Melbourne-based Chander Ram, an ardent fan of Indian music director AR Rahman has inscribed the maestro’s name on the number plate of his brand new BMW Z4, which he says is his dream car.

When Chander tagged AR Rahman to a tweet featuring the picture of the car, which reads ‘I Love ARR’, there came a surprise! Rahman replied to his tweet saying, ‘Drive safely’.

Well, that was it – Chander went viral.

“800 friend requests on Facebook and some hundred requests on Instagram, many followers on Twitter,” Chander told Indian Link. “I certainly didn’t expect any of this – my intent was not to become famous!”

About the novel choice for the number plate of his dream car, he revealed, “It was purely to show my love and respect for Rahman. I tagged him to tell him that I’m one of his biggest fans; I have not missed even a single track of his ever since Roja. My day begins and ends with his songs.  I wanted to have a memorable number plate to cherish all my life, and obviously, I was listening to Rahman’s songs when I thought about the number plate. That’s when I decided that I should have his name on the car. I tried to have his full name on the plate but due to space constraint, I chose ‘I love ARR’.”

He added, “It was overwhelming to see his reply on Twitter. Actually, I was heading to a marathon on the Great Ocean Road when lots of people congratulated me on Twitter after Rahman’s message. It gave me all new positive energy to kickstart a marathon.”

Chander, an IT professional from Bangalore, is also an avid fitness enthusiast. He runs marathons and competes in all the major events in Sydney and Melbourne. No prizes for guessing what music he listens to while running!

“An electrifying song like Chale Chalo from Lagaan for example, keeps me motivated all through.”

The songs of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam and Kandukondein Kandukondein title track are his favourite tracks. But it is Khwaja Mere Khwaja from Jodha Akbar that he considers ‘life-changing’.

“It has been a ritual to listen to Khwaja before I head to important meetings and crucial job interviews. I believe that this song is magical.”

Chander has met his beloved idol once, at a concert in Delhi for which he had travelled all the way from Melbourne. “When I met him, I told him that I want to be his bodyguard and just listen to his songs all day. He just smiled and replied, ‘You will be bored after two days’. Not only his songs but the way he made me feel comfortable, also touched my heart. There is much to learn from him.”

Chander’s tribute to his icon is not going to end with this fancy number plate: he revealed he has other plans as well.

“Rahman helps many underprivileged kids learn music through his music school KM Conservatory. I have plans to contribute something to this school in the future as yet another tribute to my maestro.”

AR Rahman: The Quiz
Chander Ram (nearly) aces Indian Link Radio’s quiz on ARR, live on air with RJ MANOJ.

What’s AR Rahman’s daughter’s name?
Khatija.
Correct!

What’s Rahman’s first composition?
Roja, but he had an unofficial composition called Set me free before that.
No! It was a Malayalam film, but Roja did catapult him to fame. Rahman was called
Dileep then.

His music academy’s name?
KM Conservatory.
Correct, he launched it in 2008.

You obviously know Rahman’s birthday.
Of course, I do. He invites his fans to his place and celebrates his birthday with them with cake etc. Two of my friends work as assistants for Rahman, which works great for me.
It’s 6 Jan 1967.

Rahman shares his birthday with someone very close to him. Who?
You put me on the spot! I don’t know the answer.
Rahman’s son, who was also born on 6 Jan in 2003.

There’s a specific window of time when Rahman composes his music. When’s that?
Only at night. He also has the habit of lighting the candle when he composes. I’ve tried doing it myself when stressed and have had to concentrate for work. It does help!
Correct answer! The only time Rahman made an exception was when he was composing/recording with LataMangeshkar.

The Indian community in Melbourne got together recently to offer a warm farewell to Rakesh Malhotra, the Consul General of India in Melbourne. He has now been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Cameroon and is scheduled to commence his assignment shortly.

Mr Malhotra was appointed as the Indian Consul in Victoria and Tasmania after the departure of former CG Ms Manika Jain. He worked as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, before joining the consulate in Melbourne.

In the past, he served in the Indian diplomatic missions in Oman, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Suriname, Canada, South Africa and Peru.

During his farewell speech, the Consul General shared the fond memories he and his family had during his time in Melbourne and Tasmania. “I will always remember Australia as a highlight of my career because of the support I have received from the community and the relationships built by me and my wife,” said Mr Malhotra.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind’s historic visit to Australia late last year was a clear highlight of the Consul General’s tenure. He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his term in office, and was able to fulfil his aim to support the Indian community in Melbourne, create bilateral ties with Australia and support cultural, political and academic exchanges.

At the reception held at the consulate office in St. Kilda, many speakers took to the stage to bid him farewell and thank him for his contribution and support.

Generous tributes flowed from Kaushalya Vaghela, Ted Baillieu, Monica and Rakesh Raizada, Prof Ajay Kapoor, Subhash Sharma, Neeraj Nanda and Prabhat Sangwan who was also the MC for the evening.

He stated that Mr Malhotra was known for his infectious laughter and the consulate staff would miss his wholehearted guffaw.

According to Indian High Commissioner Dr Ajay Gondane, Mr Malhotra was very well liked and respected within the community and has left some good footprints in Australia. He remarked that the large turnout at his farewell was testament to the love and admiration Mr Malhotra commanded from the community.

“Mr Malhotra has done very good work here,” said Mr Gondane in his formal speech, before launching into some Hindi shayari. He was confident that Mr Malhotra would be equally loved for his exceptional qualities in Cameroon.

Lisa Singh, Labor Party member of the Australian Senate for Tasmania thanked Mr Malhotra for his ongoing involvement with the Tasmanian Indian community while Tanvi Mor, founder of Mor Events, spoke about his inspiring influence on her.

The reception continued with delicious food provided by a local Indian catering company. Mr Malhotra and his wife Mrs Neeraj Malhotra met with the many leaders, community representatives and media who were present to wish him well.

Mr Raj Kumar, Consul General from Jalalabad, has been appointed as the next Consul General of Melbourne and will be joining the consulate shortly. He has served in various capacities as the Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, including diplomatic missions in Libya, Malaysia, Kenya, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Panama and Sri Lanka.

Inching away from her fulltime employment hold and weaning off her regular pay cheque, she chose to go after a long cherished dream. Putting all her fears aside, Melbourne based young mum Preet Taneja recently launched her design label HH Collective and ventured into the intricate business of styling interiors.

Preet’s eclectic collection incorporates customised, individual, bespoke items, often sourced from artisans and craftspeople from rural India.

According to Preet, who is also the director of Taneja Interiors, if we do what we love it will never feel like work.

Her 20-month-old daughter Hazel Heer inspired her brand and is the motivation behind the decision to showcase the HH Collective interiors, accents and jewellery lines infused with myriad personal touches.

“Ever since I have become a mother, my world has changed,” said Preet. “I do not have the heart to leave my child for long periods of time in care and go back to a 9-5 routine. I will not be able to handle it. So even though this is a financial risk, I am going ahead with the confidence that there will be more potential than pitfalls.”

