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Border-Gavaskar Series
More than just cricket
TBY PAWAN LUTHRA
he Border-Gavaskar Test Series is more than just cricket - it will define the way South Asians see themselves in Australia.
The community was abuzz when the front and back pages of the News Corp papers ran their articles on the upcoming India vs Australia series printed in English, Hindi and Punjabi languages. Of 26 million plus Australians the ability to read Punjabi or Hindi may be limited to less than 100,000 people, but the intent and boldness of a largely rightleaning media organisation to reach out to the migrant community was surprising. Even some advertisers such as the NBN got into the mood releasing full page ads in print media in Hindi.
It’s often said that cricket is the glue which binds India and Australia. The first official tour of an Indian team in Australia was in 1947-48,
one that almost didn’t happen due to the chaos of post-partition India. India-Australia test matches however never really took off until the 20032004 series, when under an assertive Sourav Ganguly, India showed a new type of aggression on the field.
Prior to this, while Australia toured India regularly, the ongoing myth of dust and dysentery was unknowingly perpetuated by its cricketers - from Dean Jones’ double ton in the 1986 Madras Test match where he was given saline drips to recover, to an outcry of racism in 1998 when Shane Warne mentioned baked beans in a casual comment. (Turned out it was exactly that, a casual comment about an urge for familiar food after months of touring overseas).
Today, it is harder for Australian audiences to get an idea of the progress that cricket has made in India, because broadcasts from India remain restricted to expensive pay TV platforms.
But newsprint media is replete with explorations of the wealth and prestige of the IPL, and the glitz and glamour which this form of cricket
commands, so much so that other cricketing nations have rushed to schedule in their own adaptations.
The visiting Indian team has performed exceedingly well during their last couple of tours of Australia, drawing reluctant praise from the local media commentators, a far cry from the scathing Tony Greig style of commentary of the early 2000s –sometimes rightfully so, other times playing to his listener base.
Even the crowds watching the games have changed. When Ravi Shastri scored his double hundred at the SCG in 1985-86, less than 2,000 from the Indian diaspora were there to cheer him on. The current BGT tests in centres like Melbourne and Sydney will have at least 40% South Asian diaspora stadium attendance - it may even feel like an away game for the Australian team with the sounds of dhols, dads and kids dancing, and spectators dressed in traditional clothes and turbans.
The reality is both cricket-obsessed countries need each other – India needs Australia to enter the elite cricketing world, Australia needs India to sit on the high money table.
Proudly honoured with 31 media awards, including four-time recognition as Best Publication.
Three decades of all things Indian. In Australia.
YOUR SAY
LAKSHMI GANAPATHY CLAIMS SECOND MEDIA AWARD
Indian Link’s Melbourne-based content creator wins Victorian Multicultural Commission Award for Excellence in Media.
Veena Nair wrote: Heartiest congratulations Lakshmi Ganapathy and the Indian Link Media Group. So proud of our Viewbank College alumni who has clearly lived by our school motto striving for excellence.
Justice (Retd) S. Radhakrishnan wrote: What an amazing achievement by Lakshmi, 100 articles within a year, dealing with varied subjects. Wishing her all the best in career and life.
Balbir Gupta wrote:
Congratulations. Lakshmi is becoming a celebrity. Keep it up!
Charan Dass wrote: Good on you Lakshmi! Very happy to see you being honoured with this VMC award for your outstanding performance
Guruswamy Perumal wrote: Fantastic to see, best wishes to Lakshmi. Very important event for her and her parents. We're proud of her. By Parashakthi's grace, she will get more exposure, experience and confidence.
Santosh Kumar OAM wrote: This year has been good for Lakshmi and she fully deserves it. Such moments are very precious for an individual and also for the family. A very special hug to Lakshmi, keep up your good work and more will unfold.
Shikha Srivastava wrote: Heartiest congratulations to Lakshmi, she is smart and looked so stunning! Much love to her.
Parminder Jabbal wrote: Congrats Lakshmi, you deserve this and many more awards!
Haridayal Kohli wrote: My heartfelt compliments and blessings to Lakshmi. More such events are awaiting you - keep up the good work. (Such a proud moment for her parents too).
Usha Sharma Rodriguez wrote: I watched it live! Congratulations to Lakshmi. She’s elegant and beautiful and very humble. Multi-talented toocan’t wait to see her next theatre performance!
Chandra Ramaswamy wrote: All the best. Keep rocking. Remember I said I should build you a trophy cabinet? I meant it, and this is just the beginning. God bless you.
Annapurni Iyer wrote: What an achievement for someone so young. Congratulations. So proud of you - beauty with brains. May God bless you with all that you desire.
Fotis Kapetopoulos wrote: Proud to see Lakshmi recognised.
Anu Shivaram wrote: Hearty congratulations, Lakshmi! Citius, Altius, Fortius on your onward journey.
Dr. Bagryana Popov wrote: Congratulations, Lakshmi. Very proud of you. Brilliant.
Shazma A Gaffoor wrote: So amazing, Lakshmi! Huge congratulations, that’s massive!
Monica Wat wrote: It's very important work of representation you're doing! Take care and congratulations Lakshmi.
Khushee Gupta wrote: GO YOU, Lakshmi! Couldn't think of a more deserving person!
Metty wrote: Wow, congratulations Lakshmi and proud parents. Very proud of her. Well done, girl!
Bridget Webster wrote: You're unstoppable!
Anu Chopra wrote: I watched it live! It was a very proud moment, congratulations to Lakshmi and her parents
Rajni Luthra wrote: Our heartiest congratulations, Lakshmi Ganapathy - you do us proud!
Omkar Palav wrote: Many many congratulations. So well deserved!
Aisling Brady wrote: Well deserved!
Sharon Johal wrote: YES YES YES, my love, I love this!
Torsha Sen wrote: Congratulations Lakshmi, you deserve every bit of it. Much love. Sruthi Sajeev wrote: Lakshmi, you’re amazing!!
Pravin Balakrishnan, Rekha Kanth, Neelam Vasudevan, Louise Betts, Natalie Williams, Manan Luthra, Ananya Thirumalai, Aisling Brady, Mala Mehta OAM, Dilnaz Billimoria, Pratima Srivastava, Senthil Ratnam, Ashley Almeida, Shobha Gopal, Paddy and Sandya Padmanabhan, Pranothi Nelson, NK Sudha, Rajee Radhakrishnan, Amita Iyer, Parminder Munde, Rajiv Iyer, Priya Sardana-Gakkar, Oliver Hetherington-Page, Jasmeet Kaur Sahi, Cathy Hunt, Kano Ravalji, Trish Gupta, Shaktimhmelbourne, Nehal Chhatrapati, Rekha Kanth, Pravin Balakrishnan and Sitalakshmi Venkatraman also wrote notes of congratulations.
THIRD CULTURE KIDS
Nineteen-year-old Indian-Indonesian-Australian writer ANANYA THIRUMALAI on how, despite “floating between worlds”, she developed a strong sense of identity.
Nidhi Khanija wrote: Brilliantly written - each word resonates. I love the choice of words, they show positivity in struggle.
Vidya Vishnu Kumar wrote: Beautifully penned and so relatable. All our kids here must be going through this feeling. Keep writing!
Swetha Deepak wrote: An article so beautifully written and so relatable for all our kids. Each word shows how difficult it must be living abroad. Good one, Ananya!
Rajni Luthra wrote: Loved this one. Strangely, I felt like this when I grew up in India, because I lived in four different parts of the country for substantial amounts of time.
AUNTYJI IN THE HOT SEAT
It was our resident Agony Aunt who sat down with LAKSHMI GANAPATHY for that coveted Cutting Chai last month.
Preeti Thadani article “30th Special: It's Aunty ji on Cutting Chai". Loved it. Thank you to Auntyji for keeping us laughing, making us reflect on her wisdom and at times even question ourselves...well done!
Sruthi Sajeev
found something that Auntyji and I agree on – asking someone to choose between Soan Papdi and Papdi Chaat is DEFINITELY a form of torture!
Ananya Thirumalai point and reminds me of all the hilarious yet wise things elders in our families say. I love how she doesn’t hold back! Honestly, we all need an Auntyji in our lives.
KABIR SINGH ON THE DON’T TALK BACK PODCAST
The Indian-Australian actor spoke to hosts KHUSHEE GUPTA and RENESH KRISHNAN about being bullied at school, getting into acting, and making it to Cannes.
Shaizy singh wrote: Well, this was entertaining. Hearing stories that I didn't even know from my own brother. Ran into Steven Spielberg???!! Wow. Ged Maybury wrote: Jaffles! That took me waaay back to my childhood - making jaffles on the open fire in the 'sitting room' (that ages me!). And yes: we called them "Jaffles" in NZ too! But butterchicken in a jaffle!? I have GOT to find Pocket Rocketz next time I'm in Sydney! So good to watch you and listen to your stories, especially your childhood and high school years, and drama school days. Write a show, man! You've got a lot to draw on!!
Oh, and also: My ugly mug has been on screen TWICE now at Cannes. A gradstudent project from QUT The Fall of Erebus and Aiyai. Not that I got to bump into anyone special while "I" was there. But maybe one day...
Ritu Gupta wrote: Best episode so far.
jessyyybug wrote: Loved listening to you, Kabir Singh.
Paulina Simkin wrote: Oh no way, how cool!! Great seeing you doing your thing.
SPOTLIGHT ON SHASTRI
The Indian cricket great chatted with Australian player and commentator HOLLY FERLING ahead of the Prime Minister’s XI v India game at Canberra. Thiruvetti wrote: At 7:32, the most brutal roast ever. (“It was the best Test innings I ever played, even though I was only 19, for the simple reason that it had the best four-pronged attack in the world – it had Imran, Sarfaraz and two Pakistan umpires”). Shaz is the Roast Guru. That's some Alpha there. Rahul Kapur wrote: Ravi being Ravi, and Holly being smart and cute. Great show. Poor video/audio unfortunately! dfb1976 wrote: Some great stories - loved this.
WHEN ALBO WELCOMED THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM
Our videos from the Parliament House reception were lapped up in India.
Suzana Andrade wrote: Thank you Australian PM for your lovely welcoming gesture to the Indian cricket team. You gave your precious time to the players. God bless.
Himanshu 79879 wrote: The stadium in Ahmedabad is not named by the Government of India or Gujarat. A private company named it Narendra Modi Stadium.
mhawk1292 wrote: Modi ne nahi rakha woh naam (Modi didn’t name the stadium).
Pandit Brahman wrote: What is manuka (sic)?
soothingmeditationmusic6581 wrote: Good speech, Rohit bhai. Perhaps you could have applauded the Aussie team too. prakash-119 wrote: Bhai, wahan pe khade hona hi ek Indian khiladi ke liye garv ki baat he, itna respect diya he Australia ne hamari Team India ko. Uske liye bahut dhanyawad Australia ke PM ko. (Such an honour for the Indian players, just being there. Thanks to the Australian PM for showing respect.)
NICK HOCKLEY ON THE PAWAN LUTHRA PODCAST
The challenge for our players is that it's going to feel like an away game: CEO of Cricket Australia Nick Hockley
Dipen Rughani GAICD wrote: A good episode, Pawan. This was Nick’s best interview that I have seen, even better than the one I did with him when he was CEO of T20 in 2020!
Nick has really come into his own. All the drama and some wins have given Nick wonderful experience across all areas of cricket globally. All that has made him who he is today - a dignified gentleman, the CEO who brought it all together during COVID. It’s a shame that CA are losing such a person, someone whose knowledge and experience is so valuable to Australia and cricket. Well-researched questions, Pawan. Nick was in his element, especially his appreciation of the great people he works with across all areas. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Pawan Luthra wrote: Imagine walking into your new job and being confronted with the challenge of a one-in-a-100-year global pandemic. How then to keep on track a financially rewarding tour of the Indian cricket team to Australia which will not only keep hundreds employed but also keep millions entertained in the difficult times of COVID. While other global sports administrators were caught short during the COVID crisis, it is said that this was the making of Nick Hockley.
Raja Gopalan wrote: Some great insights here from both Nick Hockley and Pawan Luthra.
