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CELEBRATING 12th YEAR OF PUBLICATION
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South Asia Times Vol.12 I No. 11 I JUNE 2015 I FREE s o u t hasiatim es.com .au Editor: Neeraj Nanda
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Rama’s story IN miniatures at the National Gallery of Arts
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GUEST editorial
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Exodus in the Bay of Bengal By Kanya D'Almeida
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NITED NATIONS: For a while it went unnoticed: a boatload of migrants here, a vessel full of refugees there. But since 2012, the complex and unregulated movement of human beings through South and Southeast Asia– and the fate of those who put their lives in the hands of smugglers and at the mercy of the high seas – is becoming bleaker with each passing day. On Friday, Jun. 5, the United Nations Refugee Agency announced a 13-million-dollar funding appeal, to meet the humanitarian needs of thousands of refugees, hailing mostly from Myanmar and Bangladesh and bound primarily for Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia. The situation stole international headlines in mid-May, when a group of journalists set out from a small island on the southwest coast of Thailand into the Andaman Sea, where they discovered a rickety fishing craft carrying hundreds of men, women and children, mostly members of the
minority Rohingya Muslim community fleeing political persecution in Myanmar and economic hardships in Bangladesh. Refused entry by Thai and Malaysian authorities, the boat’s caption and crew had abandoned the halfstarved passengers who quickly became the face of a regional migration crisis involving up to 6,000 desperate migrants stuck in no-man’s land. “With the monsoon season imminent, thousands
of people may still be at sea,” Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told journalists at a press briefing in Geneva Friday. In addition to those still in boats, an estimated 4,800 people have been brought ashore, and are now in dire need of food and medical supplies. Many are severely malnourished, while others bear the scars of both physical and mental
abuse, likely at the hands of smugglers. The Refugee Agency’s appeal comes on the heels of a regional meeting in the Thai capital, Bangkok, last week, of governments affected by the crisis, and echoes key features of a 10-point plan put forward by UNHCR, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who seek a long-term solution to the problem. Funding will be used to protect new arrivals, increase awareness for those considering embarking on the perilous journey and tackle the root causes of the exodus. Officials say 88,000 people departed from the Bay of Bengal in a 15-month period: 63,000 between January and December of 2014 and a further 25,000 in the first quarter of this year. Not only is the journey illicit, it can also be deadly. Over a thousand people are thought to have perished or gone missing at sea. Survivors have recounted stories of losing their fellow travelers to disease or hunger on the voyage; with nowhere to dispose of the dead, bodies are simply tipped overboard,
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while the vessels continue on their way. According to the 10-point plan, migrants are at risk of being starved, beaten or sexually abused. Inability to pay the high ransom or exorbitant fees charged by smugglers can also result in death. “The scale of deaths is unknown but, as the recent discovery of mass graves in smugglers’ camps attests, it is likely to be even higher than the 1.2 percent of travelers estimated to perish from disease or mistreatment,” the report found. For this reason, a good deal of funding will be used to provide counseling services to those who make it safely ashore, a task that the UNHCR has already undertaken for new arrivals in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. In addition to meeting the immediate needs of refugees and migrants, the 10-point programme aims to expand legal alternatives to dangerous movements, support the safe return of those not in need of international protection, and strengthen search and rescue operations at sea within a regional framework. Edited by Kitty Stapp IPS
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Blissful evening with Art of Vinyasa M elbourne, 10 May : Enthralling is probably the most suitable word to describe the performances put together by Art of Vinyasa school of Bharatanatyam, as part of their 2nd annual school concert. The event took place at Erasmus Primary school, Hawthorn on Sunday, the 10th of May 2015. It was a special event for the school on the occasion of the launch of Vasundhara Style in India earlier by Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, the honourable guru of Meghala Bhat, artistic director of Art of Vinyasa. The program commenced with lighting the lamp by Dr. Rama Rao, director of Krishna Ravali school of Carnatic music Melbourne, and Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, founder and director of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, India followed by prayer song by senior students of the school. Mr Murali Kumar, Director Ragasudha School of Music was represented by Mrs Vandana Kumar. Mr Vasan Srinivasan, President Confederation of Indian Associations Australia and Mrs Latha Vasan were among the other distinguished guests who graced the occasion with their presence. The performances commenced with an item on Lord Krishna by the senior students along with Ms. Meghala. The item flowed with crisp, graceful movements and rich expressions setting the scene for what was to follow. The junior students some of who seemed as little as 6 years rendered a sparkling performance on the stage
Overall the perfection demonstrated and dazzling presentation by the students was a testament to the guru shishya commitment and relationship.
with an item on Lord Venkateswara. The Shiva Panchakshari stotra item performed by all of the students was a jewel in the crown and resonated quality choreographed by Guru Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy. The deep solo sloka, with subsequent integration by
the group of the students with striking poses & flowing patterns left the audience spell-bound wanting for more. The elegant bhajan performed solo by Meghala added the right balance and maturity to the performance. The ending item brought all of the students along
with Meghala together and beautifully portrayed the “leelas” of Lord Krishna. Overall the perfection demonstrated and dazzling presentation by the students was a testament to the guru shishya commitment and relationship. After the break the
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‘lucky audience’ present as accurately described by one of the chief guests for the evening Dr.Rama Rao, were taken to different level of indulgence witnessing a captivating performance by the guru Dr.Vasundhara Doraswamy. Amma, as the students affectionately refer her, delivered a rush to the senses with the perfect blend of graceful movements cutting crisp angles, and engrossing expression (abhinaya) with precise footwork that gripped everyone from little children to old grandparents who were left in a daze. Overall the special annual presentation by the art of Vinyasa was a banquet to the eyes and look forward to having more electrifying performances from this growing school in the years to come. - Supplied
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Aboriginal art exhibition from Australia’s Western Desert
By SAT News Desk
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ew Delhi, 22 May: A groundbreaking exhibition from Australia, which reveals the Aboriginal history of the world’s longest stock route through the deserts of Western Australia, has gone on display in Delhi. ‘Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route’ provides a window on the artistic, cultural and natural worlds of the Aboriginal people of Australia’s Western Desert. The artists draw on both traditional art conventions and new figurative styles to recount their sacred and secular life experiences through their art. Nearly 70 artists travelled along the 1850-kilometre stock route on a six-week intensive engagement with their country in July and August 2007. Over 100 artworks were produced during the expedition, and selections of these are now on display at DLF Place Saket until 22 June, 2015. The art of the Canning Stock Route has its origins in the traditional sacred art of Aboriginal people of the
Western Desert. Prior to Western contact, most art was produced in ceremonial contexts as body decoration, sand sculptures, ceremonial objects and rock art. Paints, made from ochres and charcoal, were augmented by the use of bird feathers and down. The iconography of desert art is complex. Artists combine symbols, such as concentric circles, bars, footprints, horseshoe shapes and lines, to convey sacred stories. The tradition
of ceremonial art, and the rules associated with its creation, continued in the Western Desert until well into the 1970s, when a new art movement developed out of a growing Western market for Aboriginal desert art. Today’s artists use traditional methods to express a personal style, telling more individualistic, often secular histories that continue to be informed by traditional practices, and often with an undercurrent of the sacred world.
The works created for The Canning Stock Route are exuberant, vividly coloured, and highly energetic, conceived by the artists to express the joy of telling their stories. The exhibition was developed by the National Museum of Australia in partnership with the arts group FORM, which initiated the four-year Canning Stock Route Project that involved artists, traditional custodians and emerging Aboriginal curators and filmmakers from
Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route will be on display at the will be on display at DLF Place Saket from 20 May to 22 June 2015 (Timings 11:00 am – 9:00pm) across Western Australia, says the Australian High Commission, New Delhi website. Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route will be on display at the will be on display at DLF Place Saket from 20 May to 22 June 2015 (Timings 11:00 am – 9:00pm)
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Rama’s story
IN miniatures at the National Gallery of Arts By SAT News Desk
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elbourne: The National Gallery of Australia, Canberra opened The story of Rama: Indian Miniatures from the National Museum, New Delhi, the first major initiative under the AustraliaIndia Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Arts and Culture. ‘This exhibition of vibrant and exquisite Indian miniature paintings is important for the Gallery, and forms part of our commitment to share the art and rich cultural heritage of India with all Australians’ said Gerard Vaughan, Director. The MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Arts and Culture between the Indian and Australian governments was signed during Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia in November 2014. ‘Today, this landmark agreement comes to life, and demonstrates our readiness to partner with countries in our region and celebrate the arts. We hope that all Australians enjoy these wonderful works of art that reveal one of my country’s most well-known stories’ said His Excellency Mr Navdeep Suri, the High Commissioner of India in Australia. One of the world’s great epics, the Ramayana is a tale of love, loyalty, betrayal and victory of good over evil. It follows the story of the hero Rama, an exemplary prince, admired for his honour, valour and compassion. Great adventure unfolds when Rama’s beloved wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, the ten-headed demon king of Lanka. Created between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, each of the 101 paintings illustrates a key moment from the narrative. The finely detailed paintings, in a rich diversity of regional styles, were
Guler style, Pahari : The great battle between Rama and Ravana c 1780 opaque watercolour on paper; National Museum, New Delhi, India.
