22 DECEMBER2017 | Vol 9 Issue 40

Bhakti Patel Elim Church Farhan Akhtar:

wins 4 golds at the hosts Christmas for Influence of
National Para-athletic Tamil community women in any
Championship field is good
Pg 10 Pg 28
Pg 8
www.iwk.nz /indianweekender /indianweekender

RECAP 2017
 Time
Fresh to vote.
Policies to:
2 NEW ZEALAND . Saturday
. . Feb
25 Put more community
Friday, December 22, 2017
Build affordable
The Indian Weekender
Get young people

Politicians who made the headlines in 2017

¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH
police on the streets houses for
families
into jobs, education
and training

T
his is the time of the year The Indian Weekender
when commentators have
to analyse and comment
on what they think has made the
has come up with its
headlines in the year 2017.
This is something that readers
list of politicians, which
also look forward to as it gives
them the opportunity to revisit it sincerely believes
their memory lanes on what
made the headlines in the year. were able to make the
In search of novelty, in this
special year-end issue, The headlines in 2017 and
Indian Weekender has chosen
to comment on some politicians
and not the politician of the year
are illustrated in no 022 6855 788
jacinda@jacinda.co.nz
instead of political events that Jacinda Ardern At that time I had to think
our editorial team believes made
particular order. www.jacinda.co.nz
/jacindaardern
transformed from very carefully as we were
the headlines in 2017. @jacindaardern
Anyway, in most of the cases, being just a List MP to only two months away
most entertainment, or be the greatest media
it is the political ingenuity of our politicians, becoming the youngest from the election and my
or not, and their choices of actions that add favourite, or some of the more ardent politics
watchers would argue between politicians who ever PrimeMichael Wood
Minister ofMP first Andrew
and foremost
Little MP priority
significance to any event. Spokesperson for
For example, it was Andrew Little who have made a real and constructive contribution NZ in an awe-inspiring was toLabour
ensure that the
Leader
to improving governance or enhancing the Ethnic Communities
demonstrated political dexterity and courage political story. party was successful.
Authorised by Andrew Kirton, 160 Willis Street, W

to act in a manner earlier this year that conduct of public affairs.

transformed an otherwise seemingly trivial In most cases, it is a mix of everything above.
Following this cue, The Indian Weekender
Labour’s Ethnic Communities
Jacinda_advert.indd 2 9/02/17
event -- a political poll showing Labour Party
trailing poorly -- which otherwise could have has come up with its list of politicians, which OutreachAndrew
TeamLittle

A
possibly escaped public attention, or at worst, it sincerely believes were able to make the inMichael.Wood@parliament.govt.nz
NZ politics, popular support among New
ndrew Little was indeed another politician
certain miscalculated choices would have headlines in 2017 and are illustrated in no Zealanders, and the adulating media attention
ethnic.communities@parliament.govt.nz who made the headlines this year.
altogether different outcomes. particular order. received throughout the year.
Firstly for making a Trump-like provocative
Indeed, politicians play an important role in However,
85 GraftonTheRd,
Indian NZwill
Weekender
Auckland 1010resist statement that the Labour Party would be
Jacinda Ardern this temptation.

U
determining our collective destiny and deserve ndoubtedly, no list of politicians making
a ritualistic year-end guard of honour, if that’s
headlines in 2017 would be complete
appropriate to phrase it like that.
without a mention of Prime Minister Jacinda
One major challenge in this ritualistic year-
Ardern.
end commentary is the line of analysis to follow.
In fact, there would be an inherent temptation
Sometimes choices are between politicians
to declare Ms Ardern as ‘the politician of the
who have made the most noise, provided the
year’ purely because of her meteoritic rise
09 373 3332 cutting immigration numbers in the range of
To repeat the hugely transformational
20-30,000 sending shock waves -- a stand that
journey of Ms Ardern from being an obscure
has since been either watered down or carefully
List MP of the Labour Party at the beginning
reworded and repackaged by the party in a
of the year to become the youngest ever Prime
manner to appear less spine-chilling.
Minister of NZ here, would be mundane and
Secondly, for his gut-wrenching call of
therefore boring.
abdicating party leadership in favour of Jacinda

Under Copered Showroom

In-house Finance Facility
Personal & Business Vehicle Finance
High Grade Imports
Odometer Certified
Serviced & Groomed
Trade-Ins Welcome
Pre-order and Save $$$
Purchase with complete confidence
Drive for Life Mobility with Comfort

Ravi Kumar
Director
M: 021 0298 3339

4B Freeman Way, Off Cavendish Drive, Manukau City. P: 09 263 9255 E:info@jsrlife.co.nz
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017
Ardern in the wake of abysmal ratings in the
polls – a decision that indeed changed the
course of NZ politics and brought the Labour
Party back in power after nine years of oblivion.
The Indian Weekender was privileged to be
the first media outlet of any kind, ethnic or
mainstream, where Mr Little shared details
of those gut-wrenching moments just before
offering to resign as the Party Leader.
“This is not the interview I have given to
anyone before.
“So you might be the first,” Mr Little told
The Indian Weekender in an exclusive interview
on September 13, ten days before the election.
“We got the information about low polls.
“At that time I had to think very carefully
as we were only two months away from the
election and my first and foremost priority was
to ensure that the party was successful.
“I had an event to do in North Shore on
Monday night. I went there and spoke with few
colleagues and staffs, and on Tuesday morning
I made the decision that Jacinda would have a
better chance to boost the Party’s rating and to
get us over the line.
“On Tuesday morning I made the
announcement, and as they say, the rest
is history,” Mr Little had told The Indian
Weekender.
Bill English
F
ormer Prime Minister Bill English led
the National Party to what could be
convincingly described as a stellar electoral
performance for a party seeking a fourth
successive term in parliament.
The party returned to a record 46 per cent
votes on the election night and emerged as the
largest party in the parliament.
It was only when the results from special
votes were included in that the party’s share
was downsized, though the party remained the
single largest party in the parliament.
Then came the change of the government
Massive reductions on womenswear, menswear, footwear & more!
Your nearest NZSALE store: blog.nzsale.co.nz/stores/yes-serious/
*not in conjunction with any other offer, excludes sale items. Sale is for a limited time or while stocks last.
Mr English had delivered
one of the powerful one-
liner statements in one of
the live leaders’ debates
before the elections when
he roared, “I rose up
again."
courtesy Winston Peters’ last-
minute choice of Labour Party
over them after a protracted
coalition negotiation.
The Party was eventually
thrown into the opposition
after three successive terms
but was surely in much
better shape than any other
party previously dethroned
from the government.
There were no leadership
coups, clashes of egos, or the
fragmentation of ideas shaping the
direction of the party in the new parliament
as one would normally expect from a party
7 STORES AUCKLAND WIDE
NEW ZEALAND 3
History has been both kind and tough on Bill
English.
Very seldom does someone gets a shot
at party leadership and therefore at Prime
Minister-ship twice in one life.
In that respect, indeed life has been kind and
generous on Mr English.
However, the stroke of luck does not take
away the credit from Mr English for displaying
resilience of the highest order and delivering
when given an opportunity again.
Mr English had delivered one of the powerful
one-liner statements in one of the live leaders’
debates before the elections when he roared, “I
rose up again,” (after the drubbing of 2002 as
the then National leader), for which he deserves
Winston certainly lived a chance to be included in this prestigious list.
up to his reputation of
Winston Peters
being a kingmaker and
deserves a place in any
list of politicians making
W inston Peters’ inclusion in this list which
The Indian Weekender is choosing to
refer as illustrious, is purely because of his
the headlines in 2017. style-quotient in handling the immense political
power handed over to him by the MMP system
based electoral process.
When the opportunity came for being at
the centre of media attention, the man did not
deprived of political power
disappoint anyone.
This recently.
The manner in which he made everyone
publication The transition from
from who’s who of national politics, to media
was privileged to the government to the
broadcasters and journalists to the common
be the first media outlet opposition was smooth
and flawless, albeit it citizenry of the country wait for him and his
of any kind, ethnic or
remains to be seen for call on coalition forming has indeed an element
mainstream, where Mr Little of swagger in it.
how long this will be
shared details of those gut- You can have your opinions on the manner
the case.
wrenching moments just This is no mean Mr Peters exercised disproportionate power
before offering to resign achievement in itself, just after elections, but you cannot disagree on
as the Party especially for a politician the swagger and the style of this politician.
Leader... who had a go at the party He certainly lived up to his reputation of
leadership a decade ago, being a kingmaker and deserves a place in any
leading the party than to one of list of politicians making the headline in 2017.
its worst electoral drubbing, resulting in an In fact, he was solely the maker of one of the
unceremonious exit from the position. biggest headlines of the year.
 4 NEW ZEALAND
Kiwi-Indian politicians making headlines
Priyanca Radhakrishnan
P riyanca Radhakrishnan made headlines
throughout this year for several reasons,
including for being nominated at a much higher
rank in the Labour Party list to eventually
becoming the first India-born Labour MP in the
parliament.
However, one another reason for which she
singularly deserves a place in this list for this
year is her stellar electoral performance on
September 23 – the day when the nation went
to the polls.
It was her performance in the electorate
Maungakiekie that attracted a lot of attention,
where she was able to give a close fight to
National’s Denise Lee, who eventually won by
a comparatively narrow margin of 1943 votes.
At one stage during the counting of votes,
Ms Radhakrishnan was tantalisingly close to
creating the history and become the first Kiwi-
Indian electorate MP.
Eventually that did not happen. However,
given the fact that Kiwi-Indian MPs have yet
not been able to come so close to winning an
electorate, it was a significant feat.
There might be a suggestion in some quarters
that her electoral performance might have been
augmented by the pre-election Jacinda wave
that many experts believed was instrumental in
turning Labour’s fortune on the election night.
However, that takes nothing away from Ms
Radhakrishnan. Her electoral performance
gained much public and media attention.
On a different note, she was in the headlines
again a bit later when she was mugged in
broad daylight in the downtown Auckland,
giving her a firsthand taste of what many in our
communities experience on a day-to-day basis.
Possibly, giving her a cue on what needed
her urgent attention in parliament as a Kiwi-
Indian MP.
WE ARE WINNING ACCOLADES
• IMMIGRATION LAW • CRIMINAL LAW • FAMILY LAW • EMPLOYMENT LAW • PROPERTY LAW • WILLS & TRUSTS
Raj and Ashima Singh
• 31, East Tamaki Road, Level–1 Papatoetoe, Auckland.Ph: +64 9 2799439 | 02102417161 | Fax: +64 9 2799419
• PO BOX 23445, Hunters Corner, Papatoetoe, Auckland. 2025 (Above Bank Of India) | www.legalassociates.co.nz
CONTACT US AT: RAJ:raj@legalassociates.co.nz / ASHIMA: ashima@legalassociates.co.nz
Priyanca Radhakrishnan
For now, she can very well rest on laurels of
what she has achieved in 2017.
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi
N ational List MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi,
the first Kiwi-Indian MP in NZ had gone
back to parliament for a record fourth term.
Once again no mean achievement in itself.
However, it was his appointment as
Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) at the
beginning of this year, which made the most
noise and attracted media and public attention.
In an announcement made by then Prime
Minister Bill English, Mr Bakshi was appointed
as Parliamentary Private Secretary to assist
Minister of Police Paula Bennett.
In this role, it is believed that Mr Bakshi
played an important role in impressing upon the
Police Minister and the government about the
need for urgent action on law and order, crime
and robberies.
Mr Bakshi rightly deserves some share of the
credit for the then government’s announcement
of $1.8 million package for dairy security
measures in June this year.
The initiative sought co-funding security
measures such as security alarms, time-safe,
Winner of the Best Employer of choice and the Best Medium-sized
Business, Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2017
Winner of the Best Businesswoman of the year,
Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2016
Friday, December 22, 2017
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi
fog cannon among others for about 600 dairies
identified at high risk.
From a Kiwi-Indian perspective, any
efforts leading to safety, security and robbery
prevention especially for our small business
owners are always welcome and much
appreciated.
Dr Parmjeet Parmar
N ational Party List MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar
entered the parliament for the second
time this year.
No mean feat in itself, however, Dr Parmjeet
Parmar was in the headlines for another reason
as well – her private member bill was first pulled
out from the ballot and then recently managed
to pass the first reading in the parliament.
Dr Parmar’s bill is seeking all infants to be
enrolled in a GP’s practice before they are six
weeks old.
It is important to note that the fact that an MP
has created and introduced a private member
bill in parliament is in itself a statement on their
activism within the parliament.
Usually, a member is required to create
a clear and well-defined proposal for a bill,
setting out what the bill will entail and what it
intends to achieve.
LEGAL CLINIC
FREE 2-hour legal consultation.
Saturday - 10 am to 12 pm
The Indian Weekender
Dr Parmjeet Parmar
For the bill to progress further it must then
be selected for introduction to the House and
set down on the Order Paper. This is achieved
through one of two methods: either by
being selected via the ballot system or being
introduced by leave. The most common method
is through the ballot system.
In Dr Parmar’s case, the bill was first
picked out of ballot in May, and then later in
mid-December passed its first reading in the
parliament.
If it becomes law, then it would be first such
law based on a bill initiated by a Kiwi-Indian
MP in the New Zealand parliament.
To be fair to the other Kiwi-Indian MP
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, who was first to
introduce a private member bill titled – Kirpan
Authorisation Bill – which is still waiting to be
picked from the ballot in the parliament.
The process of introducing a private member
bill is dependent on an element of luck as the
bill can only progress in parliament if it is
picked out of the ballot.
However, from a Kiwi-Indian perspective, it
is an important moment to cherish and celebrate
the progress of Dr Parmar’s private bill in
the parliament.
* Terms & conditions apply
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017 NEW ZEALAND 5

What an eventful year it was!

¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

T
here had been a constant
decline in the number of Dabangg-
A R Rahman
The Tour
Bollywood celebrities
visiting New Zealand for stage
shows and concerts in last few years.
But 2017 was a complete
compensation for all those years-
from AR Rahman to Salman Khan,
and Sonakshi Sinha, some of
the top Bollywood stars visiting
Auckland this year, it was literally an
eventful year.
As we get ready to welcome
another eventful year, let’s Jonita
take a quick look at events that Gandhi
highlighted 2017.

Dabangg-The Tour: Bipasha Basu Prabhudeva

April 21
T he year started with the biggest-
ever Bollywood show in New
Zealand--Dabangg The Tour. Led
by superstar Salman Khan, the show
featured some of the top Bollywood
artists including Sonakshi Sinha, Benny Dayal
Bipasha Basu, Prabhu Deva, Badshah and Neeti
and Daisy Shah. It was like watching Mohan

an award show such as IIFA (but sans

awards) live.
The event was the biggest
Bollywood show in NZ in many
ways- the biggest production, the
biggest-star cast, biggest audience,
the biggest crew for and the highest
sales. The audience was overall
happy with the show because unlike
in previous shows, they could see the
lead star Salman Khan perform for a
long-enough time.
Most of the stars were performing
in NZ for the first time and the show
was a full-house. It was undoubtedly
the biggest highlight of the year for
NZ Bollywood lovers.The show
was organised by RS Promotions,
Auckland.
The Indian Weekender got a
chance to talk to Khan during the
tour. You can watch it here: http://bit.
C ertainly, the biggest Indian
musician of this century, the
legendary composer A.R. Rahman
ly/2COsRzk visited the country for the first time.
It was a dream-come-true for his
AR Rahman’s thousands of fans living in New
Yesterday, today, Zealand.
He led a team of singers/musicians
tomorrow: October 6 which included- Neeti Mohan, Jonita
Gandhi, Benny Dayal, Haricharan,
Ranjit Barrot and Mohini Dey. And
believe me, each one of them was a
real gem. I could listen to them entire
day.
While the general response of
the audience was that of loving the
concert, the show was criticized by
some for having more Tamil songs

27th to 31st
December 2017
1st & 2nd
January 2018
For more information
and to book your
tickets visit
our website:
 6 NEW ZEALAND Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

over Hindi. But honestly, I felt no back home but the show could
difference. I don’t understand any not garner much audience here in
south Indian language but I enjoyed Auckland. Rahat Fateh Alka Yagnik
those songs equally. Ali Khan and Sharvan
The Mozart of Madras, the Oscar- Jasmine
winning music composer celebrated
25-years of his music through his
Sandlas-
world-tour concert- Yesterday, Today, Amrit Maan:
Tomorrow. The show was organised September 29
TWhilehecame
by Polux Media Ltd., India.
We got an opportunity to talk to the
Punjabi singer duo also
legend who is a man of a few words. to Auckland this year.
You can watch the entire interview Amrit Maan had performed
here: http://bit.ly/2z6mkh6 here before as well, it was the first
time for Jasmine Sandlas here.
Rahat Fateh Ali The show was high on energy
and good in audience
Khan: August 12 numbers.
R ahat Fateh Ali Khan performed
in Auckland this year for ‘The
Tribute Tour’ in remembrance of his Punjabi
uncle and legendary musician Ustad
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Virsa: August 19
The popularity of the artist could
be determined from the fact that the
show was sold out at least a week
P unjabi Virsa returned after two
years. The concert-franchise
of the musician Waris brothers-
before the show. The concert was Manmohan Waris, Kamal Heer and
organised by Aaria Events, NZ and Sangtar has been quite popular with Alka Yagnik
Neha Kakkar
was well worth the money. the NRI audience. And it was evident
and Sharvan

this year too as it was a nearly

Satinder Sartaaj:
September 22
S atinder Sartaaj tours NZ almost
every year and is appreciated for
the quality of his music and poetry.
Even though this year was not a full
house, but the audience appreciated
the show equally as the quality was
up to the par.
Neha Kakkar: July 28
houseful show.
Alka Yagnik:
September 30
A
ucklanders were in for a
nostalgic evening when the
melody queen of Bollywood Alka
Yagnik came down-under and
performed with renowned music
composer Sharavan of Nadeem-

L ooks like it was the year of firsts. Shravan fame. The show was loved Waris
Kakkar siblings- Sonu, Neha by the audience who came in good Brothers at Satinder
Punjabi Virsa
and Tony also visited NZ for the first numbers to watch their favourite Sartaaj

time. The artists are quite popular superstars.

