March-April - The Indian Down Under

VOL 26 No.
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Print Post Publication No. 23572300014
March - April 2014
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Inside this Issue:

9: Rekha Bhattacharjee analyses Kejriwal and his outfit Aam Admi Party on the eve of the Indian elections 19: Its Jhappi time with India 27: Neeru Saluja attends an Indian pageant of beauty mixed with brain and brawn 47: Manifest your destiny with positive thinking
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02 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March - April 2014
March - April 2014 THEINDIANDOWNUNDER 03
Editor's Letter
Congress party awaits emasculation

Editorial/Advertising Enquiries: 02 9875 2713 Postal Address: PO Box 99, Thornleigh NSW 2120. Email: indiandownunder@gmail.com Website: www.indiandownunder.com.au EDITORIAL Principal Editor: Vijay Badhwar Associate Editor: Neena Badhwar North America : Parveen Chopra Correspondent Sports Editor: Kersi Meher-Homji Delhi Reporter: Ritu Ghai WRITERS Third Eye: Rekha Bhattacharjee Political Columns: Karam Ramrakha, Mallika Ganesan Films and Art: Neeru Saluja, Abhishek Sood, Monica Daswani, Sumi Krishnan, Devaki Parthasarthy, Neena Badhwar, Rekha Rajvanshi, Manju Mittal Body-Mind-Spirit: Dr Sunder Das, Kanaka Ramakrishna, Faith Harper, T Selva, Dilip Mahanty Sport: Kersi Meher-Homji, Dilip Mahanty Fiji Diary: Karam Ramrakha Cookery: Promila Gupta Children Section: Esther Chaudhary-Lyons Classical Music: Sumi Krishnan, Kris Raman, Lokesh Varma Travel: Vijay Badhwar, Kris Raman Humour: Melvin Durai, Santram Bajaj Seniors Column: Santram Bajaj Beauty: Devaki Parthasarthy, Ritu Ghai Community: Neena Badhwar, Kersi Meher-Homji, Vijay Badhwar, Sumi Krishnan, Neeru Saluja, Savitha Narayan, Manju Mittal Photographers: Neelesh Kale, Raj Suri and Jordan Anjaiya Graphic Design: Nayanesh Gandhi, Dinesh Verma,Dhiraj Kumar, Bharat Bhushan Chopra/Bhagwati Multimedia
But BJP-led front also expected to fall short of the 272 seats needed in Lok Sabha to form a government after the April-may general elections in India.
ts election time in India April 7 to May 12 - time for non-stop rallies, discussions and sloganeering, when all else stops and nothing other than the parties and candidates is talked about, more loaded with cynicism than hope, more about a lesser evil among politicians than a dedicated soul who could genuinely uplift India and its masses. The whole country is abuzz with energy the cities and the countryside alike, ordinary people suddenly feeling empowered that they also matter. The largest democratic election on earth engages some 414 million voters from a population of more than 1.2 billion people. The frontrunner for the post as Indias next Prime Minister is Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Narendra Modi. PM Manmohan Singh said that election of Modi will be disastrous for India while his own inaction against rampaging corruption in India has been disastrous for the Congress party and the country, most people feel. Modis closest opponent, Rahul Gandhi of Congress, although not yet declared as a prime ministerial candidate, is miles behind, presumably being groomed for later elections than the current one. He does not yet possess the stature or the family charisma to take on the reins of the vast and complex India that is now yearning for a change. There are many others who are craving for the PM position by default the likes of Mulayam Yadav and Nitish Kumar, even Jayalalitha and Mayawati. The only freshness in the forthcoming election in the rather tainted Indian politics is provided by a newly formed outfit, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by an IITian and a former bureaucrat Arvind Kejriwal. His outcry for a clean and transparent governance led to an unprecedented success in the recently held state election in Delhi by winning 28 seats for the first time party that was able to form a government, albeit with outside support from Congress (which in turn wanted to keep BJP out of power the saffron party had emerged the single largest party in the assembly). This astounding success of AAP would have fuelled the partys ambitions for a shot at the Lok Sabha elections. Lacking resources, however, it had to gamble away its state government role, knowing fully well that it could win back the
A measure of the likelihood of Narendra Modi becoming the next PM of India is US envoy Nancy Powell visiting him in Gandhinagar ostensibly to make amends for US denying him a visa for his governments role in anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat. state in its own right with an outright majority when the re-election was called. The major parties, especially BJP, are now worried as AAP is preparing to field some 300 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, plausibly expecting to win between 40-60 seats and spoiling the chances of some noted politicians who are perceived to be corruption-ridden. AAP is, however, feeling the pinch from none other than its former guiding lights Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi who share a similar vision of a corruption-free India but oppose being within politics on principle. They are now ironically supporting Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and BJP to deliberately chafe Kejriwal. As the saying goes, God save me from my friends, from my enemies I can defend myself, BJP is also torn while ingratiating with both Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray (who formed his own Maharashtra Navnirman Sena). And even within the party there is generational warfare (senior leader Advani has never been in favour of declaring Modi as the partys PM candidate, and Advani protgs like Susham awaraj are also smarting). It is surprising that the BJP is not openly netting for coalition partners, rather opting to do it alone on the regional scene when it is an open secret that it may only win some 200-220 seats, well short of the 272 required to form a government. AAP has changed the political equation in the forthcoming elections significantly, bringing a single, nonetheless, a critical issue of corruption to the fore. Although it lacks the infrastructure of a large party to contest the election countrywide, its commitment and dedication and the people support well makes up for the weakness. Although it ran the Delhi Government for a mere 49 days, it impressed Delhiites with its enthusiasm and commitment. The BJP, although the party with the maximum number of seats in Delhi, may well rue its non-commitment to do the same - a four to five month investment gone astray - that could have won it a larger tally at the hustings.
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The largest democratic election on earth engages some 414 million voters from a population of more than 1.2 billion people.
March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 7
COMMUNITY
By Neena Badhwar t has been 10 years since a Harvard sophomore named Mark Zuckerberg created a website called The facebook.com to let his classmates find their friends online. He did not know that he had created a social phenomenon which has become an integral part of our lives. Facebook just did not become the Face but also our Body, Soul, Mind, Family& friends and life as we found long lost friends, some meeting through Facebook after 30 or 40 years. We started to make connections with people, things that we pined for, remembered and shared cherished moments of our life through Facebook. We got the opportunity to sit and connect and create a social network as each one of us, through Facebook, refriended, befriended and defriended as per our needs and it gave us all a new perspective on life and its mundane existence. Thanks to Mark Zuckerberg who chanced upon this idea which has made him a multi-billionaire in a matter of a decade when he started it at the age of a 21. The reason was that he liked a girl in college who ignored his advances and he created a simple program of like a person out of the two based on their features, a girl in his case. He called it Facemash and linked it to the university computer which crashed just in a matter of one afternoon. So much was the traffic. Obviously he was taken to task by the administration but he had realised that the idea was superb and he dropped out of college and moved out with a few likeminded friends to work on the software that he called Facebook. Did he know that it would become so popular, says Mark about its current 1.23 billion users, No way I remember getting pizza with my friends one night in college shortly after opening Facebook. I told them I was excited to help connect our school community, but one day someone needed to connect the whole world." An article suggested that Facebook had reduced the six degrees of separation down to four due to its networking by its over billion users. The six degree of separation theory was coined in 1929 by a Hungarian author Frigyes Karinthy that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world. Well, Facebooks user network is growing so fast that soon we will be Face to Face with everyone in this world. Facebook is currently worth 160 billion dollars as it turned 10 on February 4 and its founder 29-year old Mark Zuckerberg made $3.4 billion in the first five weeks of 2014. He said Facebook has been successful because it puts people before profits. Though easier to use than many other social network systems and user friendly as we amass friends and likes through Facebook, many say that Facebook has unleashed some deep seated psychological undercurrents that were not normally on the surface to do with socialising and how we, as humans, behave and how our mind works. The Indian community in Sydney has created a great social network on
Facebook has reduced the six degrees of separation down to four due to its networking by its over billion users. Facebook and through it we are better informed, motivated, inspired as we share our lives, our photographs, experiences, events and the rest. It even makes us compete with each other some showing off with their social engagements, others their travels, some others their achievements and hobbies and interests. The phenomena of Selfie also started, thanks to President Obama. There are many who start the day for us with daily affirmations, prayers, pictures of gods and goddesses, some with sayings while others put on their favourite video clips or old Bollywood songs. Facebook can be addictive as well and one has to move away from it to take a break. A breather is also necessary when an argument starts with comments that all dont agree with. Facebook has brought out debates, issues and comments that can have a polarising effect. Take heart, most of the issues on Facebook die anyway as new issues emerge in this busy world of today. Facebook has generally been good but at times it has created issues that we never ever knew before it came into our lives. They are, at times, quite subtle as we get sucked into playing the games of the mind without realising the effect they can leave on us. While the pros are many, yet there are some negative sides to Facebook. A Sydney guy said that he did not want to put his social life on Facebook anymore as at times it rather created differences with his other friends who for some reason were not a party to his views. Another person said she has stopped liking the posts of two people who are her friends but are enemies with each other because that created friction and differences. Some use Facebook as a platform to express issues they are having with their friends. At times the comments have become gossipy. Facebook also brings jealousy in people who see others appearing to be enjoying life a lot more showing off through posting pictures of what they are up to. Facebook does bring out insecurity among people. One person pointed out that what looks good in picture may not actually be as good as it seems. One person went as far as saying that Facebook was causing insecurity, hurt and even jealousy and depression having caused friction amongst many long-time friends. He said that he was sick of it and would not like to use it anymore. Then there is another one who said that Facebook was taking too much of her time and life and that she had decided to go off it. Facebook can be a self-promotion exercise as people compare who is more popular due to more likes they get. It is funny to note that Facebook offers boosts to your posts if you pay money that ranges from $6 to $110. This is based on the number of people who like your page that could range from 2000 to 46,000 views depending on the amount you pay. No wonder some have hundreds and thousands of likes. There are many drawbacks in Facebook. What about fake accounts by a person who befriends you by claiming to be someone else you may actually like. Another fake is when people create accounts in the name of some well known person and manage the account. For example, an Amitabh Bachchan can have six accounts and the users do not know which one is run by the actual Mr A B. This new way of socialising has created new behaviours in all of us. At times we dress up just for the sake of being on Facebook. And what about people at a function who are constantly clicking for Facebooking. Some are uploading right there at the event. One may not want to be seen on Facebook, yet your friends take your picture and plaster you all over the cloud. Now there are common paparazzi chasing us with their iphones or cameras that we have to be beware of. Do we even think for a moment that we have not enjoyed the moment, the present, for our own memory. Rather we are in a flurry capturing it through the camera for the sake of Facebook. A recent US study found that memory images leave longer lasting impressions than the camera images. The memory shuts off as the mind is not able to process the sheer volume of digital pictures. So in future, from personal memories it is difficult to access and reminisce about them. Pretty profound isnt it. In January this year, a research, although not peer reviewed, said that Facebook users will lose interest in Facebook over time as their peers lose
The Indian community in Sydney has created a great social network on Facebook and through it we are better informed, motivated, inspired as we share our lives, our photographs, experiences, events and the rest.
interest. If the model is correct that its growth will eventually come to a quick end, much like an infectious disease that spreads rapidly and suddenly dies, say Princeton researchers who are using diseases to model the life cycles of social media. For the time being 1/7th of the worlds population who are using Facebook, life to them without Facebook is unbelievable as it is the biggest social driver on the internet which is growing by the day. But the study predicts that Facebook site will lose 80 per cent of its peak user base between 2015 and 2017. How long will Facebook remain top dog in an increasingly crowded social media landscape? Zuckerberg shares his thoughts: Today, social networks are mostly about sharing moments. In the next decade, theyll also help you answer questions and solve complex problems. Today, we have only a few ways to share our experiences. In the next decade, technology will enable us to create many more ways to capture and communicate new kinds of experiences. Facebook has created a new way of socialising and networking and looking at the world with a different perspective. Perhaps it is expanding our brain and helping us to explore our own psyche in a new way and hence helping us evolve in this new age of internet. In the end, common users like us create the demand and ask the unthinkable. The programmers are there only to make what we as public ask for. We may soon get sick of Facebook but we are already asking how we can connect to each other in a more holistic fashion than what Facebook provides. Who knows someone like Zuckerberg may create holographic software for people to connect with each other on totally new level of human invention. It is yet to be seen as technology races human beings to new realms!
8 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014
Analysis The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee
The social scientists, media commentators, well-entrenched political interests and, more importantly, the common man on the Indian streets have all been enthralled (or appalled) by the emergence of this phenomenon called Arvind Kejriwal and his uniquely named outfit Aam Aadmi Party.
By Rekha Bhattacharjee here is a long and fascinating history behind India's capital city. From Indraprastha of 400 BCE to Luteyns' New Delhi, the teeming northern Indian megapolis has been through seven major avatars and numerous rulers. In the history spread over three millennia, Delhi may have seen majestic Moghuls and splashy Sultans but never before Arvind Kejriwal, a ruler who galvanised Dilliwalas so much. The nationwide polarisation for and against the enigmatic politician has accentuated even further with the sudden resignation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in February. AAP leadership has come under heavy cannon-fire from, besides Congress and BJP, the electronic and print media. Phrases like designed martyrdom, well-choreographed harakiri and scripted drama are being used by the well-heeled media bosses to describe Arvind Keriwal's resignation after failure to push his Jan Lokpal Bill through the Delhi Assembly. Action against Mukesh Ambani Among the many controversial decisions taken by the Kejriwal government, the alleged First Information Report (FIR) against the richest Indian on the planet Mukesh Ambani has been in the news headlines for a while now. The AAP government has reportedly directed the ACB to file the FIR against the Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani, Petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily, former Union minister Murli Deora and retired director general of hydrocarbons VK Sibal. Both Congress and BJP have reacted sharply after the AAP government made announcements of the FIR against Mukesh Ambani and others but without naming them. Media criticism The day Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the Delhi Chief Minister, it was obvious to all that AAP government would not last long. While the die-hard AAP supporters are preparing for the future 'battles', some well-respected media commentators have been scathing in their criticism of the party which governed Delhi for a mere 49 days. Outlook Group's editorial chairman Vinod Mehta is among those who have expressed 'disappointment' over the quick exit route adopted by Arvind Kejriwal "This is the end of a dream. The revolution has debarred itself. Instead of finding ways and means to govern, Kejriwal quit at the drop of a hat. This gamble will boomerang on him. The urban middle class will view the party as reckless demagogues." "Their first instinct is to resign. It cannot be my way or highway. They should try and find a way thorough compromise. The great hope in Indian politics has come crushing down," Vinod Mehta mourned. The veteran journalist is in no mood to accept it as a principled stand. "If there were differences on the bill they should have tried to iron them out. They should know they cannot fight the Ambanis from the streets of Delhi or from the Ramlila ground," Vinod Mehta added. 'Kejriwal is an escapist' CNN-IBN editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai agrees with his senior colleague when he said: "Kejriwal always looked to resign from the first day. He took a huge gamble. The critics will call him an escapist and that he ran away from responsibilities. Kejriwal will believe that he will have a halo of martyrdom on the issue of Jan Lokpal. This was a jump to the national level in view of the Lok Sabha elections ahead". "He needed an aam aadmi issue to galvanize support and the Jan Lokpal Bill gave just that. The urban middle class is already questioning this recklessness. Only people below a certain income level are still supporting him. He wants to keep the left of centre space occupied by trying to fire off the shoulders of Mukesh Ambani. The real target is Lok Sabha. Kejriwal's politics is of turbulence to capture the Indian mindspace," Sardesai said in one of his channel's discussions. Future course Arvind Kejriwal critics may accuse him of milking his brief tenure for all its grandstanding potential but those who have reposed faith in the AAP are optimistic about the future course this party would take. By shaking the well-entrenched political interests to their very roots, AAP has
met the expectations of their constituents and some media commentators. "It could be argued that Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP have successfully mobilized popular anger against government arrogance, inefficiency and corruption," reads an editorial in Indian newspaper The Telegraph penned after Kejriwal became the Delhi CM. "The result is a potent force that has shaken the existing structures of Indian politics," the opinion piece further says. Kejriwal's legacy and achievements Even though Kejriwal and Co are preparing to take on their much larger (and nervous) foes in the Parliament elections, a number of opinion pieces are already talking about AAP 'legacy'. The former Delhi CM has changed the politics of India forever in many ways. One of the most significant changes, which we have already witnessed is the reluctance on the part of the mainstream parties to nominate candidates with criminal records. The social scientists, media commentators, well-entrenched political interests and, more importantly, the common man on the Indian streets have all been enthralled (or appalled) by the emergence of this phenomenon called Arvind Kejriwal and his uniquely named outfit Aam Aadmi Party. Mercurial rise of Kejriwal The mercurial rise of Arvind Kejriwal and his political formation has made all the above-mentioned sit up and take notice for the simple reason that he has given hope to the ubiquitous 'aam aadmi' who had all but given up on the Indian political and administration systems. The AAP phenomenon has assumed power in spite of the corrosive cynicism the Indians have been nurturing for all these decades. The recent elections for the Delhi Assembly undoubtedly mark a watershed in conducting Indian politics and campaigning for elections for so many reasons. While Kejriwal and Co have debuted in a spectacular manner, they need to tackle the herculean task of what is being seen as a veritable explosion of their electorate's pent-up aspirations. It would be a good idea to try to wrap mind around the last month's happenings and try to work out what is cooking up in the great social laboratory
that is India. Kejriwal's political model The political model designed by Kejriwal thrives on challenging the cynicism. Whether AAP can deliver this and other promises or not, only coming months would be able to tell but the debate triggered by the Delhi election results is captivating the whole India. It is interesting to note how some leading social scientists look at the unfolding of a movement which is threatening to change the complexion of Indian politics for all times to come. Revolt against babucracy Its a revolt against officialdom and highhandedness, sociologist and author Dipankar Gupta said of the public support for the AAP. Its the same kind of thing you saw in Tahrir Square and Tunisia, but not against one dictator. Its against 1,000 tyrants that parade around in the garb of democracy. The AAPs single biggest achievement has been to change the mood of significant sections of the country, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, president of New Delhis Centre for Policy Research writes. "The AAP ideology, in short, apotheosises non-thought. The fact that its appeal is to a moral sense and not to the intellect is not accidental. It is intrinsic to its ideology," the well-known columnist Prabhat Patnaik writes in The Indian Express. "I consider this not only wrong but also fundamentally anti-democratic (notwithstanding all its celebration of the aam aadmi). What is more, it is the antithesis of the Left position, which apotheosises thought," he further writes. Ideology is not the only stumbling block bothering those who would like AAP to become a viable alternative of the established political parties. It is becoming increasingly hard for 1968-born Arvind Kejriwal, and his totally inexperienced team, to address the aspirations (and grievances of course) of the Delhi electorate. The voters belief that Arvind Kejriwal has some kind of magic wand is fueling the expectations which are impossible to redress. The status quoists must be salivating over such scenarios but if Kejriwal and Co fail to consolidate their Delhi gains, it would be nothing but a national tragedy.
India
BJP frontrunner in Lok Sabha polls: Surveys suggest

BJP led front is likely to get 200-236 seats (falling short of majority to form government) and Congress led front about 100 seats.
New Delhi: A survey by a leading US think tank has found that Indians expect the BJP to do a better job in facing the various challenges faced by India. The survey by Pew Research Centre also suggests that BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is more popular than Congress vice-president and putative PM candidate Rahul Gandhi. Indians by a margin of more than three-to-one, would prefer the BJP to lead the next Indian government rather than the Congress, according to the poll. Seven-in-ten Indians are dissatisfied with the way things are going in India today. The Pew survey results are based on face-to-face interviews with 2,464 randomly selected adults across India between Dec
Projected results
Meanwhile, another survey done by ABP News-Nielson opinion poll in February has predicted BJP-led NDA front-runner in Lok Sabha polls. It is likely to bag 236 seats with the main party getting 217 seats. The Congress will be reduced to double-digits at 73 of the 92 seats projected for the UPA, while the Aam Aadmi Party is likely to get 10 seats, the survey said. While the Left parties are projected to get 29 seats, others are likely to collect 186 seats, according to the opinion poll conducted in 129 constituencies with 29,252 respondents during Feb 4-15. The projection said BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was the most preferred face with 57 percent of respondents backing him. Just 18 percent backed Rahul Gandhi, while Arvind Kejriwal was a distant third with just 3 percent backing. BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi (seen here admiring his own wax figure in Mumbai flanked by party President Rajnath Singh) is gaining ground as the most popular leader. 7 and Jan 12. Dissatisfaction with recent developments in India is remarkably widespread among both BJP supporters and Congress backers across all demographics. The support for a BJP-led government is strongest in north India.. Roughly eight-in-ten Indians (78 percent) have a favorable view of Modi, compared with 16 percent who hold an unfavorable view. Modi's support is especially high in the North, and he is seen favorably in both rural and urban areas and among high and low income and well educated and less educated Indians. Rahul Gandhi is seen favorably by 50 percent of those surveyed and unfavorably by 43 percent, the survey said.
Kejriwal ready to fight Modi in Varanasi
We're battle ready and going to win: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Asserting that "we are battle ready and we are going to win", Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said in his first TV interview some weeks ago that he was not thirsting for power but was out to "change the system" that would open up opportunities for young people, empower women and make India a manufacturing hub of the world. He also accused Modi government of "abetting and pushing" the 2002 riots. In the interview with Arnab Goswami, editorin-chief of TIMES NOW news channel, Gandhi said he did not choose to be born a Gandhi but was a "serious politician" who stood for "opening up the system" and the election this time would be fought between those who want "deepening of democracy" and those who stood for "concentration of power". He deflected pointed questions thrown at him regarding corruption by Congress party governments, but said that "anyone who does any act of corruption will be punished". But he sidestepped questions on why the Congress failed to act against former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan or Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh who had been implicated in corrupt deals. Gandhi described Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal as "a leader of an opposition party like many others." "There is absolutely nothing I am scared of," Gandhi said in between volley of questions related to Modi but avoided answering a question on whether he would agree to a direct debate with Modi. "We are debating the issues everyday..." he said plainly. Several times in the interview, Gandhi, 43, said his focus was on empowering people, particularly women, bringing in youngsters in Congress and taking everyone together. The Congress scion said that he was not "driven by the desire for power" and was an "anomaly in the environment" he was in. "The BJP has prime ministerial candidate, the BJP believes in concentration of power in the hands of one person, I fundamentally disagree with that, I believe in democracy, I believe in opening up the system. I believe in the RTI, I believe in giving power to our people. We have fundamentally dif-
Arvind Kejriwal (right): Within a week of starting a membership drive, AAP made one crore members all over India. Bangalore: A day after the BJP fielded Narendra Modi as its candidate from Varanasi, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal March 16 declared that he was ready to contest against Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha polls. BJP, meanwhile, was in a jubilant mood, saying Modi's candidature in the Hindu holy city will help it win a majority on its own in the election. Kejriwal told a election rally in Bangalore that he would take a decision on Modi only after knowing the response of the people of Varanasi on March 23. Underlining that it was "important to defeat Modi", the former Delhi chief minister said: "It is a very big challenge. It is not a small challenge... I am ready to accept this challenge." Stating that the political establishment has become a symbol of corruption, communalism and rising food prices, Kejriwal said it was important to defeat the top leaders of both the BJP and the Congress. "We are fielding Kumar Vishwas (popular poet) to defeat Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Sensing defeat, Congress leaders are already causing trouble to Vishwas. We are not going to buckle and Vishwas is bold enough to take on Rahul," Kejriwal said. Challenging Modi's claims of Gujarat's economic development, Kejriwal dished out facts and figures to show that this was not true and that Modi had spread "white lies".He said that contrary to claims, corruption was rampant in Gujarat and 800 farmers had committed suicide in Gujarat since Modi took power in 2001. On March 15, AAP declared its sixth list of 55 candidates for Lok Sabha polls including prominent party leader Shazia Ilmi, alleged Maoist conduit Soni Sori and ex-IPS officer officer Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya. The AAP, which plans to contest between 350 to 400 Lok Sabha seats, has so far declared 242 candidates.
Congress vice-president gave his first interview to Times Now
ferent philosophies," he said. Gandhi also acknowledged that "some Congress men were probably involved" in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Asked if he would apologise for the riots, Gandhi veered away from the topic. Gandhi also dwelt on the pain of the circumstances in which he grew up. In my life, I have seen my grandmother die, I have seen my father die, I have seen my grandmother go to jail and I have actually been through a tremendous amount of pain as a child when these things happen to you. I don't actually keep invoking my family name, I have mentioned my family name once or twice and then people report that," Gandhi said. He said that "every single thing" he has done in his political career has been to bring in youngsters. "I am absolutely against the concept of dynasty." Gandhi said India has to look at manufacturing . We have already set up the corridors north, south, east and west, how we can take the energy of the Indian people and build a manufacturing superhouse. I want to put India on the manufacturing map, I want to make this the centre of manufacturing in the world. I want to make this place at least as much as a manufacturing power as China."
India
Vrindavan to get India's tallest temple

Vrindavan: A project for building a 70storey temple, billed to be the tallest shrine in the world, was inaugurated here coinciding with the Holi festival. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the skyscraper temple 'Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir' on March 16. The project will cost more than Rs 300 crore and Iskcon is hoping to conclude the temple construction within the next five years. Calling it a historic moment for MathuraVrindavan, Yadav said the project exemplified the goodness of religion. He also promised to extend full support to the project. The project was first conceived by the devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon ) Bangalore. The proposed 'Chandrodaya Mandir', a 213 metres high temple is expected to mark Vrindavan, where Hindu deity Krishna is said to have spent his childhood, on the world spiritual map. The temple, which will be the tallest shrine in the world when completed, aims to
The ISKCON temple will cost Rs 300 crore and be ready in 5 years. imitate Vrindavan of Krishna's times as spelled out in the ancient texts. Being built in the heart of Vrindavan, Iskcon will recreate the verdant forests of Braj, where Krishna is said to have engaged in his favourite pastimes.
Was Malaysian flight hijacked for 9/11-type attack in India?
New York: Was Malaysia Airlines' Flight 370 hijacked with the chillingly murderous intent of crashing it into a high-value building in an Indian city in a re-run of al-Qaida's 9/11 attack on the US? And if the plane didn't crash, where is it now? A week after the plane was thought to have crashed, its disappearance has turned from increasingly mysterious to deadly sinister. Malaysia turned the search into a criminal investigation on March 15, after its prime minister declared that the plane had been deliberately diverted from its planned route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane then flew as much as seven hours to an unknown destination. Worse, Strobe Talbott, who was deputy secretary of state in the Bill Clinton administration and remains an informed and influential voice in the US capital, tweeted: "Malaysia plane mystery: Direction, fuel load & range now lead some to suspect hijackers planned a 9/11-type attack on an Indian city." Malaysia's PM Najib Razak said his government would seek the help of other governments across a large region of Asia in trying to find the plane. Malaysian authorities later released a map showing that the last satellite signal received from the plane had been sent
from a point somewhere along one of two arcs spanning large distances across Asia. This map shows two red lines representing the possible locations from which Flight 370 sent its last hourly transmission to a satellite at 8.11am on March 8 more than seven hours after it took off from KL and when the plane would most likely have been running low on fuel. Najib said a satellite orbiting 35,800km over the middle of the Indian Ocean received a transmission that, based on the angle of transmission from the plane, came from a location somewhere along one of two arcs. One arc runs from the southern border of Kazakhstan in Central Asia to northern Thailand. The other runs from near Jakarta, Indonesia, to the Indian Ocean. "These movements are consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane," Najib said. He noted that one communications system had been disabled as the plane flew over the northeast coast of Malaysia. A second system, a transponder aboard the aircraft, abruptly stopped broadcasting its location, altitude, speed and other information a few minutes later, at 1.21am, while the plane was one-third of the way across the Gulf of Thailand from Malaysia to Vietnam.
India
India born Satya Nadella reinventing Microsoft as CEO

