Desi today english april 2016 web

Vol. 7 | Issue 2 | Apr-May 2016

Mainstream Media Takeover:

SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN MAKING REIGNS

Global News Morning Co-Host

Sonia Deol

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A Significant Moment For The Punjabi Language In Canada AKSHAY WADHWA: Vancouver Fashion Week’s Biggest Hit TOP 10: Highest Paying Master’s Degrees

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MAINSTREEM MEDIA TAKEOVER:

Features 8 Global News Morning Co-Host: Sonia Deol 16 Mainstream Media Takeover: South Asian Women Making Reigns 22 A Significant Moment For The Punjabi Language In Canada 26 Why I became Vegetarian 28 “Drinks On Me!” A Take On Alcohol Consumption 30 5 Ways To Improve Your Life Right Now! 32 Kids Play & Surrey’s Second Annual Anti Racism Forum 36 Seven Most Famous Canadian Prisoners Who Escaped From Jail 38 My Seva Story With Khalsa Aid 42 Making The Dentist Fun For Your Kids

Love & Relationship 44 46 48 50

What Women Say Vs. What They Actually Mean Show me your phone Joti’s Advise Column What Divorce Taught Me About Relationships

Health & Wellness 52 10 Habits To Lose weight Without Dieting 54 Colour of your urine can indicate how healthy one is 56 How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes 57 I Don’t Need Sunscreen, I’m Indian!

SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN MAKING REIGNS

60 Apple Turns 40: A Look Into The History Of The Reigning Company 61 Top 10 Highest Paying Master’s Degrees 64 Auto Review

Beauty & Entertainment 66 Being public face makes a difference Neha Dhupia 66 Don’t want to be Munnabhai or Khalnayak but Sanjay Dutt 67 Priyanka Chopra promises action, deception in ‘Quantico’ 68 Anushka took wrestling training for ‘Sultan’ 68 Romancing on screen toughest: Yo Yo Honey Singh 68 Sonakshi wants equal pay for women in all professions 69 I was unwanted child of my family 70 Upcoming Bollywood & Hollywood Movies

Life & Etc. 72 74 76 78 78 82

Fashion & Business 58 Vancouver Fashion Week’s Biggest Hit: Akshay Wadhwa

Around Town Are You Unhappy? I Might Know Why Donald Trump and BJP hawks: Birds of a feather?

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Publishers Sanjeev Katyal Rakesh Gupta Editor Parveen Sohal

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Writers Parveen Sohal Amrita Lit Sadhu Binning Dhiraj Khatri Joti (Navjeet) Bajwa Dominic Cheung Kiran Rai Layout & Graphic Design Mohammed Ahmed

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As we celebrate Vaisakhi: the birth of Khalsa, we also celebrate the birth of another amazing magazine! Our Spring issue brings you the most newsworthy lifestyle stories—some even told by members of the news industry! Global BC’s morning show co-host, Sonia Deol, graces our cover with her elegance and stature. We delved into the secrets behind-the-scenes at Global, looked into some stories about

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FEATURE

THE INTERVIEW

By Parveen Sohal

S

he is the Christiane Amanpour of our community; the Oprah Winfrey we look to for breaking barriers and revealing the important stories of our time. Her name is Sonia Deol.

Sonia began in the industry in a time where virtually no other South Asian man or woman was making reigns in the contemporary news industry. Originally from the UK, Sonia was just 14-years-old when she did a radio show for the acclaimed BBC network. Since then, she has At 14-years-old you did a radio show for the BBC and said you knew right away that this is the industry you wanted to pursue. What made you so sure at such a young age?

Ever since I can remember, I was addicted to radio and tv, and knew very quickly I wanted to be a part of that. At night, I would lay in bed with a mini radio under the covers and listen to different stations when I was supposed to be asleep. I was hooked. From about 8 years old, I started recording my own talk shows into a basic tape recorder at home, forcing my parents to be the ‘audience’. They obliged.

I was always very curious about what made people tick, why they had the opinions they had and would ask a lot of questions, and then there was The Oprah Winfrey Show. It was on TV as soon as I came home from school and I remember feeling totally connected and thinking “that’s what I want to do.” It felt like the most natural career for me to have. It wasn’t thought out. It was instinctive.

You are known for your straightforward way of covering news, have you received any backlash for this? How do you respond?

I’m direct because I believe my job is to ask the important questions the audience want answers to. It’s my job to hold people in key positions accountable and ask questions which some may find tough to ask. It’s what the audience expects, it’s what I’m there for.

What fuelled your choice to move to Canada to work for Global BC? Love! (laughs) Well it’s one of those stories where things happen when you’re not looking! I was very happy with my life in the UK, enjoying a great time at the BBC with my career and enjoying my family. It was a crazy conversation with one of my best friends, Sukhi where he kept telling me he wanted to introduce me to his cousin saying “you two would really hit it off ”. I didn’t take any of it seriously especially when he told me Harry, his cousin, lived in Vancouver. But Sukhi was convinced we were the perfect match and Harry started 8

APR / MAY 2016 News With A DESI View

gone on to work for various other prestigious networks, won numerous awards and has received the highest acclaim for her work in the news industry.

We sat down with Sonia to talk about her taking on the role as the new co-host for Global BC’s regional morning show alongside popular host, Steve Darling.

With her latest position at Global BC, she brings along with her over 17 years of experience in the industry. She has covered some of the most important international events of our time such as the 9/11 a acks in New York, the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions by the UK and US and a look back at the partition of India in 1947, just to name a few.

If you’re wondering which prominent Indian actors Sonia has interviewed, it might be easier to ask which ones she hasn’t interviewed! Sonia has spent lots of time with with stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rekha, Aamir Khan, Gurdas Maan, Rahat Ali Fateh Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Jagjit Singh and so many more. The list is endless!

Sonia Deol serves as a true inspiration to our community: her charismatic a itude and unapologetic reporting style has made her name synonymous with good quality news reporting. She is the reporter everyone wants to hear speak: she asks the questions we have on our minds during interviews and she provides the answers we eagerly await during news coverage.

Find out why Sonia le the UK to come to Canada to continue her career, how she felt covering the infamous 9/11 a acks right a er they happened, her side to the controversial BBC documentary on the 1984 a acks and much more. Get the inside scoop about the woman who wakes up every day at 2am to bring all of us the latest news stories for our mornings!

DESI TODAY EXCLUSIVE

s w e N l a Glob t s o H o C g n i n r o M

www.desitoday.ca

l o e D a i n o S

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News With A DESI View

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FEATURE

The Global BC Team is eager to start their day! Sonia sits proudly with Weather Reporter Yvonne Schalle, Traffic Reporter Kaitlyn Herbst and her charming Co-Host Steve Darling calling me.

The odd conversation on the phone here and there became longer and longer as did our phone bills. We decided we had to meet in person, so Harry flew to the UK and we both knew this was it. Within 6 months, on my second trip to Vancouver, Harry went down on one knee on a blustery, cold dark evening at English Bay, proposed and I said yes.

My parents and sisters were both stunned and happy for us. I told my bosses at the BBC I’d be leaving to start a new life in Canada. They were speechless! I then had to share the news with the audience. The reaction made me feel very emotional. I was inundated with emails and calls from people saying they were happy but so sad that I was leaving them. That’s how I felt deep down, happy at finding my soulmate yet sad at leaving my family, friends and audience who were the centre of my universe.

In less than a year, my life changed beyond anything I could have imagined. I had been introduced to Harry, fallen in love, got married, le the UK to live in Vancouver and then to top it off fell pregnant the next month. It was eventful to say the least!

Being a working South Asian woman, how do you handle the 10

APR / MAY 2016 News With A DESI View

Armed with ideas, our Morning News Team gather at the station for a production meeting and we talk about what people need to know this morning, where we will send our reporters and how best to tell these stories. Then it’s off to make up, and we’re ready to wake you up from 5am till 9 am. stereotype to “just be a mother� or “just be a wife?�

I feel extremely blessed to have parents who always encouraged me and my sisters to get an education and always drilled into us the importance of going out and making something of ourselves. We were never put into a stereotypical box or told as women our only role was to stay at home. It was the complete opposite. We were taught to be independent and strong.

We are 3 girls, no brothers, so my dad especially made a point of making us feel we could go out there and achieve anything. To him having a hard work ethic, ge ing a good education and becoming something was

far more important than the cultural pressure to marry us off. One of the things I love about my husband too is he shares that progressive thinking. It’s important as we have a daughter too.

I feel very strongly that all parents should encourage their girls to go and get an education and be something. It’s important to be able to stand on your own two feet and be an equal. If you want to stay home, it’s ok if it’s your choice but it should never be forced. I chose to stay at home when I had my daughter for the first couple of years and it was a truly valuable experience. But what I don’t think is ok is when girls in our community are not given the choice of further education and told they should be ge ing www.desitoday.ca

married and just be homemakers.

That is outdated, unfair and has to change. My parents always told me there are lots of things people can take away from you but the one thing they can’t is your education. I thank them for that every day.

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With your schedule, how do you balance your work, family and social life?

It’s a tough balance sometimes. I have a very supportive husband and family who make it easier. My daughter is still asleep when I leave for work in the early hours but the great thing is I get to spend time with her in the afternoons or evenings. We still enjoy a decent social life at weekends but sometimes when you wake up at the hour I do, all I want to do is hang out in my pyjamas all day Sunday!

How would you describe the dynamic between yourself and co-host Steve Darling?

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I wake up at 2 am and start getting familiar with all the big news stories that have developed overnight. I need to know what’s going on locally across our province, nationally and internationally. Armed with ideas, our Morning News Team gather at the station for a production meeting and we talk about what people need to know this morning, where we will send our reporters and how best to tell these stories. Then it’s off to make up, and we’re ready to wake you up from 5am till 9 am.

One big misconception about my job that a lot of people (including my mother once upon a time!) have is that news anchors simply sit and read a teleprompter.

Not true. If you did that your career would be very short lived. We have to be across all stories all of the time, however big or small.

We never really switch off. We are always watching or reading the news and constantly thinking of how we can move a story forward for our viewers and what else they may need to know.

We are forever looking for new stories and fresh ideas to bring to our shows. We have to become experts on a wide range of issues and always cramming more knowledge into our brains! Being a news anchor is much more than sitting at a desk and looking good!

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What does a typical day look like for you at Global BC?

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FEATURE ting to know each other more and more with every show and are developing a really great rhythm. We both really love what we do and care about the audience. We also have great energy which is so important that early in the day as we are waking people up! We have lots in common like both being parents, Steve has 2 young children and I have one.

Yet we often have very different opinions on the same subject which I love as that reflects the different perspectives in our audience.

He is lovely to work with and I love the girls too: our meteorologist Yvonne Schalle and traffic reporter Kaitlyn Herbst. I’m very lucky to work with such a great on air team!

Can you describe your experience covering the 9/11 attacks in New York?

I was hosting a BBC News show broadcasting from London when the attacks happened. When the first plane hit the Twin Towers in New York we all thought it may have been a horrible accident. When the second one hit we knew this was far more serious. I was on air for—I don’t know how long. My show was extended to provide full coverage and I was told to just keep going.

I was literally jumping from one interview to the next, crossing to New York for eye witness accounts, speaking with terrorism and aviation experts and keeping our audience informed of a news story that had very little detail but lots of questions. It’s a time that none of us will ever forget. That coverage of course continued for a long time after. I have done countless news shows on terrorism and the aftermath of 9/11 since then. It was definitely one of the most defining moments of my career.

Who is a prominent figure you would like to interview?

To be completely honest, I don’t really have a wish list of famous people. I’ve enjoyed interviewing celebrities and big names over the years but was never really star struck so can’t really think of a specific name. I like anyone with an interesting or inspiring story to tell and being able to get them to open up about something they haven’t in any other interview.

If I did have to choose one person, however, it would be the Queen. She has seen so much in her lifetime, from early childhood to being made Queen at a very early age. She is probably the most famous working mother I can think of, so would be great to ask her about her work/life balance, and guilt she’s 12

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

felt over the years especially when she had to go on those long overseas trips!

I’d also love to delve into how she felt dealing with her children getting divorced when the image of the Royal Family was so important to her, and how’s she’s dealt with all the scandal that was not in her control.

To be able to have a no holds barred, frank and personal interview with the Queen would be pretty amazing.

There was some controversy surrounding the documentary you took part in about the 1984 attacks on The Golden Temple, especially about the portrayal of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Do you have any comments about that?

I feel that some people assumed that because I was fronting the documentary that it was all my viewpoint. That simply was NOT the case. People need to understand I have never actually shared my view because as a BBC journalist I can’t. There are very strict editorial guidelines in place at the BBC where we as journalists have to be impartial. I was approached by the BBC to front this documentary, travelled with a producer/director and film crew to India and interviewed all the voices that the production team set up in advance.

My interviews of all those voices was thorough and rigorous. What I can tell you is not everything made it to the final edit because of how long the documentary was.

Some viewers asked me why I didn’t ask General Brar about attacks on other temples at the same time, for example. The answer is I did. But not all questions and answers were included simply because of the duration of the documentary. An editorial team higher up was making those decisions.

Looking back I think it was great that the BBC produced this documentary because it started a much bigger debate on a very important event of our time, but one hour is simply not long enough to tell a story that is so complicated both politically and religiously. It was simplified for a mainstream audience. It is important to point out though, the majority of comments the documentary received, well over 90%, were positive.

What is something about yourself that our readers may be surprised to know?

I don’t drink coffee and never have! (laughs) People are really surprised that I wake up at www.desitoday.ca

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ARE YOU IN

DEBT? WE CAN HELP...

2am and I still don’t drink it. Canadians are coffee lovers but I haven’t been converted yet. I do love a good cup of tea though. English Breakfast of course.

What has been your proudest or most memorable story to cover?

The most memorable would have to be a story I covered on the Partition of 1947. I interviewed people who were a part of the biggest human exodus we have ever seen.

India’s partition was decided by a man who had never even been to India. He was simply looking at a map and drew a line down it to indicate where India should be split to create Pakistan. I still cannot believe that’s how it happened. Capturing very emotional stories from those that lived through this huge chapter in Indian history , was an incredibly important and moving experience for me.

What advice do you have for our readers, especially young women, who want to pursue a career in the media industry?

There is no such word as “can’t.” Never let anyone discourage you. If you are passionate about news and issues, have good communication skills, are prepared to work hard and genuinely care about people and their stories, you can be successful.

When I first started, there were no strong South Asian female role models for me to point to as an example of what I wanted to do. My dad was very supportive of me getting an education and being a professional, but he didn’t see working in the media as a proper career. He told me to enjoy it as a hobby and become a dentist or a lawyer.

I stuck to my dreams and followed my passion and now he is my biggest supporter!

I have had to work extremely hard but it’s been a truly rewarding journey. So if you want to do it, believe in yourself, believe in your success, always stay humble and remember, there is no such word as can’t! www.desitoday.ca

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FEATURE

MAINSTREAM MEDIA TAKEOVER:

Compiled by Parveen Sohal

SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN MAKING REIGNS The once white-male dominated media industry has seen some drastic changes in the past decade or so. Specifically, a sea of strong Indian skin along with these friendly and fierce women’s faces.

The most important part of their success: they are not looked at as “Indian news anchors” or “women news anchors.” Instead, the first title that comes to mind when speaking about these individuals include “award winning reporter” “top newscaster in BC.” They are looked at for their hard work and determination. We present eleven success stories that has nothing to do with their ethnicity or their gender.

These women are the ones who are making the older generation proud and also making the younger generation feel inspired to make a name for themselves.

Who are these women? What struggles did they face? What behind-the-scenes secrets do they have to share about the industry? Read to find out!

Sonia Sunger It’s difficult to say when I actually started because I started to prepare for a future in the industry when I was 14. At that age I knew that I wanted to be a journalist and did everything I could to gain experience.

I day-shadowed at CHEK 6 when I was 15 and hosted a lunch-hour radio show in high school. I got my real foot in the door halfway through the Journalism Program at Concordia University in Montreal. I was going to be in Edmonton that summer and got in touch with the news director at CTV Edmonton. I convinced him to let me shadow reporters for two weeks and after those two weeks were up, I just kept coming back. It

Neetu Garcha I had thought of becoming a pilot, perhaps a nurse, or a teacher but it wasn’t until I entered a local pageant when I was in high school that I discovered my passion.

I was crowned Miss Penticton in 2008 and for the year that I held that title, I was given a lot of opportunities to hone my public speaking skills. My impromptu question on pageant night was ‘if you could add any course to your current school curriculum what course would you add and why?’

