2023-10 Melbourne

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

CONTRIBUTORS

Ritam Mitra, Nishadh Rego, Khushaal Vyas, Team SAFV, Vivek Asri, Lakshmi Ganapathy, Torsha Sen, Bedashree Gogoi, Anu Shivaram, Nidhi Sampat, Sandip Hor, Minal Khona, Auntyji

SALES AND MARKETING

Charu Vij ADMN

Aanchal Matta

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

We’re saying YES

Indian Link Media Group affirms its support for the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a ‘Yes’ vote at the upcoming referendum

The Uluru Statement From the Heart, the result of several national dialogues and overwhelming consensus amongst Indigenous Australians across the country, called for a Voice and Treaty. Importantly, it called for Australians of all backgrounds to walk with them toward a better future.

Indian Link is proud to accept that invitation and affirms its support for the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a ‘Yes’ vote at the upcoming referendum.

Indigenous Australians have cared for and survived on this land that we now call our home for over 60,000 years.

Where Indigenous Australians survived and thrived for tens of thousands of years, their land, culture and people were rapidly decimated following the arrival of British colonials. The dispossession, intergenerational trauma and historically discriminatory policy in a comparatively short space of time have caused systemic structural barriers for Indigenous Australians that are impossible to ignore, and explain the severe disparity between

Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia. Indeed, that colonial impact is a dark period in Australian history that we as Australians must acknowledge and confront. It is a history whose impact endures today. Moreover, it is a history that we as South Asians can empathise with. Despite achieving independence, we know that the impacts of British colonialism in the subcontinent are still felt today and we, of all people, must advocate for the opportunity for self-determination. The impact of that colonialism in Australia has resulted in Indigenous Australians suffering systemic racism, disproportionate representation in prison, lower levels of educational attainment and overall life expectancy compared to every other demographic in this country. Years of neglect and failing to adequately consult and listen to Indigenous Australians has meant that the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians continues to this day. Where South Asia has had the opportunity to achieve self-determination and find and use its voice, Indigenous Australians have not.

What we as a country are doing right now is quite clearly not working. The structural nature of the problem clearly requires a structural solution. The Voice to Parliament provides a first significant step towards empowerment, reconciliation and constitutional recognition.

Since 1994, this publication has empowered the South Asian community in Australia by informing and mobilising public opinion. It is an inescapable truth that even we, as migrants, have inadvertently benefitted from the dispossession of Indigenous communities. Accordingly, we believe it is at the core of the values of this masthead, and our fundamental duty, to inform and mobilise support in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and work to set right those enduring historical wrongs.

We hope you, our readers and listeners, will join us on this journey to walk hand-in-hand in solidarity with Indigenous Australians and write a bright new chapter for Australia by voting Yes.

YOUR SAY

LINKING HISTORY

Introducing ‘Linking History’, a new video series created by LAKSHMI GANAPATHY exploring the complex history South Asians have had with Australia since its colonisation. Episode one is titled ‘Indian Servants and Convicts in Australia’.

Mitha Chambers wrote: Very interesting! Brings another perspective to Australian history. Looking forward to the next episode. Well done!!

Janaki Ganapathy wrote: Looking forward to more episodes. Well researched episode.

Salil Apte wrote: Appreciate the efforts in putting together a well researched link.

Amita Iyer wrote: Well researched. Can't wait for more episodes

Anu Sood wrote: Very interesting. Waiting to see next episode. Thanks.

Lily Gabriel wrote: This is so interesting.

Suresh Mani wrote: Wonderful, well done.

Pink Kalisa wrote: She's brilliant!

RSIyer wrote: Nice. Keep doing.

Vrinda F. wrote: Very interesting.

Joseph Davis wrote: I watched with great interest your short video on servants from India to Australia in late 18th and early 19th centuries. (I wrote a piece for the Sydney University student magazine Honi Soit on modern slavery). I actually ran into an Aboriginal man in Sydney who is descended from one of the Indian indentured servants/slaves.

BECAUSE ALL SHADES MATTER

PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY talks to the founders of the Australian cosmetics brand All Shades Matter.

Kaira Beauty wrote: All shades definitely matter! Such an inspiring story. You guys are killing it.

Emma Rose wrote: Yes love this. My shade matters! All shades matter! Thanks Tali & Shaanti.

BRAHMA BEAUTY wrote: What a great journey, Tali and Shaanti.

Tulsi Achia wrote: This is so cool!

Niyati Libotte wrote: Fabulous initiative, worth highlighting. Well done!

UBER EATS GUY

You liked our share of comedian Nazeem Hussain’s skit on being mistaken for an Uber Eats worker, featuring Claudia Karvan

Navi Ram wrote: This has happened to me at least three times.

Kamal S Vohra wrote: At Ashfield McDonalds (for me). Only drive-through option for me (from now on).

Harsha Latha wrote: Happened to me. I am a female, and have lived here since 2001… made me angry at first but now I can laugh about it.

WHERE IN INDIA

Referred to as "The city of Dawn", where in India will you find this divine place for individual silent concentration?

HALF A CENTURY IN OZ

Australia was a lot different when a young couple first moved here. LP AYER in a first-person account.

Rekha Kanth wrote: Very well written; kept scrolling further down, hoping you had more to share with us…

Sukhwinder Singh wrote: Your story touched the soul. Would love to read more about your 50-year journey, it must be filled with so many more anecdotes. Respect.

Santha Sampath wrote: We can relate so many of this couple’s experiences, having arrived in Canberra in 1971.

Sanjay Khanna wrote: What an interesting recount... Congrats on the milestone.

Tara Chandramouli wrote: Enjoyed reading your journey into Aussieland 50 years back.

SAY IT AGAIN

For the next seven weeks we're all watching one and the same thing. In spite and love, with cheers and boos, and yes, in outrage, we will be, for once, united.

Osman Samiuddin,

ESPNCricinfo

I can’t wait for Incredibly vibrant, noisy crowds. We’ve seen it for the IPL and I’m looking forward to that energy in a World Cup. The final, in the biggest stadium of the world, should be an amazing event that transcends cricket.

Mark Ramprakash, The Guardian

The answer is Auroville, Pondicherry Prashant Mohan Rao, Sandip Hor, Rajeev Ramakar Tiwari, Bhamini Sampath, Hitesh A Dave, Lea Trafford, Jonathan Steffanoni, Susan Abraham and Bhanu Kothari got it right.

SAMEER PANDEY BACKSTABBED

Krish Na wrote: Good report, Pawan. Politics is brutal, and this is Brutuslevel drama. I didn’t know there was a pact to allow Donna to raise her profile. Sameer will bounce back for sure, but this episode has done a huge damage to the aspirations of Desi Aussies.

Sriraman ("Sri") Annaswamy wrote: Thanks Pawan Luthra for getting to the bottom of this unedifying saga and getting the truth out in the open, well done. Even by the standards of Australian politics, esp local government politics which tend to be driven by myopic perspectives, this must rank as an utter disservice to both Sameer Pandey and the Indian community in Parramatta and at large.

Clearly Donna Davis has a case to answer to the Indian community for her role in this utterly egregious and unedifying saga. Look forward to hearing her side of the story in voting against Sameer Pandey.

Ramesh Sharma wrote: Good insights…sad, but fact.

CAPTION CONTEST

We asked, what’s the chit-chat between newly weds Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha?

Rishi Singh wins a movie ticket for his response - Raghav to Pari: So you did marry an aama admi.

Smita Shah wrote: Don’t call me Barbie, just because I am wearing pink! Rajni Luthra wrote: Parineeti to herself: That shirt is definitely going in the bin - such ridiculous pockets.

Srinivasan Iyer wrote: PC: Main na kehti thi?RC: Theek hai biwi ab chalo tho

HetaalBadiyani wrote: Raghav to Pari: Okay, let's go eat first and then do some sightseeing.

Shubham Bansal R.C: Pari, bahut ho gayi shopping, ab ghar chalo!!

Meenakshi Pahuja wrote: Mummy-papa ke paaon chhoona, please.

WHERE IN OZ

I love a sunburnt country…Where will you find this mural, a tribute to Dorothea MacKellar, Australia’s greatest poet?

OPENING LINES

Which book has this as its opening lines, we asked in our regular weekend books quiz.

“Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjay, after gathering on the holy field of Kurukshetra and desiring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?”

Is it: A. Bhagavad Gita B. Upanishads C. Ramayana.

The correct answer, A, came from Jyoti Dogra, Anu Shivaram, Meena Sunder and Divya Praveen.

What better way to start than a repeat of the greatest final ever played?

Jonathan Agnew, Yahoo News

One of the hallmarks of India's recent wins in the Asia Cup and the recent series against Australia were the contributions of a group of hungry players who did not make the final squad - the pressure is on the likes of Virat Kohli and other older heads to deliver in the same way Sachin Tendulkar and M.S. Dhoni did 12 years ago.

Daniel

Bettig, The Age

got it right: Gunnedah NSW

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Readers Sree Vidya and Aruna D’ugu

The Voice referendum

RITAM MITRA explains what the referendum

On Saturday 14 October, Australians will go to the polls for one of the rarest of Australian political events: a constitutional referendum. An election night pledge by Anthony Albanese, the referendum will ask Australians whether the Constitution should be amended to establish an Australian Indigenous Voice.

Referendums can be confusing at the best of times, and as the “yes” and “no” campaigns reach their crescendo over the coming days, we explain what it all means:

Hold on – what’s a referendum?

A referendum is a public vote that is legally required to make a change to the Australian Constitution.

A referendum requires a “double majority” in order to be successful, meaning the change must be passed by not only a majority of voters across all states and territories – but a majority of voters in a majority of states, i.e. at least 4 out of the 6 Australian states must approve the amendment.

Okay, so what’s the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum about?

