Contribution from Hindu faith leader to Statement from the Soul - The Moral Case for the Uluru Statement from the Heart

Prakruthi Mysore Gururaj, being an Indian migrant, has secured a significant spot in the history of Australia by contributing an essay from the Hindu faith along with 12 other national contributors from different faiths and three international contributors in the groundbreaking book Statement from the Soul - The Moral Case for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The book initiated by Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University and published by La Trobe University press in conjunction with Blank Ink was launched by The Honourable T.F. Bathurst AC KC FRSN, Former Chief Justice of New South Wales at The Great Synagogue, Sydney.

Prakruthi says, "It's not what you got, it’s what you give!" She feels greatly honoured and privileged to be an advocate from the Hindu faith for The Uluru Statement from the Heart and arguing for a First Nation voice to be enshrined in the Australian Constitution and receiving Constitutional recognition.

It all started when Shireen Morris, the author of the book, came across an article ‘Spiritual integration of two ancient Nations Australia and India’ published by ‘Hindu Council of Australia’ and called Prakruthi to understand in detail what the article was all about and rest was history. It was about a remarkable moment of connecting and integrating two ancient Nations Australia and India at a spiritual level that holds lots of similarities in their culture and traditions.

Prakruthi believes that every human has a purpose for being born on this Earth. Little did she know hailing from city of Mysore, South India, she would find her connection in this far away land Australia where her spiritual sisters Aunty Peggy Tidyman and Aunty Cathy would welcome her into the Gunggari Women Circle by naming her Bua Bua (Butterfly lady). This sacred ceremony conducted by the Aboriginal elders whose traditional totem is the Emu (Nurinj), welcomed Prakruthi as their traditional family member that marked as an acceptance of Prakruthi into Gunggari women circle.

This amazing spiritual journey started when the Gunggari elders felt the spiritual connection with Prakruthi who resembled one of their family members. Once this was expressed in Dec 2020, the ceremony day was decided to be on 20th March 2021 during Harmony Day celebration by Fiji Senior Citizens Association of Queensland Inc. It took Prakruthi months to prepare from familiarising the Gunggari values, hand painting the clothes and to learn the traditional dance.

Prakruthi shares her experience and thoroughly enjoyed every moment as she got to explore many more commonalities between Indian and Indigenous Australian culture and traditions.

Before this, Djandi Lee Merenda, granddaughter of Aunty Peggy Tidyman, was welcomed and accepted into Women’s

Ceremonial Circle in 2015 which was the first Gunggari women’s ceremony held on country in over 70+years. Six years after Djandi Lee Merendawas welcomed by descent, Prakruthi Mysore Gururaj was welcomed which is 76 + years based on spiritual connection. This is a very rare occurrence that has happened in the history of Emu (Nurinj) traditional elders.

Prakruthi shared that she likes to extend her heartfelt gratitude to Shireen Morris for this great opportunity to be part of this great movement, Damian Freeman for his co editing, Surendra Prasad- President of Fiji Senior Citizens Association Of QLD Inc for his support to conduct the official ceremony, Mr Vijay Singhal for his research information on 'Aboriginal Spirituality and Hindu Faith', Hindu Council Australia for their article, Elilarasi Sadayan for the assistance in writing this essay, Asha Patnam for her great hospitality in Sydney and a big thank you to her beautiful family and friends for their love, care, support and encouragement.