SEPTEMBER_2025_MELB

All things Indian. In Australia.

MELBOURNE

SEPTEMBER 2025

indianlink.com.au

FREE

31 Level 25/259 George St, Sydney 2000 • GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 • Ph: 1800 015 847

2 SEPTEMBER 2025

www.indianlink.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2025 3

4 SEPTEMBER 2025

www.indianlink.com.au

EDITORIAL

Unfairly targeted.

Undeniably vital.

All things Indian. In Australia.

PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra CONTRIBUTORS Lakshmi Ganapathy, Khushee Gupta, Torrsha Sen, Sruthi Sajeev, Apoorva Tandon, Harini Sridhar, Manan Luthra, Sandip Hor, Charmaine O’Brien, Prutha Chakraborty, Emily Barros, Jai Tiwari, Minal Khona, 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:

INDIAN LINK MEDIA GROUP Level 25 / 259 George St, Sydney 2000 GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Email: info@indianlink.com.au

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

M

igration is a perennial flashpoint in Australian politics. Politicians frequently woo migrant communities - while stoking the fears of the wider electorate.

Fear of migrants rarely stems from evidence.

It is more about perceived threats - locals losing jobs, overburdened infrastructure, or the erosion of national identity. Migrants become convenient scapegoats during times of uncertainty, amplified by sensationalist media and populist rhetoric.

Yet the numbers tell a different story: on Sunday 31 August, less than 1.2% of Australians marched against migration, 98.8% Australians recognise the value of migration. We need to move the dial further north and talk about the value of migration.

Migrants fill critical skill gaps, from healthcare and engineering to hospitality and IT. They drive entrepreneurship - migrants are statistically more likely to start businesses, creating jobs and innovation. They contribute significantly through taxes, consumption, and investment, strengthening national economies.

Migration adds social and cultural value.

It enriches cultural life with new languages, food, art, and traditions. It fosters crosscultural understanding and resilience in diverse societies. Migrants often revitalise communities, especially in regional or ageing areas, bringing energy and demographic balance.

Migration brings fresh perspectives, adaptability, and global networks.

Indian-Australians illustrate this reality in every way. They are the second-highest taxpaying migrant community after the British.

Some 64-68% hold degrees beyond a Bachelor’s, earning above the national median. Collectively, they generate $46 billion in income and pay $10-12 billion in income tax annually - over 3% of total government income tax revenue. Indian international students contribute up to $8.5 billion to the economy, including $1.3 billion in taxes.

The contribution of Indian-Australians to the Australian economy in dollar numbers is in billions, not millions.

Their workforce participation is crucial: 25-30% in IT, 15-18% in healthcare and social assistance, 10-13% in engineering and construction, and 8-10% in education.

Yet public discourse often ignores these facts. In recent days, political figures have singled out Indian-Australians, suggesting

migrants are being strategically brought in for votes, while they become a drain on resources.

The issue is not migration itself; it is fear, misinformation, and opportunism. Structural problems - housing, inequality, infrastructure - are real, but blaming migrants for these challenges is simplistic and harmful.

Indian-Australians are not a threat; they are valuable to Australia’s economy, and its social and cultural life. They are resilient, hardworking, and deeply committed to the country they call home.

Their skills, labour, and tax contributions support everyday life for all Australians.

With Diwali approaching, politicians will join community celebrations in large numbers.

Beyond traditional attire and festival fanfare, perhaps their focus should be on the value migrants bring to the nation.

It is time to move past scapegoating and fear. Migration debates must be grounded in facts. And in the knowledge that it is not a burden but a bridge - connecting cultures, strengthening economies, and enriching our shared identity. To value migration is to value ourselves: the courage of our past, the diversity of our present, and the promise of our future. After all, migration has long been Australia’s quiet superpower - and the real question is not whether we can afford it, but whether we can afford to ignore it.

Discover how the new rental laws affect you There are new rental laws in NSW that impact renters and landlords.

NSW Fair Trading provides tools, resources and support to guide tenants and landlords through the new laws, including changes to; reasons to end a lease, rent payment without fees, and making it easier to apply to keep a pet.

It’s important to know what’s changed, as well as your rights and responsibilities.

NSW Fair Trading is here to help – visit nsw.gov.au for more information.

SEPTEMBER 2025 5

CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURES THROWBACK Sydney 2000: ‘The best Games ever’

IFFM 2025

When the films do all the talking

PARENTING

3-year-old Avisha makes it to Mensa

THE WORKING LIFE

Your leasing questions, answered

SPORT

Jai Saxena’s AFL dreams

6 SEPTEMBER 2025

16

19

23

29

16 19 23 24 COVER STORY

29

CYNICAL. SCAPEGOATED. UNSHAKEN Young Indian-Australians on Jacintagate

12

www.indianlink.com.au

IndianLink

Three decades of all things Indian. In Australia.

Proudly honoured with 31 media awards, including four-time recognition as Best Publication.

SEPTEMBER 2025 7

YOUR SAY

WHO REALLY BELONGS?

MARCH FOR AUSTRALIA PROTEST KHUSHEE GUPTA on the tensions underpinning the March for Australia protest.

Kamal Ponnan wrote: Indian diaspora populations in Australia show high educational attainment, high employment and earnings, and low dependency on welfare relative to many other groups. Official census and national statistics should be sighted before such rallies to prove that many Indianorigin migrants are economically productive and not concentrated on public dole. Effort should be redirected on preventing terrorists coming to Australia rather than targeting a group which contributes to Australia's economy.

Georgina Whitby wrote: The article tries to blame housing shortages on lack of building, but this is untrue regarding rentals, as Australia had the highest rate ever of dwellings built in the 2010s, and one of the highest rates of dwellings built per capita. We had a huge glut of apartments to rent (while other factors, including foreign buyers, still distorted home purchase prices), and we would have still had excess apartments if normal migration rates had resumed instead of the extreme and completely unsustainable inundation.

Aman Phokela wrote: It's a shame we have been so timid throughout history.

We never stood up to people who targeted and abused us for nothing. Inspite of large numbers, we have been ruled by Turks, Portuguese, English, French, Greeks, Mongolians and now targeted by White Australians, the list goes on.

Why does this happen?

Rhys Bosley wrote: I’m an immigrant, I will be going to the protest and I think immigrants like (the ones quoted here) are ungrateful and entitled. Whatever contribution we have made to Australia, Australia has done far more for us. We migrants should be demonstrating loyalty to Australia, instead of constantly talking about ourselves. Being loyal means accepting the right of Australians who are already here, to decide who and how many more come here. Immigration will only be accepted when it makes Australian lives better, not worse.

INDIAN LINK’S #MYINDIANLINK PHOTO CONTEST RAJESH DHAR and MONOJIT DUTTA’s striking images of connection won them the annual photo contest.

Seema Ganatra wrote: Love your two winning pics - the faith, the elderly couple, the quiet moments often overlooked. There’s so much beauty in daily rhythms and relationships, if only you have the time to look. Well done to the winning photographers.

Sebastian Giunta wrote: Nice images! Congratulations to the winning artists!

Arpan Basu Chowdhury, Adrija Kundu, Sayoni Megha, Bapi Kundu, Jeniva Das, Tanusree Sadhukhan, Suparna Samanta, Arghadeep Chinya, Arpan Adhikary, Arkadip Mondal, Rajdeep Saha, Angshuman Paul, Abhay Mahato wrote congratulatory notes.

8 SEPTEMBER 2025

Today’s ‘outsiders’ are tomorrow’s nation builders, PAWAN LUTHRA writes. So why are we still arguing over belonging?

Padmini Sunderaj wrote: Perhaps it is called the Trump effect? When the US sneezes, the world catches a cold. When a certain sentiment becomes prominent there, it becomes a trend here. Unfortunately, Australia is not just an ally. It is a silent, subtle follower. Sad to note that Indians were singled out.

Anu Shivaram wrote: Well said Pawan. We applied, they accepted us as there was a need for our skills in the workforce. So it's a mutual agreement. Now why discriminate and protest?

Chitra Iyer wrote: A very good analysis. I personally refuse to flagellate and proclaim my identity. I have worked as hard or harder to make this my country…We need to stop our misgivings and show our strength in action.

Shantha Viswanathan wrote: As always, so well articulated, Pawan Luthra.

Thank you Indian Link for being our voice. So disappointing that after 45 years in this country, now our home, we have to hear this!! Nothing and nobody can stop us for we will continue to contribute and strive to do our best for our people and the country.

Parma Ram wrote: Certainly it is correct…If they do not need us, they should say it openly and honestly. Migrants face job discrimination and top jobs are reserved for Anglo-Australians due to culture fit. How many CEOs and CFOs of Aust are migrants? Sadly these migrants drive taxis.

Raptor Ravman wrote: I fly the Australian flag as well as the Indian flag.

Indian-Australians have to be comfortable with this. No need to apologise.

Sanghamitra Mitra wrote: Thanks Mr. Luthra for those correct statements, nicely summarised in a few words.

Brownsforbetter wrote: Brilliant post, thank you.

DIASPORA LINKAGES AND CONNECTIONS Asialink Leader’s Program alumnus JAI PATEL on one of Australia’s most important assets: the Indian diaspora.

Pawan Luthra wrote: Great to see you refining how Australia engages with India, Jai Patel. Love the way you are turning identity into strategy and applying the power of diaspora, business, and cultural fluency to take Australia-India relationship forward.

Saurab Shukla wrote: Love this!

Stephen Manallack wrote: Agree Jai, the Indian diaspora is a massive asset for us - culturally, economically and more. Well done mate.

Tim Thomas wrote: You are a true leading light for diaspora connections Jai - both to the global diaspora and to mainstream Australia. Well done.

Maulik Thakkar wrote: Amazing article, Jai. Manish Rama wrote: Congratulations Jai on this well-deserved recognition!

Your insights on the power of diaspora linkages are spot on. Great to see your contributions celebrated in 30 Years of Asia Success.

Mansi Wadhwa wrote: Amazing article, Jai Patel. So many takeaways! Loved the reference to ‘jugaad’- the unofficial Indian superpower. Whether it’s fixing a car with a hairpin (witnessed this in Rajasthan) or building a business from scratch, there’s always “somehow” a way. A great reminder of the resilience, creativity, and hustle that drive real impact.

Reina Patel wrote: Great to see your work and success in bringing the two countries together.

www.indianlink.com.au

INDIAN-AUSTRALIANS ARE NOBODY’S VOTEBANK Amidst the political chaos of the last few weeks following the antiimmigration rallies and Senator Jacinta Price’s ill-judged remarks about Indian migrants being Labor’s imported votebank, Indian Link has been one of many voices defending the Indian-Australian community from divisive rhetoric. Our founder Pawan Luthra represented the IndianAustralian perspective at multiple forums - a recognition of the impact of our community in Australia’s national conversations. In his appearances on ABC TV and Radio, to mentions in The Daily Aus and The Australian, Pawan has consistently highlighted what our previous Federal election surveys revealed: that far from being a monolithic bloc, the community demonstrates diversity in its political preferences, often aligning closely with broader national outcomes. This coverage only strengthens our commitment to ensuring the public conversation reflects the true diversity and reality of our community.

Priyanka Prakash wrote: Public trust is the currency of democracy. When a public office holder knowingly misleads the community, they devalue that currency. A sincere and public apology is a non-negotiable step. It sends a clear message that integrity matters and that leaders are accountable for their words. More than saving face, it's about restoring faith in our institutions.

Santha Sampath wrote: Good on you Indian Link for standing up for our community. (My family) have lived in Australia for 50 years and every time we voted we ensured that we properly weighed our options.

Imran Parmar wrote: It's truly disappointing to see a politician suggest an entire community is being 'used' to manipulate votes. This kind of rhetoric isn't just baseless, it's also deeply harmful to Australia's multicultural fabric.

An apology is the least that could be offered to restore trust and respect.

Good on you, Pawan Luthra.

Kunal Anil Sharma wrote: Good job Pawan Luthra, proud of your audacity and perseverance. @misterpeeps wrote: I am an immigrant from India and traditionally a Liberal voter. I know who I will not be voting for next elections.

Sukhmani Khorana wrote: Thank you Pawanji for asking for a proper apology.

Deepak Shah wrote: Well said Pawan. Totally agree, a formal apology is a must. Keep up the good work!

Sangeeta Rao wrote: Keep up that voice of reason, Pawan.

Aruna Chandrala wrote: Very valid points raised Pawan Luthraji. @nephriteitsarock5377 wrote: Well-articulated and straight to the point, well done!

Ajay Naidu wrote: Looks like politicians across the world are using hate as a tool to achieve their desired result. “Divide & rule” was a dreaded phase during British rule in India. Now it appears to be back in business again. I hope people can see through this and vote for peace & prosperity of all and sundry. @robinkumar-hx7wg wrote: Jacinta should fight for Aboriginal rights rather than pick on Indians?

Ponraj Krish wrote: This political rhetoric is toxic - Jacinta needs to be removed from the Liberal party.

Jayanthi Srinivas wrote: Unconditional public apology from Jacinta Price.

Adam Rea wrote: Why should she (apologise) when statistically she is correct? The problem is you don't like the fact that she called it out. Also, facts don't care about your feelings.

Kerrie Williams wrote: Jacinta said there are a lot of Indian residents here.

She shouldn’t apologise, considering she said nothing wrong. I’ve noticed that Indian people are saying “for our communities,” a lot. It’s our Australia, stop living in your own communities.

