By Adit Kumar

The Town of Markham was buzzing with excitement last Saturday evening at the Featherstone Park as it staged a free outdoor event as part of a series of IIFA Buzz events leading up to the grand International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) extravaganza scheduled to be held in the City of Toronto from June 23rd -25th, 2011.
Billed as Markham's first South Asian Mela, last Saturday's event featured a taste of South Asian Culture featuring Bollywood-style music and dance plus bhangra, dandia, classical and fusion dances and songs with some of the top amateur talent from in and around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). One of the highlights of the evening's proceedings was the short-listing of the contestants of the Miss Markham Bollywood Pageant, resulting in three of the contestants advancing to the finals which will be held next weekend at the Town of Markham major IIFA Buzz event on the grounds of the Markham Civic Centre. The pageant contestants were each given three skill testing questions and an opportunity to display their talent in an area of their choice. They all performed with confidence, poise and elegance and the panel of judges no doubt had a tremendous challenge to pick the three finalists.
The inaugural event attracted a huge turnout. Vendors did brisk business in the park which was transformed to a bazaar-like atmosphere. OMNI TV announcer Rima Kar emceed the event and built up the excitement with her Bollywood trivia, giving away OMNI TV tee shirts to the winners.
Making opening remarks at the Mela were Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti, who was elated that Markham has been "chosen as one of the host communities of these prestigious IIFA Buzz events." Other speakers were MPP Michael Chan under whose ministry the IIFA event falls, MP John McCallum and councillor for Ward 7 Logan Kanapathi who was instrumental in organizing the event.
Markham is one of four GTA municipalities chosen to host IIFA Buzz events leading up to the 2011 International Indian Film Academy Awards North American debut which is being run under the theme "One People, One World". These events will showcase South Asian entertainment and culture across the GTA. The International Indian Film Academy promotes and represents Indian cinema, fashion and culture globally. CIBC is the presenting sponsor of 2011 IIFA Celebrations in Toronto.
The town of Markham will also be hosting a free drive-in Bollywood movie night on the lawns of the Markham Civic Centre on Friday, June 17th from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm at which the IIFA nominated movie "Housefull" will be screened. This will be followed the next day by the largest Bollywood Extravaganza to take place in the Markham community at the Markham Civic Centre. The day-long celebration will include performances by Abhijeet Sawant, winner of the first season of Indian Idol and an internationally acclaimed solo artist. Celebrity host for the extravaganza will be actress, social activist and star Lisa Ray.

For more information visit website: http://www.markham.ca/Markham/Departments/NewsCentre/IIFA_Markham.htm

By Manshad Mohamed

The celebration of Indian Arrival Day in Toronto on May 28 by the Trinidad and Tobago Fifty Plus and Seniors coincided with that of Trinidad and Tobago marking 166 years of Indian Arrival. In Scarborough at the Birkdale Community Centre, a programme of Indian songs, music and dance was presented.
President Anthony Mohammed explained that their general elections were held recently and the new committee to plan Indian Arrival Day needed a great deal of support as they were new to office. In came members of the Black History month who had their celebrations in February. They helped to co-ordinate efforts and implemented them successfully. This type of community spirit must surely be admired.
The Swarsati Kirtan Mandali led by Angie Pitambar performed a number of musical items. Chano was very popular as well. Also, veteran keyboard player Karamchand Maharaj together with Aron Roberts on a tenor steel pan played sensational innovative music as well as the popular standard "Suhaani Raat."
The scheduled keynote speaker for this day, Dr. Harry Persaud, was unable to attend, so journalist Herman Silochan filled in. "Somewhere between the ages of 5 and 7, while staying with an aunt in Barrackpore, south Trinidad, I discovered for the first time an aspect of Indianness, something innate, from which I had sprung. In those years, my mother's family commemorated two days of the year beyond the statutory holidays of the time; one was Indian Independence Day and the other was Indian Arrival Day. We would rig up a broom stick on a fence and fly the Indian flag."
Silochan went on to point out the togetherness of family life at prayers, funerals as well as happy occasions like weddings and baptisms. "I would go to my cousins in Princes Town in the 50's and encounter Indian men walking on side roads almost all wearing capras or dhotis, some with turbans, some carrying lotas and almost all sporting a walking stick, usually made of poui (a hard type of wood)." When provoked, there would be the stern warning: "You want a poui or what?"
Silochan was astounded one day to hear that one of his uncles was flogged by an overseer for being too lazy. What is the difference here between being an Indentured labourer and a Slave, the speaker questioned. These were surely hard times for all and Silochan was beginning to understand what victimisation was all about. But the worst aspect of life for a labourer who retired from his job in the sugar companies was yet to be experienced, he said. Some were cheated out of their plots of land. Others were denied passage back to India. Then too were the homeless.
"My grandmother and my aunts would gather in her home once a month and cook huge pots of food to be taken by taxi to the Croisee in San Juan. I accompanied them. It was perhaps the most demeaning sight in my culture. There, as far as my little eyes could see, along the Eastern Main Road, was a very, very long line of beggars, possibly a thousand or so, in faded rotting rags. They were all Indians, old, haggard and emaciated. These were the dregs of humanity, the outcasts of an economic movement that brought riches to many but built on the backs of these unfortunate souls. They who had given their labour, the best of their years were now abandoned without an ajoupa (type of mud hut) or even a jute bag under a galvanized shed. How they lived beyond this I do not know. Those who remained in search of a better life braved everything to see their young ones get an education, some as doctors, lawyers and millionaires, were it not for our ragged, besieged ancestors. We may be well-off in this country or even in Trinidad but let us not forget the humility of our existence."