New York: Even a schoolboy can tell you that Microsoft may still be minting money but in terms of innovation and gaining an edge, Apple, Google and Facebook have long surpassed the worlds largest software company. So, after Indian American Satya Nadella took the helm earlier this year, Microsoft watchers, along with consumers, are eager to see what dramatic changes he has up his sleeve. In an interview with the New York Times, Nadella hinted at some of what he intends to do as CEO of the company founded by Bill Gates. "Longevity in this business is about being able to reinvent yourself or invent the future. In our case, given 39 years of success, its more about reinvention. Weve had great successes, but our future is not about our past success. Its going to be about whether we will invent things that are really going to drive our future," Nadella states in the interview. Nadella reveals that he isn't big on people who say, "this is how we do it." He believes that to be a dangerous trap. Rather, one should take
India to withdraw pre-2005 currency notes
Satya Nadella being introduced as CEO by Bill Gates valuable experience and apply it to the current context and subsequently raise standards. In other words, use what you know and make the company better, he feels. He admits that Microsoft has done well thus far, but now its time for innovation and fostering new growth. "Culturally, I think we have operated as if we had the formula figured out, and it was all about optimizing, in its various constituent parts, the formula. Now it is about discovering the new formula," he adds. This kind of change will not occur overnight or because the organizational chart was shuffled around. Instead, Nadella believes Microsoft employees need to own an innovation agenda and collectively share that vision. Nadella's goal is to reinvent. What could that mean? What does Nadella have planned? We will likely get our first glimpse at what Microsoft has in store for us at the company's upcoming BUILD 2014 Developer Conference in April. Mumbai: Indian Currency notes issued before 2005 will be completely withdrawn from circulation by the end of the current financial year ending March 31, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said. The central bank said from April 1, 2014, public would be required to approach banks for exchanging these notes. Banks will provide exchange facility for these notes until further communication, the RBI said in a statement. The central bank stated that public can easily identify the notes to be withdrawn as those issued before 2005 do not have the year of printing on their reverse side. RBI has also clarified that the notes issued before 2005 will continue to be legal tender. This would mean that banks are required to exchange the notes for their customers as well as for non-customers. From July 1, however, to exchange more than 10 pieces of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, non-customers will have to furnish proof of identity and residence to the bank branch in which she/he wants to exchange the notes. The Reserve Bank has appealed to the public not to panic. They are requested to actively cooperate in the withdrawal process, the statement said. On Thursday, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan clarified that the order to withdraw all currency notes printed and issued before 2005 was not a demonetisation measure and became necessary to neutralize the fake currency in circulation. The post-2005 notes have better security factors. On black money, bankers say that the process could have implication on unaccounted currency in circulation. Although all banks have been asked to freely exchange currencies, bankers say that RBI norms require that every transaction over Rs 10 lakh has to be reported to the authorities as a part of global anti-money laundering norms.
Blame it on Rio, not Lord Shiva

The famed carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, had a boisterous run from Feb 28 to March 4. The Sambadrome parade is the most colorful event on earth with Samba girls dancing in barelythere thongs and bikinis along with giant tableaus on display. However, the Lord Shiva tableau this time was the surprising element of the parade. But then he is the ultimate non-conformist!
New Delhi: Expressing its disappointment over the US reindicting Devyani Khobragade, formerly posted in Indian consulate in New York, on visa fraud charges and calling it an unnecessary step, India Saturday said that any step taken consequent to the decision would hurt efforts on both sides to build a strategic partnership between the Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade (seen two countries. with her father after returning to India), Sources in New Delhi said whose arrest in New York led to the second indictment takes an India-US spat. the situation back to where it was earlier this week before a government will therefore no longer US court quashed the first indictment engage on this case in the US legal of Khobragade on the ground that she system. The 21-page new indictment, had diplomatic immunity. filed by the office of US attorney The MEAs official spokesperson Preet Bharara (an Indian American), Syed Akbaruddin said that as far as said the diplomat knowingly made India was concerned, the case has no multiple false representations and premerit and now that Khobragade has sented false information to US authorreturned, the court in the US has no ities in order to obtain a visa for a perjurisdiction in India over her and the sonal domestic worker.
Khobragade re-indictment Court picks holes Nirbhaya gang-rape: can hurt relations: India to US in Tejpal's CCTV Delhi court upholds defence death sentences
Panaji: Former Tehelka editor-inchief Tarun Tejpal's defence - the CCTV footage outside the elevator - does not hold water, the Bombay High Court bench said here Friday while rejecting his bail plea in a sexual assault case. Tarun Tejpal is Justice Utkarsh accused of rape by Bakre said at this journalist who worked stage the CCTV for his Tehelka footage "does not newspaper. help the applicant prove his innocence". Tejpal, who has been accused of raping a then junior employee in an elevator in a hotel, has claimed in his earlier statements to the media that the CCTV footage alone was enough to prove his innocence. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has upheld the death sentences awarded to four convicts in the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape. A division bench of Justice Reva Khetrapal and Justice Pratibha Rani also dismissed the appeals of four convicts challenging the trial court verdict awarding them the death penalty. The trial court had Sep 13, 2013 awarded death sentences to Mukesh (26), Akshay Thakur (28), Pawan Gupta (19) and Vinay Sharma (20). A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was gang-raped and brutally sexually assaulted by six men, including a juvenile, in a moving bus. The accused then threw her and her male companion out of the vehicle, stripped of clothing, to die by the roadside on the cold December night. The woman died of grave intestinal injuries Dec 29, 2012 at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where she was airlifted for specialized treatment. One of the six accused was found dead in a cell in Delhi's Tihar Jail. A juvenile involved in the crime was Aug 31, 2013 sent by the Juvenile Justice Board to a reform home for three years, the maximum term under the juvenile law.
India
Some celebs in poll fray
Highlights of India's 2014-15 interim budget

New Delhi: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram cut indirect taxes on cars and mobile phones in an effort to revive growth in an interim budget presented to parliament on Monday for the fiscal year 2014/15. The government's term ends in May and the measure was necessary to cover expenditure until a national election is completed and a new adminisP. Chidambaram entering parliament tration installed. building to present UPA Chidambaram said governments last budget. India's economy, the 11th largest in the world, had stabilised and was showing signs rupees in 2014/15 SUBSIDIES of turnaround. His speech was marred by protests over the proTotal spending on food, posed division of a southern fertilisers and fuel at 2.5 trillion rupees in 2014/15 state. GROWTH Food subsidy estimated at GDP expansion in third 1.15 trillion rupees, fertiliser and fourth quarters of 2013/14 subsidy at 679.71 billion rupees. estimated at 5.2 percent. Growth Petroleum subsidy seen at for the whole year expected at 634.27 billion rupees versus revised figure of 854.8 billion 4.9 percent. rupees for 2013/14. FISCAL DEFICIT DEFENCE Fiscal deficit seen at 4.6 percent of GDP in 2013/14, Spending raised to 2.24 trillion rupees in 2014/15, up 10 below target of 4.8 percent. Fiscal deficit projected at percent year on year. EXPORTS 4.1 percent of GDP in 2014/15 Merchandise exports seen Says need to bring down the deficit to 3 percent of GDP at $326 billion in 2013/14, up 6.3 percent year on year. by 2016/17 CURRENT ACCOUNT Agriculture exports expected to touch $45 billion in DEFICIT Current account deficit for 2013/14, up from $41 billion in 2013/14 estimated at $45 billion 2012/13 TAX PROPOSALS from last fiscal year's $88 billion. No major change in tax Forex reserves to rise by rates $15 billion by end of 2013/14 Cut excise duty on small cars, two wheelers, commercial PRIVATISATION Target from stake sale in vehicles to 8 percent from 12 state run firms for 2013/14 percent revised to 258.41 billion rupees Recommends excise duty Target for 2014/15 reductions on larger vehicles increased to 569.25 billion Restructure of factory gate tax for mobile handsets rupees BANKS RESTRUCTURING SPENDING Govt to provide 112 bilPlan expenditure for 2014/15 seen at 5.55 trillion lion rupees capital infusion in rupees, the same level as the state run banks in 2014/15 previous fiscal year Propose to set up public Non plan spending esti- debt management office to start5 mated at about 12.08 trillion work from 2014/15
ilm stars and sundry celebrities have always added color to Indian politics, but this general election is seeing lot of them in the fray. Here is a list of some of them, and the Lok Sabha seats they have been nominated by respective parties. Raj Babbar: Ghaziabad, Congress Nagma: Meerut, Congress Moon Moon Sen: Bankura (WB), Trinamool Congress Mohammed Kaif: Phulpur (UP), Congress
Bhaichung Bhutia: Darjeeling, TMC Ravi Kishan: Jaunpur (UP), Congress Kirron Kher: Chandigarh, BJP Gul Panag: Chandigarh, AAP Chandan Mitra: Hooghly, BJP Bappi Lahiri: A seat from West Bengal, BJP Medha Patkar: Mumbai NorthEast, AAP Raj Mohan Gandhi: East Delhi, AAP Mithun Chakraborty: Trinamool nominee for Rajya Sabha
India has potential to be largest aviation market: Report

Hyderabad: India has the potential to become the third largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030, said a report by FICCIKPMG. There is large untapped potential for growth due to the fact that access to aviation is still a dream for nearly 99.5 percent of the country's population, said the report released at 'Indian Aviation 2014' Thursday. According to the report, the Indian civil aviation industry is on a high growth trajectory, albeit with minor hiccups. "The industry has ushered in a new wave of expansion driven by Low Cost Carriers (LCC), modern airports, FDI in domestic airlines, cutting edge IT interventions and a growing emphasis on No-Frills Airports (NFA) and regional connectivity," said the report. One of the top 10 in the world, the size of India's civil aviation industry is around $16 billion. However, the paper says, this is a fraction of what it can actually achieve. These initiatives include reduction in Sales Tax on ATF, development of no-frills airports, promotion of aviation academies and supportive policies for airlines and tourism. It praised West Bengal for becoming the first large state in the country to declare zero percent sales tax on ATF at its regional airports and 15 percent Sales Tax on ATF used by additional flights started at its metro airport in Kolkata. "A lot more needs to be done, as several tier 2/3 cities are still unconnected or underserved. These involve relaxation on regulations, revising the security requirements, allowing domestic code sharing, providing free or discounted utilities and connecting infrastructure," said the report. "India is blessed with a great geographic location, a large upwardly mobile middle class and immense tourism opportunities. We have just touched the tip of the aviation iceberg," says Amber Dubey, partner and India head of Aerospace and Defense at global consultancy KPMG. before the special court, according to the Dawn. The application claimed that the Emergency was imposed with the consent of then prime minister Shaukat Aziz, then Punjab governor Lt. Gen. Khalid Maqbool, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Ali Jan Orakzai, Governor Jan Mohammad Yousaf of Balochistan, and Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad. The former president also named Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, until recently the Pakistani Army chief, who was vice chief of army on Nov 3, 2007, the plea stated.
"In view of the enormous growth prospects of air traffic and substantial investment projections, Indian aviation market offers significant long term opportunities for global aviation players," said Sidharth Birla, president of FICCI. The report notes that the next generation of aviation growth in India will be triggered by regional airports. At present, there are around 450 used, unused or abandoned airports and airstrips spread all over the country. It pointed out that many Indian states, especially in Eastern India, have started taking pro-active measures to promote air connectivity.
Musharraf drags former Pakistani top guns into trial

Islamabad: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, facing trial for high treason, has in an application before a special court accused his erstwhile officers as co-conspirators for the imposition of Emergency on Nov 3, 2007, a media report said. If the plea is accepted, it would implicate a number of high-profile civilians and armed forces personnel in the treason trial, the Dawn reported March 16. Musharraf's application recently filed with the special court said the civilian leadership and the military authorities who allegedly abetted him in the imposition of Emergency on Nov 3, 2007, should also be tried along with him. Musharraf said he imposed the Emergency after consulting the then prime minister, the governors of all four provinces and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee, the chiefs of the armed forces, the vice-chief of army staff and the corps commanders of the Pakistan Army. "It is, therefore, imperative for this honourable court to seek the names of the above officials and supply the same to the accused... to try all the accused together. In the face of such omission, the trial shall stand vitiated," Musharraf said in his application
Hidden hand trying to sabotage peace talks with Taliban: Negotiator

Islamabad: Mohammad Ibrahim, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami and a senior member of the Pakistani Taliban dialogue, Sunday said a "hidden hand" is trying to sabotage the upcoming peace talks between the Pakistan government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Ibrahim said the venue and date for the peace talk are yet to be decided and consultations could take place in Mahsud tribal area in South Waziristan, the News International reported. He also added that the Taliban was further investigating about the Ahrar-ul Hind (earlier a part of TTP) which claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks in Peshawar and Quetta March 14.
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Manbir Kohli of Voice of India Monika Geetmala pays a tribute to a friend and compatriot ...
he Namaskar was always crisp, authoritative and welcoming. The opinions were strong, yet flexible, open to logic and research. Patience with people, who insisted their point of view was the only one, was limited and the tone was abrasive. This was an exact mix to spark discussion, challenge ideas, educate people in a new perspective that Dr Deepak Malhotra did best for over 20 years when he pioneered and hosted the Community Forum on Voice of India-Monika Geetmala FM 89.7 in Sydney. Seems strange that I have to use was when talking of Deepak who energised, animated and ruffled many feathers. Yet, he kindled a heart that was kind, understanding and generous, though equally hard on himself as he was on corrupt politicians, doctors or inept cricketers especially from India. Dr Deepak Malhotra passed away peacefully on 12th December 2013, aged 68, surrounded by his partner Alex, Sister Neeraja and friend Anne. Deepaks life traversed a brilliant career spanning over four decades during which he worked as a medical doctor, fighter jet pilot in the Indian Air Force, then again as a doctor in his newly adopted home in Australia over 40 years ago. Here, he pioneered talk-back radio for the Indian community and, for himself, an acting opportunity in Bollywood. Dr Malhotra worked as a public hospital chief superintendent and helped numerous Indian origin doctors find their feet as he helped them gain employment at a time when India was distant and foreign in the Australian psyche. Some of those Dr Malhotra helped relate anecdotes as he argued with authorities when they refused to recognise Indian doctors for employment, and used charm and persuasion to get them employment in public hospitals. I knew Deepak for over 13 years and we shared many hours talking about everything under the sun. Yet, I believe he remained an enigma to me as he did to others who knew him for more years than that. He was a private person keeping the inner workings of his mind to himself, revealing it in niggardly helpings to some at different times. For someone who opined freely and abundantly on everything, he, himself, remained stingy with sharing own details that he revealed slowly as time lapsed into a trustworthy relationship. Deepak Malhotra grew up in Madhya Pradesh, son of a defence officer who was a personal physician to Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He gained entry into the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College in Pune and predictably joined the Indian Air Force. He was proud of the fact that he participated in the Indo-Pak hostilities of 1971 and remained a committed Indian decrying the malaise of corruption, lethargy and wasteful excess of religious practice while millions starved in India. He moved to Australia in 1973 and commenced life as a factory worker briefly and eventually worked as a medical doctor. He saw the influence of mainstream Australian radio and realised the powerful impact it could have on making and changing opinions and decided to use this to educate and entertain a small Indian subcontinent population in the 1990s. Deepak started broadcasting on Ethnic Radio, the precursor to SBS, and was discovered by Vikram Sharma who cajoled him into joining his fledgling Voice of India in about 1993. This led to the introduction of the Community Forum, a unique talkback programme for people who shared English and Hindi as a language. The style was nat-
ural, unpretentious, spiced with opinions that hooked the listeners and language free from laboured design that everyone could relate to. Deepak exuded a certain honesty that was transparent, his wit was edgy and humour that was frequently directed at himself that his listeners enjoyed. Those were the days sans the internet and people were hungry for news, music and connection and he provided all this as a voluntary service, spending both time and money, getting paid 0 dollars wages, as he liked to highlight. In 2001, he landed a role as Steve as Aamir Khans manager in Sydney in the hit Dil Chahata Hai. While this was a small role Deepak enjoyed joking about the large role and the impact it had on his co-stars Khan and Pretty Zinta. He barraged the listeners for weeks, tonguein-cheek, with how his Bollywood career was shaping up and many flocked to cinema halls just to see the Sydney star in his new role in Bollywood. He, himself, did not watch the movie for months after release. Around that time he also did an expose for Channel 9 when he, reportedly, wore a hidden camera and attended education dinners provided at expensive locations for doctors in Australia by leading pharmaceutical companies. This blew the lid on how doctors were being enticed to prescribe medications, being pushed by the pharmaceutical companies. This led to changes in the way such expenses were handled by the industry. Perhaps not so well known is the fact that Deepak
developed the concept of the My First Health Record or Blue Book for recording childrens immunisations while working as a superintendent at the Liverpool Hospital. This was adopted by the NSW health system and helped improve vaccination rates. As every parent knows, this is an invaluable document for childrens admissions to school. He also voiced his unhappiness at hospitals being headed not by doctors but by bean counters. Deepak continued to deny the existence of God, and remained an atheist, as the concept could not explain the dispensing of injustice when innocent childrens lives were shortened and the corrupt led long and happy lives. He was consistent in his tirade of religious hypocrisy and even wrote to the Vatican on the question of innocent children being punished, for no fault of theirs, with ill health and poor quality of lives. Deepak hated the ostentatious donations to temples while millions starved and could not reconcile to this contradiction, especially in the Indian context. Deepak Malhotra touched thousands of peoples lives and helped many people achieve their potential and expanded the role of Indian media in Australia. He was quite a character, loved by most, despised by many and unthanked by some that he helped provide a direction and livelihood. While Deepak believed there was no after-life and once dead we were just ash, I would differ as I feel him to continue to live around us and inspire us to carry on the good work that he had commenced.
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'Tastes & Traditions' is by the late author Leelamony Pillai who was brimming with nostalgia about her culture and traditions in Kerala that she wanted to share in the multicultural Australian landscape.
1000 BC, writes Ian Hemphill, Australias leading herb and spice expert who has written a glowing Foreword for the book. Cooking in Indias south is dominated by spices like pepper, cloves and cardamom, as well as coconut and tamarind that provide a delicious sting while keeping the food light on the palate unlike the creaminess of rich North Indian recipes. The book provides more than 80 recipes for Kerala cuisine for all occasions, from simple household meals to foods for special occasions and festivals. Leelamony seeks the hands behind every dish, their stories and cultural context that truly add spice to the book. The recipes include the popular idli-sambar and dosa to rasam and payasam, including cooks tips and variations with every recipe that allow improvisation to suit particular tastes. Tastes & Traditions is a richlywoven book enlivened by some amazing photographs of fruit sellers, plants and the food preparations. The photograph of a turmeric bath ritual in Vandimala Temple is a scene to behold. As we live in a distant land, our traditions and culture are bound to dilute with coming generations. The book is a timely repository of the richness of a culture as reminisced by a nostalgic first migrant.
Tastes & Traditions: Stories of Food, Family, and Culture from Indias Spice Coast By Leelamony Pillai & Teresa George Published by: FC Productions
By Vijay Bahdwar astes & Traditions is not your average cook book; much more than a few recipes and cooking, it is rather a description of a complete culture, rituals and traditions observed in Kerala. Beginning with a legendary tale of Parasurama of how Kerala was created, the story telling continues throughout the book, punctuated by genuine recipes as taught by a mother to daughter. It was the idea of Leelamony Pillai, a prominent member of the Australian-Indian community who was brimming with nostalgia about her culture and traditions that she wanted to share in the multicultural Australian landscape, a teacher by profession who is no longer with us today. Her co-author Teresa George traversed the whole dream of writing the book with Leelamony, who, she says, was still jotting down recipes for our book a day before her death. The book celebrates a life lived, writes Teresa. The rich tapestry of Indian cultures is so diverse that it sometimes jolts an outsider from stereotyping: that the Nairs in Kerala, as Leelamony writes, are matrilineal, that a Nair husband marries into his wifes family and the children take the mothers family name. There are other facts the book describes, from architecture to martial arts to the namkaran and wedding ceremonies that the readers will find interesting. Kerala is a land of aromas, famous for its spices that attracted the Europeans as early as 1498 when Vasco da Gama arrived on its coast. Even before the Europeans, the spice trade was prevalent among traders from the Middle East who knew about the heavenly aromas of spices in cooking as well as their magical properties as preservatives. Pepper is called king of spices in the Sanskrit texts dating back to
Young bride Leelamoni with Dr Pillay
Marunnu Kanji
Medicinal Rice soup recipe from the book
erbal soups were traditionally prepared during the monsoon months to ward off colds and fevers. Made from a blend of spices and Ayurvedic herbs, it was taken on an empty stomach in the morning or at night. A rotation of herbal soups was served every three days to ensure variety in the diet. A special red rice called Njavara is used in this Kanji. Njvara rice has been cultivated in Kerala for centuries. It is used in religious ceremonies and therapeutically. Marunnu Kanji has been mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts as a nourishing soup consumed to boost bodys immunity. 1 litre water cup Njvara rice A pinch of coriander seeds, aniseed, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, dreid ginger pieces, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg teaspoon Ayurvedic herbs 1 cup coconut milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ghee or coconut oil 1 small onion, thinly sliced Place water, rice, spices and Ayurvedic herbs into a pot and bring to boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the rice is fully cooked. Add more water if the mix-
ture becomes thick. Add coconut milk. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt and stir. In a frying pan, heat ghee. Add the sliced onion. Saute until the onion is soft and carmalised and add to the soup. Mix well. Remove from the heat. Set aside for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl. Ayurvedic herbs such as Curcuma Longa, Cardiyospermum Halikakabam, Boerrhavia diffusa or Hog Weed, Sida rhombifolia roots, Strobilanthes ciliatus, Puthirichundu, Changlam piranda and Caraway seeds, Indian basil Tulsi, Mint are used that can be bought at Indian shops as a herb mix in Sydney.
Teresa Geroge, co-author of the book.
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Abhinays plays make a mark at Short + Sweet!

his year Indian line-up in Short+Sweet Theatre Festival was quite impressive thanks largely to Aishveryaa Nidhi whose ITC Abhinay School of Performing Arts (ASPA) with four plays has delivered a bumper performance. The plays with Indian cast and themes included subjects of racism, revenge, a Tuk Tuk ride and even a 10minute Bollywood bonanza. Aishveryaa Nidhi showcased Bollywood in 10 minutes consisting of dance, colour, glamour as her dancers created a Bollywood hungama in the otherwise normal mainstream theatre of Short + Sweet Theatre Festival. ASPA actor and member Ravi Chanana was quite impressive in Oh! India as the tuk tuk driver and got an applause on the last day. Marcelle Wever was excellent in her role of a frustrated Aussie tourist stuck in the traffic in India on a tuk tuk. Oh! India came second in the Audience Choice. The play is about a young Aussie woman touring India and when she hires a charismatic tuk-tuk driver in Delhi, the journey ends up far richer and more relevant than her intended destination thanks to both the
Director Shourya Nidhi with Marcelle Wever and Ravi Chanana in Oh! India actors. Young Shourya Nidhi directed Ravi Chanana, Marcelle Wever, Arnie Dhamoon with music by Kiran Pradhan and codirection was by Aishveryaa Nidhi. Another attraction in Week 6 of S+S was writer director Ridwan Hassims play The Job Hunter - a bizarre and provocative comedy where a Muslim woman applies for a job at a Nazi agency - and is produced by Abhinay School of Performing Arts. Here Barry Walsh plays Wolfgang, a passionate German Nationalist Socialist, who works at the Nazi job agency, interviews Amina (Emily Ward), a devout Palestinian Muslim when he is forced to confront his status quo. Aishveryaa, who is normally great with acting, this year directed the play Irish Stew in Week 8. It is about an old couple Lauretta and Carlton - getting on in years, both losing their faculty to do with language. But years ago they made a decision to not rage against it. So, physically
Owain James and Ann Elbourne in The Irish Stew agile but mentally short a few key nouns, they let it take as long as it does to find the shoe Lauretta keeps asking for. And amidst all the false starts that are oh-socommon now, they remain patient and loving. Written by Cary Peppers from USA, featuring Owain James as Carlton and Ann Elbourne as Lauretta, Irish Stew made it to Peoples Choice Showcase Finals and then came second . Said Aishveryaa, It s been great for India although it was hard to organise four entries by Abhinay. Bollywood ne tau bus dhamaal hi jama diya in Short + Sweet Arun Goel, Consul General of India in Sydney who came to see The Irish Stew, said, It was an excellent play and I am impressed with Aishveryaas theatre work, a genre that I only got introduced to in Sydney by her. And we must support efforts by such talented people and appreciate how they are breaking barriers and trying out in the mainstream theatre.
Holi Milan in Sydney
Manju Mittal dabbed in colours by Divya Dhingra and her mum Judy round 300 people turned up in Sydney a week before the actual festival of Holi as this darling festival of India brings smile on everyones face and they get truly excited by the colours and its spirit. It was organised solo by Manju Mittal and that too for a charitable cause, proceeds of which are going to the Heart Centre of Children Research Institute associated with a Melbourne hospital. Chief guest Michelle Rowland was represented by Aisha A.K., who read her message which praised the Indian community and its contribution and how the festivals such as Holi bring in true multicultural joyous occasions for the rest of us to celebrate along with you. Food included Traditional Holi favourites such as Gujjia and Thandayee. Parramatta MP Geoff Lee also enjoyed the festival as he proudly carried a huge yellow colour tikka on his forehead. He said, It is nice to be here and share Holi celebrations with members of the Indian community. There was plenty of Holi fun, dances, songs with
Colours of Holi Sydney dancers entertaining all. Also, as the mood with Holi goes, humour and poetry was recited by some local poets. People mingled and painted each other with colours as film maker Ana Tiwary covered the event for ABC TV and recorded it for posterity.
Promotion of Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla starrer Gulab Gang was organised in Liverpool and Harris Park, Sydney with red carpet premiere of the movie held at Burwood Greater Union cinema in March as Maxine Salma and her friends are beating Sahil Sood dressed in pink attire like the role played by the actors in the movie who pick up the baton to beat the ills out of the Indian society.
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Berlin festival screens Indo-Aust documentary