Ravi Shastri
Off his own bat
RAVI SHASTRI, Indian cricket great and current commentator, talks with HOLLY FERLING, Australian cricketer and commentator,at the PM’s XI Gala Dinner in Canberra.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get your introduction to cricket, this game that we all love?
I grew up in a professional family. My father was a doctor. My mother was a professor at university, she taught history and political science. I think the last thing they ever imagined, is I would play sport. Everyone in my (immediate and extended family) went into professional fields like medicine or engineering.
It was my mother who actually (saw it in me). She was a cricket buff herself, listening to the cricket on the ABC and BBC.
Neil Harvey was her favourite cricketer. She watched every major game that was played in Mumbai. It was she who got me interested in the game.
But then you know, in a city like Mumbai, at ten years old or 11, if you don’t pick up a bat, there's something wrong with you. In the backyards, in the streets, you just had to pick up a bat. Or a ball. And start from there, and if you like it, you live with it; I liked it, I lived with it.
You made your debut for India when you were 18.How did you find out that you were about to play for the country?
I was having a great game in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, against Uttar Pradesh. I got a pair. Didn’t take a wicket. As morning tea arrived one morning, my room partner got the door – Rahul Mankad (son of the great Vinoo Mankad, he’s unfortunately no more). The watchman handed him a
newspaper and said, ‘I just heard on the radio that Ravi's going to New Zealand –there’s an injury there’. Next thing I knew I was on a flight to Wellington, landed there at 10pm, and was on the field the next morning. I’d gone from 35 degrees in India and it was freezing – 9 degrees, four jumpers on. The good thing though, by the end of that series, I had the wickets of all the NZ players.
How did you acclimatise - that is some transition, let alone finding yourself in New Zealand all of a sudden & freezing?
The Basin Reserve in the heart of the city is one of the windiest grounds in the world; it didn’t have the stands then like it does today. Luckily, I had some help from Polly Umrigar who played a lot of cricket
for India. He called me just before I left Mumbai and said you probably don’t have clothing for NZ – take two of my jumpers. They saved me on that first day.
Could be the reason you took all those wickets! You debuted batting at number ten, but we know you to be a top order batter. As a bowler myself, I want to know, how did you work your way up the order?
Sat next to the captain! Everytime there was a chance of getting a nightwatchman in, I would be there. I saved No. 11 for Dilip Doshi though, ‘cos he’s the best No. 11 in the world…But that's what I did. Nightwatchman, getting those 20s, 30s or 40s, and began moving up.
You got to open the batting with Sunny Gavaskar. Tell us what that was like. It was a dream, because he was my mentor. We were in Pakistan; I had hurt the webbing in my right palm and I didn’t play for three tests. India was getting smashed –4-0 down in the series. Imran was at his peak. There was a knock on the door and in walked Sunny with a bottle of dry gin, some 7Up and ice, and plenty of biryani. Sandeep Patil was injured too, again my room partner.
Sunny said, when are your stitches coming off. Tomorrow, I replied.
'Ok then I want you to open the batting with me'.
Well, no further questions. Just, open the batting!
But that got my juices going. This is a challenge, I told myself. This is what I’ve dreamt of. We’re being hammered, and if I can get out there and stand up to that pace attack and get a 40 or a 50, that’d be great.
So I walked out with Sunny. He got out early, I ended up with 130.
To this day I say that was the best Test innings I ever played, even though I was only 19, for the simple reason that it had the best four-pronged attack in the world – it had Imran, Sarfaraz and two Pakistan umpires.
(Man, India-Pakistan – you watched those pads of yours!)
The 1983 World Cup - that would come to change the landscape of cricket in India. What are some of your reflections now of that time?
It changed the face of Indian cricket forever. Up until then, cricketers were looked at different. Once we won that World Cup,
the respect the sport got, or the players got, was unreal. The coffers of the BCCI started filling up; the business community started embracing the sport. People who were never involved in the game began to get attracted. And what's happened since, is history. It just took off to another level. And then we hosted the World Cup in India –the Reliance World Cup.
So it was a game changer big time. Winning in the subcontinent became huge. When we landed back home after ’83, the streets were filled with people and it’s been like that since – including when India brought home the T20 trophy only this year.
Did you feel like it was going to be a catalyst for the game? It was getting broadcast and the reach of it was just massive.
I think it was two years, 1983 and 1985, that changed the face of Indian cricket. We won the World Cup in ‘83 and then came to Australia in ‘85 for the World Championship, which we won. It was an India-Pakistan final: over 50,000 at the G, a record for the times when England or Australia weren’t playing.
That was the first time we played in coloured clothing and with the white ball. Day-night cricket went to India then. The interest, and the recall factor of the people viewing inthe subcontinent, changed overnight, with millions of followers.
That game there changed your life. Talk to us about winning the Audi as Player of the Series. These days players get money, a big novelty cheque, I remember the air conditioners and fridges and the time in women’s cricket when there was an iron
going around… But an Audi, on the MCG?
Funny stories on that, but let me start at the beginning. There was a car, an Audi, that Tony Greig in his inimitable fashion kept blowing through the roof. (Imitating Tony) “Top of the line car, valued at $40,000 Australian, to go to the best player here …!” It went on for a bit. So, semi-finals, I won Man of the Match, presented to me by Tony, and he says, what do you think of the finals? I say, I’ve been eyeing the car you’ve been promoting! Little knowing that I would claim it.
I won the car. It became the first Audi to go into India, and I became the brand ambassador for Audi. To this day, I drive only Audis. The duty to get it into India was 320%. The then Prime Minister of the country Rajiv Gandhi was very kind – he waived all duty, the Shipping Corporation of India got involved, and there she was, on the streets of Mumbai.
The first time you drove it though, wasn’t in Mumbai.
The first time I drove it was in the MCG. I didn’t have a license. People ask me today, have you played at the G? I say yeah, I’ve driven a ball down the ground for four, through the covers for four; I’ve also driven a car round the ground – with the whole team sitting on it.
It's special. (To the audience) Do yourself a favour. If you haven't seen the footage, look it up after this. It is phenomenal. Another story from there, since you mentioned fans and fridges as prizes. After the semifinal, we were in New Zealand, and at a team meeting. No discussion on
how we’re going to play the final – instead the chat was about what happens if one of us wins the car. Kapil was first, (imitating Kapil Dev) “If I win car, I keep 25%, rest, I share.” Jimmy said, whatever, whoever wins it can keep it. Then they asked me. I said, “Sure, if I win the car, you can share the stepney (spare wheel), I’m keeping the car.” ‘Cos all these years when we got the fridges and the washing machines, you took them home, right? Why have the discussion now because it’s a car?
We know you now as synonymous with world cricket and its tournaments, thanks to your voice and your charisma. You've made the toss exciting again, which I just love as a fan. How did you transition to media? How did you hone your craft into the broadcaster you are today?
I never knew I would. In fact, I was in Australia when I injured myself and knew I couldn’t carry on for any length of time. That's when I got the opportunity to do television.The first stint I ever did, I did it with probably the best in the business –Ritchie Benaud, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell. So, the entry was, you know, into the big mix. One learnt pretty quickly, but one also respected what they were doing, because broadcasting demands fierce concentration. After my first day on the job, I just went back to my room and crashed. It’s taxing mentally. When you play the game, there’s physical exertion – you sweat, you take a swim after, you’re fine.
This, however, strained (in a different way) initially. But it was fun, and as I kept doing it, I realised the game was getting popular, viewership was through the roof, and I had helped raise the bar somewhere
along the line – by making it exciting, giving a bit more to the viewers, especially the younger viewers. The younger viewers know so much about the game – I just met a bunch of youngsters here who asked when can they meet the Indian team. I replied, just before the toss tomorrow – walk up and give your name! (Yeah, that’s not going to happen, but great to see they’re excited!)
Making dreams come true here, Ravi, tell you what! Speaking about the excitement you want to bring to the broadcasts, when did you decide to make the toss an event?
It actually started in the IPL. Going round to the different venues in different cities, I’d notice that at toss time, the grounds were about 60-70% full. And I thought, why not in each city, I start off the buzz with a line in the local language? So it would be Marathi in Mumbai, Tamil in Chennai (Vanakkam Chennai!), and similar in Gujarat or Rajasthan. It became a thing, and then I thought why IPL alone, why not international games?
You mentioned the IPL. How much has that changed the landscape of cricket?
I was involved with the IPL from its inception, sitting on the governing council. I know how it all began and how the franchises were gathered, and also the difficulties and the obstacles. I always knew it would be a success, but if you ask me if I knew it would grow into the success it is today, I would say no.
Little did I realise that in three years’ time, four years, that it would be a case study at Harvard, that it would be one of the six or seven top properties in sport around the globe, and that it would be a money-making machine. What it did for India was unbelievable because even when there was a recession, IPL was a juggernaut that just moved on. People think it's only done good for cricket, but look at what goes on behind the scenes of the IPL. There are five units that are crisscrossing the country, the hotels are full, hospitality, F&B, air travel, it’s creating jobs – the amount it brings into the kitty for the states and the country as a whole, is just mindboggling. And it has an international flavour.
Players from so many cricket-playing nations have embraced it. I tell everyone here, come and see an IPL game, you’ll love it.
It’s certainly boosting the economy there, well and truly. What does that sort of tournament do for the development of test cricket? Does it actually change the trajectory the players in India are choosing to have? Or do you think there's still a world where both kinds of cricket coexist?
Not really. In fact, it's the other way around. You know, when I was coach of India, a lot of the players I picked were from the IPL. If I saw talent there, I would judge temperament, apart from the performance and basic technique. Can he handle pressure? Does he fit in on the world stage? Can he rub shoulders with the best? Does he have the urge to compete against the best in the world? I’ve seen the players have tremendous opportunities at 17, 18 years of age – as they mingle with top-level international players, sitting around with a Shane Warne or a Kevin Pietersen or an Adam Gilchrist. A prime example is Jasprit
Bumrah, the No. 1 fast bowler in the world today. He was touted as a white ball player. No one ever imagined he could play red ball. What you see today is a product of the IPL.
Definitely an amazing story the way that confidence is built in that tournament. We saw it in 2021, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in that match at the Gabba, the way they came from behind. You were there as coach and I was working for Channel 7. Pre-show conversations were only about two possibilities – Australia’s going to win it, or it’s a draw. What was it like being a coach in that time – did you have belief that you were going to get it done that day?
Firstly let me tell you, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy gets top billing. And the reason for that, seeing it right from the dressing room, is the players – who I’d like to compliment. The players of both teams have made this happen. Played it hard, played it fair, in battle, head-to-head, not an inch given. That makes for fantastic viewing.
I do remember that last game well –we needed 328. I got off the coach that morning, just as Tim Paine was walking in
with his line-up, I think they’d just had a net. We chatted, I congratulated him and said what you’ve done for Australian cricket is fantastic, and good luck today. 328, to be honest, I wondered if we would last till tea. I thought we’ll see what happens –whether we close shutters or go on with it. Well, what happened in the next six hours is something unreal! To chase down that score on the last day of the series, was something special. It was COVID time, there were restrictions. I remember telling Nick Hockley at the time, people don’t realise the sacrifices made by the players, the officials, the people around the set up. It was tough conditions, everyday tests, bubbles, quarantine… And there was no mercy. In my country the media wants you to win, to hell with COVID. You lose the game and we’re coming after you. That’s India, we’re used to it; that’s why our skin is like hide.
The way that game unfolded…in the lead up to it as well, you were full of injuries, and had an understrength team going in to that match.
I had the easiest job - because I had no
choice to make.! There was no one left! I was ready to pad up myself (laughing) it had reached that stage. Every morning the physio would walk up to me at breakfast and I’d say, get lost – ‘cos I knew he was going to say someone’s got a hamstring, someone’s got a broken finger… it was tough! But what was interesting to see on that last day, after tea, was that suddenly there were about 8-10,000 people in the stands, come out to watch the finish.
You’re back here now working for Fox again, we’re very lucky to have you. Talking about the Perth test, we would have thought that the Aussies had it in the bag, but India had other thoughts.
That's why the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is special. You can’t predict what’s going to happen. There’s always a twist. And that’s why its enthralling - it’s not over till it’s over.
