May - Jun 2014
Vol 01 : Issue 04
Tha LIFESTYLE
www.Tha-lifestyle.com
Facebook.com/ThaLifestyle
Puberty Ceremony :
Tamil lifestyle magazine from Great Britain
“Shadism” The discrimination on skin tone?
Time to be Sensible!
2014 Local Elections:
List of Tamil Councillors
Artists of British Asian Band
Project 12
Sabeschni : Shining School Star!
talk to Ashanti Omkar
Tamil Summer Festival ISSN 2054-3514
Recipe
Three coloured rice
“Aadi Pirappu” Special
“I’m Glad I didn’t drop out of my Bharathanatyam classes”
Also in this issue....... * Facebook map * Alechmy Festival 2014 and the Thamizh Connection * Well Behaved dog is part of your family * Ibrutinib - The revolutionary drug
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content 02 “AAdi Pirappu” : Welcoming the FResh Water
01
News highlights
02
“AAdi Pirappu” : Welcoming the FResh Water
Latest highlights of Tamil achievement related news.
Article reveals the Tamil traditional summer festival to welcome the fresh rain water in July
04
well behaved dog is part of your family
06
‘i’m glad i didn’t drop out of my bharathanatyam classES Self story of Canadian Bharathanatyam dancer about her love with dance
16 alchemy festival 2014 and the thamizh connection
26
Ibrutinib - the revolutionary drug
Bio Medical researcher talks about latest medicine for Leulemia
08
2014 council elections: british tamil councillors at your service
10
project 12 speak music, music, music
16
alchemy festival 2014 and the thamizh connection
18
tamil films in london indian film festival
19
clicked on mobile !
Ashanti Omkar interviews the British band Project 12
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events gallery: British Asian Fashion Week 2014
20
28
events gallery: THE TAMIL WEDDING EXIBITION 2014
29 30
events gallery: An evening with t.t. & friends
22 23
events gallery: raising the roof for our little gems
23
cooking time
31
events gallery: saathanai thamizha 2014
24
“shadism” - the discrimination of individuals based on skin tone
31
tha calendar
puberty ceremony: time to be sensible!
Young Tamil blogger shares her view on Tamil traditional ceremony.
facebook map
Fact sheet on social media.
life Philosophical writing about life
Usual Tamil recipies page by Vani Bala
Article points out the wrong mindset in Tamils towards dark skin toned people.
| EDITORIAL
Editor’s wall
tha lifestyle
When learning to walk, falling down is only normal. Once again the summer is here, and the most exciting season in Britain is back. People are busy with holidays and barbecues, World cup football , the tennis at Wimbledon and so many other things. For Tamils there are a good few more to add to the list as most weddings and age attainment ceremonies are held in the Summer and our Temples will begin the religious festivals too. Just as people around us are busy with so many diverse activities, we are as busy too with our own lives. But while the influence of external events affect us all there is still a job to be done. The July edition of our magazine needs to be published on time. And whilst it was harder to strike the balance between our own lives and that of volunteers on this magazine , I believe we have managed it well. The first article in this edition cropped up when I visited South Hall Tamil School. I asked the teachers there about the Summer festival , ‘Aadi Pirappu’ (Birth of July) which as we remember was one of the most important ceremonies held in South Asia. And so it was amazing to see that a teen ager from the School put together an article in Tamil about Aadi Pirappu and sent it to us. We are delighted to talk about Aadi Pirappu in this edition with the firm belief that it will continue to be celebrated by coming British Tamil generations. While praising the team and individuals who came to support us, I have to be honest about the magazine’s growth which has been just a little slower for this edition. As our toddler magazine is learning to walk, falling down sometimes is only normal but our growth progresses. And regardless it is important that we stand up again with yet more determination to continue the journey. So I am meeting you with this edition, with strong determination in my mind to continue the journey at all costs. We may see more accidents and more unexpected setbacks but our journey must not stop. With your continued help and contributions we will walk, run, climb with the dream that one day we will fly. Sujay Sujatharan
Cover page
Sujay
Satheesan
ARIRAJASINGHAM
Thanabalasundaram
Sujatharan
Tha Editor
editor@tha-lifestyle.com facebook.com/ThaSujay
Tha Marketing Manager
contact@tha-lifestyle.com
Bala Thavapalan
‘Project 12’ by kabil photography
Tha IT Manager
info@tha-lifestyle.com
Specialist writers
Veterinary Doctor Dr.S.S.Balachandran | Make-up Artist Shindy | Bio Medical Researcher Sophie Kathir
featured author
ashanti omkar Kirunthuja Srikanth
content reviewer
rob dow Birunthini Yogashangary Sweena Shanthakumar
Tha contributors of this edition
Soozana Puvan Vani Thavapalan Vinny Flora Thanusiya Nithiyananthan Vaveena Somaskantharajah Jasdeep Singh Degun Mithila Sarma Yad Selvakumar Raaheel Husain Jeevan Singh Riyait Senthan Nadarajah Daren Mootoo Kitha Nadarajah Sanal Das Nish Raj Sam Suriakumar Delanthy Dushyanthi Guru Priya Sivanathan Arunn Gnanapragasam
tha LIFEstyle
| NEWS
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 12 Years old German Tamil KID on ‘voice kids’ of sat 1
Sabeschni Senthuraselvan : shining school star
“La.. La… La La La La La …La.. La..” , the sweet voice of twelve year old Sabeschni echoed in a corner of Germany as she watched ‘The Voice Kids’ on Sat 1 television in March, earlier this year. The moments echoed differently in the Tamil minds around the world when they found Tamils are achieving great heights in main stream media. Sabeschni Senthoorselvan , a German Tamil from Lappersdorf in the district of Regensburg , is definitely another cause for pride for Tamils around the world. The Voice Kids is Sat.1’s German wide show , where eight to fourteen year olds compete against each other. Season 2 started on 22 March 2014 and the three judges are the German Eurovision Song Contest winner Lena Meyer-Landrut, the German singer Johannes Strate and the German singer Henning Wehland. In the first round of “The Voice Kids”, the jury decided solely by ear and Sabeschni got through. Sabeschni wanted to compete and win with the song “La la la” from “Naughty Boy” in the next round and got a positive response from judges but was last in her ultimate bid to win in the final.
Gobi Raj’s Dream receives impressive results
The English Tamil Cricket League for all
“Anyone can play,” says Gopi Raj, 42, working as HR manager for the Lloyds Banking Group, who worked hard since 2010 to establish an English Tamil Cricket League. ““That’s what it’s all about – an open environment. There is so much political activity going on that divides. I’m trying to get beyond that.” he adds. “We had a vision in terms of trying to do something different, integrating communities and taking them to the next level. It’s been difficult at times but we’ve had tremendous support from ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) “ ETCL has been recognised in an article on Royal London One-Day Series on the official England and Wales Cricket Board website, which is the next level of Tamil Community activities in UK. “We introduced junior and ladies’ softball cricket last year,” says Gopi. And they introduced coloured clothing, a Caribbean-style atmosphere and non-stop music. The ladies’ cricket was the jewel in the crown. And this year we’re going to have under-11s playing softball cricket – so there really will be something for everyone.
Dr ‘Rama’ Suntharalingam wins
Dalton Young Researchers Award 2014 Royal Society of Chemistry awarded the Dalton Young Researchers Award to Dr.Kogularamanan “Rama” Suntharalingam , For his contributions to the design and development of new metallo-pharmaceuticals and to the understanding of their complex mechanisms of action. Rama grew up in East Ham, east London and later in Ilford, Essex. Rama obtained a first-class MSci degree in Chemistry from Imperial College. During his undergraduate studies he was awarded a number of prizes, including the HVA Briscoe Prize for Inorganic Chemistry and the GlaxoSmithkline Beecham Pharmaceuticals Prize in Practical Inorganic Chemistry Rama was awarded his PhD in Chemistry from Imperial College London (UK) in 2012. Rama has also co-authored three book chapters (one as a single author). Upon completion of his PhD, Rama joined Prof. Stephen J. Lippard’s research group at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA, USA). He was awarded the Misrock Postdoctoral Fellowship by the Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research, MIT in 2012. During his time at MIT, Rama has made some outstanding contributions to the field of anti-cancer drug design and development. His current research combines facets of inorganic chemistry, nanotechnology, and molecular biology.