Preet has worked with interiors and furniture for many years under brands like Plush, Kiki and Weylandts. She has gained formal education in marketing and also dabbled in advertising. She can enhance a space and craft an aesthetically pleasing, thoughtfully styled look that immediately sparks emotions.

“Working with various retailers and dealing with hundreds of clients and buyers made me realise that handcrafted designs and antiques are preferred over mass produced, factory made goods,” said Preet, sharing her experience.

She finds that each piece in her collection has a story to tell. Talented artists handcrafted them and there is poetry in their finished designs. She feels that her pieces are suited to anyone who is home-proud as well as those purchasing their second or dream home.

“The recent inaugural launch of HH Collective was well attended and most of the jewellery was snapped up in no time,” claimed Preet. “I was very pleased with the response I received. My website will also go online soon, so it’s a very exciting time for my husband Anmol and me.”

“It is by no means easy,” claimed Preet. “I have to juggle parenting and running a business, create networks, visit client sites and manage all the pain points. With a lack of corporate infrastructure, I am doing the job of 4-5 people. However, the flexibility and freedom that it affords me gives me motivation to persist.”

She is always on the lookout for more pieces from around the world. Collecting gives focus to her travel. “I always have hopes of spotting that next piece that I love and that can add character to a home. I try to select works that are technically competent, both in design, balance and colour,” she said.

The premise of her latest collection is to explore traditional Indian crafts and integrate them into mainstream living.

“I believe that my concept is niche in Australia and benefits the artisan community in regional India. There are a lot of kitschy Indian items available in the market here, but my aim is to expose Australians to the diversity of refined Indian art. I want them to enjoy the warmth, comfort and craftsmanship of all things handmade,” said Preet enthusiastically.

Her future plans include opening her own showroom in Melbourne city and to introduce her business and designs in ‘hotspot places’ like Byron Bay and other Australian towns.

Pushing the design envelope, Preet is among a burgeoning number of mothers that have married maternity with entrepreneurship. Her business is in the seed stage and there are miles to go. However for Preet, this journey that reflects her passion was well worth taking.

Four Indian-origin artists were commissioned by the Dandenong Council to help transform utility poles into bright creative artworks.

Kantha Totem by Natasha Narain

Natasha acknowledges that the pole was once a tree and wishes to reactivate latent energies within it. Her design is linked to the heritage of the Bengali Kantha, and her concept is of a tree in a garden filled with sunshine, care and flowers.

Peace and Love by Sohail Yamin

The brightly coloured motifs, symbols and slogans are inspired by popular truck art in India.

Thoonu (Pillar) by Yoge Biju

Pillars are a key architectural element and design aesthetic of Indian monuments and structures.

Prakriti (Nature) by Rashmi Gore

Inspired by indigenous Warli art from Western India which dates back to Neolithic times, the intricate geometric patterns show the relationship of humans with nature, particularly respectful exchange and cultural economic sustainability.

All of the artworks play an important role in the continuation of the City of Greater Dandenong’s ongoing street art program in the Indian Cultural Precinct. The art project was initiated in 2015 with four large scale murals on Mason St, followed by shop front improvements and veranda decorations. Melbourne’s south-east region is home to more than 52,000 people of Indian origin. Approximately 12,400 first generation Indian residents currently call the City of Greater Dandenong home.

Victoria’s Minister for Suburban Development Marlene Kairouz has announced a $600,000 grant for the Sri Durga Temple in Rockbank.

“Recognising our community’s proud diversity (we are) investing in upgrading infrastructure for our multicultural communities to support the community to preserve and share their culture and traditions in a space that they can improve and make their own,” the Minister said in a statement.

She told Indian Link, “This temple is a very important place of worship for Melbourne’s Hindu community in the western suburbs. This funding to go towards a new community centre will only enhance the temple as a place of gathering for the local Indian community.”

Hari Julka, Secretary of the Temple, thanked the Minister for this grant. “Sri Durga Mandir is the largest Hindu temple in Australia and has been engaged in noble deeds for the community for some years now. We wish to thank the government for their recognition of this.”

The temple was launched in its current form in 2015. Spread across 22 acres, the new development cost $4.5 million, much of it raised from within the community. Since then the temple has styled itself as an educational and cultural centre, and besides its religious activities and scripture lessons, runs social programs such as language classes for children, yoga sessions for all ages, and recently, free homoeopathy clinics.

Its religious activities attracts Melbournians from far and wide: the consecrated idols of Sheraan waali mata – after who the temple is named – as well as those of Shri Hanuman, Radha-Krishan and the southern deity Shri Balajai, cut across linguistic divides and allow for visits and talks by a wide variety of religious leaders.

At a recent jagran by India-based devotional singer Lakhbir Singh Lakha, 7,000 devotees attended, Hari Julka revealed. The event found mention on north Indian television immediately after.

“Another recent event on Vedic maths by a visiting Indian academic was also well attended,” Julka observed.

The temple’s bhandara (kitchen) has often wowed visitors, churning out large quantities of meals with much precision.

“We would like to make it a 24-7 endeavour,” Julka revealed.

This is but one of a few future plans in the pipeline.

“We are drawing up a strategy for a Vedic dharamsala, perhaps the first of its kind outside of India, where people can take a break from their daily lives and spend a few days according to Vedic principles, and recharge themselves. Also, we are thinking of starting crisis intervention for needy members in our community.”

The temple is also aware of its responsibilities to those in the wider mainstream, and welcomes them in to the temple at celebrations like Holi and Dussehra. It also runs a program to feed the homeless on a regular basis.

“We are guided by the Hindu principle of Sarve santu sukhinah… i.e., peace within and without, peace for all,” Hari Julka concluded.

Minister Kairouz (pictured above), who was present at the grand opening of the temple in 2015, said to Indian Link, “As the local Member of Parliament, it is important that I engage with local cultural and religious groups in my electorate, and the Sri Durga temple in Rockbank is a place I love to visit. I am always made to feel welcome and it’s great to share in the important cultural and religious celebrations, most recently the festival of Holi in March.”

Visit the temple Sri Durga Arts/Cultural and Educational Centre (Inc) at 705-715 Neale Road, Rockbank.

It turned out to be a perfect day for us to explore nature, encounter art and experience taste through one-of-a-kind art and food famil in Manningham recently.

In the beautiful setting of this iconic suburb of Melbourne, we were invited to a culinary experience complemented by diverse art, and the combination of the two made for some magical memories.

Indulging in our specialised itinerary, we savoured coffee, sampled grappa, created fresh pasta, sipped Sangiovese and tasted the local produce. In the process, we discovered the delights and flavours of cultural immersion, uncovering the best of what Manningham has to offer.

Indulging in our specialised itinerary, we savoured coffee, sampled grappa, created fresh pasta, sipped Sangiovese and tasted the local produce.

