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South Asia Times Vol.14 I No. 6 I january 2017 I FREE s o u t hasiatim es.com .au Editor: Neeraj Nanda

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Guest Edit Pg 3 Cover Story Pg5 Community Pg8 Quick Interview Pg13 Business Pg16 Travel Pg21 South Asia Pg24 Finance Pg36

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What happens when Robots take our jobs?

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GUEST EDITORIAL

2017 — A thunderous clash of politics, economies & policies

By Martin Khor*

Y

et another new year has dawned. But 2017 will be a year like no other.There will be a thunderous clash of policies, economies and politics worldwide. We will therefore be on a roller-coaster ride, and we should prepare for it and not only be spectators on the side-lines in danger of being swept away by the waves.

With his extreme views and bulldozing style, Donald Trump is set to create an upheaval if not revolution in the United States and the world.

He is installing an oil company chief as the Secretary of State, investment bankers in key finance positions, climate sceptics and antienvironmentalists in environmental and energy agencies and an extreme right-wing internet media mogul as his chief strategist US-China relations, the most important for global stability, could change from big-power coexistence with a careful combination of competition and cooperation, to outright crisis.

Trump, through a phone call with Taiwan’s leader and subsequent remarks, signalled he could withdraw the longstanding US adherence to the One China policy and instead use Taiwan as a bargaining card when negotiating economic policies with China. The Chinese perceive this as an extreme provocation.

He has appointed as head of the new National Trade Council an economist known for his books demonising China, including “Death

by China: Confronting the Dragon”.

Trump seems intent on doing an about-turn on US trade and investment policies, starting with ditching the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Other measures being considered include a 45% duty on Chinese products, extra duties and taxes on American companies located abroad, and even a 10% tariff on all imports.

Thus 2017 will see a rise in protectionism in the US, the extent still unknown. That is bad news for those developing countries whose economies have grown on the back of exports and international investments.

Europe in 2017 will also be preoccupied with its own regional problems. The Brexit shock of 2016 will continue to reverberate and

southSouth asia times 3 Asia Times

several European countries facing elections will see challenges to their traditional values and established order from xenophobic and narrow nationalist parties.

As Western societies become less open to the world and more inward looking, developing countries should revise their development strategies and rely more on domestic and regional demand and investments.

As North-South economic relations decline, this should also be the moment for expanding SouthSouth cooperation, spurred as much by necessity as by principles.

2017 may be the year when resource-rich China, with its huge Road and Belt initiative and its immense financing capacity, fills in the economic void created by western trade and investment protectionism.

But this may not be sufficient to prevent a finance shock in many developing countries now beginning to suffer a reversal of capital flowing back to the US, attracted by the prospect of higher interest rates and economic growth.

Several emerging economies which together received many hundreds of billions of dollars of hot money in recent years are now vulnerable to the latest downturn phase of the boom-bust cycle of capital flows.

Some of these countries opened up their capital markets to foreign funds which now own large portions of government bonds denominated in the domestic currency, as well as shares in the equity market.

As the tide turns, foreign investors are expected to sell off and transfer back a significant part of the bonds and shares they bought, and this new vulnerability is in addition to the traditional external debt contracted by the developing countries in foreign currencies.

Some countries will be hit by a terrible combination of capital outflow, reduced export earnings, currency depreciation and an increased debt servicing burden caused by higher US interest rates.

As the local currency depreciates further, the affected countries’ companies will have to pay more for servicing loans contracted in foreign currencies and imported machinery and parts, while consumers suffer from a rapid rise in the prices of imports.

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GUEST EDITORIAL

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2017 — A thunderous clash...

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On the positive side, the currency depreciation will make exporters more competitive and make tourism more attractive, but for many countries this will not be enough to offset the negative effects.

Thus 2017 will not be kind to the economy, business and the pockets of the common man and woman.

It might even spark a new global financial crisis.

The old year ended with mixed blessings for Palestinians. On one hand they won a significant victory when the outgoing President Obama allowed the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories by not exercising a veto.

The resolution will spur international actions against the expansion of settlements which have become a big obstacle to peace talks.

On the other hand, the Israeli leadership, which responded defiantly with plans for more settlements, will find in Trump a much more sympathetic President.

He is appointing a pro-Israel hawk who has cheered the expansion of settlements as the new US ambassador to Israel.

With Trump also indicating he will tear up the nuclear power deal with Iran, the Middle East will have an even more tumultuous time in 2017.

Some countries will be hit by

a terrible combination of capital outflow, reduced export earnings, currency depreciation and an increased debt servicing burden caused by higher US interest rates.

In the area of health care, the battle for affordable access to medicines will continue, as public frustration grows over the high and often astronomical prices of patented medicines including for the treatment of HIV AIDS, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and cancers.

There will be more powerful calls for governments to curb the excesses of drug companies, as well as more extensive use of the flexibilities in the patent laws to counter the high cost of medicines.

Momentum will also increase to deal with antibiotic resistance which in 2016 was recognised by political leaders meeting at the United Nations to be perhaps the gravest threat to global health.

All countries pledged to come up with national action plans to counter antibiotic and anti-microbial resistance by May 2017 and the challenge will then be to review the adequacy of these plans and to finance and implement them.

The new year will also see its fair share of natural disasters and a continued decline in the state of the environment. Both will continue to be major issues in 2017, just as the worsening of air pollution and the many earthquakes, big storms and heat-waves marked the previous few years.

Unfortunately low priority is given to the environment.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are allocated for highways, railways and urban buildings but only a trickle for conservation and rehabilitation of hills, watersheds, forests, mangroves, coastal areas, biodiversity or for serious climate change actions.

2017 should be the year when priorities change, that when people talk about infrastructure or development, they put actions to protect and promote the environment as the first items for allocation of funds.

This new year will also be make or break for climate change. The momentum for action painfully built up in recent years will find a roadblock in the US as the new President dismantles Obamainitiated policies and measures.

The Paris agreement, which was adopted in December 2015 and which came into force in record time in October 2016 as a demonstration of international concern over climate change, may face a major test and even an existential challenge in 2017, if Trump fulfils his election promise to pull the US out.

But Trump and his team will face resistance domestically including from state governments and municipalities which have their own climate plans, and from other countries determined to carry on without the US on board.

Indeed if 2017 will bring big

changes initiated by the new US administration, it will also generate many counter actions to fill in the void left in the world by a withdrawing US or to counter its new unsettling actions.

Many people around the world, from politicians and policy makers to citizen groups and community organisers are already bracing themselves to come up with responses and actions.

Indeed 2017 will be characterised by the Trump effect but also the consequent counter-effects.

There are opportunities to think through, alternatives to chart and reforms to carry out that are anyway needed on the global and national economies, on the environment, and on geo-politics.

Most of the main levers of power and decision-making are still in the hands of a few countries and a few people, but there has also been the emergence of many new centres of economic, environmental and intellectual capabilities and community-based organising.

2017 will be a year in which ideas, policies, economies and politics will all clash, thunderously, and we should be prepared to meet the challenges ahead and not only be spectators. *Martin Khor is Executive Director of the South Centre, a think tank for developing countries, based in Geneva.

Source: IPS, Penang, Jan 2, 2017.

Free talks and performances! Find out more mwf.com.au/jlf-melbourne

11 – 12 February 2017 Celebrate the best of Indian writing and ideas

This project is supported by the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne for Asia TOPA. Asia TOPA is a joint initiative of the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne and is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments. JLF Melbourne is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, the UNESCO Melbourne City of Literature and the Victorian Multicultural Commission, and the Australian Government through the Australia-India Council of the Department of Foreign Aairs and Trade.

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COVER STORY

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southSouth asia times 5 Asia Times

What happens when Robots take our jobs? r

By Baher Kamal

OME, Jan 5 2017 (IPS) - When British naturalist Charles Darwin published in 1859 his theory of evolution in his work On the Origin of Species, he most likely did not expect that robots, not nature, would someday be in charge of the selection process.

In his On the Origin of Species, (more completely: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life), Darwin introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection.

Now the so-called” fourth industrial revolution” comes to turn Darwin’s theory upside down, as the manufacturing process has been witnessing such a fast process of automation that machines will more and more replace human workers.

So fast that it is estimated

TOPIO ("TOSY Ping Pong Playing Robot") is a bipedal humanoid robot designed to play table tennis against a human being. TOPIO version 3.0 at Tokyo International Robot Exhibition, Nov 2009. Photo: Humanrobo.

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. that by the year 2040, up to 40 per cent of the production process will be handled by robots.