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tha LIFEstyle
| Language & culture
tamil Festival month AAdi begins on
July 17th 2014
‘Aadi Pirappu’ Welcoming the fresh waters Aadi Pirappu is the famous Tamil festival celebrated in the month of “Aadi” continued from Tamil culture of South Asia. The word ‘Aadi’ is name of the month begins mid of July and ends during mid of August and ‘Pirapppu’ means ‘birth. The first day of this month, usually falling on July 16-17, is celebrated as Aadi Pandigai or Aadi Pirappu, which is an important festival to most Tamils, especially newlyweds. The Tamil month Aadi ibegun July 16th, 2014. This is a month of fervour and observances in Godess related to Water-forces and Natural forces (e.g. Maria Amman temples, Mundakanni amman temples etc.) where prayers and pujas are offered to propitiate the powerful goddesses and seek their protection from the inauspicious aspects that are often associated with the month.
in to the earth as in South Asian continent the hot summer will be cooled down by monsoon rain. During Aadi Pirappu, households draw huge Kolams and make soup. The whole month of Aadi represents the fresh and genuine look of Tamil culture. Also, starting this month the heat of the sun reduces and the rains start. It is during this time that the monsoon peaks in South Asia and the rivers shrunken in the summer heat, get replenished, often to near full levels. Usually the tamil months are named based on the nakshatra that prevails during the full moon day or Pournami.
It is to mark that Lord Surya (Sun god) changes his direction from north to south in the month of Aadi.
The month marks an important festival to most Tamils, especially newly-weds. The first of the month is marked with a special ‘poosai’ or prayer, followed by a feast with ‘Aadi Kool’ ( a soup made with pea and jams ) and vadai. The aadi kool, a porridge which is served to all who may call on that day.
The next six months from Aadi to Margazhi is the Dakshinayana punyakalam – symbolically the night time of angels or ‘Devars’. It is observed on the first day of ‘Aadi’ to welcome the fresh water forces
Traditionally, the family of a ‘pudhu maappillai’ (new son-in-law) is invited to the girl’s house, where the couple is gifted new clothes and other presents.
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Together with this, Aadi Sevvaai, the Tuesdays in the month of Aadi, Aadi Puram, the Puram asterism in the month of Aadi and Aadi Amaavaasai, the dark moon day in the month of Aadi, are all important days. The month of Aadi is considered very auspicious to connect oneself to this Divine power. Despite all these important days, the month of Aadi is considered an inauspicious month for occasions like weddings, housewarming ceremonies etc. There is a logical reason for this myth.Being an agrarian South Asian countries, people get involved in agricultural activities in this month. Therefore they do not have the time and money to partake in festivities in this month. So ceremonies which incur huge expenses like marriage, house warming ceremony, changing the house, buying of land and building of houses are avoided. The next reason is that this month is considered very auspicious for the worship of Goddess Amman. So people are involved in various spiritual activities rather than in festivities
‘Aadi Pirappukku Naalai Viduthalai’ Orginally Written by
Thanusiya Nithiyananthan,
from Southall Tamil kalvikoodam Translated by
tha LIFEstyle
How to make
Aadi Kool Time taken: 45 minutes Serves: 5 – 6 Ingredients Dry roasted rice flour – 1 cup Dry roasted green gram – ½ cup Jaggery or brown sugar – ½ cup (can be adjusted as per your taste) Chips of coconut – ½ cup Coconut milk – 1 ½ cup Water
Sweena Shanthakumar Aadi pirappu is observed to welcome the beginning of the month Aadi. Aadi Pirappu is one of the Auspicious festival celebrated by Tamils, which is observed on the first day of Aadi, There are believes thats in Hindu Religion one human year is equal to one day of god and Devas. January to June are considered to be the day time of Devas (Angels), which is known as Utharayanam period and July to December are considered to be the night time of Devas which is known as Dakshinayanam.
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As the Dakshinayanam or night time of Angels or begins in the month of July orAadi, the month is considered to be inauspicious by Hindus and normally there will be no propitious functions such as Weddings will be held. The first day of Utharayanam or day time of Angels is celebrated with ‘Thai Pongal’ (Refer to our JanuaryFebruary 2014 edition to learn more about Thai Pongal). Likewise ‘Aadi Pirappu’ is the first day of Dakshinayanam.
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In the Month of Aadi there is another festival called Aadi Perruku which is normally observed around 17th or 18th of Aadi (2nd or3rd August). Addi is the month when the heat of the sun reduces and Monsoon reaches it Peak, during when the rivers often reaches their full level. Tamils celebrate Aadi Pirappu by making sweets such as Kozhukkatai and Aadi Koozh which are first presented to God and then shared with friends and families. Aadi Koozl is a very unique food prepared with different types of wheats, which is believed by our ancestors to strengthen the immune system to prevent infections in Winter.
| Language & culture
Method
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• •
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Boil the green gram, which has been previously dry roasted, in one litre of water in a pot. Midway during the boiling, add the coconut chips (not grated but little pieces chipped off from a fresh coconut). Take 2 or 3 tbsp of the roasted rice flour and add a little hot water to make a paste. Make tiny balls from this rice flour mixture and add it to the boiling pot. After a few minutes of boiling, add the rest of the cup of rice flour into the boiling pot, slowly stirring it in. When the mixture starts boiling, add the coconut milk and the grated jaggery and leave it to simmer for another 10 minutes. Take the pot off the heat and serve the Kool in little bowls.
Poet called ‘Navaliyur Somasunthara Pulavar’ has written famous poems on Adipirappu. “Aadip pirappukku naalai viduthalai Aanantham Aanantham ThoLar kalae Koodip panankatti Koolum Kudikkalaam Kolukkattai thinnalaam ThoLar kalae”
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tha LIFEstyle
| pet & families
Pet care Series : Part 2
Grooming
Well Behaved dog is part of your family
The main reasons for daily grooming include: • Various health problems, such as thrush, scratches, other skin problems, lameness, or changes in temperament, all of which could be indicative of illness can be detected. • Maintain general cleanliness of the dog • Forging of a closer bond between dog and owner • Reduces the infestation load of external parasites on skin. All dogs need regular grooming, but long-haired dogs need more coat care than short-haired dogs. A long-haired dog should be combed and brushed once a day while a dog with short hair will usually only need brushing twice a week. Get a brush and comb that are suited to the hair type of your dog.
Taking your pet abroad ? Apply for Pet Passport! In Great Britain, a pet passport is issued by an Official Veterinarian When you go take your pet with its identity and vaccination record Visit ahvla. defra.gov.ukfor more details! Page 4
Neutering
Neutering is a surgical operation carried out by a Veterinary Surgeon. In male animals, the testicles are removed and this is called ‘castration’. In female animals, the ovaries and the uterus (womb) are removed and this is called ‘spaying’. Spaying stops your bitch from having unwanted puppies and reduces her chances of developing diseases such as breast cancer and serious infections of the uterus. Castration prevents your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies and can help to reduce some types of aggression. Dogs often benefit most by having the neutering operation performed when they are under one year old. Exercise Daily exercise provides many benefits. Exercise helps to • Reduce or eliminate the common behaviour problems such as digging, excessive barking, chewing and hyperactivity • Keep dogs healthy and agile. • Reduce digestive problems and constipation • Make dogs feel sleepy rather than restless at bedtime or when you’re relaxing • Keep dogs’ weight under control
The good practice is NOT TO take a dog for a walk during the hottest part of the day or feed them less than an hour before vigorous exercise in order to avoid “bloating”.
Training dogs should be done through “positive reinforcement” rather than punishment that can lead to behavioural problems in the future.
Bathing Your Dog Bathing depends on the age, breed, type of the dog and length of coat, condition of the skin etc. It is extremely important to use a pet shampoo and not a product made for people. Using products made for people can really dry out a dog’s coat. Bathing on average, once a month is plenty. Many breeds can go much longer than that. Brush them before AND after you bathe them. Brushing before bathing makes the brushing afterward much easier. Place some cotton balls in their ears before the bath. Water in the ears is one of the most common causes of ear infections. Please remember to remove these once you are done with the bath. If you
TRAINING
do get soap in their eyes, simply wash with warm water or saline. Rinse thoroughly. Shampoo residue especially between their toes will cause them to lick and irritate their skin.
tha LIFEstyle |pet & families
It is an owner’s legal responsibility to ensure that their dog is under control at all times in a public place – so being able to get your dog to come back to you when you call him or her is very important. House training should start as soon as your bring a puppy to your home. Puppies urinate frequently and success in house training depends on anticipating their needs - they should be given the opportunity to relieve themselves at least every two hours. When puppies look around anxiously, walk in circles and start sniffing in suitable corners looking for a place, you can tell that the puppy ‘wants to go’. That’s an indication to take your pet outside. Giving your dog food or toys to reward the behaviour you want makes it fun for both of you. You will also get to know each other better, which in turn ensures you have a strong bond. A well trained dog is a happy dog. A dog that is well behaved can take part in family life and is welcome in more places.
