The best since the first Plus: What went wrong for India?
Get your friends together for a day at the cricket to support Australia as they take on one of their oldest rivals England in the Dettol ODI Series. This will be the last chance to see the Australian Men’s team against England on home soil until the 2025/26 Ashes Series. Don’t Miss It!
Australia v England | 19 November | SCG
Cricket tickets
Sunday 1310amNovember - 3pm
(All HomeWorld Villages)
If you haven’t visited HomeWorld before you many not realise all that it has to o er and why people love to visit. HomeWorld display villages allow you to step inside more than 350 display homes and see for yourself what living in a brand new home would be like.
The range of designs on display is huge from single storey homes to large bespoke designs, granny flats and duplex. You will also find 50 builders on site who can help answer your questions and take you through your options. With 5 locations to choose from there is more to explore than ever before.
HomeWorld villages are open 7 days from 10am-5pm.
Rajni Anand Luthra
Rhea L
Charu Vij
ADMN
Drishya Sharma
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:
I N d IAN L IN k M E d IA Gr O up
Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000
G p O Box 108, Sydney 2001 p h: 02 9279-2004
Email: info@indianlink.com.au
Why, in today’s world, would anyone want to be a politician?
The professional hours are gruelling, with parliamentary work as well as responsibilities in your own consistency.
The exhaustive networking involved could be challenging, including late-night event-attending that could well take the form of foreign language speeches or arts not necessarily to your liking - but which must be endured to manage community expectations in the electorate.
Your life is under constant and intense scrutiny, sometimes relating to times before your political career began, so that there is loss of privacy. (If you’re a woman, you could expect this to double, with attention going to your personal appearance and deportment).
You spend a significant portion of the year away from your family.
You fight to stay on at work every few years.
Add to this, if recent events are anything
to go by, parliament may perhaps not even be a safe place to work, especially if you’re a woman.
And yet, it appears that these challenges are considered well worth the effort, by those strongly motivated to make a difference in people’s lives.
Keen to be part of the decision-making that will help transform communities at every level – whether local, state, national or international – the shortterm inconveniences are glossed over, or deemed part of the job.
The overarching urge is the ability to have an influence in matters which can change the course of a community, or, to borrow a phrase from an immigrant politician made famous by the multi-award winning musical Hamilton, the desire to be in the room where it happens.
We’ve seen an uptick of late in our own immigrant community here in Australia, in the number of people who want to be in the room where it happens.
These green shoots have been emerging before the recent rise of Rishi Sunak in the UK and the growing ‘Samosa Caucus’ in the US, but these can only be even greater motivators.
State parliamentarians Gurmesh Singh in NSW, Kaushaliya Vaghela in Victoria,
and Yaz Mubarakai in WA, and the many elected councillors in local government (46 in NSW alone), have paved the way, and the upcoming state elections in Victoria and NSW are eagerly awaited for our own growing samosa caucus.
The Victorian state elections on 26 Nov so far has 57 Indian-origin candidates, many of them from the fledgling political party New Democrats launched in early October by Kaushaliya Vaghela, formerly of the ALP. For the NSW State elections next year, Charishma Kaliyanda has been nominated for the Labor Party in the high-profile Liverpool constituency. (It is expected that at least four other Indianorigin candidates will secure nominations in coming weeks.)
Given the increasing influence of the Indian-Australian community, politics is the next big frontier, and it now looks set to be conquered.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron had said famously in 2015, “It won’t be long before there is a BritishIndian prime minister in 10 Downing Street.” It took seven years for that premonition to come true.
Should we be speculating about the number of years before we see an Indianorigin prime minister at Kirribilli?
Nath, Ritam Mitra, Torsha Sen, Rohit Alok, Suhayla Sharif, Prutha Chakraborty, Rama Ravinthiran, Petra O’Neill, Auntyji
ACCOLADES
STAGE
ENTREPRENEUR
A new book on the Manjit’s brand
We’ll never stop advocating about the importance of green space in our backyards and across our rural, regional and city landscapes.
The humble backyard, public parks, gardens, reserves and playgrounds play a critical role in supporting our social, emotional and physical health and wellbeing – and the benefits are scientifically proven.
Studies have found that access to green space and gardens in our yards, and public spaces is associated with longer life expectancy, solace from stressful lives, better health or recovery from illness, healthier weight range, increased physical activity, greater socialisation, increased community sense of place and belonging, and reduced levels of diabetes, heart disease and depression.
Here at Coolabah Turf, we’re passionate about building healthy communities – one backyard at a time.
Our backyards are the breeding ground for home-grown sporting heroes and there is no better way for kids to grow up than rolling around on the lawn, kicking a footy, playing a friendly game of cricket or tossing a ball.
It’s where many take their first wobbly steps, where they stum -
ble and fall and where they learn to get back up again.
It’s where you learn to dodge the hills hoist, jump over the sprinkler, avoid the bindii patch and wrestle the dog.
It’s also where you learn problem-solving skills, build courage and confidence, and create lifelong memories.
We dedicate our time and energy to creating awesome backyard spaces for families to enjoy and we’ve made it our mission to not only produce the highest quality turf varieties for our customers, but also the most sustainable lawn landscapes that encourage active and healthy lifestyles.
Coolabah Turf’s homegrown Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo is the #1 seller and best-performing grass for Aussie backyards. It’s easy to install, thrives in shade or sun,has minimal water requirements once established, and is perfect for residential yards with kids or dogs. It’s drought tolerant, self-repairing, non-invasive and has a broad, soft luscious leaf that’s a great performer in high wear areas.
If you like the sound of lazy summer days reclining on nature’s very own shagpile rug, then this is the grass for you.
Find out more at www.coolturf.com.au
Google has existed
People have sent SMS in Australia GST has been increasing prices
This Diwali, RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA rounded up her top ten desserts at Indian restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne. Care to add to the list?
Gaurang Gahoi wrote: Ghewar (at) Foreign Return!
Homosexuality has been decriminalised
Paid maternity leave has existed
Under 3% of Aussie homes had internet
Sarah Storey (Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to India) wrote: Now that’s one mouth-watering list! I will check a few out when I head home to Australia next.
Dessert Corner wrote: What a wonderful surprise this was! We’re so honoured to have been featured on the Indian Link list of Ten Best Restaurant Desserts in Melbourne. We’re forever touched by their commitment to shining a bright spotlight on all things Indian in Australia.
you for trusting and growing with us since Oct 1994
All things Indian. In Australia. For the past 28 years.
This October marked 28 years since Indian Link Media Group was launched. Thank you for trusting and growing with us since 1994.
Mythili Iyer wrote: Congratulations to Indian Link team for the milestone event of completing 28 years of your service to the people in Oz land!
Smita Shah OAM wrote: Happy birthday, love your work!
Jodi McKay wrote: A very happy birthday! Thank you for your incredible support of the Indian community in Australia.
Australia India Business Council Ltd wrote: Thank you Indian Link – our media in Australia is richer for your involvement.
Sriraman Annaswamy wrote: What a fantastic innings Indian Link Media Group, Pawan Luthra, and Rajni Luthra, well played! Splendid Deepavali and wishing you both and your team a further double ton at the crease, onwards and upwards!
Readers Mohan Ayyar, Manju Anand, Komal Utsav Jagad, Samir Somaiya, Smita Pawar Nashikkar, Saurabh Khurana, and Jyothsna Rao were among the other well-wishers.
Are you proud of Rishi Sunak’s appointment, disappointed by his politics, or a bit of both? KHUSHAAL VYAS shares his thoughts on the UK’s first Asian-origin PM and what it means for diversity in politics.
Khushaal Vyas wrote: Rishi Sunak’s ascension to PM is no doubt historic but understandably has people divided. Whilst I don’t agree with his politics, I think there’s still something well worth celebrating here.
Mallika Raj wrote: Such an insightful article, brilliantly written!
Navin Patel wrote: Very thoughtfully analysed.
David Eaw wrote: I agree 101%. I am a Singapore Chinese and am extremely proud of Sunak.
Same venue, same tournament. T20 World Cup. The difference is the teams playing. 86174 = Aus vs Ind. 80462 = Eng vs Pak. Who would have thought women’s cricket would have gotten more people.
Lisa Sthalekar, cricket commentator
Urban Tadka wrote: What a great honour for one of our all-time favourite desserts here at Urban Tadka to be featured among Sydney and Melbourne’s Top 10.
On the eve of Diwali, Indian Link editor RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA was on ABC Sydney’s Sunday Brunch with Simon Marnie.
Anita Palathingal wrote: Heartfelt and very interesting.
Annu Batra wrote: Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. Got to know Rajni better. Bunty Poonam wrote: I’m off to read Tomb of Sand.
Nimeesha Gupta wrote: What a great conversation - from Swastik to drawing parallels between Diwali and Christmas, to arranged marriages and her list of ‘candidates’, ‘Rock raga’, Partition trauma in Tomb of Sand, Diwali delicacies like laddoos and the dance steps of London Thumakda! Enjoyed every bit.
Nita Mathur wrote: I want to read both Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree and The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes.
Smita Pawar Nashikkar wrote: Such a great interview. Absolutely loved listening to you. Proud of you.
Ritam Mitra wrote: I’m going to need to try this goat curry.
Ranjit Nayar wrote: I checked out Black Mountain Side by Led Zeppelin and loved it. Thanks for that call-out.
Jyoti Menon wrote: Arranged marriage is like Tinder!
Janine Anne wrote: Loved this wonderful interview – interesting and intelligent and eloquent. Do you know where I can watch the movie about the rural newspaper?
Veena Surinder wrote: Definitely going to watch the recommended movies and read the books.
Shanta Vishwanathan wrote: What a delightful interview! Diwali, art, culture, religion and her own story all woven together and conveyed so beautifully by Rajni Luthra. (Rajni, I often call myself a mixed up person too, because I’m from a mixed up family like you).
Neha Bhushan wrote: I’m a primary school teacher, and I agree Pamela Allen is a great kids’ author!
(We) want everyone to feel really welcome and part of Australian cricket. We’ve got a long way to go, but I think that we’re seeing rapid change. It’s happening organically already. The question is, how do we accelerate it.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley in the SMH on engaging multicultural communities in Australian cricket
We asked, what’s Priyanka Chopra thinking as she arrives in India?
RHEA L NATH shared the story of Anish Sinha, whose insurance tech company Upcover has been touted one of Australia’s fastest growing start-ups.
Skye Theodorou wrote: A super proud moment to see my cofounder Anish Sinha being featured by Indian Link Media Group. I remember the early days describing to my friends and family that meeting my co-founder - the Barack Obama and Crazy Scientist and Einstein of the upcover dream […] I am so proud to be building upcover alongside him, day by day in the trenches, building Australia's fastest insurance for businesses, and helping loyal brands offer insurance to their customers and contractor workforce
Jake Booker wrote: This is an awesome read - a testament to Anish Sinha, his journey to-date, and what has been built thus far with upcover. One of the primary archetypes and founders we love to work with are what we call the 'zero to ones'. This represents the likes of Anish, who having spent his early career in banking, then moved into technology and found success rising the ranks of a high-growth venture. Anish knew what it takes to build a business from start-up (level zero) to scale-up (level one) - having played a central role in that journey via his then employer - and took those learnings, insights, and experiences to make the leap of faith and build his own […] Well done as well to Indian Link Media Group and Rhea L Nath for the quality insights. All early-stage articles should strive for this mix of Founder DNA and business intelligence. Without the former, you don't get the latter.
Ankur Warikoo wrote: This makes me so so proud. Well done Anish and Skye.
Barry O’ Farrell (Australian High Commissioner to India) wrote: Delhibased Anish Sinha co-founded insurance tech start-up Upcover within a year of moving to Australia in 2019. The start-up is now Australia’s fastest insurance for small business owners & is growing 30% month-on-month. Inspiring journey!
