The pulse of Kiwi-Indians

FEBRUARY2020
Vol 11 • Issue 46

www.iwk.co.nz /indianweekender /indianweekender

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 2 NEW ZEALAND Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

Buoyed by growing connections, Asia NZ

Foundation launches new report on India fast approaching NZ$3 billion mark to influence and engage with each
¡ SANDEEP SINGH Indian diaspora in New Zealand. 

I
ncreasing people to people
connections will continue to
remain the basic fulcrum of
bilateral relations between New
Zealand and India, according to a
new report launched by the Asia NZ
Foundation.  2016, the timing of the launch of this
The report India and New Zealand:
Our story, our future describes
the shared interests between the
two countries, and points to the
fundamental role that strong people-
to-people relationships play.
This is the second such India-
report in less than three and half
years commissioned by the Asia
New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau
Tuhono – New Zealand’s leading
authority on Asia that helps New
Zealanders build their knowledge,
skills and confidence to thrive in
Asia.  that a rising India, as well as an
The first such report was launched
by the Foundation in October
2016, coinciding with the iconic
Auckland Diwali Festival (started
and supported by the Foundation)
and a then-impending state-level
India visit by Prime Minister of New
Zealand Sir John Key.  of modern-day diplomacy that is
The Foundation had once again
commissioned Graeme Waters, the
author of the first India report, who is
not only a former New Zealand High
Commissioner to India having served
twice in New Delhi but also has a
deep family connection with India.  growing relationship, including the
Mr Waters travelled extensively
and coordinated with varied
stakeholders, including with the
Indian Weekender in preparation of
his second report on the opportunities
equally paced growing size of the
Indian diaspora in NZ, poses for the
country.  day. But as with so much else in the
India is the second most populous
country and the fifth largest economy
globally and has incredible diversity
across its many states and territories.
It sits in the heart of South Asia, but
it is increasingly playing a part in
regional and global affairs, including
in the Pacific.  It also emphasises on what is now
Notably, the first India-report was
widely received across the different
spectrum of stakeholders of this fast-
Because of its popularity – the
report quickly needed a reprint –
and the continued growth of the
India New Zealand relationship,
the Foundation had decided to
commission update for 2020.
Interestingly, like then back in
second India report in 2020 is also
crucial as it coincides with a hugely
popular ongoing cricket series
between Blackcaps and India being
currently played in New Zealand.  However, she further asserts, “The
The mutual love for the game of
cricket is one of the founding bases
of the bilateral relationship between
our two countries.   in exploring how the bilateral
The report takes note of how
the people to people connections
between the two countries have
evolved along with the progress in
the game of cricket.  to baggage handling systems and
“The New Zealand cricket team
first toured India in 1955 and cricket
remains a shared passion to this
relationship, the context has changed.
Whereas cricket in the 1950s was
white cotton, five-day amateur affair,
today it is a more colourful, media-
driven spectacle almost synonymous
with modern India and its diaspora,”
the report says.  trade and commercial engagement
more commonly known, especially
within key business stakeholders
of the relationship that the bilateral
trade between the two countries is
– despite an absence of any Free
Trade Agreement.  A case in the point is a reference of
Emphasising on this fact,
Suzannah Jessep, Asia New
Zealand Foundation’s Director of
Engagement and Research, who
previously served as New Zealand’s
Deputy High Commissioner to India,
points that India is the only major
Asian economy with which New
Zealand does not currently have an
FTA in some form.  River was given the legal status of a
strength of the bilateral relationship
is testament to the individuals
in both countries who have built
connections, some over many years.
India is a country that takes time to
understand.
“This report shines a light on the
breadth and depth of the relationship
– everything from film and fashion
innovations for auto rickshaws, to
partnerships in the dairy and fruit
industries.”  research/people-links-central-to-the-
For more avid readers keen to
understand the nuances of how
this bilateral relationship has been
developing over the years despite
the normal pulls and pressures
believed to thrive upon the size of the
nation and the economy, the bilateral
between any two given countries.
The NZ-India relationship, as this
report points out, is a relationship
of two enthusiastic and mutually-
appreciative nations, who continue
other, rather subtly, than massively.
important facts such as Dr Verghese
Kurien, the founder of India’s dairy
cooperative industry (and father
of India’s Green Revolution) took
careful note of New Zealand’s dairy
cooperative model when he studied
at Massey University in the 1950s.
Or how recent ideas have resonated
when New Zealand’s Whanganui
person in 2017, to better protect its
ecology – a fact noted in India.
There are many more interesting
facts in the report for those interested
relationship between the two
countries has refused to be a subject
of their mutual sizes, economy,
preferences or the distance separating
them apart.
The report is available online
at https://www.asianz.org.nz/
new-zealand-india-relationship/ 
Some key points from India and
New Zealand: Our story, our future
• Indian visitor numbers forecasted
to grow to 125,000 by 2025
• In the past decade, tourist numbers
in each direction have more than
doubled. 
• Five per cent of the NZ population
have identified themselves as of
Indian origin at the time of census
2018. 
• India is New Zealand’s second-
largest education market.

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 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 NEW ZEALAND 3

Spirit of hard work and sharing, revered at Auckland

Tamil Association’s Pongal event
¡ SANDEEP SINGH

O
verwhelming appreciation of the
collective spirit of hard work and
sharing of fruits of that hard work with
everyone in the community was the central
theme of the Auckland Tamil Association’s
Pongal celebratory event on a bright sunny
afternoon on Saturday, February 8 at the Mt
Eden War Memorial. 
Almost every keynote speaker present on
occasion including Chief Government Whip
and Labour MP Michael Wood, Hon Consul of
India Bhav Dhillon, Kiwi-Indian MPs Labour’s
Priyanca Radhakrishnan and National’s
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Dr Parmjeet
Parmar emphatically touched upon the spirit
of hard work and sharing in their respective
speeches. 
Speaking on occasion, Mr Wood said, “The
idea of celebrating harvest season is a universal
multicultural New Zealand.  Ravindran, President, Auckland Tamil that contains guidelines and information on
idea, where we come together as a community
The festival of Pongal is a traditional Tamil Association said, “We have been striving hard finding accommodation in Auckland, opening
to celebrate the fruits of our hard labour. This
harvest festival dedicated to the Sun god which for quite some time to encourage more and a bank account, IRD (Tax) application, kiwi
is the most beautiful aspect of Pongal, and that
according to the Tamil calendar is usually more youths within our community to come access card, emergency numbers, travel and
we can identify with every culture around the
celebrated from January 14 to January 17.  forward and take responsibilities of cultural health insurance,” Mr Ravindran said. 
world.
Celebrated by Tamil people in the Indian events.” The Welcome Kit was launched by Labour
“Then it is also a uniquely Tamil celebration,
state of Tamil Nadu and countries such as Sri “We want them to remain connected with MP Michael Wood. 
where the symbol of Pongal, with a pot of rice
Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, our culture and heritage while they pursue Mr Dhillon gave away certificates of
bubbling out with froth, signifies that through
Singapore, Canada, the United States, the their dream of Kiwi-life in New Zealand,” Mr appreciation and completion of Tamil language
our hard labour we can have plenty to share
United Kingdom, the festival of Pongal is Ravindran said. to the students of newly operational Tamil
around with everyone around us.” 
increasingly becoming popular in New Zealand Sharing further about the Association’s language classes. 
Hon Consul of India Bhav Dhillon
in recent years.  commitment towards the youth, Mr Ravindran The Tamil language classes were launched
appreciated the spirit of environmentalism,
Auckland Tamil Association, which has also spoke about the newly launched earlier last year, which were announced in
community-brotherhood and the secular
been leading the efforts along with a few other International Student Welcome Kit 2020.  a similar Pongal event by Auckland Tamil
credentials of the Pongal festival that brings
community organisations in celebrating key “Our Association works with the broader Association in Feb 2019, with classes starting
together the broader Kiwi-Indian community. 
elements of Tamil culture in New Zealand, Indian international student community and in March at Onehunga Community Centre.  
Speaking on occasion Kiwi-Indian MPs Mr
ensured this year to encourage youngsters within helps them in their early settlement in the The classes have been hugely successful with
Bakshi, Dr Parmar and Mrs Radhakrishnan
the community to take more responsibilities in country by providing them with much-needed great demand for places for the age group 5-8
also emphasised the importance of celebrating
planning and execution of the festival.  support and information.  years with about 35 students and four teachers,
diversity in the incredibly diverse and
Speaking with The Indian Weekender, Vai “This year we have launched a welcome kit Mr Ravindran told The Indian Weekender. 

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 4 NEW ZEALAND Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

Indian teenage swimming sensation reaches NZ to

conquer Cook Strait, as part of Oceans Seven challenge
¡ SANDEEP SINGH Earlier he also became the first

I
ndian teenage swimming sensation Prabhat
Koli, who is on a mission to ace the -
Oceans Seven – one of the world’s most
dangerous swimming challenges – has reached
New Zealand to conquer the last remaining leg
of swimming across the Cooks Strait.  a fishing community
The Oceans Seven is a marathon swimming
challenge consisting of seven open water
channel swims that includes the North Channel,
the Molokaʻi Channel, the English Channel, the
Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait, the Strait
of Gibraltar, and the Cook Strait.  and has inherited
Prabhat announced his arrival to the Land of
White Clouds on his twitter handle in perfect
style, posting photographs of his first training
in Wellington beaches along with few local
swimmers. 
“Reached New Zealand! Started my
preparation for the last swim of the Ocean 7
Challenge Open Water Swim by training in
beautiful waters of Wellington with few local
swimmers. Loved the surroundings, climate
and temperature!,” Prabhat announced on
twitter.  A website cookstraitsswim.org.nz that keeps
As one of the toughest and most challenging
stretches of water in the world, Cook Strait
presents the ultimate of tests for all swimmers.
Notably, while Cook Straits presents itself
as one of the most formidable swimming
challenge conquered roughly by only about
126 swimmers in the last fifty odd years, the
Ocean-Seven challenge is indeed a challenge
at a completely different level – only to be
conquered by 10 swimmers around the world
since it began in 2008.  17.22 hours.  temperature!,”
The Oceans Seven was devised in 2008 as
the swimming equivalent of the Seven Summits
mountaineering challenge.
Prabhat has set his eye upon this mammoth
task in 2015 and since then have completed
six intriguing swimming challenges in some of
the roughest seas around the world, in between
making and breaking many records.  community in New Zealand and wishes him
He became youngest and fastest Asian to
cross 42-km swim across Molokai Channel in
Asian swimmer to successfully
swim in cold water from
Jersey (an island in the UK)
to France – a distance of
25 kilometres. 
Prabhat comes from
of Trombay
Koliwada, where he
has routinely seen his
father Raju venturing
out in the open seas,
from him the desire to
conquer the open sea
swimming challenge. 
In 2018 Prabhat Raju
Koli was conferred with
the prestigious Tenzing Norgay
National Adventure Award by
President Ram Nath Kovind. 
All eyes will be set on Prabhat as he will
soon embark on conquering Cook Straits – a
feat achieved by only four Indians so far. 
a roll of all swimmers who have successfully
“Reached New Zealand!
swum across the Cook Straits reports three
Started my preparation for other Indians – Bula Chukraboty Chowdhury
the last swim of the Ocean (2003), Rupali Ramdas (1998) and Taranath
7 Challenge Open Water Shenoy (1996), Aditya Raut (2005). 
Swim by training in beautiful The Indian Weekender extends best wishes
to Prabhat on behalf of the entire Kiwi-Indian
waters of Wellington with few
local swimmers. Loved the good luck to conquer this formidable challenge
surroundings, climate and and achieve his long-cherished dream. 
••

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 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 NEW ZEALAND 5

New Parent Category Visa

reopens on February 24
¡ SANDEEP SINGH vigorously contested by the government. 
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he new parent category visa that has Mr Lees-Galloway had then said that the
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previous National government before as it removed anxiety for more than 6000
being reopened by the Coalition government in
an announcement made in October 2019 will
applicants who remained in limbo in the queue
as Immigration New Zealand had continued Expert Advice for
First Home Buyers
start taking new applications from February 24.  to accept the expression of interests despite a
The category will have a capping of 1000 suspension on the visa-category. 
people.  Notably, under the new policy, a single
person wanting to sponsor one parent will need In Business
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway
had opened the parent category visa, in one to be earning twice the median income which
of the most anxiously awaited decisions on is $104,000 a year, whereas couples wanting to
immigration ever since forming the government sponsor one or both of their parents will have to
in 2017.  be earning between $159,000-$212,000. 
However, the announcement then was seen The children wanting to sponsor their parents
by many anxious skilled migrants as a wall to in New Zealand will need to show this level
their desire of looking after their parents while of earnings for the previous three consecutive
they live and work in New Zealand – a fact years of filing the visa. 
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NZ Budget 2020 Date Announced

¡ IWK BUREAU • Future of Work – Enabling all New

B
Zealanders to benefit from new technologies
udget 2020 will be delivered on
and lift productivity through innovation
Thursday 14 May, Finance Minister
• Māori and Pacific – Lifting Māori and
Grant Robertson announced today.
Pacific incomes, skills, and opportunities
“This year’s Budget will continue the
• Child Wellbeing – Reducing child poverty
Coalition Government’s focus on tackling the
and improving child wellbeing
long-term challenges facing New Zealand while
• Physical and Mental Wellbeing –
also preparing the economy for the future.
Supporting improved health outcomes for
“Those challenges and opportunities cannot
all New Zealanders
be resolved in one budget, so they continue
“The Wellbeing Approach is again being used
to be the core of the priorities in the 2020
to formulate this year’s Budget with Ministers
Wellbeing Budget,” Grant Robertson says.
collectively responsible for delivering on these
The Budget 2020 priorities are: priorities. This process ensures our investments
• Just Transition – Supporting New are getting to the people and sectors most in
Zealanders in the transition to a climate- need,” Grant Robertson says.
resilient, sustainable, and low-emissions ••
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 6 NEW ZEALAND Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

Kiwi Indian neuroscientist Malvindar Bains

makes new strides in Alzheimer’s and
Huntington’s disease research
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

K
iwi Indian neuroscientist
Dr Malvindar Singh-Bains
has made some excellent
progress in her research work on
Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s
disease and X-linked Dystonia
Parkinsonism and has published
her research on some of the highly
regarded medical journals in the
world. 
Dr Malvindar is currently a
Research Fellow at the University of
Auckland Centre for Brain Research,
co-chair of the Huntington’s Disease
Youth Organisation of New Zealand
and a science commentator for Radio
New Zealand. 
In New Zealand, particularly in
Auckland, she is no stranger to the
Indian diaspora and the broader
Kiwi community. She has been
nominated and bestowed with
several recognitions and awards in
the last few years for her work. Dr
Malvindar was named one of the five
top women in Health and Science
as well as one of the top 30 women
in New Zealand for the NEXT
magazine's Woman of the Year
award. She received the prestigious
Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the
Year at The Indian Weekender’s Kiwi
Indian Hall of Fame Awards in 2016,
KiwiBank Hero Award Medal and
nominee for the New Zealander of
the Year in 2019. 
Dr Malvindar also commenced the
prestigious Leo Nilon Huntington’s
Disease Research Fellowship, which
is dedicated to the advancement
of innovative treatments for
Huntington’s disease, a fellowship
awarded by the Governor-General of
New Zealand.
In the recent past, Dr Malvindar has
had her research published twice in
one of the top five neurology journals
in the world, Annals of Neurology,
which is an internationally
regarded medical journal. She has
presented her research findings at
the Hereditary Disease Foundation
Conference and Mass General
Institute for Neurogenerative Disease
in Massachusetts, USA. Her visits to
such conferences have led into large
international collaborations including
a unique project involving the
Harvard University, Massachusetts
General Hospital (Boston), Makati
Medical Centre (Philippines) and
The University of Auckland (NZ).  choose a particular demographic,
In a brief conversation with The
Indian Weekender, Dr Malvindar
explains more about her work into
Huntington’s Disease, how it affects
people, some of the discoveries she
has made recently and how can one
help the community by participating
in different causes and fundraisers.  cell loss and the types of symptoms
IWK: What research project
are you currently working on?
Dr Malvindar: My research is
currently focussing on understanding
changes to brain cells within human
brain conditions such as Huntington’s
Dr Malvindar is
currently a Research Fellow
at the University of Auckland
Centre for Brain Research,
co-chair of the Huntington’s
Disease Youth Organisation
of New Zealand and a
science commentator for
Radio New Zealand
disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and
X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.
More specifically, my ultimate goal is
to drive the discovery of new disease
indicators - and potential drug targets
for the future.
I rely heavily on studying precious
human brain tissue, generously
bequeathed to the Neurological
Foundation of New Zealand Human
Brain Bank, which is located within
the Centre for Brain Research at the
University of Auckland.
IWK: Any significant discov-
eries or developments in your
research work that you would
like to share with the readers?
Dr Malvindar: There are some
really exciting scientific discoveries
that I have made in the past few years
which include (1) finding a novel
link between the pattern of brain
patients with Huntington’s disease
experience and; (2) identifying brain
immune cell (microglia) and blood
vessel changes in a brain region
that was previously thought to be
unaffected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Through these revelations,
we have moved further to fully
unlocking how Alzheimer’s and
Huntington’s disease affect the
human brain, which has implications
for the development of treatments
and delivery of therapeutics to treat
the cause and symptoms of these
conditions.
IWK: For a layman, what is
Huntington’s Disease (HD)?
What are its effects; demog-
raphy and age group prone to
this disease?
Dr Malvindar: Huntington’s disease
is a hereditary brain disorder which
typically affects individuals in
midlife (around age 30-40 years).
The fact that the disease is hereditary
means the parent with the condition
has a 50% chance of passing it on to
their child.
This is why we have set up an
organisation to support young people
affected because they are faced with
so many challenges, including: 
 a. the risk of having the disease; 
 b. the impact on decisions to have
children/relationships; 
 c. the impact on employment; 
 d. knowing their parent will need
round the clock support as the disease
progresses.
Huntington’s disease causes brain
cells to die in specific brain areas,
which stops the brain and body from
working as well as they used to,
Zealand impacted by Huntington’s
disease. The goal of this organisation
which progresses to a point where the
patient can no longer chew, swallow, is for the youth of New Zealand
affected by HD to be knowledgeable,
or even breathe.
The symptoms of this disorder supported, and empowered through
are:  a strong community support
a. Movement: symptoms that network and accessible information.
affect movements, for example,
I am currently the co-chair of the
having uncontrollable movements
organisation, which provides online
and problems with balance and support to young kiwis all over the
walking; b. Cognitive: symptoms
country.
that affect thinking and memory; c.
IWK: How do you create
Behavioural: symptoms that affect
awareness and help the
behaviour, for example, making
affected?
them angry or sad, or making them
Dr Malvindar: We do face-to-face
act a certain way that is not how they
meetups with young people who need
usually act. support, even if it’s just a friendly
Huntington’s disease affects chat. Our awareness drives come
people all over the world; it doesn’t in the form of movie screenings,
bake sales, education days, social
religion, colour or race. There are events and media campaigns to drop
patients affected in every country, the stigma and raise the profile of
Huntington’s disease. 
including our Indian diaspora.
Presently, we are fundraising
IWK: Can you tell us about
for a youth worker and sending
Huntington’s Disease Youth
Organisation (HDYO-NZ)? young people impacted by HD to an
Dr Malvindar: In 2013, I became
international conference in Glasgow.
a part of the founding team to We encourage people to come
set up the Huntington’s Disease
forward to help our cause, and they
Youth Organisation of New can make their donations on https://
Zealand (HDYO-NZ). HDYO NZ givealittle.co.nz/org/hdyonz and our
is a voluntary organisation which website, www.hdyo.co.nz. 
provides support to the youth of New ••
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 NEW ZEALAND 7