Be sure they are dried thoroughly. Dogs love to run and roll after a bath. If they are still wet, they will pick up all kinds of dirt from the floor and ruin all the work you have just completed.
Illness You should check your dog each day for any major signs of illness such as a. Diarrhoea b. Loss of appetite c. Coughing d. Sleeping more than normal e. Unusual swellings f. Changes in skin conditions g. Signs of pain & limping h. Runny nose or eyes i. Drinking much more or less than normal j. Significant loss or gain in weight Any change in your dog’s behaviour should alert you to the possibility of an illness. If you notice any of the above mentioned conditions and are worried about the health of your dog, it is always advisable to contact your local Veterinary practice. When you get a new dog, it is very important to register with a local Veterinary practice and make an appointment as soon as you can for a check-up. Your Veterinarian can then devise a care programme for your dog which will make both the Pets and Pet owners healthy and be happy.
Photography: Arunn G Photography | fb/arunnphoto
Article by Dr. S. S. Balachandran Former Director General at Department of Animal Production and Health, Sri Lanka
To read the part 1 of this series visit tinyurl.com/ThaDec2013 and go to Page 6 Page 5
tha LIFEstyle
| Language & culture
Republished from Canadian Online Tamil Lifestyle Magazine Visit Tamilculture.ca
“
I’m Glad I Didn’t Drop Out Of My Bharathanatyam Classes
By Vaveena Somas
WHY I LOVE IT I constantly hear myself referring to dance as my life, as a way of life and as a part of me. I learn every day that the art of dance is much bigger than me. It humbles, and it glorifies. I have been blessed with the ability to experience it on such an intimate level. It may sound peculiar, but I am in a loving, committed relationship with dance. I believe in its giving, nurturing, omnipresent nature. We are partners, dance and I. I am never still, and never alone. I continue to nourish my relationship and attachment to dance through the exploration of many forms of dance. I seek out and relish the friendships I build with other beings who feel this same passion. This journey has led me to the door of many an artists’ dreams, and allowed me to experience their passion as if it were my own.
Online resources for Bharathanatyam: onlinebharatanatyam.com www.kalakriya.com
Image courtesy of DigitalFusion Production
A
rt. I have always believed it flows within us and courses outward when permitted. It is nature, history, culture. It is me, and it is you. It may be the rawest expression of a person, and is probably the greatest intimacy we can share with one another.
To buy Bharathanatyam costumes: www.vadaamalar.com www.dancecostumesandjewelry.com bharatanatyamworld.com
Dance and I had our first formal introduction when my mother forced me to join a Bharathanatyam class at the mere age of three. But the more I danced, the more familiar I became with the idea that the origin of my bond with dance began much before that. Our every movement, from the first few flutters as a fetus, to the first steps we take, is a dance in itself. We have all danced. Whether we engaged in it voluntarily or not, we have. We do it every day, with every wave of a hand and every breath drawn in. For the first few years as a miniature dancer, I rejected the notion of dance. Until this day, I am reminded by my mother that I began my first few lessons by lying on my dance teacher’s bed in her apartment, talking the entire time, while the other students diligently danced away. I had very stubbornly decided that dance was not for me. Of course that phase dissipated quite swiftly, and I had the unique experience of being hurled into the world of dance. Rising and falling through the tide of bells, bangles and ballads, I slowly came to realize that dance and I, we had a more familiar bond than I had once believed.
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Image courtesy of DigitalFusion Production
WHEN I STARTED TO DANCE
tha LIFEstyle
| Language & culture
Essential qualities for a good Bharathanatyam dancer. Agility Agility is the ability to change body position rapidly and accurately without loosing balance. Steadiness It is the ability to maintain the body, or a part of the body, in a fixed position, or the ability to perform a smooth movement without any deviations from the desired course. Rehka Rekha is an art of performing the dance on a huge stage. Image courtesy of DigitalFusion Production
“Art. It is to experience life and the people in it at the utmost intimate and heightened level, in the richest hues. WHY I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO OTHERS When I close my eyes, I imagine colors and light emanating from all of us. More often than not, the world gradually strips and drains away the vivacious hues in our aura. Dance can restore that. Art can help you see hope in humanity, and light at the end of the tunnel. I revel in the ability to see the light in the eyes of those who have recognized their connection to art. I do not propose that you can only experience the art of dance by performing and learning it. Dance, visual art, drama, music and all the other art forms can be experienced from the outside as well. The experience is not exclusive to the artist alone. When experiencing art from the outside in, you travel with the artist on an extraordinary journey, and that awareness is to be envied. There is nothing like it in the world. Vaveena Somaskantharajah is an established dancer, performer and choreographer in Toronto. She started learning Bharathanatyam from a very young age, and completed her arangetram in 2004. She then went on to obtain a minor in dance from York University. Today, she has her own dance school, through which she teaches various forms of dance in the GTA. She also works as a dance choreographer and creative director for concept and music videos in collaboration with main stream artists in the Tamil Community. Vaveena defines her life through her art, and is a strong believer in the therapeutic quality of creative expression.
Brahmari movement Circling movements or Brahmari movements are one of the important leg movements that one should practise. The Glancing Eye Where the Hands go, the Eyes should follow,Where the Eyes go, the Mind should follow,Where the Mind goes, the Emotions are generated,Where the Emotions are generated, Sentiment arises. Endurance It is only regular dance practice that helps a student rise to a higher degree of performance. This builds endurance in a person and makes him ready to pursue perfection. Concentration or any dancer it is very important to remember the Mudras, Hastas and Karnas the to perform the dance well.
Are you a passionate Bharathanatyam Dancer? Then write to us submit@Tha-Lifestyle.com Page 7
tha tha LIFEstyle LIFEstyle
| News Cover story
2014 Council Elections
British Tamil Councillors At Your Service!
Councillor Sasikala Suresh Ward: Headstone South Terms of office: 04/05/2006 to Present
Councillor Kareema Marikar Ward : West Harrow Terms of office : 06/05/2010 to Present
Councillor Krishna Suresh Ward: Rayners Lane Terms of Office : 06/05/2010 to Present
Councillor Gaj Wallooppilla Ward: Coombe Hill Terms of Office : 04/05/2012 to Present
Councillor Yogan Yoganathan Ward: St Mark’s Terms of Office : 02/05/2002 to Present
Councillor Yogan Yoganathan Ward: Tolworth and Hook Rise Terms of Office : 04/05/2006 to Present
Councillor Mike Selvanayagam Ward: Broad Green Terms of Office : 04/05/2006 to Present
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Councillor Thavathuray Jeyaranjan Ward: Newbury Terms of Office : 06/05/2010 to Present
Councillor Paul Sathianesan Ward: East Ham North Terms of Office : 07/05/1998 to Present
tha LIFEstyle
| News
Local Government Facts and Figures How many councils are there?
There are 468 local councils in the UK. There are 11,000 town, parish and community councils.
How many councillors are there?
Councillor Kana Naheerathan Ward: Queensbury Terms of Office : 10/05/2010 to Present
Councillor Eliza Mann Ward: Riverside Terms of Office : 02/05/2002 to Present
Cllr Kana Naheerathan elected as
BRITISH tamil mayor of brent Tamil Cllr Kana Naheerathan was elected as Mayor for Brent Council at the Annual Meeting of the Council which took place on 4 June 2014, and was officially appointed at the Mayor Making Ceremony which took place on the same evening. British Tamil Cllr Naheerathan is the Borough of Brent’s first ever Tamil Mayor and has represented Queensbury ward since 2010. He was the chair of the Brent Connects Kingsbury and Kenton Forum from 2010 to 2013 and has lived in Kingsbury for almost 20 years. He studied at Middlesex University after arriving in the United Kingdom and is an accountant by profession running his own practice in Kingsbury
Cllr SURESH KRISHNA elected as
DEPUTY BRITISH tamil mayor of HARROW British Tamil Cllr Krishna Suresh was appointed as Deputy Mayor of the coming year for the Harrow council as accepted by cabinet.