My response was the question was that I would add a course dedicated to current events because while we learn a lot about topics like history, science, physical education and chemistry in school, I didn’t think 16

APR / MAY 2016

News With A Desi View

turned into an internship and soon I was hired as a writer. That writing position set me on my path, and within 6 months I filed my first on-air report.

I am so happy to be part of such a large and talented group of South Asian women in broadcast journalism. Growing up, there weren’t many faces like mine on television, but I saw that as an opportunity instead of a barrier. The fact that I am joined by so many other South Asian women in the industry is proof that they too felt the same.

While I am extremely proud to be South Asian I think of myself as being Canadian first believe my success has been based on merit, not my ethnicity.

To anyone that wants a career in the industry: expect to work hard, diversify your skills and be patient. The industry is extremely competitive and you will be up against some pretty talented people for a handful of jobs in the country. There may be times you face rejection and I believe your success will be determined by the way you deal with that rejection. Will it push you to achieve more and improve, or will it make you bitter?

there was enough emphasis on what was currently happening around the world and even locally.

It was that year that I realized I wanted to speak to audiences, while making a positive difference in the community for a living (and just how much of a news and current affairs nerd I was). I thought broadcast journalism would be the best combination of those passions.

The Indo-Canadian community is also so supportive of their own. I’ve been so humbled to meet people who come up to me and tell me they’re so proud to see a Punjabi girl reporting the news in the Okanagan.

As for being a woman in this industry: I think it is more of an asset than it ever has been before. However, it does come with its www.desitoday.ca

Journalism and started working on the CFOX promotions team. I made new demo tapes weekly and sent them all over the world and one day, the Program Director (Bob Mills) at CFOX called me and said that they had an opening for a traffic reporter on the Larry and Willy Morning Show. I grew up listening to them and it was really a dream come true.

One of the coolest perks of my job at CFOX was getting the opportunity to fly down to LA for interviews. Jim Carrey was so down to earth and awesome! I had the pleasure of interviewing Bradley Cooper, Kate Beckinsale, Ray Liotta, Heather Graham, Ed Helms and Seth Rogan to name a few.

We have also had the pleasure of meeting lots of fun rockstars, too. Just this past

summer U2 stopped by the CFOX studio and Bono was the absolute sweetest to my 5 year daughter.

Growing up I never really saw South Asian women on mainstream TV. I remember the first time that I saw Monica Deol on Much Music. That was a huge moment for me. It really showed me that my dream was a possibility, there was hope!

Now we are so lucky to see it more and more every day. There is always more work to be done but the fact that Mindy Kaling writes and stars on her own Network Television show reinforces our growing role in the industry.

I have a total passion for what I do, I love radio and television and I believe that you should follow your dreams so that your job doesn’t feel like “work.”

Anita Bath Karen Khunkhun My mom would tell a story about when I was in Kindergarten and playing at the park, a TV news team came by to chat about Thanksgiving, she said I grabbed the mic and talked all about my favourites things about the holiday, it ran on the 6 o’clock news that night and I remember them being so proud.

I always had an immense love for radio, I used to tape shows and re-enact them. Even though I was terrified, I went for it and I am so glad I did!

After that, I went to BCIT for Broadcast

challenges. For example, there have been several instances where I’m out on a shoot reporting and someone will yell out the unfortunately popular yet very derogatory term “FHRITP”! One time, I even confronted the man who yelled this to me and he wasn’t apologetic at all, he thought it was completely okay to say that to me.

I love seeing strong, independent women in media, leading the charge when it comes to informing audiences and taking on important topics. I’m happy to see how far society has come when it comes to diversifying work forces in this industry and inclusion for women overall; however, just like with many important issues, there’s still a lot of work to be done. www.desitoday.ca

I began reporting for a local TV show when I was in high school and through that, I fell in love with telling people’s stories. I volunteered and did whatever it took to get my foot in the door before attending school for broadcast communications.

I love the fast paced nature of radio and the challenges that presents. My job is different every day – covering crime, politics, health, education, business…everything really. Winning a Jack Webster Fellowship, a BCAB award and an RTNDA award for my coverage of the 2014 Science World/ Yaletown shooting were huge accomplishments for me last year.

I believe I got to where I am through the work ethic my parents instilled in me at a young age. When others said I wouldn’t make it in the industry, they were always my biggest supporters. Focus, drive and a willingness to learn have kept me going. No matter how good you are, or how successful you are, you can always learn.

I learn from those who are more experienced, those who are on my level and those who are just starting out.

News is cut throat and stressful. You’re always working to tight deadlines and some days you’re covering a story, braving whatever the weather has in store for you, outside for hours, soaking wet and trying not to drink water because there is no bathroom nearby.

If you can handle it, journalism can be extremely gratifying. The excitement of

going live from the scene moments after something has happened is so thrilling, and it’s rewarding to be able to give people the stories that matter.

Relationships are key to success in this industry, so if journalism is what you want, be aware of every connection you make.

South Asian women have come far in this industry and I’m really proud of that.

We all need to support each other and continue to help each other become more successful.

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

17

FEATURE

Sonia Beeksma I have always been a performer as far as I can remember. I was born in New Delhi and I spent most of my late teen years dancing professionally and doing commercials.

Around the time I met my to-be husband and wanted to get married but my parents said, “Hold on you got to get something under the belt first.” I always wanted to get into the medical field, I completed the Medical Lab technician program, I got married at 21 and worked as a Lab technician, but I always kept the performing bit of me alive. Four years into my lab career, I knew there was more for me and I had to follow my dreams and with my husband’s support I ended up going back to school for broadcasting and I have never looked back.

A lot of hard work to get to where I am.

Robin Gill My parents secretly were horrified because there isn’t a lot of money in this industry.

They would subtly say “maybe you should think about law school.”

But they’ve also always said to their kids that we should do what we want and its really up to us to create our own happiness.

I know that my parents are very proud of me. Whenever my mother is out and about and there’s a TV screen around, she’ll tell the establishment to change the channel to Global because her daughter works there.

My aunt will tell everyone and anyone what I do for a living. I often think they should be part of our marketing team at the office 18

APR / MAY 2016

News With A Desi View

In my second year of Broadcasting school I landed a great internship opportunity with Etalk in Toronto. For the first time I got an opportunity to grow as an individual, as I was on my own away from my husband and family. The entire experience forced me to learn things about myself and get comfortable in my own skin. I started with entertainment writing, and soon I got hired as a reporter for Warner Brothers and met many artists, actors and performers. Eventually I started missing my husband who was still here and made the choice to come back to Vancouver.

After coming home I got connected to Global and landed an internship position really quick. Like most serious interns, I hustled and made sure I was noticed for my abilities, and I was. I had my daughter around this time, Sushma Ji from RJ 1200 connected with me, she had an opening for a part time news reporter and talk show host. I quickly moved on to CKNW, where I continued to report news and traffic. BC 1 24hr news station had launched around this time; I walked into Ian Haysom’s office (News Director at the time) and asked for an on screen test. That’s when my journey with Global BC started.

(smirk).

I paid my dues working in smaller markets before making the leap to the largest market and then eventually this job.

I wasn’t always patient and it took a long time. But I was very focused on what I wanted to do and it has paid off.

People will often say we have glamorous lives. It couldn’t be further from the truth.

I am constantly

Simi Sara When I first started having an Indian person on TV was fairly unusual, there weren’t very many. Now, though, it is fantastic to see so many people of South Asian descent in the business. It means that the media is really reflecting our communities and where we live.

Back in 1993 I graduated from the twoyear Journalism program at Langara and did a student practicum at a TV station called UTV (now Citytv). I had done some reporting for The Surrey Leader newspaper but really loved television news. I did everything from writing for the news to reporting and producing and eventually anchoring. I was there for fifteen years, until 2008, and then was able to move into radio. CKNW had always been legendary in my home, I grew up hearing it and I am honoured every day to be working there.

under the daily pressure of a deadline and it’s stressful. My favourite story to share is when I had to cover the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan in 2011.

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My mother passed away in a car accident when I was still a teenager but she has always been my inspiration and I’ve always hoped that she would be proud of me. My dad has always been very supportive and I think it’s because I get my love of news from him. I remember going on vacation to places like Los Angeles as a kid and the first thing my dad always did in a new place was buy a newspaper and read it cover to cover, no matter where we were. That stuck with me.

Even when I think I know what’s going on in the world, my dad still knows more than me.

There were no hotels that would take me and my colleague because of the damage. It was the middle of the night and it was cold.

Our logistics producer back in Toronto was able to get in touch with a woman who owed a pub in the area that we were covering. She let us sleep on the floor of the pub. Hardly cosmopolitan. But so grateful that she was able to help us.

I’ve had a cross-country career. My first on-air job was in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. I had to report, anchor, produce newscasts, shoot and edit my stories. I paid my dues working in smaller markets before making the leap to the largest market and then eventually this job. It took a long time but I was very focused on what I wanted to do and it has paid off. www.desitoday.ca

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19

FEATURE

Nira Arora There were times when people expected me not to say certain things on the radio because I am south Asian- perhaps they believed it wasn’t appropriate- but I’m a broadcaster and I do my job as one. I’m not an ‘Indian Broadcaster’ - I’m a ‘Broadcaster’ who is Indian. I don’t think other professions change the way they do their job based on their nationality, I was confused when

people in our community expected me to behave differently because of my nationality.

My parents thought this was a crazy career choice at first-they didn’t understand what I was thinking or what I was doing. I worked for free for years and they couldn’t understand why I would do that after getting a university degree. I was supposed to be a lawyer, yeah that path swerved in a completely different direction! -But they are super proud now and support all the decisions I make.

One of the most amazing parts of my job is being able to be real and just be myself on the show- it is such an amazing feeling- yes there are regrets of things that may come out of my mouth- but hey- by the time I think about it- it’s too late- it’s already out there on the radio airwaves.

I think it’s amazing that so many South Asians are in the industry! I love the fact that our voice is heard and that we are here to represent our community and being able to this in mainstream media is a huge achievement!

To anyone wanting to be in the industry: you need to have a thick skin. You can’t give up if you really want it and make you have the drive and the passion- that’s how you make it.

Simone Grewal Being the PNE reporter for CBC was amazing, who wouldn’t want to spend 17 days of summer at the fair? Interviewing musical artists at Z and bollywood stars when I worked at RJ1200 like Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, and Akshay Kumar were pretty incredible to.

When I started out it felt like there was only a handful of us. Now it’s so nice to see more and more south asian women contributing to radio, tv and print media. I was at BCIT enrolled in the Broadcast program, and saw a posting to work at Z95.3, I applied and ended up working on the street team.

I was at Z from 2000 - 2005 working in promotions and on-air, then an opportunity presented itself to go into Television so I left.

I finally came back in 2010 and have been here since.

My parents were extremely supportive.

They knew the industry can be cutthroat so at first they did encourage me to try something a little easier, and suggested I be a school teacher. Which would have been an excellent choice, but something about broadcasting just pulled me in.

If I had to give any advice I would say: be open, try it all. You may not start with your 20

APR / MAY 2016

News With A Desi View

dream job, and you may make some sacrifices along the way, but if you truly want to succeed, you have to be open.

I feel that the reason I have been employed in this industry for 16 years is because I never say no to trying different things. I started in promotions, then ended up doing traffic reporting, then live broadcasts, to hosting, writing and producing on television, and now even overseeing the social media for Z953 and working as a digital content producer.

Sonia Sidhu I remember one time when I was working on the radio in Kelowna. I was so excited because I had been offered the job to be a fillin weather girl on the local TV station. I had turned to a co-worker and told her the news.

Her reaction was unexpected. She told me the ONLY reason I got the job, was because I

was Indian and they had to fill their “visible minority” quota. I was shocked. I took a deep breath and decided at that exact moment, I was going to be the BEST fill-in weather person they had ever seen and I would prove her wrong. Guess what...I worked as their weather person for seven years.

It took a lot of sacrifice to get here. After taking the two year radio program at BCIT, I packed up my bags to do a morning show in Castlegar, BC. I had never heard of the place and it was terrifying. Keep in mind this is before smart phones and a GPS. I didn’t know where I was going or what to expect. At 22 years old I was moving out of my parents house. I had no idea what I was doing but I knew this was going to be the start of something exciting.

I remember one Saturday night in Kelowna. I was on my way to dinner with some friends when all of a sudden, I looked up at the mountains and it was burning.

Wow! The flames lit up the sky and even though the fire was on the other end of the town, my car was covered in ashes. I rushed into the radio station to join the rest of the staff and we went LIVE. I remember broadcasting non stop on our News / Talk station about the fires, the evacuations, stories and being up all night reporting. I’m pretty sure I was there from 7pm to 8am the next day, only to quickly take a two hour nap and go back on the air. People were glued to their radios listening for updates and it was at that moment I remembered why I do this. I want to be the person who can help others, provide comfort and be a source of information. I try to do that every single day. www.desitoday.ca

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FEATURE

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There is much that needs to be done for the preservation and development of the Punjabi language in Canada. Right now is a crucial time for the Punjabi community to work towards creating a brighter future for our language in Canada.

Canada is recognized as an exemplary multicultural country. All cultures are equally accepted and respected here. However, the biggest drawback of Canadian multicultural structure is the lack of recognition of other languages. It is a known fact that no culture can survive without its language.

Yet, at the federal level, only two languages are recognized as official languages of Canada: English and French.

As any country is at any given time, Canada is a project in the making. Once upon a time, the French language faced a tough battle in attaining its due recognition in Canada. Moreover, until recently, very little attention was paid to the aboriginal languages and they too are struggling to stay alive.

During the mid-twentieth century, other European languages such as Ukrainian and Italian were unsuccessful in their efforts to win their place as Canadian languages. In fact, Canada became a multicultural country in response to their demands but it did not become a multi-lingual country. Over time, the number of speakers for these languages declined and now they are no longer in a position to make such demands.

At this moment the coincidental position of Punjabi in Canada is such that the Punjabi community can make an effort to advocate some reasonable changes to Canada’s language policy. This will be a step in the right direction not only for the Punjabi language but for other minority languages as well. This is a historical moment for Punjabi language but it will not remain so for long.

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HERE ARE sOME FACTs:

1

Punjabi has been spoken in Canada since 1897. However, until the early

www.desitoday.ca

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

23

FEATURE tion to Punjabi language differs from the Muslim and Hindu Punjabis. For example, almost every Gurdwara makes a special effort to teach Punjabi language to the younger generation. This is not the case with local Hindu temples or mosques where Punjabis form the majority of the membership.

There is a vibrant community of Punjabi writers in each city. These creative individuals have published hundreds of titles in various genres during the last thirty years. A prestigious annual award for the best work of fiction in Punjabi has been established in Vancouver to recognize the vibrant literary community in the world.

It is important to mention briefly that the need of the time is to have a language policy that reflects the present demographics of the country. Undoubtedly, that is a tall order and may be a lengthy process. The second suggestion could be that a formula should be created that recognizes languages according to their population and length of existence in Canada.

The present position of Punjabi will not last forever. The current Punjabi political representation could change, as can laws and policies; therefore, it is not given that immigration of Punjabis will keep on increasing. The next generations of Punjabis will not have the same relationship with Punjabi. The businesses that are at this time supporting Punjabi media will eventually start to sell their products by using mainstream media, this in turn, will directly impact the progression of Punjabi media. Although no one can predict what will happen in the future, the important thing to think about is what can be done with the current opportunities that can have a positive impact on the future of the Punjabi language.

As Canadians, we are very proud of the fact that ours is a fair and just society. This was created by fair minded people from a society that forced Komagata Maru out of Burrard Inlet a hundred years ago. There is no doubt that some people may have lost their privileged position in society but by treating all citizens equally Canada has become a better place for all to live. similarly, if other languages are given some recognition this would certainly make Canada a much richer and inclusive place for all.

We should recognize the fact that politicians do not and cannot take on issues like these on their own. The responsibility lies with the Punjabi community who need to express their desire to see their mother tongue flourish in Canada. The time to act is now. www.desitoday.ca

6

years of the 1980s, the Punjabi community and its language existed completely on the margins of mainstream society. Due to an increase in numbers and positive changes in Canadian society, the position of the Punjabi community has improved greatly but as far as language is concerned it is still on the margin. In the 2011 census Punjabi became the third largest spoken language in Canada following English and French.

In last year’s federal election more than twenty people from the Punjabi community were elected as part of Justin Trudeau’s liberal government. As a result Punjabi has coincidentally become the third most represented language in the present parliament, and a number of key federal ministries have been given to members from Punjabi community. However, these facts on their own will not have any effect on the situation of the Punjabi language.

2

Currently, a majority of the people within the Punjabi community are from the immigrant generation and they are using the language not only in their daily personal communication but also in their work places, businesses and in the media.

