly decided to give up his addictions. still not given up his addiction. Several times, Jayesh wrote to Pramukh Swami Maharaj for blessings that his cousin gives up his addiction to alcohol. Each time, Swamishri replied with words of blessings and encouragement.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj counseling a youth

Eventually, after many months of persistent effort by Jayesh, Anand gave up his addiction, and this had a knock-on effect. Anand's wife was very pleased. She and other women were inspired to make efforts to free their village of alcohol. They achieved resounding success! In turn, women from over 50 other nearby villages were inspired to free their villages of rampant alcohol addiction.

A Great Teacher augurated Akshardham in Delhi, I found Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a distin­ a teacher in Pramukh Swamiji. A great guished Indian aerospace scientist who teacher. That day I decided I must write a served as the President of India from 2002 book with my friend Arun Tiwari. It's not a to 2007. Dr. Kalam and Pramukh Swami book. It's a tribute. To a great leader."

Maharaj first met on 30 June 2001 in New In 2015, when Dr. Kalam made the jour­ Delhi, India forming a lasting friendship ney from Delhi to Sarangpur to present and spiritual rapport. Thereafter, they met the book, he was 84 years old. Dr. Kalam in person or by phone on numerous occa. presented the first copy of Transcendence s1ons. to Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Sarangpur on 20 June 2015, their last personal meet­ ing. While presenting the book, Dr. Kalam said, ''You are a great teacher. I learnt to remove I, remove mine. That's a great les­ son I have learnt. I learnt from you."

Pramukh Swami Maharaj said, "To rise above I and mine is only possible by God's grace. It is the best principle by which to remain happy in life."

Transformation is achieved by seeking the refuge of a great teacher, for only then do his compassion and words affect us and Pramukh Swami Maharaj Spiritual Head ofBAPS (1971 - 2016) help us to change. Such changes benefit not just the individual, but also their fam­ the present spiritual successor of Bhag­ wan Swaminarayan continues that legacy. ily and friends.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalani meeting Through his association people have been Pramukh Swa,ni Maharaj This year marks Pramukh Swami Ma­ These interactions left a deep impression transformed to experience inner peace. on Dr. Kalam. He was touched by Pra­ haraj's centennial birth celebration year; May we transform from a caterpillar into mukh Swami Maharaj's profound spiritu­ therefore, we aim to pay a tribute to his a butterfly so that we may fly high in the ality and divinity. Explaining the reason centennial birth celebration year, through sky of spiritual joy and bring joy to others. for writing his book, 'Transcendence: My this article series.

To learn more about Pramukh Swami Ma­ Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swa­ Just like Pramukh Swami Maharaj, today, haraj's life and work, please visit: miji,' Dr. Kalam said, "On the day I in- His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, www.pramukhswami. org

24 APRIL 2022

www.indianlink.com.au

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Talking to kids u nder -five a bout race

BY NEHA JAIN ast month Australia celebrated I-larmony Week. Whether you marked Harmony Day on 21 March, or International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, you were celebrating diversity and stressing the importance of incl.usivity and belonging in all settings.

Have you ever had your child ask you, "Why does my skin look different to yours?"

Or "Why is n1y skin this coloul'?"

Have they issued statements like "I don't want to play with this person because of how they look/sound?"

And have you felt completely stumped when hearing these questions/statements?

Then you might want to read on to learn how to deal with these situations.

BE RESPONSIVE BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE

Young children are naturally curious and observant. Fro1n a young age, they are able to notice sin1ilarities and differences between themselves and others. When they con1pare their skin colour or talk about others' skin colour, it comes from a place of fascination, and is really very innocent. They are simply describing what they are seeing.

So if a child asks about differences in skin colour, simply respond with "That's right!

Well done for noticing that X looks different

to you. That's a great observation," instead of silence or embarrassment that they have asked you these questions.

The way you respond to their questions NOW will set the tone for future discussions about race and cultural diversity.

MAKE IT RELATABLE

Apart from keeping it simple while talking about race, it's also itnportant to make it relatable to your child when they ask you questions and talk about what they have observed. An example would be "Mu1nma, why is n1y skin different to yours?" and you could respond with "Everyone's skin is different. Look at you1· skin, and Nani's skin, it's different too. Look at our hair and eye colour, is it different or is it the same?

Whatever it is, different or the same, it's all amazing."

Relating it to their own surroundings and people around them will make it easier for them to connect to this.

EXPOSE YOUR CHILD TO THE DIFFERENT RACES AND CULTURES IN THE WORLD This would naturally occur when they are in childcare/preschool/playgroups etc. Apart

from that, cultivate a diverse library of books. Read story books with your kids that have main characters from different parts of the world. Surround them with pictures or artwork featuring people of various races and cultures.

