SAYIT AGAIN

"I'm sure Dr Gondane will feel at home here in Sydney. We have Bangalore traffic, Mumbai house prices and Delhi bureaucracy."

BarryO'Farrellwelcoming HighCommissionerDrAM Gondane

Ripbhavita

Bhavita Patel, 33, has been named as the sixth victim of the Bourke Street incident. She died on 30January when her family decided to turn offher life support after she was injured in the 20January attack. Young mother and IT consultant Nethra Krishnamurthy is still recovering after the attack.

Smlta Sharma wrote: May your soul rest in peace. You are in a better place now.

Nandlta Bajaj wrote: Rest in Peace Bhavita, condolences to her family.

Anll Singh wrote: Very tragic event, deep sorrow.

Nallnl Singh wrote: Sad day for all Australians. RIP.

'THERE ISNO GODHIGHERTHANTRUTH'

Each year on 30January, India observes Martyrs' Day in honour of the anniversary of the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi in 1948.

Krlsh Na wrote: Gandhiji fought for the dignity of the most vulnerable people in society. He is sorely missed these days when even children running from certain death have become pariahs for the rest of the world!

"Australian politicians treat black and brown people like Pokemon cards, trying to trade them to other countries."

L-FRESHTheLIONon

BarryO'FarrellatAIBC

Australia'sasylumseeker policies

General Practice Aswell As Socialwork

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA spoke with Australia Day honouree Dr Purushottam Sawrikar OAM

Avlnash Kanetkar wrote: Well done!

SangeetaSharma wrote: Congratulations Dr Sawrikar

AnitaPlayoust wrote: Congratulations!

Kasturl Kalmath wrote: Congratulations Dr Sawrikar! Well deserved Kalyan Ram wrote: Dear Dr Sawrikar, my personal congratulations to you on the honour you have received. I am equally impressed with the work you have been involved with in the social sector for the community in general and our migrants in particular. I am keen to speak withyou about your interest in the area of aged care.

RECONSIDERYOUR DECISION, MELTONCHRISTIANCOLLEGE

RAJN/ ANAND LUTHRA reported on a Sikh boy denied enrolment at a Melbourne school for wearing the turban

Bastian Gianino wrote: The school has the right to enforce its uniform policies.These rules are for everyone who attends thatschool, those are the uniform rules; the boys at this school are not allowed to have their hair long or deviate from the standard uniform, i.e. wear differentcolouredsocks that are not in accordance with their dress code. This is a private Christian school and we too must respect their rules if we wish for our children to attend that school.

I am sure that there are a lot of suitable schools in the area which do not have a strict dress code so that you wouldn't have to compromise your religious beliefs, but having said that if a Christian child wanted to attend a school of a different faith and didn't, or couldn't, comply with the dress code of that school due to faith I am sure the outcome would be the same. If you want people to respect your religious beliefs, you too have to respect theirs. Babu wrote: Come on, this is Australia - a land of freedom of choices! A dominant section of our population that is of European origin appears to be feeling some kind of baseless insecurity and going through integration problemsthemselves in mingling with the other ethnic sections of our society such as Sikhs or Muslims. Wearing a turban or veil is in no way appearing to impact the basic Christian nature of Melton Christian College or the belief of any other school.

Any decision from Melton Christian College about its uniform policy points to a discriminatory attitude and passive aggression by a handful in its management committee. Even the law makers in our nation are poorly represented by ethnic groups - the numbers seem to be disproportionate with the percentage of the ethnic population.This is possibly leading to double standards when it comes to Court outcomes. As a moderate ethnic citizen of Australia, I strongly support Arora's case and hope to see his son being allowed to wear a turban to school. I urge one and allAustralians (allskin colours) to come together, evolve and make this nation a truly multiracialto achieve the best.

NoelLal, ExecutiveVP,GOPIOlntematlonal wrote tothePrlnclpal ofMeltonChristianCollege: The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is the largest organisation for the welfare of PIOs living outside India, and is a non-partisan, secular global organisation engaged in promoting their wellbeing and enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries.

GOPIO is extremely saddened with your school's decision to refuse a tiveyear-old Sikh boy admission just because he wears a turban, and it does not align with your uniform policy.

Your attention is drawn to a landmark case of September 2008, where a Brisbane private school was forced to back down on a strict uniform policy that would have forced a Sikh boy to cut his hair and remove his turban.

GOPIO is disappointed that in today's day and age, instead of uniting various communities, your institution is actually dividing them (even at the tender age of five).

GOPIO hopes that the school will reconsider its earlier decision and do the needful by admitting the five-year-old Sikh boy.

IT'S TIME

MOHAN DHALL wrote about the importance of teaching children about time management and goal setting for a smoothyear ahead Slrla wrote: Excellent article and very relevant in this day and age. Well written, Mohan Dhall.

"I willbe very surprised if the result of the series will be any different to the one between India and England recently but if Australia adapt well and bore the Indian batsmen, you never know whatcouldhappen."

Monty Panesar on the upcoming INDvAUS series

"Catching the wrong train can sometimes get you to the right station."

Saroo Brierley promoting the film Lion in Kolkata