The Indian Down Under PO Box 99 Thornleigh NSW 2120 Ph (02) 9875 2713 Fax (02) 9980 6349 Email: indiandownunder@gmail.com

VOL 24 No. 4Print Post Publication No. 23572300014

Annual Subscription incl. postage & handling $17Newsagencies $1 inc GSTJanuary - February 2012 Free at Indian Outlets

New era in Indo-Oz ties

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:9: Rekha Bhattaharjee interviews

Prime Minister Julia Gillard

15: Neeru Saluja talks to Kiran Bedi

20: Interview with Tara Winkler -

Young Australian of the year 2011

32: HSC - Hard work with a bit of

fun!

56: Kersi Meher-Homji covers

Indian cricket in Australia

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 03

04 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 05

06 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Editor's Letter

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 7

Editorial/Advertising Enquiries: 02 9875 2713Postal Address: PO Box 99, Thornleigh NSW 2120.Email: indiandownunder@gmail.comWebsite: www.indiandownunder.com.au

EDITORIALPrincipal Editor: Vijay BadhwarAssociate Editor: Neena BadhwarNorth America : Parveen ChopraCorrespondent Sports Editor: Kersi Meher-HomjiDelhi Reporter: Ritu Ghai

WRITERSThird Eye: Rekha BhattacharjeePolitical Columns: Karam Ramrakha, MallikaGanesanFilms and Art: Neeru Saluja, Abhishek Sood, MonicaDaswani, Sumi Krishnan, Devaki Parthasarthy, NeenaBadhwar, Rekha RajvanshiBody-Mind-Spirit: Dr Sunder Das, KanakaRamakrishna, Faith Harper, T Selva, Dilip MahantySport: Kersi Meher-Homji, Dilip MahantyFiji Diary: Karam RamrakhaCookery: Promila GuptaChildren Section: Esther Chudhary-LyonsClassical Music: Sumi Krishnan, Kris Raman,Lokesh VarmaTravel: Vijay Badhwar, Kris RamanHumour: Melvin Durai, Santram BajajSeniors Column: Santram BajajBeauty: Devaki ParthasarthyCommunity: Neena Badhwar, Kersi Meher-Homji,Vijay Badhwar, Sumi Krishnan, Neeru Saluja, SavithaNarayanPhotographers: Neelesh Kale, Raj Suri and JordanAnjaiyaGraphic Design: Nayanesh Gandhi, Dinesh Verma,(Bhagwati Multimedia) Bharat Bhushan Chopra

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As the New Year dawns on us, itbrings with it new hopes andaspirations, new challenges for

the life to move forward, and experi-ences from times past – some good andothers not so, to reflect on pleasantmemories and also to learn from themand become wiser.

The New Year is also a beginningwhen we all feel charged up, havingrelaxed during the break and travelled tofar off places to meet friends and rela-tives, which is especially true for theIndian community.

The new beginning particularlyapplies to the student community - someof our HSC students who will have theircareers chalked out with the universitycourses they select, a new start as theyenter into an age that carries more matu-rity and responsibility. As always, theyhave done well, ranks above as a com-munity, which is a matter of pride forall of us.

Some of the students TIDU inter-viewed – Jaya Punjabi who was ranked99.65 ATAR, Tanya Mokha 99.45 andAnita Gupta 99.3 have done the Indiancommunity proud while there are otherswho have done even better. These stu-dents have been all rounders, exception-al in whatever fields they have chosenbesides studies – a netball captain,school dux and even a Bollywooddancer. One of the students took upTabla playing as a subject and he toppedin that, such is the variety availablenow-a-days in studies. Some of the stu-dents will be budding doctors, engineersor business leaders and will be torchbearers for the community. We wishthem all the success.

On Indo-Australian bilateral frontthere is good news that Australia haslifted its ban on uranium exports toIndia. It is a significant step forward asthe ban made no sense applied to thelargest democracy in the world which isin dire need of energy. The uraniumsales also mark a policy shift favouringIndia, no doubt at the behest of US whois concerned about the spread of Chinese

influence in Asia, Africa, the MiddleEast and the Pacific and is garneringsupport among its friends to counter thestrategic shift.

In India, the Lokpal Bill is held insuspension, but thankfully is markedas an election plank in the state elec-

tions in Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa,Punjab and Uttar Pradesh where, in thepast, results were heavily influenced bycommunal/caste-based issues. It is hightime that eradication of corruptioncomes to the fore, an issue that has infil-trated all sections of the society andwhite-anted the economy. It is under-mining the progress India is really capa-ble of.

Anna Hazare has announced a planto tour the five states scheduled to go topolls starting end January although theredoes not seem to be much choicebetween Mayawati and Mulayam Singhin Uttar Pradesh, and Badal father-sonduo vis-à-vis Captain Amarinder Singhin Punjab. This will nevertheless be atest for the Congress-led government at

the Centre, which is seen to havederailed the Lok Pal bill, whether therewill be a backlash against it in the 2014national elections.

The corruption in India is wide-spread and interwoven in its fabric somuch so that the public has become qui-escent to its presence; they are everready to jump the queue with utter indif-ference towards the system. Now thatthey have the opportunity to elect onlythose who have the wherewithal to makea difference, will they exercise theirwont? It is yet to be seen.

The 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Diva thistime was held in the Pink City in earlyJanuary, where Trinidad and TobagoPrime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessarwas the chief guest as well as a recipientof the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award,one of the 14 overseas Indians honored.

In cricket, the touring Indian teamhas been beaten fair and square by ateam which has raised themselves fromthe ashes and applied themselves withexemplary dedication. That’s been thedifference.

Indo-Australian relations get a fresh start

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar was conferred thePravasi Bhartiya Samman Award by the Indian President Pratibha Patil at the vale-

dictory session of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur.

8 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Comment

Last year, in 2011, a numberof very prominent and talentedpeople passed away, among themfrom Assam, singer composer DrBhupen Hazarika and writer DrIndira Goswami who passedaway in November. Artist M FHussain, actors Shammi Kapoorand Dev Anand and Ghazal KingJagjit Singh all left for heavenlyabode in a matter of last fewmonths. True, we must acceptdeath as the supreme end of lifeon earth.

Bhupen

Hazarika

Dr Bhupen Hazarika wasamong the greatest cul-tural icons of this genera-

tion - poet, musician,lyricist, film director, thespi-

an artiste, winner of the DadaSaheb Phalke Award in 1993 andPadma Bhushan 2001 – a multi-faceted genius. He not only reju-venated Assamese culture butalso showcased it to the world.Bhupenda was one of the fewartists who could bridge the gen-

erational gap. The hundreds ofthousands of mourners, includingBollywood stars and politicians,that turned out to pay their lastrespects for the cremation of oneof India’s most famous folksingers, testify the love and rev-erence which the Assamese soci-ety had for Hazarika.

Bhupenda, with PhD in MassCommunication from ColumbiaUniversity US, was international-ly known as the “Bard ofBrahmaputra” – a self pro-claimed ‘Wanderer’ - a citizen ofthe world who took the rich folkheritage of Assam and interpret-ed it beautifully for the worldthrough his songs – weavingmagic through songs like “DillHoom Hoom Kare” and “OGanga Behti Ho” – there is noone his equal to be a poet, musiccomposer, actor, journalist,author and film maker. He sangand wrote in many languages inaddition to Assamese.

The famous painter MFHusain complimented Bhupenda:“You paint through your songs –but I can’t sing with my paintbrush. It is up to you to fill thislacuna in my artistry. That’s why

I‘ve taken you to score for myfilm Gajagamani”.

His famous Hindi Filmsinclude Kalpana Lajmi’s‘Rudali’, ‘Ek Pal’, Damiyaan’,Daman, Kyon, Papiha, Saaz, MilGaye Menzil, Gajagamini’. Hislast song was from ‘Gandhi toHitler’ where he sang Gandhiji’sfavourite “Vaishnava Janetu”.

Bhupenda not only introducedthe sweetness of Assamese folkmusic to the nation, but alsoraised his voice through his songsagainst injustice and inequalitiesmeted out to the weak.

Javed Akhtar gave a fittingtribute: ‘in Dr BhupenHazarika’s death, “Assam haslost its greatest musical and cul-tural legend”. His contribution tofilm and music was immense. Hegave Indians traditional folkmusic from the North East. Fromlove to ballads Dr Hazarika’scontributions to music are someof the greatest ever. He alsoworked for the cultural growth ofAssam, promoted national inte-gration, peace and unity throughhis music.

We will not get anotherBhupen Hazarika in Assam.

Two revered icons from Assam pass away

Bhupen Hazarika

The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee

You won’t get another musical genius like Bhupen Hazarika andwriter like Indira Goswami.

Dr Indira Goswami

The tragedy befalling Assam in thesame month was losing ourbeloved Mamoni baideu – a writer,

scholar and a humanist.The memory is as clear as if it had beenyesterday instead of April 2010.

Dr Indira Raisom Goswami (14th Nov1942 – 29th Nov 2011), Mamoni baideu(big sister), had attended my father’s 50thdeath anniversary I had organized inAssam in April 2010. She had come withher brother and sister, looking lovely andhappy.

Mamoni baideu was an extraordinaryhuman being, described by noted writerAmrita Pritam as a “rare soul”. Herhumility endeared her to all.

The Prime Minister of India had beenher colleague. Dr Manmohan Singh con-doled the passing away of “an acclaimedAssamese litterateur Indira Goswami,describing her as one of the most influen-tial writers. Her literary work earned hermany awards from her state, nationallyand internationally”.

The PM said, “Indira Goswami playedan important role in bringing peace to theState of Assam by promoting discussionand reconciliation among parties. SmtGoswami’s death will be mourned widelyacross our country by the admirers of herliterary and social work.”

Born in 1942, Goswami published herfirst collection of short stories as a ClassVII student. At 20 years of age she pub-lished her first collection of short stories.She served as a professor of ModernIndian Languages in the University ofDelhi with distinction.

From her own writing in her‘Unfinished Autobiography’, we come toknow she suffered depression and maderepeated attempts at suicide. The mostdifficult period of her life was perhapsafter the tragic demise of her husbandMadhavan Raisom Ayengar in a car acci-dent in Kashmir – only eighteen monthsafter their marriage.

After a brief stint in teaching she leftfor Vrindavan to pursue search for peaceof mind. Her novel “The Pages Stained inBlood” and “The Moth Eaten Howdah ofa Tusker” was written during this period.Her novel “The Blue Necked Braja” nar-rates the plight of young widows forwhom companionship beyond the confinesof their ashrams and fellow widowsbecame impossible.

The novel is regarded as a Classic inModern Indian Literature.

Her books have been translated intoEnglish and many Indian Languages. Anexpert in Ramayana Studies, Goswamiwas also a recipient of Sahitya AkademiAward in 1988, the Bharat NirmanAward in 1989 and many more over theyears. Her treatise Ramayan – Ganga toBrahmaputra, bagged the InternationalTulsi Award from the Florida

International University. This was fol-lowed by the National Jnanpith Award inIndia from the hands of Nobel LaureateSir V.S. Naipaul. An ardent admirer ofNaipaul, she felt that he was a kindredspirit as he too highlighted the plight ofthe downtrodden sections of society in hisworks. Mamoni baideu’s writings werepoignant portrayal of constant struggle toovercome pain and suffering of both selfand others, although brought up in a com-

fortably well off Brahmin family.Her fiction touched a chord for many

readers; her non-fiction works, so wellresearched, added to the treasure house ofliterature and will travel through time. Awriter like her cannot be forgotten, avibrant naturally gifted woman.

On her passing away, the Governmentof Assam declared three days of statemourning.

May she rest in eternal peace.

Indira Goswami

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 9

India and Australia have a bright future ahead: Julia GillardBy Rekha Bhattacharjee

If there is one individual whocan seek some gratification forgetting credit for changing

Labor policy on uranium exportsto India, it has to be AustralianPrime Minister Julia Gillard. Sheunderstands the increasing impor-tance of India not only for theAustralian economy but also forthe strategic alliance to maintainpeace in the Indo-Pacific region.

TIDU: First, I must congratu-late you for removing a majorroadblock in the way of bilateralties with India by getting Laboururanium export policy to Indiachanged. What prompted you tomake such a significant changein the Labor policy platform?

PM Julia Gillard: Australiaand India have strong and deep

ties from trade and investment toeducation and science. We alsoshare significant people-to-peoplelinks that underscore the closenessand warmth of our relations. Yet,despite these links, in one impor-tant regard we had treated Indiadifferently in relation to sellinguranium for peaceful purposes. Ibelieved it was time for the LaborParty to modernise its platformand enable us to strengthen ourconnection with dynamic, demo-cratic India by changing the poli-cy.

TIDU: How difficult was it topersuade some of your own fel-low Labor Party members to toethe line?

PM: There was a genuine,passionate debate around the issue- exactly what there should be atNational Conference and that’s agood thing. There should be a

debate on ideas that are the sub-ject of interest, concern and dif-fering views within the communi-ty and consequently within ourpolitical party.

TIDU: As far as we areaware, Australia under your lead-ership has agreed to export ura-nium to India because of themacro economic reasons and notfor lobbying by some individualsas it is being claimed among theIndo-Australian community. Isthis a fair statement?

PM: Not selling uranium toIndia made sense when it was partof a widely-supported internation-al strategy to bring India into theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.But the US-India civil nuclearagreement of 2007 changed thatstrategy. Against that background,it made little sense for Australia tostand alone as a country that will

not consider nuclear trade withIndia.

TIDU: With two of the mostchafing bilateral issues - assaultson Indian students and uraniumexports - out of the way, thereseems to be realignment in theregion, favouring India. Anycomments?

PM: India is a good friend ofAustralia and an important andvalued member of the communityof nations. The breadth and poten-tial of our relationship is enor-mous as we continue to strengthenour ties. Together, we have abright future ahead in this Asian

Century.TIDU: With Australia firmly

committed to export uranium toIndia in the near future, howdoes Australia maintain the bal-ance with China, and especiallywith Pakistan who's clamouringfor a similar exchange?"

PM: This policy is an excep-tion which recognises the com-pelling rationale and nationalinterest for a change in relation toIndia only. In the case ofPakistan, the issue does not ariseas it does not have an exemptionfrom the Nuclear SuppliersGroup.

Julia Gillard – Rise of an Australian Iron LadyBy Rekha Bhattacharjee

“I'm extraordinarily patientprovided I get my own way in theend”.

-- Margaret Thatcher

With Maryl Streep givinganother Oscar-worthyperformance, the ‘Iron

Lady’ Margaret Thatcher is backonce again at the centre of manyintellectual conversations in theAustralian living rooms. As ifsome divinity had preordained, therelease of the much-acclaimedHollywood diva starrer has coin-cided with some propitious signsof the rise of Australia’s own IronLady – Julia Gillard.

But while Margaret Thatchermay have enjoyed the luxury ofpushing through some toughreforms, thanks to the numbers inthe British House of Commons,Julia Gillard has been strugglingwith every piece of legislation dueto the minority nature of her gov-ernment.

After being on the receivingend for most of the year, the lastquarter of 2011 yielded somepleasing outcomes for theAustralian Prime Minister.

From the Indo-Australia com-

munity perspective, the most grati-fying of all these outcomes waswhen Julia Gillard managed to getthe consent of her Labor col-leagues to change the party line onuranium exports to India.

Julia Gillard and her teamwere also lauded for keeping theAustralian economy, unlike herUS and some European counter-parts, in good health. Passing ofcarbon and revamped mining taxlegislations, in spite of the minori-ty status of the Labor government,would have required political acu-men which her predecessor KevinRudd probably lacked.

As accolades flew thick andfast Julia Gillard’s way, manypolitical pundits could not resistthe temptation to compare her withthe former Conservative PM of theUnited Kingdom MargaretThatcher who was also known asthe ‘Iron Lady’.

The validity of this comparisonis borne out by the functioningstyles of the two Prime Ministersfrom the opposite ends of the ideo-logical spectrum.

Of course, Julia Gillard wouldhave needed nerves of an ironlady, and Machiavellian chutzpah,to get no less than 250 pieces oflegislation without suffering a

defeat on any of those.The last quarter of the year

2011 also saw Julia Gillard play-ing gracious host to two of world’smost powerful persons, USPresident Barack Obama andQueen Elizabeth II of GreatBritain.

While charming the above-named dignitaries, Julia Gillardalso managed to pull off a difficultCabinet reshuffle and in spite oflow numbers, her position as thehead of the Labor government introubled times is not looking tooshaky.

The Labor hardships are farfrom over with a number of prom-ises made to the Greens andIndependents to get their supportcontinue to undermine JuliaGillard’s government.

While Julia Gillard had to eather words and renege over CarbonTax, Independent MP fromTasmania Andrew Wilkie has onceagain put the Labor Governmenton tenterhooks.

While many political punditswould describe the Tasmanian par-liamentarian as only indulging in aface-saving exercise, the episodehas once again exposed the fragili-ty of the Julia Gillard government.

Coming back to Julia Gillard’s

pragmatic and typically resolutedecision to lift ban on uraniumexports to India is one significantstep which is already being hailedfor heralding a new era in the tiesbetween the two, as described byLowy Institute’s Rory Medcalf,Indo-Pacific countries.

It would not be inappropriateto say that the bilateral relationsbetween India and Australia werenever this good. The burgeoningbonhomie between two formerBritish colonies has been set onthe right course by the long-await-ed nod to the uranium exports toIndia. With bellicose HarbhajanSingh excluded from the Indiancricket team currently getting pul-verised Down Under, there ishardly anything which can gowrong in the relationship at leastin the short term.

What many political observerssee behind Canberra making aserious, unprecedented effort tohave stable program of engage-ment with India is Julia Gillard’svisionary leadership.

“Sale of uranium to India willbe good for Australian economyand good for jobs,” Gillard toldreporters after the motion to liftthe uranium export ban to Indiawas carried through in the Labor

National Conference last month.“It will be a way we can take a

step forward in our relations withIndia; we have a good relationshipwith India. It is the largest democ-racy in the world, a stable democ-racy,” Prime Minister told themedia. With China increasinglylooking overbearing trading part-ner in many respects, Julia Gillardis not alone in looking at India asan answer to many of theAustralian quandaries.

“India will be central to almostevery issue of consequence toAustralia in the 21st century: man-aging Chinese power, maintainingUS strategic engagement, dealingwith Islamist terrorism, the futureof Afghanistan and of Pakistan, re-balancing the global economy, theissue of global warming and theenvironment, universalising demo-cratic norms, and a host of oth-ers,” Greg Sheridan, ForeignEditor of The Australian wrote inhis column recently.

Greg Sheridan has also givencredit to Julia Gillard led Labor ofnot only removing the hypocriticalban of uranium sale to India butalso creating a “critical andinvaluable momentum in this rela-tionship and it offers great oppor-tunity”

Julia Gillard with her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. Prime Minister Julia Gillard with US President Barack Obama

The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee

Analysis

Rekha Bhattacharjee interviews JuliaGillard for The Indian Down Under

about various current issues, includinguranium sale to India.

10 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

India

India to invest $35 billion to stimulate economyNew Delhi: India is to launch a $35bnwave of public sector investment toreverse a decline in the fast-growing econ-omy’s growth rate and return it closer todouble digits, according to the prime min-ister’s office.

The emergency stimulus measures area strong response to widespread criticismof policy paralysis in New Delhi and adramatic fall in economic growth to 7 percent from an earlier 9 per cent.

The Manmohan Singh government hasordered 17 state-owned companies to usereserves money to invest in a mix of infra-structure projects and overseas energypurchases, reported Financial Times in anexclusive.

“They are sitting on piles of cash,”said one official of the urgent need to trig-ger a mobilization of currently “inactive”

resources to boost confidence in the econ-omy, and promote India’s energy security.

The move also strives to prompt pri-vate-sector companies – which haveexpressed reservations about investing inthe domestic market – to follow suit. Butsome observers have criticized the moveas a throwback to the “old formula” of the1970s when Mrs Indira Gandhi used pub-

lic infrastructure spending to boostgrowth.

India’s top policymakers are worriedabout the economy’s loss of momentum,and ebbing business confidence after a dis-mal year characterized by political bicker-ing, high profile corruption scandals andan exit of foreign capital.

Companies such as the ONGC, CoalIndia and the National MineralDevelopment Corporation, have signedagreements to spend as much as $35bn oftheir cash or bank balances over the fiscalyear starting in April to expand their oper-ations.

The sum is almost twice the $19bn for-eign direct investment into India in 2011.

Among the proposed measures, CoalIndia, which had a successful initial publicoffering last year has been asked to

“actively consider investment” in alliedsectors such as road, railways, waterwaysand power to improve the transport ofcoal.

Fast-tracked investments, mainly in thecoal and oil sectors, will be monitoredquarterly by the prime minister’s office toprevent backsliding.

Of the total, Rs400bn ($7bn) has beenidentified for investments overseas to buyassets like coal, gas and oil. ONGC hasundertaken to spend Rs205bn in foreigninvestment in the coming fiscal year; CoalIndia has agreed to Rs60bn.

The move by the Singh administrationalso reflects India’s determination to pushfor higher growth in spite of uncertaintysurrounding the global economic recoveryand renewed anxiety about the perform-ance of Eurozone economies.

17 state-owned companies such as ONGCand Coal India to use reserves to invest in

infrastructure projects and overseasenergy purchases.

Riveting battles for theballot in 5 Indian states

New Delhi: Amid souring relationsbetween Islamabad and Kabul, Indiaand Afghanistan signed a defining pactOct 4 here to forge an all-embracingstrategic partnership that will entail anannual security dialogue and expandedcooperation to combat terror emanatingfrom Pakistan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singhand Afghan President Hamid Karzai,who was in India on a two-day visit,held "detailed and frank discussions onterrorism", officials said.

Afghanistan shared its findings withIndia on the complicity of Pakistani spyagency ISI in recent terror attacks inAfghanistan, including the assassinationof former president BurhanuddinRabbani, Karzai’s chief interlocutorwith the Taliban.

In a move that is set to annoyIslamabad, India formally expressed itsintention to "assist, as mutually deter-mined, in the training, equipping andcapacity building programs for AfghanNational Security Forces".

However, Indian officials said thiswas part of the continuing training pro-gram.

Signaling their resolve to partner inpeace and development, ManmohanSingh and Karzai inked a strategic part-nership agreement that seeks to incre-mentally accelerate their ties across abroad spectrum of areas.

The pact envisages an annual secu-rity dialogue between the national secu-rity advisers that will focus on a jointfight against international terrorism,organized crime, and illegal traffickingin narcotics. The pact outlines annualsummits and meetings between foreignministers. "India will stand by thepeople of Afghanistan as they prepareto assume the responsibility for theirgovernance and security after the with-drawal of international forces in 2014,"Manmohan Singh said.

In a clear reference to Pakistan,Karzai said Afghanistan "recognizesthe danger this region is facing throughterrorism and radicalism that (are)being used an instrument of state policyagainst civilians and innocents of ourcountries".

The strategic partnership pact

envisages the setting up of aPartnership Council, headed by theirforeign ministers, which will be thenodal body for coordinating the strate-gic partnership.

Neither Manmohan Singh norKarzai mentioned Pakistan by name,but made implicit references toIslamabad while talking about the needto defeat "outside interference".

"Terrorism threatens our entireregion, and no country can remainimmune to its lethal effects," saidManmohan Singh, adding that the peo-ple of Afghanistan "deserve to live inpeace and decide their future them-selves, without outside interference,coercion and intimidation."

The Election Commission has orderedMayawati’s ubiquitous statues covered inthe run up to election in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has indicated thatshe is ready to play a bigger role in theCongress party provided party general secretary Rahul Gandhi gives the nod.

PBD 2012: a catalyst for 30 million Indian diaspora

Jaipur/New Delhi: The 10th edition ofthe annual diaspora meet 'PravasiBharatiya Divas 2012' saw the highestparticipation this year. Over 2,000 dele-gates from 59 countries participated atthe three-day event in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

"This PBD also signals, a paradigmshift in the level, the range and the paceof our engagement.

It is our conviction that the vastmajority of overseas Indians have theability and the willingness to partner inand benefit from India's march towardsprogress and prosperity," said UnionMinister of Overseas Indian AffairsVayalar Ravi.

The highlight of the three-day annualcongregation, that kicked off in the PinkCity on January 7, was fulfilling a long-standing demand of the diaspora on vot-ing rights.

India said it would allow NRIs tovote and participate in the electionprocess. "Pursuant to the law that wasenacted to enable Non-resident Indians tovote in our national elections, the govern-ment has issued notifications for registra-tion of overseas electors under theRepresentation of People Act, 1950,"Prime Minister Manmohan Singhannounced while inaugurating the event.

"This constitutes the first major stepto enable Indian residents abroad to par-ticipate in our election process," the

prime minister added.In an another major initiative, India

asked its 30-million strong diaspora,spread across over 130 countries, to con-tribute in the development of healthcare,energy and infrastructure sector.

The Indian government also launcheda special pension and life insurancescheme that would benefit over 5 millionunskilled and semi-skilled workersemployed overseas mostly in Gulf coun-tries on temporary contract visas.

Chief ministers of several states urgedoverseas Indians to step up investment,assuring a business-friendly environment.

Showcasing the development initia-tives launched by their respective govern-ments, they assured the Non-ResidentIndians and Persons of Indian Origin thattheir states would facilitate investmentproviding all possible support.

"We welcome with open hearts what-ever support or contribution you maywish to extend. Your support will be agreat morale booster for us," said AshokGehlot, chief minister of Rajasthan.

On the last day, President PratibhaPatil conferred the "Pravasi BharatiyaSamman" awards to 14 eminent overseasIndians, including Trinidad and TobagoPrime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar,and a Canada-based institution, for theiroutstanding contributions in enhancingIndia's image globally.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award winners with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh andPrime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the

10th PBD-2012 in Jaipur.

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 11

Zardari has immunity, Gilani tells court Islamabad: EmbattledYousuf Raza Gilani Jan 19made a rare personalappearance for a Pakistaniprime minister in theSupreme Court here andstepped forth in defense ofPresident Asif Ali Zardari,accused of corruption dur-ing his wife BenazirBhutto's two stints as thepremier.

Hauled up by theSupreme Court for not initi-ating action against Zardari,Gilani told a 7-memberbench during his seven-minute submissionthat the constitution provides immunity tothe president. Many ruling Pakistan PeoplesParty supporters shouted slogans outside.

The case will now be heard Feb 1, giv-ing a breather to the Gilani who faces con-tempt charge from the apex court and hasalso run afoul of the powerful army aftersacking Lt. Gen. (retd) Naeem KhalidLodhi as defense secretary. Lodhi was seen

to be close to army chiefGen. Ashfaq ParvezKayani.

The "emerging politicaldevelopments" -- a refer-ence to the simmering con-frontation between thearmy and the democratical-ly elected government, anda new folding tusslebetween the apex court andthe Gilani regime --Thursday made former

president Pervez Musharraf,who was to return toPakistan by January-end, to

postpone his arrival home.Gilani was on the defensive before the

judges, who had Jan 16 issued him a con-tempt notice for failing to take legal actionagainst Zardari despite the court's directive,insisting he would never even dream ofchallenging a judicial fiat. Gilani told thebench: "It will not give a good message toproceed against a president who is electedby a two-thirds majority."

Prime minister YousufRaza Gilani before his court

appearance in Islamabad.

India

Rajasthan Police invented plot to keep me away: Rushdie

Nikki Haley endorses Haley, the loserin South Carolina primary

Tutoring with virtual chalkboard nowNew York: Though originally aimedat teaching Hindi to Indian childrenin the US, an Indian American haslaunched a virtual tutoring portal forteaching various academic levels as well as18 languages.

TheETutor.com, an educational onlinetutoring company has been started by HarryAurora from New York.

Describing the state-of-art virtual portalas a revolution in learning, Aurora said thestudents participate in one-on-one tutoring ledby superb tutors from the comfort of theirhome. TheETutor.com provides help with allsubjects for Kindergarten through twelfth

grade (K-12) besides 18 languagesincluding Spanish, French,German, Mandarin and Italian.

TheETutor.com, was initiallyestablished with the mission of teachingHindi and other Indian languages to IndianAmerican children with the goal of preserv-ing their culture and heritage, Aurora said.However, in the development phase, Aurorasaw a demand for other languages and aca-demic subjects.

The technology includes an embeddedwhiteboard, built-in video and voice chat,image and file-sharing and even a feature torecord the tutoring session.

Jaipur: Controversial author Salman Rushdiehas said the Rajasthan Police "invented" aplot to keep him away from the JaipurLiterature Festival by claiming they receiveda call from Mumbai underworld about himbeing killed if he visits the event.

“I've investigated and believe that I wasindeed lied to. I am outraged and veryangry," the writer of the banned "The SatanicVerses" posted on Twitter.

The Rajasthan Police refused to commenton Rushdie's charge that it had concocted thestory about assassins from the Mumbaiunderworld hired to kill him in Jaipur.

Sources in the police said they had intelli-gence about threat to the author.

Rushdie on Jan 20 announced that he hadcalled off his visit to Jaipur after intelligencesources told him that paid assassins from theMumbai underworld were out to kill him.

New York: South Carolina’s Indian originGovernor Nikki Haley said Jan 21 she'llcontinue to campaign for Mitt Romneydespite placing a losing bet on him in herstate's key primary that put her at odds withher tea party base.

"I still believe Gov. Romney is the rightcandidate," Haley said of the formerMassachusetts governor. "What this didtoday was just ensure that this is going to bea long race going forward. But I'll continueto be supportive, the way I always have."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrichcame from behind in South Carolina to defeatRomney, who was seen as frontrunner so farfor nomination as Republicans’ candidate forPresident.

The other Indian American Governor,

Bobby Jindal had endorsed Rick Perry, Texasgovernor, who dropped off in favor ofGingrich.

Nikki Haley and Mitt Romney

12 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Community

By Sarika Gupta

Medical profession, with its multi-ple specialties and services, lendsitself seamlessly to voluntary

work. Many senior practitioners, like theChandra family, consider the act of volun-teering to be the most wholesome andrewarding in their careers. All three ofthem in the family – Drs Jay and ShailjaChandra, and their daughter, Dr Puneeta,have been involved with holding eye clinicsat Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, India, forthe last 10 years. The two-week annual clin-ic services patients with a multitude of eyediseases, though its primary focus is torestore the vision of those affected bycataracts.

As a budding doctor I was thereforeintrigued and excited to participate in a vol-untary program so early in my career andjoined a team of doctors from Sydney toearn some good karmic points in my life.Then, there was also the attraction of spend-ing some time in nature in the foothills ofthe mighty Himalayas.

The winterscape of Rishikesh is uniquebecause at times it doesn’t feel like winterat all but more like a pleasant spring morn-ing. That was my first impression of thesmall town at the edge of India’s MotherGanges. Coursing through the soothingfoliage en route to the Parmrath NiketanAshram which would be our home for thenext week, I was struck by the lushness ofthe landscape and the myriad of sounds ithoused: birds, local grocer men by thestreetside, grunting cows, monkeys rustlingin the tree tops and, of course, the constantflow of the Ganges herself.

The half hour journey from Dehradunairport to the Ashram offered me the oppor-tunity to contemplate my upcoming visit.This was the first time I was participating ina voluntary medical camp for ophthalmolo-gy and to be honest I had no idea what toexpect, least of all what to do.

I was part of a team of ten profession-als: three ophthalmologists, two anaes-thetists, an orthoptist, a company represen-tative from Bosch, a senior house doctor, anexperienced GP and a psychiatrist. Sixamong the team were of Indian origin –three from Chandra family, myself, andtwo anaesthetists, Drs Amarjeet Singh andRajdeep Kanwar. Our aim for the week wasto engage with the local Ashram which sup-ported free medical services to local com-munities, near and far. Primarily serving asan eye clinic, we would be responsible forassessing vision, performing general eyechecks, offering surgery to as many patientsas possible and advise those who werebeyond the scope of our services. The costof all medicines was borne by RotaryAustralia.

The clinic at the Ashram was simplebut had the essential facilities. Outside,however, it was a different scene - chaoseverywhere as there was a flood of patientstrying to get inside the doors. They hadtravelled from considerable distances andsome of them did need urgent help. Theywould crowd in large huddles, refusing to

be arranged into neat lines despite ourpleading to do so and there were alwaysmany more patients than there were medicsto see them. This chaos contrasted anythingeven in the busiest of western hospitals.