Do the same with toys. Buy dolls/toy people that represent people of different ethnicities - these are readily available in shops and sites online.

1 bought a coloured crayon box from Kmart recently that allows you to explore colours and find different shades to match skin colours. I've found this to be very useful as a conversation starter or simply for observation with my child.

All of these will help your child understand that their environment includes people of different races and cultul'es.

DoN·T OVERREACT

As paTents, our natural tendency when children talk about race or differences amongst each other can be to overreact, panic, or freak out.

Reacting like this then makes it seem that the topic of diversity is taboo, and your child will pick up on this.

Did you know that a child aged 0-5

The way you respond to their questions NOW will set the tone for future discussions about race and cultural diversity.

has not attached any emotional or social meaning or value to skin colour as yet?

So stick to facts and don't overdo it.

You could say something like "Y's skin is different to yours, but is just as beautiful."

If your child con1ments that X's skin or Y's hair is different to their own, acknowledge the fact, and bring out other behavioural aspects such as "X is so funny; she made me laugh when she said ... " or that "Y sang so well today."

In the rare instance that your child n1akes a negative racial comn1ent, it usually reflects something that they've either heard in the media, at school or at home. Find out the origin of your child's comment, and take it to the source.

BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL

Kids do as we do, not as we say. As parents we n1ust model acceptance and inclusivity through our own friends' circle, our TV habits, or the books or magazines we read. Let your kids see you interact socially with people of different racial/ethnic groups. Also, model calfu1g people by their names versus referring to them by their skin colour, so that their identity is not reduced to their skin colour.

I hope these tips have shown how you can make these conversations into teachable moments with your child. Acknowledge the differences that your child has noticed to prepare them to live in a multiethnic society in Australia. Let the underlying 1nessage be that your ethnicity is part of who you are, and whilst we have differences, we really do have more similarities.

APRIL 2022 25

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Mel bourne-based Gurvinder Kau r is using art to raise awareness about mental hea lth, intersectional feminism, and cultural norms BY RHEA L NATH longside completing her master's degree ii, counselling, 1nultimedia artist Gurvinder Kaur has taken on another iinportant project ii1 the last few years: helping young South Asian Australians feel comfortable, even confident, in their brown skin.

Her Instagran, art page Artsy Brown Lady, as the title suggests, is a celebration of our rich skin colour.

"I've had n1any fa1nilies talk to n1e about their children developing a sense of hatred towards their own skin," the family peer worker at Headspace told lndian Link.

"There's a real identity crisis in looking so different from thefr classmates, and I wanted to help then1 through that with art."

Armed with her acrylics, Procreate tablet, and her in1agination, Gurvinder's art ai1ns to provoke a response.

On International Wotnen's Day recently, she paid tribute to painter Amsita Sher-Gil, one of the greatest Indian-origin avant­ garde women artists of the last century and a controversial figure in her own right.

"Her work touched many controversial topics like nudity and the resignation an Indian wo1nan faces, and she led an unapologetic life where she was open about her sexuality and identified as bisexual in 1930s India!" the caption read.

"An icon and truly a lady who forged the 26 APRIL 2022

pathway for us future women. I'm sure she fought 111any battles with just the tip of that brush."

Gurvinder added, "I know that people will follow my page if I have aesthetically pleasing artwork, but l believe art is more than that. It's personal a11d yes, sometimes it can offend people. That's why I subscribe to the term 'artivism' which combines activism and art."

Perhaps her most 'offensive' pieces come fro1n her unabashedly tongue-rn-cheek series titled 'Besharan, Betis' ("Sban1eless Daughters"). Teasing older family members who frown at tattoos, poking fun at aunties who don't like gfrls who driiik or smoke, 'Besbaram Betis' is likely to strike a chord with most millennial women.

According to Gurvrnder, it's the culmination of a lifetime of tiny but exasperating occurrences.

"Shortly after we moved to Australia in 2015, there was an incident when 1ny sister uploaded a picture in a bikini and faced a lot of slut shaming from the aunties back bon1e in Delhi," she recalled.

"They were callrng our parents, sayrng things like 'you've lost control of your daughters'. Eventually, it reached a breaking point and I sent them a picture of myself in a bikini too!"

Another piece is inspired from her teen years. " I was 15 years old, wearing an outfit that exposed my navel, and one aunty tried to shame me by saying, 'we were never allowed to show our stomach'," Gurvinder elaborated. "So, I created a piece of a lady

holding her mug of chai, proudly showing off her navel without a care in the world."

Through her art, the 29-year-old is a fierce advocate of intersectional feminism.