Fans laud epic Maori-Indian

dance fusion at Wellington T20
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD About Prabha

C
Ravi:
ricket fans present at the
Sky Stadium in Wellington Teacher and
ahead of the fourth T20 choreographer Prabha
between the Black Caps and Ravi was one of the
India witnessed a dance spectacle three judges in the first
delivered by Natraj School of season reality TV Three
Dance presenting Indian classical dance show ‘The Great
dance, Bharatanatyam and a New Zealand Dance
Maori Kapa Haka as a fusion.  Masala’ and was also
Following New Zealand in the panel of judges
Cricket’s theme for this year for Hutt’s Got Talent
‘Bringing Cultures Together’, 2019 and The Hutt City
Natraj School of Dance in Youth Awards. 
collaboration with Wellington Ms Prabha Ravi also
time, leading her to the another group diverse cultures share,” Ms Prabha performing,” Ms Ravi said. 
Maori Cultural Society Inc and serves as a Justice for the Peace and
Hiwa Performance Creative Ltd. Ravi added. The final dance performance had
New Zealand community of Youth for her services to the art she has
who heard the concept and quickly This was not the first time NSD a total of 34 people, 17 from each
Ambassadors presented their fusion received the Queens Service Medal
jumped on board. had performed a fusion dance, Ms side, including five children from
on Oscar and Golden Globe-winning in 2018, Civic Honour Award by the
“The group readily agreed to the Prabha Ravi, a renowned classical each side as flag bearers of the two
musician A R Rahman’s much loved Hutt City Council in 2012, Culture
idea, became very excited about dancer and choreographer herself countries. 
patriotic song ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’.  Award by Upper Hutt Multicultural
the fusion dance and the vision presented a fusion of Indian classical On the evening of the fourth T20
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Council in 2013 etc. 
of honouring the country as their Bharatanatyam and Samoan Fire between Black Caps and India at Sky
Founder and Director of Natraj Apart from her contribution to art
mother,” Prabha Ravi said.  Dance in 2002, with Sri Lankan Stadium in Wellington, the group
School of Dance, Prabha Ravi, and culture, she also sits on various
The Maori dance was Kandyan Dance in 2012 and 17, and performed the fusion on the cricket
explained her vision to blend the
choreographed by Virginia Maxwell, with a Western Classical Balle in ground witnessed by thousands of boards such as Cricket Wellington,
artforms of the two vibrant cultures
owner and director of Hiwa 2015.  fans in the stadium which was also Women on Boards, Education
and make sure uniqueness of both
Performance Creative Ltd formerly “It was my long-time dream and screened on the big screens of the Wellington International, Drama NZ
art forms come out as a fusion in
known as Manu Aute.   vision to present such a fusion that stadium.  and is the Chair of the Hutt Valley
the performance and not dilute each
The performance was titled ‘Vande exhibited the values of Maori culture “Indeed, the performance was District Health Board Consumer
other. 
Mataram’ based on the song as the and Indian classical dance form at unique, powerful and it was received Council. She is also the founder and
Conceptualised earlier in 2019,
two groups got together practising the same time, and the performance with thunders of applause echoing manager of the Namasankeerthanam
Ms Ravi went out on a hunt to find
their different styles of dances and ‘Vande Mataram’ was a perfect in the stadium, a standing ovation Group, a voluntary community
a Kapa Haka group who would like
sharing valuable history and richness fusion I had envisioned.  by the spectators and the best part group comprising of several families
to partake in her vision, which was
of each artform.  “Most importantly, I applaud was the crowd singing ‘Maa Tujhe coming together every week to
a juxtaposition of two art forms, and
“It is exciting to see so many the Maori Kapa Haka group who Salaam’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ in sing bhajans for world peace and
it comes out as an epic to the world. 
messages and values that emanate understood not just the dance fusion unison.  harmony. 
Ms Ravi explained the concept to
through different moves and theme but also the sentiments and “This was the best feeling in the ••
one group who opted out after some
positions of the dance, and we as two values attached to the song we were world,” Ms Ravi added. 

NZ-India academic partnerships boosted:

First-ever NZ Centre to come up at IIT-Delhi
¡ SANDEEP SINGH collaborations and increase global exposure for

N
ew Zealand’s education ties with India our students. We look forward to collaborating
continue to be strengthened after a more with universities from NZ.”
Memorandum of Understanding was Professor Jennifer Dixon, Deputy Vice-
signed in New Delhi to establish a New Zealand Chancellor (Strategic Engagement), University
Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology.  of Auckland led the New Zealand delegation
The MoU seeks to affirm the position of the and spoke at the MoU signing, “This is a
newly established New Zealand Centre to be significant step in New Zealand’s long-term
a focal point of academic activity for all eight education relationship with India. 
New Zealand Universities and IIT Delhi.  “We are delighted to be engaging with
Notably, IITs are India’s premier technology IIT Delhi as the ideal partner to progress our
and public research institutes and are deemed as research collaborations,” she said. “We are
Institutes of National Importance and Institute dedicated to creating future global citizens, and
of Eminence by the country’s parliament for we look forward to the development of leading-
their leading role in preparing world-class Ongoing collaboration with NZ edge research through the association,” Prof
skilled engineering graduates.  In this regard, IIT’s foray in the New Zealand Dixon said. 
IIT Delhi in this regard, has the highest world Market and the vice-versa, NZ University’s It is expected that the Centre will host visiting
ranking.  interest in forging ties with India’s premier researchers and academics, act as a forum for
The status of Institution of Eminence by technology institutes is not altogether new.  diplomatic and trade dialogue among different
Government of India (2018) had granted almost Earlier in November 2019, The University sectors, and support student mobility.
full autonomy, leaving the institutes to make its of Auckland had signed a historic agreement John Laxon, Education New Zealand’s
own decisions, including having the autonomy with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Regional Director Asia, said that the New
to going global.  Kharagpur to offer a joint PhD programme. Zealand Centre would be a one-of-a-kind
Since then, there has been a newfound  Meanwhile, the two-day workshop, held research establishment. “A research-focused
at IIT Delhi, provided an opportunity for New Zealand Centre at IIT Delhi builds
collective will within all IITs to become a truly
academics from NZ universities and IIT Delhi on New Zealand’s status as the preferred
global world-class technology institute. 
to discuss and develop projects for long term education destination for students, with a 71
Recently, The IITs have collectively decided
research collaboration.  per cent increase in Indian students choosing
to conduct their joint entrance exam in San
Collaboration priorities under discussion Speaking more on IIT Delhi’s partnership to study in New Zealand universities in 2019.
Francisco to attract students of Indian origin
include sustainable cities, technologies for with NZ University Prof. Sanjeev Sanghi, We are committed to strengthening the research
from 2020.  clean water, cybersecurity and data science, Dean – Alumni Affairs and International and education ties between New Zealand and
IITs collectively and individually are now energy and environmental studies, and Programmes, said “The NZ Centre embodies India, and are excited to be partnering with a
going to countries like Canada, Australia, the advanced biological and healthcare systems our efforts to embrace internationalization, prestigious institution in IIT Delhi.”
US, Germany and UK to hire faculty.  and engineering. open up opportunities for new research ••
 8 NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch Multicultural Council
celebrates 30 years of service
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
C
ommunity leaders,
volunteers, members of
parliament and patrons
gathered last week at Madam
Kwong’s restaurant in Christchurch
to celebrate the thirty years of
services provided by Christchurch
Multicultural Council Inc (CMC).
Started in 1989, the community
organisation evolved, grew manifold
and offered its services to the migrant
community living in the city.
The organisation that represents
170 ethnic groups living in New
Zealand called in to observe the
event not just as a celebration but
as a reflection back on its services
provided to countless number of
migrants and migrant communities
living in the southern part of the
country that brought minor to
significant life-changing experiences
for the people.
“This is a significant moment
of pride for all of us present here,”
president of CMC, Surinder Tandon
said at the event.
Surinder Tandon joined CMC in
2000 and became its president in
2009, and he also received Queen’s
honour Member of the New Zealand
Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2014 for
his services to the community and
textile research in NZ.
Present at the event were President
of Multicultural New Zealand (NZ
Federation of Multicultural Councils
Inc.), Ethnic Advisor to Sir Mark
Soloman Ngai Tahu- Sally Pitama,
Minister Poto Williams, MP Dr
Duncan Webb, Christchurch City
Councillors Jimmy Chen, and Anne
Galloway, Deborah Lam and Eileen
Yee (OEC), Sarah Denny (Hagley
College), Ahmed Tani (Canterbury
Refugees Service & Resource
Centre), CMC Life Member Wim de
Winter and volunteers amongst the
other guests.
President of Multicultural New
Zealand Pancha Narayanan lauded
the team of CMC for making it into its
30th anniversary and congratulated
the organisation for its role and
influence in making Christchurch the
very first Treaty-based Multicultural
City in New Zealand.
“I would like to acknowledge
our Life Member of MNZ and Past
President Weng Kei Chen and others,
as these are our stalwarts who built not
only the Christchurch Multicultural
Council but also Multicultural New
Zealand – without their efforts I’m
not sure we would’ve got to where
we are today,” Mr Narayanan said at
the event.
Christchurch Multicultural Council
over the past three decades has been
providing advocacy to migrants and
community groups for settlement
and integration, celebrating diversity,
strengthening diverse communities,
fostering unity in diversity,
promoting social inclusion, equality,
integration, encouraging migrants for
greater civic participation, lobbying
for broader ethnic representation on
boards and trusts etc.
CMC has partnered and
collaborated with several different
community organisations, local and
national government bodies, media
organisations, sports clubs etc. so to
reach out to as many migrants and
ethnic groups and assist them with
settling in New Zealand and provide
any help if they may need.
“Our strategic partners include
Christchurch City Council, Selwyn
District Council, Waimakariri District
Council’s Migrants & Newcomers
Group, NZFMC/MNZ, Ngai Tahu,
OEC, NZ Police, Immigration
NZ, MSD, Electoral Commission,
Canterbury Interfaith Society,
Hagley College, Christchurch Metro
Cricket Association, Pegasus Health,
Revel Events, Shakti, Christchurch
Resettlement Service, Refugee
Centre, Network Waitangi Otautahi,
Plains FM96.9, Rotary Clubs, all
community groups and others,” Mr
Tandon added.
CMC, like the Refugee Centre,
has been supporting Hagley College
for the development of NZ’s
first multicultural hub for which
Christchurch Multicultural Council
over the past three decades has been
providing advocacy to migrants and
community groups for settlement
and integration, celebrating diversity,
strengthening diverse communities,
fostering unity in diversity, promoting
social inclusion, equality, integration,
encouraging migrants for greater civic
participation, lobbying for broader ethnic
representation on boards and trusts etc.
the Christchurch City Council
has already agreed to fund its
construction.
“The need for a multicultural
hub is even greater now after the
March 15 terrorist attack on the two
Mosques. It was an attack on our
diversity, both religious and cultural,
on our harmonious relations.
“But the time after the attacks
showed us our strong united diversity
and harmony which brought out
immense solidarity, compassion,
love and empathy from people of
diverse cultures and faiths towards
the victims’ families and the Muslim
community throughout NZ,” Mr
Tandon said.
The 30th-anniversary event on
Saturday, February 1, had speeches
by dignitaries and guests at the event,
a cake cutting ceremony, reflections
by CMC Founding member Weng
Kei Chen and an address by CMC
president Surinder Tandon.
The event also had entertainment
Friday, February 14, 2020
celebrating the occasion including a
classical Indian dance performance
by Kaushalaya Devi, a song of peace
by Filipino duo by Yna Martinez and
Marielle Ariola, Tribal belly Dance to
Macedonian music by Yulia and Petra
and Chinese musical performance on
Erhu by Jeffrey Zhao, Christchurch
Shandong Association.
CMC’s major achievements
over 30 years include:
• Contribution to the establishment
of the Office of Ethnic (Affairs)
Communities
• Ongoing support to OEC and
other partners
• Contribution to the establishment
of the Race Relations Office
• Contribution to the development
of Christchurch Multicultural
Strategy
• Support for the annual Lincoln/
Selwyn Multicultural Festival
• Global 7s cricket tournament
and now All Nations T20 Cricket
Tournament with ChCh Metro
The Indian Weekender
Cricket Association for Hagley
Multicultural Hub
• Advocacy for settlement of
migrants/refugees
• Living in Harmony project for
women
• Strengthened intercultural and
interfaith harmony. Fostered unity
in diversity
• Social and cultural wellbeing of
ethnic people of all age groups
and genders
• Greater participation in decision-
making roles/submissions at
Local and Central Government
levels.
• Encouraged migrants for greater
civic participation
• Lobbying for greater ethnic
representation on boards/trusts/
councils etc.
• Strategic partnerships with
several organisations/groups for
ethnic communities
• Significant participation in, and
contribution to, CCC INFoRM
and ICA groups
• Significant support provided post-
earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 and
mosque attacks of 15 March 2019
• Promoted the White Ribbon
campaign for the elimination
of violence against women
(domestic, family violence)
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020
New Kiwi Indian talents to watch
in 2020: Cricketer Rachin Ravindra
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
T
he Indian Weekender has always
strived to focus and magnify the good
work and talents of Kiwi Indians
and Indian community organisations in New
Zealand. These individuals or a group of
individuals work hard to make a difference in
the community and also elevate the pride of the
Kiwi Indian community living in New Zealand.
In this new series ‘New Kiwi Indian talents to
watch out for in 2020’, The Indian Weekender
will bring forth some new talents and faces who
over the years have excelled in their profession,
putting their hard work and passion in the right
place and making the Kiwi Indian community
proud.
Cricketer Rachin Ravindra:
C urrently playing for the New Zealand A
team against the India A in Christchurch,
the 20-year-old all-rounder from Wellington is
the new force to watch out for in national and
expectedly international cricket.
Having already represented New Zealand in
two U19 World Cups, 2016 and 2018, the rising
star of New Zealand cricket comes with tons of
talent and dreams of playing for the Black Caps
someday soon.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Rachin’s
father Ravi Krishnamurthy says he has been
playing cricket from the age as early as two
and has been in love with the sport ever since.
He joined a club after a few years and started
playing with softball. He soon joined Hutt
District Cricket Club and has been associated
with the club ever since.
A Dilworth education is no ordinary
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The results? Our students achieve
NCEA qualifications at a level
comparable with the highest decile
New Zealand schools, and they
also excel in sports, music, the
arts and cultural performance.
We call this the Dilworth effect,
and it’s truly life changing.
DIL0012_Dilworth press ad Indian Weekender 255x175 01.indd 1
At the age of 11, he represented Wellington
U13, at the age of 14 he played for U17 team
representing his school’s XI team. In 2016, at
the age of 17 playing for New Zealand at the
U19 World Cup in Bangladesh, Rachin gave
three stunning back-to-back performances
both with bat and bowl. He bagged three
wickets against West Indies, scored a century
against Kenya and then hitting a half-century
and taking four wickets making him the first
New Zealander to achieve this feat at the U19
World Cups.
He also gave a stupendous performance with
several wickets and good scores with his bat in
These boys will receive an
excellent, well-rounded education,
with all expenses covered, right
down to sports and music lessons,
uniforms and school trips.
Do you know a boy who may
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NEW ZEALAND 9
his career, Rachin says
that they have been
part and parcel of
the game.
“Of course,
there are
times when
you don’t
perform
particularly
well or up to
the expected
mark, and
we do make
mistakes that have
the propensity to bring
you down. But all you can
do is learn from your mistakes, and
keep performing- giving the best you can,”
the 2018 World Cup held in New Zealand. Post Rachin Ravindra told The Indian Weekender.
his string of good performances; International Rachin considers his father one of the
Cricket Council called the prodigy Rachin as motivators and mentors who pushed him,
supported him in his passion for cricket.
the rising star of the squad. Rachin calls his
Rachin’s parents moved from Bangalore city in
performances at the two World Cups were some
of the biggest highlights of his career so far. South India to Wellington, New Zealand where
Rachin considers Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul he was born and schooled. Rachin is currently
pursuing his higher studies in finance besides
Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Daniel Vettori and
Brian Lara as his idols growing up and Ross playing national and domestic cricket.
Taylor, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith some of Rachin also credits his coaches Mark
the senior players currently playing he looks Borthwick and Sriram Krishnamurthy as a
up to. driving force and under whose mentorship he
reached this far in his career. Rachin is currently
Sharing about the struggles and low times in
playing for Wellington Firebirds.
31/01/20 9:51 AM
 10 NEW ZEALAND Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

