SAT March issue 2016

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CELEBRATING 13TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION

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South Asia Times

Vol.13 I No. 8 I MARCH 2016 I FREE s o u t hasiatim es.com .au Editor: Neeraj Nanda

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GUEST EDITORIAL THE DINOSAUR EXPERIENCE COMEDY FESTIVAL THANK YOU, SAYS LITTLE INDIA SAPAC LITERARY FORUM SOUTH ASIA CINEMA

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GUEST EDITORIAL

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Being a woman

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By Rashmi Oberoi

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atching the movie ‘Neerja’ the other day, a few things touched me to the core. The first on my list is of course the fact that it is the heroic story of a brave young girl Neerja Bhanot who displayed extraordinary courage during extremely dangerous circumstances.

It certainly is a mesmerizing two-hour drama out of a real-life tale of extraordinary nerve. Secondly it makes you sit up and take note of the fact that each one of us must raise our voice against any form of injustice.

Thirdly, the stark truth that we must never ever compromise on self-respect or bow down to any form of suppression.

There were moments in the movie that made me delve into the deep recesses of my mind as well…things kept closed and dug away into a forgotten past. As the movie unfolded it showed us incidents from Neerja’s past where we are taken back and forth between the present and her earlier experiences. These tugged at the heart strings and

Sonam Kapoor in ‘Neerja’ a floodgate of unhappy memories resurfaced.

An abusive marriage that bordered between submission and resilience and one that forced her to make life-changing decisions were extremely poignant and so true to life as my own.

A bad marriage can either

destroy you completely or you can come out of it stronger. I feel there is no middle course as that midpath of being subjugated and living in the same manner under the same roof is as close as being in hell. A disastrous marriage: one filled with tensions and anxiety and one that

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GUEST EDITORIAL

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COMMUNITY

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COMEDY FESTIVAL

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

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LITTLE INDIA

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SAPAC FORUM

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WEDDING SHOW

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SRIRAM IYER

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BANGLADESH

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sri lanka

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EDITOR'S PICK

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HINDI PUSHP

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cinema

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is oppressive and abusive takes a toll on the health as well. The stress, the unease as well as the emotional and or physical trauma can scar you for life and that is why I say, it can either kill you or just make you a far stronger and better person.

Contd. on pg 6

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No AAP alliance with any party in state elections: Alka Lamba By our community reporter

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elbourne, 22 February: The Indian community in Australia can be a bridge to cement relations between the two countries, says AlkaLamba AAP member in the Delhi Assembly.

Alka who is visiting different cities here as a guest of the Australian Government, was addressing a large number of AAP members and supporters at a function at the Heritage Receptions, Epping.

The firebrand AAP lawmaker from ChandniChowk and

former President of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) detailed the development and other work being done by the Delhi AAP Government.

She explained the main emphasis has been fighting corruption, boosting education and health facilities in India’s capital.

“Corruption in India is the major stumbling block against development.

Indians came to Australia with their roots intact in India. India without corruption would have been like Australia,” she said.

Alka, criticized the ruling BJP for the current issue in JNU and spoiling the atmosphere in universities

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for its zeal to safforanise education institutions.

On a question by SAT, AlkaLamba ruled out any AAP alliance with other parties in coming state elections and said the party will fight the battle of the ballot independently.

A lively Q-A session was the highlight of the evening, which covered Indian politics, Punjab elections, Delhi experience, JNU crisis and social welfare steps in Delhi.

The AAP leader will also visit Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane.

(A detailed report of AlkaLamba’s Australia visit will be published in the March 2016 issue of SAT.) —SAT News Service.

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The DINOSAUR experience

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isitors to Melbourne this March will find themselves transported back in time to the pre-historic dinosaur age with these four new dinosaur attractions.

presents the movie event 70 million years in the making. Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D tells the story of the life cycle of egg laying dinosaurs. The rearing of the hatchlings and their vulnerability to predators like the Troodon and natural disasters. With the most ambitious CGI visuals, this film reveals a year in the life of dinosaurs fighting, feeding, migrating, playing and hunting in a constant battle of survival.

The movie opens on March 10th 2016.

Jurassic World: The Exhibition – Melbourne Museum Opening on March 17th 2016, Museum Victoria introduces one of the most exciting exhibitions of the year. Jurassic World: The Exhibition (from 19 March 2016), based on Universal Pictures’ blockbuster film is an immersive exhibition experience, featuring encounters with realistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs set in highly themed environments, inspired by the film.

Created in close collaboration with renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, the exhibition is infused with interactive educational elements—drawn from the real-world science of dinosaur DNA. Thanks to the lifelike animatronics, developed by Melbourne’s own Creature Technology Company, visitors will be able to come face-to-face with a Pachyrhinosaurus; visit The Hammond Creation Lab; stare in wonder at a towering Brachiosaurus;

get a rare up-close look at the most vicious dinosaur of them all, Tyrannosaurus rex; and learn all about topsecret projects currently in development.

Jurassic Creatures – Harbour Town, Docklands From Jurassic World to Jurassic Creatures, an interactive walk through event at Harbour Town Melbourne from 12 March to 17 April 2016. Jurassic Creatures features massive

Being a woman Contd. from pg 3

Unfortunately in this country there is all kinds of pressure from parents, relatives, friends and society at large for a marriage to succeed. If a marriage has gone sour, it’s best to call it a day fair and square instead of prolonging the unhappiness.

It is the partners and children who suffer the most. In my case, I had the most supportive family and friends and intruding relatives and those that held no importance were kept at bay. If you get this kind of unconditional support it is half the battle won.

From having been under someone’s ‘thumb’ to making a hard decision like walking out with 2 children, my dog and my self-respect intact, there was no looking back. The road ahead is never easy but it is also not unreachable. You get there…slowly but surely.

I went back to studying, doing what I liked, got back to driving (Yes, I wasn’t allowed to even do that)… and then went on to work and following my passion and chasing my dreams. To

be happy you have to be yourself…you also have to be independent and selfsufficient. There are no two ways about that. As a single parent, balancing the role of both mother and father and also being a friend is trying at times but the end results are priceless. Again, the support system of my parents is unmatched. There was also a joint decision for us to go back to using my family surname…the kids wanted it too and that for us for the first step to cutting away from the rot.

Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser never ever plays fair. Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under his or her thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you. Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence.

And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences

moving dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures of the ice. Visitors can marvel at the story of their 165 million year domination of life on earth, watch them move and hear them roar! Prehistoric animals included in the colossal event include Mammoths, fearsome Saber Tooth Tigers and the ever-popular, Tyrannosaurus Rex. Children can become a paleontologist for the day, donning an expert digger outfit before chipping away

Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D Linking closely to the Dinosaur Walk, 600 Million Years and Victoria Evolves exhibitions at Melbourne Museum – IMAX Melbourne

Dinosaur World A big red barn provides the entrance to a family friendly gem of an attraction in the Mornington Peninsula – an hour out of Melbourne.

Dinosaur World is slowly but surely gathering large, realistic looking dinosaurs to its collection. Kids are entranced, delighted, and a little bit scared as they pick their way through the bushy dinosaur trail as the creatures move and roar when they pass by. It’s $50 for a family pass and kids under 2 are free. The venue also doubles as the Somerville Christmas Tree Farm. Located five minutes from Peninsula Link. Take the Somerville exit and travel down Frankston Flinders Road.

Source :www.visitvictoria.com

of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the reality of the abusive situation, then you can get the help you need.

This is when it all comes down to your inner strength, your determination and your perseverance in dealing with situations that life throws at you. You have to rise and face these tough situations defiantly. Family support and understanding are the key underlying traits.

Like they say: If there is a will, then there definitely is a way out! And the strength of a woman can never be taken for granted!

The movie in its own way also portrays the many faces of a woman… The many roles she juggles and the many hats she dons.

With International Women’s Day fast approaching us I

felt it was a good time to appreciate the remarkable contribution of women in our society. Sometimes I wonder if it isn’t just a paradox to have such designated days when women all over the world are an inspiration in diverse achievements on a daily basis. But maybe it is also a way to remind those that forget about celebrating, respecting and appreciating women’s achievements, be it socially, economically or even politically.

Not a day goes by without reading or hearing about inspiring work being done by courageous women around the world. Not only are they doing a fine job in securing women’s rights but they are also ensuring that societies are more accepting and tolerant to ‘woman power’. There is more awakening in being reasonable and unbiased towards the roles women handle these days. Of course, as we take stock of the status of women and gender equality, there are still many unspoken voices, some that go unheard and some who still don’t

know their full potential.

There is still so much progress to be done as inequality still plagues our society. We need to work harder towards expanding possibilities for women in every domain.

In a way, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the women who have paved the way towards our progress, and at the same time it is a tribute to all the women who have fought across time and space against all forms of discrimination, exclusion, marginalization, violence and lack of equal opportunities for women.

It is also an opportunity to realize that in most countries of the world the problem is still relevant.

International Women’s Day sheds light on all things standing in the way of true equality for women; from the so-called glass ceiling to rape and domestic violence.

Both women and men together have the obligation to once and for all make subordination of women an issue of the past.

Source: The Citizen, 5 March.

to unearth their very own fossil. Buddy & Tiny from Dinosaur Train will be on hand to entertain the preschoolers and there will be dinosaur art and craft, fossil displays and amusement activities.

