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AFestivals, friction, and finding light
BY PAWAN LUTHRA
s Diwali celebrations grow louder across Australian and global cities, the Indian diaspora must remember that joy without context can be misunderstood - especially amid rising unease about migration and cultural difference. Sharing the story behind the sparkle matters more than ever.
Each year, as the festival of Diwali lights up cities from Sydney to San Francisco, the Indian diaspora takes pride in sharing one of its most joyous traditions. Streets shimmer, homes glow, and community spirit spills outdoors. Yet amid the celebration, a quiet question lingers: does everyone around us appreciate the spectacle? The honest answer is, not always.
Diwali’s growth beyond India is a remarkable story of migration and multiculturalism. In London’s Trafalgar Square, thousands gather for “Diwali on the Square,” a vibrant mix of dance, food, and fireworks attracting people of all backgrounds. Leicester, the largest Diwali celebration outside India, draws over 40,000 visitors annually. In New York, the
Empire State Building glows saffron and gold, and Disneyland held its first street parade this year. Sydney’s Harris Park comes alive with Bollywood beats and sweets, transforming the suburb into “Little India.”
These events express pride and belonging - a community confident enough to celebrate publicly and invite others in. But they also highlight the need for balance. Not everyone enjoys the loud music, traffic disruptions, or fireworks.
This year, the conversation is sharper. Anti-migration rallies and rhetoric in Australia - calling for tighter borders and claiming newcomers “change the character” of cities - remind us that multicultural harmony cannot be taken for granted. In such an environment, cultural visibility must walk hand in hand with cultural awareness.
When people understand Diwali - the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil - its universality becomes clear. Without context, however, the sights and sounds can feel intrusive rather than inclusive.
Education is key. Councils and community groups that accompany celebrations with storytelling, performances explaining Diwali’s origins, or cultural workshops, see greater public engagement. In New York and Sydney, schools now teach
Diwali as part of multicultural education. In workplaces across Australia, diyas and morning teas help demystify what was once seen as a niche religious event.
The tension between expression and disruption is not unique to Diwali. Sydney’s Lunar New Year parade, Rio’s Carnival, and London’s Notting Hill Carnival all test public tolerance. What keeps them alive is dialogue - celebrating vibrantly while respecting others’ comfort. For Indian diaspora communities, this might mean using environmentally friendly fireworks, limiting noise at night, or coordinating with councils on traffic. These steps don’t dampen spirit; they enhance goodwill.
Cultural visibility should come with explanation. Actively telling the story - in schools, media, and neighbourhoodshelps people welcome the celebration.
London’s “Diwali on the Square” offers a model: including non-Indian performers, community stalls, and clear storytelling makes it a shared civic festival.
The world does not resist joy - it resists confusion and exclusion. When people understand why we celebrate, they are more likely to join in rather than tune out.
This season, perhaps the guiding diya should be one of awareness - lighting the path not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us.
YOUR SAY
MIGRATION IS AUSTRALIA’S QUIET SUPERPWER
PAWAN LUTHRA on the role of migration in bringing fresh perspectives and forging global networks.
Phillip Watson: Well said, but the most urgent question at this time is not the value of migration but the current degree of migration, relative to current availability of infrastructure and services.
Imran Parmar wrote: Well said, this is such an important reminder. Migration has shaped Australia into what it is today… not just economically, but in the way we connect, share, and grow as a society. Migrants bring stories, skills, and values that only add to the richness of this country. Thank you for putting this into words when so many choose to divide.
Nickie Flambouras wrote: Wonderful Pawan Luthra. What would Australia be like without migrants??
Mala Mehta wrote: Love this, Pawan. Very well said David Ward wrote: Spot on Pawan, and so well expressed.
Sachin Wakhare wrote: Nicely explained.
Anup Prasad wrote: It’s disheartening to see “us vs. them” narratives emerging in our society. Migrants who have naturalised through Australian citizenship are Australians - full stop. There should be no politics of division. Instead, we should focus on strengthening the value and meaning of Australian citizenship, celebrating the unity it brings rather than highlighting differences.
Chadha 207, Vik Bhandari, Nikita Aggarwala and Sanjeev Nandkeolyar, Tanya Curtin, Manoj Narsey, Rameshwar Dutta and Rusty Rastogi also wrote in.
SOUTH ASIAN STORYTELLING FOR KIDS
PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY on writer Aruna Shekar’s new release and about why stories matter in helping children reconnect with their roots.
Sharon Rundle wrote: Congratulations Ms Shekar. This is heart warming news.
James Knight wrote: Well done, such important work.
Sussane Gervay wrote: This is important for all our young people.
Manasvi Bhatia wrote: How amazing! Would love to get a copy of your book.
Aruna Shekar wrote: Thank you for this well written piece. We must all help raise reading habits (that have plummeted) for knowledge and to open doors – to empathy, understanding and different stories. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement.
HINDU COUNCIL UNDER FIRE
PAWAN LUTHRA on the Alliance Against Islamophobia’s complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission against the Hindu Council of Australia. Neha Madhok wrote: Well well well.
Eugene Reinboth wrote: Pawan, thanks for pointing this out. We are fortunate to be a generally accommodating, harmonious multicultural society unlike other places. We need to preserve that.
David Avasthi wrote: It’s awful if and when immigrants bring their prejudices and other anti-social traits with them to their adoptive countries.
Krish Na wrote: Inflammatory rhetoric aside, orgs like HCA achieved very little for the communities they represent, IMO. I heard they openly supported the Liberal Party candidate in Parramatta at the last election, but failed to affect a meaningful swing. If they're only damaging the country's fragile peace and harmony, are they past their expiry date?
Rj Mk wrote: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Hindu Sanatan Dharma promotes respect, tolerance, and acceptance for all faiths, believing they are facets of the same universal Divinity. “Ekam sat, anekah panthah,” meaning “Truth is one, paths are many”.
WHEN POETRY FOSTERS COMMUNITY
SRUTHI SAJEEV on the Brown Women Poetry showcase.
Sashi Sureshan wrote: Over the past few months, it has been my privilege to produce the sellout Brown Women Poetry Sydney Showcase 2025. Credit goes to each amazing poetess who brought her artistry on the night. Thank you to Indian Link for sharing this community-led event, brought to you by the Australian South Asian Centre and WestWords.
Brown Women Poetry wrote: We are glad you enjoyed the production and credit the artistry of all of the poets.
Megan Dhakshini wrote: Thank you to Indian Link Media Group for this wonderful article about our night of poetry and camaraderie.
OPERA HOUSE IN DIWALI GLOW
The Sydney Opera House lit up for Diwali - and so did our reel, reaching thousands of viewers who shared in the celebration.
Ham Gopalan wrote: Absolutely dazzling.
Johnny Scott wrote: Shouldn’t be lighting up anything other than Australian culture. Disrespect to Australian culture.
Twinkling Twinku wrote: Johnny Scott, then it must be Red, Yellow and Black.
Ranjana Mahapatra wrote: Great to see the lights back on for our favourite festival, on our favourite building!
Pranav Jagotra wrote: The Opera House puts on its lights but rarely now - so to see it illuminated for Diwali says a lot, given recent tensions.
Sumitra Jagan wrote: Agree, Pranav. Thank you NSW for this warm gesture, and for joining in the celebrations.
Arni Narendran wrote: Happy Deepavali.
AUNTIES HAVE THEIR BACK
TARINI PURI on new volunteering initiative Aunties Fund, launched to raise funds and mobilise support for survivors of domestic and family violence.
Kittu Randhawa wrote: When it all comes down to it, it’s grassroots organisations that lead the change. When this goes mainstream it’ll be great for the community. A shout out to all the organisers for this ‘grassroots’ push.
Indu Balachandran wrote: Great to see Aunties Fund taking flight. Being the Aunties we want to see.
Mala Mehta OAM wrote: Wonderful initiative, Indu Balachandran. Congratulations on the launch - looking forward to collaborating with you.
Yvette Vignando wrote: Love seeing this develop. Cheering for you.
Rajni Luthra wrote: And such a fabulous name too!
Sangeeta wrote: It would be amazing to offer culturally appropriate support.
Gauri Torgalkar wrote: Love this.
SOCIAL INCLUSION ON THE CRICKET GROUND
TORRSHA SEN on CRICKET NSW’s Swagata Sen, a community communications specialist dedicated to increasing South Asian representation in cricket.
Bruce Adams: What an outstanding young lady and role model.
Dave Lyall wrote: This is a great story of how a plan, an ability to connect community to sport and an individual's drive and passion can make a lasting impact. Well told, Indian Link, and congratulations Sen on your massive impact at Cricket NSW. I see you!
Amitayushya Mishra wrote: Swagata is a star!
Dipannita Ghosh Biswas wrote: Super proud of you, Swagata. Rituparna Sanyal wrote: Fabulous read.