Basohli style, Pahari: The portrait of Rama c 1730 opaque watercolour and gold on paper; National Museum, New Delhi, India.
Hon. Mr. Navdeep Suri, India's High Commissioner in Australia, addressing the gathering at the exhibition opening. selected from the National Museum’s collection of over 17,000 miniatures – the largest in the world. ‘We are delighted to
share with all Australians the story of Ramayana, one that transcends generations and is reflective of our rich and deep culture’
said Mr Sanjiv Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Director General, National Museum, New Delhi
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The exhibition is opened on 22 May and will continue till 23 August and entry is free of charge. - SAT News Service
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southSouth asia times 9 Asia Times
How to Deal with the Growing Prices of Properties? Let’s Take a Look… Part I
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t’s not just you, most of us feel like buying a new home is too far to reach. Not just because of the affordability and choice, rather all those news of hike in property prices also lowers the enthusiasm every time they pop up on media and internet news. However, just like others, this sad story too has an ending, means the ways through which you can deal with property price growth, both mentally and financially to move ahead. Here, let’s know them what they are Change the Mind (just thoughtfully, not physically) No, wait… it’s not that we are suggesting you to give up your dream of buying a home. It’s about to change from being responsive to being practical. Don’t crib if someone talks about capital growth, increasing rates or declining property value. Instead, start doing some research to maximise value for your own property.
No, wait… it’s not that we are suggesting you to give up your dream of buying a home. It’s about to change from being responsive to being practical. Moreover, see the property value growth as a potential for your future life or seek utmost professional guidance from property experts or finance brokers in Australia. Change the Destination We understand, it will definitely be tough for you, especially if you were just waiting to own an
affordable four-bedroom home in Sydney's middle suburbs or any other posh region that you like. In this situation, you are left with just two options – change the location or change the type of property you wanted to buy. The former option is easier and may help you find a property in half the price from the one you were
willing to buy earlier. Ok let us help you understand this with an example – For your choice of an average home in Melbourne rather than Sydney can help you save approx. $400,000. Interested to save more than Adelaide is known as the most affordable capital to buy a house apart from
Hobart. Now it makes sense…isn’t it? Still we have a couple of things to share with you that can help you to deal with the Growing Prices of Properties in Australia that will be shared in the next part of the blog under the same title and the introduction. Till then, keep watching this space! Source: Loans Direct
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Chandana Dixit: I seek to experience divinity in all forms
She rose to the Bollywood stardom with her super-hit song 'Goriya Chura Na More Jiya' from Coolie No 1 followed by several other hit songs in Bollywood movies and scores of albums with major Bollywood playback singers. But soon she chose a path away from the glamour of Bollywood and took a road that quenches her soul. Chandana Dixit is visiting Sydney and Melbourne on 4th July and 10th July for the delight of music lovers. The following is what Chandana says about herself in her website.
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feel blessed to be able to live this life, exploring and developing my creative aspirations, literally following my bliss........... This journey began according to my mom in my childhood, where I expressed my self by singing songs in the shower and drawing and colouring in my free time. I grew up in Nigeria (W Africa), where there wasn't any scope to formally learn, but we were the only Indian family to own a harmonium at home. My parents were interested in music. Mom is a sangeet visharad and Dad a shaukiya (spontaneous and natural) singer. My formal training in classical music began on our return to India with Saraswati Bai Rane of the Kirana gharana for about six years during which a solid foundation and love for the form was established. A special beginning was also made when I won the first place in my first attempt at a music competition, followed by many more including the National Government Scholarship. This appreciation helped me in gaining self confidence and faith in moving forward. During this time I was fortunate enough to be picked up by Arun Date to sing 'Bhawgeet's' as female solo lead in his famous 'Shukratara' shows all over Maharashtra. After which I began briefly training with Veena Sahasrabuddhe and simultaneously was
introduced to music director Kalyanji bhai of Kalyanji Anandji duo. He convinced my parents that I should train for playback singing as my voice quality was suited for that form, but also felt that I should discontinue with my classical music training as that would interfere with my progress to acquire the required tone for Bollywood or light music. Thus my classical music training came to an abrupt halt. At this time I had also completed my formal education in acquiring a degree in Graphic design from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalay. I started my Bollywood
music career with a superhit song 'Goriya churana mera jiya' from the movie Coolie No 1, followed by some other hits like Sheher ki ladki, chooma chooma etc, also released some Bhajan,Ghazal Pop, TV Serial title songs, jingles and Cover version albums, It was an incredibility fascinating time to have the opportunity to record and sing with India's famous and talented composers and singers. But have to confess always having a nagging feeling something was amiss and incomplete in my life which I now understand after reconnecting with my
classical music. Life took a different turn when I got married and moved to Seattle in USA over a decade back. It was a whole different experience, with some peaceful time to do some soul seeking and realized I had to reinvent and go back to my unfinished business of reconnecting with classical music. I began by starting my music school 'Swarangan School of Music' in which I train students in classical and light music. And also deciding on how I wanted to go about my advanced education in music. I fortunately found Gurus who helped me in the
specific areas I wanted to develop in like Pt.Kaivalya Kumar Gurav, Pt. Vikas Kashalkar, Pt. Bholanath Mishra (thumri, dadra), Ustaad Ghulam Niyaz Khan amongst others. I am grateful for their generosity in allowing me to develop and grow in the direction I wanted to. I don't believe in the restrictions of following a particular gharana style but rather of following your own bliss and seeking the beauty and light as you are able to perceive and grasp from various sources.I also did my MA in music from SNDT University. Source: chandanadixit.com
Barry O' Farrell appointed to AIC
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r. Barry O’Farrell has been appointed to the board of the Australia-India Council (AIC). Mr O’Farrell will take on the role of Deputy Chair. Mr O’Farrell’s commitment to building deeper economic and community ties between Australia and India is well demonstrated. As Premier of New South Wales, he led annual trade missions to India. He also initiated the
sister State relationship between New South Wales and Maharashtra in 2012. He joins the AIC as Australia further strengthens its people-to-people and institutional links with India. The Council will build on the momentum established through the recent visits of Prime Minister Abbott to India and Indian Prime Minister Modi to Australia. Mr O’Farrell will commence his five-year term on the Board on 1 August 2015. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082
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southSouth asia times 11 Asia Times
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Adani’s Queensland coal mine faces Federal Court challenge By SAT News Desk
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risbane, 29 May: Indian giant Adani’s planned Carmichael coalmine in Queensland, has hit double trouble as Traditional Owners announce a landmark Federal Court challenge, on the eve of their world tour to urge Wall St and European investment banks to shun the damaging project. The Wangan and Jagalingou(W&J) people, Indigenous Traditional Owners of the central Queensland’s coal-rich Galilee Basin, have vowed to stop the AUD $16.5bn Carmichael mine – the biggest in Australian history and one of the world’s largest. If the mine goes ahead, the W&J’s vast traditional lands and their ancient connection to country would be “disappeared” forever. W&J Traditional Owner and spokesperson Adrian Burragubba said, “This is a very special day, on which we significantly step up our campaign to make sure Carmichael never gets built. “First, we announce that we have filed an appeal and judicial review
in the Federal Court of Australia. This court action challenges the decision of Australia’s National Native Title Tribunal that the Queensland government may issue mining leases for Carmichael. This challenge is unprecedented in the history of Native Title Tribunal decisions. If necessary, we will take our case all the way to the High Court”, Mr Burragubba said. “But this disastrous mine needs billions of dollars of finance if it is to ever go ahead”, said Mr Burragubba. “We also announce today that in 48 hours, on Sunday 31 May, we will embark a world tour to hold high-level talks with investment banks on Wall St, in European finance capitals, and in Asia. “We will communicate to the banks that we do not consent to Carmichael, and the reasons we cannot allow this mine to go ahead. We will remind them that any bank that funds Carmichael will be breaching important human rights principles to which they are signatory; principles requiring that projects that affect Indigenous Owners have their consent. We’ll urge them to honour their obligations and commit to
Gautam Adani : The Adani group has said it was confident the tribunal's verdict would be upheld. ruling out funding,” said Mr Burragubba. While in North America, the W&J will also meet with First Nations Traditional Owners opposing massive fossil fuel projects, including the tar sands projects in Alberta, Canada. W&J Traditional
Owner and spokesperson Murrawah Johnson said, “This tour is an incredible opportunity to meet with, learn from and form alliances with other Traditional Owners internationally. By building solidarity across the globe we can strengthen and
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draw inspiration for our individual battles to protect land, culture and way of life from destructive mining. We look forward to sharing stories and insights with our brothers and sisters in North America”. Ms Johnson said, “State and Federal governments have trampled our rights and interests and approved the mine. Adani tried to divide and conquer after we rejected an Indigenous Land Use Agreement and refused their ‘shut-up’ money. Australia’s Native Title Tribunal has also dispossessed us, saying the mining leases may go ahead. “We won’t take it. We will do whatever is necessary to stand up for Country. We will ensure that Adani and its friends in government and finance understand that when we say no, we mean no”, said Ms Johnson. “Our legal challenge and World Banks Tour are key to that plan.” Mr Burragubba said, “We won’t rest until this disastrous project is thrown on the scrapheap of history. Our culture will live strong and thrive into the future as it has from time immemorial.” —Based on Media release.