ndo-Australian filmmaker Kush Badhwar is a quiet achiever. He was at the world famous film festival Berlinale recently with his documentary Blood Earth, a remix of protest songs by tribals in Odisha - a voice otherwise drowned by the stamping of multinationals in the area. The art-documentary depicts the struggle of the weak against the powerful, their sequestered lives being overturned by bauxite mining and smelter plants. Despite the trampling of their lives in the remote bush areas of Odisha, India is indifferent to their plight, the clamour of national growth being the only voice heard. Blood Earth, began by Taru Dalmias Word Sound Power, founded in 2010 in association with the rapper and New York producer Chris McGuiness. Taru Dalmias raps are his main outlet for his socio-politically charged rhymes. The documentary started in earnest in 2011 to document and remix protest songs by the tribals. Dalmia, McGuiness and Kush Badhwar travelled to the tribal village of Kucheipadar in southern Odisha twice over a two-year span to work on Blood Earth.
Says Dalmia, When we went in 2011, it was tough to get access and even communicate properly with the people there. We just didnt want to get bytes and create a documentary, but also have an honest piece of art that reflects the sentiment of those people. Armed with Midi controllers, mics and recorders, Blood Earth includes four dub-meets-Oriya-tribal-folk songs titled Back Against the Wall, Unity, Poison and Go Away. Kush Badhwar, who completed his early education and degree in media/films from Macquarie University in Sydney, says, We did exhibit the first version in Delhi in 2011, but the second time around, we were becoming more adept at understanding the complex moral issues. Word Sound Power screened the documentary in October 2013, at the Experimenta Film Festival in Bengaluru, where it won the Adolfas Mekas award. One of the organisers from the Berlinale were there at Experimenta and she asked us what we wanted to do with this film next. Thats how we got this opportunity to screen the film at Berlinale, Kush Badhwar says. Blood Earth was screened as part of the Forum
Expanded section of the festival which is informally competitive to gain an award. The documentary will soon be released online in its entirety. World Sound Power is also working with Dr. Das who has remixed four tracks from Blood Earth for an EP, which will also be released later in the year. Blood Earth was Word Sound Powers second project, following a nine-track collaboration with Dalit Sikh Bant Singh titled The Bant Singh Project in 2010. Kush Badhwar is not new to Berlin film festivals. One of his early works as a student at the prestigious Pune Film and Television Institute (FTI) a film titles Reprise was screened at the international student festival Sehsuechte in Berlin in 2009. He will now be working on Word Sound Powers next project, a yet-to-be-titled documentary/collaboration featuring Telangana Naxal activist and poet Gaddar.
Kush Badhwar wielding the camera.
Blind village bard who sings songs made on the spot.
Roshni Dennis
ocal artist Roshni Denni s, better known as Stella Rhymes, has wr itten a moving song dedicated to Earth Hour, a worldwide mass movement tha t helps the world target climate change. On March 29 at 8:30pm, millions of people, househ olds and businesses across the world are sw itching off their nonessential lights for one hou r to celebrate their commitment to create a sustainable future for the planet. Stella Rhymes is an asp iring singer, rapper and songwriter from We ntworth Point who took on the initiative and decided to dedicate a song for a great cause. The South Indian beauty's Earth Hour event ma rks the debut launch of her single Lullaby at Eleven Nightclub in Paddington. The timing could not be more perfect. She said, It's a song I wrote about letting go and putting to bed our first world problems, remembering who we rea lly are and re-establishing and maintaining a global connection with each other and our planet - which I feel aligns well with Earth Ho ur's three-fold mission. The inaugural Earth Ho ur was held in Sydney. 2.2 million Sydne ysiders and 2,100 businesses participated. This year, Earth Hour Australia has asked the focus to be on protecting the future of the Gr eat Barrier Reef.
Community
Anupam Sharma, NSW Minister for Arts George Souris, Sandra Chipchase - CEO Destination NSW and Premier Barry OFarrell with Bollywood dancers at the launch of the Jhappi time campaign Feb 11 to promote tourism from India.
By Neena Badhwar
happi or Japphi, as they say in true blue Punjabi, is a loving hug has been chosen as a theme to mark the time for Indian tourists to embrace NSW as their tourist destination. The Indian visitors to Australia are on the rise, their numbers being on a steady climb having increased by 9.4 per cent in 2013 than the year before. Indian tourists are now among the top ten nationalities visiting Australia. Destination NSW has embarked on a strong marketing campaign with the slogan Jhappi time to woo the Indian tourists. The advertisements for the campaign have been created and filmed right here in NSW, featuring the Indian community Down Under and using stories that express a longing to hug families and relatives and have a great time while visiting NSW. Visiting family and relatives is the biggest reason the 164,000 Indian visitors to Australia gave when they visited last year. This earned NSW AUD 183 million in revenue as each visitor on average spent $2315 on travel, stay and visiting tourist attractions that included sightseeing, eating out, shopping for pleasure and even going to the beach. Of the total number of Indian tourists to Australia, NSW attracted almost half of them 77,700 visitors who stayed mostly at home with friends or relatives. These visitors are expected to rise to 333,000 Australia-wide by 2020 almost a 100 per cent increase. Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase, just after a day in India, felt how important family relationship and values were for Indians. She started looking for a catch phrase and asked Paramjit Bawa, Manager, Destination NSW in Mumbai office, Give me a word that truly describes a hug . He came up with a few words but Jhappi is the one that struck me as the most appropriate. It sounded to me as a word which is quite close to the word happy, Sandra says. And when I came back here and talked to my team and Anupam Sharma whose company Film and Casting Temple we used for creating Jhappi time ads he loved the idea and was quite excited about it. We put in all our time, effort and money in creating the campaign to help not just the tourism but help better cultural ties with India, she says. The Jhappi time campaign was launched at the Museum of Contemporary
Arts by NSW Premier, Barry OFarrell, on February 11. He said, Almost 60 per cent of the visitors visited NSW for the first time, visiting family and friends. This can help grow other industries such as financial services, infrastructure, location education, tourism, major events, film and creative ventures. And we know that this can help grow cultural exchanges between NSW and India. We already have sister state relation with Maharashtra and are planning to do the same with the state of Gujarat. I am delighted that NSW has taken the tourism lead with Jhappi time to encourage people from India to visit family and friends in NSW. Jhappi time will help people share activities and NSW attractions with families and friends. NSW Minister for Arts, George Souris, was happy to try out some Bollywood gestures with the dancers on the harbour launching the campaign. He said, Jhappi time campaign will benefit the Indian visitors and help double the traffic by 2020 with all the activities on offer for consumers through various link ups with travel sites. Sandra Chipchase, excited about the campaign, and how the local Indian community got involved, says, They were superb and just so generous and supportive. The community at large can now help promote the Jhappi time ads. It is an opportunity for everyone settled here to invite friends and family over and be able to show how they live, study, enjoy great outdoors, food and our great tourist attractions. As you know Sydney was voted as the safest city in the world and a tourist attraction. About 77,000 of the total 164,000 tourists to Australia from India came to NSW and spent around AUD 183 million here. With Jhappi time we plan to increase it by a further 10 per cent. We have tried to add value by giving offers through various travel agents, through packages and affordable accommodation. With Jhappi time you can send digital cards to families and
another ad. Gursahani in e pl im D d an eepak, Nitin hi , Sukhraj D Aishverya Nid
appi ad campaign and Jerrick Adair in Jh na tha As a bik Am , gh Lucky and Balbir Sin
friends encouraging them to visit our state, she says. With well known Indian community members acting in the Jhappi time ads Aishveryaa Nidhi, Zenia Starr, Lucky Singh, Mala Mehta, Balbir Singh and Dilip Rao, they will act as the cultural magnets to drive the true message of
Jhappi back home. And for Sydneysiders who want their friends and relatives to visit them, visit: http://www.sydney.com/jhappi-time. There is a lot of information and guidance for a Jhappi time in NSW with plenty of holiday ideas and deals on quite an interactive and friendly site.
Philanthropy
Indian billionaire dads and daughters

Even as the serious global issue of the growing tide of inequality was raised at Davos recently, daughters of some of the Indian super rich are opening their purse for good causes.
By Neena Badhwar
he worlds 85 richest individuals now own as much as the poorest half of the 7 billion global population, according to a report released by Oxfam recently. The leading anti-poverty charity called on the global economic elite gathering in Davos this week for the World Economic Forum to counter the growing tide of inequality and prevent a static future in which only the rich have access to the best education and healthcare. It is staggering that in the 21st century, half of the worlds population own no more than a tiny elite whose numbers could all sit comfortably in a single train carriage, said Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam Executive Director. While Mukesh Ambani at US $21.5 billion was ranked at 22 Lakshmi Mittal was ranked at spot 41 with an estimated wealth at $16.5 billion according to Forbes Rich List 2013. Other Indian in the list are Azim Premji 11.2 billion at spot 91; Dilip Shanghvi $9.4 billion at spot 116; Shashi & Ravi Ruia $8.5 billion on spot 131; Hinduja Brothers $8.3 billion on spot 136; Kumar Birla $7.9 billion at spot 150; Savitri Jindal & Family $7.6 billion at spot 155; Sunil Mittal & Family $6.8 billion at spot 173; Shiv Nadar $6.5 billion at spot 182 with Mukesh Mabanis brother Anil Ambani way down at spot number 233 with his $5.2 billion. Australias rich who made it to the list in the top 100 are Gina Rinehart with her $17 billion ranked 36 and Rupert Murdoch & family at $11.2 billion ranked at 91. Others are Ivan Glasenberg $6.7 billion at spot 175; James Packer $6 billion at spot 198; Andrew Forrest at spot 211 with $5.7 billion and Frank Lowy at $5.3 billion on rank 229. U.S. leads the list with 442 billionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (386), Europe (366), the Americas (129) and the Middle East & Africa (103). Carlos Slim is once again the worlds richest person, followed by Bill Gates. Amancio Ortega of Spanish retailer Zara moves up to No. 3 for the first time. Forbes has also valued the fortunes of the wealthy despots, dictators and royals but has listed them separately as they do not truly reflect individual, entrepreneurial wealth that could be passed down to a younger generation or truly given away. Obviously the rich list of Indians who have deposits in Swiss banks of money obtained through corruption, shady deals overseas and scams is not part of the entrepreneurial rich list. Some of the Indian daughters are also entering the billionaires club, some as enterprising as their dads whereas others giving away wealth for good causes.
DLF developer Kushal Pal Singhs daughter Pia Singh has started Skills Academy with Pramod Bhasin, the former head of outsourcer Genpactto, to teach Indias fresh graduates with basic skills such as typing, speaking English, accounting and computers having placed 800 people in businesses ranging from fast-food chains like KFC and Pizza Hut to data-entry jobs and even as security guards.
Isha Ambani
Nandini with dad Ajay Piramal
sixteen birthday party, Isha Ambani was already worth $80 million, thanks to shares in her fathers company Reliance Industries. Think Vanisha Mittal and you think of that grand $60 million wedding in 2002 that her father threw for her, a wedding that was watched with wonder from around the world. As the daughter of Lakshmi Mittal, the worlds leading steel tycoon, Vanisha has been used to the lavish life. However, she is not content to be spending her fathers billions. Armed with a degree from Cornell University, she takes on important roles in her fathers business. She also looks at making smart property investments around the world. Smart, rich and beautiful, this young woman is married to an investment banker named Amit Bhatia. In 2007, the magazine Forbes listed her at No 1 position in the listing of daughters of the worlds richest individuals.
Nandini Piramal, 33, is the daughter of pharma tycoon Ajay Piramal who made money by selling inexpensive, off patent drugs (also called generics). She has a day job handling the OTC drug division at Piramal Healthcare and has helped set up Piramal Foundations initiative providing clean drinking water in rural India. Sarvajal (Hindi for water for all) has set up 150 water filtration systems across six states. Its innovative water ATM works like a regular ATM machineexcept it dispenses water. It was initially funded by the foundation but is now run for profit.
Ananyashree Birla Roshni Nadar Malhotra
Some billionairesdaughters are starting younger. Kumar Mangalam Birlas daughter Ananyashree, 19, whos an undergrad at Oxford University, set up Svatantra Microfin in last March to give microloans to rural women to start small businesses. Mukesh Ambanis daughter Isha, 22, a recent Yale grad, is now working with her mother, Nita, at the Reliance Foundation. By the time she had her sweet
Pia Singh
Roshni Nadar Malhotra is slated to succeed her father Shiv Nadar as chairman of HCL Corporation. Roshni, 31, will continue to focus on managing her familys wealth through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which straddles K-12 schools, universities and engineering colleges. Closest to her heart are the VidyaGyan schools that provide education to underprivileged children.
Community
Rekha Rajvanshi invited by Sahitya Akaadmi at poetry fest
ekha Rajvanshi, our own Hindi writer and poet of the Australian Indian community down under, was invited by the Sahitya Akademi to represent Australia in the IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association ) nations poetry festival to participate along with many renowned writers and poets. The International Festival of Poetry was held in Delhi from March 1 -3, 2014 at the behest of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Sahitya Akademi where Rekha recited her poems in Hindi and English amongst many other renowned poets. The poems were subsequently included in an anthology which was released during the festival. Said Rekha, It is matter of great pride to be invited as Sahitya Akademis guest and representing literature from the Australian continent. The fact that the Akademi has finally put us in spotlight is just a matter of great happiness and satisfaction. Rekha Rajvanshi migrated from India in the year 2000. A recognised poet and a writer with three poetry books and in her suitcase she embarked on consolidating literary efforts and formed a group of poets and writers under the name ILASA Indian Literary & Art Society of Australia Inc. which has chapters in Melbourne, Brisbane, Wollongong, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. She also got together 11 poets from all over Australia and published an anthology of poems Boomerang- Australia se kavitayen. She has since published her own poetry another book of poems Kangaroon ke Desh me. The poems depict Rekhas journey as a migrant, which mirror experiences of settling in a new land and culture and the struggle involved to be accepted in a new land. The poems are full
Rekha Rajvanshi, TIDU writer, at IORA International Poetry Festival. of nostalgia back home yet are about our current life and its ups and downs. Under the umbrella of ILASA Rekha has been able to collect a group of like-minded upcoming literary writers as well some seasoned writers who were quietly writing. Rekha has been able to extract a body of Indian migrant literature as she also runs a blog Sahitya Australia where many writers have contributed many thoughtful poems and short stories. In 1996 Rekha was honoured by the then President Sri Shankar Dayal Sharma and Mrs Vimala Sharma n the Presidents House. Apart from her 5 published books, Rekha has contributed her stories, poems and articles in many Indian and international publications. Rekha also won the prestigious AUSIT (a national translating body) first runner-up award in Australia, for translating 13 aboriginal animation films The Dreaming in Hindi. She feels greatly honoured by this invitation and hopes that once the bridge or the link has been formed many more writers will be recognised and invited by the Akademi in the years to come. West Ryde student Kavisha Shah has been selected to be on the Youth Advisory Council
announced on March 2, 2014. The YAC is a key consultative body, advising the NSW Youth Minister and the NSW Government on issues of concern to the states young people aged 12 to 25. Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello said that the 12 young people chosen to serve on the 2014 NSW Youth Advisory Council were representative of the states regional and cultural diversity. This year over 130 nominations for YAC membership were received, with the names of young people from across regional and metropolitan areas being put forward. Mr Dominello said, This years YAC members bring together impressive records of community service and a wide range of life experiences as students, employees, volunteers and leaders among their peer. Adding to the diverse views of the new Council we have an Aboriginal youth worker who has walked Kokoda, a female Muslim leader who is studying international relations at university and a young Aboriginal woman who volunteers as an RFS firefighter and has organised fundraising campaigns for Oxfam. Our 12 YAC members have each demonstrated a desire to stand up for their things they believe in and to be actively engaged in their communities. They now have the opportunity to utilise their talents by working collaboratively to have their say on NSW Government policies and strategies which matter to young people. The NSW Government looks forward to learning from these 12 highly credentialed young people who will offer their unique insights and advice to assist us in the development of youth policies and programs during 2014, he said.
Kavisha Shah selected for youth advisory panel
est Ryde student Kavisha Shah has been selected to be on the Youth Advisory Council announced on March 2, 2014. The YAC is a key consultative body, advising the NSW Youth Minister and the NSW Government on issues of concern to the states young people aged 12 to 25. Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello said that the 12 young people chosen to serve on the 2014 NSW Youth Advisory Council were representative of the states regional and cultural diversity. This year over 130 nominations for YAC membership were
received, with the names of young people from across regional and metropolitan areas being put forward. Mr Dominello said, This years YAC members bring together impressive records of community service and a wide range of life experiences as students, employees, volunteers and leaders among their peer. Adding to the diverse views of the new Council we have an Aboriginal youth worker who has walked Kokoda, a female Muslim leader who is studying international relations at university and a young Aboriginal woman who volunteers as an RFS firefighter and has organised fundraising
campaigns for Oxfam. Our 12 YAC members have each demonstrated a desire to stand up for their things they believe in and to be actively engaged in their communities. They now have the opportunity to utilise their talents by working collaboratively to have their say on NSW Government policies and strategies which matter to young people. The NSW Government looks forward to learning from these 12 highly credentialed young people who will offer their unique insights and advice to assist us in the development of youth policies and programs during 2014, he said.
3rd Australian National Hindu Conference focus on Serving Australia
Kavisha Shah (standing 4th from left) with Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello seated in the front
ishva Hindu Parishad of Australia welcomes all to the 3rd Australian National Hindu Conference entitled Serving Community Serving Australia that will be held on April 26-27, 2014 in Sydney at Novotel, 350 church Street Parramatta NSW 2150. There are many temples, organisations, associations, institutions, groups and individuals in Hindu society working actively to serve Hindus as well as the wider Australian society. The goal of this conference is to provide a platform and to bring together all the bodies that are currently, contributing to serve the society, and to showcase their contribution to Australia. Seva (selfless service) is a core value that underpins Hindu Dharma. Such selfless efforts by volunteers and philanthropists are not usually publicized. The 3rd National Hindu conference will provide a platform to bring forth their activities and outcomes in serving the community, and motivation & commitment towards volunteering to the cause of wider public. The conference will include discussions on Hindu communitys contribution in serving Australian community through education, socio-religious, community services, and youth development. This conference will be of interest to members of general public
who are keen to learn about community service projects and to volunteers who are interested in various models of volunteering as well as community development. It will also be of interest to community development practitioners and academicians who may wish to observe or work with specific communities, students and individuals who may be keen to explore opportunities for volunteering. There would be Sessions on: Hindu Temples Serving the Australian community. A place of learning and sociocultural activities/awakening; Important role played by Hindu organisations and associations in serving the Australian society in general & Hindu society in particular; Serving the community through youth development and shaping future leaders; Serving the community through educating young mind and shaping future generation; Serving the people in need and taking care of elders; All women interfaith Organisations, temples, associations and individuals are welcome to send their interest regarding participation in the conference either as a group or as an individual to the conference coordinator: conference@vhp.org.au. Registration fee $50 per person (includes 2 days conference attendance & Vegetarian Lunch). Visit for more information: www.vhp.org.au
The Indian Down Under newspaper Voice of India - Monika Geetmala & Bhavan Australia present VINOD RAJPUT in
Proudly supported by: Indian Seniors Group Hornsby Australian Hindi Indian Association Om Care Founation Indo Aus Bal Bharti Hindi School ILASA Jaane kahan gaye wo din Awara hoon Mud mud ke na dekh Bol radha bol Pyar hua Yeh raat bheegi bheegi
Singers: Vinod Rajput, Pushpa Jagadish, Sumi Krishnan Band: Band Baaja Date: 29th June 2014 Sunday Time: 2-5pm Tickets: $20, Seniors & Conc $15 Tea & Snacks included Venue: Pennant Hills Community Centre
Bollywood
One of the finest actresses India has ever known, she dominated the Bengali screen in the 1960s and 70s and left a lasting impression in a few Hindi films she played the lead in. She is also known as the Greta Garbo of India for quitting public life 35 years ago till her death in January.
By Neena Badhwar he Paro of Sharat Chander Chattopadhayays novel Devdas can be none but the one and only Suchitra Sen the most beautiful Bengali actress who acted in about seven Hindi films and all of them quite memorable. Her screen presence, her acting and her ethereal beauty carried a mystique, yet we all of the Hindi belt waited for her movie releases and after seeing them in cinema halls we saw them again and again on TV, DVDs and now even on YouTube. Though Suchitra is no more as she breathed her last with her family around her, the 82-year old actress was a very private person rather a recluse as she said goodbye to screen life in 1978 after scaling the heights of Bengali as well as Hindi cinema. Suchitra Sen refused some of the biggest film makers like Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray, not because she did not want to but only because she had no free dates to work with them. Suchitra paired with Dev Anand (Bombai ka Babu); Dilip Kumar (Devdas); Ashok Kumar & Sanjeev Kumar (Aandhi); Dharmendra & Ashok Kumar (Mamta) as she was not just a beautiful face but proved to be a competent actress as well. She worked with top actors in Bollywood and even handled a double role (in Mamta) quite capably as her movies became hit. Rahen na rahen hum, mehka karenge ban ke kali and thats how her image stayed that of a beautiful actress who left an ever lasting impression on us movie buffs. Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar and Ashok Kumar were challenging actors but Suchitra stood splendidly against them and created a great chemistry as well as a fresh face who was stunning as she fitted roles of traditional as well as of a modern girl. Once in an interview Suchitra Sen had said, Im to be seen only on screen because I am an actress and that is what she exactly meant for all her fans who could not have enough of this elusive,
reclusive actress who retired 35 years ago and was never seen in public life ever since. Only a mention of her ever so rarely made news that Suchitra spends her time at home with family and visits and works for Ramakrishna Math in Kolkata quite regularly She received the Best Actress Award for the film Devdas (1955), which was her first Hindi movie. Her Bengali melodramas and romances, especially with Uttam Kumar, made her the most famous Bengali actress ever. Her films ran through the 1960s and the 1970s. Suchitra Sen was discovered in 1952 after 5 years of her marriage to Dibanath Sen with whom she had a daughter Moon Moon Sen and grand daughter Raima Sen. She continued to act in films, such as the Hindi hit Aandhi (1974), where she played a politician. Aandhi was inspired by Indias Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sen received a Filmfare Award nomination as Best Actress, while Sanjeev Kumar, who essayed the role of her husband, won the Filmfare trophy as Best Actor. One of Suchitras best known performances was in Deep Jwele Jaai (1959). She played Radha, a hospital nurse employed by a progressive psychiatrist, Pahadi Sanyal, who is expected to develop a personal relationship with male patients as part of their therapy. Sanyal diagnoses the hero, Basanta Choudhury, as having an unresolved Oedipal dilemma. He orders Radha to play the role though she is hesitant as in a similar case she had fallen in love with the patient. She finally agrees and bears up to Choudhurys violence, impersonates his mother, sings his poetic compositions and in the process falls in love again. In the end, even as she brings about his cure, she suffers a nervous breakdown. Asit Sen remade the film in Hindi as Khamoshi (1969) with Waheeda Rehman in the Suchitra Sen role opposite Dharmendra and Rajesh Khanna. Her international success came in the
year 1963, when she won the best actress award in Moscow Film Festival for the movie Saat Paake Bandha. In fact, she is the first Indian actress to receive an international film award. Suchitra Sen was admitted in December last year in a Kolkata hospital suffering with lung infection and the final curtain call for the diva on January 17, 2014 when she had a heart attack. She died as quietly as she lived with fans lin-
ing up to get a tiny glimpse yet were disappointed as Suchitra, as per her wishes, was given a private farewell and a funeral, living true to her image of a Greta Garbo of India. Alas Suchitra has gone but little does she know, or may not have known, having cut herself off from the outside world that we, the millions of fans in India and abroad, still watch her movies with keen interest. May her soul rest in peace!
A memorable performance Suchitra Sen as Paro in Devdas with Dilip Kumar
With Dharmendra in Mamta
Bollywood
A nest of singing birds

The author dares a list of the best 15 female singers in Indian films.
By K. Raman his list of the best 15 female film singers is sure to provoke controversies due to varying opinions, particular likes and favouritism for example, there will be definite Lata and non Lata camps who will have solid arguments in favour of one or the other. A singers talents - the voice quality, rendition style, modulation, adaption styles, charisma, ability to sing in various regional languages, purity in diction, longevity, accolades won over a long period of time -- are all taken into account in preparing this listing, although disadvantaging those who sang prior to the 1950s. When Lata came on the singing scene the competition was fierce and only those with good Urdu background and good connections with people in high places succeeded. Hard work and luck hitched Latas career to the stars, although some branded her as one with a Tinny and feeble voice (S. Mukerjee) and Chawal Dhal accent (courtesy Dilip Kumar) which temporarily reined her progress despite the support of people like Gulam Haider and Naushad.
both in Hindi and Urdu. Before Latas arrival she was the uncrowned Queen of Hindi film music. Di Do Jaane", A waz de kahan hai 4. Suman Kalyanpur was active during 1954-81, sang in 10 regional languages apart from Hindi and was unfairly treated by music supremoes. She was a quiet person and faded away with no awards or major accolades. Hers was the voice closest to the perfect voice of Lataji as many could not differentiate their voice and singing styles. Haal-e-dil unko , Zindagi zulm sahi.. 5. Geeta Dutt had only a short span of life of 42 years (1930-1972) during which she lived a life of turmoil and misfortune galore. It is said Lata was doubtful of her own success if Geeta was around in full bloom. She had a unique voice texture and directors like OP Nayyar used it to full potential. Some music critics rate her very high, ever higher than the Nightingale herself. W aqt ne kiya...Jaane kya tune kahi...
Achievement Award. She, recently, rejected Padma Vibhushan award because she thought it should have come at a time when she needed encouragement. She began singing in 1957 and was a big player in the South Indian film music. Singaravelane., Soorya kanthi 10. Padma Bhushan P. Susheela: She is the winner of five National Awards and the Filmfare Life Time Achievement Award. She began singing in 1951 and has sung in 10 regional languages. A highly versatile and successful singer, her very name speaks glory on her success. Kanna karumai nira kanna A thai madi methai 11. Shamshad Begum (1941- 1968): She was a specialist in Urdu and Hindi singing with a heavy, coarse and unusual voice. She was the highest paid female singer during 1940-55. The best of her singing was before the advent of Lata and the golden era. Kahin pe nigahein, Leke pahala pahala 12. Suraiya Jamal Sheik was an Urdu specialist (1942-1965) and a good looking actress. First recipient of Malika-eTarannum (Queen of Melody) title, her admirers included Dev Anand and Gregory Peck. Nehru once told her you have put life in the soul of Mirza Ghalib. With her sweet vocals and impeccable diction and rendition style she would be well suited in any elite company of singers. A ah ko chahiye Kali ghatao jao 13. Vani Jayaram was a singing sensation during 1971-99 and sang in 10 regional languages winning three National Awards and one Filmfare Award. She sang 8,000 songs in her inimitable and melodious voice. She was an unlucky singer due to parochialism and faction fighting between singers of Hindi film field of Mumbai. Bole re papi , Mallikai mannan. 14. Sunidhi Chauhan arrived in the music arena in 2000 and has already won two Filmfare awards and RD Burman Award. She sang in eight regional languages apart from Hindi. With a melodious voice and polished singing style she is bound to go much further. Dekho nashe mein , Lucky boy. 15. Padma Shri Kavitha Krishnamoorthy and Anuradha Paduwal, share the final spot of my listing. Kavita entered the singing arena in 1980 and won four Filmfare Awards over the years. She is a brilliant singer, versatile and can modulate her voice at will. Anuradha emerged as a singer in 1973. Probably one of the best voices still around, she has won one National Award and 4 Filmfare Awards in her short active film singing career. She did not get the support she deserved. A aye hum barati , Nimbooda. The likes of Bombay Jayashree (first ever Oscar nominee from our land) Sadhana Sargam, Snehalatha, Swarnalathand Sujatha did not get an inclusion here mainly due to shortage of space. Also, if MS Subbalakshmi should be in the list as a film singer, she would share the top spot. TIDU will welcome your choice of female singers, whether you agree with the authors selection or disagree. Write to: indiandownunder@gmail.com
1. Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar: The mother of all singers, a Bharat Ratna (only female film singer to win this honour so far) winner of the coveted knighthood of France (Knighthood of the Legion of Honour), three National Awards, seven Filmfare Awards, Guinness Record holder for the highest number of recordings of 25,000 + songs, began a career of success in 1941. Apart from Hindi she sang in 17 regional languages. Her voice culture, its sweetness and rendition skill in the right combination kept her in a league of her own. A e mere watan ke logon., Uthaye Ja Unke Sitham. 2. Padma Vibhushan Asha Bhosle: In the reintroduced Guinness Records in 2011 she holds the highest recordings honour of 12,000 songs. She has won two National Awards and seven Filmfare Awards. She has the longevity of 25 years in the music field. She has no match for versatility, modulation skill and can aptly be called the Princess of Melody. Her voice culture and rendition skill kept her in a league of her own, though her voice was used on vamps and club dancers whereby the gilt of her skill was tarnished. Her sister was always the first choice of music directors and Ashaji got only the Lata rejects. Screen Goddess Madhubala, when contracted, insisted to have Latas voice only for her to mime. In the later stages, OP Nayaar and RD Burman brought out the real potential of Asha' s vocals to the fore. Chura liya hai. , O mere sona-re sona-re. 3. Malika-e-Tarannum Noorjahan (1926-2000): An accomplished classical singer of distinction, she was a disciple of Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan Saheb. She sang 127 songs in India and the rest of a total 20,000 songs were recorded in Pakistan after she migrated in 1947. She had a fine voice, sang impeccably
6. Padma Shri K.S. Chitra: She is versatility personified with no bad bones in her. She won six National Awards, and five Filmfare awards apart from numerous other accolades. An exceptional voice range, clarity and smoothness in melody certainly regards her as Chinna Kuyil and Vanampadi of Kerala. She is a prolific singer having recorded over 20,000 songs so far. Kalabham tharam. , Paadi thodiyiletho(Malayalam) 7. Shreya Ghoshal: This pretty, charismatic young singer arrived on the music horizon in 2002 and since then has won four National Awards, RD Burman award, seven Filmfare South Indian Awards and four Filmfare Awards. Currently number one in success stake, both in demand and popularity, she is a versatile singer and highly adaptable (hear her Malayalam and Tamil renditions). She has sung in 15 regional languages apart from Hindi. Brilliant is the apt description of Shreya. Beri piya Kaanamullal(Malayalam), W aada raha pyar se 8. Alka Yagnik: She has been in the singing arena since 1979, is the winner of two National Awards and seven Filmfare Awards. Longevity of 25 years in film music field is no mean achievement. A good voice culture, good diction and a non-controversial personality keeps her in good stead with music fraternity. Ek do teen, Tum Paas aye 9. S. Janaki: She cannot be beaten for adaptability and phenomenal voice modulation. Apart from Hindi, she has sung in 15 regional languages and has won five National Awards and the Filmfare Life Time
Community
Two women from Indian subcontinent make it in the BRWs rich list
RWs top rich women list released on March 10 includes two women from the Indian sub-continent: Jamuna Gurung at number 11 and Shemara Wikramanayake taking the 28th spot in the list. Nepalese-born Jamuna Gurung has been noted to possess wealth of $105 million. She and her husband Shesh Gale came to Australia as business studies students in the early 1990s. They jointly made the BRW Rich 200 for the first time last year, with a combined wealth of $265 million from commercial property investments, private edu-
cation college Melbourne Institute of Technology and a hotel development in Kathmandu. Shemara at number 28 in the list heads the Macquaries funds group. She is one of the best-paid women in the country. Her wealth jumped to $45 million from $30 million last year. Shemara Wikramanayakes Macquarie Funds Group contributes a third of the banks earnings. She has been tipped as a future leader of the massive finance corporation. BRW (Business Review Weekly) is Australian business magazine
Jamuna Gurung (No. 11) - $105 million
Shemara Wikramanayake (No. 28) - $45 million
Govt coffers dont show real gold India holds
Demand for NRIs to be given right to vote from countries where they live and work
s India holds its genpating in the election process eral elections within a back home, but cannot do it month, a writ petition because it is not feasible for has been filed in the Supreme many to travel to India to cast Court of India, demanding their votes. the Indian Government proI used to cast my vote vide voting facilities to milwhen I was in India. After lions of overseas Indians. coming to the UAE to work The writ petition has been and then to run my own busifiled by Dr Shamseer Valayil ness, I dont get time to travParampath, a Non Resident el home to participate in the Indian (NRI) in the UAE, elections. While many other who approached the apex expatriate nationals in the Indian court, demanding Dr Shamseer, MD of Life UAE take part in their nationNRIs be given the right to Line Healthcare Group in al elections, a vast majority of vote in the countries where Abu Dhabi, has filed a writ Indians are denied the same in Indian apex court. they live and work. right. From April 7 to May 12, India will vote He said very senior Indian lawyers are in nine phases to elect its next Prime being considered for arguing the case, which Minister. asks the Government of India to revoke a There have been occasional hunger provision in the relevant rules. Dr Shamseer strikes, Facebook campaigns and online peti- is Managing Director of Life Line Healthcare tions asking the Indian Government to allow Group in Abu Dhabi and is the recipient of NRIs to cast votes in countries where they the Pravasi Bharatiya Award this year. reside and the Supreme Court has rejected It is a writ petition for the basic civil some earlier pleas, but the UAE based NRI rights of Indian citizens living abroad. For businessman is firm about his move. me there is no politics, he said. Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Dr Shamseer When technology is so advanced and Valayil Parampath, said: I have filed the even the US is dependent on Indian software, writ petition in the Supreme Court because why cant we use the same for enabling our many NRIs have been talking about partici- own people, he said.
To Indians gold in the form of jewellery worn by women is an assessment by the society of ones riches and status. ndia comes in the top ten in gold reserves, yet one can say with certainly that unaccounted gold in the form of jewellery would make it the largest hoarder of gold in the world. To Indians gold in the form of jewellery worn by women is an assessment by the society of ones riches and status. People would often comment, why are your hands bare, meaning, of course, wear some gold. The trend to wear real gold is now reducing due to crime on the streets and the threat of robberies. Even on occasions such as weddings women are faced with the dilemma whether to wear real gold jewellery or make do with artificial gold look-alikes that are quite in fashion now a days. Artificial jewellery sets like jadaookundan can cost lakhs of rupees and can be more attractive than even the real ones. Yet the love of gold for Indians has not left their mindset. Gold may be an overrated metal, however, this yellow metal holds a very specific defined value. Even though currency is no longer backed by gold directly, the metal serves an important purpose in stabilizing the global economy. Gold makes up a portion of most forex reserves, with larger percentages for some countries than others. Here are the top ten
countries with the largest gold reserves. The G6 nations combined are the highest single-organization holder of gold in the world, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is ranked number three with 2,814 tonnes. Country Gold reserves % of Forex reserve 8133.5 Tonnes 3390.6 Tonnes 2451.8 Tonnes 2435.4 Tonnes 1054.1 Tonnes 1040.1 Tonnes 970 Tonnes 765.2 Tonnes 612.5 Tonnes 557.7 Tonnes 70 66 65 65 1.7 8 9.8 2 52 9.9
1. United States 2. Germany 3. Italy 4 France 5. China 6. Switzerland 7 Russia 8. Japan 9. Netherlands 10.India
Australia seeks to export SolarGen tech to India

