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southSouth asia times 1 Asia Times

CELEBRATING 11th YEAR OF PUBLICATION

South Asia Times Vol.11 I No. 1 I AUGUST 2013 I FREE s o u t hasiatimes.com.au Editor: Neeraj Nanda

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Ph: (03) 9095 6220 M: 0421 677 082

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Add: PO Box 465, Brentford Square, Victoria 3131

CECA Manoj KuMar Labor candidate for Menzies

READ INSIDE

GUEST EDITORIAL ..................pG 5 FEDERAL ELECTIONS............. pg 6 INTERVIEW........................ pg 8-9 CUMMUNITY ........................ pg 10 MELBOURNE DURBAR.......... pg 16 SOUTH ASIA......................... pg 25 VIEWPOINT.......................... pg 29 Hindi Pushp....................... pg 30

Standing up for MenzieS

BUSINESS............................ pg 34 SPORTS...............,................ pg 35 ENTERTAINMENT................ pg 36

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SAT

South Asia Times

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Neeraj Nanda M: 0421 677 082 satimes@gmail.com

EDITOR (Hindi Pushp)

Dr. Dinesh Srivastava dsrivastava@optusnet.com.au

SAT NEWS BUREAU/Australia (Melbourne) Neeraj Nanda satimes@gmail.com

SAT NEWS BUREAU/South Asia (New Delhi, India) RAJIV SHARMA rajeev.anchor@gmail.com PRASHAT TANDON news.prashant@gmail.com

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DISCLAIMER

South Asia Times (SAT) is a monthly newspaper published in English (2 pages in Hindi) from Melbourne, Australia. Contributors supply material to SAT at their own risk and any errors will be corrected as quickly as possible. SAT does not accept responsibility for the authenticity of any advertisement, text content or a picture in the publication. No material, including text or advertisements designed by the SAT or pictures may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the editor/publisher. Opinions/ stories/reports or any text content are those of the writers/contributors and not necessarily endorsed by the SAT.

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South Asia Times

Guest Editorial

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Why Labor on the 7th of September?

BY JUDE PERERA*

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elbourne: The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is the party for both growth and opportunity. It is the party left of centre in the political spectrum, the Greens run their agenda on opportunity alone completely without serious consideration to growth that provides this great nation of ours the opportunity, and the conservative Liberal National coalition the right of centre focuses only on growth without any serious concern about providing the opportunities and the social advantages of all Australians.

That is why the ALP has been the party that delivered the great reforms which improved the lives of all Australians. Labor believes that economic growth is the driver to provide opportunities for Australians of all income backgrounds.

The Labor Government led

by Prime Minister Whitlam brought in Medicare, a universal health system for all Australians, axed university fees to provide free education to best and brightest students from low income background. Many of Australians migrants arrived at the time fell in to that this category.

The Whitlam Government established relationships with Asia. The first Australian Politician to refer to multiculturalism as an aspiration was Al Grassby, Immigration Minister in the Whitlam government. The current Liberal Immigration Shadow Minister who would be Abbot Government’s Immigration Minister was fond of saying he did not like using the word Multiculturalism.

The Hawke-Keating government saw the introduction of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme(HECS) to expand the university places by more funding. HECS, while increasing more student places in the university charged only 25 per cent of the course fee from students only at a time they can afford in paying off when reaching a certain level of income.

Prior to the Hawk and Keating years, the superannuation was the preserve of the few, with only senior executives receiving superannuation as a matter of course.

Labor took the view working Australians deserve access to a more comfortable retirement income. The Hawke Government’s payments of 3 per cent of salaries into superannuation were significant achievement. The big step forward came when the

Keating Government lifted the superannuation contribution from 3% to 9% with a plan to take it to 12% and ultimately to 15%. The incoming Howard Government stalled the process and left it at 9%. Finally, a Rudd led Government announced to increase the superannuation guaranteed levy to 12% over a certain time.

This reform means a 30 year old worker on an average income will have an increase of

REFORM

POLITICAL PERSUASION OF THE GOVERNMENT

Medicare Labor Floating the Dollar Labor Tariff Reduction Labor Government Enterprise Privatisation Labor Started continued by Liberals Setting Interest rates independently Labor initiative later through the Reserve Bank formalized by the incoming Liberal National Competition Policy Labor supported by State governments Superannuation Labor Broadening the income tax base Labor Changes to structure and funding of Labor the higher education sector The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Introduced by The Liberal National Parties National Disability Insurance Scheme – Labor Now known as Disability Care Australia Gonski’s Schools Plan – Now known as The Labor better Schools Plan National Broadband Network Labor

a$118, 000 in his super fund.

These changes will increase our savings by an extraa$500 million in 25 years. The prospective Abbot Government would like to differ it by at least 2 years.

As a result of superannuation changes, Australia has the fourth-largest pool of savings in the world. It is well over $1 trillion. Having so much money saved was an important part of Australia’s successful navigation of the global financial crisis.

It meant that our economy was more liquid and that business had access to finance, which was simply impossible in many countries at the time. The large pool of funds is also a potential source of funding for both large infrastructure projects and small business.

Then backbencher Tony Abbot told parliament in 1995 that compulsory superannuation is one of the biggest con jobs ever foisted by government on the Australian people. In his book ‘Battlelines’, Mr Abbot bizarrely proposed abolishing superannuation tax concession and guaranteeing that everyone gets an age pension instead. Is he the man we would like to be our Prime Minister on the 7th of September 2013.

When the history of the Rudd and Gillard years comes to be written, maintenance of that uninterrupted growth

against the odds and in the most difficult of circumstances will be up there as Labor’s great achievements. While the rest of the world contracted and then flat lined, Australia kept growing. Australia’s economy is about 13% bigger than what it was during the global financial crisis. By way of comparison, the economies of the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy and France are still smaller than they were before the Global financial crisis and many countries have barely grown economically since the financial crisis.

During Rudd and Gillard Governments Australia has overtaken three other countries, Mexico, Spain and South Korea in terms of the size of our economy. Australia, which has the fifty first largest populations in the world, now has the twelfthlargest economy. During the Howard years, despite the mining boom, Australia went backwards by three places in the world economic rankings.

The Rudd government’s stimulus during the global financial crisis means that Australia has an unemployment rate around 5.4% compare with 7.6% in US, 11% in euro Zone and 7.9% in UK. The fact is that in Australia, how much money your parents earn, where you live, and whether you come from an Indigenous or non-English speaking background have a

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bigger impact on your educational outcomes than they would in other comparable countries. This is not acceptable and need to be fixed.

Mr Abbott did not believe it needs to be fixed.

The Gonski Review recommended a change to the school funding model which would see every school in Australia funded per student regardless of whether it was an independent, systemic or public school, with a loading for students with particular needs which are more expensive to cater for.

Mr Abbot finally agreed since he did not have an alternative or for that matter any policies to make our education better to provide opportunities for all Australians irrespective of their background.

The Liberal Party does not have real policies. The most of the policies are made on the run to get by an election.

For example, based on the Henry Tax Review recommendation Labor Government proposed a 2% tax cut to the company tax rate. The Liberals teamed up with Greens to block the Company tax cuts. Now Liberal Party has a policy of reducing company tax rate by 1.5% and then increases it by 1.5% Australia’s biggest companies to pay for the parental leave policy. 0.2% of Australian companies pay 63% of our company tax.

Contd. on pg 11

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South Asian candidates (Melbourne) in Federal Elections

Alex Bhathal

Manoj Kumar ALP Candidate for Menzies

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anoj is an electronics engineer with a MBA and is currently working for an environmental equipment manufacturer.

He is a passionate advocate for his local community, serving on a number of consultative committees focussed on strengthening Australia’s relationship with business and trade partners internationally.

Manoj is passionate about

education, and he understands that only Labor can build better schools and provide the attention our kids need. Through his work in building Australia’s trade relations, Manoj has seen the benefits and competitive edge superfast broadband can provide.

Manoj has lived in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne with his family for many years.

Greens candidate for Batman

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ualified social worker with 25 years in the social welfare sector. Professional experience includes clinical practice with young people, community development, research, management, program and policy development.

She is completing a PhD with Curtin University on how members of the general public are experiencing and perceiving climate change. In 2011 I took up the position of National Climate Campaigner with the Australian Greens and have previously been involved with FOE’s Climate Justice campaign; as a migration and refugee rights advocate, I have a particular interest in climate-related migration.

From a mixed race background, I'm proud to be actively involved in Melbourne’s rapidly growing Indian community. As an active member of the Australian Greens, I have

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served as Welfare Spokesperson for the Greens in Victoria, National and State Councillor, and 8-time candidate for public office, and currently, as Co-Convenor of the Victorian Greens with Dinesh Mathew.

I've also been involved in the social justice, women’s and peace movements and in environmental activism and, over the past fifteen years, in migration and refugee rights advocacy.

Specialties: Social worker: Counselling, support and case work, with young people and their families. Program development and management - youth services.

Policy analysis (welfare and social citizenship; family and human services; child protection; refugee and immigration policy) Teaching - social work; policy and political processes.

Source: alexbhathal.com.au

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South Asian candidates (Melbourne) in Federal Elections Dr. Ali Khan Liberal candidate for Calwell

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riginally from Pakistan, Ali migrated to Australia in 1988 and became an Australian Citizen in 1995.

Ali lives in Calwell and is passionate about making Calwell a better place to live and work.

Ali is the current Chief Executive Officer at Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation, and Central, West and South Gippsland Aboriginal Health in Victoria. He has also worked in local government, international aid, primary health, Aboriginal health and community development.

These diverse roles have given Ali the practical experience and know how to affect

positive change in his local community.

Ali received the Australia Day Gippsland Citizen of the year Award for his dedicated service in the field of health, including health in indigenous communities.

Ali is committed to making a difference in his local community and understands the issues effecting Melbourne’s outer west. He is committed to tackling cost of living pressures, as well as working with all levels of government to deliver the services and infrastructure that Calwell needs.

Ali loves Hot Air Ballooning and is an accredited Balloon Pilot.

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South Asian candidates (Melbourne) in Federal Elections Jag Chugha

Liberal candidate for scullin

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ag has lived in Thomastown for over 33 years and studied at local schools Thomastown Meadows Primary School and Merrilands Secondary College. Being a resident of Scullin, Jag has an excellent understanding of the local issues and community needs and can represent the people and organisations in the Scullin electorate.

He holds qualifications of Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce and Masters of Laws. Jag is a practicing lawyer for over 15 years and is currently Senior Counsel at a top 100 ASX listed company.

Jag is married with 2 children

and appreciates the needs of a young family and knows first-hand the everyday cost of living expenses. He is also a business owner and understands the demands and challenges of operating a small business. Jag has been a committee member of sports clubs and organisations, played soccer for over 10 years and has been involved in arranging and volunteering in community events.

Jag wants to give back to his community, by helping to reduce the cost of living, support small business and to improve local infrastructure, transport and education.

Diwali @ Federation Square: whole day cultural extravaganza

By Neeraj Nanda

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he Festival of Diwali @ Federation Square 2013 will begin on Monday October 21 with a five day Bollywood film show and the main event will take place on Saturday 26 October 2013. This multicultural event is one of the biggest community events in Melbourne attended by not only Indians but by all Victorians. The festival along with its regular highlights is famous for its fireworks and other Indian cultural activities each year. SAT caught up with Celebrate India veteran and Chairman, Arun Sharma and had a chat with him about the festivities.

Excerpts from the chat: Q: What makes The Diwali @ Federation Square popular each year?

A: As you know Diwali is a significant festival of India celebrated throughout the country with immense joy and goodwill. We at Celebrate India wanted to share the same feeling of joy and goodwill with our fellow Victorians in the heart of Melbourne city with India’s rich cultural heritage.

Whilst providing a platform for our new talents, the whole day cultural extravaganza showcases some of the best acts & performances in the various Indian art forms. I guess, the uniqueness and the novel presentation of all items, the colourful Bazaar, food,

fun activities for young and old, the electrifying atmosphere, the warmth and energy all around, the festive spirit and not to forget the amazing fireworks and the surprise elements each year makes the Diwali@ Fed Square, a most popular and much awaited event.

Q: What are this year’s highlights on the cultural side?

A: Many fabulous surprises are being prepared apart from the outdoor performances in the city during the week. Victorians will also witness Diwali decorations & music on a horse carriage going around the City of Melbourne for two evenings along with many super banners hurling in the city, promoting the colours, theme and spirit of Diwali.

Apart from few others, this year Fijian community is invited to present its culture and celebrate the festival with us. The 5 days long, free, Bollywood film show will include some great hits and will proceed the main event.

Q: What arrangements are being made for food and other stalls?

A: We will have a Multicultural bazaar and food stalls including from Fiji, Nepal and China etc. Stall applications are now open for all to enrol their interest. The charges of the marquees are subsidised again and kept low.”

Q: What are the parking arrangements at the festival?

A: Federation Square has a large

parking place but we encourage people to use public transport as the Flinders St. Station is just across the road from the Venue.

Tram stop is also less than 20 meters away from Fed Square.

Q: What are the security arrangements at the festival?

A: We always take special steps for security at Federation Square and again this year it is being worked out in consultation with the Victoria Police, Federation Square’s

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security and our own marshals to make all families safe. We will also have all the security cameras monitoring the event.

Q: Where can one get all the information about the fair?

A: Our program will be updated regularly on our web as it gets finalised. People need to keep in touch with us via our website or Facebook for regular updates.

