Report for 25 May 2013 Function
By Praveen Vaghani
Northern Region Indian Seniors Association(NRISA) jointly with Sahitya Sandhya, supported by the City of Darebin and The Victorian Multicultural Commission(VMC) organised an evening of Celebration of Indian and Australian Arts at Northcote Senior’s Hall.
Mrs. Vijay Laxmi Shastri, the MC, opened with an overview of the the program in her inimitable and eloquent manner. Dr. Santosh Kumar, the President of NRISA, welcomed the guests and the participating audience. Very aptly Dr. Kumar drew the attention of everybody to an article in “The Age” by Harold Mitchell, in which he said "We should use, not loose, our Senior brain power". He made a reference to Zen Buddhist saying, "Before enlightenment - Chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood carry water". He said this is exactly what we do at NRISA. Today’s speakers as well as audience justify this Buddhist saying. Presence of a Bollywood star, Pallavi Sharda, screening of ‘”Lights Across The Sea” An India-Australia Contemporary Art Project and research on Indian Evolution of Art Collaboration, is equally good for all, young and young seniors.
A documentary titled “Lights Across the Sea – An India Australia Contemporary Art Project” depicting the art of sculpture by Mr. William Eicholtz and art of Louise Rippert was screened. They had travelled on the banks of the holy river Ganges in northern India and in collaboration with local artists created statues of deities and also decorated the walls of the street of Banaras.(This may be again screened on the big screen of Federation Square as part of Diwali Celebration, 2013)
Dr. Amit Sarwal, a Alfred Research Fellow at Deakin University, explained in detail the Evolution of Indian Australian Art collaboration.
The star of the show was Ms Pallavi Sharda, the young daughter of Professors Hema and Nalin Sharda, a trained Indian Classical Dancer and now a popular Bolywood actress. She talked at length about the Indian Australian Collaboration in Cinematic Arts. She has acted in many movies like My Name Is Khan, Dus Tola, Love Breakups Zindagi, Heroine, and Australian movie Saving your Legs. She is now playing a leading role in the film Besharam, currently in production, co-starring with the popular star Ranbir Kapoor and guest star Rishi Kapoor, directed by Mr. Abhinav Kashyap. Many members of NRISA have known Pallavi since her childhood and so feel very proud that their own Melbourne girl has reached stardom at Bolywood. Pallavi dwelt in her childhood memories and remembered that Chana Jhor Garam program of Hindi Niketan had made her appreciate what the present seniors have been doing to impart the cultural education to the young generation.
The audience was amply entertained by Ms Piya Modi and Ms Shruti Raman with their performance of Bharat Natyam classical dance and the singing prowess of Mrs Sunila Sharma Patel, Mr Sushil Sharma and Mrs Sunita Sethi.
The secretary of NRISA, Prof. Nalin Sharda, thanked everybody for such a wonderful entertaining and enlightening program. He praised the zeal, enthusiasm and energy demonstrated by the committee members and volunteers in organising and managing the program successfully.
The message from this program is that we must redefine “The Senior”. The old idea that a person at age 65 is a senior who is weak and frail and incapable of doing any fruitful work or taking any responsiblity must be discarded as obsolete. NRISA invites the young people also to come to their program and promises that the variety and vitality of our program will make them dance with joy and eventually participate in their activities.
The program was closed by treating the guests with mouth watering delicious Indian snacks, sweets and tea.
Northern Region Indian Seniors Association(NRISA) jointly with Sahitya Sandhya, supported by the City of Darebin and The Victorian Multicultural Commission(VMC) organised an evening of Celebration of Indian and Australian Arts at Northcote Senior’s Hall.
Mrs. Vijay Laxmi Shastri, the MC, opened with an overview of the the program in her inimitable and eloquent manner. Dr. Santosh Kumar, the President of NRISA, welcomed the guests and the participating audience. Very aptly Dr. Kumar drew the attention of everybody to an article in “The Age” by Harold Mitchell, in which he said "We should use, not loose, our Senior brain power". He made a reference to Zen Buddhist saying, "Before enlightenment - Chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood carry water". He said this is exactly what we do at NRISA. Today’s speakers as well as audience justify this Buddhist saying. Presence of a Bollywood star, Pallavi Sharda, screening of ‘”Lights Across The Sea” An India-Australia Contemporary Art Project and research on Indian Evolution of Art Collaboration, is equally good for all, young and young seniors.
A documentary titled “Lights Across the Sea – An India Australia Contemporary Art Project” depicting the art of sculpture by Mr. William Eicholtz and art of Louise Rippert was screened. They had travelled on the banks of the holy river Ganges in northern India and in collaboration with local artists created statues of deities and also decorated the walls of the street of Banaras.(This may be again screened on the big screen of Federation Square as part of Diwali Celebration, 2013)
Dr. Amit Sarwal, a Alfred Research Fellow at Deakin University, explained in detail the Evolution of Indian Australian Art collaboration.
The star of the show was Ms Pallavi Sharda, the young daughter of Professors Hema and Nalin Sharda, a trained Indian Classical Dancer and now a popular Bolywood actress. She talked at length about the Indian Australian Collaboration in Cinematic Arts. She has acted in many movies like My Name Is Khan, Dus Tola, Love Breakups Zindagi, Heroine, and Australian movie Saving your Legs. She is now playing a leading role in the film Besharam, currently in production, co-starring with the popular star Ranbir Kapoor and guest star Rishi Kapoor, directed by Mr. Abhinav Kashyap. Many members of NRISA have known Pallavi since her childhood and so feel very proud that their own Melbourne girl has reached stardom at Bolywood. Pallavi dwelt in her childhood memories and remembered that Chana Jhor Garam program of Hindi Niketan had made her appreciate what the present seniors have been doing to impart the cultural education to the young generation.
The audience was amply entertained by Ms Piya Modi and Ms Shruti Raman with their performance of Bharat Natyam classical dance and the singing prowess of Mrs Sunila Sharma Patel, Mr Sushil Sharma and Mrs Sunita Sethi.
The secretary of NRISA, Prof. Nalin Sharda, thanked everybody for such a wonderful entertaining and enlightening program. He praised the zeal, enthusiasm and energy demonstrated by the committee members and volunteers in organising and managing the program successfully.
The message from this program is that we must redefine “The Senior”. The old idea that a person at age 65 is a senior who is weak and frail and incapable of doing any fruitful work or taking any responsiblity must be discarded as obsolete. NRISA invites the young people also to come to their program and promises that the variety and vitality of our program will make them dance with joy and eventually participate in their activities.
The program was closed by treating the guests with mouth watering delicious Indian snacks, sweets and tea.
