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VOL 24 No. 3
Print Post Publication No. 23572300014
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D
Avijit Sarkar Subra Iyer
Bipin Sharma
Gnanam Muthukrishnan
Neni Tiwari
Swati Jain
Inside this issue:
33: How Sydney
lights a lamp this
Diwali in service
to others
17: Farhan rocks
35: Lord Hanuman
49: How to meditate
60: Vale Nawab Pataudi
Happiness is when you think, what you say and what you
do are in harmony.
The weak can never forgive,
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Hatred can be overcome by love.
My greatest weapon is mute prayer.
Mahatma Gandhi
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 03
06 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Editor's Letter
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 7
Editorial/Advertising Enquiries: 02 9875 2713
Postal Address: PO Box 99, Thornleigh NSW 2120.
Email: indiandownunder@gmail.com
Website: www.indiandownunder.com.au
EDITORIAL
Principal Editor: Vijay Badhwar
Associate Editor: Neena Badhwar
North America : Parveen Chopra
Correspondent
Sports Editor: Kersi Meher-Homji
Delhi Reporter: Ritu Ghai
WRITERS
Third Eye: Rekha Bhattacharjee
Political Columns: Karam Ramrakha, Mallika
Ganesan
Films and Art: Neeru Saluja, Abhishek Sood, Monica
Daswani, Sumi Krishnan, Devaki Parthasarthy, Neena
Badhwar, Rekha Rajvanshi
Body-Mind-Spirit: Dr Sunder Das, Kanaka
Ramakrishna, Faith Harper, T Selva, Dilip Mahanty
Sport: Kersi Meher-Homji, Dilip Mahanty
Fiji Diary: Karam Ramrakha
Cookery: Promila Gupta
Children Section: Esther Chudhary-Lyons
Classical Music: Sumi Krishnan, Kris Raman,
Lokesh Varma
Travel: Vijay Badhwar, Kris Raman
Humour: Melvin Durai, Santram Bajaj
Seniors Column: Santram Bajaj
Beauty: Devaki Parthasarthy
Community: Neena Badhwar, Kersi Meher-Homji,
Vijay Badhwar, Sumi Krishnan, Neeru Saluja, Savitha
Narayan
Photographers: Neelesh Kale, Raj Suri and Jordan
Anjaiya
Graphic Design: Nayanesh Gandhi, Dinesh Verma,
(Bhagwati Multimedia) Bharat Bhushan Chopra
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By Vijay Badhwar
A
s we go through the festive sea-
son, the daily routines take to
the sidelines - the work, studies,
entertainment, even the usual politics,
all take second fiddle to attending Durga
pujas, Dandia Raas, Dussehra festivities,
Ram Katha (a very popular event this
year) and Diwali get-togethers. With a
significant growth in the Indian commu-
nity in Australia, there are so many
functions that there is not much time for
anything else.
In India, there are unbelievable
scenes as there is noticeably more reli-
gious fervour these days than a decade
ago. One festival finishes and the next
takes over. There is a constant buzz of
festivities declared over the loudspeakers
in competing intensities, a free-for-all
bout for all faiths, such is the freedom.
The queues outside temples snake
around for hours before you get the
blessed glimpse of the deity.
If there is one dominating political
news, thats of Anna Hazare. He is
everywhere, embedded in every news,
the pathfinder among scams that are
propping up like weeds. Even the gentle
and well-regarded Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh has lost his appeal,
people disenchanted with him, seeing
him as a mere puppet, sorely lacking the
authority India needs today. The absence
of Sonia Gandhi from the scene due to
sickness hasnt helped either as she
appears now and then but without any
purpose.
The Anna movement is sweeping
India and Indians at grassroots level who
feel frustrated by endemic corruption in
the society. It is a burning issue that has
united all Indians who are willing to
desert major political parties and well-
known candidates as they demand their
basic right for a better life without the
evil of corruption.
Not a day goes by without Anna
being the headline and highlight. He is
compared to Mahatma Gandhi, which he
humbly refutes, thus acquiring more
charm and charisma among the masses.
Media banners provide twisted contexts
that his close associate Arvind Kejriwal
puts Anna above Parliament (Kejriwals
actual quote puts all citizens above par-
liament).
There is a lot of political activity as
small time political hopefuls gravitate
under the umbrella of Team Anna and
its movement against corruption. Kiran
Bedi recently denied any political ambi-
tions for Anna Hazare. In an address at
a conference on womens health, organ-
ised by the Pune and Maharashtra chap-
ters of the Indian Medical Association,
Kiran Bedi said, Anna does not have
any political inclination, but we will
oppose all those political parties that
oppose the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Interestingly, Laloo Prasad Yadav
challenged Anna Hazare to float a politi-
cal party to contest elections to prove
his worth. Lokpal Team India Against
Corruption conducted a sample survey
where 90 per cent of people opposed the
Bihar leader in his own Saran con-
stituency. It was a slap on the face for
Laloo who is notorious for his loose
comments.
Having found a common cause and a
burning issue with Annas fight against
corruption, people crowd to rallies when
Anna team comes to town. On October
10, Anand Kejriwal, in his home town
Hisar, along with Manish Sisodia,
embarked on a campaign, India Against
Corruption, to ask people to vote
against the ruling party, saying, Give
Congress a historic defeat. Indeed,
Congress came third as the Oct 13
byelection in Hisar for Parliament was
won by Bhajan Lals son, Kuldeep
Bishnoi, who was supported by BJP.
The seat fell vacant when incumbent
Bhajan Lal died earlier this year. Ajay
Chautala, whose father and grandfather
have been chief ministers, finished sec-
ond. Jai Prakash was the Congress can-
didate.
In fact, Congress had a dismal score
of 0-4 as it also lost in three state-
assembly seats elsewhere. Which
prompted Anna Hazare to suggest that it
was a wake up call for the party.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K.
Advani termed the "results of the by-
polls a reflection of the government's
inability to govern". On the defensive,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said,
"One by-election cannot be seen as a
referendum or a reflection on the per-
formance of my government.
Team Anna have clarified that they
are not anti-Congress, only opposing the
ruling party for not passing the Jan
Lokpal Bill. They add that opposing
Congress does not mean they are sup-
porting BJP. RSS has been keen to show
its proximity to Hazare movement, a
point seized by Congress to argue that
the movement is prodded on by Sangh
parivar. To milk the anti-corruption sen-
timent and to claim the ground wrested
by Hazare, BJPs Advani has embarked
on a yatra. Some Sangh parivar sympa-
thizers beat up Prashant Bhushan, a
Hazare associate (who had made the
controversial suggestion of holding
plebiscite in Kashmir, an idea Hazare
himself disapproved), and hurled a shoe
at Kejriwal. Perhaps wanting not to
comment on such goings-on Anna has
gone into silence in his village of
Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra.
Within Team Anna there is lack of
consensus on the agenda. At least two
prominent members have moved away
on the ground that the movement has
turned political with the stand taken in
Hisar poll. Congress spokesman
Digvijay Singh have repeatedly said
that Kejriwal has political ambitions. An
email circulating on the internet had
Kejriwal compared to Congress general
secretary and heir apparent Rahul
Gandhi, trying to prove that Kejriwal
had better credentials than Rahul to
become Indias next prime minister.
M
eanwhile, Sydney demonstrat-
ed its own support for Anna
by organising a meeting at
Parravilla Function Centre on August
16. Gargi Tripathi, of Value World
Travel who organized a Mahanavratri
festival recently, sat for a fast in support
of the cause. Perhaps NRIs have also
been the victims of corrupt practices in
India during their visits back home.
Although Sydneysiders got two
Independence Day Fairs this year, one
by UIA and the other by new entrant
CIA, the community missed out on the
annual $50,000 grant that it previously
received for two years from the Labor
Government. The conspicuous absence
of NSW Premier Barry OFarrell at both
the fairs indicates that the Premier has
other priorities. The little hope the com-
munity had of its own centre also goes
on the back burner without the annual
grant. Its a loss for the community.
Another sad loss for all music lovers
has been the demise of ghazal maestro
Jagjit Singh. He had created a special
bond with the Indian community in
Australia. It was only last year that he
had celebrated his 70th birthday with the
Sydney community. His memories will
live with us forever.
Cricket lovers also must be feeling
sad for Indian teams thrashing in
England in both Tests and ODIs. Albeit,
at home, India has taken a sturdy 2-0
lead in the five game ODI series against
England.
On a positive note, lets all celebrate
goodness in life with Diwali. We, at
The Indian Down Under, wish you all a
joyful and prosperous Diwali.
There is no other news like Anna news
Anna Hazare with Kiran Bedi and other supporters
BJP leader L K Advani's 38-day Jan
Chetna Yatra is supported by the
popular Gujarat chief minister
Narendra Modi. The yatra is aimed to
wrest the anti-corruption initiative from
Anna Hazare.
Visit us at :
www.indiandownunder.com.au
for news on
Community,Cricket,
India, Bollywood....
updated regularly
8 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
Comment
By Rekha Bhattacharjee
P
rof. Ramashray Roys book
on Gandhian thought is an
important addition to litera-
ture. Jai Narayan reviewed this
book of importance to students of
history and Gandhi in particular.
Prof Ramashray Roy, the cele-
brated author of Gandhi:
Soundings in Political Philosophy,
Self and Society and other
prominent works, gives the intro-
duction to this volume with 11
other prominent social scientists
and scholars.
Dr. A.K. Saran focuses his
paper on the concern of Gandhi for
which he lived and died. For Saran,
this concern was not so much for
national freedom as it was for civil-
isation in its sweep. Gandhis initi-
ation into politics began with his
fight against racial discrimination
in South Africa. Since racial dis-
crimination formed part of white
mans outlook, he was fighting a
civilization that justified that.
Gandhi was not opposed to the
British people in general but to the
civilisation which dehumanized
existence by giving effect to their
mission of civilising inferior races
and uncultured people. Gandhiji
wanted it to be replaced by a civil-
isation that had its roots in Indian
tradition of non-violence.
Dr. D.K. Shah in his paper
Purushartha and Gandhi attempts
to provide a theoretical scaffolding
to Gandhis ideas in general.
Dr. Amlan Datta elaborates in
his essay The nature of the modern
problematique that identifies
industrialism as the prime source of
this crisis. Raising the question
why one country after another
adopted industrialism, he argues
that it was not for removal of
poverty as many believe. It was not
also for happiness because industri-
al life and relations have fostered
alienation, isolation and unhappi-
ness. Industrialism was adopted
because the nation did not want to
be swamped and swallowed by
superior military might. In order to
defend, nations needed to develop
ever higher technology and mod-
ernise their production base. This
led gradually to arms race, which
now presents before the world a
cruel dilemma.
Dr. D.R. Nagraj addresses this
aspect in his paper. Taking up the
question why violence persists,
Nagraj speaks of two grounds of
violence: a philosophical defence
arguing that there is violence
everywhere in the cosmos, and the
historical justification of violence
as being useful. However, the main
ground of violence, Nagaraj
argues, is fear. Turning to the con-
temporary Indian situation he
underscores the need for re-enact-
ing Gandhi.
Addressing the question of
Where can the Gandhian discourse
be situated, Dr Raghuramaraju
argues and explains that it is neces-
sary to reformulate Gandhis cri-
tique of modernity because both the
content of his critique and the
idioms of discourse of modernity
have changed greatly. Making a
distinction between modern west-
ern civilisation and western society,
Gandhi highlighted the damage
modernisation has done not only to
the non-western societies but to the
western society itself.
Arnold Toynbee, a world
famous historian, has said, most
civilisations died 200 years before
they knew they died.
By Rekha Bhattacharjee
A
n Indian prime ministers
principal secretary wields
enormous power, patron-
age and influence, much more
than a cabinet minister. More
often it has been headed by indi-
viduals of genuine stature and
quality. Great trust is entrusted by
the prime minister to his principal
secretary and to his personnel
aide.
Sir C.P. Srivastava, an IAS
officer, was Prime Minister Lal
Bahadur Shastris aide, friend and
biographer. Sir CPs book A Life
of Truth in Politics on Lal
Bahadur Shastri gives insight and
details of important events in the
former PMs life.
Preceded by the towering per-
sonality of Pandit Nehru who
dominated the Indian political
scene for 17 years and succeeded
by no less a controversial figure as
Mrs Indira Gandhi, the 19 months
of Mr Shastris time as Prime
Minister has faded with only ref-
erences in historical work.
On 11 January 1966, the then
USSRs Prime Minister Kosygin
and Pakistans President Ayub
Khan, a war adversary of the day,
became a friend, grieving toll
bearer, carrying the coffin of Mr
Shastri on their shoulder to the
gateway of the Soviet aircraft.
Great tributes have been paid
to Mr Shastri.
The US Ambassador to India
during that time, Chester Bowles,
said, PM Shastri was an extraor-
dinary man. He divided the
Indian leaders into Adams and
Jacksonians.
The Adams were the ones edu-
cated in UK and USA. These peo-
ple, according to him, were not
thoroughly Indian. They had one
foot in Asia and one foot in
Europe. Bright and charming peo-
ple. Shashtri was a Jacksonian; he
had his roots in India. He had
never been out of India until after
he became the Prime Minister.
There were many of these, and
Chester Bowles concluded by say-
ing that he had more faith in the
Jacksonians for the future.
In Four Decades in
Parliament, former Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
compared Nehru and Shastri:
Nehru with his regal upbringing
on the one hand and Shastri who
fought his way through abject
poverty; a barrister who had
acquired western education and
imbibed western culture at
Cambridge University on the one
hand and Lal Bahadur Shashtri
who obtained the Shastri degree
at the Kashi Vidya Peeth on the
other. Despite these dissimilarities
Shri Shastri proved a worthy
successor to Pandit Nehru which
shows the inner strength and elas-
ticity of Indian Society.
Sir CP throws light on Shastri,
the man, the statesman and leader.
His honesty and humanity shines
through. Insight into the details of
his conversations with Shastriji,
his thoughts at the time of the most
important historic event are pre-
sented in lucid detail.
The Tashkent Declaration
signed by Prime Minister Shastri
and President Ayub Khan in the
presence of Prime Minister
Kosygin of USSR was a historic
event after the Indo-Pakistan war.
It restored peace between India
and Pakistan and eliminated the
danger of war. This peace was
achieved most honourably in
accordance with the relevant reso-
lution of the United Nations
Security Council.
The 19 months of Shastriji as
Prime Minister faced a number of
daunting problems. He dealt with
the food crisis, took decisions,
declared Hindi as the National
Language on the 26th January
1965, tackled Chinas threatening
gestures and the Pakistan war.
More challenging was the achieve-
ment of peace his last act.
The epilogue that Sir CP
wrote spoke volumes of Shastriji
the man.
When he died his life sheet
was spotlessly clean. He left no
money, no house and no land. He
did leave an example which will
continue to inspire, fortify and
encourage all those of every com-
munity and creed who believe that
the only function for national life
must be dedication to truth and
honesty. He never sought for him-
self and superlatives are of ful-
some praise. Epitaph that he might
have liked would read:
Lal Bahadur Shashtri 2nd
October 1904 11th January
1966. In deep respect for
A Life of Truth in Politics.
Sir C.P. Srivastava fills the void
prevalent in most historical works
of Modern India. It is of immense
importance to students of Modern
Indian History and other readers
in general.
Forgotten thoughts of Gandhi
A life of truth: Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri, Zulfikar Bhutto, Pakistan President Ayub Khan
and Russian President Kosygin after the Tashkent agreement was
signed in January 1966 ending the Indo-Pak war.
The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee
The Painter
who loved
Gandhi
Jagu Bhai Shahthe famous
artist from Gujarat, has revelled
in teaching art to students, both
in villages and cities. In his
almost 40-years-long teaching
career, Jagu Bhai treated all his
students as if they were future
Michaelangelo. They were
encouraged to paint walls of
their classrooms with murals so
that they could hone their skills.
But above all, like the saint
poet Tulsidas who loved to
praise Lord Rama, Jagu Bhai
genuinely enjoyed praising
Mahatma Gandhi his ideology
of non-violence and construc-
tive activities. He got involved
in Gandhian ways when he
worked for Swariya Ashram of
Vedchhi near Bardoli in South
Gujarat in 1941.
There, he made many paint-
ings on walls that would com-
municate Gandhijis teachings
to villagers and tribals visually.
Since then he has been making
narrative paintings, some very
large and complex, based on the
eventful life and activities of the
Mahatma, using various medi-
ums.
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 9
India should leverage soft power: Shashi Tharoor
By Rekha Bhattacharjee
I
ndia is facing tumultuous
uncertainty as its accelerating
economic growth and geopolit-
ical developments are pushing it to
the centre-stage for which it finds
itself unready. The reluctance to
wear the mantle of, at least,
regional superpower has generated
a raging debate whether India
should assert itself as first among
the global equals or not.
The well-known Indian author-
politician Shashi Tharoor would
not feel comfortable with India
being described as a superpower.
He would prefer the emerging
South Asian economic powerhouse
to focus more on harnessing her
soft power overseas.
Many of our people still live
as destitute amidst despair and dis-
repair thats why I hesitate to use
that word superpower, he said
while delivering an oration on
India as a soft power organised by
Australia India Institute (AII) as a
part of the annual oration in
Melbourne late last month.
"So far, goodwill for India
abroad has been largely generated
in an unplanned manner, but has
not been systematically harnessed
by New Delhi. There is a need to
do more to leverage India's soft
power systematically", Shashi
Tharoor, who is also a human
rights activist, said while making
the oration which was the conclud-
ing part of the Conference The
Reluctant Super Power - under-
standing India and its aspirations
Sept 22-23.
Tharoor's senior colleague in
Congress party, and also a former
diplomat, Mani Shankar Aiyar,
concurs that India should reject the
notion of superpower. He was a
guest speaker at the same event.
Aiyers view is that India's
current push onto the international
stage is being manipulated by the
West as a counterbalance to con-
tain China's military and economic
growth.
While declaring the notion of
superpower as a curiously archaic
one, the erudite Tharoor went on
to explain the phrase soft power in
his characteristically engaging
manner. "The soft power of a
country rests primarily on three
resources: its culture, its political
values, and its foreign policies,"
the former Indian minister said
quoting Harvard Universitys
Joseph Nye.
Tharoor recalled India's many
strengths such as films, television
soaps, yoga, ayurveda, pluralism,
diversity and openness to global
influences. So it is not just materi-
al accomplishments that enhance
India's soft power. Even more
important are the values and prin-
ciples for which India stands, he
said. After all, Mahatma Gandhi
won India its independence
through the use of soft power -
because Non-Violence and
Satyagraha were indeed classic
uses of soft power before the term
was even coined, Tharoor further
explained.
India's first Prime Minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru, was also a
skilled exponent of soft power: he
developed a role for India in the
world based entirely on its civi-
lizational history and its moral
standing, making India the voice
of the oppressed and the marginal-
ized against the big power hege-
mons of the day, he said.
What makes Tharoors narra-
tive even more interesting, and
plausible, is the fact that he does
not discount hard power and
believes it is, in spite of its limita-
tions, necessary. The debonair
Malayalee expands on this theory
by giving examples of Afghanistan
and Vietnam where the erstwhile
superpowers Soviet Union and
their adversary US were respec-
tively humbled.
The side with the larger army
doesn't always win. But the side
with the better story, the more
attractive culture, and more
numerous channels of communica-
tion, always does better than the
one which only has guns, Tharoor
opined.
The push to the world centre-
stage has come as India has pro-
gressed from an overwhelmingly
impoverished country to innova-
tive society with double-digit (if
we are to believe some econo-
mists) growth rate in the last 25
odd years.
The growth is being registered
not only in the sphere of econom-
ics statistics but also India expand-
ing its sphere of influence. The
expansion, or exertion of econom-
ic and military muscle, is being
seen as somewhat reluctant, half-
hearted. This is in sharp contrast
to the neighbouring China which
has never believed in subtlety
while dealing with regional or
global powers it see as worthy
adversaries or, even, plain irrita-
tions. While the vested western
interests have been trying to play
India against China for a while
now, India has been cautious to
not take the bait.
Mani Shankar Aiyar too
opposes any such moves. He
believes India needs to focus on
internal issues rather than assume
a more prominent diplomatic role
in the global contentious matters.
He wants India to focus on moral
diplomacy as devised by Mahatma
Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Because the expression of
morality is regarded as being
impractical, is regarded as being
superior, where you're not superi-
or and where it is felt that India's
place in the world will be deter-
mined by the extent to which it
participates in this quest for domi-
nance, rather than the extent to
which it keeps itself away from it,
Mani Shankar Aiyar told ABC
Radio in Melbourne recently.
Some experts are expressing
doubts over Indias ability to alle-
viate crippling poverty and, hence,
emerge as a level player among
the international community.
Isher Judge Ahluwalia, an emi-
nent Indian economist, is more
concerned about the Indian com-
placency. India is often reported
to be feeling smug over its
$US300 billion in foreign reserves
but Ahluwalia warns against show-
ing any complacency at this stage.
''In this frantic and fragile world
of foreign exchange reserves, no
amount is adequate if the percep-
tion is that the policies are going
the wrong way'', he said while
giving Valedictory Lecture
Indias Economic Story: From
Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan
Singh as a part of the Melbourne
conference.
Prominent Indian journalist
Swapan Dasgupta was also one of
the speakers at the conference. He
spoke on Religion, Secularism
and Multiculturalism in a well-
attended session.
Mani Shankar Aiyer
Shashi Tharoor
Julia Gillard to equip Australia
for an Asian Century
By Rekha Bhattacharjee
P
itted against relentless media
scrutiny, overly negative
opposition and subtle sex-
ism, Julia Gillard has not managed
to earn much credit for policy ini-
tiatives in her chequered career as
the Australian Prime Minister.
Shackled for heading a minor-
ity government, the first female
Prime Minister of Australia has
also been often criticized for lack-
ing courage of conviction.
Undeterred by the aforementioned
adversities, she has been instru-
mental in initiating many actions.
On Asia Link in Asian Society,
hers was the greatest speech of an
Australian Prime Minister in a
decade. A very important piece of
work which would leave a long-
lasting impact on the Australian
society.
Julia Gillard has also shown
economic pragmatism and vision
by recently commissioning a new
policy white paper to guide the
nation through the so-called Asian
Century. She has emphasized that
business-as-usual approach would
not be sufficient to position our-
selves to benefit from the emerg-
ing bonanza in our neighbourhood.
The shift of economic and
strategic weight to Asia has never
been more rapid or more profound
for Australias interests than it is
now, says the opening statement
of the White Paper announcement.
The White Paper on
Australia in the Asian Century
would be drafted by the former
treasury secretary Ken Henry
and that the draft would consider
economic, political and strategic
changes in Asia relevant to
Australia. The strategic blueprint
of Australias engagement with
Asia would also explore ways to
harness further opportunities for
Australia.
''Rapid growth in much of
Asia will change the social and
economic, strategic and environ-
mental order of our world,'' Julia
Gillard said in a media release.
''What we know clearly is that
there isn't a single aspect of gov-
ernment policies and national plan-
ning that won't be touched by the
great changes to come,'' the Prime
Minister further said.
Australia has managed to
withstand global financial crisis
because of our economic ties with
Asian economic giants like China
and India. Australia already has
strong trade ties with Japan. We
stand to reap further mind-bog-
gling rewards by the sale of
resources, services and retails
items to the burgeoning Asian
markets in our neighbourhood.
For the first time, we are
closer to the fastest growing and
most economically dynamic region
of the world than our competi-
Continued on page 13...
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee
Analysis
Tharoor, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Isher
Judge Ahluwalia spoke at the conference
titled The Reluctant Super Power -
understanding India and its aspirations
last month organised by the Australia
India Institute in Melbourne.
Recognising the fact that the Australian economic fortunes are
hinged with Asia, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a
strategic blueprint to harness our links with the emerging Asian
economic powerhouses namely - China, India and Indonesia.
10 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
India
India, Brazil, South Africa push for Security Council expansion
Pretoria: India, Brazil and
South Africa, all of whom are
now non-permanent members
of the UN Security Council,
on October 18 underscored
again the urgent need to
reform the system and add
more members to the high
table with increased participa-
tion of emerging economies. In
a joint communique after IBSA
Summit level talks among
Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, Brazilian President
Dilma Rousseff and their host
South African President Jacob
Zuma, the three leaders said
the Security Council expansion
must be of both permanent and
non-permanent categories.
In what is officially called
the Tshwane Declaration, the
three sides also discussed the
G4 initiative for UN reforms
among India, Brazil, Germany
and Japan for mutual support
of their candidature as perma-
nent members of the UNSC.
"The initiative has been
supported by a wide coalition
of member states from all
regional groups of the UN.
Therefore, they expressed the
view that such strong support
should be considered as the
basis for further discussion in
the ongoing intergovernmental
negotiations on the UNSC
reform," the communique said.
The need for greater
progress in the negotiations
was identified as critical to
ensure the required impetus to
change and the three sides
committed themselves to close
cooperation and coordination
at the current General
Assembly.
Earlier this month, India,
Brazil and South Africa -
together members of the
Security Council for the first
time since the trilateral forum
was formed in 2003 -
abstained on a vote against the
Syrian regime proposed by
some members, notably the
US.
This had led to the first ever
walk-out by the US at the high
table of the council, which in
diplomatic circles was seen as a
victory of sorts for developing
countries in general, and IBSA
in particular.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Dilma
Rousseff and summit host South African President Jacob Zuma.
IBSA summit focuses on economic crisis
Pretoria: India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA)
sought credible action from Western countries
for a way out of the sovereign debt crisis in
Europe and the overall global downturn and
said emerging economies can no longer remain
mute spectators on such subjects.
The leadership of the three countries,
which met here for the trilateral IBSA Dialogue
Forum, also decided to coordinate their efforts
ahead of the crucial G20 meeting at Cannes, to
prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
"We hope early steps will be taken by
Europe and other advanced economies to calm
the capital and financial markets, and prevent
the global economy from slipping into a double-
dip recession," Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh told the opening plenary.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and
summit host South African President Jacob
Zuma also called on world leaders to take
immediate steps since it was having a knock-
down effect on emerging economies. Their
positions were also reflected in a joint declara-
tion. "We need a credible agreement to prevent
the crisis from getting out of control," said
Rousseff, who later gave a statement before the
media jointly with Manmohan Singh and Zuma,
who also sought to link the crisis with the over-
all threat to food and energy security.
"The economic crisis is accompanied by a
crisis in our mode of consumption and use of
energy resources as well as food shortages. We
face increasing incidents of poverty and inequal-
ity in the world, while some parts of the globe
face hunger and disasters," Zuma said.
According to Manmohan Singh, the debt
crisis and the slowdown were also sending neg-
ative signals to the global markets, which were
exhibiting acute signs of distress and that devel-
oping countries like India, Brazil and South
Africa could not remain immune and
untouched.
"We should coordinate our positions in the
run up to the G20 Summit in France to ensure
that the priorities of the developing economies
are adequately reflected in the deliberations of
G20," the prime minister said, adding India will
be happy to host the next IBSA Summit.
With Pak in mind, Delhi, Kabul ink strategic pact
New Delhi: Amid souring rela-
tions between Islamabad and
Kabul, India and Afghanistan
signed a defining pact Oct 4
here to forge an all-embracing
strategic partnership that will
entail an annual security dia-
logue and expanded cooperation
to combat terror emanating from
Pakistan.
Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Afghan President
Hamid Karzai, who was in India
on a two-day visit, held
"detailed and frank discussions
on terrorism", officials said.
Afghanistan shared its find-
ings with India on the complicity
of Pakistani spy agency ISI in
recent terror attacks in
Afghanistan, including the assas-
sination of former president
Burhanuddin Rabbani, Karzais
chief interlocutor with the
Taliban.
In a move that is set to
annoy Islamabad, India formally
expressed its intention to "assist,
as mutually determined, in the
training, equipping and capacity
building programs for Afghan
National Security Forces".
However, Indian officials
said this was part of the continu-
ing training program.
Signaling their resolve to
partner in peace and develop-
ment, Manmohan Singh and
Karzai inked a strategic partner-
ship agreement that seeks to
incrementally accelerate their
ties across a broad spectrum of
areas.
The pact envisages an annu-
al security dialogue between the
national security advisers that
will focus on a joint fight
against international terrorism,
organized crime, and illegal traf-
ficking in narcotics. The pact
outlines annual summits and
meetings between foreign minis-
ters. "India will stand by the
people of Afghanistan as they
prepare to assume the responsi-
bility for their governance and
security after the withdrawal of
international forces in 2014,"
Manmohan Singh said.
In a clear reference to
Pakistan, Karzai said
Afghanistan "recognizes the dan-
ger this region is facing through
terrorism and radicalism that
(are) being used an instrument
of state policy against civilians
and innocents of our countries".
The strategic partnership
pact envisages the setting up of
a Partnership Council, headed
by their foreign ministers, which
will be the nodal body for coor-
dinating the strategic partner-
ship.
Neither Manmohan Singh
nor Karzai mentioned Pakistan
by name, but made implicit ref-
erences to Islamabad while talk-
ing about the need to defeat
"outside interference".
"Terrorism threatens our
entire region, and no country
can remain immune to its lethal
effects," said Manmohan Singh,
adding that the people of
Afghanistan "deserve to live in
peace and decide their future
themselves, without outside
interference, coercion and intim-
idation."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai
have signed a strategic partnership pact that seeks to incrementally
accelerate their ties across a broad spectrum of areas.
Afghanistan a proxy war
between India, Pakistan:
Musharraf
Washington: Calling
Afghanistan as a "proxy war"
between India and Pakistan,
former Pakistani president
Pervez Musharraf has accused
New Delhi of "trying to cre-
ate an anti-Pakistan
Afghanistan".
Hours after President
Obama earlier in October
asked its key ally to stop
hedging its bets in
Afghanistan and adopt a
peaceful approach towards
India, Musharraf said the US
needs to understand Pakistan's
"sensitivities" about
Afghanistan's relationship
with India.
"In Afghanistan, there is
some kind of a proxy conflict
going on between Pakistan and
India," he said participating in
the rolling panels at the
Washington Ideas Forum at the
Newseum here, ABC News
reported.
"India is trying to create an
anti-Pakistan Afghanistan,"
Musharraf said suggesting that
India has a vision of dominating
the region and aims to "create a
weak Pakistan".
He complained that India has
been training Afghan diplomats,
soldiers and intelligence officers
and that the training should stop.
Asked why recent polling in
Pakistan holds the US in low
esteem, Musharraf said that "his-
torical past" has led to mistrust
and antipathy against America at
the people level in light of the
US scale down in Afghanistan
planned for 2014.
Former Pakistani president
Pervez Musharraf
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 11
Ex-Karnataka CM back in jail
Bangalore: The former
chief minister of Karnataka,
BS Yeddyurappa has
returned to jail after being
discharged from hospital.
He is accused of accepting
kickbacks for selling gov-
ernment land, allegations he
denies.
He was arrested and
jailed in mid-October.
Within hours, he was sent
to hospital after he com-
plained of feeling ill.
Opposition leaders accused
him of faking his illness to escape being in
jail. The authorities allege that the land
deals cost the Karnataka
state 4.65bn rupees, while
Yeddyurappa and members
of his family were said to
have personally gained
1.89bn rupees
On October 19 the BJP
leader was taken to a jail in
Bangalore in an ambu-
lance. His petition for bail
will be heard in court on 20
October.
Yeddyurappa also faces
allegations over a multi-bil-
lion dollar mining scandal,
but no charges have been brought in that
case.
BS Yeddyurappa, accused in
a graft case
India
Rajaratnam gets longest insider sentence
NRIs can hold accounts in any
currency now: RBI
New York: Raj Rajaratnam, the hedge fund
billionaire at the center of perhaps the biggest
insider trading case, was given the longest
prison term in history in such a case.
The 54-year-old Sri Lankan origin chief
of Galleon hedge fund is to serve 11 years in
jail, ordered to forfeit $53million and pay a
fine of $10 million. He is out on a $100 mil-
lion bail.
The sentence was the culmination of a
years-long federal probe of corruption in the
stock market, which ensnared many other big
players too and pulled back the curtain on a
long-suspected dark side of the hedge fund
business. According to the government,
Rajaratnam gathered inside information about
pending corporate deals and earnings
announcements from an array of tipsters,
including Rajat Gupta, a senior partner at
the consulting firm McKinsey & Co.
Rajaratnam was convicted in May of five
counts of conspiracy and nine counts of insid-
er trading for illegally using inside informa-
tion to trade in stocks such as Goldman
Sachs, Google, Hilton and Intel. The trading
generated profits or avoided losses of $72
million, the government estimated.
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank has said Indians
who have non-resident accounts in the coun-
try can now hold them in any currency which
is fully convertible.
The move is likely to help NRIs/Persons
of India Origin as it will give them more
options in the holding of accounts, and lessen
the risk from fluctuations in major curren-
cies.
Earlier, FCNR(B) account holders were
allowed to hold accounts in only certain cur-
rencies such as the Pound Sterling, US dol-
lar, Japanese yen, euro, Canadian dollar and
Australian dollar.
"...it has been decided that Authorised
Dealer banks in India may be permitted to
accept Foreign Currency (Non- Resident)
Account (Banks) deposits in any permitted
currency. It may be noted that 'Permitted
currency' for this purpose would mean a for-
eign currency which is freely convertible,"
RBI said in a notification.
Raj Rajaratnam, the American hedge fund
billionaire of Sri Lankan origin, got 11
years in prison for insider trading.
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, married on
Oct 13 Jetsun Pema, a 21-year-old student, a commoner,
in a smple ceremony.
12 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
India
Anna movement has served its purpose: PM
On Board Air India One:
Assuring a bill soon for an effec-
tive Lokpal, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh Wednesday
said the Anna Hazare movement
had "served its purpose", while
also condemning the recent
assaults on members of civil soci-
ety.
"I will not like to use this
opportunity to criticize any indi-
vidual but I think the Anna
Hazare movement has served its
purpose," the prime minister said
on the way back from Pretoria
after the India, Brazil South
Africa Summit a day earlier.
The prime minister was asked
separately if Anna Hazare and his
team were singling out the
Congress party over corruption in
India and what he had to say
about the recent assaults on
lawyer Prashant Bhushan and
activist Arvind Kejriwal.
"We are all working to ensure
we have in place before long an
effective Lokpal bill. It is our
expectation parliament will vote
for an effective bill. This will be
an assurance to people at large
that corruption cannot flourish as
a way of life in our country."
On Bhushan and Kejriwal, the
prime minister clarified that
democracy did not leave any
room for violence on matters of
varying opinions among people
and that such acts needed to be
condemned.
He also denied any remark
that led to a perception that he
proposed a change in the Right to
Information (RTI) Act in the light
of its use or misuse to obtain
some documents that had embar-
rassed his government on the
telecom spectrum case.