No. 1
in Quality

Wholesalers - Retailers - Direct Importers

Christmas and new year special
Farm Fresh milk 2Lts
2 for (Limit 4 per person)
$4*

*conditions apply.
Offer only at
& Happy New Year Papatoetoe branch

286 Great South Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Ph: 09 277 9596

5/2 Bishop Dunn Place, Botany, Next to Mitre 10. Ph: 09 274 3747
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017 NEW ZEALAND 7

Kiwi Indian Hall of and devoted to their mother-land

India. The Indian High Commission
Fame: June 8 should truly be commended for

A mong non-commercial events, making all these efforts for us to stay

the highlight was the Kiwi connected with our roots.
Indian Hall of Fame- The Indian
Weekender’s signature event and Auckland Diwali
biggest formal event of the Indian Festival/Mr &
community. The event was much
grander and bigger this year with
Ms Diwali: 15-16
crème de la crème of New Zealand Kiwi Indian
Chief October
L
guests at
attending the gala night. Hall of Fame
Kiwi Indian ast but certainly not the least, the
While the chief guests for the
2017
Hall of Fame Auckland Diwali Festival—the
winners
event were the then Prime Minister 2017 largest informal event in the Indian
community—was even bigger this
Bill English and Union Minister of year. The number of attendees rose
State for External Affairs Gen VK to twice than last year reaching
Singh, the touch of Bollywood added up to 60k visitors. From food to
that extra effect to the event when entertainment and culture, the two-
heartthrob singer-composer duo day extravaganza never fails to
disappoint.
Armaan and Amaal Malik performed This year’s Indian Weekender
at the show. The comedian Amit Mr & Ms Diwali contest saw some
Tandon was the emcee of the event. great talents and the best amongst
Former Mayor of them emerged winners. This year’s
Dunedin Sukhi winners were Anchal Marwah
Turner was
Amit Auckland Museum lit up in Indian flag colours (Mr Diwali) and Sonia Mehta (Ms
inducted into Tandon Show: indeed a proud moment for every
Diwali).
the Hall June 10 Indian living in Auckland seeing the
of Fame,
T
Auckland Museum lit up in Indian
his show was an unexpected
while flag colours. It was so good to see
blockbuster. The stand-up comedy show
Thakor
featuring Indian comedian Amit Tandon, was
India that at an event that was planned and Mr & Miss
Prabhu announced less than a week before
probably the first of its kind in Auckland. The show @70: the event, saw a huge gathering who
Diwali 2017
a n d winners

Shail
was sold-out a week before. August were all there to celebrate the spirit
The entertainment level was also higher than of India and ‘Indianism’.
Kaushal
expected. It was a true laughter-riot as the
15 and The I-day celebrations were
were the
winners
audience seen laughing throughout the show. 19 extended with another event on

I
The show was organised by The Indian the weekend on August 19 where
o f t was a
Weekender and Humm Fm. two performing arts groups visited
Community historic from India. Dwi music band and
S e r v i c e moment when the Dhwani dance group reflected the
E x c e l l e n c e Indian Independence Day Indian colours through their dance
and Young Achiever, was celebrated in Auckland on and music, while local performance
respectively. such a large scale by illuminating an groups were symbolic of that fact that
iconic monument in tri-colour. It was NRIs are equally passionate about
 8 NEW ZEALAND
Owairaka post shop
owner protests
outside parliament
¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH
T
he Kiwibank franchise owner Bhaskar
Desai, in a last-ditch effort to save his
business, held a protest in front of New
Zealand parliament on Thursday, December 21.
The embattled owner of the Owairaka
Postshop is refusing to give up even with one
day remaining before the deadline given by the
Kiwibank finishes on Friday, December 22.
Speaking exclusively to The Indian
Weekender, on Wednesday, December 20, Mr
Desai declared his intention to not surrender
and carry his fight against the “ivory tower
walls” of the Kiwibank till the last day and even
beyond.
“I am willing to fight until the last day and
even beyond if needed,” Mr Desai said.
The Owairaka Postshop was served a 30 days
closing down notice on November 22 citing
‘safety risk for staff and public,’ – an injunction
that has been widely criticised, including
by local MP Michael Wood, Small Business
Minister Stuart Nash and the Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern.
Prime Minister Ardern had assured The
Indian Weekender that she would be looking
into the matter, and following which local MP
Michael Wood had met with the representatives
of Kiwibank at his office in Wellington.
Speaking with The Indian Weekender then,
Mr Wood had boldly asserted that “I think they
[Kiwibank] have got it completely wrong and I
am encouraging them to review their position
and revoke the decision to walk away from the
Postshop.”
The ideal venue for your next party or event
Birthday Party Cruises, Fishing Charters, Riverhead
Tavern Cruises, Island Day Trips & More...
Bhaskar Desai
Since then shop owner Mr Desai had the
opportunity of meeting with representatives
of Kiwibank – a meeting that according to Mr
Desai was “prejudice-free.”
“We were able to discuss and propose several
alternative arrangements to the Kiwibank
representatives.
“We were told that the bank representatives
would be coming back to us in the next 2-3
days,” Mr Desai told The Indian Weekender.
“The closed-door meeting was held on
Thursday, December 14, and till date [Thursday,
December 20] I have not heard anything from
them,” Mr Desai further added.
“I am suspecting that probably their
representatives are expecting the deadline to
pass,” Mr Desai said anxiously.
However, Mr Desai is refusing to give
up and have planned to protest before the
parliament and hand over a petition of 2000
customers gathered in the last three weeks to
the government.
Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender
14-year old Indian girl wins
four gold at National Para-
athletic Championship
¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
1
4-year-old Bhakti Patel from Auckland has
wowed the community by winning four
gold medals at New Zealand Secondary
Schools Athletics Championship held in
Hastings earlier this month.
Bhakti participated in the junior girls’
category and won four gold medals in 100m,
200m, shot put and discus throw. Bhakti falls
in the T39 disability sports classification and
participated in the running and shot put and
discus competitions.
Bhakti’s coach Pawan Marhas who is the
founder CEO of AMMI School of Sports &
Fitness in Auckland praised the spirit and
Bhakti Patel with her medals
fitness of Bhakti Patel stating the 14-year old
is ‘unstoppable’.
from her love for athletics. Bhakti practised her
Bhakti underwent 90 minutes of practice
sports at Lovelock track at Wesley Community
sessions thrice a week and had joined the fitness
Centre in Mt Roskill, Lynfield College in
club just a few months ago.
Lynfield, Mt Smart Stadium, Messi Park in
“Bhakti practices very hard so that she can
Papakura and Otara Parafit Gym in Auckland.
prepare for regional and national level athletic
“We have encouraged her to follow her love
competitions. Just before the competition, she
for sports, whatever possible and that does not
would plead to train for extra hours,” coach
deteriorate her health,” Bhakti's mother Priti
Marhas told The Indian Weekender.
Patel told The Indian Weekender.
Bhakti suffered a stroke at a tender age of
“Bhakti gets customised training at our
17-months and has been struggling with a
institute considering her medical records
medical condition called ‘Moyamoya NF1’.
and disabilities. She is a determined young
The symptom of this condition is that it slows
sports person and has the ability to represent
down the body process, the brain cells swell
the country in international events such as
up, and it affects the blood vessels, muscles
Paralympics, world para athletic championships
and bones. Bhakti suffers from right-side
etc.,” Ms Marhas added.
hemiplegia, which means she has trouble
“Since I started training with coach Pawan, I
moving the right limbs of her body.
feel I can achieve something big in athletics,”
Over the years Bhakti has improved her
Bhakti said.
condition, but her disability never stopped her
NEEDS
YOU!
Work for Lifestyle, Security, Success and Fulfilment
Area available throughout Auckland
From $16,500 + equipment
Pay For Work Guarantee of $1,500 per week*
Phone
NOW 0800 4546 546
www.jimsmowingauckland.com
Gold Award 2013
for Franchisor Support
Gold Award 2014
for Franchisor Support
Gold Award 2015
for Franchisor Support
*Conditions Apply
JOIN OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS TODAY!
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017 NEW ZEALAND 9

Tips for staying safe over the holidays

¡¡ IWK BUREAU

P Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

eople are more likely to
fall and injure themselves
during the summer months.
That’s because most of us
take our main holidays over the
Christmas and New Year period,
when we tend to spend more time
at home, and often take on DIY and
gardening projects.
With that in mind, here are some
tips for staying safe …
Christmas at home
• Use a step ladder to hang decorations, not a
chair … or worse still, a chair on a table.
• Check that Christmas lights are in good
working condition … before you hang
them up
• If you’re putting lights up outside, make sure
you use a Residual Current Device (RCD).
• Ensure your Christmas tree has a sturdy base
to stop it toppling over
• If your tree has lights, run the power cord to
it along the wall, not across the floor
• Remember some guests may be unfamiliar
with your house, so:
• Reduce trip hazards by removing loose rugs,
small items of furniture, toys, mattresses, etc.
• The kitchen is always busy – keep cupboard
doors closed.
• Wipe up spills as soon as they happen.
• Point out hazards that you may be familiar
with, but which could trip up visitors, such as
single steps between rooms.
• Make sure visitors know where the light
switches are if they get up in the night, or
leave a hall light on for them.
National List MP based in
Manukau East
If you’re drinking alcohol
• Remember: The more you drink, the greater
Happy New Year!
the risk of injury.
• Set a limit on your drinking and stick to it. Parliament Buildings, Wellington
• Eat substantial food, and pace yourself with Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe 2025 Auckland
water or other non-alcoholic drinks.
Look after your mates.
E Bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz
Keeping active
P 04 8179303 • 09 278 9302
• Warm up and cool down before and after
physical activity. F 9 278 2143
• If returning to activity after a break, gradually
build up your activity levels.
• Keep well hydrated.
DIY
• Be realistic about your ability – if you can’t
do it, get an expert.
• Use a safe, stable ladder – always keep three
points of contact, e.g. two feet and one hand,
and don’t over-reach sideways.
• Make sure you know how to use hire
equipment.
• Wear appropriate protection, such as closed
shoes, ear muffs, safety glasses and face
masks, as necessary. Funded by Parliamentary Service and
authorised by Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP,

• Keep pets out from under people’s feet – • Plan your schedule so you’re not rushing to 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland.

every year a significant number are injured get the job finished at the end of the day when
tripping over cats and dogs. you’re tired and more likely to slip up.

We help you find the sweetest

mortgage deal whether it’s your
first home or investment property,
Venu
and arrange the best insurance to Mortgage Adviser
Sunil
Mortgage Adviser
Bahadur
Insurance Adviser
Vikram
Mortgage Adviser
Farea
Mortgage Adviser
suit your needs. 021 030 2409 027 533 7745 027 530 9399 027 397 0776 027 534 9394
venu@squirrel.co.nz sunil@squirrel.co.nz bahadur@squirrel.co.nz vikram@squirrel.co.nz farea@squirrel.co.nz

$ Mortgage Services Risk Insurances

Home loans Life, Trauma

Investment property loans TPD, Income Protection

Renovation & construction Mortgage Repayment Call us today

Refinancing Redundancy 0800 21 22 23
Fasttrack Repayment Plan (restructure) New to Business & Business
Continuity Covers
Top ups & consolidation of debts Level 1, 3/53 Cavendish Drive
Key Person Cover Manukau
Commercial property loans
Medical/Health
New Zealand
Business loans
 10 NEW ZEALAND Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

Indian family injured in Elim Church host

South Island road accident Christmas for
¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
Tamil community Six of the nine people injured are still

A
head-on crash between two cars in Dunedin Hospital receiving treatment
on SH1 in Maheno, a small while three were discharged on Monday. Performers at Elim Church Christmas celebrations
township of North Otago, south All six patients are in a stable condition,
of Oamaru, has left nine people with a hospital spokesperson confirmed to
serious to moderate injuries.  the media.
Amongst the injured is an Indian family One person, who was in intensive
residing in Christchurch -- Sam Vikram care, was transferred to a general
Konda, his wife Shweta Devaputra, their ward, a Southern District Health
two children one aged seven-years and the Board spokeswoman said on Tuesday,
other, a seven-month-old baby. December 19.
The accident happened on Sunday, The New Zealand Telugu Association
December 17, at the intersection of (NZTA) has appealed the community ¡¡ IWK BUREAU
members to contribute to help the family

SH1 and Maheno-Kakanui Rd near the
Kakanui River bridge at about 6 p.m.
when a red Toyota car carrying three
people and a Mitsubishi people-mover
carrying a family had a head-on crash.
Nine ambulances and three Westpac
Rescue choppers flew to the accident
scene, and all nine injured were taken to
Dunedin hospital.
The driver of the Toyota car, a 42-year
old Waimate woman received serious
injuries and her passengers — a 1-year-
old baby and a 16-year-old — received
moderate injuries.
The occupants of the Mitsubishi car
were trapped inside the mangled vehicle
and were let out by the firefighters using
jaws of life.
The car also had Indian woman Shweta
Devaputra’s sister Sheetal Devaputra and
father Sukumar Devaputra who had just
come two weeks ago from India for a
holiday with the family.
A file photo of Shweta Devaputra and her son
According to community sources, Sam
Konda received fractures in the left-hand
right leg and may have to undergo surgery.
Sam’s wife injured her leg and received
minor scars on her face. The couple’s
seven-year-old son received severe head
injuries and dislocated his right leg.
Their seven-month-old baby boy escaped
unharmed miraculously.
Shweta’s visiting sister received
minor injuries, but their father Sukumar
Devaputra suffered a massive blow to
his chest, possible broken ribs and other
minor injuries on his body. Mr Sukumar is
diabetic, has high blood pressure and has
undergone bypass surgery in the past.
The family hails from the state of
Hyderabad in India and Sam has been
living in New Zealand for the last
four years.
recover from this devastating accident.
Speaking exclusively to The Indian
Weekender, Dharmendra Alle, president
of NZTA appealed the community for its
generous help as the visiting family are on
a visitor visa and might not be eligible for
the public funded medical facility.
“It is sad to see the family going through
so much pain. People who wish to help
the family can contribute to New Zealand
Telugu Association’s (NZTA’s) bank
account and the fund will be forwarded to
Sam Konda’s family,” Mr Alle, appealed
via The Indian Weekender.
Ramesh Shampuri, a local of the region
has taken the seven-month-old baby
with him to his house, and the baby is
being taken care of by his family, NZTA
president told The Indian Weekender.
Anyone wishing to contribute, please
contact New Zealand Telugu Association
on  0212663666 or check their Facebook
page for bank account details.
T
he Tamil Wing of Elim Christian Centre hosted
Christmas celebration for the community on Saturday,
December 16, at the Mt Albert Memorial Hall.
More than 450 people attended the event, majority of whom
were Tamil speaking people from across Auckland.
The event showcased the story of Christmas in Tamil
language through a variety of programmes including skits,
dances and songs by the children and youth of the ministry.
“It’s great to be able to come along today and be part of
this fantastic celebration. I have never witnessed such a great
event among Tamil speaking communities here in Auckland,”
one of the visitors at the event said.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other
Tamil speaking people around Auckland,” said another.
Viki Vignarajah, Pastor of the ministry, highlighted
the importance of such community-focused events and
commended the guests for their attendance, volunteers for
their time and sponsors for their support.
The event concluded with an Indian style dinner for all
the visitors.

HINDU COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND

Incorporated
(Registered with Charities Commission Regd No: CC31281; Donee organisation status from IRD)
Organisation in Special Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2012
Post Box 101 215, North Shore Mailing Centre, Wairau Park, Auckland; New Zealand
Email: hindu.nz@gmail.com Website: http://hinducouncil.org.nz

Hindu Council of New Zealand(HCNZ) [Vishwa Hindu Parishad] is a community organisation. HCNZ was established in 1996. Our motto is
Vasudaiva Kutumbakum (world is one family). Our vision is to strengthen, position and organise Hindu Community. Over the years we have
held several conferences and the first one was inaugurated by the then Honourable Prime Minister Helen Clarke. HCNZ co-ordinates the
Secretariat of HOTA (Hindu Organisation Temples and Association). The purpose of HOTA is to galvanise the Hindu Community.
Hindu Council is looking for people passionate to volunteer for community projects. Our upcoming projects include:
(i) National Hindu Conference
(ii) Celebration of Yoga through spreading more information about and providing more people with opportunities to learn this ancient and
highly beneficial practice
(iii) Community forums
(iv) Social and educational activities, forums, debates and quiz for youth
(v) Connecting new migrant families to community
Divisions of HCNZ are:
a. Hindu Youth New Zealand (HYNZ)
b. New Zealand Hindu Students Forum (for Tertiary Students)
c. Hindu Elders New Zealand (HENZ)
d. Hindu Media Forum (HMF)
e. AROGYA (for promotion of Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda)
Our volunteers are proud of Hindu identity and Hindu heritage. Hindu Council of New Zealand welcomes volunteers
who are passionate about community work and are looking to contribute to any of the above divisions. Volunteers are
welcome from all walks of life, all ages and abilities.