Moreover, the robotising trend is now being perfected in a way that machines are gradually able to solve problems posed by other machines.

Oxford University predicts that machines and robots will perform nearly half of US jobs within the next 20 years.

And the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says in its report “Future of Work in figures” that some studies

argue that 47 per cent of US employment is subject to substitution (39 per cent in Germany, 35 per cent in the UK).

“The assumptions of what tasks are replaceable are key, but the undisputed fact is that the occupational structure will change and

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the tasks required to carry out jobs will also change,” says the OECD while trying to inject some optimism: “Substitution may mean the destruction of certain jobs, but not the destruction of employment.”

This process of “substitution” could not come at a tougher time, as the so-called job market is already much too precarious.

Just an example: this organisation grouping nearly one fifth of all countries –those considered most developed—in a report titled “Employment and unemployment in figures,” says that there are now over 40 million unemployed in the OECD area — that’s around 8 million more than before the crisis, i.e., one million jobs lost yearly over the last 8 years.

Add to this, the fact that 1 in 3 jobs are considered precarious in the industrialised countries, and that workers now earn between 15 and 20 per cent less than in the year 2009.

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COVER STORY

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What happens when Robots take our jobs?

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These figures, however, are viewed in a positive light by the business sector as they imply a growing reduction of the costs of production.

What to Do with Humans Then?

Politicians, likely propelled by big business pundits, have just started to think now of how to face this challenge.

One of the trendiest formulae is now to give a basic income to citizens.

Such a basic income (also called unconditional basic income, citizen’s income, basic income guarantee, universal basic income or universal demogrant) implies that all citizens or residents of a country regularly receive an unconditional sum of money, in addition to any income received from elsewhere.

According to its defenders, this would be financed by the profits of publicly owned enterprises. But it will be a difficult exercise given that the private sector has been taking over the roles of the state, which has been gradually dismantled.

Many citizens’ first reaction to this formula would be –is– “… sounds great… getting money without even working is a dream!”

The realisation of such a dream poses, however, a number of questions and concerns.

For instance: where will governments find the resources needed for such basic incomes? From which national budget items will these amounts be deducted?

Will governments continue anyway to provide social services, such as public health care, education, unemployment subsidies, pension funds? Are such services sentenced to privatisation?

Will this mean the elimination of the 20 billion dollars that the OECD countries dedicate every year to the employment funds, which are aimed at promoting the creation of job opportunities?

And how can unemployed people contribute with their basic income to replenishing the retirement funds of the elderly, whose lives are already long and expected to get longer and longer?

Let alone infrastructure like public transport, roads and highways, subsidies to alternative sources of energy, and a long et cetera.

In other words, will such basic income without even working lead to the definite dismantlement of the already rapidly shrinking social welfare?

Most likely it will be so.

After all, it would be about a step further in the very process of robotising the very lives of human beings.

This way, the citizens will be kept alive, will complain less about the evident failure of governments to create job opportunities, while doing

what they are expected to do: that’s to consume what industries produce and, by the way, continue playing their role as voters (not electors, mind the difference).

The Rule of the Multimillionaires This trend, which seems to be unavoidable, will likely receive a giant push pretty soon—as soon as the new United States administration, lead by Donald Trump, takes office in January 2017.

An administration, by the way, made of multimillionaires who are highly unlikely to have the sensibility of average citizens and workers.

The effects on Europe will be immediate in view of the irresistible rise of the extreme right in countries like Germany, France and Italy — which will go through elections in 2017 – as well as the Netherlands, Austria, Hungry and even Greece, to mention a few.

"By the year 2040, up to 40 per cent of the production process will be handled by robots" Inequality, That Dangerous Gap Add to all of the above the fact that growing unemployment will deepen the already considerable inequality.

Roberto Savio, Founder of IPS and of Other News, in a recent master lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of Chile, compiled the following shocking data: six years ago, 388 persons possessed the same wealth as 3.2 billion people; in 2014, their number was of just 80, and in 2015

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only 62.

These figures, added to the fact that, according to the International Labour Organization, 600 million new jobs need to be created by 2030 just to keep pace with the growth of the working age population, will leave more millions behind, forcing massive displacements, especially from developing countries, as survival migrants.

“The factory of the future will have only two employees: a man and a dog.

The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment.”

This is how Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk, a private company that “makes software for people who make things,” described the current, unstoppable process of automation.

Bass’ comment was quoted by Xavier Mesnard in an article titled “What happens when robots take our jobs?” which was published in the World Economic Forum.

Most probably Darwin would have never expected that the current artificial selection process –propelled by an irrepressible greed and subjected to the financial interests of big private corporations exercising full control without any regulation mechanism, amid short-sighted politics — would replace his great theory of evolution and natural selection.

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Magic, colour and excitement at the Jaipur Literary Festival in Melbourne

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE: The city is in for a South Asian literary treat with the iconic Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) tying up with the Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) to launch the JLF Melbourne with the Asia TOPA, a brand new summer festival celebrating the best of South Asian and Australian writing and ideas.

An array of Indian and other literary giants including Shashi Tharoor, whose latest ‘An Era of Darkness’ deals with the impoverishment of India by the British Raj, will be here to enrich the festival.

MWF Festival Director Lisa Dempster said JLF Melbourne would transport the magic, colour and excitement of one of the world’s biggest literary celebrations to Fed Square.

“JLF Melbourne will bring ‘the greatest literary show on Earth’ to Australia’s City of Literature for just one weekend,” Ms Dempster said.

“This thrilling pop-up festival will connect the unique identities of South Asia and Australia.

Through talks, performances, music and poetry, JLF Melbourne will explore culture, migration,identity and gender issues, politics, the environment, travel and history.”

Among the international stars unveiled today are eminent transgender rights activist, dancer and actress Laxmi Narayan Tripathi (Red Lipstick: The Men in My Life), Indian politician and award-winning writer Shashi Tharoor (India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in Our Time), esteemed travel writer and former reporter Mishi Saran (Chasing

the Monk’s Shadow: A Journey in the Footsteps of Xuanzang) and Sofia Ashraf, the powerful singer and songwriter behind the viral Kodaikanal Won’t rap video.

An impressive selection of local literary talent will also appear at JLF Melbourne, including journalist and political commentator George Megalogenis, distinguished writer and academic Tony Birch, journalist and screenwriter Benjamin Law and awardwinning poet Michelle Cahill.

JLF Melbourne will feature a single ticketed gala evening event, including a smorgasbord of food, drink and not-to-be-missed live performances, surrounded by a weekend of free events.

“Just like its Jaipur namesake, JLF Melbourne will be a fluid event where guests can move freely from session to session and really soak up the atmosphere,” Ms Dempster said.

JLF Melbourne will also see the launch of the City of Literature’s digital

storytelling app, a collection of tales narrated by JLF Melbourne guests that will unfold for avid readers as they explore Fed Square.

Ms Dempster said JLF Melbourne was a chance to try something new and different.

“Book your tickets to the gala through the Asia TOPA website and download the storytelling app to discover amazing stories by some of the world’s leading writers at JLF Melbourne,” she said.

“JLF Melbourne is here for one weekend only, so make sure you don’t miss out on this celebration of Indian and Australian literature and culture on 11-12 February 2017.”

JLF Melbourne is held in collaboration with Melbourne Writers Festival, Teamwork Arts, Fed Square and Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Asia TOPA, with Readings as the Festival’s Official Bookseller.

Connecting South Asia’s and Australia’s unique identities, the festival brings

Shashi Tharoor ‘the greatest literary show on earth’ to Australia’s City of Literature.

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The full program of JLF at Melbourne can be found at mwf.com.au/jlf-melbourne/

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Bombay Talkies Exhibition in Melbourne

Indian cinema journey from silent to sound – 1920s to 1940s

By SAT Arts Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 10 January: For those who are Indian cinema buffs an exhibition treat

called ‘Bombay Talkies’ will take place from 8 Feb to 2 July 2017 at the acmi Museum at the Federation Square, city. One can experience the excitement and glamour of Indian

cinema from 1920s – 1940s.

For the very first time, the free Bombay Talkies exhibition will showcase the treasure-trove that is the Dietze Family Trust archive, a Melbourne-based

collection of more than 3,000 cultural artefacts gathered from the legendary Indian film studio, Bombay Talkies.

This extraordinary archive, which traces Indian cinema's journey from silent film to sound, represents the most comprehensive collection of 1920s to 1940s Indian film studio ephemera in the world.

