2023-01 Melbourne

All things Indian. In Australia.

MELBOURNE

JANUARY 2023

Manas Gupta

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EDITORIAL

Day off on Diwali instead of 26 Jan?

All things Indian. In Australia.

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra CONTRIBUTORS Suhayla Sharif, Torsha Sen, Manan Luthra, Prutha Chakraborty, Sukant Deepak, Dhanya Samuel, Petra O’Neill, Kersi Meher-Homji, Neeru Saluja, Minal Khona, Auntyji SALES AND MARKETING 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:

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

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

C

ome end January, it’s almost a national pastime to discuss the relevance of the Australia Day holiday. This year though, the discussion has a new argument thrown in.

Writer and researcher Osmond Chiu has suggested that Australia’s public holidays should better reflect its multicultural mix. Writing in the Lowy Institute publication The Interpreter, he proposed that given Australia’s increasing diversity, we should consider a range of diverse cultural and religious days as public holidays. Not only would this normalise our cultural pluralism, it would also show that “our society genuinely recognises … our cultural and religious diversity”.

We celebrate the fact that more than 51% of our population was either born overseas or has at least one parent born overseas, and describe ourselves as a ‘successful multicultural nation’.

The need then to forge a new identity

for the nation, should follow naturally.

While the issue of Australia becoming a Republic will no doubt come in for intense debate in the near future, one of the ways forward is to recognise significantly and culturally relevant days of these emerging communities as national holidays. Chiu argues in his article that Chinese Lunar Year, Eid and Diwali are three obvious choices for adding on new public holidays, looking at the emerging trend of new migrants’ countries of birth.

If new public holidays cannot be added to the national register, perhaps these can be traded off for other existing holidays to create the balance. A day off on Eid or Diwali, for instance, swapped for a day in at work on Easter Friday or King’s Birthday.

Such workplace flexibility is in fact already in implementation where 26 Jan is concerned.

The First Nations view that Australia Day is really Invasion Day is finding more and more sympathisers. Many local councils have this year opted not to have citizenship ceremonies on this day. Some corporates such as Telstra with its 29,000-strong workforce, University of Wollongong, BHP,

KPMG, Deloittes, even the 160,000 employees of Woolworths, are able to take a day off in lieu, if they are not comfortable celebrating Australia Day. One of the side benefits of the COVID lockdowns has been the ability of coroprates to manage workflow flexibility with staff working from home. Having the flexibility of allowing a staff member to select which of the current seven national holidays they want to trade off for a significant holiday of their choice, can be easily factored in, while retaining and attracting new staff.

Australia has seven national holidays including Easter Friday, Christmas Day and Labour Day. Various states have enacted their own holidays such as Melbourne Cup Day and the day preceding AFL Grand Final in Victoria. The power to legislate is there, as evidenced on the day of mourning when Queen Elizabeth passed away last year.

Which state would be the first to pick up the baton and allow its employees to celebrate their own day of significance? Time will tell, and perhaps before the decade is out this will be standard practice nationwide.

Happy Republic Day! January 26, 2023

Anthony Albanese Prime Minister Member for Grayndler

Richard Marles Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence Member for Corio

Tim Watts Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Member for Gellibrand

Penny Wong Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator for South Australia

Cassandra Fernando Member for Holt

Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment and Water Member for Sydney

Linda White Senator for Victoria

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Andrew Giles Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Member for Scullin

Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah Member for Higgins

Ged Kearney Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Member for Cooper

Sam Rae Member for Hawke

Authorised by P Erickson, ALP 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton ACT 2600.

JANUARY 2023 3

CONTENTS 18

SPECIAL FEATURES COMMUNITY Temple vandalism shocks community

ACCOLADES

Dr Chennupati Jagadish: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

ACCOLADES

Anju Aggarwal, Abhishek Verma: Joint GPs of the year

2023 INDIAN CALENDAR Tear out and stick on your wall

UP CLOSE

Shekhar Kapur interview

4 JANUARY 2023

06 16

16

18 20 32

COVER STORY

20

32

The class of 2022

Lessons about oneself: Looking back at the last year of school

10

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COMMUNITY Sikh separatists have been calling for the creation of Khalistan, an autonomous State for Sikhs, for decades (seen here marching down New York’s Madison Avenue way back in 2003). The movement has taken on greater momentum in recent months.

Photo: AP

Australian Sikh leaders must speak out against Hindu temple vandalism Ahead of a controversial Sikh referendum in Melbourne, there are concerns that Sikh separatist groups have infiltrated Australia, and the call is out for this to be confronted head on BY PAWAN LUTHRA

S

ixteen months after it was first launched, the contentious issue of the Khalistan referendum has reached Australia.

Set to be conducted on 29 Jan at Federation Square in Melbourne by the US-based organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the referendum will seek vote on the question, “Should Indian-governed Punjab be an independent country?” This will be the fifth international vote after being held in the UK, Italy, Canada and Switzerland.

The SFJ claims that over 400,000 Sikhs across these four nations have voted on the question, though it is believed that SFJ has very poor following in Punjab itself.

The organisation, which describes itself as a human rights advocacy group, is a New Yorkbased secessionist group whose key aim is to establish a separate Sikh homeland – Khalistan – through ‘Punjab Referendum 2020’.

Sikhsforjustice.org was formed in 2007.

The SFJ “believes in the power of people to take collective action and use human rights to resolve community challenges and advocacy as a tool for justice and social change”. The website describes ‘Punjab Referendum 2020’ as a campaign to “liberate Punjab, currently occupied by India. The campaign aims to gage the will of the Punjabi people with regards to reestablishing Punjab as a nation state. The SFJ has proposed that this be achieved by carving out the north Indian state of Punjab, parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and several districts of Rajasthan and Uttar 6 JANUARY 2023

Pradesh. Once we establish a consensus on the question of independence, we will then present the case to the United Nations for re-establishing the country of Punjab.”

This is at odds with their latest post on Twitter. As India prepares to celebrate its 73rd Republic Day on 26 January, Sikhs for Justice co-founder Gurupatwant Singh Pannu posted a video on social media asserting to execute a terrorist attack. In the posted video, he claimed he intended to “liberate Punjab from Indian occupation in 2023”.

“Stay indoors on January 26, or you’ll be thwarted by the SFJ. Delhi will be our target, and we will unfurl the flag of Khalistan,” said Pannu. He also offered US$500,000 dollars to anyone who unfurls Khalistan’s flag on the Red Fort, said a report in India Today magazine.

In July 2019, in a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi, India banned the pro-Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice for its purported anti-national activities. The Union Cabinet decided to declare SFJ an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said that “in the garb of the so-called referendum for Sikhs, SFJ is actually espousing secessionism and militant ideology in Punjab, while operating from safe havens on foreign soils and actively supported by inimical forces in other countries.”

TEMPLE VANDALISM IN MELBOURNE

Meanwhile, as we go to press there have been a series of graffiti attacks against Indian temples in Melbourne allegedly by proKhalistani supporters.

In incidents which have shocked the

Indian community here in Australia, Melbourne’s Albert Park’s Hare Krishna Temple, Mill Park BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir and Carrum Downs Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple have been defaced by antiIndia graffiti.

The walls of the Hindu temples had the slogans ‘Hindustan Murdabad,’ and ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ splashed across the front, and with praises of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the controversial Sikh militant leader.

In a press release, the BAPS Swaminarayan management has appealed for peace. “We are deeply saddened by the anti-India graffiti at the gates of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Melbourne, Australia by anti-social elements. The BAPS temple in Mill Park, like all temples of BAPS worldwide, is an abode of peace, harmony, equality, selfless service, and universal Hindu values,” said a spokesperson for the temple.

“At this time, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, has prayed for peace and unity and has appealed to all devotees and well-wishers to maintain peace. Let us all join in worldwide prayers, in private and at home, that God blesses and guides us all to continue to do good and think good of all,” he added.

There are grave concerns amongst the community and the Australian government regarding the spread of Indian anti national Khalistani elements to Australia. The Australian national newspaper reported in December 2022 that senior Indian government officials have raised the alarm over the growth of Sikh separatism in Australia and its links to terrorist groups in India, warning the Albanese government

ministers of the movement’s propensity for violence. The report in the paper also attributed a source in the Indian government having concerns that the local Khalistani movement leaders were recruiting impressionable Indian Sikhs in Australia “who didn’t know what they were getting into.”

There are concerns that the Sikh separatist groups Baber Khalsa International, Khalistan Commando Force, Khalistan Zindabad Force and International Sikh Youth Federation which are all banned by India could be infiltrating Australia, as they have created a foothold in Canada.

A Khalistan referendum held in September 2022 in Brampton, Canada, clearly antagonised the Indian government who issued travel warnings to Indians travelling there. This saw a retaliation with Canada warning its own citizens about travelling to India.

Answering this issue raised by this journalist at a press conference in Canberra in Oct 2022, India’s External Affairs Minister Mr S Jaishankar had a blatant warning for Canada and other countries allowing these Indian anti-national groups to take roots. He said, “As to the Khalistan issue that you have raised, you know from time to time, we have engaged the Canadian government. I have myself engaged my counterpart on this issue and we have flagged the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic society are not misused by forces which advocate violence and bigotry. So, it’s important for countries to understand today how democracies should function not only at home but also the responsibilities the democracies have to other democracies abroad.”

In light of the latest vandalism attacks the Australian High Commissioner in India Barry O’Farrell also tweeted, “Like India, Australia is a proud multicultural country.

We have been shocked at vandalism of two Hindu Temples and Australian authorities are investigating. Our strong support for freedom of expression does not include hate speech or violence.”

Similar statements have since followed from many political leaders in Australia.

With the close relationship between India and Australia emerging, Australia needs to do more to stamp out these Indian antinational elements in the community.

The senior Sikh associations and leaders in the community also need to take a stand and call out those who are bent on creating divisions.

The gurudwaras themselves have previously been implicated in allowing these divisionary forces to make themselves heard and seen.

They - and indeed the Sikh community as a whole - must take a stronger stand to distance themselves from such agents, even calling them out. If they do not, their good work within and outside of the community might well come to nought.

Ignoring this issue will not make it go away and it needs to be confronted head on.

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HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY Tania Mihailuk MP Office: 9A Greenfield Parade, Bankstown Phone: 9708 3838 Email: bankstown@parliament.nsw.gov.au

JANUARY 2023 7

YOUR SAY

HOLIDAY STATE OF MIND In a summer holiday activity, we asked: Without naming the Indian state, what is your home state famous for?

RJ Ekta - Indian Link Radio wrote: Jalebi. Indian Link replied: MP? Mandeep Verma wrote: Balle Balle Sushma Putta wrote: Biryani Nilanjan Ghosh wrote: Durga Puja.

Indian Link replied: West Bengal Viranchi Shah wrote: Statue of unity. Indian Link replied: Gujarat Manjeet Singh wrote: Land of five rivers.

Indian Link replied: Punjab Kamal Sood wrote: Apples and Church on Ridge Karthik Ramasubramaniam wrote: Jigarthanda... no googling.

Indian Link replied: Would Tamil Nadu be a good guess?

Karthik Ramasubramaniam wrote: Spot on Divya Soumitry Prajeev wrote: God’s own country.

Indian Link responded: Too easy - endekeralam!

Manisha Sharma wrote: Thekua. Indian Link replied: Bihar? UP? Karan Hetal Hemang Mehta wrote: WADA pav Vineet Prabhakar Ankit Sagwal wrote: Sports.

Indian Link replied: Haryana Pradyumn Atre wrote: Bharat ka dil jaha hai pyaar 'dhuaan dhaar' aur Ishwar jaise 'Mahakaal' Roh An wrote: Dehliwale be like, Free Bijli, Free Pani, Free Mohalla Clinic.

Alok Narayan wrote: Crime Gowarappa Nagaraj wrote: Information technology hub.

Indian Link replied: Karnataka? Andhra Pradesh?

Gowarappa Nagaraj revealed: Bangalore Arora Vijay wrote: Durgiana temple or Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple. Indian Link replied: Amritsar in Punjab! A beautiful temple and a distant ‘cousin’ of the Harmandar Saheb, if we can call it that, based on its architecture. What a lovely clue!

Arina Banik Sil wrote: Tea and silk. Indian Link replied: Arina Banik Sil, love this one - Assam?

Arina Banik Sil wrote back confirming: Yes Rahul Ch wrote: Was Manchester city of India.

Indian Link replied: Gujarat?

Onkar Singh wrote: Shri Harminder Sahib.

Indian Link replied: Punjab Geetanjali Sharma wrote: Queen of Hills.

Indian Link replied: Himachal Pradesh?

Arix Bishnoi wrote: Diamond, textile and food.

Indian Link replied: Tough one! Possibly Gujarat?

Arix Bishnoi further asked: Yes, but which city?

Indian Link replied: Surat! Easy.

Rital Kapadia wrote: Pav bhaji, misal pav, street side sandwiches.

Indian Link replied: Maharashtra Darshak Mehta wrote: Pogroms and anti - Muslim riots.

Indian Link wrote: Oh no, really?

The Spice Adventuress wrote: Onam Indian Link: Kerala!

Vandana Gulati wrote: We are known for our yummy chaats. Bujho to jaaney...

Indian Link responded: Hmmm, Delhi??

Vandana Gulati’s quick response to that: Absolutely correct!

Anil Malhotra wrote: Golden Temple (Shri Harimandar Sahab) Indian Link replied: Too easy - sada Punjab!

Kalyani Wakhare wrote: City that never sleeps?

Indian Link replied: Mumbai Sanjay Khanna wrote: Milk and automobile manufacturing Indian Link replied: Again a tough one. Milk could be Gujarat or Punjab but that automobile combo has us stumped … possibly Haryana??

Sanjay Khanna wrote: Yes, Haryana!

Manoj Jindal wrote: Sarso da saag te makki di roti…

Balle Balle Indian Link replied: Punjab Ritika Agarwalla wrote: Maa Kamakhya!

Indian Link replied: Assam!

Krishnamohan Pantula wrote: Rice bowl of India.

Indian Link replied: Kerala? Andhra Pradesh?

Krishnamohan Pantula came back with: Andhra Pradesh Soumyo Ghosh wrote: Easiest one: Rosogolla.

