New Children’s Heart

Fiji will soon be the home of South Pacific’s first Pediatric Cardiac Super Speciality Hospital. The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital will be the answer to thousand and thousands of mothers in Fiji and the South Pacific Island nations.

So why is this Hospital being built? The answer is simple. Hundreds of children in Fiji and thousands in the South Pacific Island countries are dying of Congenital Heart Disease. There are NO pediatric cardiac services available for the children in Fiji and South Pacific. Treatment overseas is too costly. Thousands of children and their families have no hope.

This hospital will literally be the beacon of hope for the children and their parents.

This is being by Sai Prema Foundation Fiji - a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and a registered Charitable Organisation under the Charitable Trusts Act of Fiji, founded to serve the poor, underprivileged and needy people of Fiji through Medicare, Educare and Sociocare initiatives.

Since 2016, Sai Prema Foundation has become one of the premier NGO’s in Fiji with the implementation of over a dozen projects and initiatives which has successfully impacted the underprivileged and needy people of Fiji.

Pursuant to the principles of the Foundation, the recipient never pays for the services offered. These include all services offered at the Sanjeevani Medical Centre and Children’s Heart Screening Centre, both of which are our projects in partnership with the Government and were inaugurated by Prime Minister of Fiji Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. The Centre has treated over 14,000 patients completely free of charge.

The Gift of Life heart surgeries project has saved 71 lives of children whose families could not afford the life-saving treatment. These surgeries have saved over $7million for the families of these children.

The Foundation’s feeding program has

served over 750,000 meals since inception since 2016 to the needy and vulnerable families and our medical outreach program has served over 6,500 Fijians in rural villages of Fiji with free healthcare and medication.

The Foundation’s commitment to serve these children and their families is exemplified with the building of South Pacific’s first Children’s Heart Hospital in Suva, Fiji.

The Director of the Foundation is Mumbai-based Bollywood singer Sumeet Tappoo. Sumeet is spearheading the mission along with his wife Dr. Krupali Tappoo – an Australian qualified Doctor.

The couple have decided to give back to their home country and are humbled by the opportunity to serve

“Serving humanity is serving God.

Through the multitude of projects implemented through Sai Prema Foundation, it is truly heartwarming to see that the Foundation is able to make a real difference to the lives of the underprivileged and needy people of Fiji” said Sumeet Tappoo.

This $25 million development currently under construction is the largest project ever undertaken by any NGO in Fiji’s history. This Hospital project is in association with the Ministry of Health and the Government of Fiji which has provided the land for this purpose.

The vision of this soon-to-be opened children’s free heart hospital is to become the most important Pediatric Cardiac Care Centre for Fiji and the Pacific Island nations. Pursuant to the principles of the Foundation, no child or parent will pay for the surgery.

“It is in fact a matter of great pride that Fiji will be the first nation in the Pacific and Oceania region to have a specialist Children’s Heart Hospital treating children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). Our Foundation has identified Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) as a major problem affecting the children of Fiji and the Pacific. Approximately 200 children are born in Fiji and approximately 2,500 children are born in the Pacific with CHD. The sad fact is that most children are unable to survive” added Sumeet.

Professionally, Sumeet Tappoo has performed over 1,000 concerts internationally and has released over 30 albums both solo and in collaboration with legends of Bollywood. His brilliant rendition of “Neela Aasman” in the presence of Sri Amitabh Bachchan is a testimony to his rise to be among the brightest stars in the Indian music industry.

“You know what is most special? All services at the Hospital including Heart Surgery will be provided completely free of charge. Sirf dil, no bill!”.

The construction of the Hospital is well advanced and the Hospital will be officially inaugurated soon after the opening up of the international borders. This hospital will make this the largest charitable project undertaken by an NGO in the history of Fiji.