The Australian Indigenous Voice referendum will ask voters the following question (with the wording of the question still subject to Parliament approval):

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

It’s a request taken directly from the Uluru Statement of the Heart, a 2017 petition by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders which calls for, amongst other acknowledgements and constitutional reforms, “the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution”.

If the referendum is passed, the

Constitution will be amended to create an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander “Voice”, a new advisory body tasked with representing Indigenous Australians to the Australian Parliament on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

You will be required to vote Yes or No, by writing either the word YES or the word NO.

What powers will the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice have?

The Voice will provide independent advice to the federal government on decisions, policies and laws that affect the lives of First Nations people across Australia, including matters relating to their social, spiritual and economic wellbeing. Examples include native title, housing, community development, NDIS, and heritage protection.

It will not have the power to overrule parliament, deliver services or manage government funding. It’s also worth bearing in mind that there’s no potential for “scope creep” here – any further powers would require a further amendment to the constitution, meaning another referendum.

If the referendum is passed, how will the Voice be selected and structured?

The details of how the Voice will be implemented will be subject to confirmation if the referendum is passed, but that doesn’t mean the details are not available.

The Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report to the Australian Government, co-authored by Professors Tom Calma AO and Marcia Langton AM, sets out a detailed recommendation on how the Voice should be structured, after 18 months of consultation with nearly 10,000 people and organisations, 115 community consultations in 67 locations, nearly 3,000 submissions, and over 1,000 surveys.

The 272-page report recommends, broadly, that the Voice should comprise a National Voice and a Local & Regional Voice, as follows:

• the National Voice will have 24 members, with enshrined gender balance and reflecting a representative cross-section of Australia’s states and territories (and of the Torres Strait).

• 35 separate Local and Regional Voices will collectively determine the National Voice members for their state, territory and the

Torres Strait.

Each Local and Regional Voice will be distinct and individually run by the communities which it represents, reflecting the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. As the report notes, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not an homogenous group where one solution will fit all communities”.

The referendum is a big deal

The 14 October referendum will be the first referendum since the 1999 proposal to amend the Constitution to establish Australia as a republic, rather than a constitutional monarchy.

This means it will be the first referendum in many Australians’ lifetimes, and a momentous occasion regardless of how you vote.

And if passed, it’ll be the first successful change to the Australian constitution since 1977, when the electorate passed three proposals simultaneously: introducing a retirement age for judges, providing for the same-party replacement of casual vacancies in the senate, and giving citizens who lived in Australian territories the right to vote.

Do I have to vote?

Yes – unlike plebiscites, enrolling and voting in referendum is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and older, just like an election. If you’re already enrolled to vote, you don’t need to enrol again to vote in the Voice referendum.

And just like an election, there will be prepolling booths, postal votes, and polling places on the referendum day itself.

Should I vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’?

It’s your vote, and your decision.

At Indian Link, we believe the time has come for Australia to take a step forward in stopping the torment of the powerlessness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in their own country, and to improve Australia’s relationship with them.

is all about

Image: Indian Link

Image: Canva

The 92 words that matter

NISHADH REGO and KHUSHAAL VYAS unpack the words that will be inserted into the Australian Constitution if enough people vote ‘Yes’

Since establishing Desis for Yes a couple of months ago, we have been thrilled by the surge in community interest among Indian Australians in the upcoming First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum.

However, in the ongoing media and social media frenzy, it can be difficult to separate the facts from the misinformation, fear mongering, and conspiracy theories.

In moments such as these, one of the simplest ways to inform ourselves is to go back to the very words that will be inserted into the Australian Constitution if enough people vote ‘Yes’ for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice at the upcoming referendum.

Let’s break it down. The first of three statements is about recognition. It is a fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the First Peoples of Australia. More than 65,000 years of living here takes care of that.

As Australians, we have a duty to acknowledge and embrace this history of continuous civilisation. After all, regardless of when we arrived in this country or where we arrived from, we all live, work, study, pray, socialise, and raise families on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land that was stolen during the last two hundred years of colonialism. By making our homes on Indigenous land, we have benefitted from that dispossession – this is where our duty comes from.

Our own cultures and languages also long predate that of the arrival of the East India Company in India. In this we share an affinity with Australia’s First Peoples.

The next statement is equally straightforward. It introduces the ‘body’ or ‘committee’ to be known as the Aboriginal

Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

S129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

(i) There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

(ii) The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament

and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

What powers will this Voice actually have?

Three words are critical here. The Voice “may make representations” to Parliament and to the Executive Government. This phrase essentially refers to the provision of advice. Nothing more, nothing less.

This advice will be strictly non-binding, and the Voice to Parliament will have no power to make laws, direct investments, or exercise any kind of veto over our elected representatives. It will be up to the Government whether they choose to implement that advice.

The Voice’s existence will enable the Government to take into account the lived experience and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when considering the issues that affect them. On life expectancy, health outcomes, the justice system, suicide prevention, early learning and education outcomes, respect and preservation of culture.

This should not be controversial to us as Indian Australians. Independence in 1947 enabled us to write our own constitution,

and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

(iii) The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

craft our own laws, and design our own policies to address fundamental needs and rights. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have not had this privilege, and more than 120 years after Australia’s Constitution was written, what they are asking for is much more modest – simply to have a voice.

Will the Voice have power to raise taxes? No.

Will it have power to ‘take land’ or make you ‘pay rent’ or ‘reparations?’ No, and no.

In more ways than one, it would be a costly mistake for us to vote ‘no’on the basis of such misinformation.

The final statement says the Parliament will decide what this new body, called the Voice, looks like - how many people are on it, how they’re elected or appointed, and what they can and can’t do.

And because the Parliament will decide that, whenever a new government wants to change how the Voice operates, how its members are selected and how long their terms will be, they will be able to change the laws underpinning the Voice in just the same way as they change the tax, superannuation

laws, Medicare laws, employment, immigration laws and more.

In any case, the First Nations Referendum Working Group has articulated clear design principles that will underpin the Voice, should it come into effect. These principles emphasise the committee’s independence, its need to be representative and inclusive, its need to be transparent, and the fact that it will not have power to deliver programs or veto laws, policies, or investments.

The only thing governments will not be able to do is abolish the Voice entirely, like they have in the past with bodies such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). A constitutionally enshrined Voice offers a guarantee that the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples will always be put forward to elected decision-makers. In this way, constitutional recognition is not just symbolic.

As the many dialogues and extensive consultations that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart show (not to mention the polls), this proposal is what the overwhelming majority of Indigenous Australians are calling for. Here and now.

As Australians who collectively understand the impact of colonialism on a society, voting in this referendum is a unique opportunity to help Australia come to terms with its past and chart the path towards full reconciliation in the future. Let’s take this opportunity with open arms and be on the right side of history.

Nishadh Rego and Khushaal Vyas are CoFounders of Desis for Yes, a collective of South Asian Australians deepening understanding and engagement on the referendum and the Uluru Statement from the Heart in diaspora communities.

Write Yes, for recognition & listening

By ANDREW GILES, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

Fifty years ago last month, Australia changed, fundamentally. In August 1973, Gough Whitlam and Al Grassby made multiculturalism a cornerstone of our Australian story. Their policy paper, ‘A multi-cultural society for the future’, marked the first formal acknowledgement of multicultural Australians by federal government.

Just a few years later, the first advisory council on multicultural affairs was established by Fraser to advise government on policy affecting multicultural Australians. It’s hard to overstate the difference these acts of acknowledgement and listening has made for our multicultural communities, and our national identity as a majority migrant nation. We celebrated our diversity – recognising it was in fact our greatest strength.

Australians, now more than ever before, cherish the sharing of diverse cultures, experiences and understandings found across our suburbs and towns brought by those who have chosen Australia to call home. And if we didn’t choose to make this country our home, many of us have a parent who did.

But of course, this is only part of our story.

Those of us who are not Indigenous are privileged to share this country with its traditional custodians and their 65,000

years of culture.

This shapes who we are as a people, each and every day.

But for 122 years our Constitution has not recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who have lived and cared for this land since time immemorial.

This silence doesn’t reflect how we now understand our country and our history.

Perhaps especially for more recent migrants, whose journey to full membership of our Australian community has been increasingly marked by connection to First Nations culture and history.

As I travel around this country and engage with multicultural communities, I’ve experienced two consistent reactions from multicultural communities to the idea of a Voice.

Firstly, of surprise.

The first part of Australia’s citizenship booklet acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of this land.

For some time now, people seeking to become Australian citizens have had to learn about First Nations history and culture in order to pass the citizenship test.

Which is why many are surprised that this

foundational part of our story isn’t already included in our Constitution. To many, this makes our Constitution inconsistent with the Australia that they have learnt about and are now proud to be a part of.

Secondly, of understanding. Listening to communities isn’t a radical concept for multicultural groups - it’s common sense that when you ask someone for advice on matters that affect them, you get better results.

When we all step into a voting booth, Australians will be able to write Yes; for recognition and listening, and for a unified country, that acknowledges all of our diversity.

Some have wrongly claimed that a Voice will divide us.

The hard truth we must face up to is that we are divided right now.

Build a meaningful and flexible career caring for seniors. We provide you with the skills and knowledge, so you can help them.

“As I travel around this country and engage with multicultural communities, I’ve experienced two consistent reactions from multicultural communities to the idea of a Voice.”

Are you a Desi for Yes?

Desis for Yes is a collective of South Asian Australian volunteers co-founded three months ago by Nishadh Rego and Khushaal Vyas.

Regardless of where we have come from or when, we live, work, study, pray, and raise families on land that was taken from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the last 200 years. We have benefitted from this dispossession and have an obligation to walk together with Indigenous Australians towards a bright and more reconciled future.

We also have a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to change this nation’s Constitution for the better, and in doing so, walk together with Indigenous Australians towards a better, more reconciled future. We were not going to let this opportunity go abegging. So, in the last 90 days, we have developed a three-pronged campaign to deepen engagement and understanding of the referendum and the Uluru Statement from the Heart across our diaspora communities.