Heide Museum of Modern Art

A bright sunny day under a clear sky made for a great drive. Our trip started with a visit to the famed Heide Museum of modern art. The vast grounds of this culturally significant home of art patrons John and Sunday Reed stood sprawling and impressive in the middle of suburbia.

We learnt about the fascinating history of Heide, from its establishment in 1934 to its current status as a public art museum and sculpture park. We marvelled at the creative concept behind collaborative works of Janet Burchill and Jennifer McCamley and their philosophy of material conceptualism.

This was followed by the visually stunning collection of photographs by acclaimed artist John Gollings, featuring indigenous sites. Spirit of place delves into the historic art and architecture of First Nations people around the world.

Curator Sue Cramer also guided us through other exhibitions, sculptures and Heide 1: House of ideas, presenting works from various artists supported by the Reeds.

The artworks currently on display include Albert and Barbra Tucker’s exploration of the apocalypse in the landscape and body, Isadora Vaughan’s Climarte-inspired installations and some of Mirka Mora’s distinctive art.

The morning was taken up admiring the ever-expanding repertoire of art mediums and enjoying the bucolic idyll in an urban setting.

The wonderful coffee at the trendy and welcoming Heide café helped set the cogs of wheels in my brain into motion.

Stonehouse Gallery, Warrandyte

Next, we were driven to the scenic setting of hilly Warrandyte, where we were dumbstruck by the indigenous and eclectic art created by local artists at the Stonehouse Gallery.

In 1972, eight potters dedicated to promoting ceramics created this artist-run art gallery and shop. The location has since changed and the new gallery with its stained glass windows is the ideal backdrop for the large variety of exhibits.

The Stonehouse Gallery was created in 1972, when eight potters dedicated to promoting ceramics created this artist-run art gallery and shop.

The Collection showcases several styles of art grouped by artist. Items range from clothing and other textiles, sculptures to jewellery and paintings. I went completely trigger-happy with my camera with the many beautiful pieces on display.

I now have it down as my go-to place for gifts and special occasions.

Olivigna Restaurant and Pietro Gallo Estate

Saving the best for the last, we arrived at the picturesque Pietro Gallo estate. Famous for its award winning artisanal grappa, liquor and fine Italian dining, we discovered how this famed winery creates its diverse range of liquid gold.

For John and Anna, the owners of the estate and Olivigna restaurant, grappa is more than a tipple. The passion for fresh produce, knowledge of the fine art of distilling grappa, and the management experience of a team that’s been doing business for generations, are key to their success.

Anna offered us a taste of Grappa Al Caffe – a grape spirit with coffee inspired by the Italian classic Caffe Corretto. An insider’s tour of the premises followed, which also offered an informative session on the production process by master distiller Nathan Rigby.

We tasted some more refined grappa and Limoncello and saw the purpose-built grappa still, named Scarpone after John’s father.

Next up was a fun pasta making class under the guidance of an experienced Italian chef. Our attempts at making different varieties of pasta were awarded with a sumptuous lunch prepared in-house, using our freshly, though not expertly made batch of pasta.

Paired with the most amazing Sangiovese from the estate, the meal was exceptional in quality and taste, lulling us into a sense of pure decadence. We could easily have spent the entire afternoon sipping the excellent wine and soaking up the ambience of the private dining room, but sadly it was time to leave.

Paired with the most amazing Sangiovese from the estate, the meal was exceptional in quality and taste, lulling us into a sense of pure decadence.

On the way out from Olivigna, I purchased a bottle of their unique Grappa Al Caffe. I have to admit – I have polished off half of the contents, already.

The exclusive famil was part of #Explore Manningham – reflection of the artistic diversity and distinctive dining experiences within Manningham city.

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni says she is ‘honoured, thrilled and excited’ to receive the Queen’s Birthday honour this year for her work in mental health.

“This award is given to me personally but I see it as a tick of approval for women’s mental health research,” Prof Kulkarni told Indian Link. “This recognition is also for the team of people that has worked with me in the field. I hope that this recognition will help promote the need for women’s mental health research and attract the funds required to further it.”

Prof Kulkarni is the founding director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) and is currently a Professor of Psychiatry.

She was instrumental in the opening of the women-only wing at The Alfred Hospital Psychiatry Unit, to prevent sexual assault and violent attacks against women in psychiatric wards.

A proud Monash University alumni, she has also been the Director of Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Neurosciences & Mental Health Stream.

Early in her career, Prof. Kulkarni established the Dandenong Psychiatric Research Centre, Dandenong hospital.

In 2015, she founded the Australian Consortium for Women’s Mental Health.

Prof. Kulkarni strongly feels that women’s mental health should be a national priority, including mental health in pregnancy.

In her own research, she pioneered the use of estrogen as a new treatment in schizophrenia and is considered a leader in the field of reproductive hormones and the critical role they play in women’s mental health.

“Improving women’s mental health is intimately tied to improving their well-being and productivity, the next generation’s outcome and the mental health of their family and community, Prof. Kulkarni said.

What are some of the issues in women’s mental health that are cause for concern currently?

“Interpersonal violence, particularly violence in early life, and repercussions from brain development that can be impacted adversely and expressed as depression, anxiety and other disorders,” Prof. Kulkarni replied. “Further into the field, women are struggling with second class citizen status and facing disparate power dynamics and/or poverty that is impacting mental health. In Melbourne, we are campaigning that women experience mental health differently and should be treated differently. There are many areas of women’s mental health crying out for more research.”

Sexual harassment and workplace bullying has also come to the fore in a major way in recent years, she added.

“As immediate past President of the International Association of Women’s Mental Health, I observed the progress of this movement globally. When it first started, I must admit I thought ‘this is very wealthy women of Hollywood complaining’ but then I looked closely into it and found that this is very serious. The movement has now spread to all parts of the world. The calling out of sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace applies to hospital or factory floors just as much as it does to Hollywood elite. Well done to the Hollywood stars who leveraged their communication skills and public traction to push start a very important process of calling out practises that are unacceptable.”

Jayashri migrated to Australia with her parents in 1961. Her parents quickly integrated into the Australian community, offering a nurturing upbringing by picking and choosing from both cultures.

She met her husband Ernie Butler at medical school: today he is Head of Neurology at Peninsula Health. They have two daughters – Rani, a medical defence lawyer, and Surina a Monash University medical student.

Jayashri also likes to maintain connections with her extended family in India and travels often to different parts of the country.

“I find there is an interesting change in thinking in the big cities of India that does not necessarily transfer, in a short space of time, to our migration population here,” she remarked.

According to her, there is an overrepresentation of women in the Indian community who experience mental illness.

“A lot of migrant families are raising kids in the beliefs of the culture as it was when they left 35 or 40 years ago from their country of origin,” she observed. “They are frozen in time and this is causing a real schism for the second and third generation kids that need to navigate with the family beliefs and the external western influences surrounding them. This can cause disharmony within the individual and we do see them grappling with depression, anxiety and eating disorders as an expression of this. There are many fabulous things within our culture like the sense of family, enjoyment and bonding within the community. Also the food, colours, passion, and enthusiasm… but for women, there is still some work to be done.”