Our website is www.celebrateindia.org.au.

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interview

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AIII Diwali Fair 2013: ‘Safe’ undercover festivity in Melbourne’s unpredictable weather T he AIII Diwali Fair 2013 at the Sandown Racecourse will take place on Sunday 27 October, 2013 from 11.30 am to 9.30 pm. This is the 12th year of the fair and the multicultural event is one the biggest in Melbourne.

The fair along with its regular highlights is famous for its special fireworks each year.SAT Editor NEERAJ NANDA caught up with AIII veteran and Trust member Yogen Lakshman and had a chat with him about the fair.

Excerpts from the chat: Q: AIII is this year hosting the 12thDiwali Fair at the Sandown Racecourse, Springvale. What makes thousands attend the fair each year?

A: The principle reason is the venue. Numbers grow each year mainly because of this. There are several events held each year, and some six Diwali Functions at this time of the year, but the venue at Sandown, with the luxury of undercover gives the patrons that assurance to be ‘safe’ in Melbourne’s unpredictable weather.

Q: What are this year’s highlights on the cultural side?

A: This year we are going to try out a new concept. We will invite each community group to showcase their culture on stage – you do not have to be from the Indian sub-continent – you can be from anywhere in this world. This is going to be a truly multicultural event, in multicultural Victoria supported by the Victorian Multicultural Commission. So watch our website on www.aiii.org. au for further information how your community group can participate.

Q: What arrangements are being made for food and other stalls?

The stall applications have just opened, and interest is already buzzing. You have until the 18th of October to apply – but we suggest that you do not leave to the last moment. Food stalls will be strictly limited this year, so that the stall vendors can make an income, and thus keep food prices down. The general stalls have always attracted the crowd – and variety stalls of all kinds are encouraged.

Q: Will you have arrangement for an ATM at the fair?

A:Certainly! With our request 2 years ago, the Melbourne Racing Club now has an on-site ATM facility.

Q: What are the parking arrangements at the fair?

A:The stall holders are catered for with parking inside the venue (2 cars per stall holder). The general

public will have free and ample parking to cater for each one that visits this event. All parking areas are under mobile and patrolled security.

Q: Where from should one enter the Sandown Racecourse to reach the fair site?

A: The best gates are off the Princes Hwy. • If you are coming from the City and going towards Dandenong -- After you cross Springvale Rd, at approximately 500m you will see a Bunnings Store on the left hand side. After the Bunnings Store drive-in there is a turn-off that reads Sandown Racecourse. This turn-off road takes you on top of the overpass bridge that crosses Princes Hwy. Once you are on this bridge, that road will lead you right to the venue ticket booth entrance.

• If you are coming from Dandenong and going towards the City – then there is gate on your left hand side, BEFORE the overhead bridge. Take that gate and this will bring you right to the venue ticket booth entrance.

Q: What are the security arrangements at the fair?

A: As per the previous years – Sandown Racecourse offers 15 security guards and bag checkers as part of our venue hire agreement.

Apart from this, the AIII hires 6 police officers to patrol the venue.

We take security very seriously at our events, as we market this to be a “family event”...and a truly family event it has been… www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

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Australia-NZ lucky venue for Pakistan team: Pak High Commissioner

By Neeraj Nanda

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elbourne, 29 July: Pakistan High Commissioner in Australia, Mr. Abdul Malik Abdullah has said Melbourne will be a great venue for the Pakistan Cricket team during the World Cup Cricket 2015, as Pakistan had won the World Cup here in 1992. Mr. Abdullah was speaking on the sidelines of a dinner gathering for the Pakistani origin Dr Ali Khan who is a Liberal Party candidate in the coming federal election in Australia.

Talking to SAT, he said Australia and New Zealand were a lucky venue for Pakistan and hoped it will be a lucky venue yet again.

Mr. Abdullah touched the

Indo-Pak relations issue answering to queries by Indian journalists. He emphasised the need to build trust between the two countries and enhancing trade and economic relations. Mr. Abdullah felt rivalries between the two countries were not good for the SAARC region.

“The new Nawaz Sharif government intends to build cordial relations with India,” he said.

On the question of minorities’ protection in Pakistan, he said, 47,000 people of all communities have died because of violence in 12 years and we have to go beyond knee jerk reactions.

Mr. Abdullah who is from Sindh and has been in the Pakistan Foreign Service for

34 years, said efforts like ‘Aman Ki Asha’ promoted

by India’s Times of India and Pakistan’s Geo group on the Facebook was a move in the right direction.

The veteran Pakistani diplomat addressing the small but select gathering commended Dr. Ali Khan, s decision to contest the Federal election. He hoped something positive will emerge.

Speaking on the occasion DR. Khan thanked the community for supporting him and pledged to serve them.

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Mr. Abdullah touched the Indo-Pak relations issue answering to queries by Indian journalists. He emphasised the need to build trust between the two countries and enhancing trade and economic relations. Mr. Abdullah felt rivalries between the two countries were not good for the SAARC region.

Cr Gupta to Chair Wyndham City’s first Cultural Diversity Community Reference Group By our community reporter

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elbourne, 23 July: At the July 2013 Ordinary Council Meeting, Wyndham City Council resolved to form Wyndham’s first Cultural Diversity Community Reference Group. This group’s role is to provide strategic advice on the process and development of the policy and plan to strengthen Wyndham’s diversity.

The Plan will provide a framework for Council to work on issues including: • Multicultural affairs: Council’s strategic approach to addressing issues that affect people from culturally and linguistically di-

verse backgrounds.

• Communication and engagement: how Council should effectively communicate and engage with its culturally diverse communities.

• Customer service: How Council can ensure that its service de-

livery is culturally responsive and appropriate.

• Working in partnership with culturally diverse communities and building leadership capacity.

• Promoting an inclusive community where diverse cultures are respected and valued.

• Council’s commitment to celebrating diversity and building harmony through events.

The Plan will describe how Council will achieve this agenda in the next four years, both through its own actions and those it can carry out in partnership with the community. The Plan will have a four year timeframe, with an annual review.

Cr Gautam Gupta is a strong advocate to participative democracy. He believes that Community Reference Group’s formed of interested stakeholders are vital to proper functioning and implementation of plans.

For further info contact Council staff or Cr Gautam Gupta.

—Supplied.

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Communication and engagement: how Council should effectively communicate and engage with its culturally diverse communities.

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community

Why Labor on the 7th of September?

Contd. from pg 5 At its best, Liberal policy is pretty expensive money goes round.

At its worst it will cause an increase in company tax when our ambition should be to reduce and create jobs.

Opening up fast and efficient broadband is probably among the most effective things governments can do to promote productivity and growth. That is why Labor had the vision to embark on National Broad Band Network. Paul Budde, writing in the Telecommunications Journal of Australia, provided the following summary of research company estimates of the economic impact of economy wide efforts to improve broadband penetration, like the NBN • World Bank: 10% increase in penetration of broadband services increase economic growth by 1.3% • McKinsey & Company: 10% increase in broadband household penetration produces a 0.1% to 1.4% rise in GDP growth • Allen Consulting Group: Broadband will add 0.6% to Australia’s GDP growth per year • IBM: Net present value of benefits of smart technologies on fibre-optic network by 2018: $35 Billion to $80 billion.

The sorts of impacts outlined above underline the folly of the

short-term non-visionary approach of the Liberal Party to NBN. Nine Million fewer households would have access to fast broadband under the Liberal Plan, and small business would have to pay substantially more for access.

During the 2010 election campaign Mr Tony Abbott claimed that the main benefits of improved internet connections would be faster movie downloads. Is he going to be our Prime Minister?

The Grattan Institute has identified ten big economic policy reforms which have improved the economic efficiency of the nation and led to our record economic growth. I have added to the bottom of the list three recent major reforms in the Australian Political arena in the mix.

In any measure Labor gets the credit for leading the reform agenda in this country and saving the country from a nasty recession during the Global Financial Crisis.

As a reader you make your own decision on the 7th of September 2013 as to which party is best placed to govern Australia during these challenging times with global uncertainties. * The author is the State Member for Cranbourne District & Parliament Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Victoria.

southSouth asia times 11 Asia Times

Invigorate, Energise and Shine...

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alavishkar was formed a year ago, to promote Theatre and Folk Dance on the AustralianIndian horizon. Kalavishkar is a movement of cultural unity amongst performing art lovers in Melbourne. People from all walks of life participate in the Academy workshops and learn new skills in acting, speaking, dancing, singing, stage performances and management.

Kalavishkar upcoming Charity event “Aaroh” will be held on 31st August and 01st September 2013.

At the Chandler Community Centre, 28 Isaac Road, Keysborough, Time: 4:00 PM to 9:00PM. $2.00 from every ticket on the 31 August will be donated to the Salvation Army and to the Indian Tribal Fund on the September first.

A Fusion of Drama and Dance Musical In English3:45 PM ‘Dreams’

by Roy Kossena. Dreams is a wonderful story of parents and their kids, a journey of creation and love. Dreams comprises of 35 participants and 10 melodious English songs written and composed by Roy Kossena, a noted lyricist and performer. This

www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

performance is a combination of Dance, Drama and Music and promises to hold the audiences spell bound.

Two Act Hindi Play 5:15 PM ‘Maayajaal’ Based on a Marathi play ‘Tuze Aahe Tujapashi’ by P. L. Deshpande Adapted by Satyendra Mishra. Maayajaal is a beautiful, light family drama. The drama highlights the dilemma between the human desire to enjoy life and giving up, a contrast between “living the life” and renunciation.

Like the objects on the chess board, the various characters in this play portray the vividness and difference s in personalities, opinions and thinking. This play will entertain and get the thought process going.

Full day ticket (Dreams and Maayajaal) is $15.00 each and individual tickets are $10.00 each.Tickets are on sale at Amba Bazaar Indian grocery stores in Glen Waverley and Murrumbeena.

Tickets can also be ordered by contacting Reshma Parulekar 0432 738 217 or Mandar Vaidya 0430 666 898, or email admin@kalavishkar. com.au Website: www.kalavishkar. com.au.

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Temple Priest: I was taken for a ride M

r. Narayana Moorty Seshathiri, is a sad and broken man today. His dream job to serve the gods lies shattered after a kitchen accident at the Culture Centre attached to the Sri. Shiva Vishnu Temple, Carrum Downs.

This humble man from Pudukkottai, Tamilnadu whose kitchen accident triggered a spate of not so spiritual events. He talked to SAT Editor NEERAJ NANDA about his coming to Melbourne, Australia and the murky happenings that followed. He recently flew back to India.

Excerpts from the interview: Q: How did you come to Australia?

A: My brother’s son who is a Priest in Melbourne inspired me to come here. I was interviewed by a committee member of the Temple managing committee on the phone and then employed as an Assistant Priest.

Q: Then what happened?

A: I came to Melbourne in June 2011 as an Assistant Priest to work in the Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple, Carrum Downs.

But once I arrived here I was told to work in the Cultural Centre canteen kitchen and not as an Assistant Priest. But I was also asked to work in the temple for two hours. In

fact, even the work was not in the Temple but in the communal kitchen.

Q: What were your working conditions?

A: For the first three months of work I did not get any weekly break. Later when someone went on leave and then I got one and a half days off in a week.

Q: Can you detail it further?

A: I worked 55 to 65 hours a week. Was paid $ 31,000 per annum irrespective of the hours I worked. It was a two years contract and it ended on June 8, 2013.

Q: What else happened during your employment?

A: After one year of work in June 2012, I heard one important person approached a Temple employee for a $ 5,000 loan but he refused to give it.

Then a person close to me gave $23,000 to the same person to get Permanent Residency and he got it.

Another person gave him $ 15,000 to get Permanent Residency.

Q: What was the kitchen accident?

A: My finger went into the wet grinder (used for making Dosa paste) and was injured. I was taken to the Carrum Downs Medical Centre. They refused to treat me as it was a work accident and I was then taken to the Frankston Hospital. Finally, I was

taken to the Epworth Hospital in the city the case being under Work Cover. Then each week I had to go there.

Q: So, what did the Temple people tell you then?

A: They said you should go back to India as you are

like a dog roaming about.

Q: What did you do next?

A: I went to a Solicitor to take up my case. Then Work Cover people came and checked the canteen.

Investigations by them and other departments found that I was entitled

to overtime and other benefits which were denied to me. My Solicitor is working on how much I get.

Q: What is your feeling before going back home?

A: I was taken for a ride.

No one should get such treatment in future.

Big fraud of Australian visas by Indian students and workers: ABC By our reporter

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elbourne: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has revealed massive Australian visa fraud by Indian students and workers in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. These were the years when relations between India and Australia were strained over alleged attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney. The ABC obtained the visa fraud details through the Freedom of Information Act. According to the ABC, ” The ABC’s Freedom of Information request took nearly two years – much longer than statutory required periods.When the documents were delivered, they showed wide-scale passport, visa and ID fraud happening in alarming numbers.For a General Skilled Migration visa class, from 23,767 visa lodgements there was a 46.9 per cent

fraud rate for 2008/2009.The fraud rate was as high as 51.6 per cent in the third quarter of the 2008/09 financial year.

For Indian student visas, the DIAC documents show a 37 per cent fraud rate from 41,636 lodgements across the same time period.”

“The internal audits show fraud rates approaching 50 per cent, and an Immigration Department struggling to properly identify people who are entering the country.Identity fraud is a significant risk in the Indian caseload given how easily genuine documents with fraudulent details can be obtained,” one document said, ” the report says.

