Author: Yadu Singh

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Indian Community farewells Sydney’s Indian Consul General with class and style!

28th March, 2014

Sydney’s Indian community gave a touching farewell to Indian Consul General in Sydney, Arun Goel and his wife Alka Goel, on Friday, 28th March, 2014. Approx 150 people attended the event, held at the newly opened event Centre, The Grand Marion, Harris Park, NSW. The gathering included Hon David Clarke MLC (Parliamentary Secretary, NSW Gov), Geoff Lee (State MP for Parramatta), Hon John Robertson (State Opposition Leader) and Lord Mayor Clr John Chedid (Mayor of Parramatta).

The organising committee included Balvinder Ruby, Harry Walia, Sukhvinder Rajput, Dr Bharathi Reddy, Thiru Arumugam, Venkata Prasad Ragipani, Padmanabhan Karamil and Dr Yadu Singh, who super-headed the committee in multiple ways.

Dr Yadu Singh and Hemu Negi produced and presented a short video (see above) about Consul General, which was very touching, and was appreciated by everyone. Comments were made in lighter tones about the talent of the leading member of the organising committee, Cardiologist Dr Yadu Singh, who can easily dabble in script writing. Dr Singh conducted the event as the Master of Ceremonies, and conducted the event with his signature spontaneity, flair and flamboyance, thus entertaining and endearing everyone.

Electric Korma band, comprising of 3 Anglo-Saxon guys singing some beautiful Bollywood songs, The band was definitely a novelty. There were few dances too.

Catering was done by Mahidhar Raval of Celebrations Sydney Restaurant. He and his team did a wonderful job.

The owners of The Grand Marion (TGM), Sanjay and Manish Patel of Patel Brothers did not leave any stone unturned in providing the best facilities at the Event centre. Decoration, ambience, facilities including Audio-Video system were all superb. This has established TGM as a landmark event centre.

The most important features of this event were the facts that organisers grouped themselves individually, without using or promoting the names of their associations, and presented the event as an event of the whole community. This was appreciated by all. This was definitely a new trend and an attempt by the organisers to unite the community.

Consul General spoke about the achievements during his tenure in Sydney, and wished for some further work towards unifying the community. He lamented about the division in the community, which is not helping the progress of the community. This was echoed in the comments by Dr Singh too, who said that community associations and community leaders have become a problem in the path of the community’s progress. Dr Singh felt that the word “Community Leader” has become a word of abuse. There is a real need for consolidation of community groups.

A memento was presented on behalf of the community to Consul General, and Bouquets of Flowers were presented to him and his wife. Wishes were made for their future endeavours.

Everyone enjoyed the ambience, fun, Flair, Food and songs.

It was a hugely successful event, delivered beautifully by the community in the honour of popular, down to Earth and helpful Consul General.

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Report was compiled with the inputs from several people who attended the event.

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Sydney/7th April, 2014

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WESTPAC Bicentennial Foundation with a $100 million fund is a great initiative!

 

ImageI was very pleased, and felt privileged, to be a part of the launch of a great initiative, Westpac Bicentennial Foundation recently.

I was invited as the one representing Indian Australian community.

Mr Lindsay Maxsted (Westpac Group Chairman), Mrs Gail Kelly (Chief Executive Officer), and the Hon. Julie Bishop MP (Minister for Foreign Affairs) launched WESTPAC Bicentennial Foundation on 2nd April, 2014.

 

ImageThe announcement was made during a high profile Luncheon at Hyde Park Barracks, in which close to 400 people from Sydney’s “who is who”, including Malcolm Turnbull (Federal Telecommunication Minister) and Barry O’Farrell (Premier of NSW) were present.

 

This Foundation is a part of Westpac’s upcoming 200th anniversary year in 2017, and is the single largest private education scholarship program in Australia’s history, and will have an exclusive focus on the education and advancement of Australians.

                                                                                                  

I was not surprised to hear about Westpac’s already very impressive list of benevolent and charity activities, and contributions to our communities.  In 2013, their community contributions totalled $131 million.  This is in addition to The Family of Giving, which encompasses their four existing charitable funds of Westpac Foundation, St George Foundation, Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund and BankSA & Staff Charitable Fund, which last year distributed more than $4.1 million in grants to support charities and social enterprises. Today’s announcement further builds on their community outreach and support, and will help build Australia’s future leadership capabilities.

 

 

Details of the Scholarships

 

Scholarships and awards will be granted by the Foundation in partnership with Australian universities.  Currently planned scholarships and awards programs are:

 

  • Future Leaders scholarships will be awarded to new or recent graduates for post-graduate study at a prestigious global institution, with preference given to Australia’s relationship with Asia and Technology & Innovation.

              

  • Best and Brightest program will provide awards to post-doctoral researchers in Australia’s leading research universities, with focus of helping strengthen Australia’s ties with Asian economies

 

  • The Young Technologists program will offer 30 to 40 three-year undergraduate scholarships each year, awarded for merit, to encourage diversity.

     

  • Asian Exchange scholarships will provide the opportunity for Australian undergraduate students to spend a semester at a leading Asian University, with a focus on increasing the number of Asia-literate graduates in Australia.

     

  • The Community Leaders program will provide 10 awards annually to community leaders to undertake a personal educational opportunity that will have a direct value to their community.

 

The programs will be developed progressively and are expected to be fully operational by 2017.

Image

I was particularly happy to see that scholarships will be available to Australian students to do a semester in one of the leading Universities of Asia, which will increase the numbers of Asia-literate students in Australia. This is very important because we’re in an Asian Century, and many of our major trading partners are from Asia.

The new Foundation will ensure Private Sector continues to play an important part in shaping Australia’s future and economic prosperity.

 

With this great initiative from Westpac, I am hopeful that other major Private Institutions in Australia will come forward with their initiatives in this arena.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/7th April, 2014

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Banda, Uttar Pradesh deserves an effective and productive Member of Parliament!

yadu-pic-nsw-parliament6

Banda is a district in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh. It is a district where not much development work has occurred since Independence.

Poverty and unemployment are rife. People die due to hunger and lack of health facilities. Farmers and poor people still commit suicides due to debt. Feudalism is common and crimes are rife.

Bureaucrats and Police officials tend to behave as rulers, rather than public servants. Their arrogance is breath-taking. Violation of human rights of people is far too common. Exploitation of poor people is rife. I have seen it all first hand. We ourselves had faced this situation from Police Dept only a few years ago. We chose to fight, rather than buckle, largely because we were able to stand up to them. We won, but this is not possible for many.

Banda has many issues, but it also has many things which are great. Our Mehmaan Nawaji (looking after guests) and value of words are unmatchable. Our simplicity (we are not complex or cunning) is praise-worthy! We are very hard-working. We should be proud of it. We are overall good people.

The bad situation exists only because good people in Banda (Whole heaps of Banda people are hard-working, honest, decent and fantastic people) have accepted the Status Quo (Hoye koi nrip hame ka hani, Cheri chor na hove rani) and allow the current situation to persist. The second big reason is the quality of leaders from Banda. Many MPs and MLAs have openly used less than standard tricks to win elections. Caste and religion factors have played big roles in the elections. Money and Alcohol often play a role. This can’t be good by any definition.

This all need to change, and this change needs to start from ourselves. This change needs to start soon too!

We must follow what Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world”! Let us show that we mean it this time.

The questions we need to ponder over include;

Why do we vote based on the caste of the candidate?

Why do we vote based on the religion of the candidate?

Why do we vote for those who have crime background?

Why do we vote for those who are bullies (Goondas)?

Why do we vote for people who have no education or integrity?

Why do we vote for those who will sit in the Assembly or Lok Sabha just to raise hands?

We must think about it all quite seriously.

This all need to change!

Let us vote for someone who is;

educated,

not into crimes,

not in bullying (Goondagardi),

or into corruption.

Let us vote for someone who will work for people, not himself/herself!

Let us vote for someone who is coming into politics for public service, not for money making!

Let us vote for someone who can think, network, influence key people and Govt, and deliver things for Banda, UP, which Banda deserves!

Let us evaluate the quality and purpose of various candidates and give our votes to the best person on these parameters, not caste or religion of the candidates!

I am sure that good people of Banda will agree with me that it is a uncivilized behaviour to vote for someone just because that person is from my caste. How can we give preference (our votes) to a “bad” person when we have a better person even if that better person is not from my caste or religion? Surely, a scum from my caste can not be better than a Mahatma (Saintly person) from other castes! Casteism is a curse in our society!

If we wish to change Status Quo, we must elect only those who have intellectual capacity and integrity to be our representatives. We must ask them what they will do to change the picture of Banda. We must ask not only this, but many more questions. Helping us get Gun licenses alone will not help. We must debate in regards to who deserves to be our MP and MLA.

We are civilized people. Let us all re-assert ourselves to be decent and civilized people!

Let us change Banda and Banda’s fate!

Let us change the perception about Banda!

A revolution must start from this Lok Sabha election on 30th April, 2014 itself!

Jai Banda, and Jai Banda Vasiyo (People of Banda)!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/21st March, 2014

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A small vocal group of retirees can’t be allowed to derail Badgerys Creek airport!

Speaking at Badgerys Creek Airport debate

I took part in the debate on Badgerys Creek airport, held in Bowman Hall, Blacktown yesterday (11th March, 2014), and enjoyed it.

I participated in it actively by asking a question and giving my views.

I was impressed with clarity of points in the speeches of David Borger, Mark Lennon and John Robertson. John Robertson stood his ground when a section in the hall booed him. I admire him for this. Even Liberal Councillors, Ross Grove and Justin Taunton, were impressed.  

I was unimpressed with the scare campaign by the “NO” group comprising of Blacktown Councillor, Stephen Bali and activist, Jai Martinkovits.

Badgerys Creek supporters

David Borger from Western Sydney Airport Alliance and Mark Lennon from Unions NSW outlined that Western Sydney needs this major infrastructure project for its economic growth and jobs. Studies after studies have indicated that Sydney needs a second airport beyond 2027, and Badgerys Creek is the only realistic site for such airport. Federal Govt already owns 1700 ha land there.

The “NO” group were mostly into scare campaign, using all sorts of concerns about life style, noise and pollution. “Not my Backyard” was their mantra, suggesting alternative sites like Lithgow, Wilton, and others, which have been dismissed as relatively uneconomical or second best by studies after studies. They wanted yet another study on this subject. It was just ridiculous.

Clr Stephen Bali raised the health concerns for residents if airport came to Badgerys Creek. He had no answer to my question when I asked whether he is aware of health implications of unemployment. It is well known that unemployment creates mental and physical health issues and quality of life issues. I raised the issue of unemployment in Western Sydney, where it can be upto 25% in some areas.

Badgerys Creek forum

When I was given a chance to speak, I said “Kingsford Smith Airport (KSA) will not be able to provide new slots for any airline beyond 2027, while number of passengers will keep growing. 87 million passengers are expected to use KSA by 2035, and these numbers will double by 2060. The capacity deficit in landing slots beyond 2027 will adversely impact NSW/Australian economy. $60 billion is the cost by 2060 due to capacity constraints at KSA.

This is thus clear that Sydney needs a second airport. There is no further capacity at 900 ha KSA to build new runways or extend its operation.

Second airport is needed for economic reasons. NSW needs a second airport for its economic growth, without which NSW will have difficulties in investing money on health, education and transport. That will have an adverse impact on our quality of life.

Badgerys Creek is the only realistic site, where Federal Govt already own 17 ha land”.

My earlier Blog posts are here. http://tinyurl.com/n7oxq93 http://tinyurl.com/mwdycmm

 
I saw that speakers from “FOR” group were booed by a group of vocal retirees who are in their 70s and 80s. They are not looking for jobs and do not seem to care for Western Sydney economy. They have closed their minds and were opposing it with howls and placards. They obviously have all the time in their hands, unlike younger people, who need and work on full time jobs, but were not there in sufficient numbers as they have to work long hours and commute for long hours on a daily basis. Surveys have however shown that majority of Western Sydney residents, including many councils and MPs are in support of Badgerys Creek airport.

There are compelling reasons for Badgerys Airport. What we need is Leadership by politicians.

We can not allow a small noisy/vocal group of retirees, Greenies and scare-mongers to derail this “Once in a Life Time” infrastructure project in Western Sydney.

PM Tony Abbott should make the announcement for Badgerys Creek soon, with Federal Leader of opposition, Premier of NSW and Leader of NSW Opposition to outline/demonstrate bipartisan support of this mega infrastructure project with variety of benefits to Western Sydney.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/12th March, 2014
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Badgerys Creek airport should have a bipartisan announcement!

aeroplane taking off

Sydney’s second airport has been a victim of politics for decades. Political parties and politicians have been worried of political backlash. Local politicians, MPs and Councils have been scared of losing votes. Many seats in Western Sydney are pretty marginal.

This seems to be changing with support for Badgerys Creek airport from both major political parties.

From what is known, following are in support.

1. PM, Tony Abbott

2. Deputy PM, Warren Truss

3. Treasurer, Joe Hockey

4. Alex Hawke MP for Mitchell

5. Craig Lundy, MP for Reid

6. Tanya Davies, MP for Mulgoa

7. Bill Shorten, Federal Leader of Opposition

8. Anthony Albanese, Federal Shadow minister

9. John Robertson, NSW Leader of Opposition

10. Unions NSW

11. NSW Premier (Latest report in Daily Telegraph suggests that he is now supporting this project)

Additionally, many regional Councils are in support too. Liverpool Council and its Mayor are vocal supporters of this project. Some Councils are still opposing. Blacktown Council is a classical example. Many are moving towards supporting an airport at this Govt-owned 1700 ha site in Badgerys Creek.

Chiefly MP, Ed Husic is opposing. Many other Federal MPs from Western Sydney are sitting on the fence, worried about voters’ backlash.

Majority of Voters themselves are supporting the airport at Badgerys Creek, knowing that a major infrastructural project will bring substantial benefit to the region. The economy will get a boost and it will create 28000 jobs. Rail and Road network will get an upgrade. Property values will go up too.

To avoid any political difficulty for anyone, and to stop the political games by any major party or their MPs, it might be a good idea to make a bipartisan announcement of this project.

Let the announcement of this major project be made by PM, Tony Abbott, in presence of Bill Shorten, NSW Premier and John Robertson.

Western Sydney needs this major project, and it does not need any unnecessary politics!

Let politics be taken out from infrastructure investment!

Dr Yadu Singh/7th March, 2014

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Why Western Sydney needs an Airport at Badgerys Creek?

Image

(Pic courtesy Daily Telegraph Newspaper)

Does Sydney need a second airport, and if yes, where?

This debate has been going on for decades. It is about time that Govt starts a real action.

Kingsford Smith Airport (KSA) will not be able to provide new slots for any airline beyond 2027, while number of passengers will keep growing. 87 million passengers are expected to use KSA by 2035, and these numbers will double by 2060. The capacity deficit in landing slots beyond 2027 will adversely impact NSW/Australian economy. $60 billion is the cost by 2060 due to capacity constraints at KSA.

Capacity constraints can be ameliorated to some extent if landing/taking off curfew at KSA between 11PM to 6AM can be relaxed or removed. This is not practical because this curfew is part of an Act, and it will not be allowed by people living near KSA.

This is thus clear that Sydney needs a second airport. There is no further capacity at 900 ha KSA to build new runways or extend its operation.

Badgerys Creek, a 1700 ha land in South West Sydney, can be a good site for second airport. The land is owned by Commonwealth, and has been meant to be used for 2nd airport. It was acquired wayback in 1986-91. Wilton near Campbelltown is not as good a site as Badgerys Creek is, because it will require much bigger cost in building an airport and the associated infrastructure. Badgerys Creek can be built and be in operation in 10 years, while Wilton will take 17 years.

Badgerys Creek is therefore the only realistic site at present for Sydney’s second airport.

Studies have shown that an airport in Western Sydney will generate 28000 jobs by 2050, and add billions to the economy. It will supercharge the economy in Western Sydney.

Western Sydney has higher unemployment rates, and there are pockets where upto 30% are unemployed.

It is expected that here will be 500,000 job deficit in Western Sydney by 2050.

Western Sydney needs major infrastructure projects to turbo-charge economy and create jobs.

An airport in Badgerys Creek is definitely one such infrastructure. An airport alone somewhere in the middle of paddock in Western Sydney will not be enough. The region needs road and rail network, linking it with South West Rail link and possibly NW Rail Link. Roads in the region will need to upgraded and linked with M4, M5 and M7. It will cost money, which needs to come from Federal and State funding. That is where it becomes necessary for Commonwealth and NSW Govt to work co-operatively for the sake of Western Sydney region and its residents.

Western Sydney can’t be ignored because its people are not second class, and it is the engine-head of NSW economy. Recent survey has suggested its economic growth to be far superior to North Sydney and Sydney CBD. Some area within Western Sydney had economic growth rate above 6%, while CBD grew by about 1% only.

NSW economy needs Western Sydney!

Recent surveys have found that majority of people in Western Sydney support an airport in Western Sydney. Many councils including Liverpool Council and Holroyd Council are sympathetic to Badgerys Creek Airport.

NSW ALP and its leader, John Robertson, and federal ALP Opposition leader, Bill Shorten, are in support. Deputy PM, Warren Truss, Treasurer, Joe Hockey, and PM, Tony Abbott, are in support for the second airport. There appears to be a bipartisan support federally. Mulgoa MP, Mrs Tanya Davies, is in support. Penrith Council Mayor is sympathetic. Many federal MPs like Craig Lundy and Alex Hawke are supporting it, but others like Fiona Scott, Chris Bowen and Ed Husic are apparently opposed to it.

People living in Western Sydney will need to lobby their State and Federal MPs, and local Councils to get them behind an airport in Western Sydney.

Initially, NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell was against such airport, and was in favour of extension/upgrade of Canberra airport  for this purpose, but this proposition is not being favoured by anyone, because of distance and $8-10 billion cost in providing a high-speed rail between Canberra and Sydney.

It is about time that leaders from all persuasions and all tiers of Govt start working co-operatively for the interest of Western Sydney region and its residents!

I see merit in the demands of Western Sydney Airport Alliance, asking for a definitive announcement of Badgerys Creek Airport soon (if we want aeroplanes to start Flying from Badgerys Creek Airport by 2027), establishing a dedicated “Western Sydney Airport Authority” and starting community awareness/consultation about technical aspects of the airport, not the site per se.

Badgerys Creek is practically and realistically the only site for an airport in Western Sydney.

To avoid any political implication for any Party, let there be a bipartisan announcement from leaders which should include Prime Minister, NSW Premier, Leader of Federal Opposition, and Leader of NSW Opposition.

Dr Yadu Singh/5th March, 2014

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Overseas Indians need genuine dual- citizenship!

With my informal discussion and interactions with Indians living overseas, it is clear to me that they want a genuine dual citizenship. Anything less is not going to satisfy their demands.

I know Indian Govt is working on a Bill, which will be introduced in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) soon, after having already been passed by Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament), to replace PIO and OCI cards with a single card, named “Overseas Indian Card”. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinions/30048500.cms

My suggestion is that they should stop this process, and let the new Govt, after soon to be held Lok Sabha election, have a fresh look at this matter.

Just in case you have some confusion as to who is NRI (Non-Resident Indian), PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI Overseas Citizen of Indian) is, please see the link below. http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/oci-chart.pdf

I can see that replacing PIO and OCI cards with a single “Overseas Indian Card” may be a good idea, provided,

1. Govt does not impose any cost to those with these cards while replacing current OCI/PIO cards with “Overseas Indian Card”,
2. the process to replace PIO/OCI cards with Overseas Indian Cards is simple, automatic and not cumbersome,
3. the new card is valid for life Long,
4. A fee for Overseas Indian Card is reasonable, not expensive.

But I do not believe it is enough. It’s no point to make a half-hearted effort!

What Overseas Indians need is a genuine dual citizenship of India, with full political and economic rights. India’s reluctance to offer Overseas Indians a true “Dual Citizenship” is difficult to understand.

India keeps forgetting that overseas Indians are no less patriotic than Indians living in India,

Overseas Indians, whether they hold Indian Passports or have Overseas Passports, love India. They have an emotional bond with India. This is true for a great majority of people with Indian heritage.

If India is really serious in looking after Overseas Indians, and wishes to tap into this network for variety of purposes, it should consider;

a. Giving Indian passports (Dual citizenship) to overseas Citizens of Indian heritage with full rights including political rights,
b. giving convenient voting rights to such dual passport holders as well as Indian passport holders (NRIs), which can be exercised either at the Consulate, High Commission or Embassy premises in their country of residence or through postal or Online facilities. Postal Voting rights, after all, are allowed for India’s diplomatic staff, serving outside India.

In regards to NRIs (Indians living overseas but holding Indian passports), I am aware that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is in favor of granting convenient voting rights to them via postal, online or voting at the Consulate/Embassies/High Commissions, and has already submitted a memorandum to Election Commission of India in January 2014. http://tinyurl.com/mz7ap46

Indian passportThis is a good beginning, but this too is not sufficient. BJP needs to move towards agreeing to support genuine dual citizenship for overseas Indians. BJP should take this matter with full force and sincerity.

Many countries allow dual-citizenships. India will not be the only one. This link http://www.dlgimmigration.com/united-states-citizenship/list-of-countries-that-allow-or-disallow-dual-citizenship/ will tell you which country allows dual-citizenship, and which doesn’t. Many of the developed countries like UK, Australia, USA, Switzerland, Finland and France see no issue in dual-citizenship, and these countries are no less security-conscious, if that was the reason why India is reluctant to offer dual-citizenship.

Nobody can argue against India’ right to reject applications for Indian Passports (dual-citizenship) to Overseas citizens of Indian heritage if they have security issues or are associated with terrorist/separatist anti-India groups. Nobody can deny this right to India, but why to deny dual-citizenship to huge majority of patriotic Indians living overseas, just because a small minority of overseas Indians involve themselves in anti-India activities or terrorism.

Making things simpler for Indians living overseas will be a smart move. Currently, NRIs must register their names in the voter lists at their place of residence in India, before they left India, and be physically present there to vote, which is practically very inconvenient, and financially prohibitive.

Indian constitution allows NRIs to vote in theory, but Govt has not done anything to make it convenient for >10 million (>1 crore) NRIs, despite its lofty claims!

I do not know how many PIOs/OCIs are there in the world, but it will be safe to assume there will be at least 10 million PIOs/OCIs.

Looking after 20 million overseas Indians (NRIs, PIOs and OCIs), with decent, practical and helpful policies, will be a smart thing for India!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/4th March, 2014
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People in detention centres in Australia should be monitored for mental health issues!

ImageI have just learnt about the sad death of a 27 years old Indian student, who was in Maribyrnong immigration detention Centre in Melbourne since Jan 2014. He was a University student and was in the Detention Centre because his Visa was cancelled for breach of Visa conditions. Details of his Visa situations are not clear.

Yesterday, he was found in an unconscious state. He later died. His death is not being considered suspicious, which usually means that he committed suicide. Further details are not known at this stage.

It is a sad news for anyone, but obviously for his parents and family. Our hearts go out to them. R.I.P!

Many members of Indian Australian community are asking why and how did this happen, and what was done to prevent it, knowing he would have been in severe distress. Full facts are not out at this stage, but we ask DIBP and Minister Morrison’s office to put Indian community in the loop with full information and take them in confidence. We also ask Indian High Commission in Canberra and Indian Consulate in Melbourne to take the community in confidence, sharing detailed information. It is not an ordinary death. A young man came to Australia, with his hopes and hopes of his family. All those hopes are shattered and his parents have to deal with the sad and unfortunate loss of his life. This must be naturally devastating to them.

It is well known that detention is a stressful situation and it creates distress and mental health issues for detainees. Mental health issues are number one health issues in Detention centres.

While no Govt can close detention centres, and detainees will continue to be detained for various reasons, they certainly can ensure proper pastoral care and monitoring of mental health issues among detainees. Staff in these centres must be properly trained to look out for any sign of severe distress and depression.

I understand, and believe firmly, that authorities  have a “Duty of Care” to those who are in any custody-Mental Health institutions, Hospitals, Police Lock-up places, Prisons and Detention Centres. Duty of Care also includes reasonable monitoring of signs & symptoms of distress and depression, and providing assistance and counselling to prevent self-harm or harm to others.

Recently, IHAG (Immigration Health Advisory Group), comprising of GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, Social workers and Counsellors has been replaced with a single advisor. I hope this will not impact on the care of people in detention. 

We are a caring society, and must continue to remain so, within the constraints of our means and resources, while dealing with vulnerable people, and people in custody.

In regards to this particular unfortunate case, a thorough investigation should be done, which I believe is happening, to figure out all aspects of the case.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/14th Feb, 2014

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Overseas Indian Card, replacing PIO and OCI cards, is good, but not enough. We need genuine dual citizenship

Indian passportIndian Govt is working on a Bill, which will be introduced in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) soon, after having already been passed by Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament), to replace PIO and OCI cards with a single card, named “Overseas Indian Card”. imagehttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinions/30048500.cms

NRI (Non-Resident Indian), PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI Overseas Citizen of Indian) words do create some confusion for many people.

The Link below might help you understand what these names mean. http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/oci-chart.pdf

I think, replacing PIO and OCI cards with “Overseas Indian Card” it is a good idea, provided,

1. Govt does not impose any cost to those with these cards while replacing current OCI/PIO cards with “Overseas Indian Card”,
2. the process to replace PIO/OCI cards with Overseas Indian Cards is simple, automatic and not cumbersome,
3. the new card is valid for life Long,
4. Fees for Overseas Indian Card is reasonable, not expensive.

I do not see any issue with the requirement that the sticker for the OCI/PIO card or their replacement “Overseas Indian Card” should be pasted in the current passport. If we have to renew our Passports, we will need to have the “Overseas Indian Card” sticker transferred to the new Passport. It should however not cost more than a reasonable amount ie $50-100.00.

While at it, we should not miss the real issue in regards to Overseas Indians-NRIs, PIOs and OCIs. This is about India’s reluctance to offer Overseas Indians a true “Dual Citizenship”.

Overseas Indians, whether they hold Indian Passports or have Overseas Passports, love India. They have an emotional bond with India. This is true for a great majority of people with Indian heritage.

If India is really serious in looking after Overseas Indians, and wishes to tap into this network for variety of purposes, it should consider;

a. Giving Indian passports (Dual citizenship) to overseas Citizens of Indian heritage with full rights including political rights,
b. giving convenient voting rights to such dual passport holders as well as Indian passport holders (NRIs), which can be exercised either at the Consulate, High Commission or Embassy premises in their country of residence or through postal or Online facilities. Postal Voting rights, after all, are allowed for India’s diplomatic staff, serving outside India.

Nobody can argue against India’ right to reject applications for Indian Passports to Overseas citizens of Indian heritage if they have security issues or are associated with terrorist/separatist anti-India groups, if a thorough security investigation finds evidence of such background.

In regards to NRIs (Indians living overseas but holding Indian passports), I am aware that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is in favour of granting convenient voting rights to them via postal, online or voting at the Consulate/Embassies/High Commissions, and has already submitted a memorandum to Election Commission of India in January 2014. https://ofbjp.org/sites/default/files/Memorandum%20to%20CEC%20VS%20Sampath%20on%20NRIs%20Voting%20Issue%20English.pdf

Currently, NRIs must register their names in the voter lists at their place of residence in India, before they left India, and be physically present there to vote, which is practically very inconvenient, and financially prohibitive.

Indian constitution allows NRIs to vote in theory, but Govt has not done anything to make it convenient for >10 million (>1 crore) NRIs, despite its lofty claims!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/12th Feb, 2014
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Lessons from the tragic death of Ms Monika Chetty!

Monika Chetty

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-01/woman-dies-after-being-found-with-burns-to-80pc-of-body-and-face/5232460

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/homeless-woman-monika-chetty-dies-from-severe-burns-20140201-31t9y.html

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/indian-muslim-communities-tried-to-help-homeless-burns-victim-monika-chetty-20140105-30c05.html

The tragedy of Sydney homeless woman, Ms Monika Chetty, has been in the news. Ms Chetty is of Fiji Indian background. Her agony, pain, injuries, sufferings and ordeals have affected people, not only from Indian community, but also from every other community in Sydney. People have expressed their sadness for what happened to her. “Rest In Peace” comments have been posted in social media. People, including her classmates from High School days, have expressed their wishes to attend her funeral, when the date for funeral is fixed. There is certainly an outpouring of grief.

People from various communities, including Indian Australian community, have wondered how a lady from a close-knit community like hers could be homeless for this long. She has been homeless at least since May 2013. Many including I have known about her. I received an email about her from a concerned Indian in May, 2013. I did whatever I could as a result. Others from Indian community did things too in whatever way they could. From media reports, we know that members of non-Indian community too helped her in whatever way they could help. Obviously, this was not sufficient.

After May, 2013, I did not hear anything about her until the news of her burn injuries in early Jan, 2014.

She suffered massive burns (80% of her body) and was admitted in the burns Unit of Concord Hospital, Sydney in early Jan, 2014. I was devastated to hear about her burn injuries when a SMH reporter contacted me while I was in India. After struggling for her life in the Burns Unit, she has unfortunately died on Friday, 31st Jan, 2014. This is a very sad news. Our hearts go out to her children and family. She was a mother, sister and daughter to someone, and her death must obviously be devastating to them. I feel their pain. To say that I am anguished is definitely an understatement.

There are questions in regards to how she received these burn injuries to 80% of her body. What are the circumstances of these injuries and who did it to her? Obviously, NSW Police is investigating and will reach a conclusion in due course. How, why, where and when of her burn injuries need to come out.

There are many lessons and messages from this tragedy. These are relevant to everyone, but more so for Indian community in Sydney. Without putting any blame on anyone, we can’t run away from introspection and analysis about what happened to a co-human and why. We can’t run away from introspection and analysis about what should/could have been done, and was unfortunately not done, or done too late! We must think about it!

As I think through, I get following questions repeatedly in my mind.

1. How did this happen that she was homeless for this long without an effective help? From media reports, she was seen in pain for days or even weeks before Police was finally called. How could her cries and pains go without needed (and appropriate) help? What happened here? How cries and pains of a human did not receive the help/assistance which was needed?

2. Do we have any mechanism to help our people when they get into such desperate situations?

3. What is the role & responsibility (moral and social) of Indian Australian community in regards to these situations happening to its members?

4. What is the role and responsibility (moral & social) of every human, irrespective of the segment of the community they belong to, when they encounter such cases?

5. Have we become too individualistic, self-centered and self-focused that we do not do enough to help people in desperate needs? Did we fail as a society in this case?

6. What prevents people from our own Indian community from sharing their difficulties with members of Indian community? Are there some cultural issues which create obstacles in seeking such community help and guidance? Do we have issues in protecting confidentiality of information when someone from our own community seeks guidance or help from us?

I have been thinking about her ordeals ever since I heard about her burn injuries. My view is that we should approach key people of the Indian Australian community (Fiji Indians are part & parcel of Indian community) as well as general community members, with a suggestion that we meet and discuss these issues to help us  have a mechanism which can be used to help people. This suggestion is not about some alternative model of service delivery. It is all about preparing ourselves to look out for, and help (if necessary), people who are in trouble.

7. Did “System” which is expected to help people like Ms Monika Chetty fail completely? If yes, then why did it fail, and who is responsible? What needs to be done to not let this happen in future? I know from my personal information as well as from the media reports that many people did help her in some form (money and food), and some contacted the agencies, asking them to help Monika. What did these agencies do in this case is something which is not clear at all.

Monika’s ethnic heritage being Indian does not make this case solely relevant to Indian Australian community. Her case is relevant to every human in Australia. Having said that, I do believe we, from Indian Australian community, have a slightly higher moral responsibility for what has happened here. We must learn from this tragedy. We must recognise the issues, understand them and evolve a mechanism to offer help, recognising that this help does not necessarily  need to be financial, as an appropriate and timely counselling at times could deliver the result.

We, as a community, need to have a serious debate and discussion on these matters.

NSW has services, facilities and help [Govt as well as Non-Govt sector], which could be utilized in these circumstances. We just need to network and organise ourselves into doing this type of service to our own people. We need to get into serious stuff like helping our needy people, if we want to do sincere and genuine community work.

Ms Monika Chetty suffered needlessly, but she is not going to be the last one. Even though it has been rare to see an Indian homeless woman so far, it may change in future as our numbers keep growing. It is crucial for us, as a community, to do something in this regard and prepare ourselves to deal with cases like this in future.

I wish to emphasize it here that this tragedy is very much about “Monika Chetty-an Australian and above all, a HUMAN”, not just about “Monika Chetty-an Indian! We all must remember this fact. We should help any human-irrespective of his/her background, when we encounter such cases.

We must re-assert, by deeds and actions, that we are a caring community and do look after people, within our means and resources, when they end up in difficult and desperate circumstances!

Saying just R.I.P is not enough!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/4th Feb 2014

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Emigration from Australia is big and not inconsequential!

ImageWhen people leave a country, it is called emigration. When they come to a country, it is called immigration.

In case of Australia, emigration has increased significantly since mid 1990s. 91 761 left Australia in 2012-13. 52.7% of these people were born overseas. This was 51.1 % a year earlier. Rest were Australia-born.

People born in NZ formed the biggest component (10%) of emigration of overseas-born migrants, followed by UK-born (8.2%), China-born (7%), Hong Kong-born (2.7%) and then USA-born (1.4%) people.

