How much do you know about international foods, customs and traditions? Take this test!
Q: Which of the following is an Italian form of ice-cream?
a) Gelato
b) Grissini
c) Granita
d) Gelatina
A: (a) Gelato is lighter in texture than American ice-cream. The best gelatos have no additives or preservatives, and are not artificially flavoured. Gelatina means gelatin, grissini are breadsticks, and granita is an ice dessert made with fruit juices or sweetened espresso frozen to the point of slushiness. Q: A kind of Australian bread is popular during camping as it only consists of flour and water and is cooked on fire. What is the name of the bread?
a) Drover
b) Sconer
c) Damper
d) Digger
A: (c) Also called soda bread, damper is an iconic Australian food, the staple of road workers and travellers who journeyed long distances with only basic provisions like flour and sugar. This is a traditional bread made without using yeast. A perfect camping food item, the customary way of baking damper is to use the coals of a campfire. Q: If you are eating a whole baked fish in Poland, why should you not flip it over?
a) Because you will capsize the fisherman’s boat.
b) Because you really do not want to see what is under there.
c) Because the bones will come loose and you will not be able to eat it properly.
A: (a) There is an old wives tale in Poland that says it is bad luck to flip over the fish on your plate as it will flip over the fisherman’s boat in the water. Instead, remove the bones completely if you want to get to the other side or just stare at the delicious fish taunting you from your plate. Q: Button mushrooms are a traditional part of which Chinese dish?
a) Chow fun
b) Dim sims
c) Moo goo gai pan
d) Chicken li Tell
A: (c) Moo goo gai pan comes from the Chinese names of the ingredients. Moo goo is button mushrooms. Gai is chicken. Pan means the chicken is sliced. The dish may also include cabbage, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and other vegetables. Moo goo gai pan uses a chicken stock sauce rather than the brown peanut sauce many other Chinese dishes use. As a Cantonese dish, Moo goo gai pan features milder sauces than other Chinese cuisine. Q: The world’s most expensive spice is native to Southwest Asia. What is it?
a) Cardamom
b) Saffron
c) Vanilla
d) Star Anise
A: (b) Saffron – the dried stigmas of the flower Crocus Sativus – is the world’s most expensive spice. Some 14,000 stigmas produce one ounce of saffron. It is used in many dishes to colour and flavour food. Q: One of the most popular Lebanese dishes is small deep-fried balls made of chickpeas, onion, garlic and various herbs and spices. What is it called?
a) Falafel
b) Dim sims
c) Mezze
d) Dumplings
A: (a) Falafel can be served hot or cold. It is often served in pita bread with relish or hummus and is a popular part of vegetarian Lebanese cuisine. Q: What is the Mexican dip guacamole made from?
a) Kiwi
b) Broccoli
c) Avocado
d) Spinach.
A: (c) Guacamole is a tasty Mexican dip made using avocados. Avocados are fruits containing vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that help your heart, unlike French fries which have unhealthy fats. Guacamole makes a delicious dip as well as a spread for crackers, and is perfect for veggie dipping. Try it as a dip for crunchy bell pepper strips or baby carrots.