Swagata Sen: Thank you Indian Link Media Group for retelling our South Asian Engagement story.
WRONG ANSWERS ONLY
What do you think they are hearing from the other side?
Arix Bishnoi wrote: Don’t you redeem it.
Sruthi Sajeev wrote: One of them is finding out they’ve inherited a large sum of money.
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HAPPY DIWALI
Cricket Australia wishes you peace and prosperity this Diwali.
We hope you enjoy celebrations with family and friends for the festival of lights.
FAR RIGHT, FAR LEFT
Breaking free from extremes
TWhat it will take for societies to move past division, anger, and fear
BY SRIKANTH RAJAGOPALAN
he world today faces enormous challenges: climate change, technological disruption, mass migration, geopolitical rivalries. Typically, we would look to solve these by recognising that we can do better if we collaborate. Is that happening, however?
America is divided. In Europe and Australia, anti-immigration rallies are on the rise, while in the US, the same group that protests anti-Hindu hate can turn around and seek to prevent Muslim prayers back home. In an age of increasing political polarisation, extreme ideologies are shaping public discourse in ways that fracture communities and undermine shared values. The far right, with its emphasis on ethnonationalism, exclusionary identity politics, and conspiratorial narratives, has gained visibility in the United States and beyond. The far left has also produced intolerance: against anyone who opposes its orthodoxy. Often, they attack each other directly: when Charlie Kirk espoused views seen to be racist (which is, nevertheless, legal), he was killed (which is horrifying).
The Far Right: Fear as a weapon
The resurgence of the far right has been most visible in events such as the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack, the rise of violent white supremacist networks like “Terrorgram”, and conspiracies like the “Great Replacement” theory. These movements thrive on fear – fear of demographic change and fear of losing dominance. They find fertile ground when economic dislocation or cultural shifts occur, and they promise certainty through exclusion: “us” versus “them.”
Globally, this pattern is evident as well. In
France, far-right violence against Muslims has been on the rise, while in Slovakia, a gunman radicalised by online propaganda attacked a gay bar in 2022. These examples show how extremist rhetoric can migrate across borders in the digital age. What begins as fringe discussion on obscure message boards can metastasize into acts of terror in real communities.
The Far Left: Intolerance in the name of justice
Far-left currents present their own challenges. Beyond the assassination of Kirk, groups like Antifa, Redneck Revolt, and the John Brown Gun Club are animated by anti-fascist and anti-racist thought – and become a lot worse than just thought. Beyond the US, the far-left can express admiration for authoritarian regimes, excusing repression if it is carried out under anti-hate banners, as when Justin Trudeau froze the bank accounts of those protesting vaccine mandates. On social media, so-called “tankie” communities glorify violence against political opponents as long as they serve a revolutionary cause.
The risk here is not only physical violence – but also the erosion of democratic dialogue. As a George Washington University study on anarchist/left-wing extremism reveals, these groups show how even moral certainty can become hypocrisy. Just as the far right weaponises fear of the “other,” the far left can weaponise purity and orthodoxy to
silence dissent, replacing pluralism with a new form of dogmatism.
The human cost of division
What unites both extremes? Their rejection of shared humanity! For the far right, the line is drawn by race, religion, or nationality. For the far left, it can be drawn by ideology or class. In democratic states, polarisation weakens institutions and makes compromise nearly impossible. In fragile states, it can spill into civil conflict.
The way forward
How, then, can we resist extremism and work toward a more united human community? Several principles are essential:
• Re-centre human dignity. Every major religious and ethical tradition recognises some form of the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. We must elevate this principle above partisan identity. Whether right or left, no ideology should excuse denying another’s humanity.
• Build shared narratives. People need stories that bind, not divide. This means highlighting contributions from diverse communities to national life, teaching histories that acknowledge injustices while celebrating resilience, and framing democracy itself as a shared achievement worth protecting.
• Invest in economic inclusion. Extremism feeds on despair. When people believe the system has abandoned them, they are more susceptible to absolutist answers. Policies that expand opportunity, reduce inequality, and ensure basic security undercut the breeding ground for radicalisation.
• Defend open dialogue. Pluralism requires the ability to disagree without violence or intimidation. Universities, media, and digital platforms should safeguard spaces for debate, resisting both the censorship of uncomfortable truths and the amplification of hate speech.
• Foster global solidarity. In an interconnected world, extremism does not stop at borders. Countering it requires international cooperation –sharing intelligence, regulating extremist online networks, and promoting exchanges that highlight our common humanity rather than our divisions. To be clear, critique of extremism is not a critique of legitimate political engagement. It is about disagreeing without being disagreeable. If we are to unite as one human community, we must learn from the failures of both extremes. The task is not to erase difference, but to weave difference into strength. In the end, our survival –and our flourishing – depends less on the banners we wave and more on the bridges we build.
Charlie Kirk’s killing has become a mirror of polarised thinking –the far right viewing it as proof conservatives are under siege, the far left warning it shows how toxic rhetoric on all sides can spiral into extremism
The Far-Right threat Australia can’t ignore
The anti-migrant protests have shaken the Australian-Indian community. But there’s one threat we’re not talking about enough.
TBY KHUSHAAL VYAS
he singling out of Indians in the anti-migrant protests has undoubtedly shaken our community – one that I am proudly part of. However, what’s been especially striking to me is the sheer breadth of that impact across a broad cross section of Australian-Indians; be it young or old, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or Christian or be it new, first or second generation migrants. Our WhatsApp groups (i.e. the Indian aunty/uncle messenger app of choice) have been exploding with messages sharing fears and clips featuring protest material specifically targeting Indian Australians. But these fears did not arise overnight from one single march. For many, it is the manifestation of an anti-Indian sentiment that has been present and normalised across TikTok, X and Instagram throughout the US, UK and Australia for over a year. Such fears have only been exacerbated by the offensive remarks by Senator Jacinta Price that further feed the trolls seeking to target a minority. What’s especially heartbreaking is that, for the first time, I’ve seen family members and friends who have been here for decades question whether the place they call home and contributed so much to truly values them in return. However, in what has been a tough time for so many in our community, it is
important to keep perspective.
The swift outpouring of support for Australian-Indians and condemnation of Senator Price’s ridiculous comments by government at both State and Federal levels is something that ought to provide comfort and should be applauded. And whilst I remain highly critical of the Liberal Party’s missteps in its delay in demoting Senator Price, the decision to feature her as a speaker for a recent party fundraiser and not to mention its concerning decision to preference One Nation at the last Federal election (a particularly troubling development that I wrote about at the time), there are still positives that should be acknowledged. Indeed, it cannot be denied that Senator Price has been roundly condemned and found herself politically isolated in her party room with virtually no allies across the mainstream political spectrum because of her comments. At a time when much of the Western world is succumbing to the normalisation (and sometimes explicit encouragement) of racist tropes, stereotypes and fear mongering politics - Australia on this particular occasion has remained firm across the mainstream
political spectrum. It’s something that should give us hope. However, that does not mean there is nothing to be concerned about. The events of the past weeks are symptomatic of an even broader security risk that we cannot afford to ignore.
For several years, ASIO has warned of the increasing threat of far-right extremist violence, white nationalist movements and the fact that a significant proportion of domestic anti-terrorism cases involve Neo-Nazi cells. The perpetrator of the horrific Christchurch massacre was himself heavily involved with far-right movements in Australia. My worry is that the shift in anti-Indian rhetoric on social media and the
We must remember that it ultimately only took only one extremist at Christchurch to deliver horror.
regular appearance of Neo-Nazis at public protests are an indicator of more radical discontent. Undercover investigations have already revealed violent views and ‘training camps’ for NeoNazi recruits at ‘Racism HQ’. It’s no wonder that many have a very real feeling of having a target on their back. Comparatively, the Jacinta Price saga is a mere sideshow at a time where markers for an increase in hate crimes are at play.
This is not to say that I believe recent events are in any way representative of wider Australia. However, what I am saying is that it ultimately only took only one extremist at Christchurch to deliver horror. With the scapegoating of migrants in policy debates, a toxic social media world combined with an emboldened extremist fringe element of our society – Australians of all backgrounds (and of course government and security agencies especially) must remain vigilant. That is the real worry and one our leaders must grapple with.
I am not suggesting that this means we cannot have sensible debates about immigration. But it is possible for us to do so without unfair and inaccurate scapegoating of entire communities or the normalisation of racism. It is possible to have those discussions with sense, facts, empathy and maturity. That is, and must continue to be, the Australian way.
Pointing to growing radical anger: Neo-Nazis at rallies.
Tickets now on sale for AFC
Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™
The wait is over and supporters of the Blue Tigresses can now secure their tickets for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, taking place in Perth, Gold Coast and Sydney from 1 – 21 March 2026.
The best Asian women’s teams are coming to Australia and it’s time for the Blue Tigresses fans to lock in their seats and show their support and national pride.
