The Indian Weekender, 27 October 2023

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MEHRA 

Delhi boxer challenges 

Maori champion to 

world title fight 

RAVI BAJPAI IN AUCKLAND 

“It will be really great,” says Chandni Mehra, her eyes gleaming with 

excitement as she tells me about her upcoming bout in about five 

weeks. The 22-year-old professional boxer from Delhi has challenged 

reigning International Boxing Organisation’s (IBO) super bantamweight 

world champion Mea Motu to a title fight on December 2. 

The fight will take place in Motu’s hometown of Whangarei, one of New 

Zealand’s famed boxing dens, and Mehra is hoping Kiwi-Indians will turn 

up by her side of the ring. 

“I know boxing isn’t as famous as cricket, but this is the first time an 

Indian female professional boxer is fighting for a world title. Support from 

the diaspora here will make all the difference.” 

• Continued on Page 7

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Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 27 October, 2023 

NEW ZEALAND 3 

Exploited pizza shop 

worker wants former 

employer put in jail 

TOM TAYLOR/RNZ 

Underpaid migrant worker says he 

wants to send a warning to defaulters 

Devinder Mann, who owned several 

pizza stores in South Auckland, 

underpaid his worker Deepak 

Dhiman by about $98,000 over the course 

of eight years. 

In October 2022, the Employment 

Relations Authority (ERA) ordered Mann 

to pay Dhiman what he owed, but more 

than a year later, he is still refusing to do 

so. Migrant advocates and employment 

experts say while defiance of court 

orders is commonplace, putting Mann 

behind bars could be a precedent-setting 

sentence. 

Dhiman arrived in New Zealand in 2012, 

a 17-year-old from India eager to make a 

new life for himself. A friend helped him 

to get a job at a franchise pizza store in 

Mangere. His troubles began during his 

training period - a week of work where he 

was not paid a cent. 

“I didn’t know anything so I thought, 

okay, they must be telling me the truth,” 

Dhiman said. “I just kept working. I 

wasn’t aware that in the future I would be 

in problems.” 

Deepak’s troubles begin 

Dhiman spent the next eight years 

locked into a job that exploited him for 

cheap labour. 

Mann’s company Naanak Limited (now 

in liquidation) forced Dhiman to work 

long hours of overtime with no extra pay, 

and withheld holiday pay. 

Even for his set hours Dhiman was 

underpaid, starting out on $8 an hour 

when the minimum wage was $13.50. 

However, after shifting from a student 

visa to a work visa which was attached 

to the company, he felt he had no choice 

but to stick it out. 

“The thing is, he promised when he 

hired me that he would help me get 

permanent residency in New Zealand. 

“[In 2015] I was already working 

But by 2020, it had become 

clear that Mann was not 

going to help him gain 

permanent residency, and 

Dhiman left the job. 

there for three years. I didn’t want to 

quit because I had already given my 

three years to him, and if I left, if I went 

somewhere else, then I [would] have to 

start it from the bottom.” 

In 2019, Mann sold one of his shops to 

another employee and Dhiman continued 

working there, scared his visa might 

otherwise get cancelled. 

But by 2020, it had become clear 

that Mann was not going to help him 

gain permanent residency, and Dhiman 

left the job. He became depressed and 

considered going home to his family. 

“I didn’t want to be here crying and 

sitting in the room and talking to myself. 

They said, ‘Okay, just come back, and we 

will see what happens next’.” 

However, when a friend suggested he 

talk with migrant rights advocate Sunny 

Sehgal, Dhiman had a change of heart. 

“Suddenly I realised if I go back home 

to my country, he won’t know what he 

has done wrong to me.” 

Dhiman and Sehgal started pursuing 

the unpaid wages and holiday pay owed 

to Dhiman. 

• Continued on Page 8

4 

NEW ZEALAND 

Friday, 27 October, 2023 

Your ultimate guide to Diwali 

celebrations across Auckland 

Read online www.iwk.co.nz 

RAVI BAJPAI IN AUCKLAND 

Auckland Council is spreading the light 

this Diwali with a plethora of small 

and big celebrations across the city 

powered by its local board. 

From Papatoetoe to Mt Roskill to Harbour 

Bridge, the city will come alive with such 

activities as diya making workshops, 

Diwali melas, craft corners and storytelling 

sessions. 

Apart from its showstopper BNZ Diwali 

Festival at Aotea Square on November 

4-5, Auckland Council is partnering with 

community organisations to hold small and 

big gatherings bringing people together 

across the city. 

The neighbourhood galas are all about 

making sure local communities understand 

celebrations, says Ella Kumar, Chair of 

Puketapapa Local Board Chair that is 

supporting a diya-making workshop in Mt 

Roskill. 

“It helps inclusiveness, and people get 

to know their neighbours. In Mt Roskill, 

we have a high percentage of South Asian 

population. 

"We have been supporting this Diwali 

celebration for five to seven years. 

“In the past, I have also been part of the 

big Diwali gala in Auckland Central [at Aotea 

Square]. To see something come local, to 

communities who can’t be in the city…to be 

able to participate in the festival is great.” 

The series of events leading up to the 

Festival of Lights is a way to recognise how 

the Kiwi-Indian community contributes to a 

diverse Auckland, says a Council official. 

DIWALI CELEBRATION 

DETAILS: 

Free food, performances, crafts, and 

stalls to browse – fun for the whole 

family! 

When: 

October 28, 12pm-4pm 

Venue: 

Roskill Youth Zone 

DIWALI MELA 

DETAILS: 

Drop in for a wonderful mix of Indian 

stories, costume, food and art. A 

Diwali treat for the whole family. 

DIWALI CELEBRATION 

DETAILS: 

Featuring amazing music and dance 

performances by local artists, the 

event promises a morning full of fun 

and festivity. 

When: 

October 28, 10.30am-12pm 

Venue: 

Blockhouse Bay Library 

WAITAKERE DIWALI MELA 

DETAILS: 

Get ready for a day filled with Diwali 

festivities. There will be dance, food, 

shopping and a spectacular fireworks 

display in the evening. 

When: 

October 28, 11am-3pm 

When: 

October 29, 11am-10pm 

Venue: 

Highland Park Library 

Venue: 

The Trusts Arena, Henderson 

VECTOR LIGHTS 

DIWALI STORYTIME 

DETAILS: 

Vector Lights will light up Auckland 

Harbour Bridge every 15 minutes from 

8pm to midnight to mark the Festival 

of Lights. 

DETAILS: 

Drop in for a wonderful mix of Indian 

stories, costume, food and art. A 

Diwali treat for the whole family. 

When: 

October 30- Nov 5, 8pm-11.55pm 

When: 

November 1, 10am-11am 

Venue: 

Auckland Harbour Bridge 

Venue: 


NAMASTE - HAPPY DIWALI 

DIWALI MELA 2023 

DETAILS: 

Rangoli-inspired craft activities, 

henna designs, a photo booth, and a 

dress up station with many colourful 

Indian garments. 

DETAILS: 

Join us for Diwali celebration at 

Papatoetoe War Memorial Library with 

performances, henna, games, rangoli 

and food 

When: 

November 3, 3.30pm-5pm 

When: 

November 4, 11am-2pm 

Venue: 

Glen Eden Library 

Venue: 

Papatoetoe War Memorial Library 

CRAFT CORNER 

DIYA MAKING 

DETAILS: 

This Diwali, pop in and create a 

special rangoli elephant at our craft 

corner tables. Recommended for ages 

4 years and above. 

DETAILS: 

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon 

crafting and decorating clay diyas 

together. 

When: 

November 4, 1pm-3pm 

When: 

November 13, 3.30pm-5pm 

Venue: 


Venue: 

Mt Roskill Library 

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NEW ZEALAND 5 

PARNELL FESTIVAL OF ROSES 

Plant swaps to quiet room, 

new attractions at fest 

NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH 

Parnell Festival of Roses is all 

set to paint Auckland with 

the colours and fragrances 

of blooming roses and a sense of 

community. 

The beloved community event, 

with a history spanning more than 

30 years, is back in full swing, 

celebrating the vibrant blooms 

of the Parnell Rose Garden on 

November 5, 2023. 

Hosted by Waitematā Local 

Board, the free festival has 

always been a day of joy, unity, 

and horticultural celebration for 

Aucklanders. 

This year’s event promises 

many highlights that will captivate 

and entertain attendees of all 

ages. From cultural performances 

and food trucks to craft stalls 

and activities designed for the 

whole family, this festival is a true 

community affair. 

Talking to The Indian Weekender, 

Waitematā Local Board Chair 

Genevieve Sage says, “Parnell 

Festival of Roses has been around 

for more than 30 years and is an 

opportunity for the community to 

come together to celebrate the 

roses in full bloom while enjoying 

a festival atmosphere. This year, 

the festival retains its focus on 

the event’s roots—horticulture and 

roses.” 

This year, the festival has 

introduced several exciting 

new features. One of the most 

interesting is the ‘Cutting Swap’, 

a unique stall that allows plant 

enthusiasts to grow their own 

plant collection at the festival. 

“Bring along your plant cutting 

from home and swap it for 

something new! There is no limit 

on what you can bring–house 

plants, natives, fruit or veggies. The 

options are endless! It’s a fantastic 

way to expand the variety of one’s 

collection and promote community 

exchange. We’re excited about the 

cutting swap and seeing what the 

public brings along,” says Sage. 

For the first time, there will be 

a dedicated ‘Quiet Room’. Run by 

Spectroom, this space will offer a 

peaceful haven for attendees of 

all ages to take a break from the 

bustling festival atmosphere. The 

room, filled with sensory activities 

and helpful tools, will cater to those 

who need a moment of tranquillity. 

In addition to these novel 

additions, the festival welcomes 

Saving Hope Foundation, which 

will be on-site with adoptable 

puppies, offering visitors a chance 

to find a new family member. The 

attendees can also meet Steve and 

DJ, the friendly petting goats who 

love pets and photographs. 

Four creative community 

members have put significant 

effort into creating upcycled 

gardens for Upcycle Garden 

Challenge. Visitors are invited to 

admire their handiwork, with prizes 

to be awarded on the main stage. 

The event is not just about fun 

and entertainment; it offers a range 

of free workshops for those eager 

to delve deeper into gardening, 

sustainability, and growing their 

food. Workshops will be available 

for all age groups, from zumba and 

garba dance classes to origami 

folding and composting tutorials. 

To keep energy levels up, more 

than 20 food stalls featuring a 

variety of cuisines will be present 

throughout the day. 

Visitors can anticipate a 

day filled with family-friendly 

entertainment and activities. 

“We have made efforts to ensure 

accessibility, with mobility parking 

and audio-described guided tours 

available for visually impaired and 

low vision attendees and their 

families. 

“For those looking to minimise 

their carbon footprint, bike parking 

will be available, as street parking 

around Dove-Myer Robinson Park 

is limited. Check the Auckland 

Transport website for information 

on ways to get there on public 

transport,” says Sage. 

The anticipation about the 

festival is building up. Neena 

Sharma, a south Auckland resident, 

says, “I look forward to attending 

the festival. I expect it to be a day 

filled with roses, entertainment, 

education, and delicious food. “ 

What: Parnell Festival of Roses 

When: November 5, 2023 

Timing: 11am–4pm 

Where: Parnell Rose Gardens, Dove- 

Myer Robinson Park, 85-87 Gladstone 

Road, Parnell 

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6 

NEW ZEALAND 



Crafting dreams in lab 

grown diamond jewellery 

Four Words 

co-founder 

Vineet 

Chauhan 

SUPPLIED CONTENT 

When buying engagement rings 

and fine jewellery, often you 

have to choose among quality, 

affordability and something unique. 

With Four Words, you can have all three. 

The brainchild of Vineet Chauhan, Hamish 

Parbhu and Vivek Kumar, this New Zealandbased 

company has carved a niche for 

itself in the art of crafting custom-made 

fine jewellery using lab-grown diamonds – 

redefining approachable luxury. 

The First Four Words 

Vivek’s journey into the diamond 

business is marked by a desire to fulfill 

a personal quest for getting a bespoke 

designed engagement ring. 

