Indian Weekender 14 July 2017

14JULY2017 | Vol 9 Issue 17

ALL THE ISSUES. ALL THE DEBATES. THAT WILL SHAPE YOUR VERDICT. PRESENTING

KIWI-INDIAN ghazal singer honoured in australia

Pg 4

LADIES NIGHT

FACE OF THE WEEK

Pg 14

Pg 30

dance, music & entertainment www.iwk.nz

Budding cricketer Adithya Ashok

/indianweekender

/indianweekender

International students in low-level courses need more compassion There seems to be a growing public disdain toward the ‘low-level’ education courses (read level 5-7 courses) and as a consequence disdain toward international students pursuing those courses.

In this election special issue, major political parties comment on this recent phenomenon of the negative portrayal of international students.

Pg 9

Armed home invasion leaves students IN shocK NEED HELP

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NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

Armed home invasion

Three of the seven occupants of the burgled house in Papatoetoe (From Left): Gursewak Singh, Dilraj Singh, and Jagdeep Singh (Pic: IWK Picture)

¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH

A

group of international students are living in fear after being robbed at knifepoint in the middle of the night in their South Auckland home.

Seven students had been living in a close huddle in one single bedroom in their threebedroom house in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, since last Saturday, July 8, when they were woken up to a rude shock of two knife-wielding men appearing inside the property.

Two armed offenders barged into the home at around 4 a.m. (one had entered through a window and the other gained entry by getting the main door forcefully opened), threatened residents of the property with a knife and escaped with items worth of $15-20,000 including mobiles, laptops, electronic items, branded jackets and shoes in three bags.

The incident has left the resident of the property – a group of international students – completely shocked and scared without much emotional support at the hand.

However, the police is treating this incident as

a burglary and not robbery, which is definitely their prerogative, though raising some concern in the community.

What happened?

J

agdeep Singh, 22, was asleep in his room when he was woken by some unfamiliar noise in his bedroom only to find an armed intruder trying to use a lighter to find an electric switch for the room.

Moments later, he found a knife being placed around his neck with a stern warning from the masked intruder to remain silent and cooperate.

The offender forced him to wake up another student sleeping along with him in the same bedroom and then to open the main door of the house to allow his fellow accomplice inside the property.

The second intruder who was taller and more heavily built walked straightaway to the nearby kitchen to grab a big chopping knife to scare the occupants of the property.

From there on, the offenders collected mobiles laptops and expensive clothing from drawers of different rooms without waking the remaining students.

Apparently, offenders remained for 30-40

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The Indian Weekender

NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

3

in South Auckland leaves students IN shocK

minutes inside the property with a knife placed on one of the men in the property while the other swung wildly threatening three other students in the scene.

Three other unsuspecting students out of the total seven were asleep in their rooms.

Stunned by the brazenness of the knifewielding offenders, students immediately called the police, which arrived within five minutes of the call – pretty much when they were on the phone talking to the operator.

Living in perpetual fear

“

We have been living in fear since Saturday night.

“We are too scared as we do not know when another armed intruder might appear inside our property,” said Jagdeep Singh, one of the occupants living in the property.

“As soon as night sets in we huddle together in one bedroom as everyone is too scared.

“We are even scared of going to the washroom or kitchen alone in the night,” said Lovepreet Singh, 21, another resident in the property.

Fearing safety of their children in an overseas country some of the parents back in India have asked their children to return to India.

“Our parents are asking us to return immediately. But we cannot go as we have taken a lot of loans from banks to finance our studies,” said another exasperated roommate Loveleen Dhillon, 21.

“But we are seriously thinking to change the house as you never know that you are continuously stalked,” Mr Dhillon said.

Police action

T

he initial police action was quick and sharp with a police car arriving at the scene within minutes of reporting of the incident.

"

Apparently, offenders remained for 30-40 minutes inside the property with a knife placed on one of the men in the property while the other swung wildly threatening three other students in the scene

In fact, the first police car had arrived when the residents were on the phone with the police operator.

It was followed by few more police cars and a crime investigation team arriving at the scene shortly.

However, despite this initial prompt response from the police there seems to remain some room for improvement for the police.

Students were able to inform the police present on the scene that they have received

bank notification warning that their bank cards have been used 4-5 times in one BP station in Manurewa a short while ago.

Assuming that this was a critical piece of information and much-needed clue that could help some immediate arrests and recovery of their stolen items, students were hopeful of some immediate follow-up action by the police staff on the scene.

In this regard, they were disappointed to be only told casually that they would look into it later (apparently suggesting that NZ Police did not have the technology and resources to chase offenders).

However, The Indian Weekender’s enquiry to police was returned with an assurance that Police did take follow up actions on the night.

“Information regarding bank cards was given to police and followed up on the night of the incident and CCTV footage has been obtained as a result,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin McNaughton told The Indian Weekender.

“Police attended at the address on the night of the burglary and have made a number of enquiries since the offence,” Sergeant McNaughton further added.

or threatening to use arm can be scary for its victims, the effect on international students can be slightly more devastating purely because of the fact of students being on their own without the much emotional support of family and friends in the new country.

The brazenness in this instance where offenders have remained in the property for almost 30-40 minutes, opportunistically choosing branded jackets and shoes from the drawer as if on a shopping spree in a mall demonstrates their absolute lack of fear and respect for the law and any consequences arising from their indulgence in such acts.

This should be a major concern for law enforcement agencies, authorities and policy makers beyond the Kiwi-Indian community.

Another area of concern, particularly for the Kiwi-Indian community is the apparent gap in offering adequate compassion and empathy to the victims of robbery or burglary as police prefer to call this incident.

While victims in this instance continue to reiterate that no adequate victim support services were offered to them by the police The Indian Weekender had been told by the police that “Victim Support was offered to the occupants on the night and again since.”

It seems that there is a clear gap in expectation.

To be fair to the police, it could be a possibility of language or cultural barrier resulting in a communication gap when offering victim support.

But still that gap needs to be eventually addressed, and it needs to be ensured that victims have adequate support.

This is a gap that ethnic liaison officers have to fulfil without any excuse, every time.

The current gap in the expectations of ethnic communities and the police response needs to bridge sooner, than later.

Concern for the community

A

s though the news of rising incidents of aggravated robberies and assaults on the small business owners within the community was not enough, this news of brazen invasion which police is calling as burglary (not even an aggravated burglary) in the middle of the night in a home is a matter of concern for the community.

While any instance of the use of an arm

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NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

Shiv Sharan Singh: Ghazal writing is in my blood ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

A

uckland-based Kiwi-Indian ghazal writer Shiv Sharan Singh Bhagirath, fondly known as Shiv Bhagirath has recently been inducted into the Indoz Hall of Fame by Indoz Punjabi Sahit Sabha Brisbane, Australia.

Mr Bhagirath, who arrived in New Zealand from Jalandhar, Punjab in 1989, has earned recognition and respect for his work in Hindi and Urdu speaking community in Auckland.

So far, He has published his books in Urdu/Hindi (Gharaunda Pyaar Ka) and a Punjabi (Satrang) book.

He is also a regular writer for Urdu Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand’s community magazine.

An electronics engineer by profession, Mr Bhagirath has also served as Board of Trustees Chairman at Fairburn Primary School and Otahuhu College for nearly 20 years.

Recently, The Indian Weekender met up with him to find out more about his work and life. Here are a few excepts from the interview: IWK: Tell us about the honour that you have recently received in Brisbane.

Shiv Bhagirath: I became the eighth inductee into Indoz’s Hall of Fame on June 8, 2017. I received this award for my work in Hindi and Urdu ghazal writing. I feel very humble and thankful to be honoured with this recognition.

IWK: How and when did you start writing and what inspired you to write ghazals?

SB: There are two types of ghazal writers. One is those who are naturally born. And second is those who study to become a writer. Then these writers also write two types of poetry. First is what relates to the visible world and the other one is that relates to the invisible (un-drisht) world.

I am one of those natural born writers who write about the invisible world. Ghazal writing is in my blood as I come from a family of ghazal writers where my grandfather, father and brother were all ghazal writers.

IWK: When did you realise that you had that writer in you?

SB: I started writing from very

young age as it was in the family only. Whenever I read my ghazals to my father, he always said "tawazun ghat hai" meaning it lacks balancing/ focus. And I spent next 28 years of my life finding that focus/balance.

But later, on his deathbed, my father told me that the tawazun was always there from day one.

So, it was an awakening and realisation for me and when now wherever I go and sing my ghazals, I feel as if I am singing it to my father.

IWK: When you first arrived in New Zealand, did you take up writing as a full-time profession?

SB: Ghazal writing is like samadhi or meditation and for me the definition of meditation is immersing one’s self

with something eternal. My mind and soul are emotionally wedded with ghazal writing. You don’t need time, place and comfort to write ghazal.

Many of my ghazals were written while I was doing something else.

And so I write on whatever piece of paper I find.

After coming here, I worked as an electronics engineer. The highest achievement of my career as an engineer was that I installed the navigational light at the Power Centre 2 at the runway 1 of Auckland Airport in 1993.

I have worked in various fields.

I am a professional truck driver. I also have the pilot license to fly a helicopter. I have diploma in finance.

I graduated from Guru Nanak Dev University and was topper in Public Administration, Political Science and English in 1981.

IWK: How many ghazals have you written so far?

SB: I haven’t counted them yet. But I have A3 sized scrapbooks at my house filled with ghazals. I can say they would have nearly 1500 ghazals.

It is a count for only those that are numbered. But there are several unnumbered writings too which I would write on the backside of phone bill or any other piece of paper, for which I don’t have any count.

IWK: You are known for a special dedication that you presented to Manmeet Alisher, the young bus driver that was burned to death in Brisbane.

How did you come up with that creation?

SB: At that time, I was in Auckland. I was fortunate enough to get a chance to present that writing to Manmeet’s father in Brisbane. When I met him I realised that our griefs and worries are nothing compared to what their family had to go through.

As a shayar, I felt that as if someone very close to me, my love was burned. And I wrote what I felt at that time.

“Ajj meri awaaz de tukde tukde hogaye, Khambaa’n de parwaaz de tukde tukde ho gaye ik paagal jehi teeli jali, janooni bhambarh mach geya, cheesa’n cheekaa’n ubhriyaa’n, sog maatam mach gaya ik sajjar rutt sawer nu, ik ghupp haner dass geya, duniyaa de ron dhon ch mera yaar moya khapp geya Manmeet jehe pukhraaj de tukde tukde ho gaye Ajj meri awaaz de tukde tukde ho gaye Khambaa’n de parwaaz de tukde tukde ho gaye”

IWK: What would be your suggestion to aspiring writers?

SB: My belief is to not give others something that you would never take when given to you. To all those who are already writing or want to write, I want to say, whatever you write just think if you would be comfortable for your daughter or sister or mother to listen to it.

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The Indian Weekender

NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

Community raises funds for house explosion victims

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An aerial view of the New Windsor house destroyed in fire

¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

T

he community has started a Givealittle page to collect funds for the Indian couple injured in the New Windsor house fire on Tuesday, July 4.

Geena Dominic and her husband Biju lived in the rented property on Mary Dreaver St in New Windsor and survived the blaze that happened just after 6 a.m. The police investigation revealed that the fire started with an explosion caused by a gas leak.

Geena Dominic, in her early thirties, was taken with moderate burns to Middlemore Hospital while Biju was rushed to Auckland Hospital in a serious condition.

The massive explosion ripped the house into two halves and woke the residents in the area who described the blast as a ‘loud thunder’. The house was engulfed in a fireball, but the two occupants managed to escape with moderate to severe burns.

The incident has thus left the duo with no place to live, and the fire destroyed every possession in the house.

“They did not have content insurance and everything they had in the house, right from furniture to personal stuff, everything is destroyed,” Salesh Lal, a friend of the couple

who started the Givealittle page said.

The Givealittle page reads ‘New Windsor couple need help to start over’ has collected a few thousand dollars as on Wednesday, July 12 from funds donated by some 117 gracious donors to help the couple in despair.

“The funds will help Geena and Biju to start life over again. It will help them get back on a rental market as soon as they leave the hospital, and support them until they are able to get back to work,” Mr Lal said.

The Auckland Malayali Samajam, the community group for the Malayali community in Auckland also met the couple and will make all necessary arrangements for them.

“We are liaising with the High Commission of India in New Zealand to help them get their passports and other documents sorted,” Blessen M Jose, vice president of the Auckland Malayali Samajam told The Indian Weekender.

The neighbours of the couple in the New Windsor and Blockhouse Bay area too are collecting funds to help the couple.

“Please continue to give and also pray for them as we are waiting on further funding to help them settle down and start life again as per normal, which will definitely take some time.

God bless,” their Givealittle page reads.

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6

NEW ZEALAND

14-year-old arrested for

assault on pizza delivery man ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

W

aitemata Police on Tuesday, July 11, has arrested and charged a 14-yearold male with aggravated robbery following a violent assault on a pizza delivery worker on Sunday evening, July 09.

The youth will appear in the Waitakere Youth Court Tuesday, July 18.

Police is making further enquiries and cannot rule out the possibility of further charges being laid. The 47-year-old victim remains in North Shore Hospital in a stable condition. The victim was identified as Mansoor Khan, a Pakistani resident living in New Zealand for several years and was working at Pizza Hut. The delivery worker was assaulted on his way to an address in Kelman Road, Kelston, to deliver an order on Sunday, July 9.

At around 6:30 p.m. the victim parked his vehicle and as he was getting the pizza out of his

boot he was struck by an unknown object to the back of his head. The victim lost consciousness and fell to the ground. He was found about 15 minutes later by a member of the public with a serious head injury. The offender or offenders took off with $20 and the pizza.

Police and Ambulance were called, and the victim was taken to Waitakere Hospital but was later transferred to Auckland Hospital.

“Police staff is absolutely disgusted by this offending. An innocent member of our community was just doing his job when he was struck over the head and left there unconscious.

This could have been far more serious had a member of the public not found the victim and called for help.

“People have a right to go to work and do their job safely without being violently assaulted. It is simply not good enough, and the Waitakere community will not accept it,” Detective Sergeant Farrant added.

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Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

Three aggravated robberies in Hamilton during weekend ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

H

amilton Police is investigating three aggravated robberies during the weekend which they believe are

linked.

The first incident happened on Saturday, 8 July at around 2.30 p.m. at the Holland Superette in Fairfield. Two males have entered the shop and demanded cigarettes.

The offenders had their faces covered, and one was armed with a knife. The pair stole a large quantity of cigarettes and fled in a silver car. The first offender was described as a teenage male, slim build and slightly taller than 5’5” in height. He was wearing a black hoodie and had his face covered.

The second offender was also a teenage male, a similar height to the first offender and of solid build. He was wearing a white cloth over his face, black hoodie and black gumboots. This offender was carrying a knife that is described as silver and about the length of a marker pen.

On Sunday, 9 July at about 8.00am a blue vehicle pulled up outside the Jalaram Superette, Heaphy Terrace, Claudelands. Three offenders entered the shop armed with a crowbar and stole a large quantity of cigarettes and cash.

They then left in the same vehicle.

The third incident occurred on Monday, July 10, when three offenders smashed their way into a McDonald’s restaurant on Greenwood Street, Hamilton at around 3 a.m. A quantity of cash was stolen by the offenders.

Stolen vehicles were used in all three incidents. Given this Police are asking the

public to be vigilante with vehicle security in the Claudelands and Fairfield areas.

“Please make sure you secure your vehicle and if you see any suspicious activity report it to Police immediately,” Police has appealed to the community.

“While none of the victims suffered physical injuries in these incidents it would have been a very frightening situation for all of them.

This type of behaviour is not acceptable, and we are committed to finding these offenders and holding them to account for their actions,” Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may recognise the people pictured in the CCTV images and their whereabouts. Police has also asked anyone who has been offered cheap cigarettes in recent days to get in touch.

