SAT August 2015

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CELEBRATING 13TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION

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EDITORIAL

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IFFM 2015 a feast not to be missed

By Neeraj Nanda

M

elbourne: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) is back this year with all the strength and vigour. Over the years the festival has attained an iconic status among the movie loving people. It’s not just the Indian/South Asian’s who like it but a wider community of movie lovers rush to the theatres showing mainstream and off beat movies from India and the subcontinent. It goes without saying many movies which are never released or released on the big screen make their way to this festival and the 2015 festival is no exception. I have watched and covered many film festivals but the fun and interest I get in the IFFM is beyond imagination. This year there are a many movies to be seen and appreciated but I feel the following four ones should not be missed: UMRIKA:(Opening Night; Friday, Aug.14; HOYTS MELBOURNE CENTRAL; 7 pm) Prashant Nair’s lauded follow-up to the film that made his name, Delhi in a Day. Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) stars as Rama whose older brother leaves their remote mountain village one day to travel to “Umrika” (aka America).

The whole village shares in the adventure through the letters he starts sending back, inspiring hope and sparking a lifelong obsession with America in his young brother.

But when the letters stop coming Rama sets out to find him with the help of his best friend Lalu (Grand Budapest Hotel’s Tony Revolori) leading to a surprising and powerful journey of his own. The winner of Sundance’s Audience Award (World Cinematic Dramatic), Nair’s film cleverly mines its 1980s setting

to create a deeply resonant, often hilarious, and heartbreaking while the other is about a young hilarious exploration of immigration drama.’ National Award for Best woman who defies her devout father and family ties set against a stellar Feature Film, Best Film at the and escapes an arranged marriage Festival soundtrack. Director: Prashant Nair.Indian VeniceFilm International Filmof Festival, because she is secretly embroiled in Language: Hindi.

Best Film at Minsk Film Festival a taboo lesbian romance. Director: Listapad, Mumbai Film Festival Raj Amit Kumar; Language: English/ COURT: (Saturday 4.30 pm; Best Film, Venice Film Festival - Lion Hindi.

– 27 August 2015is Chaitanya Abdullah- The final witness: August 15; HOYTS MELBOURNE of14 the Future.

Director (Saturday 2.30 pm; August 15; CENTRAL)A sewerage worker's dead Tamhane. Language: Marathi, HOYTS MELBOURNE CENTRAL) The body is found inside a manhole English, Hindi, Gujarati). film from Pakistan is based on the in Mumbai. An ageing folk singer Kharotabad Incident in Baluchistan, is tried in court on charges of UNFREEDOM: (Friday 9.15 pm; which involved the killing of five abetment of suicide. He is accused August 21; HOYTS MELBOURNE Russian and Tajik citizens who were of performing an inflammatory CENTRAL)The movie is an urgent claimed to be terrorists. The incident song which might have incited the contemporary thriller about a filmed by worker to commit the act.

As the society torn apart by political, 7pm & 7:45pm Friday August 14 6:30pm, saturday was August 15a journalist and footage was aired on media channels trial unfolds, the personal lives of religious, and sexual turmoil.

Hoytsand Melbourne Central,involved Corner Swanston & La Trobe Sts Gallery of Victoria, who 180 Streported Kilda Roadthat the five victims the lawyers the judge Shifting betweenNational New York and were in fact innocent citizens. The in the case are observed outside the New Delhi, the film juxtaposes two available from hoyts.com.au Tickets available movie is a gripping tale of that court. Court isTickets a Courtroom Drama powerful and unflinching stories from ticketek.com.au incident. Director Hashim Nadeem; that has received critical acclaim about religious fundamentalism and Presenting the IFFM Equality Language: internationally and in India, with an intolerance, one of which follows Fashion Show at the IFFM Urdu.

For all information & details: 8.5 star rating by The Review Monk. a Muslim terrorist attempting toAwards Night starring Sonam several Indian and First Post called Court, a ‘ludicrous, silence a liberal Muslim scholar,Kapoor andwww.iffm.com.au

tICKEts sELLING FAst… Hurry, book your tickets today!

Opening Night

Equality Fashion Show

Australian celebrities!

Be a part of an exciting night where we honour the very best of Indian Cinema with a glamourous fashion show and Sonam Kapoor on the catwalk.

contents

Watch Umrika and interact with Anil Kapoor, Rajkumar Hirani, Sonam Kapoor, Abhijat Joshi, Nikhil Advani, Kangana Ranaut, Imran Khan and Simi Garewal.

sonam Kapoor

Anil Kapoor

Rajkumar Hirani

sonam Kapoor

simi Garewal

Nikhil Advani

Kangana Ranaut

P3

P2

Editorial

P3

SAPAC Business Forum

P 6-7-8

IFFM 2015 Schedule

P 12

Abhijat Joshi

Imran Khan

P 6-7-8

Anil Kapoor

P 20

P 14

14 Days * Over 55 films * 15 Languages * Masterclasses * Q&As and more!

P 12

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Hoyts Melbourne Central and Hoyts Highpoint

P 14

Program subject to change. Please check details closer to event date at iffm.com.au

Mumbai to NZ on cycle Chandana Dixit concert Presented by

P 16

ALP national Conference

P 20

South Asia iffm.com.au

P 28

Entertainment

P 34

Sports

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

P 28

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COMMUNITY

southSouth asia times 3 Asia Times

SAPAC Business Forum ignites debates on business with South Asia

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 21 July: The South Asian Public Affairs Council (SAPAC), held its first Business Forum at The Grand on Princess, Mulgrave on 21st July with great participation and enthusiasm. First of its kind the forum roped in business people from the Indian subcontinent countries here.

Business persons of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali origin Australians could be seen on the well laid out tables.

In his welcome address, SAPAC President, Mr. Shahbaz Chaudhry detailed the reasons behind the formation of SAPAC and its aims of lobbying those in authority on behalf of the South Asian Diaspora in Australia. He also said this business forum aimed at enhancing trade and business relations between the South Asian countries and Australia, will not be the last one.

Hon. Hong Lim MP, member for Clarinda and Parliamentary Secretary, for Multicultural Affairs and Asia Engagement welcomed the initiative taken by SAPAC for a business forum which he thought will help trade relations between South Asian countries and Australia.

The key note power point presentation on the economic situation in Australia and its economic parameters was done by Commonwealth Bank Economist, Mr. Savanth Sebestian. One by one, Savanth explained the economic indicators in Australia and compared them to that of other developed countries. He also touched the rise of China and India and other countries rising on the global economic horizon. His comments on the Australian housing boom and other sectors were heard with attention.

Others who addressed the business gathering were Mr. Lex Thornton, Commonwealth Bank, Small Business Manager, Dr. Sharif –as- Sabar, RMIT, Mr. Stuart Reece, Austrade and Hon. Jude Pereira MP among others.

Just before dinner a lively question answer session was conducted

by Mr. Donald Betts, in which the speakers answered many queries and comments.

The business event was well received in the community as it was the first of its kind. About 200 people from all walks of life attended the function. All members of the SAPAC committee were present and networked with the business leaders.

The atmosphere was businesslike and many a related issues were discussed.

The stage was well handled by MC Kaushalya Vaghela and the overall in charge for the event Dilki Perera worked hard and made the business forum a big success.

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

The event was sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank and supported by the Blue Ocean group of companies from Sri Lanka among others. The Blue Ocean group, in fact, flew in from Sri Lanka for the business forum. —SAT News Service.

south asia 4 South Asia Timestimes

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southSouth asia times 5 Asia Times

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

August 14

Friday

UMRIKA Opening Night

7pm

6

August 14 Friday 7:45pm UMRIKA south asia South Asia Timestimes

Hindi

COMMUNITY

98mins

Hindi

98mins

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August 15

Saturday

2:30pm

ABDULLAH: tHE FINAL WItNEss

August 15

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CoURt

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7pm

JAI Ho

English

85mins

August 15

Saturday

8:30pm

KAAKA MUttAI (Crow’s Eggs)

Tamil

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MoNsooN

English

108mins

KHooBsURAt Q&A with Sonam Kapoor

Hindi

130mins

Sunday 2pm schedule

August 16 August 16

Sunday

5pm

from Pakistan

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90mins

Marathi/Hindi/English/Gujarati 116mins

Hoyts Melbourne Central 5, Corner Swanston & La Trobe Streets, Melbourne August 16LevelSunday 8pm DIL DHADAKNE Do Q&A with Anil Kapoor Hindi

170mins

information: Call 1300 357 357 or go to hoyts.com.au August 17ticket Monday 8pm Masterclass with Kiku Sharda: Comedy in India DAtE

DAy

August 17 August Monday 14

9pm Friday

14 August 18 August Tuesday

Friday

August 15

tIME

Saturday

2:30pm

7pmFoR

Saturday

8:30pm

August 17

August 22

JAI Ho HERE oR to Go

98mins 155mins

English English

KAAKA MUttAI (Crow’s Eggs)

109mins

Hindi/English English

KHooBsURAt Q&A with Sonam Kapoor

100mins 108mins

Sunday

5pm

Hindi

130mins

Sunday7pm

8pmHARAAMKHoR DIL DHADAKNE Do Q&A with Anil Kapoor Hindi Hindi

170mins 103mins

Monday

8pm

Masterclass with Kiku Sharda: Comedy in India

6:30pm PK Q&A Rajkumar Hirani KINGDoM oF with NEKdirector CHAND & CALCUttA

August 19

Wednesday

7pmMasterstrokes VARA

August 20

Thursday

6pm

FoR HERE oR to Go

August 20

Thursday

8pm

MARGARItA WItH A stRAW Q&A with director Shonali Bose

Saturday Saturday

August 21

2:45pm

Friday

4:15pm

introduced by Paul Cox

102 & 22mins 117mins

Hindi English

22155mins & 30mins

from Germany/Bhutan English

BURKA AVENGER

from Pakistan

70mins

CHotUsHKoNE Q&A with Srijit Mukherji

Bengali

148mins

Hindi English/Hindi

106mins 102 & 22mins

7pm

HARAAMKHoR

Hindi

KINGDoM oF NEK CHAND & CALCUttA English

August 22

Saturday Saturday

4:15pm

Saturday

7:30pm

Sunday6pm

Masterclass withAVANALLA…AVALU Nagesh Kukunoor: (IConfessions an she) Indie 3:30pm NAANU Am Not He of I Am Q&A with BS Lingadevaru Kannada

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August 23 August Sunday 23

6pm

NAyAKDUKHtAR

August 23 August Sunday 23

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6pm

23 August 24 August Monday

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August 23

August 25 August Tuesday 24

8pm

CHotUsHKoNE Q&A with Srijit Mukherji Bengali DUKHtAR from Pakistan

7pm

DHANAK Q&A with Nagesh Kukunoor

100mins 103mins

NAANU AVANALLA…AVALU (I Paul Am Not Masterstrokes introduced by Cox He I Am she) Q&A with BS Lingadevaru Kannada 2:45pm BURKA AVENGER from Pakistan

22 August 23 August Sunday

1pm

Hindi/English

Saturday

3:30pm

96mins 105mins

August 22

Sunday

90mins

85mins 105mins

Tamil

August 22 August Saturday DHANAK Q&A with &Nagesh Kukunoor 21 Friday 7:30pm 9:15pm UNFREEDoM tELL ME A stoRy August 23

Hindi Hindi from Pakistan

2pm

18 Tuesday August 22 August Saturday 1pm

August 22

117mins 98mins

9:15pm 9pmUNFREEDoM & tELL ME A stoRy English/Hindi Monday CHARULAtA Introduced by Simi Garewal Bengali

August 21 August Friday 17

DURAtIoN

Bengali Hindi

from Germany/Bhutan 96mins Marathi/Hindi/English/Gujarati 116mins

MARGARItA WItH A stRAW MoNsooN Q&A with director Shonali Bose

August 20 August Thursday 8pm 16 Sunday 16 August 21 August Friday

ABDULLAH: tHE FINAL WItNEss

VARA CoURt 4:30pm

15 Saturday August 20 August Thursday 6pm

August 16

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UMRIKA 6:30pm 7:45pm PK Q&A with director Rajkumar Hirani

August 19 August Wednesday 7pm 15 Saturday August 15

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CHARULAtA Introduced by Simi Garewal 7pm UMRIKA Opening Night

22 & 30mins

105mins 70mins 148mins 93mins

Hindi

106mins

Auteur

Bengali from Pakistan

105mins

120mins 93mins

Masterclass with Nagesh Kukunoor: Confessions of an Indie Auteur sWAPAANAM Malayalam 146mins NAyAK

7:30pm 7pmDUM LAGA KE HAIsHA Monday sWAPAANAM

Bengali

120mins

Hindi Malayalam

111mins 146mins

25 Tuesday DUM LAGA KE HAIsHA August 26 August Wednesday 6:30pm 7:30pm MR INDIA

Hindi Hindi

111mins 181mins

August 27 August Thursday 7:30pm 7:30pm PHANtoM WorldWorld Premiere!

27 Thursday PHANtoM Premiere!

Hindi

Hindi Hindi

181mins

August 26

58

58

Wednesday

6:30pm

MR INDIA

157mins 157mins

ALL FILMs HAVE ENGLIsH sUBtItLEs UNLEss sPECIFIED. No INtERMIssIoNs DURING ANy oF tHE FILMs. ALL FILMs HAVE ENGLIsH sUBtItLEs sPECIFIED. No INtERMIssIoNs DURING ANycloser oF tHE FILMs. All programs and films are accurate while going to print but are subject to change.

For most UNLEss updated program please check our website www.iffm.com.au to the event.

All programs and films are accurate while going to print but are subject to change. For most updated program please check our website www.iffm.com.au closer to the event. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

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southSouth asia times 7 Asia Times

Indian Film Festival of 14 – 27 August 2015

tICKEts sELLING FAst‌ Hurry, book your tickets today!

Opening Night

7pm & 7:45pm Friday August 14 Hoyts Melbourne Central, Corner Swanston & La Trobe Sts

Equality Fashion Show 6:30pm, saturday August 15 National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road

Tickets available from hoyts.com.au

Tickets available from ticketek.com.au Presenting the IFFM Equality Fashion Show at the IFFM Awards Night starring Sonam Kapoor and several Indian and Australian celebrities!

Be a part of an exciting night where we honour the very best of Indian Cinema with a glamourous fashion show and Sonam Kapoor on the catwalk.