Entrepreneurial filmmaker Himansu Rai (1892−1940) and his movie-star wife Devika Rani (1908−1994) played a crucial role in the development of mainstream Bombay cinema. After creating landmark silent films in the 1920s based on

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traditional Indian stories, which were largely seen in Europe, they turned their attention to home.

As co-founders of the legendary Bombay Talkies film studio, they aimed to make films about contemporary India that would speak to a wide audience.

Running for 20 years and releasing 40 films, Bombay Talkies was one of India’s most innovative and highly resourced movie studios. It is credited with introducing the musical narrative structure that characterises modern Bollywood, and launched the careers of several prominent Indian film industry luminaries including superstars Ashok Kumar (1911–2001) and Leela Chitnis (1909-2003).

Asia TOPA is a joint initiative of the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne and is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments.

Source: ACMI, Melbourne

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Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary honoured M

By SAT News Desk

elbourne, 27 December, 2016: Speaker of the Bihar Assembly Mr. Vijay Kumar Chaudhary was warmly welcomed here

by Mr. Bruce Atkinson, President of the Victorian Legislative Council with morning tea in the morning at the Langham Hotel. Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Chaudhary discussed mutual issues and exchanged their experiences as Speakers.

Later in the evening Mr. Chaudhary attended a meet and greet evening in Nunawading where a large number of community members,

South Asian Public Affairs Council(SAPAC) and Subcontinent Friends of Labour (SCFOL) members were present.

Addressing the gathering both the Speakers emphasised in importance of friendship between India and Australia and the need to further strengthen it. Mr. Chaudhary said he was impressed the way the Indian and Bihar communities were contributing to the social, economic and political life here.

Mr. Atkinson presented a memento to Mr. Chaudhary and hoped bonds between the two countries will further strengthen. Mr.

Chaudhury invited those present to visit Bihar and enjoy his hospitality.

Mr. Manoj Kumar later addressed the gathering detailing the political career of Mr. Chaudhary and his achievements.

Among others present were Mr. Alok Kumar, Mr. Aakash Kumar, Mr. Dinesh Chauhan, Mr. Kaushal Srivastava, Mr. Sepal Patel, Mr. Neeraj Nanda, Mr. Namdhari and hosts Mr. Rajneesh and family members.

The event wrapped up with dinner and networking.

The visitor posed for photographs with those present.

New color-coded train network map in 2017

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 29 December, 2016: The Andrews Labor Government is gearing up to introduce a new colourcoded train map next year, to make it quicker andeasier for passengers to find their way on Victoria’s rail network.

The new map unveiled today provides a different colour for each metropolitan train line and highlightsinterchanges, making it easier to tell which line you are on and where you need to change. (See Map) Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan says,

“Coloured maps are used on train networks around the world. It’s a simple change that will make it quicker andeasier people to find

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their way around Melbourne and Victoria on the train.”

“Each line has a different colour and interchange stations are clearly marked,

making it easier to tell which lineyou’re on, which one you want and where to change.”

“The new map also combines the metropolitan and regional networks on the same map for the first time, sopassengers don’t need to swap from mapto-map if they’re travelling between Melbourne and regional Victoria,” says the Minister.

Colours have been carefully chosen to be distinguishable by people with the two most common types of colourvision impairment, and are the same colours as Public Transport Victoria’s (PTV) live travel updates.

By showing at a glance which lines are which

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when they leave the loop, passengers will be able to see when theycan stay on a train to connect to a new line.

The map also integrates the metropolitan and regional train networks for the first time, reflecting the increasingintegration of Metro and V/Line services and removing the need for passengers to swap between maps iftravelling between Melbourne and regional Victoria. The new map also includes a grid linked to an alphabetical index at the side, to help users locate unfamiliarstations. It will be progressively rolled out on all metropolitan trains and stations from 1 January 2017.

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asia times 13 SAT QUICK INTERVIEW southSouth Asia Times

It’s a cat & mouse game in Raees: Nawazuddin Siddiqui “Jisko tu dhanda bolta haina, crime hai who. Dhanda band karle,varna saans lena bhi mushkil kardunga”.

By Neeraj Nanda

I

n his first movie with Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the cop chases the cleverliquor baron in a cat & mouse game. The story is set in an alcohol free-state with the bootlegger monopolizing the industry until it is eventually thwarted by a tough cop Ghulam Patel (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Angered by his loss of wealth, the man retaliates by creating a network of supporters in favour of this black market, gradually establishing himself as the state’s most ruthless crime lord during the 1980s.

I recently caught up with Nawazuddin Siddiqui (in Mumbai) on the phone in Melbourne and talked to him about Raees. Excerpts from the interview: Q: How was it working with Shah Rukh Khan?

A: I liked his way of working as an actor. Me and he both have theatre background and that made a lot of difference.

Q: Tell me about your role in Raees?

A: I am a cop in the movie hell bent on stopping unlawful activities by the character played by SRK. I am after him all the time. It’s a cat and mouse game.

Q: How is Raees different from other gangster movies from Mumbai?

A: Every story has its own speciality and is

different from the other.

Gangs of Wasseypur was different. But directors want to say something through their movies.

Q: Is the digital media good or bad.

A: It does not make any difference. One has to be mature for comments. In fact, news channels matter more. Don’t show it to my children as it’s only politics. Sensational news is shown. It’s difficult to know if it is true or false.

But You Tube can be helpful. If you are doing, for example, a gangster role then you can access the subject and do research through it.

Q: People make all sorts of comments about actors on social media.

A: They should look into their own doings. I have worked hard for 18 years and know what it means to be an actor.

Q: Some people not happy that the leading actress in Raees is from the neighbouring country. What would you say to them?

A: Art has no boundaries.

If our ties with the US get spoiled will we stop seeing Hollywood movies?

Q: What do you look at when you take a new movie?

A: The movie should not be a routine one. It should be offbeat and realistic.

Q: So, is Raees realistic?

A: No, it is not realistic.

All characters are fictitious. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

south asia 14 South Asia Timestimes

community

Melbourne Durbar

Vishwa Hindi Diwas 2017

V

ishwa Hindi Diwas was celebrated at the Indian Consulate Melbourne on 6 January

with determination to spread Hindi all over the world. Prominent speakers and scholars addressed the gathering and detailed

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By Desi Oz

Dangal conquers Australia

their experiences in spreading Hindi teaching in Victoria. It was stressed to encourage kids to learn Hindi.

M

elbourne: Aamir Khan’s Dangal released here on 23 December 2016 set new benchmarks in Australia, becoming the highest grossing Indian movie in the region. How much did it gross can be anybody’s guess? The figure is likely to be in millions.

The Indian Express reports that Dangal was released in 4,300 screens within India and in 1,000 screens overseas. It got the widest release in the Middle East, North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. In Australia and New Zealand, the movie was released by

the Mind Blowing Films.

In a Facebook post Sheba Nandkeolyar, President of the Australia India Business Council says, “Every year the Christmas release is a resounding success, as is Dangal this year. Superb movie - our office team hit the ground running on the opening night. The nonIndian attendees loved the movie and were planning to take their families and other friends along during the holidays. Congratulations MituBhowmick Lange for promoting unity in diversity, something that our company Multi Connexions actively believes in.”

PBD 2017 Melbourne

P

ravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) meet in Indian Consulate, Melbourne took place to mark the PBD 2017 being held in Bengaluru. Indian PM N. Modi's speech in Bengaluru was shown and Indian

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Government's programs for overseas Indians detailed

by Indian Consul General Manika Jain in her speech.

The schemes and facilities explained included OIFC, IDF, Indian Community Welfare Fund and E-Visa's.

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Thwarted Escape:

BOOK PREVIEW

An Immigrant's Wayward Journey Lopamudra Banerjee; Paperback, 236 pages; 2016; Authorspress.

southSouth asia times 15 Asia Times

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H

ow far can one truly go away from his/ her ancestral roots, filial ties and the claustrophobic grip of traditions and the reminiscence of an emotionally fraught childhood and puberty? The book begins with this particular quest, and it is this quest which gains momentum as a woman seeks the essence of herself-identity ten thousand miles away from her Bengali hometown.

With the lens of a time-traveller, her narrative journey encompasses her first sexual abuse, her first

tryst with death, austerity, the strangeness of rituals, the inexplicable feelings of puberty and also her surrendering to love, procreation, motherhood.

In herself-chosen exile in the US, she discovers that deep within; her ancestral roots a real soothe well spring of her psychological, spiritual existence. In the process, she keeps on oscillating between assimilating and disintegrating, which forms the core of her journey.