Information can be shared with Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Indian Weekender

NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

7

HUMM FM SURGES AHEAD FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE LISTENERSHIP RATINGS SURVEY F ¡¡ IWK BUREAU

or the second time this year, Humm 106.2 FM is number one in The GFK Radio survey. The overall cumulative audience Mon-Sun [12am-12am] has increased from the last survey to this one, from 47.9 (‘000) to 56.8 (‘000).

This phenomenal jump in listenership has cemented Humm FM’s position as the number one Indian Radio Station in Auckland.

Humm FM’s managing director, Roshila Prasad, is ecstatic with the results saying, “It’s the result of a lot of hard work by the entire team, to get the station here. While we have been continually working on new programming initiatives, we always keep the community in the core of our programming. It’s the love of the community that reflects through the survey results.”

Working for the community

H

umm FM has been working for the community supporting many community events, in addition to numerous celebrity events.

2016 saw Humm FM organising a Christmas radiothon for charity. Plus, an initiative with Canteen, which was well appreciated by the community, has been a great success.

“Community engagement is our number one priority, as we are for the community, by the community”, says Roshila.

Keeping abreast with technology

H

umm FM it keeps advancing its technology and improving the audience’s experience. The latest addition is the Humm FM mobile app, giving its listeners direct interaction with the RJ playing on-air. The latest statistics put the average number of NZ users at around 10,000. That many people get to take part in contests directly. For marketers, getting that opportunity to engage with their audience is pure gold.

National Reach

N

eedless to say, Humm FM online streaming, also increases the audience reach. With over 50,000 online listeners, approx. 80% come from New Zealand. The digital reach of Humm FM, makes them an attractive option for National clients.

Social Engagement

N

o media house can survive today without social engagement. Humm FM and its RJs are all very adept to the changing phases of social media. With more than 250,000 likes, the majority of which come from NZ. The RJs say, that as soon as they go live on air, they are flooded with song requests via Facebook and the mobile app. This says a lot of the stations ability to keep close to, and interact with its listening audience.

Roshila says, “We have worked on a lot of events in the past years, from Auckland City’s 2016 Santa Parade to the Holi event this year and many other music and dance shows. Almost all events promoted by Humm FM are hits.

Meaning Humm FM has become ‘the number one’ destination for event promoters.

Customer Service is key

“

Like in any industry, customer service is the key to success,” Roshila says. “We do not overpromise and under deliver, we exceed our client’s expectations and I’m proud of our sales and marketing team, who work day and night to get the wheels moving.” With a small but strong, efficient team, Humm FM has made significant headway in the market in recent years.

With an increase in their market share to 2.2%, the station is growing stronger by the day.

Keeping in mind that these figures are just a sample survey, meaning that the actual listenership figures may well be double of what has come out of the survey. The survey does not have a pure Kiwi-Indian sample.

On future plans,

Roshila says, “We like to keep our heads down and keep striving for better. At Humm FM we don’t believe in dwelling on our past successes, we let our work speak for itself.

That’s our team’s motto and we stand by it. We are, however, happy at the positive trend of the numbers and it’s encouraging for all of us, here at Humm FM.” Humm FM promised to be a ‘new tune’ for the Auckland airways when it launched. It has delivered, and continues to deliver this to New Zealand’s Indian audience.

8

NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

SOUTH LINE

The Indian Weekender

News-in-brief from South Island

has it’s M6.4 quake Women in Canterbury hail city’s Ashburton own mosque now

first-ever Teeyan da Mela ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

T

he first-ever Teeyan da Mela concluded in Christchurch last weekend with more than 200 women who attended the event hailing it a “great success”. Overjoyed with the response was Nitika Bhullar, one of the main organisers, who said, “The highlight of the evening was our mutiyar punjabi di competition – similar to Miss India contests – during which over 30 participants were judged on their dressing sense and cultural knowledge.

A young woman named Manjinder Kaur won the contest.”

Ms Nimi Bedi, a noted immigration advisor and one of the judges of the contest, added, “I have shifted to Christchurch just over a year back after living in Auckland for decades. And I must say, for a first-time effort, the Teeyan da Mela of Christchurch was second to none.

Women of all age groups enjoyed the evening thoroughly.”

The evening also saw a turban tying competition for older ladies, the response for which was so great that later the younger ones also pitched in, informed the event organisers.

A fancy dress competition for children,

A

hits 200km southwest of South Island

causes momentary panic with Geonet’s automated system reporting M5 around Blenheim ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

giddha and bollywood dance performances, were part of the event as well.

Most notable cultural performance though, was the bhangra – traditionally performed by males – being choreographed and performed by an all-women group.

National List MP Jo Hayes was the chief guest of the evening.

“Going by the response from the community, we will definitely make it an annual affair now.

A day for all women to gather and celebrate our womanhood. This is what teeyan or teej is all about,” Ms Bhullar said.

Kaikoura quake claims hit $1.8b

ccording to a recent report by the Insurance Council of New Zealand, the total value of insurance claims for the M7.8 Kaikoura earthquake has reached a staggering $1.84 billion. This has made the Kaikoura earthquake the second-largest claims event in Earthquake Commission (EQC)’s history. Private insurers, acting as agents for the EQC – have received 31,000 claims for residential properties amounting to over $460

A

part from the joy that Eid and Ramadan brings, the Muslim community in the wider Canterbury region had another great reason to celebrate last month with the much-awaited opening of Ashburton Masjid, just 85 km South of Christchurch. This is now the fourth Masjid in the South Island.

Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch, already have one each.

million, and over 12,000 claims for commercial loss totalling $1.36 billion. Insurance Council Chief Executive Mr Tim Grafton assured that most people will receive settlement offers by the end of this year, adding, “In terms of residential building settlements, 29 per cent had been fully or partially settled by end of May. In dollar terms, over $278 million of commercial material damage claims have been partially or fully settled by the same time period.”

O Interestingly, and a testimony to how all religions co-exist peacefully in New Zealand, the Ashburton Masjid is located at 139 Archibald Street in Ashburton, the site of the old Tinwald Methodist Church. Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Fiji, Muslims in Ashburton hail from Egypt, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Singapore, and Palestine; with the total number exceeding 70.

Led by the Ashburton Muslim Association (AMAN), which was incorporated last year, the Muslim community across New Zealand under the leadership of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ), raised over 50 percent of the purchase price to have early possession of the building – well in time for last month’s Eid. AMAN is hopeful of raising the rest of the money – almost $200,000 – within the next few months and has started fund-raising for the same.

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n Tuesday, around 7pm, an earthquake of the magnitude 6.4, struck around 200km southwest of the South Island, which as Geonet had put it - “snared” Geonet’s seismometers. It began when Geonet’s automated system briefly reported an M5 earthquake around Blenheim. This, the agency explained “occurred when waves from the M6.4 arrived at many of the seismic stations in central New Zealand”. “Having this sort of ‘ghost earthquake’ is a consequence of tuning our network to have maximum sensitivity to earthquakes that matter most to New Zealanders, which are large earthquakes that occur on land or very close to our coastlines. It is a tricky trade-off to ensure that we do the best possible job of quickly detecting earthquakes that pose significant hazard to New Zealand and its assets,” Geonet added. Though widely felt in the lower South Island, the M6.4’s largest ground motions were almost 600 times smaller than the largest motions of the M7.8 Kaikoura earthquake. No major damage was reported.

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The Indian Weekender

VERDICT 2017 - SPECIAL FEATURE

Friday, July 14, 2017

9

Why international students in ‘low-level’ courses are being portrayed negatively T I ¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH

he great debate on immigration in New Zealand is getting murkier day by day in this election year.

It is reaching a stage where it is increasingly becoming difficult to say if political rhetoric is shaping social attitudes or conversely social attitudes are driving craziness in the political rhetoric.

The recent spat between the New Zealand First and the Green Party leaders about having more “racist approach to immigration,” on Sunday, July 9, around the official launching of the election campaign in Nelson is evidence of election rhetoric getting wackier.

This election special issue of The Indian Weekender will seek to uncomplicate views of all political parties on immigration debate for the benefit of the Kiwi-Indian community.

In this regard, a major question that seems to quietly prevail within the wider Indian community in NZ is the public disdain toward the ‘lowlevel’ education courses (read level 5-7 courses) and as a consequence disdain toward international students pursuing those courses.

Currently, there is a lot of anxiety within the community about the way international students pursuing lowlevel courses are being portrayed in the public discourse.

Low-level courses create skills that matter to NZ

Despite all political parties claiming to abstain from indulging in generating any prejudiced overtones in the immigration debate, evidence suggest that attitudes toward immigration and immigrants take a negative turn every time a political party throws a jibe on the value immigrants bring to this country.

International students are one such constituency of temporary migrants who come to this country following some dreams and promises, which, for many include getting a fair chance at the pathway to residency including others and have received much attention for all the wrong reasons in this election year.

From being held responsible for taking away jobs of the local population, to be held responsible for the apparent lack of regulation within the private tertiary education industry

in NZ, to sharing the burden of being held responsible for creating pressure on general infrastructure like housing and public transport, especially in the Auckland, international students are increasingly unwelcome in this country.

In this context, international students arriving in New Zealand to pursue level 5-7 courses are receiving a lot of flak.

Earlier, when the Labour Party had announced its immigration policy calling for cutting 25-30000 international students, then also the target was on students studying these low-level courses.

Against this backdrop, there is a need to look into some specific skills and areas of employment where these courses provide trained workforce in NZ economy.

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ndependent Tertiary Education New Zealand (ITENZ), which represents Private Tertiary Education Institutes that are largely responsible for running low-level courses, denies that these courses and the students trained in these courses are of lowvalue to the NZ economy.

Speaking to The Indian Weekender, the Chair of ITENZ Christine Clark says, “People undertaking lower level courses in NZ are not the highly qualified taxi drivers that we hear about, these taxi drivers are the ones who have studied at post graduate level and now cannot get employment in a qualificationrelated field.

“The low-level courses are those courses that NZ and many other countries desperately need graduates from such as the hospitality and healthcare graduates.

“I believe that the original criticism of low-level was incorrect and the politicians meant low quality, and we all agree that low quality is not wanted nor needed by anyone, including the students,” Ms Clark said.

The so-called low-level courses are training chefs, baristas, builders, the horticultural people, farmers and the caregivers. These are the areas where skill shortage in NZ economy

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is most acute.

Chefs train by completing a fulltime Level 3 and 4 NZ Certificate in Cookery.

International students are required to complete a two-year Diploma in Professional Chef Practice.

According to MBIE projections, the number of chefs grew at 1.2 per cent annually between 2006 and 2013, and employment is expected to grow strongly until 2025.

However, there are not enough chefs in NZ to fill these jobs.

Veteran chef Simon Gault has recently criticised how immigration policies are further exacerbating the problem of shortage of chefs in NZ. Earlier, prominent Indian restaurateur Sidharth and Chand Sahrawat, the owners of modern Indian restaurant Cassia, which was named Auckland’s best restaurant

by Metro magazine for the second year running and the famous awardwinning fine dining restaurant Sidart, have highlighted the problem of acute shortage of trained chefs in NZ. For this purpose, low-level courses can train and prepare trained workforce, if regulated appropriately.

In this regard, while a Labour immigration policy, which is seeking to drastically cut the numbers of students in low-level courses, would further reduce the number of chefs being trained in NZ. Whereas, under the current Continued...

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VERDICT 2017 - SPECIAL FEATURE

National-led government, only those chefs earning more than $49,000 would be eligible to remain permanently in the country.

According to the Restaurant Association’s 2013 Hospitality Industry Remuneration Survey, incomes range between $27,000 and $55,000.

Sous chefs with average earning more than $49,000 are a relatively experienced position requiring a few years of work experience in the industry.

Similarly, aged care industry is also reeling under the pressure of shortage of skilled workforce – an area that international students trained in lowlevel courses can easily fill in.

Simon Wallace, the Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA), affirms that locally trained international students could be a good source of a skilled workforce for their industry, which is struggling with the skilled workforce shortage. The NZACA membership represents about 600 rest homes across the country or approximately 35,000 of the 38,000 beds in the sector.

“The sector has estimated that

we will need extra 1,000 caregivers each year between now and 2026 to cater for an ageing population and in our case an increase in rest home residents from 38,000 to 52,000.

“While our rest homes do everything they can to employ local New Zealanders, we can’t meet all our labour needs from Kiwis alone.

We have to employ migrants.

“Our rest homes also value our migrant workforce, many of whom come from India as they are great workers. We have some internationally qualified Indian nurses who work as caregivers in our sector because their overseas qualifications are not recognised

by New Zealand authorities,” Mr Wallace said.

Given such a shortage of skilled workforce, which can be easily trained locally onshore according to the industry requirements from these so-called low-level education courses.

Instead of tapping this available human and financial resource for the betterment of the NZ economy, the current political climate seems to disregard the value these international students bring to the country.

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Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

National-led Government backs our international education export industry

Labour’s policy would stop issuing student visas for courses below a bachelor’s degree, targeting a reduction of 15,000 to 22,000 international students.

This is a quarter of the sector and could cost New Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi Zealand as much as a billion dollars a year and thousands National Party List MP of jobs.

It would also detriment our private education providers ore people are coming to New Zealand to who train our engineering technologists, technicians, study. And it’s easy to see why - we have a caregivers and chefs. These are in fact Level 5 and 6 world class international education sector. courses, not low level, and are skills that New Zealand The National-led Government backs our international actually needs. education export industry. This is a sector that has been a The National-led Government is committed to ensuring key part of diversifying our economy.

International education is worth $4.5 billion to our immigration policies support our growing economy, the New Zealand economy each year, and supports not stall it. And targeting international students would put 33,000 jobs. Last year, we granted just over 72,500 a vital part of our economy at risk. international student visas for tertiary institutions.

Every industry has its challenges, and export education International education is an important part of our is no different. The Government is working hard to drive knowledge-based economy, and our approach is to work out poor performance in the sector and ensure we provide with the industry to steadily improve outcomes, rather a great quality product to students. than threatening large parts of it.

We want to ensure that all international students feel Where Labour’s immigration policy would target socalled ‘low level’ education, we recognise the value of welcome, enjoy a high quality education, and are valued this part of the sector. for their contribution to New Zealand.

M

NZ First will revamp international education industry Mahesh Bindra

N

NZ First List MP

ew Zealand First is the only party that has held the government to account when the Indian students were exploited by the unscrupulous, dodgy “agents”.

The Indian students come here to explore the great opportunities offered by this country. They invest a decent amount of money in their education, work hard to support themselves while they study here in New Zealand. .

Through no fault of their own, these students were duped of their rights by ‘dodgy’ agents on both sides

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of the world and thus came under the scanner of the immigration. These students fought for months for their rights and even requested clemency from the government but to no avail.

These exploited students had to face the music of the fraud committed by someone else and were driven off from the country.

The government was quick to deport the students but did nothing to stop this exploitation from happening in the future. NZ First has firmly held its position and asked the ruling government to answer for the dire steps taken and why they did not put an enquiry against the dodgy immigration agents and education providers.

When we hold the balance of responsibility, we will streamline the export education industry to uphold our values and enhance the quality of education.

The Indian Weekender

Labour will give students certainty Michael Wood Labour Party MP for Mt Roskill

L

abour has a positive view of students who come to New Zealand to further their education. The export education sector in New Zealand was created under the fourth Labour government while Phil Goff was the Education Minister, and makes an important economic contribution to our country.

To ensure that the sector continues to make a positive contribution, we need to make sure that every student who comes here has access to high quality and relevant education. The international market is competitive, and word of low quality courses and disappointed students will quickly damage our reputation. The Australian international education sector still suffers from the student abuse scandal of 5-6 years ago.