Suresh was born in Northern Jaffna in Ceylon , moved to Uk in 1983 and since May 2010 he is elected as councillor for Harrow West. He already claimed the first labour councillor to hold the seat in 30 years. Suresh’s wife Sasikala Suresh too a councillor been re-elected many times. Councillor couple are supportive of ‘Tha Lifestyle’ magazine since its start , we congratulate ‘Tha’ Councillors with all success
There are roughly 21,000 democratically elected local councillors (called members) in England and Wales.
How is local government structured?
The structure of local government varies from area to area. In most of England, there are two tiers – county and district – with responsibility for council services split between the two tiers. However, London, other metropolitan areas and parts of shire England operate under a single tier structure.
How is local government structured?
The structure of local government varies from area to area. In most of England, there are two tiers – county and district. However, London, other metropolitan areas and parts of shire England operate under a single tier structure.
Who is eligible to stand as Councillor?
You can be a candidate if: you are over 18 years of age; and you are a UK, Commonwealth, Irish Republic, or EU citizen. and either: you have been on the electoral register for the Borough of Woking for at least the previous 12 months; or you have been an owner or tenant of any land or premises in the Borough for the previous 12 months; or you have resided in the Borough for the previous 12 months;
or you have worked in the Borough for the previous 12 months (as your principal job or your only place of work).
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tha LIFEstyle
| Cover story
British band
PROJECT 12 speak music, music, music!
Carnatic, jazz, folk, Tamil, Urdu, you name it, Project 12 perform it... By Ashanti Omkar Growing up in the UK and adopting a sense of one’s own culture and heritage is quite the challenge. Many British Asian children are coaxed into music and dance classes, as children, and then many Tamils, in particular, go onto performing an expensive stage debut, the Arangetram, and then give it all up as they go onto higher studies. An exception is Project 12, a set of talented British Asian musicians with an interesting journey. They formed as a band of 11 members, in 2013, but had all performed together in various contexts from community shows during childhood to university society shows. Some members were in UK’s national South Asian Musical Youth Orchestra, Samyo, and some are currently in the national ensemble, Tarang, both created by Milapfest. These musicians wanted to build a space to actually compose new music, record it, and most of all, perform live, to appreciative audiences. Tha Lifestyle gets an exclusive scoop, from each of them.
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tha LIFEstyle
| Cover story
Jasdeep Singh Degun, the Sitarist
“
I started learning Hindustani Classical Vocals in primary school from the age of 10 as an extra-curricular activity. At the age of 15, I decided to take up the Sitar as a second study as part of the ‘Yorkshire Young Musicians’ programme based at the Leeds College of Music, learning from the esteemed sitarist and educator Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE. Intensive lessons with Dharambirji and working with Samyo lead to the shift of my focus from Vocal to Sitar. I am currently in my final year of a degree in Ethnomusicology at SOAS, University of London. We formed a group of talented individuals coming together from our diverse lifestyles, to create and perform music that best represents us.
Mithila Sarma, the Veena player
“
I saw my cousin play the Carnatic Violin when I was four years old and begged my mum to take me to lessons. She did, but then suddenly she was taking me to Vocal, Bharathanatyam dance, Keyboard, and eventually Veena lessons, where I found my calling. Music has been a continuous journey, discovering what can be achieved, and it’s something that truly amazes me. I work for the Youth Service at Essex County Council, undertaking social research. My academics have been outside the realm of music, yet both are just as important and that is why I am constantly trying to maintain the perfect balance. For me, it’s about the music that we create and making sure that we love what we play. I love sitting in rehearsals and listening to the others jam. The composing process is relaxed and it’s amazing to see how something is created from nothing and in those moments, I realise how much this group means to me.
Yad Selvakumar, the flutist
“
A lot of people see music as a means of relaxation and getting away from the worries in life. For me, my serenity arises from seeing audiences enjoy my music. I liken music to being a means of communication – a language. And within this, each artist has a slightly different ‘dialect’, a slightly different opinion on how to approach a ‘sentence’, a slight different view on the best way to ‘say’ a ‘sentence’. It’s this originality and diversity music fosters that made me want to be a musician. I also work in investment banking, so time is fairly scarce, but my free time is usually spent on music lessons or practicing. I add a Classical Indian feel to the music we play, with the different intonations and complexities Carnatic music brings out. I think this adds an extra dimension of originality to our playing. Given the nature of our set up, I feel that every piece we have brings out a different side to the group’s dynamics.
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tha LIFEstyle
| Cover story
Raaheel Husain, the sitarist, turned singer
“
I got into music after seeing the sitar on TV once, and becoming totally mesmerised by these beautiful sounds. I started taking lessons at the Bhavan in West Kensington, and over the past few years, that interest spread from the sitar over to singing as well. At the moment, I am based in Durham, doing a Masters in Translation Studies, focusing on Spanish. I’ve always had an interest in languages and phonetics, and in terms of music, I never turn down the chance to learn a song in another language. As the band’s vocalist, I have my work cut out. The songs are in a variety of languages like Rajasthani, Hindi and Tamil, as well range of styles like Hindustani, Carnatic, Jazz and Folk. Everyone brings their own touch to each piece and is so great in their respective field, so when we do come together, it really is a creative and exciting experience.
Jeevan Singh Riyait, the Tabla player
“
Since I was a young child I was always banging on things, so my Parents thought why not make it productive and bought me a Tabla. I fell in love with it instantly; it’s the perfect medium for me to express creativity and emotion that I might not be able to voice otherwise. I’m currently studying Mathematics and Actuarial Science at university, and I would say music has been the single biggest contributor in heightening my problem solving and innovative abilities. As a group, we all arrange all our own music, and get to contribute equally to every aspect of the repertoire. In order to perform, practice is key and I do this every day, as a great way to relax from the stresses of the outside world makes it a lot easier. There have been times where I’ll close my eyes, start playing, and before I know it, 4 hours have passed.
Senthan Nadarajah, the Morseboxer
“
I was 7 years old when both my music loving Parents asked me if I wanted to learn an instrument. At first I wasn’t sure but after a lot of persuasion and maybe a bit of bribery, I told them that I wanted to learn the Mridangam. After several years of lessons from my Guru RN Prakash, I developed a real interest. I’m now a student at Cass Business School, studying Banking and International Finance. I enjoy Project12 because it allows me to experience a different side to Indian music that I didn’t know of. I play the Morsebox which is basically human Beat-boxing and playing Morsing (Jew’s Harp) at the same time. It’s quite a different sound and only came to me when a friend suggested the idea to me a few years ago. Since then I’ve had a few opportunities to showcase it, and Project12 is one of them. The group gets along really well, and we all have a lot of fun doing what we do and that to me is of utmost importance.
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tha LIFEstyle
| Cover story
Daren Mootoo, the guitarist
“
I am currently a lead adviser as a profession, and am considering doing a masters later this year. I started playing Guitar around 15 years ago when my dad first gave me his Electric Squire Strat. I started getting obsessed to the point that rather than taking away the Xbox to punish me for my childhood crimes, my dad would take the Guitar away and watch me tantrum like crazy. I like to play both Electric and Acoustic, and over the years, I’ve developed an unconventional style of playing the Acoustic. I’d performed with Mithila and some of the others before and had a good experience, so I’m I took up her order, to join (chuckles). I mainly play Western styles of music, however I can play in a variety of genres, which allows me to blend into the group as necessary.
Kitha Nadarajah, the violinist
“
I got introduced to playing the violin in the Carnatic style at the age of ten by my parents who took me to lessons. Since then my interest and passion for music has grown and developed into something which means it is much more than just a hobby on the side! I currently work in the city as a Management Consultant, but always make time to pursue music whether it is watching concerts, practicing, rehearsing or performing. Project 12 is special to me because it really represents a bringing together of the styles of music that I have grown up with and love. It is also just great fun working with everyone and bringing our own personalities to the music we create. Coming from a Carnatic background and having to adapt and develop my style of playing the Violin, is really interesting and enjoyable.