A majority of these overseas-born emigrants returned to the country of their birth. Majority of these people had lived in Australia for more than 5 years.

Emigration of Australia-born was largely (44%) to UK, USA and NZ, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong and UAE, and was largely for better jobs/incomes.

62.9% of total emigrants were in skilled jobs before they left.

Emigration is not just a simple movement of people from Australia. It has an impact on multiple fronts as it creates not only a significant change in overall population, but it also creates loss of skills in addition to lack of return on the investment-social or otherwise on these people. On the benefit side, it generates trading links between Australia and the countries these emigrants are going to, facilitates access to markets in those countries, increases remittances from those countries, in addition to bringing back new skills if/when these emigrants return back to Australia.

What can be done to reduce emigration:

While it is true that many factors operate for why people emigrate. While some people leave Australia for family reasons, it is presumed that economic reasons will be pretty important too. Some serious research is needed to have a better understanding about this matter

Anecdotally, and if you speak with migrants, many express a particular concern, which needs some attention by policy makers and Govt leaders.

Many highly skilled migrants find it difficult to get a job which is commensurate with their education and skills. Lack of local (Australian) experience is often quoted to deny the jobs which they deserve and are qualified for. There is often a glass-ceiling. This can/should be changed with a systemic approach to help skilled migrants get a job for which they are well qualified. They can be under some supervision for 3-6 months, if necessary.

Employers can/should be given some incentives to employ these highly qualified and skilled migrants. It does not make any sense to attract skilled migrants to Australia and do nothing to help them settle in the country or in fact do something which discourages them to stay here.

To not do anything to help them settle in Australia has an adverse impact not only on our economy because these migrants have much needed skills which they take away with them while moving away to countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE and other countries, but also it causes serious impact on migrants themselves with many experiencing disillusionment and even depression.

This is an important issue for Australia. Westpac research (see Jennifer West’s comments in the article link) outlines that newer migrants generate 200 billions annually, which is not a small amount by any count. It’s about time that Immigration Dept and Employment Departments of various State/Territory Govts should look into this matter seriously.

This topic was covered by Australian media (Lisa Cornish) recently, for which I was interviewed.

http://mobile.news.com.au/national/australias-migrants-leaving-their-new-home-in-search-of-a-better-life/story-fncynjr2-1226810397650

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/28th Jan, 2014

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Brookvale Union Brewery apologises for using Hindu Deities on Beer bottle Label!

hindu goddess on beer bottle

Sydney, 18th Nov, 2013
It is good to hear, in black & white, that Brookvale Union Brewery [which has a Ginger Beer with 4% Alcohol, and used an offensive imagery of Hindu deities on its Label] has;
1. recognised the offence caused to Indians and Hindus with the imagery on their Ginger Beer,
2. decided to rectify the mistake,
3. asked it graphic designers to redesign the imagery without using images which are deemed offensive,
4. advised the commencement of the process to redesign an alternative label and marketing material,
5. apologised for the distress caused by the offensive imagery.
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Full Press Release from the Brewery:
“BROOKVALE UNION ADDRESSES CRITICISM OVER CONTROVERSIAL PRODUCT AND INVITES DESIGNERS TO CREATE NEW GINGER BEER LABEL:
Here at Brookvale Union, we take pride in …producing great tasting drinks and we think we’ve nailed that on the head with our alcoholic Ginger Beer and Apple Cider. However, it seems we have unintentionally offended our Hindu friends with the imagery on our Ginger Beer packaging and because we’re lovers, not fighters, we want to make it right. Brookvale Union is asking graphic designers, artists, and even doodlers who think they can rise up to the challenge to put pen on paper and better the existing design. Take inspiration from wherever you want, you just have to adhere to the following brief: – Ensure your submission aligns with the Brookvale Union brand – refer to the website, existing Apple Cider and Ginger Beer bottles and cartons, Facebook and Instagram pages for inspiration – To the best of the designers’ knowledge, do not use imagery that may be deemed offensive – Keep our tagline of ‘Quality Nonsense’ in mind Submissions will be accepted until 5pm on Sunday, 24 November and should be sent to brookvaleunion@gmail.com. The chosen design will become part of the new branding for the Brookvale Union range and featured on bottles, packaging and marketing material. We’ve received feedback from many Hindu’s over the last few days – some find the label offensive, others do not. Nevertheless, it was not our intention to offend a group of people. Brookvale Union is about great tasting, fun beverages and not about disrespecting anyone or their beliefs. We have subsequently apologised for any distress caused and begun the process of removing the images from the website. We are now focused on redesigning the Ginger Beer which hopefully all can be happy with! Brookvale Union. Complex yet simple, safe but dangerous, smooth yet sharp, tight but loose, clever but not always right. For more information or any questions, please contact brookvaleunion@gmail.com”
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Brookvale Union Brewery’s Ginger Beer [4% Alcohol by Volume] had an offensive imagery of juxtaposed images of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi.  See previous post here: https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/hindu-deities-on-the-beer-bottle-is-offensive-and-hurtful/

A concerted and organised protest was launched by Indian Australians and their groups/associations throughout Australia and even Overseas.

A “Well done” and thanks are due to many Indian Australians, Indian Australian Association of NSW, Hindu Council of Australia and Sikh Council of Australia for their active role in it.

We need to be vigilant for any such inappropriate use of our religious symbols in future too, and work together in an organised fashion to redress any mistake.
Australia is a true multicultural country and every religious, racial and ethnic group is entitled to enjoy its beliefs and celebrate its heritage, without anyone ridiculing or making fun of their values, religion, religious symbols and deities, and religious activities, provided such activities or beliefs are within the core values of modern Australia.
Dr Yadu Singh
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Hindu deities on the Beer bottle is offensive and hurtful!

hindu goddess on beer bottle

I have become aware about the picture of Hindu deities on the bottle of Beer in NSW.  The juxtaposed picture has Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha with the head of a Cow in one hand and fire coming out of the Lord Ganesha’s head.

When you visit their website (http://www.brookvaleunion.com.au), you will see the picture there too. The website describes their products “Brookvale Union Apple Cider (5.2% ABV) and Brookvale Union Ginger Beer (4.0% ABV)”, indicating they are Alcoholic beverages. This inappropriate picture becomes the picture of Sachin Tendulkar when you place the cursor over the pic. This is in very poor taste and obviously very cheap, besides being insensitive.

This is offensive, unacceptable and objectionable. Lord Ganesha is one of the most important deities of Hinduism and is worshipped for wisdom. Lord Ganesha  is invoked for blessings before any work. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for the fortune and wealth.

Hinduism is the third largest religion and is a peaceful religion.

There is a trend among some to use deities of Hinduism inappropriately, which should stop.

Brookvale Union Brewery in Northern New South Wales. Australia is wrong to place deities of Hinduism in the label of its Ginger beer bottle, hurting the feelings of Hindus. Using deities and symbols of Hinduism in this grossly inappropriate and offensive manner is not a matter of joke or fun.

They have a tagline of “Quality Nonsense”, but to us, hurting religious feelings of people is nothing but “Nonsense” and there is no “quality” in it.

We condemn this behaviour.

We ask them to;

1. remove these labels,

2. stop using pictures of deities of Hinduism in their beer bottles,

3. apologise for hurting the feeling of Hinduism practitioners.

 

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/10th Nov, 2013

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Deepavali, Sunday 3rd November, 2013!

Wishing you a happy Deepavali!

May this Deepavali bring you and your family all the joy, success, health and wealth!

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Indian community in Sydney is in the middle of Deepavali celebrations. We had two fairs last weekend, Deepavali Celebration in NSW Parliament on Wednesday, 30th Oct, Commonwealth Bank of  Australia Deepavali on Thursday, 31st Oct and several dinner events recently. One Darling Harbour Cruise was also part of these celebrations.

Deepavali celebration at NSW Parliament is a significant event as it is hosted by New South Wales Government. The event is organised by Community Relations Commission, which works with an advisory committee. There are 12 members in it, and I am one of them. Here is the pic of the Deepavali advisory committee.
Advisory
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Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney, NSW/1st Nov, 2013
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INDAUS FAIR, Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013, Rosehill Race Course, Rosehill, NSW!

INDAUS FAIR HR 9thAug

Image

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/11th Aug, 2013
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All nett proceeds from INDAUS Fair on Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013 going to Uttarakhand Flood Victims!

INDAUS FAIR LR 26July

Uttarakhand State in India has had catastrophic and massive floods on 14-17th June, 2013, leading to huge loss of lives, property and infrastructure. Many roads, bridges, villages and towns have been washed away. Rescue efforts were heroically performed by Indian Army, Indian Air Force, ITBF [Indo-Tibetan Border Force] along with civic authorities.

Death toll stands at 5700. The devastation in the region is going to have a lingering and cascading effect on people for long time.

This is all very sad, shocking and upsetting. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

Indians, wherever they live, are doing what they can do to assist victims. Reconstruction in Uttarakhand needs as much help as possible. State Govt has requested Central Govt to provide a 13000 Crores reconstruction package to the devastated state.

Indians all over the world, and in India, are doing their bits to help the state and affected people. Indians in Sydney are doing their bits too. I am sure we all will contribute in some way to the assistance work.

INDAUS Inc team have resolved to contribute to this assistance by donating all net proceeds from their flagship event “INDAUS Fair” at Rosehill Race Course, Rosehill, NSW 2142, on Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013 to Uttarakhand flood victims.

INDAUS Inc had originally planned to send the net proceeds from INDAUS Fair to INDIA HOUSE project, but the tragedy in Uttarakhand is more pressing and is a more deserving cause. That is why we have decided to send net proceeds to Uttarakhand flood victims.

We, in INDAUS Inc, urge you to join us for this event on Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013. The ticket price of $7/per person is next to nothing, and is easily affordable. We seek your help re getting as many stalls & souvenir Ads as possible!

Let us spread the message in our networks and get there in big numbers!

Victims need your help and generosity! Please show our generosity for Uttarakhand Food victims by joining, attending & supporting INDAUS Fair on Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013!
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_North_India_floods
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57593939/india-raises-flood-death-toll-reaches-5700-as-all-missing-persons-now-presumed-dead/
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/uttarakhand-seeks-rs-13-000-cr-package-from-centre-113071900780_1.html
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/uttarakhand-floods-death-toll-uncertain-minister-says-10-000-just-an-estimate_858805.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-23095184
http://www.indianexpress.com/picture-gallery/uttarakhand-floods-iaf-rescue-chopper-crashes-all-20-on-board-feared-killed/2952-2.html

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Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/20th July, 2013
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India is the top source of migrants to Australia!

[Source of Pictures: TOI article, Ravi Lochan Singh’s Blog and DIAC press release]Australian Migration Sources2Australian Migration Sources

 

With 29016 people from India who were granted migrant Visa to come to Australia in 2011-12, India is now the top source of migrants to Australia. This is 12.7% more than the  previous year. This is likely to continue for years to come. By now, Indian-born numbers have grown four fold in the last 15 years, while Chinese-born numbers have grown by three fold..

The Census in 2011 told us that there were about 400,000 people of Indian heritage in Australia. If we add the numbers up to June 2013 and add the numbers from people of Indian heritage from other countries plus those born here in Australia, the number of people of Indian heritage could well be about 500,000 by June 2013.

With 21768 Indians in 2010-11, India was the third top source of Australian migrants. With 29546 Chinese immigrants, China was the top source then. Things have obviously changed.

The latest list outlining the sources of migrants also tells us that 7 of 10 countries are from Asia, the region where Australia has its major trading partners.

China with 25508 is the second top source and Great Britain with 25273 is at the third spot.

India has many good universities with a large number of young people with the skills and English which Australia needs. These skills are in the fields of medicine, IT, teaching, nursing, Engineering, accounting, management and many others. These are all high value skills which are in great demand all over the world. Australia is now competing with other countries quite successfully.

I am quite pleased that increasing numbers of Indians are choosing Australia as the place to migrate to, despite exaggerated negative coverage of Australia in the Indian media in the recent past. This is the best certificate that Indian media was not factual in its reporting back then.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/4th June, 2013

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India House in Sydney: what is this about & why do we need it?

INDIA-House2

(See an important update at the end of this post)

The Indian Australian community in Australia comprises of about 400,000 people, out of which about 150,000 reside in New South Wales. Ours is a growing community and about half of our people have migrated to Australia during the last ten years.

Every community is unique and has its special characteristics and requirements.  In this sense, we are no different from the other multicultural communities in Australia.   Many of these requirements can be fulfilled by a Community Centre, which acts not only as the centre for all community/social interactions and mentoring/guiding services, but also for entertainment activities.  Private family occasions like weddings and other events can also take place there.  Any such centre should have sufficient space and facilities to cater to a range of activities.  This Centre should be able to self-sustain financially, and should be run professionally.

Despite being a major community, we do not have this  community Centre, which is in total contrast with other communities like Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Serbian, Croatian and others, many of which are smaller than ours, but do have such community premises.

India House has been talked about for more than 20 years but nothing obviously has happened. Talks and visions should have moved to something realistic and something fruitful by now, but it is yet to happen. We believe that it did not happen only because serious and sincere efforts were never made.

Projects of this nature require huge capital to make it happen.  We strongly believe that finances can be raised if there is a group of dedicated & committed people in our community who have integrity, vision, determination, perseverance, willingness and capacity to work on the plan for 3-5 years. The fund raising components must have multiple components, and it should include fairs, charity drives, direct contributions from the community, and also sponsorships from governments and businesses.

Our initial spadework informs us that there is sufficient goodwill for this huge venture in our community. We recognise that the biggest hurdle in this huge task is the distrust community members have towards community groups/leaders because they have not been transparent, accountable and result oriented, and in fact, some have used their groups for financial benefits. To make it worse, some have become branches of political parties. It is a common knowledge that finances generated from events, small and large, have often been mismanaged and possibly misused. The fund sourcing process therefore must remain ethical, transparent and must be supervised by at least two reputed finance professionals. This fund-raising must have the charity status and tax concessions.

We wish to take this project earnestly and start the process by donating the entire amount saved after expenses from the INDAUS FAIR on Sunday, 11 August 2013, which will take place at Rosehill Gardens, Rosehill Race Course, Rosehill, NSW. We will outline our detailed plan and the process of fund raising soon.

Our plan is to have a nodal group of 10 people who will do the initial work, using the expertise in law, planning, project work, finance, Real Estate, accounting and marketing among others.

This will be followed by a meeting with community representatives/leaders and members of media with the purpose of brain storming, exchanging ideas, revising and fine tuning the project. Media is so essential for this project and this project will be an “inclusive” work as far as practicable.

The Project will be super headed by a management committee, Board of Trustees and Advisory Council, and will have membership with defined benefits of such membership. The guiding principle will and must always be transparency, accountability and proper governance with an added motto of “service with integrity”.

More info from dryadusingh@gmail.com, www.yadusingh.wordpress.com  and www.indaus.org.au

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/2nd May 2013

President, Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc

————————————- UPDATE: 31st Aug, 2014 https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/india-house-in-sydney-update/ ————————————-

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Nalini Needs You. Can you help her please?

NaliniNeedsYou

 

 

Can you help? There is a better chance to help if you are from Kerala background but any Indian can help!

  

Dr Nalini Ambady, a professor at Stanford University, was recently diagnosed with a recurrence of leukemia, which she first battled in 2004. Now, she has only eight weeks left to live and urgently needs a bone marrow transplant from a genetically matched donor.

Originally from Kerala, Ambady became the first Indian American female professor in the Psychology Department at Harvard University, Tufts University, and Stanford University, according to a press release. Her research has been covered in Malcolm Galdwell’s book, “Blink.” More details are available on www.NaliniNeedsYou.com 

People of South Asian descent have a lower likelihood of finding a bone marrow match, and in Ambady’s case, doctors have estimated that chance at one in 20,000. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP? 

Since every willing donor may not be a perfect match for Nalini, we need as many willing donors as possible in a short time.

If you are willing to help and in the age group of 18-45 years please ring RED CROSS on  131495  and register with Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and donate.

ABMDR donor info is here  for your information. http://www.abmdr.org.au/

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Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/26th April, 2013

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INDAUS Fair in Sydney: Sunday, 11th August, 2013.

Image

INDAUS Fair in Sydney: Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013.

Venue info and other details coming up!

Stay tuned!!

Dr Yadu Singh

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Our team raised $22215 for recent Qld Floods victims!

Qld-floods-charity-3

Qld-floods-charity2

OUR TEAM RAISED $22,215.00 FOR QUEENSLAND FLOODS VICTIMS!

 

Press Release:

Sydney, 3nd April, 2013.

 Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc [INDAUS Inc] members teamed with others in the Hills Shire and organised a hugely successful Charity fund raising event for Bundaberg Floods Victims, at Mother India Restaurant, Dural, raising $22,215.00 on Sunday, 24th March, 2013. 

Earlier on 29th January, our group was having dinner at Mother India when the idea was born to give something back to the community. It comprised of Dr Yadu Singh [INDAUS Inc President], Gareth McCray [Broadcaster & INDAUS Inc member], Ross Colossimo [CEO of The Australian Brewery & Bella Vista Hotel, Sanjeev Sharma [Mother India Owner & INDAUS Inc member], Rajiv Chaudhri [CEO of Hitek Australia & INDAUS Inc member], Poonam Verma [Jewellery Designer from India], and Kanika Chaudhri [Rajiv’s daughter]. 

This discussion came to focus on the myriad of disasters that had hit Australia since January. We got round to realising that the Regional city of Bundaberg had been worst hit. It was suggested and agreed that we contact the Hills Shire Mayor, Dr Michelle Byrne, and see if she would agree to front a committee to raise some funds to help the people of Bundaberg. We did that and she agreed. A committee was constituted and potential sponsors were decided to run a special Charity Dinner at Mother India. 

The steering committee consisted of the above people and had the following join us later:-

Dr Michelle Byrne, the Hills Shire Mayor, A/Prof Jim Taggart, Joseph Ishak from Skad Australia, Clr Jeff Lowe, John Ebbott, Ms Sonya Phillips [Former Hills Shire Mayor], Journalist Bev Jordan and David O’Neill, the General Manager of the Castle Hill RSL.  

Meeting on a weekly basis, our team planned the event which included day time markets followed by buffet lunch and a lavish dinner with entertainment, auctions and raffles. Entertainment was provided by renowned singer, Angie Dean and a local Bollywood dance group, organised by Mother India. 

At $75 per person, the team did not take long to fill the restaurant with 120 people. They enjoyed a three course sumptuous dinner with Beer and wine donated by generous donors, The Australian Brewery, Australian Hotel Association & Castle Hill RSL. 

Master of Ceremonies for the event was media personality, Gareth McCray and auctioneer was A/Professor Jim Taggart who both brought the electrifying energy and enthusiasm to the event, thus helping in the collection of funds. 

Salvation Army Officer from Bundaberg, Mr Peter Evans was flown down to Sydney to witness the event. His flights and accommodation were sponsored, organised by the team, at no cost to him. 

The items for auction included a Cricket Bat signed by national teams of Australia and UK [bid successfully by INDAUS Inc Vice President, Stanley D’Cruz for $2000], Jewellery worth $3500 from House of Fraser, a necklace donated by Poonam Verma and many others. 

It was an absolute privilege working with each of these people in the team, who all knew fully well why this fund raising was important for the People of Bundaberg. 

Families and businesses in Bundaberg that had only just started getting on top of things since the previous flood had to watch again as their lives were upended and swept away by the Burnett River that raged with a ferocity that had never been seen before. 

The floodwaters did recede as quickly as they rose but nothing could prepare the residents for what they found when they crossed back across the Burnett River – some houses had sunk into the ground, others were covered in mud so deep, bed lined in the trees roads turned up. The river turned Bundaberg into a war zone. However the spirit of Faith, Hope and Love grew out of this disaster. 

A Faith that is based upon the knowledge that we can always rely on each other to help when the need is there. 

A Love of the friends, family and people from across the nation, such as here in The Hills Shire, who have come to help those in great need. 

This is what makes the many national multicultural groups that make up Australia so special. We believe that thing we call “mateship” is something we should be so proud of, and which we can show whenever our fellow Australians are in need of. 

That is why we came together on Sunday March 24 to join in that spirit of Faith, Hope and Love and help the people of Bundaberg. 

In addition to INDAUS Inc members taking a key role in the project, Indian Australians worked shoulder to shoulder with Hills Shire community and raised this amount for people in Queensland who need it so desperately. 

We, in INDAUS Inc, were proud to be the key members of the committee, responsible for execution of the project and delivery of the outcome in a substantial way. It was a unique experience for us in INDAUS Inc. 

INDAUS Inc is indeed proud to be part of doing something for our fellow Australians.

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With contribution from Gareth McCray and released by Dr Yadu Singh

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/4th April, 2013
http://www.twitter.com/dryadusingh
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Indian Australian groups contributed to Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, 3rd March, 2013!

clean up4-13

Clean up1-13

clean up2-13

clean up3-13

 

 

Sydney, 31st March, 2013

Like last year, we took part in Clean Up Australia Day activities this year too.

On Sunday, 3rd March, 2013, friends from 3 organisations-Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc [INDAUS Inc], Basava Samithi of Australia [BSOA]-Sydney Chapter and Samarpan Inc [A group of people who have family members with disabilities] joined up for the clean up activities at GARRISON POINT, MURRUMBEENA RESERVE, OFF HENRY LAWSON DRIVE, GEORGES HALL, NSW-2198.

It started at 8 am and went on until 10.30 am.

After collecting several bags of rubbish, the clean up party had a tea/coffee session and general discussion, followed by certificates and pics. We discussed how important it is for all of us from all sort of backgrounds to get involved in Australian events/activities which will help Australia and Australians. Australia is after all our home!

People who took part in it included myself [Dr Yadu Singh], Chidanand Puttarevanna, Stanley D’Cruz, Gaurav Nirwal, Rajni Chandran, Uday Shah, Jaywanth Vaidya, Parul Shah, Hemanth Raju, Paramesh Halaradhya, Vishwas Suresh, Dayanand Mogale, Vishwanath Halyal, Prajwal Pradhan, Vijay Kumar and many others.

From the Clean Up Australia website:

“Australians have more than demonstrated their passion and responsibility for cleaning up their local environment. Over 550,300 volunteers have donned their gloves and picked up a bag to remove rubbish from around 7341 sites across the nation.

Early figures predict they will have removed around 16,150 tonnes of rubbish, just the beginning of what is shaping up to be a tremendous effort yet again.

Since the national event started in 1990 Australians have donated more than 26,100,600 million hours towards caring for the environment through Clean Up Australia Day, by removing an estimated 288,650 tonnes of rubbish across the country.”

Clean Up Australia Day is truly a national event, in which everyone participates.

Indian and other multicultural groups have been increasingly participating in these activities.

Australia is a great & clean country and it is everyone’s job to keep it that way.

We did our part and are proud of it.

Dr Yadu Singh

http://www.twitter.com/dryadusingh

www.facebook.com/dryadusingh

 

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Parramasala, The Australian Festival of South Asian arts, is a milestone in multicultural NSW!

Parramasala1

Parramasala2

Parramasala4

 

Parramasala, the Australian Festival of South Asian Arts, was initiated by Premier Kristina Keneally, then Premier of NSW, in 2010. It was held in 2011 and 2012 too. I and my friends have enjoyed it every year. Thousands of people from all backgrounds have enjoyed it too.

There are some question marks over whether it will continue in 2013 and beyond .

The budget of the festival is approx $1.5 millions, out of which approx $300,000 is contributed by Parramatta Council.

I attended a meeting, called by Parramatta Mayor recently. There was a discussion regarding the direction Parramasala should be taking from now on.

There was a discussion regarding whether one segment of Parramasala should happen in the neighbouring Harris Park suburb where there are many businesses from Indian/South Asian community.

There was a discussion whether “Curry & Spice festival”, focused on Harris Park should be included in the Parramasala.

There was a discussion regarding what Parramatta Council should do to get Harris Park included in Parramasala event. There was also a discussion regarding what Parramatta Council should do if Parramasala does not include Harris Park in the event.

After this meeting, we, the members of the community and businesses from Harris Park, had some further discussions among ourselves. I had some further discussions with many people on this.

This is what people think/feel about Parramasala and related events:

1. Parramasala is a significant event for NSW and South Asian communities.

2. Parramasala should continue to happen in 2013 and beyond.

3. Parramatta Council should continue to be a partner in Parramasala, contribute its share of money and should have a significant role in organising the event.

4. It will be nice if Harris Park event-Curry & Spice festival- is a part of Parramasala.

5. Parramasala should still continue to be held, even if Harris Park event-Curry & Spice festival- is not a part of Parramasala.

6. If Harris Park event-Curry & Spice festival- is not a part of Parramasala, it should still be organised and it should happen separately. Money aspect for Harris Park event should be worked on separately and should not be mixed or confused with anything to do with Parramasala. Contribution in advertisement and other related costs should be based on some fair formula. Contribution share based on number of seats in the restaurants is one such formula. Non-food businesses need to be involved in the festival and their contribution will need to be reasonable and fair.

7. Harris Park event- Curry & Spice festival- should be organised with participation from local businesses, community reps and Parramatta Council, as it is not only about local businesses.

Parramasala Board should have only those people who have vision, ability and capacity to organise an event of this nature. This is important to help this event grow , make the event more popular and have bigger participation of not only South Asian communities, but also general community. This has not happened and this needs to be reviewed why it has not happened.

Nomination of  people in Boards of events of this nature should be guided by quality and ability, in addition to vision of such people, not who the Govt leaders like even if such members do not have the required quality and ability.

Parramasala Board should be reviewed and reconstituted. Details of the festival:www.parramasala.com

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/15th March, 2013
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What we need in Western Sydney?

Western sydney

 

I missed an important interview with Sunrise of Chanel 7 today because a usual 15 minutes’ drive took about 70 minutes.

Familiar story which happens far too frequently!

It is well known that transport is a big issue for people in Western and North Western Sydney.

Living and working in Western Sydney and interacting with people-professionally or socially, have given ample insight into what is needed in this part of Sydney where 2 million ie 1 out of 11 Australians live, and where majority of Sydneysiders live too.

As I see it, and from my perspective, these are the major issues;

I am listing them here without giving any consideration to the relative importance of these issues.

1. Crimes: Shootings have been in the news. There are gangs which are doing what gangs do. I am aware of many students who have been bashed up without any fault of theirs. One of them had a severe head injury and will probably never be able to work. There are people who get assaulted while getting out of train stations. People are scared about becoming victims of the shootings or assaults. Police are doing what they have to do or can do. Whatever has to be done by the Govt must be done to give Police resources to deal with the criminals. If more CCTV and more cops on the patrol will do the job, I am all for it. If anti-gang task force comprising of officials from various agencies will do the job, that is sweet too. We want safe streets where we can do things we want to do without worrying about the next drive by shooting, assault or knife attack. Let all good ideas come from all directions to help control crimes because we want real actions, not spins.

2. Transport: People in Western Sydney complain continuously about poor transport facilities in the region. They have to waste hours after hours on the roads which are full of cars, moving ever so slowly. We need better public transport with an efficient networking of the transport facilities. NSW Transport master plan has come out and a debate on it is ongoing. People have commented that it is Sydney CBD-focused. Comments have been made that 70% of Sydney people live in the West but 70% of jobs in Sydney are in area away from the West, thus forcing people to travel to Sydney CBD. We need more jobs in Western Sydney.

3. Jobs & employment: Unemployment rates are much higher in Western Sydney. Some say, it is double of the national standard. This is not good because it has a linkage with quality of life, general & mental health and so many more parameters. We need initiatives and incentives which will facilitate creation of jobs in various sectors right here in the West.

5. Proper utilisation of human resources: Western Sydney is very multicultural in nature with >40% of people with some connection with overseas ancestries. Western Sydney is generally the first place where new migrants choose to live. There are obvious reasons for this to happen. This phenomenon gives some boost to the economy, particularly housing and retail sectors, but more can happen, if dealt with smartly. What I have seen and heard is that their training and skills obtained overseas are not properly utilized. This happens mostly on the pretext of lack of “local” experience, leading to rejections of their applications for jobs. I believe that this should be addressed by offering incentives to the employers to employ suitable new migrants who have skills/training for the job, with provision of more active supervision and assistance for bridging courses/training to get them up to speed, if necessary. A smart country like Australia must utilise migrants who it accepted as residents fully and appropriately, making them a part of the economy.  

6. Industry & Infrastructure: More industries and infrastructure projects in the region will obviously create more jobs and rejuvenate Western Sydney. To encourage these projects and industries, and to kick start the economic growth of Western Sydney, Govts of all levels should offer incentives to the businesses to set their bases in the West.

7. Health services: The waiting lists for health services are bigger with longer waiting times in the West. Even emergency services take longer to be delivered compared to the East. Funding for the services must be such that they are equitable, sufficient and appropriate, not only for acute services but also for preventive services ie health education, and community care.

8. Airport: Independent studies have told us that Sydney will need second airport soon. Current airport will not cope with further load for long. If second airport is not coming forth, it will affect the economic growth of NSW. Multiple sites have been mentioned but they all get bogged down in politics. Politicians start worrying about votes. It is about time that Govts and politicians focus on economy, not just votes. If Sydney’s second airport has to be created, it has to be in Sydney basin, not Canberra. It will cost money [Approx. $10 billions] but then every mega project which is essential for our economy will need investment. An airport in Western Sydney is expected to give a major boost to the economy in the West, creating an environment for infrastructure projects and employment opportunities equivalent of approx. 40000 jobs,

9. WSROC & other stake holders: Wester Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils is a perfect group, comprising of Councils of Western Sydney. They know what is required in the region. Their views will be of significant importance. They along with key leaders from businesses, public policy and communities should be used as the key stakeholders for debates, analysis and sounding boards.

10. Cost of living: It is an important issue all over Australia but more so in Western Sydney. Rising prices of essential commodities like food, rising cost of electricity, high rents, cost of education, child care, high cost of petrol and so many items which are needed for day to day living are all adding to the pressure. Carbon tax has been an issue although not as bad as was predicted and there are some support available to compensate struggling families. No one can deny that there are people and families who/which are really struggling. Everything must be done to ease the pressure on them.

Two million people of Western Sydney need comprehensive policies/plans for the economic growth of the region. These policies must be outlined now and must be properly costed with source of funding outlined.

People in Western Sydney are smart people and they can see through the slogans and spins.

 We need decent, honest and meaningful plans/policies for the long term, not just for the election in Sept 2013.

A word of caution for both major parties: We want substance, not spins!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/4th March, 2013

dryadusingh@gmail.com,

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au.linkedin.com/in/dryadusingh/

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Doing something for our fellow Australians!

MAYORAL CHARITY DINNER-Flyer


We have all heard about the devastation and damage which recent floods in Queensland caused to the communities there. This has been heart-touching.

Some of us from Hills Shire have come around and decided to do something about it to help rebuild lives. Gareth Mccray, Rajiv Chaudhri, Sanjeev Sharma, Adj/Prof Jim Taggart, Clr Jeff Lowe and myself in addition to Mayor Byrne and many others have been meeting on a weekly basis to organise a fund raising event for them. We have the full support from our able and compassionate Mayor from Hills Shire, Michelle Byrne, in addition to the support from Castle Hill RSL, local businesses and local newspapers.

The Hills Shire Mayor’s Care fund, under the leadership of Mayor, Michelle Byrne, is organising an event which starts in the day time with markets, buffet lunch followed by a gala charity dinner with entertainment, raffle draw and auctions of various articles. These items include a Cricket bat signed by Australian national team, a cricket bat signed by Ricky Ponting, jewellery items and so many more. It is simply amazing to see the generosity from Australians for a tragedy like floods in Qld.

Further details: http://tinyurl.com/cah8wue

Flyer: fb.me/2vjuvyhwb

We are more than 70% sold out and only few seats are left.

We would love one & all to join us either by visiting the markets/buffet lunch in the day time and/or joining us for the gala dinner.

Venue: Mother India, 1237 Old Northern Rd,  Middle Dural NSW 2158
(02) 9651 6555

Sunday, 24th March, 2013
Cost: $75/per person

I have already had positive response from heaps of people and of course, am looking for the support from more.

After all, this is a dinner for a noble cause!

To book a seat for the dinner, please contact me or any of the committee members.

It is about time that we do think about our fellow Australians and do something for them.

After all, Australia is our home and we all are Australians!

 

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/1st March, 2013 

dryadusingh@gmail.com, 0413 375 669

http://www.facebook.com/dryadusingh

www.twitter.com/dryadusingh

 

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Health Seminar for the community:Eat to live and then, live to eat!

HealthSeminar-community.JEPGINDAUS-LOGO

Details for the next INDAUS Inc activity:
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“Eat to live and then, Live to eat”
-Health seminar for the community!
-Granville Town Hall, 10 Carlton Street, Granville, NSW
-Saturday, 23rd Feb, 2.30PM to 4.30PM
-Free admission.
-RSVP recommended! See the Flyer for details!
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Diet, nutrition, preventive care and primary medical care.
Talk and Q+A by Dietitian and doctors.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/10th Feb, 2013
dyadusingh@gmail.com
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http://www.indaus.org.au
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Multiculturalism is in our Heart & Soul: INDAUS Inc celebrates Australia Day & Indian Republic Day with class & style!
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Multiculturalism is in our Heart & Soul: INDAUS Inc celebrates Australia Day & Indian Republic Day with class & style!