It's a critical concept, coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989, that recognises a person's social and political identities are a combination of numerous modes of discrimination and privilege. "lntersectional feminism recognises that you can't choose between race, gender, sexuality, and other social identities. You're a combination of all of them. For example, white women may face discrrntlnation in a male-dominated workplace but it's important to acknowledge that women of colour in the same workplace have it tougher."

Raised in a household with two sisters, Gurvinder wants to amplify the message of feminism and shatter any false notions that it somehow equals man hating.

"It's about equal rights and respect. My mother-in-law was a homemaker and my mother worked, and both are respectable choices. There's no right or wrong way to raise a family," she pointed out.

Gurvinder Kaur

Another crucial discussion that Artsy Brown Lady hopes to inspire is one of mental health in Australia's migrant community. Based on her own experiences at f-Jeadspace, GurviJ1der notes that n1any parents still struggle with misconceptions around the topic.

"I've noticed that parents are grieving in their own way, because they think their children are somehow less perfect due to any mental health conditions. But the fact is that it's not an illness and there are many resources and facilities here in Australia to ease their journey, co1npared to back ho1ne."

She added, "Some migrant parents see behaviours like the inability to get out of bed or go to school as disrespectful, after the sacrifices they've made to bring their children here. We work with these families to help shed such stig1na for a more empathetic approach."

The beauty of social media has meant that Gurvinder's message has been atnplified to audiences around the world, rncluding the diaspora in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and back home in India.

"I've had people tell me bow my art, as a South Asian artist for young people, is valuable to the community. It's feedback like that keeps me going," Gurvinder smiled.

"But the best feedback of all has come from young kids. My younger cousins love my artwork, and based on Instagram analytics, I see that my art is most shared by 12- to 25-year-olds. It's an amazing feeling to know my work bas moved them in some way. I hope it empowers them to talk about things they'd otherwise be afraid to voice out loud."

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O U T D O O RS

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Outdoor renovation tips when you move i nto a house with an existing garden BY

yard. Everything co-exists in nature; if you eradicate one element, you will end up with issues with another. As long they are not life-threatening, leave the fauna be. You will never know the magic they can weave to protect the plants in your yard, to your benefit in the long run.

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GOPIKA S uying a new ho1ne is a proud 1non1ent for all of us, and moving in can be an exciting time for the fanilly. With a new home, though, con1e new challenges. All ow· needs n1ay not be fully 1net, and we 1night decide to launch into renovations, whether large and hrunediate, or s1nall and phased out. Whatever yow· priority, this article will help you to understand your outdoor space, and offer suggestions on how to 111aximize its effectiveness as you begin to transform it to your taste.

Neighborhood plant watch

Soil conditions

When it comes to the garden, it is not the plants that need imn1ediate attention, but your soil. Depending on the previous owner, you either have good soil in your yard, or soil that is not so good.

To understand the soil, do a quick PH test with the kits available at your nursery or garden shop. Decide how to improve the soil if required, and then get onto the job of planning which plants you want to add or remove fro1n your garden.

Existing plant varietiesr their health and pest issue

■ Observe in your yard which plants look

great, which look good, and which look

28 APRIL 2022

not so good.

■ Find out the species of the plants using various apps available.

■ Before you decide to pull out certain plants, wait at least a year to see bow they look different in every season.

■ If soil is not good, plants are not going to be healthy so focus on improving soil with organic compost, and fertilizers like chicken and cow manure.

■ With the right planting, pest issue should be mininlal; if not, take action.

sun exposure, water, and nutritious soil.

■ Observe your yard during various times of the day ■ Understand the orientation of your garden (i.e., north, north-east etc.)

■ Observe the movement of the sun and look at how it casts light in your garden.

■ Check if there is any existing irrigation set up.

■ Check if there is any drainage or erosion issue during heavy rainfall.

Shade and light

Along with plants observe the anin1als, birds and insects that arrive in or use your

Plants need three main ingredients to thrive:

Biodiversity

It is said that what thrives in most other gardens in your neighborhood will thrive in yours. Check out the plants on your street, and incorporate them in your garden. Plants are expensive to buy, so seek out cutth1gs from your neighborhood gardeners; they'll be more than happy to share. Check out your local council for free plant giveaways and ask the local nursery with plant selection.

If time is of constraint, engage professionals like a landscape designer or an architect or horticulturist to help you out with choosing the right plants.

Family needs

All family needs are different. List out what you need to add or re1nove when redesigning your yard. Some hardscapes require a substantial budget and council approval. Do your due diligence before you en1bark on the renovation work. Understand the level of maintenance and tin1e you can give to the garden in relation to other responsibilities.

Choose plants wisely and enjoy your time in your yard.