Where, we asked, would you find this statue of Sir Don Bradman? (Hint: it’s not a cricket stadium…)
Roh An won a free movie ticket for his response: Oh no, ab fir se Diwali par pataake na chhodne ka gyaan dena padega Hae mera asthma.
Mansi Kaushal wrote: Back to basics
Krunal Kairon Mistry wrote: Funny… she’s there to promote hair care products but is wearing hair extensions?
Raj Saneja wrote: Hope I’m dressed decently enough to avoid the trolls.
Tejas Bharnuke wrote: I hope no one’s going to set off fire crackers (near me) Vandana Mathur wrote: Saat khoon maaf for wearing this public health nurse outfit!
Rj Mk wrote: Full sleeves pehnu, ki Odomos lagaun ya Kachua Chaap…?
Rita Dushyant wrote: Aa gaye vapas jahaan se pichcha chuda ke bhage the. Rishi Singh wrote: Swagat nahi karoge mera !?!
Anu Singh wrote: OMG, ab Hindi bolni padegi.
Tashu Sharma wrote: Kya kya khane ko milega...pehle kahaan jaoon?
It is the oldest cricket stadium in India. Also called "Mecca of Indian cricket". Where in India is this stadium?
All correct answers here, no surprise. Thanks to readers Shalini Ponnaiya, Sudhir Juneja, Harsh Bhatt, Patanjali Pandey, Rao Josm Gizelle Daniel, Jaadish Rani, Sandip Hor and Pranay Hegde.
Lesson from this World T20: Pakistan can't win Cup by just bowling, India can't win Cup by just batting. England has batters, spinners, pacers, fielders, and luck
Mohammad Kaif, former Indian cricketer
We can talk about match-ups, form, conditions but that all goes out the window in a crunch game. It's all about who can handle the pressure.
Isa Guha, cricket commentator
Call it recency bias if you must, but the 2022 T20 World Cup was the best edition yet of the tournament, at least since the first. With a mandatory quota of those spinetingling “where were you when…” moments, punctuated by a plethora of upsets and a dramatic final in which England prevailed, first-time hosts Australia delivered a spectacle that captured the attention and imagination like no other T20 tournament has managed in a long time.
There is something to be said for a close-fought tournament with the right
dose of mystery and a regular cadence of twists and turns; where the semi-finalists were not known until the dying group stages, helped by results like Zimbabwe toppling Pakistan, Ireland defeating England and the Netherlands taking down a rampant South Africa. These were surprises, but rarely shocks: the T20 format is cricket’s biggest leveller, and there was a great deal of quality and talent in each team.
The players, of course, lay at the centre of it all. T20 cricket is now the most professional form of the game – given the sheer sums of money involved – and it showed in the way even Associate nations matched it with the best in the disciplines of fielding and fitness, the hallmarks of professionalism in a cricket team.
Beyond the players, the most important role was played by the near-perfect Australian conditions.
This is not a nod, of course, to the relentless rain – particularly in Melbourne – for which the malingering La Niña system can be thanked. Even then, as Sydney residents will attest to, it is no small miracle that all games at the Sydney Cricket Ground were completed without interruption, such has been the volume of rain in what is already the city’s wettest year on record.
But it is the other elements which set the scene for an enthralling tournament. While flat pitches, small grounds and the absence of seam or swing are the scourge of those who covet a close contest, Australia delivered the very opposite, and it showed in the closeness of the contests.
The size of Australian grounds, for instance, ensured that teams stacked with power hitters could not simply blast their way to unsurpassable totals. This is because large boundaries mandate not just powerful, but smart cricket. A canny fielding captain and disciplined bowling are far more effective on bigger grounds, while the fittest, most resourceful batters – Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson – can also often extract more value here than they otherwise might.
Staging the tournament in October – a necessity to preserve the Australian summer of cricket – also paid dividends, with pitches still carrying a heartbeat. It gave us a sight that has been absent from cricket down under in recent years: a swinging, seaming white ball. Swing and seam rebalanced the dynamics in
australian conditions, a blockbuster format, and unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat competition, made Icc T20 World cup 2022 one of the best ever.
the critical powerplay, when bowlers would typically be on a hiding to nothing; indeed, this was, statistically one of the hardest T20 World Cups in history to be an opening batter. Reflecting on the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and the fearsome South African pace quartet, it is no surprise why.
The ICC too, must be given credit where due: it has absolutely nailed the format of the T20 World Cup. The qualifying stage, typically a perfunctory curtain raiser between weaker nations, was riveting and, thankfully, subject to the same broadcast production standards as the Super 12 stage. It gave us an early exit by two-time champions West Indies, a staggering upset by Namibia over Sri Lanka, and a lastgasp qualification by the Netherlands – who would go on to defeat South Africa in perhaps
the most consequential upset of all. The Super 12 format is also perfectly punishing; even a single loss can be devastating, and a big loss tournament-
ending, as Australia suffered at the hands of New Zealand. This is how it should be: world titles should not be easily won, and each game must be given context. By
winning their last match against South Africa, for instance, the Netherlands secured automatic entry to the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, a much more powerful motivation than the opportunity to merely play spoilsport.
Even in the afterglow of a tournament as successful as this, the ICC has one key lesson to learn: Associate cricket must not be taken for granted, and ongoing investment is critical. Governing boards, too - particularly the “Big Three” of India, Australia and England - must open up to novel ideas, such as permitting Ireland and Scotland to participate in The Hundred, or playing warm-up matches for England tours against the Netherlands, instead of against county sides.
The ICC is onto a winning formula here; one can only hope that the ICC recognises why.
With a mandatory quota of those spine-tingling “where were you when…” moments, punctuated by many upsets and a dramatic final, first-time hosts Australia delivered a spectacle that captured the attention and imagination like no other T20 tournament has managed in a long time.Ind V Pak (Photo: aP) BY RITAM MITRA
If India’s T20 World Cup campaign started with a bang against Pakistan, it ended with the smallest of whimpers against England, in a ten-wicket thrashing that consigned India to its latest in a long line of defeats in knock-out games. The post-mortem is no doubt already underway, but so often have these conversations been held of late that there will be a sense of déjà vu about it all.
India’s tournament started with the brightest of sparks, against a rampant Pakistan pace attack. But other than against the likes of the Netherlands and Zimbabwe, rarely did India look like a team who would genuinely frighten oppositions. Even against Bangladesh, India avoided disaster thanks largely to a chaotic period of brainless batting by Bangladesh. Instead, the brilliance of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav papered over significant cracks in the team – and uncharacteristically, many of these were in the batting department.
There are many reasons that can be ascribed to India’s abysmal record in knockout cricket, but the first and most important aspect is personnel.
India’s selection strategy at this tournament was dubiously defensive, at best. India preferred picking the lumbering Ravichandran Ashwin over leg-spinner and genuine wicket-taking option Yuzvendra Chahal (who didn’t play a game in the tournament), and the waning Dinesh Karthik over the explosive Rishabh Pant.
The side also persisted with KL Rahul, who was regularly unimpressive, despite the more dynamic Deepak Hooda warming the bench.
Omitted from the squad altogether were young players like Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, who have proved that they can match it against the best, and are unbeleaguered by past failures.
Hindsight is of course, 20/20, but from the outset, Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma would have done well to learn from the aggressive approach to selection by MS Dhoni ahead of the 2007 T20 World Cup, which remains India’s only T20 World Cup title. Controversially at the time, Dhoni ditched experience in favour of boldness and youth – and the likes of Ashwin would never have made that squad, let alone the playing XI.
The benefits of youth are overstated at times, but they go beyond athleticism in the field; youthfulness in a team breeds an infectious sense of fearlessness, the key aspect of the game in which India has struggled heavily in the last decade or so.
It mustn’t be forgotten that India were missing two of its most important players through injury, in Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah. Both play critical roles for India, particularly in limited overs cricket.
But in the same way, so too was England missing Mark Wood and Dawid Malan, both first choice players, through injury
in England’s semi-final victory over India. In any event, such are the demands of the modern game that there are many more players with international-quality experience ready to slot in; injuries are an unavoidable part of the game.
India’s “softly-softly” approach to T20 international cricket also belies a key learning from the IPL and from teams like England: starting slow with the bat is, by and large, a losing strategy.
With KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli all accustomed to starting slow and finishing big, India is overly reliant on Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya to deliver in the death overs. That is a lot of undue pressure given India’s long tail, particularly in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja.
It’s also an incredibly outdated approach. Over the last five years, England have transformed their previously sedate white ball strategy to an almost reckless extent. As India experienced in the fifth and deciding Pataudi Trophy Test, it’s an overhaul that is now bleeding into England’s “Bazball” approach to Test cricket, too.
Of course, as English fans will attest too, hyper-aggression leads to embarrassment at times – England has a penchant for being dismissed for comically paltry totals – but it is also delivering results on the biggest stages, with England the only team to hold both the T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup titles at the same time.
But India is not, in any event, immune from embarrassing defeats – this tournament proved that once again.
To build a culture of fearlessness, however, India must be fearless in selection (and non-selection). It means Rahul Dravid and the board of selectors must be prepared to have some difficult conversations in the months ahead.
To build a culture of fearlessness, India must be fearless in selection (and non-selection).
cricket team in a knock-out match, with India’s semi-final conquerors, England, lifting the T20 World Cup trophy.
Amar Singh, founder of Sydney-based charity Turbans 4 Australia (T4A), has won the Local Hero award in the NSW 2023 Australian of the Year awards announced recently.
Under the 41-year-old’s stewardship, T4A packages and distributes up to 450 food and grocery hampers weekly, to people experiencing food insecurity brought on by drought, bushfires, floods or COVID-19.
Here’s a sneak peak into the life and work of Amar Singh, Local Hero.
What brought you to volunteering
My first experience was with the Red Shield Appeal as a high school student. Shortly thereafter I volunteered at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With both, I found I loved connecting with people, and knew I wanted to do more.
How T4A came to be
Turbans 4 Australia was launched in 2015 as a way really to curb the racism that Sikhs relentlessly faced. I realised we would have to proactively find ways to fit in, instead of having to constantly explain our very existence. One way of doing this was to actively help local causes. This would stamp home the fact to those outside the community – as well as those within – that this is our home now. We belong here, and want to consciously contribute. That the organisation would grow so large, I had no idea. Today we have 200 volunteers undertaking different roles – whether in picking up or dropping off supplies, packing, technology, social media.
An interesting episode from the activities at T4A March 2021, the Hawkesbury floods had devastated the region. As we served there and access began to diminish, we figured the quickest way to drop off supplies would be by air. So we took recourse to helicopter. That we managed to help stranded people then, was pretty amazing. But it is the people’s responses that always gets us. Only months ago, as we drove back from serving at the Annual Sikh Games, we stopped for a break. An Australian person walked up to say, ‘I know you, you’re the guys that help people in distress situations. Thank you for what you did at Lismore.’ And then he insisted on giving us $100. When regular people on the streets – not the big corporations – appreciate our efforts and relate to us, that’s humbling and memorable.
The most touching thing told to you about T4A This would have to be the young kids in our own community in whom we’ve sparked a light. When they do high school projects on T4A, for example,
it is clear they’re looking up to us as role models. It reinforces the belief that no matter your faith or background, if you step up to the cause, you’ll be greeted with open arms everywhere.
The funniest / strangest thing people have asked you about your turban or beard
I’m constantly asked about my turban and hair! How long is your hair? How do you tie the turban?? How do you sleep with it??? I can’t tell you how much I love these questions. It gives me opportunity to talk about my faith and my people. I love that there’s interest. If they never ask, they’ll never know! These conversations break down social barriers; they also promote understanding and acceptance, such as for example, that it’s ok to dress differently. And that’s why we have the term in our name Turbans 4 Australia: our turbans don’t make us any different from regular Australians.