DEAR AUNTYJI
We have recently bought a new home after years of renting, and I am absolutely delighted about finally owning a place to call our own. Our weekends are blissful with me and my husband wandering through nurseries trying to find plants for our garden or through Bunnings trying to find odds and ends for our lovely new home. The problem is this: my devoted and wonderful husband has responded to the responsibilities of home ownership with unusual fervour, and sadly, has started engaging in multiple DIY tasks – most of them concurrently. For example, he wants to put up lots of pictures, but lacked a drill so the pictures and odds and bods sat on the ground for weeks until he purchased the drill. Then, he decided that instead of buying a book shelf, he was going build one himself, and so for weeks, we had wooden planks and nails and stuff lying about the house while Rahul spent time on YouTube trying to learn how to put together a bookshelf. But the worst part is this. My husband, with his unfettered enthusiasm for do it yourself, has consistently demonstrated an abject lack of aptitude for this skill. He can barely hammer a nail into the wall without at least one blow to his thumb. If I were to be honest, I would say that he is absolutely useless with manual tasks. Despite having a PhD in Statistics and being able to put forth a compelling discourse on just about any topic, manual tasks and my husband are not friends, but this point is lost on Rahul. So Auntyji, what do I do to convince him that we don’t want him making any further attempts at DIY, because I am quite concerned about his health. Last week, he went and bought a very big ladder, though everyone knows that the probability of him falling off this is high to quite high. Previously, I indulged in his quest to feel like a real man on account of holding a Black and Decker and feeling its powerful, and satisfying, whir in his delicate yet manly hands, but now, I feel I am enabling his future DIY related injury. What shall I do, Auntyji? I want to be a good wife, but I can’t stand by and watch Rahul fall off a ladder – which is only a matter of weekends from now. Tell me what to do, please. AUNTYJI SAYS
Ah, the plight of the sage wife who shares the particular misery of having a husband who is bilkul bekaar at DIY but who lacks the akal for self-awareness and limitations of his abilities. What to do? Well, as a wife you have a right to a stress-free existence with a husband who does not engage in wilful and reckless behaviour that compromises a healthy and happy life together. So, you can start by researching the number of accidents caused by husbands falling off ladders while engaging in DIY tasks and present this information to your husband – and seeing that he has a PhD in Stats, he will barely argue with this evidence. Put your foot down. If you have concerns about his abilities – then you insist that he can do one low-risk task at a time, until he has demonstrated an undeniable evidence of capability and aptitude, before he can tackle the more advanced tasks. I am sure your husband, if he is as devoted as you say he is, won’t argue with your logic and may even be secretly relieved at not having to prove his mardangi by being husband/carpenter/builder/roofer/tiler all in one. I suggest you act on this and issue your fatwa on the ladder and concurrent DIY projects effective immediately. Good luck.
Outbid. Outraged.
DEAR AUNTYJI
A few weekends ago my husband and I went to an auction to buy a home, but lost the bid to another Indian couple. I really wanted the home, and tried to find out more about the couple and their two relatives. It seems all four of them have lived together in Australia for five years and the guy drives a taxi while the other two have jobs in banking and one is a babysitter. They seemed like nice people, but through general conversation with them, I wondered how these four managed to buy such a beautiful and expensive home and then I knew it’s because the guy who drives the taxi does not pay taxes! I am so angry that someone who does not pay taxes can buy a house while we don’t get to do this even though we work so hard. I want to call the ATO and report this guy, but my husband said I should mind my own business and let them be. Further, my husband says that I don’t know the full story, so I should not make assumptions. But I am feel that by not paying taxes, he is stealing from the state. What are your thoughts? AUNTYJI SAYS
You kulankani, you horrible dayan – really, this is how low you want to go because you did not get a house that you wanted? Kis tarah ke insaan ho tum? It’s people like you who make Indian people look bad and you should be ashamed of yourself and your gandi, low-class thinking. I suggest you start taking some time to think about what a horrible person you really are – because only a jealous, spiteful, ignorant, horrid person would do something like what you are suggesting. This is why you don’t have a house yet – because the universe fails to reward people who are selfish and vile like you. So I suggest you go and cook for a hundred people at the temple to make amends. Really, you need to change your thinking and listen to your husband.
Seriously? Call the ATO based on a hunch? Man, what is the world coming to?
Preethika Ganiger’s dreams are taking off, literally, with the Australian Air League
As a young child, Preethika Ganiger often dreamt about flying.
As in, flying her own planes.
Her mum Archna could have told her she had her head in the clouds, but instead decided to help her realise her dreams.
Today, aged 11, this Year Six student of Brighton Primary School looks like she will soon have her dreams come true.
“I’ve always wanted to fly like a professional Aerobatic Pilot so I joined Royal Flying Doctors Service Australia and Australian Air League’s Junior squadron in 2012,” Preethika tells Indian Link.
The Australian Air League, for kids 8-18, not only encourages interest in the aviation industry as a career or as a hobby, but also provides them education, opportunity and support.
“The Australian Air League has an excellent reputation for producing high quality pilots, some of who are now flying with Australia’s major airlines and charter companies,” says Sqn Lt. Chris Thompson, Acting Officer Commanding Port Adelaide and SA Wing Education Officer.
The League, also known as the primary school of aviation, has been promoting the industry to young Australians for some 80 years now. It offers air activities in all states either through affiliations with commercial flying schools that offer competitively priced flying or through the air activities centre at Camden Airport in NSW. They are known for their leadership training and discipline. Successful members can qualify to become Non Commissioned Officers. The organisation is entirely self-funded and is staffed by volunteers who give their time generously to achieve its goals.