Nishadh Rego wrote: I am writing to express my gratitude, as one of many first generation Australians of Indian heritage, for your coverage, and leadership in response to recent comments about our community from Senator Price. Your interviews, writing, and coverage of Governments' responses have been valuable in representing the views of so many in our communities and assuaging doubts about whether we are welcome here.

History tends to repeat itself, but what matters in each moment is how we respond. @maheah101 wrote: I am Indian migrant. Always voted Liberal. Not anymore.

KK Neelamraju wrote: Erudite as always Pawan, good one! As you said on ABC, Jacinta's ill-informed comments painted a target on our backs. And you pointed out this as well - Labor was quick to exploit the comments. It was Labor-aligned Kos Samaras of Redbridge who first seeded the 85% Labor voter claim on Drew Pavlou's podcast and later discussed it on Paul Murray's show on Sky. I suspect that's where the right wing echo chamber picked it up and eventually served it up through Jacinta's comments. Kos has walked back the claim since then, but barely faced any accountability for sparking this kerfuffle. I doubt it was malicious, but he needs to be careful with this sort of thing that can cause harm to ethnic minorities in a bad economy.

Sukhmani Khorana wrote: Thank you (for taking pains to point out that the 85% claim by Jacinta is untrue). It’s important to get this out in the national legacy media as they are going with the line that the Red Bridge polling quoted by Price is correct. Also polling by Carnegie shows it is way below 85% for Labor and party loyalty not a factor in the diaspora.

Vimisha Jani wrote: Getting targeting after working hard, paying taxes, following the law, not using stress leaves or entitlements, being committed citizens and workers, not relying on benefits, having functional to proficient English language skills, adapting to new norms and culture of another land, being inclusive, not speaking out when unfairly treated or dismissed by others, not being a rebel, being a migrant student paying international fees with currency exchange rates when invited to study, not coming by boats, standing with the local community in their hour of need or national disaster, and yet considered an unwanted migrant is… heartbreaking.

Robert Young wrote: Nobody is against Indians, but your (sic) being used as political ladders for Labor. Multiculturalism is a balance of many cultures that's made Australia what it is, not just one race being flooded into a country to suit the gain of a political party. Hence the reason there is unrest with the majority of Australians, your (sic) being used by Labor, not because they like you, because you vote for them.

VR Riya wrote: The spread of conspiracy theories coming out of the US and the rise of far-right neo-Nazi groups are a growing threat to peace in our country. These groups use coded language, memes, and seemingly harmless protest rallies such as those we evidenced on 31 August to radicalise individuals and spread their hateful ideology. So where do we go from here?

Our focus needs to evolve, from solely focusing on the most violent acts to also targeting the underlying ideologies and tactics used to spread hate. The aim should be to make it illegal and socially unacceptable to promote these dangerous ideas, while also building a stronger and more resilient community to resist them. I strongly hope our leaders stand up to the need of the hour!

Shantha Viswanathan wrote: You are a star spokesperson for our community Pawan Luthra.

Chitra Iyer wrote: Let us as Indians rise above these petty politics and show them our strength. Go out and continue doing what we do. Show our love for both our birth country and our adopted country. I consider myself lucky to have both and I respect both.

SEPTEMBER 2025 9

YOUR SAY

Get the best of Indian Link straight in your inbox. Scan the QR code to sign up to our weekly enewsletter

WRONG ANSWERS ONLY What could Kajol, Saif and Akshay possibly be thinking?

Farzana Nisha wrote: Thank God Ajay Devgn is not here.

Sruthi Sajeev wrote: Saif is probably thinking - Can you pinpoint whose hands are whose, in five seconds?

Priyanshi Vats wrote: Today’s vibe: less entanglements, more disentanglements.

MOTHER TONGUE, MOTHERLAND For our Independence Day feature in our August edition, 29 speakers of Indian languages living in Australia picked a word from the tongues that raised them, healed them and remind them who they are.

Ash Raina wrote: A great freedom and birthday gift - getting one-word out to the masses!

Mondira Mukerjee wrote: A well-compiled description of favourite words in various Indian languages. Good photos too. Well done and thank you.

Preeti Thadani wrote: A beautiful topic to commemorate 15th Aug - what a fabulous spread of words in the 'Language of Home' piece. I thoroughly enjoyed contributing towards it (in Sindhi) and reading what others have written.

Saba Nabi wrote: Loved writing my little bit in Urdu - love the way the article is crafted!

Manoj Narsey wrote: Thank you for adding “Fiji Hindi” as an Indian language.

Umesh Chadha wrote: Engaging and relatable - and moving in certain sections. It reflects Indian Link’s voice perfectly.

Praful Jethwa wrote: My 11-year-old Vipra was truly delighted to read not only his special word in Sanskrit and its meaning, but also found the other submissions equally fascinating.

Cana Nongkhlaw wrote: I really appreciate being included in something that celebrates language in such a thoughtful way. Thank you so much - that really means a lot! I do care deeply about language, especially when it comes to preserving and uplifting Indigenous languages - like Khasi (my native tongue from Meghalaya).

Ruchira Jain wrote: It’s presented beautifully!

TOO MANY INDIANS? In this satirical spoof by RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA, Jacinta Price is reimagined as your typical Indian aunty.

Charmaine O’Brien wrote: I love this. It is so funny.

Dinsha Palkhiwala wrote: Jacinta’s comments do look like they were in a comedy routine. Alternate career…?

Riar Sidhu Amar wrote: Making some gulab jamuns in Jacinta Aunty’s name.

Darshak Mehta wrote: Hilarious. Aunty Joshna’s natural spiritual home is with Aunty Pushpa (aka Pauline).

Hugh McDermott MP wrote: Hilarious satire of Senator Price from Indian Link – really worth a read!

THIS OR THAT Our weekly ‘would you rather,’ has revealed some unexpected quirks, and we’re loving it! Here are last month’s popular picks. n What’s your most misused privilege? Being trusted with the AUX cable on a road trip OR The family Whatsapp admin rights? The vote was unanimous: AUX rights 100%, family WhatsApp admin rights 0%. Playlists reign supreme, and the family group can run itself into chaos. n What feels like daylight robbery? Paying $20 for a “bowl” OR Getting ice and realising its 80% of your drink? This one was a tie! Turns out both a $20 salad bowl and an ice-filled drink feel equally like daylight robbery to our readers. n What's your airport timing? 3 hours early – just in case OR Cutting it fine, but making it? 67% of you said you’ll arrive 3 hours early than risk sprinting to gate 48. We’re all for treating airport anxiety the way it deserves - with overpriced coffee and silent resentment. n What feels like time well spent? A walk somewhere green OR A slow morning with your favourite mug? 100% of you chose a slow morning over a walk somewhere green. Urban legends now speak of a time when people touched grass.

10 SEPTEMBER 2025

GOLDEN HEART, GOLDEN WICKETS LAKSHMI GANAPATHY on 10-year-old Veer Tangri’s charity Golden Wickets, which collects sports goods for children in need.

Rajesh Sharma wrote: Well done, Veer. Let us know how we can further help to keep the sharing spirit going. Keep up the good work.

Tracey Holmes wrote: Lovely story from Indian Link Media Group.

Neha Srivastava wrote: Cheering you on, Veer.

Bruce Adams wrote: What an outstanding young man and role model… I’ve heard previously about his work, and I’m delighted he’s continuing with his passion and dedication.

Gitesh Agarwal wrote: Very inspiring. Noble intentions don’t wait for age.

Dr Deepike Ponnappa wrote: Proud of you, Veer. Onwards and upwards.

Daniel McClintock wrote: Congratulations, Veer. So wonderful to see this outworking of your generosity and compassion. Strong in name and deed!

Neha Bhasin wrote: Well done, Veer! Great story to share.

Arvinder Gujral wrote: Kudos to the wee lad, Kapil Tangri.

Ritika Gambhir, Chaitnya Sharma, Amit Chhangani, Gurpreet Singh Sahi and Mala Mehta OAM also wrote congratulatory notes.

WHERE TANJORE AND THANJAVUR COME TO LIFE SRUTHI SAJEEV on Sydney writer Uma Srinivasan’s first major work of fiction Etched in Gold, which brings new life to the forgotten histories of Tanjore.

Chitra Aiyar wrote: Half way through and loving it.

Kiran Kandade wrote: Is this available on Amazon?

Azad Madni wrote: Wishing you success with your book.

Mala Mehta OAM, Ramesh C Jain, Ramaseshan Balachandran, Elizabeth Foley, Bala Subramaniam Seema Mishra, Kamesh Aiyer, Divya Ramchandran, and Vishy Narayanan also wrote notes of congratulation.

THE COMPLEXITIES OF BEING JASPRIT BUMRAH What gives in this love-hate relationship between Indian cricket fans and Jasprit Bumrah, ANINDYA DUTTA asked.

Aryan Surana wrote: Public memory is short and netizens often waste little time in jumping on the hate bandwgon, so Anindya Dutta takes up the mantle to remind fickle fans of the legacy of Jasprit Bumrah, who found himself in the eye of an extraneous social media storm in the afterglow of Mohammed Siraj’s match-winning performance in The Oval. A well-crafted explainer.

BOLLYWOOD DIALOGUE We’ve changed up our trivia deck and asked you to switch on that filmy side of your brain. We asked: which movie is this line from?

Readers Smita Pawar Nashikkar, Mansi Kaushal, Preeti Kothari, Srinivasan Iyer and Krishna Srinivas got the right answer: Om Shanti Om.

www.indianlink.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2025 11

Photo: X

COVER STORY

Cynical. Scapegoated.

Unshaken.

Second-gen Indian-Australians on Jacintagate

From backlash to belonging: The journey of a new generation finding its voice

BY MANAN LUTHRA

T

wo weeks after its making, the fallout from Senator Jacinta Price’s tirade against Indians and Indian migrants continues. The Liberal Party has finally begun damage control, removing Price from the Shadow Ministry. State and national governments, acting more swiftly, reassured the diaspora that their presence is valued. Yet antiimmigration protests continue across the nation, emboldened by overseas movements, cultural ignorance, and blunt racism.

It is a complex time to be Indian in Australia.

The increased community outreach and resistance to disinformation is notable.

Roundtables convened by governments have successfully made the population feel

12 SEPTEMBER 2025

recognised. Widespread reporting of how Indians contribute to Australia and how the demographic voted in past elections – information gathered by Indian Link over the previous three cycles - firmly and unequivocally disprove Senator Price’s statements.

No cultural group in Australia should be vilified, homogenised, or made to feel unwelcome. But within the diaspora, young Indian Australians occupy a unique space, and their reflections capture both frustration and resilience.

Migration Journeys: Roots and Routes

For Dheeraj Thadani, migration is a story spanning nearly five decades. “My grandparents migrated here 47 years ago in search for better opportunities. They worked hard and gave my mother a great life.” Today, a student, he is pursuing work in finance while completing his degree.

For refugee lawyer Riona Moodley, the journey began in 1994, when her family

migrated from South Africa. “Like many South African Indians, my parents left in the aftermath of apartheid, seeking a fairer society and a brighter future for their children.” Growing up in western Sydney, she did encounter racism at school, but the broader environment gave her hope.

“I remember the Labor government at the time pushing a strong multicultural message, embracing immigrants. Even when I was teased about my appearance, I felt I belonged because the national story said I did.”

Lawyer Nikhil Sachdev’s family story involves movement back and forth. “My dad moved to Australia first, in the early 1980s. He went back to India in 1990, got married, and I was born in 1996. We moved back here shortly after, in 1997, as a family.”

For him, that back-and-forth migration carries meaning. “For my father, migration wasn’t just a one-way ticket. He tested Australia out, returned to India to build family ties, and then came back here with

the idea that this was the place to make a long-term home.”

Medical professional Namita Gupta’s parents came even earlier, in the late 1970s. “Though I was born in India, I grew up in Sydney from infancy, effectively living my whole life here. My brother was born in Australia, and our family has been rooted in Sydney ever since.” Today she is both a dentist and a tech entrepreneur. “As a second-generation Indian-Australian, I straddle two worlds. I’m deeply Australian and contribute to this society every day, but I’m also aware of my Indian heritage.

That’s why it’s so hurtful to see Indian Australians being singled out politically, despite our enormous contributions across health, finance, and transport. It feels like our community isn’t seen or valued for what we do.”

Lawyer Arjunan Puveendran’s parents came in the midst of turmoil. “My parents are Sri Lankan Tamils. They came in 1986, after the civil unrest of the early 1980s, and settled in Melbourne. I was born in

www.indianlink.com.au

1989. I grew up in a large, close-knit family community. That helped shield me from some of the harsher experiences of racism, though I do recall moments of subtle prejudice, like being told it was ‘surprising’ I excelled in English because of my background.” One incident in adulthood stayed with him. “I was walking down the street in the city when a group of young people yelled at me to go back where I came from. I turned and walked the other way to avoid escalation. But it made me think - what if it had been my mother walking there? The fear and humiliation could have been so much worse.”

Khushaal Vyas, also a lawyer, was born and raised in Sydney, his family having migrated to Australia in the 1980s.

Sanjay Alapakkam, a policy advisor, moved to Australia with his parents in 2006. “Growing up in Australia was an immense privilege, filled with opportunities, but I did experience moments of racist schoolyard bullying.