The ABC quotes Immigration Department spokesman Sandi Logan as saying the figures, from the 2008/09 financial

year, are troubling.

“Around the periods of 2008, 2009, 2010 the fraud levels were quite consider-

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able, a matter of real concern to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship,” he said.

He says things have since changed.

“We’re quite confident that those people who were issued with a visa … 99.9 per cent are who they say they are and are doing what they said they would do when they were granted that visa.”

However in the papers, it is reported that the Department is nearly powerless to stop identity fraud, because of the low level of technology in Indian passports, the ABC report says.

SEE FULL ABC REPORT AT – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/ immigration-audits-reveal-large-scale-visa-fraud/4833710

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community

southSouth asia times 13 Asia Times

Big Diwali Festival in Ballarat on 23 Nov. T he Australian Association For Indian Culture and Education (AAICE) will be celebrating, “ Diwali – The Festival Of Lights –Bringing Cultures Together”, for the very first time in Ballarat on Saturday the 23 Nov’ 2013 in one of the most popular venues, the Ballarat Showgrounds between 12pm & 7pm. As per the AAICE’s event coordination team, the talks are on with the local Council, Businesses, Community Associations and Media for an effective business relationship and participation in this regional multicultural initiative of AAICE. The idea of bringing Diwali to regional Victoria was initiated by the chairperson of the organisation, Mr Amitabh Singh. Amitabh when working on the Desalination project was temporarily living in regional Victoria, that’s when he realised the immense vacuum of cultural events. The cultural committee of the organization started on materializing the idea of celebrating Diwali in regional areas of Victoria. And finally with all their efforts and hard-work the festival was organised in Geelong in 2012, which was supported by

Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC) and received well by the local CALD as well as the wider community.

VMC supports Diwali 2013 in Ballarat This year the event is being kindly supported by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).

AAICE Inc. has expressed its gratitude and congratulated the Victorian Multicultural Commission in taking the lead in supporting AAICE Inc.’s initiative of bringing cultures together in regional Victoria and celebrating multiculturalism.

The main attractions of the event are: • Multi-cuisine, multi-national and multi-cultural food stalls • Multi-cultural performances on the main stage • Magic - show • Fashion – show • Bollywood Dance Workshop • Bollywood Live Band • Bollywood Apparels • Mehndi / Henna Stall • Cultural displays and many more surprise items In order to attract audience

from Melbourne as well as from other regional towns in the vicinity of Ballarat e.g. Geelong, Ararat, Bacchus Marsh etc., AAICE has comprehensive marketing plans.

SPONSORS & PERFORMERS AAICE is inviting the expressions of interest from the prospective sponsors, arts & cultural groups and organisations for active contribution and participation in the event.

MEDIA PARTNERSHIP We are inviting local community media, regional media as well as the mainstream media for partnership and support for the event. We are looking forward to have a longterm partnership with, The Ballarat Courier.

AN OPEN INVITATION Ballarat is one of the most beautiful and well planned cities of regional Victoria with a lot to offer to its visitors and residents in terms of Historical and Multicultural Heritage, just under an hour run from Melbourne AAICE Inc. looks forward to host “Diwali 2013 in Regional Victoria” in the culturally and historically rich

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We are inviting local community media, regional media as well as the mainstream media for partnership and support for the event. We are looking forward to have a longterm partnership with, The Ballarat Courier.

town of Ballarat and welcome all of you to join us and make it a grand success.

CONTACTS For further information please contact: Amitabh Singh – 0422 028 076 E-mail: aaice.inc@gmail.com Website: www.aaice.org.au —Media Release, Melbourne

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Tata LCV’s in Australia soon M

elbourne: India’s iconic car producer, Tata Motors, is all set to enter Australia. They have tied up with Fusion Automotive for marketing and distribution of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) in the Australian market.

A report in the ‘The Motor Report’ (TMR) says, ” A single model – possibly the Tata Xenon or Xenon XT, although unconfirmed – will be available in both two- and four-wheel-drive, single- and crew-cab, and will all be powered by a 2.2 litre, fourcylinder turbocharged diesel engine.Transmission options are also to be confirmed, but a five-speed manual may be the only option.”

“We are very pleased to announce our entry in Australia and this marks an important milestone in the continued expansion of our global footprint,” Tata Motors’ Managing Director Karl Slym said.

“As we launch products tested and validated across some of the toughest terrains into the Australian market, we are happy to partner with Fusion Automotive,

who brings to the table their tremendous experience in the Australian market.”

Managing director of Fusion Automotive, Darren Bowler, believes the Tata ute’s tough upbringing on rough Indian roads will make it a suitable alternative for

Australian customers.

“There is no tougher place on earth to test vehicles than on the tough and demanding roads of India, and we believe this will give the Tata Motors products a competitive advantage within the Australian

market,” Mr Bowler said.

“Mr Bowler also said that the first model, specifications and pricing will be announced at a later date, but we could expect pricing for the new commercial vehicle to range from around $20,000 to

SRK to take Sydney by storm

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ydney: NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell has announced NSW has secured Bollywood legend Shahrukh Khan to visit Sydney in October as part of the fourth annual Parramasala Festival in Parramatta.

Sydney, 31 July: Mr O’Farrell said Shahrukh Khan, known as SRK and dubbed the ‘King of Bollywood’, would headline a two hour Indian variety show of music, dance and comedy – Temptation Reloaded as part of the Festival.

“Parramasala is a key arts and cultural event on the NSW Events Calendar and brings some of the world’s best artists to Western Sydney,” said Mr O’Farrell, who was joined at the announcement by Parramasala Chairman Dr Harry Harinath, Parramatta MP Geoff Lee, Granville MP Tony Issa, and Parramatta acting Lord Mayor Steven Issa.

“Shahrukh Khan has featured in 75 films and has more than four million Twitter followers and is one of the most popular and influential Bollywood actors.

“His show will attract an audience not only of Indian origin, but will also appeal to his fans overseas including

Fiji, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“In addition to international visitors, we are also expecting SRK and the Temptation Reloaded show to attract more than 5,000 people from Sydney and interstate.

“Temptation Reloaded offers a unique cultural experience and it is a great event for Western Sydney with many hotels and restaurants expected to reap the tourism rewards,” Mr O’Farrell added.

Earlier this year, SRK topped the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list after earning US $37.7 million in 2012. He has also been awarded one of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, for his contribution to Indian cinema.

The Parramasala Festival 2013 will be held from Friday 4 – Monday 7 October, and the show will be held at Allphones Arena Homebush on Monday 7 October.

For information on Temptation Reloaded, including registration of interest for ticket announcements please visit: temptationreloaded.com.au.

Source: http://www. destinationnsw.com.au/ news-and-media/latest-news/ bollywood-superstar-to-takesydney-by-storm www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

$30,000.”

“Fusion Automotive hope to have a network of 13 Tata dealers on deck before the end of the year, with plans to expand the network to 25 dealers over the next 12 months, the report says.

—SAT News Service

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arts

Gigi Scaria: Dust (18 September 2013 – 2 February 2014)

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elbourne: Delhi-based artist Gigi Scaria will hold his first major solo exhibition in Australia at the Ian Potter Museum of Art with new photographic work revealing a strong connection between the Australian and Indian continents.

Scaria’s new work has been conceived and inspired following cultural exchange programs with the Australia India Institute in Jaipur and as Macgeorge Fellow at the University of Melbourne in 2012 where he exhibited Prisms of Perception at the Ian Potter Museum of Art. The new body of work reflects Scaria’s response to Australia’s vast landscapes and the inspiration to explore the geographic diversity within his own country.Through a series of new video works, photographs and painting, Dust presents large scale images of salt lakes and expanses of desert not immediately recognisable as India. The place is Kutch, a district in the far western state of Gujarat, near the border with Pakistan, where much of India’s salt is farmed.

Scaria creates an immersive experience which explores the awe and simplicity of landscape, the impact of time and human habitation and the ability of place to shape emotions.

“Even though you feel like you are in the middle of an ocean, you stand solid and supported in the salt,” Scaria says.

“There is a fear and fascination about being an outsider but the vastness is also oddly comforting. There is stoicism

about the place.”

Dust, also the title of the key image in the exhibition, suggests a city consumed by the desert and forewarns of the cyclical relationship of humanity and nature, the ebb and flow, creation and destruction over time. Perhaps marking the beginning of a new direction, this work is the only post-produced photographic work in the exhibition referencing Scaria’s earlier urban preoccupations.

One of a new generation of Indian artists, Scaria (b.1973) has established a significant international exhibition profile, has participated in more than 90 exhibitions since 1994 including India’s debut presentation at the 2011 Venice Biennale. The curator of the Indian Pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale, Ranjit Hoskote, will write an essay for Scaria’s Dust exhibition catalogue and an interview with Gigi Scaria by the exhibition curator, Bala Starr, will also be featured in the catalogue.

- Supplied, August 12, 2013.

southSouth asia times 15 Asia Times

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Melbourne Durbar

The 457 story M

elbourne: There is a lot of talk by the ALP about 457 visas (four years visa with full work rights) being misused and locals suffering.

The Coalition view is that it is good for the economy.

The 457 visa was started by the Howard Government and we now have thousands amidst us on a 457 visa. In the South Asian community the 457 visa is widely used

by Indian and Subcontinent restaurants to get Chefs from India. Interestingly, all of them are actually not Chefs. Many

By Desi Oz

Sujatha Singh is Foreign Secretary

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Double deportation

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ormer Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Sujatha Singh, who currently serves as India’s Ambassador to Germany, has been named as the next Foreign Secretary of India. Sujatha Singh took over her new position on the 1st of August. She was High Commissioner here during those tense days when attacks on Indian overseas students (2009- 2010)

emember the Indian fellow who was charged over the death of a three-year-old Indian toddler in March 2010. The Indian boy went missing from a house in Melbourne's north and his body was found hours later on the side of a road near Melbourne Airport.

The court heard the Indian fellow allegedly put the unconscious toddler in the boot of a car and drove around for three hours. It is alleged he then dumped him on the side of a road without checking if he was alive.

Anyway, recently the ABC report on the use of dodgy documents by Indian students, skilled migrants and 457 visa holders mentions of a Indian person who was deported and re-entered Australia on false papers and a changed date of birth. It looks he was the same man who was charged with the alleged murder of the Indian toddler. So, he was deported and he came back with false papers and was caught and re-deported.

photo of the month

have no knowledge of cooking but are looking for permanent residency in Australia and the 457 visa can be a good starter in that direction. Regional areas (small towns) have no chance of a local being an ‘Indian Chef’ and hence it starts off with the opening of an Indian restaurant there. Hence, the need for an ‘Indian Chef’ on 457 visa. The fellow in India pays a hefty amount and then a 457 visa application is filed.

There are enough migration agents giving a helping hand.

Once the fellow is in Australia he is shifted to the regional area and the restaurant owner drives daily (or whatever) to help run the restaurant. All legal responsibilities (super etc.) are paid for by the ‘Indian Chef’ but done in the name of the restaurant owner. Many times the arrangement falls flat and the ‘Indian Chef’ is left in the lurch leading to suffering and depression. Meanwhile, the restaurant is put on sale. The agony continues. Lives have been ruined. Does anyone care?

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Mr. Anand of 'Chandni Chowk' serves a customer at the Chand Raat Eid Festival, Melbourne

India Chronicle

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he Indian High Commission in Australia brings out a monthly E-newsletter ‘India Chronicle’ which is emailed all over. One can read news about High Commission activities, trade, economy, newsmakers and upcoming events in India and overseas. But mainly it is economic news which comes in handy for anyone interested. Despite such a good effort the E- newsletter is not in time. For example, the July, 2013 issue reached SAT E-mail on August 10, 2013. In the internet age news or events become stale in seconds. It is necessary each months E-newspaper is delivered in the first week of that month. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

captured world headlines. During a media/community interaction at the Indian Consulate (Coburg) she faced tough questions from some Indian/South Asian papers (SAT & Indus Age) at the alleged inaction of the Indian government on the issue. Indian Consul General in Melbourne Anita Nayar was also present assisting her.

Sujatha defended the Government skilfully and answered the media questions in detail. The Indian Express has said she has been “credited for tiding over the crisis”. One may agree or disagree with that. But with her in the top job in New Delhi, one expects her vast diplomatic experience and skills to energise the Indian Foreign Ministry grappling with a world in turmoil.

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southSouth asia times 25 Asia Times

Afghanistan faces new uncertainties

by Giuliano Battiston

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LALABAD, Afghanistan, Aug 13 2013 (IPS) - What happens after 2014? That is the question people on Afghanistan’s streets are asking as the deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops draws near.

Diplomatic talks are just about recovering from the freeze they went into following the brazen manner in which the Taliban opened its office in Doha in June.

As of now, the country is divided over the question of American troops staying on beyond 2014. There are those who see the prolonged presence of American soldiers as “a necessary evil” to protect their nation against interference from neighbouring countries, prevent new internal clashes and to guarantee international commitment.

If they leave completely, our country will risk a new domestic clash,” Khalilullah Hekmati, head of the NGO Better Afghanistan based in the northern city Mazar-e-Sharif, told IPS. “The American military bases and soldiers can ensure stability. We had a horrible war in the past, we don’t want to go back to that time.”

There are others who firmly believe that the continuing foreign military presence will destabilise the country further, provoking major external interference and corroding the already precarious sovereignty of the country.

