2022-07 Melbourne

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

CONTRIBUTORS

Rhea L Nath, Iqra Saeed, Vinaya Rai, Usha Ramanujam Arvind, Bhavya Pandey, Vishnu Makhijani, Ritam Mitra, Mohan Dhall, Dhanya Samuel, Petra O’Neill, Sandip Hor, 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:

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Email: info@indianlink.com.au

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

India, Russia, Australia and China

policies and agendas and will take a more pragmatic approach to their international relations.

BY PAWAN LU T HRA

There’s a question many IndianAustralians are being asked at the moment: why is India not condemning Russia for its invasion of an independent country, Ukraine?

With extensive media coverage of this aggression, including footage of peaceful neighbourhoods bombed and the sufferings of the Ukrainian people, why has India not joined most of the world in calling Russia out on its actions?

Do you not feel for the victims of this Russian-led bloodshed, we’re asked.

The answer is not that simple.

Most Indian-Australians do feel that this war is unjust, and no country has the right to invade a sovereign nation and put its people through the horrors of war.

But they’ve had to accept that nations will march to the tune of their own foreign

Russia and India have a long history of supporting each other on the global arena. Russia has backed India often in the United Nations on issues such as Kashmir, and India’s push to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Russia is also a source of cheap oil which a developing country like India needs for its burgeoning economy and growing middle class. It also supplies India with arms and other necessary technologies for its growing military needs, the need for which will only increase with a belligerent neighbour as China. The India-Russia relationship is steeped in history, having grown post Indian independence.

On the current issue of Ukraine, India will likely continue to sit on the sidelines and may make attempts to be a peacemaker. One does doubt, though, that Russia wants peace. Harsh sanctions against Russia will continue, with flow-on effects of higher fuel and gas prices to Europe and the rest of the world. This will

only lead to more polarity between the nations - with Russia, China, North Korea and Iran on one side, and the US-led nations on the other.

India has made its position clear from the very outset, as has China. It is to India’s credit that the vitriol against their stand has been surprisingly negligible. The Australian government is still pursuing its trade enhancement opportunities with India, looking to capitalise on India’s economic potential. And discussions continue at Quad meetings between India, US, Japan and Australia against the threats of an expansionist China (who, interestingly, is on the same side as India in its support of Russia.)

By all accords, Australia should be reading the riot act to India for its proMoscow stance and as global citizens, many of us continue to feel strongly about India’s inaction on this issue. But as said earlier, due to much larger geopolitical implications, it is something we will have to wrestle with when there are emerging economic and diplomatic opportunities for a fast-growing nation to benefit from.

IndianLink RADIO

YOUR SAY

An entire community opens its arms

A MUST-HAVE FOR YOUR FAMILY

Two young kids are left orphaned following the death of both their parents in a tragic car accident. RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA and RHEA L NATH spoke to the community that have stepped up in their care.

Shalini Giridhar wrote: Your article left me with mixed feelings. On one hand was the tragedy of it all, two beautiful children orphaned at such an early age. But my heart soared reading about the way the community has rallied to help. Being a young mum myself, I know it is impossible to replace the love of their mother and father but seeing how the community has poured out their love, I feel the children are in loving hands. I also want to thank the government of cials involved, both Indian and Australian, for their sensible approach when this could have got bogged down in red tape. Best wishes to the two children for their future.

Yashpal Singla wrote: This article highlights the importance of ensuring our wills are in place, especially for us as migrants in this country. We are lucky to be living in a society governed by good laws and processes. Dealing with issues that arise following a death can be problematic, so we must ensure there is certainty in all our affairs, especially if young children are involved. If both parents die due to an unfortunate situation, consideration needs to be given as to where the children will live, and who will take care of them. As parents, we know our children the best, so we must put provisions in place in case of any problems. Go see a lawyer and get your wills up to date.

Divij Gupta wrote: I just read this, and being a new migrant, do not know what I need to do to get my will in place. I have a will in India and am not sure whether that will be valid in Australia, or do I need a new one now.

STREAMING PLATFORMS

Indian Link Radio anchor MEENAKSHI asked listeners: What do you enjoy most about platforms like Prime Video and Net ix?

Gurpreet Kaur wrote: Original content available for instant playback at a lower price with crisp sound and picture quality.

Smita Pawar Nashikkar wrote: Can watch movies in the comfort of your own home.

Avi Kapoor wrote: They are video on demand. We can watch at our own pace… time bhi mera, jagah bhi meri (my place, my time).

Vikrant Sharma wrote: They are very helpful for new lmmakers. Very encouraging for those who can produce good content without any big production house backing them.

LABOR’S INDIA LEGACY

PAWAN LUTHRA on how new Prime Minister Albanese can take the IndiaAustralia relationship forward.

Simon Disney wrote: Thanks for the historical 'refresher' Pawan! Just on relations with Malaysia and prior governments seemingly pulling on the handbrake at that Northerly point, I was very surprised to see an almost exact replica of the Anzac Bridge in Vietnam on a visit there some years ago. The My Thuan Friendship bridge was a collaboration with the Australian government. Our ANZACs would probably never have made it safely to Gallipoli without the assistance of the Japanese navy against German submarines... and then in the Second World War, we were bitter enemies! A reminder of how quickly things can change in our region. Here's to a strong and enduring relationship with India.

Sheba Nandkeolyar wrote: Labor has always been committed to India. Hopefully we will now see a fast tracking of the ECTA initiatives. Liberals certainly took the relationship forward but Labor is equally committed.

Kailash Chandra KC Tiwari wrote: Hope Quad leaders will act wisely. Best to develop good understanding.

Natasha Jha Bhaskar wrote: The momentum which the bilateral relationship has witnessed in the past few years, establishes that bipartisan support is the best way forward!

YOUNG MELBOURNE STUDENT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT

RHEA L NATH shared the story of Yatin and Muskaan, whose Australian dream got off to a devastating start with a hit and run accident.

Geet Singh wrote: This is similar to our own struggle story. May they stick together in this and have enough courage and strength to get through this tough period of time.

Ishpreet Singh wrote: I can’t understand why bills are not covered in OSHC. As there is no pre-existing condition, their provider has to cover the bills.

Ann Gar eld wrote: What a useless overseas student health insurance if it does not cover a hit-and-run case.

Ken Bee wrote: Hit-and-run cases means the other person’s insurance company should compensate. So unfair to expect victims to pay fully on their own when they are already struggling physically.

Maria Alam wrote: Prayers for you and your speedy recovery.

We are at the start of a third COVID-19 Omicron wave and expect to see a signi cant rise in cases. Please continue to do the little things: stay home when unwell, test if you have symptoms, and stay uptodate with your vaccinations.

Dr Kerry

Chant

NSW

Chief Health Of cer on 6 July

Census results mean religions should stop getting special treatment

Heidi Nicholl CEO, Humanists Australia

NEW IPL RIGHTS DEAL

RITAM MITRA on what the new broadcasting deal will mean for international cricket.

Amiya Rout wrote: May be bad for subscribers, now we need two different streaming companies.

Ryan Draper wrote: Fantastic insight, really great read.

Sam Kronja wrote: Good read, Ritam. This development does not do anything for world cricket and bilateral series. It will mean smaller windows and survival of the ttest for other T20 completions. BCCI runs world cricket (to its detriment) and the ICC has been reduced to a motherhood statement. The best international cricket will be played in heaven.

INSPIRING CHANGE AFTER AN ACID ATTACK

DHANYA SAMUEL reported on lmmaker Emma Macey-Storch’s documentary ‘Geeta’.

Vani Santosh wrote: More power to her.

Priya Deshingkar wrote: Heartbreaking, and so happy to hear her spirits remain high even after such a horrendous experience.

Emily Lawrence Gazal wrote: It’s so horrendous that men do this and basically get away with it.

Seema Padmanabhan wrote: Again, we come down to the lack of choice for women. How awful that Geeta has no choice but to continue to live with her attacker.

WHERE IN INDIA

This time around, we asked you to guess which Buddhist monastery this 100-foot tall Maitreya Buddha statue stands atop.

CAPTION CONTEST

We asked, what’s Neetu Kapoor saying here?

Rajani Sagar won a movie ticket for her answer: Main Jahan khadi hoti hoon, line wahi se shuru hoti hai

Rani Jhala wrote: East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet Gus D'souza wrote: I am told that the side shot is my best pro le!!

Aman Vijan wrote: I’m not posing without Anil Kapoor on the other side just to balance the photo

Sweta Shah wrote: Tum sab bacchhe ho. I am the queen of the movie. Paparazzi go where I go.

Preeti Kothari wrote: Where are Alia and Ranbir - the asli Jug JugJeeyo is for them

Sreenivas Lingala wrote: Looking out for Anil to join the team Raghu Rules wrote: I’m the odd one out…

WHERE IN OZ

Do you know where the world’s largest natural crystals can be found in NSW? (Hint: you can even sit inside a crystal cave here.)

… again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again...

US actor Mark Hamill after the 4 July mass shooting

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Readers Ash Arora and Sudeep Shanbhag had the right answer: Diskit Monastery in Nubra Valley, Ladakh.

Readers Sandip Hor, Sweta Shah, and Deepak Vincent guessed right: Shambhala Gardens at Crystal Castle, Byron Bay Hinterland.

QuEEn’S B’dAY HONOU

ENGINEERING A BETTER WORLD

Dr Marlene Kanga, AO

Distinguished service to engineering, particularly as a global leader and role model to women, to professional organisations, and to business

Marlene Kanga’s call to action is simple: if you want to change the world, become an engineer.

In an extraordinary recognition of her entrepreneurship, advocacy for women in STEM, and leadership at some of the largest engineering and technology organisations, Dr. Kanga has been appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

Significantly, there were no female engineers who received an AO between 2017 and 2021.

“Less than 40 percent of Australian honours are made to women and an even smaller percentage to engineers and to Indian-Australians,” explained Kanga, who is passionate and outspoken about all three important aspects of her identity.

“This recognition is very important, especially as a role model for young people and for women and girls, who want to consider engineering as a career and make a positive difference to our world.”

She added, “It is also important for Australia, to recognise the important contributions that overseas-born Australians can and are making. Our economic future and wellbeing depend on making the best use of all of Australia’s talents and intellect and to enable an

Ravi Inder Singh Nijjer,

For Ravi Inder Singh Nijjer, a 62year career in shipping continues to steam ahead to this day.

Starting as a Merchant Navy official in India in 1960, he has now been felicitated with Australia’s AM honour as

environment where everyone can be the best they can be. Especially in engineering and technology, Australian engineers can lead with the implementation of solutions to address climate change, the energy transition, and the more efficient use of our mineral resources.”

An alumnus of IIT Bombay and Imperial College London,Dr Kanga has already been the recipient of the Member of Order of Australia (2014). Her glittering career includes a long list of awards and leadership positions in government, private as well as not-for-profit organisations.

She has been named in Top 100 Women of Influence in Australia and the Top 10 Women Engineers in Australia.

The feisty high achiever and gender equality champion sees this latest recognition as a “beginning” that will enable her to lead and drive forward more initiatives, and to have a voice in the important discussions and decisions that need to be made to secure Australia’s future.

She is particularly keen to grow even stronger ties with India, where several exciting partnerships are already yielding robust equations. “For example, IIT Bombay, where I studied chemical engineering, has a research partnership with Monash University where students can earn a PhD at both institutions. The Australia India Science Research Fund co-funded by both countries has also been running for several years,” she noted.

The greatest opportunities, Dr. Kanga believes, are in commercialising research and forming successful business partnerships. “A recent Global Leaders Forum hosted by the Australia India Business Council, focussed on how businesses can collaborate, especially in products and services using advanced technologies. There are thousands of start-ups and many unicorns in India. Australia could learn from these successful

entrepreneurs, especially through its Indian diaspora,” she stated.

Dr. Kanga’s own company iOmniscient Pty Ltd is already working with partners in India to implement advanced Artificial Intelligence for video technologies.

So, what is her mantra for success?

“Unfortunately, there is no fast track or escalator to the top. Many new arrivals from India will, no doubt, find it difficult to settle in, find jobs and homes. It was not easy for me either, especially as a woman engineer; this was a rarity when I first arrived in Australia. It’s important to recognise that Australia offers a lot of opportunities. Ensuring specific career goals and keeping them in mind, while seizing every opportunity, is important to get ahead and succeed,” she advises.

Looking back on her stellar career, Dr. Kanga remembers vividly how rare female engineers were.

“In fact, I was only the second female engineer employed by Esso Australia. Since then, the role of women and the recognition of their contribution has improved significantly in both countries. This is necessary for sustainable economic development. We simply cannot address

the important issues of today if we leave out the contributions of half the brainpower of the country,” she reiterated. Delving back to where it all began for her, she recounted a particularly funny anecdote. “Armed with not one but two engineering degrees, both from world leading universities, I approached a local job centre and explained I had an MSc. The official replied, 'But have you done your HSC?' This was the start of my brilliant career in Australia!”

For Kanga though, there is still plenty of ground to cover.

“The recognition I have received will, I hope, open more doors and give me the voice that is needed to advance many issues. I am still climbing the mountain. There is a great deal to be done. However, the view from where I have reached is empowering and inspiring. And on my climb, I must acknowledge that it is a shared achievement and thank my husband and sons for their love, patience and support and for the many colleagues who have journeyed with me and provided their invaluable insights and advice along the way,” she concluded.

Usha Ramanujam Arvind

an international expert on maritime safety.

“It’s been quite an improbable life for a boy who grew up in landlocked Jullundur,” Mr Nijjer laughed. “In fact, that’s the name of my soon-to-be published book: An Improbable Life.”

The Bishop Cotton School educated Nijjer took to shipping because he “wanted to get away from Punjab and experience the world.”

He did, and then chose to call Australia home.

He was serving in Hong Kong in 1968 when he met his Australian wife. They moved to Australia in 1970 and he continued to serve on the seas until 1980.

Nijjer then moved to education, becoming lecturer then head at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Transport’s Department of Marine Transport.

In his role there, he rewrote the Masterclass I syllabus.

“I was enticed out of education and back into the centre of it all, when the shipping industry saw seven major accidents on Australian ships,” Nijjer recounted. “It was then that I began working on improving safety management systems.”

As part of his new role, he was sent to Japan to study their marine transport security. The report he wrote following that raised his profile considerably.

He would go on, in years to follow, to contribute significantly in the first use of GPS for maritime navigation, in Australian Marine Pilot Training, in Port Operations Safety Management Systems, and in Bridge Resource Management Training Systems.

He has been involved as consultant since the mid-1990s to the Australian shipping industry, and since 2004, internationally.

“I have travelled the world speaking at professional conferences and to students, and particularly enjoy these assignments in India.”

He continues to work full-time to this day.

It is no understatement to say that Nijjer

AM

For significant service to maritime transport safety

62 YEARS IN SHIPPING

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RESEARCH WITH RESPONSIBILITY Professor Suresh Kumar Bhargava, AM

For significant service to tertiary education, and to Australia-India relations

"I'm incredibly happy that my adopted country has recognised my 30 years of work and effort.

It’s a great feeling,” Professor Suresh Kumar Bhargava of the RMIT University told Indian Link.