WHY WE SHOULD VOTE YES

• This is first and foremost about listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have been the custodians of these lands for more than 65,000 years. The Uluru Statement from the Heart, which sprang out of one of the most extensive, deliberative democratic processes amongst Indigenous Australians, calls for the establishment of a First Nations Voice in the Constitution. This call is backed up by consistent polling which says that more than 80% of Aboriginal and Torres islanders support the Voice.

• This is about giving Indigenous Australians a permanent say on the issues that affect their lives. When we give Indigenous Australians a say, we will have more targeted, effective laws and policies that better serve their needs in healthcare, education, employment and more.

• This is about remembering that our communities also experienced colonialism and suffering that came with it. We won our independence in 1947 and had the opportunity to write our own Constitution. Conversely, First Nations Australians have been excluded from Australia’s Constitution to this day.

Our social media campaign, including our legendary ‘Chai Chats’ segment, has reached 15,000 people and had 100,000 impressions, helping simplify a complex debate with humour and facts.

Through more than 20 engagements with diaspora and mainstream media, including the ABC, SBS, and the Daily Telegraph, we have highlighted the fact that South Asian diasporas care about this issue, are part of the conversation, and are stepping up in solidarity with First Nations Australians.

By the referendum date, we will have run or participated in 25 conversations and public events, attended by over a thousand community members, providing safe and comfortable spaces to ask the difficult questions, share concerns, and listen.

Whatever the result on 14th October – and we hope it is a Yes – this whole experience has helped connect and unify migrant and diaspora communities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. And this new consciousness is here to stay.

When you’re ready for dialogue within your community, Desis for Yes are here for you to ask the difficult questions and start the conversation.

Learn about the Voice in your language

If you’re not sure where to start with the Voice, South Asians for Voice has information in your language to help you make an informed choice

South Asians for Voice (SAFV) is a group of individuals from across the country who care about creating a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. We are a grassroots volunteer community group established in 2023 to show active support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament within the South Asian community. Through our advocacy, we want to share resources with our communities about why it is important to vote YES in the upcoming Referendum. SAFV is not associated with any political parties and the goal is to help people of South Asian background make an informed choice. We are doing this through our website and social media channels by making multilingual information accessible; utilising our networks to spread messages of support; providing a space for the community to come together, selfinitiate and demonstrate support.

WHY WE THINK COMMUNITY ADVOCACY IS IMPORTANT:

• 1.2 million people of voting age in Australia claim South Asian Ancestry (e.g. Indian, Sri Lankan, Afghan, Pakistani, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Burmese, Bangladeshi). Despite being a large segment of the Australian voting population, engagement on political issues that is tailored towards the South Asian community has been limited.

• Recent research by Western Sydney University demonstrates that Indian and Chinese migrants who are seeking knowledge about First Peoples and their ways of life find it nearly impossible to find. This lack of exposure and knowledge can lead to a higher probability of disengagement and reluctance to "get involved" with political matters concerning First Nations people.

• SAFV aims to provide tailored engagement and encourage a Yes vote in ways that are relatable and accessible to diverse South Asian communities.

In July 2023, SAFV distributed a survey through its networks within the South Asian community in Australia which yielded over a hundred responses. The survey consisted of 15 questions about awareness of the upcoming referendum and issues facing First Nations people, as well as engagement preferences. Alongside this, we also informally spoke to members of our community. Together, they show that most respondents support the Voice. Some portions of the community demonstrated a robust understanding of Indigenous issues while some were unaware of the Voice altogether due to being time-poor. There is also a section of the community who support the Voice, but are reluctant to share their view or speak to others for fear of scrutiny or “getting too involved”. We found that shared experiences of colonialism in their countries of origin may help people identify and empathise with the Indigenous experience.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are best placed to advocate for matters impacting their lives, and a Voice to Parliament helps create an advisory group to do that. Our understanding is that the Voice is an important step towards recognition, reconciliation, and respect.

We encourage the South Asian community to show their support for the Voice. Do this by visiting the SAFV website to share a video on why you are voting yes, or make a pledge to do so: https://southasiansforvoice.org

It’s a YES from

As someone from a diverse background myself, I endorse the Voice as it signifies Australia's commitment to further embracing diversity and inclusion, and listening with our hearts, ultimately benefiting all of us.

Prof. VEENA SAHAJWALLA Inventor and Professor of Materials Science UNSW

This is a referendum, not an election. This is not about Labor, Liberal, Greens, One Nation – this is about Australia, about changing the constitution which belongs to all Australians. Politicians and bureaucrats in Canberra spend a lot of money to make top-down policies about Indigenous communities, which don’t work to close the gap. The Voice isn’t just about recognising Indigenous people, which in itself is symbolically important and unifying, it’s about delivering practical outcomes in a way Indigenous people have asked for.

The recent push for a revert to ‘Bharat’ as India's name is about reclaiming our identity from historical invaders. It's a call for selfdetermination. In much the same way, Indigenous Australia is calling for its own selfdetermination. If you’re embracing ‘Bharat’ as a name, then you’re a supporter of the Voice.

After 122 years of deliberate deafness, it is time we listened to our First Australians about ideas and issues that directly affect them. It is a really minimalist proposal but it means the world to Indigenous Australians to finally be recognised in our Constitution as the First Peoples of Australia.

DARSHAK MEHTA OAM

Businessman and philanthropist, Sydney

Dr.

SHIREEN MORRIS Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab and Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Law School

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA Editor, Indian Link

I’ll be voting Yes. We all share a desire to eradicate disparities within our society. Our collective aspiration is to witness improved prospects, enhanced quality of life, and brighter futures for Indigenous communities, mirroring the aspirations we held for ourselves when we arrived in this country.

MITU BHOWMICK LANGE AM Founder and director, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

It is about time we recognise the original inhabitants of this beautiful land. This referendum presents a unique chance to achieve improved results for Indigenous Australians - to actively engage with and amplify their voices, in a manner that will positively impact the entire nation.

Dr. ARUN SHARMA GP and founder of Celebrate India, Melbourne

The Voice is our chance and structural change Indigenous Australians. and listening. Recognition of culture and traditions Constitution. Listening to and Torres Strait Islander matters that affect their can make better

ZANETA

MASCARENHAS

Member for Australian Federal

FROM ACROSS DIFFERENT CULTURES, INDUSTRIES AND PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY, THESE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO BACK THE VOICE.

The Voice initiative seeks to rectify historical racial discrimination by acknowledging and empowering Indigenous people, allowing them to finally have a say in their own affairs. As a language advocate and teacher, I’m pleased to see every NESA syllabus is now linked with Indigenous culture and languagewe closely link our teaching with this for languages with comparative study. We as migrants thank them for use of their land and acknowledge elders past, present and emerging before every conversation or meeting - while important, it is perhaps more meaningful that we give First Nations people that respect with a Voice in parliament. It is their birthright.

MALA MEHTA OAM

Founder of IABBV Hindi School, Sydney

With less than 2 weeks left before the official polling day, I am voting Yes to a First Nations Voice to Parliament. I have been working in Indigenous Affairs for last 15 years. By voting ‘Yes’ in the referendum, we could create a pathway for First Nations peoples to communicate directly with the government of the day, resulting in better policy and fewer misdirected resources. Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of this nation, that in itself is an important thing. It says something about who we are as a nation.

ASHA BHAT OAM

CEO of Southern Aboriginal Corporation, Albany WA (seen here with Thomas Mayo, leading Yes advocate)

I will be voting YES for a Voice to Parliament at the upcoming referendum on 14 October. Because I want to live in a country that recognises Indigenous Australians in our founding document. Because when governments listen and consult with local Indigenous communities about matters that affect their lives, they make better decisions. The idea came directly from Indigenous communities through the Uluru Statement from the Heart - a generous invitation to all Australians to walk with First Nations people. This is an opportunity to make history together for a better future.

CHARISHMA KALIYANDA Member for Liverpool NSW Parliament

chance to make practical to improve the lives of It starts with recognition Recognition of the 65,000 years traditions to be enshrined in the to advice from Aboriginal Islander people about the their lives so governments better decisions.

MASCARENHAS for Swan WA, Federal Parliament

When I first arrived in Australia 35 years ago, I was shocked to learn Indigenous Australians weren’t recognised in the constitution, and that until the 1960s, they weren’t included in the population count, and didn’t have voting rights. Through the years, I learnt more about the huge gaps in health and education, the separation from culture, the loss of language, and the unresolved trauma that continues to exert a debilitating influence. It’s time to break the cycle. Vote YES.

PAWAN LUTHRA CEO Indian Link Media Group

Voting Yes is a no brainer for me both as a migrant and a lawyer. As someone who shares a similar colonial past to our Indigenous people, it is preposterous to even contemplate that being excluded from decision making in your own country is somehow acceptable. As a lawyer, I want to dispel the myth that voting Yes would somehow take away rights from nonIndigenous people. The ultimate authority to make laws lies with the Parliament and the Voice will only make the process efficient by consulting the people who are impacted in the first instance.

I urge everyone to make your vote count towards creating history.

I come from a history of truth-tellers, those that stood up in solidarity for justice, fighting for the rights and freedoms of others. I’m voting Yes not just as a Sikh but as an Australian who was born on stolen land and wants our community to do better. Listening to First Nations people advise on First Nations matters is the bare minimum we can do as Australians.

SUKHJIT KAUR KHALSA Artist, Perth

MOLINA ASTHAN Commercial lawyer, Melbourne

It’s time for our communities who are settlers here to support our First Nation brothers and sisters whose lands and rights have been taken from them. It is our duty and responsibility as formerly colonised people to support those who continue to be colonised and have no voice. I vote YES; please do the same!

