Eid Special May 2021 Edition of Desi Australia Digital Magazine

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As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, I would like to wish you and your family a happy and blessed Eid.

Authorised by A. Stanley MP, ALP NSW, Hinchinbrook

Message from the Mayor of Blacktown City

Eid Mubarak As the Mayor of Blacktown City, I would like to send my warmest wishes to all members of our City’s Muslim community during Eid al-Fatr.

The key Islamic values of charity and compassion during Ramadan have been in greater evidence than ever during this time of pandemic.

Councillor Tony Bleasdale OAM

Mayor of Blacktown City

As always, I am incredibly proud of the way our local Muslim community enriches our culture and leads through its many examples of respect and kindness to others.

Ramadan is a time of compassion for the less fortunate, a renewed focus on spirituality, character building through self-restraint, patience and discipline, as well as social interaction.

At the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims in Blacktown and across the world traditionally celebrate the Festival of Breaking the Fast with prayers, feasting and entertainment.

I hope you will find ways to share the joy of this special time with your loved ones.

I hope this Eid brings peace, prosperity and happiness to all your lives. Eid Mubarak!

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WHAT’S INSIDE 34

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15 Garden of Humanity: 06 The Affinity Parliamentary Iftar

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12 RamadanThe Holiest Month for Muslims in the time of Covid - Rethinking 14 EID the way we celebrate Eid this year Children’s Heart 16 New Hospital in Fiji ‘Sirf Dil, No Bill’ India Cenotaph Committee 22 Australia Anzac Day Service 2021 Pathways 26 Settlement for Women- By Lean In Inc Stars Say it 28 Shining Takes Guts, Grit and a Smile Supermarket 34 Sangam Open Its Door World Studio38 Friends Ready to Shoot Nanak Peer Wali 43 Baba resides inside me Download Our App

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Ramadan will end with Eid celebrations.

On Behalf of team Desi Australia we wish everyone Eid Mubarak and hope this Eid brings you peace, strength and good health.

Hello everyone, Welcome to our Eid special edition. The Muslims around the globe are observing the Holy month of Ramadan.

Sydney siders from various faiths and religions were seen getting together for Iftar Dinners. Iftar is an excellent opportunity for individuals to engage in intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Holy

In this edition we have also covered the latest happening and stories in the South Asian community.

Arti Banga

Editor-in-Chief

We hope you enjoy reading our May edition.

Wishing you all the best of health.

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ACT Editor:

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Rajni Ghai Malhotra

(Desi Australia Pty Ltd)

Victoria Editor:

Western Australia Editor:

Editor-in-chief

Daljeet Bakshi

Ankita Tandon

Arti Banga

Editor:

South Australia Editor:

NSW Editor:

Priya Singh

Harmohan Walia

Daljeet Bakshi

Address: Desi Australia Pty Ltd

PO Box 102, Casula, NSW 2170 • Email : info@DesiAustralia.com

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Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Do not re-use any content and photo from Desi Australia without the prior written permission from the editor. All the material published in Desi Australia, including articles, features, fillers, advertisements, and all other contents, are published in good faith, and the editor or the Desi Australia magazine cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. All material is published on the understanding that it is copyright free, and Desi Australia accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. We also cannot accept responsibility for and do not endorse views expressed by the contributors.

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Community News | Sydney

By: Azra Polat

On Thursday 6 May 150 guests gathered at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney to break bread in the spirit of harmony and diversity at Affinity Intercultural Foundation’s twelfth annual Friendship and Dialogue Iftar dinner.

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he gathering saw guests from diverse backgrounds in attendance, including members of Parliament, police, Royal Australian Navy members, religious, community and education leaders, businesspeople, academics, members

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of the judiciary and media as well as representatives from other faiths and cultures. The diversity of backgrounds, added to the rich tapestry of the evening and is symbolic of the

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Community News | Sydney

multiculturalism and diversity that we see in Australia.

Ms Philippa McDonald, Former ABC Reporter, Journalist and Communications Specialist Acted as the MC on stage with her charming presence and set the night with its proceedings.

The evening began with a most extraordinary Acknowledgement of Country and Elders from Ms Phillipa McDermott, Chairperson of Bangarra Dance Theatre & Lead Indigenous Employment and Diversity ABC. Followed by a colourful and spectacular Didgeridoo performance, the audience was captivated by Uncle Walangari Karntawarra, Australian Aboriginal Artist and Affinity’s valuable advisory member.

Mr Bilal Kilic from Amity College delivered the ‘adhan’ (call to prayer) and the fast was broken with dates followed by a magnificent three-course dinner.

In his speech as co-host, Dr Geoff Lee MP, Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans, shared on a light note, how wonderful it is to be gathered on this evening with over twenty guests, face-to face and not via Zoom.

“Having a dinner is the best ways for any background whether multicultural, multifaith society, it’s a leveling playing field, like sport, that we can all join together and celebrate everything good that makes us Australian.

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Ramadan is a particularly important time that we self-sacrifice, doing good for others and providing charity for others in this month,” he said.

Co-host Ms Sophie Cotsis MP, Shadow Minister for Better Public Services, touched on how “Affinity embodies humanity, in bringing everyone together, fighting through barriers during uncertain days”.

Presenting his warm welcome, Executive Director of Affinity, Mr Ahmet Polat, decreed tonight’s dinner as ‘The garden of humanity’, which was “inspired by a desire to celebrate the possibility and perhaps one day, the reality of peaceful coexistence among all faiths and all cultures in society.”

“Our main goal is to accept each other unequivocally as valued members who have a rightful place in society. I have four words that came to my mind while reflecting on tonight’s Iftar dinner “courage, vision, dedication, and optimism”. This Iftar dinner is a profoundly optimistic gathering. It has established on a belief that we can learn, and we can give, and it seems to me, that this is the vision and future of the world we would like to have and build towards.

We are dedicated and courageous to oversee our differences and share a delightful conversation over a delightful meal,” he said.

A tranquil Quran recitation was provided by

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Mr Ibrahim Karaisli from Amity College, followed by an Affinity Parliament Iftar Dinner Highlight video. This video encapsulated the last 5 dinners, held in the NSW Parliament House, in a nutshell.

His Eminence the Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed’s speech was presented by spokesperson Mr Bilal Rauf. “We as Muslims believe that all humanity comes from one source and are therefore, brothers and sisters united in their humanity. True belief in Islam is intertwined love for all people. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, none of you will truly believe until you love for your brother, what you love for yourself.”

The audience was transported to Ottoman times with a special Sufi music performance

by Tarik Hussein and Tariq Hawala.

In her keynote address, Tracey Holmes, senior reporter, and presenter at ABC’s NewsRadio, The Ticket said the dinner contributed

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Community News | Sydney

to building social cohesion and trust between different people.

“There is much to despair but yet again here we all are, different but together. With different worldviews, but able to share a meal in peace. We challenge our worldviews, but we are together in peace.” she said.

“We were able to change one word of the national anthem, so at least now we are all one. I don’t say any of these things with political overtone, I am not talking about politics. I am talking about people. I am talking about you and I am talking about me.

I am talking about the ground that we share together, despite all of our differences. We cannot let humanity become politicised.

We will never ever all be the same and isn’t that a wonderful thing. We will never ever all think the same way. We do not even experience this world in the same way, we’ve not even experienced tonight in the same way. And yet once again, here we are in peace. ” Floor reflections were provided by distin-

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guished guests. Ms Naomi Steer, National Director Australia for UNHCR, shared her insight, “I am always hopeful because in my work I see sometimes the worst of humanity, but I certainly see the best of humanity and tonight I see that reflected within everybody here, and I really hope we will take that outside and beyond globally in support of the most vulnerable people we know.”

Judge Dale Kemp, The Federal Circuit Court, reflected, ‘As a judge involved in family law matters, the court has to consider making orders in the best interest of children. The principles are divided into primary considerations (the need to maintain meaningful relationships between children and parents) and additional considerations (one such matter relates to the lifestyle, culture and traditions of the child and the parents).

Events such as tonight raised the awareness of the lifestyle and cultural traditions of Muslims.”

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A special guest joined from the United States, NBA basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers Mr Enes Kanter, who shared his humble view of sports. Enes said, “I believe sport delivers connection and belonging in the community. It is something that people from all walks of life can join together to play, cheer, celebrate, and appreciate, despite any ethnic, religious, or cultural differences. Sport also promotes and celebrates diversity by rejecting racism and division and promoting Unity and Inclusion. It is with these values that we hope to create a world where all are comfortable and respected in all they do.”

A vote of thanks was offered by Mr Craig Foster AM, Former Socceroo, Broadcaster, Adjunct Professor, Author, Human Rights Activist & Affinity Advisory Board Member, who touched on how “This is so important, what is happening in this room tonight and always is at this event, is when you look around you see the true vision of what Australia is. You see more than that actually, the promise of what we can be. You see here, an Australian secular society where everyone is free to exercise their own faith, to have their own beliefs and to be respected for doing so.

