13SEPTEMBER2019 | Vol 11 Issue 26

www.iwk.co.nz /indianweekender /indianweekender

Mohammad Shahadat Sonakshi Sinha

Five surgeries and still counting; reveals being fat
chef copes with everyday life shamed, sexism and
after Christchurch attacks getting replaced in films
12
Page Page 28

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 The Indian Weekender
Waitakere Hindi School – South
Wing host 'open day' for community
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
T
he Waitakere Hindi School
that opened its South Wing
earlier in May 2019 hosted
an ‘open day’ for the public to visit
the school and observe its operations.
The Hindi language school
started in 2001 with six students in
West Auckland, and over the years
through sheer hard work of the
volunteers with a passion to spread
the knowledge of Hindi language has
expanded to 190 students combining
both the south and west wings, with
86 students enrolled in the south
wing alone in the last four months
attending weekly classes.
“The demand for Hindi school
has been phenomenal, and now we
have received requests to start the
school in North Shore, Hamilton and
Palmerston North,” Saten Sharma,
President of Waitakere Hindi School
told The Indian Weekender.
The open day event of the Hindi
School- South Wing being operated
at the premises of Papatoetoe
High School was held on Sunday,
September 8 that was attended by over
one hundred community members,
students of the school, community
leaders and parliamentarians.
Present at the event were Minister
of Transport Phil Twyford, MP
Deborah Russell, National MP Nikki
Kay, Councillor Efeso Collins, Ami
Friday, 13 September, 2019
Chand from Portage Licensing
Trust, Labour Party candidate for
Manurewa-Papakura Ward at Council
Elections Ilango Krishnamurthy,
President of Waitakere Indian
Association Sunil Kaushal and
former President of Waitakere Indian
Association, Mahendra Sharma.
Speaking at the event, MP Nikki
Kay mentioned about her current
bill to bring the second language
in the mainstream schools and the
importance of organisations like
Waitakere Hindi School making a
submission the select committee.
“Speaking more than one language
has enormous cognitive, cultural,
social and economic benefits; New
Zealand is a diverse country where
160 languages are spoken, and it’s
important that what’s being taught
in schools reflects that,” MP Nikki
Kaye said at the event.
Minister Phil Twyford lauded the
efforts of Waitakere Hindi School for
bringing the number of the students
of the school to 190 and still growing.
“I congratulate the executive
board members of Waitakere Hindi
School, showing their leadership
and bringing the school to South
Auckland now,” Mr Twyford said.
The Hindi school besides teaching
traditional Hindi lesson such as
reading, writing and speaking in
Hindi offers music classes too such
as playing Tabla and Harmonium and
classical Indian dances.
“We have four different classes,
and our senior class has adults
NEW ZEALAND 3
Affairs to discuss future activities
and support.
“MP Deborah Russell echoed the
importance of children learning their
first language and was full of praises
to see all the wonderful students
giving up their Sundays to learn the
language,” Mr Sharma added.
Waitakere Hindi School- South
Wing is planning to organise
Children’s Charity Show where the
school’s students will showcase
"Speaking
their talents and all that they
more than one
language has enormous have learnt at the school.
cognitive, cultural, social Mr Sharma further
and economic benefits; New added that the school
learning Hindi Zealand is a diverse country is facing enormous
too. where 160 languages are challenges as the board
spoken, and it’s important
“Students members are operating on
that what’s being taught
learn how to a voluntary basis and the
in schools reflects
play harmonium that" enrolments are rising, which
and Tabla, sing few is currently at 190.
bhajans, kirtans and also basics “The Government of the day
of classical Indian dance to Kathak,” needs to recognise and support
Mr Sharma added. the school so we can continue to
Saten Sharma from the school provide this invaluable service to our
thanked Councillor Efeso Collins communities.
for has offering his assistance to the “We need to bring all other
school and setting up meetings with organisations that are doing a
local leaders to see how the school wonderful job in providing Hindi
can work together for the betterment Language services to come under one
of communities. umbrella and work collaboratively
Mr Sharma added that MP and have one voice to seek assistance
Deborah Russell is in the process of from our Government and further
setting up a meeting for Waitakere develop our resources,” Mr Sharma
Hindi School and Minister of Ethnic said.
 4 NEW ZEALAND Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

Labour Party Age is just a number

proves 82-year-old
president resigns amidst
allegations of mishandling Kiwi Indian athlete
of assault complaint
IWK BUREAU

L
abour Party leader Jacinda Ardern on
Wednesday, September 11, accepted
Party President Nigel Haworth’s
resignation.
“In the last 48 hours I have read incredibly
distressing reports of an alleged sexual assault
involving members of the Labour Party,”
Jacinda Ardern said.
“This morning I was provided some of the
correspondence from complainants written to
the party several months ago. It confirms that
the allegations made were extremely serious,
that the process caused complainants additional
distress, and that ultimately, in my view, the
party was never equipped to appropriately deal
with the issue.
“I discussed the correspondence with the
Labour Party President this morning. Whilst he support and advocacy have been put in place
stands by the statements he has made on this around the complainants and ensure the terms
matter I believe mistakes were made. of reference in the appeal covers the entirety of
“Raising an allegation of sexual assault is an the process.
incredibly difficult thing to do; for additional “I have previously said I would be happy
distress to be caused through the way those to meet with complainants, and that remains
allegations are handled is incredibly upsetting. the case. I will take steps to make that offer
On behalf of the Labour Party I apologise to the available to them if they wish to take it up. RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

J
complainants for the way this matter has been “I want a justice system in New Zealand
agjit Singh Kathuria, 82, has proved
dealt with. where people feel comfortable coming forward
again that age is just a number by
“I have made it clear that I want the QC led and are listened to, but I also need to ensure the
clinching two silver medals at the
appeal process to resolve this matter. I also Labour Party lives up to that expectation too,”
Oceania Masters Athletic Championship held
want to assure myself that appropriate victim Jacinda Ardern said.
in Australia earlier this month.
Inspired by 103-year-old veteran and
multiple world record owner in athletics Mann
SERVING MY COMMUNITY Kaur, Mr Kathuria has been practising hard for
the past few years keeping himself fit to compete in
Sharon Stewart QSM has lived most world level athletic championships.
of her life in Howick and loves serving Earlier in February this year, at the New Zealand
the community.  She has over the years Masters Games 2019 held in Whanganui, Mr Kathuria
been award two great honours Howick bagged two medals in his age category. He claimed gold
Citizens of the year and QSM (Queen in Triple Jump, and a silver medal in 3-kmWalk and fell
Service Medal) for public service a little short to the fourth position in the 60-metres race.
(1998) Sharon was very involved in Mr Kathuria’s energy is contagious, and he has
petitioning to get better conditions in all been an advocate of fitness for the community and
Public hospitals and fundraising for the the youngsters encouraging senior citizens to rise and
IHC.  participate in different athletic games and competitions.
“I am a member of Indo Kiwi Association of NZ
Having a long family history within the and have encouraged 65 members of the association to
district extending over more than 100 participate in different athletic games and events,” Mr
years.  Sharon understands her community.  She is passionate about the Kathuria said in an interview with The Indian Weekender.
welfare and future of Howick.  Although diabetic, Mr Kathuria has never allowed
the disease and its symptoms to affect him by getting up
Saving the views over Stockade Hill and Crawford Reserve are important every day and walking several kilometres, exercising and
to her She and Councillor Dick Quax didn’t support much of the unitary doing yoga to keep him fit.
plan especially in parts of Howick/Pakuranga. Sharon Chairs the Civil “Yoga, walking and regular exercising are some of the
Defence for Auckland council and very involved in improving stormwater key secrets to keep me going and become an athlete even "I
and flooding issues. at this age,” Mr Kathuria added. was awarded
Sharon would like AT to reconsider the T2 and bus lanes on Pakuranga An educator by profession before he retired the Best Athlete at
road and also to make the bus routes more useful for the people of serving as principal and headmaster of several Malwa Training College
Howick/Pakuranga and Botany. private schools in Haryana and Punjab in India, in 1958 and even when
Mr Kathuria also derived his inspiration from his serving as principal of the
She’s Patron of Howick Tennis Club, Patron Howick Croquette and Patron students at school saying seeing them so fit made schools I made sure I was
Fencibles United AFC and supports Pakuranga Rugby club, Air Training me jump onto the tracks and run. always up to the mark, fit
Corp. and a member of the Howick RSA and Howick Club.  She will “I was awarded the Best Athlete at Malwa and ready to work
continue to push for the upgrading of local sporting grounds like William Training College in 1958 and even when serving as and run."
Green, Lloyd Esmore, Barry Curtis Park. principal of the schools I made sure I was always up
to the mark, fit and ready to work and run,” Mr Kathuria recollected.
She hasn’t lost her passion for helping people of all cultures with any Mr Kathuria came to New Zealand in 2008 and currently lives with his wife and daughter in
problems no matter how big or small.  Looks forward to continuing her South Auckland.
service to the people of Howick, Pakuranga, Botany, Flatbush. He also received Senior Citizen of the Year Award in 2012 by an Asian-Indian magazine.
Flashing his silver medals from the Oceania Master Athletic Championship 2019 in Australia
Authorised by Sharon Stewart for Triple Jump and 3-km Walk, Mr Kathuria is now aiming to compete at the New Zealand
sharonstewart@xtra.co.nz Masters Games in 2020 and World Masters Games 2021 in Japan.
09 577 4127 Mr Kathuria advises seniors and youngster to walk daily, run a little, exercise and do yoga to
keep fit and follow a steady diet avoiding junk food.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 NEW ZEALAND 5

ENTRUST: Auckland customers to

receive $360 dividend from Entrust
IWK BUREAU Entrust dividend key facts:

E
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on Monday, September 2, announced business  Your Trusted Financial Advisers
its annual dividend of $360, stemming • Total 2019 dividend just over $120 million
from its shareholding in the listed energy • Paid in late September via direct credit,
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• Goes to 336,000 hardworking people and Expert Advice for
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The payment will be made to more than • Entrust dividends have contributed more
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336,000 Aucklanders and businesses in the
Entrust district that are connected to Vector’s over the last 26 years New Zealand’s
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Entrust Chairman, William Cairns says
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 6 NEW ZEALAND Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

High level diplomatic

NZ and India augur wel
"
SANDEEP SINGH
A

T
he ever-growing relations between New Zealand and India got a further boost during the
last couple of weeks with several high-level exchanges, diplomatic and cultural, between
the two countries at different bilateral and multilateral platforms.  privilege to sit
Placed at the highest level was a Ministerial-interaction between New Zealand’s Minister of State down with Minister
for Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor, and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry
Piyush Goyal from
Piyush Goyal in Bangkok on the sidelines of the ongoing 7th RCEP (Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership) Ministerial Meeting.  #India tonight to
talk through where
we are at in #RCEP.
I am looking
forward to visiting
India later this year
to continue growing
our important
Sharing the photo of the meeting on social media, Mr
relationship, O’Connor indicated that he had plans to visit India on a
bilateral visit later in 2019. 
“A privilege to sit down with Minister Piyush Goyal
from #India tonight to talk through where we are at in #RCEP. I am looking forward to visiting
India later this year to continue growing our important relationship,” Minister O’Connor posted on
Twitter on Tuesday, September 10. 
New Zealand and India are engaged in the proposed multinational free trade agreement (FTA)
between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its six
FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand).
A public commitment of a much needed bilateral visit by the Trade and Export Growth Minister of
New Zealand augurs well for the prospect of closing a trade agreement between both the countries. 
Growing bonhomie: Indian naval chief visits NZ after a gap of
nine years 

I ndian Navy’s Commander in Chief Admiral Karambir Singh was in the country, after a gap of
nine-years for a two-day visit September 5-6. 
Admiral Singh was in the region as a part of a two-nation trip to Australia and New Zealand. 
During his New Zealand trip, Admiral Singh visited Wellington and Auckland, meeting with top-
level Naval and diplomatic officials of New Zealand and interacting with members of Kiwi-Indian
community. 
In Wellington, the office of the Indian High Commission hosted Admiral Singh in a reception
on Thursday, September 5, that was well attended by several high ranking naval and diplomatic
officials. 
In Auckland, Admiral Singh visited New Zealand’s biggest Davenport Naval Base and was given
a tour of the naval base. 
Admiral Singh also paid a visit to Eden Park, New Zealand’s national stadium, and was given
a tour of the iconic Auckland building and interacted with stadium officials and leaders of the
Kiwi-Indian community about how sports, particularly cricket, was acting as a bridge between the
two countries. In a notable gesture, the Eden Park stadium welcomed Admiral Singh by writing a
culturally appropriate greeting on its giant full-screen, “New Zealand me Aapka swagat hai Admiral
Karambeer Singh.”
Parliament hosts Indian government officials   
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 NEW ZEALAND 7

c exchanges between
ll for bilateral relations alumni in senior positions within India’s public services – from the central government to a large
number of the states. 
ANZSOG’s India Advanced Leadership Program has previously brought Indian delegates
to Australia, but this is the first time New Zealand was included in the program, providing an
opportunity to build valuable connections between the three nations.
Kiwi-Indian singer Aradhna’s first-ever India concert
enthrals music lovers 

S enior Indian government officials visiting Australia and New Zealand as a part of the Australia
and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)’s India Advanced Leadership Program
(IALP) were hosted in NZ parliament on Monday, September 2. 
The reception was attended among others by the High Commissioner of India Muktesh Pardeshi,

T
the former Governor-General and the Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame inductee Sir Anand Satyanand and
he renowned New Zealander of Samoan and Indian descent, Aaradhna Jayantilal Patel,
National Party MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar who hosted the Indian officers. 
popularly known as Aradhna, was recently in New Delhi for her first-ever India concert
Speaking on occasion, Sir Anand touched on several aspects that connected the two countries,
showcasing New Zealand’s multiculturalism along with enthralling music lovers. 
including commonwealth, cricket, trade and the Kiwi-Indian diaspora. 
She also performed at the much talked about multi-embassy cultural gala ‘Namaste Pacific’
Notably, Sir Anand enlightened the audiences present on occasion with an exciting foray into
hosted at the premises of New Zealand High Commission to India in New Delhi. 
the deep history of NZ-India bilateral relationship, with possible touchpoints as early as the 14th
Aradhna is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed young singer-songwriters. With four individual
century. 
albums to her credit, the R&B and soul artist has been in the music industry since 2006, when she
Pointing toward one of the most prized artefacts of the famous Te Papa Museum (Wellington) – a
released her debut album at the age of 19. 
Tamil Bell – which was first found in 1836 up North, Sir Anand threw light about the glorious sea-
Aaradhna, who was in India with her father, and her brother and sister---who are part of her band
faring attributes of Tamils and shared some suggestions out in the public domain that a Tamil ship
as backing vocals---spent some time in the village of Navsari, Gujarat, seeing for herself the places
may have come as far as New Zealand in the 14th century.
and people she had heard about all her growing-up years. 
Meanwhile, the group of twenty-something officials will join more than 140 ANZSOG IALP
 8 NEW ZEALAND Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

ONE YEAR AFTER THE GREAT KIWI BAKE OFF:

Did Kiwi-Indian mum get the jumpstart she was after?
SANDEEP SINGH

L
ast year, almost at this time, a Kiwi-
Indian mum, flight attendant and a
proud Mumbaikar, Sonali Thakur was
preparing to compete with several others
amateur bakers in the TVNZ’s show The Great
Kiwi Bake Off and looking for a jumpstart for
her home-trained baking skills. 
The Great Kiwi Bake Off is a New Zealand
television baking competition based on The
Great British Bake Off in which 12 amateur
bakers compete in a series of baking challenges,
and the presence of home trained Kiwi-Indian
mum came as a pleasant surprise to many in the
community. 
At the time of the show, Sonali had told
the host of the popular show Madeleine Sami
and Hayley Sproull that she was looking for a
jumpstart for her to further her passion and turn
it into a profession. 
“It would be wonderful to win the
secondhand
competition. I want to pursue my love for
bookstalls in
baking further and winning the show would
Colaba, Mumbai.
give me a great jumpstart.”
Most of those ingredients
She surely could not win the competition as
were exotic and unavailable in India. So I used
was evident later; however she indeed got some to play with those recipes with substitutes.
rave views for being the face of the community Not all experiments were successful, but
on the national television, especially for a skill they taught me precious lessons and built a
that is least associated with traditional Indian solid foundation and knowledge database.
cooking style.  My mistakes have been my most prominent
One year after the popular show The Indian teachers. 
Weekender checked on Sonali to find out if she
managed to get the jumpstart she was looking In the lead up to the show how confi-
"It dent were you for getting the call of
for when she first got into the show. She spoke
would be selection? 
with same excitement that she first reflected
with my family and am wonderful to win the I never ever thought I would ever be
when selected for The Great Kiwi Bake Off
a Flight Attendant with competition. I want to considered. I was in absolute disbelief when I
show last year. 
Jetstar Airways. pursue my love for baking was told that I was to be a contestant on the
Here are some excerpts: further and winning the show. I have seen what people churn out of
How was the feeling of being able to Tell us more about show would give me a their home kitchens in this country and to be
show your baking skills to New Zea- when you realised great jumpstart." considered a baker worth their salt is in itself a
landers in national television? your interest in bak- huge achievement.
The show has been a turning point in ing?  To be able to represent the Asian diaspora on
validating my passion. Baking has been a lifelong the First Season of ‘The Great Kiwi Bake Off’
I cannot thank TVNZ and Warner Brothers obsession. I started baking at the age of 8. is a thing of such pride and honour and I cannot
My mother taught me how to bake my first
enough for the opportunity. It’s such an amazing thank New Zealanders for all the messages of
cake using a cast iron pan, construction sand
feeling when people come up to me and ask me love and encouragement. 
and inverted Aluminium can. It was how she
if I was the girl on that baking show. It’s like all
got around us not owning an oven. I later Have you been able to finally get the
those years of hard work have paid off. 
moved on to baking cakes in modified pressure jumpstart you were hoping to get after
What do you do for a living? Are you a cookers, but they proved very unpredictable the show? 
professionally trained baker?  and inconsistent. I have been able to set up a small bakery
I was born and raised in Mumbai, India. My Domestic ovens in 1980s India were pretty nothing to teach me to master aspects of baking, business called “Sugar, Salt & Love” that I run
dream was to become a flight attendant and nonexistent. I used to make all my cookie like time and temperature. I taught myself how from my registered home kitchen.
travel the world, and I was lucky to be offered dough or bread dough and take them to the to bake in a time without Google, YouTube or I make bespoke cakes and bakes for all
a job with Cathay Pacific Airways as soon as I local bakery where I would rent a couple of the Internet. I started collecting recipes from occasions. I also sell my baked goodies at the
finished my Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. baking trays, roll out and line my cookies or newspapers and magazines and began keeping Howick Village Market on Saturday mornings. 
I moved to Hongkong at the age of 21 and lived bread dough and get the baker to bake them in notes of my bakes. So surely I got the jumpstart.
there for 20 years before making a move to his wood-fired oven.  I used to buy Australian, British and However, I still have to work hard and get
New Zealand in January 2016. I now live here However, efficient this method was, it did American cake magazines from roadside people’s love and support to get going. 