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southSouth asia times 13 Asia Times
Crime Stoppers farewells Leigh Trinh M
elbourne: Crime Stoppers Victoria today (June 10, 2015) bid farewell to its Multilingual Project Officer Leigh Trinh after more than a decade of service, and thanked him for his years of dedication and outstanding commitment to building a safer and unified Victoria. Leigh Trinh was a friend of South Asia Times (SAT) and was always ready to provide any inputs or news related to Crime Stoppers. After working tirelessly to build a successful multilingual program and create many relationships and networks with the multilingual community across Victoria, Leigh has decided to step away from the role and pursue a new direction in his career. Leigh took up the role of Project Officer for the Crime Stoppers Multilingual project of Victoria Police in 2004, when Crime Stoppers saw the need to make sure that every single member of the community felt safe and could have access to crime reporting, no matter what
P: 03 9021 1068
language they spoke. In his time in the role, Leigh helped developed partnerships with nonEnglish newspapers and magazines, and singlehandedly brought the Crime Stoppers message to non-English speaking communities, encouraging them to report crimes and build safer communities. The relationships Leigh
developed within the multilingual community helped the project flourish. There are currently more than 100 local and national multilingual media outlets supporting the Crime Stoppers message, covering well over 60 languages and dialects. Under Leigh’s careful guidance, the program received global uptake
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through its inclusion in Crime Stoppers International, where it provides multilingual information and advice in many languages around the world. Leigh’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has won many awards including the 2008 Australian Crime Prevention Award, the 2012 Police Media Award (the first unsworn Victoria Police Member to win the award) also the 2013 Crime Stoppers International Coralie Wagner Memorial Service Award. His passion for the project has seen him visit many members of the community and attend many CALD functions across metro and regional Victoria including youth forums, community open days and visiting multilingual community heads. Crime Stoppers is a not for profit organisation. Help us keep your family & community safe. Any information is confidential, so if you see something, say something. Call 1800 333 000. Crime Stoppers Chief Executive Officer Samantha
The relationships Leigh developed within the multilingual community helped the project flourish.
Hunter said: “Crime Stoppers Victoria thanks Leigh for his outstanding service to the multilingual project and the people of Victoria, and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.” The team at Crime Stoppers Victoria will continue on with Leigh’s work to support the multilingual community to report crime and build a safe community for everyone. SAT wishes Leigh Trinh all the success in future and always remember his professional commitment laced with a human touch.
PFG ONEY
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Trip to Great Ocean Road with Aussizz Travels By Neeraj Nanda
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elbourne: Going to the Great Ocean Road has always been fun and enjoyment. I have been there many a times by car with family and friends enjoying the sheer ambience of nature. A break from daily routine. But my latest sojourn to the Great Ocean Road was different, more educative, relaxed and a trip not to be forgotten. The Aussizz Travels (run by Mr. Dharmandra Patel) bus started off from Federation Square early morning picking up a few more from Werribee. Breakfast of coffee and samosas was served in front of the Werribee station amidst the excitement of a bus trip with a difference. We (mostly Indian passengers) set out for a rather unique experience in local tourism. There was a guide (Mr. Ankur Saini) who spoke our language, kept everyone busy with his talks and background information of the tourist area. In fact, he started off with the ever popular ‘antakshari’ songs game. Talking to SAT, Mr. Dharmandra Patel explained the concept as targeted to seniors who came here to visit their kids and felt the need for independent movement with their own
age group and atmosphere. “The presence of a guide speaking their own language, Indian food and walki talkie’s to keep them connected will give them the necessary security and satisfaction,” Mr. Patel said. Mr. Patel also said, “International students who do not have cars are also welcome to join the conducted trips.” In fact, this well planned conducted tour is for anyone willing to enjoy this extravagant journey of Australia’s national heritage pride and among the most prominent highlights of Victoria tourism, the Great Ocean Road winds through
distinct terrains running parallel to the coast. While every bend on the road refreshes the captivating scenes and sights, the stupendous vistas like pristine beaches, limestone wonders and verdant rain forests unfold at every step. The good news, according to Ankur Saini, Travel Agency Manager at Aussizz is that they can organise all the local tours including Mt. Bullar, Philip Island and Ballarat. The special website created for the tour says there are two easy pick up areas - 07:00 AM - Federation Square Russell ST Extension
and 07:55 AM - Werribee Railway Station. The itinerary of the 11 hours tour is as follows: Depart at around 7 AM from the city (Federation Square) and travel south west towards the Ocean. First stop at Angelsea to keep your eyes out for wild kangaroos, stop for photographs and for morning tea. Continue and drive past the 1891 constructed Split Point Lighthouse and then arrive at the Memorial Archway, built in 1939. Gear up for a Mediterranean atmosphere as you drive past the gorgeous town of Lorne.
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Continue your journey at Cumberland River Gorge. Then we will wind along this inspiring coastline towards Kennett River where koalas hang above the road. Continue your journey towards Cape Patton, the highest elevation of this morning’s drive, the last section of the Great Ocean Road completed in 1940 which at the time was an engineering feat supported by thousands of tonnes of boulders. After lunch in Apollo Bay, we make our way across the Otway’s heading towards your next stop a beautiful bushwalk through temperate rainforest showcasing an ancient world once known as Gondwana. Then journey continues through the Ayre river wetlands making our way towards the amazing limestone coast & the 12 apostles. You will walk down the way which takes you to the beach and the Gog stacks where you'll feel dwarfed by towering sheer cliffs and the scale of the coastline. The world famous 12 Apostles Lookout is next, where you will see the most apostles from any other point. For more information or bookings call (03) 9602 3020/1300 FLY 365 or check https://aussizztravels.rezdy. com/58767/great-ocean-road
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Indian Parliamentary delegation in Melbourne
By our community reporter
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elbourne: A goodwill delegation of Indian Parliament members led by Mr Rajiv Pratap
Rudy, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs visited Australia and New Zealand from May
25, 2015 to June 3, 2015. The group consisting of MPs from prominent parties had a busy schedule here which included receptions at the Indian Consulate, Tandoori Junction Restaurant by the Confederation of Indian
Association of Australia and visits to the William Angliss Institute, Kangan Institute and the Victorian Parliament. Wyndham Councillor Intaj Khan took JD-U MP Ali Anwar Ansari around the Wyndham, Hoppers
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Crossing area and welcomed him. The MP also visited the Western Senior Secondary College in West Melbourne. A large number of people met Mr. Ali while he went round the area. - SAT News Service
Harihar Jha’s Hindi poetry book launched
By our community reporter
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elbourne: Well known scientist and poet Mr. Harihar Jha’s poetry book ‘Bhig Gaya Man’ was launched by Chief Guest and the Indian Consul General Manika Jain on 30th May at the Kew Library. Mr. Jha who works in the Metrological Department is a well known poet
in Australia and overseas. The book a compilation of his Hindi poems written by him over a period of time were introduced by Dr. Dinesh Srivastava, prominent Hindi promoter, intellectual and Editor of Hindi Pushp. The lamp was lighted by the Chief Guest and other guests. Mr. Jha also gave an emotional speech and explained how he reached the goal to get this book pub-
lished. Mr. Jha’s family members described his passion for Hindi and Hindi poetry. Launching the book, Manika Jain praised Mr. Jha’s efforts in promoting Hindi and promised to look into his urge for having a ‘Kavi Sammalen’ in Melbourne. “We should try to speak in Hind and that will increase its market,” she said. The highlight of the eve-
ning was poets reciting one poem each from the newly launched book. The poets who recited Mr. Jha’s poems were Mr. Radhey Shyam Gupta, Dr. Ian Wooford, Dr Nalin Sharda, Dr Subash Sharma, Mr Girish Nagar, Mr Digant Nagar, Mr Ramesh Dave, Mr Rajan Chopra, Mr Arvind Gaindhar, Mr Lalit Yagnik and Mr Nikhil Pandey. —SAT News Service
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We should try to speak in Hind and that will increase its market.
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Western Senior Secondary College set to go with VCE
By our community reporter
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estern Senior Secondary College (WSSC) is proud to announce it will be offering the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) alongside the current Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) offered for local and International students. Currently WSSC has approximately 50 International VCAL students from a broad range of countries, including China, India, Lebanon, Vietnam, Italy and France. The program provides Senior Secondary Certificate of Education years 11 and 12 and specialised university preparation programs with leading universities in Australia. Student Support Officer, Ms. Hayley Williams says “WSSC is a multicultural school and the VCAL program has been very successful operating out of
WSSC students on an excursion to Melbourne Museum our city campus and I am excited that we will now be offering VCE to students”. Dr. David Warner is the Principal of WSSC and understands the benefits the schools CBD location provides to the curriculum, allowing a mixture of class and practical work. “Recently
the students went on an excursion to the Melbourne Museum. The city becomes a multitude of classrooms and exposes people to a massive array of industry, businesses and work opportunities and of course cultures” said Dr. Warner. Student Sandeep Singh
likes that the school is located so close to Melbourne CBD train stations. Sandeep has been studying at WSSC for several months. “Melbourne is a great city. I am excited about my future in Australia and I enjoy coming to class and the teachers are very
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good” said Sandeep. Once he graduates Sandeep plans to study Painting and Decorating at the Western Institute of Technology. Visit www.wsscollege. com.au and contact Ms. Hayley Williams for further information about the VCAL and VCE courses offered by WSSC.