For Asif Samin, a well-known poet in the eastern city Jalalabad, the very presence of foreign soldiers on Afghan soil is the reason for all the conflict. “The issue is very simple,” he told IPS. “The foreign – mostly American – troops are in Afghanistan, and this fact generates and fuels the insurgency. The only way to reach peace is a complete and immediate withdrawal.” There are currently about 90,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, including 66,000 Americans.

About half the remaining U.S. soldiers will return home by early 2014. The Pentagon itself has so far expressed its reluctance to discuss the “zero option” – the idea of withdrawing all American troops from Afghanistan in 2014 – mooted

by U.S. deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes in January this year. Both James B. Cunningham, the U.S. ambassador in Kabul, and General Martin Dempsey, chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, have clearly dismissed the possibility.

What the U.S. hopes for instead is progress on the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), which was envisaged under the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between

""

The agreement provided for the possibility of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014, and committed the United States to support Afghanistan’s social and economic development, security, institutions and regional cooperation.

the two countries to supersede the existing Status of Forces Agreement.

The agreement provided for the possibility of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014, and committed the United States to support Afghanistan’s social and economic development, security, institutions and regional cooperation.

Addressing Americans on May 1 last year from the Bagram air base, about 40 kilometres north of the capital Kabul, U.S. President Barack Obama had expressed satisfaction with the signing of a “historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries,” a future in which “war ends, and a new chapter begins.” Soon after, U.S. emissaries reached Kabul to discuss the terms under which U.S. troops would operate after the end of 2014, when the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-led International Security Assistance Force would be re-

placed by “Resolute Support”, the new mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces.

This is where things have been stuck for some time. Turmoil continues in the country, the U.S. military is counting its 12th year without any definitive idea about its future, and talks on BSA have been in a limbo.

It was precisely to jumpstart stalled dialogue that Dempsey was in Afghanistan in late July, urging the government to agree to an October deadline for the BSA. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai assured him that he was ready in principle to let American troops stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

It is a prospect that has brought relief to Sher Alam Amlawal, a professor of law and political science at the private Ariana University in Jalalabad.

“Our geographical location and our history teach us that we need some kind of assistance,” he told IPS. “If the foreigners abandon us,

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Iran and Pakistan will not let us live in peace. They should know that, in case of an attack, there would be an international reaction.”

What Amlawal advocates is “indirect support by the United States, without any interference and any ground presence.”

History, however, has very different lessons for Bilgees Attaye, head of the Developing and Education Organisation for Women in Maimana, the capital of Faryab province near the border with Turkmenistan. “History should teach us: when the Soviets occupied Afghanistan, many countries began to plot against them from our soil. What is going to happen if the Americans stay longer?

“By accepting American soldiers, we obtain the help of a strong country, but we provoke many regional hostilities,” she told IPS. For Mawlawi Ruhal Ahmad Rohani, head of the Department for Hajj and former leader of the Shura-e-Ulema (the Council of the Religious), this is precisely where the risks lie. Rohani, who is based in the western Afghanistan city Farah, told IPS: “Following a 2014 withdrawal, there are two major risks: a new internal war and further interferences by our most ‘bulky’ neighbours, Iran and Pakistan. I believe the second risk is the most challenging.”

On the eastern side, in Nangarhar province of which Jalalabad is the capital, another view is on offer. Aziz Rahman Saddiqi, president of the Nangarhar Association for Solving Community Problems, told IPS: “The presence of foreign troops is the pretext the Taliban uses to justify the war. When they say they don’t want any foreign soldiers here, people in rural areas agree. Once the Americans leave, there will be no reason to fight, and the Taliban will automatically lose their support.”

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India and China Oil Palms dangerously K

By Sudeshna Sarkar

OLKATA, India, Aug 11 2013 (IPS) - When there is feasting in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, there could just be a connection between the celebrations and the fires on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island that trigger frequent transboundary smog.

And when China’s population of more than a billion consumes yet more noodles, Malaysia should perhaps brace for greater air pollution.

Though not as simplistic and direct, there is nevertheless a tangible link among all these happenings and countries. It’s called palm oil, Asia’s new “liquid gold”.

Southeast Asia – read Indonesia and Malaysia – are the biggest producers of the oil obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree, accounting for nearly 85 percent of global output.

India and China are its biggest consumers, with Pakistan and Bangladesh emerging as growing markets. As the major buyers, they not only influence price and production, but can also impact the way the oil is produced, currently controversial because of its adverse effect on the environment.

Dr Reza Azmi, founder and executive director of Wild Asia, a social enterprise in Kuala Lumpur working for sustainable tourism and agriculture, explains why oil palm has become such a hot product in Asia.

“It provides a higher source of income compared to other cash crops like paddy or rubber,” he tells IPS. Farmers can harvest bunches of oil palm fruit twice a month, while paddy can be harvested twice a year.

Oil palm also produces the highest

yield per area compared to other crops. Moreover, it is cheap and used in an amazing variety of products: food from Nestle’s Kitkat to halwa, the dessert obligatory during most festivities in South Asia; a wide array of cosmetics, from lipsticks to shampoos; and biodiesel.

However, the wonder oil carries an ecological price tag.

As farmers fell trees and set fire to vegetation to clear more area for cultivation, it destroys forests and endangers wildlife, triggering smoke and recurrent hazes.

This June, Southeast Asia suffered the worst air pollution in 16 years. Smog from Indonesia choked Malaysia and Singapore. Visibility decreased, schools were closed and public programmes cancelled. Hospitals saw a rush of patients with respiratory diseases. A diplomatic row erupted between Singapore and Indonesia over culpability.

A transboundary meet in Kuala Lumpur in July saw the environment ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore agree on a joint haze monitoring system. Indonesia also agreed to ratify a regional treaty to fight smog. But the fires continue to burn.

This is where China and India can play a major role by insisting on buying only palm oil produced without endangering forests.

The movement for sustainable production gathered momentum in 2004 with the formation of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an industrial initiative to persuade planters to keep off primary forests and conservation areas and minimise their environmental footprint.

“RSPO-certified sustainable palm

oil currently represents over 15 percent of global crude palm oil production spread over 50 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea,” Darrel Webber, RSPO secretary-general tells IPS. “A number of countries are making national commitments to sourcing only sustainable palm oil by 2015, including the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, France and Germany,” he added.

However, the two biggest consumers, China and India, are yet to follow the trend.

“While businesses in the West are making big strides to support the sustainable production of palm oil, large volume users in India and China are yet to get on board,” says Bob Norman, general manager at GreenPalm, an RSPO associate. “If the movement is to be a global success and achieve its aims, food service companies, retailers and other volume users in Asia need to engage with this issue.”

After India, China is the secondlargest importer of palm oil. The demand is expected to grow 10 percent annually, which would make China the largest market by 2015.

However, only 15 Chinese companies are RSPO members so far.

Still, Webber thinks the sustainability campaign will find more takers after RSPO’s alliance with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce under the ministry of commerce.

The Chinese government’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) emphasises low carbon consumption.

India accounted for 19 percent of the global palm oil consumption in 2011-2012, more than China (16 percent) and the European Union (14

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percent).

Dr B. V. Mehta, executive director at the Solvents Extractors’ Association in Mumbai estimates the Indian demand will increase by three to four percent per year as the cheap oil is used more and more in India’s food and hotel industries.

“Considering their use and import, it is imperative for Indian companies to move towards sustainable palm oil and practices,” says Webber. “By committing to source only certified sustainable palm oil, Indian companies can take a step towards ensuring future supply of clean palm oil while also taking responsibility for the global impact of their imports on the environment and the climate.”

Indian companies began joining the RSPO in 2006. Currently, there are 26 members.

Webber calls it a “strong indicator that business commitment and demand for sustainability is increasing in the country,” but Mehta says the huge population that still remains below the poverty line will pose a tough challenge.

“India supports sustainability but the poor Indian consumer is looking for cheap oil,” Mehta says. “People in the EU can afford to pay a higher price for certified palm oil but not in India, where thousands are struggling to feed themselves.”

Norman remains optimistic. “Economic prosperity in India and China has seen a rise in ethically conscious consumers,” he says. “Over time, this broader understanding and concern about the issues surrounding the production of palm oil will invariably lead to an increase in demand for food manufacturers and retailers to support sustainable production.”

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Taliban Fights missing trousers

By Ashfaq Yusufzai

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ESHAWAR, Aug 9 2013 (IPS) - A new Taliban fashion directive to men has created surprise and drawn opposition. Orders to men to wear the loose traditional dress rather than trousers have been challenged on the grounds that men in the northwest of Pakistan do not wear trousers in the first place.

The Taliban have long demanded strict Islamic dress for women. Now they are targeting men – dubiously.

“The men in tribal regions are appropriately dressed,” Ahmed Jamal, a resident of South Waziristan Agency in northwest Pakistan, tells IPS. “Unlike other parts of the country where people wear pants and shirts, those here wear shalwar-kameez.” The traditional shalwar-kameez is a tunic over a loose covering down to the ankles.

The outlawed Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued its ‘order’ Jul. 13, for men to wear loose, rather than tight, outfits. A day earlier, the Taliban had asked women to do the same – even though women invariably dress in an all-encompassing burqa and veil from head to toe.

The TTP warned shopkeepers against selling any garments the Taliban do not approve. It threatened to close down such outlets. As a first step the Taliban warned shopkeepers of a 50-dollar fine and closure of business for a month.

But worse has already come. Mustafa Shah, a shopkeeper in Waziristan, says there have been instances already of the Taliban burning cloth seized from businessmen.

TTP men came on Jul. 22 and took away raw cloth from some shops and burnt it. We looked on but could not say a word because of fear of TTP reprisals,” he says. “Such instructions are bound to affect businesses because people now avoid markets.”

Shah says the orders have hit both residents and traders. “We have not heard of such directives in any Muslim country, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the strictest Islamic laws are in place.”

People have already suffered a great deal at the hands of the Taliban, he says. “More than half of the FATA’s [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] five million population have been displaced due to the presence of Taliban and the military operations, which have brought our business to a standstill.”

Jamal, a mechanic in Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan, says the directive is only aimed at keeping the TTP in the news. “The majority of the Pashtun population living in the seven districts of FATA wears appropriate and decent dress.”

The pamphlet issued by the TTP says that wearing thin and revealing clothes is un-Islamic because such clothes do not cover the body proper-

ly, and are also against Pashtun culture.

Muhammad Sarwar, a lecturer at the Islamia College University in Peshawar, sees the order as a tool to frighten people and for the Taliban to impose their own brand of Islam.

“It is a glaring indication of how the Taliban are pursuing their agenda.

They want to make their presence felt by issuing such irrelevant instructions.”

It is the right of people to wear what they want, he says. “The TTP had no right to ask the people to do this, and they are in any case not a part of the government. These directives are illegal, immoral and have no worth. They have enraged residents.”

FATA is located on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where the Taliban took refuge when they were evicted from Kabul by the U.S.-led forces towards the end of 2001.

“FATA people offered them sanctuary and treated them as guests, but they started attacking Pakistani forces, buildings and schools,” Afaq Ali Khan, a resident of Waziristan, tells IPS. The TTP have lashed and stoned women for alleged adultery, and killed poor people on charge of spying, he says. “TTP punishes people without giving them a chance to defend themselves against the charges.”

Such acts have already made the Taliban unpopular. The latest instructions to men to not wear tight clothing will further alienate people, he says.

Such derogatory and unethical in-

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""

The TTP have lashed and stoned women for alleged adultery, and killed poor people on charge of spying, he says. “TTP punishes people without giving them a chance to defend themselves against the charges.

structions are misplaced, says Khan.

“Had these orders been issued in Karachi, Islamabad or Peshawar, they might have made sense.”

Maulana Naeem Gul, a Peshawarbased prayer leader, tells IPS that he was deeply saddened by the new instructions because these were designed to bring Islam to notoriety.

“Taliban are bereft of Islamic teachings. Their efforts to enforce Islam through violent means will not find any taker. To subdue the people through coercion is against Islam.

south asia 28 South Asia Timestimes

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southSouth asia times 29 Asia Times

Religion, Atheism and Secularism A

By Ram Puniyani

nd when China’s population of more than a billion consumes yet more noodles, Malaysia should perhaps brace for greater air pollution.

Though not as simplistic and direct, there is nevertheless a tangible link among all these happenings and countries. It’s called palm oil, Asia’s new “liquid gold”.

Last three decades have seen an unprecedented presence of religion in social and political space. Somewhere the acts of terror, somewhere communal violence and somewhere the political influence of religious right on society and political processes, all these phenomenon have overshadowed the deeper inequities in the society, the aspirations of people for dignity and rights amongst others. Now comes a book which predicts that religions will become a minority vis a vis the practice of secularism in the decade of 2040s. The book is “Why Atheism will replace religion: The triumph of earthly pleasures over pie in the sky” written by Nigel Barber. This book relates the rise/fall of the religion with economic power and makes an observation that atheists are much more in developed countries.

The book is based on the study of 137 nations conducted by the author and concludes that in the countries; more developed the welfare system; higher is the number of atheists.

The book’s crunch line is, in countries where distribution of income is even, lesser is the number of religious people. The author is a prominent psychologist. He makes a prediction that people will feel lesser need of supernatural beliefs when the tangible world is providing them for their real needs. Also in a survey conducted in America 20% people identified themselves as Atheists.

There is some terminological confusion here to begin with, while the study is a very reasoned one, and links the lack of security with the belief in god and practice of religiosity.

