SAT July Issue 2017

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South Asia Times Vol.14 I No. 12 I JULY 2017 I FREE s o u t hasiatim es.com .au Editor: Neeraj Nanda

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EDIT PAGE - PG 3 COMMUNITY - PG 4 SAT EXCLUSIVE - PG 10 SOUTH ASIA - PG 16 MUSINGS - PG 26 HINDI PUSHP - PG 30-31 THE ARTS- PG 35

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EDITORIAL page

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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

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‘No Religion’ rises in Australian Census 2016 but what does it mean?

By Neeraj Nanda

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elbourne, 27 June: The 2016 Census has shown interesting and revealing data about those who follow different religious faiths and those who ticked the ‘No Religion’ section. For the first time nearly a third of Australians (30 %) reported that they have no religion in 2016.

Interestingly, the growing percentage of Australians reporting no religion has been a trend for decades, and is accelerating. Those reporting no religion increased noticeably from 19 per cent in 2006 to 30 per cent in 2016. The largest change was between 2011 (22 per cent) and 2016, when an additional 2.2 million people reported having no religion.

How likely a person was to identify as religious in 2016 had a lot to do with their age.

Young adults aged 18-34 were more likely to be affiliated with religions other than Christianity (12 per cent) and to report not having a religion (39 per cent) than other adult age groups. Older age groups, particularly those aged 65 years and over, were more likely to report Christianity.

According to the Census’, Classification of Topic Groups’ (RELP-Religious Affiliation) ‘No Religion’ consists of ‘Secular Beliefs and Other Spiritual Beliefs and No Religious Affiliation’.

Expanded further: ‘Secular Beliefs’ consists of Secular Beliefs , Agnosticism, Atheism, Humanism, Secular Beliefs and ‘Other Secular Beliefs’ consists of Other Secular Beliefs-, Multi faith, Own Spritual Beliefs, Theism,

Unitarian Universalism and other Spritual Beliefs.

So, one thing is clear that the definition of ‘No Religion’ is very broad and need not mean that everyone (30.1 %) under this section have no faith in a supernatural or god. It also is indicative the section basically consists of people with heterogeneous views and are not part of the popular organised or nonorganised faiths (religions).

In the same way many people who ticked one of the established religions actually do not practice the religion. I have met a person, in Melbourne, who once told me he was non-religious but culturally a Hindu.

A glance of the ‘Religious Affiliation’ section gives the breakup of the various Christian denominations (a distinct religious body within Christianity) but does not do that, for example, for Islam and Hinduism. For example, the definition of Hinduism is quite broad. Some believe it is just a way of life while others believe it to be a religion. And

the popular Lonely Planet India guide says: “Hinduism defies attempts to define it in any specific sense. Some argue that it is more an association of religions. It has no founder, central authority or hierarchy.

It is not a proselytising religion. You can’t be converted; to be a Hindu you must be born one. The strictly orthodox maintain that only a person born in India of Hindu parents can truly claim to be Hindu”.

Obviously, the Census does not go deep into religious definitions but nor does in reality Australia becomes a god-less country because about 60 per cent have reported religious affiliation. The proportions of Australians reporting other than Christianity has gone up from 2.6 per cent in 1991 to 8.2 percent in 2016, says The Daily telegraph.

But ‘No religion’ is nationwide. Bernard Salt says in The Australian, “The rise of godlessness, for that is what it is, has found resonance in

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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every part of the nation and across all age groups. The number of atheists 65 and older (600,000) is double the number at the beginning of the decade. It’s not just the young and the healthy who are turning away from the Almighty; it’s ageing, fastfading, baby boomers who increasingly are mindful of what may, or what may not, lie beyond the great abyss.”

So, is ‘No religion’ whatever it means is Australia’s new religion or an assertion of secularism.

Reacting to the subject Kylie Sturgess, President of the Athiest Foundation of Australia, says: “The godless in Australia is a huge force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re an atheist, agnostic, humanist, rationalist, a free-thinker or even someone who considers themselves spiritual but not religious, you’re part of a powerful voting block that deserves to be heard.

Our political, business and cultural leaders must listen to the non-religious when we demand public policy that’s based on evidence, not religious beliefs. This includes policy on abortion, marriage equality, voluntary euthanasia, religious education in state schools and anything else where religious beliefs hold undue influence.” (athiestfoundation.org.au).

No doubt, ‘No religion’ has become the biggest group amid the numerous faith groups and will influence society’s different pursuits.

But the predominantly religious population remains a potent force. Australia being a secular-multicultural country is likely to ensure the co-existence of these two different ways of lives.

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COMMUNITY

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Three Indians among 33 graduate from the Victoria Police Academy

By our correspondent

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elbourne, 10 July: Thirty-three graduates from diverse grounds received their graduation at the Victoria Police Academy joining the oldest, most distinguished organisation – Victoria Police. The ceremony took place at the Main Chapel (of Corpus Christ) at The Victoria Police Academy, Glen Waverly which was packed with hundreds of near and dear ones.

Minister for Police Losa Neville thanked each of the 33 graduates for putting their hands up, their willingness to serve the Victorian Community, their willingness to put their lives on line to keep us safe and thanked family and friends who supported the graduates and played an integral part in their success.

Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said, “It’s good to see that the diversity of our community is reflected in the graduates today, with some born in Australia

and some born overseas.

Pleased to see that Victoria Police has recruits that are truly reflective of our multicultural society.”

Three Indians Vardhan Arora from Lucknow, Constable Rupinder Sindhu and ConstableGurpreetSekhon from Punjab were among those who graduated.

Talking to SAT, GurpreetSekhon , who worked as a Protective Services Officer (PSO) for three and a half years prior to this said, “ It’s a tough gig,

it’s not easy to be studying, training, working at the same time and you need a lot of support from your family. It’s a long journey, it will take a while, there’s lots to take in and lots to learn but I am looking forward to it”. His goal is to join the Criminal Investigation Unit.

Vardhan Arora from Lucknow came to Australia when he was in year 8.

He initially started with Engineering but wasn’t a big fan, he then decided to do commerce and finally went on to join the public sector.

He liked the diversity aspect of Victoria Police and he felt he was a good fit. Vardhan will be doing general duties in Prahran for the next few years and may take up prosecution later.

Rupinder Sidhu came from Ludhiana and found the settling process a bit tough initially, however he

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persevered and found a job eventually. Originally qualified as a Mechanical Engineer from India he studied criminology and Social Justice in Australia, prior to joining Victoria Police. He wants to either join the Highway Patrol or specialise in counter terrorism.

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community

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southSouth asia times 5 Asia Times

Free trip for youth to India under Know India programs

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne, 11 July: Young Indians (youth of Indian Origin) aged between 18-30 years who are not Indian citizens can visit India free with economy fares, local hospitality, lodging, visas and out of pocket expenses under the Know India Programs (KIP).

The program has 4 segments this year with different state partners - 3-27 September 2017 (Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh), 1-25 October 2017 (Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh), 1-25 November 2017 (Meghalaya & Assam), 29 Nov – 23 Dec 2017 (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana), January 2018 (Rajasthan) and Jan-Feb 2018 (Madhya Pradesh).

The “KIP is an engagement programme for Diaspora youth of Indian origin to introduce them to India and promote awareness about different facets of Indian life, our cultural heritage, art and various aspects of contemporary India. The programme has been in

The “KIP is an engagement programme for Diaspora youth of Indian origin. existence since 2003, says a media release.

On 17 June 2017 Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Indian foreign minister inaugurated the website -www.kip.gov. in - through which those applying for the KIP can file applications online till 21 July, 2017.

According to the media release, “In the Application Form, the applicant should

indicate his/her preference for each KIP, in the order of priority. The organisation will attempt to allot the first preference of each applicant to the extent possible.

If there are too many applicants for a specific KIP, the allotment of candidates will be on first-come-first serve basis and subject to fulfilment of all eligibility criteria.”

The main elements of the KIP, the media release says are: • Understanding of India’s political system, economy, society, and developments in various sectors etc. Visit to places of historical, cultural, religious importance. - Familiarisation with art, music and culture of India. - Visit to industrial

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sites.

• Visit to a village •Interaction with nonprofit organizations.

•Meetings with senior leadership/officials in India.

• Visit to a select state in India for 10 days.

Instructions/eligibility criteria/other information for applicants is available on KIP portal www.kip.gov. in.

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community

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SBS News introduces 2016 Census Explorer

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne, 12 July: It is now easy for you to explore the 2016 Census statistics and details subject wise. The user friendly online explorer lets you go deep into the details you are eager to know about.

For example, you might be interested how many South Asian (Indian subcontinent) languages are spoken in Australia and how many people speak them at home.

You can even know the age groups and much more. All this is possible to access through the SBS Census Explorer.

SBS News has introduced this innovative interactive tool by compiling data from the 2016Census for Australians to explore the results and findings of the recently released censusdata by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The SBS Census Explorer tool allows users togo behind the statistics to learn more about who they are and where they’re heading as oneof the most multicultural countries in the world.

The SBS Census Explorer tool can be found at sbs.com. au/census explorer.

SBS Managing Director, Michael Ebeid, said: “The SBS Census Explorer is a user-friendly innovative tool that enables all Australians to discover how Australia is changing, engaging with a rich interactive visual portrait of who we are, where we live, where we comefrom and the languages we speak. The

tool helps us to deepen our understanding of themany cultures that make up our country today, which contributes to a more cohesive Australia.”

Introduced in 2012, this tool was an Australian first and with the inclusion of 2016 Census data, the SBS Census Explorer tool is a great way to compare trends

over time to see how things have evolved from the last Census in 2011 to today.

The latest version of the tool features new heat maps for key characteristics, including language, country of birth, sex, religion, income, ancestry and Indigenous status. With interactive maps, it also shows where language

communities are settling across the country and whether your community has aged or grown younger.

The SBS Census Explorer tool can be found at sbs. com.au/censusexplorer and will be promoted on all SBS platforms – SBS World News, Radio, Online, on Mobile and via Social platforms along with a link on every SBS Radio’s language page.

Vic, Queensland & SA drive increase in vehicle thefts Three-quarters of vehicles were stolen from either an outbuilding or residential land (which includes thefts from garages, driveways and carports) or from a street or footpath.

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 6 July: Motor vehicle thefts increased by 9 per cent in 2016, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Director of Crime and Justice Statistics William Milne said that the number of victims of motor vehicle theft rose to

over 56,000 in 2016, the highest number since 2012.

"The increase from last year was driven entirely by three states: Victoria (up 25 per cent), Queensland (up 19 per cent) and South Australia (up 10 per cent)," he said. "All other states and territories recorded decreases.’'

Three-quarters of vehicles were stolen from either an outbuilding or residential land

(which includes thefts from garages, driveways and carports) or from a street or footpath.

Between 2015 and 2016, the number of victims recorded nationally increased across a range of offences. However, since 2010 the number of victims have decreased for the following offences: Homicide and related offences – down 2 per cent to 452

victims Robbery – down 36 per cent to 9,403 victims Burglary – down 9 per cent to 188,756 victims The number of sexual assault victims increased for the fifth consecutive year, up 5 per cent to 23,052 victims in 2016.

Victims of family and domestic violence (FDV) related sexual assault increased slightly more,

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up by 6 per cent from 2015 to 8,210 victims in 2016. The number of female victims of FDV-related sexual assault was almost six times higher (6,942 victims) than the number of male victims (1,248 victims).