The next test in Adelaide – India doesn’t play pink ball much and Australia have never lost a pink ball game at home. But India have set it up beautifully with that upset at Perth and the pressure is on the home side.
You spoke of Bumrah but Jaiswal and
Kohli were phenomenal in that game. What have you seen from both of them? Kohli particularly has had a welldocumented tough run in Test cricket. I had absolutely no doubts in my mind that once Virat set foot on Australian soil, his whole mindset would be different.Having known him and watched him so closely from the dressing room and from the outside, I know with in five to ten minutes of Virat at the crease (whether he will fire or not). I could see it at Peth - that composure, calmness, the intent of that footwork told me he’s going to get a good score. And the young kid at the other end, I’m glad Australia got to see him play the way he did. And that’s a special talent. It’s not easy coming to Australia, especially Perth, to handle that bounce, for someone who’s just 21, 22. I think he’s one for the future.
Well and truly, and particularly coming off the duck in the first innings as well. This day-night test at Adelaide, there’s a few possible demons in there for India from the last time they played there?
Asking me? 36! Only! I remember we’d set ourselves well for the day at the coach’s box,
ready with a cup of coffee. Then bang, bang, bang, bang – in one hour, they went down like nine pins. I’ve never seen so much playing and nicking as I’ve seen playing and missing. At the end of it, I didn’t say a word to the guys. I did say, listen, there's nothing you could have done, the bowling was exceptional, give credit where it’s due, and now we’ve got to pick ourselves up.
So what do you think it is about the pink ball?
The pink ball is different - it’s harder, with more lacquer, because of which under lights, it moves a lot. So you can see the tactics change. You’ll want to bat first if you win the toss.
One last one for you Ravi, can you give us a bold prediction for the series to come? I said at the beginning: let two test matches go, and then we can tell you what’s going to happen. I’ve watched and covered IniaAustralia series enough to know that!
The gala dinner at which this conversation took place was hosted by Cricket ACT in partnership with AIBC Canberra.
FOSTERING COMMUNITY
ASAC Stellar South Asian Women Awards
With the theme ‘Reach Out and Rise’, this year’s awards honoured the spirit of generosity and teamwork that drives success.
YBY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY
asmin Khan, the dedicated director of an unfunded voluntary domestic abuse support service, Onisha Patel, a pioneering structural biologist who identified a rare blood cancer, and Neerja Singh, a first-year university student who established a promising not-for-profit in Melbourne’s western suburbs are among those who have won honours at the fourth annual Australian South Asian Centre’s (ASAC) Stellar South Asian Women awards.
On November 23, Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Women’s Centre was awash with shimmering lehengas and saris and even more dazzling personalities, all gathered to celebrate powerhouse South Asian Women from a range of industries.
Approximately 130 guests attended ASAC’s Stellar South Asian Women Awards, an event dedicated to amplifying and recognising South Asian changemakers. This impactful gathering not only celebrated the stories and successes of these individuals but aimed to empower them and others to continue making significant, positive contributions to the world.
Nine winners were revealed from a shortlist of 34 finalists in the categories of Content Creator, Community & Advocacy, Business & Entrepreneurship, Sports & Fitness, Arts & Culture, STEM, Journalism & Literature, Emerging Leader and Global Impact.
With the theme ‘Reach Out and Rise’, a key focus of the event was the spirit of generosity
and teamwork that drives success, embodied by each of the finalists and winners.
“These individuals are exceptional not just for their personal accomplishments, but also because of their unwavering commitment to being ladder holders,” ASAC Director Daizy Maan said in her opening address.
“It’s about opening doors for others, sharing opportunities and ensuring that when you reach the top, you’re not there alone, but you’re surrounded by a thriving community that you’ve helped nurture,” Maan said.
With 120 nominations across nine categories, the awards were judged by a panel of twelve volunteers, including Indian Link’s Rajni Luthra. The event was meticulously organised over four months by a dedicated team of volunteers led by Maan and ASAC Community Manager Rumali Kularatne.
The winners include Manisha Dagore, a renowned Bollywood dance instructor celebrated for her exceptional community building classes; Akeisha Sandhu, a dedicated national soccer player recognised for inspiring
South Asian participation in sports; and Alicia Vrajlal, a trailblazing Fijian-Indian journalist and founder of Draw Your Box, known for the crucial role of highlighting overlooked stories.
Fitzroy’s ‘Curry Queen’, the acclaimed chef and restaurateur Manpreet Sekhon, who also catered the event, was honoured for her innovative approach to Indian cuisine, alongside Jaspreet Sangha, the writer and director of the internationally renowned narrative short film Yeh Kaisi Sharafat, and Neha Kumar, a champion for art, community, and holistic healing.
Throughout the evening, the significance of shared success was repeatedly underscored, as attendees connected over a buffet meal from Masti, gave a heartfelt shout-out to a mentor to earn a gift bag, and cheered with enthusiasm for winners as they received their awards.
Two alumni of ASAC’s Brown Women Poetry program delivered heartfelt and empowering spoken word pieces – Jashan Kaur Sandhu using the metaphor of a suitcase to reflect on migration and emotional baggage,
and AJ D’Costa composed a poignant poem on female visibility, celebrating the strength and resilience of women in every sphere of life.
Kularatne says the event was founded as a space to celebrate the contributions of South Asian women which are often overlooked in mainstream awards.
“It’s about reading your own table, instead of trying to compete in spaces where we know we are continuously marginalised or excluded,” she told Indian Link.
“It’s about saying we recognise the value and contributions South Asian people make in Australia – we don’t need to come to your table or try to squeeze into that one seat that you have for us. We have our own space and community.”
ASAC themselves are deeply committed to fostering community, through initiatives such as their Brown Women Comedy and regular book club. These programs have provided participants with enriching experiences and opportunities for connection, laughter, and shared learning, with Brown Women Comedy even touring to Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.
Maan hopes attendees will take away this spirit of cooperation, continuing to show up for and enrich the lives of fellow members of their thriving ASAC community.
“I genuinely believe that to accelerate the pace of change and representation in this country, we’re going to need to back each other… sometimes we have differing views and sometimes we have to find the common ground where we can. But ASAC is a community for folks who are valuesaligned and who are South Asian, and we have space for allies too,” she said in her closing address.
Stellar bunch: Winners and finalists
Rumali Kularatne
Photos: Lei Wang
Daizy Maan
Championing multicultural VOICES
Indian Link’s Melbourne Content
Creator Lakshmi Ganapathy wins the 2024 Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in Media
SBY ANANYA THIRUMALAI
ome stories have the power to bring people together, to foster understanding, and to celebrate diversity. At the heart of those stories is often someone with a rare gift: the ability to listen, to connect, and to share. Twenty-five-year-old Lakshmi Ganapathy is one of those storytellers. At Government House earlier this month, Lakshmi was honoured with the 2024 Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in Media, presented by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Chair Vivienne Nguyen and Professor Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria.
Speaking about the recognition, Lakshmi said, “This award is my biggest achievement to date, and it means so much to be recognised by my home state’s foremost multicultural body. It’s a privilege to tell the stories of my fellow South Asians living in Victoria, and I hope to continue serving them through my reporting. In community media, we have a responsibility to tell the lesser-heard stories which I deeply value. This award reinforces my commitment to championing these values in my work. To everyone who has shared their stories with me or supported my work, thank you. Your experiences and perspectives are invaluable, and it is an honour to bring them to light.”
Lakshmi is best known for her ‘Cutting Chai’ monthly youth segment and her acclaimed historical video series ‘Linking History,’ which also won her the 2024 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communications Award for Best Audio-Visual Report. Her wide portfolio of contemporary South Asian reportage spans categories but her chef d’oeuvre is arts journalism. From local initiatives to international milestones and from amplifying unheard voices to breaking news, Lakshmi’s reporting deftly captures the diverse spectrum of South Asian identity. As a senior journalist with Indian Link, she played a pivotal role in covering major events such as the Voice Referendum, the 2024 Indian election, and ABC’s investigative Four Corners report, Infiltrating India.
Her writing stands out not only for its thought-provoking perspectives but also
for the way it builds bridges between cultures, leading by example and inspiring others to do the same. “With how fast the news cycle moves, you often forget the impact of what you write because you’re chasing the next story,” Lakshmi observed.
“Awards like this are a reminder that what we do as journalists matters. I often see Guruswamy Perumal and Charan Dass at community events, and they tell me people still approach them after reading the profile pieces I wrote on them. That, for me, is the impact of my work: to highlight the incredible stories and contributions of individuals within our community.”
For Lakshmi Ganapathy, storytelling isn’t just a job–it’s a calling. “Graduating university during COVID, I was honestly not optimistic about my job prospects; I never imagined I’d be receiving such awards so early in my career. I’m proud to be a journalist with Indian Link, and winning this in my second year with them is incredible. I want to thank my high school English teachers and lecturers at La Trobe University for instilling in me the drive to write, and the entire Indian Link team, especially my editor Rajni, for her support and patience over the last two years.”
Lakshmi’s journey working with Indian Link began in 2023 but her connection to the publication as a VCE high achiever runs deeper. She lit up the cover in 2017 – a moment that symbolised the beginning of her path as a storyteller and voice for South Asian communities. Rajni Luthra, Editor of Indian Link, reflected on Lakshmi’s journey, saying, “I’m very proud of Lakshmi. In the two years she’s been with us, she has left an indelible impression with her dedication to her craft: a remarkable instinct for identifying a story and pursuing
it to completion, insightful analyses, and a masterful command of language. Together, these make this emerging journalist definitely one to watch.”
Reflecting on her own journey, when asked about her favourite piece, Lakshmi Ganapathy said, “It’s got to be the one on Omkar Palav, Guinness World Record Holder for Nose Typing – it’s simultaneously absurd and hilarious and also so lifeaffirming to see this humble family man aspire to be on the world stage, and the joy and fervour with which he talked about his achievement was so compelling. The next day I went to cover IFFM and talked to some celebrities there, and as wonderful as they are, all I could think of was how much I loved interviewing down to earth, everyday people like Omkar. What a range of people I get to talk to, from all walks of life.”
This award is not just a recognition of
Lakshmi’s talent but a celebration of the values she embodies – integrity, creativity, and an unyielding passion for connecting people through stories.
“My heartiest congratulations to Lakshmi Ganapathy for winning this award,” said Pawan Luthra, CEO of Indian Link. “A prolific writer, she has written more than 100 pieces this year alone – her work covering the entire gamut of migrant experiences from politics, policy, performing arts, literature, sport, youth, seniors, family violence, sustainability, to migrant issues, food, LGBTQIA+, breaking news, startups, and India-Australia relations (including defence and education). It’s a substantial body of work for someone so young, and I’m excited to see how she extends herself in the coming year.”
Her win marks Indian Link’s 31st in its 30th year, a milestone achievement for the publication.
A year of ambition and brilliance
RBY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA
eflecting on the past year, Australia’s Indian community has much to celebrate as it truly comes into its own. We've left a significant imprint - both in the Australia-India relationship and as a nationally influential community - while also experiencing notable growth and progress internally. Wrapping up a year marked by ambition, brilliance, and jam-packed calendars, the air is alive with a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead.
Elections
It was a year of elections - and surprise results had us all become political pundits at our own levels. Whether India or the US later, it was democracy in action as voters booted out governments that were not delivering, or returned governments with diluted strength.
Closer home to us, the crisis of confidence in leadership was glaringly obvious in local government elections in NSW and Victoria, as record numbers of candidates from our own community threw their hat in, aiming to make a difference. The surprising element – large swathes of them shunned the major political platforms, choosing to go independent. If the candidates appear to be striving for a paradigm shift by distancing themselves from traditional platforms, it raises the question of whether voters, too, might reject the status quo and embrace fresh, alternative options.
India-Australia
Even as government relations sped on at breakneck pace with multiple visits by ministers (including External Affairs
Minister S Jaishankar twice, Commerce
Minister Piyush Goyal and Education
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inbound, and Vic Premier Jacinta Allan outbound), business-to-business links grew as well in the lead up to an expected Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement CECA. Military ties further strengthened with initiatives such as Exercise Kakadu (multinational warfare drills coordinating air, sea and subsurface operations), and the General Rawat Exchange Program for defence personnel.
