Women as leaders

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The Indian Australian community may be forgiven in not fully understanding the misogyny statements from the Prime Minister recently. While that rant directed against Tony Abbott, delivered in Parliament last October, went viral, the blue tiemisogyny speech of earlier this month has not gone down well. To many it ranked of crass opportunism.

Indian Australians are no strangers to having women in leadership positions. Some of the strongest leaders in contemporary Indian politics are women: Sonia Gandhi, Mamta Bannerjee, Sushma Swaraj, Mayawati, and Jayalalitha. You may or may not agree with their politics, but you will agree that they are all able to command a leadership position.

One of our best known prime ministers, Indira Gandhi, was so strong she was once described as ‘the only man in her (kitchen) cabinet’.

Going back a couple of centuries, Jhansi ki Rani was revered as a true leader in the first war of Independence in 1857. Following her, strong women leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba Gandhi, Vijaylakshmi Pandit, Kamla Nehru, Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kripalani all walked shoulder to shoulder in the country’s march towards Independence. Even our neighbouring countries have had formidable female forces that galvanised the nation. Benazir Bhutto, Shaikh Hasina, Khalida Zia, Aung San Suu Kyi, Srimavo Bandarnaike, Chandrika Kumaratunga, all rose to top political office in their countries.

Recent polls may have suggested (rightly or wrongly) that South Asian countries may be the worst places to be a woman, but never has misogyny been an issue for these leaders.

There may have been loud disagreements on policy (Mamta Bannerjee, take note!) and governments may have changed or been driven out, but personal life choices, dress sense, size or shape of body parts, and sexuality of partners have never been the question of debate or comment.

As Prime Minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher ruled with an iron fist. Single-handedly busting up the unions, she did not allow gender to even come into the equation. She led with her own brand of politics, and while many openly despised her, none brought gender into question. In the current Euro crises, the two individuals who worked the hardest to save the Europe Union were the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of the Euro Union zone Christina Lagaard. While austerity measures were imposed in a number of countries, the protests were against the measures rather than the women per se who advised on these cutbacks. Australia as a nation has come far in transforming society as a more open society for women.

Amongst women in power we have the governor-general Quentin Bryce, the prime minister Julia Gillard, NSW state governor Marie Bashir, Tasmanian premier Lara Giddings, ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and ex premiers Queensland’s Anna Bligh, NSW’s Kristina Kennelly, Victoria’s Joan Kirner, and WA’s Carmen Lawrence. All have stood tall during their tenure. Who can forget the fortitude with which Anna Bligh handled the aftermath of the Queensland floods? Other than Gillard herself, none of the other women in the list above have brought up the issue of misogyny, at least publicly; they will all be remembered as leaders who did a tough job in trying circumstances (Kristina Kennelly is a shining example).

The gaining of political office, in whichever part of the world, has always been based on merit. The debates in such positions have, until recently in Australia, been centred around policy. It’s time for our leaders to let the gender issues slide, before they reach a new low, if that is possible.

Pawan Luthra is the current Parliament of NSW Multicultural Journalist of the Year.

SPIRITUAL

Gopa Kuteeram

4th Sunday of every month 4pm-5:30pm

The Global Organisation for Divinity runs free spiritual educational classes for children aged 4-12 years. Crestwood Community Centre, Crestwood Drive, Baulkham Hills. Parents can join in the devotional lecture by Sri Deepak Vinod. Classes are also being run in Liverpool. Baulkham Hills details: Jayashree on 02 9620 4676.

Liverpool details: Deepak Vinod 0422 127 956.

Chinmaya Mission activities

Classes

School holiday camp

Wed 3 to Fri 5 July “Saints and Sages: Heroes of Life”. Children aged 5-12 welcome. Registration close 30th June. Teenagers, youth and parents are requested to come as volunteers (sevaks).

Shishu Vihar

Classes for children between the age of 2- 4.5 years, tailored to increase love and bonding between parent and child. Vedanta Classes In Castle Hill & Epping on Wednesday nights.

Meditation Classes

10-week program at Castle Hill

Sanskrit Classes 10-week program for beginners (Course 1) and advanced students (Course 2) at Castle Hill.

Hindi Classes

Beginners level starting in May at Crestwood Community Centre, Baulkham Hills.

Details: Br Gopal Chaitanya 0416 482 149.

Oonjal Sewa

Sun 23 June 10.00am-12.30pm

Sri Om Care is organising Oonjal

Sewa at Sri Om Adi Sakthi Ashram, 62 Kurrajong Cres, Blacktown, with special guest H.H. Sri Om Adisakthiyendra Swamigal in attendance.

Details: Jay Raman 0410 759 906.