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STR EAM I N G RU K KYU N GAYE! APRIL 2022 29

T R AV E L

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- II

The health a n d wellbeing routines - which have their roots i n I ndia - a re but one of the attractive featu res of Byron Bay BY

''

SANDIP HOR

his is where the sun rises 61·st in Aush·alia," a passer­ by tells n1e as I stand, transfixed, gazing at the vastness of the ocean in front of me. Next to me on this lookout point, is a signpost that reads 'Most easterly point of the Australian mainland'.

J am in Byron Bay in NSW, one of the country's most sought-after holiday destinations.

S01ne people travel here solely to see the sunrise fron1 this particular podium, before anyone else in the country, but that's not the main drawcard of the destination.

The seafront location boasts of 1nany other

30 APRIL 2022

rewarding lures and assures something for everyone.

The area where today's Byron Bay sits belongs to the indigenous Bundjalung people. They call the place Cavanbah or 'meeting place'. Captain Jan1es Cook named it Cape Byron after the famous circumnavigator of the world John Byron who was the grandfather of poet Lord Byron.

Living up to its traditional reputation, the destination still re1nains a meeting place for people fro1n everywhere for a short, long or permanent stay. The first batch of outsiders were whalers. Then came the surfers, pulled by natural breaks of the rolling waves hitting the shoreline. Byron Bay then was nothing more than an isolated fishing village; perhaps it was the very isolation that enticed the hippies back in the seventies. Soon after, it drew notice of the nation's barons who moved in to enjoy the spectacular vista from

the balcony of their newly-built n1ulti-million dollar mansions and make Byron Bay one of Australia's most up-market residential areas.

Today the vibrant local community comprise of both the 'hippies' and the 'yuppies' which includes backpackers, holiday makers, musicians, artists and celebrities, the most famous being Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth. When in town he can be seen surfing, walking to the shops or dropping kids off to school.

He does so with ease, as locals don't bother thefr celebrity residents. It's a Byron custom to leave people on their own irrespective of what they do. That's a great feature of the place. Perhaps that's why the 'hippies' and the 'yuppies' still Live there happily, modest hostels stand not too far from five-star luxury resorts, and backpackers surf alongside wealthy entrepreneurs and celebrities not particularly knowing who they are.

The name Byron Bay is synonymous with wellness, though it's not a modern phenon1enon. According to Indigenous elders, the domain has been a sacred healing ground for tens of thousands of years. The air here was believed by them to be filled with a kind of charged energy that thrived from the lava of a partly eroded volcano that erupted 23 million years ago. The lava over time turned into magnetic rock on which the settlement of Byron Bay evolved.

Undoubtedly locals and visitors alike are seduced by its indefinable magical qualities.

People move here to have life-changing experiences. A good example is Karen, a French woman who arrived here from France almost two decades ago and then made Byron Bay her home. An author of several books, she currently lives at this spectacular seafront location pro1noting happiness and wellbeing through the practice of meditation, mindfulness and self-

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development.

In recent times, Byron Bay has become a magnet for anyone keen on combining wellness with vacation, or for having a holiday to recharge weary and urbanised mind, body and soul. The place is full of hubs offering regular 1neditation classes, yoga lessons, Ayurveda treatn1ents and other life-changing practices to lift one's spirit.

Even the various accon1modation outlets have wellness structured into their offering by providing yoga and meditation lessons, therapeutic treatn1ents, physical activities, and healthy diet options.

Most of these health and wellbeing routines have their roots in India. This inspired me to sense a flavour of 'lndianis1n' in the place: Bombay to Byron is the name of a popular Indian restaurant that appealed to n1e as a reflection of that.

Splendid nature displayed by the con1bo of a series of pristine beaches and surrounding lush green hinterland escalates

FACT FILE Getting There It's a 40-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport with direct flights from several Aussie cities, and 30-minute drive from Ballina airport with direct flights fron, Sydney. By road it's around 750km from Sydney and 160km from Brisbane.

the wellness factor of Byron Bay. While playing with sea and sand under the sun diverts the mind from everything else, walking through the serene and shady rainforest or taking a dip in a swimming hole at the bottom of a waterfall creates magical healing effects.

While the wellness part of the place is pretty hyped, its party-town reputation can't be ignored. Considering chilling out as another avenue for recharging batteries,

Accommodation Combining wellness, luxury, natural setting and comfort, Crystal brook Byron (www.crystalbrookcollection.com/ byron) is a good choice

many go there simply to have a good time.

To cater for this the township boasts of several vibrant cafes, restaurants and bars to welcome them, while local breweries and distilleries keep supplying the beer and the gin, both highly rated by connoisseurs.

