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President of Angus Reid Institute; a Schulich Scholar; the first Sikh and South Asian MMA World Champion; Whitecaps FC Coach; and awardwinning actress and filmmaker. The never-ending applause by the guests, along with the inspiring thank you speeches by the winners generated a feeling of pride and unity at the event. The issue also has some fun articles Hello DARPAN readers, to prepare you for the festive season ello readers, how is your holiday ahead and for 2022. This holiday season, season going? With regulations it’s a cinch to indulge your loved ones being lifted, this year we will have the or yourself with the wide range of opportunity to celebrate the holidays limited edition and specially packaged and the New Year with our family beauty gift sets on offer. Whether it’s and friends. It will definitely be a a luxury collection splurge or a valuememorable one! packaged set easily divided for stocking DARPAN Magazine recently stuffers, we have some suggestions to presented the 11th Extraordinary get everyone’s wish list sorted. Read our Achievements Awards in October in the fitness article on three holiday habits to company of esteemed social, business avoid. The fitness expert guides you in and political elites. Ten amazing making better decisions so that when individuals from the South Asian January comes around, you’re not full community were recognized for their of complete and utter regret. Try two extraordinary achievements and for interesting recipes shared by Chef reflecting their heritage in a remarkable Gautam Mehrishi, a well-known way. The highlight of the evening was celebrity chef. And finally, with 2022 our Guest of Honour and Keynote fast approaching, there is a list of Speaker, Nav Bhatia – known worldwide trends that fashion connoisseurs have as the Raptors Superfan. Bhatia shared predicated. Check out the list of style with the audience his journey from trends that will rule the fashion book being a struggling immigrant to now in 2022. being called the Raptors Superfan and We hope you enjoy the issue and his how love and dedication towards continue to support us ahead. The basketball. Among the list of the 2021 DARPAN team wishes you a fun-filled award winners was the BC Lions’ owner; holiday season. Happy Holidays!

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116 SOUTH ASIANS AROUND THE GLOBE

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Great article on the Punjabi Market murals. The article looks so colourful and it is a great initiative. Looking forward to visiting the market soon. – Shobha N

Happy Diwali 2021

Re: Thank you for sharing your feedback with us Shobha. Yes,

it will be a refreshing change to the Market. Also, the idea and inspiration behind the murals is beautiful too. – DARPAN

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I like that your magazine includes easy, informative articles. Something as simple as sleep is so very important. People need to be made aware of how our daily routine can affect us if not followed properly. – Mohan Singh

Re: Hello Mohan, our aim is to always include articles that our readers can connect with. Yes, sleep is one of the important factors that contribute to our well-being. Keep sharing your feedback with us. – DARPAN

DIWALI ISSUE 2021 Diwali issue was nice. I liked reading some of the articles and recipes. So happy that we can finally celebrate Diwali will our family and friends. Thank you.– Kiran

Re: Yes Kiran, this was a special and meaningful Diwali for many of us as we got to celebrate it with our family and friends. Thank you so your support. Keep writing to us always. – DARPAN

RECIPES Awesom recip s in this is ue. They are simple to understand and make. Love goin throug the recip s in the mag zine.

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Re: Thank you Preeti for writing to us. Happy to know you enjoy

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1 Tell us about your career path?

Nursing has been a career path that I never really knew I had a calling for until I started on this journey. In nursing school, I knew that I wanted to care for children. I began my nursing career at Surrey Memorial Hospital and worked in the pediatric unit, emergency department and in the pediatric emergency department. I am also passionate about pediatric diabetes and diabetes education and have worked as a Diabetes Educator in the Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) Diabetes Clinic, the SMH Pediatric Diabetes Clinic, as well as work within the South Asian community providing diabetes education and testing. My involvement with BCNU started early in my nursing career when I took on the challenge of serving as regional job action coordinator for SMH. Following that, I served on the Worksite Job Action Committee and as a local level union representative for over 15 years, providing me the opportunity to advocate on behalf of fellow nurses and patients. I was elected as BCNU Vice President in 2019 and re-elected in 2020. Since being elected to the provincial executive, I have served as chair of BCNU’s Human Rights and Equity Committee, Truth and Reconciliation Working Group, as well as several working groups including the Seniors Strategy and Internationally Educated Nurses. 2 Tell us about the organization BCNU and the

work it does?

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) is a member-driven organization representing over 48,000 professional nurses and allied health care workers providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community. BCNU’s mission is to ensure the health and safety of our members, provide support and representation to members and advocate for safe, quality, public health care. We value and respect diversity, and pride ourselves in providing protection, representation, and services to all members. The union engages with external partners including government, the Health Employers Association of BC, health authorities and others to advance the delivery of safe patient care and lobby for positive change to ensure accessible health care for all. BCNU supports our members by negotiating a collective agreement, assisting and supporting them in the grievance process, assisting members who are injured while on the job, and supporting human rights and equity initiatives through the work of member-driven caucus groups. Empowerment of women, support for our future nurses through bursaries and educational opportunities and the creation of future advocates by fostering knowledge and activism are ways that we continue to advocate for safe working conditions, adequate safe staffing levels, wages, benefits, and gender equity for our members.

PHOTO:AMAN GREWAL/ BCNU

3 What does it mean for you to be a woman of South Asian heritage in the role of BCNU President?

I have a tremendous sense of pride taking on this role. My father was a member of the International Woodworkers of America and I always admired his camaraderie and devotion to his union. This instilled a desire in me to also participate and engage in union activities from the start of my career in nursing. I reflect on what my ancestors endured coming to Canada and the foundations that they lay for us. My sense of accomplishment is the fruits of all their suffering, hard work and determination which have now afforded me to be in the position that I am in now.

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AMAN GREWAL PRESIDENT

BC NURSES’ UNION (BCNU) 4 What do you feel will be some challenges

you will encounter in your new role?

With change there is a time for learning and adjustment. Establishing oneself in the new role and making the connections with external partners, listening to our membership’s needs, and embracing the leadership team as we move forward for the betterment of our members’ work-life balance. Working conditions remain important to me and will be a priority for the bargaining team as they begin work to negotiate a collective agreement. 5 There has been a backlash from some nurses regarding the mandatory vaccination order. How do you hope to address this issue?

BCNU strongly supports vaccination and science-based decision making. We encourage nurses, other health care workers, and all members of the public to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and other communicable diseases as a preventive personal and public measure. At a time when the union is pleading with health employers to improve staffing levels across this province, we expressed concern that the mandatory nature of the province’s vaccination strategy may compel some members to leave, further exacerbating a staffing shortage that is increasingly unmanageable. BCNU’s concern is, and always has been, patient care and ensuring safe staffing levels. We recognize a high percentage of nurses in this province are vaccinated and believe in science-based decision making. BCNU remains committed to providing support to unvaccinated members on a case-by-case basis. As president, I am eager to work with all levels of government to address the critical staff shortage and will ensure our members’ concerns are heard. 6 There has been a shortage of nurses prior to COVID-19 and now due to the vaccination mandate some will be forced out of their job and this put will extra strain on hospital staff, how are you hoping to resolve this?

BC’s health-care sector has been critically short staffed for decades and the union has been consistently pressuring the government to develop an urgent and immediate plan of action to support our nurses. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified how underfunded nurse staffing has been over the years and has really highlighted

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a systemic retention issue – one that is prevalent across the country, not just in this province. We need all levels of government to act now as patient care is at stake. I look forward to the opportunity to work with government, health authorities and other partners to seek short and longterm recruitment and retention strategies. Treating nurses with respect is a first step towards improving the toxic workplace culture and environment which is a contributing factor to nurses leaving the profession. Other possible short-term solutions include hiring additional support staff to carry out non-nursing duties and offering more support and mentorship for new nurses. By 2029, BC will need upwards of 24,000 nurses just to keep pace with the replacement of nurses who are retiring and leaving the profession. One solution is to focus on recruitment. We need the province of BC to fund more seats in all nursing schools to clear up the long waiting lists. Students are waiting years to get into nursing school, only to experience difficulty in acquiring clinical time and space for them to practice the skills they have learned in nursing school in a hands-on environment with patients. 7 Nurses have worked long hours during the pandemic and have experienced burnout. As a leader of the organization what measures do you feel need to be put in place for their mental and physical well-being?

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a physical and mental toll on all of us, but especially our frontline health care workers who are caring for British Columbians when they are most vulnerable. BCNU conducted a survey of its members in May 2021 during the province’s third wave of COVID-19 to gain greater understanding of the impact of the pandemic. Staffing and workload were by far the most commonly cited issues with 76% of respondents saying their workload has increased compared to before the pandemic. A staggering 85% of nurses reported their mental health has worsened and 65% have said their physical health has declined. Nurses who are suffering from burnout and other mental health concerns need to have access to the appropriate supports and funding to address the psychological impacts of all that they’ve had to endure during this pandemic. Nurses have held the hands of people dying without their loved ones by their side. Sadly, some have had to do this several times in one shift. The moral distress experienced by nurses on a routine basis has no doubt contributed to the worsening mental health of our members. In addition, nurses remain fearful of bringing the virus home to their loved ones, many of whom having gone so far as to move out of their own homes to protect their families resorting to living in their garages or seeking out rental suites. In addition to caring for patients during a global COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are also dealing with an opioid crisis and a staffing shortage, resulting in them taking on more patients than they would normally be assigned to care for. As president, I will continue to use my voice to advocate on behalf of our members. We need the government to take swift action and invest immediately in our healthcare system for the sake of all British Columbians whose healthcare depends on it. 8 What kind of assistance would you like to see from the provincial government?

We are nearly two years into this global pandemic and our nurses and health care workers are exhausted from working overtime, being denied days off and working long hours without scheduled breaks as they are so short of staff they cannot leave a patient’s bedside. There are simply not enough nurses to provide care to British Columbians who depend on them. BCNU continues to lobby government to invest in more

nurses. This includes more nursing school seats and funding for specialty nurse education, removing barriers for internationally educated nurses to gain licensure in BC, and increasing the number of long-term care beds and community staff to facilitate discharges. Nurses also need the government to commit to ensuring their safety as the number of violent incidents has reached shocking levels. BCNU has been calling for the hiring of protection services officers (PSO) at worksites across the province to protect our nurses, their patients, and the public. PSOs are uniformed health authority employees with additional specialized training in security and de-escalation that are more deeply integrated into the care teams and able to provide greater assistance to patients and health-care workers during violent incidents than private security services. 9 What more would you like being done for nurses whether it is pay, safety, among other things?

Violence against nurses is a huge issue in BC, one that is unacceptable and preventable. BCNU has been asking the government and health authorities to commit to a number of solutions including hiring properly trained security personnel at worksites 24/7, implementing Code White standards and the use of personal alarms. It is unacceptable that the profession of nursing is not protected and that assaults on nurses are not considered a crime. Federal legislation was put forward but has not been passed. Change is needed immediately to protect the nursing staff who are putting themselves on the line to care for patients, as well as anyone else entering these facilities. At the start of the pandemic, nurses were treated as heroes, people were banging pots and cheering every night at 7:00 p.m. Nurses want people to know they are human too. They have families and loved ones that they are also concerned for and want to safely go home to. They want to be respected and treated with kindness; they do not want to be attacked, hit, cursed at or spat on when they go to work. Safe staffing levels mean safety for our patients. Better mental health supports as well as pay increases that not only keep pace with inflation, but also show our nurses that they are valued is important. 10

What’s your message for the community?

Our South Asian community is a very rich, diverse and caring community. Our communities are entrenched in providing Seva, a selfless act or service that is performed without any expectation to receive any reward. There are many members of BCNU who are of South Asian descent amongst other ethnicities who have chosen this profession to provide care to our communities throughout the province. I would like to ask these communities to take care of the nurses who are caring for their loved ones during their most vulnerable moments, whether it be in times of joy with the birth of a new baby, care following an emergency trauma, recovery following a scheduled surgery or holding the hand of your loved one as they are dying with family present. Let’s protect those around us – our children, grandchildren, parents, extended family members and neighbors by following Provincial Health Orders which exist for all of our protection. If you are not vaccinated against COVID-19 or influenza yet, please consider doing so. Vaccinations are an important protective measure. Take care of yourselves and one another. Together, we can get through this. The South Asian community is sadly acutely affected by the opioid crisis and gang wars. Spend quality family time with your children and instill your families’ strong values, encourage and engage in healthy activities such as sports and other extra-curricular clubs to engage in and contribute in Seva. Please stay safe, stay healthy and be kind and respectful.

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LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

AZRA HUSSAIN & HEBAH HUSSAINA Azra Hussain and Hebah Hussaina are two Surrey community gems honoured as part of the 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 By Naina Grewal

zra Hussain and Hebah Hussaina are two Surrey community gems honoured as part of the 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™. In the 19th annual event hosted by Women’s Executive Network, these inspiring ladies made history by becoming the first ever mother-daughter duo to be declared as winners in their respective categories. Both have made the community proud in more than one way, spanning over years of

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community service and involvement. Azra Hussain is originally from the Indian city, Madras, now known as Chennai. Having lived what she describes as a relatively comfortable and cocooned life until the age of 17, tides turned upon the sudden passing of her father. Despite the surge of financial difficulties and pressures of legal battles, Azra successfully finished her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Madras, majoring in Financial Accounting. After marriage, she lived briefly in the United States of America, where she and her husband welcomed their daughter, Hebah, into the world. Hebah Hussaina was under two years old when the family made their move to Canada, not knowing a single soul. “It was very challenging to even find a place to rent because we did not have local references. It was coincidental that I ended up in Surrey. We hopped onto the Skytrain, getting off at every station to look for a place to live. The last station fell in Surrey,” recalls Azra. Thanks to a kind gentleman who agreed to a rental agreement, the family made Surrey

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their home. For lifelong-learner Azra, education has always been at the forefront. It is of no surprise, then, that her next step was to start pursuing her Certified General Accountant (CGA) designation, now known as Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Azra’s love for learning also passed on to her daughter. A studious student, Hebah skipped a grade and went on to Grade 2 after completing Kindergarten. She details, “I think that was a formative experience because it definitely was a little isolating, as others saw me as that kid who skipped a grade. I did not have too many friends, so my escapes were the summer camps and art camps I attended at Surrey Arts Center. Here, I could be myself.” At such events, Hebah developed a love for volunteering and working with children. She still remembers being overly elated for her 12th birthday, as she was finally old enough to volunteer! Both for herself and her brother, such day camps turned into positive experiences, a big propellant of why Hebah wants to give back to Surrey so that other children can have the same opportunities. On the other hand, Azra’s current role as Chief Operating Officer of Surrey Hospitals Foundation came to be because of her joining the Foundation in 2009, where her involvement

Giving back is a legacy we can be proud to leave our children.”

