The Indian Weekender, 10 March 2023

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Editorial Geopolitical rivalries mar G20 talks India’s leadership of the G20 was sorely tested when the summit held in New Delhi ended on March 2 with no communique. The absence of a communique indicates the failure to achieve a consensus among the participants, and the onus to build such consensus is squarely on the host. That said, it could be argued that a single issue thwarted the prospect of a unanimous outcome, tilting the talks towards deadlock. Russia’s war in Ukraine dominated the discussions and India, currently presiding over the G20, acknowledged that, in the end, disagreement defied reconciliation, leading to the delegates from 19 wealthy nations, as well as the European Union, dispersing without issuing a joint statement. Instead of a closing statement, New Delhi cobbled together a “chair’s summary,” citing the divergence of views around the war in Ukraine. As G20 president, India tried to stay above the fray and pushed its agenda on behalf of the Global South, which had unsustainable debt, digitalisation, inflation and food security at its centre. The challenge before New Delhi was to make the G20 look beyond Ukraine. But with China and Russia jointly opposing a majority statement condemning the war in Ukraine, India’s bid to forge a diplomatic consensus fell apart. No doubt, India’s own ambivalence on Russia did not go unnoticed. New Delhi has held firm in the face of mounting pressure to denounce Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. It has consistently abstained from voting on UN resolutions condemning the war in Ukraine, including a vote held in the UN General Assembly recently. It has stepped up its oil imports from Russia, which also supplies arms to India. National interest and compulsions of realpolitik, no doubt, lie behind New Delhi’s strategic choices. But, as the G20 host, India has had to resort to a diplomatic fig leaf to camouflage its position on Russia by bringing up the “UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states” in its statements on Ukraine. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s observation that India “tried, but the gap between the countries was too much” is a telling postscript to its efforts to choreograph a consensus out of disharmony. But the summit was not devoid of optics. At the foreign ministers’ session in Delhi, Russia’s Sergei Lavrov met Antony Blinken of the US on the side lines. The brief encounter came on the heels of bellicose pronouncements by Russian officials over US “ blackmail and threats.” While opening the session, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi skirted the Ukraine war but hinted that geopolitical tensions could hamstring talks. So, when delegates and guests sashayed to the venue where India was hosting the Raisina Dialogue 2023, timed to match the G20, in the Indian capital, the transition was almost cathartic. Touted as India’s “leading geopolitical and geoeconomics conference,” the Raisina Dialogue, which was inaugurated by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and India’s Modi, provided a platform for “correcting the perception” of a lack of unanimity within the G20. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman said there was agreement on 15 out of 17 critical issues discussed by the G20 and identified the war in Ukraine as the divisive issue. She also took a veiled swipe at China and Russia for their obstructionist role in India’s unsuccessful bid to forge an elusive consensus within the G20. QUOTE OF THE WEEK My election as the President of the world’s largest democracy is a part of the story of women empowerment – Indian President Droupadi Murmu IN FOCUS : Picture of the week This week in New Zealand’s history 11 March 1884 New Zealand Freethought Association founded Indian Weekender : Volume 14 Issue 48 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Editor: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Multimedia Specialist: Karan Bhasin | 022 0772 156 | karan@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Auckland Reporter: Navdeep Kaur Marwah: | 021 952 246 | navdeep@indianweekender.co.nz Wellington Reporter: Venu Menon | 021 538 356 | venu@indianweekender.co.nz Christchurch Reporter: Mahesh Kumar | 021 952 218 | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz 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 ® 2022. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. Send your suggestions and feedback to editor@indianweekender.co.nz Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar celebrating Holi with United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh House in New Delhi on March 8, 2023 (Wednesday). Forty delegates from six regional associations met in Dunedin to adopt a constitution and elect the first officeholders in the new organisation 12 March 1975 New Zealand Red Cross worker killed in Vietnam Returning from leave in Laos, 30-year-old Malcolm ‘Mac’ Riding was on board an Air Vietnam DC4 when it crashed 25 km from his Red Cross team’s compound near Pleiku, South Vietnam 13 March 1956 New Zealand’s first test cricket victory New Zealand was already 3–0 down in the series going into the fourth and final test at Eden Park in Auckland. Their West Indies opponents included household names such as Gary Sobers and Everton Weekes, who had broken batting records for a New Zealand season. 15 March 1919 New Zealand troops riot in England Four months after the end of the First World War, hundreds of New Zealand soldiers rioted at Sling Camp on Salisbury Plain in southern England. It was the most serious breakdown of discipline in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the European theatre. 17 March 1860 First Taranaki War erupts at Waitara The opening shots of the first Taranaki War were fired when British troops attacked a pā built by Te Āti Awa at Te Kohia, Waitara. 17 March 1905 Only surviving Maungatautari Bank cheque issued The Maungatautari Bank was one of several set up by Māori in the decades after the New Zealand Wars to handle the money they were receiving from land sales.
Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 10 March, 2023 NEW ZEALAND 13 Vinod Rathod wows audience with soulful performance NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH On Saturday (March 4), Aucklanders experienced the magic of ace Bollywood singer Vinod Rathod’s singing. Rathod, who gained popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s primarily for his contributions to Bollywood films, has been entertaining music lovers for decades with his unique voice and ability to convey emotions through his singing. His Auckland concert, presented by Trivision Entertainment, was a much-awaited event for the Indian community and music enthusiasts in New Zealand. The concert at Mahatma Gandhi Centre was attended by nearly 500 people and showcased his musical prowess and popularity. The 60-year-old Rathod, who is known for his melodious voice and versatile singing style, crooned his popular songs like Aisi Deewangi (Deewana), Nayak Nahin Khalnayak Hoon Main (KhalNayak), Ae Mere Humsafar (Baazigar), Dholi Taro Dhol Baje (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) and M Bole To (Munna Bhai MBBS) among many others and left the audience craving for more. It was not just about music but also about the experience and emotions he evoked in NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH (From top left) Chandni Mukherjee, Vinod Rathod and Jaswant Singh Rathore. his listeners. Interestingly, the event also saw melodious singer Chandni Mukherjee performing with Rathod, and the duo’s chemistry was well appreciated by one and all. Their songs made people dance, and some enthusiastic dancers were invited onto the stage. Preetika Chand, an attendee, said, “It was a full paisa vasool show. It was a night full of fun and Rotorua Hindi School celebrates Holi with colourful festivities music. I enjoyed Vinod Rathod’s singing and was transported back to the lively music of the 90s.” Another guest Swati called the event “a mesmerising evening filled with music, dance, and entertainment”. Talking to Indian Weekender during a break in the three-hour-long event show, Rathod said, “I am enjoying a lot, and the crowd in Auckland is just incredible. The mood is awesome. It is a wonderful experience. I want to thank everyone here from the bottom of my heart.” The cherry on the cake was a standup act by comedian Jaswant Singh Rathore of India’s Laughter Challenge fame, who entertained the audience with his jokes and mimicry of Bollywood stars. “It was superb. It kept the crowd hooked till the end,” said one of the attendees about the act. Dharmend Shyam of Trivision Entertainment, the main organiser of the show, also seemed quite happy with the response. He said, “It was an amazing night with glimmer, glitter and musical hungama. Such events are well needed in our community as it revives our Indian culture and love for music and songs sung by original singers. The success of this show is so encouraging, and we hope to have more such musical nights for our Kiwi Indian community in NZ.” Locals showcase Indian language poetry Holi – one of the most popular Indian festivals – was celebrated with full fervour by the students of Rotorua Hindi School - a division of the Hindu Council of New Zealand (HCNZ). The Sunday (March 5) event saw the students celebrating the festival by covering each other with coloured powder and drenching with coloured water in a spirit of merrymaking at the Playtopia Educare. In the afternoon, before the celebration, the Hindi teacher at the school, Shweta, explained the festival’s importance to children during the class. It gave children a background about the festival and its significance. Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm by people of all ages and backgrounds. Moreover, it marks the arrival of spring, the triumph of good over evil, promotes unity and brotherhood, and spreads joy and happiness. It is a time when people come together to celebrate the beauty of life and forget their worries, and it holds significant cultural and social significance in India. The festival is an expression of the rich cultural heritage of India, and it brings people together in a spirit of celebration and harmony. Observed since ancient times, Holi glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land. The timing of the festival coincides with spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Regarding the event, Prof Guna Magesan, President of the HCNZ, said, “It was a great day. It was great to see our schoolchildren celebrating our traditional festivals while away from India. Many children in our school have never even been to India, and such events are critical to keeping our younger generation in touch with our rich heritage. We endeavour to celebrate Indian festivals with our kids, so they understand and are proud of our culture.” The first Rotorua Holi Festival was introduced to the Rotorua public in 2010 by HCNZ. Rotorua Hindi School was formally launched on October Hindu School volunteer teachers with president of Hindu Council. Children enjoying Holi festival 2, 2021, for the benefit of children and others interested in learning Hindi. The Rotorua Hindi School runs on Sundays from Playtopia Educare at 2 Ti Street in Rotorua. The Hindu Council of New Zealand is a non-profit organisation that represents the Hindu community in New Zealand. It was established in 1996 to promote and preserve the Hindu culture and traditions in New Zealand. It has been instrumental in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding and building bridges between different communities in NZ. Gaurav Sawant and Vaibhav Naik IWK BUREAU A video project featuring seven local poets who write in Indian languages shows that the Indian literary tradition is thriving in Auckland. The project, called Srujan, showcases the talents of these poets and highlights the passion for Hindi and Marathi in Auckland’s neighbourhoods. Created by a group of passionate creatives and funded by the Albert-Eden Local Board, the project elevates the work of the Indian community and reveals the universal human experiences of love, friendship, and hope found in their poems. Director Gaurav Sawant, experienced in theatre and performing arts in India, hopes the project will celebrate the collective experience of the poets and writers and showcase their talent to the world. The overwhelming response from the community’s call-out for submissions, which resulted in 15 local creatives collaborating, shows that the Indian literary scene in Auckland is thriving and deserves recognition. “This is a unique project because poets or writers in Indian languages exist in Auckland, but seldom get an opportunity to be seen. This project shows that they’re talented and passionate. I hope we are able to celebrate this collective experience with everyone globally from right here in Auckland,” Sawant said. The project was conceptualised by writer-producer Shriya Bhagwat. Singer Amrita Bhende has lent her voice and musician Ben Fernandes has composed the background score.
Page 1 and 2: Friday, 10 March 2023 Volume 14 / I
Page 3 and 4: Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 1
Page 10 and 11: 10 NEW ZEALAND Friday, 10 March, 20
Page 14: 14 FIJI Friday, 10 March, 2023 Read
Page 19 and 20: CHINA BEFORE COMMUNISM “It’s li

The Indian Weekender, 10 March 2023

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?