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'NOBODY DIES HUNGRY' LUNCHED BY RANDEEP HOODA ‘My success came step by step’

By Neeraj Nanda

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elbourne, 28 February: Randeep Hooda, Bollywood star and former Melbournian feels “ success is relative” and his own success “is tip of the iceberg” coming “step by step”. He was addressing a select community gathering at the Thornbury Theatre, organized by (Alok Kumar & Aakash Kumar) with SAPAC. Randeep launched and released the logo of ‘No One Dies Of Hunger’ organization being promoted by the Kumar Brothers (Alok Kumar and Aakash Kumar) of Thornbury Theatre, to help underprivileged people and kids in India.

This winter the organization has distributed Quits to the needy to beat the winter chill.

“There is no shortcut to

hard work, every role I get I go into a long confusion and then work hard on it, “ he said.

Randeep, who was felicitated by the SAPAC

for his contribution to cinema and social causes, nostalgically described his five years in Melbourne as a student and resident struggling to make ends

meet. He fondly detailed his experiences in Melbourne as a cabbie, restaurant worker and an Optus agent going door to door.

“This is how I became an Aussie and, he says, and still have lots of Australia in me.”

“The biggest strength of this rainbow country is its multiculturalism. As a cabbie people talked to me interesting topics and I played music for them.

It was a great journey to Australia”, he said.

On a question by SAT, Hooda said, “his upcoming movie, Sarbajit, is about an Indian prisoner who spent 22 years in a Pakistani prison and was killed by ‘fellow inmates’ after the hanging of Mumbai attack accused Kasab. “ The message of the movie is he said, “ We are all human beings”.

Danielle Green, federal

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MP called Hooda “the Indian Crocodile Dundee” and Mayor Jennifer while welcoming Hooda said, “ We need to have more Asian content on Australian TV.” Others who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Shahbaz Chaudhury, Manoj Kumar, and Oscar Yildiz.

Randeep Hooda also accepted the proposal to become the International Ambassador for ‘Bully Australia Zero’.

The event concluded with a lively Q-A session where Hooda also spoke in his native Haryanavi language and was able to connect with some of his old contacts in Melbourne, which included Chef Anand Tandon in whose restaurant he had once worked.

Kaushalya Vaghela, Secretary SAPAC handled the function ably as Emcee and stage coordinator.

—SAT News Service.

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International Comedy festival at the Drum Theatre, Dandenong

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne: The 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is bringing world-class laughs to Melbourne, but don’t worry Dandenong won’t miss out.

A series of hilarious comedy shows will roll into the Drum Theatre over March and April, kicking off with Australia’s favourite American comedian Arj Barker.

Laugh until you are doubled over and then laugh some more as Barker uses his keen observational skills to create comedy gold. This 90 minute show is suitable for ages 15 plus.

When: Thursday 31 March, 8pm ;Cost: $40.

Younger audiences will find laughs at Kid’s Party Confidential with Sean Murphy. An hilarious ride through the highs and humiliations of children’s entertainment. You will laugh and cry, and learn how to tie a balloon sword.

This 60 minute show is aimed at kids aged 5-12 (and their parents), and is followed by a 50 minute play and create workshop for the younger members of the audience.

When: Tuesday 5 April, 1.30pm ;Cost: $15, plus $5 for the workshop.

Sean Murphy will show his versatility by delivering a free show for more mature audiences during Party Tricks, a ‘Free for all Tuesday’ event.

Enjoy a post work drink and a stand out comedy show that dishes the dirt on the world of children’s entertainment. Murphy

rides the highs and humiliations of a career that went from acting with Chris Hemsworth to playing Thor at children’s parties.

The 60 minute show will be presented cabaret-style and is suitable for ages 15 plus.

When: Tuesday 5 April, 6pm ;Cost: FREE. The award winning Trash Test Dummies are as full of laughs as their bins are

full of surprises. Come on a comical journey into the playful imagination of these dexterous dummies, who’ll invite you to take a fresh look at the humble household wheelie bin.

Following both performances the Dummies will host one-hour circus skills workshops. Learn juggling, plate spinning, human pyramids, hula hooping, acrobatics and

more. Workshops are suitable to children aged 6 and over, and are limited to 30 places.

When: Wednesday 6 April, 1.30pm. Workshop at 3.15pm Thursday 7 April, 10.30am.

Workshop at 12.15pm ;Cost: $15, plus $5 for the workshop Dandenong’sfavourite female comedian is bringing her 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival show home. Diana Nguyen – Naked is a stellar performance that peels away the wonderous, confusing and hilarious layers of life in Australia, Viet style.

The co-creator of Australian-Vietnamese comedy smash hit Phi and Me which has toured Australia and the US, Nguyen is back and ready to bare all. This show will be presented in an intimate cabaret-style setting.

When: Thursday 21 April, 7.30pm;Cost: From $18-32.

Drum Theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and you are invited to the party.

Visit www.drumtheatre. com.au to buy tickets to these shows or for more information about performances.

—SAT News Service.

Whyndham Muslim community in Clean Up Australia

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne 6 March: The Muslim community in the Whyndham Council area took part in the Clean UP Australia Day with a large number of volunteers including Councillors Bob Fairclough&Intaj Khan taking part in the activity supported by HAAMI. Clean up Australia day is the largest community environmental event of its kind in Australia, we Muslims are proud to be a part of such contribution towards our country. We urge our community members to play a vital role in Wyndham area by joining our group, which is aiming to have more and more cleaning sites every year.

HAAMI Inc. is a Muslim community body from the Indian subcontinent, proudly leading this project and is ready to work with other

immigrant communities to do it together next year.

Every year it organises The Wyndham Muslims Community’s Clean up day event along with all Australians and this was the fourth year in a row.

‘Its aim is to involve local

communities in Wyndham area to participate in this environment clean-up day.

Every year we manage to collect 15-20 bags of rubbish/ recycle items just in and around the Hoppers Crossing Station car park., “ a media release says.

The Wyndham Muslim community’s initiative has inspired other Muslim groups to participate in this event in Fawkner, Dandenong and City and due to increasing awareness in community, this year women and children also

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participated as well.

‘This is a positive step forward by people of diverse background towards creating a cleaner Environment, Cleaner Wyndham and finally Cleaner Australia, the media release says.

—SAT News Service

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ADVERTISEMENT

WELCOME TO THE IDEAS BOOM The Australian Government is committed to making this country a centre of innovation—where we turn ideas into successful products and services.

This will generate a new era of jobs and prosperity for all.

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PM commends Islamic Council for promoting communal harmony

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne, 7 March: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter, held discussions with the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) and a delegation of young Muslim leaders. The PM commended the ICV for promoting communal harmony, mutual respect and understanding.

As the peak body for Muslim organizations in Victoria, the ICV represents more than 150,000 Muslims through its 47-member organizations located throughout the State.

A media release from the prime Minister’s office says, “ The Prime Minister and the ICV spoke about fostering resilient communities, increasing the participation of Muslims in all aspects of Australian life, challenging extremist propaganda

from those who prey on vulnerable youths and ensuring that Australians of all backgrounds can work together to uplift this nation.

The Prime Minister spoke about the contribution of Australian Muslims to our vibrant and successful multicultural society. He and Minister Porter heard from a representative group of accomplished young Muslim leaders who are at the forefront of civic participation and who are embracing opportunities to shape a more rewarding future for all Australians.

The Prime Minister encouraged them to play an active role in strengthening Australia’s diverse and tolerant social fabric.”

The discussions at ICV followed a visit to the Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA), where the Prime Minister and Minister Porter observed a series of informative exhibits that illustrate the long and rich history of Islamic civilization and the contribution Muslims have made to Australia.

The museum exhibits demonstrate that,

throughout our history, Muslims have been at the forefront of innovation, exploration and education and are a vital and integral part of the rich mosaic of Australian society.

In March 2015, the Government pledged $500,000 to assist the IMA with its important role and create a national online education programme.

The President of the Islamic Council of Victoria, BayramAktepe, said: “The Muslim communities of Victoria welcome today’s unprecedented visit by an Australian Prime Minister.

Our leaders, and our young leaders of the future, welcome Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s fresh tone and positive message regarding the threat of terrorism and challenges of extremism. I have no doubt that his commitment to mutual respect and unity will reduce levels of disengagement from family,

The Prime Minister spoke about the contribution of Australian Muslims to our vibrant and successful multicultural society. community and wider society. We look forward to working closely with the Turnbull Government to further enhance our social cohesion and advance this great nation of ours.”

—SAT News Service.

China & India top international students enrolment in 2015

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne, 29 February: International students continued to boost the Australian economy in 2015 showing a growth of 10 per cent compared to 2014. China and India remain the top two countries sending in the largest number of foreign students.

Almost half a million international students from nearly two hundred countries studied in Australia in 2015, demonstrating Australia’s strong global-competitiveness in education.

“Chinese students continue to flock to Australia with 136,097 students last year – up 13.3 per cent on the previous year. China contributed 27.3 per cent of all international students in Australia, the highest of any nationality, with India second, contributing 10.8 per cent, “ says a Australian government media release.

These figures prove that international education is

one of the five super-growth sectors – it’s one of our top services exports and it’s supporting our economy as we transition to a more diversified economy.

International education delivered nearly $20 billion to the Australian economy in 2015, confirming the importance of the sector to Australia’s growing

knowledge economy.

Australia offers high quality education services, teaching, learning and research, and we have worldleading tuition protection arrangements, which is why 498,155 international students chose to enroll across Australia in 2015.

The top ten countries – China, India, Vietnam,

Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Brazil, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia and Hong Kong – together contributed just over two thirds, 66.2 per cent of total international student numbers.