Please contact: forum@hota.org.nz Or call on: Mamta Bhikha: 027 281 0968 • Sonali Hegde: 021 326 225
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017
Konkani radio show ‘Susegad
Danpaar’ completes one year
¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
A
team of enthusiastic young men
had started a Konkani radio
program at Planet FM 104.6,
which has successfully completed one
year of broadcast this month.
‘Susegad Danpar’ is broadcasted
every Saturday from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45
p.m. with the chats and songs in Konkani
dialect, the language that is spoken in the
state of Goa, India.
The show has a track record of at least
250 hits every program on the Internet,
which is a good number for a foreign
language show in its first year.
The Indian Weekender had covered
a story on the launch of the show in its
January 24, 2017, issue earlier this year.
There were a few challenges for the
show in the beginning which had to be
overcome for smoothly running the
show of which the first was to produce
the show in its correct Konkani dialect.
It is important to note that Konkani
official language of the state of Goa
is a spoken language with no script of
its own.
It is written in Marathi, but Anglo-
Roman, Kannada, and Urdu scripts are
also used in various parts along the coast
of Karnataka and Kerala.
Hector de Souza, Baptist Lobo and
Richard Miranda are the three presenters
of the show and are called the ‘Good
Guys’ at the station.
The other challenge for the team was
to design and structure the program, find
Your success is our success
• Accounting
• Business Advisory
• Taxation
• Business Plans for LTBV
• Trust and Estate Planning
Contact Raj Chand at 021 2791233
Level 1-185 Great South Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland
Email: taxconsult@xtra.co.nz
Ph: (09) 2791234 Fax: (09) 2791235
Susegad Danpar Team in the studio at the recording of the programme
anchors and establish a good library of
old and contemporary Konkani songs to
fill the one hour of broadcasting.
After much discussion, the team
decided to go for the live show, as it
would be livelier, spontaneous and
free flowing.
The programming eventually settled
down by trial and error, and today it is
built around the Christian catechesis
principle.
The one-hour program is broken into
four quarters – introduce the concept,
expand and explain the concept, sharing
experiences about it and round it up with
a takeaway message.
“The show, moreover this coffee table
chat is interspersed with Konkani music
making the Saturday afternoon indeed,
“Susegad” – calm and peaceful,” Baptist
Lobo, organizer of the show said.
YOUR ACCOUNTING AND
BUSINESS CONSULTING
PARTNER
The hosts have built a library of over
thousand songs by now, and people
have come forward to share their music,
given the fact that it is a community-
broadcasting platform. The show has
garnered support and inspiration from
its Konkani speaking community in
Auckland.
The programming encourages the
community members to come and talk
on the radio about matters that interest
them, about the Konkani culture, how
to speak conversational Konkani and
it provides a platform to its youth to
showcase their talents.
The show in the New Year aims
to consolidate its “number one”
position of listenership by widening
its programming to include more
youth, with a blend of Konkani and
Kiwi flavour.
NEW ZEALAND 11
Trust Saffron Finance for
expert Mortgage/ Insurance
advice backed by years
of experience
Mortgages: Risk Insurances:
• Home loans • Life & Trauma
• Commercial Property loans • Key Person Cover
• Business Loans • Medical / Health
• Top up & Debt consolidation • TPD and Income Protection
• Re-Finance and Refixing • Mortgage Repayment cover
• Investment Property loans • New to Business &
• Restructuring of loan • Business Continuity Cover
• Construction & Renovation • Redundancy Cover
Nimish Parikh
Registered Financial Adviser 18B Kirby Street, Glendene,
M. 021 236 7070 Auckland 0602
nimish@saffronfinance.co.nz P O Box - 69263 , Glendene,
Auckland 0645
www.saffronfinance.co.nz
www.indianweekender.co.nz
CORRIGENDUM
There was an unintentional error in the Triple play advert of Humm
FM, published in this newspaper on Friday, December 8 issue. The
advert was meant for an earlier date when the figures mentioned
in the advert matched with the actual numbers from the GFK
Survey. This was a purely unintentional error and we regret any
inconvenience caused.
RELIABLE
EXPERIENCED
TRUSTWORTHY
 12 NEW ZEALAND Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

T
he year 2017 saw property market
softening and prices even going
slightly down in some suburbs.
While this was encouraging news for many
prospective first home buyers, they are still
grappling to find answers to some basic
questions regarding the market trends, new
government's propose legislation and the
availability of credit. The Indian Weekender
talks with Ajay Kumar of Global Finance
and try to find some answers.
How do you think the year 2018 will be
for the housing market in Auckland?
Ajay: There remains a strong demand for
housing in heavily populated areas of NZ. Some
lenders are beginning to soften their lending
criteria in line with the Reserve Bank of NZ LVR
restriction easing effective 1 January and their
own market share objectives. This will enable
first home buyers as well as property investors
easier access to credit in 2018. It will support an
increase in housing market activity during the
next year. Despite the recently reported 0.9%
drop in Auckland house prices, the overall
housing market during 2018 will be better than
2017. House prices are unlikely to come down
much further because the imbalance between
demand and supply is still there particularly
in more desirable locations. First-time home
buyers, if possible, should try to focus on new
build properties as lending criteria tends to be
easier for these types of purchases. If new build
properties are not available within your budget,
focus on affordable existing houses in a wider
range of locations where supply is better to get
yourself on the property ladder.
How will new government’s legislations
affect the first home buyer?
Ajay: So far, none of the new government’s
announcements particularly regarding
immigration and foreign buyers are likely to
have any major or immediate impact either
HOUSING
Ajay Kumar
on housing market as a whole or first-time
home buyer specifically. It is expected that
as government policy supports the increased
supply of new houses we will see a steadier and
more contained house price market generally.
How is the credit lending situation for home
buyers right now and what is the trend going
forward?
Ajay: Banks will follow the Reserve Bank
of NZ guidelines. RBNZ announced on 29th
November an increased confidence in the
financial stability something it credits to a
combination of Government policy and LVR
restrictions in place since 2013. As a result, the
Reserve Bank is undertaking a modest easing of
the LVR restrictions.
No more than 15 percent (currently 10 percent)
of each bank’s new mortgage lending to owner
occupiers can be at LVRs of more than 80
percent.
No more than 5 percent of each bank’s new
mortgage lending to residential property
investors can be at LVRs of more than 65
percent (currently 60 percent).
Most of the banks are implementing this
policy. It will enable to many prospective
house purchasers to qualify for more lending
subject to repayment affordability. It is a good
sign for the housing market.
Would you say that it is the right time for
home buyers to enter the market?
Ajay: It is difficult to answer because what
will be the future demand and supply is
difficult to predict accurately but it is widely
acknowledged that we do not have the housing
stock or the construction capacity to meet our
needs anytime soon in the heavily populated
areas of NZ. However, if you have a goal to
own your own home and you are in a position
to achieve this then, yes, it is a good time to
buy because it will fulfil one of your important
goals. Rents are increasing due to the housing
stock shortage and in some instances the
withdrawal by landlords from the long-term
rental market in favour of short term stays
via organisations like AirBNB, which can put
a burden on your budget when you find your
landlord has increased rent or is unwilling to
renew your tenancy lease in favour of the short
term stay market. Of course, apart from the
stability of owning your own home, all future
capital gains go to house owners, but not to
the tenants.
What would be your five best tips for first
home buyers?
• Ajay: Buy the house only if you can afford to
repay mortgage as well as the other related
costs such as rates, insurance, maintenance,
etc.
• Have a Kiwi-Saver account, if you do not
have one already.
• Deposit your income from all the sources in
your bank account and keep all your savings
whether local or overseas in your bank
account
• Reduced Credit Card limits as low as
possible as limits (not outstanding balances)
have a direct impact on the amount you can
borrow, reduce/ repay hire purchases and
personal loans.
• Maintain a good credit rating by keeping
on top of your bills and limit the number of
credit checks done on you as they also have
an impact.

Are you looking to Buy Fenugreek- Fresh Methi Bundles

or Sell a Business? Wholesale Prices to your door
Shaun Khanna has a business, sales and marketing experience of more than
25 years and is a specialist in selling businesses such as Service Stations, Lotto
Stores, Dairies, Supermarkets and Liquor Stores. He also has vast exposure in
Cut out the Middle Man
the hospitality sector. Shaun has sold many businesses and has helped hundreds
of buyers and sellers of petrol stations and convenience stores throughout New
$25.00 For 20 Bundles – (Minimum Purchase)
Zealand. Shaun understands both sides of the transaction from the perspective POSTAGE FREE Service to North Island only.
of both the buyer and the seller as he is a former successful business owner as
he had owned and successfully run a big BP Service Station & thoroughly To Order, message on Facebook Page “Bushy Herbs”
understands how it works.
We will set up Trademe Auction/Buy Now for you
Shaun offers the degree of professional service that effectively brings business

The wonders of Methi leaves

buyers and sellers together to experience successful and desirable outcomes.
Shaun has a nationwide network of contacts and a track record of success,
receiving many referrals from satisfied buyers and sellers.
For a confidential, no obligation discussion about the sale of your business please
An Indian household cannot do without Fenugreek- methi #3 Increases breast milk production in lactating women
give me a call on 029 770 9767 or send an email to shaunk@abcbusiness.co.nz leaves. It is used in almost every Indian preparation be it Fenugreek ranks high among the ‘must haves’ for nursing
Daal, Paratha or Curry. Here are some reasons why you mothers. This is due to the presence of diosgenin in the
should include methi in your diet more often. spice which increases milk production in lactating mothers.
2015/2 2013
201
SALESP 7
OF TH
ERSO
N
2017
MOST
DY
HI-VIZ NAMIC LISTER6
01 201
SALESP 4
OF TH
ERSO
N
RISING Shaun Khanna #1 Lowers blood cholesterol: Methi contains Saponins #4 Helps prevent colon cancer: The fibre content
STAR 029 770 9767 that prevent the absorption of cholesterol. (saponins, mucilage, etc.) of fenugreek binds to
E VIDE OF TH E
RUNN YEAR LISTER O E YEAR RUNN YEAR
ER-U
ER
-UP P

shaunk@abcbusiness.co.nz #2 Controls blood sugar levels: Galactomannan, a natural toxins in the food and flush them out. This in turn
soluble fibre present in fenugreek slows down the rate of helps to protect the mucous membrane of the colon
029 770 9767 www.businessesforsale.co.nz
Licensed REAA 2008
sugar absorption into blood.. from cancer.

GROOM WANTED
Seeking suitable match
for a girl, beautiful, fair,
slim, working in Auckland,
MBA, 5”-4”, 1984, all family
in Auckland. Contact brother
Gaurav Wadhwa 022 093 4455
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017
Meet PBRS's star mixologist
¡¡ IWK BUREAU
M
ohit comes from a small village
in Himachal Pradesh (India).
Choosing the hospitality industry
and specialising in flair and mixology as a
career choice didn’t go down very well with his
family. This is because at that time it was not
viewed as a very reputable job. For his family
being a teacher or engineer would’ve been
something that made them proud. After some
serious discussions, they allowed him to choose
the path that he wanted and since then, they
have been very supportive during his ups and
downs in the industry. He started working with
the Holiday Inn Hotel in India as a ‘trainee’
after completing his diploma in Hospitality
Management. Despite being good on the floor,
he didn’t really have much chance to work at the
Hotel Bar. But he found bartending attractive
and his interest grew over time. Eventually,
he ended up in a school of ‘flair & mixology’.
After that, his journey as a mixologist began.
Over time, he realised something was
missing. According to him, he was missing
international exposure. So he decided to move
to New Zealand for further study. During his
study at PBRS he got a job at one of New
Zealand’s most iconic restaurant in Parnell. It
was a struggle at the start as the working style
was very different. Eventually he started to
understand the importance of knowing how
to make a good cup of coffee, lemon lime
and bitters, as well as learning some typical
kiwi hospitality abbreviations such as savi,
bubbles, etc.
Being in the hospitality industry now for
such a long time prompted him to come up with
the idea to be hospitality bar trainer. With this
job he could do office hours and still carry on
with his passion.
Study With the PRofeSSional BuSineSS & ReStauRant School,
the SPecialiSt management and cookeRy tRaining inStitute and gain the
SkillS and confidence you needto WoRk in toP BaRS, ReStauRantS, cafeS
and hotelS heRe in neW Zealand oR anyWheRe in the WoRld!
Intake: 29th Jan(All courses), 16th Apr(Cookery), 23rd Apr(Hospitality)
Main Campus-150 Hobson Street, Auckland
ENROL NOW
Ph: 09 367 1010 or 021 568 200 Email: jayaraj@cornell.ac.nz
Mohit with the awards that he has won
Mohit is full of motivation and skills while
he teaches his students. He is a very well
known personality in India as far as bar
works go. No doubt Mohit brought different
types of skills, experience, and innovation to
PBRS never seen before. Mohit proved it by
winning the Supreme Cocktail Championship
in 2017 organised by Restaurant and Chefs
Association.
Our students and staff have benefited a lot
from Mohit’s knowledge and style of work. He
is an asset for the company in a true sense.
- Larson Menezes,
PBRS Hospitality Lecturer
Mohit considers he was lucky enough that he
got the opportunity to teach at the same school
where he studied. He became a hospitality
tutor at Professional Business and Restaurant
School. Even now, he still misses the buzz
NZ
Training Training
Excellence Establishment
Award of the Year
2014 2016
Why PBRS?
of the hospitality industry. To remain up-to-
date with the industry, he started designing
wine and cocktail lists as a freelancer. As
he was reasonably well-known in India and
been involved in product launches, restaurant
openings, and even made appearances on
television. So he thought he would enter the
culinary competition this year. He is glad that
he was able to produce some good results for
his personal and professional development.
“I was looking for a Bar expert for my new
Restaurant and Bar called SPIZE and Mohit’s
name was highly recommended by my industry
friends. After some initial meetings he agreed
to take up the assignment to design the whole
Wine & Cocktail menu for SPIZE and assist
with other Bar activities. So far, he has not
disappointed us and delivered far beyond our
expectations, shown very professional yet
creative approach with advance thinking for
our restaurant SPIZE at Wynyard Quarters.
Even his name has big space on our website.
We hope to be associated with him for
long term”.
-Satish Shetty,
Director, Spize Restaurant(Shamiana Ltd/
Mumbai Express Pty Ltd)
New Zealand is a very diverse country
and that gives him the opportunity to meet
people from different countries and religions.
According to him, “We can see the same things
from different angles and we can produce drinks
that suit different palates.” This helps him to
remain innovative, develop different types of
cocktails, and keep experimenting. From a
bartender’s point of view, it’s a good enough
reason to keep mixing. This is in keeping with
his personal philosophy as he believes that
“there is a drink for every moment”.
NZ NZ
Training
Establishment
of the Year
2017
NEW ZEALAND 13
Mohit is a consummate professional. He
brings to PBRS world-class skills, extensive
industry knowledge, international experience,
and highly developed teaching capabilities. He
is able to easily and effectively communicate
relevant, complex, and novel information to
his students, who respond enthusiastically
to his every word. He is truly an asset to this
organisation.
PBRS Hospitality Lecturer: Martin Bugler
Mohit Sharma is an excellent bartender
and one of the best trainers in New Zealand.
He regularly conducts flair bar training for
New Zealand Bartenders’ Association what
is always at the highest quality and the best
in New Zealand. Mohit is very patient with
his trainees and has vast cocktail mixing
knowledge and outstanding bar flairing skills.
I have known Mohit for several years, he is a
pleasure to work with and I have asked him
to assist with training, with cocktail events on
numerous occasions. Mohit was a contracted
star flair bartender at the opening party of
the 5 star Grand Millennium Auckland hotels
where we catered for over 1,000 executives,
CEOs and NZ politicians. I have met, worked
with a vast number of bartenders during my
career and I can confidently say that Mohit
is the most innovative among all. He has
excellent ideas, thinks outside the box and
understands flavour, colour, and aroma
composition like no others. We enjoy working
with Mohit and we truly hope we will continue
working with him for a very long time.
-Szilveszter B Toth,
Director of Training,
New Zealand Bartenders’ Association
 14 NEW ZEALAND Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

What a roller coaster ride this year

has been – politics, immigration,
housing – name it all! increase to $24.29 per hour or above (or
the equivalent annual salary)
• Threshold for skilled employment
in an occupation at ANZSCO 4-5, or
which is not included in ANZSCO will
increase to $36.44 per hour or above (or
the equivalent annual salary)
• Threshold to earn bonus points will
increase to $48.58 per hour or above (or
the equivalent annual salary)
¡¡ Similar threshold increase will apply to
Essential Skills work visa category.
• Threshold for mid-skilled employment
in an occupation at ANZSCO 1-3 will
increase to $20.65 per hour or above (or
"Immigration is in the the equivalent annual salary)
study work visas and 32,800 were on • Threshold for higher skilled
¡¡ ARUNIMA DHINGRA Working holiday schemes. heart of New Zealand employment in any occupation will