Despite the charitable nature of the project, the Sai Prema Foundation is creating a world-class facility with the aim of providing the best possible surgery and

treatment to the children of Fiji and the Pacific. The Hospital will house state-ofthe-art equipment for its Catheterization Lab, Operation Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, Pre-Operation and Post-Operation Wards. The Hospital will also include a Training Centre with technological capabilities for international Video Conferencing. The Sai Prema Foundation is committed to providing free training abroad for Fijians in its bid to build local capacity with a vision of one day transforming this specialist Hospital into one which is run with local Fijian Surgeons, Doctors and Medical personnel.

Sai Prema Foundation Fiji was bestowed with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2021. This is the highest award conferred by the President of India for organizations outside of India. Sai Prema Foundation was among four international organizations awarded for their “Outstanding Service to Society”. The award was announced at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi on 9th January 2021. The event was graced by the Prime Minister of India. Hon. Sri Narendra Modi.

In a short span, Sai Prema Foundation has signed collaborative partnerships with a whole host of international and local organisations including The Government of the Republic of Fiji, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Fiji Red Cross Society, Fiji National University, University of the South Pacific, Health in Kind Australia and Heart to Heart Foundation USA.

NRI’s and former Fiji residents are always looking for opportunities to give back to their motherland. This is a perfect opportunity for all former Fiji residents to give back to their country of birth by saving the lives of thousands of children who otherwise would have no future.

By: Kala Philip

Every day I continue to navigate a world that has been both fundamentally changed by recent events and is now making a more intentional effort to end systemic racism, discrimination by religion, colour, race, gender or sexual orientation, social injustice, and inequality. It is my hope that we start thinking of ourselves as global citizens and as a human race.

There are millions of languages, religions, races, castes, cultures but the common thread between us all no matter where we come from is that we are human. Diversity leads to differences, some of us make the effort to tolerate and accept, others work on inclusive practices, but we need to enable a sense of belonging.

The last 16 years, I have tried to learn new cultures, walked a mile in someone else’s shoes and listened to someone else’s story that changed my perception of a whole community. It has made me see others through a different lens, given me peace and purpose, made me more grateful for my life and family, and allowed me to give back to the less fortunate.

I am part of a forum called “The Yarning Circle ” where we founding members are from all walks of life – First Australians, LGBTQI+, women, migrants, refugees, or physically challenged. We work for the community and for change. One of my projects is to listen to the stories of some incarcerated women, who suffered years of domestic violence and out of desperation they committed crime. I found purpose in helping them to find a job, to be financially independent and gain their dignity. My perception of them changed when I walked a mile in their shoes. I knew I had to UNLEARN my presumptions and hear their stories.

“We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”—Max de Pree

As migrants and now citizens, we live in a lucky country where endless opportunities lead to life changing journeys. We have the ability to do what we love, learn without limitations and adapt what is authentic and inspirational to us. We bring with us our rich tradition and heritage, and we also embrace the new future, its wonderful history and where we will be forming our next generations.

By Shirley Jacob

Whilst World War I led Europe’s youth to their early grave, dousing out the flame of a generation of talented artists, writers, sportsmen and others whose talent bled into the trenches. It also involved soldiers from faraway lands that had little to do with Europe’s bitter traditional hatreds.

On 25th April 1915, the ANZAC legend was born. In the morning of this day, Australian troops landed at Gallipoli to force Germany’s ally, Turkey, out of the war. Their plan to capture Constantinople quickly became a Herculean task, as they landed in the wrong position and faced baptism by fire. The order from the British general, Sir Ian Hamilton echoed across the battlefield and Australian shores, “There is nothing for it but to dig yourselves right in and stick it out”. The plan had failed, and months of further fighting resulted in no military victories and little reward. However, from this hardship the ANZAC spirit was conceived. An ethos built on endurance, courage, mate ship and one which irrevocably characterizes Australia’s nationhood today.