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 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019
PROBASEE BENGALIS Auckland cricketers take Hindi
celebrate Anandomela lessons with Waitakere Hindi School
leading to Durga Puja
SUPPLIED CONTENT
A
nandomela is one of the first ritual
leading towards the grand celebration
of Durga Puja. It is usually a food
festival aimed at bringing the best of home
chefs with mouth-watering delicacies with
street food flavours, the focus being community
get together and bonding.
Anandomela is a way to celebrate Bengal
and Bengali culture. Back in West Bengal, in
India, Anandomela is celebrated on the fifth
day of the upcoming Durga Puja festival. It is a
way of welcoming goddess Durga on earth and
the event is marked with food stalls, clothing,
light jewellery, accessories and a short cultural
program.
This year Probasee Bengalee Association
of NZ celebrated Anandomela on Saturday,
September 7, at Western Springs Garden
Community Hall, in Auckland.
“We had a great variety of stalls such as–
local flavours of Kolkata street food selling
traditional jhal-muri, phuchka, veg/non-veg
rolls, egg devil, ghugni, pulao, chicken curry,
sweets, momo, noodles, chilli chicken, kachuri-
alu Dum and Kolkata tea,” Sudeshna Giri from
Probasee Bengalee said.
Other stalls were clothing, dress materials,
sarees, dupattas, jewellery, accessories, kurtas,
bedcovers etc.
“We experienced footfall of 300 people for
this event and a great cross-section of crowd
across various communities including few of
local Kiwis. In a way, it was quite encouraging
to see the response across various people, and
they thoroughly enjoyed an evening of fun and
food with entertainment,” Ms Giri said.
Ms Giri said that PBANZ, as a non-profit
cultural organisation focuses to uphold and
promote the rich cultural heritage of Bengal
and India in this distant land, which has been
adopted as home by migrant Bengalis, in
general across the new generation of Indo-Kiwi
born and brought up here.
“The association conducts cultural, socio-
religious events throughout the year with
attention to the youth, so that youngsters
born and brought up in New Zealand get to
experience and stay in touch with their roots.
“Probasee participates in various programmes
from time to time organised by other groups,
both Indian and non-Indian and spreads the
essence of Bengali (Indian) culture amongst the
people of New Zealand,” Ms Giri added.
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
A
uckland Cricket on Tuesday, September
3, invited Waitakere Hindi School to
give a lesson of Hindi language to its
academy cricketers at Eden Park stadium.
Waitakere Hindi School has gained immense
prominence in the last few months with their
new branch that opened in South Auckland and
demand to start new centres in Hamilton, North
Shore and Palmerston North.
“India becoming a prominent trading and
sporting partner it is becoming even more vital
that we teach the Hindi Language to Kiwis
so that we all have a better understanding
and ability to have conversational Hindi
with India,” says Saten Sharma, president of
Waitakere Hindi School, Auckland.
Waitakere School-West Wing’s teacher Vijay
Sharma hosted a casual Hindi language lesson
with the young cricketers at the Eden Park
stadium meeting room.
The session focussed more on conversational
Hindi, understanding key words of Hindi
language and some basic Hindi words that are
used while playing and on grounds.
“It was a fantastic opportunity that Waitakere
Hindi School and we were happy to provide
NEW ZEALAND 9
a quick lesson to the cricketers that they can
follow when and while playing with Indian
players and team members,” Mr Sharma added.
The players insisted on being taught the
cricket terminologies in Hindi so that they
can have a better understanding when Hindi
speaking players talk about what they are
doing- within the team or with opponents.
“This is a great opportunity for our young
players if they want to play in India as they will
have to understate of Hindi language and also
know the cricket terminologies,” teacher Vijay
Sharma said.
Mr Sharma further added that the players
were fascinated and very excited that now they
will now be able to understand and speak new
Hindi words on the ground.
“Now they will understand some of the
sledging and language used in the park,” Mr
Sharma said.
Saten Sharma added that teaching the
Hindi language to Kiwi Indian children born
and raised here in New Zealand is vital as it
inculcates the cultural ethos in them, keeps
the language alive for generations so that their
heritage and language does not become foreign
and extinct for them.
 10 NEW ZEALAND Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

First Stage of New Zealand’s

Largest Retail Store Opens
IWK BUREAU furniture and fitout which collect real-time data

T
he first stage of New Zealand’s largest on how their offices are used - such as how
retail store has opened with furniture long workers spend in a particular space, how
and homewares retailer Nido launching they adjust their desk or if there are any spaces
their commercial furniture interiors division which are not utilised.
- the first of three stages before doors at the “These usage statistics allow them to
27,000sqm site open to consumers later this reconfigure the office to suit the needs of their
year.  staff who may want more common spaces for
Nido@work will carry thousands of European hot-desking, remote working or the ability to
and locally sourced designer commercial accommodate larger numbers for project-based
furniture products targeting business from work,” she says.
SMEs through to large-scale corporates and Redstone says in addition to carrying a
Government departments. wide range of commercial furniture from
Paulette Redstone, nido@work’s commercial New Zealand suppliers, Nido has secured an
manager says there is growing local demand for exclusive contract with one of Europe’s largest
designer commercial furniture as more Kiwi designers and manufacturers. 
businesses adopt a global design trend known She says their local range is being expanded
as ‘resimercial’.  at the moment with more shipments due to
“Staff are spending longer hours in the office arrive within the coming months and they
on average and so how we live is becoming a expect their range to be around 70% European
big driver of how the spaces we work in are designer brands and rest sourced from other
designed.  international markets or locally.
“We are finding businesses are adapting their “Our second sale since opening was
office space to accommodate the flexible needs significant giving us confidence our thinking is
of their staff as a way of attracting and retaining in line with market demand,” she says.
talent in the firm,” she says. Redstone says their product ranges will be
Redstone who has worked in the commercial accredited to meet international ergonomic,
fit-out industry for more than 20 years, says the environmental, strength and durability
term ‘resimercial’ is used to describe the global standards.
trend of integrating residential aesthetics in the Nido@work is operating from a temporary
commercial environment.  prescriptive in how that platform is provided companies increasingly turning towards smart showroom at Unit 4, 91 Central Park Drive
“In practice this means designing agile for them ,” she says. technology to optimise the way they design Henderson. They will occupy an 1,800sqm
spaces where people can go and work how Redstone says the trend towards flexible their office spaces and furniture. floor space within the nearby  Nido  building
they want to work - without the company being working environments is being driven by “It is becoming more common for businesses when it opens to the public in December this
technology and usage analytics - with Kiwi to attach sensors and smart devices to their year.

Revolution

remaxrevolution.co.nz | Each office independently owned and operated ADDRESS 328 Great South Road, Papatoetoe, AUCKLAND 2025
Top One Real Estate 2015 Limited | Licensed REAA 2008 OFFICE 09 261 2555
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 NEW ZEALAND 11

Newborn baby of Christchurch mosque Make your ad dollar work

shooting victim named after father Advertise with
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
Indian Weekender
T
he family of Mohammad Omar Faruk, one of
the 51 victims who died in Christchurch mosque
shooting on March 15, has named his newborn
baby after him and the mosque where he died.
The family has named the daughter Noor-e-Omar, the Trust Saffron Finance for
name Omar taken after the baby’s father’s middle name
and Noor, after the mosque Al Noor where he was shot in
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the massacre.
36-year-old Mohammad Omar Faruk’s wife Sanjida
advice backed by years
Jaman Neha, 20, was four months pregnant with their first
child when the incident happened and was in Bangladesh.
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A special report by NZ Herald earlier last week revealed
that the victim’s widow had brought the new life into this Mortgages: Risk Insurances:
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Mohammad Omar Faruk came to New Zealand in 2015 the bullets as one entered through his t-shirt missing his
and worked as a welder in Christchurch. He married his body.
wife SanjidaJaman Neha on December 29, 2017, and last Another friend Hasan Rubel failed to escape the mosque
visited his hometown in late 2018 returning to the country hall and was shot in the stomach and legs- he spent six
in January 2019. weeks recovering in hospital.
NZ Herald reported that Mohammad Omar spoke to his It took more than 24 hours since the shooting for the
wife Neha in the early hours of Friday, March 15, (late information about her husband to reach her. She was
night in Bangladesh as it is six hours behind) and had delivered the news the next afternoon that her husband
asked his anxious wife to take rest. Mohammad Omar Faruk succumbed to bullet shot and
On Friday, March 15 afternoon, Mohammad Omar had died on the spot.
went to Al Noor mosque, a place he was not so frequent Following the attacks, Neha flew from Bangladesh to Nimish Parikh
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stay in New Zealand and raise her child here.
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Shaping our Futures Together Hui –

Strengthening relationships for a better future
IWK BUREAU
M Radhakrishnan
eng Foon, Race Relations
Commissioner, has urged Maori and
migrant and refugee background
communities to build authentic relationships,
face-to-face, in order to create inclusive and
connected communities.
Speaking at the Shaping our Futures Together
Hui on September 6 to an audience of over 100
attendees, Mr Meng Foon shared his story of
growing up in Gisborne, learnings in his life
and hopes in his new role.
“It’s important that we get to know each
other face-to-face, stop talking about each
other and at each other, and instead meet each
other,” Mr Foon said. Working together on
projects can strengthen relationships, according
to Mr Foon, who said migrant, Maori and
other communities can learn about and from
each other, by working together on mutually
beneficial economic projects.
He also highlighted the importance of
leadership and systems.
“Leadership and systems need to reflect
New Zealand’s diversity, not so one culture can
dominate another culture, but so we can learn
and take the best from each other. We all need
to be involved in decision making on matters
that affect us all”, he said.
On stamping out racism, Mr Foon highlighted
that sharing stories and cultures builds
knowledge and education about each other.
“Silence is never the answer to addressing
racism and discrimination. We need to speak
up wherever and whenever it happens so that
together we can eradicate discrimination and
racism. Educate…Expose…Eradicate”, he
said. Following the keynote address, examples
of Maori and non-Maori communities working
together to create connected and inclusive
Priyanca
Labour List MP based in Maungakiekie
Maungakiekie Office
09 622 2660
communities were shared. priyanca@parliament.govt.nz
Speakers from Ruapotaka Marae and New
Zealand Red Cross highlighted how they work Level 1 Crighton House,
together to welcome newcomers through Maori 100 Neilson St, Onehunga
customs and experiences, helping former
refugees gain a better understanding of Tangata (entrance via Galway St)
whenua and the cultural richness of Aotearoa.
| |  priyancanzlp
Speakers from Roskill Together and Mad
Ave who collectively run the Nga Herenga
Waka project, meaning “the binding of canoes,”
shared how the creation of the community you
by Ngati Whatua carvers, based on community
workshops, symbolised the connecting of
diverse cultures residing in Mount Roskill
and Puketapapa area. The panel of speakers
answered questions around counteracting white
supremacy, the role of corporates and achieving
an inclusive and connected future for all,
highlighting the role each of us play and that
change starts with each and every one of us. As
one-panel member shared: “People hate with
conviction. In response, we need to love with
same conviction”.
Authorised by Priyanca Radhakrishnan
The hui was co-hosted by Belong Aotearoa Labour List MP, 100 Neilson St, Onehunga
and Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Rahul Watson
Govindan, Belong Aotearoa Chairperson said:
 12 NEW ZEALAND
India’s government reaches out to diaspora to
clear air on abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir
SANDEEP SINGH
S
ensing that in politics, winning
the battle of perception is far
more important than winning
the war itself, India’s government
is reaching out to its global Indian
diaspora directly, to clear the air on
the recently scrapped Article 370 in
the state of Kashmir.  peace and prevent large scale
The office of the Indian High
Commission to New Zealand has on
Monday, September 9, shared on its
social media platform, four detailed
brochures which have been brought
out by the Jammu and Kashmir
Government on the benefits that
would accrue on the people of Jammu
& Kashmir and Ladakh, as a result
of recent decisions related to Article
370 of the Indian Constitution.  could have been better.  Culture.”
Speaking to The Indian Weekender,
the High Commissioner of India
to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi
said, “The government of India is
reaching out to all its constituencies
and stakeholders and that includes
the global diaspora to explain the
rationale of these important decisions
taken within the parameters of the
Indian constitution.”
It seems that given that the global
Indian diaspora is more likely to
be served with news, views and
opinions that are less balanced and
more-skewed unfavourably toward
sensitivities of India, the government
has gone on an outreach to not
only spread awareness, but also
possibly seek support for trying a
hitherto uncharted path in solving
an extremely complex issue – and
indeed the scrapping of Article 370 is
an uncharted path.  current government is seeking to
Several overseas Indian missions
such as in neighbouring Australia,
Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria,
among others also shared similar
flyers on their respective social
media platforms.
The brochures provide a detailed
overview on some of the burning
questions that are fuelling an overly
Five surgeries and still counting; chef copes with everyday life after Christchurch attacks
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
M
ohammad Shahadat had
never thought that fate
would take such a drastic
turn that he would have to deal with
normal daily life with pain and
trauma- yet he doesn’t stop thanking
God and counting his blessings.
Recently back from a trip to
Mecca – the most pious duty in the
life of a devout Muslim – Shahadat
told The Indian Weekender, “Hajj
pilgrimage helped me in dealing
with the trauma.”
Shot on the shoulder at Linwood
Mosque on Friday, March 15, while
trying to help a fellow devotee fallen
on the carpet with bullet wound-
chef Mohammad Shahadat still feels
haunted with the incidents of the
black Friday that took the lives of 51
and injured 49.
Six months into the incident,
Shahadat has undergone five
surgeries to his shoulder and arm as
doctors tried to take shrapnel from
negative perception against the recent
scrapping on the Article 370 such as
it will adversely impact the unique
culture and language of Kashmir
(Kashmiriat) or it is targeted against
a particular religion or it is primarily
meant to dilute property rights of
people of Kashmir.  While the global media is busy
The four brochures categorised
under headings A Single Constitution
for the Entire Country, How Will
Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh benefit?,
and Why Fear?, seek to quell a lot of
queries in the general public mind
around the Indian government’s
decision.  betterment of the people of Kashmir.
The scrapping of Article 370: A
battle of perceptions
Ever since the much debatable
Article 370 was abrogated in early
August through an executive order,
the government of India had received
Friday, 13 September, 2019
regressive.  tools for mischievous elements to fan
In this regard, it is often easy and
tempting to criticise the government
in question, for failing to adhere
to the highest standards of civic
behaviour.
Generally, the desire to ensure
broader peace by curtailing larger
violence, mob and unruly stone-
pelting risking lives of ordinary
citizens propelled by false rumours
of vested interests.
To be fair, the Indian government’s
manner of handling perceptions
around the initiative, especially the
secrecy, the blanket security cover,
and the clampdown, imposed at the
time of announcement of the decision
It’s another matter that the global
media, including New Zealand’s
mainstream media, also failed to
do due diligence in reporting on
Kashmir, especially on researching
"
on the history of Article 370 in
particular.
They failed to appreciate the
fact that India has been fighting
a three-decade-long foreign-
The sponsored cross-border terrorism
in the state. Reporting failed to
appreciate the earnestness of the
government of India
current government to challenge the
is reaching out to all decades-long status-quo in Kashmir. 
its constituencies and Challenging status quo in
stakeholders and that Kashmir
includes the global in raising some rightful concerns
diaspora to explain around the clampdown, which could
have been possibly better, they have
the rationale of these
largely missed the point that the
important decisions
taken within the challenge a long-existing status-quo
parameters of the on Kashmir issue, hopefully for the
Indian constitution
“For many years in the past, the
state of the Jammu & Kashmir has
been the victim of anti-national
a lot of flak in the traditional western propaganda and terrorist actions
liberal media portraying the entire against innocent citizens. The
exercise as undemocratic and Articles 370 and 35A became handy
the bullet that pierced his collarbone
and burst damaging nerves near the
neck, spinal cord, shoulder and right
hand.
“The bullet burst into pieces and
lodged near the spinal cord, lungs,
and neck and irreversibly damaging
some nerves near the neck and some
shrapnel still lies inside but cannot
be taken out by doctors- even by
surgery,” Mohammad Shahadat told
The Indian Weekender.
“The doctors have said
that they are considering
cutting a part of my
hip bone and fixing
it on my shattered
shoulder,”
Shahadat added.
A chef by
profession and
working then
at the newly
opened restaurant in
Christchurch Bawarchi-
Shahadat says that he no
The Indian Weekender
separatism and promote terror,” one
of the brochures reads. 
“These two articles kept the
state isolated and away from the
development processes in the country
for a long time.
“As a result, private investment in
developmental works was severely
constrained. No large industries
developed in the state,” the brochure
further reads. 
Through these brochures,
specifically directed towards the
global Indian diaspora, the India’s
government is also seeking to allay
some common fears seen floating in
global western media about the so-
called threat to the unique “Kashmiri
“The cultures and languages of
Marathas, Tamilians, Gujaratis,
Assamese, and others have
prospered and grown. There are
adequate provisions and safeguards
in our constitution to ensure that the
religious and cultural rights of every
group and community are protected
and preserved,” one of the brochures
asserts. 
How far could be it successful?
Understandably, it is too early to
predict if this newfound urge within
the Indian government to challenge
the status quo to find lasting peace
and solution to the Kashmir problem. 
However, it seems that India’s
government is reaching out to
different stakeholders, including the
global Indian diaspora to at least be
given a fair chance to their desire
of challenging the status-quo and
embarking a new path. 
“70 years with 370, A new
era without 370 – let us give the
new system a chance,” one of the
brochures reads. 
Given the high emotions around
this issue, it remains to be seen how
receptive and supportive the global
Indian diaspora will be toward this
government outreach. 
longer works with the restaurant
and cannot start his work life for the
unforeseeable future.
“I can barely lift my right hand-
and I suffer tremors, fever and
multiple episodes of pain while
sitting, eating, wearing clothes and
even sleeping,” Shahadat added.
Shahadat’s father, wife and four
children came to New Zealand mid-
April to be alongside him as he
struggled to recover and regroup his
life back to normal.
Shahadat was also one of the
200 members (victims and victim’s
family members) who were invited
by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to
perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage
in Mecca.
“I was fortunate to have been
called by Allah, the almighty to
perform Hajj and I cannot thank
Allah enough for giving me another
life- I pray that the 51 people who
lost their lives find their place in
Jannat,” Shahadat said.
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 14 NEW ZEALAND Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