The League is also involved in pre drills for Field Competitions and Parades, First Aid courses, Electronics and Physics courses, Public speaking, Leadership, Astronomy, Building Model Aircraft and Model Flying.
“Preethika has been very passionate about flying and joined Australian Air League at the age of eight as a cadet,” says Archna Ganiger. “She is now working towards becoming a Non-Commissioned Officer. These are cadets who have shown aptitude for leadership and are selected on their ability to train and assist others as well as being a good reflection of the Australian Air League and its principles.”
Preethika says her favourite activity is gliding and power aircraft flying. “Gliders are awesome! They are supported by the dynamic reaction of air against their lifting surfaces. They don’t depend on engines. They are very quiet. I feel like a bird when I’m up in one! Touching and seeing the clouds rush past me is an incredible experience. It’s a great experience for a primary school student!”
Preethika has also achieved Certificate 3 in electronics through the League.
And of course the young pilot-in-the-making also believes in giving back to the squadron that is helping her achieve her dreams. Recently, as a part of the leadership program, Preethika brought a touch of India to the Australian Air League Port Adelaide squadron. She took full responsibility in organising the event to help the members celebrate the culture of India. She also performed a Bharatnatyam dance number watched on by her guru, in front of the entire squadron. Later, some delicious Indian food followed.
At a time when the Indian Air Force has just announced that it will induct women pilots into its fighter stream (having already allowed them to fly transport aircraft and helicopters), we can only wish many more young women like Preethika have their flying dreams fulfilled.
How cricket and Cochlear taught Austin Philip to hear
An Indian boy who is unable to hear anything stands perplexed amongst his teammates on the field… until he puts his ear implants on. Then he’s just like any other talented child who can play great cricket, hearing its sounds and above all, hearing the sounds of life. As the match finishes, Australian cricket great Brett Lee walks away with the young boy, complementing him on his game!
This is the scene from the new advertisement for Cochlear, the Australian company providing implantable hearing solutions for the deaf and hearing impaired.
For Austin Philip, who acted in the ad, this couple of minutes summarises the story of his life very well. It also reveals the story of the powerful resolutions and adaptations his family has undertaken for him. From a larger perspective, this experience is about the wider community learning to accept children as they are, and supporting them and their families in their journey.
“The hardest thing for us to accept was the fact that Austin has hearing loss,” Austin’s mother, Sheeba Philip, told Indian Link. “When it was first diagnosed at the tender age of two, we were filled with questions. How did this happen? Why us?”
She continues with regained composure, “Little did we know at that point that we had two major hurdles to surpass. The first was, should we let our boy go through the cochlear implant surgery? If the implant did not work, there would be a total loss of hearing. And then, after that, there would be a second similar surgery for his other ear couple of years later, so we would have to go through the same process all over again.”
What is a cochlear implant?
Saji Maruthurkkara, an audiologist who conducts research into the technology, says: “Unlike a hearing aid that requires some residual hearing that can be aided, the Cochlear Implant works for people with no hearing. This is because it does the work of the damaged part of the inner ear. The sound processor that is worn behind the ear encodes the sounds and transmits them to the implant. The implant converts the codes into electrical impulses and stimulates the cochlea’s hearing nerve, and sends impulses to the brain that is interpreted as sound.”
The brain has to learn to interpret the language of the impulses created by the Cochlear Implant, which was another challenge the Philip family faced. Initially the noises sounded like a whistle to Austin, and then words had to be repeated constantly, to drum them into his new ears, and subsequently to the brain.
An interesting element in this story is the way the game of cricket is woven through it. As a norm, the whole implant process has a support crew that consists of early intervention teachers, audiologists, speech therapists, and training the children at special schools like the Royal Institute for the Deaf and Blind. In Austin’s case, all his therapy was done through cricket, which he was passionate about from an early age. The first early intervention kit he was gifted, was a cricket kit. All his first verbs were related to the game like “The man is batting”. He was asked to identify the cricketers by name and point to them to teach his brain to convert the electric impulses to sounds. And to everyone’s surprise, he picked it all up quite well!
Austin’s growing fondness towards Australian cricketer Michael Hussey was something his family could not ignore. Well aware of this, a colleague of Sheeba’s sent an e-mail to Cricket Australia, which was forwarded to Hussey himself. In an unexpected turn of events, Hussey’s manager replied that he would like to meet Austin.