But more than that, to come together, to sit together, to break fast and build understanding, and as Cousin Ahmet would say, to conduct dialogue and conversations, people to people connections, and breaking down barriers.”

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Community News | Sydney

Concluding remarks were provided by Mr Richard Broinowski AM, Former Australian Public Servant & Diplomat and Affinity advisory board member who wished “at this time of international crisis, we must hope that the tradition of self-reflection imbued within Ramadan will result in tolerance across our community. We need tolerance now more than ever before.”

“It’s not just multiculturalism, diversity, inclusion, and it’s not just tolerating other people and other faiths, we accept them.

Actually it’s saying we are better together.

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That is real multiculturalism. It’s to say this person next to me is part of this country, is equal to me, and I will fight for you when it is necessary, ” he said.

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This event was possible with the generous support from sponsors including Pfizer Australia Biopharmaceuticals, Innovo Technology Solutions, Galaxy Foundation and the Australian Relief Organisation.

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Festivals

Ramadan-The Month for M meal referred to as iftar.

It is common for mosques to host large iftars, especially for the poor and needy.

Nightly prayers called Tarawih are also held in mosques after iftar.

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By: Shafaq Jaffery amadan is the holiest month for Muslims. Every year, Muslims around the world fast during daylight hours, but what is it really about?

Different cultures have different traditions during Ramadan, whether it is a special food they must cook, or eating iftar with the extended family. Islamic tenets such as generosity inspired most of these traditions, including sharing food and inviting guests over for iftar

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar. Healthy adult Muslims fast in Ramadan from dawn until dusk.

This includes abstaining from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.

In Islam, giving to charity is a great deed at any time of year. However, when combined with the auspicious month of Ramadan, donating Zakat is multiplied manifold, with untold blessings and reward for the donor. Ramadan charity is highly rewarded, and as such, the vast majority of Muslims choose to donate at this time.

Although it is not an obligation to donate during Ramadan, this is why so many Muslims choose to do so during this month.

The act of fasting is meant to remind Muslims of the less fortunate and to reinforce the need to be thankful Fasting during Ramadan means abstinence from all

During the holy month, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and they break their fast with a

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Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to God, and a way to become more compassionate to those in needs. Fasting is also seen as a way to learn patience and break bad habits. As such, giving to charity is a huge part of everyday life for Muslims.

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Festivals

e Holiest Muslims food or drink, including water and chewing gum, from dawn to sunset. It is recommended that before sunrise, Muslims eat a prefast meal known as suhur. This meal often resembles breakfast, but in some cultures it may include more dinner-like foods.

After sundown, Muslims break their fast with iftar, a meal which usually starts with dates and water or milk, followed by dinner.

Muslims are permitted to snack at night between those two meals, and hydration is encouraged, especially when Ramadan falls during summer.

For suhur, iftar and snacks, Muslims can more easily make it to sundown by eating high-fiber meals to sustain satiety over longer periods, fruits and vegetables to maintain electrolyte stores, and plenty of fluids to maintain hydration. Muslims should also limit fried foods and sugary sweets, the latter of which is a common cultural tradition among many ethnicities during the holy month.

(“celebration”), Muslims pray the holiday prayer in congregation in the morning, visit family and friends, and celebrate over food, gifts and activities for children.

The Eid festival has a special atmosphere of peace, respect, giving and receiving, as well as sharing and caring. It is a special day for children because it is a day to socialize with family, friends and other children in celebrating Eid. Many Muslims are united in prayer at mosques and other appropriate venues during Eid . People also exchange gifts with one another and celebrate feasts together.

living in Australia , Eid away from home is different. Not nly the muslim community but also the non-muslim community in Australia also cherish this time of Eid and hold Eid parties and festivals so that all the people can enjoy it and embrace the love and peace related to it.

In Pakistan it has its own feeling but as

After Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a threeday holiday called Eidul-Fitr. After this Eid

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Festivals

EID in the time of Covid - Rethinking the way we celebrate Eid this year

to understand and follow the importance of interfaith in a country, which was a truly multicultural, multifaith and multi-religious country during my childhood.

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By: Abbas Raza Alvi never considered EID as a religious festival; for me, it had always been a festival of happiness, celebration and meeting friends.

During my childhood, I do not remember a single EID of my life that passed without gatherings, greetings and receiving best wishes from all over the world from both Muslims as well as friends from other faiths, beliefs & nonbelievers.

During my childhood, when I was not observing the Ramzan fast, I do remember the joy of the moon citing. My grandmother (Dadi) used to mentally prepare us for sighting the moon by reciting various stories. After sighting the moon, we always used to say Salam & Adaab to elders.

It was customary and a joy to receive blessings from the elders on the moon-sighting evening and enjoy the anticipation of EID the following day.

I do not recall a single Eid in my childhood when non-Muslim friends of my father and grandfather didn’t visit us at home. Apart from the traditional dish SIMAI, special precautions were taken for the vegetarians as well as those who were not eating beef. This has trained me Download Our App

During my childhood, Ammi used to stitch new clothes for all the children of the joint family for EID. During my UNI days, my EID clothes were procured from the Khadi Ashram, which is still arranged.

There was a number of Gazetted Holidays in India at the time, including Eid, Baqra Eid, Muharram, Christmas, Easter, Guru Nanak Ji’s birthday, Holi, Dushherah & Diwali, along with the national holidays like Independence Day and Republican days. India was a true multi-religious and multicultural country. Religious hatred was hardly felt in those days, and even if it was there, it was in a tiny population and only in very few cities.

Things are changing these days in new India; EID is more like a Muslim festival, and DIWALI is more like a Hindu festival. Because of my childhood memories’ multi-religious and multifaith influences, it is difficult and impossible for me to accept and divide festivals among the religious faiths. At least we’re lucky that in our adopted country Australia, at least the multiculturalism feelings are alive. I feel proud to mention that probably Australia is the only country in the world where so many Iftars are arranged by non-Muslim individuals, multifaith groups, associations and organizations. I wish that the Indian umbrella organization should consider arranging MAY I 2021

a joint IFTAR during the next year to re-cultivate the true feeling of multifaith India.

At this time, our world is going through the pandemic of COVID. Due to the lack of proper management of the Covid in India, shortage of oxygen, hospital beds and amenities, there is a huge number of deaths of Indians among all religions and faiths.

The situation in India is very dire. There are hardly any families of Indian diaspora in Australia who have not been affected by the Covid.

Indian families do not celebrate EID if a death has taken place prior to EID. It is not customary and very difficult for anyone to experience joy during this mournful time.

There have also been a few deaths in my family due to Covid mismanagement in India, and therefore, my family has decided that we shall keep the spirit of EID at low key and keep it only among the children during this year. It is hard for us to greet our friends for EID. But certainly, I wish and hope the situation of this pandemic will change, and we shall enjoy the feeling of EID in the spirit of love and harmony among all faiths next year.

Clouds cover the sky for some time Clouds also disappear after some time And blue sky always shine Let us not disappoint We shall see again blue sky www.DesiAustralia.com

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Communtiy News | Sydney

Riverstone Mosque Iftar

Photo creditHarmohan Walia

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Mag Corner

New Children’s Heart Hospital in Fiji

‘Sirf Dil, No Bill’

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iji will soon be the home of South Pacific’s first Pediatric Cardiac Super Speciality Hospital. The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital will be the answer to thousand and thousands of mothers in Fiji and the South Pacific Island nations.

HOSPITAL ANSWERS PRAYERS So why is this Hospital being built?

The answer is simple. Hundreds of children in Fiji and thousands in the South Pacific Island countries are dying of Congenital Heart Disease. There are NO pediatric cardiac services available for the children in Fiji and South Pacific. Treatment overseas is too costly. Thousands of children and their families have no hope.

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This hospital will literally be the beacon of hope for the children and their parents.

This is being by Sai Prema Foundation Fiji - a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and a registered Charitable Organisation under the Charitable Trusts Act of Fiji, founded to serve the poor, underprivileged and needy people of Fiji through Medicare, Educare and Sociocare initiatives.

Since 2016, Sai Prema Foundation has become one of the premier NGO’s in Fiji with the implementation of over a dozen projects and initiatives which has successfully impacted the underprivileged and needy people of Fiji.

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Pursuant to the principles of the Foundation, the recipient never pays for the services offered. These include all services offered at the Sanjeevani Medical Centre and Children’s Heart Screening Centre, both of which are our projects in partnership with the Government and were inaugurated by Prime Minister of Fiji Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. The Centre has treated over 14,000 patients completely free of charge.

The Gift of Life heart surgeries project has saved 71 lives of children whose families could not afford the life-saving treatment. These surgeries have saved over $7million for the families of these children.

The Foundation’s feeding program has

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Mag Corner

served over 750,000 meals since inception since 2016 to the needy and vulnerable families and our medical outreach program has served over 6,500 Fijians in rural villages of Fiji with free healthcare and medication.

