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 2 NEW ZEALAND
Meeting the two new Life Members of NZICA
¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH
H
arshad Patel of Auckland Indian
Association and Manjeet Singh of
Pukekohe Indian Association were
honoured with Life Membership of the New
Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA)
at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the
Association held on Saturday, April 21, 2018,
in Hamilton.
The Indian Weekender spoke with the duo
and the President of NZICA Bhikhu Bana about
the importance of this honour and plans of the
organisation.
IWK: Bhikhu Bana, you are the Presi-
dent of NZICA, can you please tell us
the importance of the honour of Life
Membership in NZICA?
Bhikhu Bhana: Life Membership is a
prestigious award given to the most deserving
member of NZICA through a democratic voting
procedure. The criteria to fit the nomination is
very strict, and the nomination can be from
the top down or bottom up, or by executive
members or by an individual at Annual General
Meeting. The nominee will have to be voted
with an absolute majority of 32 per cent for
life membership. In the past, when we did not
have 32 per cent voting, we have not been able
to give out this award, but this year we are
fortunate to have selected two members for
this honour. Once awarded, the Life Members
can be a part of any meeting, AGMs, the voting
process, and are invited to meet delegates and
prestigious events.
NZICA was started 92 years ago when the
population on the Indian community was
limited, and it was made to lobby the interest
and concerns of the Indian community to the
government.
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IWK: How does it feel to be awarded
Life Membership?
Mr Patel: I can’t describe in words, I feel most
honoured. I have never worked for an award,
and it’s the people who recognised my efforts
and service for over a decade at NZICA.
Mr Singh: I felt blessed and honoured for
being a part of this prestigious organisation. I
have been a part of NZICA for 13 years, and it
is a platform that keeps you connected with the
community.
IWK: Mr Patel we would like to know
more about you and your interest in the
community works?
Mr Patel: I came to New Zealand 40 years ago
and had a degree in Chemistry. It was after a
brief struggle the I got a job in the Research
and Development Department of NZ Farmers
Fertilizers, and later I moved to Auckland
Regional Council, and I still work there as an
analyst.
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This certainly came at the cost of sacrificing
family time.
Mr Singh: I hailed from Haryana and moved
out of the country to Muscat at the age of 19 in
1974. Then I moved to Dubai in 1976 until 1987
where I worked as a truck driver and later as a
supervisor running 80 trucks under my watch.
Until 1987, while working in Dubai, I travelled
to England, Canada and the United States.
In 1987 I moved to South America where I
owned a piece of land, but I did not find many
prospects for my family. I was returning to India
From Left- from Bolivia via New Zealand that changed the
Manjeet Singh, course of my life. During transit at Auckland
NZICA President Airport, I came across an Immigration Card
Bhikhu Bhana and that gave me a cue that I can stay in this country
Harshad Patel
as well if I have a job. It took me two months to
get a job here, and the rest is history.
IWK: What is NZICA doing now?
NZICA was started 92
Mr Bhana: The vision is to serve the Indian
years ago when the community, and with the rapid migration
population on the Indian of Indians from every corner of India, it is
community was limited, important that we engage with everyone. We
have our representations in Christchurch, New
and it was made to lobby Plymouth and Rotorua and we look forward to
the interest and concerns getting representations from all 29 Indian states
of the Indian community be a part of NZICA.
We are liaising with new associations and
to the government. making changes in our constitution and getting
other community representations part of
NZICA.
I joined Auckland Indian Association as a
IWK: What is your message to the com-
member, where I had a passion for music and
munity?
used to perform and play at concerts that made
Mr Patel: Be together and united and promote
me the chairperson of entertainment in the one cause- be together as Indian.
organisation. Mr Singh: There are no shortcuts in NZICA,
With more work and service over the years, one has to work hard, start at the bottom, and
I became president of AIA and later as VP and contribute time and energy to the cause of the
President of NZICA. community. We are there to help.
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 The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018
Unitec Housing Project will deliver first
houses by the end of 2019: Phil Twyford
¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH
T
he Housing and Transport Minister Phil
Twyford is confident that the Mt Albert
housing project will deliver the first
Kiwibuild houses to first home buyers by the
end of 2019.
The minister was also confident that his
government would be able to put a ballot
system in place for selecting interested first
home buyers to buy houses in the Unitec
housing project.
The government-sponsored Unitec housing
project envisages delivering first home houses
(standalone) at around $600,000-650,000 and
apartments at $500,000, as opposed to the
average market price of houses in Mt Albert
suburb of $1.2 million.
Mr Twyford was at The Indian Weekender
studio earlier this week for a detailed interview
on government’s response to Auckland’s two
most pressing issues of housing and transport.
The minister spoke in detail about the two
major projects announced earlier last month
of Unitec housing project which envisages
building 3000-4000 affordable houses and $28
billion Auckland transport program.
Among other things, the Minister also
continued to accentuate the recent narrative that
the previous National government has left a
$9.7 billion fiscal-hole in Auckland’s transport
budget, which their government is dealing with.
Here are some excerpts from the interview.
IWK: Mr Twyford, as a Housing and
Transport Minister, you are overseeing
the current government’s response on two
significant issues concerning the Aucklanders,
housing issue and traffic congestion, how do
you feel about that?
Mr Twyford: We have so much to do as a
government. We are a city that loses $1.3 bn
every year because of the gridlock on the road
and the housing crisis. The good thing is that
now we have the policies, a plan, to fix the
Auckland’s growth problems to make housing
more affordable, end homelessness, and get the
city moving.
IWK: There are some genuine concerns
about the ability to complete such ambitious
projects in given time and within allocated
resources. In particular the Unitec Housing in
Mt Albert, which was a major announcement
in the recent past. How confident are you
about its success in a doable time?
Housing and
Transport Minister
Phil Twyford in
The Indian
Weekender's
studio
Mr Twyford: Unitec is a site in Mt Albert
Road on Carrington Road, of almost 30 acres.
We have purchased the land as a government
to do a large-scale urban development project
that will deliver more than 3000 new homes.
We wanted it to be a showcase of the best kind
of contemporary urban community, good urban
design and great architecture, open facilities,
shopping centres, etc. We are confident to
deliver this project efficiently.
IWK: What do you have to say about the
choice of Mt Albert, which is an inner suburb,
for such a massive housing project? Don’t you
think that by developing such a project 4000
houses will potentially bring 10,000 more
cars in an inner suburb, which is already
NEW ZEALAND 3
The government-
sponsored Unitec housing
project envisages
delivering first home
houses (standalone) at
around $600,000-650,000
and apartments at
$500,000, as opposed to
the average market price
of houses in Mt Albert
suburb of $1.2 million
gridlocked with traffic? Don’t you think you
are creating more problems for the future and
not being able to solve the current problem?
Mr Twyford: One of the big challenges that
Auckland has is we have to learn to do density
well, that is more medium-density housing,
flats, apartments, terraces, townhouses and so
on. This old idea that the former government
promoted that we can all live in three-bedroom
standalone homes in the suburbs is part of the
problem because land is so expensive. The only
way you can live in that old classic kiwi 1950s
lifestyle is when you live an hour and a half
outside in the countryside.
Actually, most people don’t want to live like
that anymore, and Unitec side offers a more
urban lifestyle.
 4 NEW ZEALAND Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

Shanti Niwas’ 3rd branch

IWK: When do you think
the first houses from the
Unitec housing project will
be available for first home
buyers?
Mr Twyford: We look at
delivering it in the first half
to open in South Auckland
¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

of next year. Unitec Polytech
will have to consolidate a lot
of their space. But, certainly,
before the end of 2019, it
should be available for the
community
IWK: The challenge for
the buyers is not getting in
the house but to save enough
for the deposit, being able to
service the mortgage. Do you think the
government is going to handhold them
and provide any help over there?
Mr Twyford: We are looking at
shared equity. One of the problems in the
Auckland market is that even if we are
really successful at building Kiwibuild
homes that we can sell for $650,000
– that still might need a mortgage for
$550,000 and it’s just not possible. So,
what our response to that is the ‘shared
equity’ program that we are working
on right now. What it means is that the
government or an investor might holds
an equity stake in your mortgage. So,
instead of looking for a mortgage of
$550,000 the equity stake is $200,000
and your mortgage then becomes
$350,000. Then as you pay that down
over a number of years and you can buy
back the stake from the government or
involved investor.
That is how we think the benefit of
Kiwibuild could be therefore given to
a much bigger group of people. What
we have to do is find capital to fund
One of the big
challenges that
Auckland has is we
have to learn to do
density well, that
is more medium-
density housing, flats,
apartments, terraces,
townhouses and so on.
that program for which we are talking at
the moment with banks, pension funds,
private sector investors etc.
IWK: Do you think there is enough
incentive for them to join this initiative?
Mr Twyford: That’s the trick, the
stakeholders will have to see returns on
their investments, and higher the margin
they make, less economically viable will
it be for the homebuyers. And we are
pretty hopeful we will crack this, and we
will run this shared equity program with
this Kiwibuild.
••
S
hanti Niwas Charitable
Trust, the not-for-profit
charitable organisation
serving the Indian and South Asian
seniors, is opening its third branch
in South Auckland.
Due to the growing needs of
the seniors of the community seniors, right from Papatoetoe, covering Manukau,
in the southern region of Auckland, the charitable
Manurewa, Takanini, Papakura up to Bombay Hills,”
organisation is opening their new branch in Manukau
area to provide their service to the seniors in the
Ms Venkat added.
region.
The Association will operate from a hall on 202
Great South Road in Manurewa and provide services
The Trust started the service for the seniors in 1994
once a week for a start and will increase the number
and opened its first centre in Central Auckland in
Onehunga seven years ago. The Association books the of sessions based on the response over the next
Glenview Community Centre twice a month in North few months.
Shore to hold sessions from North Auckland. “We provide quality service to the seniors, and
Shanti Niwas provides different programs for we are very positive that the number in the South
older people of the community with special needs Auckland branch can get higher than our central
in the wider Auckland region. The programs are branch in Onehunga in the few months,” Ms
designed to engage the seniors in doing activities Venkat added.
Shanti Niwas’ other services include Khushi
that include exercise, entertainment, educational, and
that looks after elder abuse and Neglect Prevention
other recreational activities. The seniors at different
Services, EARS – Elder Abuse Response Service,
intervals of the year also venture out for outdoor
SNEH – Shanti Niwas Emergency Home for the
picnics and even participate at various cultural events.
seniors, DOSTI – Volunteer Visiting services, SAKHI
“There is a need for special services for the seniors
in the South Auckland region- we have covered central – Prison visiting service to support female South
and north Auckland –and we will extend our services Asian inmates, and other aged care related services.
to the community in the south from now,” General The trust has also been providing culturally
Manager of Shanti Niwas, Nilima Venkat said. appropriate services, advocacy, counseling, and
Shanti Niwas has a dedicated and passionate team translation services and conducts information
of social workers, diversional therapist and other workshops on health and wellbeing.
professionals who provide information and services The third branch will be opened with a small
to the seniors. ceremony at 202 Great South Road on Thursday,
“The new centre, with support from the Counties
May 17.
Manukau Police, will see a huge footfall of the

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 The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018 NEW ZEALAND 5

12-year-old Kiwi-Indian
bags Top Scholar Award for
Spanish language Responsible business with lasting
¡¡ IWK BUREAU
relationship in the community
'Fue muy emocionante ser reconocido junto
con muchos otros académicos mejores, y
también fue un evento muy memorable.'

“
It was very exciting to be recognised along
with many other top scholars, and it was a
very memorable event,” was the response
of a Kiwi Indian student of Diocesan School for
Girls, Auckland after receiving the Top Subject
Scholar for Spanish Language.
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Aadhya was recognised with the award at the

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2017 New Zealand Scholarship Top Scholar
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Wednesday, May 2.
The Top Subject Scholar Award recognises
the highest achieving student in an individual
New Zealand Scholarship subject. This award
ceremony was initiated by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
Aadhya attended the award ceremony with
her mother Seema, school mate Madeline Low
who is the Top Subject Scholar for History and
their Principal Heather McRae.
The Prime Minister, Minister for Education
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the Premier Scholars and Top Subject Scholars.
While congratulating the scholars, the Prime
Minister said that she was thrilled to induct the
great brains straight away into helping to serve
the country.
“It is a rarity for a year 12 student to top the
subject against the year 13 students and it is
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to receive the award for Spanish Language,”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said praising the
Aadhya.
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Dairy with 4 Bedroom Accommodation for
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Dairy/Superette with 3 Bedroom
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Dairy with 2 Bedroom Accommodation
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Dairy for Sale in South Island
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Shop Weekly Sales $36,000 approx
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Dairy with 3 Bedroom Accommodation
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6 NEW ZEALAND Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

GIRMIT DAY SPECIAL

Fiji Girmit remembrance day:
MAY 14, 1879– THE DAY WHEN IT ALL STARTED
¡¡ SANDEEEP SINGH

I
t was on May 14, 1879, that the first
steam ship Leonidas had arrived in the
port of Levuka in Fiji with 522 Indian
indentured labourers - a moment that has been
permanently scripted into the psyche of the
Fiji-Indian community and generates myriad
of emotions.
What if the date of May 14, 1879, would not
have existed in the calendar?
Or the first ship bringing Indian settlers
lured into the deceitful trap of ‘Girmit’ had not
arrived in Fiji?
These are the questions that might traverse
across some naively imaginative and
emotional descendants of those first generation
Girmitiyas, who continue to look towards
that abominable past of their ancestors with
a shared sense of pain and reverence, for all Clockwise: Leonidas-
the deprivations they were subjected under the the first ship carrying
Girmityas to Fiji; old
irrepressible British colonial rule.
pictures chronicling
Sadly though, these questions had little The first ship on May 14, lives of Girmitiyas
meaning today or offer little solace to their
respective insatiable minds, which rightly 1879, was followed by
yearns for resurrecting that past. 87 more voyages made
For, if not May 14, 1879, then some other
day, the ship of Indian indentured labourers
by 42 ships in next 35
would have definitely arrived as the might of years bringing around
British colonial rule at those times was too 60,000 Indian indentured
brute and irrepressible, to be halted by mere
wish list. labourers.
The first ship on May 14, 1879, was
followed by 87 more voyages made by 42
ships in next 35 years bringing around 60,000
The first British Governor of Fiji Arthur
Indian indentured labourers.
Regrettably, the month of May has more Gordon who has previously served as
mournful memories on the psyche of the Fiji- Governor in Mauritius and Trinidad where
Indian community. indenture system was already in operation and
On May 11, 1884, the ship Syria had run therefore was keen to replicate and introduce
aground on Naselai reef killing 59 hapless that system in Fiji whereby capitalising on
Indian indentured labourers in the tragedy. the cheap labour from India. There is broad
In more recent memories, May 14, 1987, unanimity among researchers and scholars of
had an unpleasant memory of the first coup, Fiji-Girmit history that this preference towards
which removed the democratically elected Indian indentured labourers was driven by an
Government that comprised Indian majority. unwillingness to employ native labours on
However, May 14 is marked as Girmit the grounds that it will disrupt village life,
Remembrance Day to acknowledge the arrival who were already in strain with the relatively
of the first ship bringing Indian indentured recent contact with the modern life.
labourers to the South Pacific heaven of Fiji,
commencing a process of creating of new Girmitiya Heritage – The ships
heritage and history for the people deceitfully
removed from their original home – India.
What was Indenture System?
A peek into the Girmit heritage will not
be complete without a mention of ships
that transported a huge mass of humanity, The sugarcane cane farms
I ndenture system was designed by the
British colonial empire as an alternate
system of supplying labour-force after the end
often against their will, in a journey plagued
by deprivation, confinement, and sufferings, A peek into Girmit heritage will be
incomplete without a mention of life
which had left a notable mark on the collective in sugarcane farms of Fiji, because it was in
of slavery in 1834. psyche of the descendants of Girmitiyas. The these plantations, where impersonality and
Unlike in slavery, where the servitude was
sense of pain and sufferings that is often drudgery were the rules, vice was rampant
institutionalised, without having any right of
any type, the indenture system was designed, associated with Girmit started at the ships, and hugely exploitative living conditions Kolkata Garden Reach Memorial
with many shuddering with the very prospect prevailed, with little respect for basic human – a tribute to the Girmitiyas
at least at face value as a contract, between

two seemingly equal and willing partners,
where one agrees to do physical work instead
of some form of payment in return.
The contract was known as ‘agreement’
which was widely mispronounced by Indian
indentured labours as ‘Girmit’. The people
entering into such agreements or Girmit were
called Girmitiyas.
The system was initially started with the
labourers being sent to work in Mauritius,
Uganda and Nigeria for an initial five year
period.
When did Girmit start in Fiji?
of sailing through the un-sailable oceans.
It is now widely documented that a lot of
scared passengers had then chosen to jump
from ships, dying in the process, to just escape
from the prospect of sailing in unknown
oceans without their much conscious consent.
The voyage by ship was always a horrific
one due to treating humans like sardines, where
they were crammed in microscopic spaces,
without much access to basic amenities as we
understand in today’s relatively free world.
Indeed, the much dreaded and painfully
remembered Girmit experience began with
right and dignity.
The food and medical attention were
inadequate for most of the period, and so was
the personal living space made available to
each individual in the ‘lines’ where workers
lived.
The pain and plight of Girmitiyas in
those sugarcane farms is best reflected in an
emotional outcry expressed in the form of
Bidesia – an oral folk tradition.
• Bipati humari suniyo re daiya
• Rom rom mein ab chhitke hai chingariyan
• Bipati humari suniyo re daiya
• Khunwa pasinwa se seenche ham CSR ki
A
revisit into Girmit heritage will be
incomplete without a mention of a
memorial monument constructed back in
India, dedicated to the people who were sent
as indentured labour to various countries
around the world, during the British colonial
period in India.
The Kolkata Garden Reach Memorial
was unveiled at Kolkata Port, India, by the
then Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA), with support from the West Bengal
government and the Ministry of Shipping, on