A distinguished professor at top universities in six countries, he is the founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), a multidisciplinary research centre for nanotechnology and sensing, molecular engineering, nano-biotechnology, applied electrochemistry, industrial chemistry, and supramolecular chemistry.

For his ground-breaking work in his field, Prof. Bhargava holds 12 relevant patents, including one for engineering gold-based molecules for the treatment of cancer.

Much of his research has also looked into air pollution control in a big move towards sustainable solutions.

“I’m a strong believer that what we take from nature is a loan from the next generation,” he elaborated. “So it was important to look into ways to leave this a better place than we got it. For example, we developed a nanotechnology mercury sensor for industrial use, to measure and monitor mercury in the toxic smoke emissions from refineries.”

He has formally advised the Commonwealth Government and numerous industries on environmental issues. Some of his industrial consultations include Rio Tinto, Alcoa, Reliance Industries, Bharat

Petroleum, and Australian Alumina Council.

“It’s all about taking your mind to the marketplace and finding ways to translate research into practical applications that can help the wider community – it’s research with responsibility,” he added.

In his three-decade career, Prof. Bhargava has won some of the most prestigious awards in engineering. He is the first RMIT researcher ever to receive the RMIT University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award twice. He is also the only Australian scientist to be granted the ‘P.C. Ray Chair’ by the Indian National Science Academy.

In 2009, he was conferred DSc (Honoris Causa) by Rajasthan University, presented by then President of India Pratibha Patil, for his significant contributions to chemical technology.

The passion in his voice is clear as he describes his early days in the country. Shortly after finishing his PhD in the UK, he moved here in 1983 to take up a research fellowship at the Australian National University.

“It was difficult to adjust at first. In the ‘80s, most Australians knew India for spices and cricket, but I found they were keen to learn more about the country,” Prof. Bhargava recalled.

It was the first step in his lifelong commitment to connecting India and

Australia. Over the years, he’s advised numerous Australian officials on IndoAustralian relations, including being invited to Canberra to meet with PM Kevin Rudd ahead of his trip to India in 2009.

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first trip to Australia in 2014, Prof. Bhargava was among the attendees at the event at MCG.

But perhaps his fondest memories remain his interactions with former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“I got to spend time with him, six weeks in fact, in an advisory capacity and it’s left a lasting impression on me. In 1997, I was lucky enough to interview him for a

segment with SBS and I still remember the date – the 23rd of March,” he elaborated.

Prof. Suresh Bhargava has been a founding architect of the AustraliaIndia Strategic Research Fund and more recently, he developed an award-winning Global PhD program that connects RMIT with 39 CSIRO laboratories in India, providing a platform for collaborative research and engagement between Indian and Australian academics.

“From the time I moved to Australia till date, I remain deeply connected with India,” he said. “We’re incredibly pleased to have 70 graduates enrolled in the program at the moment. Through this joint research program, we’re training the next generation of scientists.”

In fact, he adds, one of the most important aspects of his career has been his role as mentor.

“I always tell my students that age is not a barrier to making discoveries,” he explained, having supervised more than 60 PhDs so far.

As he looks back at the relationship between India and Australia over the years, Prof. Bhargava remains optimistic.

“There was once a perception that India had a lot to learn from Australia, but as recent developments have shown, the time has come that India can offer a lot too,” he confirmed.

Rhea L Nath

has been a catalyst for many changes in Australia’s shipping industry.

“There’s not much of an industry left in Australia, though,” Nijjer lamented. “When I arrived in 1970 there was a thriving merchant shipping industry with over 100 Australia-registered ships. The number has dwindled to around 12 ships. That’s despite being an island continent where 99% of imports and exports are transported by sea, with hundreds of large commercial ships operating in Australian waters. The decline has many people seriously concerned. However, the new prime minister is promising to create a strategic fleet of up to a dozen ships that can be relied on to deliver essential cargo and fuel supplies.”

What advice would he have for new migrants?

“One of the first things I heard about Australia, from an Australian colleague, was that it is an egalitarian country. I was happy to discover for myself that it is indeed so. Australia has been very good to me. It has given me many opportunities for furthering my professional development. I can’t think of any other country where I would have had these opportunities. All I would say to incoming migrants is, know your job well, and do it well.”

He added, “And also, forget about the disputes in India. Leave all the debates behind, and embrace your new country.”

Rajni Anand Luthra

QuEEn’S B’dAY HONOU

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

Prof. Sameer Bhole, AM

For significant service to dentistry, to education and research, and to professional associations

Fresh out of dental college in Mumbai, Sameer Bhole got an opportunity to volunteer with underprivileged communities in Byculla and Dharavi through the Nagapada Neighbourhood House. It turned out to be a career-defining moment.

Describing the experience, Prof. Sameer Bhole told Indian Link, “My undergraduate degree gave me thorough grounding in technical and techniqueoriented components of dentistry, but I had limited exposure to the human aspects of oral health. It was only when I worked with people from lower socio-economic backgrounds that I had exposure to social determinants and their influence on oral health and health overall. For those underprivileged, oral health and health are impacted, leading to poorer overall health outcomes.”

With interest in Preventive and Public Dentistry, Prof. Bhole sought to study health inequalities and integration of oral health with general health and vice versa.

“In the practice of health sciences, the mouth is often treated separate to the body, when in fact the mouth is very much an integral part of it,” he noted.

He soon enrolled in a Master’s degree in Preventive and Public Health Dentistry at the University of Sydney. Thus began an illustrious career across many nations. Eventually he returned to Australia to

establish himself in the public oral health system.

Prof. Bhole has since dedicated his career to improving oral health for disadvantaged populations with a specific focus on health inequities and reducing access. He has made a significant contribution to the field of dentistry with a focus to improve access for safe and quality oral healthcare for the vulnerable and those at risk.

Working as the Clinical Director of one of the largest oral health services in NSW –which includes the Sydney Dental Hospital – he provides leadership and strategic direction for the provision of dental care for an eligible population.

“I am delighted with the AM honour given to me this year, but also deeply humbled,” Prof. Bhole said. “This is a prestigious award not just for me but everyone who has guided me and worked with me over the last four decades.”

He is particularly grateful for his stint in Papua New Guinea. “Those early years provided a solid foundation,” he reminisced. “My first posting was in Lae, where I was the only surgeon for a population of 1 million. I learnt a lot about preventative aspects of public health and what is required to support the people.”

Here, Prof. Bhole also worked extensively in the sphere of oral cancer and dental trauma. He was appointed Deputy Director at Port Moresby, moving to Singapore to teach public health.

As the inaugural director for oral health of the South West Sydney region, he set about creating the public dental service to cater to the special needs of the lower socio-economic groups. “That was where my career in Australia began,” he recalled.

Prof. Bhole presently holds an honorary clinical professor appointment at the University of Sydney and is the inaugural fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in the specialist stream of

Dental Public Health.

Since 2009, Prof. Bhole has also been an assessor for the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.

He participated in Operation Safe Haven, a needs-based program for refugees from East Timor and Kosovo. His contribution to dental science, including the practice of dentistry, and to oral health policy, strategy and education, have also been recognised through prestigious fellowships from the Pierre Fauchard Academy, International College of Dentists and Academy of Dentists International.

Besides supporting clinical training for future dentists, oral health therapists and dental specialists, he has extensive

ALL ABOUT BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Dr. Sathya Rao, OAM Service to Psychiatry

After nearly 25 years of experience in the mental health field in Australia, Melbourne’s Dr Sathya Rao has been recognised with an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year. He has seen significant changes in mental health practices in his years of work, where he is dedicated to treating people

with borderline personality disorder and complex trauma disorder.

“I am very deeply humbled,” Dr Rao told Indian Link. “I think it’s a recognition of the kind of work that we do at Spectrum [a service that specialises in personality and complex trauma disorders].”

A patient early in his career brought him to this particular specialisation.

“I was working in a small town in Victoria in 1997 and my first patient happened to be someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD),” Dr Rao recounted. “I had no clue how to help her.”

When he graduated from Bangalore’s National Institute for Mental Health and

Neurosciences (NIMHANS), one of the leading institutes of its kind in India, the science of treating personality disorders was still in its infancy globally.

Dr. Rao collaborated with other specialists, and together they were able to successfully help his first patient.

“That’s where my journey started. The same year, we set up Spectrum in Melbourne.”

Since then, his journey in treating personality disorders has seen a sharp upward trajectory, aided by developments in the field.

He has been the Executive Clinical Director of Spectrum since 2012, and is also a Consultant Psychiatrist there and

interests in academia with over 70 international peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.

Prof. Samer Bhole is also very active in Sydney’s Marathi community.

Advising fellow Indian immigrants, Prof. Bhole recommends making the most of opportunities that come your way, however small they may be.

“Australia is a land of opportunity and there are many pathways to get to your chosen destination,” he observed. “We need to learn to grab every opportunity to contribute. When I first came to Australia, I did a lot of odd jobs in retail, where the focus was on quality customer service. Those lessons proved to be invaluable.”

Usha Ramanujam Arvind

with three other organisations, including Delmont Private Hospital.

“The patients that we work with are those that are often stigmatised, discriminated against and marginalised. Unfortunately, most patients go without access to treatment,” Dr Rao revealed. “When someone gets a diagnosis of BPD, their lifespan is reduced by 20 years, unbelievably.”

He emphasised that although personality disorders are treatable, about 10% of the people with the disorder are lost to suicide.

“This is something which is preventable. So I am really passionate about doing my very best and making a tangible change in

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INSPIRING ADOLESCENTS TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH PRACTICES

Dr. Smita Shah, OAM

Service to community health

"You must be so happy,” I put to Dr. Smita Shah, OAM.

“I am so thrilled, because I’ve had a great day,” Dr. Shah replied with her usual unstoppable enthusiasm. “Have just come off a fantastic session with Year 7 students and their parents and teachers, for a project we’re working on currently. It’s on young kids and the use of e-cigarettes and vaping. Such wonderful insights!”

“Um, I meant your Queen’s Birthday honour,” I said, when I managed to get a word in.

“Oh, ha ha,” she laughed her unbridled laugh. “I’m thrilled about that too, yes! I’m deeply honoured that my work with marginalised and disadvantaged communities is recognised.”

Dr Shah is Director of Prevention Education and Research Unit at the Western Sydney Local Health District, and Clinical Professor at the Sydney Medical School’s Faculty of Medicine and Health. Having trained as a doctor in Scotland, Smita arrived in Australia in the early 1980s to work at Sydney Children’s Hospital.

“I observed then that many of the problems my young patients presented, could have been prevented,” she recounted. “The same observation stood out with the work I was doing with young children in rural India at the time, through the organisation SEVA.”

Setting her sights on prevention education, she decided to take a Masters’ degree in Community Health from Sydney

Uni. It was a decision that took her career from strength to strength.

“My best work, I’d say, is the work I’ve done with the youth, motivating them to make a difference in their own health and well-being,” Smita revealed. “Health habits are initiated in adolescence; to nudge them to adopt good practices now will see them grow into healthy adults as well as healthconscious future parents.”

One of the projects she initiated, SALSA (Students As LifeStyle Activists), has seen much success. The award-winning project involves a unique peer educational program which motivates high school students to lead a healthier lifestyle by improving diet and increasing physical activity. University students are trained to be SALSA educators: they in turn coach high school students to be Peer Leaders for younger students.

What set the program apart was that it involved an entire community of stakeholders: the University of Sydney, Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Western Sydney Local Health District, and medical practitioners and high schools in Western Sydney. Some 50,000 students, it has been claimed, have benefitted from this program.

Dr Shah seems to be drawn to young people.

“I do like working with young people, yes. They are upfront and honest. They give me hope.”

She realises it is imperative to equip them with the skills they will need as they grow into adults. “Given contemporary challenges such as climate change and the current health crisis, we need to encourage knowledge-gathering and application, as well as foster skills in advocacy and leadership.”

She added, “I’ve seen powerful transformations in young people’s attitudes in my own work at Western Sydney, but I must say the same shift I have been able

to effect in rural India, moves me to tears – the impact is so much more powerful there.”

Dr Shah knew she wanted to be a doctor since she was a young child. “Growing up in Tanzania, I saw first-hand the work my doctor Dad did in the Masai community, and the difference he made in people’s lives.”

Yet working in prevention has had its challenges. “You can’t see what you’re preventing,” she laughed. “But the satisfaction is in the fact that you are working at the grassroots level; assessing what the community needs and

implementing programs to facilitate that. You’re right in the thick of things – not in an ivory tower somewhere far! I feel privileged to have worked in Western Sydney for over 30 years.”

Being a woman of colour too has had its trials. “If you are small like me, and with a tendency to speak up, you are likely to be dismissed or branded a difficult woman!”

Dr Smita Shah’s response to that is one worth emulating: “Educate yourself; pick up as many degrees as you can; be persistent. Show your worth through action, because action speaks louder than words.”

Rajni Anand Luthra

this patient group,” Dr Rao said.

He also added that there are a significant number of people with complex trauma backgrounds and personality disorders who unfortunately go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Some of them end up in drug and alcohol settings and in prison populations, while others can face family violence and child protection difficulties.

Dr Rao is committed to making sure highquality care and treatment is made accessible to all with the diagnosis of a personality disorder or complex trauma disorder. Prioritising access to mental health services, he also volunteers for a charity called the Australian Borderline Personality Disorder Foundation, of which he has been Founding

Member and Deputy Chair since 2012.

Dr Rao’s expertise has also seen him invited to be a lecturer at Monash University (where he is Honorary Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor) and at Melbourne University.

There has been increased attention to mental health during the COVID pandemic, but Dr Rao feels that in general there is still a long way to go to create an ideal system to provide the best compassionate care for sufferers.

Perhaps this is why Dr. Rao shows no signs of slowing down.

“There’s still a lot to learn, and a lot more to contribute,” he remarked.

Iqra Saeed

QuEEn’S B’dAY HONOU

HELPING AUSTRALIA UNDERSTAND INDIA BETTER

Prof. Rory Medcalf, AM

“India was seen then as a non-proliferation problem. I was one of the players to shift that view, to see India as a nonproliferation solution.”

To have made a significant impact to the transformation of relations between India and Australia, Prof. Medcalf regards as a career highlight.

Observers of the trends in the India-Australia relationship will be well acquainted with the work of international relations expert Prof. Rory Medcalf. His scholarly analyses of the association between the two countries – starting from India’s entry into the world’s nuclear club in the late 1990s to a fresh momentum now in a post-pandemic world – have not only enlightened, they have also pushed policy boundaries.

As a former journalist, diplomat and intelligence analyst, Prof. Medcalf’s work has involved much more than India of course, covering Ireland, China, Japan, the Indo Pacific, and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. (It was the last of these that introduced him to India in a meaningful way.)

“I’ve always been interested in the world,” Prof. Medcalf told Indian Link. “I studied International Relations at university, and became interested in foreign policy when the peace process was on in Ireland in the early 1990s. It led to a fascination with conflict and conflict resolution. After I finished my studies, I joined the Australian Foreign Service.” His original interest in India came in 1998 with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while he worked in the Disarmament section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

“When I landed in India in 2000 as First Secretary at the Australian High Commission, it was a low point in the relationship. When I left in 2003, there was a significant bridging of relations, with a reset in defence, and the first ever strategic relationship conference I helped arrange in 2001, after which both countries (accepted each other) as neutral pillars of stability. I saw that transformation take place, and know that I played a role.”