Watch Umrika and interact with Anil Kapoor, Rajkumar Hirani, Sonam Kapoor, Abhijat Joshi, Nikhil Advani, Kangana Ranaut, Imran Khan and Simi Garewal.

sonam Kapoor

Anil Kapoor

Rajkumar Hirani

sonam Kapoor

Abhijat Joshi

simi Garewal

Nikhil Advani

Kangana Ranaut

Imran Khan

Anil Kapoor

14 Days * Over 55 films * 15 Languages * Masterclasses * Q&As and more!

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Hoyts Melbourne Central and Hoyts Highpoint

iffm.com.au

Program subject to change. Please check details closer to event date at iffm.com.au

Presented by

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

south asia 8 South Asia Timestimes schedule

COMMUNITY

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Hoyts Highpoint 39 Warrs Road, Maribyrnong ticket information: Call 1300 357 357 or go to hoyts.com.au DAtE DAy schedule August 15 Saturday August 15

Saturday

tIME

FILM

LANGUAGE

DURAtIoN

5pm

NACHoM-IA KUMPAsAR

Konkani

156mins

8:30pm

DUM LAGA KE HAIsHA

Hindi

111mins

UNFREEDoM & tELL ME A stoRy

English/Hindi

102 & 22mins

Assamese

101mins

Hoyts Highpoint August 16 Road, Sunday 12:30pm 39 Warrs Maribyrnong

August 16 Sunday Call 1300 2pm 357 AARoHI ticket information: 357 or go to hoyts.com.au August 16 DAtE

Sunday DAy

4:30pm FILM GoLI soDA tIME

Tamil LANGUAGE

117mins DURAtIoN

August15 16 August

Sunday Saturday

7pm 5pm

Konkani Hindi

156mins 123mins

August August15 17

Saturday Monday

8:30pm LAGA KE HAIsHA 6:30pm DUM MARDAANI

Hindi

111mins 113mins

August 16

August 17

Sunday

12:30pm

UNFREEDoM & tELL ME A stoRy

English/Hindi

102 & 22mins

August 16

Sunday

2pm

AARoHI

Assamese

101mins

August 16

Sunday

4:30pm

GoLI soDA

Tamil

117mins

PIKU MotIoN sE HI EMotIoN

Hindi

August 18

August 18

Monday Tuesday

Tuesday

PIKU MotIoN sE HI EMotIoN NACHoM-IA KUMPAsAR

8:30pm 6:30pm

8pm

Hindi

CHRoNICLEs oF A tEMPLE PAINtER

Hindi

NH10

Hindi

128mins

115mins

Sunday

August17 19 August

Wednesday 6:30pm 7pm Monday

A RAINy DAy MARDAANI

Hindi

Marathi/Konkani 113mins 89mins

August August17 19

Monday Wednesday 8:30pm 9pm

tANU WEDsJAsoos MANU REtURNs BoBBy

Hindi

Hindi/Urdu128mins 121mins

August 18

August 20

Tuesday

6:30pm

CHRoNICLEs oF A tEMPLE PAINtER

August 18

Tuesday

8pm

NH10

Hindi

August 19

Wednesday

7pm

A RAINy DAy

Marathi/Konkani

89mins

August 19

Wednesday

9pm

BoBBy JAsoos

Hindi/Urdu

121mins

August20 21 August

Friday Thursday

9pm 7pm

August August20 22

Thursday Saturday

9pm 12:30pmsUNRIsE BURKA AVENGER

August 21

August 22

Friday

6pm

HAIDER

Hindi/Urdu

August 21

Friday

9pm

AMMA AND APPA

English/German

89mins

August 22

Saturday

12:30pm

BURKA AVENGER

from Pakistan

70mins

August 22

Saturday

2pm

JALAL’s stoRy

121mins

August22 22 August

Saturday Saturday

7:30pm LAJWANtI HARAAMKHoR 4:30pm

Bangladesh

August August22 22

Saturday Saturday

6pm 9pm

JAI ZoRAWAR Ho World Premiere!

August 22

Saturday

7:30pm

HARAAMKHoR

August22 23 August

Sunday Saturday

3pm 9pm

August 20 August 21

August 22 August 22

August 23

Thursday Friday

Saturday Saturday Saturday

Sunday

August 23

Sunday

August 23

August 23

Sunday

August 23

Sunday

August 24

Sunday

Monday

7pm 9pm

Hindi tAJ Q&A with director Winston Furlong

English

sUNRIsE

Marathi

HAIDER

6pm

AND APPA tAJAMMA Q&A with director Winston Furlong JALAL’s stoRy

2pm 4:30pm 6pm

LAJWANtI JAI Ho

5:15pm

86mins 162mins 89mins

Marathi from Pakistan 86mins

70mins

162mins Bangladesh 121mins

Hindi

English

85mins

English Punjabi

85mins

150mins

Hindi

103mins

CHARULAtA ZoRAWAR World Premiere!

Q&A with director Vinnil Markan

Punjabi Bengali

150mins 117mins

CHARULAtA

Bengali

FINDING FANNy

Hindi

63mins

103mins

Hindi

Hindi/English

117mins

106mins

7:20pm FINDING NEWBoRNs & Hindi 12mins FANNy Hindi/English 106mins LoVE? LUst? LIFE? & from Nepal 22mins 7:20pm NEWBoRNs & Hindi 12mins sUNsHINE & sHADE Q&A with Ana Tiwary English 52mins 5:15pm

LoVE? LUst? LIFE? & from Nepal sUNsHINE & sHADE Q&A with Ana Tiwary DEtECtIVE ByoMKEsH BAKsHy English Hindi

7pm

Monday

7pm

DEtECtIVE ByoMKEsH BAKsHy

Hindi

August 25

Tuesday

6pm

HAPPy NEW yEAR

Hindi

August 25

Tuesday

9:30pm

Tamil

August 26

KAAKA MUttAI (Crows Eggs)

August 26

Wednesday

VANAJA

Telugu

August27 27 August

Thursday Thursday

Tuesday

92mins

English English/German 92mins

August 25 August 25

115mins

Hindi/Urdu

August 24

Tuesday

50mins

63mins

Q&A with director Vinnil Markan

3pm

123mins

50mins

August 16

Thursday

7pm

tANU WEDs MANU REtURNs

Hindi

HAPPy NEW yEAR

6pm 9:30pm

Wednesday 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm

KAAKA MUttAI (Crows Eggs)

VANAJA

tEENKAHoN tEENKAHoN

Hindi Tamil Telugu

Bengali Bengali

22mins 52mins

139mins 180mins 109mins 111mins

139mins 180mins 109mins 111mins

124mins 124mins

ALL sUBtItLEs UNLEss sPECIFIED. No INtERMIssIoNs DURING ANy oFANy tHE FILMs. ALL FILMs FILMsHAVE HAVEENGLIsH ENGLIsH sUBtItLEs UNLEss sPECIFIED. No INtERMIssIoNs DURING oF tHE FILMs. All are accurate while going to print but are to change.

For mostFor updated program please check our website www.iffm.com.au closer to the event.

All programs programsand andfilms films are accurate while going to print butsubject are subject to change. most updated program please check our website www.iffm.com.au closer to the event.

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

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southSouth asia times 9 Asia Times

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

south asia 10 South Asia Timestimes

community

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Australia-Bangladesh MOU to fight money laundering and terrorism financing

By SAT News Desk

M

elbourne, 14 July: AUSTRAC has today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bangladesh on information sharing.

The MOU between the two countries establishes a framework for them

to exchange financial intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing and other serious offences.

“Increased cooperation with Bangladesh will help protect Australia against money laundering and terrorism financing, through targeted information and intelligence exchange.

Information exchanges with Bangladesh will be aimed at enhancing Australia’s international law enforcement and security interests and generating new avenues for enquiry and intelligence, “says a media release.

AUSTRAC has collaborative relationships with financial intelligence units (FIUs)

throughout the world to help safeguard Australia from terrorism financing and other serious crimes.

These relationships are important because criminals do not respect borders.

AUSTRAC now has 77 exchange instruments for sharing financial intelligence with foreign

counterparts.

AUSTRAC, on behalf of Australia, is an active member of the Egmont Group - the globallyrecognised international network of FIUs established to promote cooperation between its member countries. Bangladesh is also a member of Egmont.

—SAT News Service.

Ethnic body opposes new community broadcasting model

Foreign students bank accounts used for money laundering: ASTRAC

By SAT News Desk

By SAT News Desk

m

elbourne : ‘The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC) has opposed the Community Broadcasting Foundation’s (CBF) new model of operation.

‘It will have dire consequences for the community broadcasting sector and especially for ethnic community broadcasting’, says Vice-President of the NEMBC, Nick Dmyterko.

The CBF is proposing a new model that changes the CBF from an agency that administers funds to one that determines what happens to those funds.

‘Under the new model the CBF will become a development agency that can shape the sector’, said Mr Dmyterko.

‘The new model proposed by the CBF is totally undemocratic; there will be no membership base, there will be no elections and there will be no system of representation.

It will become a top-down selfappointed board and handpicked organisation’, said Mr Dmyterko.

We are disappointed that the CBF has agreed to most of what was contained in the recent Nous Group Report.

‘Many, if not the majority, of the submissions we believe opposed the model presented last year’, said Mr Dmyterko.

The CBF released a ‘consultation paper’ that was available on their website and took feedback by the 23 July 2015. The CBF may accept the new model as soon as August this year and start the implementation with a plan to have it in place by mid-2016.

—SAT News Service.

m

elbourne, 27 July: AUSTRAC (Australian Transition Reports and Analysis Centre) has released a new analysis report about serious organised crime groups (SOCG) using business express deposit boxes and internet banking to avoid ‘know your customer’ requirements.

AUSTRAC’s strategic analysis brief Use of business express deposit boxes to avoid reporting requirements provides information about money laundering methods and indicators that a person is laundering the proceeds of crime.

The practice involves using third parties, such as foreign students, to open bank accounts with internet banking facilities. The third party then

hands over the account details and password to the crime group.

SOCG members then deposit illicit cash into the accounts through express deposit boxes, so the identification details of the person making the deposit is not reported to AUSTRAC. The illicit funds are then transferred offshore using the internet banking facility.

SOCG members made 200 cash deposits totalling more than AUD11 million in 10 months. Banks have submitted suspicious matter reports to AUSTRAC about this activity.

Australian businesses including banks, casinos, remitters and foreign exchange providers have submitted Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs) and threshold transaction reports (TTRs) to AUSTRAC which have helped detect, disrupt and deter crime.

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

The practice involves using third parties, such as foreign students, to open bank accounts with internet banking facilities.

Businesses concerned that a person might be undertaking a suspicious transaction can lodge an SMR with AUSTRAC or call the AUSTRAC Contact Centre on 1300 021 037.

—SAT News Service.

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PANDITH : RAVI VARMA NEW IN MELBOURNE

Call for appointments

0415 599 636 0415 943 035

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Open 7 Days From 8:30am to 8.00pm

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Mumbai to New Zealand on cycle

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$ 4 m grant by Labor govt. to help international students

By SAT News Desk

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By our community reporter

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umbai to New Zealand on cycle: Rajesh Khandekar, 42 from Mumbai met SAT in Melbourne during his stay here on a cycling mission which started in November 2014 in Mumbai and will soon end in New Zealand. He is a grocery store owner in Mumbai and will be in New Zealand in September this year.

Here he was helped by the Maharashtra Mandal and many others back home.

His message to the world is to protect the environment.

In one Australian city he by chance entered

into a freeway and was safely escorted back on a normal road. He has been welcomed by people whichever country he passed through.Mayanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, etc. have been good for his cycling expedition.

The smiling Rajesh says Australia is a good country and people friendly. He covers between 100 to 300 km daily as the weather permits. His message to the world - “I want people to understand the importance of riding bicycles. It is a pollution-free mode of transport and it also keeps you fit. My message to the world is simple – start riding bicycles,” he said.

elbourne, 6 August: The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on another key election commitment, to support international students in Victoria.

Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert has launched the International Student Welfare Grants, a $4 million Labor Government program to support organisations who work with international students.

The new program will run over four years and will support and address the needs of international students. The program will complement the services already delivered by the Government including the Study Melbourne Student Centre. The program, now open for applications, offers grants of up to $50,000 per year to organisations that enhance the experience and address the needs of international students living and studying in Victoria.

Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said, “The Andrews Labor Government is committed to supporting international students and cementing Victoria as an international education destination, through this $4 million election commitment.”

“The International Student Welfare Grants will help address the needs and issues experienced by international students and play a central role in creating a positive living experience in Victoria.”

“This is an important program because we know there is a strong correlation between an international student’s positive experience and the likelihood of recommending Victoria as a place to study to friends and peers, “he said.

The International Student Welfare Grants will help raise awareness of and access to services available to support the needs of international students, in areas such as health, housing, financial management, safety and consumer affairs matters.

The grants will promote the State as an attractive study destination and a global leader in international education.

In 2014 Victoria attracted approximately 160,000 international students, while international education generated $5.3 billion in export earnings and supports over

Bonalu celebrations in Melbourne By our community reporter

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elbourne: On July 26 Telangana's festival Bonalu was celebrated with great enthusiasm. The celebration represented Telangana's unique and special cultural heritage that people from that area carry in their hearts and minds.

The attendance was impressive on a wintery windy cold morning.

Members of the organising committee built " Durga matha thottela" crafted beautifully. Bonams were presented to Durga matha with all the traditional www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

30,000 jobs making it Victoria’s largest services export sector.

Organisations eligible to lodge an application may include international student associations and a range of other organisations that can partner with these associations to support international students.

In addition to support services, activities that can be considered for a grant include (but are not limited to) events, workshops, volunteering and leadership programs, sporting activities, applied research and practice guides to help improve the experience of international students.

To view the International Student Welfare Grants guidelines, lodge an Expression of Interest or register for an upcoming information session workshop, visit www.business. vic.gov.au.

—SAT News Service.

welcoming with songs and dances. After the important events there was wonderful lunch cooked next door in the Temple's kitchen.

Impressive kitchen facilities and dedicated volunteers made it look easy. For many volunteers it was journey down the memory lane as they were serving devotees sitting on the floor mats just like marriages back home in olden days. Wasn't easy for some to bend to serve or sit on floor to eat. Hearts & minds were filled with happiness and joy, it was all part of wonderful spiritual experience and great fun day.

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community

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Reliance Real Estate opens new office in Point Cook

By our community reporter

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oint Cook (Melbourne), 3 August: The Reliance Real Estate opened its new office at the Point Cook Town Centre. The new office was decorated with yellow – green balloons and sweets were distributed.

Councillor Intaj Khan cut the ribbon to open the new office amidst clapping and joy. Everyone present greeted the Reliance Real Estate owners and staff who happily posed for

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photographs. A cake with Reliance colours and name was also cut to mark the occasion. The large number of people present then shifted to the nearby ‘Priya Indian Cuisine’ Restaurant for drinks and Indian snacks.

It was good networking and a chance to talk to the Reliance Real Estate people.

The Point Cook address is – Reliance Real Estate, 429A Main Street, Point Cook, Vic 3030.

The company has a office in Werribee also.

All information at – www. reliancere.com.au.

Chandana Dixit ne chura liya Melbourne ka jiya

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne: Hindustani Classical and Bollywood singer Chandana Dixit in an enchanting evening at the Kel Watson Theatre organised by Anhad Sounds was a treat well received among music lovers. The full spectrum of musical delights and a variety of vocal presentations were visible at the event. Excellent and lively MC Sandeep Chaudhary did a good job introducing the artist and presenting the show that made it more interesting.

The blend of classical and light music in the first and second half of the program won laurels for the artist and the organisers.

The event (10 July, 2015) included Ghazals, Sufi songs, Tappa, Thumri, Bollywod Classics, Quawali and Fusion music with a contemporary twist. The most appreciable was the Thumari, a common genre of semi-classical Indian music. The audience was

mesmerised as Chandana Dixit weaved magic with her well trained golden voice.

Chandana is a singer with a wide repertoire ranging from Hindustani classical (she belongs to the Kirana Gharana) to Bollywood (she sang the very popular Goriya Chura Na Mora Jiya from the Amitabh Bachchan movie Coolie No 1 along with many

other hits).

"RASA UNVEILED - An Evening with Chandana Dixit" was a charity fundraiser and raised $304 by selling raffle tickets during the concert, the prizes for which were kindly offered by several restaurants and many other businesses.

Apart from the funds raised by the charity raffle,

and with additional support from Chandana Dixit, Anhand Sounds made a donation of $750 to the Friends of the Children Foundation.

The house was full with music lovers from all over.

The well organised and enchanting event will never be forgotten. The organisers need to be commended for such a successful music

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event which connected people to their cultural roots.

Anhad Sounds organising team has saluted the spirits of the audience and promised to come back again with quality concerts in future.

They are ready to take any feedback of the event at anhadsounds@gmail.com.

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COMMUNITY

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Labor national conference charts roadmap to Canberra

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elbourne: ALP’s threeday national conference, which concluded in Melbourne recently has given a roadmap for winning at next federal election.

All the key policies were debated respectfully with various creative ideas and looking into the practical aspect for change/review in the best interest of Australian community at large. Some of the hot policies/topics are outlined herewith that would be the winning edge for Labor at next federal election.