Cataracts were the most common ofcomplaints, with patients describing a grad-ual clouding of their vision for many years,only presenting when their situation threat-ened their livelihood. A number of caseswere advanced with dense cataracts permit-ting only light perception or hand move-ment vision.

In Australia, cataract surgery is offeredto those with 6/12 vision. I couldn’t believethe circumstances some of these patientswere enduring, some of them, sadly,beyond the scope of our camp’s services.Some would have to return home untreated;others with better financial support may beable to seek referral care.

It was particularly interesting to learntheir ages as a majority of them appearedatleast a decade older than what was writtenin their case history forms. Also, to watcha Caucasian orthoptist negotiate her waythrough a non-English speaking crowd toobtain accurate k1, k2 and axial lengthreadings, was a scene to behold. She soonlearned how to say ‘look straight’ and don’tmove’ which were probably the mostimportant phrases for the entire trip.

Inside the theatres, Indian Bollywoodtunes quietly hummed in the background,complementing the gentle buzz of the vibra-tor probe used to ultrasound and obliteratethe diseased lens. Dr Chandra stressed theimportance of a surgeon’s ‘head to be insync with their feet’ as he adjusted theprobe intensity to match the density of thepresenting cataract. Procedures lastedabout 20 minutes and the turnover ofpatients saw up to 20 procedures performedper day.

Amidst the surgical cases, many patientshad concurrent medical disease such asglaucoma which is ordinarily well managedby ongoing medications in the Western set-ting. Lack of access to finance for ongoingtherapy for many patients in Rishikeshmeant they were ultimately denied treat-ment as their vision would continue to dete-riorate despite surgical intervention.

In India, the high incidence of cataractsand retinal pathology is the direct result ofpoor nutrition, diabetes and poor hygiene.It was alarming to see the number ofpatients who had never had their bloodpressure or sugar levels checked and werefound to be floridly diabetic or hypertensiveon pre-operative assessment.

The immense gratitude and relief dis-played by patients after their eye shieldswere removed post operatively quicklyexplained the motivation for doctors toreturn year after year and provide ongoingservice. Some patients were only restoredto 6/24 vision, but for them, with a previ-ous lifetime of vision only perceptive tolight, it was miraculous to have any defini-tion at all. The most notable case was of anelderly 75 year old man who had densebilateral cataracts and a coloboma in his lefteye. He was given a new pupil aperture andunderwent a lens replacement. Post opera-

tively, he couldn’t conceal his delight.For many out of town patients needing

to stay overnight to make follow up, theAshram became their home too and thisaptly demonstrated the importance of astrong working relationship between spe-cialist and community voluntary bodies.

Many regions in India continue toremain densely burdened by advanced eyedisease, particularly cataracts. While FredHollows Foundation is doing good work inNepal and Vision India in North-Westregions, in Rishikesh itself there are twolocal referral eye clinics which commit to

400 pro-bono surgeries per year. Largepopulation centres in the north and northeastern region around Haryana andUttarakhand and Belgaum and Bellary inthe South remain heavily underserviced.As we look forward to going there again inOctober, other young doctors should alsojoin in, either in their specialist area ofinterest or simply in general service. Thework to be done is of Himalayan propor-tions. The more people that can be trainedin the art of volunteering, the stronger theservice network will become to benefitneedy communities.

Voluntary work that makes a differenceThe author participated in a voluntary medical camp for ophthalmology in Rishikesh,India, assisting Parmarth Niketan ashram in its two-week annual clinic that services

patients with a multitude of eye diseases, but mainly to restore the vision of thoseaffected by cataracts. Rotary Australia bore the cost of medicines.

Sarika Gupta is checking the eye of an Indian patient

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 13

United Indian Associations(UIA) held its annual din-ner and celebrations of

Indian Republic day and AustraliaDay on January 20th, 2012. Theevent was well attended by over450 people from 19 organisationsthat are grouped under the umbrel-la of UIA. The event highlightedthe unity and strength of the organ-isation providing a great opportu-nity for the Indian Australians toenjoy and celebrate the nationaldays of India and Australia.

UIA President AmarinderBajwa, in his opening remarks,thanked the dignitaries and parlia-mentarians from federal and stategovernments who had gathered instrength to support the communityand the UIA.

Bajwa congratulated HSxChigh achievers of the year 2011applauding their efforts and hardwork to make the parents and com-munities proud and reiterated thatthese students represent the cul-ture, values and hopes of all toserve the country and the commu-nities that they represent.

Touching upon the history ofRepublic Day and Australia day,he reminded the guests about thenational significance of the nation-al day and its celebrations by UIA.He said, “UIA is dedicatedtowards social integration anddevelopment and being proudAustralians with the rich cultureand legacy of the Indian back-ground.”

Federal Members ofParliament who attended the eventincluded The Hon Chris Bowen,The Hon Julie Owens, The HonMichelle Rowland, The HonPhillip Rudduck and The HonLaurie Ferguson. State MPsincluded The Hon Linda Burney,The Hon Victor Dominello, TheHon Greg Smith, Hon Dr GeoffLee, Hon Matt Kean, Hon Barbara

Perry, Hon Amanda Fazio, HonRobert Furolo and Hon Tony Issa.All speakers highlighted thegrowth of India and significance ofthe relationship between India andAustralia and applauded the effortsby UIA team in social developmentand representing the Indian diaspo-ra in Sydney.

Consul General of India inSydney Amit Das Gupta addressedthe gathering along with ConsulMr. Gautam Roy.

UIA presented HSC HighAchiever awards to 25 studentsfrom the communities, 4 Life timeAchievement Awards, 6Community Service awards, 3Friends of India Awards and 1young achiever award. They weregiven to seniors and people of emi-nence from the Indian diaspora.Neville Roach, Arun Jagatramka,Harish Velji and CRC chairpersonStepan Kerkyasharain receivedLifetime Achievement Awards fortheir tireless work. Dave Passi, DrNagamma, Sumati Advani,Logassan Pillay and late MrsLeelamani Pillay got CommunityService Award. Soumil Chibberreceived the Young AchieverAward. UIA also honoured HSChigh achievers who received high

rank in the current HSC. Theywere Tara Hariharan, ProteekChowdhary, Lilitagauri Nadkarni,Manroop Singh, Prachi Batra,Komal Shah, Amogh Sarda,Manbir Singh Bhathal, JayaPunjabi, Anita Gupta, PrashantKelshikar, Samir Kinger, KaranSandhu, Radhika Patwardhan,Megha Badhbadhe, NakulBhagwat, Sanchi Ramaprakash,Raghav Dharni, Isha Mehta, RahulAswani, Rustam Sandhu, TaliaKaur and Himmat Penag.

The event presented culturaldances by Marathi Association andsongs. The sponsors to the eventwere also presented with certifi-cates of appreciation and includedBank of Queensland, Billu’s IndianRestaurant, Select Insurance, GoldStar Learning and CommonwealthBank. The event was well receivedby the community leaders of allorganisations and many individu-als.Certificates of Appreciationwere also presented to the cast of ashort film produced in Australia bya group of local actors and artistsnamed "The Jury". A launch of thepromotional website for the Indianevents PromoteURevent.com.auwas also made during the generalannouncements.

Overcast skies and rain did lit-tle to dampen the enthusiasmof those who attended a spe-

cial ceremony at the Universitywhich marked the presentation andgarlanding of a bust of the famousIndian poet, novelist, musician andplaywright, Rabindranath Tagore.

Tagore helped reshape Bengaliliterature, music and poetry in thelate 19th and early 20th centuries.He won a Nobel Prize for Literaturein 1913.

The ceremony, which featuredthe garlanding of the Tagore bust,was attended by Indian Consul-General, Amit Dasgupta, who pre-sented the bust on behalf of the gov-ernment of India, MacquarieChancellor, The Hon. MichaelEgan, Vice-Chancellor ProfessorSteven Schwartz and representatives

of The Bengali Association of NSW.The president of the Bengali

Association, Biswajit Gupta, pre-sented a cheque on behalf of theAssociation to the University thatwill be used to fund the cost of a spe-cial new Indian-themed garden adja-cent to the Tagore bust.

The presentation of the Tagorebust was the latest step in a multi-disciplinary initiative known as"Ektaal - the Great India Project",which began about two years ago toincrease understanding between thetwo cultures by building new inter-national relationships betweenAustralians and Indians.

The project will create new part-nerships and expand research andcultural opportunities through theoffering of both academic exchangesand student scholarships as well as

offering access to concert and per-formance programs.

The government of India pledgedsupport by agreeing to help fund theTagore Chair in Arts and Cultureand has already donated a number ofIndia-related books to theUniversity. Most recently, Vice-Chancellor Professor StevenSchwartz and his team visited Indiato meet with existing partners andestablish new research collaborationswith Indian institutions.

Macquarie's scholarship supportof Indian students now totals morethan AUD 11 million. The scholar-ships will involve students from theUniversity of Mumbai, AnnaUniversity, the University ofMadras, Cochin University ofScience & Technology and theUniversity of Calcutta.

UIA honours community atits annual dinner

Bust of Tagore installed at Macquarie university

Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz, Indian-Consul GeneralMr Amit Dasgupta, Chancellor, The Hon. Michael Egan, Executive

Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor John Simons.

Consul General Amit Dasgupta

UIA honoured HSC high achieving students.

Seniors and eminent community members were honored at the event.

14 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Bollywood

By Neeru Saluja

His debut film became aninstant hit earning himaccolades. Still fresh

on his success, he has justreleased his second film‘Ladies vs Ricky Behl’ with thelatest star couple in Bollywood.Director Maneesh Sharma isthe new director from the YashRaj brigade, who will alwaysbe known as the wedding plan-ner of ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ whobrought alive the onscreenchemistry between actorRanveer Singh and actressAnushka Sharma.

As another feather in hiscap, the film was recently nom-inated in the Asia PacificAwards 2011 for the ‘BestFeature Film’. ThoughManeesh Sharma couldn’tmake it to Australia for thescreening, he was keen to talk

to us about his film on a phoneinterview.

Weddings are an importantpart of our Indian culture; it’sabout the perfect day with lotsof colour, festivities, fashion-able dresses, mehndi, sangeet,dhol, dhamaka and of coursefinding new love. But Maneeshcame up with a total new con-cept, contemporary and rare.To this, he comments, “Peopleoften ask me how I came upwith the idea – I actually didn’thave this story in my mindwhen I wanted to make a film.It’s funny, I was talking to Adi(Aditya Chopra) about anothersubject which he liked but hewarned me it’s going to beexpensive. He wanted me tomake a film that is easy to tapas I was a newcomer in direct-ing, and not to feel rejected bythe end. Then I thought I mustfigure out something and I gen-

erally wanted to tell this storyfrom my side (new voice).”

“I went through my Delhidays to discover what I foundcharming. In Delhi there arelots of middle class people, notresourceful in finances butwant to do a small investmentbusiness. While reading an arti-cle about how small entrepre-neurs are making it big in Indiafrom small makeshift offices, Istruck upon an idea. Business

makers who want to do some-thing that excites them andmake money.

“So there you go, I came upwith a story about two kidsbased in Delhi, added a visualbackdrop office and they had tobe wedding planners. Iresearched and met a few ofthem in Delhi and saw howthey function. It did excite meand I discussed my conceptwith Adi.

A love story where the girland boy meet and face an obsta-cle. My concept was a bit dif-ferent – it wasn’t a love storybut about the process of fallingin love,” says Maneesh.

The chemistry betweenRanveer and Anushka madethem the hottest couple inBollywood. Did you chooseboth of them deliberately?

“I selected Ranveer througha typical audition process, Iwanted a newcomer. A knownface brings a persona with it.The new boy funda was a veryclear call. Thanks to Adi whoagreed to it. The chemistrybetween the stars, I had no ideaabout it!” he said.

You have signed the pairin your next film ‘Ladies vsRicky Behl’ also.

“Yes I have, after BandBaaja Baraat I developed acomfort level with them andthey look amazing together,though this time Ranveer hasthree more actresses workingwith him. Lately I have beenbusy promoting the film.”

Besides a director, therehas been a mention that youwere a dancer also.

“Yes, I was a dancer, Imostly used to line dance andsoon I actually ended up in pro-duction of a musical calledFrame. I did a couple of musi-cals and it made me reallyhappy. But direction wasalways my dream.”

Was it easy to fulfil thatdream?

“I don’t have any filmibackground; I belong to anupper middle class family inDelhi. I started off as an assis-tant director and did a Mastersdegree in film school. I waslucky enough to start with YashRaj Films – I worked on Fanaa,and got the chance to work withShahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan,Kajol and Madhuri. It workedout really well. And then BandBaaja Baraat happened – rest ishistory!”

Weddings excite new director Maneesh Sharma

‘Ladies vs Ricky Behl’ builds on the onscreen chemistry between the lead pair Ranveer Singh andAnushka Sharma brought alive by Maneesh Sharma in ‘Band Baja Baraat’.

Maneesh Sharma

‘Band Baaja Baraat’ was recently nominated in the Asia Pacific Awards 2011 for the ‘Best Feature Film’though Maneesh Sharma couldn’t make it to Australia for the screening.

Interview

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 15

By Neeru Saluja

Kiran Bedi. The name itselfmakes me stand in attention. Butit’s funny how perception changeswith time. When we were youngdrivers, me and my brother werescared of ‘Crane Bedi’s’ ‘stricttraffic police raj’ in Chandigarh.When I became a journalist, shewas a part of the news we deliv-ered. When I came to Sydney, Ilearnt more about her when I inter-viewed the Australian filmmakerMegan Doneman who spent sixyears making a documentary onher called ‘Yes Madam Sir’.

With age, our personalities dogrow and perceptions change.From being scared of her, I startedadmiring this incredible womanand never even imagined how oneday she will make me proud ofbeing an Indian. The day I inter-viewed her, my yoga teacheradvised all of his students to watchthe premiere of ‘Yes Madam Sir’and how she reformed prisonerswith yoga and Vipassana medita-tion. And there I was, raising myhand once again as a young kid buta proud woman - to tell my Aussieand Indian friends who Kiran Bediwas and how she became India’sfirst woman police officer.

Kiran Bedi joined the policeforce in 1972 and became the firstwoman police officer in IPS.During her tenure, she worked as aDeputy Inspector General of Policein Mizoram, Advisor to LieutenantGovernor of Chandigarh, DirectorGeneral of Narcotics ControlBureau to a UN body, andInspector General of Prisons inTihar Jail where she instituted anumber of reforms in prison man-agement. She is also known as‘Crane Bedi’ as she towed the PMIndira Gandhi’s car for a parkingviolation once. Awarded with thehighest recognitions, she is alsoinvolved in many social causes andis now one of the prominent mem-bers of the ‘India AgainstCorruption’ campaign along withAnna Hazare.

Know more about the IronLady from excerpts from the inter-view in which every word is aninspiration and dedication to herhard work.

Kiranji, you have made theimpossible possible. How do youkeep yourself positively charged?

I keep myself charged withpersonal discipline. Become a per-

sonal witness of yourself, be yourown driver. Self-audit, self-correc-tion is important. I also get a lot ofinspiration from reading. Not afavourite book, but from the news-paper. It is my daily nutritionwhere I get lots of information.These days I’m reading books onthe ‘Independence Movement’ andhow India became corrupt withvessels coming from Vasco DeGama and they started acceptingbribes. How East India united andgot corrupted, how they broke andcreated spies. Never forget thatIndia was ‘sone ki chidiya’.Somewhere there is always some-

thing to learn.

You have recently been in thenews for your fight against cor-ruption with Anna Hazare.Please tell us more about TeamAnna.

Anna Hazare is India’s destiny.He was destined to fight. India islosing on corruption; we are downby less that 2% in GDP, the nexusis corruption. We have become hisimmediate associates and formedthe Team Anna. The core commit-tee is spread over 100 cities and weare all asking for an assistancechange.

Did your fight against cor-ruption and injustice affect your

personal life?

Tremendously, I don’t knowwhat a Sunday is in the past 14months. I have been travelling,thinking, going on TV debates,countering hostility and analyzing.I have missed my tennis and havenot been able to spend time withfamily.

My sisters live in Canada andEngland. I’m giving these monthsto my cause, but it asked every bitof myself. The fight is still it on.Few of the police officers may bea part of them. They will knowwhere to take it, the resistance is

tremendous, Opposition is power-ful, and this has been one of mymost difficult fights. But this isbeyond my control. This is a fightof an ant in front of a king, but thedifference is it’s a swarm of edu-cated ants, and the ants are bitingthe king.

There is a lot said about howyou reformed prisoners with andyoga and Vipassana meditation.How did the prisoners react ini-tially?

They just had to believe inwhatever I was doing was in theirinterest. All they needed to do wasto communicate. Why would theynot learn something that may ben-efit them. My job was to create an

opportunity; I only did my duty,out of care and commitment. I wasopening their world – they tastedit, it was healthy for them and theycontinued doing meditation. Asmanagers this was our duty, it wasnot written in my book to teachthem. Mine was a maximumapproach, theirs was a minimumapproach.

You have become a rolemodel and inspiration for manywomen. Has being a woman everbeen an obstacle in your career?

I think it’s all about the capa-

bility. It’s also about the person;the woman needs to have innerconfidence in herself. A man needsa bit of woman in him and viceversa. It’s all about learning quali-ties of each other. A woman needsto be more mobile and independentand a man becomes warmer.

I rose above my gender. I hadthe money, I was mobile and I hadthe sharing and nursing spirit of awoman. That’s the plus factor ofbeing a woman. I continued togrow and anyone has the capacityto rise above the potential. Mancan be equally a mother and awoman can be a provider - that iswhere they rise above.

Yes Madam Sir has hit theAustralian theatres. What did

you see in Megan to accept herproposal of making a documen-tary on you?

In her I saw truth, simplicity,dedication and tremendous hardwork. For me she was a foreigngirl traveling all the time and I feltprotected towards her. I wantedher to be fine as she was so keen todo something. Her style of shoot-ing was unique, she shot thingshappening, and sometimes I didn’teven realize she was shooting me.She shot my daughter, the squab-bles, she had the camera on as shethought that was natural andbrought out the authenticity. Therewas no make-up in the film, nostudio, either it was shot in thelounge, or at work or sharing foodat home. The rule was to show lifeas it was as it is.

What’s your key formula toprovide a solution in a tricky sit-uation?

I believe in all those challengesthat engaged me in people.Whether it’s police training, crimeand order, prison management – inall those assignments I love engag-ing people. I’m a solution provider– I have my feet in ground and Iget to know more when I reach outto people. Once I find the solutionI then share my learning.

Chandigarhians have fondmemories of you – as a studentand regulator. What are yourmemories of the city beautiful?

I think Chandigarh is a dreamcity. I got a sport scholarship,stayed in a hostel, the city mademe and built me. It gave me asense of freedom and the confi-dence of an independent woman. Icould freely bike around; I lovedthe lake and the libraries. It was acity of my dreams, that’s why Iwanted to go back and serve thecity.

Within a few weeks we hadturned the police around becauseof the high literacy rate. It was eas-ier to educate people inChandigarh.

Would you like to give anymessage to young police officers?

Enjoy your work asGandhians. While Gandhi was inhis dhoti, you are in khakhi. Youcan make a difference and it’s allin your hands, don’t let go of theopportunity. Make yourself proud,and your nation proud.

Virtuous ModelKiran Bedi

In the news lately for being in Team Anna which is leadinga massive campaign against corruption in India, Kiran Bedimade headlines wherever she was posted as police officer.

Australian filmmaker Megan Doneman spent six years making adocumentary on Kiran Bedi called ‘Yes Madam Sir’.

It has just been released in Australian theatres.

16 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Music

By K. Raman

Yesudas reached the landmark of ahalf century as a film playbacksinger, ruling the roost all

through those five decades. He is now 71and still retains the same old goldenvoice quality. No wonder he is addressedby his legion of fans as ‘GanaGandharvan’. He is also known as DasEttan, Sangeetha sagaram, SangeethaChakravarthy, Golden tonsils and manyother names.

In November 1962, Music DirectorM.B. Srinivasan used Yesudas’ voice torecord a song ‘Jathi bhedam mathd-wessham’ (Narayana Guru lines) whichhitched him a further 35,000 supermelody hits and it is still continuing. Ihave known Yesudas for nearly 48 yearsand was part of a small group who invit-ed him to present a Ganamela at theclassy Shanmukhananda Hall in Bombayin 1970. I can say he is always humble tothe core when he says how many of usget the opportunity to embrace the pro-fession which happens to be the one youlove utmost.

To Yesudas, music is like tapas and ithas no association with glamour andshowmanship. True to tradition of greatclassical giants, he eschews glamour,fame and stays away from limelight. Theblood flowing through his veins is trulyRagadhara and he is one of very fewsingers who are equally learned and com-petent to sing both genres of classical andlight music with equal ease.

Born on 10 January, 1940, the eldestson of the great Augustine Joseph (awell-regarded drama actor and singer inMalayalam) and Elizabeth Joseph, he hadno shortage of pedigree. His father knewof his son’s inherent musical talents butextreme poverty pulled him away, mak-ing his ambition farfetched. Yesudasadmits that he was below par academi-cally and he spent all available time lis-tening to music rendered by PankajMallick, Rafi, Mukesh, Lata and others,emanating from tea stalls near his house.It was a common sight then of the youngYesu within easy listening distance of theloud speaker sitting motionless under atree undaunted for hours.

As a singer in school level contests heremained unbeaten, and at one stage hewas banned to participate to give otheraspiring singers a chance. He wanted to

learn Carnatic music but the academywas 10 km away from home and thetuition fees and bus fare combinedbecame unaffordable for him. Somehowhe enrolled for a four year‘Ganabhooshanam’ course with the helpof his well-wishers. He breezed throughthe course and won the gold medal as thebest achiever.

While he was trying to learn classicalmusic in the Academy to fulfil the feescommitment he approached the richchurch authorities for a paltry shortage offive rupees and the reply he received was“What a Nasrani mappila has to do with

Carnatic sangeetham!” followed by acheeky laugh. Years later the sameauthorities were craving to get Das tosing for their festivities.

The rag to riches story graduallyunfolded from that point. His friendAnthony took him to M.B. Sreenivas, anace Music Director seeking an openingfor playback singing. For the audition hesang a song in Abheri Ragam, followedby a ghazal and a popular Malayalammelody. Nothing happened straightaway. On 14 November 1961, he wascalled to Madras with a recording offer.For rail ticket from Cochin to Chennai heneeded Rs 18. His mother gave him hertotal savings of Rs four, and his friend, a

taxi driver by profession, Mathai, lenthim Rs 16.

Veteran Sound Engineer KoteeswaraRao who recorded the song said to M.B.Sreenivasan, “Please check with me afterten years, this young man is bound toscale great heights and attain eminenceand glory.” The prophecy came true andnow he is celebrating 50 years of unbe-lievable success.

His love to Carnatic Music was sointense that he fully utilised all opportu-nities and spare time learning the art ofsinging from some great stalwarts whowere impressed of his uncanny grasp and

singing ability. One such Vidwan whotook him under his wings and taught clas-sical music was Chembai VaidyanathaBhagavathar. During a concert inBombay, Chembai, who was the ChiefGuest, was so impressed of the SudhaSharreram of Das that he fetched the Silkshawl presented to him by the king ofTravancore years ago and draped it onDas and blessed him profusely.

No one will be able to pick a list of 10top songs from a massive portfolio ofDas’ 35,000 songs. Recently, he, himselfadmitted he won’t attempt that becausethere are elements of beauty and unique-ness in each and every one of thosesongs.

Musically speaking Yesudas hasmany ingredients which are vital for suc-cess in this highly competitive field. Hisvoice is pristine, grain less, his diction isperfect, his Raga sudham is next to none,he practices his music like a ‘Tapas’filled with dedication and in a singleminded way. He lives a frugal life, eatssimple food items, a teetotaller, andavoids cold and hot drinks. Speakingabout his total aversion to alcohol, it issaid that when he had to take medicationin mixture form, he always made surethat it had no added alcohol. No wonderhe treasures and maintains his voice qual-ity.

Yesudas lives in Chennai and Floridawhile travels around the globe as asinging hermit.

Born in a Christian family he wasnever allowed inside Guruvayoor shrine,though he sang wishfully:

Guruvayyor ambala nadayil orudivasam njan pokum’

Gopura vathil thurakkum njanGopakumarane kanum”

(One day I will go to the shrine doorof Guruvayoor temple, open the door ofthe inner shrine and see the lord in front.)

So far he has not succeeded in this.The obstruction is not caused by theLord, but by his humble servants. But,he says, let this song sung in the film‘Othende makan’ remain as a wishfulthinking!

Yesudas ridesmusic waves forhalf a century

To Yesudas, music is like tapas and it

has no association with glamour and

showmanship.

Born in a Christianfamily Yesudas wasnever allowed insideGuruvayoor shrine,

though he sangwishfully: One day

I will go to the shrinedoor of Guruvayoor

temple, open thedoor of the

inner shrine and seethe lord in front.

Raman (left) accompanies Yesudas on mridangam.

Music

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 17

By K. Raman

Ustad Sultan Khan was amusical colossus. In hispassing away on 27

November 2011, we have lost oneof the greatest Sarangi players whoornamented the Indian classicalmusic horizon for close to six

decades. He was a musical geniuswho played the highly complexstringed instrument from pre-teendays with effortless ease and mas-tery.

Sultan Khan was born in Jaipurin 1940 and was a member of ahighly respected musical family.His father Ustad Gulab Khan was a

brilliant Sarangi player who livedin the princely state of Shikar. Heentered the musical arena in 1951when he just 11 years old. This ledhim to win many accolades likePadma Bhushan, two SangeetNatak Akademi awards, the highlysought after American AcademyAward, President of India’s meri-torious award, the Gold medalaward of Maharashtra and manyother gongs in his six decades as amusical luminary.

Apart from his ability to playSarangi, he, like Bharat RatanRavi Shankar and Ustad ZakirHussain, was instrumental inspreading far and wide our highlytraditional Hindustani Classicalmusic. To him music was an entityeven if it was a conglomerate ofvarious kinds of music, light, semiclassical or folk. He was an inte-gral part of the Fusion MusicalGroup ‘Tabla Beat Science’, whichwas established by Ustad ZakirHussain many moons ago. SultanKhan Saheb was a member of the‘Dark Horse World tour’ of 1974which included Pt Ravi Shankarand George Harrison.

Sultan Khan had a huge heart,with a happy toothy smile, amouthful of stained teeth, compli-ment of pan chewing and a greatsense of dedication to his music.Many are not aware that he was agreat singer and film music com-poser of repute. His unusually res-onate, deep, and husky nasalsinging voice attracted musical lis-

teners.Sarangi, the bowed string

instrument, is said to be a Nepalesemusical instrument of very longstanding. It is highly complex totune and play. It sounds pathoswhen played and there are notmany who mastered it and veryfew attempted to learn it becauseof the complex nature of the instru-ment.

The name Sarangi might haveoriginated from the combination oftwo words, ‘sou’ (hundred) Rang(colour). Sow denotes the massivestringy structure of the instrumentand Rang in fact depicts to themultiple tonal sound patterns theinstrument generates. ‘Sou Rang’thus became Sarangi. It has 3 or 4main playing strings (depending onthe player) and many sympatheticstrings. This has no frets or fingerboard, and the strings float in theair. That makes playing the instru-ment very hard.

The application of the degreeof pressure on the strings with theleft hand fingers must be precise.The absence of frets with nodemarcation makes it too hard togenerate the perfect tone with puri-ty. No wonder very few musiciansaspire to learn Sarangi now.

Sultan Khan died after a pro-longed illness, afflicted with kid-ney problems. For the last fouryears he was undergoing regulardialysis to keep the kidney going.He lost his speech in the last fewdays and that marked the beginningof the end of a great life.

Sultan Khan is survived by hiswife, two daughters and son SabirKhan, a fine Sarangi player in hisown right. As a true admirer ofUstad Sultan Khan, I never failedto attend his concerts. The last oneI attended was when he performedat the Sydney Opera House a cou-ple of years ago.

May his soul rest in peace.

The queen of television talk shows,Oprah Winfrey, connected to more than10,000 people in this historic pink city

Jan 22 with her message on education, aware-ness and empowerment of women.

Clad in a mustard silk 'salwar-kameez'with a pink chiffon dupatta and sporting gold-en bangles, Oprah said her trip to the city tospeak at the Jaipur Literature Festival wasmade possible by spiritual guru DeepakChopra and was a "vision" coming true.

It was a connection she had made threeyears ago when she came across a picture of awoman on a camel. And since then, coming toIndia had been on her mind.

"As I entered the city I saw the camels andelephants. I said 'there is the vision, there youare'," Oprah said.

The talk show host earlier visited Mumbai,Agra and Vrindavan as part of her Indian itin-erary. She is shooting some India-specificepisodes and interviews for her next show,"Oprah's Next Chapter". Oprah said she was"enriched and blessed" by her maiden visit toIndia. She said the three things that struck herabout India was "its chaos, the underlyingcalmness and love - and the fact that everyoneseems to know where they are going".

While Oprah was in Mumbai, socialiteParmeshwar Godrej threw a lavish party in herhonour on her maiden visit to India andBollywood who’s who were invited. Oprahfirst dropped at Bachchan residence to blessthe new born and after spending an hour withthe family, she was driven to the Godrej partyvenue by Amitabh Bachchan himself as achauffer. Oprah looked pretty in orange sari.

Sarangi maestroSultan Khan passes

away

Oprah connects to India in sari and salwar-kameez

Apart from his ability to play Sarangi, Sultan Khan, like Pt. RaviShankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain, was instrumental in spreading

far and wide our highly traditional Hindustani Classical music. Hewas a member of the ‘Dark Horse World tour’ of 1974 with Ravi

Shankar and George Harrison.

The author with Sultan Khan

Oprah Winfrey at the Jaipur Literature Festival.Big B became a chauffeur and drove

Oprah in Mumbai.

18 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Bollywood

After roping in the hottest stars ofthe industry to burn the stage withtheir stellar dance acts over the

years, the world’s biggest viewers’ choiceaward - Zee Cine Awards 2012 is proud toannounce that Bollywood’s “Silk”iest lead-ing lady is all set to rock the stage at theglitzy ceremony in Macau this year.Following the announcements of SRK &Priyanka Chopra as hosts and ShahidKapoor’s dancing tribute to Dev Anand,the latest addition to the glitzy star per-formers’ list will be the current darling ofBollywood – Vidya Balan!

After her universally applauded per-formance in this year’s runaway hit ‘TheDirty Picture’,

Vidya’s oomph quotient has shotthrough the roof and the actress has beenbrought on board to raise a toast to India’ssouthern sirens at ‘Pan Bahar presents ZeeCine Awards 2012’. As Balan performs toa medley of chartbusters from southerncinema, her moves will bring out theunmistakable flavor and inimitable style ofthe dancers from south Indian cinema.Burning down the stage with the raunchy‘Naka Muka’, Vidya will finish the per-formance with a flourish, shimmying to her

own ‘Ooh La la, Ooh La La‘ ditty. “My performance this year at Zee

Cine Awards 2012 will be inspired by theimmensely entertaining styles of some of

the most iconic southern sirens includingSilk. Let’s hope the audience has as muchfun as I do when I perform live at TheVenetian® Macao!” said Vidya.

Vidya is also a hot contender in the listof nominees for Best Actress at Zee CineAwards ’12 for her no-holds barred per-formance in The Dirty Picture. Giving herstiff competition for the trophy arePriyanka Chopra for Saat Khoon Maaf,Kareena Kapoor for Bodyguard, KangnaRanaut for Tanu Weds Manu and KatrinaKaif for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Theactors vying for the Best Actor award thisyear will be Hrithik Roshan for Zindagi NaMilegi Dobara, Ajay Devgn for Singham,Shah Rukh Khan for Don 2 and Ra.One,Salman Khan for Bodyguard and RanbirKapoor for Rockstar.

Hosted by the Don-2 duo - Shah RukhKhan and Priyanka Chopra - Zee CineAwards 2012 will be held at Asia’s leadingdestination for business, leisure and enter-tainment, The Venetian® Macao. Since itsinception in 1998, Zee Cine Awards hasemerged as the biggest tribute paid to theworld's largest film industry and hasattracted stalwarts of both Indian and inter-national cinema. The awards will attract600 million viewers to television screensthe world over when it is telecast onSunday, February 12 @ 19:30 Hrs SGTonwards only on Zee TV Asia Pacific.