CAIR and nurture
In keeping with its remit of facilitating greater collaboration and engagement with India, the Centre for Australia-India Relations CAIR presented an approximate $2.6 million in grants to nurturing Australia-India projects. $1.4 million of this makes up the Maitri Cultural Partnerships Grants given to nine organisations, and $1.2 million in Maitri Research Grants for five different recipients. Established by the government in 2023, the Centre inaugurated its headquarters at Parramatta this year.
Trends
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from this year for the Indian community in Australia, is that the trade winds of influence are beginning to guide mainstream perceptions of us.
Hindi / Punjabi When the Indian cricket team tours Australia, it’s as though portal doors open to an India that is usually restricted to the western suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney. The dhols come out; the bright pugris, Nehru jackets, kurta pyjamas and the occasional sari do not seem out of place.
This tour, cricket has put Hindi in the legacy newspapers. Hands up if you’ve made keepsakes of THOSE front pages
in Hindi and Punjabi only days ago, from The Daily Telegraph and The Sun Herald. (Granted there were errors in the text, but Hindi advocates like Mala Mehta celebrated: we could not have imagined this only ten years ago, and when did you ever see cover headlines in Greek or Maltese or Bahasa?) The Age and SMH went a step further, by transcribing entire cricket articles into Hindi.
Diwali Ask a random person on the street about Diwali today, and they’ll know it’s the South Asian Festival of Lights. With plenty of media attention around Diwali, every major mainstream organisationgovernment, corporate or educational - now holds a Diwali event. Whether a fundraiser or just a morning tea, expect extravagant themes of India - in the outfits, décor, food, entertainment - with diyas galore and plenty of talk about the power of light in uplifting lives and souls.
A recent trend has been Diwali events at museums – a perfect opportunity to showcase collections, and perhaps to throw the doors open to an entirely new audience.
Meanwhile local celebrations are continuing to grow bigger too – such as at Phantom St in Schofields where every house stands bedecked in lights, and rows of cars drive past to experience Diwali glory.
As we ourselves hopped from event to event this year, there may well have been celebration fatigue, but not Diwali fatigue!
Power list The Daily Telegraph’s list of Top 25 influential Indian-Australians in NSW also succeeded in creating some chatter, and no doubt, brought in new readers for the publication. That a mainstream media organisation had invested in studying the community at close quarters and produced such a list, was testimony to the growing influence of Indian-origin Australians. Discussions raged about the relative merits and otherwise of those included,
but a comparable list produced for IndianAustralians in Victoria went by largely unnoticed.
Other talking points
Migration rules Some significant changes were announced in migration rules this year that will impact members of our community including international students. These include:
l 20% decrease in student visa grants
l changes to English language requirements for student visas
l significant changes in temporary graduate visas
l inclusion of Indian citizens in Work and Holiday Visas
l measures to end “visa hopping”
l changes to Skilled Work Visas in regional areas in some states
l the axing of the “Golden Visa” program l and perhaps significantly, new visas for victim of workplace exploitation.
ABC Four Corners The report Spies, secrets and threats: How the Modi regime targets people overseas caused a bit of furore amongst Indian-Australians, not all of them BJP supporters. Indian Link spoke for the community when we concluded that the program would have benefitted from additional contextual references, in the interests of balanced reporting.
Performing Arts
Among the performing artistes, it was a veritable who’s who of stars that came our way: musicians AR Rahman (twice), Anoushka Shankar, Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sachin-Jigar, Adnan Sami, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Atif Aslam; new-gen sensations Maithili Thakur and Afsana Khan; Southern stars Hariharan, Anirudh, KS Harisankar and When Chai Met Toast; Punjabi singers Harbhajan Maan, Babbu Maan, Karan
brilliance
Aujla, Gurnam Bhullar, B Praak, Shubh, Garry Sandhu and NINJA; classical musicians Zakir Husain, Kala Ramnath, Jayanthi Kumaresh, Lalgudi GJR Krishna, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Rahul Vellal, S Sowmya and Rama Vaidyanathan; and not to forget, the brightest of our screen stars for IFFM, plus Neena Gupta and Mihir Ahuja for the filming of Hindi Vindi.
Stand-up comedy continues to rise in popularity as a favoured form of entertainment. Joining the rush of celebrity stand-ups touring from India (think Vir Das, Zakir Khan, Amit Tandon, Kanan Gill, Aakash Gupta, Gaurav Gupta, Aditya Kulshreshtha, Vipul Goyal, Anubhav Singh Bassi), we’ve seen the flowering of IndianAustralian stars (hello Urvi Majumdar, Aaditya Gautam, Jo Gowda, Sashi Perera, Delhi Buoy, and the promising new platform Brown Women Comedy).
It's been a fantastic year for Indianorigin artistes in the mainstream. Musician Dhee hit the headlines as a Parramattaraised performer who has won acclaim in India’s entertainment industry. Vaishnavi Suryaprakash solidified her reputation as an actor of true mettle following back-to-back hits Counting and Cracking and Nayika Congratulations also to Reuben de Melo of Perth who won The Voice Australia; Vidya Makan who played Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton; Mithila Gupta who created Four Years Later (SBS); director Neil Sharma of Critical Incident fame (Stan Australia); Sharon Johal who starred as Australian TV’s first Khalsa woman in The Twelve Season 2 (Binge); Raj Labade and Pallavi Sharda who featured in The Office (Australia); Sydney actor Sanjeev Mehra who played Kareena Kapoor Khan’s dad in The Buckingham Murders, and 21-year-old Sydney writer and poet Sathyan Elanko whose song Aasa Kooda has become the Tamil hit of the year. Plus, we are now keenly awaiting Mitu
The trends that had Australia’s Indian community talking in 2024
Bhowmick Lange’s made-in-Melbourne anthology My Melbourne.
Kudos also to the schoolkids from Victoria and NSW who won lead roles in the Schools Spectaculars this year (hoping to see more in coming years), and the community arts organisations who got the opportunity to showcase their particular artforms at OzAsia and Melbourne Fringe.
SXSW made inroads to India as well, although we’d like to see more thought going into this next time round.
Congrats however to the Sydney Film Festival, who picked some wonderful gems from Indian cinema, in various genres, at this year’s event.
A heartfelt shoutout here to community theatre: local theatre groups across the country have now found their footing, showcasing remarkable sophistication in both themes and techniques.
Visual Arts
There were Indian links galore in our leading arts festival the Biennale of Sydney, Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi (boasting no less than ten Indian sculptors this year), and the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial IOTA at Perth.
Modern mystics, writers
Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Sadhguru. Deepak Chopra. Three of the leading gurus of inner awareness, consciousness and personal growth brought their wisdom to us directly this year. Add to this mix
Vedic speaker Dushyanth Sridhar, and founder of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, and followers of this genre must surely have soaked in spiritual bliss.
Providing food for thought also, were celebrity writers William Dalrymple (touring with his acclaimed Golden Road), Perumal Murugan, Anjum Hasan, Abraham Varghese and Balli Kaur Jaswal, among others.
Sport
Cricket has had its fair share of mention this year, and not just currently. (Remember when all of Mumbai came out to see India’s favourite sons - and a large shiny ornament?) With the BorderGavaskar Trophy ongoing, in a five-test duel no less, there’s enough cricket chatter as it is so we can safely keep that out of this discussion. Luckily for us, there’s been plenty of other sport this year. We were glued to the Olympics, although India’s Paralympic athletes wowed us where the Olympic stars faltered. (Still feeling for Vinesh Phogat? Us too).
Closer home to us however, we applauded Canberra’s IM Rishi Sardana who became Australia’s 2024 Chess Champion; India’s polo team created a bit of a buzz; Melbourne teen Charvi Tanksale made a mark at the AusCycling Junior Track National Championships, and we can’t wait to see Victoria’s embrace of Pro-Kabaddi later this month.
And a bit about us
Time flies, they say, when you’re having fun. And just like that, we’d ticked off thirty years on the calendar. Of course we celebrated with a gala event, with friends and well-wishers attending.
As a surprise anniversary present, in our anniversary month, we claimed three more trophies at the NSW Premier’s Multicultural and Communications Awards, giving us a new a tagline: 30 Awards in 30 Years. It lasted but a month, when our Melbourne journalist Lakshmi Ganapathy knocked it off its perch by winning a media excellence award at the Vic Multicultural Awards.
As we finish the year with 31 awards in our kitty, we are committing to a new initiative – a scholarship for media and communications students at a leading Sydney university.
Thumbs up to:
l The burgeoning of space startups in India-Australia collaborations (eg LatConnect 60, Space Machines Company and Skykraft who secured A$18 million funding for civil-space innovations and commercial partnerships)
l IFFM, which marked its 15th anniversary this year
l IABCA, which marked its 10th anniversary this year
l Community members who won honours in the Australia Day and King’s Birthday Honours this year including Niharika Hiremath (the youngest recipient this year at only 29), Sakshi Thakur, Harinder Kaur, Harinder Sidhu, Dr Ramananda Kamath, Dr Sachint Lal, and Prof Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt
l Kudrat Makkar of fashion label MASTANI who presented the first solo show by an IndianAustralian at the Australian Fashion Week
Thumbs down to:
l Politicians’ push to appease select communities with proposals to rename landmarks, or to allocate festivals/months along religious lines, leaving the rest of the Indian diaspora unimpressed
l Continuing domestic violence deaths such as that of Chaithanya Swetha Madhagani of Point Cook Melbourne, whose killer remains at large
l The acquittal of William Swale, who crashed his car into a beer garden in Daylesford Victoria, causing the deaths of five people of Indian origin including Pratibha Sharma, her daughter Anvi, her partner Jatin Kumar, their friend Vivek Bhatia and his son Vihaan.
(accessed November 2023). 3. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Updated eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments. www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/treatments/eligibility (accessed November 2023).
The racism behind the stereotype
Following reports of racism at James Ruse Agricultural, a look at how digital prejudice fuels real-world hate against Indians
ABY NAVISHKAR RAM
n article published in The Sydney Morning Herald in November 2024 exposed a series of racially motivated attacks at one of Sydney’s most prestigious selective high schools, James Ruse Agricultural. According to the report, several James Ruse students deliberately targeted their peers of Indian descent, referring to them as “slaves” and using racial slurs, including the n-word. Parents at a recent P&C meeting were made aware of these disturbing incidents, though it seems that the issue has been confined to a small circle of news outlets. To date, only The Sydney Morning Herald and Women’s Agenda have reported on the matter, meaning it has largely remained under the radar. Were it not for a recent Instagram post by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, it is likely that this alarming issue would have been swept under the rug.
In many ways, racism and overt discrimination—whether digital or physical— targeting people of Indian background are still treated with a troubling level of indifference. In online spaces such as X (formerly Twitter), Meta platforms, and increasingly, Instagram, racial animus toward Indians has reached toxic levels. YouTuber Saji Sharma has produced a series of detailed videos that highlight the alarming normalisation and entrenchment of such racism. Notably, it is perplexing that this prejudice is not only perpetrated by far-right or traditionally “racist” groups but also by individuals who position themselves
as political progressives and “allies” to the Indian community.
The vilification of migrants and their descendants is, unfortunately, not a new phenomenon in the Western world. Some might even argue that it has become an ingrained tradition. However, the recent wave of grotesque racism, xenophobia, and discrimination targeting people of South Asian heritage has taken on a more insidious tone. It has become an acceptable form of social “othering” in many digital and, increasingly, physical spaces.
Popular social media platforms are flooded with videos that depict poor hygiene practices in South Asia, sparking outcries over what are perceived as “unsanitary” and “uncivilised” conditions. These portrayals focus solely on the dirt and decay, often ignoring the wider context, including the considerable efforts made by local communities to improve these situations.
