BIT January 2016

Indian Times

Brisbane

A Division of Qld Multicultural Times

As God is One, we respect all Religions

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Volume 13, Number 4 Saturday, January 16, 2016

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Pathankot terror attack probe may not go 26/11 way, hopes India

• Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand art at Puri beach to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers martyred in the terrorist attack at Pathankot Air Force Base in Punjab. Photo: PTI. Full story page 6.

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From the Publisher WELCOME to 2016, hope you all had a wonderful time over the holidays, I had a lovely time with all my family.

Normally this time of the year I am away in India, last year I visited India in November, so I decided to stay right here in lovely Queensland.

The annual PBD has now become a biennial event and Indian Government is encouraging individual states to use these alternate years to host state based PBD. Overseas embassies have been encouraged to hold functions and events on 9th of January marking the overseas Indian day. The maiden Uttar Pradesh Pravasi Diwas 2016 was hosted by the state government from January 4 to 6 in Agra.

The event, was inaugurated by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, and was organised in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Global Organisation of people of Indian Origin (GOPIO).

Organised as an outreach the programme by the state government aimed to connect with its native non-residents and the Diaspora, the event was attended by NRIs and PIOs of UP origin from across the globe.

Locally this was a quiet period, as everyone was in the holiday mode, with this in mind I thought of penning down a new years message especially for our young ones.

I will be an optimist about this New Year, as I hate to dwell on the negatives.

I won’t be making sure the year leaves, because the New Year isn’t any end or a beginning – it’s a continuation of life, and maybe some consider it as a new volume in life’s novel.

Surely this day brings opportunities our way, but I say that most of us use the chance in a wrong manner. We recall our past, our failures, our losses, and I do not say to ever forget the past!

However, dear friends, I say to never forget the past so it can shape your future. I mean to keep on trying. I mean, to seek potential. I want you all for once, instead of recalling the year 2015, the great losses, tragic events… I

want you instead to think about your achievements, your goals, your future plans.

I do not make New Year Resolutions, nor do I ask anyone to. Because once you make a todo list, the thing is, you either misplace it, or forget all about it, or even procrastinate for it. That is wrong!

Instead, why can’t we just wake up every day, and take the new day to be a new opportunity, a new chance, to discover, learn, and make new mistakes? Why can’t we set goals for just that day? That is much easier work than planning the whole year ahead...

Why, why, do we just stick on to our past year's failures and losses, and stay in the darkness for God knows yet another year and another? Live for today, because yesterday is over, tomorrow is yet to come, but today is the present!

It is today which will form tomorrow, and tomorrow which will form the future!

I pray to God that we all can unite without any geographical or race border. I pray that we unite under the banner of humanity. I pray that the Lord guides us to do what we can, and gives us the wisdom to accept what we can’t.

I pray that we stay strong without the loved ones who have left us, may their souls rest in Peace. I pray that we may do everything right so that the ones who will come after us will have good role models. I pray, for health, strength, and wisdom for all.

I hope that we do our best this year. To revive from the ignorance and laziness spells we are dazed in. That we work, not for the productiveness and success for a specific country or area, or for personal benefits – but for the success of humanity.

I wish our young people every success, and through effort, training and work, they will find the place they aspire to occupy at the heart of society. To our seniors, to whom we owe so much, I express my gratitude, especially for their gift of giving us generations to come. I also express to them the hope of health and serenity.

Until Next Month happy reading.

Umesh Chandra

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Inside

OWNERS / PUBLISHERS: Umesh & Usha Chandra

• Letters to the Editor........................2 • Migration Matters............................4

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• Local News..................................5-23

EDITOR:

Trudi Tarres

• Who, What, Where, When....26 - 28 • Health & Well Being................32-33 • Real Estate................................34-35 • Business Directory.......................36-37 • Classifieds..........................................38 • What’s On................................38-41 • Astrology- Yearly prediction.............42 • Bollywood & Entertainment...43-45 • Sport................................................46

JOURNALIST/ CORRESPONDENTS Ram Jattan (UK) Thakur Ranjit Singh (NZ) Thilliar Varnakulasingham (NZ) Shalendra Prasad (Fiji) Dhaval Vyas (India) Rama Gaind (Canberra) ML. M. Nawaaz Ashrafi Imam Muhammad Aslam Sundar Gopal Das Yadavendra Das Pastor Joseph Dass Haji Abdul Rahman Deen Janeth Deen

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Jitendra Deo Ajit K Shahi (Immigration Matters) Jatinder Kaur Vinaya Natarajan (Inspire - Prem Rawat) Peter Lane Rai Parth Raval Gurjeet Singh Matt Young (Sport) ADDRESS:

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Migration Updates....

Sponsors Beware: Payment for Visas MIRGRATION Law is one of the most frequently evolving areas of law in Australia. A recent, significant change has been the introduction of legislation that penalises sponsors who request or receive payment or benefit in return for sponsoring visa holders.

‘Benefits’ do not just mean monetary payments, but may include property, deductions of amounts (such as deductions of salary), gifts and other advantages.

The payment for sponsorship law applies not only to temporary work sponsored visas such as the 457 visa, but also to skilled permanent employer sponsored visas. The new law does not apply to payments for professional services such as those charged by registered migration agents, lawyers and education agents.

The rationale behind the introduction of the new law is to ensure visa applicants do not become exploited by their employer and that the purpose of work-sponsored visa schemes is not undermined and genuine skills shortages of local workers can be filled by qualified, skilled foreign workers.

Sponsors who breach the above laws and are found to have received payment or benefits from sponsored visa holders can face imprisonment for up to 2 years, and fines ranging from $43,200 – 64,800 for individuals and $216,000 - $324,000 for corporate organisations.

It is not just sponsors that can be sanctioned for receiving payments for sponsorship. Visa holders may have their visas cancelled if they

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are found to have offered or provided a payment or benefit to their sponsor. The new law will apply to visas already granted, as well as future applicants.

In cases where the Department of Immigration and Border Protection suspects visa holders have paid for a sponsorship-related event, they will contact the visa holder in accordance with Departmental regulations for cancellations matters, giving the visa holder the opportunity to provide comment on the circumstances.

Migration Guru can assist employers with making sure that their policies and procedures are in line with their sponsorship obligations and assist with audit and compliance checks. Migration Guru has substantial experience assisting clients who have received visa cancellation notices, and our partners at Legal Guru can provide advice for businesses who are charged with criminal or civil offences under the new payment for sponsorship law.

Migration Guru Pty Ltd, Level 22, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane, 07 3711 2254 MARN 0324607, MARN 1384452, MARN 1175591, MARN 1382609 & MARN 1466522 Disclaimer:- The above article constitutes only generic information on migration issues, and does not constitute specific migration advice to any entity or individual.

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Pathankot terror attack probe may not go 26/11 way, hopes India From page 1 NEW DELHI: As India waits for Islamabad to walk the talk on acting against Pathankot handlers, it can only hope the joint probe by Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau, military intelligence and ISI does not go the same way as FIA's half-hearted investigation into 26/11 attacks that saw prime suspect, Zaki-urRehman Lakhvi, walk free last year.

What has added to expectations of the Indian side this time around is that not only the FIA but all top agencies of the Pakistani security establishment are on board and will jointly study the leads on Pathankot attack. "Given that Pakistan Army establishment and ISI are all powerful and well versed with terror networks working out of their country, there is a good possibility that, if serious, they will be able to pinpoint the handlers and hunt them down. On the flip side, however, even the joint probe may not make much headway if these agencies are unwilling to cooperate," said a senior officer of the Indian security establishment.

"But one thing is sure; the joint probe leaves no room for excuses about the apparent lack of coordination between the political and military establishment in Pakistan," said the officer.

Some suspects were reportedly detained by the Pakistani agencies for possible links to Pathankot attack. However, the identity of these suspects, mostly from Bahawalpur, is not known. There is a suspicion that they may be merely footsoldiers, and that the probe may not necessarily lead to top Jaish office-bearers including suspected Pathankot mastermind Abdul Rauf Asghar or his brother and Jaish chief, Maulana Masood Azhar.

• Security personnel guard at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. Photo: PTI

At least that was the experience with the 26/11 probe in Pakistan, which has failed to nail prime mastermind Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. A dossier prepared for the NSA-level talks scheduled in August last year but called off at the eleventh hour, had faulted FIA for confining the probe to the period 2007-2008, when the conspiracy to commit terror acts in India was hatched between 2005 and 2008.

The dossier pointed out how recce of the targets, done by Headley and handled by Sajid Majid, Abdur Rehman Pasha and Pak Army officers Major Iqbal and Major Samir, was an aspect that was never investigated.

Also, FIA probed only the Karachi part of

the conspiracy, overlooking the links to Muzaffarabad, Muridke and Lahore. The role of ISI, the dossier underlined, was not looked into. Nor did the investigation cover the background of the 10 terrorists or their facilitators, who arranged their stay, training and movement from Lahore to Karachi.

The Indian side pointed out that FIA, during its questioning of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, failed to probe him on crucial details about his accomplices and associates, some of them state actors. There was no effort to locate key suspects named in Indian probe, including Abu Qahafa, Abu Saeed, etc.

The role of David Headley, his handlers and

financiers was left out of the scope of FIA's probe, and the funding provided for procuring the boat used by the Mumbai attack team never investigated. The source of arms and explosives used by Kasab and companies too was not identified.

The dossier also pointed out how FIA had failed to examine Lashkar mastermind Hafiz Saeed's role exposed by American terrorist David Headley's ex-wife Faiza Outalha. Outalha, who had met Saeed at a Lahore mosque frequented by Headley, had spoken of Saeed having planned the attack and overseen the training and preparation of the 10-member attack team.

Bharti Jain - TNN

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The great Moscow circus on tour THE perks of being in media, you get invited to preview many famous acts, plays. Movies etc, I know it is a tough job, but someone has to do it.

On the rainy Tuesday 5th January we were invited to a media call to preview The Great Moscow Circus. Now it has been a while since I last went to a circus, and this brought back childhood memories. As we walked towards the entrance of this huge tent, the excitement level peaked.

The show was just amazing with all the acts very professionally executed and choreographed, Rafael El Nino Junior, “Nino the clown” kept everyone entertained and also kept the show moving. The circus has a special motorbike stunt segment and when we saw Nino on the bike we thought he would be just going around ring, but no he actually went in the metal ball and rode the bike. I must say that this segment has a special act, which I shall not disclose as you will have to see it for yourself to believe it.

The music and the choreography was second to none, though, being a musician, I must say

that I personally missed the live musicians, none the less the background music score was great and the performers did well to be in sync with the already recorded music.

This is the 50th anniversary tour of the circus, Edgley attractions has joined hands with Australia most experienced and successful circus family- Lennon’s, and a well known stage and Cirque producer Susan Porett, to present this 50th anniversary tour. The tour will encompass eighty cities over three years.

The show is a high energy and exciting two hour production. The cast of over forty five performers and support staff includes fourteen International acts.

We had the opportunity of talking to Rafael El Nino Junior, Nino the clown; he said that they spend numerous hours training for the acts, and physical fitness. He acknowledged that there is always an element of danger, but the performers are highly trained individual and professionals. Nino who hails from Brazil has toured over twenty two different countries being part of the circus.

Ashley Gropy, who does a lot of stunts in-

cluding walking the tight rope, said that yeas there is the danger element, but he focuses on the positive side and tries to do his best, he is quite used to this live style and would not be stuck to a house. He gets enormous please seeing the audience happy and enjoying their performances.

The trapeze and the all the other acts are second to none, the death defying “ Globe riders” , what can I say about them simply stunning show you have to see it for yourself.

For show locations / timings please visit www.thegreatmoscowcircus.com.au.

AUSTRALIA DAY C E L E B R AT E Y O U R WAY Australia Day means something different to everyone, and it’s important you do what’s right for you. So on January 26, reflect on what you love about being Australian.

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Brisbane’s getting ready to fall in love Valentines 2016 Bollywood Style!

VALENTINES EVE 2016 will see BULA ENTERTAINEMENT roll out the Red Carpet for famous Bollywood celebrity and award winning Lyricist & Writer Sandeep Nath. (Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu fame from the Super hit film Aashiqui 2) Sandeep Nath will do a stop over in Brisbane on the way to Los Angeles and London as a special guest for the Vijay Kumaran Valentines Dinner & Dance event on Saturday 13th of February 2016 at the Macgregor State School Hall in Macgregor, Brisbane.

The family dinner & dance event will stage live concert by Melbourne’s finest entertainer & award winning actor and singer Vijay Kumaran best known for charming the audience with hit Bollywood songs.

Adwin Awadh, founder of Bula Entertainment, and Vijay Kumaran who both recently won an International Award of Excellence at the San Francisco FOG Film Festival held in California in August 2015 for their roles in the film Highway to Suva, will be reuniting with Sandeep Nath in Brisbane for this event.

The Vijay Kumaran Valentines Dinner & Dance Night will also feature live Dhol & Bhangra workshop by Ministry of Bhangra from Sydney, Local Islander Dancers and Special Guest Miss India Australia 2015 Tanya Bali.

Sandeep Nath who has worked over 70 Films with legendary singers like, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Shreya Ghosal, Arjit and Ankit Tiwari will be in town where a special surprise Brisbane’s local singer will also be given an opportunity to perform one of Sandeep Nath’s super hit songs on the night.

To date, Sandeep Nath has penned super hit songs for some of Bollywood’s greatest superstars like AMITABH BACHCHAN, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Aish-

Network.

SNPPL is in the process of producing two feature films under the banner, which will be directed by Sandeep Nath. The company is also involved in promoting new talents for Bollywood, such as singers, assistant directors and actors, models from around the Globe. The event will be MC’d and decorated by Dream Style Decorators and Sound & Lighting by Sounds of Bollywood.

Sandeep Nath will be judging the Best Valentines Bollywood single and couple modelling competition on Saturday February 13th. Registration to enter the competition is open for the local public, actors & models to win prizes for the best-dressed single and

couple on the night.

Simply visit www.bulaentertainment.com to register to be a part of the biggest Valentines Bollywood Dinner & Dance Night in Brisbane 2016, which will be full of music, masti & live entertainment.

For presold tickets & table bookings please contact Adwin on 0415557430.

Hindi School Reaches 25th Year Courtesy Sarat Maharaj

• Vijay Kumaran.

warya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Kangana Ranaut and new age actors like Shradhdha Kapoor & Aditya Roy Kapoor.

Sandeep Nath has also worked with some of Bollywood’s biggest Directors including Madhur Bhadarekar, Rohit Shetty, Ram Gopal Verma, Sanjay Leela Bansali, Mohit Suri, Deepak Tijori and many more.

Bula Entertainment has teamed up with SNPPL (Sandeep Nath Productions Pvt. Ltd) in Mumbai who are looking to tie up future Events, Feature Films, Short Films, Television Series, Web Series and Film Distribution

HINDUSTANI Language and Culture School has achieved a milestone, boasting 25 years of continued service. This year brings back memories of our first enrolment of 27 students at the Boondall Mandir. Following a management decision to include students from all religions and all backgrounds in 1993, six school centres were established in Queensland State School premises, with total student number rising to 272.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. In 2002, we celebrated our 10th Anniversary in a big way. Lately, the inclusion of Hindi into the National Languages Curriculum is another big step to learn Hindi. So, a Silver Jubilee celebration is being planned to showcase the achievements and the challenges during these past years.

This year, the school term will begin on Saturday 30th January from 2-4pm at both its cen-

• The photo is a blast from the past. Some of students participating in a certification night.

tres – Calamvale Community College, Calamvale, and at Boondall State School, Boondall. At the last AGM, the management committee has recommended that parents will need to pay a fee as from this year. This nominal fee is to encourage students to meet Education Queensland criteria of 80% attendance, before qualifying for funding. A generous incentive will be offered to students who qualify for 80% attendance. In the current environment, students participating in extra-curricular activities, such as swimming, cricket, soccer, etc on weekends, pay a fee to participate.

Parents wishing to enrol their children should contact Sarat Maharaj via e-mail: regmaharaj@gmail.com or by phone on 0407 111 709, or contact the local centre coordinator.

Full enrolment guidelines, full fee structure, and induction details will be sent out to every applicant. Applications must be received on or before 20th January 2016.

Indian women turn to virtual reality to fight sexual violence WOMEN in India are turning to virtual reality technology to help them in the fight against sexual violence.

A virtual reality tour of a police station, using headsets and a smartphone app, is aimed at helping women overcome their reluctance to report sexual assaults.

The campaign is being run by Amnesty International in conjunction with local police services in Bangalore and Pune.

Recent high-profile sexual violence cases have drawn international attention to brutal sexual violence committed against women in India. Despite this, many Indian women remain reluctant to report crimes committed against them. According to the National Family Health Survey 2005-2006, only 1% of women who have experienced sexual violence report it to the police.

“Many many women in this country face violence both within and outside their families.

So it’s not an issue that’s widely talked about which is probably why very few women also have the confidence to go out to the police and talk about it.” Diya Deb, Campaign Manager, Amnesty International India, said.

The goal is to empower women with knowledge of their rights and the process for filing a complaint at a police station.

Visit www.readytoreport.in/ for futher information.