While many providers do offer good quality courses, it is a sad reality that a minority have been milking the system. It is well known that these operators charge high fees, offering low quality subdegree courses which may be of dubious benefit to the student. Many students are attracted here based not on the quality of the course but by unscrupulous agents who make misleading statements about

VERDICT 2017 - SPECIAL FEATURE

Friday, July 14, 2017

the course being a direct pathway to residency.

We are simply not prepared to let the exploitative end of the international education sector continue to fester. We don’t do the students any favours, it damages our international reputation, and many good providers are tarnished in the process. The last point is important – by re-focusing our system on highquality and higher level courses, we will provide opportunities for education providers who are operating to the highest standards.

Labour will continue to issue visas for lower level (below Level 7) courses, but we will insist that the courses are independently accredited

by NZQA to be high quality. Who could argue with that? We will also make it clearer that student visas are for the purpose of study, and not a back door route to permanent residency.

Importantly, we will give students certainty. Students currently in New Zealand will be able to carry on under the existing rules, and students considering study in New Zealand will be able to apply under a clear set of new rules. These students will have greater certainty that the course they enrol in will be of high quality, and relevant.

Students who travel to New Zealand to study should be treated with respect and receive a high quality education. That is exactly what Labour’s policy will achieve.

‘Let’s not treat international students as mere customers,’ says NZPP Anil Sharma

F

List candidate NZPP

or years we basked in the international praise of our post-Global Financial Crisis “Rock star Economy”. And rightly so: smart investment by our government and the development of critical export industries allowed us to get out the other end without too much drama.

However, one of these industries the government encouraged to grow was the education export sector. And while figures show there are over 130,000 international students in New Zealand, the government has been very reluctant to regulate this sector to ensure quality and integrity.

The Chief Executive of Education New Zealand (ENZ), boasts about the growth of the sector and the positive impact it is having on New Zealand. However the results are anything but. There is no certification of the overseas or New Zealand based ‘Education Consultants’ who recruit these students and sell the New Zealand dream to them. There is no real minimum standard or certification of courses offered by New Zealand education providers. And the government body responsible for overseeing this industry is more concerned with getting as many people to study here

be it an apprenticeship, diploma or degree, which will benefit them and New Zealand.

If they need visa extensions to finish these courses then we will make that happen.

We can then firm up the regulation of the industry, the quality of the courses and programmes being offered to ensure future students will come here with a clear understanding of what they are getting and where it could lead them. As part of this New Zealand People’s Party will remove ‘Education Consultants’ from the industry and instead require students and education providers to use Licensed Immigration Advisors.

Families put themselves into massive debt so their children can study in New Zealand, so let’s stop treating them like customers and start treating them like fellow humans.

Ask any New Zealander and they would say we are a fair and honest country. And abroad too, New Zealanders have a solid reputation for being honest and kind, albeit a little hard to understand. The other parties in this election seem to be in the camp of either tightening and shrinking the industry or allowing it to carry on growing but with little regard for integrity or quality.

We don’t see it as an either/or situation. New Zealand can quite easily have a world class, highly desirable education export industry that continues to grow and contribute to the country’s economic success.

as possible but with little regard for the products it is selling.

Of course the big secret of the education export sector is that New Zealand isn’t generally first choice destination of study for most students. The UK, USA, Australia, Europe are all above New Zealand on the preferred place to study.

However, through carefully crafted and purposely misleading sales tactics that allude to studying in New Zealand as a pathway to permanent residence, New Zealand is able to recruit a lot of students.

It is the firm belief of the New Zealand People’s Party that while the New Zealand Government isn’t directly involved in the choice of institution or course a student chooses to attend, the government sets the policy and regulations, which govern the industry and as such the buck should stop with them.

When ‘Education Consultants’ and others deliberately commit fraud, the Government should do everything it can to hold those involved to account and fix the gaps in the system that allowed it to happen. The students, however, shouldn’t be punished for the crimes of others and industry flaws.

It is a policy of the New Zealand People’s Party to stand by every international student currently in the county and honour the commitments we made to them, whether we intended to make them or not. We will give every student the chance to change to a course or programme,

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NEW ZEALAND VERDICT 2017 - SPECIAL FEATURE

Labour is for quality, not substandard education Priyanca Radhakrishnan

I

Labour candidate for Maungakiekie

came to New Zealand as an international student. I didn’t come here with the intention of staying on and settling in New Zealand, but that’s how life worked out for me.

I got an excellent education, a job straight after university and the rest, as they say, is history.

Many international students come to New Zealand for a good education, a decent job and the opportunity to settle in a beautiful country. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, the Labour Party has always supported export education. Done well, the international education experience is beneficial to students and lucrative for New Zealand.

However, for too many international students their migration experience is fraught with anxiety and broken dreams. Too many end up with a substandard qualification that doesn’t get them a decent job in New Zealand or back home. Many families take on significant debt to give their children the opportunity to study in New Zealand.

I have spoken to many students who were ‘sold’ a picture of New Zealand by offshore education agents that was completely different to the reality they experienced when they arrived in New Zealand. I have heard so many stories ofinternational student life that areso different to what I experienced. Students who work one day a week and work six days;

students who have fallen into hardship and are unable to feed themselves; a girl who slept on park benches because she didn’t realise how expensive New Zealand is and ran out of money. Ten students sharing a small, cold flat, forced into jobs that pay under the table just to survive.

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in low-level study and reports of sham courses being used as a route to work and eventual residency. Many international students don’t realise that these courses are substandard till they get to New Zealand – and then it’s too late. Allowing this to continue is unfair and treats international students as cash cows.

Labour will require courses to be highquality, and disincentivise study in low level courses. Substandard education is unfair on international students and damages New Zealand’s reputation internationally.

There is no change proposed forhigh quality lower-level coursesor for students studying at the Bachelor level or higher. Also, the changeswill not affect students who are already here; they will only apply to new students.

The Labour Party grew out of a Labour movement born in social injustice. The Labour Party’s identity is mired in fighting injustice to create a fairer New Zealand. Export education is the fifth largest export sector. However, that’s no excuse to turn a blind eye to the injustices within the industry that exploit international students. Labour will address these because it’s the right thing to do.

Contact Labour’s Ethnic Communities Team

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

Yes to international students, no to education trafficking

of dollars in student fees, travel expenses and living costs only to get a low-quality education.

We don’t have any issues with the soDenise Roche called ‘low-level’ education courses if they Green Party List MP Immigration spokesperson provide value to the person getting them and if the courses are through reputable education he Green Party has a proud record of providers. Hospitality, restaurant management standing up for the rights of international and IT are vital to the future prosperity of students and other migrants in New New Zealand as a tourism destination and as Zealand. One of my proudest moments as an part of embracing a tech-savvy future. But MP was standing in solidarity with the Indian they need to be done with tertiary education international students when they took sanctuary providers who will deliver on the education that at Unity Church. We want international students they’re promising. to have a quality education, be well looked The Green Party has engaged with after and then have opportunities to contribute international students and their advocates in to New Zealand after they finish their course the migrant union movement extensively on of study. international student rights. We’ve worked What we do have a problem with are with the Migrant Workers’ Alliance and the education courses which are clearly Union of Migrant Workers to develop solutions fronts for what migrant unions call to address the problems international students ‘Education Trafficking.’ face. One of the solutions is to require tertiary This term includes education providers who institutions to develop a code of practise for abuse students by using them as indentured education advisors they employ - this will labour for horticulture with the education ensure that we can hold them accountable. component only a thinly veiled attempt at Another is to require tertiary institutions to masking the reality of exploitation. This develop a ‘code of conduct’ for student welfare includes some education advisors based in to ensure that international students are being India who trick students by selling a false well looked after. We also need to properly fund vision of New Zealand and do unethical, services that assist international students such illegal things like make misleading or false as the Labour Inspectorate so they can be more statements in the application. And last, but not proactive in investigating and shutting down least - education providers who often don’t exploitation. provide a quality education that they promise.

Overall, the Green Party is proud to support These rogue providers sometimes just outright international students. We want New Zealand fabricate results to make themselves look good to live up to our reputation of a fair-go and and when they inevitably get closed down it ensure that the experience is a win-win for both is the students who pay the price. Too many international students pay tens of thousands students and the country.

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The Indian Weekender

VERDICT 2017 OPINION/EDITORIAL - SPECIAL FEATURE

Friday, July 14, 2017

13

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING IN THIS GENERAL ELECTION? ¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH

election, you will need to check that you are enrolled and your details are up to date. ¡¡ An enrolment update pack was sent in the mail to all enrolled voters at the end of June. If you didn’t get one, it means you need to enrol or update your details.

For more information go to www. elections.org.nz or call 0800 36 76 56.

V

oting is one of the most crucial aspects of any election process in a democracy and New Zealand goes to vote on Saturday, September 23 to elect its next government.

By voting, New Zealanders can have their say on the issues that affect them and their families, friends and wider acquaintances.

Indeed, voting is important.

However, voting is not merely a manifestation of one’s right to elect the government. It is an administrative process which requires lots of preparation from the Electoral Commission and, on an equal scale, awareness on the part of the voters.

For many in Kiwi-Indian community, the fact that one can vote before the election day (September 23), could be a revelation. Advance voting is an opportunity for voters to cast their vote if they are ready to vote before the election day.

Voters don’t need a reason to vote in advance, for many, it is a convenient option if they know they will be away or working on election day. This year advance voting begins on Monday, September 11.

In this regard, The Indian Weekender strives to coalesce together all relevant things related to voting in this general election.

Who is eligible to vote?

¡¡ You must enrol if you are 18

years or older, and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in New Zealand for more than one year continuously at some time in your life. ¡¡ For the purposes of enrolling to vote, a permanent resident is someone who does not have to leave New Zealand by a set date. ¡¡ It is a legal requirement to be registered on the Electoral

"

Advance voting is an opportunity for voters to cast their vote if they are ready to vote before the election day

Roll. However, voting is not compulsory in New Zealand.

Have you enrolled with electoral commission?

¡¡ You must be enrolled before you can vote.

¡¡ You can enrol right up until

midnight on 22 September, but you can’t enrol on Election Day itself. ¡¡ It’ll be quicker and easier to vote if you enrol by August 23. ¡¡ If you enrol by August 23, you’ll get an EasyVote card and information pack in the mail that will give you all the information you need to vote. ¡¡ Having your EasyVote card with you when you go to a voting place will make voting quicker. ¡¡ If you enrol after August 23, you will need to cast a special vote, which takes a bit longer.

Why updating your details is so important?

¡¡ To be able to vote in this year’s

What do your two votes mean?

¡¡ Each voter gets two votes. The

first vote is for the political party the voter chooses. This is called the party vote and largely decides the total number of seats each political party gets in Parliament. ¡¡ The second vote is to choose the MP the voter wants to represent the area they live in. This is called the electorate vote. The candidate who gets the most votes in each electorate wins.

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VERDICT 2017 - SPECIAL FEATURE

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

Ladies Night showcases Punjabi culture in a fun-filled eve ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

B

eautiful women dressed up in their best attires, bright colours, charkha, madhaniyaa’n, chajj and more— the rich Punjabi culture was at display at Ladies Cultural Night held at Vodafone Events Centre in Auckland on Saturday, July 8.

Organised by Woman Care Trust based in Auckland, it had everything you would look for in a fun-filled evening. A packed venue with about 1500 women was evident of the fact how popular these cultural events have become recently.

The event kicked off with prayers, followed by spectacular performances by various dance groups. Women of every age were present at the event for some ‘metime’. Dressed up in cultural outfits such as suit, lehngaa, laaccha, ghagra, and adorned with vintagestyle jewellery such as nath, tikka, jhumke, taweeti, borla the women were excited to be a part of an event where they could be carefree and enjoy without any worries and stress.

The gidha performed by the group of senior ladies aka ‘golden girls’ garnered much applause from the audience. Another funny act by Chindo Mindo Natak Company was also a hit with the ladies. Several other performances made members of audience leave their seats and hit the dance floor.

Baljit Dheil, Chairperson of Woman Care Trust thanked everyone

"

Organised by Woman Care Trust based in Auckland, it had everything you would look for in a fun-filled evening

Photos courtesy: Savi B Creations

who attended the event for their support.

“It has just been three years since this organisation was formed and you have shown immense support for it. At Woman Care Trust, we aim to make the lives of women better by providing free support to Indian women and other new immigrants to settle in New Zealand,” Ms Dheil said.

The event ended with mostawaited performance of the night open DJ by Suraj Channa.

“It is one night I really look forward to as I absolutely love dancing but I am a bit shy too. And here we can just dance freely and comfortably. About these ladies nights, I like the fact that we all can get dressed, can wear our best clothes and accessories. It feels like a big huge Punjabi wedding which I really miss here in New Zealand,” said Gagandeep Kaur, one of the participant at the event.

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The Indian Weekender

NEW ZEALAND

Friday, July 14, 2017

15

Four Kiwi-Indians participate in Mongol Rally 2017 in the UK R ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

aj Srivastav, the popular face from Humm FM, the Bollywood radio station in Auckland along with his three friends is all set to start the world’s most adventurous rally in the United Kingdom.

Stretched over 50 days, the rally is said to be a ride of a lifetime where all teams go through the most difficult situations crossing 20 countries.

The rally starts on Sunday, July 16 from the Goodwood Circuit near Chichester, West Sussex, close to the south coast of England.

The rally will go through the most treacherous and unknown hidden paths of Central Asia called the ‘Old Soviet’ with a little support from the hostile nature and environment.

The rally is called ‘Honk Honk Old Monk’.

The rule of the rally states that each of the teams will have four members driving one small car which is at least ten years old and the engine has to be below 1.2 cc and is barely in a good driving condition. The car will be driven approximately 16,095 kilometres crossing 20 countries in 35-50 days to reach the destination at Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia, China. Ulan Ude in Russia is the finishing line.

The rally moves from France into Belgium then east toward Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and requires crossing the Caspian Sea from Baku, Azerbaijan into Turkmenbashi, and Turkmenistan.

“The challenges for the team and individuals will be different, especially when crossing different countries and their road rules and culture, etc. But at the end, people are always sweet and welcoming to visitors like us.

Basically, it’s the politics that keeps us people apart in these different countries,” Raj told The Indian Weekender.

Raj’s team comprises himself, and fellow Aucklanders Sid Chopra, Sunny Singh and Arvind Roy. The team aims to raise funds from the rally and donate it to Starship Foundation New Zealand and the project ‘Cool Earth’.

“This is a rally and not a race. There is no prize for reaching first, it’s just the experience and adventure of accomplishing the task with limited resources and under unfriendly circumstances that kick the adrenaline in us,” Raj added.

Fans and followers can track the teams on the website honkhonkoldmonk.com, and the teams will also share their experiences on their social media pages, personal profiles and also via blogs on the rally website.

Website: www.honkhonkoldmonk.com; www.facebook.com/honkhonkoldmonk

Mongol Rally 2017 route map

Thought of the week

Editorial

This week in politics: What Kiwi-Indians need to know

W

hile winter has taken the nation in its grip this week, the heat being generated in local politics would be offering some distraction if not relief from this chilling cold weather.

The race to elections later in September this year is accelerating with all political parties competing to attract the attention of distracted voters.

Distracted voters are those who are not loyal to any particular political party, often remaining indecisive about their electoral choices till the very last minute before actual voting, and carrying their votes from party to party every election. Many in the Kiwi-Indian community could arguably be positioned as distracted voters or fence-sitters. The bold comment by Green Party MP Barry Coates on Thursday, July 13, that since a Labour-NZ First Government would be “unacceptable” to the Greens, therefore potentially implying that they can send the nation back to another poll just before Christmas this year was perfectly suited to attract the attention of these distracted voters.

Probably, not many people howsoever distracted would warm up to the idea of another election immediately after September, thus necessitating a quick follow up on developments around the election and possibly attaching more premiums on their vote.