Further information can be found in Recorded Crime Victims, Australia, 2016 (cat. no. 4510.0) available for free download from the ABS website: http://abs.gov.au/.

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community

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Winter wonderland comes to Springvale this month

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 11 July: Come and play at Snow Fest 2017 and experience all the fun of the snow right in theheart of Springvale.

More than 80 tonnes of snow will be trucked the three hours from Mt Buller to the corner of Buckingham and Balmoral avenues in Springvale for the July 30 event.

Now in its fifth year the event attracts an average of 40,000 visitors each year and runs from 12pm to 7pm.

Greater Dandenong Mayor Cr Jim Memeti said Snow Fest was one of the city’s most popular street festivals.He said since it began it had won a number of highly-regarded tourism awardsincluding best tourism event in Victoria.

“This festival allows people to experience all the fun of the snow without having to leave Melbourne,” he said.

“It is a sight to behold to see Springvale transformed into a winter wonderland.”

Entry to the snow play areas is free, rides start at $2 and there will be plenty of free family entertainment for everyone.

If your little one’s love winter sports, then why not try Burton Riglet, a fun activity teaching 3-6 year olds to snowboard.

Live acts will perform across two stages including a youth stage where

performances will include the FReeZA Push Start Battle of the Bands competition heat and a main stage where visitors will be able to enjoy magic acts, live music and dance.

There will also be roving performers including snow angels, polar bears and giant penguin puppets.

The night will conclude with a spectacular fireworks

display at 6.50pm. This year’s event sponsors are Mt Buller, Hit 101.9 The Fox and TVB Australia.

Free parking is available at the number 8 car park off Balmoral Avenue and the Springvale City Hall site.

Details: www. greaterdandenong.com/ snowfest

There will also be roving performers including snow angels, polar bears and giant penguin puppets.

Sangeet Sandhya Open forum for music lovers – classical, semi-classical & film music

Saturday 4/02/17 - Shubhangi Pandey Saturday 1/04/17 - Gurmit Sahni Tuesday 3/06/17 - Thai Group Saturday 5/08/17 - Satyendra Mishra Saturday 7/10/17 - Saurabh Mishra Saturday 2/12/17 - Yusuf Sultan

Swar Sandhya Open forum for music lovers; Karaoke – Popular Indian Music Bring your own music, perform and enjoy

Saturday 7/1/17 Saturday 6/5/17 Saturday 2/9/17

Saturday 4/3/17 Saturday 1/7/17 Monday 4/11/17

Venue: Brandon Park Primary School,

Time: 8.00pm

1-5 Ninevah Cr Wheelers Hill Free Entry, with ample parking, Free tea, coffee and biscuits Contact: Phone- 0402 074 208 or 0407 559 113 email- sangeetswarsandhya@gmail.com www.facebook.com/sangeetsandhya

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south asia 8 South Asia Timestimes

community

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English test & skills assessment changes to employer-sponsored permanent visas not applicable to before 1 July 2017 applicants: Immigration Department

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 11 July: The AFR (Australian Financial Review) report that recent changes to some employersponsored visas would mean hundreds of visa applications made before 1 July are now invalid has been denied by the Immigration department.

A media release says: “The business community should be assured that changes to the exemption to English language and skills assessment requirements for employer-sponsored permanent visas will not be applied to applications lodged before the changes came into effect on 1 July 2017.”

Earlier, the Government removed the exemption for applicants earning over $180,000 per year for English language and skills assessments for the Employer Nomination

Scheme (subclass 186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187).

In implementing this change, the Department ensured it only affects applications lodged from 1 July.

The removal of the exemption is designed to prevent misuse of the program by individuals

inflating their income to avoid having to undertake an English test or a skills assessment.

Applications lodged before 1 July will continue to be assessed on merit, and anyone suspected of inflating their incomes will be subject to further scrutiny in the application process.

The reduction in the age

limit for some permanent employer sponsored visas from 50 to 45 also only applies to direct entry visa applications lodged after 1 July.

It does not apply to current subclass class 457 visa holders applying under the transition stream.

The restoration of the age limit to 45 years responds to a recommendation of the Productivity Commission to ensure migrants make a sufficient contribution to the Australian economy before moving into retirement.

Exemptions to the age limit remain in place under certain circumstances.

“The Government remains committed to maintaining the integrity of Australia’s migration programs and improving systems and processes, says the media release.

It further says, “These changes are designed to protect Australian workers, while allowing employers to recruit overseas workers

The removal of the exemption is designed to prevent misuse of the program by individuals inflating their income to avoid having to undertake an English test or a skills assessment. in occupations which are known to be in high demand and face skills shortages in the Australian labour market.”

Sardarni&Sardarji International Contest in Australia

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 10 July: A big launch and media interaction of the Sardarni&Sardarji International Contest to be held here on 27 August, 2017 was held at the SwagatThe Welcome Indian Restaurant, Thomastown. Five countries including Australia are

participating. Auditions are in progress and organisers are gearing up for the event.

This unique event will be happening here for the first time with the hard work of Avtar Singh, Gurninder Singh, Sukhjit Kaur, Jagpreet Singh and Judgebir Singh.

The organisers said the event has been organised to provide a platform to sabat-soorat Sikhs in

Punjabi Film industry. They also detailed the criteria to pick the final winners of the contest.

A number of eminent Punjabi Film &theatre personalities including Jarnail Singh, TarsemJassar, MalkitRauni, NirmalRashi, Karamjit Anmol, Narinder Nina, Gurjit Singh and Jaspinder Cheema are expected to attend the grand finale happening in Melbourne.

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Finalists from five different countries India, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada will be taking part in the grand-finale happening in Melbourne. The winners of the contest will be provided an entry platform to the Punjabi film industry.

For more information go to – www.virsedewaris.com

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SAT Exclusive

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Interview with Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Honeypreet Singh

Gurmeet Ram Raheem wears many hats M From Rajeev Sharma in New Delhi

oneypreet Singh is the daughter of Ram Rahim Singh, saint, film actor, musician and the director of the comedy movie Jattu Engineer, released recently. In a candid interview with Rajeev Sharma, both the father and daughter talk about their journey of filmmaking and the social causes they are involved with.

SAT: You had said in a recent interview that you had only watched one film in the theatres in your life, and that too, you don’t remember well. You said the film probably had Amitabh Bachchan in it.

GurmeetRam Rahim Singh (RSS): Yes, you are right.

SAT: So you were never quite a film addict, nor did you have any connections with the film industry, yet you are making films in a row. How did it all happen?

GRRS: It all happened because of the youth of our country, I made them commit for various social causes, including blood donation, tree plantation, eye donation after their death, body donation etc.

There were 43 or 47 causes in all for which I made them commit. Then they took the mike and said, Guruji, we fear you as you wear white clothes. We revere you from afar as a saintly person, but stay distanced from you. We request you to wear jeans and t-shirts, just like us, so that you become one among us. This was some time in 2007.

Since then, I started becoming one of them. They then requested me to sing for them, as they knew I was a singer too. My career as a singer flourished with as many as 150 concerts, and most of them happened during the night time. During those concerts, I found some of the youth in the front row missing, and upon asking, they told me they had gone to watch films.

While conversing with me about films, they felt afraid, and when I asked why, they said it was because their

parents had the impression that watching films are not respectable. It was then the idea struck me that I can make films which would carry some social messages, apart from entertaining. We can transform the youth of our country by making films.

Thus my journey in films started.

After four films, the rise in the audience has been phenomenal. If you ask about my experience, from what I have seen, the films have done good business both in India and also overseas.

SAT: But you know, there is a saying: “Jack of all trades, master of none.” You are also a talented and gifted singer. Where did all these diverse talents in you originate from, and what do you want to accomplish with them?

GRRS: Yes, I agree with whatever you say, but I think all of it is due to the blessings of the almighty God. I have done meditation for as long as 15 hours at a stretch. I have meditated with the mantra of Lord Ram, from 1991, till 20052006, and in doing that, I have been gifted with a divine power, a divine energy. Since my childhood, I have been involved with

my prayers for Lord Ram and I have devoted all my energies in praying to God since then. All my talents, I am sure, are due to this devotion of mine, and I do not feel that anybody else is capable of doing something which I cannot do, mostly I myself am capable of doing that. There might be some areas in which I have not yet excelled, but in most areas, I have performed to the best of my abilities.

I have played as many as 30 national games, I have been an international coach, I have been an agriculture scientist, I have modified cars and bikes, I have been a dress designer, a shoe designer, a designer of ornaments. I have been gifted with these abilities and much more, and I definitely consider it as God’s blessings.

SAT: Now, let us discuss regarding the film Jattu Engineer, and please explain the film and your experience of it. I have heard a lot about the film from Rahul Mathre, but give me some details about the film which would be breaking news for me.

GRRS: In Jattu Engineer, the role that I played was a much challenging one.

It is a common belief that

a person who is a saint is a cool, composed and solemn person, so it was very difficult to portray him as a comedian. If people think that he cannot be a comedian, they should go and watch the film.

They will get to know that when a saint comes to reform a society, he can do anything for the sake of the betterment of the society.

SAT: You have so many followers, both of your films and as a spiritual guru. What has their feedback on your films been like, when they come now to attend the spiritual events of yours?

GRRS: Yes, actually they speak only about my films. For the rest of their life problems, they speak of them as well, as all of them are given mikes categorically, and I try to provide answers keeping in mind the holy Vedas. But now, after my films, they talk mostly about my films.

SAT: Now I would like to speak to your daughter Honeypreet Singh, who has directed the film Jattu Engineer. How would you say that your experience of making this film was,

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keeping in mind the fact that you have no basic education in filmmaking?

Honeypreet Singh(HPS): Yes, it is true that I have no basic education or training in filmmaking, but I would like to say that my father had taught me everything about making a film, so I started this journey of filmmaking with his guidance and assistance.

SAT: You are a young woman and belong to today’s generation.

So I would like to ask you, have you ever gone to watch cinema in the theatres?

HPS: Yes, I have watched many films in the theatres, but I did not ever think that I would make my foray into this field of filmmaking. But when I got here along with my father, I started to have interest in the activities behind the camera.

SAT: Your father has become a superstar already. But apart from him, who are the other heroes or actors whose acting you like and admire?

HPS: I can’t think of any particular actor, but I can tell this much that I like the ones who give nice, positive messages through their Contd. on pg 12

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A R Rahman concert in Melbourne on 7 October

BY SAT News Desk

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elbourne: A R Rahman, the Mozart of the East is celebrating his 25 years of musical journey this year. Famous for his music in the East

and West, the ‘Urvashi Urvashi’ and ‘JaoHo’ artist will perform here with his 50 strong group of artists and musicians on 7 October (Hisense Arena, Melbourne) and Sydney (Qudos Bank Arena) on 30 September.

Rahman is a recent Skye

hookup was cheered by those present and the media at the Thornbury Theatre.

The event is being promoted

by Polux Technologies, India and the Polux Technologies Aust Pty. Ltd. Rahman will be performing after 7 years

in Sydney and 12 years in Melbourne with songs picked from his 25 years of musical journey in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages.

The promotors of the eventSatya and Rao Gangula addressing the gathering

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invited all individuals and families to the show.

The excitement is natural of such a big world famous artist to be seen amid the community performing and celebrating his 25 years of musical journey.