Anish Philip, Austin’s father, is grateful to Hussey as he set aside half an hour of his time to give some joyous moments to the brave boy and his family. Austin is very lucky to have an elder brother who supported him in every step, with perseverance and patience. It was not just the professionals and the celebrities, but most people they met, who supported the family to help instill rays of hope for Austin.
During their conversation with Indian Link, a seemingly moved Anish sat alongside Sheeba as she explained the emotional journey their little boy has been through. Gradually, Anish opened up about the concerns he had regarding the social acceptance of his boy. “As a dad, all I wanted was to hear him say ‘I love you, Dad’ From there, Austin has grown into someone who goes to a high school for “normal” children, and has the most number of friends in his class!” the proud father said.
A wonderful twist in this story is how cricket returned Austin’s love for the game. An obvious achiever in the sport, Austin, who lives in Toongabbie, has been playing in the district cricket team for the past four years. He was the opening bowler last year for the Parramatta district under 14s team, and this year he is playing in the under 15s team. When asked about his dream, Austin flashed a lovely smile. “I want to be the first deaf person with implants to play for Australia, to show the world that nothing should stop you from achieving your dreams.” He wants to give back to the game, the people and the country that changed his life!
To assist with her son’s particular medical condition, Sheeba gave up her teaching job and undertook a Masters in Special Education (Hearing Impairment). Today, she is a happy woman, helping kids with the same disability as her son and educating their parents by sharing the lessons from her own life. The five-year-old boy who stood perplexed in the field of life, unable to comprehend the sounds around him, is now a young gentleman in high school. Thanks to the timely decisions and support that he received, Austin can effectively hear and connect with the sounds of life.
Why some industries and services in India continue to go unregulated and what they could learn from Australia. By KUSHAGRA BHATNAGAR
I migrated to Australia in 2008. Since then I have been closely observing the Australian way of life in comparison with the Indian way. There are stark differences between our two societies, and we are all too aware of them. We all have our own way of explaining away the differences – especially when the Indian side appears to be weaker, which it is in many cases.
However, I am not going to discuss the most commonly known real or perceived differences. I am taking up the difference in the way the governments of the two countries handle regulations. The glaring difference exists in the fact that many businesses in India are completely unregulated while those same businesses in Australia (and I suspect in most of the developed world as well) are strongly regulated.
It is no new discovery that two of the most unregulated breeds in India are commercial drivers and builders or developers. The commercial drivers, whether for taxis, auto-rickshaws, trucks or buses, are hardly controlled under any kind of regulation. With total impunity, they feel free to cheat customers, behave rudely with them and violate traffic rules. This is not to mention the occasional abhorrent rape of some hapless women. No government has so far been able to rein in these people. Why? Because this crowd forms a strong vote bank.
Any effort to control their conduct is perceived to be politically unwise. This may or may not be true because no one has tried. This needs no passing of bills in parliament; this needs no presidential ordinance; this just needs those in power to enforce the law with a stern hand.
Taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers are free to do what suits them. The police cannot book them for refusing a fare, for misbehaving with a customer, overcharging or even for drunk driving. Your average Delhiite will vouch for the misery commuters have to suffer at the hands of the misbehaving breed of such taxi or auto-rickshaw drivers. In effect, the only law for this lot is that there is no law.
In sharp contrast, in Australia all commercial drivers are strongly regulated. While an ordinary citizen may have the opportunity to get off lightly for traffic offenses, commercial drivers have zero chance. One error and they lose their license, making them unemployable as drivers. Even in nations such as Dubai and Turkey, commercial drivers are subject to tight discipline. The slightest over speeding will see their driver’s license taken away for a few years. A second offense and the license is lost for life.
Builders and developers in India also enjoy the luxury of working in a regulation-free environment. Name any aspect of bad, irrational, unruly, unethical, unfriendly behaviour, outright cheating or fraudulent business conduct and you will find this lot is guilty. They enjoy complete, unrestricted freedom with regard to whatever business practice each one of them wishes to employ. Why? We cannot explain this nonsense by trying to link this with politicians’ fear of losing an election. This lot does not exist in numbers that are large enough to become a vote bank. So why the inexplicable liberty?