On the larger issue of corrup-
tion he said it couldn't be termed
as inevitable fallout of growth.
"We cannot take that view. That
would be a very complacent view
point," the prime minister said.
"The recent debate in our
country has served its purpose. It
has awakened our country on the
harmful consequences of corrup-
tion that is eating into the politi-
cal, economic and social fabric of
our society," he said.
"Our government is commit-
ted to all that is necessary to
clean up the system."
Attacks aimed at diverting attention
from Jan Lokpal bill: Kejriwal
Gold, gadgets top Diwali
shoppers' list
Dussehra
and Durga
Puja
festivals
conclude
Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh): Team Anna member
Arvind Kejriwal said here Wednesday that the attacks
on him and his associates were aimed at diverting
attention from the core issue of the Jan Lokpal bill.
He was referring not merely to a slipper thrown at
him by a Congress party worker in Lucknow Tuesday,
but also to the criticism by certain political leaders,
particularly Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh.
Kejriwal said: "The game of these politicians is to
divert our attention from the real issue of Jan Lokpal
Bill and we are not going to allow that; we are only
focused on ensuring that the Bill is introduced and
passed during the coming winter session of parlia-
ment."
He said, "That is the reason, Anna ji has been
repeatedly advising all our comrades not to get pro-
voked by any act of our antagonists who basically do
not want the Jan Lokpal to come into place."
According to him, "The Anna movement was
bound to be attacked from all sides, because the cor-
rupt establishment was scared of the very movement."
On the oft repeated charge that Team Anna was turn-
ing political, Kejriwal shot back, "Well, there is no
denying that we are talking in political terms because
our mission is to introduce reforms in governance; but
that does not mean that we turning into politicians."
"And let me make it absolutely clear that none of
Anna team members have any political ambitions; our
goal is to see that Jan Lokpal becomes a reality during
the coming winter session of parliament."
Mumbai: Diwali purchases are
picking up at a brisk pace, with
gold and electronics topping the
list of favourites as always.
Astute buyers have begun brows-
ing the designs at jewellery stores
in order to reserve the best pieces
before they are sold out. They
pay an advance sum and take
delivery on the auspicious day of
Dhanteras, which falls on
October 24 this year.
"Ornaments prepared from
22- or 23-carat gold that weigh 1,
2 or 5 gm are in demand," says
Sanjay Limaye, store manager at
Waman Hari Pethe Saraf in
Dadar. "Those who opt for gold
as investment are buying coins
weighing 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 gm.
Gold coins are sold by banks as
well but they are always cheaper
at the neighborhood jeweler's."
Garments and apparel top the
list of mandatory purchases at
any festival and this year tradi-
tional handloom saris are in
demand at stores like Kala
Niketan. "Kanjivaram and
Benaras silk are evergreen items
at Diwali, especially because
there is such a vast range of
products and budgets to cater to
all requirements. We have prod-
ucts costing anywhere from Rs
5,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh," says the
store's owner Navneet Parekh.
Although the specter of an
economic slowdown hovers over
the festival, Parekh points out
that the wedding season is com-
ing up as well.
"Women who have family
functions or marriages on the
anvil are making purchases,
albeit their budget has been
impacted," he says.
Electronics are another big
draw at Diwali, and this year,
home theatre systems imported
from the US, Japan and Canada
are doing brisk business.
Anna Hazares close associate
social activist Arvind Kejriwal has
been the most visible face after
the Gandhian himself of the Jan
Lokpal Bill movement.
Devotees carry an idol of the Goddess Durga for immersion in Kolkata.
People watch fireworks during the Dussehra
festival in New Delhi.
Congress president
Sonia Gandhi throws
an arrow as Prime
Minister Manmohan
Singh and vice presi-
dent Hamid Ansari
look, at the Dusshera
festival at
Ramlila Maidan
in New Delhi.
Congress defeated in Hisar
by-election: Anna factor in action?
Hisar (Haryana): Kuldeep Bishnoi of the Haryana Janhit Congress
(HJC) was elected Oct 17 to the Lok Sabha, winning the Hisar by-
election in Haryana, officials said.
Ajay Chautala, son of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautal
and Indian National Lok Dal candidate, finished second while Jai
Parkash of the Congress came third in what was mainly a three-cor-
nered contest.
The election has been under the spotlight after Anna Hazare and
his team stepped in to ask people to vote against the Congress.
Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, also
had the support of the BJP for this election. The Hisar seat fell
vacant in June following the death of Bhajan Lal, a three-time chief
minister.
The election, held on Oct 13, witnessed a high 70 percent
polling. About 9.3 lakh voters (nearly 70 percent) of 13.32 lakh reg-
istered voters had voted.
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 13
Indias first F1 Circuit
unveiled
Hermes launches sari @ Rs 4 lakhs
Centurion and still running
Greater Noida: The track at the
Buddh International Circuit here is
ready and work is on at a frantic
pace to give the finishing touches
to the venue of the inaugural
Formula One Indian Grand Prix
Oct 30.
The 5.14-km track was
unveiled to the media even as it
gets dressed up, and the organiz-
ers Jaypee Sports International
(JPSI) are confident everything
will be spic and span in the next
one week.
The track has been divided
into four zones -- north, west, east
and south and the longest stretch
is 1.4 km, which comes after turn
three, where the cars can zip up to
speeds of 320 km/hr. The undula-
tions on the track will spice up the
race with the first blind corner
coming seconds after the starting
grid.
Safety of the drivers is para-
mount for the Federation
Internationale de l'Automobile
(FIA) and this becomes evident on
visiting the medical center at the
BIC. The drivers can be treated in
the state-of the-art medical facility
within minutes of an accident. The
center has an operation theatre, X-
ray room and specially made burn
and doping area. Ten medical
booths will be placed around the
circuit and if needed drivers will
be airlifted to the hospital from
the helipad at the venue.
djacent to the medical center is
the pit building where the teams
will work on their cars. And if
they want to unwind, a swanky
team building has been built
behind the pits. A total of 24 pit
garages and 12 team buildings will
be at the disposal of the teams and
delegates.
New Delhi: Its a proud moment
for India the elegant sari has
been introduced on the global
fashion platform by French luxury
label Hermes. But, theres a catch
the just-released samples of the
limited-edition line look like flea
market stuff to some.
Internationally too, fashion
experts and followers have
slammed the designs for lacking
creativity and still bearing a price
tag of $6,100 to $8,200 (Rs 3
lakh - Rs 4 lakh).
In India, while designers are
happy that this might make the
garment a hit abroad, they say
theres much scope for better-
ment. I dont see any wow factor
in these saris. They are not super
beautiful and not really worth a
Hermes tag, says designer
Anand Kabra.
The contemporary collection
of four patterns, introduced by the
design house which opened a new
store in Mumbai a few months
ago, has been created in Paris
under the guidance of Pierre-
Alexis Dumas. But, they lack the
brands signature feel, says
Nandini Bhalla, editor,
Cosmopolitan fashion magazine.
The design could have been so
much more impactful if they had
picked one of the brands iconic
scarf designs to convert into a
sari, she says.
Toronto: Fauja Singh, a 100-
year-old runner of Indian-ori-
gin has set a new Guinness
record, becoming the oldest
person to complete a full
marathon here. It took Singh
over eight hours to cross the
finish line, more than six
hours after Kenya's Kenneth
Mungara won the Scotiabank
Toronto Waterfront Marathon
yesterday for the fourth straight
year.
Singh was the last competi-
tor to complete the course but entered the Guinness
Book of World Records.
He accomplished the amazing feat, becoming the
oldest person ever to complete a full-distance 42-kilo-
metre marathon.
Singh, who only speaks
Punjabi, also surprised himself.
Through his interpreter, he said
he had set a goal of finishing
the race in about nine hours.
Sunday's run was Fauja
Singh's eighth marathon. He
ran his first at the tender age of
89 and wasn't the first time he
set a record.
In the 2003 Toronto event,
he set the mark in the 90-plus
category, finishing the race in
five hours 40 minutes and one second.
And on Thursday in Toronto, Singh broke world
records for runners older than 100 in eight different
distances ranging from 100 metres to 5,000 metres.
Red Bull car is driven in the track during the unveiling of the
Buddh International Circuit, the venue for India's first Formula One
Grand Prix in Noida.
Fauja Singh is oldest person to complete
a full marathon.
India
Julia Gillard Story
Continued from page 9
tors, Julia Gillard said while
announcing the White Paper initiatives
at an Asialink and Asia Society meet
recently.
''Here, with our largest export
market and largest trading partner nei-
ther a democracy nor part of our
alliance system, a nation whose eco-
nomic transformation is in turn trans-
forming the economic and strategic
balance of the world,'' Julia Gillard
said while referring to China in her
speech.
About India she said, Here, with
an English-speaking democracy with
1.2 billion citizens rising to find its
place in the world and our region and
on an ocean whose shores we share.
stressing the strategic importance of
India.
The announcement of the blueprint
assumes added importance as
Australian economy has begun to
dither because of the global economic
crisis affecting economic growth in
China and India. Australian businesses
and populace need to be reassured that
the current Asia-driven boom would
continue to fill our coffers for some
time in the future.
The White Paper initiative has
come at a stage when Julia Gillard is
facing media and opposition belliger-
ence over Carbon Tax. The announce-
ment is also being seen as the Labor
Prime Ministers biggest international
policy foray.
Julia Gillards optimism is driven
by the rising size of a new Asian mid-
dle-class which will help make
Australian economy strong.
We have been reading about the
advent of Asian Century for some
time now. As many pundits have pro-
claimed so confidently, the G20 Meet
at Seoul last year is being considered
the take-off point of an era where the
transfer of power has begun from the
west to the east. It would not be pre-
posterous to say that no prominent
economist could have envisaged this
geopolitical tectonic shift say one
decade back.
Needless to say, the decline of
western dominance and GFC has esca-
lated the onset of the Asian Century
and Australia stands to gain immense-
ly from this windfall as we are posi-
tioned strategically in the region.
The Labor Think Tank has been
mercifully keeping itself abreast of
developments in our immediate neigh-
borhood and world over. For obvious
reasons, the White Paper is likely to
provide us with guide for the
Australian policymakers about the
opportunities which would make them-
selves available when Asian markets
start to bloom with even more vigour
and vibrance even as we get more
accustomed with pervasive gloom in
our traditional markets in the west.
The White Paper on Asian Century
which will be available just before
Julia Gillard faces the election, will
help Australian economists manage
our economy in a more competent
manner.
There is the intellectual task of the
white paper itself: fully to comprehend
the implications of the Asian century,
fully to describe its opportunities and
risks, explained Julia Gillard.
While Gillards colleagues have
started to work on the ways to harness
the rising economic power of coun-
tries like China and India, there is
another important study commissioned
by her government.
Two former secretaries of the
Defence Department, Allan Hawke
and Ric Smith, are said to be prepar-
ing a review as a strategic context for
Defence White Paper scheduled for
2014.
The announcement has attracted
the expected amount of flak from the
Opposition but, overall, it has been
lauded by the political and economic
commentators.
The White Paper on Asian Century
would coincide with the introduction
of carbon tax.
It would be interesting to note
how many critics angry over carbon
tax could be converted by the vision
encompassed in the aforementioned
document strategic blueprint.
By Rekha Bhattacharjee
W
hile Indian Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singhs decision to not
attend Commonwealth
Head of Governments
Meeting (CHOGM) to be
held in Perth this month is
being seen as a routine
decision by most of the
people, some skeptics
would like us to believe
that it is a snub.
It could not be a coinci-
dence that no Indian PM
has come down under,
skeptics point out, in the
last 25 years. The last
Indian PM to visit
Australia, one of Indias
major trading partners,
was Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.
Manmohan Singhs
decision to skip CHOGM
silver jubilee celebrations
in Perth has left Labor pol-
icymakers embarrassed.
The symbolism in the deci-
sion could not be more
stark as a Sydney Morning
Herald columnist Hamish
McDonald has pointed out,
Perth is the city chosen by
Australia to promote a
strategic and economic
push into the Indian Ocean
region and India itself.
While a plethora of rea-
sons (read excuses) have
been extended to explain
the Indian PM sending the
Vice President Hamid
Ansari in his place to
attend CHOGM meeting,
the sole provocation behind
Indian snub seems to be
the Australian refusal to
sell uranium to India.
Indian PM not
attending CHOGM
- is it a snub?
14 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October- November 2011
Bollywood
By Neeru Saluja
F
or the quest of reality, he has trav-
elled all over the world. He has tast-
ed many genres of film making, be it
playing the role of a story teller, cine-
matographer or director. But part of his
soul was always rooted in India, where he
filmed the controversial 'Samskara', a film
that won Best Feature (Presidents Award)
in 1971 and many international prizes
including the Silver Lion at Locarno.
Sydney filmmaker and producer Tom
Cowan has a long association with India.
He was initially invited by the famous
Indian film maker Satyajit Ray during the
Sydney Film Festival in 1967 but ended up
shooting a Kannada film with the late direc-
tor Pattabi Rama Reddy.
But this time the theme of the film is
neither controversial nor contemporary, it's
based on the eternal story of love.
Following on the series of his previous film
'Orange Love Story', Tom is in Bangalore
these days in the search for authentic love
stories for his upcoming film 'Bangalore
Love Story'.
The cinematographer turned director
who is known for his films 'Journey
Among Women', 'Survivor 2', 'Chanda
Maruta', 'The Office Picnic' talks to Indian
Down Under while he is in Bangalore for
three months to shoot the film.
What inspired you to make a love
story that revolves around Bangalore?
We have collected 54 love stories so far
and selected 12 to represent Bangalore
from that particular angle or perspective.
The love stories give us an insight into
issues that affect everyone. You mentioned
caste and that often comes between people
who fall in love. There are many forms of
love. The pressure of materialism often
makes people mad, especially in this mad
IT city where young people from quite con-
servative village backgrounds are suddenly
living a fast-paced pressurized life of
money, way beyond their capability to cope
and beyond their parents values. When
love encounters such pressures, dramas
occur every day. At the same time, there is
this spirit of vitality, of dancing into a more
affluent, sort of Bollywood, dream future.
What attracts you to the mad IT city?
There is thriving cultural activity in
Bangalore. Theatre is strong, music and
dance are exciting. Perhaps because of the
diversity, the wide mix of Indians who
make up Bangalore's population including
a lot of NRIs and all sorts of foreigners
who come for opportunities in new indus-
tries - that may power the surprising rich-
ness of the artistic community here.
How has your experience been so far
in India while shooting?
Working on 'Samskara' was a once in a
life-time joy. I was a young traveller look-
ing around India and suddenly I was work-
ing on an essential and deep drama about a
Brahmin community from the acclaimed
novel by Dr. Ananthamurthy. It was a phe-
nomenon.
Why did Pattabhi choose me - perhaps
it was karma? The people working on
Samskara were all brilliantly talented and
Pattabhi Rama Reddy inspired them to do
their best work. I had a dream job as cine-
matographer - the locations were wonder-
fully rich and beautiful. I got an award.
The film won best picture of the year in
India and the Silver Lion at Locarno. What
an introduction to India! I worked on 'Wild
Wind' with Pattabhi a few years later but
that film was suppressed when Mrs Gandhi
discontinued democracy. Pattabhi and I dis-
cussed several other projects before he
passed away and I hope 'Bangalore Love
Story' is a small tribute to him.
You worked on movies in India in the
70s when Bollywood was practically
unknown? What inspired you to work
there?
In the sixties and seventies a phenome-
non occured - a new outstanding film-
maker burst upon the world stage - that was
Satyajit Ray. His movies had beauty, depth
of story and wonderful characters and
enthralled us young film-makers. The
music too of Ravi Shankar in the early Ray
films was strangely stirring. These films
made me want to go to India. Surprisingly,
just as I was about to travel, I met Satyajit
Ray when he came to Sydney and I was
introduced to him by David Stratton as a
young film-maker. One of my films was
screening at the Sydney International Film
Festival which Ray was attending. He invit-
ed me to visit him in Calcutta and observe
him at work while he was making a movie.
But instead when I got to India, I met
Pattabhi Rama Reddy and shot Samskara
for him. Ironically, Samskara beat Ray's
film for the Presidents Award as the best
Indian film of 1971. Ray has had a great
influence on my film-making and his won-
derful understanding of the secrets of the
heart still inspires me. I didn't see any
Bollywood movies until I came to India.
They were great fun.
You have a distinguished film career
as a director and a cinematographer.
What do you enjoy the most where lies
your passion? Tell us more about your
career of few decades.
As a youngster, I obtained a traineeship
with ABC TV in Melbourne. While a
trainee I independently made a short film
'The Dancing Class', which won all the
awards you could get as well as the
Commonwealth Award in Edinburgh. So
that kick-started my career. Since then I've
explored most areas of movies, produced
and directed my five previous feature films,
worked for Disney, worked on Survivor,
shot many movies, several IMAX movies
and now - I am again doing something from
the heart, another wild adventure making
Bangalore Love Story.
I like telling surprising stories. The sto-
ries we collected for Bangalore Love story
are funny, heart rending and surprising.
My passion is capturing those moments of
courage and grace which people show at
times when the chips are down or they are
confronted with impossible conflicting
choices.
At these times, a person makes a
choice and maybe the reaction is either sad
or they laugh. I prefer that truthful vulner-
ability to the kind where actors pretend to
act characters different to themselves.
Human nature is strange. I suppose I am
interested in the mystery of people.
In your present film, how do you plan
to portray India the poor caste based
country or the modern fast growing
economy country?
Bangalore represents the most contrast-
ing aspects of contemporary India. Here
are the age old traditions, then the con-
straints of the caste system, the remnants of
colonial gentility and the manic IT world
careering past the 21st century. What more
could a film-maker ask for in portraying
the life in India. The traffic in Bangalore
presents a picture of the jostling of these
worlds as they crash against each other in
headlong attempts to get ahead or stay
afloat in the frantic rush into the mirage of
the future. This symphony is present in
some Indian music and will be created for
the movie by Konarak Reddy, a wonderful
musician, who is one of my partners in the
movie.
Will Bangalore Love Story be a short
film like your previous films or a full-
fledged film?
I produced and directed five previous
feature films. I also made some shorts. One
of my previous feature movies was
ORANGE LOVE STORY which was
shown at international film festivals. It was
based on real love stories and the charac-
ters were portrayed by the real people. We
took the stories and held an actors work-
shop with the characters and slowly
processed a screenplay amalgamating three
stories with their vital connection, the peo-
ple's own background. Bangalore provides
an even richer background. So far we have
collected 54 love stories and selected 12
people and we are planning the workshops
to craft a screenplay out of their varied
backgrounds and love experiences.
Whom do you plan to cast in your
film?
The people are real. The stories are
real.
How would you define your style of
storytelling in a movie?
My style is after Satyajit Ray's style. In
this film, the multi-faceted story of
Bangalore requires a multifaceted treat-
ment with the contrasts, contradictions and
jostling vitality all woven together in a
beautiful tapestry, not an ugly mess. That is
the challenge.
Your future plans...
When this movie is finished I will be
exhausted. I'll want to rest at home at
Bondi Beach. But my wife Lesley may
want to go on a holiday to Madagascar.
Real life love stories with Tom Cowan
He was initially invited to India by
Satyajit Ray but ended up
shooting the award winning
Kannada film Samskara
Sydneysider Tom Cowan (left)
is in Bangalore these days
searching for authentic
love stories for his
upcoming film
'Bangalore Love Story'.
Bollywood
October-November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 15
Don't try to be a Master son, just be a student
The Unforgettable Jagjit Singh
By Lokesh Varma
I
nterviewing Ustad Zakir
Hussain is a rare treat, the
answers in soft American burr
being insightful and full of candour
and wit.
This is no wonder as Ustad
Zakir Hussain is universally
acknowledged as a virtuoso, com-
poser and percussionist whose
tabla performances are of the
highest order and marked by
uncanny intuition and masterful
improvisational dexterity. He is
one who just did not stop after
mastering Hindustani classical
music but has also collaborated,
jammed and made music with
many Western musicians, bagging
both a Sangeet Natak Akademi and
a Grammy in the process. Or one
who has been acknowledged as a
living master by George Harrison,
Ravi Shankar and John
McLaughlin back in the 1970s and
Bela Fleck and Charles Lloyd in
the 2000s.
The interview was memorable.
A tired Zakir was asking questions
between sleeps, the Venice music
festival, Florida and the Golden
Gate Park concerts: So where is
this Down Under? The response,
out of sight, out of mind, Ustad?
got The Indian Down Under the
first round.
Ustad Zakir Hussain will not
only perform again at the
WOMAD festival in Adelaide, but
will also stop at the Sydney Opera
House and at the Perth
Commonwealth Festival. While
his modestly makes him say that
he is thrilled to be in Adelaide
and get another chance to listen to
the incredible depth of world
music, the reality is that we
Down Under have been extremely
lucky to play host to Ustad and his
Masters of Percussion. Apart from
the expected tabla playing in solo
and duets, the performers will
explore the frontiers between the
traditional, folk and classical.
Accompanying the main act
will be a star cast. Taufiq Quresh,
Abbos Kosimov and Nilandri
Kumar, along with the colour and
athletic energy of the drummers
from Manipur.
If Zakir's 2008 performance at
the Sydney Opera House is any-
thing to go by, we are in for a sim-
ilar treat. As a critic once said the
tabla is a remarkable instrument.
It can be tapped, petted, stroked,
caressed, hit, pounded, rubbed or
poked, each technique resulting in
a wonderful new sound. Taken
together, the tabla can be as
expressive as any chordal or more
traditionally melodic instrument.
How does Zakir understand
"the language of the tabla". How
can he recreate the Indian rush
hourwith trucks, scooters, cars,
dogs and elephant - and the obvi-
ously resultant traffic jam, make
his drums sound like a galloping
horse (quoting the "Lone Ranger"
theme song in the process), a mov-
ing train and a jumping deer or the
sounds of Siva's drums. What
allows him to accompany Indian
classical musicians, Western per-
formers, compose music for the
American National Symphony
Orchestra or the Athens Olympics
or simply act in Ivory Merchant
productions?
He does not regard genes hand-
ed down from his father and Guru,
the late Ustad Alla Rakha nor his
years of careful riyaz in making
him. It has more to do with the
environment I grew up in. The
constant exposure to melody
(ragas) and rhythm (tala) influ-
enced me.
Ustad Alla Rakha used to whis-
per ragas in his newly born old
son's ears. His childhood memo-
ries are of the sounds of tabla
echoing through their Mumbai
home. And years of knowledge
and study before his first profes-
sional concert at age 12.
And there was the gentle
rebuke that's stayed with him all
his life, Don't try to be a Master,
son, just be a student and you will
do fine.
While he has just done fine,
what about his legacy to the World
of Music? After all, he turned 60
this year and his formidable tour-
ing schedule must tire him. He has
also been busy passing on his skills
to a select group in New York and
Mumbai. At this stage, he turns
modest.
The seeds of fusion between
Indian and Western music were
there before me. It was Pandit
Ravi Shankar and my father and
even many Bollywood music direc-
tors who had experimented with
fusion music. I merely made it
accessible to the world. I reached
out to them.
But what about your legacy,
how will you want to be remem-
bered?
I just want to play music. My
legacy will be written after I die,
not yet.
By Lokesh Varma
M
y association with Jagjit Singh
lasted over 30 years. We've
been through good times and
bad, happy and sad, whilst in love and
whilst out of love. Reading this might
sound funny and weird, but it's not.
Everyone I know has a poignant memory
associated with a ghazal of his. The love-
ly, rich, golden voice with his soz left
associations deep and usually unspoken.
My treasures from this relationship are
many. 55 albums, seven concerts, three
face to face meetings, numerous write-ups
and one obituary. For me, it started when
my mum got her hands on The
Unforgettables. It might have been the
Great Jagjit and Chitra's first real album,
but it was an easy hit in our home.
Hummable, modern and most important-
ly, it had a life much longer than the filmi
music she had grown up with. For my
brother and me listening to Jagjit Sahab
was a simple pleasure. After one album
came another. The Unforgettables, Live
in Royal Albert Hall, Ecstasies and then
much to our amusement, A Sound Affair
and Passions.
In those days, music, the Indian Film
industry and our definition of entertain-
ment was pretty limited. Doordarshan's
Sunday movie, twice a week Chitrahaar,
Hindi movies with the angry young man
and Michael is what we had. In the midst
of this, Jagjit's awaaz and Chitra's clear
but innocent renditions, the album covers
featuring the two good-looking people
very much in love, superb selection of
sher-o-shayeri set to excellent music was
all but lapped up. Then came his success-
es in various art movies and then kagaz ki
kashti. It was the latter, a ghazal which to
this date moves whoever listens to it.
Jagjit, in the mid 1980s, whether he
knew it or not, was now a part of the com-
mon man's life. His aspirations, fears,
losses and dreams were tied to the humble
tape recorder, moved by Mirza Ghalib on
TV and then on CDs. When we migrated
to Australia, Jagjit came with us and
shared with our deepest fears and hopes.
We were moved with Someone
Somewhere, tried to get Hope or go
Insearch into what seemed like a Mirage.
Trying to be a Jagjit fan was difficult
in those days. News about the desh let
alone Jagjit was pretty hard to come by.
The web had not been invented, Indian
newspapers were published monthly and
Hindi radio was nascent.
That all changed during the summer of
1996 when I met another diehard fan.
From then on, it was all about his ghazals,
the oldest album cover one had, his rela-
tionship with Chitra, his son's supposedly
addiction to alcohol, his training, relation-
ship with Surjit Gujral...you name it and
we knew it.
That year, I also met Jagjit backstage.
Here a patient Jagjit was meeting his fans,
resting, shaking our hands and patiently
waiting for our camera's flash to kick-in.
My brother, a young boy, had got his
attention...and later as we were to find
out, something in this break had moved
the Great man. The second half was akin
to the first, it was deep and meaningful
rather than playful and enlightening.
The albums though kept on evolving.
Unique was quickly forgotten experiment
of Western music and a pop-Jagjit, Sajda
with Lata didi was truer to the ghazal's
classical roots, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's
Samvedna was a winner, while his many
collaborations with both Gulzar and Javed
Akhtar were typically excellent. During
the last decade, he shifted his focus to
devotional music, producing many com-
mercial and critical successes in Maa,
Saanwara, He Ram He Ram, Siva, Kabir
and many others.
More wins, presence on iTunes,
superb music videos and the Padma
Continued on page 26....
U S T A D Z A K I R H U S S A I N!
Zakir Hussain Masters of Percussion,
Friday October 21 at 8pm.
Bookings: Sydney Opera House 02 9250 7777,
sydneyoperahouse.com
Zakir Hussian will also perform at Womad EARTH STATION,
Long Gully, Belair National Park, from 21-23 October 2011
And in Perth at the Commonwealth Festival, 23- 30 October 2011.
JAGJIT SINGH 1941 - 2011
16 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October- November 2011
Bollywood
By K Raman
T
he eminent actor and enter-
tainer Shammi Kapoor
passed away on August 14,
2011. While being admitted five
days before his death in the
Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai,
his end came suddenly. He was
just two months short of 80 years.
Shammi Kapoor was ailing for
more than seven years with the
debilitating kidney problem and
was on a dialysis regime. But in
his typical style, the Yahoo man
never revealed his sufferings to
the public or craved for sympathy.
Shammi Kapoor was born in
Mumbai as the second son of
Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife on
21 October, 1931 and was named
Shamsher Raj Kapoor.
Shammi Kapoors life theory
was to enjoy today as if there was
no tomorrow. There was life and
merriment when Shammi was
around the studios or in the com-
pany of friends. He led a life of
flamboyance, dressed in style with
the best of shirts and suits special-
ly tailored by the famous fashion
houses of Singapore and Hong
Kong. He ate lavishly with friends
at Gaylords, Churchgate,
Mumbai, where he had an exclu-
sive table for himself, kept perma-
nently for his personal use only.
During his yearly travels to
Delhi and on to Kashmir (his
favourite annual holiday spot), he
booked an entire AC Railway
compartment to fill up with his
buddies. Food for the entire jour-
ney came from Mumbais Gaylord
to start with and later from
Delhis classy Moti Mahal.
He once said, if he was in a
happy mood, he drank all night
and danced all day. Youngsters
these days have no inkling of how
to enjoy life, he said.
Shammi became the Pied
Piper to the teenage masses, lead-
ing them all to their dreams. He
possessed three vital ingredients
required in the teenage years: he
was truly mad; he had his dream
girl with him and always believed
in a happy ending.
Shammis big success came
when the blockbuster film Junglee
(1961) was released in which he
played a young and handsome rich
man of great khandan controlled
by an autocratic and eccentric
mother (Lalita Pawar). From a
morose and angry young man he
learned to laugh due to his associ-
ation with a cute Kashmiri flower
girl (Saira Banu). The film was
full of love scenes with numerous
hide and seeks around trees and
running over meadows occupied
by grazing sheep in the pictur-
esque Kashmir, all propensities of
teenage love.
Kashmir ki Kali was another
big hit that followed. Instead of
Saira Banu, he had the very beau-
tiful dimpled beauty Shirmila
Tagore as his heroine.
Then he played the hero in
Brahmachari (1968) in which he
tamed his heroine by teaching her
how to act and live like a western-
er to suit his rich and flamboyant
style of life.
Shammis films had a simple
theme (virtually no theme at all),
an assorted mix packed with
melodrama, plenty of lilting
melodies and fights all over the
story. As a visible symbol of the
youth he was a bundle of energy,
singing, dancing, skiing, and rid-
ing, with extravagant costumes
and flirting with the best of the
beauties available.
In Shammis logic everything
had a happy ending. So he became
the model for teenagers to literal-
ly ape him. The role in Tumsa
Nahin Dekha (1957, Nasir
Hussain) was literally a gift of the
Lord when the originally assigned
hero Dev Anand walked out, all
because he did not get the heroine
he wanted. In this film Shammi
got rid of his pencil thin mous-
tache and long shoulder length
hair and the lanky physique by
beefing up a little. But in the
process Shammi forgot to put a
stop to the beefing up process and
ended up being obese over years.
The film was a massive hit.
His lovely wife Geeta Bali was
a big star while he was a starlet
before these successes came to
him. Bluff Master and An
Evening in Paris followed in
quick succession and he became a
superstar, literally overnight. He
was often described as a cross
between James Dean and Elvis
Presley.
In 1962, China Town came
out, yet another hit. He loved
romancing the best of beauties in
locations in Kashmir. It is said
that the cool mountain air made
him fit and strong, his cheeks red-
dened while his romantic light
blue eyes became deep blue in
colour. People glorified him by
calling him the prince of hill sta-
tion romance.
His success came from the
breaking away from conventional
tear jerking acting established by
the elder trinity which included
his older brother Raj Kapoor. He
smoked, drank and did wild danc-
ing and blew on the Sax, played
on drums or on the piano in dance
sequences which became a trend
in subsequent films.
In a Brahmchari song
sequence he excelled by playing
piano interludes while he
drummed his way in presenting
Tumne mujhe dekha in Teesri
Manzil. It suited him well because
of his charm, tall and well-built
physique and supple body move-
ments.
A major partner of this suc-
cess story was singer Mohammad
Rafi. Their bonding was so close
that Shammi himself was mes-
merised while Rafi rendered a
dance sequence when he was
overseas. The song was Asman
se aya faristha (An Evening in
Paris).
Shammi had a good team
with Rafi, Shankar Jaikishan
(S&J) and O P Nayyar (OP).
They created great numbers
together. In the song Taarif
karun (boat scene) in Kashmir ki
Kali, you might have noticed
every opening of Tariff karun
was rendered differently. Before
tuning the song OP arrived with
52 tunes for this song and after
much deliberation the trio arrived
at the tune which we heard in the
film. Those were the days of team
spirit. Shammi Kapoor met Geeta
Bali, the charming actress who
was very successful at the time
when he was amidst failures in his
early years. He met her in 1955
on the set of Rangeen Ratan. In
four months they got married and
led an ideal married life, sired two
children, Aditya Raj and
Kanchan.
The death of his effervescent
wife, who was so dear to him, lit-
erally brought his mental state to a
critical low ebb and he took to
alcohol but survived to return to
spirituality, to which he adhered
to until his very end.
The three vital ingredients
needed in an actor to be success-
ful are emotion, comedy and
rhythm and Shammi had plenty of
those. He never learned dancing;
rather, he invented his own style.
The experts say Shammi was the
best of the lot because he went
beyond steps. Dance is the expres-
sion of feelings by body, whereas
body movements are governed by
music. He was an innovative mag-
ical dancer.
He was high spirited and full
of life and loved a good laugh. He
was carefree and uncomplicated.
May his soul rest in peace.
End of the great entertainer, Shammi Kapoor
(1931-2011)
With Saira Banu in Junglee: Shammis films had a simple theme (virtually no theme at all), an assorted
mix packed with melodrama, plenty of lilting melodies and fights all over the story.
Shammi Kapoor with Sharmila Tagore in Kashmir ki Kali: As a visible symbol of the
youth he was a bundle of energy, singing, dancing, skiing, and riding, with
extravagant costumes and flirting with the best of the beauties available.
His lovely wife Geeta Bali was a big star while he was a starlet before he hit big time with
Junglee. Her death devastated him.
Bollywood Diary with Neeru Saluja
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 17
By Neeru Saluja
It all started in the summer of
2001. Fresh out of college, ready to
embrace the corporate life and
struggling to take the leap of love,
he brought all of us 20 something's
an answer. Like a fresh breeze he
gave us a reason to love and laugh
with his 'Dil Chahta Hai'. Soon the
movie became the talk of the town
and 'Sydney' the coolest city to live
in.
Sooner than later I landed up in the
so called 'coolest city'. A month
later I joined the office of the
Indian Down Under, and to my sur-
prise I came to know the man who
created 'my college magic' had set
his eyes where I was working for a
venue to shoot his film! My excite-
ment levels went up when I
realised my editor had actually met
him in person and noted the gleam
in his young eyes.
Years rolled on and as I got
engrossed in the next stage of my
life, it was all by chance that I
stumbled upon him once again in a
film called 'Luck by Chance'. I was
taken aback to see the man behind
the scenes as an actor in a full-
fledged role. For his debut, he
acted is way directly into my heart
with his dialogue delivery, fresh
look and husky voice. I went to the
cinemas to catch a glimpse of my
heartthrob Hrithik who was doing a
guest appearance but all I could
remember was Farhan all the way
back home.
Unable to withhold my recent dis-
covery, I shared my latest
Bollywood find with my brother.
He agreed and informed me of how
he has already come in a movie
called 'Rock On'. That film which
was in my DVD cabinet for months
because I couldn't recognise any of
the actors because of their over-
grown beards? The movie turned
out to be a surprise package - ver-
satile Farhan is not only an ace
director, actor but he can sing too!
