AN ONLINE MAGAZINE ABOUT FIJI AND INDIA LIFESTYLES PUBLISHED IN USA
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SHAUNEL NARAIN’S PASSION FOR ANIMALS PROUD PARENTS OF KAUSHAL DEO- ROSHNI AND HARRY DEO OF VANCOUVER CANADA
KAUSHAL DEO WINS USA/FIJI IDOL 2017 TITLE
PUBLISHED & EDITED BY ARUN MAHARAJ HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA-USA 510—875 0568—indiafijitoday@gmail.com Facebook.com/Arun Maharaj
PUBLISHED IN USA A MAGAZINE ABOUT INDIA AND FIJI LIFESTYLES PUBLISHED IN USA
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Publisher’s Profile ARUN MAHARAJ—HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA USA PUBLISHER / EDITOR—INDIA FIJI TODAY I HAD AN INTEREST IN CREATIVE WRITING FROM MY SCHOOL DAYS. AS A TEACHER IN FIJI I DID NOT TEACH ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND MY WRITING INTEREST GOT SUBSIDED FOR A WHILE UNTIL I JOINED NASINU JAYCEES AND BECAME THE FIRST EDITOR OF ITS MAGAZINE. FURTHERMORE, I COMPILED NUMEROUS NEWSLETTERS AND EDITED MANY MAGAZINES OF NASINU AND FIJI JAYCEES. AS A TEACHER I ALSO COM- ARUN MAHARAJ PILED AND EDITED MAGAZINES FOR DAV INTERACT CLUB AND ANNUAL MAGAZINES FOR RISHIKUL COLLEGE. WHILE TEACHING AT VUNIMONO HIGH SCHOOL IN NAUSORI I BECAME THE SECRETARY OF REWA SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ SOCCER ASSOCIATION AND ASSISTANT SECRETRARY OF THE REWA BRANCH OF THE FIJI TEACHERS’ UNION. AT THAT TIME I JOINED NASINU JAYCEES WHEN IT WAS JUST A FEW MOINTHS OLD. LATER I BECAME A PRESIDENT OF NASINU JAYCEES. LATER I BECAME THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF FIJI JAYCEEES AND A JAYCEES INTERNATIONAL SENATOR. I ALSO TAUGHT AT DAV BOYS COLLEGE IN SUVA AND SERVED AS THE PATRON OF DAV INTERACT CLUB. I TOOK ON A CHALLENGING TASK OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NEWLY FORMED FIJI TEACHERS’ UNION—CREDIT UNION. AT THIS TIME I TOOK UP THE POSITION OF THE DIRECTOR OF NASINU FESTIVAL FOR TWO TERMS AND ALSO ASSITED THE VALELEVU HOSPITAL IN NASINU AS AN ADVISOR FOR THEIR HOSPITAL CARNIVAL. AS AJAYCEES MEMBER I ATTENDED THE JAPAN JAYCEES YOUTH VOYAGE IN JAPAN AND AS ITS NATIONAL PRESDENT ATTENDED THE JAYCEES WORLD CONGRESS IN JAPAN. I ALSO TAUGHT AT YAT SEN SCHOOL IN SUVA AND RISHIKUL COLLEGE IN NASINU WHERE I SERVED AS THE ADVISOR OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL AND TEACHER IN CHARGE OF THE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES—ORATORY AND QUIZ. AFTER MIGRATING TO THE USA I SET UP MY MAGAZINE—INDIA FIJI TODAY WHICH IS ONLINE NOW AND FULFILLED MY DESIRE OF WRITING. I ALSO SERVED AS AN ADVISOR OF THE USA—FIJI FESTIVAL. IT WAS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE APPOINTED THE HONORARY CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL IN USA AND IN THAT CAPACITY I WAS INVITED TO THE UNITED STATES ANNUAL PRESIDENT’S DINNER IN WASHINGTON D.C. IN 2003, DURING PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH’S PRESIDENCY. CURRENTLY I AM A RETIRED PARAEDUCATOR WITH HAYWARD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT/TENNYSON HIGH SCHOOL IN HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA—USA. I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING THIS ISSUE OF ‘INDIA FIJI TODAY!