ADIRD-23-CGADIRD24-CRCADIRD21-YSADIRD22-David-ClarkeADIRD11-Islanders-groupADIRD6-FlamencoADIRD19-Geoff-LeeADIRD12-SinhasADIRD13-ReddysADIRD14-CRCADIRD15-Michelle-ByrneADIRD16-FergusonADIRD16-Zangari-Grove-DattaADIRD17-Philip-RuddockADIRD18-John-Alexander<img src="https://yadusingh.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/adird7-cg2.jpg?w=300" alt="ADIRD7-CG" width="300" height="198" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3119" /Aus-IND-Flag>Sydney, 27th Jan, 2013

The Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc. [INDAUS Inc.] celebrated Australia Day and Indian Republic Day on Sunday 27 January 2013 with a style and a class of its own. A large gathering of 400+ people filled the Ryde Civic Hall to capacity.

Political and government dignitaries included federal parliament members Hon. Laurie Ferguson (Werriwa) representing the Federal Government, Hon. John Alexander (Bennelong) representing the Hon. Tony Abbott, the leader of the Federal Opposition and Hon. Philip Ruddock (Berowra).

Geoff Lee, Member for Parramatta, represented Premier of NSW, Hon Barry O’Farrell. Hon. Greg Smith, Attorney General & Minister for Justice and Hon. David Clarke, Parliamentary Secretary were present there too. The Minister for Communities and Citizenship, Hon. Victor Dominello, was represented by Matt Kean, Member for Hornsby and Guy Zangari, Member for Fairfield, represented Leader of NSW Opposition, Hon John Robertson. Other MPs and dignitaries included Kevin Conolly, Member for Riverstone, Dominic Perrottet, Member for Baulkham Hills, CRC Chair and CEO, Hon Stephan Kerkyasharian, Indian Consul General, Arun Kumar Goel, Mayor John Chedid from Parramatta, Mayor Ivan Petch from Ryde, Mayor Ross Grover from Holroyd, Mayor Michelle Byrne from Baulkham Hills, Councilor Karlo Siljeg, representing Blacktown Mayor and Councilor Raj Datta from Strathfield Council.

Guests were entertained to a welcoming Shennai instrumental music, which was played during the arrival of the guests.

Pics are here: http://www.desi.com.au/Australia_and_Indian_Republic_Day_Celebrations_by_INDAUS_Inc.html

The proceedings started with a short introduction by the event coordinator Mr. Abhilash Narendran in which he highlighted the importance of the Australia Day and the Indian Republic Day. He then introduced the president of the Indian Australian Association of NSW, Dr Yadu Singh, who also played the role of the MC. He officially welcomed all the attendees. He said it was indeed gratifying to see a large cross section of the Indian and Australian community attend this event.

The national anthems of Australia and India were presented followed by common Australia folklore Waltzing Matilda by Legendary Slim Dusty that was well received by the audience.

Several dignitaries delivered a series of brief official speeches. The list included Hon. Greg Smith, Hon. Laurie Ferguson, John Alexander, Geoff Lee, Matt Kean, Guy Zangari, Stephan Kerkyasharian and Arun Kumar Goel. Almost all the speakers dwelt on the similarities of Australia and India in multiple ways. They all wished for the improvement in bilateral relations between the two countries and wished India in its march towards progressive development in society, culture and industry. They all praised the good work the team led by Dr Yadu Singh have been doing with and before INDAUS formation.

In his brief address, INDAUS Inc. President, Dr. Yadu Singh informed that the Indian community in Australia is of a significant size, constituting 2% of Australian population, and is keen to play its role. A brief mention was made about what INDAUS team has been doing. He outlined that INDAUS Inc. is going to stay out of the annoying race to “give awards”, which is so prevalent with every other association in the community. He outlined the resolve of INDAUS Inc. to bring “India House” project to fruition, while working with all groups, associations and community in a smarter and efficient way.

A multicultural mix of entertainment was the highlight of the event. At the commencement, Ruchi Sanghi’s Group performed Kathak dances, followed by The Flamenco dancers providing a gutsy and excellent show in which a team of two women and one man entertained the gathering with a series of Flamenco dances. The main highlight of the evening was of course the Islanders’ dances. A group of five drummers and eight dancers from the Cook Islands mesmerized the audience by a series of superbly crafted intensive dances. They were so good that attendees could not refuse the request to participate in some of these cultural dances to the audience’s delight.

This event was supported by several media and business groups. Cricket NSW donated NSW Blues Team cricket bat, which was auctioned. Business groups donated several raffle prizes for the occasion. Details will be posted in INDAUS Inc. website soon.

A souvenir was released to commemorate this event. Generous support in the shape of sponsorships by many business organizations was acknowledged.

Mr. Anil Sharma, INDAUS Inc. Treasurer, proposed a vote of thanks in which he thanked and appreciated all those involved in making this celebration possible in a short time frame.

Renowned and popular caterer, Ajay Raj from Maya da Dhaba, as usual, dished out a superb Indian meal with excellent entrée dishes.

Overall the Australia Day & Indian Republic Day celebrations organized by the Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc. were splendidly successful and rewarding for the organizers and the audience. We received several excellent comments from the attendees for a well-organized great Indian community function.

The special points, separating INDAUS Inc. from others and proving again that it is an association with difference, included their Multicultural entertainment, large numbers comprising predominantly of younger people [>75%], huge political presence and staying away from “Giving award” phenomenon which is so prevalent among other associations.

The executive committee of INDAUS Inc. is very grateful to the Indian community, businesses, media and others at large for their strong support and commitment to the organization. They will like members of the community to join them to help deliver projects for the community.

Press Release issued by Stanley D’Cruz, Vice President, Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc

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Dr Yadu Singh/3rd Feb, 2013
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26th January 2013: Happy Australia Day and Happy Indian Republic Day!
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26th January 2013: Happy Australia Day and Happy Indian Republic Day!

Happy Australia Day and Happy Indian Republic Day!

26th January is a great day for Australians and Indians! For Indian Australians, 26th January is doubly special! We are the only ones who get the opportunity to celebrate two national days this day today!

I will be going to join in the Flag hoisting at the official residence of Consul General of India in Sydney, Mr Arun Goel, followed by taking part in the citizenship ceremony, presided by Lord Mayor of Parramatta, John Chedid. Later in the evening, I will be joining in the NSW Premier’s Australia Day reception. Later in the evening and even during the day, I will be keeping in touch with celebrations including Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.

We ourselves from Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc [INDAUS Inc] will be hosting an Australia Day and Indian Republic Day  celebration tomorrow, Sunday, 27th Jan, 6-10.30 PM, at Ryde Civic Hall, Ryde, NSW with 400+ people including politicians, media and multicultural entertainment, and sumptuous food.

Our focus today and in our INDAUS Inc celebration on 27th January will be on fun, food, networking, multicultural entertainment and celebration of our two nation days.

Once again, Happy Australia Day and Happy Indian Republic Day!! Happy Indian Republic Day

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/26th January, 2013

http://www.twitter.com/dryadusingh

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My India diary: Sick of noise pollution

4th Jan, 2013

Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, India

I am not happy with noise pollution here in my town in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh.

I have noticed that people don’t care about noise pollution here. It is not specific to Bundelkhand. Instead, it is an India wide problem.

It goes on from 4am right upto midnight and often overnight.

I am visiting India currently. There is a Kirtan (religious singing) going on late in the night in the neighborhood, using loud speakers, which  did not let me fall asleep. Once I fell asleep at about 2am, I was waken up with a loud Azaan from the neighborhood mosque at 4am. I am cranky now. This happens here almost daily.

There is simply no awareness about its harm.

Noise pollution comes from:

  1. Loud speakers from temples and mosques
  2. Horns from motor vehicles
  3. Motor vehicles
  4. Heavy braking
  5. Kirtans and prayers, using loud speakers
  6. Loud songs from transistors
  7. Shouting and screaming
  8. Ram Lila and similar shows
  9. Political speeches
  10. Political and religious processions
  11. Loud announcements

Noise pollution affects hearing leading to hearing impairment which often ends in the need for hearing aids. Such aids are very expensive which many can’t afford.

Noise pollution affects general health too. Disturbance in sleep has adverse health outcomes.

I just hope that bureaucrats will do something to create an awareness about it and do something to control it. Mass media like newspapers can also help in creating awareness about it.

AS far as I am concerned, I am in favour of stopping use of loud speakers from any place of worship. If they have to be used, they should be powerful enough only for the venue, not the whole suburb or the city.

India needs political will to curb noise pollution, irrespective of who is generating it.

Dr Yadu Singh

http://www.Facebook.com/DoctorYaduSingh

http://www.Twitter.com/dryadusingh

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India diary: Hatemongering by anyone should not be tolerated!

Akbaruddin Owaisiibtl.in/video/6635/secular-mla-akbaruddin-owaisis-incendiary-speech … … … … … …

http://www.ibtl.in/blog/2082/owaisi-is-the-speaking-kasab

Firm and fast action must be taken against anyone who is involved in hatemongering. It does not matter who is making hate speech, attacking religions, communities, gender, races or cultures. It does not matter whether such person is a Hindu, Christian, Sikh or Muslim!

I have seen this video and feel that Andhra Pradesh MLA from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen [MIM], Akbaruddin Owaisi, crossed lines several times. He is not above law and certainly, not above India.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbaruddin_Owaisi

Law enforcement agencies should take action against him for this speech. I wonder whether he is qualified for the membership of the Legislative Assembly.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney [Currently in Bundelkhand, UP, India]/3rd Jan, 2013

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India Diary: On the roads in Bundelkhand!

I am currently in India, visiting my extended family in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh [UP].

Bundelkhand is the region between UP and Madhya Pradesh [MP] in the southern part of UP. Prominent places in this area include Jhansi, Khajuraho, Banda, Mahoba, Kalinjar, Chitrakoot, Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Satna and of course, Maihar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundelkhand

It is such a fun and pleasure to be with my mother, brothers, nephews, nieces and relatives.

Many things have changed here, and they have changed in the right direction.

Internet is fast and cheap. At 800 Rupees [$15] a month, you can get unlimited broadband internet access at home!

Mobile phone rates are dirt cheap. Connectivity and coverage are great. Almost everyone I know has a mobile phone!

Flash and flashier cars on the road these days!

Roads are better, but still, a lot of work is required.

The biggest bummer is the electricity supply. There is no electricity between 10AM to 4PM, forcing people to use inverters and generators!

Poverty is all too pervasive, with lack of industry everywhere except a few. It is basically a feudal society with farming as the backbone.

I travelled to Maihar, Madhya Pradesh to visit the famous temple of Goddess Sharda right on the top of the mountain. My nephews and nieces have been insisting on this visit for years.

We could have taken the train to Maihar but we chose the car for the convenience and control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maihar

Sharada Temple Maihar

Mahindra and Mahindra’s Scorpio Four Wheel Drive on 30th Dec, 2012 was comfortable and right for the journey. 220 Km distance each way was no problem. We enjoyed songs from latest Bollywood movies. Children knew which song was from which movie. Amazing!

Banda to Maihar distance should have been about 160 Km but our driver took us via an alternate route due to bad  road condition on the regular pathway.

Arriving at Maihar at about 1PM, we had two choices for going to the temple. Either we go via the Gondola or negotiate about 1000 steps. We chose the former, for both efforts and time. There was a big crowd for Gondola too, but I have the feeling that my brothers were able to impress the Police and security that we deserved some sort of special treatment, hence a special entry to Gondola platform. I wonder whether my background as a Sydney medico worked here or was it money to grease the palms of people who were managing the Gondola!

On the top of the mountain, and at the temple, there was another crowd but this time we stayed in the crowd, taking about 1 hour before entering the temple itself.

We prayed, offered flowers and other things including Coco nuts before exiting the temple. We certainly prayed for health, peace and wellbeing of our family and friends.

It was cold but pleasant. We were full of devotion, enjoying devotional songs.

After being there for about 1 hour, we set out on our drive back to our home.

The roads in Bundelkhand from Maihar [MP] to Satna [MP] to Panna [MP] to Ajay Garh [MP] to Kartal [UP] to Naraini [UP] to Banda was fine except about 3 km stretch where work on the road was in progress.

I was pleased that I was able to visit this famous and historical temple which counts Alha, the brave Bundelkhand warrior, as its devotee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alha

Dr Yadu Singh/Bundelkhand, India/2nd Jan, 2013

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INDAUS Inc’s Australia Day & Indian Republic Day 2013 Celebration!

You are invited

For

Australia Day & Indian Republic Day 2013 Celebration

By

Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc

(INDAUS Inc)

On

Sunday, 27th Jan, 2013, 6-10 PM

INDAUS-Australia-Day-Indian-Republic-Day-2013

At

Ryde Civic Centre, 1 Devlin Street

Ryde, NSW 2112

Dr Yadu Singh, President, INDAUS Inc

http://www.indaus.org.au

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Shiamak Sydney’s Summer Funk was a roaring success!

Shiamak-Summer-Funk-10Shiamak-Summer-Funk-8Shiamak-Summer-Funk-7Shiamak-Summer-Funk-5Shiamak-Summer-Funk-3Shiamak-Summer-Funk-2Shiamak-Summer-Funk-1Shiamak-Summer-Funk-4Sydney, NSW

30th Nov, 2012

I was supposed to see Skyfall, the latest Bond movie, in Parramatta on Friday, 30th Nov, 2012. We had 2 complimentary tickets. At the same time, we had the invitation to attend Shiamak Sydney’s Summer Funk at C3 conference Centre, Silverwater.

Knowing the reputation of Shiamak Australia Group, we chose the latter. Having witnessed and enjoyed the high level of performances, we are glad we decided what we decided. We can see Skyfall any other day.

The performances were thrilling.  While instructors were expected to perform marvellously, which they did, I was specially amazed however that their students performed so spectacularly, only after a 4 weeks training.

Vihang Nikalje, Darshan Pawar, Kush Gupta, Radhika Singh, Karishma Singh, Mystie and others were simply wonderful.

Bollywood dances were performed with finesse, class and grace.

It is no surprise that they did so because some of them have actually performed in Bollywood movies like “Bunty and Bubbly” and “Taare Zamin Par” after having trained by the legendary choreographer, Shiamak Davar himself.

You might also know that Karishma and Kush were in SBS Bollywood Star series.

This was their third performance in Sydney. The First was in Indian Independence Day celebration by Indian Australian Association of NSW [INDAUS Inc] at Parravilla, Parramatta, on 15th Aug, 2012. People were thrilled and mesmerised with what they saw. They still talk about it with nostalgia.

The second was on 28th Nov, 2012 when they rocked the Westin Hotel’s ball room which was full of 500+ Govt officials, Diplomats, business leaders and community leaders during Community Relations Commission’s [CRC] National Multicultural Marketing Award night. CRC Chair, The Hon, Stepan Kerkyasharian had seen their performances on 15th Aug, 2012 and was so impressed with it that he requested us to get Shiamak group for his function.

Summer Funk was their third, after training Sydneysiders over 4-5 weeks.

Shiamak Sydney honoured me and thanked our group for the support we have provided. I was given the honour to give away the certificates to the students/performers.

Shiamak Sydney has truly arrived in Sydney and has managed to rock Sydneysiders with their class and performances.

We look forward to their future activities right here in Sydney, the best city in Australia.

Thank you Shiamak Sydney for the honour given to us and more importantly, for entertaining Sydneysiders!

Dr Yadu Singh/3rd Dec, 2012

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The best place to be born in is Switzerland. Australia is the next best!

The Economist Intelligence Unit [a sister concern of the The Economist] has published its research, outlining the relative positions of various countries in regards to the best place to be born in.

They used 11 criteria, some of which were subjective but many were objective.

Switzerland is the best place to be born in. Australia is the next best place with only 0.1 point behind Switzerland. Scandinavian counties follow Australia in the list.

India is 66th but Sri Lanka is ahead of India. Pakistan and Bangladesh are further down in the list.

Here is the list in 2012.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             .

More details are here: http://www.economist.com/news/21566430-where-be-born-2013-lottery-life?fsrc=scn/tw/te/tr/thelotteryoflife

Australia is a great country with relatively less crime and higher quality of life. Medicare system, guaranteeing good medical treatment for all Australians, rule of law and relatively clean governance all contribute to this country being a great place to live, work and bring the family up.

It is the responsibility of all Australians to do everything to keep Australia stay as a great place!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/29th Nov, 2012

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Wishing you a happy Diwali!

13th Nov, 2012,

Sydney, Australia

May this Diwali bring you and your family all the joy, success, health and wealth!

May there be Peace in the whole world!

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On This Diwali Lets pray to Almighty God for :

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:
1: Om, Lead us from Unreality (of Transitory Existence) to the Reality (of Self),
2: Lead us from the Darkness (of Ignorance) to the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge),
3: Lead us from the Fear of Death to the Knowledge of Immortality.
4: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

 Brihadaranyaka, Upanishad 1.3.28

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Happy Diwali! Happy new year!!

From Dr Yadu Singh & family

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Community Health Education Series: Sleep Apnoea!

INDAUS Inc [www.indaus.org.au] is organising a Community Health Education Seminar on

 SLEEP APNOEA

At Ermington Community Centre, 10 River Road, Ermington, NSW

On Saturday, 24th Nov, 2012, 2-4PM

Admission is FREE.

Sleep Apnoea is an important and significant problem in the community. Some reports suggest it is more common among Indians. Its classical symptoms are snoring, day time sleepiness and lack of energy. It is implicated in traffic accidents, poor quality of life, lack of concentration and even cardio-vascular diseases. Obesity is significantly associated with Sleep Apnoea. Its diagnosis requires careful evaluation of symptoms followed by SLEEP Study. These days, Sleep study can be done at home, rather than needing to stay in the hospital for an overnight study. Its treatment requires life style changes, weight loss and C-PAP machine.

http://www.lungfoundation.com.au/lung-information/educationa-material/brochures-fact-sheets/91-obstructive-sleep-apnoea

Dr David Mikhail, a Respiratory and a Sleep Medicine Specialist will present information to the community during this seminar.

I will be moderating the presentation.

There will be plenty of opportunities for Q &A.

Join us for the seminar. Please let us know by sending an email to prindaus@gmail.com   if you are attending.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/8th Nov, 2012

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Rajiv Gandhi Bust in UTS, Sydney!

I was privileged to take part in the ceremony this morning when the BUST of India’s former PM, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, was inaugurated in University of Technology, Sydney. The BUST was donated by Indian Council of Cultural Relations, [ICCR], Govt of India, New Delhi.

The gathering included Mr Arun Goel, Consul General of India in Sydney, Prof Ross Milbourne, VC of UTS, Prof William Purcell, Deputy VC of UTS, Neville Roach, Dr Daniel Chandran from UTS, myself and a few dozen more distinguished people.

Rajiv Gandhi was a popular PM of India, at least in the beginning of his rule. He had a lot of goodwill on his side when he took over as PM of India, after Mrs Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her security guards. He remains the youngest PM of India and his victory in 1984 election gave him the biggest majority in Indian Parliament.

He lost some of that goodwill when he passed a constitutional amendment to negate the verdict from Supreme Court in Shah Bano case. His name was dragged into Bofors scam too.

His decision to intervene in Sri Lankan civil war was also controversial. Indian Peace-keeping force suffered unnecessary loss of lives because the whole strategy was not well thought in the advance.

Unfortunately, the matters from IPKF disaster ware largely responsible for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi by a LTTE’s suicide bomber, which forced India to harden its stand against LTTE. LTTE later realized that killing of Rajiv Gandhi was their biggest blunder, from which they never recovered.

On the plus side, he brought Sam Pitroda back to India to start the telecommunication revolution, including Public Call offices [PCOs], thus making telephone facilities available even in remote area of India.

He acted to reduce the control of “licence Raj” which was giving too much power to bureaucracy, thus stifling the economy.

He also initiated the process of improvement in USA-India relations.

His doctrine for nuclear disarmament and his efforts against Apartheid were his other noteworthy things.

After his assassination, Congress Party formed the Govt with PV Narsimha Rao as the PM.

There is an increasing presence of Indian philosophy and thought in Australian Universities either in the form of BUSTs or Chairs. Mahatma Gandhi’s Bust is in UNSW where people assemble on Gandhi’s birthday, 2nd October and Rabindranath Tagore Bust is in Macquarie University in Sydney. University of Melbourne hosts Australia India Institute, which is chaired by Prof Amitabh Mattoo.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/18th October,2012

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Sachin Tendulkar’s Order of Australia: a brilliant piece of soft diplomacy!

English: Sachin Tendulkar at Adelaide Oval

English: Sachin Tendulkar at Adelaide Oval (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am happy to know that Australian PM, Julia Gillard, has announced an AM [Member of the Order of Australia] for Sachin Tendulkar, the only Cricketer who has scored 100+ centuries.

I also know that Indians in India and Australia are happy with this award. There should be no surprises there!

Sachin deserves it for the services to International Cricket, although there have been some comments in Australia against this award. Rob Oakeshott MP made his views known yesterday. He was in favour of Order of Australia reserved only for Australians and expressed that these awards should not be used for soft diplomacy.

Brian Lara, West Indian Cricketer received an Order of Australia in 2009 and Clive Lloyd received it earlier. Not only this, Indian Attorney General, Soli Sorabji, too received it in 2006. Many more international people have received such awards in the past. The sole criteria has been that they have helped relations between their countries and Australia.

 

Order of Australia: They are the top awards in Australia.

  • Knight or Dame of the Order of Australia (AK or AD – Civil division only – Closed to new appointments in 1986);
  • Companion of the Order of Australia (AC);
  • Officer of the Order of Australia (AO);
  • Member of the Order of Australia (AM); and
  • Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Sachin has been given an AM.

In case of Sachin, critics in Australia have mentioned that he has not done any thing of substance for Australia India relations and his role in “Monkeygate” scandal in 2008 was not that great. Initially, Sachin said that he did not hear what Harbhajan Singh said to Andrew Symonds but later on he said that Harbhajan had used some other word in Hindi, instead of dreaded/racist “Monkey” word for Symonds.

It is hard to know what happened but smart thing will be to put that saga behind us and move on.

I don’t think Sachin spoke one or another way either when Indian students’ issue was a hot item in 2009.

Having said that, Sachin is a gentleman and a great cricketer. His achievements in cricketing field  are unmatched. Cricket fans love him all over the world including Australia.

The most important outcome from this award will be the image make over Australia will get in Indian minds, after it was distorted in 2009 due to saturation coverage of attacks on students. Even though most of the coverage, especially the racism bit, was exaggerated and hyped up, it did nevertheless cause a serious harm to Australia’s image in India and damaged Australian education business from India and other countries.

Order of Australia to Sachin is likely to reverse the “Feel bad” for Australia in India.

This, I believe, is a brilliant piece of diplomacy by Australian PM, Julia Gillard.

This may also be smart politics domestically too in regards to Indian Australians, knowing the numerical strength of the community in Australia. There are approx 400,000 Indian Australians [approx 2% of total population] with  some constituencies having more than 10% voters from our community.

While there would be some who will be swayed for supporting ALP because of this, I doubt it will be a significant factor because most of us, just like general population, decide who to vote for, based on policies and agenda of the political parties.

Coming to the real issues, I am hoping that PM Gillard and Indian leadership will deal with the real issues of Trade, Investment, International Education, security in the region and Uranium sale in a pragmatic fashion and have a win win outcome for both countries.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/17th October,2012

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INDAUS Inc welcomes Mr Oscar Fernandes, MP and General Secretary of Indian National Congress in Sydney, and demands Visa on Arrival in India for Australian Citizens!

This is from INDAUS Inc Press release.

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INDAUS Inc  welcomes Mr Oscar Fernandes, MP and General Secretary of Indian National Congress in Sydney, and demands Visa on Arrival in India for Australian Citizens!

INDAUS Inc honoured visiting AICC General Secretary and Member of Parliament, Mr Oscar Fernades, on 17th September 2012 at Chutney Indian Restaurant in Harris Park, NSW. The sumptuous and highly interactive dinner was attended by almost fifty prominent Sydney siders, representing various segments of Indian community living in Sydney.

Dr. Yadu Singh, president INDAUS Inc, made the welcome speech and walked the guests through the agenda for the evening. Dr. Singh, Anagan Babu and the INDAUS Inc team then introduced each and every guest to Oscar Fernades and thus bestowed them the privilege to shake hands and have a brief chat with the highly influential visiting Indian politician. Abhilash Narendran, INDAUS Inc’s Executive Committee member, formally introduced Oscar Fernades and gave a snapshot about Fernades’ public life and his achievements.Oscar Fernades’ down to earth nature was highly appreciable and it was clearly visible in his dealings with all who attended the dinner.

Dr Yadu Singh informed Mr Fernandes that there are about 400,000 people of Indian heritage in Australia. This is approx. 2% of the total Australian population and we have an increasing importance in several constituencies during elections. This number is increasing daily as India is the top source of migrants for Australia. He also assured Mr Fernandes that Australia is not a racist country and that Indians are not suffering racist or adverse treatment in this country, despite the false impression created by a segment of Indian media. Dr Singh also raised few significant issues, that affect Indian Australians, with the visiting politician.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP:

Dr. Singh brought up the demand for genuine dual citizenships for Overseas Citizens of India, to Oscar Fernades’ notice. He reiterated that Indians living overseas love India more than anyone else and are loyal to their motherland, India. There should be no valid concern in giving approved [following a thorough vetting by Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs] Overseas Citizens of India full political rights. Congress leader agreed to discuss this matter with Mr Vayalar Ravi, Hon Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs.

VISA ON ARRIVAL FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS:

Dr Singh put forward the suggestion of providing ‘On Arrival’ Visa status to Australian Citizens, so that Australian citizens including Indian Australians who don’t have OCI cards will not be required to apply for Indian visa, if and when they travel to India. This should hopefully help tourists’ flow to India. Mr Fernades has promised to raise our demand with Ministry of External Affairs so that the ministry will explore diplomatic options to provide the new Visa option for Australian Citizens.

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA BY INDIAN PM:

Dr Singh reminded that there has not been any visit to Australia by any Indian Prime Minister for 26 years. Late Sri Rajiv Gandhi was the last PM who visited here. With 4 Australian Prime Ministers visiting India during this period and PM Julia Gillard visiting India in November, Indian PM’s visit to Australia is long overdue. With Australian Uranium sale to India sorted, there is no real obstacle against such visit. Australian community including Indian Australians are waiting for the Prime Ministerial level visit from India soon. Oscar Fernandes responded that there would be reciprocal visit from Indian side soon.

While addressing the gathering, Mr Fernades emphasized on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the current and coming era. He also mentioned that the Indian family values, lifestyle and their emphasis on saving something for rainy days played a big role in providing India, a strong immunity from the after effects of GFC and the recent Euro zone crisis. He felt the overwhelming impression that Indians are doing well in Australia.

Oscar Fernades was honoured with an INDAUS Plaque, which was jointly handed over to him by Stanley D’Cruz, Anagan Babu and Dr.Yadu Singh, along with Sanjay Patel, a prominent Sydney businessman.

Released by Anagan Babu, Secretary, dated 21st September, 2012 www.indaus.org.au, www.facebook.com/indaus.nsw

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Yadu Singh/Sydney/24th Sept, 2012

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INDAUS Inc’s “Felicitation & honouring” evening for visiting prominent Indian writers was appreciated and enjoyed by all!

Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc [INDAUS Inc]

organised a reception to honour visiting prominent Indian writers on Wednesday, 5th Sept, 2012

at Chutney Restaurant, Harris Park, NSW.

INDAUS Inc’s “Felicitation & honouring” evening at Chutney Restaurant, Harris Park was enjoyed by all. Along with the visitors, Sydney’s prominent people attended the evening event. Dr Shailja Chandra, Mr Abbas Alvi, Mr Harmohan Walia, Manju Mittal, Dr Parwin Faiz, Dr Manmit Madan, Raymond Selvaraj [SBS Tamil Radio] were there along with 65 people in total, representing various segments of Indian community in Sydney.

President of INDAUS Inc, Dr Yadu Singh, conducted the evening with the help of Abhilash Narendran, Anagan Babu and Chidanand.

 A welcome message to the writers was read in many languages-English [Dr Yadu Singh], Hindi [Gaurav Nirwal], Telugu [Upendra Gadey], Kannada [Veena], Punjabi [Harmohan Walia], Tamil [Anagan Babu], Urdu [Abbas Alvi], Bengali [Mridula Chakravorty] and Malyalam [Abhilash Narendran]. This was followed by honouring of individual writers, with a presentation of a Plaque and a brief speech by the writers. Dr Shailja Chandra and Abbas Alvi recited their poetry.

Dr Singh informed the visitors that Indians are doing fine in Australia, despite the reports in Indian media that we are not. He gave a few examples of how the societies in Australia and India operate as a community and politically.

Anand Arora sang some beautiful songs which were enjoyed by all. He even sang some songs which were requested by the visitors. He enthralled everyone with his melodious songs.

A vote of thanks was given by Anagan Babu, scretary of INDAUS Inc.

INDAUS Inc Press release is here: INDAUS+-PressRelease-3-writers-event

The party finished at 11.30PM. The visitors were able to feel what we feel about Australia and India. They enjoyed themselves tremendously.

  Sydney’s Indian community was fortunate to have an opportunity to meet and interact with prominent writers from India who were visiting Sydney to take part in Australia-India Literatures International Forum, organised by University of Western Sydney and NSW Library.

Details:

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/series/australia_india_forum.html

Pics: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.515832245096938.130933.496959000317596&type=1 

All except two were present in the reception.

Here is  the brief info about 10 writers, 1 publisher and 1 literary consultant, who visited Sydney.

Gujarati: Prabodh Parikh is a poet, short fiction writer and visual artist. His book of poems, Kaunsman (Between Parentheses/In Brackets) published in 1993, represents thirty years of work in Gujarati literature, and won the Gujarati Sahitya Akademi Award and the G F Saraf Award for Best Gujarati Book. Other work include Mitro, Karan Vinana Loko, Priya Bhayani Saheb, and Kauns Bahar, a book of essays on philosophy and poetry. His work has been translated into Bengali, English, Hindi, Marathi and Punjabi.

Hindi: Uday Prakash is one of contemporary Hindi’s most important, original and audacious voices. He is an eminent scholar, prolific poet, essayist, journalist, translator and short story writer. Peelee Chhatri Wali Ladki (2001, The Girl with the Yellow Umbrella) is his best-known and longest continuous story. Other works include Ek Bhasha Hua Karti Hai (2009), Cheeni Baba (2008), Mohan Das (2006), Raat Mein Harmonium (1998), Abootar Kabootar (1984), Suno Karigara (1980), among others. His work has been translated into 10 languages, and in 2011, the University of Western Australia Press translated and published The Walls of Delhi. He is the recipient of the 2010 Sahitya Akademi Award and 2009 SAARC Literary Award, among numerous other honours.

Kannada: Girish Karnad rose as a prominent playwright in the 1960s and marked the coming of age of Modern Indian playwriting in Kannada. He is a recipient of the Jnanpith Award. He uses history, mythology and the fold theatre forms to address contemporary issues. Most of his plays, Yayati, Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Agni Mattu Male, Taledanda have been translated into English and several Indian languages. He has been conferred with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan Awards by the Government of India. His famous play, Nagamandala, had its world premiere at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapois while he was a Fulbright Playwright-in-Residence at the University of Chicago in 1987-88. He is a screenwriter, actor and director. He could not attend due to a private engagement.

Khasi: Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih writes poems and short fiction in Khasi and English. He is the author of Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends , A Mid-Ager’s Tale, Time’s Barter: Haiku and Senryu and The Yearning of Seeds. He has co-edited Dancing Earth: An Anthology of Poetry from North East India. His awards include the first Veer Shankar Shah-Raghunath Shah National Award for Literature (2008) and the first North-East Poetry Award (2004). His latest book, The Great Unconventional Elegiac Tradition: A Study of Gray, Arnold, Rilke, the Welsh Hiraeth and the Poetry of the Khasi National Bard, Soso Tham, raises immediate questions about a tradition of lamentation and its place in the North-East, as also about aesthetics within a nationalist tradition. His work has been published in Wasafiri. He could not attend due to an illness.

Malayalam: N S Madhavan is a leading writer of contemporary Malayalam literature. In a long career spanning major writer’s blocks, Madhavan has produced numerous novels, short stories, plays and football columns. His contribution to the short story form is considered unique and noteworthy. They include Chulaimedile Savangal (Corpses of Chulaimed), Higuita (judged best in 100 years of the Malayalam short story), Thiruth (Blue Pencil), Paryaya Kathakal (Stories about Names) and Nilavili (The Cry). His latest novel, Lanthan Batheriyile Luthiniyakal (Litanies of Dutch Battery 2003) was translated by Rajesh Rajmohan in 2011 and awarded the Hindu Literary Prize.

Marathi: Sharankumar Limbale is a dalit activist, writer, editor and critic. His recent autobiography, Akkarmashi (The Outcaste) reveals what it is like to grow up as an impoverished outcaste in modern India. His novel, Hindu (translated by Arun Prabha Mukherjee, Samya 2010) explores the contradictions within individuals and the plight of those who suffer injustice because of gender, physical disabilities as well as reasons other than caste. Towards and Aesthetic of Dalit Literature: History, Controversies and Considerations is his provocative and thoughtful account of the debates among dalit writers on how dalit literatures should be read, and is the first critical work by a dalit writer to appear in English.

North-East: Mamang Dai is a journalist, author and poet from the North East. Her works include River Poems, Arunachal Pradesh: The Hidden Land and Legends of Pensam. She won the 2003 Verrier Elwin Award from the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the 2011 Padma Shri from the Government of India.

