Indian News Queensland - June 2019 (Vol 2 Issue 9) by Australia India News

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JUNE 2019 Vol 2 Issue 9

How Modi Tsunami decimated Opposition

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JUNE 2019

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Dear Readers, Modi Tsunami and Scomo Miracle are the headline news, and both the Prime Ministers in India and Australia have announced their ministers. Women have been the big winners in Scott Morrison’s post-election reshuffle with an influx of new female faces into the ranks of the ministry. The cabinet will maintain its record level female ministers. Ken Wyatt, the first Indigenous cabinet minister, was appointed as the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Back in India, Mr Narender Modi was also sworn in along with 58 members of his new government. There are now 77 female MPs, but just six have become ministers and only three of them have been given cabinet posts. Mr S Jaishankar, a 64-year-old retired bureaucrat well-known for his crucial role in India's foreign policy under Mr Modi, has become the new foreign minister. Only three of the cabinet ministers - Ms Seetharaman, Mr Jaishankar and Sadanand Gowda - are from India's five southern states, which sent 119 MPs to parliament. With June having just begun, there are many events and festivals in the offing across Queensland. So there is plenty to look forward to this month. The World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans. This year, the President of the UN General Assembly launched 'Play It Out', a global campaign INQ Available @ Your Nearest Store against plastic pollution. Decades of overuse and a surge in single-use City Stores plastics has led to a global environmental catastrophe, which can be well Brisbane Mirch masala addressed with initiatives like 'Play It Out'. Delights of Paradise Swades Foods Bombay bliss Sami Import & Exports Global Convenience Store KKN Spices Goa Indian Fusion Rasoi master Spice World Indian Grocery The Chilli Spice Curryhub Indian Aroma Townsville Indian Groceries Cairn Indian Groceries Flavourin, Rockhampton Roshni Indian Restaurant, Mackay Nilima Indian Restaurant Krishna Spice

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | NEWS

Deconstructing Indian Election 2019

How Modi wave swept India and decimated Opposition BJP-led NDA takes an unassailable lead with 353 out of 543 seats in the Lower House of the Indian Parliament; Congress, the only pan-India party, has been relegated to insignificance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders celebrating their victory in the general elections 2019

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done it again, much to the chagrin of the Opposition in India. The Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has delivered a stupendous victory, brushing aside factors such as anti-incumbency, rising unemployment, mounting agrarian crisis, the demons of demonetisation and a hasty rollout of Goods and Services Tax. That this should happen at a time when an effort was on to forge a strong and credible alliance of various opposition parties, both before the polls and in its aftermath, must be perceived as a show of gigantic proportions by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the Party crossing the 300 mark in the 543seat Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Indian Parliament. Such a strong show by the BJP may not have been dreamt of even by the staunchest of the Party’s supporters. But, besides the Party’s reaching the empyrean heights so far as electoral win is concerned, it is the decimation of the grand old party, the Indian National Congress, which is equally worthy of hitting the headlines of newspapers across the world. After a strong performance in certain states, particularly the Hindi heartland in the Assembly Polls in December last year, the fortunes of the Congress seemed to be reviving at a crucial time when the 2019 General Elections were round the corner. However, despite Congress’ best efforts to project Rahul Gandhi as a Centrist-leader who would work assiduously for the well-being of all sections of the society, irrespective of the denomina-

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tions of caste and religion, it cut no ice with the majority of voters. A host of factors combined to hand out a victory to the NDA, while robbing the Congress and other Opposition parties of even a semblance of hope for forming the next government. People across the political spectrum, post the election results, are stunned by it. Some have now begun to contend that the Modi-wave of 2014 resurfaced or perhaps an undercurrent of the wave persisted throughout the five years of his governance. This, however, is a naïve assessment of what is being increasingly hailed as Modi’s colossal victory, larger and more convincing than the one he managed to achieve in 2014. The mandate of the electorate is loud and clear, people want Modi at the helm of affairs in the country. Rahul Gandhi does not even feature in the imagination of the majority as a possible alternative to Modi, who is perceived as a “protector of the country and its people”. BJP’s winning strategy BJP has outwitted the Opposition on all fronts, just as it managed to do so in the last elections in 2014. While the Opposition this year did its utmost to play the caste card, they could not mobilise the voters enough on a rhetoric that no longer enthuses or motivates the electorate to the extent it did even half-adecade back. If the Opposition, especially the grand alliance forged by Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samajwadi Party, both former Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, attempted to polarize the voters on the basis of caste to negate Modi’s influence,

the BJP projected itself as a prodevelopment party that considered only two divisions in the society---the haves and the have-nots. If the Congress tried to rake up Modi government’s dismal performance in creating jobs and in addressing the agrarian distress, the BJP turned the tide in their favour by highlighting the government’s commitment to first ensure national security on a firm footing and by projecting Modi as the one who ‘when he is at the helm, all is well’. The BJP deliberately peddled nationalism as a credible poll plank, equating it with inclusive development. The entire BJP election campaigning revolved around Modi’s persona as the man who alone could usher the country in the era of progress and development, as also the leader who walks the talk. The Balakot airstrike in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force, post the Pulwama attacks in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists on a CRPF convoy, was profusely highlighted to reap rich harvest in terms of mobilising voters to cast their votes in favour of a leader who was prepared to risk even his political fortunes for the sake of his country and its people. Besides building a general narrative in the country that it is only Modi and his government that has the prowess to take on any adversary, even the mightiest ones from across the border and elsewhere, the BJP was able to divert public attention from the core issues concerning the failure of its government to deliver on the economic front. This could also be stated as one of the glaring failures of the Opposition, particularly the Congress, the

India General Elections 2019 results only pan-India party in contention being the only state where it is still to confront the BJP. That the inci- flourishing. That the BJP could dents of sectarian violence which weather the storm of Mamata’s vitricropped up recently in the name of olic attacks and her goons’ violence cow vigilantes in certain states was unleashed against the Party’s candinot raised to the extent it should dates and supporters, is suggestive have been, could also go down as of the fact that the BJP has emerged one of the strategic failures of the as a force to reckon with in West Opposition. The BJP’s rhetoric of Bengal. Mamata’s pandering to the ‘inclusive development through minorities at the expense of the ascooperation with all’ seems to have pirations of the majority has cost resonated with the electorate across her several seats in these elections, much to the delight of the BJP. The the country. This time around the BJP has also majority in Bengal live under a constrengthened its presence at the stant fear of demographic imbalgrassroots level in most of the states, ance following Mamata’s policy of including West Bengal and Odisha, appeasing the minority community. where their performance in the last The last Panchayat elections were general election in 2014 was unre- an indicative of the rising dissent in markable, to say the least. The four- the state against Mamata’s rule. This pronged approach for reaching out simmering social dissent was what to the voters worked perfectly for the BJP was waiting for, as it had the BJP in most of the states. While been trying to make inroads into the Party workers worked relentless- Bengal for a while. But the surprise ly in communicating to the voters element was that no one could have the achievements of the government foreseen BJP winning 18 seats in a and what lay ahead for them if they state where the local party (TMC) chose to vote for Modi, the Party’s had seemingly a firm hold on the electoral candidates carried forward voters’ pulse and head by following the NDA agenda with a slew of a policy of carrot and stick. promises. BJP president Amit Shah In Bihar, the erosion of support and his rallies and road shows cre- for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ated the much-needed momentum meant that the BJP had a good in favour of the BJP. Then on top chance of winning a significant of it, Modi’s rallies and road shows number of seats in the state. BJP’s further fortified people’s conviction ally in the NDA, the Janata Dal that Modi is the man who would (United) of Bihar Chief Minister deliver the goods for the well-being Nitish Kumar has also benefitted in terms of the number of seats it of the people. won in the state. Of all the factors BJP’s stellar performance in key behind the RJD and the Congress states biting the dust in Bihar, the absence The most remarkable and note- from the political scene of Lalu worthy performance of the BJP-led Prasad Yadav, the RJD stalwart now NDA in these elections has been in behind bars for his role in the Fodthe state of West Bengal, where the der scam, is also crucial. It was Lalu BJP had managed only two seats Yadav who had ensured that the BJP in the 2014 general elections. This lost in the last assembly elections in time around the BJP has won 18 the state. The Congress was more or out of a total of 42 seats in the state, less a nonentity in Bihar in the 2019 with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool General elections, though they had Congress (TMC) winning 22 seats. forged an alliance with the RJD for The Left parties have drawn a blank a possible revival of their fortunes. and this may be the beginning of the end of communism in India, Kerala In Uttar Pradesh (UP), the BJP

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | NEWS

Currently, no other leader in India has caught the imagination of the young voters to the extent Modi has

BJP President Amit Shah (left) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on May 23 had lost vital seats in the by-polls after its stupendous success in the 2017 assembly elections. This time around the BJP was expected to lose many seats in the state after the forging of the grand alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. But the caste card played by the grand alliance did not bear fruit along expected lines and the alliance could win only 15 seats. This was owing to BJP’s well-thought-out and calibrated planning to reach out to the voters and appealing to their wisdom to cast their votes for a man who has worked selflessly and tirelessly for the whole country. Modi was positioned as a brand of Nationalism and was projected as incorruptible. Though the voters in many constituencies in the state did not have a particular liking for the BJP candidates in the fray, they voted for the BJP because they wanted to see Modi as the next Prime Minister. Modi himself has won in Varanasi with a big margin of more than 4.5 lakh votes. In all, the BJP-led NDA has won 64 seats in UP, which is a further confirmation of its entrenchment in the state, cutting across caste and religious divisions. The highlight of UP elections, barring Modi’s own performance and that of many others, is the defeat of Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, which was till now considered to be a Congress bastion. Smriti Irani had lost to Rahul Gandhi in the last elections, but now she seems to have avenged her defeat quite handsomely. In the Northeast of the country, the NDA has seemingly doubled

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its tally of seats and is now a force none can ignore and its footprints are expanding ever since the Party won the Assam state assembly elections in 2016 and Tripura elections in 2018. In the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the NDA has repeated its sterling performance of the 2014 general elections, with BJP making a clean sweep by winning all 26 seats in Gujarat. In Maharashtra the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance has risen above their differences to handout defeat to the Congress. Voters of Madhya Pradesh (MP) seem to have gone back to their favourite leader in Narendra Modi, as they have voted quite differently from the way they did in the last assembly elections. The electorate in MP has reposed faith in the BJP, ignoring the Congress, which is in power in the state. The BJP has won 28seats as against one seat going to the Congress in the state. All in all, the winning back of the key states of the Hindi heartland has boosted the numbers of the BJP-led NDA to a tally of 353 seats. Modi’s charisma v/s Rahul’s naivety It is now irrefutable that Prime Minister Modi has anchored himself as a charismatic leader in Indian politics. His personality and demeanour in public are unmatched among other leaders across political parties in the country. His words resonate with the masses and he is perceived as a leader who has risen from the grassroots, unlike the Gandhi dynasts who had a silver-

spoon upbringing. Even the picture of Modi’s mother draped in a sari with folded hands catches eyeballs as it highlights the humble background of the Prime Minster. In contrast, Rahul Gandhi inherits a political dynasty spanning decades and who belongs to the Cambridgeeducated elite section of the society. In fact, Rahul Gandhi did himself no favours when he intentionally distorted Modi’s slogan of “I am a watchman” and made it into a Congress Party slogan “The watchman is a thief ”. It has boomeranged on the Congress as the voters perceived it as an insult to their honest leader and by extension to every honest worker who ekes out a living by perspiring day in and day out. Overall, Rahul Gandhi is perceived as a much improved leader than he was in 2014, but many feel he is still inexperienced in the arena of politics and he is a leader for the future. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary and Rahul Gandhi’s sister has not been able to check the downward slide of the Congress. She may have entered active politics five years too late. Modi’s economic schemes’ outreach While the various schemes started by the Modi government such as the Ujjwala scheme for providing LPG connections to the poor families, schemes for ensuring toilets in every rural household, rural electrification and drinking water facilities may not have been implemented with complete success, the people in rural areas, especially women, are thrilled by the fact that these

Courtesy DNA

"Humbled by people's blessings." PM Modi wrote on his official Facebook page

Rahul Gandhi is seen as a much better leader than he was in 2014, but many feel he is still inexperienced in politics schemes have at least reached them and are no longer inaccessible to the poor. Farmers’ distress in terms of low minimum support price of their produce and absence of financial securities have also been issues against the Modi government, but an attempt has been made by the government to redress some of their grievances by transferring funds directly to their accounts. The amounts transferred may not be sufficient to help them tide over the difficult situation they face. However, they seem to have reposed faith in a Prime Minister who has given them some fodder to survive with the hope that he will do more if voted back to power. In contrast, the Congress’ NYAY or minimum income scheme has proved to be beyond the comprehension of the poorest of the poor for whom this scheme was conceived. Moreover, the potential beneficiaries of the NYAY scheme seem to have preferred what they are already receiving from the present government than look for the benefits of a scheme which is rather esoteric to their liking. Young voters fascination for Modi Significantly enough the young voters in the country, who comprise a sizeable proportion of the population and were voting for the first time, have grown up watching Modi as their Prime Minister, in whom they find an echo of their aspirations. The Modi government, through a programme such as Mann ki Baat, hosted by the Prime Minister himself and broadcast on