The Foundation’s commitment to serve these children and their families is exemplified with the building of South Pacific’s first Children’s Heart Hospital in Suva, Fiji.

SPEARHEADED BY BOLLYWOOD SINGER SUMEET TAPPOO The Director of the Foundation is Mumbai-based Bollywood singer Sumeet Tappoo. Sumeet is spearheading the mission along with his wife Dr. Krupali Tappoo – an Australian qualified Doctor.

The couple have decided to give back to their home country and are humbled by the opportunity to serve “Serving humanity is serving God.

Through the multitude of projects implemented through Sai Prema Foundation, it is truly heartwarming to see that the Foundation is able to make a real difference to the lives of the underprivileged and needy people of Fiji” said Sumeet Tappoo.

This $25 million development currently under construction is the largest project ever undertaken by any NGO in Fiji’s history. This Hospital project is in association with the Ministry of Health and the Government of Fiji which has provided the land for this purpose.

“It is in fact a matter of great pride that Fiji will be the first nation in the Pacific and Oceania region to have a specialist Children’s Heart Hospital treating children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). Our Foundation has identified Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) as a major problem affecting the children of Fiji and the Pacific. Approximately 200 children are born in Fiji and approximately 2,500 children are born in the Pacific with CHD. The sad fact is that most children are unable to survive” added Sumeet.

Professionally, Sumeet Tappoo has performed over 1,000 concerts internationally and has released over 30 albums both

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solo and in collaboration with legends of Bollywood. His brilliant rendition of “Neela Aasman” in the presence of Sri Amitabh Bachchan is a testimony to his rise to be among the brightest stars in the Indian music industry.

SIRF DIL, NO BILL The vision of this soon-to-be opened children’s free heart hospital is to become the most important Pediatric Cardiac Care Centre for Fiji and the Pacific Island nations. Pursuant to the principles of the Foundation, no child or parent will pay for the surgery.

“You know what is most special? All services at the Hospital including Heart Surgery will be provided completely free of charge. Sirf dil, no bill!”.

The construction of the Hospital is well advanced and the Hospital will be officially inaugurated soon after the opening up of the international borders.

This hospital will make this the largest charitable project undertaken by an NGO in the history of Fiji.

Despite the charitable nature of the project, the Sai Prema Foundation is creating a world-class facility with the aim of providing the best possible surgery and www.DesiAustralia.com

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Mag Corner

treatment to the children of Fiji and the Pacific. The Hospital will house state-ofthe-art equipment for its Catheterization Lab, Operation Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, Pre-Operation and Post-Operation Wards. The Hospital will also include a Training Centre with technological capabilities for international Video Conferencing. The Sai Prema Foundation is committed to providing free training abroad for Fijians in its bid to build local

capacity with a vision of one day transforming this specialist Hospital into one which is run with local Fijian Surgeons, Doctors and Medical personnel.

AWARD FROM GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Sai Prema Foundation Fiji was bestowed with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2021. This is the highest award conferred by the President of

India for organizations outside of India.

Sai Prema Foundation was among four international organizations awarded for their “Outstanding Service to Society”.

The award was announced at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi on 9th January 2021. The event was graced by the Prime Minister of India. Hon. Sri Narendra Modi.

In a short span, Sai Prema Foundation has signed collaborative partnerships with a whole host of international and local organisations including The Government of the Republic of Fiji, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Fiji Red Cross Society, Fiji National University, University of the South Pacific, Health in Kind Australia and Heart to Heart Foundation USA. A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR FORMER FIJIANS TO PARTICIPATE NRI’s and former Fiji residents are always looking for opportunities to give back to their motherland. This is a perfect opportunity for all former Fiji residents to give back to their country of birth by saving the lives of thousands of children who otherwise would have no future.

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Fashion

Sense of Belonging By: Kala Philip

the new future, its wonderful history and where we will be forming our next generations.

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very day I continue to navigate a world that has been both fundamentally changed by recent events and is now making a more intentional effort to end systemic racism, discrimination by religion, colour, race, gender or sexual orientation, social injustice, and inequality. It is my hope that we start thinking of ourselves as global citizens and as a human race.

The last 16 years, I have tried to learn new cultures, walked a mile in someone else’s shoes and listened to someone else’s story that changed my perception of a whole community. It has made me see others through a different lens, given me peace and purpose, made me more grateful for my life and family, and allowed me to give back to the less fortunate.

There are millions of languages, religions, races, castes, cultures but the common thread between us all no matter where we come from is that we are human. Diversity leads to differences, some of us make the effort to tolerate and accept, others work on inclusive practices, but we need to enable a sense of belonging.

I am part of a forum called “The Yarning Circle ” where we founding members are from all walks of life – First Australians, LGBTQI+, women, migrants, refugees, or physically challenged. We work for the community and for change. One of my projects is to listen to the stories of some incarcerated women, who suffered years of domestic violence and out of desperation they committed crime. I found purpose in helping them to find a job, to be financially independent and gain their dignity. My perception of them changed when I walked a mile in their shoes. I knew I had to UNLEARN my presumptions and hear their stories.

As migrants and now citizens, we live in a lucky country where endless opportunities lead to life changing journeys. We have the ability to do what we love, learn without limitations and adapt what is authentic and inspirational to us. We bring with us our rich tradition and heritage, and we also embrace

“We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”—Max de Pree

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Mag Corner

Gallipoli was our battle too

By Shirley Jacob

Whilst World War I led Europe’s youth to their early grave, dousing out the flame of a generation of talented artists, writers, sportsmen and others whose talent bled into the trenches. It also involved soldiers from faraway lands that had little to do with Europe’s bitter traditional hatreds.

On 25th April 1915, the ANZAC legend was born. In the morning of this day, Australian troops landed at Gallipoli to force Germany’s ally, Turkey, out of the war.

Their plan to capture Constantinople quickly became a Herculean task, as they landed in the wrong position and faced baptism by fire.

The order from the British general, Sir Ian Hamilton echoed across the battlefield and Australian shores, “There is nothing for it but to dig yourselves right in and stick it out”.

The plan had failed, and months of further fighting resulted in no military victories and little reward. However, from this hardship the ANZAC spirit was conceived. An ethos built on endurance, courage, mate ship and one which irrevocably characterizes Australia’s nationhood today.

Over a hundred years later, the parades, services and rituals of Anzac Day have survived and grown despite the vestige of survivors remaining. Many stories are also now emerging of the sacrifices Indians made during World War I and II. At the time, India provided the largest volunteer army in history with approximately 1.2 million Indians volunteering to fight for British forces.

Although over 70 000 Indian soldiers ultimately sacrificed their lives during the war, tales of their altruism, courage and rigour have often been relegated to the footnotes in the Commonwealth’s commemorative diary.

Many Australians are still unaware that 15 000 Indians fought alongside the ANZACs at Gallipoli and almost 1400 Indians died there. The Indian voice has remained quiet for Download Our App

years as many of these soldiers were semi or non-literate and did not bequeath the treasure trove of memorabilia such as poems and diary entries, which formed the cornerstone of European war memory.

Recently, the British Library released 1000 pages recounting the first-hand accounts of Indian veterans from the war, painting a picture of racial segregation, valour, and the awakening hunger for civil rights which fueled India’s impetus for independence from British rule. Despite this, the Indian war experience continues to remain a history of fragments as traces of evidence are truncated, censored, or scattered across the globe. There is no sole or panoptic Indian war experience – rather, it must be modulated to the idiosyncrasies of caste, region, theatre of battle etc.

Being an Army brat, whose father has fought in a few battles, I understood how millions of families in India were irretrievably affected by the war and yearned closure for their loved ones. I sought to discover how I could help unify the missing fragments and illuminate the war experiences of Indian soldiers, even if it were for only one person. That is why, when a friend of mine who is a sixthMAY I 2021

generation Armed forces personnel mentioned to me his desire of finding the grave of his Great Grandfather who had fought in WWl, I jumped at the task. After scouring through satellite images, old archives, and memoirs for 6 months, I eventually found the memorial site of his Grandfather in Aden, Yemen and enabled my friend to remember and continue his forefather’s legacy.

Having been enjoined to remember this war, we sometimes struggle to know how to respond. This is because we cannot remember something we never personally experienced.

If we visit Gallipoli, our eyes are often drawn to the immaculate cemeteries and war memories, not the battlefields. Perhaps, that is the reason why my heart swells with pride and vitality when I see the Indian ex-servicemen marching as part of the ANZAC day commemorative events every year in Australia. It is an enduring image of the ANZAC spirit, an acknowledgement of India’s comradeship and unwavering assurance that India’s war efforts will not be forgotten.

It is time we realize Gallipoli was our battle too.

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Community News | Sydney

Australia India Cenotaph Co - Anzac Day Service 2

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he Australia India Cenotaph Committee in association with Hornsby RSL Sub Branch, Baulkham Hills Cadet Unit, Hornsby RSL Pipe Band and Hornsby Shire conducted the ANZAC Day service at the ANZAC Jawan Cenotaph, Cherrybrook on the 18th of April

to commemorate the sacrifices made by the ANZAC of Indian origin during WW1.