How you explain Sikhism to Australians
It’s a religion with the core values of Seva (selfless service), Kiratkarni (honest living), Vandchakna (sharing of resources and/or skills), and Naam japna (meditation).
A teaching from the Guru Granth Sahib that inspires you Sarbat da bhala. Literally, it stands for ‘Well-being of the Human Race’, or ‘Peace and prosperity for all’.
Favourite inspirational quote
You either win or you learn.
What you’re reading right now
I have strange reading habits. I’m not exactly reading a book at the moment, but I’ll regularly do a deep dive into anything I come across that piques my interest – an event from history, or a philosophical concept.
What you’re listening to
I’m strong-willed and positive, so I want my music to fill me with energy. Punjabi music does this to me very effectively – whether traditional or popular or Gurbani kirtan. Anything that uplifts or pumps me up, I love!
What you’re writing
Personal diaries – but in the form of emails to my kids who are 9 and 3. They’ll get them when they are 18. I write about family, my observations on life, my day-time job (I run a trucking company), my work in volunteering. Today for instance has been significant for me – we’ve just launched the Melbourne chapter of T4A. I’ve already been thinking of what I’ll write about it.
What you’re planning right now
Christmas activities. We’re about to start creating hampers for people in the regional areas who continue to struggle. If you want to volunteer, reach out to us at www.t4a.org.au
indelible impression,” he recalled with fondness. “As a child, I loved that he was like ‘a friend’. I know now that was his interpersonal style as a doctor. I think it was he, his behavior and passion towards treating children that inspired me to become a paediatrician myself.”
The last two years may have been a real test for medical practitioners across the world with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Dr. Raj believes it has been much more difficult for children. He said, “Yes, it was the children who suffered a lot, and continue to do so. It is understandable that parents were concerned about exposing their children to a virus we were still understanding, but the loss for the younger members of our society was substantial. School is more than merely learning the three Rs: it is about learning interpersonal relationships, and resolving challenges in the social sphere in daily life. These are important skills to learn, and having missed this for two years, their overall, holistic development has been hampered. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression soared reportedly, and we may continue to see their effects into the future.”
Dr. Khillan’s work also entails working closely with multicultural communities. His own background, as well as his exposure to multicultural ethos having worked in countries like Saudi Arabia, Nepal, and UK, have come in handy. “Cultural sensitivities can and do impact health care practices,” he observed. “I believe the way we perceive our health, the way we perceive the diagnosis, and the way we follow the medical advice given by the medical practitioner, are all governed by our traditional cultural and spiritual values, and what we have learned from previous generations.”
Social stigma in health concerns like autism and domestic violence for example, are easy to spot, he noted. In this regard, his work in the inception of the Medical Education program is particularly benefiting the state’s multicultural community, by promoting diversity in clinical medicine and facilitating culturally appropriate medical practices.
Dr Khillan has revolutionised the provision of multi-disciplinary healthcare through the creation of Australia’s first combined Women’s and Children’s Health Clinic which provides specialists services from multiple locations. His work in this regard has won bipartisan political support.
Healthcare Awareness Society of Australia and Founder of the group Doctors Against Domestic Violence.
BY TORSHA SENWhen paediatrician Dr Raj Khillan arrived in Victoria from Punjab in 2004, he did not expect to become the state’s Australian of the Year.
Today, he can look back on a twentyyear career in the state - replete with contributions - with satisfaction. He is currently Director at Western Specialist Centre and Senior Paediatrician, but has left his mark in a variety of roles at the Melbourne Clinical School, Notre Dame University, and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
He has also served with distinction at the Overseas Medical Graduate Association and the Multicultural Association of Community Empowerment, and is President of the
Yet Dr Khillan, well-known in Melbourne’s Indian community and with his patients simply as Dr Raj (short for Angraj), is not one to rest on his laurels.
“Receiving this award is an honour and a privilege,” Dr Khillan told Indian Link. “I am conscious, though, of the tremendous
responsibility that comes with it. As an acknowledgment of the work that we are doing, it gives me the incentive to work harder. Not only in the field of medicine but also in the multicultural space, towards greater inclusivity and to promote tolerance and acceptance.”
Dr Khillan was drawn to medicine as a child on a doctor’s visit. “One particular doctor that my mum took me to, left an
Of course, the Indian links persist for the Moga lad: he continues to contribute by providing medical expertise and fundraising.
Given the stereotype of Indians as doctors, we asked Dr Khillan – what makes Indians good doctors?
He replied with a laugh, “Indians from a very early age learn how to work hard while negotiating adverse circumstances, and some strong competition. When you want to become a doctor in a population of 1.5 billion people, it is pretty difficult! That inculcates a good work ethic, especially if you are driven to achieve in a field you are passionate about.”
With the school year now finished for our Year 12s, there are many especially in our own community who might be contemplating a career in medicine. Any message for aspiring doctors?
“Make sure you have a passion for it before you decide for sure. Be prepared to work very hard. But know that no other profession can give you as much in life as the medical profession can.”
ustralia’s intent to work more closely with India is evident in the funding allocated to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to strengthen economic and strategic ties.
The Government has provided $115.7 million to DFAT in its budget handed down on 25 Oct, to invest in public sector linkages, community engagement, education, resources, connectivity, low emissions technology, business literacy, science, and technology cooperation with India.
The new Centre for AustraliaIndia Relations (CAIR) has been allocated $42 million by the Albanese government. CAIR has been flagged as an important part of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) which was signed in April 2022. CAIR’s mandate is to increase India literacy among Australian businesses and build on the contributions of Australia’s growing Indian-origin community.
Welcoming the allocation of these funds, Australia India Business Council (AIBC) National Chair Jodi McKay acknowledged that the Centre would become a key institution in deepening the dialogue between the two countries and working closely with business and industry to explore and capture the emerging opportunities in India Australia trade. She however urged the government to build on the people-to-people links between the two countries.
“The Centre’s focus on promoting policy dialogue and strengthening industry and business links is important, but so too
growing hub of the Indian diaspora. This may well balance the Melbournebased Australia India Institute, a leading centre founded in 2008 dedicated to enhancing AustraliaIndia relations. While the Victorian government has been actively engaged with the Indian diaspora in its state through funding initiatives such as Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, similar state initiatives in NSW have been lacking. Though Parramasala was one such state venture, this has over the years sadly lost its impact amongst the diaspora. The Centre for Australia India Relations can well energise the links with the diaspora in the state.
NSW, both promised by Andrew Charlton, MP for Parramatta.
As well, the permanent Migration Program will be expanded to 195,000 in 2022–23. This is an increase of 35,000. More than 90 per cent of new places will be for skilled migrants, and more than a quarter targeted to regional areas.
Significantly for our community, an additional funding of $42.2 million has been announced to address skills shortages more quickly. These funds will go towards accelerating visa processing, reducing the visa backlog, and raising awareness of opportunities for high skilled migrants in Australia’s permanent Migration Program.
Student and secondary training visa holders will have their work restrictions relaxed until 30 June 2023. This will allow them to work additional hours in any sector, helping to address workforce shortages.
is engaging Australia’s rapidly growing Indian diaspora,” Ms McKay noted.
“The AIBC has long championed businessto-business links, but also believes there must be greater emphasis on the growing India diaspora and its connection to India. The Centre will provide a focus on Australia’s Indian diaspora as a “living bridge” between the two countries, which until now has been missing from Australia’s strategic approach to India.”
AIBC is keen to have the CAIR established in Western Sydney, which is a
AIBC’s NSW President Irfan Malik also said, “Establishing the Centre in Parramatta, which is a thriving commercial hub, makes sense from a business perspective. It also sends a message to the IndianAustralian community that the Federal Government understands their importance in advancing the business and cultural ties between India and Australia.”
Sameer Pandey, Deputy Mayor of the City of Parramatta is another strong supporter, having already moved Council in this regard.
Among other India-related announcements, the Budget provides $6.1m for a South Asian aged care centre, and puts $3.5m towards improving the streets cape of the Little India precinct in Harris Park
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tasmania is seeking a highly-motivated leader with vision, drive, and strong ties to their region to volunteer to Chair their RDA Committee. RDA Committees are vital promoters for their region. They bring together private business and all levels of government with regional communities to build and drive economic growth. Applications are sought from business and community leaders who have a proven track record of achieving meaningful outcomes in a complex environment.
Women, people from Indigenous and diverse cultural backgrounds and people with disability are encouraged to apply.
For more information including the role description and how to apply, please visit www.rda.gov.au/join-your-rda. You can also contact the RDA team via email rdaapplications@infrastructure.gov.au
Applications close on 18 November 2022 at 5:00pm AEDT
For the average migrant to Australia, even one with a successful business background, a logical first step might be joining a local company to learn the ropes of a new business ecosystem. But as Anish Sinha admits, he’s never been one to pause or hesitate.
Instead, he decided to take a chance on himself, and co-founded a start-up within a year of moving to Australia in 2019.
Today, insurance tech start-up upcover is Australia’s fastest insurance for small business owners, and recently announced a successful $4.7 million raise with the support of early-stage venture capital firms Antler Australia and Betterlabs.
“We’re growing 30 per cent month-onmonth and have smashed the 1 million sales number,” he told Indian Link.
It seems his entrepreneurial gut instincts were right, if recent figures are anything to go by, as the insurtech space remains an emerging market in Australia.
Compared to global investments of around $15.8 billion, around $200 million went into Australian insurtech last year –and a fraction of this into the SMB commercial insurance sector.
With backing from industry heavyweights, upcover’s mission is to simplify and democratise this heavily regulated yet stagnant industry. Their quick, jargon-free insurance is intended
to be affordable and accessible and is specifically tailored for Australian small business.
Following major hacks on Optus and Medibank in the last few months, they also recently announced the launch of Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance to protect small businesses from cybercrime, which has been well-received.
Amid all this success, Anish is quick to credit the talent and experience of his cofounder and upcover CEO Skye Theodorou.
“We met as entrepreneurs-in-residence at early stage VC Antler in Sydney. Skye had immense knowledge about the Australian insurance space while I came to the table with experience in building and scaling a business. In India, I was part of the leadership team of Nearbuy, that expanded into eight Indian cities and grew to 10 million users, and led product development, analytics, and operations to onboard more than 80,000 partners,” he elaborated.
An alum of one of India’s most prestigious engineering schools BITS Pilani and India’s oldest business school XLRI Jamshedpur, Anish’s resume also includes three years in the equities division of Goldman Sachs.
He still recalls an interesting interaction with friend and mentor Ankur Warikoo on the beauty of his ‘blank slate’ in moving to
“One thing that stood out from that conversation was being reminded we focus too much on how other people perceive us. Moving to Sydney, I could be anything I wanted to be, beyond labels of an engineer
or a businessman. He reminded me that’s my superpower,” Anish grinned.
In fact, he’s found the Australian tech ecosystem has only welcomed these superpowers, and upcover’s own team boasts of diverse talent across countries like Iran, Nigeria, Italy, and India, which he views as “an immense tech talent pool.”
For Anish, whose family hails from Delhi, the ties to India have remained close over the years.
During the brutal COVID wave in 2021, he launched Medical Oxygen for All (MOFA) with his wife Anchal Goel to fly out oxygen cylinders to India.
“We were a volunteer group of 25 people across India, Australia, and the UK, and we were able to raise $2 million through friends and networks,” he recalled.
“It was an incredible effort! We delivered Oxygen Concentrators and BiPaP ventilators to around 80 districts in India, including many parts of the northeast that were facing logistical issues in getting supplies. This was only possible because of generous donors who backed us.”