All India Radio and Doordarshan, a state-owned TV channel, has effectively communicated its core messages to the masses, including the youth of the country. Addressing the youth before and after their school examinations and post their examination results keeps a channel of communication open between the Prime Minister and the youth, which elevates Modi to the status of a leader whom the youth across social denominations admire and adore. A few have written letters to the Prime Minister apprising him of their distress and its causes and their leader has not disappointed them. Such gestures go a long way in winning the hearts and minds of young voters who may vote going against their family leanings. Currently, no other leader in the country has managed to catch the imagination of the young voters to the extent Modi has. After all is said and done, if the leaders of the Opposition had been able to shed their Prime Ministerial ambition and focus instead on forging a strong alliance against the BJP-led NDA, the Indian democracy would have been better served, as a strong Opposition is indispensable for a democratic country. The final figures for the NDA may be heartening for all supporters of the BJP alliance, but as the citizens of a democratic State we have much to worry about with more than half of the Opposition wiped out from the Lower House of the parliament. This is a dangerous scenario for a progressive democracy, and more so for a country as culturally diverse as India is. JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | NEWS

SCOMO'S Miracle: Poll predictions fall flat as voters reject Labor’s ambitious reforms Labor’s opposition to Adani coal mine project, fear of rising costs following their proposed economic reforms and Shorten’s low popularity were a few of the key factors responsible for the Party’s defeat, writes Rabindra Mukherji

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the ruling Coalition positioned themselves as a party that empathizes with the real concerns of the voters Courtesy SBS

SCOMO's Miracle

ollsters in Australia had to cut a sorry figure again, as their predictions went horribly wrong, and they were unable to gauge the popular sentiments in this year’s Australian elections. There is an underlying lesson to it for all subsequent elections in the country and elsewhere, where healthy and vibrant democracies thrive. In a democracy, voters can spin a surprise, like it or not, sometimes if not often, against the run of play. This time around in Australia, the opinion polls had depicted a scenario repeatedly where the Labor Party was in the driver’s seat at the expense of the Liberal-National coalition. But the voters had other ideas as they brushed aside the predictions and reposed their faith in the ruling Coalition. This was, indeed, a stunning victory for Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Coalition as they waded through uncertainty by dint of a well-thought-out strategy in positioning themselves as a party that empathizes with the real concerns of the voters. However, the pertinent question is has the Liberal-National Coalition won the election or has the Labor lost it under its own weight of policy proposals that have dissuaded voters from voting in their favour. Now that the dust has settled post the results, it is time to sit back and do the inevitable postmortem of what transpired in these elections. Queensland’s Adani Factor Proves Decisive Defying poll predictions suggesting a victory for the Opposition’s leftleaning Labor Party in Queensland,

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Votes were cast across Australia the voters in the state voted for the Liberal-National Coalition. The media had all along been suggesting a Labor victory as the party was expected to grab marginal seats in an election that was increasingly dubbed the “unloseable” battle of Queensland. This prediction stemmed from the Labor Party’s relentless opposition to Adani Australia’s AUD$21 billion Carmichael Coal Project in Central Queensland. It was a contentious issue and needed the party’s stand to be in consonance with popular sentiment. It is here that the Labor Party was unable to gauge the direction the wind was blowing. As the election results showed, the Labor Party strived but failed to have an impact in the state, though the opportunity had presented itself for both the parties with a slew of marginal seats waiting to be grabbed. No wonder both the Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition focused on heavy campaigning in the state. Where the Labor Party misread the script and the ruling Coalition managed to position itself prudently was on the issue of the controversial Adani coal mine project. Prime Minister Morrison was treading cautiously on the issue of climate change, as he argued that the current policy was enough and did not need tweaking. This may have resonated with the working-class voters who apparently are more concerned about job creation, cost of living and economic stability in their state, where the proposed Carmichael coal mine would be among the largest in the world if it is approved. The Adani Group, the In-

dian conglomerate behind the mine project, has promised thousands of jobs in nearby towns where unemployment is rampant. However, in other parts of Australia, particularly among the urban educated left, this project faces fierce opposition. Organizations like Greenpeace have been exceedingly vocal against the project citing its potential devastating effects on the environment. In fact, the Carmichael mine project divided the nation between environmentalists and pro-coal supporters and an ugly protest was witnessed only about a month back when activists from both the camps confronted each other. While the Labor Party was ambivalent on the issue, the ruling Coalition chose to play it safe and clear and focused on the economic front instead. Voters Snub Labor’s Proposals Besides the Adani factor, the Labor Party seems to have miscalculated on several fronts. Shorten presented before the electorate a raft of reforms ranging from taxation to healthcare, but they cut no ice with the voters. Proposed reforms on issues such as Franking credits, negative gearing, top bracket tax, and climate change look promising and ambitious but have only succeeded in creating a perception that it would hurt the voters badly in the short run, in terms of raising their economic costs. Shorten’s Labor Party could not justify to the voters why the country needed to embark on some of these bold initiatives. Moreover, the ruling Coalition had succeeded in painting these proposed reforms as a burden on tax-

payers. As Prime Minister Morrison summed up the Opposition’s proposals saying “Labor’s plan will cost $387 billion in new taxes.” Unable to address the current pressing concerns of the people, such as unemployment, cost of living and other economic issues, the Labor Party, as some sections of the media reported, lost in “the minds and hearts of the people”. The voters chose to ignore the anti-incumbency factor facing the Morrison government, even overlooking the bitter infighting the Coalition witnessed which resulted in the ouster of the then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last year. The voters have for the next three years given their mandate to a government that is unlikely to undertake sweeping reforms at the cost of economic hardships for the people. Experts now believe that following Shorten’s step down, the new Labor leader will have to address all the short-term concerns of the electorate, even as they have to balance between the demands of the left-leaning educated elite and the working-class. In other words, the Labor Party has to reconnect with the aspirations of the working class, which is their primary voter base. The alienation has already proved costly for the party in terms of losing an election they should have won, given a strong anti-incumbency facing the ruling Coalition. Shorten’s unpopularity a key factor After six years as Opposition Leader, Shorten’s unpopularity continues to remain a talking point in the country and may have also hit

Courtesy EPA hard his party’s chances of winning this election. In modern democratic elections, popularity of key leaders matters and voters have been found to vote for leaders whom they consider likeable. Shorten lagged behind even former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, as he remained the preferred PM in successive opinion polls. Thereafter, Morrison outpolled Shorten after he replaced Turnbull as the country’s Prime Minister. Media reports suggest that the majority of voters disliked Shorten for a host of reasons such as his role in the ouster of two Labor leaders Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard which gave him the dubious distinction of being seen as a backroom dealer and factional plotter. Moreover, his often-stilted demeanour added to his dislike among the public. This factor, along with the unpopular proposals to usher in an era of reforms, may have led to a voter swing away from the Labor Party. What Lies Ahead for Labor This loss has shook the Labor Party for sure, especially in the light of the fact that it has spent six years planning carefully its strategies, and attempting to position itself as a party characterized by big ideas and a firm leadership, prepared to take bold and unpopular policy initiatives for the betterment of the country. But in a bid to do so, it has apparently alienated itself from the workingclass population, which is its primary voter base. Now the Party has to win them back, if it aspires for a victory in the 2022 General election. As for the exit poll predictions going utterly wrong, that is another story for another day. JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Thousands join Rath Yatra, the Festival of Chariots

The festival filled the streets of Brisbane city with thousands of devotees he annual Hare Krishna The 2019 Brisbane Festival of Festival of Chariots event Chariots consisted of two elements, was held on Saturday, the chariot parade and a myriad of 11 May from 11am till cultural and participatory events. evening and filled the streets of Starting in King George Square at Brisbane city with thousands of 11.30am, everyone, including Hare devotees, including families, festival Krishna devotees as well as particigoers, and vibrant dancers from all pants, helped pull the giant chariot over South East Queensland. through the streets of Brisbane acThis year’s event saw the Hare companied by singing and dancing. Krishna community, accompanied Also on offer were henna, face by thousands of celebrating par- painting, and delicious free meals ticipants, parade a giant wooden co- from Hare Krishna’s own Govinda’s lourfully decorated chariot through Vegetarian restaurant for all particithe streets of the city. pants. There were also cultural and

spiritual exhibition tents, showcasing the richness of the Hare Krishna community and the culture they are rooted in. The Festival of Chariots, which began in India 5,000 years ago, is a spiritual event that involves pulling giant statues of deities through the city. It is symbolic of Krishna coming out of his temple to see his people, and the Hare Krishna community truly brought out all of the cultural and spiritual significance, as well as the colour, sound, and excitement, to the Brisbane festival again this year.

Procession of female devotees during Rath Yatra

The chariot used in Rath Yatra

Dignitaries pose beside the chariot used in Rath Yatra

Daaitva Columns

tarting with the next issue of this paper we would be introducing a new feature. A new column or possibly a page about those who live in Queensland. About those people who make a difference to the society. Daaitva in Sanskrit means responsibility. These columns are about Indian diaspora. We want to interview and write about them. We are looking for those ordinary people who have made a difference to others' lives in Queensland. People who did not get noticed in theirwork by the mainstream nor by people of Indian diaspora.

www.indiannewsqld.com.au

We are looking for people of Indian origin that have done something extraordinary but do not view it the same way. To begin with irrespective of their gender their profile can be that of a business person, a trader, a teacher, a carer, professor or a home maker, or working in any other profession or trade. A person who works for the government, non-government agencies, or in private practice. We are looking for people that have walked an extra mile to make a difference in other people’s lives. How did they make that difference? What is it that they do differently

from any other person in the same vocation, trade or practice? What makes you think that the person needs to be recognised and written about? We are looking for people who inspire others. We are looking for people who look beyond the everyday responsibilities to themselves and their families. We are looking for people who take social responsibility and are concerned about building a more caring and a peaceful world.These columns are about recognising their work and celebrating their achievements in our humble way. We believe that narrating their stories will inspire others.

How to Nominate?

Please write to the editor a short description about the person that you want us to feature in these columns. It is a good idea to have their consent to be featured in the newspaper. Leave the selection to us. We will interview them or ask them to send us a further profile that will help us to present them in the columns. As a nominator if you wish you can join us in these interviews or co-contribute to the writing.

The right to select the nominee vests with us. The newspaper nor its owners nor the editors and writers of this column have any conflict of interest. The Newspaper is not seeking sponsored articles nor seeking any payment from the nominee nor the nominator. The daaitva column is an expression of this newspaper’s social responsibility. Dr Venkat Pulla, a social work academic will be coordinating these columns.

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | HEALTH

Expo on Indian women’s health organised

he first Indian Women’s health expo was held on May 18, at Brisbane Sikh Education Centre. The event was organised by Jatinder Kaur, a social worker, as part of the domestic violence awareness month. The focus of the expo was to provide community education to Indian women, and create awareness among them about their health. On this occasion, doctors Kuljit Kaur, Rajjit Singh and Joelle from the Gold Coast talked about the importance of health checks for women. Queensland’s diabetes educators apprised the audience of the high prevalence of diabetes within the Indian community and the need for education and awareness on the risks of prediabetes. Sergeant Steve Madeo from Vulnerable Persons Unit, and Ricky Lashand, a Police Liaison Officer from the Indi-

an community, talked about domestic violence and the role of police in assisting victims of such violence. Aishwarya Somal of Emerson Lawyers, Amrit Singh of Caxton Street Legal Centre, and Lulu Milner of Women’s Legal Service, Queensland, provided legal information to the attendees at the expo. Important pieces of information and advice on matters related to Immigration were provided by Dhaval Mandan. The role of Indian consulate in assisting Indian women in Australia who become victims of domestic violence was also discussed. Information was also shared on other subjects such as mentoring and coaching services, yoga and health and wellbeing, jobs and careers as teacher or early childhood educator. The event also raised $100 for Women’s Sahara House.

A volunteer with literature on diabetes

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Mr Ricky Lashand, a Police Liaison Officer from the Indian community with the books on health awareness on display

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Multicultural prayer service remembers victims of Sri Lanka terrorist attack

he multi-faith prayer service in remembrance of the Sri Lanka attack victims was held at the Multicultural Hub at Annerley on Sunday, May 5. Organised by the Fiji Senior Citizens Association, the prayer service saw around hundred people from diverse faiths from Brisbane remember the Easter Day tragedy in Sri Lanka and offer their condolences to the victims. Mr Surendra Prasad OAM, president of the association, said leaders from eight different belief groups came together to pay homage to the 250 people who lost their lives or were injured in the terrorist attack in Sri Lanka on April 21.