By this time, Prof. Medcalf was seen as an expert in nuclear arms control, having contributed to two landmark reports following the 1996 Canberra Commission and the 1999 Tokyo Forum, with a third one to come in 2009, for the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. He regards this as a second career highlight.

Back in Australia, Prof. Medcalf took on a variety of roles in academia and with independent think tanks such as the Lowy Institute. “I brought my personal understanding of India to everything I did, and by 2007 I had helped Australia understand India’s role in a shifting world.”

His work began to play a significant role in formal diplomacy.

What is his assessment of the state of the bilateral relationship today?

“The relationship is at its strongest point ever. The challenge though, is to manage expectations. The relationship will continue to flourish, but there could be bumps and interruptions on which they’ll

need to work harder. For instance they’ll need to work harder to see eye to eye on the Ukraine issue. But then on the Chinese pressures in the Indo-Pacific, they are on the same page.”

In terms of developing human capital, the relationship is at the beginning of a high-impact time, Prof. Medcalf observed. “But we’ll have to be realistic. Both nations are democracies; both will have their own strategic imperatives and pursuits.”

He wrote in mid-2020 after a virtual conference between Prime Ministers Morrison and Modi: “Australia and other democracies will need to take care in defining their India relations primarily through convergent interests, mindful of the danger to India’s own democratic strengths from elements within broader Hindu nationalism.”

As an academic, what are his views on the topic of Indian studies in Australian universities?

“I think it’s absolutely vital to develop an enduring (education) relationship; it will be of strategic benefit to both. We’ve come a long way in that since the late 2000s. Bring the best and brightest students here, future leaders not just in business and scientific research, but also in policy and international relations, and those that can

raise genuine interest in people-to-people relations.”

He added, “Australia must elevate its game in ensuring that the Indian student experience here is a positive one.”

In terms of studying India, Prof. Medcalf’s comment was that there is room for improvement. “There have been pockets of excellence, but not with coherent continued progress. I’m hopeful that the recently announced Centre for Australia-India Relations will make a profound difference in that regard.”

Prof. Medcalf is currently Professor and Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. “It is a privilege to lead the institute, and I consider this another career highlight. We have helped lift Australian national security capabilities considerably, and have trained thousands of government officials.”

Prof. Rory Medcalf lists his latest book, Contest for the Indo-Pacific as yet another peak point in his career in foreign policy. “Marise Payne and Penny Wong, the former and current Foreign Ministers, launched the book jointly in 2020, because the region demands bipartisan support. The role that I played here in developing the Indo-Pacific concept is most satisfying.”

Rajni Anand Luthra

OUR HEARTIEST C O NGRATULATI O NS ALS O T O…

For significant service to international relations, and to tertiary education

Prof. Rory Medcalf in the ANU Archives at Acton Underhill, Canberra. (Lannon Harley/ANU).

Psychiatrist Dr Jacob George of Tasmania, honoured with the OAM for his service to the community of Tasmania.

Gurpreet Pinky Singh of Brisbane, honoured with the OAM for her service to the community through a range of roles.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Hector Soans of Sydney, honoured with the OAM for his service to the Anglo-Indian community of Australia.

URS

R EDUCING VULNERABILITIES

Asha Bhat, OAM

For service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia

CEO of Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC) Asha Bhat feels her Indian background has helped her connect with Australia’s Indigenous community.

“I have found much commonality with our culture and First Nations cultures in terms of family values, dealing with loss and grief, using informal ways of working etc,” she said while speaking with Indian Link.

Asha has been working in Indigenous Affairs for the last 14 years. And for this work, both paid and voluntary, and her dedication and achievements in this field, she has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal this year.

“I feel quite honoured and humbled to have won this award,” she said. “Like everyone else who lives in a regional community, I try to do my bit.”

The Bangalore-born Asha moved to Albany in Western Australia with her husband and son in 2008. Here she took a job as Finance Officer with Southern Aboriginal Corporation. Here, she became acquainted with issues faced by the

Aboriginal community and their needs.

She was recruited as CEO of Southern Aboriginal Corporation in 2013. It was a time when the organisation needed stability and integrity, and she has been able to bring reliability and accountability to the system.

The organisation provides leadership in housing, homelessness, family and domestic violence, suicide prevention and health promotion.

“These areas disproportionately affect the Aboriginal community. I do not shy away from challenges but continue to look for my next challenge to maximise support to the marginalised group.”

Asha is a very strong advocate for diversity and inclusion.

“As a migrant woman who witnessed much social disadvantage growing up in India, I have always been passionate about contributing to a fairer world.”

Asha also volunteers for a number of charities and sits on several boards and committees. Living in a regional area, she has experienced discrimination at the higher levels of employment and found it extremely challenging to break the glassceiling, she revealed.

Yet she has been able to guide her organisation to much success.

“My proudest achievement is leading the expansion of the Family Violence Prevention Legal Service Program to South West, Wheatbelt and Perth metro regions. This has enabled us to support the

most vulnerable group of women who are victims, or at risk of family and domestic violence, requiring legal assistance to increase their personal safety and reduce their vulnerabilities.”

For Asha, a natural progression was to become a volunteer team leader (WA) for Share the Dignity, a not-for-profit which provides dignity to women and girls fleeing domestic violence and are at risk of becoming homeless. “I feel very privileged to be contributing to this organisation,” Asha said with much humility.

Like all effective CEOs, Asha is paying attention to management succession.

“I have already started working with Indigenous youth, mentoring them. My aim is to strengthen Aboriginal leadership within SAC and build the next generation leaders to lead the Corporation,” says Asha.

Asha’s commitment to her work has seen her win much acclaim in the wider community, such as Citizen of the Year

CRICKET STATISTICIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

Kersi MeherHomji, OAM

For service to the multicultural community, and to cricket

This may be the first time an OAM honoree has burst into song when hearing the news. KersiMeherHomji claims he felt compelled to sing the Pankaj Mullick song Aaj apni mehanato ka badla mil gaya (Today I receive the rewards of my hard work) when he heard he had been honoured with the OAM.

Kersi’s love for cricket is well-known not only in Sydney’s Indian community but in the broader mainstream as well.

Describing himself as a “poor cricketer”, he seems to have made up for the lack of sporting talent by writing prolifically about the game, for almost 60 years now.

“Cricket is a large part of my life,” he told Indian Link. “I have written in cricket

magazines in India, Australia and England, giving my opinions without favour or prejudice.”

As a cricket tragic, Kersi’s strength has been statistics. He can rattle off any manner of cricket numbers, leaving you marvelling.

“Yes, I enjoy gathering and sharing interesting cricket information,” Kersi said in the quiet manner of a deeply involved academic. “I have written 16 books on cricket. Amongst them are serious ones like Cricket’s Great Families, Cricket’s Great Allrounders, The Waugh Twins, Cricket’s Great Controversies, and quirky ones like Out for a Duck, Nervous Nineties, Six Appeal, Cricket Quirky Cricket. My latest is titled From Bradman to Kohli: The Best of India-Australia Test Cricket. It has forewords by Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border.”

Kersi Meher-Homji sees India-Australia cricket as a great unifier in a larger sense. “Both Indians and Australians love their cricket. It does bring them together. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, with controversies galore in the past, but it is much better now.”

Talking about his early days in Australia, Kersi recalled, “Coming to Sydney in 1970 with only $50, without a job, and with a pregnant wife (Villie) by my side, we faced initial problems. But we were helped by friends. Although a postgraduate in virology I got my first job as a school teacher in Blacktown, a long travel every morning from where we were living. The warmth and friendliness of students and other teachers made me decide quite quickly that Australia is my country of choice. Even though I taught there for only three weeks, the students were in tears to find out that I would be leaving to take up a job as a virologist in Sydney University.”

Soon Kersi moved to a higher job at the Australian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (ARCBTS) NSW, as a Quality Control Officer, working with HIV and Hepatitis viruses.

Here, his research on poliomyelitis, small-pox, hepatitis and HIV viruses

Award in the city of Albany (2017), Women in Business award (2020) and the Pro Bono Australia Impact award (2022). The local Indian community also felicitated her, giving her the Personal Excellence Award in 2019.

Going forward, she hopes her OAM will help her amplify the voices of Indigenous as well as migrant communities.

“When I came to Australia I found I needed to completely re-establish my professional and personal life in an environment that didn’t particularly support migrant Indian women. My sister Geeta supported my family and guided me initially. An achievement of this level simply would not be possible without the love and support of my family.”

It is clear from the passion with which Asha Bhat OAM speaks, that she will continue her work to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged people.

Vinaya Rai

resulted in many publications in reputed scientific journals.

These of course were in stark contrast to the writing he was doing for The Times of India, The Illustrated Weekly of India, Sportsweek and S portsworld in India; The Cricketer, The Wisden Cricket Monthly and SPIN in the UK; The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Sun-Herald, Australian Cricket and Cricketer Australia, and The Wisden Cricketer in South Africa.

Ask Kersi which national cricket team he supports, India or Australia, and he’ll reply without hesitation: “Both; but India, just a little bit more.”

As a devout Zoroastrian, Kersi is a pillar of Sydney’s Parsi community and one of the founders of the Australian Zoroastrian Association in 1971, only months after his arrival. He continued to be editor of its publication Manashni until 2000.

Kersi claims he has enjoyed each of his 52 years in Sydney. “I’m proud to be an Indian-Australian.”

He advises new migrants to be similarly proud of their new identity.

“Be proud and happy that you are in a wonderful country where your hard work will be rewarded if you do your best.”

Pawan Luthra

Calling Australia home

Census 2021

The data’s officially in: India is now the third largest country of birth among Australians, behind Australia and England.

Results of the Census released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in late June show that India has surpassed New Zealand and China to reach the third spot.

In 2021, 29.1 per cent of Australia's resident population were born overseas (7.5 million migrants). England (967,000) continued to be the birthplace of the largest group of overseas-born living in Australia. Those born in India (710,000) were the next largest group.

Two million more people were added to Australia since the last census in 2016, taking our population up to 25.5 million. More than one million of these arrived as new migrants. The largest group of migrants came from India, numbering 217, 963. The second-largest group with 67,752 people, arrived from Nepal.

Other interesting India-related data reveals that Punjabi has seen the largest increase in terms of number of people who speak a language other than English at home. Over 230,000 people now speak the language at home in Australia, an increase of over 80 per cent in the last five years.

Hinduism has also grown significantly,

with 684,002 Hindus in the country, or 2.7 per cent of the population.

However, ‘No Religion’ continues to top the list of religious affiliations, with more than 9,800,000 people ticking the box in the census form.

It’s clear that the cultural landscape of Australia is evolving. Today, almost half of all Australians have a parent born overseas and nearly 28 per cent report being born overseas themselves.

With this, it’s worth considering: what role do India, and people of Indian-origin, play in this multicultural landscape? How do we continue to enrich Australia’s culture? Most recently, we saw these questions raised in the federal elections with political parties’ strong desire to woo the IndianAustralian voting bloc for its cultural capital and significance, promising temple funding, ethno-specific aged care, and more.

THE INDIAN MIGRANT IN AUSTRALIA

As a migration destination, Australia holds much attraction for Indians. It is a welcoming country, with a higher level of acceptance towards newcomers now than ten to fifteen years ago.

Australian soft power is marketed well in India and received favourably, whether for

its natural heritage or cultural contributions in the arts and sport.

The ‘racist’ label from the late 2000s is well and truly a thing of the past. Instead, we are now seeing a great rap for Australia’s increasing multiculturalism, quality education, and health care.

All three are attractive for the typical Indian migrant.

Aged in their mid-30s (Census revealed 62 per cent of India-born residents were aged between 25 and 44 in 2021), the educational opportunities bode well for the young families they bring with them, and health care prospects are great for the aging parents who might join later.

Equally, there’s dignity of labour, with minimum wage laws unlike in other countries like the US; employees are well taken care of with attractive annual leave, sick leave and carers’ leave options, and work-life balance is possible.

Additionally, Australia is seen as a safe country (again unlike the US with its gun laws), and with plenty of avenues to practice own culture, often widely shared back home in India.

Regular travel back home to visit family, or have family visit here, is very high on the agenda for the typical Indian migrant, and direct air connectivity is seen as an added

advantage.

Our similarity as parliamentary democracies also plays a role in easy assimilation, and bilaterally, the strategic and economic ties developing in high-impact ways in recent months are viewed with great pride.

HINDUISM GROWS

Census data indicates that Hinduism in Australia has grown by 55.3 per cent to over 680,000 people.

Prakash Mehta, President of the Hindu Council of Australia is not surprised at all.

“It is very much in line with the trends over the last ten years,” he told Indian Link. “In fact, the numbers could have been larger if it hadn’t been for the pandemic and international travel ban.”

Dr Shanti Raman, Co-Founder of Hindus For Human Rights - Australia and New Zealand Chapter, observed, “South Asians are a strongly visible minority in all our major cities and regional centres. There is also likely to be a small group of mainstream Anglo-Australians who identify as Hindu, due to their spiritual or philosophical connections.”

Prakash Mehta added, “This is also triggered by a few other factors. Firstly there’s a rise in international students from South Asia who fall in love with

India is third largest source of migrants, and there are significant shifts in the growth of Hinduism as a religion and in Punjabi as spoken language.

RHEA L NATH and RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA report on

Brisbane’s Monika and Manish Tripathi and their 3-monthold daughter Sahna at their citizenship ceremony. (Photo: AP)

country and end up staying. Secondly, the Big 4 consultancies and top four off shoring companies are providing services to government and private sector and are opening opportunities to work visa holders to call Australia their home. A third factor is immigration policy based on Skilled Migration – many Hindus fall in this category and are exploring opportunities to improve their career prospects. Highdemand skills like Nursing, Aged care, and Disabilities services are also attracting Hindus from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India.”

The number of Hindu temples is growing in Australia, with more than 25 temples each in Sydney and Melbourne. Government grants have steadily flowed towards infrastructure developments, with ministers (and prime ministers) regularly visiting. Hindu festivals and their largescale celebrations are gaining more media attention each year.

Importantly, these increased numbers and activities also come at a time when Hinduism has been largely misrepresented, mangled with the rise of right-wing Hindutva beliefs. Underlying tensions reached a flashpoint in both Sydney and Melbourne last year, with police making arrests. These incidents were seen as spillovers from communal frictions back home in India, and left many Hindus disappointed, given that they have been peaceful and lawabiding citizens for long.

“As diasporic Hindus, we need to be proud of our ethos of diversity and inclusiveness,” Dr Shanti Raman said. “We need to also be committed to promoting inter-faith camaraderie and dialogue within our communities and foster social resilience.”

Prakash Mehta disagreed. “We don’t see anything changed in recent years,” he observed. “Hindu philosophy is more than 5000 years old, and it is on a continuous journey. Hindu Dharma propagates spiritual democracy - one can follow the path that one wishes to follow. The basic principles and ethos of Hindu philosophy have never changed.”