Stunning Indian-born, Australian-raised actor/dancerPallavi Sharda has been cast as the female lead inSaveYour Legs, the keenly anticipated big screen comedy

that tells the story of three life-long best friends who realizetheir childhood dream to play cricket in India.

Save Your Legs! folllows Edward ‘Teddy’ Brown(Stephen Curry) - a ‘cricket tragic’ whose unadventurouslife revolves around his cricket club, the ‘AbbotsfordAnglers’ and his friends. But Ted’s fraternal cricketingutopia is threatened by the realities of the mid-thirties-careers, wives, mortgages and kids… and the inescapablefact that his teammates are moving on. With his precious‘Abbotsford Anglers’ on the brink of extinction, Ted gam-bles on a last ditch effort to save the club and keep the boystogether, by begging hisboss, Sanjeet, a retired cricketer, toallow the Anglers to ‘represent Australia’ on a three-matchtour of India. It’s a bold leap for Tedinto cricket’s final fron-tier in a move that he hopes will reignite the team’s passionfor his beloved game.

Pallavi will star in Save Your Legs! as Sanjeet’s gor-geous and savvy daughter Anjali who sweeps Ted (StephenCurry) ‘off his feet’ once the ‘Anglers’ arrive in India fortheir tour. Pallavi will join the cast when filming resumes inIndia, following a week’s shoot in Melbourne earlier thismonth.

Pallavi has trained in the art of Bharatanatyam forover 15 years and is famed for her choreography andperformance of contemporary Indian dance. Shifting basefrom Melbourne to Mumbai in late 2008, Pallavi has sincepursued her lifelong dream to act in Hindi Cinema and hasshot several movies including My Name is Khan, Dus Tola,Walkaway and Love, Breakups, Zindagi as well as featur-ing as a recurring cast member of Anuvab Pal's theatrecomedy, 1888 Dial India. Pallavi was also crowned MissIndia Australia in 2010 and won the 'Fresh Look' title at theMiss India Worldwide competition held in Durban.

Renowned Indian actor Darshan Jariwalla (Gandhi, MyFather) will portray Pallavi’s on-screen father, Sanjeet andbe joined by big-name Australian actors Stephen Curry (TheCup, The King), Brendan Cowell (Beneath Hill 60, LoveMy Way) and Damon Gameau (Balibo, Spirited) who starrespectively as Ted Brown and his two best friends, Rickand Stav.

First time feature film director Boyd Hicklin will helmSave Your Legs! alongside producers Nick Batzias (NotQuite Hollywood) and Robyn Kershaw (Bran Nue Dae,Looking for Alibrandi). The script was written by Brendan

Cowell, whose authorial talent has brought us The Slap &Love My Way, whilst international sales are being handledby Protagonist. The film’s development and productionpartners include Screen Australia, Film Victoria & theVictorian Government, Madman Entertainment, RobynKershaw Productions, Melbourne International Film FestivalPremiere Fund, Deluxe & the Nine Network.

Website: www.saveyourlegs.com. Facebook: www.face-book.com/saveyourlegs

Divya Dhingra, Sydney's upcomingBollywood hopeful, on her trip toIndia created another stir. She was in

Mumbai to attend a family wedding whenshe came across the Lakme GirlCompetition. Says Divya, "The hotel wewere staying had this poster from Lakme thatthey were looking for a new face for some oftheir yet to be released products.

I applied and was screen tested inMumbai with many other contestants whenhalf a dozen of girls got into the finals. Wewere taken by Lakme to Goa for an exten-sive shoot where they would have shot over300 shots of us.

It was just incredible." TIDU askedDivya as the news was all over Facebookabout her being selected as the Face ofLakme, she said, "The talks are going on andnothing has been finalised yet. All I did askat Lakme was whether I could take a pic toshow this once in a lifetime experience to berepresenting Australia."book.com/savey-ourlegs

Watch Vidya sizzle on screen in Zee awards

Pallavi Sharda stars in Oz comedyDivya Dhingrathe Lakme

Girl?

Vidya Balan’s oomph quotient has shot through the roof after ‘The Dirty Picture’

Pallavi Sharda

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 19

By Neena Badhwar

I met this young, beautiful, slim

girl standing in a queue at the Sydney

airport last year in September, waiting

to be checked in on her way to

Cambodia. Little did I know that this

girl standing there actually was the

young Australian of the Year 2011

who was recognized for her tireless

work to help raise Cambodian orphan

children.

Tara Winkler, yes, that is her

name, was with her mum and another

Cambodian girl who had come to see

her off at the airport. As we acquaint-

ed ourselves, her mum gave me an

article to read while the queue slowly

progressed to the counter. A quick

scan reading of the article revealed

how Tara was now the mother of 46

orphan kids in Cambodia and how

she rescued children to form her own

orphanage called the CCT

(Cambodian Childrens Trust).

Tara was once a budding model,

but having the heart that she has, Tara

had her karma rewritten differently -

to do something higher, other than

making two ends meet.

The Indian Down Under is sup-

porting ‘Holi Hullad’ function to

fundraise for Tara’s orphanage to sup-

port children who did not have any

hope of a better life before they met

an angel in Tara. Following is an

interview with this star aptly named

‘Tara’ Winkler:

TIDU: Tara, you have taken abold step of moving to Cambodia andstarting ‘Cambodian Children Trust’.How did you get involved in rescuingorphans in Cambodia and finallyhave become a mother to about 46children at such a young age?

I didn’t actually leave Australia

with the intention of living and work-

ing in Cambodia. I went on a holiday.

On my travels through South East

Asia I went to Battambang, and met

the kids living at the Sprouting

Knowledge Orphans (SKO) orphan-

age. I was struck by the poverty I saw

at SKO and pledged to help raise

them some funds when I got back to

Australia.

I raised quite a lot of money and

so decided to return to Cambodia, one

year after my first trip, to volunteer

for three months and monitor how the

money was to be spent. It was during

this time that I became aware of

underhanded dealings going on at

SKO by Bora, the former director.

When I found this out alarm bells

went off and I hurried back to

Battambang.

Jedtha, CCT’s current director,

and I had several meetings with the

Assistant Governor of Battambang

and the Social Affairs Department.

They were extremely supportive and

moved mountains for us to help expe-

dite the process of rescuing the chil-

dren.

Just two weeks after we registered

as a local NGO, we were given per-

mission to offer the legitimate

orphans at SKO a chance to leave

with me if they wanted to. We turned

up, unannounced, with a bus and two

authorities from the social affairs

department. All 14 kids literally ran,

clutching their few belongings, and

jumped on the bus. And CCT has

been their home ever since.

CCT is now committed to provid-

ing them, and other children like

them, with a safe home and the oppor-

tunity to make something of their

lives. It definitely wasn't what I

planned to do with my life, but, as

John Lennon said, “Life is what hap-

pens to you while you're busy making

other plans.”

TIDU. How did your family reactwhen you decided to devote your lifeto this cause?

I have the most supportive family

in the world. There's no doubt they

were worried for me at times but

they've stood by me through thick and

thin and now work tirelessly as volun-

teers to take care of the administration

work in Australia.

TIDU. What age are the childrenin the CCT Home?

The kids living in residential care

range from 2yrs - 22yrs. But it's

important to note that CCT is now

much more than just an orphanage.

Our main focus now is on com-

munity development. Many orphan-

ages in Cambodia take in children

whose parents who are simply too

poor to support them. CCT has devel-

oped a community outreach program

for such cases. We’re currently help-

ing many families in the local com-

munity to become self-sufficient, so

they can stay together and send their

children to school. These children’s

education could make a crucial differ-

ence to Cambodia’s future. We’re

also now able to support many of the

street children living in Battambang,

through our community centre.

TIDU. It must be a commitment tomiss what a normal young person likeyou could be doing and enjoying inAustralia…

I'm not a normal young person.

When I’m back in Australia and meet

other people my age, I often find we

don’t have much in common. I’m also

a perfectionist, and I spend much of

my spare time obsessing over ways to

make life better for Khmer people.

Some of the happiest times of my life

are the times I spend hanging out with

the kids. It’s impossible not to be

inspired by their resilience in the face

of adversity, their determination to

make the most of every opportunity

that comes their way, and their zest for

life, despite all the unimaginable hor-

rors they’ve been through.

Watching them thrive and grow

into intelligent, compassionate, moti-

vated individuals is a privilege and the

most satisfying thing I can imagine.

Anything else I might be missing

pales in comparison.

TIDU. Was it hard to set up andmanage and how are the localCambodians helping you?

I feel I receive an inordinate

amount of praise for the work I’m

doing in Cambodia. I’m delighted to

have the opportunity to set the record

straight.

Without a shadow of a doubt, or

bias, I can confidently say I have the

best team in Cambodia. The CCT

Team is primarily comprised of local

Cambodians, and they are the real,

unsung heros who make our work

possible. They work tirelessly to help

impoverished children and families,

from their very own community, to

have a brighter future.

TIDU: What does the CCT chil-dren do in every day life?

They have a demanding schedule.

This year, we decided to pull them out

of the local public school, where

teachers often use violence to disci-

pline students and where wealthier

students can bribe their way to good

marks, and instead send them to the

best international school in

Battambang. A lot of their time is also

taken up with extra-curricular studies,

in music, art, dance and physical edu-

cation.

But we have a lot of fun too.

Before coming to CCT these kids

never had a chance to just be kids and

enjoy their childhood. We have

Sunday Fun Days, where we go for

picnics by the river; we take them on

excursions into town so they can

interact with the local community. We

have movie nights and some pretty

fantastic dance parties. We also take

them on Annual holidays. We've done

one trip to Modulkiri, where the kids

got to ride elephants through

Cambodian Jungle and learn about

wildlife conservation. We've done one

trip to Siem Reap when they got to

see the Angkor Wat temples for the

first time. And we've done two trips to

the beach at Sihanoukville. The first

of which was especially memorable

because neither the kids nor the staff

had ever previously laid eyes on the

ocean.

TIDU. You were chosen as theYoung Australian of the Year for 2011– definitely an inspiration to all. Whatis your message to the youth in theIndian community in Australia asIndia also has many children whomay need help like what you havedone for Cambodian children?

I strongly encourage young peo-

ple to contribute to improving the

lives of others in disadvantaged

communities. But I would caution

anyone aspiring to get involved

first-hand. Apart from a great deal

of determination and perseverance,

you also need to do as much

research and seek as much advice as

possible from qualified profession-

als.

Initiatives like the Australian

Youth Forum are also a good way to

have your voice heard and con-

tribute ideas on government poli-

cies, for example, the targets being

set to reach Millennium

Development Goals, which affect

us all now and in the future.

TIDU. How do you fund forsuch a worthwhile cause?

CCT is primarily funded by pri-

vate donations from kind Australian

people. I feel very lucky that I hap-

pened to be born in one of the most

generous countries in the world.

There are lots of ways to help. I

would recommend visiting our

website to find out the best ways to

get involved - http://www.cambodi-

anchildrenstrust.org

Twinkle twinkle little ‘Tara’“I'm not a normal young person.When I’m back in Australia and meetother people my age, I often find wedon’t have much in common. I’malso a perfectionist, and I spendmuch of my spare time obsessingover ways to make life better forKhmer people. “

- Tara Winkler, Young Australian of the Year 2011

20 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Community

By Neena Badhwar

In the world of Internet, email,Facebook and Twitter, when thehumble mail box in front of the

house has become a bin for junk mailand the only one who writes to you is acreditor, comes a beautiful envelopeaddressed to you in calligraphic writingwith exquisite drawings around theedges. Inside, there is a letter written inperfect Hindi script; even a poem inyour name is included. It, indeed,comes as a pleasant surprise. One issuddenly reminded of the olden dayswhen we all ran when the postman cameand the art of letter writing and receiv-ing them was in vogue.

The letter writer is RameshAlandkar, an 80-year old artist living inPennant Hills, who is spending everyminute of his time in art. He says hederives satisfaction through the ‘processof creating art’. That is his ‘karma phal’– the fruit of karma.

“Doing any work, any activity andlooking at it through the eyes of artgives me complete satisfaction. Afterthat there is no desire for recognitionanymore. Hours pass as I immersemyself in art and never feel tired.Creative process is my karma yoga, myinspiration … till the day I go,” saysRamesh.

He has been visiting his son inSydney since 1996 and has foundSydney to be the most beautiful andinspiring place, its people quite helpfuland working selflessly, which motivatedRamesh as he volunteered to work forthe disabled, Red Cross and the Friendsof India Society in Liverpool.

Termed as ‘God Maker’ by a localLiverpool writer, Ramesh’s work dur-ing Ganesh Festival creating Ganeshstatues was noticed when he exhibitedhis works at the Bankstown Library.

“Although my mother was not inter-ested when she saw my interest in art,knowing that art does not give one a

livelihood, I followed in the footsteps ofmy father, Shri Shakar Rao Alandkar,who spent his lifetime in art and teach-ing art. He was and still is my guru.

“Keeping study as the main goal andart as a hobby, I started to entertain peo-ple by drawing with chalk, using handsand even foot. People would watch meproduce symmetrical drawings in thisunusual way and I started to earn name,medals and appreciation,” he says.

Ramesh Alandkar completed hisB.A. in quite hard circumstances as hisfather became unwell and he had to earnfor the family by working at a printingpress at night. “After a few years I wasselected to work as Social Education

Organizer, going from village to vil-lage, for which the only means of trans-port was a camel and I came to beknown as ‘Oonthwala Shah’,” he says.

“In 1956, me and my wifeMandakini went to Delhi where we dida lot of work with various well knownpublishers and she produced some chil-dren’s books as well. Delhi of thosedays was a quiet place and everythingwas dirt cheap and people were quitecommitted to work and respected art.

“When once I went to Hyderabad, Imet some Americans who had come fora World Literary Conference. Theywere looking for some display materialfor adult literacy for which I sat andproduced materials for them all throughthe night. They really liked my workand I came to the notice of Shri S KDey, Minister for CommunityDevelopment, who sent special instruc-tions to create a position of an AssistantArt Gazetted Officer. Suddenly, I waspromoted to a job which came with myown room, a huge glass table, a phoneand a cushy swivel chair. My job thereentailed editing and producing and illus-trating journals and publications for theGovernment of India,” says Ramesh.

“I was a constant worker, alwayscreating and drawing. I worked formany well known people, as well as mydrawings and pictures were used byNCERT in their education materials. Inmy spare time I read great Indian liter-ature and felt inspired by it to produce a

series of works on ‘Meditation’ and‘Health’ which were highly noticed andappreciated,” he says.

Ramesh, one finds, is never bored,never free as he spends hours on enddrawing. He is excellent in producingcartoons as well which have been usedby major publications in India. He liveswith his son Hemant, who, says, “Dadis always busy and is never boredbecause one does not even knowwhether he is in the house. He simplydisappears into his room keeping him-self busy, drawing and painting.”

Ramesh Alandkar has contributed tothe local art scene by taking part indemonstration of Indian miniaturepaintings in the NSW Art Gallery exhi-bition ‘Dancing with flute’. CasulaPower House art center introducedRamesh’s paintings in the exhibition‘Ground’ – a project that introducednew artists to Australia.

Ramesh Alandkar is someone whomakes the Indian community proud withhis contribution. We live in a busyworld, running here and there purpose-lessly while people like Ramesh live ina different world and see and perceivethings differently. And that is why theysee art, meditation and karma in every-thing they say and do. They catch holdof ideas which they transport into themedium of expression through art anddrawing. They observe the world froma different plane and must be respectedand cherished as they are truly rare.

One with creation

Ramesh Alandkar with one of his paintings

Sketches and ruminations of Ramesh Alandkar

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 21

They are intelligent, good-looking andexcelling in careers in fields such asengineering, management consulting

and medicine. But they are not married.Marriage is a frequently discussed topic inIndian subcontinent families. Though I ammarried, I distinctly remember life before Iwas married.

There could be the request to meet the‘son of the cousin of a distant relative or afamily friend’. Or, the invitation to a partyor a dinner that was the smokescreen for ablind date that could be made into an enter-taining comedy or a horror story!

In recent years, matrimonial advertise-ments are no longer just in the papers, butalso on the internet and numerous matrimo-nial websites that have been formed. Thereare now even more opportunities for youthto meet potential partners and get married.

But do the youth of today want to getmarried? I spoke to unmarried men andwomen aged 25-40 from the Indian subcon-tinent living in cities across Australia suchas Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne andAdelaide, and obtained their views aboutwhether or not they wanted to get married.

For better or for worse?The resounding majority response from

unmarried youth was that they did want toget married. The reasons they provided var-ied, ranging from companionship, sharingthe journey of life with their future partnerand learning new things, to starting a fami-ly. According to Vinetha Manthena, 27,Search Account Manager, “marriage is theunion of soul mates and the beginning of alife together”.

Prajayan Kathirgamanathan, 33,Network Engineer, found the love he haswitnessed between his parents inspirational.

Two people that I spoke to who were insame-sex relationships said that they didwant to get married, but they were not per-mitted to under Australian law. A Bill hasrecently been drafted to legalise same-sexmarriage in Australia.

Those who were on the other side of thecoin and did not want to get married,regarded marriage as an institution that wasout-of-date. The viewpoint of Nitin (not hisreal name) was against marriage because hethought that a marriage certificate was like apiece of paper that he did not need as a ‘rub-ber stamp’ for his de facto relationship.

No time for a relationshipStatistics reflect that the median age of

people who do get married, is getting high-er. Bright and intelligent Indian youth arespending more time obtaining higher qualifi-cations such as masters degrees, establishingthemselves in their career or attaining pro-motions at work. One of the reasons whyonline dating websites have become morepopular is the lack of time people have out-side work to meet people.

I asked some youth why they thoughtpeople were getting married later in life,and, whether or not a focus on career couldbe one of the reasons. Every person I spoketo said that a focus on career was one of thereasons they thought people were gettingmarried later in life. Youth of today seem tohave more options available to them thantheir parents or grandparents.

One person I spoke to said that thoughher grandmother completed a universitydegree, she was discouraged and preventedfrom working because her parents thoughtthey would not be able to find a suitor forher if she was working.

Says Vinetha, “As the gender gap beginsto shrink, men and women have a lot moreoptions open to them because of higher edu-cation and careers, hence delaying theprospect of marriage to explore options thatperhaps our grandparents never had.”

Youth are also obtaining fulfilment fromtheir careers. The fulfilment they obtain

from their career means they may not evenbe interested in getting married, or theydon’t think it’s a necessary part of happi-ness.

Society has changed, and with morewomen in the workforce, they are often self-sufficient and no longer need a spouse tobuy a house or a car. Women who are finan-cially independent and thriving in theircareers may not be facing the same pres-sures as their ancestors who could not pro-vide for themselves.

A focus on self-developmentAnother reason provided for getting

married later in life was the need to exploreidentity, individuality and the self, and theenjoyment of the flexibility that single lifeoffered. The focus of an individual on devel-oping their career or identity can be a goodthing because it can lead to a more completeindividual entering a relationship or mar-riage. However, the flipside is that a focuson the self can turn a person into one who isfixed in his/her ways and is unwilling toadjust, which is not conducive to a flourish-ing relationship.

Financial costs of marriageThe need to have financial stability prior

to marriage was another reason given forpeople getting married later in life. Theextra financial responsibilities that couldresult from marriage, such as taking care of

a spouse or a child, were also worries thatweighed on some of the youth I spoke to.

Fear of divorceWith some reports in the media that 1 in

3 marriages end in divorce, it is not surpris-ing that youth mentioned fear of gettingdivorced as one of the reasons they thinkpeople are getting married later in life.Some thought that it was important to takemore time to get to know each other and/orlive together before marriage so that theylearnt as much as possible about theirprospective partner before they consideredmarriage.

A recurring theme in responses providedwas that people were taking longer to getmarried because they wanted to date multi-ple people to make sure that they were com-patible with the person that they eventuallymarried.

Advancements and improvements inhealth care

The final reason provided by youth onpeople getting married late in life isimprovements in health services and lifeexpectancy. Developments in medical tech-nology mean that more women in their for-ties are having babies. This is taking thepressure off women to get married early inlife for fear their biological clock is ticking.

Is marriage for everyone?Statistics suggest that the percentage of

people getting married in Australia is declin-ing, whereas the rate of people forming defacto relationships is increasing. The inci-dence of such relationships is also rising inthe relatively conservative society in India.

The Australian Prime Minister, JuliaGillard, who juggles the top job of the coun-try, is in a relationship, but she is not mar-ried. Individuals who commit to a relation-ship embark on a journey together, and it isa choice for the two individuals involved asto whether marriage is the path for them.For some, it is the best way to solidify thatrelationship and formally recognise theirrelationship. For others, it is unnecessarypaperwork that would not add anything tothe deep bond they already have betweenthem. Ultimately, for anyone who does takethe plunge into the ocean of emotions of arelationship, the most important thing is thesincerity of feeling and commitment to shar-ing and growing together.

To marry or not to marry?A Special Report by Pallavi Sinha who spoke to youth across Australia

about the popular topic of marriage.

Argues Vinetha Manthena: “Men andwomen have a lot more options open tothem because of higher education andcareers, hence delaying the prospect of

marriage to explore options that perhapsour grandparents never had.”

Prajayan Kathirgamanathan found thelove he has witnessed between his parents

inspirational.

More and more people in the country are forming de facto relationships, and theyinclude Prime Minister Julia Gillard seen here with her partner Tim Mathieson.The median first marriage age in Australia has gone up by six years.

22 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Bollywood

From 16 February until 14

March, the Australian Centre for

the Moving Image (ACMI) in

Melbourne in conjunction with

TIFF Lightbox, Canada presents

Focus on Raj Kapoor, a spotlight

on the late actor, director and pro-

ducer who revolutionised Indian

cinema.

An extensive career retrospec-

tive, Focus on Raj Kapoor features

several new 35mm prints.

Revealing an on-screen persona

inspired by the smirk and swagger

of Clark Gable, the heightened

emotions and showmanship of

Gene Kelly, and the underdog

heroism and pathos of Charlie

Chaplin, Kapoor helped set the

template for the Bollywood films

of today. ACMI will be screening

13 of his films including Monsoon

(Barsaat), Sangam, and God, Your

River is Tainted (Ram Teri Ganga

Mailli).

A film of many firsts, Fire

(Aag) (1948) was Kapoor’s debut

as producer, director and leading

man. It also saw him perform for

the first time with his on-screen

muse, Nargis. A brooding, noir-ish

melodrama, Fire tells the story of

Kewel (Kapoor), who is banished

from the family home by his father,

but manages to scrape together

enough money to build a theatre

where he eventually hosts a per-

formance by his beloved Nimmi

(Nargis).

Kapoor had his first megahit

with Monsoon (Barsaat) (1949), afilm that focuses on two key char-

acters: romantic idealist Pran

(Kapoor) and his more carnally

driven best friend, Gopal (Prem

Nath). The film brought together

Kapoor’s enduring team of collab-

orators including composers

Shankar and Jaikshen, lyricists

Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri, cin-

ematographer Radhu Karmakar, art

director M.R. Achrekar, playback

singers Lata Mangeshkar and

Mukesh (who sang the songs

Kapoor mimed to), and his leading

lady, Nargis.

A contemporary retelling of the

ancient story of Rama’s banish-

ment of Sita, The Vagabond(Awaara) (1951) brought Kapoor

international success. Four genera-

tions of the Kapoor family

appeared in the film, and it also

marked the debut appearance of

the Charlie Chaplin-inspired tramp

persona that Kapoor would

become known for. Featuring an

extended dream sequence that rev-

olutionised Hindi cinema by intro-

ducing the idea of externalising

characters’ inner conflicts through

song and dance numbers, The

Vagabond was also nominated for

the top prize at the 1953 Cannes

Film Festival.

In Where the Ganges Flows(Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai)(1951) Kapoor revived his trade-

mark tramp character to play Raju,

a man on a pilgrimage to the

Ganges who becomes sidetracked

by the womanly charms of a bandit

named Kammo (Padmini). He

attempts to convert Kammo’s band

of brigands into modern day Robin

Hoods and through a series of

twists and turns, the stage is set for

a dramatic confrontation with the

rural police. The film was awarded

three major prizes at the 1986

Filmfare Awards: Best Music

(Ravindra Jain), Best Director and

Best Film.

With a nod to Vittorio De Sica's

Shoeshine, Boot Polish (1953) is

Prakash Arora’s realist tale set on

the same streets as Slumdog

Millionaire. An orphaned brother

and sister are forced onto the

streets to beg by their wicked aunt

until a kind stranger encourages

them to join the boot polish trade.

But the children become separated

when the monsoons arrive and the

demand for boot polishing evapo-

rates. Embodying Prime Minister

Jawaharlal Nehru’s campaign for

social reforms, this was Kapoor’s

second film to be nominated for a

Palme d’Or at Cannes.

In the film Shree 420 (1955),Kapoor adopts his most well

known Chaplinesque role. Playing

a poor but educated orphan who

arrives in Bombay with dreams of

finding his fortune, it’s not long

before he is drawn into a life of

gambling and fraud. Meanwhile,

he attempts to woo school teacher

Vidya, who tries to help him

change his ways, but a life of crime

continues to tempt him. The film

features several legendary musical

numbers, including the rousing

'Mera Joota Hai Japani’ ('My shoes

are Japanese') which was embraced

by a newly independent India.

In Stay Awake (Jagte Raho)

(1956), Kapoor plays a tramp on

the hunt for a glass of water that

wonders into a luxury Calcutta

building and exposes the behind-

closed-doors perversions of the

city’s upper middle class. This film

was the first Indian film to win the

Grand Prix prize at the Karlovy

Vary Film Festival.

Sangam (1964) was Kapoor’s

first colour film and a world-wide

hit. Featuring four hours of pure

spectacle, it established a trend for

Bollywood films to seek out exotic

locations around the world (often

Switzerland) for their song and

dance sequences. Starring Kapoor,

Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra

Kumar in a love triangle, Sangam

provides a whirlwind tour through

suburban mansions, European

vacations and scotch-sipping par-

ties. The film screens with an inter-

mission.

My Name is Joker (MeeraNaam Joker) (1970), Kapoor’s leg-

endary box office disaster, was

condemned as an exercise in self-

pity at the time of its release, but

has since had its reputation revived

by Western critics who have pro-

claimed it is as a self-reflexive

masterwork. Kapoor reinterprets

his trademark tramp persona,

removing all trances of heroism to

appear as a saccharine, love-

obsessed clown. A compulsively

watchable film, My Name is Joker

runs for almost four hours and

screens with an interval.

Yesterday, Today andTomorrow (Kal Aaj Aur Kal)(1971) marked a return to form for

Kapoor after the critical failure of

My Name Is Joker. The film also

stars three generations of Kapoors:

Raj’s father Prithviraj, Raj himself

and son Randhir, the director of the

film.

In the 1973 film Bobby – the

follow up to My Name is Joker –

Kapoor delivers a paean to youth,

casting his son Rishi in the lead

role of Raj. Born into a wealthy

family, Raj falls in love with his

former maid’s granddaughter,

played by Bollywood icon Dimple

Kapadia in her first cinematic role.

Packed with zany sets, outrageous

costumes, and an abundance of

physical comedy, Bobby combined

traditional Indian sounds with

western music and in the process,

established a new genre of

Bollywood film.

Produced, edited and directed

by Kapoor, Love Sublime/Love,Truth and Beauty (Satyam ShivamSundaram) (1978) was his studio’s

attempt to return to prominence

after releasing a string of epic

action films. A raunchy meditation

on love and beauty, the film won

two Filmfare Awards for Best

Music and Best Cinematography.

It tells the story of village girl

Roopa (Zeenat Aman), whose face

is disfigured as the result of a

childhood accident.

God, Your River is Tainted(Ram Teri Ganga Mailli) (1985)was Kapoor’s most financially suc-

cessful film, and signalled his

return to telling stories with a

social message. Highlighting the

endemic corruption within Indian

society, he used the state of the

Ganges as a metaphor for his coun-

try’s decline. It featured the male

lead Narendra (played by Kapoor’s

son Rajiv), fleeing his politically

corrupt home of Calcutta for the

more pristine headwaters of the

Ganges, where he falls in love with

Ganga (Mandakini).

ACMI Film Programmer

James Nolen says, “While Raj

Kapoor remains largely unknown

to Australian audiences, he is

regarded as an important cultural

icon, not only in India, but

throughout the Middle East and

beyond. The films he made during

the Golden Age of Indian cinema

continue to have an impact on the

Bollywood films of today.”

Starting his career in 1935 as

an actor performing in his father’s

theatre company, Kapoor acted in

small film roles before founding

the production house, RK Films, in

1948. The Indian government offi-

cially recognised his contributions

to Hindi cinema by awarding him

the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and

the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in

1987.

Focus on Raj Kapoor screens

16 February to 14 March at ACMI

in Melbourne. For full program

information and screening times,

please visit acmi.net.au

Raj Kapoor in Melbourne

Above: Raj Kapoor and Nargis in Awara; Right Top:Zeenat Amaan inSatyam Shivam Sundram and Right Bottom: Vyjayanthi Mala in Sangam

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 23

New creative choreography in India

and the diaspora

A touching novel of music, clarityand simplicity

Ramanujan saw God in Maths

Born in Mumbai, KetuKatrak is a Professor inthe Department of

Drama at the University ofCalifornia, Irvine. Recentlyshe published a book onIndian dancing which shouldappeal to Indians living inIndia and overseas as also toIndophile Australians.

Contemporary IndianDance delineates a new lan-guage of dance, multi-layeredand multi-vocal, in India andin the Diaspora. This languageunfolds at the intersection ofclassical Indian dance formswith yoga, pan-Asian danceand martial arts traditions aswell as modern and post-mod-ern dance, and theatrical toolsthat result in hybrid dance cre-ations.

Ethnicity, gender and sexu-ality are inspired by artists'geographical locations in thenorth or south, east or west.

With the revival of Indiandance in the 20th century, thisstudy is grounded historicallyand examines today's phenom-ena of globalization andDiaspora that impact artists.

The attractively illustratedbook includes creative chore-ography with over thirtyimages from selected artistsand pioneers that has impact

and reverberates in 'an ances-try of gesture' in the work ofemerging choreographers.

The main feature of thebook is Abstract Dance withRasa, pioneers being AstadDeboo and ShobanaJeyasingh. An interdisciplinaryand comparative approachmakes visible inter-connec-tions among artists in sites asdistant as Toronto to Chennai,London to Los Angeles andKuala Lumpur to Sydney.

An interesting look atthe great Indian math-ematician Srinivasa

Ramanujan by SydneySrinivas piecing together hislife and works is a pleasantread. It’s a journey throughthe great Ramanujan’s life fullof agony and ecstasy, whichSydney found quite fascinat-ing. So important was thecontribution of Ramanujanthat when some of his lostworks were found in the atticof a colleague after he died,the discovery of his lost note-book caused as much stir inthe mathematical world as thediscovery of Beethoven’sTenth Symphony.

Ramanujan’s work onmathematical theorems was sointricate that till today it has

not been possible to fullydecipher the formulas. Whilethe western world wantsproof, Ramanujan used toclaim that he wrote the equa-tions and formulas with theguidance of Goddess Namagirwho would appear in hisdreams. For him numbersmeant something higher –shoonya as the NirgunaBrahma as he used to say,“An equation to me has nomeaning unless it expresses athought of God.”

Ramanujan who worked asa clerk in India after failing inhis university exams devotedhis time entirely on Mathsequations and was finally dis-covered by a Cambridge pro-fessor Prof. G G Hardy whenhe sent him nine pages of

equations and then got theninvited to London’s TrinityCollege where he was finallyadmitted as the Fellowship ofthe Royal Society, FRS andalso as the Fellow of TrinityCollege for having writtentwenty papers on mathemati-cal research.

Sydney Srinivas has spenta lot of time researching thegreat man by visiting placeswhere ever Ramanujan lived- in India and England. Hehas written an excellent storyof the great Ramanujan whoselife was full of tragedy, as hedied at the age of 32, but of aman of utter brilliance.

Contemporary Indian DanceBy Ketu H. Katrak. Published by

Palgrave McMillan, USA, thebook retails at US$68. To order a

copy,e-mail orders@palgrave.com.

Sydney Srinivas (middle) with Prof. M. Hirschhorn, School ofMathematics and Statistics, UNSW at the launch of book on Srinivasa

Ramanujan.The book ‘Srinivas

Ramanujan – a Tale of Agonyand Ecstasy’ (Manthana pp 56.Printer Digital Data Imaging) ison sale for $5 a copy from Sri

Ramyavaran 0423 533 554.