One possibility is black money or fraudulently obtained income. We all know that the property market is one of the largest creators of black money; it creates black money and it also consumes black money. A great proportion of the parallel economy thrives in the property market. Who are the people with enormous amounts of unaccounted for money? Politicians of course. Hence, it stands to reason that they have a huge stake in the property market. This is why irrespective of which party is in power, or out of it, this lobby continues to make merry at the expense of the customers. If I, as a politician, invest billions of rupees in the property market, I will jolly well make absolutely sure that the people who handle the market remain protected at all times.
Builders and developers are regulated with strong rules in Australia which do not permit any discretionary powers to the bureaucrats or politicians which can be misused. We all know there is a thin, practically invisible, line between discretion and discrimination.
Food for thought?
S P Jain continues to inspire and shape the minds of future leaders, writes HANSEN MENEZES
Leading international publication The Economist released its annual ‘Which MBA? Rankings’ in October, revealing that S P Jain’s full-time MBA program is rated among the world’s top 100.
The annual rankings are based on four categories: new career opportunities, personal development and educational experience, increasing salary and the potential to network.
The Global MBA program at S P Jain School of Global Management (S P Jain) has also received a Global Top Ten ranking by Forbes on its list Best International MBAs One-Year Program rankings (2015-16). For four years in a row, SP Jain has featured on Forbes’ biennial rankings of the world’s top business schools. In 2013-2014, it was ranked #11 in the world. It was also ranked in the Financial Times Top 100 in 2011 and 2012.
S P Jain School of Global Management is an Australian business school with campuses in Sydney, Dubai, Mumbai and Singapore. Business has gone global, and accordingly business education must go global too.
“What is unique about S P Jain is that for the majority of our programs, students are required to study at three of our campuses,” Trent Pohlmann, Head of Campus at S P Jain School of Global Management, Sydney, told Indian Link. “We don’t just say we’re global; we make it happen through our network of campuses.”
The campuses across the world provide global management exposure and experience which are key requirements for organisations these days as they look to expand across continents. Students are provided with an immersive education program which caters to the globalised economy’s requirements.
S P Jain currently offer courses at the Bachelors and Masters level but have future plans for other programs, including Doctoral studies. Students receive an Australian degree after successful completion of the program. The campuses are modern, colourful, vibrant and technologically advanced. Trent Pohlmann, Head of Campus at S P Jain School of Global Management, Sydney
Industry relevance
“We offer an industry-relevant curriculum taught predominantly by people who are working professionals in their field,” Pohlmann said. “Students at S P Jain learn from people who work as industry professionals during the day, and teach part-time outside of their working commitments.”
Trent Pohlmann is proud of S P Jain’s philosophy which aims to give students the exact skills they need if they are to find long term success and rewarding jobs. “We engage with companies extensively and have an Industry Advisory Board in each of our host countries. These Boards consist of senior business leaders who highlight to S P Jain the emerging trends and concepts in the corporate world as well as the attributes they are seeking from graduates. Our curriculum is then tailored accordingly.”
Pohlmann says it would be a waste to take students to amazing, diverse countries and lock them in a lecture theatre. “A major part of our model is out-of-class learning, where we take students to companies, parliaments and culturally significant venues in each of our campus countries. Just last month our newest batch of Bachelor of Business Administration students commenced their course in Singapore. They are from 30 different countries!”
Though today we have a globalised economy, there are considerable differences across countries and regions in the way that business is conducted. “Our programs teach students about the nuances of business across various regions,” Pohlmann explained. “This makes them agile and able to work anywhere in the world. As a consequence of our unique model and curriculum, our students get good jobs and earn good salaries.”
He added that as educators, S P Jain aims to do everything possible to make the students extremely competitive in the job market. “This is without a doubt our responsibility as an educational institution. S P Jain increases the competitiveness of its students through an industry-relevant and innovative curriculum, real world and corporate readiness programs, comprehensive out-of-class activities, which we call student life, strong connections with companies and industry, and personalised and individual career assistance and advice for every single one of our students from beginning to end including searching for jobs, through to preparing for interview, to accepting job offers.”
Executive MBA
S P Jain Sydney has recently launched a new Executive MBA program, an 18-month part-time program held entirely at the campus in Sydney. Pohlmann explained, “The program is suitable for people who are working full-time and who want to complete their MBA through a combination of online study and face-to-face evening classes. It is a great program that really equips graduates to obtain a promotion in their current workplace, pursue a new career, or perhaps move overseas for a better job. Whilst it is conducted entirely in Sydney, our global campus model means that students may still elect to complete some subjects at any of our campuses.