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APRIL 2022 31

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

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•

What's on o u r screens this April I I I I

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I

I

KGF CHAPTER 2 (Theatre release)

This historical action drama in Kannada is set in the Kolar Gold Fields. At the centre of it is the character Raja Krishnappa Bairya, aka Rocky, an anti-villain of sorts.

Fighting for the impoverished and against injustice despite a criminal record, he is seen as saviour by many, but the government sees him as a threat to law and order. And of course there are plenty of enemies he has to contend with. Written and directed by Prashanth Neel, the film stars Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Srinidhi Shetty, Raveena Tandon and Prakash Raj. Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam versions are also available.

Scheduled for a 14 April release.

I I I I I I I RUNWAY 34 (Theatre release) I Ajay Devgn juggles three different roles here - lead actor, director and producer

I

I I I

- in this film inspired by true incidents. Amitabh Bachchan, Rakul Preet Singh, Angira Dhar and Aakanksha Singh star.The film's trailer has strong influences of Clint Eastwood's 2016 biographical drama Sully in which Tom Hanks played the character of Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. Runway 34 has an Eid release on 29 April. That's right, we don't have a Salman Khan release this Eid.

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

DASVI (Jio Cinema, Netflix) Abhishek Bachchan is back, this time in raw and rustic jaat avatar: an anpadh, corrupt a nd di/ se desi politician. As Chief Minister, he finds a new challenge while in prison: to become a 'dasvi pass'. Meanwhile his fiesty wife (Nimrat Kaur) gains a taste for her hubby's beloved kursi.

Yami Gautam also stars, as a dhaakad IPS officer.

Social comedy, they're calling it.

---------------------Lookout for a 7 April release.

BEAST (Theatre release)

This black comedy action­ thriller film in Tamil gives us insights into gold trafficking.

Thalapathy Vijay and Pooja Hegde star, alongside Aparna Das, Shine Tom Chacko and Yogi Babu.

Nelson Dilipkumar writes and directs. According to sources, a major portion of Beast takes place inside a shopping mall supposedly hijacked by terrorists. A giant shopping mall set was created by the filmmakers to look like a leading Chennai mall.

The Indian government sends its most ruthless mercenary to fight Russian troops. Can only happen in Bollywood, right? Well, um, it does, in Heropanti 2, starring up and coming action star Tiger Shroff. (Somewhat different, you can say, to the successful 2014 romantic action film Heropanti which saw Tiger in his debut role opposite Kriti Sanon.) Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Tara Sutaria also star in this high voltage tale of action. Plenty of interest already for Nawazuddin here in his role as maniacal villain.

Eid release for this too on 29 April.

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

attempts to revive his

I career, at age 36, for the I sake of his son. Jersey, 1

I I I I I I

�

COBALT BLUE (Netflix) Prateik Babbar plays an enigmatic stranger who takes up a paying guest room in a traditional Malayali family's house. Things get complicated when his charms appeal to both the son, a calm and collected youth played by Neeley Mehendale, and the daughter, a free-spirited sportsperson played by Anjali Sivaraman.

The ensuing events shatter the family. Cobalt Blue is based on a novel by Sachin Kundalkar, set in a Marathi family.

The film released on 2 April.

H EROPANTI 2 (Theatre release)

1 JERSEY I (Theatre release) I A cricket has-been

---------------------Beast releases on 13 April.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I i - - - -

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I

I I

starring Shahid Kapoor, is a remake of a Telugu film of the same name.

Shahid's dad Pankaj Kapur plays his coach and mentor. Directed

by Gowtham Tinnanuri, who also directed the original, this film has faced multiple COVIDrelated glitches for release.

Check It out now on 14 April.

- - - - - - _ _ ._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I FA EH (Theatre release) I Sonu Sood stars as the lead in this upcoming film I directed by Abhinandan Gupta.

The story, apparently inspired by real life events, I is described as "one man's war against India's I hidden enemy," and promises high-octane action sequences at its core.

I The film hits the screens on 8 April.

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

KAATHUVAAKULA RENDU KAADHAL (Theatre release) The Tamil language rom-com stars Vi jay Sethupathi as Rambo (short for Ranjankudi Anbarasu Murugesa Boopathy Ohoondhiran), who is having it off with two beautiful ladies Kanmani (Nayanthara) and Khatija (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) at the same time. He convinces them of a three-way relationship, and things go well - but not for long.

The film releases on 28 April.

- - - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GHANI (Theatre release) The Telugu language sports drama features Varun Tej in the role of a professional boxer. The film, written and directed by Kiran Korrapati, also stars Upendra, Suniel Shetty, and Saiee Manjrekar.

After multiple postponements Ghani will hit the screens on 8 April.