Surely many a religions themselves have atheism as a component of their structure. Some streams of Hinduism like Charvak deny the existence of God. Jainism and Buddhism also do not talk of a supernatural power, but it’s another matter that followers of these religions converted the prophets of these religions themselves as Gods and are worshipping them. In the broad umbrella of Hinduism there are many traditions, Brahminism, Nath, Taantra, Bhakti, Siddh etc. In Hinduism itself the concept of God is also very diverse, from the polytheism with multiple Gods and Goddesses, tri-theism (Brahma Vishnu Mahesh) to the single God; Ishwar and then to the concept of formless power all these concepts are coexisting together merrily today.

In India thee atheist tradition starting from Charvak, in present times it found a strong articulation amongst communists the epitome of which has been Bhagat Singh with his famous

tract, ‘Why I am an Athiest’. Also radical social reformers like Periyar Ramsamy Naicker gave the atheist movement a powerful lift. The rationalists association is nurturing the same to a great extent.

Other religions, where there is a single God, the concept of God keeps varying between the God with form and body to the formless power.

Many decades ago a plethora of books debated about the existence of God. But last three decades in particular have seen a very different phenomenon i.e. gross abuse of religions’ identity by the political forces of status quo. Earlier to this, one saw in the beginning of 20th century, in the decade of 1920s, Christian Fundamentalism was a response of the conservative sections of society to the process of social change brought about by the process of industrialization and education due to which Africa-Americans and women started coming to social space. Islamic fundamentalism makes a political appearance with the regime of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran.

Here it was the politics related to oil and the high handed politics of Western powers which foiled the popular revolution and brought in a cleric as the head of the state. It was during this period that conservative versions of Islam were promoted by some of the rulers who were scared of popular urges for democracy. Salafi version of Islam is one such which was used in Saudi Arabia to keep a tight leash over the popular aspirations so

that the Saudi oil can keep flowing in to the tankers of oil companies controlled by US-UK giants.

It is the same Salafi version of Islam which was brought in to the service of US hegemonic interest to control the oil in the region. This version was taught in the Madrassas in Pakistan. These Madrassas were set up with US instigation, money and syllabus, through which the Mujahedeen, Taliban Al Qaeda emerged and played into the hands of US designs of throwing away Soviet army from Afghanistan. In India, the insecurity of the section of middle classes in the face of rising presence of dalits and women in social space in the decade of 1980s led to the political abuse of religion’s identity by BJP when it took up the issue of Ram temple.

While the author of the book is talking about the release of the hold of religiosity and God with rising affluence, today sitting in South Asia the scenario seems to be the other way around. In Pakistan the hold of Mullahs on the social affairs is a big obstacle to the firm rooting of democracy there. In Sri Lanka again thousands of Tamils were butchered while attacking LTTE, lately one is seeing an attack on Christians and Muslims there. Not to be left behind, in Myanmar, the retrograde political forces are attacking poor Rohingya Muslims in the name of Buddhism.

One must add that there is no contradiction between secularism and religion. The author of this book is

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not clear on this. With secularization process, the role of clergy was relegated to the private sphere of society but religion as such was there. God was there. It’s now that with prosperity going above the critical levels that more people are feeling less need to call upon God to help them live a secure life. In South Asian countries a complex process had been witnessed all through. While people with great amount of religiosity and belief in God like Mahatma Gandhi and Mualan Abul Kalam Azad stood for secular state, the non practicing Muslim like Jinnah led the movement for a state in the name of Islam and an atheist Savarkar, was the ideologue of Hindu nation. Many a leaders of Hindu national politics may not be so religious but in the political arena, they create mass hysteria in the name of religion and God. One wishes to agree with the authors’ prediction. Hope it is not restricted just to Western countries.

What is more important is to realize is that mass spectacles of religiosity are an expression of deeper social insecurities, which are being cashed in by the politicians of ‘status quo’, who are deliberately using this religious identity to ensure that social distribution of resources to weaker sections is stalled. Today in India one can see a clear cut battle between those who stand for social welfare, and struggle to bring in measures go in that direction on one side. On the other are those political forces that resort to polarize the communities along religious lines, around identity issues.

The latter have a social base amongst the socially insecure middle classes and the backing of section of big corporate houses. Seeing the pains of this battle between two paths, one turns pessimistic at times whether if at all, South Asia can get over the imposition of God-Religion in political arena and focus on improving prosperity with equitable distribution in society. In many a propaganda-claims being made for ‘development’ the factor of equitable growth is missing and that’s where the real definition of development lies. The bluff of development by communal forces has to be countered and the emphasis on the growth with concern for equity, affirmative action for the victim religious minorities and dalits-adivasis is the core around which the battle against the blind religiosity and assertions of politics in the name of religion has to be taken forward.

Western countries though far from the ideal in prosperity and growth, at least do not have the baggage of politics of religion’s identity in such a strong way as is prevalent in ‘postcolonial’ states; that is dogging South, West Asia in particular. This book gives the hope as far as prosperity and equity is concerned one hopes that this applies to the troubled countries where abuse of religion’s identity is playing havoc with the concept of human rights and survival of large sections of society.

—Plural India, Aug 10, 2013

south asia 30 South Asia Timestimes

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ixv se s‹v;d kwsI hw terI yh an;siKt yh ¬pe=; hw y; akmR<yt; y; hw ter; p[itxo/ pr KyUÀ\ Kyo‹kr Ees; hua;À Kyo‹ ibzu@¹ gye log ijnk; koé apr;/ n q; qI kevl ghn Åõ; tere p[it a;r;/n; tere p[it² smpR, tere p[it² ifr kyU\ hua; tU inã#ur² ¬d;sIn² ivrKt inmRm s; ¬nse jo qe inrIh p[m e I-jn tere .Ktg, tere bhte rhe lu$te rhe² pr jy`oW .I krte rhe icp$e rhe vo tuZse-tere n;m se a*r tU bebs s; bs de%t; hI rh; nhI‹ smZ p; rh; hw tU y; ter; aiStTv terI k¨,; v m;Nyt; pr p[Xn² tere s;mQyR pr p[Xn den; hog; tuZe ¬æ;r ”n p[Xno‹ k;²”s ¬pe=; k; terI ¬d;sInt; a*r kmRhInt; k;² tere m*n k; Kyo‹ nhI‹ iky; tUne Ny;y agr yh q; ter; p[itxo/ to iknseÀ

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-aå, Es³ .$n;gr² .;rt jo ij¹Mmed;r nhI‹ VyvSq; me‹ ijnkI .Uimk; nhI‹ a*r jo hw‹ ij¹Mmed;r ve sæ;;/;rI to `Um rhe hw‹ `i@¹y;lI a;\sU bh;kr .ivãy ke d;ve ilye² kore v;de ilye a.I sun;é p@¹; muZe ter; =I, s; ¬æ;r ijsne ZkZor idy;² m*n kr idy; muZe mw‹ .I to mr; hU\ tum sb ke s;q b;r-b;r mwne .I ZelI hw yh y;tn; k.I yh;\ k.I vh;\ tum sb ke s;q nhI‹ hw mer; koé doW² hw yh p[kiO t k; p[itxo/ Ek ivd[oh ¬sk; jo hw mUl jnnI hm sbkI ijske a;ge mw‹ .I bebs hU²\ jo hw xoW, kI ixk;r ijskI sæ;; ke s;q tum sb ho ij¹Mmed;r p[Ty= y; pro= åp se² hr trf¹ k.I yh;\² k.I vh;\² k.I tIqoR‹ k.I xhro‹ a*r k.I apne g;\vo‹ gilyo‹ me‹ xoiWt iky; ¬sI ko poiWt iky; hw ijsne tum sbko r*‹d; - dohn iky; ¬sI k; apne Sv;qR v lo. hetu r;jnIitk l;. v l;ls; hetu ¬sI k; hw ivd[oh

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yh p[itxo/ - Ek cet;vnI ¬skI ik bs² ab bhut ho cuk; Ek b;t a*r jo tumse khnI hw vh hw mere a*r tere bIc nhI‹ smZ p;y; hw ab tk tU mere mUl Svåp ko jo hw int;Nt a=u<,-akluiWt tuZse ju@;¹ hua; ai.Nn åp se tere hI aNtmRn me‹ Ek Jyoit-puj ‹ s; ingu, R -inivRk;r inr;k;r åp me‹ s[ot vhI-¬døgm vhI siCcd;n‹d b[÷ k; vhI‹ imlegI tuZe x;‹it a*r a;n‹d %oj rh; hw tU ijse hr =,-hr pl k.I yh;\ k.I vh;\ se jNm-jNm se ³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³

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Ek qI m;y; ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ÚÚÚ á.;g-1â

mw' sr Zuk; kr ¬s vK¹t ibkÝI k; ihs;b il% rh; q; ik ¬skI /ImI a;v;j sun;é dI² ®a.y² %;n; %; lo®² mwn' e sr ¬#; kr ¬skI trf¹ de%;² mwn' e ¬sse kh;² ®m;y;² mw' a;j i@Bb; nhI'' l;y; hU)\ ® drasl sc to yhI q; ik mere `r me' ¬s idn %;n; hI nhI'' bn; q;) g¹rIbI k; vh Ees; d*r q; ik bs kuz pUzo mt) jo mere p!¹ne k; vK¹t q;² ¬sme mw' ¬s mei@kl x;Žp me' seLsmwn k; k;m krt; q;) vh s;mne %@¹I qI) mwn' e ¬se ghrI nj¹r se de%;) vh Ek s;/;r, sI s;@¹I phne hué qI ijs pr nIle r'g' ke fUl bne huE qe) pt; nhI'' ¬s s;@¹I ko iktnI b;r /oy; j; cuk; q;² nIle fUlo'' k; r'g' .I ¬tr s; gy; q;) ¬sne muSkr; kr kh;² ®mere i@Bbe me' qo@¹; s; %;n; tuMh;re ilE .I hw) clo %;n; %; lo² l'c ' k; smy hw®) mwn' e h\s kr kh;-®aCz; yh bt;ao ik² tuMh;re i@Bbe me' mere ilE kb se %;n; a;ne lg;À® ¬sne kuz nhI'' kh;² bs muSkr; kr aNdr ke kmre me' clI gyI) mwn' e .I ihs;bikt;b b'd' iky; a*r ¬s kmre me' cl idy; jh;\ ¬s mei@kl x;Žp ke dUsre bNde .I bw#kr dophr k; %;n; %; rhe qe) ¬sne i@Bb; %ol;) kul iml;kr ¬sme c;r ro$I² a;lU-Py;j kI sBj¹I a*r Ek ac;r k; $uk@¹; q;) ¬sne i@Bbe ke !Kkn me' muZe tIn ro$I a*r kuz sBjI¹ dI² %ud¹ Ek ro$I² sBj¹I a*r ac;r ke s;q

%;ne lgI) mwn' e kh;² ®yh Ky; m;y;² Ek ro$I se Ky; hog;À® ¬sne kh;² ®mw' bhut km %;tI hU\ a.y)® mwn' e ?y;n se ¬se de%;) ¬ske cehre me' koé a;kWR, nhI'' q;² pr vh aCzI id%tI qI y; ho skt; hw ik ¬s d*r me' y; ¬s vK¹t me²' yh isf¹R ¬s ¬m[ k; a;kWR, q; pr kuz .I ho ¬sme kuz aCz; lgt; q; muZ)e i@Bbe k; %;n; %¹Tm ho gy; q; a*r duk;n m;ilk kI a;v;j a; rhI qI² ®clo sb k;m pr lgo² g[;hk a; rhe hw)' ® mer; n;m a.y hw a*r ¬s vK¹t² merI ¬m[ krIb 22 s;l qI) mw' k;msR ivWy me' i@g[I kI p!¹;é kr rh; q;² s;q me' yh n*krI .I) `r ke h;l;t kuz aCze nhI'' qe) ”silE n*krI krn; j¨rI q;) ”silE subh k;Žlj e j;t; q; a*r dophr me' k;Žlj e se sI/; ”s duk;n me' a; j;t; q;² ijsme' mw' seLsmwn kI n*krI krt; q;) k¹rIb r;t ke 8 bje tk yh;\\ n*krI krt; q; a*r ifr nE spno'' kI ¬MmIdo' me' apne `r cl; j;t; q;) m;y; ko hm;rI duk;n me' a;ye krIb Ek mhIn; ho gy; q;) vh yh;\ pr Ek;¬N$e$' k; k;m krtI qI) ¬skI ¬m[ muZse J¹y;d; hI qI) roj¹ vh s;”ikl se a;tI a*r cupc;p apn; k;m krtI a*r clI j;tI² k.I .I iksI se koé J¹y;d; b;t nhI'' krtI qI² duk;n m;ilk ne jo .I kht; vh sun ily; krtI qI) vh Ek dublI ptlI sI l@¹kI qI a*r ¬ske r%r%;v se j¹;ihr q; ik vh .I g¹rIb qI) ¾vh .I¾ k; mtlb yh q; ik mw' .I gr¹Ib hI q;) mw' SlIpr phnt; q;) mere p;s isfR do pw$‹ a*r c;r kmIj¹‹e qI‹ bs ¬sI se guj;r; clt; q;) mn me' kl ke ilE spne qe leikn r;h nj¹r nhI'' a;tI qI) yU\ hI ij¹N¹ dgI gujr¹ rhI qI) ¬n idno'' muZ jwse g¹rIb a;dmI ke spne a*r :v;ihxe‹ .I zo$I hI hua; krtI qI‹)