study funded by the Australian Government and undertaken by CSIRO in collaboration with the Solar Energy Corporation of India has the potential to help Indias efforts towards achieving energy security. Some of the benefits of the technology include improved energy and food security by reducing natural gas consumption and the potential to produce solar liquid fuels for transport. A concept design for a pilot
India rarely invests much in gold, as the country operates under a belief that buying gold leads to a deficit. The country currently holds 557.7 tonnes of gold, making up 9.9 percent of the countrys total forex reserve. Ten percent is the generally agreed-upon ideal average, and India is careful to remain right around that mark for maximum diversification.
scale SolarGas facility and identifying numerous potential host sites suitable for such a pilot project has now been developed. Energy and energy security are critical issues for Australia and India, and we have much to offer each other by sharing our renewable technology expertise and technology, said Australias High Commissioner to India Patrick Suckling while launching the study recently.
Community
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj on Australia and NZ tour in April 2014

PERTH
Tuesday 1 April 6:30 pm Public Talk: "Discover Inner Peace" 7:30 pm Initiation Venue: Novotel Perth Langley 221 Adelaide Terrace, Perth For Further Information Dr. Parshotam Gera. Phone:+61894985756; Cell: +61419125486 Email:perth@sos.org +61882616362 Cell: +61401092255 or Delia Krcmarov: Cell: +61414433598; Email: adelaide@sos.org
MELBOURNE
Saturday, 12 April 2:00 pm: Meditation Seminar 7:00 pm: Public Talk "Secret to Spiritual Wealth" Sunday, 13 April 1:30 pm: Public Talk "Experience Regions of Light Within" 3:00 pm: Initiation Venue: Both events will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne For Further Information Contact: Etienne de Lavaulx. Phone:+61398988950; Cell: +61425756258; Email: melbourne@sos.org
SYDNEY
Saturday 5 April 7:30 pm: Public Talk "Meditation as Medication for the Soul" Sunday 6 April 2:30 pm: Public Talk "Journey through the Spiritual Realms" 3:30 pm: Initiation Venue: Both events will be held at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia For Further Information Contact: Dr. Tauqir A hmad, Sydney. Phone: +61296345805 Cell: +61431718888;Email: sydney@sos.org
AUCKLAND (New Zealand)

Wednesday, 16 April 2:00 pm: Public Meditation Seminar 7:00 pm: Public Talk "Peace through Spiritual Growth" Friday, 18 April 3:00 pm: Public Talk "Explore Inner Treasures" 4:00 pm: Initiation Venue: All events are held at the Langham Hotel Auckland, 83 Symonds Street, P.O. Box 2771, Auckland 1001 New Zealand For Further Information Contact: June Cade, Phone: +6498466715 or A ndrew Murray, Phone:+64274767674 Email: nzinfo@sos.org www.sos.org/nzl/NewZealand Initiation into to the light and sound offered after one of the talks in each tour stop. ourselves. He then explained the simple process of Jyoti meditation a form of meditation focussing on the inner Light and he demonstrated it by putting the audience of hundreds of doctors and medical practitioners into meditation. After the uplifting discourse, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj was presented with an honorary plaque by the IAMA. Science of Spirituality invites all the devotees to attend these programs by one of the great spiritual Masters of our time as this tour is a once in a life time spiritual experience right here in Australia.
evotees of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj are ecstatic about their favourite guru maharaj who have been waiting since last year for his grace as he comes on a month long tour to Australian subcontinent in April. Up until now the devotees have travelled far and wide to listen to his inspiring talks and satsang or just be in his company and learn about meditation and spirituality first hand. Now this great spiritual master Sant Rajinder Singh Ji is coming to Australia and conducting meditation and spirituality sessions in Perth (April 1); Sydney (April 5-6); Adelaide (April 9-10); Melbourne (April 12 -13); and Auckland (April 16 and April 18). Maharaj jis Australia-NZ tour is organised by Science of Spirituality. Last year Sant Rajinder Singh ji Maharaj was honoured in America at the 33rd annual banquet of Indian American Medical Association of Illinois. This internationally recognized spiritual Master of meditation on the inner Light and Sound was introduced, at the banquet with a tribute to his many achievements as president of the Human Unity Conference, head of Science of Spirituality, and best-selling author of books translated into over fifty lan-
guages including Meditation as Medication for the Soul, Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation, Empowering Your Soul through Meditation, and Spark of the Divine. H. H. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj has presented the benefits of meditation to medical practitioners worldwide including Americas National Institutes of Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi, and universities such as Harvard, University of California Berkeley, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Mumbai with many doctors learning the meditation technique from him and who are using it regularly in their practices on their patients with great results. Maharaji ji congratulated the doctors at the banquet for their tireless work to assist patients in achieving impeccable health. He noted that it is a universal truth that the health of our body and mind depend unequivocally on our spiritual health. He spoke on the importance of meditation, citing national journals that have published research into the physical, mental, and emotional advantages of meditation. These benefits, the spiritual Master explained, are merely byproducts of the meditation practice. The true purpose of meditation is to experience the reality of our true selves, who we really
ADELAIDE
Wednesday 9 April 7:00 pm: Public Talk "Key to Lasting Happiness" Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre Hall, North Terrace, Adelaide Thursday 10 April 7:00 pm: Public Talk "Spark of the Divine" 8:00 pm: Initiation Venue: The Sebel Playford Adelaide, 120 North Terrace, Adelaide For Further Information Contact: Keith Edwards, Phone: are at the level of our soul. He also spoke about the research into near-death experiences by medical doctors Raymond Moody and Melvin Morris who investigated this phenomenon and concluded that spirit or soul exists beyond the human body, mind, and emotions. The spiritual Master stated that vistas of inner light, beauty, and music, as well as the Power that brought all creation together, exist within each and every one of us. We do not have to undergo physical trauma he said, but through meditation, we can experience this reality
New immigration form for passengers flying into India
assengers flying into India will have to declare Indian currency exceeding Rs 10,000 being brought by them, according to new customs rules which will be implemented from next month. Besides, they will also be asked to declare number of baggage, including hand baggage, while entering into India, said the new rules notified by the finance ministry. According to new rules under Customs Baggage Declaration (Amendment) Regulations, 2014, an Indian citizen would
need to fill up the immigration form only when he or she goes out of the country. There will be no immigration form for Indian citizens returning from abroad. The regulations will be implemented from March 1, said a notification issued on February 10 by the finance ministry. All passengers coming to India will be filling up a new 'Indian Customs Declaration Form' which will seek details that will be different from the detachable perforated strip which is a part of the immigration card at the
moment. The 'Indian Customs Declaration Form' carries additional fields for declaration of dutiable and prohibited goods, which will help authorities in checking customs duty frauds and keep a record of gold jewellery and bullion being brought into the country, customs officials said. For the first time, travellers would be asked to specifically declare any prohibited articles, gold jewellery (over free allowance), gold bullion and Indian currency exceeding Rs 10,000 in the new form, they said.
A passenger will have to give details of countries visited in the past six days and mention the passport number on the new form, which was not there earlier. Old fields like declaration of satellite phone, foreign currency exceeding $5,000 or equivalent, aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency exceeding $10,000 or equivalent, meat, meat products, dairy products, fish or poultry products and seeds, plants, fruits, flowers and other planting material have been retained in the new format.
Bollywood
Winner and runner ups of Miss/Mrs India AU 2014 - Touch the Soul. From Left: Joyshree V - Mrs India 1st Runner Up, Phalguni Kataria Miss India Australia 2014 Winner, Anant Sidana Mrs India Australia 2014 Winner and Nikhita Matharoo Miss India Australia 2014 Runner Up
Winners and organisers of Miss/Mrs India Australia 2014 Touch The Soul. Organiser of Miss/Mrs - Joyshree V, Anant Sidana, Organiser Reena Koak, Rohit Kalia Winner Mr India Australia 2014, Phalguni Kataria and Nikhita Matharoo
Running in its third year, Miss/Mrs India Australia pageant has added the title Mr India Australia, giving men an equal opportunity to showcase their talent to the world.
By Neeru Saluja hat happens when beauty, brain and brawn come together? A beauty pageant that celebrates womanhood and empowers men to showcase their power. On February 15, Sydney witnessed such a pageant where three titles were brought together Miss India, Mrs India and Mr India. Organised by Miss India Australia Corporation, the Miss/Mrs/Mr India contest featured 22 contestants from all over Australia vying for several titles. Phalguni Kataria from Melbourne claimed the Miss India crown, Anant Sidana from Sydney won the Mrs India title while Rohit Kalia from Sydney was crowned Mr India. Joining them were the runner-ups Nikhita Matharoo (Miss India), Joyshree V (Mrs India) and Iam Rayneil (Mr India). The contestants were judged on their poise, quick wit, confidence, how they introduced, presented themselves and how close they are to Indian and Australian culture. During the fashion show, contestants donned stylish Western and Indian wear, including a racy sportwear round. The judging panel comprised six judges from various fields
cricketer Gurinder Sandhu, well known media personality Akash Arora, Hon MP Julie Owens, Mrs Rani Benepal, director/producer Stanley and Australian actor Gil Ben Moshe. The brainchild of organiser Reena Koak, this event is running in its third year. With her passion for modelling and promoting youth with a platform to express themselves, Reena strives to make it unique every time. This show has been my dream ever since I entered my teens, and this is the reason being a working mother I have never felt tired even if I had a few hours of sleep before this event. The contestants have worked equally hard for this contest as rehearsals started two months before the event, says Reena. The audience was entertained by singers Adnan and
Stanley Joseph while there were dances by Rhythm of India and Mauj dance group on the latest Bollywood songs. The winners of last years competition formed the MC team and did a great job with their beautiful charm and elegance. The event was sponsored by Mr. Satinder Benepal from Maharaja Haveli, Mr. Neni Tiwari from Value World Travel and Elaine RoachCEO Spark Group of Companies. The show was choreographed elegantly by Swastik Dance Studio (Sumati and Shabnam). A show packed with hot and sizzling performances, glamorous and glitzy costumes, beauty and brawn galore Miss/Mrs/Mr India became an entertaining evening for young and old alike. It was a delight to see the contestants, judges and organisers coming to the
Group shot: Gil ben Moshe, Rani Benepal, Rohit Kalia (Winner Mr India Australia), Phalguni Kataria (Winner Miss India Australia 2014 Touch The Soul), Akash Arora (Judge), Joyshree V (Mrs India Australia 2014 1st Runner Up), Gurinder Sandhu (Australian cricketer), Anant Sidana (Winner - Mrs India Runner Up 2014) and Rayneil (Mr India Australia -1st Runner Up), Stanley Joseph (Judge), Nikhitaa Matharoo (Miss India Australia -1st runner up) and Hon MP Julie Owens (Judge) stage and dancing to Bollywood hits. Young singer Adnan was a special surprise as his melodious voice enthralled the audience. With a tagline Touch the Soul, this beauty pageant has brought many men and women from the Indian community to walk the ramp and display their talent. By adding the title Mr India Australia, the contest has given men an equal opportunity to showcase their talent to the world. Justifies Reena, It has been the first time we introduced Mr. India Australia 2014 in our show. Like a man is incomplete without a woman, so is a woman. So we thought of giving an opportunity to men also to showcase themselves and their style to everyone.
Choreographer Shabnam Tavakol and winners celebrate at the finale!
Bollywood
By Neeru Saluja enia Starr has made us proud once again. The physiotherapist turned actress has just completed another Australian film Backyard Ashes. Playing a small though important role, this film marks Zenias entry into the mainstream cinema. With a passion for acting and performing, Zenia chased her dream to act professionally only after completing her studies of physiotherapy. After doing a short acting course in NIDA, Zenia started circulating her portfolio and was called for the audition of Backyard Ashes. Thereafter, she bagged roles in 'My Cornerstone' (2013) and 'Love you Krishna' (2014).Winning the title of Raj Suris Miss India Australia 2013 was another feather in her cap. Shot over five weeks in Wagga Wagga, Backyard Ashes has been released regionally in 50 cinemas. The film was a community effort by the local council, community businesses and individuals investing in this wonderful film about Australian community. I play the role of an Indian girl Nehru who is the wife of one of the main characters. Nehru is very protective of her husband and is a passionate supporter of the Australian cricket team in the film. It was refreshing that I didnt have to put an Indian accent. The director Mark Grentell has really made an effort to show the changing face of multicultural Australia. This film shows the changing face of Australia. Its an important milestone for the Australian film industry to cast Indian Australians as Indian Australians without being stereotyped, says Zenia.
For Zeenia Starr, Backyard Ashes marks the physiotherapist turned actresss entry into mainstream cinema. Zenia sees a bright future for Indians in Australian cinema. Im certain that I dont stand alone when I say that Australia has a long way to go in reflecting multiculturalism on our silver screen. I feel that off camera we are good at practising multiculturalism. We havent got it perfect, but on a global scale we are leading very well. Its about time that Australian film and TV take pride in the multicultural society that we are. Being embraced as an Australian on Backyard Ashes I think is a glint of hope for the changing face of Australia to be televised. We have made great progress in recent years with more indigenous productions and actors taking to our screens, and I hope that this will happen also with Australians of Asian origin. I am just grateful to be caught up in it through my experience as Miss India Australia. Zenia is now in Mumbai doing acting training, physiotherapy with the Indian cricket team and working with Church 3 in Mumbai as a teaching volunteer. True to her name, Zenia Starr has a starry future!
Australian Indian Film Fund launched

By Don Groves he first Australian Indian Film Fund (AIFF) aims to bankroll one Australian feature and one TV series or documentary every 18 months, each with India-centric themes. The fund was launched by a group of Australian businessmen of Indian origin led by Sydney-based IT entrepreneur Devendra Gupta and CPA Yateendra Gupta. AIFF has signed Fox Studios-based Films & Casting Temple to produce the Australian screen content, appointing Anupam Sharma as its Head of Films. Sharma founded Temple, a production, consultancy, and casting firm 13 years ago. His company has produced the short films Indian Aussies: Terms & Conditions Apply and SMS (Small Man Syndrome) and served as the line producer on multiple film, TV and video projects including From Sydney with Love, Orange, We Are Family, Crooks: Its Good to be Bad and Just Dance 2. The fund will trigger several million dollars worth of production and will utilize the 40 per cent producer offset. The organisers have committed to hire at least 90 per cent local crew and at least 80 per cent local cast. They say they are locking in first look deals for the slate along with servicing partners in post, international sales and completion bonds. Janine Pearce from JP Media Law is the legal counsel and will executive produce the projects. The first two to be funded will be announced early next year.
Yateendra Gupta said, We are very excited to announce this venture. With growing numbers of professional Australian investors, the investor-friendly Australian film space and the success of India-centric Western films, we are anticipating a long term presence supporting Australian stories. Anupam Sharma feels that it is the right time to invest in the Australian film industrys niche projects and redefine the form and content of an Australian story, like Bend it Like Beckham did in the UK as an India-centric British film. We have professional crews, a producer offset and a strong Indian diaspora. With this fund, Australia can be more than just a service provider for the Indian film industry, he said. AIFFs decision to completely fund projects will also hopefully take financial pressure off agencies such as Screen Australia which have been so enthusiastically pushing better links between India and Australia, Anupam said. Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, Together with DFAT, we have actively supported the Australian screen industrys engagement with India. Its terrific to now see a great outcome for industry, with the delivery of private investment for Australian stories that will have a unique Indian perspective. According to Anupam Sharma, AIFF would be looking to give breaks to talented professionals who can be Indian or Aussies with a proven passion for film and film making. I did not have the chance when I was young for such an
AIFF has signed Fox Studios-based Films & Casting Temple to produce the Australian screen content, appointing Anupam Sharma as its Head of Films. opportunity and AFF is serious about producing a film every 18 months. At the moment talks are going on with various people including cricketer Brett Lee. And the response from every quarter has been just great, he said.
Community
Women who chased their dreams and turned them into success
By Rekha Rajvanshi
reative ideas, passion and persistence are the mantras behind every successful venture. Women are creators by birth, they dream, they innovate and they turn their dreams into reality. A few local Indian women have proved that they have the vision and skills to take a shot at scaling their dream projects. I interviewed some of these entrepreneurial women of Down Under. It is inspiring to see these ladies materialize their innovative ideas taking small steps and leading them into giant leaps of success.
other popular brands. My dream is to finally launch my products in India. Jayas Manuka Honey Skincare products are popular amongst TV personalities, models, doctors, salon owners and dermatologists. For Jaya, beauty is best achieved naturally.
duce 3000 Samosas and she didnt know how to do it. She has learnt it now, and dreams of launching her brand with even better Samosas in future. Manju says, I am proud where I've come from, my heritage, but at the same time I'm proud to be a real Aussie.
Meena Mohanty, Manju Jehu, Samosa Queen of Australia
Of Bodhi Tree Skin Care
Jaya Bendre, of Oceanic Gold Manuka Honey Skin Care
Manju Jehu with cricketer and former India team coach Greg Chappell Manju came to Brisbane, Australia in 1978, after falling in love with her English-Australian husband. When she eloped and got married to John, she could hardly cook. When she got pregnant, all she craved was Indian food. Her mother-in-law got a recipe book to cook some of her favourite food, and Manju got her first cooking lessons from her. Much has changed since then last year, her Samosas were sold in Woolworths throughout Australia and she appeared on the channel 10 reality cooking show, Recipe to Riches, which involves cooks from across the country competing to have their recipe become a brand product in supermarkets. Manjus Samosa journey started when the grandmother of two, an Ipswich's honorary Indian ambassador since 2004, decided to take part in this competition. Contestants had to cook their dish, create a brand for their product and launch it to the public. The weekly winner then had their product on the shelves of Woolworths the day after the episode screened, with viewers across the nation able to taste the result of the contestants work. Manju won the challenge and her Samosas were sold in Woolworths under the name Manjus Authentic Vegetable Samosas. When I asked Manju when she had made her first Samosas, she replied, I never thought of making samosas until a shop keeper asked me if I could make and supply some samosas to him. I took the challenge and thought I should do it. I bought some pastry and stuffed my popular potato curry in that and fried, thats how I made my first samosas. Says Manju, We craved for our favourite snacks like Samosas and their unavailability made me experiment as you know necessity is the mother of invention. So, I experimented with different versions of samosa recipes over the years until I came up with the current recipe, which I thought was perfect. My family and friends loved it too. Manju thinks that Recipe to Riches has given her the knowledge about mass production and marketing that she didn't have in 1988, when she was invited to showcase her samosas at Brisbane's World Expo. She was asked to pro-
Cosmetologist and beauty therapist Jaya Bendre studied Cosmetology in the US. After moving to Sydney from the Gulf with her family, Jaya hired a place at Bondi and started doing facials. In 1985, she stated making her own natural skin care products for family and friends. Her customers felt the difference in their skin and a lady encouraged Jaya to meet a company in Sydney to sell her products to them. From there, Jaya started making and supplying four products day cream, night cream, facial scrub and cream cleanser to the company as well as the Flemington markets. Jaya developed her skincare range with freshwater pearls, mother of pearl and Australian native plants extract. Soon, her products became a household favourite. That didnt halt her research either; she began expanding her products after she found Manuka Honey and its curative and restorative benefits for the skin. After 2 years of intensive study and research, Jaya produced yet another successful new range of Manuka Honey skincare products. When Clarence, a well-known beauty product company, approached Jaya to buy her formula, Jaya refused the offer as it would mean that she would never be able to make any skin care products of her own, and her dream was to start her own company. Finally, she launched a full range of skin care products under the brand name Oceanic Gold Manuka Honey skin care. Jaya says, Initially we started making our products in a small lab with double boilers, but now I get it manufactured in China. I am very proud to say that all our products are hand crafted, totally natural and completely Sulphate and Paraben free. I am strongly against testing on animals. I feel happy when I see my products in the shelves sitting against
Meenas journey for using natural products began with a personal experience with illness, which raised a lot of questions regarding the chemicals we deliberately surround ourselves with and whether part of the reason for such illness is their use. A post-graduate MBA in Human Resource Management from XLRI Jamshedpur and a qualification in Conveyancing Law and Practice from Macquarie University, Meena Mahanty Kumar is a practicing Conveyancer and the creative brain behind Bodhi Tree skincare. Her business partner Seema Grover Barooah, who is also from XLRI, is the marketing and finance brain of Bodhi Tree. Their dream? Ultimately, we want to grow out of a small business status to that of a high turnover household name and ideal employer. Meena says the reason for Bodhi Tree Skincares existence came almost a year ago, when she started creating skincare products with her business partner: We focused on non-threatening, natural soaps and lotions, free from chemicals and artificial preservatives for ourselves and our near and dear ones. We researched and realized that much of what we put on our skin enters our system with known and unknown harmful effects. Parabens, pthalates and aluminium are among the most common connections to cancer, early puberty and infertility. The chemicals and artificially created fragrances in products penetrate into our skin and expose us to illnesses and disorders. Our quest for natural products took us looking for them in shops and markets. Some looked good, smelled wonderful until we discovered that they were chemically created fragrances. So back to nature became our theme. You could say enlightened path! Bodhi Tree to us is synonymous with the enlightened choice. We found that the milk soaps with jojoba or grape seed oils suited our skin. We realized that the men love our oatmeal and beer soaps. Our friends and family members who used our products and were satisfied with them, and encouraged us, so we decided to make a foray into selling them, Meena explains. All Bodhi Tree products are created from natural ingredients, with only plant based oils and butters. For scents, only pure essential oils are used. Bodhis wide range includes scented/unscented milk soaps goats, oat milk, buttermilk, coconut milk. Herbal and, Ayurvedic soaps are very popular as they are made with herbs and oils are added for their various beneficial properties. We are the supporters of people undergoing treatment for cancer, we also support cancer research in Australia. say the two proudly.
Community
Director Mark Gould
The Holy Dip is a documentary on the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad last year featuring three families travelling there from Australia.
By Neena Badhwar
eople having a desire to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela that happens every 12 years - with one organised last year at Allahabad where the three rivers named Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati meet - is a sincere and deep wish we all have. Yet living overseas and the sheer thought of going to the festival with the largest crowd ever on earth makes you think twice and even thrice as one must be courageous enough and adamant enough to believe that attending and taking a dip in the Ganges washes away ones sins. So for all of us, Director Mark Gould brings The Holy Dip a film on the Maha Kumbh Mela with premiere screening ABC TV COMPASS program at 6.30 pm on Sunday, March 23. Narrated by Geraldine Doogue the Holy dip is a must see TV documentary that critically examines the world of belief and values, seeking meaning and a sense of purpose in life. Three Australian families make the confronting pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest gathering of humans on the planet, where they plunge into a world record crowd of 30 million taking their HOLY DIP in Indias most sacred river, the Ganges. Filmmaker Mark Gould tells the story of the most ancient religious event on Earth with a modern Australian twist. With producer Ana Tiwary, Mark follows two Hindu families and one non-Hindu family making the sacred pilgrimage to India each with their own objectives. Gould, who planned and worked on the film for more than two years and took a dip in the holy Ganges himself while filming, says, Mahakumbh was a mind-blowing event, well organised and peaceful with millions of people united by one common purpose that is to take a dip in Mother Ganges. To see the biggest mass of humanity, around thirty million people, gathered at one place of just 20 kilometre diameter, yet the city managed, rather India managed it, in an unbelievable fashion with an atmosphere
that was peaceful, there was something in the air as everyone came and went, with least amount of injury, sanitation pretty well organised and no one overcharged as can happen in a western setting. There was plenty to eat and the prices were not inflated due to the huge demand. Everyone had a smile on their face and that is what I was able to capture along with the three Australian families chosen for the film and their journey and purpose to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela an experience that only happens once every twelve years. We saw people, at times 20-30, all on foot, holding on to a rope so that they do not get lost. There were families with unusual scenes with women and children cordoned inside a rope held in a rectangular fashion by the men so as to protect them, yet the only thing on their mind is just take a dip and leave. People carrying the old and infirm or children on their backs. For every orthodox Hindu washing off the karmas and not be part of the birth-death cycle and the Hindu karmic philosophy of an ultimate desire to be one with God, says Mark who has been a keen Indophile since his teen years when he a got a grant of $5000 from the then Premier Neville Wran as he opted to spend a year in India with the money rather than a few days in Paris or New York. He has been in love with India since and was excited when in Turner Familys boat they decided to record the music of the film right in the middle of the Ganges in Raga Kirawani an evening raga. Says he, It was just beautiful. The three families that took part in the holy dip are the Misras, Choudharies and the Turners. The Turner family, Andrew and Virginia and their four children, who wanted to take their young family on a cultural adventure, built a boat and met people through rowing pilgrims around the Ganges. Their boat Karuna was sold to the Banerjee family who live on the Yamuna river in Allahabad and $2000 AUD profit was donated to various Indian friends and families for setting up a scholarship at the little folks school, for three kids from the
The Misra family
Pushpa Choudhari with son Sameer Kuldabad area of Allahabad, who otherwise couldnt afford to go to school, to be educated to high school level. The Turners have not only taken the holy dip but spread the good karma to the needy with a total sense of non-attachment to the fruits of karma. The Misras Dr Atul and his wife Sunita, with son Agam and daughter Sanah -- wanted their adult children to reconnect with traditional Indian culture. And Pushpa Choudhari wanted her teenagers Sameer and Shipra - to experience the Holy Dip amidst unbelievable crowds, as she did when growing up in Allahabad. Pushpa contacted Mark and even organised the crew to stay at the Ashram of her uncle called Handiababa Yogalaya. Pushpas uncle swami Shantanand is a typical western idea of a comic book monk as he joined the party of pilgrims, says Mark.
Community
Production Crew: Barry Nichols, Ana Tiwary, Mark Gould and Christine Flynn
Turner family, their boat Karuna in which sound track of the film was recorded in the middle of Ganga in Raga Kirawani Each family fulfils their dream and reflects deeply on the spirit of modern Hinduism in this ancient Holy Festival just with a pious desire to take a dip in the Ganges and be able to pass on an experience and a tradition to their family members a tradition that has been carried in the holy city of Allahabad since antiquity. One has to be there to feel and experience this most unusual holy journey on the planet, adds Mark. While Mark actually took the three families to attend Maha Kumbh Mela and fulfill their dream and belief, he himself became part of the holy journey, even his crew, and hence was able to share it with us all through his film The Holy Dip, not just helping the people involved, but also us all who are going to see the film and have the desire yet have not been able to fulfill it daunted by the sheer logistics of organising a trip and being a part of it. Though Mark and the three Aussie families actually did it, seeing The Holy Dip is a dip in the Ganges at Maha Kumbh a rare pilgrimage, we are sure, for the rest of us.
The Holy Dip
Jhappi, Jhappi, Jhap, Jhappi with Anupam A