Band of three ‘Gharelu Gigs’

is the new talk of the town
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

T
hree Kiwi Indians living in Auckland
have created a very upbeat and an
unconventional music band that has
taken the community by storm and has become
one of the most popular and new faces to look
for this year.
Coming up with a creative yet straightforward
Hinglish name ‘Gharelu Gigs’ that translates
to ‘house shows/performances’, the band has
garnered some outstanding attention from the
community.
Introducing the band founder and lead singer
Anchal Marwah who is also a rhythm guitarist,
is the brains behind the band’s formation and
growth in the last few months. Adding more
colour to the band is the lead guitarist and giving
vocals Swanand Chitnis, and Anchal’s friend
from his Uni days, Prabhakar Mohanasundaram
as the keyboard player.
‘Gharelu Gigs’ was conceptualised and
created in December 2018, and the band
members joined in as Anchal, and his new band
you see three people playing and singing
member Prabhakar started performing at casual
Bollywood songs with their guitars, keyboard,
shows and house parties. Anchal met his lead
and mouth organ, while you enjoy a few drinks. Gharelu Gigs
guitarist Swanand at an event in Auckland and can be contacted
After some time, you feel like joining in and
have been friends and integral when it comes to on +64224787980,
singing that old medley. At the same time, we
music ever since. +64224026757 or
play the guitar for you, how amazing does it
The band was created with a simple concept via email on
sounds, you feel that personal touch, as there
of singing along casual music concerts where gharelugig91@gmail.com
is not a stage or big setup that can make
these artists perform, and the audience joins in-
you nervous, sit next to the guitarist and
becoming a part of the whole show.
start singing, it’s a whole new different
Anchal narrates the idea that excited him to
feeling.
progress from a hobby guitar player and singer
We will come to your house, no
to taking new leaps to form a band was a party
needs of hefty music setup, no mics
or a place where people can join in with the
needed, no speakers, all we need is
performers and sing along and enjoy the show
you to be enjoying your pick while
with the feeling that they are the stars of the
we bring some peppy Bollywood
show.
and Hollywood numbers playing
“We all have that singer within us that seldom
live to your house.
comes out, is too shy or embarrassed to sing in
public or is just a passive audience but deep IWK: Which places and con-
certs have the band performed
down they want to sing their hearts and express,
in New Zealand?
and our mini music concerts gives them the
GG: Currently, Gharelu Gigs is mainly
freedom to join in, sing along and experience a
focusing on doing gigs in Auckland and
great show,” Anchal told The Indian Weekender
nearby places; however, we are open to
in an interview.
travel across New Zealand for gigs and
About the band members: spread the cheer around with our Gharelu
University of Auckland where Anchal and the performances. We have performed and
Anchal Marwah

A
nchal Marwah, came to Auckland in
August 2014 to pursue Post Graduation in
ICT. He has then been very active in singing,
playing guitar, modelling and dancing that led
him to participate and win IWK’s Mr Diwali
title ATEED Diwali in 2017. He also won the
title of Mr Bollywood Factor in 2018, hosted
by Radio Apna. He has been associated with
“Prayas” theatre company as well since 2018
and was one of their vocalists for the song
“Allah Hoo” the title song for the play namely
“DARA”. Anchal has also started doing
modelling projects recently. His latest song
“Lamberghini Clubmix” has crossed over 115K
views on “YOUTUBE” which earned him
hundreds of new fans not just in New Zealand
but from overseas as well.
Swanand Chitnis
two started doing covers of popular songs.
The duo’s performances soon became a hit
amongst college mates landing to play at their
friends’ house parties, eventually paving the
way for more gigs across Auckland. Prabakar
has been a pivotal figure to the band due to his
knowledge of strings, alongside his great taste
of South Indian music, which helps the band to
explore the songs from South India and cover
Tollywood songs too.
In conversation with The Indian Weekender,
band members Anchal, Swanand and Prabhakar
give more insight about his band, how it has
become popular and what is the next project for
the band.
IWK: How would you define ‘Gharelu
Gigs’?
GG: Gharelu Gigs, itself describes by the
name, to have a fantastic gig at your own
catered to a wide range of audience, from
playing for seniors at Shanti Niwas Charitable
Trust on their 25th-anniversary event to
performing for younger party people such as on
New Year’s Eve, PAGE3 event hosted by LA entertaining crowd. In the next two years, we
ZEPPA etc. want first to spread the concept of Gharelu Gigs
IWK: What is the aim of the band, to the whole of New Zealand where people can
where do you see yourself grow and enjoy live music in their own house without the
perform in the need of big sound setups and that way adding a
personal touch to it. Secondly, we are working
near future?
GG: We now on original compositions with a mix of
want to spread jazz and Indie-pop to it, which we are planning
the joy of live to release mid of this year.
music to as IWK: What is the message you would
many ears as
like to give your fans/prospective audi-
we can, as we ences?
really love to GG: We thank our fans and community
sing with an for giving us so much love, and it is through
their word of mouth that we have grown this
popular. Through our performances, one thing

S wanand Chitnis, came to New Zealand

in late 2017 pursuing higher studies
in management in Auckland. He had been
associated with music since he was in India,
after coming to NZ, Swanand continued his
passion for music performing with different
bands, playing as a lead guitarist and
showcasing his talent at several stage shows
including performing for some renowned artists
from India.
Prabakar Mohanasundaram
‘Ghar’ (House). It is all about having a fun time
involving the people around you to sing along
and be a part of the action, with a free jam.
we can promise is there has never been a Noise
Control complaint when we perform, its a great
vibe, pleasant, soothing and live music without
Whether it is your wedding, house-warming mics and speakers, so everyone can enjoy the
party, birthday party, anniversary, or just want party till late in the night.
to get that coke studio vibes, the answer is We know different languages, so a variety
Gharelu Gigs. It is more of a modern-day of performances can be performed such as in
Karaoke, where we will be playing along with Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and
you while you sing and join us. a few songs from South India as well.
IWK: How is the band unique and dif- Our charges as well are very nominal and or
ferent from others? I can say we understand the ‘Gharelu Budget’
GG: Just imagine you go to this and hence, we tailor the fees as per the client’s

P rabakar Mohanasundaram came to New

Zealand in 2014 for higher studies at the
housewarming party or this BBQ party and requirements.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 NEW ZEALAND 11

What happened in NZ-India diplomatic world

this week?
¡ SANDEEP SINGH Meanwhile, in New Delhi, NZ’s Senior

I
diplomat, Principal Adviser, Ministry of
n the diplomatic world of New Zealand and
Foreign Affairs & Trade, Grahame Morton,
India, there were a few notable engagements
who has formerly been High Commissioner to
in the last fortnight that further cement
India, and is currently back in India temporarily,
already growing bilateral relations between the
manning the mission, was at the forefront of the
two countries. 
historic inking of the pact of Memorandum of
The social media and Twitterati was abuzz
Understanding between IIT Delhi and eight NZ
with highlights of celebrations and mutually
universities for setting up an innovative NZ
appreciative congratulatory messages
Centre. (Read detail story here)
around some important moments of national
importance and other key developments within “After four years’ prep, a two day meeting of
the diplomatic space of the two countries.  reps of eight NZ unis and India partner IIT Delhi
One of the most significant moments was agree roadmap on "research collaboration & in
the celebration of Waitangi Day, both in New principle alignment on academic centre. Work
Zealand and in India.  ahead but grt progress,” Mr Morton tweeted. 

Indian envoy joins others in Indian High Commissioner meets

diplomatic corps to celebrate
Waitangi Day
In New Zealand, High Commissioner of
India Muktesh Pardeshi joined other members
of the diplomatic corps in celebrating Waitangi
Day at the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi.  
Waitangi Day is NZ’s national day,
commemorating the signing of the Treaty of
Waitangi on February 6, 1840. 
Greeting Rt. Hon. @GovGeneralNZ on
the occasion of #WaitangiDay 2020. Many
thanks to @DanielMellsop@MFATgovtNZ for
organising an enjoyable trip for #diplomaticcorp
to Waitangi, Mr Pardeshi congratulated the NZ
nation from his twitter handle on Wednesday,
February 5. 
This was the first opportunity for Mr Pardeshi
in his capacity of Indian High Commissioner
to NZ to attend New Zealand’s national day –
an experience that was truly “phenomenal and
inspirational.”
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Mr
Pardeshi said, “It was a truly phenomenal General in Mumbai on Saturday, February 8, with top officials of Niue Island
and inspirational experience to join all New to celebrate the 180th anniversary of Waitangi
Indian High Commission to New Zealand
Zealanders and the diplomatic corps in Day. 
Muktesh Pardeshi, who also oversees the
celebrating Waitangi Day.” Ralph Hays, the Consul General and the
diplomatic relations with Samoa and the island
“I was able to personally convey the best NZ’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia led
wishes of the people and the government of the diplomatic mission’s celebrations of NZ’s of Niue in addition to his charge of Wellington
India on this important day,” Mr Pardeshi said.  national day and shared some glimpses of the hosted top-level officials of the later to
The official handle of India’s public event on the social media.  discuss bilateral relations and affirm India’s
diplomacy, Ministry of External Affairs, Maharashtra government’s Cabinet Minister commitment to support the people of Niue. 
Government of India had also twitted their best Aditya Thackeray was in attendance as the A social media post from the office of Indian
wishes to New Zealanders on the Waitangi Day Chief Guest.  High Commission informed that Mr Pardeshi
with a photograph of Prime Minister Jacinda “Was something special to host our 180th met with Ms Peleni Talagi, Secretary to the
Ardern and Narendra Modi shaking hands and Waitangi Day event here in Mumbai. The Ngati Government of Niue, Mr. Fisa Igilisi Pihigia,
exchanging pleasantries.  Koraha, Kapa haka group, added culture and High Commissioner of Niue to New Zealand
“Greetings to New Zealanders on the entertainment to the evening and made a lasting and Mr. Brett Collier, CEO of Niue Telecom. 
Waitangi Day,” the message from the official impact on all our guests. Thank you also to Hon “Government of India has extended financial
Indian diplomacy account twitted.  Minister Aaditya Thackeray for attending,” Mr support of USD 910,700/- (NZD 1.2 million)
Hays said.   to assist Niue in the establishment of 4G/LTE
Waitangi Day celebrated in Mumbai Mobile Network. The project has already
Grahame Morton oversees historical
Mumbaikars in India were treated to the been completed successfully. Both sides are
iconic Kiwi Kapa Haka at a glittering event set up of NZ academic centre at IIT exchanging views on 2nd phase of the project,”
hosted by the office of New Zealand’s Consul Delhi the social media post further stated. 

New Government Calls to conserve

initiatives in the water as dry
Health Sector for 2020 summer bites
¡ IWK BUREAU

A
We have funded PHARMAC Our Government is also
so it can buy new cancer drugs committing extra funding to s
Michael Wood
and make them more accessible make sure that HIV and STI Aucklanders
Member of Parliament continue
to those who need, while new prevention services are targeted
for Mt Roskill and
radiation machines have been appropriately in New Zealand. to smash water
Chief Government Whip
funded across the country to make We have committed to a $300,000 consumption records,

I
hope you have had a restful
break with your loved ones
and have had a great start to
2020. As I write my first column
for Indian Weekender this year, I
want to let you know about some of
the work our government has been
doing to build an effective health
system for all of our people.
We want to make sure every
New Zealander has access to
world-class health care. Under
our Prime Minister’s leadership,
we are addressing the long-term
challenges facing New Zealand
and health is definitely one of the
priorities.
We have made big investments
in mental health so our people
can seek help from trained mental
health professionals free of charge
at their local doctor’s clinics
across the country.  A record multi-
billion dollar investment in Budget
2019 is making this possible, and
across the country this new mental
health service is being built from
the ground up. Finally, we have a
government that is taking mental
health seriously.
cancer treatment more effective
and accessible for New Zealanders.
We have strengthened our
immunisation system by launching
a new campaign. Hundreds of
thousands of young adults will
receive measles vaccinations.
About 300,000 young adults
between 15-29 are not fully
protected against measles and
this Government is determined
to strengthen public health and
address that issue.  DHBs will
plan and deliver innovative and
localised ways to get young adults
immunised. Immunisation will be
available for easy access through
schools, workplaces, pharmacies
and Marae. We will also focus on
improving access and equality for
Maori and Pacific young adults in
particular. We are proud to have
a campaign to address measles,
which the recent outbreak has made
even more urgent.  In 2019 more
than 370,000 MMR vaccines were
distributed compared to 150,000
in 2018 which is an increase of
nearly 150%.
increase to fund research to update
behavioural information. This
will make sure that the rainbow
community is not disadvantaged in
our healthcare system.
The Ministry of Health-funded
research will study rates of HIV
(human immunodeficiency virus)
and STI (sexually transmitted
infection) testing, sexual behaviour,
use of condoms, PrEP (pre-
exposure prophylaxis) or use of
drugs to prevent disease in people
who have not yet been exposed
to a disease-causing agent and
inequalities in these behaviours.
This will enable the Ministry to
manage the purchase, targeting,
delivery and evaluation of HIV and
STI prevention services in NZ.
We are striving to rebuild our
health system after nine long years
of neglect – remember that under
the previous government, sewage
ran down the walls of our hospitals.
While this neglect can’t all be
fixed in one term, the progress
we are making will help ensure
that no matter where you live in
New Zealand, you will receive
high quality healthcare when you
need it.
Watercare, the
Auckland Council
arm responsible
for the city’s water
supply, is asking
residents to be
mindful of their water use, particularly
on hot days. “We are looking at additional
ways in which we can support these
A drier than usual summer is seeing
communities. Work is already underway
pressure come on water supplies.
to find practical ways we can assist.”
Simple self- imposed steps of four-
“As one of the biggest users of
minute showers, avoiding running taps
Watercare’s urban water supply, we
when brushing teeth or shaving and
acknowledge we have an important
washing full loads of laundry where part to play in reducing our own water
possible to conserve water, are being consumption here in the council family.”
asked of urban dwellers. Auckland Council’s network of
The rural areas of Auckland are under pools, parks, community buildings and
stress and many residents reliant on maintenance requirements are being
rainwater tanks for their water supply assessed with the view to non-essential
are waiting weeks to have them refilled.  work, requiring water, to be deferred or
“Auckland Council is aware of the
scaled back.
water supply challenges that rural Some essential irrigation may still
communities are facing. We sincerely need to be undertaken in order to protect
appreciate the support being shown by the council’s investment and where
neighbours, family and friends who are possible non-potable water supplies will
opening up their homes to help others. be used to reduce the drain on water
volumes and frequency.
This is the rural spirit,” says Deputy
••
Mayor Bill Cashmore.
 12 NEW ZEALAND
NZ v India ODI series: underdogs
NZ brutally thrash India by 3-0
¡ AAKAR PATEL
A
fter being whitewashed by
the men in blue in the T20
series, New Zealand came
back at Seddon Park for the first ODI
with some sweet and sour memories
from the recent past. Sweet memories
of last year’s ODI against the same
opponent where they bowled out
India for just 92 runs and sour
memories of last year’s ODI series
loss against the same opponent. For
New Zealand, this ODI series was
all about playing for pride and the
3-0 win justifies the name underdog
given to Blackcaps after the World
Cup 2019. This was the first time
in three decades men in blue were
whitewashed in an ODI series.
1st ODI at Seddon Park,
Hamilton
New Zealand won the toss and
elected to field first. After Rohit
Sharma was ruled out of the NZ
tour due to calf injury, India decided
to play with a new opening pair.
Mayank Agrawal and Prithvi Shaw
made their debuts at the first ODI at
Seddon Park, Hamilton.
The debutants started cautiously
in the first eight overs by scoring
fifty runs. Prithvi Shaw fell soon
after scoring just 20 runs in his debut
game followed by Agrawal in the
very next over.
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Friday, February 14, 2020
of misfortune Ross Taylor came
out to bat when his team had a big
target to chase. Taylor had brilliant
partnerships with Nicholls first and
then Latham adding 62 and 138 runs
respectively.
Nicholls and Latham made 78 and
69 runs before getting out, but Taylor
stayed firm at the other end. Taylor
brought up his 21st century ensuring
that his team cross the finishing line.
As a result of some brilliant
batting in last 20 overs and below-
par bowing from Indian bowlers,
New Zealand chased a total of 348
runs with 11 balls remaining.
Ross Taylor was the player of the
match for his unbeaten 109 runs.
2nd ODI at Eden Park,
Auckland
Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the
toss and chose to bowl first. Batting
first, Blackcaps openers started
exceptionally well as they added 93
runs in 17 overs for the first wicket.
After scoring 41 runs Nicholls was
the first man to get out off Chahal’s
over.
Playing in his 2nd game, Blundell
Next in were batsmen Kohli and attacked bowlers. Rahul and Iyer’s
again failed to impress as he was the
Iyer who played sensibly for the partnership added 136 runs in just 17
next man out after scoring 22 runs.
next twenty overs and scored 102 overs helping India to reach closer
Martin Guptill played a sensible
runs collectively. Kohli fell just after to 300 runs mark. Iyer fell just after
knock of 79 runs before getting run
completing his 58th half-century as scoring a brilliant maiden hundred;
out in a bizarre manner.
he was clean bowled by Sodhi. Iyer the first hundred scored by India’s
After Martin Guptill got out, New
maintained his composure and Rahul number four batsman in nearly two
years. Zealand had a batting collapse from
Toward the 3/157 to 8/197. After a collapse, the
end of innings, ever dependable Ross Taylor came
Rahul and to rescue again for New Zealand.
He along with a debutant Jamieson
Kedar added
valuable 55 scored extraordinary 76 runs for the
runs in the 9th wicket. At the end of 50 overs,
last 4.5 overs. New Zealand scored 273 runs with
Rahul scored the loss of eight wickets. Ross Taylor
a quickfire 88 again remained not out at 73 runs.
runs in 64 balls Chasing a total of 274 runs
while Kedar Batsman
India cleared their intentions
scored 26 runs from the very first ball by hitting S Iyer
in 15 balls. a boundary. Shaw and Agrawal KL Rahul
Both remained started on a positive note, but their
unbeaten by the partnership couldn’t last long as
H Nicholls 199 81.55
end of 50 overs Agrawal fell cheaply on 3 runs. R Taylor
as India finished
Shaw continued finding gaps and
347/4 by the end
hitting boundaries, but he did not
of 50 overs.
last long. Kohli looked as he was
Chasing a NZ ODI series
struggling to his 25 balls 15. He lost
mammoth total
his wicket to Southee for the 9th Bowler
of 348 runs,
Blackcaps time in 30 innings in ODIs. Rahul
started very was bowled by De Grandhomme
sooner post Kohli’s dismissal.
Y Chahal
H Bennett 6
sensibly
adding 85 runs
by
India kept losing wickets after T Southee 4
off 16 overs Rahul’s departure as India lost
for the opening seven wickets for 153 runs. This
wicket. After game India had an unexpected batting
scoring 32 runs, star Navdeep Saini who played a
Guptill was the brilliant inning of 45 runs showing
first man to get India a ray of hope to win the game.
out. Playing in His dismissal decided that India had
his debut game, no more fuel left for fighting. In the
Blundell could fighting but disappointing manner
not impress with India was bowled out for 251 runs.
the ball as he New Zealand won the game by 22
2015/2 2013
could score 9 runs and ensured a series win at Eden
MIC L IS T E
016 SA 2014
R O
LESPER
F THE SO N
RISIN G
Shaun Khanna runs only. Park.
OF TH
RUNNE YEAR
ER-UP
YEAR
STAR 029 770 9767 The man Kyle Jamieson was awarded player
shaunk@abcbusiness.co.nz
on a mission of the match for his all-rounder
www.businessesforsale.co.nz but the victim performance in his debut game.
Licensed REAA 2008
The Indian Weekender
3rd ODI at Bay Oval,
Mt. Maunganui
Kane Williamson won the toss
and invited the visitors to bat first.
In the third game of the series,
Indian openers disappointed as
India lost Agrawal for just one run.
Kohli couldn’t perform up to the
expectations as he was the second
man to get out. Kohli just made 9
runs and ended up his tally of this
series to 75 runs. Shaw showed
potential by scoring 40 runs, but he
could not score bigger.
After losing 3 wickets for 62 runs,
Rahul and Iyer made a hundred runs
partnership where Iyer made 62 runs;
his third consecutive 50+ score in this
series. Post Iyer’s dismissal Rahul
and Pandey had another brilliant
partnership of 107 runs. During the
partnership, Rahul brought his 4th
ODI century. Rahul and Pandey
got dismissed on two consecutive
deliveries, as a result, India fell just
short of 300 runs mark at the end of
50 overs.
Blackcaps started a chase very
smartly as Guptill played a vital role
in being aggressive in the early overs.
Guptill made a brilliant 66 runs
including four sixes before getting
bowled to Chahal’s beautiful firki.
Returning from shoulder injury Kane
couldn’t do much before getting out
on 22.
The man in golden form Ross
Taylor was expected to finish the
game again, but he could only make
12 runs followed by Nicholls who
made a patient 80 runs. Toward
the end, the man out of form De
Grandhomme displayed his hitting
skills by hitting unbeaten 58 runs in
just 28 balls. New Zealand chased
a target of 297 runs with 17 balls
remaining.
Henry Nicholls was awarded
player of the match for his patient 80.
Top batsmen of India v
NZ ODI series
Runs Avg. H.S.
217 72.33 103
204 102.00 112
80
194 194.00 109*
Top bowlers of India v
Wickets Econ. Best
6 5.25
6.86
3/47
4/64
6.37 2/41
Lesser-Known facts about
both teams and players:
• India was whitewashed in ODI for
the first time since 1988-89.
• Bumrah went wicketless in this
series.
• Ross Taylor averaged 194 and only
dismissed once in this series.
• Kohli is dismissed by Southee
in ODI for 9 times; most by any
bowler.
• Iyer and Rahul scored a total of
421 runs while rest of the Indian
batsmen scored 423 runs in this
series.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 NEW ZEALAND 13