For instance, Kolkata’s Lali Chhangani, a food vendor who gained internet infamy after footage of unsanitary food preparation emerged, faced local calls for reform. Several residents urged him to adopt better hygiene practices, aiming to improve the image of their city and, by extension, their country. Yet, these local efforts to address such issues rarely make headlines in the West. By contrast, the positive initiatives underway in India, such as the Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation, which works to tackle polluted waterways, or the numerous beach clean-ups led by Indian environmental groups, receive far less attention. Similarly, Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh, has garnered recognition for being one of India’s cleanest and best-kept cities, owing much of its success to innovative public space projects and environmental health initiatives. These examples reflect a strong, grassroots commitment to tackling pollution and
The persistence of the stereotype that Indians and other South Asians are inherently dirty, backward, and unhygienic has led to a wave of racism that is both harmful and dangerous. The students who endure the consequences of this prejudice, whether at school or online, remain unheard, their suffering often silenced by a system that chooses to ignore their pain.
improving hygiene standards in India—efforts that rarely make it to the front pages of Western news outlets.
The persistence of the stereotype that Indians and other South Asians are inherently dirty, backward, and unhygienic has led to a wave of racism that is both harmful and dangerous. This vilification is rooted in the perception of Indians as “less than” others, of their communities and countries as synonymous with filth and pollution. The ramifications of such a narrative are profound. It sets a dangerous precedent, one that has been used in history to demonise and dehumanise entire populations. While the recent incidents at James Ruse Agricultural High School may seem far removed from the busy streets of Kolkata or the green spaces of Bhopal, the underlying prejudice that fuels these acts of hate is directly tied to how India is portrayed in digital spaces and the media.
These harmful stereotypes are not born in a vacuum. They are amplified by digital platforms where sensationalism, clicks, and likes drive content creation. As influencers chase followers and internet fame, the realworld consequences of these actions go largely unacknowledged. The students who endure the consequences of this prejudice, whether at school or online, remain unheard, their suffering often silenced by a system that chooses to ignore their pain.
The culture of racism that permeates online spaces is a reflection of broader societal attitudes, and it is incumbent upon all of us—particularly those in positions of influence—to challenge these stereotypes and engage in a more nuanced, empathetic conversation about race and identity. Without these efforts, the cycle of hate will continue to grow, unchecked and unchallenged.
SWIM SAFE BE WATER SAFE THIS SUMMER
FOR ADULTS
n Never swim alone – it is important to always swim with another person
n Swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach
n Check the conditions. Ask someone who is familiar with the area
n Check for currents or rips. When you arrive at a beach, first take a good look at the water for five minutes . Observe the tide, the turbulence of the water, and the points at which the waves don’t break as those could be dangerous rip currents
n Follow the advice of lifeguards or lifesavers and ask them for help if you’re unsure
n Look for and read the water safety signs. Ask someone who speaks English to help you understand instructions
WHAT’S A RIP?
n Take care of slippery or uneven surfaces around or in the water
n Avoid drugs and alcohol around water
n Be aware of your medical conditions and their impact around water and don’t attempt activities beyond your abilities.
n If you are caught in a rip or current, float on your back and travel downstream
n If you get into trouble in the water, stay calm. Signal for help, then float and wait for assistance. Float with a current or undertow.
n Always read the signs before entering waters –whether they are ‘Beach closed’, ‘Shallow water’ or ‘Strong current’ signs
n Wear a lifejacket whenever boating, rock fishing, or using a watercraft.
A rip is formed when water that has flown into the beach tries to head back into the sea. As it does this, it forms a channel through which water travels at high speeds. The current in a rip is so strong that even experienced surfers or swimmers can have difficulty handling. The water in a rip is usually a darker colour because it’s deeper and calmer since there are no waves breaking.
IF YOU’RE CAUGHT IN A RIP
n Don’t panic, float so you save energy.
n Raise your weaker hand so that you can use the stronger hand to paddle.
n Don’t try to swim against the rip. First figure out which way the rip is taking you and then – if you can – swim left or right to the rip.
n If you see whitewash in the waves, try to move towards those as that maybe a sandbank. Waves will also push you towards the beach.
FOR CHILDREN
n Children should never be left alone when near a water body
n Actively supervise children around water
n Restrict access to deep water
n Teach water awareness n Learn how to resuscitate
IF YOU’RE SWIMMING AT A RIVERSIDE
n Keep in mind that inland waterways like ponds, rivers and creeks aren’t patrolled.
n Always enter the water slowly, feet first. Never dive in. Diving in shallow waters can cause spinal injuries.
n Always swim with a companion.
n Inland waterways may seem calm on top but are home to dangerous currents too. Always inspect the water’s nature before stepping in.
n Be adequately dressed. Cold water can cause hypothermia.
n Wear a life jacket.
SOURCE:
Staying water safe inAustralia (www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/useful-tips/ water-safety-in-australia.html) Water safety tips (www.drowningprevention.org.au/watersafetytips/)
Battling South Asian
People born in India made up the highest proportion of migrant drownings at Australian beaches between 2009 and 2019. UNSW’s Beach Ocean Safe program aims to change that.
BY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY
Twenty-three-year-old Harsha Vardhan Reddy Dwarakacharla had never been swimming before coming to Australia. But when he migrated to study a Masters of Telecommunication at UNSW, just eight minutes away from Coogee Beach, he found himself wishing he could dive into the waves.
“My parents never allowed me to get into the water. They said, before sending me to Australia, to not enter the water. But being in Australia, where there are a lot of beaches around you, you can’t just see them [especially] when your friends are getting into the water. I felt alone,” he remembers.
UNSW Water Safety Officer Oliver Jackson says he encounters stories like Harsha’s all the time. A 2022 UNSW Study
Asian drowning statistics
examining beach safety among South Asians revealed people born in India made up the highest proportion of migrant drownings at Australian beaches between 2009 and 2019.
“Many international students, many migrant groups, have never set foot on a beach before they come to Sydney. Some of them come from inland towns and communities where there isn’t huge access to pools,” he says.
Jackson saw a need for foundational beach safety for migrants to combat the rising statistics, and in collaboration with the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, they developed the Beach Ocean Safety program, teaching UNSW’s International Students vital skills to plan a safe trip to the beach. Now, the Beach Ocean Safety program will be made available across NSW to other universities and migrant and community groups.
“This program teaches international students and anyone from a multicultural community how to get in and out of the water, how to tread water, how to float –practical skills that are so important when you’re going down to the beach – but also theoretical skills such as first aid and CPR,” says Jackson.
“We’re trying to teach international students everything they need to know to be able to have a safe day at the beach, but also to be able to pass on that knowledge to their friends and their families.”
Since its pilot in March 2023, the Beach Ocean Safe program has taught more than 65 international students from over 15 countries, including Harsha, how to stay safe on Australian beaches.
Through the program, Harsha has well and truly overcome his fear of water, something he says is ‘one of the greatest things he’s achieved so far’.
Now volunteering as a qualified lifesaver at Coogee Beach, he sees firsthand some of the challenges South Asian migrants experience on the beach.
“Most of the people don’t know what the [red and yellow] flags are set for, so they swim outside; they feel they don’t know swimming and should be separated from the other groups, so they will enter alone at the side [of the flags] which is very risky as that’s where the rip currents are present,” Harsha says.
In addition, UNSW research also revealed that many South Asians enter the water fully clothed, and at unpatrolled beaches, greatly increasing their risk of drowning.
Jackson says the rapidly changing nature of sea currents, and limited patrolling resources mean beaches offer a particular challenge for migrants to Australia, including those who may already know to swim.
“The pool is very much a controlled environment. You’re not getting powerful rips coming out of nowhere or waves that are just rolling in, so it’s a great place to learn and start that foundation. But if you do want to go for a swim in the beach, you require a different set of skills, which is where the program comes in.”
Equally, many migrants miss out on early exposure to beach culture in Australia, a ubiquitous part of growing up locally, affecting their prudence around water.
“There’s a reason why some of the best swimmers in the Olympics are up in Australia, because we start teaching kids how to swim from the age of three up, they do classes in schools, and we have access to some of the best swimming facilities in the world and these amazing, beautiful beaches,” Jackson points out.
“International students or migrants may not have access to aquatic facilities and these public safety awareness campaigns, and it can be very hard to transition into an
aquatic culture that’s so different to their home country.”
With the implementation of the Beach Ocean Safe program at surf clubs across the state, Jackson hopes to provide practical beach safety experience, particularly on the meaning of the flags, detecting rip currents and not attempting activities beyond your swimming level.
For those planning a trip to the beach, he recommends the following resources.
“The Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Beach Safety Hub has resources in a lot of different languages, so this is a great place to start if you want to learn about how to be safe at the beach. There’s also an app called SLS Beachsafe which I’d highly recommend downloading before you go visit the beach,” he says.
“Remember to always swim between the red and yellow flags and finally, just make sure you have fun on the beach. It’s a place of enjoyment and we really want to encourage people to go to the beach over the summer, but just make sure you stay safe.”
Harsha Vardhan Reddy Dwarakacharla
Oliver Jackson
Seven No es of the noted
Performer, choreographer and writer Dr Priya Srinivasan is co-Artistic Director of Sangam, a South Asian arts organisation in Melbourne. She speaks with SUMATHI KRISHNAN about her work, grounded in Indian classical dance but intercultural, its focus on feminist decolonisation highlighting the histories of minority women.
Tell us about your production Churning Waters, an intercultural work with Indian indigenous and First Nations artists. After returning to Australia following a brief stint overseas, I dreamt of red earth. I felt an unresolved responsibility as a settler migrant, the need for allyship with First Nations peoples. My research revealed pre-colonial connections in the Indian Ocean’s trade routes linking South Asia, Southeast Asia to Australia. These interactions highlighted the long, intertwined histories between our peoples and led me to Churning Waters for the Australia Festival in India, supported by DFAT and Creative Australia. We explored water stories with eminent Priyadarsini Govind, indigenous artist of Mettumulluvadi TN, Thilagavati Palani (who both practise the Koothu folk art of storytelling with song and dance) and First Nations artists Gina Maree Bundle, Sylvia Nulpintidj and Nadine Lee of the Yuin, Larrakia and Yolgnu people of Victoria and NT. It was unique and transformative. Sylvia described her experience as “this is how it feels to be in a country where people look like you”.
What are the crucial elements in creating multi-arts works that interweave performance traditions?
First Nations artists are still repairing from cultural fragmentation and suppression; encountering an excessive display of culture can be overwhelming. Churning Waters taught me to bridge gaps inclusively.
I am deeply interested in historical evolution of dance. While Bharatanatyam helped me combat self-loathing in a racist white Australia, I also grapple with its marginalisation of hereditary artists, and the privilege of my caste in accessing stages they were denied.
My focus is on creating pathways that honour traditions and inclusivity. It is not just about stepping through the privileged doors of Eurocentric funded spaces, but to keep them open, the reason why Sangam was formed.
You’re known for using multimedia visuals in your performance art…
I don’t see a dichotomy - visual media complements and frames performances today. I have always connected visual design, media, music, rhythm and the dancing body using dramaturgical methods, allowing audiences to create their own meanings.
This is not a new phenomenon. Dancing in productions of Guru Chandrabhanu and Geoffrey Goldie at the Arts Centre in Melbourne, Geoffrey’s painted floors framed our dancing bodies. At that time, visual media was not as prevalent. But design elements such as sculptures, drawings, paintings and spatial ambience have been integral parts arts of a cohesive narrative.
Unforgettable experiences that influenced your own creative ideology?
Performing as Madhavi in Silapathikaram under Guru Chandrabanu at Arts Centre Melbourne was when I realised it’s dance and not medicine for me.
Another profound moment was when we performed at a monastery near Brahmaputra, Assam. Women aren’t allowed inside monasteries, nor could the monks come out. Using Vaishnavite theology and the story of Narasimha, we performed on the monastery’s footsteps. The monks and we were moved to tears.
In Holland, together with Carnatic singer Uthra Vijay, we reimagined the Hermitage
Museum for three hours, displacing Rembrandt’s painting Night Watch. Our reinterpretation, featuring Surinamese (Indian, African and Chinese heritage) bodies and narratives, transformed the gallery’s dominant imagery of white men into a reclamation of Southeast Asian histories and ancestral narratives.
What are you working on these days?
I’m co-directing Bunyi Bunyi Bumi, co-commissioned by BLAKDANCE and Asia TOPA with Waangenga Blanco, Alfira O’Sullivan and Murtala. This trans disciplinary performance explores the consequences of not listening to Mother Earth. It premieres in February 2025. Another project, Copy of the Copy, examines the intersections of contemporary, ballet, and Indian dance through comic, culinary, and visual
elements, based on years of research.