Tamil: C S Lakshmi is a Tamil feminist writer and independent researcher in women’s studies. She writes under the pseudonym Ambai. In the 1990s, she worked on two research projects, Illustrated Social History of Women in Tamil Nadu funded by the Ford Foundation and An Idiom of Silence: An Oral History and Pictorial Study sponsored by the Homi J Bhabha Foundation. She is the founding Director of SPARROW (Sound and Picture Archives for Research on Women) and a member of the University of Michigan’s Global Feminisms Project. Her Tamil books include Nandimalai Charalilae (1962), Andhi Malai (1967), Sirakal muriyum (1976), Veetin mulaiyil oru camiyalarai (1988), Kaatil Oru Maan (2000) and Varrum eriyin meengal (2007).

Telegu: Gogu Shyamala is a Dalit feminist and Telangana activist who writes captivating short stories about life in rural Andhra Pradesh. She regularly publishes in journals such as Bhumika, Prasthanam, Pratighatana, Mana Telangana, Praja Kala Mandali and Nigha. Her latest collection is Father May be an Elephant and Mother Only a Small Basket, But… (Navayana). She represented Anveshi and Dalit Women’s Forum in the World Conference against Racism held in Durban,2001. She is a member of the Anveshi Executive Committee. Shyamala is  working on a project titled ‘Dalit Women’s Biographies’ (movement perspective of Dalit feminism) which aims to write biographies of Dalit women mainstream political leaders. This project is part of the Dalits and Minorities Initiative.

Urdu: Mahmood Farooqui: is a Delhi-based historian, writer and performer. After graduating from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge as a Rhodes scholar from India, he started his own theatre group called dastak. Over the last five years, he has been working to revive a lost form of story-telling in Urdu called dastangoi. His first book, Besieged: Voices from Delhi 1857 was published by Penguin in 2010. http://dastangoi.blogspot.com.au/

Mr Farooqui was the script C0-writer and Co-director for Aamir Khan’s movie “Peepli Live”!

From the Publishing Side:

R Sivapriya is the Translation Editor with Penguin Books India, the most prominent literary publishing house in the Indian subcontinent.

Mita Kapur is the CEO of Siyahi, a Literary Consultancy, that liaises between writers and multilingual presses. She is also an Organising Member of the Jaipur Writer’s Festival. She could not attend due to an illness.

Some explanations:

1. The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary honour conferred in India.

2. Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan are the highest civilian awards granted by the Government of India, for lifelong achievements.

3. The Sahitya Akademi is the Literature Academy of India and the Sahitya Akademi Awards are the most respected and prestigious literature awards in the country.

4. All of the writers mentioned below have their works available in English translation from reputable Indian publishing houses, some international too.

5. Dalit refers to the tribal, indigenous and aboriginal writers of India.

[With input on writers from Dr Mridula Chakravorty, UWS and others for this Blog]

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/7th Sept, 2012

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INDAUS Inc is organising a reception in the honour of top visiting Indian writers in Sydney on 5th Sept, 2012!
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INDAUS Inc is organising a reception in the honour of top visiting Indian writers in Sydney on 5th Sept, 2012!

Sydney’s Indian community is fortunate to have an opportunity to meet and interact with prominent writers from India who are visiting Sydney to take part in Australia-India Literatures International Forum, organised by University of Western Sydney and NSW Library.

Details:

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/series/australia_india_forum.html

 Indian Australian Association of NSW Inc [INDAUS Inc]

Website:  www.indaus.org.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/indaus.nsw]

has organised a reception to honour them on Wednesday, 5th Sept, 2012

7 PM

at Chutney Restaurant, Harris Park, NSW.

All except one [Girish Karnad] will be present in the reception.

Here is  the brief info about 10 writers, 1 publisher and 1 literary consultant, who are visiting Sydney.

Gujarati: Prabodh Parikh is a poet, short fiction writer and visual artist. His book of poems, Kaunsman (Between Parentheses/In Brackets) published in 1993, represents thirty years of work in Gujarati literature, and won the Gujarati Sahitya Akademi Award and the G F Saraf Award for Best Gujarati Book. Other work include Mitro, Karan Vinana Loko, Priya Bhayani Saheb, and Kauns Bahar, a book of essays on philosophy and poetry. His work has been translated into Bengali, English, Hindi, Marathi and Punjabi.

 Hindi: Uday Prakash is one of contemporary Hindi’s most important, original and audacious voices. He is an eminent scholar, prolific poet, essayist, journalist, translator and short story writer. Peelee Chhatri Wali Ladki (2001, The Girl with the Yellow Umbrella) is his best-known and longest continuous story. Other works include Ek Bhasha Hua Karti Hai (2009), Cheeni Baba (2008), Mohan Das (2006), Raat Mein Harmonium (1998), Abootar Kabootar (1984), Suno Karigara (1980), among others. His work has been translated into 10 languages, and in 2011, the University of Western Australia Press translated and published The Walls of Delhi. He is the recipient of the 2010 Sahitya Akademi Award and 2009 SAARC Literary Award, among numerous other honours.

Kannada: Girish Karnad rose as a prominent playwright in the 1960s and marked the coming of age of Modern Indian playwriting in Kannada. He is a recipient of the Jnanpith Award. He uses history, mythology and the fold theatre forms to address contemporary issues. Most of his plays, Yayati, Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Agni Mattu Male, Taledanda have been translated into English and several Indian languages. He has been conferred with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan Awards by the Government of India. His famous play, Nagamandala, had its world premiere at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapois while he was a Fulbright Playwright-in-Residence at the University of Chicago in 1987-88. He is a screenwriter, actor and director.

Khasi: Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih writes poems and short fiction in Khasi and English. He is the author of Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends , A Mid-Ager’s Tale, Time’s Barter: Haiku and Senryu and The Yearning of Seeds. He has co-edited Dancing Earth: An Anthology of Poetry from North East India. His awards include the first Veer Shankar Shah-Raghunath Shah National Award for Literature (2008) and the first North-East Poetry Award (2004). His latest book, The Great Unconventional Elegiac Tradition: A Study of Gray, Arnold, Rilke, the Welsh Hiraeth and the Poetry of the Khasi National Bard, Soso Tham, raises immediate questions about a tradition of lamentation and its place in the North-East, as also about aesthetics within a nationalist tradition. His work has been published in Wasafiri.

Malayalam: N S Madhavan is a leading writer of contemporary Malayalam literature. In a long career spanning major writer’s blocks, Madhavan has produced numerous novels, short stories, plays and football columns. His contribution to the short story form is considered unique and noteworthy. They include Chulaimedile Savangal (Corpses of Chulaimed), Higuita (judged best in 100 years of the Malayalam short story), Thiruth (Blue Pencil), Paryaya Kathakal (Stories about Names) and Nilavili (The Cry). His latest novel, Lanthan Batheriyile Luthiniyakal (Litanies of Dutch Battery 2003) was translated by Rajesh Rajmohan in 2011 and awarded the Hindu Literary Prize.

Marathi: Sharankumar Limbale is a dalit activist, writer, editor and critic. His recent autobiography, Akkarmashi (The Outcaste) reveals what it is like to grow up as an impoverished outcaste in modern India. His novel, Hindu (translated by Arun Prabha Mukherjee, Samya 2010) explores the contradictions within individuals and the plight of those who suffer injustice because of gender, physical disabilities as well as reasons other than caste. Towards and Aesthetic of Dalit Literature: History, Controversies and Considerations is his provocative and thoughtful account of the debates among dalit writers on how dalit literatures should be read, and is the first critical work by a dalit writer to appear in English.

North-East: Mamang Dai is a journalist, author and poet from the North East. Her works include River Poems, Arunachal Pradesh: The Hidden Land and Legends of Pensam. She won the 2003 Verrier Elwin Award from the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the 2011 Padma Shri from the Government of India.

Tamil: C S Lakshmi is a Tamil feminist writer and independent researcher in women’s studies. She writes under the pseudonym Ambai. In the 1990s, she worked on two research projects, Illustrated Social History of Women in Tamil Nadu funded by the Ford Foundation and An Idiom of Silence: An Oral History and Pictorial Study sponsored by the Homi J Bhabha Foundation. She is the founding Director of SPARROW (Sound and Picture Archives for Research on Women) and a member of the University of Michigan’s Global Feminisms Project. Her Tamil books include Nandimalai Charalilae (1962), Andhi Malai (1967), Sirakal muriyum (1976), Veetin mulaiyil oru camiyalarai (1988), Kaatil Oru Maan (2000) and Varrum eriyin meengal (2007).

Telegu: Gogu Shyamala is a Dalit feminist and Telangana activist who writes captivating short stories about life in rural Andhra Pradesh. She regularly publishes in journals such as Bhumika, Prasthanam, Pratighatana, Mana Telangana, Praja Kala Mandali and Nigha. Her latest collection is Father May be an Elephant and Mother Only a Small Basket, But… (Navayana). She represented Anveshi and Dalit Women’s Forum in the World Conference against Racism held in Durban,2001. She is a member of the Anveshi Executive Committee. Shyamala is  working on a project titled ‘Dalit Women’s Biographies’ (movement perspective of Dalit feminism) which aims to write biographies of Dalit women mainstream political leaders. This project is part of the Dalits and Minorities Initiative.

Urdu: Mahmood Farooqui: is a Delhi-based historian, writer and performer. After graduating from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge as a Rhodes scholar from India, he started his own theatre group called dastak. Over the last five years, he has been working to revive a lost form of story-telling in Urdu called dastangoi. His first book, Besieged: Voices from Delhi 1857 was published by Penguin in 2010. http://dastangoi.blogspot.com.au/

He was the script C0-writer and Co-director for Aamir Khan’s movie “Peepli Live”!

 From the Publishing Side:

 R Sivapriya is the Translation Editor with Penguin Books India, the most prominent literary publishing house in the Indian subcontinent.

Mita Kapuris the CEO of Siyahi, a Literary Consultancy, that liaises between writers and multilingual presses. She is also an Organising Member of the Jaipur Writer’s Festival.

Some explanations:

1. The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary honour conferred in India.

2. Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan are the highest civilian awards granted by the Government of India, for lifelong achievements.

3. The Sahitya Akademi is the Literature Academy of India and the Sahitya Akademi Awards are the most respected and prestigious literature awards in the country.

4. All of the writers mentioned below have their works available in English translation from reputable Indian publishing houses, some international too.

5. Dalit refers to the tribal, indigenous and aboriginal writers of India.

[With input from Dr Mridula Chakravorty, UWS]

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/3rd Sept, 2012

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What was this racist contractor smoking?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/No-Indians-or-Asians-job-advertisement-triggers-outrage-in-Australia/articleshow/15885678.cms

A contractor, working for Coles, had posted a job ad in Gum Tree online site for cleaners in a shopping centre in Hobart, Tasmania. In this ad, Indians and Asians were asked to not apply.

That is disgusting, racist and illegal.

Anti-discrimination laws prohibit such behaviour.

Rightly, the Anti-discrimination commissioner took a notice of it and has decided to investigate it. The ad has now been pulled out.

I believe that people who have the idea of racial supremacy or look down upon other races are idiots and sick.

It is important that this contractor and Gum Tree are punished for this illegal behaviour. Coles too must deal with this contractor sternly.

Such practices and people have no place in multicultural Australia. Australia has long moved on from the days of dreaded “White Australia Policy” but some losers are stuck to the past.

This is idiotic in a country where close to half of the population were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas.

Thankfully, these things are uncommon but even one example is “Not on and not acceptable”!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/28th Aug, 2012

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INDAUS Inc celebrates Indian Independence Day in Sydney on 15th Aug, 2012 with class and style!

Indian Australian Association of NSW [INDAUS Inc] celebrated Indian Independence Day in Sydney on 15th Aug, 2012 with superb class and style.

Here is the Press release about the event:

INDAUS -PressRelease-Independence-Day-21August2012

Here is the Video of the celebration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLRBS-xkS6s&feature=youtu.be

Here are the pics:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.507958422550987.128714.496959000317596&type=1

Special features:

  • 1. Invitation only event
  • 2. No ticket sale
  • 3. Shiamak Davar Bollywood Dance group performances
  • 4. Attendance of politicians from both sides, despite this day being the sitting day for the Parliament.
  • 5. Attendance of Tim Cruickshank, NSW Cricketer
  • 6. Support from prominent businesses

It was the maiden event by this newly formed community organisation.

Everyone appreciated the organisers for organising it right on 15th August, which is a first for Indian community in Australia. Everyone enjoyed the celebrations, especially the performance by Shaiamak Davar group.  With the support and encouragement we have received, this event will be organised in a bigger and better way next year!

More details:

http://www.indaus.org.au

www.facebook.com/indaus.nsw

 

 

 

 

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/24th Aug, 2012

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Indian Independence Day celebration in Sydney, right on Independence Day, 15th Aug, 2012!
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Indian Independence Day celebration in Sydney, right on Independence Day, 15th Aug, 2012!

Indian Australian Association of NSW [IndAus Inc]

www.indaus.org.au

is organising an exclusive Indian Independence Day celebration, right on Independence day

 Wednesday, 15th August, 2012

7pm-11.30 PM

At Parravilla, Parramatta, NSW.

INVITATION only event with NO Ticket sale!

Top Dance group, Shiamak Davar group, performing!

Catering by the TOP Indian Restaurant in Sydney, Maya Da Dhaba, Surry Hills, NSW!

Supported by many prominent businesses and people!

Some seats [invitations] will be given away for those who visit www.indaus.org.au and express their interest to attend or visit INDAUS Inc facebook site and “like” it.

Dr Yadu Singh

www.indaus.org.au

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Celebrating Indian Independence Day in Sydney on the Independence Day ie 15th August, 2012!
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Celebrating Indian Independence Day in Sydney on the Independence Day ie 15th August, 2012!

India celebrates its Independence Day on 15th August every year. It does not matter whether it is a weekday or weekend. 15th August is the day of celebration all over India and for all Indians, irrespective of where they live. It shouldn’t be different for us in Australia either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)

We are proud Australians, but we are also proud of our Indian heritage. People from our community have done very well in Australia. It makes us proud to see so many successful businessmen/women, lawyers, doctors, Bankers, teachers, Movie makers, CEOs, CFOs, accountants, builders, Entertainers, Cultural performers, Artists, IT professionals, Realtors, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs from our community doing so well in this great country. Three cheers for their success!

I was thrilled to read the latest Census report, telling us that there are  approx. 400,000 people of Indian heritage in Australia. India is the number one source of migrants to Australia now. We are doing fine in many respects. The only thing we have not been that good is about our presence in politics. This will change soon. I was pleased to see so many among us contesting coming Council elections in September 2012. This is a good sign.

We have  a significant clout but we are not marketing, exhibiting and utilizing it appropriately due to our bickering and differences. This needs to change.

Just to illustrate a point, I was invited to the Israel’s Independence Day celebration at a 5 Star Hotel in the city a few weeks ago. I was highly impressed with the crowd. NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, about 10 ministers, Leader of Opposition [John Robertson], members of State shadow ministry, Top leaders from Federal Govt and Federal shadow ministry, along with Editors of national newspapers, media leaders and ethnic community leaders were present. Close to 40 MPs were there. Many Consul Generals, High commissioners and Ambassadors too were there. It was indeed a hugely impressive gathering.

Can we match it or do something similar? Yes, we can, if we work together.

We have started the process from this year. I hope great people of Indian heritage share our passion and join us in this. We ourselves have done some significant networking in the community. While some very important businesses and entities are on board for this event of ours and are supporting us wholeheartedly, we need support from others who are equally important. We are indeed thrilled with the support from Maya Da Dhaba, Sharma’s Kitchen, SHIAMAK DAVAR Group from Melbourne, Patel Brothers Group, Parravilla, Murli Bhojwani, Best & Less Travel, Go Kool, Tuli Jewellers, FIAV [Federation of Indian Association of Victoria] and many more, and we are likely to have many more on board soon. We also need to hear from you about our great achievers [and sometimes, silent achievers], who must be invited for an event like this. It is not just “my” function. It is indeed “our” function as a community.

Changing the usual style and going for a classy style, befitting the status of our community in Australia, this event [Indian Independence Day Celebration] is happening in the evening of 15th Aug, 2012. There is no ticket for it as it is an “INVITATION ONLY” event.

“Invitations” will be mailed out soon.

More details about us at www.indaus.org.au.

It is beyond doubt that there is a need for an effective and smart networking of our people for so many reasons.  We need to start recognising “positives” among our people and not focus too much on the “negatives” as long as “positives” clearly outnumber “negatives”. We need this networking and understanding also for enhancing the reputation of our community. This is a no brainer.

Let the petty politics be buried and minor differences ignored. Let us move forward!

Let us come together and put up a wonderful celebration of Indian Independence Day right on Independence Day, ie 15th August!

Stay tuned!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/26th July, 2012

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Recommendations to take Australia India relations to a new height! Australia India Institute [AII] does a fantastic job!

Australia India Institute [AII], based at University of Melbourne and led by Amitabh Mattooo, has released its report, The Australia-India Institute – Beyond the Lost Decade. recommending steps, which, if implemented by both Govts, will take Australia India relations to a new height.

Here is the link for Report: http://www.aii.unimelb.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Beyond-the-Lost-Decadeweb.pdf

Here are the recommendations from this report. See the Link above for the detailed report.

The Australian government should, in partnership with the States, education and corporate sectors and civil society institutions:

• Undertake as an act of goodwill to extend the visas of Indian students who were in Australia on February 8, 2010, and whose pathways towards permanent residency in Australia were affected by changes to immigration regulations in that year. Such extensions or issuance of alternative categories of visa should be granted for at least 12 months from December 31, 2012.

• Extend the post-study work entitlement currently enjoyed by international students at universities to all TAFE institutes and reputable private colleges offering vocational training.

• Initiate the training of adequate numbers of school teachers in the Hindi language in preparation for its introduction into the Australian Curriculum as soon as practicable. State and Federal education ministers should agree to specify areas of the curriculum in which Indian content must be taught, including Indian history, geography and culture. Re-establish language training for Australian diplomats posted to India.

• Expand the study of contemporary India at Australian universities by providing initial funding for twenty B-level university teaching/research positions for the next five years, after which the universities fund the positions.

• Seek talks with India on granting visa-on-arrival travel for Australians and developing a special category visa for young Australians wishing to work in India. Initiate talks on new visa categories that cut red tape for visits by leadership figures such as university vice-chancellors and deans, Supreme Court judges, holders of national awards such as the Padma Bhushan and Order of Australia.

• Encourage the nomination of more foreign nationals, including Indians, for the Order of Australia awards, and more vigorously publicise foreign recipients by announcing them on the same day as national award winners each year.

• Benchmark and fund scholarships for Australian university students to study in Asian nations to a maximum of one per 100 international students studying in Australia in any given year.

• Double the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s paltry public diplomacy budget of $5 million, with the additional funds earmarked to raising awareness in India of exemplary initiatives such as the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.

• Modernise Australia’s approach to international broadcasting, with Australia Network (TV) and Radio Australia taking on a larger role as content providers to Asian broadcasters. Australia Network to retain close links with DFAT but funding and editorial responsibility should rest with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

• Establish an Australia-India senior editors’ dialogue modelled on the Australia-Indonesia editors’ dialogue, with initial funding for four meetings, in New Delhi,

Sydney, Mumbai and Melbourne over a six-year period.

• Introduce an Australian education rating system for States that provide education services to international students, encouraging them to prevent and/or speedily

address problems that can damage Australia’s brand as an education provider by prioritising student safety, proper orientation, police liaison support, and the active

involvement of local ethnic communities as contact points for international students, including Indians.

• Invite representatives of regiments of Indian troops who fought at Gallipoli to be Australia’s guests at the 100th anniversary commemorations of the campaign in

2015, and invite expressions of interest from documentary film makers interested in producing feature films and documentaries about the shared experiences of Indian and Australian soldiers at Gallipoli.

• Establish a permanent naval attaché position in the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, in addition to the existing defence adviser position, which can continue to rotate between Army, Navy and Air Force personnel. Begin negotiations for joint training exercises between Indian and Australian Special Forces, as currently exist between India and the United States.

• Fund the Australia India Institute to develop an online ‘one-stop shop’ website providing reliable information on all aspects of trade, diplomatic, educational, people-to-people cultural relations.

• Increase support and funding of major travelling exhibitions on art, history, heritage and sport to and from Australia and India, including the Bowral-based International Cricket Hall of Fame’s effort to mount offshore exhibitions in India.

• Expand the growing range of Australia-India annual lectures, such as the Gandhi Oration and Crawford Lectures to all academic disciplines and civil society sectors, and name one such lecture in honour of the late esteemed India expert A.L. Basham.

• Encourage Australian political parties to pursue formal dialogues and party-to-party relationships between the main political parties in each country; increase interactions between Australian and Indian State and Federal parliamentarians via delegations, conferences and staff exchanges.

• Fund the Australian Institute of Criminology to undertake ongoing research into racism and crime, with an initial reference to inquire into the high profile incidents that impacted on relations with Indian in 2009-10.

•Fcilitate the entry of Australian Technical and Further Education Institutions to provide training in India and other countries on a not-for-profit basis.

• Offer India the use of Australian expertise in developing distance education and the virtual classroom.

• Create a web-based advertising campaign showcasing Indian students’ opinions on Australia as a place to study, live and work.

• Encourage Australian media organisations to revive regular staff exchanges with Indian media organisations.

• Enlist Tourism Australia to develop an India wedding package that will encourage Indian honeymooners to take their holidays here, and couples of any

background to wed in grand Indian style at selected locations across Australia, including the Outback.

The Taskforce also recommends that…

The Indian government should:

* Propose institutionalised regular Prime Ministerial visits between New Delhi and Canberra. Establish a young political leaders program between India and Australia.

* Establish a naval attaché position at the Indian high commission in Canberra and open an Indian consulate in Brisbane in recognition of India’s economic interests in Queensland.

* Expedite the proposed restructuring of the territorial divisions of the MEA and split the 26-nation Southern Division, hiving off part of its mandate to a newly constituted Indo-Pacific or Australasia Division that could include Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

* Explore potential for shared humanitarian assistance and technical capacity-building programs in third countries. Australia has an expansive humanitarian assistance and technical partnership program with several countries through AusAID. India’s new Development Partnership Administration (DPA) Division in the MEA seeks a similar institutional profile. They can combine and contribute financial, material or human resources for specific projects, perhaps for programs in less-developed states of the Commonwealth.

• Encourage the setting up of separate, track 2/track 1.5 taskforces and dialogues on Australia’s role in Indian energy and food security.

• Consider a policy of visa-on-arrival for citizens of Australia, which is currently available to citizens of New Zealand, among others.

• Encourage business associations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and their member corporations to interact with their counterparts in Australia, and institute short-term work and exchange programs for young Australian and Indian professionals.

• Accepting that democracy is a common and cherished principle shared by both countries, encourage a track 2/track 1.5 taskforce dialogue on democratic capacity

building, to explore possibilities of providing institutional and technical cooperation, including human resource training, to newly emerging democracies in, for example, the Arab world.

• Encourage the Press Trust of India and Doordarshan to establish a stronger presence in Australia, with a more robust network of stringers or fully fledged correspondents.

I believe that both Governments should review them and implement the recommendations to improve the relations between Australia and India. Federal Govt should do the necessary things including approving the Uranium decision in the Cabinet.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/17th July 2012.

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Sydney, the 5th best city of the world and Hong Kong, the best city in 2012 survey!

Economist Intelligence Unit/BuzzData competition  has declared the 2012 ranking of world cities recently [3rd July 2012].

http://buzzdata.com/content/blog/best-city-contest-winner-press-release/

The survey used a new, “spatial characteristics” category, which is comprised of seven new indicators: green space, sprawl, natural assets, cultural assets, connectivity, isolation, and pollution. This was given 25% of the Vote.

Using  this new criterion and compiling the composite score, Hong Kong is now the number “one” city and Sydney, the 5th best city. Sydney is the only Australian city in the list. Hong Kong’s compact nature, network of green spaces and cultural assets helped it get the top spot.

Looking and comparing the list this year with previous years, Sydney has slipped from 2nd to 5th spot.

Toronto in Canada [8th rank] is the only North American city in the top ten in a new best city ranking. Washington DC  is 14th.

No surprise there that 5 out of 10 best cities are European cities.

Sydney was noted to have low pollution and high greenery, but urban sprawl dragged its score down. In the years to come, Sydney’s rank could go down further as it is growing in the outskirts which is going to have a negative impact on its ranking.

Vancouver has gone down massively in the score.

Here is the list of top 20 best cities.

1. Hong Kong

2. Amsterdam

3. Osaka

4. Paris

5. Sydney

6. Stockholm

7. Berlin

8. Toronto

9. Munich

10. Tokyo

11. Rome

12. London

13. Madrid

14. Washington DC

15. Chicago

16. New York

17. LA

18. San Francisco

19. Boston

20. Seoul

Singapore was 22nd, Beijing 30th, Shanghai 33rd, KL 37th, New Delhi 46th, Bangkok 49th and Mumbai was 52nd out of 70  cities. Karachi was 65th and Dhaka, Lagos and Harare were at the bottom of the list.

I and Sydneysiders  wouldn’t have any doubt  anyway that we live in one of the best cities of the world. No city can match Sydney’s Opera House, Darling Harbour and its pristine beaches. Sydney is indeed a happening city and we love it!

Yadu Singh/Sydney/5th July, 2012

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Gold Coast City’s Goodwill ambassador to India:My views in Gold Coast Bulletin!

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, has chosen Aiysha Saagar as a Goodwill ambassador to India. Aiysha has a few topless pics which she posted in her website. This has created a controversy. Aiysha is of Indian heritage. She is hoping to be a Bollywood actor and lives in Mumbai as well as Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Bulletin published a column named, FaceOff, which covered it. I was asked to give my views. Here is the link. Faceoff-opinion-GCBulletin What do you think?

Faceoff-opinion-GCBulletin

Yadu Singh/Sydney/3rd July, 2012

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Census 2011:My comments in Australian Financial Review story!

 

Yadu Singh

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Australian Financial Review

21st June, 2012

India tops migrant mix

By PIP FREEBAIRN

First they were British and Irish, then Greeks, Italian and Vietnamese, but now the fastest growing wave of migrants to Australia are Indians.

The 2011 census showed yesterday that the number of Indian migrants in Australia has doubled since five years earlier with around 150,000 new migrants arriving here.

The proportion of Australian residents born in India rose from0.7 per cent in 2006 to 1.4 per cent in 2011 as their number increased from 147,106 to 295,362.

Their growing contingent joins longer-standing migrants such as Yadu Singh, the president of Indian Australian Association of NSW. He came to Australia in 1991 to train as a cardiologist and enjoys the quality of life. He denies that Australia is perceived as racist and dangerous.

“Despite all the nonsense, Australia is a welcoming country and Indians know that. It was the Indian media that overreacted to the events a few years ago.

“Indian migrants know while there are a few [racists], the rules and regulation of this country are not in anyway racist.”

Dr Singh is referring to a series of incidents in Melbourne in which robberies and assaults on trains and in public places were perceived as being racially motivated.

Most Indians live in NSW, followed by Victoria, and most are located in capital cities. Melbourne had the highest proportion of Indian-born residents, at 2.7 per cent. But a regional bonus in the points test for permanent migration status means some Indian migrants are now branching out to Newcastle, Wollongong, and Bathurst.

Indian-born Australians are most likely to speak English at home, followed by Hindi and Punjabi, a language spoken in Northern India and regions of Pakistan.

The census reveals that the number of Punjabi speakers grew the fastest of any language in Australia – by 207 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

The growth of Hinduism has also matched the growth of Indian migration. While only 1.3 per cent of residents identify as Hindus, its numbers of adherents have almost doubled from 148,000 in 2006 to 275,534 in 2011.

Census director Andrew Henderson said the growth of Indian migration meant the Indian-born had overtaken Italian-born as those migrants moved into their second generation. “It is fundamentally shifting the cultural mix in Australia,” he said.

Australia and India share a number of cultural touchstones, not least widespread English usage in both nations and a legacy of common colonial histories. Cricket also binds the two nations, with Test matches that involve India in Sydney and Melbourne attracting large vocal crowds in support of the visiting team.

Indian permanent migration to Australia hit a monthly peak of almost 1800 in early 2008, before dipping to 680 in 2010 but has recovered to 1350 arrivals a month in early 2012.

Many Indians come to Australia not just for economic opportunity but to take advantage of the education system. Dr Singh said Indians who came to Australia tended to be young and highly educated and were often seeking further training in accounting, medical degrees, or nursing.

Indian-born Australians tend to be younger than the median age of the total population, 36 compared to 47.

Hass Dellal, the head of Australian Multicultural Foundation,which advises government, said the new wave of migration indicated that Australia was engaging more in the region.

“But we are not taking advantage of the opportunities it brings, economically or culturally. We need things such as languages in schools so that we can make the most of the advantages of our multicultural society.”

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Australian Census 2011:what it says about India & Indians in Australia!
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Australian Census 2011:what it says about India & Indians in Australia!

I was waiting for the latest Census 2011 data. This is out today. It has some very interesting information.

  • There are a total of 21,507,717 people in Australia.
  • 26% people were born overseas and 20% had one parent born overseas.
  • Top 10 counties by birth of migrants include India at 4th spot [295400 people]. UK, NZ, China are higher.
  • People of Asian background by birth have moved up in proportion of people born overseas [33% in 2011 Vs 24% in 2001].
  • Before 2007, UK was the top source of migrants but India is the top source of migrants in 2007-11. India now contributes 13.1% of migrants [2007-11] compared to 12% from UK. Most of the top 10 countries from where migrants are arriving from are Asian countries.
  • 47% of all Indians in Australia are Indians who have arrived in recent years [2007-11]. Corresponding numbers for Chinese is 35.
  • 200,000 Indians have arrived in Australia between 2001-11. Corresponding numbers are 176,200 and 127,700 for Chinese and New Zealanders respectively.
  • 98 males for 100 females in Australia but numbers skewed adversely for Nepalese [144 Males for 100 females], Afghanistani people [143 males for 100 females] and Pakistani people [143 males for 100 females].
  • 390900 [2%] people have identified their ancestry as Indian ancestry, compared to 866000 [4%] for Chinese ancestry. This number may be an underestimate as some second and third generation people of Indian ancestry may have identified themselves as from “Australian ancestry”.
  • Among those who identified as of Indian ancestry, 61% were born in India, 20% in Australia and 19% in other countries.
  • Among those who identified their ancestry as Indian, only 12.9% had one more ancestry, compared to much higher proportions from other groups. This means that marriages outside Indian segment is much less common. One explanation is that Indian community is a newer community in Australia. It is likely to change in years/decades.
  • Indian ancestry numbers may be an underestimate as a section of Indian community ran a campaign before Census to identify themselves as “Punjabi” ancestry, not Indian ancestry.
  • 61% people follow Christianity in 2011 compared to 68% in 2001 and 96% in 1911.
  • Non-Christian faiths have grown from 4.9% [900,000 people] to 7.2% [1.5 millions] between 2001 to 2011.
  • Buddhism is the commonest non-Christian religion [2.5%], followed by Islam [2.2%] and Hinduism [1.3%].
  • Hinduism had the fastest growth. It grew 189% between 2001 to 2011. 275000 people identify themselves as Hindu now. 275000 Hindus from a total of 391000 people with Indian heritage means Hindus constitute 70% of total number of Australians of Indian ancestry.
  • Growth of Islam and Buddhism have been 69% [476,300 people] and 48% [529000 people] in the last decade.
  • “No religion” category grew too from 15% to 22% between 2001 to 2011.
  • Over half [56%] people born overseas are Christian.
  • Hindi is one of the Top 10 language, other than English, spoken by people at home. 104900 people [0.5%] speak Hindi at Homes. Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese are spoken by more Australians. Hindi is the only Indian language among the top 10 languages in Australia. Punjabi language is spoken by Punjabi sub-segment of Indian community significantly but I am not completely clear about the comparison between Hindi and Punjabi languages. There is some confusion about it. It is however safe to say that Hindi is the only Indian language in the Top 10 languages in Australia. I will study this data more carefully and will seek clarifications.
  • Among those who speak Hindi, 80.2% speak English very well.

My take is that increasing numbers of  young and highly trained Indians are choosing to migrate to Australia. This is despite a negative campaign against Australia, which was run by a segment of Indian media in recent years. It proves that Australia is a fantastic place to live, work and settle. Indians have rejected Indian media’s campaign to create a false characterisation of Australia as a racist nation.

One could argue that India is losing so many well-trained young people but I doubt it is a relevant factor anymore. There is unemployment and under-employment in India, which is made much worse by perpetual, if not permanent, reservation system which reserves 50% jobs/training positions and even promotion opportunities to people who have been historically discriminated.  India’s so-called loss is Australia’s gain. Australia should continue to attract and accept skilled migrants from all over the world.

Indian Australian community has grown significantly in recent years and will continue to grow in coming years. There is an urgent need to network this community [particularly newer migrants] for mentoring/guidance in regards to settlement issues and integration in the Australian community, and also pastoral care, when needed.

Indian community associations and leaders need to analyse how they can provide guidance to newer migrants, when such guidance and mentoring become necessary.

One does not need to be an Einstein to predict that Indian Australian community will achieve increasing importance in Australian politics. They will constitute significant proportions in many constituencies. I predict, and in fact hope, that some “good” people from amongst us will enter Australian Parliaments and Local Councils within next 5 years.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/21st June, 2012

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USA brewer forced to rename “Kali Ma” beer!
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USA brewer forced to rename “Kali Ma” beer!