F
January 11, 2011, to pay a tribute to all those
iji became a part of the British Empire bagiya
the horrific travelling experiences in the ships people who had been deceitfully removed
in 1874 with the signing of Fiji’s deed of • Phir bhi chaabuk maar khaye re bidesia
ferrying them to their new destinations. from their original home India.
Cessation to Britain. • Bipati humari suniyo re daiya
 The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018
Towards understanding Girmit
¡¡ BRIJ V LAL
W
hen I first began to research
the history of Fijian girmit for
my doctoral dissertation at the
Australian National University in 1977, the
subject, by and large, was an area of darkness.
There was little consciousness of the past
among our people. Girmit, it was widely
believed, was a subject shrouded in sorrow,
asubject best left unexplored in the forgotten
pages of our history. People had made
something of themselves, they had moved
on, and they did not need to be reminded,
usually by their political foes, of their humble
beginnings and of their place at the bottom of
the colonial hierarchy.
And then there was the economic reality
to contend with, working to just keep afloat.
Education was a scarce commodity for
most people and utilitarian in in nature. The
colonial bureaucracy wanted pliant cogs in
the bureaucratic wheel, not half-baked babus
asking tricky questions. History was for no-
hopers (like myself, I was constantly reminded
much to my discomfort).
But things have been changing in recent
decades, especially since 1979 when Indo-
Fijians marked the one hundredth anniversary
of the beginning of indentured emigration to
Fiji. For the first time, the surviving girmitiyas
were put on display, so to speak, their voices
heard, their trials appreciated. They briefly had
their place in the sun in their twilight years.
These, we learned, were ordinary people who
accomplished extraordinary things, often
without a helping hand and in the face of the
most difficult of circumstances.
In more recent times, the subject has moved
from the university classrooms to the domain
of public discourse, facilitated in large part by
the advent of recent technology and a silent but
genuine desire to know the historical contours
of their journeys. But all this has come at
a cost. The subject has moved on from the
domain of historical enquiry to the domain
of heritage studies, from remembrance to
reverence. The girmitiyas in this version are
a venerated people without blemish or blame,
victims of history who had no hand in shaping
their destiny.
And so we hear of endless tales of hardship
and brutality, of death and decay. All this
was undoubtedly a part of the odyssey of
indenture, but it was by no means the whole
story. Indenture in Fiji, compared to, say, the
Caribbean, was a limited detention of five or
at most ten years; it was not a life sentence.
Our contact with India was never completely
severed as Totaram Sanadhya reminds us. Our
cultural and social organisations emerged early
to shield us from the asperities and alienations
of the outside world (Arya Samaj, Sanatan
Dharma, Muslim League, Sangam). Old
customs perforce had to give way to newer
ones in a new environment.
Girmit was a great leveller of social
hierarchy and protocol. From the debris of
girmit emerged a new society, more pragmatic,
more resilient, more egalitarian. We became a
self-made people. It is this accomplishment
we celebrate.
Last year, 2017, marked the centenary of
the abolition of indentured emigration, though
not the indenture system itself which, in Fiji,
ended on 1 January, 1920. All the former sugar
colonies marked the occasion with conferences,
workshops, seminars and publications, the
latest being a Commonwealth Foundation book
of creative writing, ‘’We Mark your Memory:
Writings by the descendants of indenture.’ The
process pf reckoning with the past, complex
and contested as it was, is gaining momentum.
Education has a very large part to play in
this, education based on research and critical
enquiry, not no on the assertions of nostalgia.
Memorials are important, but they cannot be
the sum total of our memory of history. Sadly,
there is little about girmit in the Fijian curricula
that deals with this foundational aspect of Fiji’s
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history. There little appreciation of the fact that
the fates of the two principal communities are
intertwined, and they have been thus. Indian
indentured labourers were introduced into
Fiji so that the Fijian people, already under
pressure from contact with the outside world,
could be spared the ordeal of hard plantation
labour. There was borrowing and adaptation
where the two communities lived near
each other.
There is nothing about this, and about many
other things, in what our children read and
remember no overarching narrative about our
common ordeals and triumphs. For far too
long, Fiji has languished in the cul-de-sac of
division and distrust, a sense of separation and
difference. All this has inevitably fractured our
national spirit, our sense of common identity
as a people. Let us move beyond the ideology
of grief and grievance, beyond mourning, to
embrace the true legacy of girmit: the triumph
of the human spirit over the harshest of
adversities inflicted by man and nature alike.
And that is something worth remembering,
worth celebrating.
Brij V Lal is an
Emeritus Professor
of The Australian
National University
and an Honorary
Professor of the
University of
Queensland. Among
many other awards,
he has received the
Centenary Medal of the Government of
Australia for his contributions to the
Humanities there, and a Member of the
Order of Australia for his scholarship. He
now lives in Brisbane. His next book to
be published later this year is ‘Levelling
Wind: Remembering Fiji.’ He is now
writing a book in Fiji-Hindi.
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8 NEW ZEALAND
The old accounts of the girmit and girmitiyas have done
much harm to understand them and their community
¡¡ DR SATISH RAI
T
oday the word Girmit is becoming a
popular currency to describe a group
of Indians who left the shores of India
more than a century ago to fulfil labour needs
of the British and other European colonial
empires. Under the Indian indenture system
some 1.2 million Indians signed an agreement
( Girmit ) of indenture and sailed away to
more than ten European colonies to work on
plantations formerly worked for free by the
African slaves.
The process of transporting non-European
labour to work for the Europeans began a few
decades after Columbus set his sights on the
Caribbean in 1492, while looking for India.
After the Spaniards and other Europeans
murdered most of the natives of newly found
lands in the Americas and the Caribbean and
captured their land, they needed labour to
work for them. At this stage the most inhuman
transportation of human began in the modern
history of mankind. It is estimated that some
40 million Africans from the African sub-
continent were enslaved by the Europeans
and put into ships for the Americas. Most
of them perished during the journey. Those
who survived were sold off to the planters in
auctions. The slaves worked for free for the
planters till the end of their natural lives. This
process continued till 1834, when slavery was
officially abolished. Most of the former slaves
refused to work for their former master.
The refusal of former slaves to work on the
plantations created severe labour problems for
the planters in the colonies. By this time the
British had also colonised India and through
practices such as introduction of land tax
Intake: July 2018, September 2018 and November 2018
system (i.e. lagaan) they contributed towards
the deprivation of people in many parts
of India. These areas thus provided fertile
grounds for the British to recruit and replace
the slave labours in many of their colonies,
including Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad &
Tobago, Surinam, Jamaica, South Africa and
Fiji. The Indian indentured labour system
started in 1834 and by its conclusion in
1916, transported some 1.2 million Indians
from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh,
Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In the process of
indenture system the Indian recruits signed an
agreement (pronounced Girmit by the Indians)
to work in the colonies for a fixed term.
Although many of the girmityas returned to
India at the end of their Girmit terms, many
stayed back in the colonies for various reasons.
Today the descendants of these girmityas
number some ten million globally. In the
case of Fiji, some 60,500 Indians left India to
serve out their Girmit. About 40% (25,000)
Friday, May 11, 2018
returned to India but for various reasons, the
rest of them stayed back in Fiji. Now the Indo-
Fijian diaspora numbers some 750,000 people.
While most of them (approximately 350,000)
still live in Fiji, the rest are scattered around
the Pacific Rim countries of Australia, New
Zealand, Canada and the USA.
Over the years many researchers and writers
have tried to understand and explain the
reasons behind girmit and the process that was
responsible for taking so many Indians away
from their homeland and keeping them in the
far away lands permanently.
The task for the researchers on the girmit
system has been made very difficult because
of lack of any reliable documentation about
the system throughout its 84 years history.
Even after its abolition in 1916, no great
attempt was made by the girmityas and their
descendants to document the history first
hand from the girmityas who remained in
the colonies and continued to labour for the
plantation owners. The only reliable document
still available about the Girmitiyas home and
The Indian Weekender
next of kin in India is contained in the indenture
agreement (Girmit) passes each Girmitya had
signed upon recruitment in India. The colonial
officers in the colonies made records of the
arrival, settlement, marriages, birth, deaths
and return of each girmitya to India upon his
or her girmit contract in the colonies.
However precious little documentation ever
existed about what happened to the girmityas
during and after the end of their girmit. In
the absence of any substantial amount of
information about the 1.2million girmityas
and their descendants, many of those who
attempted to study the girmit system and
the girmitya communities around the world
generally speculated about both. Judging from
the existing literature on atleast Fiji girmityas
I am inclined to conclude that many of the
accounts of the girmit and the girmityas was
far from accurate and have done much harm
to the proper understanding of the subject and
the community. They have gone a long way to
project a very negative view of the girmityas
and the places in Indian from where they have
come from. As a result even today most of the
descendants do not know many aspects of the
girmit and the sacrifices of their hardworking
ancestors.
Dr Satish Rai is
a Sydney based
producer,
director,
writer, music
creator,
working in
the field of
consolidating
Girmit
heritage. He is the Director of Indian
Diaspora Council of Australia Inc. (IDCA)
 The Indian Weekender
Remembering Girmit
¡¡ DR SATENDRA SINGH
A
former Fiji Vice President
the late Ratu Joni
Madraiwiwi summed up
a valuable lesson of the Girmitya
when he told a 2004 remembrance,
“Your forebears’ arrival in these
islands in 1879 altered their
character forever.” Ratu Joni was
absolutely correct.
The indenture system was a
product of colonisation, a legacy
left by imperialists. It has been
aptly referred to by a former United
Nations Deputy Secretary General,
eminent writer and Indian MP, Dr
Shashi Tharoor as a “brotherhood
of the boat” in terms of suffering
and bonded labour of Indian Girmit
pathways.
The British Raj and its promoters
provided a ready supply of workers
and various British colonies fell into
the net. Much has been written about
the Fiji Girmit.
Some likened it as a step above
slavery. At the height of the
sufferings Indians were enduring
in Fiji, an emissary of Mahatma
Gandhi, Reverend C F Andrews saw
first-hand and wrote about the level
to which peoples’ dignity had been
compromised.
A traumatic event widely reported
was the sinking of the vessel “Syria”
and the loss of life. Girmit ended
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Friday, May 11, 2018
eventually. The deep scars however
took time. This factor was alluded
to by India’s Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi on a state visit to Fiji in 1979
to share the 100th anniversary of the
arrival of Indians and to meet a small
number of remaining Girmitiyas.
What are some pertinent lessons
of Girmit for us? Fiji’s tangled
political history often saw Fijians
of Indian descent on the back foot,
disadvantaged, made to feel second
class citizens.
There have been lessons of
belonging, both positive and
negative. Indeed, a nationalist
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NEW ZEALAND 9
a vibrant culture of unity, shared
hopes and far less uncertainty
relating to the place of Fijian Indians
as outsiders.
My message on your fine effort
recalling the sacrifices of those we
call “Girmitiyas” is to celebrate this
current diversity; something which
forebears, together with descendants
worked hard for. Girmitiyas will
always remain sources of inspiration.
Thank you for remembering them on
this anniversary. My best wishes to
The Indian Weekender.
(Dr Satendra
At the height of the Singh is
sufferings Indians a fourth
generation
were enduring in Fijian. His
politician moved a motion in the forebears
Fiji, an emissary of
Fiji Parliament in 1975 for example settled in Fiji in
Mahatma Gandhi, 1879 from Rajasthan. Dr Singh
that Indians be repatriated back was the founding Treaty Officer
to their original homeland, India. Reverend C F in the Prime Minister’s Foreign
Conversely, on another occasion, Andrews saw first- Office after Fiji’s independence
in 1970. He has twice been
in 1999 a Fijian President told an hand and wrote honoured in New Zealand for
Auckland conference Fijian Indians services linking Fiji/NZ/India
are Pacific Islanders; pointing out
about the level to – 1990, Queen’s Service Medal
that one in their number had become which peoples’ (QSM), 2006, Officer of the New
Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).
the elected Prime Minister of Fiji. dignity had been He was the first Fijian appointed
Today, the term “Fijian” is applied
compromised a JP in New Zealand in 1979.
to those born in Fiji, irrespective of The President of India bestowed
ethnicity. Since 2006 I have visited the highest civilian medal given
to diaspora, Pravasi Bhartiya
many Fiji secondary schools as
Samman Award (PBSA) on Dr
part of an annual writing project Singh in 2013. The President of
undertaken by senior students; I Fiji made him an Officer of the
note remarkable changes, including Order of Fiji (OF) in 2014.)
Venu
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 10 NEW ZEALAND
Reconnecting
with Girmit past:
Is our younger generation
doing enough?
¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH
O
ne of the popular underlying themes
that resurface every time the Fiji-Indian
community prepares to celebrate
another anniversary of Fiji Girmit Day is the
theme of questioning the perception that the
younger generation is not doing enough to
reconnect with their Girmit heritage.
Do they even bother and feel connected with
their shared Girmit past is the question that
traverses many minds in the community?
Tapping on this theme, with an intention
to bring to light the opinions, views, and
efforts, if any, of representatives of the
younger generations of Fiji-Indian community
themselves, The Indian Weekender has reached
out to many to share their stories and perception.
To our delight, and to the surprise of many, the
representatives of the younger generation were
not found wanting, in fact like their seniors,
or the current torchbearers of community’s
efforts in restoring Girmit heritage; they were
overflowing with emotions and passions,
though with differing opinions.
The Indian Weekender had the privilege of
speaking with equally passionate people on
both sides of the ideological divide; however,
the common theme was the yearning to do
more to rejuvenate the community, especially
the youngsters to be connected with the broader
Indian cultural identity.
The family history of Rahmat
Ali and Hafizan
I n a notable case, Faaris Ali, a thirty-three-
year-old Sydney based analytics professional
flew down all the way to Auckland to the Indian
Weekender studio to share his family book on
his Girmit past.
Mr Ali had not only visited India in 2017
tracing the original home of his par dada – the
great-grandfather who had arrived in Fiji in
1903 – and then never returned back, but also
ended up publishing his personal research in
the form of a family book which depicts the
wonderful journey of five generations of his
family.
Mr Ali shared a lot of emotions ranging from
the sense of pride associated with his Girmit
past and the sense of belongingness with the
broader Indian cultural identity.
Here are some excerpts of the
interview.
IWK: What prompted you to fly from
Australia to our studio in Auckland and
share your story?
Mr Ali: I have seen The Indian Weekender
doing an exclusive about the Girmitiyas and its
history, and I just wanted to share my story. I
have always been passionate about my ancestry
and my history that had led me to do a lot of
research. I wanted to share my journey of
looking for my roots and inspire other people to
look for their history.
IWK: You have written a souvenir on
your family tree based on your travels
to India- The Book: Girmitiyas- The
Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender
"I have always been passionate about
my ancestry and my history that had led
me to do a lot of research. I wanted to
share my journey of looking for my roots
and inspire other people to look for
their history
Above:
Faaris Ali
HAFIZAN EXTENDED FAMILY TREE
with his book-
"Girmitiyas: The
family history of Rah-
mat Ali and Hafizan"
Below: Excerpts
from the book
family history of Rahmat Ali and
Hafizan. What made you to take
that leap?
Mr Ali: My life has grown around Girmit
stories, and I remember my Dadi telling me the
stories about her father and other Girmitiyas.
My Dadi’s father died as he was shot in a case
of mistaken identity. A couple of years ago my
Dadi passed away.
My Dadi’s passing away and her stories
sparked me to look for my ancestors and go
back to India to look for my roots. We didn’t
know more than my Dadi’s father’s name.
So I did my research, collected different
clues, joined the dots, more like a detective
story. While doing all this research, I developed
a very strong personal connection, as this is
your own bloodline.
IWK: How was your experience when
you reached your great grandfather’s
village for the first time?
Mr Ali: It was quite an emotional experience.
The people of the village (Durjana, Rohtak)
were every warm and welcoming. I felt
complete and emotionally satisfied from inside
for having been able to complete the journey
that my great grandfather Faiz Khan had
started about 114 years ago. It is indescribable
in words.
IWK: How was the response back in Fiji
once you returned back from India?
Mr Ali: There was a lot of excitement and a
lot of questions from my family members.
My family was very inquisitive about how youngsters out there who are concerned about of places and people in a broader context and
their history and want to pass this knowledge to in what environment and circumstances those
did the village look like, what did they eat and
we found a lot of similarities between India the next generation. Girmits were brought and lived in.
and Fiji. IWK: We note that the Book: IWK: What are your views about
My par dada came had left the village at the Girmitiyas- The family history of the younger generation in our
age of 19, and my family members in Australia Rahmat Ali and Hafizan mentions community being less enthusiastic
and Fiji always wanted to go back to the village. important dates from the world about the celebrations around Girmit
We are not armed with knowledge, as our history? What was the reason for that? Remembrance Day?
history back in Fiji is not documented. Once Mr Ali: The book notes events that were not Mr Ali: A lot of Girmit celebrations happen
you start looking for the roots, you come to just happening in Fiji or India but also globally once a year and in isolation. The younger
learn a lot about the Girmitiyas. so as to give us a sense of the context of history generation finds it hard to identify with. I believe
Some elderly people in our community and events of that time. we need more frequent and lively platforms
believe that our history might be lost, the story Like, in 1911, the British Raj changed the to engage with the younger generation. I see
of their forefathers’ pain and sacrifices might capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi and in the platform of The Indian Weekender as a
be lost if it is not recorded and documented. 1912 RMS Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean. great opportunity to create awareness among
So I believe that like me, there are a lot of Such information tells us about the status
younger generations.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018
‘We have moral responsibility to
live in our Girmit value system’
Krishal
Naidu(left) and
Ashfaaq Khan at
The Indian
Weekender
studio
¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH
E
choing the underlying theme that
younger generations are not doing
enough to reconnect with Girmit
heritage, two Auckland-based representatives
Krishal Naidu and Ashfaaq Khan assert, “We
have a moral responsibility to live in our Girmit
value.”
The duo was in The Indian Weekender studio
to share their Girmit story and were of the
opinion that the current younger generation
needs to do a lot more to reconnect with their
Girmit heritage.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
IWK: Do you think our youngsters in
our Fiji Indian community are doing
enough to promote and preserve their
Girmit past and heritage?
Mr Naidu: I think we all young members of the
Fiji-Indian community are very proud of our
Girmit heritage. We speak in our language and
follow wider Indian cultural practices, but we
are lacking in acknowledging and celebrating
the Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day on May 14.
This is something that we have been trying to
promote for a while. At least people should
light a candle in their homes on May 14 and
pay tribute to their ancestors.
Mr Khan: It is very important for the 4th-5th
generation Fiji-Indian to acknowledge the pain
and tribulations of their ancestors to bring us in
the position of relative prosperity.
IWK: To pick up from what you said-
‘Girmit likha diya! In our subconscious
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Immigration New Zealand have
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Programme to facilitate faster processing of
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travellers.
Riding on the success of the previous
partnership between Immigration New
Zealand (INZ), Tourism New Zealand (TNZ)
and key travel agents, the Tourism Industry
Partnership (TIP) Programme has now been
extended to leisure agents.
The previous programme was launched in
November 2014 and focussed on the business
and incentive travel sector. It resulted in the
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NEW ZEALAND 11
IWK: Do you have any plans or ideas in The Fiji Indians living outside Fiji should
the direction you would like to appeal to live within our Girmit value system. There is a
your fellow young generation to pro- moral responsibility to extend our support to the
mote this Girmit tradition? broader Indian community as well, especially
Mr Naidu: There is an increasing trend
international students.
among the members of the Fiji Indian
community in New Zealand who do not Mr Khan: It is also important to document the
teach their children Hindi, and that is where history. Most of our history is oral, and only
language gets lost. Talking Hindi at home a few academicians have tried to record the
is important. Girmit history, and this is something essential
Fiji Indian Hindi is still a dialect, not a for say six or seven generations down the line.
language and there is a higher responsibility on The collective responsibility comes down to
the community to talk to their kids in Hindi and people like us to inculcate to the values in our
inculcate a sense of pride in Fiji Indian identity. children and the younger generation.
mind, we always tend to associate
‘Girmit’ with a struggle that needs to be
acknowledged. The challenge is – how
to get youth excited toward it and get
them going about Girmit heritage?
Mr Naidu: We are collaborating with our
schools, Ramayan Mandali, cultural centres and
temples to promote Girmit history and heritage
to the young children and to at least remember
the Girmit day. The whole point is to get the
community take responsibility of celebrating
the importance of the day. We provide flexible and affordable bookkeeping services to self-
IWK: Why do you think that that com- employed individuals and small businesses within Auckland area.
munity’s drive is missing so far, why
there has to be an organization like Fiji
Girmit Foundation to drive that?
Let us do your numbers, while you grow your business!
Mr Naidu: I think that we have no documented
history of the ancestors of the Fiji-Indian
For more information call Bhavik Khatri on 022 692 6401
community that tells us about our Girmit past. It email: admin@acmebookkeeping.co.nz
was left to the people, elders in the community
to take responsibility to tell their children about www.acmebookkeeping.co.nz
their Girmit heritage.
IWK: Ashfaaq you are a media person-
ality making movies, telefilms, and
writing as well. How have you been us-
ing this platform to promote this cause?
Mr Khan: I use these platforms to promote the
importance of our culture, particularly focusing
on Fiji-Hindi. Its origin is very beautiful.
When people came from India, they expectedly Kanwaljit Singh
Bakshi
spoke different languages. When they started
living and working together and had the
common need of interacting with each other,
the Fiji-Hindi dialect had emerged. I believe
National List MP based
we should collectively strive to promote
this dialect.
in Manukau East
Contact
A
P
1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland
09 278 9302
F 09 278 2143
E Bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz
facebook.com/Bakshiks
@bakshiks
22m in 4 years (FY14-FY17) with a 99 per
cent approval rate.
With this new arrangement announced on bakshi.co.nz
Thursday, May 3, Indian leisure travellers will
benefit from a more streamlined visa service, Funded by the Parliamentary Service.
Authorised by Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP,
with a faster processing time of three days, 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe.
compared to the previous online application
processing time of 15 days.
12 NEW ZEALAND Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