Book Reviews

Abandoned on the rural streetsof India as a young child, ever-optimistic Kalu carves out a

life by fetching and carrying for thevillagers to earn a few coins. When afoot injury threatens to cripple him, hefaces complete destitution until the vil-lage Healer overhears him blowing atune through the rolled leaf of abanyan tree. From that moment,Kalu’s life will never be the sameagain. The colour and movement ofIndia are powerfully evoked throughhis ongoing journey; from the suffocat-ing nature of its class structure to theenergy of its markets, its people, theirjoys and sorrows, their dances andtheir dramas. There is so much beautyhere but, above all, there is so muchmusic—and its powerful rhythm formsan irresistible beat.

Manisha Jolie Amin has an MA inProfessional Writing. Of Indian her-itage, she now lives in Sydney.

Shuklaji Street, Old Bombay. InRashid’s opium room, the air isthick with voices and ghosts:

Hindu, Muslim, Christian. A youngwoman holds a long-stemmed pipeover a flame, her hair falling acrossher eyes. Men sprawl and mutter in thegloom. Here, where they say youintroduce only your worst enemy toopium, there is a whisper of a new ter-ror: the Pathar Maar, the stone killer,whose victims are the nameless, invisi-ble poor. There are too many of themto count in this broken city; pushers,poets, gangsters and eunuchs.Stretching across three decades, withan interlude in Mao’s China,Narcopolis portrays a city in collisionwith itself, a sprawling underworldfilled with a fascinating cast of flawedcharacters, written in electric and utter-ly original prose.

Jeet Thayil is a poet, songwriterand guitarist. He lives in New Delhi.

Intense, atmospheric novelfrom Bombay opium dens

Dancing to the Flute by Manisha JolieAmin, Allen & Unwin 9781742378572

$29.99 pb

Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil (FABER9780571275762 $29.99)

24 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Community

‘My Karma My Life’ is acommunity project initiated bythe Hindu Council of Australiain association with AustralianOrgan and Tissue DonationAuthority to raise awarenessabout Organ and Tissue dona-tion within South Asian commu-nity in Sydney. As part of thisproject, the Council has beenholding information stalls, cre-ating multilingual fliers andorganising community forums.

The first forum was organ-ised by Hindu Council onSaturday 3rd December, 2011at Reg Byrne CommunityCentre in Wentworthville inassociation with Donate Life,Sri Om Care and SewaInternational. A panel of speak-ers from health industry andcommunity shared theirthoughts about organ donation.The key issues discussed by thepanel of speakers included thefollowing:

1. Does Hindu cultureprevent organ and tissue dona-tion?

2. What kinds of inhibi-tions come in the way of organdonation with in Indian commu-nity?

3. The need to create apool of organ donors from thecommunity and the urgency fordonors to register in the officialregister.

4. What is the process tobecome a donor?

5. How the organ dona-tion process works?

6. Real life experienceof potential recipient waiting fororgan donation

7. How to discuss aboutbecoming an organ donor with-in each donor family?

The forum was started withlighting of lamp by Sri OmGnana Sakthiyendra Swamiji,the president of Sri Om CareFoundation. Satya Khanna wel-comed the guests and the speak-ers in the panel.

Sri Om Sakthi Swamajispoke about acceptance ofOrgan and tissue donation withHindu philosophy. Anythingwhich can help mankind is anacceptable cause with in ourculture, he said.

Prof Raja Jayaraman, theVice Chairman of Hindu coun-cil of Australia, conducted theforum bringing cheers to guestswith his relevant remarks.

Dr Neeraj Goureja has beenworking in the medical field for20 years in India and Australiawith special interest in holisticmedicine.

He spoke about why organdonation should be encouragedwith in our community. He gavethe example of description ofour body and organs are likeclothes and soul is the real thingaccording to Bhagwad Gita. Heemphasised the need of discus-sion by potential donors withtheir families.

Ms Nicola Seifert fromNSW Organ and Tissue author-ity gave presentation about actu-

al process following of Organdonation. Anybody can be anorgan donor at any age as longas they are healthy. She spokeabout the Discover, Decide andDiscuss concept about OrganDonation.

Mr Sidhartha Das, a seniorIT consultant, discussed whatpotential organ receivers gothrough while they wait fororgan donation.

Dr Meera Agar, a seniorOncologist in NSW health sys-tem, discussed the need of dis-cussion of last part of our lifeand importance of that in rela-tion to Organs donation. She

emphasised that it should be dis-cussed openly so that the impor-tant decision can be made.

Mr Probir Maitra,Councillor from ParramattaCouncil, spoke about the impor-tance of the organ donation andthe importance of the concept of‘giving’ in our culture. ‘Daan’is always considered the bestthing for salvation and Organdonation can be one of the best‘Daan’ person can do.

The forum was well patron-ized by about 60 people fromthe community. Some of keycommunity leaders like Dr ABala, President Sri Venkatswara

Temple; Amarinder Bajwa,President UIA; ChandrakantKulkarni, Hindu SwayamsevkSangh; Vijai Singhal fromARRCC; Padmanabhan,President Sydney MalayaleeAssociation; Jayraman, Vicepresident , Sri Om CareFoundation; Vis vswanathan,President of FAIA, attended theforum and some of them sharedtheir views on the theme of theForum.

Ashwani Sharma, Director,Hindu Council of Australia pro-posed a vote of thanks to thespeakers and others who attend-ed the Forum.

By Ajoy Ghosh

Rekha Rajvanshi, Sydney’sHindi poet and teacherwith the DET, earned a

national award for work in trans-lation. Conferred a Runner UpAward in the independent catego-ry in Excellence in Translation bythe AUSIT (Australian Instituteof Of Interpreters andTranslators), Rekha has helpedmake available AboriginalDreaming stories to Hindi speak-ing community in Australia andoverseas. Her translations of thestories are used as voiceovers onaboriginal dreametime animationfilms which producer Keith Salvatof Aboriginal Nation Australiacommissioned for the work to bedone on Hindi on 13 aboriginal

stories. The voiceover has beenprovided by film maker AnupamSharma.

Says Rekha about her transla-tion work, “I accepted Keith’soffer and started translating andsoon realised that it was not thateasy and I needed to learn thecorrect pronunciation ofAboriginal terms such as:Kuneye, Yandi, Djet, Bulbree,Mungan Ngour, and Wurrawana-Kannenner. Some of the chal-lenges involved matching the cap-tions frame-by-frame withEnglish subtitles and choosing theright words and easy languagebecause the target audience wasmainly children. It was some-times frustrating to listen to thestory over and over again just toget a word or name correct.”

Keith Salvat’s ‘TheDreaming’ animation stories havewon many international filmawards, including: FestivalInternacional de cinema video(Gava Spain), Best AnimatedFilm & City of Gava Best FilmAward (all categories) for thestory of The Dolphin, ChicagoInternational Film Festival Fiveindividual Awards of Excellence,Annecy Film FestivalCommendation, The Jury Prizefor the story The BungulungaMan.

Rekha is excited as theDreaming stories will now beavailable to Indian students aseducation material and will makean interesting language learningtool as well give the opportunityto learn about Aboriginal culture.

Organ donation project launchedThe first forum to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation within South AsianCommunity was organised by the Hindu Council of Australia on 3rd December, 2011,

in association with Donate Life, Sri Om Care and Sewa International.

Rekha Rajvanshi earned a national award for translation for helping make availableAboriginal Dreaming stories to Hindi speaking community in Australia and overseas.

Rekha Rajvanshi recognized by AUSIT

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 25

‘Awards to BestPerforming Hindi

students in Canberra

Hill Sports SSCL Hindi studenttops the state

Hindi language is gettingits deserved recognitionin Canberra as it is

being taught in NarrabundahCollege for the last 3 years byParamita Roy.

Narrabundah College organ-ised an award ceremony onDecember 19, 2011 for recog-nising the students who excelledin different areas including lan-guage, after the ACT results for

2011 were declared. SantoshGupta, Hindi Samaj ofCanberra, presented the awardsat the ceremony.

Hindi Samaj of Canberraand the High Commission ofIndia awarded four best per-forming Hindi language stu-dents, Shefali Malhi, JaisleenKaur, Samiha Ahmad and SaraNasir with Co-op shop vouchersand books respectively.

On Saturday 3rd December 2011, The HillsSports Saturday School of CommunityLanguages celebrated another year of tremen-

dous academic success. Students of Hindi, Spanish,Polish, Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Modern Greek andMaltese background were presented with academicawards for their outstanding achievements. Our tal-ented students also performed numerous culturalitems highlighting the cultural splendour and diversi-ty in Australia. Our Hindi students in particular lit thestage with their dazzling, colourful costumes andmagnificent dance. The two items presented capturedthe colour of Bollywood as well as the beauty of tra-ditional choreography. The audience included special

guest Ms Adelia Fuller, the Principal of the SaturdaySchool of Community Languages who along with therest were captivated by the star performance by theHindi students.

The Hills high has a dedicated and passionateteam of Hindi teachers that includes A Chabbra, SMalhotra, R Rajvanshi and A Sood who have madeoutstanding contribution to the Centre.

This year Hills Sports Hindi student Nirali Goheltopped the state in 2 U Hindi Continuers and wastaught by Alka Sood. The Hills Sports SSCL not onlyachieved 1st place in the State for Hindi it alsoachieved its best results ever with 85% of studentsachieving a band 6.

On the 3rd of DecemberThe Saturday School ofCommunity Languages,

Liverpool celebrated their annu-al function on the PresentationDay of all the SSCLs across allthe 16 Centres in Sydney.

At Liverpool Girls HighSchool Centre the Bengali andHindi group together presented afashion parade of Indian cos-tumes. Fourteen girls and oneboy walked down the ramp infront of a strong and cheeringcrowd. The fashion paradeexhibited Sarees, SalwarKameez, Lehngas, Angrakhas,Churidaar Kurta and men’sKurta Pyjama. Another group offive Hindi language students alsoperformed Bollywood dancingon a medley of three songs. Bothitems were choreographed bythe Hindi language teacher Ms KulwinderKaur.

On the day Janhavi Bhandari received anaward for first in course and Kiran JasminMcNamara received a Merit Award for herconsistent effort towards learning Hindi lan-guage.

In 2011 five students appeared for HSCExam from Liverpool SSCL. They had anexcellent result with two students receivingband 6, two students receiving band 5 and onestudent receiving band 4.

Hindi Language is offered for free by TheSaturday School of Community Languages -DET at Liverpool Girls High School, TheHills Sports High School and Strathfield GirlsHigh School. It provides opportunities for

high school students to study Hindi languageto Higher School Certificate levels as it is notavailable at their day school. They followBoard of Studies syllabuses and the course isassessable as part of their Higher SchoolCertificate. The classes are free of charge andare run on Saturdays from 8.30 am to 10.30am for year 7 – 10 & 8.30 – 11.45 am foryear 11-12.

If you are interested to enrol your childthe enrolment forms can be accessed from theSchool Principal of the mainstream school ofyour child or can be downloaded fromw w w . c u r r i c u l u m s u p p o r t . e d u c at i o nnsw.gov.au/secondary/languages/sscl/

Contact Details:Ph. 02 9886 7505 / Fax. 02 9886 7514 /

Saturdaycl-h.School@det.nsw.edu.au

Paramita Roy with students in Canberra

Hindi promised a place in theshape paper by ACARA

Annual Day celebration at LiverpoolSSCL by Hindi and Bengali students!

After an extensive lobbying by over100 Indian associations through-out Australia and by keen and

active individuals of the Indian communi-ty Hindi language has finally been prom-ised a place in the shape paper for it to bedeveloped as a language subject andbecome part of the school curriculum.“All Australian students will be entitled tolearn a language other than English underthe new Australian Curriculum, with cur-riculum for Chinese Mandarin and Italianthe first to be developed,” said SchoolEducation Minister Peter Garrett.

The Shape of the AustralianCurriculum: Languages, released late lastyear, outlines how languages other thanEnglish will be taught in schools as thenew curriculum is introduced. The shapepaper is written on the assumption that allAustralian students will learn a languagein primary and secondary school.

Mr Garrett said curriculum contentwill first be developed for Italian andChinese Mandarin. The AustralianCurriculum, Assessment and ReportingAuthority (ACARA) will begin work withstates and territories to develop curriculafor Arabic, Auslan, classical languages,French, German, Hindi, Indonesian,Italian, Japanese, Korean, ModernGreek, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

“Learning a second language providesus with a window into other cultures andways of thinking, and is also of huge ben-efit to our overall education results, help-ing students in comprehension, critical

analysis and other vital skills,” MrGarrett said.

“As Australia embraces the ‘AsianCentury’ it’s vital that future generationsare able to engage with our regionalneighbours. Providing Australian studentswith greater opportunity to learn regionallanguages is therefore important from aneconomic and diplomatic perspective.”

The Indian community was irked bythe draft shape paper of ACARA last yearwhen it overlooked to include Hindi.Members of the community ralliedtogether to form ‘Australian HindiCommittee’ led by Tara Chand Sharmaand supported by UIA and Hindu Councilof Australia.

The AHC submitted a detailed sub-mission which the ACARA had asked andall the members of AHC rallied and can-vassed with their local MPs to get Hindiaccepted. A huge signature drive and sup-port of around 100 associationsAustraliawide made ACARA change itsmind in favour of Hindi and include it inits Shape Paper.

The curriculum of the languages willbe developed to provide, where appropri-ate, different learning pathways for stu-dents: second language learners, for stu-dents studying a second language in addi-tion to their native language; backgroundlanguage learners, for students who havea background or family heritage in thelanguage studied; and first languagelearners, for students who are nativespeakers of the language studied.

26 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Community

Indian CommunityConsultative committee

announced

Lebara leads withunlimited national andlow-cost international

Mega Plan

AHIA elects newexecutive

AMinisterial ConsultativeCommittee for the Indiancommunity (MCC) has

been established to advise theMinister for Citizenship andCommunities Victor Dominelloon behalf of the NSWGovernment on the needs, inter-ests and concerns of Australiansof Indian descent in New SouthWales.

The MCC for the Indian com-munity includes leaders from keyIndian Australian representativebodies, cultural and religiousgroups, and businesses. Indiancommunity members selectedalong with the Indian ConsulGeneral Amit Dasgupta include:Arun Jagatramka, Nihal Gupta,Dipen Rughani, Rajni Patel, DrHari Harinath OAM, AmarinderBajwa, Dr Yadu Singh, BawaJagdev, Dr Samiuddin Syed,

Kedarnath Paggad, Rohitas Battaand Dilip Chopra. The MCC willbe chaired on behalf of theMinister by David Elliott,Member for Baulkham Hills, andGeoff Lee, Member forParramatta. Surprisingly there areno women in the all men team.

The MCC was officiallylaunched on November 25.Minister Dominello said, “It isvital to have a strong and struc-tured dialogue between the NSWGovernment and the IndianAustralian community in NSW,and I am very pleased that theMCC for the Indian communitywill further enable that dialogue.

“The advice of the MCC willbe sought in developing policyrelevant to the Citizenship andCommunities portfolio, suggest-ing opportunities for leveragingcultural diversity for broader

community benefit, and identify-ing areas for improvement in thedelivery and communication ofservices to the Indian Australiancommunity in NSW.

“The NSW Liberals &Nationals Government aims for arelationship with the local IndianAustralian community that isbased on substance. The creationof MCCs shows we approach ourmulticultural communities seri-ously and with respect,” MrDominello said.

Mr Elliott said: “The IndianMCC is a critical component ofhaving a serious, respectful andmeaningful relationshipwith ourlocal Indian community. I lookforward to its views and ideas,including on how to best recog-nise the contributions ofAustralians of Indian heritage toour diverse and vibrant society.”

The Australian Hindi IndianAssociation (AHIA), intheir AGM on 30

October, elected their executivecommittee members who willmould the association’s activitiesover the next two years. TheAGM had a tight election as twocandidates stood for the presi-dent’s and vice-president’s posi-tions.

The following ExecutiveCommittee has been elected for

the next two years: President -Santram Bajaj; Vice President -Tilak Kalra; Secretary - GurdeepSekhon; Treasurer - PrakashNathani; Executive Members -Braham Prakash Sharma, JagdishDua, Ira Kapila , Omila Bir andSunil Sharma.

AHIA has been an activeIndian organization started in the1990s keeping in mind the grow-ing needs of the Indian commu-nity. It has established member-

ship that aims to cater to theneeds of the Indian seniors aswell as the young in the 21st cen-tury.

AHIA publishes a regularmonthly Seniors Newsletteralong with some general AHIAnews and information. The newexecutive committee aims torevive ‘Sandesh’ magazine andorganize activities for youngerand the newly arrived familiesfrom India.

Lebara, Australia’s leadingInternational low-cost callprovider for migrant

communities, has launched itsMega Plan service, providingunlimited standard calls andSMS in Australia as well ascredit for low-cost internationalcalls and data services.

“Recognising that as migrantcommunities build their lives inthe new country, they have agrowing need to connect notonly with friends and familyoverseas, but also with thosewithin Australia, we are offeringa plan that delivers low-cost,high quality national and inter-national calling for them,” saidWarren Hardy, ManagingDirector of Lebara Mobile inAustralia.

“Mega Plan offers customersthe impeccable service and lowrates Lebara is renowned for.Lebara led the market in 2009when we launched our low-costinternational calling services andwe are doing it again by com-bining unlimited standardNational calls and SMS with ouroutstanding low-costInternational calls on the MegaPlan.”

From just $39.90, MegaPlan customers will have 30days of access to unlimited callsto any standard fixed line or

mobile number in Australia,SMS in Australia, calls to 13xxand 18xx numbers - which mostother unlimited packagesexclude--as well as calls to/fromvoicemail and standard ‘freecall’ numbers.

Customers also get call cred-it to use for calls or SMS to anyinternational number, mobiledata, video calls within Australiaor abroad, MMS or calls to pre-mium or special service num-bers.

Mega Plan is available in thefollowing denominations:$39.90 with $10 included callcredit; $49.90 with $20 includedcall credit and $59.90 with $30included call credit

. For customers needingmore credit for services notincluded in their unlimitedaccess, they can also top-upwithin the 30-day period with$9.90 or $19.90 extra call creditwith a Mega recharge. Andwhen they renew their MegaPlan after 30-days, they won’tlose any unused credit - it willsimply roll over to the followingperiod

The new Lebara Mega Plancan be purchased online atwww.lebara.com.au or atAllphones, Australia Post, 7-Eleven, Coles and independentretailers.

MCC members with Consul General Amit Dasgupta

Indian Consulatemoves to new

premisesThe Consulate

General of India inSydney will tem-

porarily relocate to Level10, 190 George Street,Sydney in the new year.The Consulate regretsany inconveniencecaused. Public dealing

hours for consular servic-es will remain unchangedas 9:30AM to 12:30 PM.

Further information isprovided on website:w w w . i n d i a n c o n -sulatesydney.org

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 27

Ayurvedic medicines can cause lead poisoning

An Indian inventor makes women ‘care free’

The Department of Healthin Victoria has warned theIndian community of the

dangers of lead in Ayurvedicmedicines bought overseas fol-lowing several recent relatedcases of lead poisoning.

“In all of the cases notifiedto the department people havebeen taking an ayurvedic prepa-ration that has been obtained inIndia, usually by friends or rela-tives,” said Victoria’s ActingChief Health Officer, DrRosemary Lester.

Three cases of lead poisoningresulting from Ayurvedic medi-cines have been reported sinceearly 2010. A further two caseshave since been reported, withone person becoming seriouslyill. Similar cases have beenreported in other states acrossAustralia. In one case, testing ofthe Ayurvedic preparation usedrevealed lead levels 15,000 timesthe Australian legal limit.

“Lead is toxic to manyorgans and systems in the bodyincluding the reproductive sys-tems of both men and women. Itcan lead to sperm abnormalities,difficulty conceiving and miscar-riages,” Dr Lester explained.

If you have been taking anAyurvedic preparation obtainedoverseas and you are sufferingany unusual symptoms, DrLester advises that you see yourdoctor immediately.

“The symptoms of lead poi-soning can be vague and areoften mistaken for other morecommon illnesses, so it is impor-tant that you tell your doctorabout any complementary medi-cines you are or have been tak-ing.”

Symptoms of lead poisoninginclude abdominal pain, nausea,confusion, headache, anaemia,irritability; and in severe cases,seizures, coma, and death. Someadults and children may notexperience any obvious symp-

toms but may still suffer long-term ill effects, such as heart and

fertility health issues. Treatmentoptions vary depending on the

level of lead exposure.The Therapeutic Goods

Administration (TGA) inAustralia regulates complemen-tary medicines sold in Australiaand allows a lead content limit of0.001 per cent. Medicines pur-chased outside Australia maynot be subject to similar regula-tions.

“The quality or safety ofmedicines purchased overseas orvia the internet cannot be guar-anteed. It is safer not to take anymedicine given to you where youcannot be sure of its origin or thesafety of its contents,” said DrLester.

An information sheet devel-oped by the Department ofHealth advises that if you aregiven a preparation by a friendor relative and you cannot identi-fy the origin or ingredients, it issafer not to take it. You shouldalso tell your doctor if you aretaking or have taken any comple-mentary medicines.

When ArunachalamM u r u g a n a n t h a mdecided he was going

to do something about the factthat women in India can’tafford sanitary napkins, hewent the extra mile: He worehis own for a week to figureout the best design.

Fashioning his own men-struating uterus by filling abladder with goat’s blood,Muruganantham went about hislife while wearing women’sunderwear, occasionallysqueezing the contraption totest out his latest iteration. Itresulted in endless derision andalmost destroyed his family.But no one is laughing at himanymore, as the sanitary nap-kin-making machine he wenton to create is transforming thelives of rural women acrossIndia.

Right now, 88 per cent ofwomen in India resort to usingdirty rags, newspapers, driedleaves, and even ashes duringtheir periods, because they justcan’t afford sanitary napkins,according to "Sanitation pro-tection: Every Women’s HealthRight," a study by AC Nielsen.Typically, girls who attainpuberty in rural areas eithermiss school for a couple ofdays a month or simply dropout altogether. Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu basedMuruganantham’s investigationinto the matter began when hequestioned his wife about whyshe was trying to furtively slipaway with a rag. She respond-

ed by saying that buying sani-tary napkins meant no milk forthe family.

"When I saw these sanitarynapkins, I thought 'Why could-n’t I create a low cost napkinfor [my wife?'" saysMuruganantham. That thoughtkick-started a journey that ledto him being called a psycho, apervert, and even had himaccused of dabbling in blackmagic.

He first tried to get his wifeand sisters to test his hand-crafted napkins, but theyrefused. He tried to get femalemedical students to wear themand fill out feedback sheets, butno woman wanted to talk to aman about such a taboo topic.His wife, thinking his projectwas all an excuse to meetyounger women, left him.After repeated unsuccessfulresearch attempts, includingwearing panties with his do-it-yourself uterus, he eventuallyhit upon the idea of distributingfree napkins to the students andcollecting the used ones forstudy. That was the last strawfor his mother. When sheencountered a storeroom full ofbloody sanitary napkins, sheleft too.

Analyzing branded napkinsat laboratories led toMuruganantham’s first break-through. "I found out that thesenapkins were made of cellulosederived from the bark of atree," he said. A high schooldropout, he taught himselfEnglish and pretended to be amillionaire to get U.S. manu-

facturers to send him samplesof their raw material.

Demystifying the napkinwas only the first step. Once heknew how to make them, hediscovered that the machinenecessary to convert the pinewood fiber into cellulose costmore than half a million USdollars. It’s one of the reasonswhy only multinational giantssuch as Johnson & Johnson andProcter & Gamble have domi-nated the sanitary napkin mak-ing industry in India.

It took Muruganantham alittle over four years to create asimpler version of the machine,but he eventually found a solu-tion. Powered by electricityand foot pedals, the machinede-fibers the cellulose, com-presses it into napkin form,seals it with non-woven fabrics,and finally sterilizes it withultraviolet light. He can nowmake 1,000 napkins a day,which retail for about 25 cents

for a package of eight.Though he’s won numerous

awards (and won his wife back)he doesn’t sell his product com-mercially. "It’s a service," hesays. His company, JayaashreeIndustries, helps rural womenbuy one of the $2,500 machinesthrough NGOs, governmentloans, and rural self-helpgroups. "My vision is to makeIndia a 100 per cent napkin-using country," saidMuruganantham at the INKconference in Jaipur. "We cancreate one million employmentopportunities for rural womenand expand the model to otherdeveloping nations." Today,there are about 600 machinesdeployed in 23 states acrossIndia and in a few countriesabroad.

The machine and businessmodel help create a win-winsituation. A rural woman canbe taught to make napkins on itin three hours. Running one of

the machines employs fourwomen in total, which createsincome for rural women.Customers now have access tocheap sanitary napkins and canorder customized napkins ofvarying thicknesses for theirindividual needs.

It is not an easy path,though. "Lack of awareness isthe major reason, next to theapathy of NGO’s," saysSumathi Dharmalingam, ahousewife who runs a napkin-making business based aroundthe machine. According to her,rural women are clueless as tohow to use them, think twiceabout spending even the smallamount of money to buy apacket, and sadly have a devil-may-care attitude about theirhealth. "When I caution themthat they might have to havetheir uterus removed becauseof reproductive infections, theyjust say, 'So what? How longare we going to live anyway?'"

Arunachalam Muruganantham of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, with the cheap sanitary napkinmaking machine and workers.

28 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Community

The Indian community in Australiahas mixed reactions on the sen-tence of 21-year-old Nitin Garg’s

murderer – a young boy who had fatal-ly stabbed him when he was on his wayto work at night at Hungry Jacks inMelbourne in January 2010.

The boy, 15 and half at the time ofcrime and referred to as ‘JLE’ in court,was sentenced to 13 years with a non-parole period of eight years by theVictorian Supreme Court judge JusticePaul Coghlan who described it as a"tragic and awful'' crime which "prob-ably took place in less than a minute''.

A friend had dobbed ‘JLE’ who hadinitially shown no remorse on the deathof his victim and has been in detentionfor the last 18 months. Justice Coghlansaid he accepted JLE had since becomeremorseful for Mr Garg's death, a manwho had come to Australia to obtain anaccounting degree and to better himself.

He said in sentencing he needed tobalance immaturity, rehabilitation andthe effects of incarceration with theneed for deterrence and just punish-ment.

“In circumstances such as thesethere are just no winners,” Coghlansaid. “Although this was a very seriouscrime, it was committed spontaneously.It should be noted, however, that youchose to arm yourself and did a greatdeal to avoid apprehension for your

crime.”The teen showed no visible reaction

when his sentence was announced. Butas he was escorted from the courtroomby guards, he appeared to be fightingback tears.

Attacks on Indian students havereduced but still have occurred occa-sionally since Nitin’s death. A reportabout attacks on Indians in Australiawas submitted to the Indian Parliamentby the Overseas Indian Ministry in early2010.

According to this report, the Indianconsulates were aware of 152 attacks onIndian students.

The drop in bashing could be downas there has been 46 per cent drop instudents applying for study visas due toAustralian government making the rulesmore stringent for enrolments into voca-tional colleges.

Nitin’s death created a furor in Indiaand Australia with diplomatic relationsbetween the two countries plunging to anew low as Indian media pursued thestory about the terrible treatment ofIndian students in Australia.

Although some in the communityfeel the sentence being lenient, youngNitin’s death has not gone waste as theauthorities have taken note. The sen-tencing of his murderer has sent out astrong message to the perpetrators ofsuch crimes.

Nitin’s murderer gets 13 years

Indian student Nitin Garg’s killing in January 2010 created a furor in India, creatingtension in India’s relations with Australia.

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 29

Indian community has its say at Canberra meetBy Rekha Rajvanshi

The Indian HighCommissioner, Mrs SujataSingh, held a consultative

meeting with Indian communityrepresentatives at the Hyatt Hotel inCanberra on 17 December, fol-lowed by a meet and greet sessionat the High Commission with thevisiting Indian Cricket Team.

This was the third meeting of itskind and was well attended by com-munity representatives from allover Australia. The HighCommissioner welcomed all theparticipants and acknowledged thatfeedback and suggestions on vari-ous issues in the past meetings,including consular, passport, visaand OCI/PIO services were useful.

As a result of this feedback afew important issues were resolvedsuch as a revision of the exchangerate being used in fixing charges forvarious consular services as well asan online application for the PoliceClearance Certificate (PCC) and theIndian Driving Licence Verification

(IDLV) in a user-friendly format.The Indian Government has alsointroduced the online visa applica-tion form for visa processing, shesaid.

Mrs Singh said that a newConsulate had been established inPerth and a new position had beencreated in the High Commission forcommunity relations. FirstSecretary Tarun Kumar will assumethis responsibility.

Several community leadersexpressed their views on issuesfrom Visa problems to challengesfaced by the community in general.UIA President Amarinder Bajwatalked about UIA’s contribution inraising issues and settling customercomplaints at the VFS office inSydney. He said that UIA wasworking closely with the Federaland State governments on variousissues such as travel concessions forinternational students and seniorson bridging visas and immigrationquota for seniors. He welcomed theAustralian Government’s decisionof selling uranium to India and

raised concerns about the consump-tion of asbestos in India and theprotection of children in the legalbattle of parents.

Sue Advani, President of theSindhi Association, congratulatedthe High Commissioner on bringingtogether community leaders fromall around Australia to share theirexperiences. She mentioned theUIA Women’s Steering Committeeas one organisation that workedwith the Indian Government toassist women in distress and formedthe Global Women’s Network.

Mrs Jyoti Vimoori of the IndianCultural Society, who came all theway from the Northern Territory,thanked the Indian Government forproviding support in communityactivities in Darwin. She raisedissues on delayed Visa services inremote areas and the surrenderingof Indian Passports on attaining cit-izenship. She proposed the intro-duction of 24-hour freeDoordarshan in Australia.

Indian Consul in Sydney,Gautam Roy, gave a presentationon the IVFRT new visa processingarrangements. There were presen-tations on VFS Services,Emergency Calls and Assistance toIndian Women in Distress. FirstSecretary Tarun Kumar presentedinformation on Indian womendeserted by their husbands in a for-eign land and legal obstacles in get-ting justice. Indian women in dis-tress can get legal and financial helpthrough Ministry of OverseasIndian Affairs and the Indian com-munity welfare fund.

CIA President Dr Yadu Singhchanged the tempo of the meetingby raising a concern that Indiandiplomats were getting involved inthe politics of the Indian communi-

ty. He was upset about the news inan Indian newspaper in which,according to him, inappropriatecredit for the uranium deal wasgiven to two individuals.

Indian Consul General, MrAmit Dasgupta, and the HighCommissioner, Mrs Sujata Singh,expressed their disappointment atthe remarks and said that suchissues could affect the Indo-Australian relationship.

Vish Vishwanathan fromSydney expressed his concern aboutexcessive document verificationfee. Canberra’s Cultural Centre’sAnil Gupta and Raj Satija,President India-AustraliaAssociation of Canberra, compli-mented the forum that was impor-tant to discuss issues related to thecommunity.

There were too many speakerson the day, some with relevantissues and some for the sake of talk-ing, and the time was short. In theend the High Commissionersummed up the evening and

answered the relevant questions.She also requested the Indian com-munity of Adelaide to help theTelugu speaking Indian studentVenkat Raja, who was recently avictim of violence. She describedthis student as isolated, depressed,traumatized and in need of support.“The Indian community ofAdelaide can support him by doingsimple things such as giving himhome cooked food, talking to himand getting him in family environ-ment,” she said.

The guests reassembled at theHigh Commission for dinner with awelcome inclusion of the Indiancricket team. Mrs Sujata Singh saidthat she was the only HighCommissioner who got an opportu-nity to welcome the Indian teamtwice - at the beginning and at theend of her tenure.

Many Australian politicians,among them Federal Minister forResource and Energy and Ministerfor Tourism, Martin Ferguson,Senator Kate Lundy and MP JulieOwens were present at the dinner.

Indian team welcomed in Canberra by the Indian High CommissionerMrs Sujatha Singh

M.S. Dhoni on the way to practice

Indian Short + Sweet plays worth a watchThe Indian community is

forging ahead and makingits mark in play writing,

thanks to the efforts of AbhinaySchool of Performing Arts(ASPA). Three short plays – ‘TheHostage’ by Shourya Nidhi;‘Waning Shadows’ by SukhpreetDhamoon and ‘Rocky II and theIndian Bride’ by Neena Badhwarhave made it to Short+SweetSydney Festival being held inSydney through the months ofJanuary and February 2012.