“My wife had a very clear idea of what she 

wanted in her engagement ring when I was 

looking to propose. 

“At the time, New Zealand did not have 

a jeweller that sold high-quality lab-grown 

diamonds, let alone a jeweller that would 

design a custom engagement ring for you 

unless you spent more than $10,000,” 

recalls Vivek. 

Where the business found its start was a 

visit by Vineet to Surat, India – the diamond 

capital of the world, for his own wedding 

shopping. It unveiled the new but fast 

growing world of lab-grown diamonds – 

where one could obtain precisely what they 

wanted without compromising on quality, 

price or design. 

Inspired by this ethos, Vineet, Hamish and 

Vivek set out to introduce this concept to 

the fine jewellery industry in New Zealand, 

giving birth to Four Words. 

A journey across continents 

The co-founding team of Four Words trace 

their origins to Fiji and India. Their parents 

had shared a journey of migration from Fiji 

to New Zealand around 1990. None of their 

families had been involved in the diamond 

business. Their family backgrounds are 

primarily in textiles and footwear. 

A Diamond is a Diamond – Lab or 

Natural 

The heart of Four Words lies in the 

concept of lab-grown diamonds which 

are physically, optically, and atomically 

identical to natural diamonds. 

“Not even trained gemologists can tell the 

difference,” explains Vivek. “We like to think 

about it like ice. Ice from the freezer is the 

same as ice from a mountain. There are just 

different ways to make it." 

Lab diamonds even come certified by 

GIA and IGI – the same organisations that 

grade natural diamonds. 

However, lab grown diamonds aren’t to be 

confused with ‘American Diamonds’ which 

are cubic zirconias, a type of diamond 

simulant that often get very cloudy and 

crack easily. Lab grown diamonds are real 

diamonds, just made in a lab. 

“When you talk to traditional jewellers, 

often they will persuade you away from 

buying lab grown because they don’t hold 

their value,” says Vivek. 

“But this is a common myth. If you try 

to resell any diamond, natural or lab, you 

will get approximately 40%-50% of the 

value for it. 

“For example, a good quality one carat 

natural diamond will cost you about 

$11,000. With lab diamonds, the exact 

same thing would be $4,000. And even if the 

lab diamond value went to zero (it won’t), 

and you get full resale value for your natural 

diamond (you won’t) you would still be 

$7,000 better off.” 

A unique custom design experience 

One of the unique aspects of Four 

Words is their personalised approach to 

jewellery design. 

Clients can either select from the online 

collection or collaborate with the skilled 

team to create a custom, unique design 

from scratch. 

Their thoughtful design process involves 

one on one consultations, both in person 

and virtually. It also includes the possibility 

of incorporating other gemstones like 

sapphires, rubies, emeralds, topaz, spinels 

and alexandrite. 

Once the brief is finalised, the design 

phase commences, first with concept 

sketches, then diamond selection - 

diamonds hand picked by gemologists and 

then detailed photorealistic 3D designs for 

final approval. We go through a process 

of back and forth to ensure our clients get 

exactly what they want. 

The final design is then brought to life 

using modern jewellery making techniques, 

right here in New Zealand, taking between 

six to eight weeks. 

Each client receives a diamond grading 

certificate, an insurance certificate, free 

worldwide shipping, and duty free shopping 

for those who have an overseas trip planned. 

More than just rings 

While Four Words is renowned for their 

engagement rings, the brand offers a 

diverse array of options, including earrings, 

bracelets, pendants, and necklaces, 

available in a range of gold (white, rose, 

yellow in 9k, 14k, 18k, and 22K) and 

platinum. 

In three years, the brand has already 

crafted more than 1,000 unique designs 

and grown into a team of seven dedicated 

people. 

Dreaming bigger 

The price varies depending on the design, 

size, and materials used. For a rough 

estimate, a two-carat ideal cut, F colour, 

VS1 clarity diamond solitaire in an 18K gold 

setting would cost approximately $8,000. 

The exact same thing made with natural 

diamonds would be over $45,000. 

RNZ 

Every region of the country has 

experienced population growth in 

the past year, following two years in 

which several shrank. 

Statistics New Zealand data shows of 

the 16 regions, Auckland was the fastest 

growing in the year to June. 

Estimates and projections manager 

Michael MacAskill said Auckland grew by 

47,000 people - 2.8 percent - in the year 

ended June, “reversing a population loss in 

2022”. About 78 percent of new Aucklanders 

were recent arrivals to the country. 

“Auckland gained people through 

international migration, but lost people 

through internal migration, continuing the 

pattern since the late 1990s,” MacAskill said. 

Nationally, the population grew 2.1 

percent, about 105,900 people, in the year 

ended June 2023 - 18 times higher than the 

Jewellery by Four Words 

No compromises 

Four Words’ guiding philosophy is 

clear– it is about fine jewellery without 

compromising on size, quality or the 

environment. 

For more information, visit www. 

fourwords.co.nz 

Auckland led way as NZ population 

grew 2.1% in year ending June 

previous year, when it flatlined at 0.1 percent. 

Otago, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty regions 

also grew faster than the New Zealand 

average. The fastest growing district by far 

was Queenstown-Lakes, which went up 8 

percent, or 3900 new residents, with 2500 

coming from overseas. 

Meanwhile, deaths exceeded births in 

some regions. 

“A record 16 out of 67 territorial authority 

areas experienced natural decrease, or more 

deaths than births, in the year ended June 

2023,” MacAskill said. The areas with the 

largest natural decreases included Dunedin 

City (190 more deaths than births), Thames- 

Coromandel District (170 more), Kāpiti Coast 

District (160 more), Nelson City (100 more), 

Whanganui District (90 more), and Timaru 

district (80 more). 

With the exception of Buller district, all 

areas experiencing “natural decrease” still 

had population growth, due to net migration.


NEW ZEALAND 7 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 

The IBO is one of the few major pro 

boxing leagues in the world, with 

champions ranging across weight 

categories. Mehra has thrown her hat in the 

ring in the 54-55 kgs category. 

After a fairly successful career as an 

amateur boxer in India, competing in several 

national level competitions, Mehra turned pro 

at the age of 17. For the boxing uninitiated, 

amateur pugilists compete at competitions 

like Olympic Games and Commonwealth 

Games. 

Many boxers, like India’s Olympic medallist 

Vijender Singh, chose to turn professional, 

a stage that is more commercial but no 

less competitive. 

Mehra already has under her belt 17 

professional fights with 12 wins, one draw 

and four losses. She has fought bouts in the 

UAE, Australia and South Korea among other 

countries. 

A single mother of five, Kaitaia-born Motu 

(17-0, 6 knockouts) will make the second 

defence of her IBO crown at Whangārei's 

McKay Stadium, where she'll be backed by 

friends and family. 

The Bollywood biopic on Mary Kom, a sixtime 

amateur world champion and Olympic 

bronze medallist from the northeastern 

Indian state of Manipur, inspired Mehra to 

take up boxing as a career. 

She says she fully understands the 

challenge of fighting Motu in her den, but she 

isn’t pulling any punches. 

“She is a good hard hitter, and we are 

working on how to tackle that. I am in great 

form, and have no doubt I will take the fight 

to her corner.” 

Mehra’s team has roped in Fiji-Indian 

Farmaan Ali as volunteer manager to help 

with her New Zealand foray. The Aucklandbased 

pro boxing trainer says he is looking 

for Kiwi-Indians to come on board as 

Mehra’s sponsors. 

“Be it individuals or corporations, we 

Mary Kom fan 

from Delhi to 

take on Maori 

boxing queen 

for world title 

Chandni Mehra (22) turned professional at the age of 17 years. 

Single 

mother of 

five Mea 

Motu. (RNZ/ 

Marika 

Khabazi) 

are looking at our diaspora members to 

help her out. We have great sponsorship 

opportunities, as the event will be telecast 

live across New Zealand and Australia. 

People can contact me at 022 457 5210.” 

Mehra was in Aotearoa this month to 

promote the upcoming bout, and she is 

currently back in Delhi training for the 

fight. She will return to Whangarei later in 

November just days before her Dec 2 world 

title challenge. 

What: IBO super bantamweight world title fight: 

Mea Motu vs Chandni Mehra 

Where: McKay Stadium, Whangārei 

When: Saturday, December 2 

Coverage: Live on Sky Arena and Sky Sport Now 

FIREWORKS 

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EXTENDED STORE HOURS 8AM - 7PM 

Fireworks 18+ 

For store locations visit crackerjack.co.nz/stores

8 

NEW ZEALAND 



BOMMAI GOLU 

Heritage beyond 

borders, faith 


IN AUCKLAND 

The vibrant and time-honoured 

tradition of ‘Bommai Golu’, also 

known as ‘Bombe Habba’ or ‘Golu’, 

was celebrated enthusiastically in Auckland, 

where it continues to thrive and bridge 

the gap between cultural heritage and life 

abroad. 

Bommai Golu is a south Indian tradition 

where colourful dolls and figurines are 

displayed on multi-tiered shelves during 

the Navratrifestival, showcasing gods, 

goddesses, mythological characters and 

scenes from daily life. 

About nine years ago, Epsom residents 

Yogi, her husband Ram, and the community 

began celebrating Bommai Golu in New 

Zealand. 

Sharing their journey of keeping 

this tradition alive, Yogi, who works as 

Organisational Change Manager with 

Fonterra, says, “It’s a tradition we’ve 

always followed, and when we inherited the 

‘kalasam’ from our parents, we naturally 

carried it on. 

“In the past, we invited people from 

our community to come to our home and 

celebrate with us. We’d work together to 

create a special display for the occasion. 

Our guests included friends, family, coworkers, 

other parents from our kids’ school, 

and even people from the general public.” 

She says preparations for the Bommai Golu 

festival are significant for the community. 

Months of meticulous planning go into 

curating the display, including carefully 

arranging dolls imported from different 

places on multi-tiered steps. 

The display typically adheres to tradition, 

with odd-numbered steps featuring gods 

and goddesses on the top tier, while the 

lower steps depict traders, devotees and 

everyday scenes. 

The festival serves as a means of 

connecting with cultural roots and an 

opportunity to share this vibrant tradition 

with a wider audience. 

Over the years, the event’s attendance has 

grown, with up to 70 people participating in 

this year’s celebration at Yogi and Ram’s 

residence. 

The highlights of this year’s event, which 

took place on October 21, included unveiling 

new additions to the doll collection, 

captivating performances of traditional 

songs, and a heartfelt aarti, followed by a 

delicious dinner. 

Reflecting on the response to the event, 

the hosts expressed their joy at seeing 

people’s interest in upholding traditions and 

culture. 

Ram, a SAP consultant, emphasises the 

importance of events like Bommai Golu. 

“We had guests from northern and southern 

Yogi with 

her husband 

Ram, the 

hosts for 

the day. 

India, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayali, 

Marathi, and Sindhi. We’re happy to see 

people’s interest in upholding traditions and 

culture, and we have had a great response to 

this event every year. 

“These cultural celebrations are crucial 

for the Indian community in New Zealand 

as they emphasise the significance of 

preserving traditions and culture while living 

far from home. 

"They offer a means for the younger 

generation to learn and connect with their 

roots.” 

• Continued from Page 3 

In response, Mann paid a visit to 

Dhiman’s brother. 

“He was threatening him: ‘I know some 

police officers in India, they will take your 

parents’.” 

However, Dhiman persisted, taking his 

case to the ERA. On 6 October, 2022, the 

ERA ordered Mann to pay his former worker 

$69,981 in arrears of wages, $28,153.14 in 

arrears of holiday pay and interest on the 

two amounts. 

He was given 28 days to pay up, but 

more than a year later - and with interest 

mounting - he had failed to do so. And he 

told Checkpoint he did not intend to. 

“I’m prepared to go all the way,” Mann 

said. “It might take me five years, 10 years, 

15, but it will happen.” 

Sunny Sehgal said delay tactics were 

typical in cases like these. 

“After the determination, the employer 

does a runner on them, and they basically 

give up, because it’s too hard for them to 

keep chasing these employers who have 

disobeyed the directions.” 