Once you listen to the songs of
Rock On, you will never forget
them.
For those of you who don't know,
Farhan Akhtar - the man who
rocked into our lives with his imp-
ish smile and fresh voice is not
only a director and actor, but a pro-
ducer, playback singer, lyricist,
script writer and television host.
Blame it on his genes as he is born
to famous screenwriters Javed
Akhtar and Honey Irani, his grand-
father is the famous poet Jan Nisar
Akhtar, his sister Zoya Khan is a
director and actress Shabana Azmi
is his step mother. Farhan is mar-
ried to Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar, a
hairstylist, so know you know
where he gets his cool hairdos
from.
Though he entered Bollywood at
the young age of 17, Farhan made
his writing and directorial debut at
the age of 27 with 'Dil Chahta Hai'
which was a big hit amongst the
younger generation and won many
awards. His next film 'Lakshya'
didn't do that well but still won him
critical acclaim. There on followed
a remake of Don which did well at
the box office. Very few people
know but he also wrote the lyrics
for 'Bride and Prejudice'. He made
his acting debut in 2008 with Rock
On which became an instant cult
film in metros, soon followed by
his sister's 'Luck By Chance'. In
2010 he played the lead role in
'Karthik calling Karthik' with
Deepika Padukone which moder-
ately did well.
In 2011, Farhan once again acted in
his sister Zoya Akhtar film 'Zindagi
na Milege Dobara' where he plays
the role of Imraan, a copy writer
who is a closet poet. Zoya felt he
would know what she exactly
wanted from the film, and cast him
as Imraan. Once again, Farhan
swayed his way into our hearts and
his acting became the highlight of
the film. The poetry of the son-
father duo injected a soul in the
film. In the song 'Senorita' (which
he sang) he even makes the danc-
ing sensation Hrithik Roshan look
worn out in front of him!
As a proclaimed 'Farhan follower',
Farhan's movies represent the new
modern youth of India where the
characters evolve during the film.
Friendships are strong (reflecting
his own upbringing) and visuals are
chic and exotic. With a few more
movies in the pipeline, Farhan has
definitely brought a new wave in
Bollywood. As a Bollywood buff,
all I have to say is watch out for
him!
Farhan Rocks...
Amitabh Bachchan has finally accepted
the honorary doctorate by Queensland
University of Technology on October 20
when the thespian flew from Sydney to
accept the honor which he had declined in
2009 due to attacks on Indian students.
Amitabh Bachchan has been in Sydney play-
ing a shadowy organised crime figure in Baz
Lurmans movie The Great Gatsby.
Big B has revealed he is appearing free of
charge in director Luhrmann's new big-screen
adaptation of the classic novel The Great
Gatsby. Amitabh wrote on his blog that he
will make "a mere one scene appearance as a
friendly gesture" in the film, which also stars
Hollywood A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio,
Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.
Bachchan's character, Meyer Wolfsheim,
is a shadowy organised crime figure who
helps the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby
make his money in F Scott Fitzgerald's 1925
novel.
The "Big B" says he agreed to take part
after Luhrmann - a Bollywood fan - visited
India last year. He called and wondered if I
would do this small role in his film and I
agreed," Bachchan wrote. "It is a gesture. I
have refused any remuneration for."
Bachchan visited Australia in August but at
the time did not disclose why.
Bachchan revealed in his blog that he was
in Sydney to take part in a preliminary read-
through of the script with the cast, as well as
have hair, make-up and costume rehearsals.
"It has been a wonderful experience to be
a part of the Hollywood system and to
observe with what detail and diligence they
work," he added. Shooting for The Great
Gatsby started in Sydney in October. Maguire
(Spider-Man) plays Nick Carraway, the
would-be writer and narrator of the novel,
who comes to New York from the US
Midwest in 1922 to make his fortune.
DiCaprio (Blood Diamond, Titanic) plays
the lead role of Gatsby, while Mulligan (An
Education) plays his lover and Carraway's
cousin, Daisy Buchanan.
Amitabh Bachchan conferred honorary doctorate by QUT
By Neena Badhwar
Driving down the scenic high-
way leading to Wollongong the
coal town where Gujarat NRE
have organized a day for all guests
to take a look at the huge set up of
machinery to demonstrate how a
panel of coal is mined by the huge
shearers in front as the hydraulic
pistons hold the panels to secure
the roof of the mine from falling
while the coal is cut and mined,
one can only but admire the big
vision of an Indian coalmine
owner Arun Jagatramka in the
Illawarra region. We are not inside
the mine but outside the colliery
seeing the equipment as a miner
explains to all how the whole
thing works. It is a gigantic opera-
tion and the miner tells us that it
will take six months to set up the
machinery inside the mine and
will be mining thousands of
tonnes of coal in a day.
And as you drive towards the
town with vast expanse of scenic
ocean dotted with huge freighter
ships, about a dozen of them, one
does not stop to wonder if any of
the ships carry coal to India, thou-
sands of tonnes of black coking
coal, trying to meet the ever rising
hunger for coal related energy
needs of India - now a nation
which is demanding and buying
minerals and other riches from
Australia. Latest entrants from the
private sector are the Adani group,
GVK and Arun Jagatramka of
Gujarat NRE who has established
himself with his company Gujarat
NRE Colliery Number 1 and
another one at Wongawilli.
Coal is actually abundant in
India, as in fact it is the third
largest miner whereas Australia
comes fourth, of indigenous sup-
plies in the world, with millions of
tonnes still yet to be developed.
Local coal production has grown
7 per cent annually from 2000 to
2005 till the past two years, when
it has declined barely inching
above 550 million tonnes.
However, with India's bureau-
cratic policies and stricter environ-
mental guidelines, the coal still
takes times to slide down the tun-
nel, forcing private companies to
set their sights across the seas.
And India knows it cannot just be
a simple buyer of coal alone. It
has to purchase coal mines around
the world.
That's where Jagatramka's
company Gujarat NRE has come
looking for coking coal on Aussie
shores. Honoured earlier this year
by NSWPremier Barry O'Farrel
for his contribution to NSWecon-
omy, Arun has definitely decided
to make Australia his home. Not
only have the Jagatramkas settled
with new residence built over-
looking the oceans they have
become true Aussies by adopting
and sponsoring Basket Ball Club
Wollongong Hawks and under-age
State teams and programs of
Cricket NSW. And Gujarat NRE
has basically revived the dead
mines around Illawarra and have
been able to absorb over 500 min-
ing staff and looking after them
well as one can see how the life
has suddenly come back to a place
which lay untended for years.
Reviving, energizing the place
with plans and vision of an entre-
preneur who knows what he is
doing, Jagatramka is the buyer in
India of his own coal that he pro-
duces or mines in Australia cart-
ing it from Illawarra to Gujarat.
While mining riches Arun
does not stop short of sharing it
with people as the family settles in
Australia and contributes gener-
ously to worthwhile sporting and
community bodies. He has recent-
ly provided a loan to Shri Shiva
Temple at Minto for the upgrade
of driveways and carpark. Gujarat
NRE has supported over 80 com-
munity & sporting establishments
believing in the ethos of taking the
community along as the company
grows.
There are issues such as car-
bon emissions and hence carbon
tax yet Gujarat NRE have looked
into those concerns regarding car-
bon tax and its implications for
the company having identified
opportunities that would enable
both mines to manage fugitive
emissions thereby reducing the
total greenhouse emissions.
Although times may be hard eco-
nomically worldwide Gujarat
NRE is aiming to increase its hard
coking coal production with the
setting up of longwall machinery.
And on October 10 the
Longwall machinery ordered from
India is on display for selected
guests invited to see how the
vision turns into action with Arun
Jagatramka. Former Labour pre-
miers Neville Wran and Morris
Iemma and Mayor of Wollongong
and MPs from Illawarra region are
all there on the day sunny enough
to stand out and see the machine
work out in the open. As we walk
from the canopy laid out with
food, wine and cool nimbu paani
one cannot but wonder about this
amazing Indian entrepreneur who
has entered the Australian land-
scape for digging riches out of the
Australian soil and helping to
employ a whole lot of Australians
to meet that vision.
18 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
A Green Vision
Gujarat NRE goes longwall mining
Above: Arun Jagatramka (third from left) with wife Mona and daughter and employees at the mine. Middle: Left: Ex Premier Mr Neville
Wran and right Morris Iemma looking at the operation while, Bottom: A minor explains how the longwall machinery mines coal.
Community
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 19
i t y P
Phillip Rolfe, festival director
Parramasala - the Australian Festival
of South Asian Arts, has this year
lined up an interesting mix of artists
from the region that include world-
renowned artists - including
Australian premieres by Mavin Khoo
with O.S. Arun and by The
Chandralekha Group, accompanied
by the Gundecha Brothers. Baul
Shilpi singers from Bengal with
Parramatta Town Hall forecourt per-
formances by the outstanding
Madhumita Roy Kathak Dance
Company from Kolkata on the
Outdoor Stage in Church Street, as
part of a daily free program. There will
be outstanding music, dance and
other visual delights accompanied by
food stalls, music, Indians crafts and
participation from local artists .
Said Phillip to TIDU, This years
program is much bigger which will go
on for upto 8 days. The range will
appeal to different audiences. There
is something for everyone from
Harmonic Choir to Sufi music. We
have tried to create variety and diver-
sity.
Says he, Do come and get
involved as artists from all around the
world have been invited. Its a rare
combination and a great opportunity
to learn and experience art and cul-
ture as theres everything for people
from all backgrounds to enjoy.
We are presenting a premiere
performance of brilliant dancer and
choreographer, Mavin Khoo, from
Malaysia, who is trained in both west-
ern contemporary and Indian classi-
cal styles. Challenging notions of
gender and tradition, Khoo's original
ideas and techniques make him one
of the world's most in-demand artists
in his genre. He is accompanied by
the master Carnatic musician O.S.
Arun and his group from India in his
solo dance production, Devi In
Absolution, at the Riverside Theatre.
We have films with South Asian
focus as we are showing a retrospec-
tive on the great Satyajit Ray as well
as films from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan,
Australia, Canada and the US.
Theres a documentary on
Rabindranath Tagore and some
Bollywood glitz and glamour type of
movies too.
Chandralekha group from
Chennai present Sharira - that
invloves contemporary style of dance
which just quite stunning and an orig-
inal piece of work.
While last year the weather was
not very kind though the interest in
the festival from the community was
great. Says Phillip, We are keeping
our fingers crossed hoping that the
weather will co-operate.
This year Parramasala will be
held from Sunday 30 October to
Sunday 6 November, starting with the
2011 Deepavali Fair at Parramatta
Stadium on Sunday 30 October.
There are workshops that will give
the opportunity to engage with the
artists.
We have kept the tickets at
affordable level so that people not
just see a performance rather they
can afford to come to more things and
experience the festival as an intern-
sive art and cultural experience.
And what happened to cricket,
that was there last year, says Phillip,
Oh there was not a good response to
it. So there is no justification to have
it in the program this year. Although
we have not ruled it out completely.
As the awareness about the festival
grows we may add cricket back in.
Its really how the community
responds. We are only playing by the
communitys involvement. You may
hear of a big surprise for next years
festival although we cant say any-
thing yet.
So how do you want the communi-
ty to participate, says Phillip, Just
come and be part of the crowd, wit-
ness free outdoor events, films, docu-
mentaries and even buy a ticket or
two to some performances if you like
any. There is world on offer right here
in Parramatta and its really a very
special festival to entice one and all .
Sharira : Chandralekha Group from Chennai
Trilok Gurtu
Mavin Khoo
Baul Shilpi singers from Bangladesh
Sharmila Tagore in Apur Sansar
Phillip Rolfe
By Neena Badhwar
Mike Pandey, a film maker, spe-
cialising in films about wildlife and
the environment was in Sydney to
attend the International Quorum of
Motion Picture Producers in the
month of September at Sebel Hotel.
This body represents a global group
of filmmakers who share ideas, dis-
cuss their work, explore new
avenues of film technology,
strengthen networks and seek proj-
ect partnerships, whilst developing
international connections throughout
the world,
Mike has produced over 600
films and has won three Wildscreen
Panda Awards which are also
known as the Green Oscars for 'The
Last Migration - Wild Elephant
Capture in Sarguja' in 1994, on a
film based on massacre of whale
sharks on Indian coast called the
'Shore of Silence' in 2000 and in
2004 he won the third Green Oscar
for his film 'Vanishing Giants - a
story on elephants - his ultimate
passion. Having been born in
Nairobi, Kenya Mike was intro-
duced to wild life at a very young
age when his dad used to take him
for walks everyday to the nearby
wildlife park.
Mike has won over 300 awards
for his work to spread awareness
about biodiversity and species con-
servation. Most important is that
Mike's work is helping conserve and
protect key species including the
Whale Sharks, the Elephants, the
Tigers, the Vultures and the
Horseshoe Crabs
"My fear of animals was gone at
a young age as we slept near ani-
mals hearing their sounds and noises
all around us," says Mike when
TIDU met him to talk about his
work on endangered animal species.
"When I came to India Bollywood
was my destination and I worked on
Kamal Amrohi's 'Razia Sultan' and
Sunny Deol's debut movie 'Betaab'
but quickly realized that the Indian
film industry was not where may
actual passion lay. I had lived near
animals and observed them from up
close and I had seen sharks on my
way to India from the ship," said
Mike.
When asked how is the current
global climate changes and cutting
of the forests and other human
activity is threatening animals, says
Mike, " 'Shores of Silence' docu-
mentary was based on massacre of
whale sharks on the Indian coast.
These are harmless migratory ani-
mals. They do not kill and as a mat-
ter of fact they are called the 'cows
of the ocean'. Indians were killing
them to get their livers to get oil to
make boot polish and rest of the
parts were thrown away. Then they
were approached by businessmen
who offered to buy shark meat at $1
a kilo which they sold in South
East Asia at $600 a kilo. The story
they gave to Indians was that they
were going to try and use all this
'kachra meat' for either rose manure
or chicken feed."
"This movie brought about an
awareness and ban on their killing
and the number of sharks that were
dwindling have begin to rise." said
Mike.
Talking about the dwaindling
tiger population in India as everyday
a tiger gets killed, says Mike,
"There once was a tigress that came
to actress Hema Malini's house in
Borivilli in Mumbai. When Hema
talked to me complaining about
'why the animal had come and
scared the hell out of all the people
at home.' By seeing the footage of
the film I could make out the tigress
was lactating and had cubs some-
where and was hungry and looking
for food. And that it was not the
tigress that had come to Hema's
home rather Hema Malini was liv-
ing in the home of the tigress. The
real estate activity by getting rid of
the forests has destoyed the natural
habitat of these animals," Mike said,
and what should these poor ani-
mals do than look for food in peo-
ple's home. "Perhaps the tigress had
come to Hema's home to kill the big
dogs she has as pets."
"The tiger population in India
has gone down to 700 although the
billboards advertise that the tigers
left in India are around 1100," Says
Mike.
"Consumerism, cutting down of
forests has resulted in many species
going extinct. If only for two insects
- namely the honey bee and the but-
terfly - if they go extinct then the
whole animal kingdom would be
wiped out including humans. 87%
of food crops will disappear from
this earth if they are not there and
the role they play in pollination."
He further says, "We need to
educate and begin to respect that not
only the plants 'provide us with
food' that they are doing their job
'without being paid'. My films are
targeted by 70 per cent of the
Indians in rural areas. My program
'Earth Matters' goes on Doordarshan
to more than 800 million people in
135 countries. It is interesting to
note here that 67 % of Indians are
environmentally aware as compared
to 47% in America and Europe."
Talking about the pH of the
oceans, says Mike, "Oceans when
formed were very salty for trillions
of years. After the earth settled and
the rains made the oceans' pH go
down to 7.4 it became the right con-
ducive environment for the life to
form. We as humans need to protect
our planet and animals and plant
species as we are all interconnected.
Take Horse Shoe Crab for example
there are nine patents pending with
Indian scientists who are research-
ing extensively on this animal that it
can reverse osteoporosis,
Rheumatoid Arthiritis, HIVand TB
and that it has the miraculous 'moth-
er of all stem cells'. We need to pro-
tect such animals and use them for
the benefit of humankind while
cohabitating with animals and
plants."
"Do you know that the world
earlier had two years' food supply
left as compared to 90 days current-
ly that is if there was no more pro-
duction or a catastrophe or a
drought - only 90 days of food left
for us all! Do we realise how much
we take everything for granted and
how much food we waste," says
Mike referring to how the greed is
driving the world economy.
"We need to act fast only
because in this interdependence
of cycle of life man is the 'weak-
est link'. If we do not protect
plant and animal life we will be
the first ones to go extinct.." says
the filmmaker who has been
described by Time magazine as
the 'hero of the environment'.
20 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
An Interview
Mike Pandey: We must protect ourselves
Harry Virk (left) of Last Train To Bombay restaurant in Sydney is
an old friend of Mike Pandey and hosted him in Sydney.
Community
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 21
Children at Indo-Aus Bal Bharti School preparing diyas for Diwali,
learning to draw Diwali pictures, fire crackers with 81year old Ramesh
Alandkar - a caricaturist, painter and a sculptor who says, I have had
my journey through life but would like to express my art through these
young kids, as he patiently teaches kids how to draw. just be relaxed
and draw, doodle and you will get the hang of it, says Ramesh that he
was getting bored at home as he visits his son in Sydney often. Women
can occupy themselves at home but for me I find my inspiration in
drawing, painting. Thats my life line.
Top Left: Kavi Goshti held by ILASA at Rekha Rajvanshis residence.
The first meeting had many old and new poets readign their poems.
Top right and below: Mala Mehta presented an impressive power point
presentation on India Calling program at the Language Conference by
NSWFederation of Community Languages, held last Saturday on
October 8 at Sydney university. India Calling - initiative is an amazing
way to teach languages to the yr 3-4 learners in Primary School. It gives
them an understanding of the country as well as an insight into the basic
language building up an interest if they wish to take it up further.
Sahitya Goshthi by ILASA Power point presentation by Mala Mehta of India Calling Teaching Initiative
Mala Mehta with Janet Freeman, ESL Multicultural
Consultant for Sydney region , NSWDepartment of
Education and Training at the presentation
Ramesh Alandkar with Vishakha Narayan
Hindi teacher Ruchira Virmani with kids - all ready with diyas for Diwali
Ramesh with IABBV Kids
22 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 23
24 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
Community
U
nited Indian
Associations (UIA)
annual Friendship Fair is
now well established. Despite
some recent challenges the crowd
numbers were the same as in the
previous years, may be even
more stalls and variety and more
than the usual show of digni-
taries.
The covering of the stage this
year as an insurance against the
inclement weather lost a bit of its
visual impact, the scale now con-
tained, but otherwise the busy
programme entertained and
informed and remained as a plat-
form for politicians and commu-
nity leaders to voice their ideas.
Gujarat NREs Arun
Jagatramka used the stage to
challenge corruption, how every-
one could contribute to rid the
now well-entrenched evil. He
gave analogy of the pirated
DVDs coming into Australia
which was killing the genuine
market and discouraged business-
es to invest.
The stalls arranged on the
perimeters of several circles did a
roaring trade. The pink butter
chicken was everywhere, along-
with chole-bhature and dosas that
formed the popular dishes.
On stage, the bhangra group
took over everything else -
colourful and loud, and it
engaged the youngsters to crowd
around the stage with raised arms
and twitching shoulders to dance
to the drum beats.
The artist from Batala (she
made sure it wasnt to be con-
fused with Patiala), the same vil-
lage as the UIA president Mr
Bajwa comes from, sang beauti-
fully but without much variety -
louder and louder she went to
engage the largely north-Indian
crowd who absolutely loved her
antics. So went the UIA fair, an
annual get together to celebrate
Indias Independence Day in an
Australian context, with plenty of
opportunities for the community
leaders to be on show and for the
crowds to have a day out with
their friends and families.
A
lthough interrupted by rain
several times, the first time
fair organised by the
Council of Indian Associations
(CIA) at Parramatta Park on
August 7 was well organised and
attracted enough crowds and stalls
to be a precursor of a successful
annual event on the community cal-
endar. It had all the ingredients to
make an impact - hoardes of digni-
taries, parliamentarians, communi-
ty leaders, backing of businesses
who had put up nearly 100 stalls
and plenty of variety in entertain-
ment. There was bhangra, classical
dances like Odissi and
Bharatanatyam, even belly dancing
that had the audience on the edges
of their seats.
Fashion parade is a well-
rehearsed routine, popular, both
among the spectators as well as the
performers who get an opportunity
to be on stage for the fashion hous-
es to display the latest trends in
evening wear and especially for
weddings which is big business.
There were Indian flags aplenty
on all stalls making the statement
for the forthcoming Independence
Day celebrations.
The sun and rain kept playing
hide and seek, the audience in toe,
running from their seats and return-
ing to clean their chairs, until at
around five in the afternoon a huge
downpour posed enough challenge
to call it a day.
UIA Fair, a meeting point for the community
CIA Fair makes a debut
Bollywood
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 25
Band Baaja Barat nominated for APSA Award
T
he Asia Pacific Screen
Awards (APSA) on
October 12 announced
that 37 films from 19 countries
and areas have been nominated
in this years Asia Pacific
Screen Awards, the regions
highest accolade in cinema.
Indias Bollywood film that cre-
ated waves among the youth,
Band Baaja Barat has been
made it to the nominations for
the best feature film. Produced
by Aditya Chopra, it is the debut
feature film for director
Maneesh Sharma.
APSA 2011 International
Jury President, Nansun Shi,
made the announcement at the
Busan International Film
Festival, which was founded by
APSA Patron Kim Dong-ho.
Films from Iran, China, Turkey
and India are vying for the Best
Feature Film Award.
Other Best Feature Film
nominees in the 2011 APSAs
are Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A
Separation, Iran), Rang zidan
fei (Let the Bullets Fly, Peoples
Republic of China Mainland
China / Hong Kong), B Omid
Didar (Goodbye, Iran), Bir
Zamanlar Anadolu'da (Once
Upon a Time in Anatolia,
Turkey / Bosnia and
Herzegovina).
Winners will be announced
at the Ceremony on the Gold
Coast, Queensland, on
November 24.
Nominees for Best
Documentary Feature Film
include two India/UK entries:
Marathon Boy (India / UK)
Gemma Atwal, Matt Norman,
and Pink Saris (India / UK)
Amber Latiff, Girjashanker
Vohra.
APSA nominees are auto-
matically inducted into the Asia
Pacific Screen Academy making
them eligible to apply for the
MPA APSA Academy Film
Fund, a US$100,000 script
development fund supported by
the Motion Picture Association
(MPA) and available exclusively
to Academy members. APSA
members are also eligible to
apply for the APSA Childrens
Film Fund, a new development
fund specifically for films for
and about children of the Asia-
Pacific. The fund is a partner-
ship between APSA and Manila
based 4 Boys Films, established
by APSA Academy member
Butch Jimenez. Two
AU$20,000 grants will be given
to support new childrens fea-
ture films at creative inception
that carry positive, life affirm-
ing messages specifically for
and about children in the Asia-
Pacific. A member of APSA
Academy must be attached to
the project.
Led by Patron Jack
Thompson, the Academy is a
growing body of the regions
most influential names in cine-
ma including past APSA
Winners, Nominees,
International Jury and
Nominations Council members.
The submission period for both
film funds closes on October 21
and the fund recipients will be
announced at the APSA
Ceremony on November 24.
Two additional major awards
for outstanding achievement will
be presented at the ceremony.
FIAPF Award: Each year
FIAPF - International
Federation of Film Producers
Associations - determines the
winner of the FIAPF Award for
outstanding achievement in film
in the Asia-Pacific region.
UNESCO Award: This
award is presented by
UNESCO for outstanding con-
tribution to the promotion and
preservation of cultural diversity
through film.
I
nspired by the huge suc-
cess and influence of
Bollywood movies, SBS
is bringing a taste of
Bollywood to Australia with
a brand new commission,
Bollywood Star.
This four-part series,
made for SBS by WTFN
Entertainment (Bondi Vet,
Keeping up with the
Joneses), follows the search
for an Australian Bollywood
star: an unknown who will
go on to win the prize of a
lifetime a part in a
Bollywood movie.
Renowned Bollywood pro-
ducer and director Mahesh
Bhatt is offering a coveted
place in his next movie to
one Australian to become the
next Bollywood Star.
Anyone can be a
Bollywood Star. Applicants
from any cultural back-
ground can audition, but they
must be over 18. National
auditions will be held in
Sydney on October 22 at the
National Art School, Taylor
Square, Sydney. More infor-
mation on how to audition is
available at
www. sbs. com. au/ bol l y-
woodstar.
Michael Ebeid, SBS
Managing Director, said:
The series will follow the
hundreds of hopefuls who
will audition for a part in a
Bollywood movie as theyre
whittled down to six finalists
who will travel to Mumbai to
immerse themselves in
Indian culture and experienc
the glitz and glamour of the
Bollywood movie scene. The
final winner will be selected
by Mahesh himself and take
away the prize of a role in his
next feature film.
While its the opportuni-
ty of a lifetime for many, this
journey will also be a chal-
lenging one for those who
take part. Bollywood Star
continues SBSs commitment
to pushing the boundaries
with commissioned content
with this exciting take on the
talent search format".
Bollywood Star will air
on SBS ONE in 2012
The poster of Band Baaja Barat
With Love from Australia A
Bollywood movie announced
SBS in search
for a Bollywood
Star! P
ramod Films, one of the most
prestigious banners of
Bollywood, announced on
September 19 its revival with the lat-
est film to be shot in Australia later
this year making it the first Major
Bollywood film ever to have an
Australian city in the title of film.
The film, tentatively titled With
Love from Australia is a love story
between two overseas students set in
Australia. Directed by Prateek
Chakravorty, the grandson of the
founder of Pramod Films, the film is
seen as a crucial step in the growing
Indo-Australia film trade.
Reminiscing about his days spent
in Australia as an overseas student,
director Prateek Chakravorty said,
I am particularly excited about this
project as I have fond memories of
Australia as an international student.
It is only fitting that Australia forms
an integral part of my debut film, par-
ticularly when it is the revival of my
grandfathers banner after a couple of
decades.
Speaking from Mumbai he said
We have yet to finalise the title of
the film. It will definitely include
Australia or either Sydney or
Melbourne. Our Australian produc-
tion company films and casting TEM-
PLE is in conversation with the states
of Victoria and NSW to explore tie
ups before we announce the final
name.
Prateek further added, This is a
romantic, positive, love story with a
backdrop of Australian University
lifestyle for international students
showcasing the beauty of Australia
and the vibrant, diverse international
student culture present and thriving in
this country. This film, I hope, will
represent my wonderful experiences
studying and living in Australia.
Sydney based filmmaker Anupam
Sharma will head the Australian
Production for Pramod Films. He said
"This is one of the extremely rare
opportunities where an Australian city
is in the title of the film and intricate-
ly woven into the films story line.
Its a great marketing opportunity for
Australia to reach a target audience of
more than a billion people. This is a
great, fun romantic story and I look
forward to welcoming the team from
India and commencing the film.
The film will be shot over a peri-
od of 6-7 weeks before Christmas and
will begin pre-production activities in
Australia from the end of October. It
is estimated to spend millions of dol-
lars hiring over 480 Australian cast
and crew and hospitality for the
Indian contingent.
Bollywood has often in the distant
and recent past made films where the
city is a character in the film and the
story is driven by the city where it
takes place, this is however a rare
occasion and the first time that an
Australian city will be named in the
title of the film.
Anupam Sharma will head the
Australian Production for
Pramod Films
Prateek Chakravorty, the grand-
son of the founder of
Pramod Films
26 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
Community
Prof Veena Sahajwalla
named finalist in the
Telstras Business
Womens Awards
Punjab National Bank
launches in Australia
I
n September, Professor Veena
Sahajwalla, from the University of
NSW, was announced a finalist in the
Nokia Business Innovation Award section
for her work in developing technology to
reduce carbon-emissions during steel pro-
duction and recycle end-of-life materials
that would otherwise go to landfill. Nokia
Business Innovation Award recognises
successful innovation within a business or
workplace.
Veena Sahajwalla is helping the steel
industry combat enormous environmental
challenges and says, Growing up in
India, I would walk past huge mountains
of waste supporting communities of rub-
bish pickers and imagine what it would
take to convert "rubbish" into something
more valuable.
As Director at the Centre for
Sustainable Materials Research and
Technology at The University of NSW,
Scientia Professor Veena developed tech-
nology to reduce carbon-emissions during
steel production and recycle end-of-life
materials that would otherwise go to land-
fill.
Traditionally, in electric arc furnace
(EAF) steelmaking, scrap is reprocessed
using large amounts of coke and coal as
sources of carbon.
After successful lab experiments which
commenced in 2003, Veena collaborated
with manufacturing giant OneSteel to
develop technology to recycle plastic and
rubber waste in the scrap reprocessing fur-
nace. The green steel technology not
only produces lower emissions, but
reduces reliance on coke and coal and
requires less electricity.
In addition, plastic and rubber waste
are spared from landfill. The innovation
has attracted science and technology
awards in Australia and the United States
and has the potential to transform steel
production globally.
Jagjit Singh Story
Continued from page 15
Bhushan followed for Jagjit
sahab. However, for me, the
albums while fully showcasing
the man's genius, did not beat his
live shows. I saw him live on
stage seven times. Never with
Chitra as she had stopped singing
in 1990. However, I was lucky to
meet Chitra at an intimate dinner
in 2005. That was an evening I
still treasure. Jagjit was perform-
ing at the Sydney Opera House
and she was there for that
momentous occasion. I tried to
find out if she sung in private or
was able to speak to Vivek's spir-
it through mediums and ouija
boards, but life had taught her to
be coy.
However, I had more success
with her partner. Jagjit was as he
has been described in the press.
Simple (yeh subh chodo, dal
roti layo), dedicated (how are
the acoustics at the Opera
House), a lover (my concept
of love is fixing my cycle chain
in front of her house), old
school (without riyaz there is
nothing) and above all a
Gentleman (splitting his garam
roti with my wife).
The last time I spoke to him
was in April. Two things were
memorable that did not make it to
print. He was not going to sing
bhajans as "mood and atmos-
phere is different. Log joote daal
ke rakhte hain". Talk about dedi-
cation to his music. The other
was the advice he offered me.
"Cigaratte, alcohol na chuna.
Ma-baap ka kahna manna".
Wow! His last Sydney concert
organised by Vijay Jogia was a
superhit. Jagjit ji was able to
treat the audience to the full
range of human emotions. We
laughed, cried, sat up, were
moved and just sang with him a
few times together. As his musi-
cians lived up to their Maestro's
nods, shakes and whispers, audi-
ence of all ages had something
they took away, and he must
have too... at the end, his voice
was unusually lighter as he sung
the curtain dropping tappas in his
beloved Punjabi. And then with a
wave he was gone and we were
back in this world.
Its sad to think that this is it,
but it is. While a YouTube search
might reveal a rare gem or some-
one might have a forgotten
album, for his many fans, the
loss is a personal one. Mohabbat
has lost its awaz. For he made
ghazal like no other could.
Changing it from stuffy and
upper crust to a live thing that
breathes and lives.
Encompassing this Great
Singer's contribution, perhaps, is
this little gem from Kahkashan.
Ghazal ka saaz uthao, bade
udaas hai raat, nawa-e-Mir
sunaao, bade udaas hai raat
Kahe na tum se tu phir aur
kisse ja kar kahen, seha zulf ke
sayoon badee udas hai raat
Suna hai pahle bhi aisee may
bujh gai hain chiraag, dilon ki
kher manao badi udas hai raat,
Deye raho yunh hi kuchh der
aur hath may hath, abhi na pass
se jao badi udas hai raat
I
ndias second largest state-owned bank,
Punjab National Bank (PNB), opened a
representative office in Sydney, follow-
ing the trend of Indian banks establishing a
presence in Australia.
PNB is the fourth Indian bank to launch
in Australia, setting up an office in the heart
of the Sydney CBD on September 15, 2011.
Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State
for Finance (EB&I) in India and Shri K.R.
Kamath, the Chairman and MD of PNB
were in Sydney to formally launch PNBs
operations in Australia. The Inauguration
ceremony for the representative office was
held with a select group of stakeholders.
A formal dinner launch was held at the
Hilton, Sydney, attended by leading
Australian bankers, business leaders, media
leaders and members of parliament.
The Hon. Greg Pearce MLC, Minister
for Finance and Services, made the opening
speech and unveiled the banks plaque. The
dinner was also attended by The Hon.
Melinda Jane Pavey, MLC, Parliamentary
Secretary for Regional Health, who repre-
sented the New South Wales State Premier,
Barry OFarrell and conveyed the Premiers
message that The presence of PNB here
will further cement the important business
relationship our state has with India.
Minister of State for Finance,
Government of India, Namo Narain Meena
in his speech commended the bank, speak-
ing of its history Punjab National Bank,
with its experience gathered over last more
than 100 years can play a catalytic role in
stimulating the commercial ties between the
two nations. I am sure they are alive to this
need and opening of Representative Office
in Sydney will go a long way in realizing
this goal.
The increasing links between the two
countries were very evident, when the
Consul General of India, Amit Dasgupta
stated that The entry of the fourth Indian
bank into Australia is a clear reflection of
the strength of Indian banking sector and a
recognition of the strong fundamentals in
the Australian economy. The presence of
Indian banks will not only service the
requirements of the resident expatriate com-
munity but also facilitate closer business-to-
business and investment links between
Australian and Indian companies.
The Chairman of PNB K.R. Kamath
was very happy to establish a
Representative office due to the growing bi-
lateral trade and business potential that
Australia offers.
The Australia India Business Council,
NSW welcomed the establishment of the
bank as yet another milestone in the bilater-
al trade and business relationship between
Australia and India.
PNB will be represented by Chief
Representative Mr Cyril Michael who will
be based at the banks representative office
in the Sydney CBD.
Prof Veena Sahajwalla with High Temperature Furnace
From Left: Shri K.R. Kamath, the Chairman and MD of PNB, The Hon. Greg
Pearce MLC, Minister for Finance and Services and Namo Narain Meena,
Minister of State for Finance (EB&I) in India
Community
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 27
Bob Hawke relives Rajiv Gandhi at AIBC
25th anniversary celebrations
By Vish Viswanathan
B
ob Hawke, former
Australian PM who had
launched Australia India
Business Council (AIBC) 25
years ago, was again present at
the Council's anniversary cele-
brations in August. He spoke
nostalgically about how he had
`clicked instantly when he met
the late Indian PM Rajiv
Gandhi during the CHOGM
conference in the Bahamas. He
invited Rajiv Gandhi to visit
Australia and It was during his
visit to Australia that both
prime ministers had established
the Australia India Business
Council 25 years ago.