Team Lhotshampa lifts the Tenzing

Hillary Cup again
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD Several renowned people

T
he high-octane Tenzing Hillary Football Cup 2020 saw
the unbeatable Team Lhotshampa from Christchurch lift
the trophy once again by beating Nepal United FC from
Christchurch too at the grand finals on Sunday, February 2.  head coach of New Zealand
Hosted by Nepal Association Bay of Plenty (NABOP) at
Links Reserve in Mt Maunganui, the two-day annual football
championship witnessed over 700 people gathered to watch the
closely contested adrenaline rushed matches on the ground and
cheered for their favourite teams. 
The semi-finals and the final were three most closely contested
match of the tournament. In the first semi-final Team Lhotshampa
defeated Khakuri FC with the scores 2-3, and Nepal United FC
scored beat Gorkhali FC (Hamilton) by 3-1 to enter the finals.
In the final Team Lhotshampa and Nepal United FC fought to
keep the score tied at zero, that went into extra time which again
resulted in nil from each side. To break the tie, penalty shootout
was done at the end which saw Lhotshampa score 4 goals against
Nepal United FC’s 1, thereby, making Lhotshampa the champion
two times in a row.
“THC2020 saw incredible talents, amusing sportsmanship
and discipline. We hope year by year all the players, teams grow
their potential and raise their bars up high. We appreciate each
individual’s hard work and team effort. You make us proud,”
Saurab Gautam from the THC Committee said.
Gorkhali FC from Hamilton and Football Club Khakuri from
Auckland took the second and third runner up positions in the
tournament.
attended the tournament such
as, Consulate of Nepal in New
Zealand, Peter Gibbs, former
national football team, John
Adshead (ONZM), who led All
Whites team to their first-ever
FIFA World Cup in 1982.
Each team had 11 players a
side, and the matches were played
as per FIFA and NZ Football
guidelines and rules. The referees
for all the games came from WaiBOP Football Association. The The final results, awards and prize money presented: 
matches were live-streamed on GoalNepal.com. • Winning team - Team Lhotshampa, Christchurch- Running
As the tournament garnered a huge response from the youth Championship Cup, Gold Medals + $1800
of the Nepalese community across New Zealand, businesses and •  Runner Up - Nepal United FC Christchurch; Silver Medals
supporters, the hosting rights for THC 2021 has already been + $1200
offered by local associations in Palmerston North and Waikato. •  2nd Runner Up - Gorkhali FC Hamilton; Bronze Medals +
THC committee will be reviewing the offers and declare the $800
name of the hosts in the next few months. •  3rd Runner up - Football Club Khukuri, Auckland; $400
“THC committee and NABOP were thrilled to host the • Plate Champions - Himalions FC - Palmerston North &
Fielding; Running Shield + $300
tournament in Tauranga at the home of Tauranga City AFC this
•  Fair Play Team - NABOP Football Team; Trophy + $500
year, where it all began.
•  Golden Gloves - Anukaran Poudyal of Gorkhali FC
“Tenzing Hillary Cup is looking to grow even better next
(Hamilton); Trophy + $100
year. THC Committee is working tremendously to register as a •  Golden Boot - Ramesh Chettri of Himalions FC; Trophy +
charitable trust for next endeavours. We welcome all the kind $100
supporters, intellectuals to be a part of our journey,” Saurab •  Golden Ball - Aashish Rai of Team Lhotsampa ChCh;
added. Trophy + $100

Ashwini to present bouquet of morning raags

in Auckland March 15
¡ IWK BUREAU Singh will play the tabla and a young Auckland S a n g e e t

A
artiste will provide tanpura accompaniment.
fter winning the hearts of Aucklanders
Ashwini sings in the traditional Jaipur-
in 2017, India’s leading vocalist
Atrauli gharana’s style and is today one of its
Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
leading lights. Raised in a musical family and
is coming back to Auckland following many
taught initially by her mother, she went on to
requests from connoisseurs.
study under the tutelage of other great masters
One of India’s most celebrated contemporary
while yet pursuing her academic studies.
musicians, Ashwini will sing at a unique,
She holds a PhD in biochemistry from the
morning concert featuring morning raags on
prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in
March 15, 2020. This is a first of its kind classical
Mumbai.
music concert for Auckland. Accompanying
She has won a string of national and
Ashwini will be noted sarangi musician
state awards in India ever since she began
Sangeet Mishra from India. Australia’s Bobby
performing on the concert
stage at the tender age of 16
and sung at venues across
Trust Saffron Finance for the world. She has also been
part of several innovative
expert Mortgage/ Insurance music-teaching projects
in Scandinavian countries
advice backed by years and other institutions in
of experience different parts of the world.
Mishra one
of the leading
s a r a n g i
exponents in
India today.
Trained in
the Benaras
tradition,
Sangeet comes from a long line of sarangi
masters from India’s ancient city of Varanasi, traditional Indian vegetarian lunch with the
and has performed with leading artistes in India
artistes
and around the world.
Bobby Singh is a disciple of tabla maestro
Please mark your calendars for Sunday
Aneesh Pradhan and is one of the most sought- 15 March 9-15 am for the Ashwini Live in
after musicians on the Australian world music Auckland at the Green Bay High School
circuit and the first choice for musicians from Auditorium, Godley Road, Green Bay,
India touring Australia and New Zealand.
As well as being unique in being a
Auckland.
Ticket sales are ongoing and the good
morning concert featuring morning raags and
accompanied by a sarangiya, a rarity these
seats are filling up fast. Get in early by
booking at www.ticketbazaar.co.nz
days, the ticket price includes a post-concert

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www.saffronfinance.co.nz
 14 NEW ZEALAND Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

Team AIS United and Mighty Blues

take lead in Relianz Cricket Cup
¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

O
ne of the longest-running and popular
cricket tournaments in the country,
Relianz Forex Spirit of Cricket Cup
2020, has seen some stellar performances
by both teams and individuals which is now
progressing toward the quarter-finals soon.
Of the eleven teams and 250 players playing
in the tournament, Team AIS United and
Mighty Blues are leading the points table with
36 and 32 points respectively.
The tournament is organised by Migrant
Community Cricket Club for the 22nd year, and

four matches are played every Sunday since

December 1 last year at the Auckland Domain

AUCKLAND INDIAN ASSOCIATION

cricket grounds.
AIS United won all seven matches played
cementing top spot on the table followed by
Mighty Blues with six wins of eight matches
MAHATMA GANDHI CENTRE played. The third, fourth and fifth positions are
taken by TANZ City Boys with six wins, five
wins for Probasee Bengalee and Deccan Acers
VENUE HIRE | ONSITE PARKING | TEMPLE WITHIN THE COMPLEX each of the seven matches played.
The eleventh position has been taken by

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Tamil Thunders after losing all of the seven
matches played, followed by Black Hawks in
10th position with one win of eight matches,

INHOUSE CATERING SERVICES Tuf XI with one win so far of seven matches,
Royal Knights in 8th spot with two wins and
NZ Telugu Tigers on 7th spot with three wins of
six matches. The sixth position has been taken
by Deccan Rising Stars with three wins of eight
matches but having 17 points, four ahead of NZ
Telugu Tigers to take one spot above them.
The top two batting stars of the tournament
are Hemadri Chakraborty from Probasee
Bengalee with 247 runs in seven matches,
followed by Suhas Shanbhogue with 146 runs
of five matches.
The top two bowlers of the tournament are
Sukeertha Madaka from TANZ City Boys
with 18 wickets in five matches giving 59 runs
over 19.2 overs, with an economy of 3.05.
Venkateshwaran Murali Kumar from Black
Hawks has taken the second spot in bowling
with 17 wickets in eight matches giving 94 runs
off 30 overs with an average of 3.13.
The top three spots for players of the match
has been taken by Hemadri Charabborty
scoring 1270 points in seven matches, followed
by Venkateshwaran Murali Kumar with 1129
points in eight matches and Sukeertha Madaka
with 1010 points in five matches. The players
are allotted points on their overall performance
that includes batting, bowling, fielding, Man of
the Match awards and other criteria.
The playoff will continue till the end of
February, and the quarterfinals or eliminators
will happen on 8 and 15 March. The top
positions in the table will qualify directly for
An all-purpose indoor facility close to the heart of the city makes Mahatma Gandhi the semi-finals, and the positions from 3-6 will
play the eliminators which then opens space for
Centre a versatile and attractive Venue for Indian Weddings, business functions, the winners to compete with the leading teams
social gatherings and religious functions. Our knowledgeable priest provides in the semi-finals.
“This year, the tournament is very open
religious services and ceremonies including weddings. A large commercial Kitchen ended. In the next two-three weeks, we will see
facilities and a wide range of catering options available for all occasions. the middle order or even bottom teams if they
perform better jump quickly up towards the top
of the table and anything can happen,” Prashant
FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES Tel: (09) 357 0665 or (09) 377 2424 Belwalkar, organiser of the tournament from
MCCC, told The Indian Weekender.
CONTACT US ON Email: office@aiai.org.nz Website: www.aiai.org.nz ••
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 FIJI 15

DR NIKHAT SHAMEEM: Nausori Highlands tragedy:

Isoof stays in remand
Fiji is the place of birth of Fiji Hindi
A
cting Director of the
Fiji Higher Education
Commission and Hindi
academic Doctor Nikhat Shameem
says Fiji is the place of birth of Fiji
Hindi and if it is not honoured and
respected in the country of its birth
and development, then no one else
will do so.
She says the issue with Fiji Hindi
is that it is a preliterate language

without a standardized writing script
which makes it difficult to use as a
formal written language.
However while it may not be used
as a subject of study, children in
Fiji schools and teachers of young
primary school children use it often as
a language of instruction, discussion,
explanation and communication.
She adds that government policy
needs to regulate and guide its use in
schools.
Doctor Shameem says that it is
the policy of any radio station to
use whichever variety of Hindi they
prefer.
She also adds that if the language
is not used, respected and promoted
it is likely to shift and move to other
domains of use such as the radio or
more formal family events will help
to maintain it.
University of the South Pacific
Lecturer Rajendra Prasad says
there should not be a debate about
Fiji Hindi being a language or not
because Fiji Hindi is a variety of
Hindi similar to standard Hindi.
He says there are many varieties
and one of them is Fiji Hindi.
Prasad says Fiji Hindi is only
spoken by Fijian people of Indian
descent and somebody needs to
take the onus to actually save the
language.   family from Legalega in Nadi was
He also says no Hindi radio station
is speaking standard Hindi in the
country, there is a mixture of Hindi
being used and there is no problem
with it.
Meanwhile, University of Fiji
Lecturer Salesh Kumar says Fiji
Hindi is part of our daily rapporteur
and people speak it on various
platforms and in the media and there
is nothing wrong with that because
they are speaking the language of the
people.
M
ohammed Raheesh Isoof,
the man who is facing
murder charges of a
further remanded by the High Court
in Lautoka.
Isoof, who is charged with five
counts of murder and one count of
attempted murder, appeared before
High Court Judge, Justice Chamath
Morais.
It is alleged that on August 25 and
26 of last year, the accused murdered
carpenter, Nirmal Kumar, his wife
Usha Devi, 54, their daughter,
Nileshni Kajal , 34 and Kajal’s two
daughters Sana, 11 and Samara, 8.
He was represented by Unaisi
Baleilevuka, who was under the
instructions of Iqbal Khan while the
state was represented by the Office of
the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The state told the court the matter
was at the Pre-Trial Conference
(PTC) stages and was waiting for a
response from the defence counsel
on the PTC documents.
Ms Baleilevuka requested if the
matter could be stood down and
adjourned to a later date to allow Mr
Khan to address the issues on the
PTC. The matter has been adjourned
to February 7, 2020.