A moonlit night or a rising sun - what inspires you to be creative?
I need my inner condition to be at peace. Of course, it’s always enhanced if I’m at the Jaipur Palace or in the Australian landscape - oh yes, on a moonlit night!
Your vision for Sangam, as its founder?
Sangam began as a festival and moved into project-based work and advocacy platforms, striving to build diasporic representation on funded platforms and stages of excellence. We’ve been travelling between Australia, India and other countries for the last five years. We continue to build Sangam Labs, bringing together research and practise with longevity in mind.
The Bharatanatyam-trained Dr Priya Srinivasan PhD (Creative Australia Asia Pacific Arts Awardee 2024 - Impact, and Game Changer Award Asia Society) is founder director of Sangam. Known for her awardwinning book Sweating Saris: Indian Dance as Transnational Labour (2012), global events and social justice issues inspire her. Her body of works amidst fifty performances globally, include ‘Churning Waters’ with indigenous artists from India and Australia, and ‘The Durga Chronicles’, Winner of 2023 Green Room Award for Breaking Ground.
There were boys who insisted that soccer balls and handballs belonged in a nature-themed mural, and girls who pleaded for butterflies and bees - the bees and the butterflies won!
Small hands, big picture
Sydney artist GAURI TORGALKAR on the making of a mural at Hunters Hill Public School’s mural
B“ut that doesn’t look like any tree I have ever seen! Are you a real artist?” asked a Year 1 student, arms crossed, looking at a half-finished tree trunk, with eyebrows raised like a tiny art critic.
I’ve come across all kinds of feedback in my career in architecture and art, but there is nothing quite as innocent as the honest feedback from 6-year-olds.
When I signed up to paint a large-scale mural on a metal container at my son’s school, I was stepping outside my comfort zone, as I typically do smaller artworks meant for indoors. However, I’m usually the “say yes first, apologize/Google later” type, so I went in with a clear plan: to figure it out along the way.
This project at Hunters Hill Public School and funded by Hunters Hill Public School P&C Association, on Wallumedegal land, began with a vision to develop a unified Public Art Strategy - one that incorporated the creative ideas and aspirations of the school’s community. The aim was to shape not just this mural but all future public artworks on campus. The entire school community - students, staff, and parents/ carers - contributed to the process, which ensured the strategy reflected diverse
perspectives.
As Hunters Hill Public School
Principal Kim Dudgeon put it, “Having a collaboratively formed strategy provides voice and ownership to all involved and offers the opportunity for lasting involvement in projects for years to come. This mural is a wonderful representation of what can be achieved when everyone works together.”
To maximize involvement, the younger students shared their design ideas and drawings in workshops, while Year 6 students literally got their hands dirty during the painting phase. Of course, they also managed to dirty their uniforms, shoes, socks, and everything else in the process, which led to the implementation of full-body hazmat suits for all participants. Spilled paint buckets, stray ‘elements’ appearing in the mural, acrylic paint on living plants and rogue graffiti were all part of the creative chaos we navigated. But this mural has now become a part of Year 6’s legacy as they move on to high school.
Meghan Murray, Stage 3 Assistant Principal at Hunters Hill Public School, shared, “The Year 6 students really enjoyed having a lasting impression on the school for years to come. They loved wearing the
jumpsuits and painting with rollers, which is something they do not get to do in class art on such a huge scale.”
The mural draws inspiration from student drawings and the natural environment of the school playground. It also includes inspirational words chosen by students, hidden within the landscape. Each face of the mural continues the trees behind it - sometimes with a creative flourish. The campus is so alive with plants, birds, insects, and wildlife that almost every element in the mural could be found in reality. Turkeys regularly wandered by, seemingly assessing the painted turkeys, and I’m almost certain I saw one nod in approval.
Watching the mural take shape became a popular spectator sport for students. Every recess and lunch, they would gather to stare, cheer, critique, and suggest improvements. I, on the other hand, often felt like the latest exhibit at a zoo.
The mural, titled “Look a Little Closer”, invites viewers to notice the environment around them with greater care and attention. It was a learning experience for me, too - I found myself noticing the trees and birds on campus more closely than ever before. I spotted a family of lorikeets living in the hole of a large fig tree, turkeys
scavenging the playground after recess, and birds leaving the grounds and perching on branches whenever the school bell rang - they knew the bell meant a stampede of children was imminent!
As an artist accustomed to working alone in my studio, the daily interactions with my adoring spectators and support from teachers and staff were a welcome change. There were boys who insisted that soccer balls and handballs belonged in a naturethemed mural, and girls who pleaded for butterflies and bees - the bees and the butterflies won!
On this project I received some of the most heartfelt and charming feedback I’ve ever had. A few Year 1 students decided my work deserved a round of applause, exclaiming, “Clever! Clever! Very clever!”. Samara Richardson, Assistant Principal at Hunters Hill Public School, often reminds me of how extraordinary this experience was for the children. “The mural is not just a piece of art; it is a collaborative effort that gives each child the opportunity to contribute. Being part of the process allows them to feel ownership of the end product.” I couldn’t agree more. And now, I find myself embarking on a second mural for the school.
INDIAN LINK LOVES
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What we’re obsessed with this month
READ
Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-diehard-besties trope? James Knight’s Spirit of the Warriors is a story of a child who moves from Delhi to a small drought-affected town in Australia and strikes a friendship with a local boy, through their shared interest in cricket. Whilst children’s books are notorious for their not-so-subtle moralising, this book is genuinely entertaining. With the decades bond between Australia and India forged through cricket, it’s surprising that this dynamic between the two cultures hasn’t been more explored in the literary space. But with Knight’s latest, perhaps things will take a turn.
LISTEN
Up and coming musician Tushar’s latest EP can only be described as the auditory equivalent of sunshine. The Indian-Australian’s music, which has simple but energetic melodies, sounds like something that could be found in a teen flick. But what makes his music different is his storytelling. Songs like Bloodshot Eyes recount what it’s like to feel stuck in a relationship, whilst Feels Like a Start embodies the playfulness of two people getting to know each other. So, if you feel like unlocking your inner hippie this Christmas, then Tushar’s music is sure to get you in the mood.
WATCH
A sympathetic family man who after years of suffering through poverty engages in a money laundering scheme; that’s the premise of Lucky Baskhar. Sure, these “eat the rich” films are nothing new, but what is unique is the way that the story is told. With regular breaks of the fourth wall, clever use of graphics and despite its subject matter, genuinely funny jokes, the film puts a spin on a set-up that we’re all too familiar with. But with all said and done…do you really need a reason to watch a movie starring Dulquer Salmaan?
Christmas is a time to go big or go home when it comes to cooking, so why not impress your guests with something a little left field? Bebinca was originally a dish that was made by a highly resourceful nun who just couldn’t bear to waste excess egg yolks. Nowadays, egg yolks are bought in excess just to make this beloved dish (so beloved that it has become central to Goan cultural identity). And no fancy ingredients are required either, simply eggs, coconut milk, ghee, and nutmeg powder, and you’re well on your way to go.
WRITTEN BY SRUTHI SAJEEV
with Lakshmi Ganapathy
PRABHA NANDAGOPAL is a human rights and discrimination lawyer and the founder of Elevate Consulting and Safespace@Elevate. Holding various senior positions at the Australian Human Rights Commission, she was Director of Legal for the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces and led the landmark National Inquiry into Children in Detention.
You’ve been inside many Immigration Detention centres over your career, what’s one experience you’ve had in here you’ll never forget?
I visited my first detention centre in Port Augusta, SA at the age of 20 and then went on to visit almost all detention centres in Australia over the next 15 years, working with asylum seekers and refugees in agonising situations…It really forced me to develop a tough skin, so there's not a lot of what I see or hear in these contexts that tips me over; I don't know if that's a good thing or not!
child alone on that desolate island, you know, cut off from the world and potentially his future. It was like I was abandoning him; I still feel that anguish of getting on the plane to head home to Sydney.
Fortunately, he was eventually released and went on to live in
Melbourne, but I often wonder what he's doing today. I hope he and all the other unaccompanied children cruelly locked up are now thriving and living the life they truly deserve.
What need had you identified in workplaces when you decided to launch Elevate Consulting?
But the group that truly kept me up at night was unaccompanied children in detention, the ones who flee to Australia without their parents. On one visit to Christmas Island, I met a remarkable 14-year-old Sri Lankan boy whose parents had died in the Sri Lankan Civil War. With the help of extended family, he travelled to Australia by boat and had the misfortune of being indefinitely detained on Christmas Island. Despite everything he had been through, he was so kind and brave, brilliant, articulate. He dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but like many children in detention, the harsh conditions and that uncertainty of not knowing when you'll be released had a huge toll on his mental health and he was self-harming.
I pleaded with the Department of Immigration to release him as soon as possible, promising them the Tamil community would rally around him and provide him everything he needed to resettle. But the truth is, when I said the Tamil community, I really meant me - I couldn't stand leaving this vulnerable sweet
For many years, I played a key role in the establishment of the Positive Duty, and I realised what a seismic shift this was for employers who usually adopted a reactive approach to workplace sexual harassment. I could see there was a real need to support businesses in implementing these measures to prevent harmful workplaces and meet their regulatory requirements. So, I put together a multidisciplinary and diverse team and we're now working with a range of organisations from ASX listed companies to industries such as hospitality, to support them in fostering safety, respect, diversity and inclusion in the
What sets us apart is we adopt a multidisciplinary approach, so we're not just a mob of lawyers – we’ve got psychologists, behaviour change experts, investigators as well. And we do everything through an intersectional lens, so we understand people with intersecting identities such as migrants and refugees, LGBTQI+ people or people with disabilities experience higher rates of workplace sexual harassment. Therefore, businesses need to be cognizant of how these issues are affecting them and have measures that are appropriately adapted to all people in the workplace.
If someone’s experiencing workplace bullying or happens to find themselves inside toxic workplace culture, what should they do?
Firstly, you've gotta take care of yourself and get the right support. Talk to people you trust, whether it's colleagues or your family and friends; really take care of yourself.
If you can, keep a record of the incidents, no matter how small; take some file notes, this can be helpful later down the track if you want to make a formal report.
If you feel safe and comfortable, you could try and address the issue directly with the person involved or with your supervisor, or if you're not comfortable, go to HR or some other internal mechanism to report. We know in most workplaces there's a real lack of trust and confidence in HR to report hurtful behaviours and underreporting is a huge problem, that's why we've developed this platform called SafeSpace@Elevate to address this issue of where to go.
If the situation is not getting better, really think about whether that workplace is the right fit for you, because no job is worth your mental health. I know it's easy for me to say ‘just move jobs’, especially with this cost-of-living crisis, but really think about what other opportunities are out there, because you should not be losing sleep. Your health should not be affected in such a negative way by work.
What's something that you're currently listening to/reading/playing/watching?
I just finished reading ‘Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens’ by Shankari Chandran. [Shankari] and I were both nominated earlier this year for a Women’s Agenda award, so I heard about it then. It's harrowing, but it's such a charming read, and I highly recommend it.
What’s a word that you like in a South Asian language, and what does it mean?
In Tamil, ‘kutty’ is used as a term of
endearment; the direct translation is little or cute. My aunts and older cousins still call me Prabha kutty, and I call my nieces and nephews (even though they’re in their 20s) kutty too.
And finally: Soan Papdi or Papdi Chaat?
I'm South Indian, so they're not common foods for me. For me it would be, like, vadai and sambar! I guess papdi chaat though because that’s savoury?
TA ridiculously practical guide to surviving Aussie summers
It's hot, dramatic, and devastatingly annoying, but we’ve got you covered!
BY ANANYA THIRUMALAI
hanks to a dear friend called climate change, summers are now for suffering. Summer in Australia is the latest hot and dramatic Bollywood production with unexpected villains. Starting with the sun itself putting you on an Aussie BBQ grill, followed by the magpies and mosquitoes treating you like a buffet. But not to fret, we’ve got you covered with creative survival strategies for this war. Here’s our no-nonsense, over-the-top guide to surviving Aussie summers.