Out of 65 Independent Theatrecompanies (ITC) proposals and 860script entries, three of the plays byIndian writers from ASPA havesuccessfully made it to the top.

The three plays will be pro-duced, cast and directed byAbhinay School as an IndependentTheatre company. AishveryaNidhi, Artistic Director of ASPAsaid, “It’s a matter of great pridethat finally Indian writers, actorsand directors are being noticed bythe mainstream. Short 10 minute

plays are a totally new concept forus who are used to seeing theatre oflong duration of about 90 minutesand more.

“Indian writers did an extensivethree day workshop under AlexBroun, now director of Short +Sweet Delhi, Mumbai andChennai. He helped them polish

their ideas to crisp 10 minutescripts. The writers had their say incasting of actors as well as direct-ing. It helped them find confidencein their work.

“The story told through a 10minute play can be equally interest-ing and one can see ten differentplays unfold in one night. So the

audience is pretty involved allthrough the evening. I am sure thatthe community will come and sup-port and watch these plays and helpthem win a spot in the finals ofShort+Sweet Sydney inFebruary,” Aishverya said.

Some other plays by Indiansthat have made to the top are: The

Shadows Within by Sonal Moore;Sparkling Effluescence directed byRaj Muneshwar; The Cause writ-ten, acted and directed by NeelKolhatkar and Jacob Boylan; LetMe In written by Mansoor Noor &Leela Vaghese (QLD) and The FullMoon Café directed by Uma KaliShakti.

Shourya’s ‘The Hostage’ willbe on Wednesday, February 29 –Sunday, March 4.

Neena Badhwar’s ‘Rocky IIand the Indian bride’, as part of theWildcards, will be staged onSaturday, February 18 – Sunday,February 19.

Sukhpreet’s Waning Shadowshas been selected as part of theWildcards and will be shown inWildcards 6 from Saturday,February 11 – Sunday, February12 All these plays will be present-ed at King Street Theatre at 644King Street - cnr King + BrayStreets, Newtown. For furtherinformation, timings and bookingsring (02) 9519 5081.

Two of the three plays which have made it to Short + Sweet Sydney include those written by ShouryaNidhi (left) and Sukhpreet Dhamoon, and produced and directed by Aishverya Nidhi (right),

Artistic Director of Abhinay School of Performing Arts

30 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 31

32 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Community

Talia Kaur (above) with her main project of a wedding dress for the subject Design & Techonology inwhich she topped the state; Prachi Batra top right; Anita Gupta second right; Jaya Punjabi with brotherand mum at bottom right; Tanya Mokha below left; Komal Shah below right and Vincent Dodd on Tabla.

Hardworkand a bitof fun,themottofor HSCstars!

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 33

By Neena Badhwar

HSC is a quite a trying time not

just for students but also for the par-

ents, brothers and sisters, teachers

and the school. Even grand parents

from overseas rally behind the stu-

dents asking every now and then

how the student is going and if he or

she is working hard enough to get

good marks. That’s the way Indian

culture is which puts a lot of empha-

sis on study and academic perform-

ance. The saying goes in the Indian

household, “Bete if you do well in

study then your life is made.”

There used to be a joke which

went around among NRIs how our

parents used to put pressure on us to

study, warning, ‘otherwise you will

be cutting grass all your life’. But

the irony was that even after study-

ing hard ‘we all ended up cutting

grass because the wife was on our

back on the weekends to mow the

lawn’, said the men.

The mindset the Indian families

have is to stress on studies.

Recently, during the Australia-India

cricket commentary a commentator

said how 1.2 billion people of India

had not delivered medals at the

Olympics. Although Harsha Bhogle

deflected the response, the reason is

apparent: we put undue emphasis on

education and much less on sports.

But that has changed for chil-

dren from Indian homes who live in

Australia. Not only the students do

well academically, they show excel-

lence in sports as well. As James

Ruse Agricultural High School stu-

dent Anita Gupta quite shyly told

TIDU that she was the netball cap-

tain as well for the school and won

Bronze medals two years in a row

besides her impressive 99.3 ATAR

rank.

In December, when the NSW

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli

honoured students achieving ‘first

in State’ in a subject, he commented

to TIDU: “It’s heartening to see four

students from Indian background

out of 107 students topping in

NSW.” He said, “I come from

Griffiths and I see a lot of Indians

who always strive hard and achieve

high in HSC. That’s quite com-

mendable how Indian parents

impress upon their children to excel

in studies.”

Earlier in his speech, Mr Piccoli

said how he looked up to high

achievers, being a mediocre student

himself.

After the hard work, many of the

high achievers took overseas holi-

days as TIDU found it difficult to

contact them. One of them was Jaya

Punjabi who scored 99.65 and was

in a train on her way to Lucknow in

India when she got the news.

Says Jaya, “I was pleasantly sur-

prised, and the next evening I set up

the alarm at 3am to check my ATAR

rank, which I did five times on my

uncle’s laptop. My family was total-

ly thrilled as they incessantly con-

gratulated me as I had surpassed all

their expectations. And there was a

lot of celebration.”

Jaya says that she loved study-

ing Japanese and Maths. She quick-

ly organized notes of Ancient

History and Legal Studies so that

she could free time for her favorite

subjects. “Past papers were a great

help,” says beaming Jaya.

Her mum Gita says that the

credit goes to her dad: ‘Jaya is the

splitting image of her dad.”

Jaya is thankful for the positive

support she got from the family.

Besides studying, Jaya likes shop-

ping, cooking, reading, dancing and

hanging out with friends in her

spare time.

She found tutoring less helpful.

She says when asked about her

advice to future students attempting

HSC: "No one said it would be easy;

they said it would be worth it. And

nowhere else does it apply more

than in Year 12. It's easy to fall prey

to the competition that inevitably

arises between students, but try your

best and you will definitely reap the

rewards for the hard work you put

in. Meanwhile, Year 12 is a bitter-

sweet year; so, amidst the pressure

and stressful times, remember to

take time out for friends and your-

self.”

Jaya Punjabi has decided to pur-

sue Bachelor of Business at UTS

after receiving a cadetship at the

PKF Chartered Accountants.

Tanya Mokha of Pymble Ladies

College scored a rank of 99.45

studying Physics, Chemistry,

Economics, 3 unit English and 3

unit Maths. She said to TIDU, “Year

12 was the most enjoyable year of

my life. I think the most important

thing to remember is to study smart,

not study hard. So when assessment

blocks are coming up make sure you

give the books your undivided

attention but besides that, through-

out the year, you should still go out

with friends, have fun and keep a

balanced lifestyle. I also think that

setting a goal at the beginning of

Year 12 is important as it keeps you

motivated and focused throughout

the journey.”

Anita Gupta from James Ruse

Agricultural High School, as men-

tioned earlier, scored 99.3 in her 4U

Maths, 3Unit English, 2U chemistry

and 2Unit Biology. She has been

invited to do Dentistry at either La

Trobe in Victoria or at James Cook

in QLD.

She says she got help from dad

and brother in Maths and

Chemistry. Anita resorted to ‘to do

Lists’ for each day and made sure

that she completed the tasks even if

it meant sleeping in late. Anita

played Table Tennis, Netball,

Hockey and knitted her way

through HSC making blankets at

school knitting club who sends

blankets to Africa.

A volunteer with St Vincents de

Paul, working in school canteen, a

Library monitor, school netball

team captain, Anita was also on the

Formal Year 12 committee.

“My parents and my brother

always calmed me down and talked

to me when I was under stress,” she

says. If all that did not work then

she went and played cricket with her

brother in the backyard. Her advice

is ‘Stay calm. You will be fine as

Year 12 is the best year of your life!’

Nirali Gohel met TIDU at the

‘First in State’ ceremony having

topped in HSC Hindi continuers

getting a cool 98. Her Hindi expres-

sion is fresh and variably Indian as

she came to Australia only in 2008.

She says she was quite welcomed

by her fellow students and that she

learnt fast as the way the study is

done in Australia is quite different to

India. They all offered help at

Strathfield Girls High School in any

way they could.

Nirali was the Dux of the school

and topped the school by achieving

a rank of 99.15 and was very sur-

prised at her performance. She says

that her younger brother also helped

a lot by giving her his time and

always kept her humoured through

her stressful days. “Family was a

constant support and inspiration and

teachers were available at any

time,” she says. Visiting the Swami

Narayan Temple in Rosehill, Nirali

found some friends there who guid-

ed her well in time management and

how to maintain a balance.

Talia Kaur from Marrickville

High School topped in the State in

Design & Technology. She says, “It

gave me a medium to explore my

creative talents and allowed me to

focus on something other than

heavy English based subjects.”

Talia advises, “There is no

greater preparation than practice,

especially since the HSC is a pen to

paper exam. The time limits may

also seem tough, so it is extremely

important to practice extended

responses at home to ensure a fast

writing speed.”

She found fellow students quite

supportive, saying, “After all, we

were going through this journey

together and were all in the same

boat. A healthy diet/regime also

helped me to stay focused.” Talia

was also active socially as she was a

member of the school debating

team.

Talia has decided to take a 5-

year full time Bachelor of Arts in

Communication (Journalism) and a

Bachelor of Arts in International

Studies at the University of

Technology, Sydney.

Another student who has plenty

to smile about his HSC is Victoria’s

Vincent Dodd. Vincent from St

Michaels Grammar sat in his VCE

Music exams, you will not believe

it, as a Tabla player. Besides being

written in the Australian history

books in formal education, Vincent

received 100% for his Music

Investigation subject and an A+ for

his performance, giving him a study

score of 48/50.

"It was definitely hard work -

tabla is not an easy instrument,"

says Vincent, "but I am very happy

with the outcome, so I can sit back

and relax for a while now".

Vincent began playing percus-

sion on the drum-kit and later joined

African drumming groups until he

became fascinated with the tabla

and took up lessons with Sam Evans

at the Melbourne Tabla School.

"Tabla has an amazing tradition," he

says, "and it’s much easier to carry

on the train!"

Vincent performed traditional

Indian classical music in his final

examination including a solo tabla

lehara piece, a raga performance

with a sitar player, a world music

composition and a jazz piece. "It's

important to show the versatility of

the instrument and include music

that is relevant in an Australian con-

text," says Vincent's tabla teacher

Sam Evans who set up the program.

"We had to work hard with the

board to have tabla accepted at VCE

level, but we have done that now

and Vincent has set a great stan-

dard," says Sam Evans.

When asked, what his future

plans were, Vincent responded with

a broad smile: "more tabla".

If Vincent played Tabla for his

HSC then Prachi Batra danced

Bollywood in her room to take

breaks from studying for her HSC.

From Girraween High School,

Prachi, who got a 96.1 ATAR rank-

ing, said, she liked studying for

English as she found it quite differ-

ent from other subjects and allowed

her to express herself in unique and

interesting way. Prachi gives credit

to her younger sister who pushed

her to work harder for her goals.

Prachi has decided to study

Psychology (Honours) at Macquarie

University and advises students to,

“Take breaks! don't feel guilty for

taking time off from school to just

clear your mind and relax. A little

bit of TV, sport, socialising won't

hurt!”

Komal Shah of James Ruse

Agriculture High who scored 99.65

rank, says, “I did do tutoring for my

sciences and my mathematics

because it ensured that I thoroughly

understood the syllabus, effectively

being taught the same concept

twice. With English, I had an 'on

call' tutor who'd go through my

essays and provide constructive crit-

icism only if I was unsure about the

strength of the essay, the various

quotations, and of how well I'd tar-

geted the question.”

To new students she says, “I’m

sure you have heard this millions of

times and I’m going to reinforce it

as well; it is essential that through-

out the year you maintain at least

one extra-curricular activity which

you attend weekly. Breaks during

study are as important as the study-

ing itself because your mind needs

to calm down from the overload of

information which you cram in

throughout the year. I believe

attending a sport is best because you

can try to ensure that you don’t put

on any of the infamous HSC

weight.”

Drawing, painting, playing

Badminton and volunteering to look

after gardens for the elderly and dis-

advantaged by joining Easy Care

Gardening Komal achieved high

marks in HSC and is going to pur-

sue Dentistry from the university of

Adelaide.

A bit of sport, socializing and

hard work have all been the keys to

success for the current crop of HSC

students. Congratulations to all who

rallied around them.

HSC is hard work with a bit of fun!

Proud moment: Nirali Gohel with mum and dad and NSW Education Minister Mr Adrain Piccoli

34 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Book Review

By Khushwant SinghPenguin

Death is rarely spoken about inour homes. I wonder why.Especially when each one of us

knows that death has to come, has tostrike. It’s inevitable.

This line from Yas Yagana Changezisays it best: Khuda mein shak ho to ho,maut mein nahin koi shak (You maydoubt the existence of God, you can’tdoubt the certainty of death). And onemust prepare oneself to face it.

At 95, I do think of death. I think ofdeath very often but I don’t lose sleepover it. I think of those gone; keep won-dering where they are. Where have theygone? Where will they be? I don’t knowthe answers: where you go, what hap-pens next.

I once asked the Dalai Lama howone should face death and he hadadvised meditation. I’m not scared ofdeath; I do not fear it. Death isinevitable. While I have thought about ita lot, I don’t brood about it. I’m pre-pared for it.

All that I hope for is that when deathcomes to me, it comes swiftly, withoutmuch pain, like fading away in soundslumber. Till then I’ll keep working andliving each day as it comes.

I believe in the Jain philosophy thatdeath ought to be celebrated. Earlier,whenever I was upset or low, I used togo to the cremation grounds. It has acleansing effect, and worked like a ther-apy for me. In fact, I’d written my ownepitaph years ago:

“Here lies one who spared neitherman nor God

Waste not your tears on him, he wasa sod

Writing nasty things he regarded asgreat fun

Thank the Lord he is dead, this sonof a gun.”

I had even written my own obit in1943 when I was still in my twenties. Itlater appeared in a collection of shortstories, titled ‘Posthumous’. In thepiece, I had imagined The Tribuneannouncing the news of my death on itsfront page with a small photograph. Theheadline would read: ‘SardarKhushwant Singh Dead’. And then, insomewhat smaller print:

‘We regret to announce the suddendeath of Sardar Khushwant Singh at 6pm last evening. He leaves behind ayoung widow, two infant children and alarge number of friends and admirers.Amongst those who called at the latesardar’s residence were the PA to thechief justice, several ministers, andjudges of the high court.’

I had to cope with death when I lostmy wife. Being an agnostic, I could notfind solace in religious rituals. Being

essentially a loner, I discouraged friendsand relatives from coming to condolewith me. I spent the first night alone sit-ting in my chair in the dark. At times, Ibroke down, but soon recovered mycomposure. A couple of days later, Iresumed my usual routine, workingfrom dawn to dusk. That took my mindoff the stark reality of having to livealone in an empty home for the rest ofmy days. When friends persisted in call-ing and upsetting my equilibrium, Ipacked myself off to Goa to be bymyself.

I used to be keen on a burial becausewith a burial you give back to the earthwhat you have taken. Now, it will be theelectric crematorium. I had requestedthe management of the Bahai faith if Icould be buried. Initially, they hadagreed, but then they came up with allsorts of conditions and rules. I hadwanted to be buried in one corner withjust a peepal tree next to my grave.After okaying this, the managementlater said that that wouldn’t be possibleand that my grave would be in the mid-dle of a row and not in a corner. I was-n’t okay with that—even though I knowthat once you are dead it makes no dif-ference. But I was keen to be buried in

one corner. They also told me later thatthey would chant some prayers, whichagain I couldn’t agree with, because Idon’t believe in religion or in religiousrituals of any kind.

Though I’m quite fit, I know I don’thave much time left. I’m coming toterms with death, preparing myself.And since I have no faith in God, nor inthe day of judgment, nor in the theory ofreincarnation, I have to come to termswith the complete full stop. I have beencriticized for not sparing even the dead,but then death does not sanctify a per-son, and if I find the person had beencorrupt, I write about it even when he’sgone.

I don’t believe in rebirth or in rein-

carnation, in the day of judgment or inheaven or hell. I accept the finality ofdeath. We do not know what happens tous after we die but one should help aperson go in peace at peace with himselfand with the world.

I’ve lived a reasonably contentedlife. I’ve often thought about what it isthat makes people happy - what one hasto do in order to achieve happiness.

First and foremost is good health. If

you do not enjoy good health, you cannever be happy. Any ailment, howevertrivial, will deduct something from yourhappiness.

Second, a healthy bank balance. Itneed not run into crores, but it should beenough to provide for comforts, andthere should be something to spare forrecreation—eating out, going to themovies, travel and holidays in the hillsor by the sea. Shortage of money can bedemoralising. Living on credit or bor-rowing is demeaning and lowers one inone’s own eyes.

Third, your own home. Rentedplaces can never give you the comfortor security of a home that is yours forkeeps. If it has garden space, all the bet-

ter. Plant your own trees and flowers,see them grow and blossom, and culti-vate a sense of kinship with them.

Fourth, an understanding compan-ion, be it your spouse or a friend. If youhave too many misunderstandings, itrobs you of your peace of mind. It isbetter to be divorced than to be quarrel-ing all the time.

Fifth, stop envying those who havedone better than you in life - risen high-er, made more money, or earned morefame. Envy can be corroding; avoidcomparing yourself with others.

Sixth, do not allow people todescend on you for gup-shup. By thetime you get rid of them, you will feelexhausted and poisoned by their gossip-mongering.

Seventh, cultivate a hobby or twothat will fulfill you - gardening, reading,writing, painting, playing or listening tomusic. Going to clubs or parties to getfree drinks, or to meet celebrities, is acriminal waste of time. It’s important toconcentrate on something that keeps youoccupied meaningfully. I have familymembers and friends who spend theirentire day caring for stray dogs, givingthem food and medicines. There areothers who run mobile clinics, treatingsick people and animals free of charge.

Eighth, every morning and eveningdevote 15 minutes to introspection. Inthe mornings, 10 minutes should bespent in keeping the mind absolutelystill, and five minutes listing the thingsyou have to do that day. In the evenings,five minutes should be set aside to keepthe mind still and 10 minutes to go overthe tasks you had intended to do.

Ninth, don’t lose your temper. Trynot to be short-tempered, or vengeful.Even when a friend has been rude, justmove on.

Above all, when the time comes togo, one should go like a man withoutany regret or grievance against anyone.Iqbal said it beautifully in a couplet inPersian: “You ask me about the signs ofa man of faith? When death comes tohim, he has a smile on his lips.”

How To Live & DieThe Man in the Bulb meditates on the dying of the light

AbsoluteKhushwant:

The Low-Down onLife, Death and

Most ThingsIn-Between

By Khushwant Singh& Humra Quraishi.

Penguin India, Rs 250.

Community

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 35

There is now a Gujarati Community CentreAfully-functional Gujarati

Community Centre nowcaters for the community at

12 Good St, Granville, which iseasily accessible from theGranville Railway Station and isjust a four-minute drive to HarrisPark hub of Indian community.

Mukund Shah, member of theBuilding Management Committee,said that the building is a 128-years-old heritage-listed propertywith proud history. The place ini-tially was used as a ParramattaCouncil hall. For 40 years it wasused as a Granville School of Artsand for many more years it wasused as Granville TechnicalCollege and local community cen-tre. The Gujarati communitybought the building and has nowrestored to its formal glory as acommunity Centre for wider useby Indian and local community.

The Centre has three floorswith an Indian Restaurant, Zaika,operated by the Taj group ofrestaurants on Ground floor. Thefirst floor is a function hall with acapacity of 300 theatre style seat-ing and 230 dinner style seats. TheCentre is fully licensed with inde-pendent kitchens and bars on bothfloors. It is fully air conditionedwith cool rooms. Level Two hasoffices and multi-purpose rooms.

Dr Jayant Gokani, Chairman ofthe Building committee, said that

nearly 25-30 percent of more than100,000 people of Indian origin inSydney are from Gujarat. TheGujarati Community had a visionto unite all the Indian communitieswho can now use the CommunityCentre.

The project was started threeyears ago when quite a few mem-bers of the community came for-

ward with small and large dona-tions, including a very generousdonation of $200,000 from DrBhaskerbhai Desai.

“We acquired this building anddid all the necessary renovationsand it is now up and running forthe benefit of the Indian communi-ty,” said Dr Gokani.

Dr Geoff Lee, MP, said that it

was encouraging to see such devel-opments in Granville/Parramattaarea. He congratulated the GujaratiCommunity for their vision, gener-ous donations and the managementteam to successfully acquire andrestore the building to its originalglory.

Ms. Julia Finn, Councilor fromthe Parramatta City Council, has

recently visited Ahmedabad whichhas significantly improved herknowledge base in regards to theGujarati community. The City ofParramatta and Ahmedabad arenow forming ties to be sister cities.This will increase culturalexchanges, celebrate festivals andincrease business ties with Gujarat,she said.

Mr. C. Jamnadas, Mukesh Rao, Ravi Pandit, Surid Sheth, Mihir Sheth, Jayant Gokani, Jignesh Shah, Mukund Shah, Rushi Sheth,VM Patel and Harshad Desai

36 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Children’s Corner

Children's Corner

By Manoj DasIllustrations: Mario Miranda

On top of a three-hun-dred foot hill was aquiet old temple. A

hunched old man performedpuja here. Enshrined in thecentre of the temple was abeautiful idol. Usha and Lalita,two good friends, enjoyed talk-ing to the kindly temple priestand watching him adorn thebeautiful idol with multi-coloured flowers.

Often in the morning, Ushaand Lalita climbed the hill,dancing between the rhododen-dron bushes, jumping, singingand playing hide-and-seek.Woken from the slumber, adovelet would coo sleepily,‘Coo ! How noisy theseBrobdingnagian doves are!” Asquirrel would skip past, flick-ing its bushy tail and chatter-ing, “Audacity! They dareshow me how to play hide-and-seek!” A bright, yellowwarber, flying overhead wouldtrill, “silly modern girls! Theirfrocks are the colour of myundercoat. Are they just tryingto tease me?”

But the multicoloured flow-ers – pink, blue, yellow andpurple – that line the pathwould sway gently in thebreeze and whisper, “Lalitaand Usha, we are in fullbloom. You can pick us andwe shall adorn the lovely idolin the temple yonder!”

Usha and Lalita would hap-pily pluck them to the dismayof the fluttering butterflies, ofcourse, and take them to thepriest. The old man would feelthe flowers as his eyesight wasweak and guess their namesaccurately.

He would decorate the idoland chat with girls. “Have youbrought jasmines? Fine, Godwill grant you purity.” Or, “sotoday they are roses, aren’tthey? God will give you loveand peace.”

One evening, Usha asked,“What if I offered lotus?”

The priest replied, “Lotus?The queen of all flowers. Thelotus is the consciousness ofthe Lord. When you offer alotus with devotion, you getnearer to Him. You become abetter person.”

Usha was delighted. Sheskipped around joyfully. Lalitalooked puzzled. “But where

will you find a lotus?” shequestioned.

Usha smiled mysteriouslyand refused to answer. Aftersome coaxing, she reluctantlyconfided, “Remember the oldpond on the other side of themountain? I saw a lotus budthere. It should blossom bytonight. I will pluck it earlytomorrow and bring it here.”

“But the pond belongs tomy father,” protested Lalitashrilly.

Usha had not thought ofthat before. But she remainedadamant. “Maybe,” shereplied. “but nobody ever goesthere. The flower would haveblossomed and withered unno-ticed. I saw it. So I have theright to pluck it.”

“But how? The pond is myfather’s.”

“So what?”“So only I can pluck the

flower.”The two friends parted that

evening without smiles. Thenext day, dawn was just break-ing when Usha approached thepond. She ran all the waywhile the sky turned from alight grey to a gentle orange.When the pond was withinsight, she was overjoyed butthere was a touch of sadnessfor her friend. Poor Lalita!

But suddenly her heartalmost stopped beating. In thehazy light of dawn, she sawsomebody climbing out of thepond. Yes, it was Lalita andshe had the lotus in her hand.

Usha hid behind a bush.Lalita quickly began climbingthe hill. Holding back hertears, Usha followed andreflected bitterly on the perfidyof the girl she had consideredher friend.

Lalita stood before the

priest who had just emergedfrom bathing in the spring andwas about to perform puja.

“Who is it?” asked the oldman.

“I, I have brought a lotus.”“Lotus? Wonderful! I will

put the flower on the idol inyour name. It is Usha, isn’t it?It’s a pity, I cannot see clearlyand always confuse Usha andLalita.”

Lalita did not answer.Usha, who was hiding andpeeping from behind, could nolonger control her tears.

“Is it Usha?” asked thepriest again.

Suddenly Lalita replied,“Yes, yes. Please offer theflower to the deity in the nameof Usha.”

“No,” shouted Usha frombehind. “Panditji, it is Lalitawho brought the flower.”

“But you discovered theflower. I only plucked it,” saidLalita, with tears streamingdown her cheeks too.

“So what?”“So only you can offer it to

the deity.”Then very gently the priest

intervened. “Never mind. Iwill utter both your nameswhen I offer the lotus to theLord. He will not object tobestowing His grace on both ofyou. You shall both be dear toHim. Both of you shall growto be much better humanbeings.”

On their way back, Ushaand Lalita looked and smiled ateach other. They felt they hadalready become better humanbeings. They jumped, dancedand sang as usual. Once againroused from its sleep, thedrovelet cooed drowsily inprotest at the disturbance.

*******

Two girls and a lotus for the Lord

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 37

Thornleigh Harris Park

1 Station Street Shop 3, 96-98 Wigram St

Ph: 02 9481 8200 Ph: 02 9893 8691

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 39

Tough times ahead

We are all familiar withthe phrase ‘Health isWealth’ and no one

more so than one who is unwell.Here are some quotes

regarding health and someinformation to support them.

Oh blessed health! Thou areabove all gold and treasure.They, that has thee, has littlemore to wish for.

--Lawrence Stern

Knowledge indeed is desir-able, a lovely possession, but Ido not scruple to say that healthis more so. It is of little conse-quence to store the mind withscience if the body be permittedto come debilitated.

--Thomas Jefferson

Health and good estate of thebody are above all gold and astrong body above infinite

wealth.--Ecclesiastics

I am no shrinking violet…but the experience I had at theslaughterhouse overwhelmedme.When I walked out of there Iknew I would never again harman animal! I knew all the physio-logical, economic and ecologicalarguments supporting vegetarian-ism, but it was firsthand experi-ence of humankind's cruelty toanimals that laid the real ground-work for my commitment tovegetarianism.

--Peter Burwash

All living things need foodand each organism thrives beston the types of food best suitedto it.

Human beings like dogs,horses, birds and trees attain thehighest standard of health whenprovided with the most suitablefood. In the past, due to circum-stances beyond their control,some people were forced to eatunsuitable foods for continuedconsumption.

This was a basic misunder-standing as unsuitable foods donot always cause death or imme-

diate illness. They can be eatenfor some years before the harm-ful effects occur, the illness willthen be attributed to a virus or'bug' instead of the continualeating of unsuitable foods whichhave created blockages andwaste in the body.

Refined, overcooked andadulterated foods combined withharmful habits, lack of move-ment and environmental pollu-tion have produced a sub-stan-dard condition which is regardedas normal health.

In order to relieve pain and

unpleasant symptoms whichaccompany these conditionsmany people have resorted totaking toxic substances calledmedicines. Some relief fromsymptoms does occur but unfor-tunately the side-effects producedby these medicines produce dif-ferent kinds of problems.

Instead of eliminating thecause, which is unsuitable foods,the easiest and best knowncourse is followed which is toremove the symptoms only. Theproblem with this approach isevident by the number of unwell

people and the size and numberof ever increasing hospitalsthroughout the world.

Generally, many conceptionsabout food need to be re-defined.Unfortunately we often do notthink or question for ourselves,but simply follow the ways ofthose around us.

Fruit is one of the best foodswe can eat as well as vegetables,nuts, herbs and small quantitiesof grains and pulses. Eat locallygrown, seasonal organic foodwhere possible.

It is quite possible that fruitwas the original food ofhumankind. It requires no prepa-ration, is appealing to the eyeand palate, easy to eat and digestand puts minimum demands onthe body. It also provides nutri-ents in ideal proportions whichproduce minimum byproductswhich then pass through thedigestive tract and are eliminatedquickly.

Ideally, for peak health fruitwould comprise 40-50 per centof daily food, vegetables - 35per cent, starches - 10-20 percent and concentrates 5-10 percent.

Health is truly wealth!

Health is wealthInner Space

By Faith Harper

It is going to be a tough 2012astrologically, more challeng-ing than last year (2011).Countries in South-East Asia

will face economic, political andfinancial tests.

I sat with my seventh genera-tion Vasthu Sastra and astrologermaster Yuvaraj Sowma inChennai, India, recently, toanalyse the 12 zodiac signs todetermine what lies ahead for indi-viduals using the Indian almanac –which is based on moon signs,known as rasi in Indian astrology.(Western astrology is based on thesun signs.) For the new year, it isrecommended that those who faceunfavourable periods in theirrespective horoscopes should exer-cise caution in undertakings relatedto finance, relationships, businessand growth.

These people should performcharitable acts, enhance their spiri-tual practices and observe sweet-ness of speech to offset the nega-tive aspects.

Out of the 12 zodiac signs, theonly three stars which will beenjoying a favourable period this

year are Taurus (Vrishabha), Leo(Simha) and Sagittarius (Dhanus).

All other stars will have to beextra careful to withstand the neg-ative months ahead.

This is because Saturn hasmoved into Libra (Thula) and getexalted in this place.

In astrology, such a movementhappens once in 30 years, and itbrings positive and negativeresults depending on which horo-scope the individual belongs to.

If you are worried aboutclaims by certain quarters on 2012being the end of the world, dis-miss such talks because it is notgoing to happen. This year hasbeen selected for such a claimsimply because the Mayan calendarends in 2012.

Not a single ancient scripture,including the Mayan calendar,speaks of 2012 to be the end of theworld. The Mayan civilization hasbeen attributed with plenty of spe-cial intelligence merely becausethey had great astronomical knowl-edge. With the acknowledgementof their wisdom came their supportto this contest.

According to the four erascalled Yugas (Satya, Treta,Dvapara and Kali), as mentionedin the Hindu philosophy, the cur-rent period of Kali Yuga is thefinal.

It started from the Mahabharata(Sanskrit epics of ancient India)period, which is about 3200BCE.The Kali Yuga runs for a period of432,000 years.

This is good news for thosewho do not believe that the worldends in 2012 because we have

completed only 5,000 years out ofthe 432,000.

Owing to the testing times inthe coming months, it is best thatall dwellers observe the knowledgeof Vasthu Sastra to protect them-selves and their home. This isbecause our home is the abode ofpeace and it plays a vital role inhealing and protecting everyonewho occupies the space. Sinceancient times, elders have regardedthe house as a sacred spacebecause it is created to inspire,comfort and heal our body, mindand spirit.

However, over the years, manydwellers have overlooked theimportance of their private spacewhile some have abused it by notgiving it appropriate care and bal-ance. This has resulted in manypeople being angry, nursinghatred, experiencing dullness andfeeling lousy when they step intotheir house.

You don’t have to rebuild yourhouse or tear down walls. You cancreate a tranquil home just bycleaning it, which helps to trans-form and give your space a freshand motivating look. Making ahome sweet home starts with theoccupants feeling that they belongin their house.

Next, take an inventory of yourhouse, like, which is yourfavourite room, the room thatmakes you uncomfortable, andwhich area of the house needshealing and attention.

We should allocate time toclean and cleanse our living spacedaily, and this should begin withthe master bedroom in the south-west, which the couple of houseoccupies.

Dust the bed daily and removeany clutter in the corners of theroom and under the bed. Shoesand slippers should not be worn inthe bedroom because they carrynegative energy gathered outsideinto your private space.

All clothing should be placedinside wardrobes and not hungbehind doors or on the wall.

In the living area, removemementoes from the past that hin-der your movement into the future.

Display pleasant images offountains, mountains and scenery,and hang family photographs onthe wall.

Remove all broken furnitureand stained carpets because suchdefects create negative energy,which will affect relationships andfamily unity.

In the kitchen, wipe off oilstains on the stove, table tops and

cabinets regularly after cooking.Ignoring such an activity will allowstale energy to stagnate in yourkitchen and hinder your desire tocook.

In the dining area, displaysome fresh fruits on the table asthis will enhance appetite and helpyou enjoy your meals.