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Gurmeet Ram Raheem wears many hats...

Contd. from pg 10

films and inspire them with their positive vibes.

SAT: But still, you can take a few names, like say Akshay Kumar, or Salman Khan, or any youth icon, for that matter.

HPS: Not any one in particular that I have thought about, but if I think of some recent examples of entertaining films, I can mention a few of them. For example, I recently people are speaking very positively about ‘Bahubali’, so I would definitely like to go and watch the film.

SAT: Now I would want to ask you something else.

As a filmmaker, you and your father belong to two different generations, with your age gaps. Has this generation gap brought any conflict between the two of you during the making of the film? For example, has there been any instance when your father wanted a particular thing and you refuted it, saying that it does not hold good in today’s age?

HPS: (Laughs)…No no…actually yes you are right to an extent, when you say that there is a generation gap between a father and his daughter. But this is not at all the case here, because my father does not treat me like a father usually does. Rather he treats me just like a friend. So the concept of generation gap does not exist between us from the very start. We are three sisters and one brother, and all of us are extremely friendly with our father.

Whenever we sit together, we are like friends. He has been a friend, and also a mother to us, and the generation gap has been obliterated.

SAT: Do you want to say something about the music of the film?

HPS: The most favourite song in the film is ‘Holi kiPichkari’, which has been sung by my father. The refrain “dhigdhigdha” in that song is my favourite, I love it so much that I keep reiterating that in my daily routine.

SAT: Now tell me something, how is it possible that films are made so quickly these days? What is the reason behind this?

HPS: I myself don’t know how it is possible. When the ‘muhurat’ of this film happened, Papa had said to the media that he would try to finish making the film within 21 days. While looking at him then, I was wondering how it would be possible to wrap up 86 scenes (that too, each scene was quite elaborate, with several pages) within such a short time span. Then when the shooting started, within 15 days, it was finished with two songs, which

was quite amazing.

SAT: Yes, this is your secret, you have this connection with the Almighty.

GRRS & HPS: (Laugh)…

SAT: I have come to know from your PRO that you have another specialty, i.e., you do not seek any kind of help from any established stars.

Like if it is a comedy, you can hire Priyadarshanjee, if it is a romance, you can hire Sanjay LeelaBhansalijee, but you do not seek their assistance, when the fact is you can call any of them, you have those connections.

GRRS: Yes, I agree.

SAT: In case of actors too, you do not believe in taking well-known names of the industry, for better assistance. Why is that?

GRRS: Well, I think talent is a gift from God and that is all that matters, nothing else. The secret of my own life is this God-gifted talent, as you also have mentioned.

I think if I am myself capable of doing something, why do I need the assistance of somebody else to accomplish that? But very recently, we are making a film based on the holy Vedas, named The Birth, which answers the very base of creation, in which we even challenge the foundations of science. On one hand, we have our Vedas and on the other hand, we have our science, and here we will introduce people with 1000 feet, people with very less mind power, but with exceptional and mammoth body power. We will show some exceptional powers of human beings, and illustrate how they lived in the waters, how they lived in the volcanos, when some didn’t have life at all. I consider all this as a gift of the holy Vedas, which I have perceived through meditation. This is a mammoth project which is forthcoming, and I have said the producers, if they

want to bring some established actor from the industry for this special project, they are most welcome.

We will show at least 6 different kinds of world in this film, and in every individual world, there must be some special actor.

SAT: Let me ask you, why did you choose one of your own children, your daughter as a co-director for making your film?

GRRS: Yes. Honeypreet has an elder sister, she was interested in acting. As for Honeypreet, she was also into acting. We have yet another film, ‘Online Gurukool’, which is there since the past one and a half years in BFX, which was shot quite some time back, and which is again on the holy Vedas. In that film, she had acted as the main lead.

Very recently, there was a film ‘Lion Heart The Warrior’, where my elder daughter played the part of a coach-woman. My youngest daughter is a singer. In all my films, she has done the playback singing for all the songs sung by females.

All three of them played their parts with élan.

But for Honeypreet, she wanted to be behind the cameras. I knew editing myself, so I trained her in that and she became an editor. She did her job very sincerely.

SAT: In the old days of Indian cinema, it was Dev Anand who used to have the most versatile skills in filmmaking and acting. He used to leave his trademark in all of his films. You seem to have surpassed him too. You have 43 credits. Can you explain that?

GRRS: Yes…what happens is every set of a film is unique.

Suppose I am here in the sets and I have to play the role of Sidhu in the film, so I arrive on the sets with that particular get up. As I arrive, I ask my daughter about the shot, the

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camera, and where will she fit the camera in the location. Everything is adjusted likewise. The actors are given directions about the shot, the DOP is called to set the lights.

I collaborate with the DOP too.

The entire team is called and the next shot is explained thoroughly.

Everything is designed impromptu on the sets, to save the time. The music team also arrives on the spot.

The team consists of extremely talented young people. I instruct them to get started with the laptop and mike, and tell them the basics of the beat and the rhythm, for them to get a clear idea. They compose the music based on my clear-cut instructions.

Not only that, we try to fix things in between, whenever I find time. As a saint, I have other responsibilities as well, for example, the sick come to me for getting healed, I perform marriage rituals, satsang rituals, people come to me for de-addiction.

All these heavy-duty activities usurp my time. During those times, I instruct my daughter to take care of the responsibilities of the films, while I perform my saintly duties.

SAT: This is my final question for you. Before coming for this interview, I did some research about you on the internet. I had also tried to take an interview of yours a year back. You have already stated that you sleep for only 4 hours per day, and in this you surpass even Modi saab. Also you have court cases, pravachans which happen on Sundays, then you have a vast fan following and people come to you with their own problems and misery, expecting you to listen and suggest some remedies. Also, you make so many films. How do you manage the time for all this?

GRRS: Yes, I usually call people during my films. Whenever I am not doing my films, I am available usually in the mornings (2-3 hours), or else I am available twice, once during the morning, and once during the evening. Once the film shooting starts, I usually tell them I am outdoors for the entire day as I am shooting for my film, and they can drop in any time they like to, on the film sets. I tell them to notify me if I am indoors during the shoot, or if I am shooting outdoors, I request them to just handover a short message/letter to me. When I am busy with my shots, I receive the messages/letters and know the number of followers waiting to meet me. When the number of people increase, I go to attend them.

Before my sessions with them start, I instruct my daughter to carry on with the camera and describe her what to do with the scenes. She takes care of the shooting, while I run to attend my followers. I sit with them somewhere near, and Contd. on pg 14

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Contd. from pg 12

once I come back to the film set after my session with my followers, everything is ready at the set, so the shooting starts immediately after. So this is the schedule for the entire day.

I must also say that my DOP, Santosh jee from Kerala is also a very efficient professional, who was associated with films like Krrish.

They are very dependable people, who are always eager to work fast on the sets.

I am a workaholic by nature.

When I am taking a break for some days, I feel restless, I feel there is a void in me and I need to do something. My daughters are amazed when I tell them that I need to be back to work. I hate sitting idle. I enjoy working all the time.

SAT: Now let me ask you a slightly personal question.

Please unveil the mystery behind ViratKohli episode.

GRRS: Yes, yes. ViratKohli had come to me in 2007, at the International Stadium. There was a match between India and Pakistan at that time. Virat came and met me during that time. Then again he came and met me in 2010. He told me: Guru jee, whenever I reach 30-40 runs during my matches, I am out, why does this happen with me? In fact, I have also been a cricketer, I have played in the National level.

I replied to him that whenever he reaches 30-40 runs, he tries to create a new shot, a shot that he has never created before in his life.

He said that my explanation was absolutely true. He suggested that he take ‘guru mantra’ from me to gain more strength and resolve, and he did. I suggested him to concentrate on attacking first. I told

him he could learn defense later on, but first he needs to attack with full vigour. Once he learns the art of defense, he can apply that. Now he has learnt the art of defense perfectly.

I have given quite a few tips to others players as well, including Zahir Khan, Yusuf Pathan. Now, IPL has lots of players, who has taken ‘guru mantra’ from me and performed in their matches with excellence.

SAT: But you do not publicize about these acts. You answer with these details only when somebody questions you about these.

There are some major celebrities like ViratKohli who come to you to seek help…

GRRS: Yes, also Vijenderjee.

Yoginder Sharma, who had won the World Cup, was my disciple, he had taken tips from me and also the ‘guru mantra’, Amit Mishra and many other players, have come to me and I have helped them.

Also in Judo, there are many names. In a village, I had taught roller skating and hockey to women and children. These women defeated Japan, the world champions for 5 years, and they used to call me Papa coach. So you can also say I am an international coach as well. As a coach, I have won the World Cup in Yoga twice, and twice in Throwball championship (women’s). I teach them the tricks of the game.

Sometimes I have showed them how to make a goal, while they had to show me how to stop the goal.

So you can see I have trained many talents and honed their skills in sports.

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Cr. Intaj Khan among luminaries honoured at the Asiad Literature Festival, Jaipur

Intaj Khan receiving award for excellence in administration at the festival.

From Rajeev Sharma in Jaipur, India

M

he Jaipur Asiad Literary Festival was recently held in Jaipur on 9 July at the RangayanJawahar Kala Kendra.

Five interactive sessions on World Peace & Harmony, Prose & Poetry, Women in Development, Revival of Ethics and Modern Art & Passion were held in which important

luminaries from all walks of life participated. The main theme of the festival was – Celebrating Indian Literature & Women Entrepreneurship. Councillor Intaj Khan from the Wyndham Council and Rajeev Sharma SAT Correspondent in New Delhi were among those awarded. The awards were given by the Minister in the RajasthanGovt, Rajinder Singh Rathore.

Van Gogh exhibition attracts 420,000 visitors

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 10 July: The National Gallery of Victoria’s Van Gogh and the Seasons has welcomed more than 420,000 visitors, making itthe most popular ticketed exhibition in the gallery’s 156year history.

Van Gogh and the Seasons tops the previous record holder, the NGV’s 2015/16 summer exhibition, AndyWarhol/Ai Weiwei which attracted 399,127 visitors. With three days before it leaves Melbourne, Van Gogh and the Seasons was originally scheduled to close onSunday 9 July but was extended to Wednesday 12 July, with extended opening hours due to extraordinarydemand.

Acting Minister for Creative Industries Jenny Mikakos said, “To attract more than 420,000 visitors in just over 70 days is extraordinary, and shows why NGV is one of the top20 galleries in the world.”

“Van Gogh and the

Seasons has brought many thousands of visitors to our state demonstrating the pulling powerof great cultural experiences and the tourism and economic benefits they bring, “he said.

Over the weekend the

gallery welcomed thousands of visitors through the night with a special 24-hour viewing ofthe exhibition. For its final days it will be open from 8am until 11pm.

Part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Melbourne

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Winter Masterpieces series, Van Gogh and the Seasons – the22nd Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition - has been a drawcard for Victorian audiences of all ages andvisitors from across Australia and beyond.

With something to offer all year round, NGV’s next drawcard will be The House of Dior fashion exhibition whichwill open in August followed by the NGV Triennial – a major free summer exhibition featuring the work of 60contemporary artists and designers from more than 30 countries.

For more information about Van Gogh and the Seasons, or to buy tickets, visit ngv.melbourneVisitors are encouraged to book ahead and allow time for queues.