Sanal Das, the bass player
“
I got into music at a very early age. My first toy as a toddler was a small keyboard that I was obsessed with, and my parents were thoughtful enough to think that my obsession warranted some lessons. I learnt Western Classical Piano from the age of 6 to 18 before deciding that I should buy an Electric Guitar and teach myself. A friend then gave me his old Bass Guitar, and I decided that I should give that a go too. I work as a Product Developer and Strategy Manager for Virgin Media Business. I develop a set of products and help come up with plans that outline our ethos for the next 3-5 years as a company. I not a a seasoned bass player, but I quite enjoy taking a maverick approach to playing. Project 12 is really rewarding for me, as it has a natural fit, in terms of the Western instruments we have, but also balances out the tone we have from an Eastern perspective too.
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tha LIFEstyle
| Cover story
Nish Raj the multi-percussionist
“
According to my parents, I used to play beats everywhere when I was a kid. On the table, knees, sofa, you name it! There was a point when I was a child and my Dad was tying my shoelace on the streets and a car, that was playing really loud music, passed by and I happened to play the beats on his head. I learnt the Mridangam, but transferred my Carnatic rhythm patterns onto the drums and have now become a “Carnatic” Drummer. Not many of these in London, so I’m getting a lot of gigs. My full-time job is Sales Executive for Marriott Hotels. With my work load, it’s hard to find time to practice, but due to the constant gigs, I never lose touch. I play a variety of percussion instruments depending on the composition. I play a mixture of my electrical and acoustic percussion and try to support on the South Indian Classical side with the Ghatam, Morsing and Kanjira.
They’re keeping the number (12) behind their name a mystery for now and remain a group of 11 musicians. Do stay connected with Project 12 via their Facebook, Twitter and their Webpage, and catch them at gigs in various venues, including a special free event at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, London, on 10th September as part of the East India Club Night series. project12music.com | facebook.com/project12music | twitter.com/project12_music
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tha LIFEstyle
| health & well being
Sam Suriakumar, the producer and keyboardist
“
Fortunately for me music is something that has always been around me - from only sleeping as a baby when I heard music or from trying a range of instruments from a very young age and nearly quitting a hundred times over! I thank my mother who gave me the opportunity to basically try any instrument I wanted. As a Tamil Christian growing up in English churches, I’ve learned both Western and Eastern music which has brought me to this middle ground where as long as it sounds nice, anything and everything can work. Music is the thing that brings out my raw emotion and passion, I’m happy comfortable when I’m behind a piano, even if I’m battling my own problems. I’ve never sought to gain anything other than making a pleasant sound with music. To pay the bills, I got my degree and initially started working in the banking and finance world. I’ve now progressed to being a self-employed recruitment consultant in the city which allows me to balance a professional career as well as my passion. Rehearsals can be one big jam session, with very little new music being written, but that’s the point!
OOVER STORY BY
Photo by: Akin Aworan
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ashanti Omkar is an award winning London based multi-media persona, whose work in the publishing, TV and radio world has gained her a huge fan base the world over. She is the Bollywood and Indian cinema editor for UK’s leading cinema chain, Cineworld cinemas and is Bollywood expert for BBC London and BBC West Midlands, while also being a consultant with the London Indian Film Festival and SSE Wembley Arena
www.kabilanraviraj.com Facebook.com/ KabilanRavirajPhotography
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tha LIFEstyle |Entertainment
Alchemy Festival 2014 and the Thamizh connection By Ashanti Omkar
Photo by: Dr Yoga Making audiences chortle with laughter, is the forte of British Tamil, Romesh Ranganathan - a name he pronounces the English way, when he says “Nathan”. He is lauded by UK’s broadsheet, The Guardian for “his ability to produce bitingly-fresh gags marking him out from the crowd.” His show at the Alcmemy festival at Southbank Centre did just that - a well presented collection of socially conscious comedy, that tickled aplenty, while also serving as edutainment. When he told me how he got the gig, I almost rolled on the floor laughing: “The Alchemy festival organisers got in touch with my agent about doing a show. I’d
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heard about the festival, and thought I could do some sort of dance based performance. I am talented in a number of areas. They insisted I stick with the comedy. Which is a shame, but it’s their loss really.”
do something you just try your hardest to make it happen. You should see where you can go with it so that you don’t regret it later. Unless it’s comedy. I don’t want any more comedians taking my work.”
He revealed how he blends spontaneous comedy with his own humorous wit: “I just talk about anything that I find interesting. And then if stuff happens in the room, I will react to it. The latecomers at Alchemy were unacceptable, and I wanted them to know how much that they had disappointed me.”
I also took part in the Alchemy festival this year, after working with the team since the opening night extravaganza in 2010, where AR Rahman’s orchestral scores were performed by the resident orchestra of the South Bank Centre, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Matt Dunkley.
His words for comedy aspirants were refreshing, to say the least: “I think that if you really want to
I had written the programme notes for the event and worked on it, and even met Kylie Minogue
tha LIFEstyle |Entertainment
who came backstage to see AR Rahman - she revealed her love for “Cry of the rose” aka Kaadhal Rojave from Mani Ratnam’s award winning Roja. I then curated the Kavita Krishmurti Subramaniam & Dr L Subramaniam show with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, a full house for the opening night in London’s Olympic year, 2012. This year while chatting with the team about curation, I had mentioned the deep link between Sukhwinder Singh and AR Rahman, from huge hits like Jai Ho in Slumdog Millionaire (a song that won the world’s hearts and many an award), to Mani Ratnam’s classic song Thayya Thayya, from Uyire (Dil Se in Hindi). I played snippets of many of these songs and was delighted to revisit some Tamil gems in the collection. In 1997, his sang his 1st song with AR Rahman, then classed as
Photo by: Dr Yoga
rather abrasive to the listener, “Lucky lucky” from Ratchagan, with SP Balasubramaniam and Swarnalatha, which was quite the hit. In 2004, the much delayed Ilayathalapathy film Udhaya came out, and his song Thiruvallikeni Rani written by Gangai Amaran, composed by AR Rahman, was a runaway hit. Singh also sang Kettenaa Unnai with Sadhana Sargam, in the dubbed (from Hindi, starring Shahrukh Khan) Science based Tamil film, Desam. This song was a remake of Baba kitchu kitchu tha from the Superstar Rajinikanth film Baba. Sukhwinder’s show was a rousing success and had everyone on their feet, singing along, and dancing and my pre-show talk sold out, so it was overall a great event.