As a mentor to many young female researchers and clinicians, Prof. Kulkarni strongly feels that it is important for senior female executives to take on mentorship roles.

“There are many diverse leadership styles for young men to emulate, but there are fewer choices for women as there are not enough senior women in executive positions in certain fields.”

“I often like to say to young women, you do not have to be an honorary man to be a leader,” she said with a smile.

As a Club Melbourne Ambassador, Kulkarni is also looking forward to Melbourne hosting the Women’s Congress for Mental Health in 2021. “Academic tourism is critical to exchange ideas with the world, sharing the state’s expertise, boosting the economy and bringing thought leadership here.

This exceptional leader, mentor and speaker is doing an inspirational job spearheading the advancement of research in women’s mental health.

Jayashree Ramachandran, a Carnatic music vocalist, believes that the OAM recognition would motivate her to accomplish many more milestones in the field of Carnatic music. Thrilled by the OAM honor, Jayashree told Indian Link, “Any award will propel you to work harder and this honor has instilled an all-new confidence in me. Ever since I landed here in Australia I have been working in the field of Carnatic music by performing and teaching the art. I’m indeed happy by this recognition.”

Jayshree, who is the Vice-President, Federation of Indian Music and Dance, since 2013, is also the founder of Sapthaswara School of Carnatic Music. The school, which was started with just a handful of students in 1992, is now one of the finest music schools in Melbourne. About this musical journey, Jayashree said, “30 years ago, the environment in Australia was challenging for me to establish the Carnatic music scene as there were only a few Indians. Also, I was juggling between my Telstra job, family life and music at that time. Slowly but steadily, I made the Telstra job a part-time one and Carnatic music became my full-time career, so that I could give my 100 percent to this art. Our school, which has hundreds of students now, had just four to five kids. Over a period of time, with many dedicated musical performances across Australia, we were able to inspire many children to learn Carnatic music. We also created avenues to help kids display their talent on stage. From the initial baby steps to now watching our school students perform a three-concert, truly it has been a rewarding experience so far. Despite western music taking the center stage, we manage to hold the young children to Carnatic music. I wish out of 100 students at least 20 consider Carnatic music vocals as their professional career to keep this beautiful art alive in the coming years.”

To help youngsters to understand Carnatic music songs, Jayashree has been performing thematic concerts, which she says are being well received by the audiences. About the concept-based musical performances, she said, “In these thematic presentations, I explain the concept of the song in English and then render songs based on that theme. I have plans to do more such lecture-based musical concerts as they reach out to a wide range of audience, especially youngsters, who get to know more about their tradition. Currently, I’m doing a lot of research on various topics for these thematic presentations.”

She added, “Right now Carnatic music has been constrained only to the Indian community. I would like to take this art form to the mainstream audience in Australia as music has no boundaries. We have also been performing orchestral ensembles just to reach out to the local audience. My students and I have been performing in many street festivals and cross-culture music festivals to create awareness about the rich cultural heritage of classical music to the mainstream audience.”

“Respect the people, places and laws of the country you choose to call your home. Try to improve on what’s there, but don’t try to create your old home at your new home.”

These golden words of advice from his father have stayed with Melbourne’s Shashi Kochhar ever since he migrated to Australia from India in 1978.

Receiving an OAM in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours is a huge privilege, according to him.

“It makes me feel humbled, privileged and further motivated to continue doing my community service,” Shashi told Indian Link.

“Each day I wake up more energised to see how my dream of giving back to the community is being fulfilled,” said the septuagenarian.

Shashi laughingly shared that his friends often tell him ‘he is different’.

Some acquaintances even joke about ‘forgetting their wallets at home’, in case Shashi has yet another cause which needs some contribution.

He takes it all in his stride with good humour, because he is on an ongoing mission.

He wants to ensure that the future generation is happy and for that he is prepared to clean up parks of waste and rubbish, walk miles to raise funds, plant trees, donate blood and stand on streets collecting tin box donations.

As the founder of Friends of Children Foundation, Shashi has helped raise millions of dollars for Monash Children Hospital and Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Established in 1998, this not-for-profit works with organisations that provide better health and education for the citizens of tomorrow.

Shashi laments the damage caused by parents of his generation, for not teaching their children about looking after the environment.

“We may be living in the lucky country, but we need to look after it and help maintain it.  We need to give more to this country that has supported and rewarded us,” he emphasised.

He believes that for communities to prosper and sustain, all young people should be valued, engaged and supported. He strongly encourages people to volunteer in various ways and involve young children to inspire them as good role models.

He walks the talk by leading a cleaning campaign for Clean Up Australia Day every year and organising 24-km charity walks since 2012. He has donated blood over 145 times and delivered bread to aged care, asylum centres and other needy places for years.  

With his appointment as Justice of Peace, he has plenty of opportunities to contribute by volunteering his services to provide an integral link in the judicial system. As a JP, he has signed over 30,000 documents for people till date.

Shashi believes in one god but feels that faith has somewhere along the years, overpowered cultures.

As current chairperson of the Monash Interfaith gathering, he supports collaborative relationships with various faiths and beliefs committed to working towards understanding, respect, peace and dignity.

His passion for community work has been recognised by various awards and recommendations including Sir John Monash Award, Multicultural Champion Category, City of Monash, 2018 and Sir John Monash Community Service Award, City of Monash, 2007.

Abiding by his father’s parting words, Shashi has spent most of his working and retired life ‘paying back’ and showing respect to the society he lives in. The impact of this amazing volunteer is extraordinarily positive: with his compassion and unselfish caring and unconditional love for his fellow human beings, Shashi has gone on to become one of the most loved personalities in Melbourne’s Indian community. The world definitely needs more of his tribe.

As a junior doctor interested in gastroenterology and liver disease many years ago in Melbourne, Winita Hardikar found a young family in her care. Their baby suffered from biliary atresia, a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants. Today most such babies would undergo a liver transplant, but back in the early ‘80s, they would simply be put in palliative care, as the doctors had nothing to offer. Most babies survived to two years.

“I was pregnant with my own first child then,” Prof. Hardikar recounted to Indian Link. “The young mum knitted some booties and a hat for my baby. I felt helpless in my inability to do anything for her. When liver transplants began in 1985, I knew I had to get involved.”

Today, Winita Hardikar, one of the country’s leading liver transplant specialists, attends the birthday parties of early patients as they turn into young adults.

In a career spanning 30 years, which has seen multiple transplants, she has won many Special Commendation and Innovation awards, and has produced a treasure trove of research literature. An eponymous syndrome has been named after her: the Hardikar Syndrome is a very rare multiple congenital malformation syndrome characterised by obstructive liver and kidney disease.

She is also credited, along with her colleague Dr Katie Allen, for having performed the first liver cell transplant in Australia. (Less risky than a full transplant, in a liver cell transplant there are no surgical incisions, with liver cells from a donor liver distributed through the liver by blood cells.)