Japan – 7pm AWST, Saturday, 7 March, Perth Rectangular Stadium
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Tickets start from just $20 for adults and $10 for children*, making this a perfect chance for families and friends to come together, join the action and be part of history in Asia’s biggest woman’s football tournament.
Book your tickets now: bit.ly/WACIndia
* ‘From’ pricing is based on the lowest available adult and children’s ticket categories and is subject to availability. Ticket prices will vary depending on match selection, seating category, and availability. Children’s tickets apply to ages 4–16.
S"Diwali is like everyone’s birthday!"
Lights, fireworks, sweets and family. Through a six-year-old’s eyes, and like everyone’s birthday rolled into one
everyone’s birthday!”
ix-year-old Saanjh Malhotra has been talking about Diwali for weeks. Every afternoon on the way back from school, he spots neighbours hanging fairy lights and says, “Look, Mumma, they’re putting the lights up too, when will we do it?” His mother, Anmol, laughs. “Soon, beta,” she says, watching him lift his little body above from his car seat so he can see the lights better.
For Saanjh, a third-generation IndianAustralian, Diwali isn’t a story from an old book or something far away in India. It’s here, in the Sydney suburb of Box Hillwrapped in lights, sweets, and laughter. He doesn’t know every ritual or know the deeper meaning behind them, but he knows what Diwali feels like. And that, in his world, is what really counts.
“The best ones are the poppers!” he says, eyes lighting up at the memory of his favourite firecracker - the small white ones you throw on the ground that make a sharp little crack when they explode. “You can hold a lot in one hand,” he explains with the seriousness only a six-year-old can muster. “Then you throw them, and they go pop pop pop and then Mumma says, ‘Bas, enough, Saanjh!’ But I keep doing them.” He likes those ones because they're the ones he’s been using since he was a toddler. “The big ones in the sky are very nice too, but we only saw them in DaaduDaadi’s house in India,” he admits.
sparkles burst in the sky. “She thinks they’re stars,” Saanjh says, his tone half teasing, half laughing.
In the week leading up to Diwali, the Malhotras’ home begins to look like something out of a dream. Flower garlands drape across the front door, fairy lights fall along the roof, and the smell of incense lingers long after the morning “jai-jai.” That’s what Saanjh calls the small pooja his family does together. “We say thank you to God,” he explains. “Mum lights a candle, Dadda rings the bell, and we close our eyes. I always say thank you for laddoos. And Scooby.”
Scooby is their small brown puppy - the newest member of the family and, according to Saanjh, “the naughtiest one.” He gets a tikka for Diwali, which Meher usually likes to do. “Mum says even Scooby wants to do jai-jai,” Saanjh laughs, tugging on the puppy’s ear gently.
For Saanjh, no Diwali is complete without Naani - his grandmother - who arrives a day or two before the festival, carrying four goodie bags. “She’s like Santa,” he says, eyes wide. “One has sweets. One has presents. One has clothes. She always brings new clothes and toys for me and Meher.” Last year, Naani brought him a toy car. “It was blue and very fast,” he says proudly. “This year, I would like a bigger car.”
But what Saanjh doesn’t quite realise yet is that Naani also brings something else with her - the connection between the family’s past and present. When she tells him stories
till midnight to watch the night sky glow - he listens intently, even if some words slip past him. Sometimes he asks, “Did you also have a Scooby like us?” His naani laughs and says, “Sadly, we did not!”
When Diwali finally arrives, the Malhotra household is a whirlwind of sound. Laughter, chatter, the sizzling of cooking in the kitchen, and the occasional crash when Scooby gets too close to the table. “Mum says not to touch the laddoos before the pooja,” Saanjh confides, “but I always try to [sneak one] when she’s busy. Meher tells on me though.”
By evening, friends begin to arrive. His school friends and their parents come too.
“They bring sweets as well, but my favourite is the orange laddoo. I can have the whole box,” Saanjh says, grinning. “And we play [in the backyard] until Mumma says come inside.” Scooby races around them, the lights from the garden reflecting in his eyes. “He’s the fastest one,” Saanjh insists.
When asked what Diwali means to him, Saanjh thinks for a moment. “It’s when everyone says thank you to God,” he says. “And the house looks beautiful and smells nice.” He doesn’t mention Rama or Ravana, doesn’t recall the legend of good versus evil - but in his way, he already understands the spirit of the festival. To him, Diwali is about togetherness, generosity, and the joy that fills the spaces between people when they gather to celebrate. “It’s like [when you have] a birthday,” he adds after a pause. “But it’s
His parents smile when they hear that. “I think that’s the best explanation anyone’s ever given,” says Gaurav, his dad, watching Saanjh recount Diwali from his perspective.
As the evening winds down, the family moves to the front yard for the last round of sparklers. The night air hums with music, the sparkle of fuljhadis and all the houses on the street celebrating. Saanjh twirls his sparkler carefully, drawing circles in the dark. “Look, Mumma! I wrote Scooby’s name!” he says. When he’s done, he runs to the table, grabs a laddoo, and announces, “This one’s for Meher.” He takes a bite.
“And this one’s for me.”
Ask him to compare Diwali to Christmas, and Saanjh has a very clear opinion.
“Christmas only means presents and no school,” he says, counting on his fingers.
“But Diwali means Naani comes, my friends come, Scooby gets treats, and everyone is happy. So Diwali is better.” He grins mischievously before adding, “But I [still] want Christmas presents too.”
And maybe that’s the beauty of being a child of second-gen Indians - growing up in two worlds, celebrating both with equal joy, and finding his own small way to connect them. He doesn’t know the story of Rama returning to Ayodhya, or why diyas are lit, or why people clean their homes before the festival. But he knows something deeper - when the lights come on, and everyone gathers together, the world feels brighter.
And in that simple, six-year-old truth, Diwali finds its purest meaning.
KHUSHEE GUPTA
If I had ten heads, I’d fill each one with a dying virtue. With compassion, politeness, care, helpfulness, concern, gentleness, truthfulness, generosity, honesty, and courage. Each head would hold a flame, not of ego or conquest, but of purpose. Compassion would see beyond itself, politeness would disarm hostility, care would restore dignity, and helpfulness would lift those burdened by silence. Concern would notice what the world ignores, gentleness would soothe what is harsh, and truthfulness would steady the mind against deceit. Generosity would remind me that giving is not loss, honesty would anchor me to integrity, and courage would compel me to act even when the world stands still.
If I had ten heads, I would turn them toward the cries that go unheard, the struggles buried beneath indifference, and the hearts dimmed by cruelty. I would use them not to rise above others, but to walk beside them, to empower the weary, comfort the grieving, and uplift those forgotten. Each head would be like a diya, lit not for power, but for light, a reminder that even amidst darkness, goodness still breathes.
It’s hard to tell if having ten heads would be a curse or a blessing, but one thing’s for sure: it would give me the power to be the closest thing to a real-life Barbie – a girl who does it all. As someone who is keen to take on way more hobbies than I have time for, having ten heads might be just what I need to finally do it all.
One head would be engrossed in studying physics, one would play music and another would be busily catching up on my reading list. At the same time, certain hobbies may not be viable. I mean, can you imagine my 10 heads taking up the netball court? Or multiple lanes in a swimming pool?
And when it comes to deciding the next hobby to try, would all ten heads need to unanimously agree for me to begin anything? Trying to resolve any scheduling conflicts would turn into a threeday meeting!
I’m starting to think having just one head has its benefits… even if it means cutting down on my list of hobbies.
If I had ten heads
Ravana may have been the villain of the Ramayana, but his ten heads have long fascinated storytellers - not for their menace, but for what they
represent: complexity, intelligence, ego, and excess. Ten minds thinking at once can be a superpower - or a curse.
If we borrowed that symbolism for a moment (without borrowing his morals),
With 10 heads, I would be ten times as stupid as I already am. Anyway, here is what I would use each of them for...
1. Remembering to lock the front door.
2. Calculating my taxable income and when the best time to visit the Cayman Islands is.
3. Memorising the name of the woman teaching my Monday night Pilates class.
4. Crushing boxes before I put them in the recycling.
5. Drinking Chinotto.
6. Deciding how many chuddies to pack for my next trip to India.
7. Nothing, I’d just have a lobotomy so there’s extra storage space for cashews.
8. Brainstorming the fastest way to eat soup with a fork.
9. Keeping track of the password to my internet banking.
10. Learning how to play the accordion.
what might we do with ten heads today? Would we multitask better, think deeper, or simply overthink in surround sound? From juggling careers and families to balancing screens, deadlines, and ideals,
LAKSHMI GANAPATHY
SRUTHI SAJEEV
heads
most of us already feel like we’re living with a few extra heads.
Six young writers take Ravana’s ten heads as inspiration to imagine their own - exploring balance, ego, and what it means to be human.
Ihave ten heads. Heads within a head. Honestly, who doesn’t?