Level up: The Employment Court 

Dhiman and his advocates then took the 

case to the Employment Court. 

In August, the court ordered Mann to pay 

a fine of $10,000 on top of what he owed 

Dhiman, “to deter him from any future 

breaches” and “underline the fact that 

compliance orders must be obeyed”. Of 

this, $6000 would go to Dhiman and $4000 

to the Crown. 

However, Mann had ignored this fine too. 

Another of Deepak’s advocates, John 

Wood, said it was time to pursue an even 

tougher penalty. 

“A term of imprisonment is warranted 

because of his failure to engage in respect 

of the money that he owes.” 

When a person failed to comply with an 

Employment Court order, the court could 

fine the person up to $40,000, order the 

seizure of their property or sentence them 

Deepak Dhiman (right), with advocates John Wood (left) and Sunny Sehgal (centre), walk out of Employment Relations 

Authority after a compliance meeting in March that Devinder Mann failed to attend. (Tom Taylor / RNZ) 

to a prison term of up to three months. 

In September, Wood filed another 

application in the Employment Court. 

“We’ve been there previously, and last 

time we obtained a penalty against the 

employer,” he said. “But unfortunately, that 

had no impact, so we’re going back to the 

court.” 

As Mann had already been issued a 

fine, that left the options of property 

sequestration or prison. 

Next stop, prison? 

Employment experts Checkpoint spoke 

to said they had never heard of the 

Employment Court sentencing an employer 

to prison for failure to comply with a 

compliance order. 

However, employment lawyer Barbara 

Buckett said the court did have this power. 

“I don’t think courts like issuing 

compliance orders or any order and people 

just flouting it,” Buckett said. “I don’t think 

they’ll take that lightly at all.” 

The Employment Court had sentenced 

an employee to 21 days’ imprisonment for 

non-compliance. 

In the 2017 case ALA v ITE, Judge Bruce 

Corkill said, “Whilst the imposition of a 

sentence of imprisonment is an order of 

last resort, and I have not been referred 

to any recorded instances where this has 

occurred previously, that possibility must 

be considered on this occasion, given 

the multiplicity of breaches, against the 

continued deliberate flouting of the court’s 

compliance orders”. 

Buckett said such non-compliance 

was becoming commonplace among 

employers. 

“Particularly, too, a lot of these are in the 

vulnerable workers area,” she said. “We’ve 

got minimum statutory requirements 

that they haven’t met, and when they 

get a determination against them, these 

employers either disappear or just resist 

and resist and resist.” 

‘Nothing more than a… parasite’ 

Mann claimed Dhiman’s advocates were 

trying to ruin his life. 

“It’s all to do with John Wood,” he said. 

“I’m so pissed off. These guys are nothing 

more than a ****ing parasite to society.” 

Checkpoint asked Mann why he had 

not presented his case to the ERA or 

Employment Court 

“Who’s going to listen?” he said. “I went 

there… They’re all ****ing crooks.” 

Mann failed to show at an ERA 

meeting Checkpoint attended in March. 

In Mann’s absence, ERA member Eleanor 

Robinson ordered him to comply with the 

ERA’s October 2022 determination and pay 

Dhiman what he was owed. 

At a previous meeting, when the ERA 

told Mann he would be under oath, he left 

without producing any evidence, claiming 

the whole process was a “set-up”. 

Mann told Checkpoint that Dhiman had 

worked under about six different managers 

and said the ERA had not considered this. 

“So, you’re telling me I’m corrupt, or 

everyone else who worked at the company 

- six managers he worked under - are 

corrupt.” 

Checkpoint pointed out that Mann was 

the director of the company. 

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “He was 

reporting to the manager, not me.” 

In its 2022 determination, the ERA found 

that given Mann’s role as sole director 

and shareholder of Naanak Limited, “it 

is apparent that Mr Mann was heavily 

involved in the breaches”. 

Mann had now been served with a 

summons to attend a financial assessment 

hearing, where his ability to pay what was 

owed to Dhiman would be assessed. 

Checkpoint asked him what he thought 

would happen if he kept refusing to pay. 

“I got nothing, simple as that. You can 

send me to prison, I’ll go to prison - I’m 

ready for it.” 

Dhiman welcomed this prospect. 

“I was working in his store like I’m a 

prisoner,” he said. “If he goes to prison 

then he will know how it feels working as a 

slave.”


NEW ZEALAND 9 

Probasee Bengalee celebrates 

32 years of tradition, devotion 


IN AUCKLAND 

The 32nd annual Durga Puja 

celebration by Probasee 

Bengalee Association of NZ 

Inc. celebrated culture, tradition 

and devotion. 

With a remarkable turnout of 

more than 2,200 attendees, the 

event at Athiya Trust Community 

Centre, Onehunga, spanned three 

days, from October 20 evening to 

October 23 afternoon, coinciding 

perfectly with the Labour Day 

public holiday and offering 

attendees an extended opportunity 

to bask in the glory of Durga Puja. 

“On Maha Ashtami, which was 

Saturday afternoon, we had our 

biggest turnout ever,” says Shopan 

Dasgupta, General Secretary, 

Probasee Bengalee Association of 

NZ Inc. 

This year’s event took a unique 

approach as it celebrated the 

life and legacy of the legendary 

Indian filmmaker, writer, director, 

composer and producer 

Satyajit Ray. 

“The entire venue, notably the 

Puja Pandal, was adorned with 

meticulous details inspired by 

Ray’s cinematic masterpiece 

‘Sonar Kella’,” informs Dasgupta. 

The community’s response was 

not only overwhelming but also 

profoundly heartwarming for both 

the Bengali community and the 

wider population. 

“It was an electric atmosphere, 

(Above) The 

puja pandal at 

Onehunga Athiya 

Trust Community 

Centre. 

Attendees indulge 

in Sindoor Khela. 

and extending the celebration to 

the public holiday was brilliant. 

It allowed us to absorb the 

cultural richness wholeheartedly,” 

commented Sriparna Das, one of 

the attendees. 

According to the organisers, they 

had one of the biggest turnouts 

for their Durga Puja festival 

this year. They acknowledged 

social media played a vital role in 

spreading the message. 

“Social media helped build 

more awareness about our event 

not just among the Bengalis but 

in the wider community,” says 

Madhurima Chatterjee, one of 

Probasee’s cultural secretaries. 

One of the attendees explained, 

“India is a land rich 

with cultural heritage, 

and the different parts 

of India celebrate their 

own culture, customs 

and traditions. So, 

being in a foreign land, 

we need to preserve 

the traditions so that 

future generations have 

an understanding and 

insight into the reasons 

for the celebration." 

Shopan Dasgupta 

“After discovering Durga Puja on 

social media, I felt a magnetic pull 

to attend. 

"The vivid colours, enchanting 

music, and the genuine warmth 

of the community left a lasting 

impact,” shared Jonathan 

Anderson, a non-Bengali attendee 

who was deeply touched 

by the event. 

UNESCO’s recognition of Durga 

Puja as a World Cultural Heritage 

underscores the importance of 

preserving cultural traditions for 

future generations, says Dasgupta. 

“This celebration bridges 

the Indian diaspora and their 

cultural heritage, facilitating the 

transmission of customs, rituals, 

and the vibrant Bengali culture to 

posterity. 

“India is a land rich with cultural 

heritage, and the different parts 

of India celebrate their own 

culture, customs and traditions. 

So, being in a foreign land, we 

need to preserve the traditions so 

that future generations have an 

understanding and insight into the 

reasons for the celebration. 

“Bengal is a state that takes 

pride in its history, culture, 

tradition, arts and crafts. West 

Bengal is the cultural capital of 

India. We endeavour to keep the 

celebration alive.” 

The event united communities 

and promoted cross-cultural 

understanding and unity in a 

foreign land. 

“Seeing the dedication of 

Probasee Bengalee Association 

in preserving Bengali culture is 

inspiring. It’s a reminder of the 

importance of holding onto one’s 

heritage,” commented Paul Smith, 

an Australian visitor. 

Spreading bhangra fever in Christchurch 

MAHESH KUMAR 

IN CHRISTCHURCH 

Originating in the Punjab 

region of northern India, 

bhangra is a vibrant and 

energetic folk dance known 

for its lively rhythms, colourful 

costumes, and expressive body 

language. 

For north Indians, it is more 

than just a dance; it is a cultural 

celebration of joy, happiness and 

a part of life. One enthusiastic 

young bhangra performer, Avi 

Aulakh, is on a mission to share 

this infectious energy with 

the Christchurch community, 

nurturing the bhangra culture for 

future generations. 

Just 17 years old, Aulakh is 

already a well-known figure in the 

community owing to his bhangra 

prowess. 

He is also the founder of NZ 

Bhangra Academy, which offers 

free bhangra classes to students 

of all ages. 

Born in India, Aulakh moved 

to New Zealand 15 years 

ago with his parents and is 

currently studying in Year 12 at 

Christchurch Boys High School. 

So, what got him interested in 

bhangra? 

“My Mom regularly organises 

cultural events, and I have been 

helping her. I started performing 

bhangra from my early childhood 

at these events,” he says. 

Avi Aulakh (in the middle) with a group of students. 

Aulakh’s bhangra journey 

began by watching videos. “I was 

mesmerised by the energy and the 

colourful dresses the performers 

wore, and I would repeat the steps 

in my room.” 

When Aulakh was 15 years old, 

he started teaching bhangra. He 

wanted to share his love for the 

dance and help others experience 

the same joy he felt when he 

performed. 

“My mom is my inspiration 

and her NGO, The Women’s 

Helping Hand Trust NZ, offers 

free life-skill classes, workshops 

and cultural events for the 

community. She motivated me to 

offer free bhangra classes for the 

community,” he says. 

Aulakh’s NZ Bhangra Academy 

has been a huge success. He 

currently has more than 100 

students enrolled in his classes, 

which he teaches on Saturdays 

and Thursdays in Christchurch 

and Rolleston. His classes are free 

to attend. 

“I want to share my love of 

bhangra with the world,” says 

Aulakh . “I believe bhangra is 

a powerful force for good, and 

I want to use my classes to 

spread its message of joy and 

happiness.” 

Aulakh’s classes have had a 

positive impact on many of his 

students. Many have told him 

they feel more energetic and 

“It’s also a great way to 

reduce stress, improve 

teamwork, social skills, 

and boost confidence. It 

also helps people with 

Punjabi or Indian heritage 

to connect with their 

culture.” Avi Aulakh 

have a better understanding and 

appreciation of their culture after 

taking his classes. 

“Bhangra is more than just a 

fun and energetic dance,” says 

Aulakh. 

“It’s also a great way to reduce 

stress, improve teamwork, social 

skills, and boost confidence. It 

also helps people with Punjabi or 

Indian heritage to connect with 

their culture.” 

Aulakh and his students have 

been spreading the joy of Bhangra 

in Christchurch and neighbouring 

regions at countless events, 

including International Women’s 

Cultural Celebration, Christchurch 

Multicultural Festival 2023 and 

Selwyn CulturalFest 23. 

Aulakh has received numerous 

awards for his contributions to 

the community. Recently, he was 

honoured with Young Achiever 

Award (Category Winner) and Gold 

Award at Selwyn Awards 2023. 

One of his biggest challenges is 

juggling studies with his Bhangra 

classes. 

“It is sometimes hard adjusting 

Year 12 studies and conducting 

these free volunteer classes for 

all,” says Aulakh. 

Aulakh’s parents, Gurvinder 

Singh and Parminder Kaur, are 

proud of his achievements. “We 

are particularly proud when he 

got recognised outside the Indian 

community and got invited to 

perform in wider community 

events,” Kaur says. 

Avi’s passion for Bhangra is 

evident in his determination to 

make his parents and community 

proud. 

“I am focused on following my 

passion and making my parents 

and my community proud through 

my achievements.”

10 NEW ZEALAND 



Chch Durga Puja celebration 

embraces multicultural spirit 

MAHESH KUMAR 


On Saturday, October 21, Bishopdale 

Community Centre in Christchurch 

came alive with the radiant 

colours and joyful sounds of Durga Puja 

celebration hosted by Christchurch 

Bengali Community. 