Azra Hussain

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Photography: AMASTERMEDIA, Diamonds Edge Photography

Growing up, it was rare to was initially rooted in finance work. She continued updating her education and credentials. Passionately driven by fundraising, the female powerhouse began getting more responsibility, surrounding operations, fundraising and human resources, and the rest is history. With the work she is doing now, Azra describes that working on projects and being part of the Steering Committee is dear to her heart, “Once we fundraise from the community, it is important to make sure that the collected money goes to the right project. Given that the community is entrusting us to make these decisions, I get utmost satisfaction from the impact I can make.” Azra is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a professional designation in the fundraising world. According to Azra, working in the not-for-profit sector requires passion, and

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Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

thinking about community impact is of great importance. Much to the likeness of her mother, Hebah also has made strides in community involvement. She credits volunteering in helping her discover leadership qualities and realize her full potential. At the young age of 15, Hebah started the Youth for CARE initiative, a not-for-profit youth group which serves to execute fundraisers and raise awareness in the local community while engaging other youth in Surrey. She then went on to pursue her Bachelor of Science, with a major in Integrated Sciences, at the University of British Columbia, studying topics such as neurobiology, public health, anthropology, and psychology. Tracing back to the source of her interest in the sciences, Hebah recalls taking the Skytrain down to Science World, as a child, to attend camps and events. This instilled a desire to make science accessible to other children as well, which is why Hebah is now a well-versed speaker with organizations like TEDx and BC Tech Summit. Currently, Hebah works in BC Children’s Hospital, in the field of Injury Prevention Research and is also involved with the Science World Future Science Leaders program. “Growing up, it was rare to see anyone that looked like me in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Design (STEAM). It was disheartening, but luckily, I’m still younger in my career and things are changing. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’m keeping the thought in mind that I could be a role-model for somebody younger,” shares Hebah. To younger women striving to venture

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see anyone that looked like me in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Design (STEAM). It was disheartening, but luckily, I’m still younger in my career and things are changing. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’m keeping the thought in mind that I could be a role-model for somebody younger.”

Hebah Hussaina

Founder, Youth for CARE non-profit organization & Volunteer at BC Children’s Hospital into the STEAM world, her biggest advice is to reach out and not hesitate to find help. Although it takes courage, finding likeminded individuals is important. Azra’s advice for success treads down the same path of leadership. To grow professionally, Azra suggests, “Try to see if you can find a champion in your organization in a senior role, who you can approach and seek advice from.” Aside from that, Azra herself is a living example of lifelong learning and encourages others to keep developing their skillsets, upgrading professionally, and fostering connections. In turn, this helps develop “Confidence in your Competence,” which Azra believes to be key. Working towards advocacy and wearing so

many hats at the same time, life can sometimes be a balancing act for the mother and daughter. However, they always make it a point to prioritize family and have built a strong support system at home. Azra maintains that her husband is the family’s backbone and has always been a pillar of support. As one unit, the couple has been together through thick and thin – from navigating cultural barriers to dealing with extended family’s expectations. For the family, emotional support and balance have always been the glue that holds them together. From a young age, Hebah has seen her mother involved in Parent Advisory Councils (PACs). Moreover, Azra would take her children to volunteering events and work-related gatherings to show them community involvement first-hand. This helped her little ones better understand the impact of community work, encouraging them to do the same. With her mother and father being formative figures in her life, Hebah reveals, “I have also instilled in myself the fundamental values of familial love and giving back to the community, for which my parents have been instrumental influencers.” Azra herself says that the core of who she is comes down to her belief in charity, which is a value she learned from her own father. Now, seeing both her children so heavily involved in the community, life has come full circle. Aside from Hebah who is a dedicated community leader, Azra’s son, Fawzan Hussain, is recipient of the 2021 British Columbia Medal of Good Citizenship. “Giving back is a legacy we can be proud to leave our children,” states Azra. Hebah shares that her mom has been her biggest inspiration and that she was rooting for Azra to win the 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ honour. She was surprised when she got the winning email herself and immediately got in touch with her mother, who was hoping that her daughter would win. Both were more so rooting for each other than themselves! When they realized the double win, the two immediately organized a conference call with the entire family of four to celebrate. Undoubtedly, this mother-daughter pair is a shining example of women empowerment and all that is possible with the noble intentions of giving back. In fact, the Hussain family is a living testament to the endless opportunities enabled by Canada’s multicultural fabric, and how each citizen can be a catalyst in making our country, and our world, a better place. With powerful women like Azra Hussain and Hebah Hussaina taking reign as changemakers, we’re bound to see double the impact!

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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

Since the start of his field hockey career, Tanvir Kang has had one dream: to play for Canada! This year, his dream came true as he was selected for the U-21 Junior World Cup. He will represent Canada in Bhubaneswar, India, from November 24 to December 5.

opportunities in Alberta,” explains Kang. The field hockey superstar travels to British Columbia every weekend to play league games and attend trainings, as a team player of the West Coast Kings in BC. The past few years, especially, have been a balancing act for the busy bee. While he would be going to school in Calgary during the weekdays, he would fly out to British Columbia for the weekends, to train. When in Calgary, he would practice at his home club, United Field Hockey Club Calgary. He would train on his own, hit the gym, and play in local leagues. Many times, he’d fly out right after classes, finishing his homework in whatever time he could squeeze in between commitments. Kang shares, “Traveling is

TEAM CANADA’S

TANVIR KANG

CHASING FIELD HOCKEY DREAMS

Photography: Fahad Photo

By Naina Grewal

ince the start of his field hockey career, Tanvir Kang has had one dream: to play for Canada! This year, his dream came true as he was selected for the U-21 Junior World Cup. He will represent Canada in Bhubaneswar, India from November 24 to December 5. Alongside pursuing the Heavy Equipment Technician program at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Kang is currently spending most of his time training twice a day for the upcoming Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup. Calgary-based Kang recalls that he initially started playing hockey because of his uncle’s encouragement, but soon fell in love with the sport himself. “I started playing seven to eight years ago. Since then, my uncle and I had the dream of me playing for Canada. It took a lot of dedication and commitment to achieve the dream, especially given that there are not many

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DARPAN

definitely the biggest challenge. There would be times when I’d have school or work scheduled for early Monday morning. For this past year, particularly, I have had to complete hours for apprenticeships, for which I’d sometimes take a flight back to Calgary at 6:00am in the morning.” When he wasn’t in British Columbia, Kang would sometimes be playing tournaments in Mexico or the United States. He’s also done U-21 tours in the Netherlands and England. As the only player from Alberta in the Junior Program, Kang has definitely had to exhibit extra commitment. The world cup dream, though, was his light at the end of the tunnel. Despite the challenges, he always pushed harder and never gave up.

With so much on his plate coupled with extensive traveling, Kang has undoubtedly had to compromise on his social life. That said, his friends and family have offered nothing but support to the budding legend. His family has always stood by him, also supporting Kang financially with his field hockey ventures. Kang details that the field hockey junior program in Canada is heavily self-funded, with money going out of pocket for tours and travels. Nevertheless, Kang’s parents have always left it up to him to pursue what his heart truly desires. Field hockey, complemented with his studies, are a path that Kang is happy to have chosen. He maintains that sports are a key aspect in life, having both physical and mental benefits. As such, Kang urges parents to support their children in achieving their dreams – sports-related or not, whatever they may be. For youth aspiring to reach their goals, Kang has a special message, “There should never be a time where you should feel the need to sacrifice one thing to obtain the other. As cliché as it may sound, nothing is hard in life because it’s always a mater of putting in the work. Even if you get cut, keep chasing and keep going. If you run towards something, you’ll be able to get it no matter what.” It is precisely this go-getter mentality that has helped Kang make the community proud. Aside from this recent selection, he has played in numerous National Championships for Alberta (U-18 and U-21), where he has received the honor of being awarded one of the Tournament’s Best 11. Kang’s resilience, passion, and sheer dedication to the sport of field hockey contribute to him being a positive role-model for others in the community. Surely, this is only the beginning for Kang and his career for Canada. As he puts it, he has just started climbing the ladder and the next steps are representing Canada at the senior level and pursuing the Olympic dream!

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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

The protagonists of the book’s narrative, Manh the Mor and Chanh the Chakor, are two childhood best friends that fall prey to sudden separation, caused by the Partition. The tone of the picture book is friendly and lighthearted, curated to appeal to young readers.

DOSTI By Naina Grewal

A CHILDREN’S BOOK ON INDIA-PAKISTAN PARTITION

Photography: Fahad Photo

s the world advances to new eras, facets of history are sometimes left untold and fade away in time. The richness of our culture and history can only be kept intact if we continue to pass down this knowledge to the coming generations. To keep these stories alive, the onus falls on our community to spark such conversations in the public sphere, stemming from our children. Taking on this leadership role, Steeven Toor has recently authored children’s book, Dosti, portraying the India-Pakistan partition. A Fraser Health Authority Community

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Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Health Specialist by profession, Toor wanted to integrate content in a way that would peak interest in the minds of children. He recognizes that whatever one is stimulated by at a young age, will have an everlasting impact. The protagonists of the book’s narrative, Manh the Mor and Chanh the Chakor, are two childhood best friends that fall prey to sudden separation, caused by the Partition. The tone of the picture book is friendly and lighthearted, curated to appeal to young readers. The book is graced by colorful, heartwarming illustrations, skillfully put together by the talented Sukh Sidhu,

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who has been an important collaborator for the project. When growing up, Toor recalls not having access to any South Asian literature, which became motivation for him to write. His goal is to encourage more creatives and young creators to deliver high-quality and well-produced content. Of course, the intention behind releasing Dosti extends beyond that. Having completed a Masters in Public Health from Queen’s University, Toor explains that he is well aware of the cyclical nature of intergenerational trauma on multiple generations, as part of his work in the science and research community. He explains, “When something devastating happens to a particular generation, the impacts linger. Until today, indigenous communities are impacted by trauma inflicted by colonial settlers. For the South Asian community, I see an overlap under the umbrella of colonialism, with the British abruptly leaving India. I look at that era as a painful time in our system. Work needs to be done.” Toor himself is making significant strides in the area of work, as he has co-founded non-profit organization, Punjabi Resilience and Empowerment in Mental Health (PREM), to inspire a movement in mental health advocacy through a creative lens, striving for resilient and empowered communities. During the community outreach phase of his early writing, Toor found that the community’s adults and elders have mostly internalized the Partition experience; it is not commonly spoken about. The writer of the book’s foreword, Jaswant Singh Cheema, is a survivor. He shares that his involvement with the book marks the first time he spoke about the Partition since it happened, not even talking about it with his own family. Cheema’s foreword carries a message to the next generation, simply asking them to find love for another and foster unity. Given the endless wisdom they have to offer, Toor urges younger generations to learn from elders while they’re with us. According to him, as our generations continue to thrive, it is important that we utilize our elders’ knowledge. After all, we come from a tradition of talking to our elders. For the book, Toor reached out to many community members and grandparents

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to capture the finest details and integrate them into the writing and illustrations. Taking flight during the pandemic, the project underwent unique challenges. In-person conversations were no longer an option, so discussions happened propelled by Zoom and screen-sharing tools. “In creative projects, drive and motivation are key. With the project spanning 4 years, it was easy to feel drained. Seeing the finish line was especially difficult during the pandemic, but the collaboration from friends and family has been tremendous support.” Now that the book has come together, the responsibility falls on the community to enable such conversations to take in public spaces, with parents and educators playing important roles. In a world where we are becoming overwhelmed by technology, it is important to encourage children to read books, especially physical versions. Toor intentionally made the conscious decision to not release a digital version, in an effort to reduce children’s digital media consumption. He strongly believes that community programming, book clubs, and reading sessions create a sense of culture, enabling young writers to create content. An avid reader of books as a child, Toor credits his reading habits for advanced comprehension throughout his schooling years, and eventual transition to authorship. Although Dosti is available for sale on Amazon, Toor aspires to have it available in libraries to evoke the same love for reading in children, while increasing accessibility of South Asian literature. In fact, Toor’s thought-process behind registering his own publishing house, Kalam Creations was motivated by the desire and passion to create something for our own community. His aim is to address issues like the lack of South Asian representation in mainstream media. The publishing house is an outlet not just for himself, but others too. He highlights, “From a grassroots perspective, it is challenging. We are building the plane as we are flying it. That said, we are laying the groundwork for future work.” Undoubtedly, Toor has a noble vision of giving voice to the talent in our community, instill in our future generations an appreciation for our history, and spread the love for South Asian literature. A literary catalyst, Dosti is a step in the right direction, carrying in its pages the powerful potential to inform, educate and empower.

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DARPAN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2021

2021

Celebrating

Excellence

The 11th Anniversary celebration of DARPAN’s Extraordinary Achievement Awards was an unforgettable night. With the entire South Asian community in attendance, DARPAN Magazine put together a great event that honoured the last 10 glorious years of the Awards and the growth of the community. 28

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DARPAN

ARPAN’s Extraordinary Achievement Awards 2021 was a successful night. Held on October 15 at Aria Banquet & Convention Centre in Surrey, this year’s celebration, presented by RBC Royal Bank, was as exciting as it was different. Last year, due to the pandemic and health regulations, DARPAN was unable to organize the prestigious event and recognize the hard work and achievements of the South Asian community in BC. The team was excited to present the Awards night this year which had many esteemed members of the South Asian community as well as Vancouver’s dignitaries in attendance. The gala welcomed over 500 people comprising of the top social and business elite in the South Asian community. DARPAN Magazine, hosted its 11th Annual Awards in the company of esteemed social, business and political elites. Ten amazing individuals from the South Asian community were recognized for their extraordinary achievements and for reflecting their heritage in

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DARPAN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2021

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a remarkable way. These 10 South Asians, identified as leaders, who embody the spirit of community and give back to greater Canadian society, were honoured with the prestigious Darpan Extraordinary Achievement Award. Keeping everyone’s safety in mind, as well as following the health regulations, vaccination proof and temperatures were checked at the entry. After a successful check-in, guests were ushered in to the Preston Cadillac-sponsored Red Carpet reception, where they were welcomed with champagne, gorgeous ice sculptures depicting DARPAN’s journey of 17 years in publishing excellence, the latest luxury Cadillac Preston model on display, and live performances. The red carpet was buzzing with prominent members of the South Asian community, political dignitaries and socialites. The media centre was busy – our Red Carpet hosts Ish Sharma and Nisha Khare interviewed our esteemed guests asking them their expectations for the evening; photographers were busy capturing beautiful moments; and a special history wall showcased DARPAN Magazine’s journey though magazine covers of the last 17 years.

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PHOTOS: AMASTER MEDIA, FAHAD PHOTO

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DARPAN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2021

Serge Corbeil, Director Government Relations - Local & Provincial, Air Canada shared a few words on stage

BC Premier John Horgan mingled with esteemed guests on the red carpet

MartinThibodeau, the Regional President of RBC Royal Bank in BC gave a speech at the event

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The beautiful cocktail lounge sponsored by WBI Home Warranty had guests mingling and enjoying the hospitality. It was a magical night, and guests were excited for the evening to unfold. Canadian actor and television personality Huse Madhavji, who flew in from Toronto, was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Stage and screen actor Huse Madhavji is best known for his role on Saving Hope where he played a socially awkward neurosurgeon Dr. Shahir Hamza for five seasons. He was also in the Emmy award winning season of Schitt’s Creek and is seen on the Hulu’s teen sci-fi drama Utopia Falls and as the voice of Ram Sing Ji on Disney Junior’s Mira, Royal Detective. Prior to his acting career, Madhavji was a TV presenter where he hosted a daily entertainment show, interviewing some of the most famous and celebrated faces in the world.