“This Government’s reforms have cut regulatory costs for institutions by $48.2 million a year, allowing Australian universities, vocational

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Almost half a million international students from nearly two hundred countries studied in Australia in 2015, demonstrating Australia’s strong globalcompetitiveness in education. education and training providers, English language providers and schools to focus on their core business of providing high quality education to students, says the media release.

—SAT News Service.

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Where do I start - I have so much to say about the Om Music Group and their performances each month Amitabh, Priya and the whole team give amazingly powerful performances, and should be incredibly proud of producing this 5-star show each month.

by Swati Somaia

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ast year I had the opportunity to go to one of their shows with a dear friend of mine and now all I can say is - I am addicted to the

show and don't miss a single event! I thoroughly enjoyed the show and at the end of the evening, I was amazed.

What talented, passionate performers! It was one of the most enjoyable evenings I've experienced. Amitabh

and his wife Priya's voices are flawless, and together with their wonderfully talented team, they create a show each month that is entertaining yet personal.

It is a production full of passion and talent, and the

entire team's love for music is showcased throughout the 4 hour evening. Amitabh, Priya and the whole team give amazingly powerful performances, and should be incredibly proud of producing this 5-star show each month.

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Every 2nd Friday of the month, Om Music Group gives tribute to the legends of the Indian film and music industry. If you are a lover of Indian songs and beyond, this is definitely a show for you. Next month's show will be held on 11th March 2016 and will be a tribute to the legendary actress Sadhana.

Tickets are $15 each. Hope to see you there!

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Thank you,

By Our community reporter

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elbourne: It has been a while when the Daniel Andrew’s Labor government in Victoria announced the setting up of an Indian precinct in Dandenong’s Little India and another in Wyndham.

The decision was taken by the state government after public consultation and was accepted by the Indian/South Asian community with great jubilation.

The thirty plus traders of Little India who started it all with a campaign to save their livelihoods from the Dandenong Revitalization Plan, were there at the Payal Indian Restaurant, Foster Street to say thank you to the Victoria Government for hearing them and making the

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crucial announcement.

The dinner cum meet event became a nostalgic gathering with traders spokesperson Kaushalya Vaghela detailing the events that finally led to the announcement of the Indian precinct and the massive efforts made by traders, labor leaders, MP’s, leaders and community activists.

Current issues also came up for discussion, as Council functionaries were present.

Gabrielle Williams, MP, Dandenong praising the traders hard work said still a lot of work has to be done which will take more energy. She felt the trader’s achievement was incredible.

Jude Perera, MP, who first raised the issue in the Victorian Parliament, admired the traders and all those who worked hard on the mission.

Hong Lim, MP said the

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says Little India Little India traders were the ‘”flag bearers of the Indian community.”

“There should be no more delay in the project and the traders should have a say in future development,’ he said.

Addressing the gathering the Dandenong Council, CEO, Mr. John Bennie said, “ we see ourselves as part of the solution and will work together for the Indian precinct. “ Dandenong MayorCr Heang Tak, commended the “hard work of the traders and said he was looking forward to have good relations with the traders.”

Brian Tee, ex-MP and former Shadow Minister who took a leading role in the Little India struggle talked about the situation that led to the announcement of the Indian prescient and the united role of the traders and the

community.

Lee Tarlamis, former upper house member said the proposed Indian precinct would grow in ‘leaps and bounds.’

Manoj Kumar, ALP activist and former Federal candidate expressed his happiness at the Indian prescient announcement and thanked the Daniel Andrew’s government for the same.

Others who also spoke included SAT Editor, Neeraj Nanda, traders association President Shahid Syed, Julian Hill Federal Candidate for Bruce.

The thank you event attended by many traders and supporters also saw a question answer session with council officials where the issue of removing paid parking was also raised.

They promised to look into the matter.

—SAT News Service.

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SAPAC literary forum a big success

By Neeraj Nanda

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elbourne : The South Asian Public Affairs Council (SAPAC) organized a literary event, a first of its type, to connect the literary and poetry traditions of South Asian writers and poets here.

They all were migrants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives, the SARC nations.

Held on 27 February at the Theological College, Mulgrave, the event, saw the intellectual power of the South Asian community reflected through their stories, novels and poems.

Attended by about 150 distinguished writers and poets who made their presentations in their respective languages spoke

of the multicultural flair of Australia. Poems in Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, Singhalese, and Tamil were recited.

There was also a book exhibition, which proved we have many a hidden writer in the community.

More than two dozen poets from different communities recited poems in their languages. During the second session about one dozen authors talked briefly about their books which were exhibited at the venue. The event brought South Asian literary people on a single platform, which clearly showed that literature had no boundary and it could be a constructive tool in engaging the wider multicultural society.

The event started with an introductory speech by the event's convener,

Dr.KaushalSrivastava, which was followed by a welcome

by SAPAC's President, Dr.ShahbaazChaudhary.

Following the tradition of South Asian nations, a cultural dance-cuminvocation was presented

by Rashan-Pravaha Dancing Foundation that was applauded by the audience.

The first session was anchored by the convenor and the second one by Dr. Sharif As-Saber. The concluding remarks were given by Mr. Neeraj Nanda, a distinguished journalist and the Editor of the South Asia Times.

Finally, the vote of thanks was given by SAPAC's Secretary, Kaushaliya Vaghela, and then she invited all the participants for tea/coffee and light snacks. —SAT News Service.

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Sri Lankan Wedding Show 2016

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne: The Wedding Show 2016 @ Melbourne (27 & 28 Feb, 2016 at Springvale Town Hall, Springvale) business delegates from Sri Lanka met the media and community on 25 February at the Metropol, Clayton. Their mission was to provide better services for event management, which comprises of

organising exhibitions, event conventions etc. for customers. The event was organised by the Australia-Lanka Business Council led by DilkiPerera with the participation of 18 business people and 30 stalls. The product included bridal dresses, salons, beauty therapists, designers, cake decorators, caterers, jewellers, photographers, hotels etc.

—SAT News Service.

Sangeet Sandhya Open forum for music lovers – classical, semi-classical & film music

Saturday 6/02/16 - Cyril James Saturday 2/04/16 - Ustad Aminul Haque Tuesday 4/06/16 - Shubhangi Pandey Saturday 6/08/16 - Sneha Mahajan Saturday 1/10/16 - Chanchal Mandal Saturday 3/12/16 - TBA

Swar Sandhya Open forum for music lovers; Karaoke – Popular Indian Music Bring your own music, perform and enjoy

Saturday 2/1/16 Saturday 7/5/16 Saturday 3/9/16

Saturday 5/3/16 Saturday 2/7/16 Monday 5/11/16

Venue: Waverly Meadows Primary School,

Time: 8.00pm

Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill Free Entry, with ample parking, Free tea, coffee and biscuits Contact: Phone- 0402 074 208 or 0407 559 113 email- sangeetswarsandhya@gmail.com www.facebook.com/sangeetsandhya

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COMMUNITY

Lee Tarlamis hosts Greek Tavern Night

By SAT News Desk

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elbourne, 3 March :Mr. Lee Tarlamis.

Former member Upper House hosted the 5th Annual Greek Tavern Night at the ‘A Traditiuonal Greek

Tavern Experience’, Kew. Hon. Daniel Andrews MP & Premier of Victoria was the guest speaker and Mr. Will Fowles MC for the evening. The Premier detailed the development steps being taken by the government and said “we are trying to build a world

class public transport system in Victoria”. Mr. Lee Tarlamis also spoke and there was auction by Will Fowles and a raffle draw. The Greek food served was excellent and the dessert never to be forgotten.

—SAT News Service.

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community

An Upcoming Treat For ‘Serious’ Music Lovers

By Natasha Singh

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elbourne: There are musicians who entertain us and then there are musicians whose music stays in our hearts long after they have gone. One such musician is Jagjit Singh, who with his immortal voice enthralled music lovers with his songs. In particular, he played a big role in popularizing the ‘Ghazal’ genre by taking it to the masses.

On the other hand, popular music has thrilled many, but their deep connection with classical music, the base for all forms of music has not been explored often in live concerts.

With Sukoon-A’-Laya, we expect music lovers to be treated to both. Siyer (a. k. a ShriramIyer), one of Melbourne’s finest singers will hold the evening together with an ensemble team of brilliant musicians.

Siyer has over 400 concerts to his credit along with 2.5 million views on YouTube. Along with that, he is a protégé’ of Shankar Mahadevan and learns classical music from Ustad Aminul Haque who himself is the direct disciple of one of the stalwarts of classical music, Smt. Kishori Amonkar.

Amongst the musicians,

the show features Jay Dabgar on the Tabla who has mesmerized many in Melbourne with his electric performances. On the harmonium is reputed singer and teacher, Bikram Malhar.

Joining them on guitar is seasoned performer, Natraj Babji. Accompanying Shriram on vocals is Sneha Mahajan who has captured many hearts with her beautiful voice. As a guest singer, Neha Sinha, a professional singer based in Pune will also join the team on the night.

The concert will not just pay homage to Jagjit Singh with a ‘Remembering Jagjit’ segment but will include other popular songs by singers like Pankaj Udhas. The concert will also perform various Bollywood melodies with roots in Indian classical music and demonstrate the same.

The organizers would like to thank Ali Mohammed of Platinum Insurance & Financial Planning, the title sponsor of the concert and a lover of music. Media partners include South Asia Times (SAT) and Radio Haanji.