10 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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APSQ - International Arya Oksana...A novel by Anil Dhar Mahasammelan - Sydney SYDNEY based author Anil Dhar is delighted to have his first fictional novel published by Partridge India.

Jitendra Deo President APSQ

MAHASAMMELAN has its own essence on the community. The rewarding event encompasses the members of the Vedic sect and wider community. Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Australia hosted International Arya Mahasammelan in late November last year had its mark in history in Arya Samaj community in Australia.

The programmes were based on youths, Agnihotra, Science in Vedas, Health and Vedas to name a few. Youths performed Drama, sang Bhajans and spoke on various subjects.

The scholars and Acharya’s presentation on various topics were scientifically supported

“OKSANA”© - A Novel Twenty-one year old Jai Grover has it all: good looks, an engineering degree from IITDelhi, rich and loving parents, and an easy life in a sprawling parental home. But when he decides to take a year off to create a dance group and set up an events management company in Mumbai, his life changes forever.

He manages to pull together a dance group with the help of five rich teenagers and one Oksana Bzovsky, a beautiful and skilled dancer from Ukraine. Jai faces a number of challenges to win a business for his group.

He partly succeeds when opportunities are presented to him by outside help.

At the same time, he is dealing with his emerging feelings for Oksana. A sudden change of events leaves him with four options to decide his fate and futurepro with Oksana. Which one will he choose?

Fun-filled, romantic and suspenseful, and awash in the vibrancy of modern India, Oksana captures the enchantment of a cross-culwith data and explanations.

Such events not only enhance the spiritually, tural relationship, the power of friendship, but provides youngsters with lots of relevant Indian values and the challenges emerging information, and providing logical reasons India faces. behind rituals and Yaj. The future leaders have to be reliably informed about their cul- How to order? ture which should supported with logical and Title Oksana© scientific way.

Author Anil Dhar As the time goes by its essential to reflect on Pages 392 past year and balance our books, not mone- Publisher Partridge Publishing (A Penguin tarily, I mean spiritually. Just ask ourselves Random House Company) how much I have given to the community, Formats E-Book, Softcopy and Hardcopy. how many people I have helped and guided, Price (AU) E-Book $7.99 / Soft Cover how much financial support I have provided $18.59 / Hard Cover $34.71 to needy or Samaj and the list is endless. All these are great deeds; they will earn your The book is being widely distributed through karma (Karma Pradhan).

Indian online retail channels – Amazon I wish all the readers and members a very re- India, Flipkart and Ingram retail channels warding 2016. May God bless you with good Amazon, Apple iBook Store, Google, Boko, health and wealth. May you all grow spiritu- Barnes & Nobel and Baker & Taylor etc. The ally making your life divine.

12 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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book is already available on Amazon and Barnes&Nobel.

The book could be accessed from all devices such as Apple, Kindle, Android and Nook.

The print version is available from Partridge India, contact - Partridge India 000 800 10062 62 orders.india@partridgepublishing.com www.partridgepublishing.com/india Alternatively, you can also visit http://www.bookfinder4u.com/ and then search by Title, Author, key word or ISBN. About the author Anil Dhar was born in Kashmir, India. He is basically an IT professional; but his main interest has always lied in history, culture, world events and conflicts, current affairs and travelling.

Oksana is his first novel, and writing it was quite an experience.

He is a naturalised citizen of Australia and lives in Sydney. He could be reached via email at anil.dhar@live.com or Twitter @ZippyAD

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South Asian Community Link (SACLG) Australiasia Members receive VMC Awards DR RAJU Adhikari, President and Mr Deepak Vinayak, Patron of South Asian Community Link group (SACLG, www.saclg. org.au) were among the recipients of this year VMC award for their outstanding meritorious service to the communities.

Dr Adhikari was recognised for his leadership role as founder presidents of Nepali Association of Victoria (NAV), Help Nepal Network Australia (HeNN-Australia), Chair of the Skill Knowledge and Innovation Committee of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and as president of South Asian Community Link Group (SACLG) Australasia, in advocating and championing the social harmony and multiculturalism in Australia for over 20 years, in addition to his outstanding scientific contribution as a CSIRO scientist to Victoria Science and Technology.

Deepak Vinayak was recognised for his outstanding community service as a patron of South Asian Community Link Group (SACLG) Australasia for more than 15 years. He has been actively engaged with new migrants training, in developing platforms, bringing youth together to champion the cause of social cohesion and multicultur-

alism in wider communities. As a Justice of the Peace (JP) and a two time People of Australia Ambassador, this award was an added recognition to his ongoing outstanding meritorious service to the community.

SACLG is a non-religious, nonpolitical, non-profitable organization which was established in Feb 2010 by representatives from 9 different countries for promoting greater understanding and cooperation to support the communities of the region and goodwill between South Asian countries and Australia.

Surendra Prasad OAMFiji Senior Citizens Assn of Qld Inc – Jae-Seob Jee Executive Director- HWPL

By Surendra Prasad

MR Jae-Seob Jee, the Executive Director of Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL) OF Korea, visited Australia to meet the religious leaders to discuss how we can make the world peaceful place to live.

Mr Jee witnessed and underwent the Korean War and therefore he feels the strong need in peace building activities and has strong assurance in the work of Mr Man-Hee Lee, chairman HWPL in bringing real peace into the world.

I had an honour to meet Mr Jee above (photo) at my residence and had an opportunity to discuss how his organisation is working with the leaders of the world in making the world a peaceful place to live. The HWPL works with head of states of countries, religious leaders, youth and others around the world. Dr Arsalan M. Falarti and Dr Maziar M Falarti from Sufi Community also join the discussion.

Mr Jee believes that the heavens and the earth formed by the hands of the creator have been given to humanity as an inheritance. In all the universe, life in its vast splendour exists only on our world.

May peace prevail in the world, may we embrace Diversity, cross culture and equality in diversity. This is one planet, one world, and one humanity. It has always been this way and will always be in our daily efforts. However, we often forget that we are all connected in beautiful and magical dance....

The Dance of Love.

BIT FEBRUARY 2016 DEADLINES ADVERT BOOKING 1 February 2016 Email: sales@indiantimes.com.au

Editorial / Photo Submissions 2 February 2016 - submissions not accepted after this date Email prod@indiantimes.com.au or call 07 3865 6533

Australian India Heritage Committee invites you to Message for New Year 2016 join hands to honour the servicemen & women of Australian - Indian origin who fought in World Wars I & II Dharam Guru Param Pujya Acharya Pt. Ram harsh Tripathi Ji - A great scholar of Hindu Philosophy & Mythology

Nav Varsh Ki Subh Kamnaye

THERE ars some enemies in human’s mind which are ignored by us like KAMA, LOBH, MOHA, MADA, and MASTAR. In the present days ‘MASTAR’ is very strong. The word ‘Mastar’ denotes the morbid feeling of jealousy exited by the sight of others, advance learning, wealth honour, wisdom, and fame or any other object or virtue. The evil of jealousy remains hidden even in those who regard themselves as possessed of learnign and wisdom. One may develop jealousy even towards friends and relatives.

Apart from the feeling of joy and grief and other such morbid feelings the KARMAYOGI is free from the vice jealousy as well. If one wants to avoid jealously we should make no distinction between the success and failure of an undertaking or between its successful conclusion and miscarriage, what is meant by remaining “balance in success and failure”.

There is no restriction, command or proper guidance to the human being to choose their proper way to save or serve the entire creation. Negative resources are being upgraded; it will damage the whole atmosphere. Who cares for tomorrow? New diseases will appear that will be uncured. This type of progress will bring destruction to all. Indirectly this verse anticipated the invention of NUCLEAR weapons.

These atomic weapons may destroy the world. Negative powers never bring peace and prosperity in human societies.

May God change the thinking of the world form negative to positive

Happy New Year to All

SARVE BHAWANTU SUKHINAM YEH VARSH AAP SAB KE LIYE MANGAL MAYA HO

14 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

Courtesy Surendra Prasad

DEAR friends, this is to seek your support for a monument to honour Indian-Australian servicemen and women at the Sunnybank Returned Services League, Australia (RSL).

This is a first for Queensland and we need the help of all those in the community working at grassroots level or otherwise to make this dream a reality.

India made the largest contribution to World War I of all Britain’s colonies and dominions.

Indian soldiers played a vital role in Gallipoli and in many theatres of war around the world such as Italy, France, Belgium, Turkey and Iraq. Of the 1.3 million Indian soldiers who fought in World War I, 74,000 were killed.

Up to 15,000 Indians fought with allied troops in Gallipoli. An estimated 1,400 Indians died in Gallipoli and another 3,500 were wounded.

The contribution in World War II was equally great. The Indian Army began the war, in 1939, numbering just under 200,000 men. By the end of the war it had become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945. Serving in divisions of infantry, armour and a fledgling airborne force, they fought on three continents in Africa, Europe and Asia. Indian women also participated in this war but it is difficult to find accurate numbers.

Yet till recently Indian service men and women have remained forgotten in Australia.

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We have no monuments or events to remember the bravery and sacrifices they made fighting thousands of miles away from their families, home and motherlands or the bonds of friendship they forged with soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

The proposed monument will be a first step towards creating a collective public memory.

But we cannot do it by ourselves. To make this dream a reality we need the contributions (monetary and non-monetary) and collaboration of Indians residents in Australia and our other Australian friends and supporters.

We seek your assistance to: • Raise funds for the monument. We will need at least $30,000 in the first instance.

• Provide names of Indian communities and soldiers who may have been involved so that they can be acknowledged. We have been able to locate a few but need more.

• Send photographs of personnel and any memorabilia such as medals and letters which can be uploaded on the Facebook page for the Australia India Heritage Committee (under construction).

Every contribution counts. We hope the information provided in the next few pages inspires you to support this important project.

If you have any other suggestions or information you wish to share, please write to us at aihcommittee@gmail.com or call us on 0413 004 100 / 0416 150 911. Please remember we cannot do it alone.

Call 07 3865 6533

Call 07 3865 6533

www.indiantimes.com.au

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 15

School of Vedic Education Research and Training

Long YAGYAS from MAKARSANKRANTI to MAHASHIVARATRI - 14 Jan - 7 March 16 DEAR friends and supporters and donors for long YAGYAS, since we have completed our domestic rituals successfully, we were planning to launch the remaining YAGYA again for 55 days till MAHASHIVARATRI. In this period we noticed that the planetary situation is changing and it may be very harmful for every individual and the World as whole.

Rahu is transiting in Leo on 10th of January.

Lord of Leo is Sun and Sun is transiting in Capricorn on Thursday night and Friday morning around 2 am Australia time, it is 15th January 2016. Here Saturn and Mars are also casting their sight on Sun. So the combination of 5 planets are very harmful for the different activities on most of people.

In this situation it is a must to start some specific prayer, YAGYAs and remedies to maintain harmony in the World consciousness as well as for every individual. So human life can be progressive and peaceful. We invite everyone again for next 55 days YAGYA of Lord Shiva’s prayer. We will start it from Thursday 14th January 2016 and it will continue Till Monday 7th March the final prayer day of MAHASHIVARATRI. If it deemed necessary to continue on wards we will check the situation and manage to prolong this YAGYA further too.

We need your participation, cooperation,

contribution and understanding for such auspicious Occasion. If someone experiences any planetary problems in their progress, our research wing will scrutinize the cause and make proper remedy to solve them, so the progress can be secured. We do our best to balance the disaster unexpected and human life be peaceful.

Your contribution may be more or less, but minimum is recommended as $2 per day (55 days X $2 = $110.00) for total 55 days YAGYAS, will be the best cooperation and support for the daily Rudra Abhishek and Mantra counting of Rahu, Saturn, Mars, Sun and Jupiter.

Your SANKALPA for YAGYA can be sent, by email, phone or personal presence, donations can be transferred in Bank. Detail is as: WESTPAC Bank BSB 032179 Account no.

315438 or N. A. Bank BSB 083405 Account 947613715, Account name: “Chandra Shrivastava”.

Thank you Acharyaji Chandra Prakash (Vedic Educational Specialist) Web: www.yoganyaga.org Mobile: 0403 041 890, 0416 112 140 Email: acaryachandra@gmail.com Venue: 3 Braeside Walk, Caroline Springs Vic 3023, Tel: 03 9449 9714.

Expression of Interest - Certificate III in Aged Care (CHC30212) THE Multicultural Community Centre (MCC) in conjunction with Asian Pacific Institute (API) will be running Aged Care courses for those wishing to gain entry into the Aged Care industry.

The Certificate III in Aged Care runs for 12 weeks fulltime including both 8 weeks of inclass lectures and 4 weeks of practical placement in a nursing home. Essential knowledge and skills will be assessed through written work and industry placement.

This course is nationally recognized, and upon completion, students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to work as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN), a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) in an Aged Care Facility, a Community support Worker, a Home Care Assistant or a Community Care Worker.

Students aspiring to continue with further study can upgrade to the Certificate IV in Aged Care Work, or diversify their training by undertaking another Community Services qualification such as the Certificate III or Certificate IV in Disability. Students can also advance onto the Diploma of Community Services Work or other health care professions such as Nursing at a tertiary level.

Under this training, students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds will be able to receive language support (if required) to enable students to work through their notes and to prepare for assessment.

Units of competency (10 Compulsory units and 4 Electives) • CHCAC318B Work effectively with older

people • CHCAC317A Support older people to maintain their independence • CHCCS411C Work effectively in the community sector • HLTAP301B Recognise healthy body systems in a health care context • CHCWHS312A Follow safety procedures for direct care work • CHCICS301B Provide support to meet personal care needs • CHCICS302B Participate in the implementation of individualised plans • CHCICS303A Support individual health and emotional well-being • CHCAC319A Provide support to people living with dementia • CHCPA301B Deliver care services using a palliative approach • HLTFA311A Apply first aid • HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers • CHCAC316D Provide food services • HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures Course duration: 12 weeks Entry requirements: Basic English language and literacy & numeracy skills For those who are interested in this course or would like further details, please contact the Multicultural Community Centre or Asian Pacific Institute on (07) 3257 1868.

23 Foster Street Newmarket - PO Box 3454, Newmarket,Qld 4051. Tel: 07 3257 1868 Fax: 07 3257 1869 - info@mccbrisbane.org ABN: 34 076 048 836

MCC O Stop Sto S Shop Sho S MC One Community Learning Funding Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care (CHC30113)* Certificate III in Aged Care (CHC30212)*

* Training delivered in partnership with API (RTO No. 6153)

Students will receive ongoing learning support

15 years or older Australian Permanent Resident/Citizen, New Zealand Citizen, Refugee and Humanitarian Visa holders residing in QLD Temporary Visa holders living in QLD with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency Not receiving income support or assistance from Job Services Australia providers Not hold Certificate III or higher qualification

Cost No training cost for eligible participants

Call MCC today to check your eligibility or to register on (07) 3257 1868

RTO no. 6153 | CRISCOS No. 01888B

16 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

Proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government

BRISBANE City Council has served up an ace Team Brisbane CityCat with Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner unveiling CityCat Ya-wa-gara’s new look which celebrates the 2016 Brisbane International.

Cr Schrinner joined Grand Slam champion and World Number Three Roger Federer to officially launch Ya-wa-gara’s new look on 2 January, which is the sixth to be revamped in a decorative skin depicting a popular sporting team as part of Council’s Team Brisbane campaign.

“The 26-tonne catamaran is kitted out with the yellow, white and blue Brisbane International colouring and the white and aqua Queensland Tourism ‘It’s Live! In Queensland’ logo to promote the competition, which runs from January 3-10 at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Ya-wa-gara is named after the Aboriginal name for Breakfast Creek and will join the fleet of Team Brisbane CityCats celebrating teams such as Brisbane Heat, Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Firebirds and the Brisbane Lions.

“Its top speed is 25 knots or 45 kilometres per hour – almost 200kph slower than Federer’s serve.

“Ya-wa-gara’s new wrap is right on the ball for Team Brisbane and I’m confident it will get energize a new level of excitement for the upcoming Brisbane International.”

Brisbane International Tournament Director Cameron Pearson said the tournament was an

iconic event for Brisbane.

“It’s exciting to be teaming up with another great Brisbane icon this summer – every January Brisbane International takes over the city and in 2016 we’re looking forward to extending our presence to the Brisbane River,” Mr Pearson said.

“The world’s best tennis players love competing in Queensland and the Brisbane International CityCat adds to the atmosphere and excitement of the event.”

The new wave of decorated CityCats will continue through to mid-year, with upcoming unique wraps to celebrate the Queensland Reds following the recently unveiled Brisbane Heat-themed CityCat and Brisbane Bandits-themed CityCat. Cr Schrinner said it wasn’t too late for Brisbane locals to get involved with Council’s Team Brisbane CityCat Design Competition.

“Council is calling on all residents to design a unique skin that depicts the words ‘Team Brisbane’ and celebrates our great city,” he said.

“The winning design chosen by an expert panel of judges will be emblazoned on one of our CityCat vessels for the next few years.

Residents have until January 15 to enter, so there is still plenty of time to get creative and come up with an original design that will take pride of place in the fleet.”

For more information about Council’s CityCat fleet visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3403 8888.

Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir Burbank - Happy Lohri!!

Nationally accredited courses available:

Eligibility

Council serves up an ace with the Brisbane International CityCat

JAI Sri Ram, We wish you all a very Happy New Year 2016 and Thank you for supporting us during 2015.