Over a hundred years later, the parades, services and rituals of Anzac Day have survived and grown despite the vestige of survivors remaining. Many stories are also now emerging of the sacrifices Indians made during World War I and II. At the time, India provided the largest volunteer army in history with approximately 1.2 million Indians volunteering to fight for British forces. Although over 70 000 Indian soldiers ultimately sacrificed their lives during the war, tales of their altruism, courage and rigour have often been relegated to the footnotes in the Commonwealth’s commemorative diary. Many Australians are still unaware that 15 000 Indians fought alongside the ANZACs at Gallipoli and almost 1400 Indians died there. The Indian voice has remained quiet for years as many of these soldiers were semi or non-literate and did not bequeath the treasure trove of memorabilia such as poems and diary entries, which formed the cornerstone of European war memory.

Recently, the British Library released 1000 pages recounting the first-hand accounts of Indian veterans from the war, painting a picture of racial segregation, valour, and the awakening hunger for civil rights which fueled India’s impetus for independence from British rule. Despite this, the Indian war experience continues to remain a history of fragments as traces of evidence are truncated, censored, or scattered across the globe. There is no sole or panoptic Indian war experience – rather, it must be modulated to the idiosyncrasies of caste, region, theatre of battle etc.

Being an Army brat, whose father has fought in a few battles, I understood how millions of families in India were irretrievably affected by the war and yearned closure for their loved ones. I sought to discover how I could help unify the missing fragments and illuminate the war experiences of Indian soldiers, even if it were for only one person. That is why, when a friend of mine who is a sixthgeneration Armed forces personnel mentioned to me his desire of finding the grave of his Great Grandfather who had fought in WWl, I jumped at the task. After scouring through satellite images, old archives, and memoirs for 6 months, I eventually found the memorial site of his Grandfather in Aden, Yemen and enabled my friend to remember and continue his forefather’s legacy.

Having been enjoined to remember this war, we sometimes struggle to know how to respond. This is because we cannot remember something we never personally experienced. If we visit Gallipoli, our eyes are often drawn to the immaculate cemeteries and war memories, not the battlefields. Perhaps, that is the reason why my heart swells with pride and vitality when I see the Indian ex-servicemen marching as part of the ANZAC day commemorative events every year in Australia. It is an enduring image of the ANZAC spirit, an acknowledgement of India’s comradeship and unwavering assurance that India’s war efforts will not be forgotten.

It is time we realize Gallipoli was our battle too.

The Australia India Cenotaph Committee in association with Hornsby RSL Sub Branch, Baulkham Hills Cadet Unit, Hornsby RSL Pipe Band and Hornsby Shire conducted the ANZAC Day service at the ANZAC Jawan Cenotaph, Cherrybrook on the 18th of April to commemorate the sacrifices made by the ANZAC of Indian origin during WW1. The service was attended by more than 150 people.

The ANZAC Jawan Cenotaph was erected in 2018 to celebrate the Armistice Centenary of the ANZAC; to recognize and commemorate the sacrifices of the ANZAC of Indian origin.

The service was started with the mounting of the guards and lowering of the flags followed by the prologue read by George Main, President, Hornsby RSL Sub-branch. The Prayer of Thanksgiving, Prayer for the Queen and Prayer for the Nation were presented respectively by Mrs Mala Mehta, President IABBV Hindi School, Parinita Tandon (AIC Committee Member) and Lara Flaksbard and Joe Prendergast, School Captain & Vice-Captain of Cherrybrook Technology High School. The hymn (Abide with me) was sung by all in honour of the ANZACs.

The ANZAC day messages were delivered at the service by Mr Bhagwat Chauhan, President Hindu Council NSW, Mr George Main, President Hornsby RSL Sub Branch, Col Virender Sahani (AIC Committee Member), Hon Matt Kean MP Minister for Energy & Environment representing the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, Premier of NSW, Hon Peter Primrose MLC, Shadow Cabinet Secretary representing the Hon Jodi McKay MP, Leader of the Opposition, Hon Philip Ruddock AO, Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council, Mr Ramanand Garge Director Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre representing Mr Manish Gupta Consul General of India, Sydney and the Principle Speaker Mr Julian Leeser MP Member for Berowra.