My first head is the dutiful daughter, forever worrying about my aging parents’ health and emotional well-being. The second is the restless futurist, peering into the foggy crystal ball of what’s next. My third is the hardcore romantic swamped in unrequited love...still looking for the right ending (or plot twist) to an unfinished love story that might one day bloom into a book of poems. Then comes my workaholic head, constantly thinking of work, followed closely by the financially frazzled one, hyperventilating over bills, taxes, and EMIs at the very last moment. My sixth head? It’s already on Skyscanner, planning a trip that may never happen.
To explore this idea, we asked six writers to imagine what they would do with ten heads - and what each one might stand for in today’s world. Their answers range from funny to profound, but all reveal something about how we live, think, and dream in modern times.
APOORVA TANDON
If I had ten heads, I’d give each a job: one to vibe, one to panic, one to flirt, one to overshare, one to regret it immediately. One would chase passion projects, another would nap through ambition. They’d all claim to be 'working on themselves,' but somehow still end up watching pasta-fromscratch recipes till 3 am, even though none of them can cook. One head would journal about balance, another would online-shop to recover from journaling. Two would plan a better morning routine, one would snooze through it. One would say “we need to focus on self-love,” and another would ask if that means posting or deleting everything. By evening, three would spiral over not knowing how taxes work, one would remind us we still borrow money from Dad, and the rest would pretend everything is fine. Honestly, one head’s already too much.
As we mark Dussehra (the triumph of
balance over chaos), perhaps it’s worth remembering: we don’t need ten heads to see the world clearly. One heart, open and steady, might just be enough.
TThe seventh is the doom-scroller, thumb-deep in reels, memes, and Bollywood gossip. The eighth is the ambitious strategist, charting milestones that seem way too distant. The ninth is pure nostalgia. A wistful curator of “what could have been”. And my tenth? That one sits in quiet rebellion, endlessly asking: what’s the purpose of all this anyway? Ten heads. All arguing, overlapping, overthinking. Together, they make me, part spreadsheet, part sonnet, part existential chaos.
en heads, surely that comes with ten brains - finally, enough to keep up with this world. One head would be devoted to adventure. It would store memories of my experiences in South America, Central Asia, and Africa. And it would be the voice that pushes me further into this crazy world.
Another head would be the working head, practical and always switched on. The fun head would be the creative one, retaining a fascination with art and performance.
I’d need a head filled with curiosity tooone that never stops learning. A head for friendship - the keeper of secrets, laughter, and shoulder-to-lean-on moments. A head focused on relationships and family would be sweet.
I’d also need a head that is quick-witted - I always think of the best jokes after a situation!
A head that keeps its hair would be nice. Ditto one where that hair could be coloured, shaped in fun ways, and experimented with. Give that head an Instagram page. That leaves me with one more head. That head will be for others. It will find ways to bring people together, to give care, and to support those who are struggling. And it would be the head I use the most.
MANAN LUTHRA
EBY TORRSHA SEN
ach year, the Indian Link Diwali Art Contest brings a burst of light and colour into our newsroom. It’s a joyful reminder that creativity has no age limit, especially when the inspiration is the festival of lights itself.
This year’s entries were filled with dazzling imagination and festive warmth. Standing out for their composition, precision and unmistakable Diwali flair were 11-year-old Khushal Aggarwal from Craigieburn, VIC, winner of the 8-years-and-above category, and 5-year-old Jiya Merai from Point Cook, VIC, winner of the 7-and-under category.
A rainbow that finally shone through
For Khushal Aggarwal, the win feels especially sweet. It’s been four years in the making. Ever since he first entered the competition, the young artist has been refining his skills, experimenting with shades, and learning the patience that art demands.
“This year, I was determined to do my best,” Khushal tells Indian Link.
His winning piece radiates like a rainbow mandala, a perfect balance of discipline and play. Before finalising the design, he practised for nearly two weeks, testing colour combinations until he settled on a full spectrum of hues that mirror the joy of Diwali. The final artwork took him two evenings to complete,
more seriously. His uncle Yogesh, who has cheered him on every year, calls the win “a proud moment for the whole family,” adding that the contest “keeps kids connected to our vibrant Indian culture and traditions.”
And how does Khushal describe Diwali?
“It’s a colourful, elegant and happy day filled with gifts, candles, rangolis, garlands, food, fireworks, and prayers to the gods Ganesh and Lakshmi.”
He wins a $75 book voucher, along with the satisfaction of knowing that persistence pays off. He’s looking forward to seeing his artwork on Indian Link’s annual Diwali card.
Little winners, bright Diwalis
Meet the winners of Indian Link’s 2025 Diwali Art Contest
When asked about Diwali, Jiya’s eyes light up: “We light sparklers, we light diyas, eat lots of sweets, meet friends and celebrate Diwali.” It’s that sense of joy and celebration in her voice that shines through in her artwork, a bright burst of colour that feels perfectly festive. Jiya wins a $50 book voucher for her
At just five, little Jiya Merai has already shown artwork bursting with pink, purple, and green tones, stood out for its joyful energy and sense of symmetry, echoing the spirit of a mandala.
“I just wanted to make it look beautiful,” she says followed by an innocent giggle. “I love sketchpens, and black and purple are my favourite colours. I want to become an artist when I grow up.”
Her mother Purvi Merai shares that Jiya “loves colours and ardently follows her teachers from school, who guided her to fill colours within the lines.” Watching her daughter’s dedication, she adds, “I’m so proud of her for this achievement.”
illumination, imagination, and heart. Each child’s work captures a unique way of seeing the world: one through disciplined precision, the other through uninhibited play.
Together, they remind us that the brightest lights often come from the youngest hands. Indian Link congratulates all participants for bringing the Festival of Lights to lifeone brushstroke at a time.
Cover Artwork by Khushal Aggarwal
11 years old, from Craigieburn VIC
Winner of the 2025 Indian Link
Diwali Art Competition
RUNNER-UP
JIYA MERAI
AISHANI TRIVEDI
ARYANA SOOD
NISHKA GAUTAM
TAMAJIT CHAKRABORTY
ZIA VIVEK
REEJH KAILEY
ZIA RATNARAJAH
WINNER KHUSHAL AGGARWAL
RUNNER-UP
MAAHI MENDA RIVA PARILCH ANJANA KUMARAPPAN
Our annual Diwali Art Contest never fails to delight - and this year’s entries were no exception! A big round of applause for our youngest creatives, for dazzling us yet again! Congratulations to Khushal Aggarwal (8–12 years) and Jiya Merai (7 years & under), winners of $75 book vouchers each. Kudos as well to our runners-up Maahi Menda (8–12 years) and Praanavi N Kulkarni (7 years & under) who each take home $50 book vouchers. Keep an eye out for our annual Diwali card, featuring Khushal’s winning design. And to all the little ones who joined in: Happy Diwali - keep those colours shining bright!
KEERTHANA MAROJU
PALASH GOHILL
SAUMYA PULIKKAL
SRESHTA MEDURU
Delhi breathes easier
Rain, awareness and policy action lift the capital’s air
ABY ANSHIKA GOEL
fter years of being branded a “gas chamber,” Delhi seems to be breathing easier this year.
A rare alignment of favourable weather, growing public awareness, and sustained government action has brought visible improvement in the city’s air quality.
This year’s monsoon has been the Capital’s biggest ally. Delhi received around 843 mm of rainfall - 32% higher than the seasonal average of 640 mm. August 2025 was the wettest August since 2010, and September too remained wetter than usual. Even October began with light showers, keeping pollution levels in check.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average PM2.5 concentration between January and September 2025 was around 69 µg/ m³, compared to 81 µg/m³ during the same period last year. There have been no “Severe plus” air quality days so far - a welcome first. Frequent spells of rain have acted as natural purifiers, washing away dust and pollutants that usually choke the city’s skies.
Delhi’s improvement story is also about its citizens. After years of living amid hazardous air, people have become more conscious of their role in curbing pollution.
From switching to electric vehicles (EVs) to avoiding open waste burning, this behavioural shift is changing the city’s environmental footprint.
The Capital has emerged as a national leader in EV adoption. In 2021–22, it registered about 34,500 EVs (7.7% of total new vehicles). The number rose to 1.11 lakh in 2022–23 (10.5%), and by 2024, nearly one in five new vehicles sold was electric - with over 73,000 units sold in December alone, the highest in India that month.
This surge reflects both public awareness and proactive policy. Subsidies, scrappage incentives, and over 4,000 charging points have accelerated the shift. The biggest impact has come from two- and threewheelers, once major emitters of harmful gases.
A major contributor to Delhi’s winter smog has traditionally been stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. But official data points to a sharp decline.
Punjab recorded an 85% reduction in stubble burning cases since 2021 - from 71,304 that year to about 10,900 in 2024. The 2024 burning season alone saw a 70% drop compared to 2023. Haryana too reported a 37% decline.