Indian Link replied: Yes, West Bengal!!

Deepak Chitnis wrote: Sugar cane.Indian Link

replied: Oooh tough one! Could be any one of UP, Maharashtra, or Karnataka. But guessing your state is Maharashtra.

Renu Dutta wrote: Snowy mountains & simplicity in living. Tough life though.

Indian Link replied: Uttarakhand?

Sowpriya Solanki wrote: No googling: Halwasan and sutarfeni.

Indian Link replied: Don’t know these names (probably food items) but guessing from your name, Gujarat. Okay cheated here somewhat…!

Arpan Roy wrote: Sweets.

Indian Link replied: West Bengal?

Arpan Roy’s swift response to that was: Indian Link ekdom theek (correct) Madhusudhan Reddy Aenugu wrote: Biryani.

Indian Link replied: Andhra Pradesh/Telangana Rishi Singh wrote: Taj Mahal.

Indian Link replied: UP Harpal Narula wrote: Rossogolla.

Indian Link replied: Gotta be West Bengal!

Dreamingleo wrote: Bollywood PrahalikaKalla wrote: Paradise on earth Monika Walia wrote: Street food Ayush.2611 wrote: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Vikrant Singh wrote: Taj Mahal

Without naming the Australian state, what is your home state famous for?

Aruna D'ugu wrote: Harbour Bridge Sharvani Chirra wrote: Bananas and sugar cane Debbie Stainsby wrote: Opera House Anu Kailash wrote: F1 and the G Supriya Rathi wrote: Unattainable property prices Sanna Walia wrote: Crocodiles. Outback.

Sharva Vaidya wrote: Education!

Leyla Da Silva wrote: Opera House Madhusudhan Reddy Aenugu wrote: Mining Harsiddhi Pandya Mody wrote: Coffee snobs Kevin Holohan wrote: Mining Debbie Stainsby wrote again: Waratah Onkar Singh wrote: Hidden cafes, multicultural cuisines and of course The G. Pavneet Kaur wrote: Longest lockdown!

SAY IT AGAIN

Republic Day is a chance for all those of Indian heritage, including Australia’s diverse and vibrant diaspora communities, to unite around their shared love of India and their shared faith in its future. Of course, 26 January is Australia’s day, too.

The coincidence of our national days makes this an opportunity to celebrate the depth of our friendship. Australia and India have never been closer.

It’s also a reminder of everything our shared future holds, and all that we have to look forward to as we continue to strengthen and deepen our ties.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

8 JANUARY 2023

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ON MICHELLE CAHILL’S DAISY & WOOLF

Daisy is a minor character, an Anglo-Indian, in Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs Dalloway. Her story is reimagined in Daisy & Woolf, a new novel by Sydneybased Anglo-Indian writer Michell Cahill.

Michelle Cahill wrote: A highlight this year was being interviewed by Rajni Anand Luthra for the wonderful cultural magazine Indian Link at a time of strengthening links between India and Australia post-pandemic. I am so appreciative of this feature.

Therese Taylor 12 wrote: “I wanted to reclaim Daisy’s past, to let the reader see her family, her home life... I wanted to show how narrative itself can be a form of silencing.” It is a most sophisticated novel, and also an entertaining read.

ON SHARON RUNDLE AND MEENAKSHI BHARAT’S RELATIVELY TRUE

Little white lies are but human nature. Small deceptions take centrestage in this anthology of stories Sharon Rundle wrote: Thank you Indian Link Media Group and Salma Shah for an incisive review of Relatively True Stories of Truth, Deception and Post Truth.

I always enjoy reading Indian Link online and find it informative and vibrant, and the book reviews, of course. We feel honoured to be included in your Books Archive, among such strong and fabulous books. I've bought quite a few books due to the Indian Link review. (Indian Link has terrific reviews in the Books archive, under the Arts tag on the online edition website.)

Priya Sarukkai-Chabria wrote: Congratulations again, and many thanks for inviting my contribution.

Sussanne Gervey wrote: Thoughtful review and a must-have in universities.

WHERE IN OZ Proclaimed to be 'Australia's hottest town', temperatures have previously risen to 49.1 degrees in this area. Also known for its gold mines, where in Australia is this town?

Tough one?

Our readers Hitashi Akouna Mattata, Brinda Mitra Dutta, and G Vashisht got the correct answer: Marble Bar, Western Australia.

CAPTION CONTEST We asked, what’s Janhvi Kapoor thinking as she holds her sister Khushi Kapoor's hand?

Aneri Upadhyay won a free movie ticket for her response: *Sigh* They're now going to compare us to Kendall and Kylie Jenner. I'm totally Kendall though, so it's okay.

Vandana Mathur wrote: Hold my hand, Khushi. I'm so cold - like I've been in the freezer too long. Mujhe khushi milegi.

Roopam Saggu wrote: Yahan se jaldi bhaglene ka, sister...

Raj Saneja wrote: KJ ko Dostana 2 ka hero nahin mil raha hai. Hum dono yeh role kyun nahin kar sakte?

Karina Madnani wrote: Definitely about Himesh Reshamiyya singing Tan tana nan Tandoori nights…

Jagdish Bhatt wrote: I think my outfit is equally good.

Saphira Toor wrote: She’s doing an Aishwarya - holding Khushi’s hand Sumeet Singh Chhabra wrote: “We are two good” Prerna Sabharwal wrote: Aeh jaldi se photo kheetch aur jane de; pet ko sikodtey sikodtey antadiya hi bahar aa jawengi bhai.

Gaurav Sabharwal wrote: Khushi ka lehenga mere lehenge se zyada safed kaise? Zaroor nirma washing powder ka kamaal hai!

Alan J Maurice wrote: Run! Arix Bishnoi wrote: Jhansi is thinking, “I am not sure if she is as bad an actor as I am. What if she is better than me?”

Krishna Rao wrote: Keep holding your stomach in and smile. This photographer is very much in demand!

Saur4bh wrote: What do you think people are focussing on - your height or my abs?

Sujay_shah_123 wrote: Mera haath pakad le to sab ko lage ki tum THE JHANVI KAPOOR ki sister ho.

Dreamingleo wrote: Thoda jhukja, main badi hoon toh main lambi lagoon.

WHERE IN INDIA The second oldest church in Northern India after it was established in 1857 with services led in Hindi and English, where in India is this beautiful spot?

There may be a split along generational lines in ethnic communities about the Voice to Parliament, with younger voters being more supportive. More established migrants who have been here for decades might have an attitude of “we did it hard” and be less willing to support the Voice…

Mohammad Al-Khafaji, chief executive of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) quoted in the Australian Financial Review

Easy much?

Readers Vishal Jain Pincha, Izzat Veer Singh, Pallavi Grandhi, Sandip Hor, Manoj Jindal, _r003__r003 and Anu Singh had the correct answer: Christ Church, Shimla

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COVER STORY

LESSONS about oneself

The Class of 2022 look back at the last year of school BY MANAN LUTHRA With Year 12 now done and dusted, you’ve probably had the opportunity to look back at it all. What did you learn about yourself?

Ashna Sahi: I learnt a lot about my capacity to remain resilient during demanding times and stay focused rather than giving up. I learnt about how important it is to keep motivated by setting myself a goal that I could work towards all throughout the year, which offered me a reason to study harder and learn from my mistakes. Year 12 solidified the strengths and interests I have developed and now I hope to continue to pursue them within my future studies.

Veer Benepal: I learnt the importance of perseverance to succeed in achieving your goals. Applying to the USA for College whilst juggling the HSC, I quickly realised the inevitable feeling of pressure when striving for all-round success in academics, leadership and extra-curricular activities. Nonetheless, I learnt that if you are determined in the pursuit of your goals and resilient when challenges arise, coupled with strong planning, prioritisation and execution, you can achieve what you hope for.

Arushi Senchaudhuri: Year 12 was truly eye-opening for me as I began to really understand who I am as an individual.

I learnt how much I value resilience and always strive to do my best in every situation. I realised that I am a very emotional person having had more than a few meltdowns in the past year, however I also discovered that I bounce back just as quickly from certain low moments to keep pushing through.

10 JANUARY 2023

BY SUHAYLA SHARIF

VEER BENEPAL (HSC) ATAR: 99.45 Subjects: English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced, Economics, Drama, Business Studies, Modern History Results/Special Awards: HSC AllRounder Achiever List, UNSW Finance & Banking Co-op Scholarship, The University of Sydney Business School Change Maker Scholarship, The King's School Broughton Scholarship for Exceptional Academic Excellence, HSC Drama OnSTAGE Nomination (x2): Individual Performance, Group Performance, 3rd Place (Bronze Medal) at the National Da Vinci Decathlon, Tiger Global Case Competition: 3rd Place in Oceania, Top 15 worldwide out of 1200 teams.

School: The King’s School

ASHNA SAHI (HSC) ATAR: 97.60 Subjects: English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Maths Advanced, Modern History, Design and Technology and Visual Arts Results/Special Awards: All Rounders Achievers List 2022, Distinguished Achiever 2022 School: Kambala

Prabhas Grandhi: Year 12 taught me that simple organisation of my time was all I needed to stop procrastination. By simply setting up a calendar and holding myself accountable to reach my own deadlines, I felt a lot more control over my own time and learnt that I could be the determined person I wanted to be if I simply planned things in advance.

Rohan Keshava: I got to learn the extent to which people can succeed if they are motivated to be industrious and to put in the necessary effort, whether in sport, music, chess, debating, academics etc. I got to see this both from my own experiences and by watching the inspirational journeys my friends went on as they capitalised on their unique finalyear experiences.

Jai Kimatrai: As someone with a room that perpetually looks like a nuclear warzone, I realised that under stress, I really do care about “getting organised.” I would plan my day in my head and set my own imaginary due dates for homework to prevent procrastination. I had never done this before. Ultimately, I still prefer doing things at the impulse, but at least I experienced the other end of the spectrum.

Ananya Vasudeva: I learned that I’m very quick to doubt myself and my ability, but honestly, found that just giving 100% to whatever it is you are doing is always going to help you.

Manas Gupta: I learnt that I was able to remain calm under pressure and in fact work better in the tightest of circumstances.

While this may be a redeemable quality, I was happier to notice that I regularly revised my course content and worked hard

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throughout the year, rather than leaving everything to the last minute.

Dheeraj Thadani: I learnt resilience in all its forms. Year 12 started with the loss of my hero and confidant, a man who loved me more than life itself, my Nana.

In the same week I was elected school captain. I perhaps didn’t have the chance to grieve as I was faced with the challenge of leading a student body returning to the classroom after extensive lockdowns. I realised the importance of balance and managing my time effectively to fit in some time for myself to de-stress. I also learned that a good leader delegates when necessary, and while being a perfectionist is my modus operandi I learnt that there are some things I can let go of and it will be alright.

What moments from 2022 do you remember most fondly?

Ashna: I remember our year cohort becoming closer each time of exams, specifically our final external exams.

Rather than being competitive we took it upon ourselves to work together to get through a very challenging time which largely attests to my cohort’s successful results. Graduation was a time we were able to celebrate the many years and memories we all had together. I also most fondly look upon the time of completing my English Extension 2 Major Work podcast that explored my experiences as an Indian Australian woman, by drawing upon epics such as The Mahabharata.

Veer: Leading over 150 student cadets as Commander of Alpha Company in The King’s School Cadet Corps through the Annual Ceremonial Parade represented a culminating moment of the several fond years I spent as a young army cadet, trekking up mountains or charging through the mud obstacle course. Another highlight was a full-school debate I organised as The King’s School Debating captain - it was truly exhilarating seeing a huge crowd tune into a debate and deliver war cries as loud as they would in a sporting stadium, to support my teammates and I in our school’s 1sts team.

Arushi: The best moments would definitely be the ones that I shared with my family and friends. And it wasn't even the grand scale events like formal and valedictory (although these were absolutely amazing and so much fun). It was the little moments where my friends and I would chat away during free periods and laugh at the silliest things everytime

PRABHAS GRANDHI (VCE) ATAR: 99.35 Subjects: English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology Results/Special Awards: Academic Excellence Awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Academic Excellence in Physics and Mathematical Methods.

School: Suzanne Cory High School

ARUSHI SENCHAUDHURI (VCE) ATAR: 99.85 Subjects: Chemistry, Maths Methods, Further Maths, Specialist Maths, Physics, English Language Results/Special Awards: Future STEM Innovators Award by the Australian Defence Force, The Practical Science Award, Chemistry Dux, School Dux School: The Mac. Robertson Girls High School

we met up. It was the little things my family did to keep me motivated – like literally dragging me out to the beach the day before exams started.

Prabhas: By far the most fun I had was during Physics classes. The class was very hands-on with experiments and most of my classmates were good friends - a perfect recipe for disaster!

Rohan: Year 12 brought many novel opportunities. I particularly enjoyed the chances I got within the music department to take up leadership roles, such as being

the soloist of a piano concerto with the school orchestra, and being able to give back to the school by serving as music captain.

Jai: I was genuinely shocked at how creative my year group was on our last mufti day. All on the same day, I saw yellow minions, sultans, prisoners, Walter White, Julius Caesar and even a Minecraft “steve” with a speaker attached to his head playing the soundtrack. It wascomforting to know that brutal study actually hadn’tvaporised our brains.

4

Ananya: All the sports carnivals (last ones ever!!), getting my trials marks back and being shocked, happy, disappointed - an emotional smoothie. Formal and graduation, of course - seeing everyone all dressed up and just genuinely letting the moment sink in ending the year on such a good note.

Manas: I will cherish Leavers Assembly forever! Our last day of school had an indelible atmosphere that simply cannot be put into words. The final moments where the entire cohort rejoiced in a 200-strong huddle, singing our school song and chanting the school’s motto was a powerful display of camaraderie, and was simultaneously emotional and breathtaking!

Dheeraj: My role as school captain allowed me to help ignite a sense of belonging and friendship, making a positive difference to the lives of other young people. Every aspect of my captaincy role brought me joy and satisfaction. I felt I made a lasting impact to my College by helping to inspire future student leaders. The other moments which stand out include meeting Members of Parliament and Premier Perrottet in my role as school captain, as well as attending official engagements to represent my school. Receiving an early entry offer to my preferred degree from 3 Universities under their Leaders and Achievers Program was another highlight.