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When Salim Saved the day and HM Rajnath Singh the dignity of the Indian Home Minister's office

By Teesta Setalvad

T

wo things will be remembered about the dark Tuesday, July 11 that saw countrywide outrage at Monday night's cowardly attack on a bus (bearing the registration number of Gujarat) full of Amarnathyatris, was on its way from Baltal to Jammu when the militants opened fire and seven unfortunately even lost their lives.

One is the exemplary courage shown by Salim Mirza Shaikh, the driver of the bus, who drove the yatris, and the bus to safety even as terrorists in uniform showered bullets in the dark, dark night. It could have been the scene of a ghastly action movie, the dangerous mountainous roads, the bus riding past dark (as pilgrim buses are normally prohibited from doing) and then, the dastardly attack clearly meant to fuel the communal poison and polarisation that has overtaken us all.

But no, egged on by his colleagues who also took bullets, Salim drove for nearly two kilometres on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway before he reached an army camp. “It was about 8 pm when the bus was surrounded by terrorists.

They first fired from the front with the intention to eliminate the driver. I ducked sideways to escape the bullets and drove ahead.

I do not know how I got the strength to go on at that time. Maybe Allah helped me and gave me strength,” Salim told The Indian Express as he stepped out of an IAF plane that brought the deceased as well as those injured in the attack to Surat, Gujarat, Tuesday afternoon.

Salim, who also belongs to Gujarat, said he escaped unharmed in the incident while another passenger

After a very very long time, the office of the Home Minister of India was restored to the dignity of its office. seated beside him was injured. As a result, 50 others who potentially could have lost lives remained unharmed. The families of those lost to us will forever mourn the day but the rest, will remember with horror for what might have been, and then, gratitude the role that Salim played. There are indeed sometimes silver linings when dark clouds threaten us, on our horizons.

By early afternoon Tuesday, Salim was our hero and the social media had, for once done an exemplary job, silencing bitterness and hatred expressed through paid trolls. The victims came under the attack late Monday after they were travelling in a Gujarat vehicle, bearing the registration number GJ09Z 9976, on National Highway 1A, the only route connecting the valley to rest of the country, to Jammu after completing AmarnathYatra.

According to Jammu and Kashmir police, the attack was aimed at the police post. The police said the terrorists had initially attacked a police Bullet Proof bunker near Botengoo locality in the area. “The

fire was retaliated and there was no report of injuries,” a police official said.

The official added thereafter the terrorists fired on a police post near Khanabal locality in District Anantnag. “The fire was retaliated and a tourist bus was hit by bullets,” he said.

As the day wore on and condemnations on the attack poured in, the high office of India's home minister, Rajnath Singh provided another such dignified silver lining. ‘All Kashmiris are not terrorists’ Rajnath Singh tweeted shutting down one such troll. Singh saluted the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and kept the spirit of Kashmiriyat alive.

Describing the terror attack on that killed seven pilgrims returning from Amarnath as a “cowardly act of terror”, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Tuesday that all sections in Kashmir had condemned the attack, which “shows the spirit of Kashmiriyat is very much alive”.

The Home Minister then took to Twitter to react strongly to a tweet from @shuchikalra, who

responded to his remark on Kashmiriyat by posting: “Who gives a f*** about the spirit of Kashmiriyat at this moment? It is not your job to placate. Just drag those cowards out and cull them.”

Singh, whose official handle was tagged in that tweet, posted: “Ms Kalra I certainly do. It is absolutely my job to ensure peace and tranquility in all parts of the country. All Kashmiris are not terrorists.” Following this, the Twitter account, listed under the name Shuchi Singh Kalra, was found deleted.

After a very very long time, the office of the Home Minister of India was restored to the dignity of its office.

The J&K Government has announced an award of Rs 3 lakhs to Salim for his exemplary bravery and chief minister, Gujarat, VikayRupani even said that he would recommend Salim Shaik's name for a special award for bravery.

Bomb terror has the ugly potential of polarising neighbourhoods and evoking stark reactions from persons affected by grief. When this fuelled by a cynical politics, that

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thrives --bread and butter-on hatred and communal polarisation, India, through Salim and Rajnath Singh rose above this. Hopefully and decisively. The #Not in My Name Protests organised in Delhi at India Gate last night, the Mumbai protests at Mira Road --another protest by Muslim and other civil rights organisations has been organised at 4 p.m. at Azad Maidan today, Wednesday July 12, again united Indians in their grief and outrage. This time against bomb terror.

Condemnations poured in from all quarters against the deadly terror attack in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district in which seven persons died and nineteen others were injured. The J & K government had to, unfortunately resort to shutting down the internet services in the state to avoid any flaring up of the communal situation; traders are now observing a protest shut down in Jammu, the state's winter capital, against the attack on Yatris in the Valley. The authorities also closed all educational institution in Jammu region as a precautionary measure.

—Source: SABRANG

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Panama Papers: Sharif's next move?

By Md. Rizwan

T

oronto, 11 July: In a damning report, the Joint Investigating Team (JIT) formed

by Supreme Court to investigate into Panama Papers revelations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, has held the PM responsible for money laundering and living beyond means with inexplicable sources of income. The report recommended filing of reference against the Prime Minister and his sons – Hussain and Hasan – under the National Accountability Bureau law.

The report was categorical in stating that Sharif and his family failed to provide money trail for the capital they used to purchase three expensive Park Lane apartments in London. The report said that the corner stone of Sharif’s defence that the properties were purchased by selling the Gulf Steel Mills in Dubai in 1980, was proved wrong as in the records of UAE ministry there was no transactions by or for Sharif family.

During the 62-day investigation, the JIT comprising representatives of Federal Investigating Agency (FIA), Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Bank of Pakistan, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), and Military Intelligence (MI), found out three more offshore companies owned by Sharifs on top of three they were investigating.

The report said that all off-shore companies were basically revolving money and sending out huge amounts to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself as ‘gifts’ from the sons.

In another setback Sharif’s

heir apparent Maryam Nawaz was also accused of lying to the JIT on her sources of income and report established that three off-shore companies were in fact property of Maryam Nawaz. The observation certainly affected Maryam’s bid to take her father’s place as her current self-bestowed title ‘QaumkiBeti’ took a heavy blow.

The report contains 10 volumes and the Supreme

Court bench investigating the case has asked for one week to examine the report and decide on way forward on the case on Monday, July 17. Soon after the news of report broke, the fatigued looking prime minister called his party stalwarts for a consultative session and decided to fight the case in Supreme Court tooth and nail. Prime Minister and his party decided to reject the JIT report and contest it in

the court.

Now the ultimate question. What are the options left with the Prime Minister assuming the Supreme Court would implement the recommendations of its investigative body. The party says the party is not over and they’ll fight the legal battle. However, it seems that there is no time or reason left for the protracted legal battle that the Sharif camp is hoping for.

Sharif’s party PML-N is desperate for time reprieve.

It’s not a good time at all to call new elections and dissolve the assemblies. The energy crisis is strangulating the people and the party is at its lowest ebb. The situation will get better, if all pipeline projects start delivering by the end of next winter. In current situation, it looks far-fetched that SC would drag the matter that far or opposition especially Imran Khan would wait that long.

Khan’s street power is proven and he has the ability to make life harder for Sharif. In any case there are no signs that the military establishment would wait that long. Sharif could or could not get the time needed to win the next elections if he goes begging to GHQ asking for time.

Second, he appoints someone from his party interim prime minister and steps down. This is a kind of uncharted territory where He never been in his entire political career. If he can appoint someone from the family only then he would consider this option otherwise he would prefer going for early elections.

From the family, Maryam is tainted in the report and so are Hussain and Hasan. That leaves his wife Kulsoom to

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The report said that all off-shore companies were basically revolving money and sending out huge amounts to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself as ‘gifts’ from the sons. take the seat. She is not MP but could contest within six months. However, the question is would she be able to lead the party that is very pro-establishment.

A wink from the GHQ and the Sharif could be standing alone in the arena.

The mood of the military establishment is not conciliatory so far. There are low-level and cautious fireworks from the ministers against the military but it seems that they are doing it after asking from the right quarters. Sharif knows that.

Also it is not the party and the next elections he has to bother about. He has to make sure that the current money laundering case does not turn into a criminal investigation against the family. In that case Sharif’s priority would be to save him and family from the iron-hand of military establishment.

(Mohammed Rizwan is a Pakistani journalist based in Canada) —Source: The Citizen.

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Manto, if you were alive today

Saadat Hasan Mantois, arguably, the best short story writer from the sub-continent.

By RASHID SULTAN

I

ts’ 60 years since you’re gone. But, we are adamant to bring you back into our world from time to time. We, keep writing on you, publishing and printingnewer and newer critical appraisals of your work as also new collections of your stories in shiny and glittering format.

But, why, MantoSaheb?

We accept that we did not treat you well, when you were alive,just like the world had not treated your memorable characters like, Sugandhi, Sultana, Shanti, Sirajetc. in your stories.

You were condemned, humiliated and even charged, criminally, for profanity on no less than six occasions.

Were you born much before you should have been born?

Do we feel guilty for ignoring your genius when you were coming up with one, after the other, immortal stories and paying you a pittance?

Or we do not have to pay any copyrights on your work anymore and publishers are laughing all the way to cash registers?

Or, cleansing our hands off our eternal shame for the way we treated you?

Not only we are republishing your works, we are also coming out with postage stamps to commemorate you; so much so, we have made a film on your life and another is on the offing, given you, posthumously, the NIshane-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award.

See, how we have truly proved our reputation!

We worship only the dead.

I wish, however, to take you around the places, situations so dear to you when you were here and see if we have changed beyond recognition or you have, actually, become out of date.

To start with, your favourite city of Bombay, in your words, the city to liveand prosper where nobody worries about others.

Well,MantoSaheb, it is not your Bombay, any more.

We now call it Mumbai.

You must appreciate the seamless transition of

Portuguese Bombay to Marathi Mumbai. Surely, a sign, of our awakening to our glorious past!

Though it is still a place, where ‘people have no concerns for others; if dying, alone in your kholi( slum hutment ), nobody would dare tell you of the murder committed in the neighbourhood’. But,the ‘dadas’ like Mummad Bhai of your times, have been replaced by the members of the ‘D Company’ ‘the Sena’,’ the Lashkar’,’ the Sangh’ and the’ Dal’.

It is their writ, now, which reigns supreme.

Now,It is Sena who decides who should play cricket in your Bombay and who can present a musicalconcert,here, or who acts in Bollywood films.

Do you know that film maker of every second or third film from Bollywood is taken to court, before or after its premiere. Why? It is either insulting their beliefs or being offensive to their deities.

Before I forget, the Bombay film industry, yours’, has flourished beyond imagination. It is now only beholden to Hollywood, in terms of revenue (a dollar still

equates to Rs. 60, that’s why).

Yes, your Bombay was allowed to burn in the recent past, where hundreds of innocent people were killed or injured, without any discrimination, by some fanatics from across the border, for 3 days. And so was your iconic Taj Mahal Hotel,made to burn all this while. Wasn’t’ this the hotel where you, Ashok Kumar and other film makers partied to celebrate the success of their films?

It was you who commented, once, on the sacking of many Hindus and their replacement

by Muslims at Bombay Talkies, “ surplus Hindu staff was laid off which created an uproar: I, then, realised that Muslims held key positions; I was there with Shahid Lateef, IsmatChughtai, Kamal Amrohi, HasratLucknowi, NazirAjmeri, NazimPanipati and music director Ghulam Haider; a feeling of hatred engendered among Hindu workers against SavakVacha and Ashok Kumar because it was they who hired Muslims to prominent positions.”