The first Canadian born generation is also learning and using the language especially in large centres like Vancouver and Toronto.

It is important to recognize this situation now because it will likely not be the case twenty years into the future.

3

The development in the Punjabi media during the last three to four decades is simply mind-boggling. In every Canadian city with a sizable Punjabi community such as Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and a few other places, there are dozens of Punjabi newspapers. A

4

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APR / MAY 2016

News With A Desi View

number of glossy magazines, which are comparable to mainstream English magazines, are also published regularly. They include the Punjabi Gurmukhi script to advertise jewellery, clothing and other commercial items. These publications are a great achievement for the Punjabi language, not only on a national level but internationally as well.

In some ways, even more remarkable than the print media is the use of Punjabi in radio and television. In each city there are a number of local radio stations that are owned by Punjabis themselves and offer 24 hours Punjabi programs. some cities also have local daily television shows while numerous programs are aired across the nation on saturdays.

5

The sikhs are a majority in the Punjabi community of Canada. Their rela-

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APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

25

FEATURE

“Because Of The Child Inside Of Me”

if you would later be able to eat that animal.

- RAJ

“I remember being 5 years old and asking if the chicken I eat for dinner is in fact “chicken.” To my dismay, that’s when I first learned that I ate animals. I was horrified.

How could the chickens I saw playing during our kindergarten field trip to the farm be the same thing thats laying dead on my plate? How could the ducks that I fed be put into an oven to cook for dinner? Every bone in my body told me it was wrong. And that was that. It’s so fascinating to me how children see the world in such a different view, they have this innocence and pure sense about issues such as eating meat.

I have asked young numerous young children if they would ever eat an animal and I have yet to meet one that said yes. ’But they need to take care of their animal babies,’ ‘but they’re my friends,’ ‘but I would never hurt an animal by eating it,’ are some of the responses I have gotten. It’s barbaric to me that we would consume something that was once a living breathing part of our world. To say it simply, I don’t eat meat because the child inside of me says “it’s wrong.” I can’t help but listen to that youthful voice in my head.

- sONIA

“Because I only Thought It Was Okay Because Everyone Else Did”

“Because I Would Never Eat A Dog” “I just never understood why it is okay to eat chicken, beef or turkey but everyone thinks it’s so wrong to eat a dog.

What’s the difference to you? They have eyes. They have noses. They all have a heart, a brain and a life of their own. It just shows that deep down people believe that eating an animal could be wrong. People will say eating a dog is disgusting, gross and completely immoral and that’s what I think of eating any animal. If you can agree that eating a dog is “disgusting” there has to be some part of you that can understand that it’s wrong to eat any living creature.

The reasoning some people give is that a dog or a cat can be kept as a pet which is why you could never eat them. I challenge those people to live on a farm and spend quality time with one chicken, turkey or duck for at least a week and then ask them if they would be able to eat that same animal they met for dinner. Do the challenge: spend time with an animal and decide for yourself 26

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

I was in my sociology class and the professor talked about how often people tend to do things just because the vast majority does it, not because they want to do it themselves. More importantly, people don’t realize that they are doing things they otherwise would never do.

I realized if the whole world was vegetarian I would simply go along with it and be vegetarian too. I can imagine a world where the thought of eating animals would be disgusting and I would think that as well. That’s when I realized how easily influenced I can be by the world around me.

WhY i StoPPed eAting MeAt Compiled by Parveen sohal

We watched a documentary and how a small society of people who were cannibals thought cannibalism was okay just because everyone around them was doing it and they’ve simply grown up seeing everyone do it. In a similar way, I grew up around people eating meat and I saw “good” people eating meat so I didn’t think me doing it as well made me a bad person. When I listened to the cannibals speak I couldn’t help but think “why wouldn’t you make a decision for yourself?” Why wouldn’t you ever sit down and ask your self “am I doing this because I think it’s okay or because everyone else thinks its

okay?”

That’s when I began to ask that question to myself. When I asked it my answer was simple: I don’t think eating meat is right. so I stopped listening to everyone around me and started thinking for myself. It was the best decision I could have ever made.

- sanjana

“Because I Eat With My Arms” Every time I would go to eat a chicken leg I would look at my own and just wonder: what’s the difference? When I would bite into a chicken leg and my teeth would hit the bone I would simply look at my own legs and arms and feel the bone and I couldn’t separate the two. The idea of eating something that has arms and legs gives me the same disgust that people feel when they think of people eating people. We’re all part of the animal kingdom, we all have living breathing bodies, what’s one arm versus another?

- RHEA

“Because of Grace” My name is Grace and I was raped. They kept me tied up in a room with virtually no space to move. When they had to move me from one location to another, they would put me in a truck with others like me, who had been through the same thing. These trucks had terrible conditions, travelling for such long periods of time without stopping, we were forced to stand in our own urine and feces, suffocating, with no way to escape. Fear engulfs us as we wait to see what is to come next.

Not long after I gave birth to my baby, he was snatched away from me. I tried so hard to save my little boy, but they beat me with a shovel till I collapsed on the cold hard concrete, crying helplessly. What had I done to deserve this? I scream as I hear my baby cry, he’s scared, why are they doing this? Why can’t they leave my poor boy alone? What did he do to deserve this, he had just stepped into this world, he needs his mother! With an almost effortless swoop, I watch as the man picks up my little baby and ruthlessly throws him to the concrete. A puddle of blood forms around him, I can’t bare to look into his empty eyes. But the men don’t stop there, with a rope tied to his little limbs, they drag his lifeless body out, leaving me with www.desitoday.ca

just the trails of his blood.

Why are we vegan you ask? Because Grace is a dairy cow, and there are many other cows like her who are treated horribly in the dairy industry. Not only that, the meat industry is just as horrifying! We strongly believe that no life needs to be taken in order for us to have food in our plates.

-KIRAN AND RAMAN

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Because I found Sikhi The more I go to the Gurudwara and truly think of the values I want to abide by, the more I cannot think about eating meat ever again. When I sit and mediate and decide what thoughts to fill my mind and what food to fill up my stomach and want to fill it with everything pure to me. I think back to the fundamental Gurmant “Do not cause suffering to any living beings” and the decision for me becomes easy. I want my inner and outer world to be pure so I cannot eat anything that once walked and breathed. It only feels right.

- sUKHWINDER www.desitoday.ca

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FEATURE

By Amrita lit

“Drinks On Me!”

A TAKE ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Do you remember when and where you had your first drink? How about your last?

Probably a few days ago or maybe even hours. It seems like alcohol consumption is now a integral part of many peoples regular lives. Going to a party? Well be sure to drink whilst getting ready, being transported to, during, and most likely after (if you end up having just enough that you don’t want the night to end when it does). I noticed amongst many of my peers that their social self was synonymous with their drunk self.

It was like there was no possible way they could have a good time and be sociable without having a drink or two - or three.

But just because something is in the ‘majority does it’ column where you live doesn’t mean it’s that way Everywhere. so whys it so hard to go against the grain and be different?

The point at which I even think this becomes a relevant issue is when someone can’t go a week without it. Or they can’t be in certain scenarios without it. It’s like their personality gets left at the door until they’ve had a few.

We learn in school about the various negative biological, social, and interpersonal effects of alcohol. However, usually it is outlined that there is only a real problem when one abuses the substance and has issues with limit control and determining appropriate times and places for consuming 28

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

alcohol. But, it seems like it’s becoming more and more acceptable for alcohol to become a part of ones weekly and sometimes daily life.

I really think this is the perfect example of the contradictory way people live their lives today. I have never understood how one can be a supposed “health freak” in every other aspect of his or her life but make the conscience decision to consume alcohol one or two out of every seven days.

It doesn’t make sense to place your organs under repeated stress each and every week for years on end - and yet consider yourself someone who takes care of their body. look back to what got you drinking - was it to unwind? Was it to have fun? Because everyone else around you did? The curiosity? The taste? And now you just need it in certain situations. How well do you handle socializing without it? Or even just having dinner at home without it? Have you ever stopped to question your drinking habits have you ever considered that perhaps you are a casual alcoholic?

There’s a whole new place in society for those of us who just can’t seem to get by without turning to alcohol. Regardless of what sent you there in the first place it seems like there must be some interpersonal or societal concept which requires repair if we as a cultural group are constantly turn-

ing to an external substance to feel better.

At what point did it become admirable to prove that you can “out drink” the next person. Why have we allowed marketing companies to convince us that drinking wine out of a tall stem glass is some how a sign of sophistication? Women now have it engrained in their minds that wine is their secret weapon and deserved treat for dealing with the ongoings of a typical female life. At what point do you admit the alcohol is now consuming you? What does it take for things to “get real.” Your significant other leaves you, your parents threaten to kick you out just one too many times, or maybe when you realize hey you’re too old to be behaving like this and your teetering into dangerous dead beat territory. Maybe it doesn’t even need to come to this maybe it’s the simple realization that alcohol is a part of your life more days in a month than not. Whatever it is - it’s time to wake up and smell the tequila.

Maybe it’s time to put down those glasses and pick up a habit or two which actually improve your life and relationships in some way or another. Help yourself to better yourself by changing what isn’t adding to your life. Give yourself the power back to just be you - substance free, and be okay with that.

Maybe once we can all accept ourselves as is we will become a lot better at accepting one another as well. www.desitoday.ca

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FEATURE

By Parveen Sohal

e if L r u o Y e v o r p m I Ways To

!

W O N T RIGH

change yours too, just find what works best for you. Run, walk, skip, hop, li weights or just shake your booty for half an hour a dayjust MOVE.

2

Before you turn the page, I promise you this isn’t a cliche post about the new year being here and this being all the ways you can reinvent yourself.

Instead, what I am aim to do here is share what has worked for me to not just improve my life but change it drastically.

1

GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND GET MOVING!

There are no words to explain how incorporating exercise into my daily life has improved my physical and mental health. We hear it time and time again but there’s a reason everyones always harping on about working out - its because it works. It really can change a horrible day to a be er one. It can change your outlook from being miserable and sullen to optimistic and cheerful.

It’s like a dose of happiness in the form of dedication, vigour, and sweat. So join some sort of fitness class - for me yoga has been a beckoning savour to my sanity.

Closing myself into that heated room and forge ing everything I did before class and everything I have to do a er class while pushing my mental and physical self to the absolute limit changed my life! I promise it’ll 30

APR / MAY 2016 News With A DESI View

KEEP A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT

I’m a person whose hands start moving before my mind does. If something is bothering me, there is something so gratifying about being able to sweep and push away physical remnants of junk in order to clear my mind of all the crap floating around and stressing me out. I love being able to sort, organize, and just CLEAN until I feel be er. It gives me a sense of control. That at least I can sort out some aspect of my life.

Plus, when you’re in a clean environment, your thoughts are clearer, your a itude is be er, and you are able to focus more on other important things rather than being suffocated by the surrounding mess.

3

PUT EFFORT INTO YOUR APPEARANCE

I’m a li le wishy washy on this one. As I sit here in my umpteenth messy bun of the day and my husband’s oversized t-shirt some may say I am full of it when I tell you to look good to feel good. But I honestly know for a fact that when you have combed clean hair, freshly applied lipstick, and a nice pair of jeans on - you just feel more put together, and more capable of handling the trials of your day. Looking in the mirror and liking what you see boosts your confidence, and a

By Amrita Lit

confident soul is a powerful one.

4

ZONE OUT THE BULLSH*T

5

SET GOALS, AND ACTUALLY REACH THEM

I know, I know, it’s easier said than done. But it is so essential to a healthy mindset to just not pay any a ention to things that drag you down. Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil is the best way to approach life sometimes. Anyone who is a nuisance or annoyance to you shouldn’t have so much power over your emotional well-being. Tell yourself they’re beneath you, and do not gratify them with creeping into the depths of your mind and emotional state.

Life is all about creating the best version of ourselves. Take each day as a chance to sharpen and define your vision of what you want out of YOUR life. Continually reassess what’s around you and how it makes you feel. If one too many things don’t sit right, create change. Set goals and strive to achieve them. Always be on a journey of growth!

Well there you have it folks! The secret to the perfect happy life - yeah, I know not really. But you can get pre y darn close if you apply at least some of what I have listed above.

What’s all your opinion on these five tips? Do you have some of your own you’d like to share, or do you think I am spot on with this? Feel free to leave a comment below sharing your thoughts! www.desitoday.ca

FEATURE

KIDS PLAY & SURREY’S SECOND ANNUAL ANTI RACISM FORUM

By Parveen Sohal

Kids should learn. Kids should play. Kids should have the opportunity to learn and play. The foundation “Kids Play” is determined to use its resources to provide children with exactly this. In recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Kids Play Youth Foundation, along with Asian Pulse and Langara College hosted held their Second Annual Anti Racism Forum on March 20. Over 300 youth signed up to be a part of the event.

Without doing anything except sign up to attend the event, each student at the

32

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

event had the opportunity to earn one of four $500 scholarships for any school of their choosing. The event also included speeches made by some of the most inspirational members of our community. Sargent Baltej Dhillon shared his story about the victory he achieved 26 years ago which led him to become Canada’s first turbaned Sikh police officer. He gained the right to serve and protect while wearing his turban. SFU professor, Sam Thiara, discussed ways of developing intercultural harmony.

Soleman Hashmi and Atish Ram shared their views and stories on the topic and later

answered questions regarding incorporation of awareness of discrimination in a classroom setting. Along wth the $2000 worth of scholarships, students also received with prizes from BC Cultural Bhangra Academy and Flex Fitness. More of these forums are in works to be brought to the community in the upcoming months.

Kids Play is a non-profit organization working toward keeping kids away from negative life style choices such as drugs, gangs and violence. One of the major ways Kids Play helps steer youth on a positive path is through encouraging them to par-

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ticipate in organized sports provided by Kids Play. The organization holds sports tournaments, conferences and other projects for youth. President Kids Play and law enforcement agent, Kal Dosanjh deems sports and education as “two sides of the same coin.”

He explains that the traits you acquire from playing sports (teamwork, leadership, dedication, hard work ethic, etc) transfer over to other areas in life. When youth are around other youth who are all trying to better themselves by practising these traits, they begin to internalize them and express these traits in all aspects of life including education. Kal also explains how youth often seek out avenues where they can “fit in” and create an identity with. By allowing them to do this through their sports team, they turn to their teammates and the sport of their choice to create an identity for themselves, rather than turning to other facets such as gangs in order to feel accepted. It is through this understanding that Kal Dosanjh and the entire Kids Play team stress the importance of allowing children to participate in sports in order to guide them on a more positive path in life.

“The rate of violent crime among young people has increased by 30%” Dosanjh states. The law enforcement officer continues by adding “There needs to be a balanced approach to dealing with young offenders. Some may need to be incarcerated, but many more need to be engaged in community programs that builds character, increases self-esteem and develop life skills. Social development programs that provide youth with positive peer interactions, opportunities to develop problem solving skills and a support adult help reduce the risk factors associated with youth crime.”

The Annual Anti Racism Forum is one of many initiatives Kids Play and other organizations are running to help encourage youth to make better choices with their future. It is such initiatives that are setting youth up to create positive and fulfilling lives for themselves. www.desitoday.ca

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APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

35

FEATURE

1

Famous, robber and drug smuggler, Lucien Rivard escaped a penitentiary in Montreal with the help of another inmate. The two inmates executed their plan by offering to water the prison ice rink and then using Lucien Rivard the hose as a rope to climb over the prison wall. Not only was Rivard successful, but he even took the time to mail Prime Minister Pearson saying “Life is short, you know. I don’t intend to be in jail for the rest of my life.” Talk about an exit story.

Rivard’s escape was the talk-of-the-town for many months at the time. It inspired the song “A Government Inquiry” by the group “The Brothers-in-Law” in their album “Oh, Oh Canada.” Comedian, Rich Little, did a parody on Prime Minister Lester Pearson while singing “Old Man Rivard.” As if there wasn’t enough proof that Rivard was the most news-worthy and beloved felon of all time, The Canadian Press voted him the Canadian Newsmaker of the Year for 1965—which was the fist time a convicted felon had received the title. Rivard’s cunning escape and the aftermath following his schemes is something made in the movies.

2

“When a Dummy Uses a Dummy”

Tyrone “Ty” William Conn had robbed his first bank when he was 16 years old. Two weeks after his 1999 escape, police tracked him to a basement apartment in Toronto.

He managed to escape prison two more times before taking part in one of the most famous prison escapes in Canadian history.

He was sentenced to serve at Kingston Penitentiary in 1998 and escaped from there just a mere year later.