By Neena Badhwar nupam Sharma, director and film maker and CEO of Films and Casting Temple, remembers how once in the faraway town of Dongra, near Geraldtown he got a bag full of money, something like hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, which he didnt know what to do in the middle of the desert. He walked to a local post office when the lady there got scared when he put the bag on the counter. She said she cannot take it but Anupam insisted as he also did not want to carry it with him. And the lady had to call in armed couriers to come and take the money as she gave the receipt to Anupam as he went on to do his job of filming to capture a scene his crew having taken hundreds of larvae for they needed lots of butterflies fluttering around for a film scene. To find butterflies there would have taken days so we took the pupae which hatched and we were able to get some amazing footage, says the film maker who has by now made over 200 ad films and more than 30 Bollywood films practically with most of the leading stars of Bollywood as his company Casting Temple has organised locations and helped with actors if the story demanded roles from here. Once Anupam himself was offered a bit role with a couple of dialogues. They wanted someone and suddenly the director turned towards me and said, why dont you do it Lately Anupam got a chance to direct Maritime Museums Indian Aussies: Terms and Condition Applied which was nominated in three categories at London Film Festival. Based on Indians down under, Anupam tried to capture random moments of Indian life here. And then came Destination NSWs Jhappi time promotional ads in which he has been again able to relate four different stories of people from India and how they crave to meet their near and dear ones. Jhappi or the hug theme was suggested by Sandra Chipchase, CEO of Destination NSW, who felt that meeting family was the main reason for visitors coming to Australia. Anupam immediately set to work as he went around mobilizing members of the Indian community, some of them profession-
Films & Casting Temple crew filming 'Jhappi Time' dance. al while others totally raw, yet they were able to emote the right emotions, says Anupam. I wanted my community to experience real film making of the best professional standard, full treatment and makeup with a casting crew of 180 working around them. Jhappi Time ad has been more of a movement as by this time now hundreds of thousands of people have seen it as also the mainstream media jumped at it. It is not just a campaign but a call to invite family members and show them the real Australia. The song Jhappi, Jhappi, Jhap, Jhappi has been created by composer and singer Kshitij Wagh. The song has come up pretty well and the message of a loving hug will, I am sure, not only help attract visitors from India but also help strengthen relations between India and Australia. If Anupam Sharmas Bollywood connections and experience as a film maker is helping bilateral relations and him using the local actors and community to promote and work for Jhappi time ads as well as them participate in his documentary, it is time that we see a full length movie being made with Indian migrant angle. Sure, sure, says Anupam, thats also in the pipeline.
Bollywood
By Manju Mittal he International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is not only the biggest national festival but also it is one of the most significant and the oldest film festivals in Asia. I had the opportunity to attend the 44th IFFI in Goa late last year in Panji, Goa, which kicked off with a glittering ceremony that celebrated 100 years of Indian cinema. To see so many stars and film industry stalwarts young and old like Kamal Hassan, Waheeda Rehman, Rekha, Asha Bhosle, Ramesh Sippy, Deepti Naval, Jackie Shroff, Rani Mukerjee, Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpai, Prem Chopra, Subash Ghai and Om Prakash Mehra -- to me was a dream come true. The festival began unfolding with the lighting of the traditional lamp by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, Goa Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo, Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar, Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Mr Bimal Julka, the legendary singer Asha Bhosle, Iranian film director Majid Majidi, Waheeda Rehman and Chief Guest Susan Sarandon. Academy Award winning Hollywood star Susan Sarandon began her speech with Namaste India and received warm applause. Actor Kamal Hassan said he owed his success as an artist to the fraternity of world cinema. He stated that he is proud to be one of the students of legendary filmmaker Jeri Menzel and publicly thanked the Master for enabling him to put whatever he has in all his films. Asha Bhosle said that she was proud to say that she hails from Goa. My father left Goa when it was part of Portugal at the age of 10 to seek a career in Bombay as a classical singer and theatre actor and it is seventy years since I had started singing at the young age of just ten. She concluded that she is 80 now and hopes to sing for at least another ten years. Highlights of the evening included veteran actress Waheeda Rehman being conferred with the Centenary Award institut-
Kamal Haasan, Waheeda Rahman, I&B Minister Manish Tewari, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon at the inauguration of the 44th International Film Festival of India in Goa.
ed by the Ministry of I&B, Government of India, for the first time to commemorate 100 years of Indian Cinema, and the Lifetime Achievement Award being presented to the internationally renowned filmmaker Jiri Menzel for his yeoman contribution to cinema. An emotional Waheeda Rehman said that she was honoured and felt humbled at the same time having been chosen for the coveted award. It was exhilarating to witness live performance of legendary Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, who also choreographed a 30 minutes presentation for the occasion with Nishad Khan performing on the sitar. The eminent jury of the festival comprising Goran Paskaljevic, the
Susan Sarandon speaking at the Master Class at IFFI Goa.
The chief guest at the closing ceremony was Hollywood action actress and producer Michelle Yeoh.
m, rketing Kathleen Drum een Australia head of ma Scr a, lm Sa e xin Ma R: From L to cer Lauren Edwards Manju Mittal and Produ
Bollywood
chairman, Victor Banerjee, Clare Denis, Prasanna Vithange and Atiq Rahimi was then presented on the stage. The curtains came down on the inaugural ceremony and the audience moved to the adjacent Kala Academy for the screening of the inaugural film Jiri Menzels The Don Juans. The opening film was well appreciated at the first day of festival. It was a charming, simple comedy, with opera is the subject it kind of reminded me of a 1980s coming-ofage movie but a modern avatar. I personally liked it. It was truly a joy to experience and watch films from all over the world with like-minded people and at times in the company of celebrities. 170 Films from 70 countries were shown in the IFFI this year. Film selection was great, something for everyone from commercial to documentary films. I ended up watching some great movies - Baibhav in Assamese, Bengali movie Apur Panchali, short film Baga Beach in Konkani, Pad Yatra the green Odyssey, Masters of Masters - Osho, an Afghani film A Mans desire for fifth wife, and a Japanese film Unforgiven. I also enjoyed Director Girish Maliks film Jal this movie is an entertainer with a soul, it will surely communicate and connect with everybody irrespective of age, geography or gender. What I personally enjoyed watching the most was director Veena Bakshis film The Coffin Maker. It was indeed a masterpiece, the script and direction of the film was excellent and flawless with Naseeruddin Shahs superb acting. The festival paid special tribute to ground breaking film makers Manoj Kumar, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and K.A. Abbas. Festival director Shankar Mohan has been a great force behind the festival with outstanding films attracting an impressive line-up of Bollywood stars who with their presence gave us all curious ones a glimpse of the most famous film Industry in the world today. The festival was well courted, professionally staged and meticulously organised. They did a fantastic job of keeping film screenings on schedule. Press conferences were well coordinated at a grand venue, they gave an opportunity to ask questions and listen to the directors, actors, in one go. The press conferences revealed the inner workings of cinema to all curious media persons who had travelled from all over world. The entire red carpet event was conducted gracefully by Vandana Vadehra, who is a well known anchor and singer in India. I was impressed by free taxi service provided from one venue to another. But apart from all that, the Film Festival is one of the best time to be in Goa and definitely the best time for a Bollywood buff like me. It has given me so much exposure and information about the festival, and has allowed me to see the excitement and passion of the crowds for this special film festival. As on the day I arrived, I ventured into the city and was stunned how clean Panaji was. It was truly a festive mood everywhere. Goa was decorated like a new bride. Goa is an absolutely gorgeous place. Besides the festival I loved Goa for a lot of other activities surrounding the film festival, which included street concerts, cruise and beach parties, stalls, authentic Goan sea food, Konkani culture and the friendly locals. I had fantastic time meeting with many journalists and film makers who seemed interested in the newspaper - The Indian Down Under I write for in Australia. I interviewed many celebrities. I attended as many of events as I could. Screen Australias Head of Marketing Kathleen Drumm and Producers Lauren Edwards & Robyn Kershaw hosted an event on 22nd November at Marriott hotel Goa. 20 Australians attended the event including 10 producers and some film celebrities as well. India is now Australias third biggest export market and the two countries have a strong and growing relationship. Screen Australias participation in the Film Bazaar is part of Ozfest, an initiative from the Australian Government to build relations with India and explore opportunities here. Awards were announced at the closing ceremony amid the presence of popular international action actress and producer Michelle Yeoh as the chief guest, Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar and veteran actress Asha Parekh. Kaushik Ganguli won the Best Director Award for Apur Panchali, a smart tribute to the Oscar award-winning Indian director Satyajit Ray. A Portuguese film 'Beatriz's War', set in East Timor, was adjudged Best Film. Alon Moni Aboutboul got the Best Actor Award for his performance in A Place in Heaven, and Polish actress Magadalena Boczarska won the Best Actress award for the film In Hiding. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, directed by Justin Chadwick, was the closing film of the 2013 International Film Festival of India. It is based on Nelson Mandelas life journey. This was my first film festival experience in India and from start to finish it left an indelible mark in my memory. The trip was really inspiring because not only did I get to experience the film festival but I also met the most talented and amazingly passionate people during my ten day stay in Goa. I pursued the festival with total obsession only to hunger for more, hopefully, next year.
Groundbreaking filmmaker Manoj Kumar with I&B Minister Manish Tewari at IFFI.
The author with legendary singer Asha Bhosle .
The audience of film buffs and film fraternity.
Community
Reliving Manna Dey with Avijit Sarkar

R
ecently Sydney community relived Manna Dey and paid tribute to the great singer with Avijit Sarkar singing his famous numbers. It was a perfect nostalgic journey in music which is timeless, to an era that is called golden era of Indian film and music during the 1950s and 60s. Manna Dey himself lived to the ripe old age of 95 years (he passed away last year in October)with a career that spanned 70 years and never stopped his passion for singing as he got invited by the overseas community as well as by music lovers in India who loved to hear his songs. Manna Da was a regular to Sydney as he performed live close to half a dozen concerts in Australia. The evening on February 22 was a reminder that true music from the likes of Manna Dey is classic and who else but Avijit can only relive the great maestro. Says Avijit, Musicians like me are mere mortals and small specks in the world of music. I am forever indebted to the likes of Manna Dey for leaving behind unbelievable legacies. His skills and talents can never be replicated. I can only help bring back memories for the lovers of his music. Personally for me - Manna Dey's songs are more than just melodies - they are lessons in music. Avijit sang Manna Des famous numbers Tu pyar ka saagar hai, Sur na saje, Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haaye, Kaun aaya mere man ke dware, Aye mere pyare watan, Ai meri zohra zabeen among many others and the audience asked for more. Well, Manna Da as he was lovingly called by all in the film industry, sang more than 5000 songs and if all the pharmaish was fulfilled then Avijit would be singing for many many nights and each song a nostalgic gem. He sang duets with Pushpa Jagdish Dharti kahe pukaar ke, Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum and Pyar hua iqrar hua while Srijani Dan sang memorable Ye raat bheegi bheegi and Dil ki girah khol do. Dilip yodlled in
Avijit Sarkar with his team of singers and musicians at the Feb 22 concert that brought alive the legendary Indian singer. the song Babu samjho ishare from the famous movie Sholay nostalgic journey of Manna Dey from the film Chalti Ka Naam which was the last song of the songs in another evening. Come Gadi and accompanied Avijit on night yet people only let Avijit go on Avjit we are still waiting for a Ye dosti hum nahi chhodenge not without promising another Talat evening too!
Jagdish Chaudhry honoured for his contribution
Hornsby Mayor Steve Russell, Jagdish Chaudhry and NSW Liberal MP Matt Keane at the Award ceremony
Jagdish Chaudhry with teachers at Indo Aus Bal Bharti Vidyalaya Bhartiya sanskriti. By offering great service for children, parents and seniors and conducting free yog classes at Indo-Australia Bal Bharti School, Thornleigh and in various Senior Groups in Sydney for more than 8 years, Jagdish has set a fine example of volunteer work as well as helped young and the old in increasing awareness about yoga and its deep connection to a healthy and a happy life. Jagdish has also achieved graduation certificate by TAFE by completing Leadership Training on Prevention of Domestic and Family violence. A founder member of Indian Senior Group, Hornsby, Jagdish is also an active social supporter of UIA, Global Women Form of UIA & GOPIO, Aust, Shree Om Care Inc and AHIA.
agdish Chaudhry, Co-ordinator Bhartiya Yog Sansthan in Australia, Sydney was awarded the 2013 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award and subsequently honoured for his work as a senior member of the Indian community in recognition of his work as Yoga teacher in the community by UIA in the Senior Week celebrations. The award showcases active individual/seniors, who have shown dedication and initiative and have positively contributed to the non-profit organisations for which they volunteer. Currently Yoga Centres are run at the Hindi Schools at Thornleigh, and at OmCare Foundations Senior Meets in Pennant Hills and Toongabbie. Says 72-year old Jagdish Chaudhary who himself has bene-
fitted by following yoga and is a great believer of Yoga, I learnt it at Morarji Desai Yog Institute, New Delhi in 1993 and then became a volunteer teacher there. I trained further in yoga and pranayam at Bhartiya Yog Sansthan and finally became a volunteer teacher there. As you know health is necessary to enjoy in life. Every human being wants to lead a fuller, happier, harmonious and healthy life. To achieve this, Yoga is methodical approach to self-perfection as it helps to maintain physical and mental fitness. In this stress torn world, yog is the only answer. To serve the community and for the benefit of humanity at large, Jagdish has been authorised by Bhartiya Yog Sansthan to take up this task in Australia according to the lofty ideals enshrined in
Daughter of Mrs Balbir and late Gurdev Singh, Tanya Singh married Puneet Panesar, son of Kulbir and Satnam Panesar in Sydney on March 8 at Parklea Gurdwara. Congratulations and best wishes to the lovely couple!
Childrens Corner
By Esther Chaudhry-Lyons
Children's Corner
Sun, Moon and Wind go out to dinner
History of our Motherland India
Mogul Empire in India

mperor Babur has been known as the founder of Mughal Empire in India. He was born on 14th February, 1483 at a town called Andijan that is located in the present day Uzbekistan. He belonged to the Mongol tribe that also embraced Turkish and Persian. He was named Zahiruddin Muhammad and was called Babar affectionately. Babar is derived from Persian language and means lion. Babar rose to power by his determination and strength and set the foundation of the Mughal Empire for his future generations. The Mughal Emperor Babar is described as a military genius and a skillful warrior. He is known to have built an empire of good fortune and immense stability. Not only was he an able administrator, but also a lover of fine arts and poetry. It is said that he loved nature and built many beautiful gardens and sprawling lawns. He used to organize warm welcome parties at these gardens and any spot of natural beauty. He was a warrior of extraordinary strength and is said to have climbed mountains just for exercise. Babur was a poetic genius and his creations have been compiled as an autobiography known as Babarnameh. They were translated into Persian during the rule of Akbar. They were then translated into English during 1921-22 and the compilation was titled "Memoirs of Babar". One finds valuable information in these works and they define Babar as someone who was very noble and kind hearted. He was a very witty person who had a streak of adventure and a keen eye for natural beauty. Babar attained his first power position at the mere age of 12! In the year 1494, he succeeded his father as the ruler of Fargana, which is located in the present day Uzbekistan. But his uncles were greedy and did everything possible to displace him from his position and rob his territories. Babar had to spend quite some time in exiles and roam around without any shelter. His only well wishers were peasants and friends who gave him food every now and then. Babar attacked a city called Samarkand and got possession of it after a struggle of seven months. However, he was robbed off Fargana after a rebellion amongst nobles in his kingdom.
Emperor Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire. By the 16th century, Babar was determined to conquer Afghanistan and India. It is said that Babar had no plans of conquering India as such, but after Fargana was robbed off him, conquering India seemed like an attractive option. He conquered Kabul located in Afghanistan after waging a fierce battle against the nobles and the rulers. Babar crossed the mountains and somehow came to India. After waging fierce battles against the Rajputs and Lodhis, Babar managed to take possession of Delhi and Agra. After that he rapidly started to spread his territory and conquered most of Indian sub-continent and Afghanistan. He was succeeded by his eldest son Humayun who further consolidated the empire in India.
THE FOUR OWLS

our owls went out, each to a part of the world, to see how people liked things, ill and false, and came back to tell of what they had seen. The owl that went north said, I saw, by a stream, the fish make mouths at the birds. They further said, Look at our fins and their wings, how queer they are! The owl that went south said, I saw on a hill a fly of fair hues go by the door of a hive; the bees said, Look, he has come to beg of us for some food. The fly said to a friend of his, These rogues, I mean the bees, stole the sweets from the blooms when the air was dry, so now I have naught to eat when it is cold. The owl that went east said, I saw in a wood a pard go out from his den. The wolf went with him a few yards, came back, and said to a friend of his, The pard is a knave, yet I cling to him, for he is strong. The owl that went west said, I saw a bear pass by a lions den. A fox close by said the bear went to make love to the lions mate, but was sent back with a box on his ear. The four owls together said, Where the
Elephants dont forget
here was a bad Tailor in a village long ago. He used to play pranks with people. In that village there was a very good elephant. You know Maithree, elephants are very big animals. Though they are huge, they are very caring. If you give them Bananas they will take it from your hands. They also place their trunk on your head and bless you. The elephants love to take bath in cold water. They would go inside the tank, swim and also enjoy pouring water all over themselves. The Mahout (he is the care taker of elephants) used to take the elephant daily to its bath. On the way was the tailors shop. One day the tailor offered a banana fruit to the elephant. From that day, the elephant used to bless the tailor daily. Then the tailor thought of playing tricks with the elephant. The next day when the elephant blessed him, he took the needle he was stitching and drove it inside the trunk of the elephant. The elephant was very angry. But it kept quiet. From that day, the elephant stopped blessing the tailor. After a few more days, the tailor forgot the entire thing. It was Deepavali. You know Maithree, on Deepavali days, all people get new clothes stitched. So the Tailors shop was full of clothes. The elephant that day while returning from its bath in the tank, stored lot of muddy water in its trunk. When it came near the Tailors shop it introduced its trunk inside the shop and poured all the muddy water inside the shop. All the new clothes were spoiled. The villagers got very angry with the tailor for spoiling all their clothes and beat him thus the elephant punished the tailor.
ne day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return. Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their motherbut the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat. On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friendsnot to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before. Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at homeyou shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear." And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day. Then she turned to Wind and said, "You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasureshear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time." And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable. But to Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed."' And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.
Hindi Humour
March-April 2014 THEINDIANDOWNUNDER 37
Santram's Grey Page
Just for Seniors

By Santram Bajaj
Happy New Year Readers and welcome to the column. The year, however, may not be as happy for some pensioners on Disability Support Pension, as the Federal Government is planning to change the rules of eligibility to receive such pension. The Government says the number of people on the pension has grown by 20 per cent in the past decade and the cost to the budget last financial year was $15 billion. However, it may only be targeted at the younger recipients, as the Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews hinted at two-tier system. I think we have to look at people on the DSP not as a homogeneous group. Obviously someone who is in their 60s on the DSP, and has been on it for a very long time, has very little job prospect if we were to review them, he said. The damage done by a fall increases if the fall is from any extra height, even a single step. It is also increased if you hit something on the way down. Falling outside in very hot, cold or bad weather can also stress our bodies, especially if it is not possible to get help for a while. cising with arthritis......
Continence Helpline:
1800 330 066
What you can do:

Remove clutter, particularly things that can hurt you badly, such as a glass coffee table. Realistically consider what chores are now too risky for you to do and arrange for someone else to do them. In particular, avoid anything that involves you getting up higher than floor level. Dont put pride before a fall!
4 packaged foods that are killing you

Packaged foods help in time-management, but experts say they are killing you slowly. Mornings are a rushed affair and to make life easy, you pour a glass of milk over the cereal that you picked from the supermarket. So you think you've had a wholesome meal, right? Not really. Medical experts say that packaged food even the cereal that you have been assured is healthy the quick fix for the on-the-go generation is full of chemicals and, more often than not, 'completely devoid of nutrients'. While you may argue that you look for the reassuring words on packets no-trans-fat, no preservatives, no monosodium glutamate (MSG), experts say that these boxes are full of other hidden ingredients that can pose serious health problems if consumed in the long-term.
What's hiding? Physician and cardio metabolic specialist, at Tardeo's Bhatia Hospital, Dr Hemant Thacker, says that ready-to-eat meals are full of dehydrated vegetables which are nutrientempty. They are only fibre and calories. Worse, the process of reheating the vegetable kills whatever micronutrients are left in the food. He adds that it is impossible to preserve food for 12 months if they haven't added any additives or chemicals. "Those additives may be permissible for that much quantity of food, but if you keep eating it day in and day out, you are posing great danger to your kidney and liver," he says.
4.Packaged soups
Killer ingredients Corn flour, edible vegetable oil, thickener, softening agent, sugar, salt, dehydrated vegetables, dried glucose syrup, edible vegetable fat, yeast extract powder, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, acidity regulator, flavour enhancer What's hiding? Prepare tomato soup using fresh tomatoes. Do this for a couple of days. Does the colour turn out the same every day? No. How then do the various soup manufacturers manage to keep the colour of packet soup uniform? It is thanks to the colouring agents which are sometimes disguised as 'flavour enhancers'. Dr Thacker says, "Colouring agents are toxic. They put the liver and kidney into overdrive, since these organs have to work extra hard to wash away chemicals from the system and make them safe for the body. This means that the overworked liver is unable to do its regular job it handles the nutrients that have been absorbed by the gut from food, removes toxins from the blood, makes proteins like albumin and clotting factors, and secretes bile which helps digest fatty foods in particular as efficiently." That apart, Sabherwal points out, hydrolyzed vegetable protein contains up to 30 per cent MSG (Disclaimer: The Health tips in the article are taken from various well established and reliable sources and are given to you in good faith. However, readers are reminded to take care and consult their doctor if not sure, as no responsibility can be accepted by the writer of this column or The Indian Down Under).
2) How strong our bones and skin are

People with osteoporosis (weak or thin bones) are more likely to break a bone as a result of a fall than those with healthy bones. Similarly, people who have skin that is easily bruised or torn are more likely to need medical help after a fall.
What you can do:

Talk to your doctor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist about hip protectors. These are placed inside special underwear and positioned over the hip to protect it in the event of a fall. They can reduce the chance of a broken hip and are particularly recommended for people who are thin, osteoporotic (have thin bones) or who are falling frequently.
Health & Well-being

Falls
1.Biscuits
Killer ingredients Refined wheat flour, sugar, edible vegetable oil, milk solids, invert syrup, raising agents, salts, emulsifiers, vitamins and dough conditioner What's hiding? We already know the toxic effects of refined flour. However, what's scarier are the high levels of edible vegetable oil in these baked cookies, says macrobiotic nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal. "Edible vegetable oil is nothing but fat as its nutrients have been stripped. This loads up the liver, which reacts to fat that cannot be processed in the body, resulting in a fatty liver and slowing down your body," she explains. Besides, invert syrup, a mix of both glucose and fructose creates a sense of being full, and this sugar also make you crave more sugar so while most products scream no sugar (they mean white sugar), they still add glucose, fructose, or for diabetics, chemical sweeteners, which actually have long-term effects.
Consider whether you need limb protectors.