Looking to the future
Pohlmann is very excited with the proactive approach that the institute has implemented in creating a focused roadmap for the future.
Describing S P Jain’s plans for new trending technology, analytics and research, he said, “We are keen to develop new programs and focus on executive education and professional development. One of the new programs we would like to begin in the near future is a doctoral program in business administration. A major part of the doctoral program would be a research thesis, which would strengthen our research and development. That being said, many of S P Jain’s academic staff are avid researchers who are continually publishing new research papers and adding to our world’s body of knowledge. Our Deans consistently reinvigorate our School’s curriculum to tailor to new concepts like social media, mobility and analytics. Another example of a raging topic is ‘Big Data’, for which we are hosting a number of various courses and conferences,” he said.
The school provides professional development which assists people to become more innovative and creative, leading to the development of new products. The S P Jain Innovations and Insights Centre, led by Dr CJ Meadows, offer a ‘Design Thinking for Insight Innovation’ workshop to achieve exactly this. Nitish Jain, President of S P Jain School of Global Management
Tips for potential students
Make yourself stand out, says Trent Pohlmann, if you are looking to pursue management.
“If you are already working, offer your manager your time to complete projects that wouldn’t normally be your responsibility. These projects will give you good experience outside of your day-to-day job and show commitment to your company. They are your opportunity to demonstrate your ability in transferring your skills to duties outside of your normal scope. Finally, don’t just set the goal of becoming a manager. Set the goal of becoming a leader. The two are not the same, and good leadership – and indeed management in some cases – can be developed outside of the workplace. To be successful, employees need to learn about theoretical and academic concepts, how business happens in other countries and companies, how to work with people from different cultures, and all of the accompanying soft skills. These are best learnt through a good business school.”
The internet is increasingly helping Indian comics to challenge cultural norms, writes VIRAT NEHRU
Indian audiences have recently welcomed their very own version of a John Oliver-style satirical current affairs show. It’s called On Air with AIB and will feature ten episodes, each lasting around 23 minutes.
Oliver is a hot commodity right now, with everyone trying their hands at recreating the success of Last Week Tonight, albeit in slightly different ways. Australia’s answer has been in the form of The Weekly with comedian Charlie Pickering at the helm.
Satirical current affairs programs aren’t new to the Indian media landscape. Jog your memory and you remember Movers & Shakers, a hark back to late-night American television talk shows, replete with a band and a corny laugh track. There is also The Week that Wasn’t with Cyrus Broacha that’s been on the air since 2006 – long before the John Oliver craze took hold – and is a nostalgic nod to BBC’s Not the Nine O’Clock News.
What’s exciting about On Air with AIB has less to do with its content and more to do with its mode of delivery. The episodes will air first online at hotstar.com in both English and Hindi on Thursdays, making it accessible to the Indian diaspora around the world, and will be subsequently telecast on television on weekends.
This might seem like a simple case of adopting a more digital friendly attitude and embracing technological change in terms of the mode of delivery of content. However, the embracing of digital platforms, especially by India’s latest comedy outfits, such as AIB, represents a conscious shift in addressing the global Indian diaspora.
This new wave of Indian comedy has forever altered the nature of India’s cultural landscape. This generation of comics represent a more self-aware consciousness, acutely aware of the absurdity and hypocrisy that surrounds Indian society. No subject is off-limits and the boundary between the public and private sphere, which has continued to govern what is ‘acceptable’ and what is not in public discourse for so long, is finally becoming blurry.
The emergence has been as rapid as it has been radical. In the past three to five years, we have seen the emergence of numerous comedic outfits that have challenged and/or subverted Indian cultural norms in their own way. Names such as AIB, The Viral Fever, East India Comedy, SnG, The Humour Beings, Pretentious Movie Reviews, Son of Abhish and others have quickly established their very own niches and fanbases and are invariably shaping and re-shaping the dynamic sensibility of a global Indian identity.
This new wave has chosen the online platform as their mode of address. Being a ‘YouTuber’ is no longer a scoff-worthy enterprise, being a legitimate career-option for many as they compete in the online market space. The ‘internet’ which has always remained somewhat dubious for the previous generation – much like the quotation marks encompassing the word – is a natural navigation tool for Gen Y. The online space is a more attractive option for audiences today as opposed to traditional forms such as television. Platforms such as YouTube have allowed online personalities to grow and become internationally known brands in themselves such as Superwoman aka Lily Singh.