What is one change you’d make to your state’s ATAR system?

Ashna: The ranking system. In ranking students, appointing them to a number based on their academic results, the ATAR system simply fails to account for the numerous other qualities, values, and successes of a student. Rather it deems them to a number that only enhances competition between peers and doesn’t celebrate the many other talents of a student.

Veer: Accompanying the ATAR with a self-submitted resume, would provide a better assessment of our schooling. It will ensure a more well-rounded university admission selection process. This will incentivise students to explore and further their passions, inevitably making school more enjoyable and fascinating.

Arushi: Put less weight on that one exam at the end, and value the hard work students put in throughout the year more.

Prabhas: School Assessed Coursework (SACs) at all schools should be changed

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JANUARY 2023 11

COVER STORY to standardised tests made and marked by VCAA so that everyone is assessed fairly.

Rohan: NESA has continued to amend the ATAR system, and I hope that they continue striving to perfect a just and equitable ranking system.

Jai: UAC should openly clarify the calculation process. I don’t know anyone who truly understands how it all works.

They say the exams are scaled according to difficulty, but they don’t seem to say what that really means. Students should be able to easily understand something that decides their next few years.

Ananya: Honestly speaking, I loved how your ATAR/HSC mark is made up of 50% school marks and 50% from the actual exam because this allows students to pace themselves throughout the year rather than having a complete meltdown at the end due to high stakes.

Manas: Put greater emphasis on academic enrichment and research-based courses to nurture the curiosity that comes with learning a subject.

Dheeraj: The scaling system is unnecessarily convoluted.

How did you use social media, like TikTok and Instagram? Did you ever see any education or study-based content?

Ashna: I saw a lot of study-based content on social media but didn’t engage with these very often. I trusted the study skills and techniques that I had always used and the content that my teachers had taught me. Rather, I used these platforms to communicate with my friends about questions more relevant to the subjects we were studying. Social media also served as a break away from studies.

Veer: Social media is a great way to connect with friends, be it group chats about hobbies and schoolwork or to relax or enjoy leisure time. It provides a much needed and refreshing escape but, of course, should be used in moderation.

There are a range of helpful social media pages that offer study tips that I utilised.

Arushi: Scrolling through Instagram Reels was relaxingfor me. I often came across study-based content such as notetaking and memorisation tips as well as 'study with me' time lapses.

Prabhas: I used social media to destress and connect with my friends. YouTube and Instagram can also be a great place to pick up new learning styles and techniques. YouTube was awesome to learn content from, as well as watch the experiences of many others who have also

12 JANUARY 2023

ANANYA VASUDEVA (HSC) ATAR: 94.07 Subjects: English Advanced, Maths Standard 2, PDHPE, Economics, Biology Results/Special Awards: Macquarie leaders and achievers award, Band 6 in Maths and PDHPE, High band 5s in English Economics and Biology School: Cheltenham Girls High School

ROHAN KESHAVA (HSC) ATAR: 99.95 Subjects: Latin Continuers, Latin Extension, French Continuers, Maths Ex 2, Maths Ex 1, English Advanced, Chemistry School: Sydney Grammar School

been through VCE. Short-form content on Instagram Reels and TikTok was helpful in learning quick study hacks.

Rohan: Instagram became very useful to stay in touch with friends during lockdown and organise things to do based on our eclectic interests to break the monotony of online school.

Jai: I mainly used Instagram for necessary communication with friends. Group chats often switched from relaxing playground banter to a sort of support group, in which we helped each other with homework questions or clear up our misconceptions. As Richard Feynman said: “If you want to master something, teach it.” I think Instagram caught onto my studies. I saw loads of science memes, cool math problems and entire lessons on my explore page.

Ananya: Tiktok was soo helpful!! I learned many hacks and tips eg study habits. Others sharing their experience of the HSC helped make the whole process feel way less intimidating. It was also a great way to take short breaks after long, gruelling study sessions.

Manas: I used Instagram intermittently through the year as a form of stress relief, taking my mind off the neverending stream of essays, exercises, and assessments. I used YouTube to learn how to prioritise my time efficiently, drawing upon the advice of fellow Year 12s.

Dheeraj: Online streaming services were a practical way for me to stay sane and helped short circuit the craziness of a busy week. My Business Studies teacher’s advice to us was to “Surround yourself with what’s relevant to your subjects. If

you’re going to waste time on Instagram, at least try to get something out of it”.

So I made sure to follow mainstream media pages along with businesses that I was studying. That way each morning I saw content which was practical and related to my course work in Economics, Business Studies and PDHPE. I also used Instagram to connect with friends in other schools who experienced similar challenges, and we were able to help each other out by sharing study tips.

What extra-curricular activities, hobbies, or TV shows helped you through the past two years?

Ashna: Music helped me a lot throughout the past two years by serving as a break away from my studies. I was part of many choirs and orchestras that allowed me to not only make new friends and participate in numerous performances but take my mind away from studying. Alongside this, I was also Advocacy Prefect within my last two years of school which sparked my interest in community service and volunteering.

Veer: As President of The Business & Investment Club, it was amazing being able to explore my passions for finance, negotiation, business analytics and sales and inspire younger students who wish to step into this field. Debating was a great way to connect with current affairs and engage in public-speaking which I so enjoy. Drama has always been a place for me to let loose, channel my creative side and perform, and it was an awesome break from the rigorous academic focus in Year 12. Finally, TV shows like Stranger Things and Outer Banks were always my go-to when looking to relax!

Arushi: I love dance. In Year 11 and for most of Year 12, I kept up my lessons both online and in-person. It was a great boost of motivation in my stressful week. I also took part in choreographing our annual house dance competitions and performed at valedictory. I also gained some more nerdy hobbies such as building Lego sets (my Mars rocket launch centre set is my most prized possession) and rekindled my love for reading fantasy novels.

Prabhas: I always looked forward to weekends which would give me time for recreation and fun. Drawing, going to the gym and playing video games with friends from time to time helped to divert my mind from the stress of Year 12. Once a month or so, I would also go to the movies with friends.

Rohan: Continuing to immerse myself

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in the school’s music life as well as maintaining my fitness through my tennis were crucial factors in preserving my wellbeing throughout Year 12. At home, relentlessly losing against my brother in table tennis became the perfect break away from my desk. I must also mention that new episodes every Tuesday of Only Murders in the Building Season 2 and a rewatch of Star Wars – The Clone Wars got me through my UCAT and trial exams.

Jai: Music was a great expressive break from the rigidity of STEM subjects. I played oboe in the school orchestra and wind ensemble and piano in my spare time. I also enjoyed producing music on my computer. School basketball was beyond important in keeping me healthy and exercising more muscles than my writing hand. I loved watching Curb your Enthusiasm, Better Call Saul and Parks and Recreation.

Ananya: I was a house captain which was a great way to take my mind off studying and rather focus on more fun (still productive) activities such as event planning. Outside of school, I’ve been working since I was 14 - not particularly because I needed the money, but the feeling to have earned something yourself is like no other!

Working on the weekends with people my age was another way to keep a healthy balance between school commitments, but to still have fun and be productive in a different way. I’m also a huge music fan; as a singer myself music got me through so much. Also shout out to Brooklyn 99 and Friends which I used as rewards after studying, and maybe sometimes binge watched hours on end (which is okay!)

Manas: In addition to playing chess, tennis, football and solving Rubik’s cubes, playing the guitar and binge-watching Brooklyn 99 and The Office got me through the final two years of high school.

Dheeraj: I am a huge cricket and sports enthusiast. Throughout my final years I coached with Cricket NSW and was also the captain of my school’s First XI. I tried to do a 5km and a 10km run each week.

I enjoy public speaking, debating and the performing arts, but not having had time to involve myself in a local theatre group, I made sure to catch my favourite comedians at Sydney Comedy Festival. I saw Sammy J, Randy Feltface, Kitty Flanagan, Aaron Chen, Nazeem Hussain and Dilruk Jayasinha (whom I was fortunate to meet in person). TV shows that helped me get through the last 2 years are: Have You Been Paying

JAI KIMATRAI (HSC) ATAR: 99.06 Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Maths extension 1, Maths extension 2, English advanced, Classical Greek continuers Results/Special Awards: 5th in state in Classical Greek Continuers School: Sydney Grammar School

MANAS GUPTA (HSC) ATAR: 99.50 Subjects: Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, English Extension 1, English Advanced, Physics, Chemistry, Economics Results/Special Awards: NSW All Round Achiever, NSW Distinguished Achiever, General Merit Prize (Top 10 in cohort), Australian Economics Olympiad Honourable Mention (National Level), Half Colours Chess School: Sydney Grammar School

Attention, The Cheap Seats, Wedding Season, Fisk, Utopia and The Moodys.

Who is your favourite nerd (historical or fictional)?

Ashna: Virginia Woolf Veer: Michael Ross from Suits or Hermione Granger from Harry Potter.

Arushi: MARIE CURIE!!

Prabhas: Bernhard Riemann Rohan: Tony Stark Jai: Maurice Moss from The IT Crowd.

Ananya: Don’t know if she counts as a nerd but Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 99.

She is so funny but still so put together and organised, I aspire to be like her in many ways.

Manas: Richard Feynman Dheeraj: Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper.

What would your advice to future final year students be?

Ashna: Year 12 is a competitive and strenuous time where often students compare themselves to the achievements and results of their peers. Be confident with your abilities and trust yourself to be able to perform the way you hope to.

Help your peers and work together; try your best to stay motivated and driven.

Veer: Discipline is more important than motivation. Know your goals and believe in yourself, especially in the hard times. Remaining consistent in your approach breeds success, but overcoming challenges defines your character. Finally, balance is the key.

You will only be in your final year of school once, so enjoy the ride and don’t get too stressed!

4

Arushi: Stay calm, study consistently and make the best memories.

Prabhas: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different study techniques and styles of learning. I am grateful that I experimented with my subjects as it allowed me to workshop my own study skills and create a lasting study system that I can rely on during exam time.

Rohan: Set ambitious goals for the longterm, and realistic goals in the short-term in order to achieve your long-term ones.

Also get as involved as possible in any opportunity that comes your way outside of the classroom, and potential leadership positions within your school, as these are often once-in-a-lifetime chances.

Jai: Truly focus and ask questions. Don’t leave the lesson until you understand what your teacher said. It saves so much time to learn something from your teacher than to pour over badly worded explanations on Quora. And find out what you don’t know by looking at the syllabus points or at past papers.

Ananya: Take school seriously; it’s your last year so you might aswell put in the effort so you can look back and say “Yeah, I did that”. But! Don’t take it so seriously that it trumps your mental health, social battery, friends and family.

Having a good balance is important, and finding that balance can be quite hard, but I found that studying was so much easier because I genuinely enjoyed the subjects I had chosen. Also, your teachers are your friends - they are there to help you, and they want to see you succeed so help them help you, ask questions, reach out for help.

Manas: Embrace the chaos of Year 12 and enjoy the journey.

Dheeraj: 1. Never underestimate yourself even though there will be times where you think you are not doing enough.

2. The HSC is a strong test of character, there maybe times when you feel like giving up, but you gotta back yourself!

Don’t worry about what other people are doing; compete with only yourself by aiming to better your last score.

3. If you are a student leader, aim to find a balance early on between your leadership role and academic pursuits.

Favourite quote from a teacher?

Ashna: “Never let your voice be silenced.”

Veer: “It’s not the destination, it is the journey”.

Prabhas: “Focusing on average study methods will only ever lead to average results.”

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JANUARY 2023 13

COVER STORY Rohan: I would be placed in grave peril for publishing any of the funny ones that come to mind…

Jai: “In the next couple of years you guys are going to do a hell of a lot of maths.”

Manas: “The mango’s hit the fan in Beirut” – Geography 2020 Dheeraj: “Don’t forget, the HSC is a marathon, never a sprint. There will be challenges along the way, tough times don’t last but tough people do! It’s a bit like Heartbreak Hill… challenging on the way up with a sense of euphoria when you reach the top”.

Describe your final year in three words.

Ashna Sahi: Rigorous. Fulfilling.

Memorable Veer: Exhilarating. Demanding.

Rewarding Arushi: Hectic. Fleeting. Memorable Prabhas: Just the beginning.

Rohan: Rewarding. Dynamic. Fun Jai: Nostalgic. Stimulating. Constant Ananya: Chaotic. Thrilling. Empowering Manas: Demanding. Rewarding.

Unforgettable Dheeraj: Hectic. Brilliant. Unforgettable Your jersey name: Ashna: ASAHI Veer Benepal: VB Arushi: arushirose Prabhas Grandhi: Prabhability Jai Kimatrai: JK Ananya: #no.1 brown kudi Manas Gupta: GUPTA 22 Dheeraj: Born to be free.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Ashna: Meeting new people within a new environment whilst being able to pursue my interests within my chosen degree.

Veer: Gaining valuable work experience in business fields related to finance, real-estate and consulting. I am excited to experience college life, be it in Sydney or the USA. Arushi: Studying my dream course (aerospace engineering) and finally getting to learn about rockets. I also can't wait to make special memories and build new friendships at uni.

Prabhas: Moving onto the next stage of learning in university, studying Medicine at Monash University, as well as having more time to spend with friends and family. In 2023, I aim to focus more on building better, lasting habits that will make me a more well-rounded person.

Rohan: Meeting lots of new people at University and taking up the extracurricular activities that university life will bring.

Jai: Continue learning my favourite STEM subjects at university under a degree in engineering and math major. I can’t wait to choose specific classes I’m interested in rather than take an awfully broad HSC course.

Ananya: Starting Uni! Making new friends, memories, and taking those small steps towards an exciting future.

Manas: Experiencing all the intricacies of University life, and finally joining my friends for bar trivia after turning 18!

Dheeraj: Studying my favourite subjects at University, meeting new people and expanding my horizons beyond the confines of school.