N
ow that it feels like the dust has settled
down (which I highly doubt it has)
I thought it was timely and a great
reminder to reflect on our beautiful country has
waded through the Immigration policies this
year. Here is a roundup on statistics released
by Immigration New Zealand under Official
Information Act on how Immigration has
contributed to New Zealand in 2016-2017.
¡¡ Just over one in four people in New
Zealand’s workforce are migrants
¡¡ 47,684 people were approved for residence
in New Zealand in 2016/17 and around
225,000 people have been approved for
residence over the past five years, of whom
186,000 were still in New Zealand at the end
of June 2017
¡¡ 3.6 million visitors arrived in 2016/17 and
tourism is now worth $12.9 billion per year
to the New Zealand economy.
¡¡ In 2016/17, 209,178 people were approved
temporary work visas and 41,475 were
approved student visas.
¡¡ At the end of June 2017 there were
• 152,900 work visa holders in New
Zealand (up 61,800 or 68 percent on five
years ago), of whom 28,900 were on post
• 75,700 student visa holders (up 20,200
or 36 percent on five years ago), of
whom59,500 were full fee-paying
students.
¡¡ Since July 2007,
• over 87,000 visas have been granted
to workers undertaking seasonal work
under the Recognised Seasonal Employer
policy.
• Business investor migrants have invested
a total of NZD$3.94 billion since 2009.
¡¡ In 2016/2017 Immigration New Zealand
• Made around 800,000 immigration
decisions involving 1.09 million people
including: 32,000 residence application
(89% approved), 402,000 visitor visa
applications (92% approved), 242,000
work visa applications (93% approved),
118,000 student visa applications (90%
approved)
The list can go on but these numbers make
one thing clear – Immigration is in the heart of
New Zealand and makes a huge impact on our
country. The new government would need to
ensure a delicate and proper balance in cutting
off migrant numbers. A recent Otago Daily
Times article stated that roughly 60% of growth
and makes a huge
impact on our country.
The new government
would need to ensure
a delicate and proper
balance in cutting off
migrant numbers.
we’ve had in the economy had actually come
from net migration. On an annual basis net
migration slowed to 70,410, the lowest since
December 2016 but still significantly above the
20-year average of 18,500.
Now that 2017 is on the brink of passing by,
its important I highlight some of the changes
announced for early 2018:
¡¡ From 15 January 2018, remuneration
thresholds that apply to Skilled Migrant
Category will change again.
• Threshold for skilled employment in
an occupation at ANZSCO 1-3 will
increase to $36.44 per hour or above (or
the equivalent annual salary)
¡¡ Essential Skills in Demand List has been
reviewed. These changes are proposed to
apply from Feb 2018
• The Long term skill shortage list will
now have five occupations removed
• The Immediate skill shortage list will
have 12 occupations added and five
removed
¡¡ Immigration New Zealand will be reducing
its offshore processing offices from 17 to
five over the next two years. Under these
changes Auckland Central and Henderson
visa processing will cease and relocate to
Manukau. There will be a greater presence
in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Porirua and
Christchurch.
Our team at Aims Global wishes you a Merry
Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Santa comes earlier for Kawhia school children

¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMD whatever I earn, I try my best to I managed to get computers in the

S
id Patel, a businessman from give it to the place where it is most school and also office chairs for
wishes all the small town of Kawhia, needed,” Mr Patel told The Indian students and IT guys to manage

the readers Waikato, has hit the news again

by becoming Santa to over a hundred
Weekender.
Mr Patel recalls the memories of
them,” Mr Patel said.
Mr Patel also provides bread and
Merry Chrismas, children in Kawhia and Huntly. his childhood saying he belongs to fruits to school children throughout
best of the Mr Patel has gifted almost 50 a middle class salary earning family,
where his father put food on the table
the year in Huntly and Putaruru.

holidays and cycles to Year 1 to 7 students of

Kawhia Primary School and bags
a wonderful containing lunch box, stationery
new year. and other gifts to Huntly Central
Kindergarten School children.
Mr Patel owns two dairy stores by
Our next issue the name KBeez Superette in Huntly
will be out and Putaruru and a motel in Kawhia
and has lived in the country for the
on Friday, past 30 years.
January 12. This is not the first instance that
Mr Patel has come forward and
Till then, showed his generosity towards the
community, he is well renowned in
for him, but he missed the gifts.
Mr Patel says he had a severe
struggle with dyslexia and is illiterate.
“I realised that children need to be Mr Patel credits his success in
showered with gifts, it inspires them
and makes them feel special.
business and his community efforts
to his parents, especially his mother
“That is why I want to bring smiles who he calls his role model.
to not just one but as many children “My mother believed in giving,
possible. This Christmas no one
should be without gifts,” Mr Patel
and that is what she inculcated in
added.
me,” Mr Patel added.
His gifts and generosity have
Mr Patel donated $30,000 in 2015 earned him the name of ‘Kawhia’s
Sid Patel with a student at the school
and fully computerised Kawhia Santa’ as he is lovingly called by the
Kawhia Primary as he feels that
Primary, gifted tablets and provided
stationeries to children.
community there.

stay safe and the Waikato region for being a modest
have fun. man with a ‘huge heart’.
Mr Patel also gifted Samsung
smartphones to Year 8 students of
outgoing students should not be
behind in technology.
“I am thankful to God for his
blessings, I have two grown up kids
both making their own life, and
“There were only a few computers
in that school then, I thought why
should only a few students be
privileged to enjoy technology, so
“I am glad that children have
something to take home before
Christmas and I believe they too
learn the value of giving,” Mr Patel
proudly added.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017
by Gaurav Sharma
Nepalese Society President
receives civic honour
Mr Bishnu Pokhrel (in the centre) with the Mayor of Christchurch and his family and friends, receiving
the Civic Award
I
t was a moment of pride for the Nepalese
community in Christchurch last week –
on December 13 – when Bishnu Pokhrel,
President of the Canterbury Nepalese Society
(CNS), was presented with the city’s Civic
Award by Mayor Lianne Dalziel.
Mr Pokhrel was among the 12 recipients of
the award this year, which are given annually
to groups and individuals in recognition of
their outstanding service to the community.
According to the City Council, Mr Pokhrel
has been acknowledged for the work he has
done over the past decade supporting people
of Nepalese and Bhutanese backgrounds
to settle into and acclimatise themselves to
Canterbury’s culture.
Accepting the award humbly on behalf
Fiji community celebrates Christmas
T
he Christchurch Fiji Association
- an organisation formed in 2002
to initiate, promote, support and
maintain cultural, religious and educational
needs of the Fiji and Pacific migrants and
their children, finished 2017 with its annual
Christmas celebrations on December 16.
“Along with singing Christmas carols and
our very own Santa Claus distributing gifts
and sweets to children, we had karaoke,
katchi (buy cards and win prizes), and an open
dance floor. The venue was also decorated in
the festive spirit. Overall, it was a great note
to end the year and look forward to an even
better 2018,” noted Vinesh Prakash, Secretary
of the Association.
“The focus of celebrations was on children
and it was great to see smile on their faces. It’s
our way of thanking our members and those
who supported us during the year. There was
Chch City Council approves $10 million Cathedral grant
C
hristchurch City Council has confirmed
its commitment to giving a $10 million
grant to help pay for the reinstatement
of the earthquake-damaged Christchurch
Cathedral. The grant will be funded through
a targeted rate over a fixed period of time,
the details of which will be determined when
the Council considers its 2018-28 Long Term
Plan next year.
As part of the consultation it was indicated
a targeted rate was likely to amount to about
$12 a year, per property, for six years. “It is
a significant contribution we are committing,
but when we consider what it will enable, then
it is an investment in the heart and soul of our
Christchurch to be among the three local councils taking part in
Airways NZ’s new digital approval trial for drone flights
S
ince December 14, Christchurch City
Council became one of three local
councils taking part in Airways New
Zealand’s new digital approval trial for drone
flights.
Now drone operators can use AirMap’s
free iOS and Android apps to request airspace
approvals required by New Zealand’s
Civil Aviation Authority at Christchurch,
Queenstown, and Wanaka airports, and on
public lands in the Christchurch City, Selwyn,
and Queenstown Lakes districts, including
NEW ZEALAND 15
C re a te
of his community, he noted, “I dedicate
this recognition to my family who always
understood my community involvement and
time commitment needed for that. I especially
want to thank my friend and fellow Nepalese
Y O U R D R E A M D AY
Deepak Pandey who nominated me for the
award.” Paying tribute to the award recipients,
Mayor Dalziel said their selflessness and
generosity had not gone unnoticed and the
city was grateful for their contribution.
I N T H E WA I R A R A PA
“It is the people in your community who
want to see you or your organisation honoured WITH OUR WEDDING & ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES
in this way. The Award is but a small token
of the appreciation we have for the work you
have done. People like you make our city and
Banks Peninsula what they are. And you make
us all proud,’’ she said.
no entry fee but entry was restricted to invited
guests,” he added.
Meanwhile, two prominent Malayalee
social and cultural organisations in the city -
Christchurch Kerala Association and Kerala
Cultural Forum – are both organising their
respective Christmas celebrations on the
evening of December 23, at St Christopher’s
Hall and St Theresa’s Church Hall respectively.
city,’’ Mayor Lianne Dalziel says after the
decision.
In July the Council agreed to back the
Crown’s offer by pledging $10 million towards
the estimated $100 million cost of reinstating
the Cathedral. However, its contribution were
$50 0
subject to consultation with the community,
OFF* FULL BALLROOM
WHITE DRAPPING IF
BOOKED BEFORE
which the Council had planned to carry out 31 JULY 2017.
through a special consultative procedure after
the general election. Its contribution was also
subject to the Anglican Synod agreeing to
reinstate Christchurch Cathedral as the centre-
piece of the city – a decision the Synod took in
early September.
parks and reserves.
“During the three-month trial, the Council
will use AirMap to approve flight plans
and share real-time updates via the app
with drone operators about the location of 0800 765 939 | WEDDINGS@SOLWAY.CO.NZ | SOLWAY.CO.NZ
events, community gatherings, emergencies,
and more. This information is published
immediately to AirMap so that drone operators
can plan safer flights and stay up-to-date on
*ONLY VALID FOR NEW BOOKINGS, BOOK BEFORE 31 JULY 2017. MINIMUM 60 GUESTS .
changing airspace conditions,’’ informed
Christchurch City Council Head of Strategic
Policy Helen Beaumont.
 Thought of the week
"Sometimes good things fall
apart so better things can
fall together."
Editorial – Marilyn Monroe
2017: A mixed bag of emotions Auckland Weather forecast for the week
for the Kiwi-Indian community Dec 22 – Dec 28, 2017

I Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu

t is the time of the year when count-down has begun for the year-end celebrations and
welcoming the New Year.
The end of the year is often considered as the time when everyone takes a break or pauses
from their otherwise busy lives to take stock of the life in general.
The Indian Weekender is taking this opportunity to take stock of this year and what it brought
for the Kiwi-Indian community.
To begin with, 2017 was an important landmark year for the Indian community in New Zealand Nice with Clearing, Partly Periods of Sunny and Sunshine Partly
as it marked the completion of 125 years of recorded history of Indians in New Zealand. cloudy Party sunny sun and pleasant with a Sunny
Earlier in the year, the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) launched an exhibition with sun cloudy clouds shower
of pictures titled Mokka – The Opportunity depicting the emotional and valiant journey of the
Indians in New Zealand. Indeed, it has been a long time since the first generation of Indian settlers
has arrived in the Land of Aotearoa. 26° 24° 24° 24° 25° 23° 23°
You all are allowed to take a pat on your backs, if you feel like, for being a part of a community 18° 18° 18° 18° 16° 16° 17°
whose roots are so deeply entrenched in the history of this country.
Similarly, there was another exhibition held in Wellington this year titled Honour and Duty:
A Tribute to Sikh Valour organised by the Sikh Foundation New Zealand, celebrating the Indian
connection with ANZAC and war efforts. This week in New Zealand’s history
This is a theme so eternally hard-wired in The Indian Weekender’s DNA, which we espouse time
and again, and often unabashedly, as it is defining a factor of our identity. 23 December 1953
The Kiwi-Indians not only belong to this land of Aotearoa but also have shed their blood and
sweat in the making of the New Zealand nation as we know it today, so it enjoys a place in this Queen Elizabeth II arrives for royal tour
country which is inferior to no other community.
The year 2017 offered an opportunity once again to celebrate our long and proud existence in
this country. The size of the community has not only grown in size and scope, but also in ambitions.
F or New Zealanders old enough to have experienced it, the visit of the young Queen and her
dashing husband, Prince Philip, in the summer of 1953–4 was a never-to-be forgotten event.

The growth in ambitions is so abundantly reflected in the expectations community has begun to
set up on our politicians in parliament.
Apparently, many in the community are becoming less satisfied with the presence of Kiwi-Indian
List MPs in NZ Parliament and expecting someone to break the barrier and enter the parliament as
an electorate Kiwi-Indian electorate MP.
Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan tantalisingly came close to breaking that barrier in this
year’s election, when she almost won the Maungakiekie electorate.
Although she couldn’t win the seat, in the end, however lot of people took satisfaction from the
number of votes she polled, probably thinking in their minds that it signifies the numerical strength
of the Kiwi-Indian community in NZ.
To what extent that imaginary thinking was justified could be a matter of debate, but what is
beyond any debate is the fact that the ambitions and self-belief of the Kiwi-Indian community is
incrementally growing.
This year would also be remembered for a path-breaking step in the direction of strengthening the
emotional connection between the Kiwi-Indian community and India – a country that community
considers as either their original or spiritual or cultural home.
For long the Indian diaspora in New Zealand had been longing for a deeper and emotional
connection with the government of India, especially after Narendra Modi had become the Prime
Minister and revolutionised the way India connected with its global diaspora.
However, Indian diaspora in NZ could not find a place in the diaspora-narrative of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
This exception was fixed for good, when the Government of India sent one of its most popular
ministers among global Indian diaspora – Minister for State, External Affairs, Gen. V. K. Singh,
to participate in The Indian Weekender’s signature event – 'Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Honours'.
The Indian Weekender has been organising Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Honours since the past five
years with a single-minded goal of recognising the biggest and the most inspirational achievers
within the Indian community in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s topmost political elites have always acknowledged The Indian Weekender’s
leadership and commitment in facilitating Indian communities’ contribution to New
Zealand’s society.
In 2017, the Government of India also acknowledged that commitment by sending their top
Minister to the biggest formal event of the Indian diaspora in NZ.
The commitment of the Government of India towards the diaspora in NZ was further strengthened
when a new Consulate office was opened in Auckland in November this year.
According to many veteran leaders and members of the community, the opening of Consulate
office had fulfilled a long-felt demand which traces its origin to almost 40 years in the past.
Indeed, there were many moments to cherish for the Kiwi-Indian community in 2017.
However, like everywhere else in life, the community had its sobering moments too in 2017.
The increase in the size of the community in NZ translated to increase in the number of tragic
deaths primarily from the road and water-related incidences, reminding everyone that many new
migrants are choosing to leave their common sense behind before setting out to enjoy the beautiful
landscape that this country offers. The student deportation issue gained much public and media
attention this year, bringing distress to many individual families and the broader Kiwi-Indian
community.
Nevertheless, there were more emotional highs, than lows, for the Kiwi-Indian community in
this year. It can safely be concluded that 2017 was a mixed bag of emotions for the Kiwi-Indian
community.
24 December 1953
Tangiwai railway disaster
T he worst railway disaster in New Zealand’s history occurred on Christmas Eve 1953, when
the Wellington–Auckland night express plunged into the flooded Whangaehu River, just
west of Tangiwai in the central North Island. Of the 285 people on board, 151 were killed.
25 December 1894
First ascent of Mt Cook
A
t 1.30 on the afternoon of Christmas Day 1894, while many New Zealanders were relaxing
and enjoying festive fare, three young men based at the Hermitage became the first to stand
atop 3764m Aoraki/Mt Cook, the highest mountain in the colony.
29 December 1931
Floating dock breaks moorings in Wellington Harbour
B uilt in England, the Wellington
Harbour Board’s new Jubilee Dock
was 178 m long, 36 m wide and could
lift ships displacing 17,000 tons. It
cost about £250,000 (equivalent to $27
million today).
Indian Weekender : Volume 9 Issue 40
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz
Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter—South Island: Gaurav Sharma
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz
Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
Sales and Distribution: 021 952218 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
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
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
 An end
to all
bad gifts
right now
Send cash around the world from any
participating Western Union® agent location