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Fighting gender violence in rural India
Women members of Narmada Mahila Sangh (NMS), a women’s rights group, meet in Bhopali village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS By Stella Paul
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ETUL, India, Jun 4 2015 (IPS) - Mamta Bai, 36, distinctly remembers the first time the police came to her village: it was December 2014 and her neighbour, Purva Bai, had just been beaten unconscious by her alcoholic husband, prompting Mamta to make a distress call to the nearest station. Once in the neighborhood, policemen pulled the abusive husband out of his home and asked the village women if they wanted him to be arrested. “Yes,” they answered in unison. But first, they wanted him to be tied to a pole in the middle of the village. “We wanted everyone to see what would happen to wife beaters from now on,” recalls Mamta Bai, a ‘Kanooni Sakhi’ (meaning ‘legal friend’ in Hindi) with the local rights group Narmada Mahila Sangh (NMS). Spread across 213 villages in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the organisation helps victims of domestic violence seek justice. But as the incident above indicates, these
activists are not your average legal defenders. Steeped in the harsh realities that govern life in India’s vast and lawless central states, the women know that the justice system here – from the police stations to the courts to the jails – are riddled with corruption, bureaucracy and entrenched patriarchal attitudes. So they seek local solutions to their problems. In this case, they weren’t content to let the offender spend a few nights in jail only to return to the same home and habits as before. So they went a step further, and extracted from Purva Bai’s husband a signed letter to the local police chief in which he vowed never to hurt his wife again. “We wanted to teach him a lesson. The arrest and the humiliation of being tied to a pole in public view made him afraid,” says Santri Bai, another NMS member. “Now he knows, 42 of us [women] are ready to send him to the prison if he ever ill-treats his wife.” Torture, burnings, deaths Narmada Mahila Sangh
operates in the Betul and Hoshangabad districts of Madhya Pradesh, a state that has an exceptionally high rate of gender-based violence, with 62 percent of women experiencing some form of abuse compared to the national average of 52 percent. These crimes include molestation, marital rape, murder, beatings, dowryrelated killings and, in the case of women suspected of practicing ‘witchcraft’, torture and burnings. In 2013-14, the state registered 10,000 violent acts against women, 4,000 of which took place in Betul district. Despite this grim reality, NMS was not founded to tackle gender-based crimes. It began in 2002 as a federation of women’s self-help groups focused on economic empowerment, with each unit running small savings schemes and generating collective loans to improve their livelihoods. According to the Planning Commission of India, Madhya Pradesh has an extreme poverty rate of 35 percent, compared to India’s national average of 25 percent. This means that the state is home to some 30
million people living on less than 1.25 dollars a day. But as the women began spending more time on trying to break the cycle of poverty, they faced backlash from their husbands and other community members. Women members of Narmada Mahila Sangh (NMS), a women’s rights group, meet in Bhopali village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS Women members of Narmada Mahila Sangh (NMS), a women’s rights group, meet in Bhopali village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS “Women began to attend meetings, visit each other’s homes, discuss livelihood options and also take more interest in the affairs of their own family, such as their children’s education,” explains Asha Ayulkar, a resident of Chiklar village, not far from Betul town. “This angered family members, especially men who saw it as women challenging their authority and breaking with tradition. They beat them as punishment.” So in 2012, having grown its membership to over
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9,000 members, NMS began a kind of ‘crusade’, launched with the belief that changing women’s economic situation could not be accomplished without simultaneously tackling deeply entrenched patriarchal values. Collective education, community support The first order of business was to secure some kind of training, since few women in these rural areas have a formal education let alone specialised legal expertise. While the literacy rate for Madhya Pradesh is estimated to be 70 percent, it falls to just 60 percent for women – and even this gives no real indication of true literacy levels, since many girls drop out before completing secondary schooling. With the help of civil society organisations like Pradan, a non-profit that works to empower marginalised communities, 30 members of NMS are now trained paralegals and they in turn run workshops for other women in the villages on a range of issues from understanding existing laws and policies, to learning how to conduct a basic investigation before
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Fighting gender... approaching the police. “We also learn of how to talk to a survivor and counsel her – a Kanooni Sakhi must meet her alone, lock eyes with her, and appear strong, yet sympathetic,” Ayulkar explains to IPS. “Together we learn about the Indian Penal Code and its various articles relating to torture, assault, rape and dowry deaths.” Although the 50-yearold only studied until the 6th grade, she is today the district’s most respected paralegal, and boasts a success rate of over 80 percent. Cutting the red tape The initiative, though small when compared to the scale of gender-based violence in this country of 1.2 billion people, is an example of how community justice can often be more effective than the centralised legal system. Sexual and physical abuse is a grossly underreported offence throughout India, with a recent study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology revealing that only two
percent of victims of genderbased crimes report the incident to the authorities. This could be due to the dismal conviction rate, which the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) estimates at just 30 percent – meaning seven out of 10 perpetrators generally walk free. Even those that are booked for a crime often spend a few years – sometimes even just a few days – in jail before rejoining the community. Various Kanooni Sakhis (legal friends) tell IPS that attackers get off scot-free by bribing the police. Other times, authorities simply refuse to report complaints at all – activists recount incidents of women sitting for entire days at police stations attempting to file a First Information Report (FIR). “So NMS trains women on how to lodge their cases, how to request public prosecutors when they can’t afford a lawyer and how to check the status of a complaint by using the Right to Information Act,” Mamta Bai tells IPS. Lawyers from the Indian capital of New Delhi and
Madhya Pradesh’s capital, Bhopal, have all participated in trainings schemes to strengthen the women’s group. The result, experts say, is impressive. “The women are now keeping records of each case,” Angana Gupta, assistant manager at the Mumbai-based L&T Finances – one of Pradan’s partner organisations – tells IPS. “They have files for each case with details of the evidence, the steps taken and the official responses. They are also using mobile phones and tablets to network with fellow gender activists.” Social backlash Learning the law was the easy step. The harder part has been – and will continue to be – changing social attitudes in these rural areas. Take the case of Ramvati Bai, a tribal woman in Bakud village. A widowed mother of two, Ramvati was sexually harassed and assaulted by her father-in-law for three years. But when she finally gathered the courage to file a complaint, the police
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dismissed her, calling it a “family matter”. It was only after her fellow NMS members intervened that the police registered a case and arrested the accused. But this angered Ramvati’s relations who ordered her to leave their home. Phulkali Bai of Borgaon village was also thrown out of her home a few weeks ago after she filed a court case against her physically abusive in-laws. Fortunately for both, NMS has offered steady support, helping them get back on their feet by finding work and building their own huts to live in. But some, like 28-yearold Nirmala Bai, are not so lucky. She died in 2013, after her husband allegedly strangled her and set her body on fire. The police arrested the husband for abetment of suicide but then released him on parole. Despite their determination to seek justice for the deceased girl, NMS had to abandon the case as the victim’s family members refused to came forward to bear witness. They don’t let these setbacks get them down.
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“We want a life of dignity, free of violence. Nothing else matters more than that.” -- Ramvati Bai, a survivor of domestic violence and member of Narmada Mahila Sangh, a local rights group in central India. They continue their microsavings schemes and push ahead with the cases that need their help. Village Protection Committees identify threats or patterns and try to step in before tragedy occurs. If it does, NMS members help each other to keep moving. “We want a life of dignity, free of violence,” Ramvati Bai tells IPS. “Nothing else matters more than that.” —Edited by Kanya D’Almeida
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Controversy over new child labour law By Neeta Lal
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EW DELHI, Jun 9 2015 (IPS) - In a bid to overhaul the country’s child labour laws, the Indian government has banned the employment of children below 14 years of age in various commercial ventures, while permitting them to work in family enterprises and on farmlands after school hours and during vacations. “In a large number of families, children help their parents in occupations like agriculture and artisanship. And while helping the parents, children also learn the basics of occupations,” stated a note by the Union Cabinet, which approved an amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986. The Act defines 64 industries as hazardous, deeming it a criminal offence for children to employed in any of them. While parents or guardians will not face any punishment for the first offence, a maximum fine of about 150 dollars will be levied for the second and subsequent offences. The new amendment will, however, permit kids to work in “non-hazardous” businesses, the entertainment industry (including films, advertisements and TV serials) and sporting events from the 18 occupations and 65 processes specified under the 1986 law. The government’s directive has triggered a raucous debate on the subject in India at a time when public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of a complete ban on all types of employment for children. Indian Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who helms the child rights non-profit organisation Bachpan Bachao Andolan, has been calling for a ban on every form of child labour in India for kids up to 14 years of age. Activists fear that the provision allowing children to help out in domestic or family-based occupations will enable families to flout or skirt the new law. The new amendment will push millions of innocent children into forced labour and deprive them of education and a normal childhood,” Rakesh Slenger of Bachpan Bachao Andolan told IPS. “The girl child will be particularly disadvantaged as she will be denied education while being stuck with all the household work.” Experts also fear this loophole violates the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which India signed and ratified in 1992. The worst off will be kids from marginalized backgrounds who need to equip themselves with an education and job skills in Asia’s third largest economy to brighten their employment prospects. The government’s contention that once the law is changed it will help impoverished families earn a living while equipping children with job skills is also myopic, say child rights crusaders. They emphasize that India’s poor law enforcement system and weak policing standards will hinder efforts to keep tabs on exploitative families.