The vision was singular, to
promote closer relationship
between Australia and India
through bi-lateral business and
trade relationships, he said.
Bob Hawke, delivering the
Annual Address, highly com-
plimented AIBC for completing
25 successful years and wished
success for its future efforts in
promoting bilateral trade.
The celebrations hosted by
AIBC attracted around 500
business leaders, Federal, NSW
and Indian Government repre-
sentatives, community and
media leaders, key stakeholders
and dignitaries from Australia
and India. It included the
Indian High Commissioner
Sujatha Singh, Consul General
Amit Dasgupta, Federal
Minister for Trade Dr Craig
Emerson, John Alexander rep-
resenting Leader of the
Opposition Tony Abbot and
Gujarat NRE Chairman, Arun
Jagatramka, among others.
The event played a key role
in addressing the Australia
India bilateral trade relation-
ship and its rapid growth at a
juncture where global
economies were facing more
challenges and opportunities
than ever before. Dean Jones,
famous Australian Cricketer
and Coach, the MC for the
event, brought the relationship
closer still regaling his person-
al cricket day stories and the
tied match played by Australia
and India in Madras in the same
year that AIBC was established
in 1986.
AIBC, NSW President,
Dipen Rughani, highlighted the
role AIBC plays in encouraging
bilateral trade between
Australia and India. He shared
with the audience a round up of
activities undertaken by AIBC,
NSW, across the past year. He
promised to have an even
busier year ahead, declaring
2012 as the Year of Australia.
Mrs Sujatha Singh
addressed the guests on the
occasion with a thought pro-
voking speech on the future of
bilateral trade relations
between the two countries and
stressed the need for increased
AIBC role in strengthening this
relationship on a global scale.
The speeches by other dig-
nitaries highlighted the rapid
growth of trade between the
two countries and further trade
and investment possibilities in
the Australia India business
space. Indian investments in
Australian mining, telecommu-
nications, IT and other indus-
tries were on the rise.
Australian opportunities to be
more involved with Indias
growth was in the forefront of
discussions and Education and
Infrastructure were two major
highlighted areas where
Australia could provide expert-
ise in.
The Gujarat NRE Chairman
Arun Jagatramka who has sig-
nificant investments in NSW
was the tile sponsor of the
Annual Address and in his vote
of thanks highlighted the need
to continue to strengthen this
bilateral trade relationship.
The AIBC vice president
Sheba Nandkeolyar said that
AIBC, NSW, had played an
instrumental role in the rapid
growth of bi-lateral trade and
business investments. She invit-
ed business people to become
members of AIBC and avail
significant opportunities
The audience was treated to
an Indian experience of viewing
a Bollywood dance extravagan-
za by Shiamak Davar
Productions from India and an
exquisite Indian dinner.
Arun Sharma National President AIBC, HE Sujatha Singh, Hon. Bob Hawke, Dipen Rughani,
President AIBC NSW and Hon. Minister Craig Emerson at the AIBC NSW Annual Dinner
Stars of Bollywood entertaining the audience
ICT Sector will continue to grow
By Vish Viswanathan
T
he ICT Chapter of the
Australia India Business
Council (AIBC), NSW,
organised a seminar, Indian IT:
Innovation and Transformation,
on 20 September. The keynote
speaker at the seminar, Rajendra
Pawar, Chairman of NASSCOM
and NIIT Group of companies,
said that currently there was no
model in Global Supply Chain
for ICT Services and that the tal-
ent domain would develop expo-
nentially during the next ten
years. He delivered a thought
provoking address to a select
audience and gave a snapshot of
the past three decades of the
Indian IT industry on how it
dealt with change, growth,
demand and transformation.
Related to Australia, Mr
Pawar said, Domain knowledge
base of the Small to Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) is very
good. The large number of
Indian SMEs should take advan-
tage of this strength and collabo-
rate with Australian SMEs. He
said that such possible SME col-
laboration was also discussed
during his brief meeting with the
NSW Premier Barry O Farrell
who is planning a trade mission
to India around the end of 2011.
He engaged with the audi-
ence to get a deeper understand-
ing of their needs and queries to
assist them in making their ICT
decisions.
Ajay Unni, Chair of the ICT
Chapter AIBC NSW, while wel-
coming the audience, said, One
needs to realise that the connec-
tion and partnership between
India and Australia is not based
on our similarities. It's rather
based on our differences and
uniqueness. India has a wealth of
experience and strengths that it
can offer Australia and likewise
Australia has a wealth of experi-
ence that it can offer India. One
needs to focus on these areas of
differences to grab and create
new possibilities and opportuni-
ties.
Rajendra Pawar, described
by Sudhir Mathur, past
President, AIBC, NSW, as one
of the pillars of the global ICT
industry, continued to engage
with the audience to get a deeper
understanding of their needs and
queries to assist them in making
their ICT decisions.
From Left: Ajay Unnikrishnan, Rajendra Pawar
and Neville Roach
28 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Community
Gandhi Jayanthi on October
2nd at UNSWuniversity forecourt
where Gandhiji's bust has been
installed had a special visitor on
the day.
Gandhi's bust has become an
attraction not just for students but
also for visitors from around the
world. This year Thakur Bhoola,
an 85-year old gentleman from
South Africa, Durban, was the
chief guest. After lighting the diyas
on a windy, cold day Indian
Consul General Amit Dasgupta
introduced Mr Bhoola as he
recounted a story which was most
unusual and special. Mr Bhoola
related the story of how he carried
Gandhiji's ashes from India in an
urn 62 years ago.
Bhoola, an ardent follower of
Gandhiji took it upon himself the
job of transporting Gandhiji's
ashes in an urn from Bombay to
South Africa. Bhoola said he was
there at the time of Gandhi's assas-
sination in 1948 when he had gone
there to marry Mani, his wife.
"We approached Pandit Nehru
and asked for a part of the ashes to
be taken to Africa."
"We then travelled to several
African states, including Nairobi,
where some of Gandhi's ashes
were submerged in various rivers
and lakes.
As we travelled in the train
wherever it stopped people
thronged to pay last respects to the
great man who had fought for
independence of India. They had
travlled from far off towns to see
the ashes.
After more than 28 days we
returned to Durban and the urn was
placed at Sarvodaya, at Phoenix
Gandhi Settlement in Inanda north
of Durban.
Gandhiji had started the settle-
ment during his tenure here at the
turn of the 19th century, undertak-
ing various human rights projects
across South Africa before return-
ing to India.
"A part of the ashes was pre-
served by Vilas Mehta, a close
friend of Gandhi's eldest son
Manilal. And the ashes stayed in
the family with Chanda Mehta -
his daughter-in-law who recently
gave them back to Ela Gandhi,
Gandhi's grand daughter.
Ela then arranged the ceremo-
ny to be held at a point where the
Umgeni River joined the sea in
1948.
Aprayer service and night vigil
in memory of Gandhi preceded the
immersion ceremony, which was
followed by another public prayer
service held at the city hall here to
commemorate the 62nd death
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
"We want to install a bust of
Gandhiji there at that place and
also build a museum for which we
are fundraising at the moment."
said Bhoolaram Thakur.
It was an emotional ceremony
as Sunanda Sharma sang
Gandhiji's favorite hymns and
Amit Dasgupta along with mem-
bers of the community garlanded
Gandhiji's bust.
Thakur Bhoola was visiting his
son who lives in Australia and was
invited by the Indian Consulate as
a guest on Gandhi Jayanthi Day.
An emotional tale of journey of Gandhijis ashes
Top: Thakur Bhoola lighted the lamp on Gandhi Jayathi Day held at the UNDSWforecourt and recounted his journey 62 years ago of car-
rying a part of Gandhis ashes to South Africa from India in 1948.
Below: Members of the UIA , President Amarinder Bajwa and Aruna Chandrala pay respect by garlanding Gandhijis bust..
'Festival of lights' arrives in all its glory and golden sheen.
Reminding mankind about purity of hearts within!
For divine energy to be shining bright
'Conscience' accelerating to a formidable height!
'Goddess Mahalaxmi's' annual visit to every home on Diwali day,
Encourages all to extra clean and decorate with "rangoli" array
Crowning with love and faith, for her benevolent blessings
Essence of all prayers and human birth's values awakenings.
As rows of 'divas' were lit joyously welcoming Rama & Sita's to
Ayodhya
After fourteen long years of banishment to wilderness arena!
Kind Dasharatha's word of honour, upheld to the last.
Rama Avatar's triumphant return signifies in 'Diwali Divas' cast.
'Diwali' conveys the vital golden messages.
Good over evil and light of hope amidst darkened ages!
Soul's ultimate evaluation to eternity
Finally merging with the flawless light of divinity!
Jogmaya Narpatsingh
DIWALI
Community
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 29
Hindi Divas gets colourful with Indradhanush plays
By Nishtha Handa
All the world's a stage, and
all the men and women are mere-
ly players.
T
his widely regarded phrase
is the beginning of a mono-
logue from William
Shakespeares As You Like It.
It was also the essence of
Indradhanush, a festival of Hindi
plays, which took place on
September 11, at the Shopfront
Theatre in Carlton, to celebrate
Hindi Divas.
This stage production was the
combined effort of 41 players and
a team of various supporting mem-
bers. For the last four months the
Indradhanush stage had become
the world for each member of this
dedicated group from Abhinay
School of Performing arts. All of
the players came from different
walks of life ranging from the age
of 15 to 70. Each person embraced
their role and transformed into
unique characters when in the
limelight of Shopfronts stage.
Characters ranged from a radio
jockey to a robot and even a Cate
Blanchett.
However, one common theme,
other than a passion for creativity,
acted as a thread in tying the
actors together- Hindi language.
Yes! Thats right! The automated
robot and even Cate Blanchett har-
nessed their roles in tootti footti
Hindi.
The Indradhanush festival,
described as A rainbow of Indian
Hues in Theatre, celebrated the
various textures of the Hindi lan-
guage in a format of eleven short
10-minute plays.
Aishveryaa Nidhi, the festival
director, said, The main focus of
the festival was celebrating Hindi
Divas. Its the second most spoken
language in the world and we
wanted to provide a platform for
community members to stay in
touch with their roots but in a fun
way where they could express
themselves through our mother
tongue.
Indradhanush was inspired by
a playwriting workshop the
Abhinay participants attended
recently with one of the leading ten
minute playwrights and Artistic
Co-ordinator of Short+Sweet
Theatre Sydney, Alex Broun.
Each of the students wrote a
play which was later translated to
Hindi for the festival. The plays
alluded to contemporary, social,
emotional and political issues. One
of the plays, Ek Nayee Subah
written by Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia
has even been selected to be per-
formed at the Short+Sweet festi-
val 2011 in Delhi, India.
Ek Naayee Subah or A New
Dawn revolves around a Hindu
middle class family and their Sikh
neighbour in the year 1984, when
the state of Punjab was being torn
apart by religious tensions.
In true Indian style, flavour
and spice was added to the festival
by making it a competition, judged
by five industry professionals,
including judges from the Sydney
Theatre Company and with back-
grounds in writing, directing and
acting. Various actors and actress-
es were acknowledged for their
talents and passionate performanc-
es.
Shourya Nidhi and Cheryl
Khurana received Best Actor and
Best Actress award for Alex
Brouns Cate Blanchett facebook
par meri friend banna chahti hai.
This play was a comedy where
Academy Award winning actress,
Cate Blanchett played by Nishtha
Handa, who is learning to speak
Hindi, sets out to make some
Hindi speaking Facebook friends.
This play was written by Alex
Broun and translated and directed
by Aishveryaa Nidhi. Yash was
played by Shourya Nidhi, Manoj
was played by Sandeep Sharma
and Sonia was played by Cheryl
Khurana.
First runner up actress was
Indu Takher for Swechha
Kulshreshtras Vytha Kalakaar
Ki and second runner up actress
Aparna Vats for Neena Badhwars
Ek Su-Sampann Var.
Ek Su Sampann Var or A
Perfect Match was set in the year
2030 where women demand a per-
fect match for a life partner or
none at all. Their parents pine for
the day when their darling daugh-
ters would find such a life partner.
Meet Reena: she is one such per-
son who betters the rest. For she
has decided to marry a robot - her
perfect match. But hours before
the wedding she has the usual pre-
nuptial pangs - is he the right
match after all? This play was
written by Neena Badhwar, direct-
ed by Swapan Chakravarthy with
special inputs from Asha Sharma.
Aparna Vats played the bride and
Neel Banerjee played the robot.
Vytha- Kalakaar ki or The
Artists Dilemma was about a
scriptwriters need for ambition,
which compels him to abandon
idealism and instead write for
recognition and success. This play
was written & directed by
Swechha Kulshreshtra.
First runner up actor was Rohit
Kalia for Jasbir Singh Ahluwalias
Ek Nayee Subah and second run-
ner up was a tie between Sandeep
Sharma for Ek Nayee Subah and
Mehul Joshi for Sukhpreet
Dhamoons Taaqat.
Taaqat or The Power was a
beautifully written dialogue
between an arrogant radio host,
Rajat (played by Mehul Joshi) and
his studio microphone, Dron
(played by Ravi Chanana). In this
play, written and directed by
Sukhpreet Dhamoon, reality ulti-
mately dawns upon Rajat that there
are more powerful people than him
who are trying to make the world
a better place to live.
Sukhpreet Dhamoon won the
Best Play Award for Dhalti
Parchayian. Most Popular Play
award also went to Sukhpreet
Dhamoon for Dhalti Parchayian.
Dhalti Parchayian or
Waning Shadows was the final
play of the evening and revolved
around the lives of a husband, a
wife and their daughter. It depict-
ed the struggles and frustrations of
an immigrant family where cir-
cumstances and personal egos
force the couple to live separately.
Their daughter grows up in total
loneliness. Aishveryaa Nidhi
played Namita, the wife, Raj
Kumar Dixit played Raj, the hus-
band and Cheryl Khurana played
Nisha, the daughter.
Three special awards were
given from Alex Brouns Play
writing workshop to 15 year old
Karuna Darvesh for writing
Maanas, Dharti aur Prakriti, 19
years old Shourya Nidhi for writ-
ing, directing and acting in
Bandhak and 70 years old Crazy
Kamli for writing Vibhajan.
Maanas, Dharti aur Prakriti
or Human, Earth and Nature was
the Earths conversation with the
prime minister and president of the
country, telling them that they
would have to stop polluting the
Earth with carbon and Green
House gases otherwise she would
stop providing him with her
resources. This play was written
by Karuna Darvesh and translated
and directed by Sukhpreet
Dhamoon. Dharti (The Earth) was
played by Ambika Jetley, prime
minister was played Tek Bareja
and the president was played by
Suresh Makkar.
Bandhak or The Hostage was
about a man (Parth Nanavati) who
gets kidnapped (by Shourya Nidhi)
and gets interrogated. He quickly
learns that the past can come back
to haunt his future. This play was
written and directed by Shourya
Nidhi and music was composed by
Kiran Pradhan.
Vibhajan or Delayed
Epitaph was about the left side of
a female patient gradually parting
from its right side, hence
Vibhajan. This play was written by
Crazy Kamli, translated in Hindi
by Shubha Kumar and directed by
Swapan Chakravarthy. Asha
Sharma played the mother and
Aparna Vats played the daughter.
Along with the aforementioned
plays, some of the other highlights
of the evening included plays
Aath Gyarwee ke liye and
Ladli.
Aath Gyarwee ke liye or 8
for 11th was very appropriate
looking at September 11th, 10
years on. This play was written by
Iqtedar Abdi and directed by Nisar
Sirguroh.
Ladli or Darling Daughter
is the story of a father whose wife
died during childbirth leaving
behind a bundle of joy, his only
daughter! He too will be leaving
the world soon. He wishes to find
an eternal place in her memory.
This play was written and directed
by Arvind Shukla. The role of the
father was played by Arvind
Shukla, the daughter was played
by Abmika Asthana, a friend was
played by Vikas Sehgal, the wife
was played by Swechha
Kulshreshtra and the step son was
played by Pratick Tanna.
It was a fun filled
afternoon/evening with hosts Nitin
Madan, Nishthha Nidhi, Monalisa
Grover and Sam Almaliki keeping
audiences of both full house
shows, engaged throughout.
The festival was not only a true
celebration of Hindi divas but also
of amazing local writers, directors
and actors. The men and women of
Indradhanush were most definitely
more than mere players. They
were true stars who brought to life
all kinds of characters and per-
formed with elegance and enthusi-
asm.
Cheryl Khurana (best actress), Shourya Nidhi (Best Actor), Sukhpreet Dhamoon (Best Play) and Karuna
Darvesh (Special Award from Alex Brounsworkshop) celebrating their win
Aparna Vats being commended for winning the second runner up actress award by Anne MArie-Wiles as
Abhinay School's Indradhanush organiser Aishverya Nidhi looks on.
By Neena Badhwar
She is the talk of the town
though I have only been away
from Sydney for four weeks.
Every one in Sydney was talking
about Gargi when I came back.
About her vigil along with a group
of ladies and men lighting candles
and observing a fast with the
determined look in her eyes. I was
not a witness to the event but sure
it had the Facbook pages littered
with pictures and people talking
about it that a lady had decided to
take part in Annas fight against
corruption and thus support his
movement in Sydney.
And then before one realised
there was the news of
Mahabnavratri Festival on
September 30. Singlehandedly
with her heart and soul behind this
successful relgio-cultural festival,
had a long queue of cars creeping
towards Rosehill Racecourse as
the evening of working day Friday
set in. As one entered there were
huge banners of Goddesses dis-
played in the arena with a compa-
ny of priests chantig mantras in an
atmosphere of incence, yagna fire
in a havan kund near a stage
where the Goddess Durgas statue
sat majestically and one could see
that Gargi Tripathi, yes in all her
jewels and necklaces, dressed
from top to toe, walking all
around the place, overseeing
everything from stage to the indi-
vidual artists who were assigned
various roles as the evening
unrolled in front of you boasting
of a gathering that slowly swelled
upto about 4000 people all enjoy-
ing the festival like as if one was
in India. It was a complete feast
for the eyes - a full on relgious,
spiritual, cultural and entertaining
experience. All the way to mid-
night as the drums echoed not just
in the precinct but were heard out-
side as well while inside people
were on a different high as they
partook in the great big dance and
dandia that happened under one
roof.
So who is this Gargi we ask?
Gargi is the wife of Neni
Tiwari of Value World Travel who
is quite religious and believes in
issues that affect us today and
does something about them. About
Mahanavratri TIDU talked to her
and she says Oh! its not a big
thing for me as I have been doing
Navratri at home. In the Meritone
apartments I live I had 4 or 5
partments that were lying empty
that I had access to. I have been
celebratig the event at home invit-
ing friends and family. Since now
we have two apartments this year
I thought why not do it at a bigger
venue. So I walked into Rosehill
Racecourse. And rest as you know
is history.
Gargi, the name she says that
her grandfather gave her and that
it is after the name of a learned
woman in the ancient India who
was known to be so non-biased
that she was appointed a judge in
those days and had the reputation
that she could even go against her
husband if she were to sit on his
case.
Gargi came to Australia seven
years ago and says that for her
there was no change and that it
was quite an easy transition. How?
Says she proudly, Didi! because I
have Hindustani Dil. I didnt
find any difference. Every one
says...videsh this..videsh that...saat
samundar paar...but for me I am so
patriotic that even now when I
hear patriotic songs ...I get goose
bumps.
Anna Hazare in India is fight-
ing for a cause and I said why not
us in Sydney. Not just India, polit-
ical system is corrupt everywhere
in the world. So it is rather a glob-
al cause. I felt I had to help spread
the fire that Annaji had lit in
India.
In my childhood I saw my
dad getting affected by the corrupt
practices at work for which the
repercussions were felt at home by
my mother and us. We all got
affected and it left a deep impres-
sion on me from a young age
when I asked why..why things are
the way they are. What can we do
to improve thats what my dad
instilled in me. He was a great
friend and a mentor. He used to
give me topics to discuss and used
to make me come up with counter
arguments on the spot.
He was a three time winner of
gold medals at Benaras Hindu
University and under his guidance
when I won my first gold medal
everyone congratulated me for
doing dad proud, says Gargi rem-
iniscing her college days. She
became a lecturer and then before
she realised she was marreid and
on the way to Australia.
When TIDU asks her about her
flambyoyant style and dress sense
like of the likes of Princess Grace
Kelly, that Sydney commuity talks
about her going around to func-
tions in limousines of various
denominations - long, black,
sometimes white and even pink,
says Gargi, Well! Khali haath
aaye hain aur khaali haath
jaayenge - we have come empty
handed into this world and we
leave empty handed. God has
given me all this and my mother
who was a great lady always
brought me up to dress well. She
was always dressed gracefully and
she taught me the same that when
we go out we should present our-
selves well.
These limousines are just a
business interest of my husbands.
Neniji moves with his business
associates like a one big family.
He looks after them and they look
after him. Without their help and
without the help from the commu-
nity I could not have organised the
functions. All the local media
helped and so did the community.
The Mahanavratri function had
three elements running through it:
Shraddha - faith, comviction,
Sankalp - promise and Sankalan -
composition. Shraddha is an ele-
ment which runs in all of us. We
all beleive in our religiuos and
cultural traditions. And I said we
must take out a literary souvenir
for the occasion which was ably
supported and edited by Rekha
Rajvanshi and Pradeep
Upadhyaye. Salkalp magazine
will become a regular quarterly or
six-monthly literary magazine and
last I wanted to show that we had
talented people like Neelesh Kale
in our community. Neelesh is the
youngest Lalit Kala Academy
winner. And I felt that this artist
deserves more credit than what
Sydney has given him. So I
assigned him to do a photo shoot
for the Navratri festival. He went
to India and chose a factory where
they make statues of Ganesha and
Durga - of all Gods and
Goddesses. He produced these
amazing photos that when I
looked at them I just cried, said
Gargi.
We ought to cherish such
artists and give them the honour
and recognition they deserve.
Says Gargi, I have so much
more to do and hope that this fes-
tival will only grow with blessings
and divine strength of Ma Durga. I
have great faith that it will turn
out to be the highlight of Indian
festivity in Parramatta region.
My father Sh. Keshri
Krishan Tripathi was a big influ-
ence and he was the founder editor
of two magazines Gandeev and
Shastirye and my grandfather
Pandit Gopal Shastri Darshan
Kesari wrote many spiritual
books. I want to learn Sanskrit
more and help establish a good lit-
erary magazine of the likes of
Dharamyug. They both instilled
in me a taste for good literature,
cultural traditions and my mum
used to write shlokas on a peepal
leaf every day which me and my
dad used to go to the ganges and
float it on the water there. It used
to be our daily ritual. Having been
brought up in such a pious city
and with so much respect for the
elders - really for me my mother is
my goddess. She studied B.A. in
Sanskrit in those days while bring-
ing us all up. I am what I am
because of my mum, my dad and
my grandfather and that is what I
want to leave behind. Otherwise
all this what I have is an
illusion..the reality is something
else, sums up Gargi.
Surely one can see the inner
beautiful being of this lady with
all her trappings of luxury sitting
at her feet. And we wish her well
in her pursuits to find her real self.
30 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
An Interview
Gargi: Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani!
Community
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 31
Mahanavratri festival
a great success!
By Neena Badhwar
M
ahanavratri Festival
held at Rosehill
Racecourse on
September 30 turned out to be a
superb family event. Organised
by Value World Travel, it was
an incredible immersive experi-
ence for all as the evening start-
ed with puja, havan, prayers
and chanting of mantras by
select priests who gathered in
the pavilion and created a spiri-
tual atmosphere as
Sydneysiders thronged the
venue.
The program started with
the invocation of Goddess
Durga and Goddess Saraswati
a captivating classical Odissi
performance by Anahita Surya
followed by Dashavataram
performance by Anisha and a
Ganesh Stuti performed in
Kathak by Aastha Rajvanshi.
With beautifully decorated
and lit stage wishing all a happy
Maha Navratri it was an
evening full of entertainment as
the crowds were kept engaged
throughout. There was the
graceful Krishna in blue posing
away with people in various
poses. There was the Goddess
Durga who came and sat on
stage while an impressive lim-
ousine had a few young girls
enjoying its interiors by going
inside and sitting in to get a pic-
ture taken. On the other side
there was a display of
Ganesha pictures by Nilesh
Kale.
Matas bhajans sung by
Rajesh Batra, Dandia songs
sung by the group Dandia
Dhoom, Pupinder Mintu per-
formed Punjabi pop as people
danced. An excellent Shiv
Parvati dance performance
choreographed and performed
by Poornima Sharma and Shiva
who danced with a live snake.
Poornima performed another
item of Durga as Mahishasur
Mardini, an engrossing dance.
Sydneys rich culture was on
display all around as people got
their fortune read through tarot
reading, kids got their faces
painted and food stalls sold
Navratri fasting food as well as
sweets and Chhole Bhature. It
was a great show ending in
drums performed by a Sydney
Marathi group as the venue
echoed with people dancing
away in groups.
Sydney has witnessed anoth-
er high as this cultural and reli-
gious festivity has surely
become an event to look for-
ward to every year. For a select
few it was a lucky evening as
Divya Dhingra won the $2,000
cash prize from Value World
Travel while Nigam and Payal
Patel were all smiles as they
won the biggest win of all a
take home cash prize of $5000.
When asked what they would
do with the money so over-
whelmed was the couple that
they just said dont know yet.
Perhaps a trip overseas!
This successful evenings
credit goes to Gargi Tripathi of
Value World Travel who sin-
glehandedly organized the show
that attracted over four thou-
sand people who enjoyed every
bit of the six hours of total fes-
tive entertainment. By publish-
ing a souvenir Sankalp, Gargi
Trapathi and Neni Tiwari have
proved that they are the new
horizon.
Sankalp is a colour glossy
souvenir which has articles by
the Sydney community and has
been edited by Rekha
Rajvanshi.. To sum up the
experience, we all felt the
divine presence of Ma Durga
in Sydney in a special way. Jai
Mata Di!
Anahita Surya getting ready by her mother before giving a
captivating Odissi recital.
Gargi Tripathi with Durga
Gargi Tripathi of Value World Travel and lucky winners
4,000 people turned up for the six hours of festive entertainment The Limousine Experience
32 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Community
By Ritu Ghai and
Neena Badhwar
Shiva, a principal Hindu god,
asked his wife, Parvati, to fast for
him because he believed the sac-
rifice would guarantee his long
life. Known for her devotion to
her husband, Parvati agreed. The
mischievous god Krishna then
spread the story to humans, who
took up the practice. Another
famous tale is about Queen
Veeravati, whose seven brothers
could not see her hungry for a
day and duped her into believing
the moon is out. In haste the sister
breaks the fast and finds her hus-
band fatally ill the next day. She
revives him by removing the nee-
dles embedded in the King's body
and observing the fast faithfully.
Plenty of such stories on
Karwachauth are heard, believed
and followed by Indian women
across the globe. Women in North
are brought up to believe in this
tradition and that succumbing to
hunger and breaking their fast
would cause their husbands to fall
sick and die.
More than just missing
a meal
The myths are compelling, at
times scary but enough to drive
every women to follow this ritual.
What makes this day worth
remaining hungry is the glamour
attached to it and the absolute
love a women expresses towards
her husband. Equally divine is the
way husbands' bestow their wives
with love, gifts and a special
treatment. Even markets are
resplendent with Karwa chauth
finery, parlours with their package
offers, clubs organizing special
events with various stalls, bumper
Tambola and dance competition -
Karwa Chauth is no longer about
suffering a day without food.
There is so much to enjoy so even
if you miss a meal what's the big
deal - feel many young women of
today.
To further add glamour to its
festive spirit are Bollywood films
and TV serials that glorify this
day. Sydney has seen its own
Karwachauth get togethers, pujas
organized by ladies till this year
as the custom has left ladies
domain and has taken up com-
mercial undertomes in the form a
'Karwachauth Mela' which turned
out to be a huge success as
women turned up in gorgeous
saris and shalwar suits and there
was plenty of entertainment,
song, dance and fashion parade.
Says Neeru Saluja, TIDU's
Bollywood reporter, who does not
adhere to stereotypes or subject
herself into a submissive marital
position but when it comes to
Karwachauth she looks forward
to the day, "Karva Chauth has
always been a festival close to my
heart. Since I was a little girl, I
saw my mum fasting for my dad
and the best part of the day was
buying fresh matthies and apply-
ing mehndi! Aday before Karva
Chauth I go to Harris Park every
year for my sargi - matthi, mithai,
bindis and bangles. Reminds me
of my India. I celebrate the day
with my girlfriends, we get
together before sunset for the
puja, watch a Bollywood movie
together and then wait for the
moon to break our fast and then
feast on delicacies!"
"It's a great night out with
friends. After the fast there's so
much to eat as we all bring a dish.
I do get asked at work whether
my husband keeps a fast for me.
But I don't mind playing second
fiddle to my husband as I love
this custom - it not only bonds us
together, even my daughter
watches me doing puja and seeing
the moon before breaking the fast.
She loves getting dressed up and
putting bangles on!" says Neeru.
"Although society is changing
and girls expect equality in a rela-
tionship. Yet I find the younger
generation is adapting the
Karwachauth custom quite will-
ingly. There's got to be some
appeal in the whole concept of it
all. It is not just the long life of
the husbands girls wish for. In the
same wish they wish that they
have a good understanding part-
ner who loves them back and
cares for them in return. So actu-
ally the women are looking for
their own well being in a healthy,
happy and loving relationship.
This day is a reminder to that the
vow we took as a couple when
we started our life together," said
Neeru.
TIDU spoke to
Meena Berry married to Ravi
who says about Karwachauth,
"For me a day of fast is some-
thing quite small a gesture to ask
for something big in return. I
actually feel privileged to cele-
brate and honour the bond and it
is a reminder for honouring the
sanctity of the our relationship. Its
not a big deal at all as the fast is
done only once a year. To me I
think it is sweeter than valentine
even."
"People these days tend to buy
happiness to stimulate their sens-
es materialistically though for me
it is a day of spirituality and an
occasion to cleanse your thoughts.
It's a time to detox if you have
any bitterness towards this per-
son, says Meena. For her 'Karwa'
means 'bitter' - so take away any
bitterness out of the relationship
and think of the person you are
married to with pure intention and
faith."
"I saw my mum giving atten-
tion to dad and for her he is next
to God." When asked should the
husband also fast? She says, 'If
they do it out of their own choice
well and good. You can't force
them to fast for you. There's no
expectation but it all comes back.
I know my husband respects me
for what I do for him. If it brings
us together then why not do it
without asking anything in
return," says Meena.
Anoushka Paul, a researcher
with a pharmaceutical company-
married this year to Anthony
Perumal of Sri Lankan origin,
says, "My husband does not know
about this custom but he appreci-
ated the gesture and it was a
memorable day for me to connect
to the women of the family in the
knowledge that my mum, my
dadima, my nanima have all been
doing the fast for a long, happy
life for their husbands and in
return wishing themselves a
happy married life. Why I do it is
because I think it is a nice feeling
to share the tradition and am
happy to do it quite willingly.
However this ritual becomes a
torture for those women whose
husbands are abusive towards
them or do not care about their
feelings. When one hears of
domestic violence, this custom
holds no sanctity. It becomes
important for all men to respect
their wives, rather all women as
the progress of a home, a nation
depends on the status of its
women. Says Meena, "If you love
someone dearly and are willing to
endure then do the Karwachauth.
May be it is worth fighting for
that relationship. But if there's
abuse, other problems then one
must resort to counseling or seek
help from outside," comments
Meena reflectively.
'Fast' forward... to Karwachauth
'Fast' Facts
Karwa Chauth is celebrated
on the fourth day after the night
of the full moon in the month of
Karthik. According to the Hindu
calendar, the fast is observed on
chauth, the fourth night after the
full moon, in the month of
Kartikka, which corresponds to
sometime in October or
November.
On this day, wives observe a
24-hour long fast for the long
life and wellbeing of their hus-
bands. They start fasting at
night, after the moon has risen
and continue until the next
evening, when the women dress
up in their wedding finery and
await the rising of the moon
once more, which signifies that
their fast can now be broken.
Women hold a plate toward
the moon and look at it through
a sieve held in the other hand.
After offering rice, water and
food to the moon, they open turn
to look at their husband through
this sieve, touch his feet and
break their fast by taking a bite
of food from their hand.
Of course, people in differ-
ent regions of India tend to cele-
brate differently now and certain
exemptions are possible in
today's time. If the husband is
away on business, the wife can
break the fast by looking at his
photograph or after a telephone
talk.
Some find it anachronistic,
some find it a ritual to be fol-
lowed with no questions asked
and no explanations given, for
some its pure devotion and for a
few its totally illogical. Even
women who take gender equali-
ty seriously seem to be keeping
this fast to keep tradition alive
and show their partner how
much they care. But ritual or no
ritual, this day is pure festivity
for our karwa chauth ridden
society.
Meena & Ravi Berry with daughter
Lokesh Varma Neeru Saluja
Anoushka Paul
Happy Diwali
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 33
Diwali: lighting a lamp for others!
By Rekha Rajvanshi
Asato ma Sad gamaya
Tamaso ma Jyotir gamaya
Mrutyor ma Amritam gamaya
From ignorance lead me to truth
From darkness lead me to light
From death lead me to immortality
Deepavali, the Festival of
Lights is celebrated by Hindus all
over the world. It brings to the
fore the tremendous potential in
humans and our ability to fight
the lower nature with all its base
instincts and sordid cravings.
Deepavali symbolizes the shed-
ding of light and retreating of
darkness. There are many in our
community who work selflessly
to light a lamp of hope and hap-
piness in other peoples lives.
TIDU approached some and this
is what they had to say:
Gnanam Muthukrishnan
is a volunteer who visits sen-
iors in nursing homes and rehab
home patients:
On this day we celebrate the
triumph of good over evil, a day
which should be remembered as
an opportunity when light
empowers our lives. This Diwali
the beacon of light I wish to bless
upon humanity is the ever press-
ing need to remember those less
fortunate than us. This year my
Diwali lamp has brightened up
the lives of rehab-home patients
who necessarily wouldn't experi-
ence such happiness on a day-to-
day basis. The friendships I've
made and the conversations I've
had have enriched my life for the
better and allowed me to instil
hope in these patients' lives.
Diwali is a time to count our
blessings, and what better way to
do that than to provide light,
hope and happiness to others.