There is a very clear choice in this referendum. And I will be making a very clear choice of a Yes vote. A Yes vote recognises Indigenous Australians in the Constitution, listens to their voices about decisions that affect them, and makes a difference by paying respect to 65,000 years of culture and tradition.

The referendum is a once in a generation opportunity to recognise Indigenous Australians. It’s all very simple, really - it's about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution, it's about listening, and it's about a better future for everyone. This is the time to have dialogue and discussions in the community and not spread unfounded fear and misinformation. So I urge everyone to say "Yes" to the referendum and "Yes" to a better future for everyone.

I'm voting YES for The Voice because I believe that our country's Constitution should recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and pay respect to their 65,000 plus years of culture, tradition and connection. The Voice is an invitation from First Nations Elders and this is an opportunity to accept their invitation with grace and move forward united as one. This referendum is an auspicious occasion. Vote YES!

I am voting yes because all of us, regardless of background, have benefitted from the dispossession and oppression of Indigenous Australians. It is our duty to correct those wrongs and take steps towards reducing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia. That first step starts with a Voice and listening to their communities. It is certainly not a big ask!

My absolute vote is YES! For the first time in Australia's 122-year-old Constitution, 65,000 years of Indigenous culture is being acknowledged. Let's heed the counsel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on issues that have an impact on their lives in order for governments to make better decisions.

Voting yes in the referendum is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable Australia - one that acknowledges and respects the unique cultural heritage, knowledge, and traditions of Indigenous Australians, the original inhabitants for over 60,000 years prior to colonisation. This moment presents an opportunity for our nation to address historical injustices so that future generations can take pride in our history and shared identity.

PRIYA SRINIVASAN

Artistic Director Sangam, Melbourne

TARANG CHAWLA Writer, speaker, activist

SANJITH KONDA-HOUSE Founder Dropout Chaiwala, Melbourne

Dr. SUNIL VYAS Community leader, Sydney

SONIA SADIQ GANDHI Entrepreneur, Sydney

SAMEER PANDEY Councillor and former Mayor, City of Parramatta

ROHINI KAPPADATH Community leader, Melbourne

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

Andrew Charlton’s recount of how the Sydney suburb of Harris Park got its name, won him the loudest cheers as he launched his new book Australia’s Pivot to India (Black Inc Books). He probably knew it would.

Which is why he probably presented it up first in the book as well.

His story goes that the suburb was founded by John Harris, who arrived in Australia in the 1790s after serving ten years in India as a naval surgeon in Bengal.

“Harris Park’s first resident was a doctor from India,” the Member for Parramatta revealed to a largely Indian-origin audience.

They packed a hall at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres to see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese formally launch his third book.

Among those present were the Indian High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra, former Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell, MPs Tim Ayers, Warren Kirby and Donna Davis, City of Parramatta councillors, head of the Australia India Business Council Jodi McKay, and everyone who’s anyone in Sydney’s Indian community.

Charlton is well-versed in the subject matter of his book, having observed trends in India closely for more than two decades now, and the bilateral relationship even closer. He takes us through the growth of modern India, especially the opening up of its economy and its particular bent on foreign affairs, and looks at how Australia’s relationship with India has ebbed and flowed, given Australia’s own stance in its economic and foreign policies.

There are wonderful insights to be gained here for everyone watching this space, especially as the economist in Charlton comes to the fore.

As someone from within the diaspora, this section particularly interested this writer, not only for the analysis but also for its penmanship, such as in Charlton’s names for the subsections: ‘False Dawns and First Dates’, ‘Setbacks and Squalls’, ‘Strategic Misalignment’ are some of the descriptions that unpack what Prime Minster Albanese chose to describe as the ‘diplomatic deep freeze’ in the bilaterals.

For someone reading from outside the diaspora, perhaps the main insights will come from the sections that follow – those that describe the characteristics of the IndianAustralian community, their deep-rooted connections to the land of their birth, their contributions to their adopted country, and the professional, social, sporting, religious and cultural expressions that define their lives. These descriptions go some way in understanding the ‘bridge’ that they are, or are expected to be, in drawing India and Australia closer.

As the ‘seeds’ to plant in the ‘fertile ground’ of the Australia-India relationship, the diaspora is vital in developing the relationship further.

Charlton segments this relationship in the book as moving from Acquaintances to Friends to Family to Partners – and those are his chapter names.

“The relationship is in a magic moment,” he said at the launch. “India will change Australia for the better, inside and out, over the next few decades.”

The Prime Minister echoed the sentiment, stating with certainty, “We see beyond summits and statecraft – we see it in our people. They are the engine taking the relationship forward into a deeper and more diversified relationship.”

Deepening Australia’s affection for India

Indophile and India-watcher

Andrew Charlton’s new book was launched by PM Anthony Albanese

He described the book Australia’s Pivot to India as a “scholarly work” that he “read in two straight sittings”.

“It’s a thoughtful, warm and optimistic work that educates us about the past, and also challenges us about the future,” he said. “Well written and readable, it will expand our understanding of India.”

He took the opportunity to retell some of his own favourite stories from India – backpacking there in the early 1990s, the train journeys, the video buses, an uncomfortable ride on camelback, and another (more comfortable?) ride on a chariot in a cricket stadium much later.

Talking about India emerging from colonial subjugation (its economy famously dropping from a quarter of the world’s GDP from the 1st to the 18th centuries, to 4% in the 1950s), provided both Charlton and Albanese the perfect opportunity to bring up a topic of current concern – the Voice to Parliament.

“Both (our nations) are dealing with the legacy of the past,” Charlton said. “For India this means it moves proudly beyond its British legacy; for Australia, dealing with the problems of the past and recognising our own history. It means recognising Indigenous people as our First People and giving them a place in our founding document – listening to them, and

ensuring that we stop making policy about them, without them.”

PM Albanese said more directly, “A No vote takes us nowhere; a Yes vote opens up possibilities.”

He added, “We’re seeing a great response from multicultural communities. Because they get it.”

That very thought was raised as an impassioned aside in a surprise cameo later that evening.

“Who better than us (Australian-Indians) can understand the ongoing pain, suffering and impact of colonialism? Who better than us, can understand what self-determination can result in?”

The speaker was Khushaal Vyas – lawyer, writer, activist, and Andrew Charlton mentee.

Stabbed in the back

The events that led to the ouster of Sammer Pandey as Parramatta Mayor

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

Multiple independent sources have confirmed to Indian Link the existence of a document signed by all Labor Parramatta councillors on how the position of mayor would change hands during their three-year tenure at the council.

The document signed in January 2022 spells out that Councillor Donna Davis would take on the mayoral role initially, and then step aside in September 2023 and allow for Councillor Sameer Pandey to be elected unopposed as mayor for the final year before Council elections are held again.

While the first part of the agreement was implemented, four of the seven Councillors broke the agreement and voted against Pandey in the election held on 25 September.

It is understood that the members of Australian Labor Party are deeply shocked

at this betrayal by four of their own. Messages of support have been pouring in for Sameer Pandey from all levels of the Labor Party – both Federal and State.

It is understood also that after the Council elections in 2022, Pandey had significant support to win the mayoral position of his own accord.

However, the Labor Party, keen to have Donna Davis contest the next Parramatta state seat against the incumbent MP Geoff Lee, sought to build up her profile by positioning her for mayor.

According to sources in the know, Pandey was advised not to contest for the mayoral post in 2022, even though he had the numbers. The plan instead, was for Pandey to take over after Davis steps down in September 2023.

Following her election as Member for Parramatta in the March 2023 State elections, according to a report in the SMH, Davis initially wanted to stay on as Lord Mayor as well, holding both roles concurrently. Under pressure from the Council though, she decided to step down from the role of mayor but continue as councillor.

Upon Donna Davis’ resignation, Pandey was elected Mayor in May 2023, aware that he would be recontesting in September. Based on the initial agreement, those in the know assumed this would be a formality.

Council is usually elected for a term of 4 years. Due to COVID however, the term of the previous council was extended by a year and by default, the term of the current council was cut short by a year, becoming a 3-year term.

Council rules stipulate that the Council hold elections for mayor every two years –in the COVID shortened term, these were to be held in September 2023.

Pandey was to be elected unopposed.

But it appears concerns grew in some sections of the council around Pandey’s upward trajectory, given his growing popularity and work ethic, and possible candidature at the next state elections in 2026.

In what is seen as a move to clip his wings, four Labor Councillors opposed his mayoral nomination and went back on the agreement they had signed earlier.

Parramatta State MP Donna Davis, who

as a Councillor was allowed the first go as Parramatta mayor, seems to have sided with Pierre Esber, Cameron Maclean and Patricia Prociv, to deny Pandey his chance to continue as Mayor.

With this change of support from his own caucus, Pandey could but watch from the sidelines as Pierre Esber then got elected as the new Parramatta Mayor, 9 votes to 6.

The move has shocked the Indian Australian community: Sameer Pandey, a much-loved public figure, is held in high esteem and is the poster boy for many young aspiring politicians from the community.

This axing of Pandey has been described by a senior Labor Parramatta member in the SMH as “… a senseless act with no political outcome that is beneficial for the Labor Party.”

Another Councillor, asking to remain anonymous, told Indian Link, “Changing mayors in four months is not going to be a good look for the Council. Sameer did a great job; I have much respect for the man.” Pandey was a hugely popular mayor, not only with the Indian Australian community in Parramatta which constitutes over 11.4% of the local population but also by many others. He was admired for his zeal and youthful energy, often seen at local Parramatta programmes and a regular guest in media, talking about his vision for Parramatta and the various projects in the works. His influence and power as Parramatta mayor would have only grown with the passage of time.

David Borger, Executive Director at Business Western Sydney believes Sameer Pandey has done a good job in the short time he was mayor.