The Queensland regional director of the Home Affairs Department, Mr Steve Biddle, also addressed the group and offered a message of hope and faith as did the Honorary Consul of Fiji, Mr Hari Raniga. Prayers and a message of welcome from the traditional elders were offered by aboriginal elder Aunty Peggy Tideyman. Sikh, Muslim, Chinese, Hindu, Indonesian, Pacific Islands and Burma were the other groups represented at the prayer service. A youth choir from the Fijian Christian Church supported the prayer service with a musical spiritual rendition. Mr Steve Evans of the Universal Peace Federation and Councillor Ian McKenzie of Coorparoo Ward attended also.

Religious leaders and government representatives present at the prayer service

ment of Home Affairs (Immigration); Mr Wayne Briscoe, Executive Director, Multicultural Affairs Queensland, Queensland Government; community representative Dr Ignacio Correa-Velez, co-CEO of QPASTT; Mr Tim Draper, Executive Manager, who represented Ms Kerrin Benson CEO, MDA; Mr Collin Sivalingam, State Manager for Disaster Management, who represented Mr Garry Page, State Director, Qld Red Cross; Dr Donnell

Davis, President, Queensland Division, United Nations Association of Australia; Mr Lewis Lee, OAM - Principle Architect and Director of Lewis MP Lee Architect and representing Chinese Community; Mrs Janeth Deen, Islamic Council of Queensland; Father Pan Jordan - Catholic Church community; Mr Robert Mukombozi, QPASST and former President of Africa Community Council; Tamil community organisations representatives Mr Wimalachandran R, Mr Palanichamy

TAQ organises prayer

amil Association (Qld) organised condolences and prayer for Sri Lanka bomb blast victims, and the prayer was attended by a multitude of dignitaries, religious leaders and government officials. The prominent people who attended were Senator Claire Moore, Senator for Queensland; Mr John Prescott, who represented Mr Graham Perret Federal MP for Moreton; Mr Steve Biddle, Regional Director, Depart-

Thevar, Mr Ramanathan Karuppiah, Dr Jathu; Tamil Association (Qld) Inc (TAQ) EC represented by Mr Sri Jayendrakumar, President,

Mr. Balasubramanian Govindasamy, Mrs. Preethi Singh; and Guruji Mr SrinivasaArka, philosopher and renowned speaker from India.

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Dosa Hut's Gold Coast branch inaugurated

osa Hut added another authentic South Indian restaurant for the food lovers last month. Dosa Hut Gold Coast was inaugurated by Dr. Ram Mohan, President, Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland and Dr. Tanya Unni, representative of Australia-India Business Council in the vibrant city of Gold Coast. This inauguration event was attended by a number of prominent Indian community leaders from Queensland: Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda, former President and Patron of FICQ, Mr. Robin Jaggessar, former Vice-President of Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin, GOPIO (Queensland) and Director, Intec Institute of Technology, Ms Seema, representative of GOPIO (Gold Coast), Mr. Anoop

Nannuru, Vice-President of FICQ, Dr. Ramana Babu Panda, vice-president of Queensland India House, Mr Anjaneya Reddy Basupalli, Executive of Australia India Business Council, among a number of other attendees. Dosa Hut Headquarters personnel, namely Mr. Praveen Indukuri, Mr. Anil Kapurapuu and Mr. Abhinav Yella, were also there. Both Mr. Nithin Krishna and Mr. Veerendra Chowdhary conveyed their sincere thanks and appreciation to more than 100 prominent people as well as others who attended this event. Dosa Hut already has three restaurants in Brisbane: Mt Gravatt, Aspley and Springfield. In Australia, they have 21 branches, with more being added every year.

Dr. Ram Mohan, President, Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda, former President and Patron of FICQ and others during the inauguration ceremony

Dr. Tanya Unni, representative of Australia-India Business Council (1st from left) and Dr. Ram Mohan, President, FICQ (middle), cutting the ribbon during inauguration ceremony

The new Dosa Hut branch at Gold Coast

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | ADVERTORIAL

Dreaming big at Brookwater The tale of a migrant family’s integration into a new country and culture

Brookwater will be one of the most popular residential areas in the growing learning city of Greater Springfield. It is a wonderful suburb in which areas of the community are also quite close - there are also frequent events held, including movie nights, Easter egg hunts, Christmas events.

The Sayed family at Brookwater he sprawling green fields of the Brookwater Golf Course are a long way from frosty English winter mornings, but the Sayed family wouldn’t have it any other way. Akhtar and Lubna Sayed, along with their three children, Azraq, 17, Uzayr, 10, and Ayra, 8,

immigrated to Australia four years ago in search of warmer weather and better education. The family are now happily settled and living their dream life in the beautiful Greater Springfield suburb of Brookwater. Akhtar Sayed feels the experience of living in such a close-knit community has exceeded all expectations,

and the whole family are excited to live in the epicentre of such a major growth centre. “We lived in Darlington but decided to move because we wanted to experience a different lifestyle, and also provide our children with more educational opportunities,” says Akhtar Sayed.

Location, luxury and lifestyle draw Sharma family to Brookwater Brookwater is known as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Greater Springfield region and now more families are choosing to call this beautiful place their home.

s many as three families per day move to the thriving community, which is nestled in a spectacular pocket of natural bushland and enveloped around the award-winning, Greg Normandesigned golf course. Oncologist Dr Amit Sharma and his family moved to Brookwater recently and they feel the decision to move there was based on the tranquillity of the area and convenience it provided. “My wife Archana has quite a few friends living in Brookwater and she loves going for her walks on the walking tracks which go through natural bushland,” Dr Amit says.

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“My oldest son Aditya is able to take a train from Springfield Central to the city, where he is studying engineering, and my youngest son Dhruv has many friends who live close-by, and he also goes to the nearby Swim Factory for swimming lessons and plays tennis at the tennis courts near the Brookwater Golf and Country Club,” he maintains. For the Sharma family, living in Brookwater provides easy and convenient access to all of life’s essential amenities, including excellent schools, thriving businesses, and modern infrastructure. Cultural events organised by the Indian community in the area also appeals to Dr Sharma and his family. “Brookwater has a lot of Indian

“Brookwater is a very culturally diverse area and well-maintained. It is surrounded by various accessible services such as a nearby Woolworths, restaurants, parks, the increasingly popular Orion shopping centre and Orion Lagoon, he adds, saying, “Transport is also a useful feature - there are buses and the Springfield Central train station makes moving into the city easier.” Akhtar Sayed is self-employed and manages the dental clinic of his brother-in-law, where his wife also works as a dentist. The family regularly participates in Brookwater community events and can feel the area becoming increasingly popular. “Brookwater will be one of the most popular residential areas in the growing learning

city of Greater Springfield. It is a wonderful suburb in which areas of the community are also quite close - there are also frequent events held, including movie nights, Easter egg hunts, Christmas events, “says Akhtar Sayed. He is also of the view that residents get to enjoy the exceptional wellbeing sessions as well such as yoga groups, walking groups, and tennis court. However, he feels that security is also an aspect which is becoming more and more integrated into the area, and the people in the community look out for each other. What is heartening is that Brookwater residents can now experience a range of free community events, including Yoga on The Green, cooking classes and design workshops, he feels.

Brookwater has a lot of Indian families when it comes to making friends from the same cultural background, but even otherwise, everyone here seems to be very friendly, approachable and easy to get along with.

families when it comes to making friends from the same cultural background, but even otherwise, everyone here seems to be very friendly, approachable and easy to get along with,” he says. “We have had Deepawali celebrations in the Brookwater Golf and Country Club for many years, and Robelle Domain Parklands has hosted many different Indian festivals and events,” he adds. Dr Sharma says that he would definitely recommend Brookwater to other people who are looking to buy houses in this area. “The lifestyle that Brookwater offers is unique and incomparable, and we love living in this beautiful suburb,” he avers. Dr Sharma and his family

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | ADVERTORIAL

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | RELIGION

Ramzan: Some lesser known practices and rituals

any among us know about roza as an essential practice among Muslims during Ramzan (also called Ramadan). Did you know there are many other rituals that are followed as well? This ranges from e'tikaaf (a form of seclusion) to taraweeh (a special prayer at the end of the day). When one talks about Ramzan, the holy month of Islam, the three things that immediately come to mind for the medium-initiated are roza, salat (prayers five times a day) and iftar. While roza stands for fasting and salat/namaz for prayers, iftar stands for the breaking of the fast. But not known to many, there are actually many other rituals and practices that are associated with Ramzan—from e’tikaaf (a kind of seclusion) to suhoor (the polar opposite of iftar, since it’s the last meal to be had before dawn). The purpose of the month of Ramzan is to mainly inculcate three things among believers—the spirit of God-fearing, the spirit of thanksgiving and the spirit of patience. Interestingly, the suhoor, or sehri, itself is almost equal, if not more, rich in content. As American author Sara Suleri evocatively describes sehri at home in her book Meatless Days, "The food itself, designed to keep the penitent sustained from dawn till dusk, was insistent in its richness and intensity, with bread dripping clarified butter, and curried brains, and cumin eggs, and a peculiarly potent vermicelli, soaked overnight in sugar and fatted milk. But let’s not digress from the spiritual and meditative aspects of this holy festival that spans 29 to 30 days, ending with the joyous sighting of the iconic sliver of the moon that would signify Eid ul-Fitr. The purpose of the month itself is to mainly inculcate three things among believers, "the spirit of Godfearing, the spirit of thanksgiving and the spirit of patience," says Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, an Islamic scholar and founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality International. "Tazkiyah is also one aspect of the Koran—to purify your soul, inculcate positive values," he adds. "The aim behind keeping roza is to purify oneself. One lessens the food intake, gives rest to the body and, of course, there is the importance of prayers during this time… especially at night after the obligatory prayer called Isha, there is another called Tahajjud, which is not compulsory, but during Ramzan people usually go to the mosque for these prayers. They would read the raqat (long section of prayers), either individually or collectively during this time," explains Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, and editor of Milli Gazette. www.indiannewsqld.com.au

By Shruti Chakraborty Photos: Ayan Ghosh/Sahapedia) It is said that in the 30 days of the month, the first 10 days are for forgiveness, the second 10 days are for self-upliftment of the soul, and the last 10 days are towards the final liberation and freeing oneself of sins. During Ramzan, keeping roza is a farz (compulsory duty), but breaking the fast with a date (because that’s what the Prophet is said to have broken it with) is a sunnat (the recommended way of doing something). Here it’s important to note that there are two aspects to the rituals and practices of Islam—farz (compulsory rules) and sunnat (culture or the recommended way of doing something, according to Prophet Mohammad). For instance, during Ramzan, keeping roza is a farz, but breaking the fast with a date (because that’s what the Prophet is said to have broken it with) is a sunnat. Similarly, before performing namaz, doing wazu (washing one’s hands and feet) is a farz, but starting the ritual of wazu with the right hand is a sunnat. Here’s briefly looking at the various rituals and practices associated with Ramzan. Suhoor/Sehri Every day, from the start of the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar, mosques around the world sound a siren around two hours before dawn for people to partake of the pre-fast meal, or sehri. This comprises a heavy meal that would prepare one for a day of no food and water, so it has to be nutritious as well as substantial. Sawm/Roza At dawn, another siren is sounded. It is recommended that Muslims recite parts of the Koran before the roza begins, with the intention of bringing the believer closer to Allah. But roza is not only about not eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, but also abstaining from all desires—including sex or even puffing a cigarette. The idea is to detoxify the body, mind and soul. Iftar is the fast usually broken with dates and followed with fruits and then the more popular kebabs and other meat dishes Iftar This is the breaking of the fast, preferably as a family and community, at maghrib (around sunset). This is usually done with dates, and followed with fruits and then the more popular kebabs and other meat dishes. Iftar gettogethers and parties are quite common now around the world, as they promote a sense of togetherness, and often people of other faiths also join in the celebrations. Taraweeh This is a special addition to the Isha prayers for this month, and are prayed in pairs of two, but this also comes under sunnat and is thus not obligatory. Tahajjud Performed after the Isha prayers, es-

Iftar fast is usually broken with dates and followed with fruits pecially after 12 midnight, prayers of tahajjud are not restricted to just the month of Ramzan. However, many believers do make it a point to go to the mosque for these prayers late into the night, so that they may pray together and there is an amplification of positive energies. E’tikaaf E’tikaaf literally means going into seclusion. So it is not obligatory, but if some people have enough time, they practisee’tikaaf, which means staying in the mosque for around 10 days, or the last few days of the month. During e’tikaaf, people recite the Koran and Hadiths, and offer salat, explains Maulana Khan. Zakat Among the five duties of a Muslim is to give alms to the poor in the form of a religious obligatory tax. Though it is waived for the absolute downtrodden, or those who do not have a minimum income called nisab, most are recommended to give a zakat in order to earn merit. It is customarily 2.5 per cent or 1/40th of a Muslim’s savings, and is believed that zakat given during the Holy Month accrues special merit. Though this is often regarded as a private and voluntary act, in some Islamic countries such as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, it is mandated by the state. Fitrah Otherwise broadly an act of giving, during Ramzan, Fitrah translates to donating 2.5 kg grain (any kind) or its equivalent cost by those who can afford it, to the poor, during the period of Ramzan. People usually give it towards the end of the month. Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan quotes legend to say that during ancient times, the archangel Jibreel would make it a point to rehearse the Koranic revelations each year with the Prophet, which has further translated to people reading the Holy Book at least once in full during the month. Though these eight rituals and practices are a combination of being mandatory and optional, depending on the believer, the essence of Ramzan remains the same—that of coming closer to Allah, self-purification, and cleansing of the body and soul, along with a sense of gratitude and harmony among people.