Auckland’s Konkani community

celebrates Ganeshotsav with gusto
IWK BUREAU that was very successful and saw

T
he Auckland Konkani-
speaking community
celebrated the annual
Ganapati festival at the Shanti Niwas
Seniors Centre in Onehunga last
Saturday.
More than 120 people of all ages
attended the celebrations, making
it one of the most attended in two
decades.
The community’s yearly Ganapati
festival celebrations began with just
two families getting together in one
of their homes in 2000 and moved
to one of the Auckland Council’s
small community spaces in 2004
when more of the community joined
in. Over the years it has grown
considerably with more than 50
families participating.
Konkani Ganeshotsav typically
starts with a puja following an
informal meet and greet session as
guests arrive.
The puja is followed by a
samuhik (collective) aarti and then a
community lunch.
Interestingly, the lunch consists
of homemade food following a set
menu of items traditional offered to
Lord Ganesha.
The exercise is coordinated by the
community’s women members who
distribute the menu items among the
families to be prepared according to
a set traditional recipe.
The result is a delicious repast
of dishes, whose recipes go back
centuries.
This year, the group, which set on a
path to grow into a formal association
in 2018, held its first annual general
meeting ahead of the Ganapati puja
on Saturday.
The group that goes by the name
Association of Kiwi Konkanis of
Aotearoa (AKKA) now has a new
executive committee to lead it toward
its formation as a formal society
and join the list of Indian diasporic
organisations in New Zealand.
The new executive committee
consists of Chairperson Dev
Nadkarni, Secretary Dr Prashanth
Nayak, Treasurer NilimaD’Silva and
Vice-Chair Vishal Kamath.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender,
Mr Nadkarni – who is the founding
editor and now Editor-at-Large of
this paper – said, “The Konkani
community has been celebrating
Ganeshotsav and Diwali for a while
but since we formed AKKA, we’ve
added other social events like an
annual picnic and a sports day.
Earlier this year the interim
committee organized a sports day
wholehearted participation from all
age groups.”
Over the coming months, the
group plans to register as a formal
society and interact with other
diaspora groups and community
organisations.
Its next event will be Diwali
celebrations that will be announced
shortly, Mr Nadkarni said.
Konkani is a language that is
spoken on the west coast of India
ranging from western Maharashtra
across Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
It is almost exclusively spoken
on the western coastal belt of the
Konkan (hence the name).
The Konkani community has
produced a number of luminaries
The Konkani in all walks of Indian lives. Some
community has of these include Deepika Padukone
and her father Prakash, actor-
been celebrating director Guru Dutt, film director
Ganeshotsav and ShyamBenegal, B.N. Rau (who
Diwali for a while drafted the Indian Constitution with
Dr Ambedkar), Nandan Nilekani
but since we formed (Infosys co-founder) and many
AKKA, we’ve added others.
other social events The community is credited with
having started at least four major
like an annual Indian banks – Canara, Syndicate,
picnic and a sports Corporation, Saraswat and global
day educational institutions like Manipal
which has campuses in the Middle
East and South East Asia.

Revolution
Bhartiya Samaj Queenstown
celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi

IWK BUREAU

remax.co.nz | Each office independently owned and operated
Top One Real Estate 2015 Limited
| Licensed REAA 2008
S
enior members of Bhartiya Samaj in
Queenstown celebrated one of the most
popular festivals of the Hindu community
–Ganesh Chaturthi – on Sunday, September 8 at
St Peter’s Anglican Church.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a major Hindu festival
that marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the
son of Shiva and Parvati. It is celebrated in
different manners throughout nationwide, and
“Chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ took
this celebration calls upon people from all faiths
it notches up as well and we could see the
and beliefs to be a part of this festive event
enthusiasm of all the ages from a kid to an
irrespective of their religion, creed or culture.
old age people,” Mangal Behl, President of
The exact date of the festival changes from
Bhartiya Samah Queenstown said.
year to year, asit is celebrated following the
“An offering of a variety of sweets, flowers,
lunar calendar. The festival falls in late August
rice, etc. were made to the deity, and fantastic
or first week of September or fourth day after
delicacies served to the 150 attendees as
the new moon.
Prasad,” he added.
Rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi:
Mr Behl thanked Rama Krishna Mandali for
To begin with Bhartiya Samaj, Queenstown
contributing their time and energy and making
established Ganesha statue and performed
the event special with their presence.
rituals, prayers and offerings to the deity. The
“They all [the attendees] showed immense
devotees gathered around the idol in large
devotion with the chants and singing to the
number to worship Lord Ganesha.
beats of drums. Ganesh Chaturthi is when
The evening started with the soaring chants
no differences exist, caste, culture, age, this
(Kirtan and Aarti) and traditional drumbeats.
festival brings people closer than ever before,”
This was done with some ritualistic chanting of
MrBehl added.
ADDRESS 328 Great South Road, Papatoetoe, AUCKLAND 2025
OFFICE 09 261 2555
mantras and prayers.
 The Indian Weekender
Fiji PM amazed with Constitution
Day challenge submissions
P
rime Minister Voreqe
Bainimarama has wished
every Fijian a very happy and
blessed Constitution Day.
Bainimarama says he’s amazed
with the amount of submissions
received so far for the Constitution
Challenge on Facebook.
The PM says he’s humbled to
have heard what Fijians love about
the Fijian Constitution – as the
spontaneity and creativity of the
submissions has been nothing short
of inspiring.  incredible promise for
“As we did with our national
online budget consultations earlier
this year, we’ve decided to leverage
our spontaneous engagement
and creativity by bringing our
constitution day celebrations online.
"And I’d like to add my voice to the
chorus of appreciation and patriotism
echoing across the country.
My favourite part of our Fijian
constitution is chapter two; section
thirty-one. The right to education.”
Bainimarama says the Fijian
Constitution ensures that all children
have access to opportunities.
“The best part of my job as
Prime Minister is opening and
upgrading schools, talking with our
students and seeing them access
New e-passport fees yet be determined by cabinet
T T
he fees that apply to get a
new e-passport are expected
to increase later in the year
once determined by cabinet.
Department of Immigration
Director Nemani Vuniwaqa says
the travel document regulations
have been reviewed and they have
not yet set the new fees that will
apply to the new e-passports.
“We are working with the solicitor
general’s office and hopefully by
the next parliament sitting the bill
and the regulations will hopefully
be passed in parliament with that
the new fees will be announced. “
Vuniwaqa says with there being
5,000 new e-passports and around
9,000 pending applications, the
department has a plan in place to
facilitate the issuance of the new-
passports.
He adds that the Immigration
Department is working around the
More collaboration needed to NZ government hosts
counter effects of climate change climate change exhibition
T T
he New Zealand government
aims to strengthen its network
with Fiji to further highlight
the impacts of climate change of
small Pacific Island countries.
This was highlighted by the
New Zealand High Commissioner
Jonathan Curre during the launch
of the ‘Far From Frozen’ Climate
Change Exhibition at the Suva City
Library.
Curr says the exhibition is
expected to equip the general public
on the notion of climate change.
“At the recent Pacific Islands
Forum meeting in Tuvalu, Prime
Minister Ardern announced that New
Zealand has ring-fenced NZ$150m
for climate change-related initiatives
Friday, 13 September, 2019
Signing 2013 Fijian Constitution was a culmination of
hopes & dreams Fijians had held for generations: PM
Prime Minister Voreqe
Bainimarama says the signing of
the 2013 Fijian Constitution was a
culmination of hopes and dreams
Fijians had held for generations.
While giving his message for
Constitution Day, Bainimarama says
clock to roll out the first e-passports
as early as this week with another
shipment of passports on the way.
The Department and technical
experts from Muhlbauer ID
Services in Germany are putting
the final touches into the much-
awaited e-passport system.
Meanwhile, people with old
passports can still use them
however, applications for new ones
will also be facilitated.
Meanwhile, The Immigration
Department is working around
the clock to roll out the first 5000
e-passports as early as this week.
The Department and technical
experts from Muhlbauer ID
Services in Germany are putting
the final touches into the much-
awaited e-passport system.
The Immigration Department is
about to complete testing with the
new system and with the assistance
in and with the Pacific. We will
continue to partner with Fiji in this
work”.
Meanwhile, Director of the Otago
Museum Dr. Craig Grant says more
collaboration is needed to counter
climate change effects across the
region.
it represents far more than words on
paper.
Bainimarama says his favourite
part of the constitution is Chapter 2,
Section 31- The Right to Education.
Bainimarama says in the eyes and
aspirations of the young people, he
of the group from Germany, are
training their staff on collecting
biometric data, among other
technical capabilities.
It had earlier highlighted that
there were a total of 9,000 pending
“That we thought look, how can
we take this in the Pacific islands,
they really are the nations at the
forefront of the impacts of climate
change”.
The exhibition ends this Friday
and will roll out in Rakiraki and
Lautoka over the next two weeks.
sees the future of Fiji.
He adds that he is not the only
one who has been amazed by the
submissions they have received
so far for the #ourconstitution
challenge.
passport applications.
Meanwhile, people with old
passports can still use them
however, applications for new ones
will also be facilitated.
he New Zealand government
has invested fifty-thousand
dollars to host regional
Climate Change Exhibition
The exhibition is spearheaded by
the Otago Museum in partnership
with the Suva City Council and the
Fiji Museum.
New Zealand’s High
Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan
Curr says the exhibition aims to
educate and engage people on
measures to minimize the effects of
climate change.
“The New Zealand Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Trade has
supported the showcase with a
grant of $50, 000 from our public
FIJI 15
"
In the
eyes
and aspirations of
those young people,
I see the future of
our country. And our
work to realize the
right to education
ensures that the
coming years hold
this nation and our
people.”
new opportunities. In the eyes and
aspirations of those young people, I
see the future of our country. And our
work to realize the right to education
ensures that the coming years hold
incredible promise for this nation and
our people.”
This year marks the sixth
anniversary of the introduction of the
2013 Fijian Constitution.
The Head of Government says the
signing of the Constitution was the
culmination of hopes and dreams
Fijians have held for generations.
PM is a true leader:
Premila Kumar
he Minister for Industry, Trade
and Tourism Premila Kumar
says the Prime Minister, Voreqe
Bainimarama and NFP President
Pio Tikoduadua were colleagues
and when Tikoduadua personally
attacked Bainimarama we expect the
Prime Minister to be hurt as it is a natural
thing. While speaking during the debate
on the matter of privilege, Kumar says
this is natural reaction because when you
know and have worked with someone,
and they try to pick on the family this is
bound to happen.
Kumar says the manner and tone in
which Tikoduadua attacked the Prime
Minister was not something a party
president should do.
Kumar says it should be noted that
throughout these events, only one
concerned party has made genuine moves
to reconcile and apologise, and that is the
Prime Minister.
diplomacy fund to enable this noble
way of communicating climate
change science and share it with our
Pacific neighbors”.
The exhibition is now open at the
Suva City Library.
 Thought of the week
"Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for
the future, and live in the only moment of time
over which you have any control: now."
– Denis Waitley

Editorial Auckland Weather forecast for the week

The dynamics of 13 September – 20 September 2019

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu

India’s growth
recession
On-and-off Partly Parlty Clouds and A touch o Sunshine A few
rain and sunny sunny sun dafr and pactcy morning
drizzle clouds showers