This improvement stems from coordinated efforts between the Centre and states. Farmers have been provided with residue management machines, financial incentives, and avenues to use stubble as fodder, compost or biomass fuel. Punjab is also scaling up direct pickup of stubble from farms, further reducing the temptation to burn fields.
If this trend holds through October and November, the heavy smog that typically engulfs Delhi in early winter may finally ease.
Pollution control is also entering Delhi’s cultural habits. Schools, resident welfare associations and NGOs are leading awareness drives for green Diwali celebrations. The use of solar or batteryoperated diyas and lights has increased,
So far this year, Delhi has seen no “Severe plus” air quality days - a welcome first. Frequent rains have acted as natural purifiers, raising hopes that early winter’s usual heavy smog may ease.
while fireworks are being discouraged at homes and schools alike.
These small but widespread behavioural shifts are beginning to reflect in Delhi’s air patterns during the festive season. The message that “celebration should not come at the cost of clean air” is gaining ground, especially among younger citizens.
CPCB data shows that Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) for January–September 2025 stood at 164 - its best for the same period in several years. Although still far from the “good” category, the improvement is significant for a city that has often topped global lists of polluted capitals.
Experts warn that the coming winter remains crucial. As temperatures drop and wind speeds slow, pollutants can again get trapped close to the ground. Continued enforcement of construction and vehicular norms, along with vigilance against stubble fires, will determine whether this progress lasts.
For now, the signs are encouraging. Delhi’s skies are clearer, its residents more aware, its vehicles cleaner, and its neighbours more cooperative. Nature has provided a helping hand, but it is the collective effort of citizens and policymakers that is beginning to make a visible difference.
If these trends persist, Delhi might finally begin to shed its long-standing tag as the world’s most polluted capital - and move toward a future where clean air is not a luxury but a shared right.
The road less travelled
A search beyond Catholicism led JORDAN JEURING to the Bhagavad Gita - and to unexpected spiritual lessons
Though I’ve gone most of my life without seriously thinking about religion, if I had to date the beginning of my spiritual search, I’d have to mention a couple of things from when I was about eight years old.
My favourite person at this age was a stereotypical witchy aunt. My childhood love of fairies and Celtic mythology was largely her doing. This was probably the route by which I had come into an inch-deep, but nevertheless dangerous, knowledge of European paganism.
Proudly, I declared to my ultraconservative Catholic mother my intention to become a pagan. The shrieks of anguish which followed were incomprehensible to my eight-year-old self.
It was also around this time that the viceprincipal hauled me into the principal’s office at school – a Catholic school, natch – over my sacrilegious interest in witchcraft. I’d brought in a Sabrina the Teenage Witch novel to school, you see.
My principal, fortunately, was a little wiser than my mother. She let me off the hook with the distinct impression that she was more disappointed in her vice-principal for terrifying me with her grown-up authoritarianism than me for my interest in fantasy fiction.
It was the Harry Potter panic era. Go figure. By puberty, experiences like these had conspired to drive me away from the church I had been born into, and I lapsed, as many Australians do, into a period of cynical agnosticism that lasted until I was thirty. Religion was for Boomers and sheltered
American Bible Belt kids, not rational modern people with their feet firmly planted on planet Earth.
When I did start to feel an interest in religion again, I would find myself drawn to the unfamiliar and, occasionally, the forbidden. My shelves overflowed with books on the Jewish Kabbalah, ancient Egyptian mythology, the gods of Greece and Rome – and more than a few on European witchcraft lore.
Feeling that I didn’t yet know enough about Hinduism, I picked up a book called The Gita for Children by Indian author Roopa Pai. I had studied the Aeneid and Paradise Lost, but the ancient poetry from my own culture had sometimes been difficult to parse, and here I figured I’d need something written for the absolute clumsiest of beginners.
I need not have been so careful.
Many Hindu ideas, like mindfulness and reincarnation, I was already familiar with from New Age YouTube, and the parts I didn’t already know were written in so accessible and relatable a form that I feel sure I could’ve understood it if I had never even heard of India.
I would later learn from interviews that Pai had been unfamiliar with the Bhagavad Gita until being assigned to write a book on it, at which point she became an instant fan. As I read her book, I quickly began to understand her enthusiasm.
More than one Messiah? Temporary Heavens and Hells? A balance of wealth and privilege over multiple lifetimes? Permission to call myself God? If only my mother and vice-principal could hear this stuff.
This for sure wasn’t the religion I had grown up with, but I liked it. It was new. It was different. It was fun! Most importantly of all, it was fair.
This for sure wasn’t the religion I had grown up with, but I liked it. It was new. It was different. It was fun!
Most importantly of all, it was fair. The structure of the Christian universe, with its one lifetime and eternal Heaven or Hell, had never made sense to me. It seemed unjust, and I felt like Christians knew it but chose to follow a philosophically unsound religion anyway. Fire and brimstone I could stomach, but not hypocrisy.
Admittedly, there were some parts of the Gita I didn’t like. Mainly, the parts that sounded a bit too much like Christianity. ‘Submit to the will of God’? Tried it; I just got my heart broken by Catholic men. My search remains ongoing. I don’t see myself ever giving up my spiritual independence and formally converting to a religion. But I feel comforted knowing that not all faiths condemn the doubtful and the wandering. That it’s possible to think of God as my best friend in the car seat next to me and not as an overly starched Victorian schoolmaster rapping me on the knuckles with a ruler whenever I dare to daydream in the classroom.
I may have to answer for my indecision someday, but at least Hinduism will let me retake the spiritual exam in my next life if I get some of the answers wrong in this one. Having now introduced myself to Lord Krishna, I feel able to face the metaphorical battlefield of Kurukshetra more bravely than I did yesterday.
The writer, a Bachelor of Arts student at Macquarie University, produced this piece as part of her internship at Indian Link.
Caught in the rhythm
How Cate Smith got swept up in Garba’s spin
OBY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY
ne night in Mumbai, under the open sky, Cate Smith found herself drenched to the bone.
It was the ‘Queen of Dandiya’ Falguni Pathak’s show. The dhol thundered as loudly as the clouds above, and fireworks lit up the horizon. The rain came down in sheets, yet not a single dancer stopped.
Cate didn’t either.
“That moment was like heaven and earth collided,” she recalls. “I lost myself to the collective - it was incredibly powerful and emotional. A core memory for sure.”
For the 57-year-old Perth-based primary school teacher, that night at Navratri last year wasn’t just about dance. It was about belonging.
Today, her story has found itself a sweet spot in the Humans of Bombay page, with her video garnering over 60,000 likes and hundreds of comments.
DANCE BASANTI
Cate’s love story with garba began years earlier, through the Bollywood Dance Studio in Australia where she met her friend Abi. The owner of the studio would disappear to India every year to celebrate Navratri, returning with photos and videos of her beautiful chaniya choli. “It made us very curious,” Cate recalls. “I attended a few garba workshops at the studio and I was hooked. Then, a visiting singer came to Perth and we decided to go for a garba event.”
That night in 2019, Cate and Abi turned up at a community garba gathering without knowing a single step, watching the circle with wide-eyed curiosity. But in the final 20 minutes, Cate decided to dive in. “It was exhilarating. I was so welcomed into the
circle, with people encouraging me even when I got confused. I was hooked.”
Dance, of course, had always been part of Cate’s life. As a teenager, she trained in jazz, tap, ballet, and contemporary, even dancing professionally before life, marriage, and motherhood pressed pause on her passion. It was Bollywood films that reignited the flame - “a kaleidoscope of colour, music, dance and emotion,” she says. Hours in her lounge room rewinding and re-learning signature moves eventually led her to the Bollywood dance studio in Perth, where she met Maitri, a teacher from Mumbai who introduced her to garba.
“It was joy personified,” Cate says. “Maitri’s passion was infectious, and the more I learned, the more my appreciation grew.”
HAALO HAALO!
That curiosity bloomed into a dream - Cate and Abi longed to one day celebrate Navratri in India. Though the pandemic delayed their plans, last year, they finally made it. For Cate, the experience was both humbling and transformative.
“People thanked me for embracing their culture, but honestly, I was the grateful one.
To be welcomed so warmly into something so sacred was a gift.”
Back home in Perth,
Cate now brings that spirit to her own celebrations. As a primary school teacher, she sneaks music and movement into her classroom, knowing how naturally children connect with dance. She also choreographs for adults and kids, blending her Western training with Bollywood beats. But garba holds a place of its own in her heart. “It isn’t just dance,” she says. “It’s tradition, reverence, and community. In a fast-moving world, it’s comforting to know people still make time for this.”
At 57, Cate is living proof that joy has no age limit. “Life is too short for regrets. Follow those stirrings of your heart to try something new,” she advises. “Yes, it will feel messy and confusing at times, but that moment you finally master a step - it’s magic. My heart still smiles every time I learn a new garba move.”