DHEERAJ THADANI (HSC) ATAR: 84 Subjects: English Advanced, Maths Advanced, Business Studies, Economics & PDHPE Results/Special Awards: Australian Defence Force Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award, City of Ryde Excellence Award, Anthony Roberts MP Student Leadership Award, Bennelong Award, Preliminary State Finalist Public Speaking School: Ryde Secondary College

Happy

Republic Day Andrew Charlton MP MEMBER FOR PARRAMATTA

1/25 Smith Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 andrew.charlton.mp@aph.gov.au (02) 9689 1455

Authorised by Andrew Charlton MP, ALP, 1/25 Smith Street Parramatta NSW2150

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JANUARY 2023 15

ACCOLADES

WHAT DRIVES

Dr. Chennupati Jagadish ANU scientist becomes the latest Australian Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee Receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya honour from the President of India Ms Draupadi Murmu

BY TORSHA SEN

“T

he fact that the Government of India recognised me, a village guy from Andhra Pradesh, makes me grateful,” says Dr. Chennupati Jagadish, President of the Australian Academy of Science and professor of physics at the Australian National University.

He's talking about the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest Indian award for NonResident Indians and Overseas Citizens of India.

He received the honour from the President of India Ms Draupadi Murmu at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2023 (PBD’23), held in Indore earlier this month.

Dr Jagadish is a leading researcher in the field of semiconductor physics and nanotechnology, with a focus on the growth and characterisation of semiconductor nanostructures.

One of Australia’s leading scientists, he has published over 700 research papers and is a fellow of the world’s leading science and technological institutions

PRAVASI BHARATIYA SAMMAN

At PBD ’23, Dr Chennupati was one of 27 honourees from the world over. Speaking to Indian Link from the 3-day conclave, Dr Chennupati recounts, “It has been a humbling experience meeting with the Prime Minister of India over lunch and the External Affairs Minister at dinner, and then receiving the honour from the President of India.”

Of course, this latest honour is one of a long list of awards. His efforts were recognised by his adopted country way back in 2016 when the Australian Government bestowed on him the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC),

With endowment and FRT scholars

16 JANUARY 2023

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Receiving the AC

our from urmu

The book his teacher wrote for him

awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia.

“I am grateful to both India and Australia,” Dr Chennupati observes. “One nurtured me from childhood to adulthood and provided me with education, whereas the other provided me the opportunity to prove myself as a scientist.”

The true scientist that he is, he takes pains to acknowledge colleagues and peers in his own scientific achievements.

“Science is a team effort; I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful students, post-docs, young academics, and collaborators. I thank them for their contributions to our collective effort.”

ONE TEACHES, TWO LEARN

Other than his students, collaborators, and family, the 66-year-old scientist also pays homage to teachers that sparked it all in him.

Primary among these are his maths teacher from school, who holds a very special place in his journey and achievements.

“I wanted to study but didn’t have the means,” Dr Chennupati reveals.“My maths teacher supported me for three years, even offering me boarding and lodging, till I finished school. I remember him whenever I get an award.”

The maths teacher, Shri Chaganti Sambi Reddy, retired headmaster from Nunna, Vijaywada has written on the life and work of his favourite student, Chennupati Jagadish.

“It is students that write books about their teachers, not the other way round,” laughs Dr Jagadish. “How often do you see a teacher writing not one but two books about their student? It’s such an honour.”

He met with his 88-year-old teacher and

With students

mentor last year at the book launch.

As an educationist who believes in the ripple effect – ie, helping more for greater impact –Dr Chennupati makes sure he follows his revered teacher's footsteps in giving back to society.

“I am here because so many people especially opened various windows to the world for me. Today when I am in that position, I too want to do the same for as many students as I can,” shares the ANU professor.

To that end, his wife Vidya and he have initiated the Chennupati and Vidya Jagadish Visiting Scholarship and Fellowship Awards.

These give students and researchers from developing countries the chance to travel to the Research School of Physics at ANU to pursue collaborative research for up to 12 weeks.

“The success of this program has been overwhelming,” he reveals. “So much so that ANU has joined efforts and created Future Research Talent of ANU. This year we are ready to welcome 77 cohorts from developing countries, especially India.”

INDIA-AUSTRALIA A TERRITORY OF UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

Dr. Jagadish is optimistic about the huge potential in India-Australia relations, if directed the right way. “Both are vibrant democracies with similar value systems and there are enormous opportunities. Yet, we must go beyond the transactional way of thinking. I feel strongly the mindset of seeing the two countries in just unidirectional form of markets should change. We should go beyond the thought of ‘what am I going to get out of this?’ If that is what you are thinking, you have lost the plot.”

He adds, “A strong India-Australia relationship could be great for the entire

Indo-Pacific region in the long run. Long-term friendships can never be merely transactional.”

According to him, it’s never late for the two countries to collaborate. “In science alone, India and Australia have realised the potential, and are coming together in areas such as nanotechnology, semi-conductors, biotechnology, IT and so much more.”

He welcomes the latest move of India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) facilitating foreign universities to set up campuses in India. “The Australian education system is exceptional, and India has some of the greatest minds that need to become scientifically sound. It would be a great opportunity for educators if more students can be empowered that do not get the kind of exposure they deserve. In today’s world more and more STEM skills are required.

Most industries are bound by STEM practices, therefore nurturing talent becomes a priority.”

SCIENCE ABOVE ALL

And yet, we put to him, science education at school seems to be somewhat lacklustre.

“I am aware, and here is why science education is important. I feel when you have sound knowledge of the subject you can be confident in imparting it to others.

Therefore, science-qualified teachers can make a huge difference. They can inspire students. Their deep background, the passion for science, and training in the subject can bring about a change,” says the Australian Academy of Science President.

WHAT ABOUT GIRLS IN SCIENCE?

“It’s definitely a problem that we don’t see as many girls or women in science as we should, and there are multiple factors. Perhaps we need more role models. Also, we need to highlight the works of women scientists a lot more than we do. Many of our women scientists have risen to the ranks with some

excellent work. Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro AC, for instance, or Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr. Cathy Foley have both gone against all odds to be where they are today.”

He further shares, “Another problem that I am aware of is the leaky pipeline for women in science. A large number of women drop out due to family or social reasons which are not good.”

How is the Academy helping stem this leaky STEM pipeline?

“We are working on multiple structures that could begin to solve this problem. For starters, we have created STEM Women, an online directory of women in Australia working in STEM and provide opportunities to those who may experience barriers throughout their careers. We have taken it to the next level by connecting Asia-Pacific and globally with STEM Women Global Identity.”

What about the rise of a temperament away from or against science in the recent past, such as in the case of vaccines?

“Science can prosper when society accepts it and this is where STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences need to work together. If you don’t understand the needs and issues, it would be very difficult to implement technology,” says Dr. Jagdish.

Dr. Jagadish arrived in Australia in 1990 as a young scientist with his wife Vidya, their two-month-old daughter, enormous scientific knowledge, and a handful of dreams that mostly revolved around empowering others.

Today he is an acknowledged world leader in his particular research speciality.

“For students who are reading this and are passionate about science, let me tell you, don’t get trapped in misconceptions. If a village boy from Andhra can become the President of the Australian Academy of Science, then the sky is the limit,” concludes the newest Australian Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee.

Early days in Australia

JANUARY 2023 17

ACCOLADES BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

38

-year-old Abhishek Verma admits to being surprised when he was announced as GP of the Year by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

“To be picked from amongst 40,000 GPs - many of who are older and more experienced, having practiced for decades was surprising,” he tells Indian Link. “But it was humbling - and I’m proud and grateful.”

It’s an honour he shares with Sydney’s Dr Anju Aggarwal.

The Melbourne born and raised Dr Verma has been practicing as a GP since 2016.

Currently he works at the Refugee Health Service at Collingwood, and previously worked at a family practice at Narre Warren.

Describing his current work he says, “As a mainstream GP I looked after patients who were health literate and had a good understanding of the process, and mostly had good outcomes. At Collingwood I gravitated towards recent migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, who couldn’t or wouldn’t find access to mainstream medical care. They need help to navigate the health system, and encouragement to get involved in their own health. As vulnerable people, they often end up with poorer health outcomes, and are the people most in need of our support. I am trying to contribute there. They are treated for free. Part of being a doctor is to make a difference in people’s lives. Small things can make a big impact, you know.”

Is that a different career choice as a doctor?

“It’s not as rewarding, but it’s meaningful,” he offers.

Seeing patients have good outcomes, is a career highlight according to him.

“To see depressed, withdrawn individuals go on to have happy functional lives with families of their own and productive careers, that’s meaningful. Or again, to work with a team of other health care professionals to see improved quality of life and better outcomes for patients, that’s meaningful.”

General Practice is not what he had planned, though.

“I was in surgical training for several years, actually. It’s very competitive. I was offered a position of ENT surgical trainee at rural Queensland. It didn’t suit my family at the time as my wife worked with PWC and we had just had a baby. So I switched to General Practice and took on a position at Melbourne.”

Perhaps he’s avoided the burnout that hospitals are said to have caused in Australia’s young doctors, which reached crisis levels last year.

“Yes,hospital work can take a toll on you - covering wards, emergency, then administrative duties, and that too with not a lot of support. But things are improving now, and we’re seeing greater emphasis on welfare.”

He should know, having inspired two younger brothers to 18 JANUARY 2023

“Meaningful work” Melbourne’s Dr Abhishek Verma is joint GP of the Year 2022 follow him into the profession and take on successful specialized careers.

Dr Verma is also involved in education, with roles at the University of Newcastle and Monash University. As well in governance roles, he serves on the Victorian Medical Board (its youngest ever member, taking on the role when he was just 33); on the Boards of two rural health services; on the expert committee for Standards in General Practice, and is an RACGP examiner.

Which brings us to the question of the challenges that overseas doctors routinely face in requalifying in Australia.

“I absolutely agree that it is a difficult process, given my own experience on medical boards dealing with this,” Dr Verma replies. “However qualified you may be – with post graduate degrees even – it could be difficult to get into the system. But there are services out there that could help you in the process, and doctors who could mentor.

In the end it will be worth it.”

He adds, “Did you know some 52% of GPs in this country are overseasqualified? When I worked at Narre Warren I learnt a lot from the doctors there, and they were trained in India or Sri Lanka or Pakistan. In fact, I learnt more from them than from med school.”

Talking of med school, what advice does he have for students about to start at uni?

“Medicine is such a diverse field that there’s something for everybody,” he observes.

“Explore carefully the direction that you want to take – whether in medical administration or medical law or surgery or any of the other specialisations.”

With wife Swapna

www.indianlink.com.au

“Medicine is not about treatment, but about prevention” Sydney’s Dr Anju Aggarwal is joint GP of the Year 2022 BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

“I

’m a people person, and so I’m perfectly suited to my role as a general practitioner,” laughs Anju Aggarwal.

She was named GP of the Year late last year by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

With nearly 45,000 member doctors nationally, the association has been the voice of GPs in Australia for 60 years now.

It describes the GP of the Year award as presented to ‘those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the general practice profession, excellence in primary healthcare provision, and significant involvement in training and continuing professional development.‘ It’s an honour Dr Anju Aggarwal shares with Melbourne’s Dr Abhishek Verma.

She is humble about the accolade, and says simply, ‘‘I’m more energised to do what I do.’’

Her patients at Penrith and Bankstown will no doubt vouch for that sentiment. She lists them, over and above anything else, as her career highlight: ‘‘The love and trust of my patients gives me a sense of fulfillment.’’

Her particular clinical interests are in aged care, women and children.

‘‘I’m passionate about aged care. I feel it is ‘proper medicine‘. Senior patients have multiple issues of concern for which they may see multiple specialists, but it is the GP that puts it all together for them as a full picture of their health. That’s why it is important to have a regular GP – so that consistency of care and quality of care are both ensured.’’

In fact, she emphasises that everyone must have a regular GP who will look after their health needs as a whole. ‘‘Medicine is not about treatment, but about prevention,’’ she stresses. ‘‘It’s about improving the quality of life. Why would you not entrust all your health care needs to a single resource?’’

Dr Aggarwal is a popular figure in Sydney’s Indian community, appearing frequently on community panels and health forums. At these events, she urges her audience to take more responsibility for self-care.

“Take greater responsibility for your own health. For starters, exercise half an hour a day. Too busy? How about15 minutes?

15 minutes of whatever you enjoy – yoga, walking, exercise bike, or even dance, which is my preferred form of exercise. I’m a kathak dancer, and my daily routine of 20-30 minutes rejuvenates me physically, mentally, spiritually. There should be no excuse for not being able to spare 15 minutes of your day.’’

The Haryana-born Dr Aggarwal trained at Rohtak Medical College. As someone who had to requalify as a doctor upon arrival in Australia nearly thirty years ago, what are her views on the idea that the process in itself is draconian, and perhaps warrants a renewed approach?

She is thoughtful for a moment. “I do understand that the process is hard. It also costs a lot, and it is especially tough while you’re financially dependent on others.

But look, I suppose it is an opportunity for the authorities to assess whether overseastrained professionals can work in a system that could be different to the one they have workedin. For instance in Australia it is seen as important to assess the manner in which you interact with patients, treat them with respect and involve them in decision making. It’s not as if one system is better or worse than the other, it’s just different.

Also, there could be difference in skills: India-trained doctors maybe be better equipped at dealing with tuberculosis, but perhaps not so much with skin cancer, based on the kind of cases they see.

Language could be an issue with certain other nationalities… so my understanding of the requalification exam is that it may be hard but it is fair. Let me also state, that there is a recognition here that overseastrained doctors bring in a wealth of knowledge, so they are valued.’’

Dr Aggarwal has been a valued and popular member herself of AIMGA (Australian Indian Medical Graduates Association), which does its bit by providing community medical education programs and free health checks at large-scale community events.

As a new cohort of medical students looks set to begin at university, the GP of the Year 2022 has the following advice: “Enjoy your time at university and take time to determine the line of study that appeals to you: go where you are drawn, whether surgery or psychiatry or whatever.

If you like variety, take the GP path.”