“I’m happy my work has been appreciated, with this AM honour,” Dr Hardikar said. “Yet there’s a lot more to do. Going forward, I hope also to be able to play a more significant role in advocacy with government bodies.”

The Pune-born doctor moved to Australia as a young child and did her paediatric training at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne before taking a PhD at the University of Melbourne. Then, as a Fulbright scholar, she spent three years at Yale.

She has been Head of Liver and Intestinal Transplantation at the Royal Children’s Hospital since 2013; Director, Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition since 2016, and Head of Hepatology since 2003.

What does she feel about the recent reports on racism and sexism in the medical fraternity?

“I’ve never encountered racism; in fact I would say I have been well supported throughout. But sexism, that’s another story. As an intern at Melb Uni I topped my year in surgery and was keen to get into that field. But a senior surgeon told me straight out, I don’t think women should become surgeons. I didn’t – perhaps because of my cultural background then where we were taught to respect authority. Some of my women friends did get into surgery though. Still, I get to go to theatre a lot in my work!”

Prof. Hardikar has her own words of advice for young people out there who may be considering a career in medicine.

“Do it if you really love it,” she maintained. “It is an all-consuming career: it infringes on your nights, weekends, family life, social life. You take the mental burdens home with you. Don’t do it just because you got the marks for it. And this is particularly important for parents in our community: don’t push your kids into medicine for prestige – your own, or theirs. Give greater importance to all careers.”

There’s similar counsel for the Indian community in general.

“I agree we come from a rich culture and have so much to offer but we should lose some of the things we were brought up with, such as rote learning, not thinking for ourselves, or saying ‘that’s fate’. I think we should also integrate with others, and not restrict ourselves to our own kind. See another culture, be part of it. There’s a much richer life here that we should make the most of, and contribute to in as many different ways as we can.”

The Queen was not the only matriarch acknowledging service to the community through her honours this month. Amma’s Ashram in Carrum Downs celebrated a multicultural event recently, acknowledging the service of community leaders Chidambaram Srinivasan, Geeta Devi and Suteeporn Sullivan.

The event ‘Embracing Peace 2019’ was hosted by MA Centre (Aust) Foundation, a not-for-profit inspired by the world humanitarian leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma). This year’s theme ‘Grace in Action’ focussed on fostering the ideal of service (sewa) through compassion, acceptance and understanding.

This was the fourth year of this annual event and the inaugural year for presenting community awards, according to Nava Subramaniam, Director of Amrita Australia Limited, the main association attached to the Centre.

Amrita Australia’s mission, as a public benevolent institution, is to provide relief to persons within Australia and overseas who are unable to care for themselves or who suffer from poverty, sickness, destitution and helplessness.

Among its current community outreach projects is a Kids Breakfast Club – a program in Melbourne’s southeast that provides breakfast at local primary schools, benefitting children who would otherwise start the day without a healthy meal due to a variety of reasons including economic and social circumstances.

Another project, Mother’s Kitchen, provides free nutritious meals to homeless and vulnerable persons each month in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

Amrita Australia is also assisting with raising funds to construct AIMS Faridabad, a healthcare facility in Delhi NCR. The hospital, spread over nearly 100 acres of industrial city land, will include a multidisciplinary children’s facility and specialise in maternal and foetal medicine.

According to Nava, they are also exploring the feasibility of projects relating to women and children in crisis, refugee migrants, disadvantaged elderly and specific underprivileged community support programs in Australia.

The event ‘Embracing Peace 2019’ began with a prayer for world peace and harmony. This was followed by performances from local and professional artists including a very well received presentation by flautist Vinod Prasanna.

Key speaker Sonya Kilkenny MP, Member for Carrum, commended the MA Centre for their ongoing efforts in contributing to the quality of life in the community.

The evening also brought together spiritual leaders, dignitaries and members of the community to celebrate the unity amongst the diversity of cultures that makes up Victoria’s multicultural community.

The Victorian Multicultural Commission and Victorian Government (Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet) supported the event.

This year’s MA Australia Community Service award was presented to Geeta Devi who currently heads Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). She was awarded for her work in mentoring youth in the Hindu community, conducting blood donation drives via HOTA (Hindu Organisations and Temple Association) and organising yoga events.

Srini Chidambaram Srinivasan, former Commissioner at Vic Multicultural Commission, was awarded for providing community leadership and business mentoring with a demonstrated history of working in the management of the non-profit organisation. He was commended for his strong commitment to promoting social cohesion, especially in making the arts and cultural scene more representative of Victoria’s diverse society.

Suteeporn Sullivan, a volunteer with TIWA (Thai Information and Welfare Association), was awarded for providing support to women in her community. She set up a Thai single mums group as well as an Asian women’s network to help women stay connected, support each other and share their culture.

Nava, who is immensely inspired by Amma’s humanitarian efforts, spoke about her experience of knowing and travelling with Amma for nearly two decades with awe. “She has an energy and presence that is extraordinary and divine,” she said. “Even as she travels the world hugging thousands of people, she continues her good work quietly and with great focus.”

Similarly Amma’s Ashram is dedicated to spiritual, social and cultural connectivity through engagement with the community.

Simmi Singh

Last Friday, the world celebrated the 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) with plenty of gusto and enthusiasm.

When we think about the origins of yoga, we envision sadhus and yogis on Himalayan peaks and in jungles, living an ascetic life. Fast forward to 2019, when chic studios are brimming with athleisure-clad, eco-mat carrying, kombucha-drinking fitness enthusiasts that have tried every trendy yoga class in the city! Yoga purists may look down upon these trends as ridiculousness, but hey, even the goofiest fad makes people put their phone aside and focus on stretching and breathing.

Closer to home, in Melbourne, yoga enthusiasts, novices and experts came together in massive numbers to celebrate this day of wellness this year. It wasn’t quite nude yoga, beer yoga or goat yoga, but plenty of eager folks were up and ready for the traditional yoga at the Art of Living Foundation, Victorian Parliament and in Keysborough.

At Art of Living Foundation

The 5th International Day of Yoga 2019 event hosted by the Art of Living Foundation in collaboration with University of Melbourne and the Consulate General of India, Melbourne was held on 22 June at Martyn Myer Arena, Southbank Campus at the University of Melbourne. Nearly 150 people of varying age-groups attended the event.

At Victorian Parliament 

The International Day of Yoga event in the Victorian Parliament had the following message – Health is Your Birthright.

Participants were the leader of opposition Hon Michael O’Brian MP, Hon Neil Angus, Hon Brad Rowswell, Ms Kaushaliya Vaghela MP, Indian Council General Shri Rakesh Malhotra, Shri Rampal Muthyala, Yoga Australia, AYUSH and yoga students of Vasudeva Kriya Yoga.

At Keysborough

The 5th International Day of Yoga celebration in Keysborough, Melbourne, was conducted on 16 June 2019. The event turned out to be a great successful with an active participation of nearly 300 yoga enthusiasts, many of whom were children.