It is Lohri again, in 2014 our first lohri celebrations and then last year received great appreciation and support. So we are planning to make Lohri Celebrations even great this year. (Significance of Lohri: In houses that have recently had a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a higher pitch of excitement. Lohri rituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs.Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol.)

Lohri will be celebrated in temple on Sunday the 17th Jan'15 as per below

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programme: Regular Sunday Programme - 4:00 to 6:00pm Lohri Puja : 06:15 pm followed by Traditional Lohri celebrations and Mahaprasad (Punjabi special) : 06:30pm You all are cordially invited to this great event, We appreciate your generous donations for Lohri.

Please contact Mr. Anurodh - 0402 908 554 or Mr. Satinder - 0433 872 163 for any more information or support.

Looking forward to see you all in the temple.

Jai Sri Ram Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir Call 07 3865 6533

Call 07 3865 6533

www.indiantimes.com.au

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 17

Message from Minister for Multicultural Affairs Queensland Multicultural Affairs Grace Grace Don't miss the opportunity to have your say I WOULD like to introduce myself as your new and very proud Minister for Multicultural Affairs. I follow in the footsteps of my Cabinet colleague Minister Shannon Fentiman who many of you would have had the pleasure of meeting.

Minister Fentiman has retained her portfolio responsibilities of Communities, Women, Youth, Child Safety and has been given the additional very significant responsibility as Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence. Minister Fentiman has told me of the absolute delight she has had working with you and your communities.

I am very excited to be working in an area which has been a passion of mine for many years. I am the daughter of an Italian migrant family and have had a strong association with our many wonderful and diverse multicultural communities, as an employee advocate

and in recent years as a local Member of Parliament and community advocate. I am committed to meeting the challenges facing our multicultural society, but am also keen to identify and action the opportunities our multiculturalism brings to Queensland.

I am very much looking forward to continuing the vision of the Palaszczuk government for a Multicultural Future for All – which will include leading the Multicultural Recognition Bill through the debates in Parliament early in the New Year, promoting the proposed Multicultural Charter and overseeing the development of a whole of government Multicultural Policy and Action plan for Queensland.

Yours sincerely Grace Grace

Minister for Employment and Industrial relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs

THE Community Services Jobs Skills and Industry Strategy 2025 Consultation will close on 20 January 2016.

Don’t miss the chance to help prioritise actions aimed at ensuring the community services industry is well placed to deliver services into the future.

Access the Online engagement activity to have your say - www.communities.qld.gov .au/gateway/reform-and-renewal/socialservices/community-services-jobs-skillsand-industry-strategy-2025 You will be able to vote and comment on strategies (and leave comments) which will aim to: • improve career pathways for people of migrant, refugee and CALD backgrounds in the Community Services sector • advocate that community services employment should aim to reflect population diversity (20% of Queensland's population are born overseas and nearly 10% of Queenslan-

ECCQ welcomes new chief executive officer 12 January 2016: The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) has recently welcomed Mr Garry Page as its new chief executive officer.

Mr Page has extensive experience in the multicultural sector in Queensland, having previously served as Executive Director at Multicultural Affairs Queensland for five years.

Mr Page also played a pivotal role in the development of Queensland’s Multicultural Policy and the development of Queensland’s first Multicultural Recognition legislation.

Most recently, Mr Page was working as Chief Operating Officer for Access Community Services, a major settlement services provider in Queensland.

Having worked nationally and internationally in the areas of child safety, youth justice, homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability services and in the multicultural sector, Mr Page will contribute a wealth of skills and knowledge to ECCQ.

18 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

ders speak a language other than English at home) • emphasise that cultural competency relates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds • encourage the development of targeted initiatives to assist vulnerable people (e.g. recently arrived migrants and refugees) to gain skills and enter employment • advocate that services being delivered to culturally and linguistically diverse clients, should seek to employ people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds • increase responsiveness of community services to the needs of all members of the community and ensure that community priorities reflect the community's diversity.

This voting process will help inform the development, of the department’s 10-year strategy and the first of a series of two year action plans.

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Mr Page said he is looking forward to continuing his work in promoting the benefits of multiculturalism in Queensland and developing positive community relations.

“I am incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to work with ECCQ and to continue to serve Queensland’s culturally and linguistically (CALD) diverse communities,” said Mr Page.

“I look forward to furthering ECCQ’s mission in ensuring CALD communities have equal access to services and can fully participate in all aspects of a cohesive and harmonious Queensland.”

Mr Page will work closely with ECCQ’s residential aged care division, Berlasco Court and community care division, Diversicare to promote the goals and aims of ECCQ as the peak body for multiculturalism in Queensland.

To find out more information about ECCQ visit www.eccq.com.au

Call 07 3865 6533

Call 07 3865 6533

www.indiantimes.com.au

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 19

Types of Selfies...

Suman Dua AIR - Australian Indian Radio ‘Jee Le Zara’ HI GUYS, I will be writing about a topic that I have talked about in one of my programs on ‘Australian Indian Radio’. This month’s topic is ‘Types of Selfies’. Before I start I would like to say that I am, myself guilty of taking each one of these selfies and I am sure you all have taken these type of selfies at some point of time. This article is written for a laugh so please don’t take it too seriously.

1.Holy Selfie - This is the selfie you take solely because the lighting situation is just doing it for you. Your hair look golden and your eyes which are usually black or brown are looking hazel and the pimples are not visible anymore… so what do you do? You stop everything you are doing…. pull your car!!! Put your hazard lights on!!!And take about 45 selfies coz the first 44 are not good enough for Facebook. And you are like look at me!!!….I am a holy angel descending from heaven and it’s against your religion not to double tap on my photo. So did you double tap??

2. I exist selfie - This is the selfie we take when sometimes we are sitting in front of computer but actually not doing anything and your screen saver comes on and you tap on your mouse….that’s because it gives you a satisfaction having your screen back on even though you are paying no attention whatsoever. And you are thinking nothing has happened for a while and you just want to break the silence….You take a few selfies as it’s been 48 hours since

you last posted something on Facebook.

Obviously you don’t want people to think that you have deactivated your account….

You want to tell them that you exist so I have named this type as “I exist selfie”.

3. Proof of Friendship Selfie - I am sure this is the selfie we all are guilty of taking.

This is the selfie you take with your close friend that’s because you want people to know how cool and real your friendship is.

You want to tell them Hey!!! Look at this picture…see how much friendship is happening here right now. And you want people to think that you have lot of friends … so many that you have reached the limit of adding anymore friends on facebook. So… .I guess you are thinking that already??

4. Inconvenient Selfie - You are in the kitchen and you are trying to cook and you

20 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

cut your thumb and you are bleeding....

You quickly rush to your phone…Will you be calling 000 from the phone?? Nah…!!!

You will take selfies and you literally have 3 minutes when you can do some action so that you can save your life but you will literally use those 3 minutes putting filters on your photos and posting on social media and GUESS WHAT…..??? You are dead.

5. Gym Selfie - Now how many of you can relate to this one?? I do it all the time… of course you want the whole world to know that you are working out. I think it also gives you some kind of motivation as when you actually see your Facebook friends they ask you ‘How is your workout going’ and it gives you motivation to go back in Gym for another selfie!!!

Through this article I would just like to say that even though we all love taking selfies , I just want to remind myself and everyone that selfies are not memories.

Memories will always be better than selfies. The number of likes and comments do not make us a better person …its spending good time and having good conversations is what is more important. When we will all get old and we have wrinkles on our face we will not remember selfies what we will remember is memories. So next time you go out with family or friends or are having a special moment…live that moment and create a memory and after that if you have time definitely take selfies. Hope you liked this article and I will be back with a new topic soon, till then Enjoy Life!!!

You can listen to me on Australian Indian Radio in my Program ‘Jee Le Zara’ every Saturday at 7pm and every Wednesday at 8pm.

For any feedback please email to ‘air@indianradio.net.au’.

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AIR guest Presenters.....

Pastor Joseph Dass (Above) & Pastors John & Mary Thomas (Below) presented special Christmas messages in December 2015

• Adwin Awadh from Bula Entertainment joined Umesh Chandra for an interview on their Valentines Bollywood Dinner & Dance in Brisbane on 13 February. Refer to page 41 for details.

Call 07 3865 6533

Call 07 3865 6533

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 21

Uttar Pradesh's support for Girmitiyas laudable

By Dr. Satish Rai The Indian Diaspora Jan 09, 2016 IN JUNE 2015 I was having lunch with my Bollywood film colleague Aslam Khan in a Mumbai restaurant when he suddenly called out 'Girmitiya', looking in the direction of about five individuals who had entered the restaurant.

I turned around and looked at them. Their dressing and Hindi was a bit different. I also thought they were descendants of some 1.3 million Indians who were transported to European colonies (between 1928 to 1916 under an agreement that all the transportees were duped into putting their thumbprints in Calcutta or Madras before transportation and permanent exile for more than 70 percent of them).

Today these mainly forgotten Indians are called Girmitiyas from the agreement. Some are called Kontrakis from contract or Jahajis

from the shared experiences on hundreds of voyages during this period when a brotherhood bond (Jahaji bhai) were formed and maintained in the colonies.

Aslam Khan is perhaps the first present day converted Girmitya since he watched my documentary drama In ‘Exile at Home-a Fiji Indian Story’ in 2008.

Mention of Girmitiya refocussed me on a project I have been thinking for some time to mark the official abolition of girmit in 1916.

When I mentioned this to Aslam bhai he immediately requested me to send him a written proposal which I promptly did.

He then submitted the proposal through his contacts in Lucknow to the Uttar Pradesh government and it eventually reached the Chief Minister Akhlesh Yadav.

In a meeting held soon after the CM personally approved the project, which due to shortness of time found a session in the first ever Uttar Pravasi Divas 2016 which was held at the ITC Mughal Agra January 4-5.

I arrived in Delhi on January 3 on a luxurious flight and I was transported to Agra via the new and impressive Delhi-Agra expressway. Upon arrival, the magnificent ITC Mughal hotel and its courteous staff overwhelmed me.

The first day session started with impressive exhibitions which displayed many aspects of UP's developments and offers for the state's Pravasis. The official program started at about 5.30 p.m. when the Chief Minister arrived with his wife in the magnificent conference room in the hotel complex.

After a very inspiring official opening ceremony, the 250 plus guests were mesmerised

by powerful performance by the legendary Rahet Fateh Ali Khan. The evening was superbly rounded off by a sumptuous dinner fit for royalty.

The next day heralded my participations in two sessions: Power of Software in Arts and Culture and Tracing Indian Roots/Girmitiyas.

I was previleged to share the first panel with the legendary Muzzafar Ali, (he informed me that he is from the same part of UP where my maternal grandfather originates), Sudhir Mishra and Anup Jhalota as well as panellists who spoke on Indian cuisine, music and design.

I spoke of making films on girmit, and how filmmakers from the girmit diaspora should be encouraged to make films both in the girmit diaspora and in India as well. I spoke of my current work on a period film on the abolition of the global girmit, which later got in principle support from the UP film department for partial funding.

The pre-production has now begun and depending upon the official approvals, production should begin shortly.

The session on Tracing Indian Roots/Girmitiyas began with a brief but eloquent history of Girmitiyas by the well respected Lucknow personality Chander Prakash, who then proposed that the conference rise and observe one minute silence in the memory of the sons and daughters of India who were transported to the colonies and who perished far from their homes in extreme harsh and cruel circumstances.

The panel members and the conference paid homage in unison to the Girmitiyas. This is the first time that India has paid such homage

to the Girmitiyas and I am eternally grateful to Shri Prakash not only for taking my proposal to the Chief Minister and getting it approved, but also suggesting and executing the historic one minute silence.

Post the session many journalist interviewed, all of who were overwhelmed by what they had just learned about girmit and the Girmitiyas and their continuing struggles.

Many of the delegates also provided positive feedback and wondered why this significant aspect of UP (and some other states like Bihar) was buried deep into the dustbin of Indian history.

I am overwhelmed by the speed of execution of my project proposal, the success of the session and the many follow-ups that have been agreed in principle by those in charge of the various departments in the Uttar Pradesh government.

My heartfelt and special gratitude to the Honourable Chief Minister of UP, Akhlesh Yadav, Chander Prakash, Sanjiv Saran, Navnit Shagal and Janab Aslam Khan for their invaluable suppprt for this conference and for in principle support for future initiatives for the Girmityas by the Uttar Pradesh government.

(Satish Rai is a film and TV producer, a journalist and publisher of The Global Indian Journal. He is the first filmmaker to have produced films on Girmityas in 2001 and has also written extensively about them and their history. He has also written a novel ‘Silent Cries’ on African slavery. He is based in Sydney and can be contacted at raivisionfilm@gmail.com)

Five members of Adelaide family die in car crash in India ADELAIDE’S Indian community is mourning the loss of five members of the same family who were killed in a car accident while holidaying in India.

Restaurant owners Rupendra and Anamika Datta were on their way to the Taj Mahal with their family when the accident occurred on Sunday afternoon (10 January, 2016).

It is believed a burst tyre sent the car into a safety barrier, before the SUV flipped on its roof and landed in the path of oncoming traffic.

Ms Datta, 45, and daughters Nikita and Pipasa, aged 8 and 12, and her sister Sonali died at the scene.

The Dattas' 17-year-old son, Digvijoy, died in hospital a short time later.

He was a student at Adelaide High School.

Mr Datta, 48, and his father-in-law are being treated in hospital after surviving the crash.

Mr Datta, originally from New Delhi, runs the Urban India restaurant on Henley Beach Road in Adelaide.

Urban India has opened its doors to the public today, but chef Manpreet Singh said he was still in shock.

"The family was very nice," he said.

"It's nothing like business, we all work as a family here and they were really very good people.

22 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

"We're just doing our responsibility, opening the restaurant, and we want everybody to pray for him now, for his good health."

Close family friend Raja Chaudhuri said Mr Datta, called Rupen by his friends, had been left paralysed from the "waist down" by a spinal injury.

He said he had spoken to a witness who allegedly saw the SUV travelling at excessive speed.

"I saw it on Facebook. Somebody posted that there had been a terrible accident in Delhi so I rang the person," Mr Chaudhuri said.

"The report is that it was over-speeding, about 140 kilometres per hour. That's what the eye witness said.

"It's an expressway but they shouldn't be going that [fast] and one of the tyres, the back tyre, actually burst. They lost control. The car hit the divider and then it toppled over the divider going into the other lane."

Mr Chaudhuri said his friend would never let anyone go hungry and would feed people who could not afford a meal for free.

He said the Indian cricket team would frequent the Urban India restaurant when in Adelaide.

"The immediate concern at this moment is the consular aswww.indiantimes.com.au

sistance to Rupen because when he's stabilised, depending on what he wants to do, we can fly him back to Adelaide but then I don't know how he'll piece together his life," he said.

"He's broken, completely broken, like a piece of glass."

Friend Robbie Benipal said the family was very kind and often provided work for new Indian migrants at their restaurant.

"It was like a shock for me, made me cry from inside actually," he said.

"It shouldn't happen with a family who really help others."

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance to relatives.

Family were due back in Adelaide Close family friend, Anand Bhatia, said he was still in shock over the news and that the family had been due to return to Adelaide this weekend.

Mr Bhatia said he had spoken to the hospital where Mr Datta was first taken, but he has since been transferred to Fortis Hospital in Delhi.

Mr Bhatia believed Mr Datta had suffered critical spinal injuries. He believed a third person, the driver of the SUV, was also taken to hospital with injuries.

ABC/AAP Call 07 3865 6533

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 23

Who, What, Where, When

• Left & Above: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha held a unique spiritual discours session of Missing Dimension on 20 December, 2015 by Pujya Atmaswarup Swami Mahant of Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi. His enlightening and inspiring discourses addressed life’s deepest spiritual meanings and provided practical ways to implement them in daily life. Photo’s courtesy of BAPS.

• Australian Indian Radio (AIR) presenter Suman Dua with Reena Augustine - organiser of Red Carpet Functions at the Red Carpet Functions event held on 18 December 2015.

• Tegjeet Singh Bains of Jinibara State School – Narangba, was awarded 8 academic prizes in total at the Graduation ceremony for year 6 on 10th of December 2015. He was also awarded the Medallion for best All Rounder of the year 2015.

Tagjeet is pictured with his proud mother Devinder Kaur Bains.

• Left & Below: Tamil Poonga has been promoting Tamil education in Auckland, New Zealand since 2003.

“Arumpugal 2015” consisted of a program of dances, speeches, musical story (villu pattu) and prize-giving.

Tamil Poonga deserves very great praise for putting up a worthy program which won the admiration, appreciation and commendation of the audience.

Photo’s courtesy Thilliar Varnakulasingham

24 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 25

Who, What, Where, When

• Surj Samari, visited Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir to inspect the progress and receive the blessing from Dharm Guru Tripathi Ji. Pictured right: Dhiru Desai discussing the progress of the new temple with Surj Samari.

• GOPIO Queensland ladies at the inauguration of GOPIO Gold Coast. From left: Usha Chandra (standing), Alka Jaggessar, Akashika Mohla, Amitha Jaggessar, Nikita Jaggessar.