T he crisis brewing within the Indian economy has gained unanimous acceptance by now. Even 12° 12° 13° 14° 14° 16° 16°
the latest annual report of the RBI for the fiscal year 2018-19 (or FY19) confirmed that the 10° 8° 8° 9° 8° 10° 10°
Indian economy has indeed hit a rough patch.
The GDP growth rate of the economy has slipped to 5 per cent in the first quarter of FY20, the
lowest in over six years. This is an indication of tougher times ahead. Be it the recent collapse of This week in New Zealand’s history
the automobile sector or the rising number of non-performing assets (NPAs), sluggish consumer
demand or failing manufacturing sector; all have a hand in this deceleration of growth rate. 13 September 1933
The spurt in instances of job losses from automobile manufacturers to biscuit makers has led to New Zealand's first woman MP elected
the general acceptance of the downturn.
This is the third instance of an economic slowdown for India in the past decade after the ones
that began in June 2008 and March 2011. The technical term for the same is growth recession.
T he Labour Party’s Elizabeth McCombs became New Zealand’s first woman Member of
Parliament, winning a by-election in the Lyttelton seat caused by the death of her husband,
James McCombs (one of the first Labour MPs, he had held the seat since 1913).
A recession is defined in economics as three consecutive quarters of contraction in GDP. But
since India is a large developing economy, contraction is a rarity. The last instance of negative 16 September 1905
growth for India was in 1979. A growth recession is more commonplace where the economy 'Originals' kick off All Black tradition
continues to grow but at a slower pace than usual for a sustained period, what India has been
facing nowadays. T he first fully representative New Zealand rugby team to tour the northern hemisphere was
known as the ‘Originals’. They won 34 of their 35 matches and popularised both the haka
and the ‘All Blacks’ nickname.
The growth of the Indian economy had been predominated by consumption inclusive of both
-- Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) as well as the Government Final Consumption
17 September 1941
Expenditure (GFCE).
Over the last five years, the total consumption expenditure by Indian households had accelerated Flogging and whipping abolished
with an average growth rate of 7.8 per cent compared to an average of 6.1 per cent in 2011-14. But
the recent sharp fall in PFCE in the June quarter to 3.1 per cent compared to 7.2 per cent in the
A s well as (temporarily) doing away with capital punishment for murder, the Crimes
Amendment Act 1941 abolished judicial provision for flogging and whipping. These
punishments had been introduced – initially for juveniles – from 1867 and by 1893 applied to a
March quarter has significantly contributed to the recent slowdown.
number of (mainly sexual) offences by adult men.
That being said, any fall in consumption expenditure, as and when it would happen, would
escalate the crisis even more. 18 September 1937
If consumption spending falls, then output and employment levels also fall since consumption
First state house opened in Miramar
M
expenditure directly impacts the other two. As a consequence, the economy would stagnate, and
ost of the Labour Cabinet helped the first tenants move into 12 Fife Lane in the Wellington
prices deflate. Lower prices, if unable to recover the costs, would halt the operations of any firm
suburb of Miramar. Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage carried a cumbersome dining
and would initiate the layoff process. table through a cheering throng.
This, in turn, reduces earnings further. Hence this vicious cycle keeps on repeating itself until
the economy slips into a deeper state of shock. 19 September 1893
In addition, another major component of India’s GDP is investment, induced by both -- private Women win the right to vote
W
and government sectors. hen the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law, New Zealand
It has been a key driver of growth since the liberalisation of 1991. Though gross fixed became the first self-governing country in the world in which women had the right to vote
capital formation (GFCF), the main constituent of investment in the economy, increased, yet its in parliamentary elections.
contribution to growth fell by 6.2 percentage points in 2014-19 than in 2011-14.
The slackening of investment lowers the level of infrastructure development, causes hesitation
in creating small businesses, stop entrepreneurs from investing in research and development, and Indian Weekender : Volume 11 Issue 26
thus stagnates technological development.
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Capital Investments are long-term gains that generate profitability for many years by improving
Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz
operational efficiency and boosting innovation.
Chief Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz
It goes without saying that for holistic growth of the economy and to gain competitive edge over
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
others, the economy must innovate.
Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
In addition to these factors, the slump in the economy is also affected by the various exogenous
Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz
factors. A leading dampener is the US-China trade war, which has intensified over time and has
Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
contracted world trade and, in turn, Indian exports.
Media Sales Manager.: Leena Pal: 021 952 216 | leena@indianweekender.co.nz
Also, high rates of GST, liquidity crisis in NBFCs, and shift in the behavioural pattern of the
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workforce due to the entry of young people has discouraged savings. When people save less in the
Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz
economy, it leaves less money for investments.
Recession can be short-lived if corrective actions are taken immediately, failure of which can Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
have a prolonged effect on the health of an economy. is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
Amidst the news of slowdown, rise in FDI inflows from $12.7bn (FY19) to $16.3 bn (Q1
FY20) brought respite for the government. In a welcoming move, government revised GST for Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent
the automobile sector, opened up FDI in contract manufacturing sector and even announced the the views of the team at the Indian Weekender
recapitalization of the banking sector. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
Together with these, it should also focus on optimum utilization of funds granted by RBI and
Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
direct them to boost investment in the economy both infrastructural and research investment.
Further, structural shifts over the long run can be achieved through tapping into the health and Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
education sectors that long for quality improvements.
Only such long-lasting structural changes can improve the growth potential of the Indian
economy and deter the possibility of three slowdowns within the short span of a decade.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 OPINION/EDITORIAL 17

Eyes firmly on Indo-Pacific, India

quietly launches ‘Act Far East Policy’
SANDEEP SINGH reticence, if not ambivalence, toward famously moved-up as “Act East

I
ndia’s Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Wednesday, September
5, quietly upped its Look East
policy, by unveiling ‘Act Far-East
Policy,’ in Russia’s Far East region.
Mr Modi was in Russia’s Far East
region, addressing the plenary session
of the Fifth Eastern Economic Forum
in Vladivostok, when he unveiled the
‘Act Far East’ policy, in the presence
of Russian President Vladimir Putin,
to boost India’s engagement with
Russia’s Far East region.
Mr Modi also announced a
$1 billion line of credit for the
development of the resource-rich
region.
Indeed, this was another ‘move-
up’ in India’s Look East Policy, and
by far the most ambitious, bold, and
imaginative that the country has seen
in the last two decades, as it makes
explicitly clear that the primary goal
of the country’s current strategic
thinking is to shore-up the concept of
Indo-Pacific.
The announcement, though
appearing benign at the moment, has
the potential of becoming a historic
and defining moment, in India’s path
to attaining full strategic maturity, as
it moves steadily toward finding its
natural place in the Indo-Pacific as a
key strategic player.
It finally brings together the two
most important underlying themes of
India’s strategic thinking – the Look
East policy and the Indo-Pacific –
with the former abetting the later, as
the desired end goal.
Russia’s Far East is a resource-
rich and sparsely-populated region in
the easternmost territory of Russia,
between Lake Baikal in Eastern
Siberia and the Pacific Ocean.
India’s active and benign presence
in this far-off region, right at the
mouth of the Pacific Ocean as a part
of its newly announced ‘Act Far East
Policy’ will further accentuate and
legitimise India’s rightful claim of
being a key player within the fast-
emerging Indo-Pacific region.
It is important to note that Indo-
Pacific looms large in the current
Indian strategic thinking, with the
primary goal of shoring-up India’s
material capabilities, influence and
partnership with like-minded players
in the region.
The concept of the Indo-Pacific is
based on the premise that the Indian
and the Pacific Oceans form a single
strategic space and underscores the
growing importance of India as a
strategic player in Asia’s regional
security architecture.
International commentators began
using ‘Indo-Pacific’ in a strategic
sense from about 2005, but the
term started getting traction in
Indian, Australian, and US official
documents and speeches by 2010-
2014.
New Zealand, in the South
Pacific region, a country with a
large thriving Indian diaspora, has
come to the party as late as 2019
in officially shedding its long-held
acknowledging the ‘Indo-Pacific’ as
the alternative geopolitical label to
the old ‘Asia Pacific’.
The fact that Prime Minister Modi
has ‘moved-up’ the longstanding
Look East Policy in a manner that
it further shores-up Indo-Pacific is
indeed a masterstroke.
The Look East Policy has been
India’s longstanding, and probably,
the most successful foreign-
economic-strategic policy that
has been regularly ‘moved-up’ by
successive governments in New
Delhi to enhance the scope, the focus,
geographic reach and the ambitions.
The policy was initially launched
by former Prime Minister Narsimha
Rao in 1992, immediately after
the end of the cold war, and sought
looking towards the countries, and
regional and global players of the
east, as the source of inspiration and
partnership in India’s own growth
trajectory.
Since then the policy had been
regularly ‘moved-up’ to enhance the
scope, the focus, geographic reach
and the ambitions, of what it initially
sought to achieve for India’s overall
interests.
The policy was cultivated and
developed as Look East Policy
(phase II) under the Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee (1998-2004),
subsequently pursued rigorously
under Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh (2004–2014), and then most
Policy” in Prime Minister Modi’s
first tenure (2014-2019).
Every ‘move-up’ of this policy,
was a natural, linear, uni-dimensional
boost, demonstrating India’s
incremental progress in developing
its own material capabilities, and in
slowly enmeshing with the region.
There was also an unmistakable
push towards reaching for the Pacific
Ocean, as a key strategic player of
the region with the primary goal of
safeguarding its national interests,
more than anything else.
However, the recent move-
up announced by Prime Minister
Modi in Russia’s Far East, is the
most audacious, imaginative and
multidimensional, as it takes India17
right at the mouth of the Pacific
Ocean, thus further accentuating the
fact that India and the Pacific are one
conjoined strategic theatre.
This latest ‘Act Far East Policy’
announcement makes it explicitly
clear that the primary goal of the
India’s current strategic thinking is to
shore-up the concept of Indo-Pacific.
Indeed, the international
community will also have lesser
and lesser reservations now in being
reluctant toward the concept and
nomenclature of the Indo-Pacific,
as India deepens its engagement
with the Pacific region, based on
its tangible national and strategic
interests.

Genesis Power Station

With the blessing of Te Ohaki Rd

< Hamilton – Auckland >

Dhan Dhan Baba Nand Singh Ji

Great South Rd
Kaleranwale 193 Hetherington Rd
&
Dhan Dhan Baba Nahar Singh Ji
Sunerhanwale
Harris Rd

1

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there will be
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Langar will be served

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Shej Paath Bhog For more info
Sat 5th Oct @ 10 am contact
027 221 4540
Nagar Kirtan 07 872 7717
Sat 5th Oct @ 12 noon
0204 BABEKE
www.babeke.org
From Sangat & sangat ke daas

Baba Kapoor Singh Ji www.facebook.com/Babeke.INTL
 18 INDIA Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

Modi, Oli jointly inaugurate Say goodbye

to single-use
petroleum products pipeline plastic: PM at
T UN event
o stengthen bilateral relations
between India and Nepal,
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and Nepal’s Prime Minister
K. P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday
inaugurated South Asia’s first cross-
border petroleum products pipeline
which will provide cleaner petroleum
products at affordable cost to the
people of Nepal.
Cross-border petroleum
products pipeline from Motihari schedule. The pipeline was built in petroleum products at affordable cost expanding India-Nepal partnership.
in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal just little over a year at the cost of to the people of Nepal. He expressed confidence that
was inaugurated through video Rs 350 crore, entirely borne by the He welcomed the announcement bilateral relations between India and
conferencing. Indian oil Corporation, an Indian made by Oli to reduce the price of Nepal will continue to further deepen

Speaking on the occasion, Nepal’s
Prime Minister Oli expressed
appreciation for early implementation
of this important connectivity
project, completed much ahead of
Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).
Modi said that the 69-km Motihari-
Amlekhgunj pipeline, having a
capacity of two million metric ton
per annum, will provide cleaner
petroleum products by Rs 2 per litre
in Nepal.
Modi noted that regular exchanges
at highest political levels have laid
down a forward looking agenda for
P
and expand across diverse sectors. rime Minister Narendra Modi
Oli extended an invitation to the called for a global boycott of
Modi to visit Nepal. Modi accepted single-use plastic at a United
the proposal. Nations event on Monday.
“I think the time has come for the

Modi urges more South-South cooperation, global action on water world to say Good Bye to single
use plastic”, said Modi as the hall

P
rime Minister Narendra Modi
on Monday batted for greater
South-South cooperation to
address the issues of climate change,
desertification and land degradation.
Addressing the fourteenth edition
of the Conference of Parties (COP)
to the United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD),
Modi also pitched for the conception
of a global water action agenda,
which, he said, is at the heart
of achieving Land Degradation
Neutrality (LDN).
“Going forward, India would be
happy to propose initiatives for a
greater south-south cooperation to
address the issues of climate change,
biodiversity and land degradation,”
Modi said.
He stressed that the issue of
land degradation is affecting two-
thirds of the countries, globally.
While addressing the issue of land
degradation, the issue of water
consumption and scarcity should also
be addressed, he added.
“Enhancing water recharge,
retaining moisture of the soil are
part of the holistic land and water
management. I call upon the
leadership of UNCCD to conceive
a global water action agenda which
is central to the Land Degradation
Neutrality (LDN) strategy,” Modi
said.
The Prime Minister also set an
ambitious target for the country
to restore the degraded land from
21 million hectares to 26 million
hectares by 2030. The UNCCD was
adopted in Paris on June 17, 1994,
and was ratified by 196 countries
and the European Union. India
ratified the UNCCD Convention in
December 17, 1996.
"Climate change is also leading
to land degradation of various
kinds, be it due to rise in sea levels
and wave action, erratic rainfall
and storms, and sand storms
caused by hot temperatures"
Modi said that a centre of
excellence would be developed at the
Indian Council of Forestry Research
and Education which will promote
South-South cooperation by sharing
knowledge, resource and technology
and training manpower to prevent
land degradation.
India has been able to increase its
forest cover, the Prime Minister said.
“Between 2015 and 2017, the
country has increased its tree cover
by 0.8 million hectares,” he said,
elaborating on the various initiatives
taken by the country to combat the
effects of climate change and land
degradation. It is widely accepted
that the world is facing the negative
impacts of climate change.
“Climate change is also leading to
land degradation of various kinds, be
it due to rise in sea levels and wave
action, erratic rainfall and storms,
and sand storms caused by hot
temperatures,” Modi said.
India is focusing on zero-budget
natural farming, he said.
“We have also introduced a scheme
to determine the soil quality of the
farms. We have introduced health
cards to farmers which enable them
to grow right type of crops, fertilizers
and the use the right quantity of
water.
"We are increasing the use of bio-
fertilizers and decreasing the use of
pesticides,” he added.
He drew attention to the issue of
single-use plastic, which he stressed
will be impossible to reverse if not
prevented.
“This is the menace of plastic
waste. Apart from having adverse
health implications, this is going to
render lands unproductive and unfit
for agriculture. My government has
announced that India will put an end
to single-use plastic in the coming
years,” he said.
resonated with claps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
was addressing the 14th Conference
of Parties (COP14) to United
Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) being held
in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on
Monday.
Talking about India’s commitment
to protecting forest land, Modi
reminded global leaders that india
has increased its forest cover by 0.8
million hectares between 2015 and
2017 alone. He said, any chopping of
trees in India due to developmental
projects are compensated by planting
more trees.
PM Modi told global leaders in
attendance at COP 14 how India
has ‘soil cards’ to help the farmers
understand the health of the soil.
PM highlighted India’s Swachh
Bharat mission for sanitation, and
water conservation efforts.
Making a huge commitment
from the international forum, Prime
Minister Modi committed that
India would increase the land cover
that would be recovered from land
degradation from 21 million hectares
to 26 million hectares, between 2019
and 2030.
Prime Minister Modi also also
appealed for global water action
agenda to fight climate change.
Proposing a south-south
cooperation, he recited sanskrit
shlokas reminding India’s ancient
commitment to holistic and inclusive
prosperity which includes climate.

Citizenship Bill won’t affect NE people’s rights: Shah

U
nion Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday asked the
indigenous people of northeast not to worry over the
proposed citizenship amendment bill as it won›t affect
their rights.
Addressing the fourth conclave of the North East Democratic
Alliance (NEDA), he said that three Chief Ministers of the
northeast had raised the citizenship amendment bill issue,
expressing apprehensions that the proposed legislation may
curtail the rights of the indigenous people.
“There is no need to worry about the Citizenship Amendment
Bill. It won’t affect their rights. The bill has the provision of
giving citizenship to minorities from neighbouring countries,
including Bangladesh,” Shah said.
The Home Minister also reiterated that the Centre would not
tinker with the Constitution’s Article 371 that ensures certain
special provisions for the northeastern states and assured that
“no infiltrator would be allowed” in Assam or any other part
jointly promote tourism, Shah assured that effective steps would
be taken to prevent human trafficking as well as smuggling of
arms and drugs in border areas of the region.
“All eight states of the northeast will have to come together.
A state cannot think of only its own development in silo.
"Article Development cannot be achieved in isolation. All
371 is states should come together to promote tourism and
permanent and the
to prevent flooding.”
right of the states of
northeast. In order to The Home Minister said that all states should
preserve the cultural also work towards solving boundary issues and
identity of the region, plan for development, assuring them of “full
this article will be backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
kept as is" government”.
of the country. “Article 371 is permanent and the right “We have to create a northeast that becomes an
of the states of northeast. In order to preserve the cultural engine of India’s growth story, and plays a key role in India’s
identity of the region, this article will be kept as is.” GDP growth. Under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, this
Stressing that all northeastern states should come together to vision will soon become a reality.”
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 INDIA 19