I have grown up loving this country, its values and its long line of achievements both at home and abroad, while also appreciating the need to eradicate prejudice, in all its forms, to truly realise the Australian dream of an egalitarian, first-rate social democracy.”

Rallies and Reactions

When anti-migration rallies erupted in Australian cities, these young Australians watched with unease. Riona observes, “It’s incredibly divisive. We’ve seen this before.

Whenever new migration waves arrive, anti-immigrant rhetoric resurfaces. But the current numbers are not extraordinary - they’re simply necessary to maintain economic stability. What worries me is that divisive language legitimises racism and makes people like my children question their place in Australia.”

For Namita, it was particularly confronting to hear Jacinta Price’s comments targeting Indian Australians.

“It’s confronting to see your subgroup called out. Among my peers, there’s anger that our contributions aren’t recognised.

If Indian Australians stopped working, especially in healthcare, the economy would feel it instantly. To be targeted despite that is deeply disappointing.”

Arjunan views the rallies as a symptom of broader societal anxiety. “It’s about fear, misinformation, and division. Migrants are being demonised for problems that are structural - housing affordability, inequality, economic mismanagement.

Migration adds productivity and fills skill shortages. Blaming migrants is just lazy politics.”

Nikhil sees both sincerity and prejudice in them. “The rallies have been very interesting. From what I’ve observed, it’s a mixed crowd. There are some people who have genuine concerns about the future of Australia’s migration policy and the direction the country is heading. I can’t speak to how educated or informed those concerns are, but I think many are genuinely minded. At the same time, there are others in those rallies who are, frankly, racist. They’re not motivated by infrastructure or numbers; they’re motivated by fear of difference. So, you end up with this uneasy mix - legitimate concerns alongside prejudice.”

He links these dynamics to international politics. “Look at Donald Trump in the

US, or the way migration debates have played out in Europe. People here see that. They see protests in Britain, far-right parties in France or Italy, Trump’s wall rhetoric. Some don’t like what’s happening overseas, but others are inspired by it.

Politicians abroad, like Trump, have stockpiled the flames for their own political gain - and I think some politicians here are doing the same.”

Dheeraj points to the low turnout as proof the protests are unpopular.

“In Sydney the protestors numbered around 8000, or 0.00097% of the NSW population. Those numbers are minor and certainly do not reflect the majority of Australians.”

Khushaal raises concerns around personal security. “Friends, family, they’re all talking about it. All are concerned and many are expressing fear, particularly during protest days. For the first time, they’re really feeling like there’s a target on their back.”

Racism: Past and Present

Racism has always been part of the story, though it shifts in form. Riona recalls the slurs she faced as a child, but also remembers government messaging that helped her feel included. Namita acknowledges “subtle, underlying racism” that she chose not to dwell on, though it was ever-present. Arjunan admits he was somewhat shielded but still experienced incidents directed at his family, especially when his parents’ accents drew unwanted attention.

Nikhil, however, did not personally encounter overt racism growing up. “No, not really. Maybe I was lucky, maybe it’s because of where I grew up. I know others have had different experiences, but overt racism hasn’t been a defining part of my life here.”

For some, the hardest part is explaining it to children. “At school, they’re fine - the community is supportive,” remarks Riona of her 8- and 11-year-olds. “But they watch the news and ask why people don’t like people who look like them. They question whether they’re fully Australian. I work hard to reassure them, but it shouldn’t be this way. We need to reach a point where every person here is accepted as Australian without having to ‘claim’ it.”

Namita echoes this concern, saying her children should grow up proud Australians without being forced to constantly prove their belonging.

Nikhil Sachdev

Khushaal Vyas

Riona Moodley

Migration, Housing and Inequality

What frustrates many is the scapegoating of migrants for today’s housing and cost-ofliving crisis.

“The cost of living in Sydney is extraordinarily high, and it’s hard for many Australians to buy homes. That’s real,” Namita concedes. “But blaming migrants oversimplifies the issue. The government needs to tackle housing affordability, infrastructure, and policy failures - not scapegoat communities.”

Riona stresses that migration numbers align with long-term economic projections and that skilled migrants are essential to sustain healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Arjunan sees the protests as evidence of political failure. “Structural issues like productivity, wages, and taxation aren’t

Namita Gupta

SEPTEMBER 2025 13

COVER STORY

Dheeraj Thadani

being addressed. Instead, the lowesthanging fruit - migrants - are blamed. That lets governments avoid accountability. But migration is part of the solution, not the problem.”

Nikhil is unequivocal. “What we have is a supply issue - housing, infrastructure, services. For example, look at the outer suburbs of Melbourne. You read article after article about how there’s no infrastructure out there. No proper public transport, country roads that aren’t built for population growth, not enough schools. Migrants settle there, but the facilities don’t keep up. So, the problem isn’t migration itself. It’s our lack of planning to support migration. Migrants want to contribute, but we haven’t invested enough in the infrastructure to make that sustainable.” On whether migration should be paused, he is clear: “No, I don’t think you can fully pause migration. That would be very silly. Australia already has one of the more difficult migration systems in the world, and rightfully so - we want people who adopt our values. Most migrants do. Could migration be slowed slightly to match infrastructure growth? Perhaps. But stopping it altogether? No. That would be short-sighted.”

Politics and Representation

Sanjay Alapakkam

Arjunan Puveendran

14 SEPTEMBER 2025

The Jacintagate fallout has left scars politically.

“We don’t always feel seen or heard,” says Namita. “While we share many values with the Liberals, some of the recent rhetoric around migration has been difficult for our community to relate to.

It’s made me reflect carefully on my voting intentions.”

Nikhil adds, “I’m a bit older now, and I’d describe myself as conservative. The events of the past few days have left me very disappointed in the Liberal Party, though perhaps not enough to change my broader orientation. Most of my friends and family friends are in corporate or business circles, so they’re economically minded, fairly conservative. They don’t naturally gravitate toward Labor. But the Liberals have alienated them. Many feel that the party should have been their natural home - but after comments like Senator Price’s, they’re questioning that. It doesn’t mean they’ll swing to Labor, but it does mean they feel politically homeless.”

On Senator Price’s remarks, he says, “I think her comments were opportunistic at best, racist at worst. She was taking a political potshot, trying to appeal to conservatives in her base. Personally, I don’t think she hates the Indian community. But singling them out in that way was wrong. It was opportunism -she wanted to spark controversy. And it worked, right? We’re still talking about it. She could have apologised, yes. But I think the comments were deliberate, aimed at a very specific political class. To that audience, apologising would have looked weak. She wanted to start a fire, and apologising would have doused it.

In her strategy, looking weak would be worse than looking wrong. So she doubled down.”

Others are even more blunt.

Sanjay observes that “racism in Australia did not start or end with Jacinta Price”, decrying the hyper-focus on extracting an apology from her. But he notes that

“her comments didn't help, given the heightened anti-Indian sentiment in Australia and online.” He called for more legal responses to inciting racial hatred, such as those that have come into effect in NSWrecently, and noted that existing laws tackling online hate “need to go much further and there has to be a greater salience and importance given to the broadly rising anti-Indian hate that’s happening now.”

Khushaal offers a different perspective.

“We’ve seen a broad condemnation to stamp out that sort of rhetoric, which makes me think these protests and comments are unlikely to meaningfully impact our policies on a political level.”

Dheeraj remains cautious. “Does removing Jacinta fix our housing crisis, help Indian students survive in Australia, or stop the next child of migrant descent from getting bullied in the playground?

Removing Jacinta may help her political opponents, but until we resolve the issues facing our society at large, then merely removing one politician from the front bench is meaningless.”

The Global Context

Global events loom large over these debates. Riona calls the recent UK protests “scary and disheartening.” Namita sees them as part of a cycle where migrants are scapegoated during economic uncertainty.

Arjunan stressed that while Australia has so far differentiated itself, it must remain vigilant not to fall into the same patterns.

For Nikhil, the lesson is clear: “The way politicians choose to handle migration will determine whether Australia thrives as a nation of migrants, or whether it succumbs to the same cycles of division we see overseas.”

Final Reflections

Despite the disappointment, there is resilience. “We all face challenges as Australians. Blaming one group doesn’t solve anything,” says Riona.

Namita hopes Indian-Australians continue to feel safe and welcome, highlighting their pride in being part of the nation. Arjunan calls for learning to “disagree better” and to remember the human stories behind migration: “We all know someone of migrant background. We must value their story, not demonise their identity.”

The fallout from Jacinta Price’s comments and the surge of anti-migration rallies have struck a nerve with secondgeneration Indian-Australians. Their voices reveal a mix of hurt, resilience, and determination. They are proud Australians, deeply connected to this country, but they also carry memories of migration journeys shaped by apartheid, civil war, and displacement. For them, the issue is not whether migration should be discussed - it’s how. They call for nuanced, evidence-based debates that address structural problems without scapegoating communities. They also call for political leaders to actively reassure multicultural communities and to tackle racism head-on.

Above all, their reflections show that the migrant Australian story is inseparable from the Australian story itself. To target that community is to ignore the reality that migrants are not just part of the economy they are part of the nation’s very fabric.

With input from Pawan Luthra

www.indianlink.com.au

Photos: canva

OPINION

Underuse of migrants’ skills is costing Australia billions Discrimination often starts at the job interview, write MELISSA PARRIS, MAGGIE MCALINDEN and UMA JOGULU.

P

athways to resolving Australia’s skills shortage were a key discussion point at the government’s recent economic reform roundtable. One of those discussions specifically focused on the need to streamline skills recognition for qualified migrants.

The Productivity Commission has highlighted the continuing mismatch for many migrants between their skills and qualifications and their level of employment over the past decade.

In research commissioned by nonprofit Settlement Services International last year, Deloitte Access Economics put a number to that mismatch. They found that if permanent migrants worked in jobs matching their skills at the same rate as their Australian-born counterparts, A$70 billion could be added to the economy over the next 10 years.

That calculation was based on recent permanent migrants across the skilled, family and humanitarian pathways, with 44% working in jobs below their skill level.

To investigate the drivers of this mismatch, we interviewed permanent skilled migrants with high-level professional qualifications about their experiences entering the labour force.

Engineers are driving taxis

In the 2023-24 financial year, 210,000 visas were granted by the Australian government across these three pathways, of which 65% (137,100) went to skilled migrants. This week, the government set the permanent migration intake for 2025-26 at 185,000.

potential employers, which contributes to their underemployment.

Your communication skills ‘aren’t up to scratch’

Given qualifications are one of the key factors for acceptance via the skilled migration program, it would be reasonable to assume the same skills mismatch is less common for skilled migrants. However, a CEDA report found almost one in four permanent skilled migrants were working in a job beneath their skill level.

In some industries, that figure is even higher. For example, only 50% of overseasborn qualified engineers in Australia’s labour force actually work in engineering.

Instead, many are driving taxis, Ubers or stacking supermarket shelves. Why is this the case?

Formal recognition of overseas qualifications and experience is important, but our research found skilled migrants also experienced language discrimination from

Our research shows job interviews are often where this discrimination is first experienced. Migrants’ lack of success in these interviews is often cloaked in terms of “communication problems” by Australian employers. For example, a male accountant from Singapore said: The next thing I heard from the recruitment company that brought me in was to say I have communication problems; my communication skills aren’t up to scratch […] And I say, ‘What part?’

‘They said that you had to repeat.’ And I recall, he [the interviewer] asked a question and probably [because of] my accent, and he didn’t get it and I had to say it again.

Australia has welcomed an increasingly diverse migrant population over the past decade. The largest regional groupings are Southern and Central Asia (including India, Pakistan and Nepal) and Northeast Asia (including China, Hong Kong and South Korea).

However, skilled migrants from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds often don’t even make it to the interview stage. A female skilled migrant from India who was working in healthcare said: I have a very Thai sounding name, so they look at your name and they assume you don’t speak English. I’ve had calls where they’ve approached me to invite me for an interview and they’re like, ‘Oh, your English is very good.’

Language policing in the workplace

Despite Australia’s anti-discrimination laws, both systemic and interpersonal racial discrimination persist, including within workplaces.

Our research found that everyday discrimination continued to limit skilled migrants’ abilities to undertake work aligned with their skills and qualifications, even after obtaining their first job.

Again, language differences appeared to be a more “acceptable” way for prejudices to be expressed. A female IT professional from Malaysia spoke about her early workplace experience: They were very condescending [in a way that showed] they think they are so much better than us. In the beginning, [my manager] just always pretended that she does not understand my English.

Such biases (whether conscious or unconscious) are undermining the very productivity benefits that Australia is seeking to gain through the skilled migration program.

Australia has always been multilingual.

Today, more than 100 migrant languages are regularly spoken in Australian homes.

Varieties of English are also in daily use (Aboriginal, Irish, Singaporean, Malaysian, to name a few).

Being able to communicate successfully with people who speak different varieties of English is a basic skill in Australian society.

Therefore, locating the source of linguistic bias in our settlement and employment processes and addressing it will benefit all members of the community.

This article was first published in The Conversation SEPTEMBER 2025 15

THROWBACK

Serving at ‘the best Games ever’

The roar that still echoes Volunteer SANDIP HOR’s front-row seat to history - 25 years after the Games that lit up Australia and the world

S

ince the year 2000, the date15 September has held a significant place in my life. On this day 25 years ago, Australian sporting icon Cathy Freeman lit the Olympic cauldron in a dramatic circle of fire at around 8 pm - moments before International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch declared the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games officially open.