Photo by: Edward Moore
Romesh Ranganathan will be touring the UK, and returns to the place his journey really began, the Edinburgh Fringe, with his new show “Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day”, where he will use his trademark acerbic wit in his attempt to understand what life is all about. Catch him in Edinburgh: https:// www.pleasance.co.uk/via/search/ edinburgh and follow his journey at: twitter.com/RomeshRanga
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tha LIFEstyle
| Entertainment
Tamil Films at London Indian Film Festival ILAI (LEAF) | EUROPEAN PREMIERE | Cert 15 Tamil with English subtitles l 67 mins l India l Dir. Rajiv Reddy Pochareddy l with Manjula Odanadi, Pritham Charavarthy, Mighty Gibson. 11 JULY | 19:00 | CINEWORLD WOOD GREEN 15 JULY | 18:15 | CINEWORLD SHAFTSBURY AVE With great pathos, and a riveting narrative, Ilai (Leaf) encapsulates the stories of many thousands of Indians arriving in the big cities each year, in the hope of a better future, or sometimes just by chance. Often their only baggage is a troubled past. We are introduced to one such story, a lonely little girl from the countryside who accidentally finds herself in a bustling metropolis. The girl can’t speak the city’s language, or understand its highspeed ways. She wanders the mean streets to find shelter, but soon realises she must enlist the help of others, including a homeless old woman to ensure her survival. AN AMERICAN IN MADRAS | EUROPEAN PREMIERE | Cert U English, Tamil, Hindi with English subtitles | 80 mins | India | Dir. Karan Bali | with Kamal Haasan, Radha Viswanathan, K. Hariharan. 15 JULY | 20:20 | ICA 16 JULY | 19:00 | CINEWORLD WANDSWORTH This fascinating and fast-paced documentary traces the journey of American-born filmmaker Ellis R. Dungan who arrived in India in 1935 intending to stay for 6 months but ended up staying for 15 years! During this period, he brought many technical innovations to the developing Tamil Film Industry of the 1930s and ‘40s, and infused a sense of professionalism into its filmmaking. All this, without understanding a word of the language! Dungan directed the great Tamil superstar MGR’s first film, Sathi Leelavathi, as well as famed Carnatic vocalist MS Subbulakshmi’s most famous films, Sakuntalai and Meera. The film traces Dungan’s Indian connection right up to 1994, when on a trip to India, the Tamil Film Industry felicitated him in Chennai for his contribution to its development, a good 43 years after he had left India. Q&A with Director Karan Bali after the film SANTOSH SIVAN | MASTERCLASS 11 JULY | 18:30 | BFI SOUTHBANK Visit tinyurl.com/Thalink15 Santosh Sivan is India’s foremost and most awarded cinematographer. He is also the only Indian member of the American Society of Cinematographers. He shot to prominence on the national stage with Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi and is celebrated for his work on Roja, Uyire, Iruvar and Siraichalai. His international credits include Bride & Prejudice and Mistress Of Spices. Sivan debuted as director with Halo followed by Malli, both films aimed at children. The world took notice of his next film The Terrorist about the LTTE of Sri Lanka (premiered at BFI London Film Festival), about a suicide bomber wrestling with her conscience. John Malkovich championed the film and ensured that it found global distribution. About his controversial new film Inam (Ceylon), he shared with Times of India: “In Ceylon, I look at the Sri Lankan situation from the perspective of a bunch of youngsters who get caught in the crisis. It’s more about the outsiders’ response to the horrors than about the politics.” He also directed the much lauded Tamil film, Navarasa (Nine Emotions) and was the cinematographer who shot Mani Ratnam’s Raavanan starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vikram, as well as AR Murugadoss’s hit film Thuppakki, starring Ilayathalapathy Vijay. This rare talk will trace his career and audience members can also ask him questions about his experiences working with the creme de la creme of Indian cinema.
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The ace cinematographer of Thalapathi, Roja and Thuppaki will be at the BFI Southbank for a one off event, where he will speak about his life and movies.
tha LIFEstyle
| Photography
CLiCKeD on mobile !
© Delanthy iPhone4s • London instagram.com/sw33tsw33ty
© Priya Sivanathan iPhone5• Margate Beach
© Dushyanthi Guru iPhone • London
© Archana Sasitharan iPhone4• Brighton Beach
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tha LIFEstyle | Language & culture
Tamil Puberty Ceremony : Time to be sensible ! By Kirunthuja Srikanth Professional therapist and Founder of Video Blogging Youtube channel “Kiru’s Corner”
W
hat I love about my people is also what I can’t stand about them. We have many traditions in the Tamil community and don’t get me wrong; I absolutely love and enjoy every one of them. But it’s when things get out of hand, my dislike for the tradition grows. Puberty ceremonies have been celebrated in our culture for years. The main purpose of this ceremony is to announce that their daughter is ready for marriage. Maybe back in the days girls got their first period when they were in their thirties ? But then again, back in the days people were getting married before they even know how to spell marriage. Ok, I’m obviously being a little ironic but you get what I’m saying. Although this tradition made sense back in the days, why is it still being continued today? I get it if we want to keep up our traditional values and so on. But to invite the entire world and place the poor little girl as a showcase in front of everyone she knows and doesn’t know? If you ask me, that’s a bit absurd. Let’s back up a little and focus on what’s going through the young woman’s mind. ( This is going to be a bit graphic so if you can’t handle it, please skip to the next sentence ) She wakes up one day and notices blood everywhere. At this point, she’s panicking. She may have learned about it in school because obviously, Tamil
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parents don’t bother to sit their child down and prepare them for what’s going to happen sooner or later. She then has to go through a very awkward and uncomfortable conversation with someone in her family. If this isn’t awkward enough, that person tells everyone else and before she knows it, her relatives from across the world know about it. The phones lines get busy like
it’s midnight on the first of January. Does the embarrassment stop there? No! Half of these people decide to visit the girl as if she’s all of a sudden made out of gold. The embarrassment this poor girl is going through is unbearable. But she has to sit there while everyone admires her like a piece of artwork in a museum. Next is where my people get
Model : Birunthiga Skanthatheva Photo: Arunn G photohraphy | fb/ arunnphoto Hair and Make up: Shalomi Nirmalan | fb/shalomimakeup
tha LIFEstyle | Language & culture
creative! To celebrate this “huge achievement”, they throw a party and celebrate with family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, people off the street, homeless people... Ok, I’m exaggerating again, just people off the street, we don’t invite homeless people. Ok, no but really, there will be a lot more people at this party that don’t know her. A lot of people come because they “owe money” to the girl’s parents. See, in our culture, when person ‘A’ gifts person ‘B’ money, it must be returned with interest by person ‘B’ when person ‘A’ throws a party. Wow, even typing that out is confusing, I don’t know how these people keep track of everything and return it to the rightful owners. Oh wait, I do! They write it in their little black book. That’s right, Tamil people have a notebook with all their gift transactions. So you tell me,
was this ceremony really about your daughter? Nowadays, it has gone past the point of collecting money and celebrating this new era in their daughter’s life. It has now become a competition. The-who-has-moremoney-and-creativity competition. This tradition has gone past the point of keeping up cultural values and norms. Now it’s all about how much money is blown off for this one day event. This is the one tradition I can’t seem to come to terms with. But if it works for you, then by all means go ahead and celebrate. But let’s keep it simple? A girl getting her period shouldn’t be celebrated to this extent. Keep up the culture, make this a very private and personal event. Invite your family members and perform all the rituals associated with it. Forget the extra fanfare.
See Kiru’s viral video on Puberty ceremony by visiting following URL tinyurl.com/Thalink14 Follow Her facebook.com/KirusCorner Twitter: @Kiru’sCorner Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the above article and the youtube video are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the ‘Tha Lifestyle’ Magazine
Four Puberty Rituals From Around The World Tamils Originated from Ceylonese Tamil tradition, the puberty ceremony is celebrated with family & friends. On the first day of her period, the young girl is bathed by close relatives, kept in isolation, and fed extravagant foods. After her isolation, she is given another bath, and then dressed up in a sari along with jewelry. The sari is significant in that it symbolizes her now becoming a mature woman.
Japanese In Japan, people celebrate both men and women in what’s known as a “Seijin Shiki” ceremony. It’s a coming of age ceremony for people when they are approximately 20 years old. Girls dress up in kimonos and boys in traditional Japanese clothing or black suits. It is similar to a prom, and after the ceremony, both men and women cerebrate by going to parties sans alcohol.
Ghanese In the eastern region of Ghana, the Krobo people celebrate puberty rites with a festival called “Dipo” celebrated in the month of April. The girls are decorated in beads and wear a cloth around their waist. The significance of being halfclothed denotes their transition into adulthood. The ceremony is two days, and the girls have a portion of their heads shaved, are given a bath in a river, and are fed foods
Indonesians In one of the smallest provinces in Indonesia, Bali, when a boy or girl is of certain of age they have a tooth filing ceremony called a “mesangih” or “mepandes”; it usually occurs in July and August. In Balinese culture, the ceremony is said to help people rid themselves from the forces of evil: desire, greed, and anger. The filing is done by a priest, and the mouth usually numbed before, but the process is considered painless. Page 21
tha LIFEstyle
| Internet & technology
Face Book mapA map of world created by Paul Butler based on Friendship links
How would it look if you create a map based on connections between friends on Facebook? Facebook intern Paul Butler has created this map after going through some of the data held by the social networking firm on its 500m members. Connections showed the new world order with realistic map as 10 million random pairs of friends being taken from Facebook data base. Each line connects cities with pairs of friends. The brighter the line, the more friends between those cities. “What really struck me, though, was knowing that the lines didn’t represent coasts or rivers or political orders, but real human relationships.” Paul Said. The regions like Central Africa and countries China & Russia are almost invisible which showed unavailability of technology in Africa and the iron grip on the people by the respective governments in China and Russia in order to control the country. Visit tinyurl.com/thalink10 for more
Social Network : how big are they?
Internet surveyors estimate 72% of internet users are a member of a social network site.Currently 1.96 Billion people have access to internet. Most of the users are on minimum of two social networking sites.