Feeling ‘betrayed’, Urmila NEWS in BRIEF

Matondkar quits Congress Cabinet may okay ordinance to ban e-cigarettes

C T
aught in a web of intra-party politicking, aking up a proposal from
Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar abruptly the Health Ministry, the
quit the Congress on Tuesday, alleging ‹betrayal› Union cabinet may, in its
by the party. meeting, approve an ordinance
“I hereby resign from the Indian National Congress to ban manufacturing and sale
(INC) as a member and from any post held in the INC. of e-cigarettes.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for E-cigarettes or “vaping”
INC,” said Matondkar in a terse letter to interim Congress cigerattes are often marketed
President Sonia Gandhi dated September 7. as a harmless product to help
She said the first thoughts of resigning from the party quit smoking. It does not burn tobacco but heats the liquid chemicals into
came when – despite her repeated efforts – no action was a vapour or steam that a person inhales. This is the reason it is also called
taken in pursuance of her explosive letter dated May 16 vaping. E-cigarettes are considered harmful to health.
to the former Mumbai Congress President Milind Deora, “Given the health risks associated with e-cigarettes, government has
which was ‘leaked’ in early July. decided to ban it. The Union cabinet is expected to take a decision on it,”
“Thereafter, to my utter dismay, the said "I stand by said an official.
letter containing privileged and confidential all my thoughts The Health Ministry has proposed to make production, manufacturing,
communication was conveniently leaked to and ideologies and import, export, transport, sale, distribution or advertisements of e-cigarettes
the media, which according to me was an will continue to work for a cognizable offence. Besides fines, the offence could land one in jail for
act of blatant betrayal,” Matondkar said. the people to the best of my upto three years. The draft ordinance also makes storage of e-cigarettes
She claimed that nobody from the party capacity with honesty and punishable with jail term upto 6 months and fine upto Rs 50,000 or both.
was apologetic for the leak of the nine- dignity. I thank all the people The move follows an earlier advisory by the Health Ministry against
page letter, nor was anybody concerned who helped and supported Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including e-cigarettes, heat-
for her despite her repeated protests over me through my not-burn devices, vape and other such devices.
the issue. In the letter, Matondkar had named journey"
certain key persons in the party’s local units at India to receive first Rafale jet in France on Dussehra
the block and ward levels and other infighting which
reportedly resulted in her maiden electoral loss in the Lok
Sabha polls earlier this year.
I ndia will receive the first Rafale fighter aircraft from its French
manufacturer Dassault Aviation in France on October 8, defence sources
said. The first batch of the aircraft will, however, arrive in India by May next
On the contrary, she pointed out that the persons she with honesty and dignity. I thank all the people who helped year for which preparations are already underway in the country.
had specifically mentioned in the letter to Deora for and supported me through my journey,” she signed off. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with a team of senior officials, is
their “shoddy performance” in Mumbai Congress were The popular actress had joined the Congress on March 27 scheduled to travel to France for receiving the first aircraft in a ceremony.
rewarded with newer positions, instead of being held this year and later unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha India has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with France and Dassault
accountable for their acts and omissions. elections from Mumbai North against sitting Bharatiya
Aviation for procuring 36 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“It is obvious that the key functioneries of Mumbai Janata Party MP Gopal Shetty, who won by a staggering
“As per the earlier plan of action, the first Rafale aircraft was to be handed
Congress are either unable or not committed to bring 4,65,000.
over to India in the last week of September. The current Air Chief Marshal
about a change and transformation in the organisation for Nevertheless, she led a high-profile election campaign
the betterment of the party,” a peeved Matondkar pointed attracting huge crowds in all her public meetings, rallies B.S. Dhanoa was scheduled to travel to France along with Defence Minister
out. She said her “political and social sensibilities” and door-to-door canvassing with different sections of Rajnath Singh for the ceremony.
refused to allow vested interests in the party to use her people in her constituency. “However, October 8 has been chosen now because it is not only
as a means “to fight petty in-house politics”, instead of Despite her resounding electoral debacle, she remained celebrated as IAF Day but the auspicious festival of Dussehra also falls on
working on a bigger goal for the Mumbai Congress. in the limelight and weathered many a storm, including this date in 2019,” said a defence official.
“I stand by all my thoughts and ideologies and will the resignation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress President, Sonia, Pawar discuss alliance for Maharashtra polls
continue to work for the people to the best of my capacity followed by a string of changes in the Mumbai Congress.

Biggest drug cartel in US net; Bollywood, W

ith the Maharashtra Assembly elections just two months away,
Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday
met Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi to discuss the seat sharing deal

Dawood & Indian pharma Co links emerge in the state, party leaders said. A senior Congress leader, related to the
development, said that the two leaders discussed the issues of alliance

I
n one of the biggest drug between the Congress and NCP along with regional parties opposed to the
rackets unearthed by the Drug state’s ruling BJP-Shiv Sena coalition.
Enforcement Agency (DEA) He said that the two leaders also discussed on the issue of taking the Left
of US, the Indian connection has parties along with it in its alliance in the state. Another party leader said that
led to a former aide of underworld the Congress and NCP are also mulling the idea to include Raj Thackeray’s
don Dawood Ibrahim and a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in their anti-BJP alliance in the state.
pharmaceutical company allegedly The leader added that the Congress has some reservations about the
operating from India, where drugs inclusion of the MNS in the anti-BJP alliance in Maharashtra, so before
like mandrax and ephedrine were
taking a final call on the issue, the party’s top leaders will discuss the matter
being manufactured. The overarching
with the state leadership. This was Gandhi’s first meeting with Pawar, a
investigation also involves husbands
month after she was appointed the party’s interim chief. Two months ago,
of two former Bollywood actresses,
charged with international drug MNS Chief Thackeray had held meeting with her at her residence her,
trafficking originating from Kenya. giving rise to speculation that he might also be the part of the anti-BJP
The investigation report filed by alliance in the assembly polls in the state.
DEA in the United States District Chandrayaan 2 is most trending hashtag in India

Court, Southern District of New York
on July 25, 2019, mentions the name
of D-company aide Vicky Goswami,
husband of Bollywood actress
Mamta Kulkarni and Ali Punjani, ex-
husband of another Bollywood star
Kim Sharma.
Incidentally, Ali Punjani, escaped
from Kenya to Mumbai where he
was last spotted in Bandra's Asian
Heart Institute in the last week of
August. The Mombasa (Kenya)
police confirmed to the media that
Punjani was wanted in a drug case.
The Mombasa police is now
approaching Interpol to detain
Punjani in India. The report of the
DEA reveals that Vicky Goswami, a
druglord working for the D-company
in South Africa, later shifted
his base to Kenya from where
he smuggled huge quantities of
mandrax, cocaine, hashish, heroine
and ephedrine. He initially worked
for the Ibrahim Akasha syndicate in
Mombasa and later partnered with
Ali Punjani, alleged drug kingpin
and husband of Kim Sharma. The
report also mentions that Dawood
aide Goswami, husband of Mamta
Kulkarni, was sentenced by a Dubai
court on charges of drug peddling.
In 2013, after being released from
jail, Goswami shifted base to Kenya
where he came in contact with Ali
Punjani. The report says Goswami
also approached one Indian, Dr
Bipin Panchal. In Mombasa a
meeting was held between Dr
Panchal and Goswami wherein
Dr Panchal assured that he will
arrange supply of ephedrine from a
pharmaceutical company in India.
The consignment would then be
taken to Uganda where it would be
turned into methamphetamine. DEA
sleuths revealed that when the Indian
company, reportedly manufacturing
ephedrine, was checked, it was shut
down. The name of the company is
not being mentioned in this report as
the media could not verify the names
of its proprietors.
Goswami also revealed names
of South African peddlers, many of
them having close ties with Dawood
Ibrahim gang. Meanwhile, Kenyan
police is making efforts to approach
Mumbai police through Interpol,
to arrest Ali Punjani who was last
reportedly undergoing surgery in
a Mumbai hospital. A source in the
Mumbai police said that as of now,
Ali Punjani is not wanted in any case
in Mumbai, therefore no legal action
can be taken against him.
I
ndia›s ambitious lunar mission -
Chandrayaan 2 - has become the
country›s most trending hashtag
on social media platforms such
as Twitter, with 67,554 tweets in
between September 1-9, a new study
revealed on Tuesday.
SEMrush, the online visibility
management company recently
conducted the study on the lander
Vikram in the period between September 1-9, which showed that Twitter is
buzzing with Chandrayaan 2, the lander Vikram and ISRO. According to the
study, there have been 2,39,109 tweets dedicated to the mission.
“India is showing great interest in the initiatives taken by ISRO. People
are using Twitter as a platform to share their views on the mission. It is
overwhelming to see that despite the mission’s result, people are being
positive and neutral in their approach,” said Fernando Angulo, Head of
Communications, SEMrush.
“Moreover, Bollywood actor and influencer Akshay Kumar has a huge
impact on audiences, especially after his film Mission Mangal, therefore,
his tweet is the third most engaging tweet,” Angulo said.
 20 WORLD Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

ROBERT MUGABE:
1924 – 2019
Independence hero to tryant leader
Robert Mugabe to be buried at hilltop shrine in Zimbabwe
R
obert Mugabe will be buried at a hilltop shrine reserved exclusively for forced to relinquish power by a previously loyal
Zimbabwe’s ruling elite, an official said Saturday, as the southern African military in November 2017. Flags flew at half-staff
nation began several days of official mourning. Saturday, but there were no public activities to mark
Mugabe, who was 95 when he died Friday in Singapore, will be laid to rest in Harare the death of a man who singularly shaped the once-
at the National Heroes Acre, which has been set aside for Zimbabweans who have prosperous country in his own image and created a
made huge sacrifices during the war against white-minority rule and who dedicated repressive system that some say remains even today.
themselves to the nation, which emerged from the ashes of colonial Rhodesia. Reaction to his death was mixed, although praise
“Comrade Mugabe will be buried at the Heroes Acre,” deputy information minister ironically came mostly from ruling party officials
Energy Mutodi said. “That is where he deserves to rest.” and military leaders. The state-run Herald newspaper,
Leo Mugabe, a nephew of Robert Mugabe and a family spokesman, told The which vilified Mugabe when he was forced to resign
Associated Press that the date of the funeral and other details, including when and when he subsequently voiced support for the
Mugabe’s body will arrive in Zimbabwe, weren’t yet available. opposition, carried glowing tributes.
“Arrangements are not in place yet,” he said in a text message.
Located on a hilltop, and built with the help of North Korean architects, the plot
has a commanding view of Harare, features a huge bronze statue of three guerrilla
fighters and boasts black marble and granite flourishes.
Mugabe is viewed by many as a national hero despite decades of rule that left
the country struggling. He was an ex-guerrilla chief who took power in 1980 when
Zimbabwe shook off white minority rule and presided for decades while economic
turmoil and human rights violations eroded its early promise. Mugabe had been

Explained: Robert Mugabe

and his connect with India
T
Prime Ministers (Indira Gandhi, Rajiv
hroughout his rule, Zimbabwe’s
Gandhi, Narsimha Rao, and
longtime leader Robert Mugabe shared "He H D Deve Gowda), and
close ties with India’s leadership. He devoted two Presidents (R
visited India seven times, his last visit being in his life to the Venkatraman and S D
2017. Last week, Zimbabwe’s longtime leader betterment of his Sharma) have visited
Robert Mugabe died at age 95. Mugabe led people. In his demise,
Zimbabwe. President
the nation for 37 years, first as Prime Minister the world has lost one
of the tallest leaders Mugabe visited India
between 1980 and 1987, and then onwards as Rober Mugabe with Indira Gandhi, April 17, 1980
of our times." seven times, his last
President until 2017 when he resigned. Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe with Prime
Gandhi.
Minister Narendra Modi, October 28, 2015. visit being in 2017.
Although many accounts describe his rule The Non-Aligned Movement, of which
as despotic, he is also held in high regard for world has lost one of the tallest leaders of our India was a key member, supported freedom Indians in Zimbabwe
being one of the important personalities who
led Zimbabwe to its independence in 1980.
times.”
Mugabe and India
movements in Africa, including Zimbabwe’s,
by recognising their liberation struggles and I ndians first arrived in Zimbabwe as
plantation workers around 1890 after they

Throughout his rule, Mugabe shared close
ties with India’s leadership. The condolence
message released by the Indian Ministry
of External Affairs upon Mugabe’s passing
reads: “H. E. Robert Mugabe was a true
friend of India and contributed immensely to
India-Zimbabwe friendship.
He was an icon of liberation, and emerged
as a great leader of Africa, who gave voice
to African issues. He devoted his life to the
betterment of his people. In his demise, the
N.Korea fires short-range projectiles: Seoul
M
ugabe was among the rebel leaders
who took part in Zimbabwe’s armed
struggle for independence.
The white-minority government in
Zimbabwe, then called Rhodesia, sent him to
prison for 10 years between 1964 and 1974. In
confinement, Mugabe acquired several degrees
which shaped his political thought, and came
to appreciate India’s freedom struggle and the
role played by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma
accepting their provisional governments. The moved here from South Africa.
NAM gave legitimacy to new states that were The current Indian-origin residents
leaving behind colonial rule and entering predominantly hail from Gujarat, and number
world politics. Former Prime Minister Indira close to 9000. Notable figures include former
Gandhi was invited to attend the country’s Senator K. G. Patel, a member of Zimbabwe’s
Politburo who was accorded ‘Hero’ status in
Independence Day celebrations held on April
2012 after his death the previous year, Justice
18, 1980. In 1986, Zimbabwe under Mugabe
succeeded India as the Chair of the Non- Bharat Patel, a retired judge of the country’s
Aligned Movement at the Harare summit. Supreme Court, and Justice Ahmed Ebrahim,
According to the website of the Indian who was awarded the Pravasi Bhartiya
Embassy in Harare, since 1980, four Indian Samman in 2004.
Fukushima radioactive water could be emptied in sea
J
apan's Environment
Minister Yoshiaki Harada
said on Tuesday that
the only way of getting rid of
the radioactive water from the
Fukushima nuclear accident was
by pouring it, after being treated,
into the Pacific Ocean.
“The only option will be to drain
it into the sea and dilute it,” Harada told reporters as the head of the Ministry,
one day before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to reform the Cabinet.
Since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant in 2011, the owner

N
orth Korea on Tuesday fired
two short-range projectiles
towards the East Sea, South
Korea›s military said, just hours after
Pyongyang offered to resume nuclear
talks with the US.
The projectiles were fired at 6.53
a.m. and 7.12 a.m. from areas in the
city of Kaechon, South Pyongan
province, about 80 km north of the
capital, Pyongyang, in an easterly
direction, Yonhap News Agency
quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
as saying. Both flew around 330
km, the JCS said, adding that South
Korean and the US intelligence
authorities are analyzing their exact
type. It did not provide information
on their top speed.
“Our military is monitoring the
situation in the case of additional
launches and maintaining a readiness
posture,” the JCS said, calling on the
North “to instantly stop such acts that
heighten tensions”.
In response to the latest launches,
South Korea held an emergency
National Security Council (NSC)
meeting, presided over by Chung
Eui-yong, chief of the presidential
national security office, and
discussed the issue.
In Washington, a senior US
government official said it was aware
of the latest missile launches and is
closely monitoring the situation in
cooperation with its allies.
The firings came just hours after the
North’s First Vice Foreign Minister
Choe Son-hui expressed willingness
to resume denuclearization talks
with the US later this month and
demanded Washington to come up
with a new proposal acceptable to
Pyongyang, Yonhap reported.
of the site, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), has accumulated over
1 million tonnes of highly radioactive water, used to refrigerate the damaged
reactors. If the work continues at the current pace, Tepco estimates it will run
out of storage space by 2022, forcing the company and government to mull
measures in order to tackle the problem, according to Efe news.
Tepco is considering emptying the waste water into the ocean as one of the
options, a possibility that is still being debated by a government panel tasked
with supervising the demolition of the site but that has already been given the
green light by Japan’s nuclear regulation authority.
Harada’s comment, which he offered as a “personal choice”, was the most
direct statement made by a Japanese government Minister since the option was
sailed some years ago.
The government had withdrawn its initial support for the idea owing to
opposition from local fishing associations, which see the method as a threat
to their industry.
 Festival
of Lights