© 2017 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 An awesome
18 FIJI
Assam is gateway
to North-East India
WAISEA NASOKIA
S
GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA 
plendid heritage and history
abodes in Assam, one of the
eight states that make-up the
North-East India region.
Assam, also known as the ‘Land
of the Eastern Lights’ is one of the
growing tourism destinations for
international and domestic visitors
alike. Its accessibility from the rest
of the country makes it the gateway
to the north-eastern states.
The set-up is not only rich in
biodiversity, but also in ethnic and
cultural diversity where a distinct
variety of cultures exists with a
strong tradition of art, music, dance,
literature, and distinctive languages
and customs.
The people are renowned for their
hospitality and courtesy. Many south,
eastern and southeast Asian societies
have called Assam their home over
the centuries.
Exploring Assam
O ver the last one and half
years Assam has become
well connected with domestic
and international flights through
Guwahati Airport.
There are immense beautiful hill
areas rising above the spectacular
Silchar and Bhramaputra rivers,
providing the opportunity for scenic
river tourism that lures tourists from
Europe and America.
When in Assam there are huge
restaurants for transfer and dinning
opportunities including the Alfresco
Grand, on board the MV Manuphura,
a ferry which the international
delegates encountered.
Majuli, one of the world’s
largest river islands, is found in the
Fiji’s agriculture industry receives
$2,172,576.35 in aid from India
I
ndian High Commissioner to
Fiji Vishvas Sapkal and Prime
Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
The Indian government has
provided $2,172,576.35 in aid to the
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
which will assist the agriculture
industry in the country.
While presenting the cheque to
Bainimarama today, Indian High
Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal
said that the aid is for the continuous
recognition of the strong bilateral
relationship between the two
Brahamaputra River 310 km east of
Guwahati.
Pilgrimages
S
ome pilgrimages have attracted a
lot of visitors to the Kamakhya
Temple on the Nilachal hill
for Hindus.
Not forgetting the Pura
is the organic
Tirupati Uma Nanda
hub of the North-
Temple, and Navagraha
East, whatever resources
and Balaji temple
we have been given by the
which were built
Almighty is to have great
centuries ago.
health and happiness
Wildlife
preservations
K aziranga National Park
where the state has conserved
the one-horned Indian rhinoceros
from near extinction, along with the
wild water buffalo, pygmy hog, tiger
and various species of Asiatic birds.
Other parks are Manas, Rajiv
Gandhi Orang, Nameri, Dibru-
Saikhowa, Pabitora, Hollongapar
Gibbon Wildlife sanctuary,
Dehing Patkai and Chakrasila
Wildlife Sanctuary.
Golf and tea tourism
I n Assam they say golf and tea
have a great instinct to blend in
with their blessed environment.
There are more than 20 magnificent
golf locations in a spectacular
settings within the state.
Since 1839 Assam Tea found itself
in the home of the British in London
and has never failed to impress
even today.
Boost
T
here has been a massive
transformation in the state in
terms of tourism related programmes.
countries.
He says that India has partnered
with Fiji in development and they are
also ready to provide support in the
railway network development.
Sapkal also congratulated the
Prime Minister for Fiji’s successful
presidency at the COP23.
Bainimarama says the money
received will be utilized to purchase
machines and equipment that are
needed by farmers to carry out their
everyday work.
"Assam
in life."
In a space of two years there
has been a tremendous investment
in five-star-properties such as the
Vivanta by Taj and many are under
construction in the state as well.
The boom in tourism and lack
of rooms has given birth to home
stay ventures. Assam State chief
minister Sarbananda Sonowal said,
“we want to grow without affecting
our ecology, without destroying
our environment.”
“Assam is the organic hub of the
India boosts sugar industry
T
he Fijian Government on
Wednesday, December 20,
received $2.17 million from
the Government of India to help the
country’s sugar industry.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji
Vishvas Sapkal, who presented the
cheque to Prime Minister Voreqe
Bainimarama, said the monetary
assistance would go a long way for
all sugarcane farmers.
“India and Fiji share a very close
bond with special relations,” he said.
“Today’s (yesterday’s) assistance
to the Government of Fiji will
Friday, December 22, 2017
Splendid heritage
and history abodes
in Assam, one of
the eight states
that make-up the
North-East India
region
North-East, whatever resources we
have been given by the Almighty is
to have great health and happiness in
life,” the chief minister said.
“We have all kinds of beauty so
our beauty exists in this nation and
everyone is interested to have beauty
in life and existence.
This will not only assist us, but
it will also purify the mind-set of
youngsters that will add to our global
existence.”
be provided to the Fiji Sugar
Corporation (FSC).
“They will be procuring the
agricultural equipment from India,
that will basically be vehicles,
tractors, lorries and cane harvester
machines that will be of definite help
to the sugar industry in Fiji.”
Permanent secretary in the Prime
Minister’s Office Yogesh Karan said
the general guideline was already
there by the commission and they
would purchase the new equipment
as early as possible.
“We want to really capitalise on
The Indian Weekender
A tourist at the Balaji temple.
Cuisines
C u isines do vary in the North-
Eastern region including the
people of Assam, which boasts
from Tandoori to Chinese and to
Continental and diet dishes.
Their favourite delicacy, the
Jalpan, goes well with the Assam tea.
History
T he first oil well in Asia was
drilled in the state, in 1827 but it
wasn’t until 1867 that oil was found
in Namdang and later it was found in
other places as well.
There are large architectural
marvels and monuments which have
stood the test of time which bear
testimony to the creative genius and
prowess of the antecedents of the
people of Assam.
Source: Fiji Sun
these equipment for the planting
season that we have now,” he said.
“The machinery will all be Indian
made machines, some machinery
are already available in Fiji, like
the Mahindra tractors as we are also
mindful of the after-sales service,
should there be any maintenance
work required.
“So all that can be purchased
here in Fiji, the rest the Fiji Sugar
Corporation will make a decision in
terms of what sort of equipment is
required.”
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017 INDIA 19

Gujarat election:
PM Modi turns emotional at
party meet, says, ‘Indira Gandhi
had 18 states, BJP has 19’
No party in power at the Centre had done
this well in elections across the country
in over three years of tenure as the BJP
had done, PM Modi said, referring to its
winning streak in Assembly elections
the BJP.” Saffron party Chief Amit

P
rime Minister Narendra
Modi turned emotional on
Wednesday, December 20, as
he addressed the BJP parliamentary
meeting for the first time after the
saffron party won a sixth straight-
term in Gujarat and wrested power
from Congress in Himachal Pradesh
after a bitterly fought campaign in
the states.
Addressing the workers, Modi
also congratulated them for their
performance in the elections.
He also said that Congress under
Indira Gandhi got to rule 18 states but
the BJP and its allies were in power
in 19 states as of now, reported PTI.
No party in power at the Centre
had done this well in elections across
the country in over three years of
tenure as the BJP had done, he said,
referring to its winning streak in
Assembly elections.
He also asked the leaders not
to be affected by the opposition’s
“disinformation campaign.”
The Congress party, led by
president Rahul Gandhi had called
the Gujarat results as a a “moral
victory” for them.
Asserting that the party has won
its biggest tally since 1985 polls
by winning 77 seats while the BJP
with 99 seats got its lowest since
1990, Rahul Gandhi had said that the
Gujarat polls were a “massive jolt to
Shah, however, dismissed the claims
as a “laughable exercise.”
Prime Minister Modi was also seen
holding back his tears at least three
times as he recounted the struggle
and sacrifices made by the party
workers and leaders to win people’s
support.
He also recounted how in his
initial days in politics, former prime
minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had
congratulated him in person after
the party fared well in a Lok Sabha
election from Gujarat. Adding that
Modi was not well known in BJP-
RSS cirles at that time, he noted that
it was Vajpayee’s magnanimity to Prime minister Narendra Modi,Amit Shah,Rajnath Singh at the BJP parliamentary
reach out to him. party meeting in New Delhi

India, Myanmar sign MoU for development Rs 50,000 cr: IAF orders
of Rakhine 83 Tejas jets from HAL
I
ndia and Myanmar on Wednesday The 83 aircraft will be of Mark-1
signed a memorandum of configuration.
understanding (MoU) aimed
at developing Myanmar’s Rakhine
state.
The MoU comes in the backdrop
of massive migration of Rohingya
refugees from violence-wracked
Rakhine to Bangladesh.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar
signed the MoU on India’s behalf in
the presence Myanmar’s Minister for
Social Welfare Win Myat Aye, Indian India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar
Ambassador to Myanmar Vikram
The 83 aircraft will be of Mark-1 configuration, an improved
Misri tweeted. Jaishankar called on Myanmar State bilateral summit between Suu Kyi
According to Misri, the MoU is a Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay and visiting Indian Prime Minister version of the single-engine fighter being inducted into the IAF

government-to-government (G2G)
agreement on long-term socio-
economic development of Rakhine.
After the signing of the MoU,
Pyi Taw.
Misri said that during the meeting,
discussions focused on delivering
on commitments made during the
Narendra Modi in September.
The commitments included a
development package for Rakhine
and extending the bilateral agenda.
T
he Indian Air Force (IAF)
has placed orders for 83
Tejas fighter jets with HAL,
Bangalore, taking the total order of
is for 20 fighters in Final Operation
Clearance (FOC), which are expected
to be supplied by 2023. HAL expects
the FOC for the Tejas LCA to be

Virat Kohli, Anushka meet PM Modi

indigenous fighters to 123 aircraft. given by the middle of next year,
The 83 aircraft will be of Mark-1 following which the jets can go into
configuration, an improved version production.

V
irat Kohli and Anushka
Sharma met Prime Minister
Narendra Modi a day before
their reception in New Delhi.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma
met Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and invited him for their reception
in New Delhi on December 21.
Modi also conveyed his regards and
congratulated the couple on their
marriage. Along with the pair, Kohli’s
brother Vikas was also present during
the meet. “Captain of the Indian
cricket team @imVkohli and noted
actor @AnushkaSharma met PM
@narendramodi this evening. The
Prime Minister congratulated them
on their wedding,” tweeted the Prime
Minister’s Office.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma
arrived in the city on Tuesday after
tying the knot in Italy and spending a
few days in the country.
The couple announced the news
of their marriage on social media
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office.
in a joint statement, saying, “Today
we have promised each other to be
bound in love for ever. We are truly
blessed to share the news with you.
This beautiful day will be made more
special with the love and support of
our family of fans & well wishers.
Thank you for being such an
important part of our journey.”
Virat and Anushka will be hosting
a reception in New Delhi for their
relatives on December 21 at Hotel
Taj Palace, which will be followed
by another party for industry
friends and cricketers in Mumbai on
December 26.
of the single-engine fighter being
inducted into the IAF. “HAL has
received RFP (Request for Proposal)
for supply of 83 LCA from IAF,”
said the HAL spokesperson. The
total cost of the contract for the Light
Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1
version, which is still in the design
stage, is expected to be around Rs
50,000 crore, a source told The
Indian Express.
The IAF had placed an order for 20
Tejas fighters in the Initial Operation
Clearance (IOC) configuration
on HAL, of which five have been
provided till date. These fighters
have been inducted in the No 45
squadron of the IAF, starting July
last year. HAL Chairman and CMD
T Suvarna Raju had told The Indian
Express that 11 IOC aircraft will be
supplied by March 2018, and the rest
subsequently.
The next order placed by the IAF
The order for 83 fighters will go
some way in making up the shortfall
of fighter squadrons in the IAF
but will not be able to meet IAF’s
authorisation of 42 squadrons. The
IAF currently has 33 squadrons and if
the French Rafale fighters and Tejas
are inducted on schedule, without
any other induction of fighters, the
numbers will come down to 27 by
2032 and 19 by 2042.
To make up for the shortfall, the
IAF has been interested in a single-
engine foreign fighter, wherein it
hopes to select between the American
F-18 and the Swedish Gripen aircraft.
Although both these fighters are
expected to be made in India, the
government seems keen on procuring
the indigenously developed Tejas
fighters for IAF. This has led to no
progress from the ministry on issuing
a request for information for the
single-engine foreign fighter jets.
 20 INDIA Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

India’s tallest Christmas tree

Aadhaar, PAN to be linked
to insurance policies by

reaches up to the heavens

Mar 31, 2018

I
ndia's insurance regulator
extended the time to link Aadhaar
number to insurance policies till
March 31, 2018.

O
ver 10,000 twinkling
colourful fairy lights,
cherubic angels and fairies,
reindeer and snowmen, bells,
streamers and festoons, tiny crosses,
and a beaming paunchy Santa Claus
waving from the “cotton snow”
adorn this famous and majestic
Christmas tree -- said to be the
tallest in India.
At a staggering 65 feet or nearly
the height of a seven-storeyed
building, the pine conifer has entered
the record books as India’s tallest,
fully decorated, natural growing
Christmas tree in a tiny garden in
Adarsh Nagar, a private residential
society in south Mumbai’s Worli
neighbourhood.
“I have been tending to it for the
past 45 years. Earlier, my sister
Twila used to help me out. However,
after her death in June 2005, I
have been doing it alone,” a proud
Douglas Saldanha, the owner of the
Christmas tree, said.
The Saldanhas’ family history
In a circular issued on Monday
season, scores of people walk in to all the life, non-life (including
to gape at the gigantic tree, click standalone health insurers)
pictures/selfies and leave – silent the Insurance Regulatory and
and awestruck. Development Authority of India
Twila trained as a nurse in the (Irdai) said the date of submission of
US and lived a joyous life with her the Aadhaar Number and Permanent
CA-turned-realtor husband Jude in Account Number or Form 60 by
Houston till tragedy struck in 2002. clients to reporting entity is March
“Suddenly, the family was 31, 2018. The Irdai cited the central
shattered to learn that Twila government's gazette notification on
was suffering from cancer. She December 13, relating to Prevention
recovered with the help of doctors of Money-Laundering (Maintenance
and my mother Grace, who went of Records) (Seventh Amendment)
there to take care of her. Shockingly, Rules, 2017. On November 8, the
a couple of years later, there was a Irdai had directed the insurers to link
severe relapse and she succumbed in Aadhaar and Pan Card numbers with
June 2005,” Saldanha said. insurance policies.
Whenever the family visited her "These rules have statutory force
in the US or when she came down and, as such, life and general insurers
to her maternal home in Worli, (including standalone health insurers)
Twila would first enquire about have to implement them without
her favourite Christmas tree, how awaiting further instructions," the
it was growing, and whether it was Irdai had said.
being cared for properly – and all
other stories associated with it in
Cabinet nods India-Italy
her absence. MoU on climate change,
“In fact, it was her dying wish that diseases

is deeply entwined with that of
the magnificent Christmas tree
since it “joined” the down-to-earth
four-member family – the late
Henry Saldanha, his wife Grace,
their late daughter Twila and son
Douglas. The family originally hails
from Mangalore.
“There was a neighbour over
four decades ago who grew it on
his verandah. But, at five feet, it
was already too tall and he couldn’t
manage it. He sold it to me for a
paltry Rs 250 ($4). This was peanuts
considering Christmas trees were
very costly in the markets even in
the 1970s,” said Saldanha, pointing
out that the tree was growing straight
into the clouds, with the lowest
branches spreading out from around
12 feet. Barely 12 then, Saldanha
and his elder sibling, the 14-year-
old Twila, lovingly re-planted it in
the ground, regularly watered it and
joyfully watched it grow healthy and
strong.
“At Christmas time, we lavishly
decorate it, starting at least a
fortnight in advance, with friends and
relatives occasionally joining in,”
Saldanha said.
In 1991, Twila got married to an
NRI, Jude Bellow, and went to settle
in the US -- leaving her brother as
the sole guardian of the Christmas
tree. Ever year, particularly during
the December-January festive
I should decorate the Christmas tree
so beautifully that she should be able
to view and enjoy it from Heaven,”
Saldanha said in an emotional voice.
Since then, he has spared no
effort or expense to ensure
that Twila’s favourite
Christmas tree is not
only the biggest and
best in Mumbai, but
all over India.
“As it grows
taller each year, we
believe that Twila’s
spirit resides in this
Christmas tree. It exudes
so much love and warmth
for all those who see or touch it.
Absolute strangers walk in to see
it, and walk out as old friends,”
Saldanha said.
Saldanha narrates a miracle
associated with their beloved
Christmas tree concerning his
87-year-old father Henry, a retired
structural engineer who was part of
the team that developed Tata City in
Jamshedpur many, many decades
ago. Over the past couple of decades,
Henry was struck with cancer, first
in 2004 of the prostate and later
in the cheek, but he survived and
fully recovered to live a normal and
happy life.
IDouglas said his beloved dad
passed away peacefully in March
this year aged 87, leaving only his
At a staggering 65 feet or
nearly the height of a seven-
storeyed building, the pine
conifer has entered the record
books as India's tallest, fully
decorated, natural growing
Christmas tree in a tiny
garden in Adarsh Nagar, a
private residential society
in south Mumbai's Worli
neighbourhood.
83-year old widow Grace and son to
nurture the tree now.
This year, he has spent over Rs
100,000 on decorating the tree
to fulfill his father’s last wish:
“Celebrate my life, don’t mourn
for me. Twila and I shall see our
Christmas tree from the heavens.”
To continue looking after his aged
mother and also the Christmas tree,
Saldanha, a financial consultant with
a multinational, chose to remain
a bachelor.
“I just want to be a good son
to her now,” the 56-year old
said, having turned down many
attractive marriage proposals in his
younger days.
T
he Union Cabinet
approved a memorandum
of understanding (MoU)
between India and Italy for
collaboration in the field of climate
change impact on communicable
diseases and vector-borne diseases.
Out of the several subjects on
which the two nations will work
jointly include collaboration in the
prevention of non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) of mutual interest,
such as neuro-cardiovascular
diseases, cancer, COPDs, mental
health and dementia, with emphasis
on Sustainable Development Goals-3
and related factors. The MoU was
signed on November 29, 2017 in
New Delhi.
"Regulation of pharmaceuticals,
medical devices and cosmetics and
exchange of information thereon,
promotion of business development
opportunities in pharmaceuticals,
procurement of generic and essential
drugs and assistance in sourcing
of drug supplies, nutritional
aspects of food intake, including
malnutrition (over nutrition and
undernutrition), are the other areas
(of collaboration)," said.
Other subjects include research and
training of food industry operators,
information and communication
to citizens on hygiene and food
safety, and healthy eating habits,
among others.