Arun Maharaj — PUBLISHER / EDITOR 1
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FIJI FEATURE FIJI’S HIDDEN NATURAL BEAUTY AND BEAUTIFUL REMOTE SCENERY AND SITES.. Fiji’s many remote sites in the interior of Viti Levu and other islands are full of nature and places to visit to enjoy maximum peace. The serenity that the environment offers may be unparalleled. Nature undisturbed is an ecosystem full of life. Fiji’s many islands fortunately offer these natural environment for people to explore and enjoy. One such site is the Nausori Highlands in the interior of Western Division of Viti Levu. In the picture below, Doctor Shanita Sen of Nasinu is seen with her family exploring the Nausori Highlands and they arrived at a height from where, according to them you could either turn to Ba or Sigatoka. Doctor Shanita Sen is a Medical Practitioner and runs her medical center in Nasinu. Fiji’s beaches also provide great attraction to the locals and tourists DOCTOR SHANITA SEN OF NASINU and has WITH HER FAMILY DURING A TOUR OF easy access NAUSORI HIGHLANDS RECENTLY... to the open sea where marine life is explored and enjoyed by the people, some for fishing and others for entertainment. Many coastal hotels and resorts offer cruise in the open sea. The tour of the interior of Fiji’s islands is an extra effort to enjoy the beauty of nature that lies there and has been there for ages. 3
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FIJI COMMUNITY ABROAD Volume
Issue
NEWS FROM FIJI COMMUNITY LIVING ABROAD Newsletter Date
KAUSHAL DEO OF VANCOUVER CANADA WINS FIJI IDOL 2017 IN USA LAST MONTH... Last month the Fiji American National Association held their Annual Fiji Idol here in the Bay Area; with this year being an international competition. Competitors came from Australia, Canada, and here in the USA to compete. Kaushal Deo was the winner of this year's Fiji Idol. He sang 4 songs in the competition: Main Tenu Samjhawan from 'Humpty Sharma Ke Dulhania', Baatein Ye Kabhi Na from 'Khamoshiyan', Mast Magan from '2 States' and Bulleya from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. He is a singer born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Son of Fiji born parents Harry and Roshni Deo, Kaushal grew up listening to Hindi music and began singing at the age of 8. Kaushal began with piano lessons, then transitioned to percussion and singing as he continued to progress in music. He is learning formal Indian classical voice from his Guruji Sri Davinder Bhatti Ji at the Krishna College of Music and Dance. His favorite singers include Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Arijit Singh, Adam Levine, The Weeknd, and Kendrick Lamar. Together with his brother Krishan Deo, and sister Karishma Deo, they have a YouTube channel 'DmEdge', where they remix old and new songs. Their remix of the classic Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si from the movie 'Anamika' has over 50,000 Views on YouTube. Alongside music, Kaushal is a student at Simon Fraser University studying Finance as part of his Business Administration education. You can find Kaushal on Facebook at 'Kaushal Deo - Kaudeo', on Instagram '@Kaudeo' and on YouTube at 'DmEdge'.
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KAUSHAL DEO WITH HIS WINNING TROPHY
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PEOPLE IN FIJI COMMUNITY IN FIJI AND ABROAD Volume
Issue
Newsletter Date
BRISBANE AUSTRALIA RESIDENT SHAUNEL NARAIN’S PASSION FOR ANIMALS... After exploring other avenues of study such as Business and Psychology he came to find that his true passion lay with animals, specifically their behavior. He decided to pursue a Bachelor of Zoology which led to his current course in Captive Animal Management. He hopes to use the skills he has attained throughout his studies as well as the experience he has gained through volunteering at the RSPCA and animal rescue centers to further enhance his knowledge and understanding of animal behavior. He is currently employed as a senior dog trainer for Queensland’s preferred Service, therapy, minddog and dog training company - Positive response dog training and hopes to open his own business one day. SHAUNEL NARAIN DURING HIS RECENT ANIMAL TRAINING CLASS...