12-13 Oct
Aotea Square
Major Partner Sponsors

Foundation Partner
22 SPORTS
James Anderson targets test
return in NZ, South Africa tours
A
nderson is targeting a comeback in lot for Lancashire at the start of the season and
November during the two-match test was in really good form before I got injured at an
series in New Zealand, but said he was annoying time.”
prepared to wait until the four-test tour of South Anderson is targeting a comeback in
Africa in December and January. November during the two-match test series
England paceman James Anderson hopes to in New Zealand, but said he was prepared to
overcome a calf problem that forced him out of wait until the four-test tour of South Africa in
the Ashes series and will aim to return for their December and January.
tours of New Zealand and South Africa later “I never like looking too far ahead, I just want
this year. to get my calf sorted and look to the next series
The 37-year-old sustained the injury playing to see if I can get myself fit for New Zealand and
for Lancashire in July and managed only four if not, then South Africa,” Anderson said.
overs in the opening test at Edgbaston before Anderson said he was also considering a
being ruled out of the five-match series. vegan diet to prolong his career.
“I’m just about getting over the disappointment “I’m open-minded ... I’m going to try and
... looking ahead to what I can do in the future,” investigate every possible avenue of what I need
England’s top test wicket-taker with 575 victims to do at my age to keep myself in good shape,”
told Sky Sports. he added to British media.
“I’m definitely hungry and keen to keep England failed to regain the Ashes and trail
playing for England. This summer I have been Australia 2-1 heading into the final test starting
bowling as well as I ever have. I bowled quite a at The Oval on Thursday.
Ashes 2019:
How to combat
Steve Smith-threat:
Stats reveal
F
ollowing his 211 and 82 at Old Trafford,
Manchester, Steve Smith goes to The Oval
with 671 runs in the current series and as
England captain Joe Root confessed that the right-
hander has been the difference between the two sides
right through the series.
Smith has been relentless for his side and such has
been excellence, that it has also ironed the few chinks
in the Australian batting order.
“He [Smith] has done a lot for Australian cricket for
the last few years actually, and so has Dave Warner,”
Langer said.
“But we’ve also got to remember, Travis Head is
new to Test cricket, Marnus is new to Test cricket,
Marcus Harris is new to Test cricket, Cameron
Bancroft is new to Test cricket. You can’t just give
them that experience, they’ve got to earn that and
we’re very thankful to have Steve batting.”
England, on the other hand, have been trying all
series to get the better of the right-hander and barring
the short ball from Jofra Archer which hit him on the
neck at Lord’s, Smith has looked absolutely flawless
right through the Ashes.
England are indeed clutching at straws, and they
should pay attention to details.
As far as the numbers are concerned, Smith, for all
his brilliance, has tapered off against left-arm spin
and this is where Joe Root needs to be more persistent
and attacking with Jack Leach.
If we take a look at his strike-rate, Smith has the
lowest against Ravindra Jadeja — who is also a left-
arm orthodox bowler.
"But Also, 3 out of 4 of
we’ve also his lowest strike-
got to remember, rate are against
Travis Head is new to Test
left- arm orthodox
cricket, Marnus is new to
— Ravindra
Test cricket, Marcus Harris
Jadeja, Rangana
is new to Test cricket,
Herath and Keshav
Cameron Bancroft is new
to Test cricket." Maharaj.
He has been
dismissed by left-arm
bowlers on 22 occasions and
averages just 37.14 against them.
The devil, as they say, is in the details and
England need to realise that this is the one window
of opportunity they need to capitalise on when action
resumes at the Oval.
Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender
Selectors should have proper
talk on Dhoni's future: Kumble
T
he Indian selectors need to have a
conversation about MS Dhoni's future
with the national team and then prepare
for a befitting send-off for the legendary former
captain if necessary, another ex-India captain
Anil Kumble has said.
Kumble, who passed on the Indian Test
captaincy to Dhoni in 2008, has also said that
while Rishabh Pant has shown a lot of ability to
be a regular at least in the T20 format, the latter
needs to be more consistent.
"I'm not really sure. I think Pant has certainly
made a lot of claims as a keeper-batsman,
especially in the T20 format. So, it's important
to have a conversation and you need to have a
proper send-off, he certainly deserves that,"
Kumble told CricketNext when asked if he
would like to see Dhoni continue in international
cricket. Dhoni had sat out the T20I series against
the West Indies immediately after the World
Cup and is not available for the upcoming home
series against South Africa.
Kumble also said that if Dhoni is really in the Dhoni is in the scheme of things for the T20
scheme of things for the T20 World Cup next World Cup, then I think he should be playing
year, he should be playing every game. every game.
"For the team's sake, the selectors need to "If he's not, then it's important that they have
sit down and have a discussion around what a discussion around how they need to make this
the plans are because it's important that things happen. I think they need to do that in the next
be communicated. If the selectors believe that couple of months," Kumble said.
Ravi Shastri focussed on
building Team India's bench
I
ndia coach Ravi Shastri said that building
bench strength so as to handle the upcoming
transition phase will be key in his second
term at the helm of affairs. With the T20 World
Cup coming up and the ongoing World Test
Championship, captain Virat Kohli has spoken
of the impoirtance of managing the players,
especially the pacers, and their workload which
means more good options will be needed that can
fill spots in the absence of the first choice players.
good space for another five years to go, you need
"The vision is to keep the consistency level
to do it."
going," Shastri told Gulf News. "It will be a team
The former Indian captain said that getting
in transition and one has to keep an eye out for
the youth and also keep an eye on developing the youngsters ready for the 2020 World T20 and the
bench strength as far as batting and bowling goes run in the World Test Championship will be key.
across all three formats. We should, at the same "The path should be that knowing well you have
time, be never losing sight of the fact that you got 12 months to go for the T20 World Cup and
play to win. Never losing that angle but yet at the you have about 18-20 months to go for the World
same time, investing in youth. Test Championship," said Shastri. "Getting youth
"You might get the odd game or the odd series in during that transition period by keeping an eye
in which you might lose in the quest of investing on the youth is important so that they can mix
but that is what you have to do to earn success. with the experience and give us a really solid
If you have to build a good side and keep it in side."
 24 FEATURES
SPICY CHICKEN KEBAB
INGREDIENTS:
• 3 - chicken thighs
• 6-8 - wooden skewers
• FIRST MARINADE
• 1/2tsp - ginger paste
• 1/2tsp - garlic paste
• 1tsp - salt or according to taste
• 1tbsp - red chilli paste
• 2tbsp - lemon juice
• SECOND MARINATE
• 6tbsp - yoghurt, thick ( Greek yoghurt )
• 1tsp - salt or according to taste
• 1/2tsp - ginger paste
• 1/2tsp - garlic paste
• 1tsp - red chilli paste
• 1tsp - garam masala powder
• 1tsp - Kasoori methi powder
• 1tsp - red chillies crushed or chilli flakes
• Clarified butter or oil for basting
METHOD
• Wash and cut chicken into bite size pieces and pat dry.
• Soak the skewers in enough water for 30 minutes ( This is to
prevent them from burning, you can also soak them overnight
as they take long time to soak up the water ) and then wipe
them with the cloth. Keep aside.
• FIRST MARINADE; in a bowl mix ginger, garlic paste, salt,
red chilli paste and lemon to chicken pieces and keep aside
for at least 45 minutes.
• SECOND MARINATE; in a bowl whisk yoghurt, add all the
remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Put chicken pieces into this marinade, coat well and keep
aside for 1 hour.
• Heat up your BBQ or griddle until its very hot.
• Take a skewer and skew marinated chicken pieces until you
use up all the skewers and chicken, place them onto the plate
( Keep the marinade mixture aside for later use ).
• When your ready to cook, place the skewers on the BBQ or
griddle and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning 3 to 4 times
during cooking and brushing with the reserved marinade ( To
check if the chicken is cooked, slice open the largest piece
and make sure its not pink in the middle).
• Transfer cooked chicken on to a plate.
• Serve with drinks.
• TIP; you can also roast chicken in a oven. Heat oven to 180
degree c. Place the chicken on the wire rack and grill for
7 to 8 minutes with a tray underneath to collect drippings.
Remove halfway and bast with oil or the left over marinade
and further roast for 3 to 4 minutes till tender.
Serves - 4
KALAJI KEBAB
Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender
INGREDIENTS: mixture, add cashew paste, cream , ginger, garlic paste, salt
• 225gm - kaleji and white pepper powder, mix well.
• 6 - wooden skewers • Add chicken along with its marinade to the cashew mixture,
• 4tbsp - yoghurt ( Greek yoghurt ) cover and keep aside for at least 1 hour.
• 1tsp - salt or according to taste • Heat up your BBQ or griddle until its very hot.
• 1/2tsp - ginger paste • Take a skewer and skew marinated chicken pieces until you
• 1/2tsp - garlic paste use up all the skewers and chicken, place them onto the plate
• 1tsp - red chilli paste ( Keep the marinade mixture aside for later use ).
• 1/3tsp - garam masala powder • When your ready to cook, place the skewers on the BBQ or
• 1/3tsp - kasoori methi powder griddle and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning 3 to 4 times
• 1tsp - lemon juice during cooking and brushing with the reserved marinade ( To
• 1tsp - cornflour check if the chicken is cooked, slice open the largest piece
• 1tsp - oil and make sure its not pink in the middle).
• Clarified butter or oil for basting • Transfer cooked chicken on to a plate.
• Serve with Rice or salad. Serves - 4
METHOD
• Clean, wash chicken liver and keep aside.
• Soak the skewers in enough water for 30 minutes ( This is to
KALMI KABAB
prevent them from burning, you can also soak them overnight
as they take long time to soak up the water ) and then wipe
them with the cloth. Keep aside.
• MARINATION: in a bowl whisk yoghurt, add salt ginger,
garlic paste, red chilli paste, garam masala powder, kasoori
methi, cornflour, lemon juice and mix well.
• Pat dry kalaji to remove excess moisture, then put the kalaji
into this marinade and keep aside for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 180 degree c.
• Take a skewer and skew the marinated kalaji pieces, place
them on the wire rack with a tray underneath to collect
drippings.
• Roast in a oven for 4 to 5 minutes or in a moderately hot
tandoor.
• Remove and baste with the clarified butter or oil and further
roast for 1 to 2 minutes or till tender.
• Serve with chutney. Serves - 2
MURG TIKKA
INGREDIENTS:
• 3 - chicken thigh pieces
• 6-8 - wooden skewers INGREDIENTS:
• FIRST MARINADE • 3 - chicken thighs
• 1tsp - ginger paste • 6tsp - besan
• 1tsp - garlic paste • 2tsp - oil
• 1tsp - salt or according to taste • 6 - wooden skewers
• 11/2tsp - white pepper powder • FOR MARINADE
• 2tbsp - oil • 1tsp - ginger paste
• 2tsp - garlic chopped • 1tsp - garlic paste
• 1 - onion, medium chopped • 3tsp - white pepper powder
• 3tbsp - gram flour • 1 - egg
• SECOND MARINADE • 3tbsp - cream
• 3tbsp - cashew paste • 1tsp - salt or according to taste
• 2tbsp - cream • 1tsp - elaichi powder
• 1/2tsp - ginger paste • For basting clarified butter or oil
• 1/2tsp - garlic paste
METHOD
• 1tsp - salt or according to taste
• Wash, clean and cut each chicken thigh into bite size pieces,
• 1tsp - white pepper powder
pat dry and keep aside.
• Soak the skewers in enough water for 30 minutes ( This is to
prevent them from burning, you can also soak them overnight
as they take long time to soak up the water ) and then wipe
them with the cloth. Keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan, add besan cook it on slow fire for a while till
raw smell goes off, keep aside for cooling.
• In a bowl add gram flour, mix ginger, garlic paste, white
pepper powder, egg, cream, elaichi powder and salt and apply
this to chicken, rub well and keep aside for at least 1 hour.
• Heat up your BBQ or griddle until its very hot.
• Take a skewer and skew marinated chicken pieces until you
use up all the skewers and chicken, place them onto the plate
( Keep the marinade mixture aside for later use ).
• When your ready to cook, place the skewers on the BBQ or
griddle and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning 3 to 4 times
during cooking and brushing with the reserved marinade ( To
METHOD
check if the chicken is cooked, slice open the largest piece
and make sure its not pink in the middle).
• Clean, wash and cut each chicken thigh into bite size pieces,
• Transfer cooked chicken on to a plate.
pat dry and keep aside.
• Serve with salad.
• Soak the skewers in enough water for 30 minutes ( This is to
• Serves - 4
prevent them from burning, you can also soak them overnight
as they take long time to soak up the water ) and then wipe
them with the cloth. Keep aside.
• FIRST MARINADE; in a bowl mix ginger paste, garlic
paste, salt , white pepper powder and apply this to the chicken
pieces, rub well and keep aside for at least 45 minutes.
• Heat oil in a frypan over medium flame, add chopped garlic,
chopped onion and sauté , add gram flour and slightly sauté so
that it does not change its colour. Leave it for cooling.
• SECOND MARINADE; in a bowl take roasted gram flour
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 FEATURES 25

Partying TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

with the
ghosts in
Singapore
DEV NADKARNI

M
any big cities around the world are
referred to as ‘melting pot’, because
people from many different parts
of the globe make those cities their home,
bringing with them their cultures, languages
and cuisines. Our own Auckland city is one
of the most ethnically and culturally diverse
cities in the world.
However, the city-state of Singapore is in
a class by itself. It has been a melting pot for
hundreds of years – probably longer than any
other world city that can boast of the ‘melting
pot’ appellation.
Long before Singapore got its nationhood
in 1965, people who came from China, India
and several other regions in Southeast Asia
have made it their home for hundreds of
years, followed by immigrants from the world
over, as it emerged as the global economic
powerhouse that it is today.
Chinese, Indian and Singaporean cultures
coexist cheek-by-jowl, particularly in its older
quarters.
And traditional festivals of these multiple
cultures are followed and observed with The belief is that the more of this mock stuff
enthusiastic and vigourous participation by you dedicate to the spirits, the more they will
most Singaporeans irrespective of their own give you of the real stuff.
cultural backgrounds. So, each of us burned a few million, could
We experienced one such festival when be a few billion as well (who had the time to
we were in Singapore last month, which is count?), of our mock money as the bonfire
traditionally regarded the ‘ghost month’ in crackled and leapt up, its flaming tongues
Singaporean and Chinese cultures. licking the skies as it were.
The seventh month of the Chinese calendar A fierce breeze blew and there was much
is called the ghost month and the fifteenth day cheering in the crowd.
of this month is called ‘ghost day’. And that’s Our host said that high winds augured well
the event we were invited to participate. as the more the wind, the more the embers rise
The reverence for ancestors runs through into the sky, which is good luck for everyone.
several ancient cultures, especially in Asia The twilight sky was filled with smoke,
and India, where parts of the calendar are embers and pieces of mock notes wafting up
earmarked for observances dedicated to like flattened confetti.
ancestors and near and dear ones who have Eating and drinking followed the bonfire
gone before us. In the ghost month, the dead ritual, peppered with thanksgiving speeches,
are believed to visit the living and rituals are announcements and an auction that expanded
observed around this belief. to fill the whole evening. Money raised went
Scholars trace the origins of this festival to into a fund that rolls over into next year’s
Mahayana Buddhism. festival.
Our Singaporean host annually observes Like many Singaporean establishments, our
the festival at their work premises with host’s enterprise is multiethnic and has small
employees, clients and associates (some Chinese, Singaporean and Indian shrines on
even from overseas) participating, which is the premises.
followed by much feasting. They’re well looked after and attended to
As well as propitiating deities representing by many of the employees, according to their
the departed with silent prayers and burning faith.
joss and incense sticks at a makeshift shrine The Indian shrine housed an idol of
erected just for the occasion, the event Ganesha.
involves creating a huge bonfire, reminiscent We do hope we’ve pleased the gods and the
of our Indian festival of Holi. ancestors with all that mock money. Now to
But unlike the Holi bonfire, you feed the sit back, relax and wait for some real dosh to
ghost day bonfire with mock money, mock fall upon us from the skies!
gold and mock-anything-of-value.
 26 FEATURES Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

Lifestyle

Detox Recipes: 13 September – 19 September 2019 | By Manisha Koushik

Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and
fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is

4 healthy and yummy drinks available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact
at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +91-9716145644 • www.askmanisha.com

that you can make in a snap ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20)

A long journey will be exciting, but may play havoc with your health. Picking up the

