LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why this disengagement?

You have hit the nail on the head (Editorial, April-2 issue) by stating that “there seems to be a disengagement with India by the mainstream here in Australia”. While this was significantly noticed during the recent Commonwealth Baton ceremonies, the warning signs were there even during A.R. Rahman’s concert in Parramatta in spite of the huge publicity and government support. More than 90% of the attendees were from the Indian subcontinent. Apart from the invitees, from the mainstream Australian community not more than a few hundred people came because of their Indian friends and out of curiosity. This sudden disengagement should be a wake-up call for the Australian Indian community as timely elaborated in your editorial. However before

What’s On

Charity dinner for seniors

29 May Sri Om Care is porganising a charity dinner to raise funds for their home-visit program to care for community elders. Enjoy a unique three-course meal at Taj Sweets at 25, The Crescent, Homebush (from 6.30 pm), and participate in the light entertainment program including karaoke. Details contact Jay Raman 0410 759 906.

Painting exhibition

4 – 31 May Wahroonga-based artist Panchali

Sheth exhibits her new works at Tom Dunne Gallery, 11 Little Burton Street, Darlinghurst.

New UIA Executive Committee

The Annual General Meeting 2010 of the United Indian Associations was held on 18th April 2010. The following individuals were elected to the UIA executive committee for the year 2010/11:

President: Mrs. Aruna Chandrala of Telugu Association

Vice President: Mr. John Niven of Sydney

Tamil Manram

Secretary: Dr. Moninder Singh of Punjabi Council of Australia

Treasurer: Mr. Sunil Srivastava of Hindi Samaj

Joint Secretary: Mr John Jacob of Sydney Malayalee Association

Joint Treasurer: Mr. Amrinder Bajwa of Australian Punjabi Business Organisation

Public Officer: Mr. Vijaykumar Halagali of Basava Samithi

Sydney Writers Festival

17-23 May Indian links in this year’s event include the spectacular Nine Lives at the engaging with the Australian community, it may be worthwhile for us to consider the various factors which caused this disengagement. The average Australian is friendly, private, non-interfering and expects fairness in dealing with sensitive issues. According to some of my good Australian friends who respect India and Indian culture, they were disappointed with unfair and perhaps blatantly hostile reporting of the Indian student matters by the Indian media such as the Ku Klux Klan cartoons. They were equally critical of the Australian media which gave some unnecessary and over publicity of the Indian students’ issue. Whether we like it or not, the issue dominated in every field in Indian Australian relations. Even in the recent Australia India Business Council meeting which is supposed to focus on mutual business opportunities, the Indian students’ issue dominated the discussions even though the situation is under control, thanks to efforts by Government of India and the Australian Government. Perhaps too much publicity has caused this aversion by the mainstream community. The other major factor which is an ongoing issue which all of us need to raise with a united voice is that the average Australian Indian feels that Australia is not truly multicultural. I get this feeling whenever I return from an overseas trip. Even a tiny nation like Singapore seems more multicultural. You open The Strait Times you can see reports about India and Indian events in Singapore. Only when a student is bashed, the Australian media pays attention to the Indian community. The multiculturalism policy in Australia is outdated and causing the communities to live in their respective islands.

Sydney Opera House. This performance of rarely seen South Asian devotional music and spiritual transformation will feature the Bauls of Bengal, the Shah Jo Rag Fakirs, Theyyam dancers and the hypnotic sounds of Susheela Raman, all presented by the writer William Dalrymple.

Vish Viswanathan Kings Langley, NSW

Can you help Siva and Uma?

Also, Raj Patel makes his radical and original voice heard in his acclaimed book The Value of Nothing. In a clear and concise manifesto, Patel lays out his guide to changing our market society and redefining democracy

Details www.swf.org.au

Events at Global Organisation for Divinity

15 May An evening of music and dance at the Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby Street, Silverwater. Devotional music by Uma Ayyar and Mythili Narayanaswamy, and bharatanatyam dance presentation by Padma Balakumar’s Nrityagriha School of Dance. Details Mythili Bala 02 9482 1204 and www.godivinity.org.au

Classical music concert

22 May O.S Arun in aid of Sri Venkateswara Temple of Helensburgh, Bankstown Town Hall (Cnr Rickard and Chapel Street) Bankstown. Details phone 02 9706 7354 or 02 9879 4350.

Sakhi Sangam

25 July Sydney Sakhi Sangam will be held at the Croatian Club, 921 Punchbowl Rd (Cnr Canterbury Rd), Punchbowl. Details Nandini Thadani 02 9181 2204.

I am a Support Services Coordinator with the Leukaemia Foundation, and have been providing ongoing emotional and practical support to Sivasankar Sivanandi Thangapandi and his wife Umamageswari Selvam, since Sivasankar was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia in Februaruy 2010.

Sivasankar and Umamageswari were referred to the Leukaemia Foundation by staff at Westmead hospital, following Sivasankar’s diagnosis and admission to Westmead. This couple was identified as requiring intensive support services due to their difficult financial circumstances, and lack of support networks.

Umamageswari emigrated from India to Australia in October 2006 on a student visa, and now currently holds a bridging visa A, Sivasankar then arrived in Australia in November 2008 on a student dependent visa, and currently holds a bridging visa A also. Prior to diagnosis, they both worked on a casual basis. Due to the absence of leave entitlements, and unavailability to work, Sivasankar and Umamageswari lost their jobs after Sivasankar’s admission to hospital. Their visa types do not allow them to qualify for Centrelink benefits, which has further jeopardised their access to income support, and they have therefore not had any source of income since diagnosis. It is needless to say that they are in extreme financial hardship, and requiring further urgent assistance. It is evident that both Sivasankar and Umamageswari have experienced significant emotional turmoil as they have attempted to, not only come to terms with Sivasankar’s life threatening diagnosis, but also face the challenge of having no means to support themselves. Their family and support networks are in India, and unable to offer any financial assistance, as they do not have the means.

The hospital Social Worker and myself have worked in conjunction in accessing various services to intervene and help support Sivasankar and Umamageswari financially and practically.

The Leukaemia Foundation, the Cancer Council and other emergency relief services have assisted with some financial assistance and transport to and form hospital, but the couple are still facing heavy financial burden. They are exceptionally vulnerable, and are at risk of potentially becoming homeless without a long term plan of income support.

If you can help in any way, please contact me on (02) 9902 2222 or 0423 846 480.

Jasmine Latash Support Services Coordinator Leukaemia Foundation

Date: 11/05/2010 (Tuesday)

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Venue: SMC Center

66 Goulburn Street, Sydney ,2000 (close to Museum and Central train station)

…Beat

VEGETARIAN PARATHAS

Poodina Paratha

Lachha Paratha

Palak Paratha

Aloo Paratha

Methi aloo Paratha

Oriental style stir fry paratha

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Paneer Paratha

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