To the dismay of many right wing Indians, the Bombay film industry

has always been a levelplaying fieldof secularism.

Because the industry’s goal has always been box office revenue and it does not matter who sells- Hindu or Muslim.It may come as a surprise to you that the Indian film industry has been dominated by three Khans in the last three decades of fundamentalism.

What an irony!

Yes, MantoSaheb, communal riots are still happening in the subcontinent both sides of the border.

We have witnessed the massacre the ‘post Indira Gandhi’s assassination’ around Delhi and other cities and towns in North India where no master mind has been convicted even after three decades. Why? They are political big wigs.

We have also witnessed post Godhra ethnic cleansing in Gujarat. All the big wigs have gone scot free, as expected.

These riots are, generally, aimed at the minorities, women and Dalits.

Women are being raped just because they go out with their boy friends or dressing themselves in western clothes; Dalit children are being killed and

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“being compared to street dogs” ;people are being lynched on the suspicion of eating beef; transporters are being killed on the suspicion of transporting cows for slaughter.

But, things are not quite different in the other part of the sub-continent, either.

Men, women and children are being beaten, stoned and lynched on the fake charges of blasphemy. A governor is murdered, at daylight, for voicing his support for the victims,and lawyers refuse to represent him in courts.

Why? They are ‘unbelievers’.

Innocent children are being massacred for studying in modern schools to improve upon their chances to their careers, their future. Why?They will grow into adults questioning the Mullahs on their falsehoods.If Shiv Sena has been successful in not allowing Pakistani cricket team to play in Mumbai, Pakistanis have beaten them to a pulp. Now, no cricketing nation comes to Pakistan due to terror threat.

Pakistan goes to Dubai or Sharjah to play cricket with foreign countries. Terrorists have become a normal part of Pakistani body politic where innocents are being killed wholesale.

Followers of sub sects of Islam are being bombarded right at the momentwhen they are offering Friday prayers. Why? They are not pure Muslims.

No, you may not have heard or known about all this as there was no CNN installed in your grave.

How lucky! Remember your epitaph which you had penned in your life? “ Here lies Manto under mounds of earth and considering whether God was a greater storywriter or he” For your information this epitaph has now been replaced under pressure of the cleric.

But, being one of your fans, to tell you, honestly, I do not want you to come back. The shock would be much greater than any which you may have encountered in your life, on earth.

I owe this idea of Manto being alive to my friend Mr Shiv Gopal Seth (USA) - These are author’s personal views.

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Time stands still for Nepal’s conflict victims

By Marty Logan

K

ATHMANDU, Jul 3 2017 (IPS) “Reconstruction and reconciliation require finances and physical structure, but the families of the victims of the conflict first and foremost need their integrity protected. Physical and financial compensation mean little without justice,” wrote Suman Adhikari nearly 11 years ago, during a ceasefire in Nepal’s Maoist insurgency.

The conflict ended later that year, leaving 17,000 dead over a decade, including Adhikari’s father.

A teacher and headmaster in Lamjung district, he and his fellow teachers in January 2002 refused Maoist demands to hand over 25 percent of their salaries.

Days later, cadres seized him as he was teaching a Grade 10 class, bound his hands and legs, and dragged the man out of the school to a forest, where he was stabbed in the stomach and shot in the head. His body was left tied to a tree.

“Many victims have been unable to get on with their lives. They are frustrated and suffer from psychological trauma."

--Suman Adhikari Soon after, Suman returned to the capital Kathmandu, where he began talking to other

conflict victims about their own horrible experiences.

They met with civil society organisations and political leaders, created an organisation and submitted their demands to political leaders then crafting the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Today, as chairperson of the Conflict Victims Common Platform, Suman finds himself repeating many of the same requests.

One of the Common Platform’s main demands is that the government provide needs-based compensation to victims. The state has paid most of them Rs 500,000 (4,834 US dollars) as interim relief since the conflict ended but Adhikari says one-off payments can’t replace many of the breadwinners who families lost; without them, many are still struggling to find sufficient work or pay school fees.

“Many victims have been unable to get on with their lives. They are frustrated and suffer from psychological trauma,” he says.

While society moves on, with, for example, the political leader who was prime minister three times during the insurgency taking over as PM again last week from former Maoist supremo Prachanda, victims are being forgotten, Suman says. “They still haven’t

“Many victims have been unable to get on with their lives. They are frustrated and suffer from psychological trauma." -Suman Adhikari

Suman Adhikari, chairperson of Nepal’s Conflict Victims Common Platform, holding a photo of his father. Credit: Marty Logan/IPS had the chance to speak of their pain properly, from the heart.”

A recent report found that victims have diverse demands for ‘truth’.

Prepared by the Nepal office of the International Centre for Transitional Justice and local think-tank Martin Chautari from recent interviews with victims, it noted that many people needed closure and an end to their ambiguous losses.

“Our people will come home today or tomorrow.

We watch the roads,” said one woman in Bardiya, the district that had the most disappearances during the conflict.

Recognition is also a common wish, Aileen Thomson, head of ICTJ Nepal, told IPS. “They feel that the violation happened because of their membership in certain communities … a lot of times violations perpetrated by the State were because of perceived associations with the Maoists, which was really tied to identity and community and where you lived.”

The survivors want society to know that their kin were innocent victims, caught in the crossfire, adds the report.

Just as victims’ demands varied, civil society also had different ideas about what transitional justice should

achieve, says Mandira Sharma, co-founder of Advocacy Forum, an NGO that filed numerous court cases for conflict-era crimes.

But those theoretical discussions were shelved when it became apparent that political leaders from both sides were hoping to use the process to avoid prosecutions, adds Sharma, who is now doing a PhD in human rights and law.

“We went to see the prime minister at that time, Girija Prasad Koirala, and he was very open and honest. He said ‘Look, I had concerns raised by the military, I had concerns raised by the Maoists, and I have assured them that nothing will happen to them… We have to turn now to development, and we have to forget what happened’.”

Instead, Advocacy Forum and other groups continued to take cases to court.

After victims received their interim relief, “You could have closed the chapter forcing victims to be quiet with that, but that would have been temporary: this deep sense of injustice would have remained,” Sharma says.

“In that past that’s what we did (using commissions formed after earlier political milestones like Nepal’s return to democracy in 1990). That hasn’t helped us to heal, that hasn’t helped

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us to improve the justice system, to correct the sense that certain people are always above the law.

And there’s a very deep sense of inequality in our system because of this. We identified this as something we had to fix.”

Today though, transitional justice appears at a near standstill. The government created truth and disappearances commissions in 2014, but the legislation was severely criticised on several fronts.

The Supreme Court later struck down a provision that grants amnesty for serious human rights violations.

Human Rights lawyer Raju Chapagain says that while the laws creating the bodies must be amended, the truth commission could be making efforts to advance transitional justice, which would also help to diminish a strong sense of scepticism about the body. “Nothing is preventing them inquiring into human rights violations.

Commissions have powers equivalent to courts; they have adequate powers in terms of inquiries,” he says.

By taking action the commission could overcome its “credibility gap,” Chapagain adds, but it has failed to date, in part because it hasn’t engaged with victims.

The truth commission opened its office in Pokhara, west of Kathmandu, this week, one of seven regional centres, but Adhikari says the body still refuses to engage with victims. “The commissions are not good, the appointments are political, the commissioners are new to this: they should at least have a willingness to learn and to collaborate – but they don’t listen to us.”

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The Music of Nature I

By Shilpa Dhanothia

think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree – Joyce Kilmer Melbourne: I grew up in the hills. Sundays meant picnics by the riverside with family, followed by short walks through the surrounding woods. These excursions gave me deep appreciation for nature while simultaneously making me realise I am just a speck in this universe. Few weeks back I came across a beautiful article referring to an emerging concept “Forest Kindergarten”. It is a type of preschool that is held exclusively outdoors and the kids are encouraged to learn about nature and their environment. Staff supervise the children and help them fashion toys from materials they can access freely while being taught about the magnanimity of planet Earth. I wonder how beautiful this world would be if we all grew up with an indebtedness towards nature, its power and significance to the mere continuity of mankind.

Japan gave the world

a lot of things – sushi and sake (among lots of remarkable things that helped improve quality of life across the globe).

Shinrin-yoku i.e. forest bathing essentially means being in the presence of trees. The Zen masters understood the wisdom of

1300 FLY INDIA (1300 359 463)

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nature and were attuned to it. It formed a part of Japan’s public health program in 1982 and was promoted as therapy. The idea is to walk through the woods, not as a rigorous fitness regime or excursion, but to find peace amidst majestic trees. Studies have proven health benefits of this practice – reduced stress, anxiety and lower levels of blood pressure to name a few. Well, with increased urbanisation and rapidly spreading concrete jungles, a park will have to do.

The beautiful thing about forests is that they all have a different story. Stories that will remain untold of things that the ancient trees have seen and the earth has felt. Next time you travel, get lost in the leafy paradise. Listen to the twigs under your feet and the rustling leaves, pay attention to the whispering winds and the whistling woods. You will be stoked by the impact it has on your senses and the calm you feel. For the ones who listen carefully and drown out the crowd, the earth has music.

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National unity essential for Sri Lankan government's survival

By Jehan Perera

C

OLOMBO, 3 July: Unless the government shows that it is capable of delivering results soon, the slow progress of problem solving at the ground level will continue to erode public support for the government.

The weak performance of the economy is on the minds of most people.

The expected job creation through industrial growth has not materialized nor has there been technological improvement that could raise the level of incomes of agricultural and fishing families. Instead of rising standards of living they experience the rising cost of living.

In the case of the North and East where the bulk of the war affected people live, the discontent is even greater. They bear a double burden. In addition to not partaking of the fruits of nationwide development along with their compatriots in the rest of the country, they also suffer from the slow return of lands taken over by the military.

The root of the problem is that the new government which was elected in 2015 has inherited a polity that is deeply divided.

Making matters more difficult is the fact that the new government is a combination of two political parties that have been traditional rivals. Therefore in ascertaining what the government is capable of doing it is important not to overload it with hopeful assumptions of its problem solving abilities.

The government inherited a divided polity, divided in terms of political affiliation and ethno-religious identity.

The government is itself a powersharing one in which there is not one centre of power, but two in the form of the President and Prime Minister and the two traditionally rival political parties they head.

In these circumstances what can be expected from the government in terms of problem solving will be necessarily limited.

However, despite these weaknesses of the government the UNPSLFP alliance, which has led to the Government of National Unity, is unique for Sri Lanka. It is also rare for any part of the world

that two parties that are in opposition to each other, and have alternatively ruled the country since Independence, should form a coalition.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s constant message is that this is an opportunity not to be missed to address the long standing ethnic conflict. Addressing an international conference on peacebuilding organized by the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) and the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, with the participation of local and foreign scholars, political leaders, and social activists the former President said the present government gives a prominent place to the reconciliation and the development in the country.