For the next couple of months, political parties would remain busy in gaining the attention of those seemingly distracted voters to bolster their own fate on September 23, when the nation goes to the polls. In this endeavour, all political parties have done their bit this week to attract the quantum of attention in order that reflects their respective situation in the latest One News Colmar Brunton poll.

New Zealand First and the Green Party are both up two points on the May poll after the Budget, to 11 per cent apiece. National is maintaining its comfortable lead over others at 47 per cent, though not able to form the government on its own and with allies. The Labour Party is down by 3 per cent to almost reaching a historic low of 27 per cent.

Buoyed by their respective rise in the polls, NZ First and the Greens have made the most of noise this week, for a major part by brick bating with each other, probably as a part of a carefully calibrated strategy. The week had begun with Green co-leader Metiria Turei accusing NZ First of practising a “divisive and racist” form of politics in hurling brickbats at each other at their campaign launch in Nelson.

Expectedly, Winston Peters hit back with a veiled threat through a statement saying “there will be consequences for the Green Party.”

This bickering went worse after Mr Coates’ major gaffe on Thursday stating that the Green Party would prefer a new election than any inferior deal from a possible Labour-NZ First coalition.

Apparently, Mr Coates has already received a telling off from the Green Party co-leader James Shaw signalling the party was not in the mood to reflect what a small minority of experts would argue as a demonstration of stealth in Green politics. Despite a major backlash from all mainstream political analysts it can be argued to some extent that Barry Coates gaffe was a demonstration of stealth in Green politics, if that was meant to be the intention at all, in the first place, which will be required from them before the voters can trust their ability to govern the nation.

However, if the party chooses to backtrack from Mr Coates’ gaffe, which it seems it has already done, then it would be a signal to voters that the party is still not ready to come out of its image of being just a cosmopolitan political party that is seeking a social change through progressive ideas.

This election is a direct battle for a political change and not merely some social change.

Putting it differently, stealth and swagger is a valuable commodity, especially for the smaller political parties to be treated with ‘respect’ by the major political parties. It is not for a reason that Winston Peter’s New Zealand First, commands an undivided attention across the political spectrum of the country. The leader of the party demonstrates ample amount of stealth and swagger in the day to day politics.

Nevertheless, away from this mutual charge in between the smaller parties, National and Labour – the two bigger political parties – have continued their efforts to attract the attention of distracted voters. The National Party is basking in the glory of the government’s recent announcement of $1 billion housing fund where Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga’s councils have been promised additional funds to build housing. Auckland Council was awarded the most money, receiving $300 million to build infrastructure for 10,500 houses.

The Labour Party has called this National’s ‘ghost houses’ stating that “this is a just a list of ghost houses from a government that has made an art form out of promising houses but never building them.”

Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Labour Party has sought to reject the government’s earlier proposed budget tax cut plan with its own Families Package.

While National’s budget tax cut plan promises a minimum $26 gain every week to 2.2 million workers from next year, Labour is taking away this cut saying, “now is not the time for tax cuts.”

Instead, Labour is promising to use National’s proposed $1.5 billion funds for lower and middle-income families and people in need. A key component of this proposed family package is a promise of a $60 a week payment per baby to nearly 60,000 families for at least three years.

This ought to be enough information for the Kiwi-Indian community to mull over and digest this weekend.

“If you don't go af ter what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step for ward, you're always in the same place.” – Nora Roberts Auckland Weather forecast for the week 14 -July 20

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Cloudy with a few showers

13° 7°

Mainly Cloud Occasional fine, increasing rain chance Light winds developing shower.

13° 6°

15° 9°

15° 9°

Rain, easing to showers

Rain with Showers little with northwind westerlies

15° 9°

16° 9°

16° 11°

This week in New Zealand’s history 14 July 1853 : New Zealand's first general election begins

F

or such a symbolic moment, the events of 14 July offered little drama – the first member of New Zealand’s inaugural Parliament, Hugh Carleton, was elected unopposed at Russell in the Bay of Islands.

15 July 1915 : First Gallipoli wounded arrive home

T

he first large group of Gallipoli wounded to return to New Zealand arrived in Wellington on the Willochra as part of a draft of around 300 men.

The ship arrived at about midnight on the 14th and anchored in the harbour’..

18 July 1855: New Zealand's first postage stamps go on sale

T

hese adhesive, non-perforated stamps for prepaid postage were the famous ‘Chalon Head’ design, showing Queen Victoria in her coronation robes.

New Zealand issued its first postage stamps 15 years after they had appeared in Britain. The three stamps in the ‘Full-face Queen’ set – one penny (1d), twopence (2d) and one shilling (1s) – were printed in Britain. Other values were added later.

Indian Weekender : Volume 9 Issue 17 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Managing Editor: Bhav Dhillon | bhav@indianweekender.co.nz Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter—South Island: Gaurav Sharma Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-6366306 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Distribution: 022 3251630 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.

Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

The Indian Weekender

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Friday, July 14, 2017

17

India-China: Dangerous brinkmanship ¡¡ TARUN BASU

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi said very proudly during a visit to Russia last month that not a single bullet had been fired along the border between India and China for 40 years.

“It is true that we have a border dispute with China. But in the last 40 years, not a single bullet has been fired because of border dispute,” Modi said in a panel discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Modi spoke in the context of an “inter-connected and inter-dependent world” where, he said, countries may have some disputes but that should not stop them from moving ahead in “areas of collaboration”, like India and China were doing.

In December 1996, when then state President and Communist Party of China (CPC) General Secretary Jiang Zemin visited Pakistan after a trip to India, he made a very significant statement before the Pakistan National Assembly. Speaking to Pakistani lawmakers, Jiang advised Pakistan to adopt the India-China template in their dealings with New Delhi and not let contentious issues come in the way of the development of their relationship on other fronts, particularly trade and business, and people-to-people ties.

“If certain issues cannot be resolved for the time being, they may be shelved temporarily so that they will not affect the normal state-tostate relations,” Jiang said.

Pakistan may not have paid heed to Jiang’s advise, but with peace and

The inexorable rise of strongman Xi Jinping coincided with muscular projections of Chinese authority and power on issues that it considered were “core” to its strategic and foundational principles tranquility being maintained on the border through a series of agreements, China and India had managed to keep the peace between them, despite a disputed border of over 4,000 km.

Indian officials have often called it a “managed relationship” where border

disputes and differences over Tibet or Arunachal Pradesh were kept on a slow track of protracted negotiations while the two neighbours fasttracked their trade and economic relationships to a level that made them critical elements of each other’s growth story.

But the inexorable rise of strongman Xi Jinping coincided with muscular projections of Chinese authority and power on issues that it considered were “core” to its strategic and foundational principles, whether it be the South China Sea, Tibet, or the Belt and Road project that stood to seal China’s role as a global mercantile power.

As Xi moves to establish complete authority over all organs of party,

government and military to become one of the strongest leaders of the People’s Republic in recent times, it is clear that China has moved much beyond previous supremo Deng Xiaoping’s dictum of “Lie low, bide your time”.

China thinks its time is now and whatever it does will be in consonance and pursuit of this “Chinese dream” to become one of the world’s pre-eminent economic, military and political powers in what Xi terms “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”.

In line with this political philosophy, China is flexing its muscle, reasserting sovereignty and expanding its arc of influence much beyond the South China Sea, to South Asia, Africa and even to Latin America. But even as its Belt and Road connectivity project becomes a tool to project Chinese economic and cultural power, it has become uncompromising on issues that it earlier preferred to “lie low” on, with the latest being the row with India over disputed Bhutanese territory north of Sikkim.

China’s bellicose position, coupled with a sharp escalation of threatening rhetoric, is consistent with its

recent posturing over territorial and geostrategic issues.

Suddenly, says Shivshankar Menon, former Indian National Security Adviser and former envoy to Beijing, the old modus vivendi in India-China ties, that worked to enhance areas of common interest while seeking to balance rival sensitivities on their strategic concerns, has broken down and there is an urgent need to find a new modus vivendi.

There is little doubt that China’s aim is to contain India’s rising power through strategic linkages with the country’s neighbours, particularly Pakistan. It seeks to browbeat New Delhi in the hope that the latter will back down and defer to Beijing’s growing might.

But India too has been unusually tough and unrelenting in its stances, 17 whether on the CPEC, Arunachal Pradesh or Sikkim, and both have ended up staring down at each other, while underlining that they were a “different” country from the one that fought a war in 1962. Who ends up blinking first will determine how this regional rivalry between the world’s two most populous and aspirational nations plays out.

But there is also a danger of the situation spiralling out of control if the brinkmanship continues. The position an unpredictable US takes might determine strategic equations in Asia in the coming years.

Tarun Basu is President, Society for Policy Studies. He can be contacted at tarun.basu@ spsindia.in

India’s cold-chain sector: A thriving area for investment T ¡¡ DEBDEEP CHAKRABORTY

he cold chain sector in India suffered years of neglect resulting in inadequate capacity addition but the present National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has managed to turn it around with investor-friendly policies.

World Food India 2017, the flagship summit being hosted by Government of India, will showcase the might, the potential and the opportunities in the sector.

The cold chain sector has been a much neglected sector for many years, under previous governments. The details were even highlighted in a study submitted in March 2015 -- “Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities in India” by the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR)-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana. However, the Ministry of Food Processing Industry, led

by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, chose to accept the report as an opportunity, and commenced working on the gaps the report had highlighted.

This report, commissioned in 2012, had estimated that the annual value of harvest and post-harvest losses of major agricultural produces at national level was Rs 92,651 crore.

The amount was arrived at using production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices.

Further, it was found that cumulative wastage

for fruits and vegetables stood at 4.58 per cent to 15.88 per cent, followed by fisheries (marine) at 10.52 per cent, oil seeds (3.08 percent to 9.96 per cent), pulses (6.36 per cent to 8.41 per cent), poultry (6.74 per cent), cereals (4.65 per cent to 5.99 per cent), fisheries-inland (5.23 per cent), meat (2.71 percent) and milk (0.92 percent).

One of the biggest causes of post-harvest losses in India was the inadequate cold-chain infrastructure. While the production of high nutrition products like fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry has gone up considerably over the years, what is lacking are the means to safely handle and move these perishable products to the market.

In 2015, the National Centre for Cold-chain Development conducted a study to evaluate pan-India consumption of perishable food items, demand, current status and gaps in cold chain infrastructure. The overall idea behind the study was to make available facts and figures that would be useful for shaping policies in the future in this regard. Besides, the government has been making interventions in several key areas based on the findings of the study.

As per the study, the total cold storage space created in the country added up to 31.82 million tonnes while the gap in cold storage space, both bulk and hub, was assessed at 3.28 million tonnes. The increase in production of perishable food items without a corresponding increase in cold chain infrastructure had resulted in a

situation in the country where there was a demand supply mismatch, ultimately causing massive food loss, price fluctuations and inflation.

The present NDA government at the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is determined to reduce wastage of agricultural produce and drastically bring down post-harvest losses. With this objective, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is engaged in implementing various Central Sector Schemes.

These include the Scheme for Development of Infrastructure for Food Processing having components of mega food parks, integrated cold chain, value addition and preservation infrastructure and modernisation of abattoirs and the Scheme for Quality Assurance, Codex Standards, Research and Development, along with other promotional activities.

As of March 2017, the MoFPI was assisting 135 integrated cold chain projects under its

Central Sector Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure,of which, 97 have already achieved completion and commenced commercial operations. In addition, the government has approved taking up 100 new integrated cold chain projects in 2016-17 for financial assistance, for which a total of 308 integrated cold chain proposals from all over the country have been received against the Expression of Interest. Once all the 135 cold chain projects being assisted by the MoFPI are completed and commence operations, a substantial cold chain capacity would be available.

The World Food India 2017, being organised

by MoFPI at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi from November 3 to 5, will showcase the growth potential and investment opportunities in the cold chain sector as well as other areas in the food processing industry.

(Debdeep Chakraborty is a senior columnist and analyst. The views expressed are personal)

FIJI

India State ministry officials to boost agriculture in Fiji N A 18

delegation from the State of Haryana, India, is in the country to help the country in the agriculture sector.

The Haryana State officials are interested in helping the Fijian Government in areas of potato, sugar cane, dairy and vegetable farming on a larger scale.

The delegation consists of Agriculture State Minister of Haryana Om Prakash Dhankar, officials of the Ministry, and public representatives from Haryana.

The delegation met their Fijian counterparts from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture Viam Pillay, and Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Jitendra Singh, met the delegation yesterday at the Indian High Commission in Suva.

Agriculture State Minister of Haryana Mr Dhankar during the meeting said that the Haryana state was looking forward to working with the Fijian Government in the agriculture field.

“Fiji and India have a long

Friday, July 14, 2017

Harayan delegation leader Dr Om Prakash (thrid from right) and local government delegations take their seat at the Indian High Commission.

history and it mainly has to do with agriculture. The first Indians were brought to Fiji to work on sugar cane farms,” Mr Dhankar said.

“Through this visit, the Haryana state plans to refresh this relationship we forged years ago.

“We are looking forward to working with the Fijian Government to restart farming.” Permanent secretary Mr Singh welcomed and

thanked the Haryana state delegation for the visit.

“Haryana produces cereals, rice and dairy and many other products but we are we are looking at these areas of co-operation in future with the state,” Mr Singh said.

“I convey my appreciation on behalf of the Fijian Government to the government of India for the support and aid provided to

the people of Fiji especially for supplying the 5.5 tonnes of seeds after cyclone Winston,” he said.

“This helped in the rehabilitation of the agriculture sector.

“We have discussed various areas of co-operation that can exist between the state of Haryana and Fiji and we will be exploring some of these areas through the Indian High Commission of Fiji.”

French President invites Fiji PM for special Paris Summit

P

rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been invited to a special summit of global leaders by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron in Paris in December.

Mr Bainimarama announced this during the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) exhibition at the Fiji Museum in Suva last week.

He was in Kadavu last Friday when he received a call from Mr Macron and gave the heads-up and sought his support for the announcement he made last weekend of a special summit which will be held in Paris on December 12.

The summit is to mark the second anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change during COP21.

“The President invited me to be there and of course, I will be because it will be concentrating on one of the issues that is of most

world that awaits us to build our resilience to the rising seas levels, extreme weather events and changes to agriculture caused by climate

change,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“It will be just over three weeks after COP itself in Bonn but I agree with Mr Macron that we need to keep up the momentum and the more we can focus global attention on this the better. Because as the new French Leader has said: ‘There is no plan B other than decisive climate action because there is no Planet B.’ “I very much appreciated Mr Macron telling me that he fully supports me in the Presidency of COP23.

"And that France fully supports Fiji as it builds a grand coalition of governments at all levels – civil society, the private sector and global citizens everywhere – to keep this process on track.

"I regard the new French Leader as a very important partner and we hope to forge a much closer relationship with France in the lead-up to COP and beyond,” Mr Bainimarama said.

dairy industry,” Mr Waibuta said.

“The bottom line of this program is to bring in the highest level of efficiency in order to lift the dairy production and for us to try and reduce the high import bill of the dairy products.”

Mr Waibuta added that farmers play a very important role in taking the dairy industry forward.

The chief technical advisor from Prime Consulting International Ltd, Stewart Cairns said some of the things in the program will help farmers increase the production on their farms.

“By working together we can achieve many things and there are many exciting innovations being planned to ensure the ongoing

success of the whole project,” he added.

The Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with the New Zealand Government to reduce the importation of dairy products in Fiji.

The field day was organised in line with the Fiji Dairy Industry Development Initiative (FDIDI) program for the farmers to come and see the demo farm setup at the Koronivia Research Station which can be practiced on their farm.

The FDIDI is a bilateral aid project supported by the Fiji and New Zealand Governments. The project is being managed by Prime Consulting International Ltd which is drawing on New Zealand experience to improve the Fiji dairy industry.