Limb protectors are like thick sleeves or footless leggings and are designed to protect thin skin from tears and grazes. Talk to your doctor about how to keep our bones strong. This may involve calcium and vitamin D supplements, other medications, eating calcium rich foods, exercise and/or exposure to a little sunshine (up to 15 minutes on most days).
Getting up if you have fallen

1. Calm down. Catch your breath and compose yourself after the shock. 2. Check your body. If you are not badly injured you can think about getting up. If you are injured, for example with a broken bone, you need to stay where you are and put your plan to get help into action. 3. If you are not injured, look around for a sturdy piece of furniture (preferably a chair). 4. Roll onto your side. 5. Crawl or drag yourself over to the chair. 6. From a kneeling position, put your arms up onto the seat of the chair. 7. Bring one knee forward and put that foot on the floor. 8. Push up with your arms and legs, pivot your bottom around. 9. Sit down. Rest before trying to move. Rest at any time, and if you do not succeed the first time, rest and try again. Practise this until you feel confident about the steps involved. It is recommended you do this once a month or so to keep in practice.
2.Muesli
Killer ingredients Invert syrup, strawberry crush (sugar, water, strawberry pulp, thickener), strawberry syrup, pineapple crush, mango crush, apple juice, concentrate, liquid glucose, soy lecithin What's hiding? The label says there's no added sugar, but the sugar rush you get from the various syrups added to make this a scrumptious breakfast, is perhaps why you probably have been hyperactive. If your blood sugar levels are going awry, blame it on your breakfast cereals. And the extreme sugar rush is not the only cause of worry. Most packaged muesli contains soy lecithin, a by-product of the soybean oil production. Studies suggest some of the common side effects of soy lecithin used to bind the various ingredients together are change in weight (loss and gain), loss of appetite, occasional nausea, dizziness, vomiting and confusion. "Besides, if you have been advised by your doctor not to eat soya, you may just be consuming it unknowingly even in breads," shares eco-nutritionist Kavita Mukhi.
Older people are more prone to get injured in falls, (below) hip protectors can prevent injuries. As we grow older, there are more chances of losing our balance and falling. Most of the falls, it is said, occur inside or around the house. Here is some very useful advice taken from the booklet Dont fall for it- Falls can be prevented, issued by the Department of Ageing & Health).
HUMOUR
A man was driving when he saw the flash of a traffic camera. He figured that his picture had been taken for exceeding the limit, even though he knew that he was not speeding. Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed. Now he began to think that this was quite funny, so he drove even slower as he passed the area again, but the traffic camera again flashed. He tried a FOURTH TIME with the same result. He did this a FIFTH TIME and now was laughing when the camera flashed as he rolled past, this time at a snail's pace. Two weeks later, he got FIVE tickets in the mail......for driving WITHOUT A SEAT BELT.
How to reduce injury

It is not possible to predict if, how, where and when you might fall, or how little or much you might be injured. Even though most falls dont result in serious injury, you may be unable to get up without help. Therefore, it is important to think ahead and make a plan of things you can do to safeguard yourself. This will help you to feel not only safer, but more confident and in control. The damage done by any fall depends on how, where and when we land, how strong our bones and skin are, and how quickly help comes.
Where you can find help or advice:

Commonwealth Carelink (1800 052 222) for help finding physiotherapists, accredited exercise or fitness instructors and physical activities in your area Your local council, for information on activities in your area Community Health Centres and Day Therapy Centres for physiotherapy services Your local library, for booklets or videos on exercise for older people
3.Ready-to-eat-meals
Killer ingredients Dehydrated vegetables, water, edible vegetable oil, cashew nut, salt, sugar, butter, ginger paste
1) How, where and when we land

Most falls happen from standing height.
Arthritis Association:
1800 011 041 for information about exer-
Community
Tallest Lord Shiva statue installed in the southern hemisphere

The sitting Shiva was ceremoniously unveiled at the Shri Shiva Temple in Minto, a Sydney suburb, on Feb 23.
f one lives in Minto or visiting Minto, NSW, one can see this tall murti of Lord Shiva from far away. The sitting Shiva statue has been installed at the Shri Shiva Temple after having been crafted and constructed in India and then shipped to Sydney. Many devotees of the Mandir, living in the area, have already started to bow in reverence to their favourite god Shiva as they drive past the temple. This Shiva statue was unveiled on February 23 this year with special pooja and ceremony with temple devotees congregating for the much awaited event. Jagdish Chawla, a dedicated volunteer at the temple for years, explains the importance of statues and idols. The Vedas dictate the worship of Nirakar (without shape or form) God. In our Hindu faith five elements that constitute life
agni (fire), air (vayu), varun (water), prithvi (earth), and akash (space/ether) are worshipped. Many sages were enlightened with that type of worship, veneration, and obeisance to God. However, over the times this abstract form of God could not inspire and motivate the masses to visualise God to worship. Various incarnations like Sri Krishna, Lord Rama and incarnations of Lord Vishnu changed the course of worship from Nirakar to
Sakar (with form or shape) God. It was further augmented by Lord Krishna in the Mahabharta in his discourse of Gita when He revealed to Arjuna that He incarnates on earth from time to time to set everyone on the path of Dharma. People found it easier to worship God visualising Him/Her in a physical form with various attributes. Accordingly, they started creating His/Her physical form with clay, sand, turmeric, wood, bark,
A large number of devotees joined the special pooja and ceremony at the unveiling event -a photo grab from the video.
etc. With the advances in technology, these materials were replaced by more durable material like metal, marble and granite. In fact, marble became the ipso facto standard material of carving statues and remains the most attractive material for carving statues to date. Vedic mantras infuse life in the idols which are then worshipped like living gods and goddesses. This craft was encouraged by the patronage from the kings and queens as temples started to install murtis in their sanctum sanctorum. Sculptors were employed by the rulers not only for the statues but for other architectural works such as houses, temples, palaces, pillars, victory gates etc. One can see examples of such art and craft in India, particularly in Rajasthan. Statue of Lord Shiva unveiled in February at the NSW temple premises is a fine example of Indian art. It has been painstakingly moulded by the sculptors in India and the same sculptors arrived here to assemble and install it. It is reminiscent of art that has been handed down from one generation to another, usually within a clan. Shri Shiva Mandir thought of having something special in the Mandir that displays an example of a traditional Hindu art and craft, to help inspire younger generations of what the glory of India was, and provide a monument right here they
can associate with, have faith and believe in. Further plans are afoot for idols of nine more devtas, devis and ten avatars. Says Jagdish, We need further support from the community to make Shri Shiva Mandir the most favourite place of worship. Says chairperson of Shri Shiva Mandir, With the blessings of Lord Shiva we have achieved our long cherished objective. It has been possible due to the generosity of a family, joined by several other families - a process that started about four years ago. All the families that helped bring Lord Shivas statue wish to remain anonymous without any desire for name, fame, award or reward. May Lord Shiva bless them for their generous contribution to lift the spiritual profile of all of us as a community. It is a present to Australian Hindus as well as the wider community, something the Minto community can be proud of in the many years to come. Shri Shiva Mandir strives to work for the community and sends the message - May Lord Shiva continue to bless and lead all the community with prayers for peace and prosperity in Australia. Lord Shiva has truly come to bless us all right here in Sydney thanks to the efforts of many community members involved in the project.
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Cookery
cup red lentils cup toor dal 2 medium onions chopped 2 garlic pods - chopped 2 dried red chillies 8 to 10 curry leaves tsp mustard seeds tsp cumin seeds tsp turmeric powder Salt to taste 2 tabs ghee Method Soak all the dals for 30 minutes or so. Drain excess water. Then place a pan on the stove. Add 2 cups of water, tsp turmeric powder and the washed and drained dals. Cover and cook till dals are cooked. Remove from heat and keep aside with lid on. Heat ghee in a non stick pan. Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Cook till cumin seeds turn golden brown and the mustard seeds pop. Then add the chopped onion and garlic cloves. Wait till the onion are cooked to a golden brown colour. Then add dry red chillies, curry leaves and salt. Then add the cooked dal to this pan. Cook for another 2 minutes. Serve hot with steamed rice. DIMER BIRYANI A few twigs of fresh mint leaves Method Melt 1-1/2 tabs ghee in a non-stick pan. Add salt and chilli powder. Add the peeled eggs and cook till the outside of eggs are browned. Cut eggs into halves. Remove eggs. Now add the potatoes and roast them to a brown colour as well. Keep aside the eggs and potatoes to cool off. Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add cumin seeds, cloves, green cardamoms, cinnamon sticks and saut on medium heat. Then add the onions and saut for another 2 minutes. Then add the turmeric powder, garlic ginger paste, green chillies and tomato cubes and cook for 2 more minutes. Now add the drained rice, natural yoghurt, coconut milk and the spices. Mix well. Add 2-1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cook till biryani is cooked. Spread the egg halves and browned potato cubes around the top. Garnish biryani with deep fried onion and twigs of mint leaves, Serve with raita. GAJAR PANCAKES
By Promila Gupta
BESAN KE NIMBU 100 grams ricotta cheese 2 tabs oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp ginger paste 2 green chillies chopped 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp chat masala 1 cup cashew nut pieces 1 cup bread crumbs 1 medium red onion 1 tsp salt Oil for shallow frying Method Place all the mashed raw bananas, potatoes, walnut kernels, ricotta cheese, green chillies, garam masala, chaat masala in a food processor. Grind them together to a smooth paste. Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add cumin seeds and as they turn brown, add onion and saut for 1/2 a minute. Add the ginger and garlic paste. Continue to saut. Transfer the ground paste and mix well. Cover and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Keep aside to cool. Divide the cooked mixture into about 12 to 15 equal portions. Shape each portion into a round patty (Kebab). Shallow fry so that the patty is cooked golden brown on both sides. Serve hot. BANJARA DAL
Ingredients: Besan flour 1/4 cup Juice of 1 Lemon Onion 1 medium Spring onion with stalks, 2 to 3, bulbs and stalks cut separately Oil 2 tablespoons Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon Ginger 1 inch piece - chopped Green chillies 5-6 Salt to taste Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon Yogurt 2 tablespoons cup boondi Method Coarsely chop onion and spring onion greens. Quarter the spring onion bulbs. Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add cumin seeds and as they turn brown, add onion and saut for 1/2 a minute. Add chopped ginger to the pan. Halve the green chillies vertically and add to the pan. Add spring onion bulbs and continue to saut. Add chopped spring onion stalk to the pan along with salt, turmeric powder and yogurt and mix well. Sprinkle besan flour on top but do not mix. Cover the pan and allow it to cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the lemon juice and the rest of the ingredients in the pan, cover and cook till the besan flour gets well cooked in the steam. Add the boondi and mix well. Reduce heat, cover and cook again for a couple of minutes. Serve hot. AKHROTI KEBABS Ingredients: 2 raw bananas boiled, peeled and mashed 2 medium potatoes boiled, peeled and mashed 8 to 10 walnuts kernels only
Ingredients: cup chana dal
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cup basmati rice cleaned, soaked and drained 4 eggs hard boiled and peeled 3 tabs ghee 1 tsp cumin seeds 8 to 10 cloves 6 to 8 green cardamoms 3 to 4 (1 inch long) sticks of cinnamon bark 2 medium onions chopped 2 medium tomatoes cut into small cubes 2 medium potatoes cut into small cubes 2 tsp garlic ginger paste 4 green chillies chopped 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder cup coconut milk cup natural yoghurt Salt to taste Ingredients for garnishing: cup deep fried onions
Ingredients: 300 grams carrot finely grated 1-1/2 tabs ghee cup sugar cup milk powder cup silvered almonds tsp green cardamom powder 2 cups of ready made pancake mixture Ghee for shallow frying of pancakes. Method Melt the ghee in a non-stick pan. Add the grated carrot and cover. Cook on slow heat till the carrot is cooked. Now add the sugar, milk powder, silvered almonds and the cardamom powder. Mix and cook till it becomes uniform throughout (like halwa). Pour a ladle of the pancake mixture on a non-stick pan. Spread it and cook till the edges start to lift up. Place 1 tabs of the cooked halwa in the middle and lift sides of the pancake to enclose the halwa. Turn over the pancake. Pour some melted ghee to cook the pancake to a golden brown colour. Turn over and pour some more melted ghee to cook the other side.
'Superfoods' to enhance your diet

Superfoods is a marketing term used to describe foods with special health benefits. Particularly, when accompanied by a balanced diet, they provide many nutritional benefits. Here are some sought after items that come Blueberries: They contain high levels of polyphenols, an antioxidant that positively impacts the nervous system and brain function, helping to combat memory loss and enhance your mood. They are also high in antioxidants that help fight wrinkles. Avocados: Avocados are full of fiber, plant sterols, magnesium, folate, protein, potassium, vitamins B6, E and K. Kale: Kale is low in calories, has zero fat and high levels of fiber, which helps to keep you full for longer. The lutein found in kale will keep your eyes healthy and the high levels of vitamin C will help support the immune system. If you are on a vegan or dairy-free diet, eating kale can increase your calcium intake. Green tea: Green tea can hinder the development of tumor-spreading blood vessels and it also helps to deal with the effects of alcohol by repairing liver damage. Quinoa: It is now readily available in many supermarkets and is one of the best whole grains you can eat. It is an ancient grain, easy to make, interesting, high in protein (8 grams in 1 cup cooked), fiber (5 grams per cup) and a naturally good source of iron. It also has plenty of zinc, vitamin E, and selenium to help control your weight and lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes. Quinoa is as easy to prepare as rice and can be eaten alone or mixed with vegetables, nuts, or lean protein for a whole-grain medley.
Body-Mind-Spirit
Sri Ramakrishnas advice to householders

By Mahendranath Gupta August 13, 1882 Secret of divine communion The Master explained to the devotees the secret of communion with God. MUSICIAN: "Sir, what is the way to realize God?" MASTER: "Bhakti is the one essential thing. To be sure, God exists in all beings. Who, then, is a devotee? He whose mind dwells on God. But this is not possible as long as one has egotism and vanity. The water of God's grace cannot collect on the high mound of egotism. It runs down. I am a mere machine. Master's respect for other faiths "God can be realized through all paths. All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. You can also climb up by a bamboo pole. Many names of one God "You may say that there are many errors and superstitions in another religion. I should reply: Suppose there are. Every religion has errors. Everyone thinks that his watch alone gives the correct time. It is enough to have yearning for God. It is enough to love Him and feel attracted to Him: Don't you know that God is the Inner Guide? He sees the longing of our heart and the yearning of our soul. Suppose a man has several sons. The older boys address him distinctly as 'Baba' or 'Papa', but the babies can at best call him 'Ba' or 'Pa'. Now, will the father be angry with those who address him in this indistinct way? The father knows that they too are calling him, only they cannot pronounce his name well. All children are the same to the father. Likewise, the devotees call on God alone, though by different names. They call on one Person only. God is one, but His names are many." Spiritual disciplines necessary at the beginning MASTER: "A little spiritual discipline is necessary in order to know what lies within." MNG: "Is it necessary to practise discipline all through life?" MASTER: "No. But one must be up and doing in the beginning. After that one need not work hard. The helmsman stands up and clutches the rudder firmly as long as the boat is passing through waves, storms, high wind, or around the curves of a river; but he relaxes after steering through them. As soon as the boat passes the curves and the helmsman feels a favourable wind, he sits comfortably and just touches the rudder. Next he prepares to unfurl the sail and gets ready for a smoke. Likewise, the aspirant enjoys peace and calm after passing the waves and storms of 'woman and gold'. God and worldly duties MNG: "Yes, sir. But may I know if one can realize God while performing one's duties? Can 'Rama' and 'desire' coexist? The other day I read in a Hindi couplet: 'Where Rama is, there desire cannot be; where desire is, there Rama cannot be.' " MASTER: "All, without exception, assume one of these attitudes: nta, Dsya, sakhya, Vtsalya, or Madhur. "nta, the serene attitude. The rishis of olden times had this attitude toward God. They did not desire any worldly enjoyment. "Dsya, the attitude of a servant toward his master. Hanuman had this attitude toward Rama. He felt the strength of a lion when he worked for Rama. "Sakhya, the attitude of friendship. Friends say to one another, 'Come here and sit near me.' Sridm and other friends sometimes fed Krishna with fruit, part of which they had already eaten, and sometimes climbed on His shoulders. "Vtsalya, the attitude of a mother toward her child. This was Yaoda's attitude toward Krishna. Yaoda would roam about with butter in her hand, in order to feed Krishna. "Madhur, the attitude of a woman toward her paramour. Radha had this attitude toward Krishna. The wife also feels it for her husband. This attitude includes all the other four." MNG: "When one sees God does one see Him with these eyes?" MASTER: "God cannot be seen with these physical eyes. In the course of spiritual discipline one gets a 'love body', endowed with 'love eyes', 'love ears', and so on. One sees God with those 'love eyes'. One hears the voice of God with those 'love ears'. One even gets a sexual organ made of love." Worship of the Divine Mother MASTER: "One must propitiate the Divine Mother, the Primal Energy, in order to obtain God's grace. God Himself is Mahamaya, who deludes the world with Her illusion and conjures up the magic of creation, preservation, and destruction. She has spread this veil of ignorance before our eyes. We can go into the inner chamber only when She lets us pass through the door. Living outside, we see only outer objects, but not that Eternal Being, Existence-KnowledgeBliss Absolute. Therefore it is stated in the purna that deities like Brahma praised Mahamaya for the destruction of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. "akti alone is the root of the universe. That Primal Energy has two aspects: vidy and avidy. Avidy deludes. Avidy conjures up 'woman and gold', which casts the spell. Vidy begets devotion, kindness, wisdom, and love, which lead one to God. This avidy must be propitiated, and that is the purpose of the rites of akti worship. "The devotee assumes various attitudes toward akti in order to propitiate Her: the attitude of a handmaid, a 'hero', or a child. A hero's attitude is to please Her even as a man pleases a woman through intercourse. "The worship of akti is extremely difficult. It is no joke. I passed two years as the handmaid and companion of the Divine Mother. But my natural attitude has always been that of a child toward its mother. I regard the breasts of any woman as those of my own mother." (Excerpted from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by Mahendranth Gupta translated into English by Swami Nikhilananda)
Sri Ramakrishna in one of his ecstasies perform work. Even to chant the name and glories of God is work, as is the meditation of the non-dualist on 'I am He'. Breathing is also an activity. There is no way of renouncing work altogether. So do your work, but surrender the result to God." MNG: "Sir, may I make an effort to earn more money?" MASTER: "It is permissible to do so to maintain a religious family. You may try to increase your income, but in an honest way. The goal of life is not the earning of money, but the service of God. Money is not harmful if it is devoted to the service of God." MNG: "How long should a man feel obliged to do his duty toward his wife and children?" MASTER: "As long as they feel pinched for food and clothing. But one need not take the responsibility of a son when he is able to support himself. When the young fledgling learns to pick its own food, its mother pecks it if it comes to her for food." MNG: "How long must one do one's duty?" MASTER: "The blossom drops off when the fruit appears. One doesn't have to do one's duty after the attainment of God, nor does one feel like doing it then. "If a drunkard takes too much liquor he cannot retain consciousness. If he takes only two or three glasses, he can go on with his work. As you advance nearer and nearer to God, He will reduce your activities little by little. Have no fear. "Finish the few duties you have at hand, and then you will have peace. When the mistress of the house goes to bathe after finishing her cooking and other household duties, she won't come back, however you may shout after her." Different groups of devotees MNG: "Sir, what is the meaning of the realization of God? What do you mean by God-vision? How does one attain it?" MASTER: "According to the Vaishnavas the aspirants and the seers of God may be divided into different groups. These are the pravartaka, the sadhaka, the siddha, and the siddha of the siddha. He who has just set foot on the path may be called a pravartaka. He may be called a sadhaka who has for some time been practising spiritual disciplines, such as worship, japa, meditation, and the chanting of God's name and glories. He may be called a siddha who has known from his inner experience that God exists. An analogy is given in the Vedanta to explain this. The master of the house is asleep in a dark room. Someone is groping in the darkness to find him. He touches the couch and says, 'No, it is not he.' He touches the window and says, 'No, it is not he.' He touches the door and says, 'No, it is not he.' This is known in the Vedanta as the process of 'Neti, neti', 'Not this, not this'. At last his hand touches the master's body and he exclaims, 'Here he is!' In other words, he is now conscious of the 'existence' of the master. He has found him, but he doesn't yet know him intimately. Different moods of aspirants "But in order to realize God, one must
Body-Mind-Spirit
By Suma Varughese he law of attraction is enabling millions across the world to determine their destiny The fundamental truth about the life we lead can be summed up in four words: We create our reality. Today, the same truth has been redefined in three words: Law of Attraction. Whether in its age-old or brand-new avatar, accessing and understanding this truth paves the way to a momentous paradigm shift. From a life of victimhood we move towards victorhood. From being mystified by the shifting and illogical nature of life, we see the pattern of life perfectly and appreciate its sublime design. From chafing at the random injustice of the world, we discover the method behind the madness that bestows some with happiness, health, joy and all the appendages of the good life, and others with paltry crumbs. We begin to understand life, and what is more, we begin to learn to shift the levers that govern our own peace, happiness, success and health. We discover that our life is in our hands and that in the ultimate analysis we are responsible for the way our lives turn out, not our parents, not the school we went to, not the person we married, not the boss we report to and so on. Even though it bestows a weighty responsibility on each of us, it gives us the incomparable privilege of crafting our own destiny.
convinced that people are not to be trusted. Like all self-realising prophecies, this comes to pass and only untrustworthy people show up in their lives. Indeed, the danger is that even normally trustworthy people may be tempted to deceive if they sense that the other does not trust them. Often the tenor of our day is determined by the thoughts we think. When is the last time you woke up and found that you had run out of toothpaste, then proceeded to have a quarrel with your spouse at the breakfast table? What a horrible day I am having, you think to yourself and to be sure the Universe delivers on that thought. The traffic jam to work is endless, you are late for a meeting with your boss, which earns you a putdown, get dumped with a project that will keep you working late for the next six months, and discover that you forgot your lovely lunch of aloo paratha and raita on your dining table. Or you have a sore throat and worry, Oh, God, I am going to be ill. Sure enough, the Universe delivers on that as well.
Joseph Murphy, whose book, The Power of the Subconscious Mind, awakened many to their amazing potential. Other classics include the Silva Method of Mind Control, Shakti Gawains Creative Visualisation and Deepak Chopras Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, all of which have enjoyed remarkable success. However, hitherto, these books and the law itself spoke mainly to those on the path. People whose interest in holistic thinking drew them to these books, though of course many probably found their way into the path through reading these books.
The Secret
But if there is one person who can be said to have brought this thinking mainstream and exposed it to everyman, it has to be Rhonda Byrne whose book and DVD, The Secret, became phenomenally successful the world over. The popularity of the book brought her an audience with almost every chat show host in the US including Oprah Winfrey and Larry King, further fuelling the popularity of the concept at the mainstream level. Her audio book and the print book have a combined print run of 16 million copies in 40 languages. Their website also has more than 3000 testimonials to share from. One Priyanka S from Mumbai, a high school student, shares that the DVD turned her life around, and enabled her to get better grades, have better relationships and basically be the envy of all her friends. One Anna from Ontario, also talked about how although she unconsciously practised positive thinking, it was The Secret the enabled her to see the method to the madness, and by practising it diligently, she actually manifested a house she loved. Regular people, not seekers by any chance, are using The Secret to take control of their lives. One of the key observations in the book is that most of us think of what we dont want and not what we want. We worry about negative outcomes such as losing a job, a loved one, our health and so on. What we need instead is to focus on what we want: health, happiness, peace, success, and healthy relationships. The three keys to getting what you want according to The Secret are: Get clear on what you want. Then ask. Clarity is important. Many of us believe that we want things we dont actually do or whose consequences we cannot live with. So think before you ask to make sure you can live with the consequences. Believe that you will get it. Never doubt that you will get what you ask for Step three is to receive. This means to start feeling the way you would if your dream came true.
An eternal truth
The great ones had discerned this truth centuries back and a substantial part of their teachings revolved around enabling us to realise it. Here is what the Brihadranyak Upanishad said as long as 5000 years ago: "You are what your deep driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will, so your deed. As your deed is, so your destiny. And in clear and concise terminology that could well have come from a modern text, the Buddha says in the very first verse of the Dhammapada.
The power of thought

Simply put, we create our lives by the thoughts we think. Thoughts, invisible, unobtrusive, almost ephemeral as we have long thought them to be, are actually the most powerful determinants of our lives. And we once believed that what we thought did not matter as long as no one knew about it, didnt we? Well we are wrong. Very wrong. Dominant thought patterns in our head actually manifest in our lives. Which means that if you are a happy, well-adjusted person who takes life as it comes and seldom worries about the future, your life is almost guaranteed to be sunny side up. No matter how implausible it may be, things work out in your favour. A friend shares that when she was redoing her house on a limited budget, she sent out an intention to the universe that she should be able to buy all the furniture she needed for Rs 10,000. Sure enough a friend told her about a relative who was planning to close the house and go abroad and was disposing of furniture cheap. She took a look and she was able to buy some diwans, a dining table and chairs, a bed, and a couple of writing tables for less than Rs 10,000. If however, your dominant tendency is to fear life and to expect the worst, that destiny too will also show up in your life. I know several people who are firmly
One of the key observations in the phenomenally successful book The Secret is that most of us think of what we dont want and not what we want. What we need is to focus on what we want: health, happiness, peace, success, and healthy relationships.
tute an externalised approach that may or may not work because it is far from easy to keep ones thoughts under control. The great teachers would suggest instead that you purify yourself so that your thoughts are naturally joyous, confident and positive. When that happens you will only manifest a vibrant life where success, love, peace and so on increase exponentially. spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, becoming aware and accepting your thoughts and feelings will help you to gradually eliminate all the garbage of unhealed wounds, unaccepted feelings and behaviours that lock us in negativity. Our true nature which we share with God is unalloyed goodness, peace, joy and compassion. The focus, therefore, must be on realising that because all else will be added to it. So while LOA may seem like a short cut method to getting you what you want, it will only fully work when you are spiritually mature. Already, more and more people are doing the arduous work they need to eliminate the negativity in their lives. Join us, will you not, and maybe the day will come when negativity will be weaned away from this planet, and little children will get to keep lifelong the innocence and purity they bring down to the earth. Courtesy: Life Positive magazine
We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Every prophet and thinker has stumbled upon the same truths on their way to enlightenment. Jesus Christ, for instance, said rather cryptically, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Over the centuries thousands of thinkers and sages have offered this truth to the world and anyone who has achieved any measurable success, happiness or productivity has consciously or unconsciously abided by it. Napolean Hills book, Think and Grow Rich created a minor revolution in the US and Norman Vincent Peales The Power of Positive Thinking, which has sold over five million copies, is one of the bestknown in the positive thinking literature. Incidentally, Dr Peale is responsible for that classic line: If life gives you a lemon, make lemonade. The New Age is virtually founded on the promise of this truth which many writers have popularised of late. We have
Change yourself
Useful as these tips are, they consti-
Body-Mind-Spirit
Indian almanac predicts better times in 2014