No Rohingya deportation in three years: MHA

N
o Rohingya has been deported in the last three years
while 330 Pakistan and 1,770 Bangladesh nationals
were sent back to their native countries in the same
period, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed
the Rajya Sabha.
In a written reply, the Minister, however, said it was not
possible to have a correct estimate of migrants who enter the
country without valid travel documents.
He said the central government is vested with powers to deport
a foreign national under Section 3(2)(c) of the Foreigners Act,
1946.
"These powers to identify and deport foreign nationals
illegally staying in the country have also been delegated to the
state governments and union territory administrations and the
Bureau of Immigration under the said Act.
"Detection and deportation of such illegal immigrants is a
continuous process. A revised procedure for the detection and
deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants was communicated
to the states and union territories in November 2009, which was
partially modified in February 2011 and further modified in
February 2013," Rijiju said.
The procedure includes sending back then and there the illegal
immigrants who are intercepted at the borders while entering
India illegally, the Minister said.
He said the central government was also implementing a
mission-mode project on Immigration, Visa and Foreigners
Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) which will facilitate
improved tracking of foreigners by integrating and sharing offices of the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers.
information captured during visa issuance at missions, during The Minister confirmed some instances of violation of law and
checks at immigration check posts and during registration at the invowlvement of foreign nationals in illegal activities.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017 INDIA ABROAD 21

18-year old Indian to lead Australia offers technological

help to prevent stubble burning
Australia in U-19 World Cup W ith stubble burning in
Punjab and Haryana
causing environmental
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

J
and health concerns, the Australian
ason Jaskirat Singh Sangha, Centre for International Agricultural
the teenager who shot to
Research (Aciar) has offered
headlines earlier last month
technology to check the menace.
for joining the league of Sachin
“Happy Seeder is a proven zero-
Tendulkar will lead the Kangaroos in
tillage solution – seeds can be
the upcoming U-19 World Cup.
planted directly into stubble without
Jason made the headlines when
the need for land clearing or tilling
he became the second youngest
– eliminating the need to burn
cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to
crop residues,” a spokesman of the
score a first-class century against officials from the central government
Australian High Commission said.
England in Townsville, Queensland and states of Punjab and Haryana,
Each year, Punjab and Haryana
in Australia in November. including research scientists,
generate an estimated 30 million
He was just 18 years and 62 days
tonnes of paddy straw, which is later extension officials, farmers and
when he scored his maiden century
set afire and is believed to be a major manufacturers of machinery to
with 133 total off 226 balls.
contributing factor to air pollution, discuss ways to promote adoption of
Jason was also the youngest Indian
especially over north India. the Happy Seeder technology.
person to join New South Wales
“A new project led by the Aciar Titled “Value chain and policy
cricket team at the age of 16 while he
could help address the ongoing interventions to accelerate adoption
was still in high school in 2016.
environmental issues of stubble of Happy Seeder zero-tillage in rice-
Jason has been selected "The
burning,” the spokesman said. wheat farming systems across the
in the squad along with captaincy
Welcoming the initiative, Gangetic Plains”, the project aims
another Indian origin is an amazing
Australian High Commissioner to highlight the performance of the
cricketer Param Uppal, opportunity for myself,
and I’m privileged to be to India, Harinder Sidhu, said: Happy Seeder.
Steve Waugh’s son
able to not only represent “Aciar investment to develop “An excellent example of practical
Austin Waugh, and
my country but to lead the Happy Seeder has been an cooperation between Australia and
Cricket Australia’s
my country with outstanding success. India, it was developed by the Punjab
chief executive James
Sutherland’s son Will pride. " “Through this new project, we Agricultural University (PAU) and
Sutherland. average of over 60, since I captained a few games earlier can work collaboratively with Indian Australian engineers and scientists
Jason is a middle order and he too bowls right-arm in the year against Sri Lanka,” Jason partners to not only ensure better with support from Aciar a decade
batsman and right arm leg-break off-spin. told the media. productivity and soil health, but also ago,” the spokesman added.
spinner. “The captaincy is an amazing Australia last won the U-19 World address the issue of stubble burning.” Aciar will work with the Centre
18-year-old Param Uppal is a opportunity for myself, and I’m Cup in 2010. The project will kick off with a for Global Food and Resources at the
classy right-handed batsman who privileged to be able to not only Australia has been drawn in Pool B workshop hosted by the International University of Adelaide and Indian
scored 370 runs at this year’s represent my country but to lead my and begins its World Cup campaign Food Policy Research Institute partners from government and the
under-19 championships at an country with pride. against India on Sunday, January 14 in Chandigarh.  agribusiness sector to deliver the
"It wasn’t too much of a surprise at Tauranga’s Bay Oval. The workshop will bring together project, the statement said.

The HummFM App

Download & Win!*

Live Playlists Open Chat Set Favourites

Polls & Contests Online Requests

22 FEATURES
iPhone X, Google Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy
Note 8 & more: Top 6 phones of 2017
2
017 is nearing an end and therefore
it becomes imperative now to look
back and list all the top headlining
smartphones of the year: there’ve been a
lot of them actually so it’s been all the more
difficult to pick the top contenders this year.
But anyhow, here are the top phones of 2017.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
T his year’s Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and
Galaxy Note 8 are all so very similar that it
all narrows down to one thing: do you or do you
not, need the S-Pen? Dual cameras, unless you
really want them, are just an added luxury. Take
the S-Pen away (also the dual cameras) and the
Galaxy Note 8 is simply a boxier (and slightly
bigger) Galaxy S8+. Quite simply put, to be or
not to be is the question the Galaxy Note 8 must
repeatedly ask itself.
Frankly speaking, it shouldn’t. The Galaxy
Note 8 is in a league of its own.
The Galaxy Note 8 may be a bigger Galaxy
S8+ – with an S-Pen stylus and dual cameras
– but in the grand scheme of things, it’s all the
more compelling than the Galaxy S8+ and not
the other way round.
Google Pixel 2
L ast year’s Pixel phones were more like proof
of concept to show off Google’s hardware
manufacturing prowess. Barring some bearable
issues here and there, there was nothing really
out of line with the Pixel and the Pixel XL. In
fact, the Pixel and the Pixel XL were so good -
especially in the camera department - they gave
the iPhone 7/iPhone 7 Plus and the Samsung
Galaxy S7/Galaxy S7 Edge quite a run for their
money. Well until the Pixel and the Pixel XL
happened, Apple and Samsung seemed to be
the only hardware majors vying for consumers’
attention. With Google they now have a third
option, and more the options more the merrier
it is for consumers.
This year’s Pixel 2 (and Pixel 2 XL) is no
different. Not only does the Pixel 2 offer the
best in-class software from house Google - aka
Android - it also ships with the best in-class
cameras on a smartphone.
The Pixel 2, from Google, can quite literally
astound you with its picture-perfect camera.
The Pixel camera is a fine example to assert
that good hardware can take you a long way,
but, good software can take you farther still.
The Pixel camera is good - nay great - not just
because it has good hardware, but, because it
has software that complements it on each and
every level, and then some more. Because of
this Google can continue to make things even
better, and add more features to keep things
interesting now and in the future. Augmented
Reality stickers are an example.
Xiaomi Redmi 5A
T he Redmi 5A is directed towards first-time
Internet users and users who are looking to
switch from a feature phone to a smartphone,
without having to spend a fortune on a good
handset. Unlike other such like-minded phones,
however, the Redmi 5A doesn’t compromise
much in terms of hardware specs; it doesn’t
compromise much in terms of looks and feel
either. The Redmi 5A is successor to the Redmi
4A and retains much of its predecessor’s
hardware set as also its ultra-affordable price
tag. It comes with an all-plastic body -- like
the Redmi 4A -- with a smooth metallic finish
on the back. In terms of hardware specs, the
Redmi 5A comes with a 5-inch HD IPS display
with a 720p resolution. It is powered by a
1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
processor coupled with Adreno 308 GPU, up to
3GB RAM and up to 32GB of internal memory
which is further expandable by up to 128GB
via a micro-SD card slot. The dual-SIM phones
runs Android Nougat-based MIUI 9 out-of-
the-box and supports 4G LTE (VoLTE-ready)
connectivity.
On the camera front the Redmi 5A comes
with a 13-megapixel camera on the rear with
f/2.2 aperture along with Phase Detection
Autofocus and an LED flash. On the front you
get a 5-megapixel snapper. The phone is backed
by a 3,000mAh battery which is non-removable
and is claimed to offer up to a whopping 8-days
of battery life on stand-by on a single charge.
Nokia 8
T
he Nokia 8 is HMD Global top-tier phone
right now. Unlike the Nokia 6 that came
with sharp edges, the Nokia 8 comes with
subtle curves that seamlessly wrap around
the front. The front, meanwhile, is chamfered
– and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5
protection – to enhance grip and ergonomics.
Friday, December 22, 2017
The Nokia 8, much like the Nokia 6, is an all-
metal smartphone carved out of 6000 series
aluminum but two of its variants – Polished
blue and Polished copper – have been polished
to near perfection so they look like all-glass
phones. They are glossy. The Tempered blue
and Steel variants are meanwhile meant for
someone who likes it sober.
The Nokia 8, in addition, comes with IP54
certification which makes it splash-proof (but
not water-proof). It comes with an always-on
display – Glance Screen – as well.
The Nokia 8 comes with a 5.3-inch quad-
HD IPS display with 700 nits of brightness, a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor clubbed
with 4 gigs of RAM under the hood, and 64GB
of internal storage which is further expandable
by up to 256GB via a hybrid micro-SD card slot.
The phone is backed by a 3,090mAh battery
and supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0
fast charging. Although the Nokia 8 doesn’t
ship with stereo speakers (or Dolby audio like
the Nokia 6) it packs in Nokia’s OZO spatial
360 degree audio technology. It comes with
three microphones that allow for 360 degree
spatial audio capture while recording videos.
Here is what we said about the Nokia 8 in our
full review:
“The Nokia 8 is not cutting-edge. Nor is it
glamorous. But it is elegant, refined and solid.
The smartphone looks classy, is very durable, is
extremely fast, slick and fluid and has cameras
that produce great images.”
iPhone X
A
pple says the iPhone X is the future of
the smartphone: a future wherein all
smartphones would be a long continuous sheet
of glass with an edge-to-edge display and no
physical buttons.
In line with the new industry trend, the iPhone
X is all glass and almost no bezel. It is carved
out of glass - although Apple does not mention
a name, it says it has used the most durable
glass ever in a smartphone in the iPhone X –
and surgical-grade stainless steel. The front, in
the case of the iPhone X, is clean and without
any physical buttons. Although, it’s still not
a one hundred per cent all-screen phone, the
iPhone X. The iPhone X has a notch at the
top that houses a host of camera gimmickry
including sensors for biometric authentication.
The iPhone X, to that effect, does not ship with
The Indian Weekender
a fingerprint scanner. It gets rid of Apple’s
hallmark Touch ID, and replaces it with facial
recognition technology called Face ID.
Elsewhere, the iPhone X is also notably
Apple’s biggest iPhone yet. It’s a 5.8-inch phone
that uses an OLED panel - another first for an
iPhone that have traditionally stuck with LCDs
all this time - but because Apple has shaved off
the bezels, the phone occupies a much smaller
footprint when in the hands. The iPhone
employs a 2436x1125-pixel resolution Super
Retina display with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
and True Tone: a technology - first employed in
Apple’s iPad Pro.
The iPhone X comes with two cameras on
the rear - 12MP + 12MP - wherein one is wide-
angle (f/1.8) and the other is telephoto (f/2.4)
that allows for photos with shallow depth of
field, or bokeh as also 2X optical zoom (10X
digital).
The iPhone X is further powered by Apple’s
next-generation A11 Bionic processor. The A11
Bionic processor has been specifically designed
for mobile AR experiences on the iPhone X,
according to Apple.
OnePlus 5T
T he OnePlus 5T isn’t perfect. It could have
done with better camera(s). It could have
done with some water-proofing. It could have
done with some stereo speakers. It could have
done with some originality in design - yes the
OnePlus 5T blatantly copies the Oppo R11S.
But if you ask me – at its price point - it really
doesn’t matter. This is because the OnePlus 5T,
when you consider it as an all-round package,
just works. Just the way the OnePlus 5 did,
back in the day (pun intended). I’ll go so far
as to say that the OnePlus 5 is still a pretty neat
phone, which is why I think if you’re someone
who owns it already has absolutely no reason
to upgrade.
The OnePlus 5T exists so OnePlus can
offer buyers more, without actually having to
launch another flagship phone this year. The
OnePlus 5T, more importantly, is an upgrade
and a testament to OnePlus’ forward thinking
philosophy. It’s simply the OnePlus 5 with a
tweaked design and tweaked cameras. There
are a few other minor changes as well, but on
the whole, the OnePlus 5T is still the OnePlus
5, only bigger (with best in-class display) and
with an improved dual camera system. The
OnePlus 5T cashes in on the winning formula
of the OnePlus 5 and tries to better it even
further: and gets most things right while at it.
The OnePlus 5T comes with a 6.01-inch full-
HD Optic AMOLED display with an unusual
aspect ratio of 18:9 which invariably means that
it’s a near bezel-less phone. The OnePlus 5T
houses a new dual camera system wherein the
secondary telephoto lens of the OnePlus 5 has
been switched with a standard lens with a larger
f/1.7 aperture to aid in low-light photography.
Elsewhere, the OnePlus 5T also supports a face
unlock feature akin to the iPhone X without
deploying additional tech.
The OnePlus 5T also comes with a rear-
mounted fingerprint scanner.
 The Indian Weekender
Stop smoking, eat healthy, meditate to avoid obesity
A
void obesity and its related
health problems like
diabetes, hypertension and
hormonal disorders by changing few
habits. Stop smoking, eat right at
the right time, balance your diet and
meditate, suggest experts.
Nutritionist Neha Ranglani
and Anju Ghei, wellness expert
at VLCC have listed ways to
preventing obesity:
Eat healthy: A balanced diet should
be a healthy mix of carbohydrates,
proteins and fats. It should include
fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
legumes, low fat dairy, nuts to
take care of minerals, vitamins,
antioxidants, fibre and probiotics.
Eat right: When you wake up:
This is the time when your
muscles are absolutely
depleted and hungry
after a 10 hour fast.
Eating well helps
you to revitalise
your muscles and
prevents excess
calorie intake in the
latter half of the day.
A light breakfast
like cereals & milk with
honey and nuts could do the
needful.
During mid meals: Pick up a piece
of fruit, handful of soya nut or an
oatmeal bar and see the difference
for yourself.
Pre-workout: To sustain throughout
the workout and to get the maximum
out of it, it is mandatory to fuel your
system with the right kind of food
For more information about how we can provide health insurance for you and your
family please contact advisers@nib.co.nz or speak with your financial adviser.
Friday, December 22, 2017
like fruits, the day. The trick is to keep the
nuts and dinner light with soups, salads, lean
eggs. meat and yoghurt.
Post- During parties: It is wise to opt for
workout: salads, veggies, barbecued or roasted
Feed your snacks rather than the fried snacks
h u n g r y and creamy dishes.
muscles after Drink water: Drinking water at
30- 45 minutes of regular intervals helps in better
your workout with fruits and digestion and also keeps the body
proteins. hydrated. This leads to better
At night: Most people skip their
meals due to their busy scheduler
overwork and tend to gorge on
metabolism
weight loss.
and subsequent
Move your body: Physical inactivity
heavy lavish dinner which is the raises the risk of obesity. Exercise
main culprit of added on calories and renders cells more sensitive to
feeling of sluggishness throughout insulin. A mere brisk walk makes
Health insurance
designed for you
the difference. An ideal workout
designed by a health professional
is a suitable mix of resistance and
aerobic training for optimum muscle
building along with weight loss.
Eliminate stress: Lower metabolic
rate leads to weight accumulation
and thereby tendency towards
obesity. Physical activity,
Health tip of the day
S tudies have shown that basil leaves are
a significant anti-stress agents, providing
protection against stress. Even healthy
persons can chew 12 leaves of
basil, twice a day, to prevent
stress.
FEATURES 23
socialising, meditation, enjoying
music, nature and time with young
children and pets, all keeps stress
at bay.
Sleep well: It's a well-known fact
that when asleep the human body
produces growt hormones that
increase metabolism and repair
tissue. Sleep deprivation not only
hampers this bodily activity but also
makes the body lethargic to be able
to focus on any other physical or
mental activity planned during the
day.
Keep regular medical
appointments. After a certain age,
it's important to get lipids checked as
these are the indicators of any future
obesity-related risk that might befall.
Stop smoking and curb drinking
alcohol: Tobacco interferes with the
production of enzymes for effective
digestion. Limiting alcohol intake,
if not a total ban, will also make
a difference.
Avoid fad diets that recommend
unsafe practices such as fasting
(going without food for long periods
of time) or cutting out entire food
groups such as meat, fish, wheat or
dairy products. There are chances of
putting those extra kilos back once
the fasting is over.
nib8048_0717
 24 FEATURES Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

RECIPES
Chicken Dopiaza

CHICKEN
Chicken cooked with tender onions in a tomato sauce

A
ccording to epicurean folklore, this dish originated in
the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s royal kitchen. ‘Dopiaza’
is a Persian word that describes the traditional method of
adding onions twice to the preparation – in rings as well as in
the gravy. In this contemporary version, the dish requires
only the onion rings. It is particularly popular in the city 3

of Hyderabad.