• Rajendra Prasad, celebrating his birthday at Gayatri Mandir Boondall with the Tuesday night prayer group.

• Students of Sa Re Ga Ma school of Indian music and close friend were treated to mesmerising musical concert by Rahim Zullah and Tabla maestro Zuheb Ahmed Khan of Delhi.

Rahim Zullah had invited Zuheb Ahmed Khan to Brisbane as and added bonus to his students who had a chance his accompaniment.

• Dr Madan Panda,President of BSQ caught up with Usha Chandra at the studio’s of Australian Indian radio during his interview with Swagata Das, the host of the Bengali program. www.indiantimes.com.au 26 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 27

Eve telling it Strait - Time after Time

By Akashika Mohla Email: aakashika@gmail.com MARVELLING through a cool night with the moon looking like a golden pumpkin; I missed my grandma.

Reminisced life – from a child to a girl to a woman; and remained intrigued about “the liberalisation of the mindset” as gobs of meticulous proclaimers have only opined. Some days you want to be a little girl all over again, and let grandma’s takeover in seamless ease. To welcome 2 granddaughters in that era, and support her daughter-in-law and keeping that joint family well knitted was something only a modern woman as irreplaceable like her could do.

Last year, in New Delhi; I had an innate thirst to see the “NEW” Delhi thinking. I heard stories of the innate conservatism, its rigid barrier to accept the bold. Poised, poignant with dazzling nose pins, resplendent kanjeevarams to women with special clips on their jet black well-oiled hair, with fine silver anklets on the cracked heels of the feet; that never stopped from running for that rupaiya from memsaabs!

Suddenly, in the paradox, I was proud of my roots, of the successful women - some with struggle and some effortlessly. We parleyed on tales of “being single at mid 30”, single parenthood, IVF/ surrogacy, independence, career, marriage and work & life choices.

Recently, here, I met a herd, who have an impenetrable human wall to salvage “their” long winding rhetoric.

They dress alike; compete on whose got the NEW Louis Vuitton to assigning next Kitty party date at a funeral.

And then, we found Jugnis in Versace - Gold Coastslurping and burping fine wine like “mithi cha” with the look alikes!

Listening to the sagas of the long winding rhetoric, I found that the bolly busters, and desi telly soaps have wrongly influenced them, projecting the “marriage” as larger than life hem- the ultimate validation of a woman’s existence- singing of the romantic duets and who fasts for the family and then for her progeny, and longs for the latest Mangalsutra. Also, not to forget the seasons of gnawing chauvinism in feminism and boisterous outbreaks of self-created riwaz and the overpowered tolerance debates of similar troupes in many similar colonies of the world. Society, that does not spare when she remains married wearing her mangalsutra and the brick red sindoor, she is shunned, compared to the other women in the coterie; no matter what she does is never enough, never perfect; because the mindset remains stagnant. Is this positive?

The stark women of India are in the rural fields ploughing with their husbands and then feeding the family during breaks, to the Power women in the Parliament, The Hon. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, from being a young widow to a single parent, today, as a woman in in top cadre of Politics. The bold and poised Aishwarya Rai and Anjali Tendulkar marrying the younger consort with successful marriages, to Suparna Trikha - an entrepreneur and devoted family woman – driving beauty through nature with sustainable lifestyle choices - Time after time.

Centuries back in Mahabharata - the women then – The Kunti, Draupadi, Gandhari were independent, they were women of their own minds, they married whom they wanted to, shared the ambition of their husband, gave them counsel and questioned their intellect- Time after time.

Few decades back, a true “Liberalised” Anupam Kher, married a divorced woman with a child, he followed the truth in his heart, owned his emotions, and supported her choices.

Here, Penny Wong, the Parliamentarian embraced personal choices of having a child with her partner; and then the Leadership and demeanour of Tracey Winters; from Politics to Corporate world breaking that Glass Door Ceiling; to being an adorable mother of three; and balancing work & life, remains inspiring. Rosie Battie’s revolution an inspiring move enlightening both women & children from the dark rooms of Family Violence.

It’s not about being an Indian or Australian Woman; it’s about broadening the vision, your own mind set! With the raging stories of Family Violence, Marital Rape, Female Foeticide and the big issue of Climate change, and Terrorism, it truly is time to transform with calmness and crusade and float, which constantly is moving with the times - Time after time!

Transformation of the long winding rhetoric is not impossible, from a society where NO woman persecutes another woman, when she is single, successful, and magnetic. Dump that stereotyping, judgemental mind for the lives we don’t live; and the stories that remain untold!

28 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

Hindu Cultural Hub at Clayfield Hindu Festivals in the month of Margashirsha (Maarghazhi) Courtesy Sujatha Vasudevan INDIAN tradition involves the celebration of several festivals and celebrations especially in Hindu culture.

Almost every month one or more festivals are celebrated according to the almanac released for each year. The Tamil calendar has twelve months with the New Year starting from 14th of April. The current month of Marghazhi started on 17th December and will end on 14th of January 2016. Then follows the harvesting celebration to thank the Sun God for the successful harvesting season.

The month of Marghazhi or Dhanur masa is considered to be very sacred for Hindus living all over the world. Lord Krishna pointed out that in the Bhagavad Gita: Among the twelve months in a year, I am Margazhi. “mAsAnAm mArgasirso ‘ham” [Chapter 10 Slokam 35].

He is the Marghazhi amongst the months. The name Marghazhi is derives from the star Mrigashirsha. During this month the Sun transits the dhanur raasi.

This month represents the early morning or the brahma muhurtha time for all Devas or demi gods. They also pray to God during their early morning hours which is one month period for us. Therefore the month of marghazhi is dedicated to prayers only. In order to concentrate on the designated prayer rituals, all the other individual celebrations like weddings are not performed during this period. People engage in group activities such as singing bajans especially early in the morning, attending discourses and visiting temples.

Both Saivites (who pray to Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (who pray to Lord Vishnu) devote this month for celebrating the important festivals. Vashnavites recite Thiruppavai which comprises of thirty songs sung by Sri Aandal who is one of the twelve aalwars or saints in vishnavism. She lived in 8th century.

Aandal imagined herself as one of the gopikas who lived during the time of Lord Krishna in gokulam. The verses are written to wake up her friends early in the morning to go to the river and do Pavai Nombu to get a good husband and for the welfare of the family and village people.

The girls make a doll or Paavai using the river sand and pray to her to bless them to get a good husband. The songs are impregnated with the philosophical thoughts of Vedas even though they ap-

pear to be written in a simple Tamil.

Through her verses she wakes up the inner mind of the devotees to realise the supreme power.

There are sixty three saints in Saivism which is an ancient sect of Hinduism.

These saints are called Nayanmars. The Naayanmars sang several songs about the glory of Lord Shiva. Manickavasagar is one of the Nayanmars who lived during 9th century A.D. His compositions are known as Thiruvasagam. A part of the sacred Thiruvasagam is called Thiruvembavai which comprises of twenty verses which were written in the city of Thiruvannaamalai in Tamil Nadu where the main deity is Annamalaiyaar.

Saint Manickavasagar imagined himself as one of the young girl who is keen on doing Paavai (Woman deity) Nombu with her friends. Doing Pavai nombu during the month of Marghazhi was common in those days. Young and unmarried girls wake up in the early hours and go to each friend’s house to wake them up and go to the river to have bath and make a doll or Paavai using the river sand and pray to her to bless them with good husband.

Like Sri Aandal, Manicka vasagar also beautiful Tamil verses in which he imagined himself as a girl and praises Lord Shiva while waking up other friends to join him to do the nombu.

These twenty verses and another ten verses called thirupalliazhuchi are sung every day in Shiva temples early in the morning during the month of Marghazhi.

Vaishnavites celebrate Vaikunta Ekadesi during this month. The Puranas mention that Lord Vishnu took the form of ‘Ekadasi’ – female energy – to kill demon Muran. This happened during the month of Margazhi. Lord Vishnu told Ekadasi that whoever worships him on this day will reach ‘Vaikunta’ (heaven).

Arudra Darisanam is celebrated on the full moon day of this month in Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. This is a grand festival in which Abhishekams are performed to Lord Nataraja and Sivakami, his consort. After the decoration of the deities and special poojas the circumbulation of the deities are done by the devotees.

Apart from these festivals, Sri Hanuman jayanthi is celebrated on the new moon day of this month. The devotees of Lord Ayyappa also take the pilgrimage to go to Sabari mala.

So the prayers and worships are done by

the devotees of several sects of Hinduism in their own way to focus on God and follow the traditional recital of Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai to get the blessings of God and to realise the inner self to attain salvation which is the ultimate goal of this human birth.

The Hindu Cultural Hub: The Hindu Cultural Hub at Clayfield is a centre to congregate and promote spiritual, cultural and educational needs of local community and wider Hindu society in Brisbane. Devotees and friends assemble at the Bar-Jai Community Hall (178, Alexandra Road, Clayfield) last Friday of each month between 6.30pm to 9.00pm.

In the December 25th (the month of Marghazhi) we celebrated the Thiruvampavai festival. The event was grandly celebrated - circumbulation of the presiding deity the Amman, singing of the 20 hymns in praise of Lord Siva, bajan and kirthan, prasadams offered to Gods and session concluded with feast organised by the devotees and well-wishers.

Newly arrived Tamil asylum seekers attended in big numbers on this day who want to maintain their cultural values and inclusiveness – religious / spiritual, a place of healing of body / mind and community / social gathering.

Stay Connected Our next cultural congregation falls on 29th of January 2016.

As a standard practice, we have the following program at the Bar-Jai Hall: • Pooja by Hindu Priest • Bajan and Kirtan by devotees • Monthly religious updates / guest speakers on spiritual (or) on yoga techniques • Prasatham with vegetarian dinner served • Session conclude with relevant social justice updates and public notices.

We are currently interested in building our networks and relations with different communities around local and Brisbane area.

If you are interested to get involved, please contact us on 0469016416 or 0423114365 or 0411133361 or alternatively contact Sathiya: sathiya.ramakrishnan@gmail.com.

More details can be found at our web site: http://www.hinduculturalhub.org/

A Prosperous New Year Ahead Update from GCHCA 2016, the new year, will be a momentous year in the history of Gold Coast Hindu Cultural Association (GCHCA).

The main part of the Hindu Education and Cultural precinct will be developed this year.

Two phases of the project: ‘Community Square’ and ‘Multipurpose Hall’ work is expected to start in the early part of this year after signing the lease agreement for the with the Gold Coast City Council.

GCHCA is also happy to announce that they are in the final stages of preparing the Building Application for the iconic Education and Cultural precinct. Detailed project update and progress is available from the GoldCoastHindu.org website. Soil test has been carried out and building design work is progressing well. Comments and feedback from everyone is welcome.

We thank all the volunteers, supporters and well wishes for this project. Significant outcome related to detailed architectural design, structural design, hydraulic design, civil design, landscape design, mechanical design, electrical design, project planning and energy efficiency analysis has been achieved

through volunteers from Queensland and inter-state. Everyone is welcome to be involved in this historic project and make some contribution to facilitate our future generation. We would appreciate if any volunteers from range of professions (design, drafting, planning, project management etc) to come forward and assist us in this project. If you can volunteer your valuable time, please contact us on gchcan@gmail.com as soon as possible In the next phase, we are in a drive for more funds for the Gold Coast Hindu Education and Cultural Precinct. All monetary contributions of $2 or more to the GCHCA Building Fund will be eligible for a tax deduction.

The association has already raised over $500,000 and continues to be bestowed with donations. However, the association is still far from achieving its target and the GCHCA needs your urgent support to fulfil its noble objectives with minimal impediments. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost around 1.5 million dollars.

We, therefore humbly appeal for your support. Any contribution would make a difference and every cent counts to-

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wards helping our community realize its dream.

We are confident that anyone who gives to this cause would be abundantly blessed. Even if you can’t contribute, you can still help through voluntary work and as mentioned earlier, we need members of the community to assist us for the engineering project as well as volunteers to maintain our website and help us in fund raising activities. If you have the capabilities, please contact us via email.

For more information about this project, please visit the GCHCA website on www.GoldCoastHindu.org. You are also more than welcome to contact the association’s President, Secretary or Treasurer if you have any further queries.

All tax-deductible donations ($2 or more) can be deposited into the following: Commonwealth Bank Account: The GCHCA Building Donation Account BSB: 064-474 Account Number: 104 88 900 We wish you all for a Happy Thai Pongal and Makara Sankranti.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 29

Yoga...

YOGA has been an important element of Hinduism since early stages of its development. Ancient Hindu sages recognised its benefits in managing physical and mental health of human beings. References to Yoga are found in the Vedas, Upanishads and subsequent scriptures. Yoga evolved as one of the six major branches of traditional Hindu philosophical system that includes Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta.

In fact Yoga is a system of techniques that is used to manage body and mind to achieve physical and mental wellbeing. Literal meanings of Yoga derived from its root word “Yuj” are Union or Yoke. Scriptures further expanded these meanings to express Union with Divine and Control of Mind. Mind is considered to be the main organ that directs activities of human beings. Role of mind remains vital in both physical and spiritual environments. Restraining the mind from wandering and directing it to righteous activities remains the main purpose of Yoga.

Yoga Sutra by sage Patanjali, Yoga Yagyavalakya by sage Yagyavalkya and Bhagavad Gita by Veda-Vyasa are the key ancient Hindu scriptures that describe in detail the philosophy of Yoga. Yoga Vashistha a book containing discourse between Lord Rama and sage Vashistha also elaborates Yoga in spiritual sense.

Numerous scholars and practitioners of Yoga have further expounded this subject throughout the history and the practice continues to date. Now with its worldwide expansion new ideas continue to be added making Yoga adaptable to all geographies and civilisations.

In general Yoga has many shades of meaning, including union, integration, control and behavior. According to Yoga Yagyavalakya, Yoga is the Union of Atma, soul with the Paramatma, super soul.

Bhagavad Gita explains Yoga in terms of Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga and Bhakti Yoga with focus on actions without attachment to results of actions. Similar approach is found Yoga Vashistha. These texts focus on spiritual aspects of the Yoga system.

Universally accepted definition of Yoga as mentioned in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.2 is “Yogah Chitta Vritti Nirodhah”, Yoga is restraining the mind from taking various forms (Vivekananda). It is interpreted in both spiritual and materialistic senses.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra identifies eight limbs of Yoga and hence the Yoga system is normally called Astanga or eight-limbed Yoga.

The eight limbs of Yoga are Yama comprising nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence and absence of greed; Niyama comprising purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and devotion; Aasanas (poses); Pranayama (breathing exercises); Pratyahara (detachment); Dharana (concentration); Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (pure consciousness).

Limbs of Yoga focus on developing individuals’ character that will lead them to achieve blessed material and spiritual life. Each limb is to be mastered in sequence to get the full

benefit of practicing Yoga. However, in the course of history some limbs of Yoga have become more significant than other. In modern age many people relate Yoga to Aasanas and Pranayama only. Dhyana in itself has become so popular that it is assumed as a separate system from Yoga.

A number of branches of Yoga have developed over time. Popular among them are Hatha Yoga which focus on knowing the mind and body; Raja Yoga which stress on controlling the mind to attain enlightenment; Kriya Yoga or Karma Yoga which focus on action; Bhakti Yoga with stress on devotion and Gyan Yoga as a path of knowledge.

Almost all religions of Indian origin embraced Yoga in their doctrines with focus on specific limbs of Yoga. In ancient time Yoga system became popular overseas with the spread of Buddhism. Buddhism especially focuses on Dhyana, which has been at the heart of Buddhist life since its early stage of development. Meditation systems of Mahayana Buddhism later evolved from the Dhyana limb of Yoga as Chan in China, as Zen in Japan, as Son in Korea and as Thien in Vietnam.

Vipashana meditation system, which was originally developed by Mahatma Buddha as a means to enhance mental discipline and clarity, remains popular among general population even now.

Modern Hindu spiritual teachers and allied religious denominations continue to follow specific limbs of Yoga that harmonise with their ideology. In recent years people such as Paramahansa Yogananda, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, BKS Iyengar, Bikram Choudhary and many others have popularised Yoga overseas with their own specific interpretation.

Ramdeo Baba has been very popular in India in invigorating Yoga Aasanas and Pranayama techniques among general public.

It has been observed that Aasanas and Pranayama help enhance physical potentials whereas Dhyana helps advance mental abilities. These three limbs of traditional Yoga have become so popular that now they are being prescribed for therapeutic and motivational purposes. Yoga centres specialising in these specific limbs can be found almost all over the world.

Yoga practice can also be used as a form of exercise at any time and any place. It is very suitable for people who cannot engage in exhaustive exercises and sporting activities.

Books focussing on specific limbs of Yoga including Aasanas, Pranayama and Dhyana are available in plenty in the market to help Yoga learners and practitioners to advance their Yoga skills.