The book is available online at Amazon, Flipkart etc.

Source: Goodreads. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

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south asia 16 South Asia Timestimes

business

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Carmichael rail loan an abuse of taxpayer’s money, finds Greenpeace report From Greenpeace Australia

S

ydney, 21 December: A $1bn government loan to build the Carmichael Rail Project in Queensland is against the public interest and cannot proceed, says a Greenpeace Australia Pacific report.

Media reports that companies associated with the Carmichael coal mine project are accused of money laundering, corruption and financial crimes are yet more reasons why the Government should not fund Carmichael.

The Greenpeace document outlines the Northern Australian

Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) Board’s network of connections to banks and mining companies, special relationships that open questions about their independence.

“Building the Carmichael coal mine is in itself a ludicrous proposition, let alone lending the company a billion dollars of taxpayer’s money that we may never get back. Our investigation shows the public how important it is to stop Carmichael right now, before we wreck a valuable part of Queensland,” said Greenpeace Campaigner Jonathan Moylan.

The points above are detailed in ‘Off Track: Why NAIF Can’t Approve the

Carmichael Rail project’, available to download at the Greenpeace Australia Pacific website.

The report argues that a $1bn loan for the Carmichael Rail Project would probably not satisfy three of NAIF’s own criteria: The project will not be of public benefit, since tax revenues and job creation will be low and the rail line cannot easily be used for other purposes; The company asking for the loan has stated it has sufficient capital to proceed without NAIF’s financial assistance; and In the long-term, falling coal prices and collapsing demand in India may mean the $1bn loan may never be

repaid or refinanced.

The Greenpeace report also notes that several NAIF Board members who would be involved in approving such a loan are closely linked to the mining industry. This calls into question the Board’s ability to take an objective and unbiased decision on behalf of Australian taxpayers.

Mr. Moylan concluded: “Australians shouldn’t be paying to send coal to a country that doesn't even want it, at a time when we, India and the entire world have agreed to reduce fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

Loaning $1bn to Carmichael doesn’t make any sense at all.”

Source: Greenpeace

www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

Australians shouldn’t be paying to send coal to a country that doesn't even want it, at a time when we, India and the entire world have agreed to reduce fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

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southSouth asia times 17 Asia Times

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south asia 18 South Asia Timestimes

business

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Reasons WHY A Small Business Should Segment Their Market!

By Sriram Iyer

H

ave you ever met a business owner and asked, "So, what's your target market?"

And have they ever replied saying, "Oh, Everyone!" Well, here's a FREE tip, if that business owner asks you to invest with him / her, all you have to do is run a mile in the opposite direction.

Unlike the chicken and egg situation, there is no such problem with Segmentation and Targeting. In order to choose a target market, you absolutely have to segment the market first!

Many small business owners are happy to take on any amount of work from anywhere. They are happy to operate the entire length of their business lifecycle on 'survival' mode. But here's the thing - they don't have to.

What is Segmentation?

For the sake of example, when the British colonized the world and India specifically, they adopted a principle of 'Divide and Conquer'. Segmentation is a complex word that means

just that - 'divide your market'.

A characteristic of a segment is that the group of customers in a segment typically have common needs and are hence grouped together. The biggest barrier to doing segmentation for small business is the 'C' word - COST. Segmentation relies heavily on market research and a lot of small businesses simply don't have deep enough pockets to be able to afford it. While larger corporates with differentiated product lines can do that, small businesses will typically discover their segments by trial and error - a hugely risky way to segment the market.

Have you walked down the Melbourne CBD recently? If you have, it is almost certain that you have been stopped by someone trying to sell something to you. From charity companies to mobile companies, everyone wants you to buy something. And if you live in the suburbs like I do, you would have noticed a complete absence of roadside sellers. That is because the Melbourne CBD is one of

the attractive geographical segments that businesses choose to target!

The concept itself is pretty easy - but actually deciding how to divide up the market can be tricky. And each industry has its own basis for segmenting the market.

How Do You Segment a Market?

There are generally four accepted types of segmentation as described below: 1. Geographic (eg: Country, City Region etc) 2. Demographic (Age group, Occupation, Gender etc) 3. Psychographic (Lifestyles, values, interests etc) 4. Behavioural (Buying stage,Loyalty status, Usage rates etc) But for many small businesses, this hugely crucial first step in getting your marketing efforts right is too complex and too costly.

Which is where the need to look at segmentation with a slightly different lens comes in - a more practical and efficient one.

The Existing Customer Base Segmenting the existing customer base in a way where the mutually exclusive, yet completely exhaustive segments will inform accurate marketing strategies is important. Hidden within this customer base is an army of customers who are so delighted with you that they will take it upon themselves to market you - all they need is a little nudge, a little love and they are good to go.

On the same token, there could also be another army of customers who are so discontent that they will tell the world about how you have made their life miserable.

The trick is to identify these segments correctly without blowing your marketing budget. That's where I come in.

The Solution?

A Cup of Coffee!

If you run a small-tomedium business and are keen to see how this could benefit your bottom line, give me a call on +61 424 287 904.

I have worked across multiple industries and know one thing

www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

Many small business owners are happy to take on any amount of work from anywhere. They are happy to operate the entire length of their business lifecycle on 'survival' mode. for a fact - the customer is the reason you are in business and they will continue to be the reason for your existence (or not in some cases!)

I am happy to chat over coffee (I am buying!) to see how best we can work together to ensure you invest your marketing dollar in the right place!

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southSouth asia times 19 Asia Times

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travel

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southSouth asia times 21 Asia Times

2017 - A YEAR OF TRAVELS

By Shilpa Dhanrthia

I

know we are all still slightly inebriated from our well-deserved breaks; but I reckon it’s time to roll up the proverbial sleeve and get back to work.

Travelling would not be as exhilarating if we were on a permanent holiday would it?I suggest that before work goes full throttle take some time out, close your eyes and think of all the places you have ever wanted to visit.

Timbuktu and Atlantis are valid options too (as long as you keep the list private).

I personally have an issue with bucket-lists, I believe in to-do lists as they feel more orientated and time bound.

So let’s make a to-do list for travels in 2017, go at least one place you have never been to before and make sure to visit family wherever they may be.

United Nations World Travel Organisation has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The idea is to protect and promote the diversity and cultural

heritage of countries around the world, to develop greater respect so as to promote world peace through acceptance and appreciation.

In the same vein; as world leaders congregate to discuss and manage climate change it is our duty as citizens of the world to consume responsibly and in general be more aware of the world around us.There is unsettlement outside our comfort zones but it is also

true that beauty lies in the unknown and unexpected.

So let’s explore, learn and discover more about the magical planet we live in.

Uniformity breeds conformity and that to me is one of the drawbacks of globalization. On one hand it has helped us transcend barriers and reach previously inaccessible destinations and on the other undistinguishable world-cities have emerged.

Delhi, New York, London and Shanghai though completely unrelated will appear similar on the surface due to the presence of glitzy skyscrapers, malls, multinational food chains and brands etc. Today, Starbucks, McDonalds, Zara and H&M can be found in most parts of the world. We tend to find comfort in the familiar and thus subconsciously rob ourselves from experiencing

www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

the divine small café in the corner or the old lady with kind eyes selling local craft.

We all know the “When in Rome” maxim, it’s time to follow that and support local and locals. This year try a quaint homestay, buy wares and clothes from a local designer, and eat at tucked away cafes.So let’s keep cultural diversity alive and thriving.

2017 marks the 10th anniversary of Gaura Travel.

As a multi award winning agency, Gaura has won the trust of airlines and customers alike. With keen customer and community focus the company has delivered excellent service quality at competitive costs. In this landmark year the company plans year- long celebration with the aim of thanking all its customers who have trusted and continued to support Gaura over the years. Team Gaurawishes you a happy and prosperous New Year.

May the year bring you new destinations, fresh avenues, novel perspectives, unconditional love and deep contentment.

south asia 22 South Asia Timestimes

cinema

Om Puri An Appreciation

By Ali Mohsin

O

m Puri, one of India’s most celebrated actors, was found dead at his Mumbai home last week, apparently of natural causes. The 66-year-old Puri leaves behind an enduring legacy, having starred in some of Indian cinema’s most remarkable films. In his prime, Puri was among the principal actors associated with Parallel Cinema, a film movement in India that was beginning to reach a mass audience just as he embarked on his acting career. News of his death has evoked feelings of genuine sadness in India and across the world. It has also produced a certain nostalgia among those who miss the old days of Indian cinema, when some of the country’s most talented directors and actors worked together to create films of subtle beauty and sharp political resonance.

