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January 26, 2025

Happy Republic Day!

Anthony Albanese

Prime Minister, Member for Grayndler

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Leaving early, and relocating away from the area is always the safest option.

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EDITORIAL

26 Jan: A tale of two countries

All things Indian. In Australia.

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra CONTRIBUTORS Lakshmi Ganapathy, Ananya Thirumalai, Sruthi Sajeev, Khushee Gupta, Torsha Sen, Bhumika Srihari, Apoorva Tandon, Manan Luthra, Hasnain Zaheer, Minal Khona, Ritam Mitra, Charmaine O’Brien, Prutha Chakraborty, Sumathi Krishnan, Auntyji SALES AND MARKETING Charu Vij GRAPHIC DESIGN Shailesh Tinker Indian Link is a monthly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to:

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BY PAWAN LUTHRA

O

n 26 January each year, India celebrates its complete transition to a republic, marking the removal of the last vestiges of British colonisation.

On the same day every year, Australia becomes a deeply divided nation, the division growing deeper each year.

While India legalised the rights of its citizens on this day, in an acclaimed document drafted by Indigenous leader Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, many Indigenous people in Australia believe that this was the day when their rights were extinguished 237 years ago.

If a nation is described as the collective identity of a people emerging from a combination of shared features across a given population such as language, history, ethnicity or culture, then one country reinforced it on this day, the other lost it.

On 26 Jan 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip sailed the First Fleet into Sydney Cove and found safe harbour. Unlike New Zealand’s Māori, who resisted

British colonisation, the Indigenous people of Australia were initially caught off guard by the new arrivals, only to return to their traditional way of life, which was primarily based on hunting and gathering, with a spiritual connection to the land rather than concepts of land ownership. The First Fleet was here to find a new settlement, and over time, with violent repressions and massacres of the local community, took over the land. To this day, for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 26 Jan is seen as the start of the colonisation of their land and as a day of mourning, referred to as ‘Invasion Day’ or ‘Survival Day.’ The oft-quoted ‘shared values’ notwithstanding, the contrast between India and Australia cannot be starker on 26 Jan. After having gained Independence from the British on 15 August 1947, the new nation continued to be governed by the Government of India Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1935.

India was to remain a constitutional monarchy until it finalised its own governing laws. The first Law Minister of independent India, Dr Ambedkar was mandated with the responsibility of making the government of India, of its

people and for its people. The Indian Constitution he produced is said to be the most detailed constitution in the world, lauded for its content and spirit.

Where the American Constitution has only seven articles and the Australian Constitution 128 articles, the Indian Constitution consists of 448 articles (increased from its original 395).

For millions of Indians, the new Constitution adopted on 26 Jan 1950 instilled a sense of true nationhood.

Many Indigenous Australians are still seeking recognition in their Constitution.

While most Australians will take to the beach on 26 Jan and enjoy the traditional barbie, many others will choose not to celebrate. For Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, the day marks the beginning of the destruction of their culture and way of life. Australia’s national identity will continue to be challenged till it resolves its differences of this day.

For Indian-Australians, it will be a day of enjoying the advancements of their country of birth India, but deep down, many of them will be conflicted by the local issues in their new home. The scars left by 250 years of subjugation by a foreign power in their own land are not forgotten.

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SCHOOL The Class of 2024 looks back at the last year of school

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2025: Indian and Australian holidays and observances

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OPINION

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COVER STORY BIG STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS A wonderful new world where our young readers are beginning to see themselves represented in books

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Dr Manmohan Singh: The quiet revolutionary

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JANUARY 2025 7

YOUR SAY CROWD BEHAVIOUR

AFTER THE FINAL OVER, IT’S ALL LOVE RITAM MITRA captured some warm moments at the conclusion of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney.

Simon Blight wrote: These are important photos for supporters of both teams to see. At times in the series it looked like supporters of both teams thought it was some kind of war; however, thankfully after the contest, combatants exchanged congratulations and hopefully a mutual respect for whatever comes next. A great series with magnificent performances from both teams. Long live test cricket.

Nick Wood wrote: As a neutral, it’s been a fantastic series. Hard on the pitch and gentlemen of the pitch. Why we all love cricket.

Sayantan Bose wrote: Problem is, the players are not toxic, it’s us the fans who are toxic. We make it a border fight while the cricketers are fine between them. And more so in this day and age of social media with a global reach.

Lesley Forbes wrote: It would not have been such a great series without two great sides competing.

RITAM MITRA on BGT spectators, and why each set of fans – and media – might find the other insufferable: the disparate natures of Indian and Australian humour.

Dipen Rughani GAICD wrote: Culture is the most underrated soft diplomacy between two countries. Cricket plays an important role in elevating AustraliaIndia relations. While many in the bilateral space feel we should move on from the 3 Cs (Commonwealth, Cricket, and Curry), I’ve always said we haven’t utilised Cricket properly. Cricket has the ability to teach us about the different cultures both countries enjoy - although India is far more complex with her 28 states and 8 union territories. Nice piece, Ritam Mitra.

Tony Hewett wrote: Interesting and true. Looking at on-field behaviour and moments like this, with players coming together afterward, Australians playing India and in the IPL more often, it seems the players are more similar and understanding of each other than we think. The off-field administrators and press are behind the players in reaching this common ground. Cricket is indeed an important “C.” Sanjeev Kumar wrote: Well said! Strength lies in cultural differences, not in similarities.

LIVE FROM THE KUMBH MELA Indian Link Radio presenter HIRAL ADHYARU spoke live on air to Sydneysiders on pilgrimage at Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela.

Hiral Adhyaru wrote: It was the next best thing to being at the Kumbh – speaking live to listeners Sreeni Pillamarri (Parramatta Councillor, pictured here) and Pandit Sameer Vyas. Sreeni gave us an account of his experience of ritual bath and bhakti bhaav, and his travels around Prayagraj. Panditji explained the significance of this mega event. Deeply grateful to them both for transporting us back to spiritual Bharat.

Indu Harikrishna wrote: You are blessed indeed to interview Sreeni garu (while he was on this spiritual journey).

Your questions brought out his experience beautifully. Great pictures too, showing the reality at Kumbh Mela.

Definitely an experience for those of us Hiral Adhyaru who did not visit! Well done and thank you.

Ash Ashish wrote: Amazing interview. Being live, it made us feel like we were there in person. Har Har Mahadeo.

Jyoti Dogra wrote: Both talks were indeed enlightening. One has been to Ganga ghats of Patna, Haridwar, Saryu river at Ayodhya and on Godavari teerth. This one was a totally different experience to hear live.

Srinivasan Iyer wrote: A blissfully enlightening evening. Thank you for the two talks.

Rajneesh Sharma wrote: Thank you for two great interviews.

Darshita Shah wrote: Definitely goosebumps interview. Thank you for wonderful details Councillor Sreeni Pillamarri. Felt like I was right in the middle of the Kumbh Mela.

Devansh Pandya wrote: Informative insights from the ground we could only imagine. Great interaction, allowing us to be part of Maha Kumbh 2025.

FOMO is gone to some extent! Well done Hiral and Indian Link Radio.

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GOOSEBUMPS When tenor Shanul Sharma of Opera Australia sang the Indian national anthem at the SCG Leela Raghu wrote: I heard Shanul sing the Indian national anthem on ABC Sydney Radio just before the Sydney cricket test. Amazing voice.

Shanti Raman wrote: It was amazing!

Chitra Iyer wrote: He sang very well. Such a rich voice. I sang along with pride.

Rajni Luthra wrote: Reverberated through the stadium!

Anu Shivaram wrote: His rich voice carried the national anthem very well.

Sumathi Krishnan wrote (about Lakshmi Ganapathy’s Cutting Chai conversation with Shanul): Being a singer I would be very interested to hear about his vocal chord practices and what tips he can give to singers. Did he consider listening to classical Hindustani or Carnatic music – wonder if he had an opportunity to learn these, the voice techniques are so different. Enjoyed reading this while sipping my chai! Thanks.

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INSIDE EDGE AT KIRRIBILLI HOUSE When PM Anthony Albanese hosted the Australian and Indian cricket teams at his Sydney residence: our video report garnered 386,000 views, with many comments coming from India Hatyasati wrote: Loved the way their PM is involved in the series.

231ajay wrote: Bumrah with McGrath, wow! Two legendary bowlers of two different eras in one frame.

Gautam Chatterjee wrote: So beautiful to watch. This is what I love about Australia, their sporting spirit. Doesn’t matter which team won; this was Test cricket at its very best.

Nitish Kumar wrote: Thank you, Australia, for these wonderful moments.

The people of this country are so generous and down-to-earth.

Gopal Krishan Sharma wrote: Very pleasing to see. Jai Australia, Jai Bharat.

Lurion De Mello wrote: As Sam Konstas said clearly many times, what happens on the field stays on the field. What a great mature talent. Soon he will be playing IPL with his idol Kohli. We want a hardfought series with passion. No point turning great players as villains.

(Was Travis Head walking around with his finger in a cold beer?)

Airman Vinod wrote: Both team on field after match off field Sir_Panda007 wrote: When Aus PM made Jaiswal catch a ball after he dropped three in Melbourne.

Savage!

Vignesh wrote: Real cheeky - PM throwing the ball to Jaiswal to see if he can catch it.

Ishan Kishan wrote: Imagine if Jaiswal dropped that…

Virinchi Billa replied: Rohit ready he udhar, gaali dene ke liye.

Adharsh wrote: KL Rahul and Starc: Talking IPL Henry Thompson wrote: Good to see the players behind the scenes, relaxing, chilling and talking to each other.

Dharma Withanage wrote: Indian players, get your hands out of your pockets!

Shashan Kuniyal wrote: Cameraman goes to pause when Virat looks at him ShankarJangam wrote: Liking the KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc chemistry in this video @OzDegen2025 wrote: Good on Albo! @majormerc wrote: Australia ka PM Virat ki PR kar raha hai, not fair.

Vikas Pasi wrote: For Kohli the tittle should be Outside Edge Nidhi Pratik wrote: Inko dekh kar lagta hain ki Australia players aur Indian players mein problem (hi nahin) hai - aaraam se baat toh kar rahe hai.

Mrunal Shah wrote: Well, the cameramen are Gujarati… @l-earnfactology1449 wrote: Why does everyone have their hands in their pockets?

Sandy J wrote: Thanks for sharing this. Very nice hospitality, and great to see everyone having a good time as good sportsmen.

Santosh Kumar Tripathy wrote: Rahul and Starc both are planning strategy for 2025 IPL. @Pookie1234-v8b wrote: Not a big fan of our PM, but asking Bumrah to bowl left-handed so us Aussies have a chance was gold! As an Aussie, it pains me to admit that Bumrah is easily the best bowler in the world. I’m nearly 50, and he might just be the best bowler I have ever seen—and I’ve seen McGrath, Ambrose, Akram, etc. India has great young talent as well.

It’s scary to think that one day, with all their talented cricketers, they might be unbeatable for years!

Rajnish Raj wrote: Loving the respect shown by the Australian PM.

WRONG ANSWERS ONLY What’s the chitchat here between Rohit Sharma and Pawan Luthra?

Bhanoo Sharma wrote: Pawan: Bhai, ab tu retire hoja.

Jiten Vij wrote: Rohit: Paji, wada pav nahi mila yahan kahin?

Rajeev Ramakar Tiwari Pawan: Tumse na ho paayega, Rohit.

Imran Parmar wrote: Pawan: No matter what people say, you are a legend.

Leela Raghu wrote: Pawan’s selling Sydney for Rohit to move here.

TJ Mistry wrote: Pawan agreed to play instead of Rohit.

Gurmeet Kalsi wrote: I am more interested to know what Mr. Luthra asked him…

Ajay Naidu wrote: Now, if Rohit gets runs (in the Sydney test), we know whom to greet. But if he continues to flirt with disaster then...

WHERE IN INDIA We asked, where in India is this small but well-preserved medieval stepwell?

Thank you to readers Adiiti Bhargava, Jillian Abery and Deepak Vincent for providing the correct answer: this is the 108-stepped Agrasen ki baoli, quite close to CBD in New Delhi

WHERE IN OZ This building might seem ordinary when seen up close. But when looked at from a distance, the face of a prominent Indigenous elder can be seen.

Where in Australia is it?

Readers Pradeep Taneja, Deepak Vincent and Bhanu Kothari came up with the correct answer: William Barak Building in Melbourne.

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COVER STORY

Of cricket rivalries and friendships Set against the backdrop of cricket, James Knight’s new book goes a long way in starting conversations about cultural understanding BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

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n a particularly poignant moment from James Knight’s Spirit of the Warriors, protagonists Jack Riordan and Ajeet Sharma pick up a cricket bat for a swing.