Refreshments are provided by the kind courtesy of Sabrini Foods. Pure Acoustics will manage the sound on the night. Special thanks to ‘Indian Junction’, a project that promises a home away from home in Melbourne.

DJ Baba, the promoter of the show promises an event that is both entertaining and enlightening. For tickets and sponsorship, you can contact 0421 677 082 or 0424 287 904

What:

Sukoon-A’-Laya – An evening of Ghazals and Popular Semi-Classical music

Who:

Siyer and Team. Event managed

by Giggle Oberoi.

When:

April 2nd 2016

Where: Chandler Theatre, 28 Isaac Rd, Keysborough www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

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The concert will not just pay homage to Jagjit Singh with a ‘Remembering Jagjit’ segment but will include other popular songs by singers like Pankaj Udhas. The concert will also perform various Bollywood melodies with roots in Indian classical music and demonstrate the same.

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India an example of unity in diversity: Sufi leader

From Rajeev Sharma

N

ew Delhi: Amid worries over the growing menace of terrorism across the globe, Delhi is all set to host the World Sufi Forum for four days beginning March 17. The Indian Prime Minister Mr. Modi will inaugurate the event at VigyanBhawan. Around 200 delegates from home and abroad will participate. Some of the important participants are: DrTahirulQadri (Pakistan), ShaykhHashimuddin al Gaylani (SajdaNashinKhanqahQadaria (Baghdad/Iraq), Stephen SulemanSchman Schwartz (founder and executive director of Centre for Islamic Pluralism, USA), ShykhAfeefuddin Al-Jailani (founder and chairman of Al-Wariseen Trust, Iraq), and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Yahya Al Ninowy (Sufi leader, USA).

The All-India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) is the organizer.

Here are the excerpts from an interaction with the board’s Founder-President, Hazrat Syed Muhammad Ashraf: India represents unity in diversity. The Muslim population in the country is only second to Indonesia’s. But Muslims in Indonesia are in a majority, in India they are a minority. But the

Constitution of India grants full respect to Islam. In this way, India has become an example of unity in diversity. India is like a‘guldasta’ that has flowers with manycolours. This has to be preserved and protected. No flower can be put aside at the cost of others. Whatever is happening in the name of Islam today is misleading. The real Islam is one, which has been interpreted in the Holy Qur’an. And the Nabi says thrice with all the emphasis that one cannot be a ‘momin’ (believer) who has not kept his neighbor safe and satisfied by his words (zuban) and deeds (hands). The neighbor means that each individual belongs

to God. Islam talks about humanity throughout the world.

Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz has talked about it…Mehboob-eIlahiMakhdum Ashraf Jahangir…

These are some of the great souls who while on earth in physical form, and now when they are interred, continue to spread a message of peace and harmony.

How can I accept that whatever is happening in the name of Islam is Islam? Bombs are placed in markets and innocents are killed, what kind of Islam is this? Any extremist organisation waving Islamic flags and misusing the holy qur’an such as Daesh and ISIS have actually no endorsement in the ambit of islam.

They are nothing but terror outfits which are tarnishing the image of islam. It is therefore important to realize and unearth the propaganda of such people and organizations that are funded by foreign entities to spread hatred and intolerance to disrupt peace in a country such as India.

A meeting with the Indian PM As this is a major event to be held in Delhi, our 40-member delegation met the Prime Minister NarendraModirecently to convey our sincere desire for his presence in the event. He heard us with patience and agreed to participate.

He showed a great amount of warmth by shaking hands with each member of the delegation. He

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was informed that AIUMB is India’s apex body for sufi shrines and for muslim religious leaders such as Ulama,Imams and Muftis.

Historical Event For the first time such a large congregation of Sufi scholars is arriving in Delhi. These scholars, drawn from madarasa,Khanqah’s and various dargahs, will present their research papers. This will take the shape of a 1,000-page book. The programme will take place on 18th and 19th March at Indian Islamic Cultural Centre. A rally is going to be held on March 20 at Ramleelaground which will be addressed by TahirulQadri and many well-known scholars. A large number of people have already started arriving. We believe it is high time for us to create a platform to seriously ponder over the radical interpretations of Islam by terror groups for political gains.

The spread of terror and tyranny by jihadist forces in Syria and other parts of the world has damaged the image of Islam more than ever before. However, we are of the belief that Indian Muslims can provide a real alternative to all the bloodshed being spilled across the world in the name of Islam by promoting their rich history of Sufism.We intend to make India the global centre for moderate ideology in Islam.

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Uttaranchal Society of Australia, Inc. First time in Australia

cordially invites your presence

Uttarakhand Sangeet Sandya

With renowned singers Shri Narendera Singh Negi, Meena Rana, Pritam Bhartwan, Prakasha Kahala and music team

On March 28, 2016 from 6 pm onwards at The Heritage Reception Centre, 514-516 High Street, Epping, VIC 3075 For Enquiries: Arun Pandey 0425 241 355, Prem Rawat 0423 419 722, Manoj Mishra 0411 148 042, Ashwani Nautiyal 0403 104 291, Trilok Bhandari 0413 795 137, Hemander Bisht 0403 257 863, Virender 0402 553 341, Manmohan Bisht 0423 688 474, Virender Bisht 0413 164 821, Umed Bora 0401 731 525, Nand Kishore Rana 0433 232 088

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Political Violence, “Rational Ignorance”, and “Political Illiteracy” in Bangladesh

By Taj Hashmi

M

arch 1,2016 (IPS) - There was yet another shocking headline in this daily (February 22): “Priest killed, devotee shot”. Some “unknown” assailants raided a Hindu temple, slit the throat of a priest, and shot a devotee at Panchagarh in northern Bangladesh. This wasn’t a random violent crime. Of late, there is nothing exceptional about premeditated attacks on minority communities or on people holding divergent views on religion and politics across the country.

Unfortunately, many Bangladeshis, first of all, don’t consider such violence as politically motivated; and secondly, people are no longer that vocal against random or selective killing of people by criminals, terrorists, or law-enforcers unlike their predecessors, who wouldn’t remain quiet at any violent attack on fellow citizens by anybody.

This was the norm across Bangladesh up to the mid1980s.

Although the average Bangladeshis still take interest in local and national politics, their interest is dwindling. Firstly, the bulk of Bangladeshis seem to have become thoroughly depoliticised; and secondly, they don’t know whether politics has everything to do with violent attacks on minority communities, women, writers, journalists and others.

This apathy has nothing to do with the victims’ religion, political views, gender, or profession. The number of unresolved killings and “disappearance” of people has desensitised people; and to some extent, this apathy may be attributed to what political scientists consider “political illiteracy” and “rational ignorance”, which have devastating effects on political order, social cohesion, democracy, and freedom. Desensitised, apathetic, apolitical, and ignorant people throughout history have succumbed to absolute dictatorships in the name of religion, racist nationalism, or communism.

I’m going to elaborate these concepts with regard to the prevalent political culture of Bangladesh.

Despite what many Bangladeshis say about themselves as being one of the most politically conscious people in the world, the overwhelming majority of people in the country are actually among the least politically conscious, and disillusioned people anywhere. Most decent people in society have shunned politics altogether, and rogue and corrupt elements have filled in the void.

While in some cases, the least desirable people have become politicians and fabulously rich through the “profession of politics”, hardly anybody ever raises this question, and nobody seems embarrassed about this weird state of affairs in the country! On the one hand, people’s lack of interest in raising questions about people’s illegitimately acquired wealth and power through politics is fearinduced; on the other, it also reflects people’s political apathy or “rational ignorance”, and “political illiteracy”.

The understanding of “rational ignorance” and “political illiteracy” requires an understanding of what democracy and politics are all about.

People everywhere learn about the intricacies of politics not only from textbooks, but also from enlightened politicians.

What’s Bangladesh today is no exception in this regard.

People here used to learn about democracy, people’s rights and responsibilities, and about politics in general from political stalwarts

like A.K. FazlulHuq, MaulanaBhashani, H.S. Suhrawardy, and Sheikh MujiburRahman. There was a dialogue between leaders and their followers; they understood each other, and learnt a lot from each other too. Not anymore!

One of the most famous political scientists, Robert Dahl, believes everything in human relationship in power perspective is political.

He thinks politics in a democratic setup is what “A” is getting from “B” to do what “A” wants through rational or manipulative persuasion, inducement, influence, authority and power. Since coercion and the physical force to back it up are integral to autocracy, democratic politics is all about effective participation, equal voting rights for all, and inclusiveness.

Thanks to the prevalence of unethical politics in Bangladesh, people in general don’t trust politicians. In a society devoid of mutual trust and respect, politics in Bangladesh is all about what “A” can get from “B” in the most unscrupulous way.

Thus people here believe it’s irrational to learn anything more about politics – especially from politicians – as they see no benefit in politics.

Renowned economist and political thinker Anthony Downs’s theory of “rational ignorance” is very pertinent to our understanding of political apathy in Bangladesh. In his seminal work An Economic Theory of Democracy, he has defined political apathy as “rational ignorance” of people when they find the cost of learning something

more expensive than any potential benefit from what they learn.

This has consequences for the quality of decisions made by large numbers of people, during general elections, where the probability of any one vote changing the outcome is very small.

“Rational ignorance” perpetuates blind political support or loyalty among citizens to particular political parties, X, Y, or Z. The loyal voters are too lazy to investigate if the old policies of their party has changed, or not suitable in the present, or the new leaders are less honest and capable than their predecessors.