Avijit Sarkar
is a singer, musician, artist,
writer and a social worker, who
has committed himself to the
community to the extent that
sometimes his family gets
ignored. This Diwali he has an
important message for the family:
Having spent over three
decades entertaining audiences
and lighting their lamps of happi-
ness, I think it is only prudent
that, from this Diwali onwards, I
light many lamps of happiness,
hope and peace for my own fami-
ly. Out there in the broader com-
munity there are many cries of
desperation that need attention
and I am very aware that it is in
my bounds to light lamps that
would, to an extent, alleviate
many of these cries. However,
there comes a time in a man's life
when he needs to comprehend
the rationale for his achievements
even if these accomplishments
are in small measures. Well for
me the time has come. I need to
say a big "thank you" to my wife
and daughter for a lifetime dedi-
cated to championing the scaf-
folding upon which my successes
have been built. There is no bet-
ter way of doing this than light-
ing a lamp for them on this
Diwali.
Neni Tiwari
of Value World Travels is a
young face in the Indian commu-
nity, who never turns away from
generously sponsoring countless
charity shows and loves to help
those who are needy, poor or ill.
Neni said:
I was always passionate about
helping others. There are people
who are suffering from hunger,
sickness and poverty throughout
the world. In Australia I have
been donating blood, which can
save a person's life. I think it's
only fair to share a little of what
God has given us with people
less fortunate, and no better time
to do it than on this Diwali. I
would like to support under-privi-
leged children and orphans in
India by making sure they have
access to food and education, and
I hope that my lamp will bring a
smile to their face this Diwali.
Bipen Sharma
of Sharma's Kitchen has
always donated generously for
worthwhile causes when
approached. Away on a business
trip, Tanisha, his daughter,
replied on Bipin's behalf about
her dad:
My dad will support just
about any charity organisation
that comes his way for any type
of support. He gives his products
for free to temples and large fes-
tivals within the community. The
charities and festivals don't nec-
essarily have to be Indian; they
just have to have a good cause.
My dad also donates money
overseas in India towards build-
ing schools in remote villages
and just all round helping the
under privileged. He also spon-
sors a number of shows and pro-
grams which bring the communi-
ty together. My dad has always lit
a lamp in the lives of those less
fortunate and he's extremely pas-
sionate about it. I am really proud
of him.
Saraswathi
does a lot of community
work. She is always ready to
help others and she does it solely
for her love towards the commu-
nity. Here's what she said:
I would like to the light the
lamp of love, compassion and
concern for our fellow beings
and my duty is to nourish it with
sufficient oil and wick. The
lamp might or might not light up
other lamps, but still this body of
mine should live for the benefit
of others. Share the good expe-
riences and values to children to
make them good citizens of this
world. These children carry the
lamp of love and benefit others
to lead a peaceful life which is
more important in today's world.
Every lamp lit with love will
light up other lamps.
Subramaniam Iyer
is an accountant in Blacktown
hospital. He also works as a
priest in Murugan Temple
Westmead lighting many Puja
Artis and Diyas:
Deepavali stands for the tri-
umphant entry of the resplendent
light of peace, unity and under-
standing among men and the dra-
matic defeat of evil. It also signi-
fies the emergence of the soul
from the darkness of Avidya to
the light of Vidya or awakening.
In other words the awakening of
knowledge in an ignorant person
indicates light being brought into
the lives of silently suffering peo-
ple immersed in utter misery and
gloom.
Deepavali signifies emer-
gence from ignorance into
knowledge. I am contributing in
a small way to assist an
Engineering Student in India to
complete his studies under a very
difficult socio-economic condi-
tions brought about by the bread-
winner's premature death.
Friends, celebrate Deepawali
in style by bringing joy to some-
one's life. Give away your old
clothes to the needy, visit an
orphanage and distribute sweets
among orphans, or make a vow
to be nice to everyone, particular-
ly your enemies. Don't forget to
be nice to yourself, maybe buy
something for yourself if you
have been longing for it for quite
some time.
Swati Jain
has been fundraising for cancer
foundation for the last couple of
years and this is what she says
about Diwali and the spirit the fes-
tival holds for her:
"Diwali is a celebration of
light, togetherness and happiness.
It is a time I celebrate with my
family and friends and remember
how grateful I am to have them in
my life to encourage and support
me. To me, the light of a lamp is a
symbol of hope. This lamp lights
a path for me to follow and
encourages me to continue my
passion for a hope of a cancer free
world. This Diwali I will be light-
ing a lamp of hope for the future
to ensure that we can all continue
to live without the fear of loosing
someone and can celebrate Diwali
with everyone."
Diwali is a festival that spreads
the message of goodwill and
denotes victory of good over evil
Many of us do our bit to make this
world a better place. Why not cele-
brate this Diwali in its true spirit
that is giving joy to the world!
Dr Shailja Chaturvedi
is a Psychatrist by profession.
She is a poet and has served the
Indian community of Australia as
the president of Hindi Samaj. She
is supporting the poor and less
fortunate in India by participating
in charity camps:
One of the greatest accom-
plishments for anyone is to bring
light in someone else's life. We
must endeavour to light one lamp
with another, to create the contin-
uous awakening and bonding for
global illumination. For me per-
sonally I shall share the shine of
a family wedding in India and
plan the Eye Camp in Rishikesh
to help open at least 100 blind
eyes to the world soaked with
sunshine, happiness and hope. I
hope everyone around the world
will be committed to creating
happiness and goodwill by con-
demning the terrorism, brutalities
and destruction.
34 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Sri Hanuman
October-November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 35
Servant of the Lord is greater than
the Lord Himself
By Kanaka Ramakrishna
T
he servant of the Lord is
greater than the Lord
Himself. This profound
statement by Saint Tulsidas
applies quite aptly to none other
than Sri Hanuman. He can be
considered as the brightest jewel,
a veritable diamond in the neck-
lace of the characters in
Ramayana. Perhaps he is the only
character in the marvellous
gallery of portraits of Valmiki
who has received so much adora-
tion and affection from the
Hindus as Sri Rama Himself.
Hanumans physical strength
and prowess were proverbial.
There was no task that he could
not accomplish. His mastery over
the scriptures was unmatched. His
intelligence and shrewdness were
extraordinary. His commonsense
was uncanny. He was the paragon
of every virtue. Above all, his
devotion to Rama was supreme,
towering above all other qualities.
Hanuman was the son of
Anjanadevi and Vayudeva (also
known as Marut). Hence he is
Anjaneya and Maruti. He is
called Hanuman because of hanu
or a prominent jaw. He was edu-
cated by the Sun-god and was an
accomplished yogi. He had
acquired immunity from various
weapons as per the boons of the
gods in heaven.
Hanuman belonged to the
mighty Vanara clan, an ancient
human racial group in South
India. He was the minister and an
intimate friend of Sugriva, the
Vanara king of Kishkindha. ValI
drove his brother Sugriva out of
his kingdom, took away his wife
and chased to kill him. Sugriva
was on the run to save his life.
Hanuman, being a righteous per-
son, accompanied Sugriva and for
his sake, voluntarily underwent
many hardships. He advised
Sugriva to take refuge in
Rishyamukha hill near
Kishkindha, as Vali was prohibit-
ed to enter that area due to the
curse of Sage Matanga.
Hanumans wisdom and timely
advice saved Sugrivas life.
When Rama and Lakshmana,
in the course of their search for
Sita, arrived at the foot of the
Rishyamukha hill, Sugriva sent
Hanuman to find out who they
were. Hanumans respectful and
courteous manner of approach
and his refined speech impressed
Rama so much that he admired
him and told Lakshmana that
none could speak like Hanuman
without mastering the Vedas with
all their branches. He admired his
scholarship, faultless elegant lan-
guage, fine accent and his art of
oratory. Convinced of their nobil-
ity and greatness, Hanuman car-
ried them to Sugriva and eulo-
gised them before him. Both
Rama and Sugriva forged mutual
friendship and agreed to help each
other.
The attraction of Hanuman for
Rama and Ramas special affec-
tion for him that sprouted on that
first meeting grew to paramount
proportions, is now a legend. As
soon as Hanuman saw Rama, he
remembered his forgotten
strength. He felt himself drawn
irresistibly to him and instanta-
neously Rama became his spiritu-
al ideal and he resolved to dedi-
cate himself completely to him.
The very name Rama brought
inexhaustible energy to Hanuman,
which was the secret of all his
wonderful accomplishments.
Rama killed Vali and restored
to Sugriva his kingdom. With
Valis death, his noble queen Tara
was inconsolable with grief. It
was Hanuman who comforted her
and his timely advice restored her
mental balance and peace.
After regaining his kingdom,
Sugriva was steeped in sensuous
pleasures, neglecting his duties as
well as his promise to help Rama.
It was Hanuman who roused him
and advised him to apologise to
Rama.
Sugriva had full confidence in
Hanuman that he would find Sita
wherever she was. Sri Rama also
had great trust and faith in
Hanuman. Before he departed to
search for Sita, Rama gave
Hanuman his signet ring to be
given to Sita, expressing his full
confidence in him and his success
in his venture.
Thereupon, Hanuman offered
himself to Rama. All his thoughts
and activities were concentrated
on Rama alone. He had an
unflinching loyalty at the cost of
his personal comfort and even at
the cost of his life. Though he
was bestowed with many wonder-
ful yogic powers and strength, he
believed they were not his, but
the power of Ramas name, which
was his strongest secret weapon
to conquer anything in the world.
His faith was, I have chanted the
holy name of Rama. Is there any-
thing impossible for me? The
ego of a devotee is not an ordi-
nary ego. It begets no pride.
Instead it strengthens the devotion
and love to God.
Sugriva sent his troops in all
directions to find out the where-
abouts of Sita. Since he had seen
a lady in distress in an aircraft
along with a monstrous figure fly-
ing towards the south, he sent the
most able of his troops to the
south under the leadership of
Hanuman and Valis son Angada.
When this group arrived at the
shore of the southern sea, none
but Hanuman could cross the sea
to reach Lanka. Uttering Ramas
name, Hanuman enlarged his
body to a massive proportion
using his yogic powers. With
immense faith, courage, patience
and presence of mind, overcom-
ing many difficulties on the way
with undaunted spirit, Hanuman
crossed the ocean extending one
hundred yojanas in one mighty
leap.
In Lanka, Hanuman searched
for Sita everywhere especially in
Ravanas palace, but could not
find her. Seeing many beautiful
women in the harem in various
uncouth postures, he was not
tempted in the least. This reveals
Hanumans great mastery over his
senses and is a tribute to his
bramhacharya (celibate life).
Hanuman showed his humility
when Vibhishana asked who he
was. Hanuman replied humbly
that there was nothing in his name
but if one repeats the name of
Rama, one can attain mukti. This
subtle spiritual advice shows
Hanumans humility and loyalty
that stretched to the utmost limit.
Finally, Hanuman found Sita
Continued on page 36....
Hanumans physical strength and prowess were proverbial.
When Lakshmana was felled unconscious by Ravanas missile
and Rama was in grief, Hanuman flew with the speed of the
wind to fetch the Sanjivini herb from the Himalayas, which
brought Lakshmana back to life to the delight of all
and Rama was supremely happy.
36 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
Sri Hanuman
Continued from page 35
in Asoka Vatika. His intelligence and
expertise in psychology are clearly demon-
strated here as on several other occasions.
When he came to Asoka Vatika he quietly
climbed a tree and hiding himself, sur-
veyed the surrounding areas. He found Sita
seated on the ground under a tree, looking
thin and pale, surrounded by the wicked
rakshasis. Seeing her thus, Hanumans
heart melted with pity. When the rakshasis
attention was diverted, Hanuman quietly
came down from the tree and told Sita that
he was the messenger of Rama. He had to
use all his wisdom and tact to establish his
identity and develop a personal rapport and
generate full trust in her. He gave her
Ramas signet ring and message. Seeing
the ring Sita was very happy and was
relieved. Hanuman offered that he would
take her to Rama if she were willing. Sita
told him it would be appropriate for Rama
to come and take her within one month, the
stipulated time that was given to her by
Ravana, and redeem her honour. She sur-
rendered her crest jewel to be delivered to
Rama with a final hope that he would come
soon and rescue her.
After finding Sita Hanuman was mighty
happy. Though his task was fulfilled, to
leave a mark of his immense strength and
extraordinary power, he contrived to meet
Ravana and also to have a surveillant view
of his city. He destroyed Ravanas
favourite pleasure garden and killed the
rakshasa warriors who tried to capture
him. Finally, Hanuman wilfully submitted
himself and succeeded in meeting Ravana.
Hanuman admonished Ravana severely and
advised him to return Sita honourably to
Rama or face decimation at Ramas hands.
He offered Ravana a chance to save him-
self. Ravana became furious and ordered to
set fire to his tail, the very fire with which
he destroyed Lanka. But Hanuman knew
the truth that it was the fire of Sitas sighs
and Ramas wrath that had already burnt
Lanka. Before he returned to Kishkindha,
he came to Asoka Vatika and assured Sita
that Rama would rescue her within a
month.
Seeing the victorious Hanuman, all
were very happy in Kishkindha. Hanuman
met Rama who was eagerly waiting and
told him, I saw Sita. He handed over
Sitas crest jewel to him and narrated all
that happened in Lanka. Ramas joy knew
no bounds. He heartily praised Hanuman
expressing his gratitude and gave him the
best reward he had - his warm embrace -
and said, O mighty hero, I cannot repay
your debt.
Rama and Sugriva started on an inva-
sion of Lanka immediately. When they
were camping on the seashore, Ravanas
brother Vibhishana came to seek refuge at
the feet of Rama. It was Hanuman who
introduced him to Rama and convinced him
of Vibhishanas genuine purpose of seeking
his refuge.
In Lanka, during the war Hanumans
many heroic exploits were remarkable. As
a result of fierce battle between Ramas
vanara army and Ravanas rakshasa army,
many vanaras were wounded and dying.
Hanuman was told that he was the only one
who could save all the vanaras by bringing
the precious herbs from the peak in the
Himalayas. Immediately he flew faster
than the wind to reach the place. When he
couldnt find the herbs, he tore the entire
Sanjivini peak and flew back to Lanka so
fast as only he could fly and saved all the
vanaras. Again when Lakshmana was
felled unconscious by Ravanas missile and
Rama was in grief, Hanuman flew with the
speed of the wind to fetch the herb from the
Himalayas, which brought Lakshmana
back to life to the delight of all and Rama
was supremely happy.
When Ravana lost his brothers and sons
in the fierce war, he desperately sought the
help of his only remaining brother Ahi
Ravana, the king of nether world. He came
in disguise and carried both Rama and
Lakshmana to the nether world, while they
were asleep. When he was about to sacri-
fice them to the goddess, Hanuman sud-
denly appeared and killed Ahi Ravana and
carried both Rama and Lakshmana on his
shoulders and returned to Lanka. The ser-
vant of the Lord saved the Saviour! Once
again the servant of the Lord became
greater than the Lord himself!
After the death of Ravana at the hands
of Rama, Hanuman was given the privilege
to give Sita the happy news, which he did
happily and gracefully. Sita was overjoyed
and blessed him to be a chiranjeevi (to live
forever on this earth).
It was Hanumans privilege to be the
messenger of Rama to Bharata. He gave
the happy news of Ramas homecoming to
Bharata who was eagerly awaiting and
endeared to Bharata almost instantaneous-
ly. It was Hanuman who brought joy and
auspiciousness to all - by unifying Sugriva
and Rama, Vibhishana and Rama, Sita and
Rama, Bharata and Rama and finally he
himself became completely unified with
Rama.
After the coronation ceremony of
Rama, Sita gave Hanuman a precious neck-
lace of rare pearls. Hanuman received it
respectfully and started to break the pearls
one by one with his teeth. Surprised by
this strange act, Sita asked him why he was
breaking the pearls. Hanuman said,
Mother, I want to find out whether any of
the pearls contain my Rama. I do not keep
anything devoid of him. I do not find him
in any of the pearls. Sita asked, Then,
tell me whether you keep Rama within
you. Hanuman immediately opened his
heart and showed Rama with Sita in his
heart. What more evidence is needed when
the devotee tears open the heart to reveal
his Lord!
Hanuman did not have any ego con-
sciousness. Once Rama asked him,
Hanuman, how do you look at me? With
all humility and respect Hanuman replied,
O Lord, as long as I identify myself with
the body, I am your servant and you are
my master. I am your creature, eternally
separate from you. When I identify myself
with the soul, I am a part and you are the
whole, I am a spark of the Divine fire,
which you are. But when I identify myself
with the knowledge of Truth, you and I are
one.
Hanuman was always immersed in
Ramas bliss and did not think of any other
thing. Once he was asked which day of the
fortnight it was. Hanuman said, Brother,
I do not know anything of the day or the
week or the fortnight or the position of the
stars. I think of only Rama.
Hanuman had unswerving and single-
minded love and devotion to only one ideal
Sri Rama. He went to Dwaraka to see
Rama and Sita. Krishna said to Rukmini,
Hurry, you better assume the form of
Sita. Otherwise, there will be no escape
from the hands of Hanuman. He would
not see any other form except Rama with
Sita, his chosen ideal.
Sita said to Hanuman, My child, in
one form Im Sita, in another form Im
Rama. Whatever names and forms you
see is nothing but the manifestation of the
power of Chitshakti.
After having the vision of God with
form and also without form, Hanuman
remained firmly devoted to the form of
Rama, because he wanted to enjoy Ramas
bliss (Satchidananda) forever.
Finally, before departing to his heaven-
ly abode, Rama blessed Hanuman and
asked him to remain on this earth as long
as His legendary story was recited and be
present wherever people chant or sing His
glory. Even to this day, wherever people
sing and chant the name of Rama,
Hanuman will inevitably be present there.
Once, Swami Vivekananda was asked
what ideal one should follow. Swamiji
said, Make Hanuman your ideal. With the
name of Sri Rama, he crossed the ocean.
He had no care for his life or death. He
was a perfect master of his senses and won-
derfully sagacious. As on one hand,
Hanuman represented the ideal of service,
on the other hand, he represented the leo-
nine courage. He had not the least hesita-
tion in sacrificing his life for the good of
Rama - a supreme indifference to every-
thing else except the service of Rama. Such
wholehearted devotion is wanted if you
want to pursue God. If you can build your
character after such an ideal, then thousand
others will follow. Do not swerve from the
ideal and never lose heart. Then only you
will attain the grace of God.
There is no Rama without
Hanuman: There is no Hanuman
without Rama.
Servant of the Lord is greater than the Lord Himself
After Ramas coronation, Sita gave
Hanuman a precious necklace of rare
pearls. Hanuman started to break each
pearls. Surprised, Sita asked him why
he was breaking the pearls. Hanuman
said, Mother, I want to find out
whether any of the pearls contain my
Rama. I do not keep anything devoid of
him. Sita asked, Then, tell me whether
you keep Rama within you.
Hanuman immediately opened
his heart and showed Rama
with Sita in his heart
Community
October-November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 37
The journey of keys
A Rajasthani take on Swan Lake
By Sumi Krishnan
Q
uietly, the keys hit their
note. As the controlled
voice embellishes the
sound, comes the poetry. In the
corner of my eyes is a movement
and then I hear footsteps Blue
Divine!!
Where the difference between
the singer and the song no longer
exist, there is Music, said Anil
Srinivasan and in so saying began
the journey of the keys joined by
the voice, the poetry and the story
told by the footsteps bringing to
fruition an entrancing evening at
the Parramatta Riverside Theatre
in Sydney
In an intricately laced partner-
ship in August, Sikkil Gurucharan
and Anil Srinivasan explored 4-19
century poetry from renowned
texts, setting the pace for the
evening with Kalidasas composi-
tion. This was followed by
Nightingale in the Grove, in
Punkuyil Koovam Pooncholayil
Ore Naal and the sensitive selec-
tion of the keys in Thanimayil
Inimmai Kanden In solitude I am
found.
This is The Blue Divine a
production initiated by
Anandavalli, Artistic Director of
Lingalayam, whose attempt to link
the music, the musicians, the
Poetry, the Story through the
medium of dance with her stu-
dents, young dancers from her
company across two countries, is
decidedly an ambitious experi-
ment.
As the silhouette of the dancers
mysteriously draws ones eyes
away from the piano and Sikkil
Gurucharan, one can actually hear
the bells of their feet, see the
expressions and the colorful cos-
tumes, feelings breathe life into
Jayadevas Lalitha Lavanga.
No sooner is the romantic spell
cast, Sikkil and Anil draw us into
the sensitive folds of Madhava
Mamava Deva Krishna. If
Narayana Tirthas composition
was not sentimental enough, the
next numbers cast a spell binding
quiet in Hari Tum Haro, a
Meeras composition and in the
equally soft Pibara Ramarasam
the story of Rama. Anils com-
mentary in between is the only
spell breaker casting a crease in
the velvety smooth aura of their
unique music.
In Saramaina Matalentho
Chalu Chalu ra the musicians
were yet again joined by the
Lingalayam Dancers who por-
trayed the story of the Feet that
Brahma Washed. The Dance into
Infinity with Bhavayami followed.
The sentimental journey ended
with a long awaited Thillana.
Anil Srinivasans ability to
blend the realms of each raga
remain true to the mood and inter-
pretation of the lyrics is
admirable. The voice of Sikkil
Gurucharan and his imagination
set the standard for the evening.
The dancers of the Lingalayam
dance company did an excellent
job of conveying the stories. The
Anil-Sikkil partnership, while new
to Sydney, has been in existence
for a long time now. Their honed
act is unmatched.
What is required of the audi-
ence is an open mind to welcome
experiments such as Blue Divine
which show a decided potential to
take these traditional art forms into
unchartered waters.
By Brijanthi Rajeev
S
wans represent womanhood in its purest
form. The stories of swan-maidens date
as far back as ancient Greece. In Hindu
mythology, the swan is the symbol of grace
and discernment. Brahma the creator uses the
swan as his carrier. The Brahma temple of
Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan is one of the few
temples dedicated to Brahma. Legend has it
that the gods released a swan holding a lotus
in its beak and let it fall on earth where
Brahma would perform a grand Yagna it
fell in Pushkar.
Thus, it is fitting that the Indian/Sri
Lankan dance school Thillai Nadanalaya
chose to set Tchaikovskys Swan Lake ballet
in the Jaipur. The creation of its director,
Dhamyanthy Balaraju, Swan Lake in Jaipur
was staged on 10th September at the
Hurstville Entertainment Centre.
Dhamyanthy hails form a family of musi-
cians. Her grandfather Param was the
founder of the North Ceylon Oriental Music
Society, established in 1931 to advance
Carnatic music in Sri Lanka. Her father
Param Thillairajah was an A grade Carnatic
musician of TV and radio of Sri Lanka.
Dhamyanthy has done her musical lineage
proud with the promotion of Indian/Sri
Lankan classical dance in Sydney for the past
27 years. She has staged many creative dance
productions noted for their choreography and
novel themes and ideas. She staged Swan
Lake first in 1991.
The evening commenced with traditional
dances to a live orchestra. It is a refinement
to the repertoire of a musician to be able to
successfully accompany dancers and the
musicians rose to the challenge under the able
guidance and exceptional nattuvangam of
Dhamyanthy. Of note was the lead vocalist
Sudhagar Sivabalan and his mellifluous voice.
The now frequently called upon Mridangam
player to Bharatanatyam artists, Janakan
Suthanthiraraj, must also be commended for
having nurtured his innate musical talents in
Australia. It is also fulfilling to a dance con-
noisseur to see an element of pure classical
dance at any dance production. The first half
of the night was a showcase for the technical
dance talents of Thillai Nadanalaya, the
Bharathanatyam dance school of
Dhamyanthy. Well trained and hungry to
please their teacher, the young ladies in each
of the dances displayed enthusiasm and wide-
eyed earnestness to do justice to the beautiful-
ly choreographed pieces. The youngest par-
ticipants, perhaps five years old, were a
delight as their cute gestures brought out their
innocence.
As a compere for the evening, I was able
to take it easy as the helpers scurried around
me backstage, preparing for each scene of the
main event that was to follow. The colours of
Rajasthan slowly started to enfold backstage
as I saw maidens in beautiful blue organza
whisk past me in all their youthful beauty.
Dhamyanthys 1991 Swan
Lake had an Indian theme but not the
same colour that only a production set in
Jaipur could. Instead of white, for example,
the swan maidens this time were in turquoise
with the lead in a shimmering gold. The cos-
tumes of Rajasthan made the production a
show in itself rather than mimicry of the orig-
inal Swan Lake ballet. Similarly, the classi-
cal and semi-classical Indian dance moves
(rather than an imitation of ballet), empow-
ered the show in its own right. This produc-
tion was mature and intelligent, doing justice
to Kathak and Indian dance (as well as Swan
Lke). Pity that the live orchestra did not con-
tinue to accompany the dancers. Also, a larg-
er, more majestic stage was needed for such
an ambitious production.
Nonetheless, each scene of this produc-
tion had mesmerizing dancing. The lead
swan was confident in her Bollywood like
moves. The evil sorcerer too was magnifi-
cent, sending a shiver down my spine. We
joined in the merriment of the Bollywood
moves of the boys (and girls). The royal
dancers and companions played their parts
well. At the Swayamvaram for Prince
Janakaraj, we were spoilt with several Indian
dance styles as the various state princesses
danced with elegance in an attempt to win his
love. The princesses rose to the challenge of
brisk eye catching dancing, bringing out the
beauty of the various dance styles of India.
The recent arangetram debutants Ramya and
Archanaa Rathakrishnan teamed up with the
1991 production dancer, Aruna Pavithran, to
display their polished moves. Indeed, it would
have been nice to see more of Dhamyanthy
Balrajus arangetram debutants.
My congratulations to Dhamyanthi for her
creativity and dedication to Indian classical
dance in yet another magnificent production.
Swan Lake in Jaipur is a poignant example
of her ability to create new frontiers in Indian
classical dance while maintaining the tradi-
tional nuances of this ancient art form. We
can only look forward with anticipation to her
next production!
38 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Community
By Abhishek Sood
The Indian Constituent
Assembly adopted Hindi as the
official language of India on 14th
September 1949, which has since
been observed as Hindi Divas
across the world including India,
every year.
To mark this significant occa-
sion, IABBV Hindi School, in
association with the Australian
Hindi Committee, ILASA (Indian
literary and art society of
Australia) and Bhartiya Vidya
Bhavan, proudly hosted "Hindi
Mela" at Thornleigh Public School
on 11th September 2011.
The event was held with the
noble intention of helping Indian
Australians stay connected with
their culture and values and rein-
forcing the importance of the
national language, given Hindi
unites all Indians regardless of
their background and native
tongue.
The event was graced by the
presence of several dignitaries and
guests of honour including Mr
Phillip Ruddock MP, Mr David
Elliot MP (Member for Baulkham
Hills) representing Mr Victor
Dominello, Minister for
Immigration & Community, Mr
Matt Kean MP, Mr Nick Berman
(Mayor, Hornsby Shire), Mr Dilip
Chopra (Councillor Hornsby
Shire), Mr Kamahl Kamleshvaran,
Mr Shashikant Meshram (Vice
Consul), representing Mr Amit
Dasgupta, Consul General of
India.
All the dedicated students and
teachers, under the tireless guid-
ance of beloved "Mala Aunty" pre-
sented a wonderful presentation of
everything Hindi! The day com-
menced with narrations by older
students on topics ranging from
"Role model ke roop mein pita" to
"Akshay urja".
This was followed by an enter-
taining an informative Hindi skit
on Anna Hazare and his recent
anti-corruption movement, ably
performed by students from Years
5 to 8.
The program continued with a
poetry recitation contest, which
included participation by students
of all ages. The students recited
some truly delightful poems and
the recitals by the little ones were
especially commendable. The
competition was won by the fol-
lowing students: Akanksha
Kandulal & Shreya Parwal, Rishab
Babji and Nirali Atul Chandra
Goel.
The most enjoyable perform-
ance of the day then ensued - by
the little stars of Hindi School who
presented a beautiful poem on
"Chiriya", colourfully dressed up
as adorable birds!
Finally, Hindi Divas concluded
as the melodious Mr Vinod Rajput
led the children in a group per-
formance of the ever-popular
Hindi song, "Mumbai Meri Jaan".
The finishing touches were then
added by a powerful rendition of
Rabindranath Tagore's poem by
the renowned singer, Kamahl.
A Hindi Diwas could not be
complete without the contribution
of local writers who write poetry,
stories, articles in Hindi. The after-
noon culminated into a session for
serious Hindi literature lovers as a
Kavi Sammelan organized by was
the highlight. ILASA is a newly
formed literary and art society of
like-minded people mainly writers
and artists. Kavi Sammelan started
at 1.30 pm and was attended by
250 people.
MC Rekha Rajvanshi invited
Richa Srivastava, who recited
famous Hindi poet Jai Shankar
Prasad's poem. A tribute was paid
to Saba Zaidi's Mum Sajida Zaidi,
Ajoint Hindi Divas under one roof
Simran Somaiya - a young Hindi student of IABBV
Community
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 39
a famous Urdu-Hindi poet, who left
us last year. Saba recited one of her
Ammi's favorite poems.
In all, there were 24 local poets,
who recited their poems and mesmer-
ized the listeners. These poems reflect-
ed various moods, memories and emo-
tions. Subhash Sharma, a renowned
poet from Gladstone was invited and
his famous poem 'Maza naheen vo aaya
hai' and 'Julia O Julia' were appreciated
by all. Some of the younger and new
poets were - Gargi Tripathi, Anu
Chhabra, Siddhant Nakra, Ajoy Ghosh,
Mukesh Jani, Darshan Behl and Suresh
Makkar. Their poems had a new and
fresh outlook, some of them were nos-
talgic. Amongst the known poets were -
Dr Shailja Chaturvedi, Vimla Luthra,
Sant Ram Bajaj, Dhanraj Chowdhari,
Vijay Kumar Singh, Ram Prakash
Mehdiratta and Rekha Rajvanshi.
Another interesting Hindi contribution
came from Anu Shivram, who speaks
Kannada but loves Hindi. Dr Yadu
Singh recited a poem on new age jour-
nalists; Harmohan Singh Walia's
humorous poem was on 'Dil'. Shashi
Baranwal, Pradeep Upadhyay, Kusum
Chowdhary and Arvind Verma read
poems of their favorite poets. All the
poets were honored with a shawl.
The Kavi Sammelan was sponsored
by 'Sharma's Kitchen' and 'Uneek
Conveyancing' and was attended by
many dignitaries. The quality of poems
in the Kavi Sammelan was highly
appreciated by the audience. For the
success of this Kavi sammelan, credit
goes to Rekha Rajvanshi of ILASAand
Mala Mehta of IABBV Hindi School.
Overall, Hindi Divas Mela was
great a success as it was a joint effort of
IABBVHindi School, Australian Hindi
Committee and ILASA and owing to
the tremendous hard work of all stu-
dents, teachers, alumni and the support-
ive parent community. Kudos to all
involved!Siddhant Nakra, Ajoy Ghosh,
Mukesh Jani, Darshan Behl and Suresh
Makkar. Their poems had a new and
fresh outlook, some of them were nos-
talgic. Amongst the known poets were -
Dr Shailja Chaturvedi, Vimla Luthra,
Sant Ram Bajaj, Dhanraj Chowdhari,
Vijay Kumar Singh, Ram Prakash
Mehdiratta and Rekha Rajvanshi.
Another interesting Hindi contribution
came from Anu Shivram, who speaks
Kannada but loves Hindi. Dr Yadu
Singh recited a poem on new age jour-
nalists; Harmohan Singh Walia's
humorous poem was on 'Dil'. Shashi
Baranwal, Pradeep Upadhyay, Kusum
Chowdhary and Arvind Verma read
poems of their favorite poets. All the
poets were honored with a shawl.
The Kavi Sammelan was sponsored
by 'Sharma's Kitchen' and 'Uneek
Conveyancing' and was attended by
many dignitaries. The quality of poems
in the Kavi Sammelan was highly
appreciated by the audience. For the
success of this Kavi sammelan, credit
goes to Rekha Rajvanshi of ILASAand
Mala Mehta of IABBV Hindi School.
Overall, Hindi Divas Mela was
great a success as it was a joint effort of
IABBVHindi School, Australian Hindi
Committee and ILASA and owing to
the tremendous hard work of all stu-
dents, teachers, alumni and the sup-
portive parent community. Kudos to
all involved!
Hindi Divas moved from classroom to classroom as children performed in front of the select audience with Hon Phillip Ruddock
Federal MP, singer Kamahl, David Elliott MP Balukham Hills and guests from community.
Middle: Poets made ILASAs Kavi Sammelan a success
Bottom: ILASAs Rekha Rajvanshi with Keith Salvat and Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO Multical Connexions, launchign the DVD of
Aboriginal Stories translated into Hindi by Rekha with DVD produced by Keith.
40 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Community
By Neena Badhwar
The Liverpool Whitlam Centre
Hall fully was packed with devotees
of Murari Bapu congregating to the
venue every day from September 18
to 25 for the Ram Katha organised by
Shri Shiva Temple, Minto.
There were 300 devotees who
had come from overseas and inter-
state everday along with thousands to
hear their dear Bapu as people sat at
his feet listening to anecdotes, mytho-
logical stories from the epic
Ramayana. And as he related the sto-
ries he cried as well at times wiping
his tears so emotionally tied up is he
to the story of Lord Rama, Devi Sita
and their favorite disciple Lord
Hanuman. As Morari Bapu sat him-
self at the feet of an impressive pho-
tograph of Hanuman in meditation,.
saying goes that where ever the Ram
Katha is being told Hanuman ji is
sure to be present.
And when Morari Bapu tells the
way he tells the story surely there was
the presence of Divine Lord as the
audience sat mesmerised every day
for hours to listen to what Morari
Bapu had come to say.
Sydney had been waiting for the
Saints visit since the last few years
as earlier a trip was cancelled due to
personal reasons. And reasons he did
give as devotees had prepared for his
trip having even made sweets and
savouries for the occasion by the hun-
dreds which had to be gotten rid of.
They all wanted to know why. And
Morari Bapu profusely apologied for
not making it to Sydney a place he
said was like living in a heaven.
As he related the Katha with his
interesting style and musicians
accompanying him singing bhajans,
hymns and chopais from the
Ramayana, Morari Bapus easy deliv-
ery with contemporary message for
all made sense. He said, We should
be practising everyday Sanyas - Nit
Sanyasi is one who is detached yet
living in this world. One does not
have to go to the Himalayas to
become a sanyasi - it means living a
desire-free life right where you are.
He quoted the Sydney road sign
Watch out People About - while
being connected to your innerself do
your duty towards the people around
you.
Do not mull if a dear one leaves
but dont stop the tears from running
down from the eyes..
Bapu said, Stay put and dont
run away. Live right here in the mid-
dle of all yet live with total detach-
ment. If tears come in remebrance of
the dear deparetd ones so be it.