As each grasps one end of the bat, their shadows merge to form the image of ‘pylons supporting a road,’ as if they have built a bridge built between them.

Cricket as a bridge between worlds – that’s the central theme of this captivating young adult novel.

“I think there’s a tremendous opportunity to use sport as a way to tell stories and connect people and make them understand the world at large,” Knight tells Indian Link.

Set in a rain-starved town in rural Australia, Spirit of the Warriors is the story of Jack Riordan, the local primary school’s leading cricketer. As he dreams of standing at the crease, hitting Australia’s winning runs in the World Cup, he faces challenges both on the right field (a brooding farmer dad burdened by hard times) and on the left field (the new kid from India who could knock him off his perch as local cricket star).

It’s the perfect backdrop to delve into themes of identity, self-discovery, relationships, and the challenges of growing up and achieving independence.

Of course James Knight has a wealth of experiences to draw on for the purposes of this book. He grew up playing cricket in country Australia himself, and as a sports journalist, he travelled extensively in India, coming to know and love it deeply.

“I first visited India in 1996 as a television reporter covering the World Cup,” James Knight recounts. “It’s not too big a statement to say, India changed my life.

I had experiences over there with people and place that made me realise, well, that it’s my second home. So for most of the parts about India that are in the book – the Lotus temple in Delhi, the Oval Maidan in Mumbai, the monsoons, Diwali – I didn’t have to do much research. It was all in here (pointing to his heart and head).”

And so, in a world where many of our young readers don’t see themselves represented in books, Knight drew on

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characters close to his heart, in a sport that’s close to his heart, to tell a story of coming of age.

There’s something special about cricket, he notes, that’s particularly character building.

“Sport in general, is character building as well as character revealing,” Knight observes. “And I think that actually happened in the Spirit of the Warriors, with the revelation of Jack in particular, and the way Ajeet developed over time as well. But cricket has that distinct advantage over other sports in that the people who play it spend a lot of time together. Quite often with a team, you spend more time not playing the game than you do playing.

My fondest memory from cricket is the time we spent after training, just talking.

It developed very strong bonds. I still look at that period of my life as being very important in personal growth.

Many of the

people who hung around with me afterwards to talk, are still my closest friends. Cricket lends itself to giving time to its players, and time is the greatest resource we will ever have, because it’s the seed from which everything grows.”

The impact for young men in particular, can be far-reaching.

“That’s another reason why I wrote Spirit of the Warriors, because I want that cultural understanding, to at least start conversations. You could use the IPL as a very good example of this. Until the IPL came along, players from different cultures and countries rarely ever got the chance to share a dressing room. Now we’ve got this collision of cultures coming together.

And what was once cultural understanding, suddenly becomes opportunities to know and grow as both an individual and people together.”

What about India v Australia – why the strong rivalry?

“The 2001 series, when Steve Waugh referred to India as ‘the last frontier’, showed we’ve got an extraordinary development of a contest and at times, conflict, between these nations.

Since then, we’ve had

some extraordinary series, and some extraordinary individual performances, that have just created a bit of a legend. And this has also coincided with the rise of India socio-geo-politically, and with the rise of IPL. Factor in the personalities who help develop it – the larger-than-life people such as Shane Warne, the once-in-a-generation players such as Sachin Tendulkar, they all came at the right time to help foster this extraordinary rivalry. Ind v Aus is the series I most look forward to now. It really is. And you know, incidents such as Symonds-Harbhajan and Kohli-Konstas, they’re not a reflection of teams that don’t get on. They’re a reflection of what this contest now means.”

Knight is aware that his book comes at a time when India is suddenly in popular consciousness in this country. “The growth in immigration aside, Australia is realising that India can be an important player on the world stage. And being geographically reasonably close to it, we have to develop that relationship. But on a ground level, we are changing as a national identity, and we’re embracing all these new cultures and ways of life and attitudes and philosophies that will make us better people.”

James Knight’s hope is that his book finds its mark with this strong South Asian demographic, just as much as it does with a broader marginalised demographic, “as in people who don’t necessarily have access to stories – whether they are in country areas, or in Western Sydney, who may not get the same literacy resources that other schools and libraries do.”

His favourite cricket story, though, is a deeply personal one, from 1996. It is one that he has recounted several times on school visits.

“The cameraman and I got into a game of cricket with some street kids [in India]. They were probably about 12, and they followed us back to our hotel. I got them some bottles of water.

They turned up again for another game. The following day, they brought me a block of chocolate. ‘I can’t accept that,’ I said. ‘Please, sir, thank you.’ It was their gift for playing with them for two days.”

He sat down with them, cross legged, to share the treat.

“That story tells me more about cricket, and more about India, than any frontline elite cricket story will ever tell me.”

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Sandhya Parappukkaran’s delectable picture books A lifelong reader becomes a once-in-a-lifetime writer of award-winning stories on acceptance and identity BY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY

Photo: FOTOFOX

S

andhya Parappukkaran can’t remember a time in her life where she didn’t love going to the library.

“That's what we did back when I was little,” she reminisces. “There were no screens or anything, so you had to occupy yourself somehow – for me it was reading. I just love losing myself in the story, I would read anything! I liked dinosaurs and space and trees, and I liked all those fact books, but I also loved [fiction] stories.”

She goes on, “I’m from a single income family, so buying books was out of the question. There were free events at the library too – I think I watched my first movie there. It’s always been a very welcoming and safe space; once you start going to the library you realise how much they have on offer there.”

These days, the children’s books she has penned take pride of place on the shelves of many libraries across the country, and equally on the honour rolls of numerous state literary awards, including the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2024 for her book Stay For Dinner.

“It's been quite a lovely surprise, and it's a lovely recognition as well,” Parappukkaran says on receiving the award. “The recognition means that it goes to more readers’ hands. That's a lovely consequence because more people know about the book. It's also a nod to the team as well.”

Though a lifelong reader, Parappukkaran came to writing just five years ago as a change of pace from her Food Technology job.

“One day my son and I were reading on the couch and I just thought, ‘What if I wrote one of these?’

The idea just popped into my head. My son was in Year 1 at the time, and I asked him ‘do you think I can write a book’? He goes, ‘you write the stories, and I’ll draw the pictures!’

That was my cue to give this a go,” she recounts.

A proud MalayaliAustralian, Parappukkaran followed the classic advice for first-time writers and wrote what she

Stay For Dinner celebrates the diverse palates of multicultural Australia, protagonist Reshma learning to overcome her reservations about her friends seeing her family eat with their hands when she discovers the myriad ways families share meals. knew, resulting in poignant and uplifting stories like Amma’s Sari and The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name which elegantly impart themes of cultural identity and acceptance.

“The experiences from my life just started flowing onto the page. It wasn’t something that I thought I would do, but it just happened sort of organically, and I was able to put that into a child's perspective and make it work for a picture book. If you put all my stories together, it would almost be like a memoir for me,” she reflects.

It takes one year for her to complete a book, a meticulous process involving lots of redrafting to achieve the tricky balance of sparking both conversation and joy in young readers.

“What we all love about a story is being in

a setting and being with the character and just going through an adventure with that character … I focus on that and hope that all the other things will just fall into place around it,” Parappukkaran says of her process.

Of course, it’s something she manages with aplomb, her stories chosen to be read on Play School and as the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s ‘Children’s Book of the Year’ in 2022.

“Books are a great way to build empathy – I’ve had feedback from parents and teachers for all my books, but especially with The Boy Who Tried To Shrink His Name which is about respecting people's names and learning how to say them correctly. ‘Ever since we read your book, the children are more mindful about pronouncing names,’ I’ve been told, or children have been more empowered

to tell the teacher how to say their names,’” Parappukkaran says.

Inspired by the strawberry cake fuelled adventures from her childhood heroes like Enid Blyton, her latest book Stay For Dinner celebrates the diverse palates of multicultural Australia, protagonist Reshma learning to overcome her reservations about her friends seeing her family eat with their hands when she discovers the myriad ways families share meals.

“When you add food to children’s books, it makes a strong connection [sic]. I wrote Stay For Dinner because I hadn't seen a children's book which featured the way my family eat dinner - with our right hand,” Parappukkaran says.

“Every single one of my books has food in it and I think it just comes naturally. A lot of people say ‘Are you a great cook? Because you write so much about food.’ I'm not a good cook! I guess it’s part of my story, so when I write the food comes.”

With gorgeous illustrations from IndianAustralian artist Michelle Perera, it’s a sumptuous story which has seen a voracious take-up from readers.

As for what’s on the dinner table at this Malayali-Australian author’s house, “At least once a day we eat a Kerala meal; there’ll be Matta rice, either a green mango curry or Thrissur fish curry, some sort of vegetable – we call it upperi – some pickle, and some yogurt. You’ll get something like that.”

JANUARY 2025 11

COVER STORY

Stories that feel like home Books from Little Owl Stories foster inclusivity, one page at a time

themselves and feel celebrated.

“The possibilities for Little Owl Stories are truly endless,” she says with a smile.

“Asia alone is home to so many incredible gatherings and rituals that haven’t been widely represented in books. It’s exciting to think about exploring these themes and bringing them to life for children around the world.”

At its core, Little Owl Stories is about inclusivity. The books are designed not just to celebrate cultural heritage but also to foster curiosity and respect for others. By reading these stories, children learn to value their own identities while appreciating the richness of

BY ANANYA THIRUMALAI

I

magine a child’s eyes lighting up as they turn the pages of a book that feels like it was written just for them - a story where they see themselves, their family traditions, and their favourite celebrations come alive.

This is the magic that Little Owl Stories brings to life.

From vibrant fireworks bursting across the night sky to the warmth of family gatherings, the books My First Diwali and My Diwali Dream capture the joy and wonder of one of the world’s most cherished festivals. With every page, children are not only introduced to the sparkling beauty of Diwali but also to the deeper meanings of kindness, humility, and togetherness that make it so special.

“I’ve always loved giving books to children because they inspire imagination, encourage learning, and can be cherished for years,” says co-founder Krithika Mohan. But when she couldn’t find stories that reflected the richness of diverse cultures, she decided to create them herself.

What makes these books truly magical is how personal they feel. Each child becomes the star of their story, with characters who look just like them. From hair and eye colour to skin tone, every detail is thoughtfully designed to ensure no two books are the same.

For Krithika, representation is at the heart of every story.

“When a child sees themselves represented in the pages of a story - whether it’s through their physical appearance, cultural traditions, or family celebrations - it makes them feel valued,” she says.

These personalised touches are brought to life through the illustrations of Dwi Santoso, an artist from Indonesia who immediately understood Krithika’s vision. “Dwi instantly connected with what we were trying to

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“It’s not just about celebrating one culture. It’s about showing kids the incredible diversity that exists in our world and helping them find connections across differences.”

achieve,” Krithika shares. “The illustrations are vibrant, fun, and culturally rich, bringing the story to life.”

Little Owl Stories isn’t just about books; it’s about creating a sense of belonging for every child.

Parents have been quick to embrace this thoughtful approach. “These books are fabulous! I can’t wait to teach my child about Diwali in a more engaging way!” shared one parent. Another added, “The images are fun and colourful — perfect for teaching my child about Diwali.”

Growing up, Krithika often felt the absence of diversity in children’s books, a gap she was determined to fill. “Books are powerful tools for shaping how children see themselves and the world around them.

By showcasing the richness of different cultures and traditions, we can foster pride, understanding, and connection,” she adds.

But these stories do more than reflect a child’s reality - they also open doors to new worlds. Little Owl Stories helps all children discover the beauty of diverse cultures, inspiring empathy and appreciation.

“It’s not just about celebrating one culture,”

Krithika explains. “It’s about showing kids the incredible diversity that exists in our world and helping them find connections across differences.”

Building on the success of their Diwali books, Little Owl Stories is now expanding its horizons. Upcoming stories will explore traditions like Lunar New Year and Eid, bringing the same sense of joy and representation to new readers.

“I am incredibly excited to bring personalised children's stories to a broader audience by showcasing the diverse cultures that make up the rich, multicultural fabric of our world,” Krithika shares.

For Krithika, researching these festivals has been a deeply rewarding experience. “I’ve loved learning about the unique traditions, stories, and celebrations that make each festival special. It’s also fascinating to see the shared values that unite us all - kindness, community, and love.”

These upcoming stories promise to celebrate not just the individual beauty of each culture but also the universal themes that connect us all.

Through Little Owl Stories, Krithika hopes to leave a lasting impact on children’s literature. Her vision is clear: to create a library of stories where every child can find

the world around them.