/Ire-/Ire m;y; se merI doStI ho gyI a*r smy ke s;q-s;q yh doStI a*r .I ghrI hotI clI gyI) ¬sko muZme‹ kuz aCz; lgt; q; a*r muZe ¬sme‹ kuz) muZe lg; ik yh Py;r hI q;) ¬s vK¹t Py;r xBd .I aCz; lgt; q; a*r ¬sk; ahs;s .I) %wr¹ ² ij¹NdgI k$ rhI qI) dophr se x;m tk k;m a*r isfR k;m² duiny;d;rI kI dUsrI b;to ke ilE smy nhI'' imlt; q;) k.I-k.I k;m ke ”NhI'' muiXkl a*r n %¹Tm hone v;le plo'' me' hm Ek dUsre kI aor de% kr muSkr; ily; krte qe) h;\\ vh J¹y;d; muSkr;tI nhI'' qI pr muZe aCzI lgtI qI) hm aK¹sr b;te‹ kr lete qe) ¬sne muZe bt;y; ik vh apne ipt; a*r do zo$e .;é bhno‹ ke s;q rhtI qI) ¬sne k;ŽmsR me' g[j e Eu xn iky; q; a*r p!¹;é ke turNt b;d hI n*krI krne lgI qI) ¬skee ipt; ke p;s koé n*krI y; roj¹g;r nhI‹ q;) ”silE ab s;re pirv;r kI ij¹Mmed;rI ¬s pr hI qI) bs n*krI a*r `r² ”n dono'' ke isv; ¬skI ij¹NdgI k; koé a*r mk¹sd nhI'' q;) pr ¬skI ij¹NdgI me' x;yd ab mw' .I q;) gujr¹ te idno'' ke s;q mw' ¬ske a*r k¹rIb a;ne lg; q;) ab muZe vh a*r Jy;d; aCzI lgne lgI qI) ¬skI mehnt² ¬sk; .ol;pn² ¬skI ij¹NdgI ko jIne kI juStujU a*r apne pirv;r ke ilE ¬skI apnI %uixyo'' k; gl; `o'$' den; muZe bhut kuz apn; s; lgne lg; q;) Ky; yh Py;r q;À a;j soct; hU\ to ¬n ahs;so'' ke ké n;m qe² pr muZe lgt; hw ik ¬s vK¹t vh isfR Py;r hI q;) duk;n ke m;ilk ne dIv;lI kI %¹x u I me' sbko ¬ph;r idye) mwn' e /Ire se apn; ¬ph;r .I m;y; ke bwg me' @;l idy;) yh de% kr² m;y; ne muZ se kh; - ®de%o² Ees; n kro) ab mere p;s isf¹R merI %¹ýu ;rI bcI

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southSouth asia times 31 Asia Times puStk-pircy

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hwÉ ¬se mt zIno)® mwn' e ¬s se kh; - ®EesI koé b;t to nhI' hw) ”s ¬ph;r k; mw' Ky; kå\g;À h;\² agr yh tuMh;re k;m a;y; to muZe aCz; lgeg;) mn; mt kro² ”se r% lo)® ¬sne bhut mn; iky; pr mw' nhI' m;n; a*r ¬sne mer; idy; hua; ¬ph;r r% ily;) ¬ph;r lete smy ¬skI a;\%'e .r a;yI') ¬s idn muZe bhut aCz; lg;) s;re idn a;k;x me' b;dl z;ye rhe) mer; mn b;vr; p=I bn ¬@¹t; rh;) smy bItt; gy; merI tn:¹v;h b!¹I) jb nyI tn:¹v;h imlI to mwn' e m;y; se kh; ik mw' ¬se p;$IR den; c;ht; hU)\ vh h\s dI) ¬sne kh; ik ¬sne mere ilye Ek kmIj¹ %¹rIdI hw Kyo'ik mer; jNmidn nj¹dIk a; rh; hw a*r aCz; hog; ik hm dono' ko Ek s;q hI ¾selIb[$e ¾ kre)' mwn' e kh;- ®h;\² yh #Ik rheg;® a*r h\s kr hm dono' s;”iklo' pr apne-apne `ro' kI aor cl idye) m;y; mere mohLle se k¹rIb a;# iklomI$r kI dUrI pr rhtI qI) hm;re `ro' ko alg krne v;l; Ek mo@¹ q;) ¬s mo@¹ pr a; kr hm ¨kte qe a*r dUsre idn imlne k; v;d; krke apne-apne `ro' kI aor cl p@¹te qe) ¬s idn .I kuz Ees; hI hua;) hm ¨ke) ifr m;y; se mwn' e kh; - ®aCz; to ab clte hw)' kl ifr imleg' )e kl tum i@Bb; mt l;n;) hm log dophr k; %;n; khI' b;hr %; leg' )e ® m;y; ne muSkr; kr kh; - ®h;\² #Ik hw)® pt; nhI' Kyo' pr muZe ¬skI .olI sI muSkr;h$ bhut aCzI lgtI qI) dUsre idn m;y; nhI' a;yI) mw' bhut prex;n hua;) muZe kuz .I aCz; nhI' lg rh; q;) ¬n idno' f¹on kI .I ”tnI J¹y;d; suiv/; nhI' qI) ¾Ky; hua;² vh Kyo' nhI' a;yIÀ¾ jwse tm;m sv;l mere mn me' ¬m@¹ne lge) áÞmx"â

sug'/ sumn

lei%k;- sumn vm;R áé-mel-suman08@hotmail.com) p[k;xk- Emej¹;n³k;m áyU³Es³EÖâ p[qm s'Skr,-2013 mULy - 4³99 ameirkn @;lr)

”s puStk me‹² 29 kivt;E\ a*r lei%k; ke jIvn ke anu.vo'' pr a;/;irt 5 s‹Smr, hw‹) ”s puStk me' s.I mu:yt" kivt;E\ jIvn ke ivi.Nn phluao'' se ju@¹I hué hw a*r jo s;m;Ny VyiKt ko bcpn se a/e@¹ a;yu tk k; anu.v krtI hw) Ees; p[tIt hot; hw ik lei%k; ne ijNdgI ke =,o'' ko apne xBdo'' kI l@¹I me' ipro kr ”s puStk ke pOã#o'' pr a'ikt kr idy; hw) ké rcn;ye' jwse ik c''d;m;m;² cUh; a*r ibLlI tq; tote ko p!¹te huE hm bcpn kI y;do'' me' ihckole %;ne lgte hw' a*r vhI kivt;E\\ p;#k apne bCco'' ko sun;kr apnI pur;nI y;de' t;j¹; kr skt; hw) le%n aTy''t shj a*r údy g[;hI hw) lei%k; ne jIvn k; v,Rn fUl kI tuln; me' iky; hw) jwse fUl ke s;q k;\$e hote hw' vwse hI jIvn ke =,o'' me' imln-ivrh² du%-su% jwsI .;vn;E\ jIvn ko pU,R krtI hw') ”s puStk ko p!¹te smy p;#k Svy'' ko ijNdgI kI nwy; me' @olte huE ”sk; a;nNd ¬#;t; hw) puStk k; a;vr, tq; puStk me' s.I ic] v pe'i$'g² lei%k; Ã;r; bn;ye gE hw') ¾sug'/ sumn¾ s;ihTy p[emI vgR a*r p[Tyek a;yu veÐ VyiKt ke jIvn kI %¯I-mI#I .;vn;ao'' ko dx;RtI hw) áa''jil guPt;² meLbnRâ

ab h\sne kI b;rI hw im] ne kh; - ®tum merI pTnI ko j;nte nhI' ho² jb do vOõ im] a;ps me' Ek dUsre se b;t kr rhe qe) Ek kU@¹;d;n b;hr r%n; hot; hw im] ne dUsre se kh; - ®ab to vh ”tnI j¹or se icLl;tI hw ik bhre a;dmI ko .I muZe #Ik se sun;é nhI' sun;yI de j;ye)® dUsre im] ne det; hw² lgt; hw jwse muZe sl;h dI ifr to tum @;ŽK$r è\c; sunne kI bIm;rI ho gyI hw)® dUsre im] ne jv;b se k;n kI j;\c krv; lo idy; - ®yh to b@¹I aCzI a*r ¾ihyir'g E@¾ lgv; lo) b;t hw) ab tum apnI pTnI kuz idno' b;d dono' im] ifr imle) dUsre im] ne phle im] kI ixk;yte' sunne se bc se pUz; - ®to tumne ¾‘ihyir'g j;aoge) vh kuz .I khe² tuMhe' sun;é nhI' deg;)® phle E@¾ lgv; lI ik nhI'À®

è\c; sunne kI bIm;rI

ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilE s*r. imÅ; á f¹on - 0402 326 232â aqv; ivvek p;'@e áf¹on- 040 2438 654â se sMpkR kIijye aqv; inMn vebs;”$ dei%ye - http://www.sharda.org/Events.htm; 2³ Z‹k;r - Sq;nIy kl;k;ro‹ Ã;r; p[Styut b;ŽlIvu@ s‹gIt-n;i$k; áxinv;r² 10 agStâ Sq;n - j;jR vu@ prf¹;im|g a;$Rs( seN$r² ir‹gvu@ smy - r;t ke 8³00 bje se a;rM.) ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilE sIm; se á041â 4351 162 pr sMpkR kIijye) 4³ m;y;j;l ihNdI s‹gIt-n;i$k; áxinv;r² 31 agStâ Sq;n - cw‹@lr kMyuin$I seN$r² 28 a;”j¹k áIssac) j;jR ro@²

im] ne kh; - ®h;\² lgv; to lI hw pr'tu `r ke iksI sdSy ko bt;y; nhI' hw) im] ne pUz; - ®Ees; Kyo'À® ¬Êr iml; - ® sb smZte hw' ik muZe kuz sun;yI nhI' det; hw pr mw' sbkI b;t sunt; rht; hU\) ¬nkI b;te' sun kr ab tk mw‹ ké b;r apnI vsIyt bdl cuk; hU\)® áp[eWk-@;Ž³ surex guPt;² meLbnRâ

kIj¹bro (Keysborough) smy - dophr 4 bje se r;t ke 9 bje tk) ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilE m‹d;r se á043â 0666 898 pr sMpkR kIijye) 5³ a;ŽS$^eily; me' ihNdI-ix=; k; rjt-jy'tI sm;roh áxinv;r² 7 istMbrâ Sq;n - Glen vevlIR kMyuin$I seN$r² 700 vevlIR ro@ áiSp['gvel a*r vevlIR ro@ ke nuKk@¹ prâ² Glen vevlIR² ivK$oiry; -3150 ámelve s'd.R - 21 sI - 5â smy - x;m ke 5³30 bje se r;t ke 8³30 bje tk ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilye hssangh@gmail.com pr é-mel Ã;r; aqv; ihNdI ix=; s'` ke a?y=² @;Ž³ nreN{ ag[v;l se á03â 9858 2901 f¹on Ã;r; sMpkR kre')

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72 George Road, Doncaster Ph 03 9842 6491, Footscray West Mosque 294 Essex Street, Footscray Glenroy Musala 1st Floor, 92 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy Heidelberg Mosque Corner Lloyd & Elloits Streets, West Heidelberg Islamic College of Victoria (Mosque) 201 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing Ph 03 9369 6010 Huntingdale Mosque 320-324 Huntingdale Road, Huntingdale Ph 03 9543 8037 Al Nur Mosque 34-36 Studley Street, Maidstone Meadow Heights Mosque Hudson Circuit, Meadow Heights Springvale Mosque 68 Garnworthy Street, Springvale

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HIGH COMMISSION FOR PAKISTAN,CANBERRA 4 Timbarra Crescent, O’Malley ACT 2606 (Australia), Tel: 61-2-62901676, 61-2-62901676, 62902769, 62901879 & 62901031, Fax: 61-262901073 Email: parepcanberra@internode. on.net, Postal Address: PO Box 684, Mawson ACT 2607 (Australia)

Sri Lanka Consulate 32A Brunswick Street ,Walkerville 5081 Melbourne , Phone: 9898-6760, 9248-1228 Email: rodney@techno.net.au

Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra 43, Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT-2606 Canberra, Australia, Ph: (61-2) 6290-0511, (612) 6290-0522, (61-2)6290-0533 (Auto hunting).

Fax : (61-2) 6290-0544 E-Mail :hoc@bhcanberra.com Consulate of Nepal, Melbourne Email: cyonzon@nepalconsulate.net.au Level 7, 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Ph: (03) 9650 8338 Email: info@nepalconsulate.net.au SBS1 – Daily NDTV News - 11 am - Monday to Saturday. (From New Delhi, India).

TV News/programs Hindi News Urdu news SBS1 - PTV News – 9.30 am - Every Sunday – (From Pakistan).

Readymades Roshan’s Fashions 68-71 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9792 5688 Raj Rani Creations 83-A Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9794 9398 Heritage India 54-56 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175, Ph: (03) 9791 9227 Site: heritageindia.net.au

DVDs, Music CDs & Film Stuff Baba Home Entertainment 52C Foster St., Dandenong 3175, (03) 97067252 Essence of India 76 Foster St., Dandenong 3175 (03) 87744853; 0413707685 Accountants & Loans Deepak & Associates Suite 4 & 6, Bldg.6, Hamilton Place, Mont Waverley 3149, (03) 9807 5992; 0402459174; 0411733737

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contd from previous page All Banking Needs Rakesh Raizada Commonwealth Bank (Indian Banking) Ground Floor, 378 Burwood Highway Burwood East 3151 Mobile: 0434470095 Email: rakesh.raizada@cba.com.au Immigration iVisa Consulting Level 5, 45 William St. Melb.