Taking their cue from other NDA Alumni Associations around India, the first overseas chapter of National Defence Academy Alumni Association (Australian Chapter) was launched, recently, in Victoria.

The first Annual General Meeting of the recently incorporated chapter was held in Canberra last month and attended by office bearers elected to steer the committee.

According to Col Rajesh Kaswan, Secretary NDAAA(AC) the main purpose of establishing this alumni chapter is to provide support to its members by creating avenues for professional and social networking.

NDAAA(AC) also aims to provide resettlement assistance to NDA alumni planning to migrate to Australia and if required, provide support to NDA alumni settled in Australia.

NDA is the prestigious Joint Services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together. Established in 1954 and based in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra, it is the first tri-service academy in the world.

After completion of the 3-year gruelling course, the cadets go on to their respective service academies for further pre-commissioning training. NDA alumni have led and fought in every major war/battle including UN missions and won a large number of gallantry awards and peacetime awards.

Starting with only a handful of members, the NDAAA(AC) is growing in numbers with more alumni completing their service obligations and choosing to settle in Australia and the surrounding Oceania region.

“After much hard work and dedication and meeting all the legal requirements of the Consumers Affairs Victoria, we are pleased to officially establish this chapter and I look forward to meeting all the ex-NDA officers desirous of joining us”, said Lt.Col (Dr) AK Sinha, President of NDAAA(AC).

The current office bearers include Major Rajiv Seth as Vice President and Lt Col AK Nayyar as Treasurer. The group regularly conducts official and social meetings and hosts visiting dignitaries from the Indian Armed Forces who are on official visits to Australia.

The NDA is a source of great pride and inspiration as a centre of excellence for grooming future leaders. The vast experience, training, and service experience of its alumni continues to inculcate the tenets of camaraderie and the spirit of its motto Seva Paramo Dharma (service before self).

The seventh year of the SSCAFF 7 Colours Festival provided much needed mid-winter warmth while celebrating local talent and engaging diverse audiences in Melbourne, recently.

The 3-day festival was presented by SKGA Inc. in association with VMC Victorian Multicultural Commission, City of Monash, City of Kingston, Cinespace Inc. and State Government of Victoria.

Both inclusive and immersive, the Festival brought together artistic talent from across Victoria with over 150 participants from many multicultural backgrounds.

Besides the quintessential Bhangra and Bollywood, the Festival reflected a diverse array of culture through Indian classical dances, Greek and Spanish performances.

The combination of emerging and established artists attracted a considerable crowd over the weekend.

There was an inescapable sense of celebration with a mix of singing, dancing, comedy and fashion parade held indoors and live music, yoga, language sessions and drumming taking place outdoors.

Festival Director Nawal Moudgil feels the festival is evolving with each year to include more talent, giving SSCAFF a good mojo rising. “It started as a dedication to the late Yash Chopra, renowned Indian film-maker and patron and I am proud to say it is going from strength to strength,” Nawal told Indian Link.

This year again the festival featured film screenings, film workshops and a panel discussion on how social media is a film-maker’s new best friend. Film panelists John Hipwell, Winston Furlong, Amy Perera, Lin Arrifin, Daniel Schultheis and David Black discussed the topic moderated by Preeti Daga Raizada.

Multiple stalls added to the vibe along with health and well-being sessions. Renee Dodson (PHATT), interestingly, offered drumming therapy to tap into layers of mind and body for healing and mindfulness.

Rabindra Shrestha (President), Teacher Parvati Upretil and the team of community organisation Hamro Nepali Pathshala, Melbourne received the 2019 Yash Chopra SSCAFF Community Award for promoting Nepali Arts, Languages & Cultural Activities in Melbourne, Australia.

Steve (Saeed) Khan and the team of Melbourne-based community organisation Harmony International received the 2019 Yash Chopra SSCAFF Community Award for promoting diversity through creative arts since 1989.

This year again SSCAFF offered a festival experience that inspired joy, positivity and engagement with the multicultural communities. “With support from all we wish to continue with this affirmation and celebration of unity amongst diversity for many years,” said Nawal.

Promoting respectful relationships to enhance safety and well-being was the primary focus at Whitehorse Council’s ‘Call to Action’ interfaith forum, held at Box Hill Town Hall, recently.

The event provided an opportunity for pooling the combined experience of faith and community leaders from Monash, Whitehorse, Manningham and Bundoora to generate ideas to prevent family violence.

Round table discussions were held to encourage collaboration and cooperation within interfaith communities to promote effective responses and advocate for change. Questions were encouraged from the floor engaging interaction around resources, networks and knowledge within the diverse faith communities.

Acknowledging the challenges and opportunities for capacity building for primary intervention within faith settings, the forum highlighted the importance of mutually enforcing strategies to prevent violence.

Anissa Gracie, Community Safety Officer from Manningham Council, spoke from her personal experience as a child who suffered from family violence. As a panel member, she also responded to questions around complexities of addressing gender issues, including patriarchal paradigms within faith traditions.

Tarang Chawla, Our Watch ambassador, survivor advocate and commentator, provided a man’s perspective whilst sharing the story of his sister Nikita’s murder caused by a violent partner. He provided statistics around the escalating issues of violence against women and called for leaders to step up and drive changes in cultures, behaviours and power imbalances leading to it.

Collectively, everyone present agreed that underlying and precipitating factors for violence need to be addressed. Faith communities can support one another in prevention activities by promoting respect.

“Respect and positive behaviours need to be role-modelled to achieve equality,” said Dilnaz Billimoria who was instrumental is getting the diverse faith communities together.

Shashi Kochhar OAM, chairperson of Monash Interfaith Gathering, found the speakers to be excellent. “They were able to tell their stories that resonated with many. However, I was unsure of what to take home as a message/moral from their stories and wasn’t clear on what we need to adopt in our day-to-day lives to make a difference in the community”, he said when asked to provide feedback.

According to him, this universal topic needs a lot of thinking, respect and understanding and has to go beyond being a “tick the box” exercise. “Overall as a group, we are on the right track. However, our focus now needs to be on more actions and adjustments. I am positive if we keep working together with a genuine desire to make changes, we will notice the changes in society within our lifetimes”, said Shashi.

This event was an interesting activity around the broader meaning of respect and safety, and kept everyone engaged. A light dinner was also provided. The event attracted a large and diverse participation from representatives of various faiths.

Resource Information mini booklets were also handed out with contacts and details of organisations and services in various councils that can assist in counselling, support and intervention.

Why’s he wearing his sunglasses indoors, ABC TV presenter Virginia Trioli asked. Her colleague Georgie Tunny, who had just interviewed SRK, replied, “Shah Rukh does what Shah Rukh wants.”

Tunny is one of many new fans Shah Rukh has won in Australia.