Recently announced as a finalist in the 2022 Young Entrepreneur Awards along with Skye, Anish remains a firm believer that “where everything is uncertain, anything’s possible.”
“As an entrepreneur, it’s important to be open to all possibilities. I’m not saying not to be prepared, but to embrace the fact that there is also a massive amount of luck in this process. Just look at the way I was able to meet Skye, and how we were able to put our talents together to create something like upcover,” he smiled.
Who are some of your role models or inspirations?
As a massive fan of history, I’m quite inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, and in more recent times, by the leadership and communication style of Barack Obama. In the field of business, I look up to figures like J. R. D Tata and Steve Jobs.
Currently reading?
Return of a King by William Dalrymple
Currently listening to?
The History of Persia podcast by Trevor Culley
Any advice for young Asian Australians making their way in the corporate world?
There’s no quick recipe for success but it’s important to always put yourself out there. I find there’s a lot of value in seeking out people who are dissimilar to you because there’s a lot of perspective to be gained from different, even uncomfortable, conversations.
“…we focus too much on how other people perceive us.
Moving to Sydney, I could be anything I wanted to be, beyond labels of an engineer or a businessman… that’s my superpower.”
At the 2022 NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering announced on 1 Nov, Sydney’s Dr Sudarshini Ramanathan was named the NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Biological Sciences).
Dr Ramanathan FRACP PhD (USyd) is a Neurology Staff Specialist at Concord Hospital, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Sydney Medical School of the University of Sydney.
Her felicitation comes for her work in the field of autoimmune conditions of the nervous system – in particular, for defining a treatable autoimmune brain disorder now known as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).
MOGAD is an autoimmune disorder which may present with blindness, paralysis, or seizures. While it shares some symptoms with multiple sclerosis (MS), and may be misdiagnosed as such, the underlying disease mechanisms, treatment, and prognosis are very different.
It was Dr Ramanathan’s early work at the University of Sydney that helped establish MOGAD as a separate disease entity from MS.
Today she leads a research team investigating this condition, and other antibody-mediated neurological disorders further.
“MOGAD was first recognised as being relevant in adults only in 2014,” Dr Ramanathan told Indian Link. “Before this, these patients were often misdiagnosed as MS, and managed with unsuitable immune therapies; or remained undiagnosed and untreated, thereby risking permanent disability.”
Many of the conditions Dr Ramanathan and her team study are similarly relatively
recently recognised.
MOGAD can cause inflammation in the optic nerves, spinal cord and brain. In this disorder, the body’s immune system produces antibodies which target the MOG protein that is found on the surface of myelin (which wraps around each nerve cell).
“This condition can cause significant disability, including blindness, paralysis, seizures, and cognitive impairment,” Dr Ramanathan elaborated. “It can present in children as well as adults. The aim of our work is to understand underlying disease mechanisms, diagnose this disorder early, and ensure the appropriate immune treatment is commenced as soon as possible.”
Thanks to her work, MOG antibody testing is becoming part of routine clinical diagnostics in patients with autoimmune brain conditions. The treatment strategies developed by her team are now adopted internationally; and in Australia, her advocacy has seen specific immune treatments become available for patients nationally through Medicare.
Dr Ramanathan will receive a prize of $5000.
She is one of five women in the ten winners announced this year, including of course the NSW Scientist of the Year Professor Glenda Halliday FAA FAHMS, also of the University of Sydney.
“It is an exciting time for women in STEM,” Dr Ramanathan noted. “We should be encouraging young girls who are interested in science and medicine to pursue a career in this discipline. It is important for young women to be able to see that a career in science can be enjoyable and fulfilling, and it is a privilege to be able to improve the health of patients.”
Of course, representation and role models are also significant, she added.
As a young mum herself and as someone who enjoys her work tremendously, Darshi Ramanathan would certainly be a worthy role model.
Former Indian diplomat Amit Dasgupta has been appointed Honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for tirelessly promoting the India-Australia bilateral relationship. He was conferred the award by Sarah Storey, Australia's Deputy High Commissioner to India, on behalf of Australia's Governor General.
“Congratulations @amit_adg! Your tireless support to the Australia-India bilateral relationship over the years is so worthy of this national recognition,” Australian High Commissioner to India,
Barry O'Farrell, tweeted.
As Consul General of India to Sydney from 2009 to 2012, he was awarded a gold medal by the Multicultural Commission of the New South Wales government for promoting multiculturalism and harmony. During this period, attacks against Indian students threatened Australia's international reputation. Dasgupta's personal efforts diffused the tensions and reassured the Indian diaspora.
Dasgupta played a pivotal role in establishing the Australia India Youth Dialogue. Now in its second decade, the Dialogue is a permanent fixture of the bilateral relationship, and fosters
connections between young professionals in India and Australian.
He continues to advance relations between the two countries as a Distinguished Fellow of the Australia India Institute, a Senior Fellow at the Society for Policy Studies, and as the Inaugural Country Director of the University of New South Wales since 2016.
A published author and educator, Dasgupta has served in various capacities in India and abroad in the course of his diplomatic career, including Cairo, Brussels, Kathmandu, Berlin and Sydney.
IANS
It was Dr Ramanathan’s early work at the University of Sydney that helped establish MOGAD as a separate disease entity from Multiple Sclerosis.
Jitesh and Roopam Kumar of Marsden Park, and Roneel and Shiristi Kumar of Prospect, have become joint winners in Blacktown’s Diwali Lights competition this year.
The annual contest has seen homes across the Blacktown region all adazzle this past month, bringing joy to entire streets and much sharing of the Diwali spirit, not only amongst those within but also those outside the area’s Indian community.
Deepavali (as Diwali is also known) literally means ‘rows of lamps’, but in its contemporary version, it might well be ‘strings of light’.
And there were plenty of these out at Blacktown – covering entire facades of homes.
Of course, the rows of lamps (diyas) made their appearance too, as did other traditional elements of the celebration such as rangolis (floor decorations). Splashed across thresholds and driveways, the elaborate rangolis were created both with powder and flowers, with diyas within them bringing an added sparkle.
Also popular this year – real marigold flowers, typical in Hindu rituals.
“I’m truly thrilled to have won,” Jitesh Kumar told Indian Link. “But really, it’s not about the prize. It’s a family tradition in which our young kids are very excited to be involved, and my wife Roopam and I are pleased to know that they will carry it on.”
A giant arc covered in lights stands at the entrance to their home, inviting you in on a pathway that is rangoli-lined and diya-lit. The rest of the fence is lined with smaller arcs. Amidst the hanging string lights that bathe their home in Diwali glow, you can spot diya motifs and the Om symbol, all created by hand.
In the driveway sits the piece de
resistance – an entire Ram Darbar (a tableau of the family of the god of the occasion, Lord Ram).
“We took pains to create it in authentic style, with focus lights on the deities, background lighting, rangolis in front, and of course, music.”
The IT professional, clearly an electronics geek, has the controls of his entire lighting decoration on his mobile phone.
The artistic Ganesh is a novelty item.
“Our Ganesh sits in a flowerpot, under an umbrella of lights,” Jitesh described. “I used an old umbrella stripped of the fabric, and re-created with strings of light.”
The entire decoration took four weeks to plan and execute.
For joint winners Roneel and Shiristi Kumar, it was much longer – six months from start to finish.
“We have a 34-metre frontage, so there’s plenty of area to cover,” laughed Shiristi, a repeat participant in the Blacktown’s Diwali Lights contest, as she described their design.
A stand-out here is the ‘Happy Diwali’ messaging in light, created in Devnagriinspired script. The marigold flower strands are beautifully created and hung. The giant Om symbols, swastikas and diyas, as well as the peacock and lotus motifs, serve not only as decorations but also teaching points to those interested.
(Why lotus? Why peacock? The Kumar kids – Reyna, 12 and Reyaansh, 10 – will be happy to explain).
“We got some of our design custom-
made in China,” Shiristi described.
“Roneel purchased some bits in India.” Their kids have always been fascinated with Diwali lights, Shiristi revealed. “We went home to Fiji when Reyaansh was one. It was Diwali time and there were lights and lamps and firecrackers all around. As a
slightly older child he saw the pics and said why don’t we have these at our Diwali? And so our Diwali decorations began.”
Sandeep Punia of Marsden Park, second place winner, is going to keep his lights on until Christmas. Besides the gentle fairy lights in his design, the most festive
thoran (door decoration) ever and the neat traditional motifs draw attention. (Don’t miss the ‘Shubh Laabh’ motif – ‘May there be good business’).
“Every night we have people driving past, or walking past, even knocking on the door to tell us they’re liking our lights,” Sandeep revealed.
Driving out to see the Diwali lights has become a fad in the region, and looks set to become a city-wide trend in coming years. (Looking at you, Schofields, to become ‘Diwali Lights Central’).
The Blacktown contest has gained popularity – as well as mainstream attention – in the last five years.
“It’s wonderful to see how the event has grown and the manner in which our residents have taken it on board,” Blacktown Councillor Moninder Singh told Indian Link. “I was particularly happy to welcome new participants this year. The community support on judging night especially was pleasing to observe.”
Similar support, we are sure, will come from other sources. Bunnings, nurseries, grab the opportunity – we’re hoping to see entire aisles dedicated to Diwali in your stores next October.
Here’s hoping also, that following on from Blacktown’s Diwali Lights contest, another local council or two will announce their own competitions.
This past Deepavali, the ‘Festival of Lights’ lit up the residence of Australia’s Head of State, the Governor General David Hurley, in celebratory fashion.
In a first event of its kind, the historic Government House in Canberra, where Prime Ministers and Ministers are sworn into office, housed a Deepavali celebration with members of the Indian community.
Mr Hurley and Mrs Linda Hurley hosted 60 guests for a morning tea that was filled with traditional dances, thought-provoking speeches, festive gifts, sweets, and even two impromptu songs led by Mrs Hurley.
“The Deepavali Festival is one of the great occasions on the multicultural calendar,” Mr Hurley stated in his opening remarks. “And what a privilege it is for Government House to host the commencement of the festival in Australia — a first I believe; we are creating history today.”
He added, “One of the reasons we wanted to host this event is to recognise and celebrate the contribution that the 900,000 Hindu, Sikh and Jain Australians make to our community.”
Struck by the underlying message of the festival – ‘Light over darkness’, which signifies that good will always triumph over evil – the Governor General encouraged all Australians to reflect on this captivating theme.
“Inherent in this message is that characteristics of friendship, tolerance, harmony and hope will make for a more inclusive society. So, regardless of faith or background, I encourage all Australians during the ‘Festival of lights’ to reaffirm their commitment to friendship, tolerance, harmony and hope. These are characteristics that we see reflected in the very best of our community.”
The event was organised in collaboration with the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA), whose mission is to advance community in the country, and a group that His Excellency remarked as special for the positive difference they have on Indians and the wider community. These relate, in particular, to their wide-ranging and influential work in migration; tertiary education; religion and chaplaincy; bushfire and drought relief and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reflecting on the privilege of meeting
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various people and organisations from across Australia, the Governor-General also observed that while the groups might differ on backgrounds and work, yet they are collectively bound by common characteristics of being selfless, hardworking and driven to strengthen our communities.
“They reflect the values we celebrate during Deepavali and are evidence that Australia’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Thank you, all, again for being part of the Australian story and for what you do,” His Excellency shared in his final
remarks.
As part of the Deepavali tradition to exchange gifts, our Excellencies also received gifts for their hospitality. An Indian silk scarf was presented to Mrs. Hurley, while the GovernorGeneral received a small sculpture of Lord Krishna on a chariot – the Hindu equivalent to the sermon on the Mount of Christianity.
In a brief speech, Prakash Mehta, National President of HCA, shared what a great honour it was to be invited to the Government House and candidly remarked how comfortable the community feels to observe their faith and traditions in Australia.