‘We are Jahaji Bhais’

¡¡ ASHFAAQ KHAN & This new Girmit may not be is the only way they could survive the ordeals
KRISHAL NAIDU anything similar to the hardships they faced was to face them together. It is

O
ver the course of 37 endured by our forefathers, but definitely something we can reflect and learn
there is definitely some similarity from.
years (1879- 1916),
in setting-off for the proverbial It is important for every person from the
nearly 60,500 labourers
sail, and the pursuit of better life Indian Diaspora to know that we all share a
were transported to Fiji from
in a new land where rewards they motherland and come from a common cultural
India to overcome a shortage of
reap are laced with blood, sweat background. It is therefore very important
labour caused by the prohibition
and sacrifice. for us to stay united and set aside our petty
of commercial employment of
Throughout history stories differences much like the Grimitiyas did. We
the native Fijians. Majority of
have been used to illuminate, to are all united in the struggle to make our lives
these Girmitiyas stayed in Fiji to and the lives of our descendants better.
educate, to recount, to challenge
make a life for themselves and We are all going through the same Girmit.
and to engage.
their families, toiling the land The effort The Indian Weekender in creating
Every individual’s life
under the heat of the tropical sun experience is unique and dynamic, awareness and celebrating a very important
silently laying the foundation particularly for those of us who part of Indian history is commendable. This
for better life for their progeny. have journeyed far from our effort is also a gigantic leap of integrating the
These unsung heroes of our past homes to establish new lives in Fiji-Indian community within the great Indian
are the architects of the luxuries foreign countries. The factor that diaspora.
thankfully, for the most part, been inherited
and security we enjoy in our lives. unites all immigrants is the struggle to belong. After all no matter how different we think
by the Girmit Children and it has given us an
Today Fiji Indians can be found in almost To have a place where you are from being we are from each other our aspirations and
enriching life of peaceful coexistence despite
every corner of the world, and it is an enormous integrated with where you have reached. struggles are similar. We are in the same
every adversity thrown their way.
salute to the sacrifices of their forefathers that A very important part of what immigrants Girmit. We are together sailing from a place
The term Girmit has become synonymous
the Girmit Children of Fiji are making an bring to their new home are their values, we once called home into a new beginning. We
with struggle, in Fiji Hindi dialect. In times of
exemplary contribution in whichever country culture and traditions which allows us to all are Jahaji Bhais.
tribulation, it’s common for the descendants of
or society they live in. The bond of Jahaji assemble as a community.
girmit to say, “sign kar diya Girmit”. Ashfaaq is a writer, film-maker, reluctant
Bhai or shipmate which was formed by our However, sometimes in the midst of the
It is rather poetic that many Fiji Indians jouranlist and a proud Girmit child.
Girmitiya ancestors has transcended caste, chaos of making a life for yourself in a new
have chosen to leave the country of their birth
religion, and bias which was ingrained into the nation people tend to forget that they are not Krishal Naidu is a lecturer,
to create better opportunities for themselves
Indian culture at the time. alone in this Girmit. What our forefathers businessowner, youth mentor, Trustee
and their descendants.
This attitude toward each other has figured out very early in the Indenture system of Fiji Girmit Foundation and Hindi
Language and Cultural Trust

A Girmitiya's story from

www.girmit.org

“At Muslim weddings Hindus and Muslims

all ate together"
¡¡ DEBI SINGH "Those there told
that if we went for five years and

I
lived with my wife and mother
in India. One day I decided to
visit my aunt in Basvelli. My
mother gave me some money to
buy some sweets for my cousins.
So I left the place and came to the
bazaar of Basvelli. I went to the
sweet-seller and bought sweets;
I ate some and had a drink of
water from the well. There was a
man sitting very close to it. After
drinking, as I moved towards the
other side, the man approached
me. He enquired whether I wanted
a job. I said I would be interested
but only after I had returned from
visiting my aunt. He said this was
not possible because someone else
might take the job by that stage.
He continued to press me but I
continued to take the line that I
would be interested after having
visited my aunt and on my return
would give the answer. There was
a depot nearby. He persuaded me
to go to it first.
There were men there who were
sitting around playing cards. They
were keen to take me into their
company. At the depot there was
a Muslim who read from a paper
came back we would have to pay
our own fares, but after ten years
government would send us back on
a free return passage.
I then opened the sweets that
I had intended originally for my
cousins. Those present were very
happy and we all shared them.
While I was there somebody came
from the owner of the place with
foodstuff for me, telling me that it
was for me to cook and eat. I was
given utensils as well. The Muslim
chap kept saying that we would all
go and work in the same place and
according to the paper he had there
was plenty of money available so
that after seven years we would
be able to pay our own fares back.
He suggested that we should all
shake hands because we would all
be together.
Those there told me that Fiji was
an island. They did not say how far
it was from my home. I did not ask
either. When we went before the
magistrate he asked what I wanted.
I told him that I was going to Fiji
to work. He asked how many of
us there were. I said I had a wife
and mother as well. The magistrate
me that Fiji was
an island. They
did not say how
far it was from my
home. I did not ask
either...
asked how could I, as the only man
in the family, go off and work in
this far-off island. But I insisted
that I must go. He said that only
after I had gone to Fiji would I
recognise the value of his advice.
Since I pressed him he registered
me. I was 26 at that stage but
when it came to registering the
two persons taking down my age
noted 20 for me. Apart from the
magistrate everyone thought T
ought -to go and by that stage I had
made up my mind firmly to do so.
When we got to the depot
in Calcutta we all ate together
irrespective of religion. We got
clothes and blankets when we were
about to board the ship to come to
Fiji. The journey by ship was quite
pleasant. Living conditions were
Photo courtesy: Fiji Museum
adequate and food was reasonable.
There was nothing wrong with the
biscuits, we enjoyed them even
though they were very hard. When
the ship tossed people yelled and
shouted. There was nothing to do
on board except sit and pass time.
Those who got into trouble were
given a brush to clean the ship.
During indenture Muslims
sometimes did not eat meat killed
by Hindus but Muslims ate with
Hindus. They all used to live like
one big family. Muslims did not
get involved with throwing paint
in the Holi festival but they went
to the Ramayan readings. They had
their own Koran reading to which
they invited Hindus. During their
Eid festivals Muslims took the
view that nobody invited anyone
and all were welcome to come
and eat at their place. At Muslim
weddings Hindus and Muslims all
ate together.
During indenture I met a cousin
of mine who had come here before
me. He then wrote to his father
about me. My uncle, in his reply,
asked him to inform me that my
mother had gone with her brother
and. that my wife had been taken
away by her father and that my
home was all closed. I suggested
to my cousin that we ought to go
back to India. But he always kept
postponing it for the following
year. So we remained here.
 The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018 NEW ZEALAND 13

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 14 NEW ZEALAND Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

Al’s Kulfi- an experimental Pre-budget - Labour’s

dessert to a renowned brand
¡¡ ADVERTORIAL
A
l’s Kulfi is no stranger to an Indian
household that has become a favourite
dessert choice for every Indian family.
Al’s Kulfi was launched in October 2016, and
the business skyrocketed in less than a year.
Kulfi, essentially a frozen Indian dessert, quite
similar to an ice cream, which was earlier rare
to be seen at any Indian outlet, is now available
at almost every Indian grocery store and even
real problem is they
“2017 was a period of establishing and fine-
promised too much
tuning the business – an ongoing experience.
Through this journey, my husband has been my
greatest supporter, advisor and helper. It was
gratifying to see the response of Aucklanders. When National left office
By the end of 2017, my product made it to
Hamilton,” Ivy told The Indian Weekender. last year, the economy
“We are poised to introduce more flavours was in great shape with
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi
and other dairy products shortly. We experiment
without compromising on originality and National Party List MP high business confidence
quality. We are always open to suggestions and and low unemployment

restaurants.
The story of Al’s Kulfi is a testament to the
saying ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’.
The chef and entrepreneur of the brand,
Ivy Bardey, briefly shared her talent as an
experiment to make Kulfi after dinner on a
summer evening that wowed her husband and
two young children.
With such a fabulous response from family
members, Ivy took the opportunity to make
it more often and keeping the same amazing
taste alive and with different flavours.
After months of trial and research, Al’s Kulfi
was born – named after Ivy’s two sons Althean
and Alijah. Launched in October 2016, Ivy’s
entrepreneurial dream became a reality, and
soon it was made available at different Indian
food outlets, and also started being featured at
various community events and shows.
Kulfi is an Indian dessert, and with it being
readily available to the Indian community, it
became a new choice of dessert for the food
lovers in the city.
would love to know what flavour would tickle
your taste buds,” Ivy added.
Made by hand the old-fashioned way with
100% natural and local ingredients, AL’s
Kulfis are luxuriously rich, dense and creamy.
They are smooth in texture and filled with
delicious flavours. They are preservative-free
and gluten-free. We don’t use eggs. Kulfis are
showcased in the traditional matka, similar to
the way Kulfi was served to the royals of the
Moghul era.
Currently, Al’s Kulfi serves five flavours
namely Rose, Badam Pista Kesar, Malai,
Mango, Chicoo the newly introduced Paan
Kulfis at restaurants and Peru/Chilli Kulfis at
the retail stores.
N
ext week Finance Minister Grant
Robertson will deliver his first Budget
and the country’s books are looking
healthy. Mr Robertson inherited from National
a growing economy and Government books in
surplus, so there should be plenty of cash for
this government.
 In addition, Mr Robertson is increasing debt
by $10 billion, getting increased revenue from
the growing economy, and introducing a whole
lot of new taxes. All up, he’s got $34 billion to
spend over the next four years.
 Yet despite all this, Labour is still finding it
hard to meet all the excessive expectations they
have built-up with voters and promises to their
coalition partners. Budgets are about priorities.
It’s hard to be sympathetic to this Government
arguing it does not have enough money for
universal cheaper GP visits for hardworking
families, when it has already spent $2.8
Environmental improvements are only
achieved by governments working together
with industry to improve how things are done.
The National Government set very specific
national limits on nitrates, phosphorous, E.coli,
algae and ammonia through the National Policy
Statements we put in place in 2014 and 2017.
National’s action put limits on diary conversions
in sensitive catchments and is progressively
being rolled out by regional councils. In 2017
we agreed with farmers a plan for 56,000km of
fencing along waterways over 12 years to come
into effect from December 2017 - which this
new Government has failed to act on.
 Farmers play a massive part in creating
and investing in solutions to improve the way

Indian High Commission appeals to

billion on free university for first year law and
accounting students and nearly a billion dollars
in foreign affairs and an embassy in Sweden for
register deaths of Indian nationals in NZ Winston Peters. 
When National left office last year, the
¡¡ IWK BUREAU The following are the documents to be
economy was in great shape with high business
they operate. Unfortunately, it’s now clear this
Ardern-Peters Government is out to punish
them – in fact the Minister for Agriculture
himself said this government is “no friend to
the farmer”. The Government fails to realise
how important food production is to our

T
he High Commission of India in
Wellington has appealed the public to get
deaths of Indian nationals in New Zealand
registered with the High Commission, particularly
when the mortal remains of the deceased have
been cremated in New Zealand.
This appeal is made in the interest of the public
since non-registration of death and issue of Death
Certificate by the High Commission may cause
unnecessary inconvenience to the family of the
deceased in settling various legal and financial
matters pertaining to the deceased including
settling insurance claims, withdrawing funds from
the bank accounts of the deceased and various
other formalities.
The next of kin of Indian nationals,
unfortunately dying in New Zealand, therefore,
are requested to get the death registered with the
High Commission of India, Wellington and submit
the necessary documents in original along with
one set of photocopies.
submitted with the Indian High Commission
in Wellington:
1. Original passport of the deceased for
cancellation
2. A photograph of the deceased (if available)
3. A letter from the next of kin giving full name,
address and telephone number. In case there
is no next of kin in New Zealand, a signed
no objection authority letter from next of kin
will be required.
4. Original Death Certificate issued by Births,
Deaths & Marriages – Department of
International Affairs, New Zealand. Death
Certificate must mention the cause of death.
5. Original Cremation Certificate.
6. Original Coroner’s Report.
7. A self-addressed courier envelope for return
of documents.
This service will be provided free of cost by the
High Commission office in Wellington.
confidence and low unemployment. Soon the economy. However, our communities, whether
rural or urban areas, understand we are all in
Treasury will assess the impact of this Ardern-
this together.
Peters Government’s low-growth policies.
Ahead of the budget Labour will continue
Grant Robertson has no plan to continue
their political attacks against the previous
New Zealand’s recent economic growth and
government. Yet, the reality is we made big
independent economists are already saying
investments every year into both health and
economic growth could halve in 18 months as
education - last year alone we increased health
a result.
spending by $880 million a year - the highest
There is no doubt confidence will continue
increase in eleven years.
to go down and our economy will grow slower
Labour’s real problem is they promised too
than it should as long as the government
much. Now these huge spending promises
continues its attacks on the oil and gas industry,
to both voters and their coalition parties are
farmers, and exporters.
coming home to roost. This Ardern-Peters
The Government’s recent announcement to
Government is very fortunate we left the books
cap dairy herds is political grandstanding. We
in such great shape. But with their current raid
have already seen them blindside the oil and
on the regions, I am not confident that by 2020
gas industry by drastically cutting exploration
the books will be looking as strong. And that
and now they’re doing the same to the dairy
means less money for your family, as well as
industry. There is no analysis, no consultation
the health and education services we all need.
- they have no plan.