The bathroom should be inworking order, with no rusty orleaking pipes, or spoilt showers,which are all inauspicious. As thisis the space where you cleanseyourself, it should be clean andrejuvenating.

The garden should be invitingand all dried or dead plants shouldbe removed and replaced withflowering plants.

Every home should have a holyspace and this can be in the formof a prayer room or a cornerwhere you take time out to relax.

The north-east is the appropri-ate area for this activity and thisspace should be clean and free ofweight and disorder.

Just like how we brush ourteeth and have our bath daily, ourhouse also needs to be cleanedevery day because the energiesemanating from it should be intune with that from our body.

Dr T. Selva is the author ofthe Best Seller book titled VasthuSastra Guide for health, peace,happiness, prosperity and worldpeace. To get a copy of the bookor for private consultation contactDevi at 0412623017. He can becontacted at tselvas@pd.jaring.myWebsite: www.vasthusastra.com

VasthuSastra

By T. Selva

Out of the12 zodiac

signs, the onlythree stars

which will beenjoying afavourable

period this yearare Taurus(Vrishabha),Leo (Simha)

and Sagittarius(Dhanus).

Body-Mind-Spirit

Taurus

Leo

Sagittarius

40 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Santram's Grey Page

India is in the grip of poll fever. Though itis only the Assembly elections in 5 statesUttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa

and Manipur, it is going to be very interestingas the biggest state of UP is involved and theresults will have a far reaching impact on thegeneral elections in 2014. We in Australia willbe watching with interest the outcome of thesepolls.

In UP it will be an interesting contestbetween the ‘big guns’ like Rahul Gandhi(Congress), Mayawati (BSP), Nitin Gadkari(BJP) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SamajwadiParty). Rahul has roped in his sister PriyankaGandhi to help!

An additional factor this year is AnnaHazare and his team. They have vowed tocampaign against the Congress party as theLokpal Bill being passed by the Governmenthas been rejected by Team Anna. Meanwhile,the Election Commission has instructed theMayawati Govt. to cover all her statues andalso those of elephants (her party’s electionsymbol) so as not to influence the voters.

Stay healthy in 2012!Eat, sleep and exercise: We seldom real-

ize that eating, sleeping and exercising aregoals that are interlinked. Simple changessuch as exercising for 40 minutes just thrice aweek, sleeping for at least six hours at night,never skipping meals and ensuring that yourbody is well-hydrated throughout the day cangive you tremendous health benefits.

Cut back on bad habits in moderation:If you are a chain smoker, aim at reducing twocigarettes a day. Sweets lovers should try toreplace at least one dessert by fresh fruit.Reduce alcohol intake gradually. Make break-fast a mandatory meal for everyone in thefamily.

Don't switch to low fat foods: One of thebiggest mistakes dieters do is to switch to low-fat products. Experts do not agree anymore onthe benefits of low-fat products. They maycontain added sugar, flour, or starch thicken-ers (corn starch) to improve flavour and tex-ture after fat is removed. These ingredientsadd calories to the product.

Home remedies for cough and cold: It isnot advisable to depend on allopathic everytime because of side-effects to those medi-cines. Instead, try some home remedies thatare good and quick enough to cure it.

1. Gargle with hot water by adding a pinchof salt into it, it helps in curing sore throat.

2. Keep drinking hot drinks like coffeeand tea or simply lukewarm water.

3. Add turmeric powder, ginger powderand a teaspoon of honey to warm milk. This

not only helps in curing cough but alsorelieves from body ache, cold and headache.

4. For cold, steam inhalation is the besthome remedy.

5. While preparing your tea, add a fewtulsi leaves and crushed ginger to it along withblack pepper, it gives relief in cough and cold.

6. One who is susceptible to cough andcold should consume Chavanprash (it is thebest Ayurveda tonic for winter) or amlamurabba (jam) which has high content ofVitamin C, which helps one develop strongimmunity against cough and cold.

Dietary supplements: how importantare they?

A dietary supplement is any product thatcontains a ‘dietary ingredient' intended to addto the diet. These ingredients may be any ofthe following substances

* Vitamins (like vitamin B, D and E)* Minerals (like calcium, iron, zinc)* Herbs or other botanicals (like ginseng,

garlic)* Amino acids* Speciality substances such as glu-

cosamine, probiotics and fish oils.Vitamins and minerals have developed the

reputation of being ‘magic bullets' becausethey are very effective in treating deficiencies.However, this does not mean that in a well-nourished individual, these supplements willprevent diabetes, hypertension, heart disease,cancer, and other chronic diseases of the 21stCentury that Indians are facing.

Check with your doctor if you really needa multivitamin.

Fish oil may help cure leukaemiaA compound found in fish oil, which

apparently kills leukaemia stem cells, maylead to the cure of the disease, a new studyincluding Indian origin researcher hasrevealed the compound, delta-12-protaglandinJ3, or D12-PGJ3 targeted and killed the stemcells of chronic myelogenous leukaemia, orCML, in mice, according to Sandeep Prabhu,associate professor of immunology and molec-ular toxicology in the Department ofVeterinary and Medical Sciences.

Killing the stem cells in leukaemia, a can-cer of the white blood cells, is importantbecause stem cells can divide and producemore cancer cells, as well as create more stemcells, he explained.

Extra virgin olive oil

It's fully loaded with health-boosting ben-efits.

It's the only oil in the world that can beconsumed raw! In its raw and unfiltered form,extra virgin olive oil is all goodness all theway, all round the year. Look at people ofMediterranean origin. Since the Middle Agestheir diet always had olives and olive oil as anintegral part of their nutrition. From breakfastto lunch, small meals and dinner, olives and

extra virgin olive oils found their way seam-lessly into their culinary lifestyle. No wonderthen, their longevity and wellbeing is far morepronounced than other races across the globe.

The antioxidant polyphenols in extra vir-gin olive oil (not in “refined” or other “oliveoils”), the rich chlorophyll in it and the sim-ple, unfiltered method of extraction create thisformidable health booster. Rich in monounsat-urated fatty acids, an extra virgin olive oil-rich diet enhances Omega-3 fatty acidsabsorption by cellular membranes, enhancesthe good (HDL) cholesterol levels, and leadsto considerable long-term weight loss andoverall wellbeing. It bolsters our immune sys-tem and reduces risk of developing rheuma-toid arthritis and inflammations. With itsfavourable effect on bone calcification it alsohelps prevent osteoporosis and a cognitivedecline in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson'sdisease and memory loss.

Fat: The sixth human taste!It's long known that there are five basic

tastes which the human tongue can detect —sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury. Now,scientists say there exists a sixth one — fat.

A team at Washington University in theUS claims to have identified a potential chem-ical receptor for tasting fat, and also foundthat its sensitivity varies between individuals,the 'Journal of Lipid Research' reported.

The receptor is, in fact, located in the tastebuds on the tongue which recognises fat mol-ecules, say the scientists.

The finding may help to explain whysome people consume more fatty foods, asthey are less aware of the taste as they eat,and can be used to combat obesity byincreasing people's sensitivity to fat in theirfood, the team says.

Health benefits of spring onions

Spring onions add great nutritive and tastevalue to a dish and can be used in differentways. They are an excellent source of vitaminK and vitamin C, and a very good source ofvitamin A too.

Spring onions can be added to dal andmake it a much tastier dish. Similarly, you canadd it to vegetables like cauliflower and pota-toes and it will make an excellent dish.Mushrooms go very well with spring onionsand interestingly spring onions can be addedto soy nuggets while making a Chinese dish.It is a rich source of vitamins and mineralswhich aids in curing the various ailments. It isseen to have helped in reducing the harmfulimpacts of various diseases.

Some of the health benefits of springonions are as follows:

*Spring onion lowers the blood sugarlevel.

*It is a support against gastrointestinalproblems.

*It is often used as a medicine for commoncold.

*It is used as an appetizer as it helps diges-tion.

*It speeds up the level of blood circulationin the body.

Daily dose of aspirin may do more

harm than good: studyMillions of people who take a daily dose

of aspirin in the hope of preventing a heartattack or stroke risk are doing themselvesmore harm than good, British researchershave warned.

Aspirin has previously been hailed as a"wonder drug" and has come to be regardedas a "just in case" self-medicated measure formillions of healthy patients.

However, researchers raised concernsabout the millions of otherwise healthy peopletaking aspirin to prevent their first heart attackor stroke.

The study also found that the risk of dyingfrom cancer was not affected, despite recentstudies showing that the drug could preventbowel cancers.

Professor Kausik Ray, the lead author,said: "The beneficial effect of aspirin on pre-venting future cardiovascular disease events inpeople with established heart attacks orstrokes is indisputable. We urge people withthese conditions not to discontinue their med-ication unless advised to do so by their physi-cians for valid reasons.

"However, the benefits of aspirin in thoseindividuals not known to have these conditionsare far more modest than previously believedand, in fact, aspirin treatment may potentiallyresult in considerable harm due to bleeding."

(Disclaimer: These health tips are takenfrom well established and reliable sources andare given in good faith. However, readers arereminded to take care and consult their doctorif not sure, as no responsibility can be accept-ed by the writer of this column or The IndianDown Under).

Just for SeniorsBy Santram Bajaj

HUMOUR

Health & Well-being

A man and a friend are playing golf oneday at their local golf course. One of the guysis about to chip onto the green when he sees along funeral procession on the road next to thecourse. He stops in mid-swing, takes off hisgolf cap, closes his eyes, and bows down inprayer.

His friend says: “Wow that is the mostthoughtful and touching thing I have everseen. You truly are a kind man.”

The man then replies: “Yeah, well wewere married 35 years.”

A property manager of single-family resi-dence was showing a unit to prospective ten-ants and asking the usual questions."Professionally employed?" he asked.

"We're a military family," the wifeanswered.

"Children?" "Oh, yes, ages nine and twelve," she

answered proudly. "Animals?" "Oh, no," she said earnestly. "They're

very well behaved."

Fiction

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 41

n refuge of RamaIt is a far-flung premises escorted by groups of dense trees. Right in the centre of the premises

stands a huge structure of bricks. The interior of the structure is deliberately quietened tofacilitate meditation for the incoming devotees.

By Prof Dharampal

It is a far-flung premisesescorted by groups of densetrees. A few of them are

deprived of their leaves also.The dense trees offer someresistance to the rays of thesun. The leafless trees allow afiltration through them.

Right in the centre of thepremises stands a huge struc-ture of bricks. The interior ofthe structure is deliberatelyquietened to facilitate medita-tion for the incoming devotees.It is symbolic of salvation forthe devotees who throng it toget their cravings gratified byunseen divine forces. In thevicinity of the Hall are smallenclosures to play their indi-vidual, distinct roles culminat-ing in a totality.

The premises has its differ-ent rhythms at different hoursof the day and the evening. Onseveral holy occasions crowdsswell creating ripples of stam-pedes. At times some receivephysical hurts. It is ascribed tounfathomed divine forces man-ifesting through the spiritualGuru whose one glimpse pavesthe road to salvation. The pres-ence of the Guru brings forth aradical transformation in thedevotees making them subli-mate their tensions of theirsubconscious.

In an isolated corner of thepremises stands a middle agedman almost wasting away fol-lowing a potent internecinemental conflict. He is in a des-perate search for a familiarhuman face. Meanwhile a slowmoving wind pips him up. Heis constrained to mumble, “Ohwhat a fine place! It is full ofspiritual ecstasy. Every morn-ing and evening Rama’s nameis chanted giving a peculiarinner mental relief. Freemeals! My house is worse thanhell. It is situated in a dirtylane frequented by quarrelsomewomen. His wife, Savitri isalso tension ridden and full offighting. Our neighbour is fullof jealousy for our six childrenbecause she is childless. Theneighbour was bent upon hav-ing a physical fight with me butI had desisted.”

Bikhu was recollecting thechain of events that transpiredin his house quite often. Sixchildren! One problem or theother always haunts his houselike a phantom. Vivid and ugly

recollections of his youthswam before him. He was adrunkard and despite his wife’sdesperate protestations hefathered six children. His wifeworked as a cleaner in a smalltown in India. He himselfearned frugal wages fromwhite washing houses andshops.

Suddenly he located a swellof crowds. He jumped into thearena to be near Guruji’s feet.That would wash off the ago-nies of his life and his domes-ticities. This belief bestowedupon him some tension freemoments. In the process one ofhis legs was injured. Gurujiconstituted the hub of the entirespectators.

Bikhu collapsed in a cornerabsolutely unattended. The tideof the crowd subsided. Bikhuhelped himself on his feet andstood in the queue meant forfood. He resolved to snatch afew moments to be in thedivine contact of his master.

Savitri gets up early in themorning. She manages four ofher off-springs for school.Despite being a mother of sixchildren, she retains the vitali-ty of her youth. The other daya conglomeration of a smallhumanity stood in the front ofSavitri’s house. The woman in

her neighbourhood spoke’“Savitri, your husband haddeserted you. So you can makeuse of your lingering youth toearn sustenance for your fami-ly. Shameless creature!”Savitri had avoided the uglysituation by keeping mum. Shefelt an intense mental pain andrestlessness at her predica-ment. How could she earnbread for her six children?How could she sell her body?Her religious and other tradi-tions of her parents blocked forher this alternative. Bikhu hassanctified himself under theshelter of Rama and she wasthinking of polluting her body.What an internecine situation?What could be the escape?

Bikhu has opened the doorof heaven for himself but herlife is paved for hell. Suddenlyshe visualised her children asbeggars. She compelled hereldest son Ramu to contact hisfather, Bikhu. On seeing hisson Bikhu picked up an aggres-sive eloquence, “Get awayfrom here, You insect of hell.It is a blessed place. Here weare lost in the incantations ofLord Rama. You go back toyour mother.”

Ramu stammered to hisfather, “We are in a hopelesssituation eating once in a day.

Mother works throughout theday. She does not enjoy even abreathing space.” Bikhuresponded in a curt manner,“Then why did you come onthis earth? You have to pay foryour sins of your past life. Noone can help you.”

Ramu came back home andreported the entire sequence tohis mother. She undertook afirm determination to educateher children by selling herbody. She could not acceptRamu as a child labourer.Savitri’s eyes were brimmingwith tears. And Bikhu was des-perately trying to invokeGuruji’s blessings. At times hewould intensely think about hiswife and children but woulddismiss the situation at home asthe consequence of their pastsinful deeds.

One day, very early morn-ing he felt the monolithic still-ness in his surroundings.Suddenly suppressed cries of ahuman being became audible tohim. Like a culprit he softlytreaded his steps in that direc-tion. There sat a man againstthe trunk of an old tree. Theman was giving vent to hisgrief in profuse tears. Heinched towards the human fig-ure wrapped in haziness. Hefelt like one who has been

struck with a stone on his head.He felt flabbergasted to locateGuruji shedding tears. He satnear his feet and asked, “Iknow tears in your eyes aredivine.” “No No, these are thetears of a father who had losthis two daughters in theirinfancy. Their mother wasdead long back. I miss mydaughters with a nervy mentalanguish. I shudder at theirplight.”

“But Guruji----“ He left thesentence incomplete. Gurujifocussed his soft gaze at him’“Do you crave an emancipa-tion from your present miserywith my blessings?” He inten-sified his crying, “I knownothing about my two lostdaughters. Maybe they havebecome prostitutes?”

Bikhu thought Guruji wasenacting something miraculousto impress him. Guruji blessedBikhu and suggested that heshould go back home to hisfamily.

But Bikhu could notrenounce the concept ofKarmic theory. One day hecame across a piece of paper. Itcontained the news that Savitriwas summoned to police sta-tion for her profession as aprostitute and Ramu was busyas a labourer.

42 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Body-Mind-Spirit

By Divine Life Society

He had no disciples, and henever said that he had anydisciples. He also used to

say that he had no organisation orashram. He was SwamiSivananda who came to Rishikeshin 1922 under the name ofKuppuswamy, the same SwamiSivananda who lived through thelife of sanyasa and spirituality andservice to mankind, and it was thesame Swami Sivananda whoattained Mahasamadhi in 1963without any change in his attitudeto this world.

The more we seek contactwith things, the more we runfrom God, he said.

Such are the sparkling idealsthat he set forth before us. And nogreater homage could be con-ceived to this saint than a sinceredetermination to lead the life thathe himself intensely led, and todevelop a similar attitude towardslife as a whole: that the wholeworld is enveloped by thePresence of God.

The Isavasya Upanishad says,"Isavasyamidam sarvam, yat kin-cha jagatyam jagat": Whatever ismoving or unmoving, Sthavara orJangama, whatever is visible orinvisible, all this is indwelt by thesupreme Being of God.

The Upanishad also says,"Tena tyaktena bhunjithah." Hereis the seed of Vairagya andSannyasa at the very commence-ment of the Isavasya Upanishad.It says, "Renounce and enjoy."Enjoy by renunciation, not bypossession. The enjoyment thatcomes by renunciation is moreintense than the enjoyment thatcomes by possession of the thingsof the world. That satisfaction orpleasure or enjoyment whichseems to come to us by the acqui-sition of the objects of sense, is apain that comes to us in the guiseof satisfaction. But that joy whichcomes to us by renunciation is areal and permanent joy.

The Isavasya Upanishad adds,"Ma gridhah kasya svid-dhanam": Covet not the things ofthe world. Do not ask for thingswhich do not really belong toyou. The things of the world donot belong to you, because theyare unreal. How can unrealitybelong to you? Therefore, do notask for the things of the world,which are untrue. Renounce allfalse values with this awarenessthat God indwells all creation,both movable and immovable.This is, in some way, the quintes-sence of the gospel of Divine Lifewhich inspired the teachings andthe writings of Swami SivanandajiMaharaj.

Swami Sivananda, thenknown as Dr. Kuppuswamy, wentto Rishikesh in 1922 and stayedon the Svargashram side of theGanga. In those days there waspractically nothing in Rishikesh,except a few alms houses

(Kshetras) and Sadhus staying inisolated thatched huts.Svargashram is an ancient institu-tion where a few Sadhus andSannyasins were put up, living onalms and practising their medita-tions.

Two years later, at the age of37, Dr. Kuppuswamy cameacross a saintly person known asSwami Visvananda Saraswati,whom he met, as it is said, onlyfor a few minutes, and fromwhom he received initiation intothe sacred order of Sanyasa, asSwami Sivananda Saraswati.

From that, Swami Sivanandastarted a rigorous life of Tapas, orausterity. People who had seenhim in those days described himas a fire of renunciation. From1924-1936, for 12 years, he wasan incognito Mahatma doing his

own Tapasya for a purpose,which he alone knew. Fromanother little information that wegathered from Swamiji himselfduring his later years, we under-stood that he used to go to theother side of the Laxmanjhulabridge. His Kutir was somewheredirectly opposite to the DarsanaMahavidyalaya of the presentday, and he used to be put upthere. But he did not stay in theKutir for most of the daytimebecause of fear that people wouldfrequent him.

He was a worshipful figure,even from the very beginning ofhis life in Rishikesh andSvargashram, on account of thedistinguished life of austerity thathe led.

During the nearly 26 years oflife no one had even an inkling as

to what sort of meditation hepractised, what was the Japa hedid and what was the purpose forwhich he meditated. He wouldnever say anything about thesethings, nor were we in a positionto get any information aboutthese. This is all we knew: that hewas staying on the sandy bank onthe other side of the Laxmanjhulabridge during the larger part ofthe day and night and would cometo the Svargashram for hisBhiksha at the appointed time.

One of the pilgrims who hap-pened to go to Badrinath, andwho was a lover of saints, heardof the name of Swami Sivananda.He was a teacher in a high schoolin Nagpur and his name was HariGanesh Ambekar. He later onjoined this Ashram and tookSanyasa. He was SwamiHariomananda Saraswati. He wasone of the earliest disciples.

Swamiji’s life was a combina-tion of Vedanta Philosophy andausterity or Tapas. He used todefine Tapas as "flaming like fireby sense-control". Tapas is the

heat that is produced in our spiri-tual body by the control of thesenses, as their outward move-ment depletes our energy andmakes us the weaklings that weare.

Realisation of God is the onlygoal of life. "God-realisationfirst, everything else afterwards"– this was, is and will be theteaching of this saint for ever.Everything else follows automati-cally from this great surging long-ing of the heart. God's presenceand the recognition of Him is theprimary objective of all humanactivity, human longing anddesire of every kind. There is nosuch thing as adding something toGod's perfection, because God isanother name for Perfectionitself.

To him we pay our obeisanceby directing our thoughts andcontemplating on these eternalvalues, and by proclaiming onceagain, in the same tone and inten-sity of feeling and fervour, thatthe goal of life is God-realisation.Everything else follows in thewake of this acceptance, as ashadow follows the substance or,as they say, "the tail follows thedog". One need not separately tellthe tail to follow.

All the things of the world andall values that are regarded ascovetable in life will come inabundance and in plenty, if weaccept from the bottom of ourhearts that the goal of life is God-realisation, for which ideal SriSwami Sivanandaji Maharaj livedand sacrificed all his life. Such ishis Sanyasa, such is his Vedantaand such is his teaching for ourpractice.

A drama on SwamiSivananda is under productionand will be enacted on theevening of Saturday, 5 May2012 in Sydney.

Further information is avail-able on DLS Australia websitehttp://www.dlsas.org, or viafacebook http://www.face-book.com/dlsaus , or on phone0411 450321 (Vijay Gokarn) and0415 720738 (Sankar Ramiah).

Sivananda – the master of masters

Swami Sivananda was a charismatic personality

Swami Sivananda with close disciples, who went on tho become gurus in their own right,on the bank of the Ganga in Rishikesh.

Hindi Humour

YfU \sbtlt :t sc ˜tud yvle

cebthe rAvt;u :u > gr= rfUme fUtu

xece ntu ;tu fUñ;u :u Ftkme rcd\z dRo

ni, gt rVUh rfUme fUtu ntxo yxifU ýyt

;tu fUnt st;t :t rfU vux fUt ==o ni

gt dim cle ýRo ni > vhk;w ytsfU˜

cebthe YfU IŒuôxes rmöc˜O(pres-

tige symbol) cl dRo ni > =urFgu

bî cebthe gt Wl mu ver\z; hturdgtü fUt

b\st\fU W\ztlu fUe fUturNN rc˜fUw

lné fUh hnt nqâ, cm \sht ytsfU˜ fUu

˜tudtü fUtu Wl fUu Œr; Wl fUu ÔgJnth

fUe ct; fUhlu st hnt nqâ>

rs;le c\ze cebthe W;lt ne Jn

Ôgr¢; Wm vh dJo mu At;e VUw t fUh

Wm fUu cthu bü ct; fUh;t ni>

ytih Jimu Ce ytsfU˜ fUe rc\se

˜tRoVU bü rfUm fUu vtm mbg ni rfU

Jn Atuxe Atuxe cebtrhgtü - vux fUt

==o, fUtl fUt ==o, rmh bü ve\zt gt

ltfU fUt cñlt ytr= fUu cthu bü mwlu>

\sbtlt cý; ytdu c\Z dgt ni>

cebthe ntu ;tu simu htsuN Fàlt fUtu

rVUÖb Iytlà=O bü ýRo :e ‘lym-phosarcoma of the intes-

tine’ .., gt rVUh hts fUwbth fUtu

rVUÖb Ir=˜ YfU brà=hO bü_

‘blood cancer’.., gt =uJ=tm

Jt˜e Nhtc mu ýRo ‘cirrhosis ofthe liver’—

˜tud Ægtl =ufUh mwlüdu ytih

mntlwCwr; r=Ftgüdu>

fUwA mbg vn u YfU rbºt fUu ntxo

fUt IctRo_vtmO ytpvhuNl ýyt :t >

Wànü YfU vtxeo bü =uFt ;tu Jn

Œmàlra;, yvle \fUbe\s Ftu u yvlu

ytpvhuNl fUu \sÏ\b r=Ft hnu :u ytih

vqhe ;hn mu fUimu Irhc fUusO fUtu fUtxt

ytih fUntâ mu xtkd bü mu lm fUtx fUh

˜dtRo, Rm fUu cthu bü rJô;th mu c;t

hnu :u>

˜tud c\zu Ægtl mu mwl hnu :u _

ytih Wl mtrnc fUu aunhu vh YfU

ysec me ˜t˜e yt hne :e simu Wm

btâ fUu aunhu vh sc Jn yvlt lJst;

rNNw =qmhtü fUtu dJo mu r=Ft;e ni >

“yhu CRo, bwSu VUefUe atg =ult,

Jn Yumt ni lt ztp¢xh lu blt rfUgt

niOO, YfU ytih =tuô; fUtu fUñ;u mwlt

II¢gt Nqdh niOO nb lu zh;u zh;u vqAt>

IIyse ztgcxe\s ce ni, YfU

RksufUNl htu\s ˜d;t niOO, Jn c\ze

Ntl mu ctu u>

IIyse ytsfU˜ gn btbq e ct;

ni, yc nbtht fUtb ne Yumt ni _ c\zt

rc\slum ni, Yu¢m{mtRs fUu r˜gu mbg

rlfUt˜lt bwrëfU˜ ni”, Jn mtrnc

c\zu FwNe FwNe ctu hnu :u, simu

ztgcexe\s fUtuRo cý; ne btbq e

cebthe ntu, sc rfU yts fU˜ fUe

cý; ne Dt;fU cebtrhgtü bü rdle

st;e ni gn >

Fih fUwA Ce ntu, \fUwA cebtrhgtk

ßgt=t zhtJle ˜d;e nî stu Jtô;J bü

ntu;e lné nî _ simu fUwA JMo vn u

rmzle fUu vtle bü Giardia ytih

cryptosporidium fUu vtgu stlu

mu ˜tudtü bü =nN; VUi dRo :e _ gne

YfU vn˜t btifUt :t sc nbük fUtuRo

rak;t lné ýRo :e _ C˜t rsm rfUme

lu r=Ö˜e gt Cth; fUu rfUme Ce Nnh

fUt vtle rvgt ntu, Wm fUt gu Atuxu btuxu

fUe\zu ¢gt rcdt\z mfU;u nî?

ytih ntâ, vn u R;le cebtrhgtk

fUntâ :é? fUîmh, ntRo ç˜z ŒuNh, ntRo

fU˜tuôx[˜, mx[um,ôx[tufU, rzvhuNl,

ztgcuxe\s, rfUzle Œtc˜b, r˜Jh

Œc˜b ytih l stlu ¢gt ¢gt > ntu Ce

mfU;t rfU mc ntü, vh nbthu vtm Wl

fUt v;t ˜dtlu fUu r˜gu R;lu mt"l l

ntü stu rfU ytsfU˜ fUe xtpfUtlti tuse

lu nbü r=gu nî> Ntg= l stllu bü Ce

C˜tRo ntu ¢gtürfU ytsfU˜ Rl fUe

stlfUthe xe_Je ytih hurzgtu vh gt

mbtath vºttü bü Rm ŒfUth mu =e st;e

ni rfU v\Z fUh gt mwl fUh Yumu ˜dlu

˜d;t ni rfU simu gn cebthe nbü ni

ytih rVUh Ctd;u nî ztpfUxh fUe msohe

fUe ytuh, yc ztpfUxh gr= =tu ;el

=JtRogtkk l r˜F fUh =u gt Yu¢m_hu gt

cÖz xuôx l fUhtgu ;tu ;mÖ˜e lné

ntu;e ytih ztpfUxh fUe fUwN˜;t vh

NfU mt ntulu ˜d;t ni> ytih yk; bü

xuôx ytr= fUhtlu fUu vëat; gr= ytv

fUtu fUtuRo cebthe l rlfU u ;tu c\ze

btgqme ntu;e ni ytih ¢gt Yumt lné

˜d;t rfU ytv fUu mt: "tuFt ýyt

ni> FtnbFtn vimt ytih mbg ccto=

ýyt>

ytsfU˜ fUe btzlo cebtrhgtü fUe

btzlo =JtRogtk _ Jn vn u Jt˜e ct;

lné ni rfU clVUNu fUt fUt\Zt rvgt ytih

Ftkme, l\s˜t ytih \swfUtb Sx mu

dtgc gt rVUh Ihtb ctlO aqKo Ftgt

ytih vux fUt ==o mbtË;> r=btd fUtb

lnek fUh hnt ;tu ltë;u bü ct=tb fUe

rdhe FtRogu ytih y\fUÖbà= cl stRogu>

atux ˜de ni ;tu =q" bü ñÖ=e ve

˜tu> gt rVUh Rox gt vÀ:h fUtu dbo

fUhfUu fUv\zu bü ˜vux Wm sdn vh müfU

rfUgt st;t :t, vhk;w ytsfU˜ Wm

fUt rc˜fUw WÖx, cVUo fUe xfUtuh fUe

st;e ni> yåAt ytih mwrlguu, vn u sc

rfUme fUtu cwFth ntu;t :t ;tu nfUeb

˜tud bhe\s fUtu vtle velu fUe bltne

fUh;u :u ytih fUn;u :u rfU bhe\s fUtu

Fqc vmelt ytlu =tu ;trfU cwFth FÀb

ntu stgu.. nt˜tkrfU IzentRozhuNlO mu

atnu htude fUe b]Àgw ne ¢gtuk l ntu stgu

> ¢gt ytsfU˜ Yumt mtua Ce mfU;u

nî? bwSu gt= ni, cavl bü buhu mt:

Yumt fUwA ýyt :t Jn ;tu r\fUôb;

yåAe :e rfU buhu ñX fUhlu vh rfU bwSu

brà=h Jt u fUwYk mu gr= vtle rv˜tgt

stgu ;tu bî XefU ntu stQkdt, Dh Jt u

btl dgu ytih bî XefU ntu dgt ytih

mt: mt: Jn brà=h Jt˜t fUqytk Ce

c\zt bNnqh ntu dgt!

rsm ;hn mu ztp¢xh ˜tud

ytsfU˜ De ytih =q" fUu veAu nt: "tu

fUh v\zu ýY nî, nihtle ntu;e ni> De fUtu

fUtVUe cebtrhgtü fUe s\z c;tgt st

hnt ni> fUn;u nî ;u Œgtud fUhü ytih

Jn Ce Ftm r\fUôb fUt, vtp e_ylmi-

awhuxz gt ytur˜J ytpg˜> .. yc

vhtkXu rclt b¢Fl fUu ! ¢gt ytv mtua

Ce mfU;u nî?

ytih rVUh ¢gt Chtumt fU˜ fUtu Rm

;u fUe Ce ntrlfthf fUn r=gt stgu>

nihtle ;tu yvlu Yf stllu Jtju ftu

cxh rafl Ft;u =uF fh nwRo stuu rf

ftjuôx[tj fb fhlu Jtje rjvextuh fe

dtuje fuu mt: mt: rbXtRogtuk vh Ce

nt: mtV\ fh hnu :uu>

bwSu gt= ni sc Cth; bü x[ul bü

mVUh fUh hnu ntu;u :u ;tu Stu t ˜xfUtgu

fURo ;hn ;hn fUe =JtRogtk cualu Jt u

yt;u :u> fUtuRo ytkFtuâ fUt mwhbt cua;t

;tu fUtuRo =tâ; fUt bksl> Ju ˜tud yvlu

fUtb bu c\zu ;u\s ntu;u :u > fUwA

bwmtrVUhtü fUe ytkFtuâ bü bwÜ; bü =JtRo

zt˜ Ju nt:tü nt: fURo NeNegtk cua

u;u :u> ytih bksl cualu Jt u ;tu

fUuJ˜ =tu Wkɘe mu fURo ˜tudtü fUu =wF;u

=tâ; ;fU rclt ==o fUu rlfUt˜ r=gt

fUh;u :u>ImuvrxfUO ytih IRkVUufUNlOfUu

ltb ne Wl ˜tudtü fUtu v;t lnek :u>

ytih Jn stu m\zfUtü fUu rfUlthu gt \fUw;c

rblth ytih ˜t˜ r\fU u simu I xqrhôx

ôvtxI fUu ctnh bsbt ˜dtgu II

rN˜tse;O ytih Imtkzu fUt ;u O _ nh

b\so fUe =Jt cualu Jt u rfU;le Ce\z

RfUXe fUh u;u :u> Stu t Atv ztp¢xh

ytsfU˜ Ce fUb lné nî> ñfUeb

ht"uëgtb gt nfUeb ak=Tdehtb nh

cebthe fUt R˜ts stl;u :u> ytsfU˜

fUe ;hn lnek rfU nh cebthe fUt yvlt

ôvuNr˜ôx ni ytih nh ôvuNr˜ôx

YfUôhu, MRI, ç˜z xuôx, gqrhl xuôx

ytr= fUhtlu fUu ct= ;hn ;hn fUe

dtur˜gtk r˜F fUh =u;t ni > =JtRogtük bü

fURo cth ;t˜ bu rb˜tlt v\z;t ni

ztp¢x\so fUtu _ simu rfUme fUu mt:

Aspirin XefU ni ;tu rfUme fUu r˜gu

gn Dt;fU ¢gtürfU Jn Fql v;˜t

fUh;e ni, rfUme fUtu calcium fUe

dtu e mu ˜tC ni ;tu rfUme fUtu Wm mu

lwfUmtl _ ysec dtuhF "k"t ni !

mJuhu dtu e FtRogu, =tuvnh fUtu

dtu e FtRogu ytih ht; fUtu Ce dtu e _

y:to; dtur˜gtk ne dtur˜gtk _ ytih Rm

ŒfUth dtur˜gtü mu Che NeNgtpk fUt

Ckzth mt ˜d st;t ni nh Dh bü gt gqâ

fUrngu rfU nh Dh bü YfU yåAe Ftme

fUirbôx fUe =wfUtl cl st;e ni _ ntu;t

gn ni rfU YfU rzçce bü 50 gt 60

xucr˜xTm ntu;e nî rsm bü mu 15, 20

;tu ca ne st;e nî, ¢gtürfU gt ;tu

ytv XefU ntu st;u nî gt ztpfUxh =JtRo

c=˜ =u;u nî > yc l ;tu gn =JtRo

FtRo st;e ni ytih l ne VUîfUlu fUtu

r=˜ btl;t ni _ mbS bü lnek yt;t

rfU Rl fUt ¢gt rfUgt stgu, ntâ Ntg=

yvle Jmeg; (will) bü r˜F stgü

rfU cåatü bü chtch chtch ctâx =e

stgü >

nt˜tkrfU ytsfU˜ fUe fURo ceb-

trhgtk Yume nî stu rfU Ftlu ytih Ôgt-

gtb mu XefU ntu mfU;e nî, vh ˜tudtü

fUu vtm mbg lné ni> ytih YfU ct;,

Cth; bü nt˜tkrfU ytsfU˜ nh cebthe

fUt R˜ts, vqhe ;hn mu ntu mfU;t ni

vhk;w rVUh Ce vimu Jt u ˜tud rJ=uN bü

R˜ts fUhtlu st;u nî - fUwA r=FtJu fUu

r˜gu ytih fUwA IŒtRoJumeO_ y:to;

yvlt htud dwË; hFlu fUu r˜gu>

ytih ytsfU˜, cebtrhgtü fUt

R˜ts cý; bnkdt ntu;t st hnt ni rfU

nh yt=be fUu cm fUe ct; lné hne>

fUnt stgu ;tu dhec fUtu fUtuRo n\fU lné

cl;t rfU Jn cebth v\zu ¢gtürfU dhece

;tu Fw= YfU cý; c\ze cebthe ni>

YfU ct; ytih c;tRogu, sc ytv

dtu dËvu (vtle vqhe) fUe hu\Ze mu atx

ytr= Ft;u :u ;tu ¢gt fUCe vtm cñ;e

dà=e lt˜e fUe ytuh Ægtl r=gt fUh;u

:u rfU Jntk mu fUtuRo cebthe Ce ˜d

mfU;e ni>

Wme lt˜e fUe dà=de mu b¢Fe

båAhtü mu VUi e fURo cebtrhgtk fUu cthu

bü rfU;lu ˜tud mtua;u nî? vn u ;tu

˜tud b urhgt fUtu ne stl;u :u vh yc

züdq cwFth Ce c\zt stl uJt clt ýyt

ni>

Rm ;hn fUwA ytih Ce cebtrhgtk nî

rsl fUe nb gntk ct; lné fUh hnu ni,

simu Jnb fUe cebthe, rsm fUt R˜ts

;tu w\fUbtl nfUeb fUu vtm Ce lnek

:t> gt C{³tath fUe cebthe stu YfU

Aq; fUe cebthe fUe ;hn VUi e ýRo ni

ytih stu ytb ;tih vh vtur˜xeëgl gt

mhfUthe yVUmhtü fUtu ˜d;e ni rsmu =qh

fUhlu fUu r˜gu yàlt n\sthu simu mbts

muJfU ylNl vh ylNl rfUgu st hnu

nî> ytih l ne nb Œub htud fUe ct;

fUh hnu nî__ Wl fUu cthu bü rVUh fUCe

mne!