He referred to the term right-wing Hindutva as “absurd.” “Right-wing and left-wing are political science/economic concepts. The Collins Dictionary says, a right-wing person or group has conservative or capitalist views. Left-wing people have political ideas that are based on socialism. Perhaps some media groups or people are creating false narratives and propaganda to defame successful Hindu migrants by using this term. Hindus are peace-loving, assimilating, and hardworking and they contribute to all aspects of their adopted country like culture, education, economy, and spirituality.”

And while Hindus may be subject to

racial vilification and profiling in the country like other groups, there have been growing allegations of ‘Hinduphobia’ that continues to draw a wedge within the diaspora.

According to Dr Raman, there’s no evidence of this as an emerging issue.

She explained, “The term ‘Hinduphobia’ is based on a Nazi ‘accusation in the mirror’ dehumanisation construct and has consistently been used to intimidate and promote violence against academics, activists and oppressed sections of Indian society who raise concerns about Hindutva extremism and bigotry. This is not dissimilar to Nazi dehumanisation techniques that were used to promote hatred and violence against Jews.”

Yet Prakash Mehta lamented the “definite increase” in Hinduphobic incidents.

“Although Australia is a very healthy multicultural society where every religion and ethnicity is respected, there have been incidents where Hindu icons and traditions have been targeted due to either ignorance (eg Hindu Swastika confused with a Nazi symbol) or by groups who have an antipathy to the basic Hindu concepts of non-violence, freedom, liberty, and spiritual democracy.”

Plainly, there are clear divides that need to be resolved before they deepen in what has long been a peaceful and law-abiding section of Australian society.

PUNJABI SPEAKERS INCREASE

In terms of the number of people who speak a language other than English at home, Punjabi has seen the largest increase, coming in third behind Mandarin and Arabic.

The Victorian School of Languages lists nine schools where Punjabi is taught as a community language, and the NSW Government’s Department of Education website lists six.

Punjabi educator Mona Sidhu is thrilled with the numbers at her own Glendenning Punjabi School in NSW. “We have 135 students this year,” she told Indian Link.

“They range from Kinder to Year 12. We’ve grown considerably in the last two years alone.”

Sidhu was responsible for designing the HSC curriculum for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) a few years ago, and saw her own daughter through it recently.

Literary activities in the Punjabi language have seen a rise in recent years. Radio has burgeoned, with Punjabi TV making an appearance as well.

Select local libraries such as Blacktown have increased their book collections too.

“We need more resources for children, though,” Sidhu revealed. “In this regard our

own website has been trying to fill the gap, with stories and videos specially created for young Punjabi speakers.”

Although cultural activities in Punjabi are wildly popular, such as festival celebrations and folk music events, Sidhu reported a gradual increase also in literary events such as poetry gatherings and community theatre.

Ahead of the election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had promised $30,000 each to community language schools, observing that it is an “asset” for Australia to have individuals with language skills that can be used to help deepen bilateral ties.

CHOOSING NO RELIGION AS ONE’S RELIGION

The 2021 Census data revealed that while Christianity continues to be the main religion in Australia, with 43.9 per cent identifying as Christian, its numbers have dropped from over 52.1 per cent in 2016 and 61.1 per cent in 2011.

Interestingly, more people chose ‘no religion’ while reporting their religious affiliation than previous years. Almost 40 per cent (38.9 per cent) of Australia’s population reported having no religion in the 2021 Census, an increase from 30 per cent (30.1 per cent) in 2016 and 22 per cent (22.3 per cent) in 2011.

These numbers reveal increasing diversity in the religions Australians identify with, reflecting continuing changes in our social attitudes and belief systems.

Amongst Indian-origin respondents who reported having ‘no religion’ are Melbourne’s Salma Shah and Sydney’s Aneeta Menon.

While Salma Shah is of Muslim background through her family, she does not identify with any faith, hence ‘no religion’.

“[However] I am guided daily by a moral imperative to always do right by others, and to ensure that every single word and action, including my thoughts, are aligned to a positive interaction for others,” she told

Indian Link. “I aim to always be of service to others, and so you could say that while I am not religious, I have a strong spiritual core.”

She added, “A more nuanced view has taught me that we are all connected in every sense of the word. This connection means that religions, with their cosmetic rules, rites, and rituals, give us an easy way out from truly understanding our place in the universe. In many ways, religions diminish us. And so I chose No Religion in the Census but I support everyone else making their choice to have one.”

Aneeta Menon chose the No Religion category in the last Census in 2016 as well.

“This time round I ticked No Religion on the Census box with a little more certainty,” she revealed. “Being raised in a very religious Hindu household, and even now serving on the board of a Hindu faith-based cultural organisation aimed at increasing social cohesion, I've never felt my values more at odds with modern Hinduism.”

“By refusing to give validation to this broader cultural movement, I am able to preserve the values with which I was raised and continue to critically assess the ethics and values of the community to which I remain in service through a secular and objective lens, ensuring to minimise the harm done to the vulnerable by opportunistic, divisive ideology. After all, the census may record our religion, but it cannot measure what we believe in.”

CONCLUSION

More insights will be gained on Australia’s Indian community as further Census results are announced in coming months on education, employment, and locationspecific socio-economic information. We can be certain of one thing though: Indian migration to Australia is likely to continue, at least in the near future. As their numbers increase, Indian migrants will continue to make significant contributions to Australian society.

Victorian MP Sonya Kilkenny at Melbourne’s Shiva Vishnu Temple

Punjabi language art by Sydney artist Neena Mand

Kids at Punjabi School Glendenning NSW

Australia’s overseas-born population by country of birth. (Source: ABS)

Presenting WeSOLE to the ISKCON temple at Cessnock, NSW

finding sustainable solutions in the backyard bin

Melbourne environmentalist uses biodegradable materials to produce an all-in-one cleaning liquid

BY B H AVYA PANDE Y

Kritika Jain learned to ignore people who stared at her at juice shops.

“I was not there to buy juice, but to collect bags of leftover juice waste!” she laughed.

She carted the trash bags home to her backyard on a regular basis, and turned them into treasure.

With increasing interest in sustainable and healthy living, the 29-year-old has found a solution to healthy living in her backyard. She uses easily available materials like decaying fruit, vegetable peels and dying

flowers to make a cleaning solution for household use. As a health professional Kritika Jain believes in the maxim of ‘healthy body healthy mind,’ but as an environment lover, has expanded that to include ‘healthy environment healthy planet’ as well.

“I’m aiming to replace chemical cleaners off the rack with my homemade DIY cleaning solution, which I call WeSOLE, short for We Save Our Loving Earth.”

The all-in-one cleaning solution is made using biodegradable material mixed with jaggery and left to rest for around three months to form bio-enzymes.

In addition to the fresh juice stalls to source her raw material in bulk, Kritika joked that she ‘turned to God for help’.

“My local ISKCON temple allowed me to collect the leftover flowers presented by

devotees as offerings.”

When she first started making the solution for use at home in 2019, she was startled to see that it gave her the same results as regular store-bought cleansers.

“I was also pleased to find it worked as an all-in-one solution,” she described. “So instead of having different chemical-based liquids for washing clothes, cleaning surfaces, windows, utensils, and whatnot, I was using one ecofriendly cleaner serving all the purposes. With artificial cleansers, it’s not just the bad bacteria which get killed but the good bacteria as well. WeSOLE, on the other hand, is 95 per cent antibacterial, killing just the bad bacteria.”

In 2020 with COVID at its peak, Kritika got an opportunity to present her innovation at the Lufthansa Airlines Germany’s ‘Design and Thinking Challenge’, where she pitched

the idea of cleaning hospital premises using WeSole. She won the title for best innovator. The next year, Kritika received her first round of funding from the Global Change Maker Switzerland.

“It was not a cakewalk though,” she admitted. “Initially, my friends and family were sceptical about my ambitions. After several rounds of lab studies, sample tests, and evidence-based research, we could certainly claim that WeSOLE is as effective as other cleaners in the market. Winning the title at Germany and getting the funding from Switzerland motivated me to a great extent. The potential of the product was being recognised by reputed institutions. That itself was reason enough to take this project to its next stage.”

It was time to take WeSOLE out to the public. The first large-scale order of 250 litres came from one of its investors. Right from collecting the raw material to processing, Kritika handled everything single-handedly.

With no labour and negligible production cost, Kritika completed the order all by herself in her small backyard.

As demand increased however, WeSOLE had to set up operations bases in India and Australia. Currently, WeSOLE is on Instagram, where Kritika uploads several posts on how to make WeSOLE at home, and receives online orders as well.

“My ultimate aim is to make WeSOLE a ‘habit’ among people. The idea is to educate people about this eco-friendly cleanser. Apart from selling ready-made bottles, we are also focusing on equipping people to make WeSOLE themselves.”

With the support of her team in India, Kritika has successfully conducted various activity-based workshops in primary schools where kids were taught to make the cleaning solution. These workshops were part of larger program where the kids were educated about sustainability and healthy living through various games and interactive sessions.

“Our target audience is adolescents because it is during these years that good health habits are initiated,” Kritika noted.

With additional tests currently in progress and strategies in development to take WeSOLE to a larger audience, Kritika hopes it will one day be a part of every grocery list.

“We need support from the right people who can resonate with our intentions and guide us forward in our journey,” Kritika reflected. “Making WeSOLE isn’t rocket science, but transitioning and adopting its use in day-to-day life is an area which needs to be worked upon collectively.”

Kritika Jain’s backyard experiment starts up a whole new enterprise

Feel NEW Long breaks in NSW

Coffs Harbour has a special place in the hearts of Indian-Australians. The work of the Sikh community here, over generations, is a significant reminder of our settlement in this country. The heritage-listed Gurudwara at Woolgoolga is a special stopover as we drive through, for its gentle spirituality and the humility of the shared meal afterwards.

Both create a wonderful sense of belonging, in our home away from home.

And yet, there are many ways that Coffs Harbour can forge a sense of connection with our new home.

SNOWY MOUNTAINS ADVENTURE

A wonderful ski season is currently on at the Snowy Mountains. If you’ve missed the slopes in two years of COVID closures, or are new to skiing and snowboarding, now is the time to go.

Carving up the slopes or soaking in thermal pools, here’s the ultimate way to spend a long winter break with your family.

Perisher is the largest resort in the Southern Hemisphere. Its four linked resorts include Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Blue Cow. Each of these has a different personality, offering terrain for all levels.

Check out the new Skitube, an innovative Swissdesigned mountain train.

Thredbo is an award-winning alpine gem, home to Crackenback Super trail, the longest ski run in Australia. Its Friday Flat is a brilliant area for beginners. Try Merritts Gondola, Australia’s first alpine gondola, or Karels T-bar to the highest lifted point in Australia at 2,037m (‘Ring the bell’ to celebrate!) Off the slopes, enjoy the après ski bars, restaurants and entertainment, and Olympic-sized heated pool and water slide at the Thredbo Leisure Centre.

The highest resort in Australia (1,760m), Charlotte Pass is a secluded alpine village completely snowbound in winter. It offers an intimate experience, perfect for beginners or for families who might want to avoid busier, bigger resorts. It is also popular with cross country skiers due its great trail access.

After closing in 2020 due to severe bushfire damage, Selwyn Snow Resort, popular with families and beginners, is set for a grand reopening. Extensively rebuilt, it includes the new and expanded Selwyn Centre, housing guest facilities and services, and the relocated and expanded Toboggan Park.

Experience the Aussie love of the outdoors. Carving through the waves, galloping across creeks, or cycling epic downhills, Coffs is a wonderful destination for family holidays. See the animal world up close. Cruise to see whales, and swim with the humpbacks – this is the only place in the world where you can do so. Explore underwater worlds, feed the penguins, walk among fluttering butterflies, and check out the birdlife by the harbour.

Understanding First Nations cultures also binds us to our adopted country. Coffs is a land of fertile soil, temperate climate, pristine rivers and abundant marine life. Through the centuries the traditional owners, the Gumbaynggirr, shared their rich resources generously, and became known as the ‘sharing people’. Is it any wonder then that the Punjabis, themselves warm and generous, were drawn to this region, fertile like their own native land?

The banana and blueberry plantations - newer crops after sugarcane on which this city was built - are well worth a visit. The Big Banana, one of Australia’s first Big things, is a tribute to the industry.

BELONGING

COFFS HARBOUR

REJUVENATION

BYRON BAY

The welcome sign just outside Byron Bay says it all: ‘Cheer up, slow down and chill out.’ This idyllic coastal town has been the wellness capital of Australia for years.

Make that centuries, actually: Indigenous people have known of it as sacred healing ground, the air here believed to be filled with charged energy that came supposedly from the lava of a volcanic eruption 23 million years ago. Undoubtedly, locals and visitors alike are seduced by its indefinable magical qualities.

And yet, besides New Age backpacking hippies, you’ll also spot the yuppies here in Byron, given it is currently one of the country’s most sought-after holiday destinations. Recharge that weary and urbanised mind, body and soul here, with meditation classes, yoga lessons, Ayurveda treatments and other lifechanging practices.

As a coastal town, the beach scene is breathtaking – snorkel, kayak, dive, walk or ride a horse! Look out for dolphins, turtles and whales offshore, and on the sand, the yoga practitioner, who comes out mostly at sunrise or sunset!

Go find Australia’s easternmost beach, and Instagram the spot where, famously, “the sun comes up first in Australia”.

The art scene is equally inviting – there’s boho fashion, beachy homewares, independent boutiques, and markets every weekend.

Byron is also known as a party town, with pubs, bars and nightclubs galore.

You might catch a celebrity or two: many call this town home, and many do so temporarily as they come here to work at the famous film studios. But follow Byron protocol, and leave them alone!

For those seeking relaxation, indulgence and restoration, Byron Bay is the ultimate choice.

Connect to country, country music and country hospitality.

You’ll pass through a picturesque landscape of gently undulating farmland as you drive (or take a train) to this beautiful country town. With a thriving agricultural industry and some of the country’s finest produce, there’s outstanding farm to plate dining, and over 20 vineyards.

The Tamworth Grower’s Markets offers fresh organic produce. Stock up for your stay, as you make this your base to explore the historic towns in the region.

Gunnedah is a charming country town with wide streets lined with cafes, pubs, craft and antique shops. At Barraba, admire the giant 40-metre high mural of the water diviner painted on silos. Continue to the quaint township of Manilla, past farms with barely another car in sight.

Uralla offers a sculpture trail, cafes, craft and antique shops. Nundle, sited at the base of the Great Dividing Range, is famous for the Nundle Woollen Mill, with spun wool for sale. Nearby at Hanging Rock lookout, take in expansive views of the region.

Lake Keepit State Park, at three quarters the size of Sydney Harbour, provides a habitat for birdlife including cockatoos.

Head to Oxley Scenic Lookout for spectacular sunset views across Tamworth.

Don’t miss Tourist Drive 17, which winds through World Heritage-listed national parks, with spectacular gorges, waterfalls and wildlife to enjoy. The 12-metre high Big Golden Guitar in town, is a must-do photo stop. Tamworth was where country music artists from Keith Urban to Slim Dusty performed, and it’s famous as Australia’s capital of country music, with an annual festival and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

CONNECTION

TAMWORTH

LORD HOWE ISL AND JOY

Lush greenery. Aquamarine waters. Untouched coral reef. Only a two-hour flight from Sydney. What are you waiting for?