'Mokaa – 125 years of Indians

in Aotearoa' reaches Waikato
¡¡ SANDEEP SINGH “This project has heightened the awareness of Indian

M
okaa – a historical exhibition of 125 years
of Indians in New Zealand with remarkable
stories and compelling photographs reaches
Hamilton, Waikato, in its fourth leg of the national tour
on Saturday, May 5.
The free entry exhibition being held in the Waikato
Museum and will be open for next two months.
The exhibition curated by New Zealand Indian
Central Association (NZICA) is part of the yearlong
celebrations of arrivals of Indians in New Zealand.
So far it has generated huge interest in the previous
three editions held earlier in cities like Auckland and
Wellington.
Manisha Morar, Assistant Secretary, NZICA said,
“We aim to showcase this exhibition to as many people
with now three shows remaining – Christchurch,
Palmerston North and Rotorua.
settlement in New Zealand by the support of just under
9,000 patrons attending the last three shows.
“The attendance recorded at Wellington was a
whopping 4,706 over four weeks (that is on average,
168 visitors per day),” said an elated Ms Morar,
explaining the rationale behind the exhibition.
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony at Waikato
Museum was supported by the Akaal Khalsa Sikh
Martial Arts Academy, Waikato Punjabi Cultural Club
and Kalaniketan Dance Group along with the Director
and staff from Waikato Museum and partner Office of
Ethnic Communities.
The occasion also witnessed several cultural
performances from the local groups displaying the
richness of Indian culture.
 The Indian Weekender
Fiji PM rock steady on poll
A T
S Fijians anticipate the
announcement date of the
2018 polls, Prime Minister
Voreqe Bainimarama has promised
that he would remain unrelented.
Addressing members at the Tailevu
Provincial Council meeting at
Nauluvatu Village, Nakelo, Tailevu,
Mr Bainimarama said he would not
be shaken and remained committed
to Fiji’s journey forward.
“As we look to the future, I can
Our top team off to busy start in Manila work
A T
ttorney-General and
Minister for Economy
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum set a
busy pace in Manila yesterday.
It came as the Fijian delegation
worked ahead of today’s formal
opening of  the 51st Annual Meeting
of Asian Development Bank’s
(ADB). Board of Governors.
First on the agenda yesterday for
the Fijian Government delegation
was the Pacific Developing Member
Countries (DMC) Governors
informal preparatory meeting.
Discussions there included
leveraging Fiji’s hosting of next
year’s ADB annual meeting at Nadi
May 2-5 to showcase the Pacific
Islands region.
That also included identifying
a theme relevant across the Pacific
region and defining key topics/issues
to be highlighted for discussion.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum will feature
in the high-level programme as
head of the Fijian delegation and a
Governor of the ADB.
This is expected to include
being a panel speaker on Friday
during a scheduled Governor’s
seminar (Technological change,
globalisation and jobs in Asia).
More than 3000 participants are
expected at the Manila meeting.
They include finance ministers,
central bank governors, private
sector representatives, development
Kumar scores first in her family
K
irti Kumar became the first in
her family to graduate with
a university qualification.
Ms Kumar, 22, who has an elder and
younger brother, graduated in Trade
Diploma in Hospitality and Hotel
Management at the Fiji National
University graduation ceremony
at FMF Gymnasium in Suva. She
is from Lautoka. She said it was
her father’s dream for her to get a
certificate.
“My father has gone through lot of
hardship just to see me here today,”
Ms Kumar said.
“I feel proud to be the first to
graduate in my family. I have made
my parents’ dream come true.”
The 22-year-old is an ex scholar of
Jasper Williams High School.
Her father, Sarvan Kumar, said
Fiji Airways 7s team aims for World Series title
F
iji 7s captain Jerry Tuwai says
they will need to be consistent if
they are to win their third World
Series crown next month.
Tuwai says they will have to be on
the top of their in London and Paris and
Friday, May 11, 2018
promise I will remain unrelenting, as
always, in our journey forward. I will
bring the same leadership that has
carried our economy to new heights
of success, brought new opportunities
into the lives of ordinary people,” Mr
Bainimarama said.
He warned Fijians present at
the meeting not to be swayed by
the messages from politicians who
would be campaigning in the months
Fiji to advance Paris agreement
ahead.
programme
he Fijian COP23 Presidency
From left: Permanent Secretary for Economy Makereta Konrote, Attorney-
General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Reserve Bank of
Fiji Governor Ariff Ali during a side meeting in Manila on May 2, 2018 at the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) headquarters before the 51st ADB Annual General
Meeting opens in the Philippines capital
partners, academics, members of
civil society, media, and the youth
from the Asia and Pacific region.
The Fijian delegation is not only
showcasing Fiji ahead of this.
It is tapping into how the
Philippines has organised this year’s
event and what Fiji can learn from it
for the Nadi meeting.
One example is how Chief
Operations Officer/Acting Assistant
Commissioner of Police Maretino
Qiolevu and Divisional Police
Commander Southern Senior
Superintendent Abdul Khan are
currently attending a meeting of
security personnel for the ADB
in Manila. After celebrating its
50th anniversary last year, ADB
will be pivoting to the future. The
Manila meeting will discuss its new
Sarwan and Shashi Kumar of Lautoka with their daughter, Kirti Shivani Kumar
following her Trade Diploma graduation from Fiji National University
he was very proud of her daughter’s
achievement. The machine operator
for Punja and Sons in Lautoka, said
he came from a very poor background
where he was not able to complete his
studies. “Today I am very happy to
see my daughter graduating because
build on their current lead on the points
table.
“It’s still on the balance and we
haven’t count NZ and South Africa
out and right now we’re focusing on
London and Paris and try to put a
strategy to meet new and emerging
challenges for the region and how
new technologies and globalisation
will affect job creation.
The latest draft of ADB’s long-
term strategy, Strategy 2030, will
be discussed at the Governors’
Plenary as ADB aims to finalise the
document this year.
The theme of the 2018 Annual
Meeting is “Linking People
and Economies for Inclusive
Development.”
The meeting will look at global
and regional issues affecting
development in Asia and the Pacific.
This is part of exploring how ADB
and its development partners can
work together toward a prosperous,
inclusive, resilient, and sustainable
region by 2030.
I and my wife only went as far as
year 8,” Mr Kumar said.
He was jobless for four months
after their Lautoka factory burned.
“I never lose hope in my life to
make my daughter complete her
studies,” he said.
good combination and win the two
tournaments.”
Fiji will contest Pool A with New
Zealand, Scotland and Argentina in the
London 7s which will be held on the
2nd and 3rd of next month.
FIJI 15
Fiji Labour Party announces 17 provisional
candidates for 2018 general elections
he Fiji Labour Party has
announced 17 provisional
candidates for the 2018
general elections
The Fiji Labour Party has
announced 17 provisional candidates
for the 2018 general elections.
The provisional candidates include
lawyer Aman Ravindra Singh, former
Labour MPs Lavinia Padarath,
Team is focused on advancing
the Work Programme of the
Paris Agreement and is calling on
all parties to share that commitment
with Fiji.
COP23 Chief Negotiator Luke
Daunivalu made this statement at a
news conference in Bonn, Germany,
adding that Fiji had no time to waste
and that the Programme must be
completed at COP24.
“Fiji intends to bring maximum
ambition and maximum momentum
to this process, and that will be our
guiding principle over the next two
weeks and beyond,” he said.
Mr Daunivalu further said
the Talanoa Dialogue was a
critical pillar of Fiji’s overall effort
in reducing carbon emissions
through the Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs).
“This dialogue is based on the
Pacific model of decision making
through storytelling and consensus
building, and I am delighted to
Thousands granted Fiji citizenship
N
early 4,000 people have
been granted Fiji citizenship
over the past three and a
half years.
Islands business magazine reports
3,815 foreign nationals were granted
citizenship between October 2014
and February 2018.
1150 Australians became Fiji
citizens, making them the biggest
group of foreign nationals to make
the move.
591 New Zealanders sought Fiji
citizenship and the Fiji Government
also offered citizenship to 585 people
More needs to be done to raise NDCs says PM
P
rime Minister and
COP23 President Voreqe
Bainimarama is calling
on nations to do more to raise
the ambition of their Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs)
for reducing greenhouse gas and
emissions. He made this call
during the wrap-up meeting of the
Presidencies Talanoa Dialogue in
Bonn, Germany.
The PM said he was encouraged
to see delegates actively engage in
the processes, embracing the Talanoa
Spirit. Bainimarama urged delegates
to please make it easier for us to gain
Monica Raghwan and Surendra Lal,
unionist Mikaele Mataka, Ronil
Lalit Singh, Taina Rokotabua, Jone
Cirinakaumoli, Anjila Badlu, Ranil
Chand, Apolosi Ranawai Lasei,
Fane Kacimaiwai, Rupeni Nauci,
Avi Chaudhry, Ulaiasi Tuikoro,
Mohammed Salim, Aropiame
Cavalevu and Narendra Singh.
say that the global community is
responding very positively,” he said.
A Talanoa Dialogue will be held
on Sunday with most of the parties
indicating their attendance, and Fiji
is convinced this would achieve
genuine results.
Mr Daunivalu also said the team
was encouraged by the number
of countries that had ratified the
Kyoto Protocol and were urging the
remaining countries to make that
ratification a priority.
described as being “stateless”.
Americans and Chinese rounded
out the top five groups of nationals
who were given citizenship.
In 2009, Fiji started offering dual
nationality and as well as permits to
ex-Fiji citizens to re-apply.
access to the finance we need to build
our resilience.
He called on the leaders to please
do more to embrace the opportunities
that will flow for your own people and
the whole world from the transition
to net-zero emissions economies.
The COP23 President stressed
that they needed to work together as
members of the great human family
to confront this challenge once and
for all. The PM adding that we are
all in the same canoe and time is
running out and now is the time to
show the leadership that the world so
desperately needs.
 Thought of the week
“All growth depends upon activit y. There is
no development physically or intellectually
without effort, and effort means work.”
– Calvin Coolidge
Editorial
Auckland Weather forecast for the week
Girmit Remembrance May 11 – May 17, 2018
Day: Can we move Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu
beyond ideology of
grief and grievances? Mostly A passing Nice with Sunshine Mostly Variable Cloudy

T
sunny morning partial and nice cloudy clouds with and sun
he call for moving beyond the ideology of grief and grievances on this and nice shower sunshine shower
forthcoming 139th anniversary of Girmit Remembrance Day on May 14 may
26° 24° 24° 24° 25° 23° 23°
not appear soothing to many ears in the Fiji-Indian community.
18° 18° 18° 18° 16° 16° 17°
For them generally, such a call appears as a sign of betrayal to their revered Girmitiya
ancestors who have endured all the pain and deprivation only to be forgotten by
seemingly thankless descendants. This week in New Zealand’s history
Yes, in their minds, the call for moving beyond the ideology of grief and mourning is
nothing short of complete betrayal and disrespect to their Girmitiya ancestors. 11 May 1945
It is perceived as a symbol of indulgences, especially among the younger generation Charles Upham presented with first Victoria Cross
in their new-found relative prosperity.
The majority, if not all in the Fiji-Indian community, subscribe to this view or feel N ew Zealand’s most-decorated soldier, Charles Upham, received the first of his two VCs
– for outstanding gallantry and leadership during the Battle of Crete in 1941 – from King
George VI at Buckingham Palace.
sheer peer pressure to subscribe to this view.
Indeed, this view can also trace its historical origin from the broader Indian ethos,
13 May 1936
with whom the descendants of Girmitiyas share common cultural identity and ethos.
Nevertheless, the intention of this piece is not to negate the validity of this view per
National Party founded
se, but to acknowledge the fact that it is completely expectant from a community that
has faced too many tribulations in a short history of around 100 odd years.
F ollowing their crushing defeat by the Labour Party in the 1935 general election, the
remnants of the United–Reform coalition government met in Wellington on 13–14 May
1936 to establish a new ‘anti-socialist’ party.
First, it was the abject absence of any documented history and acknowledgement
of Girmitiyas so as to give the community a sense of closure, and then the coup- 13 May 1995
precipitated mass exodus of the community from a place that everyone has grown to New Zealand wins the America’s Cup
understand as home.
Surely, the later had further disturbed the community’s already fragile framework
of self-identification, which is often shaped by a combination of factors including
F ew New Zealanders in 1995 could have avoided television commentator Peter Montgomery’s
famous line, ‘the America’s Cup is now New Zealand’s cup!’ The phrase was repeated
endlessly as New Zealand enjoyed one of its most significant sporting triumphs.
language, ethnicity, religion, culture and country.
Probably, in the changed reality of the post-coup life, the self-identification of being 14 May 1941
the descendants of Indian Girmitiyas was the most permanent aspect of their collective New Zealand minesweeper sunk near Hauraki Gulf
self-identification for the Fiji-Indian community.
History is also evident that in the periods of tribulations the urge to preserve is
H MS Puriri was a converted 927-ton Anchor Company coaster that was commissioned into
the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla on 19 April 1941.

amplified, and that would explain the community’s collective fixation with the idea
of grief and mourning, as in people’s mind this appears to be one of the most defining
aspects of their self-identity. The fact that the relative prosperity made available by the
modern liberal societies of the Global West, to many in the community, especially to
the younger generation, appears to threaten the very basic defining aspect of Fiji-Indian
identity. It is a commonly assumed that those in prosperity tend to be less inclined to
appreciate the deprivation and hardship.
Following this line of argument or common assumptions, the majority of the Fiji
Indian community feels the anxiety of loosing very basic defining aspect of their self-
identification.
Probably, the community will need to find right mental nodes to accept their changed
reality – the new found prosperity, particularly in different parts of the world in the
Global West – embrace it and view it with less apprehension.
There is need to accept the fact that a community’s collective mental mapping is
bound to be different in the times of prosperity in comparison to the times of acute
adversity. To expect that those who live a life of relative prosperity will have an
accurate understanding and sense of appreciation with their distant ancestors who have
borne the brunt of acute deprivations is slightly ambitious.
Once again, nothing wrong in these expectations, but the need is to move beyond
the ideology of grief and grievances, with which the younger generations genuinely
struggle to relate.
There is a need to re-present or dare we say, re-shape the Girmit Remembrance Day
in a manner to make it more relevant with the younger generation.
The media, home-grown, or from commonly shared broader Indian diaspora, can
play important role in shaping positive imagery and developing a positive, celebratory
narrative of self-identity.
The Indian Weekender wishes the members of the Fiji Indian community good luck
in moving from the ideology of grief and mourning to an ideology of joyfulness.
18 May 1937
NZ nurses detained on way to Spanish Civil War
T he only organised New Zealand contingent to serve in the Spanish Civil War were New
Zealand Spanish Medical Aid Committee (SMAC) nurses René Shadbolt, Isobel Dodds
and Millicent Sharples. On the day they were to leave Auckland, police interrogated them about
their reasons for going.
Indian Weekender : Volume 10 Issue 8
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz
Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter—South Island: Gaurav Sharma
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz
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Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent
the views of the team at the Indian Weekender
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
 FIJI 17

Business model is key for investing in airports

The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018

TAPONEEL MUKHERJEE growing, with the catchment area Policymakers must walk a fine

G
lobal infrastructure investors
would have taken note
of news that the Airports
Authority of India may privatise
some of its profitable airports.
Airport infrastructure in India has
the potential to yield significant
returns and is critical for a growing,
consumption-driven economy.
However, developing and growing
airport assets in the country will
require investors to make some
critical decisions around business
models to ensure profitably.
Firstly, for each airport, it will
be crucial to decide whether
the primary revenue driver will
be aeronautical revenues or
non-aeronautical revenues.
Aeronautical revenues are those
that the airport operator derives from
terminal rents, landing fees and other
services provided to the airlines.
Non-aeronautical revenues are from
activities such as retail, parking,
hotels and business parks.
In Indian airports, given low per
capita incomes, the passenger-driven
non-aeronautical revenues such
as retail will be relatively low and
will pick up only as incomes rise.
Also, some of the airports under
the proposed privatisation will cater
primarily to domestic demand,
thereby leading to a lower retail
If the airport privatisation goes through, it will be interesting to see the investor
pool at play
most important commodity is the
Policymakers must walk land available.
a fine line between lowest Building significant non-aero
charges per passenger revenue-generating assets would
mean that if passenger growth were
under “single till” versus
to pick up in the years to come, then
the other end of the there would be less land available
spectrum in a “dual till” for terminal and runway expansion.
that generates the best On the other hand, not building
revenue profile for the non-aero assets would imply more
land available for the future but
airports. 
also a lower revenue stream. In a
dynamic economy such as India,
asset returns will be based on passenger growth predictions
generating aeronautical revenues coupled with exceptional real estate
and maximising non-passenger, non- asset management will be critical to
aeronautical revenues. For certain delivering optimum returns.
airports, real estate development to Secondly, investors will also have
create a critical mass of non-aero to take a call on the type of airport
revenue assets will be crucial to that is of interest to them. On the
still being determined.
The trade-off the investor faces
is a critical one. Airports operating
at over-capacity will need capital
expenditure to grow the asset,
therefore requiring development
work. Such expenditure can result
in high growth through capturing
higher passenger traffic, but is also a
riskier investment proposition.
On the other hand, acquiring one
that is still operating at under-capacity
is more of a yield play. Utilising the
existing assets to increase business
will be the key focus.
Given that investors tend
to approach assets using their
past experiences, if the airport
privatisation goes through, it will be
interesting to see the investor pool at
play.
Thirdly, as the privatisation
discussions pick up, potential
investors will be keyed in on the
revenue model that the government
proposes for the airports. Investors
would be looking for policy clarity on
whether all airports will be privatised
using the “hybrid till” policy.
In common parlance, “hybrid
till” is where 30 per cent of non-
aeronautical revenues are used to
cross-subsidise aeronautical charges.
As opposed to this is a “single
till” mechanism, in which all non-
line between lowest charges per
passenger under “single till” versus
the other end of the spectrum in a
“dual till” that generates the best
revenue profile for the airports. 
It is important to note that if airports
need to make significant expansions
and hence incur substantial capital
expenditure, a hybrid or a dual till
model is a better solution.
Eventually, airports, airlines and
regulators must decide on which
revenue mechanism works best. It is
imperative to ensure consistency in
policy and keep in mind economic
returns.
However, each asset must get due
attention because an airport with
over-capacity will have significantly
different dynamics from one which
is still growing and relatively under-
utilised.
Talks about airport privatisation
have been around for a while now.
Given the growth in air traffic
and economic benefits that airport
infrastructure creates, now is the
opportune time to privatise airports
to generate capital to develop new
infrastructure.
For investors, airports are an asset
class that deserves attention for those
bullish on the Indian growth story
over the next few decades.
(Taponeel Mukherjee heads

spend per passenger. make them profitable. Therefore, one hand, there are those in which aeronautical revenue is used to Development Tracks, an
infrastructure advisory firm.
Therefore, for investors, the the decision regarding the business passenger traffic is at over-capacity, subsidise aeronautical charges, while Views expressed in are personal.)