I am sick and tired of people who use our religious symbols and pictures of our deities for commercial purposes, often inappropriately. Previously, Goddess Laxmi’s picture was used on a Bikini in Australia, which was withdrawn after protests. Someone used a picture of Goddess Kali in a night club in USA and even, Lord Ganesha was used for a sexual technique by a comedian in USA. Recently, Lord Ganesha was used in a satire in Australia, against which we ran a campaign. A Radio host in Sydney abused River Ganges for which we forced him to apologise last year.

If this was not enough, a brewery named, Burnside Brewery in Oregon, Portland, USA, used Goddess Kali in the promotion of its beer, calling it “Kali Ma” beer. The beer container even had the picture of Goddess Kali with 4 arms and severed heads of 3 men! It’s promotion used words like “Come worship the Black one, Kali, the ultimate reality of Brahma, this Tuesday”!

They have stopped this, only after, people protested against it vociferously. They will rename it shortly. They claimed to not know about the sentiments of the followers of  Hinduism. How dumb were they? Did they expect that Hindus will “love” them for abusing our religion?

Goddess Kali, also called Ma Kali [Mother Kali] is a much revered deity of Hinduism and is worshipped by Hindus through India and overseas. I too worship “Ma Kali”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali

Someone rightly asked whether any of such people would ever use the symbols/prophets of other religions in this manner.

On a separate but still relevant note, I also believe that India must ban the use of religious symbols, names or pictures of deities in any marketing material in India, where it is a common practice to use such symbols in anything from “Guthka” to Taxis!

Hindus are peace loving and tolerant people, but this does not mean they will tolerate such blatant and disrespectful use of pictures and symbols of deities of Hinduism.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/17th May, 2012

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Visa on Arrival in India for many countries including NZ, but not for Australia!
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Visa on Arrival in India for many countries including NZ, but not for Australia!

See the update on Tourist Visa on arrival (TVoA), enabled by Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) post of 28th Nov, 2014. 

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Ministry of External Affairs [MEA], Govt of India has decided to offer Visa on Arrival in India for citizens of 3 more countries-France, Russia and Germany. It already had a policy like this for 11 countries-New Zealand, Finland, Luxembourg, Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, The Philippines and Myanmar.

It is a good step as it should hopefully make it easier for tourists to go to India. India wants to double the tourist numbers in next 2-3 yrs. There is much work in progress on infrastructure involving tourism as well. India has so many attractions for people to visit it. It is not called “Incredible India” for no reason!

A lot of work has been done in Indian airports and facilities have improved significantly. Indian diaspora will keep visiting India for family and business reasons.

What is missing from the list is the names of countries like USA, Canada, UK, Scandinavia and Australia. India considers the risk of inimical actions by visitors from any country before that country is included in the Visa on Arrival list.  It is a well-known fact that there are people in USA, Canada and UK, who have been involved, and are still involved in anti-India activities. US citizen, David Headley was in the news only recently.  They will obviously be not welcome in India.

Australia is, I think, not in that category. There have been increasing numbers of Australians visiting India. It should be encouraged. While people of Indian heritage in Australia can apply for OCI [Overseas Citizen of India] cards which entitle them to travel to India without Visa for many years, but not every PIO [person of Indian Origin] has yet gone for an OCI card. My understanding is that a significant proportion of Indians do not have OCI cards. Visa on Arrival, if allowed for Australian citizens, will help such people, and of course non-Indian Australians.

If NZ can be in this list, I would have thought Australia can easily be in that list too.

India has clarified that they are not looking for reciprocal Visa on arrival facilities for Indian citizens in any country before including such country for Visa on arrival facility.

Australia qualifies for inclusion in the list also because both countries have good relations, which have become even better, after Australia’s ruling party decided to sell Uranium to India in Dec 2011.

My suggestion to Indian diplomats in Australia-High Commissioner of India and Consul Generals, is to lobby with MEA to include Australia for the Visa on Arrival facility. I also think that leaders from Indian Australian community should also lobby with Indian diplomats and Indian Govt to include Australia in this list.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/11th May, 2011

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Networking the community: Twitter or Facebook?

Image representing Twitter as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

Image representing LinkedIn as depicted in Cru...

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Networking the community: Twitter or Facebook?

**Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney, 11th May, 2012

Social networking is very hip these days. Facebook [FB], Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs, YouTube, Tagg, Digg and many more are increasingly popular in the world. According to EBizmba.com [an industry source], Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have 750 million, 250 million and 110 million estimated unique monthly visitors respectively presently. They are obviously very

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...

Image via CrunchBase

popular in Australia too.

Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Former PM Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull, and Premier Barry O’Farrell are all into it. Indian PM, Man Mohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor, Ministry of External Affairs [Govt of India] are heavily into Twitter. Celebrities like Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey and even Dalai Lama are in it. It would not be wrong to say that almost anyone who is anybody in the world has Twitter and Facebook presence.

I am a keen and regular user of social media for some time for my community interactions. When Kyle Sandilands of 2DayFM made nasty comments against India and River Ganges, a Twitter “follower” sent me a link of the sound bites of his comments on my Twitter account. When Dept of Immigration & Citizenship [DIAC] had put an erroneous map of India [excluding Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh] in its website, someone sent me a link via Twitter. We ran a multi-pronged campaign, which included Twitter and Blog, on these matters, which were picked by other media, leading to successful result. Similarly, it was on my Twitter account that I received a response from Ministry of External Affairs [MEA], Govt of India, about who is our new Consul General of India in Sydney a few weeks ago, after I asked MEA about it via their Twitter account! The list of examples does not end here.

Many events and functions all over the world, including events from Indian Australian community, have a presence in the social media, and are indeed heavily promoted via social media.

With more than 150000 people of Indian heritage in NSW alone and more than 350000 Indian Australians all over the country, there would be obvious benefits in having a better and effective networking among us.  Radio programmes, most of which operate on a weekly basis, have some reach but they do not reach everyone because of time and language factors. Monika Geet Mala [Voice of India, Sydney, 8 hours], and SBS Radio programmes on Saturday and Sunday mornings generally do a good but still a limited job for obvious reasons. 24/7 subscription-based Radio programmes have their own limitations.  Similarly, Indian ethnic newspapers in English like Indian Link, The Indian, Indus Age, Indian Down Under and Navtarang do a good job too, but their reach is again limited. This reach can improve however with improved content, fewer advertisements [difficult proposition] and better periodicity. Newspapers in regional languages-Punjab Times, Gujarat Times and Tamil Osai, also do a good job for their exclusive audience. Despite this, it is known that ethnic Indian newspapers, even collectively, do not reach a big proportion of Indian Australian community. More needs to be done, and indeed, can be done, using social media, which can easily complement the conventional media.

People often say that Radio programmes and newspapers are the favourite of more established and older group of Indians but younger and newer Indians are not that much into them. They are definitely more into Social media. My anecdotal experience suggests that Facebook is their preferred tool currently. Facebook however has many limitations, including privacy settings, which prevent it from becoming a real tool for mass communication. Creating a page in Facebook or “liking” a site there may overcome it to some extent, but this is yet to happen in a big scale.  To have someone as a “friend” in Facebook, a request needs to be sent and then accepted by the recipient of that request. Twitter, on the other hand, has no such limitation. Anyone can “follow” anyone and join the network of that person. Twitter has now become a common, and possibly a favoured, way for politicians, journalists and celebrities to “broadcast” what they want to say to the world. People can also reach out to such people whenever needed, and that too without any hassle. Twitter, unlike Facebook, does not restrict the number of “followers” a Twitter account can have. Many believe that Twitter and Facebook, indeed, have become parts of mainstream media.

My view is that we should get more into social media. This should provide a better and more effective networking among us, even if we leave aside the fun component of being in the social media.  With increasing numbers in the younger segment of Indian Australian community, this is actually a necessity.

I will like to see most, if not all, of Indian Australians in Twitter and Facebook, communicating and networking effectively and smartly.

If a non-geek like me can join social media and use it effectively, anyone can do the same. It is not difficult at all to be on Twitter and/or Facebook or any other social medium.

Have you got a “Face” on FB and tweeted on Twitter yet?

**Dr Yadu Singh is a Sydney based Cardiologist who uses Social media-Twitter [www.twitter.com/dryadusingh], Facebook [www.facebook.com/dryadusingh] and Blog [www.yadusingh.wordpress.com] regularly and effectively.

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Ashton Kutcher Video, portraying “Raj” from Bollywood is funny, but not offensive!

Ashton Kutcher at Time 100 Gala

Ashton Kutcher at Time 100 Gala (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ashton Kutcher’s funny video portraying “Raj” from Bollywood: http://youtu.be/DLdobzj_9_I Not sure what is the fuss about?

Above is my tweet on Ashton Kutcher’s funny video. It is quite hilarious, indeed. Do watch it.

There is quite a bit of fuss which some people have created about a video, in which Hollywood actor, Ashton Kutcher, portrayed “Raj” from Bollywood, with brown make-up, Sherwani , moustache, and accent. I thought he did try to look authetic as an “Indian”. It was all very funny.

I did not see anything offensive in it and not sure why people should take offence to it. Ashton was not abusing India, Indians, Indian beliefs, Indian culture or Indian religious practices.

Come on people, lighten up and learn to enjoy the funny side of life!

Yadu Singh/Sydney/04th May, 2012

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Related articles
Rising above our differences and politics is a smart move for our community!
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Rising above our differences and politics is a smart move for our community!

March 31, 2012

Indian Australian community is getting bigger in Australia. Some estimates suggest that there are about 150,000 people in NSW alone and the total population of Indian Australians will be over 350,000 in Australia. We will know the true picture only once Census data is made public.

It goes without saying that there would be more issues when we have more people. People and even Govt authorities have commented about the huge number of our associations, and also “leaders”, although it is also logical, but not mandatory, that there would be more associations, when there are more people.

We have multitude of events and functions, which is all fine. We do have a lot of fun. We are a fun loving community. Nothing wrong in it either.

More associations itself is not the issue in itself but unnecessary competition, differences for sake of differences, and hostility in certain cases is certainly a problem and is not desirable.

If it was not enough already, we have started an unhealthy trend at looking at and classifying people depending on their political persuasion. It has created its own problems. It is amusing to see Liberal and Labor politicians interacting and exchanging pleasantries with one another quite easily but people from our own community consider people from different political persuasion as enemies. This is childish, undesirable and unhelpful.

We need to, and in fact, can do better.

Indians generally do OK wherever they migrate to but they can do a lot better, as a community, if things are done in a bit better way. This is certainly true for political representation from our community in Australian political system. We need to keep the examples of USA, UK and Canada in our minds.

There can’t be any dispute that we need to be more organised. We need to be more united. We need to be more supportive to one another.

We need to start thinking on the lines of “what do we need as a community? What does our community need? and how can we get those results?”

We need to form a think Tank or an advocacy or a Lobby group, involving and including people who are capable, have the strength of character and a capacity to think, to advance our community agenda.

Since someone has to start this process, I am taking this initiative. I have already had some initial discussions with some such people.

I suggest that people with;

  • Leadership experience-present or near past
  • Vision
  • Capacity to think
  • Capacity to communicate effectively
  • Capacity to put community interests first
  • Understanding of moral and ethical behaviour
  • Understanding of conflict of interest
  • Flexibility to understand others’ point of view and adjust their own

meet, discuss and chalk out the strategy to advance the interests of our community.

To decide who to include in this group, I must emphasize that it does not matter what political thought process they have, or which linguistic, religious or regional background [from India] they come from. Their outlook must however be Indian-encompassing diverse backgrounds.

I am sending this musing to a smallish group of people in the beginning but the numbers may increase or decrease as we go along this path.

Somewhere along the way, some key Indian media people will also be involved in this process.

Let a new beginning succeed in this venture!

It certainly needs the blessing and support from us all.

I have no doubt that rising above our differences and politics is a smart move for our community and there are clearly lot more commonalities among us, in contrast to differences!

Let us work on our “positives”, rather than just focusing on our “negatives”!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/31st March, 2012

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Our Community work
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Our Community work

5 June, 2020

I am an active part of my community and take part in its activities, either as an individual or as the leader of the team, in a meaningful way.

1. Community work in General:

  • leadership roles in Indian community Medical Associations and community organisations,
  • helping students in my district in India by visiting and giving scholarships etc.

2. My work as the coordinator of the Indian Consul General’s committee on students’ issues: Indian Consul General’s Community Committee on Students’ Issues, Sydney, NSW was formed at the Indian Consulate on 6th April 2009. It did intensive work and completed its task in a very efficient manner. After accomplishing its mandated task, it dissolved itself at the end of June 2009. The committee had Mr Harmohan [Harry] Walia, Mr Vish Viswanathan, Mrs Shubha Kumar, Mr Stanley D’Cruz and  I was its coordinator. This committee had done following activities;

  • met students numerous times.
  • organized a students’ forum on 16th May at Strathfield.
  • co-organized a students’ forum with UIA in Strathfield on 6th June.
  • arranged help to a woman student who was a victim of domestic violence.
  • arranged help to 2 women students who were stalked by another Indian co-worker.
  • arranged meetings with minister of education, NSW and her senior advisers and students from an aviation school.
  • arranged a meeting with the president, NSW upper House [Mr Peter Primrose] and Ms Helen Westwood MLA and Flying school students.
  • arranged a meeting with a community minded lawyer and aviation school students.
  • met the visiting mother of a student of an aviation school. This lady’s husband had died only 4 weeks ago due to the serious stress involved in losing the money with the school in Sydney.
  • arranged and participated in TV coverage of students’ issues on Channel 7, 9, 10, SBS TV, ABC TV, and Bloomberg.
  • participated in the coverage of students’ issues on ABC radio, SBS radio, SBS Hindi radio, 2UE, JJJ, Indian Link radio, Radio UMANG, 2GB radio and SBS Kannada Radio.
  • arranged talk-backs on students’ issues on SBS radio and Radio UMANG [98.5MHZ, Fridays, 8-9 PM]. Radio Umang has ceased functioning now.
  • participated in coverage of students’ issues on SMH, The Australian, Daily Telegraph, other newspapers and AAP.
  • participated in the coverage of students’ issues on Indian newspapers in Australia [Indian Link, Indus Age, The Indian, The Indian Sub-Continent Times and Indian Down Under].
  • participated in the coverage of students’ issues on TimesNow, NDTV, CNN/IBN, Headlines Today, AajTak and other Indian TV Channels.
  • participated in the coverage of students’ issues on main Indian newspapers like Times of India and PTI.
  • assisted some top-grade Australian media programs like Four Corners from ABC, with wide audience in getting students’ issues covered.
  • arranged funds for the accommodation for the relatives Mr Rajesh Kumar [the petrol bomb victim from Harris Park] at the request from Indian Consulate.
  • met and networked with Commander Robert Redfern, Parramatta Local area Command of NSW Police several times for students’ issues.
  • counseled students to stop further processions after the ones in Harris Park streets.
  • participated in the community leaders’ meeting with chairman, Community Relations Commission [CRC] at CRC HQ.
  • participated in a CRC organized meeting with Indian students at Parramatta RSL.
  • participated in the community leaders’ meeting with the Premier, Mr Nathan Rees.
  • met Indian Consul General and Consul in regards to these matters several times.
  • discussed and formulated the strategy to solve the problems of our students.
  • submitted this strategy to the Consul General of India and NSW task force and other relevant authorities.
  • provided leadership in the matters relating to Indian students.
  • gave our after hours and week-ends for students’ work and provided pastoral care to the needy students.
  • provided/facilitated medical help to the needy students/their family members.
  • met the visiting Indian journalists at the Consulate.
  • raised our voice forcefully against the exploitation of Indian students by some Indian employers.
  • appealed to the Indian newspapers and Radio programs to ask questions from every leader [on students’ issues] about their involvement in any activity which created a conflict of interest in those matters.

3. My community work beyond/outside the Consul General’s committee on students:

  • helped the refund of more than $12000 to a student of a Flying school.
  • arranged free legal assistance to the students from this Flying school from  solicitors/legal firms in Sydney and Canberra.
  • facilitated a good outcome between parties involving VETAB, Flying school and students. I was the mentor/support person of these students of the Flying school.
  • held several meetings involving VETAB Director and other authorities, the Flying school representatives and students in my office and VETAB offices.
  • worked and organized refunds/savings of $300000 [including waiving of about $50000 of the legal fees in regards to a legal proceedings in the Supreme Court where students had lost their case and costs were awarded against them] for the Flying school students from ESOS scheme with the help of VETAB, DEEWR and federal education dept. I was the key and the only Indian person in this work for these students. I did this as I felt it was my duty to help students from my community who were robbed of their money and were feeling powerless in Australian system.
  • helped payment of $2400 to a student which was originally denied by his employer in Western Sydney.
  • donated $500 to an Indian students’ students association.
  • arranged sponsorship of $1000 for foods, meeting hall and public liability insurance for a students’ association.
  • mentoring students for their careers and future in OZ.
  • donated $500 to Australia Hindi Indian Association’s [AHIA] seniors.
  • donated $500 to Fiji floods relief fund via International congress of Fiji Indians and organized $2000 donations from other doctors.
  • donated $500 to Sanatan Arya Pratinidhi Samaj, Shane Park, Sydney.
  • donated approx. $5000 for various needy/deserving causes involving victims of earthquakes, accidental deaths, injuries and illnesses.
  • helped several students including assault victims for their work comp, treatment and issues involving their parents.
  • liaised with NSW Police higher authorities and ensured actions in regards to the assaults of 2 Indians in Blacktown, Sydney.
  • advised/mentored several others in regards to the steps they needed to take when they were assaulted.
  • took leadership role on Indian Australian community matters in the media-Indian and Australia media [Chanel 9, SBS, NDTV, Indian ethnic newspapers].
  • helped Radio National in making a documentary on students [see details in this BLOG elsewhere].
  • helping community members from India and South Asia with a concessional fees structure. [a service worth more than $50000/year]. People from other communities, if they can’t afford specialist medical practitioner’s fees are also included.
  • tried to clean the community leadership and making them accountable.
  • exposed commission taking by some leaders of an Indian community association in Sydney.
  • took a leadership role against unfair portrayal of Australia as a Racist nation by Indian media with interviews and debates.
  • took part in “Is Australia a Racist nation” debate with David Penberthy [Ex Editor, Daily Telegraph] in Sunrise programme of Ch 7 in 2009.
  • mentoring medical doctors from India in regards to their training and registration issues.
  • helped a House Surgeon who was facing exclusion from the medical work due to her unfair treatment in a Sydney hospital and then worked actively with this young doctor and her supervisors including Hospital administrators to get her into the internship at a different hospital, thus leading to a successful outcome.
  • worked as a catalyst in resolving the issues between Indian consul General, Sydney and some Indian businessmen with a successful outcome in 2010.
  • took an active and a leading role in resolving the issues between Indus Age [after a controversial ad] and the community in 2010.
  • formed a community committee, Friends of International Students,  www.fairgo4internationalstudents.org. against Visa Capping Bill in May 2010 and lobbied with the Govt ministers and Media against this Bill which was very harmful to the students. Worked actively for this committee, visiting community gatherings, temples and Gurdwaras to collect signatures against this Bill. We also met the Immigration minister, Mr Chris Evans, asking him to not proceed with this Bill.
  • spoke as the leading doctor in the Health Summit, organized by GOPIO, Sydney, educating/informing people on Health matters on 4th Dec, 2010.
  • helped a family locate their son [International student] http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/a-dumped-bike-a-glimpse-on-sydney-stations-cctv-what-happened-to-indian-student-abhijeet-20101006-166rs.html.
  • raised $7100 for Qld Flood relief on 28th Jan, 2011.
  • took up the matter involving HINDI in the Australian national draft curriculum-Languages and wrote to ACARA, in addition to supporting Australian Hindi Committee.
  • Organized India Day Fair, 7th Aug, 2011, at Parramatta Park, Parramatta.
  • Organized Australia Day and Indian Republic Day celebrations in 2010, 2011 and 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
  • Took part in “Clean Up Australia Day” events in Liverpool and Toongabbie many times.

4. Health Education Seminars for the Community:

  • First such Seminar with GOPIO in Dec, 2010.
  • Second such seminar in Dec, 2011.
  • Third such Seminar with GOPIO, 28th April, 2012.
  • Multiple Radio interviews and talk backs [Darpan Radio, SBS Hindi Radio, Dhanak Radio, Navtarang Radio, SBS Punjabi Radio] on Health matters.
  • Anchored Radio UMANG Health Show.

5.  Sri Mandir Temple matter:

  • took up the issue of attacks on Sri Mandir temple, Auburn and brought it to the national media.
  • attended meetings with Police, along with temple committee members.

6. Australian Uranium to India Issue:

  • raised the issue of Australian Uranium sale to India during the Australia India Day celebration on 24th Jan, 2010 where several ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLC, and media people were present.
  • wrote an Opinion Piece on this issue in the prestigious Journal of Mining & Investment Australia.
  • wrote in Foreign Policy Research Centre [FPRC] Journal twice-one on India-Australia relations and 2nd on India’s Look East Policy, advocating sale of Australian Uranium to India.
  • raised Uranium issue during Australia Day/Indian Republic Day event, in Jan, 201o and 2011, in presence of senior Australian politicians.
  • raised Uranium issue in India Day Fair, Parramatta on 7th Aug, 2011, in presence of senior Australian politicians, including Ministers.

7. Incorrect Map of India in DIAC [Dept of Immigration and Citizenship], Australia website:

  • campaigned effectively for removal of an incorrect map of India [which had excluded Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir] in DIAC website and succeeded.

8. Kyle Sandilands & 2DayFM issue:

  • campaigned against insulting comments from Kyle Sandilands, 2DayFM and forced them to offer an apology for his comments against India and River Ganges.

9. Lord Ganesh Vs Third Reich play and Goddess Lakshmi picture on a Bikini matters:

  • campaigned along with others on these matters and made our concerns known assertively, via Blog, calls, Facebook and interview with The Age newspaper.

10. Community Relations Commission [CRC] Working Group on International students 2009-10:

  • participated as an active member of the working party with CRC on students including inputs for Z information card.

11. Diwali in NSW Parliament and CRC Deepavali Committee 2011-12:

  • successfully campaigned/lobbied with NSW to host Diwali celebration in NSW Parliament
  • Worked as a member of this committee to assist NSW Govt to host Deepavali in NSW Parliament-the only such Indian event.

12. Ministerial Consultative Committee for Indian Australian Community in NSW 2011-12:

  • NSW Minister Victor Dominello appointed me as one of the members and worked as a member of this committee to deal with issues relevant to Indian Australian community in NSW.
  • Contributed as an active member of the sub-committes [of this MCC] on Community service, communication, Trade & Investment, Immigration, Youth and new migrants

13. Worked with a team in The Hills Shire & raised >$22000 for Qld floods Victims in March, 2013.

14. Organised INDAUS FAIR, Sunday, 11th Aug, 2013, at Rosehill Race Course

15. Indian Independence Day Celebration on 15th Aug, 2012 at Parravilla, Parramatta:  Free [no cost to guests] event with performances from Shaimak Davar group, Melbourne.

16. Organised a Meet and greet event for visiting prominent writers and Mr Oscar Fernandes MP [Indian National Congress General Secretary] in 2012.

17. Australia Day & Indian Republic Day celebration on 27th Jan, 2013, Ryde Civic Centre, Ryde, NSW.

18. Parramasala working group with Lord Mayor, Parramatta Council-advising about what should be done to make Parramasala more vibrant and popular.

19. Ran a campaign to remove pictures of Hinduism deities from the label on Beer bottles from Brookvale Union brewery

20. Interacted with relevant people and agencies on Ms Monika Chetty’s tragic death in Sydney, including interviews with SMH, ABC news, Radio National Background Briefing, Channel 9 A Current Affairs and ABC 7.30 Report programmes.

21. Interviewed for emigration from Australia by Newes.com.au and SBS Radio.

22. Interviewed for an article on Indians in Taxi industry in Australia, perceptions and realities.

23. Interviewed by Radio National ABC on Hinduism religious affairs.

24. Organised (as part of the team) the Farewell to Consul General, Mr Arun Goel, 18th March, 2014, Harris Park.

25. Took up the matter against Federal Government’s repeal proposal of Sec 18C of Racial Discrimination Act via Blog, Social media and Indian and Australian newspapers like Hills News, Blacktown Sun, Penrith Gazette.

26. Helped a senior member of the community to get his OCI issues sorted out from the Consulate without unnecessary expenses and trouble.

27. Helped an Indian Intern doctor (Dr A. K) in regards to her issues with a Sydney Hospital.

28. Took up the matter of  “upside down” display of India’s national flag during Master Chef Australia broadcast, and got it rectified by the concerned agencies.  

29. Took the matter of Manjit Singh in regards to his issues for Passport and PCC with Indian Consulate General offices, Perth, Nov 2014, and achieved the successful outcome.

30. Took a leading role in Breast Cancer screening seminar with various agencies, Ermington Community Centre, Ermington, NSW, on Sunday, 16th Nov, 2014.

31. Took up the matter of inappropriate label, depicting Hinduism deities, on a Beer bottle, Jan 2015. See Sydney Morning Herald newspaper article (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-controversy-brews-over-offensive-ginger-beer-brand-using-hindu-imagery-20150110-12kv0j.html)

32. Australia Day & Indian Republic Day celebration, Parravilla, Parramatta on 25th January, 2015

33. Included as one of 20 Goldmine leaders of Western Sydney by Daily Telegraph (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/competitions/fair-go-for-the-west-meet-the-goldmine-leaders/story-fngy6zqs-1226881501042?nk=58ed0c98bf8a436c82ec636e42b57043)

34. Co-organised a Health talk with AHIA on Prostate Cancer for the community, Pennant Hills Community Centre, Saturday, 11th April, 2015

35. Took up the matters with Parramatta Park Trust, Parramatta Council and other relevant authorities for a security review and addressing those concerns. Published in newspapers.

36. Took up the matter involving stereotypical comment from a Chanel 9 anchor in regards to Indians and 7-Eleven shops.

37. Organised INDIA DAY, a mega celebration of India’s Independence Day,  Saturday, 15th August, 2015, Parade ground, Old King’s School, Parramatta, NSW.

38. Took up the matter involving gun shots firing at a business owned by an Indian Australian in Harris Park on 11th April, 2015.

39. Raised $23000 for “Help Nepal” campaign to help victims of devastating Earthquake in Nepal. https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2015/05/28/proud-pleased-to-have-raised-23000-for-nepal-earthquake-victims/

40. spoke as an invited keynote speaker at University of Western Sydney event, Parravilla, Parramatta on 24th Nov, 2014.

41. Worked and arranged the rectification of incorrect Indian Map in a Western Union-Australia Post advertisement. https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/western-union-proves-it-is-a-great-business-and-cares-for-the-feedback-from-people-and-customers/

42.  Took up the matter with authorities when Billu’s Eatery was fired with gun shots in Aug, 2015.

43. Organized a Vigil for Prabha Arun Kumar on 7/3/16 at Parramatta Park, where she was murdered a year ago.

44. Organized a Meet and Greet event for a visiting ministerial delegation from Uttar Pradesh, India and the new Consul General of India, His Excellency Mr B. Vanlalvawna and his wife, Dr Rosy Vanlalvawna at Madison Function Centre, Dural, NSW on 1/4/16.

45. Organised INDIA DAY Fair to celebrate Indian Independence Day in Parramatta, NSW on Sunday, 14th August, 2016. More than 10,000 people attended the event.

46. Meet and greet the Hon Craig Laundy MP, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Commonwealth of Australia, Harris Park, 13 May, 2016.

47. Took part in a discussion with Scott Matheson, South Asia Manager for Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) at DIBP offices in Parramatta on 18th May, 2016.

48. Organised a tea and interaction between Indian Australian community and visiting Indian journalists, in collaboration with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Harris Park, NSW, Saturday, 17 September, 2016

49. Organised Shadhanjali (Tribute) event for martyrs of Uri Terror attack, Dezire Function Centre, Blacktown, NSW, Sunday, 25th September, 2016

50. Participated in a Roundtable discussion, organised by Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Holiday Inn, Parramatta, Thursday, 27 October, 2016.

51. Campaigned for Hindi classes at the weekends at Consulate General of India, Sydney, and achieved a successful outcome.

52. Took up the visa matters for Mr MK and Mr DV with Indian Consulate in Sydney, and achieved a successful outcome.

53. Organised a tribute/Vigil for Manmeet Sharma “Alisher” at The Robyn Thomas Reserve, Parramatta, 2 November, 2016.

54. Attended a charity fund-raising Badminton tournament (for Westmead Children’s Hospital), organised by Basava Samithi, Glenfield, NSW, 23 October, 2016.

55. Attended a charity fund-raising Cricket tournament (for Westmead Children’s Hospital), organised by Basava Samithi, Glenfield, NSW, 6 November, 2016.

56. Organised Australia Day & Indian Republic Day celebration on Wednesday, 25 January, 2016.

57. Radio National profiled FIAN President, Dr Yadu Singh recently. https://www.facebook.com/radionational/videos/10154646233077378/

58. Acting as a key leader and working with multicultural community leaders for Keep NSW Safe  campaign to get section 20d of Anti-Discrimination Act of NSW amended.

59. Invited to present my views for 18c of Racial Discrimination Act in front of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I February, 2017 at NSW Parliament.

60. Federation of Indian Associations of NSW was one of the finalists for the Australia Day awards by the City of Parramatta Council on 26 January, 2017.

61. Invited as a guest to the welcome event for Prime Minister of Israel, His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Central Synagogue, Bondi Junction, Sydney, 22 February, 2017. Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, former Prime Ministers (John Howard and Tony Abbott), NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and many Ministers and MPs from both sides of politics were in attendance in this event.

62. Invited as a guest, representing Indian community, by AFL for a pre-match reception and the match between GWS Giants and Gold Coast SUNS teams at Spotless Stadium, Olympic Park, NSW, 1 April, 2016.

63. Invited as a representative of Indian community, for the welcome Reception for new NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Ray Williams MP, NSW Parliament, 22 March, 2017.

64. Invited to participate in Israel’s 69th Independence Day celebration, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, 2nd May, 2017

65. Organising 350th Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji and Vaisakhi at NSW Parliament, 31st May, 2017.

66. Organised Wreath Laying Ceremony, working with Australian Indian Historical Society (AIHS), at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for Pte Sarn Singh Johal and Pte Nain Singh Sailani at their 100th death anniversary, 10 June, 2017.  They fought alongside Australian soldiers in WW1 and were killed in Europe on 10th June and 1 June 1917 respectively.

67. Organising INDIA DAY 2017 to celebrate Indian Independence Day, Saturday, 12 August, 2017, Parramatta Park, Parramatta.

68. Was interviewed by ABC 7.30 on Census data for Indian community on 27 June, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v1Dp5ebINk&sns=em

69. Invited as the guest of the NSW Government to attend Premier of NSW’s Multicultural Media Award, Sydney Olympic Park, 30 August, 2017.

70. Q and A with Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Alex Hawke MP, on 20th September, 2017, Madison Function Centre, Dural NSW

71. Appointed Community Ambassador for 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on 20 September, 2017.

72. Invited to meet Australian High Commissioner to India, Ms Harinder Sidhu, along with a few more community members, in Parramatta on 11 October, 2017.

73. Co-organised Dementia Forum at the Consulate General of India, Sydney on Friday, 27 October, 2017.

74. Christmas Drinks and Dinner for multi-faith Community leaders, Madison Function Centre, Dural, NSW, Tuesday, 12 December, 2017.

75. Co-organised Baisakhi and Sikh New year celebration at Ryde Civic Hall, Sunday, 8 April, 2018.

76. INDIA DAY 2018 FAIR, Saturday, 11 August, 2018, Parramatta Park, Parramatta (In progress).

77. Community Education Seminar Series: Diabetes Mellitus, Sunday, May 20, 2018, 2.15-4pm, Wentworthville Community Centre, Wentworthville, NSW

78. Community Education Seminar Series: Dementia, Sunday, 17 June, 2018, Epping Leisure Centre, Epping, NSW (Working with Hornsby Indian Seniors Group and Dementia Support Group for Indian Australians).

79. Community Education Seminar Series: Health & Wellbeing, The Lake Neighbourhood Centre, The Ponds NSW 2769 (Organised by Punjabi League of Australia)

80. Diwali Fair, Holroyd Gardens, Merrylands, NSW 2160, 28 October, 2018

81. FIAN participated in Cumberland Council’s Diwali celebration, Station Street, Wentworthville, NSW on Saturday, 17 November, 2018.

82. Community Education Seminar Series: Law & You, Sunday, 18 November, 2018, Holroyd Function Centre, Merrylands NSW 2160

83. Invited to the Australia Day Lunch, hosted by the Premier of NSW and NSW Australia Day Council in Internation Conventional Center, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Friday, 18 January 2019.

85. Invited to the Australia Day Reception, hosted by the Premier of NSW in Old Governor’s House, Parramatta, NSW, Saturday, 26 January 2019. 

86. Invited to attend Parramasala Media launch on Friday, 15 February 2019 at Parramatta River Foreshore, Parramatta.

87. Organised a condolence meeting, in the memory of 44 CRPF Jawans in Kashmir, killed by Jaishe-e_mohammed terror group, at Dezire Function Centre, Blacktown NSW on Sunday, 17 February 2019.