For this Aussie Garba dancer, the Navratri dance is more than footwork or rhythm - it is connection.
“When I dance the garba, I am totally lost in the moment. The heritage and tradition of Navratri, and the respect Indian communities hold for it, are not lost on me. That’s why it feels so special. It’s not just something I do - it’s something I belong to.”
“It’s tradition, reverence, and community.”
Cate with Abi (Source: Supplied)
South Asian stories at Cricket NSW
Swagata Sen is using the power of storytelling to give South Asians a stronger sense of belonging in cricket
JBY TORRSHA SEN
oining Cricket NSW as its first community communications specialist, Swagata Sen had no roadmap – just a brief: tell stories that bring more people into the game.
Three years on, she has done more than just shape a communications strategy – she has helped redefine what cricket means for one of Australia’s fastest-growing communities. Through her storytelling and strategic vision, she has turned cricket into more than just a sport. It is now a space for cultural connection, representation, and belonging.
From the newsroom to the stadiums
Sen’s career began not on the cricket field, but in the newsroom. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, she started her professional journey with The Statesman, one of India’s oldest newspapers.
But traditional reporting, chasing police stories and accident leads, wasn’t where her heart lay. “I realised I didn’t enjoy the grind of that kind of journalism,” she says. “What I did love was the sense of purpose and narrative that sport could provide.”
That narrative instinct led her into various editorial roles, including a stint with a global tech research firm. But it wasn’t until she moved to Australia that her career took a defining turn. Spotting a job listing from Cricket NSW, she applied on a whim. “I thought, ‘Cricket – I know cricket. Let’s give this a go.’”
It was a leap into the unknown, and the start of a new chapter.
Storytelling as strategy
When Swagata Sen joined Cricket NSW in 2022, the organisation had set itself an ambitious “Wildly Important Goal”: to double the number of 5- to 12-year-olds playing cricket from 40,000 to 80,000. “The idea was that once children start playing young, they become fans, and often players, for life,” she explains.
The leadership realised that the key to achieving that goal was not just infrastructure or coaching, it was storytelling. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Sen says. “The job was to make cricket visible, relatable, and aspirational.”
Her timing couldn’t have been better. South Asians – over a fifth of Australia’s
population – love cricket, yet their stories barely featured in the game’s official narrative in 2022.
Sen knew how to change that: “For us, cricket is more than a game. It’s a way to feel at home, to belong.”
Cricket as a home away from home
Sen’s most impactful work has been her role in shaping the South Asian Engagement Strategy at Cricket NSW, an initiative that uses cricket as a vehicle for inclusion.
The strategy is built on three pillars:
• Participation: Getting young people involved early. “We now see South Asian children in every junior program. In some girls’ teams, up to 50% are of South Asian origin,” Sen notes.
• Fandom: Creating welcoming, culturally
“We now see South Asian children in every junior program. In some girls’ teams, up to 50% are of South Asian origin.”
familiar spaces at games. Initiatives like “Culture on the Concourse” bring Indian food, dancers, and even Kolkata taxis to match days. Fan zones like “Chamari Bay,” named after Sri Lankan star Chamari Athapaththu, make spectators feel represented and included.
• Performance: Building clear pathways to elite cricket. Scholarships, coaching, and mental health support are now available, and players like Aryan Sharma, Yash Deshmukh, and Kharagpur lad John James are breaking through the ranks. South Asian representation is now visible across junior and elite levels.
Challenges and breakthroughs
Building this ecosystem wasn’t without hurdles. “The biggest challenge was figuring out where to start,” Sen admits. “It was a blank slate, and there was so much to do.”
One early success was the Country Blitz – a campaign that sent players to regional NSW schools to run clinics and engage with local media. “Regional Australia is fiercely loyal to cricket,” Sen says. “It was about nurturing that love and connecting it with the broader goals of participation and awareness.”
Today, Cricket NSW runs monthly campaigns to keep the conversation going – from Women and Girls Week in October, which brings hundreds of female cricketers together at North Sydney Oval, to the Women’s and Men’s Big Bash seasons that anchor the summer schedule.
Yet, changing the narrative has also involved looking inwards. One of the biggest challenges Sen and her team are addressing, is cultural mindset. “Sport still takes a backseat to studies in many South Asian homes,” she says. “We’re proving cricket offers real futures - as players, coaches, umpires, and more.”
That future is made clearer by programs that guide parents and children through the sport’s pathways, often in their own languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and Nepali.
Building a Legacy
For Swagata, the ultimate goal is bigger than numbers or attendance figures. It’s about legacy. “Our mission is to leave behind a culture of world-class inclusivity,” she says. “We want cricket to reflect the multiculturalism of Australia.”
Today, this storyteller’s tales are building bridges – between cultures, generations, and communities. In the process, they are helping shape the future of Australian cricket: one where every child, no matter where they come from, can dream of wearing the baggy green.
“We want our kids to see themselves on the field,” she says. “Because when they do, the possibilities become endless.”
with Lakshmi Ganapathy
UPPMA VIRDI is the founder of Chai Walli, who produce authentic artisan masala chai blends. Formerly a corporate lawyer, she was listed on CNN’s 40 under 40 and awarded Businesswoman of the Year at the IABCA Awards 2016.
What makes a good chai blend?
For me, it's about the sensory experience of it. When I make masala chai blends, it's not as simple as putting spices together. It's about how it makes me feel, the smell of it, how it looks. I always
You often talk about ‘decolonising chai’. What’s the difference between appropriating and appreciating?
Appropriation is when things are taken from a culture, not without permission,
more, ‘I want to learn about this and can use or do or speak about these things in a more culturally informed way’.
I think that's where I see the difference; [where it’s] taken and monopolised
When a mother’s fire shapes a daughter’s soul
Arundhati Roy’s memoir seems to be the writer’s attempt to preserve a key constant in her life: her mother’s rage.
ABY SRUTHI SAJEEV
rundhati Roy’s Mother Mary Comes to Me is a testament to the one presence that shaped her most - her mother’s rage, searing and indelible.
The writer’s signature ability to capture the nuances of human behaviour shines in this simultaneously touching and shocking portrait of the walking contradiction that was her mother, Mary Roy.
Mary’s rage monumentally improved women’s rights within Kottayam, Kerala –from motivating her to go all the way to the Supreme Court of India to strike down the Travancore Christian Succession Act, which severely limited the amount of property a daughter could inherit from their father, to encouraging young women to earn a living by employing them as teachers in the school she founded.
But this rage, which moved mountains, also shook the household. This book then, whilst memorialising the efforts of a commanding woman, also gives insight into the psychological impact of abuse - where children grow up to believe that “the safest place can be the most dangerous.”
Lacking any sense of belonging, any sense of identification with the community she was brought up in, Arundhati Roy seems to be perpetually unmoored. Her only
anchor is her tenuous relationship with her mother (who the writer more often refers to as Mrs Roy), as well as her own anxiety.
Whilst in the second half of the book, the writer is, for the most part, physically away from her mother, Mary Roy’s influence is undeniable. She constantly hovers over her daughter like an “unaffectionate iron angel,” such that it becomes difficult not to draw connections between Arundhati Roy’s early life under the iron rule of her mother and the various successes and the many more controversies she has experienced. It’s extremely telling that moments of criticism in her public life easily segue into a recount of the abuse she faced at the hands of her mother. It is nearly always the latter which stays in the mind.
Case in point, in response to a critic who
says that she should never have been born, Roy responds, “Imagine his joy had he known that my own mother might have agreed with him. Imagine his sorrow had he known that I had the equivalent of navy SEAL training on this subject and that his exertions didn’t move my needle even a micromillimetre.”
Roy’s sharp humour and her refusal to take herself seriously ensure that the memoir doesn’t become undermined by self-pity. It is, however, difficult to always be on the same page as the author, especially when she takes great pains to defend Mary Roy.
Describing her mother’s challenge to the Travancore Act, she says “she’s actually fighting for the right not to be a perfect mother, for the right not to be a nice, obedient woman…” Mary may be an impressive woman, but her abuse cannot be labelled as mere imperfection.
Those who find themselves at odds with Roy’s political opinions, will likely be put off by the second half of the memoir, which effectively functions as providing a behind-the-scenes look into what can be described as the author’s greatest hits, which include the Booker Prize winning The God of Small Things, her essays on Naxalism, the Sardar Sarovar Dam and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. But even those who find Roy’s views disagreeable would struggle to resist the pull of Mary Roy, who never ceases to surprise.
People often turn to writing as a means to understand the world.
Arundhati Roy, however, seems to write with the clarity that Mary Roy (or Mrs Roy) can never be fully understood. Mary rejects labels, definitions and will always simultaneously be her daughter’s “shelter” and her “storm.” She will be remembered as eternally, stubbornly, unhinged.