Photo courtesy - Ayan Ghosh-Sahapedia

Worshippers at Jama Masjid Photo courtesy - Ayan Ghosh-Sahapedia

A man sells dates before Jama Masjid Photo courtesy - Ayan GhoshSahapedia

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | RELIGION

In search of the divine

The retreat organised at Mt Glorious calls life a spiritual journey

By Sally Kinnaird

Attendees enjoying their session break at the retreat

Attendees along with the monks at the retreat

n April 19 Friday, participants gathered at Mt Glorious in a rainforest homestead for a spiritual retreat organised by the Vedanta Centre, Brisbane. Also, on this day, Easter Friday and Hanuman Jayanti coincided, making it a holy start to the threeday two-night exploration of “Life – a Spiritual journey towards the Divine”. Monks arrival at the retreat This auspicious day began with the arrival of five monks from Ramakrishna Mission: Rev. Swami Sridharananda, President of the Vedanta Centres in Australia and New Zealand, Swami Vedamritananda from Hollywood Vedanta Centre, Swami Atmeshananda from Vedanta Centre Brisbane, Swami Vireshananda from Vedanta Centre Sydney, and Swami Manyananda from Vedanta Centre Sydney. The fresh mountain air, pristine natural rainforest and melodious birds provided an idyllic setting for the retreat. Among those who journeyed from various cities in Australia as well as from Singapore, were some completely new to spiritual life and seasoned seekers as well. After settling into their cottages, the participants assembled in the living area of the main homestead, where cushions and chairs surrounded a small altar. From the tall glass windows were the views of extensive gardens and a forest. The steady rain and fireplace burning created a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Prayer and devotional music The first session began with an invocatory prayer led by Swami Atmeshananda, followed by devotional music accompanied by tabla and harmonium. The group then chanted the Maha Mrtyunjaya mantra 108 times, followed by guided meditation. Discourse on life’s spiritual purpose After dinner everyone was eager to see Swami Sridharananda and listen to his discourse. He joined the Ramakrishna Order in November 1947 and received initiation from Swami Virajananda Maharaj, a di-

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rect disciple of Holy Mother Sarada Devi and the VI President of the Ramakrishna Order. Addressing the attendees Swami Sridharananda gave the message that all life is spiritual and the purpose of life is to realize God. To make this journey, one need not travel anywhere physically. The spiritual journey happens in time–as we change our thoughts and attitude. Swami ji asked the audience to replace karma-bhoga with karma yoga. He said that instead of acting out of the desire to enjoy (karma-bhoga), we need to perform all actions as worship (karma-yoga). Meditation marks the beginning of a new day Early morning the next day, the participants emerged from their cottages into thick morning mist that had permeated over the mountain and turned the hilltop into a land of beauty. Swami Atmeshananda led chanting of Vedic mantras and prayers. After meditating for some time, there was the option to practise yoga, go for a bushwalk or simply relax before breakfast. The 50-acre property had various walking tracks along the top of the hill or into the rainforest. After breakfast, the participants offered pranaam to their beloved Swami Sridharananda, who had a return flight to Sydney. Even at the age of 94years, he had made the long journey to reach Mt Glorious for one night, that too when it was raining continuously. Talk on personality development The first of the two talks on spiritual pursuit by Swami Vireshananda soon began. He presented the principles of developing a noble and pure personality encapsulated in three Cs: Character, Courage and Confidence. With gentle humour and penetrating insight, Swami Vireshananda shared stories and teachings from the life of Sri Ramakrishna and underscored the importance of filling one’s mental atmosphere with holy and inspiring thoughts. The second part of his discourse continued in the afternoon, where the purpose of meditation, concentration and japa was discussed.

Deep relaxation sessions a regular feature The Yoga Nidra sessions before lunch each day were an opportunity to withdraw deep into relaxation and experience a sense of wholeness. The home-made vegetarian lunch which followed, sustained this newfound wholeness; vegetables, curry, rice, roti, salad and dessert prepared with love. On Saturday evening, Swami Atmeshananda led chanting of the Maha Mrtyunjaya mantra 108 times, followed by aratrikam and bhajans. Swami Vedamritananda, also known as ‘Bob’ Maharaj, then shared with the audience a reading of Katha Upanishad after dinner. Bhajans conclude the retreat At dawn on Sunday morning after breakfast a bhajan session was organized, followed by the final talk of the retreat. Swami Atmeshananda from the Brisbane Vedanta Centre spoke on the necessity of conviction towards one’s spiritual goal in life. He reminded the participants of the need to constantly discriminate between sreyas (the good) and preyas (the pleasurable). He also explained that the spiritual journey must be walked alone. Swami Atmeshananda shared with the audience spiritual habits he was taught as a child. Before concluding the retreat bhajans were sung, including the song sung by Swami Vivekananda when he first met Sri Ramakrishna in 1881: Man chaloNijaNiketane! Samsar o bideshe, bideshiribeshebhromo keno akarone? Sadhu songa name aachhepaanthadhaamshrantoholetathakoribebishram Pathobhrantohole, shudhaibe path sheipanthanibashigane…. (O heart, lets return to the real abode! Here in this foreign land, why wander aimlessly in stranger's guise? s... Companionship with the saintly being will be for you a welcome rest-house by the road; there rest your weary limbs awhile. If ever you should be in doubt of the path, ask your way to him who watches over there).

Attendees offer prayers to Swami Vivekanada, Sri Ramakrishna and Sharada Ma

A view of the locale of the retreat

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Fiji seniors support mothers Friends of Mithra and breast cancer research M

t a fundraising event for breast cancer research at the Multicultural Hub at Annerley on Sunday, May 19, the Fiji Seniors Citizens Association acknowledged the mothers and their contributions in contemporary society. The function started with a Hindu prayer presented by Pandit Sanat Pandey, and from the 80 attendees, $500 was raised for breast cancer research. Along with their families, thirty mothers were each presented with a plaque acknowledging their con-

tribution to their families as well as the country. As part of the event a luncheon was organised as an extension of the Biggest Morning Tea, which is Cancer Council Australia’s fundraiser for research into breast cancer. Last year the event, which is the most successful event of its kind in Australia, raised $11.9 million to help beat cancer. Association President Mr Surendra Prasad spoke about the tradition of Mother’s Day, which began as a celebration in the USA in May 1908 and spread worldwide. He

said in Hindu tradition, Mother’s Day was called ‘Mata Thirtha Aunshi' and was celebrated in countries with Hindu populations around the world. At these celebrations, mothers were honoured with special food, gifts and recognition. He thanked the mothers whom he described as angels for their enduring love and care. He hoped each of them had a wonderful day because no one more than they deserved to be taken care of and pampered. Traditional Indian food served as a luncheon was donated by the Dosti Club of Brisbane.

Discourse on ancient wisdom held

any of you would have heard or read about the Mithra Rehabilitation Centre in Chennai. MITHRA was started in 1977 by Sr. Mary Theodore OAM, an Australian nun. She came to India in 1951 and built up the institution, Mithra, braving heavy odds and reached out to all the less privileged in the society without any distinction of caste, creed, religion, gender or economic status. She was one among the pioneers in Chennai to give a multi disciplinary care and rehabilitation to children with different kinds of disabilities. Mithra opens its doors to all. At Mithra, the children and their families find love, comfort and care, thanks to the generosity of supporters across Australia. In these coming months Friends of Mithra Inc. hope to finance repairs and renovation to the school building as structural damages have been observed. The school houses all the

classrooms as well at the physiotherapist and occupational therapist rooms and all the vocational subject rooms too. It is also home to the administration offices, so much of the heart of Mithra exists within its walls. There is also a need for a bike, or a scooter. Currently, a young man with mobility restrictions uses an old bike to get around the streets surrounding Mithra. He uses the bike for errands. The bike is unserviceable and 15 years old and slow. A new scooter would allow more independence for this young man, whilst being more safe and efficient for the errands that he does for Mithra. Your donations can make the world of difference to the children of Mithra. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. Friends of Mithra Inc. are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission and carry their Registered Charity Tick below.

Due to the generosity of supporters across Australia, the children at Mithra find love, comfort and care

Yogishri Sudarshan Kannan delivers a talk on ancient wisdom in the modern context

discourse on ‘Ancient wisdom in the Modern Context’ was organized by the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ) on May 5 at The Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre. People of all ages, professions and nationalities, came together at the event in their search for wisdom and inner development. Dr. Venkat Pulla, PRO, FICQ, welcomed Yogishri Sudarshan Kannan. Speaking on the occasion, Yogishri said, “You have Infinite powers within you. As a human being, you have the choice of action. When you lead a mechanical life, you are existing, not living.” He shared with the audience the art and science of perfect living given in the ancient scriptures, which is claimed to empower one to achieve anything one wants in life in this modern world. The ancient wisdom contains 12 sciences and Yogishri revealed three

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among them: Science of Materialization, Happiness and Self-Healing In the science of Materialization, Yogishri explained to the crowd how only 4% forms our conscious mind, while the rest, the deeper mind, is untapped. “When we gain even a little bit of access to this, we can materialize anything we want in life,” he said. In the science of happiness, he explained how our mind is constantly worrying about the past and the future and how this ancient wisdom makes you focus on the present and be happy and blissful within. The third was the science of selfhealing. Yogishri explained how the body has immense self-healing capacities and how this wisdom through the techniques of Yoga Sankirtan, awakens these powers by increasing the positive vibrations within. Yoga Sankirtan is an ancient

mystical art of meditation and selfhealing, wherein sound vibrations are used to create specific patterns of energy which cause complete healing of the body, mind and soul. “Through these truths contained in the ancient wisdom one can combine having a peaceful mind and external success or dynamism,” he said. After the discourse, Yogishri was honoured with the FICQ special award, ‘The Global Visionary – Life Transformation, by the Chairman of Brisbane Council, Councillor Angela Owen. Yogishri Sudarshan Kannan is a world-renowned philosopher, spiritual master and management exponent. He has a background in diverse fields like Vedanta, Management, Psychology, Mathematics, Yoga and Music. He has dedicated his entire life to the research and spreading of great spiritual truths.

Mithra school building with structural damages needs repairs

Yogishri addressing the audience

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Southbank Parklands lit up by Buddha Birth Day Festival

t the Buddha Birth Day Festival held on May 3-5, Southbank Parklands was lit up with red happiness and peace lanterns to signify the importance of happiness and peace on Earth. Visitors were able to enjoy the various multicultural performances held throughout the day, nibble on some of the finest vegetarian cuisine at the food and fun fair, become spiritually connected with themselves and the world at the blessing ceremonies, participate in cultural activities such as tea meditation and calligraphy and do much more.

Buddha’s Birth Day is the most significant day of the year for Buddhists, with celebrations for the birth, enlightenment and death of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Founder of Buddhism. For it is his teachings that have given Buddhists the opportunity to truly understand the importance of happiness and peace within society. Since 1997, the festival, which is meant for everyone, regardless of age, religion or cultural background, has been supported by the Brisbane City Council and Queensland State Government as well as corporate entities.

Swami Chinmayananda Jayanthi celebrated; camps for kids and retreat for adults planned

hinmaya Mission Brisbane celebrated Swami Chinmayananda’s 103rd Jayanthi (birthday) on May 8, with the devotees gathering on the day and performing puja in Gurudev's devotion; there were gathering of devotees on May 12 also during the family programs at various locations. During the multiple events at various locations, devotees of all ages could feel the divine grace of their Gurudev. Chinmaya Mission Brisbane also conducts annual Children's Holiday Program (for children 4-12 years) in addition to the Sunday Family Programs conducted each week during school term in three locations: Holland Park, Heathwood and Bridgeman Downs. This year, it will be on July 1 and July 2, with Acharya Swami Shrikarananda delivering his sermon on the topic, 'Dream Big Little Leaders' (based on two avatars of Lord Vishnu - Lord Narasimha and Lord Vamana). The program will be conducted in English, and is open to all children (not just the Balavihar children).