He noted, “We feel particularly comfortable here to be able to practise our faith and our numerous festivals. In my view, this perfectly illustrates Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a Sanskrit phrase found in Hindu texts, which means ‘The World Is One Family’.” Rohit Alok
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sydney proved it was a piece of cake to make an impact for Diwali 2022, setting a new record for the world’s largest eggless cake.
Created by a team of over 60 volunteers from the organisation, the cake scaled in at 3 metres wide and 2.4 metres tall and weighed over a tonne.
The temple-shaped culinary masterpiece, now certified as a world record by The Australian Book of Records, was three months in the making.
315kg of flour, 162kg of icing sugar, 140kg of fondant, 81kg of butter and 60kg of ganache were used to make the 3,850 different pieces on the colossal cake, a venture not possible without volunteers like Mira Savania.
“It was really the dedication of all the volunteers involved in this project,” Mira told Indian Link.“Over and above their
normal home, family and work lives, they dedicated many hours to this project to ensure it was delivered on time.”
Baked in bits at volunteers’ homes, it was assembled together at the site of the BAPS
Mandir in Rosehill, Sydney.
With its domes and pillars, wall carvings and decorations, and with that white façade, it is a pretty close replica of the grand marble mandir which is set to open in Sarangpur in Gujarat, India in 2023. This is where His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj spent the last years of his life. This is also where he was ordained, just like all other swamis, after eight years of initial training. It is quite a significant pilgrimage spot for the BAPS community.
41 intricate designs were incorporated into the cake, including elements replicated from the original Mandir.
“The elephant motifs – and the peacocks and swans and flowers and kalash (pots) –are all inspired by the temple at Sarangpur,” Mira revealed.
“We used moulds similar to the ones used for the temple construction to make ours out of fondant.”
Fellow volunteer Praful Jethwa observed, “The beauty of the intricate designs, and the sheer effort, show the devotion of all involved.”
Of course the process was not without challenges. “The weather did not exactly help – with the rain and the heat presenting their challenges!”
And yet when the final jigsaw came together, it was a moment of sheer joy for the volunteers.
As the congregation arrived for prayers, they seemed sceptical about whether the cake was real.
“They couldn’t believe that it was edible – some even asking if it was built of styrofoam,” Mira laughed.
It became part of 850 Annakut food items that were prepared as bhog (offering) and shared after Diwali prayers at the Rosehill Gardens, in the presence of senior BAPS sadhu Pujya Doctor Swamiji.
The 100th birth anniversary of Pramukh Swami Maharaj is currently seeing year-long celebrations, and Mira described the cake effort as a special tribute.
“Pramukh Swami Maharaj has built over 1100 mandirs across the world, and as a token of our appreciation, we decided to build a mandir for him.”
The effort that went into creating the record-breaking cake also embodies that primary lesson in Swamiji’s teaching: ‘In the joy of other’s lies our own.’
Later, that joy was spread to other centres at Canberra and Newcastle, and outside the congregation to those that need care and attention.
700 cake packs were distributed to partnered charity organisations Parramatta Mission and Hawkesbury Helping Hands.
Mira spoke with pride on how the endeavour united the community.
“Whether it was children or seniors, those who have dedicated their time throughout this project, throughout this Diwali, have come together and shown the spirit of unity in diversity, and what can be achieved through harmony.”
a record-breaking cake effort at BAPS Temple Sydney in the year of Pramukh Swami
Maharaj’s 100th birth anniversaryMira Savania
It was between 1943 and 1944 that India-Australia diplomatic exchanges were formally forged into a diplomatic relationship. Playing a key role in this, was Lieutenant General Sir Iven Mackay, Australia’s first High Commissioner in India. Mackay’s distinguished career as a soldier in the two World Wars, and as an educator between them, came in particularly handy in setting the foundation stones for an emerging relationship.
“Mackay’s rigorous education [in Cambridge] and his war experience [in the North African and Greek campaigns of the Second World War and afterwards], in particular dealing with politicians, gave him the skills required for the exacting task of being a first head of mission in a country like India which was undergoing profound change,” says Eric Meadows, an honorary fellow in the Contemporary Histories Research Group at Deakin University.
The change Meadows is referring to is India’s Independence from the British regime in the same period.
A new book titled Rising Power and Changing People: The Australian High Commission in India, discusses these early diplomatic exchanges between Australia and India. Published by the ANU Press, it is edited by Meadows and David Lowe, co-founder of the Australian Policy and History Network.
It was the British who initiated a relationship between India and Australia to assist India in developing its international diplomatic skills in the lead up to its Independence, Meadows mentions in the book.
“The major ‘dominions’ of the British Empire –Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand – were asked to send representation. Australia was the first to respond and the creation of the High Commission [in New Delhi] in November 1943 was, surprisingly, India’s first formal relationship with another country,” Meadows tells Indian Link.
Mackay was an excellent choice as the first High Commissioner.
“His first task was the difficult one of establishing an Australian official presence in the rapidly changing environment of New Delhi,” Meadows adds. “India was rapidly approaching Independence, but the Congress leaders were still imprisoned in early 1944. Once they were released, Mackay met Jawaharlal Nehru and kept up liaison with both the Congress and the departing British administration.”
After all, the Indian National Congress was the dominant political party in the country at that time.
In post-Independent India, however, things began to unfold differently. Mackay’s successor Roy Gollan was less suited to handle the diplomatic relations during the crucial period.
“Gollan had been posted in India in 1939 as a trade commissioner. His job was stimulating trading links between Australia and India, a task made difficult as WWII broke out,” Meadows mentions. “He was assigned to the staff of the High Commissioner once the post was created. For a period, he was based in Shimla while the remainder of the staff were in
New Delhi. He had no responsibilities for political or military liaison or reporting to the Australian government on political issues of importance between the two countries.”
His appointment as the High Commissioner was a result of a dearth of suitably trained people to helm the diplomatic mission, the book notes.
Walter Crocker, on the other hand, was a great match unlike his predecessors – reflecting yet again the subtle influence of rising powers and changing people.
“Crocker had held a variety of positions in the British colonial service and in international organisations,” Meadows describes. “He understood the importance of building of relationships with key leaders; he developed an excellent working relationship with Nehru and other Indian leaders. He insisted on the highest standards from the staff of the High Commission – both in their personal lives as representatives of Australia and in the professionalism of their work and report writing. The standards he set have remained with the High Commission.”
Cut to 2022, both nations share great trade and diplomatic relations. But is there potential unrealised and opportunities missed? Yes, maintains Lowe.
“One of the book’s main messages is that the relationship has endured a number of false starts, promising times that have not seen the relationship flourish as hoped,” Lowe explains.
For instance, immigration policy in Australia was not in favour of migrating Indians.
“Up to the 1960s, Australia missed the chance to remove some of the heat from its racially exclusive immigration policy, the so-called ‘White Australia policy’, by allowing a small quota of Indians to migrate. The Canadians had shown how this could be done; but domestic politics and a lack of courage made this too hard for the Australians,” Lowe adds.
Add to this the fact that Nehru and his counterpart Robert Menzies did not get along well as they should have.
“Neither did they try hard to find common ground in their encounters,” Lowe explains.
Nonetheless, some of the international shocks in the
High Commissioner’s official residence, 1970.
(Source: National Archives of Australia)
region helped both the governments better appreciate their shared interests.
“Two of these incidents that feature in the book are India’s war with China in 1962, and the bloody birth of Bangladesh in 1971. In both cases, the Australian government assisted India in ways that were swift and generous, and demonstrated a preparedness for independent and regionally sensitive foreign policy,” he adds.
From the 1970s, there were renewed efforts from both sides to realise the true potential of their friendship.
“But it was from the late 1980s when both countries began significant economic reforms and reorientations that the structural underpinnings for closer relations began to take shape. Thereafter, while there remained challenges, especially in relation to India’s nuclear testing, the increasing movement of goods and people provided a more robust basis for a closer, constantly developing relationship,” Lowe shares.
The fUTURe
So what are the untapped areas India and Australia could look at, to bolster this evolving relationship?
“At the end of the book, Peter Varghese, former High Commissioner and then Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DFAT, reflects that economic complementarities are becoming better understood [as the expansion of Aus Trade offices in India attests], even if they are not being harnessed quickly,” Lowe tells Indian Link.
“The other is the thickening of ties that comes from people movement, especially India to Australia,” Lowe notes. “This includes not only temporary stayers such as Indian students, but the more permanent Indian diaspora settled in Australia which now numbers around quarter of a million, and is undisputedly the fastest growing. This people-to-people dimension of the relationship has great potential to hasten the identification of more opportunities in all realms of business, cultural exchange and otherwise.”
Choosing a childcare centre for your child can be a challenging process. To start with, choices may be limited if there are not many childcare centres in the area where you live or work. Or if the waiting lists are full. We know there are “childcare deserts” around the country.
But if you do have choice, what should you look for? Parents may already be looking for warm, caring educators and a centre with good accreditation ratings. What may be less well known is a childcare centre’s physical environment – its location and indoor and outdoor spaces – is also important.
Research shows physical environments have a major influence on children’s health, wellbeing, development and learning.
We are early childhood researchers and in a recent study, we highlight four important features for parents to look for in a childcare centre’s physical environment. These are based on children’s right to a safe and healthy environment.
In Australia, property developers are increasingly investing in childcare centres.
They have become powerful influences on where childcare centres are and how they are designed.
In addition, childcare in Australia is increasingly provided by for-profit organisations. As of 2020, 49% of childcare services were by for-profit organisations. On the share market, childcare centres are seen as a smart investment.
There are regulations around childcare environments such as space, fencing and resources, but these are minimal requirements. This can mean children’s health, wellbeing and development are not always seen as the top priority when designing centres. Here are four questions parents can ask when looking at potential childcare centres.
1. Is it near a busy road?
Many childcare centres are located on busy roads. Government planning regulations can encourage this. In the planning process, residents in quieter streets may complain about possible noise and traffic from a childcare centre. Busy road sites often also represent greater investment value for property developers as they can be cheaper.
Unfortunately, these sites potentially
expose children to toxic traffic emissions, including hazardous small particle emissions, linked to the development of asthma and allergies. The closer a centre is to a busy road the greater the danger.
If possible, avoid childcare centres that are next to roads with four lanes or more of constant traffic, especially heavy and diesel vehicles.
2. Is it very noisy?
It is important to consider the noise levels your child may consistently experience in a centre. Noisy environments can disrupt the important interactions between educators and children.
Is there a roar of traffic from busy roads? When inside, is it noisy due to large numbers of children grouped together? Or is there a lot of echoing due to hard surfaces?
If staff and children struggle to be heard and always need to raise their voices, this can make it harder for children to develop social and language skills.
Noisy environments are particularly concerning for babies and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children who have a first language other than English.
So try to avoid centres where your child will be exposed to constant excessive noise.
3. Is there limited or no outdoor space?
Increasingly, childcare centres are requesting waivers for the provision of outdoor space to play. Regulatory bodies can grant exemptions here if centres are seen to be meeting a local demand for enrolments. So some centres only have tiny outdoor areas, some have none at all.
Childcare providers may incorrectly claim an indoor simulated outdoor space (for example, fake grass and painted jungle murals) is an adequate substitute for outdoor space to play.
Children need sun-safe time outside for healthy vitamin D levels (which keeps bones and muscles strong), a sense of wellbeing, and for healthy sleep patterns.
There is also growing evidence that children need around 10–15 hours per week of exposure to natural outdoor light (including in the shade or on a verandah) to ensure healthy vision development and to avoid developing short sightedness.
Children love being outdoors and we recommend looking for a centre that provides well-shaded outdoor play areas that enable plenty of time outside. We also recommend you avoid centres with limited or no outdoor spaces for play, especially if you are enrolling your child full-time.