Consequently, 15 September has become a notable date in world sport - and a cherished memory for me, having witnessed that historic moment.

I was there in person, serving as a volunteer Protocol Manager for the IOC, managing the VIP area and welcoming officials, athletes, and dignitaries from across the globe.

Going down memory lane for an ABC TV special

16 SEPTEMBER 2025

This distinguished group included Kings and Queens, Heads of State, Crown Princes, Presidents and Prime Ministers. Despite the stress, the exhilaration and excitement of that day - and the two weeks that followed - made it the most remarkable fortnight of my life.

A full quarter of a century has elapsed, and numerous changes have occurred, bringing about significant developments in the political, social, and sporting arenas worldwide.

We have witnessed six additional Olympic Games in Athens, Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and Paris, where scenes reminiscent of Sydney have been replicated in various forms and contexts.

Even as time progresses, the memories of the Sydney Games and my role as an active volunteer continue to illuminate my

Volunteer roll of honour

thoughts, reaching a peak around the 15th of September and enduring for nearly two weeks each year.

Among the many unforgettable moments etched in my memory are Cathy Freeman’s golden sprint, Tatiana Grigorieva’s silver medal pole vault, Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie’s triumphant entry into the stadium as he won the 10,000m, and Cameroon’s footballers dancing in traditional style after their victory over Spain in the final.

My role at the main Olympic venue gave me the chance to witness it all - from the opening and closing ceremonies to the athletics events and that football final.

Still, what I remember most are my encounters with prominent figures I would never otherwise have met.

Among the extensive list are American statesman Henry Kissinger, pop icon Kylie Minogue, and fashion mogul Elle Macpherson, and sporting legends such as Muhammad Ali, Greg Norman, Roger Milla of Cameroon, and Kenyan long-distance runner Kip Keino. I also met various royals - King Constantine of Greece, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Princess Anne of Britain, Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince Felipe of Spain, and Prince Frederik of Denmark, who often appeared with his Australian girlfriend Mary Donaldson, later his wife.

There was also Prince Dipendra of Nepal, who tragically took his own life the following year after killing members of his family.

A particularly cherished memory from the Games was meeting 20-year-old Chelsea Clinton, who was then representing her father, President Bill Clinton. Now a successful author and health advocate, she struck me with her humility and grounded nature — qualities I hadn’t expected from the daughter of the American President. She

spoke with delight about her travels in India earlier that year, her eyes sparkling as she recounted the thrill of encountering Royal Bengal Tigers.

Speaking of royals, here’s a funny one.

One afternoon I bumped into an African gentleman dressed simply in a long white robe. Curious, I asked politely, ‘So, what do you do, sir?’ He smiled and replied, ‘I do nothing - I am the King of Swaziland.’

Mortified at the time, I can’t help but laugh now every time I think about it.

Another unforgettable moment was organising the medal presentation for the Women’s 400m, won by Cathy Freeman. I escorted the IOC and Federation officials to her, introduced them, and briefed her on the protocol. At one point, the gold medal itself rested in my hands - so close, yet so far, from Olympic treasure! Later, when I shared this story with an Indian journalist, he published a feature in one of the nation’s highest-selling dailies. His piece wryly noted that while India hadn’t won a gold at Sydney, at least a person of Indian origin had briefly held one.

Reminiscing these memories gives me the pleasure, pride and sense of a lifetime achievement. I still hear the roars and the cheers from the stadium, visualise myself in the Olympic blazer and tie ushering a VIP or an IOC member to their seats. Or sorting out the medal presentations, which at times became chaotic as medals of three types – gold, silver and bronze had to be organised for the three teams.

These memories come flooding back each time I return to Sydney Olympic Park, brush the dust off my blazer, or hold the souvenir pins from those days. I relive them in stories told, memoirs written, and in the quiet joy of hearing once more the chant ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie – Oi, Oi, Oi.’

www.indianlink.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2025 17

TRENDS

“Ice-creams or semiconductor chips?”

How food delivery became India’s new normal. What's the real cost, though?

BY CHARMAINE O‘BRIEN

I

ndia’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently criticised the country’s start-up sector for its lack of real technological innovation, singling out food delivery app operators saying they exploited cheap labour in the service of wealthier Indians unwilling to make an effort to get their meals. Yet, these elements, low operating costs and booming consumer demand for convenience, have been key in attracting global investment into India’s food delivery companies. In 2025 app-based food delivery in India, dominated by Zomato and Swiggy, has an estimated value of $US 45 billion, with a forecast of $US 265 billion by 2033. These phenomenal valuations ensure food delivery is often in the media, but this article traces how Indians were enticed to adopt food delivery as a lifestyle choice in the first place.

I first noticed scooter drivers carrying large black boxes emblazoned with the mysterious word ‘Swiggy’ in Delhi in 2014. Learning it was a new food delivery service, I did not take much notice. Ten years earlier, I had discovered it was possible to have readymade food delivered to your door from local eateries in India’s metros, including hot chocolate fudge sundaes from Nirula’s.

I found this marvellous as the only thing delivered in Australia then was pizza. Claims that online food delivery was ‘innovative’ were

18 SEPTEMBER 2025

boosterism to me. Certainly, it allowed consumers to order online rather than over the telephone, and from further afield, but it was just replicating an existing service otherwise. In 2018, when I began interviewing chefs and restaurateurs across India about the country’s changing foodways, many were enthusiastic about the potential of online food delivery to enable revenue growth using existing restaurant infrastructure. This caused me to take a more considered look at how food delivery was being interposed into Indian food life.

A societal behaviour change initiative

Leafing through a 2018 copy of The Times Food Guide (Hyderabad edition) I found Swiggy extensively advertised, along with an advertorial proclaiming they were “solving the many gaps in the food delivery industry [and] revolutionis[ing] the industry for restaurants”.

Likewise, Zomato was promoting its platform as the solution for Indians suffering a “cook versus … order [in]” problem. Planting the idea there was problem, regardless of whether one actually existed, for which online food delivery was the remedy, was the first step in arousing consumer interest in trying it. The next step was for the delivery companies to train them to use their service whenever they wanted something to eat by offering irresistible discounts. People ardently availed of these bargains, all the while unwittingly habituating themselves to using food delivery services:

exactly the outcome the delivery companies intended.

It was the monies poured into India’s food delivery companies by global investors that enabled them to run national advertising campaigns, sophisticate their software, and offer free delivery to bond customers to their service. However, it was restaurants that bore the costs of the discounts offered, in addition to large commissions paid to platform operators on orders. This often ended up with them paying for customers to eat their food.

Restaurateurs had agreed to the discounts believing this would attract new customers who would then return. This proved a false anticipation. The reductions only encouraged people to chase deals on apps wherever these were offered. Rather than allies of the hospitality industry, food delivery companies become an enemy.

In August 2019, at the urging of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), 2000 restaurants logged out of the

delivery apps. A NRAI spokesperson said food delivery companies had got consumers “addicted to discounts”. True in the moment, but it was a tactic employed by delivery companies to get people ‘addicted’ to using apps in the longer term.

An uneasy truce was settled after the delivery companies made minor compromises.

Then, COVID-19 arrived.

The pandemic proved a gift for food delivery, firmly cementing the habit amongst Indians of opening an app to get their eats. In a country where many communities have long upheld strict demarcation around ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ food, with the latter deemed a threat to bodily and/or caste purity, it has been fascinating to observe how quickly people adopted to acceptance of food prepared in unknown kitchens, delivered by anonymous workers.

Food delivery also proved the saviour of many restaurants during the pandemic. But what is the cost to India of generating profits for food delivery companies? In 2024 The Economist reported the country’s delivery platforms had broadened access to foods high in sugar and salt. A recently published book, OTP Please! Online Buyers, Sellers and Gig Workers in South Asia, features interviews with Indians decrying their dependence on food delivery apps – one respondent actually described himself as “addicted”– and the junk diet this led them to consume, simultaneously admitting to lacking motivation to make an effort to eat better.

www.indianlink.com.au

IFFM

IFFM 2025 LETS THE FILMS DO THE TALKING BY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY

P

erhaps the organisers of IFFM took last year’s recap article to heart, because IFFM 2025 steered in the opposite direction of previous editions’ celebrity-fuelled romps.

This year’s IFFM felt every bit the ‘capital F’ film festival, a ‘world cinema’ showcase featuring fresh selections from Cannes, Berlinale and Toronto, alongside a back catalogue of Ritwik Ghatak classics.

That’s right, IFFM 2025 was uncharacteristically quiet (by IFFM standards) on the celebrity appearance front;

even chief guest Aamir Khan, attending with new partner Gauri Spratt, had very little to say, approaching his speaking engagements with his trademark modesty and introversion.

Called upon to open the festival at Hoyts Docklands, he was a man of few words, musing about the uniting power of film in a simple white kurta, jeans and no shoes.

Aamir Khan’s influence of course, mustn’t be understated – he is an absolute cultural titan whose films are enjoyed as far away as China, South Korea, Turkey, and Japan. He has however, none of the brashness you’d expect a national treasure to have; in both physical and metaphorical stature, he epitomises the celebrity who is smaller in real life.

His iconic professionalism, often labelled ‘perfectionism’, saw IFFM 2025’s big

A quiet year for IFFM on the celebrity front, but world class cinema filled the vacuum

weekend (opening night, Independence Day celebrations, awards night) amazingly run on time and without a hitch, with Khan even arriving before most of the audience had. A refreshingly down-to-earth presence, he inspired far less feverish heckling at the IFFM Awards Night and encouraged a placid but still eager crowd along to this year’s IFFM, his film Sitaare Zameen Par screening to two full houses.

Someone who did receive a ferocious welcome, however, was Jaideep Ahlawat, who took out Best Actor for Paatal Lok 2. At the Remitly Dance Competition in Federation Square, he was able to steal the show from festival regular Malaika Arora in just under a minute, outshining her with his Bhangra exuberance.

Equally, Arvind Swamy, in conversation

with Rajeev Masand at Federation Square, had audiences hanging on his every word about reinventing himself after a shocking spinal injury.

Perennially unlucky beanpole Abhishek Bachchan made an appearance at the IFFM 2025 Awards Night to collect his career first Best Actor award, which says more about the Indian film industry’s priorities than his indomitable talent. Appearing three years after receiving a Leadership in Cinema award, the occasion left him visibly emotional, as a man who is very much not, despite the best efforts of his detractors, down for the count.

Comedian Vir Das was easily the coolest person in the room; receiving IFFM’s Disruptor award, he playfully described himself as the kadi patta (or subtle side ingredient) amongst all the other stars.

SEPTEMBER 2025 19

IFFM

Aamir Khan With Mitu Bhowmick Lange

Tanushree Das, Tillotama Shome, and Jim Sarbh

Aamir Khan

Aditi Rao Hydari

However, there was an unshakable sense that he was in fact the main course in what was a rather lacklustre lineup.

In his conversation with Indian Link, Das shared that when he’s on stage, he feels like he’s simply in a room with his people.

For him, “representing India” means transporting his audience there through his stories and humour. And in those moments, his biggest focus is simple yet powerful: “I have to send these people out on a cloud.”

20 SEPTEMBER 2025

IFFM Chats: Rajiv Masand and Arvind Swamy

Arvind Swamy

An interesting choice, then, to not have the Emmy-winning comedian host the whole do; comedian Sapan Verma, who was flown down under especially for the occasion, must have felt immense pressure to perform with his contemporary sat just meters away.

Nonetheless, IFFM 2025 didn’t have its usual attention-grabbing clamour, forced to draw in the punters with the quality and breadth of their films, just like, God forbid, a film festival.

Gugun Kipgen

As far as opening nights go, Baksho Bondi was a quiet but potent one. Known as ‘Shadowbox’ in English, the film follows Maya, a working-class woman juggling the demands of multiple jobs whilst caring for her PTSD-afflicted ex-army husband Sundar and their teenage son Debu.

“The family, the unit, it becomes a microcosm that helps us understand the world,” actor Tillotama Shome told Indian Link. “This film is about this woman who’s

Malaika Arora

Jaideep Alhawat

trying to keep her family together against great odds – I think that has a sense of universality…I really did feel a sense of so much of my own childhood.”

Imphal-born filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi made a remarkable directorial debut with Boong, the Centrepiece film this year.

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange described it as “a story that is as bold as it is intimate”, praising Devi’s debut as proof of the extraordinary talent emerging from India’s

www.indianlink.com.au

IFFM Chats: Aamir Khan

IFFM Press Conference

IFFM Chats: Mukesh Chhabra

Bhangra with Jaideep Alhawat

Malaika Arora with Mitu Bhowmick Lange

Abhishek Bachchan

film industry. Devi shot the film in Manipur with a largely local cast and crew, many of whom were newcomers to cinema. The film was celebrated at the IFFM Awards Night, with young male lead Gugun Kipgen receiving a special mention in the Best Actor category.

So there were a lot of indie films rather than blockbusters at IFFM 2025. But was that such a bad thing? IFFM’s true strength this year was in uncovering rare filmic gems through a thoughtfully curated

Neeraj Ghaywan

program. Spanning 31 different languages, IFFM 16 was a testament to the ingenuity and humanity of Indian cinema, and, as Bhowmick Lange puts it, the “myriad of realities, dreams, and complexities of India and the subcontinent.”