D
strings on the professional front is a priority, so don’t lose time. Partner will do everything
etoxification or detox is one of the popular buzzwords in the health circles now. For the to please you this week, but don’t read too much into it. Investments done in the past are
unversed, during the same one can follow a special diet and some simple techniques to likely to get good returns. No problems are foreseen on the health front. Those sitting for
get rid of toxins from the body, thereby promoting and improving overall health. Did you exams may need to pace themselves to avoid stress and burnout. Lucky Number: 8 /
know detox also leads to weight loss? Yes, you read it right! Also, one can simply bring changes Lucky Colour: Violet
in the body to enhance the natural detox system of our body. TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20)
Fig and Banana Smoothie  There is an outside chance of your getting considered for a prestigious assignment at work.
the removal of toxins.
Doing things your own way is not a great idea on the academic front, go for group studies.
Aloe water with Lime Detox  If you have had a spat with partner, be ready for the cold treatment! The amount saved will
be enough to realise your current dream. Take a cue from fitness buffs on how to remain fit
Ingredients 
and bring changes in your lifestyle. Lucky Number: 3 / Lucky Colour: Red
• 2 tbsp Aloe vera pulp; wash and cut into
cubes  GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)
• ½ tbsp Lime juice  Tackling someone who is not ready to listen to reason may be challenging, but your tact
and patient will pay. Family will be supportive and will become your pillar of strength. A
• 1 tsp Honey 
positive development on the academic front can be expected. Those secretly in love may
• 1 Glass water  plan an outing together on the sly. Shopaholics are likely to spend the week splurging and
• 2-3 Ice cubes  upset their budget. Lend money this week, only if you don’t want to see it again! Lucky
Method Number: 2 / Lucky Colour: Violet
• Take aloe vera pulp and lemon juice in a CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20)
mixer jar and give it a nice blend. Pour in Someone may not take your no for an answer and put you in a quandary. Deliberate on
a glass and add honey and mix. Pour water the best course of action, before you commit. Your professional skills and acumen will
over it and top with ice cubes. Mix and be much sought after this week. Don’t mix work with pleasure, if you want to stick to
serve chilled.  the deadline. Some turbulence is foreseen in joint families. Financial stability needs to be
sought with added ferv[our. Don’t undertake a long journey without adequate preparation,
Benefits as problems are foreseen. Lucky Number: 17 / Lucky Colour: Peach
• Aloe is also one of the best food items
LEO (JUL21-AUG 20)
to cleanse the body of unwanted stuff, You will need to play your cards well to remain popular on the social front. Tackle work
bacteria, and undigested foods, which in related issues in a timely manner, as they may come back to haunt you. Associating with
turn aids in improving your gut health.  a new acquaintance may usher in romance. Speculative activities are likely to give good
For the unversed, aloe vera has 200 active returns on the financial front. Remember to put safety first while travelling. Something
components and the same helps to cleanse tried on the health front may agree with your body. Give priority to academics. Lucky
the body. On the other hand, Lime, as we Number: 4 / Lucky Colour:White
all know, is one of the natural medicine we VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)
have. Keep your mental doors open for any good advice you can get, especially if you are new
Apple Cinnamon Detox Water to the job. An innovative idea or an improvement will need to be tested before being fully
Ingredients  implemented. Avoid situations where you can get emotionally hurt by someone close.
• 5-6 Figs Ingredients  Financial problems appear, but will get resolved. Your choice of a vacation may not appeal
• 1 Banana  • 1 Ltr water (filtered) to other family members. This is the perfect week to impress lover by a surprise gift!
• 4 Apples Lucky Number: 22 / Lucky Colour: Light Green
• 1 tbsp Honey 
• ½ tsp vanilla essence (optional) • 6 Cinnamon Sticks LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)
• ½ cup Yoghurt  Method Expecting someone to be sensitive to your feelings may be asking for too much from him
• 4-5 Ice cubes  or her. Become more communicative to it put it across. Last thing you should do this week
• Bring water to boil and then reduce heat
• 1 Fig, for garnish  is to delegate something at work for which you are responsible. Money is likely to be
to simmer. Slice the apples. Try to slice earned by some by opening a side business. An exclusive outing with sweetheart can be
Method them as thin as possible. Add apples and planned this week. You may get a chance to pursue a sporting pastime with your friends.
• Remove the pulp from the fig and put it in cinnamon sticks to your simmering water. Lucky Number:1 / Lucky Colour: White
a mixer jar. Add in banana pieces, honey, Simmer 15 minutes. Let it get cool. Strain
SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22)
yogurt and ice cubes. Give it a nice blend. water into a glass pitcher. Refrigerate and
You may be in the right frame of mind to tackle any complicated issues at work this week.
Pour it in a tall glass and garnish with a fig drink.  Getting suspicious with inadequate inputs will make you unnecessarily panicky. On the
slice and serve chill.  Benefits marital front, don’t feel shy in expressing your love in front of others. Networking with
• Talking about apples, the same are rich people who matter may help you on the academic front. Previous investments bring in
Benefits
good money. Don’t take tensions to bed as mental stress is a distinct possibility. Avoid
• Speaking of figs, the same is great for in vitamins, fiber and minerals. The
driving at night. Lucky Number:11 / Lucky Colour: Cream
human bodies because of their antioxidant phytochemical and pectin helps to remove
elements. For the unversed, oxidation unwanted stuff, food additives and metals SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)
from our body. Cinnamon is another vital If you are working towards building your career, don’t take shortcuts. You will have to do
can lead to a lot of health issues and figs
food item which is full of antioxidants thus honest weeks work and await your turn. Stiff competition on the academic front may make
can help to reduce the same. On the other you jittery, but don’t underestimate your capabilities. One great idea is what is required to
hand, Banana has many nutrients such as helping to get rid of toxins and fats.
change your fortune. You have managed to make a special place in your lover’s heart and it
potassium, magnesium, fiber and more. It shows! This is a good week to stretch out and relax. An outing is possible. Lucky Number:
improves the kidney and digestive system 11 / Lucky Colour: Cream
as well.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)
Mango Smoothie You may not get a chance to project your problem to higher ups, if you don’t avail it at
the first opportune moment. Use your brain power to surmount difficulties faced on the
Ingredients  academic front and you will be able to do so. A chance acquaintance can turn into a full
• 2 cup Mango, chopped  blown romance! You wield money power this week and are all set to splurge. Acting on
• ½ cup Smoothie a health tip will be in your favour to come back in shape. Lucky Number:18 / Lucky
• 1 tbsp Sugar/honey  Colour: Golden Brown
• 5-6 Ice cubes 
AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)
• ½ cup Mango, cubes for garnish  It is an excellent week to negotiate a deal. This week, money is likely to change hands
• Few mint leaves and make your cash register ringing. Praise is in store for some at work for remaining
Method consistent in their performance or achieving something difficult. Help will be at hand on
the academic front. Partner bestows love and comfort to make your week. A loss making
• Take a mixer jar and add in all the
scheme does a surprising turnabout delighting you no end. Nostalgia has a way of warming
ingredients. Blend till achieves a smooth
the heart! Lucky Number:2 / Lucky Colour: Violet
consistency. Pour it in a glass and garnish
with mango pieces and serve cold.  Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
You will feel much more confident of yourself, as you learn to stand on your own. Tackling
Benefits negative people may influence you negatively, but you will not give up on it. Timely
• Speaking of Mangoes, they are high-fiber arrears are likely to be a godsend for footing unforeseen expenditures. Spouse may try to
and high-antioxidant food. This fruit is influence you into doing something you don’t want to. Dull routine at work may stifle your
also loaded with minerals and vitamins and creativity and tempt you to try out another professional line. Health remains satisfactory.
help to improve digestion thus leading to Lucky Number:9 / Lucky Colour: Maroon
 The Indian Weekender Friday,13 September, 2019 TIME OUT 27
CROSSWORD NO: 32 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTIONS

SUDOKU NO:32

HITORI NO: 32 QUIZ QUESTIONS NO: 32

Hitori – a logic puzzle with very simple rules and challenging solutions. Can you eliminate 1. Who is honored as Father of Modern Chemistry? Mercury
numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or column? Objective / Rules. Eliminate
numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or column. Eliminate numbers Antoine Lavoisier 15. What is the chemical name of baking soda?
by marking them in Black. You are not allowed to have two Black squares touching
horizontally or vertically (diagonally is ok). Any White square can be reached from any
2. Who invented periodic table? Dmitri Mendeleev Sodium bicarbonate
other (i.e. they are connected). 3. Which is the most abundant gas in the earth's 16. What is sodium carbonate commonly known as?
atmosphere? Nitrogen (78.08%) Washing soda or soda ash
4. Which gas evolved from paddy fields and marshes? 17. What is sodium chloride? Table salt
Methane 18. What is table sugar? Cane sugar (Sucrose)
5. Which toxic element present in automobile exhausts? 19. What is the element present on lead pencils?
Lead
Carbon (graphite)
6. Which gases cause acid rain? Sulphur dioxide,
20. Which gas is found in soda water? Carbon dioxide?
Nitrogen oxides
21. What is the solvent of gold? Aquaregia
7. Which metal is used in the making of microchips?
22. Name the chemical assed to make tooth pastes white?
Silicon
Titanium dioxide
8. What is the toxicity caused by silicon called? Silicosis
23. Which chemical is the reason behind the brown colour
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE NO: 32 9. Which polymer is used to manufacture electric
See how many differences you can find in the right or left photo. of human faces? Bilirubin
switches, computer disks etc.? Bakelite
24. Which chemical is called Chile Salt peter?
10. With which polymer, the cabinets of radio and TV
made of? Polystyrene Sodium Nitrate
11. Which chemical is used to make rain coats? 25. What is marsh gas? Methane
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) 26. What is the chemical name of Chinese salt?
12. Which type of plastics can be recycled? Monosodium glutamate
Thermoplastics 27. Which is the purest form of carbon? Graphite
13. What is the name given to plastics that cannot be recycled? 28. Which is called white poison? Sugar
Thermosetting plastics 29. Which is the simplest sugar? Glucose
14. Which element is a liquid at ordinary temperature? 30. What is the biological polymer in paper? Cellulos
Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their
photographs for this page. E-mail us at reporter@indianweekender.co.nz
 28 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

DON’T BE PRODUCT OF A PRODUCT:

Akshay campaigns against supplements ASHA BHOSLE O
N I wake up to mu
ational Award-winner Akshay Kumar, who celebrates his
birthday on September 9, has campaigned against the use
of supplements for body-building and urged everyone to be
a true to the body.

S
Akshay shared a black and white photograph of himself, flaunting he is a living legend with an active career of six
a well-chiselled body, on his birthday. decades and she needs no introduction. Padma
“We Are What We Eat... Be a Product of Mother Nature... Don’t Vibhushan-honoured Asha Bhosle turned 86 on
be a product of a product. Anti supplements. Be True to your body Sunday and, in between celebrations with close friends
and it will carry you in ways you only dreamed of at this age...trust and family in Dubai.
me, I’m a father of two. Take care, one life, get it right,” he captioned Bhosle, who celebrated her birthday after 11 years,
the picture. says she was surprised to see so many people turn up
Meanwhile, A motley of Bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor, John to wish her on her special day at her Dubai restaurant,
Abraham and Ajay Devgn among many others have taken to social Asha’s.
media to wish National Award-winning actor Akshay Kumar, who on “I celebrated my birthday here at the restaurant
Monday turned 52-years-old. and so many people came to wish me. I really wasn’t
Akshay, who found the fourth position on the Forbes magazine’s expecting so many to turn up. In fact, the restaurant got
Worlds Highest-Paid Actors Of 2019 list, made his acting debut crowded. I felt overwhelmed, really. People’s love is
with a small role in the 1987 filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’ Aaj. He then something that cannot be achieved in any other ways.
appeared as the lead actor in Saugandh and rose to fame with the I feel fortunate. You know it is after 11 years that I
suspense thriller Khiladi, which tagged him as Bollywood’s very own celebrated a birthday.” Life otherwise, she insists, has
Khiladi. not changed over the years.
After the suspense thriller film, Akshay became an undisputed “Every morning I wake up to music even today, I do
action star in Hindi films with projects like Sabse Bada Khiladi, my riyaaz for an hour every day. Riyaaz is not a task
Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, International Khiladi, Waqt Hamara Hai and for me, it is my lifestyle. I carry an electric tanpura
Mohra. He even tried his hands in comedy with “Hera Pheri”. It was even when I travel, and for one hour, wherever I am, "If
I have to do my riyaaz. That is my way of starting God has and non-v
followed by a string of comic capers such as Phir Hera Pheri, Garam
my day, there is no other way for me. If God gifted me a voice, I and fee
Masala, Bhagam Bhaag, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng and Housefull.
has gifted me a voice, I should keep nurturing should keep nurturing take sp
He did films as different as chalk and cheese such as Rowdy
it. Regular riyaaz beautifies and maintains the it. Regular riyaaz be on
Rathore, Housefull 3, OMG - Oh My God!, Special 26, Jolly LLB 2,
Holiday, Baby, Airlift and Rustom, which won him his first National voice. Iska koi shortcut nahin hai.” Bhosle beautifies and maintains the bi
said. the voice. Iska koi include
Award. And also starred in films with a social message with films like
Why did she decide to celebrate her birthday shortcut nahin biryani.
Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Pad Man.
away from her very own city Mumbai this time? hai" the recip
“Elated to share about my 1st historical film on my birthday!
“Every time I come to Dubai I get so much love is prepared
Humbled to have the opportunity to play a hero I look up to for his
from fans. Every year on my birthday, people from she said.
valour and values- Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan in one of my biggest
here make video calls to wish me. They come to my Born in 1933 on Septemb
films #Prithviraj,” he tweeted.
restaurant here and look for me. So, I thought why not of Master Deenanath Mange
The actor also has Housefull 4, Good News, Sooryavanshi and
celebrate my birthday here this time? since childhood and, as a
Laxmmi Bomb in his kitty.
For me, it was more about meeting fans at my inspiration from her father,

Vaani: The fear of being forgotten never crept in restaurant, arranging food that I specially curate for Nightingale of India Lata M
Bhosle has many special m

I
our menu, and also have a good time,” she said.
t’s been six years since her much- Vaani. Since the late 1940s till today Bhosle has sung She recalled one for us: “
appreciated debut performance The actress explained in order to numerous blockbuster hits including Chura liya hai had come to wish me all th
in Shudh Desi Romance, but sign a film, she needs to be “deeply tumne jo dil ko, Parde mein rehne do, Piya tu ab toh aa my children Varsha and A
Vaani Kapoor’s career has not really passionate” about the project. ja, Dum maro dum, Yeh mera dil, Mera kuchh samaan, exhausted, so we decided t
soared in this period. She has had “If I am not deeply passionate Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye, among others. wanted Chinese but Varsh
just one release in between – the dud about a certain project then I will let This time, the icnoc singer shared her passion for food. Indian food.
Befikre opposite Ranveer Singh in it be. I am just happy with the kind “I designed the menu which is a combination of veg They started arguing in
2016 – and is now all set to return of work I got to do in ‘War’, and also
on the Bollywood screen with War, in (the upcoming) ‘Shamshera’. I Anupam wishes, Neetu
opposite actor Hrithik Roshan. The am grateful to just be a part of such
Yash Raj Films-produced biggie also quality films,” said the 31-year-old safe trip back to India

stars Tiger Shroff.
Despite only sporadically
appearing on the Bollywood screen
in all time, Vaani says the fear of
being forgotten never gripped her.
“If that (the fear of being
forgotten) had crept into me, you
would have seen me doing five to
six films by now. I never ggive in to
pressure. Honestly, in life you should
take situations day by day. You never
know what comes your way. I just
like to go along with my instincts and
be a part of the kind of work I like,”
Vaani said.
Of course, she wants to do more
work. “I want to do a lot more, with
a many more filmmakers, people
and co-actors. There is so much
happening. Such good projects are
coming out. I just want to be a part of
something exciting, that’s all,” said
actress.
“War”, directed by Siddharth
Anand, is an action drama. “There
was a lot of fun in store for me,”
she recalls her experience shooting
for the film, adding: “I am so happy
and grateful to Siddharth Anand that
he actually considered me for a film
like this, and just the fact that I got
to work with such brilliant amazing
talents.”
She tags co-star Hrithik as an
“absolute treat to work with”, and
adds: “He is a brilliant actor and a
just a phenomenal person.”
V
eteran actor Anupam Kher’s
tweet to veteran actors Rishi
Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor
wishing them a safe trip back to India
have raised speculations about their
return to the country from New York.
Anupam tweeted: “Dearest Neetu There were reports that Rishi is
Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor! Here is likely to return on September 10.
wishing you a safe trip back to India Rishi was in New York to undergo
after being in New York for almost medical treatment for cancer.
a year. I have mixed feelings. I am A slew of family, friends, and
happy and sad at the same time.” celebrities from across the world,
“I am going to miss you terribly. including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir
We had a great time together. Thank Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Karan
you. Love and prayers,” Anupam Johar, have visited Rishi over the
added. past months.