4. Are there natural features?
Unfortunately, artificial turf and rubber surfaces surfaces are frequently being installed in childcare settings due to the perception of easy maintenance.
These can create extremely hot and dangerous surfaces that use potentially toxic chemicals.
Totally flat, artificial surfaces do not provide as many opportunities to develop motor skills as varied and natural surfaces.
Surfaces that include slopes and levels with materials such as tanbark, gravel, dirt and sand are better.
Research has also shown outdoor areas dominated by equipment and artificial surfaces do not support children’s wellbeing or learning through play. Natural environments provide more challenge, variety and interesting resources for children to use in their creative play.
So, look for centres with trees, shrubs, rocks, mud and other natural features to complement artificial materials and equipment in their outdoor spaces.
We appreciate it can be very difficult to find a childcare centre with available spots that suits work and family needs.
But if you do have a choice, it’s worth being aware of how a childcare centre’s location and design can protect children’s health and wellbeing and support their play and social interactions. Knowing what to look for in the physical environment of a centre will help you choose a centre where your child can thrive.
Anne-Marie Morrissey is Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education, Deakin University. Deborah Moore is Associate Lecturer in Education, Monash University.
This article is republished from The Conversation.
a new study by early childhood researchers ANNE-MARIE MORRISSEY and DEBORAH MOORE looks at four important features of a centre’s physical environment
The ground-breaking triple Olivier Award-winning stage show Emilia is making its Australian debut at Arts Centre Melbourne this month, delivering a riotous, witty reclaiming of the life of an exceptional woman.
It is inspired by 17th century poet and revolutionist Emilia Bassano, England’s first published female poet, and Shakespeare’s contemporary. Emilia was a writer, wife, lover, mother, and muse. She was a woman at a time when women were banned from the stage. She was dark-skinned, the daughter of Italian/ Moroccan parents and of Jewish heritage, at a time when Jews were banned from England.
All she wanted was her voice to be heard.
And yet, while there are suggestions that she could have been the ‘Dark Lady’ of Shakespeare’s sonnets, her story and her poems remain all but airbrushed from history.
“It’s Hamilton meets Shakespeare!” laughs Sonya Suares, actor and co-producer of the play, describing it as “a fierce feminine trailblazer.”
Over 400 years later, women are still faced with sexism, inequality and harassment. In recent times where the #MeToo movement and Roe vs Wade have been most prevalent, it seems that we are not evolving fast enough. This theatre piece shows that we are Emilia, that we must stand up alongside her and be counted.
Written by British playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, the Australian version of
Emilia features a team entirely made up of women and non-binary creatives from diverse cultural backgrounds as they unite to celebrate women’s voices through the story of this trailblazing forgotten woman.
And so Sonya Suares becomes one of three amazing South Asian actors in this play, the other two being Manali Datar and Sarah Fitzgerald.
Manali Datar plays young Emilia, from her childhood to her introduction to the English court along with the beginning of her journey as a writer, going through the trials and tribulations of being a woman at that time.
Sonya plays Lady Katherine, a character that Emilia meets at court.
Sarah Fitzgerald plays Lady Helena who Emilia also meets at court, as well as another character Eve, an illiterate washerwoman that Emilia takes under her wing.
“It’s an extremely funny play. However, one with urgent themes. For instance, my character has an arc that includes domestic violence, even though she is a Lady of the English court,” Sonya describes. “There are some pretty heavy themes that transcend culture, class, geographical borders. So often, violence against women is often assumed to be based on class, however through the play it’s evident that this is a fallacy.”
Eve, played by Sarah, also faces similar violence.
“The oppression, violence and struggle these women went through is real,” Sarah offers.
Manali chimes in, “These aspects of womanhood – such as motherhood, arranged marriages, domestic violence that cuts across social class – were very new
and foreign to me.”
However, their characters find the voice, the strength and joy.
Sarah notes, “There’s much hilarity in the play as well – with many of the characters poking fun at the authoritative figures.”
To see three actors of Indian origin in lead roles shows the manner in which the industry is changing today.
Sonya agrees. “This is my third decade in the industry, having started at 16. Forging the way for other actors of colour to come through, it is amazing to see that Sarah and Manali are able to be seen for lead roles in big plays after graduating. This was unheard of when I started. There was no space for people that looked like me. Getting recurring side roles was thought of as amazing. Getting a lead role in a play was hardly heard of - you just couldn't get an audition for them. So my path has been about creating that space, organising
festivals and producing plays. Being one of the co-producers of Emilia is part of that ongoing process of making change and leading in terms of the work that is presented to audiences.”
For Sarah the racial ambiguity is also a challenge, such as the lack of understanding that India is made up of a myriad of ethnicities. “We are more than just yoga and chai. I love walking into a room and owning my voice as an Indian person as I understand my self and heritage.”
Manali has seen considerable success in recent years (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Fangirls) and while she can credit her indisputable talent, she is probably aware that the industry into which she started is more accepting and inclusive than it was only ten years ago.
In fact, that is how she advises other hopefuls. “Be curious of the industry and projects.”
Sarah, for her part, suggests, “Feel strong in yourself. Surround yourself with a good support system of people, including those outside the industry whose only interest is your wellbeing.”
Sonya finishes with wise words. “Remember it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Practice compassion not just for others but also for yourself. The beauty in our culture and the indigenous Australian culture is our respect for elders. The people who have forged the path ahead – pause and listen to them.”
Sounds like all three have what it takes to be in a play like Emilia – a rollicking ride that takes its audience on an exuberant and moving journey though love, loss, identity, ambition, power, rebellion and what it is to be a woman in a man’s world – or POC in a pretty pale industry.
The three South a sian actors in Emilia are forging ahead in their careers, not unlike the character on which their play is based.
Secrets of the Tandoor’ sounds like a perfect name for an Indian cookbook.
‘But Michael Cain’s book is about a tandoor of secrets, more precisely Manjit’s Tandoor of Secrets. Much more than a cookbook, it is the story of a charismatic family’s food-based enterprise.
The family of course, is Manjit’s. Not the restaurant in this case, but the restaurateur. Because that’s how they are known in Sydney’s Indian community - not, as you would expect, as ‘the Gujrals’ which is their family name.
The book presents the secrets behind some of the fine offerings you might have enjoyed at the iconic restaurant brand. It also chronicles the life and experiences of the family behind the brand – Manjit, Kanwal and the boys Deep and Varun.
That the family is not backward in coming forward we’ve already seen in a previous presentation (the SBS documentary Turban Legends). This book by Michael Cain builds further on the life experiences and business adventures of Manjit’s family.
As migrants in a new land, the challenges faced by Kanwal and Manjit are well documented through stories of their early struggles. Neither came from a food background, we learn, but followed Manjit’s brothers Amar and Surjit who were already in the industry here.
It wasn’t easy work, and it nearly prompted them to pack up and leave. But they persevered, with that stubborn determination that makes up the ‘migrant mentality’. Early discrimination also taught some valuable lessons, especially to a young Deep who was bullied on the first day of school because he wore a patka (Sikh head covering).
Cain describes poignantly how the fiveyear-old would resolve this trauma years later by developing a sense of humour.
These are but some of the stories that will resonate with migrant Australians as they settle their children in a new country.
As Cain takes us through the evolution of the Manjit brand, from the first restaurant to another, to two more outside of Sydney, from a popular catering business to a fully fledged events management company, and finally to an exclusive restaurant in the
glitzy end of town at King Street Wharf, we learn more about the family.
Deep, the extroverted, people’s person type of professional, is perfectly suited to the events management role as he custom-designs celebration experiences for clients. Varun the chef is the happiest when he is experimenting in the kitchen. Manjit, good at both PR and the essential craft, keeps an eagle eye on his boys. Clashes are bound to happen, and it is up to the matriarch Kanwal to play peacemaker. In the end, it is she who is the ultimate secret in Manjit’s tandoor of secrets, anchoring the family as well as the entire enterprise in her trademark gentle fashion.
Was she responsible for the pivot that Manjit’s took as it struggled with COVIDcaused downturn? Probably. The new venture in heat-and-eat meals not only kept the wheels turning and the staff retained and occupied, but has now gone on to become a resounding commercial success. “It’s something that other businesses must emulate,” Cain observes.
Another thing that could be emulated, is the manner in which Manjit describes his staff as “my extended family.” Sometimes of course, members of his team become real family, such as manager Varun Kaur who Varun married recently, and Ash Reynolds (PR and design consultant) who might as well change his name to ‘Ashdeep Gujral’ because Manjit likes to introduce him as “my third son”.
What makes the various anecdotes in this book fascinating, whether elephant-themed weddings or guns at 15 paces at interfaith nuptials, is how they are described: with equal parts humour and drama. Not unlike the family itself.
“Batshit crazy” is the way Cain describes them. And yet by his own observations of their life at work, outside work, and in times long gone, he builds a picture of a solid firmament: aspirational, creative, pushing boundaries, and having each other’s backs in challenging times.
Not so batshit crazy as you peel away the layers.
If you want to know even more about the people behind the Manjit’s persona, all you need to do is check out the recipes they each present to Cain in the book. Read each recipe closely, and guess the identity of the Gujral family member responsible for it.
(For those reading that know the family, this should make perfect sense.)
Balmain bug curry. Mysterious. Experimental. Amalgamated. Not exactly traditional but with a distinctly Indian base. (It’s gotta be Varun.)
Goat Shoulder Curry. A Punjabi family’s Sunday ritual. Rustic preparation. Not overly spiced or marinated. (This one’s got Manjit written all over it).
Fish Amritsari. Just like the fish tikkas made by the street vendors outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. (How can this not be Kanwal?)
South Indian Fish Curry. This is South Indian in style but it’s not spicy. You’ve got to try it… Ha, you loved it! (Yup. It’s Deep).
Rajni Anand Luthra
The brand behind an iconic Sydney food enterprise is the theme of Michael Cain’s new bookMichael Cain with Manjit and family, and special guests, at the book launch (Pics: Balzinder Balz)
Melbourne is a wonderful city. But Go Beyond Melbourne and you’ll discover the pure magic of four extraordinary regions. Travelling between them is simply effortless - and what you discover along the way will stay with you forever.
The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and The Bellarine. Four very different regions, four totally different experiences which you’ll only fully discover when you spend a few days beyond the city. Create a memorable road trip with themed itineraries linking all four regions: food & wine, romance, wildlife & adventure, family fun. So much choice, endless possibilities.
You can travel effortlessly from mist-wreathed mountain forests to perfect white sandy bays in just 90 minutes. From floating over Yarra Valley vineyards in a hot air balloon at
dawn to watching Phillip Island’s penguins waddle up the beach that
evening. From riding the 100-year old Puffing Billy train through the
Dandenongs or searching for platypus at Healesville Sanctuary, to hotlaps around an island Grand Prix Circuit or a lantern-lit wildlife tour – in the same day, without missing a beat. Explore historic villages on the Mornington Peninsula, then cruise by ferry across Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliff and explore the Bellarine Taste Trail. The next morning, experience swimming with wild dolphins & seals with the award-winning Sea All Dolphin swims.
No matter how you choose to link our Go Beyond Melbourne regions, you’ll discover a multitude of accommodation options that make touring effortless for visitors. From luxury villas perched on scenic clifftops to art-filled hotels overlooking stunning vineyards. From family-friendly seaside holiday parks and glamping to mountain B&B retreats and opulent mansion hotels – all in the heart of the action across our four regions.
In the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges, spend day-break hot air balloon gliding over mist-tinged vineyards, then ride a heritage train through lush fern-filled forests or get close-up to native creatures at Healesville Sanctuary. Round out the stay with cellar door dropins at some of Australia’s most famous wineries before heading to a romantic luxury retreat for the night.
