Heritage Circle chronicles memories

It was a special event for seniors of the Resourceful Australian Indian Network (RAIN) as the Seniors Week celebrations took off around noon on March 21 at Hurstville. Over 85 seniors attended, including about 20 of Spanish origin, and all enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of music and entertainment. The highlights of the event were the Nritya Yoga presentation by Jayanthi Balachandran and Suchi Vijayakumar, which were enjoyed by all, and particularly the Spanish seniors present. Sanskrit tutor Dr Meenakshi Karthikeyan led the assembled group in singing Sanskrit verses, which was followed by a light-hearted section as RAIN seniors joined together to sing Aussie classics like Waltzing Matilda and I am Australian, adding a touch of harmony to the celebrations.

The event ended on a high note with a sumptuous Indian vegetarian lunch that was thoroughly enjoyed by the multicultural seniors.

The seniors also enjoyed a cruise on March 24, which was a culmination of the week-long festivities. RAIN is thankful to the Seniors Week grant from the NSW State Government and local Oatley MP Mark Coure for their support in funding the Seniors Week activities.

The RAIN Heritage Circle

As a part of the Seniors Week celebrations, an innovative concept called the Heritage Circle was inaugurated on March 21 at the Senior Citizens Centre at 91 Queens Road, Hurstville. This exhibition contains memorabilia from Indian-origin seniors, and detailed specific experiences in which they encountered special people during the course of their illustrious lives. Seniors shared these moments of their past, including proud and happy times in their ancestry, through special stories that have perhaps been told many times within the family, but have yet to be told to the world.

Some of these seniors have encountered dignitaries as diverse as meeting the great Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa and even British royalty. When recounting their experiences, the seniors also described their experiences in Australia, which is now their home, where they established themselves in a suitable career and learned the warmth of living together with other cultures in peace and harmony.

Veda Srinivasan talked about her participation in the Sydney Olympic Games 2000 with a sense of pride and an endearing enthusiasm. She is an established volunteer working at the St George Hospital, besides several other projects with the RAIN group, of which she is also a founder. Veda comes from a family that included the globally renowned mathematical genius Sir Ramanujam.

Gordhandas Koovarjee, 91, still retains an amazing memory of events in his younger days in South Africa. He relates with clarity the occasion when he witnessed the visit of British Royalty at Estcourt. At that time, Indians were allowed to stand at a distance outside the railway station to watch the great event. He recounts how he will never forget that day when he saw a young Queen Elizabeth, accompanying her father, the King.

Former art teacher Gargi Shah shared her experience of showing off her artistic talents to Mother Theresa, who visited the school at which she taught art. Gargi and her students had decorated the hall, and Mother Theresa commented on the beauty of their handwork. Gargiji was so taken by the benevolent nature and sacrifices that the great lady was making for the benefit of the suffering, that she took off the gold bangles she was wearing to donate for the cause. Talking of this experience was so poignant in her memory, Gargiji had tears in her eyes. The audience spent a moment of silence paying tribute to Mother Theresa.

Damodar Sodha’s grandmother was represented by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa, as her lawyer. Can one even imagine such a scenario? The great Mahatma himself, fighting the by his friends and the community.

Damodar says that his grandfather was always there to help the community, offering assistance to those who suffered from illness. He left his printing business in India at Gandhiji’s request to open a printing press in South Africa which published the Indian Opinion, a publication that voiced issues faced by the community.

Sudha Natarajan with her mother Radhamani beside her, revived memories of an episode related by her late father, Dr T K Natarajan. Sudha’s grandfather T R Krishnaswami Iyer gave up his practice as a lawyer to fight for freedom from the British Rule. He also started an ashram (hostel) for harijans in Kerala where the eradication of caste differences was practised with real earnestness. It is also recounted that T R Krishnaswami once saved the life of Mahatma Gandhiji from riots by stopping a train in Kerala, and taking Gandhiji to a safe place before the train reached the station.

The Heritage Circle project originated with support and funding from the Hurstville City Council and Kogarah City Council. The year-long project will display the exhibition for visitors, and add to it as seniors share their experiences and memories. RAIN also thanks Hurstville City Council officers David Linden, Anne Marie Wiles, Brenda Eggleton and Jamal Bassam for their support. Sheryl Dixit with Sudha Natarajan

Contact Details:

Amrit P Jagota (MARN 0532014)

Mobile Contact Number 0414 338 423

Manvinder K Josan (MARN 0962796)

Mobile Contact Number 0410 719 375 Suite 4, Level 1, Murray Arcade 127-133

Ihappened to visit the first Indian curtain display in Australia at Curtains’N’Rods the other day. As the name says, they are all about exclusive, unique and designer custom curtains and rods. I was impressed by the variety, quality and collection of material they have there. I just couldn’t believe when they said that they do custom made curtains at the cost of blinds. Curtains’N’Rods is growing in leaps and bounds, day by day, and has achieved new heights after having highly satisfied clients in Sydney and its surrounds. The main reasons for their success is not only the exclusive selection they have, but also their unbelievable prices and remarkable customer service. So if you are looking to give that wow factor and a sophisticated look to your apartment, townhouse, villa, office, motel, restaurant, or any other window that requires dressing, you should visit