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The night began with a live performance by Folk Turbanators and Vishaljeet. MC Madhavji then took to the stage to welcome all attendees and our generous sponsors to DARPAN Awards 2021. Distinguished guests present at the event were BC Premier John Horgan; Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; Harry Bains, BC Minister of Labour; and Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. MPs attending were Randeep Sarai, Sukh Dhaliwal, John Aldag, and Parm Bains, and MLAs Raj Chouhan - B.C.’s first South Asian speaker of the house, Rachna Singh, Jagrup Brar, Trevor Halford, Ellis Ross, and John Rustad. The City of Surrey was in full attendance including Surrey Mayor, Doug McCallum, and Surrey Councillors Jack Hundial, Brenda Locke, Mandeep Nagra,

Doug Elford, and Allison Patton. Also at the event were Langley City Mayor, Val van den Broek and Mission City Councillor, Ken Herar. Other attendees included Consul General Mr. Manish, and Manjish Grover, Head of Chancery & Consul (Commerce), at Indian Consulate in Vancouver; Wally Oppal, Former Attorney General of BC and Supreme Court judge; Scott Lake, founder of Shopify; Dr. Angus Reid, founder of Angus Reid Institute, and Canada national soccer team forward and Vancouver Whitecaps FC player Tosaint Ricketts. Celebrating 17 years of publishing excellence and 11 years of Awards, guests were shown a glimpse of the extraordinary achievers that have graced the event over the years, along with a special mention to the late Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany. After acknowledging the main sponsors, our honoured guest, Surrey Mayor, Doug McCallum, took the stage to share a few words with the audience, followed by Martin Thibodeau, the Regional President of RBC Royal Bank in BC; and Serge Corbeil, Director Government Relations - Local & Provincial, Air Canada. The highlight of the evening was our Guest of Honour and Keynote

DARPAN

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Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

DARPAN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2021

Celebrating 17 years of publishing excellence and 11 years of Awards, guests were shown a glimpse of the extraordinary achievers that have graced the event over the years, along with a special mention to the late Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany. Speaker, Nav Bhatia – known worldwide as the Raptors Superfan. Bhatia’s journey began with his work as a car salesman, during which he proceeded to quickly break many records. Two years later, the salesman turned businessman and bought out the entire car dealership. Undoubtedly, climbing to the top was no small feat, but Bhatia has made the community proud with all that he has

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Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

accomplished. Hardworking Bhatia remembers having no hobbies as he tirelessly worked morning to night. When he got home from work, he would watch basketball. As time went on, Bhatia began attending basketball games in person – and just never stopped. In fact, as of the team’s inception in 1995, the Superfan has never missed a single Raptors home game. In 2019, when the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors to win the National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship, Bhatia made history by becoming the firstever fan to receive an official NBA championship ring, adorned with 640 diamonds. Bhatia has also founded the Nav Bhatia Superfan Foundation, which brings together diverse groups of people together, in Canada and around the world, through sport. The Foundation also works towards building washrooms for girls in Northern

DARPAN

India’s schools. Aside from his community work in India, Bhatia is the face of the NBA in India as well. For Bhatia’s promotion of game and global philanthropic efforts, he was forever memorialized through his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Raptors Superfan is the first fan and turban-wearer to ever be given the honor, and his turban, displayed in his gallery, is the first turban in the Hall of Fame. On stage, Bhatia shared with

the audience his journey from being a struggling immigrant to now being called the Raptors Superfan and his how love and dedication towards basketball. Attendees gave him a standing ovation as his inspiring words touched the hearts of everyone present. Bhatia was a true celebrity at the event as there were guests lining up to meet him and take photos with him. Guests from within and outside the community added glamour and style to the night with their attendance. The awards session – the main element of the event – was all about achievements, excellence and community spirit. Ten amazing individuals from the South Asian community were recognized for their extraordinary achievements and for reflecting their heritage in a remarkable way. Among the list of the 2021 award winners was the BC Lions’ owner; President of Angus Reid Institute; a Schulich Scholar; the first Sikh and South Asian MMA World Champion; Whitecaps FC Coach; and award-winning actress and filmmaker. The never-ending applause by the guests, along with the inspiring thank you speeches by the winners generated a feeling of pride and unity at the event. The atmosphere at the awards night was lively. There was music, food, glamour and beautiful

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people having a great time. The dinner was sponsored by ML Emporio Properties Ltd. and the entertainment sponsor was Thind Properties. This year at the awards, guests enjoyed a special performance by famous Punjabi singer and actor, Sharry Mann. His song ‘Yaar Anmulle’ broke all previous records for being an unsigned Punjabi singer on the Internet, swiftly becoming one of the most talked about names in the Punjabi music industry. Today, the singer is a popular name and appeals to all music-lovers worldwide. With his infectious energy and foot-tapping songs, he entertained and got guests fully immersed into enjoying the 2021 DARPAN Awards. DARPAN thanks all attendees for making the Awards event an unforgettable evening.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

BUILDING A LASTING LEGACY

FLAMINGO CANADA’S FIRST 15-MINUTE CITY

CHARAN SETHI The Man Behind Flamingo

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ithout a doubt, real estate is booming like never before and Surrey is a hotspot for new developments. Soon, Surrey’s Whalley District will be home to Canada’s first 15-minute city. Behind it all is the Founder, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Tien Sher Group, Charan Sethi. Having named his company as such, the “three lions” name alludes to developer Sethi himself, and his two sons. Sethi formed Tien Sher over 17 years ago. He has had a long, but enjoyable journey, developing and building single family homes, townhouses, apartment buildings, and mix-use commercial and residential communities. Today, he is set to take further the mission of transforming the Whalley District into Surrey’s downtown. With the Surrey City Hall, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia (coming soon!) already in the mix, developers and the City of Surrey have been working on a dream project, Flamingo. Flamingo One will be ideally situated to take advantage of Surrey’s 15-minute city, an urban planning concept where building uses and planned amenities are designed to provide access to all human needs by walking or bicycling within 15 minutes, or less. Whalley District will be one such complete community.

We take a lot of pride in what we do. We don’t build buildings, we build communities. We think about how people will live, prioritizing community engagement.” - Charan Sethi

PHOTOS: TIEN SHER GROUP, FAHAD PHOTOGRAPHY

Founder, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Tien Sher Group

The opportunity to indulge in a clean slate such as Whalley is an important one for Sethi, “We take a lot of pride in what we do. We don’t build buildings, we build communities. We think about how people will live, prioritizing community engagement.” Surrey is the largest city by land area and second most populated in Metro Vancouver, creating an everlasting need for vibrancy and connection. Sethi’s overarching goal is to provide housing at a price that people can afford. His thought process when working through a project always revolves around who the end-buyer will be. He utilizes a mindset he calls social engineering, to drive his deci-

sion-making, using which he focuses on building a complete community based on whoever will be moving in. The real estate legend says that he builds for all types of people. As such, Flamingo also has a commercial angle, providing space for entrepreneurs

and businesspeople. Aside from small businesses, walk-in clinics, pharmacies, physiotherapists, and other medical facilities are already in the making. The intention is to serve the people living and working in the area. By creating walking-distance accessibility to everyday needs like transit and food, Sethi is also strategically helping the environment by reducing the carbon footprint and lessening gas emissions. He reveals that every parking stall will be ready for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging as well. Sethi adds, “Walking improves your health. You interact with more people, too. Neighbors get to know each other, forming a very safe environment where residents are looking out for each other.” So far, Sethi has been overwhelmed by a phenomenal response from the public. Surely, his company has, overtime, built the reputation of providing good products. Once residents get the key to move in, they are guaranteed to be satisfied. Tien Sher takes pride in quality and is a trustworthy source, which is

why it is of no surprise that 40% of sales have gone to previous buyers. Sethi himself shares that he is getting personal calls from realtors and investors, which he welcomes. After all, he’s not one to just stay behind the scenes. The industry enthusiast is proactively involved in the community. Tracing back to when he was the first investor to buy into the Whalley area, Sethi remembers facing strong resistance and pushback for his choices. Now, he highlights that every building established so far in the area has been sold out in just one day, as Whalley is transforming into a metropolitan hub. Simply put, the area has become a top place to invest. To have such a vision over a decade ago is nothing short of genius and forward-looking business acumen. In fact, Sethi describes that the very first Whalley development plan he drew many years ago, is on a big sheet of paper that he still keeps in his office, observing how closely it resembles the plan that has now come to be, after all these years. When asked about his secret to success, Sethi mentions hard work and self discipline as key

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enablers of his accomplishments. “Things don’t happen automatically. If you are going to become a realtor, no one will tell you to wake up. If you don’t have the motivation, it just won’t happen,” emphasizes Sethi. To those that want to make it big in the real estate market, Sethi’s advice is to learn the product and the area in which you want to specialize, along with dedication and commitment. He elaborates that product and construction knowledge is important; providing good value should be prioritized over the drive to earn commissions. The combination of endless work hours, passion, and resilience is evident when looking at the business empire Sethi has built from the ground up. However, despite his busy schedule over the years, Sethi says that he has always made it a point to put family first, “For the first 22 years, I was in sales and my kids were also younger. I still recall that my younger son was into ice hockey. I would make time and write his practices into my schedule, blocking off time as if it were an appointment. No matter who asked to meet with me, I’d hold my ground that my child is more important.” Sethi also credits his wife for her undying support and for taking on the full-time responsibility of caring for him, alongside their two sons and daughter. From working three jobs at one time, where he was a machinist, house cleaner for builders, and pizza deliverer, to becoming a self-made business tycoon and proud grandfather of four children, Sethi is a community gem and role-model. As he spearheads implementing the Flamingo masterplan onto Surrey, Metro Vancouver’s geographic center, the Whalley District is in the hands of a capable and talented visionary.

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DARPAN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2021

Amar Doman

Corporate Engagement In Honour of Your Extraordinary Achievement as a Successful South Asian Entrepreneur Amar Doman is the founder and sole shareholder of The Futura Corporation. As Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd. (CWX), as well as Chairman of the Board of Tree Island Steel and CEO of The Futura Corporation, Doman brings over 25 years of experience in building materials, specialty lumber and re-manufacturing industries, and in public and private investments. In 2005, Ernst & Young nominated Doman for the Entrepreneur of the Year where he won in the Business to Business category (West). Doman is also a Director on the National Board of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Doman purchased the BC Lions in August of 2021.

Amar Doman receives the Corporate Engagement Awards from Gordon Houston, Executive Vice President & Nav Grewal, Associate Vice President, of WBI Home Warranty Ltd.

Agam Darshi

Artistic Visionary

PHOTOS: AMASTER MEDIA, FAHAD PHOTO

In Honour of Your Extraordinary Achievement as a South Asian Artist

Ravinder Darshi and Leena Manro receive the Artistic Visionary Award on behalf of Agam Darshi from Milan Mann, President, Real Estate Development and Construction, BM Group of Companies

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Agam Darshi is an international award-winning actress and filmmaker. Prior to wrapping her role as Mia Franklin on Emmy-winner Ava Duvernay’s HBO Max pilot DMZ this year, Darshi worked on Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta’s film Funny boy, for which she was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award, and recently won a Leo Award for her role. Over the past two decades, Darshi has worked alongside actors such as Carrie Ann Moss from the Matrix, Jessica Alba and Micheal B. Jordan from Creed. Darshi recently wrapped her directorial debut of her feature film, Donkeyhead. The film, also written by Agam, was Executive Produced by Deepa Mehta. Darshi co-founded the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival. The festival focuses on ‘bridging the gap’ between South Asian talent and mainstream audiences, by breaking stereotypes and expanding North American views on South Asian culture.

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Shachi Kurl

Industry Marvel In Honour of Your Extraordinary Contribution in the Field of Research & Public Opinion

Shachi Kurl is President of the Angus Reid Institute, Canada’s non-profit foundation committed to independent research. She works with public opinion data to further public knowledge and enhance the national understanding of issues that matter to Canada and the world. Kurl is often found offering analysis on CBC’s “Power and Politics”, in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Globe and Mail, and on the editorial pages of the Ottawa Citizen, among other places. In October 2020, she moderated BC’s only televised provincial election debate, presented by the British Columbia Broadcast Consortium. Kurl is a recipient of the prestigious Jack Webster Award for Best TV Reporting. She is a national Vice Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Shachi Kurl receives the Industry Marvel Award from Mohamed Mansour, Vice President of Sales, Allure Ventures

Arjan Bhullar Breaking Barriers In Honour of Your Extraordinary Achievement in Mixed Martial Arts & Wrestling and Becoming the First South Asian Heavyweight Champion

Arjan Bhullar receives the Breaking Barriers Award from Midya U, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Global University Systems

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Arjan Bhullar is an MMA fighter and a heavyweight champion. He is Commonwealth Gamed Gold medalist (Wrestling) and Olympian (Wrestling), and the first Punjabi and Indian in the UFC. He is the first ever Punjabi and Indian MMA World Champion. Bhullar was able to win multiple national titles for Simon Fraser University, as well as a Bronze medal at the University World Championships. While representing SFU, he was also able to make the National Team and represent Canada around the world. His international success was highlighted by a Gold at the Commonwealth Games and a 12th place finish at the Olympic Games, where he became the first South Asian to represent Canada in the Olympics in Freestyle Wrestling. Soon thereafter Bhullar pursued his new dream of becoming a world champion in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. He was signed by the Ultimate Fighting Champion ship (UFC), becoming the first fighter of South Asian descent in the company.

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Satbir Cheema

Community Crusader In Honour of Your Extraordinary Contribution in Providing Community Service & Support

Satbir Cheema receives the Community Crusader Award from Jessie Arora, Architect and Principal, Group 161

Jasmine Mander

Kushaldeep Mujral

Spirit of Sport

Young Wonder

In Honour of your Extraordinary Contribution as an Inspiring Athlete & Mentor

Kushaldeep Mujral receives the Young Wonder Award from Gurpal Dhaliwal, President of Western Community College

In Honour of Your Extraordinary Achievement in Academia & Community Initiatives Kushaldeep Mujral is one of 100 high school graduates out of 350,000 across Canada been selected to receive the Schulich Leader’s Scholarship. He is pursuing a bachelor’s in Software Engineering at the Waterloo University. He was an essential member of Burnsview Secondary’s VEX robotics club. He has also created an online coding tutorial series, called Kushal’s Coding Tutorials, that can be found on YouTube, to help people learn programming in Scratch, a user-friendly online game development software. Finally, as a part of One Blood for Life, he helps conduct blood drives and stem cell events. He has given his time to the Museum of Surrey and Youth Rising Foundation.

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Satbir S. Cheema is the President and CEO of Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society, a registered non-profit organization that has been serving the local community since 1987, providing programs and services that assist new immigrants, seniors, farm workers, women and youth. Cheema has served as a member of BC RCMP CO’s Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee and the City of Surrey’s Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention set up by the Mayor of Surrey, leading to the development of the Surrey AntiGang Family Empowerment (SAFE) Program. Cheema was awarded with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition for his significant contributions to community service in 2012. Cheema reinforces PICS Society’s commitment to build a healthy and just society which values all cultures and he is strongly motivated to make our communities better, safer and inclusive.

Jasmine Mander receives the Spirit of Sport Award from Muhammad Ali, Sales Manager, Preston Cadillac

Jasmine Mander is the current U-15 National Team Head Coach and Women’s U-17 National Team Assistant Coach. Mander, a former Youth National Teams player is currently finishing the Canada Soccer A Licence program. A former coach with BC Soccer’s HighPerformance Program since 2011 and the Vancouver Whitecaps REX Super Centre, she was part of Canada Soccer’s Olympic Gold Medal Technical staff at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Mander obtained her Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and Masters Degree in Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia where she was also a scholar athlete.

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South Asian Studies Institute Heritage Defender

In Honour of Your Extraordinary Contribution in Preserving & Promoting South Asian Heritage and Culture through Research & Public Engagement The South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley brings together South Asian Studies research scholars and students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to create a nexus point for programs and activities that support its vision. The Institute fosters inter-disciplinary scholarly research and community and public engagement on issues related to South Asia and the South Asian-Canadian Diaspora. The Institute initiates, directs and implements the development, maintenance and enhancement of scholarship, research and engagement in collaboration with faculty, students and community. The Institute takes direction from UFV’s strategic goals to be a leader of social, cultural, economic and environmentally responsible development in the Fraser Valley. The Institute is an important repository of the settler history of the South Asian Diaspora. It also undertakes muchneeded research that benefits members of the community, government, organizations and agencies as well as the many facets of academia. The Institute undertakes to provide research and curatorial support to the National Historic Site Gur Sikh Temple’s Sikh Heritage Museum, Abbotsford BC which is managed by the Khalsa Diwan Society, Abbotsford BC.