Sugar, Spice,
When tradition meets imagination on the dessert menu
FBY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA
orget the predictable gulab jamun and kulfi cones - Indian desserts are getting bold new makeovers in Sydney. At some of our most loved restaurants, chefs are reimagining tradition with playful, unexpected twists: think sea salt folded into besan laddoos, whisky poured into creamy kulfi, or cashews with lychee. The results are indulgent, inventive, and sometimes surprising - but always unforgettable. Here’s a taste of the sweet revolution reshaping
You’ve seen these trompe-l'œil mithai in India – well, here they are now in Australia. French for ‘deceive the eye’, this is modern pastry art in which desserts are crafted to look like real fruit or other objects. Check out the Kaju Lychee, which not only looks like but also tastes of lychee. Juicy, fragrant lychees meet the rich creaminess of kaju (cashews) in this indulgent treat - carefully shaped, rolled in tinted poppy seeds, and crowned with an upturned clove. Lush and refreshing. (Also on offer, Kaju Almond, Kaju Apple, Kaju Guava!)
Chatkazz chatkazz.com.au
Think crushed California pomegranates frozen into a jewel-bright granita, lifted with lime juice, palm sugar, black salt, and a whisper of pepper. On the side: creamy basundi, simmered and reduced milk sweetened and scented with rose and nutmeg, poured silkily over the icy granita, or gola. The contrast of tart and sweet, cool and rich, is pure delight. Paired with a glass of 2013 Royal Tokaji, it’s a festive dessert that sparkles on the palate.
Nilgiri’s nilgiris.com.au
Pure decadence with a delightful crunch. Rich khoya melds with caramelised walnuts, slowcooked until it becomes fudgy, fragrant, and irresistible. Every bite balances creamy sweetness with the earthy edge of akhrot, wrapped in the mellow richness of ghee and sugar. Finished with slivers of pistachio and a breath of cardamom, this Jaipur classic transforms a humble sweet into something truly regal. Taj Indian Sweets tajindianrestaurant.com.au
The humble besan laddoo gets a clever twist here. The besan is roasted a little longer, with an extra touch of ghee. The standout though is flaky Australian sea salt, which dials back the sweetness. The besan is Australian too, perfect for this preparation thanks to its slightly grainier texture. The Aussie elements give the laddoo a pleasing crunch. Created by owner-chef Gunjan’s mum after a salty-dessert MasterChef episode, it’s now a cult favourite - even shipped as far as Japan by a regular customer! Flyover Fritterie flyoverfritterie.com.au
Craving something a little extra with your kulfi? Then, get adventurous about it. Kahlua, Baileys and Pina colada are all tried and tested options for pairings. This cheeky creation offers a wonderful mix of sweetness and intrigue, perfect for those kulfi abstainers who argue that the dessert is “too sugary” (as if that’s even a flaw). Dessert connoisseurs, take inspiration and zhuzh up your kulfi with a flavourful kick!
O’Bombay obombay.com.au
JAIPURI AKHROT (WALNUT) BURFI
TIPSY KULFI
KAJU LYCHEE
SEA SALT BESAN LADDOO
The BUZZ
What we’re obsessed with this month
By SRUTHI SAJEEV
Books
Longing for escapism? Netflix is overflowing with options, but take this screen addict’s word for it: nothing will come close to Kiran Desai’s novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. Fall in love with two characters who are almost too relatable as they navigate uncertain futures, new cities and grapple with their identity. But this isn’t your typical love story. Rather, their relationship is one which sparks deeper discussions on history, race and modern love.
Beats Binge
AP Dhillon may have only released his previous album last year, but he’s already well on his way to releasing the next. Simultaneously upbeat, yet filled with a deep sense of yearning, his song “Without Me” is both the perfect post break-up song and the tune you need to add onto your party playlist. Innovative, powerful and a total earworm, it’s only a matter of time until his work dominates the music charts.
Neeraj Ghaywan’s piercingly beautiful film Homebound centres around a question. Can friendship truly endure in the face of discrimination and poverty? The film follows two underdogs, played by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, engaged in a relentless struggle to navigate their way through a society which reduces them to their name, caste and religion. Recognised at Cannes and TIFF, could this film give India a shot at Oscars glory?
Bites
Enter via Laundry’s Hazelnut Barfi, part of its Diwali mithai collection, may be the only exception to the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Lucky for those who want a second serving, these aren’t overly sweet either. Made without condensed milk or artificial essences, the sweetness of the barfi is undercut by a dark chocolate ganache. For the sweet-tooths deprived of their cocoa hit during Diwali, this dish could be their saving grace.
23-24 Oct,
Sulochana Dissanyake and Dinuka Liyanawatte’s study of the immigrant experience has manifested into a dynamic art exhibition combining theatre, photography, multimedia and interactive installations. Cheeky and thoughtprovoking, this bold work gives insight into the balancing act of fitting in whilst holding onto your cultural identity.
SYDNEY & BRISBANE DILJIT DOSANJH AURA TOUR
Diljit Dosanjh is scheduled to break another record yet again. He’s had venues in Sydney vying for him, was the first Punjabi singer to perform at Coachella, and now will make history by being the first Indian artist to headline a stadium concert in Sydney.
in for some
MELBOURNE THE LUCKY COUNTRY
from
Makan and all-rounder Sonya Suares. This mixtape of Aussie stories delves into the themes of identity, belonging and multiculturalism, and pays homage to melodies you know and love.
Settle
madcap humour at the Bassendean Hotel every Monday. Featuring veterans of the stage Roz Evans and Xavier Susai as well as six other comics, the show is dynamic, filled with banter, and also free (although donations to charity are welcome).
Your next favourite musical comes
the minds of Hamilton’s Vidya
13, 25 Old Perth Rd, Bassendean 13-18 Oct, Southbank Theatre, The Lawler, 140 Southbank Blvd, Southbank
The Breakout, The Mill, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta
cineTALK
Melodramas, zombie films and everything in between...this month's listicle has something for everyone, writes EKTA SHARMA
IDLY KADAI (In cinemas)
Dhanush’s latest Tamil language film Idly Kadai (Idli Kottu in Telugu), serves up family, food, and drama. Playing a wealthy hotelier, Dhanush (who also produces and directs) is shaken when a young idli vendor steals the spotlight; the real twist comes when the vendor is revealed to be his longlost son. Packed with emotions, surprises, and plenty of idlis, Idly Kadai blends heart and chaos with Dhanush’s signature charm. Releasing 1 Oct
KANTARA: A LEGEND CHAPTER 1 (In cinemas)
Rishab Shetty returns both in front of and behind the camera for this much-anticipated prequel to the original 2022 sensation. With elements of folklore, this dives even deeper into the mythology that made the first film a phenomenon. A must-watch for lovers of powerful storytelling, it comes to you in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, English, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam. Releasing 2 Oct
MATRIMONIALS
SEEKING GROOM
35-year-old woman with toddler seeks life partner. Must be PR or citizen. Please message or WhatsApp on 0408 989950.
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 nonsmoker and preferably teetotaller. Email matrimonial.ml@gmail.com.
SUNNY SANSKARI KI TULSI KUMARI (In cinemas)
If you’re in a mood to watch a rom-com this festival season then this one should be your pick. It has Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor bringing you love, laughs, and just the right amount of sanskaar. Also starring Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf, this is perfect for a family outing or a lighthearted festive watch.
Releasing 2 Oct
NIKKA ZAILDAR 4 (In cinemas)
Nikka, a simple village guy, falls head over heels for Angel Preet, a stunning city girl. Ready to win her heart and get his traditional grandma Bebe’s blessing, he dives into a mission full of love and challenges. They tie the knot, but just when things seem perfect, a shocking secret shakes up their world, turning their fairytale into a wild Punjabi ride packed with drama, twists, and surprises.
Releasing 2 Oct
SEARCH: THE NAINA MURDER CASE (Jio Hotstar)
Starring the always-amazing Konkona Sen Sharma and directed by Rohan Sippy, this six-episode thriller follows a murder case full of twists, secrets, and surprises. It’s based on a hit Danish show from 2007 but with a desi twist, of course. If you’re into crime, drama, and smart detectives who don’t miss a thing, this one’s made for your watchlist! Releasing 10 Oct
GO GOA GONE 2 (In cinemas)
After a 12-year wait, the film returns with full desi flavour – with Saif Ali Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Khemu. Directed by Raj & DK, this cult-favourite sequel promises even more hilarious chaoscomplete bedlam! If you’re a fan of Saif’s comic timing, this is your mid-month pick.
Releasing 15 Oct
SOULMATES (Streaming platform)
Vijay Raaz is an auto driver here, zooming through the streets like a pro racer, on a mission to help a tourist catch her train. Do they make it? What follows is a heartwarming and sometimes hilarious journey across India, where friendship, dreams, and destiny all come into play. With Vijay Raaz (of Delhi Belly and Stree fame) bringing his magic once again, this drama-romance is shaping up to be a feel-good story about unexpected connections and life’s beautiful surprises.