From left: Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Osnat Lubrani and UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Country Director and Head of Pacific Regional Policy and Programme Bakhodir Burkhanov on June 11, 2017.

concern to me as Conference of Parties President – access to finance to do what vulnerable nations need to do to adapt to the terrifying new

Dairy farmers learn NZ best practices to improve industry

T

he Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with Prime Consulting International Ltd organised a field day for dairy farmers at the Koronivia Research Station.

During the field day, dairy farmers had discussions on mastitis and its impact on farmers’ income, reproduction, calf rearing and pasture management to ensure high quality pasture production for cows.

The farmers also had an opportunity to see the recently renovated milking parlour.

While speaking to the farmers, Ministry of Agriculture deputy secretary Uraia Waibuta said his ministry is working closely with the New Zealand Government to

improve the dairy industry in Fiji.

“There are a few components within the program which had been implemented a year ago and we have reached this far where we want to come and show to the farmers some of the progress that we are trying to do as part of the capacity building and improvements programs in the

The Indian Weekender

New Zealand movie star to speak at spinal charity

EW Zealand actor Temuera Morrison will be in Fiji next week as the chief guest and main speaker during the Viti Spinal Injuries Association of Fiji Old Skool Ball. Morrison played the role of Dr Hone Ropata in the TV series Shortland Street and was the voice of Chief Tui in the animation movie Moana. He also acted in the movie Once Were Warriors and is filming two movies in Australia.

“I am keen to raise awareness and raise funds that will go towards the work of the VSIAF in, among other things, building and restoring the homes and services of severely disabled people living in their own homes and villages,” Morrison said.

Joining Morrison’s call, Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Margaret Twomey urges corporate organisations and individuals to come forward with prizes and sponsorship and support VSIAF’s cause.

Ms Twomey gave a box of wine to the association to be auctioned at the ball. VSIAF president Paul McGoon said the association was grateful to people such as Ms Twomey and Morrison for coming on board when needed.

Mr McGoon said the event would feature amazing auction prizes which included travel, holiday, sports memorabilia including an All Blacks jerseys signed and given by Richie McCaw and also memorabilia from Eric Rush and other sporting legends.

Entertainment will be provided by music maestro Igelese Ete and Pasifika Voices. The ball will be held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on July 22.

Fiji pleads for climate lobby support from Aus and NZ

F

iji's Prime Minister has pleaded with Australia and New Zealand to work side by side with Pacific nations in persuading the world to tackle the causes of climate change.

He made this statement while closing the Climate Action Pacific Partnership event at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Tuesday.

Mr Bainimarama also thanked Australia and New Zealand for lending a helping hand to Fiji when it was struck by Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.

Present at the event was Australia's Minister for International Cooperation and the Pacific, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. However, the Deputy Prime Minister for New Zealand, Paula Bennett had already left Fiji.

"Geography binds us together in perpetuity and while we may have our own differences of emphasis and opinion, we have shared a destiny that also binds us together," Mr Bainimarama said.

"Not only to preserve the multilateral consensus for decisive action but to build our resilience," he said.

Recession of Himalayan glaciers alarming, says ISRO scientists P A The Indian Weekender

nalysis of satellite images have revealed an "alarming recession" of glaciers in the Bhilangna basin of the Garhwal Himalayas from 1965, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have said.

Home to 9,575 glaciers (as per a Geological Survey of India inventory) the Himalayas are considered to have the largest concentration of glaciers outside the Polar regions.

Snow and melt water from the glaciers is the major source of water for the large river basins, the Indus and the Ganges.

The Bhilangna basin is bounded by the Bhagirati group of glaciers in north and west and the Mandakini group of glaciers in east. The basin supports 33 glaciers, of which Khatling is the largest. The water melt from Khatling and its tributary glaciers in the basin contribute to the source of Bhilangna river – the southernmost tributary of the Bhagirathi.

The ISRO scientists found that this main glacier had receded 4,340 meters since 1965 and had fragmented into multiple valley glaciers resulting in the total loss of 10 per cent of glacier area.

Friday, July 14, 2017

19

Higher educational institutions must make student globally relevant: President

Snow and melt water from the glaciers is the major source of water for the large river basins, the Indus and the Ganges.

Glacier status in Bhilangna basin was assessed from high resolution imageries obtained in 1965 by the Corona satellite of the United States and comparing these with photos taken in 2014 by ISRO's Cartosat satellite. Additionally, data from the Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor of ISRO's Resourcesat-2 satellite launched in 2016 were also used for the analysis.

"All the glaciers in the basin show significant recession from 1965 to 2014," Babu Govindha Raj, ISRO scientist and lead author of the report, published in the open access publication "Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 2017", told

INDIA

this correspondent.

"However, recession of the Khatling glacier from 1965 to 2014 is alarming in comparison to that of neighbouring Bhagirathi and Mandakini group of glaciers in the basin," Raj added.

The satellite image interpretation and field evidence show that morphology and dynamics of the Khatling glacier has a strong influence on its faster recession, says the report. "The glacier fragmentation creates smaller glaciers that are more prone to faster melting than the larger trunk glaciers."

South-facing glaciers in the Indian Himalayas show more melting

because they receive more solar radiation than those facing north due to their orientation. "In 1965, the ablation area of Khatling trunk glacier orientation was towards the south.

This might have enhanced the incidence of solar radiation and resulted in faster melting of the glacier ice," the authors say.

"Furthermore, the debris cover of the Khatling glacier is very thin in comparison to that of other glaciers in Bhilangna and this boosts the solar radiation received by the glacier resulting in more melting."

According to the authors, "The alarming retreat and fragmentation of valley glaciers into smaller glaciers may have profound impact on the future sustainability of Himalayan glaciers and water availability."

The report says that Himalayan glaciers that have been in a state of retreat at various rates since 1960 "are showing reliable evidence of climate change.

"However, due to lack of meteorological observations and continuous glaciological data, it is difficult to establish the relationship of climate change through glacier dynamics."

resident Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that the onus was on the higher educational institutions to make students globally relevant.

“The onus is on the higher educational institutions to prepare their students in a way that they are globally relevant and yet sensitive to the needs of the local socioeconomy,” he said after dedicating the B.M.L. Munjal University to the nation, a Rashtrapati Bhavan said “In the emerging global scenario, the quality of higher education imparted will play an important role in moulding the careers of young men and women. In less than ten years from now, nearly 140 million people will be in the college-going age group.

“Every fourth graduate in the world will be a product of our higher education system. In such a competitive environment, only those professionals who are properly skilled and trained will achieve success,” said Mukherjee, stressing higher educational institutions had a great responsibility in modernising education.

“Technology and communication are fast transforming the way the world works. Institutions must catch up with the latest technology to make education more effective and meaningful.

“They have to reorganize courses, programs and structures to meet the needs of a changing era and suit the aspirations of students,” he said.

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INDIA

Replicate each others’ best practices, Modi tells states 20

Friday, July 14, 2017

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rime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, July 10, asked states to learn from the best practices of each other to find solutions to problems and challenges that they face.

In one of its kind interaction with Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, Modi said that different states were doing exceptionally well in some or the other fields and if their best practices were replicated across India, it could lead to great benefits for the nation.

He urged states to come out of the silos, and work cohesively with the Centre and which each other.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came at a national conference of chief secretaries organised by the NITI Aayog on the theme of “States as Drivers for Transforming India”.

“There is a lot to learn from the experiences of states which could provide the best solutions to problems and challenges,” he said, as per an official statement.

Noting that top government officials have the collective vision and capabilities to overcome challenges, Modi said this makes experience sharing very important.

The Prime Minister said a team of young officers from across states should now deliberate and learn from these best practices, by visiting each state to “help in efficient adoption of best practices across states”.

Urging officers to adopt a positive attitude to new initiatives, he said the elected political leadership would always be receptive to new, positive ideas, irrespective of ideology.

Before addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister listened patiently to each one of them as they spoke briefly on one best practice in each of their respective states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

“This is the first time, that the world had expectations from India Prime Minister has addressed such a and wanted to partner with India gathering, at such an event. which “is a golden opportunity for He spent over two-and-a-half hours us”. listening to each chief secretary and He urged states to give top then shared his views with them,” priority to “ease of doing business” NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant which, he said, would help states in told reporters. attracting investment.

The best practices presented at On the agriculture sector, the Prime the conference included themes Minister said the use of technology such as rural development, skill was imperative. He stressed on development, crop insurance, eliminating wastage in farm produce reducing infant mortality, tribal and focus on food processing. welfare, solid waste management, The Prime Minister said the use Direct Benefit Transfer, solar energy of Aadhaar had brought benefit all and ease of doing business among around, and eliminated leakages. He others, a NITI Aayog statement said. urged all states to maximize its use During his address, the Prime “in the interest of good governance”.

Minister said districts The Prime Minister said "There and cities should the completion of 75 years is a lot to compete with each of independence in 2022 learn from the other in areas of was opportunity for experiences of states development and collective inspiration which could provide the good governance. best solutions to problems and for everyone to He said the whole work in mission mode and challenges"

Jaitley launches ‘Aaykar Setu’ to enhance e-access of taxpayers

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inance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday launched ‘Aaykar Setu’– an e-initiative for the Income tax Department to directly communicate with the taxpayers and aimed at providing information on useful tax services.

“A new tax payer service module ‘Aaykar Setu’, was launched by Minister Jaitley today. The new step is an effort by the Income Tax Department to directly communicate with the taxpayers, on a range of multiple informative and useful tax services aimed at providing tax information at their fingertips,” the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said here in a statement.

Launching Aaykar Setu which compiles various tax tools, live chat facility, dynamic updated and important links to various processes within the Department in a single module, Jaitley stressed on the government’s commitment towards continuously upgrading taxpayer services, it said.

Jaitley also stressed on the government's commitment towards continuously upgrading taxpayer services.

To enhance mobile access experience, a mobile responsive android version was also released along with the desktop version.

The taxpayers will also be able to receive regular updates regarding important tax dates, forms and notifications on mobile numbers registered with the Income Tax Department.

All taxpayers who wish to receive

such SMS alerts are advised to register their mobile numbers in the Aaykar Setu module, the statement said.

“CBDT constantly endeavors to provide better taxpayer services and reduce taxpayer grievances. New schemes and e-initiatives to educate the taxpayers and deliver taxpayer services in an effective manner are key to this effort,” it said.

for all-round development. During the event, Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha also asked states to promote competition between different districts. “Competition between states being promoted by the NITI Aayog is very useful. (It) can be used by the states to promote competition between districts,” Sinha said.

Kant said that efficiency in governance and administration alone will ensure that India’s “worst performing” districts become the best, while its Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya said that a strong India can be built through building strong states which could be achieved through “job creation, shift to nonfarm jobs (and) large firms with high productivity”.

NITI Aayog Member Bibek Debroy said that states needed to work on rationalisation of schemes in the light of 14th Finance Commission recommendations.

The Indian Weekender

India eyes issuing 1.5 cr passport in 2017

I

ndia has a target of issuing 1.5 crore passports this year, a Ministry of External Affairs official said on Monday, July 10.

“All over India we issue around 60,000 to 65,000 passports in a day. Its a number in itself. This year’s target is 1.5 crores and it is different from financial targets.

It is people’s participation,” said Secretary, Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs D.M. Mulay, who was here to check whether all passport facilities are in place and working in the right direction as well as for the opening of a new passport office.

Asked on the issues of arrest of Bangladeshi nationals having Indian passport, Mulay said India is trying to make passport systems as foolproof as possible.

“When you liberalise you have new challenges, part of it is including the governance as a whole. Everybody’s participation is required. For a country like India, finding a perfect model is very, very difficult, particularly when you have porous borders, particularly with linguistic, facial similarities.

“Sometimes even foolproof systems also require further assessments etc. We are trying to make it as foolproof as possible with all security features,” he said.

To a query on the view that the government was trying to impose a single language, in the wake of the announcement that passports would now be in both Hindi and English, Mulay said: “Idea is to facilitate, not impose. When we implement it you will see it, its really good.”

Population rise at root of India’s troubles, says advocacy group

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he root of all problems afflicting India today lies in its population explosion, said the Taxpayers Association for Bharat (TAXAB), a not-for-profit group, on Monday, July 10.

It also launched a song “Main Bharat Bol Raha Hoon...” to remind people of the rising population’s telling impacts on our lives.

“Stephen Hawking says that we have 100 years to move to another planet... With climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, our planet is becoming increasingly precarious,” TAXAB President Manu Gaur said, quoting the famous British scientist’s warning published recently in a Time Magazine article.

To apprise those present of the marked change in the scenario, Gaur pointed to the boom in India’s population, which has increased by four times since Independence in 1947.

“Although our country’s land area is only 2.5 per cent of world’s landmass, we have to provide

for 17.5 per cent of world’s total population,” he said.

If India kept up the same fertility rate of 2.1 per cent per year, Gaur said, in the next 35 years “we will add 90 crore more people to our population”.

“Even if we account for the 35 crore people dying in this period, going by the current mortality rate, still it’s very high,” Gaur added.

Addressing the media through a recorded message, Green Revolution pioneer M.S. Swaminathan stressed that happy families did not produce many children.

He was seconded by Gaur, who talking to the media later, said: “The states where the fertility rate is less than the national average are some of the most prosperous states.”

Commonwealth Games Gold medallist wrestler Geeta Phogat was one of the celebrities who lent support to the cause and vowed not to have more than two children herself. She was accompanied by her husband Pawan Kumar, also a wrestler.

INDIA ABROAD

21

Indian Cultural Centre to be set up in Israel P The Indian Weekender

rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that an Indian Cultural Centre would be set up in Israel.

“Appreciating the contribution of the Jewish community in India and Jews of Indian origin in Israel in bringing the two societies closer,

Friday, July 14, 2017

Prime Minister Modi announced the opening of an Indian Cultural Centre in Israel,” said a joint statement issued after the bilateral discussions between Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“This was warmly welcomed

by Prime Minister Netanyahu who

expressed his deep respect for Indian culture and recalled Israel’s strong support and sponsorship of PM Modi’s initiative to promote the practice of Yoga by designating June 21 as International Yoga Day,” it stated.

There are around 85,000 Jews of

Indian origin in Israel, the majority of them hailing from Maharashtra and known as Bene Israelis.

According to the statement, both Modi and Netanyahu also recognised the contribution of Indian care-givers in Israel and expressed their intention to reach a mutually agreed-upon

arrangement which will provide for their continued arrival in a regulated manner.

Of around 10,000 Indian nationals in Israel, around 9,000 work as caregivers while the rest are mostly diamond traders, IT professionals and students.

Modi meets three Pravasi Modi meets Indian students in Israel Bharatiya Samman awardees

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rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met three recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, an award instituted by the Indian government for Indians abroad who achieve success in various fields.

“Living bridges of excellence between #IndiaIsrael. PM meets three Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardees from Israel,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

Those who met Modi were Eliyahu Bezalel, Sheikh Ansari and Dr. Lael Anson Best.

Bezalel is the first Israeli of Indian origin to receive the award in 2005.

Hailing from Chennamangalam, Kochi, he has distinguished himself as an eminent agriculturist.

Jerusalem- Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees from Israel, in Jerusalem on July 5, 2017

Ansari, who manages the Indian Hospice in Jerusalem, was honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2011. Best, an accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon, was conferred the award in 2017. Modi arrived here on Tuesday in what is the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.

I

n the last engagement of his historic visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a group of Indian students pursuing higher studies in Israel.

“It was great to meet Indian students,” Modi tweeted later.

In recent years, an increasing number of students from India have been going to Israel for postgraduate studies.

Ahead of this meeting, Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended an India-Israel CEO’s Round Table.