The service was attended by more than 150 people.

The ANZAC Jawan Cenotaph was erected in 2018 to celebrate the Armistice Centenary

of the ANZAC; to recognize and commemorate the sacrifices of the ANZAC of Indian origin.

The service was started with the mounting of the guards and lowering of the flags followed by the prologue read by George Main, President, Hornsby RSL Sub-branch. The Prayer of Thanksgiving, Prayer for the Queen and Prayer for the Nation were presented respectively by Mrs Mala Mehta, President IABBV Hindi School, Parinita Tandon (AIC Committee Member) and Lara Flaksbard and Joe Prendergast, School Captain & Vice-Captain of Cherrybrook Technology High School.

The hymn (Abide with me) was sung by all in honour of the ANZACs. The ANZAC day messages were delivered at the service by Mr Bhagwat Chauhan, President Hindu Council NSW, Mr George Main, President Hornsby RSL Sub Branch, Col Virender Sahani (AIC Committee Member), Hon Matt Kean MP Minister for Energy & Environment representing the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, Premier of NSW, Hon Peter Primrose MLC, Shadow Cabinet Secretary representing the Hon Jodi McKay MP, Leader of the Opposition, Hon Philip Ruddock AO, Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council, Mr Ramanand Garge Director Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre representing Mr Manish Gupta Consul General of India, Sydney and the Principle Speaker Mr Julian Leeser MP Member for Berowra.

Mr Bhagwat Chauhan linked this memorial with the new generation Australians of the

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Community News | Sydney

ommittee 2021 Indian origin inspiring them to associate with the history of Australia in his address.

Mr George Main also remembered and paid tribute to the ANZACs of Indian origin for their contribution and valour in WW1.

Col Virender Sahani encouraged the young generation by citing examples from WW1 and the actions of children who witnessed the horrors of that era.

Hon Matt Kean, Member for Hornsby, remembered the sacrifices made by the ANZACs, who never made it back home, which included the Indian soldiers as well.

Hon Peter Primrose, MLC, spoke about the camaraderie and valour displayed by Indian soldiers, and the ‘ delay’ in its mention for almost a century.

Julian Leeser, Member for Berowra, talked about how the Victoria Cross was bestowed upon an Indian Soldier, who volunteered four times to go to the front, despite his terrible injuries.

Hon Philip Ruddock AO stated that ‘the sort of society we live in today would not have been possible if the ANZAC were not there to protect it. Australians and Indians fought together for those shared values.’

Mr Ramanand Garge also paid tribute to the supreme sacrifices of ANZACs where he talked about ceremonies that commemorate and preserve shared values - an occasion to

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draw inspiration from the valour of the Indian Soldiers.

Wreaths were laid by the Hornsby RSL Sub-branch, Ex-Servicemen, Hindu Council National & NSW Teams, AICC, Dignitaries, Community Organizations, Students and the general public.

Religious prayers for the Sikh, Christian, Islamic and Hindu faiths were offered by Harbir Bhatia - President of Turramurra Gurudwara -, Rev Michael Deal - Presbyterian Church -, Dr Aftab Noor - President of Ahmadiya Muslim Association Castle Hill - and Jagdish Trivedi Gujarati Samaj respectively.

The National Anthems of Australia and India were sung by the students of IABBV Hindi School, conducted by Mr Vinod Rajput. The Ode was read by Mr John Zeller, VP Hornsby RSL Sub-branch followed by a famous Hindi poem ‘ Longings of a Flower’ by famous poet Makhanlal Chaturvedi wonderfully recited by IABBV Hindi School student Aditya Paul.

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A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the ANZACs followed by the last post played by Kayur Gordham of Cherrybrook Technology High School and the raising of the National Flags. The Lament and Reveille were played by the piper from the Hornsby RSL Pipe Band and Kayur Gordham.

The service was covered by Mr Harmohan Walia (Desi Australia), Mrs Neena Badhwar (Indian Downunder) and Mr Rajesh (Indus Age). The vote of thanks was presented by Ashwani Jain, Secretary of Hindu Council NSW and coordinator of AIC Committee.

The service was concluded by sharing some delicious refreshments sponsored by Bakers Delight and Woolworth (Cherrybrook Village) with all the guests.

The Australia India Cenotaph Committee working team of Mrs Parinita Tandon, Mr Anand Manickam and Mr Birju Bhatt managed the service.

www.DesiAustralia.com

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Community News | Sydney

Together, We Rock

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By: Dr. Ravinder Kaur Bali

he common denominator is saree. Saree, a rectangular piece of cloth, six or nine yards long, woven, printed or embroidered, in cotton, silk, wool, synthetic yarn or combinations thereof, and draped in various versions and avatars by women in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. Also in Sydney, Australia, where, for the past four years or so, women clad in saree have been sashaying down the steps of the Sydney Opera House, gliding along the Circular Quay walk and

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gracing other venues. These are the Saree Enthusiasts, and they are united by their love of the saree. On the other hand, we have the Pink Sari Project, an NSW health initiative that was started in September 2014 with the aim of raising breast cancer awareness among women of South East Asian origin. More recently, Pink Sari Inc. proudly launched two new projects, namely ‘Beyond Pink’ and ‘Cervical Screening for Survival’ through a digital event on Friday January 29th, 2021 and funded by the Cancer Institute NSW. The Pink Sari ‘Cervical Screening for Survival’ project is a partnership between Pink Sari Inc., the Australian Indian Medical Graduates Association and the Australian Medical Aid Foundation and focuses on raising awareness amongst Indian and Sri Lankan women in Sydney about the importance of early detection of cervical cancer and the National Cervical Screening

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Program.

It was inevitable, therefore that Shantha Vishwanathan from Pink Sari and Poornima Menon from the Saree Enthusiasts would get together to organize a Pink Sari Cervical Screening information session on the afternoon of Sunday, 18th April at the Grevillea Room in the Wentworthville Community Centre. As expected, the Saree Enthusiasts turned up in hordes, with great enthusiasm, and yes, in pink sarees mostly. As they milled about, greeting, catching up and chatting in the registration foyer, the pink saried ladies made the most of their phone cameras, clicking heaps of pictures, and continuing to do so during and after the formal session.

The formal session was emceed by Mrs. Poornima Menon, and began with Shantha Vishwanathan with the formal Acknowledgement of Country and concluded her welcome with the hope that cancer might one day refer only to a sign of the Zodiac and exhorting the Saree Enthusiasts to carry the message to their families, friends and communities, and strengthen the promotion of the initiative already under way through Radio SBS, Desi Australia Magazine, and the social media. The program got under way with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp by Mrs. Chandrika Subramanyan, followed by an Invocation by Mrs. Rekha Shashikanth;

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Community News | Sydney

a melodious rendering of the poetry of Dr. D. R. Bendre, Jnanpith Awardee and great Kannada lyric poet of the 20th century. The information session began with Dr Rugmini Venkataraman (recipient of the Gargi Award, 2020 by the Hindu Council of Australia) and Viji from the Pink Sari team, using slides to explain the nature of cervical cancer, touching upon the older Pap Smear tests as simply a method of detection, as compared to the more recent cervical screening, which forestalls cervical cancer by looking at the causes of cell abnormality.

The slides were simple, easily understood, and accompanied by a discussion of different types of human papilloma virus (HPV), and the many strains of this virus that are found in nature, at least two of these being crucial as causative of cervical cellular

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change. Dr. Kiran Jassal, GP, was present to further explain and address the queries from the ladies. She also stressed that till date, no hereditary link had been found for cervical cancer as had been for breast cancer. Dr Jassal also elicited plenty of interesting questions on cervical screening, and implications for those who had undergone hysterectomy, all of which she answered with flair and with lots of humor. Also present were Sue Advani, a two times cancer survivor and Padmini Peris, a four times cancer survivor; both of them reiterated on the importance of regular testing and early detection.

Subscribing to the MC’s mantra of workand-play balance, we had a short fashion parade of saree enthusiasts representing a few states of India who had or were celebrating their New Year. They wished the audience

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in their regional language. It was indeed the time for ‘New Beginnings’. Yamini Hemnath, wore a colorful silk Uppada flaunting Telangana, Sneha Rao portrayed Karnataka in a gorgeous Kanjeevaram, and Surpreet Cheera happily wore a Phulkari stole around a saree to showcase Punjab. Likewise, Kala Tiruvilwamala sashayed onstage in her pink Kanchipuram representing Tamil Nadu, while Laxmi Jadhav danced up in a nauvari in the typical Marathi style. Padmini Peris represented Sri Lanka in the traditional Sinhalese style. She spoke about life and all the joy it brought her though she had lost few parts of her body to cancer. Even in its simplicity, this was a most moving first-person account, and most of the audience took this home with the gravitas and utmost respect it deserved. The parade was bookended by Ravinder and Poornima, both in two-piece sarees, Ravinder representing Assam in her golden muga mekhela sador, and Poornima in a striking two-piece Mundum veshti. Not only was the Parade a big hit, but the participants were surprised to receive giftbags at the conclusion of the session, something they were not expecting, having carried out the parade just to add some muchneeded fun and frolic to the proceedings.