Lord Howe Island has World Heritage-listed natural surroundings, and only 400 visitors are allowed at any given time.

National Geographic has called it one of the world’s best destinations.

Others describe it as ‘Just Paradise’. Delight in the marine life of the pristine waters here, a unique mix of warm tropical and cool temperate ocean currents, home to over 450 fish species and 90 species of coral, many of which can only be found here.

See the reef on a glass-bottom boat and snorkelling tour, or hand-feed the fish at Ned’s Beach Special Purpose Zone.

The crystal-clear lagoon is perfect for swimming and other water sports. The Island offers one of the best diving spots in the world, with more than 60 dive sites and many that remain undiscovered. Marvel at the underwater world around Ball’s Pyramid, the world’s tallest sea stack (551 metres), which is home to a unique coral community with giant fan corals as well as rare Spanish dancers and the rare and protected Ballina angelfish.

If hiking is your thing, Lord Howe will thrill you too. The Mount Gower hike, rated as one of the country’s best day walks, is a challenging eighthour 14-km return trek; it includes rope-assisted climbs and dizzying drops (you’ll need a guide). Find gentler walks if you prefer.

For fishing enthusiasts, there’s garfish, wahoo, kingfish, trevally and yellowfin tuna galore. Commercial fishing is not allowed within the Lord Howe Island Marine Park, so you'll find an abundance of fish.

Broken Hill wows in multiple ways – with its nation-building mining history, desert landscape, First Nations history, and cultural scene. Australia’s first heritage-listed city, its secrets will leave you in awe. mining town, Broken Hill's massive orebody, formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver, lead and zinc mineral deposits. Take a guided underground tour through Historic Daydream Mine, a former silver mine of the 1880s. cultural hub, this outback city is filled with awe-inspiring sculpture, art, cinema history. The Living Desert and Sculptures is a collection of 12 giant sandstone sculptures in the middle of the desert - a spectacular spot to photograph the sunset. Learn about internationally renowned artist Pro Hart, a former miner turned artisan, painter, sculptor, collector and inventor, at his gallery. Visit Mad Max Museum, dedicated to the popular film series Mad Max, and check out its large collection of photographs, life-sized characters in full costumes, original and replica vehicles including two Interceptors, and other fascinating memorabilia from the set of the 1981 movie. Get a panoramic view of our galaxy at Outback Astronomy, sitting back in a reclined chair and blanketed up.

The brilliant collection of Aboriginal rock art in the ruggedly beautiful Mutawintji desert will acquaint you with the Wilyakali people who have lived here for 50,000 years. Look out also for evidence of the earliest Indian/Afghan migrants to Australia: Broken Hill was a prominent cameleer outpost.

Other attractions include the Royal Flying Doctor Service base, and in September, the Broken Heel Festival, an LGBTQ+ event.

BROKEN HILL AWE

Feel like getting away from it all? Whether you want to explore winter playgrounds, nature, history, heritage, or food and wine, there’s a destination to match every mood. Take your pick, and feel NEW again.

Observe the ocean superficially or from afar, and you will not be able to appreciate it fully. But take a deep dive to experience its wonders, and you’ll understand its true worth and greatness.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life was similarly deep, like an unfathomable ocean. Only those who dive deep into his life can realise his greatness and universality.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj perceived people of all classes, religions, countries and climes to be equal. He abundantly showered his compassion, love and respect upon all.

Once as Pramukh Swami Maharaj prepared to depart the BAPS Mandir in the village of Bochasan, India, the devotees rushed towards him for a last darshan. But Manibhai of Thasra, who was blind, remained seated where he was. Pramukh Swami Maharaj saw him, went up to him and placed his hand on his head. Surprised, Manibhai asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s Pramukh Swami,” Swamiji replied. On hearing His Holiness’ voice, Manibhai was deeply moved.

“Oh, Swami,” he exclaimed in a voice choked with emotions. He was so overwhelmed that he could utter no more words. Everyone around understood Manibhai’s heartfelt emotions and realised that Pramukh Swami Maharaj belongs to all.

Yes, everyone felt that Pramukh Swami Maharaj was theirs. He never differentiated between people regarding their caste, colour, religion or wealth. That is why Mamdibhai of Botad, who was fasting in the month of Ramadan, requested for prasad from the hand of Pramukh Swami Maharaj to conclude his fast. Not having any prasad on him at the time, Pramukh Swami Maharaj promised to have some sent to him from the village of Paliyad, where he

Compassion for all

was headed. He kept his promise, and Mamidbhai was overcome with joy.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj respected everyone, and everyone in turn respected him. He was a ‘samdrashta’.

In 1974, Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited the home of Chandubhai Patel in London. Chandubhai’s neighbour, Mr. Stringer, walked in. While getting acquainted with him, Pramukh Swami Maharaj learnt that his sons had left him. Mr. Stringer was living a solitary and unhappy life. Pramukh Swami Maharaj instructed Chandubhai to look after Mr. Stringer. Then, at Mr. Stringer’s request, Pramukh Swami Maharaj also sanctified his home next door. Ten years later, in 1984, when Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in London again, Mr. Stringer came to the mandir for his darshan

Pramukh Swami Maharaj recognised him instantly and blessed him. Mr. Stringer

thanked Pramukh Swami Maharaj because Chandubhai, on his instruction, was still caring for him. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s care and compassion extended to people of all countries and cultures.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj cared as much for the poor as he did for the rich. He respected both the higher class as well as the lower class, poor and rich, and literate and illiterate. Pramukh Swami Maharaj perceived the true form of all beings as the soul. The art of equality could be learnt from him. Pramukh Swami Maharaj once introduced Hira Bharwad, a cowherd serving in Sarangpur mandir in Gujarat, to an affluent devotee, Harshadbhai Rana of Nairobi in Kenya. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had equal respect, honour and love for both.

On another occasion, Pramukh Swami Maharaj said to an assembly of tribals in

Pavi near Jetpur in Gujarat, “I see God in you all.” Pramukh Swami Maharaj rarely talked about his own virtues, methods or insights. But his words revealed his perception of equality towards all. He saw God in everyone. To accept a human as a human and to see a human in a human being is humanism. But to see God in a human is divinity. This is the highest perception and state of seeing others with equality.

In Mumbai, a youth once asked Pramukh Swami Maharaj, “How does Bhagwan Swaminarayan talk to you?” Pramukh Swami Maharaj replied explicitly, “The same way you are talking to me.” Pramukh Swami Maharaj was God-realised and that was the essence of his life and work, and the source of his infinite virtues. He harboured no differences or prejudices towards anyone. He not only wished for the good of others, but did his best for them. “I have never ever thought of hurting anyone,”Pramukh Swami Maharaj said famously.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s perception and actions of equality towards all reflect his great, divine personality. His love, care and respect for all will forever remain as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.

Following in the footsteps of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the present spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, continues the legacy of seeing the Supreme in all human beings. Through his work own today, many people have been transformed to experience inner peace.

This article series aims to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the BAPS movement in his birth centennial. To learn more about Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life and work, please visit www.pramukhswami.org

Pramukh Swami Maharaj saw God in all he met and showed this through his actions

India must prepare for a ‘single continuous war’

Veteran Indian diplomat on the nature of the conflicts India might be involved in in coming years, and where the US and Russia would stand on these.

A“serious and growing asymmetrical relationship” with China, which has indulged in four instances of “salami slicing” along the un-demarcated border since 2012, and an increasingly bellicose and belligerent Pakistan means that India has to be prepared for a “single continuous war” along two fronts and not a two-front war - sans any assistance from the US or Russia, says a scholarly work by veteran diplomat Rajiv Dogra.

Dogra examines hotspots around the world through the prism of the principal stakeholders and concludes that “whichever path the world chooses in the difficult decade ahead, it should keep reminding itself that history is the consequence of its choices”.

“Since India no longer faces just unidirectional threats, it has to take a 360-degree view and prepare accordingly. Making the challenge dire is the fact that it is not a mere two-front war that India faces, but more likely a ‘single continuous war’ along two fronts. This war, when it happens, might stretch from one extremity of the Indo-Pak boundary to the other end of the Indo-China border,” Dogra writes in Wartime: The World In Danger (Rupa).

“In that case, India will have to contend with a ‘collaborative war’ that involves interoperability between China and Pakistan across the entire military spectrum. Such a war will be fought both in the deep seas and on the high Himalayas,” adds Dogra, who was India’s Ambassador to Italy, prior to which he served as Ambassador in Romania and as India’s last Consul General in Karachi.

Any willingness on India’s part to respond forcefully to China might be “welcomed” in the US, where successive administrations have sought to integrate India into America’s IndoPacific strategy. But “this does not mean that the US will promptly jump into the fray”, Dogra writes, adding, “When this war breaks out, India could well be reminded that the US has 47 treaty allies and it is not one of them.”

Noting that the nascent Quad partnership “has yet to create its charter” and “languishes uncertainly”, Dogra writes that President Biden’s promise to transfer advanced technology, including submarine nuclear propulsion to Australia under the AUKUS alliance “throws into stark relief India’s failure to acquire any significant high technology” from the US.

“All that India has to show for its ‘strategic partnership’ is the nearly $22 billion worth of military hardware purchased from US companies,” he writes.

Dogra is also harsh on the US for its “mercantile” manner of dealing with India.

“Even if the US wishes to pursue a transactional relationship with India, it has to recognise the basic rule of transaction – that there are two parties to it. A relationship where only one side is expected to place high-value purchase order cannot, by definition, be termed transactional. As a result, doubts crop up and questions are raised by the Indian analysts: why

did the US act so generously by transferring high technology and making huge investments in China? Why did the US lavish money and arms on Pakistan? In stark contrast, why is it so mercantile and demanding when it comes to dealing with India?” the author asks.

“So, can India ever be an equal friend with the US? It seems unlikely as long as America’s approach to relationships is transactional,” Dogra maintains.

Russia, he writes, “has continued to feel threatened by the West as it had been during the Cold War and in the centuries before that. As a consequence, it has chosen to walk into the willing arms of China”.

Even today, there continue to be many in Russia who consider the Indian relationship to be precious, “yet, the last few years, India has let it slide”, the author notes.

“One indication that Russians are miffed about it is (President Vladimir) Putin’s steadily briefer visits during Indo-Russian summits. These are among other signals that all is not well with India’s relationship with Russia. Indo-Russian strategic linkages demand that these concerns should be quickly addressed, but India has been busy wooing the US,” Dogra writes.

In such a situation, with “no longer the assurance of a 1971-type of treaty with the Soviet Union to turn to in the time of need”, and with Russia and China “locked in an anti-America embrace, it leaves India in an uneasy position”, the author maintains.

Russia may be China’s “current brother but it has been India’s friend over decades. In war, it might steer clear of taking sides. Therefore, it may pass on a few critical items to India and intelligence information to China. Whatever the ultimate alliances and partnerships, the consequences of an Indo-China war will be bad enough, but with Pakistan joining in, it will be the stuff of nightmares for India,” Dogra writes.

What then, are India’s options? Dogra suggests a nine-point plan of action:

■ India needs to upgrade military technology with the latest in AI, drones and electronic warfare.

■ It needs to move away from its traditionally defensive approach because it is physically impossible for it to guard every inch of the over 6,800 km stretch of borders it shares with China and Pakistan.

■ It must invest in grey zone operations in the enemy areas.

■ It must adopt a whole of government approach in countering threats to its security.

■ Increasingly, India will have to find responses to the ‘cognitive war’ tactics of its enemies in addition to the possibility of ‘no contact’ warfare and the use of unmanned platforms in war.

■ There is no reason to expect that, in any future war with China and/or Pakistan, India will understand their nuclear Rubicon or that the Indian armed forces will not inadvertently cross one or more.

■ India must lessen its economic dependence on China in critical sectors.

■ The US has become an increasingly critical partner for India. But this dependence raises serious questions as to whether it actually enhances India’s strategic imperatives or if it opens up new vulnerabilities.

■ India’s effort should be to create issue-based coalitions. It will have to work with other countries who feel threatened by the overwhelming preponderance of the two great powers and who fear their marginalisation in a world of contention and strife.

Happily, many of these recommendations are already works in progress.

Vishnu Makhijani

Victoria bans public display of Nazi symbol

Swastika ban will not affect South Asian faith communities; nSW introduces similar bill

Victoria has become the first Australian state or territory to ban the public display of the Nazi symbol in recognition of its role in inciting antisemitism and hate.

The Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol Prohibition) Bill 2022 was passed on 21 June, making it a criminal offence for a person to intentionally display the Nazi symbol (the Hakenkreuz, often referred to as the Nazi swastika) in public.

Penalties will accrue up to the amount of $22,000, 12 months’ imprisonment or both.

Victoria’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence said, “These laws are part of our unwavering commitment to challenge antisemitism, hatred and racism wherever and whenever they occur.”

Importantly for Victoria’s South Asian community, the Bill recognises the cultural and historical significance of the swastika for the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and other faith communities as an ancient and sacred symbol of peace and good fortune. The Bill does not prohibit the display of the swastika in such religious and cultural contexts.

On the same day 21 June, the NSW Government introduced a bill into its Parliament to ban the public displays of Nazi symbols and to provide further safeguards against hate speech and vilification.

NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman said the Government’s Bill will amend the Crimes Act 1900 to create a new offence of knowingly displaying, by public act and

without reasonable excuse, a Nazi symbol.

“Under the proposed amendments, the maximum penalty for the new offence will be 12 months’ imprisonment or a $11,000 fine or both for an individual; or a fine of $55,000 for a corporation,” he said.

Again, exclusions apply for the display of a swastika in connection with Buddhism, Hinduism or Jainism – these will not constitute the display of a Nazi symbol, the NSW Bill explicitly states.

The Bill also provides that it is not an offence to display of a Nazi symbol where there is a reasonable excuse, including artistic, academic or educational purposes or any other purpose in the public interest. The move towards a Swastika ban comes after much community consultation in both states.

For the faith communities of South Asia, the swastika is a sacred symbol; it was misappropriated by the Nazis as a symbol of

hatred and violence.

There was much concern therefore when the strengthening of the anti-vilification laws was mooted in Victoria last year.

However, it gave community stakeholders an opportunity to educate government departments as well as the general publicon facts about the ancient Swastika (such as its root words Su and Asti which mean ‘good’ and ‘existence’ respectively, referring together to ‘wellbeing’, and what the four arms signify).

This created broader awareness of the need for differentiating between the terms ‘swastika’ and ‘hakenkreuz’, a distinction that is becoming much better understood today.

Victoria’s new law and the Bill in NSW both respond to reports of rising incidents of unacceptable anti-Semitic and far-right extremist activities.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark said, “In recent years we have seen a surge in the use of these symbols by right-wing extremists and for other faithbased attacks, both in-person and online.”

The Victorian legislation will come into effect in six months to allow for time to implement this campaign. This has been brought forward after consultation with affected groups and their feedback.

For South Asian faith communities the world over, this is a start to the reclaiming of the Swastika from its Nazi misappropriation.

new opportunities in Indian MedTech following India-Australia trade agreement

With lowered tariffs for medical products after the AustraliaIndia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AIECTA), Australian products like the AirPhysio and the Cochlear implant are now more accessible than ever in the Indian market.