During this camp, children will explore the stories of the avatars of Lord Vishnu and learn various lessons on being a good leader, a role model and a good team player, while at the same time gaining devotion for the lord and having lots of fun. This two-day program helps children develop their presentation skills as well as leadership skills, improves their emotional health and helps them interact with other like-minded children. Morning tea, lunch and evening tea will also be provided to each child for both the days. Siblings discounts are also available. During June, a day retreat for adults will be conducted on the topic “Upanishad made easy” on June 29 at Bridgeman Downs from 9:30am - 3:30pm. Upanishads are the scriptural texts which reveal the Knowledge of the Self. The knowledge which is revealed in the Vedas, and not written by anyone, is Upanishad. During this retreat, Swami Shrikarananda Ji will guide the adults to explore the Upanishad teachings through talks, discussions and video presentations. This retreat is free and all are welcome.

Senior children telling stories from Gurudev's life history at Holland Park www.indiannewsqld.com.au

Sevikas in Northside group

Teacher telling stories in Northside

Sevaks doing Aarthi during Calamvale celebrations

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Camp enlightens children on tenets of Hindu From the principles in the Vedas to the practice of yoga, children learn it religion all and participate in the debates on these principles

The camp taught kids the tenets of the Hindu Dharma and answered some of their fundamental questions about the Dharma

The youngsters participated in the debate and shared ideas and thoughts

one-day Hindu Heritage Camp for Children was organised on May 5, 2019, by Bala Samskar Kendra (BSK), the education wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia Queensland Chapter, at the Sunnybank State High School, Sunnybank. The objective of the camp was to make the children appreciate the tenets of the Hindu Dharma and answer some of their fundamental questions about the Dharma, including facts and knowledge pertaining to the Aryan invasion theory, the fundamental principles and beliefs of the Hindus or Sanatana Dharma, the origin of the Hindu Dharma, detailed timeline of the Hindu history from the beginning to the present, and a host of other issues. Every year, this camp focuses on a specific theme. This year the theme was ‘All About Hindu Dharma’. Children from five to 16 years of age attended this camp. The children were split into four groups according to their ages such as Dhruv for under 5 years, Nachiketha for 6-8 years, Shravan for 9-11 years, and Gargi for 12 years and above. Kids taught principles of Hindu Dharma The Shravan and Gargi groups focused on learning the principles at a deeper level. In the morning session, the Gargi group learnt as to what constituted the Hindu Dharma. The youngsters participated in the debate and shared many ideas and thoughts. The Shravan group also partook of the same studies, but at an appropriate level according to their age. Yoga was also taught at the camp to the children of all age

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groups. They were taught a wide variety of yoga postures, including Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), the tree and the aeroplane postures. After the yoga session, a second information session was held for the Shravan and Gargi groups. This time the Gargi group was offered indepth knowledge of the Hindu Dharma, including the 10 Vedic practices, which are Niyama, and 10 Vedic restraints, Yama. These pertained to the ethics and beliefs of a Hindu in his everyday life. Along with learning the Niyama’s and Yama’s, the Gargi group touched on briefly the Vedas and Yugas. This was followed by a session on the importance of various religious practices such as performing pujas as a way of worshipping God. Various symbols were explained. Hindu scriptures such as the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharvana Veda were discussed. Other holy scriptures such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana were also touched upon. The Dhruv and Nachiketha Groups focused on the Hindu symbols, scriptures and Shloka’s (verses). Hindu Dharma’s contribution to modern science In the afternoon session, the contribution of the Hindu Dharma to science was explored. These included the subjects of astronomy, engineering, mathematics and medicine. The children built their own version of the ’Magic Krishna’ jar, which was originally built several hundred years ago. A magic jar is an invention in which there is a small hole at the bottom of a jar and when water is filled into the jar, it doesn’t flow through, seeming to defy all laws of gravity.

The jar adorns an idol of Lord Krishna. When the water reaches up and touches the feet of Lord Krishna, the water flows through the hole naturally. This is because there is a hidden compartment inside, releasing the water when it reaches the feet of Lord Krishna based on the scientific principle of syphon. The children made their own Magic Krishna Jars and experimented with them. Learning in the guise of games The younger groups participated in the ‘gulab jamoon’ hunt where the children were given clues by two secret ‘Hanumans’. The clues were to find the hidden Hindu symbols. The children thoroughly enjoyed this activity. After this entertaining activity, the Gargi and Shravan groups once again joined to do Shareerik. Shareerik is a traditional Indian game which encourages skills related to teamwork and social discipline. The youngsters also played games such as Kho Kho, soccer and tag. The last two sessions saw the use of Geometry as was practiced in ancient times. The children were asked to draw a pattern on a cardboard without lifting their fingers and creating a geometric design. Finally, the children belonging to each group presented to their parents what they learned throughout the day. The BSK has been functioning in Queensland since 2010, and is being run by volunteer parents on a not-for-profit basis. BSK’s sessions are held on Sundays (during school term) from 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., in Brisbane, at the Sunnybank State High School (entry through Turton Road), Sunnybank, and in Gold Coast (Benowa State High School).

Younger lot participated in the ‘gulab jamoon’ hunt where they were given clues by two secret ‘Hanumans’

Children learning the principles of Hindu Dharma

Children playing a games

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Lakhbir Singh Lakha performs for Mata Ki Chownki in Burbank

ata Ki Chownki, a devotional musical event, was organised at Shree Laxminarayan Mandir, at Burbank, where devotional singer Lakhbir Singh Lakha and his musicians performed at the event. This event is held to offer prayers to Durga, a Hindu deity. Lakhbir Singh Lakha is well known for singing devotional songs in India and other parts of the world, but this was the

singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first-ever Australian tour. After singing to a full house at the Durga Temple, in Melbourne, the previous night, Lakha performed at Shree Laxminarayan Mandir. The evening also saw prayers being offered to Durga, followed by performing of Kanjak Puja and Aarti, religious rituals of the Hindus. Prashad or blessings from the deity in the form of eatables were also distributed among the devotees to conclude the event.

Lakhbir Singh Lakha with devotees during Mata Ki Chowki in Shree Laxminarayan Mandir

The singer with Sharon Bath

Lakhbir Singh Lakha with fans

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4 Person Ambrose Event - Entry $89pp includes 18 holes, cart and mixed Indian finger food post golf

Call 3814 5500 | sales@brookwatergolf.com With the sound engineer of the show www.indiannewsqld.com.au

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Arpan offers Indian classical dance and music in Townsville present

All the participants and artists on stage orth Queensland duce music that engages the hearts Hindu Community and the minds. Inc. (NQHC) promotes Ms. Therma Koshy is the director Indian art and culture of Tanishka Academy of Classical through its signature annual event Dances, based in Melbourne. As an ‘Arpan: an offering', showcasing accomplished artist trained by some classical dance and music from the of the well-known classical dancers Indian sub-continent. It is a forum of India and Australia, Therma is an which unites Australians from all eminent performer of various claswalks to celebrate community, sical dance forms, such as Odissi, culture and cuisine. Arpan has Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, always encouraged upcoming, local Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Mayuranrittalents. Keeping to the tradition, tam, Manipuri and Kathak. Therma this year too, NQHC invited demonstrated and mesmerised the acclaimed Brisbane-based artists, audience with Odissi, one of the Ms. Sudha Manian and Mr. Steve oldest dance forms with its roots in Stiller and Melbourne-based North Eastern India dating back to artists Ms. Therma Koshy and 200 BCE. Therma has been flawless Ms. Rakhi Anand. The event was in maintaining the fine elements held on Saturday May 11, 2019 at and the authenticity of the gestures Dancenorth, Townsville City. and movements of Odissi. Before Sudha Manian, one of finest sitar the performances, the audience artists in Australia, was accompa- were taken through a brief intronied on Tabla by Mr. Steve Stiller, duction of the dance forms and the a percussionist with over 25 years of stories, which made them connect experience as a performer, conduc- more with the storyline. tor, and composer in many genres Ms. Rakhi Anand, an astute perof music. Their performance, which former of Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyis based on Raag Pelu, a very popu- am and Mohiniyattam shared stage lar and light raag commonly used with Therma. Townsville was treatto express love, joy and happiness,. ed to a unique combination perfordrew a long ovation from the audi- mance by Rakhi and Therma with a ence. Sudha Manian is the founder mix of Bharatanatyam and Odissi. of YATRA, an Australian perform- These are two completely different ing group that promotes diversity dance forms with their own styles of and cultural integration by collabo- hand gestures and foot movements. rating with various artists to pro- The artists’ success in combining

the beautiful dance forms in a jugal bandi gave the audience a unique experience of the thillana. Talking on the occasion, Mr Venu Kadiyala, President of NQHC said: “This year is a special year for NQHC as we celebrate our 10th year of service to the Townsville community. To us at NQHC, Arpan is not merely an event but our commitment to the community. Arpan helps raise funds for NQHC’s current and future educational, cultural and spiritual activities designed to enhance and empower our community." Since its inception in 2010, Arpan, which means an offering, has been associated with vibrancy and festivity. The community dresses up in its finest and comes with family and friends to soak-in the extravagance of Indian culture and tradition at its best. Not only is Arpan an indulgence of ethos and art, it is also a treat to your taste buds with homemade Indian cuisines accompanied by sweets served before the performances. Arpan will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2020, when NQHC aims to bring together another line-up of performances in Indian classical dance and music and deliver another cultural experience for the Townsville audience.

Therma Koshy (left) and Rakhi Anand

The gods

Steve Stiller on tabla Sudha Manian www.indiannewsqld.com.au

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | TRAVEL

Pinjore Gardens: A Jewel in the Crown of India Pinjore Gardens is a vibrant, rare jewel in the crown of North India; for lovers of exquisite Mughal-style architecture and garden design this is a place worth visiting at least once, writes Sharon Bath

Pinjore Gardens at night Courtesy Giridhar Appaji Nag Y from Bangalore, India [CC BY 2.0] Wikimedia Commons

hese exquisite gardens can be found in the foothills of the lower Shivaliks (outer Himalayas), approximately twenty kilometres from Chandigarh on the Shimla highway, at Pinjore in Haryana. If you are a nature lover, there are amazing collections of plants and trees, and there is always the opportunity to see local wildlife up close. Mesmerising garden, ruined and restored Pinjore Gardens, more recently known as Yadvindra Gardens, is a spectacular gem, a truly mesmerising garden, steeped in some pretty fascinating and surprising history. The gardens really have a story to tell. They were first planned in the 17th century by Nawab Fidai Khan, the foster brother of the Mughal emperor at the time - Aurangzeb. In the end, Nawab Fidai Khan had very little time to enjoy what he painstakingly created. It is said that the location went out of favour because of a trick played upon him by the local Rajas, which caused Nawab Fidai Khan and his harem to depart, probably quite quickly, from the location and hardly visit again thereafter. During that time the amazing gardens and parklands became unkempt and overgrown and partially returned to the jungle after years of neglect. Constance Mary Villiers-Stuart an English author and water-colour painter moved to India in the early

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twentieth century when she married a soldier posted there. She wrote a book â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gardens of The Great Mughals and lived just 15 kilometres away from the Pinjore Gardens. Constance Mary used to love to paint in the Pinjore Gardens and had many fond memories of the local animals that made the place their home. She shares this marvellous story about the tricky Rajas and their plot to get rid of Nawab Fidai Khan forever. "A quaint story still survives, how, when at length the work was finished, and Fadai came in state to spend his first summer there, his enjoyment of the garden and its beauties was shortlived; for the Rajas quickly frightened him away. In the districts round Pinjor, and in fact all along the foot of the Himalayas, occasional cases of goitre are to be seen; so from far and wide these poor people were collected by the wily Brahmins, and produced as the ordinary inhabitants of the place. The gardeners all suffered from goitre; every coolie had this dreadful complaint; even the countrywomen carrying up the big flat baskets of fruits and flowers to the zenana terraces were equally disfigured. "The ladies of the harem naturally were horrified; it was bad enough to be brought into these wild outlandish jungles, without this new and added terror. For the poor coolie women, well instructed beforehand, had told how the air and water of Pinjor caused this disease, which no one who lived there long ever escaped. A panic reigned in

the zenana; its inmates implored to be removed at once from such a danger; and finally, Fadai Khan had to give way, and take his ladies to some other place less threatening to their beauty. "Had it been the terrible Emperor himself instead of his foster-brother, the cunning Rajas would have met their match. But Fadai Khan, thoroughly deceived, rarely came back to visit his lovely gardens, and the Rajas and their fields were left in peace for a time." (Taken from the Wikipedia article "Pinjore Gardens") In the 18th century, Mughal power declined and the area around Pinjore was attacked by the Ghurkhas. Finally, the local Rajas turned to the Sikhs of Patiala for help and the Ghurkhas were defeated by 1769. After that the adjoining lands were given to the state of Patiala as payment. In 1780 the Pinjore Gardens were renovated and restored to their former magnificence by Maharaja Yadvindra Singh from the Patiala dynasty, the former Sikh rulers of Chandigarh. Later, generations of the same family, graciously and very generously, donated the gardens to the Indian government, for the enjoyment of the people. Typical Mughal-style layout The gardens themselves are laid out in a typical Mughal style, like that of other paradise gardens. There is a central water way running through the gardens over many terraces or tiers, fed by springs. Over the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s course the canal features gentle