Climate Change and Clean Energy: The ALP leader Bill Shorten mentioned in his opening speech at the conference to aggressively promote climate as key electoral issue. He said that Labor will support a target of 50% of stationery energy from renewables by 2030 and establish a national emission trading scheme (ETS). Mr. Shorten mentioned climate is “economic & environmental cancer that demands early intervention. In his opinion, this issue is about national security and “national health”. Labor will push in innovations and investment in clean energy sectors to create more jobs and with cleaner climate.

Asylum Seekers: This was the most sensitive issue on the floor to be debated with clusters of ideas & arguments. The centre of debate was the risk of life associated with the asylum seekers travelling in dangerous boat from Indonesia and how to protect such lives from sinking into the sea. Finally, the floor concluded to double the number of taking refugees into Australia and pledge to spend $450 million over the next four years on the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to care more for real asylum seekers. However, it was mentioned to deal with the boat & turning it back to protect the lives of people sinking into the sea. Labor has shown its great support to the refugee by doubling the numbers refugees taking into Australia and increasing the Australian fund to UNHCR. Education: The conference concluded on valuing the education to its education platform that assures better early year’s education and care, more support for science, engineering, technology & math teachers, high standard in initial teacher education, primacy of public TAFE provision and affordable higher education.

The ALP continued with its commitments to the Gonski resource standard in the school which will add value to all children of Australia with better education.

Health: The conference concluded with the commitment to support Medicare and the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that are the components of labor vision for a fairer Australia. It is recognised to invest in good health for all Australians to deliver a productive workforce and a competitive

economy. Mental health is recognised as priority for action along with the commitment to strong & properly resourced public health system.

Same-sex marriage: The conference concluded with an amendment that approved conscience votes on gay marriage for the next two terms of parliament, by which time most expect the matter to be settled in federal parliament.

Overall, the three days ALP Conference was concluded with various

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hot and respectful debate to bring best outcome for the Australian people. Such policies are more towards the interest of people at large specially related education, health and climatic change and going to give winning edge to Labor in next federal election. The two most sensitive issues i.e. same- sex marriage and asylum seekers were heavily debated and the floor tried it best to bring a integrative outcome of it.

—Manoj Kumar

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COMMUNITY

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IMMIGRATION SERVICES Premier Consultancy for Australian Immigration & Education with over 22 years of combined experience.

EDUCATION SERVICES Visit us at : Level 4, 50 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000 Phone: 9629 4529, Fax: 9629 4629, Email: info@wavesconsultancy.com www.wavesconsultancy.com

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AUSTRALIA

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Write at home in Melbourne

events is recommended for word-lovers.

More than 500 local and international artists will come together over the 11 days, with 500 events to be held at 50 venues, and an expected audience of more than 56,000.

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elbourne: Bookworms, wordsmiths, poets and storytellers can get inspired at one of the many events or venues dedicated to the written word – starting with the Melbourne Writers’ Festival (20 – 30 August). This year, the twoweek festival of all things literary will celebrate its 30th birthday by hosting the biggest and best festival yet.

More than 500 local and international artists will come together over the 11 days, with 500 events to be held at 50 venues, and an expected audience of more than 56,000. That’s more than 11 times The number of attendees the festival attracted in its first year, when it comprised 18 events at five venues and 57 artists.

It is fair to say that the Melbourne Writers’ Festival has grown to become a suitably significant event for a city that, in 2008, joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network when it was designated the first and only City of Literature in Australia, and the second in the world.

Melbourne earned this title by being home to an array of literary organisations, as

well as a generous portion of Australia’s literary talent, including C J Dennis, Peter Carey, Helen Garner and Christios Tsoilkas.

Melburnians also consume more books, magazines and newspapers per capita than any other city in Australia and enjoy the highest concentration of community book clubs in the country.

Whether attending the Melbourne Writers’ Festival or not, visitors to Melbourne can channel their inner bookworm at one of the many events and venues dedicated to the written word.

this tour operates during the Melbourne Writer’s Festival (and at other times, by request) exploring the wonderfully diverse bookshops of Melbourne’s city centre, and some of the heritage that encouraged UNESCO to name Melbourne a City of Literature. +61 3 9663 3358

State Library of Victoria Beneath the iconic 100-year-old dome at the State Library of Victoria, Australia’s oldest public library has been inspiring writers, artists, researchers, students and visitors for generations. The State Library has lots offer modern library-goers, with a kids hub, a reading room and a range of ever-changing exhibitions. 328 Swanston St, Melbourne, +61 3 8664 7000

The Wheeler Centre Every great city has its grand cultural institutions – art galleries, theatres, museums and concert halls.

The Wheeler Centre was founded out of the view that there should also be a place for discussion, debate, practice of writing and ideas. As such, The Wheeler Centre is Melbourne’s home for smart, passionate and entertaining public talks on every topic imaginable, it hosts more than 200 events each year, with some of the city’s – and the world’s – finest speakers SHARING their expertise, imaginations and ideas. 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, +61 3 9094 7800

Melbourne by the Book walking tour Hosted by Hidden Secrets Walking Tours,

Literary laneways Many modern writers work in Melbourne’s inner city, retreating to rooms

just out of earshot of the buzzing streets and laneways below. Writers and readers can find their own nook in the Flinders Lane precinct bounded by Swanston and Elizabeth Streets. Writers’ Victoria, Aboriginal Literacy Foundation, Centre for Adult Education, Letterbox, and City Library are all here, as well as the literary-leaning Journal cafe.

Specialty bookshops The vast array of bookshops that are scattered throughout the city, and beyond, are testament to Melburnians’ love of literature. Everything from hard-to-find historical treasures to popular fiction is available at retailers dedicated to art, design, food, comics, history and simply good BOOKS – some of which have recently received international accolades.

Australian Poetry Based at The Wheeler Centre, Australian Poetry is the national peak body for poetry and aims to PROMOTE and support Australian poets and poetry both locally and internationally, as well as to make poetry more accessible.

Its calendar of national poetry

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State of Grace While not exactly the pinnacle of literary intellect, State of Grace is a Europeanstyle restaurant in the city centre, that is also home to a luxe hidden cellar bar. The catch is, the bar can only be accessed ‘by the book’. To say any more would be to give away the ending.

International Book Sculptor From his tiny Melbourne studio, Australian book sculptor Nicholas Jones stacks, folds, tears, cuts and sews pages, transforming books into works of art. Jones dissects unwanted books and in doing so, casts new light on books as an everyday COMMODITY and questions the way books are read.

Out of town: Bendigo Writers’ Festival Now in its fourth year, Bendigo Writers Festival features more than 70 events in five venues on August 8 and 9. Bibliophiles will enjoy literary interviews and debates about everything from grief to romance, all set within Bendigo’s historic streets, surrounded by good food, wine, boutique shopping, and magnificent buildings and monuments.

Clunes For book lovers happy to get out of town, Clunes, just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, is the Southern Hemisphere’s only internationally recognised Booktown, a title awarded to several small towns across that globe that have a large concentration of second-hand and antiquarian bookshops.

Each year in May, Clunes hosts Australia’s largest booktrading event, in which tens of thousands of rare, second hand, new, small press and collectable books are up for sale.

—Tourism Victoria

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OVER 65 POPULATION Greater Melbourne Capital City Area Ballarat Bendigo Geelong Hume Latrobe - Gippsland North West Shepparton Warrnambool and South West

2011 540,400 24,000 23,700 41,900 28,300 47,700 27,900 22,100 21,400

Planning Minister needs to consider Victoria's seniors

Trevor Carr

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

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

Melbourne: The Chief Executive Officer of Leading Age Services Australia –

Victoria (LASA Victoria) Trevor Carr welcomed the Victorian Government’s Victoria in the Future 2015 (VIF2015) report released today. Mr Carr said the VIF2015 is another government report that provides insights into Victoria’s ageing population.

“It is concerning, however, that the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has failed to acknowledge the significant growth in our ageing population, which will grow to 22 per cent of Victoria’s predicted ten million population by 2051,” Mr Carr said.

“Demographic data in the report shows Victoria’s ageing population will increase by 180 per cent from 777,500 to 2,181,800 in over thirty years – Metropolitan Melbourne is ahead of the state at 201 per cent.

“Regional Victoria’s ageing population is also growing dramatically in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland, Hume and Shepparton.”

Mr Carr said the VIF2015 yet again highlights Victoria’s senior population

is increasing and we are heading towards an age structure with greater representation of seniors.

“Mr Wynne must consider meeting the demands and needs of senior Victorians as part of Victoria’s planning scheme,” Mr Carr said.

“An increasing ageing population requires sufficient planning to ensure the right policy settings will deliver the required retirement villages, residential aged care, home and community

2051 1,630,900 61,500 61,700 112,400 63,800 115,500 46,600 48,400 40,900

care and infrastructure to meet future needs.

“We have a moral obligation to ensure our seniors, who built our nation, obtain the best possible outcome for their health, wellbeing and quality of life by receiving due attention from Government across all portfolios.”

LASA Victoria will continue to work with the Victorian Government to highlight the needs of Victoria’s seniors and how

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INCREASE 201% 156% 160% 168% 125% 142% 67% 119% 91%

the aged care industry can meet their needs into the future.

LASA Victoria is the peak body for aged care in Victoria representing some 80 per cent of providers and other organisations providing aged and community care services to Victorians. Our members include public, community, charitable, not for profit and private providers.

—Media release, 7 August, 2015.

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New census paints grim picture of inequality in India

By Neeta Lal

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EW DELHI, Jul 14 2015 (IPS) - Despite being Asia’s third-largest economy, positioning itself as a major geopolitical player under a new nationalist government, India’s first ever Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) paints a grim picture of poverty and deprivation despite billions of dollars being funneled into state-sponsored welfare schemes.

The survey, carried out in 640 districts under the aegis of the Rural Development Ministry, provides comprehensive data on a raft of socioeconomic indicators like occupation, education, religion, caste/tribe status, employment, income, assets, housing and land owned in individual as well as household categories.

Of the 179 million households covered, nearly half are rural.

Of these rural households, over 21.53 percent belong to a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST), the traditionally oppressed classes for whom the Indian constitution provides special provisions to promote and protect their social, educational and economic interests.

More than 60 percent of the surveyed rural households qualified as “deprived” on 14 parameters. In over 51.8 percent of rural families, the main income earners barely manage to keep their kitchen fires burning by working as manual or casual labourers making less than 80 dollars per month (four dollars a day).

Further, just 20 percent of rural households own a vehicle, and only 11 percent own something as basic as a refrigerator.

The census also gives a glimpse of rural India weighed down by landlessness and a lack of non-farm jobs.

Across the country, 56 percent of households don’t own any land.

Few households have a regular job and an insignificant number

are taxpayers. Only 7.3 percent of households who fall into the scheduled castes category, and only 9.7 percent of all rural households in total, have a family member with a salaried job.

About 30 percent of those surveyed list themselves as cultivators, and manual casual labour is the primary source of income for 51.14 percent of households. Just about 14 percent have non-farm jobs, with the government, public or private sector.

The statistics are even bleaker for scheduled castes and tribal households: despite decades of affirmative action, only 3.96 percent of rural SC households and 4.38 percent of ST households are employed in the government sector.

This plummets to 2.42 percent for scheduled castes and 1.48 per cent for tribal communities in the private sector. Fewer than five percent of rural households pay income tax. Even among rich states, like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, this number hovers around

the five percent mark.

“The census is an eye-opener. It clearly demonstrates that the benefits of high economic growth have not percolated down to large sections of the population despite billions being funneled into schemes for poverty-alleviation, ‘education for all’ and jobgeneration,” said Ranjana Kumari, director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Social Research What is most disconcerting, according to Kumari, is that the census figures not only highlight rampant poverty but also generational poverty.

India’s latest census reveals a land of paradox, where the largest population of the world’s poor live in ragged huts, side-by-side with enormous skyscrapers.

Credit: Neeta Lal/IPS “Despite over six decades of independence, millions still continue to languish in depressing poverty, deprived of most social benefits like job security, education and a roof over their heads. Policy makers

"This is a wake-up call for urgent action on the policy front as the backward castes have been neglected for far too long."

—Dalit activist Paul Divakar and economists have been keeping their eyes closed. Government after government is guilty of this criminal neglect of the disempowered,” she added.

Activists point out that despite state-mentored flagship schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the education for all movement aimed

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at achieving universal elementary education, 23.52 percent rural families have no literate adult above 25 years.

Fewer than 10 percent in India advance beyond the higher secondary level in school and just 3.41 percent of rural households have a family member who is at least a graduate.

A state-by-state breakdown of the latest census shows that nearly every second rural resident (47.5 percent of the rural population) in the northwest state of Rajasthan – the largest in the country by land area – is illiterate.

Meanwhile, states like West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh account for over 180 million of the over 300 million illiterate people in rural India.

Similarly, housing for all remains a chimera despite the existence of Indira Awaas Yojana, one of the biggest and most comprehensive rural housing programmes ever taken up in the country,

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which has been in operation since 1985.

The scheme aims to provide subsidies and cash-assistance to the poor to construct their own houses. Yet three out of 10 families, according to the SECC, live in one-room houses, while 22 million households (roughly 100 million persons or four times the population of Australia) live in homes constructed from grass, bamboo, plastic or polythene, with nothing but thatched or tin roofs standing between them and the elements.

Tall commercial buildings tower over informal settlements in India’s largest cities. Tens of millions of people in this country of 1.2 billion live in destitution.

Credit: Neeta Lal/IPS The eastern and central States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have the poorest indicators for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, but even in more developed southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, family incomes are low and dependence on casual manual labour is high.

The countryside remains unable to find jobs that can pull families out of poverty while agriculture remains at subsistence levels, with low mechanisation, limited irrigation facilities and little access to credit.

The alarming and all-pervasive poverty, say activists, should alert policy makers to framing more inclusive policies effectively

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implemented on ground zero.

“This is a wake-up call for urgent action on the policy front as the backward castes have been neglected for far too long,” Dalit activist Paul Divakar told IPS. “The SECC demonstrates that economic development of this demographic is not the government’s priority. These sections continue to lag behind on most human development indices because of non-implementation of policies and lack of targeted development related to their social identity.

“A holistic state intervention is vital for their all-round development,” he added.

Economists opine that for a country like India, which holds the paradoxical distinction of being a rising economy as well as hosting the largest number of the world’s poor, policies need to be especially nuanced for growth to be equitable.

“Of India’s 1.2-billion-strong population, a whopping 60 percent are of working age,” according to Kumari of the Centre for Social Research. “Yet only a small percentage has been absorbed into the formal workforce. Rural poverty is an outcome of low productivity, which leads to low incomes.

“We need to create an ecosystem for faster growth of productive jobs outside the agrarian sector. Social protection schemes need to be universalised,” she concluded.

—Edited by Kanya D’Almeida

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A second Green Revolution for India is not out of reach

By Bijay Singh*

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UDHIANA, India, Jul 15 2015 (IPS) - Longterm agricultural growth in India is slowing down. The lands that saw remarkable increases in productivity in the 1970s and 80s, thanks to the technology rolled out as part of the first “Green Revolution”, are not yielding the same results today.

India still has the second highest number of undernourished people in the world. To confront this problem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a Second Green Revolution on Indian soils. But what does this mean and what will it take to make this happen?

The challenges Indian agriculture faces today are vastly more complex than those it faced 40 years ago.

The technologies used in the first Green Revolution involved improved high yielding varieties of rice and wheat, irrigation, fertilisers, and pesticides.

But an increasingly varied climate and mismanagement of agricultural inputs are changing the agricultural landscape. Our Second Green Revolution needs to be refreshed to match this new complexity.

A data driven approach is going to be key. Sophisticated technology is now being developed to equip farmers

with the information they need to protect their harvests in the face of scarce water and soil degradation.