Is the Indian economy out of the woods yet? 

model will be a crucial because the and on the other are those that are in a “dual till” there is no subsidy.

AMIT KAPOOR subsidies have been rightly Despite all efforts by the

B
y all estimates, the Indian
economy has entered a phase
of recovery.
After a period of subdued growth
that was marred by a spate of
disruptions, India has regained the
fastest-growing major economy tag
and a growth rate exceeding seven
per cent is expected this year.
Most reassuringly, the
manufacturing sector has shown an
uptick with the latest data pointing
to an improvement in industrial
production for the fourth month in
a row. The agricultural sector also
holds strong promise of growth since
the monsoon has been predicted to be
normal this year.
Meanwhile, the bidding for
stressed assets under the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is in
full-swing and will hopefully boost
the animal spirits of the economy.
Also, inflation is already under
check, implying that no near-term
rate hikes are expected by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and
investors can breathe easy.
There are also some grey areas
within the economy.
The fiscal situation is slightly tight
but not unmanageable. The rupee is
weakening but since it was already
over-valued, a slight adjustment
could give the required boost to the
export sector.
In all, it seems like a good year of
healthy growth awaits.
The growth revival story, however,
still carries some chinks in its armour.
The biggest one comes as a threat
to the inflation rate. Until now, India
has witnessed a decline in inflation
mainly due to a fall in global
commodity prices.
Oil, gold and coal constitute
almost half of India’s imports.
The steep decline in prices of these
commodities over the last few years
has kept inflation under check. The
trend is gradually reversing this year.
Oil prices have already risen to
levels last seen in 2014 on looming
geopolitical risks over the Iran deal.
Similarly, gold prices are also
expected to heat up as global
economic uncertainties over issues
like potential trade wars can result
in short-term tailwind towards such
safe assets.
If such pressure builds up on
commodity prices, over which India
has little control, inflation might
become difficult to control. Such a
scenario would result in a hawkish
stance by the RBI and a rise in
economy-wide interest rates harming
investment sentiments that have
already been precariously low over
the last few years.
Also, lower oil prices over the
last few years have helped the
government improve upon the fiscal
front due to a reduced subsidy bill
and increased excise taxes.
These added financial benefits for
the government will end as oil prices
increase this year.
The fiscal position, therefore,
might become highly vulnerable.
The only saving grace is that
withdrawn for petrol and diesel
and, hence, the price rise of these
commodities will be borne mainly by
the consumer.
Second, India’s growing trade
imbalance is another cause of
concern. In February, the deficit
rose to a 56-month high. Imports
have expanded at a faster pace than
exports over the last year.
Since the imposition of the goods
However, revenues
have dipped since
the corporate tax was
reduced from 35 percent
to 25 percent in the last
budget and GST revenues
have mostly stayed lower
than expected.
and services tax (GST), delays in
refunds of input tax credits have hurt
export activity.
The widening of the current
account deficit is not a cause for
alarm in itself but combined with
high inflation and the fiscal deficit, it
can weigh heavily on the rupee.
The Indian rupee has already
become one of Asia’s weakest
currencies in 2018. Any further
dip could critically weaken the
economy’s fundamentals.
Third, the fiscal deficit, which
has been kept under strict control
until now, might itself become a
concerning aspect for the economy.
government to keep a tight leash
on the fiscal front, a lot depends on
the tax revenue collection across
the country.
However, revenues have dipped
since the corporate tax was reduced
from 35 percent to 25 percent in the
last budget and GST revenues have
mostly stayed lower than expected.
This has made the government
dependent on non-tax revenue
sources like disinvestments and
additional dividends from the RBI to
meet its fiscal deficit targets.
Since the government has already
revised the target upward from 3
percent to 3.3 percent, there remains
no more room for manoeuvring.
Therefore, the government needs
to be wary of any missteps on its path
towards fiscal consolidation. 
All of these macro-economic
concerns, from inflation to the trade
imbalance to the fiscal deficit, are
intricately tied amongst themselves.
A high fiscal deficit could result
in higher inflation and interest rates,
which would dampen investment
activity while a worsening current
account due to costlier imports could
also lead to a similar outcome.
The situation is as if the Indian
economy is walking across an
economic landmine and any slip-up
could being an end to all prospects of
recovery. 
(Amit Kapoor is chair, Institute
for Competitiveness. The views
expressed are personal)
 18 INDIA
Battle of Vijayapura: Modi, Sonia duel in Lingayat
stronghold as Karnataka campaign heats up
W
ith just two days left for
the Karnataka election
campaign to end, the
Lingayat stronghold of Vijayapura on
Tuesday saw a showdown between
the BJP’s star campaigner, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi , and UPA
chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
claimed the people of Karnataka had
decided to “uproot” the Congress and
“punish” it for its wrongdoings, and
that the party was already trying to
find excuses like faulty electronic
voting machines for its “impending”
defeat.
Campaigning in Vijayapura, he
alleged the state’s ruling Congress
was trying to divide society and
spread the “poison of casteism”.
The Vijaypura rally was one of
three Modi addressed on Tuesday.
He took on the Siddaramaiah-led
Congress government in Karnataka
over alleged corruption at all three
rallies. Hours later, Sonia Gandhi
addressed a Congress election rally in
Vijayapura, and claimed the PM was
“possessed by the devil” of getting
India rid of the Congress. This rally
was Gandhi’s first was after a gap of
two years.
His only accomplishment in the
No tension between India, China in
Indian Ocean Region, says Sitharaman
D
efence minister Nirmala
Sitharaman said on Tuesday
that there is no tension
between the navies of India and
China in the strategic Indian Ocean,
which has been witnessing increasing
activities by the PLA Navy.
Responding to a question on the
“tussle” between China and India in
the Indian Ocean Region, Sitharaman
sought to downplay the issue and
said, “There was no tension in the
Indian Ocean, in the Navy against
China.”
The Indian Ocean, considered the
backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical
to India’s strategic interests. Over
the years, the region has witnessed
increasing Chinese presence. China
increased its presence in the Indian
Ocean Region by constructing the
deep-sea Gwadar Port in southern
Pakistan and a naval base in Djibouti
in the Horn of Africa. The region also
has Chinese ships deployed for anti-
piracy operations.
On April 16, the Indian Navy
on Twitter welcomed China’s PLA
Navy in the Indian Ocean Region.
“#MaritimeDomainAwareness
@indiannavy extends a warm
Aim to get India into top three scientifically advanced nations: Minister
C
laiming that India was now
among the top 10 countries
vis-a-vis its success in
scientific research, Union Science
and Technology Minister Harsh
Vardhan on Monday said the
government’s target was to take the
country into the top-three bracket
of scientifically advanced nations
within 10 years.
“In terms of research, India
does not lag behind anybody in
Sonia Gandhi’s rally in Vijayapura in north Karnataka, where Lingayats wield considerable electoral influence, was seen as an
attempt to reach out to the community, which has traditionally backed the BJP.
last four years was to have undone the
good work of the previous Congress
governments, she said. “Modi ji is
proud that he can make speeches
well. I agree he is a good orator.
He speaks like an actor. If speeches
could fill the country’s stomach, I
wish he gave more speeches,” she
said, taking a swipe at Modi.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman is being introduced by Chief of the Naval Staff
Admiral Sunil Lanba to Naval Commanders during Naval Commanders’ Conference
in New Delhi on May 8.
welcome to the 29th Anti-Piracy
Escort Force (APEF) of PLA(N) in
Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Happy
Hunting @SpokespersonMoD @
DefenceMinIndia @IAF_MCC
@adgpi @IndiaCoastGuard @
IndianDiplomacy,” it tweeted.
When asked about her visit to
China, and that of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj to that
country last month and whether
there has been any change in terms
the world. In most of the research
parameters, we match up with the
best in the world. India is within
the top 10 countries in terms of its
success in scientific research,” he
said after inaugurating a new
campus of National Institute
of Biomedical Genomics powerful DNA. We
in West Bengal’s Kalyani, have been leaders and
about 51 km from Kolkata. innovators in all sectors in among
“We are making quick the past. Now, we also have others,
progress. Prime Minister
Sonia Gandhi’s rally in Vijayapura
in north Karnataka, where Lingayats
wield considerable electoral
influence, was seen as an attempt
to reach out to the community,
which has traditionally backed the
BJP. The Karnataka government
recently recommended Lingayats be
classified as a separate religion. She
of strategy, Sitharaman said: “We are
talking, we are meeting each other -
and that is a big change.”
The defence personnel of the two
countries were locked in a 73-day
standoff in Doklam area near Sikkim
last year and it had resulted in tension
between the two Asian giants.
Reacting to reports that there
was a directive to the Army not
to be aggressive on the borders,
Sitharaman said she was not aware
of it.
Narendra Modi has a strong vision
to bring the country among the top
two-three scientifically advanced
nations within 10 years or so,” he
said.
We Pointing out that
as Indians
India was once the
have a very
leader in science
and technology
many
the
the resources Minister said
Friday, May 11, 2018
also alleged Modi’s government had
done nothing for the middle class,
women, girls, dalits and backward
classes. Taking on the PM over steps
to tackle corruption, she wanted to
know why the Lokpal, the proposed
anti-graft ombudsman, had not been
constituted. Sonia claimed Congress-
ruled Karnataka was discriminated
Rahul Gandhi starts special donation
drive for Congress candidate
C
ongress president Rahul
Gandhi kick-started a special
public donation drive for a
party candidate on Tuesday ahead of
the Karnataka elections.
Dubbing it a fight between
Congress’s clean versus the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP)’s dirty politics in
the southern state, Gandhi sought
financial contributions for 33-year-
old PhD scholar Dr Yogesh Babu,
who is pitted against B Sreeramulu, a
close confidant of the tainted Reddy
brothers, in an unprecedented move
by a Congress chief.
“It’s a clear fight in Karnataka.
Clean Politics vs Dirty Politics.
Mafia vs People. With the BJP
fielding the corrupt Reddy gang, we
are trying a novel approach to fund
our candidate. Support our candidate
by making a contribution,” Gandhi
tweeted.
The Congress set a target of
raising Rs 2.8 million that will be
spent for Yogesh Babu’s campaign.
Till Tuesday evening, it mopped up
Rs 0.56 million from 216 supporters.
The campaign will run till Thursday.
The rare donation drive comes amid
a shrill campaign and the Congress’s
charges of corruption against some
BJP candidates, including its CM
the country had made significant
advances to be on par with the best
in the world.
“We as Indians have a very
powerful DNA. We have been
leaders and innovators in all sectors
in the past. Now, we also have the
resources.
" So, we are comparable with the
best in the world... when we talk to
scientifically advanced countries like
Japan, South Korea, and Germany,
The Indian Weekender
against as it got “too little” by way
of central assistance for drought
relief. “Modi ji, is this your sab ka
saath, sab ka vikas? (together will
all, development of all),” she asked.
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru,
Congress president Rahul Gandhi
attacked the BJP and the RSS,
likening them to the Islamist
organisation Muslim Brotherhood,
and saying their agenda was to come
to power and capture institutions.
“The BJP and RSS will repeat
one more cycle of getting elected
democratically and then discard
democracy,” he alleged.
“The RSS over here and the Muslim
Brotherhood in Egypt,Pakistan,
Tunisia, Turkey....they are doing the
same thing. The RSS and Muslim
Brotherhood do not see elections
the way we see them. We win an
election and we are okay with losing
an election,” he said.
Rahul, who earlier in the day said
he was ready to occupy the post of
the prime minister if the Congress
emerged as the “biggest” party
after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections,
claimed the saffron outfits were trying
to disrupt open- minded atmosphere,
peace and the brotherhood that
existed in India.
face BS Yeddyurappa. “The drive
will also have a political undertone
that while the BJP has taken corrupt
financial powers under its wings, we
want clean money for our campaign,”
said a senior leader.
The fundraiser comes close on
the heels of Opposition parties’
reservation over the new electoral
bonds rolled out by the government.
The parties had maintained that it
would not help curb the use of black
money in politics.
nowhere have I felt we are inferior
to them,” said Harsh Vardhan.
“We must however shun routine
work and have the vision and passion
to achieve something extraordinary.
All great Indian scientists like C.V.
Raman or J.C. Bose did not have
the resources that we enjoy today.
But they got success because they
had that passion and zeal to do
something special,” he added.
India treads cautiously, experts
The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018
worried as US exits Iran nuclear deal
N R
ew Delhi on Wednesday
chose to tread cautiously on
the US decision to dump a
landmark nuclear deal with Iran, as
foreign policy experts warned of an
adverse impact on India.
“All parties should engage
constructively to address and resolve
issues that have arises with respect
to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action),” external affairs
ministry spokesperson Raveesh
Kumar said.
Experts, however, said the US exit
could lead to strategic and security
realignments in the region that would
hit India’s interests as Iran is its
third largest oil supplier and a vital
strategic partner.
US President Donald Trump said
late on Wednesday Iran sanctions
would go into effect “very shortly”.
The return of sanctions on Iran could
also put pressure on fuel prices that
would affect the economy that is
already feeling the pinch of rising
crude prices.
“Such sanctions always impact oil
trade as well investments but there is
time to think about alternatives,” said
Talmiz Ahmad, former diplomat and
an expert on West Asia and energy
diplomacy.
Not just crude but Iran is also
key to India’s transport corridor to
Afghanistan and Central Asia that
bypasses Pakistan.
New Delhi would wait and see
how other countries react to US’
decision and the steps Trump
Australia shows commitment Quantum technology gets a big boost in India
to ties with India: Envoy
F
ollowing the Australian
governments decision to
open a new Consulate
General in Kolkata and extend the
Australia-India Strategic Research
Fund (AISRF), Australian High
Commissioner Harinder Sidhu said
on Wednesday that this shows her
country's commitment to expand ties
with India.
Welcoming the announcements
that were part of the Asutralian
national budget presented on
Tuesday, Sidhu said in a statement
that this will "cement Australia's
commitment to India as a first tier
partnership".
"The opening of the Consulate
General in Kolkata
will take the total
"The
number of Consulate
Australia's General in Kolkata
d i p l o m a t i c will strengthen bilateral
posts in trade and investment,
India to four, particularly in the
in addition mining and resources
to the High sectors. "
Commission
in New Delhi and
Consulates General in
Mumbai and Chennai," she said.
"The Consulate General in
Kolkata will strengthen bilateral
trade and investment, particularly in
the mining and resources sectors. We
look forward to strengthening our
engagement with West Bengal and
surrounding states."
US President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Iran nuclear agreement has shocked the world, with America’s closest
allies such as France, Germany and the UK expressing concern over it while Iran’s foes Israel and Saudi Arabia welcoming the
move
administration would take in coming
months, an official in the external
affairs ministry said on condition of
anonymity. But experts were quick to
point out the fallout.
After Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani’s visit to New Delhi in
February, the first by an Iranian
president in 10 years, India agreed to
increase its oil import. It is expected
that the imports would be in the
range of 398,000 barrels per day in
2018-19.
Tehran supplied 18.4 million tonne
of crude to India between April 2017
and January 2018.
Australian High Commissioner to India
Harinder Sidhu talks to press at the
Golden Temple in Amritsar
Australia was also
committed to continuing the
successful AISRF, under new
measures providing A$20
million over the next four years
to enhance Australian innovation
in Asia under the existing Global
Innovation Strategy of the National
Innovation and Science Agenda.
"India has, and continues to be,
an important partner to Australia in
innovation and science," Sidhu said.
"The AISRF is Australia's largest
fund dedicated to bilateral research
and is at the cornerstone of our
scientific partnership."
“The US still controls the
international financial and banking
systems. So it’s about not being
able to make payments through
the banking channels once the
US sanctions kicks in. Unless of
course the European countries now
devise a system to circumvent this,”
said Ahmad.
Then there is the danger of
secondary sanctions through which
Trump administration can prevent
foreign countries from accessing the
US market unless they go along with
the sanctions.
“The US sanctions will likely
T
hanks to government
funding, Indian physicists
are preparing for a deep
dive into the quantum world that
holds the secrets for developing
exciting technologies for computing,
communication, cryptography and
many more. Schemes for making
India a major player in quantum
technologies were deliberated
during a five-day international
conference on "Quantum Frontiers
and Fundamentals" at the Raman
Research Institute (RRI) here.
Sponsored by the John Templeton
Foundation, the philanthropic
organisation in the US, it was
attended by eminent physicists
from India and abroad, including
several research students from India
with a total number of around 100
participants, reflecting the significant
growth in the research community in
this area in our country.
"This is an interesting conference,
blending quantum fundamentals
aspects with applications, and is
unique in its mandate as we have tried
to provide equal emphasis to both
theoretical research and experimental
quantum technologies," Urbasi
Sinha, of RRI and organiser of the
conference, told this correspondent.
Dipankar Home of the Bose Institute,
Kolkata, and Alexandre Matzkin
of the French National Center for
Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris
were the co-organisers.
Quantum physics is a basic
theory in physics that deals with
the behaviour of matter and light
on the atomic and subatomic scale.
impede India’s transportation
corridor to Afghanistan and Central
Asia via Iran, including completion
of the Chabahar port modernisation
project,” strategic affairs expert
Brahma Chellaney said.
Chabahar is a key connectivity
project in which India is heavily
invested with strategic intent. It
gives India sea access to Afghanistan
bypassing Pakistan.
Both Chellaney and Ahmad said
the US decision was fraught with
unforeseen circumstances that would
have a bearing on India and regional
stability.
Research in these areas at Indian laboratories has received a boost with promised
funding support from the government's DST and ISRO, as well as small individual
projects from DRDO and PMO
Quantum physics is a
basic theory in physics
that deals with the
behaviour of matter and
light on the atomic and
subatomic scale.
Quantum technology exploits
the weird properties of quantum
mechanics – especially quantum
entanglement, quantum superposition
and quantum tunnelling – into
practical applications for computing,
cryptography and "secure"
communication. Quantum computers
that process "quantum data" (instead
of binary data) are predicted to be
faster than today's largest classical
computer.
Research in these areas at Indian
laboratories has received a boost with
promised funding support from the
government's Department of Science
and Technology (DST) and the
Indian Space Research Organisation
INDIA 19
India, Ethiopia
review bilateral
ties
eflecting New Delhi's
increasing engagements with
Africa, India and Ethiopia
reviewed bilateral ties during the
second Joint Commission Meeting
headed by External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj and her Ethiopian
counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu.
"The discussions focused on
building closer cooperation in areas
of defence cooperation, lines of
credit, human resource development,
capacity building, trade and
investment, cultural exchanges and
enhancing people to people contact,"
the External Affairs Ministry said.
"India reiterated its commitments
towards development partnership
with Ethiopia.
"The two sides also exchanged
views on issues of mutual interest
at regional and multilateral levels
including cooperation at the United
Nations and other international
organisations," it said.
India-Ethiopia bilateral trade
in 2016 stood at $1.37 billion, of
which India's exports to Ethiopia
were $1.30 billion and imports were
$68.4 million, according to figures
provided by the External Affairs
Ministry.
An MoU between the Foreign
Service Institute of India and the
Foreign Service Training Institute of
Ethiopia was signed between the two
countries after the conclusion of the
meeting.
(ISRO), as well as small individual
projects from the Defence Research
and Development Organisation and
the Prime Minister's Office.
The DST's Mission-Mode
scheme, called "Quantum Science
and Technology (QuST)",
will fund research "for the
development and demonstration"
of quantum computers, quantum
communication and cryptography,
besides "demonstration of quantum
teleportation". The scheme, DST
says, "promises to revolutionise
the future computation and
communication systems which will
ultimately have huge impact on the
nation and our society as a whole".
The DST initiative has received
overwhelming response and "has
already received 128 proposals from
researchers from different parts
of the country," Rajeev Sharma, a
spokesperson for the scheme at DST,
told this correspondent. "Funding is
no problem," he said.
Have responsibility for getting
20 INDIA ABROAD Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