Puri was born into a working class family in Ambala in 1950. His father, a railroad employee, often struggled to make ends meet. At the age of 6, Puri started working at his uncle’s tea stall to earn some additional income.

At one point he was afflicted with smallpox, the disease responsible for the distinctive scars on his face. Puri went on to study theatre acting at the National School of Drama, where he struck up a friendship with fellow actor Naseeruddin Shah. The two would eventually co-star in several films together. After graduating in 1973, Puri went to study at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where he had a difficult time paying his tuition fees and even had to borrow a shirt from Shah to keep up appearances.

By the time Puri made his debut in 1976, Indian cinema was already moving in an interesting direction.

Parallel Cinema had been around for some time, and filmmakers such as Satyajit Rai had achieved international fame. However, a notable shift took place beginning in the late 1960s, as films associated with the movement took on an overtly political character.

Indeed, this was a period of heightened class conflict across the globe. In India,

the working class was becoming more assertive, and strikes would regularly bring economic activity to a halt. Various leftist parties and organizations sprang up and gained an influence over the workers and poor farmers. This was the situation that lead Indira Gandhi to cynically and opportunistically adopt the language of socialism.

Against this backdrop, a new generation of filmmakers began to grapple with the major social and political issues of the day. Filmmakers such as ShyamBenegal, Mrinal Sen, GovindNihalani and others sought to expose the ugly realities of Indian society. They were joined by like-minded actors such as Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, SmitaPatil and ShabanaAzmi.

Issues such as class exploitation, caste and gender oppression, communalism and religious bigotry were addressed directly and honestly. Bourgeois morality and conventions were challenged in creative and thought-provoking ways.

Om Puri quickly made a name for himself by accepting minor roles in important films. No role was too small for Puri, as long as he believed in the project.

He made appearances in ShyamBenegal’sBhumika (1977) and Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastan (1978).

Puri’s breakthrough role came in 1980, when GovindNihalani, having been impressed by Puri’s performance in Bhumika, chose him for the lead role in his upcoming film, Aakrosh (1980). The film paints a

searing portrait of rural India, where the poor are at mercy of cruel and unscrupulous landlords. Om Puri stars as BhikuLahanya, who is falsely charged with murdering his wife after she is raped and killed by his landlord’s son. Bhiku is so traumatized by the incident that he is unable to speak, even to his court-appointed lawyer, played by Naseeruddin Shah.

Despite remaining silent throughout virtually the entire film, Puri shines in the role, conveying a range of emotions using only his eyes, facial expressions and body language.

In 1981, Puri starred in Satyajit Rai’s masterful madefor-TV film Sadgati. He plays the role of a Dalit who is literally worked to death, over the course of a day, by a cold-hearted Brahmin priest. Puri is as convincing as ever, effectively portraying a forlorn and helpless man, incapable of escaping his miserable fate.

In 1983, Puri starred in Benegal’sArohan, earning him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. In the opening scene, Puri speaks as himself, describing the plight of poor farmers in rural India and the necessity of organizing against the

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exploiters and oppressors.

The following year, Puri reunited with GovindNihalani, starring in the film Ardh Satya. Puri is brilliant as an idealistic police officer who eventually succumbs to demoralization and despair due to forces beyond his control.

Parallel Cinema was in decline by the mid 1980s, and Puri’s roles became less and less interesting. The collapse of the Soviet Union also had a devastating impact on the creative arts internationally.

Much of the left was in retreat. This no doubt had an impact on filmmakers of the time, and films of substance were few and far between.

The class struggle was over, we were told; to be replaced by the “clash of civilizations.”

During the 1990s, Puri demonstrated his crossover appeal by starring in Hollywood and British films. In 1992, Puri starred in Roland Joffe’s City of Joy, with his moving performance single-handedly preventing the sloppy and culturally

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insensitive film from being a total disaster.

One of Puri’s last noteworthy roles was in the 1997 film, My Son the Fanatic, directed

by Udayan Prasad. Puri effortlessly plays the role of an ordinary Muslim father whose son comes under the toxic influence of Islamic fundamentalism.

While films he starred in were politically charged, Puri was not much of an activist in his personal life.

Nevertheless, he did speak out on certain issues from time to time, most notably on the topic of India’s relations with Pakistan.

Puri’s denunciations of nationalism and jingoism earned him the hatred of right-wing forces in India, some of whom shamelessly celebrated the death of a national treasure.

The old days of Parallel Cinema may seem like a distant memory, but the social conditions that gave birth to the movement have returned with a vengeance.

The working class can and will begin to defend its interests; it has no choice.

The social movements of the future will hopefully motivate a new generation of filmmakers and actors to make politically conscious films.

And among their sources of inspiration will be the films of Om Puri.

Ali Mohsin is a freelance writer and activist based in New York. He can be reached at alimohsin1917@ gmail.com.

Source: Countercurrents.org, January 10, 2017.

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SOUTH ASIA

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'Electoral 'Electoral Process Process is is a a Secular Secular Activity' Activity'

By Ram Puniyani

T

he word secularism has been brought to disrepute during the last few decades.

Secularism stands in India for equal respect for all religions and the principle that state policies will not be dictated by religions.

This is the central theme of the Indian Constitution.

Its flawed practice and implementation by political parties in power has been used as a pretext by communal elements to downgrade it and question the very principles of secularism itself.

The Supreme Court seven bench judgment that electoral process is a secular activity comes as a big relief for all those who uphold the underlying currents of justice inherent in the values of pluralism.

The judgment says that India is a Secular State; elections in a secular state must not violate Principles of Secularism. It states that the Misuse of Religion for Political ends --violation of Section 123 of the Representation of People's Act amounts to a corrupt practice under Indian election law, and further that the onus of preserving the sanctity and purity of the election Process lies not just with the candidate contesting the election, but his/her agent, the manifesto on which he/she contests.

The judgment states that the function of an elected representative must be secular in both outlook and practice as these values also emphasize that there should be affirmative action for the religious minorities; this is as well the part ingrained in the values of justice, which forms the foundation of secular democracies. This judgment gives a new rejuvenating strength to the inherent principles of secularism which the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution envisaged.

The judgment has been welcomed by several political streams. While it has shown the path for the plural India where the dignity and rights of all are respected, there are several challenges posed by the implementation of the court verdict.

The whole exercise which brought in this judgment began with the interventions which wanted the court to revisit the notorious “Hindutva Judgment’ of 1995, associated with the name of Justice Varma. That judgment held that Hinduism-Hindutva is multifarious, diverse, ‘difficult to define’ so it is a ‘way of life’. The confusions on which that judgment was based are due to the very nature of Hinduism, where there is no single prophet and diverse and conflicting religious traditions prevailing in this area have been brought under the umbrella of

Hinduism.

Still all said and done Hinduism is a religion by all theological and sociological considerations, as it has holy books, rituals, clergy, GodsGoddesses and most other parameters for calling it a religion. This time the Court has not opined on this crucial aspect of the 1995 judgment, which needs to be revisited and revised keeping in mind its perception as a religion among millions of Hindus.

Not addressing this issue has left the ground open for a section of communalists to continue to appeal in the name of Hinduism-Hindutva and to escape being punished under the provisions of the People’s Representation Act. This discrepancy is not welcome as the major communal streams can merrily indulge in the use of religion for electoral ground and at the same time escape the penal provisions of law.

Secondly, use of “religions’ identity” has been the ground on which violence and polarization has been taking place. Take for example the issue of Ram Temple or beef; it gives a clear communal message. The use of this for political mobilization has been a major phenomenon over the last three decades and more. The Court verdict has nothing to say on these types of issues, which are an appeal to mobilize the community in the name of religion.

This political abuse of religion’s identity for electoral power is antithetical to secular values. How does the country get over these emotive issues which create a political malpractice in a deeper sense? Unless these are addressed the political parties will keep finding more and more ground to appeal to in the name of religion, although perhaps a little more subtly but with the same outcome.

One recalls that before the general elections of 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi In one of his speeches in Mumbai said that ‘I am born in a Hindu family: I am a nationalist, so I am a Hindu nationalist’. Massive hoardings were put up all over Mumbai to give this message. Will it come under the now declared corrupt practice or not?

The hate speeches of AkbarUddinOwaisi and the large section of RSS combine like Yogi Adityanath, Pravin Togadia, SadhviNirnajanJyoti and their ilk is a deeper appeal to the religion of the electorate. Should it amount to corrupt electoral practice or not? There is a lot of symbolism which gives the message of religion, like using Islamic symbols by some, and using Hindu symbols, Hindu gods and goddesses in the posters of the candidates. Some candidates have been comparing themselves to this

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or that god or goddesses.