Others say this gap in the law will reverse India’s gains in moving children from workplaces into classrooms in line with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of achieving universal primary education by the end of 2015. It will also contravene the Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009, which guarantees a child the right to complete his or her elementary education even after the age of 14. Experts also allege the government is overlooking the fact that even in household enterprises, children still remain vulnerable to exploitation and health hazards, which impacts their education. Others have raised a red flag about the possibility of children being pushed into work in the entertainment or sporting industry by ambitious parents. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says child labour is “a violation of fundamental human rights”, which impairs a child’s development, potentially leading to lifelong physical or psychological damage. The organisation’s comprehensive research on the subject demonstrates that eliminating child labour can help developing economies generate economic benefits nearly seven times greater than the costs incurred in better schooling and social services. India would do well to heed this warning. The country has the dubious distinction of hosting the largest number of child labourers in the world. The 2011 census puts the number at 4.35 million working children in the 5-14 age bracket. One in every 100 full-time workers in India is under the age of 14, and a third of those child workers are under the age of nine. This augurs ill for a country of 1.25 billion people, 42 percent of whom are children. Already, many kids are at risk of languishing in an endless cycle of poverty – an estimated 23 percent of
the population survives on less than 1.25 dollars a day – particularly since the government slashed the budget allocation for the ministry of women and child development by 1.5 billion dollars this year. Activists say this move could deprive millions of marginalised Indian kids the chance to turn their lives around. According to a report by the Ministry of Labour, Indian child workers are engaged in a wide range of hazardous and stressful occupations. Kids in the agriculture sector are made to carry heavy loads and sprinkle harmful pesticides on crops. Last October, a blast at a cramped firecracker-manufacturing unit in the East Godavari district of the southeast state of Andhra Pradesh left almost a dozen people dead, including many children. India’s beedi (cigarette)-making industry is particularly notorious for employing kids as young as seven years old. While government figures put the total number of workers engaged in this informal industry at 4.4 million, activists claim the real number is nearly double that, totaling roughly 10 million labourers. Worse, production of beedis involves prolonged exposure to tobacco leaves, which can cause lifethreatening diseases like tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma and malnutrition among others. So-called “family enterprises” are no better, say experts. This includes such industries as matchbox making, carpet weaving and gem polishing. In these sectors, where child labour is in high demand, police raids have highlighted inhumane conditions in which children are made to work for no pay, with scant food and no access to toilets. “A closer scrutiny of the government’s [amendment] reveals that children of all ages may in fact be used for labour in some of the most
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hazardous industries in the country. The Cabinet’s idea of striking a balance between the need for education for a child and helping parents to earn better incomes makes no sense,” says Amod Kanth, founder of Prayaas, a non-profit working for children’s welfare. According to the social activist, relaxing legislation on child labour as a means of alleviating poverty is a deeply flawed strategy. “The move will nullify whatever progress the country has made in getting children out of forced labour and into school. As it is government surveys are known to under-report child labour. If child labour is legalised, the situation will spiral out of control,” Kanth told IPS. Even a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee On the Child Labour Amendment Act underscores the fallacy of the government proposing to keep a check on children working in their homes. “The Ministry is itself providing loopholes by inserting this proviso since it would be very difficult to make out whether children are merely helping their parents or are working to supplement the family income. Further, allowing children to work after school is detrimental to their health, as rest and recreation is important for fullest physical and mental development in the formative years, besides adversely affecting their studies,” states the report. Rather than going in for piecemeal amendments to current laws, activists say the government should revamp the flagship 1986 Act itself, which has failed to curb child labour effectively. A new beginning will also pave way for the rehabilitation of millions of children rescued from exploitative industries or households, they say. —Edited by Kanya D’Almeida; Heading changed
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It is war against the Hazaras N
EW DELHI: Unknown gunmen killed five people belonging to Pakistan’s minority Hazara community, as they opened fire in Quetta's Bacha Khan Chowk area recently. Police said that the assailants escaped the area, which soon turned into a ghost-town as panic gripped the streets. Shops and outlets closed their doors, traffic disappeared, and soon after, 500 protesters took to the streets to protest the indiscriminate killings. The gravity of the situation is evinced by the fact that half a dozen Hazaras have been killed in similar fashion in Quetta in the last few days alone. In the most recent incident, two Hazara men who own a cloth shop were gunned down, before which three people belonging to the Hazara community were gunned down in a separate attack. The attacks, although brutal, are by no means a rare occurrence in Pakistan, which is gaining a notorious reputation regarding the safety (or rather lack of) of the country’s minorities. Shias -- which include Hazaras -- are the worst targeted. In the last few months, suicide attacks on Shia mosques in Peshawar and Shikarpur killed dozens of people. The attack on the Shia mosque in Shikarpur in fact is the deadliest sectarian attack in Pakistan in over a year, claiming 60 lives. In fact, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released a few months ago said that the halfmillion members of the Hazara community -- a Shia minority -in Quetta live in fear, compelled to restrict their movements, leading to economic hardship and curtailed access to education and employment, the report says. This oppressive situation has prompted large numbers of Hazara to flee Pakistan for refuge in other countries. Previously, HRW recorded at least 450 killings of Shia in 2012, the community’s bloodiest year; at least another 400 Shia were killed in 2013. While sporadic sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia militant groups has long persisted in Pakistan, attacks in recent years have been overwhelmingly one-sided and primarily targeted ordinary Shia going about their daily lives. The Hazara in Balochistan, numbering about half a million people, find themselves particularly vulnerable to attack because of their distinctive facial features and Shia religious affiliation. More than 500 Hazaras have been killed in attacks since 2008, but their precarious position is reflected in the increasing percentage of Hazara among all Shia victims of sectarian attack. HRW notes that approximately
one-quarter of the Shia killed in sectarian violence across Pakistan in 2012 belonged to the Hazara community in Balochistan. In 2013, nearly half of Shias killed in Pakistan were Hazaras. Shias constitute 20 percent of the national population. In January 2014, a bomb targeting a bus of Shia pilgrims returning from Iran in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province, resulting in 22 casualties, was a recent reminder of the erosion of the country’s plural fabric. According to a 2014 HRW report, 400 Shias were killed in 2013 in targeted attacks across Pakistan. At least 200 Shias, mostly from the Hazara community, were killed in Balochistan in and around the provincial capital of Quetta. In January 2013, a suicide bomb killed 96 Hazaras and injured at least another 150. In February 2013, a bomb in a vegetable market in Quetta’s Hazara town killed 84 and injured 160. In March 2013, 47 Shias were killed and 135 were injured in Karachi when a Shia-majority neighbourhood was targeted. It is not just Shias that are targeted. Ahmadis -- who consider themselves Muslim, but are categorised as non-muslim under the constitution for disputing the claim that Prophet Muhammad was the last messenger of Islam -- face routine attacks. The community has been banned from mosques in Lahore as groups accused them of “posing as Muslims.”One of the most violent attacks against the Ahmadis was in 2010, when Taliban insurgents attacked two Ahmadis mosques in Lahore killing more than 85. In addition to violent attacks,
the minority sect is often targeted by the use of the blasphemy law against them, a recent example being the arrest of Masood Ahmad, a member of the Ahmadi sect, after he was secretly videoed reading a translation of a verse from the Quran earlier this year. In March this year, two people were killed in a blast that took place during Friday prayers outside the Saleh Mosque for Bohra community worshippers. Non-Muslim minorities are also often targeted, with temples for Pakistan’s small Hindu community being vandalised, disputes plaguing property, and forced conversions being increasingly reported. For instance, in July 2010, around 60 members of the minority Hindu community in Karachi were attacked and evicted from their homes following an incident of a Dalit Hindu youth drinking water from a tap near an Islamic Mosque. In January 2014, a policeman standing guard outside a Hindu temple at Peshawar was gunned down. Christians in Pakistan are also under threat. In March this year, a Taliban attack on two churches in Lahore that killed 15 people and injured over 70 others. Another recent incident was the brutal burning alive of a Christian couple in a brick kiln in Kot Radha Kishan for allegedly desecrating pages of the Holy Quran. The woman, mother of three, was pregnant. These attacks are the basis of reports that indicate that sectarian violence is increasing in Pakistan. A report by the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), the “Pakistan Security Report 2013” traces