So farmers in the North Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, who have access to the new tools like the Leaf Colour Chart and the handheld GreenSeeker optical sensor, can analyse the health of their crops, and apply the right amount of nitrogen to the soil to boost production of cereals like rice and wheat.

Land can also be levelled into a flat service, using last controlled devices that are mounted on tractors, to help farmers save up to 30 percent of water.

A considered plan for fertiliser use is also going to be essential. Just like humans, soils need a balanced diet of the right kind of nutrients in order to be healthy, a fact which has been overlooked by government subsidy programmes that only favoured urea for a long time.

The right kind of nutrients for the specific soil area needs to be applied, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place for optimal soil health – we call this the 4Rs or nutrient stewardship. Modi’s call to reopen fertiliser plants in Sindri and Gorakhpur, and open new ones in West Bengal must take into account this need for a “smart” approach, and make optimal use of key

inputs such as fertiliser.

We cannot feed India, or indeed the world, without mineral (man-made) fertilisers. Although the debate has raged for many years pitting organic and mineral fertilisers against one another, science tells us that there is no conflict between these nutrient sources; quite the contrary, their use is complementary.

Mineral fertilisers actually increase soil organic matter content as a result of the greater root growth you get when crop yields improve.

For example, over a 25-year period in Punjab, where mineral fertilisers have been consistently applied, soil organic carbon content rose by 38 percent.

Fertilisers also encourage enhanced microbial activity – a process that is vital for the long-term productivity of the soil and its ability to process nutrients. The effects are even greater when mineral and organic fertilisers are used together.

More research into technologies like these, that will help farmers make the most efficient use of scarce resources, whilst leaving minimal impact on the environment should be an essential element of India’s Second Green Revolution.

Investment in rural infrastructure, improving market access and credit facilities will all need to be

considered in conjunction with this. We cannot expect smallholders to take on new technologies without ensuring they can afford to use them, and get their increased amount of produce to market.

South Asia has long been a champion in the field of microfinance, that enables the rural poor to get access to credit and vital inputs like seed and fertiliser. Indeed, the 2015 World Food Prize Laureate, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC in Bangladesh, has been awarded this prestigious prize for recognising that the poorest need an entire package of interventions in order to graduate to a sustainable livelihood.

Improved technologies must be distributed hand in hand with financing to buy them, training on how to use them, and encouragement to join farmer co-operatives and savings groups, both to improve their social standing and increase their bargaining power when selling their crops on. Without these supporting interventions, upcoming technologies cannot succeed.

The first Green Revolution did its job in an unprecedented way, averting a disastrous famine and preventing millions from going hungry. Now, we need an equally weighty intervention fit for the

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The first Green Revolution did its job in an unprecedented way, averting a disastrous famine and preventing millions from going hungry.

Now, we need an equally weighty intervention fit for the complexities of the 21st century. complexities of the 21st century, and India could lead the way.

As one of the most populous nations, with a high percentage working in agriculture, the time is now. If we follow these steps diligently, a Second Green Revolution for India is not out of reach. *Professor Bijay Singh is a Senior Scientist at the Indian National Science Academy’s Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University.

—Edited by Kitty Stapp

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The sad historical consequences of the Greek bailout

By Roberto Savio

I

n recommendations to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the end of July, the German Council of Economic Experts outlined how a weak member country could leave the Eurozone and called for strengthening the European monetary union.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble wants Greece out because he does not believe that it will ever be able to refund the loans it has received so far, and because he thinks it is question of principle to be strict. In an interview with Der Spiegel a few days after the historical date of Jul. 13, at the end of negotiations on Greece, he said: “My grandmother used to say: benevolence comes before dissoluteness.”

Explaining the recommendations of the Council of Economic Experts, however, its chairman Christoph M. Schmidt expressed another opinion. “To ensure the cohesion of

monetary union, we have to recognise that voters in creditor countries are not prepared to finance debtor countries permanently … A permanently uncooperative member state should not be able to threaten the existence of the EURO.” This is the best illustration of Germany’s Europe. Any country which does not fit into the German scenario will have to quit. Europe is no longer a question of solidarity, it is all about fiscal and monetary considerations.

Germany now says that federalism has exceptions

– whenever a member of the Eurozone is perceived to be challenging the rules of the monetary union, it will be subject to complete annihilation of its state sovereignty and national democracy. This is the kind of federalism that Germany has now proclaimed.

This German position on its vision of Europe, where political and ideal considerations are no longer the basis of the European project, has triggered a strong response from a normally obedient France.

President François

Hollande, who appears to have suddenly woken up, has come out with a call to reinforce European integration through the establishment of a “Eurozone government”, which run in the opposite direction from that of Berlin.

Germany will of course go ahead and pursue its own course, but the ParisBerlin axis which was conceived as the fulcrum of European integration has now been seriously weakened after Germany’s imposed AGREEMENT on Greece on Jul. 13. So we have now a major realignment.

France has been the country which has always blocked any substantial progress on European integration, by continually voting against any radical step towards integration in order to preserve as much of its national sovereignty as possible.

Now it is Germany which is intent on changing the course of integration, from a political project to a fixed exchange monetary system based on creditor

countries – a system in which some democracies are more equal than others.

Schäuble has been reported as expressing concern over the European Commission’s increased political role, interfering in political issues for which it has no mandate. And it is a stark fact that the Jul. 13 Brussels agreement has sought to remove politics and discretion from the functioning of the monetary union, an idea that has long been very dear to the French, and now are the French who want more European integration as protection from a German Europe.

We should all realise that the idea of Europe as a political project, based on solidarity and mutual support, is on the wane.

Monetary union is no longer just a step towards a democratic political union, as Helmut Kohl and François Mitterand sought at the reunification of Germany, and the creation of the EURO. Contd. on pg 26...

Sri Krishna Brundavana 0466 093 166 / 0451 598 963 www.skbl.org.au

Sri Krishna Brundavana Melbourne (SKBM) 5 Hayes Road, Hampton Park, VIC, 3976

With the blessings of Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, Udupi Sri Puthige Matha, we are celebrating 344th ARADHANA MAHOTSAVA of SRI GURU RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY

DATE: 30th August 2015, Sunday Program Details 9 AM

Punyavachana and Sankalpa for Sevarthees

10-30 AM Panchamrutha Abhisheka

11 AM

Ashtothara & Paada Pooja (Sri Raghavendra Swamy Stotra and Group chanting of Óm Sri Raghavendraya Namaha), Kanaka Abhisheka, Hasthodaka followed by Mangalaarthi

12 to Sangeetha Seva - Bhajans by Sri 12-30PM Raghavendra Swamy devotees 12-30 PM Theertha Prasada Please confirm your attendance with name and number of members attending by e-mail to

enquiries@srss.org.au

VENUE: Gaelic Park, 324 Perry Road Keysborough, VIC 3173

All are cordially invited

Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy (1595–1671) is one of the greatest saints from India who preached that Lord's Grace is the only means to attain salvation which is eternal bliss and lived a life to prove to this teaching.

Guru Raghavendra Swamy is renowned and followed by devotees across the globe as he is hailed for providing relief to those praying him and leading them towards the spiritual path.

Guru Raghavendra Swamy ascended Brindavana at Mantralaya in 1671 and to this day that anniversary is celebrated as Aradhana, throughout the world.

For any enquiries, please call anyone, as below: Priest (Shankar Bhat) Gururajan Nagarajan Dhiren Naganur Ramesh Rao Dr Usha Venkataraman Sudarshan Rao

03 8759 4504 0414 784 777 0423 122 301 0413 423 163 0421 335 435 0412 650 475

Devotees can sponsor a number of sevas including Sampoorna Seva, Anna Daana*, Sarva Seva*, Kanaka / Panchamrutha Abisheka, Doolosthava*, Hasthodaka, etc. Please contact us for details. * Some sevas are also performed at SKBM, the Priest House on 31st Aug and 1st Sep. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

south asia 24 South Asia Timestimes

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1.5 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan

By Thalif Deen

u

NITED NATIONS, Aug 4 2015 (IPS) - The United Nations has declared that 2015 is already “the deadliest year” for millions of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing war and persecution in their countries.

“Worldwide, one in every 122 humans is now either a refugee, internally displaced or seeking asylum,” says the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

But one of the least publicised facts is that Pakistan was one of the world’s first countries to provide safe haven for millions of refugees fleeing a military conflict in a neighbouring country: Afghanistan.

According to UNHCR, Pakistan has been hosting over 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees — the largest protracted refugee population globally—since the 1980s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Currently, Turkey ranks at number one, hosting more than 1.7 million registered refugees, mostly from wardevastated Syria, with Pakistan at number two and Jordan ranking third with over 800,000 refugees.

Developing countries now host over 86 percent of the world’s refugees, compared to 70 percent about 10 years ago.

Asked how her country coped with that crisis in the 1980s, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told IPS Pakistan actually hosted well over 3.0 million refugees when the numbers fleeing conflict peaked in 1990.

A 2005 census confirmed that figure, of which 1.5 million are registered while the rest are undocumented.

“The United Nations and the international community have played an important role in support of Pakistan’s efforts to look after our Afghan brothers and sisters,” she said.

“But a great deal of this effort has been met from our own modest resources because we see this to be our humanitarian responsibility,” said Dr Lodhi, a former journalist with a doctorate from the London School of Economics and who has had a distinguished career as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK and Ambassador to the United States.

“It is the people of Pakistan who have shown exemplary generosity and compassion in embracing the Afghan refugees and extending help and support to them, and that too for over three decades,” she added.

As the UNHCR report notes, she said, Pakistan remains the world’s second largest refugee-hosting country. “I would add that in terms of the protracted presence of refugees, it is still the world’s top refugee-hosting country.”

At a U.N. panel discussion on “the plight of refugees and migrants” last week, she said: “We never tried to turn any back, nor did we erect

A group of refugee women and their children await the arrival of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the Shamshatoo camp in December 2001. The camp, at a frontier province in north-west Pakistan, served as temporary home to some 70,000 Afghan refugees fleeing fighting between the United Front and the Taliban. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

barriers or walls but embraced them as part of our humanitarian duty.”

As hundreds and thousands of refugees continue to flee to Europe, some of the European countries have tried either to limit the number or bar them completely.

Peter Sutherland, a U.N. special representative for international migration, is quoted as saying the attempt to bar migrants and refugees, mostly from Syria, Libya, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan, is “a xenophobic response to the issue of free movement.”

The humanitarian crisis has spilled over into Europe, mostly Germany, with about 175,000 claims by asylum seekers, compared with 25,000 claims in the UK last year.

According to the United Nations, the 28-member European Union (EU) received 570,800 claims from asylum seekers in 2014, an increase of nearly 44 percent over 2013.

The crisis point, according to the New York Times, is one of Britain’s main traffic-clogged highways where migrants make their way through the Channel Tunnel from the French port city of Calais.

“The British are blaming the French, the French are blaming the British, and both are blaming the European Union for an incoherent policy toward the thousands of people, many of them fleeing political horrors at home, who are trying to find jobs and a better future for themselves and their families in Europe,” the Times said.

As his country vowed emergency steps to resolve the refugee crisis on the home front, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said last week shelter for refugees was a human right the country was legally and morally obligated to provide.

Austria, with a population of about 8.5 million, has received over 28,000 asylum claims in the first half of this year, slightly more than the

total for 2014.

In 2014, up to 3,072 migrants are believed to have died in the Mediterranean, compared with an estimate of 700 in 2013, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Globally, IOM estimates that at least 4,077 migrants died in 2014, and at least 40,000 since the year 2000.

“The true number of fatalities is likely to be higher, as many deaths occur in remote regions of the world and are never recorded. Some experts have suggested that for every dead body discovered, there are at least two others that are never recovered,” said IOM. Asked about lessons learnt, Ambassador Lodhi told IPS “even as the current challenges are unprecedented in scope and nature, they call for responses that are anchored in the values of compassion and empathy and living up to our collective humanitarian responsibility.”

She said these challenges also require a spirit of generosity and to never turn away from the needs of those who are so tragically displaced by circumstances of war, poverty or persecution.

“This spirit should shape our policies, inform our strategies, as well as empower the institutions of global governance and create conditions that can address the drivers and underlying reasons for such displacements,” she added.

At the panel discussion, Ambassador Lodhi pointed out that more than half of the world’s refugees today are children, a number that has risen steadily, up from 41 per cent in 2009, and the highest figure in over a decade.

This only magnifies the scale of the tragedy at hand, she added.

The recent and ongoing surge of forced displacement has been accompanied by the tragic loss of lives. Thousands of men, women

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

"Even as the current challenges are unprecedented in scope and nature, they call for responses that are anchored in the values of compassion and empathy and living up to our collective humanitarian responsibility.”

—Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and children have drowned in the Mediterranean.

And in East Asia, she said, thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been reported dead or missing as they made their journeys of escape from persecution, confinement and waves of deadly violence directed at them.

“How has the international community responded to all of this?” she said. “By, frankly, not doing enough and not acting decisively in the face of this humanitarian emergency. The international community – to its shame – has ignored massive human suffering in the past. We are reminded of Rwanda and Srebrenica, among other crises.”

And the current crisis of refugees could mark a new flag of shame, she declared.

Edited by Kitty Stapp The writer can be contacted at thalifdeen@aol.com

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Sri Lanka: Poll manifestos shy away from past issues

By Jehan Perera

c

OLOMBO: There are two attributes of election manifestos. One is for a political party to place its vision for the future and programme of action to achieve it before the electorate. Virtually all political parties have revelled in making excessive promises during election time. The election manifesto of President Maithripala Sirisena during the presidential election in January was different.

As it focused on a 100 Day Plan, its promises were realistic. Many of the promises made have been implemented to a substantial degree. The main achievement was the passage of the 19th Amendment which reduced the president’s powers and strengthened the independence of institutions, such as the police, judiciary and public service, which are essential features of a well governed society.

The second attribute of an election manifesto is to provide the political party that forms the government to be able to refer back to its electoral mandate and justify its activities in the future.

This would be especially applicable to those actions that are in the national interest, but are not so popular with the country’s people.

Examples of this are hard to come by in Sri Lanka although there are examples from other countries. In Sri Lanka, on the other hand, apart from promises such as to even get rice from the moon to fulfil election manifestos, hardly any political party is willing to inform the electorate about the bitter medicine that is needed to resolve problems that adversely affect society.

The most relevant case in point in SrI Lanka is the ethnic conflict and its solution. So far it has been civil society groups who have made comprehensive assessments of what needs to be done to tackle this vexed issue. The political relationship between the ethnic majority and minority communities has been the most intractable problem in the country. It has divided the people and made them mistrustful of one another, and has dissipated the country’s energies away from the task of economic development and material prosperity which makes other problems easier to resolve. In this respect the JVP is to be credited for its willingness to tackle the issues of war-time accountability for human rights violations by proposing a Commission against Discrimination along with a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the peace building process.

The election manifesto of the UPFA sets out an impressive array of promises. The articulation of the UPFA’s manifesto can be attributed to its drafters who count well known political analysts, jurists and commentators. It promises to meet the most urgent

needs of the general population through higher salaries and more jobs which will come through a massive development effort.

However, the efforts of the drafters of the UPFA manifesto are foundering floundering on the track record of the previous UPFA government that was led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

With new exposes of huge levels of corruption during the period of the previous government hitting the news virtually every day, the question that arises in the minds of the electorate is why these plans and activities were not implemented during the previous years, especially after the war ended.