Is this corrupt now or not?

Some time ago, UP BJP Chief, K.P. Maurya was shown posing as Lord Krishna facing the Kauravas of the Yadav family in posters that were put up, how does one let it pass if elections and politics are a secular enterprise?

On the other side will come the issues related to the marginalized sections of society. Demands for the neglected poor deprived sections may be related to caste or religion. Since the beginning some communities have remained disadvantaged or victimized due to multiple factors. Adivasis, Dalits and religious minorities do fall in this category.

There are enough reports showing the plight of these sections, Sachar Committee report being one example.

These sectional demands fall under the category of ‘affirmative action’, which is an integral part of the secular democratic nature of our Constitution. They cannot be labeled as an appeal to religion or caste in any way.

While the Supreme Court has shown the way, overcoming the existing lacuna in the practice of secular values need to be restored in society, as that then will pave the way for justice and peace in the real sense.

Source: The Citizen, January 06,2017

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southSouth asia times 25 Asia Times

Beware the ides of March “Ek din keh leejiye jo kuch hai dil mein aapke Ek din sun leejiye jo kuch hamare dil mein hai”

(Some day speak out everything in your heart. But one day also listen to what we have in our hearts.)

By Saeed Naqvi

Y

ou would imagine that this simple arrangement of words, a polite satire on the Prime Minister’s repetitious style of one-way communications (though in waist coats of diverse colours) would go down well with audiences who have stood in queues outside their banks. Wrong.

A verse like this would break their trance.

Don’t forget our important tiraths, or pilgrimages – Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Sabrimala, Shravanabelagola, to name just a few, demand arduous journeys on foot before that moment of rapture, a sighting of the deity. It is in this framework that the Indian has been mobilized for some higher purpose.

Not for him to reason why, not at the moment.

The man in the queue should not be confused with the elite who never had to stand in line and who see limited currency supply as a boon, a welcome route to automatic thrift. If I tipped a bearer Rs.100 beforeNovember 8, I now tip him only Rs.20 and the recipient, a born fatalist, is even happier.

This in fact is the new norm. Economists will study the downstream consequences of this abrupt slowing of cash flow for months to come.

Never in history has every citizen been in possession of data which would be the envy of social scientists worldwide. In the past 60 days I must have asked questions on

demonetization of, say, an average of five persons each day – spread over Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh.

What are my findings?

Broadly, there are two categories of responses which, quite strangely, remind me of Mandal Commission and its consequences. Let me explain why: The majority of the educated speculated about black money, remonetisation of banks, a degree of collusion between bank employees and corrupt depositors who transformed astronomical sums of old money into new, the problem the middle level stores and shops were having in acquiring swipe machines and so on. But this lot was almost without exception, over a period of time, beginning to give Narendra Modi a benefit of doubt: things will improve. This was the growing refrain. In the late 80s and 90s when reservations were being increased, this lot would have been the savarnas, the upper castes opposed to rapid Mandalization.

Have those averse to sustained mandalized politics, spotted a possible equalizer in the travails of demonetisation? The uneducated, the dalits on whose back a new mandalisedleadership consolidated itself in state capitals, have to this day continued to sell fruits and vegetables in carts, pavement stalls; lounging between parked cars are daily wage workers, carpenters, barbers, street cobblers, rag pickers – the

list is endless.

“Many of these do not even know how to make phone calls”, says Prakash the contractor in KotlaMubarakpur. How will they ever enter the cashless economy? These are the ones who have returned to their villages only to find their banks unable to give them any cash. Such stories reinforced by the narratives of their relatives and clans grow with geometrical progression – this is the overwhelming majority in the country side. For this multitude, Modi is quite the opposite of the hero TV channels project him as.

This population is totally at a variance from the city dweller in the queue – “things will improve”.

Obviously, the two categories of voters will support opposite sides in the coming elections to UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa. Uttarakhand was carved out to insulate the Hill savarnas from the ravages of UP’s Mandalized politics.

The state has two dominant castes, Brahmins and Thakurs, both on the right side of the demonetization divide.

It is in UP where the wretched of the Earth, further dispossessed by the currency crunch, will expend their anger against Modi. Post Mandal, Yadavs, backbone of the Samajwadi party, have emerged as the most powerful intermediate caste. They do not rank with the poorest. Dalits do. And they are mostly with Mayawati. Will the formidable leader of the BahujanSamaj Party be the biggest beneficiary of the

currency mayhem? Muslims are badly hit too. Whether they will be seduced by SP or BSP, popularity currents on election night will dictate.

That Modi remains unchallenged after he made the nation stand outside its banks, for 60 days and more, would have been incendiary material had there been leaders of sufficient caliber to light the match, Hindu fatalism notwithstanding. Mamata Banerjee has spunk but no supporting character outside Bengal. Punjab, therefore, is consequential for Modi in this context.

Despite the media unabashedly playing the Corporate hand, ground reports from Punjab are favourable to AAP. Arvind Kejriwal, persistently reviled by the media, an unfriendly Lt. Governor, a piqued BJP and Congress, will acquire an aura if he wins. By the way, how is he faring in Goa? What is playing out in Lucknow is a combination of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Lear. In Ferdowsi’s tragedy, Rustam slays his own son Sohrab. Lear goes mad, having been betrayed by his own progeny.

The more courtiers around Mulayam Singh egg him on for action against his son Akhilesh Yadav, the stronger will be the electoral storm gathering in the young chief minister’s favour. With Mulayam’s mental faculties in question, the conspirators are egging the aging Rustam to politically slay Sohrab.

Should Akhilesh prevail in these series of rounds,

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It is in UP where the wretched of the Earth, further dispossessed by the currency crunch, will expend their anger against Modi. Post Mandal, Yadavs, backbone of the Samajwadi party, have emerged as the most powerful intermediate caste.

They do not rank with the poorest.

Dalits do. And they are mostly with Mayawati. well, Modi will have to take note of another political contender for the 2019 general elections.

Meanwhile, state elections will ominously bring into focus the fateful Ides of March which is when results will start pouring in.

Source: The Citizen

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Raheel Sharif to lead Saud military alliance N

EW DELHI: Pakistan’s former military chief General Raheel Sharif has been appointed as the first commander of a Saudi-led military alliance to combat terrorism. Dubbed the “Muslim Nato” the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) is comprised of 39 mostly Sunni countries and headquartered at Riyadh.

The alliance was first proposed in 2015 to fight the Islamic State, and created its share of controversy in Pakistan as the country was divided over Islamabad’s role in the alliance. The indecisiveness, culminating in Pakistan deciding not to send troops to aid Saudi operations in Yemen, strained relations between the two countries, with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government following suit with repeated assurances that “the people of Pakistan held the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in high esteem and also had deep respect for

the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. … (they) will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Saudi Arabia against any threat to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

In regard to the coalition specifically, Pakistan had to walk a tightrope between its relationship with Saudi Arabia and the costs of military involvement in the Kingdom’s many wars.

After the coalition was announced, Pakistan initially denied involvement, going as far as to say that Pakistan had never been consulted on the decision. Officials changed their stance a day later, confirming the country’s inclusion, in what has become a characteristic vacillation given Pakistan’s stance with Saudi Arabia.

With Sharif’s appointment, the confusion arising out of the above has been put to rest. At the same time, the General’s decision to take up the offer has been widely criticised. For instance, the MajlisWahdat-e-Muslimeen,

a Shia political group, criticised the appointment and asked Sharif to turn it down.

Defence analyst Talat Masood told the DPA news agency the decision could result in a fallout for Pakistan. "… the other fact is that a Pakistani general will head this coalition that is controversial and Iran is very much opposed to it," Masood underlined.

"There are question marks whether it is a wise decision that a Pakistani will head an organization that is controversial and would take actions against certain forces which are backed by certain other Muslim countries," Masood added.

The Guardian quotes Hasan Askari Rizvi, a Pakistani defence analyst, raising questions regarding the nature of IMAFT, and whether the body will function as a “non-partisan force.” “But there is a question of how far this force would be a nonpartisan force,” he said. “At the moment it appears to be

dominated by conservative Arab kingdoms so Iran, Iraq and Syria will not welcome it.”

DW quotes Mosharraf Zaidi, a former USAID consultant and Islamabadbased foreign policy expert saying that "Pakistan should not get involved in the Saudi Arabia-Iran regional rivalry.”