e are in the first quarter of 2014 and astrologically we can look forward to a better year. Economically, the new year offers enhanced hope, cheer, and prosperity for VasthuSastra many. Overall, the planetary positions are expected to be more By T. Selva positive from May onwards, and we will see general financial improvement worldwide. However, we need to exercise extra care from February to March because challenges like calamities are forecast owing to the conjunctions of Saturn, Mars and Rahu (means dragon head in Hindu astrology, and is equivalent to a planet). The combination is viewed as inauspicious. After May, the real estate and textile sectors will experience a boom, and the price of gold and silver will also rise. I met my Vasthu Sastra and astrology master Yuvaraj Sowma in Chennai, India, earlier to jointly analyse what the future holds for the various zodiac signs using the Indian almanac. The Indian calendar is based on moon signs, or rasi, as they are called in Indian astrology. Readers should note that Western astrology is based on sun signs. If your Western astrological star sign is, for instance, Aries, your star sign in the Indian system might not necessarily be the same. Consult an astrologer to determine your moon sign as it is too complicated to explain how to do that here. And dont be disheartened if your forecast indicates an unfavourable period ahead. You can avert the worst by performing prayers and spiritual activities in accordance with your faith, and performing good deeds and acts of charity to mitigate negative planetary forces. It will be a positive year for those born under the signs of Pisces (Meena) and Virgo (Kanya), and they will enjoy great progress in the new year. Mixed results are expected for those who belong to Taurus (Vrishabha), Gemini (Mithuna), Cancer (Kataka), Capricorn (Makara) and Aquarius (Kumbha). Those born under the signs of Aries (Mesham), Leo (Simha), Scorpio (Vrichika), Sagittarius (Dhanus) and Libra (Thula) will have to be careful due to Saturns negative influence on their birth charts in 2014.
Gemini (Mithunam) Mixed results and changes are expected, and there may be slow growth in career, business and acquisition of assets in the first six months. You may come to learn the true nature of the people around you, and you need to exercise patience. Take care of your health, and any warning signs should not be ignored. An improved period is indicated from July onwards, and past conflicts will be resolved. If you are single, you will find a better match after June, and you are likely to get married by end of 2014. Those in business will shine in the later part of the year, and will receive new contracts and projects. Cancer (Kataka) The transition of major planets in your horoscope will affect your health, wealth and career. Only a well disciplined life can help you face the testing times, and you should control your emotions. Health will be average, and you should spend more time in spiritual practices and meditation. You should avoid getting into marriage and relationships, and dont change jobs. Handle each and every problem slowly, and do not make any hasty decisions. Avoid borrowing and conflict situations. Stress and challenges will ease after June. Leo (Simha) A prosperous year is in store and you will be successful in your career and personal life. Change may bring realisation through reconciliation of your past activities. Your health will be excellent until June, though you should exercise and watch what you eat. If are not married, you will find your life partner, and if you are married, you will have a chance to go on your dream holiday. Sudden increase in financial wealth and promotions are indicated, and you should convert the cash into fixed assets. From July onwards, exercise care in all your undertakings. Virgo (Kanya) This will be a fluctuating year, and you may be able to fulfil your desires after strenuous efforts. You need to be strong as problems in your personal life may impact your career. Friends will be of great support, while you need to watch your health. The last quarter of the year will be favourable and you will see all conflicts resolved, with you enjoying a happier life. If you are single, you will find your match in the second half of the year. Work pressure will continue and you need to remain calm and handle the situation bravely. Libra (Thula) This year may offer normal results in finance and career, which you may not be satisfied with. Be strong because in spite of the weak period in the first half of 2014, you will give your best and do reasonably well. Take care of your health and avoid situations that cause mental stress. You will enjoy excellent family ties and enhance the bond by spending more energy and time with the family. You will feel that you are losing your luck from July, but you will survive this testing period if you watch your expenditure.
Scorpio (Vrichika) You need to be more attentive and proactive to avoid setbacks because challenging times are expected. Normal growth is forecasted and you should pay attention to your health. Spend more time with your spouse to strengthen your relationship and love. If you are married, you will be blessed with a child in the later part of the year. Improvement in all aspects of life will be seen after July, and those in business will enjoy improved profits. Sagittarius (Dhanus) Your honest and sincere efforts may yield more than you anticipate. Your career, relationship and finance will improve. Show your appreciation to your elders and the divine for the good times. You will enjoy more positive energies and peace of mind. If you are working, promotions and salary hikes are most likely, and those in business will enjoy a windfall. You may have to face some headwinds in November. If you are careful with your expenditure, you will pull through. Capricorn (Makara) Dynamic results are indicated in your life and your conservative thinking will save you from major calamities. Troubles created by relatives and neighbours may worry you for time to time. You need to watch your health and diet in the first six months, and exercise a lot. Allocate quality time with your spouse to enjoy an enhanced relationship and attain happiness. Despite work pressure, you will emerge stronger and enjoy a promotion and salary hike. You will be able to settle your debts and enjoy financial freedom. Aquarius (Kumbha) You should cultivate positive thinking to make your life comfortable. Exercise to regularly enjoy excellent health throughout the year. Matters related to relationships will improve, and marriage is indicated if you are single. The second half of 2014 will be rough and you should exercise caution in all your undertakings. Prepare yourself to face obstacles, and one way of doing so is to improve your spiritual practices to gain strength and confidence. Keep a watch on unnecessary expenses and avoid borrowing. Pisces (Meena) Maintain your confidence and determination levels to accomplish your objectives. Visit a doctor if you experience any aches and pains, which may be an indication of health problems. The second half of 2014 will be more favourable than the first, and all your past issues will be resolved. Do not switch jobs because promotions are likely to take place in your current job. If you are in business, it is a good time to sign new contacts and expand your ventures. T. Selva is the author of the bestseller book titled V asthuSastra Guide. To get a copy contact Devi at 0412623017. He can be contacted at tselvas@pd.jaring.my. W ebsite: www.vasthusastra.com
Aries (Mesham) Those born under this sign need to exercise extra care in making decisions involving all aspects of life because in spite of your efforts, you may find it difficult to reach your objectives easily. Health will be below average and it would be best to adhere to a good diet and exercise regularly. Watch your expenditure and plan your finances carefully. Enhance your compassion by spending more time on spiritual work. Overall, the first half of the year is favourable for career and business, and challenges are expected after June. Taurus (Rishabam) The first six months will be highly favourable for matters involving finances, relationship and travel. You may see a windfall and will have the opportunity to invest in property. You will see things changing more frequently than usual, and mixed results are indicated after June. During the testing period in the second half, be brave and it is best you go on a pilgrimage to cope with the obstacles. Take extra care of your health and exercise regularly to keep fit.
Columns THE HUMOR OF MELVIN DURAI
World Sikh Awards recognize outstanding Sikhs

been in vain." To qualify for a World Sikh Award, Atwal had to first win a Yuba City Sikh Award, then a California Sikh Award, and finally a United States Sikh Award. "The tough part was winning the Yuba City Sikh Award,"Atwal said. "Do you have any idea how many Sikhs there are in Yuba City?" Among other award winners were Avtar Singh Sohal of Kenya, who was recognized in the sports category, Harpal Singh Saggu of India recognized in the business category, and Waris Ahluwalia recognized in the special category of designer/actor/hunk. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, while Sardar Singh and other members of India's hockey team received a Lifetime UnderAchievement Award. Announcing nominees in the "Outstanding Sikh Veterinarian" category, presenter Piers Morgan caused laughter in the banquet hall when he said, "The nominees are Singh, Singh and Singh." Even more laughter ensued when six people stood up to take a bow. As it turned out, three of them had been nominated in a similar-sounding category: "Outstanding Sikh Vegetarian". While Parminder Kaur Gill of London's All-Veg Buffet was thrilled to win the latter award, running on stage and hugging Morgan, the most excited awardee of the evening was Lakhwinder because the money didn't belong to me," he said. "But I have to admit that when I found the money in my taxi, my first thought was, Ah, here's my chance to finally win a World Sikh Award.'" Dhillon's enthusiasm was almost matched by Gurvir Singh, who received the award for "Outstanding Sikh Bouncer". Formerly known as Gary Smith, he converted to Sikhism partly because he wanted to win a World Sikh Award. "It's nice to be in a community that recognizes its own," Singh said. "I also get free food on Sundays at the gurdwara." Inspired by the World Sikh Awards, a businessman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announced that in September 2015 he will organize the inaugural World Muslim Awards. Within minutes of that announcement, a businessman in Israel announced that in October 2015 he will organize the World Jewish Awards. "It will be bigger than the World Muslim Awards," said Yitzhak Rubinstein."That's why we are having it a month later, so we can see how big theirs is first." The World Hindu Awards were scheduled to take place in June 2014, but disagreements within the organizing committee about eligibility criteria have caused the award show to be broken up into several separate events, including the World Brahmin Awards, World Vaishya Awards and World Dalit Awards.
he World Sikh Awards were held recently at London's Hilton Hotel, recognizing achievements by Sikhs in a variety of fields all over the world. Khushwant Singh took the prize for "Outstanding Sikh Writer, Harminder Singh Dua of Nottingham, England, took the prize for "Outstanding Sikh Doctor" and Ravinder Singh Atwal of Yuba City, California, took the prize for "Outstanding Sikh Stay-at-Home Dad." "I accept this award on behalf of all Sikh stay-at-home dads,"Atwal said in his acceptance speech. "This one's for you, guys. All those years of diaperchanging and bottle-feeding have not
Actor-model Waris Ahluwalia was so excited winning an award that he almost broke into a smile.
Singh Dhillon of Melbourne, Australia, who received the "Outstanding Sikh Taxi Driver" award. Dancing on stage with his award, Dhillon was so overjoyed that he offered to drive the entire audience home. "This means so much to me," he said. "It has always been a dream of mine to win a World Sikh Award. I never thought it would be possible, because there are so many deserving Sikh taxi drivers in the world." Dhillon was selected for the award largely because of his honesty he returned 10,000 Australian dollars to a group of people he had dropped off at a casino. "It was easy to return it,
Theism, atheism, and standpoints in between

and, when necessary, use words. FRANCIS of ASSISI Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE This is my simple religion. There is no need for complicated philosophies; our own brain, our own heart is the temple; the philosophy is kindness. DALAI LAMA It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil. If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow man the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui. HELEN KELLER I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your church, pray in your temple. For you and I are sons and daughters of one religion, and that is the spirit. KAHLIL GIBRAN I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die and
Inner Space
By Faith Harper Does God exist? At the moment of wonder we do not need holy books or preachers because we just feel it. Religions can separate people and the big joke is nobody knows for sure if God exists or not, if there is reincarnation or, if karma is in fact a reality. People are prepared to die for their ideas or, as Yassar Arafat said, "their imaginary friends". Here are some views on the most debated subject: When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator. MAHATMA GANDHI Preach the gospel at all times
No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. MAHATMA GANDHI I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C.S.LEWIS You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself. SWAMI VIVEKANAND find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is. ALBERT CAMUS Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, man cannot live without a spiritual life. BUDDHA When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'let us pray' and we closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land. DESMOND TUTU Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. SOCRATES Morality is of the highest importance - but for us, not for God. ALBERT EINSTEIN
Column
Exciting election times ahead

By Karam Ramrakha here is today a worldwide belief in democracy symbolised by the power of One Man, One Vote, One Value the old Latin tag: VoxPopuli, Vox Dei. But with the results we are getting I doubt that the Voice of the People is always the Voice of God. The world today, especially Australia, is awash in elections. We had two in South Australia and Tasmania, not to forget the Senate elections re-run in Western Australia. What intrigues us also are the promised September elections in Fiji, my birth country, and the looming May general elections in India, my Soul Country. Since 6 December 2006 Military Commander Vorege (Frank) Bainimarama has ruled Fiji with a hand-picked Cabinet without elections. Thats almost eight years. As promised he has renounced his military position, and will now form a political party and offer himself to the people in the hope that he can garner enough support to become Prime Minister. While Frank has stifled dissent, severely censored newspapers, with some dissidents subjected to excesses, his rule has been largely accepted by the people, especially the Indians. In eight years Franks most memorable achievement has been free education at all levels possibly a world first. He has shrewdly brought in infrastructure. But his most memorable achievements has been end of racial discrimination, giving the people of Fiji a common name Fijian and ending racial electorates. Absence of Parliament did not seem to worry most Fijians. The Indians as a whole welcomed Franks rule. But his most severe test will be the indigenes or i-taukei as they are now called. What of them. The deposed Prime Minister Lasenia Qarase wanted to vest all land and sea in the hands of the indigenes. Frank bravely opposed that as one of the reasons why he seized power. Whatever you may think of the size of Fiji, it is a small but powerful country, with rich soil and resources and can become an agricultural powerhouse in production of rice, sugar, vegetables and other crops. After 1987, Rabukas indigenes refused to renew sugar cane leases, forcing the Indian farmers to flee to urban areas and now live in ghettoes. Frank is working hard on land reform: land lying idle helps neither the
owner nor the lessee farmer. But many Indians do not want to return to the hard grind of sugar farming, especially the arduous and long hours of harvesting the cane. The current constitution maintains racial electoral rolls but with Fiji as one constituency returning 25 members elected by Fiji as a whole; 23 registered as Fijians; 19 registered as Indians; three registered as General and finally one registered as Rotuman. Frank has some six months to form his political party and campaign. The crucial question is how will the average Fijian view Frank. Will he be seen as the one undermining what they call their Vanua (i-taukei) which embraces their land rights, their culture and traditions. Will two bold moves by Frank abolishing the Great Council of Chiefs, a British creation, and marginalising the Methodist Church and outlawing and preventing its Conference, so loved by the Fijians, rebound against Frank. The simple answer is that Chiefs and Church may well have become irrelevant in average i-taukei eyes. Already, Frank is coming out of the cold, with our own Julie Bishop rushing to embrace him with a gift of her team shirt. Yes, with political parties having to begin from scratch, Frank has the upper hand and I predict he will win a majority in September. To turn to Bharat that is India which Churchill scoffed was mere geography but hardly a nation. Apart from Mrs Indira Gandhis hiccup in 1975, India has remained steadfast in clean elections. That land has been notorious for divisions and dissent. Indeed, when the British left India, it left a legacy of 569 kingdoms left to decide which country they will join. Mahatma Gandhi said that no one ever conquered India but ruled by bullying one faction against the other. How true. So India teems with divisions of caste, class, region and religion. It is customary for us to think that since the Moslem/Mongol (or Moghul) invasions of India it was Hindu vs Moslem. Far from it, if you study the history of that period it was largely Moslem v Moslem, often with Indian partnership on both sides. The recent creation of Telegana demonstrates how divided India can be. What are the forces at work and how many so called Barsati Mendak (those who frequently change, opportunistic) have emerged. The Old Congress which after independence held almost universal sway is
While India has remained steadfast in clean elections, what intrigues us are the promised September elections in Fiji. For eight years, Military Commander Frank Bainimarama has ruled Fiji with a hand-picked Cabinet without elections. As promised he has renounced his military position, and will now form a political party and offer himself to the people in the hope that he can garner enough support to become Prime Minister. With political parties having to begin from scratch, Frank has the upper hand and I predict he will win a majority in September.
gone and its successor (or remnant) led by Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul is in dire straits. There is the Bofors scandal and allegations that Sonia-jee has a hoard of billions in overseas banks. Rahul struggles bravely to offer himself as Prime Minister. Two elections ago Atal Behari Vapayees Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to sell its economic advances as India Shining but Sonia-jee, despite her faltering Hindi, gazumped BJP. Today the BJP has another leader Narendra Modi who has brought about an economic miracle in Gujarat. Modi enjoys a worldwide Hindu putsch led by veteran Dr Subrahmaniam Swamy, and core Indians of New York who support a uniform civil code. Modi is widely tipped to become Prime Minister. There is also a new contender Kejriwal who has formed Aam Aadmi Party and has routed Congress and captured the constituency of Delhi.The Indian voter can be volatile, distrustful and unpredictable. The real issue is how the newly emerging middle class will vote. Modi is confident with Shining Light, the new BJP slogan and a promise of a bright economic future looms for India. Karam C Ramrakha, an ex Fiji MP, now a practising Barrister and Solicitor. He may be contacted on (02) 98082760 or email karamcramrakha@gmail.com.
Sydneysiders interact with Shri Narendra Modi on Chai Pe Charcha

FBJP Australia (Overseas Friends of BJP Australia) participated from Sydney in Chai Pe Charcha programme on 8th March 2014. Chai pe Charcha, a simple idea to communicate with a handful of people, when laced with technology, has invoked huge pan India participation and Indians overseas with Shri Narendra Modi via web conference in real time. Saturdays Chai Pe Charcha was unique and of special interest as it was occasion of International Womans Day. The second in series of Chai Pe Charcha was conducted over 26 locations including 11 international locations worldwide. Women in large numbers came out to share their ideas with Shri Modi and were keen to learn his views on diverse range of issues affecting women. The overwhelming response from men, women, children, and elders on this occasion underpins the fact that Shri Modi really understands the pulse of the nation. Chai Pe Charcha has introduced a new avenue for dis-
course, which educate people the social challenges for Indians in particular for Indian women. Women empowerment was the central theme of this discussion. OFBJP Australia member, Smt Poonam Sharma
from Sydney presented a very worthy suggestion. She pointed that women in Australia are at the forefront of public facing professions like in public transport as bus drivers, ticket checkers, taxi operators, security etc. In effect women are visible in jobs of authority in Australia. In India if women are seen to be in similar roles of authority, it would lead to revision of mindset and women would be more respected. Therefore we need to create a structure to encourage and facilitate more participation of women in roles of authority. Large number of enthusiastic Sydneysiders stayed till late night to participate in the event and mark their support for BJP and Modi in General Election 2014. We would organize similar Chai Pe Charcha in other cities of Australia including Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide very soon, said Balesh Singh Dhankhar, President OFBJP Australia. Details of next CPC, which would be organised in Melbourne would be published on www.ofbjp.org.au, he added.
Matrimonials
MATRIMONIALS
Please contact by email: sur6958@gmail.com or mobile: 0404147744. April 2014 Mat 5. Match for Australian born 28year old Sydney based Punjabi Bhardwaj girl, Master of law, working for NSW goverment. Pretty, tall, fair, homely yet modern girl blends in both Indian and western cultures easily, wants a professional, educated and outgoing match. Contact: vk5454@hotmail.com April 2014 Mat 6. SEEKING match for my brother, Hindu, Gujarati - Patel, 32, 6 ft, vegetarian, Masters in Computing Studies, working and living in USA (American citizen). Looking for a loving Gujarati girl, caring with good family values, well cultured settled or trying to settle in USA or Australia, preferably with a PR/Citizenship. Email: bluepools2012@gmail.com April 2014 Mat 7. Seeking suitable match ( from Australia ) never married, for Hindu Girl 34 yrs, Chartered Accountant (non veg) living in Australia over 25 yrs with eastern and western family values. Please email with all details on ganesh2011v@gmail.com April 2014 Mat 8. Seeking a Hindu boy, non vegetarian, preferably Gujarati with good family values for my daughter. She is 33 , divorced, 5'2" and well-built. She is an Australian citizen, works as an IT team leader and is well settled in Sydney. If you are interested please contact us on 0404 595 182 or r.chandra2012@hotmail.com. April 2014 Mat 9. Parents settled in Australia looking for a suitable professional match for their 30 years old daughter, height 165cm, smart, pretty and working as a clinical psychologist, well brought up and respects Indian cultural values. Professional boys from well settled family background preferred. Please contact by email: fame46213@gmail.com or mobile: 0452227920 April 2014 Mat 10. Parents seeking match for beautiful, multitalented Medical Doctor daughter (age 27) with wider interests in life. Correspondence requested from medical doctor/ dentist (preference vegetarian) with exclusive profile : oasis1556@yahoo.com April 2014 Mat 11. Parents seeking match for fair, slim Hindu Sindhi girl 32 years/ 156 cm working as Lecturer in leading University. Permanent resident of Australia with dual degree M.com (Accounts and Finance), fond of sports, traveling and cooking. We are a well knit professional family. Please mail proposal with education, job details with recent photo to : mohri1324@gmail.com and Contact no. 0431842458 April 2014 Mat 12. Well settled Indian family looking for a suitable match for their 25 year old medico daughter, 5 5 tall, born brought up and educated in Australia. Keen in outdoor and sport activities, travel and wants a like-minded Australia educated medico boy. Write to: wedding2519@gmail.com April 2014 Mat 13. Seeking a Hindu girl, vegetarian, preferably Gujarati, with good family values, for my son. He is 36, divorced, no children, fair, 58, well-built, non-smoker, light drinks. He is an Australian citizen, works as a tax consultant and lives with his parents. His two sisters live separately. We have lived in Sydney for 19 years. Contact 0423 328 800 or sydau714@hotmail.com. April 2014 Mat 14. Seeking a well qualified Hindu male, aged between 49 54, for a very fair, young looking Hindu lady, aged 54 and an Australian citizen. He should be a non smoker and should have strong moral values. Caste no bar. She is an eggetarian, divorced and has a 19 year old daughter living with her. Contact lifepartner@hotmail.com.au. April 2014 Mat 15. Hindu Punjabi business parents invite alliance from a beautiful educated girl for their highly qualified son 30/6'3", a very well placed financial consultant with a leading multinational company in UK. Will be in Australia in July, Caste no bar. Send BHP to ukshaadi@hotmail.com April 2014 Mat 16. Well settled family in Australia inviting alliance for 27 year old, 5"11, Sood Punjabi boy, B.Software Engineer(honors) and is working as a senior IT Consultant for the Australian government on high income. Seeking Indian girl, caste no bar. Please call 0414-518312. Email aumohindra@gmail.com April 2014 Mat 17. Seeking compatible well educated, employed professional/ business match, with Indian background, broad minded/ mature outlook, independent, divorcee, age 47 years onward, For caring, honest, friendly, Indian Christian divorcee Australian citizen, 48 yrs 5'3" tall, much younger looking than age, attractive, graceful looking graduate nurse, employed. Caste no bar. Email details to emily.lotus@hotmail.com April 2014 Mat 18. Local born Melbourne based turbaned Sikh boy with trimmed beard 33 years old 6 feet tall from established family masters graduate working as finance manager looking for a likeminded professional Sikh girl who is locally born or grown up in Australia with mix of western and Indian culture and values. Send interest with pix to sikhmundah@gmail.com
2014 April 2014 Mat 1. Seeking suitable bride for Punjabi Brahmin Boy 31 years 59 well settled Australian Citizen working in Global Bank Sydney, Caste no bar. Please email particulars including photograph to: account8888@gmail.com or contact 0401954390. April 2014 Mat 2. MATCH required for my daughter, we are a Punjabi Brahmin family, settled in Australia. Education: LLB, Grad Dip Legal Practice, B Business MGMT, working in Qld govt, earns $90K. Elegant girl with pleasing nature. 5-3, 34, lives a balanced lifestyle, fit and fair. Looking for a handsome Hindu boy, intelligent and accomplished in a good career. Caste no bar. kumarpd07@yahoo.com.au April 2014 Mat 3. MATCH required for a Licensed Building Practitioner (Builder) Rajput boy, NEVER MARRIED, very fair, athletic, handsome, 5'-11", June 1982-born, High six figure package, Caste no bar. +61-431-059- 703. matrimony2031@yahoo.com.au April 2014 Mat 4. Well settled parents looking for suitable matches for their daughter, 32 years old, working for a multinational company in Sydney in a senior corporate position, pretty, 163cm tall; brought up in and values both Indian and western culture. North Indian, Punjabi, from other regional background, professional boys from well settled family background preferred.
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SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

In the image of Shiva as Nataraja we find a deeply moving symbol of the ultimate mysterious and paradoxical nature of the divine creation and destruction, order and chaos, asceticism and sensuality, immanence and transcendence, life and death, being and non-being--all co-exist and balance, and blend with each other in him.
By Kanaka Ramakrishna he Worship of Shiva as Mahayogi and Pasupati as found in the Indus valley civilization in the north west of India 5000 years ago was later integrated into the early Vedic Aryan civilisation as Rudra, and later as Shiva. Though the worship of Rudra by the early Aryans started the proper foundation for Saivism, Shiva occupied the high position later, and was depicted with three faces, perhaps to indicate his supreme power, which became trimurtis later as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Today Saivism is one of the three most influential denominations and a widely followed sect of Hinduism. Shiva is worshipped as Parameshwara, the Lord of the universe. Every year there is a sacred and significant night assigned for the special worship of Shiva called Shivaratri. Though there are some interesting stories in the puranas associated to this, there is a deeper meaning in the worship of Shiva particularly on this sacred night. Shivaratri falls every year on the fourteenth day of the new moon in the month of Magha (February/March). According to the tradition, the planetary positions on this night are such that there is a powerful and natural upsurge of spiritual energy in nature as well as in the human body. Hence Shivaratri is considered sacred to worship of Shiva with devotion for spiritual growth. The iconic picture of Shiva with three eyes represent the sun, the moon and the fire, the three sources of light, life and heat. The garland of skulls (mundamala) that he wears and the ashes from the funeral pyre smeared over his body, indicate that he is the Lord of destruction. The kapala (skull) is another symbol that points to his all-destroying power. The trishula (trident) in Shivas right hand represents the emblem of His sovereignty and also the three gunas of Prakriti - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, which are fully under his control and Shiva wields the world through these three Gunas. Ganga from his head represents purity and the nectar of immortality. Elephant symbolically represents pride. Wearing the skin of the elephant signifies that He has conquered pride. The never satiating desire can be compared to a tiger, which Shiva killed and wore its skin denoting his complete mastery over desire. Wearing serpents denote his eternity, as serpents live a long life. The third eye in his forehead indicates the eye of wisdom and also it
represents his destructive power. The akshamala (rosary) shows that he is the supreme master of all secular and spiritual knowledge. Shiva is also worshipped in the form of Linga. As the conqueror of the god of death, he is Mrutyunjaya and as the Lord of Yoga, he is worshipped as Dakshinamurthy, the very model of a perfect Guru. Since Shiva and his Shakti are one and the same, he is called Ardhanaareeshwara The earliest use of the name Nataraja for Shiva is found in Paninis Maheswara Sutra. It is mentioned that Shiva sounded his damaru fourteen times, producing fourteen sound patterns, which form the basic structure of entire Sanskrit grammar and forms of all languages and arts. The iconic dancing forms of Shiva Nataraja are generally divided into eight categories of which Tandavamurti is one of them. Of the 108 known modes of dancing, all are attributed to Shiva as the originator. However, of the popular nine modes, the Nataraja aspect is the best. Of all the Nataraja temples in India, the most famous and beautiful image of Nataraja is in the temple at Chidambaram. It is the most visually dramatic and culturally significant dancing form of Shiva. In this image we find a deeply moving symbol of the ultimate mysterious and paradoxical nature of the divine creation and destruction, order and chaos, asceticism and sensuality, immanence and transcendence, life and death, being and non-being, all co-exist and balance, and blend with each other in him. The visual form of Nataraja has four arms,
dancing the AnandaTandava within a circle of flames. He is lifting his left leg and standing with his right leg on a dwarf (apasmarapurusha), symbolising ignorance and illusion. The lotus pedestal is the symbol of the creative forces of the universe. Nataraja dances in the middle of the fire-studded ring symbolising the energy of the universe and its creation and dissolution, and the endless cycle of birth and death. The fiery ring (prabhamandala) represents the universe. The flowing hair shows that he is a yogi. The snake around the waist represents the kundalinishakti or the divine energy that resides in everything. Natarajas upper right hand holds the drum (damaru), which is in the shape of an hourglass, symbolising sound (ShabdhaBramha OM), originating creation and marking the passage of time. With the primordial sound of this drum he beats the rhythm of his dance and the ceaseless pulse of the universe. In his upper left hand he holds the fire of destruction, the pralayagni, representing the fire that destroys the world of time and space at the time of dissolution. Burning the veil of time also opens our minds to eternity. The lower right hand is held in the abhaya (assurance) pose, signifying a gesture of grace and protection to His devotees. The uplifted left leg signifies His grace that liberates souls from bondage. The lower left hand which points to the uplifted left leg shows the assurance that Shivas foot is the refuge for all who surrender to Him. Nataraja is a symbolic synthesis of the most important aspects and the central tenets of Hinduism. Though the figure of Nataraja is a static sculpture, it represents the intense activity, a duality of stillness and motion. The stoic face represents his unaffected composure, indicating that He is above and beyond all activities. His face shows the blissfully dreaming, silent countenance, contrasting with passionate agility of the limbs representing both the Absolute and its Maya, as a single trans-dual form. The dance of Nataraja is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy. The dance of Shiva represents his five activities Shrishti (creation, evolution), Sthithi (preservation, protection), Samhaara (destruction, involution), Tirobhava (illusion), and Anugraha (emancipation, grace). The overall temper of the image is paradoxical, uniting the inner tranquillity and outer activity of Shivaa more fluid and energetic representation of a moving figure than the dancing figure of Shiva - Nataraja is hardly found any-
where in the world In this world, we can clearly witness the incessant live dance of Shiva who is in the form of rising waves of the ocean, in the huge inundation and volcanic eruptions, in earthquakes, lightning, thunder, cyclonic storms, in the movement of planets, constellations and in everything and everywhere. There is no atom where He is not seen dancing in this universe eternally. We, human beings, are continuously re-born while alive. Every living moment a portion of the billions of atoms in our body dies and new ones are born. This process is going on continuously. 98 percent of our body is replaced at least once a year, engaged in Shivas exquisite cosmic dance of creation and destruction with the rhythm to maintain the balance in the universe. The real dancers are we, the human beings. We are the dance of Shiva everywhere and every moment - in our movements, in our thoughts, in our breathing (pranas), oscillations of our minds, in the movements of our senses. In fact it is our own self, which is the part and parcel of Universal Consciousness, is the participator in the play of Shivas dance, but we forget our real nature because of the veil of Maya, (ignorance). His power of destruction and recreation are constantly used to destroy the illusions and imperfections of this world for the benefit of mankind. A scientific explanation is very well brought out by Fritzof Capra in his article, The Dance Of Shiva, and later in The Tao of Physics. He beautifully relates Natarajas dance with modern physics. He said, Every subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also IS an energy dance; a pulsating process and creation and destructionwithout endFor the modern physicists Shivas dance is the dance of subatomic matter. In Hindu mythology, it is a continual dance of creation and destruction, involving the whole cosmos; the basis of all existence and of all natural phenomena. Here is an excerpt from a beautiful poem by Ruth Peel that sums up: The source of all movement, Shivas dance gives rhythm to the universe, He dances in evil places, in sacred, He creates and preserves, Destroys and releases. We are part of this Dance This eternal rhythm And woe to us, if blinded by illusion We detach ourselves From the Dancing Cosmos This universal harmony.
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Cricket
Tendulkar voted cricketer of the generation S