“When children see characters celebrating different festivals, speaking different languages, or embracing unique traditions, they begin to understand and appreciate the beauty of diversity,” Krithika explains. “These stories create opportunities for meaningful conversations and help build a more compassionate, inclusive world.”

Every book from Little Owl Stories is a celebration - not just of culture, but of childhood itself. It’s a reminder that every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and cherished.

Whether it’s the sparkle of Diwali lights, the excitement of Lunar New Year, or the warmth of family traditions, Little Owl Stories brings these moments to life in ways that children can treasure forever.

Because at the end of the day, every child deserves to be the hero of their own story - and to see just how magical their world truly is.

www.indianlink.com.au

INDIAN REPUBLIC DAY

NATALIE WARD MLC Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, Infrastructure and the Illawarra and South Coast

TINA AYYAD MP

MEMBER FOR HOLSWORTHY

MARK COURE MP MARK SPEAKMAN SC MP Leader of the Opposition, NSW Liberal Leader

MARK TAYLOR MP

MEMBER FOR WINSTON HILLS

Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism Member for Oatley

TANYA DAVIES MP

Shadow Assistant Minister for Jobs and Small Business MEMBER FOR BADGERYS CREEK

JORDAN LANE MP

Shadow Assistant Minister for Multiculturalism and Health MEMBER FOR RYDE

JAMES WALLACE MP MEMBER FOR HORNSBY

STEPHANIE DI PASQUA MP Temporary Speaker

RAY WILLIAMS MP

MEMBER FOR KELLYVILLE

MEMBER FOR DRUMMOYNE

TIM JAMES MP

Shadow Minister for Small Business, Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Work Health and Safety and Building MEMBER FOR WILLOUGHBY

MARK HODGES MP

Shadow Assistant Minister for Western Sydney, Planning and Public Spaces, and Housing MEMBER FOR CASTLE HILL

MONICA TUDEHOPE MP MEMBER FOR EPPING

ALISTER HENSKENS SC MP Shadow Attorney General

MEMBER FOR WAHROONGA

FELICITY WILSON MP

MEMBER FOR NORTH SHORE

Authorised by Mark Speakman MP, Parliament of NSW, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

JANUARY 2025 13

SCHOOL

KAAVYA JOSHI

YESH NETRAPALI

ATAR: 96.65 Subjects: English Advanced, Maths Extension 1, Maths Extension 2, Physics, Chemistry and Software Design & Development

ATAR: 99.70 Subjects: Maths Extension 1 and 2, Economics, Legal Studies, English Advanced, Ancient History (Accelerated)

Awards/Selections: Band 6 in Chemistry (as an accelerated student in 2023), Band 6 in Physics and the Magna Cum Laude award at school

Awards/Selections: School Dux, All-Round Achiever, UNSW Academic Achievement Award/ Scholarship

School: Girraween High School

FINISHING SCHOOL ON A HIGH BY MANAN LUTHRA Now that Year 12 is behind you, you likely have had the chance to reflect on the experience. What insights did you gain about yourself?

Yesh Netrapali: I gained the ability to dedicate myself purely to knowledge and efforts, rather than placing emphasis on results. By focusing solely on my efforts and the enjoyment I received from learning, I was able to disregard any intermediary setbacks or motivations, as the long-term goal of selfimprovement was all that truly mattered. I learned that in the HSC, those who commit themselves to their passions and natural abilities are more likely to succeed than those who choose the “highest scaling” or “best” subjects solely for a high ATAR. Kaavya Joshi: Year 12 was a rollercoaster ride! I’m sure it sounds clichéd but it’s true - there are many ups and downs that shape your HSC year. Above it all, it is the support of my family; my brother and my parents, that helped me persevere through all of the challenges I had to face.

They were there to lift me up whenever I stumbled, and I owe so much to them.

Upon reflecting, this year taught me a lot.

It showed me that effort and sacrifice never fail to pay off, and that in the light of every achievement, there is always potential to achieve more. Achieving a 96.65 ATAR was a proud moment, reflecting both how far I’ve come and the potential I continue to strive for.

Ansh Ahuja: Plan well and work hard.

Studying is very important but isn't everything - at the end of the day all your ATAR is useful for is getting into whatever course you want. I also learned that you don't have to win them all (that one chemistry assignment); you can lose but always figure out why you lost so you try to win next time.

14 JANUARY 2025

Arya Wadhwani: If you put your mind to it and are passionate about what you study, you can accomplish anything. You’re at your best when you don’t follow others, and instead focus on your own goals.

Even more than knowledge, resilience and motivation are the most important characteristics to take you through life.

What moments from 2024 do you remember most fondly?

Yesh: Year 12 Graduation, Year 12 Clapout/Farewell Assembly, receiving HSC results, the T20 World Cup and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kaavya: There are many fond moments I can take out of 2024. The first day of Year 12 was a moment that was filled with potential, excitement and ambition.

The thought of facing the final year of high school felt exhilarating - one last step before embarking on the rest of my life. The many long nights of study in preparation for my trials and HSC exams, though exhausting, also hold a special place in my heart. I remember my mama staying up with me, offering late-night coffee and quiet reassurance as I worked.

Regular visits from my elder brother, my sister-in-law and my cheeky nephew throughout the many highs and lows of Year 12 were moments I looked forward to and will always cherish. Of course, graduating was the crowning memory, perhaps only rivalled by the joy of jumping up and down when I heard about Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari or watching LeBron James take the court with his son for the first time!

Ansh: Aside from graduating, completing the English HSC and realising that I would never have to look for metaphors in texts ever again.

Arya: Spending time with friends, family and those who are most close to me. Year 12 camp, extracurricular activities, the slight relief from the end of exam blocks, variety night at school and of course the end of HSC exams as well as graduation.

Outside of school, taking time out to enjoy

DESCRIBE YOUR LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL IN THREE WORDS Yesh: Engaging. Enlightening. Stressful.

Kaavya: Exciting. Introspective. Promising.

Ansh: Long but worthwhile.

Arya: Exciting. Unforgettable. Bittersweet.

life - watching India win the T20 World Cup at 5am; going to watch Arijit Singh live in Sydney just before my trial exams.

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

Yesh: One change I would make is to adjust the percentiles so they do not include those who enrol in Year 12 but do not finish it. For example, under the current system, someone with a 99.6 ATAR would only be in the top 0.7%, rather than the top 0.4% as it is meant to indicate. This discrepancy arises because the system includes individuals who do not complete Year 12 in its calculations.

Kaavya: If I could change one thing, I’d introduce a "running ATAR," kind of like how the GPA system works in the U.S. With this, students could see their ATAR progress after every assessment task, giving them a real-time idea of where they stand.

Ansh: ATAR scores take a while to come out and there is too much anxiety (often more among parents than students). ATAR should be made available much closer to the HSC exams with minimal wait.

Arya: Making it less English centric, as the subject doesn’t really cater to everyone’s strengths. Me and a lot of my peers would have performed much better if English wasn’t a mandatory subject, or at least if it wasn’t guaranteed to be included in the ATAR calculation.

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

Yesh: Did not use social media like TikTok or Instagram, only YouTube, where I

consumed both educational and varied content.

Kaavya: Didn’t use much social media.

Mostly it was WhatsApp or SMS to stay in contact with friends. One thing I did use was a study-social app to log my study hours. It was good fun competing with friends to see who could study the most over the weeks, and it served as great motivation. Although the occasional wagers for canteen chips did add a healthy dose of pressure to the mix.

Ansh: I only used social media to connect with friends, which kept me sane even through the extended periods of staying at home and studying. But otherwise, I recognised a while ago that random scrolling through social pages wasn't going to help my attention span or my results, so I stayed as far as I could. I assume there is limited study-based content available on social media, but it is too easy to get distracted and lose focus.

Arya: I tried to limit how much I used these platforms, especially in the leadup to exams, but obviously it's difficult to avoid the addictive nature of them. There was occasionally some educational content for various subjects, which I never really used (although it acted as a good way to remind me to study again).

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

Yesh: Weekly Prajna classes (conducted by the JET Foundation, a charity organisation) were one of the most helpful activities for me during the past two years, as they provided valuable life management strategies from the Bhagavad Gita. These teachings helped me stay focused on my studies and perform my duties as a student while remaining calm and composed, without stressing about the results.

Additionally, playing table tennis offered a much-needed distraction from studies and other responsibilities, serving as an enjoyable way to relieve stress.

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ANSH AHUJA

ARYA WADHWANI

ATAR: 99.30

ATAR: 98.50

Subjects: English, Physics, Chemistry, Maths Extension 1, Maths Extension 2

Subjects: English Advanced, Maths Advanced, Maths extension 1, Legal Studies, Business Studies, Economics, Hindi continuers (2022)

Awards/Selections: Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Gold, Cadets Corporal BHHS Army Cadets Unit

Awards/Selections: All rounder by NESA, state rank 3 for Hindi in 2022.

School: Baulkham Hills High School

School: Baulkham Hills High school

Standing on the cusp of adulthood, HSC 2024 students reflect on their final year and the lessons they’ve learned about themselves.

Kaavya: Training with my friends for our school’s basketball matches in the early hours of the day or sneaking in the occasional basketball/tennis session with my brother over these past two years have been some of my favourite activities. Following the NBA and F1 were also great avenues for having a break from studying (although watching the Lakers stumble their way through the season was more frustrating than fun). Outside of sports, go-karting was one of my favourite pastimes. It was the main activity I looked forward to during my term-breaks! I also enjoyed playing with my 4-year-old nephew, teaching him many things and also learning a few things myself.

Spending time with my nephew was the part of the day I most looked forward to!

Ansh: I kept myself busy learning the basics of a bunch of my hobbies: Rubik's cubes, yo-yos, toy butterfly knives and most recently, a finger skateboard. Aside from these, playing sports like cricket and tennis with friends were a great break from studies, and I would sometimes watch The Kapil Sharma Show with my family (my parents' favourite).

Arya: I'm really passionate about sport AFL, NRL, football, cricket. While I wasn't able to play these as much as I would have liked over the last two years, I made a point of taking time out of my routine to tune into games wherever possible. Besides this, a lot of the pre-graduation activities with friends were a really good way to distract myself, such as the Year 12 picnic day. Also a few comfort shows - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, The Office.

What would your advice to future final year students be?

Yesh: • Focus on how you study and understand the concepts themselves rather than their outcomes.

• Detach yourself from your results; only use them (if at all) to motivate selfimprovement. For example, instead of thinking about achieving a 99 ATAR,

focus on your learning first so you can answer any question properly. This approach will remove any stress and attachment you have while still giving the same results.

• Your only comparison should be with yourself - whether it’s from last week, last month, or any time in the past.

• Make time for friends, family, and hobbies.

Kaavya: Enjoy the ride and embrace the challenges! Hard work always pays off, so develop a passion for your subjects and make the most of your final year. Don’t forget to build lasting memories with your friends while you're at it!

Ansh: Leaving your study to the last minute will hurt your results. Know the content well in advance and use the time leading up to exams to revise and do practice papers. Don't ever let panic set in during tests, stay composed. Also, make sure to spend time on extracurriculars you enjoy – refresh your mind regularly, plus these activities will your future resume.

Arya: Do the subjects you will enjoy, because those are the ones you’ll be motivated to study and ultimately do the best in. Having not chosen any sciences and going in with 3 social science subjects (Economics, Business Studies, and Legal Studies), I was uncertain about my choices at first, especially as this was a really uncommon selection. But as it turned out, those three ended up being my best subjects, and studying them was also much more tolerable than potentially doing alternatives in search of “better scaling”.

So I would definitely urge everyone to ask yourself what you’re actually passionate about before choosing your Year 12 courses, not just following friends or good scaling.

Also, study a language, especially as an accelerated course! I completed the Hindi Continuers course in 2022, and ended up doing really well. Not only did this take a lot of stress off me in Year 12, it also ended up counting as part of my best 10 units over maths advanced. Don’t get caught

WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE NERD (HISTORICAL OR FICTIONAL)?

Yesh: Leibniz: he invented the modernday notations for differential and integral calculus that I engaged with every day during Year 12 – he was a nerd ahead of his time.

Kaavya: This is a hard one, but Harry Potter gets my vote. Anyone who can ace five O.W.L.s exams under Voldemortlevel pressure is my kind of nerd!

Ansh: Does Walter White count? (for chemistry at least).

Arya: Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory.

up in rumours about bad scaling - every subject will benefit your ATAR if you do well in it.

Aside from that, make sure to enjoy Year 12 - no one remembers your ATAR in a few years, the memories and time spent with friends will be with you for the rest of your life.

Favourite quote from a teacher?

Yesh: “You never stop improving until you put your pen down in the HSC exam.”