The eventual and educative evening ended with masala chai and a box of tasty snacks, courtesy Aashwin Foods.

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Communtiy News | Sydney

Settlement Pathways for Women- By Lean In Inc

Lean In Inc is a not for profit organisation that was established in 2017 and is dedicated to supporting newly arrived migrants settle into Australia. The organisation is run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about Lean In Inc’s mission. Lean In Inc has held numerous workshops since its inception focussing on employability skills,knowledge of Australian culture as well as building connections and networks.

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L

ean In Inc’s latest workshop, Settlement Pathways for Women was held on the 13th of March 2021 at Parravilla Function Centre. The inspirational speaker for the event was Associate Professor Ruta Gupta. Dr Gupta spoke about her journey as a new migrant and the hurdles that she faced as she first established herself in Australia. Her presentation truly inspired the participants as she encouraged them with her story and those of her colleagues.

Mrs Sue Advani,one of the founding members of Lean In Inc, presented on Australian Workplace Culture which was very helpful for the participants and provided an insight into the Australian way of life. Khushboo Punjabi, a recruitment specialist from PersolKelly, presented on CV writing skills which provided very practical tools for the participants of the workshop. The presentation on the effective way to search for jobs was done by Heena Bawazir, a lead technical recruiter in Canva. Ankit Sharma, a senior recruiter at Atlassian delivered a highly useful and practical presentaMAY I 2021

tion on Interview Skills.

Apart from skills and tools to gain employment, the workshop also gave the participants support and advice on starting a business in Australia. Mr Deep Mitra a chartered accountant from DNACA presented on the set up required to start a business including setting up a company.

Mittu Gopalan from Freedman and Gopalan Solicitors informed the participants on the legal aspect of setting up a business.

Lean In Inc is very grateful for all the presenters who gave up their time to present at the workshop to provide pertinent information and skills and tips to the participants.The workshop was very well received by all who attended. The workshop was generously funded by Women NSW. Lean In Inc is holding its next workshop on the 15th of May 2021 at Parravilla Function Centre, Parramatta.

Information can be obtained on Lean In Inc’s facebook page or eventbrite.

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Community News | Sydney

Celebrations Day “Healthy, Hopeful and Vibrant is every woman’s birthright”

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Photo credit- Harmohan Walia

On May 6th Mothers Day was celebrated jointly by Community Migrant Resource Centre, United Church & Westmead Hospital at Parramatta Centenary Church, North Parramatta. Many mothers participated and received Pamper Hampers. The topic was “Healthy, Hopeful and Vibrant is every woman’s birthright” Happiness 101.

The event was also attended

by Councillor Sameer Pandey, Durga Owen-Labor for Seven Hills, Nimeesha Gupta and was hosted by Ms Aisha Amjad.

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27

Talent

Shining Stars Say Guts, Grit and a

Depinder Chibber, Jaskirat Dhingra, Anurag Sobti, are now television personalities and role mode By: Sheila Dhillon

Depinder Chibber, Jaskirat Dhingra, Anurag Sobti, and Ashish and Simran Gulati – household names we have all become familiar with in the last 12 months. We have seen them shine at their highs and our hearts have gone out to them in their lows.

So what does it take to be a participant on a show on Australian mainstream television? Desi Australia was fortunate to get up close and personal with all these stars from our own community to find out what made them participate, the challenges they faced, the lessons they learnt and their advice to anyone aspiring to do the same.

A common underlying factor was their passion to follow their dreams, to just go for it and not look back.

Depinder Chibber MasterChef Australia 2021 (Network 10) Q: What prompted you to sign up for the program?

A: I have been watching MasterChef Australia ever since it started airing on TV. I filled out my application around three times but finally mustered up some courage and confidence to submit it this time.

For me it was now or never.

take you far in a competition like this because it’s very easy to get disheartened.

Q: What have been the highlights?

A: The two major highlights were when I saw the judges for the first time and my very first cook in the kitchen, when I received the white apron. It was a dream come true moment.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges so far?

A: Every cook

Q: What were the feelings you went through when you applied?

A: The application process is quite long and it’s natural to feel anxious. When I applied it was really important to manage my own expectations because I didn’t want to be disappointed. So even though I was nervous, I had to give it my best shot and accept whatever the result may be.

Q: What qualities does it take to be on a show like this?

A: I feel the most important quality is to be able to handle feedback from the judges. It’s also crucial to be able to adapt to different situations or challenges presented, not everything will always go your way and you might not always get what you want. Having an open mind and a positive attitude will

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Talent

y it Takes a Smile

and Ashish & Simran Gulati els for our community is interesting and brings its own difficulties however I find mystery boxes quite challenging as we have limited ingredients and we are forced to think outside the box. Sometimes there are ingredients in the mystery box that we have never cooked with or seen before so you have to rely on your intuition.

Q: What would you say have been the biggest lessons you’ve learnt along the way?

A: One of the many lessons I learnt during my MasterChef journey is playing to your strengths. Secondly following the brief is crucial with every challenge as this can make or break the dish. Lastly cooking with a smile and a positive attitude will take you far in the competition.

Q: Do you feel proud of your participation

on the program?

A: Absolutely, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I could ever be a part of MasterChef Australia.

Q: Would you do it again?

A: Oh yes, over and over again! There is something about cooking in the MasterChef kitchen and I would want to experience it again and again, as many times as possible.

Q: What would be your message for others considering participation on shows like this?

A: If you are a strong cook and you are looking to follow your food dream, there will never be a good time so just go for it. For many years MasterChef Australia has been the best platform to showcase our cooking style. For me there is nothing higher than MasterChef Australia, it’s the benchmark of all cooking shows around the world. It’s rewarding but one needs to be prepared to work really hard!

You can follow Depinder’s progress on MasterChef Australia 2021 on Instagram @depinder_ and on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/depindermasterchefau

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Talent

twice about. Being a pandemic year and having the travel bug, The Amazing Race gave us a platform to challenge ourselves and a way of getting out of the house.

Jaskirat Dhingra and Anurag Sobti The Amazing Race Australia 2021 (Network 10) Q: What prompted you to sign up for the program?

A: Both of us met at a Sikh Youth Australia camp about ten years ago and clicked immediately because of our common love for sports and travelling. We are always up for doing anything that keeps us fit and pushing ourselves to do what most people would think

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Q: What were the feelings you went through when you applied?

A: The application process was dauting to say the least. There were video submissions and we had to answer questions about all facets of their lives. We had to assess who we are as a character and demonstrate how competitive we were from a race perspective using strategies and decisions. We could not believe it when we received an email saying we had gotten to the next stage considering there were over 30,000 applications and

only 14 teams selected. From there, the ball just kept rolling with medical, physical and psychological examinations. As strenuous as the initial 2-3 months process was, it was fun, and we knew we had nothing lose.

Q: What qualities does it take to be on a show like this?

A: Many people may be unsure about applying for a show like this because of their identity. Some of us lead our lives wondering if our appearance makes us stand out more. But our advice would be: Don’t hold back and don’t think twice – just do it! Colour or appearance should not matter. We hear such stories all the time, but it’s how you train your mind; and confidence is the key. If you are confident, it changes how people perceive you. We didn’t see ourselves as Sikhs on The Amazing Race; we saw ourselves as Australians on The Amazing Race who happen to be Sikhs.

Q: What have been the highlights?

A: Everyone we met on the journey was so supportive, open, and considerate to

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Talent

our needs. They were generally curious about us and always reaching out to see if we needed anything. Above all, the support from our friends and family really pushed us along and helped us keep our focus on the big picture.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges so far?

A: The biggest challenge was the clash with our work and commitments. We had to take two months off work and had not access to friends and family. We were uncertain how this would impact our careers as there was so much uncertainty during the pandemic. There even came a point where we contemplated withdrawing our application but our friends and family were instrumental in pushing us over the line. They did not want us to miss the opportunity and told us that people will forget easily about what you accomplished at work in two months but if you do this, you will live to tell your grandchildren about these two amazing months.

Q: What would you say have been the biggest lessons you’ve learnt along the way?

A: The biggest lesson we learnt is the importance of going through life with someone you can get along with. The teamwork and duality we had was paramount. There were mornings we would wake up and just want to be lazy and do nothing, but we encouraged each other through these mental battles.

Knowing how we both worked and our motivations helped us to move on, stay level-headed and work hard. Having the determination and willpower to give anything a shot was key.

Q: Do you feel proud of your participation on the program?

A: We received overwhelming support from our whole community and around the world. People somehow related to our story and our journey, and we were humbled by the impact our participation on the show had on people and their mindsets. Twelve months ago, there was no one who would have told us we were role models, but now parents say to us we’ve changed the perspective of their kids. No amount of money can describe

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that winning feeling.