This auspicious event, a grand 

celebration of one of the most 

significant Hindu festivals, 

resonated with the spirit of 

triumph over evil and unity in 

diversity. 

The celebration was a big 

hit with Christchurch’s 

Bengali community, with 

people coming from all 

over the city to attend, 

dressed in their best 

traditional clothes. 

The event 

transcended cultural 

boundaries, showcasing a 

delightful line-up of performances from 

diverse cultural groups, including Bengali, 

Sri Lankan, Mexican, Kiwi, and Japanese 

artists. 

This vivid range of cultures on display 

was a testament to Christchurch’s 

commitment to multiculturalism and 

inclusivity. 

As with every Indian festival, food 

played a pivotal role in the festivities. 

The sumptuous feast was a highlight 

for everyone, with exotic flavours 

and aromas filling the air, creating an 

atmosphere of shared joy and culinary 

appreciation. 

The celebration was honoured by the 

presence of guests including Megan 

Woods, Hamish Campbell, and Duncan 

Webb. 

Arpan Mukherjee, a representative of 

the organising committee, expressed his 

heartfelt gratitude for the collaborative 

efforts that led to the event’s success. He 

underscored the dedication and passion 

invested in every facet of the celebration, 

and guests unanimously agreed that the 

event was orchestrated “from the heart”. 

This year’s Durga Puja celebrations were 

particularly significant, as UNESCO officially 

recognised the festival as Intangible Cultural 

Heritage. This acknowledgement celebrates 

the rich cultural heritage of the Hindu 

community and highlights Durga Puja’s role 

in promoting cultural diversity, inclusivity 

and unity. 

The young ones revelled in the festivities, 

enchanting performances, and a captivating 

magic show. 

The High Commissioner of India to New 

Zealand, Neeta Bhushan, conveyed her 

warm wishes to the attendees through a 

video message, bestowing her blessings of 

happiness, prosperity, and good health. 

Her message resonated with the 

participants, who shared their aspirations 

for a world blessed with peace. In the words 

of a participant, “Goddess Durga symbolises 

power and victory over evil, and we hope that 

this festival season will bless the Earth with 

peace. Thank you.” 

The event’s success was made possible 

through the generous support of sponsors, 

including Christchurch City Council, Indian 

High Commission and NZ Mortgages. 

Bihar, Jharkhand’s rich traditions shine at Auckland Navratri event 


IN AUCKLAND 

In a heartwarming display of cultural 

unity and heritage preservation, Bihar 

Jharkhand Sabha of Australia and 

New Zealand (BJANZ) brought the spirit of 

Navratri to life in Auckland. 

At least 100 enthusiastic members 

of the Kiwi-Indian community gathered 

at the Onehunga Community Centre to 

commemorate Navratri, one of the most 

revered festivals in the Indian community. 

The event, which was marked by 

vibrant performances and profound 

cultural significance, served as a beautiful 

showcase of the rich traditions of Bihar 

and Jharkhand. 

The October 21 evening commenced 

with enchanting rhythms of the traditional 

‘aarti’ ceremony. It was a time for 

reflection and reverence, setting the tone 

for a night of cultural immersion. 

Following the spiritual start, attendees 

were treated to lively garba dance 

performances that captivated the 

audience. 

These performances reflected the warm 

and inclusive spirit of the community, 

fostering an atmosphere of togetherness 

and joy. 

Navratri, the nine-night Hindu festival 

celebrated enthusiastically in India and 

among Indian communities worldwide, 

honours goddess Durga and symbolises 

the triumph of good over evil. 

The celebration saw participants 

donned in resplendent traditional attire, 

Guests strike a happy pose on the dance floor. 

their mesmerising dances paying homage 

to the goddess while preserving the rich 

cultural traditions. 

Beyond the performances, the event was 

an opportunity for community members to 

come together, share their traditions, and 

strengthen their sense of belonging. 

The significance of the Navratri event 

extends far beyond the dance and music. 

It holds a special place in the hearts of 

the Bihar and Jharkhand community 

in New Zealand. It serves as a cultural 

bridge, connecting them to their roots and 

allowing them to preserve their heritage 

while living far from their homeland. 

Rani Singh, BJANZ’s President, 

expressed her joy at the success of the 

event, saying, “Navratriis a time for us to 

connect with our roots and instill a sense 

of pride in our rich culture. 

“The inspiration behind organising this 

event in New Zealand is deeply rooted 

in the desire to maintain cultural ties 

and create a strong sense of community 

among the members of the Sabha. It’s 

heartening to see the younger generation 

actively participating and keeping our 

traditions alive even when far away from 

our homeland.” 

Tapan Verma, one of the attendees, 

echoed the same sentiment. “BJANZ’s 

Navratricelebration was a true testament 

to the power of community, culture, and 

tradition. It was a night that reminded 

everyone that no matter where life 

had taken them, their roots were still 

deeply intertwined with their hearts and 

community.” 

Adding to this, one of the participants, 

Pragati Rai, said, “It was a heart-warming 

reminder of the rich traditions that bind 

Kiwi-Indians together, irrespective of 

where they may call home.”


NEW ZEALAND 11 

‘His spin was a symphony 

of elegance and craft’ 

DEV NADKARNI 

Amidst all the banter on the long flight 

to New Delhi in the year 2011 with 

then Prime Minister Sir John Key’s 

official delegation on Royal New Zealand 

Air Force 757, it wasn’t long before the talk 

turned to cricket. 

Sir John spoke fondly about how he had 

idolised Bishan Singh Bedi, growing up in 

Christchurch, emulating his zigzag run up 

between umpire and wickets in the backyard 

of his family home. 

Stephen Fleming was part of that chat 

and I’m quite sure he had something to do 

with coordinating with New Zealand High 

Commission in New Delhi to organise a little 

surprise for Sir John when he paid an official 

visit to the iconic Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium 

(now Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium). 

There, as we nibbled samosas and chai at 

the reception, in walked Bishan Singh Bedi to 

the utter delight of Sir John and the two had 

a great pow-wow as though they’d known 

each other for ages. 

A little while later we all went down to 

the grounds and Bedi bowled a few to Sir 

John, which he played very gently, with great 

respect. (After farewelling Bedi, Sir John 

headed out into the middle where he showed 

his batting chops, whacking Stephen for a 

couple of boundaries.) 

RIP Bishan Singh Bedi 

Bishan Bedi wasn’t just a cricketer; he 

was a virtuoso who reshaped the game with 

his mesmerising spin bowling skills. Bedi’s 

influence on cricket stretched far and wide, 

earning him the respect and admiration of 

legends in the sport. 

Bedi’s passing left a void in the cricketing 

world, but his legend continues to live on. 

Legendary Indian opener and captain Sunil 

Gavaskar once said of him: “Bedi was a 

The late Bishan Singh Bedi with former prime minister John Key in New Delhi in 2011. 

magician with the ball, an artist in the truest 

sense. His flight and guile were unmatched.” 

Bedi and Gavaskar were a mutual fan club, 

with Bedi naming his son Gavasinder Singh 

after the ‘Little Master’. 

Bedi debuted his test career quite 

serendipitously when an injury benched 

the game’s most parsimonious bowler ever, 

Bapu Nadkarni, from a test match against 

Sir Garfield Sobers’ West Indies at Eden 

Gardens in Kolkata. 

Much later, Sir Gary remarked, “Watching 

Bedi bowl was like watching a painter at 

work. He had a canvas, and he painted it 

with a spin and drift that was breathtaking.” 

Bedi’s skill and mastery over his bowling 

was compared to an art also by Australian 

cricketing great and commentator Richie 

Benaud: “Bishan Bedi brought poetry 

to cricket, his slow left-arm spin was a 

symphony of elegance and craft.” 

As we bid farewell to Bishan Singh Bedi, 

we celebrate his contributions to the 

game of cricket. His memory serves as a 

lasting reminder of the magic and artistry 

that cricket can encompass, inspiring 

generations of cricketers and enthusiasts. 

Bedi played 67 test matches for a haul 

of 266 wickets for an impressive bowling 

average of 28.71. 

His test innings best was 7-98 and he had 

five wicket hauls 14 times and a 10-wicket 

trophy once. 

RIP Bishan Singh Bedi, the maestro of 

spin bowling, and an artist on the cricketing 

canvas. 

Jobs growth 

in small 

businesses 

despite 

'tightening of 

the belts': Xero 

RNZ 

Small businesses are facing declining 

sales in a challenging trading 

environment. 

Accounting software company Xero's 

Small Business Insights report shows sales 

fell 1.5 percent year-on-year in September. 

Over the September quarter, sales growth 

ticked over at 0.7 percent. 

Despite weak sales, jobs growth remained 

strong - rising 7 percent year-on-year - 

while wages increased 3.5 percent. 

Xero country manager Bridget Snelling 

said the pace of jobs growth may not be 

sustainable given the downward trend in 

sales. 

"The road ahead is still challenging for 

Kiwi small businesses," she said. 

"We've seen a drop in sales, even though 

we've seen jobs growth. What we know is 

that looking at these results, customers 

don't have much disposable income left over 

to be shopping. 

"We're seeing a tightening of the belts, a 

tightening of the purse strings and that is 

a concerning factor with supporting small 

businesses." 

Sales in agriculture fell 5.4 percent yearon-year, 

with the international economy 

impacting New Zealand's exports. 

"There are differences in industries and 

regions. Sales are inconsistent across the 

country with some regions facing more 

challenging times than other." 

WAITAKERE DIWALI MELA 

Auckland gears up for 

vibrant cultural showcase 

IWK BUREAU 

New Zealand’s cultural landscape is 

gearing up for a glorious display of 

diversity, culture and community 

with the highly anticipated Waitakere 

Diwali Mela 2023. 

For more than two decades, this event 

has held the hearts and minds of Kiwis 

and the thriving Indian community in the 

country, and it has evolved into a grand 

showcase of unity and diversity. 

Organised by Waitakere Indian 

Association (WIA), the gala embraces a 

vibrant theme–celebrating diversity, culture 

and social cohesion. It presents a unique 

opportunity for people of all backgrounds 

to unite and immerse themselves in the 

rich tapestry of Indian culture. 

This year’s Diwali Mela, scheduled to 

take place on October 29 at The Trusts 

Arena in Henderson, promises a day filled 

with excitement and cultural immersion, 

featuring an array of highlights. 

Diwali Mela commences with religious 

prayers at 10am, setting an auspicious 

tone for the day. Performances and stalls 

open their doors at 11am and continue until 

10pm, ensuring a full day of celebration. 

The event boasts of a stellar lineup of 

more than 600 performers who will grace 

the stage with traditional and contemporary 

Indian dances. Attendees can experience 

the kaleidoscope of Indian dance forms 

and storytelling through movement. 

With more than 30 arts and crafts 

stalls, shopping enthusiasts can explore 

authentic and traditional homeware, 

jewellery, clothing and more, making it a 

perfect opportunity to discover unique 

treasures and gifts. 

Food lovers are in for a treat, with more 

than 26 food stalls representing diverse 

Indian cuisines, each offering unique 

flavours. Moreover, families will find a range 

of activities to enjoy, from henna tattooing 

to cricket nets for budding cricketers. 

There’s something for everyone, including 

a dedicated kids’ amusements area. 

The event will culminate in a fireworks 

display at 9.40pm, illuminating the night 

sky and providing a fitting conclusion to the 

festivities. Sunil Kaushal, President of WIA, 

expressed his gratitude for the support 

of more than 20 community groups and 

financial partners, who have played a vital 

role in bringing the cultural extravaganza 

to life. 

“We are excited to welcome you to 

this vibrant celebration of culture and 

community, and we extend our heartfelt 

thanks to all the individuals, community 

groups, and partners who have made this 

event possible.” 

Snapshots from the 2022 edition. WIA President Sunil 

Kaushal (above) welcomes guests. 