The new trade agreement reduces import tariffs drastically, from 42.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent on medical devices, enticing Australian manufacturers to liaise with local Indian distributors.

Previously, the Indian Government had set out to lower barriers to high quality medical products, especially for respiratory treatment, by decreasing tariffs by 20 per cent.

“Big changes are occurring in the health industry in India – and this opens up opportunities that didn’t exist before,” said Paul O’Brien, Co-founder and CEO of AirPhysio.

AirPhysio’s hand-held breathing device is designed to help people with limited lung capacity clear their lungs and improve breathing.

At an estimated 200 million people with breathing difficulties due to poor air quality and smoke-related respiratory issues in India, the target market is large, O’brien added.

AirPhysio launched in India in February 2022, initially selling 6-8 devices a day.

After establishing a potential consumer base, O’Brien set up a fulfilment centre in Hyderabad to bulk ship the devices at local rates and has exported over 3,000 devices.

Air Physio has also started working with the MGM School of Physiotherapy, which is part of the Mahatma Gandhi Mission Institute of Health Sciences in Mumbai.

The AI-ECTA will also enable Indians with hearing deficiencies access Australian technology after tariffs on hearing devices, parts, and accessories are gradually removed.

Sydney-based company Cochlear’s implantable hearing devices will now be more affordable to thousands of Indians.

Cochlear began working in India in 1995 and has worked with 21,000 patients in the country. Over 90 per cent of these patients are children.

They have also helped train more than 300 ear nose and throat (ENT) Indian surgeons.

“Now is a good time for Australian medtech in India,” noted Dig Howitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cochlear Ltd.

“We have some great medical technology

companies in Australia – in medical devices and in pharma. The market in India is underserved: there’s genuine opportunities.”

Although it will take up to 2028 for complete elimination of tariffs, the rates on certain components will drop immediately.

“This is an important step forward,” Howitt said. “Our biggest barrier to helping children in India is awareness. The trade agreement will help because it will raise awareness of Australian med-tech.”

Photo: f acebook / Yoga with Yogini

Building resilience in children

Post pandemic, students are less settled and more distractible. Here’s a guide for parents and teachers on how to detect low resilience

types of challenges.

BY MO H AN DH A LL

Since the pandemic it has become evident that students around the nation and globally have struggled to cope with the changes. The biggest issue that teachers have reported in classrooms from the beginning of this year is that students are less settled, more distractible and appear less resilient than in the past. Educators and parents need to understand how to build resilience in children and how to detect when resilience is low. Before they can do this, here are some factors to understand.

ADAPTABILITY

Adaptability is a reference to a person's capacity to cope with change. In education, adaptability is evident when children move between activities smoothly, when they handle transitions, when they do not get stressed in the face of unexpected events, and when they have a general robustness to the way they handle a variety of different

It is common for most people to grumble or complain when there is change. This is generally a normal response. However, if this then leads to resistance to change, there may be an issue with resilience. When students are too focused on the familiar it becomes harder to negotiate what is unfamiliar or uncertain. As an outcome of education, all children should be able to face and embrace a level of uncertainty and be able to manage or cope with that. This means they are adaptable

Adaptability does not mean accepting every change as being inevitable, or even accepting everything that happens. There can be things that occur that must be resisted. It is also appropriate to question whether all change is needed.

If changes are necessary, then one way to build resilience is to encourage students to shape their own environment when accommodating the change. One evidence of resilience is how well people take control of the things they can change in their accommodation of the circumstances. It is therefore extremely important to encourage personal power in students. Students should be encouraged to problem solve and to

ask themselves, “What are the issues I see before me and what can I do about it?”

TIME AND ROUTINES

A second characteristic of those who are resilient is the capacity to use time well and to bring a sense of order to what they do. This means that people who have good structures, systems and processes tend to be able to accommodate change better than others. It is therefore important for educators and parents to encourage good habits in children. Good habits are evidenced by productive and settled routines around reading, exercise, hobbies and recreational time and study time.

AUTONOMY

A third characteristic of resilience is the capacity for students to think independently about what is happening, and about what they can do to manage or adapt. Empowering students to critique situations helps them to see patterns. It also helps students to realise they have a lot more control over their activities and routines than they realise. In this way students can be encouraged to see the opportunities when presented with challenges.

HOW TO UNDERMINE RESILIENCE

Resilience does not come about when students are told to be strong. It does not come about from being stoic and silent. It does not come about by ignoring the obvious feelings of uncertainty and anxiety that occur around change.

Resilience is also not evidenced when people need continual change and cannot settle or be still for any length of time. Some people characterise themselves as being very adaptable whereas they always seem to be running away from things and never still enough to feel the effect of any decisions they've made. Consequently, a balance between adaptation and being still is appropriate.

IN SUMMARY

Educators and parents have had to cope with change in recent months that was not expected. Whether they like it or not, how they managed the past two years has contributed to the restlessness we see in children now.

Therefore, if we want our children to be resilient then we need to start role modelling the strategies and the attitudes that are most productive.

FEEL LIKE THE ONLY PEOPLE ON EARTH

Photo: Canva

Broken Hill

A unique gin collaboration

Indian spices and Australian botanicals come together in two distinctive offerings

BY RHEA L NATH

Achance encounter at a trade fair in Berlin has led to a fascinating collaboration between Stranger & Sons in India and Four Pillars Gin in Australia.

Now gin lovers here can try out special spice-infused G&Ts while Indian connoisseurs get a crash-course in Australian botanicals.

“We first met with the Stranger & Sons team at Bar Convent Berlin in 2019,” explained Cameron Mackenzie, head distiller and co-founder of Victoria’s Four Pillars Gin. “We were taken by their passion and expertise in gin making, and I made a point of keeping track of their progress going forward.”

A year later, when Indian gin brand Stranger & Sons took home a gold medal from the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, they were back on the Four Pillars radar.

“I got in touch to say congratulations and we struck up a conversation about collaborating on a gin,” Cameron told

Indian Link. “This was at the beginning of COVID, so it forced us to collaborate over emails and zoom calls. I would have preferred a trip to Goa!”

Going back and forth over emails and a few trial gin distillations, they eventually landed on two limited edition gins: Spice Trade (made here in Australia) and Trading Tides (made in Goa).

Spice Trade, Four Pillars’ take on modern India, is made with native herbs and berries and accented with Indian flavours like star anise, black and green cardamom, red chilli, and long pepper.

and finger lime give a cloudy finish, while the turmeric fills the palate with a solid freshness.”

Bold, aromatic, and not for the faint hearted, it’s been described as ‘a spice bazaar in a glass’ and marks the fourth collaboration in Four Pillars’ Distiller Series, where they get to explore their creative sides with international brands.

Their previous limited-edition gins include Spain-inspired Cousin Vera’s Gin (think olives, rosemary, and coriander) in collaboration with Santamania Destileria Urbana and Japanese-inspired Changing Seasons (yuzu, bamboo, desert lime, and green tea) with Kyoto Distillery.

Trading Tides, Stranger & Sons’ coastal dry gin, combines subcontinental flavours such as kokum, mangos teen, coriander, and tamarind with Australian lemon myrtle, anise myrtle, and

“Spice Trade Gin has been a hit amongst our gin fans,” Cameron grinned. “It’s something quite unique as it’s not a clean gin. The spices are oily, the two cardamoms

“We have a couple lined up over the next year or two but who knows, we might be back in India collaborating again soon,” Cameron added.

INDIA NO LONGER JUST A ‘BROWN SPIRITS’ MARKET

Due to the popularity of whiskeys and dark rum in the subcontinent, there’s been an overwhelming belief that India remains a brown spirits market. In recent years though, spirits like gin are catching the eye of a growing urban population between 1840 years old.

In fact, if recent figures are anything to go by, the Indian gin market is projected to

The Stranger & Sons team (L-R): Rahul Mehra, Sakshi Saigal, Vidur Gupta

reach around US $413.7 million in the next five years.

“Though its presence in its current form is limited to the metro cities, gin is going through an extremely exciting phase and still transcending into the mainstream,” agreed Sakshi Saigal, Director & Co-founder, Third Eye Distillery (home of Stranger & Sons). “There aren’t just new consumers every day but new gins too!”

As one of the early innovators in India’s gin market, Stranger & Sons wanted to reinvent the perception of the Indian spirits industry while encouraging consumers to explore spirits through more creative, experimental choices.

Much like Four Pillars, they have also embraced their creative juices through fascinating collaborations, previously launching India’s first distilled cocktail with Mumbai’s The Bombay Canteen: Perry Road Peru, a fresh, robust cocktail combining gin and pink guava (called ‘peru’ in Marathi).

Sakshi added, “We’re looking to cultivate a culture of innovation and collaboration on our home ground. I believe that collaboration is a powerful tool that helps brands channel their creativity and drive for innovation towards creating something uniquely ground-breaking.”

Inquire about the quirky ‘Stranger & Sons’ name, and they explain it’s about embracing the “wonderful strangeness” inherent in contemporary India.

“Also, the process by which this truly strange collaboration [with Four Pillars] has come to be, only reinforces our belief that ‘in a strange situation, no one is a stranger’,” Sakshi quipped.

For Stranger & Sons, getting to collaborate with an award-winning distillery that’s won the IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year for two years in a row (2019 and 2020) remains “a proud moment.”

And with the recent economic trade agreement between India and Australia promising closer ties than ever before, there could be many exciting partnerships like this on the horizon.

“With our mutual passion for creating quality gins, it was an absolute delight working together to bring our shared vision to life,” Sakshi smiled. “I look forward to seeing a lot more India-Australia partnerships like this in the future!”

Spice Trade and Trading Tides gins are available for purchase at fourpillarsgin.com. They can also be bought on-site at the distilleries in Healesville and Sydney Laboratory.

Cameron Mackenzie, Head distiller at Four Pillars Gin

Flora Dora

“Collaboration is a powerful tool that helps brands channel their creativity and drive for innovation towards creating something uniquely ground-breaking”

‘Shane me to

Warne inspired pick up leg spin’

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH ALANA

BY RITAM MITRA

-year-old Australian leg spinner Alana King is in the midst of perhaps the most successful year in professional cricket history. Since playing a critical role in guiding the Perth Scorchers to their maiden WBBL title last season, King has racked up a stunning catalogue of achievements across top-flight international and domestic cricket tournaments, most recently winning the Women’s T20 Challenge in India with the IPL Supernovas. It marks somewhat of a full-circle moment for King, whose parents hail from Chennai, and who has long wanted to experience playing cricket in India, as she tells Indian Link.

“I’ve been to India a few times with mum and dad, because we have plenty of family and friends over there,” says King. “I loved the whole experience of playing there for the first time.”

She laughs, ‘‘It’s funny how things get done in India – everything always just falls into place, even though sometimes it’s a bit chaotic. I figured that out pretty quickly.”

That was one of many valuable lessons in India for King, who reveled in the veritable library of knowledge at the Supernovas.

“I like learning off different players,” she says. “I asked Soph [Ecclestone], the number one WT20I bowler, on what she thinks about bowling to different batters and

at different stages of the game. I also asked Harmanpreet [Kaur] about the ground we were playing at in Pune, and she looked at me and laughed and said,‘It’s a batting paradise, but don’t worry you’ll be okay!’”

Like many, Indian culture is engrained in King through two avenues: food and family.

“Dad was a chef in India while he was there, so my brother and I got exposed to a lot of South Indian food – and I know I’m biased, but dad makes the best Indian food,” she says adamantly. “I also love how familyoriented we are - even if it’s just a birthday, there’s no less than 30 people coming over. That’s what I love and have always known – you can rock up to any uncle or aunty’s house at any time, and you won’t go hungry. As kids, we were always spoiled by extended family and to this day, when I go back to Melbourne, my aunties and uncles spoil me because I am not home much anymore.”

It's an understatement that King’s time away has been well-spent: earlier this year, King earned her maiden T20I, ODI and Test caps,

during a frenetic two-month period in which the dominant Australians won the Women’s Ashes and the ICC Women’s World Cup. King has featured in each of the Australian team’s matches across all formats during her debut, in itself no mean feat, let alone the quality of her on-field performances. It’s more than most can expect in an entire career, and while the magnitude of her achievements is not lost on her, King’s focus remains on what lies ahead.

“I’ve loved every minute,” she says of her year. “It’s pretty hard to digest and reflect on what’s happened. When I got back home to Melbourne [after winning the World Cup], it was nice to be with the family and reflect on what’s happened. But it wasn’t that long after that I was on a plane to India [to play in the Women’s T20 Challenge]. I’ve been in a bit of awe as to what’s been happening, but hopefully as a group we can take this success forward in the next 12 months.”

Naturally, the year has not been without its challenges, including the sudden death of idol Shane Warne, a loss which hit

heavier for King than for most. “He was the front and centre on my screen when I was growing up, and I also got to see him live a few times at the MCG. He was a big inspiration to me in why I picked up legspin. He seemed to have a lot of fun bowling leg spin – he made batters look silly a lot of the time, and he made it look easy, so I thought to myself, “Why not?”, recalls King.

“I didn’t realise at the time just how hard it was, but I had a couple of sessions with him as a youngster at a clinic, and his words to me still echo to this day: “Just give it a rip”, so that’s what I’ve taken from him,” she reveals. “He’ll always inspire people to pick up the great art of leg spin – his legacy will live on.”

Looking ahead, King is heartened by the talent of domestic cricketers in India, and the prospect of a women’s IPL next year. “Every country needs to invest in their domestic systems – that will really help with the standard of world cricket,” she says. At the same time, King notes, “You’ll never get tired of winning. I know [the Australian cricket team] will always want to win, at every opportunity we get.”

It’s a seemingly innocuous comment, but it reveals within King’s down-to-earth exterior the same innate hunger for success and dominance that underpinned some of the great teams, including the West Indies in the 1970s and 1980s and the Australians in the 1990s and 2000s.

And given India’s eternal love for great Australian cricketers, there’s no doubt that over the years, King will get her wish: to visit India again, dive deeper into the culture, and win plenty of cricket matches along the way.

for Alana King, whose parents hail from Chennai, to play in India has been a long-time dream: it was fulfilled this year.

1. Who has the most iconic eyewear in the men’s game? Chris Gayle.

2. Favourite form of the game? All of them!

3.

5. How would you sum up India in one word? Exotic.

Bringing yoga to students in WA’s ngaanyatjarra Lands

Indigenous students in remote Western desert communities are being introduced to the ancient Indian practice of yoga with a specially designed, culturally informed program

BY RHEA L NATH

Since last year, students in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in Western Australia have been learning the ancient Indian practice of yoga through a specially designed, culturally informed program.

In these classrooms, ‘lion breath’ becomes ‘blue tongue lizard breath’ while asanas about unfamiliar creatures like turtles and crocodiles are avoided.

“Yoga asanas are traditionally named after natural elements around us like animals and plants. But in these lands, we don’t often see turtles or crocodiles, so we made it relevant to the children’s cultural context,” explained Regina Cruickshank, founder and board secretary of Yogazeit in Perth.

This collaborative mindful movement program between not-for-profit health charity Yogazeit and the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School (NLS) teaches yoga to the students and teachers of the Blackstone, Kiwirkurra, Jameson, Warburton, Wingellina, and Warakurna campuses.