In her speech, the former President reiterated that the government including the President and the Prime Minister is dedicated towards the goal of a just political solution. She herself showed dedication to this goal during her tenure as President between 1995 and 2005. However, the conditions during her time were the opposite of what exists today. Her government faced two formidable opponents. One was the LTTE which did not place faith in constitutional solutions and political negotiations, but relied on their military power to achieve the outcomes they sought. The other was the UNP, which played the traditional role of the opposition party in the country and finally opposed the draft constitution

that her government had invested several years in producing.

On the other hand, the political conditions in Sri Lanka today are the best possible to achieve a political solution to the ethnic conflict in terms of the availability of the numbers in Parliament.

The UNP-SLFP alliance ensures a 2/3 majority in Parliament. When the leaders of these two parties are in agreement, there is no possibility of defeat in Parliament. Their ability to secure a 2/3 majority is buttressed by the fact that the ethnic minority parties are all united in their support of the UNP-SLFP national unity government.

On issues of governance and minority rights the JVP, which usually takes on ultra left stances especially on economic issues, has also been supportive of positive initiatives of the government. Their support for the passage of the law establishing the Office of Missing Persons has been important in reducing the level of political opposition to it. Therefore the composition of the present parliament presents an unique opportunity for political reform.

Political reform needs to be the primary purpose of the present government.

When it was elected in 2015 there was expectation that the government would speed up the country’s economic development and also crack down on corruption. Neither of this has happened much to the disappointment of those who voted for the government and has led

to much criticism from the general public.

The government is routinely described as a disappointment and failure for not taking action against corrupt politicians from the previous government and for tolerating corruption within itself. It has not been able to attract significant foreign investment in the manner that was anticipated and continues to rely on either expensive loans from China or political investments from China and India.

However, several recent events suggests that the government is gearing itself for constitutional reform as the best way of showing the people that it is outcome oriented and can do what it sets out to do. The passage of the amendment of the Office of Missing Persons Act without opposition in Parliament was a preliminary indication of what the government can achieve if its two main partners are in agreement.

The other significant event was the holding of the first National Conference on Constitutional Reforms organized by the Constitutional Assembly Secretariat of Sri Lanka under the patronage of Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe. The conference was aimed at bringing together a range of stakeholders from across diverse sectors in order to help promote the discourse surrounding the adoption of constitutional reforms for the people of Sri Lanka.

According to Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe the Constitution Assembly

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Steering Committee will meet next week to decide on the procedure to be adopted when enacting the new constitution. “Do we include all provisions or do we only include those which do not need a referendum in the steering Committee report?

This is one of the questions we will debate next week.

We are reaching a crucial stage in the consensus building process on the constitution, the Prime Minister said when addressing a conference on the new constitution organized by the Constitutional Assembly Secretariat. He also pointed out that the Steering Committee at its next meeting would decide whether to include all provisions of the constitution in the interim report or to include only the provisions which did not need a referendum.

The Prime Minister also spoke at length on the process and current challenges encountered in the business of constitution making, with references to key issues of national interest such as the nature of the state, the electoral system, the system of devolution of power and the religion of the state.

The former Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa, Justice DikgangMoseneke delivered an address where he recounted the challenges that South Africa faced on the issue of group rights, and how it opted for a strong bill of rights that protected individual rights as the best way forward. He said that a strong judiciary could protect the people’s rights between elections.

The indications are that the Government of National Unity is on course to regain its sense of mission to achieve national unity which has eluded the country since the dawn of its independence nearly seven decades ago.

(JehanPerera is the Executive Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka which was established to facilitate a people's movement for peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

He is also a political columnist for the Island (English), Thulava (Sinhala) and Thinakkural (Tamil) newspapers.)

—Source: The Citizen

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Screening at the following HOYTS locations: MELBOURNE CENTRAL | BROADMEADOWS CHADSTONE | FOREST HILL | HIGHPOINT Image Courtesy : The Cinema Travellers, a film by Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya

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south asia 24 South Asia Timestimes

south asia

King or Country?

By Humayun Gauhar

M

y articles, I am told, fall in the category of ‘musings’. Nice.

Muse away, I say, but try as I might, when one’s muse, my wife in my case, is far away in London for more than a year with nary a sign of returning, what to do?

Even my friend Maverick the Monkey, Commander of the Monkey Brigade of the E-7 jungle is away in the environs of Gilgit, not just to get away from the heat but more to get some contract — any contract — in the CPEC. But muse away I will without a muse, for happily I have got used to, even comfortable, without my muse — any muse.

That’s true independence.

Force of habit makes me read out the first bit of this article to my old muse and she said, typically, “Cut the crap Humayun and cut to the chase.” But what should I chase; there is so much to chase. The Panama papers against our Godfather’s corruption or Trump successfully destroying the world with King Salman’s help who has it in for Iran and all Shias or Maniac Modi spoiling for war with Pakistan and starting a thermo nuclear conflict or Kim Jong UN fingering America or the UK election or what? Just start musing and let the Devil take the hindmost.

The world is descending into a state of utter confusion regarding

sovereignty, independence and statecraft.

Times were when the rallying cry was ‘For King and Country’, where they still make ‘State’ and ‘Country’ interchangeable, though there is a vast difference between the two.

They are not synonymous.

A country is a land from which a nation springs up, a nation being people with many commonalities, most particularly language. A country is natural. A state is manmade and more often or not comprises many nations with many languages, many or which are themselves divided between other states.

Thus the hypocritical nomenclature ‘nation-state’, but the state is hardly ever a nation. Thus the Scotts will insist that they are a nation that is part of a state called the United Kingdom. A country which is also a state is much more natural and thus powerful because it would not be easy to cause divisions in it, regardless of religions, sects and even tribes and sub-tribes and yes, global or regional power struggles.

Now ‘For King and Country’ has become ‘For King OR Country’ because the king, by whatever name called, has become synonymous with country and state. ‘King and country’ they say. The truth is that king without country would be nothing and would be living on a platform of Delhi railway station; a country without a

Saving the king or de jure ruler has come to mean saving the system no matter how iniquitous it is because it means saving the few beneficiaries of the system. king would not only survive but might even do better”; so too a state. Political scientists say that a head of state (not government) symbolizes the “continuity of the state” — not country.

Saving the king or de jure ruler has come to mean saving the system no matter how iniquitous it is because it means saving the few beneficiaries of the system. It is saving the status quo: the few beneficiaries will fight tooth and nail to save the

system and the status quo, which means saving the Constitution that begets them no matter how bad and irrelevant and even illegitimate the Constitution may be. For the few beneficiaries of the system, or the ‘elite’ as they are also called, its no surprise that the Constitution is akin to a divine book come from heaven. ‘Elite’ really means amongst the best, like Jahangir Khan is in the elite of squash. But now elite has sadly been debased to mean the richest, the most influential or the most powerful. Essentially, when they fight tooth and nail to save the system, the elite are responding to that most primeval animal instinct called survival. Contrarily, destruction of an iniquitous system really means survival of the wretched of the earth that are always in a majority in most, if not every state.

Where the king or head of state is only a symbol of continuity and essentially ceremonial, the ruler, de jure or de facto, has assumed the position and importance of king in his own and the public’s minds. “I am the state” he proclaims; “lose me and lose the state.”

“After me the deluge” and all that crap, he and his minions shout from the rooftops. They forget the images of ‘immortal’ kings past that lie decaying in the dust. Remember the Pharaohs, now gracing many a museum attracting only curiosity and wonder.

So now in a state the king is country: no king no country; no king, no system; no king, no status quo. They forget that if there were no state (or ‘country’) there would be no King or Constitution and some hegemon would rule, a condition we in the Third World are all too familiar with.

Ask yourself: when was it last when we were truly sovereign and independent?

No in my lifetime or yours.

Don’t get fooled by the symbols of independence: a flag, a national anthem, a parliament a Supreme Court building, an armed forces capable of defending for not more than two months. We keep chasing certain ephemeral ‘freedoms’ —speech, association, information and what have you, entirely forgetting freedom of food, to earn a respectable living, to have access to fundamental human rights like decent clothing, shelter, education, movement.

The few institutions that

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The world is descending into a state of utter confusion regarding sovereignty, independence and statecraft. symbolize freedoms have been occupied and are controlled by the rapacious elite: the executive, parliament, judiciary and media mostly. Our executive doesn’t even have freedom of decisionmaking; it has to pay heed to what outsiders tell it to decide because we have lost the economic war.

Sorry, we are not free.

Since the iniquitous system and man-eating status quo are dearer to the small, charmed national elite, patriotism has been ejected from the country. They don’t simply believe the first slogan ‘Country First’ but king ‘King First’ because they think the king is good for the country and because his presence ensures the continuity of the iniquitous system that is enshrined in the Constitution. Such convoluted thinking forgets that if there were no country there would be no king, no constitution, no system and no elite.

When systems fail and fall they give way to chaos and anarchy that causes grave destruction and human death. In very few lucky situations anarchy propels revolutions that can lead to more equitable systems or, more likely, to new states, remembering that ‘country’ and ‘state’ are used interchangeably, each one being different entities.

In Pakistan the Supreme Court has called the King ‘Godfather’ because the government has become a Mafia. One fears the day the Godfather starts thinking that he is god, like the Pharaohs did before him. Where are they? In the graveyards of indispensable men, are they not?

—Source: The Citizen, 13 July.

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Australia business week in India 2017 from Aug.28 to Sept.1

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 19 June: In a bid to boost business and trade with India, the second Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) will take place across multiple cities from 28 August to 1 September 2017.Registrations are now open for it.

During the week of August 28 to September 1, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investmentthe Hon. Steven Ciobo MP, will lead the delegation of Australian business in a program designed to grow commercial links and highlight Australian capability in a range of industries.

ABWI 2017 builds on the success of the inaugural event in 2015 which saw more than 400 companies introduced to the market.

This created lasting relationships and directly generated business worth millions of dollars in at least 20 significant deals between Indian and Australian firms.

India is currently Australia’s 5th largest export market for goods and 6th for services

with exports valued at approximately A$14.6 billion in 2016.

A media release from

the Minister of Trade says, “Australian businesses should be optimistic about India, whose middle class

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is expected to reach 200 million by 2020. This will generate greater demand for the kinds of goods and services Australia can provide, including highquality protein-rich foods, healthcare, infrastructure, education and other services that will be important to India’s rise.”

The ABWI 2017 program will reflect these increasingly diverse opportunities with events divided into five streams: Innovation-Life Sciences and Digital Health; AgribusinessFood Value Chains; Mining Equipment, Technology and Services; Higher Education and Smart Infrastructure.

The program will feature seminars, roundtables, site visits and opportunities for networking with Indian businesses, industry and government. The ABWI gala will allow delegates to network with customers and senior government officials from Australia and India.

Those interesting in registering can do so through www.austrade.gov. au.

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photo feature

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Trip to

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photo feature

Ladakh

southSouth asia times 27 Asia Times

A group including Sharad Kumar Verma , Delhi, Dr. Mohan Pillai from Melbourne (72), Nawaz, Saleem and Bina (From Melbourne) recently took a 13 days trip (Delhi to Delhi) to Ladakh (J-K). They went via Srinagar, Kargil (Kargil memorial), Drass, from Leh to Leh via Changla La pass, Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, Khar Dung La (Highest motorable road). Next waaLeh to Manali via Tangla La pass, Gata Loop, More Plain, Baralach La pass & Rohtang.

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PANAMA PAPERS

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How to Protect Your Income

BY Balki Balakrishnan

M

elbourne: A typical family should have these five types of insurance covers –Life & Terminal Illness (TI), Total & Permanent Disability (TPD), Trauma (Critical Illness), Income Protection and Child Trauma covers. In the last edition of this newspaper we explored the features of Trauma Insurance.