What famous German playwright Bertolt Brecht has defined as “political illiteracy”, is the next most logical stage of a “rationally ignorant” nation. Despite the popular perception in Bangladesh, thanks to the manipulative and corrupt politicians, the overwhelming majority of people in the country are among the most “rationally ignorant”,and “politically illiterate” in the world.

The fatal combination of “rational ignorance” and “political illiteracy” has turned the brave nation of Bangladesh – which in our recent memory was a nation of freedom fighters – into a nation of supine underdogs and conformist subalterns.

It’s time that politically conscious and patriotic elements in the country tell the people nothing is more important to know than the reality that everything that affects our living is political.

We need to pay heed to what Brecht has said in regard to “political illiteracy”: “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions.

The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance

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is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.”

Politically apathetic people lose their sense of belonging to a nation, or even to a bigger entity called humanity, which are larger than their families, clans and ethno-religious communities. They become apathetic self-seekers, most unwilling to do anything for collective benefits of people not related to them by blood or by mutually beneficial ties. German pastor Martin Niemöller has beautifully narrated what happens to perpetually apathetic people in totalitarian countries.

Niemöller – who spent seven years in Hitler’s concentration camp – wrote a poem about the fate of politically indifferent people from his own experience: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out –Because I was not a Socialist…. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Unless Bangladeshis shun political apathy, doctors fight for journalists and truck drivers; engineers defend garment factory workers’ rights; professionals fight for equal opportunities for all; men fight for women, and women for men; rich fight for the poor, and poor for the rich, the country will remain politically inert, socially backward, and economically stagnant without any rule of law and equity. I believe political apathy is the mother of all evils in Bangladesh. There’s hardly anything in life beyond politics. We’re all related to each other in power perspective.

This story was originally published by The Daily Star, Bangladesh.

The writer teaches security studies at Austin Peay State University. He is the author of several books, including Global Jihad and America: The Hundred-Year War Beyond Iraq and Afghanistan (Sage, 2014). Email: tajhashmi@gmail.com

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Sri Lanka comes under US pressure

By Jehan Perera

C

OLOMBO: The visit

by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to the United States last month, and his assurance that the Sri Lankan government is contemplating international participation in the post-war accountability process is an indicator of the pressure that the government is being subjected to on this issue.

Neither the improvement in relations between Sri Lanka and the Western-led international community, nor the improvement in the human rights situation on the ground, is getting the international community to relent on the issue of international participation. However, there appears to be a willingness to give the government more time.

The UN Human Rights Council resolution, which was co-sponsored by the Sri Lankan government last October, had highlighted “the importance of participation in a Sri Lankan judicial mechanism, including the Special Counsel’s office, of Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defense lawyers and authorised prosecutors and investigators.”

On the one hand, there are technical and credibilitycentered reasons for having international participation in an accountability process that concerns the war. The first is that crimes associated with war are not part of Sri Lanka’s present legal framework. War crimes are a well-developed part of international law but not of Sri Lankan law.

Therefore the Sri Lankan legal community has little or no experience of dealing with the laws relevant to war, such as principle of proportionality and command responsibility in military action.

This gives rise to a need for international legal expertise to be brought in, at least for an initial period of time.

On the other hand, the credibility centered reason for international participation stems from the lack of confidence of the Tamil polity in the Sri Lankan judiciary at the present time.

The main problem with a national accountability mechanism, from the Tamil perspective, is the apprehension that its findings and conclusions would be subservient to the interests

of the Sri Lankan state. Sri Lanka has yet to find the solution where the ethnic minorities have confidence that the Sri Lankan state will be fair and impartial to them on controversial matters. To its credit the new government is taking the country in this direction, as borne out by its willingness to have the national anthem sung in Tamil at the Independence Day celebration. But this is still only a token of goodwill.

There is a need for more substantial actions to take place. Although the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is Tamil the other 10 judges are Sinhala. There is no Muslim Supreme Court judge at this time. It is in these circumstances that there is disquiet amongst the Tamil polity about placing its faith on a Sinhala-dominated court and legal system on a matter as controversial as war crimes, on which there is a clear divide between the ethnic communities.

Sri Lanka is not alone in having to face the issue of international participation in judicial mechanisms aimed at ensuring justice after internal conflicts that have polarized the people living within those countries. Cambodia, Bosnia and East Timor are examples of countries that have set up judicial mechanisms, or special courts, which have included foreign judges and other legal personnel in them.

Some of these judicial processes have proven to be very expensive. They have also been very slow moving due to factors such as internal resistance to them and the

difficulty in finding financing for them. The Cambodian special courts cost over USD 200 million over a tenyear period, but yielded only five indictments and two convictions. In Bosnia the war crimes trials by international tribunals have not brought healing and the hatreds have not gone away merely because the war criminals have been convicted and imprisoned by those international tribunals.

There are several arguments that can be made against having fully fledged international participation in the judicial processes of a country. Foreigners will not understand the local context nor will they live with the consequences of their decisions. Their analysis will be technical and they will not see the political implications of what they are doing, and whether it will serve the interests of both justice and political stability in the longer term. If foreign judges and legal personnel such as foreign prosecutors and investigators are to be on the court, they will need to be provided with the translations of the material that is placed before them.

In the case of Sri Lanka, the force of this latter argument gets reduced because the same problem of translations will arise where the judges are Sinhala-speaking and the complainants are Tamilspeaking. Most of the Sri Lankan judges are not Tamil speaking and so, in the case of Tamil complainants, will need to be provided with translators and translation facilities.

In the case of foreign judges

and lawyers there is also the question of fees. The previous government obtained the services of foreign experts to serve as a panel of advisors to the Missing Persons Commission, who were paid very large fees. The question is who will bear the financial burden if the legal process gets protracted as it did in the case of Cambodia. There were times in the Cambodian process when the special courts stopped functioning because the government had no money to pay for the salaries of staff involved in the process.

It should be noted that the legal process can stretch for a considerable period of time and so assured sources of funding need to be obtained for the long haul. In the case of Cambodia questions were raised whether the money spent on the special courts was worth the benefit of obtaining two convictions, and whether the money could have been spent better on the victims of the Khmer Rouge atrocities.

The third argument against foreign judges would be based on the need to strengthen rather than undermine the capacity of the Sri Lankan judiciary. The nationalist opposition would argue that foreigners should not sit in judgment over Sri Lankans especially on issues that concerned national security and decisions relating to it. The power of nationalist sentiment within the Sri Lankan polity cannot be underestimated. There is also another argument that bringing in foreign judges

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and legal personnel would undermine the morale of Sri Lanka’s own judges and legal personnel. After the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the judiciary’s independence has been strengthened. The present Chief Justice Sripavan has maintained his distance from the political decision makers and the new government leaders do not interfere with the decisions of the Supreme Court.

The most useful area of involvement for the international community would be in building up the capacity of the Sri Lankan judicial and legal system to cope with the issue of international humanitarian law and war crimes. This could come in the form of training programs, held both internationally and within Sri Lanka, that would transfer knowledge to Sri Lankans, to judges, lawyers, academics and journalists, so that that they may understand international standards and be able to apply them in their professional lives. This should also be part of an integrated strategy that includes truth seeking through a truth commission, reparations and constitutional reforms.

It must be remembered when former Chief Justice ShiraniBandaranayake was unjustly sacked by the previous government, both the Appeal and Supreme Courts ruled against the government.

There was integrity within the judicial system, as there is in all public systems, which people join because they wish to serve other people.

The problem in the past was that the previous government used its executive and legislative powers to steamroll over the judiciary as it did other public institutions. The present government is not so and is honoring the 19th Amendment that secures institutional independence. Given the financial and political costs of having foreign judges and legal personnel getting fully involved in controversial processes that might last many years, a more appropriate solution to the problem of a trustworthy process can be obtained by the government, opposition and Tamil and Muslim parties sitting together and finding a nationally driven solution to a national problem.

Source: The Citizen, March 08,2016

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Schools in FATA are in for Summer

By Ashfaq Yusufzai

P

ESHAWAR, Pakistan, Mar 2 2016 (IPS) “We are extremely jubilant over the rebuilding of our school that the Taliban destroyed it in 2013, due to which we used to sit without a roof,” MujahidaBibi, a student of 8th grade in Government Girls Middle School North Waziristan Agency, told IPS. North Waziristan Agency — one of the seven districts called Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) — has been the headquarters of the outlawed Tehreek Taliban Pakistan. Since the launching of military operations in June 2014, this area has been cleared and activities are rapidly returning to normal.

Like Bibi, Abdul Qadeem, 16, is also enjoying his new school, in the adjacent South Waziristan Agency.

“Taliban damaged our school in 2012 due to which the rich students shifted to other safer areas to continue studies while we the poor ones stayed in the roofless building for three years,” Qadeem, a ninth grader, told IPS. The school was rebuilt three months ago. “Now students are enthusiastic to study,” he added.

Fata located alongside the Afghanistan border was thick with militants since 2002, when US-led forces toppled the Taliban government. The militants were forced to cross over to Pakistan and take refuge in the sprawling Fata.

From 2005, they started attacking governmentowned buildings, schools, hospitals and offices not only in Fata but also in the adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), one of Pakistan’s four provinces, in their bid to deprive the people of modern education, which they considered against Islam.