achin Tendulkar has been voted the cricketer of the generation by a 50-member jury of current and former cricketers and journalists. Tendulkar beat strong competition from Shane Warne and Jacques Kallis to win the award, presented to mark the first generation of the existence of ESPNcricinfo, which has been online since 1993. The jury that decided on the award included Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, Martin Crowe, Mark Taylor, Younis Khan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Barry Richards, John Wright and Jeff Dujon. Mitchell Johnson's seriesdefining 7 for 40 in the Ashes Test in Adelaide won the Test bowling title for 2013 in the annual ESPNcricinfo Awards. Shahid Afridi won the ODI bowling award with his 7 for 12 against West Indies - a match he also dominated with the bat, making 76 off 55 balls. Indian players took the two batting prizes. Shikhar Dhawan won the Test batting award for his rollicking 187 on debut against Australia in Mohali last year. Rohit Sharma's ODI dou-
Adieu, the Little Master
Two Bharat Ratnas together! Moving into his new house in early March, Sachin Tendulkar wanted a gift from melody queen Lata Mangeshkar to keep in his music room. She gave him two frames with lyrics of her hits 'Tu jahan jahan chalega' and 'Piya tose naina lage re'. Also seen in the picture are Anjali Tendulkar and political leader Raj Thackeray.
ble-century in Bangalore, also against Australia, was picked as the ODI batting performance of the year. A new category, the
Debutant of the Year was won by India's Mohammed Shami, who took 17 wickets in his four Tests in 2013, and 30 ODI wickets.
ahiru Thirimanne's wellconstructed century guided Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup title Saturday, drubbing defending champions Pakistan by five wickets in the final at Mirpur in Bangaladesh March 8. Pursuing 261, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 46.2 overs with the help of a 156-run third-wicket partnership between seasoned Mahela Jayawardene (75) and Thirimanne (101), who completed his third One-Day International (ODI) century. Earlier, Sri Lankan paceman and Man-of-the Match Lasith Malinga restricted Pakistan to 260/5 by taking the sixth fivewicket haul of his career with figures of 5-56. Sri Lanka got off to a good start with the two lefthanded openers - Kusal Perera (42) and Thirimanne - reaching 56 for no loss by the 10th over. But Pakistan off spinner Saeed Ajmal rose to the occasion by taking the wickets of Perera and experienced Kumar Sangakkara (0) on back-toback deliveries. The wickets slowed down the run rate but Mahila Jayawardene and
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan, clinch Asia Cup L
By Kris Raman His zillion fans called him the Little Master Some called him Master Blaster while he was Tendya to friends Many even worshipped Sach the demi God But to us he will always be Littlemaster Sachin. Dadar born, and Bombay bred genius he always was, Named Sachin after his fathers favourite Sachin Dev Burman, Both excelled in their field of choice, though diverse, I once saw Sachin play as the boy wonder' at Shivaji Park. The game of flannelled fools gifted to Indians by Poms, Sachin blasted the disgusted poms time and again, Hard working bowlers will now breathe a sigh of relief, A s the stocky, short powerhouse of cricket walks away. The game he began playing as a tiny lad of eleven, A maranth A chrekar, honed Sach to Test status at sixteen, The machine worked on and on in monotonous regularity, Now to stop past two hundred Tests and a pile of runs. Though known in local circles as a bully in his pre-teen days, He is now a paragon of virtues, a true blue gentleman, The cricket world stood still as he descended down to the turf, He never let us down in any form of game he played. Shower of Rose petals, Gold commemoration coins, Special Gold coin for toss, accolades lavished in print media, A seat in the Law makers chamber, the title of Bharata Ratna, W ill not suffice to pay tribute to the brilliant Little Master? W e wont see the famous squat, look at the sun, and take guard, Gardening invisible weeds, pile up runs in style and ease, May see the smiling face in Bandra walks or the commentary booths, But I can vouch the game wont be the same anymore.
Lasith Malinga was Man-of-the Match for taking 5 Pakistani wickets for 56. Thirimanne held the innings together and slowly guided them closer to victory. Jayawardene finally perished with the score at 212 after playing a responsible knock, which included nine boundaries and a six, but Thirimanne held on. The left hander got out after scoring his hundred with victory just 14 runs away. Skipper Angelo Matthews (16 not out) hit the winning runs. Ajmal was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, taking 3-26 in his 10 overs. Earlier, Fawad Alam's maiden hundred powered Pakistan to 260/5. The left-handed batsman's 114 not out rescued Pakistan from a precarious 18/3 and took them to a fighting total. Alam and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (65) shared a 122-run stand for the fourth wicket to take the defending champions out of trouble. Then wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal (59) joined Alam and provided the much-needed impetus the Pakistani innings lacked. Malinga was only wicket-taker while all-rounder Mathews was the most economical, giving away just 23 runs in seven overs.
UAE, India to co-host Indian Premier League

he Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled April 16-June 1, will be co-hosted by the UAE and India while Bangladesh has been kept as a standby due to the general elections, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced in Mumbai in midMarch.A BCCI statement said that UAE will host 16 matches from April 16-30 and if matches are not possible in India during May 1-12 due to the elections, they would be held in Bangladesh. The remaining matches from May 13, including the play-offs and the final slated for June 1, will be held in India.
The Kersi Meher-Homji column
India unlucky to lose to Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Asia Cup

ndia lost narrowly to both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the Asia Cup played in Fatullah, Bangladesh. They lost to Sri Lanka by two wickets with four balls remaining and to Pakistan by one wicket with just two balls in hand. Sri Lankas hero was Kumar Sangakkara and Pakistans saviour was six-hitting Shahid Afridi. Two sixes from neverafraid Shahid Afridi won Pakistan the match in the final pulsating over. However, new captain Virat Kohli said he was proud of how India fought and did not think he had erred in giving Ravi Ashwin to bowl the final over. Absence of cool cat skipper-keeper MS Dhoni is felt.
The ups and downs and ups of Australian cricket
Shahid Afridi was star of Pakistans thrilling win over India
It was Mitchell Johnson bombardment that reduced the champion team SAf to also-ran status in the Centurion Test as he captured 7 for 68 and 5 for 59. ts like a yo-yo, the highs and lows and highs of Australian cricket in the last few months. Till 21 November 2013 Australian cricket lovers were moaning and groaning about their teams future after being whitewashed 0-4 by India in India and defeated 0-3 by England in England. Will we win even one Test against England in Australia, the Aussie supporters had wondered. The chanters of Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi were quiet when Australia lost 6 for 132 in Brisbane on the opening day of the Ashes series in Australia on 21 November last year. Then Brad Haddin with the bat (and gloves) and Mitchell Johnson with the ball (and moustache) turned things around from November to January. And how, OMG! Australia hog-washed England 5-0 and not by tiddly margins. They won the first Test in Brisbane by 381 runs, the second in Adelaide by 218 runs, the third in Perth by 150 runs (to regain the Ashes with two Tests to go), the fourth in
Australia mutate from frightening to frightful within a week

hat a fall for the touring Australian cricketers within a week! From the heaven of success in the first Test they were brought down to the hell of a resounding defeat in Port Elizabeth the next week. Australias opener Chris Rogers scored 107 in the second innings, fifty per cent of Australias miserable total of 216 in the second innings. Imagination boggles as to what would have happened if Rogers was dropped. All out for less than 100? But that is the beauty of Test cricket. Could even Nostradamus, the famous 16th century French seer, have predicted Australias amazing fall and rise and fall within a year? The same Australian XI which won the first Test at Centurion by 281 runs lost the second by 231 runs. Worse than losing, it was the way Australia capitulated which is upsetting for their fans. It was more panic than Dale Steyn that was behind the visitors sensational collapse on Black Sunday. To score 448 runs to win in about 158 overs was a tough assignment. To play out for a draw (with help from weather) appeared their only hope to retain their 1-0 lead. But the way openers David Warner (66) and Rogers (107) started gave their supporters some hope. They put on 126 quick runs for the first wicket before Warner was dismissed. At one stage they were 1 for 152 at a run rate of 3.64, with Rogers in good touch. At that stage they needed 295 runs in about 116 overs to win the Test with nine wickets in hand. Still a tough assignment but it was more gettable than when
SAfrican Dale Steyn had a match-winning spell of 3 for 10 in four overs in Port Elizabeth Test against Australia. their innings had commenced. Then it happened. The SAfrican spearhead Steyn bowled his reverse swingers with fire and incredibly Australia lost their last nine wickets for 64 measly runs. It was like the Agatha Christie novel And Then There Were None. The last nine batsmen scored 5, 0, 1, 0, 1, 6, 6, 3 not out and 0. It was a pathetic display. No excuses. On the same pitch the South Africans, especially Hashim Amla and Jean-Paul Duminy, had batted confidently as had the Australian openers. The fascinating series was locked one-all. As I type this story, Australia is in strong position with Dave Warner and out-of-form skipper Michael Clarke hitting centuries. Full marks to Clarke for carrying on so bravely despite being hit savagely by South Africas fast bowler Morne Morkels fiery bowling! This series has been Test cricket at its best.
Melbourne by 8 wickets and the fifth and final Test in Sydney by 281 runs. The home spectators were delighted but the critics were not so sure. Australia had home advantage. And England was perhaps a team divided. Top Test players -- Jonathan Trott, Graeme Swann -- do not leave an Ashes tour mid-way unless there is an internal friction. Jury is not out regarding the disappearance of master batsman Kevin Pietersen from Test scene after the tour. Lets wait for the tour to South Africa, ranked number one in Test cricket, warned the experts to see how good Australia really is. Will they retain their mojo in South Africa? They did and won the first Test in Centurion by 281 runs in four days, coincidentally by the same margin as they had annihilated Alastair Cooks Englishmen in Sydney in three days. Except a little after lunch on day-1 of the Centurion Test when Australia was 4 for 94, the South Africans were nowhere in the picture.
Good batting by Pujara, Kohli, Vijay and Rahane but India loses
Good batting by Pujara, Kohli, Vijay and Rahane but India loses What an engrossing two-Test series in South Africa (SAf) last December when India was on top for eight days out of 10 but lost the series 0-1 ! The first Test in Johannesburg was a classic. It had more twists, turns and gyrations than a Bollywood actress! To determine the winner was impossible till the very end. When Indias quickie Mohammed Shami bowled the final over of the Test, all four results were possible; a win for both teams, a draw and even a tie. SAf needed 16 runs, India wanted the scalps of three tail-enders. Dale Steyn played two dot balls. Then there was a bye. Three balls to go and the home team needed an impossible 15 to go 1-0 up in the series. A four and two sixes would do it. Impossible? Steyn did hit a six off the final delivery but it was too late. The match was drawn, SAf falling 8 runs short of an undreamt of victory after being set 458 runs to chase a win. The Test seesawed on all five days with India ahead on the first four and half days but the home side with former schoolmates Faf du Plessis (135) and AB de Villiers (103) putting up an incredible 205 runs on the final day for the fifth wicket. And out of nowhere, SAf came close to a sensational victory. Indias Virat Kohli was adjudged Man of the Match after his masterly 119 and 96. There were other heroes. Cheteshwar Pujara scored a masterly century (153) in the second innings adding 222 runs with Kohli. No one expected South Africa to scale the Mount Everest of 458 runs as 418 is the record fourth innings total to win a Test. This was by the West Indies against Australia at St Johns in 2002-03 when they lost seven wickets before reaching the victory target. Draw was the appropriate result as neither side deserved to lose.
ust as Mumbai had given a terrific farewell to Sachin Tendulkar last November, Durban bade an affectionate adieu to South Africas mighty all-rounder Jacques Kallis. Like India winning the Mumbai Test, S. Africa was triumphant in Durban. India was on top on the first four days but their batsmen folded up on the final day thanks to a fiery spell by their express fast bowler Dale Steyn. India started magnificently being 1 for 198 at one stage, thanks to brilliant contributions from opener Murali Vijay 97 and Pujara 70. But with Steyn capturing 6 for 100, India was dismissed for 334. Newcomer Ajinkya Rahane held up one
end by scoring an unbeaten 51. Then it was all Kallis, scoring a century in his final Test innings. The home team totalled 500 to lead by 166 runs. Spinner Jadeja bowled extremely well to take 6 wickets but one felt that skipper MS Dhoni should have taken the new ball earlier. On the final day India collapsed for 223, Rahane showing lots of guts to score a gritty 96. He not only looks like Rahul Dravid but also has Dravids cool temperament. Here is another promising batsman for India. The home team easily won by 10 wickets and the 2-Test series 1-0. Steyn was the Man of the Match and de Villiers the Man of the Series. South Africa gave Jacques Kallis a fitting farewell by winning the Durban Test against India.
BOOK REVIEW
Australian Cricket Digest 2013-14, Volume 2, edited by Lawrie Colliver (312 pages, $25 post-free from AustCricketDigest@gmail.com). To compare Lawrie Collivers Australian Cricket Digest to Wisden is like describing Norm ONeill as second Bradman. However, as ONeill hit 17 centuries in 42 Tests, (highest score 181 in the tied Brisbane Test of December 1960), it is not a criticism. The book under review is a must for the statistics-minded. The record section is by one of Australias top statisticians, Ric Findlay. It provides information Wisden does not for records covering the entire Australian season. The comprehensive statistics of the 2012-13 summer include overall records in Tests, OneDay Internationals and Twenty20s. Accentuated are the Australia and England statistics in all forms of cricket last season. Colliver presents the domestic season in Sheffield Shield, Ryobi Cup, Big Bash League, Champions League and Futures League matches. The book acknowledges the contributions of retiring legends Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, discusses the much debated Decision Review System (DRS) and the lack of batting depth in Sheffield Shield. Colliver wonders whether the Big Bash franchise system works and whether trialling day night Sheffield Shield will lead to day-night Test cricket. On the much debated DRS he writes, Unfortunately there was hardly a day during the 2013 Ashes [in England] when it wasnt a topic for discussion. He adds that it is too late to go back to the old system but points out the howlers by TV umpires. The interviews of the new Australian coach Darren Lehmann and former England captain Michael Vaughan throw light on Australian cricket today. Colliver includes Australias fast bowler Ryan Harris along with Michael Clarke as the two Australian players of the Year. Clarkes rollercoaster season is detailed; his double centuries against South Africa in Brisbane and Adelaide and averaging 144.00 in the Test series. Later he led Australia to a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka at home. On the negative side is his back problem and the team slipping under his captaincy, losing three key series, to South Africa at home and to India and England overseas.
or the first time in Test history rival v . England, The Oval, July 2012. captains played their 100th Test So far no one has scored a double centutogether. This was in the December ry in his 100th Test, Inzamam coming close 2013 Perth Ashes Test when Michael Clarke with 184. It may be added and Alastair Cook went out to toss. that Clarke had hit Only once before have two cricketers hundreds in his played their hundredth Test simultaneously. 98th and 99th They are Englands Michael Atherton and Tests, in Alec Stewart in the Manchester Test against Brisbane and the West Indies in August 2000. Atherton Adelaide in scored 1 and 28 while Stewart hit a century the recently (105). concluded To the disappointment of both series. countries, neither Clarke nor But Cook could register a century in Perth. However, it may be remembered that both had scored centuries in their Test debuts, both achieving it against India and in India; Clarke in Bangalore in 2004 and Cook in Nagpur two years later. So far 58 cricketers have played 100 or more Tests, Indias Sachin Tendulkar being the only one to chalk up 200 appearances. Australias Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting come England skipper Alastair Cook and Oz captain Michael Clarke with the Ashes trophy they both vied for. next with 164 Tests each. Englands Colin Cowdrey was the first England, St Johns, April 1990. it was not to be as Clarke scored 24 and 23, one to play 100 Tests and he celebrated the Alec Stewart, 105 for England v. West Cook 72 and a first ball duck in Perth. Allan occasion by registering a century. This was Indies, Manchester, August 2000. Border, the first Australian to play 100 Tests, in the Birmingham Ashes Test in July 1968. Inzamam-ul-Haq, 184 for Pakistan v. had also made a duck in his 100th Test, Captaining his country (as Clarke and Cook India, Bangalore, March 2005. against the West Indies in Melbourne in are doing today) he stroked 104 in the only Ricky Ponting, 120 and 143* for December 1988. It is interesting to note that innings of the Test. In the next 45 years only Australia v. South Africa, Sydney, January if you add the Test statistics of Clarke and seven batsmen have climbed this Everest 2006. Cook (as at 25 December 2013) it is almost of scoring a century in their 100th Test. And Graeme Smith, 131 for South Africa v. similar to Sachin Tendulkars. the only one to do so in both innings of his hundredth Test appearance is Australias Tests Runs Average Highest score 100s 50s Os Ponting; 120 and 146 not out against South Michael Clarke 100 7987 52.20 329* 26 27 8 Africa in the January 2006 Sydney Test. The (Aus) Century Centurions (those scoring centuries Alastair Cook 100 7955 47.07 294 25 34 7 in their 100th Test) Colin Cowdrey, 104 for (Eng) England v. Australia, Birmingham, July Total for 200 15942 49.51 --51 61 15 1968. Clarke & Cook Javed Miandad, 145 for Pakistan v. Sachin Tendulkar200 15921 53.79 248* 51 68 14 India, Lahore, July 1989. (Ind) Gordon Greenidge, 149 for West Indies You might well say, Clarke plus Cook equals Tendulkar!
The Kersi Meher-Homji Column
McCullum was the hero of the Wellington roller-coaster but Kohli and Sharma save India
The Wellington Test between New Zealand and India in February was a swinging sensation. India looked certain to win before lunch on day-4. Then thanks to New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullums magnificent century which he converted into a double century and presto into a triple hundred, the hosts were sniffing a victory at stumps on day-4 which had looked impossible a day ago. The match swung like a yo-yo. No praise can be too high for McCullum, no adjectives adequate to evaluate his innings which converted a certain defeat to almost an incredible victory. Sent in to bat by Indias captain MS Dhoni, the home team was shot out for 192, the tall, long-haired Ishant Sharma grabbing 6 for 51. India led by 246 after amassing 438, thanks to Shikhar Dhawans 98 and Ajinkya Rahanes 118. Rahane not only resembles Rahul Dravid in looks and manners but also in stroke-play and temperament. A confident India then dismissed five Kiwi bats for 94. They trailed by 152 runs with only Brendon McCullum remaining among recognised batsmen. A hopeless scenario for the Kiwis for sure! It would have been worse had Indias Rohit Kohli caught McCullum when he was 9. What a miss, what a game changer! McCullum added a magical 352 runs for the fifth wicket with Bradley-John Watling (124) and 179 for the sixth wicket with debutant Jimmy Neesham (137 not out). McCullum went on to become the first New Zealander to hit a Test triple ton. And his runs came when New Zealand needed them badly. The cheers were deafening as he reached one milestone after another. It was poignant to watch his Dad wait anxiously for Brendons memorable innings from the pavilion and his ecstasy when he did climb the mountain peak. The Man of the Match McCullum had
Needing an impossible 435 to win in 77 overs India lost 3 for 54 before Virat Kohli (105 not out) and Rohit Sharma (unbeaten on 31) took them to safety. batted gloriously for 775 minutes and faced 559 balls for his 302, hitting 32 fours and four sixes as NZ recovered from 5 for 94 to a total past 600. He became only the third batsman after the legendary Don Bradman and Wally Hammond to hit a double century and a triple century in successive Tests. Brendon had made a winning 224 in the Auckland Test against India a week ago. My one criticism for Brendon was that he declared the innings too late. He gave his bowlers only about 77 overs to dismiss India to win the Test. He appeared satisfied with his triple hundred and his country winning the series 1-0 rather than going boldly for a 2-0 whitewash. Had he declared earlier, he would have had about 20 more overs to dismiss disheartened and tired Indian batsmen. Needing an impossible 435 to win in 77 overs India lost 2 for 10 and 3 for 54 before Virat Kohli (105 not out) and Rohit Sharma (unbeaten on 31) took them to safety. But Kohli was lucky not to be given out early in his innings. An earlier declaration would have put extra pressure on the Indian bats as NZ bowled with fire. After four and half days of topsy-turvy cricket, the end came as an anti-climax. This was New Zealands first series win against India since 2002-03. But in my opinion, McCullum should have declared earlier to try to win the Test and grab the series 2-0, even sacrificing his triple pleasure.
Book Review
Teen Thunder Down Under by Gaurav Joshi (Foreword by Ian Chappell), 116 pages, $12 including postage. Available by contacting the author on gavjoshi@gmail.com The season 2012-13 proved successful for India. They were ranked no. 1 in One-Day Internationals, no.2 in Test cricket and were the champions in the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Gaurav Joshis book goes into intimate details in describing Indian under-19s performances in Townsville, Queensland, in 2012. And intimate is the right word. Not only the scores and match highlights are detailed we come to personally know skipper Unmukt Chand, the Player of the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, and his team mates. Writes Ian Chappell in the Foreword, It is a particular pleasure to see a player develop from a young age and grow into an international player. I recall seeing Ricky Ponting as a 17 year-old at the Academy in Adelaide... The batsman who caught my eye in Townsville and this was before he scored a dashing century in the final was Unmukt Chand, the Indian captain. Chappell was also impressed by Indias young left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh who he describes as a Bishan Bedi reincarnate. He adds, All in all it was an interesting experience and I hope you get a sense of this from reading Gauravs account of the tournament. Teen Thunder Down Under is a unique publication as no one had previously written a book on the Under-19 World Cup. This was the ninth U-19 World Cup which was inaugurated in 1988. Since 1998 it is held every two
(From left) Harmeet Singh, Balvinder Singh Sandhu, Praveen Amre and author Gaurav Joshi at the release function of Teen Thunder Down Under in Mumbai. The book by Australia based Garuav Joshi is Indian teams triumph at the ICC Under-19 World Cup. years and includes teams from Nepal, Scotland, Ireland, Namibia and Afghanistan apart from the ten Test playing countries. Gaurav writes on cricket occasionally for The Indian Under and regularly for TIDU and The Roar (Australia) website. He is also heard on ABC radio. To quote Gaurav from the book, Luckily I was able to get closely involved with all the players and the coaching staff. Thus we come to know about the character and eccentricities of some of the players who may represent India in years to come. The history of the U-19 WC is interesting as revealed in this book. It has been hosted by Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India.
Gaurav presents in Tabular form the number of players from each U-19 WC who went on to play international cricket. Of the 339 to do so, 29 are from India, 34 from Australia, 30 for England and 45 from Pakistan. I wish Gaurav had given names of outstanding Test players which include Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Of the description of all the matches, the most colourful was the thriller between India and Pakistan which India won by one wicket. The author recreates the atmosphere with the Indian supporters chanting Jeetega re India jeetega, Ganpati bappa moraya, Kashmir hamara and Toti tila, toti tila. The book is embellished with many colour photographs. The publication has everything -- statistics, scorecards, player descriptions including their nicknames, the names of the hosts Harjinder and Poonam who looked after the Indian players. It is a steal at $12.
o promote the inauguration of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February 2015, a function was held in Martin Place, Sydney on 14th February, Valentine Day, exactly one year before the mega event. Prime Minister Tony Abbott was the chief guest. He said, Cricket lays claim to being our national game so this opportunity to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world will be a thrill for many Australians. Not only will our skills on the pitch be on show, but our country as well. I look forward to welcoming teams and supporters from around the world next year. The other speakers were Ralph Waters, the Chairman of World Cup 2015 and Gabrielle Upton, the Minister of Sport and Recreation, NSW. But the most important invitees were Test cricketers Allan Border (under whom Australia won her first World Cup in India in 1987), fast bowler Brett Lee who loves India and Indian songs with passion and young fast bowler Pat Cummins. And it looked as if India and Australia were already in the Final as most of the entertainment was provided by Indian dancers, Khursheed Irani stealing the show with her Bollywood dancing provided by Gandhi Creations. Also those present at the function were predominantly Australians and Indians. No wonder, as India is the current holder of World Cup having won it under the leadership of MS Dhoni on April 2, 2011 in Mumbai beating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the Final. This was Indias second World Cup, having also won it in 1983 in England under skipper Kapil Dev, defeating the then mighty West Indies by 43 runs. Australia has won it a record four times; in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007. It was a pleasure talking with Allan Border. He was optimistic of Australia regaining the Cup as her recent record in one-day internationals is promising, having beaten England 4-1 in the series concluded last month. He recalled the 1987 World Cup win in India with nostalgia. We were rank outsiders to win the Cup so we played without much pressure. But after beating India by one run in Chennai we regained confidence. He predicted that Australia and New Zealand would do well because of home advantage. Brett Lee said that playing the 2003 World Cup in South Africa was a big event for him, especially because Australia won and also
India is the defending champion of the World Cup, having won it under Dhoni as skipper in 2011 in Mumbai, which was Indias second World Cup. Australia has won it a record four times - in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007. because he took a hat-trick against Kenya in Durban. He said that Australia, South Africa and India will be hard to beat in the 2015 World Cup. Pat Cummings is only 20 and has a huge future ahead of him. In his only Test, against South Africa at Johannesburg in November 2011, the then 18 year-old took 6 for 79 in the second innings. Needing 310 to win, Australia was in trouble, being 8 for 292, still 18 runs behind when Cummins went out to bat. He scored 13 not out while adding those precious 18 runs and Australia won by two wickets, thanks to the teenagers all-round performance. He was made Man of the Match but has not played a match since because of injury. We discussed that Johannesburg triumph and he told me that he hopes to play in the 2015 World Cup. What are his predictions for the World Cup? Australia will win, he said. But India and Sri Lanka also have a good chance. Australias current winning champion Michael Clarke sent this message from South Africa, The ICC Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of one-day cricket and were thrilled that its going to be held in our own backyard. Fourteen countries will participate in next years World Cup with Australia in Pool A and India in Pool B. Pool A: England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland. Pool B: South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and United Arab Emirates. Cities to host this mega event are Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hobart, Napier, Nelson, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Wellington. Children (age under 16) tickets are $5 for every pool match but higher for quarter finals, semi finals and final. Adults tickets are $20 for every pool match but higher for quarter finals, semi finals and final. Tickets have gone for sale from yesterday (14 February). They can be purchased at www.cricketworldcup.com
March - April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 59

March-April - The Indian Down Under

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March-April - The Indian Down Under

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VOL 26 No.

March - April 2014

Inside this Issue:

02 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March - April 2014

March - April 2014 THEINDIANDOWNUNDER 03

04 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March - April 2014

March - April 2014 THEINDIANDOWNUNDER 05

06 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March - April 2014

Congress party awaits emasculation

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 7

8 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Analysis The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 9

BJP frontrunner in Lok Sabha polls: Surveys suggest

Kejriwal ready to fight Modi in Varanasi

We're battle ready and going to win: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice-president gave his first interview to Times Now

10 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Vrindavan to get India's tallest temple

Was Malaysian flight hijacked for 9/11-type attack in India?

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 11

India born Satya Nadella reinventing Microsoft as CEO

India to withdraw pre-2005 currency notes

Blame it on Rio, not Lord Shiva

12 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Some celebs in poll fray

Highlights of India's 2014-15 interim budget

India has potential to be largest aviation market: Report

Musharraf drags former Pakistani top guns into trial

Hidden hand trying to sabotage peace talks with Taliban: Negotiator

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 13

14 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Young bride Leelamoni with Dr Pillay

Teresa Geroge, co-author of the book.

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 15

Abhinays plays make a mark at Short + Sweet!

Holi Milan in Sydney

16 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Berlin festival screens Indo-Aust documentary

Kush Badhwar wielding the camera.

Blind village bard who sings songs made on the spot.

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 17

18 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March - April 2014

another ad. Gursahani in e pl im D d an eepak, Nitin hi , Sukhraj D Aishverya Nid

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 19

Indian billionaire dads and daughters

Nandini with dad Ajay Piramal

Ananyashree Birla Roshni Nadar Malhotra

20 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Rekha Rajvanshi invited by Sahitya Akaadmi at poetry fest

Kavisha Shah selected for youth advisory panel

3rd Australian National Hindu Conference focus on Serving Australia

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 21

22 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March - April 2014

A memorable performance Suchitra Sen as Paro in Devdas with Dilip Kumar

With Dharmendra in Mamta

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 23

A nest of singing birds

24 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER March-April 2014

Jamuna Gurung (No. 11) - $105 million

Shemara Wikramanayake (No. 28) - $45 million

Govt coffers dont show real gold India holds

Australia seeks to export SolarGen tech to India

March-April 2014 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 25

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj on Australia and NZ tour in April 2014

AUCKLAND (New Zealand)

New immigration form for passengers flying into India