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this rise in sectarian violence to 2011, from when it has steadily increased every year. According to a database maintained by the South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP), although the incidents of sectarian violence attacks have declined in Pakistan, the lethality of attacks have increased leading to more deaths. SATP recorded 128 sectarian attacks, resulting in 525 deaths in Pakistan through 2013, as compared to 173 such attacks and 507 killed in 2012, demonstrating a substantial rise in lethality, from 2.93 to 4.11 fatalities per attack. According to the United States (US) Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report titled “Violence towards Religious Communities in Pakistan”, published in August 2014, over the one-year period from July 2013 to June 2014, at least 430 people were killed in a total 122 attacks against minorities. These include 222 Shias in 54 attacks; 128 Christians in 22 recorded incidents; 10 Ahmadis in 10 such attacks; and two Sikhs in three attacks. Four attacks were recorded on the Hindu community in this period, with no fatality reported. 29 attacks resulted in 68 fatalities among other religious/ sectarian groups. The problem with data sets relating to violence in Pakistan is that they are largely provisional based on newspaper reports, and hence, there is variation in the numbers. That said, the security situation in Pakistan does seem to be reflecting a dangerous trend toward the worse, no matter which data set is employed in the analysis. —The Citizen
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Bangladesh: $ 30 m for Rana Plaza victims relief By Kanya D'Almeida
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NITED NATIONS, Jun 9 2015 (IPS) - Two years after a massive garments factory collapsed in a suburb of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, killing over 1,100 people and leaving more than 2,500 injured, a major international fund has met its target of raising 30 million dollars to be paid out in compensation to the victims and their families. Set up in 2013 under the aegis of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Rana Plaza Coordination Committee represents all stakeholders in the massive global apparel trade. Its mission was to ensure fair and equitable compensation to those who survived, including making up lost income, providing funds for medical needs and assisting families who lost breadwinners on that fateful day. In January 2014, the ILO created the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund to streamline the process of financing the Committee’s efforts. On the second anniversary of the tragedy, in April this year, the Fund was still three million dollars short of its goal, and had paid out just 70 percent of the promised aid to some 2,800 claimants. But a large injection of funds by an anonymous donor in the first week of June has enabled the fund to meet its target. According to the Clean Clothes
Campaign (CCC), an alliance of organisations in 16 European countries pushing for improved workers’ rights in the apparel and sportswear sectors, this represents a major milestone in an international movement to hold stakeholders accountable for the industrial disaster, considered one of the worst in modern history. A spokesperson for the campaign, Ineke Zeldenrust, said in a statement on Jun. 8, “This day has been long in coming. Now that all the families impacted by this disaster will finally receive all the money that they are owed, they can finally focus on rebuilding their lives.” The general consensus, however, is that this is only a first step. In a statement released Tuesday, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder stressed, “This is a milestone but we still have important business to deal with. We must now work together to ensure that accidents can be prevented in the future.” Rights groups also say that major international brands must do more to ensure workers’ safety, while local trade unions have been up in arms at the government’s inability – or unwillingness – to implement reforms in a sector that employs four million people and exports 24 billion dollars worth of merchandise every year. Approximately 20 million of the country’s 156 million people depend directly or indirectly for their livelihood on the garments industry,
which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s export earnings and contributes 10 percent of annual gross domestic product (GDP). In April 2013 the massive Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed, leaving over 1,000 garment workers dead and thousands more buried under the rubble. Credit: Obaidul Arif/ IPS In April 2013 the massive Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed, leaving over 1,000 garment workers dead and thousands more buried under the rubble. Credit: Obaidul Arif/ IPS Despite its importance to the Bangladeshi economy, the government has done little to ensure labour standards and safety protocols within the sector. A Human Rights Watch report released in April found that workplace abuse is common, and documented countless cases of attacks, violence and intimidation of labour organisers. Based on interviews with over 160 workers in 44 factories, predominantly manufacturing items for large retailers based in Australia, Europe and North America, the report detailed the extent of ‘union busting’ that goes on in the approximately 4,536 factories across Bangladesh. Though the government recently raised the minimum wage to 68 dollars a month, up from 39 dollars at the time of the Rana Plaza accident, workers say they will hold out for a 100-dollar
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Safety standards, too, leave a lot to be desired, according to activists and workers, although the increase from 56 to 800 ILOtrained inspectors signals progress. monthly salary, which is the bare minimum required to feed and clothe their families. Safety standards, too, leave a lot to be desired, according to activists and workers, although the increase from 56 to 800 ILO-trained inspectors signals progress. Meanwhile the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, tasked with overseeing safety protocols in 1,600 factors at the behest of retailers based primarily in Europe, has also given industry experts reason to celebrate, albeit cautiously. —Edited by Kitty Stapp
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“Swachh Bharat” (Clean India) requires a mindset change By Prerna Sodhi
n
EW DELHI, May 16 2015 (IPS) - “Swachh Bharat”, or Clean India, is a slogan that most Indians today associate with the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his first nation-wide campaign launched soon after taking office in 2014. The call has definitely awakened popular consciousness on cleanliness but whether citizens follow it or not is another matter. In fact, it is commonplace to find people calling out “Swachh Bharat” as they toss garbage onto the street. However, while the campaign may not have brought about the change it was aimed to usher in, a dialogue has started and it is a watershed moment for all those working in this area to capitalise on its momentum. The call for “Swachh Bharat”, or Clean India, has definitely awakened popular consciousness on cleanliness but whether citizens follow it or not is another matter The idea of cleaning India up is not new, and neither is the term “Swachh Bharat” which has been used by many in the past and has now been “patented” by Modi. For decades, there has been concern with instilling an awareness of the need for cleanliness among citizens, many of whom even defecate
CLEAN-India is an environmental assessment, awareness, action, and advocacy programme that promotes behavioural change among young city dwellers in India. As part of the programme, a group of female students learns about the importance of clean water. Credit: Development Alternatives in the open. The current initiative by the government may address the issue of cleanliness at citizens’ level, but activists in the field of sustainable development argue that it should also cover issues related to water, energy and sewage disposal cleanliness. Access to clean water is one of the main problems that the country faces. According to a report by UNICEF (the U.N. Children’s Agency) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), every year around 37.7 million Indians
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are affected by waterborne diseases, 1.5 million children die of diarrhoea alone and 73 million working days are lost due to waterborne diseases. The problem does not appear to lie in the lack of availability of water treatment methods, but rather in the unwillingness of people to adopt these methods. “From the field, we observed that the lack of adoption of water purification techniques is not due to low awareness levels and it was not even illiteracy, as is often assumed,” said Kavneet Kaur, field manager for Development Alternatives (DA), a social enterprise set up in 1982 to tackle the serious impact of climate change on society and the environment. “There was an evident lack of effort and prioritisation of safety among people to undertake one or more options consistently that made drinking water safe,” she added. Most slum dwellers, for example, “opted for methods that did not cost their pocket a penny. Those who did have access to cheaper methods of treatment, like chlorination and solar water disinfection (SODIS), avoided adopting these methods because they were time consuming.” For the last 30 years, DA, which works primarily in Bundelkhand in central India, has been addressing the behaviour change necessary for people to adopt water treatment methods. According to Dr K. Vijaya Lakshmi, DA Vice President, out of the three interrelated components of water, sanitation and hygiene, “hygiene behaviour has been shown to have the biggest impact on community health.” However, she notes, “despite its merit as the most cost effective public health intervention, ironically there was no global target to improve hygiene during the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) era. It has become evident that the MDG framework has fallen short of addressing quality, sustainability and equity issues.” To date, DA has reached out to 50,000 households and 26 schools through intensive advocacy campaigns in urban villages, offering training on how to adopt safe water treatment methods such as SODIS, boiling, chlorination and sieving, despite meeting strong resistance from the local population.