Prof. Satwinder Bains from South Asian Studies Institute receives the Heritage Defender Award from Jeet Dhindsa, President and CEO, Van Gogh Designs

Peter Raju

Advancing Philanthropy In Honour of Your Extraordinary Contribution as a Philanthropist Promoting Healthcare & Children’s Health Peter Raju is the owner of Peace Arch Duty Free. Apart from his business activities, Raju is very involved with the local community. He has been responsible for organizing a number of fundraising activities to benefit the Richmond Hospital. As President of the Richmond Rotary Club, he chaired a Senior’s Gala recognizing the efforts and sacrifices made by the seniors. He was recognized on four separate occasions by the Rotary Club of Richmond with Rotary International’s highest honour, The Paul Harris Fellowship Award. In 2018, he was made an Honorary member of the Rotary Club of Richmond. He is also a recipient of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal. This medal was presented to him in recognition of his community involvement. Most recently, he gathered a small group of business leaders to raise funds for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. The event raised in excess of $540,000 towards Peter Raju receives the Advancing Philanthropy Award from Jacqueline Huynh, Diabetes Care for Children across the province. Development Manager, ML Emporio Properties Ltd.

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SIKH NATION SAVING LIVES November is ‘Sikh Nation Blood Donation Month’

By Naina Grewal

aving saved almost 160,000 lives and counting, Blood Donation by Sikh Nation has been the largest running blood donation campaign for the last two decades. Recently, the province recognized Sikh Nation for its noble efforts. Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North and Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, is a campaign donor himself and honored the organization by proclaiming November as Sikh Nation Blood Donation Month. Blood Donation by Sikh Nation began as a tribute to the events of 1984. With the vision of bringing people together, the Sikh community started the Blood Donation Campaign in 1999. The  Proclamation of November as Sikh Nation Blood Donation Month

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The best part is the impact that this campaign has on saving lives. It is not about gender or race. We are all one human race. The good feeling you get that you’ve been part of such a great campaign – that feels great! I’ve made so may friends, through Sikh Nation, who are like family to me.” – Bunvir Kaur Nijjer, Sikh Nation volunteer

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RESIDENTIAL * COMMERCIAL * INDUSTRIAL volunteer-led initiative is rooted in the fundamental belief that all human beings are equal, rejecting the concepts of idolatry, ritualism, caste system and asceticism. Sikh Nation’s volunteer, Jastej Kaur Sidhu shares, “I was just 4 years old when I began volunteering in 1999, alongside my parents. When the campaign first started, it was hard to reach out to people; many did not know about the Sikh genocide. Over time, as the campaign evolved, it picked up traction globally. People are now hearing more about 1984 and why we tie the Sikh genocide to the campaign.” The Sikh community in Canada has surely grown, with the largest population of Sikhs in British Columbia, followed by Ontario, and then Alberta. However, even outside the Sikh community, Sidhu shares that those who are not Sikhs see posters and billboards, putting in effort to understand the campaign. Beyond saving lives, the campaign has proven to be instrumental in strengthening the essence of community.

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DARPAN FEATURE Blood Donation by Sikh Nation began as a tribute to the events of 1984. With the vision of bringing people together, the Sikh community started the Blood Donation Campaign in 1999. The volunteer-led initiative is rooted in the fundamental belief that all human beings are equal, rejecting the concepts of idolatry, ritualism, caste system and asceticism.

It really is about the awareness. The true spirit of a Sikh is to treat all human beings as equal. The soul and essence of the campaign is to continue to do good in the community. The main goal is to stop the genocidal mindset and support humanitarian campaigns.” – Jastej Kaur Sidhu, Sikh Nation volunteer 52

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Bunvir Kaur Nijjer, Sikh Nation volunteer, describes the most rewarding aspect of her volunteerism, “The best part is the impact that this campaign has on saving lives. It is not about gender or race. We are all one human race. The good feeling you get that you’ve been part of such a great campaign – that feels great! I’ve made so may friends, through Sikh Nation, who are like family to me.” Nijjer’s involvement with Sikh Nation traces back to 17 years ago, when her father stopped by the campaign and was amazed to see all the great work being

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done. Not being able to donate, he inquired how he could get involved and help. After meeting the founders of the campaign at the time, he was encouraged to start the campaign in his city, Kelowna. Nijjer accompanied her father as a volunteer until she was herself eligible to donate. Alongside community service, the campaign has been nothing short of father-daughter bonding time for the two, leading her to form a personal connection with the work being done. With the recent passing of her father, Jadvinder Singh Nijjer, she hopes to continue his legacy and, in his honor,

encouraged plasma donations in the Kelowna campaign this year, which would go towards treatment and medical research. For the team’s tireless efforts, Sidhu describes that it is great to be recognized by the province, “It really is about the awareness. The true spirit of a Sikh is to treat all human beings as equal. The soul and essence of the campaign is to continue to do good in the community. The main goal is to stop the genocidal mindset and support humanitarian campaigns.” Nijjer adds that the achievement truly belongs to the community, and that we should be proud of every donor, as all their contributions have led to this day.

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Driven by selfless intention and the motivation to save lives, Blood Donation by Sikh Nation reflects the power of communal support. When the community comes together, even the sky isn’t the limit. As Sikh Nation puts it, Fateh (victory) with Faith! Without a doubt, Sikh Nation’s Blood Donation campaign is doing more than honoring lives lost in 1984; it is teaching future generations about our history and instilling a love for community service. It is downright inspiring to respond to tragedy with positivity and bringing about positive change in society. Sikh Nation is a true testament to the concept of “sarbat da bhala”, meaning “may good come to all”. For those interested in donating, the best resource for information is blood.ca or sikhnation.net to determine eligibility and learn more. Since the organization is 100% a volunteer-based effort, both donors and volunteers are needed. Driven by selfless intention and the motivation to save lives, Blood Donation by Sikh Nation reflects the power of communal support. When the community comes together, even the sky isn’t the limit. As Sikh Nation puts it, Fateh (victory) with Faith!

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Are our youth safe in sports organizations? By Naina Grewal

Success can sometimes come at a cost, as many controversies and disputes lace the sports industry. Moreover, it seems that issues can sometimes remain suppressed, not getting the attention they deserve.

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onsider the recent stepping down of Stan Bowman, the Chicago Blackhawks General Manager. The executive stepped down following an investigation regarding a 2010 sexual assault allegation made by Kyle Beach against former assistant coach, Brad Aldrich. While the organization has reiterated “deepest apologies” for its failure to promptly respond in 2010, justice delayed is justice denied. With such news gracing the headlines, the fate of our youth in our community sports organizations comes to mind. Youth and children spend most of their time in schools, where many develop their love for sports. Schools are also a common place for issues to come up, bringing up the need for solid conflict resolution processes. North Delta Secondary’s Senior Boys Basketball

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Lots of times, I see parents using sports clubs as babysitting clubs. Do you really believe that your child will come home and share? This is especially an issue in the South Asian community, where we don’t have open lines of communication and parents are seen as authoritarian figures.” - Kal Dosanjh, Law Enforcement Detective and CEO of KidsPlay Foundation

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If a harassment-related issue came to my attention, as a teacher, I feel that I have a duty to protect the student and to make sure that the student feels they have a trustable coach. At the end of the day, I’m there to provide guidance and trust, and to teach.”

Images: Headshots are submitted, istockphtoto

- Gary Sandhu, North Delta Secondary’s Senior Boys Basketball and Soccer Coach and Soccer Coach, Gary Sandhu, shares that mental health and conflict resolution, especially at the high school sports level, is all coach dependent. If a coach is comfortable touching upon these topics, conversations will happen, as many schools do not have consistent coaches or established programs anymore. Schools rely on early career teachers to be coaches of school sports. These teacher-coaches are usually putting in considerable time prepping lessons, and volunteering in other aspects of the school community, in addition to coaching a team. “From what I have experienced, teachercoaches care about kids, and they are always doing the best they can for our young athletes. If a player on my team needs something or is having a financial, person or mental health issue, I would help in any way I can. If a harassment-related issue came to my attention, as a teacher, I feel that I have a duty to protect the student and to make sure that the student feels they have a trustable coach. At the end of the day, I’m there to provide guidance and trust, and to teach,” expresses Sandhu.

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According to Dr. Shimi Kang, no matter how minor an experience may seem, any abuse can have a lasting impact and can be traumatic, more so if there has been a breach of trust. For example, in sports, we are not expecting people we entrust to betray our faith. Dr. Kang recommends, “If you have experienced abuse, the bare minimum would be a conversation with a professional – be it a family doctor, counselor, or psychologist. The goal is just to screen for symptoms like anxiety, lack of sleep, or depression.“

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As per Sandhu, if a player is being bullied or harassed in any way from a team member or opponent, the coach will usually step in as soon as they are made aware or witness anything of that nature. The harassment would then be reported to school administrators and dealt with through interviews of the parties involved. Harassment from a coach would have to be investigated further and administration and parents would get involved depending on the nature of the harassment. Speaking from the other side, Kinesiology student, Kanwartaj Gill, extracts from his experience as a former player of the BC Tigers Soccer Club, and as a current trainer for the UBC Girls Software Team, “A coach needs to understand that an athlete joins sports at a young age to have fun and form social connections, which all elicit a positive impact on mental health. Violation of these objectives leads to disinterest in playing sports, which has shown to have negative consequences on mental health in young individuals.” Gill emphasizes that athletes are more likely to be faced with mental health issues due to overtraining, mental impact of injuries, time demands, and self-expectations, complemented by expectations of parents and coaches.

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A coach needs to understand that an athlete joins sports at a young age to have fun and form social connections, which all elicit a positive impact on mental health. Violation of these objectives leads to disinterest in playing sports, which has shown to have negative consequences on mental health in young individuals.” - Kanwartaj Gill, Trainer for the UBC Girls Software Team Furthermore, research has shown that athletes are less likely to adopt a positive athlete towards seeking mental health support due to their esteemed athletic identity and masculinity ideals. Undoubtedly, the unhealthy romanticization of masculinity and integration of misogyny is heavily prevalent in sports culture, with “locker room talk” that dehumanizes and objectifies women and femininity. That isn’t to say that males are not subject to any wrongdoings. In fact, Dr. Shimi Kang, Psychiatrist and Founder of Dolphin Kids Counseling, reveals that 1 in 2 girls, and 1 in 4 boys undergo sexual abuse. However, there is collective denial about the issue. The abuse is frequently done by an authority figure known to the child. As such, parents need to meet assistant coaches, be present, check in, and

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proactively ask how things are going. Law Enforcement Detective and CEO of KidsPlay Foundation, Kal Dosanjh, explains that parents sometimes only see the broader issues from a bird’s-eye perspective, unaware of more intricate problems. Therefore, parents may think that they are involved, but they are not in the know. “Lots of times, I see parents using sports clubs as babysitting clubs. Do you really believe that your child will come home and share? This is especially an issue in the South Asian community, where we don’t have open lines of communication and parents are seen as authoritarian figures,” thought-provokingly suggests Dosanjh. He urges parents and children to build rapport with each other, on a bedrock of trust, encouragement, love, and support, enabled by quality family time spent together. Of course, this does not free coaches of their responsibilities. Coaches and trainers must understand that they are important role-models and parental figures for youth. Beyond athletic training, coaches must teach youth about real life skills, sportsmanship, professionalism, and proper etiquette, including respect. Founder and President of KidsPlay, Kiran Toor, believes that the onus falls onto the larger community as well, “It is extremely important that we all come to strategize solutions. Education is key and everything starts at home. Not only do we need to educate parents and guardians, but we are also constantly getting large flows of immigrants, who we should both welcome and educate. Most importantly, we need to hear from those who have firsthand experienced such issues.” Although giving victims a voice is vital, such topics are taboo in our communities and there is much work to be done in regard to creating a safe space for impacted individuals to speak up and

DARPAN FEATURE seek help. According to Dr. Kang, no matter how minor an experience may seem, any abuse can have a lasting impact and can be traumatic, more so if there has been a breach of trust. For example, in sports, we are not expecting people we entrust to betray our faith. Dr. Kang recommends, “If you have experienced abuse, the bare minimum would be a conversation with a professional – be it a family doctor, counselor, or psychologist. The goal is just to screen for symptoms like anxiety, lack of sleep, or depression. This can effectively help manage some of the more long-term implications.” Timely healing should be prioritized to avoid further damage. SportMedBC’s Executive Director, Robert Joncas, also shines light on resources for youth and children. He points out that the BC Helpline for Children, VictimLinkBC, and ResilienceBC are good resources to tap into. “Anytime that a child is in doubt, or anytime that a child believes that he or she has been abused or neglected, this might mean that they need help. As leaders, we need to inform and educate children about what they deserve as treatment, and about their rights,” details Joncas. While being aware of available resources is crucial, the solution does not lie in building distrust or resentment against sports organizations. It must be recognized that sports are woven into our cultural fabric and contribute immensely to our communities. Sports teams are instrumental to developing useful life skills and fostering connections. Registered Massage Therapist, Ustat Chhabra, plays with BC Tigers Liverpool, as part of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League. He highlights, “Mental health is important for young athletes. Organized sports are an effective way of relieving stress, having fun, and keeping youth away from risky activities that can put them in danger.” Recognizing the positive benefits of sports organizations and proactively building resources to address issues, both go hand in hand for creating a safe atmosphere for youth. Conversations need to be had in the public sphere, rather than dismissing such topics out of shame or hesitation. At home, proactively involved parents need to create collaborative and welcoming spaces, while coaches also must uphold their responsibilities to mentor young athletes. By creating such a powerful network of support, youth will be empowered to reach their full potential and thrive in an environment that builds champions!

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DARPAN EXCLUSIVE

When a script comes to me, I read the story like a child. There is not much of a strategy behind the choice, if the child in me likes the story and enjoys it, I go for it. The idea is to make the audience want to listen to a story and if the script can do that, then I am all for it.

Abhishek Banerjee BY MRINALINI SUNDAR

Who can forget his gut-wrenching role in the web series’ Paatal Lok and Mirzapur?

But besides acting, Abhishek is also one of India’s biggest and leading casting directors. Which moves do you ask? Ok Jaanu, The Dirty Picture, Kalank, Rock On 2, and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. He obviously has a knack for selecting the right actor for the right role especially

after we shared his casting director resume. The actor is currently basking in the success of the film Rashmi Rocket, a sports drama exposing the widespread practice of gender testing in sports, which has resulted in the deaths of numerous sportsmen. Rashmi is played by Taapsee Pannu, and Abhishek shares the screen in the movie as a lawyer named Dr. Eeshit Mehta. When we asked him about how he went about choosing the role, he said, “In all honesty, the role and the makers chose me for the role. I really loved the

bhishek Banerjee has slowly and steadily created a niche for himself in the Bollywood film industry. He is well known for his roles in movies like Stree and the recently released Rashmi Rocket. He also has his own share of amazing roles in the OTT platform. Well, who can forget his gutwrenching role in the web series’ Paatal Lok and Mirzapur?