JANUARY 2023 19

INDIAN LINK CAL 1 New Year’s Day 2 Public Holiday 5 Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 12 Swami Vivekananda Jayanti 13 Lohri 14 Makar Sankranti/ Magh Bihu 15 Pongal 26 Australia Day 26 Vasant Panchami 26 Republic Day

1 May Day 1 Labour Day (QLD) 5 Buddha Purnima 14 Mother’s Day 9 Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 26 National Sorry Day

3 Father’s Day 7 Janmashtami (Vaishnava) 15 Rosh Hashanah 19 Ganesh Chaturthi 24 Yom Kippur 26 King’s Birthday (WA) 28 Milad-Un-Nabi

5 Hazrat Ali’s birthday 5 Guru Ravidas Jayanti 14 Valentine’s Day 18 Mahashivratri 19 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

5 WA Day (WA) 12 King’s Birthday (All except WA and QLD) 20 Rath Yatra 29 Eid-al-Adha

1 Daylight Saving begins 2 Gandhi Jayanti 2 King’s Birthday (QLD) 2 Labour Day (NSW, ACT, SA) 24 Vijay Dashami/Dussehra 28 Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti 31 Halloween

Australian holidays and observances are listed in red.

All things India

20 JANUARY 2023

www.indianlink.com.au

CALENDAR 2023 6 Labour Day (WA) 7 Jewish Holiday Purim 8 Holi 13 Labour Day (VIC) 21 Harmony Day 22 Chaitra Sukladi/Gudi Padva/ Ugadi/Cheti Chand/Ramadan begins 30 Ram Navami

2 Daylight saving ends 4 Mahavir Jayanti 7 Good Friday 8 Easter Saturday 9 Easter Sunday 10 Easter Monday 14 Vishu/Vaisakhi/Meshadi 15 Poila Boishak/ Bahag Bihu/Vishu 21 Jamat-Ul-Vida 22 Eid-al-Fitr 25 ANZAC Day

2 NAIDOC Week begins 5 Guru Hargobind Jayanti 19 Muharram (tentative) 29 Muharram

7 Picnic Day (NT) 15 Independence Day 16 Parsi New Year 19 Janmashtami/Haryali Teej 29 Onam 30 Raksha Bandhan

1 Karvachauth 4 Prakash Utsav Guru Granth Sahib 7 Melbourne Cup Day 11 Remembrance Day 12 Diwali 15 Bhai Dooj 19 Chhath Puja 27 Guru Nanak Jayanti

8 Hanukkah 24 Christmas Eve 25 Christmas 26 Boxing Day 31 New Year’s Eve

Disclaimer: Indian holidays and observances are listed predominantly from Government of India sources but also from other sources. Dates based on lunar calendar may vary. Please check accuracy closer to the dates specified.

All things Indian. In Australia.

JANUARY 2023 21

SCIENCE delivered, the Australian research team is continuing its collaboration with Indian colleagues through workshops, conferences and joint publications. The collaborative projects include tie-ups with CSIR India, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), IITs and Indian universities, based on funding from sources such as DFAT, Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), and World Bank.

ECO-AWAKENING

What’s polluting the Ganga CSIRO environmental toxicologist Dr Anu Kumar leads an Indo-Australian project to provide answers BY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY

I

ncreasing populations, expansion of urban areas, intensive agriculture, climate change, pollution and depleting natural water resources are the main drivers of water quality issues in India.

All of these especially pose a threat to India’s largest river Ganga – into which some three million litres of sewage is emptied every day.

Dr Anu Kumar, research scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has been tracking pollutants in the Ganga.

The environmental toxicologist and risk assessor with a career spanning 23 years, tells Indian Link, “Both the Australian and Indian water industry face a challenge to maintain a safe and sustainable water supply in the face of increased domestic, farming and industrial discharges and climate variations.”

22 JANUARY 2023

“In our investigations we wanted to identify and determine the impact of selected emerging contaminants discharged via sewage effluent into Indian and Australian rivers. We did this via biological and chemical assessments.”

While the project has already been

As a child, Dr Kumar learned about sustainability on long train journeys that her family undertook – her father’s job in the Indian Air Force required them to travel across India.

“Crossing the Mahanadi Bridge in Odisha, I would see rice paddies and ponds near each household,” she recalls. “At holidays in northern India with our grandparents and extended family, we would awake to doves and peacocks each morning.”

But this began to change when she joined Panjab University as a student.“Every monsoon, I would hear a dwindling number of frogs croaking and birds chirping.”

These small yet significant observations nudged her to pursue a career in the environmental sciences.

She arrived in Australia in 1991 with an AIDAB (Australian International Development Assistance Bureau) scholarship towards a PhD in environmental toxicology, in collaboration with NSW EPA (currently known as the NSW Department of Planning and Environment).

“I learnt a lot during my PhD on the impact of pesticides in the cotton growing areas of NSW. It contributed to the development of water quality guidelines for certain pesticides used in Australia.”

In 2002, she joined the CSIRO as a scientist.

Here, she led projects that demonstrated how wineries in Australia could reuse their waste water “to safely irrigate crops”.

“The nutrients and organic matter in winery wastewater can enhance soil productivity, thus increasing crop growth and yield. In a country like Australia that’s susceptible to drought conditions, it is important that we find more efficient and sustainable ways to use what can be such a scarce resource,” she says.

Her extensive experience led her to the Ganga project in India.

THE GANGA PROJECT

The Indo-Australian project offered opportunities for scientific cooperation, technology transfer and capacity building.

“We also shared Australia’s expertise in water quality monitoring to guide management decisions in India. While working together, we ensured the effective abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of rivers.”

BUT WHAT IS POLLUTING THE GANGA?

“It is hard to pinpoint a specific class of chemicals,” she clarifies. “The pollution along the river is from both diffuse and point sources. Unlike point source pollution, which enters a river course at a specific site such as a pipe discharge, diffuse pollution occurs when potentially polluting substances leach into surface waters and groundwater as a result of rainfall, soil infiltration and surface runoff.”

Pesticides seem to top this list of pollutants. According to a recent report, she says, the total usage of pesticides in The Ganga basin between 2012 and 2017 was 72,741 MT, which is 27% of the country’s total consumption.

Dr Kumar’s team used analytical and bioanalytical tools to detect micro pollutants in the Ganga, evaluating drain discharges into it at two major cities.

“We analysed chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in river water samples such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).

Sewage was found to be the dominant source of organic micro pollutants in urban drain effluents.”

THE SOLUTIONS

What is the solution for river pollutants, we ask. “Tackle the source, not the symptom,” she responds.“Education and public awareness are key. Governments are running initiatives to promote safe water, but we can’t leave this solely to them. The solution is in our hands and each of us must take the responsibility of ensuring our rivers are clean.”

She adds, “Traditional knowledge and experiences along with evidence-based science should go hand in hand to tackle this issue.”

Reduce and eliminate the use of CECs, she suggests, and replace these with environmentally friendly and less toxic substances. “Industries should comply with the zero liquid discharge principle.”

The CECs she is referring to are pharmaceuticals, industrial and household chemicals, personal care products, pesticides, manufactured nanomaterials, microplastics, and their transformation products.

What can Australia and India learn from each other?

Dr Kumar says that while the environmental problems are similar in both societies, “the main difference lies in the extent of the problem.”

“In Australia, the regulatory frameworks, guidelines, monitoring, surveillance programs and public awareness help us to identify and manage these issues. In India, we have identified champions, those passionate persons who are ready to do more than what is required to make a difference. What we need is a continuity of our efforts in this area to achieve bigger outcomes for safe water and sustainable economic development for its 1.4 billion people,” she concludes.

www.indianlink.com.au

INDIA

Artist Richard Bell

A

n installation set up by noted Australian contemporary artist Richard Bell called ‘Embassy’ - a symbol of resistance of the people of First Nations, is making waves at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, an international exhibition of contemporary art being held in Kochi, Kerala.

‘Embassy’ has been created by putting up a tent outdoors at the Biennale venue in Fort Kochi highlighting the discrimination and exploitation faced by Australia’s First Nations people even after the colonial period, and to create awareness about them all over the world.

70-year-old Richard Bell, a member of the Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang communities, describes the ownerslave mentality that still exists and is very much deep-rooted in certain human minds, as something that should be most despised.

“Can it be blamed if, to express their strong displeasure, the aboriginals open an embassy in their own land? The ‘Embassy’ has been taken up as a symbol reflecting the pitiful condition of Aboriginals at an

international level,” says Bell who is a wellknown name as a contemporary artist and activist in Australia.

The Brisbane-based artist, has envisioned the First Nations Embassy - a tent - as a place for holding exhibitions, video presentations, and discussions to ensure the survival and welfare of Aboriginals and to support institutions fighting on their behalf.

Bell’s installation is itself inspired by the first Aboriginal Tent Embassy,

pitched on the grounds of Canberra’s Parliament House in 1972, by four young men demanding Aboriginal land rights.

The Tent Embassy still stands today as a reminder of the audacity and tenacity of the original tent ambassadors and a continuation of their diplomacy in the field of Indigenous politics.

The exterior of the tent exhibits posters depicting the sharp outcry against discrimination and exploitation. One of them

reads: “Why is democracy being celebrated when life as an Aboriginal is forbidden?”

‘Embassy’ has been exhibited at prominent contemporary art expos worldwide. Big canvas paintings made by Richard Bell in response to racism and land conflicts involving Aboriginals can also be seen at Kochi.

The Kochi Biennale is on until 10 Apr 2023.

IANS

UPI payments a welcome move for Australian NRIs

I

n a welcome move, Australia is one of ten countries from which Indian nonresidents will be able to transact using the UPI system.

Prevented earlier from using their overseas phone numbers to transact, now non-resident Indians from Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom can pay for items using their non-resident external or ordinary accounts (NRE and NRO accounts. An NRE account helps NRIs transfer foreign earnings to India, while an NRO account helps them manage the income earned in India.)

Experts have welcomed this development lauding the simplicity of the new arrangements, saying that NRIs will just need to link their NRE and NRO

accounts linked to their international SIM to UPI and use it like any other Indian UPI user for merchant payment as well as peer-to-peer payments.

If you’ve just returned from your India holiday, you may have experienced the inconvenience of having to use cash out at the shops.

Or become the butt of jokes as retailers stared at you for being ‘outdated’.

(Twitter user Amit Paranjpe of Pune tweeted recently: Peak NRI season here. How do you spot NRIs at a Mall FoodCourt? No, not the usual differences in clothing, etc. Notice how they are the only ones paying with cash!)

The Germany-based Twitter user Aditya replied, “Guilty as charged!

Tried to set up PayTM and failed. Was pleasantly surprised how most shops reacted with surprise when I wanted to pay by cash. In Germany cash is still the default option”.

UPI, a six-year-old payments network built by a coalition of banks, has taken much of the country by storm, becoming the most popular way Indians transact online today. The payments service fetches money directly from banks, removing the reliance on any

intermediary. With its low cost of transaction, UPI payments such as PayTM are used by everyday vendors from roadside juice sellers to Uber drivers.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have however cautioned member banks to ensure such types of accounts are only allowed as per the extant FEMA regulations and adherence to the guidelines issued by the concerned regulatory departments of Reserve Bank of India.

Member banks also need to guarantee all the necessary Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/ Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) checks and compliance validation/account level validations are met.

This new move has been welcomed by NRIs as it eases the burden of carrying cash during their visits to India.

Pawan Luthra

JANUARY 2023 23

Source: richardbellart/website

Richard Bell’s ‘Embassy’ a hit at Kochi Biennale

BOOKS

'In Lanka, there is collective amnesia about the civil war' B

2022 Booker Prize-winning author Shehan Karunatilaka chats with SUKANT DEEPAK

elieve it or not, it was quite a task for Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka to find a UK publisher for his second novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, which went on to win the prestigious Booker Prize in 2022. “Frankly, those in the West are not clamouring for Sri Lankan books about wars that people have forgotten,” he smiles.

Revealing that he found out he had won the prize just as the rest of the world did, Karunatilaka says that while people do get a heads up with the long and shortlists, that was not to be in his case.

“Frankly, I went to the ceremony quite content that the book had been short listed. The judges usually drag it out while announcing the winner, but these just went for it. I walked up and made the speech, and then the next 48 hours were just about interviews.

Of course, it has sunk in by now,” he says.

The prize-winning book revolves around the recently deceased war photographer Maali Almeida, who wakes up as a ghost and has seven days to identify his killer. The story is set in the 1980s, during the early years of Sri Lanka’s civil war between government forces and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

The author, speaking to this writer while attending the 6th Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in the coastal town of Kozhikode, says that while all works require a special effort, this one took quite long and demanded multiple drafts.

“Rewriting the complete draft during the pandemic, I was relieved to have finished the writing process.”

Admitting that in Sri Lanka there is

24 JANUARY 2023

collective amnesia about the civil war, with people not feeling the need to talk about it - no wonder very few books have been written and films made on the subject Shehan Karunatilaka says it is important to acknowledge that there are many who have not found closure.

“I would like to read more stories from Sri Lanka’s civil war. To move forward, we must hear each other’s tales. Mostly outsiders have written about the war, and that too about the final phase. Maybe new and young authors will look at it more objectively, and address unhealed wounds.”

The author, who has completed research and started writing his next this year, says it will be a light book, an ensemble comedy centring around Sri Lanka’s corporate world. “Both

the books have had a strong protagonist. I might write the third one in the third person.

I researched for two to three years for my first (book), and there are plenty of subjects to write about,” says this former advertising professional.

Anguished over the economic crisis plaguing the island nation, the author says there was much optimism after the civil war ended.

“And then we had the 2019 bombings which broke my heart. While we knew the economic crisis was coming, nobody, including financial experts imagined that Sri Lanka would default.

I am a middle-class guy — and we had gas shortages and got firewood etc. Someone like me can still bear it, but for most of the population, it means skipping a meal.”

Stressing that he still practices the process he employed during his advertising days, Shehan Karunatilaka says what has changed is the time it takes to write. “Research, brainstorm, and write. While in advertising, a campaign would take a few weeks, a novel takes years.

Researching is my favourite part. I make a lot of notes and fill up pages. The first draft is the toughest. I do not mind editing. When you have a draft, then it is easy to pull pieces together and hope for the best,” concludes the Booker Prize winner.

“I would like to read more stories from Sri Lanka’s civil war. To move forward, we must hear each other’s tales. Mostly outsiders have written about the war, and that too about the final phase. Maybe new and young authors will look at it more objectively, and address unhealed wounds.” www.indianlink.com.au

BOOKS back against community and societal patriarchy.”