This article looks at Income Protection cover to help you understand what you should be mindful of in regards to this cover.

Income protection insurance provides a monthly benefit to help you stay on top of your debts, pay for medical bills and generally give you the means to maintain a reasonable standard of living if you are not able to earn due to an injury or illness. In the event of a claim, the insurer will pay an amount (normally up to 75 per cent of your gross salary in Australia) until you have returned to work again, or up until the maximum benefit period as stated in the policy which is normally two year, five year or up to age 65.

Most people wouldn’t drive without car insurance, or go without home& contents insurance. Why would you not protect your greatest asset which is the ability to earn an income? Your and your family’s lifestyle depends on it and more importantly loss of this income will make living comfortably during retirement in jeopardy.

So, what are the chances of claiming on Income Protection insurance? In 2005/06 alone there were approximately 690,000 serious injuries in Australia. Of these, 45% were not able to receive financial assistance through workers’ compensation (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Australian Social Trends 2007) leaving them to fend for themselves financially.

We hear about people suffering from life-style related diseases and insurance statistics confirm that more and more of us are exposed to trauma illnesses. Cardiovascular

One of the good outcome of organizing the cover outside your super environment is that it is tax deductible at your marginal tax rate. You may also have a better claim experience because they bare fully underwritten.

disease was the main cause of 480,548 hospitalizations in 2013/14, which is one Australian every minute. (Source: https://www. heartfoundation.org.au/aboutus/what-we-do/heart-disease-inaustralia).

Assuming you were unable to work because of anillness or injury, how long do you think you can survive on zero income before you need to sell your assets? The fact is a significant portion of working Australians could only survive less than one month without their income before needing to sell their assets (Source: Zurich Misinsurance Whitepaper February 2014). We really don’t want us and our family to be in this situation.

Income Protection cover can be organized within your super environment similar to Life & Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) covers. However, you should be mindful of the

conditions under which you will be paid on a claim. You can organize your cover outside super environment but linked to your Life policy in super environment to reduce the premium. One of the good outcome of organizing the cover outside your super environment is that it is tax deductible at your marginal tax rate.

You may also have a better claim experience because they bare fully underwritten.

Depending on the insurer, you may be offered various types of covers with different features and premium structure. Most of the insurers will offer you a guaranteed/ agreed outcome on claim or an indemnity type of benefit where the amount paid is determined based on your income at the time of claim.

You should also be cognizant of the tiers of definition the insurers offer and difference between them before choosing an insurer. Another

critical element to consider is the benefit period. The benefit period is the maximum period you are paid on a claim. It can range from 2 years to age 65. You also should be mindful of the waiting period feature on this type of cover. The waiting period typically range from 14 days to 2 years. The waiting period depends on your circumstances and therefore there is no one solution for all.

How much you should be insured for, what financial outcome you can expect if you were to make a claim, how long you need to be insured for, whom to insure with, and the features of cover you would need can be a daunting matter. Income Protection cover needs to be considered along with other types of insurance coversas well so that you and your family are protected in the best way possible. The Financial Advisor who will educate you, discuss with you and ultimately implement a solution that is appropriate to your circumstances, needs and your budget. It is important that you get this cover correct the first time to avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of claim.

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 M: 0419 506 560

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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quick community guide Radio GUIDE

www.ekantipur.com/en THE RISING NEPAL: www.nepalnews.com.np

SBS Radio's South Asian

SUNDAY Language Programs Hindi..................................9 am to 10 am – 93.1 FM BANGLA Urdu................................10 am to 11 am – 93.1 FM Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 Tamil...............................11 am to 12 pm – 93.1 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBS Radio 2 Hindi.................................8 pm to 10 pm – 88.3 FM Monday & Saturday Singhalese.......................8 pm to 11 pm –97.7 FM 6-7 PM GUJARATI MONDA Y Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 Hindi....................................3 to 4 pm – 93.1 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBSPm Radio Bengali...............................4 pm to 5 pm – 93.1 FM Wednesday & Friday 4-5 PM Hindi...................................6 pm to 8 pm – 88.3 FM Indian (Fiji)..................................6 pm to 8 pm 88.3 HINDI Punjabi........................1 1 am to 12 Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 noon 92.3 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBS Radio 2

Daily TUESDAY 5 PM Hindi.....................................

6 am to 8 am – 97.7 FM Hindi....................................

2 pm to 4 pm – 97.7 FM kannada Sydney SBS Radio 3

Melbourne SBS Radio 3 WEDNESDAY Tuesday 3-4 PM Hindi.................................... .6 am to 8 am – 97.7 FM Hindi.........................................

12 to 1 pm – 93.1 FM Nepali Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS1Radio 2 12 pm - 92.3 FM Punjabi............................

1 am to Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBS Radio Hindi................................... .8 pm to 92pm – 97.7 FM Saturday & Sunday 4-5 PM

THURSDAY PUNJABI Hindi...............................

5.30 am to 7 am – 97.7 FM Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 9 pm – 92.3 FM Tamil....................................

8 pm to Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBS Radio 2 Sinhalese..........................

Monday & Saturday 1 1 pm to 3 am –92.3 FM Punjabi.............................

9 pm to 10 pm – 93.1 FM 9-10 PM SINHALESE FRIDAY Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 Indian.................................. .8 am to 92am – 88.3 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBS Radio Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri

11AM-12 PM SATURDAY Sinhalese............................ 7 am to 8 am – 92.3 FM TAMIL TSydney amil.....................................

12-12.30 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 pm – 88.3 FM Indian....................................

5 am to 62am - 92.3 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBS Radio Sun, Mon, Wed, Sat Punjabi..........................................

12-2 am – 92.3 FM 8-9 PM Indian................................

9 pm to 10 pm – 92.3 FM Punjabi..................................................

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

South Asian websiteS India TEHELKA – www.tehelka.com OUTLOOK – www.outlookindia.com FRONTLINE- www.flonnet.com THE HINDU: www.hinduonnet.com TIMES OF INDIA: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com HINDUSTAN TIMES: www.hindustantimes.com Pakistan DAWN: www.dawn.com THE FRIDAY TIMES: www.thefridaytimes.com THE NEWS INTERENATIONAL: www.thenews.com.pk Sri Lanka DAILY MIRROR: www.dailymirror.lk DAILY NEWS: www.dailynews.lk THE ISLAND: www.island.lk Nepal THE HIMALAYAN TIMES: www.thehimalayantimes.com KANTIPUR NATIONAL DAILY:

PLACES OF WORSHIP HINDU Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple 57 Boundary Rd, Carrum Downs, Melbourne, Vic 3201, Ph: 03 9782 0878; Fax: 03 9782 0001 Website: www.hsvshivavishnu.org.au Sri Vakratunda Vinayaka Temple 1292 - 1294, The Mountain Highway, The Basin, Vic 3154, Ph: 03 9792 1835 Melbourne Murugan Temple 17-19 Knight Ave., Sunshine VIC 3020 Ph: 03 9310 9026 Durga Temple (Durga Bhajan Mandali) Neales Road, Rockbank, Vic 3335 Ph: 03 9747 1628 or Mobile: 0401 333 738 Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Temple 197 Danks Street, Middle Park Vic 3206 Ph: (03) 9699 5122 Email: 100237.354@compuserve.com Hare Krishna New Nandagram Rural Community Oak Hill, Dean’s Marsh Rd., Bambra VIC 3241, Ph: (052) 887383 Fax: (052) 887309 Kundrathu Kumaran Temple 139 Gray Court, ROCKBANK Victoria 3335 Ph: 03-9747 1135 or M: 0450 979 023 http://www.kumarantemple.org.au/

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SHEPPARTON Gurdwara Sahib Shepparton 240 Doyles Road, Shepparton VICTORIA 3603 PH: (03) 5821 9309

JAIN Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh Inc 3 Rice Street, Moorabbin, Vic - 3189, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9555 2439 info@melbournejainsangh.org http://www.melbournejainsangh.org

Melbourne West Mosque 66-68 Jeffcott Street, Melbourne Ph: 03 9328 2067

Indian Consulate Address: 344, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia P.O. Box No: 33247 Domain LPO Vic 3004 Consular Enquiries: +61-3-9682 5800 (9.30am-12.30noon only) General Enquiries (other than Consular): +61-3- 9682 7836 Fax No:+ 61-3- 9696 8251 Email: consular@cgimelb.org Web site: www.cgimelb.org

Broadmeadows Mosque 45-55 King Street, Broadmeadows Ph 03 9359 0054 Islamic Call Society 19 Michael Street, Brunswick Ph: 03 9387 7100 Islamic Centre of Australia 660 Sydney Road, Brunswick Ph 03 9385 8423

Indian Consulate Consular services are handled by VFS Global Visa / Passport / PCC / IDLV / PIO / OCI services contact VFS +61 2 8223 9909.

Address: Part 4 Suite, Level 12, 55 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Site : www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia/

Australian Islamic Cultural Centre 46-48 Mason Street, Campbellfield Ph: 03 9309 7605 Coburg ISNA Mosque 995 Sydney Road, Coburg North

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.)

Coburg Mosque (Fatih Mosque) 31 Nicholson Street, Coburg Ph 03 9386 5324 Deer Park Mosque 283 Station Road, Deer Park Ph 03 9310 8811 United Migrant Muslim Assn.

72 George Road, Doncaster Ph 03 9842 6491, Footscray West Mosque 294 Essex Street, Footscray

SIKH

Heidelberg Mosque Corner Lloyd & Elloits Streets, West Heidelberg

CRAIGIEBURN Sri Guru Singh Sabha 344 Hume Highway, Craigieburn VICTORIA 3164 (see map), Ph: (03) 9305 6511 KEYSBOROUGH Gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib 198 -206 Perry Road, Keysborough VICTORIA 3073 (see map) LYNBROOK Nanaksar Taath, 430 Evans Road, Lynbrook VICTORIA 3975, (03) 9799 1081 HOPPERS CROSSING Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 417 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing VICTORIA 3029, Ph: (03) 9749 2639 WERRIBEE Gurdwara Sahib Werribee 560 Davis Road, Tarneit VICTORIA 3029 PH: (03) 8015 4707

Gas escape...........................................

132 771 Poisons information........................

13 11 26 Maternal and Child Line................

13 22 29 Parentline...........................................

13 22 89 Kids Help Line.........................

1800 551 800 Lifeline (provides confidential telephone counselling).................

13 11 14 Suicide Help Line....................

1300 651 251 Animal Emergencies..................

9224 2222

INDIAN CONSULATE

MUSLIM

Sankat Mochan Temple 1289 A North Road. Huntingdale Morning: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm daily Evening: 4:30 pm – 8.00 pm daily Site: http: www.sankatmochan.org.au Contact: 0427 274 462

BLACKBURN Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 127 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn VICTORIA 3130, Ph: (03) 9894 1800

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Glenroy Musala 1st Floor, 92 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy

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

HIGH COMMISSION FOR PAKISTAN,CANBERRA

Al Nur Mosque 34-36 Studley Street, Maidstone Meadow Heights Mosque Hudson Circuit, Meadow Heights

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)

Springvale Mosque 68 Garnworthy Street, Springvale

EMERGENCY CONTACTS EMERGENCY CONTACTS Police, Fire & Abulance ........................