That may well have been the case, if only some of the films had been easier to attend; offbeat Tamil dramedy Angammal and ode to street theatre Nukkad Naatak, two highly anticipated films, only had a single session

Nimisha Sajayan

in a frustratingly late weeknight time slot, a bizarre scheduling choice for the Australian Premieres of these award-winning films.

But for those who were prepared to brave the cold and late nights, IFFM 2025 delivered some satisfying and moving cinematic treats. The aforementioned Nukkad Naatak was a delightful and eye-opening critique on middle class social justice sensibilities, underpinned by charming performances. The movie creators

Vir Das

were so thrilled to see attendees they even performed a street play jingle!

Equally, Homebound, IFFM’s 9:45PM festival closer, was well worth missing the last train home (which ironically, is just what happens to the protagonists of the film). A searing indictment of caste discrimination situated within a tender friendship drama, this cinematic triumph just goes to show that if allowed to speak, the films really can do the talking.

SEPTEMBER 2025 21

MUSIC

MSO double bassist Rohan Dasika is reconnecting with his South Indian heritage and carving new ground experimenting with Carnatic music on the double bass.

BY LAKSHMI GANAPATHY

F

or Rohan Dasika, the double bass has always inspired him to look inward. “The biggest thing for me [about playing] is that feeling of disappearing for a split second; every now and then you get a moment where you forget you exist…your sense of self almost dissolves,” he says.

It’s not an unusual viewpoint for the player of an unpretentious instrument, most commonly enhancing music from the back of the room. “[The bass] comes into its own playing with other instruments, so I guess the sort of person that wants to play that instrument may also be the sort of person who’s a bit less self-centred and interested in other people,” Dasika reflects.

Rohan Dasika is already an outlier as one of a handful of South Asians involved in Australia’s Western classical music scene; now, he’s one of the only people in the world experimenting with Carnatic music on the double bass.

But the role of a pioneer is not one he ever aspired for.

“It’s never been about doing something new, so much as trying to become closer to myself in a way,” Dasika clarifies.

Dasika grew up in a musical household and first picked up the double bass during high school.

“I was the person trying to play in as many different bands as possible, and have as many different instruments going,” he recalls.

“There were times where I’d be trying to cram onto the school bus carrying a trombone and a bass guitar and my school bag!”

“I remember learning quite early on that I was attracted to the low notes… I saw some bass players who looked like they were having a great time and that was something that I wanted to be a part of.”

Dasika started to entertain the idea of playing professionally after joining the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, leading him to study at the ANU’s School of Music. Since 2022, he’s been the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Acting Assistant Principal Double Bassist, which he describes as his “dream job”.

22 SEPTEMBER 2025

“No week’s the same – you might go from playing Harry Potter or Star Wars [soundtracks], to playing with Sigur Ros, then go into a Shostakovich Symphony the next week – it keeps you on your toes,” Dasika says.

As the only South Asian musician with the MSO however, he is aware of the difficulties in pursuing a musical career and the resources required.

“On one level, I have a similar background to anyone else that’s come into the orchestra, in the sense that my mum’s a music teacher and I had all the resources [that] unfortunately you [currently] need to go into classical music,” Dasika acknowledges.

“On the other hand, when I’m playing for an audience with Indian people in it or I’m seeing Indian or other multicultural musicians on stage, I feel a bit less alone.

I can’t speak to their experience, but I imagine most musicians on the stage aren’t feeling that most of the time as they’re seeing a lot of people that look like them; you realise ‘that’s something I’m missing.’”

Classical music institutions have long been criticised for excluding those from lower socio-economic and non-white backgrounds, confronted now with the need to modernise and diversify both their audience and membership. Equally, the financial pressures of a subscription-based model have left orchestras in a precarious position when navigating social issues or programming.

However, despite recent controversies, the MSO has made efforts to diversify through collaborations with popular bands and international musicians and initiatives like ‘MSO at the Movies’.

“There’s a growing awareness if you want to reach different communities, you can’t expect them to come to you,” Dasika says.

“In the past there’s been this idea that you ‘do your thing’ and if people appreciate it, they’ll come and watch you. Across all sorts of arts there’s a sense now you need to put

in some work yourself and offer something of value to the people that you’re trying to reach as well.”

Within this landscape and his own musical journey, Rohan Dasika felt a yearning to reconnect with his South Indian heritage.

Receiving the Freedman Classical Fellowship in 2019, he commissioned Australian Carnatic composers Sandy Evans and Adrian Sherriff to write two pieces for the double bass, ‘Layamani Misra Khanda’ and ‘Marupiravi’ (Tamil for ‘reincarnation’).

Thus began Dasika’s own reincarnation too, making his first trip to India to immerse himself in Chennai’s Music Season, and connecting with other local Carnatic musicians like Bharavi Raman and Nanthesh Sivarajah.

He is currently a student of Chennai-

“The biggest thing for me is that feeling of disappearing for a split second; every now and then you get a moment where you forget you exist… your sense of self almost dissolves.”

based violinist VS Narasimhan, where he delights in the challenge of realising Carnatic melody and rhythm on a nontraditional instrument.

“The [bass range] doesn’t exist traditionally in Carnatic music; it’s such a perfect sound as it is. It becomes this creative challenge of what you can add to those sounds without destroying the essence of it,” Dasika observes.

“I love embracing the inherent character of the instrument. I’m not super interested in trying to make the bass sound like a violin.”

He views 2022’s ‘Reincarnations’, where he performed the commissioned pieces for the first time, as the ‘spark’ in a lifelong musical journey – which has since seen him, within the MSO, play a free summer concert at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl with Sangam, and collaborate with Deepa Mani and Sheena Chundee on the score for TOUCH. “[Reincarnations] was a high point, like I’ve touched some sort of connection to this music,” he reflects. “That’s the journey, isn’t it? You keep discovering how little you know and then trying to get closer and then it keeps getting out of reach again.”

www.indianlink.com.au

PARENTING into everyday routines - counting sticks in the park, spotting shapes in clouds, or inventing little stories on the go.”

Even during the formal WPPSI-IV assessment, her enthusiasm shone through.

“We were half-expecting her to come running out,” Anubha admits, laughing.

“Instead, she completed it all with a big smile. The examiner told us she was excited to answer the questions.”

Learning through play

Intelligence, however, is only part of Avisha’s charm. “She’s empathetic, always noticing when someone is upset and trying to comfort them,” describes Anubha. “She also has a playful sense of humour and a vivid imagination - inventing stories and songs that have even inspired me to start writing children’s books.”

“She enjoys role-play, often slipping into imaginative characters with lots of enthusiasm.”

The couple is mindful of balance. “At the end of the day, she’s just three,” notes Amit.

“We make sure she has playdates, outdoor adventures, and plenty of silly, carefree fun.

It’s about raising not just a gifted child, but a happy one.”

The young parents encourage Avisha to try things her own way, even if that means making mistakes, getting messy, or simply experimenting without any pressure for perfection or achievement.

“One thing we have noticed is her strong desire to win in every game, and we are gently helping her learn to accept defeat too. Group play and shared experiences are important for her growth, and we see them as just as valuable as nurturing her intellectual curiosity,” the father reveals.

At 3, Avisha Sharma is among youngest in Mensa The Perth-based toddler, with an IQ in the top 2%, was recently accepted into Mensa Australia.

BY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY

W

hen three-year-old Avisha Sharma emerged from an hour-long intelligence test, her parents Amit and Anubha were holding their breath.

Would she have managed to sit through it all, on her own?

To their surprise, Avisha emerged beaming - and with results that would soon make her one of the youngest members of Mensa Australia.

“It was a moment of pride, mixed with disbelief and joy,” dad Amit Sharma tells Indian Link. “We had always noticed her curiosity, but having Mensa recognise it, was surreal.”

Tiny Avisha bagged a mighty score - she recorded a General Ability Index of 131 on the Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) assessment,

crossing the Mensa threshold of 130 to qualify among the top 2% worldwide.

Signs of Avisha’s giftedness appeared early. “By 18 months, she was forming full sentences,” Mum Anubha recalls. “At two, she knew the alphabet, understood phonics, and was beginning to read. Strangers would often stop us to compliment her language skills.”

Her sharp memory and endless “why” questions left little doubt that she was developing far beyond her age.

By the time she turned 3, she had already started to understand basic Mathematics, solving simple addition and subtraction problems, skills that felt well beyond her years.

“As parents, it made us pause and realise we were witnessing something special,” Anubha tells Indian Link.

The Sharmas, though, were careful to make sure her learning always felt natural, never forced.

“We never imposed textbooks or drills,” clarifies Anubha. “Books and rhymes were our foundation, and we’d weave learning

Avisha with her parents Anubha and Amit Sharma

Parenting with love and patience

As Indian-Australians raising their daughter in Perth, the Sharmas believe Avisha benefits from the best of both worlds.

“Our Indian upbringing has instilled in us a deep respect for knowledge, learning and discipline, and that naturally flows into how we raise Avisha. At the same time, growing up in Perth has given her so much freedom to explore, ask questions, and learn in creative ways,” explains Amit.

Amit Sharma, a management consulting manager, and HR professional Anubha moved to Perth from India in 2023, with an 18-month-old Avisha.

For them, nurturing Avisha’s giftedness in a multicultural setting is both a responsibility and a joy. “Indian values give her roots, Australia gives her wings,” Amit reflects. “Together, they create a foundation for her to thrive.”

Looking ahead, they know there are challenges for them. “We don’t want her to feel isolated or pressured,” notes Anubha.

“She should always set her own pace.”

Anubha and Amit are consciously preparing themselves by reading, seeking advice, and connecting with other parents of gifted children.

“More than anything, we want to keep the lines of communication open with her, so that she always feels safe sharing her thoughts and feelings with us,” says the mum.

Their advice to other parents is simple.

“Love and patience,” Amit shares.

“Encouragement should come with gentleness, not pressure. Celebrate your child’s uniqueness, without forgetting they are still children.”

SEPTEMBER 2025 23

THE WORKING LIFE Worst rental horror story you’ve come across?

We had one recently in Vaucluse with a rental scammer. He would provide fake transfer receipts whenever we asked for rent. This went on for a month before we took him to tribunal. Even then, the hearing was pushed back another three months, and during that entire time he refused to pay.

Each time, he’d send us fake receipts that he’d photoshopped. We called the banks he claimed to have transferred from, and they confirmed the reference numbers were fake. By the time we finally got him out, he owed $27,000 in unpaid rent. Thankfully, the landlord had insurance and was able to recover around $50,000 by the end of the lease term.

Is insurance essential for landlords?

Ready, set, rent From pet policies to the quirkiest tenant requests, we put leasing agent Gurvinder Singh in the hot seat for a lightning round on all things rentals BY EMILY BARROS

light or making price adjustments when the market changes. If landlords ignore that advice whether prices are going up or down, it can cost them both time and money.

And why don’t they listen to you?

L

easing agent Gurvinder Singh shares insights into Sydney Eastern Suburbs rental market in 2025 – from common tenant mistakes to rising suburbs, horror stories, and what every renter should know before signing a lease.

First thing you check when inspecting a rental?

The first thing during a routine inspection, which is when a tenant is still in the property, is general levels of cleanliness and how the tenants are keeping the place.

That usually takes five to ten minutes. When tenants leave, we do a full walkthrough to make sure the way they’ve left the property is consistent with how it’s been kept the whole time. We want to ensure there’s nothing beyond general wear and tear.

Biggest mistake tenants make?

Not understanding the basic clauses outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act 2010. For example, tenants are required to allow access during the final two weeks of their lease for inspections. Failing to do so can cause issues, including the possibility of being charged additional rent. People often focus so much on the excitement of moving in that they don’t pay enough attention to the responsibilities involved in moving out.

Biggest mistake landlords make?

Not listening to the advice of their real estate agent. That’s especially true when it comes to showing their property in a better 24 SEPTEMBER 2025

Honestly, because they’re either stubborn or stuck in their own ways and think they know better.

What’s one thing renters should always ask before signing a lease?

Renters should always ask what the owners intend to do with the property. Often, if the owner plans to move in or sell within six to twelve months, they’ll tell the real estate agent. It’s a good question to ask upfront so you know what to expect before committing to the lease.

Most overlooked clause in a rental agreement?

Notice periods for access. That applies not just to the last two weeks of a lease but also to routine inspections or when an owner decides to sell. Tenants often push back on this even though it’s clearly stated in the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, which they sign before moving in. It’s a frequent pain point tenants try to finesse or argue notice periods to suit themselves, even when we’ve followed the law. This is one of the main reasons disputes end up in tribunal, because tenants claim they haven’t been given enough notice when we have and we are legally complied with the legislation.

One suburb where rents are rising fastest?

Out of the suburbs we work in, Coogee has been the fastest rising in terms of interest. Of course, you’ve got Bondi as a major beach hub, but Coogee has quickly become just as

popular for tourists and newcomers. People love the area, the beach, and everything around it. Bondi has gotten too expensive, so most people don’t even look there anymore.

Coogee is still slightly cheaper, but it’s quickly approaching Bondi’s price levels, and it’s becoming harder for renters to get into the market there.

If I had to name a second, I’d say Randwick or Kensington, mostly because of UNSW. The university attracts a huge number of students, and during semester breaks you notice lots of them looking for accommodation close to campus ideally within walking distance or along the tramline.