However, with the Taliban’s defeat at the hands of Pakistan army, the reconstruction of the schools began. Taliban damaged a total of 750 schools, including 500 in Fata and 250 in KP. In Fata, 17 per cent of the destroyed schools have been rebuilt, mostly through assistance by donor agencies. “We have deployed 10,000

Taliban-damaged school in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Credit: AshfaqYusufzai/IPS paramilitary troops to protect the schools from militant attacks,” Javid Shah, an education officer, told IPS. Before military operations, Taliban blew up schools at their own will, especially those for girls, because Taliban were under misconception that female education was disallowed in Islam, said Shah, adding that “there are several stances that when the authorities rebuilt a school, the militants destroyed it again.” Besides, putting in place security measures, we have also involved local people to protect the schools, he elaborated.

According to him, committees comprising, local elders and officials, have now been entrusted with the responsibility to take measures for security: “the committees have deployed local people as watchmen to protect the schools in nights, because all the destruction was carried out by Taliban after evening.”

The KP government has also completed reconstruction of the 200 schools, Education Minister Atif Khan told IPS. “We have allocated $60m for reconstruction of schools.

Only 50 Taliban-damaged schools remained to be rebuilt”, he said. Standard operating procedures have also been issued to the concerned authorities to prepare security plan for educational institutions in their respective areas.

“Under the Sensitive and Vulnerable Establishments and Places (security) Act, we have also asked the private sector to improve security of schools by ensuring installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of security guards and increasing height of the boundary walls up to 10 feet,” he added.

MusarratNaseem, 13, is also among the fortunate students who have started studying in a new school in the Khyber Agency of Fata.

“Our school was destroyed in 2012 due to which we faced hardships. We often took classes under trees in summer and in the sun in winter because of unavailability of required facilities,” said Naseem an 8 grader. Fata has a total of 5,572 educational institutions, which have around 574,512 students.

“Number of students has increased in our school after it’s rebuilding.

Students from remote

areas are also coming to seek admission here,” Samir Ahmed, a teacher in Mohmand Agency of Fata, told IPS. Taliban destroyed 127 schools in Mohmand Agency, of which 99 have been rebuilt, he said. About 10 per cent students have left schools because of the lack of building and security but now there is boom in admission, he said, elaborating “parents are coming in droves to enroll their kids in school.”

Free books and uniforms have been provided to encourage the poor people to put their children in schools.

Abdul Wakeel, a mechanic in Bajaur Agency, Fata, says that his three children read in a government-run school which was destroyed three years ago: “Since its rebuilding three months ago, my kids are very happy.”

The Taliban wanted to eliminate schools and send our children back to the Stone Age but we are determined to thwart their conspiracies and provides better education to our generation, Wakeel stated, arguing, “we can defeat Taliban militants

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Abdul Wakeel, a mechanic in Bajaur Agency, Fata, says that his three children read in a government-run school which was destroyed three years ago: “Since its rebuilding three months ago, my kids are very happy.” through education”.

Taliban’s campaign against schools has triggered a desire for education among children. Taliban inflicted losses on the poor but their intentions have been exposed. Parents are eager to see their wards educated, he added.

M A R C H

southSouth asia times 27 Asia Times

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EDITOR’S PICK

Toys of violence M

By Mohammad Ali Babakhel*

ar 2 2016 (Dawn, Pakistan) - In this age of advanced technology, where violent forms of entertainment thrive on the screen and in cyberspace, parenting becomes a challenging task, as children want to emulate what they see. The adoption of a resolution last year by the Sindh Assembly demanding a ban on the manufacturing, import and sale of toy guns often used in actual holdups was a step in the right direction.

Those who purchase toy guns, despite the fact that they promote `hyper tendencies` among children, are clearly indulging in irresponsible behaviour.

Such toys convince children that weapons are the solution to all their problems.

Look at the figures. The totalrevenue of the global toy market is $84.1 billion.

Recent years have seen an accelerated trend in the sale of toy guns. With 6,000 toy enterprises producing 75pc of toys manufactured across the world, one can see the profit motives of the sellers and why they would want to produce an item that is popular.

The issue is not a trivial one. Though toy guns, for the most part, cannot physically harm children although the example of Afghanistan cited in this article shows that it is possible they can do psychological damage.

Hence the need for policy

guidelines, parliamentary deliberations, as well as input from academia and psychologists for a subsequent law to be formulated.

There have been administrative measures such as the one in Peshawar stemming from the demand of a civil society organisation to impose a ban on toy guns. Aonemonth ban was indeed imposed. But the malaise cannot be tackled through administrative orders alone, and there must be realisation of the inherent dangers of exposing children

to tools that emulate violence.

Even in a tribal society like Afghanistan where guns are considered the ornaments of menfolk, there is growing awareness of the role of guns in undermining the already fragile rule of law. Last year`s ban on toy guns in Afghanistan shows that many realise the negative impact on children of a culture of violence.

Afghanistan took this decision after reports that toy guns injured more than 100 children over Eid, some

of which have plastic or rubber bullets.

According to the US Bureau of Justice, during 1987, over 1,400 toy guns were used in crimes in New York City. Cracking down on crime from January 1985 to September 1989, US police departments reported they had confiscated 31,650 imitation guns.

But the danger does not lie in the possession of toy guns alone. Syllabi may also encourage violent tendencies. Even at thenursery level, children are made to learn `G is for gun` and `T is for tank`. Play stations, video games, even cartoons and shows, may project violence. In rural areas especially, parents are totally ignorant of the negative consequences ofsuchtoys and gadgets.As a result, the majority believes that conflict is always to be resolved through violent means.

In games like `CounterStrike` and `Call of Duty`, children are tempted either to join the law enforcers or terrorist groups. Violent media images and objects that stimulate fear and anxiety give rise to a heightened `fight or flight` response in children.

Research shows that while watching a violent movie or playing video games with violence as the dominant theme, a child`s pulse rate accelerates, hands sweat, his mouth goes dry and his breathing accelerates.

Playing games like cops and robbers, target shooting

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Abdul Wakeel, a mechanic in Bajaur Agency, Fata, says that his three children read in a government-run school which was destroyed three years ago: “Since its rebuilding three months ago, my kids are very happy.� etc., children unconsciously shuttle between `good` and `bad` passions.

According to George Gerbner`s `cultiva-tion theory`, the media cultivates its own culture and when children are exposed to violent games and movies they believe they should imitate the characters being shown. According to him, `heavy consumption of violence-related television content leads viewers to believe that the world is more dangerous than it actually is`.

To discourage violenceinducing toys, the role of parents and teachers is more important than that of governments. So many parents, especially those living in the rural areas, do not know about the consequences of playing with toys that generate aggressive tendencies.

These toys glamorise war and conflict. Surely, it is better to select toys that infuse the spirit of team building and sharing.

In 2013, to bring down the crime rate in Mexico`s capital city, police destroyed thousands of toy guns to stop them from becoming a real threat on the streets.

In 2011, in an Indian village, children voluntarily burnt their toy guns. In Costa Rica, an increasing number of criminals are using toy guns, hence it becomes difficult for the untrained eye to differentiate between the fake and the real.

It is important to conduct further research on the impact of such toys and games and focus on alternatives that can teach children about peace rather than conflict. *The writer is a police officer.

This story was originally published by Dawn, Pakistan

M A R C H

southSouth asia times 29 Asia Times

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South Asian websiteS India TEHELKA – www.tehelka.com OUTLOOK – www.outlookindia.com FRONTLINE- www.flonnet.com THE HINDU: www.hinduonnet.com TIMES OF INDIA: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com HINDUSTAN TIMES: www.hindustantimes.com Pakistan DAWN: www.dawn.com THE FRIDAY TIMES: www.thefridaytimes.com THE NEWS INTERENATIONAL: www.thenews.com.pk Sri Lanka DAILY MIRROR: www.dailymirror.lk DAILY NEWS: www.dailynews.lk THE ISLAND: www.island.lk Nepal THE HIMALAYAN TIMES: www.thehimalayantimes.com KANTIPUR NATIONAL DAILY:

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SHEPPARTON Gurdwara Sahib Shepparton 240 Doyles Road, Shepparton VICTORIA 3603 PH: (03) 5821 9309

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Address: Part 4 Suite, Level 12, 55 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Site : www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia/

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Services handled by Indian Consulate Melbourne itself: OCI Misc. services, Registration of Birth, Birth Certificate, Renunciation of Indian Citizenship, Surrender of Indian Passport, New Passport Details on PIO, Transfer of Valid Visas, Marriage Certificate, Affidavit for Applying Child’s Passport in India, Documents Attestation.)

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Sri Lanka Consulate 32A Brunswick Street ,Walkerville 5081 Melbourne , Phone: 9898-6760, 9248-1228 Email: rodney@techno.net.au

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VIEW POINT

South Asia Times

contd from previous page Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra 43, Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT-2606 Canberra, Australia, Ph: (61-2) 6290-0511, (61-2) 6290-0522, (61-2)6290-0533 (Auto hunting).

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special article

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Inner Sanctum breached Mar 8 2016 (Dawn, Pakistan) - The obsession with women is evident in Friday sermons across the country, in the Council of Islamic Ideology’s fixation on regulating women’s bodies, in society’s vigilance of women and in the preoccupation with women’s dressing, holding it responsible for earthquakes and expediting the Day of Judgement.

By Nazish Brohi*

B

ut those predicting that women’s behavior will trigger the end of the world are not entirely wrong. The world they know is actually crumbling.

While growing up, I thought ‘mod’ was an Urdu word that meant disreputable women.

I didn’t figure out that it was an abbreviation for ‘modern’ till much later. It explains the moral panic around women though.