Victoria State Emergency Service (SES).......................................

Traffic hazards and freeway conditions..........................

Student Welfare Officer in the Indian Consulate Melbourne Consulate General of India, Melbourne Address: 344, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC – 3000 Phone: 03-96826203 Fax: 03-96968251 Email: cgo@cgimelb.org Website: www.cgimelb.orgExternal website that opens in a new window Contact person for Students welfare: Mr. Nirmal K. Chawdhary Designation: Deputy Consul General Mobile: 0430020828

Sri Lanka Consulate 000

132 500 13 11 70

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Suite 536, No 1 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004 Telephone: +61 3 9290 4200 Fax: +61 3 9867 4873 Email:mail@slcgmel.org Web: http://www.slcgmel.org

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quick community guide

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contd from previous page Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra 43, Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT-2606 Canberra, Australia, Ph: (61-2) 6290-0511, (61-2) 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

TV GUIDE SBS1 – Daily NDTV News - 11:05 am - Monday to Saturday. (From New Delhi, India).

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

SOUTH ASIAN Garments Roshan’s Fashions 68-71 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9792 5688

Travel Agents Gaura Travels 1300 FLY INDIA or 1300 359 463 info@gauratravel.com.au Travel House 284 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 Ph: (03) 95435123, Mobile: 0425803071 mail@travelhouse.com.au

lAWYERS

MLG Lawyers Ronny Randhawa 144 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic Ph 9386 0204 & 138 Walker Street, Dandenong Vic Ph: 9793 9917 Mobile : 0402 256 712 Vera Lawyers Kusum Vaghela Level 1, Suite 2, 373 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Vic, Mobile: 0433 827 124

Jewellery Bhadra Laxman Jewellers 22ct Gold Jewellery / Silver Pooja (03) 9846 7661

Raj Rani Creations 83-A Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9794 9398 desi estyle 76 Foster St., Dandenong 3175 (03) 87744853; 0413707685 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

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the world

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The World Is Burning R OME, Jun 23 2017 (IPS) - Record high temperatures are gripping much of the globe and more hot weather are to come. This implies more drought, more food insecurity, more famine and more massive human displacements.

In fact, extremely high May and June temperatures have broken records in parts of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the United States, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported, adding that the heat-waves have arrived unusually early.

At the same time, average global surface temperatures over land and sea are the second highest on record for the first five months of 2017, according to analyses by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA-Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Europe In Portugal, extremely high temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius contributed to the severity of the devastating, fastmoving weekend wildfires that ripped through the country’s forested Pedrógão Grande region, some 150 kilometres (95 miles) northeast of Lisbon, leaving dozens dead and more injured.

WMO on 20 June also reported that Portugal is not the only European country experiencing the effects of the extreme weather, as neighbouring Spain – which had its warmest spring in over 50 years – and France, have seen record-breaking temperatures. France is expected to continue see afternoon temperatures more than 10 degrees above the average for this time of year.

Meantime in Spain, spring (from 1 March to 31 May 2017) has been extremely warm, with an average temperature of 15.4 ° C, which is 1.7 ° C above the average of this term (reference period 19812010), the UN specialised body informs. Many other parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, also witnessed above average temperatures into the low to mid 30°s.

United States On the other side of the Atlantic, the US is also experiencing record or near-record heat, WMO reported. In parts of the

desert southwest and into California, temperatures have hovered near a blistering 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).

Media reports on 20 June suggested that some plane traffic was halted in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport in Arizona because it was too hot to fly. The flight cancellations came amidst of one of the hottest days in the past 30 years of record keeping in the US state.

Near record-to-record heat has also been reported in the desert South West US and into California, with highs near 120°F (49°C) in places. More than 29 million Californians were under an excessive heat warning or advisory at the weekend. Phoenix recorded 118°C (47.8°C) on 19 June. A number of flights to Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport were reportedly cancelled because it was too hot to fly.

And the so-called Death Valley National Park, California, issued warnings to visitors to expect high temperatures of 100°F to over 120°F (38°C to over 49°C). Death Valley holds the world record for the highest temperature, 56.7°C recorded in 1913.

North Africa, Middle East and Asia Meantime, temperature in United Arab Emirates topped 50°C on 17 May, while in the centre of Iran’s Kuzestan province in the South-East of the country, neighbouring Iraq, temperatures reached 50°C on 15 June, said the UN specialised agency.

The heat-wave in Morocco peaked on 17 May, when there was a new reported record of 42.9°C Larach Station in northern Morocco.

The high June temperatures follow above average temperatures in parts of the world at the end of May. The town of Turbat in South-Western Pakistan reported a temperature of 54°C. WMO will set up an international committee of experts to verify the temperature and assess whether it equals a reported 54°C temperature recorded in Kuwait last July.

Unprecedented Record of Displacements Meanwhile, the world has marked New Inhumane Record: One Person Displaced Every Three Second. Nearly 66 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes last year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed in its report Global Trends, released ahead of the World Refugee Day on June 20.

The figure equates to “one person displaced every three seconds – less than the time it takes to read this sentence.

Such an unprecedented high records of human displacements is not only due to conflicts. In fact, advancing droughts and desertification also lay behind this “tsunami” of displaced persons both out of their own countries and in their own homelands.

On this, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on the occasion

of the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) on June 17, alerted that by 2025 –that’s in less than 8 years from today– 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and two thirds of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions.

Now it is feared that advancing drought and deserts, growing water scarcity and decreasing food security may provoke a huge ‘tsunami” of climate refugees and migrants. See The Relentless March of Drought – That ‘Horseman of the Apocalypse’ Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, reminded that the world’s drought-prone and water scarce regions are often the main sources of refugees.

Neither desertification nor drought on its own causes conflict or forced migration, but they can increase the risk of conflict and intensify on-going conflicts, Barbut explained. See: Mideast: Drought to Turn People into Eternal Migrants, Prey to Extremism?

An Urgent, Potentially Irreversible Threat In Parallel, the United Nations leading agency in the fields of agriculture has issued numerous warnings on the huge impacts that droughts have on agriculture and food security, with poor rural communities among the most hit victims.

As a way to help mitigate the effects of the ongoing heat waves, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 20 June signed with WMO

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

an agreement to deepen cooperation to respond to climate variability and climate change, “represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies, natural ecosystems and food security.”

Through this joint work, the two organisations will work on strengthening agrometeorological services and making them more accessible to farmers and fishers; improve global and region-specific monitoring for early warning and response to high-impact events like droughts.

The agreement was signed on June 19 by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas on the sidelines of an international seminar on drought organised by Iran, the Netherlands, and FAO in Rome.

“Saving livelihoods means saving lives – this is what building resilience is all about,” said Graziano da Silva.

Recalling the 2011 drought in Somalia that saw over 250,000 people perish from hunger, he said, “People die because they are not prepared to face the impacts of the drought – because their livelihoods are not resilient enough.”

“For years, the focus has been responding to droughts when they happen, rushing to provide emergency assistance and to keep people alive,” he said, noting that while “of course, that is important,” investing in preparedness and resilience is essential.

—IPS World Desk

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THE ARTS

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CONFLUENCE: PRATHIBA MADAN'S EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS

By Neeraj Nanda

I

had the opportunity to declare open on 15 July at The Highway Gallery, Mt. Waverley Indian artist PRATHIBA PATIL'S art journey 'CONFLUENCE' an amalgamation of two vibrant cultures and art forms on canvas, blending the exquisite precision of figurative art with the freedom of abstraction.

An excellent blend of East and West reflecting the multicultural ethos of Australia. The exhibition will be on up to July 23, 2017. Gallery hours are 12-4 pm, Wed-Sun. Mobile: 0490 413 200.

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cinema

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IFFM-2017: Sixty films in 20 languages laced with film giants & glittering events

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne July 7: This year again the most liveable city in the world will be swamped by the Indian film industry with its movies, actors, directors, producers and others who have made it the world’s biggest movie industry. The glitter of this magnificent enterprise dishing out a few thousand movies each year will speak many languages, cultures, and stories. No doubt, IFFM-2017 will be a treat not to be missed.

The 2017 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will run from Thursday 10 – Tuesday 22 August, with more venues, special

guests and events, and screenings of over 60 films in 20 languages. Announcing the festival program at the Indian consulate, Festival Director MituBhowmick detailed the list of guests coming, movies in the festival and the events associated with the festival.

Festival guests include Irfan Khan, Karan Johar, RaveenaTandon, VikramPhadnis, Konkona Sen Sharma, ShoojitSircar, Malaika Arora, Nitish Tiwari, Simi Garewal, Rahul Bose, Tannishtha Chatterjee among others.

Opening this year’s festival is the award-winning and thought-provoking Lipstick Under My Burkha.

An acclaimed drama

exploring social taboos and personal struggles of four Indian women from diverse backgrounds, the film was initially denied classification in January for being too “lady orientated” by the Central Board Film Certification (CBFC) of India, a decision director AlankritaShrivastava has described as “an assault on women’s rights”.

Shrivastava and the film’s star Konkona Sen Sharma are special guests of the festival and will attend the opening night.

“Independent films are telling important stories, challenging the status quo and are important artistic expressions.” said AlankritaShrivastava “I’m

delighted to participate in the Festival with Lipstick Under My Burkha and looking forward to the reaction of Australian audiences.”

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley earlier said, “The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne promotes the cross-cultural exchange of ideas between Indian and Australian audiences through its unique and diverse selection of films and events. The Victorian Government is proud to support the festival and welcome it back to Victoria for another year.

This film is just our first look at what promises to be another exciting program.”

Festival Director

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MituBhowmick-Lange said, “This August the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will present films that explore diversity and the endless potential of humanity.

Audiences will immerse themselves in 13 days of film, including Bollywood blockbusters, powerful indie films and stunning documentaries from India and the subcontinent.

These films were curated to entertain, inspire, enrage, engage and challenge viewers. We look forward to welcoming a fantastic line up of guests and welcoming audiences to our screenings and special events.”

IFFM continues to grow and increase its accessibility, responding

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cinema

IFFM-2017: Sixty films in...

to the huge appetite for Indian film from Melbourne audiences and will this year screen a number of brilliant Bollywood favorites at Federation Square as well as adding three new screening locations at HOYTS Chadstone, Broadmeadows, and Forest Hill alongside Melbourne Central and Highpoint. Celebrating diversity, the IFFM program features films of over 20 different languages from India and the subcontinent.

The star studded Westpac Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards (IFFM Awards), will take place on Friday 11 August at Melbourne’s Recital Centre.

IFFM’s opening week coincides with the Indian Independence Day celebrations and the festival is thrilled to commemorate this event through the ceremony, dance and the recognition of excellence in India’s film culture.

Celebrations will include the raising of the Indian flag on Saturday 12 August at the Federation Square, followed by the Telstra Bollywood Dance competition.

A not to be missed highlight of this year’s festival will be a series of In Conversation and Masterclass events with Festival Guests at Federation Square’s Deakin Edge as well as Q&As at a number of the screening venues.

The IFFM: Dates: Thursday 10 August – Tuesday 22 August Venues: Melbourne Recital Centre • Federation Square • Deakin Edge •Hoyts Melbourne Central • Hoyts Chadstone • Hoyts Broadmeadows • Hoyts Forest Hill • Hoyts Highpoint The full IFFM program can be accessed at - www. iffm.com.au

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sports

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