Fiji’s NZ High Commission now able to process E-Passport

T
he Fiji High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand
has commenced the processing of the e-passports
applications.
This is after the installation of the new e-passport enrolment
kit. The new technology has enabled mission staff to record
the biometric data of Fijians who travelled from Christchurch,
Auckland, Napier and Hastings since its installation.
Wellington is the second Fijian diplomatic mission to receive
the e-passport enrollment kit.
Fiji’s High Commissioner Filimone Waqabaca said the new
system would help Fijians enjoy the benefits of Government’s
Digital Strategy. The High Commissioner said they’re also our mailing lists and we expect to get even busier as more
considering requests for the mobile enrolment kit to be used in Fijians from all over New Zealand realise they no longer have
community outreach events in cities like Auckland, Hamilton to travel back to Fiji to get their passports done”.
and Christchurch which has a significant Fijian presence. The Mission staff Waqabaca said have also been quick to
“We’re really glad the new e-passports have a whole range of adapt to the new technology that has greatly enhanced their
security features that help Fijians in New Zealand travel easier work.
and make the passport more secure. It’s also been great for our
staff in Wellington to have a more integrated approach with the
Department of Immigration with everything online now.”
“We normally average about 5-10 clients a day but we’ve
been putting out the word through our community leaders and

Fiji ready to trade more with

Australia and New Zealand
T
rade Minister Premila
Kumar says Fiji is ready for
more significant bilateral
agreements that further enhance
economic growth.
Speaking on the theme,  Pacific
trading nations from surviving
to thriving, the Minister made
it known that while there
are benefits from regional
agreements, Fiji’s development has
progressed significantly.
Kumar says as such, opening up
trade volume with our closest
neighbors is a step in the "Fiji
right direction. is now ready to
“Fiji is now ready to enter into a bilateral
enter into a bilateral trade agreement with
trade agreement Australia and New Zealand,
with Australia and that’s my view. The reason been
New Zealand, that’s that we are different from the
my view.  rest of the Pacific. And if you
"The reason been look at the statistics, it
that we are different speaks for itself."
from the rest of the Zealand, but only 29 to
Pacific. And if you look at the Australia.
statistics, it speaks for itself.  She says despite the Australian
"So we cannot be tied down with market been significantly bigger
other regional trade agreements.” with more demand, the absence of
Kumar says traditional agreements pathways is because of old trade
have stifled economic growth. agreements.
As an example, the Trade Kumar says this is why her priority
Minister says Fiji is able to export is to work on more development
59 agricultural products to New focused partnerships.
 Thought of the week
“You've got to get up every morning with
determination if you're going to go to bed with
satisfaction.” – George Lorimer

Editorial 8 February – 13 February

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu
India cricket selection
committees need
complete overhaul
On-and-off Partly Parlty Clouds and A touch o Sunshine A few
rain and sunny sunny sun dafr and pactcy morning
drizzle clouds showers

T
he popularity and growth of cricket in India, both on and off the field, has had a steep rise.
An Indian victory or a defeat has a telling impact on the mood of the nation. 21° 23° 24° 23° 23° 24° 24°
Cricket was brought to India by the British, but India is now its most popular destination. 14° 13° 16° 15° 16° 16° 17°
The fans and followers are not only the critics but also the selectors and the experts.
The role, therefore, of the Indian selectors, has gained immense importance. They are required to
satisfy not just the players but the millions of followers too. This week in New Zealand’s history
One needs them to be transparent, honest, decisive, knowledgeable and far thinking. The days of
nominating cricket selectors through the five zones who then favoured certain cricketers who had 15 February 1882
close ties with the powerbrokers of the BCCI are over. First frozen meat shipment leaves New Zealand
N
The thousands of cricketers, playing the game in India from the junior to the international levels, ew Zealand’s first successful shipment of frozen meat to Britain in 1882 had a huge impact
have made cricket their life-line and their profession. on the colony, paving the way for the trade in frozen meat and dairy products that became
Cricket, for them, is no longer a recreational sport but one that will give them a way of life and a the cornerstone of New Zealand’s 20th-century economy.
future. This is precisely why the BCCI has a very important task in appointing selectors, who should
have the ability to assess, identify logically and have the clarity of thought to select players in an 15 February 1978
open and unbiased way. New Zealand beats England in a cricket test for the first
A cricket selector in the past was an honorary appointment and the change of making it into a paid
profession is a very good step taken by the BCCI. time
The recent advertisement for the two vacancies that are likely to arise on account of the tenure
of the Chairman M.S.K. Prasad and Gagan Khoda ending has become an important issue to N ew Zealand suffered many test defeats at the hands of England’s cricketers before finally
winning for the first time at Wellington’s Basin Reserve in February 1978. 
ponder about.
16 February 1770
The earlier two-year term that was changed to five years as recommended by the Supreme Court-
approved constitution gave not only that extra year to both Prasad and Khoda but also to Sarandeep James Cook sights Banks 'Island'
Singh, Jatin Paranjpe and Devang Gandhi to continue for another year.
However, one is bemused by the fact that the tenure of five years for selectors is being followed C ook concluded that the land he had sighted was an island and named it after the expedition’s
botanist, Joseph Banks. The mistake was not realised until 1809, when Captain Samuel
Chase of the Pegasus tried to sail between Banks ‘Island’ and the Canterbury mainland.
rigidly by the BCCI, whereas all other posts have tenure of three years.
However, the BCCI has put an age barrier of 60 years as the maximum age for a selector, which
has no mention in their constitution. This is quite ridiculous as the selector’s job is not to roll up
16 February 1986
his sleeves in the hot sun and get physically active, but one that can quite easily be performed by a Sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov
senior citizen as well.
Indian cricket has had many 70 years and above selectors who have distinguished themselves A t 5.37 p.m. on 16 February 1986 the Soviet cruise liner Mikhail Lermontov hit rocks off
Cape Jackson in the Marlborough Sounds.
quite admirably. There is also a strong movement that only one selector should be appointed from a
zone. Another ridiculous rule, if followed, as a selector of the national team should be past favoritism
17 February 1873
and if found to do so, should be debarred forever. 'The Russians are coming!'
If honesty is a worry, then the very basis of appointment becomes a farce. In most of the leading
cricket playing countries, a cricket selector is a paid employee of the cricket board. His or her job is O n 17 February 1873, Aucklanders awoke to the alarming news that a Russian warship had
entered Auckland Harbour undetected and landed troops.
to concentrate wholly and solely on the selection of the respective teams.
There is no age limit for his appointment and the selection is based on his ability to structure, plan
18 February 1957
and chart out his approach to select the best in the business. This is not followed in India where it New Zealand's last execution
is a part time assignment.
Recently in India, several leading domestic players who have performed very well, have openly
tweeted and spoken as to why they have not been considered or selected, if not for the national side
W alter Bolton, a 68-year-old Whanganui farmer, became the last person executed in New
Zealand. Convicted for the murder of his wife, Beatrice, he was hanged at Mt Eden prison
following a controversial trial.
then for a place in the India ‘A’ or Duleep Trophy sides.
None, I gather, have been given a reason and ignoring such claims is what makes it more important
to have a panel of selectors who are transparent and empathetic towards the players. Indian Weekender : Volume 11 Issue 46
Cricket is now a job for most cricketers and mental depression and trauma are some of the issues Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
that could arise and need to be nipped in the bud. Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz
The recent appointment of the three members of the CAC (Cricket Advisory Committee), another Chief Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz
honorary appointment by the BCCI, will select the selectors and coaches if and when required. Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Several former cricketers have applied for the selector’s position; selecting two from them will be Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
a big challenge. Most of them have played top level cricket and so one wonders what other criteria Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz
will differentiate them. Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
The selector’s dilemma is not just at the highest level but also much more at the state association Media Sales Manager.: Leena Pal: 021 952 216 | leena@indianweekender.co.nz
level. There are now 36 teams playing first class cricket in India and the regulations of appointing
Sales and Distribution: 021 952218 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz
selectors differs in each and every one of them.
Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz
The selection committees in Indian cricket need a complete overhaul to meet the ballooning
requirement that has emerged. Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
There has to be a link between state, zonal and senior level selectors. This interaction will help is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
in ensuring that each and every player playing the game is being closely monitored not only in his
respective association but also by the men at the top. Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent
the views of the team at the Indian Weekender
At present, the score sheet is the only way in which it is done as it is impossible for the selectors
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
at the national level to cover the wide expanse of the country.
The time is now ripe with a new BCCI apex committee in place and the Indian Cricketers Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
Association having established itself with 1,600 members who have played 10 or more first class
Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
games.
This pool of cricketers, having played the game, is a good starting point to get a true and honest
feedback for the changes required to make selection an open and acceptable format.
 “A Life-Changing
Experience.” —Stage Whispers

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 18 INDIA
Arvind Kejriwal leads AAP
to clean sweep with 62 seats
in Delhi Assembly polls
T
he ruling Arvind Kejriwal-led
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has
made a clean sweep in the Delhi
Assembly polls 2020, winning 62 seats in the
70-member House.
The Bharatiya Janata Party came in second
with eight seats and the Congress suffered a
crushing defeat with 63 of its candidates losing
their security deposit.
The vote share of the Congress party slipped
to an all time low of 4.27 per cent.
Counting of votes for the February 8 polls
was held on Tuesday at 21 centres across the
city. The final voter turnout figure in the polls
was 62.59%.
In the national capital’s 70-seat assembly,
there are 58 general seats and 12 reserved seats.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener
Explaining India’s Citizenship Amendment Act
KANWAL SIBAL
I
ndia has amended its Citizenship Act of
1955 in December 2019 to allow persons
belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist
and Christian faiths who have illegally
migrated into India over the years from three
neighbouring Islamic countries, namely,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, to
acquire Indian citizenship on a relatively fast
track basis.
The exclusion of Muslims from the
amendment has been criticised by India’s
political opposition, sections of the civil society,
leftist student groups and others for being
unconstitutional, diluting India’s secularism
and eroding India’s democracy.
The BJP won a huge majority in India’s
general election in May last year, consolidating
further its impressive victory in the
2014 elections.
Amending the Citizenship Act of 1955 has
been on the party’s agenda all along. In its
previous tenure the BJP government had moved
the amendment but it could not be passed
because the party did not have a majority in the
Upper House of India’s parliament, and so the
legislation had to be shelved.
This time also the party lacked a majority
in the Upper House but was able to get the
legislation through with the support of a section
of the opposition.
In other words, the Citizenship Amendment
Act (CAA) was passed after an intensive
debate in both houses of parliament when
all the issues raised by the opposition,
including the perceived anti-secular nature
of the amendment, were answered by
the government.
The legislation was passed through an open,
transparent and fully democratic process.
The constitutionality of the legislation has,
nonetheless, been questioned by opponents and
the matter will be adjudicated by the Supreme
Court of India.
This is in consonance with the robust
functioning of India’s democracy.
The CAA was necessitated because Hindu,
Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Christian minorities
who have entered India over decades and settled
Arvind Kejriwal retained his New Delhi seat.
His deputy Manish Sisodia also won again
down in the country could not acquire Indian
citizenship under the pre-amended citizenship
law. They were, thus, deprived of many
benefits of Indian citizenship and had to live
precarious lives.
These minorities entered India for many
reasons- persecution, discrimination, physical
insecurity, threat of forcible conversion, and
so on. In 1947 minorities in Pakistan, mostly
Hindus and Sikhs, constituted about 23% of
the population; today they constitute about
5 per cent, with Hindus at about 1.65 per
cent. In 1971, at the time of Bangladesh’s
creation, Hindus constituted 19 per cent of the
population, whereas in 2016 they constituted
only 8 per cent.
These are telling figures that testify to the
large scale exodus of minorities from Muslim
majority neighbouring countries.
This should be contrasted with the number of
Muslims in India in 1947 at 92 million and their
estimated number today at about 200 million.
Now, these non-Muslim minorities, primarily
Hindus and Sikhs, could only migrate to India
and nowhere else, given that the historical
home of Hindus and Sikhs is India.
No Muslim country would
Friday, February 14, 2020
from the Patparganj seat after a tough battle.
Several political leaders from across the
either accept them or give
them citizenship.
But then, amongst those who have entered
India illegally over the decades have been
Muslims from Bangladesh.
They did so not because of religious
persecution discrimination, physical insecurity
or threat of conversion.
They came for better economic opportunities,
encouraged also by Bangladesh regimes of the
past for political reasons.
Their case is different, as they can return
to their country of origin, after, of course,
identification as illegal migrants.
The Indian government estimates that
there are about 20 million illegal Bangladeshi
migrants in India, though the exact number
can only be determined after a citizenship roll
is established.
India is probably unique amongst major
powers in not having a system that legally
identifies its citizens.
It does not have a citizenship register; the
system of national identity cards does not exist.
This is an anomaly for a country that has a
long open border (1758 kilometres) with one of
its neighbours (Nepal), a longer porous border
The Indian Weekender
country including Prime Minister Narendra
Modi congratulated Kejriwal, who had in the
run-up to the polls repositioned himself as a
person focussing on the welfare of the people
from being a person always at loggerheads with
the authorities.
Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party had made
an effort through the poll campaign not to react
to the BJP’s barbs but counter them, reminding
people about the circumstances under which
he had joined politics and the work that his
government had done for the national capital.
Kejriwal’s victory speech also reflected
the crucial aspects of his campaign pitch that
sought to strike a chord with different segments
and all communities.
Kejriwal will hold a meeting with the newly
elected MLAs on Wednesday at his residence.
(4096 kilometres) with another (Bangladesh),
and several thousand kilometres of contested
or un-demarcated borders with two others
(China and Pakistan- 4056 kilometres and 3323
kilometres respectively).
The government has repeatedly clarified that
the CAA is to grant citizenship on a one-time
basis to a particular group of persons with no
alternative options and not to take away the
citizenship of any one, much less an Indian
Muslim.
The CAA has a cut-off date of December
31, 2014, after which no illegal immigrant,
whether Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Christian
or Muslim would be eligible for citizenship
under the amendment.
In this larger sense, the CAA is by no means
anti-Muslim.
Outside observers need to better understand
the dynamics of internal politics in a raucous
democracy like India.
However, because the issues of refugees,
migration, targeting of minorities anywhere,
rise of nationalism have international
resonance, western liberal circles, political and
in the media, which have anti-Indian lobbies
embedded in them traditionally, have picked
up the CAA and NRC controversy in India and
have begun a malicious campaign against the
India, without trying to understand the issues
dispassionately.
In the process they are showing disrespect
for Indian democracy. Worse, they are openly
interfering in India’s domestic politics on the
side of the opposition.
These circles should learn to respect the
sovereignty of other countries and curb
their tendency to pronounce on internal
developments in them.
They condemn interference in their internal
politics by others and even punish them for this,
but openly interfere in the internal politics of
other countries.
They should not believe that they have a
responsibility to shape them or that they have
a better idea of how other countries should be
governed, more than their elected leaders.
 Kanwal Sibbal is former Foreign Secretary
of India
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 20 WORLD Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

And the
Taika Waititi
Won: Best adapted

Oscars
screenplay for the
Nazi satire Jojo
Rabbit - an off-
the-wall drama
which makes you
laugh and wince
simultaneously as
it skates the thin
line of good taste.

Go To...
Joaquin Phoenix
Won: Best actor
for his mind-bending
performance in Joker. l Laura Dern
Won: Best supporting
actress for playing a tough-
Bong Joon-ho talking, hotshot divorce
Won: Best director lawyer in Marriage Story.
for the darkly
comic South lRenee Zellweger
Korean Won: Best actress for
social satire recreating Judy Garland's
Parasite, final run of concerts in the
which also musical biopic Judy.
won him the lBrad Pitt
coveted best Won: Best supporting actor
picture award for Once Upon A Time In
- the first time Hollywood. Pitt played Cliff
a non-English Booth, stuntman-turned-
language film has sidekick to Leonardo
done so. DiCaprio's fading TV star
Rick Dalton.

China’s coronavirus death toll

SpaceX hires ex-NASA expert,
prepares to launch astronauts

tops 1,100 as new cases fall A

head of its launch of
astronauts to the International
Space Station (ISS) aboard

T
he death toll from China’s
coronavirus epidemic
climbed past 1,100 on
Wednesday but the number of new
cases fell for a second straight day,
raising hope the outbreak could peak
later this month.
As Beijing scrambles to contain
the outbreak, the number of people
infected on a cruise ship off Japan’s
coast rose to 174 -- the biggest cluster
outside the Chinese mainland.
Another 97 people died in China,
raising the national toll to 1,113,
while more than 44,600 people have
now been infected by newly named
COVID-19 virus.
The World Health Organization
warned the virus posed a “very grave
threat”, but that there a “realistic
chance” of curbing the outbreak.
Most of the deaths and majority
of cases have been in central Hubei
province, whose capital, Wuhan, is
the epicentre of the outbreak. Some
56 million have been placed under
lockdown in the province. The
epidemic has threatened to harm the
world’s second-largest economy,
with ANZ bank warning that China’s
first-quarter GPD growth would
slow to 3.2-4.0 percent, down from
a previous projection of 5.0 percent.
But in a positive development,
the number of new cases has
fallen in Hubei for two straight
days, according to figures from
the National Health Commission.
Outside the province, the number of
new patients has declined for the past
week.
“In general, the number of new
cases is now slowly decreasing,”
Zhong Nanshan, a renowned
scientist at China’s National Health
Commission, said in a video
conference with medical staff in
Wuhan
‘Very grave threat’
“When does the turning point
occur? I can’t say. But I think it’s at
its peak in mid- to late-February,” he
said.
Australia’s chief medical officer
was more circumspect, however.
“I think we’ve just got to watch
the data very closely over the
coming weeks before we make
any predictions,” Brendan Murphy
told the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation.
In Geneva, the WHO is hosting a
two-day international conference on
combatting the virus during which it
decided to name it COVID-19 -- in
keeping with guidelines aimed at
avoiding linking disease to an animal
or a geographic location.
Warning it posed a “very grave
threat” to the world, WHO chief
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said
there was a “window of opportunity
to hit hard and stand in unison to
fight this virus in every corner”.
its Crew Dragon capsule which is
tentatively scheduled for May 7, the
Elon Musk-led SpaceX has hired a
top former human spaceflight expert,
the media reported.
In his new role, William
Gerstenmaier, the former leader
of NASA's human spaceflight
programme, is reporting to SpaceX
Vice President of mission assurance
Hans Koenigsmann, CNBC reported.
SpaceX is preparing its Crew
Dragon spacecraft to fly NASA
astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob
Behnken to and from the space
station in the first flight.
Showing off its spacecraft
SpaceX said that the Crew Dragon
was undergoing electromagnetic
interference testing in preparation of
its Demo-2 mission, which will be
the first to transport astronauts.