Mobile: 0409504094 www.ivisaconsulting.com.au 1st Migration PL, Suite 110, Level 1, 672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122 Travel Agents Gaura Travels 1300 FLY INDIA or 1300 359 463 info@gauratravel.com.au Supa Cheap Travel 381 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 3122 Ph: (03) 98194656; Mobile: 0420201155 info@supacheaptravel.com.au www.supacheaptravel.com.au Mann Travel 329 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 info@manntravel.com.au www.manntravel.com.au Travel House 284 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 Ph: (03) 95435123, Mobile: 0425803071 mail@travelhouse.com.au Solicitors/Barristors Vernon Da Gama & Associates 28 Fromer St. Beltleigh 3204 Ph: (03) 95038046; Fax: (03) 95038047 Mobile: 0401407280/042193100 Email: vernondagama@msn.com

Indian Restaurants Hot Gossip 143 Boronia Road, Boronia 3155 Ph: (03) 97610733 Kadai Curry Kitchen 5 Canterbury Road, Blackburn 3130 Ph: (03) 98909782 Phoolwari 7 Murry Place, Ringwood 3134 Ph: (03) 98769111 Curry Bazaar Cafe 361 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 3122 Curry Bazaar Cafe-2 77 Swan Street, Richmond 3121 Ph: (03) 94259401 Tandoori Junction 29 Railway Parade North Glen Waverley 3150

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Cinnamon Club 1291-1293 Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham 3192

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Education

Rich Maha 499, Shop 5, Vermont South (Burwood Hwy) 3133

CECA Education Consultancy, Ph: (03) 96631318, Mobile: 0430338761

Indian Star 254-256 Maribyrnong Road, Mooni Ponds, Ph: (03) 93751113/93707298

EdX Institute Ph: 1300 933 922, Mobile: 0433354401 Email: edx@optusnet.com.au www.edxinstitute.com.au

Punjabi Masala 2-6 Market Street, Nunawading 3131 Ph: 98774052, Mobile: 0413449783

Satellite TV Telsat Communications Ph: (03) 97925661, Mobile: 0402147476 Satview Ph: (03) 97985100, www.satview.com.au

Rajdoot Indian Restaurant 144 Boronia Road, Boronia, Ph: 97624410

Music Groups/DJ/Cultural Om Music Group (Amitaabh Singh), Mobile: 0422028076 Email: amitabh_om@yahoo.com.au

Punjab Cafe 143 Carnish Road, Clayton 3168 Ph: 95444218, Mobile: 0432536683 Haldirm’s Indian Restaurant Shop 28, Stuart Ave., Hampton Park 3976, Ph/Fax: 97994790, Mobile: 0433259369 Email: haldiramfoods@yahoo.com.au Sinage & Printing Sign*A*Rama Box Hill 895B Canterbury Road, Box Hill 3128Ph: (03) 98988564, Mobile: 0412639703 Mobile Car Mechanic Tony Zahlan (Repairs all models), Mobile: 0402466599 ltzahlan@primusonline.com.au Bollywood Mandaps Office: Nunawading, Showroom: Dandenong North, Call: 1300 851 137 Email: info@bollywoodmandaps.com.au Site: http://www.bollywoodmandaps.com. au/

INDIAN CONSULATE (MELBOURNE) Address : 344, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia , P.O. Box No: 33247 Domain LPO Vic 3004 General phone: +61-3- 96827836 Fax No: + 61-3- 96968251 Web site: www.cgimelb.org PHONE NUMBERS Phone Number for General Consular Enquiries(operational only during Consular Working Hours i.e. 0930 hrs to 1230 hrs, Monday to Friday) For PCC and PCC and Driving License Verification enquiries 03- 96825800 02 8223 9908/ 1900 969 969 Email ID for General Consular Enquiries consular@cgimelb.org Visa enquiries: visainfo.inau@vfshelpline.com Passport/Police Clearance Certificate/ Driving License Enquiries passportinfo. inau@vfshelpline.com, OCI/PIO Enquiries

ociinfo.inau@vfshelpline.com CONSULAR SERVICES (Passport, Visa, OCI, PIO & Miscellaneous) Please note that all these consular services are handled by VFS Global (Indian Passport and Visa Service Centre) The Consulate General of India in Melbourne will continue to provide to residents of Victoria and Tasmania the following consular services, for which applications would have to be lodged directly with the Consulate: Miscellaneous OCI Services • Miscellaneous Consular Services (such as attestation of documents, transfer of visas from old to new passport, affidavits, birth certificates, life certificates, certificate required to transport ashes or mortal remains to India etc) IMPORTANT: The Consulate does not accept credit cards, EFTPOS, personal cheques or company cheques. Please send only money orders or bank cheques with applications sent through the post. Cash payments are accepted only at the counter.

WORKING HOURS General Working Hours 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, Consular Working Hours 09.30 am to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday, (except on public holidays observed by the consulate) International Students International Student Care Service (ISCS) www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/iscs Ph: 1800 056 449 Emergency Services Police, Fire, Ambulance............................000 Crime Stoppers......................1800 333 000 Property st Property PL, Suite 110, Level 1,672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122

PHOTOGRAPHY Video/Photography/Marriages Hot Chilli Media Kamal (Still,Video,Event,Catering) Ph: 1300851137;(03) 80806616 Mobile: 0435075447 kamal@hotChillimedia.com www.hotChillimedia.com

Join SAT @

Kumar’s Photography John Kumar (Still Photography) Mobile : 04122453321 Rupali’s Mandap 13 Coco Circuit, Point Cook, Vic 3030 Rupali: 0412410890; Deepesh: 0401664516 Email: rupalismandaps@bigpond.com www.rupalismandaps.com.au Marriage Celebrant N. R. Wickiramasingham, 37 James St., Dandenong 3175, Ph: 97947942; Fax: 97945527, Mobile: 0404059231

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Colombo harbour expansion eyes Indian business, with Chinese help

By Amantha Perera

C

OLOMBO, Aug 7 2013 (IPS) As he stood on the westernmost edge of Colombo’s new harbour expansion, it was hard for Priyath Bandu Wickrema – the man tasked with reinventing the port as a regional giant – to cap his enthusiasm.

“The potential is enormous,” Wickrema said, standing on top of the new pilot house. “You know we are standing on land that is not even on the map.”

The land is part of the new harbour expansion scheme that will add three new terminals to Colombo port, each with three berths. The first opened this week.

In all, 400 million dollars were invested for the land development and another 500 million dollars for the infrastructure on the berths. Of the investment on berths, 85 percent came from China Merchant Holdings, and the rest from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

Wickrema, the SLPA chairman, is upbeat on prospects. “Our aim is to get a billion dollars in revenue by 2020.” he target is large ships that carry above 10,000 containers. There are at present 183 such ships moving between East Asia and Europe, according to SLPA chief manager Upul Jayatissa. Only three ports in the Indian Ocean can handle these massive vessels – Salalah in Oman, Singapore and Dubai.

The SLPA envisions the new harbour as a trans-shipment hub, with India the biggest supplier of business.

“Our catchment area is the east coast of India,” Jayatissa said.

Wickrema does not discount the west coast either. He said large volumes of cargo from the Indian west coast are moved through Dubai or Oman, and promises that Colombo

will be far more attractive in terms of distance and efficiency.

“Our aim is to attract about 20 percent of the Indian container load,” Wickrema said. Currently Colombo handles around 16 percent.

The little irony in Sri Lanka’s plan is that most of the funding has come from regional giant China, which is vying with India for dominance of the Indian Ocean.

China has been the biggest lender to Sri Lanka since a debilitating civil conflict ended in this country in 2009. China has funded highways, a new airport, a new port and hotels, along with the harbour expansion.

It was to the China Construction and Communications Co. that Sri Lanka turned for 1.4 billion dollars of funding for a new land reclamation project just south of the new port. All this money that China is pouring into Sri Lankan coffers has led to criticism, especially by opposition parties, that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government has borrowed itself into a corner, and undermined Sri Lanka’s strategic relations with India.

Officials from the World Bank and the IMF point out privately that China is giving Sri Lanka loans as opposed to concessionary grants, and that Sri Lanka has found it hard to attract significant private investment from elsewhere.

Economists in Colombo say that with bilateral or donor grants not forthcoming, China offered better rates than international banks.

“The interest on commercial borrowing from China is generally lower than commercial borrowings from European capital markets which Sri Lanka has been tapping in recent times,” Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, who heads the economic think-tank the Point Pedro Institute of Development, told IPS. China may have financed eco-

"" The new harbour expansion in Colombo seeks to tap into the lucrative Indian shipping trade, with Chinese help. Credit: Amantha Perera/IPS

nomically unviable projects like the new airport in the southern province and the new port nearby, but large chunks have gone to more prudent projects, he said. “China has funded projects in Sri Lanka such as the Norachcholai Coal Power Plant and the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway.”

The government has also faced charges that China could use some of the investments in the ports, especially in the southern port, for military purposes. Critics of these Chinese funded projects on India’s southern doorstep say that China could use the southern harbour to increase its naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

Chinese military presence in the Indian Ocean is not a major worry for India yet, according to Ramani Hariharan, a former Indian intelligence officer and defence specialist. But, he said, there are growing

concerns.

“The Chinese want to establish a strong presence in marine business in Sri Lanka because that would enable them to build up their influence in future maritime developments, including security of Chinese ships, mainly tankers, and anchorages and repair facilities,” he told IPS. In addition, the investments would allow the Chinese to maintain a presence in the region more easily. “It would also provide legitimate excuse to collect data required for future naval operations – survey of ocean and approaches as well as stealthy electronics eavesdropping,” Hariharan said Wickrema dismisses all such fears. “I guarantee there will not be a (Chinese) naval base in (southern) Hambantota,” he said. Chinese investments such as those that he has overseen are only commercial deals with profits as the final target, not

The government has also faced charges that China could use some of the investments in the ports, especially in the southern port, for military purposes.

Critics of these Chinese funded projects on India’s southern doorstep say that China could use the southern harbour to increase its naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

military muscle, he said.

“I don’t think anyone will get opportunities to use these ports as strategically important military service hubs,” he said.

If the aim is to get more Indians to ship through Colombo, Wickrema would have to make sure he and the government kept that promise.

Gaura Travel gets Singapore Airlines ‘Top Travel Agent’ award

M

elbourne: Gaura Travel has bagged the ‘top travel agent’ award in Australia. The Melbourne based travel agency, the leading Indian subcontinent specialist got this award from Singapore Airlines. This award is considered to be one of the most prestigious accolades conferred on a travel agent among hundreds operating in this sector.

Acknowledging this award, Mr. Ashwini Sonthalia, Director & Founder of Gaura Travel said: "Gaura Travel had set two benchmarks right from the day one - bringing the best price to our customers and bringing best travel ex-

perience to the subcontinent travellers. This award is dedicated to the staff and our customers who have helped us achieve those benchmarks.

Most importantly, we believe this is just the beginning.”

Gaura Travel, which started as an Indian travel specialist is now operating across the subcontinent with its unique toll free numbers such as 1300 FLY INDIA (1300 359 463), 1300 FLY DHAKA (1300 359 342), 1300 FLY NEPAL (1300 359 637), 1300 FLY PAKISTAN (1300 359 725), and 1300 FLY SRI LANKA (1300 359 774).

Apart from its head office in Melbourne, today Gaura Travel even has branches in

Sydney and Adelaide.

Today, Gaura Travel is even offering an enhanced LIVECHAT feature on their website and most importantly a multilingual 24/7 call centre that will

assist you at any point of time.

With 50,000 customers under their belt, Gaura Travel is fast expanding their base through superior service and customer focus and recently Gaura Trav-

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el has even started a special campaign “WIN A FREE MOVIE TICKET EVERYDAY” on their Facebook Page, with Gaura Travel you always win!

—Supplied.

Sports A U G U S T

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Asia Cup Men’s Hockey 2013: Do or die for India and Pakistan By our sports correspondent

N

ew Delhi, 11 August: The former subcontinent hockey power houses India and Pakistan may miss the World Cup, if one of them does not win in the 9th Men’s Asia Cup starting at Ipoh, Malaysia starting from 24 August to 1 September 2013.Only one place is available for the World Cup from the Asia Cup. This is the first tournament India will play after removing Australian Michael Nobbs as coach (Hockey India says he was asked to leave the job due to the poor results, while Nobbs says he himself wanted to leave as he has some blood pressure issue, but removed he was and the team charge has now been given to Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans who was Hockey India's technical director).

For Pakistan - who have won the world cup most times - winning the Asia Cup is their only chance left, while other teams can hope for a permutation of results in other continents to open up positions as reserve qualifi-

ers.From the FIH World League, South Korea are first reserve, Spain is second reserve, Malaysia is third reserve and India are fourth reserve.The reserve nations will come into fray if the continental chamionships in Europe, Oceania and Pan-Amercia are won by countries who have already qualified. Hockey India recently announced its Senior men team for the Men’s Asia.