Conn was able to get over the 10-metre perimeter fence of the institution at night by using constructing a ladder and grappling hook in the prison shop. hand-made ladder and grappling hook he constructed in the prison shop. The cherry on top of Conn’s escape was the fact that he created a dummy to put in his bunk by stuffing clothes with paper. His escape was not discovered until the next morning when they found the surprise laying in Conn’s bed. Although there had been at least 26 escape attempts since 1836 at Kingston Penitentiary, Conn was the first to succeed since 1958. Two weeks later, 36

By Parveen Sohal

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister, Thanks For The Skates!”

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

7 MOST FAMOUS

CANADIAN PRISONERS WHO HAVE ESCAPED FROM PRISON

Ever think that highly-organized prison escapes were only stories you see on movies? Well think again. Canada is home to some of the most intriguing felony escapes in North America. Follow along as we name some of the most infamous jailbreaks in Canadian history. surrounded by police in Toronto, Conn committed suicide while speaking on the phone to CBC producer, Theresa Burke

3

“The Doctor’s Orders”

Legree being cuffed by RCMP Infamous murderer, Allan Legree, escaped prison in 1989 after being sent to a Moncton hospital in order to be treated for an infection. The felon used a strip of metal to pick his handcuffs and leg shackles then made a run for it. Along the way he kidnapped a woman and stole her car to further his escape. He then killed four people in the area of Miramichi , N.B., before he was thankfully captured once again, seven months later.

4

“The Prison Guard With The $50,000 Promise”

Video shows Edwin Ticne, right, escorting Omid Tahvili through a secured door inside the North Fraser Pretrial Centre during his escape.

Tahvili is the only criminal in the list who escaped with the help of someone on the “inside.” Prison guard Edwin Ticne helped Tah-

vili escape in exchange for a $50,000 payout.

Video cameras caught Ticne leading Tahvili through a series of locked doors within the prison while Tahvili was dressed in a janitor’s uniform. It was reported that Tahvili was the “kingpin” of an Iranian-Canadian organized crime family. He was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a man and is also wanted in the U.S. for telemarketing fraud, allegedly stealing $3 million from elderly American citizens. The guard was later sentenced to three years in prison in 2008. The most famous part of this escape story is that Tahvili is still on the run today following his escape from the maximum security jail in BC and is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

5

“One Hacksaw Blade & One Wooden Leg”

Edwin Alonzo Boyd of the Body gang (whose name was given to them by Toronto newspapers) was convicted for six bank robberies and managed to escape his sentence. In prison, he befriended two other Edwin Alonzo Boyd bank robbers, Lenny Jackson and Steve Suchan with whom he was able to escape. The three men were successful in using hacksaw blades to saw the prison bars the proceeded to use bedsheets to climb down to the ground. They managed to smuggle the blades through “Tough Lenny” Jackson’s wooden leg. After their escape, the men went on a robbing spree and killed a police officer while avoiding capture. More robberies followed their escape, including the largest haul in Canadian history (expected to be executed by Boyd). When they were finally captured a second time, they were able to make a shocking second escape with www.desitoday.ca

yet another hacksaw, this time with the help of a fourth gang member. Eventually, however, these members were captured and hung.

6

“Two Minute Bank Robberies & A Lifetime To Brag”

SPECIAL ON MAGNET BUSINESS CARDS AND CAR TOP SIGNS The Stopwatch Gang It was reported that Lionel Wright, Paddy Mitchel and Stephen Reid stole $15 million dollars from banks in the US and Canada between 1974 and 1980. The FBI called them the “Stopwatch Gang” because each bank heist lasted less than two minutes. Their escapes from prison were said to be as well executed as their robberies. Mitchell escaped through an air conditioning vent at Arizona State Prison in 1986. His departure was said to be movie-esque as it was so well-planned and went on to becoming a famous story. Mitchell, however, was later recaptured in 1994. At different times, members of the “Stopwatch” escaped from Millhaven and Joyceville penitentiaries in Ontario. They fled to the U.S. in 1979 and were captured while living a life of paradise in Sedona, Ariz. The details of their escapes were of so much interest to the general public that a documentary was made in 2013 based on their lives called “The Stopwatch Gang.”

7

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“Fire? Stop Drop & Roll Out of Prison”

Starting a fire helped Normal “Red” Ryan with his escape In 1923 convicted felon, Norman “Red” Ryan successfully carried out an escape from prison along with a number of fellow inmates. Red executed his escape plan by setting a nearby shed on fire to distract the guards while he and his gang used a ladder to climb over the prison wall. The gang then stole a stole a car from a neighbouring property and left the city to never be from again. www.desitoday.ca

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

37

FEATURE

My

with Khalsa Aid

By Kiran Rai

Humanitarian work has always been a huge passion of mine. Ever since I could remember, I always talked about why it was important to work with the community at a grassroots level and wanting to travel to places where I could help people that were struggling; and sharing their stories.

When I was approached by Khalsa Aid’s trustee, Indy Hothi, earlier this year about 38

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

this incredible opportunity to document the work of Khalsa Aid in Haiti - I knew I couldn’t resist. This was everything I dreamed of! To go and provide aid / seva (selfless service) for the orphanages and being able to document it was something I’ve always wanted to do. I knew however, it was going to be a lot of work to make it happen. They found it important to have a Sikh female filmmaker

to document it to encourage youth from the community, especially females, to get involved. I was allowed to bring one other volunteer and decided to bring my best friend, Gurkiran Sidhu, who is also my associate for some of the projects I am working on (including Jangiiro x kyry kurthé).

Within 8 weeks, while working full-time and travelling, we had to come up with www.desitoday.ca

Above: Berlin and I pulling up clean water from the new water pump installed for the first time!

Left: At ‘Hope for Life’ orphanage right before our soccer game between the two nearby orphanages, and this little ladoo wouldn’t let go of me the entire time! Miss her lots!

Top right: Teaching my new friends handshakes (well, the Jazz and Will Smith handshake from Fresh Prince) Right: Warm welcome (When the kids jumped on me when the first saw me!)

different strategies on how to fundraise.

Luckily enough, I had experience prior fundraising for the organizations I was apart of. Gurkiran and I released a vlog that explained thoroughly why we were going and why it was important on my YouTube channel. I decided to work with artists Rupi Kaur and Anoop Caur to host writing / paint workshops, work with Jasmeet Singh (JusReign) on a ‘Dares JusReign for Haiti’ campaign where people would donate to dare Jasmeet to do whatever they wanted and we would choose the top three in a video which we had released online. Gurkiran and I decided to sell our clothing where all proceeds would go towards the initiative too. I also worked with local media to spread more awareness and of course social media campaigns to keep our internet friends engaged! www.desitoday.ca

Hearing the conditions of Haiti and the amazing work Khalsa Aid has been doing made me realize how big this opportunity really was. Khalsa Aid is a international, non-profit, humanitarian organization based out of the UK, providing aid and relief to places that have been affected by war, disasters and corruption. Currently, they are providing ongoing support in different countries including: Lebanon, Nepal, Punjab, Malawi, Uganda, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar, and of course, Haiti. They recently have setup projects in Croatia and Serbia to help out the refugee crisis that is happening in Europe.

Khalsa Aid has been in Haiti for the past 5 years and have volunteers going every 3-4 months to provide food, water and any necessities the 9 orphanages they support may

need. Most organizations that were helping out after the 2010 earthquake had left after 2-3 years of being there.The reason they found it important to have it documented was to show that Haiti is still in desperate need of help. Once the cameras shut-off and all the journalists and media moved on, everyone had forgotten the struggles the Haitians are still going through. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world right now. Everything, from tooth-brushes to food is being imported by the U.S. to Haiti.

Statistics say that more than 60% of the country is unemployed and the remainder that are working are making approx. $2/day.

The price of food is more expensive than people’s income. Most of the kids that were in the orphanage weren’t only there because they had lost their families to the earthAPR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

39

FEATURE quake, but had parents that literally couldn’t afford to take care of them.

Hearing all of this vs. actually experiencing it were two different levels of emotions.

I could only tell you so much of how difficult it is to witness that much poverty - but to actually experience it is a different story.

The first day, was by far, the toughest. We had traveled for 16 hours to reach our final destination - Léogâne, Haiti. The next morning, myself, and two other volunteers (Indy and Kanwar) left the hotel we were staying at to the first orphanage of the day, ‘Le Sourire Retrouve Orphanage’ whom heard of Khalsa Aid through another orphanage KA was supporting. They ended up being the 9th orphanage KA took on to support during that trip - which was amazing to witness and I got the chance to document. This orphanage had not had clean water for the past 8 months.

I honestly couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This orphanage was so small, build up on shacks and tents, hosting over 30 kids, and they hadn’t had clean water for past 8 months?! Berlin, the owner of the orphanage, had to travel for miles everyday, so she could get some clean water for the kids. One thing that I admired about KA was that they worked with the locals - in this case, the local contractors to get a new water pump for the orphanage. I found it so difficult to immediately start documenting, and felt almost wrong doing so. What I found very challenging was taking out the camera and start filming when I knew it wasn’t my own struggle.

Documenting someone else’s pain is by far the most difficult thing I had to deal with. I had recognized my privilege to another extent and it was honestly, so emotionally draining. I remember coming back to the hotel after that, and breaking down to Gurkiran, who had asked me how my day went. I just felt so disappointed in myself for being so upset, but didn’t know how to handle all the overwhelming emotions. The second orphanage was the toughest. We all went in our Langar Aid shirts (which basically signifies that we were providing free food to those in need), and went to the local supermarket to pick up food. The shop owner, Lovely, had provided us with everything we had on the list that included, rice, beans, pasta, etc.

When we entered the second orphanage, the kids literally JUMPED on me! They were so happy to see me. But who was I? I didn’t want to feel like ‘another’ visitor. I wanted to make sure I spent enough time with these 40

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

Filming local artist Bestnesly Estain who uses his art to tell stories of the Haitian struggle and beauty kids. They were so amazing. They loved the camera, were posing for the pictures, eating the chips we gave them with crumbs all over their mouths. As we were leaving, one of the girls I was carrying wouldn’t let go and started to cry out loud. Another one holding another volunteer started to scream. It was so hard to watch. I just couldn’t deal with it at first. How can I just film these kids, who literally have nothing? How can I just walk away from them, knowing that I might not ever see them again? These were some of the questions that were burdening me that first day. Luckily, the KA volunteers understood that I should get used to seeing how everything was first, test the waters and then take out the camera when I was ready to film.

And I think that was what made it easier.

As we went off to the rest of the orphanages, we would spend time with the kids and talk to the owners to understand some of the stories the kids had. Language was obviously a barrier (my Canadian French was useless lol) but we had our KA Haiti volunteer Marcson, who was our driver, our security and our translator (pretty much we wouldn’t be able to live without him ha!).

Dancing with the kids was my best way of communicating with them. We would have the music play out of the car stereo and the kids literally would open up and start dancing. That honestly uplifted my spirit. Seeing that these kids have nothing, literally nothing, but are so intrigued by our presence, getting the little attention that they crave and are so thankful for every moment, was so inspirational. I would manifest in their

youthful energy. They were just so much fun to be around. Just holding their hands, we would share such a powerful connection that didn’t need any words to describe. It was unreal. And definitely unforgettable.

Seeing how positive and grateful the kids were made me recognize my privilege and how fortunate we truly are in the west.

Our problems seem so mediocre and not even comparable when it comes to what these people have to deal with. However, as much it’s something I struggle to understand; why we live our lives the way we do and why they have to endure so much trauma; it makes me want to use this privilege to my advantage. To be able to share their stories, to provide assistance as much as we can, and to bring attention to the issues they may be facing motivates me to continue the work I do. It is the most rewarding feeling to see how little you do can literally change someone else’s life. That for me will always be my inspiration and strive to rise. It gives me so much life, it keeps me alive. They give to me more than I can ever give to them.

And I thank the Haitians and Khalsa Aid for being so hospitable, for taking care of us, for sharing with us, and for trusting me to tell their story.

The documentary currently is the works and looking to screen at different events // film festivals throughout the next few months until we decide to release it publicly.

If you are looking to get involved, please contact Khalsa Aid : office@khalsaaid.org .

If you are looking to screen the film in your city: kayrayco@gmail.com www.desitoday.ca

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41

DESI TODAY EXCLUSIVE

Making The DenTisT Fun For Your kiDs:

a Jungle, Beach or underwater adventure

By Parveen Sohal

One of the most traumatic experiences for young children can be their first few visits to the dentist. They may have heard horror stories from friends or television and it makes the entire process unfriendly for the children, their parents and their dentist.

SmileTown is reinventing the way families go to the dentist.

Their offices are dedicated to creating an atmosphere that is not only relaxing for kids but is actually fun for them! With SmileTown Dentistry, you can tell your children that they are not simply visiting a dentist’s “office” rather they are entering one of three fun-packed adventure themed offices: a jungle, beach or underwater (depending on the three locations).

SmileTown’s colourful murals, animated characters, numerous games and kid-friendly technology are designed to make children want to go to the dentist’s office. The purpose of the stimulating environments with gaming stations and televisions is so that children are having fun while receiving treatment.

“It’s a humbling experience to have an opportunity to work with children and get that smile or high-five at the end of the appointment.” says Dr. Karim Kanani.

SmileTown Dentistry is designed to cater to the unique needs of children of all ages, from babies to teenagers. They are also sensitive to children with special needs by making every office wheelchair accessible and having staff trained on a variety of possible techniques they can use to assist specialneeds children in getting the most comfortable and relaxing treatment possible.

“Our philosophy is that everyone deserves compassionate

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care; we want children to enjoy coming to the dentist,” says Dr. Diya Chadha.

Dr. Kanani has a certificate in pediatric dentistry and is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Chadha is a certified specialist in pediatric dentistry, Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

Both doctors hold a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and embody a passion for working with children to provide the best possible treatment and dental experience for every child.

With a comprehensive range of highquality children-specific dental services, SmileTown Dentistry offers a variety of care and treatment options including interceptive orthodontics, nitrous oxide, sedation dentistry and general anesthesia. In addition to providing professional dental care, SmileTown is committed to community involvement and education. The doctors hold presentations at local schools and daycare centers teaching the importance of good oral health.

Find out more about why the two went into their profession, how having their children has changed their work lives and what exactly they do to calm their little patients’ fears.

Q:

Why did you go into this profession?

Q:

When did you two decide you wanted to become a dentist?

We wanted to make beautiful smiles!

We both agree that a beautiful smile can bring so much confidence to a person’s personality and we wanted to be able to do that for people. The look on someone’s face after receiving major types of dental work is so rewarding and it makes us want to come into work each day.

www.desitoday.ca

During high school we both had braces growing up and it definitely changed our lives. It was at that time that we began to understand the importance of having a good dentist. We were confident that if we worked hard enough, being an excellent dentist would be a goal we could achieve.

Q:

What is the best part of your job?

Working with very cute little patients!

Children can be so entertaining and fun to work with. We get the sweetest patients and it makes us want to work that much harder to make sure they have a good experience with us. Knowing that we are able to resolve painful situations and provide relief is very rewarding.

Q:

What is your “dentist philosophy”?

IIt’s simple: every child deserves a healthy, happy smile.

We stress that we want to be able to do both (to promote health and happiness). The health part comes from our credentials and experience in the field. We have spent countless years training, learning and upgrading our skills in order to do our job with ease and confidence.

The happy part comes in with our personalities! We love to have fun with our patients and make the experience enjoyable for everyone! We want every patient to leave our office with big happy smiles and we can definitely say we have been achieving that!

Q:

How has having kids taught you two about how to be a better dentist?

Dr. C : Growing up with a brother with special needs I know first-hand the difficulties families and patients with disabilities endure who require access to dental care.

I know how challenging it was to get my brother into appointments and my parents experienced an equal amount of stress. I wanted to help other families; that’s why we decided to open offices that are fun for children of all ages and specially designed to accommodate families with special-needs children. We are here to help, and we are empathetic to their needs.

You can learn so much by being around children. My own children have taught me

that we need to instill trust in our patients.

I learned that once a child trusts you, providing treatment become so much easier. It’s all about taking the time early on in our appointments and building an honest , trusting relationship with children.

Q:

Children typically feel afraid of the dentist, so how do you make sure they feel calm?

We make sure our patients feel comfortable by, firstly, explaining to them that dentists are here to help them. The most effective way to calm their nerves and make them feel like they’re having fun is to include them in the process! We often allow children to participate in their own care by handing us instruments or holding the suction. This way, they know what the equipment does so it’s less frightening and they also feel special for being able to take part in the whole process.

Q:

How does SmileTown Dentistry cater to the parents of the patients?