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Facebook : Found in 2004 Users: >1.1 billion Usage: 700 billion minutes per month
Google+: Found in 2011 Users: >540 million Usage: On average 12 mins/day
Instagram: Found in 2010 Users: >150 million Usage: >58 images per day
Twitter: Found in 2006 Users: >230 million Usage: 70 millions tweets per day
Linked in: Found in 2003 Users: >300 million Usage: 18 million minutes per day
Flickr: Found in 2004 Users: >87 million Usage: 3.5 million images per day
tha LIFEstyle
By Flora Vinay Your life, your destiny depends on the path you choose. In other words, it depends on those you have chosen to include in your inner circle.
If you have a negative circle, then you’re bound to have a negative future. There is no use in blaming your loved ones, as you chose your own destination. It is never too late for a change, a new path and a new future. Life is full of suspense and surprises, you have got to fight through the ups and downs. One aspect that we all neglect is that you can enjoy anytime in life. However, if you fail to build up your future, you have yourself missed that chance and will struggle to get it back. Never let go of your family, as they will only be the ones that will stand by your side from the start till the very end.
Three-Coloured Rice Ingredients: »» • »» • »» • »» • »» • »» • »» • »» • »» • »» •
Cooking Time
Life
| Food
2 1/2 glasses long rice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 large bunches spinach - the leaves only 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon oil 1 teaspoon curry powder 3 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons tomato puree Green olives and (optional) Chopped Ginger Optional
Method:
»» Boil 8-9 glasses of water with salt and lemon juice. »» Add the rice and boil until is cooked but still firm. »» Meanwhile, chop and fry gently in the 1 tablespoon of butter the already prepared spinach. »» Heat the oil in a small saucepan, stir in the curry powder, add the water, bring to the boil for 2-3 seconds and remove from heat. »» Drain the rice and divide into 3 parts. »» Mix one part with the spinach and some salt »» In second part with the curry mixture. »» In third part stir in the 1 teaspoon of butter and the tomato puree. »» Place the rice in layers in a round mound. First place and press the yellow rice, second the red rice and third the green rice. »» Cover well with double foil. It may be kept warm for 20-25 minutes. If covered with towels.Turn the rice out and garnish on top alternately with green olives.
Vani Bala Vani is passionate about food processing and homemade recipes, Nature Lover, Philosopher by qualification.
Sadly, most of the youngsters do not realise this point. A family is there to guide and support you and if you misunderstand their words, that is your own very fault and loss. ‘’Where there is a will, there is a way’’ This is my personal quote, which I apply in all aspects of my life. God and ‘’Amma’’ are my strength and rock in my whole life. Life is full of lessons, and unexpected events. Without both of them in life, I do not know where I would have ended up today. Fight for a good future, sacrifice your enjoyment, it will be worth it, when you start your own family.Love your family first and your life will be amazing! – I cannot stress this any other way! Whatever your family tells you, is for your own advantage. Therefore, be happy and take it easy. Be an example to those around you
Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares Ingredients: »» 225g butter »» 480g confectioners’ sugar »» 515g peanut butter »» 125g graham cracker crumbs »» 115g butter »» 170g semisweet chocolate chips »» Method: »» Melt 1 cup butter or margarine over low heat. »» Remove from heat and stir in confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs. »» Spread mixture in a jelly roll pan. Pat down evenly. »» To make Topping: »» • Melt together 1/2 cup butter or margarine with 1 cup chocolate chips. »» • Spread this mixture over peanut butter mixture. »» • Refrigerate 1/2 hour. »» • Cut into squares.
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tha LIFEstyle
| fashion & beauty
“Shadism”
The discrimination of individuals based on skintone. An Article by Shindy Makeup Artist facebook.com/shindy.makeup
I
s a person’s worth measured by the fairness of their skin? Why do some people feel it’s necessary to acknowledge a girl’s skin colour upon meeting them for the first time? In Tamil movies, why are dark-skinned actors cast as household servants and the star roles are handed over to the fairer ones? How did it get this way? I’m Shindy, a hair and makeup artist based in London and I have dark skin. It has never been an issue to me and it never will be, but after meeting lots of Asian clients through my line of work, it appears that it’s an issue to most - or it is an issue to people around them. This forced me to think about why my attitude and experiences were different to theirs; perhaps a lot of it can be pinned on their upbringing and family environment. Even though I am the darkest of three siblings in my household,
Model: Rouhangeze Baichoo | Pic: Fuzon Photography Hair & makeup: Shindy Makeup Artist
“Shadism” had rarely occurred in my family. I knew I was dark, but it was never held against me and I was never compared to my sisters in a negative way. I remember one occasion years ago, when my younger sister had tried to ridicule my darkness during dinner, like silly siblings do. Unexpectedly, Ammapa intervened and replied to her in Tamil, “If you were dark like Acca, you wouldn’t be as beautiful as her!”. We all just burst out laughing – it was an epic moment, I had Ammapa’s back and my sister just sat there pleasantly dumbfounded at his quick witty remark! This example defines my family’s open-mindedness, but
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Model: Rayy Alexander | Pic: Dayo Awe Fashion Photography Hair & makeup: Shindy Makeup Artist
little did I know that this was not the case for many other Asian girls. I didn’t realise the harsh reality of the stigma that comes with dark skin until I met clients who were showed concern about their skin shade. I just assumed that “Shadism” had become extinct over here, and that being dark would only be an issue to people back home and perhaps the older generations. Oh, how wrong I was! My first eye-opener was whilst tending to a young client, Vani, to get her ready for her birthday celebrations. Only a few months prior, I had also tended to her cousin, Byra – who happened to be much fairer than her. Vani asked for a similar makeup & hairstyle to her cousin’s a few months back. As I started placing her hair together, Vani’s mother stood over her daughter and said oh-so-casually, “It doesn’t suit her as much. Byra’s much lighter, that’s why - it looks better…” and she just walked off. Vani did not say anything. I suspect it was normal in the household for this kind of ignorant, and subtly demeaning comment. I do not think Vani’s mother even understood the damage this can bring to a young girl’s mind – Vani’s mind may have already been conditioned to accept that things just will not look as great on her because she’s dark, and worse, that she is not worthy. I admit, I was shocked at her mother’s remark, especially as I am dark too and she had openly said something in my presence which was offensive to both her daughter and me. Like a professional should, I just clenched my mouth shut and got on with the
tha LIFEstyle
| fashion & beauty
job at hand. When I got home that evening, I had a long thought about what happened, as it was my first experience of shadism – it’s my identity after all! That is when I started spreading awareness of on my fan page. Lo and behold, many other girls came forward and said they had experienced something similar or worse from their own relatives or even strangers! One of my Facebook followers recently told me, “My marriage proposal was turned down. The reason is because I’m too ‘black’ – yes, that was the word being used on me! I’m too black and I would give them only black grandchildren. It really made me feel so lousy! They also mentioned I should be adopted since I’m the only black child in the family! It took me over a year to get over it. I might not have the outer beauty but I do have an inner beauty which many people failed to see.” I find it hard to accept that she now believes she does not have outer beauty. This Tamil girl has had words so sharp and devastating thrown at her, that her mind has become conditioned to believe that she really does not have inner beauty. How shameful and upsetting that some Tamil people spew their opinions like that. A person’s shade of brown does not dictate how well a person does in life nor how attractive they are and whether they’ll have attractive offspring or not. I thought Tamil people were proud of their heritage and culture? We boast about our old language, sticking to age-old traditions but we bruise our own identity when we cannot embrace our colour. Where does this mindset and attitude come from? Shadism is the consequence of
Model: Priyanka Jay | Pic: Kabilan Raviraj Photography Hair & makeup: Shindy Makeup Artist
colonialism by the British many years ago - not just in Asia but globally; their power in other countries gave birth to the idea that whiteness is inherently linked to power. For example, in plantations, fairer-skinned black slaves were indoor slaves but the darker black slaves were kept outside to harder labour work. I can see how this model would force a divide amongst the African slaves on the plantation, with the fairer-skinned workers being seen as more privileged and doing less hard labour. But why is our mindset still stuck back there? I think that media, film and beauty industries are to blame. While the skin-lightening companies prey on women with insecurities, film industries such as Bollywood idolise these whiter-than-milk actresses who grace our screens. Certain British Asian magazines targeted to the British Asian market do not even use Asian models all the time to adorn their pages – sometimes European or Middle Eastern. All these factors programme us to believe that girls should be fair to
be considered beautiful. Have they forgotten that we are Asian? We are actually meant to be brown! As a makeup artist, I feel that it is my responsibility to spread awareness as there is a strong link between shadism and the beauty industry. Women who do not accept their shade, will often look for ways to appear lighter. It ranges from purchasing lighter shades of foundation to mask their skin, to bleaching creams to whiten their skin. This outdated notion that only fair-skinned people are beautiful can only be left in the past by educating ourselves and our children. Let us learn and accept that it is okay to be dark and let us teach this to our kids. Kids only learn by example, they soak up your behaviour and thoughts like a sponge and will pick up negativity as they grow up. Let us put a stop to it and leave the disapproval of dark skin for extinction with the older generation. It is easier said than done but it is the small changes now that will make a big difference later.