The online platform also circumvents a rather sinister problem. India hasn’t really had a proper debate around the concept of freedom of speech. It’s more like a buzzword that gets thrown around whenever convenient. There are absurd laws regarding censorship around broadcast, for example, silly statutory warnings about smoking and drinking in films and beeping of words that might imply vulgarity. Seeing a simple PG-rated sitcom such as Friends where half the utterances are beeped out on an Indian channel is simultaneously the most hilarious, but also the most depressing thing ever.
Let’s say your intended product survived these Kafka-esque censorship laws with some sense of the original essence still intact. There is no guarantee of smooth sailing even after this nightmare. If your product discusses any aspect of religion, politics or reference to any particular community residing in India, chances are there will be a police complaint lodged against it. And that’s just the nice scenario.
The internet, however, is a nanny-free zone. The new wave of Indian comics have lapped up this opportunity and have been quick to disseminate messages that challenge the status quo. Everything is open for discussion. And these ideas are not just reaching Indians in India. They are reaching the Indian diaspora.
The swift pace at which these outfits have been able to establish themselves and gain loyal audiences is a testament to the fact that this debate around freedom of speech and ideas is one that needs to happen in order to re-define Indian identity.
Of course, this kind of radicalism doesn’t come without its challenges. Earlier in the year, AIB did a ‘Roast’ along the lines of the Comedy Central Roast, with Indian celebrities Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor. Despite having an age disclaimer at the beginning of the video, they were forced to take it down from their YouTube channel after much sensationalism and public furore.
But the seed was sown. The Roast cropped up surreptitiously on other online platforms. Love it or hate it, you could no longer avoid it. Nor could you avoid the bigger debate around freedom of speech anymore.
So whether you’re an Indian in India, Australia or anywhere in the world, this radical new wave will sweep you along with it. The progress of On Air with AIB and the success of other similar ventures will invariably shape a more global and self-aware Indian identity.
On the Indian links at this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
Driving 3000 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide would challenge anyone making the trip. But to do it without a drop of petrol, are you kidding me?
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a car race with a difference, is an event that seeks out new – and sustainable – frontiers in the transport scene.
This year 46 teams from 25 countries participated.
A major purpose of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is to advance the exploration and development of automotive technology in the use of solar power. This has been evidenced as the winner’s average speed since 1987, when the event began, has risen from 67kph to 92kph today, achieved by the winning car Nuna8 from the Nuon Solar Team based in Holland.
The 4th placed car was the Aurum from the University of Michigan, USA. Aurum Project Manager Pavan Naik, at the young age of 21, is a veteran of solar-powered car racing, having been involved in the 2013 race in Adelaide, followed by races in the US and Abu Dhabi. Pavan Naik
Describing this year’s race he said, “The final positions were down to the last 30 minutes of the entire race.”
Majoring in Industrial Engineering, Pavan has a passionate interest in the success of Aurum for himself and his team.
It was interesting to hear Pavan say, “I had an interest in engineering but it wasn’t until my involvement with solar cars that I really understood what engineering was all about. You can learn it in class but it’s not the same.”
As the team statement says ‘Our emphasis with Aurum was on speed, reliability and safety…it was designed to be the fastest solar car’.
The sleek Aurum is an entirely student run project. The team comprises of engineering students from the mechanical, electrical, aero-dynamic and strategy disciplines with support from operations and business divisions. With an enthusiastic race crew of 17, and drivers taking turns at the wheel, there was just one objective in mind: to get this 140kg baby to the number one spot.
Interestingly, there was a supporters group that had come all the way from the USA for the finish in Adelaide. There were the “Michigan Moms” including Julie and Tracy, mother and aunt, respectively, of the lead mechanical engineer, Joshua. Others included Ajit Naik, father of Pavan. Pavan Naik with father Ajit
Ajit
Talking to Ajit gave an insight into the feelings of a parent of a participant in the race. Ajit told Indian Link, “Getting involved in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge project has changed a lot of the perspective in Pavan. He has been really involved for the last two years. When his friends would be going to ball games he would be busy working on the project.”
This was just an example of the dedication and passion shown by all taking part in the solar challenge.
When asked if batteries were an issue for solar vehicles, Pavan replied, “No, the main issue is energy management, making sure your strategy is consistent and your vehicle reliable.”