Kaavya: “Diamonds are made under pressure”. While it may not be the most original quote, it was one that stuck with me throughout my senior year of high school. I recall asking my Physics teacher how I went for my Depth Study assessment task the day before results came out. He asked me whether I was under some sort of pressure when I had completed the task.

Naturally this response was quite worrying.

He then followed up his comment by saying that “I guess you must have. You know, diamonds are made under pressure.” That assessment task ended up being one of my best performing tasks for Physics!

Ansh: Follow your passion – pursue what makes you happy and fulfilled. Life is too short to settle for anything less.

Arya: Do the subjects you will enjoy, because those are the ones you’ll be

motivated to study. Year 12 is like driving a boat - we can only help you point yourselves in the right direction, but your success depends on how much effort you're willing to put in yourself.

What was on your Year 12 jersey?

Kaavya: “Kaavya Primus”. The name was one that was given to me over 10 years ago. As kids we would spend our Saturday mornings sitting next to each other watching TV shows. I had a particular interest in a show called Transformers Prime. My brother started to call me Kaavya Primus, and it stuck with me all the way to Year 12!

Ansh: Tragically, my school didn’t let us put our nicknames, so it was just my last name with the school logo.

Arya: Arya ready?

What are you most looking forward to in 2025?

Yesh: The freedom of university and studying what I’m passionate about.

Kaavya: 2025 is a year full of possibilities and potential. I am most looking forward to entering university next year and taking the first few steps towards my future career!

However, before that I am faced with the tough decision of choosing where I want to study next year. There are so many interesting degrees out there, and the path I will eventually take is one that will have massive implications on my life. Hence, as I await second-round offers and the results of a few different scholarships, I’m still weighing up my options. However, I do have a strong inclination for Space Engineering at USYD. So, there are big decisions ahead of me, but I welcome the challenge, and I am excited to see what the future has in store for me!

Ansh: Uni life, meeting new people, developing new skills (and GTA VI).

Arya: Trying a lot of new things, studying subjects I'm interested in at university, and stepping out into the ‘real world’. Above all, spending time with friends and family, making lots of unforgettable memories.

JANUARY 2025 15

16 JANUARY 2025

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ACCOLADES

“Mother’s blessing” Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for Australia’s Prof. Ajay Rane BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

T

The Rane family with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege.

“The recognition from my motherland was very special,” Dr Rane describes. “The Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas experience was emotional in many ways. The welcome by the state of Orissa was very warm, and the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi very exciting. The Conference itself was superbly organised by the Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar – I would say he impressed me the most. And of course, receiving the award from the President of India, who is the epitome of the success of women in India.”

Talking of women, what drew him to the field of women's health?

“Probably goes back a long way. My father, a surgeon, ran a charity hospital with my mum in Bhalod, near Jalgaon in rural Maharashtra. I was born in the UK but my parents decided to move back to India to serve its people. As a child, I could not help but notice how disposable the life of women was. I wondered, what skills could I gain to help their suffering?”

He would go on to take an MBBS degree from the Savitribai Phule Pune University, and a PhD from James Cook University in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

“I saw a lot of genital trauma - during childbirth, or due to terrible things done to women. And so I decided to become a reconstructive surgeon. There were very few people doing this work at the time.”

The decision took him on a path that saw him contribute not only as a medical practitioner but also as an inventor and quite significantly, as an advocate, to bring dignity to the lives of women.

Looking back at his career, Prof. Rane likes to describe four “footprints”.

An early footprint was on female infanticide and foeticide in India. “Given the number of deaths across the world, you could say this has been the largest ever genocide in our history,” Prof. Rane says.

He jumped in with advocacy programs when the Indian government passed in 1994 the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal

Pic: ABC Conversations

Pic: ABC Conversations)

ownsville’s Prof Ajay Rane PSM OAM describes his latest award, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Award), as “mother’s blessing.”

He was one of 27 diasporan Indians who received the award presented by the Government of India early in the new year.

Describing it, Prof Rane said, “It was like feeling the hand of my mother on my head.”

An interesting choice of words – not just because of the emotional reference to Mother India, but also because mothers and motherhood have defined his career that now transcends borders.

Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at James Cook University's School of Medicine, Dr Rane also serves Mater Hospital Townsville and Townsville Hospital.

He is a recognised figure in the subspeciality Urogynaecology (which treats pelvic floor issues as one, whether urinary, bowel or sexual).

Prof. Rane’s professional, philanthropic and humanitarian work with pelvic dysfunction, genital trauma in particular, has taken him to various corners of Asia and Africa, and has seen him continue his seminal work in India.

At the Paula Rane Fistula Ward, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Chennai, India.

A kids’ book on Dr. Ajay Rane

Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCP NDT) to ban prenatal sex screening and female foeticide, including producing a Bollywoodstyle film (Riwayat, 2011).

Although claims are that the Act was poorly enforced, Prof. Rane notes, “In more than seven states in India, finally, the gender ratio has improved tremendously, and that's very good news for women.”

A second footprint is Prof. Rane’s work in the treatment of fistula. This is a gap that forms between the birth canal and the bladder and/or rectum, due to prolonged, obstructed labour in the absence of timely medical care. It leaves the sufferer leaking urine, and/or faeces, causing chronic medical, social and psychological issues.

“Fistulas are the ultimate cruel affliction of childbirth trauma. Most of the sufferers I meet in Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, even India, say to me. ‘The lucky ones died in childbirth, and the unlucky ones survived.’

They would rather have died, than have a fistula.”

Prof. Rane launched the Dr Paula Rane Fistula Ward, named after his wife, at the Kasturba Gandhi (Gosha) Hospital in Chennai in 2004. Four hundred surgeons were trained there.

In Australia, the Ranes’ Flourishing Women charity raises funds for fistula treatment worldwide.

In a third footprint, Prof. Rane lists his work with vaginal reconstruction, addressing issues of bowel and bladder incontinence (he developed a surgical procedure called Perigee for treating bladder prolapse), genital prolapse, and genital trauma whether from childbirth, or sexual violence rape or war.

Wartime sexual violence took Dr Rane’s work to a whole new level, marking his third footprint. “It became clear to me that putting these women back together surgically, is not enough. They are traumatised by their experiences and need care at various levels.”

He learned this while working with Congolese doctor, human rights activist and Nobel Laureate Denis Mukwege.“We started the four pillar system incorporating surgical, mental, judicial, and financial care of victims.”

Dr Rane’s final footprint deals with female genital mutilation. “This is a terrible problem - not just in Africa, but also in Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries where women are subjected to terrible trauma only because they are women.”

He summarises, “Female oppression just finds a different face everytime we look up – foeticide, genital mutilation, rape, gang rape, childbirth trauma. It’s a womb-totomb oppression of women, which we want to advocate against, and prevent as much as possible.”

Added to this is the sheer size of the problem. “Only 35% of the female population in the world have access to good quality medical help; 65% are still looking for basic help. We want to reach this 65%.”

Yet Prof. Ajay Rane is hopeful.

“I want to say to the new generation of urogynaecologists –give back to the community much more than my generation has. Free of charge. Give education. Go to developing countries. Share your skills, and make this world a better place. To the Indian doctors in Australia I say, commit to spending a month in the motherland, annually.”

JANUARY 2025 17

HAPPY

INDIAN REPUBLIC DAY

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18 JANUARY 2025

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TRIBUTE

The quiet revolutionary A visionary economist, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh shaped the future of modern India

BY HASNAIN ZAHEER

A

s a student, I had read Dr. Manmohan Singh's landmark 1991 budget speech and followed with fascination the economic reforms he was unleashing.

Years later, when I joined India's National Stock Exchange (NSE) as a graduate trainee, I witnessed firsthand the implementation of his visionary reforms that were reshaping the nation's financial landscape.

What struck me most was not just the scale of transformation, but the values and principles of the remarkable economist who had set it all in motion.

As part of his unprecedented reforms agenda, Dr. Singh actively encouraged the establishment of a slew of modern institutions such as a securities market regulator (Securities Exchange Board of India, SEBI) and many securities market institutions such as the NSE (National Stock Exchange). NSE, which I might describe as a “public sector startup” was built within three short years as a modern, electronic, national securities exchange to compete with the incumbent old boys’ clubs such as the stodgy 120-year-old exchange (Bombay Stock Exchange) in which brokers exercised a clear conflict of interest.

Subsequently, NSE was used as a beachhead to establish a string of downstream institutions – a clearing house that assured the integrity of all transactions (National Securities Clearing Corporation Ltd, NSCCL); a depository that extinguished the share certificates and paper trails and digitised the market process and ensured better custody (National Securities Depository Ltd NSDL), a commodities and metals exchange (National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange, NCDEX), and NSE. IT to provide IT and data services.

All of these met - and exceeded - the global best practice.

Later as Assistant Manager and Senior Executive Officer across various subsidiaries, I observed directly how these institutions transformed India's capital markets.

Today of course, NSE has become a synonym for Indian capital markets.

As Prime Minister many years later, Dr. Singh took a holistic approach to solve

the country’s financial problems and bring about economic reforms.

He did this by divesting some of the unnecessary public sector enterprises, and also by opening up crucial sectors such as insurance, airlines, telecommunications and media, and removing constraints in manufacturing, IT services and foreign exchange.

EARLY LIFE AND ENTRY TO POLITICS?

Born in a remote, undeveloped village, Dr. Manmohan Singh went to the local school before his family was uprooted during the partition in 1947. Arriving as a refugee in a new country in his youth, he rose to attend the state's university before achieving an Oxbridge education culminating with a PhD from Oxford.

After beginning an academic career with some of India’s most prestigious universities, he chose to practice his knowledge of theory. As a result, he occupied the top posts in the country's economic management bureaucracy – Finance Secretary, Planning Commission Deputy Chair, Economic Adviser to the PM, and Reserve Bank Governor.

Called from retirement to become Finance Minister in 1991 during a major financial crisis, he seized the opportunity to push through major economic reforms and liberalisation. When his party regained power in 2004, he was invited to lead his country as Prime Minister.

He navigated his country through the Global Financial Crisis while achieving the highest growth rates the country had ever seen, fixed strained foreign relations, and provided rights to education, information, food, and employment. Even after an undeserved defeat in 2014, he fought back against false charges, defended his legacy and continued as an important counsel to his party leaders.

LEGACY

Even to someone of extraordinary capacities, achieving only one, or at most two of the above will be considered an achievement of a lifetime. But Dr. Manmohan Singh achieved each of the above accomplishments and then “more”.

This “more” cannot be ignored because it describes how he achieved all the above - his processes, his boundaries and his values.

His honesty and personal integrity inspired many to emulate him in a country which routinely lists at the bottom of corruption

indexes. He respected and worked within the structures and rules of the institutions including those of his department, his political party, the government and the parliament. He preferred to persuade and gain support to change the rules and structures democratically, not overrule or ignore them to get the job done.

Dr. Singh built consensus and worked with teams that he trusted, but he ensured that any of his colleagues accused of wrongdoing faced the full force of the law.

Some ministers in his cabinet were charged and they went to jail.

He was not wedded to a fixed ideology.

He was often considered a socialist, but he defined his socialism as one that promotes equality and provides relief, succour and opportunity. A socialist indeed who established more capitalist institutions than anyone else! His apparently elite capital markets democratised economic opportunity and coexisted with his Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) which guaranteed minimum work and wages to the poorest of the poor.

This program and the other rights that he legislated proved their worth years later when millions of poor received dignified support during the pandemic.

As a reformist finance minister in the 1990s, Dr. Singh opened up massive opportunities for the middle class to aspire for brand new roles in the newly opened up industries. And as the Prime Minister during the mid 2000s to early 2010s, Doctor sahab focused on foreign relations, economic

growth and the rights of the disadvantaged in which the change is much less visible but far more profound.

How could one achieve so much, and yet be so outwardly gentle and soft-spoken? His voice came through loud and clear when it mattered, answering upwards of 60 mostly hostile questions in his typical impromptu press conferences, which were so open almost any accredited journalist could enter and subject him to a grilling.

Barack Obama was right on the dot when he said that when Dr. Manmohan Singh speaks, the world listens.

Dr. Manmohan Singh will be an inspiration for many generations.

As Assistant Manager and Senior Executive Officer across various subsidiaries of the National Stock Exchange, I observed directly how these institutions transformed India's capital markets.