Bapus little pieces of wisdom
kept all coming for more as crowds
swelled to thousands on the week-
ends.Bapu told interesting stories
how earth had gone to devtas in the
form of a cow asking for help, for an
Avatar to take on the bad in the
world. An Avataar is born after
much prayer, wait and tapas - one has
to wait for thousands of years when
Bhagwan takes birth. And thats how
Lord Rama came after much penance
and prayer in the Dashrath house-
hold.
Morari Bapu said that sometimes
people approach him to come urgent-
ly for a Katha and when he tells
them that his diary is busy for the next
4 years they get disappointed. I say
to them that there are no short cuts. I
must adhere to the booked schedule.
And I always stress that theres no
bhajan without bhojan - wherever I
go for Katha there must be food as
people come from far off places so
there must be prashad.
Interspersed with chopais, beauti-
ful songs that Morari Bapu converts
into love for God and God alone -
his musicians sing beautifully with
him - Tumhi mere mandir tumhi
meri puja and when telliing jokes
Morari Bapu wins all - young and the
old..
Sydney presented a beautiful
Bhajan Sandhya on September 24th
when artists clamoured to sing for
their favorite guru. Volunteers took
time off their work and lives to be
present and serve at the occasion
which required huge amount of plan-
ning. Jagdish Chawla got a Peepal
tree uprooted from his home by a hor-
ticulturalist which he had brought
from India and tended for the last 15
year in his backyard. The tree was
planted in the Temple precinct by
Morri Bapu as a memory of his visit
to Sydney.
Dr Jasu Ben Kana who headed
the Catering team for all the 9 days
said that people worked from morn-
ing to late at night cooking food for
over 15,000 devotees who thronged
to the venue. And must we say that
the prashad was the most delicious
and keenly served by all. Dr Kana
even made sure that there was
Ekadasi dishes on the day like Samu
Khichdi and Farari Shak, potato curry
and peanuts. Rest of the days had
simple sabzi, rice, roti or puri and
sweets. Jasu Ben was helped by fif-
teen husbands and wives team who
produced meals for breakfast, lunch
and dinner.
Everyone enjoyed the spiritually
soaked environment and vibrations
around the venue were felt by all.
With Bapu present it was love and
devotion all the way!
He came, he cried and won our hearts
Morari Bapu s Ram Katha - a spritually enriching experience
Young Volunteers at the Food Hall Dr Jasu Ben Kana with her team holding the ladle in the kitchen
Sangeet Sandhya organised by Aradhana Bhatta (right)
Devotees
Community
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 41
A Candle Light Vigil at Parramatta Park on November 26 in memory
of 26/11 Mumbai Attack
"Mit jaate jo maatrbhumi par voh bante itihaas hai, mastak dhool chadaane unko jhuk jaate aakaash hai"
Paradoxes,contradictions and contrasts make India a unique nation where democracy and solidarity remains the final word on resolu-
tions.The sheer audacity of the terrorists on India's pluralistic democracy to polarise Indian society with murderous rampage of 60 hours
on 26th november 2008 bitterly failed. It may have taken 3 years for the tears to dry in order to articulate the sentiments of our aching
heart but from this year Sydney will join the globe, to remember the Shaheeds of Mumbai.
Mumbai has risen to its past glory stronger than ever and united than ever before. We salute the undefatigable spirit of Mumbai with-
standing all the natural and man made atrocities. We honour those who sacrificed their life and those who rebuilt the spectacular iconic
city of magic with their unrelenting endurance,generosity and resilience.
Terrorists have changed the rules of civilisation and existance of democracy. The discovery of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan removed
any dout that it is the country where terrorism grows destroying even its own people and fracturing its own chaotic economy albeit with
generous financial funding from the US.
Wherever we live,we the Pravasi Bharteey stand uncondionally with India to support its quest for solidarity and true pluralistic democracy
The brutal carnage will not be a mere piece of history or information,it will be actively eradicated from our cultured society.
In the midst of paradoxes,contradictions,controversies and contrasts and with the experiences of resounding triumphs and devastating
failures India has never tarnished its most valuable assett of the solidarity of its people which shines out of every adversity. The capacity
of Indians for love, courage, resilience and endurance will never cease to amaze me.
Mumbai in no uncertain form has shown its profound committment and dedication to remain undefeated
"Shaheedo kee chitao par lagenge har baras mele, vatan par marne vaalo kaa yehi antim nisha hoga"
A candle light vigil will take place in Parramatta Park on 26th November at 6 PM. More information www.aimga.org.au
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia
celebrated Mahatma Gandhi's 142nd
Birth Anniversary (2 October) as
International Day of Non-Violence by
dedicating a stage play, Personal War-
Stories of the Mumbai Attacks to its
members and patrons. The play written
and directed by Divya Palat, (Winner of
award for excellence in direction at the
New York International Fringe Festival),
is based on strories of victims as six
actors share the first-person account of
the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The play
was staged at The Greek Theatre,
Marrickville and stirred up great emo-
tions as actors played each story with
screen in the background reliving the sad
episode. Said Divya, who also played a
role, It was sad to see so many people
affected by the attack and every victim
seemed to tell the same tale of bureacrat-
ic bungle, the frustration and how the
innocent were people caught up in the
sad saga of war and terror. I felt that the
storiess of the real heroes who faced the
ordeal need to be told.
It was an excellent play in the form of
monologues and videos as the story of
each victim unfolded. So engrossing
was the play that people were quiet afer-
wards as if they had become themselves
part of the storiesenacted by actors.
Divya has taken this play around the
world having staged it in New York,
Durban as she says about the play that
The play brought my own catharsis
because I felt that by doing a play I want-
ed to make my contribution in my own
way to victims who had seen hell and
displayed tremendous courage and hope
to rebuild their lives.
Other functions held to commemo-
rate Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of
Peace
The Gandhi Peace Centre in coordi-
nation with Holroyd City Council
Library and Parramatta City Council
Library also organised a weeklong books
and poster exhibitions at the libraries.
Other local Community Partners, local
businesses, Councils, MRC Parramatta
organised various public functions on the
day.
The High Commission of India
organised a function to commemorate
the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
at Glebe Park, Canberra. Mahatma
Gandhi's 1.68 metre high bronze statue
in the heart of Canberra and University
of New South Wales in Sydney, are sym-
bolic representations of the many core
values of tolerance and respect for diver-
sity that the two nations share.
Aplay on Mumbai 26/11 attacks to
mark the International Day of Non
Violence by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan
Top: Divya Palat with Gambhir Watts,
President Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan,
Australia
Bottom: Divya and actors with
Sydneysiders at the Greek Theatre after
the play.
42 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 43
Columns
Saying goodbye to a trusted friend
M
y wife, Malathi, and I recently
bought a new minivan, trading
in the 2000 Subaru Legacy
Wagon that had served us well for nine
years. As we were leaving the Honda
dealership in our sparkling white minivan,
my 7-year-old daughter, Divya, stuck her
head out toward the parked Subaru and
waved. Bye, car! Thank you, car! she
said.
It wasn't the first time one of us had
spoken to the Subaru. When we bought it
second-hand in 2002, Malathi had trouble
learning to drive a stick-shift (manual)
car. As she took her foot off the clutch
pedal too quickly, the car would jerk for-
ward and stall. Go! Go! Go! Malathi
would yell, but the car couldnt seem to
grasp this simple instruction. Being a
good husband, I tried to be helpful: Its
a Japanese car. Whats the Japanese word
for go?
But after Malathi's initial words to the
car, I don't recall any of us talking to it
until Divya's parting
words. I hate to admit this publicly,
but we didn't even give it a name. We
just referred to it as the car - as
though it didn't have an identity of its
own, as though it was exactly like all the
other Subarus. Just ask any mechanic and
he will tell you that no two cars in the
world are exactly alike. Your car is defi-
nitely unique, he will say, and it has a
unique problem that will take me many
hours to fix. And pretty soon you will
have a unique bill to pay.
You charged me for an exhaust pipe,
exhaust gasket and exhaust clamp, you
say, looking at the items on the bill. But
why did you charge me for exhaust
fluid?
Sorry, says the mechanic. I was
exhausted and needed a drink.
Our Subaru certainly had some unique
qualities. For example, if I made a sharp
U-turn, it would produce a popping
sound. I used Google Translate and found
out what it was saying: Make up your
mind where youre going, you idiot! If I
went over a bump too fast, it would make
a deep vibrating sound, which Google
also translated for me: Time to get your
eyes checked, you moron!
But despite its occasional complaints,
it was a good, reliable car, one that we
shamelessly took for granted. Even when
it had carried us safely on a 30-hour trip,
we didn't have the decency to give it a
pat on its bumper. If it was dirty and
needed a bath, I waited for a rainy day
and tossed it a bar of soap. And when it
came to feeding it, I was always slow to
do so, waiting until the gauge showed
empty, not feeling any remorse if the
warning light came on, saying Feed me,
dude. I'm not a model!
I may have neglected the car now and
then, but I never intentionally abused it in
any way, either verbally or physically,
even when it was at fault. When its bat-
tery died and it wouldn't start one morn-
ing, I didn't kick its tyres and scream,
Stupid car! Why didn't you remind me
to turn your lights off? When it almost
crashed into a building while Malathi was
at the wheel, I didn't punch its headlights
out and shout, Stupid car! Why didn't
you tell her that her foot was on the
accelerator, not the brake!
I always felt a sense of loyalty to the
car and was reluctant to part with it.
That's why I was pleasantly surprised to
hear Divya's words of gratitude. While
the rest of the family was excited about
the new minivan, she had taken a moment
to appreciate the old car. I should have
done the same: Good bye car! Thank
you for keeping us safe. Well miss you. I
hope your new owner speaks Japanese.
THE HUMOR OF MELVIN DURAI
Our Subaru certainly had
some unique qualities. For
example, if I made a sharp U-
turn, it would produce a pop-
ping sound. I used Google
Translate and found out what
it was saying: Make up your
mind where youre going, you
idiot! If I went over a bump
too fast, it would make a
deep vibrating sound, which
Google also translated for
me: Time to get your eyes
checked, you moron!
F
rom a Hindu viewpoint, what
is happening with the US
economy could be seen as
some sort of karmic payback. The
money wasted and the lives lost on
two unnecessary wars is now hav-
ing its repercussions.
It takes a brave person to stand
up to the might of imperialism. Evo
Morales, Hugo Chavez of
Venezuela and Fidel Castro of
Cuba are some of these people.
Evo Morales, the president of
Bolivia, an Aymara Indian, is an
outspoken critic of the the US for-
eign policy and the involvement of
transnational corporations in Latin
America. In 2009, he was named
'World Hero of Mother Earth' by
the General Assembly of the United
Nations.
Here are excerpts from one of
his speeches.
* The world is suffering from a
fever due to climate change, and
the disease is the capitalist develop-
ment model.
* Whilst over 10,000 years the
variation in carbon dioxide (CO2)
levels on the planet was approxi-
mately ten percent, during the last
200 years of industrial develop-
ment, carbon emissions have
increased by 30 percent.
* Since 1860 Europe and North
America have contributed 70 per-
cent of the emissions of CO2. 2005
was the hottest year in the last
thousand years on the planet.
* Different investigations have
demonstrated that out of 40,170 liv-
ing species that have been studied,
16,119 are in danger of extinction.
One out of every eight birds could
disappear forever. One out of four
mammals is under threat. One out
of three reptiles could cease to
exist. Eight out of ten crustaceans
and three out of four insects are at
risk of extinction.
* We are living through the
sixth crisis of the extinction of liv-
ing specie since the history of the
planet and, on this occasion, the
rate of extinction is 100 times more
accelerated than in geological
times.
* Faced with this bleak future,
transnational interests are proposing
to continue as before, and paint the
machine green, which is to say,
continue with growth and irrational
consumerism and inequality, gener-
ating more and more profits, with-
out realising that we are currently
consuming in one year what the
planet produces in one year and
three months. Faced with this reali-
ty, the solution cannot be an envi-
ronmental make over.
* I read in the World Bank
report that in order to mitigate the
impacts of climate change we need
to end subsidies on hydrocarbons,
put a price on water and promote
private investment in the clean
energy sector. Once again, they
want to apply market recipes and
privatisation in order to carry busi-
ness as usual, and with it the same
illnesses that these policies produce.
* The same occurs in the case
of biofuels, given that to produce
one litre of ethanol you require 12
liters of water. In the same way, to
process one ton of agri fuels you
need, on average, one hectare of
land.
* The countries of the north
need to reduce their carbon emis-
sions by between 60-80 percent if
we want to avoid a temperature rise
of more than two degrees in what is
left of this century, which would
provoke global warming of cata-
strophic proportions for life and
nature.
* We need to create a World
Environment Organisation which is
binding, and which can discipline
the World Trade Organization,
which is propelling us towards bar-
barism. We can no longer talk of
growth in Gross National Product
without taking into consideration
the destruction and wastage of natu-
ral resources.
* We need to adopt an indica-
tor that allows us to consider, in a
combined way, the 'Human
Development Index' and the
'Ecological Footprint' in order to
measure our environmental situa-
tion.
* We need to apply harsh taxes
on the super concentration of
wealth and adopt effective mecha-
nisms for its equitable redistribu-
tion.
* The United States and
Europe consume on average 8.4
times more than the world average.
It is necessary for them to reduce
their level of consumption and
recognise that we are all guests on
Mother Earth.
Consume less for earth's sake
Inner Space
By Faith Harper
Morales said: The United States and Europe
consume on average 8.4 times more than the
world average. It is necessary for them to
reduce their level of consumption and recognise
that we are all guests on Mother Earth.
44 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
Santram's Grey Page
O
ctober is Mental Health and wellbe-
ing month. The State and Federal
Governments are increasingly becom-
ing conscious of the ageing population and
their needs. They are also providing funding
for non-English speaking citizens in aged care
centres. But these patients have some addi-
tional problems of communication and food,
as pointed out by Dr. Rakesh Sachdev on SBS
Radios Sunday Hindi programme. He
stressed the need for separate residential care
centres, day care centres etc. staffed by the
doctors and nurses speaking the same lan-
guage as their patients. For example, there are
qualified personnel (Volunteers) available
from Hindi speaking background who would
be manning these centres. The Government
can contribute towards staffing activity nurses
needed to help the patients. The Government
also needs to provide suitable premises and
give transport vouchers to the people who
cannot afford. One such group of eligible peo-
ple that comes to mind is the people on bridg-
ing visas who dont have Medicare card and
are frail and elderly.
According to the ageing ministry, 1 in 4
dementia patients will be from non-English
speaking backgrounds by the year 2026. It is
said that dementia patients lose their knowl-
edge of English and revert back to their
mother tongue. The latest research shows that
the dementia patients are better served if they
stay in the home environment as long as pos-
sible with their families who are offered pro-
fessional help by the experts in the field. In
fact this scheme is already in operation to a
certain degree, where the Government is pro-
viding respite care to the carers at home.
The ageing of Australian population is
putting a lot of pressure on the tax payer fund-
ed facilities but we hope that the respective
authorities will take some concrete steps to
meet this challenge.
B-Wise
B' vitamins are required by the body for
production of energy, proper functioning of
the nervous system, metabolism of fats and
proteins, and formation of red blood cells.
Most packaged foods are laced with
preservatives that strip our bodies of essential
vitamin B. Processes which include heating,
radiation, prolonged exposure to atmosphere
(oxidation), cooking with acids (such as vine-
gar etc) destroy most of the B1, B12 in the
food.
The lack of Vitamin B can result in
fatigue, body aches, tingling of nerves, weak-
ness, hair loss, lack of appetite, fatigue, hair
loss and lack of appetite.
Many skin disorders (like eczema) have
been associated with this deficiency. Vitamin
B12 and B6 deficiency is also common in
strict vegetarians who do not drink milk or
dairy products, says Geeta Shenoy, a regis-
tered dietician based in Chembur, Mumbai.
A recent study published in the Journal
Circulation', has linked low vitamin B6 lev-
els with higher risk for stroke and heart
attacks.
Excellent sources of vitamin B6 include
spinach, bell peppers, turnip greens, mush-
rooms, garlic, tuna, cauliflower, mustard
greens, banana, celery, cabbage, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts and watermelon.
Acidity & Heartburn
Heartburn is a condition where liquid con-
tent (acid) of the stomach backs up (refluxes)
into the oesophagus or the food pipe. This is
caused by ingestion of heavy, rich, spicy,
diet, heavily laden with ghee or oil. It can also
be triggered by eating food hastily. Those who
drink and smoke heavily also suffer from acid-
ity and heartburn, in addition to flatulence,
colic and general dyspepsia. Remove the basic
factors that are known causes of such distur-
bances. Repeated bouts of acidic dyspepsia
need help of a professional.
Ayurvedic Remedies.......
Adopt one or more home remedies listed
here to treat heartburn depending upon its
seriousness.
Take lemon juice, (mixed with a cup of
water) and add some rock salt to taste. This
may be taken 1-2 hours prior to taking meals,
or lemon may be used with meals. It will also
remove constipation -- one of the contributory
causes of acidity.
Chewing a piece of harad is an age old
remedy.
Drink coconut water 3-4 times a day.
Have a plateful of watermelon or cucum-
ber every hour.
Take a tiny piece of jaggery (gur) every
hour. Just keep it in the mouth and slowly
suck it till acidity subsides, and then repeat
this treatment every hour until the acidity has
passed.
Have apple cider vinegar & Baking Soda
- Drink 2 table spoons of apple cider vinegar
after adding it to lots of water throughout the
day. Alternatively mix 2 tsp of apple cider
vinegar and 2 tsp of honey in a glass of water
and take before meals.
Drink fresh pudina (mint) juice after
meals.
Although traditional tea is risky in condi-
tions of heartburn, green tea and other herbal
tea containing chamomile, ginger, liquorice
root and catnip help the stomach lining repair
itself and aid the body in the digestion
process.
Chew half a tea spoon of saunf (fennel
seeds) slowly after your meals.
Have aloe vera juice before every meal.
Use ginger while preparing food. Fresh
ginger can be taken in tea.
Keep a single piece of clove in mouth
after meals and suck on it gradually.
Chew some leaves of basil herb (tulsi) to
get relief from blazing, nausea and gastric
problem.
Diet & Lifestyle for Hyperacidity
Diet for Hyperacidity:
Drink hot/warm water.
Take the balanced diet, don't shift to the
totally spice-less foods.
Don't drink water after taking the meal.
Don't eat the next meal, until the prior
meal hasn't digested properly.
Avoid taking the frozen foods.
Don't have chilled drinks.
Carbonated drinks are good for nothing.
Avoid taking more caffeine and nicotine
in your daily routine. Try to have the Liver
Care and Pitta Tea, daily as it will help you to
cure properly.
Avoid Alcoholic drinks, if you are too
much addictive; add as much water as you can
in a least quantity of alcohol.
Lifestyle for Hyperacidity:
Don't work till late in night. Lesser
sleep may worsen your condition. It is better
to rest at home than to hospitalize?
Avoid sleeping just after taking the
meal, whether it is a lunch or a dinner.
Walk for at least 10 minutes both in
evening and morning.
When you have finished your meal, lie
on your left side and rest. This will allow your
food to occupy the chamber of your stomach.
Yoga after the meal in hopes of aiding
digestion is not recommended by Ayurveda.
Your body digests food best when it is
relaxed.
Don't allow anger to excite your neurons
and also be ware of anxiety. Anxiety can give
you nothing!!
Don't mess up unnecessarily with your
feelings. They are yours and you should learn
how to cop-up with those.
Quick Relaxation
Techniques
Different relaxation techniques appeal to
different people.
Whole body tension
Tense everything in your whole body, stay
with that tension.
Hold it as long as you can without feeling
pain.
Slowly release the tension and very grad-
ually feel it leave your body. Repeat three
times.
Imagine air as a cloud
Open your imagination and focus on your
breathing.
As your breathing becomes calm and reg-
ular, imagine that the air comes to you as a
cloud.
It fills you and goes out.
You may imagine the cloud to be a partic-
ular colour.
Pick a spot
With your head level and body relaxed,
pick a spot to focus on (eyes open at this
point).
When ready, count 5 breaths backward:
with each breath allow your eyes to close
gradually.
Concentrate on each breath.
Counting ten breaths back
With each count, allow yourself to feel
heavier and more relaxed. With each exhale,
allow the tension to leave your body.
-Breathe deeply and slowly.
-Let the tension flow away.
Avoid sitting to have
good heart, waistline
Get up and move around as often as you
can, for it's good for your heart and waistline,
says a new study.
Practical tips to do this in an office-based
workplace:
- Standing up to take phone calls.
- Walking to see a colleague rather than
phoning or emailing.
- Going to a bathroom on a different level.
-Taking the stairs instead of the lift where
possible
Now, a fruit pill to
prevent hair going
grey!
(A bit late for us!!)
Grey hair could soon be a pass, thanks to
scientists who claim to have created a pill
from a fruit extract that prevents the
inevitable, and most apparent, sign of ageing.
Bruno Bernard, head of hair biology at
LOreal , said: We think it will have a mar-
ket among men as well as women. We intend
people to take it in the same way as a dietary
supplement. It wont be expensive.
The drug uses a compound from an
unidentified fruit that mimics tyrosinase-relat-
ed protein 2, an enzyme that protects pigmen-
tation production; it aims to prevent a process
called oxidative stress, when hair cells suc-
cumb to harmful anti-oxidants and go grey,
say the scientists.
Bernard added: Ideally you would take it
for your whole life but realistically we would
encourage people to start using it before their
hair goes grey, because we dont think it can
reverse the process once it has started.
(Disclaimer: The Health tips in the article
are taken from various well established and
reliable sources and are given to you in good
faith. However, readers are reminded to take
care and consult their doctor if not sure, as no
responsibility can be accepted by the writer of
this column or The Indian Down Under)
Just for Seniors
By Santram Bajaj
As your breathing becomes calm and
regular, imagine that the air comes to you
as a cloud.It fills you and goes out.
Vitamin B6 sources include: Brussels
sprouts, spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms,
garlic, tuna, cauliflower, mustard greens,
banana, celery, cabbage and broccoli.
HUMOUR
Health & Well-being
An elderly lady was shocked to see some
young fellows getting into her parked car when
she returned from the grocery store.
Infuriated, she took her gun out of her handbag
and confronted the thieves who were so
scared that they ran for their lives. The lady
triumphantly got into the drivers seat but her
key would not fit. On closer examination, she
found that it was not her car. She found her car
which was parked in the next row and drove to
the nearest police station to report the matter.
The police sergeant could not help laugh-
ing and pointed to the other corner where four
young fellows were sitting. They were there to
report that one mad old lady with a gun was
involved in carjacking.
No charges were laid
Childrens Corner
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 45
Children's Corner
By Esther
Chaudhry-Lyons
D
ussehra, also known as
Vijaya Dashami, is an
Indian festival that cel-
ebrates victory of good forces
over evil forces. It spans 10
days and is celebrated in varied
traditions across India. Hindus
observe a 10 day ceremony of
fast, rituals, celebrations, fests
to honor the mother Goddess
and triumph of Lord Rama
over Demon Ravana. Dussehra
also symbolizes the triumph of
warrior Goddess Durga over
the buffalo demon,
Mahishasura.
During Dussehra, a number
of fairs are organized through-
out northern India.
'Ramlila' - an enactment
of the life of Lord Rama-is
held during the nine days pre-
ceding Dussehra. On the tenth
day (Dussehra or Vijay
Dasami), larger than life effi-
gies of Ravana, his son and
brother - Meghnadh and
Kumbhakarna are set to fire.
The theatrical enactment of this
dramatic encounter is held
throughout the country in
which every section of society
participates enthusiastically. In
burning the effigies the people
are asked to burn the evil with-
in them, and thus follow the
path of truth and goodness,
bearing in mind the instance of
Ravana, who despite all his
might and majesty was
destroyed for his evil ways.
According to scriptures, by
worshipping the 'Shakti' on
these nine-days the household-
ers attain the threefold power
i.e. physical, mental and spiri-
tual, which helps him to
progress in life without any
difficulty.
Deepawali
Dussehra
D
iwali or Deepawali is one
of the most important,
hugely awaited and
immensely cherished festival cele-
brated across India and in parts of
Nepal. Originally, the name was
Deepawali, which has its origin
from Sanskrit, meaning rows of
lamps.
Over the years the words has
been pronounced as Diwali, espe-
cially in Hindi, whereas it still
remains Dipawali in Nepali.
Diwali also popularly known as
Festival of Lights is celebrated
with great gusto and is observed as
an official holiday across India.
This festival is not only signif-
icant to Hindus, but, has impor-
tance in Jainism, Buddhism, and
Sikhism. For Hindus, it is associ-
ated with the return of Lord Rama
to Ayodhya, after his 14 years of
exile and victory over the demon
Ravana .On that day, he was wel-
comed to the kingdom of Ayodhya
with rows of lamps
Thus, there is a tradition of
lighting oil lamps that symbolize
the victory of good over evil and
freedom from spiritual darkness.
Hindus also make preparations to
welcome goddess Lakshmi by
drawing rangoli, and footsteps
(paduka) at the entrance that
would allure goddess Laksmi to
visit ones home and bring pros-
perity along with her.
There are numerous customs
and traditions associated with
Diwali, namely, burning of crack-
ers, playing cards, lightning of
lamps, wearing new clothes, dis-
tribution of sweets, exchange of
gifts etc.
Diwali celebrations spread
across five days, with each day
having its own significance and set
of rituals. The first day is called
Dhanteras, on which new uten-
sils and silver ware is brought to
the house. The second day is
called Chhoti Diwali, which
normally involves preparation for
the next day and the tradition of
playing cards is observed in many
families.
The next day, or third day is
the Badi Diwali, which involves
the worshipping of mother
Lakshmi. The fourth day is the
Govardhan puja and finally the
five days end with Bhai Dooj.
The festival of Diwali is truly a
Festival of Lights, as it not only
involves lighting of Lamps but it
also brings the light of happiness,
togetherness, spiritual enlighten-
ment and prosperity for everyone.
With the sound of crackers killing
all bad-omens, the lighted lamps-
lighting the lives of people, the
prayers and pujas creating an
atmosphere full of goodness and
purity.
According to the Hindu calen-
dar, the festival of Diwali is cele-
brated on the new moon day that
marks the end of Ashwin and
beginning of Kartik month. Diwali
this year is on the 26th of October
2011
During the reign of Akbar, a
great saint, Surdas, was born. He
was blind and was beyond the
parochial religious beliefs. His lov-
ing description of Krishnas life in
folk language, known as Brajbhasa,
is till today a treasure of Krishnas
bhajans.
I
n the village of Sihi near Delhi,
in the house of a poor Brahmin, a
child was born in 1478. He was
born blind. He had three other broth-
ers. He was so neglected by his
neighbours and his own family that
by the time he was three, everyone
forgot his real name and he was
called Sur, which means blind. He
was later known as Surdas.
Surdas would often go hungry
because his mother would not bother
to feed him. His brothers would
receive new clothes at Diwali time
but not Surdas. His parents thought
he wouldn't be able to tell the differ-
ence anyway. It hurt his feelings.
Surdas' outside world was not
very kind either. His playmates
enjoyed teasing him and when he
came to his mother for sympathy,
she scolded him for going out. So,
unfortunate Surdas stayed on the
porch most of the time.
One day, a group of singers
passed by his house singing in praise
of the Lord. Swept up by the joy the
music brought in him, he forgot for a
moment that he was blind.
"One day I will learn how to
sing," he told himself.
When Surdas joined his brothers
to learn from their father how to read
and write, his father said, "Go away.
You are blind, you cannot read." His
brothers teased him as he sat and
wept.
A few days later, another group
of singers came by, passing through
the village, begging for alms and
singing in praise of the Lord. Surdas
followed them. At night they stopped
to cook and rest near a lake. One of
them came to Surdas and asked,
"Why are you following us?"
"I would like to learn to sing,"
answered Surdas.
They fed him that night but did-
n't want to be burdened with the
blind boy. In the morning they left
without telling him.
Where could blind Surdas go?
He sat under a tree and began singing
the Lords praise. He had a good
voice and his feelings were
expressed with utmost sincerity.
Villagers passing by gave him food
and he survived. The lake was a pop-
ular resting spot for those travelling
to Mathura and Vrindavan. From
their conversation, Surdas learnt a
lot about the outside world.
By the age of 14, Surdas devel-
oped a keen sixth sense and could
predict many things. People were
amazed and he was called "miracle
boy." If a villager lost an animal,
Surdas could tell him where to find
it. He was consulted on the appropri-
ate day to travel or to start any proj-
ect. People from other villages trav-
elled a long way to meet him and
gave their offerings. One day, the
landlord's little toddler wandered off
and could not be found. Surdas pre-
dicted where the boy was and the boy
was found. The landlord was so
pleased that he fell at Surdas' feet
and asked his men to build a cottage
for him near the tree under which
Surdas stayed. Shortly thereafter,
people offered him a string instru-
ment to accompany his singing.
Some people became his disciples.
They began to write the songs he
composed. The disciples loved him
and served him to the best of their
ability.
One night, Surdas dreamt of
Krishna and people praising Him
through bhajans. Surdas woke up and
was convinced that Krishna was call-
ing to him. The next morning, he
departed for Vrindavan. His disci-
ples came running and were worried.
"Why are you leaving us? Are
we at fault?"
Surdas consoled them and con-
tinued on his way to Vrindavan.
Wherever he went people wanted to
listen to him sing and have him stay
with them. They would beg him to
stay in their village. They respected
him, honored him and fed him. But
Surdas kept moving.
"I am a travelling monk, I cannot
stay at any one place," Surdas said.
One day, while he was resting at
the edge of a shallow abandoned
well, he fell into the well. Blind and
injured, he did not know how to get
out. Surdas stayed in the well for
seven days praying for help.
Suddenly he heard a childs voice,
"Hold my hands, I will take you
out."
Surdas came out of the well and
the boy disappeared. He kept search-
ing for the little boy who rescued
him. In his imagination, the boy was
none else but Gopal Krishna
(Krishna's childhood name). People
thought he was crazy.
One day one of his disciples told
Surdas that the great learned saint Sri
Vallabhacharya was going to visit
Vrindavan. Vallabhacharya was
famous for his writings about
Krishna. Surdas keenly wished to see
him. But while he was making
arrangements to cross the river to
visit Vallabhacharya, he himself
arrived at Surdass abode. Surdas
was overwhelmed with joy. He fell
at Vallabhacharyas feet and sought
his blessing. Upon his request,
Surdas sang a bhajan about Krishna.
Vallabhacharya requested him to
dedicate his life to the praise of Lord
Krishna.
Vallabhacharya stayed with
Surdas for a few days and taught him
about Krishna's scriptures. Then he
initiated Surdas in his own religious
order. Surdas went to Vrindavan
with his guru, Vallabhacharya who
appointed Surdas as the chief singer
of Srinath temple in Govardhan, near
Vrindavan. Srinath is another name
for Krishna.
Surdas reputation as a singer
and devotee spread far and wide.
One day in the court of the Mughal
emperor Akbar, the court singer
Tansen sang one of Surdas' songs.
Akbar was charmed. Tansen admit-
ted that the tune and the lyrics were
that of Surdas, the blind devotee of
Krishna.
Akbar was a broadminded
Muslim ruler. He invited Surdas to
his court. Surdas declined saying, "I
am so very honoured, but I sing only
in the court of my beloved Krishna."
When Akbar heard of this, he
gladly came to Surdas and listened to
his prayer songs in the temple. He
was very pleased and asked Surdas to
ask for anything he wanted.
Surdas said, "Just do not ask me
to go to your court to sing." Akbar
agreed.
Surdas lived a long life and wrote
many songs in praise of Krishna's
childhood days. Surdas' songs are
sung to this day.
Surdas
46 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2011
Columns
T
his festive season, presenting some
recipes for making sweets at home rather
than buy them from the market and be
doubtful about the quality of ingredients and
adulteration of foods imported into Australia.
MOONG DAL BARFI
Ingredients
1 cup Moong yellow dal [soaked
overnight]
1 cup milk powder
3/4 cup desi ghee
1 cup sugar
tsp green cardamom seeds powder
1 tabs slivered almonds
Method
Grind the moong dal in a blender
Heat the desi ghee in a heavy bottom pan.
When it is melted, add the dal mixture. Cook
on slow fire with constant stirring to avoid the
sticking of dal to the bottom of the pan. When
the dal is golden brown, add the sugar, car-
damom powder and 2 cups of water and cook
till all the water evaporates then add milk pow-
der. Stir to mix well and cook for 2 to 3 min-
utes. Remove from heat and mix in the slivered
almonds.
Grease a tray with at least one inch depth.
Pour the cooked burfi on the tray and spread to
make a uniform thickness. When it cools down
cut it into diamond shape.
KAJU KATLI
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups cashew nuts
1 cup sugar
1 tabs desi ghee
tsp green cardamom powder
2 tabs milk
Silver foil for garnishing
Method
Soak the cashew nuts over night. Next day,
drain the excess water and grind them to a thin
paste. Add a little water if needed.
Place a heavy bottom pan on the stove.
Place the desi ghee and melt it. Add the cashew
nut paste and sugar. Stir well. Then reduce
heat. Cook the mixture with continuous stirring
to avoid sticking of the mixture for 6-8 minutes.
When the mixture has thickened, add the car-
damom powder.
On the rolling board place a butter paper
and pour the mixture on it. Now place another
butter paper, sandwiching the mixture between
the two papers. Roll it with a rolling pin.
Remove the butter paper from top and place
silver foil.
Cut into diamond or square shape pieces.
RASMALAI
Ingredients
8 cups milk
2 tabs lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar for syrup
1/2 cup sugar for milk
tsp saffron strands
tsp green cardamom powder
cup finely grated mixed nuts (cashew,
almond and pistachio nuts)
Method
Boil 4 cups of milk in a pan. When milk
comes to boil, slow the heat and pour in the
lemon juice. Remove from the stove and keep
aside till water and paneer separate completely.
Drain the excess water. Remove this paneer and
place in a mixing bowl. Knead gently to form
soft dough. Divide the dough into 12 to 15
equal parts and make a ball of each part. Gen-
tly pat each ball with the palm to flatten the ball
to a patty shape.
Boil 1 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar togeth-
er. Place the patties in the syrup for about 12
minutes.
Boil the 4 cups of milk in another pan and
cook till it reduces to about half of its original
volume. Add cup of sugar, the grated nuts,
saffron strands and cardamom powder. Cook
for 2 minute. Remove from heat. Add the pat-
ties to the milk. Cover the dish and refrigerate
for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
BADAM HALWA
Ingredients
3 cups almonds
2 cups sugar
1 cup desi ghee
tsp cardamom powder
Silver foil or grated pistachio nuts for
garnishing
Method
Soak the almonds overnight. Drain water
and remove the skin. Grind the almonds in a
food processor to make smooth batter adding
water if needed.
Place a heavy bottom pan on the stove.