The goal is to empower the students in these remote Western Desert communities with techniques to help reduce anxiety and improve learning outcomes.

“Yoga is about more than just making shapes with your body,” agreed Regina. “It’s about taking the time to be present in a moment, build awareness of your surroundings, and be mindful of your breath. It benefits people in many ways, whether that’s spiritual, physical, or for mental wellbeing.”

According to numerous international studies, other benefits of yoga for children also include settling restlessness, improving posture, improving self-esteem, and enabling creativity.

Along with fellow Yogazeit educators Sharnell Avery and Amy Murray, Regina has travelled more than 3,000km to the campuses, spread across Western Australia, to help impart these benefits with the mindful movement program.

“I discovered yoga in my teenage years, and it helped me find peace and calm. I wanted to share this gift of yoga with underserved communities who can’t always afford $30 classes in yoga studios,” she elaborated.

The classes begin with an acknowledgement of the Indian yogis who came before them, reminiscent of the Acknowledgement of Country usually delivered ahead of meetings

and events. Then, apart from using names in English and Ngaanyatjarra language in an important move to help the children feel more comfortable, the yoga poses are taught by referencing illustrations. These illustrations were specially created by Year 10 student Charlotte Golding under the guidance of Denise Thornton, Specialist Art Teacher at Ngaanyatjarra Lands School.

The students are also taken on mindful walks on Country.

This mindful movement has come together after months of consultation with Aboriginal Elders and school staff. According to school psychologist Tim Thornton, this provides a great example of culturally informed collaboration while respecting the traditions of the Ngaanyatjarra people.

“Rather than just being another Western model, which is squeezed into an Indigenous context, this project has been developed with a clear focus on collaboration,” he noted.

Nina Horeb, Early Childhood Teacher at the Kiwirkurra campus, believes it’s an engaging way for students to explore these new practises.

“Students feel safe and comfortable with this program, and I am hopeful that it will provide our students with opportunities for healing and to develop strategies that support them as they move through schooling and life,” she stated.

To date, Yogazeit estimates over 310 students have been a part of the mindful movement program (which is over 15 per cent of the population in the remote region.)

They have also trained between 900 to 1000 teachers across Australia and New Zealand on yoga, mindfulness, stretching, and breathing. Former students like Sedrika Giles, who discovered yoga through the program, have shown their interest in becoming certified yoga teachers themselves to continue to teach kids on country. As a larger conversation continues in mainstream culture around the appropriation of yoga, Regina notes their program is all about respect, whether it is acknowledging the Indian roots of the ancient practice or respecting the traditions and customs of Indigenous lands. Their intention is to make yoga and its many benefits accessible to school communities and aged care facilities across Australia, irrespective of age, gender, abilities, or backgrounds.

She added that there has been a lot of South Asian interest in their training programs.

“We have many people from Indian and other backgrounds who train with us. They’re always struck by how it’s a different approach to the yoga they might’ve learned in their childhood, but they say this is a different way of learning,” she said.

Yoga teacher Regina Cruikshank with students, teachers and Ngaanyatjarra elders.

Photos: Supplied; facebook

new IPL rights deal Good or bad for cricket?

BY RITAM MITRA

The BCCI recently announced a new IPL broadcasting rights deal which sees the value of the IPL T20 tournament soaring to previously unimaginable heights, more than doubling to Rs 48.390 crore (AUD$9 billion) in a combined TV and digital rights deal with Disney-owned Star India and Viacom18 (a joint venture between Paramount Global and Mukesh Ambani’s TV18). It’s more than just another commercial agreement; it’s a seminal transaction that will play a significant role in defining the future of the game itself.

A single IPL match is now worth almost AUD$22 million, behind only NFL games (AUD$50 million), and comfortably ahead of EPL matches (AUD$16 million), though EPL matches are subject to a “blackout” rule which prohibits live domestic transmission of certain matches. Given the IPL is only 14 years old –almost 90 years younger than the NFL – it’s a veritably meteoric rise that not only renews the spotlight on the IPL’s protected status as a tax-exempt activity, but has far-reaching implications for global cricket as a whole.

In India, the BCCI will be laughing all the way to the bank with the new deal, but they won’t be stopping by the Income Tax Department on the way. Since 1996, the BCCI has been treated as a charitable organisation and has accordingly enjoyed an exemption from paying tax on income generated from the IPL.

That’s by no means unusual – for instance, Cricket Australia, too, operates tax-free under Australian tax law, as an association established for the encouragement of sport. But the circumstances under which those exemptions were granted are vastly different to those that prevail today. More than the sheer dollar figures, top-flight sport today is an intrinsically professional and commercial activity. While sporting bodies necessarily require a degree of tax exemption for their promotion of grassroots and top-flight sport alike, the line becomes increasingly blurred in a world where administrators are primarily tasked with profit-maximisation.

In the IPL’s case, India’s Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) effectively reached the view that all income from the IPL is being used for the “promotion” of cricket. It’s a generous interpretation at best, and sets a precedent that may yet come back to haunt Indian revenue authorities. Key questions that the ITAT failed to interrogate are whether there’s a threshold at which promotion stops and commercialisation begins, or whether there’s a natural promotion “dilution” point

for cricket in India, which is etched into the nation’s very fabric more so than any other sport in any other country in the world. Lawmakers, too, should be invited to more deeply consider the long-posited argument that India’s obsession with, and investment in, cricket, is harming the progress of other sports in the country.

That raises the broader question: what does the rights deal mean for world cricket?

Other cricket boards will be wary, for one. With the BCCI currently in talks with the ICC seeking to carve out for itself a two and-a-half month IPL window in the ICC’s Future Tours

Programme, not only will there be fewer windows for competing domestic T20 leagues like the BBL, PSL and CPL, but fewer windows for international cricket itself.

It is not alarmist to say that these developments place world cricket at a crossroads.

It is true that the world’s best players, currently torn between chasing riches in the IPL and representing their countries, may no longer have to make that choice if the ICC accedes to the BCCI’s demands.

But a window of the length being discussed would mean a packed remaining nine months

or so of the year. Player fatigue will be significant. Not only will players pick up more injuries, but players will become increasingly selective about the international matches in which they participate, given the careerprolonging benefits of rest and recovery. Look no further than India’s ongoing T20 series against South Africa, from which several IPL stars have been rested – and expect more instances in future of countries fielding two different sides, playing in parallel against different opposition.

Other domestic leagues, too, will suffer. The BCCI has long taken a somewhat anticompetitive approach to world cricket, prohibiting its players – even those who are destined never to return to the international side – from playing in other domestic leagues. It’s been able to do so because the amount of money at stake in the IPL dwarfs that of other tournaments, so while other cricket boards face revolt if they prohibit their players from taking part in the IPL, the BCCI faces no such threat from its own players. While other leagues will not disappear overnight, the smaller – read poorer – leagues will struggle to maintain relevance amidst the competing demands of the IPL, international cricket and larger domestic leagues.

Test cricket is the biggest loser. Already facing calls for truncation from its historic 5-day format to 4 days, and as the lowest value proposition for players and boards alike, Test cricket has survived largely thanks to cross-subsidisation by limited overs cricket, particularly through the explosion of T20 cricket in the last 15 years. Now, beyond marquee series such as the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the Pataudi Trophy, Test cricket is a square peg in the round hole that is the ICC’s international calendar. Reports of Test cricket’s death have long been exaggerated, but make no mistake – the format faces its greatest test yet.

Ultimately, there’s no doubt that the IPL rights deal secures cricket’s long-term future, particularly in India; but the future will likely look vastly different to what we are used to.

The new IPL broadcasting rights deal could make the future of cricket look vastly different to what we are used to

Photo:

Twitter/Gujarat Titans

Beyond marquee series such as the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the Pataudi Trophy, Test cricket is a square peg in the round hole that is the ICC’s international calendar.

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

Kurma or Korma is a type of curry preparation that was bought to India by the Mughals. While it has evolved much over the years, it is essentially a rich creamy curry and can be both vegetarian and meat based.

However in the Chettinad region of the south of India, the cream gets replaced by coconut which is blended with poppy seeds, cashewnuts and other spices to form a rich and flavourful curry.

I have veered away from the usual

DUCK KURMA

INGRED I ENTS

Wet spice paste:

■ 2 tbsp vegetable oil

■ 2 tsp fennel seeds

■ 2 tsp cumin seeds

■ 3 fresh green chillies; broken in half

■ 2 tsp white poppy seeds

■ 10 raw cashewnuts

■ 7 garlic cloves; crushed

■ 2 tbsp roasted Bengal gram (split)

■ 1 ½ inch piece ginger, crushed

■ 60gms fresh grated coconut

METHOD

To prepare the wet spice paste:

■ Heat oil in a large pan and add the cumin, fennel seeds and green chillies. Then add the poppy seeds, cashews and garlic; sauté for a few seconds.

■ Next add the Bengal gram, coconut and ginger. Mix well and sauté for a minute or two till the coconut turns a little toasty but not too brown.

■ Remove from heat and allow to cool thoroughly. Blend with just enough water to get a wet paste.

proteins, opting for duck instead of chicken or lamb as it’s a delicious meat that pairs beautifully with the spices and coconut. And because duck curry can be a wonderfully warming winter dinner. And also because we get such high quality duck meat in Australia!

So here’s a Chettinad style Duck Kurma – absolutely flavourful and fingerlickin’ good! I’d serve it with appam or idiyappams, and a vegetable dish on the side, but you could do rice if you prefer.

Naan or any other type of flatbread –though not traditional – could be good too. And of course, you could replace duck with any other meat of choice, or eggs or mixed vegetables/paneer/tofu for an entirely different kind of Kurma.

For the curry:

■ Whole duck (approximately 1.1kg), cut into curry sized pieces

■ 3-4 tbsp vegetable oil

■ 2 inchpiece cinnamon bark

■ 4 green cardamom

■ 1 large onion, nely chopped

■ ½ tsp turmeric powder

■ 2-3 sprigs curry leaves

■ 2 large ripe tomatoes; pureed

■ 2 tsp red chilli powder

■ Salt, to season

■ Next add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and curry leaves; mix to combine.

■ Add the tomato puree and season with salt. Cook on medium heat till the mixture comes together and you can notice oil appearing at the sides of the masala.

■ Next add the wet spice pasta and mix well to combine. Sauté for about 5-6 minutes on low to medium heat stirring continuously.

To make the curry:

■ Heat the remaining oil in a large wok/ kadhai and add the cinnamon and cardamom followed by the onion. Sauté till the onions are softened and turn light brown.

■ Add the duck pieces; mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then add 1-2 cups water (depending on how much gravy you prefer) and bring to boil. Turn down the heat and simmer gently till the duck pieces have cooked perfectly and the gravy has thickened. Taste and season with salt if necessary. FEEL

Because duck curry can be a wonderfully warming winter meal

Broken Hill

A close look at acid attack victims

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

Neetu Mahor was two years old when her father Inderjeet crept into the room where she was asleep with her mother and two sisters, and threw acid on them. The attack left her severely scarred and almost completely blind, her eight-day-old baby sister Krishna dead, and their mother Geeta badly injured.

When Inderjeet was asked what made him carry out this heinous act, he remarked, “Geeta could only give me daughters. A person with sons has more status.”

Their story is now being told all over the world thanks to Australian filmmaker Emma Macey-Storch, in a documentary entitled Geeta.

Geeta has won the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Social Impact Award, the Ferguson Film Prize, and a Golden Tripod for cinematographer Rudi Siira from the Australian Cinematography Society.

Emma Macey-Storch came across the story of Geeta and Neetu as she researched ideas for a film on family violence along with coproducer Nayana Bhandari.

“We had stumbled upon the newly opened 'Sheroes Hangout' cafe in Agra which is run by 30 acid-attack survivors and aims to raise awareness about the intricacies of acid attacks,” Emma told Indian Link.

These women are also part of a campaign lobbying for law reforms, harsher sentences for attackers, compensation for victims, medical treatments, and the ban of the open sale of acid in shops.

Emma recalls her first meeting with the mother-daughter duo with much fondness. “What I loved about them instantly was their wit and humour, and their fearlessness and uncompromising desire for change in the world. They invited me back to their oneroom house that night. And it all became clear how important their voice is in the debate on family violence, and why the world just needed to know their story.”

The journey to put their story on filmwas however, not easy. It took Emma seven long years to make it a reality.

The largest challenges were mainly financial, followed by COVID-caused delays.

The project was crowdfunded all the way through the development and initial stages so that they could create a compelling case for why this film should be made.

“We did art auctions, concerts and Dipanjali Rao (co-producer and Indian Link columnist) and I even auctioned ourselves off for cooking meals at people houses.”

Ultimately the project secured support from Screen Australia, Vic Screen, The Documentary Australia Foundation, The Post Lounge, Scout Finance and many loyal donors and philanthropists.

Geeta is a film that makes you uncomfortable, and rightly so. It’s not actors that you see on screen, but real people whose lives have been scarred literally and figuratively. These are women who are battling poverty and dispossession, all trapped within the chains of patriarchy. Yet when the film ends, you’re left smiling and laughing with Geeta and Neetu, sharing in their hope and infectious gusto for life.

What made me most uneasy, was the

fact that Geeta and Neetu continue to live with the perpetrator Inderjeet. I found myself questioning and judging Geeta for continuing to live with the man who destroyed her and her daughters’ lives.

As the film progressed and through the conversations with Emma and Neetu after the show, I realised how most of us are part of the 'why doesn't she just leave' narrative.

As shown in Geeta, leaving is not particularly easy. Far too often, women are tied to the community they live in with their violent partners, and that community is a source of support and opportunity. As Geeta confided, it was better to have Inderjeet at home than deal with the other men who would knock on the doors at night. Leaving is not always possible.

Emma struggled with the decision herself, to include Inderjeet in the film.

“A lot of thought went into this, because of issues around giving perpetrators airtime. And it was a slow process for me to come to the decision to go this way. I think the turning point for me was that Inderjeet was willing to openly discuss what made him do it, what he was thinking at the time and take full accountability and show regret.”

Not to take away anything from the gravity of his crime, Inderjeet is also a pawn caught in the web of a patriarchal society. “I also think that by Inderjeet offering this truth to the film it validates and reinforces Geeta and Neetu’s extraordinary power to create change.”

Geeta is not a film to be watched, praised, and then forgotten about. It is a call to change.

Acid attacks, abuse and gender discrimination are not just a problem in India. They are global issues - there are millions of Geetas and Neetus living around us. This film hopes to address the myths and misunderstandings around family violence, and deal with sometimes misguided efforts to try and solve it.

Neetu stood beside Emma at many of the screenings of the film and award shows.

“It was an incredible experience having her with me,” Emma revealed. “It was an important recognition for all women like Geeta and Neetu who are out there doing the long fight over decades, to survive violence, find their voice and create change in their communities.”

The Geeta team hopes that the film will have a far-reaching impact on the wider society. Touring the film in Australia, India and other countries, they hope to have guided, meaningful conversations to fast track and champion change.

Geeta is a feature documentary about a mother’s resilience, determination and the power of her transformative love to bring change to her daughter’s life after a brutal acid attack

Neetu Mahor at a Melbourne screening

Neetu with Emma Macey-Storch

cineTALK

Worth waiting for? You decide!