19 JANUARY 2025

www.indianlink.com.au JANUARY 2025 19

September

4 - Onam 4 - Milad Un Nabi 7 - Father's Day 22 - Rosh Hashanah 29 - King's Birthday (WA) 29 - Maha Saptami 30 - Maha Ashtami

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5 - May Day 5 - Buddha Purnima 5 - Labour Day (QLD) 9 - Guru Rabindranath Jayanti 11 - Mother's Day

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2 - Western Australia Day (WA) 2 - Reconciliation day 6 - Eid al-Adha 9 - King's birthday 27 - Rath Yatra 27 - Muharram

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1 - New year's day 6 - Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 13 - Lohri 14 - Makar Sankranti 14 - Pongal 14 - Hazrat Ali Jayanti 26 - Republic Day 27 - Australia Day

Mo 2 - Gandhi Jayanti 2 - Dussehra 5 - Daylight savings begins 6 - King's Birthday (QLD) 6 - Labour Day (NSW, ACT, SA) 7 - Valmiki Jayanti 10 - Karva Chauth 20 - Diwali 22 - Govardhan Puja 23 - Bhai Duj 27 - Chhath Puja 31 - Halloween

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Australian holidays and observances are marked in red.

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4 - Picnic Day (ACT) 9 - Raksha Bandhan 15 - Parsi New Year 15 - Independence Day 16 - Janmashtmi 26 - Ganesh Chaturthi

14 - Hanukkah 24 - Christmas Eve 25 - Christmas Day 26 - Boxing Day 31 - New Year's Eve

December

3

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6 - NAIDOC week begins 20 - Guru Purnima

June

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3 - Labour Day (WA) 10 - Labour Day (VIC) 10 - Canberra Day 13 - Holika Dahan 14 - Holi 21 - Harmony Day 27 - Jamat Ul Vida 30 - Ugadi 30 - Eid al-Fitr

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

JANUARY 2025 21

LETTERS FROM LIFE

Road trip as a rite of passage

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Why we should all take a road trip with a friend or friends when we can

he other day I watched Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (You Only Get One Chance At Life), possibly for the 30th time. For those of you who don’t know, this film is about three guys taking a break from their busy lives and going on a road trip in Spain. It is a bachelors’ gig because one of them is getting married soon. Abhay Deol’s wholesome appeal, Hrithik Roshan’s Greek God awesomeness, and Farhan Akhtar’s brooding

intensity, alongside some amazing locales and some deep philosophical undertones about life, make this an immensely watchable film.

I remember playing hookie from work to go see it the first time in the theatres. Later, I got myself a DVD, and recently, to distract myself from grieving the loss of my best friend, I watched it again – twice in two weeks. It got me thinking… about road trips and what they have taught me.

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The first road trip I remember was with my brother Rajesh and his best friend Bharat, and our cousins and friends. Bharat owned a Maruti Gypsy back then, and one day, they piled us into the car saying we were all going to lunch at a suburb in Mumbai. But Bharat kept driving and we hit the highway [this was before the Mumbai–Pune Expressway] and ended up in Lonavala. It is a hill station–like place an hour’s drive from Mumbai.

After we’d gotten over the surprise, and many laughs and a hearty meal later, we headed back. I don’t remember what we ate or where, but I recall the fumes and exhaust of passing vehicles, taking in the greenery of the ghats, and the cackles of glee from the hosts at having outsmarted us. It remains one of my fondest memories of our college days.

Later, while living in Sydney, I’d travel with my ex–husband via road sometimes when I accompanied him to wherever his work took him. From losing our way at night on the winding roads of Maroochydore in Queensland, to getting pulled over for speeding, and stopping at quaint shops in small towns, I saw a lot of Australia’s natural beauty. A couple of years after my divorce, I’d drive with my then–partner to Katoomba, Jervis Bay, Port Macquarie, Wollongong etc. One cold and memorable Good Friday we went to Canberra to catch an art exhibition of impressionists like Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh.

We continued the tradition on returning to India, driving to Bengaluru and Coorg on short breaks. One time we surprised my niece by driving up to Mumbai for her birthday. Sadly, the relationship went kaput, but I still count these as good memories from our time together, before the fights and the infidelity drove us apart.

The memories centre mostly around playing our favourite music in the car, and me singing along, offkey. I used to look forward to packing for such trips because like a kid in a candy shop, being in charge of the eats meant I got to pick all the chips and snacky stuff to my heart’s content.

We’d make impromptu stops along the highway to shoot pictures of a rare bird or animal in the distance. At nights, it would mean slowing down for a startled rabbit, mongoose, snake or porcupine to cross the road. The long stretches of road and the comfortable silence inevitably lead you to step back and think. Reflect on where your life is headed, and are we really in control of its direction? Admiring the different trees lining the roads in thickly wooded areas makes you look at nature and the big guy in the sky with renewed respect as you marvel at his creations.

Since I am a writer, I’ve even had many an idea come to me about stories, while on the road.

The only regret I have is that I’ve never had a girl gang to go on a road trip with. For, just like with guys and the whole male dynamic, I am sure a bunch of girlfriends on a drive would be one big bonding session. If you have such a bunch of friends who feel like family, male or female, I strongly recommend you pack your bags and drive. None of us know which way our lives will pan out. And for those who are young, on the cusp of starting a career, your friends might change or move away.

Taking such road trips, with responsible driving and no binge drinking, staying at crappy hotels and talking late into the night, will be your ticket to stronger friendships.

Leave behind your deadlines and targets, relationship issues and all the little ways in which you tie yourself down. A carefree road trip with your besties, no matter what age group you belong to, even if it is just one long weekend, will rejuvenate you for the next few months.

And the memories you create will last a lifetime. After all, zindagi na milegi dobara – you only get one chance at life.

Minal Khona

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hoto: X

OPINION

Australian and Indian players get on well, but fans are a different story.

United by cricket, divided by culture

Banter or abuse? Poorly understood cultural differences stoked the flames of online debate, as cricket rivalry reached fever pitch in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy BY RITAM MITRA

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here’s a lot that binds India and Australia when it comes to cricket.

A long and storied history littered with genuine greats of the game, a passionate and at times unforgiving fan base, and the reality that cricket is the de facto (if unofficial) national sport of each nation. But if social media is anything to go by, Indian fans regard Australia as the new Pakistan, and to Australian fans, India is the new England.

Perhaps it’s because, unlike relations with each of their traditional rivals, Indians and Australians do not understand much about each other’s culture, and it often shows.

Much of the rivalry between Indian and Australian fans has unsurprisingly coincided with the increasing closeness of the contest between the teams. In this millennium, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has emerged as the marquee drawcard in all forms of cricket, especially given the slow and painful decline of Pakistan cricket and the general one-sidedness of Ashes cricket.

Almost every series has become an instant classic, if occasionally for the wrong reasons: think ‘Homework-Gate’ in 2013 which saw Australia suspending four players, as well as ‘Monkeygate’ in 2008, when relations between the teams – and fans – reached their most acrimonious.

But it is moments like these on which competition feasts. And as the recently concluded edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy has proved, as potentially the most-

watched Test series of all time, the significance of the contest has now reached fever pitch, amongst both the players and fans. While they may be united in passion and pride, there’s little common ground when it comes to another fundamental tenet of a (healthy) sporting rivalry: the disparate natures of Indian and Australian humour.

Australian humour is typically sarcastic, crass and dry; it’s underpinned by what some may consider colourful language, by political incorrectness, and above all else, a widely accepted principle: never take it personally.

After all, there’s no easier way to fit into a group of Australians – or Brits – than to possess the innate ability to both dish it out and laugh at yourself.

Indian humour though, is infinitely more measured. Perhaps it is natural in a country so vast and diverse, but there is an underlying current of sensitivity that dictates the bounds of humour. Combined with a growing intolerance of satire in Indian political and social life, it means there is rarely any safe harbour when it comes to entertaining without offending.

Indian MP Shashi Tharoor found himself

targeted by millions who thought he had offended cows and Hindus when he joked about having to travel “cattle class”. Then there was comic Munawar Faruqui, who was jailed for a month for offending religious sentiments, after complaints by Hindu nationalists.

Closer to home, former Australian cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe was pilloried

by Indian media in 2018 after likening a domestic Indian bowling attack as “Railways canteen staff”, while Travis Head received hate on social media after dismissing Rishabh Pant in the Boxing Day Test and making a gesture many Indian fans assumed to be obscene or in bad taste.

Unlike in India, Australian politicians, celebrities and authority figures – even the most powerful – are fair game for individuals and the fourth estate alike.

Indeed, being able to “take it” in good humour is effectively a prerequisite for becoming a popular figure in Australian public life; O’Keeffe’s comments would have barely raised an eyebrow in Australia, and neither did Travis Head’s celebration.

Unfortunately though, Australia’s latitude

As two cricket-loving nations found themselves united in passion and pride, there was little common ground when it came to another fundamental tenet of a (healthy) sporting rivalry: the disparate natures of Indian and Australian humour

for levity also breeds corners of excess, resulting in unacceptable racial undertones in social media discourse (think the “Where’s your visa” chants). From there, it rapidly becomes a race to the bottom.

This dichotomy goes a long way towards explaining why each set of fans – and media – might find the other insufferable, even if hypocritically. In Indian cricket media, it’s widely accepted and reported as fact that the Australian media orchestrates a concerted effort to act as a veritable 12th man for touring teams – even though Indian media, like English media, is no different in its tendency to sensationalise. Such is the dislike between the press packs that India’s media manager, support staff and travelling journalists alike boycotted a pre-arranged press match against Australian journalists over what we in Australia might label a “nothing burger”.

Of course, humour rarely translates well across languages, and that too plays a role.

Though India is the second-largest Englishspeaking country in the world with nearly 130 million speakers, it is in the subtleties of language that humour finds its home: tone, context, subtext. And when these are misunderstood, the result is typecasting

by Indians of Australians as disrespectful, or Indians by Australians as unnecessarily sensitive.

Rather than casting widespread aspersions, logic dictates that work needs to be done to explain and understand the fundamental cultural nuances between the two countries. That will go a long way towards avoiding open hostility and keeping online debate within the realms of acceptable “banter”.

JANUARY 2025 23

RELEVANT FUNNY CASUAL DON’T

Khushee Gupta & Renesh Krishnan talk about growing up Indian in Australia

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FASHION

BY KHUSHEE GUPTA

Pics: Icon Management

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n an industry that often preaches diversity while perpetuating narrow standards, Onella Muralidharan is a bold and refreshing voice.

The Australian model of South Asian heritage, who lives with vitiligo and proudly identifies as plus-sized, is on a mission to challenge and reshape how beauty is defined.

Her journey speaks not only to the power of self-acceptance but also to the glaring gaps in true inclusivity within mainstream media.

“For the longest time, I didn’t think I belonged in this space,” says Onella. “I grew up rarely seeing anyone who looked like me – brown skin, a visibly different body, or vitiligo – on runways or in campaigns. It felt like the industry was saying, ‘You don’t exist.’”

Growing up, Onella was always encouraged to model by her loved ones, but only took the plunge when things started getting stressful at university and work.

“My friends and family told me you should model and my reply back was always, I’m not a model. I’m short, I’m 5 feet, I’m curvy, and I have a very apparent skin condition, that’s not what a model is,” Onella explained.

“A few years later, in the middle of my degree I applied for an agency but accidentally applied for their unsigned model search competition and won! So, that propelled me into the industry,” she elaborated.

Having modelled multiple times for Australian Fashion Week, Melbourne Fashion Week and brands such as The Iconic, Proud Poppy Clothing, Target Australia, and most recently, the L’oreal Paris runway in Sydney, Onella Muralidharan has earned herself an impressive portfolio.

However, despite strides in representation, Onella believes there’s still a long way to go. While brands now showcase models of varied ethnicities and sizes, the approach often feels performative rather than transformative.

“There’s this illusion of inclusivity,” she explains. “But even in the plus-sized category, we’re still seeing curated versions of what’s acceptable: thick thighs, a big chest, and a round bum. Where are the models with visible bellies, heavier arms, or

‘Brands are hesitant to take risks on body shapes’ Onella Muralidharan, a plus sized model living with vitiligo, says the fashion the industry is becoming more and more regressive each day

double chins? That’s real life.”

This lack of authenticity is not only limiting but regressive. Onella points out that the modelling industry is dangerously close to undoing the progress it has made.

“It’s frustrating to see diversity being treated as a trend rather than a standard,” she says. “And when something isn’t trendy anymore, it disappears. That’s the danger we’re facing now.”

Onella’s personal experiences highlight just how far the industry still has to go. She reveals that she’s been turned away from jobs because she no longer fits the fantasy that brands want to sell.

“Brands cater to sizes between 10 and 14, which is not the average Australian size,” she explains. “Being a girl wearing sizes 16 and 18, I feel like the industry is regressing. Instead of moving forward, it’s retreating to a limited view of what’s acceptable.”