Therefore, she says, “it is important to remember that histories of violence or victimisation are accompanied by stories of courage and resistance”.

MY BODY, MY CHOICE

On the politics of clothing A new book on the hijab is a step towards embracing difference BY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY

T

he death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police on 16 September shook the world.

For the unversed, Amini was taken into custody for allegedly not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, properly. She died in detention, triggering world-wide protests.

Iranians and women’s right groups based in Australia strongly reacted to the incident. They, too, took to streets in Melbourne and other centres to mark their dissent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a video message, said: “Australia stands with women and people of Iran who are protesting for their human rights.”

A timely book, titled The Hijab: Islam, Women and the Politics of Clothing, aims to help change the current and problematic narrative around hijab across the world. Edited

by Delhi-based historian PK Yaseer Arafath and G Arunima, director of Kerala Council for Historical Research, the book features 17 compelling and thought-provoking essays (and a short story) from India, Bangladesh and Iran.

Published in December by Simon & Schuster India, the book is an attempt to safeguard the rights of minorities and embrace difference.

“The essays in the book look at the ways in which politicising the hijab has had a detrimental effect on Muslim women’s sovereignty over their bodies and life choices,” Arunima tells Indian Link.

While some writers here explore women’s lives through an analysis of their life histories, others study the relationship between the hijab, Muslim women’s autonomy and feminism.

The book comes at a particularly significant time when Australia got its first hijab-wearing senator, Fatima Payman. In many emotional speeches, the Afghanistan-born has said that she wants to normalise wearing burqa in Australia.

Editors Yaseer Arafath and G Arunima

“The Australian government and the wider community of protesting citizens will need to address the larger concerns raised by Payman,” adds Arafath.

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE On 10 December, Australia imposed sanctions on Iran’s morality police and six Iranian individuals involved in the “violent crackdown on protests following the death of Amini and the continued oppression of the people of Iran”, the foreign affairs department said in a statement.

Arafath, however, feels that this may not necessarily put an end to the human rights violations against protesting women in Iran.

“Imposing sanctions is a very serious matter, and it requires equally serious reflection,” he explains. “Historically, when international sanctions have been imposed on any country, the outcomes have not necessarily matched the original intentions while imposing such sanctions.”

In context of their book, the editors explain how the lives of Muslim women have transitioned over many years across the globe.

“If we take the history of Indian Muslim women from the late 19th century onwards, we find that the struggles for education, employment, or changing sartorial practices were often the results of women’s own activism,” Arunima shares. “Even though some progressive men within the community supported their cause, substantial changes in Muslim women’s lives could not have taken place unless they themselves pushed

A Lebanese-Australian of Islamic background, Nawal Suri had reacted strongly after France’s hijab ban last year.

She said she was terrified to think that something she decided to wear on her head has caused so much chaos for so many.

Isn’t clothing a personal choice, we ask Arafath.

“Yes,” he responds. “Everyone should have the freedom to wear whatever makes them comfortable and confident. As our book shows, there are many reasons why women choose to wear the hijab, including religion, social class, familial upbringing, and the political desire to identify as Muslim. In a changing world, it is important that we remember that this intersection of reasons conditions Muslim women’s sartorial decisions.”

Many feminism conversations are about how women should be allowed to display as much skin as they like. But surely, the same goes the other way?

“Yes, if women want to cover up, they should be able to, and if they want to uncover, no one should have any issues,” adds Arunima.

So why is women’s clothing the centre of politics in many parts of the world?

“Regulating women’s clothing is closely tied to the control over women’s bodies, sexuality, and life choices,” Arunima continues. “This is done by the family, community, and society. Both religion and state are parties to this. This is not restricted to recent decades or only to politicians. On the contrary, we have innumerable examples from all over the world of women’s clothing being a source of struggle. For example, the shortening of ankle-length skirts in Europe in the first half of the 20th century was met with violence and ridicule by men.”

The book also discusses how the hijab has come in various styles and patterns over the years. However, hijabi women continue to remain excluded from fashion spaces.

“Since the fashion industry has very strong class dimensions and is also controlled by a few Euro-American fashion houses, changes in this will necessitate a profound rethinking of the industry’s politics. Should that happen, it would be possible to have far greater diversity within the fashion industry, and one that could accommodate differences,” Arafath says.

"The shortening of ankle-length skirts in Europe in the first half of the 20th century was met with violence and ridicule by men."

JANUARY 2023 25

You’ve been with us longer than...

Google has existed

People have sent SMS in Australia

GST has been increasing prices

Homosexuality has been decriminalised

Paid maternity leave has existed

Under 3% of Aussie homes had internet

Thank you for trusting and growing with us since Oct 1994

IndianLink All things Indian. In Australia.

For the past 28 years.

26 JANUARY 2023

young 28YEARS www.indianlink.com.au

FOOD

CHAMAN QALIYA

(Kashmiri style Paneer Curry) Ingredients n

n n n n n n

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300gms paneer, cut into medium sized cubes 2-3 tbsp mustard oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 ½ tsp fennel seeds 1 inch cinnamon bark 2 whole green cardamom (lightly crushed) 1 tsp dry ginger powder 2-3 green chillies, slit in half lengthwise 2 cloves 1 star anise 2 dried bay leaf ¼ tsp hing/asafoetida Salt to season 1-2 cups full cream milk 2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Method n

n

n

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Mix ½ tsp turmeric powder in a cup of water; keep aside.

Grind the cumin and fennel seeds to a fine powder.

Heat 1-2 tsp mustard oil in a pan and add the paneer cubes. Fry lightly on all sides and transfer to the bowl with turmeric water.

In the same pan, heat the remaining oil and add the whole spices (bay leaf, star anise, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon). Fry on low heat till fragrant and then add the ground cumin and fennel powder, ginger powder, asafoetida and green chillies. Mix well and add the paneer cubes along with the water.

Bring to boil and then lower heat; add 1 ½ cup milk, season with salt and simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes. Add more milk if necessary.

Remove from heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Note: Frying the paneer cubes is optional. In another version of this dish, the paneer pieces are simply soaked in turmeric water and added directly to the spices without frying first. So it’s entirely upto you based on your taste preferences.

Paneer, Kashmir style Think Kashmiri cuisine, and meat-based dishes come to mind.

Here’s something different, but equally grand BY DHANYA SAMUEL

T

he cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir has always been a fascinating and exciting one for me.

It is perhaps one of the most misunderstood and underrepresented cuisines from India. A classic example of this would be Mutton Roganjosh, a dish that has been bastardized by Indian restaurants across the world.

Kashmiri cuisine is often thought of as meat-heavy (using mutton particularly). And most of us have heard of the magnificent

Kashmiri wazwan, a feast fit for the Gods.

Yet there are scores of vegetarian dishes from this region that are a delight to the tastebuds. Today, we cook one of the more popular ones - Chaman Qaliya, or paneer cubes simmered with spices and milk.

This dish is fascinating because of its clever use of whole spices and saffron to lend flavour. Popular among the Kashmiri Pandit community, Chaman Qaliya is made devoid of garlic and onions. This style of cooking is popular among those who follow a diet that does not include garlic and onions.

Hing or asafoetida is an essential ingredient in such dishes to mimic the flavours of onion and garlic. Saffron and dry ginger are deeply integral to Kashmiri cuisine, along with other whole spices like

fennel, cumin, cardamom etc.

But what makes Chaman Qaliya special is the use of fresh milk as the base, making it creamy yet light. The creaminess here is the flavour and not the texture, so don’t mistake it to be a thick gravy. It has a thin, runny base and hence is best paired with soft fluffy long grained rice which soaks up the flavours beautifully.

Chaman Qaliya is the perfect weeknight dish especially for our Australian summer.

It’s simple to make, with no complex ingredients, and is healthy. Ready in under 30 minutes, it is ideal after a day’s work.

But it works equally well on a celebratory weekend thali with rice, rotis and an assortment of other dishes. Either way, enjoyment is guaranteed!

JANUARY 2023 27

SPORT 71.22 from 229 innings is second only to Don Bradman’s first-class average of 95.14.

Leading India in the West Indies in 1962, Contractor became the first Test cricketer to almost die on the field when a chucker from Charlie Griffith hit him on his head.

Charles Turner captured 101 wickets at 16.53 in only 17 Tests from 1886 to 1894 and was nicknamed Terror.

In my ‘Professional’ World XI, Malcolm Marshall and Keith Miller will open the attack, ‘Terror’ Turner coming in at first change, then Bishop. ‘Funky’ Miller will be the lone spinner, colouring the occasion by dyeing his hair rainbow. Engineer will be the wicketkeeper.

A ‘Professional’ XI needs professional umpires – I pick England’s David Shepherd and India’s Piloo Reporter.

PS: This list of “professional” cricketers is not complete by any means, and I invite readers of Indian Link to add to it.

A truly ‘professional’ World XI BY KERSI MEHER-HOMJI

I

t was England’s current wicket-keeper Ollie Pope that got me thinking. Or rather, it was his illustrious surname.

How well are the ‘professions’ represented amongst world cricketers?

I’ve taken a look, and have come up with a veritable ‘Professional’ World XI - where surnames of Test cricketers represent different professions, namely Engineer, Contractor, Bishop, Butler, Turner, Miller, Archer, Smith and Merchant as you holler for a Marshall.

So here is my ‘Professional’ team of Test cricketers in batting order: • Vijay Merchant (Ind), Alastair Cook (Eng), Graeme Smith (SA, capt.), Steve Smith (Aus, vice-capt), Keith Miller (Aus), Basil Butcher (WI), Farokh Engineer (Ind, WK), Colin ‘Funky’ Miller (Aus), Malcolm Marshall (WI), Ian Bishop (WI) and CTB ‘Terror’ Turner (Aus).

• 12th man: Mark Butcher (Eng).

• Reserves: Nari Contractor (Ind), Stuart Clark (Aus), Mike Smith (Eng), Ian Butler (NZ), Ron and Ken Archer (Aus), Bob Barber (Eng), Seymour Nurse (WI), Terry Alderman (Aus), Harold Butler (Eng), Mark Butcher (Eng), Ronald Pope (Aus), Harry Dean (Eng), John

Popes, Bishops, Millers and Butchers – even an Engineer and a Contractor: the professions in world cricket Farokh Engineer

Shepherd (WI), Barry Shepherd (Aus), Ollie Pope (Eng) and Ghulam Guard (Ind).

(And believe me, Ghulam Guard was by profession a policeman in India!)

I was tempted to take poetic license and include Australia’s Mark and Peter Taylor, Craig Serjeant and Michael Clarke as also England’s wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler. Given their inaccurate (or inauthentic) spellings, I made the umpire’s call and decided against.

As many of the players I’ve listed come from different eras, I’m aware that an introduction is needed for Gen Z readers.

Merchant, who played Test cricket from 1933 to 1951, was known as the Bradman of India: his first-class batting average of

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Photo: AAP Image

SPORT

Australia’s David Warner after scoring a double century against South Africa, Melbourne, 2022 Photo: AP

When a batter outscores the entire opposing team BY KERSI MEHER-HOMJI

I

n the Melbourne Test against South Africa last month, Australia’s opening batsman David Warner (200 runs) outscored South Africa (189 runs all out) in the first innings.

This however, is not very rare in the history of the game.

In the T20 World Cup at the SCG last October, Glenn Phillips of New Zealand (104 runs) outscored Sri Lanka, 102 all out.

A year before in the August 2021 Headingly Test, England’s skipper Joe Root (121 runs) outscored India (78 all out).

This is the third time Root has outscored opponents. In The Oval Test of 2014, he (149 not out) had outscored India in both innings (148 and 94). He had given the same treatment to Pakistan in the 2016 Manchester Test; stroking 254 as the opponents were bundled out for 198 and 234.

In the 2018 Lord’s Test, England’s Chris Woakes (137 not out) also outscored India in both innings (107 and 130).

And this is not rare either – one batsman outscoring the opponents in each innings.

Root achieved this in the 2014 Oval Test and in the Manchester 2016 Tests, and Woakes in the 2018 Lord’s Test.

This has actually occurred no less than 82 times in the 144 history of Test cricket; Australia’s Don Bradman achieving it a record five times, and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara four times.

It has been recorded twice each by England’s Len Hutton, Alastair Cook and Joe Root; Australia’s Matthew Hayden and David Warner; South Africa’s Hashim Amla; West Indian Gordon Greenidge, and Pakistan’s Javed Miandad. (Matthew Hayden’s feat is particularly worthy of mention – he stroked 380 runs against Zimbabwe (239 and 321) in the 2003-04 Perth Test.)

However, for a batsman to score more runs than 22 opposing batsmen plus sundries is indeed rare.

The first such instance was provided by Bobby Abel, England’s opening batsman way back in the 1888-89 Cape Town Test.

He outscored 22 South Africa batsmen plus sundries with his 120 – South Africa could manage only 90 in two innings (47 and 43).

In the 1938 Oval Test in London, England’s opening batting maestro Len Hutton scored 364, then a Test record.

Australia replied with 201 and 123, a total of 324 runs. (It may be pointed that Australia’s Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton were injured in the above Test and did not bat in both innings.)

Bradman scored 185 in the Brisbane Test against India in 1947-48. India responded poorly with 58 and 98, a total of 156. This

Pakistan’s Inzamam-Ul-Haq after scoring 329 against New Zealand, Lahore, 2002 Photo: ICC

was in the first ever Test between Australia and India.

Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq (329) thrashed New Zealand (73 and 246; a total of 319 runs) in the Lahore Test of 2001-02.

Five months later Australia’s batting great Matthew Hayden (119) smashed Pakistan (59 and 53, a total of 112) to smithereens in the 2002-03 Sharjah Test.

This knock was remarkable because of the conditions; Pakistan was dismissed in both

innings for a score that almost equalled the temperature!

In the 2004-05 Perth Test Australia’s opening batsman Justin Langer became the first batsman to outscore an opposition in both innings of a Test. He scored 191 and 97 runs. Pakistan was all out for 179 and 72. This is a unique achievement in Test annals. To rub salt to the wound, apart from Langer, Ricky Ponting (98) and Damien Martyn (100 not out) also outscored Pakistan (72) in the second innings of the above Perth Test as Australia was triumphant by 491 runs.