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As an actor, I love seeing my movies on the big screen. There is no other experience quite like it. But I definitely have to say that with OTT there is more freedom. People are willing to explore more stories and there are lesser restrictions.

character and the movie as such is very socially relevant. I actually got in touch with my father regarding the role. My father is a Paramilitary officer and has served in the CISF and NSG and has played a lot of sports in his professional career. I wanted to check with him about gender testing in sports and he did tell me about how it is very prominent. He also threw light on so many athletes who have to go through humiliation and end up getting depressed because of this procedure. He encouraged me to take this movie up and be a part of this

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Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Photos: Abhishek Bannerjee/Instagram, Amazon Prime Video

DARPAN EXCLUSIVE

subject,” shares Abhishek who is said to return to the horror-comedy genre with the movie, Bhediya. He will be seen reprising his role from Stree. In a recent interview, Abhishek shared that he had to memorize lengthy lines and dialogues for the movie. For which he agrees and says, “I actually shadowed my lawyer friend quite a bit to understand their personalities inside and outside the court. I also understood that lawyers also rehearse lines and practice before they present in front of the court, the process is pretty much similar to that of actors. I did the same. I am not great at memorizing lines but for this one, I had to.” While on the topic, we asked Abhishek about his experience working with Taapsee and he had only good things to say about the actress, “In one word, it was just easy. She works very hard and rehearses a lot before coming to the set. Most importantly, I was amused by her physical transformation. It is amazing when an actor puts in her all for a role and it is lovely working with such actors,” he tells us. Abhishek has tried his hands on everything from comedy to horror to thrillers, ask him his favourite genre, and he says, “I love being part of thrillers, there is a certain mystery to it.” Before entering the movie business, Abhishek learned the tricks of the craft by performing in plays. He worked on

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several theatre plays and developed his own acting process. What is this process and he says, “I read the script and don’t over think the character? I like to be prepared of course but I use my time to learn about the script and the character’s mindset.” Abhishek being an actor and a casting director has his own journey when it comes to choosing a script. The actor comes with a tonne of experience and he tells us how “I read a script like a story. Right from the time I was a child, I grew up reading a lot of Panchatantra stories, and somewhere I started reading books from different languages. I have read books in Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi of course. I liked reading stories and when language is no barrier, you can read and get to learn about so many stories. So when a script comes to me, I read the story like a child. There is not much of a strategy behind the choice, if the child in me likes the story and enjoys it, I go for it. The idea is to make the audience want to listen to a story and if the script can do that, then I am all for it.” Having seen his movies on the big screen as well as on OTT, we asked Abhishek what his favourite medium was. He quickly responded saying, “As an audience, I love watching movies on the big screen. As an actor, I love seeing my movies on the big screen. There is no other experience quite like it. But I definitely have to say that with OTT there is more freedom. People are willing to explore more stories and there are lesser restrictions.”

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DARPAN FITNESS

HABIT #1: Eating-out multiple times a week

In certain industries the Christmas party is the anticipated year-end get together where everyone can finally let loose. Many businesses will host these at a restaurant. For some of us there will be more than one social engagement tied to work which we will have to attend during this period, and that means that the frequency of eating out is sure to rise.

Holiday Habits to

Avoid

A quick guide to help you make better fitness decisions. BY JAS JOHAL

Photos: istockphoto

very year the months blow right by and the holiday season forever remains fast approaching. Before you know it, you’re walking through the mall with the sound of holiday jingles filling the air as shoppers make their way down the “wish lists” of loved ones. It’s tough not to enjoy the magical wonder created by the holidays, however being in the fitness industry it can be quite cringe-worthy seeing many set themselves back after working extremely hard in the gym for the entire year. By no means am I the Grinch that is seeking to rob you of the holidays, however I am here to try to guide you in making better decisions so that when January comes around, you’re not full of complete and utter regret.

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SOLUTION #1: When planning any social engagements, if you have the choice between either home-cooking versus the restaurant, always pick the former. Upon arriving at the dinner, always focus on the healthy options available such as fruits, vegetables and protein. Prioritizing the space on your plate for the healthy options while only leaving a modest amount of space for the dessert will go a long way. Generally speaking a lot of the main dishes we find during the holidays are rich in calories, therefore adding on helpings of dessert on top is sure to cause the waistline to thicken.

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HABIT #2: Disrupting your exercise routine by taking the entire month off

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We can all agree that during the holidays the rigorous schedule of events can quickly become overwhelming, and balancing these commitments with our already demanding work, life and home duties can push many over the edge. After hitting snooze on a couple of morning workouts due to a late night we decide that we should give it up entirely for the month and return back fresh in the new year. Countless members of yoga, spin, cross t, and gyms across the country all walk past the front desk in mid-November asking to have their memberships put on hold. o F r many, if they’re unable to engage in their exercise routine to the exact degree they’ve written out then they will not do it at all. is is sometimes referred to as the a “ ll or nothing,” approach. Such rigidity can be a bene cial trait during certain instances, however during the holidays it will work against you.

SOLUTION #2: Do not cancel any memberships; instead reduce the frequency and/or duration of your visits. If you’re someone that is accustomed to training 4x/ week for 60-minute sessions then maybe reduce it down to 2-3x/week for 30-45 minutes. Sneaking in 15-30-minute workouts where possible doesn’t seem like a lot but when it’s matched up against no exercise at all, they win every time! During the holidays creativity will be your best friend. If you don’t have any access to the gym then be prepared to travel with some of your own equipment such as resistant bands and kettlebells. Whenever you have the choice of moving versus sitting, walking versus driving, always choose the more health-conscious and not convenient option! Instead of spending time as a family sitting around the TV, find ways to incorporate family walks in the evening after dinner.

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HABIT #3: E xcessive alcohol consumption

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It’s extremely di cult to completely avoid the overly abundant ow of booze during this period in the year, however when you lose the handle on this then it’s a slippery slope leading towards January rst! Alcohol is a double-edged sword considering that it is extremely dense in calories AND it also inhibits your body’s ability to burn fat. When you allow all the food you’ve eaten to sit in your stomach and marinade in some wine or vodka, you are making it very tough for your body to stand any chance in staving o fat storage.

SOLUTION #3:

Being honest with yourself is the first step in ensuring that the alcohol doesn’t get the best of you this holiday season. Creating a hard rule which you abide by at all times will be critical if you are to be successful. An example would be telling yourself that there’s no alcohol allowed from Monday to Thursday but the weekends are fair game with a modest limit (i.e.: 2-3 drinks/ event). If you’ve never enjoyed nonalcoholic beverages before then this is a great opportunity to give them a go!

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Now that wasn’t so bad was it? I hope that instead of putting a damper on your holiday cheer I’ve provided you with useful tips that you can put into action this Christmas and perhaps this January you’ll be thanking me. Remember, instead of setting yourself back in progress this new year, take everything you’ve learned on your fitness journey and put it into practice. Happy Holidays!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jas Johal is a kinesiologist and co-founder of Fit Nation. Johal graduated from UBC in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in kinesiology and began working in the fitness industry in 2012. For any further in depth guidance on diet and exercise, contact Jas at @fitnationjohal (instagram).

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ECOSIKHS:

CARE FOR NATURE, CARE FOR ALL By Mrinalini Sundar

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lobal climate change is not just a buzzword. The potential future effects of global climate change are dangerous and can include several harsh conditions like frequent wildfires, drought in some regions, and an increase in the number, duration, and intensity of tropical storms. The entire world, including politicians, corporate, Governments, and NGOs are working together to draw stringent policies. In fact, media houses and citizens are constantly following news

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about the ongoing UN climate change conference also known as COP26. COP stands for Conference of the Parties, and the summit will be attended by the countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a treaty that came into force in 1994. One such community that is coming together to combat climate change is EcoSikh. Who are they and what do they do? EcoSikh was started in 2009 at Windsor

Plant a sacred forest! It is doable and nothing is simple than that. If you don’t have space, just donate for 550-trees and EcoSikh will plant your forest in Punjab. There is a massive ecological crisis looming over the Earth and humanity.” - Dr. Rajwant Singh, Founder and President of EcoSikh

Castle, UK, as a response from the Sikh community to the threats of climate change and the deterioration of the natural environment. The organization arose as part of the Long Term Plans for Generational Change program initiated in 2009 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the

Alliance of Religions and Conservation, UK (ARC) to help the world’s major religious traditions create long-term plan to improve their relationship with the environment and to guide their investment towards environmental protection.

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The EcoSikh community EcoSikh connects Sikh values, beliefs, and institutions to the most important environmental issues facing our world. They draw on the rich tradition of the Sikh Gurus and the Sikh history to shape the behavior and outlook of Sikhs and the world, ensuring that our deep reverence for all creation remains a central part of the Sikh way of life. The man who started it all is Dr. Rajwant Singh who is the founder and president of EcoSikh. He is also the Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), Communications Director of the Sikh Human Development Foundation, and Secretary of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation in Maryland. In the past, Dr. Singh has also held the presidency of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, where he convened faith communities in DC for joint discussions. Dr. Singh currently resides in the Washington, DC Metro Area with his wife and two children.

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The biggest EcoSikh projects After EcoSikh’s tremendous work, World Sikh Environment Day is now celebrated in eight countries, with the involvement of several Gurdwaras and families participating. The mastermind behind this project is Dr. Singh who thought March 14 was the perfect day to celebrate nature in the memory of Guru Har Rai. This event is celebrated worldwide in the gurdwaras and institutions with meaningful actions to protect and celebrate nature. Dr. Singh also announced one million trees to be planted as part of the 550th birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and launched the Guru Nanak Sacred Forest project in 2019. Sikh Environment Day aims to sensitize society/students of all ages, social, religious, and academic institutions and organizations. One of the biggest projects for EcoSikh

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Ravneet Singh Project Manager of EcoSikh wild forest species have been conserved as live seed banks in these forests made with the Miyawaki Methodology (which means planting two to four trees per square meter.) The list of species is well researched through forest surveys; verified and validated by renowned experts, and by referring to various research papers. These forests are made with 100% organic material and have more than a 95% survival rate. They attract many native species of birds, insects, and small

Photos Courtesy of EcoSikh

is Guru Nanak Sacred Forests. The idea behind this project is the reforestation and conservation of biological diversity by planting micro forests (aka Guru Nanak Sacred Forests) in Punjab and other states and reviving native forest species of the region. This project was first kick started in March 2019 and as of today, EcoSikh has spearheaded 356 projects in several parts of Indian including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, and even one in Kasur, Pakistan. Overall, EcoSikh has planted 1, 95,720 trees under its Guru Nanak Sacred Forest project. Other than tree plantation, the other thing EcoSikh is doing is that more than 100 native, rare and endangered,

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creatures who feel secure enough to make them their habitat. The third big project under EcoSikh is the Guru Granth Sahib Bagh which is situated at Patto Hira Singh Moga and inaugurated in August of 2018. Ravneet Singh who is also the project manager of EcoSikh spearheaded the establishment of the first-ever five acres Gurbani-based garden, Guru Granth Sahib Bagh which exhibits all the plants referred in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This particular spot also serves as a space for live workshops, and is an exclusive educating centre for children, youngsters, and the elders to bridge the gap between Sikhism and Nature. The idea is to get people of all faiths and religions, environmentalists and nature lovers, scholars and professionals, devotees, and all those who seek personal and spiritual benefit to come here. Giving us tips about reforestation, Dr. Rajwant Singh says, “Plant a sacred forest! It is doable and nothing is simple than that. The current situation doesn’t allow us to plant trees. The call is ‘Plant a forest’. If you don’t have space, just donate for 550-trees and EcoSikh will plant your forest in Punjab. There is a massive ecological crisis looming over the Earth and humanity. If we the people will not take action today, we may not have any other chance to avert the disaster that is coming upon us. If we love Guru Nanak, then we must serve the entire planet and entire humanity. We just need to remind ourselves, “If one nation sinks, we all sink.” I appeal and invite all the Sikh businesses and institutions to collaborate with EcoSikh and establish 1,500 sacred forests and achieve one million-tree target.” EcoSikh is going to be part of COP 26 and EcoSikh is aiming to collaborate with all the faith communities to take action on their own and not wait for the Governments to save their planet. EcoSikh will open its knowledge sharing and forest training for all and plant sacred forests for all walks of life. EcoSikh will also explore the possibilities to collaborate with international investors and funding agencies to increase our forest making capacity by 10 times.

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DARPAN RECIPES

MEET THE CHEF EXTRAORDINAIRE

hef Gautam Mehrishi, a wellknown celebrity chef, is a proponent of Indian food.

His fondness for Indian food and his love for desi ghee were developed in his formative years. Inspired by the food he ate, he would experiment in the kitchen late at night once the whole family

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Gautam Mehrishi, Akkil Suvarna, Chinoy Mishra

Gooler ka

Kabab BY CHEF GAUTAM MEHRISHI

was asleep. It was his grandfather who supported his passion and urged him to cook professionally. Now he has over 18 years of experience in the industry and has worked with several big names in the business. He established the first chocolateria chain, San Churros, in India – an Australian chain having a pan Indian presence. He is the culinary curator of Vortex The Fusion Restaurant and Bar and of the first Awadhi restaurant in

Ingredients

Preparation

• 1 cup gooler (Indian Cluster Fig), cleaned, chopped and deseeded

• Boil the cleaned gooler in sufficient water till soft, then drain and cool.

• 2 tbsps roasted chickpeas flour or sattu (powdered gram)

• Mash it with other ingredients except ghee to make a dough-like mixture.

shows on the television. In his most

• 1 tsp each of minced ginger, garlic and green chillies

• Shape lime-sized balls and flatten them between the palm. Arrange to be shallow-fried in batches.

professional and innovative global cooking

• Shallow-fry using ghee or any oil of choice. Serve hot with green chutney or tamarind chutney.

viewers the bold side of vegetarian cuisine,

• 1 tsp garam masala • ½ cup chopped coriander and mint greens • Salt to taste

Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Chef Mehrisihi has become a household name with his various cooking trending show, Kitchen Magic, he brings techniques to the home kitchen. 100% Veg hosted by Chef Mehrishi brings to with all the oomph and visual appeal of world-famous classic dishes. Among his awards, he received the prestigious Iconic

• Ghee to shallow fry

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DARPAN RECIPES

• 2 tbsps tomato puree • 1 tbsp cashew paste • 1 tbsp yoghurt • 1 tsp cumin powder • 1 tsp turmeric powder • 1 tsp coriander powder

Preparation • Cut the cucumber into two halves and peel

Cucumber

Mussalam BY CHEF GAUTAM MEHRISHI

Chef Mehrishi has become a household name with his various cooking shows on

Ingredients • 3 small and soft cucumbers • 250 gms kachri (lemon cucumber)

For the filling:

the television. In his

• 50 gms khoya

most trending show,

• 1 tbsp cashew chopped + 1 tbsp cashew paste

Kitchen Magic, he brings professional

• 1 boiled and grated potato • Coriander

and innovative

• Mint

global cooking

• Green beans

techniques to the home kitchen.

• Salt to taste • 1 tsp cumin powder

For the gravy: • 2 medium-sized onions, chopped • 1 tbsp ginger paste

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the outer skin. Scoop the seeds and make a hollow cylinder inside. • Punch the outer portion of the cucumber

with a fork and run salt around it and keep it aside to marinate for 15 minutes. • In a pan, boil water with salt and turmeric,

and add the cucumber. Let it become soft but not too soft as otherwise it will not be able to hold the stuffing. • Mix khoya, potato, chillies, salt, cumin

powder, peas and carrot to prepare the stuffing. With the help of a spoon gradually fill this stuffing in the hollow cylindrical cucumber. Then, holding the cucumber carefully cut it into one and half inch-thick slices and keep it aside. • For the gravy, add oil in the wok and then

add onions. After they get brown add gingergarlic paste. • Let it cook for a while and then add tomato

puree, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and salt. • Once the masala is cooked properly, add

cashew and paste and mix it well. Keep mixing continuously so that the cashew does not get burnt. Add a little water and garam masala, and keep mixing it. • Once the masala is again dried and seems

cooked, add beaten yoghurt, cover the lid and cook for two minutes. • Now gradually add the cut slices with 30 per

cent of the slice above the gravy and put the flame on slow. Let it cook under cover for five to 10 minutes.