Place the desi ghee and melt it. Add the almond
batter. Bring the mixture to a boil and then re-
duce heat. Cook the mixture with continuous
stirring to avoid sticking of the mixture for 8 to
10 minutes. When the mixture has thickened to
a thick batter consistency, add the cardamom
powder and sugar.
Serve hot and garnish with silver foil or
grated pistachio nuts.
BOMBAY KARACHI HALWA
Ingredients
150 grams sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
0 grams of corn flour
4 tabs. desi ghee
tsp food colour (orange colour )
100 grams of grated cashew nuts and al-
monds
Method
Boil sugar and 125 ml water in a pan. When
water comes to boil, add the lemon juice. Re-
duce heat and cook till the syrup is thickened. .
Keep the syrup aside. Mix corn flour and 100
ml of water uniformly so that no lumps remain.
Melt 1 tabs desi ghee in a pan. Add the corn
flour mixture and cook on slow heat till it be-
comes like a jelly. Then switch off the heat
completely. Add the warm sugar syrup in small
quantity at a time and stir till completely mixed.
Repeat till all the syrup has been consumed.
Now turn the heat on. Add desi ghee in
small quantity at a time and stir to be com-
pletely absorbed. Repeat the process till all the
ghee has been consumed. The cooked mixture
will appear like a thick jelly. Add the food
colour and cardamom powder and grated nuts.
Mix well. Grease a deep serving plate and
transfer the cooked mixture on it. Flatten to
make a uniform thickness. Let it set for about 2
hour. Cut into cubes and serve.
By Devaki Parthasarthy
D
elicious and crunchy apple
fruit is one of the most popu-
lar fruit favoured by health
conscious, fitness freaks who believe
in health is wealth. This wonderful
fruit is packed with rich phyto-nutri-
ents that in the true sense are indis-
pensable for optimal health. The an-
tioxidants in apple have many health
promoting and disease prevention
properties; thus justifying the adage,
an apple a day keeps the doctor
away.
Eating apples daily may promote
cardiovascular health according to a
study in the US. Apples are rich in
pectin and polyphenols that boost
lipid metabolism and reduce inflam-
mation.
Health benefits of apple:
Delicious and crunchy apple is
one of the popular fruit that contains
an impressive list of essential nutri-
ents, which are required for normal
growth and development and overall
nutritional well-being.
Apples are low in calories; 100
g of fresh fruit slices provide only 50
calories. The fruits, however, con-
tain no saturated fats or cholesterol;
but are rich in dietary fiber, which
helps, prevent absorption of dietary
LDL cholesterol in the gut. The di-
etary fibres also help protect the mu-
cous membrane of the colon from ex-
posure to toxic substances by binding
to cancer causing chemicals in the
colon.
Apple fruit contains good quan-
tities of vitamin-C and beta-carotene.
Vitamin C is a powerful natural an-
tioxidant. Consumption of foods rich
in vitamin C helps body develop re-
sistance against infectious agents and
scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory
free radicals from the body.
Apples are rich in antioxidant
phyto-nutrients flavonoids and
polyphenols. The total measured anti-
oxidant strength (ORAC value) of
100 gm apple fruit is 5900 TE. The
important flavonoids in apples are
quercetin, epicatechin, and procyani-
din B2. Apples are also good in tar-
taric acid that gives tart flavor to
them. These compounds help body
protect from deleterious effects of
free radicals.
In addition, apple fruit is a good
source of B-complex vitamins such as
riboflavin, thiamin, and pyridoxine
(vitamin B-6). Together these vita-
mins help as co-factors for enzymes
in metabolism as well as in various
synthetic functions inside the body.
Apple also contains small
amount of minerals like potassium,
phosphorus, and calcium. Potassium
is an important component of cell and
body fluids helps controlling heart
rate and blood pressure; thus coun-
ters the bad influences of sodium.
Here are some serving tips:
Eat apple fruit as they are with
skin to get maximum health benefits.
Sliced apple turns brown (enzy-
matic brownish discoloration) on ex-
posure to air due to conversion in
iron form from ferrous oxide to fer-
ric oxide. If you have to serve them
sliced, rinse slices in water added
with few drops of fresh lemon.
Cloudy apple juice is a good
drink with dinner.
Apple fruit is also used in the
preparation of fruit jam, pie, and fruit
salad.
According to the environmental-
working group reports, apple fruit is
one of the most heavily pesticide-
contaminated produce. The most
common pesticides found on apple
are organo-phosphorous and organo-
chloride pesticides like Permethrin
and DDT. Therefore, it is recom-
mended to wash the fruit thoroughly
before use.
An apple a day.
DIWALI SWEETS
Look Good and Feel Great Naturally
By Promila Gupta
September-October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 47
Hindi Humour
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u|| =| | + r| , - )+ -| :u
+| | : +| = r| +r|
=|= | =| + - + ++| r|
++ r| , =| )+ -|+ =| , -
+ -r| u = | + |u +| r| c| :
+ =| r| r i"
"=r| -| =r| , - =-| | =|
u| +| r ,- n =-| + |= , -
=|+ u -+ + :| -|+ + |,
- | = + + +| + : | |, -
+ +=+ | =| u| + ) +r|,
=|=| ,=|=| =- =|=| - |-+
- - | +| +--+ =| : r =| =|+
+|| =| =- +u | + |u +
-- +| -| = + =+|+ =|
=| |, - :| | | u = -++ =|
- n -+|+ u -|r ++ , - +u r|
=- +u +| +| =| u ++| -|r
+= | +- - =| =| | =| ... "
- | -|+ - - r - r| =+ : ,
| - u + =- u| |, +| +
| = + u = | + |u u :|
-| r| |, r|-| u =! )+ +|
| -r|+ u +|| +r| | =|
u r- r| || r| r =| r
-| r-| u|-+ i ++ =| :u -+|+
u ! +r| +| ++ -| -| + ++|
|i
=| - +-| u = +| =| u+|
=| +-| +- - | --| -|+|
+| +-| +| =| - =|= r| -| =|
u : + c + u - u| + ||
|i
.....- n ) u | + = u r - |
=| u + - -+| r| |i
+ ... u+ |- -=|=
48 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 49
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50 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 51
52 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Body-Mind-Spirit
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 53
T
he Pure Mind, the immaculate Being,
is eternally wrapped in blissful still-
ness in Turiya or Samadhi, the state
beyond awake, dream and sleep states.
There remains nothing more for one to
achieve but to consolidate this state into the
permanent experience of Sahaja Nirvikalpa,
a state of merging in the Self, a state of true
liberation.
Ramana Maharishi reaches spiritual
aspirants through his conversations with S S
Cohen on oft-raised queries related to spiri-
tual practice, meditation and Self-enquiry.
Disciple: How do I meditate?
Ramana: Meditation is, truly speaking,
atmanishtha (to be fixed as the Self). But
when thoughts cross the mind and an effort
is made to eliminate them the effort is usu-
ally termed meditation. Atmanishtba (to
abide in the Self) is your real nature.
Remain as you are. That is the aim.
Hold on to one thought only. Dhyana
(meditation) is the chief practice. Dhyana
means fight. As soon as you begin medita-
tion other thoughts will crowd together,
gather force and try to sink the single
thought to which you try to hold. The good
thought must gradually gain strength by
repeated practice. After it has grown strong
the other thoughts will be put to flight. This
is the battle royal always taking place in
meditation. One wants to rid oneself of mis-
ery. It requires peace of mind, which means
absence of perturbation owing to all kinds of
thoughts. Peace of mind is brought about by
dhyana (meditation) alone.
Disciple: How is dhyana (meditation)
practised - with eyes open or closed?
Ramana: It may be done either way.
The point is that the mind must be introvert-
ed and kept active in its pursuit. Sometimes
it happens that when the eyes are closed the
latent thoughts rush forth with great vigour.
It may also be difficult to introvert the mind
with the eyes open. It requires strength of
mind to do so. The mind is contaminated
when it takes in objects. Otherwise, it is
pure. The main factor in dhyana (medita-
tion) is to keep the mind active in its own
pursuit without taking in external impres-
sions or thinking of other matters.
Disciple: But thoughts come up. Is our
effort meant to eliminate thoughts only?
Ramana: Yes. Meditation being on a
single thought, the other thoughts is kept
away. Meditation is only negative in effect
in as much as thoughts are kept away.
Disciple: If a form is given I can medi-
tate on it and other thoughts are eliminated.
But the Self is formless.
Ramana: Meditation on forms or con-
crete objects is said to be dhyana (medita-
tion), whereas the enquiry into the Self is
vichara (Self-enquiry) or nididhyasana
(uninterrupted awareness of being).
Disciple: Is the practice of concentra-
tion between the eyebrows advisable?
Ramana: Everyone is aware - `I am'.
Leaving aside that awareness one goes about
in search of God. What is the use of fixing
one's attention between the eyebrows? It is
mere folly to say that God is between the
eyebrows. The aim of such advice is to help
the mind to concentrate. It is one of the
forcible methods to check the mind and pre-
vent its dissipation. It is forcibly directed
into one channel. It is a help to concentra-
tion. But the best means of realization is the
enquiry Who am I? The present trouble is
to the mind and it must be removed by the
mind only. The final result of the practice of
any kind of dhyana (meditation) is that the
object on which the seeker fixes his mind
ceases to exist as distinct and separate from
the subject. They, the subject and object,
become the one Self, and that is the Heart.
Disciple: I do not always concentrate on
the same centre in the body. Sometimes I
find it easier to concentrate on one centre
and sometimes on another. And sometimes
when I concentrate on one centre the thought
of its own accord goes and fixes itself in
another. Why is that?
Ramana: It may be because of past
practices of yours. But in any case it is
immaterial on which centre you concentrate
since the real Heart is in every centre and
even outside the body. On whatever part of
the body you may concentrate or on what-
ever external object, the Heart is there.
Disciple: Can one concentrate at one
time on one centre and at another time on
another or should one concentrate always
consistently on the same centre?
Ramana: As I have just said, there can
be no harm wherever you concentrate,
because concentration is only a means of
giving up thoughts. Whatever the centre or
object on which one concentrates, he who
concentrates is always the same.
Disciple: Why does not Sri Bhagavan
direct us to practise concentration on some
particular centre or chakra (subtle centres of
energy in the body)?
Ramana: Yoga Sastra (Yoga scriptures)
says that the sahasrara (the chakra located in
the brain) or the brain is the seat of the Self.
Purusha Sukta (a part of Rig Veda which is
the oldest Hindu scripture) declares that the
Heart is its seat. To enable the sadhaka to
steer clear of possible doubt, I tell him to
take up the thread or the clue of `I'-ness or
`I am' ness and follow it up to its source.
Because, firstly, it is impossible for anybody
to entertain any doubt about this `I' notion.
Secondly, whatever be the means adopted,
the final goal is the realization of the source
of `I am'-ness which is the primary datum
of your experience. If you therefore practise
Self-enquiry, you will reach the Heart which
is the Self.
Disciple: What is dhyana (meditation)?
Ramana: It is abiding as one's Self
without swerving in any way from one's real
nature and without feeling that one is medi-
tating.
Disciple: What is the difference between
dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (the state
of absorption in the Self)?
Ramana: Dhyana (meditation) is
achieved through deliberate mental effort. In
samadhi (the state of absorption in the Self)
there is no such effort.
Disciple: What are the factors to be kept
in view in dhyana?
Ramana: It is important for one who is
established in his Self (atmanishtha) to see
that he does not swerve in the least from this
absorption. By swerving from his true
nature he may see before him bright efful-
gences, or hear unusual sounds, or regard as
real the visions of gods appearing within or
outside himself. He should not be deceived
by these and forget himself.
Disciple: How do I prevent myself
falling asleep in meditation?
Ramana: If you try to prevent sleep it
will mean thinking in meditation, which
must be avoided. But if you slip into sleep
while meditating, the meditation will contin-
ue even during and after sleep. Yet, being a
thought, sleep must be got rid of, for the
final natural state has to be obtained con-
sciously in jagrat (the waking state) without
the disturbing thought. Waking and sleeping
are mere pictures on the screen of the
native, thought-free state. Let them pass
unnoticed.
Disciple: What is to be meditated upon?
Ramana: Anything that you prefer.
Disciple: Meditation is more direct than
investigation because the former holds on to
the truth whereas the latter sifts the truth
from the untruth.
Ramana: For the beginner meditation
on a form is more easy and agreeable.
Practice of it leads to self-enquiry which
consists in sifting the reality from unreality.
What is the use of holding on to truth when
you are filled with antagonistic factors? Self-
enquiry directly leads to realization by
removing the obstacles which make you
think that the Self is not already realized.
Meditation differs according to the degree of
advancement of the seeker. If one is fit for
it one might directly hold on to the thinker,
and the thinker will then automatically sink
into his source, pure consciousness. If one
cannot directly hold on to the thinker one
must meditate on God and in due course the
same individual will have become sufficient-
ly pure to hold on to the thinker and to sink
into absolute being. Meditation is possible
only if the ego is kept up. There is the ego
and the object meditated upon. The method
is therefore indirect because the Self is only
one. Seeking the ego, that is its source, the
ego disappears. What is left over is the Self.
This method is the direct one.
Disciple: Meditation is with mind. How
can it kill the mind in order to reveal the
Self?
Ramana: Meditation is sticking to one
thought. That single thought keeps away
other thoughts. Distraction of mind is a sign
of its weakness. By constant meditation it
gains strength, that is to say, the weakness
of fugitive thought gives place to the endur-
ing background free from thought. This
expanse devoid of thought is the Self. Mind
in purity is the Self.
Disciple: What is the difference
between meditation (dhyana) and investiga-
tion (vichara)?
Ramana: Both amount to the same.
Those unfit for investigation must practise
meditation. In meditation the aspirant for-
getting himself meditates `I am Brahman' or
`I am Siva' and by this method holds on to
Brahman (the Absolute) or Siva. This will
ultimately end with the residual awareness
of Brahman (the Absolute) or Siva as being.
He will then realize that this is pure being,
that is, the Self. He who engages in investi-
gation starts by holding on to himself, and
by asking himself `Who am I?' the Self
becomes clear to him. Mentally imagining
oneself to be the supreme reality, which
shines as existence-consciousness-bliss, is
meditation. Fixing the mind in the Self so
that the unreal seed of delusion will die is
enquiry. Whoever meditates upon the Self in
whatever bhava (mental image) attains it
only in that image. Those peaceful ones who
remain quiet without any such bhava attain
the noble and unqualified state of kaivalya,
the formless state of the Self.
Disciple: There is more pleasure in
dhyana (meditation) than in sensual enjoy-
ments. Yet the mind runs after the latter and
does not seek the former. Why is it so?
Ramana: Pleasure or pain are aspects of
the mind only. Our essential nature is hap-
piness. But we have forgotten the Self and
imagine that the body or the mind is the
Self.
It is that wrong identity that gives rise to
misery. What is to be done? This mental ten-
dency is very ancient and has continued for
innumerable past births. Hence it has grown
strong. That must go before the essential
nature, happiness, asserts itself.
Disciple: Why should one adopt this
self-hypnotism by thinking on the unthink-
able point? Why not adopt other methods
like gazing into light, holding the breath,
hearing music, hearing internal sounds, rep-
etition of the sacred syllable Om or other
mantras (sacred syllables repeated in medi-
tation)?
Ramana: Light-gazing stupefies the
mind and produces catalepsy of the will for
the time being, but it secures no permanent
benefit. Breath control temporarily benumbs
the will but it is not permanent. It is the
same with listening to sounds, unless the
mantra (sacred syllables repeated in medita-
tion) is sacred and secures the help of a
higher power to purify and raise the
thoughts.
Extracts from the book
Life Beyond Death
by Anil Sharma
How to meditate:
Ramana
54 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Body-Mind-Spirit
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 55
An epitome of love, Damodarananda
By Vijay Badhwar
S
ome comment on his skin being as fresh as that of a
child, some talk about the glow on his face; Swami
Sridharananda at the Vedanta Centre says that you
have to poke him as in a beehive to enjoy the sweetness of
honey pouring out. I see the simplicity of love in him no
twists, no turns; a whole-hearted love pours out when some-
one touches his feet and there is ringing of bells in the laugh-
ter he bursts out in after every short sentence he speaks.
Thats Swami Damodarananda.
And, its with a heavy heart we learn that hes called it
a day of his Australian fellowship to return home at the age
of 94, to be at Belur Math where he had made a new begin-
ning for his life as a teenager.
It was many years ago, he recalls with a memory thats
now fading, that he had run away from home to join the
Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Inspired by a booklet
about Ramana Maharshi going around among students I
wondered that there were Brahamapurushas like him. What
was I doing there; I should be with him at his feet. Aroused
by Shukata Samskaras, immediately I took a train, not even
knowing where exactly I was heading.
A family in the train advised me where to get down
from the train. Otherwise I had no idea that I had to change
trains on the way to reach Tiruvannamalai. Hungry and
exhausted, I reached the Ashram and sat for a darshan of the
Maharshi.
Maharshis prolonged gaze, looking straight at me,
sent me an inner message what life had in store for me. I
stayed for several weeks at the Ashram helping in the
kitchen and stealing every opportunity to listen to Ramana
Maharshi, even daring to ask him the shortest path to sal-
vation.
In my spare time I read lot of scriptures, among that
about Swami Ramakrishna, Ma Sarada and Vivekananda. I
had found my path in life and felt very happy about it. But
it did not last long as my family had found out where I was
and they forced me to return home.
But the homecoming did not last long. There was a
Ramakrishna Math close to my house and I started visiting
that often.
One day I was reading the works of Swami
Vivekananda when a particular passage struck me. Swamiji
had written, You have devoted innumerable lives to fami-
ly and material concerns. Can you not offer one life to God.
Immediately, a voice rose inside me: yes, I can do that.
I decided to join the order and was initiated several years
later by Swami Virajananda, Swami Damodarananda said.
During this time he travelled a lot in the Himalayas,
to all the holy places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Mt Kailash,
a journey on foot in those days. I joined a group of shep-
herds and went with them through the high passes.
One day they asked me to turn around for some time as
they killed a goat. It shocked me but realised that it was their
way of life. I had my sampa tied in a piece of cloth, a part
of my survival kit, he said laughingly.
Immediately afterwards at the Ramakrishna Mission the
foreign postings started 1954-60 in Rangoon, 1961-76 in
Singapore and immediately afterwards to Nadi, Fiji, where
he stayed until 2000. During those 24 years Swami
Damodarananda visited Australia and New Zealand often, a
guest of Mr and Mrs Ramakrishna in Sydney, and crys-
tallised the Missions activities in Sydney, Perth and
Brisbane.
Devotees recall Swami Damodarananda carrying a pile
of books with him wherever he travelled and distributing
them among curious spiritual seekers, encouraging them to
study the scriptures and inculcate the message of Sri
Ramakrishna in their lives. This period marked the begin-
ning of Ramakrishna Mission in Australia.
Swamiji briefly returned to India in 2000, only to be sent
to Thailand in 2004. From Bangkok he also co-ordinated
Missions activities in Hong Kong and reached as far as
Perth where he stayed from 2007-09. He has since been in
Sydney, spreading his love among keen devotees.
Now at 94, hes still keen to be among his family of fol-
lowers in Sydney. But it would be better if I returned due
to my health, he thinks aloud.
Has ever a stray thought come in his mind that he could
have chosen another path in life, I dare to ask.
What path, comes a brief but stern retort.
What was the shortest path to God for people in fami-
ly lives, I redirect the question he had once asked Ramana
Maharshi?
Sarveshu Kaleshu man anusmara yudhya cha he
quotes from Bhagwad Gita and explains: engage in the war
of life valiantly doing your required duties. But offer it all
to God. Kaam karte raho, naam japte raho, is his simple
message. Swami Damodarananda will visit all the centres in
Australia before he leaves the shores in November, and
complete a full circle returning to Belur Math where he had
made a beginning some 70 years ago.
The beloved Ramakrishna Mission Swami is returning to India. His
simple advice to householders: Engage in the war of life valiantly
doing your required duties. But offer it all to God.
Kaam karte raho, naam japte raho.
When young, Swami
Daomodarananda went to live at
Ramana Maharshis ashram in
Tiruvannamalai. I stayed for
several weeks at the Ashram
helping in the kitchen and steal-
ing every opportunity to listen to
Ramana Maharshi, even daring
to ask him the shortest
path to salvation.
One day I was reading the works
of Swami Vivekananda when a
particular passage struck me.
Swamiji had written, You have
devoted innumerable lives to
family and material concerns.
Can you not offer one life to God.
Immediately, a voice rose inside
me: yes, I can do that, Swami
Damodarananda recalls.
56 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Community
September - October 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 57
Julie Owens MP, Federal Member for
Parramatta congratulated Dr Vairamuttu
Manomohan, President of the Sydney
Murugan Temple on the Great Western
Highway at Mays Hill, and its entire congre-
gation on their successful sponsorship of three
highly specialised and devout Sculptors to
work on the Temple before its important 12-
year reconsecration in late January 2012.
"Dr Manomohan approached me for help a
couple of months ago because the Temple was
having trouble getting visas for these
Sculptors," Ms Owens said.
"Working on the beautiful sculptures on a
Hindu Temple is not something just anyone
can do," she said.
"Proper Temple Sculptors need to have
learned their craft through traditional Hindu
training, and when they carve, they follow
strict requirements of Hindu scripture - daily
prayer, vegetarianism and rising early in the
morning to do their work, among other
things."
"It is a beautifully devout practice and the
three Sculptors who are on their way are inter-
nationally known for their work."
"I was delighted to help the Temple to get
these visas as quickly as Immigration could
give them" Ms Owens said.
Dr Manomohan said, "The Temple is most
grateful to Julie Owens MP for her help. We
might still be waiting for these visas if she had
not supported the applications and followed
them closely".
"The Sculptors will arrive in the coming
days and they will be working hard over the
next three months to get the Temple ready for
the reconsecration. The Sydney Tamil commu-
nity is very much looking forward to it" he
said.
January 2012 marks the 12 year anniver-
sary of the Sydney Murugan Temple, which is
an important milestone for the important
building under Hindu tradition. The reconse-
cration will involve much celebration and reli-
gious observance and will be an important
time for the Sydney Tamil community.
Talented Sculptors head to
Sydney Murugan Temple in
Mays Hill for its 12th year
anniversary in January 2012
Julie Owens with Temple president Dr. Vairamuttu Manmohan
10th anniversary celebration of Holi
Mahotsav will take place in Darling
Harbour on 23-25 of March
2012organised by Bharatiya Vidya
Bhavan. BVB in Australia is a non-
profit and non-religious NGO. Since its
launch in 2003 it has undertaken a
large number of activities related to
Indian culture and promoting multicul-
turalism in Australia. The major annual
event is the festival of Holi Mahotsav.
This beautiful festival of friendship and
harmony was introduced in Sydney by
Bhavan Australia nine years ago. Since
the beginning BVB has celebrated it at
the most prominent location constantly
visited by people from every communi-
ty at Darling Harbour as it is free for
everyone to join the festivitiesand has
become one of the important cultural
icon visited by over 20,000 people.
Holi Mahotsav is a grand and unique
festival of colors, friendship and har-
mony. The festival has an ancient ori-
gin and celebrates the triumph of 'good'
over 'bad'. On this day people get rid of
their old baggage including unwanted
items and of course animosity and start
a fresh year ahead. Old foes become
friends. In India during Holi days one
can see colors of joy everywhere. Holi
Mahotsav celebrates culture, colours
and folk and fun.
Every year around four hundredsartists
from local community, India and all
over the world perform during the fes-
tival in Sydney. Visitors enjoy the per-
formances and the delicious Indian
vegetarian food stalls and craft stalls in
Tumbalong Park.
Program of Holi Mahotsav (23rd - 25th
of March 2012 will have music and
dance performances that will start on
Friday at noon, and will continue till
Sunday 25th of March evening. The
festival will last for 3 days.
On Friday many school groups are
invited with special section of events
for young people and children. The fes-
tival starts with musical performances,
and lectures, seminars and cultural
workshops about diversity, multicultur-
alism, social cohesion.
Saturday becomes the stage of yoga,
prayers, and meditation activities.
There will be a large street procession
from Hyde Park going through Sydney
CBD and Sydney Town Hall and cul-
minating in to Tumbalong Park,
Darling Harbour. The Procession will
include Rath Yatra (hand pulled
Chariot) and other community floats.
There will be the Sacred Holi Fire. The
Holi Bon fire is believed to drive away
evil from the society.
On Sunday in the designated area will
take place the funny practice of color
throwing / playing with colors.
The cultural performances include abo-
riginal performances and tribal belly
dances, together with many Indian and
other international dance and music
groups. There will be also many food
and merchandise stalls. Holi Mahotsav
also presents several art exhibitions, to
support upcoming international artists.
Its a unique expereince to witness such
a mix of cultures coming together
under one banner to experience the
ability of people to unite and transcend
boundaries of race, caste, culture, age
and gender; or simply enjoy an array of
cultural performances.
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan
readies for an exciting Holi
Mahotsav in March 2012
Oct Mat 1. Hindu Punjabi
business parents invite alliance
from a beautiful educated girl for
their highly qualified son 30/6'3",
a very well placed financial con-
sultant with a leading multination-
al company in UK. Will be in
Australia in July, Caste no bar.
Send BHP to
ukshaadi@hotmail.com
Oct Mat 2. Well settled fami-
ly in Australia inviting alliance for
27 year old, 5"11, Sood Punjabi
boy, B.Software Engineer(honors)
and is working as a senior IT
Consultant for the Australian gov-
ernment on high income. Seeking
Indian girl, caste no bar. Please
call 0414-518-312. Email aumo-
hindra@gmail.com
Oct Mat 3. Seeking compati-
ble well educated, employed pro-
fessional/ business match, with
Indian background, broad minded/
mature outlook, independent,
divorcee, age 47 years onward,
For caring, honest, friendly,
Indian Christian divorcee
Australian citizen, 48 yrs 5'3" tall,
much younger looking than age,
attractive, graceful looking gradu-
ate nurse, employed. Caste no bar.
Email details to emily.lotus@hot-
mail.com
Oct Mat 4. Suitable match for
26.5 year old, Hindu boy, 6 Feet,
handsome, Australian qualified
Dentist, Income High Six figure,
seek Indian good-looking, profes-
sional girl with strong family val-
ues.Caste no bar, girl merits main
consideration.
Please contact with profile and
recent photograph at 0412-788569
or Email:
Jaiho2000@hotmail.com
Oct Mat 5. Young Indian
Hindu girl 27 years old from
respectable family, living in
Sydney seeks young Australian
Indian man with strong cultured
and family background for friend-
ship with view of marriage. Please
call on 0421 689 546.
Oct Mat 6. We are looking for
a Sikh/Punjabi girl who is well
educated and independent yet cul-
turally grounded with traditional
values. Our son has a Masters
Degree in "Applied Finance' and
is currently a self-employed busi-
nessman. He is 30 / 6', living in
Sydney and seeking a life partner
with whom he can share his
dreams and ambitions. E-mail
details to: tkt1223@gmail.com or
ring 0415 307 314.
58 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
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October -November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 59
Vasthu master Selva honoured
I
ndian Down Under columnist
T. Selva was conferred five
awards for his outstanding
writings, work and excellence in
propagating ancient Indian sci-
ences and knowledge.
He received an Honorary
Doctor of Oriental Learning (PhD)
from the Indian Institute of
Oriental Heritage in West Bengal.
Selva, who writes a Vasthu
Sastra column, was also bestowed
the Vasthu Padmabibhushan and
Vasthu Samrat and Vasthu Gaurav
by the Kolkata-based Asian
Astrologers Congress (AAC) and
Vasthu Ratnakara award by the
Malaysian Astrological Society
(MAS).
He received the awards from
Malaysian Human Resources
Minister Datuk Dr S.
Subramaniam at the 13th Asian
Astrology & Vasthu Sastra
Conference on National Heritage
in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 12.
Asian Astrologers Congress
president Dr Satya Biswas said the
titles were given because Selva has
become a leading exponent outside
India to write and speak on ancient
Indian secrets and sciences world-
wide.
He said the congress was
impressed by his work and com-
mitment to popularise all branches
of early knowledge for the better-
ment of mankind.
We are overwhelmed by
Selvas selfless service to write,
speak and spread the intricate
knowledge of Vasthu and astrolo-
gy in many countries selflessly,
said Biswas.
MAS president N.
Aruampalam said the society chose
Selva in recognition of his merito-
rious services rendered to the
cause of research, development
and propagation of Vasthu, astrol-
ogy and Tantra text.
He said they were proud that a
Malaysian has become a leading
figure in Indian sciences and wis-
dom.
Selvas writing appears in
Australia and Malaysian newspa-
pers and he hosts regular radio
and television shows in Malaysia.
He has authored five books on
Vasthu and ancient Indian secrets
and over the past eleven years he
has presented 373 talks for free
and for charity in nine countries.
For more information on the
books, visit
www.vasthusastra.com.
T. Selva is the author of the
best selling book titled Vasthu
Sastra Guide. To get a copy of the
book or for private consultation
contact Devi 0412623017. He can
be contacted at his email: tsel-
vas@pd.jaring.my and Website:
www.vasthusastra.com
T. Selva writes a regular
column for The
Indian Down Under
Columns
By Karam C. Ramrakha
Karam C. Ramrakha, veteran ex Fiji
MP, casts a practised eye on Fiji and in
this article examines the responsibility of
the large Indian diaspora's responsibility
towards the mother country.
C
ollape of Euro, and Europe! Obama
in Re-Election Peril. Julia Gillard
in imminent peril. Taj Mahal in
peril: danger of collapse within 5 years?
Hamid Karzai in embrace with
Manmohan Singh. Ah, the mind boggles.
Afghanistan.. Surely not stan, but sthan.
There is sthan all over the map, all once
part of a Vedic World of Indias. The suf-
fix "sthan" akin to the suffix "land" in
Europe (England, Finland, Iceland all once
ruled by Vikings). Ah, to return to the
glory of Vedic India of old. And the name
Afghanistan, surely it is from Awa-Gaman
sthan, a land of coming and going, a valu-
able passageway, a through route whose
fierce people defy conquest after conquest.
And what of our own Australasia?
Despite 800 million our Ramsi pours into
the Solomons there is turmoil and unrest.
Fiji, the naughty child we would love to
have sit in a corner is still rebellious.
Frank Bainimarama the coup leader shows
no remorse, no contrition. Large areas of
Pacific islands notably Tuvalu and Kiribati
and even island groups in Fiji will, thanks
to climate warming, be submerged in
water. A new paradigm emerges. Wave
after wave of people from our own back-
yards. The mind boggles. Can this Desert
Continent which is Australia sustain us all?
And what of elsewhere? The old
romantic adventure-ridden world of the
Middle East is in turmoil, as the oil rich
bastion of Saudi Arabia fearfully draws up
its shutters. Arab Spring! Uprising after
uprising as the bullet defying residents
seek justice and a new world
Everywhere there is demand for
change. Internet Rules. Internet Informs.
Internet is Ubiquitous.
What of the future of the Human Race?
What legacy will we leave our children?
There are urgent questions which demand
urgent solutions, as we realise how limited
our resources are on Planet Earth.
Events are in the saddle and ride
mankind, as Ralph Waldo Emerson had
said. Yes, indeed events are riding hard,
real hard, and threatening to overtake and
destroy us. I quote lines from my favourite
poem "Blight and famine, plague and
earthquake, roaring deeps and fiery sands,
Clanging fights, and flaming towns, and
sinking ships, and praying hands. (The
Lotos Eaters)
As I pondered depressed on current
world affairs, a voice came to me out of
the blue. It was my protege, Noor Dean,
Melbourne lawyer and onetime Fiji MP
who was incarcerated by Rabuka in the
1987 coups. Deeply shaken he was crying
and his voice from where? Of all places
Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar. Noor, an
Akhand Bharti, was deeply shaken by his
visit. Yes, I too visited it in 1975. The
Bagh or Garden stained with blood as on
Baisakhi Day, April 13, 1919. A British
General Dyer ordered his Indian soldiers
to fire on unarmed and peaceful protesters.
An uncle of mine Lalla Ram who escaped
by pretending he was dead described how
those who lay dying were picked and bay-
onetted to death. It was a cataclysmic
event but it did not signal end of Empire
which lasted in India for some three
decades after the event. Remember it was
we Indians, our own killing by our own on
that Baisakhi Holy Day. It is we Indians
who bolstered British Empire so much so
that India was described as the Jewel in the
Crown. Ironically India's Koh-i-noor still
sits atop the Lady's Crown.
But as the World around India teeters
and India and China, Chacha Nehru's two
(beloved) sleeping giants awake from their
slumber what awaits us.
There are pundits galore who analyse
the future of India and China. Ajay Singh,
one time Deputy Minister in India's
Parliament and recent ex High
Commissioner to Fiji, on a recent visit to
Fiji addressed the University of South
Pacific students on how he believes that
India and China will become one country.
He says there is acknowledgement in
China that India ruled China for 2000
years but it was not with the sword. On a
1975 visit to Taiwan, its Vice President
spoke of how the ancient Chinese went on
pilgrimages to India and how a belief in
reincarnation made them take even their
animals with them.
I was deeply touched by his words.
But here we are. The old circle
returns. The General Dyers of Jallianwalla
Bagh are still alive in our midst, still incit-
ing their own to shoot their own. Syria and
Libya stand out as prime examples. All the
breastbeating after General Dyer has done
us no good. His name has passed into leg-
end. There is doubt whether it was that
very Dyer or another Dyer whom Indian
patriot Udham Singh shot and killed. My
generation was besotted with the emanci-
pation of India. We endlessly recounted
Jallianwalla Bagh in our families; we
prayed and hoped against the might of
Empire which enslaved us as its colonials,
its subjects in a very derogatory sense. No
wonder Noor Dean, a child of Fiji, shed
his tears on the site. It is man's inhumanity
to man which arouses our conscience,
which makes us realise the utter futility of
divisions of place of origin, language,
race, caste, colour and creed.
As we in Australia battle over carbon
tax, boatloads of refugees, the future of
Julia Gillard, the call from Jallianwalla
Bagh is a wake-up call, reminding us of a
greater world of which we are only a small
part. And finally as I leave you, Gentle
Reader, to ponder what Kahlil Gibran
urged us: Ask not what your country can
do for you, Ask what you can do for your
country. Let me turn my mind to my
native Fiji.
A recent survey showed that more than
half the people in Fiji approve of Frank
Bainimarama. At the recent Pacific Forum,
both Australia and New Zealand realised
that the Forum was meaningless without
Fiji. It was described by one writer as the
elephant in the room. But can Fiji remain
in a limbo indefinitely as some observers
predict to be Frank's agenda. No, Frank is
now focusing on an electoral roll. Good,
bad, indifferent he is committed to 2014
elections. He avoided that 2009 promise
but can he avoid 2014 promise. Hardly.