Dr Andrew Charlton, Federal Member for Parramatta feels that Parramatta has lost a good man who works very hard. “He was a terrific mayor and has a big future in the Labor Party. I am confident that future opportunities will come to him,” Charlton told Indian Link.

Blacktown Councillor Moninder Singh is similarly confident that Pandey has a bright future. “He is a young politician and has many years ahead of him. I am confident that he will do his local community proud,” Singh told Indian Link.

NSW will no longer publish list of eligible ANZSCO unit groups

NSW has announced a significant shift in its approach to skilled migration moving away from the Skills Occupation List

SKILLED INVITATION ROUNDS

BY VIVEK ASRI

In a move aimed at tackling the everevolving skills shortages across the state, NSW has announced a significant shift in its approach to skilled migration. The state is moving away from publishing a list of eligible Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) unit groups to a new sectorfocused strategy.

WHAT’S CHANGING?

Previously, NSW published a skills list comprising specific ANZSCO unit groups that determined eligibility for skilled migration. Effective immediately, the state government is shifting its focus towards priority sectors that are in dire need of skilled talent.

NSW TARGET SECTORS

The sectors identified by NSW align closely with the pressing skills shortages within the state. These sectors include:

• Health Addressing the increasing demand for healthcare professionals and support staff.

• Education Focusing on educators and support staff to meet the educational needs of the growing population.

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Catering to the rapidly

expanding technology sector in NSW.

• Infrastructure Aiming to bridge the skills gap in construction and engineering, crucial for the state’s development.

• Agriculture Addressing the need for skilled labor in the agricultural sector, which plays a vital role in the state’s economy.

While the current program year’s primary

emphasis is on these key sectors, high-ranking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) submitted in non-priority sectors may still be considered. However, due to the exceptionally high demand and limited available places, prospective applicants are strongly advised to explore all other migration options.

Invitation rounds remain a pivotal part of the NSW nomination process. Here’s what potential migrants need to know:

• Timing Invitation rounds will continue to take place throughout the financial year, with no predetermined or publicly announced dates.

• Selection NSW will consider multiple factors when selecting EOIs, including points score, English language proficiency, and skilled work experience. Priority will be given to EOIs submitted in the NSW Priority Sectors mentioned above.

• Invitation It’s important to note that invitations for NSW nomination are at the sole discretion of the NSW Government.

• Submission Date The date on which an applicant submits or amends their SkillSelect EOI has no impact on their likelihood of receiving an invitation.

The NSW government has indicated that invitation rounds for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) are set to commence shortly by. It says despite the shift towards sector-focused migration, regional development remains a priority for NSW.

“The state’s regional skilled migration program continues to be designed to assist businesses in regional NSW in attracting qualified talent. Details regarding the reopening of this program will be made available once all applications from the previous financial year have been finalised,” said the department in a statement.

25% of skilled migrants not employed in own field

The Australian government has identified a concerning trend in the employment outcomes of skilled migrants, with almost 80 percent of those in the accounting profession unable to secure work in their chosen field.

In response to this issue, the government unveiled its employment white paper, titled “Working Future,” outlining a series of reforms aimed at better aligning migration with domestic skills needs and improving employment prospects for migrants.

The white paper reveals that nearly a quarter of permanent skilled migrants find themselves working in occupations outside their chosen profession. This issue is most pronounced in the field of accounting, where less than 25 percent of migrants are employed within their area of expertise. In contrast, professions such as medicine, physiotherapy, and dentistry show a much higher level of skill alignment among migrant workers.

According to the white paper, the Australian migration program is in need of

significant reform. It recognises the need to better harness the skills that migrants bring to Australia and ensure they work at their skill level. It also acknowledges that migrants often face obstacles, including discrimination, unconscious bias from employers, and regulatory hurdles such as additional qualification requirements.

Gavan Ord, senior manager at CPA Australia, expressed support for the white paper’s objectives. He emphasised the importance of migration to address the shortage of accountants in Australia. Ord acknowledged that new migrants may require some time to adapt to the Australian job market but highlighted the potential benefits for employers in tapping into their skills.

The white paper aims to address the disparities in migrants’ employment outcomes by improving the targeting of skilled migration and collaborating with states and territories to direct migrants to where their skills are most needed. It also plans to enhance pathways for

international students to secure higherskilled roles and revamp the temporary skilled migration system to provide a fast and efficient pathway for specialized, highly skilled workers.

Beant Shira of Sydney-based accountancy firm Tax Divine, shared insights into the challenges faced by international students who enrolin accountancy courses primarily for the purpose of obtaining Permanent Residency.

Mr. Shira, who relocated from India to Australia with a background in accounting, speaks from his own experience. He asserts that the Australian education system plays a role in this trend, as it often fails to provide practical training.

“Consequently,” adds Mr Shira, “individuals find that the actual work in the field significantly differs from what they learned in their studies. This disparity poses a considerable challenge to their success and frequently prompts them to pursue alternative career paths.”

The government’s commitment to

addressing these issues reflects its intention to create a more responsive migration system that complements the domestic workforce. This aligns with the government’s reform priorities, which include building a future-proofed labour market, promoting productivity growth, and enhancing job security.

Simon Grant, group executive advocacy at CA ANZ, praised the initiatives outlined in the white paper. He emphasised the critical shortage of accounting, audit, and finance professionals in Australia and the growing demand for their skills. Grant welcomed the focus on better targeting skilled migration and improving employment outcomes for international students. accounting profession The government’s forthcoming Migration Strategy, set to be released in late 2023, is expected to provide further details on additional reforms aimed at addressing these challenges and ensuring that Australia remains an attractive destination for skilled migrants.

Vivek Asri

Reconciling identity through music

Musicians Bhairavi Raman and Nanthesh Sivarajah are part of a new generation of South Asian Australians bringing a bicultural voice to traditional Carnatic music

BY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY

Bhairavi Raman was six years old when she first picked up a violin, drawn to the instrument after hearing her mother play. When she was eight, her family moved to Melbourne, and she’d spend the rest of her childhood between two musical worlds. During the day, she’d learn Western classical music at school, whilst her evenings and weekends were filled with Carnatic music.

But just like many other second-generation Indian Australians, she struggled to consolidate these two burgeoning sides of her.

“As a teenager, you feel pressure to conform – I felt a bit lame, like I’d be made fun of for sharing [Carnatic] music [at school],” Bhairavi Raman remembers. “I’d miss my friend’s 16ths and 18ths because I’d be at Carnatic concerts, and if had a rehearsal, I’d make sure I got changed into Western clothes after. I was embarrassed to speak Tamil in public!”

Her collaborator and husband Nanthesh Sivarajah has a similar story; migrating to

Melbourne aged eight to escape the Sri Lankan civil war, his mother enrolled him in Mridangam classes to stay connected to their culture.

“In primary school, I’d lie about what I did on the weekend, because it was a headache to describe what the Mridangam was,” explains Nanthesh Sivarajah. “Kids at school didn’t know I could speak another language. I’d never get out of my car in anything other than Western clothes.”

But towards the end of their schooling, they realised the power of Carnatic music.

“My parents never pressured me to practice or perform,” says Sivarajah. “In Year 10 I started getting obsessed with Carnatic music and it clicked that I enjoyed it; until then I was doing it because every other kid was. I haven’t looked back since then.”

Now adults, Raman and Sivarajah are fully in tune with their upbringing. They’ve spent the last fifteen years producing acclaimed works together locally and internationally, performing at the prestigious Madras Music Academy and the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Raman and Sivarajah are part of a new generation of South Asian Australians bringing new perspectives to the classical status quo, blending Western and Carnatic classical styles in their performances to reconcile their compartmentalised identities.

Their piece ‘A Classical Tapestry’ merges Bach’s famous Minuet in G with the Shankarabharanam and Keeravani raga, dipping in and out of major and minor scales, whilst ‘A Bittersweet Reflection’ draws on both Western and Carnatic approaches as a

semi-composed, semi-improvised piece.

“As I’ve grown older, I’ve felt less like I need to code-switch. I’ve realised having this whole other identity is a strength, rather than a limitation, and I’ve allowed that to flow into my music,” Raman says.

“There’s something soul nourishing about this music,” Raman says. “I’m juggling music, a Masters degree and a corporate job, and sometimes you dial down one part of your life to make room for others. I’ve realised if I dial down music too much, it makes me unhappy. It’s my primary connection to culture and a way of expressing myself.”

Inspired by the impact of music on their upbringing, Raman and Sivarajah have founded Gamaka, a not-for-profit organisation home to a thriving community of fellow young, bicultural South Asian Australians. Promoting grassroots engagement with Carnatic music, Gamaka is a valuable space for young South Asian Australians musicians to develop not only their practice, but their identity.

“When you learn Carnatic music, usually you only perform once at an annual school concert. There are few opportunities to challenge yourself,” Sivarajah explains. “It’s really hard to stay motivated and practice if you don’t have opportunities to perform, and that’s why we started Gamaka.”

“These young people are learning music is an important aspect of identity,” says Raman. “We want to provide a space for them to come together and show them there’s a bigger picture, somewhere they can share their art and develop.”

Blending musical traditions has also brought Raman and Sivarajah new insights around cross-cultural exchange and classical elitism. Much like the process of consolidating identities, the process of mixing two musical styles has been complex, experimental, and often uncomfortable, but they’re both excited at the thought of innovation.

“There’s a mental barrier in playing something different on the Mridangam,” Sivarajah considers. “The instrument is so traditional sounding, and you feel like you’re bastardising it by trying to play western

BY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY

Deepa Mani and Sheena Chundee both say dance chose them.

As a five-year-old, Mani cried her way through Bharatanatyam classes, later finding a passion for the form, and Chundee found herself in the world of professional ballet aged just eight when she began training with the UK’s Royal Ballet.

They now spearhead major companies in Melbourne’s dance scene, both working to nurture the next generation of dancing talent – Mani as Artistic Director of Chandralaya School of Dance, and Chundee as Director of Rebel Stepz.