Wear a helmet (yes, really)
The four seasons in Sydney are Winter, Spring, Autumn, and Swooping. Everyone will tell you about Aussie snakes and spiders, but our one true common enemy is the dreaded magpie. As an effort to avoid losing a chunk of your neck, put a helmet on! It’s not like your head will be sweaty in 40-degree weather. One-up the birds and stick googly eyes on the back to confuse them. As a fashion statement, add spikes or a mirror and lean into the gladiator vibes. Let’s avoid The Birds: Australian Sequel from becoming a reality.
Sunscreen like it’s war paint
You don’t tan in Sydney; you toast(ie). Lather yourself in sunscreen everywhere — no one is exaggerating when they say the sun will burn a hole in your skin (as if the ozone layer wasn’t enough?). Forgetting parts of yourself will effectively turn you into a patchwork quilt, and not a
pretty one. So, to avoid turning into human samosas, apply a thick layer and keep reapplying. The sun is watching you.
Flip-flop fever
Sweaty feet have everyone hot and bothered — in the worst way. The scorching sun will cook your feet faster than a tandoor, so put on your thongs… and flip-flops (be hot and bothered the good way). Make sure your flip-flops have soles so thick they’ll shield you from the battle of the beach worms when you decide to walk on sand — that is, if you can find any room to breathe at the overcrowded beaches.
Mosquito defense system
A 40-degree summer would’ve been mythical 40 years ago, but tiny vampires (mosquitoes) are unfortunately real. Industrial bug spray ought to do the trick with these demons, but you can use citronella candles to keep them at bay too. With a real spell, I’m sure they’ll keep actual demons at bay as well. As a more drastic measure, run out and buy yourself an electric fly swatter because sometimes violence is the answer. If you get yourself a tennis racket-shaped one, you’ll have a satisfying and competitive summer. The mosquito and magpie love triangle is all you need for this Challengers sequel.
Ice packs as fashion accessories
The Australian fashion scene is more than athleisure! Our fashion tips this summer start with strapping an ice pack to your forehead.
For a more discreet and cool (pun intended) look, shove frozen peas down your socks. If Balenciaga can turn duct tape into a bracelet, I’m sure you can pull off the “walking refrigerator” look. And hey, at least no one in Newtown will bat an eye. If the fashion/food fusion isn’t up your alley, you can’t go wrong with a 5-meter widebrimmed hat to provide shade for you and your
Hydration to the max
A Sydney summer starter pack is not complete without a 5-litre jug of water for the apocalypse. For a desi twist, fill it with some nimbupani or Rooh Afza. Carrying it might be a slight burden to your shoulders, but as if the entire summer isn’t already one. Don’t take it to heart if someone laughs at you— simply give them your jug when they pass out from dehydration. Be a hero this summer!
Plan B (or H) – Hibernate
Things might seem bleak, but we have a Plan B ready. Just sleep it off. Seal your windows, up the aircon, and shut your eyes until March. Spend a solid 40 dollars every day (thank god for the cost of living crisis) to have snacks delivered and only emerge when the temperature drops below “death by sunburn.”
Thrive, don’t just survive. Get through the brutal weather with these ridiculously practical and slightly insane tips, and I’m sure you’ll make it to Autumn with your sanity (mostly) intact. Good luck, soldier!
It’s a century
for Kailash Bhatnagar!
Sydney’s Mrs. Kailash Bhatnagar celebrates a milestone birthday
What did birthday girl Kailash Bhatnagar want for her 100th birthday on November 30, 2024?
“Just my family around me. And friends,” Mrs. Bhatnagar told Indian Link. Some 80 people gathered to sing her Happy Birthday.
These included most of her family of 16 - her two children and their partners, four grandchildren and their partners, and five great grandchildren.
The rest were a large bunch of friends she made when she came to Australia 28 years ago.
“Family is very important,” Mrs. Bhatnagar said. “God gives us life, but our family gives us the strength to live.”
Is her family the secret to her long life, we ask. “The secret to my long life is simplicity, saatvic (vegetarian) food, and my religion Hinduism, but mostly, keeping my family close to me. I did this as a young girl, as a married woman, as I built my own family, and when I moved to this country as a retired person to be close to my children who lived here.”
Kailash Bhatnagar was born in 1924 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the only girl in a family of four kids. She gained an education at a time when it was a rare privilege for women.
Following her marriage, she moved to Delhi, where she became a Hindi teacher and later Principal at Jain Girls' Higher Secondary School in Chandni Chowk. Her leadership and dedication to education empowered countless young women to pursue their dreams.
She credits her family for success as an educator.
“When I say I kept my family close, I
mean I endeavoured to gain their trust and faith, at each stage of life. As a young woman, I had to convince my parents that I wanted to go to university. As a married woman, I gained the trust and faith of my husband’s family to pursue a career.”
Looking back at her life, Mrs. Bhatnagar recalls fondly her time at university. “I studied under the British education system because that’s what was available - and then I got to experience my country gain Independence from the British. To see the British leave our country, my joy knew no bounds.”
Mrs. Bhatnagar had spent her student years participating in the Freedom movement, even getting arrested once.
“I used to organise protests at Mahila College, once leading 300 students in a demonstration that caused a commotion. The police arrived, loading us onto buses. In defiance, we threw our bangles at the men - a symbolic way of challenging them to act boldly
instead of staying passive. At the police station, we continued our protest, creating chaos by smashing desks and scattering papers. Overwhelmed, the police eventually let us go.”
Young Kailash’s activism was risky behaviour, given her father worked for the British, but she was influenced by the leaders at the rallies – Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal, Gandhiji, Subhash Chandra Bose.
“I was most impressed by Bose, who I saw multiple times, in his army uniform as well as in civilian clothes. Gandhi, on the other hand, seemed rather unremarkable!”
Does she remember any violence following Partition?
“I heard and read about it, but did not see it myself. Even though we lived in a Muslim area! When my father considered moving, our Muslim neighbours, friends for generations, rallied around us, promising to protect us. And they did. Hindu-Muslim differences deeply sadden me. No religion teaches us to hate.”
Mrs. Bhatnagar fondly recalls the inspiring words of Sarojini Naidu, who awarded her Master's degree at Lucknow University. "Don't just sit at home... make good use of your degree," Naidu urged. These words fueled Mrs. Bhatnagar's lifelong commitment to learning, breaking barriers, and inspiring others.
“Moving to Australia as a senior was hard,” Mrs. Bhatnagar admitted. “But even though I will always be Indian at heart, I have grown to love and respect my new home.”
Her contributions to the Indian community in Australia have been remarkable. Through the Australian Hindi Indian Association (AHIA), she has passionately championed the
promotion of the Hindi language and Indian culture, and has served as a steadfast mentor for new migrants, helping them adapt to and integrate into Australian society with ease.
In her 90s, while living in Broome with her son, Mrs. Bhatnagar discovered a profound connection between Aboriginal paintings and the ancient dot painting art of India. Embracing this newfound passion, she learned Aboriginal painting techniques and created numerous pieces, which she has generously gifted to her family members.
There’s no doubt they will also cherish the congratulatory messages that have come from HRH King Charles and Queen Camilla, Australia’s Governor General Sam Mostyn and Simeon Beckett, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Premier of NSW Chris Minns and her local Member of Parliament Jordan Lane.
As a centenarian Mrs. Bhatnagar has good eyesight, and her own teeth – of which she is very proud – but uses the Zimmer frame to move around. She continues to enjoy good mental health and remains an influential figure, inspiring those around her with her resilience, wisdom and unwavering spirit. Her story is a testament to the power of education, the strength of women, and the enduring impact of a life dedicated to learning and community service.
We couldn’t let Mrs. Bhatnagar go without asking for a piece of advice for younger generations.
“Keep your family close to you,” she said thoughtfully.
Rajni Anand Luthra, Vivek Bhatnagar
Singapore’s Little India A timeless cultural haven
A
buzzing historic area, Little India shows off the best of Singapore’s time-honoured
TBY SANDIP HOR
he Bengali delicacy ‘Shorshe Ilish’ on my plate was so mouthwateringly good you’d think I was in a restaurant in Kolkata instead of Singapore’s Little India. With each mouthful of this Hilsa fish cooked in mustard sauce, Kolkata beckoned.
I was in the Kolkata Beckons Restaurant, where the City of Joy connects with the South-east Asian megacity within its vibrant and colourful Little India quarter.
Welcoming around 14 million visitors annually, Singapore is one of the world’s most visited destinations. While many pass through solely for business or as a stopover, the high-energy metropolis is also an appealing destination for leisure travellers. It’s a city where urban sophistication overwhelms human imagination, where modern outlook, glittering landscape, sublime cuisine, and courteous people conjure a dreamland-
Indian community
type image to outsiders. But what intrigues me here, is its true Asian character that lies gracefully beneath the sleek veneer of Westernised modernity. It stems from the city’s large Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations, who have retained their cultural traits with such novelty in distinct enclaves like the Chinatown, Arab Quarter, and Little India, that they have become hotspots for tourists.
There are several tourist attractions to inspire visits to Singapore - one ranked towards the top of the long list is the Little India district. None of my visits to Singapore have been complete without browsing the domain.
‘Assault on all senses’ is the best expression to describe my experience in this neighbourhood.
It’s a buzzing historic area that shows off the best of Singapore’s time-honoured Indian community, from vibrant cultural goodies and incredible human scenes to endless shopping and spicy food adventures.
Located not far from the glamourous Orchard Road and Raffle City precinct, Little India stretches a couple of kilometres
on both sides of Serangoon Road between Little India and Farrer Park MRT Stations.
This area began its journey in the early 19th century as a settlement ground for the Indian workers hired by the British. The area was then spread with huge grasslands edging the Singapore River, which provided abundant water. These natural resources lured the settlers to start farming, brick kilning, and raising cattle for dairy products. As the community grew, temples and mosques were built to meet their religious needs, while businesses supplying traditional Indian goods and services started flourishing. Over the years, it became a bustling venue for trade and commerce, with Indian heritage at the heart of everything.
While the rest of Singapore since independence in 1965 has evolved and raced towards ultra-modernism, time still stands locked in pockets of Little India. The best way to sample this is by wandering on foot along the main road, its narrow alleys, and by lanes. The two-story shophouses with their ornate plasterwork facades draw the first attention. They give the enclave its unique character. These
shops sell everything that you can think of as “Indian" - rice, lentils, flour, spices, herbal medicines, cooking utensils, earthen lamps, costumes, jewellery, framed prints of Indian gods and goddesses, and stacks of publications to keep the diaspora in touch with politics, cinemas, and fashions in mother India.
India is a land of many religions. Keeping that in mind, Little India is dotted with Hindu and Buddhist temples, Islamic mosques, and Catholic churches. The Sri Veeramakalimann Temple, dedicated to Kali the Goddess of Power, is the oldest Hindu shrine, while the other, equally amiable, is the Sri Perumal Temple. The Abdul Gafoor Mosque boasts a unique blend of Moorish Islamic and South Indian style and demands a visit to appreciate its architectural splendour. As Little India goes to bed late, mornings are generally quiet, and it’s the best time to visit some of these holy places.
Like colourful saris and glittering gold ornaments, Indian cuisine is an important aspect of this neighbourhood. By virtue of its evolution with people from South Indian backgrounds, the menu has been
traditionally influenced by South Indian style. Forerunners in this space are 1936-established Komala Vilas, a culinary cornerstone in Singapore renowned for its authentic dosa, idly, vada, and sambar, and 1969-born Mutthus Curry, famous for its items prepared with fish heads. There are some North Indian and Mughlai eateries as well, but I never discovered a place in Little India and beyond in Singapore to fulfil the craving of a Bengali with authentic Kolkatastyle Bengali dishes.
That absence inspired entrepreneur Deepali Ray, a Chartered Accountant by profession who moved to Singapore in the nineties, to recently open the Kolkata Beckons eatery to accomplish the passion for lovers of Bengali cuisine from different parts of the world, including Australia.