14 Indian films and series releasing this July

KO FF EE WI TH KA R A N

Season 7 (Disney + Hotstar)

Bollywood lovers’ favourite chat show returns for its seventh instalment this month. We’re looking forward to celebrity guests like Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, Kiara Advani and Shahid Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, and probably Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. No doubt there’s plenty of gossip and controversy ahead!

The show begins streaming on 7 July.

M

ODERN LOV E H Y DER ABA D (Amazon Prime Video)

Two months after the release of Modern Love Mumbai comes the Telegu anthology series, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, Devika Bahudhanam, Uday Gurrala, and Venkatesh Maha. The six episodes will explore stories of love and relationships, all set in Hyderabad. Better get your popcorn ready, because this show begins streaming on 8 July.

S AA S BA H U AC H AA R

PV T LTD (Zee5)

This Hindi drama stars Anjana Sukhani as Suman, a budding entrepreneur keen to launch her own homemade achaar (pickle) business. She’s supported by her mother-in-law, who wants to help Suman get her kids back from exhusband Dilip, played by Anup Soni. The web series releases on 8 July.

MATRIMONIA LS

S EEKING G R OO MS

Seeking a professionally quali ed settled match for Sydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 49, 5'3" slim, fair, attractive girl. Girl is a postgraduate and is working in a good position in a government organisation. Please contact at ausind26@gmail.com

S EEKING B RIDES

Seeking a professionally quali ed, settled match for Sydney based, never married Aus citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 48, 6', athletic built man. He is a project manager with an engineering background and is working in a reputed organisation. Please contact at ausind26@gmail.com

R A N V EER V S WIL D WI TH B E A R

GR YLL S ( N et ix)

India’s rst interactive reality special will see Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and British adventurer Bear Grylls join forces. You’ll need to click through and make survival choices to help the duo navigate through the erce Siberian wilderness. Are you ready?

The series releases soon on 8 July.

K H U DA H

AAFIZ

C H AP TER

2: AGN I PA R IK SH A (Zee5)

This sequel to the 2020 lm directed by Faruk Kabir reunites Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi as happy couple Sameer and Nargis. In this instalment, their happiness is disrupted by the kidnapping of their daughter Nandini. Will Sameer be able to save the day once again?

Find out more when the lm releases on 8 July.

H I T - T HE F I RST CA SE (in theatres)

Starring Rajkumar Rao and Sanya Malhotra, this lm is a remake of the 2020 Telegu lm of the same name. It tells the story of the state’s Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) who are investigating the case of a missing young girl. Fun fact for sceptics of adaptations – Telegu director Sailesh Kolanu returns for the making of this lm.

HIT - The First Case will release on 15 July 2022.

SH ABAA SH MI TH U (In theatres)

This much-awaited sports drama is based on the life of cricketer Mithali Raj, who recently retired from international cricket after a glorious 23-year career. The lm stars Taapsee Pannu as the lead character, Vijay Raaz as Raj’s coach, and Mumtaz Sorcar as teammate Jhulan Goswami. Catch this lm in theatres starting 15 July.

JAA D U G A R (Net ix)

Starring Jitendra Kumar, this comedy drama tells the story of Magic Meenu (Jitendra Kumar), a small-time magician who must win a local football tournament to marry the woman he loves. It also stars Arushi Sharma and Jaaved Jaaferi in supporting roles. Bit of a bizarre premise, but it sounds promising! The lm hits your screens on 15 July.

SHOORV EER (Disney+Hotstar)

This lm follows the formation of an elite Indian task force that is training to become the country’s rst responder squad against national threats. It stars Makarand Deshpande, Manish Chaudhari, Aadil Khan, Abhishek Saha, Anjali Barot, and others. Shoorveer begins streaming on 15 July.

THE GR AY MA N (Net ix)

Marking Dhanush’s international debut, this Net ix lm is an adaptation of a 2009 novel of the same time. It stars Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and others, and is actually Net ix’s most expensive lm made to date. Are you ready to hop on for this adventure?

The lm begins streaming on 15 July.

SH AM SHER A (In theatres)

No doubt you’ve been keeping an eye out for this one! Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, this period drama set in the late 19th century is about a tribe’s ght for independence against British rule. It is slated to hit screens on 22 July.

INDIAN PREDATOR: THE BUTCHER OF DELHI (Net ix)

Produced by Vice India, this is a docuseries about a series of gruesome murders by a serial killer in Delhi, who leaves their body parts to be found across the city. While the makers have stopped short of naming the real-life case this is based on, many hypothesise that it is based on serial killer Chandrakant Jha, who was given the death penalty in 2013.

Catch this eerie series when it releases on 20 July.

E K VILLAI N RET U RNS (In theatres)

This spiritual successor to 2014 lm Ek Villain stars John Abraham, Disha Patani, Arjun Kapoor and Tara Sutaria. It is set eight years after the events of the original and tackles another serial killer, the Smiley Mask. Was it on your watchlist?

Keep an eye out for its 29 July release date.

MA SABA MA SABA S E A SON 2 (Net ix)

Mother-daughter duo Neena Gupta and Masaba Gupta return for this second instalment where the designer continues to make her name in the world of fashion while exploring the world of dating. And if the teaser’s anything to go by, it looks like a pregnancy arc might be on the cards. Mark for your calendars for 29 July.

Feeling NSW

Listeners and presenters from the Indian Link Radio community share pics from their trips out in NSW

The Mehrotras fruit picking at Nashdale: It’s RJ Sagar and his wife Nidhi

Bijal Yagnik with family at Circular Quay

It’s RJ Lily! Lily Gabriel, Indian Link Radio host, at Warrumbungles National Park

Autumn Sonata: Kirti Pateland family in Thornbrook Cherry picking in Mayfield:

Kirti Patel and friends

Hiral Adhyaru and hubby Dhawal at Ettalong Beach

The whitest sand, the clearest water: Ashwini Sardar at Jervis Bay

Manish Jain and family at Jervis Bay

Smita Nashikkar in Kiama

Ruchika Mangla at Rainbow Beach, Port Macquarie

Nitu Sharma at Cave Beach, Lake Macquarie

July 2022

BY MINAL KHONA

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

The Leo card appears for Aries - it tells you to go wild with your passion, and to do what you want with your life. Challenges will come but your persistence wins the day. Let go of the past if you want your current relationship to succeed. Debts get cleared and you are full of energy to resolve anything that comes your way. Overall, your life will improve on all fronts – romance and business. What you do today will give you results in the future.

Healing is a must for you, if you want to move on with your life, if you are getting over a break-up or the loss of a loved one. You may undertake short, happy trips. You could also get a promotion and a raise. Money problems cease to exist as even those who owe you, will pay up. If you are self-employed, you may decide to end a partnership; you could however see new beginnings elsewhere.

You will be moving into a better space mentally and a happier lifestyle though you have had setbacks in the past. If you are looking to sell your house, you will. Paperwork regarding insurance etc. will bring positive results. Work improves, you are more productive, and nances look up too. A new business too could come your way. Do not give in to a poverty of spirit or a feeling of lack. You will always have enough and more abundance surrounding you.

It is time to take off the rose-tinted glasses and look within. A paradigm shift regarding your illusions about yourself is on the anvil; expect events to shake up the status quo for you with family and at work. You could have legal matters to attend to. Business gets better for the self-employed. If health problems persist, take a break instead of running to a doctor. Don’t let what appears to be real, cloud your judgement. Eventually, things will work out.

You will experience a lot of inner engineering happening this month as spiritual matters are the focus. Those wanting to get pregnant, this is a good time to try conceiving. Singles will want a deeper interaction. Some of you may move house or start saving to buy one. Upper back issues may need some physiotherapy. A strong connection with someone will lead to a new beginning. You need to rest your mind and avoid too much activity. Just be, for now.

A dif cult month as circumstances around you change; colleagues could undermine your authority and other problems will crop up. Work pressure won’t let you take a break either. Let go of your nicky attitude to get things done. Money owed to you causes anxiety, but it will come, and you may also make some extra. Eventually everything will work out in your favour so avoid stressing about things beyond your control. Don’t let your guard down, and go slow.

Librans will be seeking marital happiness, career growth or spiritual knowledge depending on their current inclination. Singles could feel lonely due to the lack of a partner. Something will happen at work to get you motivated again. If you are feeling run down from doing too much, you can slow down or indulge in retail therapy. Avoid mixing business with pleasure. Finances stay strong. Someone in the family could get married. A new aspect to your personality will come to the fore soon.

You will be planning your next move and your career is all that matters right now. If you have other dilemmas in your life, chances are you will have two options to choose from. Singles should watch out; someone they meet could be a married person. Your success comes from expanding your horizons. A family reconciliation is in the of ng. The selfemployed will earn more. Do not settle for the rst offer that comes along, if you are looking for a job.

The gregarious and outdoorsy Decemberborn pick the card for Libra, making them a little cautious and circumspect. Singles could meet someone who may be a Libran. If in the midst of a disagreement, see the other’s point of view also to reduce tension and de-escalate. Drive carefully. A reality check on a relationship shatters your illusions about it. Even if money is coming in, there could be stress in ensuring it does. Keep your objectivity and you will be proven right eventually.

Singles will finally make a call on whether to go forward or call it quits on a relationship. A new business opportunity will surprise you and you will get the help you need to succeed. A good time to get married. Take some time out to rest; you need it. Sealing a deal will bring in the money. Indecisive Capricornians will struggle with decision making even more this month. Focus on positive and meaningful ideas for best results.

The Leo card drawn indicates there will be leadership role opportunities coming your way. You might also meet someone you could get involved with; possibly a Leo. Spiritual matters dominate all of July. You may also get a raise or a promotion and you will be in a generous frame of mind. Opt for alternative remedies for chronic problems. If a relationship has been rocky, it will end soon. The laws of attraction work in your favour helping you get what you want.

The best card in the pack tells you that while new opportunities come along, there could also be hurdles. Incessant problems will want you to shut down and go on a break. Those looking for a job will soon nd one. Let the feelings you experience come and go; eventually, things will pan out in your favour. Take a second opinion for health matters. Money from multiple avenues is expected. You will overcome all the challenges you are facing currently.

ASK AUNTYJI

DEAR AUNTYJI

I am 35 years old and have been married for 7 years to a really nice man. We get along quite well and rarely have arguments. But something happened recently and I would love your input.

So last month, I had an argument with Vivek. It was about him forgetting to take the garbage out, but I got irritated and had a fullon fight. I got upset, and I said to him to leave me alone and that he should not sleep in the same bed as me. The next day was Saturday and so I slept in. I saw Vivek around 1pm when I eventually came downstairs; we both apologised to each other and I almost forgot about the whole situation. But then last week the credit card bill comes in, and it turns out that when we had our argument, Vivek left the house and checked into a hotel. I could not believe it - when I asked him to leave me alone, I expected him to sleep on the sofa - and not to go to a hotel. I am so surprised Auntyji, and I don’t know how to deal with

this. What do you think I should do?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Arre kalmouhi, you kick your patidev out of your bed, and you expect him to sleep on the floor like a guilty pup? In which world do you live that you think you have the right to kick your husband out for a minor infraction like forgetting to take out the garbage? When you let your anger get the better of you, and when you speak with an acid tongue like a nagin, you can expect that only shaitaani harkat will ensue. Granted Vivek was negligent in taking out the garbage. But it was a minor misdemeanour - and it did not deserve exile from your bedroom. So once aapne mehifil mein ailaan kar diya ki door hojaa meri

nazron se, all bets were off. So Vivek decided that the lumpy and smelly sofa was not good enough for him.

And he checked into a hotel. That’s what happens when wives turn into dayans and nag their husbands. Now if you had said to me that Vivek was a bekaroo who did not lift a finger around the house and he did not care for you and that he preferred the company of his buddies, then my advice to you would have been different. But this is chikna Vivek. He is a caring companion, and did not deserve to be thrown out of the house like that. So you deserve what he did. Why should you be the only one sleeping in a nice warm bed at night. Vivek deserved it too. So both of you made choices that night. And only one of you is living to regret it. If you want Vivek to move out permanently, then go ahead and have some more arguments with him. I dare you - you kalankini

DRAFT GREATER METROPOLITAN WATER SHARING PLANS

The NSW Government has released the draft water sharing plans for the Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources 2023 and the Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River Water Sources 2023 for public comment. The public exhibition runs until 7 August 2022.

Water sharing plans set the rules for how water is shared and ensure water is specifically provided for the environment, while providing security for licence holders to plan their business activities.

These draft plans will replace the existing 2011 plans that expire on 30 June 2023. Each replacement plan will be based on the most up-to-date data including revised groundwater recharge estimates and new scientific risk assessments that look at the value of the riverine environment or groundwater dependent ecosystems as well as the existing levels of water able to be taken and stress placed on those environments. Using this information, the NSW Government develops rules to protect the environment while maximising the economic, social and cultural uses of water.

We want to hear from you. You are invited to attend a face-to-face or online community information session to hear more about the plans and find out how you can give us your feedback.

The department is holding 14 face-to-face and three online sessions between Tuesday 28 June and Friday 29 July 2022.

You can register for the sessions from 27 June, view the draft plans and find out how you can have your say at: dpie.nsw.gov.au/wsp

FEEL LIKE THE ONLY

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PEOPLE ON EARTH

What is long COVID, and how can I protect myself and my community?

The time it takes to get better after COVID-19 is different for everyone, depending on how sick they were with COVID-19 and if they had any other pre-existing health conditions. Some people experience ongoing symptoms after having COVID-19. Even mild cases of COVID-19 can have a lasting impact on people’s health.

Keep reading to learn about the long effects of COVID and what it means for you and your community.

What is long COVID?

Long COVID is where a person's COVID-19 symptoms last for four weeks or more after they were

Long COVID can last for many weeks and months, even after a person no longer has the virus. The symptoms of long COVID can be different for each person. Common symptoms include:

• tiredness

• a persistent cough

• chest pain

• joint pain

• not enough energy to exercise

• fever

• headaches

• problems with memory and (‘brain fog’)

• depression or anxiety.

Many long-term side effects from COVID-19 are still not known. This is why it is important that you do everything you can to protect yourself against being infected with the COVID-19 virus, including getting and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine.

Who can get long COVID?

Long COVID can affect anybody who has been infected with COVID-19. There is research underway in Australia and around the world to try and better understand who is more likely to be at risk of developing symptoms of long COVID.

People who had a mild COVID-19 infection and did not need to go to hospital can still get long COVID. Some studies suggest that up to 1 in 3 people who have had COVID are potentially affected by long COVID. Experts continue to study long

ways to treat and reduce it.

How do I protect myself and my community?

COVID-19 vaccines can help reduce the chance of experiencing long COVID. Make sure you keep up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines to help protect yourself from long COVID.

You can help slow the spread of COVID-19 by getting yourself vaccinated and continuing to follow COVID safe practices, like staying 1.5 metres from others and wearing masks correctly. This leads to fewer people getting infected with COVID-19, reducing the number of people who experience long COVID. If you tested positive for COVID-19 more than a few weeks ago, and you are still feeling unwell, talk to your doctor.

If you are worried about your symptoms or require more information, visit health.gov.au or call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080. Select option 8 for free interpreting services.

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.

Broken Hill