Yoga is one of India’s major cultural contributions to the world. It now helps individuals all over the world to improve their mental

Good planning for 2016 DEAR reader, it is with great joy Choose the good road we bring you the word of God. Not every road is going to lead We have just completed another you to your destiny. The best period of 12 months. Let me ask you can do is to have a clear you, have you arrived at the place goal and write it down as to you had planned to be at the bewhere you want to be at the Pastor Joseph Dass ginning of January, have your end of 2016. It could be a new year’s resolutions come to new business, promotion or fruition. It is always good to make a start but relationship. Scripture tells us to write down it is how you finish that really matters. the vision so we can run with it. A clear deEveryone starts strong but not everyone fin- fined written vision will keep you moving ishes strong. As you enter into another period forward towards your destiny. Along the way of 12 months or 365 days ask yourself where you will find critics and difficult people to you want to finish. Scripture tells us that distract you and steal your peace. Sometimes, without vision people perish. That means if no matter what you say there are people who you don’t have a plan where you going then aren’t going to accept you. They just don’t you could arrive at a wrong destination to- want to be at peace with you. Onetime Jesus wards the end of your journey. Instead of fin- sent His disciples to certain homes and to ishing the year strong, well, positive you speak peace. Knowing that they could be discould end up frustrated, hopeless and disap- tracted on their journey, Jesus told them to pointed. keep moving forward even if not everyone There are 3 things the Bible tells us, that we accepted them. The book of Proverbs tells can do to prepare, plan and to position our that the highway of the upright avoids evil. self to ensure we can finish on a positive This is what you can do, stay on your highnote. way, for anyone can travel the roads but not 30 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

and physical wellbeing. Realising its worldwide acceptance United Nations General Assembly in December 2014 declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day. Enthusiasts of Yoga all over the world celebrate this day with special fanfare. It has special impor-

tance for Indians as their heritage and national contribution to human civilisation has been recognised by the International body.

More information on Hinduism will follow in the next edition of BIT. Awadhesh Sharma

Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland Inc

Sanskaar (Rituals) Jitendra Deo President APSQ

RITUALS are the activities performed to elevate the body, mind and soul. They alter the nature of an object and give it a new shape.

Just like a goldsmith burns the gold in fire to purify it, similarly in Vedic culture, an infant is put in a furnace of excellent impressions (sanskaar). His flaws are burnt out and attempts are made to incorporate virtues into him. This attempt takes the form of ritual.

According to Rishi Charak, “sanskaaro hi gunaantaraadhaanamuchyate” i.e. the replacement of existing bad traits by good qualities and virtues is called impression.

When a child is born, he/she brings with himself /herself two kinds of impressions.

The first category comprises of those impressions that he/she has been carrying with him/her through several lives. The second type consists of those which he/she attains from his/her parents’ impressions as part of inherited legacy. These can either be good or bad. The remodelling of a human-being, through the program of impressions involves enveloping a child in an atmosphere of potential opportunities for the development of good impressions. It also encompasses derooting of the bad impressions, whatever their source be i.e. previous births, inheritance from parents or their acquisition in the present life.

Most of our pursuits are worldly but the program of impressions is spiritual. The real purpose of Vedic culture is the spiritual development of man who is pre-occupied with building dams and digging streams. A nation that starts progressing develops a network of plans — five-year plans, ten-year plans etc., since our vision is limited to the material world, the goal of all these plans fails to be any more than constructing dams, digging rivers, making roads and laying railway lines. Our materialistic viewpoint has led us to consider the issue of ‘daily bread’ as the most important question to be adeveryone stays on the highway. Not everyone is going where you are going. Have a year planner or a diary to stay focused on where you going to be. When you stay on your highway of peace, being thankful and good attitude you will always move closer to your destiny.

Choose the correct gate Scripture tells of 2 gates that you can entre.

There is the wide gate leading to destruction and there is the narrow gate leading to life.

In order to finish strong you have to choose your engagements carefully. Your time is valuable and you don’t have to engage yourself to every invitation. In the bible we read that after leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, Moses father-in-law Jethro came to visit him. When he saw Moses doing the work of judge for the people from morning until evening, he gave him some good advice on sharing the workload and choosing the cases that Moses should judge. This year you will have opportunities to fight every critic, waste your time with every fault finder and get engaged to every attacker. You have to re-

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dressed. Once the question of ‘daily bread’ has been answered, all the problems of the world are resolved. Once the dams and rivers have led to an increase in the yield, no other problem remains. As per the materialistic thinking, a human is no more than an image of hunger and thirst. The Vedic thought, on the other hand, does not assume human existence to be mere bodily existence. The plans of dam construction, river digging and road/rail-laying should also doubtlessly carry on. But from the spiritual point of view, these are extremely preliminary steps and are nowhere near the commencement of the program of remodelling of man on a spiritual grounding.

The actual purpose of the Vedic culture — the purpose for which the culture was born — is to remodel man by performing rituals.

We build dams, dig out the streams, construct roads and lay railway lines. But where is the man for whom all this is done? Which kind of plan do we have for him — five-year or the ten-year one? If there exist established railway networks, if the convenience of motorcars reaches every household, if water reaches every corner of land, if the yield becomes unlimited and yet the man, the user of all these resources, fails to be truthful, honest, empathetic towards others, and is not virtuous, is corrupt and of adulterous conduct, then what is the use of these trains and cars, streams and dams? And is this not the situation today? Is the increasing dazzle of wealth and splendour not accompanied by the degradation of the very human being who is the master of this wealth? Where is man? Where is that human who has humanity — the man who casually throws aside the huge and complicated heaps of temptations that arise in his way? The biggest program of Vedic culture and the focus of this program is the reconstruction/remodelling of man by performing rituals. (continued in next issue) Please contact Jitendra Deo 3263 1914 or Hari Chand 33454716 for information on activities of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland or log on: www.aryasamajqueensland.com alise that these are invitations to enter through the wide gate that are leading you to disappointments and frustrations. Be wise and choose your engagements carefully.

Choose the right leader Whom you follow will determine where you going to finish. Jesus told His listeners to follow after Him. Why? So He could lead them towards peace, joy, health, success and victory. Jesus offers unconditional love, forgiveness and life. One time He told His disciples that He was going before hand to prepare the way for them. Again He said where He was going they could follow after Him, for He is THE WAY, THE Truth AND THE LIFE. Jesus leads by offering His peace, love and Himself through His death on the cross. For He said "greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends". It’s all about your future and destiny. That is why each year more than a million people, on this earth, make a decision to make Jesus their Lord and Saviour and to follow after Him. God Bless you, Pastor Joseph Dass Call 07 3865 6533

THE GREAT SAINT OF JEELAAN AL-GHAUTH AL-A'ZAM AS-SAYYID ABDUL QADIR AL-JEELANI (RA)

By ML.M.Nawaaz Ashrafi SHEIKH Abdul Qadir Jelani was a noted Hanbali preacher, Sufi sheikh and the eponymous founder of the Qadiri Sufi order (silsila).

He was born in Ramadan AH 470 (about AD 1077) in the Persian province of Gilan (Iran) south of the Caspian Sea. His contribution and renown in the sciences of Sufism and Sharia was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of his time, al-Gauth al Azam (the “Supreme Helper”). His writings were similar to those of al-Ghazali in that they dealt with both the fundamentals of Islam and the mystical experience of Sufism.

Parents and Early Life Abdul Qadir Jilani was a Sufi master and Syed (descendant of the Prophet Muhammad saw) from both his father and mother. His father Abu Saleh Jangidost, was an illustrious and God-fearing man. Once while engrossed in meditation by the bank of a river he saw an apple floating down the river. He picked it up and ate it. It struck to him that he ate the apple without paying for it so he set out in search of the owner, on the bank of the river and at last reached the owner of the apple orchard “Abdullah Somai” whom he requested to tell him the price of the apple, Abdullah Somai replied that it was an expensive thing. Syed Abu Saleh replied that he had not much by way of worldly material but he, could serve him for compensation. Abdullah Somai then asked him to work for a year in the orchard. In course of time the duration was extended several times. In the end Abdullah Somai admitted that he had served him in excess of the price and desired to reward him.

Abu Saleh hesitated in accepting it but when Abdullah Somai persisted, he relented. He said he had a daughter, blind of eyes, handicapped of hands and feet and wanted to give her in marriage to him. In this way Abu Saleh was married to Abdullah Somai’s daughter, Syeda Fatimah.

To his astonishment found her wondrously beautiful and wholesome. He complained to his father-in-law that he found her exactly the opposite to what he had described her. Abdullah Somai insisted on the truthfulness of his statement. She was blind because she had not seen any Ghair Mehram (a man who could marry her). She was mute because she had not uttered a word repugnant to the Shariah (Islamic law). She was deaf because she had not heard anything inconsistent with the Shariah.

She was handicapped of hand and feet because she had never moved in the direction of evil.

Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani’s father died soon after and the young orphan was reared up by his mother and his grandfather, Abdullah Somai.

Adult life At the age of 18 he went to Baghdad on AH 488 (1095 AD), where he pursued the study of Hanbali law under several teachers. His mother sewed 40 gold coins in his quilt so that he might spend them when needed. The dacoits struck the caravan on the way, and looted all the travelers of their belongings. They asked him what he had. He replied that he had 40 gold coins. The dacoits took his reply for a joke and took him to their chief, who asked him the same question and he again replied that he had 40 gold coins. He demanded him to show, upon whom he tore away, the quilt and produced the gold coins. He was surprised and asked him why he had given the hidden gold coins when he could have kept them hidden. Young Abdul Qadir Jilani replied that he was travelling to Baghdad to receive education and his mother had instructed him to speak the truth. This left a deep effect on the chief of the dacoits and he gave up looting.

Abdul Qadir received lessons on Islamic Jurisprudence from Abu Said Ali al-Mukharrimi, Hadith from Abu-Bakra-bin- Muzaffar, and commentary (tafseer) from the renowned commentator, Abu Muhammad Jafar.

In Sufism, his spiritual instructor was Shaikh Abu’l-Khair Hammad. From him, he received his basic training, and with his help he set out on the spiritual journey. Abu Shuja’ was also a disciple of Shaikh Hammad, once he said: “Shaikh Abdul Qadir was in the company of Shaikh Hammad, so he came and sat in front of him, observing the best of good manners, until he stood up and took his leave. I heard Shaikh Hammad say, as soon as Shaikh Abdul Call 07 3865 6533

Qadir had left: ‘This non-Arab has a foot that will be raised, when the proper time comes, and placed upon the necks of the saints of that time. He will surely be commanded to say: This foot of mine is upon the neck of every saint of Allah. He will surely say it, and the necks of all the saints of his age will surely be bent at his disposal.’” Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi (died AD 910), who died about 167 years before the birth of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, predicted about him on one occasion, when he was performing meditation & during that he said: “His foot will be over all Saints’ necks.”

After finishing meditation, his disciples asked him about his words, he replied: “One Sufi would be born in the future, who would be greater than all saints.” Thus, Shaikh Hammad proved the words of Hazrat Junayd as right.

The historians says that, later Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani also repeated the same words on many occasion by himself.

Spiritual Lineage, Shajra Mubarak Prophet Muhammad (SW) The Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib Sheikh Hasan Basri Sheikh Habib Ajami Sheikh Dawood Taiee Sheikh Ma’ruf Karkhi Sheikh Sari Saqati Sheikh Junayd al-Baghdadi Sheikh Abu Bakr Shibli Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Tamimi Sheikh Abu al-Fadl Abu al-Wahid alTam?m?

Sheikh Abu al-Farah Tartusi Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Hakari Sheikh Abu Sa’id al-Mubarak Mukharrami Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani The Grand Sufi Shaikh After completion of education, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani abandoned the city of Baghdad, and spent twenty-five years as a wanderer in the desert regions of Iraq as a recluse.

He was over fifty years old by the time he returned to Baghdad, in AH 521 (AD 1127), and began to preach in public. His hearers were profoundly affected by the style and content of his lectures, and his reputation grew and spread through all sections of society. Not only Muslims, but also Jews and Christians, not only caliphs and viziers but also farmers, merchants and traders allegedly altered their lives in response to Abdul Qadir’s perorations.

He moved into the school belonging to his old teacher al-Mukharrimii, there he engaged himself in teaching. Soon he became popular with his pupils. In the morning he taught hadith and tafseer, and in the afternoon held discourse on mysticism and the virtues of the Qur’an. The number of students increased so much that the seminary could no more contain them. He, therefore, decided to extend the premises of the seminary. The students and the people willingly came forward with their wholehearted contributions. The campus buildings were ready in AH 528 and thereafter it came to be known as Madarsai-eQadriya.Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani was a NonArab (ajami), so he wasn’t fluent in Arabic and was having some difficulties because of it.

Once The Prophet Muhammad (s) came to him in a dream, before the time of the midday prayer (Zuhr), and he said to him: “O my dear son, why do you not speak out?” He replied: “O dear father, I am a Non-Arab man. How can I speak fluently in the classical Arabic language of Baghdad?” Holy Prophet said: “Just open your mouth!” He opened his mouth, and The Holy Prophet put his saliva mubarak seven times in his mouth. A few moments later, Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib also came & did the same to him six times. And from that time, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani spoke classical Arabic language with fluency, his memory increased and he felt some great positive spiritual changes in him.

Once someone asked Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani about Mansur Al-Hallaj, he replied: “His claim extended too far, so the scissors of the Sacred Law (Shari’a) were empowered to clip it.”

He busied himself for forty years in the service of the Islam from AH 521 to 561. During this period hundreds embraced Islam because of him and organized several teams to go abroad for the purpose. He arrived in Indian sub-continent in AD 1128, and stayed at Multan (Pakistan). He died in AH 561 (AD 1166) at the age of 91 years, and was buried in

Baghdad.

“My Foot is on the Neck of All Awliyaa” Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani uttered these words from the pulpit in Baghdad. All awliya, present and non-present, bowed their heads in submission .Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani’s foot is on the neck of all awliya. ******************** BismillahhirRahmannirRahim The Life Hereafter Everyone in this mortal world is destined to taste death, a bitter truth than no one can deny.

Surah Al-Imraan in Aayah 185 says: “Every soul will taste death and you will be paid in full on the Day of Resurrection. Who ever is kept away from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have triumphed. The present world is only an illusory pleasure…”

This verse reflects an open secret that mankind through death passes on to another phase of life. Death is but a transition from this physical life to another state of life. A day is bound to come when this world and everything in it will be no more. Allah (SWT) will resurrect mankind as mentioned in Surah Mutaffifeen in Aayah 4-6: “Do these people not realize that they will be raised up on a mighty Day, a Day when everyone will stand before the Lord of the Worlds?”

This will be a different place where everyone will reap the harvest of what he must have sown in this world. This is the place and time of action and as our borrowed time comes to an end, we will find ourselves in “Daar-ulJaza”, a world of profit or loss, of honor or humiliation, of reward or punishment. And remember this life is limited, but the life in the Hereafter is eternal and limitless. Mankind has been given full freedom to spend this life as an investment to earn the benefits of the Hereafter, or devote it to indulge in practices warranting punishment and humiliation. Who in the right mind will choose to spoil an eternal life with misdeeds in a temporary life?

Allah (SWT) says in Surah Mulk, Aayah 1: “Exalted is He, Who holds all control in His hands; Who has power over all things; Who created death and life to test you [people] and reveal which of you does best – He is the Mighty, the Forgiving; Who created the seven heavens, one above the other.”

How sad that knowing this world as “Daarul-Amal”, place of action, man totally disregards the Hereafter. He willingly becomes a victim of temptations and doesn’t pay any attention to the messages with which Allah (SWT) has sent messengers after messengers.

They time and again came to remind us and to warn us that time will run out. They wanted to wake us up before it was too late.

Not caring for the Hereafter and showing no concern even after seeing that people are passing away day and night from amongst us is the last and deplorable stage of forgetfulness and carelessness.

Our beloved Prophet (SAW) once said that “Someone’s death is an enough advisor for us.” In yet another tradition, he (SAW) advised: “Think more often of death which nullifies all pleasures.”

It was Prophet (SAW)’s usual practice that in the last part of night, he (SAW) used to call his house hold people to wake up in these words: “Get up, remember Allah, remember Allah, the time of the big jolt that will topple this world upside down is approaching fast.

Death with all its agony and hardship is here, look, it is close by.” [Tirmizi].

It is a fact that this life is the only opportunity to prepare ourselves for the grave and the Hereafter. If we fail to act, be assured that the grave will be dark and narrow.

Prophet (SAW) said that the grave is either a garden from among the gardens of Paradise, or it is a pit from among the pits of Hell. In yet another tradition, he (SAW) said that the grave calls out daily that it is a place of strangeness and loneliness, it is an earthen closet, and a hole filled with worms.

He (SAW) added that when a Momin and a puritan is buried, the grave greets and welcomes him with love and extends itself as far as the eye could see, but when a disobedient of Allah (SWT) is buried, the grave treats him as an enemy. It contracts his body to an extent that his ribs change places as compressed by agonizing pressure.

This is the opportunity that Allah (SWT) has given us to wake up from the slumber of

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forgetfulness.

No one knows when the angle of death may come and we may lose the only chance to act.

Those who are careless, forgetful and sinners will experience in the Hereafter a moment of extreme pain, loss, and shame, but repentance will be of no avail as they the opportunity to act, reform and correct will be lost. The Holy Qur’an describes their condition in Surah Sajdah, Aayah 12 in these words: “[Prophet], if only you could see the wrongdoers hang their heads before their Lord [submitting]: ‘Our Lord, now that we have seen and heard; send us back and we shall do good. [Now] we are convinced.”