88. Invited to, and attended, a Candlelight vigil organised by Indian Diaspora Council of Australia and International Fiji Girmit Association in the memory of 44 CRPF Jawans killed by Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group in India,  in Liverpool NSW on 20 February 2019.

89. Invited to attend International Mother Language Day by Cumberland Council at Auburn Library on Thursday, 21 February 2019.

90. invited to, and attended, the Harmony Dinner, hosted by Premier of NSW at Rosehill Gardens, Rosehill NSW on Thursday, 28 February 2019.

91. Invited to a community leaders’ meeting with NSW Multicultural minister, Ray Williams MP, for an announcement of $400K funding of NSW Rigby League for sports’ promotion in multicultural communities at NSWRL HQ in Olympic Park Sydney on Tuesday, 5 March 2019. 

92. Met the Immigration minister in Sydney on 7 March 2019 in regards to changes in visa matters. Previously,  I submitted a report to Immigration Minister re issues our temples are facing while recruiting priests for the religious work. Pleased to know that suitable changes have been made. 

93. Invited to a community leaders’ meeting with Multicultural minister, Ray Williams MP, for an announcement of $900K funding of festivals and events of the Indian Australian community in Parravilla Function Lounge on Saturday, 9 March 2019.

94. Organised Holi 2019: Festival of colours in Prince Alfred Square Park, Parramatta, NSW on Sunday, 10 March 2019.

95. Invited to the VIP reception for Parramasala at the Prince Alfred Square Park on Friday, 15 March 2019.

96. Attended Girmit Day and spoke at Ram Krishna Temple on 17/5/19.

97. Took part in a debate with Manbir Kohli on PM Modi’s victory in Indian election on Voice of India-Monika Geet Mala Radio on Sunday, 23/5/19.

98. Attended “Spreading a culture of peace”, organised by IPYG and spoke at the event in Centenary Square, Parramatta on 25/5/19.

99. Attended the welcome reception for new Multicultural Minister John Sidoti in NSW Parliament on 28/5/19. Premier of NSW was the chief guest.

100. Attend Chand Raat Eid festival, as their guest,  in Rosehill Gardens, Rosehill, NSW on 4/6/19.

101. Attended Australia Telugu Samith’s “Telugus have Talent”evening on 9/6/19.

102. Attended a meeting with Indian seniors in Epping and organised attendance of Ms Li from Transport NSW to explain facilities for seniors on Sunday, 16/6/19.

103. Attended “An evening with Indra Nooyi”, former CEO of PepsiCo in ICC, Sydney on 18/6/19.

104. Took a stand on 19/6/19 for Hitender Kumar, a former employee of Consulate General of India in Sydney. Interviewed by SBS Punjabi and other news media.

105. Attended International Yoga Day in the Ponds, NSW on Sunday, 23/6/19. Organised by Art of Living group in Sydney.

106. Organised “Collaboration and dialogue” meeting for Indian Australian community associations/groups, involving 55 people, Wednesday, 3/7/19, Madison Function Centre, Dural, NSW.

107. FIAN team and I met the Hon John Sidoti MP, Minister for Sports, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans in his office on Thursday, 4/7/19.

108. Delivered a lecture on “Heart Health” for the community at Parramatta West Public School, Parramatta on Sunday, 7 July 2019

109. Organised INDIA DAY Fair, 11 August, 2019, Parramatta Park.

110. Organised many health seminars for the community in 2019.

111. Attended Premier’s Australia Day Reception, 26 Jan, 2020.

112. Organised support for Indian international students, March-June 2020

113. Organised support for stranded Indians in Australia, March-June 2020.

114. Lobbied with federal and state Governments for the support to international students, March-May 2020.

115. Took part in videoconferences with High Commission of India, Canberra, April to June 2020.

116. Took part in media campaigns to educate people for the prevention from COVID-19, Feb-June 2020.

117. Made many educational videos for COVID-19 prevention, Feb-June 2020.

Networking

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Community politics by Indian diplomats not acceptable!

I have been of double mind about writing this post for a while. I have raised this issue in Canberra on 17th Dec, 2011 when I participated in the meeting of Indian community leaders, organised by High Commission of India. High Commissioner of India in Canberra, Consul Generals of India in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth along with many other diplomatic staff and about 200 community leaders/media people were present in this meeting.  I expressed my strong objections against politics by one Indian diplomat.

So, what is it that I am concerned about?

Guess no more. This is about community politics from one Indian Diplomat in regards to Uranium decision by ALP on 4th Dec, 2012 when ALP National Conference passed a motion to support sale of Uranium to India.

Many from Indian Australian community  had raised the Uranium issue with political leaders. It includes various community groups including ourselves and many individuals. Uranium has been in the minds of Indian Australians. We all worked to get ALP reverse its policy to ban Uranium trade with India.

I wrote about it in the Blog posts http://tinyurl.com/7bytnbo, http://tinyurl.com/2eumejb, and http://tinyurl.com/8yawduc since 2009, unlike others who appeared in the scene only recently.

Despite all this, I believe Indian Australian community had only a minor role, if any, in this decision.

Few individuals, however, with the active support of a Member of Parliament from Western Sydney had tried to claim credit for this decision.  This Western Sydney MP has many Indian Australian voters in the constituency and will need support from them in the election in 2013. This MP has been actively working on the plan to “promote” one of these two and a few more from the MP’s political party to  be recognised as Indian community leaders for obvious reasons. I am neither against this MP nor such people generally but I have issues with “manufactured” or “parachuted” leadership of anyone by anyone.

Unfortunately, a senior Indian diplomat got involved in this politics too.  I will explain it a bit later. A Link  http://tinyurl.com/848v5b7 from an unknown Indian newspaper was sent to every one by an individual as a certificate of his claim that “he delivered Uranium to India”.

They were even credited to shape the foreign policy of Australia!

Even “Gandhi” connection was evoked indirectly, ignoring the fact that these gentlemen are just pushing the barrows for their political party!

This is of course totally ludicrous and laughable.

Talking about grandstanding, you can’t get a better example!

This claim is incorrect too. This question was directly asked from Prime Minister by a journalist from Indian Down Under newspaper recently. She did not confirm it at all. Please visit The Indian Down Under newspaper  [www.indiadownunder.com.au ], edited by Nina Badhwar here http://tinyurl.com/7pa5rp7 page 9.

Australia decided to sell Uranium to India because of;

1. its national interest as it was not a smart policy to deny Uranium to India but sell it to China, thus damaging Australia-India relations when India has so much strategic importance in Asia Pacific region

2. active encouragement by USA-very important factor [confirmed by many MPs]

3. pressure and support from Australian Think Tanks and Press-Lowy Institute and The Australian newspaper

4. India’s impeccable nonproliferation records

5. Coalition parties [Liberal and National Parties] supporting such trade since 2007

It definitely was not due to a few individuals who are claiming to have “delivered Uranium to India”, just like Mahatma Gandhi delivered freedom to India!

Any such claim actually lowers the office of Prime Minister and must never be repeated or permitted.

I do not believe Indian community in Australia had a major role in it. This was the opinion of the top Indian diplomat in Canberra too. We all made noises at every available forum but still, it was not instrumental in this decision. I asked a few MPs and even Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson about it. They too were broadly in agreement with the points I had listed earlier. They laughed when I told them about the claims for credit by a few individuals from Indian community. They denied it was the case.

Indeed, we all did what we believed was our duty towards India, Australia and India-Australia relations. Taking Olympic motto, we all participated in it. We should be proud of that too. It would of course be wrong, inappropriate and unwarranted for anyone  from our community to claim a sole or exclusive credit for it.

Out of sudden, all Indian ethnic newspapers in Sydney and others were sent a link http://tinyurl.com/848v5b7 from an unknown Indian newspaper “Express Buzz”, which is not linked at all with or a part of reputed Indian national newspaper, Indian Express. “Express Buzz” article quotes an anonymous senior Indian Diplomat in Australia, attributing credits to two Indians for Uranium decision. Ms Devirupa Mitra, who is of Bengali background, of Express Buzz online newspaper gave a clear indication of this diplomat being male, thus ruling out High commissioner, Mrs Sujatha Singh. I had a discussion with High Commissioner about it and know for sure that it was not her who was quoted in this article. I contacted Ms Devirupa Mitra in India and asked about the veracity of the claims and the identity of the diplomat but she declined to reveal the source. I sensed her feeling of being “used” in the politics. She encouraged me to write to her when I asked her to retract the article. I did not write to her but will be sending this post to her.

I have no doubt that this Indian diplomat “arranged” with Ms Devirupa Mitra for this story to be published in this paper. No other newspaper in India has published this type of story. This was an attempt to “manufacture” and “promote” leadership of “some” people in our community.

Some here in Sydney have mistaken “Express Buzz” for “Indian Express” newspaper, which of course is untrue. “Express Buzz” has no link with “Indian Express” newspaper. I hope, Indian newspapers in Sydney can check facts before printing factually incorrect stories, sent to them by interested people.

This senior Indian diplomat was so blind in his politicking that he ignored the work by anybody else. We have been raising Uranium matter for the last 4 years. I raised it in our Australia Day and Indian Republic Day function in 2010 where heaps of ALP and Liberal pollies were present.  Senior Coalition leader, Joe Hockey, shadow treasurer declared the policy of Coalition to sell Uranium to India, putting ALP leaders on the spot light. This was the first such public announcement in our community functions. I urged ALP leaders to do the same as Coalition has done.We raised it in every function we organised and we raised it with every politician we met. I wrote Blog posts on it [see my Blog for details] and wrote an opinion piece http://tinyurl.com/6s7d7dx  on pages 40-41 in Mining and Investment Australia Journal which is a reputed journal. I wrote two opinion pieces in FPRC Journal [Foreign Policy Research Centre, New Delhi, India], highlighting Uranium issue http://tinyurl.com/7dec8mu .

Many others have done their bits all over Australia. This was all ignored by this diplomat in his blind desire to promote and glorify his friends. There are many theories and possibilities about the reasons for this promotion.

Both the individuals, who this diplomat gave credits to, are members of Unions and are from ALP. I must clarify here that there is nothing wrong in being a member of any Union or ALP. That is not my concern as to which party they belong to, but I have serious issues when diplomats try to glorify them without any basis or truth, ignoring equal or superior claims for such accolade or credit for others. This is indeed wrong, unethical and dishonest.

Both these individuals are close to one Indian diplomat for various reasons.

Both these individuals are from Sydney.

So, my questions are;

1. Who is this senior Indian Diplomat?

2.Why is he playing this game?

3. Is it not political interference in our community?

4. Is he not playing politics in our community by “promoting”, glorifying and “propping” up two community members who are very close to him?

5. Is it not unwarranted, objectionable and offensive for a diplomat to play this type of politics?

6. What benefits he is getting? What is in it for him?

No Indian Diplomat is owning up these false claims, when challenged. And challenged they were quite forcefully, both privately and publicly!

So typical for Diplomats!

A little more info before you made your own mind as to who this senior Indian diplomat is. There are 4 senior Indian diplomats in Australia.

1. High Commissioner in Canberra, Mrs Sujatha Singh-Served for 4 years and had just left for the posting in Germany. She is not this “senior diplomat” quoted in the paper.

2. Consul General in Sydney, Mr Amit Dasgupta-here since 2009.

3. Consul General in Melbourne, Dr S K Behera-relatively new arrival in Australia.

4. Consul Gneral in Perth, Mr M. Subbarayudu-very new arrival in Australia.

I have spoken with many people from our community and they all have expressed their disgust with politics played by one of the senior Indian diplomats. This is not within the definition of the core jobs of Indian diplomats. They are to stay away from community politics. They should not promote or prop up any community member [s]. Just in case you are wondering, I must clarify that it is not an one off activity.

Indian diplomats must stay away from community politics, avoid playing favouritism game and conduct themselves in an impartial manner. If they are not careful, they risk harming the prestige of the position they occupy in Australia.

If not heeded, this might well lead to complaints to the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, Ministers in India and MPs in Indian Parliament.

After all, Indian diplomats are not the only who can do politics. We too know how to do politics!

Indian diplomats are here to represent Govt of India and help Indian Australians, when needed, but definitely not to do politics in our community!

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/16th March, 2012

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Several Australian and Asian Universities, but none from India, in top 50 world ranking!

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/351-400.html

The latest ranking from The Times Higher Education World University ranking in 2012 places Harvard University at number 1, MIT at number 2, Cambridge at number 3 and Stanford at 4.

Melbourne University, Australian National University [ANU] and University of Sydney are in the top 50. Many more are further down in the list.

The University of Sydney, established in 1850,...

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Indian Institute of Technology [IIT], Mumbai alone is in the top 400, while many universities from Asia-Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea have been graded highly-many in top 100.

University of Tokyo is at 8, Kyoto University at 20, National University of Singapore at 23, Tsinghua University [China] at 30, Peking University at 38 and University of Hong Kong at 39 in the list are noteworthy for everyone. It is definitely a matter of pride for people of these countries.

No university from India is in the top 100.

Times Higher Education ranking is one of the reputed and recognised ranking systems of the world Universities.

India has many universities but they generally do not score highly in these lists. I do not know fully why this is so, but something needs to be done by Govt authorities. All facilities, proper auditing and good administration including high level of teaching must be ensured to make these universities provide quality education and be competitive in the world ranking. Collaboration with foreign universities should be allowed and foreign Universities should be encouraged to set up their branches in India.

India sends quite a large number of students [only China beats India in this] to overseas universities. By providing quality education in India-based universities which also have prestige attached to them, India can save a huge amount of foreign reserve too.

I know that many bills have either been passed or in the process of being passed in Indian Parliament to achieve this desired outcome. Indian policy makers have a massive job in their hands to ensure top class education to millions of India’s students.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/16th March, 2012

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Why Akhilesh Yadav should be Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh?

English: The Flag of Samajwadi Party, India wi...

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Sydney, 7th March, 2012

The biggest state [by population] in India, Uttar Pradesh [UP] had just completed the election for the Legislative Assembly. Samajwadi Party [SP] has won the majority of seats in the assembly [224 out of 403]. Previous Govt led by Chief minister, Mayawati was defeated squarely.

I know UP and UP politics well.

SP campaign in the state was led by Akhilesh Yadav [who was SP’s state President], who is currently a second term member of National Parliament, Lok Sabha, in New Delhi. Akhilesh has been educated in Sainik school and had engineering training from University of Sydney. He is in his late thirties.

With his style of politics, down to earth nature, effective networking, and intelligence, he managed to create a wave of support for his party, which led to this victory.

In contrast to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and many other states, Uttar Pradesh lags behind in development. Law and Order has also been a problem. Bureaucracy, as usual, is not that responsive to the needs of people. Political leadership has not been focussed on the core job-development. UP sends the largest number of federal MPs to the national Parliament and used to have the honour of having one of its MPs as the Prime Minister until early 1990s.

Prior to this incoming SP Govt, Bahujan Samaj Party [BSP] was ruling the state, after winning a majority of seats in the assembly in 2007. Before that SP was in Govt with the support of other parties. For a while, SP and BSP alternated in the Govt. With the clear majority this time too, hopefully the rule of minority Govts which needed support of other parties, thus creating some instability, has ended.

Now, the Govt can concentrate on development agenda. Roads and transport, quality health services, quality educational facilities, job opportunities, welfare assistance for the needy people, transparent and efficient governance, and Policing and human right issues need full attention. Many of these are possible only if there is more investment and industries in the state. Only then, there will be sufficient money to develop the state.

UP Govt must be able to reach out to all people and understand the needs and aspirations of all people. It must deliver what its people need and deserve. Everything must be streamlined.

UP Govt should order fast and professional reviews to understand causes for the poor state of development and to seek ways to remedy the shortcomings. UP has to figure out why it is not as developed or rich a Gujarat and other states.

UP has the potential to be  one of the most developed states, if not the number one state in the country, provided genuine and sincere efforts are made in this direction. Obviously, statues and other wastage of public money must never be allowed again. Populism must be balanced with real development work.

Uttar Pradesh leaders need to think out of box and can’t continue following same old style of governance. It is about time that UP Govt leaders start focussing on people lot more than they have done so far.

UP state MLAs must not be allowed to think themselves to be above law, and must conduct themselves as “public servants”, not as “Public masters”.

I have high regards for Neta Ji [Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav] who has been Chief Minister many times, and is an experienced, capable and a veteran leader. His experience and ability will of course be very handy.

I do believe however that it would be more effective if someone with new thought, outlook, energy, vision, ability to connect with today’s people and “can do” attitude is at the helm of the Govt, under the overall guidance of Neta Ji.

UP needs fast development, which needs fast, smart and out of box thinking to encourage investment in UP from within India and outside India.

To achieve this, UP needs a new style of leadership and Governance.

Akhilesh Yadav will be a perfect candidate who will be able to deliver these outcomes.

I am aware that elected MLAs will want to have Neta Ji to be the CM, which is perfectly understandable. If that is the case, it would also be reasonable to have a new ministry named “Minister for Development” with umbrella power over other ministries to pilot the development in UP. Akhilesh will obviously be the right choice for this position.

I wish and hope that UP turns the corner in all aspects of governance and development!

I do wish and hope that UP becomes number ONE state in India in all respects!

People of UP need it and of course, deserve it, no less!

Dr Yadu Singh

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Multiculturalism in Australia: what it means to me
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Multiculturalism in Australia: what it means to me

Australia is a great place where one can meet people from all backgrounds, cultures and religions. They can enjoy food from diverse backgrounds-Indian, Chinese, Italian, Sri Lankan, Thai and many more, including, of course, Australian.

People can and do enjoy festivals from diverse backgrounds. I myself have participated in events and festivals from Chinese, Philippines, Pakistani, Arabic and of course Indian backgrounds. I enjoyed Chinese Opera and a performance by Shen Yun cultural group immensely. I remember the “Nagar Kirtan” by Sikh community with fondness and enjoyed walking with the crowd from Circular Quay to Martin Place in Sydney. I also remember with fondness my participation in various Hindu religious festivals in either various temples and even in Darling Harbour. These events were organised without any disturbance or incidents.

Increasing number of people from diverse backgrounds take part in national activities. Only yesterday [4th March, 2012], I took part in “Clean Up Australia Day” activities with my friends from Basava and Tamil backgrounds, led by Basava Samithi [an Indian group] and Australian Tamil Association [another Indian group] respectively.

People can see movies and functions from various cultural backgrounds in the national TV. SBS TV helps us share diverse cultures and celebrations in so many ways.

It is such a fun living in Australia. Australia is a success story of multiculturalism.

I am therefore a strong proponent of multiculturalism in Australia. It benefits not only people from diverse backgrounds, but also Australia as a nation.

Australia is truly a multicultural nation. One in four Australian was born overseas and 44% of 22 million [9.68 million] Australians were either born overseas or one of their parents was born overseas. We speak 260 languages and identify with 270 ancestries. This is an amazing statistics!

With well more than 100000 people coming to Australia through migration programme every year, this will continue to benefit Australia for a long time. With growing numbers of aging population, migration programme is crucial for Australian economy as it provides skilled people which Australia needs for its economy and service sector

Multiculturalism has been in the news lately, specially after the certain events were reported from France and Europe generally. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel’s statement that multiculturalism has failed in Germany has been widely reported.

Despite this, I believe that multiculturalism in Australia is unique and  is the right policy. European examples are not applicable to Australia.

Its importance can be judged by this little example. Previously, Dept of Immigration used to be called Department of Immigration and Multicultural affairs [DIMA] which later became Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous affairs [DIMIA]. It was later changed to Department of Immigration and Citizenship [DIAC] a few years ago and “Multicultural Affairs” was dropped. While Chris Bowen is still the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, I am pretty happy to note that the word “Multicultural Affairs” has been restored in so as Kate Lundy has the portfolio of Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

What does Multiculturalism mean?

It basically means;

1. Recognition and respect for cultural diversity of Australian people, within the overall framework of general Australian values.

2. Non-discriminatory Immigration policy which encourages people with the right mix of skills to migrate and then acquire citizenship with the pledge of loyalty to Australia and its people, uphold its laws and democracy and respect for our rights and liberties.

3. Non-discriminatory opportunities for everyone to achieve the best for themselves irrespective of race, gender, religion or other criterion.

It must be understood that Australian values will always be superior if there is any clash between the cultural practices, values and ideas and Australian values. Australian values of democracy, justice, equality, rule of law and tolerance will always remain supreme.

English will always be the national language with encouragement to learn it. Other languages including the languages which people identify as a part of their heritage will be encouraged but they will not be a substitute for English.

It is generally accepted that a full sense of belonging to any society or nation is achieved only if people are encouraged to participate, without any hindrance or discrimination. People who are encouraged to migrate can’t be treated as “guest workers”, with obstacle in their ways to prevent them from availing opportunities and participating meaningfully.

Despite some commentary in the media that some migrants want to change Australia, instead of adapting to the Australian values, I believe that it is generally an exaggerated account and and not true. An overwhelming majority of people, if not all, who come to Australia come here only because Australia is a better nation with better opportunities, and not to change Australia to suit their values or ideas.

Multiculturalism encourages participation which in turn promotes a sense of belonging. That, in turn, promotes a better citizenship, better society and of course, a better Nation, where “Take and Give” is accepted as a better and a noble notion, instead of “Take and Take”.

Everyone needs to contribute to the nation building to make Australia a better nation than it already is. That of course is only possible if their culture and heritage is valued, within the overall frame of Australian values, if opportunities are available without any discrimination, and if people are encouraged to achieve their best without any hindrance in doing so. Only then they will be able to contribute to the nation meaningfully.

Recognizing this, Australian Govt has constituted Australian Multicultural Council [AMC] with the mandate to advise the Govt for these matters, which, indeed, is a good step at the federal level.

At the state levels too, multiple steps have been taken to implement the policies in regards to multiculturalism. In NSW,  Minister Victor Dominello [Minister for Citizenship, Communities and Aboriginal Affairs] and Community Relations Commission [Chairman and CEO, Stepan Kerkyasharian] have the overall responsibilities for policies in these matters. By constituting Ministerial Consultative Committees [MCC] for various multicultural communities to advise NSW Govt, Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister Victor Dominello have done a commendable job in this direction.

There is a role for everyone, not just political leaders and People of Australia Ambassadors [appointed by federal Govt under AMC], to make Australia a better place than it already is. Community leaders and religious leaders have a big role in helping new migrants settle-in in the new society and integrate well within the broader Australian value system.

We all are stake holders in promoting the narrative of not only “successful Australia” but also “successful multicultural Australia”!

Yadu Singh/Sydney/5th March, 2012

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Participating in “Clean Up Australia Day” today was fun and a pleasure!

Clean Up Australia logo

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I enjoyed participating in “Clean Up Australia Day” today. It was a fun too.

In the morning, I joined up with my friends from Basava Samithi of Australia [an Indian group] in Collimore Park, Liverpool, NSW, where we, as a team, collected a lot of things. It was a pleasure to see the Council Truck coming and picking up things which we had collected. Dayanand Mogale [President of Basava Samithi], Panchaksaraiah Palya [Secretary of Basava Samithi] and Chidanand Puttarevanna were the key people in this group.

In the afternoon, I met up with friends from Australia Tamil Association [another Indian group] to participate in the activity at Best Road Reserve, Seven Hills, NSW.

We collected rubbish, broken TV, cups, bags, shopping trolleys, clothes, damaged fans and many more things. I was pleasantly surprised to know that Clean Up Australia organisation and local Councils provided gloves, and collection bags for the volunteers. Qantas also supported these events by donating Tea shirts and even small grants.

The prediction about weather was that it would rain but it turned out to be a bright and sunny morning, which, unfortunately, left an unwanted side effect. I had sun burn on my face, for which I was teased by my children. This also disproved my theory [without any basis] that brown-skinned people do not suffer sun burn. From now on, I will be better prepared!

Based on what we found there, I was sad to see the abuse of our environment by people. Obviously, we need to look after our environment and this Planet. This is a job for everyone and every day, not just for Clean Up Australia Day.

Basava Samithi and Australia Tamil Association [ATA] volunteers turned the events into “fun” events. At ATA event, Thiru Arumugam [President of ATA] and Susai Benjamin were also present. I was requested to give away certificates to the volunteers, which was a real honour and a matter of great pleasure.

I am more convinced now than before that there is a need for all of us to look after the nature and this planet.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/4th March, 2012

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$100,000 [52 Lacs Rupees] reward for information on the killer [s] of Pardeep Kumar from Mildura, Victoria, Australia.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/what-happened-to-pardeep-100000-reward-on-offer-20120206-1r081.html

Pic from SMH.

This gruesome killing of Pardeep Kumar, 33 yrs old fruit-picker,  in Mildura, Victoria [Australia] has remained unsolved since 2009. Police believes that some people with information may be in India, apart from some who may be in Mildura and elsewhere in Australia..

Please spread the word and help Police track down the criminals and bring them to justice.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/6th Feb, 2012

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Finally, Uranium trade with India has bipartisan support!

My article>>> Uranium-Bipartisan-article                                                                                                                             

 

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/8th Dec, 2011

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India’s Look East Policy:Australia is a perfect fit in it!

I was invited to write this article for the Journal from Foreign Policy Research Centre [FPRC], New Delhi. FPRC is a Think Tank on India’s Foreign Policy.

I have argued that Australia and India should develop the best of the best relations, and suggested how it can be achieved.

Link is here>>>  LEP.FPRC.Journal  See pages 200-206.

PS: Please note that ALP has passed a resolution in its national conference on Sunday, 4th Dec, 2011, reversing the ban on Uranium trade with India. Yadu Singh/6th Dec, 2011.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/15th Nov, 2011

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All except tobacco companies are happy with the passage of Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 in the Senate in Australia!

As a medical practitioner, I have keen interest in Public health and preventive medicine. I have been following the progress of Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 and Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011, with keen interest. Both have now been passed in the Senate on 10/11/11, after having received approval in the House of Representatives in Aug 2011.

I was very happy that the Bills were finally passed. They will now return to the House of Representatives for the final tick.

Australian Medical association [AMA], of which I am a member, Australian GP Network [AGPN], Australian Council on Smoking and Health [ACOSH], Cancer Councils, Public Health Association of Australia [PHAA], Action on Smoking & Health [ASH] and many more including leading Professors  have all been strong supporters of these Bills, which have been considered as progressive piece of Legislation.

Except for some minor disagreements, all political parties were in support of Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill. NSW Govt led by Barry O’Farrell was also in support of this Bill, as was the Baillieu  Govt of Victoria.

This legislation is a world first. It is likely to reduce smoking, particularly among young people.

Approx 18% Australians smoke currently, compared to 23% a decade ago. 15000 Australians die from smoking related illnesses and a lot more get Heart attacks and strokes with serious impact on quality of life. The total cost per annum for related health care is $30 billion.

Big Tobacco companies like British American Tobacco, Philip Morris and Imperial Tobacco have threatened to challenge the legislation, once it becomes Law, in the High Court, but legal experts say that they have hardly any chance to succeed. The grounds on which the Big tobacco want to challenge this legislation is the breach of their trademarks and intellectual property rights, without compensation. 

From 1/12/12, Cigarettes packaging will be in drab Brown colour, which is apparently least attractive to people. The name of the brand and the maker will be allowed in a specified small size but Logo will not be allowed. Front of the package will have the explicit  health warning/message against smoking in 75% of the area and the back will have the same in 90% of the area.

Experts claim that cost of cigarettes and advertisements are two most important factors which attract people to cigarettes. The cost of cigarettes was increased last year and outdoor advertisement including sport linked advertisements have been banned too for some years. Seeing the name and Logo in flashy colours was the the last frontier of advertisement, experts have suggested.

World Health Organisation [WHO] has sided with Australia, while Big Tobacco ran an advertisement campaign earlier against this Bill. All sorts of objections were raised about the constitutionality of the Bill and that this Bill would violate WTO rules, but Govt stood its grounds, rejecting such claims. The Big Tobacco companies even went to the Court to get access to the legal opinion which Govt had received in support of the Bill. They did not succeed.

With Australia’s leading role in anti-tobacco campaign, more countries are likely to follow suit. NZ has already shown great enthusiasm in this.

With a close family member of mine succumbing to Tobacco-related cancer, I am against smoking & tobacco use, and am in total support for every anti-Tobacco campaign. There is all the justification for every action to prevent  Tobacco-related  illnesses and deaths.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/11/11/11

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IIFA in Sydney: How, when and by whom?

Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan with wife/actre...

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IIFA Awards [The International Indian Film Academy Awards] are the most prestigious awards from Bollywood, the premier movie industry in India, and are presented every year by the International Indian Film Academy to recognise professionals and artists from Bollywood.

The first IIFA event was held in 2000. So far, they have been held in different countries around the world, details of which are as follows.

2000: Millennium Dome London, United Kingdom,

2001: Super Bowl Arena, Sun City, South Africa,

2002: Arena of Stars Genting, Highlands, Malaysia,

2003: Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg, South Africa,

2004: Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore,

2005: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,

2006: Dubai International Convention Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates,

2007: Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, United Kingdom,

2008: Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand,

2009: The Venetian Macao, Macau, Macau,

2010: Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka,

2011: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Social and economic benefits of hosting IIFA Awards are many. No wonders, there is a fierce competition among cities to host the event.  IIFA reaches out to millions of viewers and fans across the world providing them with an opportunity to see legends of Bollywood together on one stage. Toronto IIFA event was reportedly watched by >600million viewers. The Academy’s main objective has been to develop and promote relationships between film industries and organizations across the world. The focus is on foreign exchange and interaction, creating a common forum and meeting ground for enhancing business opportunities, apart from showcasing Bollywood cinema.

To prove that the hosting city benefits greatly, here is the latest evidence. Government of Ontario invested US$ 12 million to host 2011 edition of IIFA at Toronto and believed to have gained direct economic impact of over US$ 100 million in tourism. The organisers felt the returns of holding IIFA far exceeded the expectations estimated by the Government of Ontario.

IIFA have never been held in Australia, but Melbourne is trying to host them. They have already started the process.

Sydney is truly a world city with plenty of attractions for the Bollywood artists and fans. After all, who can beat Opera House, pristine beaches like Bondi Beach, and Blue Mountain, along with Hunter Valley which is only a short distance away? NSW can rope in our cricketers too, knowing that some of them have a huge fan following in India. Sydney will beat any city, if it decided to bid for IIFA. NSW should definitely bid for it, as it is indeed going to bring heaps of tourists around the time of the event, and thereafter too, which should generate more than $200 million for the NSW economy. With the flow-on effect on the inward tourism from India, and with the improved image of Australia as a travel destination for Indians, this benefit may well cross 500 millions easily over the short to medium term. I know, I am not a NSW treasury official and can’t predict what the monetary outcome of this event would be for NSW, but one thing is certain that it would be beneficial to the economy.

If IIFA is held in Sydney, they will be the best ever (to match the best ever Olympics) and will help strengthen ties between India and Australia. Basically, there are many positives, and no negative.

Organisations of Indian Australians, and Indian Australians in NSW generally, can play a vital role by helping the NSW Govt in the bidding process. There are >150000 people of Indian heritage in Sydney [more if you add the fans of Bollywood from Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds], who would be a potent force on behalf of NSW in attracting the event for Sydney.

My discussions with many prominent people have given me a clear impression that they would love to have IIFA in Sydney in the near future. To succeed in this however, the work has to start soon. It might be a bit late to bid for 2012, but we can start the process now for 2013 event or thereafter.

NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell is visiting India with a trade delegation next month. I think, it would be a perfect opportunity to initiate the process before the visit and follow it up during the visit.

I, for one, can’t wait to see IIFA event in our beautiful city, Sydney!

PS: I am not in favor of frauds and fake people, with no integrity and value system, getting anywhere near events like IIFA, because they will destroy the whole concept and the brand image. We all know that there are people who can con people to make money, and are very keen to promote themselves as event organizers. They operate with no principle and have no ethics.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/25th October, 2011

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Finally, Amitabh Bachchan accepts the Honorary Doctorate from Queensland University of Technology!

Amitabh Bachchan

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We remember very well that Bollywood super star, Amitabh Bachchan had declined to accept the Honorary Doctorate from Queensland University of Technology [QUT] in 2009, when students’ unrest was at its peak in Australia. At that time, a segment of Indian media was running a campaign, calling each and every incident involving Indian students a racist attack.

Living in Australia, we knew that “racism” was not the sole motive or the reason for those attacks. We tried to counter the vicious campaign by Indian media but had only limited success.

Hearing about the news that Amitabh Ji had declined to accept the Doctorate, we made an appeal to him to visit Australia, accept the Doctorate, and see for himself that Australia is not a bad country, unlike the image Indian media had created. That did not work either.

See my previous Blog: https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/amitabh-bachchan-ji-we-need-your-assistance/

We are pleased that he has now accepted the Doctorate and is travelling to Brisbane to receive it on 20th October, 2011. He is currently in Sydney, shooting for the Hollywood film, The Great Gatsby [directed by Baz Luhrmann], which also has Leonardo Di Caprio, Tobey Maguire and Joel Egerton in the starring roles.

Amitabh Ji, congrats for the honour!

I did not think he was right to reject that honour then, but there was nothing anybody could do, due to madness in Indian media. He has obviously analysed everything now, and agreed to accept the honour. Happy to see this happen, and say “Der Ayad Durust Ayad”! [देर आयद दुरुस्त आयद <===> BETTER LATE THAN NEVER].

Amit Ji, please enjoy your stay in Australia, and enjoy this beautiful country!