From its humble beginnings 23 

years ago, with just 150 attendees, 

Waitakere Diwali Mela has blossomed 

into one of New Zealand’s largest 

Diwali celebrations, drawing more than 

20,000 visitors. One remarkable aspect 

of this year’s event is its dedication to 

supporting and fundraising for breast 

cancer, in addition to celebrating culture 

and actively contributing to a noble 

cause. “The mela transcends being just 

a cultural celebration; it reflects New 

Zealand’s multicultural identity and 

commitment to inclusivity. As the Indian 

population in New Zealand continues 

to grow, this event symbolises the 

harmonious coexistence of cultures, 

offering Kiwis of all backgrounds a 

chance to immerse themselves in 

India’s sights, sounds, and flavours,” 

Kaushal says.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

“We are fortunate enough to witness the construction of 

Ram Temple, and on the next Ramnavami in Ayodhya, 

every note echoing in Ramlala’s temple will bring joy to 

the world.” – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 

Editorial 

NZ-India engagement 

needs holistic approach 

In today’s ever-evolving global landscape of diplomacy and trade, the need to nurture 

strong relationships between nations is more critical than ever. 

New Zealand’s engagement with India is no exception, as it holds the key to unlocking 

vast opportunities for economic resilience and addressing strategic geopolitical imperatives. 

While the focus has traditionally been on trade, a broader, more holistic approach is essential 

to foster a deep and mutually beneficial alliance. 

During the recent election campaign, both the Labour and National leaders in NZ 

expressed their eagerness to increase trade with India, reflecting bipartisan support for 

this endeavour. 

However, focusing solely on trade has proven ineffective in the past and will not yield 

favourable results in the future. 

Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon received a congratulatory message from 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a promising start to this engagement. 

This friendly gesture provides a tailwind for Luxon, who should prioritise building a 

personal relationship with PM Modi, akin to the diplomatic charisma exhibited by Modi 

on the global stage. 

To harness the potential of India’s billion-plus population and emerging middle class, 

NZ must take multifaceted steps to cultivate a mutually beneficial alliance. India’s 

ancient civilisation is deeply rooted in pluralism, emphasising personal relationships 

and chemistry as the foundation for trust and, ultimately, trade. 

India has embraced a more open and outward-looking approach, evident in its active 

participation in global forums and its commitment to equitable global development. 

This approach is exemplified in the motto of the recent G20 summit: Vasudhaiva 

Kutumbakam (“One Earth, One Family, and One Future”). 

It was through India’s efforts that the African Union has been included into the G20 

fold. India’s influence on the global stage has grown significantly under Prime Minister 

Modi’s leadership, owing to his charismatic interactions and personal chemistry with 

world leaders. 

Taking inspiration from PM Modi’s playbook, Luxon must prioritise nurturing his 

personal relationship with Modi as a first step. NZ must adopt a strategic geopolitical 

alignment with India at a global level, emphasising shared values such as democracy, 

human rights, and the rule of law. Leveraging the nearly 300,000-strong Indian diaspora 

in NZ further strengthens this rapport. 

Respecting India’s sovereignty and decisions is pivotal for building trust and a holistic 

relationship. While NZ can express its opinions on various issues, it should do so with 

mutual respect and dignity. 

The Pacific region is a key area for diplomatic convergence, where both nations share 

interests in promoting peace, stability, sustainable development, climate change action, 

multilateralism, and a rules-based order. By engaging in high-level dialogues and 

collaborative projects in the Pacific, NZ and India can enhance regional safety, security, 

and stability. 

Both countries can support each other in their diplomatic objectives, capitalising 

on India’s growing influence in multilateral forums like the UN, G20, and the Quad. To 

diversify trade offerings, NZ should move beyond its traditional focus on dairy products 

and explore opportunities in agritech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education services, 

and sustainable solutions. 

Collaborations between NZ’s tech sector and India’s booming IT industry, especially 

in light of India’s ‘Digital India’ initiative, can be mutually beneficial. NZ companies can 

also consider investing in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which a couple of NZ 

companies have successfully signed up to. 

The tourism sector holds reciprocal potential, with possibilities for formal agreements 

to boost tourism and establish direct flights between the two countries. 

The rise of e-commerce in India presents opportunities for NZ businesses to promote 

their products in the Indian market. 

Additionally, cultural exchanges, infrastructure development, marine and boat 

building, wine and food products, aviation, and creative industries like animation and 

film production offer untapped potential for economic growth. 

The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) framework lays a strong 

foundation for reducing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, addressing 

regulatory challenges, and fostering closer economic cooperation. In summary, NZ and 

India have the potential to expand trade in various sectors by aligning their strategic 

shared interests. 

To truly strengthen the NZ-India relationship, a multifaceted, proactive, and long-term 

approach is needed. 

Recognising India’s aspirations and goals and striking a balance between economic 

interests and a geostrategic alliance can ensure a trustworthy, transformative 

partnership. 

By adopting this approach, NZ can contribute to a prosperous and secure future for 

both nations and the world at large. 

IN FOCUS : Picture of the week 

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets President Sadyr Zhaparov of 

Kyrgyz Republic, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 26,2023. (ANI) 

This week in New Zealand’s history 

October 28, 1890 

First Labour Day celebrations 

The first Labour Day celebrated the struggle for an eight-hour working day. Parades in the 

main centres were attended by several thousand trade union members and supporters. 


Women can stand for Parliament 

The passing of the Women’s Parliamentary Rights Act enabled women to stand for election 

to the House of Representatives, 26 years after they won the right to vote. 


Native Land Court created 

The Native Land Court was one of the key products of the Native Lands Act 1865. It enabled 

the conversion of traditional communal landholdings into individual titles, making it 

much easier for Pākehā to purchase Māori land. 


Massive prohibition petition presented to Parliament 

Prohibition supporters presented Parliament with a petition containing more than 240,000 

signatures demanding an end to the manufacture and sale of alcohol in New Zealand. 


All Blacks win third Rugby World Cup 

The All Blacks defeated Australia 34-17 at London’s Twickenham stadium to become the 

first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cup competitions, and the first to win the 

title three times. 

November 1, 1898 

Old-age Pensions Act becomes law 

A 

world first, the act gave a small means-tested pension to elderly men and women with 

few assets who were ‘of good moral character’ and were leading a ‘sober and reputable 

life’. It was one of the major achievements of Richard Seddon’s Liberal government. 

Indian Weekender : Volume 15 Issue 31 

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is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication 

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the views of the team at the Indian Weekender 

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NEW ZEALAND 13 

Shanti Niwas honours older 

persons with grace, dignity 


IN AUCKLAND 

Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust 

paid a heartfelt tribute to 

the elderly on International 

Day for Older Persons through a 

special event on October 21. 

Gathered under one roof were 

more than 350 individuals, 

including seniors, dignitaries and 

community members, all coming 

together to honour the enduring 

legacy of the older generation. 

Known names such as 

Chairperson of Maungakiekie- 

Tamaki Local Board Maria 

Meredith; Ethnic Responsiveness 

Manager for Metro Auckland 

for NZ Police Jessica Phuang; 

Chairperson of Bhartiya Samaj 

Charitable Trust Jeet Suchdev, and 

former parliamentarian Kanwaljit 

Singh Bakshi among others. 

International Day for Older 

Persons, recognised worldwide 

on October 1, serves as a platform 

to raise awareness about the 

challenges and opportunities 

associated with an ageing 

population. 

Through this celebration, Shanti 

Niwas, a revered non-profit 

organisation dedicated to serving 

Indian and South Asian seniors 

and their families since 1994, 

ensured profound recognition of 

the invaluable contributions that 

older individuals bring to society. 

The celebration at their facility 

in Onehunga was not just about 

marking a date but acknowledging 

the wealth of wisdom and 

Members of 

the Chinese 

community in 

Onehunga put 

together an 

entertaining 

performance. 

Vishav Sharma 

(in pink) of 

Shanti Niwas 

and Jit Kaur (in 

yellow) of NZ 

Sikh Women's 

Association 

pose for a 

photo. 

experience that older individuals 

offer to our communities. 

The event featured a range 

of highlights that touched the 

hearts of everyone in attendance, 

including a touching tribute to 

those in their 90s. Seniors who 

had completed the digital training 

programme, NZ Hangout, were 

applauded for their commitment to 

embracing technology and digital 

literacy, highlighting it’s always 

possible to learn and adapt. 

Moreover, the event showcased 

the rich diversity within the 

community, with various cultural 

groups and participants spanning 

multiple generations. 

Attendees were treated to 

morning snacks, tea and a 

sumptuous lunch. 

Regarding the response, Shanti 

Niwas’ Lifestyle and Activity 

Manager Vishav Sharma said 

“The response to the event was 

overwhelmingly positive, with 

attendees describing it as one 

of the best programmes ever 

organised by Shanti Niwas. 

“Smiles and a sense of 

contentment were abundant 

as everyone left the venue, 

appreciating their efforts to ensure 

a unique and memorable day. 

We firmly believe in respecting 

seniors and actively engaging and 

cherishing them.” 

Record crowd turns up at Chch Diwali 

MAHESH KUMAR 


Christchurch’s North Hagley Park was 

aglow with vibrant colours, pulsating 

rhythms, and the warmth of more 

than 50,000 attendees as the city’s annual 

Diwali festival set a new 

benchmark this year. 

Despite the chilly weather, the 

enthusiasm for this festival of lights, held 

on October 21, was palpable, showcasing 

the city’s cultural diversity and 

the spirit of unity. 

“This year’s Diwali celebration has 

surpassed all our expectations,” said Monty 

Parti, President of Indian Social and Cultural 

Club (ISCC), the event’s organiser. 

“The success of the event is a testament 

to the dedication of our team and the 

vibrancy of the Christchurch community.” 

The event, which commenced at 2pm, had 

something for everyone in store, with a rich 

lineup of cultural performances, culinary 

delights, and dazzling firework displays, 

creating a memorable experience for the 

attendees. 

Labour’s Megan Woods and Christchurch 

Mayor Phil Mauger joined other dignitaries 

to commence the event with an aarti. 

The stage, beautifully designed with 

animated Indian motifs and the tricolour 

flag flying high, hosted a series of 

enchanting performances by artists of 

all ages, showcasing a blend of Indian 

classical, cultural, folk, and Bollywood 

dance styles. The 

event also celebrated 

the cultural richness 

of New Zealand, 

with performances 

representing Kiwi, 

Filipino, Fijian, and 

Asian communities. 

The highlight was a 

mesmerising depiction of 

Ramayana, the epic tale of 

Lord Rama’s triumph over 

evil 

The highlight was a mesmerising 

depiction of Ramayana, the epic tale of Lord 

Rama’s triumph over evil. Its innovative 

storytelling, infused with music and dance, 

captivated the audience and illuminated the 

significance of Diwali. 

A spirited performance by members of 

the ISCC team brought the story of Lord 

Rama’s triumph of good over evil to life. 

“Our President’s 

passion for the event 

drives the team to 

achieve the impossible 

each year. Bringing 

Ramleela on stage to 

share our culture with 

the younger generations was his idea and 

was largely applauded,” said Anshu Parti. 

The vast expanse of North Hagley Park 

was transformed into a culinary haven, with 

more than 20 food stalls serving Indian 

delicacies from various regions. Local 

restaurants and renowned chefs catered 

to the cravings of food enthusiasts, with 

long queues of foodies eager to savour the 

flavours. 

In addition to the Indian cuisine, at least 

10 trade stalls showcased Indian ethnic 

wear, jewellery, and other merchandise. 

Meanwhile, food trucks provided an 

international flavour, with offerings from 

Korean, Chinese and different global 

cuisines. 

Ridhima Kapoor, visiting with her family, 

which included her four-year-old son 

and six-year-old daughter, expressed her 

delight, saying, “It’s wonderful to see the 

wonderful rides for the kids. 

"They’re having such a fantastic time 

here. I, too, feel like I’ve been transported 

back to India.” 

At 9pm, the night sky burst into a 

breathtaking display of vibrant colours, 

leaving the audience in awe as a 

spectacular fireworks show took place. 

The grand finale was a high-octane 

bhangra performance, with the audience 

joining in the revelry, swaying to the upbeat 

Punjabi beats. 

ISCC team members Krish, Monty, Tanu, 

Surya, Krish and Jibby among others took 

turns emceeing the event. 

The event featured a raffle draw with 

many prizes.