For Onella, representation goes beyond just visuals. It’s about creating meaningful change and fostering an environment where people feel seen and valued for who they are, not just what they look like.

“Having someone like me in a campaign isn’t just about my face or body being there – it’s about breaking stereotypes. It’s about showing that you don’t need to conform to one type of beauty to feel beautiful.”

However, Onella also acknowledges the systemic barriers that keep many marginalised voices out of the industry.

“A lot of brands are still hesitant to take risks,” she shares. “They want to be inclusive, but they also want to sell a fantasy. The moment you step outside that fantasy, they hesitate.”

In the face of these challenges, Onella has found new avenues to amplify her voice and sustain herself financially. She credits her work as a content creator as a vital part of her journey.

“Being a YouTuber has helped me a lot because I can earn money somehow. It’s given me a platform to share my story and connect with people who understand what I’m going through,” she says.

As someone who has carved a space for herself in a world that often overlooks people like her, Onella Muralidharan remains hopeful yet grounded.

“The industry has room to grow, but growth doesn’t happen without discomfort,” she concludes. “We need to start asking hard questions and demanding better, not just for models but for the millions of people who look to these images for a sense of belonging.”

“Having someone like me in a campaign isn’t just about my face or body being there – it’s about breaking stereotypes. It’s about showing that you don’t need to conform to one type of beauty to feel beautiful.”

JANUARY 2025 25

FOOD

The new god of small sweet things BY CHARMAINE O‘BRIEN

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elhi 1996. The year I first tried Indian made chocolate, a 5-Star Fruit & Nut bar. Biting into it coated my mouth with a waxy substance and erupted saccharine sweetness on my tongue; any cacao flavour was hardly discernible. Sampling other items from the small range of chocolates then available yielded similar results. I figured the texture came from using compound chocolate, fabricated from vegetable fats and oils and cocoa, to prevent the bars melting in the hot climate; the high sugar content met the local fondness for cloying sweetmeats, and as both ingredients were inexpensive it allowed the product to retail at a widely affordable price.

But what did this matter? With so many indigenous Indian confections to enjoy there was no need to eat inferior chocolate. The circumstance also benefitted me. When I wanted to take novel gifts for Indian friends, I bought them good chocolate, but that advantage is no more.

Shahdol, 2014. Shopping in a kirana store in this provincial town in eastern Madhya Pradesh, where I had been a regular visitor, and patron of this particular grocer, for a decade, I noticed the range of chocolates they stocked had suddenly

26 JANUARY 2025

multiplied. These items were mostly international brands and as Shahdol is more Narayan’s Malgudi than cosmopolitan metro, this provoked my curiosity. 2014 was also the year I published The Penguin Food Guide to India, the first comprehensive work on the country’s diverse regional food. Creating this hefty volume had kept my focus squarely on India’s traditional and community food ways for years and I am not sure if the explosion of chocolate in her metros – dedicated chocolate stores, cake shops and patisseries proffering chocolate rich bakery and desserts– had appeared as speedily as in Shahdol, or if this abundance had crept up over time and I failed to see it. Moreover, all these chocolate goodies were Euro-American derivative, evidencing the intertwined influences of globalisation, increased spending power of Indian consumers, technology and social media shaping India’s foodscape. Then, I noticed artisan/craft chocolate made with local cacao

by Indian chocolatiers appearing in stores.

This warranted investigation.

When I began asking Indian friends and interviewees about local craft chocolate they tended to a lukewarm appraisal of it, saying it had a ‘gritty’ mouth feel, different to the silky texture of the imported chocolate they had become familiar with. For me, this textural distinctiveness was to be savoured - it reflected the terroir, production methods and ingredients of the products of Indian origin, imbuing it with unique flavours.

Now, there appears to have been a reproachment: Indians have become enthusiastic about home-grown chocolate and local producers are working to create products that meet textural expectations while retaining idiosyncratic flavours.

Manam Chocolate is an exemplar of this.

When Manam Karkhana, a contemporary chocolate workshop, retail store and café in Hyderabad, opened in 2023, enthusiasm to experience this concept caused such traffic chaos the police ordered it closed for three days to avert further bedlam. This extraordinary response attests to the reputation of Manam, and the Indian appetite for quality chocolate

Photos: Pankaj Anand

Artisan chocolate is filling India’s cake shops and patisseries with baked goods and desserts

– price is no longer a critical consideration.

Manam founder Chaitanya Muppala had already established Almond House, a chain of premium mithai stores, when his entrepreneurial nous and foresight into the transforming preferences of Indian consumers led him to chocolate.

The cacao tree was introduced to India as a plantation crop in the mid-twentieth century for use in industrial chocolate production.

Fermenting and drying the seeds (aka beans) of its fruit are critical to developing chocolate flavour but mass-produced brands demand a standardised cacao mass/butter, its source anonymous in the taste, so it is processed in a rudimentary fashion. Muppala recognised that working with the whole fruit, rather than just the bean, could yield finer flavours, leading him to establish Distinct Origins Cacao Fermentery in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, where farmers, scientists and technicians work collaboratively to evolve more considered growing, fermenting and drying practices that reveal thebean’s characteristic ‘distinct origins’. At the Karkhana these beans are crafted into more than 250 different chocolate products, and visitors can watch chocolatiers work through all the stages of this, sample chocolate, attend a workshop and eat and drink in the café from a menu inspired by local ingredients. Time Magazine included Manam Karkhana on its 2024 list of best places to visit in the world, and Conde Nast Traveller ranked it as one of best places to eat in India.

The quality and distinctiveness of Indian craft chocolate is being recognised beyond the subcontinent as Manam and other brands win international awards, a subject requiring a second article. In the meantime, look out for Cocoatrait, launched by Nitin L. and Poonam Chorida in 2019. Committed from the outset to creating sustainable chocolate, they only use Indian grown beans; developed zero waste, zero plastic packaging with minimal graphics to reduce ink use; and proudly enable other craft chocolate makers.

Fun fact: the mechanised stone grinders long used to prepare idli/dosa batter are now being used by craft chocolate makers around the world to grind and refine cacao beans.

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Photo: Nemai Ghosh

CINEMA

How Satyajit Ray influenced my filmmaking BY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY

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or Phillip Noyce, pioneering Australian filmmaker behind iconic works like The Quiet American (2002) and Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award is more than just another accolade - it’s deeply personal.

“I’ve had other awards, other recognitions,” he reflects, “but this one was very, very close to my heart.”

The reason lies in Ray’s profound impact on Noyce and his peers back in Australia.

In the 1960s, a story of Ray’s filmmaking philosophy filtered back from Calcutta (now Kolkata), forever altering Noyce’s perception of what cinema could be.

A friend who visited Ray’s film set in India recounted how the legendary director and his crew travelled humbly, sharing a third-class train carriage to their location. It wasn’t about luxury – it was about equality in the team.

“There was nothing grand about the way they were approaching the making of this film,” Noyce recalls. “The director didn’t travel first class while the crew was in third; they all travelled in the cheapest way.”

This ethos – that great films don’t require lavish budgets but rather powerful ideas and genuine emotion – resonated deeply. “He was a real beacon,” Noyce says of Satyajit Ray, best known for Pather Panchali (1955).

Decades later, to receive an award bearing the name of a man he so greatly admired felt profoundly special.

This recognition, bestowed at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in November, not only honoured Noyce’s illustrious career but also highlighted his long-standing connection with Indian cinema and culture.

In an exclusive chat with Indian Link, Noyce reveals how he turned to Ray’s

inspiration when he made Rabbit-Proof Fence – a story about three Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families but who escape and undertake a journey across the Australian dessert to return home.

“Throughout his career, Ray had chosen many non-professional, real people, and asked them to be themselves. And so, with Rabbit Proof Fence, I thought, the idea must be to follow Ray, to find real children, teach them not to ‘act’, but teach them to ‘not act’, ask them just to be themselves and then try and catch that lightning in a bottle.”

The movie didn’t just do excellent numbers at the box office, it also took away multiple awards both in Australia and overseas.

‘RAY’ OF SUNSHINE: At a masterclass for budding directors at IFFI Goa, Noyce spoke of how the future of cinema lies in the philosophy of Ray: ‘Less is more’.

“If you want to make a story, there are various ways to do that,” Noyce explains.

“One is to make the film smaller in scope, but bigger in heart, which always works. Another is to use technology to bridge the gap.”

Noyce shares how using drones instead of helicopters or phones instead of expensive equipment to make movies are good alternatives.

But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be big movies, he points.

“RRR, for example, was a huge movie in the issues it dealt with. It was an historical drama, an attack on colonialism; it was a buddy movie; a comedy; a drama, an action film. And Rajamouli made it very successful.

But a film like All We Imagine as Light is perhaps a perfect example of the way to go for all of us.”

While Payal Kapadia’s film bagged two Golden Globe nominations this year, RRR made history at Oscars 2023 with ‘Naatu Naatu’. Both Indian projects were successful in their own ways.

Noyce is all praise for Kapadia’s works: “Her film is in the same tradition of Satyajit Ray, even though it starts in a big city,

Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce received the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI in Goa late last year

eventually goes to a seaside village and it closes in on the characters. And the lead actress is my favourite Indian actress at the moment…although she’s a professional, she has delivered a very naturalistic performance.”

EARLY INFLUENCES: Noyce was only 5 years old when Ray became a global figure for Pather Panchali. His interest in Ray’s work began when he turned 18.

“Once I left school, and started to be interested in the fact that I could make movies, Satyajit Ray and Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Sica were the two big influences,” Noyce confesses, adding how Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948) left a mark.“Because they were making films for practically nothing compared to Hollywood productions, they were frequently using real people, looking at the reality of life as opposed to a re-imagined reality and inspired by documentary traditions.”

Noyce believes that all Australian filmmakers of that new wave of cinema went to America, their films stood out because

of the “less is more philosophy”. Noyce transitioned to Hollywood after the success of his film Dead Calm (1989).

“We didn’t go bigger, we went deeper, and that distinguished our work and Hollywood noticed us,” Noyce adds.

‘I SURVIVED’: Noyce’s first watched a movie in Mumbai was in 1978. And while it might have been a very long time ago, and Noyce barely remembers the name of the film, he vividly remembers one important detail – how much he enjoyed watching cinema with an Indian audience.

“When a particular actor would come on, the audience would stand up and cheer.

This was accompanied by a lot of whistling.

And if it was a musical number, they would all start dancing in the aisles. It was just revelatory because I’d never seen this relationship between audience and cinema, and it was very exciting.”

It became a lesson for Noyce. “I so much wanted my audience to enjoy my films in a similar manner. I wanted to touch them in the same way… get them worked up… to hear them. And I think that was greatly influential in the kind of movies that I made, not necessarily the subjects, but how I tried to connect with the audience, always tried to get them out of their seats, tried to make them participate with the screen.”

Noyce was elated when his 2023 film Fast Charlie was released in Indian theatres and it received a positive response.

“I wished though I could have watched the movie with an Indian audience,” he smiles.

Looking back on his illustrious career, what does Noyce hope his contribution to cinema signifies for future generations of filmmakers?

“That I survived,” he simply says, adding, “I started when I was 18 and now I am about to turn 75 and I’ve never had any job other than filmmaking. I’ve still got the same hunger to tell stories and to create. So, survival is my first contribution to cinema.

And the reason I’ve survived is because I’ve loved my audience.”

JANUARY 2025 27

INDIAN LINK LOVES

Loving right now What we’re obsessed with this month

READ

WATCH

Spies, secret agents and secret missions… stories with this subject matter are often difficult to get right, but clearly novelist Shankari Chandran is not one to veer away from a challenge. Her latest novel Unfinished Business follows CIA agent Ellie Harper who must revisit SriLanka to investigate a murder, but her mission is haunted by memories of her previous experiences in the country. And for the fellow bookworms out there, yes you guessed right: the novel has dual storylines, meaning you’re in for double the mystery, double the fun, making it a doubly quick read.

All We Imagine as Light is a tour de force of a film that is more mood than story.

Payal Kapadia skilfully harnesses her insights as a documentary filmmaker to blur the line between fact and fiction, thus forcing audiences to feel the experiences of the central characters intensely. It follows the lives of three nurses in Mumbai - Prabha, Anu and Parvaty - who wrestle with life in a city they have a love-hate relationship with. What you’ll be left with long after the film is an image of the city, rather than the story itself.

LISTEN

EAT

RnB singer Aaradhna’s latest album Sweet Surrender simply oozes a sense of femininity. It is a confident expression of the New Zealander’s perspective towards love, relationships and her own identity. Perhaps the secret sauce in her songs, made evident in slower singles like Mango Tree and I Think About You, is her silky, fine-tuned voice. Aaradhna has been on the music scene for more than 20 years.