We understand there is nothing more important to a parent of a young child than to get the best health care possible for their child. We take pride in being a practice that makes parents feel extremely comfortable and confident in our care. We provide extensive education and information to parents about how to care for their child’s teeth. We even invite parents to participate in their child’s care and will show them how to better care for their child’s needs even after they leave the office.

Q:

How is SmileTown Dentistry different than other dentists offices?

We are exclusively Child centric offices with what we like to say “lotsa patience for our little patients!” Also, we provide additional training to provide all types of treatment for children including: in-office sedation, laughing gas, as well as general anesthesia. We set up our entire practice around being the most well-equipped, highly-trained, relaxing and enjoyable dentist’s office we can possibly be!

Unit 111 - 7511 120th Street, Delta (778) 564-1095 Suite 430 - 4460 Beresford St., Burnaby, Next to Metrotown Skytrain Stn (604) 428-9633

smiletowndentistry.com

Unit 110 - 20780 Willoughby Town Centre Dr., Langley (604) 371-2830 APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

43

LOVE & RELATIONSHIP

y a s n a e m

n e m o W t a h W vs.

y e h T hat

W

WHAT WOMEN SAY

y l l a u Act

l Soha veen r a P By

WHAT THEY ACTUALLY MEAN

Ever stare at your female partner in bewilderment about what she really means? Or even worse: ever confide in your friends about what you think your partner means and high-five about being sure you’ve cracked the female code? Because 9.9 times out of 10 you’re dead wrong. You’ll be dead wrong and the punchline for all of her friends’ jokes for the next month.

But don’t feat, my clueless male comrades, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve compiled a list of common phrases your lady says and decoded it to show what actually means.

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APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

www.desitoday.ca

www.desitoday.ca

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

45

LOVE & RELATIONSHIP

w o h S “ r u o Y Me ” ! e n Pho ita Lit

By Amr

he other day I was wandering around downtown Vancouver with my husband and baby. A little bit up the street from us I saw a woman visibly upset and shouting at her boyfriend or husband. He was attempting to comfort her and calm her down but he wasn’t having much luck. She was super angry and kept gesturing to his pocket. I got kind of nervous to cross their path with my baby (being the super cautious Type A momma bear I am) so we kind of just slowed down and decided to let them have their moment.

Then came the line we’ve all said at one point or another, “Show me your phone!” she screamed at him with all her fury and might.

He nervously laughed but didn’t dare pull out his phone. And then it hit me. The realization that technology has truly changed the way relationships are nowadays. Gone are the days of monogamy and trust. It’s just all too easy to cyber cheat. Or have phones hide the dirty work of actual cheat cheating.

So you just got to wonder - where do you draw the line?

What’s considered cheating to you? Is it one too many likes on another girl’s picture? Or maybe it’s secret deleted convos from last weekends drunken hookups. Texting and emails have made having a little somthin’ somthin’ on the side all too casual.

Not to mention the major trust issues it has caused. I can’t count the amount of times I have misinterpreted something I saw in my husband’s phone which turned me into inspector Gadget going through every single aspect of his online life.

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APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

It’s a sad time for love. If that’s what you even want to call it. Where did that ‘old school love go?’ The kind where if you’re with someone you’re REALLY with someone. You’re not in so called “open relationships.” Where the lines of commitment are blurred and overstepped one too many times. No one even fears going for another person’s significant other anymore because being secretive is just all too easy with cell phones and computers to hide behind.

We’re all losing our moral consciences and subsequently relationships are losing that intimacy, respect, and trust factor. I do wonder when the turning point will come. I am lucky enough to be in a fully committed relationship in which I have seldom to worry about. But the fact remains that marriages are having more and more riding against them these days. It’s no wonder people are breaking up and throwing in the towel left, right, and centre. The world being your oyster isn’t always a good thing.

We are receiving the false impression that there’s always so much better out there for us. The temptation is all too real and it’s following us like a plague every waking moment. What do you see all over your social media feeds? Men and women alike portraying their very best sexualized versions of themselves to attract the opposite sex, or make their significant others jealous. Maybe this is a huge generalization. But I tell ya it’s not far from the truth. We’ve all got to be careful of what image we are putting out the world because that’s the one being thrown right back at us. And the mentality of fun and carefree living is not helping us much in the long run that’s for sure.

Then there’s the question of just how far is too far when it comes being secretive of our phones. Well yes it’s blatantly obvious that you are not being faithful if the reason you protect your phone like it’s your handheld pacemaker or something is because you are speaking to someone else inappropriately on it. This is clear cut infidelity. But what about pornography? What about all those borderline nude photo accounts you follow? How about the girl or guy that you are “just friends with” and causually text here and there? If you wouldn’t do it in the flesh in front of your partner - then what makes it okay in pixel format?

Not to mention the fact that quality time with one another has now turned into being honed into our phones the entire time. I find myself guilty of this as well. I’ll be so occupied with updating my various social media outlets or writing random tidbits into my phone for future post ideas that I don’t realize I am completely ignoring my husband. And of course he is at times so consumed with his own phones that he’s doing it right back and neither of us realize it.

Maybe it’s time to drawback and unplug for a while in order to reconnect to one another once again.

Just another one of my random thoughts which turned into a major realization. So the next time he or she demands to see your phone. Just hand it on over - and if she discovers something which sparks a fight, well maybe you two need to question if you’re actually better off single and doing whatever you’re doing out in the open. It would be a lot better of a feeling than being in constant lockdown secret mode with your partner. www.desitoday.ca

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LOVE & RELATIONSHIP

We’ve all had a problem or two (or seven) that we just need to get off our chest. And what do we say when we have these overly stressful, life-altering situations that we must to talk over? Let’s meet for coffee! I now welcome you to my virtual coffee shop. Here I will answer some of your most pressing questions about life, love and anything in between.

ABOUT ME: I’m a psychology and counselling student that’s not an expert, just a friend. I read about peoples’ problems every day, all day. Now I want to hear about yours. Ask me anything!

“Let’s Meet for Coffee” Joti’s Advice Column

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APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

) Bajwa

t (Joti

By Navjee

Dear Joti, How do I make my boyfriend do romantic things without me asking for them?

How can we get what we want without communicating it? We rarely ever do and that’s why you have to say something!

You can tell your boyfriend that romantic gestures are important to you in a relationship and let him take it from there.

The reason why romantic gestures are so meaningful is because they’re genuine, unprompted and done out of love. If you’re asking for every gesture it takes the magic out of it. Romance is a two-way street so make sure you’re also doing romantic things for him. Communicate how

important it is to you and see if he makes your needs a priority.

Dear Joti, I have a friend that smells bad. How do I tell her?

No one wants to smell bad. You would be helping her by being a friend with enough courage to say something so I applaud you for that. The best way to do this is to start with something positive. Then, say what needs to be said and end it with a possible solution. It’s pretty much impossible not to embarrass her so once you acknowledge that it will inevitably happen you can concentrate on being as gentle www.desitoday.ca

Dear Joti, How do I know if my pre-wedding fears are normal or a sign I should call it all off?

It depends on if your doubts center on your fiancé or just getting married, period. Getting married is a very big deal so it is understandable to have pre-wedding jitters; however, if you’re asking yourself if you even want to be with this person long-term then you have some reflecting to do. You’re the only one that knows the details and nuisances of your relationship and if it’s a happy one. These fears can sometimes be a red flag that you shouldn’t have ignored but it can also just be about commitment issues! I think it’s worth the investment for some counselling sessions just so you can iron out these thoughts with a professional before your wedding date. Make the source of these pre-wedding fears more clearly to yourself because everyone should be confident and happy for the day of his or her wedding.

Dear Joti, I think my younger sister is in a relationship with a guy who is involved in drugs/ gang violence. How do I stop her?

and constructive as possible. As a positive you can start with how you consider her to be a really close friend of yours and as a close friend you want to let her know that sometimes she smells a little off. Ask her what brand of deodorant she uses because you’ve heard that some are not as good as others as well as brands of soap. Don’t assume she doesn’t use these products at all. A common place where smell comes from is unwashed clothes so you could explore this as a possible cause.

You can tell her that smelling bad and not knowing it has always been a fear of yours and just as you’d wish a loved one would tell you, you’d also tell a loved one. www.desitoday.ca

Dear Joti, I just found out my best friend is cheating on his girlfriend. Am I obligated to tell her?

If you would also want to be told in this situation then the answer is yes; you should. However, just because your friend is doing a horrible thing doesn’t mean you need to put yourself in the middle and take unnecessary heat. We’ve all heard the saying, “No good deed goes unpunished” but I may have a workaround: gather irrefutable evidence, either make a fake email or Facebook and send your proof to his girlfriend.

This is a very tricky situation. You can never force someone you care about to leave his or her relationship. The best thing you can do for her is to remain her confidant and allow her to feel comfortable in telling you everything that goes on between them. You do not want to be blind in a situation like this and if she sees that you’re unsupportive she will hide the relationship from you. Unhealthy relationships thrive in isolation.Gently tell her that this is a very dangerous situation to put herself in and that you’re concernedbut you need to do it with love. You should remain a support system for her to guide her into a right path in life, to show her how people who care about her behave, and to be there for her when this relationship inevitably runs its course.

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

49

LOVE & RELATIONSHIP and validated is crucial to a happy relationship of any kind. It can be as simple as them saying “I’m mad” and you responding with “that must have been so upsetting!” Repeating what they said to you in your own words shows you’re listening and that you care.

A House Is Not A Home I wish I had known in my early years that no matter how perfect I was: how perfectly I cleaned the house or made my family food, that does not make for a perfect marriage.

Marriage is based off of two people not one.

You can’t keep thinking that if you make yourself perfect that your partner will become perfect as well.

- Harinder, 34 years old

Just Because You’re Indian Doesn’t Mean You Have To Get Married

What Divorce Taught Me About Relationships In our culture, divorce is o en a taboo topic. Instead of shying away from the topic we think we should discuss it and learn from it. Here are what Desi Today readers reveal about what they learned about relationships from their divorce.

Opposites Attract But They Don’t Last

live in.

As fun as it is in the beginning to have things to learn about each other that are totally different from what you know, it is not always a recipe for the ideal marriage. It is one thing to have different view points on smaller issues but when it comes to the bigger issues in life such as religion, family or money, it is absolutely essential to be on the same page.

Constantly Ask “Can You Explain What You Meant By That?”

- Sonia, 32 years old

Make Friends With His/Her Friends One of my biggest downfalls in my marriage was that my husband and I lead very separate lives. He had his family, I had mine; he had his friends; I had mine; he kept his coworkers to himself, so did I. Make an effort to befriend multiple people in your spouses life. This ensures that it’s not your world vs. his world, but rather “one world” you two 50

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

- Jas, 44 years old

I often thought that my husband and I were simply wrong for each other because all we did was hurt each other. Years later I know that we simply did not understand each other. I would take what he said out of context and he would do the same. Instead of taking the time to fully understand what the other meant, we would have our own interpretations that would make the other angry.

Constantly ask “Can you explain what you meant by that?” because you’ll be surprised how often you think your spouse meant to hurt you, when they really did not.

Marriage is not for everyone. In our culture, we think it is an inevitable stage of life but there are some people out there who simply are not made for it. The idea of living with someone everyday for the rest of your life is a perfect concept to some people but definitely not all people—you can’t change these people - Sukh, 29 years old

Ask For Marriage Advice From Your Spouse—Not your Friends My biggest mistake was not trusting my own judgement when it came to my marriage problems. I would ask my friends who would get a biased version (from me) of what would happen during my fights and often times I would listen. Trust your own gut and when you’re not sure, talk openly with your spouse.

- Esha, 31 years old

Don’t Bring Up Old Wounds

Practise Empathy Often

If you forgive someone for something— great—just make sure you’ve actually forgiven them. This means that you will not bring up their mistake during a new fight.

If you do choose to do this, you must admit that you have not forgiven your partner and that you and your partner need to go through the steps to ensure that forgiveness happens. This is the only way you can move on from a fight.

Allowing your partner to feel understood

- Herman, 34 years old www.desitoday.ca

www.desitoday.ca

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

51

HEALTH & WELLNESS Thinking about weight loss as “dieting” is the first thing that comes in our mind and is often the biggest mistake people make on their weight loss journey. Weight gain is not only the product of your mismanaged diet but also a mismanaged lifestyle. Changing the habits of your daily lifestyle can create an easy approach to achieve your weight loss goals effectively. Let’s discuss those habits: HABIT 1: Exercise Regularly

10 HABITS TO

LOSE WEIGHT WITHOUT DIETING

doing purposeful physical activity for minimum 30 minutes a day can help you to burn calorie and reduce weight. And why do I say it as habit? exercise or physical activity should not be option rather it should give priority to lead a healthy life.

HABIT 2: Eat Slowly & Stop at 80% Full

Research has shown that vegetables not only provide micronutrients like vitamin and minerals but they also give plant chemicals (phytochemicals) that are essential for optimal physiological functions. Also adding vegetables provides alkaline load to blood hence reducing acidic levels which helps us to be healthy. Adding two servings of vegetables per meal helps reduce overall calorie intake as well regulate food intake.

One serve equals 1cup of leafy vegetables or 1/2cup raw chopped vegetables. Try to reach 10 serving of vegetables a day for a good healthy diet 52

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

You’ve heard this one before but we’ll tell you again! Our muscle cells contain 75% of water, blood contains nearly 83% of water and bones contain 22% of water. This means water is essential. But still do we need reminders like google apps, stick notes etc.?

Make sure you should drink minimum 8 cups (2 litres) of water per day to maintain hydration.

“I am getting bored! What to do? Let’s eat something!”“Let’s meet and chat in a restaurant or a café!” “Grab some popcorn, it’s my favorite movie!”

Stop doing this and you will start losing weight. Food is for nutrition not for fun.

Start planning your meetings accordingly.

If it’s your movie time then eat before your movie so that you are full and don’t crave for more and if you getting bored drink water and do something which will shift your focus from food.

By Dhiraj Khatri

HABIT 3: Add Protein To Every Meal

HABIT 4: Say “Hi”To Veggies

HABIT 7: Drink Water

HABIT 8: Don’t Eat For Fun

Remember those words “chew 32 times before gulping down the food?” Yes, its true.

Chewing slower and more throughly is one of the easiest ways to start slimming your body!Food not chewed well creates less satiety and is not being digested properly. It takes about 20 minutes for our satiety mechanism to kick in and communicate to our brain and gut where finally brain says “you are full, stop eating now.”

Stop eating before you have to loosen your belt and that’s the easiest way to avoid over eating.

Not only do you need macronutrient for a complete meal but also protein dense food.

Proteins help enhances metabolism, improve recovery, increases muscle mass and overall helps in weight loss. Protein rich foods are like chicken, eggs, fish, beans, yoghurt, lentils, soya, tofu etc.

monds, pecans, olives, olive oil, avocado etc.), and polyunsaturated fats (fish oil, hemp seeds, peanuts, sunflower oil, flax seed etc.).

Optimal healthy fat consumption helps our body to maintain our hormonal balances and a healthy brain. Also fat intake increases the thermogenic effect which help us to burn more calories.

HABIT 5: Eat Majority of Carbohydrates A er Exercise For Fat Loss You don’t have to go for the “no carb approach” if you want to lose weight. What’s healthier and will give you better results is knowing how to utilize the benefits of carbs by timing your meals correctly. Eat your complex carbs (sprouted/whole grain breads and pasta, quinoa, oats, yams/sweet potato etc.) during the 3 hours after exercise. This helps body to replenish the glycogen levels lost during the workout and won’t cause you to gain those extra pounds.

HABIT 6: Eat Fat To Burn Fat Don’t be afraid of fats! They are macronutrients and 30% of diet should consist of fats.

You just need to know which fats to each.

Fat intake should be balanced by consuming saturated fats (eggs, cheese, butter, meat, coconut oil etc.), monounsaturated fats (al-

HABIT 9: Get Stress Free Stress has a direct impact on your body which affects your hormones, the ability of your body to be efficient and, off course, weight. Most of us think stress is just a financial factor but it can be anything like working long hours, not getting enough sleep, family issues etc. So plan your day, get a good sound sleep and whenever feel stressed, just breathe deeply and try to relax yourself. Breathing reduces our cortisol (bad hormones) and helps reduce stress.

HABIT 10: Be Consistent Getting excited about it! Try to be consistent. Changing lifestyle is not an overnight procedure it takes a lot of effort, planning and support. Tell it to your family or friends or add them with you in changing your lifestyle to a healthy one.