Mornington Peninsula is a land of abundance; of farmgate trails, cellar doors and chef’s hatted restaurants. Of bubbling thermal hot springs and lantern-lit after-dark wildlife adventures. Dive with the dolphins, swim with the seals and golf like no-one’s watching. Follow the Beer, Cider and Spirits trail, indulge in twilight hot springs bathing then settle into a seaside apartment and drift off to a natural soundtrack of the crashing waves.
On Phillip Island, thrill to hot laps around the Grand Prix Circuit, visit the Koala Conservation Reserve then board Wildlife Coast cruises out to Seal Rocks for a fur seal meet-up. Follow the boardwalk at The Nobbies to take in the rugged coastline and visit the Antarctic Journey for hands-on interactive fun. Then get centre stage for the nightly show, when the little penguins splash out of the sea and waddle up the beach to their burrows.
In Geelong & The Bellarine, do a twirl on an 1890s carousel then follow the colourful Bollard trail along Geelong’s glittering waterfront. Call into the National Wool Museum and the Botanic Gardens nearby. Gather the family for a rockpool ramble on a Bellarine beach, then visit Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre and learn about Aboriginal history and culture. Head north to the You Yangs Regional Park for bushwalking, magnificent views and Australian native wildlife spotting. Board a refurbished dining car for a dégustation rail journey between Drysdale and Queenscliff.
I’ve visited the Red Centre many times, on board the Ghan train, and by coach escorting groups as a tour guide. But to hike there within its national parks, provides a different experience, a deeper connection.
The Red Centre takes in Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta and Uluru, a destination of spectacular geological formations, rare flora and fauna and exceptional natural beauty.
aLICe sPRIngs
The town of Alice Springs has one of the most dramatic locations of any outback town and a history dating back to the Old Telegraph Station built in the 1870s, a turning point in Australia’s communication with the rest of the world.
For a panoramic view of the city, and the stunning backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges, head to Anzac or Billy Goat Hill.
Historic sights are also worth a look, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Olive Pink Botanic Garden. It was here that I met our walking group.
WaTaRRK a naTIOnaL
PaRK : gILes TR aCK
Signalling with a thumb’s up, our pilot soon had us on our way. Flying at low altitude over the West MacDonnell Ranges in a Cessna reveals so much about this vast arid landscape. The earth below coloured a deep red, is slashed by solitary roads, and swaths of brown bush, salt pan lakes, and the sandstone bluffs and cliffs of the ranges, pocked and corrugated, was an endless expanse before us.
Arriving on the landing strip at Kings Creek Station, we were met by our guide Danny, who drove us to begin our hike, one of the most memorable I’ve done, and challenging due to the varied terrain. I tuned myself to the sounds, smells and sights of nature, of birdcalls and the rustlings of lizards in the undergrowth.
The scenery changed from flat open grassland, with a variety of desert plants, to gullies, creeks and rocky gorges of
weathered sandstone and an ancient labyrinth of giant beehive domes standing 15 metres tall.
At the conclusion of the walk, we joined our coach for the short drive to Kings Canyon Resort, where we viewed the sunset as the cliffs glowed red and stars lit up the brilliant night sky.
K Ings CanyOn RIm WaLK
Kings Canyon is one of the most spectacular sights in central Australia. The hike begins with a steep climb up 500 stone steps to the plateau, the most challenging part of the trail.
Along the way we passed weathered beehive domes before the track skirted along the canyon’s precipitous rim. The dramatic views overlooking the vast wilderness below and the sheer cliffs on the opposite side of the canyon were spectacular.
A series of wooden staircases then descends to a lush valley, the way lined with ghost gums and cypress pines, ending at a deep pool known as the Garden of Eden, surrounded by ferns and ancient cycads.
At Kings Creek Station, seated under
shady gums, frogs croaked in the garden and we enjoyed camel or veggie burgers in an authentic outback setting before departing for Uluru 300 kms away, stopping at Lake Amadeus, a massive salt lake.
In 1875 the explorer Ernest Giles described Kata Tjuta as ‘‘enormous haystacks… ancient and sublime.” To the indigenous Pitjantjatjara people, they mean many heads.
The 36 ancient domes of Kata Tjuta stand side-by-side covering an area of 35 square kilometres, with Mt Olga 200 metres taller than Uluru. Dating back 500 million years, they consist of a conglomerate of granite, basalt, sand and mud, giving a rough pitted appearance. The Valley of the Winds walk provides a close up view of the towering domes. The track leading to lookouts offering stunning views and then down to a valley encircled by the domes through an open scrubland of wildflowers.
ULURU
When the explorer William Gosse reached Uluru in 1873, he named it after Henry
Ayers, the then premier of South Australia. The traditional owners, the Anangu have always known it as Uluru, and to them it’s sacred.
I’ve seen Uluru in winter and summer, in wet and dry, and at different times of day, and the colours are never the same. In the afternoon it appears brown, and at sunset and sunrise it glows a brilliant orange, turning deep red as the sun recedes.
Measuring 3.6 kms long and 2.4 kms wide, it stands 348 metres above the surrounding dunes, and is 9.4 kms if you walk around the base.
The base walk allows you to see the textures, the deeply pitted and sliced rough sandstone, the grooves and folds that form dark shadows, and the caves and waterholes. At the Mala and Mutijulu waterholes there are fine examples of rock art of goannas, frogs and Wanampi the ancestral water serpent. The full circuit is easy over flat even ground of open grassland.
To walk in the Red Centre is memorable in so many ways, but nothing can prepare you for the immensity of the landscape, or for the lasting effect it will have on you.
Go between May and August for cooler temperatures and clear skies. Avoid the summer months when temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius.
Life’s an Adventure offers the Red Centre trip several times per year. The walks are pack free and suitable for those of average fitness. lifesanadventure.com.au
For information on the national parks visit parksaustralia.gov.au or nt.gov.au/parks
There is no better way to explore australia’s Red centre than to strap on the hiking boots and walk across itGiles Track beehive rock formations Uluru at sunset Grasses in bloom, Uluru Valley of the Winds Our guide's backpack with horseshoe Kings Canyon Rim Walk Petra at Uluru
Do you cook the rice and meat separately, or together? Do you use the oven or do you prefer to place your pot on top of a hot iron tawa on the stove? Do you use boned meat, or does boneless come out better? How do you prevent your biryani sticking to the bottom of the pan – do you cook on low heat, or do you layer the bottom with sliced potatoes? The correct answer to each of these of course, is to try them out both ways, and find out for yourself! While you’re at it, why not taste the different regions of India this Republic Day, and try different variations of the biryani? It’ll be a pleasure if you do it with Fortune Rice
For the Rice
250grams (roughly 2 cups)
Fortune Biryani Rice rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp shahi jeera
4-5 black pepper pods
1-inch piece cinnamon
2-3 cloves
2-3 green cardamom
1 large fresh bay leaf
Salt to taste
For the Vegetables
½ cup green peas
½ cup carrots, cut into long pieces
½ cup green beans, cut into long pieces
2 medium sized potatoes, cut into four pieces each
4-5 dried plums or prunes
3 large tomatoes
Whole spices
4 pods black cardamoms
3cm piece cinnamon
8 whole cloves
8 whole peppercorns
1 tsp shahi jeera
3 fresh bay leaves
For the Masala
3 tbsp ghee or oil
4 medium onions, sliced
Green chillies to taste
3 tsp ginger-garlic paste
½ tsp turmeric powder
Red chilli powder to taste
1½ tsp garam masala powder
1½ tsp coriandercumin powder
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying onions
Plus ½ cup yogurt, whisked
A few strands saffron, soaked in a tbsp of warm milk
For garnish
Tomato slices and coriander strips
2 onions, fried crisp Chopped mint and coriander leaves
Lime or lemon wedges
To cook rice, heat oil and add in the whole spices. When they begin to crackle add in the drained rice and saute briefly. Add water (equivalent to double the rice) and salt, and cook until 75% done. Sieve through a colander.
Heat oil and deep fry onions until well browned. Remove from oil and cool, then grind to a paste.
To cook the veggies, heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and throw in the whole spices and green chillies. Allow oil to infuse flavours until spices crackle, then introduce the onion paste, ginger-garlic paste and saute. Stir in tomatoes. Add turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala powder and coriandercumin powder and salt. Saute until it all comes together.
When well-combined, add the vegetables and prunes cook until vegetables are just about al dente. Add a tiny amount of cooking water if necessary. Cool, and stir in yogurt to keep it all moist. Keep covered until needed.
Assemble biryani in a large baking dish.
Arrange alternate layers of rice and prepared vegetables. Pour over the milk infused with saffron. Cover tightly with alfoil and bake in a moderately hot oven for 20 minutes.
Serve decorated with garnish.
1 kg chicken, cut into medium pieces
1 kg (roughly 5 cups) Fortune Biryani
Rice; rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes
Juice of 1 lime
2 cups yoghurt
2 onions, sliced
1 cup oil (add a little ghee if you prefer)
5 tbsp oil extra
Salt to taste
Grind to Paste
Green chillies to taste
7cm piece ginger
4-5 garlic pods
2 onions, sliced
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp salt
Rub chicken with salt and let sit for 10 minutes. Then add the ground paste and yogurt, mix and set aside for 20 minutes.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and throw in whole spices. Add water in 1:2 consistency, salt and turmeric and bring to a boil.
Introduce the rice, cover and cook until half done. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat 4 tbsp oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and fry sliced onions. Remove with slotted spoon and keep aside.
Whole Spices
2 tsp shahi jeera
5 black cardamoms
6-7 cloves
1 large stick cinnamon
3 large fresh bay leaves
Green Masala (chopped fine)
5-6 green chillies
1 bunch mint leaves
1 bunch coriander leaves
1 kg goat pieces, large (retain bones and some fat)
750 grams (roughly 4 cups) Fortune Biryani
Rice, rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes
½ cup oil
2 sticks cinnamon
4-5 cloves
1 medium-sized onion, sliced
In the same oil, put in the marinated chicken. Layer single file if possible. Spread half the rice on top. Then add the fried onions, the green masala and lime juice. Layer the rest of the rice on top. Now pour in the cup of oil and ghee if using.
Cover with teatowel and tighten with lid. Place on a hot iron tawa and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.
(Alternately, cook in oven. Seal lid with dough. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C before putting your pot in and then reduce heat. Check in 20 minutes.)
4 tsp ginger-garlic paste
Red chilli powder to taste
50g yoghurt
A few strands saffron
1 tbsp kewra water
Heat oil in heavy-bottomed pan and add cinnamon and cloves. Stir until flavours are infused in the oil. Add onion and fry until golden brown. Introduce meat and saute on high flame, stirring constantly. Add ginger-garlic paste and continue to stir. When nicely browned, add red chilli powder, salt and yoghurt. Mix well and let cook for 3-4 more minutes. Then add 500 ml water and the kewra water, stir and then cover and cook until meat is beginning to separate from the bones. Turn off heat and cool completely.
The oil will by now have risen to the top, and will be infused with the colour of the spices. Use a deep spoon to siphon off all the excess oil – this will be come to use a bit later.
Add milk, cream, saffron and the ground masala. Mix well and cover tightly to incorporate.
To cook rice, heat water in another pan and add a stick of cinnamon, the cardamom pods and salt to taste. When hot put in the soaked
Salt to taste
250 ml milk
4 tbsp cream
3-4 pods green cardamom
1 tbsp ghee
¼ tsp sugar
1 tbsp rose water
For Masala Powder; grind together
7 pods green cardamom
2 tbsp white pepper pods
8-10 blades of mace
rice. Cook until 75% done, and then sieve through a colander.
Meanwhile, bring out the siphonedoff cooking oil and add to it ghee, sugar and rose water. Mix well.