things right in tech: Sundar Pichai

A
mid a global call to
regulate digital platforms
and safeguard users’ data
privacy, Google’s Indian-born CEO
Sundar Pichai has reiterated that
the tech companies have a “deep
responsibility to get things right”.
Kicking off the annual “Google
I/O” developer conference at its
Mountain View campus in California
on Tuesday, Pichai said we’re at
an important inflection point in
computing, and it’s exciting to be
driving technology forward.
“But it’s clear that we cannot just
be wide-eyed about what we create.
There are very real and important
questions being raised about the
impact of technology and the role it
will play in our lives,” Pichai told the
gathering of over 7,000 developers.
“We know the path ahead needs
to be navigated carefully and
deliberately -- and we feel a deep
sense of responsibility to get this
right,” Pichai added.
Pichai’s call came after Microsoft
CEO Satya Nadella on Monday
stressed that the company is
determined to ensure users’ data and in April, Pichai said that Google
is building secure solutions towards was ready for the European Union’s
preserving data privacy. General Data Protection Regulation
“We have the responsibility to (GDPR) to harmonise data privacy
ensure that the new-age technology laws that would come into effect on
is empowering everyone, creating May 25. After four years of debate,
equitable growth for all while the GDPR was finally approved by
creating employment on the global the EU Parliament on April 14, 2016.
scale,” Nadella said at the annual Organisations that fail to comply
Microsoft “Build 2018” developers’ with the new regulation may face
conference. hefty fines.
Echoing Nadella, the Google In a blog, Google said it was
CEO said that “the need for useful "The informing advertisers and publisher
and accessible information is as need partners about changes to its
urgent today as it was when for useful and ad policies.
Google was founded nearly accessible information “Google already requires
two decades ago”. is as urgent today as it publishers and advertisers using our
“What’s changed is our was when Google was advertising services to get consent
ability to organise information founded nearly two from end users to use our services,
and solve complex, real-world decades ago." as required under existing EU law.
problems thanks to advances However, the GDPR will further
in Artificial Intelligence (AI),” he refine these requirements,” the
added. post added.
Betting big on AI, Pichai said “To comply, we will be updating
there’s a huge opportunity for this our EU consent policy when the
technology to transform many fields. AI models are able to predict medical de-identified health records,” he said. GDPR takes effect and the revised
“Already we’re seeing some events, such as hospital readmissions “Another area where AI can solve policy will require that publishers
encouraging applications in and length of stays, by analyzing the important problems is accessibility,” take extra steps in obtaining consent
healthcare. We’ve also found that our pieces of information embedded in he added. During an earnings call from their users,” it added.

WORLD
MALAYSIA’S MAHATHIR CLAIMS ELECTION Australian bank lost
data of 20mn accounts
WIN BUT RESULTS SO FAR DON’T BACK HIM
A
ustralia’s Commonwealth Bank has admitted
losing the bank records of almost 20 million
The Election Commission people, a media report said.
said some results that had These were the names, addresses, account numbers
gone “viral” were unofficial and statements of its customers that were stored on two
magnetic tapes meant to be destroyed by a subcontractor
and had not been verified in 2016, the BBC reported.

M
alaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad said
the opposition alliance he leads
had won enough parliament seats
in Wednesday’s general election to form
the next government, but the count was
continuing and official results so far did not
back his claim. The Election Commission
said some results that had gone “viral” were
unofficial and had not been verified.
“Of course, political parties can declare
whoever (they believe has won), but ...
please wait,” commission chairman Mohd
Hashim Abdullah told reporters shortly after
midnight. “We would like to announce it as
quickly as possible as well.”
Official results showed that, so far,
Mahathir’s Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of
Hope) had won 52 of parliament’s 222 seats
and Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling
coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN), had won
42. A simple majority of 112 seats is required
by a party or alliance to rule, a number
92-year-old Mahathir said his Pakatan
Harapan (Alliance of Hope) believed it had
won.
“We believe that from our official
counting that they’re left far behind. The
likelihood is that they will not be forming
the government,” Mahathir told reporters,
referring to the prime minister’s coalition.
There was no immediate comment from
the ruling coalition.
Early results showed that BN had lost seats
in key states that have traditionally been its
strongholds, raising the prospect that it could
be voted out of power for the first time in the
country’s six decades of independence from
Britain. BN faced a far greater challenge in
Mahathir Mohamad during a press conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday
this election than ever before amid public
anger over the cost of living and a multi-
billion-dollar scandal that has dogged Najib
since 2015. An election-eve opinion poll had
suggested that support for BN was slipping
and Mahathir’s alliance would land the most
votes in peninsular Malaysia, home to 80
percent of the population in this Southeast
Asian nation.
However, under Malaysia’s electoral
system, the party or alliance with the
majority of parliament seats wins, and going
into the poll most experts had believed that
was within the prime minister’s reach.
Najib dogged by scandal
The opposition claimed the contest
would be skewed by a revision of electoral
boundaries and a decision to hold the poll
midweek, which it said would discourage
millions from voting. The Election
Commission and government dismissed the
charges. Malaysia’s majority ethnic-Malay
Muslims have tended to support BN for
affirmative-action policies that give them
government contracts, cheap housing and
guaranteed university admissions.
Mahathir’s opposition alliance, which
counts on urban votes and support from
the minority ethnic-Chinese and Indian
communities, hoped that with the former
leader as its standard bearer it would draw in
Malay voters traditionally loyal to BN.
However, Mahathir is a polarising figure
and many voters are suspicious of him
because of his attacks on independent
institutions when he was prime minister
between 1981 and 2003.
Najib has another formidable opponent
in former deputy prime minister Anwar
Ibrahim, who is currently serving a five-year
prison sentence on a sodomy conviction that
has been attacked by human rights groups as
politically motivated.
Anwar led the opposition in the 2008 and
2013 polls. In an unlikely reconciliation, he
has joined hands with Mahathir, who sacked
him as deputy prime minister in 1998.
Najib, 64, has been buffeted by the scandal
over 1Malaysia Development Berhad
(1MDB), a state fund from which billions of
dollars were allegedly siphoned off.
Despite not receiving evidence the tapes had actually
been destroyed, the bank did not tell customers there
was a potential data breach. It is the latest scandal
involving Australia’s largest lender.
In a filing to the Australian Stock Exchange, the bank
said it could not confirm that the tapes containing 15
years of data had been destroyed securely.
But it said “an independent forensic investigation”
by accounting firm KPMG had “determined the most
likely scenario was the tapes had been disposed off.”
It added “the tapes did not contain passwords,
PINs or other data which could be used to enable
account fraud”.
And it stressed there had been no evidence that
customer information had been compromised, with
monitoring mechanisms remaining in place.
Buzzfeed first reported news of the lost tapes,
claiming they were supposed to be destroyed by Fuji
Xerox after the decommissioning of a data centre.
The Commonwealth Bank’s acting head of retail
banking, Angus Sullivan, described the incident
as “unacceptable” and has apologised for any
“inconvenience and worry” the incident may have
caused the customers.The privacy breach comes at a
time when Australian banks are under intense scrutiny
from a landmark banking inquiry, the BBC report said.
In April, the inquiry heard that the Commonwealth
bank collected fees from customers it knew had died.
In one case, an adviser collected fees
from a former client for more than The
a decade. privacy
Australia’s Treasurer Scott breach comes
Morrison has warned that at a time when
financial executives could Australian banks
face strong penalties, are under intense
including jail sentences, scrutiny from a
from evidence brought up at landmark banking
the inquiry. inquiry
 The Indian Weekender Friday, May 11, 2018 SPORTS 21

MUMBAI RIDE ISHAN BLITZ TO

RECORD MASSIVE WIN OVER KKR
M
umbai Indians rode teenage
wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan
Kishan’s 21-ball 62 to record
an emphatic 102-run victory - the
largest margin in the ongoing edition
of the Indian Premier League (IPL) -
over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden
Gardens here on Wednesday.
The win, Mumbai’s third on the spin,
took Rohit Sharma and Co. level on
points with Kolkata (10 points from 11
games) and fourth in the points table
courtesy a better net run rate. Kolkata,
who lost to the same opponents in the
space of three days, dropped a rung to
fifth.
Mumbai, who remain in the reckoning
for the play-offs, have now won 18
times, and eighth on the row, in 23
meetings with Kolkata.
Coming to Ishan, the Jharkhand left-
hander’s pyrotechnics between the 10th
and 15th over fetched Mumbai 73 runs
as they posted a mammoth 210/6. In
reply, Kolkata were shot out for 108 in
18.1 overs.
Kolkata were never in the chase,
losing wickets at regular intervals. Chris
Lynn (21) and Nitish Rana (21) were the
top-scorers as Mumbai effected two run
outs with Pandya brothers Krunal (2/12)
and Hardik (2/16) returning best figures.
Earlier, Ishan was all blitz as he tore into
celebrated India wrist spinner Kuldeep
Yadav 3/43), smacking him for four
successive sixes and taking 25 runs off
the 14th over.
Three overs earlier, Ishan had
underlined his intent by hitting Piyush
Chawla (3/48) for 14 runs which
included three fours in the 11th over.
Ishan and skipper Rohit Sharma (36;
31b; 2x4, 1x6) were involved in a 82-
run partnership for the third wicket off
just 34 balls which proved to be the
game changer.
Rohit was dropped by Nitish Rana on
10, when the team was on 90/2.
In the end, Ben Cutting’s 9-ball 24
took MI past 200 as the last over went
for 22 runs off Piyush Chawla (3/48).
Openers Evin Lewis and Suryakumar
Yadav gave MI a decent start. Lewis
was dropped by Kuldeep Yadav running
backwards from square leg off Prasidh
Krishna (1/41) when he was batting on
16.
But the 26-year-old Trinidadian could
not make the most of the reprieve,
getting out in strange fashion trying to
pull a loose Chawla delivery with the
ball ballooning off the back of his bat to
short third man where Chris Lynn took
an easy catch.
Lewis and Suryakumar stitched
together a 46-run stand for the opening
wicket as Mumbai were 47/1 at the end
of Powerplay.
Former Kolkata player Suryakumar
who has been Mumbai’s batting mainstay
this season, then threw away a strong
start, pulling a Chawla half tracker to
Rinku Singh at deep midwicket.
Ishan finally fell trying to clear the
deep square leg boundary just after
hitting a six but picked out Robin
Uthappa.
Hardik (19; 13b; 2x6) and Rohit
departed in quick succession with the
latter giving Prasidh Krishna
his first IPL wicket.

Pos P W L T NR RR Pts
1 Sunrisers Hyderabad 10 8 2 0 0 0.553 16
2 Chennai Super Kings 10 7 3 0 0 0.514 14
3 Kings XI Punjab 10 6 4 0 0 0.228 12
4 Mumbai Raiders 11 5 6 0 0 0.11 10
5 Kolkata Knight Riders 11 5 6 0 0 -0.301 10
6 Rajasthan Royals 10 5 6 0 0 -0.45 8
7 Royals Challengers Bangalore 10 3 7 0 0 -0728 6
8 Delhi Daredevils 10 3 7 0 0 -0.059 6

Rajasthan Royals unveil new pink jersey for IPL 2018 match vs
Chennai Super Kings India says no to day-night Australia Test
A
ustralia has scrapped a day- this Test match will be a day format.”

R
ajasthan Royals unveiled
a new pink jersey which
they will wear in the match
against Chennai Super Kings at the
Sawai Mansingh stadium on Friday,
in order to raise Cancer awareness.
In a ‘Cancer Out’ function
organized at the Sawai Mansingh
Medical College, Rajasthan Royals
skipper Ajinkya Rahane, along with
Heinrich Klassen, Mahipal Lomror
and Krishnappa Gowtham, unveiled
the new jersey.
Rajasthan Royals are part of a
state wide ‘Cancer Out’ campaign
to popularise cancer screening. The
initiative was launched in association
with Tata Trusts with the support of
Government of Rajasthan, National
Cancer Grid, Indian Cancer Society
and Indian Dental Association.
Speaking about the initiative,
Rahane said, “What I feel as a
sportsman, it is important to have
Cancer screening so that it can be
detected early and can be cured. As
a cricketer, we can send out a strong
message. I appeal to people, whether
they are fit or not, after every six
months, they must come once for a
health check-up.”
Rajasthan Royals will become
the third team to don a new playing
attire for a day during an IPL
game after Delhi Daredevils and
Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Delhi Daredevils used a lavender
coloured jersey on May 1 to mark
Cancer Survivor Day, while Royal
Challengers Bangalore wear green
jerseys for a day as a sign for the
team’s commitment to the ‘Go
Green’ initiative.
Rahane’s side stayed alive in the
race for the play-offs with a 15-run
win over Kings XI Punjab but they
face a tough match against Chennai
Super Kings, who are in second
position at the moment.
night cricket Test match
after India refused to play,
officials say. The game scheduled
for December in Adelaide using the
pink ball will now be held in normal
daylight hours.Australia have played
four day-night Tests since 2015 -
three of them in Adelaide - and won
all of them.
Analysts say India, who have not
played a pink-ball Test, are reluctant
to give the hosts an advantage as
they seek a first Test series win in
Australia.
“We can confirm that we have
received advice from the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
that it is not prepared to participate in
a proposed day-night Test in Adelaide
this summer,” Cricket Australia chief
James Sutherland said in a statement
quoted by the AFP news agency.
“As a result, we can now confirm
India, the world’s top-ranked
team, said they didn’t want to play
their first day-night Test during such
a high-profile series. Are day-night
Tests the future?
“Yes, it’s pretty clear that we
are not playing a day-night Test in
Australia, no doubt about it,” BCCI
administrator Vinod Rai told AFP
earlier this year. Mr Sutherland told
Melbourne-based radio station SEN
News that “there’s always a bit of
trepidation and conservatism in India
and, to be frank, I think they want to
come out here and beat us”.
“There’s a sense that perhaps
Australia has won each of the pink-
ball Test matches played in Australia,
it gives us a bit of an advantage.”
Mr Sutherland said Australia
would still play a day-night Test
against Sri Lanka in Brisbane in
January.
 22 FEATURES Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

Darjeeling:
The queen of hills
Surrounded by infinite slopes of bright green tea plantations and set
against a backdrop of jagged white Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling is
nestled in the northern regions of West Bengal.