It appears that the leaders of campaigning for UPFA on the ground are aware that their manifesto is getting little traction from the electorate. Those campaigning against the UPFA have been pointing out that if the former government failed to implement these promises whilst in dominating the national polity as they did during the previous decade, there is little likelihood of them doing any better this time around, especially when they will not be able to dominate the national polity. This is the most likely reason why the UPFA is once again resorting to divisive ethnic nationalism to attract the votes of the majority Sinhalese community. UPFA speakers are constantly raising the bogey of the revival of the LTTE, the TNA’s separatism and the adverse role of the international community in pressing for war crimes trials against the government leaders and the security forces who won the war.

The intention on the part of UPFA allies, such as the BBS to create incidents that can rouse

the nationalism of the Sinhalese majority is a signal that they feel that this is the issue on which they can gain votes. They have been bringing lion flags which represent the Sinhala community to election rallies. But this flag is shorn of the orange and green stripes that are part of the Sri Lankan national flag, and which are meant to represent the Tamil and Muslim communities.

In most countries mutilating the national flag is considered to be a punishable offense, outweighing the right to free expression. The BBS is however claiming that what they are waving at election rallies is not a mutilated version of the national flag but the lion flag of the Sinhalese. It appears that they are trying to create a situation where they can argue that the Sinhalese cannot express their identity today.

The UPFA manifesto states that a "National Harmony Commission" with broad powers and a district level mechanism will be established to uphold a "National Harmony Charter" which seeks to safeguard the fairness and equality meted out to each and every Sri Lankan citizen". It also says it will devolve powers of administration to the village level through the reintroduction of the Village Councils System for local government administration. These references to the village and district levels, as against the provincial level, appear to be messages that if the UPFA wins the election they will deemphasise the province in dealing with the ethnic conflict. This would be a massive setback to decades of negotiation and compromise between successive governments and Tamil parties and is likely to set the stage for renewed interethnic confrontation.

The clash of extremes is beneficial to those who wish to benefit from extremist politics.

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But it will not solve problems.

What Sri Lanka needs to day is not the mobilising of one form of ethnic extremism to counter another. Rather it is the taming of extremism by a process of fostering inter-ethnic understanding and trust-building so that there can be joint inter-ethnic problem solving.

The lacuna regarding this issue in the manifestos of the political parties means that they will have to be dealt with after the general elections by the new government as these are not problems that can be left without a resolution. The JVP’s willingness to affirm that they will deal with the ethnic conflict and war-time accountability issues through commissions against discrimination and truth and reconciliation is welcome in this regard.

The truth of what happened during the three decades of the war must be known to the people, and accountability sought, with reconciliation rather than punishment as the primary goal.

There needs to be appropriate compensation and reparation to enable the conflict affected populations a fresh start in their lives. There needs to be a fair sharing of power between the ethnic and religious communities through the devolution of power.

This needs to also include mechanisms for power sharing at the level of the central government in a manner that recognizes the plural nature of our society. Speech that incites hatred or violence against those of other ethnic or religious communities needs to be prohibited by law. These problems need to be resolved but without the advantage of having explicitly asked for and received a mandate for such problem solving.

—TheCitizen, August 4, 2015

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The sad historical consequences of the Greek bailout ...Contd. from pg 23 We are, in fact, going back to a more toxic version of the old exchange-rate mechanism of the 1990s that left countries trapped in a mechanism which worked primarily for Germany, and which led to the exit of the British pound and the temporary exit of the Italian lira.

But the EURO, as Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman says, “has turned into a Roach Motel, a

trap that’s hard to escape.” Once you’re in, you cannot get out, and you have to accept the diktat of the creditors.

Another Nobel laureate in economics, Joseph Stigliz, who was Chief Economist of the WORLD BANK, says that the current European policy of austerity at any cost, is like going back to a “19th century debtors’ prison. Just as imprisoned debtors could not make the income to repay, the deepening

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Swar Sandhya

depression in Greece will make it less and less able to repay.”

Of course, what is never said openly (except by Stigliz) is that in the Greek bailout one central reason for the extremism of the new package of conditions was to teach a lessons to a radical left-wing party, Syriza, and to the Greek people who had had the audacity to reject the calls from European leaders to vote against that party.

It is not by chance that countries like Poland, which were asking to be admitted to the Eurozone, have withdrawn their applications. The EURO has become a rallying political issue, with parties from all over Europe asking to withdraw. It has become the first line of action for those who oppose European integration.

Until now, the answer of European governments has been that withdrawal is impossible under the European constitution.

But now that the German Council of Economic Experts has come out with a concrete proposal on how to do that, that line of defence is crumbling.

According to many analysts, Angela Merkel is playing with fire. Germany cannot remain a credible leader of a coalition of Northern and Eastern European

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

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countries and ignore the realities and needs of Southern Europe.

This is unsustainable, even in the medium term.

Meanwhile, the world goes on. Within seven years India will have overtaken China as the most populous country in the world, while within a few decades Nigeria will have a larger population than the United States.

And Europe? Europe will have become the continent with most old people and lower productivity, and will have to face its four horses of the apocalypse: 1. A solution to relations with Russia; 2. Common agreement on how to deal with the dramatic flow of immigrants, 3. When countries are not even able to relocate 40,000 people in a region of 450 million; 4. A real policy on the explosive Middle East and terrorism; and soon 5. The request of United Kingdom for a new AGREEMENT on the European Union, or else it will exit Europe.

We can safely bet that those negotiations, which will be based purely on economic issues, will be the kiss of death for the original European dream.

—The Citizen, August 6, 2015

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book review

southSouth asia times 27 Asia Times

Dulat's Dulatti!

By Md. Ashraf

S

RINAGAR: The Punjabi word “Dulatti” mean a very strong kick by a cart-pulling horse with the hind legs when whipped violently by the owner. The kick might even topple the cart.

The disclosures about the Kashmiri leaders by former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A.S. Dulat are designed not only to topple their cart, but also discredit the entire society.

There is no doubt that Kashmiri society, including its leadership, exhibit many character weaknesses because of the prolonged extern rule lasting a few centuries. In fact, a number of foreign authors like Sir Walter Lawrence and Canon Tyndale Biscoe have pointed to these flaws, attributing them to centuries of ‘colonisation’. Lawrence maintained that just two generations of a just and strong regime would reverse these weaknesses, and bring out the best in a Kashmiri. Unfortunately the Valley has not seen this till date.

On the contrary, as confirmed by Dulat’s book, Kashmiris have been living through manipulations that bring out the worst in the Kashmiri character.

Disclosures by a former spy are not new. This happens all over the world.

The most notorious agency in the world is the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States. A number of its former officers have written books about the “dirty tricks” the agency has been indulging in all over the world. The CIA , in fact, has a special “Department of Dirty Tricks”. The job of this department, it appears, is to spread disinformation about various people especially politicians and others both within the US and all over the world.

William Blum, a former CIA spy has written a book, the “Rogue State” which describes in detail the “Dirty Tricks” indulged in by the Agency all over the world. He maintains that the CIA had once even contemplated the assassination of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on lines similar to what Dulat reveals about the approach towards Hurriyat leader Syed Geelani. It is well know that doctored pornographic videos of Dr. Soekarno were distributed in Indonesia to discredit him. Similarly, RAW had distributed a “Red Book” about the properties of the Abdullah family to keep the then leader Sheikh Abdullah on the “right track.”

As regards the receipt of substantial amounts of money by leaders of all factions from the agencies of both India and Pakistan, this is common knowledge in Kashmir. In fact, all these so called disclosures have been known to common Kashmiris. The

most important information source in Kashmir traditionally has been the baker’s shop. Every morning Kashmiris in every locality gather in a baker’s shop. There is always a rush in the morning and people have to wait sometime even for an hour to get their turn to collect the bread. During the waiting period people exchange information and express their views on various issues.

Quite often people from Delhi have descended here with trunks full of currency notes to buy peace. A typical event of that nature was the holy relic agitation of 1963/64 when Lal Bahadur Shastri came here to buy peace. He had carried along trunks full of money! After the dethroning of 1953, money had been flowing to Sheikh Abdullah’s family and others through Jehangir Khan who was implicated in the famous conspiracy case subsequently withdrawn by the Indian government in 1964, when Sheikh was released unconditionally on Nehru’s intervention.

It has been alleged by many that Dulat’s disclosures are with the consent of the Indian government for discrediting the Kashmiri leadership and the society in general. However, it hardly makes a difference as the present leadership on its own has lost credibility by failing to provide a practical and workable vision and a road map to reach the ultimate goal.

They have not been able to go beyond the hartal (shutdown) strategy. In spite of that, they may be the only generation with whom the authorities can still talk!

The most worrisome episode at present for the Indian authorities is not the so called discredited leaders but the new leaderless generation.

They are all leaders in themselves and mean business. Recently, the National Security Advisor and the Army Commander expressed serious anxiety about the Kashmiri young men joining militancy. In fact, 21 students of the Army School in Kupwara were stopped from crossing the Line of Control. They were intending to go across for arms training. Incidentally, it is not the unemployed educated youth numbering almost a million who are joining militancy but many highly motivated employed young men. Some personal security officers including that of a minister in the present government have run away with their arms and joined militant ranks.

In such a situation, Dulat’s disclosures even though sensational and dramatic, are not going to have any appreciable impact on the simmering discontent and unrest among the youth caused by extreme alienation which may burst soon like a volcano!

—The Citizen, August 3, 2015 www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

South Asia Times south asia 28 South Asia Timestimes

Entertainment

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The inside word… with

Pallavi Sharda Born in Perth and brought up in Melbourne, Pallavi Sharda is a lawyer by training, classical Indian dancer and international film actress. She spends her time working in either her home town of Melbourne or her adopted home of Mumbai, where she has become one of Bollywood’s leading ladies. Earlier this year, she was Queen of Moomba.

By Shoma A. Chatterji

W

here did you grown up in Melbourne, tell us a little about the

area?

I grew up in the north western suburbs of Melbourne and went to school in Essendon.

I loved the area as it was full of Melburnians of different backgrounds and opened my mind up to many different cultures.

Your career takes you all over the world, what is your favourite thing to do when you come home to Melbourne?

A pilgrimage around Melbourne’s beautiful and eclectic mix of cafés is my number one priority when I come home. There’s nothing better than a great flat white!

I also love walking through Melbourne’s lane ways, seeing

new street art and shopping in Fitzroy.

What is it about Melbourne that helped inspire you to become a performer?

I was lucky to grow up among Melbourne’s vibrant Indian community who held cultural functions which allowed me to fall in love with Indian dance and music. Being exposed to performing arts venues and performances through Indian dance drew me into the magic of being on stage and performance.

Where do you take your international friends when they come to Melbourne?

Food, shopping and sport are all an intrinsic part of my Melbourne tour. My favourite restaurants have an Asian flavour such as Chin Chin, Lucy Liu and any great spots for authentic Vietnamese Pho are a must. I find just

walking through the city to the Botanical Gardens and then along the Yarra River – it’s just magical. I generally tell people to visit in January so we can enjoy the summer – and watch some serious cricket!

Where is your favourite regional getaway in Victoria and why do you like it?

Growing up my family would go camping in the Otways region. I have fond memories of driving along the Great Ocean

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Road, rainforest walks and swimming in waterfalls.

Describe Melbourne in three words. Cultured, coffee-nated, kaleidoscopic!

Source: PiecesOfVictoria, 30 Jul 2015

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Masaan: Love & longing in Benares

By Saumil Gandhi

M

umbai : The film ends with two of its protagonists having just met, and they embark on a boat ride to see the Triveni Sangam in Allahbad, the confluence of the two rivers Ganga and Jamuna, with the mythical third Saraswati present in spirit.

Much like how their own lives intersect at that point, with the third protagonist – because of whom why they have come to meet in Allahbad – being present in spirit.

Such is the poetry of Masaan, a film about love and longing in Benares. A colloquial that refers to the more easily understood Hindi word “smashan” (a Hindu cremation ground), Masaan isn’t about death, writer Varun Grover explains in a radio interview. It is about the rite of passage. The lives of the three tumble along, mindfully unaware of each other, until two incidents bring them into collision – one in the beginning of the film, the other well into the second half. Both are tragic, and both remind you of the essence of the film. Life isn’t constant, and

all you can do is move on with it.

The script brings together three stories.

Deepak is a Dom, a member of a lowly caste who earn their living by burning bodies on the ghats of Benares. He is educated, and hopes for a better life for himself. Devi is an ambitious girl whose world view is bigger than the small homes and smaller minds of the people around her, and who is made to pay for it. Jonta is an orphan who earns his livelihood helping Devi’s father run a small shop along the banks of the river Ganga. It is a tightly written script, one that shows

no effort in flowing from one story to another. The dialogue is minimum but efficient and authentic, the screenplay is languid and deep, and the quality of writing, shorn of frills and fancies, is sheer gold.

Deepak’s love story covers more conventional ground, and is watchable more for the charming performances of both the lovers than anything else.

It is the flush of first love that keeps you hooked, as teenagers discover Facebook, adolescence, and love – things that seem anachronistic to the city of Benares. The choice of conflict could be debatable; it happily worked for me.

I found Devi’s track to be more compelling. Her suffering is not the result of unfortunate serendipity but conscious choice, and choice which is wrongly judged by a society that has not evolved, while she has. She cannot hide behind self-pity or sympathy, and she is all the more courageous for moving on with life. With the narrative being so steeped in the real world, you feel cheated how the film ends. It is too obvious, and seems “the easy way out” even if was not meant to be.

The choice of locations, in the way it is shot, in the scene transitions

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

that you may easily miss, in the smallest of lines that say more than you can imagine, the director Neeraj Ghaywan uses Benares to the fullest. It is an authentic, immersive experience to sit through Masaan, to enjoy a story well told not with props and pretensions, but through poetry of great writing and brilliant performances of a wonderful cast of actors.

28 trains stop at Benares, you learn from one of Masaan’s bit characters.

Don’t be surprised if you feel like buying a one-way ticket on one of them after watching the film.