I I I I

I I I I I I

MISS RANU MARIA

Ranu Mondal became an overnight sensation when she was picked off a West Bengal railway station platform where she sat singing,and placed in Mumbai's thriving entertainment industry. A viral sensation, she got on to television talk shows, and even recorded for Bollywood musician Himesh Reshammiya. Miss Ranu Maria is her story. It stars Eshika Dey in the lead, directed by Bengali filmmaker Hrishikesh Mondal.

See the film starting 10 April.

APRIL 2022 33

FOOD

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Pipis a re usually cooked simply - but we spice things u p a bit here BY

DHANYA SAMUEL ipis are sn1all, edible saltwater clams that are ende111ic to Australia. They are also known as Coorong cockle or Goolwa pipi or kuti ('Ngarrindjeri name) in South Australia, and sometimes referred to as eugarie in some parts of Queensland.

The taste is quite sin1ilar to that of clan1s but slightly sweeter, hence any recipe that uses clams can be used to prepare pipis too.

Pipis are available for purchase at most seafood stores and markets. But the most in1portant thing to remember while buying pipis is to look for tl1e MSC blue fish tick.

This ensures that the pipis are certified sustainable and con1e from a fishery that has been assessed and adheres to the MSC Fisheries Standard.

much time cleaning tl1e pipis at home.

If you are buying from a fishn1onger, make sure to ask if the pipis have been purged i.e., stored in aerated saltwater to remove the grit and sand. lf not, then you must do the process yourself. Add 30gms salt/litre cold water (adjust based on the quantity of pipis you have) and place the pipis or clams inside for a few hours, preferably overnight.

Do not refrigerate as t11e pipis will close up the shells and not allow the sand and grit to purge out. Instead cover and place in a cool spot of the house.

Another important thing to remember is that it's best to discard the pipis that have not opened after cooking. Better to be safe than sorry!

The golden rule while cooking pipis is to keep it sin1ple - just a touch of flavour to let the pipis shine.

The classic way of enjoying pipis is with butter, garlic, a splash of white wine and plenty of parsley to finish off. But we spice tl1ings up a bit in this Taiwanese recipe, without

Taiwanese-style Pipis

• • •• • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • •• • • • • • • •• • •

INGREDIENTS

■ 1 kg pipis ■ 75ml Shao xing rice wine ■ 6gms fresh ginger; sliced thinly For the sauce

The most sustainable way to collect pipis are to collect by hand using rakes, a technique that has been referred to as 'pipi shuffle'. Thfa n1ethod keeps technology at bay and ensures that the species and its sun·ounding nature is protected.

Another advantage of buying fron1 a pre111iun1 brand is that the pipis are super fresh and clean of grit and sand, which is very common when buying from many seafood sellers. So, you don't have to waste

34 APRIL 2022

overpowering the sweetness of the pipis.

There are very few ingredients in use here, but t11e combination of fresh ginger, garlic, chillies and herbs works magic to elevate the flavour of the pipis. Fingerlick'n good!

And of course, don't forget some good quality bread on the side to mop up those juices. Perfect any time of the year but most enjoyable on warm sutnmer afternoons with a couple of chilled beers to accompany.

■ 60ml oyster sauce ■ 5gms raw sugar ■ ½ tsp freshly milled black pepper ■ 75ml pipis cooking liquid ■ 60gms spring onions (green part); finely chopped ■ 1 long red chilli (medium heat variety); finely chopped with seeds ■ 35gms fresh coriander (both stalks and leaves); finely chopped ■ 40gms garlic; finely chopped ■ 20ml sesame oil ■ 30ml vegetable oil ■ Salt, to season ■ Lemon wedges

METHOD

■ Heat a large saucepan and add the pipis, ginger and rice wine. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes and shake periodically.

Remove the pipis as they pop open (all the pipis will not pop open at the same time so keep removing as they do).

■ Remove the ginger slices and reserve 75 ml of the cooking liquid.

■ In a bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients together.

■ Heat vegetable and sesame oil in a large pan or wok. Add half of the chopped garlic and fry on low heat till golden brown and toasty (take care not to burn).

■ Then add the remaining chopped garlic along with the prepared sauce; bring to boil.

■ Add the cooked pi pis along with the rest of the ingredients and toss well to combine.

Season with salt only after tasting.

■ Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

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F O R ET E L L

April 2022

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.

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I I I I I E E I I I I I JU 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 Cancerians draw the card for Taurus I The card signifying Leo comes for I The impulsive and fiery Aries will be I The card for Scorpio appears which I the May and June born, which I so they may display a stubborn streak.