The Kanchenjungha massif as seen from the Dekeling Hotel, Darjeeling

Lifting the fog – going to Darjeeling

Stroll through tea plantations ...Tea was first introduced in Darjeeling
in the mid-19th century by the British, and the sprawling tea estates,
clubs and bungalows are reminiscent of that grand era. Stroll
through miles of rolling tea gardens, strike up a conversation with
the garden workers and discover how deftly they pluck the tea
leaves.
Sip fresh Darjeeling tea .. A trip to Darjeeling is all about misty
mornings in verandas with lush green views, and of course, a cup of
crisp Darjeeling tea. When energies start to drop after a long day of
exploring, a steaming brew is never far away.
to see Mount Kanchenjunwga
I
f all else fails this summer, there is always Darjeeling. There
is the insanity of a thousand clouds looming overhead; there
are the old winding roads; a mad-rush of nostalgia of a
bygone era; and the majestic old Kanchenjunga.
Satyajit Ray’s formidable attempt to capture Darjeeling in his
1962 film Kanchenjhunga is nothing less than poetry.
The movie follows an affluent Bengali family on a holiday in
Darjeeling, as the patriarch longs for the fog to clear, so as to get
a view of the majestic Mount Kanchenjunga; and that is perhaps
the rite of passage for the folks living in West Bengal.
On a cold evening, you can warm yourself with a bowl of
thukpa, and have a glass of Sikkim Supreme rum at Joey’s Pub.
Later, being adequately heady, you might even sing Country
Roads aloud with the performing band, only to sleep well,
expecting a clear day the next morning.
Because viewing the Kanchenjunga is of utmost importance,
and everyone simply waits for it to show, for the fog to clear,
and the sun to shine bright. been gaining much currency among
Chinese scholars and intellectuals.

away from you, while

Darjeeling Zoological Park... Catch a glimpse of rare Himalayan fauna
such as snow leopards, red pandas, Tibetan wolves and Himalayan
bears at the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.
Batasia Loop: A Fascinating Blend of History and Patriotism
4. Peace Pagoda: The Elegant Shrine Promoting World Peace
As the heat increases in the plains of Bengal, people look
forward to their summer vacation, and head out to the hills.
Even though the state of Sikkim is at a similar distance from the
foothills, there is a feeling of home at Darjeeling.
To most people, Darjeeling is all about sheer nostalgia. It is
embedded in its very fabric, as the glories of modernisation are
of little importance here.
Whether you are lunching at Glenaries or having breakfast at
Keventer’s, it is always about the past.
The past comes in various shapes, most notably in the form of
old buildings left behind by the British settlers who came here
during the summers. Amidst all its glories, the most coveted of
all is the sight of the third tallest mountain in the world.
But Darjeeling is a funny old friend, always unsure about its
mood. So in a day you can very well be presented with rain, fog,
and sun; you will watch rain pouring down a hundred metres
you stand perfectly dry.
In such a scheme of things,
the Kanchenjunga is a rare
sight for most of the year.
Your best chance to view the
mountain would mostly be from
atop Tiger Hill, where you can hike
to in the wee hours of the morning to watch
the sunrise.
In Darjeeling everything is vivid – the moon is brighter, the
stars are clearer, the sky is a dazzling blue, and being so closer to
heaven, your prayers are perhaps answered.
The Kanchenjunga almost seems touchable, you could take
off a piece of snow from its body if you stretch your imagination
far enough.
In Ray’s 1962 film Kanchenjungha, the final scene sees the fog
lift, as viewers get a clear view of the mountain range.
That is the most defining moment of your Darjeeling sojourn,
the sight of this beautiful mountain.
After you get over your preoccupation with international
travels, and cancel your plans for the Goa trip, look towards
Darjeeling. If all else fails, there is always Darjeeling.
 The Indian Weekender
Subtly mild chicken in a rich cashew nut sauce
S
low-roasting sets apart the
Hyderabadi style of cooking
and eating. It’s reminiscent of
the laid-back days of the Nawabs –
those royal connoisseurs of all fine
things. In the original recipe, meat
would be covered with liquid in a
pot, the edges sealed with dough,
then cooked over a low flame
for several hours. This method is
sometimes colloquially referred to as
‘dum’. This recipe not only replicates
the same first-class flavours, but
thankfully achieves them faster.
Preparation Time: 10 min
Make your evening snack delicious, healthy Kitchen tip
I
n todays fast-paced world and
lifestyle, snacking has become
an integral part of the daily
diet. But most snacks consumed
today skew toward prepackaged
and processed foods, that only add
calories, but very little of anything
else hence it is important to provide
healthy yet tasty alternatives that is
changing the quick snack culture in
India.
Opt for Makhana (Fox nut)  cleaning.
• Makhana is easy on the body
and provides a wholesome
alternative to unhealthy
binging. They also known as
a great guilt free snack around
the world.
• With properties such as low
in cholesterol, fat and sodium,
they make for an ideal snack to
satiate those in-between meal
hunger pangs.
• They are beneficial to those
suffering from high blood
pressure, heart diseases and
obesity due to their high
magnesium and low sodium
content. Besides this,
makhana acts as an
anti-oxidant, very
light and good for
digestion.  tablespoon of flaxseeds a day.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Hyderabadi Chicken
Cooking Time: 35 min
Serves: 4 / Tastes: Mild
INGRDIENTS:
• 500g boneless chicken
• 1/2 cup cashew nuts
• 2 Tbsp oil, for cooking
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 5 tsp garlic paste
• 5 tsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup warm water salt, to taste
• 2 tsp garam masala powder
• 3/4 cup fresh coriander leaves
• While it is roasted in Olive oil,
its mild flavour makes them
a perfect everyday snack for
all age groups. For the older
audience, it is the perfect choice
as an anti-ageing enzyme in
these seeds are said to help
repair damaged proteins.  How to Clean a Grill
• With the idea of catering to all
Indian taste buds and all sections
of the society, manufacturers
are now introducing interesting
flavors which are adaptable to
the Indian palettes.
Nuts: Nuts are nature’s way of
showing us that good things come
in small packages. These bite-size
nutritional powerhouses are packed
with heart-healthy fats, protein,
vitamins, and minerals.
Almonds: These are highly
nutritional nuts rich in Vitamin E,
Calcium, Iron amongst many others.
Besides being great in taste, eating
almonds boosts brain health, greatly
effects weight loss, lowers your
cholesterol and reduces you hunger,
hence, lowering your
overall
chopped
• 2 Tbsp flaked almonds and
flaked coconut to garnish
METHOD
• Wash the cashews, then place
in a bowl and cover with warm
water. Set aside to soak for 30
minutes. Drain and grind them
into a thick paste. Keep aside.
• Wash, clean and cut the chicken
into bite-sized pieces, cover and
refrigerate while you prepare
the masala.
• Heat oil in a heavy bottomed-
calorie intake.
Walnuts: Walnuts are most
often eaten on their own as a snack.
However, they can be added to
salads, pastas, desserts, breakfast
cereals, soups and baked goods as
well. They’re often referred to as
“brain food”.
Blueberries: Sweet in flavor, these
berries are succulent and nutritious.
They are the King of antioxidant
foods, boost immunity, manage
diabetes and help prevent cancer.
Raw or dried, you can add either to
your breakfast cereal/ smoothie or
just sprinkle some over your
garden salad and
you’re good to
go.
Ruby Dhillon
pan on medium heat. Add
onions and sauté over until
golden-brown in colour.
• Add garlic paste, stir, add ginger
paste, stir and sauté for 2–3
minutes, add cashew nut paste
and sauté until oil surfaces.
Lower the heat, add red chilli
powder and turmeric powder,
stir and sauté the masala until
the oil surfaces again.
• Increase the heat to high, add
chicken, 1/2 cup of warm water,
mix well, cover and bring to
Cranberries: These little red
berries are a delectable, popular and
healthful food. They not only help
guard against UTIs, heart disease,
types of cancer, and the flu, but
benefits oral health too. You can eat
them in their raw state, but if the
zesty flavor of fresh berries is not
your thing, you can go for readily
available jams or dried cranberries.
Pumpkin seeds: Eat them raw, or
roast them in the oven. Either way,
these wholesome powerhouses are
a formidable source of B vitamins,
magnesium, iron and protein
They go great with your evening
tea and considering their size, are an
effective snack on-the-go!
Flax seeds: When it comes to
nutritional goodness, flaxseeds
are full of it. Get creative and add
them to your daily parfaits, yogurts,
salads, smoothies or morning
cereals. Nutritionists recommend a
FEATURES 23
RECIPES
CHICKEN
India’s Most Wanted Recipies | 113
boil. Add salt and garm masala
powder, lower the heat to
medium then cover again and
let the chicken simmer for 5-6
minutes o until tender.
• Garnish wirg flaked almonds
and coconut, sprinkled on top.
• Serve with plain parantha
Ruby's Tip: This is very easy
recipe that can be made quirkly for
any ocassion or dinner party.
The consistency of this chicken is
not thin - unlike a gravy, it's a bit on
the thicker side.
C
leaning grill grates before
or after grilling is a must:
This helps prevent food from
attaching and keeps leftover grit
from sticking to your food. All grills
should be cleaned at the start of the
season to keep everything in tip-top
shape. A dirty grill may produce
smoke that will alter the taste of your
food. Follow these steps on an annual
basis to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Clean the grates with a wire brush
every time you grill (when grates are
hot) to make yearly cleaning easier.
Always check the manufacturer’s
instructions before beginning any
• Disconnect the gas line. Fill a
bucket with warm soapy water.
• Remove the grates, then brush
them clean using a wire brush.
(For a charcoal grill, brush out
the insides, then jump to Step
4.)
• Remove the barrier separating
the grate and burners — this is
usually a flame shield, briquettes
or lava rocks. Unclog the burner
holes using a soft wire brush.
Brush away any ash or residue,
then set the burner back into
place. Wash the flame shield in
warm soapy water, or brush the
briquettes or lava rocks clean.
• Use a stiff wire brush and
soapy water to scrub the inside
surfaces of the grill. Rinse with
clean water and dry with a cloth.
• Heat the grill for at least 10
minutes before grilling.
24 FEATURES Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

Screenies: Short film for children

to premier on Thursday, May 17 11 May to 17 May | 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 available for
consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact
at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139 • www.askmanisha.com
ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20)
Something you are after on the academic front may need more time for
preparation, so spare no efforts. Confirm your reservation before departing
for another city or town to avoid unnecessary hassles. Don’t waste your time
giving unwanted advice to someone who is bent upon doing his or her own thing.
Money saved may come in handy for a worthy cause. Lucky Number : 22 /
Lucky Colour : Dark Slate Grey
TAURUS (Apr 21-May 20)
Job seekers are likely to get a call from the organisation they desire to join. Your
partner may put you under much pressure to do his or her bidding. A school
or college excursion will prove most enjoyable. Find the will power to go in
for regular workouts. Well-wishers may become your biggest supporters on the
academic front and help you achieve your goal. Lucky Number : 15 / Lucky
Colour : Green
GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21)
Don’t rush into situations that are of someone else’s making, as you are likely
to get unnecessarily embroiled. A change is envisaged in your profession, but
not immediately. It is a good time to firm in on the academic front, as the scene
is likely to become hectic at a later stage. Soundness of an investment option
needs to be looked into, before going ahead with it. Lucky Number :2 / Lucky
Colour :Pink
CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 20)
A lot of socialising is in store for you. Your holiday mood may contribute towards
a laid back attitude at work, but don’t let this come to the notice of higher ups!
Devoting extra time in coaching is likely to improve your academic standards.
Jobs may be aplenty, but none to suit your high standards, so either scale down
your expectations or get set to spend time in job hunting. Lucky Number:3 /
Lucky Colour : Dark Yellow
LEO (Jul 21-Aug 22)
A balanced approach is called for in tackling a man management situation at
work. If disillusion threatens a present relationship, have a heart-to-heart talk
with partner to get to the bottom of the problem. An urgent and important job
needs to be handled in a perfect manner, so be alert. Those travelling can become
unwell during the journey, if not careful about what they eat. Lucky Number : 7
/ Lucky Colour : Cream
VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 23)
Your output at work may come under the scanner, but there is nothing to worry
about. Discussing investments with an expert is certain to widen your horizon.
Just let go of negative and hateful thoughts, and guide your mind towards serenity.
Time is ripe to look forward to booking a flat or buying a plot. A friendship grows
stronger and makes you spend more time together. Lucky Number : 11 / Lucky
Colour : Lavender
LIBRA (Sep 24-Oct 23)
Don’t take on anything you are not confident of at work; it can prove
counterproductive for your professional image. There is a likelihood of love
blossoming for some. You may settle a family youngster out of town to pursue
academics. Take precautions against seasonal ailments. Something new and
expensive may become a new addition to your home. Lucky Number : 8 / Lucky
Colour: Electric Grey
SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22)
A new subordinate at work is likely to take substantial workload off your
shoulders. Don’t hang out with negative people, as they are certain to colour
your mind. It is no fun to have an upper hand at the expense of your reputation,
so review your actions. On the career front, it is best to take decisions after due
deliberations, so as not to go wrong. Lucky Number : 17 / Lucky Colour : White
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23-Dec 21)
At work, it is best to maintain your mental equanimity and not get worked up over
petty issues. Dark clouds that had been playing hide and seek on the relationship
front are finally set to dissipate. You are set to score over your rivals on the
academic front by your superlative performance. Good investments may add to
your wealth and make life more comfortable and luxurious. Lucky Number : 1 /
Lucky Colour : Peach
CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 21)
Hurdles blocking your promotional prospects are set to gradually disappear. Pure
bliss is yours for the asking on the romantic front, as you spend quality time with
lover. Handle a situation arising on the domestic front in a fair manner. Your
desire for better health can make you think on practical lines regarding diet and
exercise. Shedding past grudges will benefit you immensely.
Lucky Number : 4 / Lucky Colour : Blue
AQUARIUS (Jan 22-Feb 19)
A good financial move may get you on the path to prosperity. Some of you may
get a chance to participate in a reality show or a talent hunt. On the academic
front, you get amply rewarded for your achievements. A situation may develop
The Auckland Performing Arts Centre on the personal front where you may have to speak up your mind, but tread softly.
100 Motions Road, Western Springs Maintaining your workout schedule is important to come back in shape. Lucky
Thursday, 17 May - 5pm (Opening Night Gala) Number : 7 / Lucky Colour : Off White
6pm Film screening
www.screenies.nz PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20)
Facebook.com/screeniesnz Gaining the confidence of a superior at work is the first step towards career
Media Partner progression, so put your best foot forward. Aim with which you had undergone
a short course or training will be achieved. Focus is important on the academic
front, especially if you are appearing for competitive exams. Don’t fret over what
has been irretrievably lost; what is gone is gone. Lucky Number : 15 / Lucky
Colour : Green
 The Indian Weekender
CROSSWORD NO: 12
SUDOKU NO: 12
HITORI NO: 12
Hitori – a logic puzzle with very simple
rules and challenging solutions. Can
you eliminate 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 by marking
Friday, May 11, 2018 TIME OUT 25
QUIZ QUESTIONS NO: 12 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTIONS
Easy Ice-Breakers
1. Who was the legendary
Benedictine monk who invented
champagne? Dom Perignon.
2. Name the largest freshwater lake
in the world? Lake Superior.
3. Where would you find the Sea of
Tranquility? The Moon.
4. What is someone who shoes
horses called? A farrier.
5. What item of clothing was named
after its Scottish inventor? A
Mackintosh.
6. What kind of weapon is a falchion?
A sword.
7. Which word goes before vest,
beans and quartet? String.
8. What is another word for lexicon?
Dictionary.
9. Name the seventh planet from the
sun. Uranus.
10. Who invented the rabies
vaccination? Louis Pasteur.
Questions about countries
1. Which is the only American
state to begin with the letter 'p'?
Pennsylvania.
2. Name the world's biggest island.
Greenland.
3. What is the world's longest river?
Amazon.
4. Name the world's largest ocean.
Pacific.
5. What is the diameter of Earth?
8,000 miles.
6. Where would you find the
world's most ancient forest?
Daintree Forest north of Cairns,
Australia.
7. Which four British cities have
underground rail systems?
Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle
and London.
8. What is the capital city of Spain?
Madrid.
9. Which country is Prague in?
Czech Republic.
10. Which English town was a
forerunner of the Parks Movement
and the first city in Europe to have
a street tram system? Birkenhead.
11. What is the world’s largest Lake?
The Amazon
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
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE NO: 12
See how many differences you can find in the right or left photo.
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 other (i.e. they are
connected).
 26 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

AUCKLAND’S HOTTEST BOLLYWOOD STATION

Don’t want to be a shining Dharmendra idolised

Dilip Kumar
diamond on-screen: Alia Bhatt B ollywood veteran
Dharmendra says while