—Upperstall.

ihNdI-puãp

south asia 30 South Asia Timestimes

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भारत का ६९वाँ स्वतंत्रता दिवस और डॉ. अब्ल दु क़लाम का निधन

भारत का ६९वाँ स्वतंत्रता-दिवस मनाते हुए हमें हर्ष हो रहा है कि कम से कम इस वर्ष करोड़ों रुपयों के घोटालों के अनेक समाचार हमारे सामने नहीं आये| भारतीय प्रधान मंत्री की विदे श-यात्राओं ने विदे शों में भारत की छवि को मजबूत किया है | दे श में भ्रष्टाचार पर नियंत्रण करने का प्रयत्न किया जा रहा है | इस दिशा में आधुनिक प्रौद्योगिकी का प्रयोग उपयोगी प्रमाणित हो रहा है | अन्तरिक्ष विज्ञान में भारत ने अनोखी प्रगति की है | मंगल ग्रह तक कृत्रिम उपग्रह प्रक्षेपित करने वाला भारत दुनिया का दस ू रा दे श है | १२वीं पंचवर्षीय योजना के अंतर्गत २६ स्वदे शी कृत्रिम उपग्रहों का विकास किया जा रहा है | दुर्भाग्यवश, पिछले महीने, प्रसिद्ध वैज्ञानिक तथा भारत के भूतपूर्व राष्ट्रपति डॉ. अबुल पाकिर जैनुलाबदीन (ऐ.पी.जे.) अब्ल दु क़लाम (जो ‘मिसाइल मैन’ के नाम से भी प्रसिद्ध थे) का दे हांत हो गया| उनका सपना भारत को एक विकसित दे श के रूप में दे खने का था और उन्होंने इसके लिए अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया है | अब अन्य भारतीयों को उनका सपना पूरा करना होगा| हम डॉ. अब्ल दु क़लाम को उनकी दरू -दर्शिता, प्रेरणात्मक नेतत ृ ्व और दे श-सेवा के लिए याद करते हैं और स्वतंत्रता–दिवस के अवसर पर उन सभी व्यक्तियों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हैं जिनके बलिदान स्वरूप भारत ने विदे शी सत्ता से मुक्ति प्राप्त की| इस महीने भाई-बहन के स्नेह का प्रतीक, रक्षा-बंधन का त्योहार भी है | पाठकों को स्वतंत्रता-दिवस तथा राखी के त्योहार की बहुत बहुत बधाई व शुभ-कामनायें| इस अंक के साथ ‘हिन्दी-पुष्प’, ११ वर्ष पूरे करके १२वें वर्ष में प्रवेश कर रहा है | इस अंक के ‘काव्य-कुंज’ स्तम्भ में स्वतंत्रता-दिवस तथा रक्षा-बंधन आदि विषयों से सम्बंधित कवितायें हैं | साथ में, भारत के भूतपूर्व राष्ट्रपति डॉ. अब्ल दु क़लाम का एक सन्देश और ‘अमृत वृद्धाश्रम’ नामक कहानी का आठवाँ तथा अंतिम भाग है | इसके अतिरिक्त, ‘संक्षिप्त समाचार’, ‘अब हँ सने की बारी है ’, ‘महत्वपूर्ण तिथियाँ’ व ‘सूचनाएँ’ स्तम्भ भी हैं | लिखियेगा कि आपको यह अंक कैसा लगा। —दिनेश श्रीवास्तव

p[k;xn sMb'/I sUcn;E\ ihNdI-puãp k; ¬ýeXy a;ŽS$^eily; me' ihNdI k; p[c;r-p[s;r krn; hw) p[k;ixt rcn;ao' pr koé p;irÅimk nhI' idy; j;t; hw) ihNdI-puãp me' p[k;ixt rcn;ao' me' le%ko' ke ivc;r ¬nke apne hote hw'² ¬nke ilye sMp;dk y; p[k;xk ¬Êrd;yI nhI' hw') hStili%t rcn;E\ SvIk;r kI j;tI hw' prNtu ”leK$^^;Žink åp se ¾ihNdI-s'SkOt¾ f¹;\$ me' rcn;E\ .eje' to ¬nk; p[k;xn hm;re ilE ai/k suiv/;jnk hog; kOpy; apnI rcn;E\ ákh;iny;\² kivt;E\² le%² cu$kule² mnor'jk anu.v a;idâ inMnili%t pte pr .eje'-

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मेरा प्यारा देश

-डॉ. भावना कँु वर, सिडनी, ईमेल- bhawnak2002@gmail.com

फू लों जैसा मेरा दे श मुरझाने लगा

कै से करूँ कम आत्मा की तड़प रूह की बेचन ै ी को

रात-दिन मेरी आँखों में एक ही ख़्वाब

यह जन्म कम हो तो, अगले जन्म में आऊँगा

शत्रुओं के पंजों में जकड़ा जाने लगा

चढ़ जाऊँ फाँसी मगर दिलाऊँगा आज़ादी इसको

कै से हो मेरा 'प्यारा दे श' आज़ाद

पर दे श को मुक्ति ज़रूर दिलाऊँगा।

कै से लौटाऊँ वापस वही मुस्कान इसे

भले ही उसे फाँसी चढ़वाया

कै से छुडाऊँ इन जंज़ीरों की पकड़ से इसे कै से रोकूँ आँसुओं के सैलाब को इसके कै से खोलूँ आज़ादी के द्वार इसके

जयहिंद का गीत

-डॉ. कौशल किशोर श्रीवास्तव, मेल्बर्न ईमेल- kkps44@yahoo.com

जो सोचा था कर दिखाया

वह थी मध्यरात्रि की शुभ घड़ी

शहीद भगत सिंह का नाम कमाया

और दासता की हुई थी विदाई| गाँव-गाँव और शहर-शहर में हुई थी रोशनी

आज भी सब के दिल में समाया।

जब भारतीय तिरं गे ने ली थी अंगड़ाई

मानो दीपावली ने स्वयं आ कर दी थी बधाई| वह थी १५ अगस्त १९४७ की अनोखी रात

ksk

-mÈdl u ; kKk@¹² meLbnR² ईमेल- kakkad@optusnet.com.au

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mt j; be$;Ú brso' ke b;d tere åp me'

m;nv kLy;, pr ikye gE xo/o' pr

@;ŽK$r iml; hw² g;\v ko b@e¹ .;go' se

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jb pIze mu@¹ kr mw'ne de%;

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to n g;\v q;² n hI iksI apne ko p;y;

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apnI rcn;E\ .ejte smy² apnI rcn; kI Ek p[it apne p;s avXy r% le')

भीगे नयनों से द्रवित हृदय उत्कंठित सी लख चित्रलिखित कु छ यादें चेतन शून्य हुईं

आज़ादी के अमर शहीदों पर,

तन-मन-धन से आज समर्पित गौरवपूर्ण तिरं गे पर|

पंद्रह अगस्त का स्वतंत्रता-दिवस भारत का अमृत जीवन है ,

आयें मिलकर गायें हम सब

‘जन गण मन .....’ का अवसर है | जयहिं द का अनुपम गुंजन हमें सुनाई दे ता है ,

बीच बीच में वन्दे मातरम ् रोमांच हमें दे जाता है |

भारत माता का फै ला आँचल हमें दिखाई दे ता है ,

जयहिं द का अनुपम गुंजन

हमें सुनाई दे ता है ! हमें सुनाई दे ता है !!

राखी

मोहब्बत का दर्पण है , राखी का बंधन

यह रिश्तों का, वायदों का, अनमोल है धन झलकती है भाई के हाथों पर राखी

खनकते हैं बहनों के हाथों में कं गन

खुशी में है राखी के दुनिया मगन ||१||

कलाई पर राखी सजाने का दिन है

कि भाई का रुतबा बढ़ाने का दिन है यह दुश्मन को भाई बनाने का दिन है

-कुसुम वीर, नोएडा, भारत, ईमेल- kusumvir@gmail.com

é-mel se rcn;E\ .ejne k; pt; hw- dsrivastava@optusnet.com.au

श्रद्धा भक्ति का पुष्प चढ़ाऊँ

अनोखा नज़ारा है राखी के दिन का

विकल वेदना

वाणी के निर्मल स्वर निर्झर मन वीणा से झंकृत होकर नव ताल मृदंग बजाए गए सरगम के सुरमय सप्तक पर

और गाया था जयहिं द का गीत|

-डॉ.बी.ए. डे विड, मेल्बर्न, ऑस्ट्रेलिया, ईमेल- blissdavid50@gmail.com

cl p@¹; ¬s trf jo bcpn se moh rh; q; bn ke m;y;vI ab tk smZ nhI' p;y; hU\ mw'

आवेगित यादों की लहरें उद्वेलित करतीं सागर को शान्त सरल तट के मन में तृषित क्षुधा सम आतीं वे

जब मैंने सुना था आज़ादी का शंखनाद

अश्रु कण बन कु छ बरस गईं बरखा की सीली रातों में बिजुरी की नीरद माला में माधुर्य प्रेम जलधार संग भीगा था पूरा अन्तर्मन अधमूंदे नयनों स्वप्न सजा बहु चित्र उके रे चली गई जब विलग हुई सुःख स्वप्नों से विरही के आँसू समान बरस गई रूठे थे अपने दरू कहीं

प्रीति की धारें विलग हुईं जिन अपनों की थे राह ताकते वे माणिक मणियाँ बिखर गईं कुं ठा के काँच व्यथा दे ते पुष्पों के शूल चुभन दे ते मन मृगतृष्णा के धोखे में फिरता चौरासी फे रे में विकल वेदना मुखर हुई थी तृषित हृदय की प्यास घनी क्षारित अथाह जल सागर का क्यों बूँद - बूँद को तरस गई

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

निछावर है राखी पर सारा वतन ||२||

वचन भाई दे ते हैं बहनों को इस दिन

कि बहनों की रक्षा करें गे प्रति दिन

यह वायदों के त्यौहार की है दिवाली वफ़ाओं के दीपक जलाता है यह दिन

है राखी भाई-बहन का यह पावन बंधन ||३||

भरोसा, दिलासा, दिलाती है राखी दिलों को दिलों में बसाती है राखी

यह राखी की डोरी है जाद ू की डोरी चमत्कार कर के दिखाती है राखी

जो धरती है बहना, तो भाई गगन ||४||

a u g u s t

southSouth asia times 31 Asia Times

2 0 1 5

भारतीय मीडिया और भारतीय मानसिकता

-डॉ. अब्ल दु कलाम

(पिछले महीने भारत के भूतपूर्व राष्ट्रपति डॉ. अब्ल दु कलाम का दे हावसान हो गया| वे न केवल एक बड़े वैज्ञानिक थे बल्कि एक प्रेरणात्मक नेता भी थे| उनको श्रद्धांजलि दे ते हुए, हम उनके एक प्रेरणात्मक सन्देश का हिन्दी रूपान्तर प्रस्तुत कर रहे हैं - संपादक)

भारतीय मीडिया इतना नकारात्मक क्यों है ? भारत में हम अपने गुणों व उपलब्धियों का बखान करने से क्यों कतराते हैं ? हमारा दे श एक महान राष्ट्र है | हमारे पास सफलता की अनेक आश्चर्यजनक कहानियाँ हैं पर हम उनकी उपेक्षा करते हैं | क्यों? दध ू के उत्पादन में हम सर्वप्रथम हैं | दरू स्थ सेंसिंग उपग्रह (रिमोट सेंसिंग सैटेलाइट) प्रौद्योगिकी में हम पहले नम्बर पर हैं | गेहूँ और चावल के हम दस ू रे सबसे बड़े उत्पादक हैं | डॉ. सुदर्शन का ही उदाहरण ले लीजिये, जिन्होंने एक कबीली गाँव को आत्मनिर्भर और स्वचालित इकाई में बदल दिया| इसी प्रकार की उपलब्धियों के लाखों उदाहरण हैं लेकिन हमारा मीडिया बुरी ख़बरों, असफलताओं और विपदाओं को सुर्ख़ियों में रखने का अभ्यस्त है | एक बार मैं ‘टे ल-अवीव’ में था और इज़रायली समाचार-पत्र पढ़ रहा था| एक दिन पहले वहाँ ‘हामस’ ने आक्रमण किया था, गोलाबारी हुई थी और कई लोगों की मृत्यु हुई थी परन्तु उस समाचार-पत्र के मुख्य पृष्ठ पर एक यहूदी सज्जन की फ़ोटो थी, जिन्होंने पाँच वर्षों में मरुस्थल भूमि को ऑर्कि ड और अन्नागार (ग्रेनरी) में बदल दिया था| उस दिन सभी इज़रायली लोगों ने सुबह उठ कर उस प्रेरणात्मक फ़ोटो को दे खा था| हत्या, बमबारी, मृत्यु आदि के रक्तरं जित विवरण अन्य समाचारों के बीच समाचार-पत्र के अंदर

पृष्ठों में छिपे हुए थे| भारतीय मीडिया मुख्यतया केवल बीमारी, मृत्यु, अपराध और आतंकवाद के बारे में क्यों समाचार दे ता है | हम इतने नकारात्मक क्यों हैं ? एक और प्रश्न – एक राष्ट्र के रूप में विदे शी वस्तुओं के प्रति हम इतने आसक्त क्यों हैं ? हम विदे शी कपड़े . विदे शी टे लीविजन, विदे शी टे क्नालोजी चाहते हैं | हम हर चीज़ आयातित (इम्पोर्टे ड) क्यों पसंद करते हैं ? क्या हम यह नहीं जानते हैं कि आत्मनिर्भरता से ही स्वाभिमान आता है ? मैं है दराबाद में एक भाषण दे रहा था जब एक १४ वर्षीय लड़की ने मुझसे मेरा ऑटोग्राफ़ माँगा| मैंने उससे पूछा कि जीवन में उसका उद्दे श्य क्या है | उसने उत्तर दिया कि वह विकसित भारत में रहना चाहती है | उसके लिए हमें विकसित भारत का निर्माण करना होगा| आप कहते हैं कि हमारी सरकार निकम्मी है | आप कहते हैं कि हमारे क़ानून बहुत पुराने हैं | आप कहते हैं कि नगरपालिका कूड़ा नहीं उठाती है | आप कहते हैं कि फ़ोन काम नहीं करते हैं और हमारी रे ल-सेवा एक मज़ाक बन गयी है | हमारी एयर लाइन दुनिया की सबसे ख़राब एयर लाइन है और हमारी डाक बहुधा अपने गंतव्य स्थान पर नहीं पहुँचती है | आप कहते हैं कि हमारा दे श गर्त में जा रहा है | इसी तरह आप बहुत कुछ कहते रहते हैं लेकिन इस बारे में आप करते क्या हैं ? जब आप सिंगापुर जाते हैं तो आप सिगरे ट पी कर उसके बचे हुए टु कड़े सड़कों

अमृत वृद्धाश्रम (भाग ८- अंतिम)

—विजय कुमार, है दराबाद, ईमेल- kkps44@yahoo.com

(पिछ्ले अंक में आपने पढ़ा कि अमृत वृद्धाश्रम में सब लोग किस प्रकार एक परिवार का हिस्सा बन कर रहते थे लेकिन अस्पताल की सेवाओं की कमी खलती थी| अचानक अमृत वृद्धाश्रम के संस्थापक अमृत जी का पोता सूरज इग्लैंड से लौट आया और उसने ईश्वर के पैर छुए तो ईश्वर की आँखें छलक गयीं और उसके काँपते हुए हाथ आशीर्वाद दे ने के लिए उठ गए। लीजिये अब आगे की कहानी पढ़िए-सम्पादक)

सूरज ने कहा, “ईश्वर काका। मैं आज आपसे अपने पिता जी की तरफ से माफ़ी माँगने आया हूँ और दादाजी का सपना पूरा करने आया हूँ। “ख़ुशी के कारण मेरी आँखों से पानी बह रहा था। सूरज ने आगे कहा, “मैंने भी डॉक्टरी की पढ़ाई पूरी कर ली है और अब मैं और पिताजी यहीं रहें गे और दादाजी का सपना पूरा करें गे।“ मैंने कँपकँपाते स्वर में पूछा, “और माँ ?“ गौतम ने कहा, “वह नहीं रहीं। इसी साल उनका दे हांत हो गया और मैंने फ़ैसला कर लिया है

कि अब हम यहीं आ कर रहें गे, आपने और भारद्वाज अंकल ने जो नि:स्वार्थ सेवा का बीड़ा उठाया है , अब हम भी उसमें अपना योगदान दें गे। यही सच्चे अर्थों में हमारी वापसी होगी, अपने दे श के लिए, अपने पिता के लिए, उनके उद्दे श्य के लिए और यही हमारा प्रायश्चित होगा। “इतना कहकर गौतम ने अपनी आँखों से आँसू पोंछे । शान्ति जो इतने दे र से पीछे से आकर हमारी बातें सुन रही थी वह अपने आँसू पोंछते हुए वापस मुड़कर आश्रम के भीतर