What feature do tenants value most right now – location, parking, or Wi-Fi? Location, always. Whether people want to be closer to work, uni, family, the beach, or hospitals, location is number one. A house could be the nicest property they’ve ever seen, but if it’s 20–30 minutes away from everything they need, they won’t even consider it. Most tenants narrow their search to a very small radius, often no more than five or ten minutes from the suburb they’ve chosen.

Pet-friendly or no pets – what’s your take?

It depends on the type of property. If it’s a one- or two-bedroom apartment, especially in a high-rise with no balcony, pets are usually a nogo because they’d be cooped up inside all day.

In a bigger house with a yard, landlords are much more open to it. You do sometimes see pets in apartments, especially older ones where landlords are less worried about damage, but it’s less common in new apartments with new floors or fittings. Generally, landlords with houses don’t mind pets, while those with apartments are more cautious.

100%. It’s basically non-negotiable. Without insurance, that owner would have been out $50,000. We recommend Terri Scheer, which costs roughly $400 a year depending on the policy. It covers things like unpaid rent, broken leases, and damage. For example, if a tenant breaks a fixed-term lease, they’ll pay out up to 20 weeks or until a new tenant is found.

One upgrade landlords should make to attract tenants?

Install air conditioning. Especially during the summer months, tenants will walk in and immediately cross a property off the list if there’s no aircon. This is particularly true for top-floor apartments that get hot. It’s one of the easiest upgrades a landlord can make.

Advice for students or first-time renters?

Look for a property in winter. That’s when the market slows down and rents drop, sometimes by 10 to 15%. It’s also less competitive. In summer, the market is crazy, demand skyrockets and prices follow. But in May, June, July, even into August, you’ll find better deals and less competition, which is perfect for students and first-time renters.

Short-term leases or long-term security – what’s in demand?

From the owner’s perspective, long-term security. Most landlords prefer starting with a 12-month lease and then renewing yearly.

It gives them peace of mind knowing they won’t have to find new tenants constantly.

Even if a tenant breaks a lease, landlord insurance usually covers them until new tenants move in.

If you could change one rental law, what would it be?

I’d reverse the recent decision to remove no grounds evictions. Landlords have lost a lot of control over their properties. Right now, you can only terminate a lease for a handful of specific reasons. That means if tenants are problematic, noisy, disruptive, or causing damage you can’t do much unless they fall behind on rent or you plan to sell or move in yourself. Bringing back no grounds evictions would at least give owners some control back.

Three words to describe the rental market in 2025?

Expensive. Unrealistic. Scary.

The writer, a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student at Macquarie University, produced this piece as part of her internship at Indian Link.

www.indianlink.com.au

BOOKS

From fantasy to fame

Debut novelist Aman J. Bedi of Melbourne is shortlisted for two major awards in under a year

BY PRUTHA CHAKRABORTY

W

hen Aman J. Bedi sits down to write, the weight of his journey, from Mysuru to Vizag, Bengaluru, Bangkok, Christchurch, and now Melbourne, inevitably seeps into his words.

“I don’t think my writing would read and sound the way it did without the experience of living in all these places,” Bedi reflects.

“The best writing, to me anyway, often mimics or replicates its author’s unique set of life experiences. It took over a hundred thousand discarded words to find mine, and when I finally did, I could clearly see my journey reflected in it.”

That voice has now found itself on the global stage. Bedi’s debut novel Kavithri (published

by Gollancz), an epic fantasy rooted in South Asian traditions, has been shortlisted for the inaugural Aldiss Award for worldbuilding in speculative fiction. Named after science fiction grandmaster Brian Aldiss, the award recognises excellence in creating immersive worlds across science fiction and fantasy. The winner will be announced on Nov. 2, 2025, at the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton, UK. Prior to this, in April 2025, Kavithri was shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards, Australia’s premier awards for speculative fiction, for Best Fantasy Novel.

For Bedi, both these awards have validated years of solitary work. “Writing novels is a lonely hobby,” he shares candidly. “The feedback loop can take months or even years to close. To now get nominated for two awards in 25 JANUARY 2024

the space of half a year is incredibly validating.

I still question everything I write, I wouldn’t improve if I didn’t, but I have a lot more confidence and feel a small burst of pride when I sit down to write these days.”

RELEVANT THEMES FOR DIASPORA At the heart of Kavithri is Kavi, a railway porter drawn into a struggle against colonial necromancers and jinn in a post-1857 alternate India. Bedi drew inspiration from his childhood in Vizag, where remnants of colonial rule still loomed. “At the time, large parts of the city still had stark reminders of British colonial rule. Many buildings from the era remained, St Aloysius’ AngloIndian High School, built by the East India Company in 1847, was still around; and some areas of the city had not lost their British names.”

He continues, “When I started writing Kavithri, I essentially wrote a post-colonial Vizag and then began adding the fantasy elements I needed to drive the story forward.”

For the Indian diaspora, Bedi’s work carries a particular resonance. “My worldbuilding is heavily rooted in my upbringing in South India. Most of my characters speak and behave like the people I grew up around… and almost all my point-of-view characters are, at their core, outsiders or immigrants,” he explains.

“I think fans of speculative fiction within the Indian diaspora will find something to relate to in my books.”

The book doesn’t shy away from India’s complex realities. “It is impossible to write a novel inspired by modern India and ignore the effects of colonialism, caste, and oppression.

To do so would be disrespectful and disingenuous,” Bedi says.

WRITING FICTION IN INDIAN ENGLISH If sweeping history grounds the novel, psychology gives it depth. Trained in experimental psychology, Aman J. Bedi infused the story with themes of intergenerational trauma. “I think I was able to apply some of the things I’d learned to ground Kavi’s character and background, and to make her journey feel more real.”

Much of Bedi’s imagination traces back to his childhood reading. “My mother used to buy me the Amar Chitra Katha versions of the Indian epics, and as a boy something that always amazed me was the sheer sense of scale in these stories,” he recalled.

Comics like Chacha Chaudhary, which he calls “the first sci-fi I was ever exposed to,” also left a mark.

“Kavithri has, as the story progresses, a similar sense of scale but as seen through the eyes of a single character.

It includes elements of heroic fantasy that I loved in (David) Gemmell’s novels, the action and progression that I enjoyed in manga like Vagabond and Berserk, and the powerful emotional payoffs that I personally look for in everything I read and watch.”

The success of Kavithri has already paved the way for a sequel, City of Jackals, which Aman J. Bedi says was inspired in part by the 1995 Tamil hit Baashha. “The book has fist fights, gangsters, revelations about Kavi’s past, more steam-rickshaws, magic, and of course, revenge.”

Publishing has changed a lot since Bedi queried Kavithri. “At the time, besides Samit Basu, I couldn’t find a single Indian-born SFF (science fantasy fiction) author signed with a major publisher. Today, I think writers from our community have a genuine chance.”

For young writers in the diaspora, Bedi has a clear message: lean into your uniqueness.

“There is something musical and captivating about fiction written in Indian-English. Lean into it. There will always be people who don’t get it. But the ones who do are who you are writing for.”

SEPTEMBER SYDNEY EDITION 2025 25

CULTURE CRUSH

The BUZZ What we’re obsessed with this month

Billboard BRISBANE Back To Bilo 3 - 16 Sept, Bille Brown Theatre

By SRUTHI SAJEEV

Books

Binge Belloo Creative’s latest theatrical production, Back to Bilo is the perfect antidote to cynicism. Bringing new life to the Biloela family’s experiences, the production is a powerful testament to how a single community has the power to create real change.

SYDNEY Aditya Gautam: Artificially Unintelligent 6 - 21 Sep, Sydney Fringe Festival September is a goldmine for book lovers who have works from Kiran Desai and Arundhati Roy to look forward to. Our pick though, is local: S.Shakthidharan’s memoir, Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath. Each chapter delves into the lives of his family members and simultaneously gives readers insight into his own psyche.

Shakthidharan’s ability to chain together themes of love, conflict and family is a testament to his masterful storytelling ability.

Beats

Thriller/roadtrip film Maareesan sees fan favourite Fahadh Faasil and comedy icon Vadivelu share the small screen. Following a conman and a man who appears to suffer from memory loss, the film tells an exciting story of two intelligent but down-on-their-luck men, each trying to fool the other. While the story gets side-tracked in the second half, it never leaves you feeling bored. Hilarious and deeply stirring, this film is a must-watch.

Bites

Aditya Gautam brings his characteristic dry wit and hot takes to his latest solo show. Artificially Unintelligent: A Show about Humans, AI and Scams, is about trying to wrap your head around the tech we should be afraid of, yet can’t get enough of.

PERTH Beauty and the Beast 21 Sept, Crown Theatre

A tale as old as time, made accessible to all. Disney Theatrical Group will put on a relaxed performance of Beauty and the Beast, starring Shubshri Kandiah, catered to audience members needing additional support such as quiet rooms or an accompanying visual step by step story.

Monsoon Season is Hanumankind’s response to fans who preferred his pre-Big Dawgs era of artistry. The album, with songs like ‘Cause,’ signals a return to the introspective persona behind his cigarette smoking, tough guy image. But it also features the party anthems we love him for. When viewed as a whole, Monsoon Season is a true showcase of HMK’s artistic prowess and is proof that he’s not just a one-hit wonder.

MELBOURNE Sangeeta Sandrasegar’s ‘I ragazzidei millefiori: the flow’rs of song and story’ 13 Sep - 31 Jan, The Atrium, Federation Square

26 SEPTEMBER 2025

The Mango Lassi Panna Cotta puts an Indian twist on a classic Italian dish. All you need is milk, cream, sugar and patience (like the kind you need to wait overnight). Not only does it mean that you don’t need to go near an oven, but it also doesn’t require advanced cooking skills. But if you’re not willing to wait, head over to Sydney’s Chit Chaat Co for their take on this fusion dish.

Sangeeta Sandrasegar’s textile installation explores the topic of migration and is a meditation on the secret histories carried within flowers and plants. As you walk amongst the huge panels of dyed silk, be sure to look at the fabrics up close…you’ll be surprised by what you find.

ADELAIDE Maestros of India 28 Sept, 46 Cowan St, Angle Park

Calling out all classical music nerds: here’s your opportunity to see two masters of their craft share the spotlight. This month, tabla virtuoso Pandit Abhishek Mishra and bansuri and shehnai maestro Pandit Rajendra Prasanna come together for a mind-blowing classical music showcase.

www.indianlink.com.au

with Lakshmi Ganapathy DR ABHISHEK VERMA is a Melbourne-based GP who was recently made Chair of the Victorian Medical Board, the youngest person appointed since the commencement of the national registration scheme. Awarded GP of the Year in 2022, he is also an RACGP examiner and often treats recent migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who struggle to access healthcare.

Medicine is quite demanding as a career.

What kind of person is drawn to becoming a doctor?

Medicine is such a diverse field – everyone can do something in medicine if they have an interest in it. I guess the willingness to work hard [is an important quality.] I'll give you an example - I'm a doctor, both of my younger brothers are doctors, same upbringing, same family, but we've all got different personalities, and we've all done something different in medicine.

My younger brother is a dermatologist because he enjoys the lifestyle that affords, and the work he does is quite interventional, like taking out skin cancers. My other brother worked as a GP, but subsequently worked in medical management because it aligns with his interest in managing businesses and looking at finances.

There's something for everybody in medicine; it doesn't just have to be blood and guts! It becomes part of who you are and your identity though; for me and my brothers, every time we meet, we're talking about medical stuff.

Nowadays it’s very difficult for a lot of families to afford to see their GP and for GPs to keep up with their business costs. What’s going on?

The cost of doing business as a general practitioner is probably unsustainable based on the rebates, but there've been some uplifts in Medicare, and I think it's far more feasible now to bulk bill patients. My personal philosophy is that we should be trying to bulk bill pretty much everyone, and most of my career has been at exclusively bulk billing medical practices, because I don't think cost should be a

barrier to accessing good healthcare.

Under the current legislation, there are some funding streams available to other [practitioners] that aren't available to GPs - for example, GPs can't be reimbursed by private health insurance companies. I think that's a fantastic funding stream that we haven't tapped into; the government's only got so much money, so it’s not feasible that we can keep asking for increased Medicare rebates.

We need to look at other forms of funding to support our patients; I see private health insurance as one option, noting that the interest of private health insurance [companies] is pretty much aligned with GPs – to keep patients out of hospital.

But with the uplift in the rebates as they have been, I strongly believe that doctors are in a better position to bulk bill than ever before.

If you were to redesign the Medicare rebate system, what would you do?

If I was the architect of the system, I would make bulk billing mandatory for anyone between the ages of 0 to 18 and above the age of 60, because that's when you see chronic disease and more frequent engagement with healthcare there needs to be increased rebates for those age groups. I think Medicare should be redesigned to augment the rebates there, so that GPs are encouraged to bulk bill those patients, because they have the highest needs and greatest vulnerability.

For the working age, 18 to 60 group, I can see why there may be an appetite to privately bill. Wherever possible, I think we should still be bulk billing them as well, but we should be focusing on increasing rebates just in those target demographics to encourage GPs to bulk bill those particular patients.

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

One of the things I often read is autobiographies; I'm currently working through an autobiography of a comedian, Michael McIntyre. My wife and I have been to a couple of his shows.

I'm working through his autobiography when I get the time to read it.

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

Paagal (Hindi for ‘crazy’). I identify with that - it’s something I was called a lot as a kid when my parents were exasperated with my behaviour, or I did things that were illogical.