I am originally from Kolkata, so I was delighted to find many of my favourites in the long menu, from luchi, motor shutir kachori, mochar chop, kathi rolls and fish fry, to cholar dal with narkel, shukto, kanch kolar kofta and pabda fish, rui kalia, dab chingri, shorshe ilish, kasha mangsho, and Kolkata mutton biriyani with potatoes and boiled egg.
TRAVEL NOTEBOOK
cineTALK
NEERU SALUJA’s wrapping up 2024, and there's plenty on her holiday watchlist
PUSHPA 2: THE RULE (In cinemas)
The highly anticipated sequel of the blockbuster Pushpa is finally here. Pushpa 2 continues the story of Pushpa Raj, the labourer-turned sandalwood smuggler played by Allu Arjun, accompanied by Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil. With the advance booking sales on rise, let’s see if the film replicates the success of its predecessor.
Releasing 6 Dec
MUFASA: THE LION KING (Disney Plus)
Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan and AbRam Khan roar in Disney’s new prequel story to The Lion King that kids today grew up on, marking the first of many familial collaborations from this trio.
Releasing 19 Dec
VIDUTHALAI
2 (In cinemas)
South Indian film fans are in for a treat as another anticipated sequel hits the cinemas this month. Vetrimaaran’s period action drama stars Vijay Sethupathi, Manju Warrier, Rajiv Menon, Bhavani Sre with music composed by the maestro Ilaiyaraaja.
Releasing 20 Dec
PANJAB FILES (In cinemas)
Gurpreet Ghuggi’s next film delves deep into the heart and history of pre-1947 Punjab, shedding light on the sacrifices made by Punjabis in their fight for freedom.
Releasing 13 Dec
MISMATCHED SEASON 3 (Netflix)
Netflix’s Gen Z rom-com series Mismatched starring Prajakta Kohli and Rohit Saraf is back with Season 3. Will their love match be as chaotic as previous seasons, or win amongst the chaos of adulting and gaming?
Releasing 13 Dec
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (In cinemas)
Payal Kapadia’s film has been winning hearts worldwide since its historic win at the Cannes Film Festival. Recently being awarded the Jury Grand Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, this film is releasing in cinemas in Australia. If you missed it at the Sydney Film Festival, here’s your chance. Releasing 26 Dec
AGNI (Amazon Prime Video)
Touted as India’s first cinematic tribute to the fearless spirit and sacrifices of courageous firefighters, Agni features Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu in lead roles. Let’s hope this thrilling drama is a gripping watch – the storyline sounds fresh.
Releasing 6 Dec
VANVAAS (In cinemas)
Gadar 2 hit-maker Anil Sharma is back with his next, an emotional rollercoaster delving deep into the complexities of human relationships. Let’s hope the magic of Gadar rubs off on lead actor Nana Patekar, and his angry man image changes with this family drama.
Releasing 12 Dec
BANDISH BANDITS SEASON 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
Music lovers are in for a treat as this romantic drama continues its journey of classical and contemporary music. The new season will see the leads Radhe and Tamanna face off as they compete for recognition. The original cast Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhry, Sheeba Chaddha, Atul Kulkarni and Kunaal Roy Kapur reprise their roles.
Releasing 13 Dec
DESPATCH (ZEE5 Global)
Critically acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee braves the challenges as an investigative crime journalist while pursuing a high stakes story. With a lot of competing releases on the same date on OTT platforms, let’s see if Family Man continues to be the favourite.
Releasing 13 Dec
BABY JOHN (In
cinemas)
If you are wondering who the baby is in Varun Dhawan’s upcoming film, it’s Varun himself, as he plays the role of deputy commissioner Satya Varma alias ‘Baby John’. After a personal tragedy, he fakes his death and goes into hiding to raise his daughter in a safe environment, only to face threats by his old nemesis.
Releasing 25 Dec
DECEMBER 2024 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
- APRIL 19
20 - MAY 20
TAROT
GEMINI
- JULY 20
Let go of operating from a place of lack. The universe is full of abundance on all fronts. Someone could get involved in a clandestine affair with a married person. If in a relationship, it won’t lead to marriage. Anxiety and depression could make you feel insecure but a lot of it is due to being overburdened mentally and physically. Slow down for better health. Expect a promotion at work and spiritual insights that improve your outlook.
Stress and anxiety follow you though the worst is over in a relationship. Be realistic whether it is a person, a situation or yourself. Lie low at work or things could get difficult. Expect money from multiple sources. Emotional healing will help reduce accumulated stress. Leaving a relationship or a job is also indicated. If there is any hope of salvaging it though, especially a relationship, don’t lose hope. The selfemployed should look for new ways to operate for better results.
A good month as financial success is on its way. Validation for your work will come from influential people. A lack of balance in your relationship will make you introspect on whether it is worth it. A new opportunity for the self-employed will come from past projects. Health improves if you have been unwell. In case of an estrangement in a marriage or relationship, reconciliation is on the anvil. A cycle is closing, and a new one is beginning.
Singles will be preoccupied with other stuff to focus on than romance. Set boundaries; don’t compromise for the sake of it. At work, a finished project brings profits. An event or person will make you introspect about your life and goals. Health improves on all fronts. Loose ends in your personal life will bog you down. The self-employed will see an increase in business. Luck is on your side with all things related to financial negotiations. Correct your flaws for best results.
As the year winds up, ask yourself what you need to let go of. A relationship could feel the pressure if you are too clingy or possessive. If single, move on from your ex to attract new love. Money owed will come to you and you will have financial security. If you have anxiety, take simple steps to stay calm. The anxiety is rooted in past trauma and can cause constipation. Establish boundaries if you feel taken advantage of.
Drawing the card for Leo makes Virgo take centrestage in issues concerning family and finance. Singles may still be holding on to the past, making them unwilling to commit. At work, you plod along but the validation of your efforts will come. Go with your passion if you are on the horns of a dilemma. Any blocks or feelings of stagnation are temporary. Luck is on your side in resolving problems. Be aware of your actions for karma never forgets an address.
Singles will not compromise just to be in a relationship if the spark is missing. This month focuses on structures, putting systems in place and sticking to a strict moral code. If unhappy at work, an opening more to your liking and skills is on the anvil. This new job will also be less demanding. Breathing problems indicate underlying stress. Clarity into a problematic situation leads to success. Release what no longer serves you and go with the flow.
If you’ve been overdoing it, it is time to slow down. Singles may have to choose between two people, but the decision won’t be easy. Travel for work or pleasure is indicated. Those in a new-age profession will do well. A family member could be facing financial problems. The self-employed could get a chance to expand their business. An ex or an old friend could bring you an opportunity that you need. Social connections bring lucky breaks.
The sun card promises all things bright and positive in December. An announcement of a pregnancy is possible; or an engagement could break. A trip could turn out to be a disappointment on all fronts. If you have been low for some time, spend time and money on improving your appearance and wardrobe. Your finances will improve substantially. Don’t mix business with pleasure. In any situation that causes aggravation, keep an open mind and it will help you grow.
Balance is key on all fronts in the last month of the year. Do everything in moderation. Someone you liked in the past may show up and it could lead to closure. Just by shifting your focus, you can change a negative situation around. It may also lead to spiritual growth. An emotionally unavailable partner could hurt your feelings. A chronic health problem could resurface. Some inner engineering work could bring out personal demons. Deal with them for a new you.
The card you draw implies new beginnings in the emotional realmhealing, an engagement in the family, a pregnancy, or even a new home. Someone will be interested in you, but it may not be the person you like. Those in the creative fields can expect a surge of ideas and positive feedback. Health is good this month and a new project brings in more money too. An unexpected meeting could lead to spiritual insights. A long-held wish may come true.
Some of you may want to do your own thing this month. Singles will stop pining and be open to new admirers. Your career could get a boost through a new job offer or an opportunity that will improve your finances. Nostalgia and wanting to return to the way things were, could lower your spirits. Moneywise, you will have enough and more. Despite health issues, circumstances compel you to do your duty. Luck is on your side and a long-held wish is granted.
ILove thy neighbour, feed thy neighbour?
DEAR AUNTYJI
I live in the beautiful Sydney suburb of Epping and I have a retired Italian couple next door. They have a very lush garden.They grow beans, eggplants, potatoes, onions, spinach, peas, cauliflower and all manner of lovely veggies. And they are very generous - each week they send me vegetables across the fence because they know we are vegetarians. This has been going on for months. And they keep saying I’m a wonderful cook because I gave them some samosas many months ago. Now, our neighbour from the other side was talking to me and I mentioned how wonderful the vegetables have been, and she said pointedly that she had heard I was a good cook - and maybe I should send some food to the gardeners every now and again. At first, I laughed this off but then I wondered, was that a subtle hint? What should I do here?
AUNTYJI SAYS
Seriously, you kanjoos kalankani. You need me to give you advice about this? Clearly, you’ve lived in this bounteous country for a while, and still haven’t learnt the meaning of generosity. What flavour of a
miserly, self-centred haraami are you? So, you have neighbours who have essentially been feeding your family for months - and your shopping bills must have
decreased as a result - and it never ever occurred to you to show back a little generosity by sending food across the fence?
Man, I don’t get people like you. The world is so good to you, and you have nothing to give back? All you do is take take take.
Listen up you kala gulab jamun. I will tell you this only once - and I need you to act on it. Each week, you must make at least one dishand it must be loningly prepared, and you must give it to your gardening neighbours. Tell them that for all the vegetables they have been giving you, this is the least you can do. But you must do this - because the world hates takers. If you are being given much, then you must give back much in return. Have you understood this crucial life lesson, you sukda hua karela? This is how society works. And if you can’t be generous, then you need to leave this country and go back to where you came from.
The Trophy Husband chronicles
What’s not to admire
magine a world where societal roles were flipped, and the ideal “trophy husband” took centrestage. This husband would rise at dawn, brewing fresh chai and serving it with a cheerful smile to his inlaws, delighted to dedicate his life to their comfort. The household would function like a finely-tuned machine - laundry folded immaculately, groceries replenished before anyone noticed, and the children’s lunchboxes transformed into culinary masterpieces.
He would never question why his wife needed late nights at work or frequent coffee meetings with old flames. Instead, he’d understand that her ambition was for the greater good. In his spare time (if such a thing were permitted), he would work tirelessly on his fitness, ensuring he remained perpetually attractive and pleasing to her eye.
The ideal trophy husband would dutifully maintain relationships with his wife’s parents, calling daily to check on their health and patiently listening to their grievances about nosy neighbours. Festivals would become his domain - Diwali lights strung up with precision, the Christmas tree adorned beautifully, and every celebration executed flawlessly. He would remember every relative’s birthday, pick thoughtful gifts, and never dare spend a rupee or dollar on himself.
In moments of conflict, should his wife lose her temper and hit him in frustration, he would quietly accept it, offering her tea or coffee as an olive branch. His loyalty would be unwavering, even if her commitment occasionally wavered. His emotional resilience would be legendary, bearing criticism from his in-laws for trivial matters like slightly undercooked chapatis or insufficiently folded laundry.
Fasting for his wife’s long life would be a matter of pride. Karva Chauth would see him gazing at the moon through a sieve, a Bollywood-worthy expression of devotion on his face. And if his wife forgot to mention she’d be late for dinner, he would quietly fast longer, grateful for the opportunity to show his love.
At family gatherings, he would seamlessly juggle the roles of host and helper - serving
food, cleaning dishes, and staying in the background while his wife entertained relatives. Should anyone question him about his workload, he’d respond with a humble smile, insisting it was his duty and privilege.
Of course, this trophy husband wouldn’t dream of asking for time to himself. Should he express such a desire, his wife would gently remind him of the sacrifices she made for their family. He’d respond with profuse apologies, likely offering to bake her favourite dessert as penance.
In addition to his household duties, he’d ensure the children were culturally well-rounded, teaching them Sanskrit shlokas while simultaneously researching the best international schools. His social media would be filled with motivational family quotes, showcasing his unwavering commitment to traditional values.
This world of reversed roles paints a vivid picture of the perfect trophy husband: endlessly forgiving, perpetually devoted, and completely self-sacrificing. Society would, of course, celebrate him for his unwavering commitment to the family - just as much as it currently celebrates trophy wives.
Because really, what’s not to admire about a man who does it all, looks perfect doing it, and never expects anything in return?