14 

INDIA 

President Murmu mourns 

demise of legendary Indian 

spinner Bishan Singh Bedi 

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday 

expressed grief on the demise of Amritsarborn 

legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi 

and said the former Indian cricket team captain was 

among those few who elevated spin bowling into an 

art. 

"In the demise of Bishan Singh Bedi, the country 

has lost one of its greatest sporting icons. Bishan 

Singh Bedi was among those few who elevated spin 

bowling into an art. 

He was also instrumental in the growth of cricket 

and cricketers. He was held in high esteem by the 

cricket fraternity," President Murmu posted on X 

(Formerly Twitter). 

President Murmu also conveyed her 

condolences to the members of his 

family, the large community of cricket 

lovers. 

"I convey my condolences to the 

members of his family, the large 

community of cricket lovers and his 

admirers," the President said. 

Former India captain and legendary 

spinner passed away today at the age of 

77 after a period of prolonged illness. The 

Amritsar-born spinner, who played domestic cricket 

for Delhi, finished his career with 1,560 wickets in 

first-class cricket --more than any other Indian. 

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur confirmed 

the news. "Former India captain and spinner Bishan 

Singh Bedi has passed away. It is a very sad news. 

It's a huge loss for India. He started so many camps 

in Himachal. I and the whole cricketing family stand 

with his family." 

He featured in 67 Tests for India between 1967 and 

1979 and bagged 266 wickets. He also took seven 

wickets in 10 One-Day Internationals. 

Bedi played Test cricket for India from 1966 to 

"In 

the demise of 

Bishan Singh Bedi, 

the country has lost one 

of its greatest sporting 

icons. Bishan Singh Bedi 

was among those few 

who elevated spin 

bowling into an 

art." 

1979 and he formed part of the famous Indian spin 

quartet (Bedi, EAS Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar and 

S Venkataraghavan). 

The legendary spinner also captained the national 

side in 22 Test matches. 

Bedi also represented Northamptonshire in English 

county cricket for many years. He was also honoured 

with the Padma Shri Award in 1970. 



'Whole world should unite 

against terrorism': Rajnath 

Singh on Israel-Hamas war 

Amid the ongoing war 

between Israel and Hamas, 

Union Defence Minister 

Rajnath Singh on Monday said 

that the whole world should unite 

against terrorism and adequate 

measures should be taken so that 

innocent civilians are not affected. 

Speaking to reporters in Tezpur, 

Rajnath Singh said, "The whole 

world should unite against 

terrorism. Care should be taken 

so that innocent people do not get 

affected because of it." 

During his visit to the 

Northeastern state, Defence 

Minister Rajnath Singh interacted 

with Armed Forces personnel 

deployed in the region during 

'Barakhana' organised in Tezpur. 

Rajnath Singh reached Tezpur 

in Assam ahead of his visit to 

Arunachal Pradesh to celebrate 

Dussehra with troops and perform 

Shastra Puja with them. 

Earlier today Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi held a crucial 

telephonic conversation with King 

Abdullah II of Jordan to address 

the escalating situation between 

Israel and Hamas. 

The leaders shared their 

concerns over terrorism and the 

loss of civilian lives in the war. 

Both leaders underscored the need 

for concerted efforts to achieve an 

early resolution to the security and 

humanitarian challenges that have 

arisen as a result of the war. 

As the war entered its 17th day, 

Israel's military ramped up its 

aerial offensive against Hamas. 

At least 436 people were killed in 

overnight strikes in Gaza, CNN 

quoted the Palestinian health 

ministry. 

At the Cairo Peace Summit, 

held two days back, Jordan's 

King Abdullah said that the 

forced or internal displacement of 

Palestinians would be a war crime. 

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WORLD 15 

Does Israel have a plan for Gaza? 

IAN PARMETER 

Not counting periodic cross-border 

skirmishes, Israel has fought three 

major wars against Hamas since 

withdrawing its forces from Gaza in 2005 – in 

2008, 2014 and 2021. Each involved limited 

ground incursions, with Israeli soldiers in 

Gaza for about a fortnight. 

In the past couple weeks, Israel has put 

together a huge force to mount another 

ground invasion in retaliation for the Hamas 

cross-border attacks that killed about 1,400 

Israelis on October 7. 

The operation is shaping up to be Israel’s 

biggest since its invasion of Lebanon 

in 1982, which was aimed at driving the 

Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) 

from its base there. 

It’s a truism that wars have unintended 

consequences. 

When the fighting stops: 

no good options 

What Israel intends to do if and when it 

has secured the northern half of Gaza is 

not clear. The coastal strip is already facing 

a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation, 

according to the UN. And in terms of 

administering the territory, there are few 

good options. 

1. A military reoccupation of Gaza, as 

Israel did from 1967 to 2005: This 

would constitute a huge military 

burden and expose IDF personnel to 

JULIE LOBALZO WRIGHT 

“100 Years of Wonder” is the 

theme for Disney’s year-long 

promotion of the company’s 

centenary. From special Disney 

on Ice events to a retrospective at 

British Film Institute and limited 

edition Disney100 merchandise, 

Disney’s celebration is big 

business. 

The business acumen of those 

behind the scenes at Disney 

have been central to the peaks 

and troughs of the company’s 

enduring presence in the film 

industry and popular culture at 

large. 

Early Disney 

The Walt Disney Company was 

founded in Hollywood by brothers 

Walt and Roy Disney in 1923. 

Animation is what the Disney 

studio became known for. First 

with their shorts which included 

Mickey Mouse’s third outing 

in the studio’s first sound film, 

Steamboat Willie, and the Silly 

Symphony series. And then 

in their feature length films, 

beginning with Snow White and 

the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. 

The first two decades of the 

studio established Disney’s 

desire for innovation and profit. 

This was illustrated through their 

early adoption of merchandising 

(Mickey Mouse merchandise was 

profitable in the mid 1930s) and 

various technologies, such as 

Technicolor and sound. 

Sinking most of their profits 

back into their expensive 

animated ventures led Disney to 

find ways to cut costs. T 

his included making live action 

nature series, television shows 

The sixth flight under Operation Ajay departs from Tel Aviv amid the Israel-Hamas war, on Sunday. (ANI) 

violence and kidnapping. US President 

Joe Biden has warned reoccupation 

would be a big mistake. 

2. Eliminate Hamas’ senior leadership, 

declare victory, then leave: Such a 

victory would almost certainly be 

short-term. Other low-level members 

of Hamas would take pride in coming 

forward to reconstitute the group. Or 

another group, such as Palestinian 

Islamic Jihad, might fill the vacuum. 

Israel would not be able to control 

who or what that entity might be. 

3. Call on the secular Fatah party 

Disney at 100: Brand’s real 

legacy is its business acumen 

and opening Disneyland, their first 

amusement park, in Los Angeles 

in 1955. 

While their animated products 

were no longer as groundbreaking 

as they once were, their adoption 

of television in the 1950s was 

lucrative and popular, especially 

The Mickey Mouse Club (1955) 

and Davy Crockett (1954). 

Furthermore, television afforded 

the company the opportunity 

to promote their products and 

authenticate Disney’s position 

at the forefront of animation. 

However, live action films 

– quicker to make and less 

expensive than animation – 

dominated their releases in the 

1960s, with stars Haley Mills, 

Fred MacMurray and Dean Jones 

appearing in multiple Disney 

films. 

In 1966, Walt died. Roy then 

passed in 1971 and Walt Disney 

World opened in Florida the same 

year. In many ways, the Disney 

Company was never the same 

after the loss of the founding 

brothers. 

Disney without Walt 

The template was established 

for how the company would 

function for the next 50 years. 

Disney animation innovated again 

in the late 1980s and early 1990s 

through computer animation. A 

renaissance took place with the 

releases of The Little Mermaid 

(1989), Beauty and the Beast 

(1991) and The Lion King (1994). 

They also expanded into 

cable television with The 

Disney Channel and founded a 

distribution label, Touchstone 

Pictures, that focused on films for 

adults. 

Walt had learned the 

importance of owning rights early 

in his career, after he lost the 

intellectual property to his first 

successful animated character, 

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. 

The imperative to retain 

proprietorship and diversify the 

corporation can be witnessed 

in many of Disney’s deals and 

mergers. 

Disney Today 

In 1995, Disney acquired the 

ABC television network, which 

also owned the cable sports 

network, ESPN. 

In April 2004, Disney purchased 

the Muppets franchise. In 2009, 

Marvel Entertainment was 

acquired and Lucasfilm was 

bought in 2012. 

Through these purchases, 

Disney has become one of the 

most significant entertainment 

companies in the world and 

one of the few early Hollywood 

studios that still maintains name 

recognition (Disney bought out 

20th Century Fox in 2019). 

The commercial landscape of 

the entertainment business is 

always in flux. 

While many companies are 

operating their own streaming 

services, the long term success of 

these services are questionable. 

This is most evident in the 

recent writers and actors strike 

in Hollywood that was mainly 

focused on outdated royalty 

models that do not account for 

streaming media content. 

Disney’s last few releases 

were not as successful as they 

had anticipated at the box office 

and they have lost a significant 

amount of Disney+ subscribers 

this year. 

However, this is a trend taking 

that now controls the Palestinian 

Authority in the West Bank to take 

control in Gaza: That is scarcely 

viable. Fatah lost a civil war to Hamas 

in 2007 and there’s no indication the 

Palestinian Authority’s return would 

be acceptable to Palestinians there. 

Moreover, the authority’s leader, 

Mahmoud Abbas, was elected to a 

four-year term in 2005 – and is still in 

charge. As such, he lacks legitimacy, 

even in West Bank. 

4. Administration of Gaza by nonaligned 

local leaders: This is a pipe 

place throughout Hollywood and, 

while Disney is struggling, they 

remain a significant brand in the 

global media market. 

And there is no question that 

their theme parks continue to be 

popular with families who want to 

immerse themselves in all things 

Disney. 

The magic of Disney’s 

animation and the memories 

dream. Even if such figures could be 

found, Gazans would almost certainly 

see them as collaborators with the 

Israelis, given their role would be 

to keep the strip’s hardliners under 

control. 

5. Administration of Gaza by a non- 

Palestinian Arab force: Again, this is 

not feasible. The leaders of potential 

Arab contributors to such a force, 

such as Egypt, Jordan or Saudi Arabia, 

would not want to be seen as policing 

Palestinians on behalf of Israel. 

6. Administration of Gaza by a non-Arab 

or United Nations force: Given the 

enormous risks, it’s very hard to see 

any non-Arab countries embracing 

this idea. A UN peacekeeping force 

would require not only Israeli approval, 

but a UN Security Council resolution 

at a time when Russia and China 

rarely agree with the three Western 

permanent members. 

Israel also contends Hezbollah has 

impeded the UN peacekeeping force in 

Lebanon from carrying out its mandate, 

preventing it from stopping militant attacks. 

After the Hamas attacks, Israel would 

be unlikely to entrust its security to 

peacekeepers with little incentive to put their 

lives on the line for its sake. 

(The author is Research Scholar, Centre 

for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian 

National University) 

The "Partners" statue in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World 

in Orlando, Florida. (CC: Joe Penniston) 

created at their theme parks 

is part of their “100 years 

of wonder”. But so is their 

successful business model 

that has continually adapted to 

changes in the entertainment 

business and its persistent 

cultural relevance. 

(The author is Assistant 

Professor in Film and Television 

Studies, University of Warwick)

16 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Ranbir shares update 

on 'Brahmastra 2' 

At a fans’ event recently, 

Ranbir Kapoor shared 

a major update about 

the upcoming sci-fi action film 

'Brahmastra 2'. A clip from 

the fans event was shared on 

Reddit in which he stated that 

'Brahmastra 2' is "heavy into 

writing". 

Ranbir said, "Brahmastra Part 

2 is heavy into writing. We are 

working on it all the time. It's just 

last week that Ayan narrated the 

film to me, and he has gone 10 

times bigger than Part 1 - his 

idea, his thought, the character. 