And finally: Soan Papdi or Papdi Chaat?

Papdi Chaat. My mum is an amazing cook, and I think she makes Papdi Chaat as well as anybody, so I think it's probably just from SEPTEMBER 2025 27 lived experience.

MEDIA GROUP

Diwali Art Competition DESIGN

INDIAN LINK’S DIWALI CARD WIN

PRIZES!

TWO categories: Kids up to 7 years, and Kids 8-12 years.

WIN book vouchers valued at $75 and $50 in both categories.

PLUS: The winning entry will be designed into Indian Link’s Diwali cards for the year 2025.

Colour in or paint the pattern presented here. Photocopy the pattern if you need to.

Send in your work, along with your name, age, address and phone number, to:

Indian Link, GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Last date for submission 3 October 2025 For more details, ring the Indian Link office on 1800 015 847, or email editor@indianlink.com.au Winners will be announced on Indian Link’s social media channels

28 SEPTEMBER 2025

www.indianlink.com.au

SPORT

Jai Saxena on footy, heritage, and chasing the AFL dream

the Oakleigh Chargers squad - a blow that shook his confidence. “It felt like my chances were gone. But I trusted the process, leaned on my coaches and family, and just worked harder.”

That work paid off: he regained his spot the following season. A focus on improving his defensive skills, including one-on-one training with a tackling coach, transformed his game.

BY JAI TIWARI

S

port has always been a bridge between cultures — and in Australia, few games carry the cultural weight of Australian Rules Football. For 18-year-old Jai Saxena, born to Indian parents and raised in Melbourne’s east, that bridge has become a pathway. As he approaches his AFL draft year in 2026, he is on the cusp of turning a childhood dream into a professional reality.

If he makes it, Jai would become only the second Indian-origin player at the elite level, after Balraj Singh, who was drafted by the Adelaide Crows in 1999. For Jai, this is both a personal ambition and a chance to break new ground for his community.

Early beginnings

“I grew up with the game - I fell in love with it early,” Jai recalls. “My parents were surprised at first, but they backed me every step of the way.”

His father Gaurav still remembers that first spark: a four-year-old with a footy in hand who, as he puts it, “just loved it from the start.”

Jai began with the Beverly Hills Football Club, where he won five junior premierships, and later added another at North Ringwood.

At 16, his skills earned him a place in the Victoria All Nations squad, a recognition

of his rising profile. Today, he plays for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League, with his proudest moment so far being selection for the Vic Metro team.

Family, heritage, and fandom

Jai is a diehard Hawthorn fan, a legacy that began when his uncle bought him a Hawks membership the day he was born. “I first got into football watching my favourite team, Hawthorn, on TV. The whole family goes for Hawthorn, so it was natural. From my first game, I just stuck with it.”

But fandom is only part of his story. As someone of Indian heritage, Jai is acutely aware of the lack of representation in the AFL. “No footballer of Indian background has played at the elite level yet, and that drives me. I want to represent the community and show that it’s possible.”

Setbacks and resilience Like every young athlete, Jai has faced challenges. In 2024, he was cut from

“No footballer of Indian heritage has played at the elite level yet - and that drives me.”

Learning the professional mindset

Exposure to Collingwood’s Next Generation Academy gave Jai a glimpse of what professionalism means: structured training, recovery, nutrition, and discipline. “They’ve taught me how vital sleep is for recovery, how important it is to train smart. It’s helped me see myself as a professional athlete.”

Balancing this with school hasn’t been easy. Five training sessions a week, plus weekend matches, means early mornings, late nights, and constant juggling of homework and exams. “It’s tough, but it’s part of the journey,” he admits.

Looking ahead

For Jai, the draft is both daunting and thrilling. “No matter what colours I wear, I’d just be happy. Playing AFL would be a dream.

Playing on the MCG - that would be surreal.”

His advice to others, especially those from multicultural backgrounds, is simple but heartfelt: “Ignore the negative voices.

Believe in yourself, trust the process, and work hard. There’s no reason you can’t achieve what you set your mind to.”

As the 2026 draft approaches, Jai Saxena stands at an intersection of sport, identity, and aspiration - carrying not just his own dream, but the hopes of a community eager to see itself reflected on Australia’s biggest sporting stage.

SEPTEMBER 2025 29

WANDERLUST

Bruges, the 'Venice of the North'.

In Bruges

Get a feel for medieval history through this beautiful Belgian city - in less than 12 hours

BY TORRSHA SEN

S

ometimes we end up discovering the best places when we do not have a plan in place. On my way to Warsaw recently, I had a 14-hour layover waiting for me in Brussels, the capital of the European Union. On a whim, I took a random train from the Brussels Central Station to the quaintly beautiful Belgian city of Bruges – the Venice of the North.

Cobbled lanes, painted doors, and window boxes in bloom - it was as though I had walked into a fairytale. Almost every window featured intricate lace detailing or lace curtains, giving them a quaint, storybooklike appearance. It was only when we took a boat ride through the canal, crossing various bridges in the city, that the guide informed us that lacemaking originated in Bruges.

In the 16th century, the city of Bruges adopted a tradition of weaving lace into thousands of shapes and patterns, 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput filmed extensively in the city for the 2014 film PK

contributing to Belgium’s textile industry success. The great fondness of the Flemish residents of Bruges for impressive, quality clothing led to the development of over 1,500 kinds of lace woven from silver, gold, and silk.

Due to the long and arduous weaving

process, the people of Bruges are experts in producing lace so delicate that it is not suitable for mass production.

Originated on the banks of the River Reie, the city is rich in history. Interestingly, Julius Caesar’s conquest of the Menapii in the first

century BC led to the construction of the first fortifications here to protect the coastal area against pirates. Over time, the tidal inlet, known as the “Golden Inlet,” played a significant role in the city’s development as a hub for local commerce. In the year 1128, the place got its city charter. The construction of new walls and canals eventually gave the city of Bruges its current shape.

Buildings have an interesting role to play in the character of a city, and in Bruges, they are not only pretty but scream history.

From almost any corner of the city, you’re able to see the Church of Our Lady. Built in the 13th century, its tower, at 379 feet in height, remains the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world.

Art lovers, you will find something fascinating on the church premises. Within its hushed beauty rests its most cherished treasure: Michelangelo’s radiant marble Madonna and Child, crafted circa 1504.

Adjacent to the Church of Our Lady, the Hospital of St. John (Oud Sint-Jans hospitaal) is another mediaeval marvel in this old town. Founded in the mid-12th

www.indianlink.com.au

Postcards from Bruges

century, its structures are some of Europe’s oldest surviving hospital buildings. During the Middle Ages, the hospital flourished, providing care for sick pilgrims and travellers. The building continued to serve as a hospital until 1977, when it relocated to a newer, modern facility.

The city of Bruges then took over the buildings. The popular Hans Memling Museum, named for the German-born early Dutch painter, now occupies part of the hospital complex and displays several works, along with hospital records, medical instruments, and other works of art.

The Markt, or the Market Square of Bruges, is located in the heart of the city and covers an area of about one hectare. Avoid confusing the Markt with the Centre of Bruges. Despite their close proximity, the Centre of Bruges and the Markt are distinct entities. Some historical highlights around the square include the 12th-century belfry and the West Flanders Provincial Court. The statues of legendary Flemish heroes Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck stand in the centre of the market.

The Historic Centre of Bruges is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble. The city’s public, social, and religious institutions illustrate significant stages in the history of commerce and culture in mediaeval Europe. In the year 2000, UNESCO granted World Heritage Site status to the Centre of Bruges.

Of course, no trip to Bruges is complete without a visit to its windmills on the

Coelewey Mill

The craft of lacemaking originated in Bruges

outskirts of the town.

Belgium has a rich mill history. If you check a map of Bruges from the 16th century, you’ll count about 23 windmills.

They were part of the town walls since the end of the 13th century. Today, there are four remaining mills between the Dampoort and the Kruispoort - rent a bicycle to cover all four if you have the time.

All I could manage was the Koeleweimill (Coelewey Mill). It began as a wooden mill on a closed brick base in 1765, and was used to grind corn.

If I had the time, I would have loved to venture beyond the cobbled lanes and dreamy squares. A canal boat tour would have revealed Bruges from the water, its bridges and gabled houses mirrored in the ripples. A food tour - complete with Belgian chocolate tasting - would have been delightful. As would a small-group photography tour, to capture the city’s fairytale charm in perfect frames.

And just beyond Bruges, a day trip to Flanders Fields would have added depth and poignancy, honouring the sacrifices of soldiers amid landscapes forever marked by history.

Words will never truly capture how beautiful, historic, and culturally rich Bruges is. I live by the adage “seeing is believing”and I’d urge you to do the same. And if you think you’ve already experienced it on screen - in Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput’s PK (2014) or in Colin Farrell’s dark comedy In Bruges (2008) - well, it’s best to savour it in person.

SEPTEMBER 2025 31

ENTERTAINMENT

cineTALK

Worth waiting for?

You decide!

No A-list blockbusters this September, but KHUSHEE GUPTA’s watchlist is filled with films with powerful, engaging stories to watch for

INSPECTOR ZENDE (Netflix)

BAAGHI 4 (In cinemas)

When notorious serial killer Carl Bhojraj escapes prison and resurfaces in Mumbai, Inspector Zende is determined to bring him down once more.

Starring Manoj Bajpayee, Jim Sarbh, and Sachin Khedekar, this comedy full of twists and highstakes drama releases soon on Netflix.

Releasing 05 September

Tiger Shroff reprises his role as Ronny, this time up against Sanjay Dutt in a violent, high-stakes clash. Marked by its adults-only rated intensity and unflinching action and featuring Harnaaz Sandhu and Sonam Bajwa, the franchise enters a grittier territory than ever before.

Releasing 05 September

AABEER GULAAL (In cinemas) A romcom starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, faced bans during Indo-Pak tensions and now releasing worldwide (hopefully) It promises humour, romance, and heartfelt storytelling, all while offering a charming look at love and relationships.

Releasing 12 September

MATRIMONIALS SEEKING GROOM Indian-origin, professionally qualified, issueless match (working professional, not self-employed) from Australia for ‘88 born 5"3' Hindu Punjabi girl (divorced, issueless), working with a government organisation in Sydney. Must have Aus PR and be a nonsmoker and preferably teetotaller. Email matrimonial.ml@gmail.com Seeking a meaningful connection. I am 35, 5’2, and a full-time mum to a 2.5-year-old.

Must have Australian PR or citizenship.

Prefer someone without children. We currently reside in Melbourne. Please email meaningfulconnection1989@gmail.com

32 SEPTEMBER 2025

Pre-painted

Seeking professionally qualified match for a 38-year-old Hindu Brahmin girl,born in Australia and never married. Holds a post-graduate degree and pursuing CA Qualification. Working in Accounting sector. Family well settled in Australia for five decades. Please reply with details to aust7578@gmail.com

Lowest Price Roof Restoration / Painting Available

www.indianlink.com.au

DO YOU WANNA PARTNER (Prime Video)

THE BENGAL FILES (Zee5) Starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Pallavi Joshi, this film explores the 1946 Calcutta Killings and Noakhali riots. It is the third and final instalment in Vivek Agnihotri’s The Files Trilogy based on modern Indian history, following The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files.

Releasing 05 September

UFFF YEH SIYAPAA (In cinemas) A sheepish common man finds himself entangled in a spiraling mess when his wife Nushrat Bharucha leaves him as she believes he’s been flirting with their neighbour, Nora Fatehi. Before he can clear his name, a misplaced drug parcel sets off a chain of escalating disasters. What follows is a wildly absurd, darkly comic chain of events - unfolding without a single spoken word.

Releasing 05 September

MADHRAASI (In cinemas)

Two friends Tamannah Bhatia & Diana Penty, venture into the craft beer industry in urban India, navigating a male-dominated world full of skeptical families, tough investors, and endless bureaucracy.

With humour and sharp social commentary, the series explores their personal growth, professional challenges, and the ups and downs of chasing a dream in an unforgiving environment.

Releasing 12 September

LOVE IN VIETNAM (In cinemas)

This upcoming Tamil-language psychological action thriller film written and directed by A. R. Murugados follows the journey of a troubled man, reeling from a breakup as he becomes involved in an operation to stop the mass distribution of weapons. Starring Sanjay Dutt, Vidyut Jammwal and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles, the film is packed with action & drama.

Releasing 05 September

Inspired by the classic Turkish novel Madonna in a Fur Coat this film is a passionate cross-cultural romance that unfolds between Vietnam and Punjab.

Starring Shantanu Maheshwari, Avneet Kaur and Khâ Ngân in the lead roles.

Releasing 12 Septembe

EK CHATUR NAAR (In cinemas)

GHAATI (In cinemas) A Telugu film which follows the journey of Baahubali fame, Anushka Shetty’s character who in the film plays the role of a victim who gets entangled with weed trade due to circumstances. The journey she goes through sees her become a criminal and eventually, a legend.

Releasing 05 September

Set in a quirky small-town India, the story follows a deceptively charming woman played by Divya Khosla Kumar, whose innocent façade hides razorsharp wit. Ambitious and cunning, she seizes a big opportunity presented in the form of Neil Nitin Mukesh, but unpredictable twists and darkly comic turns constantly challenge her cleverness, keeping her on her toes at every step.