Since this wouldn’t be the time of forgiveness, hence repentance and sense of guilt will be of no avail and the sinner will be told in point blank terms what is mentioned in Aayah 14 of the same Surah: “So since you ignored the meeting on this Day of yours, now We shall ignore you: taste the lasting suffering for all that you have done.”

This world is for both, the Momin as well as the Kaafir. The only difference is that a Momin leads his life in this world in accordance with the commands and will of Allah (SWT), and a Kaafir clings to the material world without any moral binding.

The only thing one needs for the salvation in the Hereafter is to act according to Allah’s and His Prophet (SAW)’s commands in all spheres of life; be it in food, drink, business, inter-relationships, and social interaction. This is essence of Islamic teachings and tailoring one’s life according to these teachings earns Allah (SWT)’s and His Messenger (SAW)’s pleasure.

It is Allah (SWT)’s infinite mercy that He made us Muslims and bestowed upon us Faith in Him, in His Message and His Messengers, without our doing anything to deserve this favor and blessing.

The only thing which distracts our attention from Allah is carelessness and forgetfulness.

It is very necessary for us to clean our hearts and focus on what is most important. Please take some time off from your daily engagements and preoccupations to ponder upon His infinite blessings.

Deliberate on how much time we have spent in His remembrance and in thanking Him for His favors. Think how much time have we spent in obedience and how much in disobedience?

A time will come when we will find standing before Him and be held accountable for all that we have done in this short life.

Our hands, feet, eyes and ears will stand as witness against us for using them against His commands. Pay attention, be vigilant and remain conscious and keep reminding yourself that each moment is shortening your life.

Insha Allah continuous self-accountability will instil a sense of obedience and adherence to Allah (SWT)’s command and make you realize of things which please or displease Allah.

This state in Qur’anic terminology is called “Taqwa”, or Piety, which forms the very basis of all that is virtue, which in turn takes out the fear of death. On the contrary Allah’s angels will descend with glad tidings to endow you with peace and contentment.

Tafseer-e-Ibn-e-Jareer relates that while approaching a Momin, the angel of death asks: “Should I take you out of this world or leave you in?” The Momin replies: “Please make haste and take me away from this troublesome and worrisome place.”

Poet philosopher Iqbal said: Shouldn’t I tell you the sign of a Momin?

Smile plays on his lips as he greets death.”

There are always some puritans who are pleased at the time of death because they want to join the world where Prophet (SAW), his companions and former Prophets and Messengers are leading a life of bliss and eternal pleasure. Qazi Ayaz (RehmA) writes that when Sayyidina Bilal (RA)’s lay dying, his wife said in grief: “Sad, what a time of grief has dawned.” Bilal (RA) spontaneously replied in his feeble voice: “No, no, this is a moment of great pleasure, Insha Allah I will join my beloved Prophet (SAW), companions, and friends.”

May Allah (SWT) enable us to think about Hereafter and have concern for it! Aameen!

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 31

Health Beauty Wellbeing Medicinal benefits of Jasmine flower...

By Mazhar Sayeed JASMINE flower forms a vital ingredient of almost all ayurvedic medicines owing to its diverse curing qualities.

Specifically it is used to remove intestinal worms: • It is considered to be an apt and biological cure for jaundice and other venereal diseases • The flower buds help in treatment of ulcers, vesicles, boils, skin diseases and eye disorders • The leaves extracts against breast tumours • Drinking Jasmine tea regularly helps in curing cancer • Its oil is very effective in calming and relaxing.

Description of Jasmine Plant: Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is a flowery shrub containing white or yellow flowers, native to Mediterranean countries (although there are a considerable number of people that say it comes from India). The shrub has a ramified crown, angular green long twigs, obtuse flowers and it is cultivated as a decorative plant (Jasminum fretticans), or for its indus-

trial and medicinal uses. The flowers can be small or large, white with a nice perfume that increases in strength in the evening. Jasmine grows quickly. It can grow in the shade, but it grows better in sunny and breezy areas.

Widely known for its big consumption of Jasmine tea, the Chinese civilization drinks green tea during the spring and summer times as well as in autumn and especially in winter, jasmine tea. This drinking tea habit appeared in the north and north-east region of China.

From Jasmine flowers it is extracted the well-known and highly expensive oil. The high cost is explained by the fact that in order to extract 2.2lb of Jasmine essence 2200lb of fresh flowers are needed. Nevertheless, its effects over an organism make that process worthwhile. The herb has the power to eliminate the stress and depression, and it can help regain self-confidence. The Jasmine flowers are used in biotherapy and perfume industry.

Properties and benefits of Jasmine: The fresh Jasmine flowers contain a high amount of etheric oil. Beside this oil, the flowers also contain benzilic acetate, linalcohol, benzilic

alcohol, indole and jasmon. All these substances confer jasmine aphrodisiac properties. Among other properties of the Jasmine flowers are: the improvement of digestion, adjuvant in the toxins elimination and the loose of weight. They also help the acceleration of metabolism, they improve the blood circulation and it is commonly known their aphrodisiac effect.

Mixtures and treatments: How the flowers can be used? In the simplest way possible: making tea out of them! Other ways: macerated in oil or alcoholic extract. The tea can be used to treat headaches, coughing and the macerate for rheumatism.

In aromatherapy, the Jasmine oil is recommended for any kind of physical pain. It is also good advisable to have it around in case of birth. Even more, it is a powerful antiseptic, sedative and tonic recommended for

breathing difficulties, coughing and nervous debility. It also calms any skin affliction and it can be used in small amounts for calming pains.

Jasmine tea: The Jasmine tea is known by the majority of nutritionists as being an adjuvant in losing weight. The Jasmine tea does not have any energizing properties like the green tea, but it has sedative properties and it can regulate blood circulation and arterial tension. The taste of one Jasmine tea cup is sweet and combined with green tea will offer powerful tonic and energetic results.

Surely, it isn't one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs, but the Jasmine tea helps an organism relax and regain its strength in the stress or physically and psychic overworking periods.

Jasmine oil: The adepts of the aromatherapy use this Jasmine oil in combination with drops of ylang ylang oil. This mixture helps regaining the healthy state of mind and body.

Warning: It isn't recommended to consume Jasmine tea in big quantities, especially in cases of pregnancy. It is also not recommended to consume Jasmine tea on an empty stomach, to prevent causing high acidity.

After 5 pm it is best if the consumption of Jasmine tea is ceased to prevent insomnia.

Email: sayeedmaz_12@hotmail.com for clarifications

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In a world of rat race People encounter stress, pressure and worries Which create negative waves and emotions Generating vexatrous, unhappy and unsavoury settings Happiness is an inner transparent quality Peace of mind is a state Of mental and emotional calmness undisturbed By worries, anxieties, fears and stress Material wealth can come and go Potential power can come and go Glorious fame can come and go Peace of mind should linger forever If your mind is at peace You are contented and very happy But if expectations are very high They partially destroy the peace of mind

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Negative emotions destroy peace of mind We should learn to silence the mind Problems are not really big problems The problems are over correct attitude Some wealth such as physical wealth, Family and social wealth, career wealth, Economic wealth and spiritual wealth In small measures enhance peace of mind Peace of mind brings contentment, serenity, Calmness, tranquility, harmony, amity, goodness, repose, The foundation for peace of mind is Based on amicability, compassion and kindness

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Health Beauty Wellbeing

Summer Sun Tan remedies Nimisha Modi Hetvi Hair & Beauty 0412 350 013

HEY Girls, Despite all the happiness and fun of summer, at the end of the day most of us are left with ugly and unattractive sun tan on face and hands that takes away all the fun from the outing. With the lack of time, most of us, opt for quick fix solutions like a session of use chemical laden cosmetic products for instant tan removal. But all these products take a serious toll on the delicate skin of the face and show fatal side-effects in the long run. Therefore, it is best to choose home remedies to remove sun tan that not only heals the damage in a nourishing way, but is the ultimate answer to the question of how to get a clear face naturally. Instead of splurging on expensive cosmetic products that are loaded with harmful chemicals and bleaching agents, use these nourishing and wholesome homemade face packs prepared from au naturel ingredients that are easily available and hustle free to make.

Cucumber, Rose Water and Lemon Juice Pack: This is one of the most effective homemade face masks for sun tan removal that uses the goodness of cucumber and lemon – two perfect natural bleaching agents.

Lemon juice is a rich source of vitamin C and citric acid, both of which help in lightening skin tone and is the natural solution to the

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question of how to maintain clear skin. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes the damage caused be free radicals and helps in lightening tan, age spots, and dark spots. But it is a must to use a sunscreen with high SPF when using a lemon remedy because the acidic nature of the juice can make the skin sensitive to the UV rays of the sun.

Milk, Rice Powder and Honey Bleach: Mix 2 tsp of rice powder, 2 tbsp of cold milk and 1 tsp of honey into a fine paste. Clean your face and neck thoroughly and then apply. After 20 minutes, lightly scrub using your wet hands and then wash off with cool water. This pack acts like a natural skin lightening bleach cream. It fades away tan, eliminates dead skin cells and leaves your skin silky, smooth and fair.

Aloe Vera and Rose water: Fresh aloe-vera gel is the magic cure for tanned skin. It is extremely powerful in minerals, vitamins, enzymes and nutrients that work effectively to treat different skin problems like rashes, sunburn, and skin discoloration. Combine 2 tsp of aloe vera gel with few drops of rose water.

Freeze it for 10 minutes and then soak it up into your tanned skin.

Aloe Vera, Masoor Daal (Red Lentil) and Tomato Face Pack: This is undoubtedly one of the best home remedies for sun tan that uses the hydrating benefits of aloe vera and the exfoliant quality of masoor dal. Masoor daal helps in clearing even the extreme of tanning. Aloe vera hair mask is widely used for natural hair treatment. The plant steroids found in aloe vera gel soothes burning and

inflammation of the skin and helps in healing sunburn and suntan. Tomatoes rejuvenate the skin and revitalize it from within.

Soak a tablespoon of masoor daal in water for 20 minutes and then make a rough paste.

Mix this paste with fresh aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon tomato pulp and massage on face and neck. Keep for 20 minutes and rinse off with water.

Tomato, Yogurt and Lemon Juice Face Pack: We are also aware of the benefits of lemon tea for weight loss but it is also a great ingredient for skin. This face pack incorporates the powerful bleaching properties of lemon, tomato and yogurt and is one of the best face packs for improving the skin tone naturally. It works wonders in removing dark spots and pigmentation from sun tanned skin.

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In addition, tomato juice works as a natural toner to shrink open pores and reduce oiliness of the skin, whereas yogurt helps in moisturizing and nourishing the skin. In order to prepare this pack mix 2 tablespoon of tomato pulp, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of yogurt in a bowl and apply on face. Let it dry for 30 minutes. Wash with cold water. The tomato juice may cause a sensation of itchiness in the beginning, but it will mellow down with regular application.

Besan (Bengal Gram Flour) and Turmeric Face Pack: This face pack for tanned skin is a combo of bleaching and scrubbing with the wonder ingredient: Turmeric, often called the holy powder. It is not only important for its amazing medicinal properties, but also for its amazing effects on the skin. Turmeric adds a healthy glow to the skin and helps in reducing pigmentation and tan. Bengal gram works as a natural scrub for exfoliating the skin and removing dead cells.

Mix 2 tablespoons of besan, a pinch of turmeric, 1 tablespoon of milk, and 1 tablespoon of crushed orange peel in a bowl with cold rose water. Apply on clean face and let it dry for 20 minutes. Moist the dried areas by sprinkling water on it and slowly remove the pack by scrubbing gently in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Apply this pack once in two days for effective exfoliation and tan removal.

I am sure you will get benefit out of it, enjoy your day.

I will see you next month. Nimisha

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 33

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Real Estate News

WANT AN EDGE IN THE

Protecting your family from deadly home fires

By Phirin Ha Realestate.com.au

PROPERT Y MARKET ?

Shaeed Mohammed at ANZ Sunnybank Hills can help give you an edge with ANZ Buy Ready™. It includes free ANZ Property Profile Reports1, Approval in Principle2 and deposit options2. To arrange your appointment, simply contact Shaeed.

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• The most fire-prone area in the home is the kitchen. Keep stovetops clear of grease and flammable liquids. Flames should never be left unattended.

THE emerging hoverboard trend may be a fun hobby for some, but a house fire caused by the exploding device in Melbourne’s Strathmore proves it can pose as a serious fire risk.

Hoverboards now join the list of potentially dangerous electrical devices that are responsible for more than 3,000 Victorian house fires every year.

Common household items such as heaters and electric blankets are also listed as a fire risk if unattended.

According to the Country Fire Authority (CFA), most deaths associated with house fires are easily preventable. These simple precautions can be taken to make homes safer this summer.

Complete a home fire safety checklist Basic precautions and setting good habits can make a huge difference in homes.

• Appliances such as gas heaters should be serviced regularly, while lint should be cleaned from dryers after every use.

• Products with frayed and damaged wiring, particularly in everyday items such as electric blankets, should also be disposed.

• Create a buffer zone around heating equipment and fireplaces, to prevent flammables from catching on fire.

Home & Investment Lending Manager ANZ Sunnybank Hills Calam & Compton Roads M. 0414 759 298 Mohammed.Shaeed@anz.com

1All estimates contained in the reports are based on available public sales history, which in Victoria may not include all sales.

Estimates may not be available for all properties. Sales history and past performance is not indicative of future performance.

ANZ Property Profile Reports are for personal domestic use only. 2ANZ can provide Approval in Principle to eligible customers who apply for an ANZ Home Loan and complete an application form. An Approval in Principle is an approval for a loan subject to conditions being met, including that security is satisfactory to ANZ. All applications for credit are subject to ANZ’s normal credit approval criteria. ™ANZ Buy Ready is a trade mark of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) ABN 11 005 357 522. Item No. 92822 09.2015 W459286

Smoke alarms Australian homes by law are required to have at least one working smoke alarm.

Although it is highly recommended that a smoke alarm be installed in every room.

• Smoke alarms should be powered by longlasting 9V akaline batteries and tested once a month to ensure maximum reliability.

• Look for the AS3786 marking, it ensures smoke alarms meet Australian standards.

• Replace devices every 10 years.

People cannot smell smoke in their sleep, so a working fire alarm increases the chances of surviving a house fire by 60%. So what should happen in the case of a ringing alarm?

Implement emergency procedures A well-rehearsed fire escape plan is essential to surviving a blaze at home. All family members – particularly children- should learn procedures to be well-prepared.

Ensure the following procedures are known to avoid disaster:

• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll • Use a thick, woolen blanket to smother flames • Have at least two safe exit options • While escaping a fire, crawl towards the exit to avoid breathing in smoke. Make sure to use the back of your hand to check doors

for heat and head to a designated meeting spot safe from the fire.

• Make sure all windows can be opened from the inside.

Remain alert in summer The CFA says while most house fires begin in winter, families should also remain alert during the warmer months of the year.

“That doesn’t mean safety measures in the home should be abandoned after winter,” a CFA spokesperson said.

“Unattended cooking, faulty appliances and overloaded power boards are just some of the common causes of house fires that occur year-round.”

It’s never too late to implement safety measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.

More information on fire protection can be found at the CFA website http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/ fires-in-the-home/.

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POSITIONS VACANT

WHATÊS ON!

22 January 2016 Fly Hi Production & Indo Vibez Entertainment presents…DJ Charlie – New Zealand’s finest DJ…Refer to page 39 for details

23 January 2016...

Sri Hayagriva Puja - Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia, Qld Chapter – 5.30pm at Sunnybank RSL Club Hall, 19 Gager Street Sunnybank. All children going to school, dance class or music class, youth going to university and any knowledge seeking adults are welcome to join and pray for their best academic and art performance ever!. Materials required: Puja Plate, Flowers & Fruits. Family Free Event: pre registration required, contact bskqld@live.com.au or call Aruna 0433 082 203 / Ranjani 0422 431 397

Brisbane Indian Times proudly serving the Multicultural Community since 2003 - proudly sponsors this page for community organisations / non profit organisatons! To view full list of upcoming events visit www.indiantimes.com.au

JAN 16 / FEB 16 26 January 2016...

Hindu Society of Queensland celebrating 25th Anniversary – From 9.30am – 1pm and 6pm – 9pm at 178 Lyndhurst Road Boondall.

Morning program: Pooja, Flag raising and lunch – Evening program: Ramayan Kirtan and Dinner (evening program sponsored by Umesh and Usha Chandra). For more information contact President Prakash Shandil on 0408 876 414.

FICQ’s Australia-India Republic Day Celebrations – 5.30pm at Cavendish Road State High School, Cavendish Road & Holland Road, Holland Park. For more information contact president.ficq@gmail.com

29 January 2016...

Brisbane Muslim Football Assn. Inc with Darra Islamic Society…AGM – Members are advised that 2016 Annual General Meeting of Brisbane Muslim Football Assn. Inc will take place on Friday 29th January 2016, at approx 7pm at the Darra Mosque. Nomination forms are available from the Secretary.