So start our day with a nutritious diet and add a session of work out to reach your desired weight and you will fit! Stop the dieting and start with these 10 easy tips. www.desitoday.ca

www.desitoday.ca

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

53

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By now you’ve heard that drinking eight glasses of water a day and staying hydrated is important for your health. But if your urine looks like water, you’re probably Over hydrated says Jane Miller, MD, associate professor of urology at the University of Washington. You likely aren’t doing yourself any harm, but there’s no data to support the need for drinking eight or more glasses of water a day, Miller says. Plus, you’ll just wind up spending half your day in the bathroom if you’re drinking too much

PALE YELLOW

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Consider this your toilet bowl goal. You should strive to have light yellow pee, somewhere between clear and the color of apple juice. You’re probably sufficiently hydrated if your pee is pale yellow, but it doesn’t necessarily mean anything about your health beyond that if your pee is darker or lighter.

BRIGHT YELLOW If your pee looks like a neon billboard, blame Vitamin B, Miller says. Riboflavin (B2) is naturally fluorescent when exposed to UV light.

It might be jarring to see, but it’s nothing to worry about. Your body excretes the riboflavin it doesn’t need through urine, which is why excess amounts, either consumed in food or through taking supplements, could make your pee look bright yellow. Almost all multivitamins contain riboflavin, as do www.desitoday.ca

food such as eggs, organ meats, lean meats and dairy.

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BROWNISH-YELLOW Pee thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the color of apple juice is the darkest end of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;normalâ&#x20AC;? urine spectrum.

While you might assume it means youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re super dehydrated, it really just means your pee is extra concentrated, says Miller. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just because urine is concentrated doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean you are dehydrated. Your kidneys are very good at concentrating urine to keep you from becoming symptomatically dehydrated.â&#x20AC;? That said, if your urine is dark often, it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a bad idea to drink more water, especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re exercising a lot.

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BROWN Brown urine can be associated with myoglobinuria, or the presence of myoglobin â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a protein found in muscle â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the urine. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most commonly associated with rhabdomyolysis, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;rhabdo,â&#x20AC;? which is a form of muscle damage that causes muscle fibers to die and be released into the bloodstream (you may have heard about it in discussions about CrossFit). Without prompt medical care, rhabdo could lead to lasting kidney damage.

PINK OR RED This mean a few things. The least worrisome would be that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been eating lots of beets, says Miller. In large amounts, the pigments in beets can actually turn your pee red. This discoloration isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t harmful and should resolve fairly quickly, says Miller. If it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to get your urine tested for blood, which is another reason your pee might be red. Bloody urine could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or urinary stones, which are usually accompanied with pain and discomfort. Kidney, ureter and bladder cancers can also present with blood in the urine, and typically donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have other symptoms, such as pain, associated with the bloody urine, says Miller. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although all important, this is the most serious, and why you should let your [healthcare] provider know â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even if it goes away quickly â&#x20AC;&#x201D; because some cancers bleed intermittently

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Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji MD,FRCP ( C ) Consultant Pediatrician Surrey BC

Always Consult your physician if you have abnormal colour urine www.desitoday.ca

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55

HEALTH & WELLNESS

How to Get Rid of

PUFFY EYES

Waking up with puffy eyes can be really frustrating when you have a big day ahead. Puffy eyes are one of the most common beauty problems. This occurs when the eyes begin to swell for various reasons, including excessive crying, excessive physical stress, genetics, dermatitis, hormonal changes in the body, a change in weather, sinus problems, hangovers, bad diet, lack of sleep and some allergic reaction. Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of puffy eyes.

COLD SPOONS This simple home remedy is surprisingly very effective. It will help tighten up the skin around your eyes as well as relax the blood vessels, thus offering relief to puffy and tired eyes.

can cause your under-eye area and other parts of your body to swell. Water also helps flush toxins out of the body.

To stay well hydrated, drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. In addition to this, you must reduce the amount of salt you eat to reduce water retention in the body. Also, avoid caffeinated and carbonated beverages that can be dehydrating.

help reduce swelling around your eyes. They can also relieve redness and inflammation.

• Put 2 used tea bags in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Lie down and put the tea bags over your eyelids.

• Leave them in place for 10 to 15 minutes.

• Repeat a few times a day.

TEA BAGS

Egg whites have skin-tightening properties that can help banish under-eye bags as well as help prevent wrinkles.

• Separate the yolks from 2 eggs and put the whites in a bowl.

• Whip the egg whites thoroughly until you get a stiff consistency.

• Add a few drops of witch hazel, a natural skin-tightening astringent.

• Use a brush or soft cloth to apply this mixture under your eyes and allow it to dry.

• Leave it on for about 15 minutes.

• Do this daily for a few days.

Be it green tea bags or black tea bags, both can help soothe puffy and irritated eyes.

They contain anti-irritant properties that

• •

•

Chill 5 or 6 metal spoons in your refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes.

Hold the rounded portion of one of the cold spoons against your eye for a few minutes until the spoon becomes warm.

As the spoon warms, replace it with another cold one from the refrigerator.

WATER The easiest way to get rid of puffy eyes is to drink water. When the body is well hydrated, there is less chance of water retention that 56

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

EGG WHITES

CUCUMBERS Chilled cucumbers make a good remedy for treating puffy eyes. The enzymes and the astringent properties in cucumbers help reduce inflammation and help tighten the skin. This remedy will also help get rid of wrinkles and dark circles around your eyes.

• Cut a cucumber into thick slices. www.desitoday.ca

COLD WATER

• •

•

Chill the slices in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Place the cold slices on your eyelids for about 10 minutes or until they become warm.

Repeat the process several times a day.

If you have a sleepless night and are left with puffy eyes, cold water is just what you need to treat them. The cold will help constrict the blood vessels and lessen swelling.

• Rinse your face with several splashes of ice-cold water. Do this a few times throughout the day as needed.

• You can also use a small bag filled with ice, wrap it in a washcloth and place it on your eyes. Repeat as necessary until the swelling is gone.

STRAWBERRIES The alpha hydroxy acid present in strawberries can help make skin look smooth and

POTATOES

“I Don’t Need Sunscreen, I’m Indian!”

Just like cucumbers, potatoes are also effective in getting rid of puffy eyes. The starch present in potatoes has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce under-eye bags.

This remedy is also helpful for fading dark circles under eyes.

MYTH young. It also helps reduce under-eye puffiness and swelling.

• Chill some strawberries in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

• Remove the tops and slice them into thick pieces.

• Lie down and place the slices under your eyes for several minutes.

ALOE VERA • • • •

Peel, wash and dry a medium-size potato.

Grate the potato and put the shavings in a clean cloth and tie it up.

Place this cloth over your eyelids for several minutes.

Repeat the process several times until the puffiness subsides.

The antioxidants and vitamin E present in aloe vera are effective in reducing puffiness

SALT WATER Hot water and salt also works as a simple remedy to help reduce swelling and puffiness under your eyes. The salt water help get rid of the fluid retention in a way similar to osmosis.

• Mix ½ teaspoon of salt in a bowl containing a quart (4 cups) of water. Make sure the water is not too hot.

• Soak cotton balls or wool eye pads in this warm saline water and place them over your eyelids for a few minutes.

• Repeat the process for 15 to 20 minutes.

around the eyes and also keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay. Applying aloe vera gel on the area under your eyes will improve blood circulation and flush out the fluids around the eyes, thus reducing swelling.

Sun block: do Indians need it? Dermatologists across the globe are increasingly trying to break this myth. According to them, skin color does not mean a thing – at least as far as sun damage goes.

In short, you have to use a sun block every time you step outdoors. Yes, even if you are brown-skinned. Well, that’s what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. Irrespective of skin color or geographical location the sun block has to stay on.

Not convinced? Take a look at these facts: • Exposure to ultra-violet (UV) rays can cause serious skin problems, including sunburn, hyper-pigmentation, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Still not convinced? Read on.

• People with darker skin have higher levels of melanin, which absorbs ultra-violet rays and acts as a natural sunscreen.

Wait! Don’t celebrate too soon. Though this does reduce the risk of skin damage, it does not offer complete protection. Sad but true.

• The extent of skin damage from sun exposure varies with location, season, and time of day. The concentration of harmful UV-B rays increases as you go closer to the equator or to higher altitude.

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FASHION & BUSINESS

VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK’S BIGGEST HIT

Akshay Wadhwa

By Parveen Sohal

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APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

Akshay Wadha was born with designer blood. He was next in the line after three generations of family with experience in the fashion industry. The Delhi-based designer’s brand, Akshay Wadha (AW), was featured in the renowned Vancouver Fashion Week. His outfits were arguably one of the most aweinspiring pieces of the entire show.

His line was founded in 2009 and has since turned heads for creating some of the most stunning mixes of Indian and Western styles. Vancouver Fashion Week saw his dazzling pieces with careful mirror work and intricate beading and stitching which screamed rich South Asian heritage with a contemporary Western flare. Check out Desi Today’ Exclusive interview with the fashion icon.

Where did you draw your inspiration from for this line?

The theme of my collection is: Female Warriors. My major inspirations come from ancient Indian Mughals and and people of

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59

FASHION & BUSINESS From setting out in life on April 1, 1976 from a garage in Los Altos, California, to a new discshaped headquarters in Cupertino city amid growing users’ security concern with a recent battle with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US-based technology giant Apple can count on numerous milestones in the last four decades.

As the company celebrated its 40th birthday on Friday, the aim is increasingly getting clear -- to make further inroads into the Indian smartphone market with a huge base of 160 million plus users that is likely to surpass the US smartphone user base in a couple of years.

In March, Apple stunned its rivals by launching a cheaper, smaller yet powerful iPhone SE and a game changer 9.7-inch iPad Pro. As powerful as iPhone 6S, the device has a 64-bit A9 processor and M9 motion co-processor. But what made headlines was Apple’s legal battle with the FBI over unlocking the iPhone 5C used by terrorist Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly attack in San Bernardino, California, with his wife last year. The company got backing from many tech giants, including Google, Facebook and Microsoft over encryption to unlock the iPhone. The company also reiterated several times its commitment to protect its users’ data and privacy while fighting with the FBI. “We have a responsibility to help you protect your data and your privacy. We will not shrink from this responsibility,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said, adding, “We built the iPhone for you, our customers, and for many of us it is a deeply personal device.”

However, a third party helped the FBI crack the security function without erasing contents

60

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

APPLE TURNS 40: A LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THE REIGNING COMPANY of the terrorists’s iPhone. As the news spread of the FBI hacking into the encrypted Apple iPhone, experts expressed fears of backdoor approach to put users’ security at hackers’ mercy.

With the FBI hacking, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) scrapped its request for Apple Inc’s assistance to hack into the iphone. The two-page court filing said that the FBI had accessed data stored on the iPhone 5c.

Apple was founded by the late Steve Jobs, along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.

In the early days, they sold computer kits -each of which Wozniak hand-built.

According to RTE News, Wozniak was the one who created the company’s first computer Apple I - that went on sale in July 1976. This was a heads for the trio, which went on to form its first entity - Apple Computer Company.

The next year was even better with the launch of Apple II - the first personal computer for the mass market. In 1981, Jobs became the chairman. The company hit a low when Jobs left the firm in 1984 after his pet project -- the first Macintosh computer -- struggled. However, after a long sabbatical, he returned in 1997 when the company was in a financial crisis and launched the iMac in 1998.

After 14 years, Apple released iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod in 2001. The first iPod MP3 music player was a huge hit and was released on October 23, 2001 at an event in Cupertino. The device was able to hold up to 1,000 songs and sold over 100 million units sold in the first six years.

“The first Apple Store was opened in May 2001 in the state of Virginia, US - the richest county in the country at that time. Apple now has more than 460 stores worldwide,” the Daily Mail reported.

The market was soon flooded by Apple’s products -- the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. It released the ultralight MacBook Air and the iPhone, which went on sale in 2007 while the first iPad was unveiled in 2010.

In 2011, Jobs resigned due to illness and handed over command to Tim Cook - the current CEO. Jobs died that October of pancreatic cancer. The consecutive years saw evolution in iPhones - the device that brings in almost half of company’s revenue.

In 2014, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch and first larger and slimmer iPhones -- the 6 and 6 Plus. A year later, Apple purchased Beats from Dr Dre and launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.

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FASHION & BUSINESS

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Ever wonder which degree to take on after your bachelor’s? Or ever wonder if you made the right choice with your career path? Forbes did the research and found out exactly which degrees have the highest earning potential. Whether you’re just curious or thinking to enroll into classes, let’s see if you can guess the top paying master’s degrees!

(Small preview: when your parents told you to become an engineer, let’s just say you probably should have listened).

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FASHION & BUSINESS

Made for active lifestyle

THE ALL NEW 2017 KIA SPORTAGE The 2017 Kia Sportage isn’t quite the most spacious, the sharpest-performing, or the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class.

But it’s shaping up to be the one that’s just right—sporty-driving, but without a sacrifice in ride; versatile and accommodating in all the right ways; and far quieter and more refined than its predecessor.

Kia has made quite a name for itself with its Optima mid-size sedan and Sorento crossover; and now the brand has brought some of the same refinement magic that’s graced recent redesigns of thos models into the Sportage, Kia’s compact crossover model that takes on models such as the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape.

Design-wise, we’d call the Sportage flamboyant, but not so much as to ever impress as garish or over-the-top. There’s maybe a little too much of an overt, kitchy sci-fi look to the front lamps, though we’ll give credit where credit’s due for being truly bold. Overall, the stance is sportier—the affect of pushing the wheels farther out to the corners—while the sides are more deeply sculpted than before, and the upright rear pillar’s been re-proportioned for a squatter, more substantial look, more like the one on the current Kia Soul.

This generation keeps the flattened upkick to the rear door cuts—a design choice that’s also functional in yielding easier ingress and 62

APR / MAY 2016

News With A Desi View

egress. And inside, it’s all about bringing in more soft-touch surfaces, better trims, and a layout that’s somewhat sporty and cockpitoriented (canted toward the driver, slightly) yet pushed out at the corners for more passenger space.

Kia offers a choice between two four-cylinder powertrains on the ‘17 Sportage; so far we’ve only driven the sporty, upmarket SX, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Base Sportage LX models and the mid-range EX have a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. We’ve found the turbo version to be strong and smooth, although with some transmission “hunting” up longer grades.

All-wheel drive with a locking center differential is an option on every Sportage trim level; it’s packaged with a distinct front bumper for better ground clearance.

The Sportage promises better steering and a more refined ride, and it mostly delivers that. It has a revised steering rack and suspension, with more front-suspension bushings and stiffer mounts, and the multilink rear suspension now has dual lower arms. Turbocharged SX models get their own, firmer rear damper settings. The SX models we’ve driven so far handle responsively, with good body control, and they ride surprisingly quietly.

One not-so-pleasant surprise is fuel economy; numbers for the Sportage SX especially are very low for the class—just 20 mpg city, 23 highway with AWD. The best it gets is 23 mpg city, 30 highway, for base LX models with front-wheel drive.

In physical size, the Sportage has grown slightly bigger. It’s 1.6 inches longer than before, with a wheelbase that’s gained 1.2 inches (to 105.1 inches). Width remains the same, but the added room has been doled out to the cabin in the form of slightly more headroom and knee room, especially for the back seat. Power controls and seat heaters are quite easy to come by in this model lineup and aren’t just reserved for top-trim models.

Seats are nicely bolstered, too, with decent back support as well as the thigh support for long-legged drivers. www.desitoday.ca

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The second row is 60/40 split, with sections that can flip forward independently or together to expand cargo space; and the rear seatback is adjustable for recline in 17 different steps. Cargo space is up to 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and liftover height to access the cargo area is easier, too.

An available power tailgate is opened when the key fob is placed within three feet of it.

Kia also says the suspension refinements and thicker soundproofing has made the cabin a quieter place. The 2017 Sportage is a completely redesigned model, built on a new lighter-and-stronger body structure—albeit one shared with the related Hyundai Tucson, which has already earned some great safety ratings and crash-test results. For now we can only go by the Sportage’s safety-feature content, and it does indeed offer those top forward collision technologies— either standard on the SX, or on the EX as part of the $2,700 Technology Package. That includes front collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian detection, high beam assist, lane departure warning, and front and rear parking assist (plus some other audio and comfort features that are wrapped in with it).

The Sportage remains just as thrifty and value-oriented as the previous-generation model—although your passengers will be likely even more oblivious to that fact. Standard equipment is impressive in itself, while with a few simple option packages you can step up to a feature set that closely rivals some models with a luxury badge. All models offer a choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and all include power windows and mirrors, a rear wiper and defroster, air conditioning with rear vents, remote keyless entry, a rear camera system, and Bluetooth hands-free calling. Top SX models include an upgraded 8-inch touch screen with navigation, 320-watt Harmon Kardon audio, larger 19-inch wheels, a sport suspension, LED fog lamps and taillamps, bi-xenon headlamps with Dynamic Bending Light, a power tailgate, a flat-bottom steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a so-called Supervision gauge cluster with a separate 4.2-inch TFT LCD display.