Women and through them, the home, were the last bastion against modernity. Initially ushered in through colonialism, in people’s experience, with mass schooling came mass arrests; with long-distance roads came long-distance weapons; with premium on rationality came the dismissal of tradition. Liberating laws were in tandem with obstructive bureaucracies, the consolidated state simultaneous with decimated lifestyles.

A solution was needed that allowed benefiting from colonial engagement while also keeping cultural purity and personal identity intact. So men would wear pants, speak English and seek employment and representation, while the women would study religion

and morality inside the home and raise children inculcating in them the value of traditions.

This vein continues. Global economic, political and material integration will not subsume us as long as women as transmitters of identity are kept uncontaminated.

But now the inner sanctum has been breached. More women are studying and working outside homes and making marriage choices than ever before. Fertility rates are declining and the age of marriage has been moved forward. They have entered gender-bender fields from corporations to parliament, from sports to driving trucks. Laws have been introduced that regulate the private domain such as prohibiting anti-women customs, addressing domestic violence, allowing divorce and dismissing the consent of guardians. The state is extending social protection to the poorest of women and offering incentives for their economic participation.

And there’s the blowback.

Not only is ‘customary’ violence like ‘honour’ killings increasing, but emerging forms are breaking with the past patterns of confining violence against women to the privacy of ‘chaardivaari’. Gang rapes, public stripping and parading, circulating videos of coercive

pornography are not just bodily violations but have an important function of broadcasting public warnings.

For others, the velocity of social change is signalling the ‘qayamat’ they believe can be stalled by calcifying women in status quo.

The hostility to human rights as a framework is the aftershock of a seismic change. The moral compass has upended. The move from the collective as a unit to the notion of individuals was nothing less than an inversion of the earth’s poles that apparently happens every couple of millennia.

The collectivities, the tribe, the caste, the ethnicity, the biradari, the village, the family, were all sustained by a political economy that made joint livelihoods and identities necessary. Even now, across rural Pakistan I find women unable to use the singular ‘I’; it is always ‘us’ and ‘we’. They don’t conceptually differentiate between personal and family interests. It is in this context that honour killings, forced marriages, use of women in conflict mediation (swara) and child labour occur, where the detriment of the individual is to the benefit of the group.

‘We’ masks the injustices that the ‘I’ uncovers.

Some things that indicate the old authentic pre-modern

are new — the hijab for instance. Other things that look new, hence modern are old conventions — women in leadership positions for instance. In the search for authenticity, a sort of neo-archaeology of the indigenous, a hybrid reality is created. South African visa regulations required me to get written permission from my husband allowing me to travel alone. They said it was in keeping with the local culture.

I argued that no authority in Pakistan had ever asked for this. It turned out that it was about minimisinghonour crimes asylum claims.

Women across Pakistan, meanwhile, continue to face an old ultimatum: they can either claim citizenship of the state or membership of the community. Appealing to the former means expulsion from the latter. Once you go to the police or courts or shelters, there is no going back into the family fold. Until recently, the reverse was also true: women within the fold of their communities were out of bounds for the state.

But the gendered premise of citizenship is changing.

As the state was contested, it did not have the social legitimacy to assert monopoly over violence. So instead, it ‘democratised’ violence by creating enclaves of impunity: the state had the right to use

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violence in the public sphere and men had the right to use it in the private sphere. As the state gains acceptance and consolidates its monopoly on violence, it has started to challenge men’s impunity in the private sphere. This changes the terms of the social contract itself. This is why there is such a strong reaction to domestic violence laws.

Women’s lives are both, indicators of change and its collateral damage. The violence they face is in the public’s knowledge but mostly beyond public consciousness.

But change happens anyway, whether willed or not. So where does that leave me?

A woman in a remote village on the border of Sindh and Balochistan was trying to understand what I did as I explained my research and advocacy work. Her ancestors were the traditional mourners of the Talpur rulers, women who were paid to wail about death and misfortune, communicate suffering and provide collective catharsis.

She rolled her beedi and had her eureka moment. “You do the same thing,” she said while smirking, “You’re the new generation rudaali.” I laughed. Then I agreed. *The writer is a researcher and consultant in the social sector.

This story was originally published by Dawn, Pakistan

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NEWS ANALYSIS

southSouth asia times 35 Asia Times

Why did BJP do a JNU? NEW DELHI, March 5: The furore after Rohith Vemula’s suicide in academia and concerned circles should have been sufficient to deter any ruling party to change tactics, and pull on kid gloves, to handle the seething campuses. For a while at least until the anger subsided and calm returned.

By Natasha Singh

S

o why did the BJP rush from Hyderabad to New Delhi, and decide to take on a University known to be tough and willful? Was it sheer stupidity, or was there a plan?

Some scholars insist it was the first, but most politicians and journalists who follow the BJP closely are clear that it was part of a larger plan.

And what then was the plan when the BJP directed its Delhi police to storm the Jawaharlal Nehru University, arrest the students union president, and create terror both within and outside the campus with abuse, hate speech, threats and of course the open violence at the Patiala courts? What did it hope to gain? And has it achieved what it had wanted to?

The University was under scrutiny, as was IIT-M, HCU and others in the list, with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad serving as the eyes and ears of the ruling party along with the intelligence agencies whose foot soldiers have become very visible at meetings being organized in and outside campuses. What students have been saying for a while now, has been confirmed through the series of incidents in Universities where the ABVP has targeted those with differing views, and in the case of IIT-Madras, Hyderabad Central University, and of course JNU their initial complaints have been acted upon almost immediately by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

This plan became visible in HCU only with Rohith Vemula’s suicide. Otherwise it would have remained under the covers with the BJP content in freeing the campus of dissent, with the strong action against the five Dalit students intended to send out the message that freedom was now limited.

JNU was intended as the next stop. Why? For three major reasons. One, the BJP has always entertained a visceral hatred for this University that has been perceived as a Left bastion, and has established a tradition where the students are given enviable space to debate and discuss and formulate opinion, anathema to the BJP/RSS that have always looked on debate and dissent as an ‘enemy.’

Two, the expectation that a successful ‘operation’ would cripple the University that has a reputation for taking up lost causes of other institutions, and was at the time preparing for a big rally in Delhi in protest against Vemula’s suicide. And thereby have a “sobering” effect on other campuses, and make it much easier for the ruling party to bring the students in all other Universities under its influence and control.

The young generation has always fascinated the RSS, although it is afraid of the youth until and unless it is indoctrinated.

And three, to use the incident to stoke the nationalism versus anti nationalism fires before the forthcoming Assembly elections.

So the operation was launched on February 9 where some students had organised a meeting on Afzal Guru’s death anniversary.

The rapidity of police action, the arrests, the sedition charges all followed a clearcut plan. The emergence of the morphed videos with the audio and the visual being tampered with to build a case against JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and others; the high voltage rhetoric that accompanied it on some key television channels; the government defence of the police and its action; the violence in the Patiala courts hitting journalists and even Kanhaiya Kumar when he

was brought to the courts for his bail hearing; all followed a pattern set into motion on February 9.

The discourse was immediately presented as ‘nationalism’ as represented by the ABVP, the violent lawyers at Patiala courts, and the loud rhetoric from the BJP leaders that they would not tolerate any “insult “ to the country. And that the anti nationals in JNU needed to be taught a lesson.

The expectation was that the ferocity of the multi pronged attack would crumble the resistance within JNU with the majority of students and faculty drifting out of ‘harms’ way, and that in the process the BJP would give substance to, and sharpen its “nationalism versus anti-nationalism” slogan. The social media was flooded with abuse and threats against “anti nationals’ that basically consisted of all who were seen by the armies of trolls, unleashed every now and again on Twitter and Facebook, as questioning the government.

The first indication that all had not succeeded came from the strong protests from the opposition leaders, with the Left parties being joined by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party almost immediately. Rahul Gandhi joined SitaramYechury to address the students and faculty in JNU, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal instituted a probe into the

entire incident. And even earlier from the thousands of citizens who marched together with the JNU students, holding placards, shouting slogans, and making it clear to the government that dissent could not be muzzled, and freedoms would be protected.

The strong fight back botched the BJP plan with the entire Opposition united in Parliament to oppose the government’s crackdown. The BJP was virtually isolated. And was visibly defensive despite the brave face it tried to put up for its disappointed cadres.

JNU had not disintegrated under the force of the attack, instead all within had rallied around with even ABVP students resigning from the parent body, and the universities within and outside the country had also rallied in support of JNU and against the government’s position. So the first part of the plan to cripple the University failed, instead it had the reverse impact, with JNU never as united as today.

The BJP continued to focus on the nationalism debate, more so as its development mantra of the 2014 LokSabha polls seemed to have run out of steam. And here the rhetoric was strong, more so as initial reports from the ground made it seem that it had worked. At least in the hinterland with the BJP maintaining that questions were being raised against the “JNU kind of nationalism

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The strong fight back botched the BJP plan with the entire Opposition united in Parliament to oppose the government’s crackdown.

The BJP was virtually isolated.

And was visibly defensive despite the brave face it tried to put up for its disappointed cadres. where even support for terrorists was acceptable.”

And in the ruling party’s assessment, or so some of its members told journalists, people agreed that the JNU students, Maoists and jihadists did merge somewhere into one anti national whole.

This propaganda was being countered not just by academic and intellectuals but by the political parties whose leaders made forceful presentations on nationalism in Parliament. But the BJP propaganda that had relied heavily on Kanhaiya Kumar as a living example of ‘antinationalism’ was punctured

by Kumar himself when he was released on bail amid conditions, when he made a speech that was brilliant oratory, that was idealist, that spoke for the poor and the marginalised, that made common cause with the kisan, the soldier and the cop, that spoke of the Indian Constitution and the rule of the law and that put the BJP completely on the defensive so much so that when a BJP youth leader offered five lakhs for Kanhaiya’s Kumar tongue, the party instead of greeting the hate speech with its usual silence, had to move immediately to suspend him.