What Frank needs is some dramatic revival
and the one area where he could succeed is
the sugar industry. Sugar sells. Sugar is in
demand, like most food items in a rapidly
expanding world. What is needed in Fiji
where there will always be two large r
groups, not necessarily racial as possible at
loggerheads namely the landed and the
landless is not a political solution but an
economic one. This is borne out by the
fact that the people are generally happy
without the trappings of Parliament. They
come in their black suits and land rovers
and seek our vote and then they disappear
for the next five years and enjoy their fat
salaries and privileges. That is what I have
heard in my four trips to Fiji since the
coup of 2006. And that makes sense. How
does our Parliamentary system serve us.
Most of those elected merely provide num-
bers, and a physical presence for an area.
Most are powerless and MPs are often
forced to turn their constituents away
empty handed. Yes, we wallow in the
past. Fiji once touted as the way the world
should be and acknowledged as thus by
visiting leaders including the Pope. Fiji
now the way the world is. Fiji a multi-reli-
gious, multi-cultural, multiracial country
struggling with its problems but hoping to
become and set an example to the rest of
the world. We from far away can only
watch and wait, watch and pray.
God Bless Fiji. And finally God bless
the millions who put their body on the
frontline as they did in Jallianwalla Bagh
and who died to give us a better world.
Not to forget those like Noor Dean who
refused to rot in prison and defied a
dictator.
Karam C Ramrakha, lawyer since
1955 and ex Fiji MP, still practises law
from an office in 36 Pellisier Rod, Putney.
His contact is
karamcramrakha@gmail.com. phone num-
ber (02) 98082760 and fax (02) 98025014.
He handles most type of legal work.
Events Events Events
At the recent Pacific Forum, both Australia
and New Zealand realised that the Forum
was meaningless without Fiji. It was
described by one writer as the elephant in
the room. But can Fiji remain in a limbo
indefinitely as some observers predict to
be Frank's agenda.
60 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011
Dilip Mahanty Column
October - November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 61
India plummetsand how!
By Dilip Mahanty
T
he recent disastrous series
against England in all
forms of the game exposed
the hollowness of thinking in the
people who run cricket in India.
The veneer of respectability that
covered Indian cricket in the last
few seasons following its climb to
the top of the Test totem pole as
well as the recent winning of the
ODI World Cup lay shattered into
million pieces after the thorough
drubbing at the hand of the
English. The puffed chests, the
strut, the arrogance of players and
the administrators deflated like a
punctured balloon and they looked
forlorn and lost on return.
One is always wise on hind-
sight but signs of decline in Indian
cricket, especially in Tests, were
gradual but noticeable. The main-
stay in the batting, the fabulous 3
(Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman)
plus Sehwag, were ageing and no
promising youngster to replace
them was on the horizon. The
bowling depended heavily on the
injury prone Zaheer Khan and the
declining skills of Harbhajan
Singh. The fielding was geriatric
and an embarrassment. The BCCI
officials were too busy with post
World Cup congratulatory back-
slapping and counting the heaped
dollars to notice the gradual
decline. The money spinning IPLs
and the ODIs caught their fancy
and minimum requirements of
Test cricket were jettisoned. The
lopsided scheduling of the annual
cricketing calendar where a surfeit
of meaningless 20-20s and ODIs
punctuated the gaps between Test
match programmes did not help
either.
Mentally and physically jaded
players were resigned to a
Hobsons choice. Take a break
from these meaningless games to
rest aching, injured bones and
muscles with a chance of being
ignored during future selections or
risk injuries but be amply reward-
ed financially for continuing to
play. Even established players like
Dhoni, Zaheer, Harbhajan,
Sehwag and Gambhir did not want
to upset either BCCI or their gen-
erous IPL sponsors by taking an
extended break! Some chose to
skip national duty, owing to injury
or fatigue, rather than upset their
club sponsors! BCCI was not only
ambivalent to the players plight
but also complicit in forcing them
to play for their lucratively spon-
sored clubs when R & R was
essential. To top everything,
BCCI felt that the Indian team was
so good that it did not need any
form of local conditioning when it
undertook an overseas tour, irre-
spective of whichever form of
cricket it was scheduled to play.
The tour to West Indies was
undertaken a few days after a hec-
tic scheduling of the World Cup
and IPL4 where most players in
the touring team participated. A
few like Tendulkar, Zaheer,
Gambhir and Sehwag gave this
tour a total miss through fatigue
or injury while others like the
exhausted Dhoni skipped the ODIs
there. In any case WI was not like-
ly to pose a danger to Indias
supremacy and therefore a degree
of leniency was permitted.
Having won the series in WI,
BCCI contemptuously dismissed
Englands preparedness and sent
bulk of an overworked team
straight from West Indies to
England and asked the rest to fly
straight out of India without prop-
er assessment of fitness or match
readiness. A weather interfered 3
day match was the only condition-
ing the team was allowed for this
tough Test series. The results are
for all of us to see!
In the face of lively, seaming
conditions and Englands heavy
artillery of pace bowling Indias
batting wilted and a worrying
fragility was uncovered. Except
for the doughty Dravid whose pro-
fessionalism and skill tamed the
rampaging attack time and again,
the others were found wanting.
Even Tendulkar had a modest
series by his standards and often
looked underdone in preparation.
Strangely Laxman, known to rise
up in difficult situations, also
failed. The rest of the batting was
inept and lacking in confidence
and technique. Some of the
younger players like Raina,
Mukund & Kohli were uncomfort-
able against pace and swing and
never looked secure at the crease.
Gambhirs injury and Sehwags
late but scratchy appearance
towards the end of the series did
not help either. Dhoni failed with
the bat most of the series and the
long tail was non resistant
throughout! India never got a good
start to its innings nor did it get
any support from the tail.
Defending modest scores with
a depleted bowling attack and a
butterfingered, lethargic fielding
side was never going to be easy
and this showed throughout the
tour. Mainstay Zaheers break-
down in the very 1st Test threw
the rest of the bowling into chaos.
While Praveen Kumar and Ishant
Sharma, who did bulk of the bowl-
ing in the West Indies, tried
valiantly to bring some order
though the work load was too
much for them. Sreesanth was
erratic and wasteful in conditions
ideally suited to his type of bowl-
ing. The greatest disappointment,
however, was Harbhajan! Instead
of leading the inexperienced attack
with inspired bowling he chose to
bowl flat and unimaginatively
when on the same pitch Graeme
Swann threatened to take wickets
every time he bowled. Mishras
bowling, when he got to play,
lacked penetration. He surprised
everybody with the number of no
balls he bowled! How many leg
spinners does one know who bowl
as many no balls as Mishra?
Sure bad luck, insufficient
practice, injuries at crucial times
dogged the Indian team through-
out the tour but that does not
excuse the total annihilation the
team experienced! It also beggars
belief that services of players like
Raina, who showed little inclina-
tion and ability to stay at the
crease in Tests, continued to be
sought when some former Indian
players who had very successful
season with their respective
Counties in England were ready,
willing and able to jump into the
fray at a moments notice if they
had been invited
. The players in question were
Wasim Jaffer, Murli Karthik and
Akash Chopra. These players
were not old. In fact they were not
only younger than the fabulous
trio of middle order batsmen but
also had plenty of experience in
playing in local conditions against
most players representing
England! Why were unfit, unpre-
pared players sent desperately
from India to replace the injured
ones when experienced, seasoned,
conditioned Indian players were
available in England? Did it make
any sense? Perhaps it made sense
only to BCCI!
Given that the Indian team will
play a 3 -Test home series against
the weak West Indies in
November interspersed with a
number of 20-20s and ODIs
before touring Australia later, one
shudders to think of the likely
outcome against an increasingly
improving and better prepared
Australian team returning home
hardened after locking horns with
a tough South Africa team! If a
full strength and fit Indian team
lands in Australia, it might offer a
tough challenge but if a depleted
team (especially the bowling -
minus a spearhead like Zaheer)
takes on Australia it will be a sum-
mer of leather hunting for the
plodding fielders!
One is always wise on hindsight but signs
of decline in Indian cricket, especially in
Tests, were gradual but noticeable. The
mainstay in the batting, the fabulous 3
(Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman) plus
Sehwag, were ageing and no promising
youngster to replace them was on the
horizon. The bowling depended heavily on
the injury prone Zaheer Khan and the
declining skills of Harbhajan Singh.
If a full strength and fit Indian team lands in
Australia, it might offer a tough challenge but if a
depleted team (especially the bowling - minus a
spearhead like Zaheer) takes on Australia, returning
home hardened after locking horns with a tough
South Africa team, it will be a summer of leather
hunting for the plodding fielders!
62THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October-November 2011
Tribute
By K. Raman
T
wo great Indian men have
passed away in quick succes-
sion - Shammi Kapoor the
showman par excellence and
Noob the Nawab Tiger Pataudi, a
cricket genius.
Pataudi was 70-years old. He
breathed his last at Sir Ganga Ram
Hospital, New Delhi on September,
22, 2011. He was suffering from
acute intestinal lung condition. It
was reported that he knew that he
was fighting a losing battle. He
made sure that his healthy eye was
donated to a deserving person to gift
vision of life. This was indeed a
noble act. His wife and three chil-
dren were by his bedside when
Pataudi died.
Whenever Pataudi played at
Brabourne stadium, I was there to
see him play. Apart from his batting
and fielding prowess, he moulded a
good team from what he inherited
as one prone to defeats. He was an
ideal captain, friendly with his co-
players while he never compro-
mised on discipline. He always led
by example. Apart from that he was
not prone to controversies.
He was born on the lap of luxu-
ry in the princely Nawab household
of Pataudi (Bhopal). His real name
was Mansur Ali Khan. He was born
on January 5, 1941 as the son of
Ifthikar Ali Khan Pataudi- 'Pat'-
(eighth Nawab of Pataudi) and
Sajida Sultan. His father Pat was the
only Indian cricketer who played
Test cricket both for England and
India.
Pataudi Jr received an illustri-
ous, well chalked out upbringing -
education at the prestigious and
classy Welham Boys School of
Dehradun, Lockers Park Prep.
School, Hertfordshire in U.K,
Winchester College and Baltiol
College (Oxford University). His
father died in 1951, aged 41 years,
when Tiger was 11 years old, thus
inheriting the title, the ninth Nawab
of Pataudi.
Tiger became well known
because of his exploits in cricket
fields the world over. In a major car
accident he lost vision in his right
eye when he was 20 years old. He
had to do some adjustments to his
stance in the crease which is not an
easy task to do for one who was
well settled in batting stance and
technique. It was akin to starting
from scratch. Lack of sight in one
eye also tells on the mental reac-
tions and reflexes. He overcame all
these problems and did remarkably
well as a batsman.
He was a right handed batsman
and bowled seamers. He managed
to get one Test wicket only in his
career. A naturally gifted cricketer,
he played in 46 Tests for India scor-
ing 2793 runs at an average of
34.91 and saved India from many
tight situations. He scored six tons
and 16 half centuries, not bad for
one who had only sight in the left
eye and was loaded with the respon-
sibilities as the skipper of the team.
When we talk about Pataudi, it
is his captaincy skills that come to
the fore. In 1962, when he turned
21, he became Indias youngest
skipper of all time. As the new skip-
per he inherited a sinking ship and
in the next 40 Test matches he
moulded a team that could face any
attack in the world. He, however,
lost the captaincy in 1970 and his
position in the team in 1975. It was
primarily due to disenchantment he
developed towards the game he
once loved so much.
His first cricket coach was the
great Sir Frank Worrell. He inherit-
ed the appellation of Tiger in
recognition of his quick tiger like
movements, sharp and quick while
fielding.
He was a batsman capable of
facing any type of bowling attacks
and was known for concentration
and hardly ever got out for rash
shots. He always took part in the
pre match workout and fitness exer-
cise with his team members.
On December 27, 1969, he
married the beautiful, highly suc-
cessful film actress Sharmila
Tagore, the great grand daughter of
Indias national poet Laureate,
Rabindranath Tagore. Before her
marriage she had to change her reli-
gion to become Begum Pataudi
Khan. To her friends she remained
as Rinku. She bore him three chil-
dren, a boy and two girls - Saif Ali
Khan, the Bollywood heart throb,
Soha Ali Khan a highly rated actress
and Saba Ali Khan, a well-known
jewellery designer.
Pataudi was honoured with the
Arjuna award (1964) and the Padma
Shri (1967). He rarely used to visit
his home principality and his pala-
tial home is now a heritage-listed
hotel.
Tiger and Sharmila never
craved for an opulent living and
publicity. They lived a quiet seclud-
ed life. Noob was a true example of
the British gentleman with a stiff
upper lip, a reluctant talker. Even
though he was known for his
clipped low voiced talk, he was
friendly, forthcoming, highly artic-
ulate and courteous. With inborn
charm aaaaaaaaapataudi and
Sharmila always cast a spell on the
onlookers. India has lost a great
son, while cricket has lost a brilliant
cricketer in the demise of Tiger
Pataudi.
May his soul rest in peace.
A great son India lost
Sharmila Tagore with Soha Ali Khan, who, with her very first film
Rang De Basanti, became an A-lister actress.
Pataudi with film star son, Saif Ali Khan.
Pataudi Jr was married to Sharmila, the great grand daughter of
Poet Laureate Ranbindranath Tagore.
Tiger Pataudis father, Ifthikar
Ali Khan Pataudi was the only
Indian cricketer who played Test
cricket both for England
and India.
The author with Nawab Pataudi.
The Kersi Meher-Homji Column
October-November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 63
India back to its old losing habits
W
hat a nightmare as India
lost everything in
England.
From hero to zero, from glitter
to litter! That describes Indias fall
from the top to near bottom within
three months.
Till April 2 India was on top,
having won the 2011 World Cup
convincingly. Following a victory
(not very convincing) in the Test
series in the West Indies, India
retained her No. 1 rank in Test
cricket.
Then the tour to England and
the wheels started to fall off.
From July to September, India
was whitewashed 0-4 in a 4-Test
series for the Pataudi Trophy, lost
the only Twenty20 match and the
NatWest one-day international
series 0-3 with one match tied and
one match drawn.
What went wrong? If only
Indian Test cricketers had not
played the meaningless IPL matches
a week after the 2011 World Cup.
Not only did this led to injuries but
also their focus. The crores of
rupees suddenly came ahead of con-
centration in batting, bowling and
fielding. Then came the tour to the
Caribbean where the playing condi-
tions are grossly different to those
in England.
To succeed in England one has
to play many county matches to get
adjusted to the conditions where the
ball swings much more than in India
and the West Indies.
Defeat in the first two Tests by
huge margin meant that the morale
was down, down, down. Then it
gradually got worse with only Rahul
Dravid putting up stern resistance.
Also injuries to star players -
fast-medium bowler Zaheer Khan,
opening batsmen Virender Sehwag
and Gautam Gambhir and middle
order batsman Yuvraj Singh decap-
itated India. To make matters worse
later on the tour, off-spinner
Harbhajan Singh and prolific (but
out of form) batsman Sachin
Tendulkar were injured.
It was too much of a strain on
Dravid who had to open the batting
or go in at no. 3 with the score on 1
for 5 or thereabouts.
Excuses or explanations? Little
bit of both as England also lost their
consistent batsman Jonathan Trott
and fast bowler Chris Tremlett to
injuries. But unlike India they had
ready-made replacements.
Face it, the difference between
the two teams was focus and fitness.
England players had focus and were
mostly fit. Indians were unfit and
out of focus.
England deserved to win the
series 4-0 with magnificent per-
formances by Alastair Cook, Ian
Bell, Kevin Pietersen, skipper
Andrew Strauss, Trott, fast bowler
Jimmy Anderson, all-rounders
Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan,
wicket-keeper-batsman Matt Prior
and spinner Graeme Swann.
In fact, every player from
England contributed whereas for
India it was only Dravid and, to a
less extent, Praveen Kumar.
In short, a series to remember
for England and the one to forget
for India.
Among Englishmen, Pietersen
headed batting aggregate and aver-
age with 533 runs at 106.60. Bell
was the next best with 504 runs at
65.03 and Cook 348 at 58.00.
Apart from Dravid (461 runs at
78.83 with three centuries) other
Indian batsmen were disappointing,
Tendulkar coming next with 273 at
34.12. Broad took 25 wickets
(including a hat-trick) at 13.84 and
Anderson 21 at 25.71. No Indian
bowler could manage 20 wickets in
the series, best being Praveen
Kumar (15 at 29.53).
About time BCCI orders current
and established Indian Test crick-
eters not to participate in IPL. It is
good for youngsters and for recent-
ly retired Test cricketers. Anything
else is pure suicide, affecting both
fitness and focus.
P
akistans fast bowler Shoaib
Akhtars recent and contro-
versial autobiography made
me think. If he can write a book,
why not Indian Test cricketers?
Here are suggestions for autobi-
ography titles:
The Great WALL of India,
My Very Very Special Story,
Virus Gunning for a Six,
Yuvis Six Appeal and Saving
for a Raina Day.
At least nine cricket books were
written after England regained the
Ashes in 2005.
I wonder how many will be
written after Andrew Strausss men
dethroned India to reach the no.1
Test ranking.
Here are suggested titles for
their autobiographies: Eat, Pray
and Cook, It rings a Bell,
Waltzing with Strauss, Fox
Trott, My Broad, Broad Ways
and Swann Lake.
Some ideas for Australian Test
cricketers:
Doug Bollinger with his con-
trasting hair-dos and expertise in
clowning has a book in him for
sure: BO Lingers on.
Fast bowler Trent Copeland get-
ting a wicket off his second ball in
Test cricket at Galle against Sri
Lanka last month inspired me with
this novel title for his biography
Cope Lands a Winner.
Then I saw Peter Siddle in the
Australian Dressing Room sitting
between Ricky Ponting and Mike
Hussey. The title of his bio/ghosted
autobiography should be Siddle in
the Middle.
Dizzy Heights should be an
apt title for Jason Dizzy
Gillespies best-seller.
Jason, Crazy Krejza, has just
the title to tantalise readers: Crazy
Tale 8 for 215 and all that.
Star Waughs need no intro-
duction, nor do Whats on,
Watson, Taylor-made and
Mark My Words. Bosom buddies
(?) Simon Katich and Michael
Clarke can consider a joint autobi-
ography titled Kat and Pup story.
And howzatt for No Paine, no
gain by Tim Paine, Marsh
Mallows by debutant centurion
Shaun Marsh, I Blew It by Greg
Blewett, From Hero to Zoehrer
by Tim Zoehrer and What More
Do You Want? by Dav Whatmore.
May I request the Test stars who
aspire to become authors to hurry
up with their life stories? All they
need is a ghost writer who collects
garbage.
The formula is simple. Write
rubbish against the most gentleman-
ly cricketer and a prolific batsman
(Sachin Tendulkar). The journalists
will make a hue and cry about it as
they did with Adam Gilchrists
autobiography in 2008 in which he
had accused Sachin of being a liar
and now Shoaib Akhtar who hints
that Tendulkar cannot face fast
bowling and he and Rahul Dravid
are selfish cricketers. Absolutely
disgusting allegations.
After selling over 40,000 books,
the author will apologise and say
that he was misquoted!
A jubilant England team after dismissing Suresh Raina on the fourth day of the third Test match
in Birmingham, Aug 13, 2011.
India's Rahul Dravid acknowledges the crowd after the fourth Test match against England where he car-
ried the beat, remaining unbeaten at 146
Shoaib Akhtars autobiographi-
cal book, Controversially Yours
hints that Tendular cannot face
fast bowling.
The Great Wall of India and other zany book titles
In lighter vein
64THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October-November 2011
The Kersi Meher-Homji column
T
he passing away of former
Indian cricket captain
Mansur Ali Khan Nawab of
Pataudi Jr on 22 September, aged
70, reminded me of my interview
with him some time ago.
In Sydney to open a photo-
graphic exhibition Encountering
India in 1997, the Nawab and his
charming wife Sharmila Tagore a
high profile and beautiful movie
actress were greeted at the airport
by their fans and bad weather.
Known for his aloof nature I
approached him with pessimism but
he put me at ease chatting away.
The weather reminded him of the
Melbourne Test of 1967-68 when
he had scored 75 and 85 runs on a
green bouncy MCG pitch -- leading
from the front.
He considered these innings as
the best he had played, far ahead of
his highest Test score of 203 not out
against England in 1963-64.
The Melbourne Test is special
for me, he told me. The pitch
was as green as the outfield, the
score was 5-25 as I limped in, not
quite recovered from a hamstring
injury, and Garth McKenzie was
on fire.
His stroke-play and determina-
tion against odds reminded com-
mentator and former Australian
captain Lindsay Hassett of Bradman
days.
Mansur considered this tour as
his happiest, scoring 339 runs at
56.50 and almost leading India to
victory in the Brisbane Test.
He captained India to a 3-1 win
over New Zealand a month later,
Indias first series win outside the
subcontinent.
The amazing statistic about
Mansur is that he played all his 46
Tests (40 as captain), scoring 2793
runs at 34.91, hitting six centuries
and taking 27 catches with vision in
only one eye.
A Nawab, a Test captain, a
politician, an editor of Sportsworld
magazine and author of Tigers
Tale, Mansur Ali Khan 'Tiger'
Pataudi lived in the constant flood-
light of publicity. Before he gave
up the Nawab title, his home con-
tained 150 rooms and employed
over a hundred servants, seven or
eight being his personal attendants.
However, to be recognised as
one of the best cover-point and
extra-cover fielders in the world
gave him the real thrill.
Mansurs climb to the top
appeared to be derailed when a car
crash in England in 1961 resulted in
the loss of vision in his right eye.
He was 20 then.
The Indian selectors, not know-
ing the full extent of his eye injury,
appointed him to captain the
President's XI against Ted Dexter's
MCC at Hyderabad that summer.
Mansur was delighted but batting
was not easy. When using contact
lenses he had double vision, seeing
two balls six inches apart.
By picking the inner one I
managed to score 35 by tea, he
said. Then I removed the contact
lens and, keeping the bad eye
closed, completed the top-score of
70. After this, he was included in
the Delhi Test. In the final Test in
Madras (now Chennai) he hit a
splendid 103. This convinced me
that I had the handicap licked.
Mansur became India's emer-
gency captain in the West Indies in
1962 when Nari Contractor had a
near fatal injury facing a Charlie
Griffith bouncer.
Mansur was 21 then and
became the youngest Test captain
for India. He retained the captain-
cy till 1969, an unprecedented
achievement in Indian cricket.
To my question as to whether
Griffith chucked, he replied firmly,
Yes, very much so, and he was a
menace to life and limb. Even now
[in 1997] there are a few chuckers
both among quickies and spinners.
They should all be thrown out.
Among the bowlers he revered
were Australias Dennis Lillee and
West Indians Andy Roberts and
Wes Hall.
I asked him as to why he was
nicknamed Tiger. To my parents
and friends I have always been
known as Tiger. As an infant I had
the tigerish propensity for crawling
energetically about the floor on all
fours.
Tiger Pataudi played two glori-
ous innings against England at
Headingley in 1967 after India was
forced to follow on 386 runs
behind. India was on her knees at 7
for 92 before being revived by
Mansurs do-or-die 64. In the sec-
ond innings, he hit a magnificent
148.
Earlier, Mansur had captained
Oxford and Sussex, honours which
had eluded his illustrious father
Ifthikar, who had represented both
England and India at Test level.
Mansur Pataudi, an adventurous
captain, stroke-player and a superb
fielder, gave Indian cricket charac-
ter and positivity.
Who made the greatest impres-
sion on him? Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru made a remarkable impres-
sion on me and I just cant forget
him, for various reasons, one can-
not forget the times.
Both Pataudis, Sr and Jr, were
honoured by Wisden as Cricketers
of the Year, 36 years apart. Only
the Parks from England, J.H. Parks
in 1938 and his son the wicket-
keeper J.M. in 1968, were both
similarly recognised by Wisden.
Who was the greater cricketer,
Ifthikar or Mansur? Sir Donald
Bradman, who saw them both, said:
Pataudi Senior was a fine player,
but from observation I feel Pataudi
Junior, taking into account his phys-
ical affliction, displayed even
greater qualities.
As a final gift to humanity,
Mansur Pataudi donated his good
eye.
RIP, Tiger.
Vale Nawab of Pataudi
The amazing statistic about Mansur is that he played all his 46 Tests
(40 as captain), scoring 2793 runs at 34.91, hitting six centuries and
taking 27 catches with vision in only one eye.
Who was the greater cricketer, Ifthikar or Mansur? Sir
Donald Bradman, who saw them both, said: Pataudi
Senior was a fine player, but from observation I feel
Pataudi Junior, taking into account his physical
affliction, displayed even greater qualities.
Vijay Merchant and other centurions
R
emembered as the Don
Bradman of Indian cricket,
Vijay Merchant had his birth
centenary on 12th October.
Along with Merchant, four
other Indian Test cricketers were
born 100 years ago in 1911. They
are Lala Amarnath, Baqa Jilani,
Kharshed Meherhomji and Shute
Banerjee.
Amarnath, born on September
11, was Indias first Test century
maker, against Douglas Jardines
English side at Bombay Gymkhana
in 1933. He was also independent
Indias first captain on the tour of
Australia in 1947-48 and played 24
Test matches between 1933 and
1952. His sons Surinder and
Mohinder also represented India
with distinction.
Jilani (born July 20) played his
solitary Test at the Oval in 1936. A
medium pacer, he was the first
bowler to capture a hat-trick in the
Ranji Trophy in 1934-35.
Born on August 9,
Meherhomjis lone Test cap also
came on the 1936 tour of England
at Manchester. The uncle of
TIDUs cricket correspondent,
Meherhomji was the first wicket-
keeper in the history of first-class
cricket to take a hat-trick of catch-
es. It came in the Moin-ud-Dowlah
Gold Cup semifinal in Hyderabad
in December 1931 for Freelooters
v. Railways A when he caught
three batsmen off consecutive deliv-
eries from the bowling of L. Ramji.
Incidentally, Amarnath outlived
all his contemporaries, passing
away in 2000 at the grand old age
Continued on page 61...
Vijay Merchant
The Kersi Meher-Homji Column
October-November 2011 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 65
Hussey, Hussey, Hussey, oi, oi, oi!
Cricket Quirky Cricket launched amid laughs and applause
T
his September Australia
under new skipper Michael
Clarke won a Test series for
the first time since January 2010.
And that too on foreign soil and
against a higher ranked team, Sri
Lanka.
This series victory promotes
Australia to No. 4 in Test ranking
and demotes Sri Lanka to no. 5.
Many contributed to
Australias series victory but none
more than Mr Cricket, Mike
Hussey. What a unique trifecta for
him!
He won Man of the Match
(MoM) Awards in all three Tests
and Man of the Series Award as
well. This is unique in the history
of Test cricket. Call it a Grand
Slam of cricket!
Not many statisticians keep
records of MoM awards. I made
many inquiries including to statis-
ticians on CricInfo website but
drew a blank till recently. Then I
struck gold when Indias top statis-
tician Rajesh Kumar did his home
work and confirmed that it would
be unique for a cricketer to be
named MoM in all three Tests in a
3-Test series.
Here are Husseys scores in
this series: 95 and 15 in the first
Test, 142 in the second and 118
and 93 in the third. Thus he
topped the batting aggregate and
average (463 runs at 92.60 with
two centuries and two nineties)
from both teams and, freakily,
bowling average as well, 2 wickets
at 3.50.
Next best in batting was Sri
Lankas Angelo Mathews scoring
274 runs at 91.33 with one century
and a 90, followed by Australias
Shaun Marsh 240 runs at 80.00
with a debut century and an 80.
In bowling, Sri Lankan left-
arm spinner Rangana Herath was
on top of the table with 16 wickets
at 23.00, his best spell being 7-157
in the final Test in Colombo.
At one stage it looked that he
may take all 10 wickets in a Test
innings to join Englands Jim
Laker and Indias Anil Kumble.
But Sri Lankan skipper
Tillekeratne Dilshan spoilt the
party by dismissing Hussey for 93
after Herath had captured the first
five wickets.
The Test was memorable for
Kumar Sangakkara who scored 79
runs in his 100th Test and opener
Phil Hughes who scored a career-
saving 126 as an opener.
The series will be remembered
for the Debutants as four -- Nathan
Lyon, Trent Copeland and Shaun
Marsh from Australia and
Shaminda Eranga from Sri Lanka -
- struck gold at the first attempt.
The happiest man at the prize
distribution ceremony was not
quadruple award-winner Hussey
but captain courageous Michael
Clarke
. He had scored a magnificent
112 on the last day of the final
Test, adding a record-breaking 176
runs with Hussey for the fifth
wicket. Had the fifth wicket fallen
early Australia could have lost the
Test and tied the series to remain
at no. 5 in the Test ranking.
Clarke also led the team wisely
and with conviction.
Has Australia turned the cor-
ner? It is too soon to say as Sri
Lanka on the whole underper-
formed. They had a good chance
to put pressure on Australians by
batting aggressively on day-4 of
this Test in Colombo. But they
pussy-footed -- especially the usu-
ally aggressive Mathews. He was
more concerned about his personal
glory, the century, rather than
what was good for the team.
And captain Dilshan did noth-
ing about it.
As all Australian wanted was a
draw to win the series, this tor-
toise-march was a gift from God.
So Clarkes men have still to
be tested against a team with more
aggro.
The tour of South Africa in
October will give us a better indi-
cation.
Meanwhile lets all chant:
Hussey, Hussey, Hussey, oi, oi,
oi.
Vijay Merchant
and other
centurions
Continued from page 60
of 89.
Vijay Merchant was consid-
ered Indias finest opening bats-
man till the advent of Sunil
Gavaskar in the early 70s.
Although injury and World War
II limited his Test appearances to
only 10 (1933 to 1952), he fin-
ished with the creditable average
of 47.72 including three cen-
turies. He was a prolific scorer in
domestic cricket and had the
amazing first-class average of
71.64, second only to the peerless
Bradmans.
About the same height as
Bradman, Merchant was more
than just a great batsman. He was
a writer, cricket commentator,
witty public speaker and chairman
of national selectors.
He was also an industrialist
and a philanthropist who
employed handicapped persons in
his textile mills.
As an opening batsman,
Merchant will be remembered for
his rock-like defence. Eagle-eyed
and quick-footed, he relished cut-
ting and hooking fast bowlers.
His late cuts and fine leg-glances
were a treat for the spectators but
a hazard for the wicket-keepers as
they were executed as if as an
afterthought.
A master of the front foot, his
cover drives rivalled Len
Huttons in elegance.
He won international fame in
England after some marvelous
batting in the two abnormally wet
summers of 1936 and 1946. After
his magnificent 114 in the
Manchester Test and other
notable innings he was named as
one of Wisdens five cricketers of
1936.
In a wet England in 1946 the
35-year old Merchant scored
2385 runs (with seven centuries)
at 74.5. Wisden 1947 comment-
ed, No praise is too high for
Merchant who, on any reckoning
should be counted one of the
worlds greatest batsmen.
The eminent cricket writer
Neville Cardus called Merchant
Indias good European.
The confrontation between the
two mighty run-getters, Bradman
and Merchant, was anticipated
with excitement during Indias
pioneering tour of Australia in
1947-48. Merchant was appointed
captain but groin injury forced
him out.
Bradman summed up his dis-
appointment by saying, We were
denied the sight of Vijay
Merchant, who must surely have
claims to be the greatest of all
Indian players.
This is a personal tribute to
the great Vijay Madhavji
Merchant. First my hero, he
became my close friend and we
exchanged many letters from
1967 to 1987 when he passed
away. His hand-written letters
had the same elegance as his
cover-drives and leg-glances.
I
enjoy a cricket book which is full of
anecdotes and unusual statistics.
Unfortunately these days most sports
books include gossips and scandals.
TIDUs sports editor Kersi Meher-
Homjis 13th cricket book avoids controver-
sies as he loves the game with passion. His
latest book is full of unusual and weird stats
and facts. No wonder it is titled Cricket
Quirky Cricket.
The book was launched last month at the
Rugby Club in Sydney where over 80 invi-
tees were kept amused by book launcher
Jack Potters amusing anecdotes.
Afterwards, Potter narrated the story of
a man sitting next to him in the 1970s. He
spoke to him in a voice resembling a
ducks. On asking who he was, Jack was
told it was Sir Don Bradman!
Kersi was in fine form too, picking out
nuggets from his book: the oddities, weird
coincidences, figure curiosities and eye-
catching headlines. Some excerpts from the
book:
* Have you heard of English first-class
cricketers last century named Julius Caesar,
William Shakespeare, George Bernard
Shaw? Currently there is an Indian cricketer
named Napoleon Einstein.
* And how about these edible Test crick-
eters -- Clive Rice, Allan Lamb, Phil
Mustard and Graham Onions?
* Some scoreboard trivia: At 3.33 p.m.
on the Sydney Cricket Ground in a Benson
& Hedges World Series match between
West Indies and Australia on 19 January
1982, the scoreboard had lots of 3s:
IVA Richards.. 33
SFA Bacchus 3
Last man (HA Gomes). 3
Extras... 3
Wickets 3
GS Chappell. 0-3
* Also, on the 3rd day of the 3rd Test in
the 3-sponsored Test series on 28
December 2003 in Melbourne, Australia
was at one stage 3 for 333, trailing India by
33 runs.
* And how about these name coinci-
dences?
South Africas VD Philander played in
the 2007 ICC World Twenty20. VD?
Philander?? Quite a contrast from Roy
Virgin who played for Somerset against
Australia at Bath in 1972. This made local
barrackers croon:
You Aussies have your Chappells but
Somerset has the purer team. We have a
Virgin.
And there was an English club cricketer
by name Robert Unger Serious, RU Serious
for short. This is how an imaginary conver-
sation took place between RU Serious and
Australian captain Ian Michael Chappell (IM
Chappell for short).
Since they had not met, Chappell intro-
duced himself, saying, IM Chappell
Mr Serious extends his hand out and
says, RU Serious
What do you mean, of course I AM
SERIOUS! grunts Chappell.
The book is anything but serious. Hope
you enjoy it.
You may order a copy of Cricket Quirky
Cricket from the author
(kersi5@bigpond.com) The Foreword is by
former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson
and the book is illustrated with some rare
autographed images. Cost: $22 including
postage.
Michael Hussey won Man of the Match Awards in all three Tests and
Man of the Series Award as well in the away Test series against Sri
Lanka. This is unique in the history of Test cricket.
Call it a Grand Slam of cricket!
Kersi Meher-Homji (middle) at the launch
of his latest book, Cricket Quirky Cricket.
Vijay Badhwar was there,
clapping away
66 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2011