NASA ASTRONAUT Will sign trade deal with India if it is right: Trump

W
ell ahead of his first visit
who set female space to India, US President
Donald Trump said that

record back on Earth he is willing to sign a trade deal with

A
India if it is the right one.
stronaut Christina Koch who created a new Speaking to the media at his Oval
female record by spending 328 days in space office on Tuesday, Trump said: "I
returned to Earth after an 11-month stay on the am looking forward to the first visit
International Space Station (ISS). to India this month. They (Indians) welcome to our esteemed guests.
about the effects of long-duration spaceflight.
The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the Expedition want to do something and we'll see... This visit is a very special one and
Koch will have spanned 5,248 orbits of the Earth - a
61 Flight Engineer Koch, Soyuz Commander Alexander if we can make the right deal, (we) it will go a long way in further
Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Luca Parmitano of ESA journey of 139 million miles, roughly the equivalent will do it." cementing India-US friendship,"
(European Space Agency) reached Kazakhstan safely. of 291 round trips to the Moon. She conducted six Trump will be in India on February Modi tweeted.Sources said Trump
Koch set a new record for the longest single spaceflight spacewalks during her 11 months on orbit, spending 42 24-25 on an invitation of Prime and Modi will do a roadshow from
by a woman, eclipsing the record of 288 days set by hours and 15 minutes outside the station and witnessed Minister Narendra Modi. Ahmedabad airport and visit the
former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in 2016-17. Her the arrival of a dozen visiting vehicles and the departure Earlier in the day, sources said the Sabarmati Ashram to pay tributes to
stay is just 12 days short of all-time US record set by of another dozen. government is organising the event Mahatma Gandhi.
Scott Kelly during his one-year mission in 2015-16. "Earth is alive, and I have witnessed its power and 'Kem Chho, Trump', the Gujarati Later, Trump will inaugurate
"Having the opportunity to be up here for so long is beauty from a special vantage point 250 miles above the equivalent of the Texas event 'Howdy Ahmedabad's newly-constructed
truly an honour. Peggy is a heroine of mine and has also surface," said Koch. Modi', in Ahmedabad for President Sardar Patel Stadium with a seating
"Back on Earth I anticipate looking up and Trump and his wife Melania. capacity of over 100,000 people. The
been kind enough to mentor me through the years,
"Earth seeing the space station streak across the sky, In a tweet, Modi hinted at the 'Kem Chho, Trump' event will be
so it is a reminder to give back and to mentor
is alive, and ongoing preparations for Trump's held at the stadium.
when I get back," Koch said. wondering how my friends and colleagues
I have witnessed two-day visit. Trump is likely to sign a limited
Koch, who arrived at the space station on its power and beauty are doing up there without me. For almost
"Extremely delighted that POTUS trade deal with Modi ahead of the US
March 14, was expected to be on a typical from a special vantage 20 years humans have continuously lived Donald Trump and First Lady will Presidential election later this year.
six-month mission. NASA extended her point 250 miles above the and worked in space and the mission visit India on 24th and 25th February. He hopes to draw votes from the
stay, partly in a bid to collect more data surface continues," she added. India will accord a memorable Indian diaspora in the US.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 SPORTS 21

Keep chasing NEWS in BRIEF

your dreams, Injuries to key players allowed others
give your to step in: Williamson
N ew Zealand skipper Kane Williamson

best: Sachin
is happy that injuries to key players
gave a chance to others to shine in the ODI
series which they won 3-0 against India.

to Shafali The Kiwis completed a 3-0 sweep of

India in the ODI series with a five-wicket

I
ndia batting legend Sachin Tendulkar
told teenage sensation Shafali Verma,
whom he recently met in Melbourne, to
keep enjoying the game and give her best for
the country.
Taking to Twitter, Tendulkar wrote: "It was
nice meeting you too, Shafali. Hearing from you
on how you had travelled all the way to Lahli to see
my last Ranji Game and now seeing you play for India is
amazing. Keep chasing your dreams because dreams do
come true."
"Enjoy the game and always give your best," Sachin
advised the 16-year-old. Shafali had on Monday clicked
a picture with Tendulkar and uploaded it on social media
with a heart-warming post.
"The reason I took up this game was because of Sachin
standing record when she became the youngest Indian to
slam a half-century in international cricket as she scored a
victory in the final game, avenging their
hammering in the preceding five-match
T20 series. Williamson, who returned from
injury to lead the team in the third ODI,
said although the 50-over World Cup in
2023 is still far away, the team was in a
good space.
"That's such a long way away (the 2023 World Cup). Then you have
injuries and you bring guys in. There were some brilliant opportunities for
guys who grew throughout this campaign and played some major roles as
well. Injuries aren't ideal but there are still silver linings that guys come in
and get opportunities to develop their games against one of the best teams in
the world," Williamson said. Williamson lauded his side's effort in inflicting
on India their first ODI series whitewash since 1989.
Was waiting to meet India in U-19 WC final, says
B'desh pacer Shoriful

sir. My whole family has not just idolised but literally
worshipped him. Today is a special day for me that i got
to meet my childhood hero. It was a dream come true for
me," Shafali had written.
Last year, Shafali had broken Tendulkar's long-
U
belligerent 49-ball 73 against West Indies.
nder-19 ace pacer Shoriful Islam has said they were eagerly waiting
Shafali will now be in action at the 2020 ICC Women's
to meet India -- a team against whom Bangladesh had suffered
T20 World Cup, starting February 21 in Australia, as the
narrow defeats in the recent past.
Harmanpreet Kaur-led team launches its bid for a first
Before Sunday's World Cup final, Bangladesh had lost to India twice --
World Cup title.
once in the Asia Cup semi-final (in 2018) and the other in Asia Cup final

‘STILL GET GOOSEBUMPS’: Sachin

(in 2019).
However, they managed to finally beat the Indian colts by three wickets
(via DLS) at the Senwes Park on Sunday. Bangladesh chased down a revised
Tendulkar recalls 2011 World Cup victory target of 170 to win from 46 overs, after India were bowled out for 177.
In an interview with Bangladesh's daily The Daily Star, Shoriful said:
Carried on the shoulders of his team-mates, Sachin Tendulkar took a lap of the ground, "Actually, we lost two close matches against them in the past. One was the
after the victory was sealed in his home city of Mumbai. Asia Cup semi-final (in 2018) and the other was a (Asia Cup) final (in 2019).

T
he 2011 World Cup victory Kohli continues at No. 1 in ODIs;
still gives Master Blaster Bumrah loses top spot
I
Sachin Tendulkar the ndia captain Virat Kohli has
goosebumps as he feels the entire maintained his top spot in ODIs
incident just happened “yesterday”. while leading India pacer Jasprit
In his sixth attempt, Tendulkar – Bumrah has been displaced from the
under the captaincy of M.S. Dhoni numero uno ranking.
– finally tasted success in 2011 Kohli endured a rare lull with
when India beat Sri Lanka by six the bat garnering just 75 runs in the
wickets in a thrilling final played at three-match ODI series against New
the Wankhede on April 2. Carried "A
friend, Zealand which concluded on Tuesday
on the shoulders of his team- with India losing all the three games in
teammate, mentor
mates, Tendulkar took a lap of and icon. Let’s all a row. He is followed by Rohit Sharma
the ground, after the victory come together and vote world. The 2011 Sporting Moment 2000-2020.”   who had to miss the New Zealand
was sealed in his home city of for Sachin paaji for the Cricket World Cup Responding to him, the Master ODIs with an injury. Ross Taylor has
Mumbai. Laureus Sporting win is etched in Blaster wrote: “It is definitely a also moved upwards by a spot and is
That moment, titled ‘Carried Moment 2000- my mind like it just moment to remember Virat! Glad to currently placed at the fourth spot.
On The Shoulders Of A Nation’, 2020." happened yesterday. have a teammate & friend like you In the ICC rankings for bowlers,
is a reference to the Indian historic Still get goosebumps thinking to cherish it with. Thank you for Bumrah has been replaced by New Zealand's Trent Boult at the numero uno
win and has been shortlisted as one about that night,” Tendulkar wrote your support.”  spot. Bumrah was far from his best as despite playing in all the three games
among the five contenders for the while replying to Yuvraj who has The foundation has launched against the Black Caps, he was unable to make any impact and returned
greatest Laureus Sporting Moment urged fans to vote for the 46-year-old the Laureus Sporting Moment wicketless while going for a total of 167 runs in the 30 overs he bowled.
2000-2020 Award. Describing Tendulkar as a “friend, 2000-2020 for public voting, The Indian pacer is followed by Afghanistan's Mujeeb ur Rehman, Kagiso
And Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh teammate, mentor and icon”, current which gives fans the opportunity Rabada and Pat Cummins.
have urged fans to vote for the Team India skipper Kohli also said: to choose the winner who will be In the list of all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja has made a jump of three places
cricketing great. “A friend, teammate, mentor and announced during the Laureus World and moved to the seventh spot. Jadeja scored 63 runs in the two innings he
“Yuvi, this moment is for Team icon. Let’s all come together and Sports Awards Show in Berlin on batted in and also picked up two wickets.
India and every Indian around the vote for Sachin paaji for the Laureus February 17.

Want to finish the bout in the 1st round: Ritu Phoga

I
t took Ritu Phogat about three minutes
to open her mixed martial arts (MMA)
account in November 2019 and she doesn't
want her second fight in the One Championship
stable to last more than that.
Ritu, the third sister of the famous Phogat
family of wrestlers, will face Chinese Taipei's
Wu Chiao Chen on February 28 at the One:
King of the Jungle in Singapore.
Ritu says that her training since her previous
bout involved more focus on striking, a skill
that is completely absent in wrestling but is
integral to MMA. But she admits that her
wrestling foundation gives her an advantage.
"Yes it does help me a lot. Seven out of the
top 10 fighters in MMA are those who came
from a wrestling background. For me that is a
big benefit," Ritu said in New Delhi, where she
held her first open workout session.
A good example of what she talks about is
reigning UFC Lightweight champion Khabib
Nurmagomedov, who with 28 wins and no
losses, currently holds the longest unbeaten
streak in MMA. Khabib is someone Ritu
looks up to.
"He also tries to win matches by takedowns.
So I watch his fights a lot," she says.
She however feels that apart from learning
new skills, her training is not too different from
what she did during her brief but medal-laden
career in amateur wrestling.
"You need power, speed and endurance in
wrestling and MMA. The skills required are
different. In wrestling skills like punching
and striking are not allowed which is used in
MMA," she said.
"It is difficult to convert. But since I had the
physical fitness for it from the beginning it was
fine. The skills I learnt later."
Helping Ritu out during the open workout as
a sparring partner was her team mate from the
Singapore-based Evolve Mixed Martial Arts
Maira Mazar. The Brazilian said that Ritu has
shown considerable improvement since she
joined the MMA scene.
"When she came she only knew wrestling.
Now she knows how to many things. Her
timing is good, she knows when to perform a
takedown. Her jiu jitsu has improved a lot,"
she said.
22 FEATURES Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

Home Made
TANDOORI
CHICKEN PIZZA
INGREDIENTS:

Pizza's
2 - pizza bases, large
FOR MARINATION:

VEGETARIAN PIZZA • 4 - chicken thighs, boneless

• 2tbsp - plain yoghurt
INGREDIENTS: • 2tbsp - tandoori masala powder
Makes 2 pizzas • 1tbsp - lemon juice
FOR THE PIZZA DOUGH: • 1tsp - salt
• 1cup - warm water Pizzas are loved by everyone, as they • 2tbsp - oil
• 1tsp - sugar are the perfect blend of spicy, sweet, FOR THE PIZZA TOPPINGS:
• 1 - tomato, large
• 1tsp - dry yeast salty and smokey flavours. Making this • 1 - red capsicum
• 2tbsp - olive oil shareable feast is easy, less
• 3/4tsp - salt • 1 - red onion
• 2cups - flour
time consuming and above all kids • 1cup - pizza sauce
• Cooking spray love it. • 11/2cup - mozzarella cheese
FOR THE PIZZA • 100gm - feta cheese, crumbled
SAUCE
INGREDIENTS:
MARGHERITA PIZZA • Some tandoori masala powder to sprinkle
• Small handful fresh cilantro
• 1 - onion, small and INGREDIENTS: METHOD
chopped • 2 - pizza bases • Clean and wash the chicken thighs, then
• 1tbsp - olive oil • 1cup - pizza sauce prick it with the fork.
• 3 - garlic cloves • 11/2cup - mozzarella cheese • Whisk yogurt, tandoori masala powder,
• 1cup - canned tomatoes • 6 - basil leaves lemon juice, salt and 1 tablespoon of oil in
• 2tbsp - tomato purée • 10 - cherry tomatoes a large bowl.
• 1tsp - sugar • Add chicken thighs to the yoghurt mixture,
• 1tbsp - dried oregano mix well for the thighs to be well coated
• 1/4tsp - black pepper in the marinade, then cover and refrigerate
• 1/4tsp - salt chicken for about 2 hours or overnight if
FOR THE PIZZA TOPPING: well. possible.
• 1 - onion • Bring the whole • Meanwhile wash and slice tomato, red
• 4 - mushroom buttons thing to boil and then lower the flame, capsicum into long strips.
• 1 - red capsicum simmer uncovered, for 15 - 20 minutes or • Peel, wash and slice onion, keep aside
• 2cups - mozzarella cheese until thickens and reduced ( For a really everything for later use.
• 6 - jalapeños smooth sauce, blitz with a stick blender ). • In a large skillet, cook chicken in 1
• 8 - olives • Remove from the flame and keep aside for tablespoon of oil over medium flame for
• 1tbsp - chilli flakes later use. 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink. Once
• 1tbsp - oregano • Preheat oven to 180 degree C. cooked, shred the chicken and keep aside.
METHOD FOR THE PIZZA DOUGH • Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. • Preheat oven to 180 degree C.
• Add warm water in a medium bowl, mix TO ASSEMBLE THE PIZZA: • Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
sugar with the fork and then mix yeast; let • Peel, wash and slice onion; wash and slice • Place pizza base on top of each prepared
stand until bubbly for about 5 minutes. mushrooms and capsicum. Keep them aside. trays, spread the pizza sauce generously and
• Add oil and salt to the yeast, mix and then • Knead the dough again and divide it into evenly.
add flour; knead for 5 - 8 minutes until 2 parts. Roll dough into 25cm rounds and METHOD • Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly on both
smooth and soft dough is formed (Dough place pizza base on prepared trays ( Make • Preheat oven to 180 degree c. the pizzas.
can also be made in a dough mixer; using the sure the edges of the pizzas are thicker then • Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. • Top with red capsicum, tomatoes, onions
mixing paddle attachment, mix in the flour, the centre ). • Place pizza base on top of each prepared and shredded chicken.
salt and olive oil on low speed for a minute. • Prick centre of the dough with the fork. trays and then spread the pizza sauce • Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and tandoori
• Then replace the mixing paddle with the • Spread pizza sauce evenly onto the pizzas. generously and evenly. masala powder, then slide the pizza into the
dough hook attachment, knead the pizza • Sprinkle cheese followed by sliced onions, • Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly on both oven; bake for 10 to 15 minutes (depending
dough along with yeast mix on low to mushrooms, capsicums and jalapeño. on the size of the pizza), until the dough
the pizzas.
medium speed for about 7-10 minutes). • Top with olives, chilli flakes and oregano. looks golden and the toppings are hot.
• Cut cherry tomatoes into halves and then
• Spread a thin layer of olive oil over the • Bake both the pizzas for 15 to 20 minutes • Take the pizza out of the oven and scatter the
spread them evenly on both the pizzas
inside of a large bowl and place pizza dough or until pizzas are golden and crisp on base. fresh cilantro on top.
followed by basil leaves.
in a oiled bowl, then with your hand spread • Slice hot pizza and serve immediately. • Repeat with the second pizza.
• Bake the pizza for 10 - 15 minutes,
olive oil all over the dough (Dough should Tip; Its always good to prepare the pizza dough • Slice and serve hot.
a night before as it benefits from a slow rise of depending on the size of the pizza.
be well coated with the olive oil). • Tip; if you are using frozen pizza base, all
• Cover the dough with a tea towel or cling the dough in the fridge. • Slice and serve. you have to do is to defrost it first.
wrap and place it in a warm place to rise • Cover leftover pizza tightly and store in the
until doubled in bulk (It can take for about 2 refrigerator.
hours or more to ferment ). • Reheat as you prefer. Baked pizza slices can
METHOD FOR THE PIZZA SAUCE; be frozen up to 3 months.
• Peel, wash and chop onion. • Always start assembling your pizza with the
• Heat oil in a saucepan over a low flame, then pizza sauce and then a thin layer of cheese
add onions and fry gently for 3 - 5 minutes or as it helps the toppings to stick.
until the onions has softened and is turning • To make this pizza healthier one can add
translucent. more vegetables according to the choice of
• Mince the garlic and then add it to the onion; their kids.
fry for another 1 minute. • Pizza sauce keeps well in the fridge for 1
• Add tomatoes and tomato purée along with week or longer if stored in a container in the
sugar, oregano, black pepper and salt, mix freezer.
 Inviting nominations for
The guidelines, which need to be adhered to, for
nominations, are as follows:

The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2020

1. The nominee needs to have an undisputable

2. Should be nominated by a person of repute. Further,

the nominee.
3. The nominator has to provide their full contact
details. No anonymous applications will
be accepted.
4.
business, sports, art, culture, or any other
profession).
5.

Indian origin, from any part of the world, who has

settled here in New Zealand. To be of Indian origin,
at least one of the parents of the nominee have to
be Indian, by blood, thereby making the nominee
of Indian lineage.
6. The nominee must have either a Permanent
‘The Indian Weekender Honours’ recognises individuals who have built a road to Residency (PR), or Citizenship of New Zealand to
be eligible for consideration.
glory for themselves and left a path for the coming generations to tread on; who
7. The nominee should have no prior convictions.
have touched the lives of thousands and enriched the society with their being; 8. For minors, under the age of 18, parental consent
who have brought fame and respect to New Zealand and the Kiwi-Indian community. will be required.
The Indian Weekender invites nominations for such personalities from the 9. The successful candidate will be required to attend
community for getting inducted into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2020. the ceremony in person. In case a person is not able
to attend, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the
We also invite nominations for Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the Year jury will use its discretion.
and Kiwi Indian Community Service Exellence Award 2020. 10.
Nominate Online: visit www.halloffame.co.nz cannot be challenged.
Post your nominations: Fill this form and post it to the address given below.

ENTRY FORM: Nomination form for The Indian Weekender Honours 2020 | Please fill and post it to the address below

Nominator Details Nominee Details About the Nominee

Name of the nominator Name of the nominee

For how long have you known the nominee?

Please state your reasons for nominating the above person. You may mention the
achievements of the nominee in his/her profession.
Professional details of the nominator Age of nominee

Gender M F

Address & Contact number of nominator Address & Contact number of nominee

How according to you has the Nominee brought fame and respect to the Kiwi-Indian
Category Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame community? (Add extra sheets to this form, if required)
Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the year (16 to 35 years only)

Kiwi Indian Community Service Excellence Award

Declaration by Nominator
Nominee has accepted to appear in person
for the ceremony, if he/she gets chosen
the nominee for this application. for the nominated category for Kiwi Indian
Honours 2020.
Yes No
Yes No

I hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge. I also
allow The Indian Weekender and the Jury to use the information provided for background
checks and to contact either me or the nominee for the purpose of getting any
What to do next?
Please take a print out of this form, sign (Add extra pages to this form if required.)
more information.
and send / or email at: For details contact Indian Weekender on
Jury Panel, Kiwi Indian Honours 2019 09-217 3623 or go to:
Level1,133A Onehunga Mall, www.indianweekender.co.nz
Signed: Date: Auckland 1061 halloffame@indianweekender.co.nz
 24 FEATURES
VALENTINE'S DAY Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

ADIDAS

gift ideas for him and her

The best Valentine's Day gifts are
ADICROSS CLASSIC
GOLF SHOES
If you’re finding it
increasingly difficult to
thoughtful presents that will make the support your other half on
special person in your life smile. the green whilst he's wearing
garish trousers and sweater
vests, it's time to take action.