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DIY Christmas decor ideas

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A little wooden magic Get a rustic, raw, round wooden slice. They make for great Christmas tree decorations. But give them a crafty twist. Cut cardboard in the shape of a car, Christmas tree, and stars. Get all your ideas out and do whatever designs you feel are right for your tree. Next, you paint them however you want. Just try to make them “Christmasy”. The final step is to stick them on the wooden board. Now you can place them on a table or hang them on the tree!

Deck the BY MRINALINI SUNDAR

Halls

t is that time of the year again when trees are up, halls are decked, and jingles are sung. Yes yes, Christmas is not too far away and that means you need to get ahead of time and plan Christmas decor. After all, you are going to hold parties and have family dinners - and get the house to look amazing for the holiday season. This year, give the big shopping stores a break and spend some time making decor items. This is also a great way to take the green route and use recycled material to get innovative. Now when you have those parties, show them every tiny detail of the decor you prepared on your own!

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Pine cone and cotton beauty! Getting crafty during Christmas is a lot of fun. In fact, it can even be turned into a family activity. How about creating your own ornaments for the tree? We have a few simple and very cute ideas. Pick up a few pine cones and paint them white on the tips. You can either place them together in a corner or hang them on the tree for some snowy effects. Add a little more snow to the tree with some cotton. Get a thin wooden sheet and draw a reindeer on it, cut the shape out, and stick cotton on the body. You can paint the snow grey if you wish or leave it as is. This can be a great fun activity for the kids.

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Pom-Poms on the stockings Christmas stockings are a cute addition to the Christmas decorations. But do you know what makes it cuter? Pom-poms on stockings. Make the celebrations a lot more whimsical this year with this cutesy idea. All you need are a few woolen stockings, then you stick colourful yarn pom-poms all over them. You can choose to make it minimal or fill it up from top to bottom with colourful pom-poms, do it the way you want to and hang them from the fireplace.

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Oranges come with an amazing accent and have a vibrant look! Tie a few dried oranges together with some leaves and make a garland out of it. You can tie this one anywhere in the kitchen and it will only add some zing and colour to the house.

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Scrabble your tree Christmas is an amazing time to play board games with the family. Whether it is games for the kids or for the adults - board games can bring the family together. Well, you can also make decorations with the board games. How? We are talking about Scrabble. Use the tiles and stick them on a soft board in the shape of a Christmas tree. Now that’s not just it. Play a mini Scrabble and make words as you design the tree. The more festive words you use, the more amazing the tree will look!

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These simple tips are easy to follow and can add that little zing to your house especially for the upcoming frost festive season! We wish you have a cheerful Christmas, and a fun-filled holiday season!

Photo: istockphoto, Images for representation only

Home Staging

Convert the recently bought Diwali lamps into decor items for the tree. You can also hang them around the house or in the front yard to add some festive vibes to the house. Want to be more creative? Use a few plastic cartons and fill it up with water and turn them into whimsical ice lanterns which you can display outdoors. Don’t we all want a white Christmas anyway?

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Seasonal sparkle DARPAN

Beauty

BY MICHELE MARKO

Lise Watier dusted the holidays with some sparkle by launching its limited-edition Irresistible collection. Each item was imagined for adding a dash of glamour for the season. The glittery packaged range includes a six colour, highly pigmented eyeshadow palette in matte, satin and metallic finishes, a blush duo, a universal lip balm in a natural pink hue, and a high shine glossy lip coat for a golden touch.

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All for Wrapped Up the

s y a d i l Ho

Gift-giving ideas for those beauty enthusiasts on your list

BY MICHELE MARKO

his holiday season, it’s a cinch to indulge your loved ones or yourself with the wide range of limited edition and specially packaged beauty gift sets on offer. Whether it’s a luxury collection splurge or a value-packaged set easily divided for stocking stuffers, we have some suggestions to get everyone’s wish list sorted.

Photo: Courtesy of brands featured,

Rose-coloured dreams Specially created for fans of Charlotte Tilbury’s famously flattering Pillow Talk collection is the opulent Pillow Talk Dreams Come True gift box. Filled with 14 full-sized items that include Charlotte’s Jewel Lips, Eyes to Mesmerise, Matte Revolution, Instant Eye Palette, Luxury Palette of Pops, Beauty Light Wand, Cheek to Chic, Push Up Mascara and Lip Bath, among others. The brand’s holiday range also offers a less extravagant selection of gift sets, like the Collagen Mini Lip Bath set, that start at $30.

Luxuriant locks Wind back the clock on “old” tresses with Kerstase’s Chronologiste gift set. The longer the hair, the older it is. This collection, which includes shampoo, mask and leave-in heat protector treatment, is formulated to revitalize hair back to newgrowth condition by infusing it with hyaluronic acid, abyssine and vitamin E.

$136 | kerastase.ca

$450| Nordstrom, nordstrom.ca, CharlotteTilbury.com

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Festive florals This year Fresh expanded its ultramoisturizing rose collection with the Rose Deep Hydration face cream which delivers 72 hours of moisture thanks to two hyaluronic acids and Damask rose extract. This full size, value-priced set includes the rose cream, moisturizing rose toner and Petal Soft rose lip cream.

$52| Nordstrom, nordstrom.ca

It’s in the gift bag This festive mini tote will add some holiday cheer to any outfit while making you celebration-ready. It boasts two lip treats (one neutral, one bolder) a blush, contour and highlighter palette, Revitalizing Supreme + cream and a mini night repair.

Fragrant luxury

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Holiday glow Snag this set for yourself or drop it in someone’s Christmas stocking. flis golden-toned B cream and soft nude gloss are perfectly paired to create a glowy look for any occasion but perfect for the holiday season.

Zafferano is the latest addition to Valmont’s Storie Veneziane opulent fragrance collection. The Swiss luxury cosmetics and skincare brand describes the scent as inspired by the Venetians’ trading relationship with the Moors, the first merchants to arrive in Venice from the East. A spicy, floriental (a fusion of floral and oriental notes) scent, Zafferano is formulated with notes of saffron, Bigaradier flower, and woody oud essence.

$700 | Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew. com, lamaisonvalmont.com

$19.99 | London Drugs, londondrugs.com

On the first day of Christmas… Celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with Benefit’s 12 Merry Days of Makeup gift set— one full-size Benefit makeup treat for each day. The set includes Roller Liner Eyeliner, four mascaras, three brow stylers, Dandelion brightening blush, two primers and Hoola Bronzer. Benefit, a brand that embraces the holiday hoopla big time, makes the gift boxes at value price. The Merry Days box is a $190 value that retails for $88.

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New year, new you Start the new year off with a new approach to fighting age-related skin issues. RoC, the anti-aging skincare brand, returned to the Canadian market this year bringing its ultra-effective, yet economically-priced, retinol treatments. The Retinol Correxion line smoothing collection—daily serum, hydration cream, nighttime capsules, deep wrinkle cream and eye cream— is gentle yet results can be noticeable almost immediately with appearance of plumper, more hydrated skin. Weeks later pores appear smaller and skin smoother.

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Hot hued glamour Barbie lovers of any age will be charmed by this limitededition collaboration with L’Oréal Professionnel’s Steampod. This styling tool uses a combination of heat and steam to create any style—curly, wavy or straight— that Barbie and her posse of gal pals would want but with 78 per cent less damage than with a conventional straightening iron.

$350 | Kerastase.ca

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Kamkhab

Of Old Love & New Beginnings

By Shweta Kulkarni

Internationally acclaimed couturier Rahul Misha brings to you his latest bridal edit — Kamkhab, which you’re bound to fall in love with.

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“ I

magining his bride to be someone who appreciates art, heritage and craftsmanship, couturier Rahul Mishra has curated one of the most dreamy and mesmerizing bridal collections — Kamkhab, which is a reflection of deep emotions, love, beauty and intricate artistry. Explaining the thought behind naming the collection Kamkhab, the internationally acclaimed designer says, “‘Kam’ translates to ‘less’ and ‘khaab’ refers to a ‘nap’— ‘Kamkhab’ is a sequence of dreams woven together like a garland of artistic musing, of emotions and of instances that we’ve subconsciously lived through, multiple times in our minds. Like an emotion of personalised artistry, it is the hand painting of frescos on the walls of a family home. The vision of its inhabitants adorned on its lime plaster surfaces with vegetable and stone dyes, immortalised in craft and beauty. Similar to love poems, hand-embroidered on a piece of clothing, delicately holding together dreams and reality.” Known to have mastered the art of marrying traditional elements with

Much like a garden after the process of seeding—soaking its sun and water. Each sapling takes its own sweet time to produce flowers. And the clothes, emerging out of a different verse of the same poem, each tell a different part of the same story.”

contemporary flair, Mishra’s Kamkhab collection is a perfect amalgamation of old love charm and the lightness of new beginnings. Framing his thoughts behind this line, Rahul Mishra, who is also the first Indian designer to showcase at the Paris Haute Couture Week, tells us, “Putting together Kamkhab had been like creating a bouquet — with the beauty of old love and the lightness of new beginnings. It is a collection of garments developed at our atelier over two lockdowns, through the breaking and rebuilding of hope, resilience and a fluctuating strength of love. When sometimes, a khaat (embroidery frame) would be abandoned for months to remain and be resumed later by a different person. Much like a garden after the process of seeding—soaking its sun and water. Each sapling takes its own sweet time to produce flowers. And the clothes, emerging out of a different verse of the same poem, each tell a different part of the same story.” He continues, “The collection was filmed in a century-old haveli in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan that was reopened after, over eight decades of being

shut. Much like intricate adornments on the walls of these homes, the garments envisage the love one pours into building their home. Taking months and years to paint their stories and reside amidst them so as to never forget. Kamkhab borrows from the limitlessness of craft, the volume of skill that contributes to its immortality. And the strong passion that enables it to be brought to realisation.”

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The exquisite bridal edit, like Mishra’s previous collections, continues to push the envelope with easy and clean silhouettes that are timeless and borrow from heritage and traditional crafts. The pieces are weaved in fabrics such as silk organza, georgette, crêpe and tissue along with Banarasi cutwork and Chanderi silk textiles. Furthermore, bringing out the resilient spirit of the collection is its eclectic colour palette. Kamkhab navigates through a range of pastel hues and Mishra’s signature ivory and gold. It also features garments with bright multicolour embroideries over an ivory base, along with some statement hues such as royal blue, yellow and maroon. What further makes each piece in this collection magnificent and a standout is the use of an age-old technique of hand embroidery, which despite the intricate detailing makes the couture weightless and an ideal option for the forwardthinking bride who wants to make heads turn on her big day.

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DARPAN STYLE Commenting about his inspiration for the collection, the designer explains, “I don’t particularly work with the concept of a muse or inspiration but when I think of the ‘Rahul Mishra woman’, she is strong, smart and knows what she wants from life. She believes in mindful living, in change and people. She is multi-cultured and well informed. Her style is governed by her sense of individuality with a keen eye for detail. She has an appreciation towards art and craftsmanship that both act as important criteria for her fashion choices.” Mentioning the price range for the collection, the Delhi-based designer says, “While each of the pieces is customised as per the consumer’s requirements, prices may relatively differ and may go much higher respectively. However, the base prices for different styles start from close to one Lakh and go up to six Lakh rupees.” With a focus on sustainability that presents fashion as a tool to create participation and empowers the local craft community of India, Mishra’s eponymous label strives to build sustainable livelihoods for more than 1,000 artisans. No wonder, the talented designer is not only a hot fav of B-town celebs like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Athiya Shetty, Dia Mirza, Shraddha Kapoor, and Madhuri Dixit among others but also popular in the international fashion industry. Fashion critic and former International Fashion Editor of Vogue, Suzy Menkes, an avid follower of the brand’s work, regards Mishra as a “national treasure” while the late Franca Sozzani has praised him as “successfully highlighting the best and most peculiar features of his homeland.” The brand works on the philosophy of the three E’s — Environment, employment, and empowerment, and aims to look at luxury from the lens of participation and not just consumption. One can purchase the designer’s Kamkhab collection from his flagship stores, in New Delhi and Mumbai or from the brand’s official website www.rahulmishra. in. Some select styles can also be shopped at leading multi-designer stores across India and abroad.

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THE SEASON OF PLAID We have loved the plaid pattern for a long time now. But there are new versions that will rock 2022. It is not just going to be about plaid skirts in the coming few months. Expect plaid suits that will match the skirt’s pattern. We suggest a plaid pencil mini skirt paired with a fitting top and bodysuit and complete the look with a matching jacket. Accessorize the look with booties and stockings. Go simple with jewellery and choose pearls as they will fit the look perfectly.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE SHINY SEQUINS

2022 STYLE TRENDS

Be at the Top of Your Fashion Game BY SHWETA KULKARNI

With 2022 fast approaching, there is a list of trends that fashion connoisseurs have predicated

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ashion trends change on a yearly basis. With every new season, there is a new wave of style statements that catch the eye of fashion aficionados. With 2022 fast approaching, there is a list of trends that fashion connoisseur have predicated. Here’s a list of style trends that will rule the fashion book for next year. We also suggest that you hit the shopping road keeping these trends in mind. After all, who doesn’t like to be at the top of the game?.

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2022 is going to be a lot about shine and sparkle. Don’t feel shy to go out of your comfort zone and get all shimmery. Be it a simple sequin shimmery top, skirt, or an entire saree. Adding a little sequin can most certainly turn your look around. We also like accessories like potli bags and clutches that have sequin work done on it. Let every occasion be a little dazzling with shiny clothes.

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2000

THE s ARE BACK! The fashion scene in the 2000s was altogether a different vibe. It was all about being chic, cool, and pretty all at the same time. This year saw the rise of scarf tops, all-things-butterfly, low-rise jeans, and denim-on-denim. Think of all the styles that Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Beyonce introduced back in the 2000s. But they are all coming back and how! Wear a scarf top paired with ripped jeans. To complete the look, we suggest you accessorize with small, cutesy earrings and layered necklace.

FRINGE INSPIRATION

ALL ABOUT THE POP Let those colours do the talking. From chili red, olive green, to neon yellow, and hot pink, the coming year is going to be all about the colours. Not sure how to style it? Stick to the solid hues. While at it, make sure that the colours are not clashing and complement each other giving you a solid look. Colour-blocked outfits are fun but make sure you don’t go overboard. Take style inspiration from our Bollywood divas that have done it in the past and can show you just how you can paint the town with colours!

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This is another trend from the 2000s that is resurfacing and is not slowing down any time soon. But this time the fringe style comes with a modern twist - it is not going to be the same fringe on boots or a leather jackets. This time around, the fringe style will be seen on jackets with zigzag patterns, on purses, and even on your skirt, top or bralette. These fringes will literally have to be combed and taken care off.

The fringe style will be seen on jackets with zigzag patterns, on purses, and even on your skirt, top or bralette. These fringes will literally have to be combed and taken care off.

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FLAUNT THAT MIDRIFF By summer 2022, make sure you bring out your bralettes, crop tops, and the sexy short tops. Why? Because it is time to flaunt that midriff. We especially like the idea of a lace bralette, paired with mom jeans and some chunky statement neck piece. If it is a little too much skin show for you, then we suggest you wear a jacket so you feel comfortable. All this put together, we believe you are going to rock that look!