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The call for “Swachh Bharat”, or Clean India, has definitely awakened popular consciousness on cleanliness but whether citizens follow it or not is another matter. For example, storing water in a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle exposed to sunlight can kill up to 99 percent of the bacteria in the water, an “innovation” that uses nothing but natural ultraviolet (UV) light to provide safe drinking water for consumption. Water can also be purified by sieving boiled water. Apart from advocating the adoption of these simple water purification methods, DA has also come up with innovations like the Jal-TARA Water Filter, which removes arsenic, pathogenic bacteria and excess iron from contaminated water, TARA Aqua+ (a sodium hypochlorite solution for purifying water), and TARA Aquacheck Vial, a device that tests for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Nevertheless, these innovations are not destined to go very far unless there is a major change in the mindset of the Indian people, and this extends to the “Swachh Bharat” campaign, not just in terms of clean water but also of a cleaner environment. This idea has also been the driving force behind a youth-led social media campaign known as CLEAN-India ‘The City I Want’, launched by SA and now covering ten Indian cities – Mirzapur, Mohali, Vadodara, Alwar, Ambala, Bharatpur, Indore, Nashik, Mussoorie and Rishikesh. CLEAN-India (where CLEAN stands for Community Led Environment Action Network) is an environmental assessment, awareness, action and advocacy programme that promotes behavioural change among young city dwellers. It has so far mobilised 28 NGOs, 300 schools, 800 teachers and over one million students. The campaign is flanked by a number of other citizens’ groups such as resident welfare associations, parent forums, local business associations and clubs, which are actively participating in activities for environmental improvement. “Going forward, it is crucial that civil society organisation practitioners interface with academic institutions in evidence gathering and inform policymakers and investors in order to create enabling conditions where scalable innovation can flourish,” says Lakshmi. —Edited by Phil Harris
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Tanu Weds Manu should not have returned n By Seema Mustafa
ew Delhi: I must confess I do not go to the theatres often to see Bollywood movies, not because I don’t appreciate the effort these guys put into their two hour fantasies, but I find I lack the patience to sit through what really should work out as half hour scripts. So it was with considerable enthusiasm that I went with a couple of friends to see what everyone has been raving about Tanu Weds Manu, Returns. Surely given the rave reviews, it would be entertaining and fun and worth the Rs 400 plus we spent on each ticket in one of South Delhi’s plush cinema halls. The first scene had the duo, Tanu and Manu sitting across a table at what one thought was a marriage counsellor’s office. The person in the middle was a doctor, but then again perhaps this was a super efficient marriage counsellor who had brought in a psychiatrist to evaluate a clearly dysfunctional marriage. The room was overwhelmingly grim, but then what the heck, there has to be an element of drama, its Bollywood dammit one thought and relaxed back in the seat with popcorn and a cold drink. All seemed good and one guffawed with the hall over the couple squabbling---ha ha, thats quite funny---! It wasn’t really, but then we had come to have a good time, and a good time we would have. All seemed fine, and we laughed louder when the man started shouting at his wife who seemed to be having fun provoking him ---or at least so he thought--and so did we….Anyways, it all ended crazily in more ways than one, and we realised that this interview was actually taking place in a loony asylum, as men in white uniforms came in, and bundled the man off as ‘mad’. Why should a bad marriage be resolved in a lunatic asylum, perhaps only the director can say. And why should a man shouting at his wife be given electric shocks, perhaps again only the director can say. Of course mind you, the last fact alone is probably responsible for making the movie a hit amongst women, many of whom might like their significant others to be in the same place!
And why should a man shouting at his wife be given electric shocks, perhaps again only the director can say. Of course mind you, the last fact alone is probably responsible for making the movie a hit amongst women, many of whom might like their significant others to be in the same place!
But from then the pace of the movie changed, as did the munching of the popcorn. Wide eyed one tried to keep track of the wife ---the beautiful Kangana Ranaut as she travels from London to Kanpur to wherever---catches up with a host of weird boyfriends, has at least one new lumpen kind drooling after her, shocks her parents and family by coming out in a towel to meet her sisters prospective in-laws, and laughing crazily when they walk out. She fits the ‘back from London’ stereotype that Bollywood often uses to justify drink consuming (and she sure does, walking around the village often with a glass of whisky in her hand), being easy with men, wearing outlandish clothes or no clothes at all--- as if somehow being in the west makes a woman lose all sense of propriety and probably what Bollywood likes to project as ‘morals.’! I mean coming out of the bath in a towel to meet visitors----now that takes
some imagination and full marks to the director and his fantasies. So most of the time this Kangana, dressed to kill, looking gorgeous, spends her time in the movie being the proverbial ‘back from London’ crazy. And in case one loses sight of the fact, every now and again she reminds you that she is in love with her husband, yes yes, the same man she got admitted into a mental bin and walked away from---London to Kanpur remember----leaving him to perish as it were. Oh yes she does love him, because while boarding the flight to India she calls some relative of her husband (we never really get to know who this guy is except being the light relief(?) back in the village, and directing him to fly to London and release her husband. That is caring ‘back from London’ style. And her husband R.Madhavan who one would have thought was a good actor, remains the silent presence throughout
the movie; not sure about divorcing his wife; carrying this strange goofy expression that probably is supposed to pass for intense acting. But he appears as a classical wimp, has nothing to say or stand for, and he returns to India as well to--one assumes--- chase his wife. Well for the most part of the movie he lies around his house, depressed, and we guess pining, saying little, and boring as boring can be. Then somewhere along the way he finds this school---okay college girl--from Haryana, an athlete, short hair, tomboy-ish who bears a striking resemblance to his wife. This is Kangana in her second role, where she speaks Haryanvi (dubbed?) very well, and actually plays the part of perhaps the only convincing character in the movie. This man then stalks her, literally, follows her around, staring at her, watching her every move. And the movie sort of tells us that stalking is fine, and superfine if the girl being
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stalked is half your age or less. As she is. And if you persist, she will fall in love with you---she does---and you can get her to marry you. Which she agrees to. But by then the wife has chased her husband down, and determined to prevent the marriage, becomes part of it with a vengeance. Soon, the husband starts staring at her---and then the end is the end that you can see if you still want to watch this absurd, rather silly, badly made, movie. The man ---this complete wimp (repeating the word for want of another that describes this character)--is a confused, depressive sort, a highly unattractive personality, vacuous and soulless, an unemployed drifter, a stalker, and almost a paedophile...and yet gets two attractive women behind him. Surely the director could have paid more attention to this character, instead of using just the ‘double role’ USP of Kangana to sell the movie? Well, all one can say at the end is that the company was great, the popcorn could have been better, the drink was nicely chilled, and the seat fairly comfortable. As for the movie---each to his or her own. But a thought about the reviews---what has happened to these critics, have they also sold out to the big bucks? —TheCitizen
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गत वर्ष, भारतीय प्रधान मंत्री, श्री नरे न्द्र मोदी ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ में दिए गये अपने भाषण में अंतर्राष्ट्रीय योग-दिवस मनाने का सुझाव दिया था जो सर्वसम्मति से पारित कर दिया गया था और २१ जून को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय दिवस मनाने का निश्चय किया गया था| इस वर्ष, पूरे विश्व में २१ जून को पहली बार अंतर्राष्ट्रीय योग-दिवस मनाया जाये गा| इस दिन के उपलक्ष्य में , मे ल्बर्न में भारतीय कौंसलावास एक विशेष कार्यक्रम आयोजित कर रहा है | इसके पहले भी कौंसलावास द्वारा योगसम्बन्धी कई कार्यक्रम आयोजित किये जा चुके हैं , जिनमें ‘क्रिया-योग’ तथा विक्टोरिया के संसद भवन में योग-प्रशिक्षण भी शामिल हैं | ऑस्ट्रेलिया तथा विश्व के अन्य नगरों में भी इसी प्रकार के अने क कार्यक्रम आयोजित किये जा रहे हैं | योग तथा ध्यान (मेडिटे शन) की विभिन्न पद्धतियाँ भले ही भारत में आरम्भ हुई हों परन्तु शारीरिक व मानसिक स्वास्थ्य पर उनके सकारात्मक परिणामों के कारण, वे किसी विशेष दे श या धर्म तक सीमित नहीं रह गई हैं | वे आज विश्वव्यापी हो गई हैं | आशा है , यह दिन योग तथा ध्यान के बारे में नयी जाग्रति फ़ैलाने में समर्थ होगा| इस महीने , सिक्खों के गुरु अर्जन दे व जी का शहीद–दिवस भी है और रमज़ान का आरम्भ भी है जब मुसलमान रोज़ा (व्रत) रखते हैं और दान-पुण्य तथा अन्य ने क काम करते हैं | ‘हिं दी-पुष्प’ के इस अंक के ‘काव्य-कंु ज’ स्तम्भ में विविध विषयों पर कवितायेँ हैं | साथ में , ‘वी.सी.ई. हिन्दी के मे रे अनुभव’ शृंखला का तीसरा व अंतिम ले ख है और ‘अमृत वृद्धाश्रम’ नामक कहानी का पाँचवाँ भाग है | इसके अतिरिक्त, ‘संक्षिप्त समाचार’, ‘अब हँ सने की बारी है ’, ‘महत्वपूर्ण तिथियाँ’ व ‘सूचनाएँ’ स्तम्भ भी हैं | लिखिये गा कि आपको यह अंक कैसा लगा। —दिने श श्रीवास्तव
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k;Vy-ku'j -सुभाष शर्,मा मेल्बर्न
सागर का लहरों से रिश्ता ऊपर नीचे तो होना है अच्छा और बुरा तो सारे जीवन भर यूँ ही होना है अगर मुस्कराना चाहो तो बस अच्छे दिन याद रखो वरना इस जीवन में पल पल बस रोना ही रोना है ॥१||
लहर कौन कौन कौन
इन क्षण भंगुर लहरों का तुम एक एक कर स्वाद चखो उम्र लहर की छोटी, तुम मत सोच सोच बरबाद करो छोटी बड़ी सभी लहरों को भेंट समझ स्वीकार करो लहर नहीं आती जब चाहो एक बात बस याद रखो ॥२||
नहीं दोष है लहरों का लहरों का तो है रूप यही जीवन लहरों का है मेला कहीं धूप है छाँव कहीं लहरों के संग मत बह जाना कहा किसी ने बहुत सही लहर एक माया का झोंका लहर किसी की नहीं सगी ॥४||
साइबर दनि ु या
सभी मौजों का मेला कभी नहीं विश्वास करे लहर सिर पर बैठाए कौन लहर बेहाल करे सुनामी बन आजाए दशु ्मन जैसे वार करे लहर आ चरण चूम ले प्रेमी जैसे प्यार करे ॥३||
-डॉ कौशल किशोर श्रीवास्तव, मेल्बर्न
वर्षों पहले बच्चे सुनते थे परियों की कहानी, जो थी दादी नानी की जुबानी, इन्हीं में प्रवाहित थी परम्परा की सरिता, झलकती थी भारतीय सभ्यता सुरक्षित थी पारिवारिक मान्यता
इसी में बच्चों की कल्पना साकार होती है पुरानी दनि ु या ध्वस्त होती नज़र आती है
कल शाम की बात है , खाना खाने का समय था छोटा बच्चा रूठा था, नानी अभी-अभी स्वदे श से आयी थीं, पश्चिमी समाज से अपरिचित थीं
उत्तर मिला, "मैं तो 'आई-फोन' की संगिनी हूँ, वह रात-दिन का साथी है पूरा विश्व मेरी हथेली में है 'फेसबुक' पर ही मैंने प्यार किया, हनीमून मनाया, तलाक़ दिया, वे सजीव चित्र आज भी मौजूद हैं तुम्हारे सामने प्रस्तुत हैं "
उन्होंने परियों की एक कहानी शुरू की बच्चा बीच में ही बोल उठा, "वह परी तो रोज आती है , बोलती है , खेलती है , नाचती है , मेरे साथ प्रेम करती है , बड़ा होने पर साथ रहने का वचन दे ती है दे खो, मेरे 'आई-पैड' में मौजूद है एक बटन दबाते ही सामने प्रस्तुत है " यही है 'साइबर' दनि ु या 'डिजिटल युग' की अनोखी रचना,
कल जो कुछ मेरा अपना था कल वह आज बेगाना हो गया जन्म लिया जिस घर में मैंने वह घर भी मुझ से छूट गया भाई, बहन, रिश्ते-नाते मुझसे वे सब दरू हुए जिन सखियों के संग खेली-कूदी नाता भी उनसे छूट गया कहाँ गईं वह कल की बातें वे कल में विस्मृत हो गईं
फिर दादी ने स्कू ल जाती बड़ी पोती से पूछा, "क्या तुम भी 'आई-पैड' दे खती हो ? उसी में अपना संसार ढू ँ ढती हो ?"