I moody and deliberate in their actions I could make Taureans more intense I as they pick the card representing the Letting go of a painful past is not as and secretive this month. They could implies they could enter into leadership I sign of Cancer. Work from home will I develop an interest in matters of the I roles. It is also a message that you I easy as you believed. An ex could make I I should go with your passion, I be your focus and it will be financially I occult, or even get attracted to a I a comeback. Your emotions could affect I I gainful. You could even be seeking a I Scorpio. Singles could meet someone I I especially if you are stuck in a I your work, leading to mistakes. You supportive lover. Some of you may be could have problems with your teeth interesting in their own neighbourhood. dead-end job. Let go of past I looking for a way out of an abusive I If looking to sell your home, expect I I attachments if you want to move to the I and gums. Finances need some fine I relationship. Unpleasant situations at I delays. Some of you might make or I I next level in your current relationship.

I tuning for future security. A new sense of purpose could help you improve your work or in your personal life will cease. receive a marriage proposal. If losing It may not happen immediately, but I you will be rewarded for your efforts I Don't compromise on your integrity.

I weight, see a doctor. Money and help I career prospects. A difficult situation will I I at work. Stick to your goals as life I Hold out for what you believe you truly I are yours for the asking. Family life I soon end - whether in your personal or I professional life.

I deserve.

I could be discordant.

1 I I improves on all fronts.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I � =...,....,'"""' - - ------=A��-cc-=E P 2�2� 1 '----�,,._ --T 22 .------=-=--L Y 2c--=1A�--=2 -= 2 -cc-� 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 A difficult month for some of you as August-born women could have some The finicky Virgos pick the card Troubles on all fronts could leave you I issues with their reproductive organs I representing Capricorn, which may have I depressed. Singles won't compromise I worldly and practical matters bog you I I or periods. Singles will not want any I them being more finicky than usual. Avoid I on their values just to be with someone.

I down; and with the devil card in reverse, I things don't quite go your way. A I entanglements post their last break-up.

I over-analysing your relationship, and just I There will be dilemmas within and outside I marriage may be on the rocks; if I Someone close maybe overly secretive be yourself. A friend could help you with after a decision has been taken. Lower I about their personal or professional life. I business prospects or introduce you to I expectations as others will disappoint. A I things break down, accept it as pre­ I I If business has been slow in the past, it I someone for a date. A relationship that I recurring health issue will need medicines I destined. Work too feels like a drag I because you don't see gains in the short will pick up momentum soon. Trust your is going through problems could possibly and supplements but may not get cured I intuition if you are going to make a big I end. Money may not come in as fast as I completely. Finances are stable. Think I term. Money could also be held up.

I I decision. A second career or a job offer I you like but things will improve. Stress I positive no matter how difficult your current I Don't take impulsive decisions as that I could make matters worse. Plan your I will improve your life on all counts. Trust I related health issues could crop up. Stop I situation may be. Bad times won't last and I work I and work your plan. the universe to realise your goals. trying too hard in any situation and let go. the tension will ease out eventually.

I I I I I - - - I 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 I - I I I 1 I I 1 .----- -=- =� -=-=,- -===-�---, f .---�F==-:-=---=--:-:- =-=,..,...,... -=- =,--� I I r-----,-,--:,-,--=-=-=---=""="=-=,-,------. 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 A good phase financially as you can I I Prepare for growth on the inside as I The card adds up to seven which implies I Singles could meet someone new I expect abundance though money I I the Chariot card guides you towards I introspection and spiritual growth. But I and there are high chances of a torrid the other aspects of the tower card can romance. You can expect an upswing in owed to you is still held up. Travel for maintaining a balance between your I work is indicated. Those in a relationship I I emotional and rational sides. Singles I also signal sudden accidents, problems, I your career. Spiritual matters interest I I will not be satisfied with what's on ofter I break-ups and loss. If your life is in I you and you will go deeper into seeking I might still feel distanced from their I partner. Avoid eating food you are I I as they look for a deeper relationship.

I upheaval mode, stay calm and pray I knowledge. Some of you may end an Property matters can get complicated. because it is pre-destined. Situations unhappy marriage or relationship. It will unsure of and be careful around I I If you have been living it up, take it easy I may be beyond your control so let go and I not be a sacrifice; it will be for the best. I your home. A new project leaves you I unsure as you don't have clarity on I I or your body will force you to. If you have I believe i n the higher powers. Income loss I You move towards a healthier lifestyle been giving more than you get in any is also predicted, but newer opportunities how to take it forward. If you can for yourself and your pets. The universe I sacrifice short-term gains, you will have I I situation - work or friends or lovers - you I could make up for it. New avenues will I is on your side in helping you attract I might just walk away.

I benefits in the long term.

I I open up after the storm.

I everything you need.