"We must not forget that Riyadh and Tehran have their own interests, therefore the Pakistani government, too, should do what is best for the country. It must keep good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.”

Iran, notably, is absent from the coalition. Pakistan has had to walk the tightrope between Saudi Arabia and Iran on a host of matters in recent years. In addition to being allied in terms of Sunni sectarian identity, Pakistan continues to receive muchneeded financial assistance from Riyadh. In 2015, for instance, Pakistan reportedly received $1.5 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia to meet debt obligations and bolster its foreign exchange

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reserves. History, too, is indication of Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia.

In 1990, Pakistan agreed to join an international coalition in defence of Saudi Arabia against Iraqi aggression.

At the same time, Pakistan has to be careful of its own relations with Iran -- with whom it shares a border -- and it has to be mindful of not overextending the Pakistani army, that is already embroiled in a military offensive within the country’s own borders.

And while Islamabad was attempting to manoeuvre the tightrope between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Gen. Shareef’s appointment indicates that it is now firmly on the Saudi side. The move will inevitably create more friction in already tense Iranian-Pakistani ties, as well as potentially anger Pakistan's pro-Iran Shiite minority and fuel sectarian tensions in the already volatile country.

Source: The Citizen, Jan 9, 2017

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Bangladesh’s women journalists rise against the odds

By Mahfuzur Rahman

W

ahida Zaman of United News of Bangladesh. Photo Courtesy of Wahida

Zaman.

DHAKA, Jan 11 2017 (IPS) - Journalism is a profession that attracts both sexes, but social taboos and hostile office climates have kept the numbers of women working in Bangladesh’s media sector dismally low. Still, a new generation of women is stepping up, with the support of their path-breaking colleagues.

According to an October 2016 report by senior female journalist Shahnaz Munni of News 24, a private TV channel in Bangladesh, women journalists in Bangladesh’s media industry account for only 5 percent in print and 25 percent in electronic media.

Braving these odds and obstacles, young female graduates are increasingly joining the profession.

Wahida Zaman, for example, recently joined United News of Bangladesh (UNB), an independent wire service, as an apprentice sub-editor.

“Unlike many other classmates of mine, both male and female, I chose to study journalism by choice. Before being a journalist, I was actually a photographer. Nothing thrills me more than the thought that journalism can give me all these opportunities in one package,” Zaman told IPS. “I can go to places, meet new people, get to know new

stories — stories of both successful and unsuccessful people, and of course take lots of photographs. That’s how my dream of being a journalist started blooming.”

But, she said, being a woman and a journalist at the same time is not so easy in real life. “You have to face some obstacles, some real challenges.

And they start straight from your own home,” Zaman added.

There is often resistance among family members, who want their women to be ‘safe’, she said.

“First of all you’ll have to convince your family that journalism is not a ‘risky’ profession at all for you. In our society, you’ll often get undermined for being a woman.

You cannot go far because you’re a woman, you cannot move alone because you’re a woman, you cannot work at late night because you’re a woman, you cannot be brave enough to do investigative reporting because you’re a woman — and excuses keep coming.”

Nadia Sharmeen, a reporter at Ekattor TV, a private television channel in Bangladesh, came under attack in 2013 while covering a rally organised by Hefazat-e-Islam, for Ekushey Television, her previous workplace, in the capital Dhaka.

Sharmeen, who won the US State Department’s International Women of Courage Award in 2015, told the IPS that women in Bangladesh face challenges in all sectors.

“Threats and intimidation have

been part of this profession for women,” she said.

Hailing from Bagerhat, a remote southwestern district of Bangladesh, she said she enjoys the full support of her family in pursuing her career.

Sanchita Sharma, a news editor with Boishakhi Television, said the atmosphere for female journalists in Bangladesh is better now than at any time before and their numbers are growing — but are still not satisfactory.

Sharma said one problem is that women still focus on being news presenters rather than reporters or copy editors, which can help them get elevated to top positions.

Apart from social problems, a common challenge for women journalists is they have to manage both their homes and their offices. “It’s a double trouble for them,” she said.

Regarding the Bangladesh National Press Club, Sharma said the men who dominate its Executive Committee are reluctant to grant membership to women. “It’s very painful that women account for only 54 among the Club’s 1,218 members,” she said.

Echoing Sharma, Rashada Akhter Shimul, a Joint News Editor at Somoy TV, said male journalists misinterpret the successes and promotions of their female counterparts with concocted juicy stories.

She said their male bosses can be unnecessarily tough in putting their female colleagues on night shifts. “They (male bosses) can easily spare

us from nightshift duty if there is no emergency, but they don’t. That’s why many promising girls are quitting the profession.”

Every profession has hazards, but in journalism this is disheartening, particularly for women. “Things are improving, but slowly,” she said.

Shimul said male bosses also undermine female journalists and ignore them when it comes to covering important and challenging news beats like that of crime and PMO (the Prime Minister’s Office).

Shahiduzzaman, Editor of News Network, a leading non-profit media support organisation of Bangladesh, said the atmosphere in Bangladesh for female journalists is still far from ideal.

Shahiduzzaman, also a Representative and Senior Adviser for South Asia with Inter Press Service (IPS), said it was the News Network that first came forward in the mid-1990s to provide journalism training to female university graduates by offering them fellowships.

He said News Network has so far provided training to nearly 300 young and upcoming women journalists with support from donors like Diakonia, Free Press, USAID, Ford Foundation, Norad, Canadian International Development Agency, The World Bank and Janata Bank, a public sector local bank.

And 60 percent of them are now working in the country’s mainstream media. “Sanchita and Shimul are among them,”

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Unlike many other classmates of mine, both male and female, I chose to study journalism by choice. Before being a journalist, I was actually a photographer. he mentioned.

Stressing the importance of gender equity in Bangladesh’s media industry, Shahiduzzaman said a very few of the 5 percent female journalists hold policymaking positions, which is necessary for to make farreaching changes.

Regretting that there are hardly any female journalists at the country’s district level, the News Network editor said widespread training programmes are needed to encourage female young graduates to take up journalism as their profession.

“We can do even better if we can get support from donors as in the past,” he said.

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11 pm to 1 am urdu Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio24/7 2 Radio stations Melbourne FM & SBS Radio (Subscription) 2 Indian Link93.1 Radio Wednesday & Sunday 18000 15 8 47 6-7 PM Radio Santa Banta (Internet) Santabanta.com.au WORLD NEWS AUSTRALIA RADIO SydneyJhankar 1107AM88.6 & SBSFM; Radio 1 Thursday; 8 to Radio Every Melbourne 1224AM & SBS Radio 1 10 pm; Contact: 94668900 or 0411247320 or Monday & Friday 9404 2111 6-7 am & 6-7 PM

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Services handled by Indian Consulate Melbourne itself: OCI Misc. services, Registration of Birth, Birth Certificate, Renunciation of Indian Citizenship, Surrender of Indian Passport, New Passport Details on PIO, Transfer of Valid Visas, Marriage Certificate, Affidavit for Applying Child’s Passport in India, Documents Attestation.)

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How A Gujarati Newspaper’s Story on Rs 500 & 1000 Note DeMonetisation got it right

M

elbourne, 25 October: Labour leader and leader of opposition in Victoria, Hon. Daniel Andrews, today announced Labour will build an, ‘Indian Precinct’ in Melbourne, if elected to govern Victoria on 29 October, when Victoria goes to polls to elect a new government. The surprise Diwali gift was announced

by Hon. Daniel Andrews at the Federation Square Diwali event, organised by the Celebrate India.

The Managing Editor of Akila newspaper says it was an April Fool’s Story; but on November 8 Akila had Got it exactly right.

In the midst of the hubbub surrounding the secrecy of PM Modi’s plan to eliminate the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, an image of a clipping from a Gujarati newspaper doing rounds on WhatsApp and Social Media is leaving readers perplexed.

The clipping from a

Saurashtra-based Gujarati newspaper Akila dated April 1 declares that the government has taken a decision to remove the 500-Rupee and 1,000-rupee notes from circulation. This news dates back to a month before Modi government had even conceived the plan, which is said to have happened around six months ago, i.e. in the month of May, according to the news reports.

Clarifying on the image of the report that has left many befuddled, KiritGanatra, managing editor, Akila Press told SabrangIndia, “The story was printed as a joke on April 1, since it was the April

Fools' day. Many newspapers from Saurashtra follow the tradition of printing a spoof news report on April 1 and we do it every year.