wishes him further success in his animal related career. 7
INDIA FIJI TODAY
A LOOK AT FIJI TODAY A BEAUTIFUL SCENE ALONGSIDE QUEEN’S HIGHWAY IN THE WESTERN FIJI
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
DRIVING ALONG THE QUEEN’S HIGHWAY YOU COME ACROSS THIS WONDERFUL SITE WHICH IS DEFINITELY AN EYE CATCHER. PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
VALELEVU NASINU THE SITE OF NASINU TOWN FIJI’S LATEST TOWN NASINU IS BASED AT VALELEVU WITH THE BASIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES OF POLICE STATION, POST OFFICE AND HOSPITAL. THERE ARE SHOPPPINBG CENTERS ALSO SITUATED THERE. NASINU’S SHOPPING COMPLEXES HAVE STRETRCHED OUT THROUGHOUT NASINU.
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TAKING A LOOK BACK AT ….
THE ONCE HIGHLY FLOURISHING CANE FARM.. Cane farms have been the country’s major strength as they produced Fiji’s major crop. The industry has been the major industry of Fiji for the many past years. For some the farms and the sugar cane crops meant everything as their livelihood was based on it. The year round activities on the farm and the ultimate yearly harvesting of the cane were all that some people did in life as the cane farming was dear to them and they were highly possessive of it. Most of the farmers had the land for the farm leased by landowners and things were all good as it was a system they were used and lived by it. A regular source of income is all that people need for financially secure life and their cane crops gave them that security. Sugar cane industry in the Western and Northern Divisions of Fiji were the most popular industry there and lots of people living there were connected to it as farmers and even otherwise. There were various operations and activities going on in the industry. Today some of those highly prosperous cane farms are idle as no activities go on there. The cane land-lease issue sent some farmers out of their farms forever. Those farms were not only farms but were venues for many farm related activities that went on there for PICTURE years. “If the farms TAKEN BY were to speak, they ARUN would relate many MAHARAJ stories of activities that took place there.” The farms were places for active and serious hard work of planting and regular daily work on it leading to the harvesting. Alongside the work, A ONCE FLOUSISHING CANE FARM there were lots of IN THE INTERIOR OF THE WESTERN FIJI social activities going on as people interacted with each other, particularly during the harvesting period as groups of cane cutters worked together. Some of those cane farms have become history.
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INDIAN CINEMA FLASHBACK FILMFARE AWARD 1970... 1970 FILMFARE AWARD held for the films released in 1969 saw
Sharmila Tagore taking away the BEST ACTRESS award for the year. The award was given for her outstanding performance in film ARADHNA. The film was also awarded the BEST FILM of the year award. Aradhna has the great team work of Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore. As a popular star—pair they gave numerous other hits including, the popular- Safar and Amar Prem. Rajesh Khanna’s popularity reached great heights as he became the first super-star of Indian Film Industry. His teaming with Sharmila Tagore earned them many hit films. The BEST ACTOR award was awarded to veteran actor Ashok Kumar for his role in film ASHIRWAD. Information source—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Filmfare_Awards
INDIA TODAY PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
SHIMLA HILLY ROAD IN HIMACHAL PRADESH A BUS ABOUT TO CLIMB THE HILLY WINDING ROADS OF SHIMLA. PEOPLE CAN BE SEEN SITTING ON TOP OF THE BUS. 11
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PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ’S CAMERA
RK STUDIOUS IN MUMBAI I had the opportunity of visiting the famous R K Studio in Chembur, Mumbai in 2005. It was a great honor to be at the film studio founded by late Raj Kapoor. The popular old hit films of Raj Kapoor, were produced there.