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CUT IT OUT! A trend that picked up in summer and is only going to see an increase in popularity is cutout dresses and skirts. We are expecting a lot of asymmetrical cuts and intricate layering and some peek-a-boo patterns. We also noticed a lot of fashion influencers take this trend seriously and sport it on Instagram. We think that cutout patterns by the waist or shoulder make for some very sexy outfits. Get ahead of the fashion curve that is about to pick up in the next few months with these simple tricks and tips. Having said that, fashion is all about your comfort. Choose the style and trend that best fits you and makes you feel utmost comfort.

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best solution and way forward. She handles anything that comes in front of us with such grace and skill, I knew she would be the perfect match for my life. Neesha: I’d have to say Paul’s warmth, huge heart and loving nature. I have always been so comfortable around him. There’s his always happy and fun demeanour. He’s a big kid at heart - he never ceases to make me laugh and we always have a good time together. On the other hand, he’s also still a truly chivalrous soul, which you don’t see as much any more. He’s always the first to be there to take my coat or grab the door, even when I don’t think it’s needed. He always wants to take care of me and those he cares about.

Q: Share your proposal story.

a h s e e N l u & Pa

Photos: Diamonds Edge Photography (Engagement), Rosa Creative (Proposal), Sohal Studios (Wedding)

Q: How did you meet? Neesha: We’ve actually known each other for over 10 years. We were friends in our early 20s and used to run into each other here and there. After a couple of years of being busy in our own lives, we reconnected over social media in 2016 and then literally bumped into each other one night in 2017. From there we slowly but surely continued to talk and see each other more and more often. We took it really slow, but that made it easier for us

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throughout each step of our relationship. We always had a foundation to lean on.

Q: What do you love most about one another? Paul: With Neesha, it’s her amazing capability in any situation to do anything and everything needed, while holding everyone’s concerns and importance at the forefront. She is the person I can go to with any idea, goal or challenge and can rest assured that she is going to find the

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Paul: Planning a COVID proposal wasn’t easy with most venues and locations still being closed, so I had to think of something that could work given the circumstances. It was the day before Valentine’s Day and I was trying to make sure she thought I was going to do it on February 14th itself. We were staying downtown for the weekend and we left the hotel to head out to dinner. In the meantime, while we were at dinner, my friend and cousin took all the furniture out of our suite, and Vancity Letters brought in light up marquee letters that said ‘Be Mine’, flooded the ceiling with helium balloons and covered the floor with rose petals. We walked in and she basically froze, and I slowly walked her into the room. Our photographer and videographer were

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but not too hot and there was just the slightest breeze going during the Anand Karaj. We were also super fortunate to have both Baltej Singh Dhillon Ji and Harminderpal Singh Ji (Ross Street) on site to officiate our wedding. Baltej ji’s officiating, translations and serene nature draped the ceremony in such a sense of calm and Harminderpal ji’s closing was so personal to us -- we truly couldn’t have asked for a better service. Personally I also loved my horse and carriage entry! I really did feel like a princess as I entered the ceremony. already inside and were able to capture the moment. My cousin and sister-in-law were also hiding in the bedroom snapchatting the moment as I got down on one knee to ask Neesha to Be Mine forever!

“

We walked in and she basically froze, and I slowly walked her into the room. Our photographer and videographer were already inside and were able to capture the moment. My cousin and sister-in-law were also hiding in the bedroom snapchatting the moment as I got down on one knee to ask Neesha to Be Mine forever!” 96

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Q: How did COVID affect your wedding planning?

Neesha: Planning a wedding, even though I am a planner, was super stressful. We were super fortunate to have our wedding in the portion of the summer where the restrictions Q: Describe your wedding day. What was had been lifted and even your favourite moment? masks weren’t mandatory at private gatherings. We had Paul: Every moment of the struggled with the wedding ceremony went off without date and planning because of a hitch, for all the guests in COVID, so we had to hustle attendance and for all those really hard to get our events that watched our live-stream. organized in just a few short There were actually viewing weeks after the restrictions parties happening across changed at the beginning North America and the world of July. We’re grateful for hosted by our family and our friend and wedding friends, so despite covidplanner, Pardip from Big Phat restrictions, we were able to share our amazing day with all of those close to our hearts, even if they couldn’t attend. Neesha: There were so many beautiful moments throughout our wedding. We got married outside at Bancy Farms and it was just so peaceful. Honestly it was a beautiful day - it was bright

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Indian Weddings who really stepped up in those last few weeks. Our wedding went from 50 people to being set up for somewhere between 250-300 and our reception venue changed twice in the three weeks leading up to the event. It definitely was a lot to manage at the last minute!

Q: Could you tell us about your reception? Neesha: We ended up having our reception at Bombay Banquet Hall. It was an indoor/outdoor reception, where we held the formal part of the evening inside the banquet hall. You entered to live music, a black and white photo station done by the Portrait Story, followed by a 16 ft custom built champagne

“

Planning a wedding, even though I am a planner, was super stressful. We were super fortunate to have our wedding in the portion of the summer where the restrictions had been lifted and even masks weren’t mandatory at private gatherings,” shared Neesha. wall. And then after our first dance we did a rail gaddi moving our guests outdoors where we had setup a Miami style vibe with green walls enclosing the entire patio, cabanas with flowing white drapery, white lounge furniture and a full-scale dance floor setup with string lighting throughout the patio and multiple specialty bars. The formal part of the evening was so elegant and pristine and then we spent the night dancing away under the stars and the lights. The party went well into the early hours of the morning and I’m pretty

sure Paul and I were on the dance floor for most of it!

Q: Can you describe your outfits? Paul: I have always had a vision of my morning wedding outfit being inspired by images of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. That’s why I went with blue and red Angrakha style with a belt. I also wanted a nod to my love of superheroes, so the embroidery on the front is centred across the chest, a bit like a crest you’d see on a superhero. Reshu Auntieji and Arjun at Sunny’s Bridal were awesome at interpreting

my inspiration images and helping pull it together. The look was finished off with a Custom Kirpaan made for me by Hari from Maharaja Pagdi & Swords. It has my Grandfather’s, Father’s, and my name inscribed on the blade, and is now a new heirloom to pass down in our family. For the reception I had a custom tux made by Kam at Singh Styles, which really allowed me to bring my sense of style to the night while complimenting my wife’s amazing look. Neesha: I had a vision of something with contemporary white embroidery on red. I’d visited Sunny’s previously and Arjun was great about pulling

potential outfits for me, but two sessions later, we both knew we hadn’t found ‘it’ yet. So the next time I came in with a powerpoint presentation with my Wishlist! This helped us narrow it down and of the two items we narrowed it to, once we put them on, we found it. The outfit my morning lengha was modelled off of was all pearl work in a geometric design on a lighter tone and it was initially designed as a gown. We reworked the design into a lengha and changed the colour to a deep red. I was thrilled with the result. I’ve never seen a morning outfit with absolutely no gold or silver. For the reception I wore a lengha by Davi from Armaan DBG. It was a stunning outfit with a criss cross rhinestone back, and the perfect

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emerald green colour. Davi went above and beyond to make it everything I dreamed of. She also indulged my request for two dupattas - one was a three tier ruffle dupatta that I wore for the entrance and early evening and then I switched into the other one later. For my Mehndi night, I wore a short lengha from Papa Don’t Preach and floral jewellery by Suki’s Flowers.

Q: Where did you honeymoon? Paul: We haven’t gone on a honeymoon yet. With COVID restrictions throughout the world, and Neesha’s brother getting married two months later on the East Coast, we truthfully are only now just getting back to some semblance of normal. Our schedules are finally freeing up and international travel rules are a lot clearer now, so we’ve been talking a lot about that. We’re definitely considering one of the islands that are sinking away. It’ll definitely be somewhere warm!

Q: What are your goals as a couple? We want to stay happy and growing - now, in this new chapter, and as our lives continue to evolve.

Q: What are the strengths of your marriage? Our ability to work through any situation or obstacle as they come up to us, and our commitment to grow together in this new journey we are on. Every marriage has its bumps on the road, and whether its wedding planning during COVID, learning each other’s habits and traits as a married couple, or even choosing the towels and bedsheets for the house, we have found ways to grow with each other through any hurdles, disagreements or misunderstandings and we’ve come out closer and better for it!

Q: If you could provide any advice to other married couples, what would it be? Communicate! Regardless of if you’ve been together for what feels like a lifetime, or are just learning the path you’re now walking on, having the ability to communicate and keeping the space for each other to express your feelings, needs, wants, likes and dislikes will allow you to grow in joy together, and handle anything that comes your way!

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DARPAN AutoREVIEW

DIESEL MOTORING SHOULDN’T BE THIS EXCITING

2021

CADILLAC ESCALADE SPORT PLATINUM DIESEL BY Benjamin Yong

he Cadillac Escalade has always been about doing things big — not just size-wise, although the fifth-generation model is indeed an impressive physical specimen, and the most spacious yet with an additional 264 millimetres of third-row legroom. The redesigned vehicle is also making a splash in the digital department offering

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some segment and even industry first technological innovations. The interior of the 2021 certainly needs to be seen in person to be believed. Big screens have been in cars for some time now, but not a curved, paper-thin OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) unit appearing to around the driver like a high-end gaming monitor or TV. Unlike a traditional backlit

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LCD display, this one permits the control of individual LEDs translating into crisp images where the blacks appear pure black, rather than a hazy grey, and vibrant colours pop out from virtually any viewing angle. Thanks to a generous 38.3 diagonal inches of real estate, the touch-sensitive panel is fully customizable and can display things like cool augmented realityenabled navigation, which overlays directional arrows on top of live street views to perfectly point out the proper route. It’s not only the advanced GPS making commuting easier. Similar to the system originally launched on the CT6 sedan, an advanced version of Super Cruise driver assistance (+ $2,875) is available for use on more than 300,000 kilometres of divided highways across the U.S. and Canada. Being introduced is

HIGHLIGHTS

MSRP: $128,553 Motor: 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six Horsepower: 277 @ 3,750 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 460 @ 1,500 rpm Gearbox: 10-speed automatic Layout: Front engine, four-wheel drive Fuel economy: 16.1 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed) automated lane change: when in traffic, simply flick the turn signal lever and various cameras and sensors help automatically guide the SUV safely to the adjacent lane. Tech aside, the interior of the Escalade is nicer than ever. As mentioned earlier all passengers enjoy a lot of extra room due to the total overall vehicle length growing approximately 180

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Packing a rockin’ stereo is a amust given the iconic model. And the team at Cadillac really went all out partnering with acoustic equipment manufacturer AKG.

Thanks to a generous 38.3 diagonal inches of real estate, the touchsensitive panel is fully customizable and can display things like cool augmented realityenabled navigation, which overlays directional arrows on top of live street views to perfectly point out the proper route.

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millimetres. Cargo capacity, too, has become enlarged, increasing an incredible 80 per cent to 773 litres behind the rear bench. The ability to seat up to eight adults is a treat when transporting a big group, however the number is reduced to seven if the centre captain’s chairs are installed. Packing a rockin’ stereo is a must given the iconic model. And the team at Cadillac really went all out partnering with acoustic equipment manufacturer AKG. Working alongside these makers

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of professional-grade microphones and headphones, the result is a 36-speaker setup in select trims (19 speakers plus a subwoofer are standard) engulfing listeners in high fidelity sound. Don’t worry about shouting to those in the back as a Conversation Enhancement feature utilizes microphones and the aforementioned speakers providing clear two-way communication between the first and third rows. Just remember to turn it off before talking about any sensitive topics. Darpan was loaned the diesel variant, the Duramax 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six producing 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque that gets the job done motoring around town or towing as much as 8,000 pounds (when properly equipped). People seeking extra grunt and growl might want to consider the 420 horsepower

6.2-litre V8 alternative. Both are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Independent rear suspension and optional adaptive air suspension with magnetic ride control should ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for occupants at all times, as the latter is capable of constantly reading road conditions and selfadjusting to mitigate any bumps encountered. And how about the looks? Well, the difference between the outgoing SUV and the new one is night and day. Split into two pillars: Luxury/Premium Luxury/ Platinum Luxury grades focus on what the name suggests — think lots of chrome detailing — while Sport and Platinum Sport, the latter which we tested, go in a more performance-influenced aesthetic, embodied by a black mesh front grille and other black elements. All Escalades share razor thin horizontally oriented headlamp housings, stacked overtop complementary vertical signature LED daytime running light on either side of the bumper. Massive 22-inch alloy wheels are standard, as are dual exhaust tips. Prices start at $90,398 MSRP.

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*2021 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 6 Passenger (Stock # X949218) is $75,570 including freight & PDI. Documentation fees ($495), air conditioning levy ($100), environmental levies ($25), and taxes are extra. †Limited time finance offers provided through Volvo Car Financial Services on approved credit. 2.49% finance rate is applicable on new 2021 Volvo XC90 models up to a 72-month term for qualifying customers. Errors and omissions excepted. Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Offers end December 31, 2021. Vehicle may be factory ordered via Volvo Cars Canada. Vehicles shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Please see Jim Pattison Volvo of Surrey for complete details. Dealer #30601.

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ROUGH AND RUGGED LUXURY SUV

DARPAN AutoREVIEW

2021

BY Benjamin Yong

“The vehicle has nevertheless reached a completely new dimension in terms of technology with the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine as well as in combination with the off-road characteristics, the agility and the vehicle dynamics achieved.”

MERCEDES AMG G 63 BY BENJAMIN YONG

f there was ever an automobile possessing a potential far greater than performing simple urban commuting duties, it would be the Mercedes-AMG G 63. This souped up 4X4, called the

Geländewagen in German that is loosely translated as “all-terrain vehicle,” is built to conquer literally any type of motoring environment and the latest iteration lives up to the name. Here’s why. “The new AMG G 63 brings driving performance to the segment of unadulterated off-road vehicles in unexpected form. It was important for us to tie in with the original character on account of the cult status the G 63 enjoys with our customers and fans,” says Tobias Moers, Mercedes-AMG GmbH CEO. “The vehicle has nevertheless reached a completely new dimension in terms of technology with the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine as well as in combination with the off-road characteristics, the agility and

HIGHLIGHTS

MSRP: $211,900 (base) Motor: 4.0-litre biturbo V8 Horsepower: 577 @ 6,000 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 627 @ 1,300 rpm Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic Layout: Front engine, four-wheel drive Fuel economy: 19.4 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

the vehicle dynamics achieved. This applies to the entire G-Class model series. Mercedes-AMG is responsible for their suspension and chassis development as well as V8 competence.” Mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox, the engine is more efficient and replaces the thirstier outgoing 5.5-litre eight cylinder, yet produces 33 additional horsepower and a whopping 67 lb-ft extra torque,

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PHOTOS: MERCEDES PRESSROOM

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“The new AMG G 63 brings driving performance to the segment of unadulterated off-road vehicles in unexpected form. It was important for us to tie in with the original character on account of the cult status the G 63 enjoys with our customers and fans,” says Tobias Moers, Mercedes-AMG GmbH CEO.

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thanks to advances in both hardware and software. The cylinder deactivation system allows the G 63 to turn off cylinders two, three, five and eight under partial load scenarios, for example cruising on the highway, to lower fuel consumption. Rather than the previous 50:50 4MATIC all-wheel drive torque split, the current offering is rear 40:60 rear biased providing a sharp handling experience on paved surfaces. Off them, the intelligent multi-plate clutch can behave autonomously to ensure traction is always available, or when the going

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gets seriously tough the front, centre and rear axle differentials can all be locked individually depending on the need in either LOW or HIGH RANGE mode. Sitting on a fresh independent double-wishbone/five-link suspension, complimented by AMG RIDE CONTROL adaptive adjustable damping, the ride is quite smooth and comfortable and never too hard, even on uneven surfaces. Three settings may be chosen: Comfort, Sport and Sport+ to tailor response to various needs.