fountains, fountains with wild water shooting up into the air and misty waterfalls, etc., all these are especially pleasing on a hot day; just the spray off the water is invigorating. As well, the gentle plashing of the water creates a charming atmosphere and it is sensually a very romantic place to spend time. On either sides of the main water canal there are walkways and one can sit on the edge of the water channel and admire the movement of water and the light which plays upon it. One can also admire the amazing symmetry of the architecture and the vast and beautiful scenery, which seems to expand outward forever. It is also fascinating to sit and watch other visitors enjoying the peace of the place, the beautiful scenery and the generosity of space, as well as the mountains in the distance. For those interested in gardening, there are great, sweeping lawns of green grass, neat hedges and thousands of plants and trees, which include a huge variety of different palms, large mango trees, tall cypress trees and many others. There are also rose gardens, jasmine plants, various annual and perennial plants and much more. Adjoins the ruins of ancient Bhima Devi Temple Incidentally, the Pinjore Gardens adjoins the ancient site of a Hindu Shakti temple, now referred to as the Bhima Devi Temple. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said that the rubble of the old Hindu Devi

temple may have been used in the construction of the gardens. This temple was among many temples destroyed during the period of Mughal invasion. In more recent years, many amazing sculptures have been unearthed, dating as far back as the 8th century AD. Now there is a museum to house and care for these exquisite antiquities. In addition, in the Devi Mahatmyam (the Glory of the Goddess) Bhima Devi appeared in Her enormous form to offer protection to the sages, somewhere in the Pinjore region. The Pinjore area also has an historic link to the Pandava brothers of the Mahaharata epic. According to Hindu mythology, the Pandava brothers rested here for more than one year, during their forced exile of thirteen years. The brothers also worshipped Goddess Kali here and performed yagya in this beautiful location. The Pinjore Gardens is surely a place for everyone to come and enjoy. There are also special times of the year that festivals are held; one marks the beginning of spring, and the other takes place in summer during the mango season in India. It is said that the gardens are even more amazing at night, but I wonder how can that be. Next time in India, I may give it a try and visit there and enjoy the lighted water canals under a black velvety star studded sky.

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | SPORTS

India and England favourites to win the World Cup; run feast in the offing Teams performing consistently with the bat and the ball have a better chance of reaching the semi-finals, and even snatching victories against strong teams, writes Rabindra Mukherji

Australia Team for ICC World Cup 2019 - Courtesy ICC

s the cricketing world enjoys cricket’s mega festival ongoing in England, it won’t be the first time that a spectacle in the form of a high-voltage rivalry between as many as 10 teams would be witnessed in a country where this four-yearly affair had started in 1975. The mighty West Indies were the proud winners of that inaugural contest and the English were the second-best. Since then English summer has never quite shone on Team England, and they have never quite got the opportunity to lift the ICC World Cup. Now that the Championship is being organized once again in England and Wales, the hosts have perhaps the best chance of winning the Cup this time around, going by their recent form in one-day internationals (ODIs). Even the bookmakers have begun to rate them as the favourites to win this year’s tournament on home turf. However, whichever team lifts the cup, it will be a fascinating month of top-class cricket with plenty of runs expected to be scored in all the matches, courtesy some placid pitches being on offer these days in England. To make the tournament a level playing field for all the teams, for the first time in the tournament’s history spanning 34 years, the group stages will witness a 10-team roundrobin format in which each country will play the other nine, and the top four will then progress to the semi-

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finals. What makes England the favourites What makes England the favourites or at least one of the favourites is not very daunting to discern, considering their team composition and their tremendous ODI form in the recent months. England have the distinction of finishing runnerup in the World Cup on three occasions, including on home turf in 1979. Currently on top of the ICC one-day international rankings, England are yet to lose a one-day international series since losing in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy held in June 2017. They are quite a formidable side coming into this World Cup after beating strong ODI teams in the recent past such as the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Sri Lanka. Moreover, going by the international ICC rankings, England are the only team which can boast of four batsmen ---- Joe Root, Jos Butler, Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan--- in the top 20, lending the much-anticipated solidity to their batting. All the four batsmen have contrasting styles, but when they are on song, they can butcher any bowling attack in the world. Joe Root, with an ODI batting average of 50.48 and an acceptable strike rate of 87.16 in 131 ODIs, is one of those tenacious characters in world cricket who is difficult to brush aside when he is at the crease.

Indian Team for ICC World Cup 2019 - Courtesy ICC He is adept at accumulating precious runs, even as he punctuates his slow and steady approach with some glorious strokes all around the wicket. Jos Butler and Jonny Bairstow can tear apart any bowling side, though their contrasting styles are a delight to watch. While Jos Butler, if he so wishes, can strike the cricket ball hard, right from the first ball, Jonny Bairstow blossoms as the innings progresses with some outstanding strokes to the fence. He is a difficult man to contain and conquer once he settles down at the crease for more than 10 overs. As for skipper Eoin Morgan, he can adapt beautifully according to the match situation. The southpaw has a knack for unleashing strokes of the highest quality. England also have a very potent bowling attack with both pace and spin complementing each other. Pacer Jofra Archer could well have a statement to make through his performance, and he will be ably supported by Mark Wood, who becomes a different proposition altogether bowling in English conditions. Tom Curran has done himself no harm in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) in India bagging vital wickets. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, if included in the final XI, can bring variety to theEnglish bowling attack. And don’t write off Ben Stokes. He is one of the best all-rounders the world has seen of late, and may have a few surprises up his sleeve.

India not far behind If Team England are the one to watch out for, India may not be too far behind. With one of the best alltime opening pair in Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, India can hope the two gentlemen to give the side good starts, quite consistently. This squad reminds us of the one that won the World Cup in 1983. Just as the squad in 1983, this Indian team is also packed with quality all-rounders. Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar can both bowl crucial spells against any Opposition; they can also tonk the ball over the park, much to the delight of their fans. While Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and canon-ball yorkers may be the key to checking a belligerent Opposition, Mohammed Shami’s guile and swing may give the team crucial wickets upfront to push the opposition on the back foot. Kuldeep Yadav may still prove India’s trump card, as not many batsmen in world cricket are used to playing a classy chinaman bowler. But all will depend upon the batsmen to give the bowlers enough cushion of runs to play with. The worrying aspect would, in all probability, be the Indian middle order, which has not ignited in the recent past. While Virat is slated to come at no.3, the talk is that Vijay Shankar may come in next at no.4, leaving the experienced Dhoni to bat at five with the rest. Hardik Pandya’s position will also be in-

teresting. However, being the top batsman in the world with a batting average of 59.58 in 227 ODIs and a strike rate of 92.96, Virat Kohli holds the key to a strong Indian batting performance, absolutely essential to win crucial matches in the competition. An even more imperative question is whether India will play two all-rounders in Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya. While Pandya is a certainty in all games, there could be a toss between Vijay Shankar and Jadeja, depending upon the condition of the pitch. If things go according to plan and India succeed in reaching the semi-finals, then there may be an opportunity to make history again by emulating the glorious feat of Kapil Dev’s men. Team India have the requisite talent to accomplish the feat. Team Australia looking strong Going ahead, one cannot simply be oblivious of the fact that the return of Steve Smith and David Warner into the side has breathed a lease of life into Team Australia. With a batting average of 41.84 in 108 ODIs for the former, and 43.43 in 106 ODIs for the latter, Australia’s cricket is never quite the same in the duo’s absence. Warner has already proved his mettle in the IPL, and Smith is slowly but surely returning to his awesome form and has possibly kept in store his best yet for the World Cup. And then there is Glenn Maxwell, who with a strike rate of 121.95 can play spoilsport

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | SPORTS

Captains of all 10 teams at ICC Captain's Media Day, 23 May 2019, The Film Shed, London - Courtesy ICC for many a team. As for the bowling fire-power, the Australians have always had an attack to demolish any batting line-up. With bowlers like Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins, there is no dearth of pace and penetration in the attack, which is supported by world-class spinners in Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa. This Australian attack also has plenty of variety to bamboozle their opponents. Lack of consistency in South Africans Even as all the teams have almost an equal chance of making it to the final, if not emerging as the champions, the team that has, over several World Cups, shown the promise early on but failed to outshine their opponents during crunch times, is the South African team. They are a balanced side in terms of batting and bowling. With the likes of Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock David Miller and JP Duminy in the squad, the South Africans have enough men to provide their bowlers plenty of runs to come to the party. While Hashim Amla must justify his selection, Aiden Markram has still to make a mark in this format of the game. But South Africa do have the ammunition to defend any total with men like Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi in their ranks. If the South Africans have anything to worry about, it would be the lack of consistency in their

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performance when it comes to the big stage in world cricket. Windies still pack a punch When talking about World Cup cricket, one should not forget the exploits of the Windies in the 70’s and 80’s of the last century. Clive Lloyd had a formidable side then with the likes of Vivian Richards, Desmond Haynes, Lloyd himself and the unforgettable pace attack spearheaded by Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Joel Garner. But the current West Indian side is a poor shadow of the legendary side they once had. However, the Windies are known to up the ante when it comes to the big stage. With the infusion of power-hitters Andre Russell and Chris Gayle into the side, it would take more than a mediocre performance from the other teams to beat the West Indies. Their bowling may be relatively short of experience, but on a day they can match any opposition, provided their batting clicks. In fact, Andre Russell and Chris Gayle can decimate any opposition by the sheer power of their batting. If there are enough runs on the board, even a mediocre attack looks more than handy and can hand out defeat to any Opposition. The onus will, therefore, be on the power-hitters of the side. Sri Lankans not the serious contenders this time around The Sri Lankan team do not have much to pin their hopes on, going by their recent ODI performance.

They have to play out of their skins to be a serious contender for the World Cup. The team sorely misses the services of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, and in their absence looks a depleted side. Though the team had shocked the South Africans recently by winning the Test series in South Africa for the first time, an undoubtedly creditable performance, their ODI fortunes have not sparkled of late. Their batsmen like DimithKarunaratne, Angelo Mathews, ThisaraPerera, KusalPerera and others must unleash their fire power consistently to support a very potent bowling attack spearheaded by Lasith Malinga, and ably supported by Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal and the likes. New Zealand the balanced team One team that has all the ingredients to make it to the final and even lift the Cup is Team New Zealand. They have everything aplenty, whether it is in the pace department, the spinning option or in the batting prowess. Their skipper Kane Williamson can match any top batsman in the world and he can change gears anytime, from one of defense to offence. Ross Taylor’s experience will prove handy in the middle order. Martin Guptill may not have bloomed in test cricket, but he is a different proposition in the ODIs. Colin de Grandhomme and Colin Munro can take the aerial route and hit the cricket ball harder

than many in the game. Tim Southee’s spells upfront will be crucial as his skipper will want him to make early inroads into the Opposition. Mitchell Santner normally does not disappoint when he is asked to bowl and picks up wickets when his Team wants him to perform. Ish Sodhi can lend variety to the attack with his leg-spin. Of all the teams it is Team Bangladesh that have improved the most over the years. Bangladesh have done wonders with both the bat and the ball in recent years. They have beaten Sri Lanka and the West Indies in ODIs recently. Bangladesh can truly boast of a young and potent bowling unit, led by their young sensation Mustafizur Rahman, who was named the ICC’s emerging cricketer of the year in 2016. He has a tally of more than 50 wickets in ODIs till date. However, the team will have to perform optimally throughout to make it to the semi-finals. Pakistan have been a mercurial side in many of the World Cups. In the past World Cup Championships, the Pakistan team have at times seemed to be in the dumps, only to arise and beat stronger sides in the competition. In fact, they won the ICC Champions Trophy in England two years ago, beating the host nation in the semi-finals. However, Pakistan’s ODI performance, of late, has been characterised by a lack of consistency. But, in Imam Ul-Huq and Babar Azam, who both average more than 50 in ODIs, they

have the talent and power to destroy any pace attack. Though Team Afghanistan are not expected to win the World Cup by any stretch of imagination, they can, churn out a stunner at least in the round-robin stage. With leggie Rashid Khan and off-break bowler Mujeeb Ur Rahman ranked in the ICC top 10 bowlers, they have enough power to pick up a win or two, even at the expense of some of the bigger nations in the competition. Even as we assess the chances of respective teams vying for the coveted World Cup, it may all come down to the state of the pitch on the day the teams begin their hunt for the cup. English pitches no longer assist swing or seam bowling to the extent they did, though reports suggest they may provide some reverse swing later in the match. Also, it is summer in England, which means very little assistance for the bowlers from the prevailing natural conditions. However, if the warm-up games are an indication, there may be enough in the pitch to keep all the pacers interested. Spinners, for their part, have to do the containing act, and wickets may be a bonus for them. Spinners like KuldeepYadav and Rashid Khan, though contrasting in their styles, may opt to attack and leave the containing act for others in the team. But most of the matches are expected to be high scoring ones, with aspirations reaching as high as crossing the 500-run mark. JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | SPORTS