By Adit Kumar

Tharshika Thangarasa, a very forceful public speaker, led the way at the Arya Samaj Scholarship Awards ceremony carrying away the floating trophy, the first prize cheque of $1500 and the public speaking award.
The modest student told Indo Caribbean World (ICW) that while she was surprised at winning the award she "feels good and encouraged knowing that her efforts are recognized by the community." She said it gives her confidence as she advances with her studies to university. Tharshika said she will be pursuing Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus and is looking forward to her studies there. She lives in Scarborough and will be commuting to school. She thanked the organizers for the scholarship.
Arya Samaj Markham commenced the scholarship award program shortly after the Mandir and Cultural Centre was opened in 1996. Mrs Ajit Wadhwa, coordinator of the program, told ICW that in order to encourage post secondary education amongst South Asians/Hindu students Arya Samaj Markham in 1997 started a scholarship program which tends to test a student's excellence in Academic, Communication Skills, Leadership skills and his/her involvement in the community as a volunteer. "We believe by assisting young people from Hindu families, we are investing in South Asian Community's future."
Mrs Wadhwa stated that this year 32 applications were received with one student applying from as far as Ottawa. She said the program is funded by donations from corporations and private individuals. A panel of independent judges partake in the selection process which includes reviewing the students' personal achievements, interviewing them on a one to one basis to test their general knowledge and interpersonal skills and judging them in public speaking.
A cash prize of $1500 is awarded for the first prize, $1000 for the second, $750 for the third and a fourth prize, the President's Award is worth $500.
Dr Reva Joshee, Professor at the University of Toronto, in delivering the keynote address offered valuable advice to the students many times pointing to her own personal experience as guidance. She told the students to "be true to yourself and your gifts" and "while moving forward take time to look who's behind you and how you could help them". Dr Joshee also pointed out to the students that even though education is about the future "remember to be in the present and enjoy your time while you are learning." She noted that university life is one of the most enjoyable periods in one's life and they must take time to enjoy it.
First prize winner, Tharshika Thangarasa, was asked to deliver her speech that won her the first prize in public speaking as part of the award ceremony. Her topic was "The role the youth can play in order to uplift the image of the Hindu Community". She spoke with the confidence, eloquence and poise that confirmed she was a winner all the way. She posited that "truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence are the five values on which the basis of this religion (Hinduism) is formed. If every single individual on earth were to live life based on these 5 simple ideas, all the suffering and misery on earth can be put to an end." She noted that the sustenance and uplifting of this religion lies primarily in the hands of the youth. "As the future of this society, we have the capability of ensuring the values of this religion survive." She urged the youths to learn more of the religion to become more appreciative of it as one cannot promote what he/she doesn't believe in. She threw out a challenge stating all that is needed is a little initiative and curiosity. "Getting involved in religious institutions such as this one, reading on the background of our religion and asking questions are not hard to do. Once we have faith and the desire to see our religion and its mission prosper, we can now take action," the awardee submitted.
For more information on the scholarship program contact Mrs Ajit Wadhwa at 416-491-7584 or visit www.vedicculturalcentre.com.