About Shindy Makeup Artist
I have been a makeup artist and hairstylist for three years now. After completing short courses with Mai Lee and Pakistan’s infamous bridal makeup artist, Anam, I decided to pursue makeup within the Asian wedding industry while working on more creative concepts for my portfolio. The ethos of my portfolio work is to push the boundaries of creativity within myself and to constantly work hard in producing artistic images with a “wow” factor. The ethos of my client and bridal work is to enhance an individual’s beauty without changing how they look. To work on each client with delicate precision, while listening to her needs and to achieve a flawless finish worthy of compliments. To give them my advice and to go the extra mile to ensure her vision of her bridal/makeup look is met. I am known for spreading awareness of the stigma against dark skin and I show this by using real Asian and dark skin models in my portfolio and advertising campaigns .I just want my clients and followers to be content with their beauty and to understand and accept that we are a million shades of beautiful brown. You can see more of my work at my fan page at www.shindy.co.uk
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tha LIFEstyle
| Health & well being
Ibrutinib - the revolutionary drug By Sophie Kathir
Ibrutinib is a new drug being used in clinical trials only which is doing wonders in the field of Chronic Lymphocytes Leukemia (CLL). Having worked with Ibrutinib directly in clinical trials, I saw the wonders happening in front of my eyes! It is truly a wonder drug and recently, its sponsors, Pharmacyclics have released Ibrutinib until September 2014 for all CLL patients who have relapsed and have a 17p deletion. Your hospital
doesn’t need to have taken part in the Ibrutinib clinical trials. It is already been used as a treatment for mantle cell lymphoma since November 2014. Let me break down the last sentence Into English! Starting with some background knowledge, white bloods cells is the main character of CLL! White blood cells are immune cells which are produced on the bone marrow and reside in the lymph nodes where unknown particles are filtered and white blood cells fight against those foreign agents. The spleen and liver also play a vital
role in immunity! CLL is where abnormal white blood cells are produced and get stuck in the lymph nodes causing swelling of these nodes, liver and spleen! And this is how CLL and lymphoma for that matter is diagnosed along with night sweats, fatigue, fever, abdominal pain and weight loss (which are called B symptoms)! CLL can also be diagnosed
specifically by 17p deletion which codes for p53 protein in our body! P53 has an extensive role but its main role is to look after our genes. So you can imagine that if 17p is missing how p53 cannot look after our new and how cancer cells can overtake our genes and make a disaster in our body by spreading everywhere! Ibrutinib is a novel agent which works by stopping the growth and spreading of the cancer cells by inducing cancer cells’ death. When used in clinical trials, patients who were near to death were back on
their feet in a matter of weeks, happy and carrying on with their life with a spring in their step! Patients who came with enlarged spleen, liver and swollen glands, have them significantly reduced by the next visit! It was truly amazing to see the rapid change in patients as soon as Ibrutinib was introduced to them! Since the great results shown in December 2013, the sponsor, Pharmacyclics, have pushed all the sites which carried out the Ibrutinib trial to enter all the data for an urgent Safety review. My site was the first site to be cleared in Europe and after reviewing all data across the world, in February 2014, the
FDA (food and drug association) have approved it. In April 2014, it was allowed to be used under the special ‘early access program’ where all the hospitals who register for it, will receive this drug for FREE ( otherwise $91/pill) until September 2014 before hopefully getting licensed by the end of the year. It is thought that it will cover most of the CLL patients too. If you are interested to find more details about this revolutionary drug and the current ‘Ibrutinib early access program’ please ask your consultant for more details!
Sophie Kathir, Involved in clinical trials since June 2013 having worked at King’s College Hospital, in haematology as data coordinator and currently at Imperial College London, as a clinical trials officer for renal and dialysis .
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tha LIFEstyle
British Asian Fashion Week - BAFW2014
| Events
15th May @ South Bank Centre
by www.britishasianfashionweek.com
www.facebook.com/BritishAsianFashion Photography by Soozana Puvan facebook.com/SoozanaPvanPhotographyForgetMeNot
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tha LIFEstyle | events
The Tamil Wedding Exhibition 2014
26th Apr @ Nakshatra Wedding Hall , Feltham
facebook.com/TheTamilWedding
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Photography :facebook.com/FirstTimeProduction
tha LIFEstyle | events
An Evening with T. T. & Friends
25th May @ The Broadway Theatre, Catford
Thushi and Thanu held an entertainement evening coordinated by Mr and Mrs Selvadurai. The group, “T. T. & Friends:� Keyboards: Thushitha Selvadurai Suthakaran and Thanusha Selvadurai Raajanathan; Tabla: K. Sithamparanathan and Janan Sathiendran; Drums and Octopads: C. G. Nanthakumar and Barani Radhakrishnan; Lead and Rhythm Guitar: K. Uthayakumar; Bass Guitar: S. Hari. Veena Sathiendran made her debut appearance on the Western Flute. There were 17 super talented singers from London, who have sung with T. T. & Friends over the past 20+ years; the female singers consisted of Manchula Sathiendran, Vijitha Vararajan, Sugi Niranjan and Naveena Pranavarooban. The male singers were Sharavanan Jeyanathan, K. Thamotharan, S.Gajan, Kumarachandran, M. Sathiamoorthy, R. Vigneshwaran, K. Giri, R. S. Raajanathan, T. Sreeram, C. Anand, Krishnaruban, Jude Dharshan and Ananth Veerasingam. In addition to these singers who perform regularly with the band, T. T. & Friends were joined by Magisha Baheerathan from Canada.
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tha LIFEstyle
| events
Raising the Roof for Our Little Gems
25th April @ Chingford Assembly Hall by www.serendipchildrenshome.com facebook.com/SerendipChildrensHome Photography by Mayooran Siva facebook.com/mayuransiva.photography
Donate Online www.justgiving.com/raisetheroof-forourlittlegems Page 30
tha LIFEstyle
Saathinai Tamizha 2014
| events
20th June @ Poppin Building , Wembley
by www.saathanaithamizha.com
facebook.com/saathanai.thamizha Photography by Soozana Puvan & Jeyash Luxman facebook.com/SoozanaPvanPhotographyForgetMeNot facebook.com/ThendralPhotography
Tha Calendar
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Julv2014
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Jul 2014
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Jul 2014
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Aug 2014
iNNISAI mAALAI
m.i.a at lovebox
GTV in Isai Velai
LOndon Mela
Venue Walthamstow Assembly Hall
Venue Victoria Park
Venue Harrow Leisure Centre
Time 6:00 p.m. Onwards
Time 12.00 p.m.onwards DETAILS- M.I.A. and Chase and Status have been announced as headliners for Lovebox 2014
Time 5.00 p.m. Onwards
TICKETS £55.00 onwards
TICKETS Contact GTV media team
Venue Gunnersbury Park Time 11.00 p.m. onwards DETAILS- London’s largest outdoor music & cultural festival. London Mela hosted by the London boroughs of Ealing & Hounslow
Contact loveboxfestival.com
Contact 020 3468 7523 or GTV media team
DETAILS- Tamil music night to raise fund for charity to help the schools with less facilities situated in northern and eastern province of Sri Lanka. TICKETS £100/£50/£25/£15 Contact sarufinance@yahoo. co.uk
DETAILS- Entertainment Evening with Special Performance by Super Singers of India
TICKETS Free Contact boroughs of Ealing & Hounslow visit www.londonmela.org
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Summer Means Mango Madness !
Best Foods Supermarket
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