Kia’s 7- and 8-inch infotainment systems include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and UVO eServices telematics services. Kia claims that it has an edge for frugal types, as the brand’s EVO eServices telematics systems (emergency assistance, vehicle diagnostics, and such) are app-based and rely on your smartphone’s data connection—rather than on a separate subscription. www.desitoday.ca

BEAUTY & ENTERTAINMENT Actress Neha Dhupia says as a celebrity she has always gravitated to issues close to her heart, adding that “public face makes a very big difference”.

The actress has joined hands with beauty brand Kiehl’s and Teach For India to educate underprivileged children.

Neha said that people tend to stop and pay attention to an issue with a celebrity on board.

“I think the fact that you are a public face makes a very big difference. More importantly people try and listen and probably I think as a brand you leverage yourself to the things you believe in and education is something that I believe in and I like to leverage myself towards it,” Neha told IANS. Sometimes actors are condemned for taking away the focus from the issue. But Neha has an entirely different view.

She said: “I feel like if the spotlight goes anywhere, honestly the initiative is being taken forward. It doesn’t really matter where the spotlight goes as long as the money goes to the right place.”

Under the partnership, all the proceedings from the sale of the Ultra Facial Cream will go to the Teach For India - to improve access to quality education in under-resourced schools.

Neha, who has stepped into the nonfiction space on TV through forthcoming show “MTV Roadies X4”, said she “believes in spreading the word on education”.

“I feel the one way of covering that up (providing education to all) is that the privilege citizen of the country should be able to take the message forward and be able to make a difference. We at Teach For India are doing it, our customers are able to take that forward and helping in educating kids,” she said.

On the film front, Neha has projects like “Santa Banta” and “Moh Maya Money” in her kitty.

‘DON’T WANT TO BE MUNNABHAI OR KHALNAYAK BUT SANJAY DUTT’ Actor Sanjay Dutt, who was released from the Yerwada prison in Pune last month, says that he has no regrets but he doesn’t want to be known as either “Munnabhai” or “Khalnayak”, but as Sanjay Dutt only.

“I have no regrets. I have taken it (prison sentence) in a positive way. Sanjay has grown up, become a little bit clever. I just want to be Sanjay. I don’t want to be Munnabhai or Khalnayak. I think people love Sanjay Dutt,” Sanjay said at the India Today Conclave 2016 here on Friday.

He also said that now he aims to do some “great cinema”.

“I am going to do some great cinema. I want to do good movies. I don’t want to do films because I am compelled to do them. I want to make a difference... Just try to change the genre in the industry,” he said.

About his future projects, he said: “I maybe doing a film with Siddharth Anand. Another one with Vidhu Vinod Chopra and then (the third part of) ‘Munnabhai’, which comes out in 2017.”

Asked about the biopic on his life, Sanjay quipped that two hours are not enough to document it.

Sanjay, who was absolved of involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts but convicted for illegal possession of arms, said that he has “learnt” from that incident.

“I don’t have any regrets, but I learnt from it. I learnt the law of the land. I learnt not to be brash, I learnt not to think from the heart but from the mind,” he said.

The actor also said that he never let his father, the late actor Sunil Dutt, down.

“I never let him down. He knew whatever I may have done, the act of terrorism was never there. Before he died, he told me that he was always proud of me. I will never forget that. That was the day he hugged me,” he added.

The actor, who served a few years in prison, now wants to work for jail reform.

“I want to do a lot for jail reform, for the drugs and for the youth. The sipahi runs the jail. There were couple of sipahis in my jail. I used to sit with them. Used to help them,” he added.

Being public face makes a difference NEHA DHUPIA 66

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BEAUTY & ENTERTAINMENT

PRIYANKA CHOPRA PROMISES ACTION, DECEPTION IN ‘QUANTICO’ Priyanka Chopra will return as Alex Parrish with “Quantico” after mid-season break. And the actress has asked her fans to brace up for some “manipulation, deception, attraction, and action” in the new episodes of the international TV series.

Priyanka’s international TV series has got a go-ahead for a second season, and the actress is elated with the show getting positive response from across the globe.

While new episodes from the season one of the FBI-set drama have been aired in the West on March 6, it will invade the small screens in India on March 12. The show will be telecast on Star World, Star World HD and Star World Premiere.

“I’m elated by the amazing response that ‘Quantico’ has received by audiences across the globe and especially in India,” Priyanka said in a statement.

“With all new episodes starting on March 12, we got some crazy new plot twists and new characters that will continue to keep you guessing!

You will see manipulation, deception, attraction, action while trying to figure out the real traitor amongst us,” she said.

Priyanka plays Alex, an FBI recruit who becomes a suspect of terrorist bombing of New York’s Grand Central Station. The show’s storytelling prism shifts between the present day with Parrish navigating her way through a class of FBI new agent trainees to the near future as the truth and repercussions of the attack emerge.

The winter finale ended on a frantic tempo as Alex’s guilty plea forced her to surrender to the FBI for at least 24 hours before being taken to federal prison.

Speaking on the show’s return, an official Star India spokesperson said: “ The show has performed phenomenally well and is a testament to our commitment of bringing the best and latest international content to Indian viewers. We are certain the new episodes will garner just as much, if not more, excitement from audiences.” “‘Quantico’ is one of the most exciting shows in ABC Studio’s portfolio and we are happy for the show to be back on Star’s network. Priyanka has been fabulous in the show and here’s wishing her a remarkable second innings.” said Amrita Pandey, vice-president - studios, Disney India.

Priyanka’s decision to venture into international TV fiction space with the show last year turned out well for her. She received rave reviews for her performance from the US audiences and critics, and even won the Favourite Actress in a New TV series award at the People’s Choice Awards (PCA) 2016. www.desitoday.ca

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

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BEAUTY & ENTERTAINMENT

Anushka took wrestling training for ‘Sultan’

Anushka Sharma has undergone rigorous training for six weeks for her role as a wrestler in “Sultan”. The film’s director Ali Abbas Zafar is impressed with her dedication.

Anushka practiced for long periods regularly and tenaciously followed a fitness regimen to live the part of a wrestler to the best of her ability, said a source from the set.

The film also stars Bollywood’s “Dabangg” star Salman Khan, who is also in the prep mode for “Sultan”, which is said to be a

biopic on a wrestler.

Complimenting Anushka’s efforts, Zafar said in a statement: “Anushka’s dedicated six weeks’ wrestling programme has drastically changed her body language and has also transformed her body into a very authentic looking wrestler.”

One of Anushka’s wrestling trainers, Jagdish Kaliraman, couldn’t stop praising her.

He said: “Wrestling is a very tough game but inspite of it being so tough she is very confident and always wants to be the best at it. She observes every move that we show her very carefully and after showing her maximum two times she exactly knows what to do.

“She is such a big superstar but she is so humble, down to earth and extremely sincere towards learning the art form of wrestling.” Kaliraman added that “when people will watch the film they will know that Anushka has put in so much hard work and has moulded into the character so well”.

The film, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films banner, is slated to release on July 8.

Romancing on screen toughest: Yo Yo Honey Singh Singer-rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh, who makes his debut as a lead in the Punjabi film, ‘Zorawar’, says that acting is difficult and particularly romance was the toughest for him.

“It was very difficult acting. I feel it is a very tough job to portray someone else’s character, and to behave like that on screen. When I had heard the story, I thought it was very interesting and that it was a very serious and intense drama, and there is action. I thought it would be difficult because good actors, Mukul (Dev) and Pawanji (Malhotra) are there,” he said at the trailer launch of ‘Zorawar’.

“The toughest thing that I had to do in this film was the 15-20 minutes of romance with Parul (Gulati). She would always wonder what happened to me. I wouldn’t understand how to do romance, I would get uncomfortable,” Singh added.

Singh, who is seen in his music videos with several girls, and also with the likes of actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Sunny Leone, quipped, “I was never seen with one girl in a video right, my videos always had many girls.”

About what made him take up acting, “I don’t consider myself just a rapper or just a singer, I’m a music producer, lyricist, I’m a poet as well, and acting is also a part of big entertainment. I call myself an entertainer, acting is the only thing which is left. I really want to learn acting also, I learned a lot in this movie how to do acting, you learn work by doing it, not by going to any institute.”

He plays a soldier in the film who is on a quest, and is seen in stylish action sequences along with his trademark foot-tapping rap numbers. Previously, Singh was seen in a few Punjabi films and in Himesh Reshammiya’s ‘The Xpose’, in smaller roles.

But he said, “I was taken as a lead, so I got more serious, I have done a few other attempts for fun, but learned a lot there and perhaps with the help of that, someone thought I could be cast as a lead,” he said.

68 APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

Sonakshi wants equal pay for women in all professions Actress Sonakshi Sinha believes that women should get equal pay in all professions.

“Women are quite vocal about their rights nowadays. And I want the change not only in film industry... Be it sports or business or in any other profession, women should be paid an equal amount,” Sonakshi said at Inglot’s Guinness World Record event here.

“I believe that this gap will be fulfilled soon. One has to earn status and respect.It doesn’t depend on whether you are a man or woman. The only difference I see in the industry is the pay disparity. It still exists,” she added.

The “Dabangg” actor also said that women empowerment needs a “lot of improvement”.

“People are much more aware these days and I thank those who stand for women empowerment. Hopefully, women will get equal footing in every aspect very soon,” she said.

On the film front, the actress will soon be seen in “Akira” and “Force 2”. www.desitoday.ca

BEAUTY & ENTERTAINMENT

“I WAS UNWANTED CHILD OF MY FAMILY” KANGANA RANAUT

Kangana Ranaut may be on a golden run on the professional front -- however, her personal life, she says, was never easy as she was the “unwanted child” in her family.

The actress made this bold confession at the launch of a new cover of Femina magazine, that features her along with her sister Rangoli, an acid attack survivor.

“My parents had a child before Rangoli, who died within 10 days of his birth. He was called Hero. My parents couldn’t emerge from the loss of that baby boy. But then Rangoli happened and she was taken care of, there was a huge celebration.

“But when I was born, my parents, my mother especially, couldn’t come to terms with that fact that they had another baby girl,” the actress, who has portrayed womencentric characters in films like “Queen” and “Tanu Weds Manu Returns”, said here.

“I know these stories in detail because every time a guest visited, or there was a gathering, they repeated this story in front of me that how I was the unwanted child,” she added.

Kangana further confessed: “It’s very hard to live in an environment where you’re reminded and constantly told that your existence just happens to be there... That you are not meant to be here.”

KANGANA WANTED TO MAKE FILM ON SISTER RANGOLI Kangana considers her sister Rangoli, an acid attack survivor, a “real hero”. The “Queen” star says she had once wanted to make a film on Rangoli’s inspiring life, but the latter felt it would be a flop.

Kangana spoke here at the new cover page launch of Femina magazine featuring her with Rangoli.

Talking about the struggle of her sister, who is also her manager, Kangana said: “Rangoli is a real hero and she should get her due, but we are not the kind of people who www.desitoday.ca

Kangana with her sister Rangoli go out there and seek acknowledgement for our struggle. Rangoli’s story is extremely sensitive.

“I want the society to applaud and acknowledge people who are real heroes.

Rangoli is one such real hero, and I am very proud to be her sister. She has been my inspiration,” she added.

Further, the 28-year-old actress revealed how she wanted to make a film on Rangoli and play her onscreen.

“We were shooting in Arunachal Pradesh

and when this cover (of Femina) came out, I told Rangoli that I want to make a story on you and I want the rights of your life. I want to play you. She (Rangoli) said, ‘Yes, it will be a very big flop film’,” Kangana quipped.

On a serious note, Kangana thinks that her life is not as exciting as Rangoli’s.

“Rangoli’s life is far more interesting than my life, thanks to her husband who has been madly in love with her since day one. I don’t have a lover like that, so I think my life is not as exciting as Rangoli’s.”

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

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BEAUTY & ENTERTAINMENT

UPCOMING BAAGHI

| 29 April, 2016 The action packed film Baaghi is based on college rebellion. For this upcoming movie Tiger Shroff has gone abroad for a couple of months training in martial arts.

He will be playing the role of an action hero named rebel. He will go to any level to fight for his love.

FAN

| 15 April, 2016 The movie is about a crazy fan of a superstar, who is dying to meet the superstar, his idol in life. This crazy fan called Rahul is a look-alike of the superstar. While the superstar is basking in glory of success, this fan who looks just like him is cursed y the life.

SARBJIT

20 May, 2016 This is the biopic based on the life of an Indian farmer Sarabjit Singh in Punjab. He was convicted of terrorism and spying by a court in Pakistan.

In April 2013, Sarabjit was attacked by his inmates in jail and lost his life after six days of battle for life in a hospital.

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AZHAR

| 13 May, 2016 Azhar is an upcoming Indian biographical sports film directed by Tony D’Souza. It is based on the life of former Indian international cricketer, Mohammad Azharuddin. Azharuddin was accused of match-fixing but has a clean chit from A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which in November 2012 set aside a previous lifetime ban. The lower court’s order justified the life ban imposed on Mohammed Azharuddin, by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) matchfixing scandal in 2000. www.desitoday.ca

MOVIES ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS | May 27, 2016

Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past few years following in her father’s footsteps and sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland and her friends the White Rabbit, Absolem, the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter, who is not himself. The Hatter has lost his Muchness, so Mirana sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends – and enemies – at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

| May 6, 2016

Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE

May 27, 2016 Since the dawn of civilization, Apocalypse was worshipped as a god. He was the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, and amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto, to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven with the help of Professor X must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

THE JUNGLE BOOK

| April 15, 2016 The Jungle Book is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli, a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan, who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by pantherturned-stern mentor Bagheera, and the free-spirited bear Baloo. www.desitoday.ca

OCT APR / NOV MAY 2015 2016 News With A Desi View

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DESI

Around Town

India Business Network event launched at the downtown Vancouver Fairmont Waterfront Hotel with prominent members of the community.

Members of the South Asian community held a reception in honour of visiting Indian High Commissioner Vishnu Prakash at Vancouver’s Fraserview Hall.

At the celebration of Pakistan Day by the Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association of BC at Surrey’s Taj Park Banquet Hall with Pakistani Consul General Dr. Muhammad Tariq.

Fashion Show snapshots by Raasleela & Bharti Art Jewellers

Photos by Chandra Bodalia

The 12th Annual Sahara Sisters Fundariser at Vancouver’s Fraserview Hall last Sunday was a sold-out event at which donations of $18,500 went to various organizations such as Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Red Cross (for Cyclone Winston relief work in Fiji) .

Annual event of Central Association of Punjabi writers of North America & Award ceremony of renowned writer S. Harbhajan Singh Mangat of year 2016 at Bombay Banquet Hall Surrey

At the iCON Punjabi Health Forum at Surrey’s Grand Taj Banquet Hall organized by UBC’s Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine with Dr. Kendall Ho, Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji, Dr. Gulzar Cheema, Dr.Jagi Harrad, Dr. Kala Singh and Jay Bains.

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www.desitoday.ca

DESI

AROUND TOWN

SABA members smile proudly after raising $40,000 in endowment funds to support one annual entrepreneurial scholarship for a business program and another annual scholarship for “International Training for Nurses” in Kwanten Polytechnic University.

The “Delhites” were ready to party again for the “Festival of Colors”

Randeep Sarai’s grand opening of his Constituency Office

Syrian Refugees Workplace Tour at Sunrise Kitchens : Harjinder Bhogal, Paul Bhogal, Sohan Singh Bhogal with Judi Huta (Community & Employer Services Coord.) & Syrian Refugees

The Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of BC concluded its recent hugely successful fundraising drive at Vancouver’s Fraserview Hall.

Guru Raridass 639th Janam Jayanti Nagar Kiran in Burnaby

www.desitoday.ca

A ROARING SUCCESS! Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his appreciation for the Liberal Party fundraiser organized by Dr. Gulzar Cheema and his wife Harinder at Surrey’s Maharaja Banquet Hall that was a roaring success which attracted the cream of the crop from the South Asian community. Trudeau charmed the gathering as he mixed around with everyone with perfect ease.

APR / MAY 2016 News With A DESI View

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LIFE & ETC

ARE YOU

By DOMONIC CHEUNG

Unhappy?

I MIGHT KNOW WHY

Dala Lama was once asked, “What surprises you the most about humanity?” He responded,“Man, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health.”