Q: Would you do it again?

A: We would absolutely do it again. We pushed ourselves, laughed throughout the day, had a positive impact on those around us and most importantly we met some amazing people.

Q: What would be your message for others considering participation on shows like this?

A: If you want to do something, go for it. You don’t need to be the fittest person. If you think you can do something, the only thing stopping you is yourself.

Learn more about Jaskirat on Instagram @jas_jd and Anurag @ beardedsingh

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Talent

Simran and Ashish Gulati Plate of Origin 2020 (Channel 7) Q: What prompted you to sign up for the program?

A: Cooking is something we have always been passionate about and enjoy. We have been cooking together for over 14 years now and although we have grown up overseas since we were both 10 years old, India is our home. We share a passion for spice and flavour and wanted to share our heritage and our dishes with Australia, so we thought we should go for it. There is also a misperception that Indian food is difficult to make and unhealthy since it’s carb-loaded. We wanted to break this mindset and kept experimenting how we could make healthier versions which suited today’s lifestyles without sacrificing the flavours. We also wanted to win the hearts of younger people who might think Indian cuisine is hard to prepare; and convince them otherwise.

Q: What were the feelings you went through when you applied?

A: There was a rigorous application process to get selected for the show given there are so many excellent Indian cooks in Australia. We competed with some of the best and we had to prove that we were willing to challenge ourselves and demonstrate new possibilities with our cooking. Upon selection, we were ecstatic and couldn’t wait to share our food and our personalities on a national stage. We also felt proud as the first Indian husband and wife duo to hit the airwaves.

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Q: What qualities does it take to be on a show like this?

A: It takes a level of mental toughness, a never give up attitude and of course being a good cook to be on a show like Plate of Origin. It was a challenging time as COVID had just started and our kids were being home-schooled. Being away from them was exceptionally difficult; but we wanted to do our community and our country proud.

Thankfully we had each other and had to keep reminding ourselves that the short-term pain was for a long-term gain. Our biggest motivation were the kids. Seeing their sparkling eyes on national TV was priceless and having those moments was important to keep us going.

an Australian icon) in a flavour of our own heritage. We came up with Samosa Pie and incidentally won that round. We received a lot of support for this recipe and that is now our business. We are currently selling Samosa and Butter Chicken Pies across Sydney at markets and events, and plan on expanding to metro cities across Australia later this year.

Q: What have been the highlights?

A: In one of the episodes, we were challenged to come up with a pie (which is

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Talent

One of the best things about our Samosa Pie is that it’s cooked with premium healthy ingredients and is baked instead of deep frying which makes it 100% wholesome. Another highlight was working as a couple. There is a stigma about Indian men in the kitchen which we think we have helped to break on this programme based on the feedback we received. Working with a great set of judges and learning so much from them was also a fantastic part of this journey.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges so far?

A: The biggest challenge was time. On the show, the clock is real, and the clock does not stop. Those who are familiar with Indian food know that there are things which we cannot speed-up; but throughout the show we had to find creative methods to expedite the process.

For example, we had to cook chicken biryani in 45mins which would normally take hours – and that was a challenge in itself; but we did it! Everything that was presented had to be made from scratch; there was nothing from a box and you could not fool the judges who were acutely aware of the flavours of Indian food. We had to stay authentic and true to our heritage throughout.

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Q: What would you say have been the biggest lessons you’ve learnt along the way?

A: The biggest lesson has been to be resilient and strong. You have to look deep into yourself and ask yourself what you want. There will always be sceptics along the way who have a set perception on the limitations of being a mum with kids; but you just have to follow your heart and not look back.

Q: Do you feel proud of your participation on the program?

A: We were so very proud to be representing dishes from our motherland. We felt a sense of pride each time we saw the Indian flag and had tears in our eyes. This pushed us to do our best – with no regrets.

Q: Would you do it again?

A: Yes, yes, yes. We would do it again and definitely together. We have been each other’s backbone through the whole journey and continue to be.

A: We know it is super, super, super hard to put yourself out there, but just do it and do it with pride and passion. It can be anything – cooking, sports, or music – but the most important thing is to be ready to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, put everything on the line and do it with a bang!

Q: What would be your message for others considering participation on shows like this?

A: If you want to do something, go for it.

You don’t need to be the fittest person. If you think you can do something, the only thing stopping you is yourself.

Find out more about Ashish and Simran’s journey on Instagram @plateteamindia and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ plateteamindia/. And to try MyTeamIndia’s famous pies, visit https://www.myteamindia. com.au

Q: What would be your message for others considering participation on shows like this?

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Communtiy News | Sydney

Sangam Supe Open Its D

Sangam Supermarket has officially opened at Unit 1-4 2072 NSW 2174 • Your one stop shop for all grocery needs and at the very be • Fresh sweets and hot foods including samosas, vege puffs, • Fresh Meat, Fruits and Vegetables available everyday • Large variety of Indian, Nepalese, Fiji and other subconti

Stay tuned as Sangam’s Restaurant and Beauty Ser

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Community News | Sydney

ermarket Door

2 Camden Valley Way Edmondson Park

est prices. , momos & more

inental products.

rvices are coming soon.

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35

Mag Corner

COVID Tsunami

Photo Source:- theatlantic.com

P

By Poonam Naik eople dying at an alarming rate, hospitals running out of beds, supplies of oxygen and other medication running short is the reality of India today. We piece together the shortcomings that led to this acute crisis of COVID19 in India.

The answer to this crisis is a collective failure of the central government, state government, opposition parties, covid task force, and pubic as well.

It is now well understood that the central government in India has failed to anticipate the fast approaching second wave. During this impending crisis, no red flags were raised to alert people at large. Infact, the central government made it look like as the worst was behind them. The centre failed to implement lessons from the first wave of COVID crisis. While the fabulous job in vaccination program was underway, 64 million Download Our App

doses were exported to 84 countries in need. But what the central failed to do here was to prempt vaccine shortage for its own population. And this is where, central government has received a lot of criticisms for not following vaccine universalization and to prioritise our population first.

And the most important failure was to anticipate dangers of mutant strains found in India.

The State governments have failed miserably as well. After the worst covid 19 of 2020, the entire health care systems are maxed out. The state governments did not step up and strengthen health care facilities. They fail to anticipate shortage of oxygen supply. Infact, they went a step further by choosing to dismantle covid facilities from the first wave. State governments failed to create plasma banks. They instead indulged in playing vaccine politics. Some states were giving vaccines for free. While others were busy blaming the central government for their failure. They should have raised the flags around health care infrastructure and asked for help in much advance.

Political parties collectively added to the mess.

Instead of encouraging people to get vaccine, every opposition party mainly sparked vaccine hesitancy among the minds of people. People were scared to get the vaccine because of fears MAY I 2021

about the credibility of the vaccine offered in India. And furthermore, to make it worse, several political parties carried out massive campaign rallies across 5 poll bound states in India.

The Scientific Covid task force too failed in genome sequencing of the mutant variants. There was no actionable pre-emptive advice to the government. The seriousness and urgency to act was clearly lacking and there were no contingency plans to articulate to the government on what to do and what not to do.

Finally, the accountability came to the people of India where they failed despite several alerts to ensure social distancing and not to be part of gatherings and always wear a face mask. Indians everywhere let their guards down even in such times of high infectious rates. Some part of the population even deemed covid 19 as a hoax.

Despite vaccination starting in January, there was scattered discipline on taking the vaccine offered.

Ultimately the lockdown fatigue forced people to violate covid protocols in places leading to cascading effects. Today India is witnessing unimaginable crisis in history.

We have lost several lives and counting.

And, if we want to stop here, we need to show collective responsibility. www.DesiAustralia.com

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Health

Vimla Rao with Healing Hands

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By Poonam Naik ains, Aches, Stresses, Traumas, Tensions, Constant sickness, Depression, Anxiety, Injuries – Let healing hands help you get back to your optimum happy and balanced self.

to the organs and systems of the Body as well as treating clients with such issues.

In 2005 she completed her Diploma of Bowen Therapy and started on her new journey of helping clients with various physical and emotional ailments. She pursued this career further and by 2010 she trained herself as an international instructor of Bowen Therapy, teaching in Australia, Fiji, India, and Pakistan.

Bowen Therapy is a gentle and noninvasive form of body work that can heal the entire body at all levels. The therapist does a gentle subtle move over muscles and connective tissues which sends messages deep into the body, retrieving cellular memory of a preferred, relaxed, balanced way of wellbeing. There are frequent but very essential pauses throughout the session that allows the body time to respond and begin the healing process. Bowen technique does not use forceful manipulation. Bowen therapy is considered gentle for newborn babies to pregnant women to the frail and the elderly. Bowen Therapy works for back pain and sciatica, digestive and bowel problems including IBS, migraines, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Women health issues like infertility, menstrual and hormonal irregularities are also successfully treated. Bowen is gentle to cure colic babies, frequent bed wetting for young kids.