पर नहीं फेंकते हैं और आर्चर्ड रोड पर से ५ बजे शाम से ८ बजे रात के बीच कार चला कर जाने के ५ डॉलर (लगभग ६० रुपये) दे ते हैं और अधिक दे र तक रुकने पर बग़ैर किसी हील-हुज्जत के पार्किंग फ़ीस दे दे ते हैं | इस बात का कोई फ़र्क नहीं पड़ता कि आपकी है सियत क्या है या आप कितने बड़े पदाधिकारी हैं | इसी प्रकार दुबई में आप दिन में रमज़ान के दौरान सार्वजानिक स्थानों पर खाने की या जेद्दा में अपना सिर ढके बिना घूमने की जुर्रत नहीं करते हैं | लंदन में टे लीफ़ोन एक्सचेंज के किसी अधिकारी को आप १० पौंड (६५० रुपये) दे कर यह कहने की हिम्मत नहीं करें गे कि मैंने जो अंतर्देशीय और अंतर्राष्ट्रीय फ़ोन किये हैं ,उनके बिल का भुगतान किसी और के नाम थोप दिया जाये| वाशिंगटन में ५५ मील (८८ किलोमीटर) प्रति घंटे की रफ़्तार से गाड़ी चलाते हुए पुलिस द्वारा रोके जाने पर आप नहीं कहें गे -” जानता हूँ, मैं कौन हूँ? मैं फ़लाने- फ़लाने का बेटा हूँ| दो रुपये लो और दफ़ा हो जाओ”| ऑस्ट्रेलिया और न्यूज़ीलैंड में आप फल खा कर उनके छिलके सिवाय कूड़े दान में कहीं और फेंकने का साहस नहीं करें गे| आप टोक्यो में सड़क पर पान खा कर क्यों नहीं थूकते हैं या बोस्टन में जाली सर्टिफ़िकेट खरीदने की कोशिश क्यों नहीं करते हैं ? अमेरिका, जापान तथा अन्य दे शों में सार्वजानिक स्थानों पर कुत्ते के हगने के पश्चात उसके मालिक को उसका गू उठाना पड़ता है | क्या भारतीय नागरिक यह करने को तैयार होंगे? आप दस ू रे दे शों में उनके नियमों व परम्पराओं के अनुरूप व्यवहार

गयी और एक पूजा की थाली ले आई। आरती का दिया जला कर दोनों की आरती उतारते हुए उसने कहा, “पधारो आपणे दे श बेटा !“ हम सबकी आँखें भीग उठीं। गौतम ने एक लिफ़ाफ़ा निकाल कर मेरे और भारद्वाज जी के हाथों में दिया और कहा, “इसमें मेरी सारी संपत्ति के कागज़ात हैं , मैंने अपना सबकुछ इस वृद्ध आश्रम को दे दिया है । और इसकी सारी ज़िम्मेदारी ईश्वर और भारद्वाज अंकल को सौंपी है , सब कुछ अब इस आश्रम की मिट्टी के लिए है ।“ यह सुनकर मैं रो पड़ा, मेरा दर्द और बढ़ गया और मैं कांप कर गिर पड़ा। सूरज ने तुरंत मेरी नब्ज़ दे खी और कहा, जल्दी इन्हें अस्पताल ले चलो“ मैं ने कहा, “बस बेटा आज का ही इन्तज़ार था, तुम्हारी वापसी हो गयी और मुझे अब क्या चाहिए? बस अब चलता हूँ।“ सूरज ने कहा, “कुछ नहीं होगा,

s'i=Pt sm;c;r

‘ऑस्ट्रेलिया में हिन्दी’ विषय पर कैनबरा में राष्ट्रीय हिन्दी कार्यशाला

शुक्रवार, १७ जुलाई, २०१५ को ‘ऑस्ट्रेलियन नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी’ कैनबरा में हिन्दी के वरिष्ठ व्याख्याता, डॉ. पीटर फ़्रेड लैंडर ने ‘ऑस्ट्रेलिया में हिन्दी’ विषय पर राष्ट्रीय कार्यशाला आयोजित की| कार्यशाला का उद्घाटन कैनबरा में भारतीय उच्चायुक्त के प्रथम सचिव, तरुण कुमार ने किया| तत्पश्चात राष्ट्रीय पाठ्क्रम के लिए उत्तरदायी संस्था, ‘अकारा’ की प्रतिनिधि सुज़न ै ब्रैडशा ने हाल ही में विकसित राष्ट्रीय हिन्दी पाठ्यक्रम के प्रारूप के बारे में जानकारी दी और डॉ. दिनेश श्रीवास्तव ने हिन्दी-सम्बन्धी अब तक की उपलब्धियों और चुनौतियों का वर्णन किया| कार्यशाला के विभिन्न सत्रों में

प्राइमरी, सेकण्डरी तथा विश्वविद्यालय और वयस्क विद्यार्थियों को हिं दी पढ़ाने के विषय पर विचार-विमर्श किया गया|

mhTvpU,R itiqy;\

१५ अगस्त (भारतीय स्वतंत्रता दिवस), २९ अगस्त (रक्षा बंधन), ५ सितम्बर (कृ ष्ण जन्माष्टमी), 6 सितम्बर (पितृ-दिवस, ऑस्ट्रेलिया), १४ सितम्बर (हिन्दी –दिवस), १८ सितम्बर (पर्यूषण पर्व)|

sUcn;E\

1. भारत के ६९वें स्वतंत्रता-दिवस के अवसर पर साहित्य संगम प्रस्तुत करता है – कवि गोष्ठी तिथि व समय – शनिवार, १५ अगस्त, शाम के ७.३० बजे से रात के १० बजे तक| स्थान – कैम्बरवेल लाइब्रेरी, ३४० कैम्बरवेल रोड, विक्टोरिया ३१२४ प्रवेश निःशुल्क है| अधिक जानकारी के लिए फ़ोन करें –

इसके अतिरिक्त हिन्दी मीडिया और हिन्दी में सामुदायिक क्रिया कलापों तथा हिन्दी में शोध कार्य के बारे में भी विचार-विनिमय हुआ| उपरोक्त व्यक्तियों के अतिरिक्त, इस कार्यशाला में, निम्न लोगों ने महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया-(१) फ्रैंक मर्लिनो, प्रधानाध्यापक विक्टोरियन स्कू ल ऑफ़ लैंग्वेजेज़ (२) कॉलिन एवरी, प्रधानध्यापक, रें जबैंक प्राइमरी स्कू ल, मेल्बर्न (३) माला मेहता, ओ.ए.एम., संस्थापक व संयोजक, आई.ए.बी.बी.वी. हिन्दी स्कू ल, सिडनी (४) संतोष गुप्ता, संस्थापक, हिन्दी स्कू ल, कैनबरा (५) हरप्रीत कौर, हिं दी अध्यापिका, नर्बंधा कॉलेज, कैनबरा (५) डॉ. इयन वूल्फ़ोर्ड,

(०४३) ३१७ ८३७७ २. ‘शारदा कला केंद्र’ प्रस्तुत करता है (क) स्वर संध्या – शनिवार ५ सितम्बर रात के ८ बजे से आरम्भ (ख) राग-रंग उस्ताद गुलाम अब्बास खाँ का संगीत – शक्र ु वार, ११ सितम्बर, रात के ८ बजे से आरम्भ| स्थान- वेवर्ली मेडोज़ प्राइमरी स्कू ल, ११ कूलाम्बिया ड्राइव, व्हीलर्स हिल, विक्टोरिया (मेल्वे सन्दर्भ- ७१ जी-११) अधिक जानकारी के लिए, संदीप को (०४०७) ६१२ ६२२ या सौरभ को (०४०२) ३२६ २३२ पर फ़ोन कीजिए| ३.कलाविष्कार प्रस्तुत करता है – मोहन राकेश रचित प्रसिद्ध नाटक –‘असाढ़ का एक दिन’ तथा दो लोक नृत्य| तिथि व समय – शनिवार, २९ अगस्त, दोपहर ४.३० बजे से शाम

करते हैं परन्तु अपने दे श की धरती पर पाँव रखते ही आप सड़कों पर कागज़ और सिगरे ट के टु कड़े फेंकने लगते हैं | यदि आप विदे शों में एक कृ तज्ञ सक्रिय नागरिक की भाँति रह सकते हैं तो भारत में क्यों नहीं? हम सरकार चुनने के लिए मतदान करते हैं | उसके बाद हम अपना उत्तरदायित्व भूल जाते हैं | हम अपेक्षा करते हैं कि सारा काम सरकार करे जबकि हमारा योगदान बिलकुल नकारात्मक रहता है | हम आशा करते हैं कि सरकार सड़कों की सफ़ाई करे लेकिन हम सब जगह कूड़ा फेंकना बंद नहीं करते हैं और कागज़ का छोटा सा टु कड़ा भी कूड़े दान में नहीं डालते हैं | हम चाहते हैं कि रे लवे साफ़ बाथरूम का प्रबंध करे लेकिन हम बाथरूम का उचित उपयोग सीखने के लिए तैयार नहीं हैं | हम चाहते हैं कि इन्डियन एयरलाइं स तथा एयर इण्डिया सबसे अच्छा भोजन व प्रसाधन सामग्री प्रदान करें पर अवसर मिलते ही हम उन्हें चुराने से बाज़ नहीं आते हैं | यह कर्मचारियों पर भी लागू होता है जो यात्रियों को उपयुक्त सेवाएँ नहीं प्रदान करते हैं | जब महिलाओं से सम्बंधित ज्वलंत सामजिक मुद्दों जैसे दहे ज आदि की बात आती है तो हम ऊँची आवाज़ में इसके विरुद्ध बड़ी-बड़ी बातें करते हैं लेकिन घर पर उसका उल्टा करते हैं | हम कहते हैं कि अकेले हमारे अपने लड़के के लिए दहे ज न लेने से क्या होगा? इसके लिए तो पूरी व्यवस्था को ही बदलना होगा| इस व्यवस्था में कौन-कौन है ? हमारी सुविधा के लिए, इसमें हमारे पड़ोसी, अन्य कुटु ं ब, अन्य नगर, अन्य समुदाय और सरकार शामिल हैं पर आपके अनुसार, आपको ‘माइल्ड हार्ट अटै क’ हुआ है , सब ठीक हो जायेगा।“ भारद्वाज जी ने जल्दी से आश्रम की एम्बुलेंस का इं तज़ाम किया और मुझे उसमें लेकर, शहर के एक प्रमुख अस्पताल की ओर चल पड़े । ||| एक नयी शुरुवात ||| अस्पताल आ गया, मुझे स्ट्रे चर पर ऑपरे शन थिएटर के भीतर ले जाया जा रहा था। मैंने चारों तरफ़ सभी को दे खा। मुझे ख़ुशी थी। अमृत वृद्धाश्रम अब बेहतर हाथों में था। अमृतलाल जी का और मेरा सपना सच हो गया था। मैंने सभी को प्रणाम किया और भीतर की ओर चल पड़ा। अब सब ठीक हो गया था। अब कोई दुःख मन में नहीं था। और मुझे यक़ीन था कि फिर से अपने अमृत वृद्धाश्रम की सेवा करने के लिए, मैं भी ठीक हो जाऊँगा।

हिन्दी व्याख्याता, लट्रोब विश्वविद्यालय, मेल्बर्न (६) रे खा राजवंशी, हिन्दी सह-व्याख्याता, सिडनी विश्वविद्यालय (७) अर्चना चौधरी, हिन्दी अध्यापिका, वेस्टराइड प्राइमरी स्कू ल, सिडनी (८) कुमुद मीरानी, अध्यक्ष, हिन्दी कार्यक्रम, एस.बी.एस. रे डियो| राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर हिन्दी पर आयोजित की जाने वाली यह सर्वप्रथम कार्यशाला थी जो अपने उद्दे श्य में पूर्णतया सफल रही| अगले वर्ष यह कार्यशाला मेल्बर्न में आयोजित करने का निर्णय किया गया है | . श्रीमती रे खा राजवंशी द्वारा लिखी इस कार्यशाला की रिपोर्ट के लिए दे खिये - http://hindi.webdunia. com/nri-news/hindi-workshop-inaustralia-115071900028_1.html. इस कार्यशाला से सम्बंधित अन्य फ़ोटु एँ दे खने के लिए निम्न वेबसाइट दे खिये – https://www.flickr.com/photos/ peterfriedlander .

के ७.३० बजे तक स्थान – चैंडलर कम्युनिटी सेंटर, २८ आइज़क रोड, कीज़बरो, विक्टोरिया– टिकट खरीदने अथवा अन्य जानकारी के लिए निम्न वेबसाइट देखिये - http://kalavishkar.com.au ४.संकट मोचन केंद्र द्वारा आयोजित सावन सोमवार तथा रक्षा बंधन उत्सव तिथि – सावन सोमवार (३,१०,१७,२४ अगस्त), रक्षा बंधन (२९ अगस्त) स्थान – १२८९ ए नार्थ रोड, हंटिंगडेल मंदिर खल ु ने का समय – सोमवार से शक्र ु वार – सब ु ह १०.३० बजे से १२.३० बजे तक और शाम को ६.३० बजे से ८.३० बजे तक| सप्ताहांत में, दोपहर ४.३० बजे से रात के ८ बजे तक| अधिक जानकारी के लिए, अरविन्द श्रीवास्तव से (०४२२) २७४ ४६२ पर संपर्क कीजिए|

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

निश्चित रूप से हम और आप इसका भाग नहीं हैं | जब हमारे लिए इस व्यवस्था में सकारात्मक योगदान दे ने का समय आता है तो हम स्वयं तथा अपने परिवार को एक सुरक्षा-कवच से ढक लेते हैं और दस ू रे दे शों की ओर दे खते हैं , इस उम्मीद में कि वहाँ से कोई ‘मिस्टर क्लीन’ आ कर अपने हाथ के एक इशारे से चमत्कार करे गा| और कुछ नहीं तो अपना दे श छोड़ कर दस ू रे दे श भाग जाते हैं | आलसी और कायर व्यक्ति की भाँति हम अपने भय का शिकार हो कर अमेरिका भाग जाते हैं और उनकी व्यवस्था की प्रशंसा करते हैं | जब अमेरिका असुरक्षित लगता है तो हम इं ग्लैण्ड चले जाते हैं | जब इं ग्लैण्ड में बेकारी बढ़ जाती है तो हम अगली फ्लाइट गल्फ़ के लिए लेते हैं | जब गल्फ़ में युद्ध होता है तो हम भारत सरकार से मांग करते हैं कि वह आ कर हमें बचाए और हमें वापस अपने दे श ले जाने का प्रबंध करे | हर व्यक्ति दे श की बुराई करने और उसे लूटने के लिए तैयार है | हमने अपनी अंतर्रात्मा धन के लिए गिरवी रख दी है | प्रिय भारतीय-जन, इस लेख का उद्दे श्य आपकी अंतरात्मा को झकझोरना है और अंतर्विवेचना के लिये प्रेरित करना है | जिस प्रकार जे.ऍफ़. केनेडी ने अमेरिका के सन्दर्भ में कहा था, उसी प्रकार मैं आपसे कहना चाहता हूँ कि आपने स्वयं से पूछिये कि भारत के लिए और भारत को अमेरिका तथा आज के अन्य पश्चिमी दे शों की भाँति विकसित करने के लिए आप क्या कर सकते हैं | आइये हम सब वह करें जिसकी उसे हमसे अपेक्षा है |

भारतीय स्वतंत्रता–दिवस पर झंडारोहण

मेल्बर्न में भारतीय कौंसल जनरल सभी भारतीयों, भारतीय मूल के व्यक्तियों और भारत के मित्रों को झंडारोहण समारोह के लिए, शनिवार, १५ अगस्त, २०१५ को ३४४ सेंट किल्डा रोड, मेल्बर्न पर स्थित भारतीय कौंसलेट में सुबह ८.४५ बजे आमंत्रित करती है | विद्यार्थीगण तथा बच्चे विशेष रूप से आमंत्रित हैं | कृ पया इस समारोह में उपस्थित होने की अग्रिम सूचना ५ अगस्त के पहले निम्न पते पर दें , धन्यवाद- trade@cgimelb.org

मेल्बर्न का भारतीय फ़िल्मोत्सव (१४ अगस्त से २७ अगस्त, २०१५ तक)