Hockey India Selectors Mr. B P Govinda, Dr. R P Singh and Mr. Arjun Halappa, Director High Performance & Interim Chief Coach, Senior Men Team Mr. Roelant Oltmans, Coach, M K Kaushik and Scientific Advisor Mr. Jason Konrath alongwith the Government Observer Mr. Harbinder Singh selected the list of 18 players during the selection trials conducted at SAI Centre,

Bangalore from 25-27 July 2013.

The 18 member squad will be Captained by midfielder Sardar Singh while goalkeeper P R Sreejesh will be the Vice-Captain.

India is placed in Pool B with Korea, Bangladesh and Oman while Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and Chinese-Taipei are placed in Pool A. India will open its campaign against Oman on 24 August 2013 followed by Korea on 26 August and Bangladesh on 28 August.

There will be a live telecast of all the matches of Asia Cup on ESPN Star Sports.

List of 18 Indian players are Goalkeepers: P R Sreejesh (ViceCaptain) and P T Rao; Defenders: V R Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh, Amit Rohidas, Kothajit Singh, Birendra Lakra and Gurmail Singh; Midfielders: Sardar Singh (Captain), Manpreet Singh,Chinglensana Singh,Dharamvir Singh and S K Uthappa and Forwards: Ramandeep Singh,Nithin Thimmaiah, Mandeep Singh, Malak Singh and Nikin Thimmaiah.

—SAT News Service

Kevin Rudd launches ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

By Neeraj Nanda

M

elbourne, 30 July: The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 was today launched simultaneously by Australian Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd and New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. John Key in Melbourne and Wellington.

The launch was to be streamed live from Melbourne and Wellington. But the live streaming on the net was only from Wellington. The Melbourne live streaming on the net failed to materialize. The first match of

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

I

ndia vs. Pak. on 14 March, Aust. meets Eng.on 29 March, final on 29 March New Zealand to face Sri Lanka in Christchurch and Australia to meet England on the opening day of ICC CWC 2015, MCG to host the final on 29 March The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be staged in Australia and New Zealand from 14 February to 29 March, and India will begin its title defence against traditional rival Pakistan in Adelaide on 15 February, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on 29 July.

India, which won the 2011 event when it defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final in Mumbai, will complete its group fixtures against Zimbabwe at Eden Park, Auckland, on 14 March.

In the group, India will also play South Africa (in Melbourne on 22 February), Qualifier 4 (in Perth on 28 February), West Indies (in Perth on 6 March) and Ireland* (in Hamilton on 10 March).

Looking ahead to the tournament, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said: “It only seems like yesterday that we won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in front of a passionate and supportive home crowd.

“World Cup is a very special event for every cricketer because it only takes place every four years. Having tasted success in Mumbai in 2011, we’ll be working very hard to retain it.

“I’m keenly looking forward to the tournament and confident that we’ll do well.

Our recent victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 has provided the team with a lot of confidence, and I am sure this experience will help us in our preparations for the World Cup in 2015.” The tournament opens on 14 February with co-hosts Australia and New Zealand playing their first matches on the opening day of the tournament in front of their home crowds, while the Melbourne Cricket Ground

(MCG) will host the final on 29 March.

New Zealand will square off against 1996 champion Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Christchurch, while later on the same day, under the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) floodlights, four-time former champion Australia will go head-to-head with arch rival England.

Zealand will also host Australia when the two neighbouring countries lock horns in Auckland on 28 March.

A total of 49 matches will be played in the 44-day tournament across 14 venues in the two countries. Australia will stage 26 matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, whilst the 23 matches in New Zealand will be held in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Wellington.

The 14 sides (10 Full Members and four qualifiers), as per their rankings on the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings table on 31 December 2012, have been divided into two pools: Pool A Pool B England South Africa Australia India Sri Lanka Pakistan Bangladesh West Indies New Zealand Zimbabwe Qualifier 2 Ireland* Qualifier 3 Qualifier 4 The top four sides from each pool will progress to the quarter-finals, followed by the two semi-finals and the final. All the knock-out matches will have reserve days.

England captain Alastair Cook, whose side reached the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 final, looking forward to the 2015 event said: “We have been improving steadily as a one-day side in recent years and are very much looking forward to the challenge of the ICC Cricket

World Cup 2015.

“We will be working hard in the coming months to ensure we give ourselves the best possible opportunity to go one step further in 2015. Playing cricket in Australia and New Zealand is always a fantastic experience and I have no doubt it will be another great occasion both for the teams and their supporters.”

ICC President Alan Isaac, who attended the event launch in Wellington, said: “I’m delighted to be part of this historic occasion as today we officially start the countdown to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, an event that, over the past 40 years, has become a truly global event.

“ICC events have established a unique place in the cricket calendar, and, as we’ve seen at our most recent events in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, players, sponsors, media, fans and supporters from all around the world want to be part of the spectacle.

“Sport is synonymous with life in Australia and New Zealand, and both countries boast some of the best facilities in the world. With the World Cup returning to these shores for the first time since 1992, I am sure it will be an event to remember.”

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, who attended the event launch in Melbourne, said:

www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

the tournament will be played in Wellington on 14 February, 2015. There are two pools A and B. Pool A has – England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3. Pool B has – South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimababwe, Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 4.The semifinal will be played in New Zealand and the final will be played at the MCG in Melbourne.

All details of the 14 teams, pools, semi final and final etc. are available on www.cricketworldcup.com.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship tournament of the 50-over game. The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is – the most sought after prize in our increasingly global game.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events – the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. “I’m absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals.”

John Harnden, Chief Executive of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Local Organising Committee, said ticket prices would be announced later in the year, and that tickets would be affordable.

“This tournament is about the best teams, the best players and their endurance and skills that will see only the best left standing. We want as many fans as possible to be a part of this rare event,” Mr Harnden said.

“Australia and New Zealand have diverse communities who are passionate about their heritage and very passionate about cricket. We’ll be working hard in local communities to ensure they can follow their teams, attend matches and play a part in the event in 2015.”

“The result is a great one for cricket and fans for both countries. We have every team playing in both countries, equal number of host cities and pool games. This will be a summer that inspires young cricketers and provides lasting memories.”

—ICC, 29 July

Entertainment

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Mumbai to Melbourne with Bollywood actor, Sahil Phull...

By SAT cinema reporter

M

elbourne: In 2012 Mumbai based actor, Sahil Phull then 25 attended an audition with Swastik Productions for an Indian-Australian coproduced television series ‘Moti Gori’ for Australia. Not only did Sahil quickly secure the male lead role in ‘Moti Gori’ but it was the trigger for what has been a life-changing and fulfilling year and adventure in this handsome and talented actor’s life.

‘Moti Gori’ Creator and CoProducer Jason O’Leary talking to SAT described Sahil as ‘an engaging actor with boundless enthusiasm for the process of creating a character from the page to the screen. Sahil’s performance in ‘Moti Gori’ was earnest and adorable, he delivered a tangible innocence and warmth which melted the audience’s hearts‘.

Through his involvement with ‘Moti Gori’, Sahil was cast as the lead in the Tropfest short film ‘Shabd’. Tropfest is the world’s

largest short film festival and ‘Shabd’ just wrapped up filming last week and is deeply submerged in post-production, ahead of Tropfest’s early October submission deadline.

Melbourne based legendary actor and emerging director Tony Nikolakopoulos directed Sahil in ‘Shabd’ and when asked about Sahil as an actor remarked, ‘Sahil is refreshingly brave taking risks to deal with some of the more delicate scenes in ‘Shabd’. He is extremely adaptable when it comes to direction and was eager to engage in creative conversation specific to character and story’’.

Tony Nikolakopoulos and Co-Creator and Producer of ‘Shabd’, Tammy Fitzgerald are so impressed with Sahil as an actor they engaged him to work on two projects in development a mocu/documentary set in India and a feature film set between Australia and India. The feature film project has also attracted Australian directing veteran of film and television Colin Budds and well respected and accom-

plished Executive Producer, Julie Marlow to the project team.

Tammy Fitzgerald told SAT ‘Sahil is a rare talent with a unique international feel and look to what he offers in his performances.

He has all the sex appeal of a Hollywood bad boy with the traditional values and charm one expects from an Indian gentleman. We are very lucky to have had Sahil star in Shabd and sign on for future projects’.

Sahil is currently staying in Melbourne on his second extended visit this year and heads back to Mumbai in coming weeks just in time for the Bollywood feature film shot India earlier this year, which he had a major role in wraps up post production and hopefully hits the cinemas soon.

After completing an Engineering degree a few years back, Sahil started his career in the film industry as an Assistant Director and then Creative Producer working in international television commercials and Bollywood feature films. He also worked as a runway model and

in theatre. It’s this breadth of experience Sahil credits for making him an actor who absolutely knows that it takes a large team of people to realize a creative vision.

Focusing his talent now on his acting career and energized by intensive acting workshops with Bollywood royalty actor Naseeruddin Shah, Australian acting teacher Dalip Sondhi and Victorian College of Arts, Victoria.

Sahil is appreciative of the opportunities he has to date and in particular the adventure the last year has offered between Mumbai and Melbourne.

When SAT asked Sahil why he chose to focus on acting as a career particularly given how

tough and elusive success as an actor can be Sahil said simply, ‘I love using my imagination, my emotions, my body to create characters which tell a story which entertains an audience. I really feel it is what I am meant to do with my life and I feel very blessed by God’.’.

Akshey back in ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara’

By FilmBuff

M

umbai: Akshey Kumar, Bollywood’s favourite action hero has been making waves globally since the announcement of his new Avatar in the sequel offering ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Dobaara’.

Akshay, who plays a flamboyant gangster in the film, has been spotted trotting the globe for promotions of the film. First India, then Oman, followed by the UK and then Akshay visited the United States of America, where he partook in a press conference with the film’s director Milan Luthria and shared his experiences about the film.

The film depicts the fervent gang wars of the 80’s era in Mumbai and Akshay has continued to move away from type to play a baddie in this film. Commenting on his villainous role, he said: ‘Bad is the New Good’ and commented: ‘I am not trying to glorify a bad lead character; it is just a character I am playing. Not many actors agree to play a negative role’.

Akshay last played a negative character in the film Ajnabee after which ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara’ would be his second. The film is a ‘villain’s love story’ and Akshay feels very strongly about his role, as he believes not many bad characters take centre stage as important characters.Akshay also said that the only difference in the sequel is the change of a few faces whilst the story picks up from where it left off.

However, despite the negative hue in his character, Akshay seems to be concen-

trating more on romance then his usual action-packed stunts in the film. He has passed the stunt baton to Imran Khan, who performs a series of thrilling action sequences. Akshay said: “He [Imran Khan] did all the stunts with me and jumped from rooftops, and I was very impressed with him. I think he is the next action hero.’

Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara releases globally on 15th August 2013.

Hrithik Roshan To Endorse Car Audio Products Brand, Ground Zero It’s music to Hrithik Roshan’s ear as the Bollywood superstar and dance extraordinaire has now been targeted by Ground

Zero in India to endorse the car audio and accessories brand.

Sahil International is the exclusive and authorised importer and distributor of all Ground Zero products in the country and has put in place a 360-degree marketing campaign with Hrithik to expand Ground Zero’s consumer base in India.

The Just Dance and Krrish 3 star ‘truly reflects the classy, high-end charismatic persona of the brand and is a true embodiment of the brand’s philosophy’ said Sahil Sani, Managing Director, Sahil International, and it appears that the admiration is mutual with Hrithik stating ‘I am proud to represent Ground Zero. My love for music and the brand’s vision together will be a mutually rewarding collaboration’.

Ground Zero joins exclusive brand names such as J Hampstead, Rado and Mountain Dew in signing the actor with the view of reaping the benefits of the star’s iconic status internationally.

Hrithik Roshan is currently filming for the Indian film re-make of Knight And Day with Katrina Kaif, and will be resuming his superhero character in Krrish 3, out this Diwali 2013.

Who will be Hrithik’s lucky female lead in ‘Shuddhi’ With Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan getting the lead role in the upcoming romantic drama, Shuddhi, it comes as a surprise that the film is still in need of a female lead as there is never a shortage of takers for a role opposite the gorgeous and multi-talented film star.

The projects director, Karan Mal-

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hotra who is working closely with Hrithik Roshan again following the critically acclaimed Agneepath has told an Indian film trade that ‘We are still looking for the leading lady’ and ‘We have not finalised Kareena or Anushka’.

The director went on to clear up the rumours by saying ‘So far only Hrithik Roshan has been confirmed and the leading lady is not yet finalised. Probable by mid June, we will have finalised the leading lady for the film’.

Karan Malhotra has previously stated that he has a ‘wish list’ of actors that he wants in the film and it is clear why he would have locked down Hrithik Roshan following the broken box office records of Agneepath’s release. We’ll just have to wait and see who the lucky women will be.

Dimple Kapadia signs ‘, Finding Fanny Fernandes’ Dimple Kapadia, who was last seen in the Saif Ali Khan - Deepika Padukone starrer Cocktail, has finally signed her first film, post the demise of husband and superstar Rajesh Khanna. It is learnt that Kapadia has signed on for Homi Adajania's film Finding Fanny Fernandes.

The film which is said to be a Konkani English short film will also feature Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. As for Dimple's role in the film, she will be seen playing a Goan, reports the Indian Express.

Backed yet again by Saif and Dinesh Vijayan's Illumanati Films, Finding Fanny Fernandes is scheduled to go on floors around October.

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south asia 38 South Asia Timestimes

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southSouth asia times 39 Asia Times

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south asia 40 South Asia Timestimes

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