Sayed Haroon Khalil – steve.khalil@hotmail.com Completed nomination forms must be sent by registered mail to: 68 Fedrick Street, Boronia Heights 4124. By close of business 5pm on Friday 15th January 2016 Hindu Cultural Club (HCB) at Clayfield – Cultural Congregation – 6.30-8.30pm at Bar-Jai Community Hall, 178 Alexandra Road, Clayfield. Pooja by Hindu Priest Bajan and Kirtan

by devotees. Monthly religious updates / guest speakers on spiritual (or) yoga techniques. For more information call 0469016416 or visit www.hinduculturalhub.org

30 January 2016 Thaai Tamil School presents PONGAL Festival Qld…Refer to below advert.

13 February 2016...

Bula Entertainment & Digicel presents…the biggest Valentines Bollywood Dinner and Dance... refer to page 41 for details

5 March 2016...

4EB Indian Programming Group – 35 Years Celebration – Refer to page 40 for details Continued on page 40

Media Sponsors

38 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 39

WHATÊS ON!

Brisbane Indian Times proudly serving the Multicultural Community since 2003 - proudly sponsors this page for community organisations / non profit organisatons! To view full list of upcoming events visit www.indiantimes.com.au

Weekly / Monthly

Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Qld Inc – Vedic Yaj (Havan) - 17th, 24 and 31 January 2016 – The Sabha performs Havan Yaj every Sunday from 2-4pm at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre, 198 Learoyd Rd, Willawong and the public is welcome to be part of it. The members of public now can perform Havan Yaj at the centre. The fee of $50 is required for use of centre facilities to cover operating costs. The Havan Kund, utensils are available for use as well The Havan ingredients can be supplied if you are unable to get them. Mango sticks, Ghee, Samagri, Chamfor etc is available at the centre as well for $25. The seating capacity of the Yajshalla (Havan Hall) is 100.

Contact Vice President Mrs Sushila Pathik for further information and bookings on 3314 6059. Contact Jitendra Deo 3263 1914 or Hari Chand 3345 4716 or visit www.aryasamajqueensland.com for further information.

Australian Pentecostal Assembly Brisbane – Sunday Worship every Sunday 9am-11.30am at 84 The Community Place, 84 Kedron Park Road, Wooloowin Qld with Pastor Prakash Jacob. Cottage Meeting every Tuesday 7.30pm-9pm / Kids Bible Study every Friday 7pm-7.45pm / Intercessory Prayer every Friday 7.459pm. Worship in Hindi, English, Malayalam and other Indian Languages. More information Phone 07 3315 5597 / 0413 347 562 or email info@apabrisbane.com.au / www.apabrisbane.com.au

Brahma Kumaris Australia – Meditation & Positive Thinking Sessions – Mondays 10.30am to 11.30am: Regular meditation should improve your ability to focus and think clearly. By practising mediations which cultivate our ability to sense and care for our natural energy we are able to live life with greater awareness and confidence. Each class includes guided meditations, discussions, short talks and the introduction and practice of techniques. Each session is a different topic. Meditation sessions Tuesdays 6.30pm to 7.30 pm and Sundays 5.30pm to 6.30pm. During these sessions there will be meditation commentaries, music and periods of silence.

You can come and go at any time during these sessions. Venue: 27 Bordeaux Parade, Mermaid Waters.

Please phone to register – 5575 2126. Email goldcoast@au.brahmakumaris.org or visit www.brahmakumaris.org/au/whatson for more information Brisbane Multinational Church Hindi Service – Every Sunday at 9.30am at 757 Gympie Road, Lawnton. Special service to pray for healing, deliverance

40 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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and other spiritual problems. Enquiries Ps Joseph Dass 0424 180 240.

Nundah Yoga - FREE meditation classes – Nundah Community Centre, 14 Station Street, Nundah.

Organization of Hindu Malayalees Queensland (OHM Queensland) – Monthly Bhajans held every first Saturday of Malayalam calendar. Activities include Bhajans, Malayalam Class, Library service, religious short educational presentations, vegetarian dinner etc. For further information please contact President Krishnan AK on 0418 727 570 or ohmqueensland@gmail.com

Sai Baba Aarti Program – Every Thursday 7.30pm – Virginia State School, 1678 Sandgate Road, Virginia (next to Virginia Train Station) Aarti & Archana opportunity for all attendees, Prasad & Dinner provided. Enquiries call 0405 392 793 / saibababrisbane@gmail.com / Like on facebook www.facebook.com/SaiBabaBrisbane

Sri Selva Vinayakar Koyil (Ganesha Temple) Brisbane (South Maclean) – For full list of upcoming events please visit www.sriselvavinayakar.org

The Gold Coast Hindu Cultural Association - Gold Coast Bhajan - monthly Bhajans held every third Friday of the month starting at 7.15am at the Helensvale Community Centre - 31 Discovery Rd, Helensvale. Activities include Bhajan recitals, short educational presentations and free vegetarian dinner. All are cordially invited to attend. For further information please contact Director/Religious Activities, Mr S Barataraj on 0417 588 839 or gchcan@gmail.com or www.goldcoasthindu.org The Mantra Room – Live Kirtan – Spend an evening of sacred Yoga chant with Gayatri, Ishvara, Jayadharma and friends Fridays 6pm, Sundays 5pm and Wednesdays 7pm at Australian School of Meditation & Yoga, 236 Montague Road, West End. Amazing Vego Food $5. Come celebrate, meditate and let the music set you free. For more information call 3844 8441 or email brisbane@asm.org.au Yoga in Daily Life – Discount Yoga Classes – every Thursday at 6pm and every Friday at 4.30pm, they are $10 for 1 hour and half, with relaxation, asanas, pranayam and meditation, at Yoga in Daily Life Brisbane Ashram. Also full moon meditation at 7.45pm – 8.30, every Purnima by Donation. Yoga in Daily Life – 46 Doggett Street, Newstead Qld 4006. www.brisbane.yogaindailylife.org.au / brisbane@yogaindailylife.org

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 41

Astrology

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Yearly predictions for 2016...

Aries - March 21 - April 20 2016 ushers in with a blissful beginning with positive winds of change.

Fringe benefits and overall returns on your investments are likely to keep the cheerful spring on this year. Desire of good life will see you stay focused, undeterred and motivated to move ahead to reach to your goals. However, Ganesha sounds a caution here: with the benevolent Jupiter turning Retrograde, situations may not lead to as win-win as you would want them to be.

With life’s ambitions come the challenges as middle of April will keep you busy handling the bottlenecks and chalk out a strategy to tackle obstacles. This could be owing to Mars – ruler of your Sign -- turning Retrograde. Challenges will take a pause around the second week of May with Jupiter turning Direct, giving you scope for some introspection. Your aspirational drive must go on, feels Ganesha. At the same time, since Jupiter remains in conjunction with malefic Rahu, great endeavours may not lead to great expectations or results as desired. Jupiter will be more of an influencer than a game changer owing to the Planetary position, which will keep you going and enable you score some brownie points.

Taurus - April 21 - May 22 The placement of Sun and Mercury in the Ninth House from your Sign indicates a flurry of thoughts and ideas occupying your mind, which might lead you to ponder over. Seeming discontent brewing over some time will see positive trends around last week of January.

Decoding how to achieve peace through spiritual analysis will help you come up with your own set of formulae to handle life’s situations. In due course, your spiritual inclination shall boost your self-confidence and will enable you stay focused in life. Pressure to meet targets and time management issues call for walking that extra mile for professionals, who will also come across lucrative opportunities. Demanding professional chores may keep you very occupied starting from the second week of January. Work rigors that will put you on your toes will seem unending starting from around middle of April to end of June. Financial issues call for careful analysis. While you will be able to save considerably, household expenditure might increase. While your earning graph witnesses an upward growth, you might spend money for buying comforts and spruce up your living style. You could buy a new vehicle to suit your family needs around the middle of the year.

Gemini - May 23 - Jun 21 You may feel a little low-spirited at the start of the year, but still your ability to move ahead with conviction will let you make swift moves in all matters. Ganesha advises you not in act in haste in matters concerning major decisions on either your occupation (business and job) or finance. Even if the first quarter comes with challenges that may concern you, your positive approach lets you reap in benefits in life, though you won’t be witnessing exponential gains. The winds indicate the need to rethink and chalk out future action plans, identifying the chinks in your armor (weakest links) and take corrective measures to achieve goals and missions. While all the action in life will begin around middle of February, the decision to relocate needs a lot of thought and analysis. With major Planets transiting through dual natured Signs during the year, keeping a backup plan ready will come useful when situation demands.

While Planetary movements shall favor you from April onwards, with Saturn turning Retrograde from April 1, you will also face bottlenecks in day to day activities.

Jupiter turning Direct helps you stay focused. Mercury’s movement around the second quarter shall benefit you with higher growth prospects. Professionals, those employed in various sectors and entrepreneurs will benefit this year.

Cancer - June 22 - July 22 The year surely has a lot of positivity in store for you. However, tread with utmost balance, cautions Ganehsa. With Saturn and Jupiter transiting through Dual Natured Signs, it’s going to be a year where highs in fortunes will not follow a constant pattern. The prospects of financial and growth opportunities depend on the competence levels of your associates, too. Steer clear of incompetent and wrong personnel. So, it is advisable to have a back up plan that will come help you in your financial and growth goals. Saturn’s influence shall enable you to do a reality check, which will keep you grounded.

Jupiter’s transit and Mars’ journey will have a great impact on the chain of events this year, feels Ganesha. While the Retrograde Jupiter’s effects will not be too pronounced till around mid February, period from around mid February till March 5 may lead to minor setbacks for you. Nevertheless, you will be motivated and make swift moves with your aspirations when Mars commences its journey in its own watery Sign, passionate Scorpio. Professional as well as personal relationships require you to pay attention to sensibilities of people around you, especially those to whom you are emotionally attached.

Leo - July 23 - August 22 Ganesha foretells that this year the fire in your belly, the desire to scale new heights and your ability to spot new opportunities would channel you to think beyond and brace up for newer roles.

While things may look a bit cloudy in the beginning, in due course, you will be determined to move ahead and put in more hours at work. Staying focused on achieving sustainable financial growth should be your mantra for the year. While you could cash in on financially sound spells, the urge for the nicest things and a lavish lifestyle will tempt you to go on a spending spree, which you must control. While opportunities to fill up your bank account will be ample, you need to keep a checklist on your spending versus earning sheet. Refrain from any sort of emotional obligation and take calculated decisions in money matters. With positive winds indicating good tidings around the last quarter of the year, relationship will see you reaping the fruits of your labor, provided you become choosy in cultivating new relationship. As a whole, the year ends on a positive note.

Virgo - August 23 - October 22 Your desire to lead a good comfortable and luxurious life will see fruitful results this year. What’s more, Venus, the Planet concerned with finance and good fortune, remaining favorable in the beginning of the year, shall bring you showers of financial happiness. This would, in turn, motivate you to seek more comforts in life.

At the same time, relationship issues might worry you. However, your overall satisfactory phase will make you deal with these issues with ease and aim for more. Positive vibes of Jupiter will make you chance upon some lucky breaks and motivate you to grab an opportunity to make progress in your occupation. The road to success however will not be as smooth as you think it would be. Be prepared to counter minor setbacks that come in your way. The time requires you to do some introspection to identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can face new challenges bravely.

Health will require your full attention, particularly when Mars transits in Saturn and during the Retrogression of Mars, when past health issues could surface. Take enough preventive steps to gain control of the health situation. You will find some relief, though, towards the end of the year.

Libra - September 23 - October 22 Ganesha foresees that there is a lot of change on the cards for you this year. However, the twist lies in what form the change will come to you. Ganesha says, it will be the clouds of confusion

that will make you crack the code of happiness and success. With major Planets – Saturn, Jupiter and Rahu transiting in Dual Natured Signs during the year, the ride will be slightly bumpy. Cheerful aspect is Mercury—your lucky star transits favorably from the beginning of the year, till around February end. The Retrogression of Mercury in between, from January 6 to January 26, as Ganesha views it, is only a phase that will compel you to think better strategies and action plans for higher growth. While Venus, ruler of your sign, also transits favorably for most part of the year, playing your cards masterfully will give you wonderful results. Progress will also be determined by the key roles that your spouse (if married), team members and business associates take up this year.

While transit of Mars determines your financial and family prospects this year, it is with whom you choose to tag along professionally and personally will decide the final outcome. Your positive attitude will help you sail smoothly.ort span of time, but you will soon recover from it.

grind, what is important for you is to work towards increasing your income, in order to meet the escalating expenditure. Since you will need to meet the financial demands of your family as well as your rising personal expenses, it will become essential for you to set short-term as well as long-term financial goals, and work to achieve them. Fathoming your own relationship quotient may become a tricky arena for you, owing to the two-way movement of Mars. Misunderstandings may cause a rift in your relationships, especially if you fail to communicate clearly, which is quite likely. You may also appear as highheaded or egoistic. Nevertheless, you shall be able to achieve a win-win situation, by steering clear of mental reservations of any kind by communicating clearly with your near ones, opines Ganesha.

From the health perspective, you ought to take care of even minor problems. Do not neglect anything. Guard against infections and seasonal ailments, and also take proper care to manage chronic ailments.

Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 You are in for some surprises this year, foresees Ganesha. While you will tend to accept the harsh realities of life, you will muster courage to brave the challenges as well. As you put up that fight to survive and move ahead, sometimes you will end up battling your own whims. While you will crave for inner peace and tranquility in life, your inherent nature will make you ready for the grind to achieve more.

The financial front will present you with more constraints. Flow of monetary resources will concern you and require you to make wise, calculated moves so far as saving for the future is concerned. With Saturn’s transit in Sagittarius and Saturn’s further influence on your financial expenditure pattern, you will need to come to terms with a reality check. While you will be able to achieve financial success and be able to handle it effectively, you will also learn that you need to bite only which you can chew comfortably. Plan finances with long-term view and make enough provision for emergency. Businesspersons should keep plan-B ready in case plan-A fails to work out as you may have expected it to.

Aquarius - January 21 - February 19 As per the planetary alignments, Ganesha feels that this year you need to do some deep introspection. The process of contemplations will only you to restore stability in the long run. While exploring opportunities and seeking a concrete direction for growth will keep you occupied, you will be able to review your course from around the second week of January. Time for action commences from January 25 onwards. Monetary aspirations will lead to acquiring more wealth. However the presence of malefic Rahu and that of Ketu in the Second House are going to impact the returns in a negative manner. In addition, Jupiter transiting through the Eighth House sounds a caution to not incur any financial debt because repayment of debt will be a concern. You could apply a loan for asset acquisition or loan for automobile and household requirement, after Jupiter enters Libra. Patiently pursuing ongoing goals and tasks without entertaining major changes related to occupation, whether business or a job, will enable you achieve positive growth. In job, shouldering more responsibility and meticulous approach in work will enable good results. Do not blow your own trumpet, but let your work speak for itself, and recognition will come sooner or later.

Sagittarius - November 22 December 22 This year the harder you work the better will be the rewards – both financial and emotional. You will benefit from keeping a check on your hot temper and be very tactful while handling unpleasant situations. Encouraging financial accrual will keep your spirits up this year. Keeping a track on unwarranted expenses and careful financial spending will enable you save for future. Transit of Mars, during the first half of the year, will lead to increase in expenses. Nevertheless, you will chance upon lucrative profit making opportunities, around the second half of the year. Refrain from handling money matters impulsively.

New avenues of earning will also boost up your existing revenues. On the relationship front, it is going to be a smooth sail with some exceptional occurrences. Do not make relationship complicated by being over assertive. Letting yourself heard in a composed way without hurting the sensibilities of others, will help you win confidence. Singles will come across a suitable phase of discovering intimate relationship, during the first half of the year.

Married couples will have to be very tactful by being receptive to your spouse’s sensibilities and by refraining from being too harsh about their shortcomings.

Capricorn - December 23 - January 30 You may expect an eventful year ahead, feels Ganesha. You will be on the move, financially as well as personally.

While the presence of Saturn in Sagittarius only heightens the flux in your financial

Pisces - February 20 - March 20 Some surprises are in store for you this year, whether you are a businessperson or a professional. With you driven towards monetary pursuits, support from unknown quarters furthering your aspirations will be a great morale booster for you. With Mercury turning Retrograde, you will have ample opportunity to analyze your previous business decisions and also review your strategies to move ahead. As lady luck smiles on you, your financial aspirations will be driven by your resolve to add more strength to your financial portfolio. Shouldering more responsibilities will make you more determined and fetch you more support. While sole proprietors of businesses will be better placed, those in a partnership business will have tough times in convincing partner(s) about the strategy for attaining vertical growth. While the first half of the year will bring enterprise challenges, you will get a grasp of future situations during February. This will make you work harder to achieve monetary gains. From relationship point of view, you ought to differentiate a meaningful relationship from a casual one.

While the relationship quarter brings in a mixed bag of results, you must handle them tactfully. Though you shall have the cooperation at home and in office, do not take relationships for granted, but be kind and polite.

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Disclaimer: This is only a guide and is not directed towards any particular individual and the writer shall not be responsible for anything to do with the article content.

42 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 43

Bollywood & Entertainment David Bowie: The space - invading starman was an unforgettable oddity

Priyanka Chopra suits up for Baywatch movie, to play villain PRIYANKA Chopra earned her stripes with ABC’s hit TV show Quantico, then went ahead and picked up a People’s Choice Award for the series. Now, it is the turn of the Bollywood beauty to make her Hollywood film debut in Baywatch movie.