So, in 2018, when Mani chanced upon an article about Chundee in a magazine, she knew she had to get in touch with this fellow woman-of-colour dancer with a parallel experience. Mani scoured the internet for Chundee’s email and reached out to her, kickstarting what would be a unique collaboration across their different dance forms – TOUCH.

“I was really excited to see a woman-ofcolour ballerina who has gone through the entire learning thread and practiced as a ballerina,” says Mani. “We talked about collaborating; we’re on a land where East and West don’t come together often, and to tell that story as women-of-colour is empowering.”

In TOUCH, Mani and Chundee experiment with their respective styles to draw out new approaches to dance and encourage cross-cultural collaboration in all facets of society. It’s a piece

When

Bharatanatyam meets Ballet

show TOUCH

dance because I was so done with the institutionalisation; I’ve always been a bit rebellious,” says Chundee. “Now I feel I’m able to choreograph and experiment on my own terms; I probably wouldn’t have come back to dancing if not for this project.”

Accompanying Mani and Chundee on stage is award-winning ballet dancer Jasmine Lim, and South Asian Australian musicians Bhairavi Raman (violin), Nanthesh Sivarajah (mridangam) and Rohan Dasika (double bass). Mani says these bicultural collaborators have brought the piece to a new level.

“There’s a lot happening, and if I was an audience member, it would be like a nice South Indian thali meal,” says Mani. “There’s variety and richness in content and culture, and then you’ve dabbed it with a bit of butter on the top!”

At the centre of TOUCH is a deep respect for each other’s dance form, borne out of their friendship and collaborative process. The duo hopes this mutual admiration will translate into more cross-cultural collaboration throughout the creative industry.

“I hope people will start to look at Ballet and Bharatanatyam differently,” says Mani. “I want audiences to open their minds on collaboration, not just artistically, but in everyday life, and not have reservations.”

“I’m hoping audiences will question their own inclusivity and take time to understand people with different cultures more,” says Chundee. “I want them to be less afraid of acceptance and discovery. Also, to think, wow, that was amazing.”

about cultures intersecting, told through the juncture between Bharatanatyam and Ballet.

“In some ways it’s easy, because the foundations of both styles are similar; similar arm and feet positions, ways of telling through the body,” says Chundee. “There’s lots that’s different too, and it pushes us choreographically. We’re coming up with something organic, neither ballet nor bharatanatyam but somewhere in between, which is quite beautiful.”

The duo’s starting point for the piece was the similarities and differences in their lived experience as South Asian women who have both encountered rigid dance training systems. Chundee, who primarily facilitates and directs in her role at Rebel Stepz, says working on TOUCH has been insightful for her career.

“Personally, I stepped away from

Deepa Mani and Sheena Chundee are reaching across the Ballet and Bharatanatyam divide in their Melbourne Fringe

In TOUCH, Mani and Chundee experiment with their respective styles to draw out new approaches to dance and encourage cross-cultural collaboration in all facets of society.

Karwe family Blacktown

Ganesha in our homes

This year's Ganesh Chaturthi brought pomp, splendour, and neighbourhood-level celebrations which look set to become a trend

BY ANU SHIVARAM

The Ganesh Festival in Sydney this year has made its presence felt like never before this year. If you’re on social media you’re bound to have come across photos of elaborate home temples these past few days – as we observe the 10-day festival dedicated to the most loved of all the gods in the Hindu pantheon, Ganesha.

Some 25 years ago, marking a cherished Indian festival here in Australia, especially on a working day, meant a hurried offering

in the morning before rushing to work, a quick phone call to family in India, and an evening spent wistfully reminiscing about the celebrations and festivities back home.

Ask old timers like me, and I won’t recall a time when we spent tenconsevutive days celebrating Ganesha.

Not any more.

The story is totally different today.

We’ve now begun to see a Ganesh Festival in Australia in full 10-day pomp and splendour. Altar decorations were painstakingly put together, often hand crafted over days, and then proudly shared digitally. The ‘themes’ of the decorations have entertained endlessly – you’re bound to have seen at least one Chandrayaan-inspired temple! (Check out the Harry Potter theme decoration here too).

Reciprocal home visits took place throughout the ten days, weekdays included, with boxes of mithais exchanged.

This was also seen as an opportunity to connect children and youth to the customs and traditions of India. As usual, festive outfits set new trends this year too.

At some places though, the worship was collective, just like the neighbourhood Ganapatis in India. Blacktown’s

‘Attenborough Ganapati’ for example looks like it will become an annual event. No, this has nothing to do with the Attenborough’s famed connection with India, but with Attenborough Place in Quakers Hill Sydney. This is a new development in the Blacktown Council. In a street with forty houses, thirty houses are occupied by people of Indian origin. For majority of the residents, this is their first home, and they have moved into their dream houses just this year.

“We have a very close-knit neighbourhood,” Naveen B, one of the main organisers of Attenborough Ganapati, told Indian Link. “We have friendly relations and are helpful to each other even though we are from different parts of the country and speak different languages and have varying traditions. To keep the festive spirit high and to bring a feeling of oneness in our new community, we hosted a street Ganapati festival – just like we used to do back in India. We’ve placed the Ganapati idol in the garage of one of the homes, and perform two poojas each day for the whole week.”

Sonia Katyal Walia, another enthusiastic participant, chimed in, “Dance and music events were organised every day of the week followed by delicious prasad, which was

prepared enthusiastically by all the families in turns. This has brought the whole suburb together and makes us feel like we are celebrating in India. It has also helped us to get to know people and has made us feel like we are one big family.”

Here’s hoping Attenborough Ganapati grows large enough to draw visitors from all across the city – even from the mainstream –just like the Diwali lights at Schofields!

It was way back in 1893 that Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak revived the traditional Ganapati festival and transformed it into a public celebration. His idea was to unite Indians and create a sense of national identity.

That same sense of unity is emerging 130 years later here in Australia.

Kulkarni family Melb

Mudholkar family Highett

Kusoorkar family Bris

Patel family Marsden Park

Maddala family Schofields

Shah family Marsden Park

Saini family Schfields

Dhawan family Melb

Attenborough Ganapati

Harry Potter Ganapati by Shilpa Shelar

Indian classic, Aussie spin

A chocolate peda recipe with a native Australian twist to try this Indian festive season

BY NIDHI SAMPAT

Soan papdi, kajukatli, jalebis, ladoos and modaks are sweetmeat legends of any Indian grazing platter during this, the most auspicious time of the year. However, with the Indian festive season well underway, this might actually be the perfect opportunity to add a few Aussie touches to the quintessential mithai recipes. Introducing native Australian ingredients to classic Indian recipes could be the key to both honouring the recipes of our home and paying homage to the land we stand on.

So why not have a go at blending the best of both worlds this Indian festive season?

If you have guests on their way over this Ganesh Chaturthi, try this remixed peda recipe made with a native Australian ingredient to satisfy every sweet tooth, and serve something new.

QUICK AND EASY CHOCOLATE & WATTLESEED PEDA

Makes 10 pieces. 30 minutes

Ingredients:

n 1 tbsp ghee

n 1/2 cup milk (125 ml)

n 1/2 cup milk powder

n 1/4 cup jaggery/ sugar

n 1.5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

n 1/2 tsp wattleseed powder

n 1 small handful of dark chocolate chips

Method:

n Melt ghee in a non-stick pan over medium heat, add the milk, and allow to simmer.

n Add in the milk powder, cocoa and wattleseed powder and whisk to remove lumps.

n Cook on low for 5-8 minutes, stirring with a silicone spatula till the mixture comes together and starts to leave the sides of pan.

n Add the jaggery and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.

n Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and allow to cool to room temp or place in fridge for 20 minutes.

n Grease hands with ghee before rolling into 10 balls.

n Flatten slightly to give it the distinct peda shape.

n Garnish wattleseed peda with nuts or gold leaf as I have and enjoy!

with Lakshmi Ganapathy

SHANKAR KASYNATHAN is a movement builder advocating for human rights and migrant and refugee communities, who has worked with Amnesty International, Oxfam, Red Cross and VicHealth and has just finished his tenure as aVictorian Multicultural Commissioner. He is currently the leader of Federation University’s ‘Roads to Reconciliation’ project as an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at their National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice.

You’ve been an advocate for over 20 years, and in some major roles across major advocacy organisations. With all your experience, what would you say it takes to achieve change?

Change requires enormous amounts of passion, patience, and participation – the three Ps. It’s about taking people along with you and trying to include them in the conversation; this will take time and be uncomfortable. The referendum is a great example – it was a short time frame to engage what is in many parts of Australia a largely disengaged population with meaningful and authentic reconciliation. We have a variety of people [in Australia], from those who don’t know anything about our country’s history to people passionately pushing the Yes or No campaigns, but I think if we’re serious about reconciliation in a sustained way, it requires us to take people on a journey.

Your ‘Roads to Reconciliation’ project focuses on Indigenous reconciliation within multicultural communities. Following on from what you mentioned about disengagement, why is it that a lot of multicultural Australians are reluctant to or don’t engage with Australia’s history?

For many new arrivals, they find themselves facing a myriad of challenges like access to housing, employment and healthcare, and their attention span is influenced by those survival needs. Beyond that, we’ve also not had many meaningful opportunities to explore Indigenous dispossession and injustice, as the truth telling process has often not involved migrant and refugee communities.

I think there’s a great opportunity to link multicultural communities here; ‘Roads to Reconciliation’ looks at how we can learn from Indigenous resilience and survival as we advocate for ourselves, rather than looking at them as a people we should feel sorry for. As Lilla Watson (Gangulu woman, activist, and visual artist) says:

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

How can we be better advocates for what we’re passionate about?