Mr Bhagwat Chauhan linked this memorial with the new generation Australians of the

Indian origin inspiring them to associate with the history of Australia in his address.

Mr George Main also remembered and paid tribute to the ANZACs of Indian origin for their contribution and valour in WW1.

Col Virender Sahani encouraged the young generation by citing examples from WW1 and the actions of children who witnessed the horrors of that era.

Hon Matt Kean, Member for Hornsby, remembered the sacrifices made by the ANZACs, who never made it back home, which included the Indian soldiers as well.

Hon Peter Primrose, MLC, spoke about the camaraderie and valour displayed by Indian soldiers, and the ‘ delay’ in its mention for almost a century.

Julian Leeser, Member for Berowra, talked about how the Victoria Cross was bestowed upon an Indian Soldier, who volunteered four times to go to the front, despite his terrible injuries.

Hon Philip Ruddock AO stated that ‘the sort of society we live in today would not have been possible if the ANZAC were not there to protect it. Australians and Indians fought together for those shared values.’

Mr Ramanand Garge also paid tribute to the supreme sacrifices of ANZACs where he talked about ceremonies that commemorate and preserve shared values - an occasion to draw inspiration from the valour of the Indian Soldiers.

Wreaths were laid by the Hornsby RSL Sub-branch, Ex-Servicemen, Hindu Council National & NSW Teams, AICC, Dignitaries, Community Organizations, Students and the general public.

Religious prayers for the Sikh, Christian, Islamic and Hindu faiths were offered by Harbir Bhatia - President of Turramurra Gurudwara -, Rev Michael Deal - Presbyterian Church -, Dr Aftab Noor - President of Ahmadiya Muslim Association Castle Hill - and Jagdish Trivedi - Gujarati Samaj respectively.

The National Anthems of Australia and India were sung by the students of IABBV Hindi School, conducted by Mr Vinod Rajput. The Ode was read by Mr John Zeller, VP Hornsby RSL Sub-branch followed by a famous Hindi poem ‘ Longings of a Flower’ by famous poet Makhanlal Chaturvedi wonderfully recited by IABBV Hindi School student Aditya Paul.

A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the ANZACs followed by the last post played by Kayur Gordham of Cherrybrook Technology High School and the raising of the National Flags. The Lament and Reveille were played by the piper from the Hornsby RSL Pipe Band and Kayur Gordham.

The service was covered by Mr Harmohan Walia (Desi Australia), Mrs Neena Badhwar (Indian Downunder) and Mr Rajesh (Indus Age). The vote of thanks was presented by Ashwani Jain, Secretary of Hindu Council NSW and coordinator of AIC Committee.

The service was concluded by sharing some delicious refreshments sponsored by Bakers Delight and Woolworth (Cherrybrook Village) with all the guests.

The Australia India Cenotaph Committee working team of Mrs Parinita Tandon, Mr Anand Manickam and Mr Birju Bhatt managed the service.

By: Dr. Ravinder Kaur Bali

The common denominator is saree. Saree, a rectangular piece of cloth, six or nine yards long, woven, printed or embroidered, in cotton, silk, wool, synthetic yarn or combinations thereof, and draped in various versions and avatars by women in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. Also in Sydney, Australia, where, for the past four years or so, women clad in saree have been sashaying down the steps of the Sydney Opera House, gliding along the Circular Quay walk and gracing other venues. These are the Saree Enthusiasts, and they are united by their love of the saree. On the other hand, we have the Pink Sari Project, an NSW health initiative that was started in September 2014 with the aim of raising breast cancer awareness among women of South East Asian origin. More recently, Pink Sari Inc. proudly launched two new projects, namely ‘Beyond Pink’ and ‘Cervical Screening for Survival’ through a digital event on Friday January 29th, 2021 and funded by the Cancer Institute NSW. The Pink Sari ‘Cervical Screening for Survival’ project is a partnership between Pink Sari Inc., the Australian Indian Medical Graduates Association and the Australian Medical Aid Foundation and focuses on raising awareness amongst Indian and Sri Lankan women in Sydney about the importance of early detection of cervical cancer and the National Cervical Screening Program.