When I first saw that quote, it really resonated deeply within my heart. I thought to myself “Isn’t this what everyone is struggling with? Why are we doing this to ourselves? We burn away our greatest asset in exchange for money and success. On top of that, we spend most of our time away from the things that ma er the most to us. Where do we draw the line? How do we find the socalled ‘balance?’”

When people talk about balance, the first misconception is they feel they should divide up their time evenly and evenly distributing them into different aspects of our lives. However, a healthy balance all starts with taking good care of yourself first. Yes, you heard me right. Take care of yourself first before you take care of anyone or anything else.

It is only then, you have the energy and clarity to devote one hundred percent to all the things you do. Otherwise you will be stretched out too thin and end up not satisfying anything at all. Prioritize time to go exercise, time to read, time to be alone, prioritize time for activities that could recharge 74

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your soul.

When you are at your best, people get the best of you. When you are not at your best, people can also feed off your negative energy. It is that simple.

I have a friend who is 25 years old and she is a very successful financial advisor.

Her typical work week is about 50-60 hours a week. Though she achieved massive success and received numerous awards for her performance, she felt empty.

During her 2 years career life, she gained weight, feet tired all the time and, most importantly, she has no energy or mood for her family and friends. No ma er how hard she tried to stretch herself to keep giving, she was not happy.

She told me that sometimes she felt like a “walking dead” and she always found herself si ing at her work desk zoning out and thinking “what is my real purpose in life?” What is important to me? What are the things that make me happy? What are the things that I would regret not doing if I was not here tomorrow?

Lately, she took on my advice to prioritize what is important to her.

She started going to the gym consistently, eating healthy everyday, investing time into self development, working on herself, and also spending more alone time instead

of giving to everyone.

A er a week of just different routines, she felt significantly happier and more fulfilled. She started to find li le things in life to appreciate and she even had a brighter smile. Her coworkers were all curious about the change. She also told me that she might consider switching field to do something that aligns with her passion.

This is the result of prioritizing what is important to her and taking care of herself foremost.

Sometimes in our hectic lives we all get lost and get caught up in the fog. I want to challenge you all to have the courage to press the pause bu on and take a step back and ask ourselves the three big questions my friend asked herself.  What is important to me?  What are the things that make me happy?  What are the things that I would regret not doing if I am not here tomorrow?

Find the answers to those questions then prioritize them and plan your life around that.

You will be amazed how quickly things start to fall into the right places and you will literally see your life change right in front of your eyes. www.desitoday.ca

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LIFE & ETC

DONALD TRUMP AND BJP HAWKS:

BIRDS OF A FEATHER? The similarities between the views of Donald Trump, the Republican Party hopeful in the US presidential campaign, and the BJP hawks in India are too obvious to be ignored.

Like all those belonging to the ultraright, their primary animus is against the “outsider” in terms of ethnicity or religion.

In venting their anger against the menacing “alien”, they arouse the primordial fears which guided primitive communities living in isolated ghettos. These herd instincts have survived centuries of social and scientific progress.

The followers of Trump and the BJP hardliners share a deep dislike for Muslims, bordering on paranoia. If, for the Republican (who, ironically, is an outsider in his own party), the antipathy for the Muslims is a fallout of 9/11, for the BJP extremists, it is a built-in feature of their worldview, dating to the formation of the RSS nine decades ago.

The aversion for outsiders is also reflected in tirades against immigrants, especially 76

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non-whites, which is a feature of other rightwing parties in Europe like Marine Le Pen’s National Front in France and Alternative for Germany (Alternative fur Deutschland).

In Trump’s case, Mexicans are the primary villains; for BJP it is the intruders from Bangladesh. Related to this influx is the fear that in course of time, the demographic composition of the two countries will change with the present majority communities - the WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) in the US and the Hindus in India being supplanted by the Browns (Mexicans, Puerto Ricans) in America and the Muslims in India.

Supporters of Trump point out that he reflects the anger at the grassroots against an insensitive establishment, whose striving for political correctness leads to handling the newcomers with kid gloves in keeping with America’s 19th century pledge - “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses” - although the invitation was for White refugees from Europe.

Similarly, both the hardliners and the moderates in the BJP accuse the Congress governments of the past with following a policy of minority “appeasement” to coddle the Muslims to use them as a vote bank. According to them, it is this favouritism which has made the long-suffering Hindus turn in increasing numbers to the BJP. Critics of Trump and the BJP hardliners see in these attitudes disturbing signs of fascistic tendencies which seek to reduce the minorities to the status of second class citizens. What is noteworthy, however, is that while the BJP as a party and Narendra Modi as the prime minister have recognized the need to tone down an anti-minority outlook, Trump shows no such inclination. Indeed, it is very likely that in the aftermath of the Brussels outrage, he will harden his stance against the Muslims.

The reason why the Muslims - and sometimes also the Sikhs because of their beards - are targeted in the US is that they have never constituted an integral part of Ameriwww.desitoday.ca

can society unlike in India where the Hindus have lived together with various minorities - Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and others - for centuries.

In contrast, America’s WASP mindset is different. Having very nearly exterminated the Native Americans or Red Indians, they fought a long battle with the African Americans or the Blacks in order to keep them in virtual bondage. To this day, when the US has a Black President, the community’s legitimacy as true Americans is questioned by the red necks.

Trump’s emergence represents the rise of these boorish elements who feel that the dominance of the Whites is under threat.

Before him, there were White supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and others who regarded the Washington insiders of the so-called beltway as usurpers. It is this aspect of Trump’s policies which can prove to be his Achilles heel, for extremism is rarely successful as a political ploy.

In India, mercifully, the BJP developed its own antidote to majoritarian bigotry in the person of Modi, who realized some time after the 2002 Gujarat riots that a country cannot be governed by alienating a sizable section of the population.

From the provocative anti-minority politics of the 1990s, therefore, when a 16th century mosque was demolished by the BJP’s supporters, leading to countrywide riots, Modi today is following the policy of development for all - sabka saath, sabka vikas and trying to restrain the hotheads.

That he is not always successful is understandable. After all, he is up against inbuilt anti-minority prejudices in the saffron brotherhood. The violent biases not only come to the fore in the event of rumours of beef being consumed but also when the party is engaged in battling the “anti-nationals” as among the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students.

On such an occasion, a saffron activist can say: “humney Graham Staines ko jinda jalaya, iss bar Kanhaiya ki bari hai (we burnt alive Graham Staines, now it is Kanhaiya’s turn). Staines was a Christian missionary who was burnt alive in Odisha in 1996 and Kanhaiya Kumar is a JNU student leader.

The activist can be said to have trumped even Trump with his virulence. But he is unlikely to be allowed to run for an official position in a saffron outfit, let alone be a presidential candidate. That is India’s saving grace, thanks to the nation’s long history of tolerance dating to Emperor Asoka (273-232 BC).

- Amulya Ganguli, IANS www.desitoday.ca

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LIFE & ETC

ALOO TIKKA

Tandoori aloo or aloo tikka is one of our favorite starter dish which we order often in restaurants. The recipe here shares Pan Frying method for cooking the potatoes.

Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 20 mins; Serves: 3-4 INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml) - 250 grams baby potatoes or regular potatoes - ½ cup hung curd or thick curd - 3 tbsp low fat cream - 1 tbsp besan or gram flour (substitute 1 tbsp arrow root flour or corn starch or maize flour/corn meal) - 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste or ¾ inch ginger + 5 to 6 small to medium garlic cloves, crushed to a paste in a mortar-pestle - ½ tsp ajwain/carom seeds - 1.5 to 2 tsp kashmiri red chili powder - ½ tsp garam masala powder - 1 tsp chaat masala powder - 1 tsp coriander powder/dhania powder - ½ tsp kasuri methi, dry fenugreek leaves, crushed (optional) - ⅛ tsp or 2 to 3 pinches of turmeric powder (optional) - 1 to 2 drops of natural color orange extract (optional) - black salt or regular salt as required - 3 tbsp oil for pan frying - oil as required for brushing if grilling 78

APR / MAY 2016 News With A Desi View

INSTRUCTIONS Prepping and Marination: - rinse the potatoes very well. brush or scrub the mud etc from them.

- first parboil or half cook 250 grams baby potatoes. if pressure cooking, then just pressure cook for 1 whistle. drain the potatoes very well.

- let them become warm and peel them. halve them if they are larger in size. keep aside.

- take ½ cup thick curd or hung curd in a mixing bowl.

- add the following spices - 2 tsp gingergarlic paste, ½ tsp ajwain/carom seeds, 1.5 to 2 tsp kashmiri red chili powder, ½ tsp garam masala powder, 1 tsp chaat masala powder, 1 tsp coriander powder/ dhania powder, ½ tsp kasuri methi, crushed (optional), ⅛ tsp or 2 to 3 pinches turmeric powder (optional) and black salt as required.

- mix very well.

- now add 3 tbsp low fat cream and 1 tbsp besan or gram flour. again mix very well.

- you can also add 1 to 2 drops of natural color orange extract. this is optional.

- mix again very well.

- check the taste of the marination and add more black salt if required.

- now add the potatoes in the curd marination.

- mix very well. cover and allow to marinate for 30 minutes or for a couple of hours.

This salt and pepper tofu has been lightly adapted from ‘the mainland china cookbook’. the dish can be had as a starter snack or even as a side dish. serve with a dipping sauce like chili sauce or schezuan sauce. for black pepper, its best to crush them and add. and if you do not have sichuan pepper, then just skip it. there will be some flavor loss, but still the recipe will taste good.

Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins; Serves: 3-4 INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml) - 200 grams firm tofu - 1 tbsp corn starch - 2 tbsp sesame oil or any oil

SALT & PEPPER TOFU

PAN FRYING - heat 3 tbsp oil in a shallow frying pan.

- coat each tikka with the marination and place them in the hot oil. you can fry in batches too.

- on a low to medium flame fry them.

- when one side becomes slightly crisp and cooked, turn each potato piece and fry their other sides.

- fry till the potatoes become crisp and the marination masala coating the potatoes, has also become crisp and golden.

- place them on a kitchen paper towel.

- serve the aloo tikka with mint chutney accompanied with onion and lemon slices. you can also sprinkle some chaat masala on top of the tikka while serving. www.desitoday.ca

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1 tsp black pepper, crushed 4 to 5 schezuan pepper, crushed 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger ⅓ cup chopped spring onion whites or regular onions 1 dry red chili, broken and deseeded 1 green chili, chopped or fresh red chili, chopped ½ tsp dry red chili flakes (optional) ½ tsp chopped celery (optional) 1 to 2 tsp soy sauce ½ tsp rice vinegar ½ to 1 tsp rice wine salt as required 1 to 2 tbsp chopped spring onion greens

INSTRUCTIONS - Chop tofu in cubes. before chopping, do press the tofu between two weights or keep a weight on top to remove excess water or moisture from it. dab with paper towels to remove the moisture from the tofu. take the tofu cubes in a bowl and sprinkle 1 tbsp corn starch on them. substitutes for corn starch are arrowroot flour or tapioca starch.

- gently toss and coat the tofu cubes with the flour.

- now heat 2 tbsp sesame oil or any oil in a frying pan.

- pan fry the tofu cubes till they are crisp and light golden.

- remove and keep aside. you can even keep the fried tofu on paper towels to remove excess oil.

- now in the same pan, add ⅓ cup chopped spring onion whites or regular onions, 1 dry red chili (broken and deseeded), 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic and 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger.

- on a medium flame, saute for 1 to 2 minutes or till the onions turn translucent.

- then add crushed 4 to 5 sichuan peppercorns (crushed), 1 tsp black pepper (crushed) and ½ tsp red chili flakes (optional). stir well.

- then add 1 to 2 tsp soy sauce. stir very well.

- now add the pan fried tofu.

- season with salt. keep a check on salt as soy sauce already has salt. stir well.

- then add ½ tsp rice vinegar and ½ to 1 tsp rice wine (optional). stir again.

- switch off the flame and add 1 to 2 tbsp chopped spring onion greens.

- lastly stir and serve salt and pepper tofu as a starter or as side dish. www.desitoday.ca

LIFE & ETC

Know what your star says

HOROSCOPE APR-2016 WITH PANDIT SRI SRI RAM SURREY WALE Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) You may feel the need to put on a brave front in April as you are feeling vulnerable and quite touchy inside. This is not a month when you will be able to take criticism on board easily, and you should shy away from situations or people where you are likely to be put down. What you don’t need is negativity. Sometimes you just need positivity around you, and you need to hear some compliments, and so make sure you surround yourself with upbeat people who are encouraging and who focus on the glass half full. Constructive criticism can also be a bad thing if there is too much of it without a balancing dose of encouragement.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

You are not instinctive, in fact, you prefer to act in accordance with reason and critical evaluation, but in April you can be rather emotionally and instinctively driven. Often your impulsive reactions to a situation are in contrast to what you consciously aimed to do, and the result can mean you taking a different direction quite suddenly. Emotions and irritations can flare up quite quickly from nowhere, and it will be hard for you to keep a lid on them.

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)

You are very competitive and physically vital in April, and so this is an ideal time to train for something or undertake a sporting challenge. If you have a deadline or are working hard to complete on a goal, this is a month when you can make great strides as you are highly productive and capable of directing your energy and that of others towards the end goal. You can be very motivating and encouraging to others.

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)

In this month of Aries it is important that we are conscious of our actions, both individually and collectively. As Newton’s Third Law states, “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction”. Therefore, we need to be aware that the actions we choose to take will have results that match not only our deeds, but the intentions

behind our deeds.

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)

It’s a period when you will pause to take stock and perhaps re-think your strategy. Certainly not a month to push ahead regardless, you need to take some time to stop, listen, investigate and plan again. This does not represent a major hitch at all, just a chance to re-adjust and rethink the way you are going about things. Taurus, it can be really helpful to look at how you are feeling on an emotional and intuitive level about where you are at – this can help you take an insightful approach forward. This is not just about practicalities, it’s about you.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21)

You are courageous and decisive this month. You will be called upon to provide moral leadership on issues at home, work and within your social life. You will have a surplus of energy and will be able to work for long periods without becoming tired and drained. You are the Alpha Male/Female, even if that is not a role you usually take on. You can be successful in leadership roles as you are encouraging more than bossy, and that wins you respect. You are likely to take up sporting pursuits, but more for the enjoyment than the competitive aspect – you are enthusiastic, not fiercely competitive right now.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22)

It is a very productive month where you can work quietly and get things done without much interference. Most of what you do will take place in the background with little fanfare, and so this is not a month for trailblazing and launching yourself onto the social scene or planning anything very daring. You should focus on consistency and enjoy the relative lull by tending to things you do not usually have time for.

Leo (July 23-Aug 22)

Leo, generous and forgiving, your relations with others are excellent in April 2016, and so this is a really good time to network or

start new projects, especially if those projects rely on teamwork, cooperation and require a good spirit. You are very motivating right now – so in any aspect of life, you can inspire others and together create a successful enterprise whatever that happens to be. As you are giving off such a tangible positivity and are vibrant and vivacious, this favours you in all aspects of life where you have to make a positive impression on others.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sept 22)

Virgo, it is a period where your enthusiasm and boldness will allow you to take up challenges that you may usually shy away from. You are restless and unlikely to be passive and let life control you; you want to shape things and will not take a back seat and let others or circumstances dictate events. Try not to get fired up and get into arguments over religious or philosophical issues as these are likely to become contentious and unpleasant with no real purpose.

Libra (Sept 23-Oct 22)

A cheerful, bubbly persona will also help you to make new contacts in whatever new venture you choose to pursue. Libra, you are very outgoing and are giving the impression to others of someone who can make things happen. Events will help boost your confidence, and you are likely to attract people who can be of help to you in the new plans you are making.

It is a month of good karma, and where the power of attraction can be used much to your advantage.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)

April 2016 can be a great month, where a burst of optimism and confidence can help get you over a hurdle, or it can also be a time when you throw caution to the wind and act unadvisedly, confident that you can get away with it – do not fall into the latter category. Temper some of your optimism with caution and do not make hasty decisions. You are impatient and prone to act rashly on the spur of the moment, take a step back and a deep breath – do not assume arrogantly that you have the answers. You can do yourself more harm than good by rushing into things.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)

Stars recommend to try not to fall into conflicts and maximize smooth corners. Thus Sagittarians can protect itself from enemies who are trying to provoke them. Listen to your feelings, they do not in any way disappoint.

Sagittarius must show their perseverance in the professional sphere, especially if they are unsure of their decisions, it is absolutely not necessary to be silent and hide their brilliant ideas.

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