They started the day by paying homage at the Haifa Indian Cemetery that has the graves of 44 Indian soldiers who died during World War I. And on their way to Tel Aviv, Modi and Netanyahu viewed a

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Indian students in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 6,

demonstration of a mobile sea water desalination plant at a beach.

Modi arrived here on Tuesday in

WORLD NEWS

India gets G20 praise on startup funding, derivative reforms

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odi government has said it wants India to be ranked in the top-50 nations in terms of ease of doing business.

Acknowledging steps being taken

by India for sustainable and inclusive growth as well as support to global economy, the G20 has praised the initiatives in the country for promoting ease of doing business, startup funding and labour reforms.

In its Hamburg Action Plan, adopted at the G20 Summit of leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies, the group also noted that “in the financial sector, India is popularising a number of derivative instruments in exchanges or electronic trading platforms” as part of measures to enhance resilience of its economy.

It further said India is facilitating external commercial borrowings (ECBs) by startups in order to encourage innovation and promote ease of doing business, as part of the efforts being taken by the G20 members this year for maintaining momentum on structural reforms and sustainable growth. On steps

The G20 leaders also committed to refrain from competitive devaluations.

being taken by G20 countries for promoting inclusive growth this year, the Action Plan said India is introducing labour market reforms to provide security to workers, increase female participation in the workforce and make doing business easier in the country.

The acknowledgement from the G20 Summit, which was attended

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other world leaders, assumes significance in the wake of India trying hard to improve its global ranking for ease of doing business.

The World Bank ranked the

country at a low 130th position last year, an improvement of just one position from the previous year.

The Modi government has said it wants India to be ranked in the top50 nations in terms of ease of doing business. The next update to the ranking is expected later this year.

The areas where India ranks poorly as per the World Bank ranking include starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

The country has implemented a

spate of reforms in the recent months in areas like insolvency, taxation and starting a business and expects the rankings to improve substantially.

The acknowledgement of various reform measures by G20, whose members include 19 countries and the European Union, has come as the latest boost to hopes for better ranking for India in terms of ease of doing business.

Global institutions like the World Bank, IMF, WTO, OECD, ILO, WHO and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) are among the partners to the G20.

G20 member countries include the US, UK, Germany, India, Australia, Japan, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.

The G20 Hamburg Action Plan, which sets out the group’s strategy for achieving strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, also said that the closer partnership and action by G20 members will boost confidence and contribute to shared prosperity.

US newspapers plan to strike Google, Facebook over ad revenue

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ith Facebook and Google grabbing vast majority of the digital ad market, many newspapers in the US are planning to strike at the tech giants to get an antitrust exemption from Congress to negotiate collectively over advertising revenue.

According to a report in Washington Times on Monday, the News Media Alliance, that represents roughly 2,000 US' national and local newspapers including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, has started reaching out to Capitol Hill to sound out the chances for an exemption.

"We're not looking to break up Google and Facebook by saying they have a duopoly here,

what we are saying is there has got to be a way to improve the business model," Paul Boyle, Senior Vice President (Public Policy) News Media Alliance was quoted as saying. According to Boyle, newspapers had thought allowing their articles to be shared on social media would earn them a piece of the digital ad market.

"But Facebook doesn't always allow the reader to click through to the publisher's website, denying the news website ad revenue from that reader," he stated.

Facebook, however, said the company is committed to helping quality journalism thrive on its platform. "We have already been working with publishers and we're making progress through our

work and have more work to do," the report quoted Campbell Brown, Head of News Partnerships at Facebook, as saying.

According to media reports, Google and Facebook control nearly two-thirds of the digital advertising industry, and newspaper revenue from advertisements declined to $16 billion in 2016, down from about $50 billion 10 years earlier.

"Google and Facebook dominate web traffic and online ad income. Together, they account for more than 70 per cent of the $73 billion spent each year on digital advertising, and they eat up most of the growth," David Chavern, President of News Media Alliance, was quoted as saying.

the first visit to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister.

Twitter adds new filters to tackle trolls

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n a fresh bid to tackle trolls spewing hateful content on its platform, micro-blogging platform Twitter has added filters to mute unwanted tweets from a user’s feed. Users may now mute notifications from newly-registered accounts and those accounts that don’t follow them.

These filters are added to the ones Twitter released in March this year. They let you mute users whom you don’t follow, those who had a default profile photo, those who hadn’t confirmed their email or those that hadn’t confirmed their phone number.

To enable these filters, a user must access the ‘Advanced filters’ option from the ‘Settings’ on the ‘Notification’ timeline.

“If your account receives a lot of sudden attention, we may insert a notification in your Notifications tab inviting you to adjust these filters to give you more control over what you see,” said Twitter.

The new filters to mute certain accounts along with the features to mute words or phrases provided by Twitter would enable a user to hide disturbing posts from their feed but don’t eliminate such content from the platform entirely.

Twitter is reportedly augmenting the new filters with machine learning.

22

SPORTS

Friday, July 14, 2017

BCCI appoints Ravi Shastri as new head coach

A

fter much drama and controversy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)confirmed on Tuesday, July 11, that Ravi Shastri has been selected as the new coach of the Indian cricket team.

The other members of the coaching staff were also announced with former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan appointed bowling coach and former star batsman Rahul Dravid appointed as overseas batting consultant.

The three will guide the Indian team till the 2019 ODI World Cup. "As part of the process for selecting the Head Coach, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman conducted the interviews and recommended these appointments in the best interest of the Indian Cricket," BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement.

A veteran of 80 Tests and 150 One-Day Internationals (ODI), the 55-year-old Shastri had earlier served as the Team Director for India's tour of England in 2014 to the 2016 World T20, where India lost to West Indies.

Shastri was overlooked last year and the CAC picked celebrated spinner and former skipper Anil Kumble for a one-year term. That term, however, ended on a controversial note after the last month's

ICC Champions Trophy in England.

"Shastri has been the Team Director in the past, and brings with him a wealth of experience, both as player and as coach.

"Khan is a contemporary cricketer who assumed the mentoring role to a young fast bowling unit even during his playing days with India. His inputs will be of immense value to our young fast

bowlers, who have shown tremendous potential in the last couple of years," the statement said.

"As the Indian team is to play Test cricket overseas in the next two years, Rahul Dravid's expertise as batting consultant will be immensely helpful for youngsters.

"The board appreciates the contribution of the Cricket Advisory Committee - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman for recommending these appointments which will take Indian Cricket to greater heights," it added.

The announcement was preceded by several hours of high drama, the BCCI initially refused to deny or confirm widespread media reports that Shastri has been given the coveted post.

However, with the CAC yet to take a final call on the issue, the BCCI was forced to clear the air.

Ganguly also said that media reports about Shastri being named India coach was a "confusion" and nothing has been finalised yet.

Besides Shastri, the CAC on Monday interviewed four other candidates -- explosive former India opener Virender Sehwag, Sri Lanka's former Australian coach Tom Moody, Pakistan's former coach Richard Pybus from England, and India's former manager Lalchand Rajput. Former West Indies coach Phil Simmons was not available for the interview process.

The Indian Weekender

Venus Williams in Wimbledon quarters

V

eteran American tennis player Venus Williams sailed into the quarterfinals at Wimbledon defeating Croatian Ana Konjuh 6-3, 6-2 on Monday, July 10. Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus made the better of three break points, out of nine she was offered, to get rid of her rival, who was playing in the last 16 at the All England Club for the first time, reports Efe. In her third participation at Wimbledon, Konjuh, 19, missed two break points and committed 17 unforced errors in a match that lasted 64 minutes.

The 37-year-old Venus is set to play against another rival almost half of her age, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko.

In her third participation at Wimbledon Ostapenko, 20, defeated Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, seeded No.4, 6-3, 7-6(6).

ICC WWC: Wounded India look to India finish on top at Asian athletics meet bounce back against Australia

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F

ollowing a 115-run thrashing

by South Africa, the Indian women's cricket team will look to bounce back against Australia in their next group stage match of the ICC Women's World Cup here at the Bristol Country Ground on Wednesday, July 12.

After winning four matches on the trot, the Indian women on Saturday failed to put up a collective effort in the field against the Proteas, resulting in their first defeat of the tournament.

Australia too succumbed to their first loss in five matches in their previous match against England and dropped to second spot in the points table.

England, Australia and India share eight points each in the table to remain first, second and third respectively, divided by superior run-rate.

India will hope their star batswoman Smriti Mandhana fires against Australia at the top after failing to get going in her previous two outings. Mandhana scored eight

runs against Sri Lanka and two against south Africa.

Skipper Mithali Raj will also look to open her arms against Australia after scoring a golden duck against South Africa.

In-form batter Deepti Sharma, who has so far scored 172 runs in the five matches will look to continue her fine run with the willow.

In the bowling department, leftarm spinner Ekta Bisht – the leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far with nine scalps – will look to put the

brakes on the Australians alongside medium pacer Deepti Sharma and fellow spinner Poonam Yadav.

On the other hand, Australia skipper Meg Lanning with 252 runs alongside batters Ellyse Perry (251) and Nicole Bolton (222) will look to outclass the Indian bowling.

Australia will heavily rely on their spinning trio of Kristen Beams (9 wickets), Jess Jonassen (7) and Ashleigh Gardner (6) to help their side provide crucial wickets against a strong Indian line-up.

Indian bowlers all around the park to hand West Indies a victory with nine balls remaining.

For India, Kuldeep was the lone wicket taker.

Earlier, put in to bat, India posted a challenging total of 190/6.

Dinesh Karthik was highest scorer for the visitors with 48 runs off 29 balls which included five boundaries and three sixes.

Pacers Jerome Taylor and Kesrick Williams were the most successful among the West Indies bowlers with figures of 2/31 and 2/36 respectively.

Asked to bat first, India were off to a good start with skipper Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan producing an opening stand of 64 runs in 33 balls.

Kohli, who smashed Williams for a six and a four off the first two balls of

the sixth over, mistimed the very next delivery when the pacer delivered a slower ball for an easy catch to Sunil Narine at mid-on.

Dhawan was also dismissed just two balls later when there was a horrible piece of miscommunication between him and Rishabh Pant and Williams caught the former short of his crease with an excellent throw.

However, Pant and Karthick brought the innings back on track with an 86-run partnership in 59 balls. The hosts struck back when Taylor removed Pant and Mahendra Singh with consecutive balls in the 17th over.

But Ravindra Jadeja (13 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin (11 not out) delivered a strong finish to help India to a big total.

ndia won five gold medals on the final day of the Asian Athletics Championships to finish at the top of the standings here on Sunday with a dozen gold in total.

Neeraj Chopra (men's javelin), Govindan Laxmanan (men's 10,000 metres) and Swapna Burman (women's heptathlon) along with the men's and women's teams in the 4x400m relays won gold medals in their respective events.

Neeraj, who had created waves at the world level, also created a new meet record with an effort of 85.23 metres. Davinder Singh Kang of India took bronze in the event.

Gopi Thonakal made it a 1-2 for India in the men's 10,000m by taking the silver. Jinson Johnson fetched a bronze for India in the men's 800m.

India thus took the top spot in the medal standings with 12 gold, five silver and 12 bronze.

This is the best performance

by Indian athletes at the Asian Championships so far. Their previous best finish was in the last edition in 2013 at Wuhan, China, where they finished third with 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze. Continental powerhouse

China lagged far behind in second place with eight gold, seven silver and five bronze. Kazakhstan were third with four gold, two silver and two bronze. The final day was, however, not without its share of controversy as Archana Yadav, who crossed the line first in the women's 800m final, was stripped of the gold medal for pushing Nimali Waliwarsha Konda of Sri Lanka during the final stretch.

Yadav had produced a powerful sprint in the final stretch to register a time of two minutes and five seconds.

However, following her disqualification, Nimali who posted 2:05.23, was awarded the gold while her compatriot Gayanthika Thusari took the silver with 2:05.27.

Fumika Omori of Japan, who had originally finished fourth with 2:06.50, was upgraded to bronze.

However, the jampacked home crowd at the Kalinga Stadium soon forgot that disappointment as the other Indians made it a day to remember. Chopra had a slow start to his campaign in the men's javelin with progressively improving efforts of 78.39, 78.54 and 83.06 in the early stages.

Lewis shines as West Indies beat India by nine wickets

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iding on Evin Lewis' unbeaten century, West Indies defeated India by nine wickets in the one-off Twenty20 International match at the Sabina Park on Sunday, July 9.

Lewis slammed 125 runs in just 62 balls to guide his team to a comfortable victory over the visitors.

His innings was laced with six boundaries and 12 sixes.

Chasing a mammoth 191, West Indies got off to a perfect start as openers Lewis and Chris Gayle (18) forged 82-run partnership in the 8.2 overs before Gayle was dismissed by left arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Incoming batsman Marlon Samuels (36) then joined the inform Lewis and the duo thrashed

The Indian Weekender

FEATURES

Friday, July 14, 2017

23

FAIRER IMMIGRATION FOR A BETTER NEW ZEALAND Reopen Parent Resident Visa

For many families who have come to New Zealand in search of a better life, leaving their parents behind can be a very stressful time.

The Parent Resident Visa has been very popular however poor policy and knee jerk reactions has meant it has become unavailable to most.

The New Zealand People's Party will reopen this in a more sustainable way that has better outcomes for families and the wider community.

Offering parents an initial 5 year work permit before getting permanent residence will give them independence to contribute to New Zealand.

Bring Last Family Members to NZ

New Zealand is at its best when we all come together. We believe families are the same. It can be tough when an adult sibling and their family are left behind.

Bringing families together in Aotearoa will create stronger community bonds, keep wealth from leaving the country and bring happiness to families.

We will create a sustainable model that gives these family members a chance at being their best in New Zealand.

An automatic 2 year work permit will let them find a job without being hamstrung by government red tape and show the country they want to be here.

Honor Commitments Made to Students

New Zealand has had huge economic success from the thousands of international students who come here to study. This success however has caused growing pains in the industry. We believe that despite these challenges New Zealand has made a commitment to these sons and daughters and we will honour them.

We will give every student currently in the country a fair chance. Everyone will get a 2 year work permit and assistance to transfer to a course or training institution that will provide them with skills and qualifications that will benefit them and New Zealand.

We will restore some integrity to the industry by requiring all education consultants to be Licensed Immigration Advisors.

Easier Visitor Sponsorship for Family

For many families in New Zealand it can be very difficult for their family to come visit them.

This is especially stressful in times of illness or death.

Currently the long process of applying to Immigration NZ to sponsor a relative gives no weight to the sponsor and their family. We will flip this around so people can automatically sponsor their families to visit but still retain Immigrations right to refuse when they feel the visit isn't genuine.

Shifting the burden of proof from a family to the government will mean better decisions are made and families aren't left paying the price for long processing times due to government inefficiencies.

www.nzpeoplesparty.org.nz/immigration

@NewZealandPeoplesParty

@NZPeoplesParty

Authorised by Anil Sharma, 258-260 Balmoral Road, Sandringham, Auckland

24

TIME OUT FEATURES

Friday, July 14 2017

The Indian Weekender

Tirupathi Thirumala Lord Venkateshwara Temple ¡¡ DEVIKA RANI

The Thirumala temple located in the Seshachalam hills is considered to be one the most sacred places for all Hindus. Lord Balaji known by several names Venkateswara, Srinivasa, Govinda, Venkatachalapathy is the supreme deity visited and worshipped by more than 50,000 devotees everyday at the Devasthanam.

The temple complex is spread over 16.2 acres of land and was built over 5,000 years ago. Lord Srinivasa is known as the Lord of the Seven Hills- Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.

Venkatadri the abode of Lord Srinivasa and is a very serene and tranquil place filled with hundreds of rare and divine trees. Lord Sri Venkateswara an awe-inspiring “Swayambhu” or self-manifested is over 9 feet in height.

The Maha Dwaram comprises three consecutive entrances; the first is a brass one, the second is a silver one and the third entrance is a golden one.