“He is working on War 2 right 

now. So, the plan is to finish War 

2 by mid-next year and we start 

shooting hopefully by the end 

of next year or the beginning 

of 2025." The 'Barfi' actor also 

addressed the criticism the 

makers faced for the "missing 

chemistry" between Shiva 

and Isha (Ranbir and Alia's 

characters) in the first film. 

"But definitely a lot of work has 

already been happening on the 

film. We understood the kind of 

criticism for the film, what worked 

for it and what didn't. So we have 

put everything into consideration, 

the dialogue and comments 

on Shiva and Isha's missing 

chemistry. 

“A lot of criticism was 

constructive and we have taken 

that into our stride and we are 

trying to understand that and go 

beyond that." 

'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' 

is the first part of the planned 

trilogy in the Astraverse by Ayan 

Mukerji. The film also stars 

Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy 

and Nagarjuna Akkineni. 

The storyline of Brahmastra 

follows Shiva, a DJ, who learns 

about his strange connection 

with the element of fire. He also 

holds the power to awaken the 

Brahmastra, a supernatural 

weapon that is said to be able 

to destroy the universe, capable 

of destroying creation and 

vanquishing all beings. 

On the other hand, Junoon, 

the queen of dark forces, is also 

on a quest to get hold of the 

Brahmastra. Shah Rukh Khan 

had a cameo in the first part. If 

reports are to be believed, the 

second part will feature Deepika 

Padukone and Ranveer Singh. It 

will be interesting to see how the 

Astraverse develops in the sequel 

to 'Brahmastra' and beyond. 

Earlier, Ayan Mukerji announced 

the release dates of his upcoming 

sci-fi films 'Brahmastra: Part 2' 

and 'Brahmastra: Part 3'. 

'Brahmastra: Part Two - Dev' 

will hit the theatres in December 

2026, whereas 'Part Three' will be 

released in the theatres exactly 

a year after the second part, in 

December 2027. 

Meanwhile, Ranbir will be next 

seen in the upcoming action 

thriller film 'Animal', which is 

all set to hit the theatres on 

December 1. 

Helmed by Sandeep Reddy 

Vanga, the film also stars Bobby 

Deol, Anil Kapoor and Rashmika 

Mandanna in the lead roles. 

Sunny 

Deol holds 

a cake as he 

celebrates his 

66th birthday 

at his studio in 

Mumbai. 

Celeb Spotting 

Tiger 

Shroff and 

actress Kriti 

Sanon perform 

during the promotion 

of their upcoming 

film 'Ganapath' in 

New Delhi. 

Shilpa 

Shetty 

Kundra poses for a 

picture during a press 

conference in Mumbai. 


Shahid Kapoor, who is all set 

to come up with an action 

thriller, on the auspicious 

occasion of Dussehra announced 

the title of his next and shared the 

first look poster. 

Taking to Instagram, Shahid 

treated fans with his first look 

from his next. Helmed by Rosshan 

Andrrews, known for Malayalam 

films like 'Salute' and 'Kayamkulam 

Kochunni', the film is titled 'Deva'. 

The film is being produced by 

Siddharth Roy Kapur and Zee 

Studios. 

In the poster, Shahid could 

be seen carrying a rugged look 

while dressed in a white shirt 

and trousers. He wore a pair of 

sunglasses and carried a gun in 

one of his hands. 

Sharing the still, he wrote, "DEVA 

in theatres on Dussehra 11th 

October 2024." The film will be 

released in theatres on Dussehra 

2024. 'Deva' also stars Pooja 

Hegde in the lead role. 

Recently, the makers welcomed 

Pooja to the team and shared the 

exciting news on their Instagram. 

Taking to Instagram, production 

house Roy Kapur Films shared 

a post on Friday in which Pooja 

could be seen posing with Shahid 

Kapoor, director Roshan Andrews 

and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur. 

They wrote, "Our thrilling actionpacked 

adventure just got a lot 

more exciting with birthday girl 

@hegdepooja joining us on this 

journey. Wishing a stellar day of 

fun and happiness to our lovely 

leading lady!" 

Hegde shared her excitement 


Shahid Kapoor brings fierce 

avatar in action thriller 'Deva' 

about joining the cast and said, 

"It's a very special film with such 

an exciting yet different storyline. 

Rosshan Andrrews is known for 

weaving magic on the big screen, 

and I can't wait to start this journey 

and for the audience to see me in 

such a unique and different role. 

“I'm also looking forward to 

working with Shahid Kapoor; he's 

a stellar performer, and I'm hopeful 

that our collaboration will be a 

memorable one." 

Anupam Kher to Alia, celebs share 

special wishes on Dussehra 

On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, also known as 

Dussehra, celebs from Anupam Kher to Alia Bhatt and other 

Bollywood celebrities shared heartwarming wishes on social media. 

Kher dropped a motion video of Lord Ram on his Instagram and captioned 

it, "Best wishes to all of you on the auspicious Dussehra! #HappyDussehra 

to all!" 

"Wishing you all a very Happy Dussehra," read the post shared by actor 

Alia Bhatt on her Instagram story. 

Anil Kapoor dropped a special wish and wrote, 

"HAPPY DUSSEHRA. On this joyous occasion of 

Dussehra, may good always triumph over evil 

in your life." Mahesh Babu wrote, "Wishing you 

all a very Happy Dussehra." Wishing fans and 

followers, Madhuri Dixit wrote, "Happy Dussebra. 

Wishing you and your family a joyous Dussehra." 

Suniel Shetty posted, "May the light of 

victory shine again, and bring you 

an abundance of joy, prosperity, 

and the strength to overcome life's 

challenges. Wishing everyone a very 

Happy Dussehra." 

Allu Arjun uploaded a picture from 

the shooting set and wished his fans 

"Happy Dussehra to each and every 

one of you". 

Rashmika Mandanna posted, "On 

this special day. May you find the 

strength to face all adversities with 

a brave heart. HAPPY DUSSEHRA." 

Rakul Preet Singh shared a post and 

wrote, "Wishing you a Happy Dussehra 

filled with the victory of good over evil and 

the blessings of joy and prosperity." 

Neetu Singh wrote, "May Lord Rama 

bless you with strength and courage to 

follow the path of virtue and righteousness. 

Good wishes for a joyous Vijayadashmi!" 

Dussehra is that time of the year when the 

well-known Ramleela is held, massive fairs 

are organised and people gather in large 

numbers to see Raavan effigies burst into 

flames.


FEATURE 17 

Paneer special recipes 

Paneer is rich in protein and calcium and is the best source of nutrition for vegetarians. Not just that, the 

richness of vitamin B-complex and magnesium can result in a healthy pregnancy and controlled blood 

sugar levels. Leaving aside its nutritious side, you can enjoy paneer as it is with a little salt & pepper. This 

is the easiest way to consume paneer and enjoy its various health benefits. 

Paneer 65 

Ingredients 

• 250 gm paneer 

• 4 tablespoon rice flour 

• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder 

• 1 tablespoon garlic paste 

• 2 tablespoon yoghurt (curd) 

• 1/2 cup water 

• 1 onion 

• 2 green chilli 

• 2 tablespoon tomato ketchup 

• 2 teaspoon lemon juice 

• 2 tablespoon corn flour 

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 

• 1 tablespoon ginger paste 

• 1 cup refined oil 

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 

• 1 stalk curry leaves 

• 2 tablespoon red chilli sauce 

• salt as required 

• 1 tablespoon spring onion leaves 

Method 

• In a bowl, add cornflour and rice flour with 1 tsp 

of salt and 1/2 tsp of black pepper and red chilli 

powder, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, garam 

masala, 1 tsp of lemon juice. 

• Now, add your paneer to this batter and coat it well. 

Deep fry the coated paneer in a kadhai and keep 

them aside. 

• Heat some oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds 

to it. Now roast the garlic with the cumin seeds 

and add finely chopped onions along with chopped 

curry leaves. To this, add chilli sauce and tomato 

ketchup and salt. Mix it all well on high flame. 

• In the end, add some curd with 2 tbsp of water. Let 

it bubble and turn the flame to low and add the fried 

paneer pieces to this. Coat and combine well, top 

with some lemon juice, garnish with spring onion 

greens and serve hot! 

Cornitos grilled paneer tacos with salsa dip 

Ingredients 

• 6 taco shells 

• 100 ml salsa sauce 

• 150 gm cheese sauce 

• 50 gm lettuce leaf 

• 50 ml virgin olive oil 

• 5 gm white pepper powder 


• 50 gm capsicum (green pepper) 

• 50 gm jalapeno 

• 50 gm coriander leaves 


• 1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning 

Method 

• Marinate paneer with salt, white pepper powder, 

olive oil & keep aside for 10-15 minutes. 

• Heat the griller with some oil and grill the Paneer 

until done. 

• Heat some oil in a pan, add taco seasoning, and 

then add capsicum and onions. Sauté nicely for 3 

to 5 minutes, then remove from heat. 

Kung pao paneer 

Ingredients 

• 1 1/2 tablespoon corn flour 

• 2 dry red chili 

• 1 medium chopped capsicum (green 

pepper) 

• 1 handful chopped spring onions 

• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts 

• gm salt 

• water as required 

• 1 1/2 tablespoon red chilli sauce 

• 2 tablespoon vegetable oil 

• 1 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic 

• 1 medium thinly sliced onion 

• 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 


• gm black pepper 

Method 

• In a bowl, add paneer cubes along with 

chili powder, salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp 

cornflour. Mix everything well. 

• Heat oil in a pan and then add paneer 

cubes. Shallow fry them till they turn 

golden brown in color. Once done, 

transfer them to an absorbent paper. 

Now, saute garlic on the same pan. 

• Now, add onions and red chillies. Saute 

• Place Taco shells on boat and line them with 

lettuce. Top them with grilled paneer and sauteed 

mixture, coriander leaves and jalapeno. 

• Then, spread cheese sauce and salsa dip evenly on 

top and sprinkle taco seasoning. Serve Tacos with 

salsa dip. 

them until the onions turn translucent. 

Next, add capsicum. and saute it for 

2 mins. Once done, add chili sauce, 

peanuts, soy sauce, and 1 tbsp cornflour 

(mix 1/2 tablespoon of cornflour in 1 

tablespoon of water). Mix to combine 

everything well. Cook for 3 mins. 

• Finally, add fried paneer cubes along 

with salt. Mix everything well and cook 

for about 1-2 mins. 

• Garnish it with spring onions. Your Kung 

Pao Paneer is ready. Enjoy. 

Paneer veg rolls 

Ingredients 

9 chapatis 

• 1 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder 

• 18 leaves coriander leaves 


• water as required 

• 1 teaspoon cumin powder 

• 3 teaspoon dry mango powder 

• 3 tablespoon vegetable oil 

• 2 cup flour 

• For Filling 


• 3 onion 

• 2 capsicum (green pepper) 

Method 

• In a large pan, heat oil over a 

medium flame. Add chopped 

onions to it and stir fry them till 

it turns golden brown. Now, add 

capsicums, chopped paneer 

cubes and saute for sometime. 

• After sometime, add cumin 

powder, salt and red chili 

powder to it. Mix well. After a 

minute add dry mango powder, 

coriander leaves and stir the 

whole mixture again properly. 

Switch off the flame and keep it 

aside. 

Palak kaddu paneer 

Ingredients 

• 4 cup spinach 

• 4 tablespoon refined oil 

• 2 tablespoon garlic 

• 1 cup milk 


• 200 gm pumpkin 

• 2 teaspoon garam masala 

powder 

• 4 pieces green chillies 

• 2 medium onion 

• 1/2 kilograms paneer 

Method 

• To begin with, in a bowl, add 

water and ice cubes. Over 

medium flame, place a sauce 

pan and boil water in it. Now 

add washed spinach leaves 

in it. Once the spinach leaves 

have boiled, drain the water 

and transfer spinach into the 

cold water bowl. Meanwhile, 

chopped pumpkin and paneer 

into cubes. Chop spinach 

leaves, garlic cloves, and onion 

too. 

• In a blender, add pumpkin 

cubes, chopped spinach leaves, 

milk and blend it to a fine puree. 