Described repeatedly as “India’s – the world’s – biggest movie star”, Shah Rukh Khan wowed everyone he engaged with on his brief trip down under as a guest of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) – including, in all probability, the koala and the python that were brought out to welcome him at LaTrobe University.

He had impeccable manners – kissing the women, looking genuinely thrilled as he received the LaTrobe and IFFM honours, remembering lines from his movies, joining the fans to shake a leg – and left the mainstream in awe just as much with his star appeal as with his humility.

Bollywood’s undisputed king Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) enjoyed adulation from thousands of adoring fans that braved the inclement weather to catch a glimpse of their favourite star.

From his first public appearance at the Press Conference held at Collins Street to the after party at the IFFM Awards Night, SRK did what he does best – he charmed irresistibly.

The dimpled smile, witty remarks and chivalry were all out on full display at his first appearance at the media meet, as he held the chair open for fellow actor and festival guest Tabu and then cheekily blamed her for the late start. Of course the actress forgave him in a heartbeat, as did everyone else that was kept waiting at other events thanks to his chronic inability to keep time. We hope it’s because he hopped from commitment to commitment and not because he was just fashionably late.

He remembered his last visit to Melbourne in 2006-2007 during the filming of Chak de India when he was a rising superstar, making many hit films and being declared the sexiest man in Asia.

“So I come back here again, still a rising superstar, not making too many hit films… in fact, trying desperately to do so, but still irrepressibly the sexiest (even) today,” he said, tongue in cheek.

He went on to thank the Indian diaspora and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for their contribution in bringing Indian films to the world.

The large number of media folk at the press meet remained mainly focussed on SRK, as if he was the only person they came to meet. So he carted the microphone around for every panel member to have a say, and not feel left out. Charming as well as magnanimous, was the general consensus.

The SRK seduction continued at the Awards Night held at the Palais Theatre, where security had their work cut out keeping the screaming fans from mobbing him as he entered through the aisles. He waved, shook hands and blew kisses, and they tripped over themselves in their attempts to get closer, and to take that all important selfie.

The glamorous awards night had much to offer but the audience was clearly restless to hear from King Khan till he finally obliged. Accepting his award for Excellence in Cinema IFFM 2019, he couldn’t go past a few lines of his written speech before the audience started yelling out his name and professing their undying love for him.

The King of Romance raced through his formal speech to return the sentiment with some popular romantic dialogues from his films addressed to the women in the audience. Selfies temporarily forgotten, they all but swooned.

Acquiring some new fans SRK voluntarily joined Emotion21Inc, a group of dancers with Down syndrome and proved yet again how well he connects with and touches people, a craft that amplifies his personal brand.

As yesteryears actress Simi Garewal claimed, the star is richer than Tom Cruise (who, you ask) with a net worth of over $600 million, he owns land on the moon, has a perfume to his name and the Paris museum once released a limited edition coin with his image that is worth a fortune today.

Dishing out wisecracks at every opportunity, SRK’s humour was lapped up by an appreciative crowd, the piece de resistance of the gala being his impromptu signature moves on the hit song Chaiya Chaiya that worked like a charm.

Enjoying a brief encounter with Australian native animals at Melbourne’s LaTrobe University, he confessed that it was his first encounter with a snake and that he was ‘touched’ by the python that was put around his neck in welcome.

After instructing the university’s top brass in his signature open-armed pose, he joined a formal and impressive academic ceremony to accept an honorary degree. The Doctor Of Letters honour was awarded to SRK in recognition of his outstanding achievements within the entertainment industry, for his ongoing championship of human rights and his advocacy for social justice.

Felicitating him, University Chancellor John Brumby recognised his wide-ranging humanitarian work, including establishing the Meer Foundation to support and empower women who have survived acid attacks in India.

During his occasional address SRK briefly explained the inspiration and purpose behind establishing Meer Foundation and said, “This is not an award for anything that the Meer Foundation might have achieved. It is for the courage of every woman who faces the brutality of injustice, inequality and inhumanity.”

La Trobe University also announced the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, providing an opportunity for an aspiring female researcher from India to complete her general Scholarship in LA Trobe University. The four-year full fee research scholarship is valued in excess of $200,000.

Shah Rukh remarked that university is a place where youngsters have opportunities not just for academics and extra curriculars, but also for a better life, and to offer that opportunity to a girl from India is a wonderful gesture by La Trobe.

Later that evening SRK officially opened the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2019 as their chief guest and major drawcard. The Festival opened with the screening of Bulbul Can Sing, an acclaimed film by director Rima Das.

Conferred with many titles ranging from Doctor, Knight, King Khan to Badshah of Bollywood, it was clear that Shah Rukh inspires devotion like no other. In his few days here, the charismatic star provided plenty of fodder to the media, local and mainstream and his appeal has since only quadrupled…

More power to brand SRK.

Actress Tabu is delighted with her first ever trip to Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital.  “I am getting a very positive vibe from Melbourne ever since I’ve arrived,” said the elegant actress as she crossed her legs gracefully and pushed a strand of errant hair behind her ears. “I am so happy to be here and I hope I can come back again.”

She wished to make the most of the two days she was here as guest of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2019), happily content to hang around the hotel where she found many things to see. With the current weather conditions in Melbourne – lashing winds, freezing temperatures and depressing rain – definitely a wise move

We moved on to reflect on the theme of her much awaited upcoming film Jawani Jaaneman where she is paired opposite Saif Ali Khan, produced by Saif’s house production Black Knights Films. The two are reuniting to work together after two decades since their previous hit multi-starrers Biwi No 1 and Hum Saath Saath Hain.

The film, directed by Nitin Kakkar, is a coming of age story launching Alia Furniturewalla, daughter of actress Pooja Bedi. Tabu plays a cameo role as Saif Ali Khan’s girlfriend. Are the teen years portrayed in this film vastly different to her own teen years?

“It’s totally changed!” Tabu observed. “Teenagers today, and the new generation, are very different to when we were growing up. Their stories and lives are very different so obviously that will reflect in this film. The representation of teenage years is very courageous in this film.”

With a career spanning nearly 30 years, Tabu is a seasoned, stellar actress with many strong roles and stand out performances to her credit. Does she feel that she now completely understands her craft, or there are things that can still surprise her?

“I can never, ever feel that I completely understand my craft, because it is not a technical term, it is an organic and human process. It will keep growing and with age, wisdom and experience it will keep evolving. Till my last breath it will keep growing inside me,” said the agelessly beautiful actress.

Besides garnering multiple national awards for acting and receiving the Padma Shri award from the Government of India, Tabu has also featured in Hollywood film Life of Pi directed by Ang Le and Mira Nair’s drama The Namesake.

She is currently working in several South Indian films and has a great flair for languages. Known for her acting prowess in films like Astitva, Chandni Bar, Cheeni Kum and most recently in De De Pyar De, she is an empowered, independent woman who does not feel the need to be defined by relationships or marriage.

Does she think gender equality is a dream or possibility in Bollywood?