Australian Team

Courtesy ICC

South African Team

IPL 2019: Batsmen eclipse bowlers as franchise cricket’s mega show culminates

Andre Russell plays memorable shots, Shubhman Gill and Riyan Parag shine; leg-spinners also deliver at crucial moments By Rabindra Mukherji

ince its inception, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed the very face of Indian cricket, and even influenced other Indian sport to usher in an era of franchise sport in India. The IPL can boast of just about everything, from entertainment to glamour, gossip to some quality cricket. While the IPL is world cricket at its best with many international stars showcasing their talent, it is the manner in which cricket has been packaged to allure the fans that sets it apart from many other leagues in international arena. Media has further elevated the event to the level of a festival that calls for everyone’s participation, forgetting differences of race, class, gender and age. When the matches are going on, the streets of Indian cities invariably bear a deserted look. A successful journey The IPL has traversed 12 seasons, yet it continues to enchant the fans no less than when it started its journey in 2008. As is the case across seasons, all the matches were almost sold out and most games were decided on the last ball. The IPL has positioned itself in the hearts and minds of most Indians and is also watched with immense interest in many parts of the cricketing world. Business and commercial aspects notwithstanding, the IPL has emerged as entertainment of the highest quality, in a country where even the Bollywood filmmakers have to pause till the end of the IPL season. Russell blitzkrieg this season This IPL season will be remembered for Andre Russell’s exploits with the bat. His brutal power-hitting, scoring at a strike rate of 204, was achieved by hitting every third ball to the boundary. Russell was the www.indiannewsqld.com.au

highlight of the season and this implies that the bat did the talking more than the ball with even Ishant Sharma flexing his muscles and finishing a game by hitting a last-ball six. Leg-spinners shine Even as the carnage was on all around, leg-spinners gave an outstanding performance. Imran Tahir picked up 26 wickets and was a delight to watch. But Rahul Chahar, the young Indian leggie, did not disappoint either. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to outwit batsmen all around the world with his leg-spinners. Shreyas Gopa, Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla were also supportive with their bowling performances. If Shubhman Gill of Kolkata Knight Riders impressed the audience, young Riyan Parag of Rajasthan Royals showed that he had enough talent to take on the very best in the world. However, as new stars emerged on the horizon, the old ones seemed to fade away gradually. The likes of Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh seemed unimpressive this season, to say the least. A Scintillating Finale If the IPL is hailed as the most successful venture in world cricket, one needs to go no further than this season, which produced a nailbiting last-ball finish in Hyderabad. Fans across the world witnessed Mumbai Indians as they marched on their way to an unprecedented fourth IPL title. While the Chennai Super Kings may be ruing the fact that they had an equal chance of winning the tense Final, history was, however, never on their side. It is worth noting that all four titles of Mumbai Indians have come in the last seven seasons.

Mumbai Indians won an unprecedented fourth IPL title Courtesy - Mumbai Indians

This IPL season will be remembered for Andre Russell’s exploits with the bat

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | SPORTS

Of dreams and sports

Sarbani Maitra, who became Australia’s number one ranking U-11 female squash player this May, wants to make a mark in sports, especially in international squash

ocal youngster from Forest Lake, Sarbani Maitra, is all set to realise her dream of representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games. The 10-year-old, who only took up a squash racquet in February last year, became Australia’s number one ranking U-11 female squash player this May. Sarbani was introduced to squash by her father Sujoy Maitra, and the Commonwealth Games 2018 on the Gold Coast boosted her love of the game. After meeting the Australian and the International squash players during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, she was inspired to take up the sport seriously. Her determination to make a mark was evident when she progressed

quickly to secure second place at the Queensland Junior Championship, in June 2018, and surprised everyone when she got the third position at the Australian Junior Championship, in Darwin, in October 2018. Sarbani's progress encouraged her parents to register for the Scottish Junior Open 2018, held in December 2018, in Edinburgh, where she finished runners-up in the U-11 girls’ category. Sarbani’s winning streak continued when she secured the bronze medal in a tough competition at the U11level, at Oceania Junior Squash Championship held in Auckland during Easter 2019. Apart from playing squash on the courts, Sarbani is a mermaid too in the pool. Last year she qualified at

Met-West swimming trials to compete at the Queensland State Swimming Championships. This year she participated in the District Swimming Carnival and set four new district records in each of 50m events. Besides sports, Sarbani is an excellent violinist and is a vocalist too. Currently she’s training for the upcoming Queensland Vocal Eisteddfod and Brisbane Eisteddfod. Apart from music and sports, Sarbani loves to draw and paint and is popular in school among her teachers and peers. For now, Sarbani’s target is to compete at the Commonwealth Games in 2026, in Adelaide, wearing the green and gold.

Sarbani after winning Bronze medal at Oceania Championship 2019

Sarbani poses with Swimming Medal 2019

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

UN Peacekeepers March and Ceremony

he United Nations Association of Australia Queensland (UNAAQ) held its annual Peacekeepers March and Ceremony on Saturday, May 25, to commemorate the sacrifices of Australian peacekeepers and to lay a wreath in remembrance, as well as recognise our current peacekeepers. The march commenced at 09:30 am in King George Square, followed by a service at 10:00 am in ANZAC Square.

This year marks the 72nd anniversary of Australian involvement in international peacekeeping missions. The nation’s first peacekeepers were deployed in the Dutch East Indies in 1947; around 80,000 Australian personnel – many of whom were Queenslanders – have since undertaken United Nations (UN) operations across the globe in 63 missions. Australian peacekeepers continue to serve in Africa and the Middle East.

Australia’s first driver-less trains are made in India

ydney Metro’s newest service – the fully automated North West Line train connecting Tallawong to Chatswood – has been made in India. Sydney’s new-generation metro trains have been manufactured by Alstom. Designed in France and assembled at its centre of excellence in Sri City India, these fully automated driverless metro has been made with contributions from Alstom’s operations in Australia, Brazil, China and Belgium. Alstom has supplied 22 six-car Metropolis trains from their Sricity facility in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Alstom Metropolis Train Courtesy Alstom

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The Metro North West Line is Stage 1 of Sydney Metro that includes 36 km of track, 13 stations and a depot. The new network aims to provide a level of service never before seen in Australia with a train every four minutes in the peak in each direction. The fully-automated driverless Sydney Metro trains consist of various modern features including 3 double-doors per car for improved access and passenger flows, LED lighting, large windows, emergency intercoms, CCTV cameras, the latest way-finding aids for customer information as well as real-time travel information.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Premier Gladys Berejiklian have opened Sydney's Metro line ( Courtesy AAP)

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | FESTIVALS & EVENTS

TAQ organises Tamil show Muthamizh Vizha

amil Associatio of Queensland (TAQ) organised â&#x20AC;&#x153;Muthamizh Vizha", a unique entertainment programme comprising three elements, Iyal (literature), Isai (music) and Nadagam (drama), which had their roots in ancient Tamil history. The event was an opportunity for school kids and versatile speakers to showcase their talent in areas such as dance, music, drama, debate and poem recitation for developing Tamil language and culture in Brisbane. This

event was held at Acacia Ridge State School Assembly Hall, on May 11. The event began with a grand invocation classical dance by kids of Sri Nandhigeswarar Abbinayia Barathaalaya Dance & Music Academy. Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed out, combined with spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on mudras (gestures of hands), eyes and face muscles matching the rhythmic pattern of the jathis (syl-

lables of spoken rhythm), with Nattuvangam. The dance has traditionally been a form of interpretive narration of mythical legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu texts. Vazhakaadu Mandram, a unique debate show for Brisbane audience, on the topic: "Even after getting migrated to overseas countries, Women are still controlled & restricted by Men" was also held. Female speakers spiced up their arguments voicing concerns, while the male speakers opposed their

views. Following this show, the kids from Sri Nandhigeswarar Abbinayia Barathaalaya Dance & Music Academy performed another dance based on folklore. The event also witnessed the performing of Tamizh, a powerful ancient genre of play, performed by the young children. A comedy talk show, Naiyandi Darbar, added humour to the programme. Sri Lanka bomb attack victims condoled

Condemning the recent series of bomb blasts that rocked Sri Lanka killing many innocent people on the Easter day, TAQ extended their heartfelt condolences with a prayer service held on May 1, at Willawong, Queensland, to pray for the innocent lives lost and for the wounded survivors of the deadly attacks. Several delegates across various departments of the Queensland government attended this prayer meet and expressed their condolences.

GOPIO Gold Coast Business Networking Evening held at Broadbeach

OPIO Gold Coast hosted Business Networking Evening for entrepreneurs, professionals and business leaders on May 10, at Nineteen at the Star, Broadbeach.

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The event was attended by over 100 businesspersons from the Indian community. It offered a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals so as to build oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business network.

The event was sponsored by Netvision - the Digital Marketing Genuis, Business2Sell.com.au, Thiel Partners Accountants, Elite Fitout and AJ & Co Lawyers.

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | MIGRATION

Q&A session with our migration expert Question from S. Varghese Good Day, Prathap Ji. I have 4-plus years of experience working as a recruitment consultant in India for US-based IT companies, and I am here in Australia for 4 years, studying MPA-MBA. I am planning to get married to a graduate nurse this year. She is planning for a bridging course here. I am wondering if I am eligible to put in my papers for Recruitment Consultant or Accountant after studies. However, I don’t have a formal education in the field of recruitment-related subjects. Please advice. Answer: Thank you for the query. You have few issues to face for skills assessment due to the qualification not closely allied with your employment overseas. You need recent experience within the last five years for this occupation, which may not be possible from the information you provided. You may have a chance for positive skills assessment, if your MBA is in Human Resource Management. With regard to Accountant occupation, the bar was 90 marks for invitation in the last round of invi-

tation, which is unattainable for a fresh graduate like you. We would also suggest to make your fiancée as main applicant for a future PR application once she is eligible to apply for skilled migration as a Registered Nurse in Australia. Question from J. Saju I am a Mechanical Engineer from Kerala, passed in 2017. Currently, I am working as a trainee (contract) for the last 18 months. What are my chances of migrating to Australia? Answer: Thank you for the email. We advise to get at least 3-year work experience before initiating PR process for Australia. At this stage, you won’t get enough points for invitation to lodge main application. Regarding the traineeship, if it is full time paid job, that experience will be counted for future application process. Question from M. Joseph I was granted with PR under Skilled Independent (Permanent) (class SI) and Skilled -Independent (subclass 189) back in May 2013. I did first entry in March 2014 and stayed in Australia for around 2 weeks. After that no entry was made to Australia.

PRATHAP LAKSHMANAN MA, LLB, LLM, GradDipLP (Lawyer & Migration Agent / Qualified Education Agent Counsellor) TN Lawyers & Immigration Consultants

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Then in November 2018, I had applied for Resident Return Visa (RRV) 155 / 157 with the reasons mentioned as Personal and Professional Commitment. It's been around 6 months now after the application, and today I received a refusal for the application. I would like to know if there is any chance to apply for an appeal as it is mentioned I have to be physically present in Australia at the time that decision is made. If we can proceed with the appeal, what are the next steps? Answer: Thank you for the email. We have gone through the decision notification of the delegate. You may only seek merits review of this decision with the AAT if you were physically presentin Australia at the time this decision was made and you are also physically present in Australia at the time the application for merits review of this decision is made. As you were not present in Australia at the time of application and at the time of decision, merits review of this decision is not possible. Question from S. Suresh This is S. Suresh from Bangalore

and had some queries regarding PR application. I'm currently planning for subclass 189 Visa application, and I have done my bachelor's in nursing and hold a Master's in Hospital Administration from India. Post that I worked with a hospital in the administration for over a year and later as a business analyst in healthcare IT for 4 years. Presently I work as senior software analyst in Bangalore. My query is regarding the ANSZCO code that would suit my profile. I'm confused with two codes: Management consultant (224711) and Health information manager (224213). In fact, both codes don't fully align with my experience. Would my cumulative experience of 5 years be disregarded if the codes aren't matching? How do I confirm the code that best matches my profile? Answer: Please be noted that you have to choose a particular occupation currently in the skilled occupation list (SOL) acceptable for subclass 189 visa to go ahead with the PR process in Australia. In your case, we need to cite your work experience documents before we advise you. Your

properly experienced occupation should be nominated for 189 application. We cannot advise further without citing your documents as it is bit mixed up with different occupations. Management Consultant is in the SOL for 189 visas, while Health Information Manager is not eligible for 189 visa. Question from L Warnock Prathap, I hope you are well. It has come to my attention that my occupation as an Anaesthetic Technician has now been added to the skills shortages list since March 20 this year. Is there anything I can do to get PR sooner? I'm not eligible to apply for PR until August 13, 2020. Answer: Your occupation is still not in the subclass 189 (Independent skilled migration visa) list. However, as you have more than 3 years of experience and positive skills assessment in your occupation, you will be eligible for Employer Nomination Scheme Visas (186/187) if the employer willing to nominate you. You will be eligible for subclass 887 Visa after 13/08/2020 as you are currently on subclass 489 visa and employed.