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ’S CAMERA
FIJI NIGHT IN JAPAN IN 1986...
This picture was taken in Nagoya, Japan during the Jaycees World Congress in 1986. In the picture l-r facing picture-Top – A Mauritius Jaycees delegate, a Jaycees International vice president - Bottom—A Mauritius Jaycees delegate, Arun Maharaj– National President Fiji Jaycees, Kenya Jaycees National Secretary. 13
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INDIA TODAY HILLTOP SITE IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN THIS SITE IS AROUND THE MAAN SINGH PALACE ON THE HILL SIDE. THE SITE IS VERY BEAUTIFUL ATTRACTING TOURISTS TO VISIT THE SITE IN JAIPUR A BEAUTIFUL CITY IN RAJASTHAN.
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
HAJI ALI DARGAH– MUMBAI THE HAJI ALI DARGAH AND MOSQUE IS SITAUTED OFF THE COAST IN THE SOUTH PART OF MUMBAI IN THE CENTER OF CITY. IT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR LANDMARKS OF MUMBAI.
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
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INDIA TODAY LAKSHMAN JHULA—RISHIKESH, UTTARKHAND THIS IS A RELIGIOUS SITELACHMAN JHULA VISITED BY LOCALS AND PEOPLE FROM ABROAD. IT IS A PILGRIMAGE TO CROSS THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE ACROSS RIVER GANGES. RISHIKESH IS IN THE NORTH OF INDIA.
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
A HOTEL IN SHIMLA— HIMACHAL PRADESH
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
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THIS IS A HOTEL IN SHIMLA IN THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH. HOTELS ATE QUITE BUSY DURING SUMMER AS PEOPLE TRY TO ESCAPE FROM THE HARSH SUMMER AND COOL DOWN AT THE HILL STATION CITY.
INDIA TODAY POPULAR JUHU BEACH—MUMBAI...
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BEACHES IN MUMBAI, IT IS VISITED BY PEOPLE FROM ABROAD AND LOCALS ALIKE. IT IS A POPULAR FILM SHOOTING SITE FOR INDIAN FILMS.
MEHBOOB FILM STUDIO—MUMBAI ANOTHER POPULAR SITE FOR FILM SHOOTING FOR INDIAN FILMSMEHBOOB STUDIO, SITUATED IN BANDRA, MUMBAI. IT WAS HIGHLY EXCITING FOR ME TO BE AT A HISTORIC SITE WHERE SOME POPULAR OLD INDIAN FILMS WERE PRODUCED.
PICTURE TAKEN BY ARUN MAHARAJ
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INDIA FIJI TODAY AN ONLINE MAGAZINE PUBLISHER / EDITOR ARUN MAHARAJ HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA USA PHONE—510 875 0568 EMAIL—indiafijitoday@gmail.com FACEBOOK.COM / ARUN MAHARAJ OBJECTIVES OF ‘INDIA FIJI TODAY’ TO ENTERTAIN READERS TROUGH ARTICLES AND PICTURES ON FIJI COMMUNITY ABROAD—PEOPLE IN FIJI COMMUNITY—A LOOK AT FIJI TODAY—FIJI FEATURE—A LOOK AT FIJI’S PAST—FIJI FLASHBACK— INDIAN CINEMA—INDIA TODAY
Disclaimer—Fiji Today/Fiji Feature THE ARICLES AND PICTURE ARE FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY AND THE ARTICLES ARE THE EDITOR’S VIEWS AND OPINION ONLY. Any error/s and or misinterpretation are regretted and the editor / publisher is not responsible for any such error/s and or further discussions and or any liability. Publisher/Editor of India Fiji Today will not accept any LIABILITY, CRITICISM, ANNOYANCE or ADVERSE REACTION what so ever, to the contrary of its intention caused by any misinterpretation, miss-understanding or non-acceptance of the same.— Advertisements The claims made by the advertisers are entirely their own and the editor / publisher does not necessarily support or endorse these claims.
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