“We need to promote equality in many areas in our world, not just in the film industry. We need to find ways not to subjugate women just because of their gender. For example not considering them for certain jobs or not allowing them freedom to choose. Women should be considered as an asset (to society), a strength not a weakness,” mused the actress who has brought many strong female characters to life on screen.

Tabu took home the Brest Actress Award at IFFM 2019 for her complex role in the critically acclaimed as well as box office hit Andhadhun. The Sriram Raghuvan thriller received rave reviews from critics and audiences and was among the highest grossing film of 2018. It also won the 66^th National Best Hindi film 2019 award recently. How did she navigate between the black and white, right and wrong in that unusual role?

“I am still perplexed on how I managed that character!” the award-winning Tabu revealed with honesty. “The beauty of it was that no one could confirm whether my character Simmi (who murders her husband) was crazy or good, villain or victim. There is no core that she belonged to. Other than that I really cannot remember how I managed the process!”

She claimed to be delighted, however, that the film was winning so many accolades.

Bollywood has traditionally put a huge premium on ‘fresh’ and ‘young’, yet this defiantly feminine actress is ageing beautifully, has a commanding screen presence, and continues to serve as an inspiration for women of all ages in Indian cinema. She will always be known for her innate ability to adapt to any challenging role and land completely authentic emotions on screen.

They may have been thousands of kilometres away from Indian shores, but that did not stop the Indian diaspora from celebrating the 73rd Indian Independence Day in Melbourne with the same fervour as 1.3 billion people in India.

The event at the Consulate General of India office began with the flag-hoisting ceremony in the morning, followed by an Independence Day reception in the evening hosted by Consul General Raj Kumar.

The reception was attended by Pauline Richards MP, Member for Cranbourne and Victoria’s Premier’s representative, and members of the Indian diaspora, including the newly crowned Miss Universe Australia Priya Serrao.

In his address, the Consul General Raj Kumar, for whom this was the first Independence Day here in Melbourne, spoke of the unique ties Victoria has been able to build with India.

He said, “Victoria has attracted many communities, including Indians. Now, Victoria has the largest number of Indian diaspora compared to any other State. About 50,000 students study here. The Indian diaspora had been contributing to the economy and culture of this place, whether in government, education, research or business.”
Referring to exchange of visits at the highest level which have built significant momentum in India’s relationship with Victoria, Kumar said there have been fruitful engagements taking place between universities such as Melbourne, RMIT, Swinburne and La-Trobe with various institutes and business schools in India.

In the days following, the Indian community was heartened by the news of the University of Melbourne’s five-year strategy for India, launched by the university’s top brass in India. Only days before of course, La Trobe University bestowed a special honour on actor Shah Rukh Khan, news of which went viral not only in India but amongst the diaspora.

Besides education, the CG also pointed out the other bilateral areas that are calling out for greater engagement, such as digital technologies, agro businesses such as food processing, waste management and water management.
He also noted, “Building relationship between two countries is incumbent not only on the respective governments but on long lasting bonds which are built by the people of two countries and interactions between their societies.”

In her address, Pauline Richards MP, Member for Cranbourne and Victoria’s Premier’s representative, said her government is committed to Victoria’s vibrant, multicultural and multi-faith society, including the Indian community.

“We are a multicultural state but we are also in a vibrant city, Victoria is unique – we come from over 200 countries, speak more than 250 different languages and dialects and follow more than 130 faiths. Like India, Victoria’s diversity is our greatest asset and strength. The Indian community is the largest in community in Australia. Events like the India Independence help us to celebrate us Indian heritage,” said Richards.

Commenting on India’s Independence Day, entrepreneur, Tanvi Mor spoke for many of her compatriots present when she said, “Celebrating Indian Independence Day in Australia clearly gives me a platform to stand next to fellow Indians, connect back to my roots and pay respect to Indian freedom fighters.”

She added, “As an individual, I not only get an opportunity to share the pride of my motherland, but also share my identity with Australians and the accountability I hold on this land while representing my country.”

The event included a mesmerising performance by Kalakruthi School of Indian Classical Music, founded in Victoria in 1994, by internationally acclaimed Carnatic Guru Shobha Sekhar.

The fervour of Goenkarponn was on full display at the Goa Day celebrations in Melbourne, as a large number of people hailing from Goa attended the event. Among the Australian guests present at the Goa Day celebrations, which marks the start of events by the Goa Overseas Association Victoria (GOAV) for 2019-20, were Councillor Tim Dark from the City of Dandenong.

In keeping with the Goenkarponn theme of the event, the afternoon provided a glimpse of various facets of life in Goa through song, dance, skits, games and food.

Konkani comedy skits by Josefato Vales, Johnny and Filipe Dias entertained the gathering. Mouth-watering home-cooked food included, among other dishes, Goan delicacies like sorpotel, chicken xacuti and chourico pao. The celebrations also included music, Bingo and the Raffle Draw.

This event is not just about having a good time but also lending a helping hand to those who need it most, in Goa. This year, the chosen charity was ‘Street Providence’, which is based in Sangolda-North Goa and aims to end hunger and homelessness.

An amount of $1682.68 was collected and will be donated to the Street Providence.

Melbourne’s Diana Theseira Sinha learnt her Hindi by simply being around native speakers.
“At uni I had many Hindi-speaking friends, and they would frequently break out in their language,” the Singapore-born told Indian Link. “I didn’t understand, and I wanted to understand.”

Through the years, she slowly began to “catch a few words” to understand what was being communicated, and even “string together some words into coherent sentences.
“Initially I developed my skills mostly through conversation, picking up on key words, and then Bollywood films taught me some fancy words, which people don’t use in everyday life,” she revealed.

That initial exposure came in handy when she met and married Vishal Sinha, a native speaker whose family originates from Bihar and whose primary language is Hindi.
Struggling to find a happy medium of communication with her new family, Diana’s skills in Hindi have allowed her to communicate effectively with her in-laws. “It has definitely strengthened my communication especially with my mother in-law,” she said.
As she continues to find herself immersed in the Indian community and Indian culture, Diana has made concerted efforts with her Hindi proficiency.

“I know now that each character in Hindi has a different sound, and some of these sounds don’t exist in the English language,” she observed. “I still struggle with certain sounds such as the ‘gh’ in ‘ghar’. So I’ll say it as ‘grr’! I would just go forwards and backwards with it when I was learning!”
Although this has improved, she disclosed that there are “still some sounds” that trip her up. “If I say it fast and mumble, then it’s okay!” she laughed.

Despite not being fluent in the language, when in the “right frame of mind” Diana is able to have full conversations, however other days she struggles to “get out one word.”
“I hope my young daughter Zara will be able to learn Hindi as she gets older, although it’s currently a completely foreign language to her.”

Originating from the Persian word Hind, meaning ‘land of the Indus River’, Hindi is spoken by an estimated 425 million people as a native language, according to the BBC. However, through family, migration and admiration for the language, approximately 120 million people now speak Hindi as a second language.

Riya Kiran