The actress would be joining Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson in the big screen adaptation of the much-loved ’90s TV series.

This will be Priyanka’s film debut in Hollywood. She is in talks for the film, which will centre on the leader of an elite group of lifeguards (Johnson) who is forced to team up with a young, hotshot former Olympian (Efron) to save their beloved bay.

Alas, CJ Parker’s role, made famous by Pamela Anderson in the original, is already taken. Model Kelly Rohrbach was signed last

month to play Parker.

Hollywood Reporter said scheduling conflicts with the film’s shoot and Priyanka’s Quantico still need to be worked out, but the actress would play the story’s villain.

Seth Gordon is directing the film, and San Andreas actress Alexandra Daddario also recently joined the cast. The film will soon start shooting with Beau Flynn and Ivan Reitman producing.

The Rock surprised Priyanka on Twitter last month when he posted “World Domination” on a picture posted by her. The actress replied, “World domination all the way @TheRock. Keep paving the way.” To which The Rock replied, “I know you’re right there w/me PC...:” Priyanka reply came quick, “I so am.”

HT

Won’t comment on political or religious matters: Shah Rukh Khan ONCE bitten, twice shy. Shah Rukh Khan, who has courted controversies recently over his statements on ‘growing intolerance’ in the country, refused to comment on the cancellation of Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s Mumbai concert following threats from Shiv Sena. “Unfortunately because of the reactions I get when I answer something political or religious, I don’t think I will answer this question,” the 50-year-old actor told reporters when asked to comment on cancellation of Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai.

SRK had earlier said there is “extreme intolerance” in India, creating a furore. He had later apologised. He had said the controversy also affected the collections of his latest film Dilwale.

“I have not said anything that I should apologise (for). I will fall in my own eyes if I do that,” Shah Rukh said at a media meet to promote Dilwale. Agonised over protests against the film directed by Rohit Shetty, SRK had said it made him sad when his work did not reach the people as that was the only way he could return the people’s “love” for him, and appealed to his fans to watch and enjoy the movie.

“I can’t deny the fact that I’ve been reading messages on Whatsapp. I’ve been reading messages on social media, and even on ground that there has been activity all over the country, where the film has been stopped, and not allowed. Yes, box office collections have been hit, I don’t know exactly the

• PTI photo.

places. But they have been,” he further said.

When asked about the debate over Aamir Khan’s removal as brand ambassador of Incredible India , SRK said, “I don’t have anything to do with it: neither was I recruited nor was I let go. Please leave me out of it.”

During a programme to launch the ‘Shades of Bengal’ book by Nerolac Paints, he also avoided answering the question related to reduction of his security cover by the Mumbai Police. Shah Rukh simply said he missed the constables as they used to bring food for him.

“I miss them. Sometimes I give them a call to ask about their well-being. They used to take food for me and we used to eat ‘puri’ and rice together,” he added.

HT

44 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

DAVID Bowie made clear, in a way that was exhilarating and sometimes frightening, what every rock star since Elvis Presley and Little Richard had been telling us all along - that anything was possible.

With his unpredictable range of styles, his melding of European jadedness with American rhythms and his ever changing personas and wardrobes, the gaunt and erudite Bowie brought an open theatricality and androgyny to popular music that changed the very meaning of being a rock star. From album to album, and concert to concert, fans were never sure how he would look - in black leather and a pompadour; in makeup and orange hair as his alter ego Ziggy Stardust; shirtless and wearing a Mohawk; or elegant and debauched in a dark vest and white shirt, cigarette dangling from his mouth, taking in the uncertainty of modern life.

“My entire career, I’ve only really worked with the same subject matter,” Bowie, whose death was announced early Monday 11 January, told The Associated Press in a 2002 interview. “The trousers may change, but the actual words and subjects I’ve always chosen to write with are things to do with isolation, abandonment, fear and anxiety - all of the high points of one’s life.”

Representative Steve Martin said that Bowie died “peacefully” surrounded by family after battling cancer for 18 months.

“While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief,” the statement read. No more details were provided.

Bowie turned 69 on Friday 8 January, the same day he released a new album called Blackstar. He also released a music video on Friday for the song Lazarus, which shows a frail Bowie lying in bed, eyes bandaged. The song begins with the line: “Look up here, I’m in heaven.”

To millions of fans, his appeal was on all levels - visually, intellectually, sonically. He was as likely to quote Friedrich Nietzsche as he was to refer to an old pop song. He was a writer, a musician and producer. He was also one of the first rock stars to receive serious critical attention as a stage performer, for The Elephant Man, and as a movie actor for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and The Man Who Fell to Earth among others. Years before the rise of MTV he was using videos not just for promotion, but for creating narratives and expanding on the themes implicit in the music.

“What I’m most proud of is that I can’t help but notice that I’ve affected the vocabulary of pop music. For me, frankly, as an artist, that’s the most satisfying thing for the ego,” he said in the 2002 interview.

Mick Jagger, Lou Reed and Freddie Mercury were among the many artists who collaborated with Bowie and were influenced by him. He was a central figure in the “Glam Rock” wave of the mid-1970s, and a key influence of the disco era and on Madonna and the other visually-oriented performers who rose with MTV in the 1980s. His tense, wiry voice, capable of a baritone croon or falsetto shriek, proved as suited for the groove-based hits Let’s Dance and Modern Love as for the sci-fi drama of Space Oddity. Bowie also wrote the glam rock anthem All the Young Dudes for Mott the Hoople, worked with John Lennon on the James Brown-styled funk of Fame and brought in a young Luther Vandross as a backup singer on his hit Young Americans. Vandross and Bowie co-wrote another song from the Young Americans album, Fascination.

When Bowie was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, David Byrne of Talking Heads spoke at the ceremony and re-

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called being shocked the first time he saw him.

“And yet it was very familiar,” Byrne said.

“It was very necessary. It was something that was needed. It was essential. And like all rock and roll, it was tasteless, it was glamorous, it was perverse, it was fun, it was crass, it was sexy, it was confusing.”

Added Madonna, who accepted the honour for Bowie: “Before I saw David Bowie live I was your normal dysfunctional, rebellious teenager from the Midwest. He has truly changed my life.”

Bowie was born David Jones in London in 1947, the son of a promotions officer and a waitress. He had an early and obvious taste for music, design, art and dancing, and, like so many children of the time, was profoundly moved by rock music. “I had heard God,” was how he described the impact of Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti.

By his teens, he was performing in bands that played blues, folk, contemporary pop and other kinds of music. But his early singles didn’t sell and he also suffered from being confused with a superstar of the time, Davy Jones of the Monkees. He changed his last name to Bowie, after the knife identified with American frontiersman Jim Bowie. In 1969, his perfectly timed single Space Oddity, released soon before the launch of the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon, became a top five hit in England.

Into the mid-1980s, he was one of rock’s top stars, with No. 1 albums including Aladdin Sane and Diamond Dogs and the smash Let’s Dance, produced by Nile Rodgers and featuring such hits as the title song and Modern Love. Other notable Bowie songs included Blue Jean, Golden Years and Heroes, which he performed at a concert for rescue workers after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Bowie kept a low profile in recent years after reportedly suffering a heart attack in the 2000s. He made a moody album three years ago called The Next Day - his first recording in a decade which was made in secret in New York City. Blackstar, which earned positive reviews from critics, represented yet another stylistic shift, as he gathered jazz players to join him.

He was uneasy with some of his greatest material, once embarking on a “greatest hits” tour saying it would be the last time performing much of his old material. He later relented, however.

“I’m not a natural performer,” he said. “I don’t enjoy performing terribly much. Never have. I can do it and, if my mind’s on the situation, do it quite well. But five or six shows in, I’m dying to get off the road and go back into the studio.”

Bowie was married twice, to the actress and model Mary Angela “Angie” Barnett from 1970-80, and to international supermodel Iman since 1992. He had two children - Duncan Jones and Alexandria Zahra Jones - one with each wife.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016 — 45

Sports News Lionel Messi wins FIFA Ballon d’Or for record 5th time FC Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi won the FIFA world player of the year award for a record fifth time in Zurich on Monday 11 January, 2016.

Messi ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-year hold on the Ballon d’Or trophy to lift soccer’s top individual honor.

The Barcelona forward regained the prize after his club won five major titles last year, leaving Ronaldo’s Real Madrid with nothing.

“It’s incredible that it’s my fifth. It’s much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid,” Messi, who won four straight FIFA awards from 2009-12, said in his acceptance speech.

Messi got 41.33 percent of total voting points in a 23-candidate ballot. Ronaldo received 27.76 percent and third-place Neymar got 7.86 percent Voting was by national team captains and coaches, plus invited journalists, from FIFA member countries.

It was a stellar night for Barcelona and the World Cup-winning United States women’s team.

Luis Enrique was named best coach after guiding Barcelona to win the Champions League, Spain’s La Liga and cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. The women’s awards were won by U.S. captain Carli Lloyd and English-born coach Jill Ellis.

Lloyd stood out by scoring six World Cup goals, including a stunning hat trick in the opening 16 minutes of a 5-2 rout of Japan in the final.

At first unable to speak with emotion, Lloyd was loudly applauded as she prepared to begin her acceptance speech.

“I honestly wouldn’t be sitting up here, standing up here, without my incredible teammates,” said Lloyd, who made the threeplayer shortlist for the first time at age 33.

Lloyd beat Aya Miyama of Japan and Celia Sasic of Germany. Sasic also scored six goals in Canada to win the tournament Golden Boot, then retired aged just 27.

Ellis won the coaching award in women’s football ahead of two men: Japan coach Norio Sasaki and Mark Sampson, who led

• Lionel Messi won the FIFA world player of the year award for a record fifth time in Zurich.

(Photo: Twitter/FIFA.com)

England to third place at the World Cup. The American women’s team last won the 2012 awards after its Olympic title, when forward Abby Wambach and Swedish coach Pia Sundhage were rewarded.

Barcelona also swept the 2011 men’s awards when Messi and then-coach Pep Guardiola won following the club’s previous Champions League title.

Guardiola was also on the shortlist against his former teammate Luis Enrique. Neither could attend due to team commitments.

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli was also shortlisted for guiding the host to a first Copa America title.

The Puskas Award for most beautiful goal was won by Wendell Lira for Goianesia against Atletico-GO in a Brazilian league game. Lira’s bicycle kick topped an online poll that logged more than 1.6 million votes.

AP, Zurich

Gayle’s BBL comments will not affect cricket: ICC CEO Richardson

THE International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chief executive Dave Richardson said on Monday (11 January) that West Indian batsman Chris Gayle’s controversial postmatch comments in the Big Bash League (BBL) could have been avoided, adding the game will hardly be affected by the controversy.

Gayle was fined 10,000 Australian dollars ($7,190) for asking a female TV presenter Mel McLaughlin out on live television after a BBL match.

Gayle later apologised for the in- • AP Photo cident but said the reactions were seen as “out of proportion”.

“Gayle comments in BBL could have been avoided. But I think cricket does not need to worry about it. Cricket can easily move on from here on without worrying,” Richardson said at a press conference here to announce ICC’s eight-year sponsorship (2016-2023) deal with money transfer services MoneyGram International.

The ICC CEO also spoke about the growth of women viewership and their involvement in the sport, which is a big plus for the game.

“Of the viewership of ICC events, 40 percent of them are women and it is much higher when it comes to T20s. It is a strategy to engage women in the game more through T20.

It is not about females watching the game but about world audience watching women play,” he said.

“I can say that worldwide more than one million women are playing and the quality of

Australia v India ODIs: Five talking points Jamie Alter - TNN HIGHLIGHTS • In the upcoming five ODIs, it remains to be seen which place the management uses Rahane.

• Indian team will hope Jadeja channels his recent domestic and Test match form into the ODI format.

• Being a left-armer gives Sran an added advantage.

AS India head into the five-match seriew with the World Cup winners, a look at some of the subtexts to contest.

• Ajinkya Rahane. (AFP Photo).

Where will Rahamne bat?

Ajinkya Rahane was left out of the ODI team during the tour of Bangladesh in June last year, with MS Dhoni publicly admitting that it was a harsh yet justified decision. Rahane was dropped for the second ODI, following a score of nine in 25 balls when India were chasing over 300 in the first match, and Dhoni said that Rahane's struggles when there was less pace on the surface meant he was not able to rotate the strike freely. Rahane's next opportunity in ODIs came in the tour of Zimbabwe in July 2015, and since then his scores in the format read 34, 63, 15, 60, 51, 4, 45 and 87 at a strike-rate of 86.09.

That last innings of 89 came off 58 balls, incidentally.

In those five ODIs against South Africa, Rahane batted at Nos 3 (twice), 6 and 4 (twice) which gave those of us watching mixed and frankly muddled messages. In Australia last year, during the tri-series that preceded the World Cup, he batted at No 3 once and then opened in the next three matches. Come the World Cup, and he was used at No 7 once and No 4 thrice. In the upcoming five ODIs, it remains to be seen which place the management uses Rahane - at third of fourth.

Focus on Jadeja the allrounder

• AP Photo

the game is also increasing day by day. In World Cup events, earlier England and Australia used to win; now we will find India, West Indies, South Africa winning events.

Very proud of women’s cricket and I hope it will increase day by day,” the former South Africa cricketer said.

The 56-year-old said the introduction of new teams in the upcoming World T20 in India in March-April showed the tremendous growth of the game.

Debutant Oman will play in their first ICC event alongside Scotland, Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

“The game has grown tremendously in the last 10-15 years. T20 format is a tool to globalize the game. In the World T20 in India we will see new teams playing which is a real boost for the game. Teams like Oman who will debut in ICC event and others like Scotland, Hong Kong, Afghanistan will also make the event big,” Richardson added. HT

46 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2016

squad and, on the basis of his bowling in the two warm-ups, looks the likeliest to get a maiden ODI cap. Being a left-armer gives Sran an added advantage, considering the rest of India's pace attack is made up of right-handers. In the Twenty20 practice came against a Western Australia XI, Sran claimed 2/24 in four overs and in the 50-overs-a-side fixture he bowled economically across seven overs - both times getting to open the bowling.

Sean bowled at good pace and one of his wickets came from a short ball that climbed onto D'Arcy Short, which left India's bowling coach Bharat Arun to speak highly of his potential. With Mohammed Shami having flown home with a recurrence of an injury, it could be that Sran gets the nod ahead of the replacement, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Will uncapped allrounders get a chance?

Back in the squad after being dropped in mid-2015, the Indian team will hope Jadeja channels his recent domestic and Test match form into the ODI format. The allrounder enjoyed a superb return to the Test format in India's 3-0 win over South Africa at home, but will not find that sort of assistance on Australian pitches. Nevertheless, he is in redhot form and should slot back into the XI at No 7 - Axar Patel will make way in this case - and will be expected to bowl his full quota of ten overs to allow India to play five specialist bowlers. Jadeja's numbers aren't too encouraging in Australia: 11 wickets from 16 ODIs at an average of 57.27, strike-rate of 66 and economy of 5.19. Maybe a renewed character will spark a change?

Barinder Sran the X-factor?

• AP Photo

'Barry' - as Shikhar Dhawan revealed the 23year-old fast bowler from Punjab is called in the Indian camp - is the youngest of India's

www.indiantimes.com.au

• AP Photo

Among India's 15-man squad are two young domestic allrounders who have yet to be capped: Gurkeerat Singh of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh's Rishi Dhawan. Gurkeerat, 25, was Punjab's top run-getter in the 201415 Ranji Trophy with 677 from 14 innings at 56.41. That was followed by a limp IPL, but two impressive one-day matches for India A got the selectors' nod for the ODI squad against South Africa last year. He also traveled with the Test team, and fielded as a substitute in Mohali. Dhawan, also 25, has been a consistently successful performer for Himachal over the past few years and his maiden call-up is reward for domestic form.

Most recently, he helped Himachal to the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 302 runs at an average of 100.66 and strikerate of 102.72 as well as nine wickets. Both offer exciting all-round options but with R Ashwin and Jadeja sure to play, and Axar with prior international success, it remains to be seen whether either gets an opportunity.

Wanted: A fitting farewell for Dhoni

• AP Photo

In what will be his final tour of Australia, can Dhoni lead India to success against a depleted home team? Dhoni, visibly leaner with an entire year lapsed since he quit Test cricket, remains in charge of the ODI and T20 teams but Virat Kohli's success as Test captain has fuelled thoughts that he should be given the reins of at least one of the two limited-overs sides. Dhoni is 34, and has admitted to the need to stay fit to keep going at international level. In the narrow ODI series loss to South Africa, Dhoni made 212 runs in five innings with one fifty - a power-packed 92* that helped India to a match-winning total in the second match - and most recently, turning out for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first time since the 2004-05 season, he did little of note in six matches.

Just one fifty, an unbeaten 70 from 106 balls in the quarter-final loss in which only two team-mates made it to double-digits.

There have been calls for Dhoni to bat up the order - the aforementioned 92 came from the No 5 spot - and with Suresh Raina dropped, there is logic in getting India's captain a place higher. And yet that will expose one of the rookies at No 6, something India may not want, considering it was Dhoni himself who during the South Africa ODIs admitted it was not a slot he wanted to expose less experienced players to. It promises to be a spot worth keeping an eye on.

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