Releasing 17 Oct
THAMMA (In cinemas)
Ayushmann Khurrana, in something this wild and spooky? Surprising! He’s a historian in this film, digging up the crazy mythological roots of Indian vampires. Flipping between today’s India and the ancient Vijayanagara empire, it serves up a mix of haunting vibes, lost love, hidden powers, and epic secrets. With a killer cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal, and Sathyaraj, this Diwali release is already buzzing. Releasing 21 Oct
EK DEEWANE KI DEEWANIYAT (In cinemas)
Here’s an emotional pick – with intensity. Starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa and directed by Milap Zaveri, this romantic drama says it all about love and obsession. Expect high drama, emotional turmoil, and the kind of love story that leaves a mark.
Releasing 21 Oct
GODDAY GODDAY CHAA 2 (In cinemas)
This Diwali, Ammy Virk returns with Godday Godday Chaa 2. In a lively Punjabi village, women take charge of the wedding celebrations while men hilariously fail at reclaiming their spot. What starts as a comic clash soon becomes a heart-warming tale of respect, teamwork, and breaking old traditions. After the first film’s National Award win, the sequel promises festive fun and feel-good vibes.
Releasing 21 Oct
GOOD FORTUNE (In cinemas)
Directed by Aziz Ansari, Good Fortune is a story you’ve heard before: a poor man and rich man meet, swap lives and then are changed for the better. But this film comes with a twist. The divine force that intervenes in their life, rather than being an all-knowing being, is an inept angel played by Keanu Reeves. With a star-studded cast that includes Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer, you know you’re in for an hour and a half of laughs. Releasing 30 Oct
BAAHUBALI – THE EPIC (In cinemas)
Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali? Time to find out all over again in epic style. This new edition brings together Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion into one seamless, grand cinematic experience. For the first time, the two iconic chapters of this legendary saga are presented as a single epic narrative making it the ultimate way to relive the story of Mahendra Baahubali, Amarendra Baahubali, and the battle for Mahishmati. Will be released in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil.
Releasing 31 Oct
OCTOBER 2025 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.
TAURUS
MARCH 21 - APRIL 19
Avoid doing anything in the extremes this month, as it could boomerang on you. Focus on resolving a longstanding problem - but with the card reversed, progress will be slower than expected. Family members could test your patience. Take a break at work or it could affect your health negatively. Some of you may feel ignored or let down by your spouse. Money comes in slower than usual. Change direction in vital areas to see better outcomes.
Expect a turnaround - if things have been going downhill, they will get better. An ex could make a comeback, but you may not want them back. Expect a sudden change in important matters. Your expenses could increase. If you are not happy at work, make changes or look for something more to your liking. It could be affecting your moods too. An unhappy marriage could end. A family member could be draining you so set boundaries.
TAROT
You chose the card for Virgo, which may make you a bit finicky this month. A separation from a loved one might be painful. The self-employed might feel stagnation as things don’t move fast enough. A divorce is imminent for someone you know. You will have to chase money owed to you. Let your ego go and let divine guidance hold your hand. Find activities you enjoy and pursue them in your low moments. Stay detached to resolve conflicts.
A difficult month as discord and a possible break-up are on the cards, though you may reunite. Events or people force you to introspect and deal with what emerges. Stomach issues or the prostate gland [for men] will need medical attention. A rocky marriage may end, possibly due to infidelity. Finances are good, and you may even inherit some money. Be patient in difficult situations. A new venture at work will prove to be profitable. A new partner or lover is predicted.
JULY 21 - AUG 22 SAGITTARIUS
23 - SEP 22
If you have just started dating, you will be undecided about taking it further. A business deal will close successfully. Travel for work will be successful. The selfemployed can expect substantial profits. Take care of your health before worrying about others. An idea you had will manifest with profits. Listen to your heart and don’t over-stretch yourself to do what you can’t. Focus on productive activities and people who are more in alignment with your goals.
Your desire this month is to walk away from an oppressive situation or change jobs. If you are feeling restricted in a relationship, use it to grow spiritually. Sale of property will be successful. Some of you may change your mind about that new job opportunity. If in a relationship, you might walk away to be with someone else. Watch out for dominating family members. Finances remain stable. The problem is with others, so adopt the ‘let them’ theory for mental peace.
NOV 22 - DEC 21 CAPRICORN DEC 22 - JAN 19
FEB 19 - MARCH 20 VIRGO
Some of you might want to end a relationship or leave a dead-end job. Expect mood swings or difficult situations from family. A new approach to work will prove to be lucrative. Though finances are improving, collecting what is owed to you could still be problematic. Singles will meet someone new. Any health condition needs a check. A friend will help you get a new perspective. You will no longer be willing to settle for less than what you truly deserve.
AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18
Legal matters, settlements and sale of a home are predicted this month. Singles will prefer staying on their own rather than with someone as a compromise. Expenses could shoot up so be careful how you spend. Watch out for an insecure colleague at work. A karmic cycle comes to an end and a new one begins. A marriage could break if under stress. If a friendship is under strain, you make the first attempt at resolving it.
PISCES
A happy month ahead especially in the realm of your emotions. Whatever happens there is a feeling of contentment within you that remains unshakeable. Singles believe they deserve better, and better is coming. Work life will see highs and lows; the setbacks are temporary. Those in a relationship will be evaluating it thoroughly, especially the risks involved. Don’t hold the past as a barometer for the present or future. Avoid making impulsive decisions in matters of the heart.
An important event could occur in your life in October – you’ve picked the Star card. A surprise financial break, a shopping spree or a lucky win could boost your mood. If looking to sell a property, it will get sold. Someone may influence you enough to give purpose to your life. A special friend will make you feel safe. You will no longer chase that which is unproductive. Your angels and spirit guides will send you messages –be sure to pay attention.
A month of healing, happiness and for eligible singles, an intense love affair. An ex could make a re-entry into your life and you two might just get back together. Watch your food and sleeping patterns as they indicate what is wrong with your health. Finances improve even if they’ve felt tight for a while. To improve your relationships with others, increase your faith in God. You have the full support of the universe in all areas of your life.
Singles will put dating on the backburner for a while. The self-employed will see their business pick up if things have been slow lately. If in a relationship, don’t push for a resolution; give it time. A problem gets resolved amicably. Women need to visit a gynaecologist for a checkup. Setting boundaries is important this month as you develop a sense of selfworth. Aspects of your life are changing on multiple levels so be patient on all fronts.
DEAR AUNTYJI
Namaste Auntyji, I hope you are well and in good spirits. Auntyji, I am 70 years old, and I feel I could call you Bahenji instead - because you are so wise and I feel we are closer in age. My problem is this. I have not spoken to my sister for a whole year because last year, we got into an argument where I reminded her of some of the nasty things she said to me over the years. She called me a mean lady, and asked me why I remember things from decades ago. But Auntyji, people should be held accountable for all the things they say and in conversations, it is good to remind people of the ways they have hurt others. I have forgiven these people for the harsh things they have said to me - but I won’t forget. My husband says I should just let it go, but why should I? He says it’s not good for the digestion if I remember all the hurtful words from the past. But I am writing to you so you can guide me on the best course of action. What do you think, Bahenji?
My sister, my frenemy
AUNTYJI SAYS
Hey Ram, kis kalankani ke muh lag gayi?! Let me call a dayan a dayan - because that’s what you are, my dear. You get your energy not from yoga or almonds, but from reminding people of everything they did wrong since 1973. You’re 70, with both feet flirting with the grave, and still acting like a bewakuf schoolgirl keeping score!
Tell me, have you ever counted the nasty things you’ve said? Or are you too busy polishing your halo? You claim to have “forgiven,” but haan haan, jhooti kahin ki - to forgive is to forget, not to keep a mental spreadsheet of insults. Your husband is right: your digestion isn’t suffering from gluten, it’s suffering from grudges. Every time you replay an argument,
your BP spikes and karma laughs. You need to spend the rest of your darkening years assessing all the ways you have been a kalmouhi.
So here’s my advice: each time your mind wanders to old quarrels, stop. Reflect on your own words, then say a prayer. Otherwise, in your next janam you’ll come back as a street dog gali ka kutta - sniffing garbage while people throw chappals at you.
Start atoning today, you besharam, or prepare for a very itchy afterlife.
Do you have a question for Auntyji? Email it to info@indianlink.com.au
Wishing you and your family a
Diwali Happy
Authorised by A.Hirst, Liberal, Cnr Blackall and Macquarie Sts, Barton ACT 2600.
Sussan Ley Leader of the Liberal Party
Paul Scarr
Shadow Minister for Immigration
Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
LNP Senator for Queensland
Jane Hume Liberal Senator for Victoria
Tim Wilson
Shadow Minister for Small Business
Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Employment Member for Goldstein