Her music makes perfect listening for kicking back after your 9-5, or to help you unwind for the weekend.

Craving something a little extra with your kulfi? Throw in a dash of liqueur!

Kahlua, Baileys and Pina colada are all tried and tested options for pairings.

This naughty creation crafted by Chef Parag Jaykar at O'Bombay restaurant in Hornsby NSW offers a wonderful mix of sweetness and intrigue, perfect for those kulfi abstainers who argue that the dessert is “too sugary” (as if that’s even a flaw). Dessert connoisseurs, take inspiration and zhuzh up your kulfi with a flavourful kick!

WRITTEN BY SRUTHI SAJEEV 28 JANUARY 2025

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with Lakshmi Ganapathy SHANUL SHARMA is the first Indian-born tenor to perform as a principal artist with Opera Australia. He has sung in major roles at some of the world’s most prestigious houses including the Staatsoper Hannover, Moscow Bolshoi Theatre and Sydney Opera House. Known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of M.K Gandhi in Philip Glass’ ‘Satyagraha’, he also sang in the heavy metal band Sobrusion for 8 years.

Why do you think people who listen to Bollywood or heavy metal should also listen to opera, and vice versa?

When you go to a restaurant you try different types of foods and you cultivate different tastes, and because of that experience, you maybe get more of an understanding of a different culture. Your palate expands so you're able to then accept newer things with less prejudice or judgement. The way food is for your palate, music is for your mind. I think the more types of music and art you expose yourself to, the more cultured you become, you get a very different perspective. If you are interested in culture or learning about new things, then why not go and listen to opera? Listen to heavy metal, listen to Bollywood and combine them – make the best type of fusion possible.

What has opera taught you about the world?

Opera is one of the pinnacles of western classical expression, and it explores human psychology in a very deep way. It’s not just about singing beautiful arias; I mean those songs and those tunes exist for a reason. It's everything that builds up to it. In opera, you must have the skill to be able to feel silence, because a lot of times the music is written to express a certain condition, or a certain type of staging that is happening [reflecting] something that was going on in the composer’s mind.

Like, there are moments in operas where a composer has composed footsteps to signify that somebody's walking, and if you're a person who's deeply aware of music, and

you're able to lose yourself in it, then you walk differently while you're listening to that music. That's what it's taught me on a - I don't want to use the word ‘spiritual’, but you know, on that kind of a level.

It's so weird, as soon as you start listening, time slows down, you start breathing differently suddenly and you go ‘where has the last half hour gone?’ The music is so engaging that you go into the flow state or something… I can't explain it, but that's what opera does. It slows you down in a very elegant way.

On a physical level, I've learnt different languages. I've met different people, eaten different food and had all these different cultural experiences through my travels as an opera singer. It's made me more accepting of different people than I would have been otherwise.

We noticed how moving it's been for you to play Gandhi in Philip Glass’ ‘Satyagraha’. What did you learn about Gandhi and the Gita from this experience?

The Bhagavad Gita has been very important in my family, and I took Sanskrit as a third language in school. I’m also interested in eastern philosophy; I felt that all my interests, all my training was to arrive at that moment so I could most effectively communicate what was going on in Gandhi's life, and what was happening in the Bhagavad Gita.

Singing Gandhi was like social work. It transcended the need to be a musician, to be an actor, to be something on stage. I felt like a channel for all of that.

It wasn't about me, but it was

about the truth, the ‘Satya’ of life – we should learn to coexist. There is much more to be had by existing together than dividing ourselves into different sections of society. It may give us immediate contentment, but human beings don’t belong to themselves, I mean, we are as much a part of society as society is a part of us. It was very humbling, and I'm glad that I was able to communicate that to people. It was completely a selfless exercise for me.

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

I’m involved in an [Opera Australia] production of I l barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) so I’m listening to that.

I’m watching the second series of Squid Game, and I’m reading Herman Hesse’s ‘Siddhartha’.

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

I like two words, both from Sanskrit. The first one is ‘Pragya’ and the second one is ‘Tripti’.

The definition of ‘Pragya’ is it's the state of wisdom that you arrive at which can't be obtained through knowledge or inference, but through experience and living life in a ‘dharmic’ way. If you're sensitive enough to the universe around you, you can arrive at ‘Pragya’; it brings intense amounts of peace, and I'd like to attain it somes day. But you know, it's a work in progress as life is.

My mum used to talk about ‘Tripti’ all the time. You know, ‘Ye kaam karo, tripti milegi’. You could say it means contentment, but the best definition I’ve found for ‘Tripti’ is ‘spiritual delight’ – Mann prafullith ho gaya, ye kaam karke, tripti mili mujhe.

And finally: Soan Papdi or Papdi Chat?

Papdi Chaat. To be honest, I'd rather have samosa chaat, but you know, JANUARY 2025 29 it's not on there.

STAGE

Seven No es of the noted

SUMATHI KRISHNAN speaks with ARIA award winner BOBBY SINGH, renowned tabla virtuoso celebrated for seamlessly bridging the classical and contemporary worlds. Collaborating with some of the most prominent musicians from Australia and India, he has become a trailblazer in cross-cultural artistry, and an Indian-Australian icon.

As a first gen percussionist who decided to become a tabla player, where did the journey begin?

As the son of a Sikh priest, I grew up listening to the music of Raagis and the powerful dhrupad dhamar beats of the Pakhawaj, creating a deep, resonant percussive aesthetic in me. By age eleven, I became enamoured by maestros like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain. I learnt in Mumbai, honing the Nikhil Ghosh style. By sixteen, in Australia, I was accompanying visiting and resident Hindustani musicians. Pandit Ashok Roy, a disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and his senior student, now renowned Australian sarodiya Adrian McNiel provided the fertile ground for further engagement, profoundly shaping my musical identity.

What are the unforgettable milestones that have left a lasting impression?

Meeting Ustad Zakir Hussain in my early twenties. Awestruck and nervous, I was hesitant when he asked me to play for him.

Sensing this, he said, “I’ve heard the best in my life; nothing will surprise me. Just play.”

His words encouraged me, and I played. It was a profoundly humbling moment. He remarked later, “You’re the only one playing tabla as an accompanist in Australia. Play as a service to the music, and the music will give all back to you”.

Your favourite compositions?

My best compositions are the impromptu moments when as musicians we ‘zone out’. There are some created with eminent musicians like Pandit Ashok Roy (sarod), Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Indian guitar), Karaikudi Mani (South Indian percussion ensemble) and more recently with Joseph Tawadros (Egyptian

30 JANUARY 2025

oud). In 2008, when Mamadou Diabate, Jeff Lang and I met, the organic progression of our playing led to Djan Djan in one sitting.

Whilst world music is no longer a term being used, as in 2008, this combination of universal sounds of the African kora, guitar and tabla remains novel and new to this day.

Future of tabla in Australia?

Fateful as Ustad Zakir Hussain’s words were, I was fortunate to make music with cultural icons like Grammy award winner Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, John Butler, Slava Grigoryan. I was well on my way to playing for and with musicians from different cultures and genres. I grappled with the tension between honouring tradition and embracing the need to diversify - until my mentors reassured me that this path was a natural evolution of my self-expression and the artform itself.

I would be the only tabla artist to win the ARIA awards for Djan Djan - instrumental recordings/ABC in 2010, with African artist Mamadou Diabate (Malian musician who plays thekora) and guitarist Jeff Lang. I feel that the future of tabla has forever been opened to all genres in Australia and the world.

What challenges have you faced in performing arts spaces?

Cutting the ‘noise’. Demanding the respect the music and artform deserve.

This continues to remain the challenge.

It is time that funding bodies understand the need to create ‘the right ambience’.

Requests that I play in the background, while celebrities mingle and drink, for ex, feels like my tapasya of years means nothing to them. It is dismissive and disrespectful. For me, creating music up close feels like a connection to divinity. It deserves its due respect and reverence.

What advice would you give to young tabla players in Australia?

To all young aspiring tabla players, finding a mentor and guru, and the connection to India, is imperative. My mentor and guru has been the acclaimed tabla player Aneesh Pradhan. Creative ventures and connections formed with and through associations, have helped my adventures with various musicians in both the Hindustani and other genres across the world.

Tell us about projects in the pipeline.

There’s a new album in the making which will be released under my own label. It includes an array of eminent musicians showcasing an eclectic combination of instruments and musicality. I’m excited about this - the music has been scored and composed by my guru Aneesh Pradhan. I cannot say much more about this now. Watch this space.

Across forty years, Bobby Singh has created and composed different styles of rhythm aesthetic - from drum and bass with The Bird, to Western classical with Slava Grigoryan, to blues and roots with John Butler and Jeff Lang - and has seen many album releases like ABC’s Visions of Nar, and Kapture with Sandy Evans.

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JANUARY 2025 31

WANDERLUST

Diaries from BY RITAM MITRA

T

he Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek is one of the world’s most famous hiking trails, though in recent years, it’s received perhaps unwarranted attention for being dirty, overcrowded or underwhelming. My experience, though, is the opposite.

A return trek to EBC takes about 11 days, but mine is longer, as I’ll also be crossing Cho La Pass to Gokyo, one of the highest settlements in the world. My climb will end with a gruelling sunrise summit of Gokyo Ri, from where I’ll get my best view of the world’s highest mountain.

I arrive in Nepal in the immediate aftermath of widespread flooding and landslides that have seen hundreds lose their lives. But Nepali people are fiercely resilient; here, it is an unfortunate but accepted reality that Mother Nature always has the final say. So, in the company of my porter Ashdhan, we press on.

THE CLIMB

It’s often said that the hardest part of the EBC trek is getting to the trailhead in Lukla, also home to the world’s most dangerous airport.

Visibility is often too poor for flights to run at all, so I take a helicopter to Lukla instead.

The trail from Lukla takes me over 32 JANUARY 2025

“Base camp” evokes feelings of safety, even comfort, but EBC is plainly inhospitable. It sits on a moving glacier, meaning the route to get here changes yearly, with the ‘camp’ rebuilt every summit season. It’s rocky, icy, desolate, harsh. varied terrain, starting with lush forest and terraces nestled alongside the raging Dhudh Koshi river, alpine shrubs and grasslands, ever-widening meadows and valleys with glimpses of snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and finally, barren glacial moraine fields.

My journey is dotted with encounters with dogs, yaks, horses, cows, and, strikingly, a 200-strong military contingent, dispatched to help flood victims.

The hike is only 60 kilometres long, but it’s not the distance that is challenging, but the

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Everest relentless climb, from an altitude of 900 metres to just under 5400 metres, at which point oxygen levels drop to half of those at sea level.

famously, the summit can only rarely actually be seen from EBC.

EVEREST BASE CAMP

Cho La Pass, part of the famous Three Passes trail, is a glacier leading to a summit crossing point between two peaks. It was closed until just two days before my arrival, due to extreme weather. It’s deadly silent as we climb, other than occasional glacial cracking, which is unsettling given we’re the first to cross the pass that day. The descent to Thangnak is even more hair-raising, with steep rock, snow and black ice forming a seemingly relentless combination only partially tempered by fixed ropes.

From Thangnak, we cross the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas and the most alien of landscapes. It’s hard to navigate a path, with the glacier unfolding before us in countless hues of white, grey and blue. Combined with the ever-present threat

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK

By the time I arrive at EBC, I’m feeling the effects of the thinner air. “Base camp” evokes feelings of safety, even comfort, but EBC is plainly inhospitable. It sits on a moving glacier, meaning the route to get here changes yearly, with the ‘camp’ rebuilt every summit season. It’s rocky, icy, desolate, harsh.

Then there’s the size, scale and sheer terror of Khumbu Icefall, part of the vitally important Khumbu Glacier, which dominates the view at EBC with persistently loud cracking to match. Climbers need to traverse the Icefall several times during a summit bid. Above the Icefall, we can only see a glimpse of Everest peaking above Nuptse, though still shrouded in cloud; How to get there Fly to Kathmandu, then catch a flight to Lukla. Take out good travel insurance – you may need to arrange a helicopter on short notice.

When to go The two best seasons for the EBC trek are in spring (March - May) or autumn (September - November). Be prepared for weather disruptions: keep at least four additional days

CHO LA PASS AND GOKYO RI

The Everest Base Camp trek is a genuine bucket list item. of avalanche, rockfall and sheer drops from narrow ridges, it’s with no small relief that we reach the stunning lakeside town of Gokyo, in the foothills of Cho Oyu – the sixth-highest mountain in the world.