Releasing 12 September

DOIN’ IT (In cinemas) PUNJABI AA GAYE OYE (In cinemas) An upcoming Punjabi language film starring Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Singga, and Twinkle Arora in lead roles, this emotionally charged drama promises action, heart, and entertainment. Plus some good old Punjabi humour.

Releasing 05 September

Lilly Singh stars as Maya, a 30-year-old software engineer from a conservative Indian family, juggling her dream of launching a teen-focused app while substitute teaching at a high school. Things take a hilariously awkward turn when, as a virgin, she’s tasked with teaching sex education - forcing her to navigate teen questions, cultural taboos, and her own personal growth in this witty, relatable comedy.

Releasing 19 September

BADS OF BOLLYWOOD (In cinemas) SRK’s son Aryan Khan makes his directorial debut with a sharp, satirical series on the Indian film industry, featuring a star-studded cast including Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Mona Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, and Gautami Kapoor. The series promises biting humour, insider drama, and a fresh, irreverent look at Bollywood’s glittering chaos, by one of the most talked about star-kids of recent times.

Releasing 18 September

JOLLY LLB 3 (In cinemas) Packed with a stellar cast including Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla, Amrita Rao, Huma Qureshi, and Annu Kapoor, this comedy brings double the trouble with two Jollys in one courtroom.

Expect outrageous chaos, clever twists, and nonstop belly laughs as the two Jagdeep Mishras clash in a riotous battle of wits and antics.

Releasing 19 September SEPTEMBER 2025 33

T ’ N DTOA LK BACK Season 2

Scan

34 SEPTEMBER 2025

to li

sten

www.indianlink.com.au

FORETELL

SEPTEMBER 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

You need to let go of the anxiety or insecurity you are holding on to.

A long-distance relationship will survive if both partners make the effort required. The self-employed could get a chance for business at their doorstep. Focus on your work if your love life is going nowhere. Take a second opinion for a health issue. Watch out for your pet’s health too. Someone you share great rapport with could want to do business with you.

Some of you may move closer to the place of your birth. Others may focus on philosophical and spiritual issues. A feeling of being stagnant in a relationship or job will push you to act and change your situation. The card drawn shows Sagittarius energy, so the home-loving Taureans might want to venture outdoors for a bit.

New ideas at work will be lucrative.

Don’t neglect health issues that crop up – even minor ones. Don’t ignore red flags.

Ask yourself which area of your life needs balance right now, then work towards attaining it. An ex could make a comeback; it will only lead to closure. Shift your focus and a stressful situation becomes positive.

Professionals may be seeking a career change desperately, and they should look for other jobs. An old health issue could resurface if you are having other problems. Work on your mind, face your fears, and unexpected events will lead to happy endings.

A separation in your life is only temporary, but you need to work on your depression which has underlined your actions for long now. Money which involves paperwork is on its way. New ideas lead to phenomenal success at work. A rocky marriage could end due to infidelity. Stomach or prostate related issues could bog you down.

Expect money through inheritance or a business deal. View every setback as an opportunity to grow within. Things will resolve themselves, and you will be spiritually guided.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

JULY 21 - AUG 22

AUG 23 - SEP 22

SEP 23 - OCT 22

OCT 23 - NOV 21

A busy month socialising for you gregarious lot – expect invites to weddings, events, social meet-ups. Go slow on outings and activities or you could end up feeling tired and run down. Singles could continue to pine for that one special love. A trip could end up being disastrous.

Professionals need an extra dose of novelty to remain enthused about work.

Avoid doing business with friends. A legal matter could go in your favour. Keep an open mind during arguments.

You draw the card for Cancer so expect mood swings. If single, you could meet someone who is July-born. Work will vie for attention along with your romantic life. The self-employed will receive inquiries about their services. If in a relationship, you might want to put an end to the disrespect. Avoid bingeing to deal with bad moods. Your best success will come when you act with integrity.

What is meant for you will find its way to you.

This could be a difficult month as some heartache is indicated. If in a relationship, you will want to see change before you take things further, or forgive.

Whatever the situation, this is not a month to be impulsive so control your anger or panic and don’t act without thinking. Divine delays will work in your favour. Money held up will soon come to you. Take a break from work and all your problems. What’s gone will be replaced with something better.

Walking away from a painful relationship may be harder than you think. Expect surprises in matters of your personal equations with others. Avoid letting your emotions overpower you at work. A creative project could bring much joy. Straighten out finances and start saving though more money is coming. If you feel trapped in a situation, know that it is temporary.

Do not believe any negative remarks or gossip about others. Thorough efforts and unexpected opportunities will bring success.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18

PISCES

FEB 19 - MARCH 20

It’s time to let go of certain situations, especially painful ones. Speak up in a relationship if you are suppressing your thoughts and feelings. Singles might meet someone but there will be no sizzle.

Some of you may even end a relationship and walk away. Watch out for eye infections. Finances could be tight this month so spend wisely. Events will give you a chance to respond differently and change old patterns. Overall, things are getting better so be patient.

A tough month with stress at work and in relationships. No escaping your reality even though you have deluded yourself thus far. Home improvement is on the anvil. A relationship could end. Question others and their motives to make life easier for you. Crying will help you heal if you are mentally in a bad place. Avoid negative thoughts and don’t lose hope.

Financial issues will get resolved soon as a new project comes along. Express gratitude for support received.

September will bring a dilemma in some area of your life, asking you to make a choice. A situation that seemed negative will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

This could be in the realm of your work.

Go with the flow and trust the universe.

Building a healthy lifestyle will be a priority this month. Someone could be feeling trapped in an unhappy marriage.

Money comes from multiple sources. You may start socialising more as your hermit mode ends.

Singles could still be pining for the one they lost. Watch out for a clandestine love affair. Take a break to let go of mental stress. Instead of focusing on what you lack, practice gratitude for all that you have. Lie low at work if there are arguments happening. A new style of functioning will bring success at work.

People who share your vibe will come into your life. Some of you may choose to walk away rather than participate in unethical activities.

NOV 22 - DEC 21

DEC 22 - JAN 19

SEPTEMBER 2025 35

BACKCHAT HELLO AUNTYJI I’m in a total jhamela and need your help. My wife Nita and I are both 65. I still work (corporate law, yaani stress central), while she’s been a wonderful stay-at-home mum all her life. But now, thanks to Pirates of the Caribbean, she’s fixated on parrots.

Haanji, parrots.

She’s been Googling, WhatsApping breeders, and is now fully set on bringing one home. I’m horrified.

Mujhe yeh bilkul pasand nahi. I don’t believe in keeping animals locked up.

Parrots belong in jungles with their parivaar, not in our sunny apartment on Sydney’s lower north shore eating sunflower seeds from a Coop & Cages bowl.

But there’s more. I’ve never told Nita this, but when I was a child in Mumbai, I saw a parrot bullying a monkey. The monkey snapped, literally - ripped the poor bird’s head clean off. It was traumatic. To this day, I get stress-induced flashbacks: monkey rage, feathers raining like Holi colours, and red parrot khoon dotting my skin.

After witnessing that qatl-e-tota, the idea of living with a parrot?

Arrey Auntyji, mera to… bas hogaya.

How do I say no to Nita - without becoming the monkey in this story?

Polly wants a meltdown

“If that parrot enters this house, I will exit it. No further discussion.”

This assumes, of course, that she won’t celebrate your exit. If so, plan B: weaponise guilt. Print PETA articles. Show her AI-generated pics of sad parrots in cages. Quote ancient scriptures. Ask her if she wants to be reincarnated as a trapped bird in her agla janam.

You must not falter. Do not let your home become a tropical cage of regret. Biwi must not win. Not this time.

Fight, my feather-traumatised friend. Fight for your peace. Fight for the jungle.

AUNTYJI SAYS Arre re re! What a kahaani – murder, mayhem, monkey, macaw!

I fully understand why this is still haunting your neend. That Mumbai monkey deserves a court case of its own, but right now we must focus on your gharke jungle mein shanti.

Frankly, your wife is behaving like a total kalankani. Who keeps parrots in 2025? Parrots live 50+ years! Does she want to pass it on in her will? They belong in forests,

not in two-bedroom apartments with kombucha on tap.

But let’s talk strategy. This calls for some corporate warfare. You’re a corporate lawyer – surely you’ve crushed hopes before. Time to bring that same HR-terminationenergy into your living room.

Next time she brings up the parrot, sit her down. Channel your full boardroom boss mode.

Imagine she’s an intern who’s just committed white-collar crime.

Look her dead in the eye and say:

ASK AUNTYJI Do you have a question for Auntyji?

Email it to info@indianlink.com.au

Bengaluru Aunty mistakenly becomes Aussie MP

36 SEPTEMBER 2025

Image AI generated

C

anberra insiders have today confirmed that Senator Jacinta Price may, in fact, be someone else entirely.

Reports suggest she is actually “Aunty Joshna from Bengaluru,” who vanished from a family wedding in 2012 and mysteriously reappeared in Federal Parliament a decade later, championing policies about importing Indian labourers.

It was Uncle Rajesh who identified her on the telly, as she waved racist banners in the anti-immigration rally.

‘They’re taking our jobs!’ her banner screamed. (These are jobs Australians clearly don’t want, like carshare rides, corner shop night shifts, coding, cardiology…)

“Look, it’s Joshna!” Uncle Rajesh called out to his family. “She’s alive and well thank Bhagwan! And still talking nonsense in Austria’s parliament, hurrah!”

He then had the family’s nerdiest nerd, six-year-old Bunty, stalk her across the internet. Bunty explained to him, looking up from her sleek new iPhone Air, that Aunty Joshna now lives in Australia, not Austria.

Studying her banner, nephew Sunil told Indian Link, “Aunty Joshna would say similar silly things – but only when she hadn’t had her lunch. Too many Indians – those were the words she was shouting in the gulab jamun line that wedding when I last saw her.

Mind you, she was 47th in the queue…”.

“She was always opinionated,” another cousin Prema said. “At every family lunch she would complain about who was taking too many rotis. Looks like she’s still monitoring who’s eating too much.”

Relatives were initially confused to see Aunty Joshna wearing Western dress instead of her trademark sarees. “It’s

tragic,” said one niece who’s married into the zulti zillionaire Andani family. “She had 43 silk sarees for every festival. Now she’s walking around in polyester… what kind of downgrade is that?”

Canberra insiders say her policies are suspiciously similar to random aunty gossip at a railway station.“Instead of

immigration reform, she’s filing motions about who in Parliament is wasting electricity and why the governor-general’s son hasn’t married yet,” one policy analyst told Indian Link.

Meanwhile Indian-Australians insist her speeches in Parliament are quintessential Aunty rants at weddings: long, loud, and full of unsolicited advice.

Parliament staff confirmed she keeps asking when the chai wallah will come by – and reportedly threw a fit when one intern thought she meant India’s prime minister.

Staffers are also running scared of revealing they have the beginnings of a cold – because she’ll shove at them giant mugs of sweetened turmeric and ginger tea cooked in ghee.

Aunty Joshna’s family in India scoffed at suggestions they could migrate to Australia if only they promised to vote for the Labourers Party.

“No need, thank you, come again,” Uncle Rajesh replied. “But if you want, send your Jacinta Price back here. We’ll give her a proper saree, some dal-chawal, and maybe she’ll stop worrying about Indian migrants.”

At press time, Parliament House security had been instructed to keep an eye out for other missing relatives who might have accidentally wandered into the Senate chamber.

Rajni Anand Luthra

www.indianlink.com.au

Multicultural NSW

Do you know a community hero?

Nominate an outstanding achiever Celebrate the people and organisations who continuously strive to make NSW a harmonious place for everyone. Nominate them in the 2026 Multicultural Community Medals and Honour Roll.

Together, let’s celebrate the change makers, the thought leaders, the innovators, the community connectors.

For more information visit https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/multicultural-community-medals/

PHD26_IndianLink_H170mmxW122mm_V2R1 LT0678

Closes Sunday 28 September 2025.

SEPTEMBER 2025 37

Police are breath testing millions of drivers this year.

Police are out day and night to keep the roads safe. If you get caught drink driving, you will lose your licence and receive serious legal penalties. It’s not worth it.

If you’ve been drinking, don’t drive. Police can be anywhere at anytime.

VIRDI ENGINEERS ROOF RESTORATION Lic. No. 114274C

Professional advice at the lowest price Serving the community for over 20 years

Roof restoration Guttering solutions Whirly birds Driveway cleaning & painting Fencing & retaining walls Skylights Sunrooms Leaf guards Carports, decks, patios & pergolas

Pay in easy interest free installments* *Conditions apply. Limited period only.

Contact Harjit today! Call: 0412 254 015 Fax: (02) 9920 1044 web: virdiengineers.com.au

38 SEPTEMBER 2025

www.indianlink.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2025 39

$3,000 OFF D R I V E A WAY F R O M *

$39,990 $36,990

*

*AX7 MODEL

ENGINEERED F O R A DV E N T U R E $3,000 O F F Z 8 D R I V E A WAY F R O M

$41,990 $38,990

* *

Z 8 L D R I V E A W AY F R O M

*LIMITED STOCK

$46,990 $43,990

* *

DE SIGNED FOR MORE D R I V E A WAY F R O M *

$23,990 *AX5L MODEL

MAHINDRA.COM.AU PRICING VALID TILL 30TH SEPTEMBER 2025 OR WHILE STOCKS LAST. MODEL SHOWN FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.

40 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2025 2025

www.indianlink.com.au MELBOURNE EDITION