Assemble biryani in a heavy bottomed pan. Put in a layer of rice at the bottom, and then spoon some of the meat and gravy over. Spoon some of the flavoured oil over.
Repeat with another layer of rice, meat and gravy, and flavoured oil. Finish off with a final layer of rice and pour the rest of the flavoured oil all over.
Cover tightly with teatowel or alfoil and cook on high for five minutes. Then cook on low heat on top of a hot iron tawa for 20-25 minutes.
(Alternately, cook in oven. Seal lid with dough. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C before putting your pot in and then reduce heat. Check in 20 minutes.)
Meet Mili, a young nurse who finds herself in an icy situation with her sights set on survival. Janhvi Kapoor is joined by Sunny Kaushal and Manoj Pahwa in this thrilling remake of the 2019 Malayalam film Helen sure to keep you on the edge of your seats.
Release date: 4 November
Join two ghost busters on a journey led by a businesssavvy spirit as they venture through the worlds of both the living and dead, encountering creepy characters and chaos. Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi come together for this horror-comedy film guaranteed to give you goosebumps and giggles.
Release date: 4 November
SEEKING BRIDES
North Indian parents seeking Hindu bride, age up to 33 years, Australian citizen/PR, for Australian citizen boy, 29 years old, working full-time in Sydney.
Please contact Nita on 0435460765
Seeking a professionally qualified 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 ausind26@gmail.com
Well-settled/ professionally qualified
match from good family background invited for Sydney-based never-married Punjabi Sikh girl, Australian citizen, highly qualified, IT professional 49/5'6", attractive, fair, jolly, from good educated family background, brought up in India.
Parents well settled.
Contact with photo: ausgirl101@gmail.com
South Indian parents seeking Hindu groom of age 30-35, Australian citizen/PR. Work permit visa groom will be considered. Australian citizen girl, age 30, working full time in Sydney. Contact Ashok with details on mobile 0409463819 or email anthonyashok@yahoo.com (preferred). Sydney residents only.
Follow the journey of two ‘plus-sized’ women in this feel-good film. It stars a glorious cast with Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi playing the leads. Hailing from Meerut and New Delhi respectively, they battle the beauty standards of Indian society.
Release date: 4 November
Seeking a professionally qualified match, teetotaller, of good family background, preferably Australian citizen or PR holder, for highly qualified career-oriented Brahmin girl 35, 5’2”, vegetarian, of good family background, working and well settled in Sydney. Please contact aussyd08@gmail.com
Seeking professionally qualified match (working professional, not self-employed) from Australia for ‘88 born, 5"3", Hindu Punjabi girl (divorced, issueless), working with a government organisation in Sydney. Must have Aus PR and preference to Radha Soami follower, teetotaler. Email: matrimonial.ml@gmail.com
Seeking a professionally qualified 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 on a good position in a government organisation.
Please contact at ausind26@gmail.com
Samantha Ruth Prabhu returns in this Telugu sci-fi thriller as surrogate mother who uncovers the shady reality of the realm she is part of.
Release date: 11 November
This quirky entertainer takes us to Thailand as Gajraj Rao leads this satirical comedy as a 70-yearold man who wants to feel young again. Imtiaz Ali produces this light-hearted story promising to bring you plenty of laughs.
Release date: 11 November
A laughter riot awaits you as beloved Bollywood couple Genelia D’Souza and Riteish Deshmukh come together on the silver screen again after ten years. Brace yourselves for this unique comedy that delves into the ups-and-downs of becoming parents, full of surprises for the whole family.
Release date: 11 November
King of contemporary Hindi cinema Rajkummar Rao is back in this neo-noir film depicting a diabolical plan filled with crime and comedy. Huma Qureshi and Radhika Apte also grace this thriller that follows a young man trying to pull off the perfect crime with a far-from-perfect journey.
Release date: 11 November
This film will get your feet tapping as dancer-turneddirector Bosco Leslie Mart is brings his moves to the big screen. A horror-comedy at heart, Aditya Seal and Nikita Dutta star alongside a cast of young dancers set to take the stage with some spectacular skills.
Release date: 11 November
Although the first season received mixed reviews (one reviewer even described it as ‘inept’) psychological crime thriller Breathe: Into the Shadows returns for a hopeful second season, once again starring Abhishek Bachchan and Amit Sadh, and new entrant Naveen Kasturia as Victor.
Release date: 9 November
Hindi cinema will be howling with this horror-comedy set to hit screens with star cast Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Deepak Dobriyal and Abhishek Banerjee. With Bollywood’s recent success with horror-comedy blockbusters, the makers of Stree and Roohi bring to you a terrifying tale with a desi twist.
Release date: 25 November
This adventure through Everest is one not to be missed! A star cast set on a physical and spiritual journey, Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher and Boman Irani show us they’re not slowing down anytime soon with this fulfilling story of freedom.
Release date: 11 November
This highly anticipated sequel that has given a Hindi spin to a Malayalam hit is finally coming to screens near you. Ajay Devgan returns in this intense crime drama opposite Akshaye Khanna as a cop who seeks out to solve the case that Devgan’s character was tangled in the first film.
Release date: 18 November
The SriLankan-origin comic from Britain, who you might remember for his self-deprecating and deadpan comedy, is all set to grace the small screen in his first Netflix stand-up special. He returns to his hometown of Crawley to riff on Piers Morgan, racism in football, and veganism, among his many other rants.
Release date: 29 November
Were you craving a new crime-drama on Netflix after offerings like Delhi Crime and Indian Predator? Look no further than this series, created and written by Neeraj Pandey (the director of A Wednesday and Special 26). In this series, a cop finds himself embroiled in the corrupt underbelly of Bihar when pursuing a merciless criminal.
Release date: 25 November
An upcoming Kannada film that takes you to through the streets of Banaras, this love letter to the City of Lights depicts the mysterious romance of Dhani and Sidharth. Zaid Khan and Sonal Monteiro are paired together in this film full of love and local culture, sure to melt the hearts of many.
Release date: 4 November
DEAR AUNTYJI
So I see that in New York city, starting next year, there will be an official school holiday for Diwali. I understand people have been agitating for this for a while and now it’s official. I am always in favour of more holidays - because it’s good to have days off to have fun and be with family and all that. But Auntyji, what about other festivals - shouldn’t we celebrate them too? Doesn’t this give greater importance to one festival only - above all others? What about Eid - which is celebrated by people from diverse nations and not just the subcontinent? By the way, my Nani was a Muslim - and so I celebrate both Diwali and Eid - so don’t think I have a dog in this fight. I just want what’s fair for all.
AUNTYJI SAYS
Arre @#*^%# One piece of good news and you appear here like the shaitaan’s kaaki, your kaala chehra darkening my column, advocating for your what-about. Just because those lucky New Yorkers have a Diwali holiday does not mean that others are losing out, you bewakoof. Really, we take one forward step toward inclusion and instead of celebrating this and seeing how far we have come and lighting a diya and saying a prayer - you choose instead to focus on what we don’t have yet? Seriously, ill-begotten darkinis like you will never be happy. You should be running around in the streets and giving out sweets because one of the most interesting, vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world has declared a holiday for Diwali. This is a huge win for all of us - because truly the arc of inclusion is trending towards togetherness. This also shows just how far we have come. So, the time will come for Eid as well - because the door has been opened for Diwali.
And if it’s that important for you, why don’t you start advocating for that now. I hear it took almost two decades of hard work by some people to get Diwali recognised as a holiday. Instead of complaining here like the little dayan that you are - which serves no purpose other than providing evidence of how much of a whinger you are - why don’t you go agitate for Eid. We are all right behind you.
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.
Spring is indicative of everything new – which means a new situation in any aspect of your life could begin. Investments, renovations and more could keep you busy. Singles will want to meet someone new; those involved are aware of their partner’s lack of emotional availability. Rationale overrules emotion which is a good thing, and you move away from those who are not on your side. Be optimistic; you are lucky in matters of money. Me-time will benefit you; indulge in your hobbies.
You have drawn the card for Capricorn so the usually steadfast Taureans may find themselves being indecisive. You may even meet someone born in January, if you are single and looking to date. Responsible actions by those in a relationship will raise your selfesteem because you did the right thing. Chores at home could take up time. A rocky relationship could head towards a divorce. If throat and ear problems besiege you, it could be that you are suppressing what you need to say.
Instead of stressing, you now want to understand how destiny has affected your work and life. Money held up will arrive sooner than you thought it would. Some of you may want to buy a new house. A new cycle is about to begin so let go of the old with grace. Teeth problems could crop up; others may lose their jobs. Money is tight but finances will get better soon. Though problems get solved, some intangible loose ends will still exist.
You would like every aspect of your life to be orderly and will take action to make it so. A new business venture will start making money; an offer will come if you are planning to sell your home. A long-distance relationship can get bogged down due to logistics. Those in a relationship could hit a rocky patch. Don’t ignore a chronic health condition; take a second medical opinion if need be. Singles will focus on work to alleviate loneliness.
You will want to focus on work, selfimprovement or pick up a new skill to enhance your career. Singles could meet someone new; ensure they are not married already. A trip in an unusual mode of transport will be a good break. Work is good and plan your next steps well to stay ahead. Don’t sign up for anew business without weighing pros and cons. Eat healthier for more energy. Finances improve for the self-employed. Plan every move in all areas of your life.
You will feel like finishing existing chores and take a break to escape from your daily responsibilities. Those dating will seek clarity from their partners. Don’t pursue it if you feel it is not working out. Paperwork can bog you down but finish it diligently. Some of you may look for jobs in different fields. Avoid taking on too much or you will be constantly tired. Finances could cause some anxious moments. A new opportunity could come your way at work.
The Gemini card appears for Librans which could make the balanced October born behave unpredictably; a good thing if you are considering a new business. Singles could meet someone who is a Gemini. Those in a relationship will face a situation where they feel stuck – no going back or forward. The self-employed could be busy with paperwork or new projects. At work, you could make a good impression on your bosses. If unwell, you will recover. Finances are especially good this month.
New opportunities at work, or setbacks that turn into blessings could be on the agenda. Travel will be beneficial. Existing blocks at work will fade away and you will find a job more suited to your skills and interests. Those in relationships will want more depth. Problems with breathing need medical attention. Someone may not pay what is owed to you. Spiritual growth comes from doing the right thing in every situation. Unexpected or international sources could lead to your success.
Singles won’t be dating whole-heartedly for now. In a confrontation, assert yourself to resolve the situation. Introspect before making changes on the work front. A project completed successfully will lead to profits. Family and friends extend support if needed. Any legal battle over money will go in your favour. Change your attitude for greater success with focus on getting the job done right. For the self-employed, business will improve. Work on improving what you consider are flaws that block your progress.
A connection you may have made seems promising – at work or in romance. An intense love affair could come along for some of you. An upswing for professionals and the self-employed is foretold. Someone who enters your life could be beneficial to your work or business. An acquaintance/friend could fall ill. Visualise the outcomes you seek to manifest them. They will also help you grow spiritually. A lucky month overall in matters of love, career and money.
You are impatient for things to move on as you seek closure; look for new opportunities or relationships. You could be spending some time away from home or want to move too. Travel for work or a holiday is predicted. Paperwork could cause delays. Sudden progress for the self-employed or those at jobs is on the anvil. End of delays and progress in matters of importance will put you in a good mood. Finances will improve. The universe has your back.
A major arcana indicates largely predestined events. Those in relationships could face a frustrating separation. Any dilemmas you face need careful planning before you make a decision. Singles could meet someone new. If a project fails to take off, don’t worry as something better is coming. Money comes in from multiple sources. In a confrontation, it is better to clear the air. Success will come from unexpected avenues. Trust the universe to plan your future. Luck is on your side.
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