RECIPES
METHOD:
¡¡ Preparation Time: 15 min ¡¡ Clean, wash and

CHICKEN
¡¡ Cooking Time: 35 min cut the chicken
¡¡ Serves: 8 onto bite-sized soft and oil ¡¡ Garnish with chopped coriander.
¡¡ Tastes: Medium pieces, cover and surfaces. ¡¡ Serve hot with Roti or Butter Naan.
keep aside. ¡¡ A d d
Ruby's Tip: For the
Ruby Dhillon India’s Most Wanted Recipies | 109

INGREDIENTS ¡¡ In a large bowl, chicken with

¡¡
¡¡
1 kg chicken boneless
1 cup plain yoghurt
whisk
yoghurt, add red
the it’s marinade
to the tomato onion rings, slice the
¡¡ 1 tsp red chilli powder chilli powder, garam masala, mix onions across the grain
of the onion’s natural
¡¡ 1 tsp garam masala powder masala powder, cumin well. Stirring the
¡¡ 1 tsp cumin powder powder and coriander chicken occasionally,
¡¡ 1 tsp coriander powder powder, mix well. Add cook over a medium to layers (not vertically)
and separate the
¡¡ 6 onions, thinly sliced into rings chicken and onion rings to the high heat without covering,
¡¡ 2 Tbsp butter marinade, mix well to coat evenly. Cover as onions will release their water and
¡¡ 2 tsp garlic paste
and marinate in the refrigerator for at
least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
the chicken tends to cook in it’s water.
This will take 6-8 minutes.
onions rings with your
¡¡
¡¡
2 tsp ginger paste
3–4 green chillies, finely chopped
¡¡ Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed pan on ¡¡ Lower the heat; add lemon juice and salt fingers. You can also
¡¡ 3 tomatoes, roughly chopped
medium heat. Add garlic paste, stir,
add ginger paste, stir and sauté for 1–2
to the chicken, mix well.
¡¡ Cover and simmer until the chicken is use vertically chopped
¡¡
¡¡
2 tsp lemon juice
Salt, to taste
minutes. Add chopped green chillies, cooked through and well coated with onions instead of
onion rings.
stir, then add tomatoes, stir and cook the onion masala (water can be added if
Ruby Dhillon India’s Most Wanted Recipies | 109

¡¡ 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves chopped for 2–3 minutes until the tomatoes are the gravy becomes too thick).

December 22 to December 28 | By Manisha Koushik
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
at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139 • www.askmanisha.com
¡¡ Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
Distractions and shifting interests may make it difficult
to focus on anything. Although your performance will
be nothing to write home about, you will be happy
with it. Shifting bag and baggage to a friend’s place
for a change of scene cannot be ruled out. Those in
the media are likely to get the scoop they were looking
for. You will keep your romance alive and kicking by
allotting more time. An unexpected expenditure may
rock your financial boat.
Lucky Number- 8 / Lucky Colour- Green
¡¡Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)
A good phase starts on the professional front. Your
reluctance to do the bidding of elders can get you on
their wrong side. All is not lost on the financial front, if
you are quick enough. It may be difficult to convince
a friend or a family member for assistance on the
home front. Keep a watchful eye on the business front
as there are elements working against your interest.
Physical fitness is the key to preventing minor ailments.
Lucky Number- 1 / Lucky Colour- Orange
¡¡ Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
You may have to be extra quick in submitting an
assignment, if you want to beat the deadline. Positive
thoughts will keep irritation at bay. Chances of a
romantic affair are possible, so get ready for a good
time. It is best to postpone an official trip, as it may
not meet your objective. You may not get the expected
service for an electronic item bought by you. Investing
in a scheme may prove to be a bad call.
Lucky Number- 17 / Lucky Colour- Dark Grey
¡¡ Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20)
Cater to the needs of a family elder, if you want to avoid
any misunderstanding. You can find yourself a bit
restless this weekend. A job not completed in time by
a subordinate is likely to make you see red. Spending a
quiet evening with lover or spouse seems difficult this
week. Outside interference on the home front may be
resented by homemakers. Students may have to put in
extra hours on the academic front. Seek guidance on
the health front.
Lucky Number- 6 / Lucky Colour- Dark Green
¡¡ Leo (Jul 21-Aug 22)
There are some aspects you will need to keep in mind
before you project a personal problem. You are likely
to implement some new ideas to pep up your love life.
A marriage proposal is likely for the eligible. Someone
you are counting on at work may let you down. Some of
you can seethe with frustration at not being able to do
something you had planned for. Your moodiness may
cause friction at home.
Lucky Number- 2 / Lucky Colour- Indigo
¡¡ Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 23)
Someone is out to please you for a favor, so have some
fun at his or her expense! You are likely to turn your
focus on an ex-flame and rejuvenate your love life.
Family can get into the vacation mood and compel you
to plan a trip soon. You will be able to clear a lot of
pending work on the professional front. You may have
to do something concrete to get previous payments
released.
Lucky Number- 9 / Lucky Colour- White
¡¡ Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)
This is the best time to learn the ropes and come into
a position of authority. It will be in your interest not
to succumb to workplace pressure. You are likely to
fare well in a competition. A change of residence is
foreseen for some. Government employees may plan
to buy a luxury item. Proximity to an opposite number
can blossom into romance. New avenues of earning
will help secure the financial front.
Lucky Number- 11 / Lucky Colour- White
¡¡ Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
You may need to keep a tab on a matter that affects you
most intimately. There is a likelihood of getting late for
a meeting or a conference, so start early. Spouse may
persuade you to buy a particular household item that
you are not keen on. A family youngster is likely to start
earning soon. You can be completely bowled over by
a workplace colleague of the opposite gender. Good
progress foreseen for those undertaking a long journey.
Lucky Number- 5 / Lucky Colour- Light Yellow
¡¡ Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Some adjustments may be needed for an amicable
relationship, so be open to the idea. This week, you
may need your space. Release of a payment may
come as a big relief. You may work towards realizing
your romantic aspirations. Sticking to the workplace
schedule will be in your interest. Someone in the family
may require your help, so be available. Favorable time
is foreseen for those trying to acquire property. Put in
efforts on the fitness front.
Lucky Number- 7 / Lucky Colour- Magenta
¡¡ Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)
Time is of essence and you will not falter in realizing
it. A new development at work will be a source of joy. A
family youngster is likely to do you proud. Help will be
at hand for those balancing a job and domestic chores.
Your romantic overtures are likely to get a positive
response from the one you love. Saving and judicious
spending will keep your bank balance in a fine fettle.
Don’t lax with your diet regimen.
Lucky Number- 22 / Lucky Colour- Light Blue
¡¡ Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)
You are likely to prove a good host. Some of you are
likely to top an exam or crack a competition. Joining
an elite organization cannot be ruled out for some.
Financing a family youngster will not be a problem.
Love at first sight is possible, so keep your fingers
crossed! Homemakers may organize a function at
home. Some of you are likely to get a good bargain on
property. Those ailing may recover soon.
Lucky Number- 3 / Lucky Colour- Crimson
¡¡ Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
You may need to spend some time away from your
usual surroundings, just for a refreshing change.
Students will be able to get the subjects of their choice.
Less work will enable you to take some time off for
yourself. You may find a member of the opposite camp
attractive enough to take the first step! A lucrative deal
can make the cash register ring. Some of you can miss
loved ones and feel cut off from them.
Lucky Number- 4 / Lucky Colour- Dark Turquoise
 The Indian Weekender Friday, December 22, 2017 SPORTS 25

India post 93-run win over Sri Lanka in first T20I

I
ndia put up a strong all-round show
to register their biggest Twenty20
International (T20I) win in terms of runs --
93 -- in the first match against Sri Lanka at the
Barabati Stadium on Wednesday.
Opener Lokesh Rahul (61) played sensibly
at the top order before Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(39 not out) and Manish Pandey (32 not out)
finished off the proceedings in style to take
India to 180/3.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 87
in 16 overs, thanks to leg-spinner Yuzvender
Chahal (4/23).
Put in to bat, India started off on a good note
as openers Rohit Sharma (17) and Rahul added
38 runs in five overs before Rohit mistimed a
short to mid-on off Angelo Mathews.
In his 13-ball innings, the Mumbai batsman,
who became the second Indian after Virat Kohli
to complete 1,500 runs, managed to hit only
slog-sweep a wide delivery from leg-spinner
Chahal and Dhoni took a sharp catch.
Sri Lanka further ran into trouble when
experienced Mathews (1) gave a return catch to
Chahal. The Haryana tweaker bagged his third
wicket when right-hander Asela Gunaratne (4)
was stumped by Dhoni.
The wickets kept falling -- the next one being
Dasun Shanaka (1). The Sri Lankan batsman
hit left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav to the
hands of Hardik Pandya at long-off, with the
vistors at 58/5. Chahal continued his good show
when he scalped his fourth, this time removing
captain Perera (3) to dash the grim hopes of the
visitors. Perera went up the track but was foxed
by a googly and Dhoni dismantled the wickets.
Afterwards, Pandya claimed three wickets to
wipe away the Sri Lankan lower-order. Indian players celebrates after winning the first T20 match against Sri Lanka at Barabati Stadium in
Cuttack on Dec 20, 2017.

VAISHNAV PARIVAR (NZ) INC.

two boundaries. Incoming batsman Shreyas
Iyer (24) then joined Rahul in the middle and
the duo forged a 74-run partnership to help their
team to cross 100-run mark without losing any
wickets. Just when things seemed good in the &
middle, Iyer was dismissed by Nuwan Pradeep
in the 13th over when the scoreboard was
reading 112.
GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD
Iyer played 20 balls and slammed three
boundaries. After adding few more runs with
in association with
new batsmen Dhoni, Rahul was also sent
packing in the 15th over by Thisara Perera.
MTF BOTANY
While trying to hit the boundary, Rahul
completely missed and ball went on to hit the
Presents
stumps. His 48-ball innings comprised off Venue
seven boundaries and one six.
SUNDAY
The fall of Rahul's wicket brought in
Pandey. Pandey and Dhoni played sensibly and
EASTDALE 14 JANUARY 2018
punished the bad balls. Soon, India crossed 150
run mark in the 19th over. RESERVE 11.00 am to 6.30 pm
The last few deliveries saw some power-
hitting from both the batsmen especially from
Pandey. Dhoni also displayed some shots and
AVONDALE
finally closed Indian innings with a six.
For Sri Lanka, Mathews, Pradeep and Perera
chipped in with one wicket each.
During the chase, Sri Lanka couldn't get it
going from the beginning. Neither the openers,
nor the middle-order batsmen showed attributes Live Auction ENJOY KITE FLYING, KITES &
of putting up a fight. On a two-paced wicket, Face Painting Fun Rides,
of Delux Bed STAGE PERFORMANCES,
India bowlers dropped their pace and the at 6.15 pm
& Food Stalls THREADS
batsmen struggled with their timings, especially
Drawing HAVE FUN & PICNIC & Many More
Courtesy
Competition
WITH YOUR FRIENDS Attractions ON SALE
against Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
Niroshan Dickwella (13 off 8) opened of his
stance and skied to Rahul at short cover as Sri
Lanka lost their first wicket with only 15 runs buy a raffle ticket to win
on the board. HOLIDAY PACKAGE STAGE PERFORMANCES
COURTESY
Left-handed opener Upul Thranga (23 off TM COURTESY
16) was looking good caught until he attempted Gold Coast Holiday Package for 2
with 4 days Accomodation Reliance Ventilation
and many more Systems
Contact: Sanjiv 0800 787 111
MAJOR SPONSOR Attractive Prizes
EVENT PARTNER

DON’T Contact: Ajay Kumar 021 567 222 Email: ajay@globalfinance.co.nz

Contact: Dolly Gorasia 021 190 3424
Rajesh Chandan 022 106 1529 MISS www.globalfinance.co.nz
Email: botany@mtf.co.nz
www.mtf.co.nz/botany THE EVENT SPONSORS
SPONSORS

Contact: Vinay Mehta 021 893 424

Greenline Developers Limited Jain Motors

Contact: Ashesh 021 178 1578
Contact: Pankaj Dalal 021 763 311 Contact: Himal 022 153 0658

Event Supported by

Media Partners

MS Dhoni in action during the first T20 match

For more information contact
between India and Sri Lanka at Barabati Stadium in Manhar Patel: 022 0432 209 or 09 627 0380 | info.pushtimargnz@gmail.com
Cuttack on Dec 20, 2017
 26 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

AUCKLAND’S HOTTEST BOLLYWOOD STATION

I was not Vikram made horror genre profitable,

respectable: Mahesh Bhatt

encouraged V
ikram Bhatt, who is
celebrating 10 million-plus

to be actor,
views of the trailer of his
upcoming movie “1921”, has made
the horror genre respectable, says
filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt who has

says Soha
worked with him closely over the
years.
“Just when the self proclaimed
pundits of our trade had written
the obituary of the horror genre,

S
oha Ali Khan, an Oxford graduate who comes a tale of love and horror
pursued a masters degree from the from the director of Raaz who
London School of Economics and made horror not only profitable but
Political Science, says her parents didn’t also ‘respectable’,” Mahesh Bhatt
particularly encourage her to take up acting tweeted.
but never discouraged her from following her His post came following Vikram’s
heart either. message: “Gratitude to all, to those Mahesh for his constant support.
Soha is the youngest daughter of veteran that contributed to this dream film, “Through thick and thin, sick and
actress Sharmila Tagore and the late Mansoor but most all to everyone out there sin!! Boss, thank you for being there,
Ali Khan Pataudi. for their love and support! Humbled! holding my hand through the long
“As far as acting is concerned, I wouldn’t 1921 trailer hits 10 million.” lonely nights in the cold of Yorkshire
say I was discouraged from acting but I was Releasing on January 12 – a while I shot the film,” he wrote in an
not encouraged to be an actor. My parents decade after 1920 – the film stars earlier tweet.
certainly felt my personality was not suited
Zarine Khan and Karan Kundra in Vikram is known for horror movies
to acting in Hindi films and so I would
the lead roles. like Raaz, 1920, Haunted - 3D, Raaz
be happier and better at doing something
Earlier also, Vikram had thanked 3D and Raaz Reboot.
else. Also, they felt, like any parent, a little
protective as there’s a lot of competition,
insecurity and unpredictability in the film industry,” Smita Patil a far better
actress than me, says Rekha
Soha said. She says they always wanted her to opt
for something “stable” and so she gave working at

L
Citigroup as a private banker a try.
egendary actress Rekha, who received the first Smita Patil Memorial
“It was about making my parents proud and especially
Award, said she found the late actress was a far better performer than
for my father... I wanted to make him proud. I knew he
her. Rekha was conferred the award for her contribution in the field of
wanted me to do something more in the corporate space. So
cinema. “I am really glad that I am receiving award in the name of Smita. I
I tried that but my heart was really not in it, which is why
also want to say that you all did the right thing that you decided to give the
then I started working in films. It was a difficult choice but I
first-ever Smita Patil Memorial Award to me, because I think only I have the
knew my parents would embrace it whole-heartedly.
right to receive this award,” Rekha said.
“Ultimately, they wanted me to be happy. They were not ones
Elucidating her comment, Rekha said: “This award signifies the
to dictate that ‘You’re not allowed to do this, or you must do this’.
excellence of her (Smita Patil’s) craft, which
They believe in letting you go and let you live your life. They will
includes her acting abilities, dancing abilities or
be there to pick you up if you fall down,” added
"As her ability to be fearless in front of the camera
the actress, now a mother to a girl.
far as acting or in choosing her roles or the way she could
Having featured in films like Rang
is concerned, I just live that moment and make a statement
De Basanti, Tum Mile and Go Goa
wouldn’t say I was on-screen with her beautiful eyes without
Gone, Soha has come up with her
discouraged from saying a single word.
debut book titled The Perils of Being
acting but I was not “I am not saying this because I have won an
Moderately Famous, in which
encouraged to be award on her name. It is because I feel she had
she talks about how she is not “really”
an actor. far more finesse and was brilliant as an actor.
in the league of her family members and
yet not being “entirely anonymous”.
It’s a wonderful I realized this thing 30 years ago when I
place to study. decided to watch all her films. Today, I
She says even though she was drawn to the acting world, there
And more than can say that she was far more better
was always an emphasis on education in her family.
actress than me and than
“Especially in my mother’s side of the family. My mother’s what you get there anybody else.”
mother had a masters degree, which was very rare at that time for academically, Amruta Subhash,
a woman. Education has always been prized in our family,” said it’s the whole life Prateik Babbar
Soha, whose mother Sharmila is related by birth to the famous
Tagore family of Bengal.
of being there, and legendary
the exposure to music composer
“I always wanted to study. There has also been a tradition of
Anandji Virji
going to the Oxford University... My grandfather, my father... So, that history and Shah were also
I wanted to go there. I would like my daughter to go there too, but architecture, present at the award
I wouldn’t put pressure. It’s a wonderful place to study. And more making the function.
than what you get there academically, it’s the whole life of being
there, the exposure to that history and architecture, making the
contacts... It’s Rekha also told Prateik,
great education. son of Smita Patil and Raj
contacts... It’s great education.” On the career front, she hopes to
Babbar, “when you are in
be back to the screen soon though she is enjoying her motherhood
doubt just call me”.
phase. She gave birth to her and actor Kunal Kemmu’s daughter
“I am here, but there is no
Inaaya Naumi Kemmu in September. way I can match up to her.”

Will watch Padmavati no matter when it releases: Anurag Basu

D
irector Anurag Basu, who
finds it bizarre that the
whole controversy around
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati
is based merely on perception and
assumption, says he will watch the
period drama whenever it releases.
Basu was at an event where he met
40 children – emorial Centre.
He was asked to comment on the
Padmavati controversy.
“I think this is bizarre and funny.
When the first time the attack (against
the makers) happened, the first thing
that came to my mind was ‘Do they
know the script?
Have they read it?’
The entire controversy is based on
perception and assumption and what
could be more funny than this?
The whole thing is based on
‘Maybe’ and I find it really bizarre.
How can they create such a ruckus watch the film no matter when it as to when which project will come
on a ‘maybe’?” releases,” Basu added. out.”
He believes it is a “win-win Known for movies like Life in On the trend of biopics, he said:
for everybody” as “all of them a... Metro, Gangster and “It’s a good thing that people are
are getting the benefit of the "It’s Barfi!, Basu said he is getting inspired by biographies.
controversy”. a good thing currently working "Nowadays, people don’t read,
“I don’t think Sanjay that people are on a few projects so all they grasp about life is from
getting inspired by
Leela Bhansali should be biographies. Nowadays, simultaneously. films.”
worried because his film people don’t read, so all “But I will Basu’s last film as a director and
is delayed, as he has many they grasp about life announce the writer was Jagga Jasoos, featuring
fans, like myself, who will is from films." schedule very soon Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor.
 28 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

Films are still hero-centric: Juhi Speech impairment not a

subject but reality: Rani
J
uhi Chawla feels there is a lot of pressure on the girls on-screen today, and wonders if wearing shorter dresses
and aiming for a “size-zero” frame is really an “expression of freedom”.

