LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Time to think about our independent political identity

As the New Year gets underway, it is perhaps leading to a very good year for the Australian Indian community. At the same time there are disturbing and warning signs.

The strong and positive signals are:

• Both Labor and Liberals are vying to woo not only the Indian community in Australia but also taking active steps to involve the community in their respective political domains, promote the community participation in multicultural consultative and business groups and taking part in every Indian festivity in Australia

• Reversing political decisions such as selling Uranium to India, Stronger Australia India relations both at diplomatic and business levels, mutual trade visits and FTA in the offing

• Increase in tourist traffic between Australia and India

However the disturbing signs are:

• Strong perceptions that some of the leading Australian Indian community organizations, groups and are increasingly or blatantly aligning to either Labor or Liberals losing an opportunity of individual community bargain power.

• Non aligned organizations and individuals committed to the cause of the community getting alienated or sidelined

• Perceptions that increasing rivalry in the community is reaching to very low or gutter levels evident by personal attacks by email chains, anononymus letters and misuse of cyber space capable of our damaging our image in Multicultural Australia.

As our highly skilled community is dramatically increasing in strength, introspection about our weaknesses as above seems necessary, given that politically as a community we are at cross roads, politically. Perhaps the big question worth considering is: “Is it time to retain and have our own independent political identity now?

Vish Vishwanathan Kings Langley NSW

temporarily relocated to Level 10, 190 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 until further notice. Inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted. Public dealing hours for consular services will remain unchanged as 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

India Club’s information session on domestic violence

Sun 12 Feb India Club’s Indian Community Forum, together with Police Superintendent and Commander of The Hills Local Area Command Mr. Philip Flogel, is hosting an information session on Emotional Abuse and Domestic Violence, 2.00pm at Epping Leisure & Learning Centre, 1 Chambers Court, Epping (below Epping Library). Details Shubha Kumar 02 9873-1207; 0402 257 588.

HOLI MELA

2012 23-25 Mar 2012

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia announces the 10th anniversary of its annual Holi Mahotsav at Darling Harbour. The three-day long festivities will include events for school groups, musical performances, art exhibitions, cultural diversity workshops, yoga and meditation sessions, and the playing of Holi with coloured powder.

Details 1300 242 826.

Exhibition

Love Lace

Until April 2012 Powerhouse Museum presents groundbreaking lace works in a variety of materials. Indian artists Yogesh Purohit and Golnar Roshan are featured.

Despite pathetic performances overseas over the last few seasons, our cricketers’ material fortunes seem not to have been the least affected.

To the detriment of sportsmen in other disciplines, our flannelled flops continue to hog the media limelight, an exposure that affords them fabulous incomes by way of endorsements of all kinds of merchandise.

If they have poise it is not at the wicket or in the outfield but in front of the camera at ad shoots. Inswingers and reverse swing, yorkers and bouncers may bamboozle them, but when it comes to credit cards, cold drinks or toothpastes, none could be more savvy.

Truly, Indian cricket da jawab nahin!

Ramesh Chandra Alandkar Pennant Hills NSW