I think about this all the time! There are three things; firstly, checking our own privilege and bias is important. Our communities aren’t homogenous, and there’s power differentials in the spaces that we navigate, so for those who are leading, we should ask ourselves honestly what we know and get educated.

The second is burnout, and learning how to lean into advocacy in a way that you can look after yourself and sustain your journey when you’ve got responsibilities.

Finally, the third is being authentic about what it is you’re passionate about. For many years I was a refugee advocate, and will always be one, but I ask myself: am I the best person to be doing this? Though my life has been shaped by resettlement, it’s now been over 30 years since I arrived and there are others with fresher experiences and insights that could offer more to a campaign; that’s why I left Amnesty after four years.

What's something that you're currently listening to/reading/ playing/watching?

I had the privilege of meeting one of my literary heroes, Christos Tsiolkas and I’m re-reading his book Loaded, about the challenges of a young [gay] Greek man growing up in Melbourne. I’ve always found comfort in this book, but I’m also really challenged by the fact many of my peers who privately identify as LGBTQI don't feel that the ecosystem of our communities and the spaces in our neighbourhoods are safe enough for them to come out and be their full selves.

What’s a word that you like in a South Asian language, and what does it mean?

Arokkiyam is a Tamil expression for wellbeing, which firstly just sounds cool! But I also resonate with it because of the work I’ve done around building wellbeing literacy and spaces; there’s a mental health crisis for Tamil asylum seekers in Australia so this word speaks to the hope we can find different journeys towards wellbeing.

And finally: Soan Papdi or Papdi Chaat?

Papdi Chaat. I don’t think I’ve tasted either but that one sounds like it’d be delicious.

Fun City Gold Coast

BY SANDIP HOR

Getting There Home to an international airport Gold Coast is well connected by air with all cities.

Accommodation Forming part of The Star Gold class entertainment hub, the newly opened Gold Coast (www.dorsetthotels.com) combines vibrancy with a restful beachside escape for Restaurants Countless cafes, bars, restaurants,

With its sun, sand and surf, the Gold Coast is the nation’s ‘party town’

"That was exhilarating!" exclaim Mohan and Shivani as they come off the Superman Escape ride at the Warner Bros Movie World in Gold Coast.

As we chat casually minutes later, they tell me they are IT professionals who migrated to Australia from Pune, India, five years ago. Today, they are part of the one-million-strong Indian diaspora, influencing every facet of the Australian way of life, including travel and tourism.

"We love coming to Gold Coast to chill out," they say sitting down to see the Hollywood Stunt Driver show, which is one of the key attractions of this theme park.

Only an hour away from Brisbane by road, the Gold Coast is often referred to as the ‘nation’s party town’. That’s why, when Aussies need a boost in their mood, they travel to the Gold Coast to embrace its endless energy.

No one can correctly say why this region in subtropical Queensland is called the Gold Coast. My guess is that it’s because of the 70-kilometre stretch of golden sand edging the Pacific Ocean coastline from Rainbow Bay in the south to Jumpinpin at the northern end of South Stradbroke Island. This distinct natural feature has made the Gold Coast the birthplace of the Australian beach holiday. That Aussies love time at the beach is well known;it satisfies their urge for physical activity, whether surfing, swimming, and sunbathing or walking, jogging, biking, and even practicing yoga and meditation, all leading to a happier and healthier lifestyle.

With 300 days of sunshine a year, warm blue water, and an average temperature of 25 degrees, the sandy patches of the Gold Coast pull nearly 12 million visitors to their shores annually from different parts of the country and overseas, including India.

While visitors from India as well as from the diaspora love playing with the sun, sea, and sand, according to a local tour operator, the fun features of the destination and its party-like atmosphere appeal more to them.

That’s why visitors like Mohan and Shivani prefer spending time at the entertainment venues or hanging out at Surfers Paradise, where the heart of the Gold Coast beats ceaselessly.

Gold Coast can be broadly categorised into three sections: north, south, and central; however, tourists generally mass in the central part, which is home to well-known oceanfront locations like Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, which are characterised by a Dubai-like towering skyline.

Surfers Paradise is one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations. The 3 km of coastal headway stretching south of the Nerang River was called Elston until 1933, when smart hotelier Jim Cavill lobbied hard enough to rename it Surfers Paradise. He

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK

airport at Coolangatta, major Australian Gold Coast’s world313-room Dorsett combines stylish inner-city for a memorable stay. restaurants, and breweries

hoped the name would act like a magnet to draw surfing enthusiasts to its shores, and he wasn’t wrong. Soon the destination became a haven for anyone keen on a raw encounter with sun, sea, and sand. Entrepreneurial spirit began to flow in rapidly to establish the sleepy coastal town as a dynamic beach holiday destination that offers more than the waves. Today, the quarter is studded with luxury hotels, trendy cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, endless shopping outlets, and entertainment venues, offering visitors a mood-boosting vacation. Not to be missed in Surfers Paradise is the unrivalled 360 degree, birds-eye view of the entire Gold Coast region - its sandy ribbon, urban tapestry, inland waterways, and distant hinterland - from the Sky Point Observation Deck located on levels 77 and 78 of the Q1 Building, a 322.5-metre skyscraper that was built in 2005.

Travel gurus say variety is the spice of a perfect holiday, and the Gold Coast fits this perfectly. There’s a plethora of exciting things to do and see, perhaps more than any other down-under urban settlement. Here, beautiful sandy beaches, ancient rainforests, thrilling theme parks, and a vibrant dining and cultural scene come into action for visitors from different parts of the country and overseas as well.

Various theme parks are a special drawcard for the Gold Coast. While at Movie World there are lights, cameras, and action, at Sea World it’s more than just seals and dolphins dancing; there are rides and shows, including a helicopter ride to catch a bird’s-eye view of the paradise land. At Dream World, the Big Seven rides live up to their promises, while next door at the Australian Outback Spectacular, true Aussie outback is celebrated while enjoying a threecourse Aussie dinner.

jostle for space across the city’s various suburbs. While Miss Moneypenny’s (missmoneypennysbroadbeach.com) at Broadbeach offers draws diners to top class Mediterranean cuisine, Temple of Spices (templeofspices.com.au) at Mermaid Beach is a popular choice for Indian cuisine for locals and visitors alike. Regulars love their garlic prawns, butter chicken, and goat curry.

More Info Visit www.destinationgoldcoast.com

cineTALK

What’s on SUHAYLA SHARIF’s watchlist this October

BHAGAVATHAN KESARI (In cinemas)

In a world where power is your middle name, be careful who your friends and foes are. Legend of Telugu cinema Nandamuri Balakrishna leads this action entertainer that will see him tightly grasping his world and his weapons to get even with his enemies. Kajal Aggarwal and Arjun Rampal are also set to shine in this Telugu blockbuster.

Release Date: 19 Oct

LEO (In cinemas)

Keep calm…the king of the jungle is back! Brace yourselves as Thalapathy Vijay roars with a vengeance this month. Joined by Trisha Krishnan and Sanjay Dutt, this star cast is expected to rule the box office in October. Fans are already fired up for the Tamil actionthriller forecast to set screens ablaze with a ‘bloody sweet’ tale of destruction.

Release Date: 19 Oct

THANK YOU FOR COMING (In cinemas)

About time Bollywood released another chick flick! Bhumi Pednekar and her girl gang turn up the heat in the Hindi comedy that will definitely bring you a taste of sugar, spice and all things nice. Ladies, I suggest you bring your partners along for this one as it might make for an excellent study session.

Release Date: 6 Oct

MATRIMONIALS

SEEKING GROOMS

Suitable alliance for ’85-born, never married, professional, simple, quiet intelligent girl, long-term Australian citizen, looking for match from similar background. Please email ragur@hotmail.com

Seeking Indian-origin, professionally qualified, issueless match (working professional, not self-employed) from Australia for ’88-born, 5"3" Hindu Punjabi girl (divorced, issueless), working with a government organisation in Sydney. Must have Aus PR, and be a non-smoker and preferably teetotaler.

Email: matrimonial.ml@gmail.com

KHUFIYA (Netflix)

Powerhouse duo Tabu and Vishal Bhardwaj join forces once again for what looks like the Hindi spy-thriller of the year. Littered with secrets and disguises, one woman will have to tackle a mole making moves to destroy a nation.

Release Date: 5 October

GANAPATH (In cinemas)

Welcome back to India’s most airborne hero! With this dystopian action thriller already sending social media into a frenzy, Tiger Shroff will be jumping in cinema halls near you once again. His iconic other half Kriti Sanon will also be gracing screens as the duo will be seen taking to the streets to settle old scores.

Release Date: 20 Oct

SEEKING BRIDES

Australian PR 491, SC Chamar male, 1991-born, from Doaba Punjab, 5'-5",pure vegetarian, M.Tech Chandigarh, MBA Sydney, working as Admin officer in Sydney, seeks well- educated girl (preferable in Australia/ Doaba/nursing background). Only SC contacts please. Marriage bureaus pleaseexcuse. What's app +61468994156, +919855475546.

AANKH MICHOLI (In cinemas)

After a family of misfits find themselves in a mess, will love still be able to conquer all confusion? This Hindi comedy stars Mrunal Thakur and Abhimanyu Dasani having to untangle their families from their love story. Throw Paresh Rawal into the mix and you have the perfect recipe for comedic chaos.

Release Date: 17 Oct

SAPTA SAGARADAACHE ELLO –SIDE B (In cinemas)

If you didn’t get the chance to watch Side A, do so now before heading to watch this Kannada rom-com! Manu and Priya’s turbulent love story is yet to fully unfold, and audiences can expect many more hurdles in their journey. Rakshit Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth are yet to wrap up their tale of star-crossed lovers so don’t miss the final serenade on their tape.