—Source: The Citizen

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Bollywood Diaries: A powerful statement on chasing false dreams

By Soma A. Chatterji

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any years ago, Asrani, fresh from his FTII stint, portrayed a character in a Hrishikesh Mukherjee film of a man who comes to Bombay with dreams of becoming a big actor in Bollywood.

Later, we see him reduced to a junior artiste in the same industry his dreams of stardom reduced to desperate poverty and frustration. A documentary called Clap Trap that explored the world of junior artistes in Bombay’s film industry struggling to gain a footing, features a strong man who confesses that he came to the city to become a hero but over time, when his hopes dashed, he made compromises and is happy as a well-paid junior artiste.

But few stories have happy endings like this one.

In Luck By Chance, the stars who play themselves show wonderful sporting spirit – Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Khanna, John Abraham, etc. point out that their acting in real life is sometimes better than their acting on screen. The falseness, the arrogance, the jealousy, the coy maneuverings, the pain, the one-upmanship, the film school lecture, the party scene filled with memorized lines from Rani Mukherjee and the rest, come across through subtle, light touches. Anurag Kashyapas the scriptwriter forced to rehearse the actors, is called ‘Institute’ by Romy Rolly (Rishi Kapoor) is a potshot at FTII graduates by industrywallahs who have never been to a film institute.

Manzil to mil hi jayegi, bhatakkar hi sahi, Gumraah to wo hai jo ghar se nikle hi nahi This is the bottom line of Bollywood Calling, a film directed by K.D. Satyam and dedicated as “a tribute to passionate aspiring actors.”

Produced by Sattar Diwan, the film tracks the journey

of three different individuals from three completely separate backgrounds who never meet during the film but are bound by one crazy passion – to make it big in Bollywood. They are ready pay any price to become that star they see on the large screen, imitating them in their personal lives, quoting from memory some of the famous dialogues from famous films and living in the present dreaming only about the future.

What future? Imli is a prostitute who practices her trade in the infamous Sonagachi pocket of Kolkata.

But she thinks that if one has talent, be it bedding customers or acting in front of the camera, one can certainly make it to the large size posters of every city in the country. She has a little daughter who is not prioritized in the script but appears rarely to establish that Imli is also a mother and needs money to put her daughter in a respectable boarding school. Can she really become a star in Bollywood?

Raima Sen, who makes one of her occasional appearances in Hindi cinema, says, “Satyam’s approach to the script was very realistic. His way is not conventional neither does he sensationalize the film in any manner. He has not gone into the melodrama of Imli’s backdrop except as reference to her dreams of making it as a singer and then cheated into this trade by a man who promised

her a break in singing. The second man is the 50+-year old Vishnu Srivastava, an ordinary accountant in a government office in Bhilai portrayed brilliantly by AshishVidyarthy who, for once, gets the rare chance of igniting the screen with his performance of a frustratedyet-dreaming-of-D-Day even when his days are numbered and he is diagnosed as dying of pancreatic cancer.

Says Vidyarthy,“ We know the name of big actors and stars, but this story is about those people who have come from little places to make it big. We want to express something of the real life.

This film is about the extent people are ready to go to realise their dreams.” As the veteran actor puts it, “it is a film about everyman.”

The third is a young man named Rohit who works in a call center in Delhi and thinks he is the next best thing that is to happen in Bollywood.

He gatecrashes into a fivestar hotel, approaches a famous director lounging near the pool and begins to demonstrate his ‘talent’ till he is dragged away by the hotel security as he continues to spout dialogues from Devdas.

SalimDiwan, who amazes with his debut performance, asks, How important are dreams?

They are very important. It is important to dream and dream big. And whoever has been in a dream would love Bollywood Diaries.”

It is truly difficult to portray a character who thinks he is a great actor but in reality (in the film),

his acting capability is zero as a judge in the reality show he participates in tell him straight to his face. But the same judge has also egged him on from the first elimination round that helps him reach the fourth round insisting that he has never seen such passion! This offers an insight into the brutally cruel ways of people who manipulate the naïve and the innocent as their own way of entertainment from a show that pays the judges the earth!

“I loved to work with K.D. Satyam and I also loved the story. Bollywood Diaries chronicles three separate stories about three different individuals who never meet. The character I play is ready to bend every rule in the book, to bend over backwards to pay any price to find her place in Bollywood,” says Raima who, however, looks-wise, does not quite fit into the Sonagachi scenario because she is too beautiful and looks just too classy and educated to mould herself into the Imli character. But to be fair to the actress, she unfolds the different layers of her role with great depth and conviction.

When she realises that the ‘director’ who took away all her savings to prepare her portfolio for a film offer in Bollywood which never happens and a television news byte shows that the story she had narrated is being filmed with a big star, she shuts up completely and stops talking to anyone right till the last scene when she decides to take the Dubai offer of Rs. 5 lakh she had refused in the beginning of the film.

The production design creates a beautiful symbiotic relationship with Vishnu Srivastava whose room, all four walls and the ceiling as he waits for death, is completely wall-papered with huge posters of the biggest of stars of Bollywood. Inspired by a spiritual guru, he ceaselessly chants a mantra

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that goes Bollywood Namaya Namah Staraye Namaye Namah and the walls begin to act on their own, closing in on him, his eyes shimmering with tears and hope in the strong belief that he will surely realise his dream of becoming a Bollywood star in his next birth! When Rohit is cruelly dismissed in the fourth round, he loses his mind, goes home and goes completely berserk.

One of the most powerful statements the film makes is the support each of these families give to these dreamers. The sex workers of Sonagachhi including the brothel madam boost Imli all the time and begin to participate in her process of creating a portfolio as if it is theirs and they are with her right till she steps into the airport but never turns back even to wave at them.

Vishnu’s wife, daughter and son-in-law are ready to bend backwards and fulfill every wish to his to allow him every crazy wish he indulges in, in the false belief that doing these things will make him a star. Rohit’s middleclass family is agape that he has won three rounds and is convinced that he will reach the finals. When jumps up and down the city wearing red underpants over blue jeans like Superman, the whole family chases him to calm him down. Bollywood Calling is definitely not an award-worthy film. But it is strong and portrays characters who believe in the worlds they create out of pure fantasy.

The statement at the end of the film says: “This is a tribute and homage paid to the iconic personalities for being an inspiration to Vishnu, Rohit and Imli and many like them.” It adds that there a millions out there waiting for a Bollywood break. But the question that keeps haunting us is – should such dreams be encouraged by the respective families who take it in their strides?

Think about it.

Source: The Citizen.

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southSouth asia times 37 Asia Times

First national indigenous women’s team selected for India tour

By SAT Sports Desk

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elbourne, 8 March: Indigenous cricket history has been made with the selection of Australia’s first national Indigenous women’s team, which will tour India in May. The squad of 14 will travel to Delhi and Mumbai from May 20-30 for two 50-over matches and four T20s against Delhi, Mumbai, Payadde Sports Club and Global Cricket School women’s teams, as well as the Cricket Club of India and Bombay Gymkhana men’s teams.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the team was announced today at a special reception in Canberra hosted by Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove.

The team has been selected based on performances at the recent National Indigenous Cricket

Championships in Alice Springs – which had a record number of female participants – as well as performances at club level around the country.

Eighteenyear-old Commonwealth Bank Shooting Star and Sydney Sixer Ashleigh Gardner will captain the side, supported by former Australia under-19 and ACT Meteor Sally Moylan as vicecaptain.

Gardner and Moylan attended the reception at Government House in Canberra today, joined by Faith Thomas – the first Indigenous Australian to represent Australia in sport when she made her Test debut in 1958.

Former ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and four-time Australian Women’s Cricketer of the Year Shelley Nitschke will

coach the team on the tour.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for each of the women selected. The team will build on the success and opportunities that the men’s national Indigenous

side has enjoyed, helping our most talented female Indigenous cricketers reach new heights through additional high performance opportunities.

“The first national Indigenous women’s team comes at a time when both Indigenous and female cricket are thriving.

Indigenous cricket participation has hit a record 26,000 participants and female participation – as cricket’s fastest growing area – is also at record numbers of 290,000. We wish the team every success for the tour.”

The tour of India is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s AustraliaIndia Council as a program that will build awareness and understanding between Australia and India, in this

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instance through sport and Indigenous culture.

Two secondary school students and one teacher from the Stars Foundation will join the squad on tour as part of the partnership between Cricket Australia and the Foundation, through which 500 Indigenous girls play cricket as part of their education.

The squad, which was selected by Shawn Flegler, Cricket Australia’s (CA) National Female Pathway Manager, Sam Almaliki, CA Head of Community Engagement and Paul Stewart, CA Indigenous Cricket Officer selected the squad is: Emily Bowden (WA), Sara Darney (NSW), Carly Fuller (QLD), Ashleigh Gardner (NSW), Jacinta Goodger-Chandler (VIC), Samantha Gordon (NSW), Haylee Hoffmeister (NSW), Febi Mansell (SA), Sally Moylan (NT), Kavita Pepper (WA), Natalie Plane (VIC), Roxsanne Van-Veen (NSW), Taylor Wigg (TAS) and Samara Williams (WA).

—SAT News Service.

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