What’s great about the G Class is throughout the years the signature boxy styling is consistently retained, however adding in contemporary innovations whether they be full LED lighting or the use of protective foil cladding inside the doors — that really have to be slammed to close properly, mind you — to prevent water seepage during fording. In addition, the AMG version features an exclusive upright-slatted polished grille, and aggressive sidemounted twin exhaust pipes poking out below the running boards guaranteed to draw some looks. Speaking of which, even with the (thin) running boards installed, climbing in and out can prove challenging given the overall height measures a lofty 1,966 millimetres. There’s a stunning attention to detail paid throughout the interior: for example, the two-tone quilted Nappa leather upholstery; carbon fibre trim; D-shaped DINAMICA covered steering wheel, IWCdesigned analogue clock, and the G manufaktur-embossed passenger dashboard grab handle signaling the automaker’s bespoke customization program. A 12.3-inch infotainment display and wireless mobile device charging are now standard. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG G 63 continues to be built out of Austria — however given ongoing supply chain issues as a result of the global pandemic, the brand has indicated the luxury SUV, along with other V8 vehicles in the lineup, will not be produced in the coming model year. Stay tuned for more news to come.

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USHERING IN A NEW ERA OF THE MINI TRUCK

PHOTOS: HYUNDAI PRESSROOM

2022

HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ

Open-bed flexibility coupled with closed-cabin security meets the changing everyday needs of its adventure-oriented buyers, while the powerful and efficient engine and superb manoeuvrability ensure it is a pleasure to drive in urban or off-road environments,” says José Muñoz, Hyundai Motor North America president and CEO.

“Santa Cruz, with its bold styling, breaks open all new segment territory, both for Hyundai and the industry as a whole. Open-bed flexibility coupled with closed-cabin security meets the changing everyday needs of its adventure-oriented buyers, while the powerful and efficient engine and superb manoeuvrability ensure it is a pleasure to drive in

ollowing a much-anticipated preview as a concept vehicle back at the Detroit Auto Show some six years ago, there wasn’t a lot of expectation that the Hyundai HCD-15 compact pickup would actually be made. Well, fast forward to present day and the 2022 Santa Cruz is a happy reality.

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urban or off-road environments. Our customers will wonder just how they managed before owning one,” says José Muñoz, Hyundai Motor North America president and CEO, in a news release. Rather than a traditional body-on-frame build, this small truck has a unibody construction based on the Tucson crossover, which becomes evident when

BY Benjamin Yong

HIGHLIGHTS MSRP: $44,799 Motor: 2.5-litre turbocharged four cylinder Horsepower: 277 @ 5,800 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 460 @ 1,700 rpm Gearbox: Eight-speed dualclutch automatic Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive Fuel economy: 14.6 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

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The system also features multi-terrain control modes when road conditions become challenging: Snow, Mud and Sand. The short wheelbase and wide track allows agile lane changes in traffic that would make a Toyota Tacoma jealous.

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you look at the two side-by-side: both sharing many traits from the windshield forward, for example the headlamps hiding behind the large black T-shaped grille. The front end is quite different from the concept, though the general essence remains the same. Around the side, the former rear suicide half doors have been replaced by regular versions allowing much easier occupant ingress and egress. The second row area is slightly smaller than the Tucson’s, the up-to-three passengers in the back enjoying a little less legroom as a result at around 927 millimeters. Still, an infant car seat fits no problem. Measuring 4.34 feet, the bed

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is small by pickup standards. Carrying lengthy recreational toys may be an issue, however towing shouldn’t be the vehicle boasting 5,000 pounds of capacity, nevertheless the design is unique and useful. The floor can be lifted up to reveal a smaller storage compartment underneath, and a factory sliding and lockable tonneau cover keeps valuables concealed and protected against the elements, and can even hold up to 100 kilograms of weight. Possessing a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and mated to an eight-speed “wet” (utilizing oil to lubricate and cool the transmission

for increased performance) dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the Santa Cruz is way more fun to pilot than a truck should be. The vehicle accelerates like a bat out of hell, admittedly at times in a jerky fashion, enough to unexpectedly spin the tires despite standard tractionproviding HTRAC all-wheel drive. The system also features multi-terrain control modes when road conditions become challenging: Snow, Mud and Sand. The short wheelbase and wide track allows agile lane changes in traffic that would make a Toyota Tacoma jealous. The interior is set up similar to a typical contemporary Hyundai or Kia product, the dash anchored by a big 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Navigating the infotainment is easy enough, however the lack of a rotary volume knob really makes surfing radio channels — SiriusXM in particular — cumbersome. At least designers have kept a T-handle shifter in place rather than putting in a gear selector dial or, even worse, buttons. Two trims are available: Preferred, starting at $38,499, and Ultimate, $44,799, the latter including additional equipment such as full LED lighting, 20-inch alloy wheels, Surround View Monitor to assist parking, ventilated front seating and others. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is U.S-built, at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

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DHAMAKA Releasing: November 19, 2021 Directed by: Ram Madhvani Starring: Kartik Aaryan, Mrunal Thakur, Amruta Subhash, Vishwajeet Pradhan

MOVIE CALENDAR BY SHWETA KULKARNI

The final stretch of 2021 itself is looking promising with an exciting line-up of films that will surely make you salivate with anticipation.

ast year, undoubtedly, was frustrating for cinephiles as big blockbusters were constantly pushed due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. However, now with movie theatres across the globe cautiously reopening, and production houses fighting to get the best release dates for their projects,

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there sure is going to be a tsunami of films. The final stretch of 2021 itself is looking promising with an exciting line-up of films that will surely make you salivate with anticipation. From massive action flicks and comedies to intense love stories and biopics, the movie landscape is full of entertainment. For starters, we will be getting the much-awaited dose of comedy with the rib-tickling Bunty Aur Babli 2, followed by Ram Madhvani’s thriller Dhamaka. Then comes the beloved Bhaijaan with Antim: The Final Truth, followed by the raging love story Tadap and sports biographical drama 83. So, the bounty is impressive, and you need to start marking your calendar now.

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This adaptation of the 2013 South Korean action-thriller — The Terror Live, definitely calls for the attention of all thriller buffs. Directed by Ram Madhvani of Neerja and Aarya fame, Dhamaka features the heartthrob of Bollywood — Kartik Aaryan in a never-seen-before role. The film revolves around news reporter Arjun Pathak (Kartik) and his descent into the chasm of uncertainty, deceit and mind games after a phone call from a terrorist, which changes his life completely. Talking about the film, Ram Madhvani said, “The film is a human story, it’s about a guy who’s very ambitious and is inclined to get ahead. Nothing wrong with ambition, but in any

field, we want to succeed, we want to get ahead. But, while trying to get ahead, what is it that we lose? What is it that we gain? This film is about a man who loses his love. It’s ‘sach ka, pyar ka, life ka dhamaka’ (an explosion of truth, love and life).” The intense and hardhitting trailer of the film made quite a dhamaka, now we can’t wait to see the explosion the film creates upon its release.

TADAP Releasing: December 3, 2021 Directed by: Milan Luthria Starring: Ahan Shetty, Tara Sutaria, Saurabh Shukla With a tagline that reads — ‘An incredible love story’, Tadap promises to be an intense romantic action-drama film, which marks the debut of Suniel Shetty’s son Ahan Shetty. Directed by Milan Luthria, the film is a remake of the 2018 superhit Telugu film RX 100. While the raging romantic drama retains the essence of the original, the makers have brought in a few new elements to add freshness to the film. Talking about the film, director Milan Luthria mentioned, “Sajid (Producer Sajid Nadiadwala) had discussed with me the

idea to launch Ahan and we were looking around for a right script. We wanted to do something different from the usual college romance. We found this film and we felt this will suit Ahan. It is not a typical love story. It has wider emotions from action to drama to music and humour. It is an interesting package.”

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83 Finally, after a long wait, the con artists who stole our hearts way back in 2005 are back, and this time around they are pitted against two other con artists, who are out to rob their brand name —

Releasing: December 24, 2021 Directed by: Kabir Khan Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Harrdy Sandhu Even if you don’t follow cricket, chances of you not eagerly waiting for the release of this film are slim. The fact is, this biographical sports drama featuring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone has got not just cinephiles but every cricketlover in the country excited ever since it was announced. Helmed by Kabir Khan, the film is based on the life of cricket legend Kapil Dev and India’s magnificent World Cup victory in the year 1983. Ranveer Singh, who is essaying Kapil Dev in the film, said, “83 ki jo kahani hai ki jis tarah se ek underdog team ne jaake ek ultimate achievement kar lia against all odds. Nobody believed in them, and to beat back-to-back World Cup champions and to lift the trophy for the first time. They have changed the face of sport and changed the attitude of the whole nation.” Commenting about why he made the film, director Kabir Khan said, “We want people to enjoy it because it’s a story that every Indian should know. People who are above 45-50 all know it, but I want the youth to relive that moment because it’s definitely one of the greatest moments of sporting history in our country, in the world actually.” A film that brings to life one of the proudest sporting moments of our country deserves to be watched first day, first show, what say?

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Bunty Aur Babli

BUNTY AUR BABLI 2 Releasing: November 19, 2021 Directed by: Varun V. Sharma Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Sharvari Wagh, Pankaj Tripathi This Yash Raj Films’ offering was intended to open in 2020, however, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the release got pushed back a year. Finally, after a long wait, the con artists who stole our hearts way back in 2005 are back, and this time around they are pitted against two other con artists, who are out to rob their brand name — Bunty Aur Babli. Directed by

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Varun V. Sharma, Bunty Aur Babli 2 is a rib-tickling rebooted franchise, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji as the original Bunty and Babli and the Gully Boy hunk Siddhant Chaturvedi and debutant Sharvari as the new Bunty and Babli. Commenting on the film, Rani Mukerji said, “Both sets of con-couples are intelligent. They are the best when it comes to wearing disguises because they are the best at conning people with this skill. In this film, they come face to face with each other and it’s a battle to watch out for!” Her co-star Saif Ali Khan further added, “Films on con jobs have historically had great disguises, and that’s half the fun. Nowadays, we have prosthetics and makeup of a totally different level so people can expect really amazing get-ups and disguises from the cast and doing all that was a lot of fun.” Well, we suggest you block our dates for this family entertainer right away.

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ANTIM: THE FINAL TRUTH Releasing: November 26, 2021 Directed by: Mahesh Manjrekar Starring: Salman Khan, Aayush Sharma, Mahima Makwana, Pragya Jaiswal Packed with high-octane action sequences and whistle worthy dialogues, Antim: The Final Truth, featuring none other than Bollywood’s beloved Bhaijaan is all set to create an uproar on the big screen. However, apart from the promise of being an archetypical Salman Khan entertainer, the action-drama, which is an adaptation of the Marathi film — Mulshi Pattern, also touches upon a serious subject. Helmed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film stars Salman Khan and his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma in the main roles and revolves around the face-off between a Sikh police officer (Khan) and a gangster (Sharma), and like the original, it explores the hard conditions faced by farmers that pushes some of them towards crime. Shedding light on the subject of the film, Manjrekar said, “The story of Antim revolves around the land being snatched from the farmers due to urbanization. Cities are expanding, and are spreading into the villages, so the land prices are increasing there. Helpless farmers sell them to get good price. The farmer’s children are not interested in farming because they have seen their father being suffered. So, what will these kids do now? This is a circle and out of this circle many boys come to Pune and became gangsters. So, this is a scary truth. So, it is inspired by true events somewhere, that is why it is even more interesting. This story is written by my friend Pravin Tarde. This is the story of his village.” The Salman Khan we love is back and we can’t wait to watch this one.

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and Rita’s true selves come to light, more complex and perhaps even more appealing than their public face hinted at. The film was written by Sethi and Soni, loosely based on personal experiences and of those close to them. They shot 7 Days during the pandemic on a shoestring budget and with a skeleton crew of 11: “We had to test very often, even though we were making the movie in a contained setting and in a quarantine bubble”, says Roshan. “It was extraneous and stressful. I was worried that someone would test positive because we didn’t have a contingency plan. All would have been over.”

ROSHAN SETHI BY JORGE IGNACIO CASTILLO

“Both medicine and writing require empathy for others”

Shooting the movie took eight days, by any standard, a whirlwind production schedule. The Duplass brothers, known for their low-cost output, financed the movie, produced it and taught the creative team how to make an ultra-low budget movie in the most scrappy way possible. Roshan believes he was prepared for everything, except perhaps how long everything takes on a movie set, particularly lighting: “Coming from medicine where everything moves fast, the amount of time that’s required to set up for a shot was astonishing to me.” Roshan’s parents had an arranged

ever mind succeeding at one

Ravi (Karan Soni, Deadpool) and

marriage and moved from London

thing, Roshan Sethi is thriving

Rita (Geraldine Viswanathan,

to Calgary, where the physician/

in two highly competitive fields:

Blockers). What was supposed

filmmaker grew up. Alongside his

medicine and film. Sethi spends

to be a simple meet-and-greet

fraternal twin, he volunteered at a local

a portion of his year as palliative

unravels as the COVID lockdowns

cancer clinic. Years later, both Sethis

radiation oncologist in Boston, while

take a hold of everyday reality.

graduated from Harvard Medical

the rest of the time he’s focused on

Forced to spend increasingly

School, although his brother chose

getting movies and TV shows off the

more time with each other, Ravi

otolaryngology as his specialty.

Q&A 7 Days is your first directorial effort. How did you approach the task at hand? I had been on sets before as a writer. I had the great advantage of working closely with my partner, Karan Soni, who has much more experience. I think he has 89 credits at this point. It was really a collaborative effort and I learned on the ground. How do you manage to keep both your careers as a physician and filmmaker going simultaneously? I’m done my residency and now I’m an attending physician, but I only have the obligation to work for a chunk of the year. If I was full-time, I couldn’t do (film and television). It hasn’t been easy and pursuing both careers has come at great cost to my mental health. It’s starting to balance now. Both medicine and writing require empathy for other people, so I feel they complement each other. Is there a time hack you can share? I write very quickly. I would get up very early and write for an hour or two before starting at the hospital when I was overlapping writing and medicine. I don’t do that anymore. One of the advantages of not having enough time to write is that I was less fastidious and anxious about my writing, which in a weird way made it a lot better. Indians around the world have made significant contributions to the countries that received them. How do you explain this phenomenon? In general, immigrants tend to be people with a lot of hustle and have something to prove. There’s a selection bias there: A disproportionate number of those who start a new life in a different country are people with extraordinary ambition. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do such a crazy thing like leaving their home.

ground. The physician is the co-creator of the series The Resident (still going strong after five seasons) and served as co-executive producer for part of its run. Now Sethi is giving direction a try. His first feature, 7 Days, premiered in Canada as part of the latest Reel Asian Film Festival. 7 Days takes a comedic and poignant look at arranged marriages by zeroing on two chronically single youths with traditional Indian parents,

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DARPAN MAGAZINE HOLIDAY SPECIAL - November December Issue

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SOUTH ASIANS AROUND THE GLOBE

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

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WEDDING

2021 CADILLAC Escalade Sport

STYLE

FASHION

BEAUTY

FEATURE

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Azra Hussain Hebah Hussaina

Tanvir Kang

DARPAN’S 10

Charan Sethi: The Man Behind Flamingo