Coincidentally, it turned out to be true this year.”

When asked about the uncanny similarities between the spoof report and the actual decision to scrap the said currency, he said, “People have been discussing and suggesting this move as a solution since quite a long time. This solution seems pretty obvious when one thinks about the possible ways to deal with the black money in the country. That’s why we wrote so in the spoof report. We had no access to any inside information whatsoever.”

However, the details of the announcement by PM Modi mysteriously match with the information mentioned in the Gujarati article.

A Loose translation of the report is summarised below: ‘Decision to Remove 500-

100 Notes from Circulation’ Whoever has Rs 500 or 1000 notes, should go and change them before June 30.

Transactions for higher than Rs 2,000 have to be done through electronic cards, debit cards and electronic means only. Cash more than a certain amount cannot be kept at home. These are some of the moves to stop the flow of black money and corruption, as decided

by Narendra Modi on the conclusion of two years his government.

News of this historic decision has come to light.

Use of fake currency for terrorist and anti-social activities will thus be stopped. Notes of these denominations in the possession of people should be surrendered by June 30.

By this move, black money will be cleaned and India will surge forward.

The government’s move will have no impact on ordinary people and is only meant to

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expose the corrupt and those functioning with black money currency.

One of the differences between the spoof report and the real incident is that the spoof talks about a three-month-window to return the currency. But, the announcement by PM Modi on November 8 prompted overnight scrapping of the said currency, while he also introduced design of the new notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

Nonetheless, the mention of one of the intents of the move to deal with terrorism remains the same in both the stories.

While the planning to execute the so-called biggest move was reportedly kept secret from Modi’s own cabinet until Tuesday afternoon, reading about its details in a paper from even before the conception of the plan raises eyebrows, and some hard questions.

Source: Sabrang, 10 November, 2016.

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southSouth asia times 35 Asia Times

Squad for Oz Qantas Tour of India announced

By SAT Sports Desk

M

ELBOURNE,15 JANUARY: The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) have named a 16-man squad for the Qantas Tour of India. Australia will play four Tests against India in Pune, Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala respectively. The announcement was made by

by Interim National Selector, Trevor Hohns. The following is the squad: 4Steve Smith (C) 4New South Wales 4David Warner (vc) 4New South Wales 4Ashton Agar 4West Australia 4Jackson Bird 4Tasmania 4Peter Handscomb 4Victoria 4Josh Hazlewood 4New South Wales 4Usman Khawaja 4Queensland 4Nathan Lyon 4New South Wales 4Mitchell Marsh

4West Australia 4Shaun Marsh 4West Australia 4Glenn Maxwell 4Victoria 4Steve O’Keefe 4New South Wales 4Matthew Renshaw 4Queensland 4Mitchell Starc 4New South Wales 4Mitchell Swepson 4Queensland 4Matthew Wade 4Victoria The squad includes; six batsman, four spin bowlers, three pace bowlers, two all-rounders and a wicketkeeper.

Speaking on the makeup of the squad, Interim National Selector Trevor Hohns said the panel chose an additional spin bowler to allow as many options as possible.

“We don’t know what pitch conditions we will come up against in each of the venues but wanted to have flexibility and options available to us.

“We know India is an

incredibly tough place to tour and have success in, with most International teams struggling to adapt to the conditions, but we have chosen a squad which we believe will work really hard in its endeavours to perform well and give a good account of itself in the sub-continent.

“We expect all of the young players chosen to benefit immensely from the experience.”

The squad features four spinners including Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and West Australia’s left arm orthodox spinner Ashton Agar.

“Mitchell is an exciting young leg-spinner that has come through the pathway system. We feel he has a lot of potential and want to see him take his opportunity in conditions that should suit him should he get a chance.

“Ashton is a good left-arm orthodox spinner who can be very exciting with the bat and also fields extremely well. He provides us with a

great all-round package.”

Victoria’s Glenn Maxwell and West Australia’s Mitchell Marsh make up the all-rounders in the side.

“We know Glenn plays very well against spin and has a lot of experience playing in India. We think his ability with the bat, coupled with his handy off-spin will complement the bowling unit if required.

“We consider Mitchell as a bowling all-rounder and should we decide to play a two pace and two spin bowling attack it is important to have that third seam bowling option if conditions suit.”

We know India is an incredibly tough place to tour and have success in, with most International teams struggling to adapt to the conditions, but we have chosen a squad which we believe will work really hard in its endeavours to perform well and give a good account of itself in the sub-continent. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

West Australia’s Shaun Marsh returns to the side following injury earlier in the summer.

“Shaun is proven in subcontinent conditions and is coming off a hundred in his last Test match in Sri Lanka. He is a very versatile batsman who can slot in at the top or the middle of the order,” said Hohns.

With the inclusion of only three fast bowlers in the squad the NSP will reassess the fast bowling stocks after the second Test in Bangalore.

Selected members of the squad will depart on January 29 for Dubai to train, before the remainder of the squad follow after the Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand.

Those players departing early will be confirmed following the announcement of the Qantas Tour of New Zealand.

—Source: Cricket Australia

south asia 36 South Asia Timestimes

FINANCE

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Are you and your family safe?

BY Balki Balakrishnan

I

n the last few articles in this newspaper we saw the importance of Financial Planning and how to identify a good financial planner. The purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of personal risk protection.

Sudden loss of income and/or unforeseen expenses are the personal risks we and our family are exposed to on a daily basis. Risk management is simply to put through a solution in case these risks eventuate due to death, illness or injury. For those of us who are balancing mortgage payments or rent, credit card and other debts and everyday living expenses, a sudden loss of income combined with medical bills would be catastrophic.

Personal risk insurance is

the way we protect our income and our wealth.

There is lot of myths surrounding personal risk insurance. One of them is that if you are working you will be covered under Worker’s Compensation cover and the compensation when received will be sufficient. Firstly, if you are self-employed sole trader or a contractor you are not covered under Worker’s Compensation.

Secondly, statistics reveal 75% of Australians who are injured had suffered the injury outside work and therefore can’t make a claim. Thirdly, the financial assistance offered is never known in advance and may inadequate to compensate the loss of income and manage the medical bills.

In 2013/14, of the 531,800 persons who experienced a work related injury or illness only 30% were eligible to apply for compensation.

(Source: ABS 6324.0 Workrelated injuries, Australia, JUL 2013 to JUN 2014).

The other myth is that it won’t happen to me and insurance companies never pays on claims. Both of these assumptions are wrong. In the financial year 2015 alone the main stream and retail group of insurance companies have paid out 6.9 billion dollars on insurance claims on roughly 89,000 claims (Source: Industry Stats 2015 – the risk store).

These figures include only insurers who had reported their statistics and therefore the amount paid by the insurance industry as a whole will be much higher if those unreported amounts are also included. We can draw a few conclusions from these statistics. None of these people who put in

a claim expected to make a claim, or wanted to, but they had to. Behind every one of these claims there is a real person with a family who had their own dreams about their future like we all do. If these claimants hadn’t received 6.9 billion dollars from insurance companies with an average pay out of $77,000 per claim where would they have got that kind of money? For the uninsured this kind of unforeseen expense would have been devastating affecting adversely not only their current living standards, but also their retirement nest egg.

We insure the car the day it is bought, insure our home and/or contents etc. but considerable number of Australians pay little or no attention when it comes to protecting their income and the wealth they have created through their hard work. Your greatest asset is your ability to earn an income. What happens if

it dries up one day due to illness or injury? How will you and your family survive? Insurance can’t prevent illness or injury occurring, but it can significantly decrease the financial consequences of these events.

Risk mitigation through personal risk insurance is a highly complex area of financial advice. You need a qualified and experienced financial advisor to assist you to get it right. A financial advisor will help you in designing, implementing and monitoring the risk mitigation strategy in myriad number of ways.

Most importantly the financial advisor will be there for you and your family in case you need to make a claim.

In the next few articles we will explore in detail the various types of insurance you should be aware of and should be part of your total financial plan.

The trustee of COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SERVICES Unit Trust ACN 155 048 132 is an Authorised Representative and Credit Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited, Australian Financial Services Licensee and Australian Credit Licensee.

Balki Balakrishnan

Financial Advisor Authorised Representative & Credit Representative

This article contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. If you decide to purchase or vary a financial product, your financial adviser, Community Financial Services Pty Ltd and other companies within the AMP Group may receive fees and other benefits.

The fees will be a dollar amount and/or a percentage of either the premium you pay or the value of your investment.

Please contact us at 0419 506 560 if you want more information. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

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