In the 2015-16 Hobart Test, Australia’s Adam Voges (269 not out) outscored the West Indies (223 all out) in the first innings. His batting partner in Australia’s only innings, Shaun Marsh (182), scored more runs than the Windies total of 148 in the second. The fourth wicket stand of 449 runs between Voges and Marsh was 78 runs more than the West Indies total 371 in both the innings.

In the 1945-46 Wellington Test, Australia’s two batters Bill Brown (67 runs) and Sidney Barnes (54) outscored New Zealand’s total of 42 in the first innings. They came close to doing so in both innings as the Kiwis were bundled out for 54 in the second innings.

But this recurred in the Bulawayo Test in 2003-04 when Sri Lankan batsmen Marvan Atapattu (249) and Kumar Sangakkara (270) outscored Zimbabwe’s totals of 228 and 231.

JANUARY 2023 29

TRAVEL

Etihad lounge, Abu Dhabi International Airport

Flying comfort You’re finally back in the air! Here are ways to fly with greater ease.

BY PETRA O’NEILL

M

y last trip before the world suddenly snapped shut ended badly. Five hours after take-off, the plane had to turn back, and we ended up right where we left off.

Re-boarding the flight got even worse, as we scrambled on, hoping we had a seat to the overbooked flight. Add to that, two years of upheaval, uncertainty, and evolving rules, made me want to find ways to make flying as smooth as possible. Airport Lounge access has been the key to that.

To ease getting back in the air, I chose Fiji - the most friendly and welcoming destination for my first international trip this year. I checked-in for my flight the night before and arrived at the airport with ample time.

As I walked around the terminal, I thought of ways to make the waiting experience more enjoyable - to perfect it from now on. I put this into practice upon my return, and also made a plan for how to make my imminent flight experience as smooth as possible.

MAKE THE FLIGHT MORE COMFORTABLE

I became reacquainted with economy sized seats. I ensured a comfortable flight by choosing an aisle seat, wearing loose clothing and roomy sneakers, created a list of activities for passing the time - including reviewing my day-by-day itinerary, drank plenty of water (easy on the alcohol, and 30 JANUARY 2023

aerated drinks), exercised with foot twirls and shoulder stretches, and adjusted my watch to the new time zone on departure.

LOUNGE ACCESS

For the return, check-in was too easy, as Fiji Airways offers a check-in desk at several resorts. I simply walked up to the desk, checked my bags in early, and then enjoyed the extra time, for one last swim while sipping on a refreshing smoothie. Once I arrived at Nadi Airport, it was stress free, as I just needed to proceed through security and immigration.

Before the flight, I enjoyed two hours in the Premier Lounge which is complimentary for business class passengers, Tabua Club members, premier guests of partner airlines, or by paying an entry fee of AUD$66. The lounge offered a wide range of hot and savoury dishes, salads, desserts, and hot and cold drinks.

For my next international holiday, I headed to Turkey, flying with one of my favourites, Singapore Airlines. Transiting through Singapore, I accessed the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, which is available for passengers with the appropriate frequent flyer status. I was thankful to freshen up, during the transit of several hours, as well as enjoy the wide selection of juices, smoothies, and food. The lounge for business and first class is more luxurious still.

With a total of 19 hours in the air travelling to Turkey, it was the lounge visit that made the trip easy. For the second leg, I slept for most of the way, in an aisle seat with extra legroom, well worth paying the additional charge for.

I’m fully back into the travel groove and have just returned from the Middle East.

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Premier Lounge, Nadi Airport, Fiji

This time I flew Etihad direct to Abu Dhabi.

In Sydney, using my Etihad boarding pass, I was granted complimentary access to the House lounge, a lounge that is open to travellers who pre-book online for a fee, are travelling with a guest of the appropriate flyer status, or are travelling business or first class.

Since I was ending my trip in Dubai, Etihad offers a complimentary transfer service to Abu Dhabi International Airport, and it was at Etihad’s lounge that I spent several hours.

The lounge has a wide selection of Middle Eastern and Indian food, which is outstanding. Their shower room is the prettiest I’ve seen, with emerald tiles and floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and the large, fluffy warm towels provided gave it a special touch. There are different spaces and quiet nooks to choose from, such as dining areas, areas dedicated for business, and comfy lounge chairs that you sink into while watching the planes take off.

There are many reasons why you should consider entry into an airport lounge before your flight. It gives you something to look forward to before your destination. Beyond the check-in, immigration and security clearance, you can go enjoy yourself and relax. It’s also the best place to eat and dine before your flight and if your flight is delayed, you're in a pleasant space. Better still, if you're transiting, you can refresh, recharge and be ready for when you arrive at your destination.

Compare that to testing the hard seats at the gate, wandering aimlessly past the passing parade of other travellers through duty free, and being faced with expensive prices at airport cafes.

Lounges also offer inclusions such as baby change facilities, kids’ playroom, a concierge service, business centre for recharging all your devices, and a steam press to freshen up your clothes. Fly first class and you may be treated to a wellness and fitness centre, spa, and hair salon. Etihad also offers a global meet and assist service to help with checking-in and fast tracking through the airport to the lounge.

UPPING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

I wanted my Middle East trip to begin and end on a high note. I indulged and flew business class – and it was extraordinary, cocooned in luxurious comfort, and looked after by attentive staff. With a push of the button, the seat reclined to a bed and the blanket was cosy and snug, I fell asleep in no time. Upon waking, I requested granola, fresh berries, and yoghurt, with pastries and freshly brewed coffee, which was served on a crisp linen tablecloth. It was a real treat and allowed me to cap off 2022 on a high.

For me airport lounges are a treat, something to look forward to, and the perfect way to begin and end a trip. And for all of us, why not start the enjoyment right at the beginning, before take-off, rather than wait until after we arrive at our destination.

Kris Flyer Gold Lounge, Singapore

JANUARY 2023 31

UP CLOSE

ON LOVE & INTIMACY

A

s he walked into Sydney’s Langham Hotel on a sunny Monday morning, Shekhar Kapur looked as crisp as the shining sun. A 20-hour flight from London the night before didn’t hold him back from taking in the sights around magnificent Sydney Harbour.

The internationally acclaimed filmmaker is in town for the Australian premiere of his film What’s Love got to do with it, written by Jemima Khan and starring Lily James and Shazad Latif.

Kapur’s wandering and curious spirit makes him one of the finest filmmakers of Indian cinema on a global stage. At 77, he is still making films that are relevant and strike a chord with the audience. This time though, he explores a genre he has never touched before – the questionable subject of love.

32 JANUARY 2023

Here are excerpts from our conversation.

Shekhar, you have made your directorial comeback after 15 years. What element of the script of your film What’s Love got to do with it attracted you to make your comeback with a genre you have never explored before?

Well, I have been directing, just not features. I’ve done a few big American TV series and lots of stage musicals in Vienna and Korea. The reason I chose this film was not because it was a romcom, but because I’m very interested in the idea of intimacy. With Tinder, today’s generation is hoping to form relationships out of constant and casual sex. This is what I wondered for the lead character Zoe. Does she really form relationships (this way)?

What is she looking for? And when she starts to examine arranged marriages, she

wonders, how do you know a relationship will work if you haven’t had sex?

When I returned to India after qualifying as a chartered accountant, I was told I should be ready to get married. The first question I would have when I met a girl is, will the sex work or not. If it doesn’t work, would it mark the beginning of a ruined life? And that’s what made me interested in intimacy as a fundamental emotion. Every young person I meet today has this anxiety of how will they find a relationship. In this film, I wanted to show different aspects of how to find intimacy and love.

The film is based on the universal language of love. In today’s fast paced world, how would you define love?

Well, that's the big issue, isn't it? That's where everybody gets into trouble, because

everybody’s trying to define love. You can't. Life's a mystery and so is love. Love is a process that keeps evolving: you wake up every morning and ask yourself what is it that you don’t know about your partner.

But also remember that being in love means that the one you love is a mirror to yourself. So it's like saying, how do I define myself? Are you the same person who wakes up every morning? Then when you look at your partner, how do you define your partner? And why do you want to define your partner? And why do you want to define love? Because definition is the killer of anything. So love is a constant yearning, a constant idea of how to be, how to live. Don't try and define it. That's why we have the tagline ‘What's Love got to do with it’. It’s got everything provided you don't try defining. The film has every reason to have a question mark at the end.

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NEE Kap

Yes, love is a question mark, and thank God for that.

You were born in Lahore, grew up in India and were educated in London. You have experienced first-hand all these cultures depicted in your film. How did you bring your personal perspective to this film?

Well, art is a personal perspective, right?

That’s what an artist does, whether a filmmaker or painter. You look at life, take it in and then throw it back out from your own personal perspective. And then your perspective keeps changing. I was barely one when I left Lahore due to the partition, but I went back to Lahore to do music for Bandit Queen with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and then I really looked at it again. But every day you change, so you bring a personal perspective every time. Otherwise, why do you do anything?

Because every day you look at something anew. If I made What's Love got to do with it? next year, it will be a different film. So yes, we do bring our personal perspective to everything we do. But in a different way, we are all the same too. And one of the reasons I wanted to do this film was to say we're all the same. After an early screening, a young man came up to me and said, ‘Oh, my God, my grandma's just like Nani jaan, how did you know?’

In My Big Fat Greek Wedding too, the grandmother was a saint. So culturally, we're all the same; parents, partners, siblings, we all have fundamentally the same need to love.

But love causes issues also - because love is also a desire. We think love is ownership; it’s not. You’ll get a feel of this aspect at the end of the film - love cannot be ownership. It can only be a process.

NEERU SALUJA in conversation with Shekhar Kapur, director of What’s Love got to do with it?

You master in directing strong, flawed, emotionally complex female characters.

While the characters in this film are searching for love, how did you bring out the best in them?

I do a lot of rehearsals for my actors to understand their own character. For instance I’ll help the character who plays Zoe to find Zoe within her. We’ll rehearse and rehearse and rehearse, so that we all come to an understanding of what the character is within the act. Then it’s up to the actors to put in their own perspective, and their own personality and heart. There is no right or wrong in creativity. It's either

honest or not honest. And if an actor is giving you a certain amount of honesty, it's enough. Good performances are good interpretations of the character. We only write characters, the actors make them alive.

You have reunited with Shabana Azmi after many years. Is she like good wine that gets better with age?

Of course she is. I would say the same for Emma Thompson and Cate Blanchett.

At a certain point, you don’t have to tell your actor to act this way or that, you talk about specific moments, and can you be 10% more emotional or 10% less aggressive; they pick it up and then deliver. You don’t have to say very much to get them to where you want, you just know if they're right or wrong. Experience and understanding of life is also really important.

Your movies have always been ahead of your times. How do you manage to showcase stories that always strike a chord?

Because I'm searching for the same things that the audience is, really that's all. I hope I always stay connected. I will always walk the streets wherever I go, I won't go to the expensive (restaurants or) parties, those I leave to the people who get successful. I remember after the Oscars for Elizabeth, I walked all night through the slums of Bombay, just to give myself perspective.

I'm an Oscar-nominated director but I'm still the guy on the streets. And as long as you can live on the streets, listen and see, you can understand the pulse. Constantly observing is the prime need of an artist.

Your three favourite romcoms in the history of cinema?

I’ll stick with one – Four Weddings and a Funeral.

The west has started to take a deeper look at our films with RRR being a winner at the Golden Globes. What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that the west has lost the plot. There is a different narrative coming from the east. We need new conflicting ideas, otherwise art will die. And the west is going to make the same stories again and again. It’s time for the east to come in and shake it all up.

Shazad Latif and Lily James in What’s Love got to do with it?

JANUARY 2023 33

ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK

Worth waiting for? You decide!

What’s on our screens this January KUTTEY (In cinemas) With an all-star cast of Arjun Kapoor, Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Madan, Kuttey is a much-awaited black comedy thriller. From the makers of Haider, Omkara and Kaminey, Aasmaan Bhardwaj makes his directorial debut following in his father Vishal’s footsteps.

Releasing 13 Jan

TAAZA KHABAR (Disney+Hotstar)

GANDHI GODSE-EK YUDH (In cinemas)

This comedy-thriller web series starring Bhuvan Bam follows the story of a sanitation worker in Mumbai when a good deed leads to a twist of fate. Promising a tale of miracles and magic, Bam is joined by Shriya Pilgaonkar and J.D. Chakravarthi for the first Indian OTT series release of 2023.

Releasing 6 Jan

This Republic Day release is set in the scenario that Mahatma Gandhi survives his assassination attempt

by Nathuram Godse. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film depicts the continued debate between their ideologies as Gandhi visits Godse in prison following the attack.

Releasing 26 Jan

MATRIMONIALS SEEKING GROOMS Seeking a working professional match, preferably long term citizen, never married, from Sydney, for ’85 born simple but family oriented Hindu girl, IT professional brought up in Sydney.

Contact rukrghrmn@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. Preference to Radha Soami follower, teetotaler.

Email: matrimonial.ml@gmail.com 34 JANUARY 2023

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.

Email: anthonyashok@yahoo.com (preferred). Sydney residents only.

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

SEEKING BRIDES Seeking a professionally qualified settled match for Sydneybased, 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 Indian Christian Protestant parents seek a suitable match for their 42-year-old son, software engineer, born and brought up in Australia. Seeking a Protestant girl between 32-37 years.

Mob 0403836360, Email: sammy5073@gmail.com ’87-born, 5'7", Maharastrian Brahmin man seeks suitable alliance.

Masters in International Marketing (UK), working as Recruitment Manager in reputed company, Australian citizen, Melbournebased, never married. Please contact Soulmate Matrimonial Services, Preeti 0404316288 or Heena 0416787526

www.indianlink.com.au

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (In cinemas) If you love the cross-cultural classics of Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Bride and Prejudice (2004), add this film to your January mustwatch list. Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi and Emma Thompson star in this new film directed by Shekhar Kapur exploring the South Asian community’s diverse takes on love and life.

Releasing 26 January

PATHAAN (in cinemas) In his first lead role since 2018, Shah Rukh Khan has the world buzzing with his return in this highly anticipated spy action-thriller. Deepika Padukone and John Abraham join Khan in the film directed

by Siddharth Anand, also known for Bang Bang! (2014) and War (2019).