Fih, CtRogtu ytih cñltu, \ßgt=t

Dchtlu fUe \sÁh; lné ni> ytv yvlt

fUtb fUersgu _ FtRogu, versgu ytih

enjoy fUersgu ¢gtürfU fUCe l fUCe

fUtuRo l fUtuRo cebthe ;tu ntule ne ni, ntâ

R;lt Fgt˜ hrFgu rfU cebthe atnu

Atuxe me ne ntu vh ltb \sht c\zt ntu

.. cm bwôfUhtRogu ytih dtu e FtRogu!

ntgg guu cebtrhgtk ... mk; htb csts

Rajesh Khanna and Asit Sen in ‘Anand’

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 43

44 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

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January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 45

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46 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 47

48 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Columns

Here are some recipes for making some-thing special for the holidays and week-ends. I hope our TIDU readers would

to try these easy yet delightful dishes.

Mushroom seekh kebabsIngredients�200 gm Small mushroom� ½ cup red capsicum cut into small

square pieces�¼ cup natural yoghurt�1 tabs oil�2 tabs soya sauce�1 tsp grated ginger�1 tsp crushed garlic�1 tsp lemon juice�1 tsp raw sugar�¼ tsp red chili powder�½ tsp salt

Method

Mix all the items except the mushrooms andthe capsicum.

Wash and dry the mushroom and capsicum.Cut the stalks of the mushroom and keep thestalks. Cut the capsicum into small squarepieces.

Place the mushroom heads, stalks and cap-sicum into the marinade. Mix well and keepaside for 1 hour.

Arrange the mushrooms, stalks and cap-sicum pieces on the skewers. Grill them oncharcoal or in a grill. Rotate the skewers atsmall intervals to get uniform cooking.

Serve hot.

Rice & corn rolls

Ingredients� 2 cups cooked rice�1-1/2 cups corn kernels� 1 onion chopped� ½ cup diced capsicum� 2 green chillies chopped� 4 tabs oil� 4 tabs plain flour�¾ cup milk�¾ tsp salt� ½ tsp red chili powder� ½ tsp garam masala�¼ cup grated cheese� 1 egg�1 cup bread crumbs� Oil for frying

MethodHeat the oil in a heavy base non-stick karahi

(pan). Add onion and capsicum. Saute for 2minutes. Add plain flour and cook for another2 minutes. Reduce heat and add the milk. Con-tinue stirring to avoid sticking to the bottom.Cook till sauce thickens and becomes lumpy.Remove from heat.

Add the corn, cooked rice, green chili,garam masala, red chili powder and gratedcheese. Mix well and divide the mixture in 12to 15 equal parts. Make a ball of each part andpress between the palms of hand to shape like apattie. Prepare all the patties and place in thefridge.

Beat the white of 1 egg and mix with ½ cupwater. Coat each pattie in this and roll on breadcrumbs so that it is covered all over.

Deep fry till golden brown. Serve hot withmint or tomato chutney.

Semolina kheer

Ingredients�1 litre full cream milk�1 tabs un-salted butter�¼ cup coarse semolina�½ cup evaporated milk� 2 green cardamom freshly ground� 1 tabs silvered almonds� 1 tabs grated pistachio�¼ cup sugar

Method

Melt the un-salted butter in a heavy basepan. Reduce heat and add the semolina.Continue stirring till all semolina is cookedto light brown colour and emits a beautifularoma that will fill the kitchen.

Add the milk and bring it to boil. Addthe evaporated milk, cardamom and sugar.Cook on slow heat for about 10 minutes tillthe mixture starts to thicken. Remove fromheat.

Garnish with almonds and pistachios.Serve freshly cooked kheer or serve cooledin a refrigerator.

Paneer kulcha

Ingredients�2 cups plain flour�½ cup fine semolina�1 tsp sugar

� 1 tsp baking powder�¾ tsp salt�1 cup grated cheese� ½ cup fresh coriander chopped� 1 green chili chopped�¼ tsp freshly ground pepper�½ tsp salt

Method

Soak the semolina in ¼ cup water. Addthe sugar and keep aside for ½ hour.

Remove any lumps by putting the plainflour, baking powder and salt through a finesieve. Add the semolina mixture and kneadinto soft dough. Place the dough in a bowland apply oil on top. Cover with a moistcloth and keep aside for it to rise for at least½ hour.

Add the filling items like the gratedcheese, coriander, green chili, red chili,pepper and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well.

Divide the dough into 8 to 10 equalparts. Make a ball of each part and roll it toabout 13 to 17 cm disk. Place the filling inthe middle and lift sides to enclose and sealthe mixture.

Roll them again to about the same sizedisk as before. Prepare all the remainingportions like this.

Now have a tawa on the stove and alsohave a grill on. Cook each filled disk tocook on the bottom on a tawa and then tocook the top till golden brown in the grill.

Serve with butter or raita.

By Devaki Parthasarthy

“A smile is a little curve that sets a lot ofthings straight.”

~ Phillys Diller

The face is a complex palette of emotions.One of the most endearing emotions is aheartfelt smile. Animals and humans –

we all smile the same way with a slight turningup of the lips and a crinkling of the eyes – sig-nalling pleasure, contentment, happiness, orsatisfaction. Smiling is not a learned action. Itis as natural as breathing. As a matter of factjust think about it, even those born blind willsmile when experiencing a joyful moment.

A smile is a warm gesture that benefits thereceiver but the secret is that it does wonders tothe giver!!!! You can’t buy a smile, can’t begfor it can’t borrow or steal it because it is of novalue at all….. till you give it away!!!! It is theonly thing that enriches those who receive with-out making poorer those who give.

But if we move away from motherhoodstatements and get to the act of smiling, smilingis good for your own health and beauty!

1. Smiling increases your face valueA smile is the most inexpensive yet the most

effective accessory. We are drawn to peoplewho smile. There is an attraction factor. Wewant to know a smiling person and figure outwhat is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimacesall push people away -- but a smile draws themin in drones. The muscles we use to smile liftthose cheekbones, making us appear younger.Why go for expensive creams and treatmentsfor a face lift when by just smiling we can lookyounger and feel better?

2. Smiling has health benefitsStudies have shown that smiling releases

endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin.A combination of these three gives us that “FeelGood” feeling. It helps the immune system towork better. When you smile, immune function

improves possibly because you are more re-laxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.When you smile, there is a measurable reduc-tion in your blood pressure. Stress can reallyshow up in our faces. Smiling helps to preventus from looking tired, worn down, and over-whelmed. When you are stressed, take time toput on a smile. The stress should be reducedand you'll be better able to take action. Nexttime you are feeling down, try putting on asmile. There's a good chance you mood willchange for the better. Smiling can trick thebody into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is positively goodTry this test: Smile. Now try to think of

something negative without losing the smile.It's hard. When we smile our body is sendingthe rest of us a message that "Life is Good!"Stay away from depression, stress and worry bysmiling. A huge benefit of smiling is that itmakes you look successful. Smiling people ap-pear more confident, are more likely to be pro-moted, and more likely to be approached. Puton a smile at meetings and appointments andpeople will react to you differently.

4. Smiling is contagiousWhen I was younger I passed a church that

said, “smile a while and while you smile an-other smiles, and soon there are miles and milesof smiles.” This is so true!!!! A smile has thiscontagious quality! It travels faster than sound– ever said bye to someone over the phone witha smile? If it is genuine and heartfelt, rest as-sured that the person on the other end will“hear it”. Look at a stressed person with asmile and he cannot resist from smiling back atyou… now we all know that stress is bad foryour health and smiling is good. So with a smileyou are giving the recipient the gift of health!Amazing what a smile can do!

And honestly, I believe it is a myth that abright smile stems from happiness from within.Research has shown that genuine happiness canstem from a smile. “Fake it till you make it”because it is said that even a smile called forthwhen you don't necessarily feel like smiling cantrigger the release of endorphins, brighteningyour day. The simple act of smiling can help re-lieve stress by relaxing your facial muscles andencouraging you to focus on happy memories.And a forced smile, which only involves themuscles of the mouth, can easily turn into a truesmile, which lights up the entire face.

So go ahead and smile and unravel the secret of happiness!!!!

Smile and the world smiles with you

HOLIDAYS’ DELIGHTS

Look Good and Feel Great Naturally

By Promila Gupta

Body-Mind-Spirit

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 49

By Anil Sharma

Life is like a road. The startingpoint of this road is birth and theending point, physical death. As

we move along this road we meet andinteract with others. Some of them welove, get attached, while some otherswe instantly dislike. Why?

The answer may lie with the com-patibility of our vibrations – some intune and the others discordant. Evenwithin ourselves we are happy to docertain chores suiting our personalitybut engagement in others causes us painand suffering depending on the vibes.

This human personality is governedby the theory of vibrations. The scienceof numbers which has its origin fromthe vibrational theory is a key to tunein, to understand our individual person-ality. When we understand our person-ality, we live in harmony with our-selves, our environment and our uni-verse. Thus we evolve towards perfec-tion so that we may be united with theabsolute, thus fulfilling the life’s pur-pose.

According to the latest scientific the-ories we are all energy - there being nodistinction between matter and energy.It’s the God’s particle, Higgs Boson,which slows down energy particles likequarks to give them semblance of mass,the corollary being that all things are ina perpetual state of vibration. All ener-gy is vibration. All thought, speech,colour, sound are forms of energywhich again is vibration.

The primary source of energy on ourEarth is the Sun. Sun rays received byEarth are again in the form of vibra-tions. No form of life on Earth canexist without this energy which ourEarth receives from the Sun. When wewalk along a river or a sea side we seea lot of rocks. What shapes theserocks? The movement of water shapesthese rocks. What moves the water?The wind moves the water, and whatmoves the wind. The Sun moves thewind. The chemical energy of ourworld resources of coal, oil and gasoriginally came from plants and algaewhich themselves acquire their energyfrom the sunlight.

Tides are caused by the gravitational

pull or magnetic vibrations of the moon.Even in the deepest oceans its magneticpull is so great that it causes millions oftonnes of water to be pulled as high as30 to 40 feet. Tides as high as 14.5meters (47½ feet) have been recordedin the Bay of Fundy on the east coast ofCanada. Surely, human beings cannotescape the effect of such electro-mag-netic vibrations as water accounts fornearly 60 per cent of the normal bodyweight. Every single cell in the humanbody is an electrical unit with a magnet-ic field of its own.

The main functional units of thehuman brain are called nerve cells orneurons. At birth, brain has more than100,000 million (1000x1000 =1000,000 = 1 million) neurons. Everyday we loose about 5000 neurons andthese are never replaced. Even at theage of 90 we have more than 99,000million neurons. The main function ofthe neurons is to send and receive infor-mation in the form of electrical impuls-es.

The atmosphere around us is notonly being constantly penetrated andbombarded by magnetic vibrations fromouter space in a pattern related to theposition of planets and heavenly bodies,but these vibrations are varying andchanging every second. Our personali-ty is not only programmed within thehuman brain by a complex field of mag-netic vibrations at birth but also con-trolled and regulated throughout our liferelated to the ever changing position ofthe Sun, the moon, the planets and otherheavenly bodies. The neurons or nervecells are magnificent receptors of theseelectro magnetic energies.

So there is a deeper connectionbetween life and scientific logic and agame of numbers. A qualitative study ofnumbers can unlock the vibrations ofour unique personality. This science ofnumbers was first introduced by thefamous Greek philosopher Pythagorasborn in 682 BC. Qualities are assignedto numbers related to the human per-sonality which unfolds the various traitsof our personality.

The Nine Squares by Pythagoras -a simple but powerful key for a broadand general analysis of personality

Table 1Lying buried in the date of birth is

the entire personality which includes theunique traits, abilities and talents, thenegative qualities or aspects.

Mental plane - logic, analysis, rea-soning, memory, intellect or intellectu-al power, understanding

Spiritual plane - intuition, divinewisdom, feeling, inner guidance

Physical plane - practicality, materi-ality, human activity

Table 2We shall now do a general personal-

ity analysis using a sample date of birthsay 23 April 1963. This is written as23-4-1963. The individual numbersfrom left to right are 2, 3, 4, 1, 9, 6 and3. These individual numbers of thecomplete date of birth are placed in theappropriate squares according to thenumbers as shown in table above Table

Table 32. The result so obtained by placing

these numbers in the appropriatesquares is shown below in Table 3.

More concentration of numbers in aparticular plane (Physical, mental orspiritual) expresses the personality inthat plane.

In the example, maximum quantityof numbers is present in the mentalplane, then is the physical plane, andthe spiritual plane containing the leastquantity (only one 2) or amount of num-bers. Hence, the personality of some-one having date of birth 23.4.1963 bestexpresses itself in the mental plane, thenin the physical plane and least in thespiritual plane of expression. Now fromTable1 the equivalent meaning of thenumbers present in the squares in Table3 can be read.

When using this method the date ofbirth must be correct and according tothe English calendar. When zero falls ina date of birth, it is not considered in thenine squares. Zero in a birth date indi-cates the inherent high level of spiritu-ality. Another point to be noted is thatmore the amount of individual numberspresent in a single square, greater is thevibratory force of that number in thepersonality. For example two or morefours indicate an extremely methodicaland practical person, two or more sixesindicate the ability to assume muchresponsibility, two or more threes indi-cate a very high level of mental percep-tion, understanding and analysis.

This human personality is governed by the theory of vibrations. The science of numberswhich has its origin from the vibrational theoryis a key to tune in, to understand our individual

personality. When we understand our personality, we live in harmony with ourselves,

our environment and our universe. Thus we evolve towards perfection so that we

may be united with the absolute, thus fulfilling the life’s purpose..

Know thy self

3

Rational Understanding

and Analysis

Mental Perception,

Ability to conceive

practical ideas

6

Domestic Responsibility

CreativityExpressive

Personal Creativity

Like Love of home,

an expression

expressing beauty

1

Ability of Verbal Self

Expression (Outward

Expression) other than

expression of innermost

feelings

7

Learning by Personal

Experiences thus

leading towards

knowledge and

wisdom

4

Practical and

organised

8

Spiritual Wisdom

5

Intensity of Human

Feeling Love, Freedom

of Expression Versatility,

Resourcefulness

Interest in facing change

or anything new

9

Ambition,

Responsibility

Idealism

Desire to pursue mental

activity to the full

2

Intuition and

Feeling,

Co-operation,

Consideration for

others.

3 6 9

2 5 8

1 4 7

33 6 9

2

1 4

50 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Body-Mind-Spirit

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 51

Swami Vivekananda guides to uplift IndiaBy Kanaka Ramakrishna

“I cannot write aboutVivekananda without going intoraptures….His personality wasrich, profound andcomplex…reckless in his sacri-fice, unceasing in his activity,boundless in his love, profoundand versatile in his wisdom,exuberance in his emotions,merciless in his attacks but yetsimple as a child …He gave apractical interpretation to theVedanta to uplift his country-men ..A yogi of the highest spir-itual level who had consecratedhis whole life to the moral andspiritual upliftment of his nationand of humanity.”

– Subhas Chandra Bose.

Swami Vivekananda was aphenomenon. He was agreat saint, patriot,

prophet, humanist and muchmore than all these put together.He was too vast, too deep, andtoo multisided personality tocomprehend. He was the archi-tect of modern India and mould-ed the future of modern India.Even after 150 years after hisbirth, his voice still rings notonly in India but all over theworld.

When Swami Vivekanandatravelled throughout India as anunknown monk, he was agonisedto see the terrible poverty andsuffering and ignorance of themasses and he could not restrainhis tears. He wanted to removethe poverty and suffering of thepeople and find ways and meansfor the salvation for India, whichprompted him to decide to go toAmerica.

His roaring success inAmerica made him weep overhis victory when he rememberedthe hungry millions of India. Hecould not sleep in his bed butrolled on the floor in agony anddespair, crying, “O! Mother,what do I care for name andfame when my motherlandremains sunk in poverty…theremillions die for want of a hand-ful of rice and here people spend

millions for personal comforts.Who will raise the masses ofIndia? Who will give thembread? Show me Mother, howcan I help them.”

Swamiji combined in himselfthe fiery national spirit of a patri-ot and the spirituality of a saint.He found the common bases ofHinduism and awakened thenational consciousness mong thepeople. The central theme ofIndian life is religion and thevitality of India lay in her inex-haustible religious and spiritualreserves, but he saw this vitalityof the nation was weakened. Heawoke India with a clarion callfor the realisation of unity,integrity, sacrifice, strength andselflessness.

Though he dwelled deep intospiritual mysticism, he wasnever tired of preaching whatIndia needed at that time – foodfor the hungry millions, socialjustice for the low classes,strength and fearlessness for theemasculated people and a senseof pride and prestige as a greatnation of the world. He made atrumpet call to all the Indians toshed fear of all kinds and standas men. He instilled energy andstrength by reminding them thatthey are the spark of the Divine.He galvanised the current ofnational life, enforced new hopesand aspirations and inspiredthem to serve the motherland.He gave a spiritual basis forIndian nationalism. His teachingspermeated the lives and activitiesof many nationalists and mar-tyrs, who were inspired by histeachings endured extreme suf-ferings and sacrifices cheerfullyfor the Motherland.

Swami Vivekananda’s patri-otism was exclusive. To him, thevery dust of India was holy; thevery air was holy and the holyland was a place of pilgrimage.He identified his consciousnesswith the entire nation. To him,India represented the repositoryof spiritual power that meant forthe nourishment of the wholeworld. He emphasised man mak-ing religion and man makingeducation.

So also was his sainthood.

He was different from the saintsIndia had ever seen. He shockedboth orthodox and unorthodoxpeople by his utter boldness bytranscending the barriers ofcaste, religion and race. But hehad touched the feet of God andwas at home in any situation.People could not but love himfor his purity and simplicity.

His love was not only for hiscountrymen but also for thewhole world. He said, ‘asBuddha had a message to theEast, I have a message for theWest.’ Buddha’s message origi-nated in the East (India) and tookfirm roots and spread over theother parts of the world. InSwami Vivekananda’s case,India discovered him only afterthe stupendous, maddening ova-tion he received in the west(America) at the Parliament ofReligions in 1893. It awoke Indiato find her son calling from adistant shore. It was the Westthat recognised SwamiVivekananda first. Most of hislectures and writings came to usfrom America.

Swamiji identified himselfwith the whole world. Hisattempt was always to find outhow to bring peace to the world.He thought that religion was atthe root of all problems and alsoreligion is the motivation forindividual perfection and socialupliftment. He wanted to givemankind a religion that was goodfor all. He found out thatHinduism (Sanatana Dharma),the scientific religion, is univer-sal, impersonal and eternal. Onecan find a place for all religiousprophets of the world in this reli-gion. Though SwamiVivekananda mainly emphasisedmanifesting our spiritual natureas the source of strength, he didnot neglect other aspects of life.He liked to see strength as mani-fest in every situation and in allareas of life. When he returnedfrom America, he found lack ofregard to physical strengthamong Indians. He told them,‘you will be nearer to Godthrough football than studyingGita’. ‘When your body standsfirm upon your feet, you willunderstand the Upanishads andthe glory of Atman better andyou feel yourselves to be men.’

Besides physical strength,mental strength is also impor-tant. The mind controls thebody. Hence, mental strengthand will power, through concen-tration and one- pointednessshould be developed. This ispossible by positive thinking andmeditation.

The ultimate strength, thespiritual strength is the strengthof all strengths. The Spirit,(Atman or Soul) is the controllerof everything. If we are awareof the inherent spiritual strengthin us, we will be able to bringout that strength at all other lev-

els in life. Swamiji said, “then,power will come, glory willcome, goodness will come, puri-ty will come and everything thatis excellent will come, when thesleeping soul is aroused to self-conscious activity.”

Swami Vivekananda was thefirst in India who was boldenough to welcome the advent ofsocialism. He predicted that newIndia would arise through thestruggle and sacrifice of the‘have-nots’, who had formed thelowest strata of the society.

Swamiji knew very well thatfor a nation, just economicstrength and economic securityare not enough. He even advo-cated military strength for India.Someone asked him, ‘with yourgospel of the Atman and the one-ness of Self, why should youadvocate military strength?’Swamiji replied, ‘I have neverspoken of revenge. I havealways spoken of strength.’

Man’s life becomes a vacu-um if he has no goal in life. Soalso a nation cannot prosperwithout a national goal. Swamijihas given Indians a new nationalgoal to surpass their own ancientglory and to build a new, mod-ern, greater and stronger India.He said good things have to beretained from ancient India, butthe future India must be greaterthan what she was - in the front-line among other countries in art,literature, science, trade and phi-losophy. Swamiji exhortedIndians to work for new India,surpassing ancient India in everyaspect.

This national ideal should beinstalled in the minds of theIndians. We have to surpass theglory of ancient India and showto the world how to combinematerial prosperity and spiritual-ity. With the help of Swamiji’spractical Vedanta, India has toachieve this goal.

Though Swami Vivekanandaemphasised manifesting ourspiritual nature as the sourceof strength, he did not neglectother aspects of life. When he

returned from America, hefound lack of regard to physical

strength among Indians. Hetold them, ‘you will be nearer to

God through football thanstudying Gita’.

He was different from thesaints India had ever seen. He

shocked both orthodox andunorthodox people by his utterboldness by transcending thebarriers of caste, religion andrace. But he had touched the

feet of God and was at home inany situation.

52 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Body Mind Spirit

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 53

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 55

Columns

By Karam C. Ramrakha

Karam C Ramrakha, a veteran prac-tising lawyer and former Fiji MP, writesof developments in Fiji.

And that date and the method ofelections intrigues us all. After all,everyone was subject to his

Emergency Decree which restricted politi-cal discussions and meetings, Frank hasdeclared that certain class of people wouldnot be eligible as candidates, and that hasto be spelt outIn 1643, Abel Tasman sight-ed (or "discovered") Fiji, and CaptainCook also landed there. But in 1774 it wasCaptain Bligh who not only courageouslysailed his longboat through Fiji outwittingthe Fijians who chased him in their druasor canoes, but charted the islands as well.To the West he became the real discovererof Fiji and for a while it was called BlighIslands.

The Tongans warned European trav-ellers that Fiji was inhabited by ferociouscannibals and Bligh's report spoke of reefstrewn waters. Consequently, Europeanpenetration to Fiji was limited for manyyears to beach bums and convicts whoescaped from the British penal colonies inAustralia. Later, the lure of sandalwood,beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) plantationsand enforced native labour would bring ina flood of adventurers who would defileFiji with firearms, whisky and measles.

The climax would come in 1849 whenthe Great United States of Americademanded $50,000 in compensation from

the natives for arson and pillage of Consulproperty. The then King Cakobau turnedto Queen Victoria to cede the islands toher who, after thrice rejecting the offer,finally accepted it on 10 October 1874.

That's schoolboy history but theFijians would become beloved Children ofEmpire with unflinching loyalty to BritishCrown, its Law and Order and deepembrace of Christianity. No empire couldhave boasted a better acquisition.

In 1987, Colonel Rabuka seizedpower, sacked the Governor General anddeclared Fiji a republic. Since then Fijihas not enjoyed any real peace. Its citi-zens, both indigenous or otherwise, readi-ly flee Fiji if they can.

Racial divisions and unrest has pre-vailed until Frank Bainimarama's coup inDecember 2006. Here, we were greetedwith a new chapter: a coup to make all

citizens of Fiji, equal with one man, onevote, one value and to end discrimination.Nevertheless, to the West a coup was acoup and protests and denial of aid andrestrictions followed and are still in place.

Frank now is isolated and has turnedto China and Indonesia for help and com-fort. At the same time Frank has beenobliged largely because of pressure fromEuropean Economic Community to holdelections. He promised one in 2009 but

his new date is 2014 and that will comesooner if not later.

And that date and the method of elec-tions intrigues us all. After all, everyonewas subject to his Emergency Decreewhich restricted political discussions andmeetings, Frank has declared that certainclass of people would not be eligible ascandidates, and that has to be spelt out.

A recent development has been

Frank's uplifting of the EmergencyRegulations which was, however, swiftlyreplaced with the forty-year-old PublicOrder Act which contains very much thesame restrictions. Of course there is out-cry at all this, particularly from the West.But to add spice to the situation, a RussianMinister is scheduled to visit Fiji.(Remember, Fiji has that one valuablevote in the United Nations.)

Although 2014 is two years away, atleast Frank cannot rest. It is on everyone'slips that he must produce a Constitutionand allow political parties and open dia-logue and discussion. What form that willtake is a matter of conjecture.

In 1994, Fiji had accepted the servicesof Revered Sir Paul Reeves, former NewZealand Governor General andArchbishop of the Anglican Church, tohead a Commission to decide on a futureConstitution for Fiji. The result was the1997 Constitution which presumably isstill a bedrock for future constitutions. ButFrank has to act quickly as time is runningout despite the pollsters showing that hestill commands majority support in Fiji.

iji still remains a giant in the Pacificalbeit a little one. As the Chinese tell us,‘May God Bless Fiji and guide its lead-ers’.

Karam C Ramrakha, Barrister andSolicitor, Notary Public, PutneyChambers, 36 Pellisier Road Putney NSW2112. Phone: 02 9808 2760, Fax: 02 98025014, Mob: 0434 986 123, Email: karam-cramrakha@gmail.com

Fiji, Little Giant of the Pacific

Under pressure fromEuropean EconomicCommunity, Frank

announced elections in Fijiin 2014 but declared thatcertain class of peoplewould not be eligible as

candidates, and that has to be spelt out.

The strange people across the border

The other day, while visiting a furni-ture store, I met a worker wholooked Indian. But when I told him

I was from India, he revealed he wasfrom Pakistan. At that point, I had nochoice: I grabbed a chair and chased himaround the store, shouting, "Death to thePakistani!"

Actually, it didn't go quite like that.Security was tight, so I waited until hisshift ended and followed him home,where I deflated his tires, raided hisrefrigerator, and tattooed the words "Ilove India!" all over his body. Who saidtattoos serve no purpose?

OK, I admit it: I didn't go that far.All I did was shake his hand and smile.We had a rather friendly chat. I didn't askif any of his relatives were terrorists. Hedidn't ask if any of mine were infidels.We didn't even insult each other's moth-

er-in-law.He stated that the Kashmir dispute

shouldn't create any ill will between us."Yes," I said. "After all, India andPakistan were once the same country. Weare like family, you and I. That remindsme: Does this store offer any family dis-counts?"

If it were up to us, the border betweenIndia and Pakistan would be eliminated.Of course, if that happened, the countrywould have to look for a new enemy, sopeople in the military could keep theirjobs. Gotta keep the economy going.

It's a funny thing about borders -- howthey divide people, how they create enmi-ty and envy, how they give travellers theoccasional thrill of being strip-searched.

Borders often seem so arbitrary, soillogical, like a British monarch delegatedthe task of drawing borders to his petmonkey. And yet we take them so seri-ously. We act like the people across theborder are so different from us.

Fifty-year-old man: "They're crazy,those people across the border. Theyspeak a strange language and play strangegames. Crazy, I tell you."

Wife: "Oh, be quiet. You reallyshouldn't speak ill of the Canadians.They're just like us. Nice people."

I've often wondered what Americawould be like if every state were an inde-pendent country. It would be virtuallyimpossible to travel from Nevada to Utah.

Border officer: "You're from LasVegas? What, may I ask, what do youwant in Utah? There's no gambling here,you know. No prostitution either. Wedon't even allow bingo."

Traveller: "I'm visiting my parents.They live just across the border."

Officer: "Visiting your parents? Idon't believe it. It's not Christmas yet.Sorry, I can't let you through. If youwant to enter Utah, you'll have to hide ina barrel like everyone else."

I like the Internet because it crossesborders so easily, brings people of differ-ent countries together. People in almost

any country can read my column, peoplein almost any country can send me hatemail. I love hearing from Pakistanis asmuch as anyone else.

In major American cities, you willfind Indians and Pakistanis doing businessside by side, some operating stores withnames like South Asia Boutique, Indo-PakGroceries and Indo-Pak Sweets & NoDisputes. You may even spot them at thelocal park, playing a few innings of crick-et -- laughing and shouting and ignoringthe strange looks from passers-by.