I am certain that you would find Australia a great place, and Australians to be friendly people.

You have a great number of fans in Sydney, who would love to meet you, before you return to India. Hope, you will find time to meet them. 

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/18th October, 2011

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The strategy to encourage more overseas students to study in Australia

I was the chief of the Students’ committee, formed by Indian Consulate in 2009. We studied the students issues, held consultation sessions and came out with a strategy document. The strategy proposed then is still relevant and can  be followed with some modification.

I have continued to have a keen interest this area due to various reasons, but making money myself has not been one of the motives.

Recently, Federal Govt has announced some changes to the Visa rules to encourage overseas students to come to Australia, thus boosting an $18 billion industry, but these changes will help only University sector. The key points in these changes include faster visa processing, less strict requirement in regards to financial support and 2-4 years work visa to work in any area, after completing a bachelor or higher level course from a University.

Premier of NSW, Mr Barry O’Farrell and Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu have asked for some changes in the rules and regulations to revive the vocational education and training sector which is almost moribund now. The events of 2009 and the bad press it generated has compromised this sector massively. NSW and Victoria earn $6.5 billions and $5.8 billions from international education respectively, but this is in jeopardy due to 64 % and 90.1% decline of students in the vocational education and training sector from China and India respectively in recent years.

The whole international education sector needs a boost but we should not allow the weaknesses of previous years to happen again.

There is a case for a support to Vocational education & training sector, provided the courses considered for this support are carefully defined and approved. It should be a “course” which should be the criterion, not the place from where it has been achieved. The quality of the training and a tight control on the delivery of such training to ensure similar levels and standards when compared with a University courses will be the key here.

There is no harm if overseas students have the qualifications which Australia needs, but we should make it clear that none has an automatic right to have permanent residence visa, just because they have a qualification from Australia.

We should encourage only genuine students and never permit visa rorting, which was common until recently. Compliance with Visa rules and conditions must be enforced ruthlessly. Dependent spouses, who are not students, should not be given permission for unlimited work, to prevent sham marriages.

I am outlining the strategy with some modification from our original document.

The key points are;

1. Safety and Security:  

Brief Details:

Several cases of robbery & bashings of  Students which gave a very bad publicity. 

Proposed Action Plan 

  • Market Australia as a safe place when compared with other countries, using the experience of long term residents/citizens.
  • Educate students to REPORT the incidents to NSW Police. Reporting does not affect their VISA.
  • Councils to arrange a better lighting around Railway stations, car parks and  alleys etc in the key areas with higher students population
  • Local councils to install CCTV for surveillance of crimes in the key areas with higher students population
  • Liaison with NSW Police re under-cover policing, more visibility and patrolling in hot-spots
  • Education of the students  to be street-smart and be aware of their  surroundings
  • Employers have a duty of care and must arrange them to be dropped off at their apartments if it is beyond 10 PM
  • Explore and educate the issues involving “Work-cover” matters in case of injury/assaults 
  • Some transport concession, which is already available all over Australia except NSW and Vic. It would encourage more use of public transport which might also reduce the assaults/robberies of students.

2. Accommodation for Students: 

Brief Details:

No assistance on arrival. Many students forced to share crowded apartments and Poor treatment by rental agents 

Proposed Action Plan 

  • Education providers should take responsibility for a minimum 6 months accommodation which can be organised at the market rate. Fees can include the rent for such accommodation.  
  • Lobby with Immigration regarding  this requirement [Visa must not be issued unless accommodation confirmed]

 3. Quality of training:  

Brief details:  

Many students are exposed to poor quality of training by educational service providers & shady, shonky or bogus institutions. 

Proposed action plan: 

  • Accreditation authorities/bodies to audit the quality of training randomly and frequently
  • Effective and proper actions on proved cases
  • Anonymous surveys from the current students re the quality issues
  • Effective and prompt action by DEEWR/ACPET re alternate placement in schools/institutions or refund of the tuition fees if the educational provider goes out of business  

4. Exploitation of  students:  

Brief details:  

Students are exposed to exploitation of all kinds & bullying in part time employment or by educational service providers. They get below-award wages in many cases.  

Proposed action plan:  

  • To advise & educate students about their RIGHTS in Australia
  • To educate them re the appropriate agencies to deal with such matters
  • To encourage/facilitate genuine students’ associations which are largely run by students themselves, not business people with hidden agenda and purposes. 
  • To lobby for establishing an  overseas Students’ Ombudsman

 5. Overseas Students’ Ombudsman:

  • This body will help students when they have issues with education providers or with employers.

6. Health Cover, other appropriate insurance matters and  emergency insurance:  

Brief details:  

Lack of proper/current Insurances and coverage by some students, particularly when they are on bridging Visa.

Proposed Action plan:  

  • Pre arrival Information package in the country of origin
  • Proper medical insurance must be a condition for the Visa and such cover must be current at all times during the stay in Australia 

7.  Social issues: 

Brief details: poor communication, insufficient participation in local community events & meetings and poor public behaviour in many cases 

Proposed action plan 

  • Communication/education through community Radio, TV, newspapers and website.
  • Encourage participation of students in community events
  • Know what is expected in every situation.
  • Encouraging and promoting “when in Rome, do as Romans do” policy for our students
  • rules/regulations, Australian ways, expected behaviour and rights/obligations [There is now sufficient information in these matters in various websites] 

8. International education as a separate ministry:

  • There is sufficient justification for a separate ministry due to the fact that it is a big earner for the economy and needs special attention.

9. International students’ advisory body:

  • comprising of some international students, community representatives, education providers and Govt representatives. This will help deal with issues in regards to bad press and advise Govt with policy recommendations.

10. Marketing:

  • targeted marketing in the key markets ie China and India
  • addressing the concerns re safety and quality of education
  • countering the bad publicity about so called “racism”, using community leaders of high repute in the key markets.

Boost in this sector will be great, but we do not need the repetition of past mistakes which literally killed the whole sector. 

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/11th Oct, 2011

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Diwali celebrations in NSW.

We are very pleased to know that NSW Coalition Govt led by The Hon Barry O’Farrell has decided to host Diwali celebration in the NSW Parliament this year. We are thrilled with it and look forward to participating and contributing to this celebration.

It is great that the NSW Govt is hosting the function and thus giving an official status to Diwali celebration. It is a big plus for Indian Australian community in NSW. More details to follow.

Premier, The Hon Barry O’Farrell, and Minister for Citizenship and Communities, The Hon Victor Dominello, deserve a big thank you from Indian community. This is indeed late by a few years, but “now” is better than “never”. NSW Govt hosts celebrations for many other communities. This is the first for Indian Australian community in NSW.

Diwali celebration in NSW Parliament is separate from The Diwali Fair, which is being organised by Hindu Council at Parramatta Stadium on 30th October, 2011. Apart from this, there would many more Diwali celebrations in Sydney.

I want to outline what Diwali is about and why Diwali deserved the honour of being hosted by NSW Govt. This is for those who might not be aware of the significance of Diwali.

Diwali is the biggest festival of India that celebrates the victory of good over the evil. It symbolizes the age-old culture of India which teaches mankind to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge. Diwali, the festival of lights even today in this modern world teaches us to uphold the true values of life.

“Diwali” is the easy-to-pronounce form of Deepavali or Deepawali. In Sanskrit “Deepavali” is the marriage of two Sanskrit words- Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. Indeed celebrating the row of lights forms one of Diwali’s main attraction.

While Diwali has a religious significance for an estimated 1 billion Hindus world wide, Diwali is clearly much more than that. It is a truly Indian festival which is celebrated by Indians throughout the world in a joyous mood, with zeal and enthusiasm. Diyas [oil lamp usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in Ghee or vegetable oils] and candles are burnt in every home. People clean their homes, sweets are shared and people wish each other well.

It heralds the beginning of new year as per the Hindu calendar. Diwali is normally celebrated in October or November.

Diwali is also an important event for Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism.

Diwali is truly an Indian festival, not just a Hindu festival!

In NSW, Diwali celebration takes the highest spot on the Indian community Calender.
It is estimated that there are over 150 thousand people of Indian heritage in NSW. It can be safely said that Most of them celebrate Diwali each year in one or the other form. The number is growing each year  as more skilled migrants and students arrive from India and make NSW their home.

With multiculturalism recognised as part of the Australian way of life and as a valued asset of New South Wales, it is highly commendable that the Government of NSW recognised this major festival by hosting an official annual celebration at NSW Parliament for Diwali – the festival of light – symbolising and renewing the vows of the people of NSW to uphold the true values of life.

Indian Australian community believe in integration and participation of Indian Australians in the general Australian community. We are strong believers and supporters of multiculturalism and multicultural Australia.

We are thrilled with the new status of Diwali celebration and applauds NSW Govt for their decision to host Diwali celebration in the NSW Parliament. We are committed to working with the NSW government through the appropriate ministry, minister and agency to organise a grand Diwali celebration this year and in future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Reasons to Celebrate Diwali.
The Festival of Lights is for All

Why do we celebrate Diwali? It’s not just the festive mood in the air that makes you happy, or just that it’s a good time to enjoy before the advent of winter.

There are 10 mythical and historical reasons why Diwali is a great time to celebrate. And there are good reasons not just for Hindus but also for all others to celebrate this great Festival of Lights.

1. The Victory of Rama: According to the epic ‘Ramayana’, it was the new moon day of Kartik when Lord Ram, Ma Sita and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana and conquering Lanka. The citizens of Ayodhya decorated the entire city with the earthen lamps and illuminated it like never before.

2. Special Day for the Sikhs: The third Sikh Guru Amar Das institutionalized Diwali as a Red-Letter Day when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Gurus blessings. In 1577, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali. In 1619, the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind, who was held by the Mughal Emperor Jahengir, was released from the Gwalior fort along with 52 kings.

3. Goddess Lakshmi’s Birthday: The Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of Diwali with Lakshmi.

4. Krishna Killed Narakaasur: On the day preceding Diwali, Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakaasur and rescued 16,000 women from his captivity. The celebration of this freedom went on for two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival.

5. The Return of the Pandavas: According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). The subjects who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting the earthen lamps.

6. Coronation of Vikramaditya: One of the greatest Hindu King Vikramaditya was coroneted on the Diwali day, hence Diwali became a historical event as well.

7. Special Day for the Arya Samaj: It was the new moon day of Kartik (Diwali day) when Maharshi Dayananda, one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism and the founder of Arya Samaj attained his nirvana.

8. Special Day for the Jains: Mahavir Tirthankar, considered to be the founder of modern Jainism also attained his nirvana on Diwali day.

9. Special day for Buddhism: Newar Buddhists celebrate it because Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism on this day.

10. The Pope’s Diwali Speech: In 1999, Pope John Paul II performed a special Eucharist in an Indian church where the altar was decorated with Diwali lamps, the Pope had a ‘tilak’ marked on his forehead and his speech was bristled with references to the festival of light.

[With input and contribution from Tony Colaco, President, Goan Overseas Association of NSW].

UPDATE: Community Relations Commission [CRC] is the body on behalf of NSW Govt to organise/conduct Deepavali celebration in NSW Parliament on 10th Nov, 2011. 

Yadu Singh/Sydney/1st Oct, 2011
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Clarification: “Ganesh versus the third Reich” is not an issue between Australia and India.

A report in The Age newspaper  http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hindus-want-to-ban-play-that-has-ganesh-reclaim-swastika-from-germany-20110926-1ktkb.html   says, quoting me “Indians saw the play, Ganesh Versus the Third Reich, as part of a campaign of denigration against them by Australians, Dr Singh said yesterday”.

I wish to clarify this as it is not reflecting my correct views. It is an incorrect statement.

The issue involving this play are obviously not the issue between two nations.  This is an issue between followers of Hinduism and Back to Back theatre, which is doing this play in Malthouse theatre, as a part of Melbourne Festival.

This issue is also not between the people of India or Hindus, and Australian people.

It is a matter only between the organisers of this play and us, who feel that the narratives in the publicity material is inappropriate.

I wish to clarify that a vast majority of Australian people are decent, fair-minded and great people, who have no interest in doing or saying anything which will denigrate any religion or offend followers of any religion. I do not believe they will support anyone either who would do or say something which will cause offence to others without a valid reason.

I am a strong supporter of freedom of speech, but I do not believe freedom of speech is an absolute thing, which gives any one a blanket permit to say or do anything without worrying about the consequences or genuine offence it might cause to others. There has to be a balance between the two.

I am also not demanding a ban on this Play, but I do want it to not denigrate the religious sentiments or beliefs of Hindus. They need to be sensitive towards the feelings of the followers of Hinduism. After all, the promotional material has words for Lord Ganesh like ““a mutated human,” “some form of genetic mutation…dreamt up as a secret weapon by the allies”, ” is interrogated and tortured by the Nazi SS”, and “desperately trying to cover his large elephant head under a wide-brimmed hat and high collar.”  Lord Ganesh has been described as “crushing people and military” and shown to be wearing a child’s nappy. These words and depiction could be quite offensive to the believers.

I expressed my concerns that “Ganesh versus the third Reich” play may create more troubles for Australia India relations, with the background of  the recent issues involving Indian students and others.

We are very aware of  the role of a segment in Indian media, which harmed the image of Australia with its exaggerated reports on students, often using racism tag for things which had nothing to do with race. This same segment can easily hype the issue involving “Ganesh versus the third Reich” as the issue between Australians and Indians. I am concerned about it, but I am also hopeful that people and media in both nations will treat matter of this type with sensitivity, objectivity and care.

I am for the faster growth of trade and relations between Australia and India. Australia, to me, is the best nation of the world.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/28th Sept, 2011

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Yes, tapping into Asian boom is in Australia’s national interest!

Julia Gillard

Image via Wikipedia

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/julia-gillard-commissions-white-paper-to-look-at-ways-to-exploit-asian-boom/story-fn59nm2j-1226149322811

Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has outlined in a speech in Asia Society today that Australia wants to tap into the booming economies of Asia, especially China, India and Indonesia. Australia’s raw materials, education and manufactured goods are in high demands in Asia. It is in the national interest of Australia to deal with Asian economies actively.

A white paper will be released by mid 2012, outlining various issues, risks, opportunities and benefits. Mr Ken Henry, ex-treasury secretary is the person who will do this job. This white paper will have detail of the short term initiatives [up to 5 years] and long term initiatives for a period up to 2025.

It is a no brainer for Australia to do so. In coming years and decades, Australian economy will get increasingly integrated with Asian economies. China, Japan, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Singapore and other nations from Asia are already our most important trading partners. This is going to increase more in the coming years. The booming economies in Asia have made people call it “Asian Century”, and indeed, it is a smart move for Australia to tap into these economies more actively and speedily.

There will be some political issues which may create some obstacle, but they can all be managed with varying degree of ease. 

As far as India is concerned, there is one potential obstacle which comes to mind. Some have called it an unnecessary irritation. There are enough justifications for Australia to sell Uranium to India and earn goodwill with India. People who know this issue have all suggested that Uranium issue needs urgent attention, and sale agreed, to take the India-Australia relations to a much higher level. PM Gillard should not have any trouble in getting the relevant amendments of the existing Acts passed in the Parliament, because Coalition already supports Uranium trade to India.

 In 2009, the bilateral trade between Australia and India was $20.87 billions. By now, it would have easily crossed $23 billions. With Uranium issue sorted, the bilateral trade can go to the top gear and easily double from the current value in a short to mid term.

To take the trade and relation at the higher level, it would be helpful to have an expertise in the national languages of these nations. In India’s case, there is a lot of points in favour of including India’s national language, HINDI, as a secondary language in the national curriculum. My previous Blog on Hindi is here. https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/australian-national-draft-curriculum-for-second-tier-languageswhy-is-hindi-missing-from-it/

I am looking forward to this White Paper next year.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/28th Sept, 2011

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The Age newspaper reports on “Ganesh versus the third Reich” play in Melbourne festival.

Ganesh festival in India

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http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hindus-want-to-ban-play-that-has-ganesh-reclaim-swastika-from-germany-20110926-1ktkb.html

Barney Zwartz, the Religion editor of The Age newspaper has reported on “Ganesh versus the third Reich” play being organised in Melbourne festival from 29th September, 2011.

See more details in my earlier posts.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/27th september, 2011

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NSW should take adantage of Visa changes for overseas students and market itself aggressively.

Minister Chris Bowen [Minister for Immigration and Citizenship] and Senator Chris Evans [Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations] have unveiled The Knight report and announced new changes in Visa rules for international students. These changes have been hailed by the key players in the International Education industry.

Bowen-Evans-Knight-Media-release

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/knight/

http://www.smh.com.au/national/postgraduate-education/overseas-students-get-easier-entry-working-visas-20110922-1kncv.html

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/international-student-visa-changes-biased-towards-unis-tafe/story-e6frgcjx-1226144429513

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/visa-change-to-help-foreign-students/story-fn6ck4a4-1226143636337

These changes are likely to lift the number of overseas students coming to Australia and will give a boost to the economy. This is a good news. International education is worth $18 billion nationally. Everything needs to be done to take it to a bigger level, while ensuring that the system is not rorted again. We do not want “Visa factories” again. These changes are likely to encourage genuine students, wishing to pursue education in Australia.

The main changes are;

  • Fast Visa approval process for bachelor or higher degree University courses
  • Less onerous criterion for financial support
  • Changes in the risk assessment criterion
  • 2-4 years guaranteed work Visa after finishing a bachelor degree or higher Uni courses
  • Australian International Education will be able to compete with UK, USA and Canada more effectively

The work visa is a master stroke. This allows people to work without any restrictions. I have no doubt that it will make Australia a very attractive place for International education.

Indeed, universities have been given some preference in the new system, largely because they are the places for higher and quality education. These changes will help TAFE too but unlikely to help the private institutions which had mushroomed previously, and many brought bad reputation to the industry and Australia due to poor quality education and exploitation of students. These fly by night operators and shonky providers had done enormous harm to this sector.

Quality control and monitoring of providers would be the key to keep Australia in the fore front. University sector gets about 25% of its budget from overseas students. This dependence on overseas students should not be allowed to dilute the standards of education in the universities.

These Visa rules will be reviewed periodically by the Education Visa Consultative Committee [EVCC] which will recommend changes as and when needed.

These are welcome changes and should help the growth of the industry. Michael Knight, Ex NSW Minister and the author of the report, has done a good job.

Finally, NSW Govt should do every thing to promote its universities to the overseas market, especially China and India, by removing the apprehension about safety issues, working towards some system for accommodation support in the beginning, and establishing a system which will deal with exploitation of students. The bogey of racism and racist attacks which some overseas media had reported without real basis can be tackled effectively. NSW delegation is visiting India in November. In addition to every thing else, it should obviously also have a focus on this sector. Nothing will assure Indian parents better if they hear from Indian Australians of high standing that Australia is a safe place to study, live and work. I believe that the $5 billion international education industry in NSW can easily grow to a higher level, if key players work smartly and effectively. Victoria is the number one destination for these students currently, but it could easily be NSW. After all, overseas students will come to NSW as a prefered destination, as it is a fantastic place with beautiful cities, beaches, renowned universities and multiculturalism in its DNA. This will happen definitely, provided NSW has been marketed smartly in the key markets.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/23rd September, 2011

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The Telegraph [UK] coverage of “Ganesh Versus the Third Reich” play in Melbourne festival.

Lord Ganesh Sculpture

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8776050/Hindu-fury-over-Australian-play-that-pits-god-Ganesh-against-Hitler.html

The Telegraph [UK] covers the controversy involving a play in Melbourne which is going to use the image of Lord Ganesh.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/21st Sept, 2011

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My interview on ABC PM covering the comedy Ganesh versus the third Reich in Melbourne Festival.

http://bit.ly/n3wkNC

Yadu Singh/Sydney/20th Sept, 2011

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Don’t use deities of Hinduism inappropriately and disrespectfully!

I am concerned about the trend of using the symbols of Hinduism inappropriately and disrespectfully. Previously, Goddess Lakshmi was printed on a swim suit and a Sydney-based radio host made some adverse comments about the beliefs of followers of Hinduism, who consider River Ganges as sacred. Both these matters were tackled and remedied with withdrawal of the offensive actions and an apology. 

With this background, I find it very disappointing that Back To Back Theatre, in collaboration with Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne, is doing a play “Ganesh and the third Reich” in Melbourne Festival on 29th Sept, 2011. This play is going to use Lord Ganesha as matter for comedy and laughter. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

 <<<Swsatka                                               >>>>Nazi swastika

Lord Ganesha does not need to go to Germany to deal “one to one” with Hitler! Nazi swastika is a corrupted form of the Hindu swastika and had no similarity with the original swastika which meant “Good luck”, unlike what Hitler was using it for. Nazi swastika was a sign of hatred and evil. Nazi variety has crosses at a 45 degree angle while the original one has horizontal and vertical arms with 4 dots.

One of most widely worshipped deities in Hinduism, Lord Ganesha, is regarded as god of wisdom, good luck and destroyer of obstacles, and is invoked at the beginning of businesses, projects and undertakings. Hinduism is a tolerant religion and respects other religions. It is one of the oldest religions and has been around for more than 5000 years. It is also the third largest religion of the world with more than one billion followers.

 I believe that People need to be sensitive to the beliefs and feelings of other people. Using Lord Ganesha in this manner is inappropriate and will be offensive to many followers of Hinduism. 

CIA-press-release-Lord-Ganesha

Depiction of Lord Ganesha in this manner is going to become an Issue in India and among Indians, and is likely to create a controversy between India and Australia, which is unnecessary.

Further more, agencies which receive public funding in Australia, can’t be associating with any action, commentary, documentary or play, which lampoons the beliefs, deities or feelings of people from any religion.  

I urge Melbourne Festival, Arts Victoria, Tourism Victoria, and City of Melbourne to consider the hurt, which people might experience from such parody of one of the most revered deities of Hinduism, and act with sensitivity.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/19th Sept, 2011

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Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement gathers momentum in India!

Anna Hazare and his team members were arrested in the morning of 16th Aug, 2011. The reason for the arrests was their proposed protest by “Hunger strike” in a Park in New Delhi, which Govt of India did not want to let that happen. Delhi Police used the powers they have to stop the protest.

Anna Hazare was taken to Tihar Jail, where infamous politicians like Suresh Kalamadi of CWG scam and Mr A Raja of 2G spectrum scam are being kept.

This did not go well with the people of India. There were protests every where in India, and even overseas. The Govt of India saw the mass support for Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement and buckled under pressure. They agreed to release him in the evening, even though he was sent to the prison for 7 days, and also allowed the “Hunger strike” to go ahead in Delhi.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anna-Hazare-to-fast-at-Ramlila-Maidan-from-tomorrow/articleshow/9645206.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Who-is-Anna-Hazare/articleshow/9644794.cms

Anna Hazare and his team, including vast numbers of Indians, want Indian Parliament to pass a stringent anti-corrption Bill [Jan Lokpal Bill] to tackle rampant corruption in India. Govt of India, however, wants to pass a weaker Bill, excluding some of the people who, Anna Hazare & team [including Kiran Bedi, Shashi Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Swami Agnivesh] want to be included in the Bill.

Corruption is a fact of life in India and it affects every one and every walk of life. It is a big menace. People are sick of it. It needs to be tackled effectively and immediately.

The concept of accountability has to be implemented. A strong anti-corruption Bill will go a long way in tackling this menace but it will not be sufficient unless accompanied by a persistent campaign via mass media and some changes in the education system. This would also need the provision of sufficient funds and personnel to allow the Jan LokPal to do its job in a timely manner.

Corruption can be controlled provided there is a will power in the system. The example of ICAC [Independent Commission Against Corruption, www.icac.nsw.gov.au ] in NSW is a good example.

There is a public movement in India and this is telling the Govt that people are sick of corruption. Govt should listen to the feelings and moods of the people and get on the business of eradicating corruption.

The current state of corruption is not tenable.

Anna Hazare is not just a name. It is in fact a name of a movement which has support from the masses. Govt has a choice to make. Listening to people and do something about is going to give the Govt some brawny points while ignoring or, worse, suppressing it is going to cause a lot of harm to them.

Anna Hazare movement is creating history. Just like Indians in India, I and my friends are supporting this movement. While we can’t do much sitting in Australia, we can definitely participate in this movement, and support this movement, by writing to the Consul Generals of India and High Commissioner of India in Australia.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/18th Aug, 2011

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Kyle Sandilands & India matter resolved.

A bend in the Ganges river, Garhwal hills, Utt...

Image via Wikipedia

I am pleased to report that Sydney’s 2Day FM Radio station and Kyle Sandilands have realised the mistake in their comments and issued an apology. This apology has been on air by Kyle, and in writing by Adam Lang, General Manager of 2day FM Radio station, who had sent a letter to me yesterday.

This is from what Kyle has said.

” I’m apologising….. anyone that’s Indian that listens to this show knows that I love Indians…. I don’t discriminate. I love everyone. I don’t care where they are, where they are from, what colour they are, I just made the mistake that the river which, to me, looks polluted, I said it was a junkyard and I did not realise it was holy.”

This is what Adam Lang said. ” In this instance, I hope that you feel that Kyle Sandilands and 2Day FM have taken full responsibility for the offence caused by remarks made. The offence was not intended but that consequence is absolutely accepted and we do sincerely apologise.”

I have heard the audio and it is good.

The Council of Indian Australians’ Press release is here. CIA_Press_Release_No12_2Day-FM-apologises

With this, the matter arising from Kyle’s comments has been resolved to our satisfaction. We are happy that it has been resolved so quickly. This chapter is now closed.

I urge Indian media in India and Indians all over the World to close this chapter too. There is no need for any campaign or protest anymore. Desi Kangaroos TV clip is here.  http://youtu.be/LwIsrAaKilU

As I had said in my Sydney Morning Herald interview yesterday http://tinyurl.com/4xvkx2s , this matter was not between Australia and India. It was between Kyle and the listeners. It did affect Indians all over the world however. A lot of Indians were upset but some also agreed with him.

In Australia, just like India, press is free. Govt of Australia does not control press here, just like India. The protest by us and people every where else did work. This is a sign that media in  a free country does listen to public opinion.

Let us take emotions out from this debate now. River Ganges is a Holy river in Hinduism. Accepting it as a Holy River is fine and true, but it is not enough. National Govt and State Governments in India have not done enough to stop pollution of this river or any other river. This is unpardonable. How can they allow so much waste going into this River in the cities along the course of Ganges? 

Protests and campaigns are fine and justified, but they alone will not achieve results. There is a need to take real action to stop pollution of Ganges and recover it from the damage. Will that happen or will this outrage die out in a few days? Will people forget that the basic issue is that India has allowed Ganges and other rivers getting so polluted?

Let us take the message that India has a serious issue of pollution of its natural resources and let us accept that it is all man-made. All of us already know it and Kyle’s comments have only re-inforced this fact. We have been shown a mirror and the things were not pretty. That needs to change.

Although we do love to blame bureaucracy and political system for the problem of this nature, it remains a fact that we too are responsible for it. It is about time that we accept this fact and do something effective and fast.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/3rd Aug, 2011

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Sydney Morning Herald coverage of Kyle Sandilands’ comments!

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kyle-sandilands-in-hot-water-with-hindus-over-junkyard-ganges-20110802-1i9ff.html

Kyle Sandilands of 2Day FM made some anti-India comments. Sydney Morning Herald covered this matter. It was a balanced report.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/2nd Aug, 2011

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Kyle sandilands of 2Day FM should be ashamed for making offensive comments against India & River Ganges.

Today Network
Image via Wikipedia

See the link below.

http://t.co/iDNuWrQ 

 It has the sound bites of the grossly offensive anti-India comments by Kyle Sandilands of 2Day FM.

They are hurtful, unnecessary and objectionable to Indian Australians, to whom India will always have a special place. Unlike Kyle, we do not believe India is a “shit hole”. River Ganges, which Kyle is ridiculing outrageously, is accepted as a sacred river by the followers of the Hindu religion. His comments are getting into the realm of religious beliefs of Hindus and he seems to be questioning them.

These comments are the products of arrogant,  insensitive and uninformed mind.

I wonder how much Kyle knows about India before he made these objectionable comments.

2Day FM management should ask him to apologise for his hurtful comments.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/29th Aug, 2011

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Nonsense about Australia from a Call Centre in India: My comments in A Current Affairs programme of Channel 9.

A call centre in Delhi was reported to be using offensive description for Australia & Australians, while training Call centre workers. See the report in Sunday Telegraph  newspaper.  http://t.co/g0hvK7C  It has created quite a bit of furore which you can see from the comments section.
 
A Current Affairs [ACA] programme of Channel 9 Australia covered it too. It is here.
 
Aussies a bunch of backward drunks’ http://t.co/QrNLsw4  My comments are in this coverage from ACA.
 
The training of BPO workers, depicting Australians poorly is incorrect, offensive and objectionable. I do not agree with these ill-informed and uneducated comments.
 
We, Indian Australians, are Australians too. Australians of any heritage are neither dumb nor backward. Contrary to the claims from this Call Centre in New Delhi, people in Australia do not “drink constantly”. Australia is not a racist country either. There are racist people everywhere in the world. Neither Australia nor India is an exception. Fortunately, they are a small minority.  Australia’s rules and regulations are not guided by race, religion or gender. Instead, Australia is a progressive and successful multicultural country.
  
Yadu Singh/Sydney/25th July, 2011
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OZ Uranium to India:my article in Mining & Technology Australia Journal.

Mining and Technology Australia asked me to write an article on OZ Uranium to India. This magazine is an Industry journal. It has now been published.

Link is here>> http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1sqpz/MiningampTechnologyA/resources/index.htm Page 40-41.

I am keen to hear from you about your views, points and counterpoints. I enclose this Radio interview about Uranium mining in Australia. http://radioadelaidebreakfast.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/in-focus-uranium-mining-business-and-trade-2/

Yadu Singh/Sydney/12th July, 2011

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A wrong has been righted in DIAC India map matter. Thank you, Australian Govt!

I have a good news which I want to share with everyone who loves India and Australia, just as much as we do.

We raised the matter involving an incorrect map of India in DIAC [Dept of Immigration and citizenship] website.

See this post for details of this matter. http://tinyurl.com/3oxh9pg

We also wrote to Australian Foreign Affairs minister, Mr Kevin Rudd and Immigration minister, Mr Chris Bowen, under whose ministry, DIAC operates.

We also wrote to Indian High commissioner in Canberra and Consul General of India, Sydney.

Social media-Twitter and Facebook- were used to generate awareness. We do have access to Australian top political leaders via our social media outlets.

As this NDTV report suggests, the incorrect map is going to be removed from DIAC website. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/no-j-k-arunachal-pradesh-in-oz-map-of-india-111792

Council of Indian Australians[ www.cia.org.au ] and myself are really proud of ourselves. We are also proud of our friends for being involved in this campaign. Genuine thanks are due to Australian Govt authorities for acting quickly in a matter which was causing a serious concern to Indian Australians, and [I guess] to India.

A wrong has been righted, and we are proud to be a part of the campaign to get it done.

Finally, this re-enforces my views that Australia is a great nation.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/13rd June, 2011

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DIAC Australia has India’s incorrect map, which should be rectified!

I have been made aware of a map, which DIAC [Dept of Immigration and Citizenship] Australia has put in its website. It excludes Jammu & Kashmir [J&K] from Indian map. J&K appears to be shown as a part of Pakistan.

Even Arunachal Pradesh appears to be shown outside India.

See the Link here.

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/country-profiles/_pdf/india.pdf

This is wrong and objectionable, and should be rectified.

Jammu & Kashmir is an integral, inseparable and inalienable part of India and will always remain so.

Let me remind those who do not know the relevant history. J&K became an inalienable part of India on 25th October, 1947 when King of J&K, Maharaja Hari Singh, signed the “Instrument of accession” with India. This Instrument was executed between India’s then Governor-General, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and Maharaja Hari Singh on 27th October, 1947. All rulers of States and Kingdoms in India were entitled to choose one of three options- join India, join Pakistan or remain independent-at the time of Indian independence in 1947.

J&K joined India in 1947.

Pakistan came into being on 14th Aug, 1947, and it celebrates its Independence day on 14th August.

India celebrates its Independence Day on 15th August.

Here is the Link for more details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir

Maharaja Hari Singh’s Kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir obviously joined India. The Maharaja made the correct choice. He was a smart King. J&K is part of the progressive, prosperous, secular, multicultural and democratic India.

India and Indians will never allow anyone to undo what was done by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1947. Terrorism and unrest supported from across the border will never succeed.

I also want to see that something serious is done to facilitate return of Kashmiri Pundits [KPs] back to Kashmir, from where they were forced to go into exile in other parts of India. KPs are living in exile in their own country. I and millions of Indians feel for the plight of KPs.

It would be helpful if relevant parties have a proper geographical and historical knowledge in these matters.

LOC [line of Control] in J&K, depicting what is happening on the ground, can be shown, just as UNDP Map does. Arunachal Pradesh is clearly an Indian territory and Governed by India.

My view is that DIAC India map is a genuine oversight, and can be fixed easily. I don’t think even for a minute that it has been done deliberately or done with malafide intension.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/09th June, 2011

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PS: DIAC had removed the map within days after this post. See the subsequent post in this Blog. Yadu Singh/25th Sept, 2011

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Picture of a Hindu deity, Goddess Lakshmi, on a swimsuit:offensive &unacceptable!