While on the path of healing, Vimla realized that there was a subtle aspect beyond the physical and emotional. Her search led her, where she mastered clinical as well as spiritual Hypnotherapy. Vimla also learnt talking

Hypnotherapy is so successful because it uses the powerful resources of the subconscious mind to change our behaviour and our feelings. With hypnosis, you have a fantastic opportunity to enter into a dialogue with your

Vimla Rao from Ambient Health has over the years provided healing touch to many of her clients in relax and repair mode through her alternative therapies like Bowen Therapy and Hypnotherapy. She had been employed at various universities as a physics technical officer until 2003. Her thirst for working in the health industry led her to a role of Home Care Worker. During this time, she built an amazing rapport with the elderly, sick and disabled clients. Her passion led her to the Bowen Therapy world.

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MAY I 2021

subconscious mind and achieve your goals.

Hypnotherapy helps with behavioral issues, addiction, weight loss, to quit smoking, eating disorder, anxiety and stress and phobias.

Jyoti Dixit is another healing hands fairy.

She has a corporate career behind her. But her passion is curing and healing others. Jyoti mentions maybe it was my destiny, I got curious about the therapy, experimented it and was amazed by the results. It is such a gentle therapy with solution of any aches and pains in our body.

Deborah is another of healing hands fairy.

She had worked entirely within an office environment until she decided to follow her dream of helping people through Bowen Therapy.

Having been the recipient of Bowen Therapy treatments since her early 20’s, she understood the physical and emotional benefits this modality offers.

Vimla’s message to mankind is “Help yourself live a vibrant life and contribute to a loving, peaceful and happy ambience in your surroundings, hence living a joyful life with your loved ones”.

Check in your aches and pains at https:// ambienthealth.com.au and let the healing hands check out your stresses.

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Entertainment

Friends World StudioReady to Shoot On 24th April, Sydney’s very own multitalented Varun Tiwari and Kamaldeep Kaur launched The State of the Art Studio. This Sydney based studio is the perfect location for your next video shoot may it be movie, song or advertisement. From lush green backyard to sauna, bar and entertainment area, the studio will cater to the different requirements of the script.

Varun can be contacted on 0433002350 for all your shooting, editing and animation needs.

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Talent

“The Girl from Mumbai”

by Melissa Monterio “The Girl from Mumbai” was launched across Australia by Hon. Alex Hawk MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs last week. In the presence of Federal member for Parramatta Julie Owens MP, Thevan Krishna, State member for Baulkham Hills & NSW Police Minister David Elliott, Mayor Michelle Byrne, Councillor Reena Jethi and CEO’s of all Settlement agencies in the country. It is an incredibly inspiring migrant story of purpose, people and passion. Outlining an inspiring journey of resilience, drive and the perseverance it takes to build and work across diverse communities. It highlights Melissa’s work in the community sector over the last three decades in India & Australia.

The book is all about this Girl from Mumbai, why it needed to be written, explains Melissa Monterio Who is this Girl? Over the years this is something so many people have asked me. Where do you come from and why do you do what you do? Who inspired you and Why? Last year in September I completed 20 years in my job here at the MRC. Like every migrant seeking a better life I came to this land of Milk and honey with my husband and our son.

around us. New challenges for the social work profession throughout the world, the changes to my own Settlement. The love of family, support of extended family and my journey through the Not for Profits I was involved in.

I have highlighted the impact and influence of people around me over the last 40 years and highlight the people, the issues and organisations that shaped my thinking as a growing girl.

I was moved by poverty when I was as little as 8, by inequality, social injustice, issues like Dowry, attitudes to adoption, street children, breakdown in family andrelationships, chasing the Australian dream. From exposure to the world of prostitution as a field placement during my masters, to street children and not for profits here in Australia I am shaped by you and I give thanks for every opportunity I have had. From getting lost in the Narmada valley and awaking in the middle of the night to realise I was sleeping under 7 bats, yes, bats to a prison experience for getting caught in an uncoordinated aid imitative to now helping settle hundreds of families

The Book is about my own journey in community and the people that helped shape me.

Nothing is by chance or accident but purpose and plan.

During my Masters one of the things that Dr D’lima taught me was something that has stayed with me all these years. It was the importance of ‘To Have or To Be, by Eric Fromm. It meant so much to me then and this is something I have carried all my life. Eric Fromm is a psychoanalyst that wrote a book to Have or to Be in 1976. He talks about the difference between ‘Having and Being’. The realities of material abundance, having more, consumption, possessions and unlimited happiness versus unlimited happiness in what is good for man and what he needs only. He says that we have deviated and moved away from our actual path. The materialistic nature of people of ‘Having’ has been more developed rather than us trying to ‘Be’. This resonated with me and Dr Lima gave me the best path helped me understand these early in my life.

Today as I look around, I can see there is so much of greed and want and yet no inward peace and satisfaction. The more I interact with people I see the emptiness in many. The reason is because they have chosen to fill themselves with want and more and more material things. I firmly believe that in order to live a fuller life it is important to Be rather than to have.

I was determined to have a balance of what I need rather than on greed and wanting more. To me ‘Being’ became more important at an early age. I was always interested in fulfilling my calling. Being available to people, going out of my way and making a difference to someone’s life. To this day I get great satisfaction in reaching out and helping people.

The Girl from Mumbai is about this 12-year-old who wanted to help people. And help she did.

But along the way there were people that shaped and moulded her into someone with an undying passion for service. A calling that seeks to inspire you about my past that shaped my future. It is about the motivation, the loves, the people, the reason, the season, the challenges, the calling, the purpose, passion and why?

Of course, it describes the two worlds I lived in Mumbai and my life here in Australia.

How I met every settlement outcome and why? My faith and the reason .

I have spent many hours on understanding the changes in our world Download Our App

in a new country is the Girl from Mumbai.

But that’s not all.

MAY I 2021

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40

Talent

Stories that touch your heart By: Poornima Menon

I

have always enjoyed writing, but I am an accidental writer. I write for pleasure and I generally write about my experiences, my observations of life or anything that captures my attention.

Creative writing has never been my forte and I appreciate the immense thought process that is involved in writing a piece of poetry or a story. While most pieces of short poetry are seen as a sudden burst of emotions and powerful feelings, storytelling is a completely different ball game.

While poetry does not need characters or a plot and generally has no boundaries, as everything is open to interpretation, short stories need a plot, characters and a certain perspective. Creating a character and then navigating the growth of that character as the story line progresses, while continuing to hold the attention of the reader is no mean task. A short story also has to be succinct and get to the denouement or the climax without giving too much away.

My friend, Anu Shivaram is a very talented writer, and she definitely is not an accidental one. She recently released her first book of short stories, “Silver Lining” and I was fortunate enough to get a copy.

Anus’s writing style is minimalistic, and she has the distinctive talent of narrating stories in the most simplistic way. Her stories prioritise brevity and there aren’t any grandiose use of metaphors, descriptions or other figurative language. The stories relate to real people living real lives in a real world. She handles each character with utmost dexterity and compassion as they come alive in the pages of her book.

There is an odd familiarity that her characters propagate and as a reader you get this feeling that you have met these characters somewhere along your journey of life.

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I feel I may have met a few ‘Tara’s in my lifetime. Her struggle and her journey, her victory and her destination are personal and heart wrenching. The ‘Award’ she receives is priceless in more ways than one. ‘Compatibility’ is such a complex word, and I don’t think we understand its meaning too well. Anu has touched upon this in a very heart-warming way. We do not realise how unwillingly discriminatory we can be in our thoughts and assumptions. There is an element of ‘Uma’ in all of us. Belonging and ‘Identity’ are an integral part of our existence. We would be lost without it. Each of us have our own belief about our identity, which is very personal and often outside the realm of logical understanding. Anu treats this idea with great finesse through her character, Khem. ‘The Tree’ is one of the stories that touched me the most. We underestimate our silent, yet deep rooted and spiritual connection with Nature. How often does this happen to us – we recognise the value of something when we are close to losing it or have lost it.

The Corona virus has touched and changed our lives in more ways than we can imagine. ‘The Viral Wedding’ captures this essence beautifully as priorities shift and change.

Teachers leave an indelible mark on the MAY I 2021

lives of most students they teach, more so the vulnerable ones. It goes without saying that they can make or break lives.

The words of your teacher, especially when in primary school is nothing short of gospel truth. ‘The Debt’ is one such story – who is indebted to whom? The teacher to the pupil or the pupil to the teacher?

‘The Reunion’ with friends from one’s school and college days while exciting, comes with loads of anxious moments and unchartered feelings. Though mature and worldly wise, we often surprise ourselves with some of the teenage angst we may continue to harbour even in our adulthood.

This story by Anu’s has a very dewy-eyed ending ……in a nice way though.

I am a massive dog lover and have often wondered what it would be like if my pet could talk to me or if I could read her thoughts. ‘Friend’ is the story of a Maltese terrier and his journey, his thoughts and his feelings. It is often said we need to walk in someone’s shoes to know more about the person and the person’s behaviour. Taking a parent overseas as a babysitter and caretaker is not a foreign concept, but how many of us think about what she/he may be going through.