The Garbhalayam or sanctum sanctorum is called Ananda Nilayam or the place that gives immeasurable happiness.

Only temple archakas who follow the strict Agama rules are allowed to enter the Garbhalayam. Lord Balaji stands on a Padmapeeth or a platform of lotus flowers.

The gold casing always covers the Lord’s sacred feet and is decorated with the sacred Tulasi leaves except on Friday mornings during Nija Pada Darsanam. The daily rituals like Kalyanotsavam, Dolotsavam, Vasantotsavam, Sahasra Dipalankarana Seva, Ekanta Seva are conducted at various timings.

The temple is closed for one hour at

1.30am.The day begins at 2.30am with the chanting of Suprabhatham consisting of 29 slokas at the Bangaru Vakili or golden door of Ananda Nilayam. The vibrations of this divine recitation give immense joy to the devotees.

After the Suprabhatham seva, the temple is cleaned and preparations for later pujas go on simultaneously with sacred water from Akasha Ganga theertham brought by archakas.

Bhoga Srinivasa Murthi’s idol is returned to the Garbhalayam after the abhishekam followed

by Naivedyam and Arathi.

Next the Lord is decorated with fresh flowers called the Thomala seva. Every day

about100 kilos of fresh flowers comprising of 27 varieties and 7 types of aromatic leaves are used to make eight special garlands.

Devotees are not allowed to wear flowers inside the temple.

This is followed by Koluvu in the Mani Mandapam; where the previous days hundi offerings and that day’s Panchangam are read out by the archakas. Around Rs.1.5 crores are offered in the Srivari Hundi every day.

Next it is the time for Lord Srinivasa’s Sahasranama Archana recited from the Brahmanda Purana. Prayers are offered to Sridevi and Bhoodevi with tulasi leaves and flowers picked up from Lord’s ¡¡ Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 23)

July 14 to July 20 | By Manisha Koushik Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139 • www.askmanisha.com ¡¡ Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) Too much of something may not be good for you, so go slow. You have style of your own and this will be evident when you floor all by your impeccable performance at work. You honest disposition is likely to win the confidence of those around. Excellent teamwork with spouse will help smoothen out things on the domestic front. Shy types are likely to gain enough courage to approach the one they secretly love.

Good health is ensured.

Lucky Number- 22 / Lucky Colour- Turquoise ¡¡ Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) Steer clear of those who promise big, but don’t deliver. Not the best time to spend the weekend at home. Differences may crop up with spouse over some issues. You can feel overworked on the professional front. Failing health can force you to choose a healthy lifestyle. You will find it hard to curb expenses. Driving will be fun and will help you meet people you had not met in years.

Lucky Number- 18 / Lucky Colour- Electric Grey ¡¡ Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) A difference of opinion may pit you against someone this week, but you will come out winners. You can have a difference of opinion over some matter with colleagues at work.

Unwanted advice of someone close can prove most irritation. You can feel a bit frustrated at

your financial condition. You can get cross with lover for not keeping a promise. Coming back in shape can prove an uphill task for some. Don’t interfere in someone else’s life.

Lucky Number- 3 / Lucky Colour- Dark Yellow ¡¡ Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20) You may have to keep at it on the academic front or you may lag behind. Whenever there is something big happening on the professional front, you are counted upon. You are likely to add to your prestige soon on the work front.

Peace reigns on the domestic front. You will manage to train your mind to remain unruffled in trying conditions. Someone is likely to respond to your heart’s calling. A new source of earning may be found.

Lucky Number- 9 / Lucky Colour- Pink ¡¡ Leo (Jul 21-Aug 22) Offering your unstinted support to someone will prove invaluable for him or her. Your worst fears are likely to be realised on the work front.

Professional performance of some may not be adjudged in a favourable light. Disappointment is foreseen for those scanning the marriage market. Lending your vehicle to someone is fraught with danger, so desist. You will make the most of a situation to improve your financial condition. Differences may crop up on the marital front.

Lucky Number- 18 / Lucky Colour- Lemon

Don’t get tempted to wash dirty linen in public, as it can prove counterproductive. This is the time for consolidation on the professional front and reflection on whatever you have achieved. You can become conscious of your shortcomings and try to improve yourself. A spiritual person can have a positive influence on you. Those laid off or searching for a job should not lose hope, as the horizon gets brighter. Young couples are certain to experience a blissful existence.

Lucky Number- 1 / Lucky Colour- Light Brown ¡¡ Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23) It you have any element of doubt in the current proceedings, it is best to check them out now.

Some of you can get busy in constructing or doing up a new house. A business trip will open the doors for new opportunities. People around are likely to appreciate your creativity. Chances of meeting someone who understands you look bright. A major item may be bought. You may have to huff and puff to get back into shape!

Lucky Number- 22 / Lucky Colour- Electric Grey ¡¡ Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) The kind of reputation that you enjoy in the work circle will remove all obstacles from the career front. Sometimes you manage to spoil things through your own impulsiveness. Keep cool and don’t get worked up at some new developments at work. You can hurt someone close by your loose tongue, so think and speak.

Your moodiness can perplex and annoy lover.

Financial problems can put paid to a personal venture. Travel on the busy roads may be risky.

Lucky Number- 2 / Lucky Colour- Deep Sky Blue ¡¡ Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21) You may have to find time to do something pending that has been pending for long.

Financial awareness will become important to save on taxes. You can be made a part of an important event. Chances of going out on a vacation with family cannot be ruled out for

sacred feet.

Every Friday, Poora-abhishekam of Lord Srinivasa is an elaborate and magnificent ceremony.

This seva has the longest waiting list of about 20 years. Most of the ornaments are removed and Lord is draped in a white dhoti.

The Sankha and Chakra are never removed.

It is a huge spectacle conducted to the chanting of Purusha Suktham, Sri Suktham and Narayana Suktham. Civet oil, sacred herbs, sandal paste, milk and other materials in gold vessels are used for the Ceremonial abhishekam.

The Lord is bedecked in magnificent silk vasthram and elaborate diamond and gold jewels.

It is believed that the pilgrimage to Thirumala is completed only with a visit to Sri Padmavathi temple, taking a dip in the Swami Pushkarini Theertham and Varahaswamy darshan.

Several devotees have the ear-piercing and head-tonsuring ceremony. Offering of hair symbolizes devotion and humility. Anna Prasadam is offered to about 15,000 pilgrims daily.

The famous Tirupathi laddu prasadam is highly sought after. Everyday about 1.5 lakh laddus are prepared using 4,500 kilograms of flour, 9,000 kilograms of sugar, 1,080 kilograms of cashew nut, 120 kilograms of elachi, 500 kilograms of raisins and 5,000 kilograms of pure ghee.

It is estimated that about 450 festivals take place every year in Thirumala. The annual Brahmotsavam is the most important festival celebrated during the Navarathri festival days.

Devika is a director at online puja portal www.e-puja.co.nz

some. Marriage will definitely be on the minds of those of marriageable age. This is the right time to draw your will. Your performance may come under the lens.

Lucky Number- 4 / Lucky Colour- Turquoise ¡¡ Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21) Someone may not keep the word he or she had given to you, but give it some more time.

You are likely to get busy working out future strategy. Meeting new people is on the cards, but don’t be all trusting. Financial gains appear on the horizon for some. You are likely to be at your convincing best to lay the fears of family members at rest regarding something.

Heartening news may greet you on the romantic front.

Lucky Number- 5 / Lucky Colour- Sea Green ¡¡ Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19) Remember to do a good job of whatever you are involved in presently, as it may have far reaching consequences. This is the time to rejoice about some achievement on the professional front.

You will be able to put your point across tellingly on the work front. Those with business acumen are likely to venture out on their own. Quality time with lover is possible this week. Closeness to someone of the opposite gender can blossom into romance.

Lucky Number- 7 / Lucky Colour- Golden Brown ¡¡ Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) This is a wonderful time as regards your career is concerned. A promotion or raise may be expected by some. You are likely to thwart all the competition on the academic front to emerge the winner. Honour may be bestowed on you in a function. Your popularity on the social front is set to rise. A venture is likely to prove profitable. You get into the good books of senior by your sincere efforts. Health remains excellent.

Lucky Number- 8 / Lucky Colour- Green

4 HOME REMEDIES AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND THEM The Indian Weekender

Have rock salt with juice to alleviate stomach ache

viscosity soothes the lining of the throat. The ginger-honey treatment again provides symptomatic relief, and has its limitations.

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Turmeric milk helps heal aches and pains in the body and, in general, boosts immunity

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ock salt is much better than the white salt as it’s loaded with natural minerals and aids in digestion. Rock salt when taken with lemon juice, helps to relieve gases in the digestive tract and system.

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Chicken soup helps cure flu and common cold

We all know of popular homegrown remedies but how effective are they? Home remedies offer cures with simple, ingredients such as honey, fruits, herbs and natural oils. They, at times, can cure common ailments with no side effects, but they need to be used judiciously.” Here are four home remedies and the science behind them. tract thus reducing congestion. It also helps the nasal cilia to function better and facilitate the removal of mucus.

t helps to open up the throat and nose. It also soothes an irritated throat. The warm soup also helps to re-hydrate the body, helping it recover faster. Chicken soup inhibits the movement of neutrophils (a type of white blood cells) in the respiratory

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G

urmeric boiled in milk is an excellent combination. Milk is a good source of protein, which help to heal wounds. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe the inflamed muscles.

Turmeric also contains curcumin -which is a strong antioxidant.

Health Tip of the Day

Honey and ginger help cure cough

inger, when boiled in water and then laced with honey, is a known cure for cough and sore throat. “Ginger is a known cough suppressant. It is also an antioxidant

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that provides relief from the ailment.

This, along with honey, helps alleviate the inflammation of the throat. The honey given its high

Green tea is a big natural source of fluoride, so this in combination with its antibacterial effects provides a great natural way to help strengthen your teeth, prevent cavities and help reduce bad breath.

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Why are soaked almonds better?

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any are unaware that the brown peel of almonds contains tannin, which inhibits nutrient absorption. Once the almonds are soaked, the peel comes off easily, allowing the nuts to release nutrients. Soaked almonds also help with digestion. It releases the enzyme lipase, which is beneficial for fat digestion.

What’s more? Almonds also help in weight loss. They contain monounsaturated fats that curb your appetite and make you feel full. Soaked almonds are a good source of antioxidants too. It resists free radical damage and prevents ageing. Soaked almonds contain Vitamin B17 and folic acid that are vital for fighting cancer and reducing birth defects, another reason worth putting in a little effort.

So make a habit, soak the almonds overnight and have your daily share of nutrition every morning.

Health insurance designed for you For more information about how we can provide health insurance for you and your family please contact advisers@nib.co.nz or speak with your financial adviser.

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FEATURES

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The Indian Weekender

What To Wear to Work: Nailing the Office Look Y

ou are not the only one Googling ‘Office Outfit Ideas’ often. I find myself stumped and staring at my wardrobe early in the a.m.

If you work in a creative company (like me), then you would agree that it is harder to abide by an unspoken dress code than a well-defined one. How casual is too casual? Is this way too formal?

But I have a meeting today? … Are some of my morning ¡¡ BY AKANKSHA thoughts! If making a mark on colleagues and dressing up appropriately for work is on your daily radar, then this MEHRA girlfriend’s guide to dress up is for you.

Stock up Staples Go crazy with pinks, floral embroidery and colour blocking. Get a few cheeky slogans tees and synchronize with the rebel spirit. Opt for comfortable shoes to deflect the rain.

Always Safe with A Daytime Dress A daytime dress will always have your back. From work to a post work dinner date, this versatile piece of clothing is perfect for all. It can be paired with sneakers, heels, jacket, blazer or cardigan and build around it with the right accessories.

Pencil and Midi Skirts How can we not talk about a pencil skirt at work space. There is nothing more flattering than a pencil skirt especially for our Indian body type.

Invest in a woollen pencil skirt or a very fashion trendy suede midi skirt. It is a perfect winter piece which works well with woollen scarves and jackets.

Get Creative with Denim Denims can be your forever saviours. You do not have to wait for a ‘Casual Friday’ to rock a semi-formal look with denims. Pair it with a white shirt, blouse or opt for a gorgeous denim dress.

A graphic top with blazer does the trick too.

Frill Blouses Never underestimate the power of a classic white or black blouse paired with a crisp high waist trouser, especially when ruffled sleeves are trending in the fashion world. Team it up with a chic bag and you are ready to dazzle.

The Indian Weekender

FEATURES

Friday, July 14, 2017

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V E G E TA R I A N

RECIPES

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Amritsari Chole

A distinctively dark chickpea curry stew cooked with tomatoes

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he glittering city of Amritsar, in India’s Punjab State, is widely believed to be the birthplace of this hearty chickpea curry. Whether eaten in humble dhabas (roadside restaurants) or ordered á la carte in exclusive fine dining havens, this curry loses none of its authentic charm. Flavoured by a selection of whole spices tempered with herbs, this is a curry that’s hard to resist. If you ever eat Chole in Amritsar, you are sure to go back for another helping.

Preparation times: 45 Minutes Cooking time: 45 Minutes Serves: 6 Taste: Medium

INGREDIENTS: ¡¡ For the chickpeas ¡¡ 2 cups dried chickpeas ¡¡ 2 cups water ¡¡ 4 black tea bags ¡¡ 1-2 bay leaves ¡¡ 4-5 black cardamom ¡¡ 1 tsp oil ¡¡ 1 tsp salt, to taste ¡¡ For the gravy ¡¡ 3-4 Tbsp oil ¡¡ 1 large onion, chopped ¡¡ 1 Tbsp garlic paste ¡¡ 1 Tbsp ginger paste ¡¡ 4 medium tomatoes, chopped

¡¡ 1/2 tsp red chilli powder ¡¡ 1 tsp cumin powder ¡¡ 2 tsp coriander powder ¡¡ 2 tsp dry mango powder ¡¡ 1 tsp chana masala powder ¡¡ 1/2 tsp garam masala powder ¡¡ Salt, to taste ¡¡ 1/2cup fresh coriander leaves chopped

METHOD:

For the chickpeas

¡¡ Soak chickpeas overnight in 4 cups of water.

¡¡ Drain the chickpeas and discard the

soaking water. Place the chickpeas with 2 cups of fresh water, the whole spices, bay leaves, tea bags and oil into a large pot and bring to the boil on a high heat. ¡¡ Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the chickpeas are soft. ¡¡ Strain the chickpeas, reserving the cooking

liquid and whole spices (discard the tea bags). Keep the chickpeas and the cooking liquor aside.

62 | India’s Most Wanted Recipies

Ruby Dhillon

well, cover and let the gravy come to a boil on high heat (you can add more or less liquid to the chickpeas depending on how thick you like the gravy). ¡¡ Add garam masala, green chillies and salt to taste (take care as there is already salt in the chickpea’s cooking liquid), mix well. Cover and simmer the chickpeas on medium heat for 6–8 minutes until the gravy thickens and oil surfaces again.

For the gravy

¡¡ Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan

and add chopped onions, sauté until golden-brown in colour. Add garlic paste, stir, add ginger paste, stir and sauté for 1–2 minutes. ¡¡ Turn heat down to low. Add chopped tomatoes along with red chilli powder, cumin, coriander powder, dry mango powder and chana masala powder, stir and sauté gently until the tomatoes become soft and oil starts to separate from the mix. ¡¡ Add chickpeas and salt to the tomato masala, mix well so that the chickpeas are well coated. Then add 1 cup of the chickpea cooking liquid along with its spices, stir

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Objective and Rules of Hitori Eliminate numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or column.

Eliminate numbers by marking them in Black. You are not allowed to have two Black squares touching horizontally or vertically (diagonally is ok). White cells must not be isolated from the rest of the board.

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Ruby's Tip: Using tea bags while boiling the chickpeas is unique to this dish and gives it a distinctive dark colour.