GUCCI BLOOM EAU DE PARFUM

Take advantage of Walmart's Winter Beauty
Savings event, where premium beauty brands
are up to 50% off! Inspired by a garden of
flowers, Gucci Bloom smells of jasmine
and natural tuberose and is housed in a cool
minimalist pink bottle.

WAX AND OILS SOY WAX

If you’re in the mood to keep it simple and classy,
FITBIT CHARGE 3 SPECIAL EDITION
Did you as a couple resolve to get fit and active
in 2019? Give your other half a helping hand
of motivation to up their activity with the Fitbit
LOVEPOP LOVE BIRDS
Charge 3. This is a great gift for someone who
POP-UP CARD is serious about their fitness, whether they
Love takes flight with this treasured design. Send
already are a regular exerciser, or are serious
this precious Love Birds card to your other half,
about getting serious.
letting them know how much you care. It's the most
memorable way to say “you make my heart soar!”
AROMATHERAPY SCENTED
CANDLES
you can never go wrong with a nice smelling
candle. For extra points, light it before she gets
home, so she’s greeted with a lovely scent.
VICTORINOX’S ALLIANCE XS
IN TWO-TONE WATCH
Whether she prefers gold or silver, this
two-tone watch will satisfy all of her
style needs. Victorinox’s Alliance XS is
a timeless and feminine design crafted in
stainless steel. Notable inclusions are its
Swarovski crystals set on the mother-of-
pearl dial and Super Luminova on dots
and hands for easy readability.

Tiny Heart DEF LEPPARD 'POUR SOME

Huggy 14-karat SUGAR ON ME' NECKLACE
gold enamel This gold-plated necklace features a 1" heart pendant
inscribed with Def Leppard’s logo on the back and the
hoop earring title of their 1987 hit song “Pour Some Sugar on Me”
A subtle nod to your on the front. Buy it for your Valentine … in the name of
warm and fuzzy love.
feelings.

Engraved Wooden
Docking Station Dior Miss Dior: Rose N’Roses
Keep all of his day-to-day essentials
Valentine’s Day in a bottle. It has a lovely silver
— gadgets, keys, wallet, glasses,
bow on the bottle, sweetly pink colour and a
watch, and so on — neat and tidy
really lovely rose scent. One of the nicest recent
in this nightstand-worthy docking
Dior fragrances.
station. To customize, pick from one PANTHÈRE SQUARE-FRAME GOLD-
of eight wood shades PLATED SUNGLASSES Yves
and add his A square-frame pair of sunglasses that look Saint Laurent
name, initials, especially flattering on anyone with a heart or oval- Volupte Plump-in-
or monogram. shaped face. Timeless, just like your love. Colour Lipstick
A YSL lipstick is one Valentine’s Day
present you can’t go wrong with. So get
your loved-one a heart (in a lipstick).
This high-end lipstick is infused with
peppermint oil and it will plump up
her lips, while the high-shine
formula provides great colour
pay-off.

Temperature Control
Smart Mug Ember QuietComfort 35 II Headphones
With this battery-powered mug, he can sip These wireless headphones are an investment
his morning coffee at his own speed without
for sure, but he'll think of you every time
compromising taste. He can even figure out the
he wears them. Along with their incredible
perfect temperature for his taste buds — somewhere
sound quality, the cushioned ears are
between 120ºF - 145ºF — and control the
comfortable enough for him to wear all day
temperature of the mug through an app, so he won't
have to settle for lukewarm coffee. long.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 TIME OUT 25
CROSSWORD NO: 46 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTIONS

SUDOKU NO: 45

HITORI NO: 46
Hitori – a logic puzzle with very simple rules and challenging solutions. Can you eliminate
numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or column? Objective / Rules. Eliminate
numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or column. Eliminate numbers
by marking them in Black. You are not allowed to have two Black squares touching
horizontally or vertically (diagonally is ok). Any White square can be reached from any
other (i.e. they are connected).
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE NO: 46
See how many differences you can find in the right or left photo.
1. In the song “Frosty the Snowman,” what made Frosty
come to life? An old silk hat
2. What Christmas decoration was originally made from
strands of silver? Tinsel
3. Who played George Bailey in the Christmas classic
“It’s a Wonderful Life?” Jimmy Stewart
4. Per a recent holiday fad, what “spy” hides around
the house, reporting back to Santa on who has been
naughty and nice? The Elf on the Shelf
5. What Christmas beverage is also known as “milk
punch?” Eggnog
6. One of Santa’s reindeer shares a name with a famous
symbol of Valentine’s Day. Which reindeer is that?
Cupid
7. What Christmas-themed ballet premiered in Saint
Petersburg, Russia in 1892? The Nutcracker
8. In 1981, Bob and Doug McKenzie released their own
version of a classic Christmas song. Which song is
that? The Twelve Days of Christmas
9. What animated 2004 film is about a train that carries
kids to the North Pole on Christmas Eve? The Polar
Express
10. What much-reviled Christmas edible is known for its
long shelf life? Fruitcake
11. In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” what was
Mr. Scrooge’s first name? Ebenezer
12. What Bing Crosby song is the best-selling single ever?
White Christmas
13. In the early 1800s, the first gingerbread houses were
reportedly inspired by what famous fairy tale? Hansel
and Gretel
14. “Miracle on 34th Street” centers on what real-life
department store? Macy’s
15. In the song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,”
what “incriminating” evidence was found on
Grandma’s back? Claus marks
16. How many reindeer are featured in the poem “Twas the
Night Before Christmas?” Eight (no Rudolph!)
17. What traditional Christmas decoration is actually a
parasitic plant? Mistletoe
18. In “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” who played
Scrooge? Hint: It wasn’t a muppet. Michael Caine
19. What beverage company has been using Santa Claus in
its advertising since 1931? Coca-Cola
20. According to legend, what holiday goodies were
shaped to resemble a shepherd’s staff, as a way to
remind children of the shepherds who visited baby
Jesus? Candy canes
21. In the movie “A Christmas Story,” what was the
name of the next door neighbors whose dogs ate the
Christmas turkey? The Bumpuses
22. What figure from English folklore came to be
associated with Santa Claus? Father Christmas
23. In the 1964 classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer,” what was the name of Rudolph’s faithful
elf companion? Hermey
24. According to the folklore of Austria and other
countries, what horned figure punishes naughty
children at Christmastime? Krampus
25. In the TV special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,”
what three words best describe the Grinch? Stink,
stank, stunk
26. What well-known Christmas carol became the first
song ever broadcast from space in 1965? Jingle Bells

Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their
photographs for this page. E-mail us at reporter@indianweekender.co.nz
 26 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

IWK’s #JoshMob garners thousands of eyeballs

at Eden Park Stadium
E
den Park in Auckland hosted two T20Is the Indian fans encapsulating their vigour for
and an ODI between Black Caps and the matches.
India in the last week of January and “The concept behind the performance was
the first week of February. The three matches to start dancing in the middle of the audience
saw one dance group consistently performing randomly, thereby, surprising the spectators
and entertaining the crowd at the stadium, The around and creating a synergy for the fans
Indian Weekender’s #JoshMob, a group of ahead of the matches,” Charu and Harsha from
23 adept professional dancers performing at Grandiose: The Creative Company said.
different sites of the venue. "Some of our friends from India took pictures
The performance was brought to the public of their TV screens and sent to us showing our
by The Indian Weekender in collaboration with performance from the stadium, which is we can
Grandiose: The Creative Company who formed say one of the biggest highlights for our dance
a group of 25 passionate dancers performing on group,” the duo added.
a medley of high-octane Bollywood numbers. The names of the 23 dancers from the Indian
The group presented flash mob performances Weekender’s #JoshMob are:
on Friday, January 24 and Sunday, January 26 l Charu Chutani, Harsha Prakash, Arti
on the concourse as the gates opened for the Kaushik, Chetna Guleria, Deep, Farhein
public and before the matches and during the Akmal, Madhavi, Manish Chinagundi,
innings break. Navjeet Singh, Pooja, Ritu Anand, Shaira
The highlight of several flash mobs over the Kiran, Shraddha, Sneha Rao, Sukhmani,
three days of the matches was the performance Vikram Patil, Viraj Lamba, Vishnu Asok,
on Saturday, February 8 on the cricket ground Ritika Kpaoor, Athulya Mohan, Mrunal
in front of the Indian ‘Fan Zone’ while both Mangaonkar, Puru Bakshi and Arshiya
the teams prepared for the big match in the
background. A brief about Grandiose:
The performance on the ground arrested the The Creative Company
attention of thousands of spectators some of
whom watched the live screening on the big H arsha and Charu are two creatively
passionate individuals who
professionally trained in various dance forms
are
LED screens inside the stadium, concourse
TVs, and a part of the performance was also like Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, Kathak,
captured and telecasted live on Star Sports who Kuchipudi, Kathakali, different folk styles
were the official broadcasters of the tournament. and Indian contemporary. They co-founded
The group had been strenuously practising Grandiose: The Creative Company to create
for the event for the last two months. It gave a aesthetic experiences to celebrate Indian
series of performances each day, thus, grabbing cultural magnificence weaving innovation in
the eyeballs of hundreds of spectators on the tradition.
concourse, some of whom followed the Josh “We are storytellers of the modern world,
(the contagious energy) and joined the dancers exploring the deeper connection to our roots.
amid the performances. Our pieces are created with a lot of professional
Clad in White T-Shirt with The Indian dedication, intense passion and relentless
Weekender logos, the group vowed the handwork”.
audience not just with their dance moves but Follow the dance company on Facebook:
also with the amount of energy it created for facebook.com/pg/grandiosetcc.
Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and
fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is
available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact
14 February – 20 February 2020 | By Manisha Koushik at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +91-9716145644 • www.askmanisha.com
ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20) LEO (JUL21-AUG 20) SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)
You may get a lot of importance from someone who Someone is out to spoil your fun on the social If you get the chance to improve upon something,
simply adores you. A planned vacation is likely to front, so tackle him or her in a tactful way. You do so. Professional front may become too
get underway and promises an exciting time. You may not be in the mood to take up any important competitive for you to hold your own, so brace
are likely to get your due on the academic front. issue at work. Tough competition on the academic for an adverse phase. Some businesspersons
Your efficiency and hard work may come in for front may appear intimidating for some. Delay may find their cash flow become a trickle on the
praise at work. A long-term romance shows all in receiving payment may prevent you from financial front. An ailment or a lifestyle disease
signs of ending in holy matrimony. Your showing interest in sharing settling your outstanding bills. You are likely to may become serious through sheer neglect. Guard
someone’s burden will win you the brownie points. Health remains overstretch yourself on the health front and need against overconfidence on the academic front. Someone is likely to
excellent. Lucky No.: 2 / Lucky Colour: Grey to take it easy. Lucky No.: 2 / Lucky Colour: Purple waste your time on the social front, so play smart. Lucky No.: 4 /
Lucky Colour: Brown
TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20) VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)
Take your time in completing a given task to avoid The picture on the career front that has been hazy CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)
mistakes. Things may start moving to your liking till now will become clearer now. Help for clearing You may need to get a clearer picture before going
on the academic front. A social gathering is on the all pending work will be at hand on the home ahead with the changes contemplated. A lucrative
cards and will provide you a chance to interact with front. A big break will make your fortunes soar deal comes your way. Making money on the side
someone important. You will find your romantic on the professional front. A new source of income is possible and it promises to keep the financial
may start adding to your wealth. Consider your front stable. A health initiative taken by you will
mood infectious, so get set for a scintillating
commuting problems over, as you find a decent keep you in a fit state. Those constructing a house
evening! Someone expects you to extend a helping hand with regard
alternative. You are likely to fare well in an exam or competition on the or an office will near completion without a hitch.
to commuting. Money offered may not be returned, so take your call.
academic front. Lucky No.: 5 / Lucky Colour: Yellow Someone you dislike is likely to undermine your reputation on the
Lucky No.: 7 / Lucky Colour: Silver
social front. Lucky No.: 3 / Lucky Colour: Parrot Green
LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)
Spouse may burden you with additional work. Meeting an old friend AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)
You will manage to complete everything that you
is on the cards for some. Your ideas on the There is much that needs to be done, so tighten
have set out for. Shifting focus on weak areas on
professional front are likely to contribute to your belt. Some honour is likely to be bestowed
the academic front will prove most beneficial in the
organisational efficiency. You reap immense upon you in a social event. A venture shows signs
long run. You may once again enjoy being under benefits, just by keeping pace with others on of turning into a cash cow. Cupid smiles on those
the spotlight on the social front. Bonding with the academic front. Previous investments may looking for love on the romantic front. Eating right
partner gets strengthened, as there is much give and start giving good returns. Your resolve to lead and remaining active will keep you on the go. You
take. Ready money may not be available, but you will manage things a healthy life may find you enrolling in a gym. will need to curb your argumentative nature, as
admirably. An alternative medicine is likely to work wonders for your Don’t take risks on the road, as stars appear someone important may get offended on the professional front. Lucky
ailment. Lucky No.: 8 / Lucky Colour: Orange unfavourable. Lucky No.: 6 / Lucky Colour: Navy Blue No.: 5 / Lucky Colour: Chocolate
CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20) SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22) Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
If you don’t keep in touch, you are certain to be Things may not go the way you anticipated. A You can expect a relaxing time in this week. This
side-lined. Official travel may increase and upset negative person may put you off at work. Falling is a good time to get rid of clutter and let good
your routine, but the returns will be good. You foul of someone important on the academic front vibes percolate at home and at workplace. Don’t
may be taken for a ride by others at work, if you is possible. A bash with friends may lead you to get discouraged by someone’s attitude, get your
don’t become assertive. Don’t leave anything half excesses. Things may not look promising on the doubts cleared any which way on the academic
done on the academic front, as it can haunt you financial front. Prospects of a better job are set front. Start conserving money now, if you want
later. Impulsiveness can make you lose money. Tensions on the home to brighten. You are likely to remain sincere in to go in for a major purchase. Paperwork for a
front cannot be ruled out. Health remains okay. Lucky No.: 9 / Lucky workouts and reap rich benefits on the health front. Tend to you love property deal is likely to get completed soon and bring your dream
Colour: Navy Blue life. Lucky No.: 1 / Lucky Colour: Rust home within your grasp. Lucky No.: 7 / Lucky Colour: Red
 The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 FEATURES 27

SAMSUNG unveils Galaxy S20

series, Ultra to sport 16GB RAM
I
ntroducing its first full 5G flagship lineup,
Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled
Galaxy S20 series - with S20 Ultra variant
with a massive 16GB RAM - that comes with
a brand new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven
camera architecture, superfast charging and 8K
video shooting.
Galaxy S20 comes in Cosmic Grey, Cloud
Blue, Cloud Pink colours; Galaxy S20+ comes
in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cosmic Black
and Galaxy S20 Ultra comes in Cosmic Grey,
Cosmic Black colours.
The Galaxy S20 series comes with a 25W
fast charger (S20 Ultra supports 45W superfast
charging). S20 houses 4000mAh battery, S20+
has 4,500mAh battery while Ultra has a huge
5,000mAh battery.
The entire series is equipped with massive
storage as standard -- S20 in 128GB variant
LTE version with 8GB variant while S20+ and
S20 Ultra in in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
variants.
"As all three Galaxy S20 variants come with
5G connectivity, Samsung is providing a next-
generation device for transforming people's
lives. With an incredible, AI powered camera,
you can capture the moments as they happen
and connect more seamlessly with the people
you love," said Dr TM Roh, President and Head
of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung
Electronics.
The Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra
are the first devices able to power new mobile
experiences that take advantage of both sub-6
and mmWave technologies while Galaxy S20
supports sub-6 technology.
All three devices are capable of delivering
non-standalone and standalone 5G capabilities,
said the company.
S20 and S20+ have a triple camera system at
The selfie-camera is now contained in a small
central hole in the screen
the rear with main 64MP camera and a 10MP
selfie shooter while S20 Ultra has main 108MP
camera and 40MP front camera.
The S20 Ultra takes things a step further with
the option to shift dynamically between a high
resolution 108MP mode and a 12MP mode,
thanks to "nona-binning" technology which
combines nine pixels into one at the sensor
level.
The devices have groundbreaking zoom
capability. The users will be able to use up to
30X zoom on the Galaxy S20 and S20+ and
can experience Super Resolution Zoom up to
100X with a clearer view ever than before on
S20 Ultra.
Owing to its AI camera technologies, the
Galaxy S20 can capture a number of photos and
videos, such as Live focus, cropped, Ultra Wide
and more that captures your moment the best.
The Galaxy S20 offers 8K video shooting.
When you are done shooting, you can stream
video to a Samsung QLED 8K TV.
Samsung said it has partnered with YouTube
so you can upload your 8K videos directly to
YouTube.
"Netflix and Samsung are working together
to put the Galaxy S20 in the hands of renowned
directors to capture bonus content based on
popular Netflix Originals," said the company.
The Galaxy S20 series takes mobile gaming
to the next level. With a 120Hz display, the users
will have the ability to experience incredibly
smooth gaming.
Samsung will partner Microsoft later to
launch its popular Forza Street in the Galaxy
Store, marking the first time the game is coming
to mobile.
The company also showcased new Galaxy
Buds+, that has sound by AKG and features
2-way speakers, 3 mics for unparalleled sound
and voice quality; and up to 11 hour long battery
along with an extra 11 hours in the case. Buds+
app, aGalaxy Buds+', is now iOS compatible.