A
The actress says a lot has changed for women in showbiz, but some aspects continue
to remain the same.
The actress, who joined the team of Epic channel’s TV show Sharanam as a
narrator, doesn’t understand the pressure on women to “prove their equality”.
“I am not exactly sure what’s going on about any debate on gender, equality and
stuff in the world right now. Some things have changed for the better and some... I
am not sure if we are headed in the right direction. As in, 15 years ago there used
to be one or two women on the sets of a film with 100 men. Today, there would
be may be 35 women and 65 men in a film unit, which is great,” Juhi said.
“So, yes, the opportunity to go out and be working and the freedom has
increased for women. But on the other hand, films are still hero-centric... In a
majority of the films, the hero is the hero,” she added.
The actress feels the pressure on actresses is also increasing.
“I feel we are putting a lot of pressure on the girls on-screen. They are
wearing tinier clothes, they are becoming size-zero, they have to look
very cool and comfortable with live-in relationships.... Why so much
pressure on women? Is this an expression of freedom? Is it, truly?
“I don’t even see why it is a question that women should prove their
equality. I feel they were anyway superior. I mean women are one half
of society and are responsible for creating the other half. So why do
they have to prove anything?”
A former Miss India Universe, Juhi made her cinematic debut
with the 1986 film Sultanat. But she came into the spotlight in
1988 with the success of romantic drama Qayamat Se Qayamat
Tak, which also featured Aamir Khan.
She carved a niche with hits like Darr, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar
Ke, Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi, Ishq and Duplicate. She experimented
with her craft after her marriage to businessman Jai
Mehta in 1998, by taking up films like 3 Deewarein, My
Brother Nikhil and Jhankaar Beats. In the past few years,
Juhi was seen in Gulaab Gang and Chalk N Duster.
There are reports that she might get back together with
I don’t even superstar Shah Rukh Khan for a cameo in Aanand L.
see why it is a Rai’s project, and might star with Anil Kapoor in Vidhu
Vinod Chopra’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.
question that But neither is there any confirmation on the projects,
women should nor did Juhi choose to speak about them. Talking about the kind of
prove their equality. work she wants to do, Juhi said: “As long as I can, I will be acting –
I feel they were whether on-screen or by making an appearance on television. I will
continue it– may be a little less than before.
anyway superior. I “I am working in a film which will go on the floors in January
mean women are and again it is a very interesting script. I think you will hear
one half of society more details from the production house which at some point
will make its announcement.
and are responsible
Meanwhile, Sharanam... and I am considering some
for creating the more work on television.”
other half. So why What should one expect with Sharanam?
do they have to “The beauty, the richness, the culture, the wisdom and
knowledge that people have... that is what you will see
prove anything?
in the show Sharanam,” she said.
ctress Rani Mukerji, who attended the trailer launch of her upcoming
film Hichki, says that "speech impairment" is not a subject but a reality
that most people live with in real life. When asked if talking about the
speech impairment issue with the movie will help bring awareness, she said:
"First of all, I would like to say this isn't a subject but a part of many lives."
"The people who suffer from the syndrome a r e
challenged in every part of their lives. During research
for the role, I met many kids who suffered from it and
their parents, they haven't been able to come out
properly in India. "If you look at America, where
there are stand up comedians, who step forward and
took their 'turrets' in their act, in their comic format.
So now when we start talking about it in India, I am
sure lot more people will come forward and
talk about their experience," added Rani. Rani
Mukerji also informed that her performance
in the movie also comes from a very personal
space as she used to stammer in her childhood.
"I used to stammer when I was a kid and my
mom was also facing the same thing. My elder
brother still does. I have overcome the issue
a lot because as an actress I have to say
many dialogues, express many emotions
and stammering usually takes place and is
highly noticeable when you are emotionally
affected," she said.
"I had to control it a lot and work a lot on it
but the good thing is, if you can overcome it
you can make your weakness your strength,"
added Rani. Hichki traces the journey of a
teacher who suffers from Turrets syndrome.
Finally, she gets admitted to one of
the schools but has to deal with a set of
municipal students who no one wants
to teach.
When asked if there were any other
films offered to her after Mardaani, she
said: "I don't remember as such but after
pregnancy when I decided and said that I
want to do a film, I was offered Hichk'."
Hichki is directed by Siddharth P
Malhotra and produced by Maneesh
Sharma under the banner of Yash Raj
Films. The film celebrates self-belief,
the resilience of human spirit and hope.
The film is about turning disadvantages
into opportunities and staring down at
challenges and ultimately winning over
them. It is slated for a February 23,
2018 release.

Influence of women in any field is good, says Farhan Akhtar

A
ctor-filmmaker-singer Farhan Akhtar
hopes that actresses backing films as
producers is not just a passing trend as
he believes that women’s influence, irrespective
of the field, is good for everyone.
Over the years, actresses like Dia Mirza,
Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Chitrangda
Singh and Richa Chadha have shown interest in
contributing to filmmaking as producers.
Asked what he thought about the trend,
Akhtar said: “That’s how it should be. Not
just actresses, there are also a lot of female
producers and women who are working in
different companies and handling the creative
aspect of those companies.”
“It is amazing to see that. The more influence
that we have of women in any field, why just
films... it can be sports or politics also, it’s good
for everyone because they have a different
perspective on things because they have
experienced life in different ways from what we
(men) have; so, it makes a difference,” added
the brother of director Zoya Akhtar.
Farhan’s latest co-production, Fukrey
Returns, registered an opening day collection
of Rs 8.10 crore on December 8. Are box office
collections more important when he produces
a film?
“The reason you do a film is because you
want to share it with the world and when a
lot of people see your film, the most tangible
recognition of it is the box office collection,
because you can aggregate a number through
it,” he said.
But for him, success of a film also means
“conceptually what is done to get people to
think about things”.
“There are many films that were released in
their time and not considered box office hits,
but what that film meant, the kind of story-
telling, the work that went into that film have
sustained and at times (they are) considered as
landmark films and way ahead of their times.
“So, success of a film can be gauged on many
fronts; but is box office important? Of course
it is, because people are putting money in a
film. You don’t want anyone to lose money,”
said the co-founder of Excel Entertainment that
has produced blockbusters like Rock On!! and
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
The first look of his next co-production
3 Storeys, starring Pulkit Samrat, Sharman
Joshi, Richa Chadha and Renuka Shahane, was
unveiled last week. So, is a multi-starrer the
formula for a hit film?
“I don’t think so. Eventually, a good story
should be the formula for success... whether it
is about one perso n in a room or 21 people in
a colony like in 3 Storeys. Our emphasis is on
trying to tell good stories.
“Arjun Mukerjee, who is the director and
writer of this film, has truly put together
something that we consider very special. Now
we are excited to share it with others,” he said.
Farhan is also passionate about fitness, among
other things. The actor, who has fronted ads of
vitamins and dietary supplements brand, is now
endorsing Apollo Munich Health Insurance.
Is he deliberately focussing on health-
related brands? “It is not deliberate. I do feel
good about doing it when it does happen. I
don’t go around looking for it, but I guess the
lifestyle that I lead, the kind of work that I do,
information on my life and focus on health and
fitness, encourage people to come and speak to
me about it,” said the 43-year-old.
When did he start taking fitness seriously?
“I got serious about it in 2003-2004. I was
shooting for Lakshya in Ladakh. We were there
for five months and I felt incredibly fit by
the time I came back from there.
“When I returned to Mumbai, my energy
levels were really high... it was a feeling
that I didn’t want to lose. That’s when I
started training with Sam (Samir Jaura),
who is my trainer,” said the “Bhaag Milkha
Bhaag” actor.
He believes fitness is "The
not about “going to reason you
a gym and getting do a film is because
big biceps. It’s you want to share it with
much more the world and when a lot
of people see your film, the
than that”.
most tangible recognition of
it is the box office collection,
because you can
aggregate a number
through it."
 BOXING DAY SALE

40 - 50% OFF
STOREWIDE* + SUPER DEALS
*EXCLUDES NOW DEALS & SUPER DEALS. NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS.

SUPER
SUPER DEAL
DEAL

SUPER
DEAL

Unwind Queen NOW was $1299 Cello 4 Piece Queen NOW was $1499 Chicago 3 + 2 + 1 was $1399
Mattress + Base ONLY $ 599 Bedroom Suite ONLY $ 999 NOW
Seater Lounge Suite ONLY $ 999
SUPER SUPER
DEAL DEAL

SUPER
DEAL

was $1399 was $1899 was $2999

Cambridge Chertsey Louise
NOW
3 Seater + 2 Single Recliners ONLY $999 NOW
3 Seater + 2 Single Recliners ONLY 1499
$ Corner Suite
NOW
ONLY 2799
$
VISIT YOUR NEAREST STORE OR ONLINE AT FURNITURENOW.CO.NZ FOR MORE AMAZING OFFERS.
WHANGAREI SYLVIA PARK MANUKAU SUPA CENTA PUKEKOHE HAMILTON
4 - 10 Gumdigger Place 393 Mt Wellington HWY 17 - 21 Cavendish Drive 16 Wrightson Way 7 Maui Street
Phone: 027 700 4529 Phone: 09 394 7564 Phone: 09 394 7560 Phone: 09 394 7566 Phone: 07 849 7070
30 FEATURES Friday, December 22, 2017 The Indian Weekender

Christmas at Silo Park
Date: Thursday, December 21 to Sunday,
December 24
Time: Varied timings
Venue: Silo Park, Wynyard Quarter, 96 Jellicoe
Street, Auckland: 1010
Your much loved urban playground, Silo Park, is
back and starting the season with four days of
Christmas celebrations! Come join us from 21
Dec to 24 Dec for some festive fun, with music
(DJs to carolers!), food trucks, entertainment,
games, and the ever delightful Silo Park bar
serving you some extra special Christmas cheer.
We’ve got carnival rides for all the family to
enjoy and Santa will even be joining us on the
Saturday and Sunday! Of course, Silo Cinema
will be playing on Friday night - your choice of
Love Actually, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th
Street and Scrooged. Please note, the Silo
Markets won’t be featuring this year.
Indian Kite Festival 2018
Date: Saturday, 14 January
Time: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Eastdale Road, Avondale, Auckland
Book 14 January 2018 in your calendar and be
show, stick around for a hot drink and snacks unique, hand crafted gift. Featuring an
while the kids get their faces painted. There incredible selection of New Zealand products
will also be a photo booth, so you can have a including jewellery, arts and crafts, textiles and
few snaps to remember the evening. These homemade preserves. Stroll around with a
activities are all free, so make plans to join us coffee, pick up the perfect gift and enjoy live
at our Christmas Walkthrough this season. beats from Auckland’s top DJ’s. Come and
The lightshow is also on this month starting experience the magic of Christmas at SKYCITY
at 8:30 p.m. nightly till the 17th of December. Auckland! Entry is free. 
in to celebrate Makarsakranti (Uttrayan) first in
the world. Let’s come altogether at Indian Kite
After that, we’re bringing it forward to 7pm to co-
Festival on Sunday 14 January 2018 at Eastdale incide with the start of our walkthrough. Maa Bhagwati Jagran
Reserve, Avondale, Auckland. Event not to miss. Date: Saturday & Sunday, 6 & 7 January 2018
Loads of activities for children, elderly, women, Christmas Markets Time: 7 p.m. on January 2018
family with great food. Fun rides for children, Date: Sunday, 24 December Venue: Maa Durga Temple, 4/3 Onslow
face painting, henna, music, dance etc.
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Avenue, Manukau
Venue: Skycity, Auckland, Corner Victoria and Start the new year with Maa Bhagwati Jaagrean
Christmas Walkthrough: Federal Street at the Maa Durga Temple. Mahaprasad at 7
Coking for the perfect gift…? Join us for the p.m., Jyot Prachand, Chai Prasad at 12 a.m.
The Frost Files SKYCITY Christmas Market. ON Sunday, Katha Mata Rani at 4 a.m., Kanya
Date: Thursday, December 21 to Saturday, Held every Sunday from 10am-2pm until Poojan at 5:30 a.m., Aarti at 6 a.m. followed by
December 23 Christmas Eve, this is the place to find a prasad. Nariyan Chunri available at the temple.
Time: 7 p.m. onwards
Venue: 5 Ben Lomond Crescent, Auckland
Publuc event hosted by EastGate OpShop,
Eastgate Christian Centre and East Gate Te
Kauwhata. Eastgate presents our annual
Christmas Walkthrough, called The Frost Files:
a Christmas Mystery. Detective Frost and his
band of quirky friends are back this Christmas
to help a lost, and lonely Wiseman find his
friends. Follow Frost on a 25-minute journey
through four dynamic and creative multimedia
sets. It’s suitable for all ages and is an excellent
way to spend the evening with all your friends
and family in the lead-up to Christmas.  After the

The New Mercedes-Benz X-Class

and of course Bluetooth connectivity,
supporting wma, aac, mp3 and wav audio
formats, and has a picture viewer to
allow image files to be viewed.

A Close Encounter With What’s To Come
It was an overwhelming few days for
Trucks & Trailers Vijay Chhagn, who
recently took out a top Mercedes-Benz
Van salesman prize that landed him in
Austria at the Mercedes-Benz X-Class
Global Training Experience Centre. Here
Vijay spent five days getting close and
personal with the first of a new kind of
Ute, due to hit the New Zealand market
in early 2018. He is one of the first in the
world to see and test drive the X-Class
and it’s fair to say he’s now more excited
than ever about its arrival. I sat down
with Vijay to hear what he has to say
about it.
“My first impression of the X-Class when
I saw it was wow, it looks even better in
the flesh” says Vijay. “Yes, it’s a ute but it
is different to anything else on the market
at the moment”. The lines of the X-Class
are classy, rounded, and seamless.
The colour range, including red, black,
dark blue, dark grey, silver, brown, and
white is stylish, especially the metallic
colour range. The paint finish is glossy
and flawless. “The standard variants
make it a stand out on it’s own, but the
accessories individualise it and give it a
different personality while not in any way
jeopardising the overall look”, says Vijay.
“It looks great with various alloy wheel
options in 17-inch silver, 18-inch grey,
or 19-inch black, as well as roof rails,
style bars, tow bar, a wide range of cover
options, bed liners, dividers, storage
boxes, steps, the list goes on”.
“Open the door and it just gets better!
It’s everything you expect and more
from a Mercedes-Benz”, says Vijay. The
dashboard in matt black, aluminum, and
wood grain finishes are all incredibly
stylish. “I couldn’t pick a favorite,” he
says. All are five-seat configuration,
two front and three back. Multifunction
steering wheel with 12 control buttons,
cruise control with variable speed
limiter, air-conditioning, 4 x 12V sockets,
armrests, bottle holders in each door,
comfort overhead control panel with
eyewear compartment, locking glove
compartment, entry and assist grips
front and rear, power windows, and
central locking with remote. To top it off
an audio sound system with touchpad,
innovative controller and large TFT
central media display with a screen
diagonal of 17.8 cm. The unit connects to
Media with two USB ports and SD slot,
“I couldn’t wait to drive it!” says Vijay.
“But first of all we took a spin in the
competitor Utes on an off-road course
before we were given the keys to the
X-Class. This is where the magic really
happened. The steering, handling,
and precision off-road is in a league
of its own,” he says. “The power is
effortless as it glides over the terrain and
undulations, the steering and movement
around corners is so controlled. It feels
so safe!” This aided by double-wishbone
front suspension, multi-link coil rear
suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars,
and the rear differential lock in the 4x4
variant. “Off-road is effortless!” he says.
On-roads turn, and “there wasn’t any
surprises as we glided through the tight
twists and turns of Austria’s cobbled
roads,” says Vijay. “On to the freeway
and on with cruise control was more like

a first class flight experience than a driving stereotypical of Mercedes-Benz European

one.” The three models: Pure, Power, and
Progressive were all the same technically,
more or less, 2,298cc 4 cylinder 140kW,
450 Nm direct injection, twin turbocharged,
6 speed manual or 7 speed automatic
with selectable 4WD. Each model steps
up in terms of additional key features. “I
design and engineering. I have no doubt
when we get customers in the seat it’s
going to be hard to compare it to anything
else currently on the market. And with
the base price starting from $53,300*
including GST for the pure model, it is
very competitive!” Vijay says. “It was a

The power is effortless as it glides over

the terrain and undulations, the steering and
movement around corners is so controlled.”
have to admit I was pleasantly surprised
by the amount of power and grunt in the
4-cylinder,” he says. “The safety features
are endless, hill start assist, Active Brake
Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, on-board
diagnostics, reversing camera with three
view modes, automatic headlight assist,
adaptive electronic stability programme,
anti-lock breaking system, acceleration
skid control, and seven airbags.”
“Overall the X-Class is a beautiful machine,
wonderful trip! Bring on 2018, I can’t wait
to get my hands on the Mercedes-Benz
X-Class.”
You can reserve one of the first Mercedes-
Benz X-Class Utes with Trucks & Trailers
now at www.trucksandtrailers.co.nz/x-
class or if you have any questions please
contact a Trucks & Trailers Mercedes-Benz
Van & Ute Specialist on 0800 327 777.
*Excluding ORC