Release Date: 20 Oct

MISSION RANIGANJ: THE GREAT BHARAT RESCUE (In cinemas)

Akshay Kumar is seriously not slowing down, with this upcoming Hindi thriller his fifth release in the past year! As much as we might want to treat our palates to something new, maybe consider not skipping this inspiring tale based on a true story. Alongside Parineeti Chopra, journey into the unknown with this thriller set during the collapse of the Raniganj Coalfields in 1989.

Release Date: 6 Oct

KANDASAMYS: THE BABY (Netflix)

If you haven’t heard of the Kandasamys before, you’re in for a treat! Straight from South Africa, this desi family has already been through one wedding, one family holiday and now are expecting a new addition. The Kardashians better watch out because this family has a whole more drama heading their way. Shoutout to Aya, the beloved grandma who will be sure to steal your heart and the spotlight.

Release Date: 20 Oct

ZINDAGI ZINDABAD (In cinemas)

CHAAVER (In cinemas)

Martyrs have no match when it comes to sacrificing for the protection of a nation. This Malayalam political thriller will have you on the edge of your seat for a captivating tale of tragedy and triumph.

Release Date: 5 Oct

KAALA PAANI (Netflix)

There’s more than meets the eye in this Hindi mystery thriller that will have you treading deep waters. Dip your toes into the dark secrets that linger within and beyond the walls of an illomened prison. Dive in with Mona Singh, Ashutosh Gowariker and Amey Wagh as they invite you on a journey into the unknown.

Release Date: 18 Oct

Delve deep into the lives of 5 drugs addicts who find themselves cuffed to the darkness of their destructive appetites. This semi-biographical Punjabi drama aims to unveil the misery of substance abuse and the deluge of drug syndicates drowning countless communities.

Release Date: 27 Oct

MAUJAAN HI MAUJAAN (In cinemas)

Who says chaos can’t be comedic? Gippy Grewal, Binnu Dhillon and Karamjit Anmol bring the story of three brothers who must defeat the odds in the pursuit for love. Just from the cast alone we can tell this Punjabi release will be an absolute rib-tickler!

Release Date: 20 Oct

YAARIYAN 2 (In cinemas)

Get ready for the highly anticipated sequel to a coming-of-age cult classic! This Hindi remake of the iconic Malayalam film Bangalore Days promises the ins and outs of love and friendship, obviously with some twists and turns to add zest to their journey. While the faces may not be familiar, it is clear the friendships will be just as strong.

Release Date: 20 Oct

PASHUPATI PRASAD 2: BHASME DON (In cinemas)

While you may not recognise the predecessor, this highly anticipated sequel to a Nepali blockbuster could be worth a watch. The social satire release reels off from the story of a man who had to grapple with the death of his parents in an earthquake. Now it’s the job of a don to unravel himself from the disarray of his debt.

Release Date: 19 Oct

ANY HOW MITTI PAO (In cinemas)

If your Friday nights having been lacking some, fikar not for this Punjabi comedy is entering theatres with a roaring revelry. Starring Amyra Dastur, Nirmal Rishi and Harish Verma, this flick is perfect for a family night full of laughter.

Release Date: 6 Oct

MY

DEAREST AUNTYJI

My problem is so trivial that I am almost ashamed to bring it up, but bring it up I must. Because I want to be a better person and I want to be more loving - but I am stuck in my wacky thinking. I am 45 years old and have a corporate role, as does my husband. Our jobs are pretty demanding - but we manage quite well. Now my husband is a gora and the reason I tell you this is because it is pertinent to the story.

Every now and again Auntyji, when I want to relax, I listen to old Bollywood songs. And I will sit there, eating chocolates, drinking hot tea and watching old Bollywood songs - and by old I mean anything from the ‘40s onwards. Sometimes when I am there, in my happy place, watching YouTube and listening to the songs, my husband comes over, plops himself down next to me and watches the song. Every now and again he will go, hmm hmm as though he is thinking. Then he might ask a crazy question. Last week I was watching the Shashi Kapoor Babita song Bekhudi mein sanam. You will agree this is a beautiful song. In one scene Babita was wearing a green (teal) outfit, and Dave laughed and asked me why she was wearing a green Santa Claus outfit. Now if he doesn’t have questions, sometimes he tries to sign along to the songs. Now Dave does not speak Hindi, but he attempts to sing the song and then mangles the whole language. Then other times, he might walk over to the TV and start dancing. At which point I have no option other than to remind him that he is half English - which he hates, or I laugh at his silly antics. What to do, Auntyji?

AUNTYJI SAYS

My dear gulabo, this is all your fault. Didn’t I remind someone else a few months agosome other dakhini that she had betrayed her people by marrying an oppressor? Well, you too have made the same bewakuf choice. Billions of eligible jawan chiknas (don’t miss that SRK reference), and you decide that someone from the dushman camp would be best suited as your life partner.

So there is no solution for you. When you married our people’s oppressor, you were essentially signing up to be tortured for the rest of your life by a gora mangling our language with his received pronunciation through the King’s English.

Bachao mujhe, what kind of days am I seeing, where these besharam women think nothing of marrying anyone and then complaining about them for trivial matters. This is what you choose to complain about? What did you expect? Leave your poor patidev alone. I googled the Bekhudi song when I got your note – and when I saw Babita in her teal outfit with white fluffy cuffs and collar, boots, and oh that hat, it was crystal clear that Santa was the inspo behind this outfit. I dare say Babita’s daughters Karishma and Kareena, fashionist

as that they are, Kardashian-style, would have this reel erased entirely upon seeing their mum dressed like that. Bekhudi (foolishness) indeed…!

And just when I was beginning to have respect for the colour teal, given its recent Australian connotations – ew. And one more thing. Listen carefully, besharam aurat - have you even forgotten our traditions of honouring the husband? Just because you married a gora, does not mean that you forget our maan maryada. Go do a pooja and be grateful for what you have. Go pray to (((x)))) for the long life of your husband.

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October 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.

TAROT

Some of you may be wanting to leave a dead end job or relationship. Expect this situation to help you grow mentally. You might even say no to a new job though it pays more because it is not what you really want. Watch out for gadgets at home causing accidents. Money could be scarce right now but more is coming. Whatever the problem you are facing, solve it with logic and rational thinking. Let go of resistance to challenges.

Singles will want an upgrade on the kind of people they are dating instead of adding to the numbers. Some of you may move to a new home. What goes around comes around, so expect to receive rewards for good karma. A legal matter could get settled in your favour. New cycles are beginning so expect peace in troubled relationships. Finances will get better even if you are feeling the pinch right now. Go with the flow and let things unravel on their own.

The lovers’ card doesn’t always imply a love triangle. Mostly, it is about being stuck on the horns of a dilemma. Two tempting options, in work or personal life could have you wondering which one to choose. Rejection for the selfemployed will guide them to different sources of income. Some of you may be feeling blocked or trapped in an unhappy relationship. Money comes from multiple sources; go beyond the surface to find the right answers. Welcome the changes coming.

Aces, drawn for you this month, indicate new beginnings: if you are considering a creative project, now is a good time to start. Though singles want a deeper relationship, it is not the right time for it. Some of you might want a work from home kind of job. Misunderstandings in a current relationship will get resolved. Expect a promotion or a raise at work. New ideas for creative enterprises will be well received. Make the first move before the universe reciprocates.

A cycle is ending and a new way of living will take its place. Expect new opportunities at work too. A rocky relationship will come to an end. Expect delays in travel plans. A loss of income could also affect some of you. Change is inevitable this month and it is destined so it’s best to go with the flow. Spiritual growth comes out of a negative situation. Expect several changes over the next six months. Learn to let go and let god.

The temperance card is telling the finicky Virgo to be moderate in their approach to everything this month. You will seek spiritual guidance for a problem at hand. Trust the universe for best results. Singles will get closure with an ex or someone they were attracted to in the past. Any mood swings can be dealt with by meditating or exercising. Seek a second opinion for any health issues. Negative situations will end - keep working on yourself.

Once you spot where the problems are, your mind will help you find the solutions and past problems get resolved on their own. Foreign travel is on the anvil for some. A setback could cause loss of income. A partnership deal or merger will fail to go through. Watch for illness and don’t ignore any symptoms. Financial setbacks are temporary so don’t get distressed. Singles should just avoid thinking about a relationship this month; put it on hold for now.

Singles will not want to trust easily due to past heartbreaks, but things will get better. An unexpected visitor could lead to something positive on the work front or in your personal life. Take a break from work if you are overworked or experiencing aches and pains. Money delayed will come through. Investments bring good returns too. Let go of what you have lost, as something better is coming. Avoid impulsive decisions and actions. Delays if any will work in your favour.

An ex could make a comeback but the estrangement is here to stay. You go within to seek answers: a life cycle is about to end. If looking to sell property, it will sell. Those in a job and the selfemployed will see growth all around, including people seeking advice and financial gains. If unwell, you will recover. Those in a relationship should watch out for the red flags that indicate an abusive nature. Don’t force a resolution in a problematic situation.

A difficult month for some as you can’t seem to find a solution to an existing problem. Letting the universe handle it is the best way out. Some of you will get a chance to make money unexpectedly. Marriages could hit a rocky patch due to emotional or financial constraints. Take more rest and stay away from the energy drainers. Release patterns you are repeating that no longer work for you. Those looking could get a tempting job opportunity.

Taurus or Capricorn energy makes you feel grounded. Trust your intuition if you have misgivings about a relationship. A short trip is on the anvil. The selfemployed will see an upswing in business. Singles will want to manifest a happy relationship above all else. Be honest with your opinions where needed to diffuse tensions. Money owed to you could come in slowly. At work, associates will not be supportive. All your good karma is coming back to you as a reward.

The practical Capricorn card drawn will make the dreamy Pisces a little more realistic in their approach to everything this month. Matters related to career or improving your finances keep you busy. Singles could even meet someone who is January born. Some news will lift you out of your career slump if you are in one right now. Expect a financial windfall in the near future. If you get new ideas, have the courage to work on them.