There's no border between these peo-ple. I hope there never is.

THE HUMOR OF MELVIN DURAI

56 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

The Kersi Meher-Homji column

Crushing defeats for India down underJanuary 15, 2012 was a sad day for India

when they lost the series 0-3 in Perthand with it the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

they had proudly held for two years.There is nothing shameful in losing a

Test match or a series. What makes itunpalatable and humiliating for an India sup-porter is the way India lost the series sotamely.

Thrashed, crushed, walloped.Losing the first Test in Melbourne in

four days was bad enough. At least Indiawas in the hunt being 2-214 at stumps onday-2 in reply to Australia’s 333 all out.Then Sachin Tendulkar fell for a super 73and India lost 8 for 68.

But they fought back to have Australiaon the ropes when emerging speedsterUmesh Yadav took quick wickets andAustralia lost 4 for 27. But then RickyPonting and Mike Hussey staged a rescueoperation and the home team won by 122runs.

Since then it has been a rapid decline inIndia’s performances.

In Sydney India again had a sniff whenAustralia lost 3 for 37 but once Ponting(134), skipper Michael Clarke (329 not out)and Hussey (150 not out) got together Indiawas in a sorry state and lost by an inningsand plenty with a day to spare.

But at least they showed some fight whentotalling 400 in the second innings, with 83from Gautam Gambhir, 80 from Tendulkarand 66 from VVS Laxman.

Sadly, apart from hot-headed ViratKohli’s 75, there was no saving grace forIndia in the Perth mauling, another inningsdefeat within two and half days.

That was the worst day in Indian cricketsince they had lost 4 wickets for no runs inthe Leeds Test against England in 1952.

Combining consecutive Sydney andPerth Test innings this summer, Australialost only one wicket before Ed Cowan wasbowled in Perth on 14th January, while theteam scored 836 runs (from 3-37 to 4-659 inSydney to none for 214 in Perth). And afterPonting was dismissed in Sydney at 4-325 tobefore Cowan was bowled in Perth,Australia did not lose a wicket for 548 runs.

So how’s this for an unusual record forAussie bats; 1 for 836 and 0 for 548?

Clarke (329 not out) outscored India(191) in the first innings in the Sydney Test,and David Warner (180) outscored India(161 and 171) in both innings in the PerthTest.

Annihilation, no less!This is the seventh Test India has lost

overseas following the 0-4 drubbingreceived in England last year.

What are the causes?To me, one cause is the IPL which ruins

batsmen’s technique and the ability to retaintheir concentration. Also bowlers tend tosave runs rather than try to take wickets.Every Test cricketer from India took part inthe 2011 IPL a week after winning the 2011World Cup. Very few Australians from thecurrent side participated in this get-rich-quick scheme falsely named cricket.

Also Australian pace bowlers were fartoo good for India’s batsmen whose foot-work left a lot to be desired.

As mentioned earlier, India should haveplayed a couple of first-class matches, sayagainst NSW, Victoria or Western Australiato get a feel of the swing and bounce of theAussie pitches which are completely differ-ent from the placid and spin-friendly Indianturf.

Net practice is no substitute for match

play against top-class bowlers.Tendulkar did his best in the first two

Tests but the added pressure and expectationof his hundredth international century per-haps clouded his temperament.

Was the advanced age of India’s topbatsmen the reason behind India’s poor per-formances down under? Let me quote for-mer Indian Test captain Nari Contractorduring a recent interview.

Aged 77, he feels that age is certainlycatching up with some of the seniors whohave put up exceptional service to the gameand to Indian cricket.

“No one doubts their class and contri-bution to Indian cricket. But again, you haveto respect age and accept the fact that thereflexes are waning. Even a fraction of sec-ond delay in judgement will lead to manyproblems, especially when you are batting,”he said.

“And, what really surprised is the wayso many mistakes were being repeated by

the batsmen. If you are to succeed in Testcricket, you should know where your off-stump is. This is the key to success at thehighest level,” pointed out Contractor, whois now part of cricketing folklore for aremarkable comeback to play the gameagain despite being felled by a nasty deliveryfrom Charlie Griffith in the tour gameagainst Barbados on the 1962 tour to WestIndies.

“There are no exceptions to these mis-takes. Sachin is getting out to balls frequent-ly coming back into him. Laxman andSehwag are giving catches in the slip cordonregularly and even [Rahul] Dravid is gettingbowled repeatedly. All sad signs of dimin-ishing class of these great players,” saidContractor who played 31 Tests between1955 and 1962.

“Essentially, I don't think this Indianteam is ready, or enjoy facing challenges.The end-result is the 3-0 drubbing,” he con-cluded.

The Australian team celebrating after drubbing India 3-0 in the 4-Test series.

The long faces of Tendulkar, Dravid and Sehwag tell the sad story of India’s poor away form.

Skipper Dhoni had no answer to Aussies piling up century upon century, and is nowbeing criticized back home for uninspiring leadership of the Indian Test team.

Kersi Meher-Homji

analyses India’s rapid fall

The Kersi Meher-Homji Column

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 57

India’s dismal 5-25 Testsrecord Down Under

Aussie ODI team beware, Sehwag is on fire!

Advertiserspatient despite

India's poor showSince 1947-48, India havetoured Australia 10 times, los-ing sevent series and drawing

three. Of 39 Tests played by the two

countries so far India has won five,lost 25 with nine drawn.

Yet, the Border-GavaskarTrophy is the most prestigious Testseries after the Ashes betweenEngland and Australia. And inrecent years the Border-GavaskarTrophy between India and Australiahas provided greater excitement.Before the current series, India held

the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (inau-gurated in 1996-97) by defeatingAustralia in India 2-0 in 2010-11.

The current series providedIndia its best chance of beatingAustralia in a Test series inAustralia as Australia’s confidencewas at its lowest after being beatenby an under strength New Zealandin Hobart. But that was not to be.After India losing three Tests andthe series, the Fourth Test inAdelaide, January 24-28, is only ofacademic interest.

The chart below shows India’spoor record down under:

The India Test side's con-tinued freefall inAustralia has infuriated

the media and angered fansback home but advertisers andbroadcasters are refusing togive up on cricket, given a lackof alternatives and the fickle-ness of local supporters.

Since the euphoria of a2011 World Cup victory onhome soil in April, nothing hasgone right for MS Dhoni'steam, who lost the No 1 Testranking to England after a 4-0series whitewash on a tourthere a few months later.

A similar humiliationlooms in Australia, where theyhave been thoroughly out-played in the first three match-es of a four-Test series butmedia planners insist cricketremains a hot property.

"Overall, there won't bemuch of a difference. Cricketas a property is still hot andadvertisers will look to get onboard," Sanjay Chakraborty,of ZenithOptimedia, toldReuters.

The humiliation inAustralia, however, wouldgive more bargaining power to

advertisers buying slots for theensuing ODI tri-series. ESPN-STAR Sports India are broad-casting the series and the com-pany's senior director of cor-porate development, RathindraBasu, believes the side onlyneeded one good tournament towin back fans who may haveturned their back on cricket.

Cricket drew more than aquarter of the country's totaladvertising revenue of $2.41billion last year and it is likelyto remain the same this yearwith big-ticket events like theIPL and the Twenty20 WorldCup in Sri Lanka lined up.

In India's uni-sport culture,cricket dominates sports adver-tising revenue and Dhoni isone of the prime beneficiaries,having signed a two-year dealwith a talent management com-pany for $39.70 million in2010. The previous highest byan Indian cricketer was SachinTendulkar's three-year dealwith another firm for $35.8million.

None of them stood to losein terms of brand value, saidTV commercial maker PrahladKakkar.

India won the one-day interna-tional (ODI) series against theWest Indies 4-1 on 11

December last year. Yet, cricketlovers have not stopped ravingabout Virender Sehwag’s spectacu-lar and record breaking 219 againstthe West Indies at Indore three daysearlier.

Especially Australians, as theywill encounter the six-smashingfire-breathing phenomenon Sehwagin the current ODI series inAustralia.

And no wonder. Sehwag’s sen-sational double century is enough toput shivers down any opponent’sspine.

For those TIDU readers whodid not watch skipper ‘Viru’Sehwag’s run-spree, let me recapit-ulate the highlights.

India won the toss and attackedwith gusto, Sehwag (219 runs off149 balls at a strike-rate of 147 belt-ing 25 fours and 7 sixes) becomingthe highest scorer in an ODI.

He is only the second player toscore a double century in an ODI,the first being another Indian,Sachin Tendulkar, 200 not outagainst South Africa at Gwalior lastFebruary.

This made Tendulkar (restingfrom the ODI series against the

Windies) exclaim, "I am very happyfor Viru. It is even more satisfyingthat an Indian has broken myrecord."

Sehwag added 176 runs withGautam Gambhir (67) for the firstwicket, then 140 with Suresh Raina(55) at a run-rate of almost 8 anover, till both -- Gambhir and Raina-- were run out.

Thus India was at one stage 1-316 and Sehwag marching towardshis record-smashing double hun-dred.

India eventually reached 5-418at a run-rate of 8.36. For thoseinterested in trivia not a singlemaiden was bowled in the 50 overs.

Thanks to a fighting 96 fromDenesh Ramdin, the visitors scored265 but lost the match by 153 runsto lose the series.

Then in the next ODI inChennai, India under Gambhirdefeated the Windies by 34 runswith Manoj Tiwari scoring 104 andadding 117 runs with Virat Kohli(80) for the fourth wicket beforegetting injured. For the oppositionKieron Pollard hit 119. Tiwari wasmade the Man of the Match andRohit Sharma (305 runs at 76.25)the Man of the Series.

The focus is still on Sehwag ashe received compliments from col-leagues, opponents and formergreats (as reported in CricInfo).

Chris Gayle, himself a six sym-bol: "Well I did watch some of thatinnings by Viru... Brilliant strik-ing!! Congrats on your 219...That's child abuse!"

Team mate Yuvraj Singh who isremembered for smashingEngland’s Stuart Broad for six sixes

in an over in September 2007 inDurban in the ICC World T20: “Isay it again! I never saw Sir Viv[Richards] bat but I've seen Sehwagbat! What a player, 219 in a one daygame is next to impossible!"

Derek Pringle, former EnglandTest player and now a commenta-tor:"Sehwag, the greatest slaughter-er of bowling since IVA Richards."

And finally from Australia’sopener Dave Warner on the eve ofplaying the Hobart Test against theKiwis: "Wow, watching VirenderSehwag score 200 plus was unreal.Well done mate."

And so say all of us!Australian spectators love

Sehwag’s unorthodox batting asmuch as they cheer the elegantstroke-play of Tendulkar, RahulDravid and VVS Laxman.

The Melbourne crowd had thethrill of watching Sehwag in fullflight in the December 2003 Test.For five hours he enthralled theBoxing Day crowd of 62,600 bybelting five sixes and 25 fours in hisspectacular 195. Despite his fire-works India lost.

In the 2004 Multan Test againstPakistan Sehwag romped to 309,the first triple century by an Indian.And he brought it up with a six.Two Tests and three months ago in

Melbourne, he had been dismissedtrying the same stroke five runsshort of what would have been hisfirst Test double-hundred.

At Multan Sehwag thrashed sixsixes and 39 fours in his epic 309off 375 balls.

His highest score is 319 at astrike-rate of 105 against SouthAfrica in the March 2008 ChennaiTest. It included five sixes and 42fours. He had hammered 257 runsin a day.

So be it an ODI, a Twenty20 ora Test match, six-o-maniac Sehwagprovides entertainment plus to spec-tators but migraine to opposite cap-tains.

Aussies beware, Sehwag is onfire!Cricket lovers have not stopped

raving about Virender Sehwag’sspectacular and record breaking219 in an ODI against the WestIndies at Indore in December..

Sachin Tenulkar, player of the2010 series against Australia inIndia, holds aloft the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, that Indiaretained. In the 2011-12 currentseries, Australia won it back.

Twenty20 itinerary v.Australia:First, Sydney Olympic Park,February 1, 2012Second, Melbourne, February 3,2012.

ODI tri-series against Australiaand Sri Lanka starts onFebruary 5 and the three finalswill be played in Brisbane onMarch 4, second and third inAdelaide on March 6 and 8.

58 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

The Kersi Meher-Homji column

The great, the sad, the mad and thefantastic of 2011

In his book, Chappell blames Gangulyfor the famous spat

What a year! 2011 had it all. Therewere statistical milestones andunique feats, jail sentence to

three Test players, mystery surrounding thepassing of a high profile columnist, thrillersincluding a near tied Test, dramatic debutsby bowlers, spectacular hitting by ShaneWatson and Virender Sehwag in ODIs,England belting Australia and India to reachthe No. 1 ranking in Test cricket, Australiashot out for 47 after being 9 for 21 in theCape Town Test and incredibly the last fourNetherlands batsmen getting run out forducks off four successive balls againstIreland at Kolkata in the World Cup.

Let’s start with the GREAT, mile-stones and unique feats in internationalarena.

* India won the World Cup in April inMumbai, the first time a country has won athome.

*India’s Little Master Sachin Tendulkarbecame the only batsman to score 15,000Test runs (during the Delhi Test againstNew Zealand in November).

* He is one century short of his 100thinternational hundred which he may reachin Australia.

*Thrilling Tests in Johannesburg,Mumbai and Hobart, the Mumbai ‘magic’ending in a near tie.

* It has been a year of debutant bowlers,starting with Australia’s spinner NathanLyon who took a wicket off his first ball ina Test, only the 14th to do so in the134years of Test cricket. This was against SriLanka at Galle in September where hegrabbed 5-34.

* November and December were indeedmonths for golden debutants when NewZealander Doug Bracewell, India’sRavichandran Ashwin, South Africa’sVernon Philander and Australia’s PatCummins and James Pattinson captured fivewickets in an innings on Test debut. Detailsof Ashwin’s superlative achievements aregiven elsewhere in this column.

* Replacing an injured Cummins, JamesPattinson took 5-27 in his debut forAustralia against New Zealand in theDecember Brisbane Test followed by anoth-er 5-fer in Hobart to finish with 14 wicketsin the two Test series. Like another debu-tant Ashwin (vs. West Indies) Pattinson wasmade the Man of the series against NewZealand.

* Two unique records for Mike Hussey.He is the only batsman to average 50 inTests, one-day internationals (ODIs) andfirst-class (FC) cricket (qualification 4000runs in each format) and to be adjudgedMan of the Match in all three Tests in aseries as also Man of the Series. This wasagainst Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in Septemberwhen his batting average was a Bradman-like 92.60 and bowling average only 3.50.

* In the five-match one day internation-al (ODI) series against England in India thisOctober, India’s captain wicket-keeper MS

Dhoni was not dismissed even once. Hisscores: 87 not out, did not bat, 35 not out,15 not out and 75 not out, in all 212 runs infive consecutive matches. But the sequencegoes further back for him. In the fourthODI against England at Lord's thisSeptember he scored 78 not out. And in thefifth and final ODI at Cardiff five dayslater, he made an unbeaten 50. Thus inseven consecutive ODIs against England, hetotalled 340 runs and is yet to be dismissed.This is a record for most runs in successiveinnings against one country without gettingout. The sequence is ongoing as his nextODI will be against Australia in Melbournenext February.

* On 6 August, South Africa’s mediumpacer Norman Gordon became the onlyTest cricketer to celebrate his 100th birth-day.

Now to the SAD…I have still not come to grips with the

shocking and tragic death of Peter Roebuck;my friend and hero, in November, aged 55.The mystery surrounding his passing willbe discussed for decades. He was a brilliantwriter and radio commentator who did a lotto help the poor and to fight social injustice.

Among other prominent personalitiesto pass away this year were Test cricketersMansur Ali Khan (the Nawab of Pataudi jr),Trevor Bailey, Terry Jenner, Peter Loader,Graham Dilley, Basil D’Oliveira and SamLoxton. Not to forget my dear friend VinayVerma, a prominent writer on cricket and apoet.

... the MAD:* The jail sentence to the Pakistan Test

trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif andMohammad Amir this November for spot-

fixing scandal of last year. Cricketers arepaid well these days; so it is sheer madnessto accept bribes to fix matches.

* On day-2 of the Cape Town Test on10 November, 23 wickets tumbled for 262runs. This included South Africa being dis-missed for 96 and hitting back by routingAustralia for 47 (after they were 9-21).Australia’s Peter Siddle batted and bowledin all four innings on that day.

and finally the FANTASTIC:* Australia’s Shane Watson hit a spec-

tacular unbeaten 185 off 96 balls againstBangladesh in an ODI in Mirpur this Aprilat an astounding strike rate of 192.70. Itwas spiced up with 15 fours and 15 sixes.His 15 sixes in an innings is a record in allinternationals.

* This batting spree was bettered byIndia’s ‘six-o-maniac’ Virender Sehwag on8 December. He slammed 219 runs off 149balls at a strike-rate of 147 belting 25 foursand 7 sixes and becoming the highest scor-er in an ODI. See details of his firepowerelsewhere in this issue. He became only thesecond player to score a double century inan ODI, the first being another Indian,Sachin Tendulkar, 200 not out vs. SouthAfrica at Gwalior last February.

Last month I attended the launch ofGreg Chappell’s book “FierceFocus” when I had the opportunity

to meet the Chappell trio of Ian, Greg andTrevor, Doug Walters, Alan Davidson,Neil Harvey, Brian Booth, Brian Taber, IanDavis and David Gilbert. Not to forget theattractive Ellyse Perry who representsAustralian women in both cricket and foot-ball.

Among the VIPs present was India’sHigh Commissioner Sujata Singh, whocame all the way from Canberra. She madea humorous presentation.

“Fierce Focus” is a well produced bookwhich traces the highs and (highs!) of GregChappell’s cricket career, his encounterswith Don Bradman (both pleasant and notso pleasant) and, among other items, givesus an insight into his acrimony with formerIndian captain Sourav Ganguly when Gregwas the coach of the Indian team in 2005and 2006.

Greg hints in the book that Ganguly was

selfish and self-centred. But he has nothingbut praises for Rahul Dravid and SachinTendulkar.

To quote Greg, “He [Sourav] played abig part in me getting the job [as coach ofIndia in 2005] and probably expected me tobe his saviour, by helping him with his cap-

taincy. But we were always working atcross purposes.

“His idea was probably ‘You scratchmy back, I’ll scratch yours’. He expected Iwould be so grateful to him for getting methe job that I’d become his henchman in hisbattle to remain captain.

“I, on the other hand, took on a job witha primary responsibility to Indian cricketand the Indian people. There were a billionof them and only one Sourav. I wanted tohelp India become the best cricket team inthe world.”

The chapter on ‘Sourav and Me’ goeson for 13 pages and I learnt things I did notknow before.

The Foreword of the book is written byour very own Darshak Mehta who knowsboth Indian and Australian cricket andcricketers well. In my opinion Darshak hadthe potential to be a Test class leg-spinnerhimself but business took up most of histime in his prime in the 1970s.

Greg was interested when I told himthat Suresh Raina and other young Indiancricketers are still grateful to him for hiscoaching. When I sent him the article Ireceived a very complimentary e-mail fromhim. “Fierce Focus” (Hardie Grant Books)is a well presented and easy to read hard-cover book of 370 pages.

In ‘Fierce Focus’ book, former Indian coach Greg Chappell writes “He (Ganguly)expected I would be so grateful to him for getting me the job that I’d become his

henchman in his battle to remain captain.”

Mike Hussey is the only batsman to aver-age 50 in Tests, one-day internationals

(ODIs) and first-class (FC) cricket (quali-fication 4000 runs in each format).

Cricketers are paid well these days; so itis sheer madness to accept bribes to fix

matches.

The Kersi Meher-Homji Column

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 59

Tale of three thrilling Tests

Vale Peter Roebuck, the bestcricket writer of our time

In view of the fears thatTwenty20 crick-et is throttling Tests and ODIs, it isheartening to note that in recent months

we witnessed three thrilling Tests.Whatpulsating moments each of these matchesprovided!

Johannesburg TestAustralia vs

S. AfricaThe Johannesburg Test twisted and

twirled on all five days with a climax onthe final day on 21 November. It will beremembered for Australia’s18 year-oldquickie Pat Cummins’ sensational Testdebut.

South Africa looked set for a big totalwith Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers andAshwin Prince hitting 50s but were dis-missed for 266. Likewise, Australia wasgiven a magnificent start of 174 runs byopeners Shane Watson (88) and PhilHughes (88). But the rest failed to build onand the visitors had a narrow lead of 30.

The next day was a confrontationbetween South Africa’s experienced bats-man Hashim Amla (105) and debutant fastbowler Cummins who captured 6-79. Set310 to win, Australia reached the targetwith only two wickets in hand and tied theseries 1-1.

Usman Khawaja (65) and strugglingformer captain Ricky Ponting (62) added122 for the third wicket. But the match wasin balance when tail-ender and Man of theMatch Cummins joined Mitchell Johnsonand hit the winning runs.

Also, the Test career of Ponting wasextended by his timely 62. When I chattedwith him a week later in Sydney, he saidthat he was inspired by the good formshown by Tendulkar and Dravid who areolder than him and scoring runs freelyagainst the Windies.

Mumbai Test: Indiavs West Indies

With the Test series already won byIndia 2-0, the only interest in the third andfinal Test in Mumbai in November waswhether Tendulkar will score his 100th Testcentury in his city of birth. Unfortunately,he fell six runs short, being dismissed for 94but many other highlights climaxed in achilling last ball.

When West Indies totalled 590 (DarrenBravo 166 and fifties by five other batsmenand spinner R. Ashwin taking 5-156) only adraw appeared possible. Maybe a boringdraw when India replied with 482 (Ashwin103, Tendulkar 94, Rahul Dravid 82) a bor-ing draw was on the cards.

But it turned out to be an exciting, pul-sating draw. Almost the third tied Test in the134 year history of Test cricket.

The featherbed of Wankhede Stadiumturned a bowler’s dream as the Windieswere bundled out for 134 in the 2nd innings,spinners Pragyan Ojha capturing 6-47 andAshwin 4-34. Set 243 runs to win, Indiaconfidently reached 101 for the loss of onlyone wicket with slam-bang Virender Sehwag

hitting out freely and ferociously. Hereached 60 off 65 balls but then played a stu-pid shot.

From a comfortable1-101 India plungedto “oh-no” 4-113. The match was now inbalance. Kohli (63) appeared all set to takeIndia to victory but was dismissed whenIndia was 19 runs short.

Ashwin and Test debutant Varun Aarontook India to 242. With only one run neededfor a win, Ashwin was run out and the matchended with scores level.

It was not a tie because India had lostnine wickets and not all 10. But you can’tget closer.

Test cricket is alive and well althoughthe crowd was poor throughout the series.

For his century and a 5 wicket haul inthe first innings and 9 wickets in this fluctu-ating Test, Ashwin was made Man of theMatch.

In this epic Test he became the thirdIndian after Vinoo Mankad at Lord’s in1952 and Polly Umrigar at Port-of-Spain in1961-62 to score a century and take 5 wick-ets in an innings in the same Test.

For his superlative performance in allthree Tests Ashwin was adjudged Man of theSeries as well.

Hobart Test:Australia vsNew Zealand

Who can forget December 12 when theHobart Test provided thrills and chills remi-niscent of a Hitchcock movie?

Australia appeared certain to win thisTest at stumps on day 3, being 0 for 72 chas-ing 241 for a victory. A 2-0 series triumphover New Zealand would have givenMichael Clarke’s men confidence to face thestronger Indian challenge on the traditionalBoxing Day on the MCG.

But it was not to be as Australian bats-

men, apart from David Warner, collapsed ina heap.

At one stage they lost seven wickets for40 runs. Even worse, from 2-159 Australiaplunged to 5-159, losing three wickets for noruns as the world-class batsmen RickyPonting, skipper Clarke and Mike Husseyperished in 14 delivers without adding a run.

Full credit to New Zealand’s mediumpacer Doug Bracewell, 21 and playing onlyhis third Test. He captured 6-40 in the sec-ond innings and 9-60 in the match to enablethe visitors to win the thriller by seven runsand draw the series 1-1.

He, and not Warner, deserved to be theMan of the Match. Warner, playing in onlyhis second Test, propped up the Australianbatting with his spirited 123 runs off 170balls and studded with 14 fours. But when hewas seeing the ball so well he should havedominated the strike by taking a single offthe last or second last ball of the over to savethe tail-enders.

Last man in Nathan Lyon survived for27 balls and 43 minutes to add 34 preciousruns for the tenth wicket and broughtAustralia to within eight runs of victory.Judicious running between wickets couldhave changed the outcome of the thrillingTest but well-set Warner went for singleseven at the beginning of the over.

How the Test fluctuated every day,every session, every over! Sent in to bat, NZlost 6-60 but recovered to 150. Australianquickie James Pattinson captured 5-51, hissecond 5-fer in his second Test.

Australian batsmen did worse, beingbowled out for 136 to trail by 14 runs.Pattinson and Peter Siddle bowled superblyto dismiss the Kiwis for 226.

The win target of 241 was daunting withthe ball moving about but Warner and PhilHughes took them to 72 without loss as theexciting third day ended.

But Hughes fell early and the rest, apartfrom Warner who carried the bat, fell to badshots and to some superb seam bowling.

Enough has been written on PeterRoebuck who died in mysterious cir-cumstances on November 12 when

covering a Test match in Cape Town, SouthAfrica.

Apart from being a perceptive and fear-less writer he was a personal friend. His dis-tinctive humour appealed to me.

The mystery behind the tragedy of hisdeath may never be solved but here is whathe wrote as a Foreword to my book “Heroesof 100 Tests”, published in 2003:

“Everyone contributes to cricket in hisown way. Some men dominate the headlineswith their deeds and others write the storiesthat hold the attention of the reader. Somemen umpire, others fill the score books,others drink beer and shout from the stands.

“Kersi Meher-Homji has found a placeof his own from which to observe a gamethat has fascinated him since childhood, aplace between the players and the reporterswhich he has filled with determination andhumour. He delves into the game with thedelight of a child upon a Christmas stock-ing, and generally emerges with a point that

the rest of us had missed. He is a cricketingman blessed with a logical and meticulousmind that finds satisfaction in the peculiarmixture of beauty, violence and mathemat-ics that sets cricket apart.

“Much can be told from Kersi's annualappearance at the Test match in Sydney. Ofcourse he arrives modestly, almost sheep-ishly, though he is a familiar and respectedfigure whose warmth is widely appreciated.He joins his fellow writers in the press box,discussing the game or else waiting upon thearrival of the samousas, the highlight of theday as far as most reporters are concerned!

“Throughout, Kersi smiles and talksthoughtfully about the game, often produc-ing a telling statistic from the depths of hismemory.

“Sometimes, during those visits to theSydney press box, Kersi mentions that hehas written a book about some part of thegame that has attracted his attention. Sincehe is not a man in thrall to fame and fortune,it usually emerges that he has written anesoteric contemplation requiring much dili-gent research. Whereas most writers go forboundaries, Kersi pushes his score along

steadily, collecting ones and twos and nevermind that the crowd does not notice, till,finally, he reaches three figures.

“In this book ‘Heroes of 100 Tests’,Kersi tells the story of the men who haveplayed 100 Test matches, and more particu-larly their performances in that 100thmatch. As ever Kersi sets the scene, pro-vides the facts and adds insights into thecharacters involved. His accounts of pastand present players confirm the thorough-ness of his research and then extent of hisunderstanding of the game and life itself. Hetalks about the great men of the game,including Shane Warne, whose 100th Testwas an epic in its own right, and SachinTendulkar, who was subdued in his 100thmatch, as if worn out by the expectations.

“Cricket enthusiasts will enjoy the con-tents of this book, especially the recollec-tions of the struggles involved. Although amathematical feat is the common factor inthis study, Kersi never forgets that cricket isa story about the humanity of the players,their mighty achievements and their numer-ous flaws. Every chapter is differentbecause these centurions are men of varying

faith, colour, confidence and background.He tells their stories with the kindliness andsensitivity that count amongst his ownstrong points, and which he forgets onlywhen news breaks in the Sydney press boxthat the samousas are on their way!”

Peter Roebuck

May, 2003.

Thank you Peter for your kind wordsand friendship. May his soul rest in peace!

It was almost the third tied Test in the 134year history of Test cricket. For his centu-ry in the first innings and 9 wickets, R.Ashwin was made Man of the Match.

Australian cricket writer and commentatorPeter Roebuck (left) died in mysterious

circumstances in November while coveringa Test match in South Africa.

60THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012

Sports

By Vijay Badhwar

The two tricolours wave faithfullyalthough there is gloom in theIndian camp – a patch of blue in a

section of the ground. The Indian batsmenmarch continually to and fro from themiddle; occasionally a ball reaches theboundary rope and there is a chant in theair, “jitega bhai jitega…,” accompaniedby a sudden burst from the dhol.

The bare-chested Australian support-ers are vocal as the Swami Army awaitsthe inevitable death rattle. But they areunperturbed, even dignified in their loss.There are no issues with the securityguards who idly eye them from the edgeof the ground. They are not drunk; theyare no trouble. They are there only tohave a bit of fun.

After the game is over, the SwamiArmy is still singing out in the street. Thebeats of dhol attract a large crowd of curi-ous onlookers. There is dance and there iscelebration. It adds a spice to the scene.

Swami Army is a success story, a taleof hard work that has paid off. Started bya group of Indian youngsters who wantedto have some fun together, it has come todominate the cricket scene this summer.

We talk to Anoop Kalra who has beenone of the key organizers for the sportingArmy.

TIDU: Now that you have establishedSwami Army as a recognizable supporterof Indian Cricket internationally, howwas the journey like?

Anoop Kalra: The journey has been alot of fun, but also a lot of hard work... alabour of passion if you will... We havehad to do a lot in a very short period oftime essentially setting up an organisationfrom scratch in only a few months. Thishas involved setting up the legal structure,creating the website(www.swamiarmy.com), developing amarketing plan to let people know who weare, designing and sourcing merchandiseand trying to attract sponsors. In doingthis we have met many interesting peopleand have had to do a lot of negotiation. It

would not have been possible without thetremendous support from friends and fam-ily and also the likes of Cricket Australia,Cricket NSW and the LBW Trust.

TIDU: We’ve seen on TV that you geta lot of support from Australian cricket.Do you get similar recognition fromIndian cricket you support?

AK: To date we have had tremendoussupport from Cricket Australia, but at thispoint we have had no interaction with theBCCI.

TIDU: It’s almost full time work fol-lowing Indian cricket that has such a busyall year schedule. Will you be able to findso much time, being a not-for -profitorganization, to follow Team India?

AK: At the moment our goal is to getthrough this summer of cricket... thereare a number of people involved in organ-ising the Swami Army and we will have apresence at every match India plays thissummer. Beyond this summer too, wehope to continue our support of team

India.

TIDU: What’s the road ahead like?AK: We will be supporting Team

India with full voice this summer and thenhope to follow the team on otherInternational tours. We have modelledourselves on the Barmy Army and arecontemplating arranging tours that followthe team.

TIDU: How does it feel to be recog-nizable non-supporters of Australiancricket and sitting in the bear pit?

AK: We are all passionate cricketlovers... we aim to make the live cricketviewing experience as fun and enjoyableas possible, but adding a bit of Indianmasala in the process… bringing'Bollywood to the cricket' with lots ofsinging and dancing.

We are a fun loving lot and eventhough there will be times where there istension between us and Australian sup-porters, generally it has been a friendlyrivalry. We have actually found that

many Australian supporters have chosento sit with us given the atmosphere wehave created.

TIDU: Do you realize that you havecontributed to the sagging cricket support,especially for Test Cricket in Australia?

AK: Yes, that was absolutely theintention... we felt that if we could createthe right atmosphere at the ground... itwould attract people to come and watchthe game. We have had many calls frompeople planning their first time visit to acricket match.

TIDU: You have now a huge mem-bership from all over Australia and aSwami Army fan base. What’s your mes-sage to them?

AK: We currently have close to 3,500members and our message to them is tocome out to the game and support teamIndia. We will create a fun, familyfriendly environment with lots of singing,chanting and dancing. We will also havea dhol at each ground.

India’s down but Swami Army flag flies high

(From left) Swami Army team of Kartik Ayyalasomayajula, Angad Oberoi, commentator Harsha Bhogle, Anoop Kalra and Amit Grover.

January - February 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 61

62 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER January - February 2012