Gayatri Jayanti

Sun 23 June 10.00am-1.00pm

All World Gayatri Pariwar (Australia) celebrates the birth of righteous knowledge in the form of Vedmata Gayatri by conducting a nine-kund Gayatri yagya (hawan).

Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 1/44 Bessemer St Blacktown.

Details: Neeraj Ram 0405 777 539.

Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW activities

1-Day Retreat on Bhagavad Gita, Chap 8

Sun 30 June 9.30am-4.00pm

At the Eternal Godhead at Vedanta Hall, under the direction of Pravrajika Gayatriprana. Program includes silent meditation, class on Chap.8 of the Gita, question and answer session, group discussion and clarification of discussion.

Devotional music Avijit Sarkar and Friends

Sat 20 July 5.30-7.30pm

Early evening concert of devotional songs at Vedanta Hall. Includes complimentary refreshments from 5.30-6.00pm.

Sri Krishna’s Birthday at Vedanta Hall

1 Sept 10.40am-12midday

Program insilent Silent Meditation, Group chanting of the Sanskrit and reading of the English translation of Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad Gita, Talks by Pravrajika Gayatriprana & Saptarshi Ray.Venue: Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon.

Details: 02 9745 4320 or email: admin.saradavedanta@ bigpond.com.

Website: www.saradavedanta.org

Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birthday

Tues 17-Wed 18 Sept 2pm & 7pm

Play at Sydney Opera House: Oneness - Voice Without Form The Extraordinary Life of Swami Vivekananda.

Details: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

AWGP Australia

If you want Yagya, Satnarayan Katha, various Sanskara (Vivah, Janma Divas, Vivah diwas, Namkaran, Punsavan, Mundan, House warming, Bhumi poojan etc.) at home please contact any one of the Gayatri Pariwar parijan. Donations welcome.

Details: Archana/Anand Jaiswal 0404 430 730 or visit www.awgpaustralia.org.au

STAGE

Soorya Festival of Dance and Music

Sun 7 July A fund-raising event for Sydney Ayyappa Temple, at Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby St Silverwater. Program includes Katahka, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam dances.

Details: Renga Rajan 0448 757 785.

Maya Youth in Performing Arts

About a Brown: The Musical Friday 12 July 8pm & Saturday 13 July 3pm & 7pm

This production aims to encompass the day to day lives and idiosyncrasies of second generation youth with a sub-continental cultural heritage in a stage musical with live orchestra and dance ensembles. All proceeds will be donated to the International Medical Health

Organisation. NIDA Theatre, 215 Anzac Parade, Kensington.

Details: www.mayaarts.com.au

MISC

Attention families of people with disability

Sat 29 June Samarpan, a new organisation formed by families of people with disability from the South Asian community, announce their first public event at the Epping Community Centre, 9 Oxford Street, Epping, from 2-5 pm. They will introduce Samarpan as an organisation that intends to raise awareness of disability within the community, connect families and the person with disability, and share information about the types of support that are available to families and for the person with disability.

Details: Uday Uday, 0438272023 or visit www. samarpan.org.au

Hindu Council of Australia opportunities available

Hindu Council of Australia invites expression of interests from anyone who wishes to expand their horizons and get involved with one of the biggest community events of Sydney. These are voluntary positions.

Details: Raman Bhalla 0401 057 224 or www.hinducouncil.com.au

Apply: info@deepavali.com.au

Seniors Day Care Centre, Baulkham Hills

Sri Om Foundation is planning to open a Day Centre at Baulkham Hills early Aug 2013 for those resident in Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills and Cherrybrook areas. This will cater to all frail aged seniors aged from 70 and above. Structured programs for the frail aged will be organised. Sessions will be in one of the council facilities and Pick Up and Drop Off from home have been organised. Admission is limited.

Details: Shweta 0405 367 238.

Blood Donation Camp Sat 6 July 11.15am-12 noon

Australia Tamil Association announce their 16th Blood Donation Camp.

Details: Prathap Ramachandran 0432 016 639.

Sydney Sakhi Sangam’s Teej function Sun 14 July 11am-onward

This is their 15th year commemorating Indian women and their friendships.

Details: Nandini 0423 684 340, Sushma 0411 967 374.

ART Exhibition: A Tender Heart 22 June – 4 July Sydney photographer Katy Fitzgerald presents her images of India at ArtHere, 126 Regent Street, Redfern. She recently spent 5 months working and travelling in India. Funds raised from the exhibition will go towards Tender Heart School for disadvantaged children in Bhatola near Delhi, where Katy volunteered.

Details: Sandy Edwards 0402 112 755.

FILM

Sat 17 Aug GHARA presents Satyagraha

GHARA helps adults with intellectual disabilities in the poorest communities of Bangalore India. This movie will be held at Blacktown Hoyts as a fundraiser. Details: Kylee Davis 0410 657 896, ghara.trust@gmail.com or www.ghara.org