Sonakshi reveals being fat shamed, sexism and getting replaced in films
S
onakshi Sinha’s journey has not been like the usual star around 95 kilos and I was always a big kid. Even though I used film. When it released, the audiences
kid. She wasn’t groomed to perfection to fit into this to do a lot of sports, the boys used to bully me and call me names. lapped me up but the worst part is
industry because she never wished to become an actress. They wouldn't give me main roles in plays in school. They would I was being fat shamed by the
Sonakshi Sinha might be born to a filmy family but she has always make me stand at the side or be the narrator.” industry people and the media.
had her own struggles. Narrating another incident, the Dabangg actress shares, “For That really hurt. I knew I
While the industry is of the opinion that only outsiders battle instance, I remember something that happened in college.  So we wasn’t the average looking
against all odds to make it big in the industry, which in fact is had to organise this annual fashion show and I wanted to be this stick figure person. I didn’t
also true, we tend to overlook the amount of struggles that an model and walk on the ramp. So one of the thin girls told me, have to. Honestly, I knew
actor, who belongs to a legion in the film fraternity, also has to ‘You handle the lights’. I said, “Why? I want to walk the ramp.” I had a lot more to offer
brave to reach a certain position in the industry. She replied, “No, you are too big to walk the ramp.” I just than what I weight on
From nepotism to bodyshaming, bullying to Honestly, felt really bad. There’s so much you want to do when you the weighing scale. So
getting replaced in films or being on the other end I knew I had are growing up. So who is this girl who happen to tell I never took that to
of ridiculous demands, Sonakshi has seen it all, a lot more to offer you that you can’t do it just because she is 10 or 20 heart.” 
despite being an industry kid. Sonakshi reveals, than what I weight on kilos less than me! I’m very happy with where I have
the weighing scale. So reached.” But the fat shaming continued even after
“I have been bullied quite a bit. I have had my
I never took that to she made her big debut opposite Salman Khan in
fair share because I was a fat kid. I used to weight heart.” 2010. "It didn't stop there. I lost 30 kilos for my first
 The Indian Weekender Friday, 13 September, 2019 ENTERTAINMENT 29

ON TURNING 86: Dream Girl will earn more

usic even today A
veg cuisine. I love cooking
eding people, and I really
pecial care of what should
the menu. For instance, in
iryani section, I specially
ed fish biryani and kesar
. Sultani kebab is one of
pes I got from Lucknow. It
in an old style of cooking,”
ber 8 into the musical family
eshkar, Bhosle learnt music
kid she not only gathered
but also her elder sister, the
Mangeshkar.
memories of past birthdays.
“This one time, many fans
hrough the day. I was with
Anand. As all of us were
to dine out. Anand said he
ha was in the mood to eat
n the car, and I said, ‘eat
than 180 cr: Annu Kapoor
nnu Kapoor, who will next be seen in “Dream
Girl” starring Ayushmann Khurrana, has predicted
the romantic comedy will earn more than Rs 180
crore at the box-office.
Kapoor was interacting with the media on Saturday
here at a promotional event of Dream Girl, along with
co-actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Nushrat Bharucha,
Abhishek Banerjee, Nidhi Bisht, Manjot Singh, and film’s
director Raaj Shaandilyaa .
Shaandilyaa makes his directorial debut with the film, commercial successful film Vicky
which casts Ayushmann as a tele-caller who impersonates Donor”, which released in 2012.
his female alter ego Pooja while calling up customers. Sharing his experience of
Unaware of the originality of the situation, his customers working with Ayushmann, Kapoor
can be seen falling for his alter ego who they hail as their said: “In 2012, when we did an
Dream Girl. Predicting the business of Dream Girl at iconic film called Vicky Donor, the
the box-office, Kapoor said: “I feel this film is definately industry got an actor like Ayushmann. Few years back, I
going to work. It will do business of more than 180 crore. was working with a superstar in a film and he told me that
More specifically, it’s going to do business between 178 Ayushmann is giving tough competition to all the actors.
crore to 187 crore. I feel good films have always worked I asked him if he was talking about his acting and he told
and appreciated by the audience and this film will not be me, ‘I am talking about remuneration!’ I feel that’s a huge
an exception to it.” compliment that he is giving competition to the superstars
Annu Kapoor is collaborating with Ayushmann of this industry.”
Khurrana for the second time after their critically and Dream Girl is slated to release on September 13.
whatever you children want, just don’t fight!’ Finally,
we made our way into a hotel, and inside a dark room.
Don't use plastic, don't be plastic: Salman Khan
S
Then, suddenly the lights came on, and I find myself in kids after that. I think we have to be
uperstar Salman Khan has
a room studded with my loved ones -- there was (late responsible and each one of us has to
expressed his concern over
husband) RD Burman, Lata (Mangeshkar) didi, my take the responsibility and say that I
climate change, pointing out
mother, (younger sisters) Usha and Meena, (brother) am going to be an ideal citizen and
how the use of plastic was ruining
Hridaynath, besides industry colleagues including I am going to do something for the
the planet. He urged people to refrain
Hariharan, Shailender Singh, Nitin Mukesh among environment," Madhuri added: "
from using plastic materials in daily
many others. I was so surprised! However small it is, like save
life. Addressing the issue Salman
We sang and chatted all through that memorable water or don't use plastic, there are
said: "Green, firstly (meaning save
evening. Since that birthday, this year’s has to be the so many things you can do for the
trees), water (save water), and avoid
special one. I am celebrating with my fans this time.” environment and each one of us can
plastic. Swatch Bharat Fit Bharat
The singer last lent her voice for the 2017 Bollywood do it in our own little ways."
(Clean India is a healthy India). Don't
film Begum Jaan, with the song Prem mein tohre, Commenting on the issue,
use plastic and don't be plastic."
which was picturised on Vidya Balan. Katrina said: "Climate change is
The actor was present along with
Bhosle, the first-ever Indian artiste to be nominated not something we see directly every
Madhuri Dixit Nene and Katrina
for a Grammy Award, said that although she sings day, so it is easy for us to forget
Kaif. Madhuri also said that we
these days, she missed the golden old days when she how important it is to save the
should live in a world that is
worked with iconic music directors such as OP Nayyar, environment. I think the easiest to
environment-friendly.
RD Burman, Khayyam and Madan Mohan among do and a small change we can all do
"Since I have kids, I will say to
many others. “I still record songs, but for me, things in our lives are stop using single-use
every parent that we should think
are not as glorious as they used to be. Those days, those plastic, it will be of great help to the
about what kind of planet we are
peoplee” she trailed off, into a flood of sweet nostalgia. planet."
going to leave for our kids and their

I could have been a better son: Parikshat Sahni

W
riting a book on his father, late
Bollywood legend Balraj Sahni,
was redemption for veteran
actor Parikshat Sahni, because he was self-
confessedly not a very good son.
“I was trying to be objective and subjective
at the same time because I intended to be as
truthful as possible. The process of writing
the book was quite elevating and it was like
catharsis. It was redemption for me because I
was not a very good son to him, though he was
a great father. Now, when I look back, I feel I
could have been a better son,” the 73-year-old
Parikshat said, with a nostalgic pause.
The book, titled The Non-Conformist:
Memories Of My Father Balraj Sahni, let
Parikshat be at peace with himself. “When you
are young, you are emotional and you cannot
look at things from a distance. You can’t see
objectivity in matters. I think writing this book
redeems me as a son in his eyes. I am at peace
with myself now,” said Parikshat Sahni, who
shared screen space with his father in the 1970
film, Pavitra Paapi.
The book, published by Penguin Random
House, has a foreward by veteran actor Amitabh
Bachchan, and it captures Balraj Sahni’s
journey and how his thoughts transformed over
various phases of his life.
“There is a reason why we look at him as
a non-conformist. He only followed his heart
and he went against convention many a time
without giving a damn about what society
thinks of him. He was a man with a strong mind
and he lived his life the way he wanted. He was
a socialist and a Marxist,” said Parikshat.
He added: “There were the paradoxes, too.
He was a believer of the Soviet Union and
Marxism, but when that ideology failed and the
Soviet Union began to crumble, I saw him in
pain. I saw him broken when he realised that
the ideology he believed, failed,” he recalled.
"Initially people offered me acting jobs
thinking I would know acting because
my father was a great actor. I was not
being true to myself. Then, my father
told me one day, ‘try to be a first-grade
Parikshat than a third grade Balraj Sahni
Born on May 1, 1913, in Rawalpindi, Balraj
Sahni not only contributed as an actor in films
but also in theatre, and his body of work reflects
his socio-political thoughts.
According to Parikshat, in the last leg of
his journey, his father started re-thinking his
religious belief.
“In the last years of his life, he started
reading Guru Granth Sahib, although all his
life he was an atheist. In fact, he brought me
up as an atheist. I turned to religion because it
spoke to me when I went through bad years of
my life. Religion gave me food for thought and
strengthened me,” said Parikshat.
Asked to name his favourite pick among his
father’s films, Parikshat said: Garam Hawa, Do
Bigha Zameen and Kabuliwala.”
So, what is his most memorable conversation
with his father? “In the beginning of my career
I did not think of becoming an actor because I
was trained as a writer and a director. Initially
people offered me acting jobs thinking I would
know acting because my father was a great sadden his father, Parikshat said.
actor. I was not being true to myself. Then, my “When he was alive, Kashmir was a
father told me one day, ‘try to be a first-grade perfectly normal place, and whenever he
Parikshat than a third grade Balraj Sahni’.” wanted he would visit the Valley. Kashmir was
“That line changed everything for me and a beautiful place then. I think my father would
I realised that as an artist I should have my be absolutely in shock if he had known what the
own voice and I should be truthful rather than future has in store for t h e
living under his shadow. That was an eye- Valley. Recalling
opening conversation for me,” added the actor those beautiful
who became a household name in the eighties days we spent
starring in the Doordarshan detective series is Kashmir
Barrister Vinod, and was later seen on TV feels,” he
shows such as Heena and Saat Phere. shared.
Parikshat dedictaes a chapter in his book
to Kasmir, which he calls
their “second home”.
Parikshat recalls spending
his childhood in their three-
storeyed wooden house in the
Valley.
The current political
scenario, which has turned
the Valley into a conflict zone,
would
 30 FEATURES Friday, 13 September, 2019 The Indian Weekender

South Pacific to get first Auckland’s favourite cheat day

just got a whole lot tastier
home-grown Hindi TV series soon
A
uckland’s shrine to all things
chocolate and coffee has
SANDEEP SINGH seriously stepped it up for

T
he South Pacific Region is all 2019. This year, the Chocolate &
set to get its first-ever home- Coffee Show’s chocolate and caffeine
grown Hindi TV series, treats will be joined by cheese AND
which will be exclusively shot in Fiji, wine for the ultimate celebration of
New Zealand and Australia.  decadence.
Aariyah – dubbed as Fiji’s own Smiling culinary wizards and
Shortland Street – in a press release artisans will descend on The Cloud
issued on Tuesday, September 10, is to share their expertise with intimate
all set to go on the floor in November masterclasses, live demonstrations
later this year.  and, of course, the chance to gorge
Several creative and ambitious on all things delicious.
art-lovers are coming together to season-one and on the lookout for The spectacular two-day event
fulfil a long-held dream of making a the fresh talent for the show that already boasts the ultimate selection
commercially viable Hindi TV series can be new trend-setting for Fiji of tasty treats and this year serious
that showcases the various shades broadcasting media.  connoisseurs can secure a spot in
of lives of Indian migrants living in The show is written by Auckland’s the exclusive VIP wine and cheese
the region. The show is being written local talent Ashfaak Khan, who is lounge.
by Auckland based script-writer busy in writing the thirteen-episode “Give in to the tantalising aromas
Ashfaak Khan produced by Anita story for Aariya’s first season.  and let yourself go – it’s called
talented Dr Ken Khan, who is selfcare sweetie, look it up,” media
Prasad, directed by Dr Ken Khan.  “It’s a satire with all the masala
currently visiting Malaysia for the release from Chocolate and Coffee
“It was my dream to see Fijian and that revolves around a radio station
premiere of another production Suatu Show said.
Pacific content on the mainstream. I which is a character in itself, like
Ketika.  Now in its sixth year, The
am glad that it’s happening,” Anita the hospital in Shortland Street,”
“We are delighted to receive Chocolate and Coffee Show is New
Prasad said. Ashfaak said, not giving away too
phenomenal interest, including from Zealand’s largest celebration of
The show will include characters much. 
Bollywood,” Dr Khan said.  chocolate, coffee and tasty treats.
from diverse Indian nationalities “The Thirteen episodes season-
“Directors see no boundaries and Featuring over 80 exhibitors
living in Fiji, New Zealand and one is about life, relationships and
literature contributes to connecting representing the crème de la crème of
Australia to showcase their day to loyalty,” Ashfaak said. 
cultures. Fiji is part of the modern New Zealand’s artisan chocolatiers,
day emotions and aspirations of Aariya is intended to be shown on TICKETS: General admission from
world, and its people are the people coffee roasters and purveyors of $12.50,
settling in the broader South Pacific major platforms, including Netflix
of today. It is humbling that through delectable morsels, it is a requisite free entry for kids under the age of
region.  and Amazon. 12
this TV Series I will have a chance event for any foodie.
“The aim of the show is to showcase Anand Naidu – an award-winning VIP LOUNGE: $39.95
to preserve Fiji Island’s majestic WHAT: The Chocolate & Coffee
Indians from different backgrounds producer with credits on features MASTERCLASSES: From $46 -
presence and talents in the Pacific, Show $56.50, kids’ masterclasses $25
living away from our motherland and like Vindaloo Empire (Released) WHEN: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th
Dr Khan said. https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/the-
adapting and adjusting lifestyle of and Stranded Pearl (in-production) - October 2019 chocolate-and-coffee-show-2019-
Aariya TV series is currently in WHERE: The Cloud, Queens Wharf,
westernization,” Ms Prasad said.  is currently managing the production tickets-53038347124?aff=erelexpm
the scripting and casting stage for Auckland 1010
The director of the show is the infrastructure. lt#tickets.

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2019/
HINDI LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TRUST OF NEW ZEALAND oct/oyster-festival-matakana. Visit www.
HINDI LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TRUST OF NEW ZEALAND oysterfestmatakana.co.nz for more info

2019 NATIONAL

HINDI
LANGUAGE WORKSHOP Cultural program for Auckland Diwali Festival
Namaste & Kio Ora Swami Bodhasarananda 2019
We invite you to attend the above workshop. This workshop is for the Hindi stake holders by by Ramakrishna Vedanta Date: Saturday, 12 – Sunday, 13 October
the stakedolders. The workshop shall provide a platform to create, strengthen guidelines and Time: 12 a.m. & 9 p.m.
build a capability thus creating a joint voice for all Hindi Language Stake holders in New Centre Venue: Aotea Square, 291-297 Queen Street,
Zealand to meet with Education Minister and Ministry of Education Officials in late September Date: Friday, September 20 Auckland
or early October in alignment with the submission already made to the government in 2018. Time: 6:45 p.m., to 9 p.m. Celebrate Auckland’s vibrant Indian culture at the
Venue: Blockhouse Bay Primary School, 584 annual Auckland Diwali Festival.
All participants are required to register for the . Registration Forms are available from
Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay This vibrant, FREE family-friendly cultural festival,
Satya Dutt: satyadutt@hotmail.com or 021 1127 291/Praveena Prasad:
The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre Auckland now in its 18th year, will showcase an exciting
praveena_prasad1@yahoo.com.au or 021 261 3158. Registration must be completed before
is organising a Cultural Function in honour array of international and local live music and
14th September, 2019 for sitting arrangement and catering purposes. There are limited spaces.
of the visiting Assistant General Secretary of dance, a delectable range of Indian foods and
Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, India- Swami sweets, street theatre and workshops, and a
2019 NATIONAL HINDI LANGUAGE WORKSHOP dazzling fireworks display. Find out more at
Bodhasarananda. Every one is welcome to
Date: Saturday 21st September, 2019
attend this function. Besides covering the event, aucklandnz.com/diwali, Note: This is an alcohol
Venue: Papatoetoe High School (Staffroom)
we would also welcome you along with your staff and smoke-free event.
Time: 8.45am – 4.00pm
and your families to attend this function.
Theme: Hindi Language, Past, Present and Beyond for Future Generations
The Majestic KK Live in
Official Opening: Hon Jenny Salesa Karwachauth & Diwali Auckland
Minister for Building and Construction, Ethnic Communities. Associate Minister of Health,
Education and Housing & Urban Development. Member of Parliament for Manukau East. Bash 2019 Date: Saturday, 19 October
Topic: The Importance of Language Maintenance for Settlement and Intercultural Date: Saturday, 5 October Time: 7:00 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.
Understanding. Time: 3:00p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Venue: Logan Campbell Centre 217 Greenlane
Welcome Address will be delivered by Bhav Dhillon: Honorary Consul of India, Venue: Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall Rd West, Epsom, Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand. Come with your family and friends and enjoy the Krishnakumar Kunnath (popularly known as
fun-filled Diwali and Karwachauth Fest KK, K.K. or Kay Kay) is an Indian singer. He
The other speakers and presenters are: Keynote Address by Dr Todd, Executive
Shop your favourite Indian wear, jewellery, is a prominent singer in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu,
Director, EarthDiverse; Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, the List Member of Parliament, National
accessories, Diwali gifts etc... Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali and
Party; Maree Jeurissen, Manager, Ministry of Education, Manager-ESOL, Migrant
Fun-filled games, face painting and activities for Gujarati languages films. KK is noted for his
Refugee & International; Susan Warren, CEO, COMET, Auckland Languages Strategy clear and soothing voice; broad vocal range
kids. Cultural Program and performances for
Working Group; Dr Pushpa, Massey University; Sunita Narayan, President, Community and noteplay. He is considered as one of the
your entertainment.
Languages Association of NZ; Hon Nikki Kaye, Education Speaker of the National Party; most versatile singers of India. A show not to be
Dr Netram Sharma, Retired Principal Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Fiji
Islands; Suman Kapoor, Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, NZ & Hamilton Hindi School; Vavao Oyster Festival Matakana missed.

Date: Sunday 6th October 2019

Fetui (Samoan Language), University of Auckland and Maata Fusitua (Tongan
Language), Teacher & ECE Co-ordinator. There are a total of 10 sessions. Venue: The Farmer’s Daughter Omaha, 329
Omaha Flats Rd, Point Wells
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Now in its third year, Oyster Festival Matakana
kicks off the shucking season with a selection
of Mahurangi’s finest. Having started New
Zealand’s love for oyster farming, the Mahurangi
oyster is the cream of the crop. TICKETS: From
iTicket – general admission $34.50 for adults,
$10.50 for children (10-17 years, free entry for
kids under 10), $64.50 for VIP (includes priority
parking, access to the VIP bar and a mimosa on
arrival)
Walking Stars Auckland
2019
Date: Saturday, 23 November
Time: 6:30 p.m. & 2 a.m.
Venue: The Grandstand on Football Road in
the Auckland Domain
Hosted by Walking Stars New Zealand and
Cancer Society of Auckland. Walking Stars is
a night-time walking marathon bringing people
together to raise vital funds in support of local
people living with cancer. Tickets · $49-$85.
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