Coriander paneer 

Ingredients 


• 1 onion 

• 1 tablespoon ginger 


• 1 teaspoon coriander powder 

• 2 tablespoon refined oil 

• 1 bunch coriander leaves 

• 2 green chilli 

• 2 cloves garlic 

• 1 teaspoon garam masala powder 

• 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric 

• 2 teaspoon lemon juice 

Method 

• To prepare this delicious side dish recipe, 

dice the paneer into cubes and transfer the 

pieces into a large bowl. 

• Add the red chilli powder, coriander 

powder, garam masala powder, salt and 

lemon juice to the paneer cubes and coat 

them evenly. Keep aside for a while. 

• Meanwhile, take the coriander leaves and 

wash them properly. Chop them roughly 

and add them to a food processor along 

with the green chillies and a little water. 

Blend into a smooth paste. 

• Now knead the flour using 

water and make 8 chapatis out 

of it. One by one, start filling 

the mixture prepared in the pan 

above in between the chapatis 

and start rolling it tightly from 

the sides. Your Paneer veg rolls 

are now ready to be served. 

Over medium flame, place a 

pan and add 1 teaspoon of oil 

in it. Now add paneer cubes 

in the pan and fry them. Once 

fried, transfer paneer into a 

bowl and keep aside. Saute 

chopped garlic and onion in the 

remaining oil that's left in the 

pan. 

• Next, add the pumpkin puree. 

Pour 1 cup of water and season 

it with salt. Let the gravy cook 

for 3-4 minutes. Add fried 

paneer cubes, and stir once. Mix 

in garam masala. Let it simmer 

until a thick gravy is formed. 

• Serve hot with tandoori roti or 

naan! 

• Heat oil in a pan over medium flame. Then, 

add ginger-garlic paste and saute them. 

Now, add the onions and cook them until 

they turn light brown. 

• Once done, add the coriander paste 

and let it cook for a while. Sprinkle the 

remaining spices and salt as per your 

taste. Remember the paneer is already 

marinated with some spices. Don't add 

too much. 

• Then, add the marinated paneer cubes and 

cook for a few minutes. Transfer the dish 

to a serving bowl and serve hot.

18 

TIME OUT 

i FreeDailyCrosswords.com 

ACROSS----------- 

1) "Brian's Song" star James 

5) Comes out of one's skin 

10) Self-congratulatory 

14) Radius' comrade-in-arms? 

15) Youngest-ever Oscar 

winner 

16) Folkestone farewell 

17) "B 5!" "C 11!"? 

19) Took_ (snoozed) 

20) Downed 

21) Typing type 

22) Considers carefully 

24) "Emma" author Austen 

25) Hersey's bell town 

26) Place or site 

29) Transverse beam 

32) Itsy-bitsy bits 

33) "In_ tn1st" 

34) Recipe word 

35) Cravings 

36) Emulate "Old Blue Eyes" 

O, O! 

1 2 3 

14 

17 

20 

26 27 28 

32 

35 

38 

41 42 

CROSSWORD 

37) Kid's "seat" on Santa 

38) Alternative to .net 

39) Less extroverted 

40) TV's "Cosmos" creator 

41) Author's explanation 

43) Yuletide songs 

44) Backup sounds 

45) Random sampling 

46) "Monkey Trial" teacher 

48) Seafood choice 

49) Josh 

52) Door section 

53) John Wayne character, 

larger-than-life? 

56) More than suggest 

57) Recording studio alert 

58) Water sport 

59) Some antique autos 

60) Family men 

61) Bud holder 

Richard Auer 

11 12 13 

7th June 

DOWN 

1) Island south of Florida 

2) Dismounted 

3) Archer or Heche 

4) Endless faultfinder 

5) Home of the John Deere 

headquarters 

6) Like beverages at barbecues 

7) A 1 Capp character 

8) Fielder's choice? 

9) Trooper's warning 

10) Wood-surface applications 

11) Tropical fruit dance? 

12) Great Salt Lake state 

13) Adjusts, as a spark plug 

18) Multicolored gems 

23) "_ on Down the Road" 

24) Traffic tangles 

25) Eagerness 

26)_ the land (how things stand) 

27) Alamogordo's county 

28) Kinshasa drum? 

29) Australian bush call 

30) Just right 

31) Wonderlands 

33) Southern breakfast dish 

36) Auto despair site? 

37) Marx or Benz 

39) Pirate's knife 

40) Town of many trials and hunts 

42) Plains homes 

43) Plays with crayons 

45) Lecterns 

46) Tim Duncan, for one 

47) Kind of package 

48) Cold spell 

49) Nautical mile 

50) Not going anywhere 

51) Condemn 

54) "Put_ Happy Face" 

55) Photo_ (media events) 

i FreeDailyCrosswords.com 


ACROSS----------- 

1) "Brian's Song" star James 

5) Comes out of one's skin 

10) Self-congratulatory 

14) Radius' comrade-in-arms? 

15) Youngest-ever Oscar 

winner 

16) Folkestone farewell 

17) "B 5!" "C 11!"? 

19) Took_ (snoozed) 

20) Downed 

21) Typing type 

22) Considers carefully 

24) "Emma" author Austen 

25) Hersey's bell town 

26) Place or site 

29) Transverse beam 

32) Itsy-bitsy bits 

33) "In_ tn1st" 

34) Recipe word 

35) Cravings 

36) Emulate "Old Blue Eyes" 

O, O! 

CROSSWORD ANSWERS 

37) Kid's "seat" on Santa 

38) Alternative to .net 

39) Less extroverted 

40) TV's "Cosmos" creator 

41) Author's explanation 

43) Yuletide songs 

44) Backup sounds 

45) Random sampling 

46) "Monkey Trial" teacher 

48) Seafood choice 

49) Josh 

52) Door section 

53) John Wayne character, 

larger-than-life? 

56) More than suggest 

57) Recording studio alert 

58) Water sport 

59) Some antique autos 

60) Family men 

61) Bud holder 

1M l.1 1 b 

Richard Auer 

ATA 

N A p 

I G H 5 

0 

T 30 1 3e 

D D 

E E 

N 

7th June 

DOWN 

1) Island south of Florida 

2) Dismounted 

3) Archer or Heche 

4) Endless faultfinder 

5) Home of the John Deere 

headquarters 

6) Like beverages at barbecues 

7) A 1 Capp character 

8) Fielder's choice? 

9) Trooper's warning 

10) Wood-surface applications 

11) Tropical fruit dance? 

12) Great Salt Lake state 

13) Adjusts, as a spark plug 

18) Multicolored gems 

23) "_ on Down the Road" 

24) Traffic tangles 

25) Eagerness 

26)_ the land (how things stand) 

27) Alamogordo's county 

28) Kinshasa drum? 

29) Australian bush call 

30) Just right 

31) Wonderlands 

33) Southern breakfast dish 

36) Auto despair site? 

37) Marx or Benz 

39) Pirate's knife 

40) Town of many trials and hunts 

42) Plains homes 

43) Plays with crayons 

45) Lecterns 

46) Tim Duncan, for one 

47) Kind of package 

48) Cold spell 

49) Nautical mile 

50) Not going anywhere 

51) Condemn 

54) "Put_ Happy Face" 

55) Photo_ (media events) 


SUDOKU SOLUTIONS 

46 47 

52 

56 

59 

SUDOKU 

1; 4c 0 p 

Si> 

E 

A N E 

S 

5lJ R G E b N 

S 

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S 

b 

E 1< 5 01 

Mb N D 0 

A I R 51> L 0 

p A 5 E M 

Your Weekly Horoscope: 27 October - 02 November, 2023 

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20) 

You will be thinking optimistically this week, 

Aries, with the moon in Sagittarius. You 

might be curious to learn a new subject, or 

you’re reading and researching in your free 

time. You could also be travelling somewhere 

or signing up for a class. With the sun and 

Mercury meeting up in Libra, you may be hanging out with a 

friend for quality one-on-one time, or you could experience a 

surge of dating activity. 

TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20) 

You will be doing important self reflection this 

week, Taurus, with the moon in Sagittarius. 

You may be thinking about how you react 

to relationship conflict differently, or you’re 

being more open about your emotions with 

people. You could also be paying off bills or 

debt, or you’re working to save money. With the sun and 

Mercury meeting up in Libra, you might be especially busy at 

work, juggling smaller tasks or developing various projects. 

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21) 

You will be focused on your close 

relationships this week, Gemini, with the 

moon in Sagittarius. You might be going on 

a date or spending quality time with your 

partner. You may also be meeting up with 

good friends and touching base with the 

people you care about. With the sun and Mercury meeting 

up in Libra, you may be hit with creative inspiration, or you’re 

feeling comfortable sharing your unique point of view either 

through a passion project or your work. 

CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20) 

Work will be much busier for you this week, 

Cancer, with the moon in Sagittarius. You 

might be juggling numerous small tasks or 

handling greater responsibilities. You could 

also be motivated to sign up for a workout 

class, eat nutritious foods, or take better care 

of your body overall. With the sun and Mercury meeting up 

in Libra, you might be tending to activities at home, like 

cleaning and organising your space, or handling details 

related to a move. 

LEO (JUL21-AUG 20) 

Live into your values, Leo! Monday’s 

Mercury-Jupiter trine wants you to identify 

and implement your values professionally to 

shift what needs to be changed. Friday’s Full 

Moon in Aries expands your horizons through 

new learning, exploration, and even travel, so 

follow your curiosities for curiosity’s sake. A Venus-Jupiter 

square on Friday changes the way you think about love for 

the better. 

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23) 

Think bigger, Virgo. Monday’s Mercury-Jupiter 

trine wants to free you from cynical thinking 

by helping you expand your vision and see the 

big picture. Friday’s Full Moon in Aries turns 

up the heat and helps you own your sexual 

and erotic desires in a deeper way for sexual 

satisfaction. A Venus-Jupiter square on the same day then 

helps you experience the sexual healing you’ve been longing 

for. 

LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23) 

You will be moving around a lot this week, 

Libra, with the moon in Sagittarius. You 

might be taking a day trip, attending an event, 

or running numerous errands. You could 

also be socialising, or you may be inspired 

to tend to writing or speaking work. With the 

sun and Mercury meeting up in your sign, you may be doing 

important self reflection, or you’re setting new personal 

goals for yourself. 

SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22) 

You will be reflecting on your finances this 

week, Scorpio, with the moon in Sagittarius. 

You might be splurging on yourself, or you 

could be paying off various bills and expenses. 

You may also be motivated at work as you 

develop projects or attract new clients. With 

the sun and Mercury meeting up in Libra, you might be more 

open to sharing your emotions. You may be reading about 

topics related to mental health, or spirituality too. 

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21) 

You will be in the spotlight this week, 

Sagittarius, with the moon in your sign. You 

may have greater attention on you, and you 

may get approached about new opportunities, 

either at work or in your personal life. You 

could also be reflecting on your own goals 

and interests, and what direction you’re headed in next. With 

the sun and Mercury meeting up in Libra, you might be busy 

with community activities, or you’re scheduling hangouts 

with your group of friends. 

CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21) 

You will be spending some time alone this 

week, Capricorn, with the moon in Sagittarius. 

You may have heavier emotions come up, or 

you could be turning to therapy or spirituality 

to feel more at peace. You may also be 

engaging in a regular journaling or meditation 

practice. With the sun and Mercury meeting up in Libra, you 

may receive positive news at work, or you’re busy developing 

major projects or speaking publicly at your job. 

AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19) 

You will be more social this week, Aquarius, 

with the moon in Sagittarius. You may have 

events come up that you want to attend, or 

friends may reach out that you haven’t seen 

in a while. You could even be organising 

a group activity, or you’re focused on the future and what 

you want to accomplish moving forward. With the sun and 

Mercury meeting up in Libra, you will be contemplating 

bigger picture themes.. 

PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20) 

You will be prioritising your career this week, 

Pisces, with the moon in Sagittarius. You 

may hear about a work opportunity, or you 

could receive attention from a recent project 

you’ve been developing at your job. You 

could also be thinking about your long term 

career goals and what is worth working towards. With the 

sun and Mercury meeting up in Libra, you will be reflecting 

on your own behaviours, and how you might improve upon 

relationship patterns.

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The Indian Weekender, 27 October 2023

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