Samsung launches world's first foldable glass phone: All details

Samsung has launched its second foldable phone,
Galaxy Z Flip. The key highlight of Galaxy Z Fip is its
bendable glass as It is for the first time that a brand
has used thin bendable glass in a phone. The Galaxy is
also the first foldable phone from Samsung to feature
a clamshell design. The device takes on the new Moto
Razr foldable phone and will bring back memories of
style associated with flip phones.
For the first time in mobile phones, Samsung The thin glass layer in Galaxy Z Flip prevents
has used thin glass over a flexible display the crease from appearing more prominent
The Galaxy Z Flip features Samsung’s proprietary
Like we have seen in the Galaxy Fold, the plastic screen
bendable Ultra Thin Glass (UTG). This glass layer
tends to develop a crease at the place where it folds
makes the device look sturdy and the screen less
giving an ugly look. Having a glass layer on the screen
delicate. Also, repairing the display becomes easier
prevents this crease (due to the fold) from appearing
as for deep scratches, just changing the glass layer
more prominent.
instead of the entire display will do.

There is a small cover display with which

you can change music, click selfies when the
Galaxy Z Flip is folded
There is a small cover display on the outside which
measures 1.06-inch. You can use that small touch
Galaxy Z Flip is likely to be priced lower than Samsung’s first folding phone Galaxy Fold
Samsung is expected to launch the device in India as well, having said that there is no official date yet. The device
display to change music, click selfies when the Galaxy
is priced at $1,380 in the US. As far as the price in India is concerned, the Z Flip is expected to cost less than
Z Flip is folded. You can get notifications as well on the
Galaxy Fold’s price tag of Rs 1,64,990.
cover display when the device is folded.
 28 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender The Indian Weekender Friday, February 14, 2020 ENTERTAINMENT 29

SRIDEVI’S biographer: Wanted Kajol says she knows Padman

to know many things about her
A
uthor Satyarth Nayak, who
has penned the biography
Sridevi: The Eternal Screen
Goddess, says he had too many
questions in his mind about the
late legendary superstar, adding
that her sudden demise broke
him so badly that he wanted
to give up the idea of writing
the book
Asked if he would have
preferred an insightful
conversation before writing
the biography, as he was
appalled that there is no
good book on his favourite
superstar Sridevi, Nayak said:
“That was the original plan.
In 2017, after I was sanctioned
by Penguin Random House, I
had word with Boney (Kapoor)
sir and Sridevi ji. She said that she
was quite occupied with (daughter)
Janhvi’s debut. Around that time Janhvi
had signed Dhadak. Sridevi ji said that
once the film was released, she would be free
and we could down for the book.”
That was not to be. The actress passed away
on February 24, 2018.
“I was shattered. I was emotionally broken
removed
three sides of Ajay Devgn: people’s
hesitation in
and told myself I can’t do this anymore. I
wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know so many
as an actress, can only wonder, but in the rest
of my book, I have paid tribute to her,” said I married all three of them’ using ‘pad’
T
things about her. There was a list of questions the author. here’s a certain freshness and versions of him were created in front of me. We’ve been
in my mind but now these questions would
remain unanswered,” said Nayak.
While it is easy to assume that, like any other
average fan, Nayak liked the dazzling smile,
credibility  Kajol  brings to every
role she does, which is why even
married for 20 years, which is a long time. When I married
him, he wasn’t a producer then, at least not to this extent. word: R. Balki
T
However, according to the author, Sridevi’s dancing skill and screen presence of Sridevi, after almost 30 years in Bollywood, she One of your most popular films, My Name Is Khan he National Award winning
husband Boney Kapoor and the publishing the author shared his reasons for admiring still manages to surprise everyone. Her marks 10 years of it’s release. How important a film Padman completed two
house of the book encouraged him to the actress: “It is so much easy these latest release, the epic  Tanhaji: The Unsung film would you call it in your filmography? years of its release, and its
"She
get over the shock, and Nayak went days to talk about pay disparity, Warrior, with husband Ajay Devgn, has left I’ve never done films according to whether they worked director R. Balki is super proud to be
brought back
on to interview around 70 actors substantial roles for women in everyone astounded by it’s performance. for me on my resume or not. It’s a fantastic memory, and associated with such crucial project,
the glorious days of
to get material for a tribute to his cinema and so on. It has so far cruised past Rs 250 crores in I had a great time doing it. I remember the moment Karan which is based on Arunachalam
fifties and sixties when
favourite actress. Sridevi, at the top of her India alone! We get talking to the 45-year (Johar; director) narrated the script to me, and both of us Muruganantham, a small town
women used to get meaty
So, what were the questions game in the eighties and the old actor about starting off 2020 with a bang, were sitting and discussing it at my house. ‘We’re going to entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, who
roles. Most interestingly,
Nayak wanted to ask Sridevi? “I nineties, dealt with misogyny, and her film My Name Is Khan completing do this, go here, this is what the film eventually will look invented low-cost sanitary napkins to
she has done it all
think an artist of her calibre could patriarchy in the film industry, a decade of its release.Were you sure that like’ — we were straightaway thinking about all this. So, I generate awareness in rural areas.
in a commercial
have avoided some of the film that and how. Tanhaji would do such big numbers have many precious memories. “Padman was possibly one of the
space."
she did in the nineties. I know that in She was one of those successful even before the release? Karan has always joked that you falling down on
most special films. It is the world’s
some of her interviews she said that she was heroines who stood her ground on You can never be sure of any film. I think his film’s sets is lucky for him…
first mainstream feature film to tackle
not getting her choice of roles. I wanted to getting substantial parts in film instead of just it’d be overconfidence on our part if we And it happened with this one too, and nobody came
menstrual hygiene. The biggest
know, why did she not explore arthouse cinema an elementary presence that was the common assumed that all the films we made with all forward to help me, because as I fell down, everyone was
laughing and congratulating each other. I want to put this service the film did was to make the
at that point of time and work with filmmakers practice of that era. our heart and soul will do well. Of course, we
hope and pray that they do. Thank God, he out there — I was sitting on the steps all by myself after word ‘pad’ a lot more easy for people
like Govind Nihalani and Shyam Benegal? We “In a film like Chaalbaaz, two heroes like
answered our prayers! falling down, and after five minutes, Mickey (Contractor, to say. It’s proven research that the
could have seen a different side of Sridevi in Rajnikanth and Sunny Deol were supporting
such films,” he replied. actors and in the poster, her picture was bigger. Your portrayal of Savitribai was lauded by make-up artist) was like ‘Baby, I’ll help you’. I replied film is one of the biggest contributors
Like most of her fans, even Satyarth liked She brought back the glorious days of fifties the audience and critics. What’s been the best ‘Don’t you think that it’s nasty, that for five minutes you in creating menstrual hygiene
Sridevi in films such as Solva Sawan, Mr. India, and sixties when women used to get meaty compliment so far? The fact that people stayed all were clapping your hands while I fell down on my butt?’ awareness in India.
Sadma, Chandni, Nagina and Himmatwala. roles. back till the end titles were rolling! That was the The film was so unlike the previous films you, “Even the government has
“But I also wanted to ask why she acted "Most interestingly, she has done it all in a biggest one I got, without anybody saying a single Karan, and Shah Rukh Khan had done, like Kuch taken a lot of initiatives after the
in a film like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. commercial space. She was a female superstar word. The nicest one on the other hand was when Kuch Hota Hai, K3G. Were there apprehensions in film’s release. Sanitary napkins’
However, a person like me, who admired her by all means,” pointed out the author. the audience in a multiplex stood up at the end and that sense? manufacturers were provided with
said Bharat Mata Ki Jai. I loved the fact that I was at Not at all, all three of us think the "I’ve

Smriti Irani lauds Thappad:

land and machines. I thank Mr.

KRITI SANON on juggling same in a weird way. Maybe not never done
least in a film that had that reaction. Muruganantham to bring such a big
films according
Your husband also produced the film. How exactly the same. We all laid change in the country,” Balki said
to whether they

Not ok to hit a woman multiple films: ‘Don’t

different is Ajay the husband from Ajay the down to it, and didn’t think our worked for me on my Released in February 2018,
co-star and producer? viewpoints differed too much. resume or not. It’s a PadMan featured Akshay Kumar,

think there’s anything

(laughs) I actually know all three versions of him, Karan is so good at telling what he fantastic memory, and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Radhika

U
nion Minister of Women "It’s not ok to hit a woman... not and I married all three of them. He’s not too different wants done, we’re all on the same I had a great time Apte in the lead roles. It was backed
page when we get down to work. doing it."
called ‘overexposing’
and Child Development even a slap... not even JUST one from how I imagined him to be. In fact, all three by Akshay’s wife and author Twinkle
Smriti Irani has given a slap.” Khanna.
Madhuri was my best student: Subhash Ghai AAMIR KHAN: our recent history. A story

K F
shout-out to Bollywood actress Thappad takes a serious look riti Sanon is among the busiest actors today in that needs to be told.”
Taapsee Pannu’s upcoming film at the issue of domestic violence, Bollywood. In 2020, while on one hand she has
ilmmaker Subhash Ghai says ‘Shikara’ a story that The film is set against the
Tahira Kashyap in awe of
Thappad and said that it is not ok with particular focus on how the biggie Bachchan Pandey opposite Akshay
actress Madhuri Dixit Nene
needs to be told Neena Gupta

F
backdrop of the Kashmiri

to hit a woman not even one slap.
Irani took to Instagram, where
she shared the trailer of the film,
directed by Anubhav Sinha.
The politician wrote alongside
the video: “How many have heard
“aurat ko hi adjust karna padta
hai...” How many think “ki maar
pitai sirf gareeb auraton ke hi pati
karte hai...” How many believe "ki
educated aadmi kabhi haath nahi
uthata...” How many tell their girls
their daughter in laws “koi baat
nahi beta aisa to humare saath bhi
hua lekin dekho aaj kitne khush
Shah Rukh Khan reveals two Oscar-winning films
hai...”
“I might not support
the political ideology of
the director or may disagree with
some actors on some issues but
this is a story that I will definitely
watch and hope people watch it
with their families.
B
violent behaviour is was his best student ever. ilmmaker Tahira Kashyap
Kumar, she is also doing Mimi, where she leads the ollywood superstar Pandits’ exodus from the
ground for divorce, He admitted this at an interaction is all set to come up with a
show, playing the protagonist. Aamir Khan has Kashmir Valley in late 1989
irrespective of the with students of his film school short film titled Pinni, and she
Compare that to 2019, when she had three films in wished good luck and early 1990, in the wake
number of times it Whistling Woods International, is completely in awe of the veteran
leading roles — Luka Chuppi, Arjun Patiala and to filmmaker Vidhu Vinod of violence targeted against
happens. Simply where Madhuri was a guest. actress Neena Gupta who plays the
Hosuefull 4, apart from special appearances in Chopra for his latest release them.
put, even if it is The actress, who had made her lead role in the project.
Pati, Patni Aur Woh and Kalank! “Shikara” and said that it is
just one slap, it debut in Bollywood with the 1984
Doesn’t she fear getting overexposed? “I don’t a story that needs to be told.
counts as domestic filom, “Abodh”, has worked in Ghai said. Madhuri had taken to social
think there’s anything called ‘overexposing’”, pat comes Aamir took to Twitter on
violence. blockbusters such as “Ram Lakhan” media to post a photo with the
the reply from the 29-year old, “You are an actor, and Friday to convey his feelings
The film also features (1989) and “Khalnayak” (1993). director. She captioned it: “Interacting
you are meant to perform. You should do as much work and shared the link to the
Pavail Gulati, Dia Mirza, “She is one of the best actors we with the students, @SubhashGhai1ji
as you can, which is physically possible. I never think film’s trailer.
Ratna Pathak Shah, Tanvi Azmi, have in the industry, and today I am and @meghnaghaipuri was just
of that!” He wrote: “Wishing you
Kumud Mishra and Manav so proud of her achievements. Today spectacular... There’s so much to
What she also believes in is not doing something all the very best Vinod!
Kaul. It is slated to release on she runs an online dancing school learn from them. Thank you @
just for the sake of not sitting idle. “I don’t want to do ‘Shikara’ is a film about one
February 28. and I run an international school in whistlingwoods for inviting me to be
something just to fill my three months 'oh khaali hain of the most tragic events in
filmmaking and allied courses,” he a part of your stellar event.”
toh kar leti hoon’.
Alia and Ranbir to get married in December?
The reason should be right -- why you are doing "It was a big

that have inspired him to make ‘great cinema’ a film. It should come from within. In my career I
have taken that step when I did something because
learning experience working with
Neenaji. She is an amazing actor.

A A
ctor Shah Rukh Khan in
a recent interaction has
revealed the two Oscar-
winning films that he says inspired
him to make great cinema. In a
video shared by a fan club, Shah
Rukh was asked to name his latest
favourite movie.
He said that a film that has
inspired him recently is Bong Joon-
ho’s  Parasite, which on Monday
won four Oscars, including Best
Picture, Best Director, Best
Original Screenplay and Best
International Film.
“It’s an amazing coincidence,”
Shah Rukh says in the video,
perhaps alluding to the film’s
sweeping Oscars performance. He
said that while he wouldn’t call it
an all-time great -- he reserved that
distinction for Sholay and Dirty
Harry – he was greatly inspired by
it.
Shah Rukh also said that he
loved  Joker, the dark comic book
film which won actor Joaquin
Phoenix his first Oscar.
This isn’t the first time SRK has
praised either Joker or Parasite. On
October 8, the actor was asked to
comment on Joker on Twitter, to
which he replied, “So well nuanced.
So felt...quietly screaming...” On
October 31, Shah Rukh wrote
that he watched Parasite at the
insistence of his kids. “Just saw
Parasite the South Korean movie
on my kids recommendation.
What a delightfully discomforting
film. A bizarre look at social status,
the state of the world...and the
parasitic nature of the Materialistic
Hope we all feed and live off!!” he
raved.
Meanwhile, the actor has yet to
announce his next film, after the
critical and commercial failure
of Zero. He is said to be juggling
multiple options, including a film
by Raj and DK, a long-gestating
project from Rajkumar Hirani,
and a collaboration with south
filmmaker Atlee.
I was free. lia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have never expensive films ever made in Bollywood. She has been in the industry for such
It doesn’t turn out right. It’s better to sit at been very open about discussing their Rumours of the wedding have been keeping a long time and it feels amazing to
home than do something which you are not reported relationship in the media, but the film press busy for a while now. However, see the kind of roles she has done in
fully involved in,” says Kriti. fans have always been curious for updates. there have been no confirmation from either her career.
She gets all excited when you ask her The latest unconfirmed reports on the star so far. And now she has brought more
about headlining Mimi, for which she has Bollywood couple suggest they are looking Rather, asked about the wedding plans of to the character of Sudha in my film
also put on 15 kgs to play her character. forward to locking a wedding date the star couple, Alia’s mother, actress Soni Pinni," Tahira said.
“I am very happy,” she says, “But it’s also in December. The buzz has Razdan, said a while back: “It is a totally Tahira shared the film's poster
a bit of a responsibility on your shoulder. I feel reportedly been triggered off baseless rumour.”
on her Instagram account, in which
I am ready for carrying an entire film, and think by an article in Open magazine. However, many feel it could finally be
Neena Gupta is seen standing in front
so is my audience. happening this time.
“Alia and Ranbir Kapoor are set to tie of boxes filled with pinni (a popular
Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) changed things for Most speculations have been boosted by
the knot in December this year, not long Punjabi sweet).
me. People started looking at me as an actor the fact that Alia was recently spotted at the
after the release of Brahmastra on the "My obsession with food
seriously, they appreciated my performance. wedding reception party of Armaan Jain,
4th of that month,” said the article by continues! After #toffee comes
It was a big deal for me. When Luka Ranbir’s first cousin.
film critic and entertainment journalist Also, when Ranbir’s father, veteran actor #pinni along with some bitter,
Chuppi did well, I felt my You
Rajeev Masand. Rishi Kapoor, was hospitalised in Delhi last sweet calories. It's been a 2 year gap
thinking is resonating are an actor,
“Brahmastra” is Ayan Mukerji’s ambitious week, she flew in to be with the family. between these two but I was busy
with the audience. and you are meant to
superhero film that unites Ranbir and Alia An ndtv.com report said preparations for saving my ass, and someone tells me
They liked what I
perform. You should do on the screen for the first time, and it also The film has been scheduled to release on that was a better proposition and I
liked, and hopefully, the December wedding has already started in
as much work as you can, stars Amitabh Bachchan in a pivotal role December 4, after being postponed in the past. the Bhatt and Kapoor households. Relatives agree," Tahira added.
that continues!”
which is physically along with Mouni Roy, Dimple Kapadia and Brahmastra is the first of a planned trilogy of the two stars have reportedly been told Pinni will release on
possible. " Nagarjuna. and is rumoured to be one of the most about the wedding date. February 19.
30 FEATURES Friday, February 14, 2020 The Indian Weekender

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We work till the end to let
you travel for the cheapest!
Our fares are the best on the
shelf, making the customers
come back to us for their trip
bookings.
We are here and ready to help
you 365-days per year and
24-hours per day. There are
many ways to reach us, our
toll-free number 09 973 1940
is one of them.
Over the last 5 years, we have
worked to bridge every gap
between the customer and us.
Their trust and loyalty are a
true reflection of our efforts.
With three fully functional and
established offices in Australia,
New Zealand and UK, we
constantly add more airlines
and flight connections for our
prestigious customers.

Budget-Friendly Travel Deals

Return fares starting from

Australia $399* Singapore $945* USA $977*

Fiji $597* India $965* Bangladesh $1086*
Nepal $907* Malaysia $966* UK $1291*
Thailand $944* Sri Lanka $973* Europe $1360*
Departures Date: March 2020 Onward | Inclusive of all Taxes*, Available Until Sold Out (T&C apply*)

Enjoy interest free option with GEM VISA CARD

In case you require any further information, you may call our 24/7 Customer Care

09 973 1940
www.manntravel.co.nz
WE ARE Experience sales consultant required for Papatoetoe Branch.
HIRING Email your CV at info@manntravel.co.nz