It was inevitable, therefore that Shantha Vishwanathan from Pink Sari and Poornima Menon from the Saree Enthusiasts would get together to organize a Pink Sari Cervical Screening information session on the afternoon of Sunday, 18th April at the Grevillea Room in the Wentworthville Community Centre. As expected, the Saree Enthusiasts turned up in hordes, with great enthusiasm, and yes, in pink sarees mostly. As they milled about, greeting, catching up and chatting in the registration foyer, the pink saried ladies made the most of their phone cameras, clicking heaps of pictures, and continuing to do so during and after the formal session.

The formal session was emceed by Mrs. Poornima Menon, and began with Shantha Vishwanathan with the formal Acknowledgement of Country and concluded her welcome with the hope that cancer might one day refer only to a sign of the Zodiac and exhorting the Saree Enthusiasts to carry the message to their families, friends and communities, and strengthen the promotion of the initiative already under way through Radio SBS, Desi Australia Magazine, and the social media. The program got under way with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp by Mrs. Chandrika Subramanyan, followed by an Invocation by Mrs. Rekha Shashikanth;

a melodious rendering of the poetry of Dr. D. R. Bendre, Jnanpith Awardee and great Kannada lyric poet of the 20th century. The information session began with Dr Rugmini Venkataraman (recipient of the Gargi Award, 2020 by the Hindu Council of Australia) and Viji from the Pink Sari team, using slides to explain the nature of cervical cancer, touching upon the older Pap Smear tests as simply a method of detection, as compared to the more recent cervical screening, which forestalls cervical cancer by looking at the causes of cell abnormality.

The slides were simple, easily understood, and accompanied by a discussion of different types of human papilloma virus (HPV), and the many strains of this virus that are found in nature, at least two of these being crucial as causative of cervical cellular change. Dr. Kiran Jassal, GP, was present to further explain and address the queries from the ladies. She also stressed that till date, no hereditary link had been found for cervical cancer as had been for breast cancer. Dr Jassal also elicited plenty of interesting questions on cervical screening, and implications for those who had undergone hysterectomy, all of which she answered with flair and with lots of humor. Also present were Sue Advani, a two times cancer survivor and Padmini Peris, a four times cancer survivor; both of them reiterated on the importance of regular testing and early detection.

Subscribing to the MC’s mantra of workand-play balance, we had a short fashion parade of saree enthusiasts representing a few states of India who had or were celebrating their New Year. They wished the audience in their regional language. It was indeed the time for ‘New Beginnings’. Yamini Hemnath, wore a colorful silk Uppada flaunting Telangana, Sneha Rao portrayed Karnataka in a gorgeous Kanjeevaram, and Surpreet Cheera happily wore a Phulkari stole around a saree to showcase Punjab. Likewise, Kala Tiruvilwamala sashayed onstage in her pink Kanchipuram representing Tamil Nadu, while Laxmi Jadhav danced up in a nauvari in the typical Marathi style. Padmini Peris represented Sri Lanka in the traditional Sinhalese style. She spoke about life and all the joy it brought her though she had lost few parts of her body to cancer. Even in its simplicity, this was a most moving first-person account, and most of the audience took this home with the gravitas and utmost respect it deserved. The parade was bookended by Ravinder and Poornima, both in two-piece sarees, Ravinder representing Assam in her golden muga mekhela sador, and Poornima in a striking two-piece Mundum veshti. Not only was the Parade a big hit, but the participants were surprised to receive giftbags at the conclusion of the session, something they were not expecting, having carried out the parade just to add some muchneeded fun and frolic to the proceedings. The eventual and educative evening ended with masala chai and a box of tasty snacks, courtesy Aashwin Foods.