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/indian-fury-at-hindu-goddess-on-skimpy-swimsuits-20110510-1egax.html?comments=383#comments

Picture from SMH newspaper

It is grossly offensive and totally unacceptable to see the picture of Hindu Goddess Lakshmi [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi ] on a swimsuit. I am a liberal Hindu but I do follow Hindu religious values. As a practising Hindu, I was undoubtedly angry when I saw it.

I am pleased that Lisa Burke, the maker of the Label, Lisa Blue, from Byron Bay, NSW has seen her folly, apologised for this mistake and has decided to withdraw the swimsuit from the production.

Reacting to the concerns from multiple sources, Lisa Blue issued a generic press release which is being copied below;

Important Press Release 7th May 2011
Hindi God Print Production Cancelled
Lisa Blue has been born out of a love of conservation, spirituality and a respect for all people. At no time would we ever have intended that the brand would cause offence. The use of images of Goddess Lakshmi was not in any way a measure of calculated risk taking, simply it was a desire to celebrate different cultures and share that through our brand.We would like to offer an apology to anyone we may have offended and advise that the image of Goddess Lakshmi will not appear on any piece of Lisa Blue swimwear for the new season, with a halt put on all production of the new range and pieces shown on the runway from last week removed. This range will never be available for sale in any stockists or retail outlets anywhere in the world.We apologise to the Hindu community and take this matter very seriously.”

That is the end of the matter, as far as this issue is concerned.

We need to recognise that this was a matter specific to Lisa Burke of Lisa Blue which she has dealt with effectively. It is not a matter between India and Australia, as some from India are trying to project. Things need to be seen in a proper perspective and context.

I am aware that many online commenters have justified the picture on that swimsuit, using the logic of “freedom of speech or expression”. I do not agree with it at all. No one has a right to hurt/insult the religious feelings and beliefs of millions of people. Using “freedom of speech or expression” in this matter is inappropriate.

I am dismayed that Hinduism is often at the receiving end in these matters. Not too long ago, someone used the pictures of our deities in some other offensive manners somewhere else in the world. We have not forgotten the stupid and offensive paintings of Hindu Goddesses by that cretin named MF Hussain in India. He claims to be a painter which is an insult to the word “painter”. I am yet to see him painting symbols of other religions in that offensive manner.

Hinduism is a peaceful religion and Hindus are generally peaceful people but that does not mean we have to accept people abusing our religion and religious beliefs. We have seen the behaviours of intolerant people towards our religion and religious symbols in India in the past but we are not going to allow that to be repeated anymore.

We don’t abuse others’ religions or religious beliefs and WILL not tolerate others abusing ours.

I am proud of the values and beliefs of Hinduism. Like other religious doctrines, it does have some weaknesses which should be worked on by our religious leaders but it is definitely a great religion, teaching compassion, love, non-violence, tolerance, inclusiveness, sacrifice, peace and the value of KARMA.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/10th May, 2011

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Proud again for having helped one more Indian student in Sydney!

A exposure blended photo of the Sydney Opera H...

Image via Wikipedia

Life is a complex thing. We live, eat and work. That is a routine which we all go through. We have fun and face moments of sadness sometimes. We attack [? criticise] people at times and get attacked [?criticised] by people too. This is all a part of living. This is all a part of “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam”!

There are things we do with which we experience satisfaction and there are things with which we don’t feel satisfied at all.

Helping our own family members and getting thanked for is clearly satisfying but is also our duty. Helping someone who is not exactly part of the family and getting thanked for is definitely more fulfilling and satisfying. I have no doubt about it at all!

I met Vishal Sarawat, a flying student in Sydney, in a meeting organised for the exploited students in 2009. He is from Gaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a sincere, decent and genuine Indian student who had arranged the funds in India and came to Sydney to train as a Pilot. He came to Sydney to train and return back to India.

Unfortunately, things did not go according to his plans. He paid the fees but did not get what was expected.

He went through a lot of emotional and physical pain.

I sensed his anguish and felt the need to help him. This then led to an effective networking with media, VETAB, Govt officials, ESOS, Lawyers and Ministers. Cash Cow programme [Four Corners, ABC], for which we gave our assistance, helped us a lot. It was my initiative for Flying school students.

His story is here. >>>>>>>>MyStory-Vishal-Sarawat

Knowing him well over more than 20 months, he has now become a younger brother to me.

I am proud to have been able to help him against the massive exploitation by this school.

I declare right here that  I did it without any personal benefit or consideration. I had no conflict of interest in this matter either.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/21st April, 2011

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Hindi in Australian National curriculum-SBS Radio-Gujarati coverage.

 

http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/gujarati/highlight/page/id/156471/t/Hindi-not-included-in-National-Curriculum-draft

Nital Desai, Producer, SBS Radio-Gujarati had done a fantastic job in this matter.

Thank you to her and SBS Radio-Gujarati!

Yadu Singh/Sydney/15th April, 2011

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Proud to have helped Indian students from an aviation school in Sydney!

I worked tirelessly to help a group of Indian students in an aviation school in Sydney. They had paid a lot of money to this school but did not receive what they believed they should have received. These students were suffering, dejected, despondent and did not know where to go for the help, direction and guidance.

I took them as my younger brothers, gave them my office to use on the weekends and provided them all the help I could.  They have had a torrid time which I had seen first hand. My medical background was quite useful as I could also provide psychological support to them.

You might remember that Four Corners [ABC] made a documentary on their plight in 2009. It was my efforts that their case was featured in that programme. I had a direct role in getting their story aired which helped us significantly.

This project included working with them actively, interacting with this Aviation school, VETAB officials, ESOS officials, NSW Govt and Federal Govt officials. Whenever we needed help, we sought it from Indian Govt officials in Australia, although there was not much we needed from them. It was our project and we had to get the result.

With the persistent work for well over 12 months, we achieved the result which even we had not imagined.

They received full refund of their fees which they were entitled for. Some of them had already returned to India and they also received the refunds. This helped them finish their training or get on with their lives. They could help their parents who had taken big loans for their training in Australia. The total refund was more than $250000.00.

Please click the LINK.>>>>>  Arun-Kumar-letter

I am hugely satisfied and extremely proud that I could help them. They deserved this.

I also declare that I did not have any conflict of interest here and did not benefit from my work in any way!

This is one of the community work which I have been involved in but this is not the only one. More reports will follow.

As I have said many times before, I am not just a medico. I am also a passionate and proud community member. Life becomes much more fulfilling and interesting if we are able to give something back to the community of which we are a part. This is my guiding principle! 

Some examples of my work are here.>>>>>https://yadusingh.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/community-workwhat-i-have-done-so-far/

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/11th April, 2011

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India wins. Thank you, Anna Hazare!

Anna Hazare and his fast unto death at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi has attracted the attention of Indians all over the world. Almost every friend of mine in Australia has heard about it. The messages of support to this cause have been spread by Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and emails. Social media has again proven to be a powerful tool.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-will-introduce-lokpal-bill-in-monsoon-session-pm/773913/2

Anna Hazare was not alone in this protest. Shanti Bhushan, Retd Supreme court Justice, Santosh Hegde, Swami Agnivesh, Baba Ram Dev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Mallika Sarabhai, Kiran Bedi and RTI activist, Arvind Kejriwal were all with him. Millions of Indians were supporting him and numbers were growing by the minute. India media also supported him in this fight against corruption.

As we all know, corruption has become a menace and a massive problem. You might recall Rajiv Gandhi saying famously that only 19 Paise out of the 100 Paise from the Govt money was reaching those who the money was meant for and rest was gobbled by the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. It was 19 Paise in 1980s and I am afraid it might not even be 10 Paise now. Something had to be done!

Our great social activist, Anna Hazare, and the whole India have achieved a massive win. They have forced a backdown from the Govt of India which has agreed to introduce a “Lok Pal Bill” in the Parliament by 30th June, 2011. This Bill/Act will have significant powers to combat corruption in India. Govt’s initial Bill was not good enough and was therefore rejected by Anna Hazare and the  Indian people. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-hazare-others-oppose-govt-s-lokpal-bill-2010-96609

The Bill will be drafted by a 10 member committee, to be chaired by Minister Pranab Mukerjee and co-chaired by Mr Shanti Bhushan, a very reputed Jurist. Mr Bhushan, one may recall, is the same Barrister who fought a case against Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi  in the High Court, Allahabad, which led to the judgement that her election was invalid.

The Lok Pal Bill will spare no one from corruption and will include the provision of an outcome within a period of 12 months. Prime Minister, Ministers, MPs, bureaucrats and parties are all covered. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/what-is-the-jan-lokpal-bill-why-its-important-96600

Lok Pal insitution will be chaired by people who are selected on merits and without political favour. It will be totally independent.

I am hoping that it will be more or less like ICAC [Independent Commission agaist Corruption] in NSW. http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/

I am very happy that Indian Govt was compelled to listen to the demands of the Indian People without use of force or bullets.

That democracy is thriving in India is beyond doubt.

What has been achieved is nothing but a milestone in the history of India!

Having said that, there is a word of caution which we must not ignore. Some concerns have been raised about the accountability of the so-called “civil society”. “Who are they responsible and accountable to” has been asked. We need to remember what Edmund Burke, a famous member of the House of Comons, had said before. ” This cynicism about politics and, by extension, Parliament only makes you think ill of that very institution which, do what you will, you must religiously preserve, or you must give over all thoughts of being a free people”.

In our system, we must not try to create an alternatives to the Parliament. Indian Parliament [SANSAD] must remain the ultimate source of power. It can’t be bullied or undermined by anyone. Parliament must remain supreme but must be able to listen to people, gauge their mood and deliver things which the country needs. It will undoubtedly have more chance to do so if our Parliamentarians are of superior quality-morally, intellectually and spiritually. That brings us to the issue of the process of election to the Parliament. This process needs to be reformed, improved and protected from corrupting influence of casteism, communalism and money-ism.

India had witnessed a successful reform movement which has been termed a mini-revolution today but we need many more revolutions to get to a stage when we all can say “Mera Bharat Mahan or My India is great!” with utmost joy, satisfaction and pride.

Corruption in India must be eradicated or at least controlled. The first stage has been successful but it would require a long and hard struggle to reach the final result.

Lok Pal will be a giant step in getting the result.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/09th April, 2011

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Australian national draft curriculum for second tier languages:why is Hindi missing from it?

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] is a federal body which is responsible for the development of national curriculum. It has released its draft curriculum for second tier languages which is open for consultation until 7th April 2011. People can make their comments and submit suggestions.

Here is the ACARA draft report and also the link for comments and feedback.

http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/languages.html

Recognising the importance of languages in addition to English [which will obviously remain the primary language], ACARA has recommended 11 second tier languages which should become part of the national curriculum. In the first stage, they will be Mandarin and Italian. Later on Korean, Japanese, Indonesian [clubbed together as national priority], French, German and Spanish will be added. This will then be followed by Arabic, Modern Greek and Vietnamese.

Pupils will be required to learn one of these languages for 300-400 hours upto year 6, 130-160 hours in year 7 and 8, 130-160 hours in years 9 and 10 and further 200-240 hours in year 11 and 12.

Many states have an active second language programme but NSW is not one of them. This is so despite clear evidence that learning a second language helps broaden the horizon, understand other cultures and improve performance generally.

Hindi, the national language of India, is not even mentioned anywhere. This is a serious omission, ignoring the importance and relevance of this language for Australian students and Australia generally.

I want to clarify that ACARA is not recommending any language to be considered equal to English. These recommendations are about the 2nd language, in addition to English.

Here is why ACARA should include Hindi in the national curriculum.

  • Substantial number of Hindi speaking population within the rapidly growing Indian Australian community of about 350,000 which puts it in top 10 and higher than Indonesian and Korean.

 

  • Indian Australians are now Australia’s fourth biggest migrant community.

 

  • India is the second largest source of students and overseas skilled workers in Australia after the UK.

 

  • India is now Australia’s third largest export market, up from 13th a decade ago, and our 7th largest two-way trading partner. In 2009 two-way trade grew to almost $21 billion—a 9.5 per cent increase on the previous year [A$16.51 billion in goods and A$4.36 billion in services].

 

  • Hindi, the most prominent of all the Indian languages, is the official language of India and is the second-most spoken language in the world (after Mandarin). It is spoken by 600 millions.

 

  •  Less than 11% of India’s population speaks English. Expertise in Hindi would have important consequences not only for productive cultural, trade and diplomatic exchanges, but also for  intelligence and security issues between Australia and India.

  

  • Having proficiency in Hindi, Australian businesses will have a significant advantage in all sectors of economy but specially so in behavioural and soft skills across sectors, IT, Retail, Automobile, Sales, Service, Financial services, Banking, Telecom, Manufacturing, Hospitality and Healthcare-in Australia and India.

At least in NSW, the increasing demand of Hindi  is not met by weekend community schools called Saturday School of Community Languages (SSCL) Centers in Liverpool, Hills Sports High School, Strathfield or other Hindi Schools run as part of NSW Community Languages program (Thornleigh, Green Valley, Rooty Hill, Girraween, Quakers Hill) appropriately due to time and distance issues. Only one school in NSW, West Ryde Primary School, provides Hindi teaching in the regular school timetable.

By introducing Hindi in normal hours, at least in some selected population centers of Sydney and major regional cities, it is likely, just like  Japanese, that the enrolment will increase substantially, not only from students from Indian Australian community but also from non-Indian background communities.  

The argument for including Hindi in the national curriculum is strong and compelling. It needs to be taught in the schools as a regular subject, like other languages, not just in weekend schools, run by community groups.

Australia has a significant strategic, economic and cultural interests in Asia, in particular China, India, Japan and Indonesia. While taking care of the importance of China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia, India must not be left out. “Missed opportunities” can not be allowed to be the game in regards to India.

ACARA should review it recommendations, modify the curriculum and include Hindi in it as one of the priority languages.

Senator Chris Evans, Minister of Education and Kevin Rudd, Minister of Foreign Affairs should give a serious consideration about the merits of Hindi for the inclusion in the national curriculum.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/02-04-11

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[Some input for this Blog has been taken from multiple sources, including Ms Mala Mehta, Mr Jagdish Chawla and Mr Tara Chand Sharma, with thanks & gratitude]. Details on request.

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Channel 10, SMH and other media coverage of the attacks on Sri Mandir temple, Auburn.

Here is the coverage from Channel 10 Australia. 

http://ten.com.au/ten-news-sydney.htm?movideo_p=44238&movideo_m=99168

Here is the Sydney Morning Herald [SMH] coverage.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fear-strikes-as-temple-showered-in-bullets-20110329-1ceuo.html

SBS Radio-World news coverage.

http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/155201/Attacks-on-Hindu-temple-in-Sydney 

Indian Channel, IBN-CNN  coverage.

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/147600/oldest-hindu-temple-in-australia-attacked.html

This Indian Channel does talk about our “panic” which might be an exaggeration but was a reasonable report overall.

SBS Radio-Hindi coverage.

http://radiotime.com/WebTuner.aspx?ProgramId=191655&TopicId=34802556&

Yadu Singh/Sydney/29th March, 2011

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Attacks on our temple is not going to be tolerated

I have been aware of the fresh attack on Sri Mandir Temple in Auburn on 19th March, 2011. Bullets were fired at it. The situation is pretty scary for every one but specially so for the Priest or PunditJi who lives there along with his children in the temple premises. I am aware that the local police is investigating the incident.

The email  to me on Monday, 21st March, 2011, said;

“ There were some shots fired at the Auburn Sri Mandir on Saturday, 19 March
Some incidents have taken place at Minto where people have entered temple put graffiti, thrown eggs, and also demanded something from the priests.”

I had already contacted temple committee people like Mrs Leela Gune, with our support. We have also contacted the priest.

Over the last few years, there have been several attacks on Auburn Sri Mandir temple, last one only a few months ago. Police investigated that matter too. Despite that, attacks have not stopped. They seem to have been escalated.

This last attack and the previous attack have been covered by  The Indian newspaper.  I have read the latest coverage which provides detailed and balanced information on this matter. Every person who cares for the issue of this nature, community harmony and freedom to practise religions should read this coverage  and give a thought to what is going on and what has to be done.

We do not attack anybody’s place of religion and we should not tolerate someone else attacking ours.

We need to come together to demand effective action in these matters.

I also believe that the attack on Sri Mandir temple is not an issue just for me, you or temple committee but it is an issue for every body else in NSW who is decent, tolerant and fair-minded. We need to support the temple committee and Hindu Council of Australia and be a part of the team to demand effective action.

To the Temple committee and Hindu Council, we are with you  for this matter! You can count on us!

The problem is clear but solution is not. We, as a community, have to think about the solution and the strategy. Keeping quiet is definitely not an option.

Australia is a multicultural society and there is no place for attacks on the places of religions.

I and  my close friends including the executive committee of Council of Indian Australians Inc had a discussion on this matter last Tuesday and have resolved to work with the temple committee and Hindu Council of Australia actively.

I also believe that the coverage on temple attacks should not be confined to only our community newspapers. It needs to be covered in the main stream media too.

Having said that, we do have to express our appreciation and admiration to The Indian newspaper for covering these attacks so prominently. Well done, The Indian newspaper.

We are a part of NSW and we need to go beyond our own ethnic media for a wider coverage, impact and support.

This is an issue for all peace loving and tolerant NSW communities, not just for the Indian Australian community.

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/25th March, 2011

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R.I.P, Ms Tosha Thakkar!

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/teen-accused-of-murder-waited-until-student-was-alone-police-allege-20110314-1bul1.html

It is a matter of utmost sadness that someone loses their child in this manner. It would be very hard to imagine what Ms Tosha Thakkar’s parents would be going through after the news about their daughter’s murder reached them. Her father in Vadodara, Gujarat  is quite ill. My heart goes out to them.

This young lady had been in Australia for about 3 years, pursuing an accounting degree in Sydney. She was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed by a neighbour, Daniel Stani-Reginald who is an Australian of Sri Lankan heritage. Her body was stuffed in a suit-case and thrown in a canal. There is a view that she might have been alive when thrown away in this manner. This is absolutely cruel. She did not need to die this way. It is all very shocking. That some people can do this type of cruel things to other humans is beyond me. My heart goes out to Tosha.

Full credit goes to NSW Police for investigating this murder very quickly and arresting the alleged perpetrator who is in the Jail now. His bail has been refused. It is expected that alleged perpetrator will face the full force of law for his alleged crime. Hearing of the case will commence on 9th may, 2011 at Burwood Local Court.

I know that at least some in Indian media tried to characterise it as a race based crime before knowing full facts but this was rectified after more info became available. It is always advisable to wait for full facts before arriving at any conclusion on anything. This was the exact point I had emphasized when I was called for my opinion by Aaj Tak and other Indian news channel last Monday.

A  Facebook site named “R.I.P-Tosha Thakkar” has been set up.

Our sincere condolences to Tosha’s parents in Gujarat, India and her relatives and friends in Sydney.

R.I.P, Ms Tosha Thakkar!

Yadu Singh/Sydney/18th March, 2011

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Western Sydney is where Indian Australians can’t be ignored by any political party!

March 26 is the day when NSW will decide who forms the new Govt and who is the new Premier. Opinion polls have been consistent in predicting a landslide win for Liberal/National coalition with Barry O’Farrell as the new Premier. ALP is indeed in a very difficult situation. Its primary vote has fallen too low for it to win the election. Unless miracles happen, it is extremely unlikely that ALP will be in Govt after 26th March. For this state of affairs, ALP can blame itself only and no one else. Its leaders have used the phrase “we have lost our way”. Frequent change of Premiers, uncontrolled power of faction leaders, mismanagement of economy and spins in addition to others have created an adverse perception about ALP in the hearts and minds of NSW people. That ALP is going to lose is not for the debate but how many seats it will have in the new Parliament is something which people keep talking about. It is predicted that it will have between 13-20 MPs out of the total 93 after 26th March election.

This is not very good for the democracy because our system works better if there is an effective opposition along with a good Govt. For the interests of NSW, we need ruling and opposition parties to perform smartly and effectively. ALP will need to do a serious soul-searching and review to help it get its house in order. It will need to re-connect itself with the people and rank and file members of the party. Its policies and decisions must have genuine input from its rank and file members who do the real work. Making decisions at the party HQ or parachuting candidates without real inputs from its members create a demoralizing effect on the members.

In regards to Indian Australians in NSW, it is now well known that this community has a significant presence in Western Sydney. Strathfield and some area in South West Sydney also have a significant Indian Australian population. No party can ignore this community anymore. This fact is now well known and is evident from the efforts by both major parties to work with our community recently. We know that ALP had formed a group from our community mid last year and Liberals have also networked with this community nicely. The perception that ALP is closer to Indians is not accepted to be true at all these days. Both are accepted to be close to us although Liberals have to work a little more to deal with the erroneous perception about them being not as close to migrant communities which is where ALP has been smarter.  When we debate things rationally and see things with a proper perspective, it should appear that Libs have been fairer to India [policy to sell Uranium], with which we have unbreakable bonds.  Putting every thing together, it is an undeniable fact that none of the major parties can ignore Indian Australians in Western Sydney seats if they want to be in the power.

With my personal interactions with Indian Australians, I am certain that our community will vote in the similar fashion as the general NSW community. Awards, grants, invitations and recognitions to some among us will not have any real impact. The issues in NSW are same for us just like they are for the general community. Our voting behaviour will be similar to the general community despite attempts by some ALP members from Indian community to project it otherwise. We simply can’t be fooled or taken for granted. We are smart people!

Having said that, I think it would be prudent to make a comment or two here about the efforts by political parties to develop better relations with our community. ALP did start the process of more active networking with us by forming a group of some ALP members of Indian community but it did not act smartly. Unfortunately, it was led very poorly. Trying to control some of our community associations was plainly stupid because it was disliked and helped no one. This group was not inclusive and left out many prominent ALP members from our community who have been in ALP for decades. It’s president does not appear to have a good understanding of Indian community. He comes from a Union background and has been running a smear campaign against some people  just because he did not like them, had disagreement with them or those people did not agree with his style and brand of politics. Division, not inclusion was his “Mantra” to serve factional interests. Running a campaign against Mr Susai Benjamin and branding Indian Australians in Toongabbie ALP branches as branch-stackers are not examples of brilliant politics. It is beyond me to understand why a  group of Indian ALP members will run a campaign against one of the Indian sub-continental persons from the same party unless it was done as a part of the ALP factional politics. Ultimately, it all has turned into nothing but factional fights with avoidable adverse outcome for an Indian Australian. This is inexcusable. 

If NSW ALP  is listening, I will advise them to dissolve this group without any delay or reform it seriously. This reform must include having a person from Indian Sub-continental background as the president of the group. Such person should know the dynamics of Indian community. This body should be an inclusive body of all Indian ALP members without factional considerations. In the current form, it has not helped ALP at all. If any thing,  it has actually harmed ALP by making many Indian ALP members and many non-members unhappy and angry with it. This will have an impact on March 26th and Toongabbie ALP candidate will have a maximum adverse impact.

ALP Govt has supported many things from our community but their timings have been such that they have appeared poll-linked or driven. Many have called them indirect bribes to put them mildly. They have not appeared sincere. Even Premier’s award for Indian Sub-continent community services were done in hurry and were mismanaged. They have not been perceived to be done fairly. How can Govt or CRC have a very active member of ALP sitting in the judging panel?  He should not have been there at any cost. He is actively involved in fractious politics in the community with obvious perception of conflict of interest. I am sure they could have done better but they put politics before anything else. Almost all people I have spoken with have expressed disgust about the way these awards were managed. They want these awards to continue but they want them to be done fairly and transparently, keeping conflict of interest principle in mind.

Liberals have shown their interests in developing good relations with Indian Australians which they should work on more when in Govt after March 26. I have seen federal and state Lib leaders in Indian community events. They have been working very hard to develop a much better networking with this community. Their decision to sell Australian Uranium to India has been mentioned repeatedly and it has gone down very well with our community. Liberal party is now perceived as a party which has a better understanding of India, Indian interests and Indian geo-political positions. I have no doubt that their efforts will bring significant benefits to them and to our community, if we deal with them smartly. We, as a community, need to deal with both major political parties and must not allow ourselves to be used by any single party which is what has been happening thus far.

Liberals/Nationals are likely to come to power after 26th March is beyond doubt. No wonder that some from our community who have been ALP supporters until recently are now flocking to Liberals in all sorts of manners. Many of such people have no understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Self-interest alone is driving them. Writing  high-sounding but false positions after their names do not bother them. Causing shame to themselves or our community is not their concern as long as they get what they are looking for. We all need to be careful about them just as much Liberals need to be careful about such people. They will neither help our community nor Liberal party.

Indian Australian community is getting recognition by both parties for their numbers in Western Sydney which is good. We, as a community, need to do more to be a significant player in politics and political processes of Australia. We must work together, irrespective of which party we believe in, in getting some from our community in the Councils and Parliaments-state and federal. To achieve this, we need to join political parties. Our numbers in Western Sydney are our strength and similarly our numbers in political parties will be our strength there too.

While doing this, we must however ensure that only good people are supported for these roles. Nobody with sub-standard qualities is encouraged. We don’t need  Indian style politics in Australia and definitely, we do not need to mortgage ourselves with any one political party, based on the propaganda by that party. Our support and votes for any party or candidate must be based on policies, principles and quality of the leadership, not just on awards, bribes or grants which are announced weeks or days before the election. We must not allow anyone to fool us. We are, after all, smart people and our votes are not for sale!

Failing in all this will be our social irresponsibility which we can ill-afford. It’s about time that we make our presence felt by all and every one!

Yadu Singh/Sydney/10th March, 2011

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Toongabbie seat:My Interview on ABC Stateline.

 Rees fights for Toongabbie  <<<LINK to the Video.

 South Asian Australians form about 15% of Toongabbie state seat. The contest for the seat is between Nathan Rees [ALP] and Kirsty Lloyd [Liberal Party]. Quite a large proportion from South Asian Australian community in this seat has traditionally supported ALP but it is not certain that it will happen this time. Quite a lot of members from this community are unhappy with ALP.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/28th Feb, 2010.

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Wishing you and your family a very happy and successful new year!

 

See you in The Council of Indian Australians’ Australia Day & Indian Republic Day celebration on Friday, 28th Jan, 2011.

Details>> CIA-Public_Flyer_V2

Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/31st Dec, 2010

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The biggest Indian investment in Australia so far!

A Sydney-based good friend of mine provided me the news that a Hyderabad-based Indian Energy and Infrastructure giant, Lanco, has acquired Griffin’s coal mines for about $850 million a couple of days ago, after beating other bidders including Chinese. This is the biggest investment by an Indian company in Australia so far. This beats Adani Group’s investment of $500m on Linc Energy’s Galilee coal tenements in Queensland in August 2010.

I am very happy with this development because I want to see some serious investment by Indians in Australia and Australians in India. I want to see very deep relations between India and Australia. These relations need to be financial, political and strategic.

Lanco is a great business and its chairman Mr Lagadapati Madhusudan Rao is a respected business leader in India. They are a significant player in the Energy and Infrastructure sector in India. With what they are going to do in Western Australia where Griffin is based, Lanco will be a significant player in that state’s economy.

Lanco will be developing a Port and rail facilities in Banbury in South Western region of WA which will help them in linking Coal mines in Collie to Bunburry. They will guarantee jobs of about 400 people who are working with Griffin. Lanco has outlined their plan to triple if not more, the output of coal within a short term. They want to go from the current 4 million tonnes output to 15 million tonnes which will obviously provide employment to many more Western Australians. Griffin’s Administrator, KordaMentha, doesn’t see any problem in getting the approval for this business transaction from the creditors and the Foreign Investment Review Board. They must be thrilled as the business was sold for $850 Million rather than expected $700 Million. Secured creditors will get 100% of their money. This is a good news in itself.

Lanco  will get a boost in its business because it is going to approve the supply contract which the Griffin’s administrator is finalizing with Perdaman Chemicals [Coal to Urea] plants and this will be for about 2.8 million tonnes. Lanco will not have any problem in selling the remaining Coal as it plans to export Coal to power-hungry Indian Energy businesses. Lanco itself is in that business. Additionally, Lanco may also bid for Griffin’s boss Ric Stowe’s Bluewaters Power Stations along with bidders from USA and China and Japan.

I congratulate Lanco for investing in Australia and becoming a big player in Western Australian economy. I must also congratulate my good friend, Gautam Sharma, and his hard working colleagues, for assisting Lanco in acquiring Griffin. For those who don’t know Gautam, he is originally from Andhra Pradesh, India. He studied in IT in Bangalore followed by UTS, Sydney. He has done a lot for Indian students. We have been in regular contact ever since and he played a big role in our Australia Day and Indian Republic Day celebration on 24th Jan, 2010. Like me and my close friends, he loves India and Australia equally and takes the good values from both.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/18th Dec, 2010

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Parliamentary friends of India in NSW:Update.

Please refer to my earlier Post on this topic [http://t.co/MMfpkie]. I was happy with this and called it a good initiative. I did however make some comments in regards to the press release [ 101124 parliamentary friends of india[1] from the Premier. The press release did not mention who the other Co-Convenor was and what was the outcome of the letter from the Premier to the leader of opposition, Mr Barry O’Farrell.

 After my last Blog post on this important topic, I have  sought and received communication from the Leader of Opposition, Mr Barry O”Farrell.

It appears that a letter was written by the Premier to Mr O’Farrell after the press release on this matter was issued.

Mr O’Farrell advised that Mr Victor Dominello, MP [Member for Ryde] will be the Co-Convenor on behalf of the Coalition. He is well known in our community and is a supporter of our community, just like Mr Andrew Mcdonald, the other Co-Convenor.

My take on this matter is that the Leader of Opposition, Mr O’Farrell should have been consulted before issuing the press release  and the Press Release should have included the names of  both the Co-Convenors. Parliamentary Friends of India is a NSW Parliamentary group, not a group from a single political party. It must have full support from all sides in the Parliament. Otherwise, it will not work  effectively for People of NSW.

Both parties are friendly with Indian Australian community and we welcome it. ALP leaders including our Premier are friendly with Indian Australians, just like Mr Barry O’Farrell and Liberal party leaders. Parliamentary friends of India has their enthusiastic support and Indian Australians of all political persuasions welcome its formation.

Yadu Singh/Sydney/14th Dec, 2010

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Parliamentary friends of India: a good initiative in NSW.

 It is a welcome initiative by NSW Govt to set up a Parliamentary friends of India in NSW. See the press release 101124 parliamentary friends of india[1] from NSW Premier, The Hon Kristina Keneally.

Dr Andrew Mcdonald, Member of Parliament from Macquarie Fields is the co-convenor. Andrew is well known in the Indian Australian community. I am sure, he will do a good job as a co-convenor. Who is the other co-convenor is not known prersently.

Indian Australian community is growing in numbers in NSW. It is appropriate that there is a better-qualitatively and quantitatively, interaction and engagement between the community and the Parliament. Our community does have a good interaction and relation with the NSW Govt and the opposition. Govt ministers and shadow ministers attend our functions regularly but it should extend to the Parliament too. I would even argue that major parties should consider one or two candidates from Indian Australians for the candidature in the state and federal elections.

Parliamentary friends of India is obviously a bipartisan group. It is crucial that the opposition and other parties in the NSW Parliament are involved in every stage of its formation. Premier’s press release is short on the details. It mentions that she has written to Mr Barry O’Farrell, seeking bipartisan support but there is no info about his response or support. To be effective, this body should have full participation and support from all sides in the Parliament. To do anything else may attract the criticism that politics is being played for the obvious reasons. The idea and the plan must be agreed by all sides in the NSW Parliament to make it effective.

My friends and I appreciate one thing more, specially. It is called “Parliamentary Friends of India“, not “Parliamentary friends of Indian sub-continent”. I agree with this approach. It is an appropriate decision, too.

We also appreciate that Premier Keneally has announced the establishment of Premier’s Indian Subcontinent Community Awards.

 This is a good idea too but it would have been preferrable if it was called “Premier’s Indian  Community Awards”, rather than bringing subcontinent word in it. There is a precedent in this matter. NSW already has a system of “Premier’s Chinese community service awards”.

 Indian subcontinent is not a political entity. It is a geographical entity which is often not acceptable to some countries in India’s neighbourhood who do not want to put Indian word before subcontinent.  In USA, where there are millions of people of Indian heritage and many from other countries from the Indian sub-continent, Indian community is accepted and recognised as Indian community, not as a part of Indian sub-continent community. It would not work if done any other way.  

India and people from Indian heritage have a glorious history. India’s economic growth and contemporary conduct in the world affairs is something the whole world is proud of. India is a class of its own. India should be accepted for being India.  Indians should be accepted for being Indians. “Indian” is our identity and we are proud of it. Lumping India and Indians  in “Indian subcontinent”  identity is not right and not acceptable. For any patriotic Indian and for those who are aware of the histrory and story of this great land called India, any identity for us other than “Indian” is not going to be acceptable. I am an Indian, not “subcontinental” or “Indian subcontinental”. My friends agree with me on this. I reject the attempt by some [who don’t understand what India is about because they were not born in India or don’t have the real touch with India]  to redefine our identity.

Here, I don’t believe it would be out of place to point out that people should always remember that it is Indian Subcontinent, not just subcontinent before they set up anything for Indian sub-continent. People need to know the geography, history and politics involving Indian subcontinent. 

While NSW Premier has done the right thing by putting “Indian” before “sub-continent”,  it remains to be seen whether others in politics will follow her example and do the right thing by putting “Indian” before “subcontinent” in the name of their group?

Yadu Singh/Sydney/7th Dec, 2010

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