Releasing 25 Jan

THUNIVU (In cinemas) Ajith Kumar leads another Pongal release guaranteeing the actions and thrills of a heist film.

The Tamil film has been produced by Boney Kapoor and also stars Manju Warrier and Samuthirakani.

Releasing 12 Jan

VARISU (In cinemas) Varisu is Vijay’s 66th film in a leading role as he is joined by Rashmika Mandanna for this drama release. Releasing in Tamil and Telugu to coincide with Pongal, the film is set to be a South Indian blockbuster as ‘the boss returns’.

Releasing 12 Jan

VEERA SIMHA REDDY (In cinemas) This Telugu action-drama stars Nandamuri Balakrishna and Shruti Hassan in a tale of revenge and returning to one’s roots.

Releasing 12 Jan

GUNS AND GULAABS (Netflix) Guns and Gulaabs brings a blast from the past with the charm of the 90s. Starring Rajkummar Rao, Adarsh Gourav and Dulquer Salmaan, this comedy thriller follows the journey of misfits who land themselves in a world of crime.

Releasing 13 Jan

MISSION MAJNU (Netflix)

SHARK TANK INDIA Season 2 (SonyLIV)

Joining the string of spy-thriller films led by Sidharth Malhotra, Mission Majnu takes place before and during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Rashmika Mandanna joins Malhotra as they depict the story of India’s greatest covert operation.

Releasing 19 Jan

The highly awaited second season of the iconic entrepreneurial series is finally here. Watch as the six sharks circle a new batch of budding innovators who hope to land deals that could fuel a new future for their businesses.

Releasing 2 Jan

TRIAL BY FIRE (Netflix) Based on the bestselling book by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy Trial By Fire stars Abhay Deol and Rajshri Deshpande in a gripping thriller covering the Uphaar Cinema Fire Tragedy.

Following the story of a couple who lost their two children to the tragedy, the film showcases their journey of resilience and the fight for justice.

Releasing 13 Jan

KUTCH EXPRESS (in cinemas) Ratna Pathak Shah makes her Gujarati film debut in this family drama film assured to tug your heartstrings.

Manasi Parekh leads as Monghi, a mother and wife from a small town in Gujarat determined to make her mark in the work.

Releasing 20 Jan JANUARY 2023 35

STAGE

A queer retelling of classic Cinderella In Sunderella, it’s Sundar who’s on the quest for love… and acceptance BY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY

T

here’s nothing we love more than a good fairy tale. But what if we tell you, you can witness the magic of these age-old compelling tales through a diverse and inclusive lens?

Bali Padda, a Sydney-based actor, producer and theatre director, presents… (drum roll) –Sunderella– a queer Bollywood adaptation of the classic Cinderella.

Set in 18th century British India, Sunderella is a touching love story of two

Evil step sisters

36 JANUARY 2023

young men.

It revolves around Sundar, a pious man living with his evil stepmother and two selfabsorbed half-sisters. But a celestial force changes Sundar’s fate and the rest, as we know, is history!

“The message at the heart of Sunderella is about how love perseveres,” Padda tells Indian Link. “Love is what binds us as human beings, no matter what culture, religion or social class, and all it takes is acceptance of all forms of love.”

FOR QUEER, BY QUEER

Bali Padda’s star in Sydney’s theatre scene is steadily rising.

Early last year he made his professional

directorial debut with National Theatre of Parramatta’s acclaimed Guards at the Taj. Before this we saw him on multiple stage shows and on TV (Rake, Home & Away, Legally Brown, Top of the Lake: China Girl).

He made his theatre debut at 24 with the prestigious Young Vic Theatre and also performed at the Royal Festival Hall of London. This despite the fact that he was encouraged towards a more traditional career path like IT. (Bali was born in Australia unlike his three older siblings. His family migrated from Amritsar in the early 1980s, when his dad Giani Santokh Singh Padda was approached to service the growing Sikh community in Sydney as Granthi).

Padda comes to Sunderella in its second iteration.

In 2017, it had dazzled a Sydney Mardi Gras audience. Six years later, it is now back at the ARA Darling Quarter Theatre for WorldPride Arts.

“Sunderella was initially a fun passion project with some friends. We had had some success with previous projects, but this one really took off,” Padda reveals.

The show is produced by Trikone Australia – a non-profit for LGBTIQ+ members of South Asian descent living in Australia.

“The show, like others with Trikone Australia, are community shows – we don’t have professional actors being paid professional fees, so we need to rehearse outside of business hours and on weekends, and make space for personal and professional commitments.”

This time, the production has received a grant from Create NSW and Sydney WorldPride.

“We are so grateful,” he continues. “The grant allows us to bring on more resources for the show in terms of set design, costumes, lighting design and technical support. The grant is a small amount in relation to an $80,000+ budget, but it makes a difference to have that support and faith from a key organisation.”

AGAINST ALL ODDS

As a diversity advocate, Padda doesn’t shy away from talking about the challenges faced by the South Asian queer community.

“Our community is vibrant and made up of people from many different walks of life.

One of the biggest challenges the community faces, is family acceptance. The fear of ‘log kya kahenge’ holds the entire South Asian community back, queer or otherwise,” he rues.

South Asians continue to struggle against racial discrimination and bias in queer communities in the West.

“Organisations like Trikone Australia do invaluable work for queer South Asians in Australia, and I am proud to have worked

A still from the 2017 show

Bali Padda

with them over the past 10 years across many artistic projects to have a platform for self-expression.”

Interestingly, Australia legalised same-sex marriage the same year Sunderella went on the floors in 2017. Does that mean the country is becoming more queer-friendly, we ask.

“I think it’s important to understand that because one legal right was awarded (through such hard work and traumatic circumstances), that the work to continue building equality doesn’t end. There is still so much stigma and barriers to overcome,” he quips.

SUNDERELLA 2.0

Some of the cast are new and some have joined the show again since the debut season in 2017.

“We have the amazing Zeenat Parveen, an exquisite Bollywood drag performer and co-producer and choreographer, playing The Goddess. Nickin Alexander recently finished his drama training at NIDA and is playing The Prince. Model and influencer Kashif Harrison will be playing Manav, the Royal Advisor to The Prince. Adish Jain will make his acting debut in the role of Sundar.

And Shabnam Tavakol who is a professional South Asian Australian performing artist, will be playing The Stepmother.”

A total of 17 performers make up the production, written by Kunal Mirchandani.

As for what is next for Padda, he is currently juggling some creative producing for Griffin Theatre Company’s production of Sex Magick, another Queer South Asian play.

“I’m having some great conversations with various theatre companies about future directing opportunities. I feel like it’s time to hang up my acting hat and focus on directing and producing, but let’s see.

Whenever I say I’m quitting acting and finding other pursuits, something always pops up! I call it Chekhov's Law,” Padda pulls a mic-drop.

Sunderella, 1-4 March (Details at sydneyworldpride.com)

Stepmother

www.indianlink.com.au

FORETELL

January 2023

BY MINAL KHONA

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

ARIES

TAURUS

TAROT GEMINI

CANCER

MARCH 21 - APRIL 19

APRIL 20 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 20

JUNE 21 - JULY 20

The card for Gemini indicates that you could be focussing on communications and new ideas. If single, you could meet someone who is a Gemini. In a relationship, if things are blocked, they are not likely to improve right now. Paperwork keeps you busy, and at work you make a good impression on your seniors. If unwell, you will make a swift recovery. Money matters will prove to be very successful this month. You will successfully let go of the past.

You could have a sense of foreboding or feel disturbed. This is specifically about a matter that is your top priority right now. Someone could be deceiving you so be careful, especially in a relationship. A trip could have unexpected hurdles. Control your emotions to avoid conflicts at work.

Someone you trust is going to let you down badly. Health issues could be related to insomnia or cramps. Expect unforeseen events and accept things for what they are. Stay positive.

You long to be free of every responsibility and seek success at the same time. If recently separated, let go and wait for destiny to bring someone special into your life. A person close to you could hurt you with their inconsiderate or irrational behaviour. If an unscheduled trip comes up, don’t say no as it could change your life. Blocks at work are temporary. Take a second opinion for a recurring health issue.

Money from more than one source of income is indicated.

Because it’s the Capricorn you draw this month, Cancer, you’re likely to be finicky. You’ll approach relationship problems with a sense of responsibility.

A slump in your career is temporary.

Mood swings will besiege you frequently. Any health issues with the throat means you are not saying what you really want to. Unexpected financial gains are on the anvil. A sudden business proposal leads to better prospects.You will stop chasing that which is an exercise in futility.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

JULY 21 - AUG 22

AUG 23 - SEP 22

SEP 23 - OCT 22

OCT 23 - NOV 21

You will seek the positives a good relationship or friendship brings, and avoid strife. If in love, clarity is needed before a commitment can be made. A short trip can be a pleasant experience.

At work, dream big and move, success will be yours. Someone you least expect to will help you in matters related to finance, job or lifestyle. Express what you want clearly to the universe and let go. A long-standing money issue will get resolved amicably.

Confusion and self-doubt could bog you down as you avoid confronting a person or a problem. Singles could meet someone who may be already married.

Avoid travelling if possible. A loss of job or conflicts with colleagues is indicated. Do not overthink or take on more work than you can handle as it is the root cause of your anxiety. Avoid a feeling of lack as you have enough money to meet your requirements.Think of new approaches at work.

A sudden change in a current problematic situation is on the anvil. Singles could soon have an intense love affair. Things take a positive turn at home and at work.

Self-employed people should be on the lookout as someone they meet could lead to increased income or a new business opportunity. A good time to start new projects as you attract what you need from the universe. All these changes on the surface will lead to spiritual growth as well.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18

PISCES

FEB 19 - MARCH 20

Make a plan and move accordingly is what the cards advise. Right now, for most of you, your career is your priority.

If single, you could meet someone – be careful, they could be married already.

Your position at work improves; expect a promotion. An ex could try and win you back. Profits increase for those in business. Eat healthy and high energy foods for better health. In every activity, be thorough. Do not agree to something you are not keen on.

A troubling situation could resolve itself or a reunion is on the anvil. Singles could be nursing heartbreak and want to stay away from entanglements. If business has been dull, it will pick up. Those at jobs will be appreciated for their work. Some of you may withdraw emotionally from those who stress you. If unwell, you will recover.

Money is slow in coming so patience is needed. Remove self-destructive patterns from your life and practice visualisation for better results.

The card drawn indicates that there could be a sudden change in an existing situation. You could be at a crossroads regarding work, love and paperwork. Eventually, you will find success. Singles could meet someone they may have a strong connection with and it will become a meaningful relationship. Unpleasant situations at work will dissipate, so be patient. Pay attention to your intuition. Money owed will be delayed but it will come through other sources. Let the universe help you out.

Unexpected problems arise which can leave you depressed. Compromising on every principle for the sake of love is a no-go for you. There could be delays and frustrations at work and at home. Lower your expectations as people will disappoint you. A recurring health problem can only be managed but it won’t be erased completely. Though you have enough money to get by, circumstances this month will make you anxious about finances.

Depend on yourself for best results.

The gregarious Leo will be in his or her element this month, but hang on, Tarot suggests some spiritual seeking too. Singles will find many suitors even as they pine for someone else. You may travel for work or health reasons.

A trip will be disappointing. If you are stuck in a rut at work, be patient as a new challenge is coming. Money will come in and older dues will get settled.

Don’t start a business venture with a friend.

NOV 22 - DEC 21

DEC 22 - JAN 19

JANUARY 2023 37

BACK CHAT

Voyeurism, or colour blindness?

DEAR AUNTYJI I have been fixated on the Besharam Rang song through the summer holidays. I think SRK and Deepika look beautiful and I could watch it for hours on replay.

Recently as I watched it, my sister-in-law gave me a funny look and said that that type of nonsense is what’s rubbish about the world. I didn’t get a chance to ask her what she meant, and am hoping you could enlighten me. This is the same SIL who gave me grief about watching Mimi - and after you enlightened me, I felt that I was a little smarter about the film. Why does my progressive SIL think the song is rubbish?

ASK AUNTYJI Do you have a question for Auntyji?

Email it to info@indianlink.com.au

AUNTYJI SAYS My ignorant bachchi, you really are a dull little anarkali, aren’t you? Let me tell you why your SIL continually wonders how the hell she married into a family of such dimwits and budtehzeebs. Art is meant to provoke our consciousness, our thinking, so that we take the time to understand the world and our place in it. Great art should inspire awe. Of course, art is not just something that is created, but also things which exist - sunsets, babies, the sounds of the ocean. So when a Bollywood song becomes derivative, and descends from a potential inspirational apex into base titillation, then you know our world is becoming rubbish. Besharam Rang could have been about SRK’s character’s interest in Deepika’s character. However, it is about physicality, for the voyeuristic titillation of the audience. It is base, with nothing inspiring about it.

Generally, I hesitate to put down the work of artists - however, in this instance, all I am prepared to say is that the song is only useful for mindless folks who want five minutes of voyeurism. So for an unthinking, unfeeling, dead person like you, of course the song is great. But for progressive people like your SIL, it is just another example of the world turning to kachara.

Kati patang, tera kaunsa rang?

Catching you before it’s too late.

Right now, Victoria Police are out in force catching drink drivers.

Catching these drivers helps protect them from harming themselves and other road users. The lucky ones get caught.

38 JANUARY 2023

www.indianlink.com.au

HAPPY

REPUBLIC DAY

INDIA FROM YOUR NSW LIBERAL TEAM

Dominic Perrottet

Premier of NSW | Member for Epping

Mark Coure

Minister for Multiculturalism | Member for Oatley

Tim James

Anthony Roberts Member for Lane Cove

Member for Seven Hills

Tina Ayyad

Mohit Kumar

Therese Fedeli

Member for Willoughby

Liberal for Holsworthy

Liberal for Riverstone

Mark Taylor

Liberal for Leppington

Authorised by Chris Stone, Level 2, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

JANUARY 2023 39

BeTogether_250mmx358mm.pdf 7 8/12/2022 11:13:45 AM

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BE TOGETHER Fly India in 2023

40 JANUARY JANUARY 2023 2023

www.indianlink.com.au MELBOURNE EDITION