Before dawn the next day, we start our climb of Gokyo Ri. The altitude remains brutal, and it’s so cold that my CamelBak quickly freezes into a useless 2kg weight on my back, even as the sun starts illuminating the silhouettes of the towering peaks around me. On the final summit push, I can only climb a few steps at a time before taking a break, so thin is the air. My reward is unabating 360-degree views of the Himalayas, including some of the best views of Everest in the entire region.

Spending more than a week above 5,000m has taken its toll on me; it later turns out I’ve been suffering from acute mountain sickness, so in hindsight, my quick helicopter descent to the relative safety of Lukla was a good idea.

up your sleeve.

The dollars and cents Excluding international flights and equipment, the trek costs about AUD$2,000, covering return flights to Lukla, park fees, meals and tea house accommodation for you and your porter, and your porter’s salary and tip. There are many local tour operators: I used Nepal Spirit Adventure.

JANUARY 2025 33

ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK

Worth waiting for?

You decide!

From romantic dramas to action-packed adventures and comedic gems, this is BHUMIKA SRIHARI’s line-up of Indian content this month

SKY FORCE (In cinemas)

GAME CHANGER (In cinemas)

Inspired by true events from a dangerous airstrike between India and Pakistan, this is an epic homage to valour and unwavering courage. Starring Akshay Kumar, it is a story of a hero lost in combat and another’s pursuit of truth. The film is said to be full of passion and friendship and intense action.

Releasing Jan 24

This mega film created quite a buzz with its trailer.

This Ram Charan starrer portrays the actor in dual roles alongside Kiara Advani who plays Dr. Deepika, his love interest. Ram Nandan, an honest IAS officer, fights political corruption and favouritism through fair and transparent elections.

Released Jan 10

EMERGENCY (In cinemas) Directed by Anupam Kher, this film stars Kangana Ranaut as one of the great Indian leaders and the country’s first female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

The film is her story surrounding the events that unfolded in 1975.

Releasing Jan 17

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AZAAD (In cinemas) Set in the 1920s, a young stable boy finds his patriotic calling when he fights to ride a horse with a kindred spirit he emotionally connects with, named Azaad. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Rasha Thadani, Diana Penty, Mohit Malik, and Piyush Mehra. The story is said to be a journey of courage, rebellion, tyranny, and a patriotic awakening.

Released Jan 17

THE RABBIT HOUSE (Disney plus) DOMINIC AND THE LADIES’ PURSE (In cinemas) This is an upcoming Malayalam film, a directorial debut by Gautham Vasudev Menon, starring Mammootty, Gokul Suresh, Lena, Siddique, Vijay Babu, and Viji Venkatesh. Meant to be an action thriller, the project is Mammootty Kampany’s sixth production.

Releasing Jan 23

THUDARUM (In cinemas)

In this mystery film set in Himachal Pradesh,actors Karishma and Amit Riyaanplay newlywed couple Komal and Srikanth respectively. A domineering husband becomes the natural and obvious suspect when his wife goes missing... What happens next and was it the husband? Watch to let us know.

Released Jan 3

BLACK WARRANT (Netflix)

This Malayalam film, a Tharun Moorthy directorial, stars Mohanlal and Shobana alongside Farhaan Faasil. The film surrounds a documentary photographer who frequently travels in search of subjects for his works.

Releasing Jan 30

Created by Vikramaditya Motwane and Satyanshu Singh, this TV series was inspired by true events.

After witnessing ruthless corruption inside Tihar Jail, an honourable officer who accepts a position there, swears to bring restitution.

Released Jan 10

KADHALIKKA NERAMILLAI (In cinemas)

DEVA (In cinemas) A Hindi action thriller directed by Roshan Andrews, this film stars Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles. Expected to be an action thriller, the film is about a police officer who discovers a web of deceit and betrayal while investigating a high-profile case.

Releasing Jan 31

This Tamil romantic comedy stars Nithya Menen and Jayam Ravi in lead roles. Shriya played by Menen is an ambitious architect who opts to be a single parent through IVF. Siddharth, played by Ravi, encounters Shriya in an unexpected setting while destiny has other plans for these star-crossed ‘lovers’?

Released Jan 14

PATAAL LOK SEASON 2 (Prime Video) Starring Jaideep Ahlawat and Ishwak Singh, this TV series is a strong screen return after an epic first season. Jaideep plays a police officer appointed to investigate a well-known case involving the attempted murder. The series is said to be loosely based on Tarun Tejpal’s 2010 book The Story of My Assassins.

Released Jan 16

SANKRANTHIKI VASTHUNAM (In cinemas)

NESIYAPPA (In cinemas)

THE ROSHANS (Netflix)

Directed by Anil Ravipudi, the movie is Victory Venkatesh’s third collaboration with the director after F2 and F3, along with Meenakshi Choudhary and Aishwarya Rajesh. A character named Bulli Raju, a boy whose words and actions bring the house down, sets the tone for the film. Expect a few good laughs, a love triangle, and as in any Telugu film, some lack of logic.

Released 14 Jan

Yet again a Tamil romantic thriller directed by Vishnuvardhan, featuring Kalki Koechlin and R Sarathkumar. Arjun, an IT professional, marries Diya the daughter of businessman Raghunathan.

On their honeymoon, they get caught in a legal mess revolving narcotic possession. The movie is about what they do next.

Released Jan 14

The pitfalls and triumphs of Bollywood’s famous Roshan family – musician Roshan Lal Nagrath, Rajesh, Rakesh and Hrithik – are chronicled in this documentary series. Fans of the Roshans or not, have a dekho to get an understanding of the legacy and indelible mark the iconic family has left on the Bollywood film industry.

Released Jan 17 JANUARY 2025 35

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FORETELL

JANUARY 2025

BY MINAL KHONA

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

ARIES

TAURUS

TAROT GEMINI

CANCER

MARCH 21 - APRIL 19

APRIL 20 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 20

JUNE 21 - JULY 20

Expect the start of the year to bring you destined occurrences. Singles will no longer be happy with casual dates and look for a deeper connection.

Communication with co-workers or family members could be stressful, but state your boundaries. Upper back issues need to be examined for underlying psychological problems. Money due to you could be delayed. Some of you might be thrilled with news of a baby. A creative project will take off. Avoid taking action or making major decisions this month.

Marriage is on the cards for some as the card drawn reflects strong bonds.

Practice awareness techniques so you don’t let negative emotions bog you down. An uncomfortable occurrence could become a lucky break. Avoid confrontations with family members.

Some of you may want to leave a deadend job. A rocky relationship will still not get resolved. If working too hard, slow down for better sleep. Learn from every setback and avoid making impulsive decisions. Time to let go of failed projects.

A month of healing and celebrations for Geminis. Singles could find themselves having an unusual affair. An ex may also make a comeback. A marriage is predicted for those looking to marry.

Irregular eating habits could cause health problems. Finances improve all around and a tense situation gets dissolved. A trip will help you forget problems for a while. To improve your relationships with others, increase prayer time and focus on spiritual matters. Trust the universe as it always has your back.

A time of extreme stress but the worst is over. A relationship breaks down but the only way out from here is up. Introspection will lead to facing some harsh truths about yourself.

At work, keep a low profile to avoid confrontations that could lead to a loss of income. If unwell, you will make a full recovery. Someone may backstab and betray your trust. Your finances improve substantially. Avoid negative thoughts and trust that whatever happens is for the best.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

JULY 21 - AUG 22

AUG 23 - SEP 22

SEP 23 - OCT 22

OCT 23 - NOV 21

A major arcana and the number six indicates a destined shift in mindset and attitudes. Leos might find themselves on the horns of a dilemma concerning their love life or an important decision. If looking for a new job, two tempting options could come up, and take the one where your skills will be appreciated. Loners may find themselves going on a socialising binge. Don’t take on too many family responsibilities or it could cause a rift.

Money comes from multiple sources.

A good start to the year financially for Virgos. Singles could meet someone interesting through work or socially.

Holding out for the kind of person you truly want will be beneficial. Working from home will be productive. Avoid binge drinking and if you have had surgery recently, you will make a full recovery. A change in perspective puts you in a happier place. Luck is with you in every new venture. Self-promotion will improve your business so go for it.

A time to let go of the past or even sacrifice certain desires as the new year rolls along. Keep communication open in a relationship if you don’t want an outburst later. A change in perspective will improve your mood. Business expands but you may lose a friend in the process. If facing problems with your eyes, get them checked without delay. A new project at work is on the anvil. The universe is giving you a chance to break old patterns.

Singles need to be clear if the person they are currently with is a friend or a potential partner. Seek clarity on what you want from the relationship, then proceed.

Superiors will provide unexpected support. If your job doesn’t suit your ambitions, maybe it is time to look for a new one. An aggravating financial issue will be resolved satisfactorily. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Resolve your dilemmas within for improved relationships with everyone.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18

PISCES

FEB 19 - MARCH 20

Abundance is yours at the start of the new year. You may also be in the mood to donate to the less fortunate. Those in a relationship might still feel like something is missing. Money problems may come up but they will get resolved and debts will get cleared. Different skills used at work will lead to success.

Upskilling will also lead to profits. Focus on the present instead of your problems to stay positive. The answers you seek will come.

You start your birthday month with the Magician card – expect things to start falling into place. Singles could find themselves amidst a passionate affair.

Or one with an ex may be revived. Some of you may set goals and be motivated to achieve them. If looking to sell property, you will succeed. The self-employed might enter a new partnership in business.

Finding the root cause of your stress will be an uphill task. Friends will be supportive and finances are healthy.

The emperor card indicates you are still nursing a father wound and it needs healing – especially if you are currently facing problems with your significant other. Go beyond the arguments to look at what triggers lie in the subconscious.

At work, a mentor will provide guidance.

Good luck follows you in all matters related to finance. A visit to the dentist may be required; any lumps found will be benign.

Everything holding you back will disappear and delayed projects move forward.

Teamwork will bring best results on all fronts this month. Singles will make a decision whether or not to go forward in a relationship. The self-employed will do good business. Marriage is on the cards for some of you. Besides worrying about others’ health, take care of your own. The self-employed will see an improvement in profits. An idea turns to reality for a lucky few of you. Listen with your heart before you take a call on a troublesome situation.

NOV 22 - DEC 21

DEC 22 - JAN 19

JANUARY 2025 37

BACKCHAT

When the ‘likes’ come at my expense

DEAR AUNTYJI I’m an easy-going husband who generally goes along with whatever my wife suggests, because she is super smart.

But over the last six months, she has started a very upsetting habit - she pulls pranks on me and then records this for social media for all to see.

For example, one evening I was watching the cricket - already super tense because Pat Cummins was bowling to Rishabh. Sheena sidled up to me in a long flowing white dress with her long black hair all in front of her face - like a churail with panga on her mind. This apparition was too much for me and I freely admit that I yelped like a six-year-old. As I visibly trembled and made scaredy-cat sounds, she laughed wildly again, like a churail on charas. The video got 1100 laughing emojis, but I didn’t find it funny at all.

Another time, she dressed in black and stood by my bed at 11pm - my wild thrashing from fright and scaredy-cat sounds captured for posterity for everyone to laugh at.

I have become entertainment for my family and friends, Auntyji.

I tried to prank her once by sneaking up on her and saying boo as she was chopping the onions for dinner, but she swung around wildly and the knife missed my carotid artery by an inch. I am tired of these pranks - but Sheena loves the thumbs-ups she is getting on the socials. What do I do, Auntyji?

AUNTYJI SAYS What kind of chuha allows his dakini wife to treat him like this? This is straight up and down abuse.

The first time this happened, you could have let it slide.

But you have tolerated this for six months now, and you have fed the monster.

Your paagal dayan of a wife who is besotted by her socials validation is using you as content, and she has effectively made you the laughing stock of the family.

A joke you have become, good sir.

Is that what you envisioned for your future as you took the saath phere with her?

You have some options.

One, tell your wife in no

uncertain terms that these pranks must stop, that you will not tolerate them, and if she does it again, you will take severe action.

What if she does it again?

Well, depends on how much of a mard you want to be. If you wanna go for scorched earth policy, pack a bag and leave the house. Turn off your phone and stay in a hotel overnight.

Return the next day and tell her seriously that she needs to respect your boundaries, and that you didn’t marry a dayan. You must be very firm; don’t accept that stupid claim that “it’s only a joke”.

It’s not a

joke - this is disrespectful, hurtful behaviour and you deserve better.

Option two, take her phone and hide it. This will irritate the hell out of her, but it’s not as humiliating as what she has been doing to you.

Are you going to remain a chuha or are you going to thoko your chhathi (beat your chest) and claim what’s rightfully yours - your dignity?

ASK AUNTYJI Do you have a question for Auntyji?

Email it to info@indianlink.com.au

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