B
efore her triumphant performance in Meghna
Gulzar’s Raazi is out for all to see, Alia Bhatt says
she prefers to show the vulnerable and unpolished
side of the characters she essays rather than shining like
a perfect diamond on the big screen. In an interview, Alia
spoke about Raazi, her film journey and what’s on the plate
next. Excerpts:
Q. You had a private screening of Raazi. What
were the responses like?
I can’t be objective about my own work. This film is
different from my others in that it has certain suspense
element. All of us associated with the film knew what the
surprise element was. So I was looking at the responses of
my guests to see how they reacted to the surprise element.
And it was all very heartening, very encouraging.
Q. Does people’s approval matter to you?
Of course it does. There are some people in my life
whose opinion is really valuable to me. That apart, I make
all my decisions myself. The scripts I read and decide to
do are chosen by me. Of course, I sound off the scripts to
some people close to me. But for better or worse, the final
decision to do or not do a film is mine.
Q. You got to work with your mother (actress Soni
Razdan) for the first time. What was that like?
A. It was as though she had come visiting me on the sets
and decided to join me in front of the camera. We were very
professional in front of the camera. And like any mother
and daughter when it was off. Sadly, it was mostly work
work work. We hardly got any time to hang around together.
Q. Raazi is your first political film. And you play
a selfless woman ready to die for her country. Do
such people really exist any more?
I am sure they do. That’s how civilisation moves forward.
It is true that self-preservation is the first instinct of every
human being. Would anyone put the country before one’s
own life the way Sehmat does in Raazi? Yes, of course!
What about the jawaans who put their lives in danger to
protect the country? So yeah, I think it isn’t impossible to
have that level of selflessness even in today’s day and age,
provided there is the right impetus to look beyond yourself.
And Sehmat finds that impetus.
Q. I believe Raazi required more preparation than
all your other roles so far?
A. I’d agree with that, yes. The closest I came to preparing
this much was when I did Udta Punjab. For Raazi, I set
aside a month before shooting. I cleaned up my Urdu
language. I learnt how to drive a jonga (a jeep used by the
that much attention to the way we speak our lines. But growing up he used to look
let me tell you, Ranveer Singh, my co-star in my next up to the legendary talent
release Gully Boys, is very much into linguistic fine- Dilip Kumar. Dharmendra
tuning. He actually works on the voice, the tone, the way spoke about it during an
the dialogues are spoken for his characters. I like that. appearance on Colors' TV
show "Entertainment Ki Raat@9". While talking
Q. Do you also play a rap singer in Gully Boys
to host Saumya Tandon, he said: "In my growing
like Ranveer does. Are you a Muslim charac-
days, I used to look up to Dilip Kumar sahab. I was
ter again?
in complete awe of his charisma and I think there
A. No I am not a musician in ‘Gully Boys’. As
can't be anyone like him in this film industry."
for the way I look, I leave it to Zoya to explain all
He recollected that he started his career with a
that when they are ready.
photoshoot.
Q. Zoya would be your third female "I was horrible in studies and wanted to pursue
director, fourth if we count Sangharsh modelling and acting but my father was totally
which you did as a child with Tanuja against it. In those days, the film industry was not
Chandra. How different is working looked upon as a respectable career and he didn't
with Gauri Shinde, Meghna Gulzar approve of it." Asked what profession he would
and Zoya as compared with your other have pursued if he weren't an actor, he said: "If not
directors? an actor, I would have been an athlete and would get
A. No different at all. There is absolutely a gold medal for India".
no difference between working with male
and female directors. I don’t think we should
evaluate talent according to the individual’s
Anil thanks Mumbai
gender. If you are referring to women as more police for supporting
sensitive directors, then let me remind you, my
father Mahesh Bhatt made some very sensitive Sonam's wedding
A
films like Arth, Saaransh and Zakhm. So I won’t ctor Anil Kapoor has thanked the Mumbai
go with a gender division of directorial abilities. Police for their constant support towards his
daughter and actress Sonam Kapoor's wedding.
Q. Six years as a leading lady. How do
After wrapping up the three-day celebrations, Anil
you look back at the frenetic rush
tweeted: "The constant support of Mumbai Police
of projects and the stardom that
was a major reason behind our family being able
you’ve obtained? Are you exhaust-
to celebrate this occasion to the fullest without
ed? Do you need a break?
worrying about the safety! Thank you for all your
A. Not at all. In fact, I am more
help!" Sonam tied the knot with her long-time
enthused now than ever before. I
boyfriend Anand Ahuja on Tuesday. The wedding
love that rush of adrenaline that I
celebrations and reception were attended by the
feel when I start a film. I also love
who's who of Bollywood.
promoting my films.
Q. Would you miss the More needs to be
limelight when you are no
done on Swachh
It is true
longer in it?
A. Of course I know a day
would come when it won’t be Bharat Abhiyan: Big B
that self- M
there any more. It is therefore egastar Amitabh Bachchan says more needs
important to not take it too to be done towards the Swachh Bharat
seriously, to enjoy it while Abhiyan than just providing a face and voice to the
it lasts. I am having a blast.
Q. Have you signed
preservation campaign.
Amitabh, 75, re-tweeted a video from the official

Indian Army). I learnt some self-defence moves plus some
techniques that spies have to learn before they are on their
is the first
page of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. In the video, the
anything new?
Piku star is seen talking about making India open
Actually, I have. But I
defecation-free and building toilets in villages.

instinct of
job. It was a lot of hard work and fun. But I think no amount leave the announcement
It was captioned: "As the Swachh Bharat Mission
of preparation can really prepare you for that moment when to the producers. At
is moving towards building an Open Defecation
you finally face the camera. the moment I have

every human
Free India, the contribution of the youth is now
Gully Boys, which
Q. Do you prefer going into a character unre- more important than ever. Join the Swachh Bharat
is complete. Now
hearsed? Summer internship and help us build a cleaner

being
one year would
I prefer going into my character without polishing her nation."
be taken up with
flaws and imperfections. I don’t want to be this shining Amitabh added: "More awareness needs to be
Bramhastra and
diamond on-screen. I like to show the vulnerable, made for this campaign...I work towards this not
Kalank, both
unpolished side of my character. only by face or voice, but also by profession... I have
Karan Johar’s
to do, whatever I have said! More needs to be done,
Q. Speaking of brushing up your Urdu, was that productions
and we shall do it, not just by voice and face, but
hard for you to do? which is like
home to me. working for it... I shall certainly!"
A. It was a new way of working. Normally we don’t pay

Ekta Kapoor reveals why she doesn’t work with stars like SRK, Salman Khan
E
kta Kapoor made a strong base
on television before moving on
to film production. Now, she is
among Bollywood’s top producers.
Ekta Kapoor is a maverick producer.
She has helped in bringing the wave
of content-based, small budget films
to Bollywood with projects like Shor
In The City, LSD, Lootera and Udta
Punjab. However, she is averse to
making films with big Bollywood stars
and now she has revealed the reason
behind it. In a conversation with PTI,
she said, “It is not about the access to
the stars. We have not made films with Picture and Lipstick Under My Burkha. two shows - one is a
Salman (Khan) or Shah Rukh (Khan) Her idea about the competition Bengali and other is a
because at this point if I have to spend is very clear. She says it’s all about South Indian show.
half a year in planning a film with a big winning and learning. I had a huge wing
star, it would require certain effort.” She said, “I don’t like to live a that made lot of
She added, “We have got into an delusional life, which is an easy thing. South Indian
eclectic mix of films. Access doesn’t We all have dreams but we have to shows, not many
always mean...you could have picked understand where the dream becomes people know we
up a phone and called them. It is not delusional.” had a south show
that we are making a big star Rs 100 She also has her eyes locked in on the called Kudumbam.
crore proposal.” regional film market. She said, “I feel I am a firm believer
Such strategy has paid her company, we have a huge local market. I want that as the content
Balaji Motion Pictures, that tasted to grow with regional content but that gets local there will be
success with films like The Dirty would be three years later. I have done more identification.”
 THANK YOU
FOR MAKING US
NUMBER 1 AGAIN
ALL PEOPLE UNDER 44

AUCKLAND’S UNDISPUTED
NUMBER HINDI RADIO 1
HUMM 106.2 FM
*Cumulative audience aged 10 to 44 Mon-Sun midnight to midnight
-Official GFK Commercial Radio Survey 1 2018
 28 ENTERTAINMENT Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

Anupam Kher: I want to

do better internationally
V
eteran actor Anupam
Kher says whenever he
takes up an international
film or series, he feels a sense of
responsibility about representing
India. So while he says he focuses on
“good work” in India, he wants to do
“better” outside.
The actor had tweeted that he was
travelling to Belfast, Ireland for the
shoot of Mrs Wilson.
In an accompanying video, he
said: “Have reached London and
from here I got to Belfast for a
series for BBC titled Mrs Wilson.
It is a good role. Whenever I
work for an international series or
movie, then from within I feel I am will also be seen in an upcoming his video.
representing India and I have to give series titled “New Amsterdam”, a
"Whenever
my best.  medical drama.
I am doing an
“I have to do good work in India Besides this, he has been international film
but outside, I want to do better.” nominated for the Virgin TV or series, in my mind
Anupam further wrote: “Whenever British Academy Television I feel I am officially
I am doing an international film or Awards in 2018 for his work representing my country
series, in my mind I feel I am officially in the adaptation of Satnam and I have to give
representing my country and I have Sanghera’s memoir The Boy my bestest"
to give my bestest. I get a sense of with the Topknot, a TV movie.
extra responsibility. Desh ki bhi izzat “I have been nominated for Bafta
ka sawaal hota hai (it’s a matter of on May 13 for the film Boy With
my country’s prestige too)! Looking The Top Knot. please pray for that.
forward to a great experience 515th I will be happy if we win, but if
project.”  not then I would be happy with the
The Indian actor, who has earlier nominations only,” Anupam
featured in a slew of foreign projects, urged his fans via

I’ve no pressure to look Salman’s blackbuck case

hearing adjourned to July
a certain way: Parineeti
T
he hearing of Bollywood handed a five-year imprisonment

P
arineeti Chopra got under the scanner
for her drastic weight loss, with some
praising her dedication and some
criticising her for sending out a negative
message on body image. But the actress says
she doesn’t always pay attention to what
people are talking about to avoid getting
caught in a “vicious circle”.
She feels no pressure to look a “certain
way”. You can’t always pay attention to
what people are talking about you. If you do,
you will get into a vicious circle. You have
to feel good, you have to feel fit. Fitness is
extremely subjective and that’s the fun of it,”
Parineeti said. “You have to do things that
work for you, that makes you feel good about
yourself. I have no pressure to look a certain
way. I only want to stay fit and live a healthy,
happy, complete life,” added the actress, who
has been roped in the fitness ambassador for
swimwear brand Speedo India. How has the
meaning of fitness changed for you?
“Fitness is all about challenging yourself –
every single day, every single training session.
If it doesn’t give you the rush, the thrill, you
will get bored. I look for something new,
something to push my physical boundaries
every single day.”
Parineeti, the cousin of globally popular
actress Priyanka Chopra, asserted that fitness
is not only about changing the way you look.  an “amazing journey over the
“It is also changing your perspective
towards health and harmony. When you
start feeling great about yourself, you start
appreciating everything. Mind and body is
connected for us and we need to harness that
energy. Good physical health always means
good mental health.” Her association with
Speedo came into existence because she
resonated with their fitness mantra.  from each other. The
“I am a water baby and when Speedo India
approached me to be their fitness ambassador
I was excited. Its recent campaign has been
around fitness. Fitness and I go a long way.
I’m always looking at exploring new and
interesting forms of exercises that challenges
me. Since Speedo and my association
involves working out in the pool, it just made
it exciting for me.”  I will keep on
When it comes to her career in Bollywood,
it has been a case of hit and miss.  and try to al-
Parineeti made her debut with Ladies vs
Ricky Bahl, but got noticed with Ishaqzaade.
She got a good response for Hasee Toh Phasee
and Golmaal Again, and faced failures with
films like Kill Dil, Daawat-e-Ishq and Shuddh
Desi Romance.
After the hit Golmaal Again, she has a lot
to look forward to.  five-year prison term in the 1998
“My next film is an amazing ex-
citing project titled ‘Sandeep
Aur Pinky Faraar’, which
will be releasing on Au-
gust 3. The edge of
the seat thriller is di-
rected by Dibakar
Banerjee and I
am extreme-
ly happy to
have been
directed by
him.  The actor was convicted and
“Post this,
Namaste England
releases this Dussehra
which will be my second re-
lease this year with Arjun Kapoor.
It is directed by Vipul Shah and it
is a full on entertainer. We are yet
to finish shooting for the film.
Lastly, I have also been
shooting for Kesari where I get
to work with Akshay sir (Akshay
Kumar). It is an absolute pleasure
working with him as there is so
much to learn from him.”
The actress says she has had
last seven and a half years” in
the industry, where she has
also showed her skills as a
singer. 
“I have always
experimented with my
roles and tried to choose
roles that are different
most wonderful thing
being an actor is to get
to explore the life of
different characters
in each and every
film. 
“My experimen-
tation won’t stop.
pushing myself
ways entertain
audiences,”
she signed off.  single day, every
superstar Salman Khan’s
plea for suspending his
blackbuck poaching case, that was
scheduled for Monday, has been
adjourned to July 17.
District and Sessions Judge
Chandra Kumar Songara ordered
the arguments to begin but
Salman’s lawyer Mahesh Bora
wanted some more time.
Heeding to his request, Songara
adjourned the hearing till July 17.
Salman was seen leaving the
Jodhpur trial court soon after.
Honoured to play role of Nargis
in Sanju: Manisha Koirala
M
anisha Koirala says
she feels honoured to
play the role of Sanjay
Dutts mother and late actress
Nargis Dutt in Rajkumar Hiranis
upcoming film Sanju.
Manisha interacted with the
media on the sidelines of Yusuf
Merchant’s book Happyness - Life
Lessons From A Creative Addict
on Saturday.
On being a part of Sanju,
Manisha said: “I am really
honoured to have played Nargis
Duttji in the film. It’s like any
actress’ dream role. Though I have
a very small role in the film... It’s a
special appearance, but I am really
excited to know audience reaction
about my role and the film.”
Sanju, a biographical film
based on the life of Sanjay Dutt, is
directed and written by Rajkumar
Hirani and produced by Vidhu
Vinod Chopra.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor
as Sanjay Dutt in various stages
of his life. It has an ensemble cast
which includes Anushka Sharma,
"Fitness Sonam Kapoor, Paresh Rawal,
Manisha Koirala, Jim Sarbh,
is all about
Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Dia
challenging
Mirza and Karishma Tanna. The
yourself – every
film is set to be released on June
29.
single training At the book reading session,
session. " Manisha said she was mentally
on April 5 by Chief Judicial
Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri for
killing two blackbucks 19 years
ago.
He spent two nights in the
Jodhpur Central Jail, before he
was granted bail by the sessions
court on April 7.
Both Khatri, as well as District
and Sessions Judge Ravindra
Kumar Joshi, who gave him
bail, have since been transferred
in what has been described as
a routine administrative move
involving a number of judges.
disturbed at a certain point in her
life but survived through it and
came out stronger.
A cancer survivor, Manisha
said: “Every individual goes
through ups and downs in his
life and I also experienced that.
Earlier... I wasn’t prepared for it.
Now also, that phase comes but
now I know the tools of handling
it. So, I can ride through smoothly
in a tough phase.
“I think it is the most normal
thing to feel sad or depressed,
but in our society it is considered
taboo. Now, on social media
platforms, people look so happy
and perfect by posting their
pictures and stuff, so if anyone
is sad or depressed then they
consider him as abnormal, but that
is not the case.
 LE S
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30 FEATURES Friday, May 11, 2018 The Indian Weekender

Folk and modern Bengali songs echo at music concert

RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

T
he Bengali musical concert
Bollywood Factor ‘Eto Shur Eto Gaan’ hosted
at the Avondale School
Talent Show 2018 earlier on Saturday, May 5 has left
Date: Saturday, May 12
the audience with a craving for more
Time: 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Venue: Manurewa Netball Centre, 95 such shows in the community.
Browns Road, Auckland There were two surprise elements
We are New Zealand’s Premium Talent of the show besides the apparent
Search Show. The only promoters of expectation of great evening of
finding and promoting Bollywood Talent
in New Zealand is BACK again for its third music and nostalgia. First, the
year. We provide a platform for our young carefully crafted aesthetics of the
professional, amateur and up coming and stage, designed with precision by
aspiring Bollywood talents who want to the organisers to give the audience a
make Singing, Dancing, Performing Arts songs in the first half of the concert, taking back on a Saturday evening.
feel of being in their home country
or even Modelling, fashion and glamour as applauds of which echoed louder The organisers charged a token
their career in New Zealand.  through its visuals for a start.
with every passing performance in amount of $10 for each ticket and
The second mesmerising surprise
the auditorium. sold out homemade Bengali snacks
Swar Tarang 2018 or amazement for the audience was
Dr Hubert, who considers himself to raise funds for the Bangla School
Date: Saturday, May 19 the perfection of the musicians in
an amateur musician and singer gave Charitable Trust in Auckland.
Time: 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. producing the music of old folk
the Bengali music genre and show in The Bangla School in Auckland
Venue: Mt Eden War Memorial, Dominion Road, Auckland Bengali, classic and modern songs-
An evening of Indian Auckland a new dimension, a new conducts weekend classes for a small
songs that date to as early as fifty
Classical Music meaning and taking it all together to yet significant number of students to
years ago.
on Saturday 19 the next level. learn Bengali language, art, music,
May 2018, that is A band of ten musicians on different
Neel Akasher Niche Ami by culture, and history. Young Bengali
organised in memory instruments such as percussions,
Faruque Ahmed, Bashi Shune Aar children up to the age of 13 hailing
of my father and drums, flutes, keyboard, table, bass
legendary Samvadini Kaj Nai by SD Burman, Ei Poth Jodi from Bangladesh and West Bengal in
guitar, drum sets, etc. cloned the
(Harmonium) player Shesh Na Hoi and Ek Din Pakhi Ure India take these classes and learn to
late Shri Jayant music of the original songs to almost
by Kishore Kumar were some of the read, write and speak Bengali.
Bhalodkar. The perfection at the concert.
songs sung in the first half of the February 21 is a significant date in
program features Dr Hubert D’Cruze, organiser and
some of the finer show. the history of language in Bangladesh
singer of the concert, was unveiled as
nuances of classical He later sang Rum Jhum Jhum and is observed as the ‘International
one gem of a singer to be discovered
and semi-classical music presented by our own local talents including Mayur Jhum by Kavi Nazrul, Tumi Ki Mother Language Day. This day is
Tendulkar, Vidya Teke, Moushumi Das, Lester Silver (Sitar), Nikhil Ghate (Tabla), at the show. He started his concert
Dekhechho Kobhu by Abdul Jabbar, celebrated to promote awareness
and Samir Bhalodkar (Harmonium). with a very humble rendition of
Ei Raat Tomar Aamar by SD Burman and cultural diversity and promote
legendary singer Shubir Sen’s
and Coffee Houser Sei Addata by multilingualism across the globe by
Telangana Formation Day ‘Eto Shur Aar Eto Gaan’ followed
Manna Dey in the second half of the Bangladeshi community.
Date: Saturday, June 2 by songs by singers Hemanta
the concert. He sang an additional The concert ended late in the
Time: 5 p.m. onwards Mukherjee, Faruque Ahmed, Bhupen
Venue: Mt Eden War Memorial, Dominion Road, Auckland five popular modern Bengali songs evening and Dr Hubert and the
Hazarika, Rabindranath Tagore song,
Telangana Association of New Zealand would like to invite interested requested by the audience during the musicians received a standing
performers to participate in Telangana formation day celebrations conducted SD Burman, Manna Dey and Kishore
show. ovation for delivering a fantastic
on June 2nd 2018. Interested groups or solo performers, please fill up the form. Kumar. Dr Hubert who is a GP at Flat
The show left the audience musical show exhibiting the richness
below is the link provided please fill and submit before 25th May. Bush Medical Centre performed 12
spellbound with a beautiful memory of Bengali music.

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