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Daily Sudoku puzzle No. 3921

Garnish with chopped coriander on top.

Serve hot with Bhatura

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

AUCKLAND’S HOTTEST BOLLYWOOD STATION

KATRINA KAIF: I was quite a dreamer as a child G

eared up for the release of her new film Jagga Jasoos, a musical directed by Anurag Basu, Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif says she was a dreamer as a child, and preferred watching children’s cinema rather than reading comic books when she was younger.

The actress’ character in the film has a child-like quality.

Reminiscing her own days as a child, Katrina said: “I was quite a dreamer as a child, and very musical. I used to love watching musicals (films) and would imagine a lot of stories in my head. I think I used to live in my own wonder world.

“I had quite an imaginary mind. Probably that is why I become an actress. I was not so much into comic books and all. Rather I used to watch Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music. I loved watching them again and again.”

She finds “a lot of similarity of the genre with Jagga Jasoos that Dada (Basu) tried to create. This is one of the films that is meant to have a universal appeal... It’s crafted in that way. But of course, it is quite a task to do that...

Catering to a wider audience”. The film features Katrina w i t h

Ranbir Kapoor, with whom she has earlier starred with in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti. Interestingly, this is the first time she has acted in a musical and one which took three years to be made. Asked about her shooting experience, Katrina said: “Besides the fact that it took a long time, I really enjoyed shooting the film because it was a unique creative journey for me. I think in three years, a lot of things have changed in the life of all the people who are associated with the film, and I am one of them.

“Now that the film is over and the result is up around the corner, at this very moment, I cannot feel the emotion. But once we can see the result of the film, I will be able to see its whole magnitude. Having said that, how I have grown as an actress through the film, that only the audience can decide after seeing my performance.”

Being passionate as an actress, Katrina says she has become more focussed on her choices in life and that has helped her to grow as an individual.

“I think we must not forget about the greater picture of life and that shouldn’t be determined based on your current status of success as an actor. You know, now, I would rather wait than do something just because I want to be occupied. Everything that I am doing right now, and probably the most part of my journey that I did, is something that I wanted to do.

“I think success and popularity in any field are attractive, but for actors, the waves of fame will come and might go away but you need to have a dream. As long as you take your work as mission, you work hard to make a mark. But don’t let the result of your hard work break or make you,” she said. No wonder most of her co-actors and directors compliment her for being hard working.

T h e film is releasing on July 14.

Not competitive with my family: Arjun

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the competitive streak of saying ‘I want to outdo this one or that one’ because I can only do that with my work,” he added. Arjun believes that the success or failure of another person doesn’t define him.

“There’s a lot of time wasted if I start getting into wondering about the competition because Pehle apna kaam sahi karlo (first do your work right)’ and then you have to leave the rest to the audience eventually, because they are the biggest deciding factor,” said Arjun.

Before joining the world of acting, Arjun had worked as an assistant director and associate producer on films like Kal Ho Naa Ho and Wanted.

Asked if his behind-the-camera experience has given him an edge over others, he said: “I would like to believe yes, because it does allow me to be part of appreciating the whole process of filmmaking rather than just the acting.

“And I really do enjoy being part of that entire journey rather than just focus on my performance alone.”

Arjun also said he likes to be a team player.

More than giving him an edge, he feels he is more comfortable because of his “I experience. Arjun made his have never acting debut in 2012 ever looked at my and his work family members as h a s competition. I am not

is uncle acts, his cousins act. But family members aren’t competition for Arjun Kapoor, who will soon be seen in the same frame with his paternal uncle and veteran actor Anil Kapoor in Mubarakan.

“I have never ever looked at my family members as competition. I am not competitive with my family at all. I want them all to do well and I don’t ever think like that.

“Where the house is concerned, for me it has never been about competition,” Arjun said. The 32-year-old Arjun, whose cousins Sonam Kapoor, Harshvardhan Kapoor and Mohit Marwah too are actors, says that, while he may not be competitive, he is certainly very ambitious.

“Where competition in the profession is concerned - beyond my house - I have always stated that I am very ambitious. I want to do well. I want to make a career for myself as an actor and I am working towards it day in and out, but I do not get into

competitive with my family at all. I want them all to do well and I don’t ever think like that.”

been appreciated in films like Ishaqzaade, 2 States, Gunday and Finding Fanny. Aurangzeb and Tevar didn’t work too well.

He says he experienced success and failure within the first year of his career.

“It sort of keeps you in check and you are kind of prepared for it and, at the same time, it would obviously be very silly of me to say I don’t get affected... I am very emotional about my work and the films I do,” Arjun said.

Learning of highs and lows is important, he said.

“I have seen it with my family, very closely, and I see it around me also. Everybody sees highs and lows. The highs and lows are Friday to Friday at the end of the day.

“You need to keep your head down and keep working rather than looking at your highs and lows because the profession gives you a lot regardless of success and failure.”

Sonakshi, Shatrughan support girl child education

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ctress Sonakshi Sinha along with her father and politician-veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has shot a "beautiful" campaign that supports education for underprivileged girl child in India.

Sonakshi took to Twitter, where she shared a photograph holding her father and captioned it: "Shot something beautiful for Nanhi Kali...Go register if you want to support a great cause – education of an underprivileged girl child!"

Shatrughan also shared a photograph of himself along with his daughter and mentioned that everyone should be treated equally.

"Shot with Sonakshi Sinha for a good cause Nanhi Kali. Society can only evolve when all are treated and educated equally," he captioned the image. Project Nanhi Kali works to ensure every underprivileged girl child in India gets her right to education and dignity.

On the acting front, Sonakshi is busy shooting for her upcoming film "Ittefaq", directed by Abhay Chopra. It is an adaptation of the 1969 movie by the same name.

It also stars Sidharth Malhotra.

The Indian Weekender

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Friday, July 14, 2017

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I’m not obsessed with future, says Sushant Singh Rajput H

e neither dwells on It’s like playing video game. So risk taking, his success, nor does perseverance and hard work are subjective... And he keep thinking they are by-products of something very crucial... about the future. Actor That crucial bit is is what you like doing. Money Sushant Singh Rajput, who has and acknowledgment are by-products,” he added. delivered memorable performances Citing his own example of how he followed in films like Kai Po Che! and M.S. his dreams, he said: “I was a scholarship student, Dhoni: The Untold Story, says his but even if I would have done anything else, I focus has always been about doing don’t think I would have this much money and things he likes – irrespective of acknowledgment. I mustered courage and did their result. something that I always wanted to do... (The “In 2006, I was a background result is that) I was driving a Maruti then and I dancer at IIFA (International Indian am driving a Maserati now,” said Sushant.

Film Academy) celebrations.

An actor who tasted fame with “People Then when I made my debut television show Pavitra Rishta, here confuse a in 2013, I performed at IIFA Sushant’s Bollywood journey confident memorizing and in 2017, I am nominated began when he landed a guy to be a spontaneous for the Best Actor award. Right role in Abhishek Kapoor’s actor, but when you look, now, I am actually enjoying it Kai Po Che!. Later on, he you will see that the but that’s not what I do most of went on to feature in Shuddh spontaneity doesn’t change the times.”

Desi Romance and Detective in each film, it’s just “I don’t reflect... neither Byomkesh Bakshy!, which helped confidence” am I obsessed with future,” him find his feet in Bollywood. The Sushant said. actor is now gearing up to visit a NASA “Every time I do centre to prepare for his forthcoming space something that I really adventure film Chanda Mama Door Ke. Asked like but don’t know if he would call himself a method actor, Sushant how to do it, said: “People generally confuse between method I am really acting and spontaneous acting. I feel that there is engaged. always a method to spontaneity... It’s not like...

Okay... Anybody who can be confident in front of camera, can learn lines is not an actor. People here confuse a confident memorizing guy to be a spontaneous actor, but when you look, you will see that the spontaneity doesn’t change in each film, it’s just confidence.”

“The thing is that if I play Dhoni or if I play or if I play Byomkesh, you will feel that of course he is spontaneous. “(But) if you see three films in one go, you will notice that I try to change my spontaneity from one film to another. And for that you need two things – observing the differentiators and then spending a period of time so that those mannerism become a part of you, and the way you think.

“So, there is always a method to spontaneity.” Apart from his films, Sushant also makes headlines for his positive and influencing messages on social media.

Ask him from where he gets all the life musings, and he says: “They are not lessons, and they don’t have to do with spirituality. It is just that those are just wild thoughts that come in my mind and I am very bad with writing and keeping a diary, so I write that.”

“Sometimes in my life, I just want to go back and think or probably read what I was thinking on that particular day, so I just create it so that I can go back and read.”

Wanted to venture into new kind of films: Shraddha on Haseena

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has been a former champion. ctress Shraddha Kapoor It’s a huge responsibility, so I has tried to break her really hope that once the movie girl-next-door image is out, people get inspired when with her next film Haseena: The they watch the movie. “We Queen of Mumbai. She hopes have not started shooting for people will see her conscious it and I am still preparing for effort of playing something the role. There is a long way different on screen. to go. I hope I can do justice “I think it’s one of most to her,” she added. The actress, different roles of my career so who made her Bollywood far for sure because I think I have debut in 2010 with Teen Patti, played more positive characters, went on to do roles in films and this is first character which is like Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain and more grey shaded. I hope people Haider. can see (my) conscious effort of Asked about her evolution as playing something different,” an actor, Shraddha said: “That Shraddha said. is something that the audience Haseena: The Queen of has to decide... How they see Mumbai is a biopic, where my progress. I just like to try Shraddha is essaying the role and do better than what I have of underworld don Dawood done before.”

Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parkar.

The actress says she is not The film is directed by Apoorva affected by the ups and downs Lakhia and Shraddha’s brother of life as she feels it is a “part of Siddhanth Kapoor will play every kind of profession”. the notorious gangster Dawood “But you keep doing what Ibrahim in the biopic. you are passionate about.”

Shraddha, who has also been Daughter of veteran actor roped in to play badminton Shakti Kapoor, Shraddha says champion Saina Nehwal in a that she looks to her father for biopic, says that project too is a advice, but his only suggestion part of her pursuit to maintain a to her is to always do what she variety in her filmography. wants to and to pursue what “I just wanted to do something makes her happy. different. I felt like I wanted to Coming to her beauty and venture into new kinds of films, hair care regime, the actress, and be a part of different kind of who is the brand ambassador characters. That’s why I decided for Hair & Care Fruit Oils, to be a part of films like Haseena says “the nourishment that and the Saina Nehwal biopic,” your body gets when you she added.

The consume food, the Giving more details actress says same nourishment about the biopic, she is not affected is needed for hair she said: “I think by the ups and downs also and that’s it’s a very big of life as she feels it is how fruit oil opportunity for a “part of every kind of comes into the me to play a profession picture”. sportswoman who

OPPO Desi Swag

Date: Saturday 15 July 2017 Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Venue: Logan Campbell Centre, 217 Greenlane Rd West, Epsom, Auckland Sunanda Sharma, Akhil and Preet Harpal coming to perform LIVE in Auckland on 15 July

Streetfood Station

Date: Every Friday, 14 July until 22 Dec 2017 Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. onwards Venue: Mt Albert Market, 847 New North Rd, Mt Albert, Auckland A weekly event with a revolving selection of Auckland’s best food trucks along with a licensed bar serving craft beer and organic wine. The site is covered so the event will take place no matter the weather outside.

Ice Skating In Cathedral Square

Date: Thursday, July 13, to Sunday, 23 July, 2017 Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Venue: Cathedral Square, Cathedral Square, Christchurch The magic of a Winter Wonderland in the heart of Christchurch, Cathedral Square. The swish of skates on ice. Everywhere kids and families wrapped in winter woollies, hand in hand laughing and smiling on the Ice Rink. Ice Skating tickets include skate hire. Open daily 9am to 9pm and 10pm Fridays and Saturdays. Skate as long as you like (one entry per ticket). Family pass 1 Adult, 3 Children or 2 Adults, 2 Children. Student ID required for Student Pass. Enjoy the thrill of being inside a giant Snow Globe while snowflakes tumble around you in a picturesque scene. Children under 5 must be accompanied by a paying Adult into the Snow Globe.

A tribute to Mohammed Rafi

Date: Friday, July 21, 2017 Time: 7:30 pm onwards Venue: Avondale College Hall, 47 Vector St, Avondale Woh Jab Yaad Aaye- a tribute to legendary Bollywood singer Mohammed Rafi — featuring renowned singer Umesh Sharma, will be held in Auckland. Come and listen to all time hits of Rafi sahib. Free parking availableTickets priced at $20 and $25 and available at Lotus Supermarket, Yogiji’s Food Mart, Travel Point, Auckland Sweets Otahuhu and Giriraj Foods, New Lynn. For more information, call Umesh Sharma 0211111055

Talent Nite 2017

Date: Saturday, July 29, 2017 Time: 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm Venue: Mt Roskill Intermediate School, Mt Roskill, Auckland Sriom Inc beings a talent night on July 29 in Auckland. Tickets priced at $10 per person. Free parking available. For tickets and more information, contact Vivek at 02108257384

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FEATURES

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender

Young Kiwi-Indian all-rounder aims for the Black Caps ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

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dithya Ashok, a Year 10 student at Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS), has received the Bowler of the Year 2017 award from Auckland InterSecondary School Sports Awards (AKSS Premier Boys).

The 14-year old took 14 wickets in six games during the Term 1 One-Day Competition.

The leg spinner’s best haul was 4/41 against Rosmini College which helped MAGS win the Auckland T20 Championship.

MAGS Director of Cricket, Tony Sail commends Adithya’s game and says it is unusual for such a young player to receive an award of this calibre.

The young all-rounder spoke to The Indian Weekender, his love for crickets, training and where does he aspire to reach in the next five years.

Adithya Ashok

IWK: When did you start playing Cricket?

Adithya: Cricket is in my blood. I was only 7-years old when I started playing. My father was my coach, mentor and trainer from the very start. I am a right-handed batsman and a leg spin bowler.

I developed my game with regular practice, and since my father had played district level cricket back in India, he mentored me well to improve my game.

IWK: What are the feats have you achieved so far?

Adithya: Besides bowling, for which I have just been awarded, I have received numerous awards as the best batsman from Eden Roskill

Saturday ��nd � Sunday ��rd �u�y � ���� Starts : �a� Saturday ��nd �u�y Ends : Midday Sunday ��rd with Hawan � �arti

Image 419 Thursday, 29 June 2017 2:48:57 PM

Cricket Club and also the Overall Best Player for Suburbs New Lynn Cricket Club in 2014 and 2015. I was captain of the New Zealand team at the Junior Indoor World Cup U13 age group in Australia in 2015, and after that, I stopped playing indoor as it made me start to develop some indoor strokes which didn’t work in outdoor games.

IWK: How have you been managing your academics and your focus on sports?

Adithya: My father has given me a strict instruction. My academics should always be a priority and then comes cricket.

So I have been balancing my studies and cricket well. I attend rigorous training sessions, coach both is school and under my personal trainer, and practice I hard for my upcoming developed my tournaments but have made game with regular sure I give adequate time practice, and since my to focus on my studies as father had played state and well. district level cricket back IWK: Do you wish in India, he mentored me to pursue cricket as well to improve my your full-time career? game.

Adithya: Yes, I want to

Adithya with his Bowler of the Year 2017 Trophy.

see myself playing for the Black Caps one day. I want to develop my game, both bowling and batting and I believe my hard work will pay off eventually.

Currently, my focus is on the upcoming season, the Two-Day Competition in Term 4 and the district tournaments such as Colts tour to Hamilton in December where I hope to take lots of wickets and make heaps of runs. My next goal is to get selected for the New Zealand team in the U19 age category.

The Indian Weekender

Friday, July 14, 2017

FEATURES

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FEATURES

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Indian Weekender