Email: info@tnlawyers.com Web: www.tnlawyers.com.au Skype: prathap.tnmc

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | AD

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | WHAT’S ON SRI SELVA VINAYAKAR KOYIL (GANESHA TEMPLE) BRISBANE (South Maclean)

Newsletter 149-21 Aani/Āshāda Month (mid-June 2019 to mid-July 2019) Festivals Dear Sri Selva Vinayaka devotees, Hindu Ahlaya Sangam Qld Inc (HASQ) cordially invites you to Sri Selva Vinayakar Temple Brisbane (South Maclean) for Aani /Āshāda Month Festivals. AyyapaSwamy Mithuna Rasi Masa Abishekam Aani Masa Pirappu (Āshāda month starts) on Sunday 16 June 2019 Sri Lalitha Sahastranama Stotram Chanting on Sunday 16 June 2019 Full moon/ Powrnami & Sathya Narayanar Poojai on Monday 17 June 2019 Sankatahara Chathurthi on Friday 21 June 2019 Pirathosha Viratham on Sunday 30 June & 14 July 2019 Monthly Chathurthi Viratham on Saturday 6 July 2019 Saint Manikkavasagar Guru Poojai on Saturday 6 July 2019 Sri Vishnu Sahastranamam & Paaraayanam on Sunday 7 July 2019 Aani utharam & Natesar abishekam Festival on Monday 8 July 2019

Visit Brisbane Sri Selva Vinayakar (Ganesha) Temple and get the Blessing of Lord Ganesha. For further information please contact our Temple or the Vice president Mr: M.Surendra on Mobile-0407-753991

Temple Website: http://www.sriselvavinayakar.org Follow us on (click the icons): 4915-4923, Mt Lindesay Highway, South Maclean, Queensland-4280, Australia, Phone: +61 7 5547 7302

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | WHAT’S ON

Chinmaya Mission Australia (Brisbane)

Presents

Children’s Holiday Program

Adult Day Retreat

“ Dream Big Little Leaders ” Learn - Who is a True Leader? What are the Qualities of a Good Leader? Who is a Role Model? How to be a Good Role Model? (Based on Avatars of Lord Vishnu)

With Swami Shrikarananda

Lord Narasimha

Free Sessions

Lord Vamana

All Welcome!

With Swami Shrikarananda Saturday 29th June, 2019 9.30 am to 3.30 pm At 4 Serendipita St, Bridgeman Downs, QLD 4035

Venue: Oxley Bowls Club, 24 Englefield Rd, Oxley 4075 Date: Mon 1st & Tues 2nd July 2019 Time: Each day - 8.30 am to 4.30pm Age: 4 to 12 yrs

Registration: $80 per Child for 2 days $70 per Child for 2 days if coming with paid Sibling $45 per day per Child

Contact Deepa 0400 035 762 / Meena 0457 318 645

(Sessions includes Vegetarian Meals, Classes, Meditation, Art Activities, Games, Role Play, Awards)

(Bring Notebook/Pen. Vegetarian Lunch Provided. RSVP by Sunday 23rd June)

Contact: Lavanya - 0402 556 040 Sangeetha 0401 074 738 Vidhya 0431 663 211

CHINMAYA MISSION AUSTRALIA Pty. Ltd. Atf: The Chinmaya Mission (Charitable) Operating Trust A.B.N: 63 224 595 801

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CHINMAYA MISSION AUSTRALIA Pty. Ltd. Atf: The Chinmaya Mission (Charitable) Operating Trust A.B.N.: 63 224 595 801

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON

HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

Celebration of

International Day of Yoga, Gold Coast

SPECIAL YOGA SESSION The United Nations General Assembly adopted and declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. at the suggestion of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi. For the first time, High Commission of India, Canberra in association with FICQ, GOPIO Gold Coast, Australian School of Meditation & Yoga would be celebrating International Day of Yoga on Saturday 29th of June 2019 from 8 am to 10 am at the KURRAWA PARK, Broad beach GOLD COAST, Bring your own yoga mat.

Join the two session of 40 mts Yoga Demonstration from renowned instructors from Gold Coast. The yoga class is complimentary and Entry to the park is free.

Date & Time Saturday, 29th of June 2019, 8 am to 10 am

Contact Ram Mohan, President FICQ 0421652132, Pushpinder Oberoi President Gopio Gold Coast Inc. 0488633051

Supporting Organisations

https://www.trybooking.com/BDACF

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON

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JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | BOLLYWOOD

Indian Movies Coming Soon Drive (Hindi With English Subtitles)

Bharat RELEASE DATE: June 5, 2019

Laiye Je Yaarian

RELEASE DATE: 28 June 2019

The first installment in a planned franchise by Karan Johar, Drive is an upcoming Hindi action-comedy film about a stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver and gets entangled in a complicated love affair. Samar (Sushant Singh Rajput) becomes attracted to a female neighbor whose husband owes some money to a local gangster and is drawn deeper into the dangerous underworld. Producer: Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta Director: Tarun Mansukhani Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Jacquline Fernandes

RELEASE DATE: 7 June 2019

Khamoshi RELEASE DATE: June 14, 2019

Bharat is an upcoming Hindi movie scheduled to be released on 5 June, 2019. The movie is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and will feature Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani and Sunil Grover as lead characters. Other popular actors who were roped in for Bharat are Tabu, Jackie Shroff, Sonali Kulkarni and Nora Fatehi. Director: Ali Abbas Zafar Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani

Khamoshi is an upcoming Hindi movie scheduled to be released on 14 Jun, 2019. The movie is directed by Chakri Toleti and will feature Tamannaah Bhatia, Prabhudeva, Bhumika Chawla and Sanjay Suri as lead characters. Director:Chakri Toleti Cast: Tamannaah Bhatia, Prabhudeva, Bhumika Chawla

Laayeeye Je Yaariyan is the story of Raunak, who's in transport business and is faced with shutdown of business. In desperate moments, she hires Sukh to help her but ends up with a cheat who has no intention of working for her and has his own vested interest. Producer: Karaj Gill Director: Sukh Sanghera Cast: Arminder Gill, Harish Verma, Roopi Gill

Game Over

Super 30 Indian biographical drama on mathematician Anand Kumar and the development of and controversies surrounding his titular education program. Director: Vikas Bahl ('Shaandaar', 'Queen', 'Chillar Party') Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Mrunal Thakur, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Virendra Saxena, Ritvik Sahore Written by: Vikas Bahl

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RELEASE DATE: 14 June 2019

Anurag Kashyap will present the Hindi language version of Ashwin Saravanan upcoming directorial Game Over, starring Taapsee Pannu. The first look of the film was released in October 2018 and showed the actress in a wheelchair with both her feet in plaster. The story unfolds inside a house and will show Taapsee in a wheelchair for a major chunk of the film. This film marks her comeback to Tamil cinema. Ron Yohann has been roped in to compose the music for Game Over, which has been co-written by Kaavya Ramkumar.

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | BOLLYWOOD

Sanjay Dutt's Panipat and Bhuj to showcase Indian history

anjay Dutt is all set to play unique characters in a host of genres this season. Among them are his films, Panipat and Bhuj, which will be tracing the Indian history and are based on true events. The film Panipat, an Indian historical drama, depicts the story of the Third Battle of Panipat, a historic event in which Sanjay Dutt will perform the role of cruel Ahmad Shah Durrani. In his next film Bhuj, Dutt plays

the role of Ranchodas Svabhai Ravari Pagi, a tale that traces the India-Pakistan War of 1971. A pagi has the knack for identifying a person's nationality, gender, height and weight by their footprints. This role will see Sanjay Dutt in a new avatar. Panipat is slated to release on 6th December 2019, while Bhuj will hit the theatres on 14th August, 2020. The actor is all set to mesmerize his fans with these roles in the coming months. He has already acted

Chinese fans praise Hrithik's role in Kaabil

rithik Roshan's film Kaabil, released recently in China has won accolades from the Chinese audience. The reviews of the film in China have been very positive for Hrithik, underscoring the actor's powerful performance in the film. The film has already tasted success in India at the box office with the fans loving every moment of it. In the movie, Hrithik Roshan

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pairs with Yami Gautam for the first time on the big screen. Hrithik Roshan’s versatility in portraying challenging roles has enthralled his fans. Even film critics are praising his roles in various movies. The actor is currently all set for the release of his next film, Super 30, where he will be shown as a mathematician. Mrunal Thakur will be seen alongside Hrithik in Super 30.

remarkably in the role of Balraj Chaudhary in his recent movie 'Kalank', which has elated his fans and brought for him appreciation from all around. The actor has delivered impactful dialogue and exceptional acting in the movie. Sanjay Dutt has a packed schedule these days with big budgeted films like Shamshera, Panipat, Bhuj: The Pride of India, Prasthanam, Torbaaz, Sadak 2 among others included in the list of his upcoming films.

‘We are not doing anything wrong’, Arjun Kapoor on his ties with Malaika Arora

he latest gossip on social media is about Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora's alleged relationship, and after maintaining silence for a long time, Arjun has finally opened up to the media reports. On this alleged relationship, Arjun said that he was now comfortable revealing this relationship as the media treated them with dignity and respect. Talking to Filmfare, a film-based magazine, Arjun said, "We've come out because we feel the media has given us dignity. They've been respectful, kind, honest and decent about it. That is why I felt comfort-

able." He further said, "Where the paps are concerned, we give them photos when walking in and out of a place. It is normal. There's certain ease. We're not doing anything wrong. I don't want that story being conveyed that we're still hiding when we're not. They understood that." However, Arjun has denied rumours about their marriage solemnizing any time soon. He said, "I'm not getting married. I understand why there are speculations. 33 for most people in India is a great age to get married, but not for me. I still have time." Arjun Kapoor shot into limelight with his film 2 States.

Fatima unwilling to restrict herself as an actor

atima Sana Shaikh is busy these days doing films of different genres. One of the films is as yet untitled and is being directed by Anurag Basu. Another one is a horror comedy in which she will be seen with Saif Ali Khan. These movies will showcase her talent as an actor doing various roles in movies of different genres. She has already proved her versatility acting in a host of films. Her appetite for roles of a varied kind can be discerned from her taking up roles in films across genres. About her roles Fatima says that she is trying various roles to find out what she is good at. She does not want to restrict herself and wants to try different things exploring different genres, she says. She is currently working with Anurag Basu and Rajkummar Rao for their next venture.

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | BOLLYWOOD

Varun Dhawan thriller not likely soon

hadak's (2018) director Shashank Khaitan has said that he has offered another role to his favourite actor Varun Dhawan for a movie based on the theme of espionage. The film is to have the backing of Karan Johar, reminding one of the getting together of the three just like the Dulhania series. But, according to the latest reports, the project is yet to get underway as the director has not been able to finalize the script. Instead, their epic

story, Rannbhoomi, was brought to the fore, pushing aside the thriller. The director is also not very keen on another in the series of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), in the absence of a strong script. As of now, he is happy with his stint as a judge on the second season of Dance Deewane, as the programme showcases three different generations vying for supremacy on the dance floor, Media reports suggest.

Sanya Malhotra to dub for Hindi version of ‘Men in Black’

anya Malhotra is all set to lend her voice to the Hindi version of the Hollywood classic film, Men in Black: International. This is Sanya’s maiden foray into lending her voice to an international star without performing any action. The actor has been an avid fan of Men in Black movies. However, watching the movies is one thing, and lending voice to an international star is a different ball game altogether. After Dangal the actor has matured

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immensely as far as her acting is concerned and lending her voice to an international star is a great experience for her. In fact, the actor has shared a video of herself from the dubbing studio on Instagram. Sanya’s roles in movies like Dangal and Badhaai Ho have won appreciation from film critics. Sanya Malhotra has been listed in the esteemed 'Berlinale Breakouts: 5 talents to watch', for her outstanding performances in movies that were screened at International film festivals.

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | AD

We’re here for you A dedicated legal helpline serving our Indian community Giri Sivaraman Principal Lawyer

Starting with the earliest settlers, Indian migrants have been a part of the Australian landscape for centuries. As our community has grown, our unique culture and heritage has positively contributed to the greater Australian mosaic.

We’re your doctors, your teachers, your engineers, your cabbie and your favourite local restaurant. But when it comes to defending your rights as a worker, a student and an everyday citizen, why do you hesitate to find out more? Maurice Blackburn is committed to providing access to justice, and feels the law should serve everyone, not just those who can afford it.

Jacob Varghese CEO, Maurice Blackburn

With roots in the Indian community we want to support your rights and give you a better understanding of your entitlements. So if the day comes when you need legal help, you’ll know where to turn. We’ve established a dedicated legal helpline for the Indian community. If you’re struggling to navigate issues at work or in your day-to-day life and need legal help – we’re here for you.

Proud partners of

1800 247 771 mauriceblackburn.com.au www.indiannewsqld.com.au

JUNE 2019

Indian News Queensland | AD

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JUNE 2019