At the end of the race, Pavan said, “I am proud of my team; we’ll be back in 2017 for a better result.”
On an unfortunate note, the RVCE Solar Car Team from Bangalore worked very hard to bring their car to the race but technical problems prevented their start. Hopefully they’ll be back next time too.
After such a gruelling race it was not surprising that thewere off the scale. Loud cheering and chanting continued as the winning cars rolled into the finish enclosure. Before we knew it, the Aurum team were running down Victoria Square to continue a tradition, to jump into the Three Rivers Fountain as the sparkling wine fizzed into the sky. Later, a parade of cars in the city, an Awards ceremony followed by a party brought this event to a fitting conclusion.
Online portal Change.org has launched in India in Hindi and is allowing people across the globe to support causes they care about
The team from Change.org Australia
A new way of bringing about change by supporting causes that are close to your heart is by signing internet petitions. Activism through social media and the internet, where it is easier to reach out to hundreds of people, has taken off in a big way the world over. Change.org, which has been active since 2007, is one of such platforms. Its Hindi version was officially launched in India on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, 2 October this year, opening the digital campaigning space to 500 million Hindi speakers the world over. Gandhi’s oft quoted “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” is well known and Change.org aims to provide a platform to make this happen.
Three million people in India already use Change.org. This also happens to be the number of monthly active users in Australia. Available in 14 languages, a petition on Change.org Australia achieves victory at least once a day. Globally, this medium of change has 110 million users.
So how does this medium work?
“Anyone can raise a petition on Change.org and it is free. The incredible response of people using this platform in India, the diversity of issues being raised and some notable wins, has been inspiring,” explains Preethi Herman, the Country Lead of Change.org in India. “It is very similar to Facebook or YouTube in that there are broad terms of service and community guidelines, such as not inciting or promoting hate and violence.”
Offering some local insights to Indian Link, Preethi says that she has seen some major themes emerging on Change.org in India each year. When the platform first opened up a couple of years ago, it was dominated by issues of corruption. A year later it was issues relating to safety of women such as better street lights and abolishing the insensitive ‘two-finger’ medical procedure after rape. More recently, child sexual abuse petitions seem to be trending. The ethos of the country certainly seems to be mirrored in the petitions for key issues. Acid attack survivor Laxmi and her change.org petition
Many have criticised such armchair cyber activism, but there have been significant successes which cannot be discounted.
Detractors of this medium say that “liking” a cause on Facebook, commenting on a post or signing an online petition may not change the world, but Change.org petitions have certainly made a difference for many in Australia and India. “Change.org makes it all happen real-time and more people can engage actively with democracy and governance” says Preethi in support of this medium.
Six months ago in Australia, Vaishali Kanabar rallied successfully through Change.org to keep a kids playground at Parramatta Park open. There were 250 supporters for her petition which proved sufficient for the Parramatta Park Trust to agree to keep the playground open until a replacement was built.
Over to India, where Laxmi, an acid attack victim at 15, used Change.org to get over 29,000 people to sign her online petition asking the Indian government to regulate the retail sales of acid to prevent future attacks. The government made an announcement that it would issue guidelines requiring a valid proof of identity to purchase acid and requiring shopkeepers to be licensed for sale of acid. All this in seven days.
In another example, Alina Tiphagne from New Delhi used Change.org to get over 63,000 supporters for her petition to mandate a seven-year background check for Uber drivers. This followed the rape of a young woman in Delhi by a Uber driver with a history of sexual assault. While Uber had a strong policy on background checks in the US, it wasn’t in place in India. The petition brought Uber to its knees and they have committed to thorough background checks, document verification and police re-verification of their drivers.
Sikhs participating in basketball rejoiced when over 69,000 supporters succeeded in getting the International Basketball Federation to scrap its discriminatory ban on wearing headgear.
A petition in Australia which asked Malcolm Turnbull to decriminalise the use of medical cannabis for people with terminal illness, garnered over 248,000 supporters. The good news for Lucy Haslam from Tamworth who ran this petition on Change.org for her 24-year old son, who needed cannabis to manage the pain and nausea from cancer treatment, was that on 17 October, the government announced their support.
With internet access and mobile phones reaching far and wide the vast expanse of India, Change.org now leverages the power of the internet among the Hindi speaking populations in India too. While some may argue that political engagement by clicking a few links promotes the illusion you can change the world, Lucy and Laxmi would certainly beg to disagree.