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APRIL 2022 35

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

-------------------------------Those Nusrat Fateh Ali Kham DEAR AUNTYJI My problem is so embarrassing that I am almost ashamed to bring it up Bahen. but I think you will be the only one who understands my plight. I am 55 years old. and am happily married to a wonderful. kind. thoughtful man. I really love my husband and I am certain he feels the same. Now Nick is English , because when I was young, I decided that I did not want to get married to an Indian man because I did not want a saas and all the traditional things that go with Indian families. In any case Auntyji, life is pretty good for me , except for that one little area. My husband is not romantic. Now most of the time, I am too busy living life to worry about this. But every now and again. when I decide that I will watch old Bollywood romantic songs , it's because I have a gap of romance in my life. I wish Nick would send me meaningful gazes. and tell me that I am the most beautiful wife in the world. and sometimes read me poetry. I have told him about the lack of romance. but nothing cha nges. Meanwhile. my cousins tell me how passionate and romantic their Indian husbands are. and I feel I have missed out.

And instead. when I listen to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sing Mere Rashke Oamar, I so wish Nick could sing this to me - or at least look at me meaningfully during the song while I blush like a teenager. How to solve

this problem, Auntyji?

AUNTYJI SAYS Desh drohi. What did you think was going to happen when you decided to join forces with the British and in doing so. allow those colonists to conquer us once again?

Didn't you learn anything from our history, gaddar aurat? Did the East India Company not once ring ding dong in your head when you decided that ol' blighty was where you were going to outsource your patidev? In exchanging a saas and Indian transitions for a gora, you brought all this on your own head. Goras and romance? I mean, how many British films have you seen where there is romance on an epic scale - like in Bollywood? In any case, my admonishing you is not going to help. I am really sorry that you missed out on all the romance of listening to a qawali and having your beloved exchange loving glances with you. So what to do? Romance yourself.

Organise to have flowers sent to yourself. along with Haighs chocolates. Then indulge in those chocolates and listen to qawalis. And pretend that a handsome Bollywood hero is courting you. It's not cheating if it's a person you don't know in real life who is invading your mind with wild thoughts. That's all you can do - just pretend Nick is Shahrukh or Salman and let your imagination go wild.

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

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COVID isharmony DEAR AUNTYJI My family is in a bit of a COVID kerfuffie and I am hoping you can help me. Three weeks ago. my husband decided to go to a music concert at a crowded pub in Newtown with 200 other people. He had the best time ever and he sang and danced like a whirling dervish.

Then. to no one's surprise. he got COVID two days later. My son and daughter-in-law are upset with him , because they think he was selfish and negligent. My husband. on the other hand. thinks that it's just bad luck - and when my son and DIL go to hairdressers or restaurants. they could have just as easily caught COVID. Now there is tension in my house. How do I reconcile my family so that harmony returns?

AUNTYJI SAYS OMG what a crazy situation. Let's look at the facts. Yes. it's true that it's bad luck that any of us can get COVID. We can get it from anywhere. and some people get it and others just don't. Where your husband's logic fails is that unlike a restaurant or a hairdresser. where the environment is controlled to a degree and you have fewer people.

a crowded pub in Newtown with 200 people means that statistically, you are almost certain to get COVID. It's a numbers game. So yes, your husband made a decision that was selfish - if you ran a risk matrix. the likelihood of catching COVID from that event would score as Highly Certain. What do you do with a risk that's Highly Certain?

You avoid it. Everyone knows that - because you can't transfer it or accept it without significant cost.

With that little bit of foresight your husband knew what was going to happen and he did it anyway.

But what's done is done. How do you get your selfish and foolish husband to make amends? Well. is he being intellectually fraudulent and claiming that it's bad luck he got COVID the same way it would be bad luck if a bird dropped something on his head as he walked down the street? Or is he saying bad luck but deep down he knows he did the wrong thing? I say as long as patidev is not taking any more chances. then only time is going to heal this breach of trust.

Here's hoping your husband is being remorseful and decides to lie low for a while.

►

36 APRIL 2022

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APRIL 2022 37

Celebrate Vaisakhi

while keeping our loved ones safe.

As we come together to celebrate the New Year, please remember to stay COVIDSafe.

That means meeting and greeting outside when possible, keeping homes well ventilated with windows and doors open, and getting tested if you have any symptoms.

Thank you for everything you've done to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our state.

Victoria is proud to be home to a strong, kind and compassionate Indian community and on behalf of our Government, we hope the New Year brings you and your family health and prosperity.

Dan Andrews Premier of Victoria

Ros Spence Minister for Multicultural Affairs

For up to date information go to coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translations Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

38 APRIL 2022

www.indianlink.com.au

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MELBOURNE EDITION