इस वर्ष के फ़िल्मोत्सव में ५५ से अधिक भारतीय फ़िल्में दिखाई जाएँगी| इनमें हिन्दी के अतिरिक्त अन्य भारतीय भाषाओँ (उर्दू, मराठी, तमिल आदि) तथा अँग्रेज़ी में बनी फ़िल्में भी शामिल हैं | इस फ़िल्मोत्सव के अतिथियों में प्रसिद्ध फ़िल्मी सितारे अनिल कपूर तथा उनकी बेटी सोनम कपूर भी सम्मिलित हैं | अधिक विवरण के लिए निम्न वेबसाइट दे खिये - www.iffm.com.au/

ab h\sne kI b;rI hw

१. किताब और नशा अध्यापक- बताओ! सबसे ज्यादा नशा किस चीज में होता है ? एक बच्चा- किताबों में...। अध्यापक- वह कैसे? मैं समझा नहीं। बच्चा- किताब खोलते ही नींद जो आ जाती है ....। २. संता और मेहमान संता – दो बिस्तर क्यों लगाये? बेटा – पापा, दो मेहमान आने वाले हैं 1 मम्मी का भाई और दस ू रा मेरे मामा संता- अबे गधे, एक बिस्तर और लगा मेरा साला भी तो आएगा| ३. खोया हुआ पति एक औरत का पति खो गया। वह अपनी पड़ोसन के साथ रिपोर्ट लिखाने पुलिस स्टेशन गई और अपने पति का हुलिया बताया- सुंदर, लम्बा कद, गोरा रं ग और गालों पर डिम्पल। पड़ोसन- क्यों झूठ बोल रही हो तुम्हारा पति तो काला, मोटा और नाटा है । औरत- चुप कर न! जो गया सो गया! जो आए वह तो अच्छा हो।

South Asia Times south asia community 32 South Asia Timestimes

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11 pm to 1 am urdu Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio24/7 2 Radio stations Melbourne FM & SB Radio 2(Subscription) 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 & SB 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

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)

Broadmeadows Mosque 45-55 King Street, Broadmeadows Ph 03 9359 0054 Islamic Call Society 19 Michael Street, Brunswick Ph: 03 9387 7100

Sri Lanka Consulate

Islamic Centre of Australia 660 Sydney Road, Brunswick Ph 03 9385 8423

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

Australian Islamic Cultural Centre 46-48 Mason Street, Campbellfield Ph: 03 9309 7605

Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra

Coburg ISNA Mosque 995 Sydney Road, Coburg North

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

Fax : (61-2) 6290-0544 E-Mail :hoc@bhcanberra.com

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

Consulate of Nepal, Melbourne

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

Email: cyonzon@nepalconsulate.net.au Level 7, 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Ph: (03) 9650 8338 Email: info@nepalconsulate.net.au

Glenroy Musala 1st Floor, 92 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy

TV News

Islamic College of Victoria (Mosque) 201 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing Ph 03 9369 6010

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

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

Huntingdale Mosque 320-324 Huntingdale Road, Huntingdale Ph 03 9543 8037

Readymade Garments

Al Nur Mosque 34-36 Studley Street, Maidstone

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

Meadow Heights Mosque Hudson Circuit, Meadow Heights

Raj Rani Creations 83-A Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9794 9398

Springvale Mosque 68 Garnworthy Street, Springvale

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

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

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

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

HIGH COMMISSION FOR PAKISTAN,CANBERRA

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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desi estyle 76 Foster St., Dandenong 3175 (03) 87744853; 0413707685 000

132 500 13 11 70

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

Heritage India 54-56 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175, Ph: (03) 9791 9227 Site: heritageindia.net.au

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quick community guide

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contd from previous page DVDs, Music CDs & Film Stuff Baba Home Entertainment 52C Foster St., Dandenong 3175, (03) 97067252 1st Migration PL, Suite 110, Level 1, 672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122

Travel Agents Gaura Travels 1300 FLY INDIA or 1300 359 463 info@gauratravel.com.au Supa Cheap Travel 381 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 3122 Ph: (03) 98194656; Mobile: 0420201155 info@supacheaptravel.com.au www.supacheaptravel.com.au Mann Travel 329 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 info@manntravel.com.au www.manntravel.com.au Travel House 284 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 Ph: (03) 95435123, Mobile: 0425803071 mail@travelhouse.com.au

INDIAN CONSULATE

VIEW POINT

South Asia Times

PHONE NUMBERS Phone Number for General Consular Enquiries(operational only during Consular Working Hours i.e. 0930 hrs to 1230 hrs, Monday to Friday) For PCC and PCC and Driving License Verification enquiries 03- 96825800 02 8223 9908/ 1900 969 969 Email ID for General Consular Enquiries consular@cgimelb.org Visa enquiries: visainfo.inau@vfshelpline.com Passport/Police Clearance Certificate/ Driving License Enquiries passportinfo. inau@vfshelpline.com, OCI/PIO Enquiries ociinfo.inau@vfshelpline.com CONSULAR SERVICES (Passport, Visa, OCI, PIO & Miscellaneous) Please note that all these consular services are handled by VFS Global (Indian Passport and Visa Service Centre) The Consulate General of India in Melbourne will continue to provide to residents of Victoria and Tasmania the following consular services, for which applications would have to be lodged directly with the Consulate: Miscellaneous OCI Services • Miscellaneous Consular Services (such as attestation of documents, transfer of visas from old to new passport, affidavits, birth certificates, life certificates, certificate required to transport ashes or mortal remains to India etc) IMPORTANT: The Consulate does not accept credit cards, EFTPOS, personal cheques or company cheques. Please send only money orders or bank cheques with applications sent through the post. Cash payments are accepted only at the counter.

(MELBOURNE) Address : 344, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia , P.O. Box No: 33247 Domain LPO Vic 3004 General phone: +61-3- 96827836 Fax No: + 61-3- 96968251 Web site: www.cgimelb.org

WORKING HOURS General Working Hours 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, Consular Working Hours 09.30 am to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday, (except on public holidays observed by the consulate)

MLG Lawyers Ronny Randhawa 144 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic Ph 9386 0204 & 138 Walker Street, Dandenong Vic Ph: 9793 9917 Mobile : 0402 256 712

International Students International Student Care Service (ISCS) www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/iscs Ph: 1800 056 449

Vera Lawyers Kusum Vaghela Level 1, Suite 2, 373 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Vic, Mobile: 0433 827 124

Property FIRST Property PL, Suite 110, Level 1,672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122

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

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2014-15 National Cricket Census Key Findings

41,208,360 total participants. A growth of 9% on 2013-14.

4628,826 school participants 4415,104 club & community participants 4164,430 indoor participants 4Club & Community cricket 424,961 teams 423,111 traditional 11-a-side teams 41,850 modified teams 410% growth in the Junior Participation Pathway 437,683 MILO in2CRICKET 413,227 MILO T20 Blast 473,686 junior age 9-12 yrs 415% growth in school cricket 4Diversity 4290,566 female participants 4Growth of 18% from 2013-14 4Women and girls make up 24% of all participants 426,427 indigenous participants 4146,658 multicultural participants

Australian Cricket Census reveals a 1.2 m Australians playing cricket

BY SAT News Desk

M

elbourne: The Australian Cricket Census, released recently, has revealed that a record 1.2 million Australians participated in cricket in the past year, which according to research makes it the country’s highest participation sport.

The Census, independently conducted by specialist researcher Street Ryan which also undertakes research for other major participation sports, including Rugby League and Australian Rules Football, confirms that cricket participation increased by nine per cent since the last round of research in June 2014.

Female, schools and junior programs experienced the highest rates of growth throughout the year.

For the second consecutive year, the growth of female participation increased significantly, growing by 18 per cent year on year to reach 290,566 participants.

Nearly one in four of cricket’s participants are now female.

Australian Cricket also reached new levels in Indigenous and multicultural participation, which reached 26,427 and 146,658 participants, respectively.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the results demonstrate that cricket is a sport of choice across Australia and the approach to attracting, developing and keeping people in the game is continuing to improve.

“We are very pleased with the nine per cent overall increase, to a total of 1.2 million Australians who are now playing cricket,” Mr Sutherland said. “Among other things, cricket plays an important role in helping men, women and children from all different backgrounds to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

“Numbers indicate growth in traditional club cricket participation numbers. This is particularly pleasing given it has been an area of focus

and is regarded as a strong indicator of successful entry level programs producing sustainable participation.

“We are incredibly grateful for the work of cricket’s 50,000 plus volunteers who contribute millions of hours each year to meet the day-to-day challenges of supporting and growing our participant base. It is also important to acknowledge our passionate game and market development staff from CA, states and territories - they have made such an important contribution to cricket’s growth over recent years.

“With an aspiration to be Australia’s favourite sport, and a sport for all Australians, it is pleasing to see the continued increase in diversity across our sport. Female participants are now nearly a quarter of our playing base and whilst this growth is something that we are particularly proud of, diversity will continue to be an area of strong focus, including the desire to see significant increases in Indigenous and multicultural

participant numbers. “We firmly believe that our participant base is the lifeblood of our sport – and we remain committed to supporting and growing our participant base so as to build cricket’s strong connection to the Australian community.

Club and community cricket continued its recent resurgence throughout the year. There are close to 25,000 cricket teams across Australia which, in combination with 1,605 registered entry level programs, amounts to 415,104 participants – a six per cent increase on 201314. Traditional 11-a-side club cricket accounted for 344,053 participants across 23,000 teams, including 90 new female 11-a-side teams.

It is the third consecutive year that traditional club cricket participation has increased.

Cricket was also king of the schoolyard in 201415. A total of 628,826 participants played cricket in schools, a 15 per cent increase on last year.

School participation was complemented by a 10 per cent increase in junior

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

Australian Cricket also reached new levels in Indigenous and multicultural participation, which reached 26,427 and 146,658 participants, respectively. participation in clubs and through MILO in2Cricket and MILO T20 Blast.

The release of the 201415 Australian Cricket Census coincides with National PlayCricket Registration Drive, Australian Cricket’s national participation campaign that calls on Australians to sign up to play cricket in 2015.

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SRI RAGHU RAM ASTROLOGY CENTRE World Famous Astrologer from Indian Generations

PANDITH: RAGHU RAM is in Melbourne Speaks

Are you suffering from any of the following problems:

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He is an expert in Palm, Face, Photo Reading & Numerology & Predicts your Past, Present & Future.

Performs Home / Shanti Pujas, Sudarshana Chakras, Laxmi Chakras, Vastu Consultation - Home & Commercial Premises, Protection from Black Magic & any evils don’t worry any more.....

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7 Days A Week - 10:00 AM TO 7:00 PM www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

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Cash-rich Wrestling League launched in India From Norris Pritam*

N

ew Delhi, 28 July: The maiden international professional competition in Olympic style wrestling is all set to make a dent in global sport.

The launch of Pro Wrestling League (PWL) in New Delhi on Monday has set the ball rolling for the unique event being held across six Indian cities between November 8 and 29.

PWL is a brainchild of Ashish Chahdha and Kartikey Sharma who have joined hands to float a new company, Pro-Sportify to organise the US$ 5 million mega event. Sharma is managing director of iTV Network while Ashish Chadha is CEO of sports rights management company Sporty Solutionz. “`This is a historic day for Indian sport,’’ said Sushil Kumar, double Olympic medallist in wrestling at the launch.

"Pro Wrestling League

is going to be very good for the Indian wrestlers as we would get a lot of exposure while competing and playing alongside top grapplers of the world. We always talk about getting exposure and through this event we would get it sitting in our own country," said Sushil. The League, some months before the Rio Olympic Games would prove a much-needed platform to both Indian and international wrestlers.

For Geeta Phogat, the lone Indian woman Olympian wrestler, ``League would give necessary boost to women’s wrestling in the country.’’ ``Around 20 top international wrestlers including Olympic medallists and world champions have already signed up for the league,’’ said Ashish Chadha at the launch. ``A better picture would emerge after September 1 deadline to take on board all wrestlers before the auction take

place on September 15," he added.

Kartikey Sharma said ``Pro-Sportify was an earnest effort to bridge the gap in Indian sport and catalyse talent to sporting history.’’

At the glittering launch, Sushil walked the ramp with other top stars of Indian wrestling that included Bajrang, Anuj Chowdhry, Geeta Phogat, Babita and Geetika Jakhar. Well-known rapper Apache Indian launched the theme song of the league, Hamara Khel, as the grapplers, flanked by models, walked the ramp.

Apache Indian had specially flown in from Birmingham to perform during the launch of the League.

In the League there would be six city-based teams with the world's top 66 wrestlers. Each team will consist of 11 players -- six male and five female. Per team will have six Indians and five foreigners.

Out of five foreign players, four can be part of a

tie. The league will be played on the best of nine format but all the bouts would be contested during the league phase. Each bout will have three rounds of three minutes each, separated by a one-minute break.

Every team will play others at least once over the 21-day event, in which 15 league games, two semifinals and the final will take place.

The base price for each team is set at Rs 3 crore and the six franchises would be finalised by September 7, while the host broadcaster would be decided by August 30.

A unique feature of launch in New Delhi was the participation of six girls from the Delhi College of Art at the launch. The hearing-challenged girls have created the logo of the league. ``We were looking for a professional agency to create the logo but when we found these girls we immediately assigned the task to these girls as part of

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

Around 20 top international wrestlers including Olympic medallists and world champions have already signed up for the league. our commitment to society,’’ said Ashish Chadha. ``And Kartikey and I are absolutely delighted with our decision,’’ he added. * Norris Pritam is a New Delhi based senior sports journalist.

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

WHAT’S HAPPENING EVENTS: AIII is organising INDIA DAY charity dinner & entertainment on Sunday 16 August 2015 at 6.30 pm at Clayton Town Hall, 294 Clayton Road, Clayton.

AAJ JANE KI ZIDD NA KARO; Gulam Abbas Khan & Gulam Hassan Khan; A night of Sufi , Gazal & Bollywood songs; SATURDAY 29 Aug 2015; Hungarian Community Centre (Youth Hall) @ 7 pm; 760 Baronia Road, Wantirna 3152.

Online tickets from – drytickets.com.au; Drinks BYO,Kava, food & soft drinks on sale; Contact: 0433 211 986.

IFFM 2015 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2015; 14-27 August 2015; HOYOTS Melbourne Central & HOYTS Highpoint.; www.iffm.com.

AUSTRALIA INDIA INSTITUTE

Samhita Arni and Kirsty Murray;

Aashiqui: The Resurgence of Music-based Romantic Dramas in Bollywood by Dr Vikrant Kishore, Filmmaker! Wed. 19 August; 6 to 9pm; Lecture Theatre G08, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton; Register at .aii.unimelb.edu.au.

Thu 20th Aug; 1:00pm - 02:00pm; Register/Details at aii.unimelb. edu.au

Tiffin Talk: Eat the Sky, Drink

the Ocean with Annie Zaidi, FASHION Fashion in the digital age with Phoebe Montague: On 26 August, fashion blogger Phoebe Montague, explores fashion in the digital age. As editor of Lady Melbourne, Montague's fashion commentary and style has earned her a reputation as one of Australia's key fashion bloggers.

In her talk, FASHION IN THE DIGITAL AGE | Why this is the most important time in fashion history, Montague looks at how the internet has changed the way we consume and interpret fashion. Book now https://www.

In Conversation with Shobhaa De; Fri.21st Aug; 06:00pm 07:30pm; Prest Theatre, G06, FBE Building, 111 Barry Street, Carlton VIC 3053; Register/Details at aii. unimelb.edu.au johnstoncollection.org/lectures.

BHANGRA Bhangra Down Under on Sat 26 Sept, 3 pm @ Palais Theatre, Lower Esplande, St. Kilda; L-Fresh The Loin & Malkit Singh; Tickets & Sponsorship Tanveer 0416660003 or Ajit 0469393460. Tickets also at Ticketmaster.

HINDI CLASSES Hindi classes in Craigiburn every Saturday 11 am to 12 pm @ 59 Craigieburn Road, Craigiburn.

Contacts: Narinder Garg 0431 123 045; Manisha 0431 123 044. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

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