‘Decision’ is one such story, touching and brave. Many tales of friendship and animosity between Indians and Pakistanis have been told before. ‘The Invisible Line’ is one such story with a difference.

Incidents along the border touch lives of families on either side of the border.

‘Profession’ and ‘The Trip’ are both stories of self-discovery and both very different.

Well, you will now have to get your hands on a copy of the “Silver Lining’ to know more about and enjoy each of these beautifully written stories. www.DesiAustralia.com

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Talent

Baba Nanak Peer Wali resides inside me

G

uru Nanak Dev Ji is not associated with any one religion. In Sikhism, he is given the status of ‘Guru’. In Islam, he is called ‘Peer/Wali’. Whatever the religion, people who sincerely believe in Guru Nanak Dev Ji, they believe in him as their mentor; as their companion. They feel that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is always with them and helps them travel on his path of spirituality, hard-work, unity, equality and humility.

Saaz Nawaz (Record Label) has released a Punjabi song dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The title of the song is ANG-SANG (Present with / Omnipresent). The main lyrics of the song translated in English are “Baba Nanak Peer Wali resides inside me”. Just by listening to the lyrics of the song, a wave of holiness and calmness begins to engulf your body and soul. Hassrat has sung this song with great enthusiasm and perfection. The voice of Hassrat seems to be made to convey the message of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It also seems that there can be no more suitable voice for the lyrics of the song. The writer of this song is Sydney based Lyricist, Mani Manjot.

He has once again proven that he is a talented song-writer and his lyrics are meaningful that have a strong literary touch to them. Hassrat and Navneet Jaura have produced the music of this song. The music is powerful and soothing with the Rabab and Sarangi being the main instruments on display. As the Video Director, Harjinder Johal has portrayed a beautiful story on screen through which he has flawlessly illustrated Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message. The story would not have been complete without splendid acting performances by Aman Bajwa, Jaskaran Singh, Hassrat, Nazam Preet Kaur and Saavi.

The story of the song starts from the arrival of a girl in Australia. The song shows the different kind of difficulties she has to face by migrating to a foreign country. She gets a chance to fast-forward her life by being dishonest but she decides to follow the path of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and thus gradually but Download Our App

surely reaches success. She is satisfied that she did not choose to deviate from the path of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. As she senses that her daughter has upheld the same values, she remembers her own childhood. She recalls how she gave bread to a ‘Fakir’ (Monk / Hermit) and in return the ‘Fakir’ gave her blessings and an ‘Ek-Onkar’ (God is One) Locket, which she always kept with her. The locket has been with her through the good and bad times and has always reminded her of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his philosophy. The song ends with her giving the locket to her daughter.

Released on the auspicious occasion of MAY I 2021

Vaisakhi, this song sends a very good message to the society. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings hold out hope for us all. We should follow his path to achieve unity, harmony, peace and success and should carry his message across generations. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s true philosophy/ideology has not been portrayed in this form before. This uniqueness needs the support and cooperation of the public so that a vision can be created for the betterment of the society. Hopefully in the future we will get to see/hear more of such spiritual songs.

– By YOGESH VERMA (Punjabi Front) www.DesiAustralia.com

43

Technology

plans available that are 20Mbps, 50Mbps and 100Mbps.

By: Sarang Vengurlekar

C

OVID-19 has become an unprecedented modern global emergency, with an ever-rising number of countries taking extraordinary measures to respond to the virus. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many organisations have moved towards remote working.

This presents new challenges. There are many factors that come into perspective from technology perspective.

Most of us working from home have many challenges specially if you are still on the old ADSL 2+ Internet connections as you will now be sharing your internet bandwidth with other\ members in your home. Your spouse as well as kids will be working and studying from home which will mean the connection will be slow since it will be shared between all the devices. In this scenario make sure you have a backup connection such as a 4G backup router or a smart phone which can be used as a secondary means.

It would simply be a matter of switching on the hotspot from your smartphone to connect to work system. It would also be advisable to use an NBN connection if you currently have it available in your area. There are few

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A household of 4 should opt in for a 50Mbps as that would provide the correct amount of speed when everyone has to work or study from home. New technology such as a 5G connection available from Optus/ Telstra may also be useful as it provides faster speeds than NBN Connection. It also provides sufficient amount of data to utilise for your work purposes.

Software and services such as Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, WebEx can be very useful as a communications channel. Most of the time I have personally be us-

ing Skype or Zoom to conduct meetings with work colleagues as well as external vendors.

Make sure you sign up with these services they are free up to certain extent. Some links given below if you like to sign up.

This article aims to provide the essential resources required for anyone working from home or for businesses providing services for their employees. These are the basics for staying safe during these difficult times and to ensure you and your assets are protected to provide a comfortable working from home experience. If you have any feedback then please do not forget to provide feedback on sarang@ vengurlekar.com

Communication Software:

You will also need to ensure you have sufficient protection for all your computers at home such as a security software which has a virus protection as well as a software firewall. It would also be a good idea to have a VPN connection to the outside world, so your systems are not prone to hacking. Due to COVID-19 there has been an outburst of various malwares as well as a lot of Cyber Criminal activity.

Three Stage - Securing your Environment Data Protection Connect using a VPN account Digital Identity Ensure your accounts have Multifactor Authentication Cyber Defence Monitoring software such as Norton Security, McAfee,

Kaspersky, Trend Micro to name a few

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Technology

VPN Software:

Cyber Defence Software:

If you are a business, these points are even more important as you are more vulnerable to\ attack as many of your employees would be working from home hence a greater exposure. All businesses will need to ensure proper delivery of all the services such as VPN, Remote Authentication, Firewall, Endpoint Management, Organisation applications etc.

Corporate Resources & Software:

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Recipe

Y

ou must have seen/heard your Muslim friends around you fasting this past month. And you know what’s coming next...Eid, or as it is officially known, Eid-al-Fitr. This day marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is a very important time in Islam and allows families, loved ones and communities to come together and celebrate following a month of abstinence and dedication to Allah.

During Eid al-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, dates will again be an unmissable part of feasts across the globe, in its natural form, or as part of innumerable dishes. we are adding our own easy to make, but with a twist recipe:Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates with Walnuts Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cream cheese stuffed dates feature walnuts, or your choice of nuts, and maybe a perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup this year.

You will need: 4Pitted dates of your choice 4 Few nuts of your choice (I have used walnuts here) 4Cream cheese 4Mint sprigs for garnish 4 Open up the pitted dates, and fill them with cream cheese of your choice.

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4 Press a walnut half into the cheese-filled dates.

4 Garnish with mint sprigs 4 Repeat this with as many as you wish to serve.

Eid Is never Complete without Haleem .... Haleem is a type of stew popular in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent.This dish is slow cooked for seven to eight hours and then vigorously stirred or beaten with a pestle-like stirring stick. This results in a paste-like consistency, blending the flavors of spices, meat, barley and wheat Popular variations include keşkek in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and northern Iraq; hareesa in the Arab world and Armenia; halim in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India; khichra in Pakistan and India. While we thought a lot of you would have explored it at your nearest Popular restaurants selling it during these months, heres a simple recipe for you to try at home... It’s a very simple recipe close to our hearts and has a story too...

The moment you step into a Pakistani Restaurant, the aroma of freshly prepared Chicken Karahi brings people from all religions together on the table.

Chicken Karahi is one of those dishes from

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Recipe

Pakistan which has many variants across the country but the use of Julienned Ginger and half slit green chillies is unanimous.

In our version of the Karahi, we have cooked the dish directly on the Wood flame:(traditionally known as Chulha) to bring that charred and smoky aroma into the karahi.

Ingredients for Garam Masala: 44-5 Cloves 41 stick Cinnamon 42 tbsp Coriander seeds 44-5 Green Cardamom 41 Black Cardamom 41 Star Anise 41 tbsp Cumin Seeds Ingredients and Method: 44 Medium Sized Onions - Sliced 4 2 Medium Sized Tomatoes - Chopped 41 kg Chicken cut into curry pieces 42-3 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste 41 tbsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder 44-5 Dried Red Chillies 41/2 tsp Turmeric 43 tbsp Julienned Ginger 49-10 Half slit Green chillies 4Salt to taste

Add the rest of the ingredients and garam masala.

Cover the chicken with a lid, reduce the flame and cook for at least 20 mins.

Once excess water is dried out from the chicken, bhuna (sauté) the mixture on high heat until the mixture leaves the oil on top.

Add some water just enough for the curry consistency and garnish with julienned ginger and green chillies.

Squeeze some lime juice and coriander at the end.

Hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we did while cooking it...

May this special day bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone. Eid Mubarak!

- Watdoumeal Team.

In a wok, heat desi ghee or mustard oil as per your choice and add Chicken once hot.

Add onions and ginger garlic paste and sauté it until the onions turn golden brown.

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