"केवल एक ही कमी है , भूख लगने पर घर आना पड़ता है बिना खाये आई-फोन बेकार लगता है सम्भव है , भविष्य में आई-फोन से कोई किरण निकले जो भूख को शांत कर दे , फिर मैं बादलों पर तैरूँ गी परियों की दनि ु या में रहूँगी"
-सुमन वर्,मा मेल्बर्न कहाँ गईं बचपन की यादें वे दिल में समा कर रह गईं कितने सपने संजोये थे मैंने मोती बनकर बिखर गये बुदबुदे की भाँति पानी में पल भर में ही विलीन हुये कल,कल की कलकल में कल, कल में खो हो गया है अभी-अभी तो वह यहीं था शायद कल, कल में बिसर गया है ।।
भीग गया मन भीग गया मन प्रेम-पगा हो, बुझ गये सारे अंगारे ख़ुशियों की बौछार भले ही, बाजी जीते या हारे साँकल स्वर्ग-द्वार पर लटकी, ललक हुई हम तोड़ें ख़ुशियाँ अश्कों में प्रतिबिंबित, इं द्रधनुष हम जोड़ें अँधेरे को धमकाता जब, मोम संभल न पाया प्रेम-धार ले दीपक ने तब, ज्योति-पुंज बरसाया सुख में डू बे, ख़ूब नहाये, बौछारों के मारे भीग गया मन प्रेम-पगा हो, बुझ गये सारे अंगारे अंतर्धान हुए कर्क श सुर, शुरू है कलरव गान बोझिल भृकुटि ढीली पड़ गई, फिसल पड़ी मुस्कान
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-हरिहर झा, मेल्बर्न ‘होगा प्रलय, मचेगी तबाही’, डरा लिये सब झाँसे गुम हुई बेदर्दी आवाज़ें, घबराहट की साँसें चिल्लाहट लो मौन हो गई, शून्य हुए सब नारे भीग गया मन प्रेम-पगा हो, बुझ गये सब अंगारे तितली झूमे पंख लिये, आमंत्रण शिशु-भावों को दर्द मिट गये, ऐसे मलहम, लगते सब घावों को शत्रु बन गये मित्र, आ बसे, ह्रदय की बस्ती में अमृत –विष के भेंट मिट गये, मगन भए मस्ती में मृदल ु कलश सँजो कर रखे, पी गये सागर खारे भीग गया मन प्रेम-पगा हो, बुझ गये सब अंगारे
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अमृत वृद्धाश्रम (भाग 6)
-विजय कुमार, है दराबाद
(पिछ्ले अंक में आपने पढ़ा कि के बेटे गौतम ने अपने बेटे सूरज के नाम की जायदाद वृद्धाश्रम और ईश्वर के नाम कर के सपरिवार इं ग्लैण्ड लौट गया | बाद में ईश्वर ने ज़ायदाद का अपना हिस्सा भी वृद्धाश्रम के नाम कर दिया और भारद्वाज से प्रार्थना की कि वह इस सम्बन्ध में किसी को न बताएँ| बहुत कम लोग ईश्वर को उसके नाम से बुलाते थे| ज़्यादातर लोग उसे चौकीदार ही कहते थे। ईश्वर को इससे कोई शिक़ायत नहीं थी। लीजिये अब आगे की कहानी पढ़िये – सम्पादक)
||| कुछ बरस पहले ||| एक दिन शान्ति दीदी का फ़ोन आया। शान्ति हमारे पुराने अस्पताल में नर्स थी, उसके आगे पीछे कोई नहीं था, एक भतीजा था, जो कि उसकी नौकरी पर अपनी ज़िन्दगी के मज़े ले रहा था। फिर शान्ति को एक दिन एक्सीडें ट में पैर में चोट लग गयी। वह अब काम पर नहीं आती थी। फिर भी अमृत जी ने इं तजाम करवाया था कि उसे हर महीने, उसकी तनख्वाह मिल जाया करे । उस दिन शान्ति दीदी का फ़ोन आया कि उसके भतीजे ने उसका घर ले लिया है और उसे घर से निकल जाने को कह रहा है , अब वह बेसहारा है । मैंने और भारद्वाज जी ने कहा कि वह बेसहारा और बेआसरा नहीं है , वह यहाँ आ जाए और फिर मैं उसे लाने के लिए आश्रम की गाड़ी लेकर उसके घर पहुँचा। मैं जब उसे लेने गया तो दे खा कि वह घर के बाहर एक छोटी सी पेटी लेकर चुपचाप बैठी है । मुझे दे खकर वह उठी, पैर की चोट की वजह से कुछ लड़खड़ा गयी| मैंने दौड़कर उसे संभाला। मैंने उससे कहा और कोई सामान, जो ले जाना हो? उसने कहा, “कुछ नहीं, जो कुछ कमाया, वह उसका घर ही था। वह भी छिन गया। अब कहीं कुछ नहीं रहा। लेकिन हाँ, वृद्धाश्रम जाने के पहले मुझे तुम किसी जगह ले जा सकते हो तो मुझे बहुत ख़ुशी होगी।“ मैंने कहा “कोई बात नहीं आप चलिए तो।“ मैंने उसे गाड़ी की पिछली सीट पर बिठाकर उससे पूछा- “बताओ कहाँ जाना है ?“ उसने कहा, “मैं हर उस जगह एक बार जाना चाहती हूँ जहाँ मैंने अपनी ज़िन्दगी का कोई भी हिस्सा जिया है । “मैंने धीरे से पूछा, “इस बात का अब क्या मतलब है ?“ उसने रोते हुआ कहा-, “मुझे पता है , मैं उस वृद्धाश्रम में अपने अंतिम दिन बिताने जा रही हूँ| वहाँ से अब फिर कभी भी नहीं लौट पाउँ गी।“ मैं चुप हो गया। मेरे गले में कुछ अटक सा गया था। मुझे भी
शायद रुलाई आ रही थी। पर मैंने चुपचाप गाड़ी आगे बड़ा दी। उसने रास्ते में रूक कर कुछ फूल ख़रीदे । सबसे पहले वह एक मोहल्ले में, मुझे लेकर एक बड़े से घर के पास गयी| उसे दे खते ही उसकी आँखों में बड़ा दर्द सा उमड़ आया। उसने मुझे बताया कि ब्याह कर वह इसी घर में आई थी, फिर इसी घर में उसके पति का दे हांत हो गया। और इसी घरवालों ने उसे उसकी बच्ची सहित घर से बाहर निकाल दिया। फिर वह मुझे एक ईसाई अस्पताल में लेकर गई| उसने मुझे बताया कि वहाँ एक ‘सिस्टर मेरी’ थी, जिसने उसे सहारा दिया और यहाँ पर उसे नर्सिंग सिखाया। फिर वह यहीं पर नर्स बनी और फिर इसके बाद वह हमारे अस्पताल में नर्स बनी। फिर वह मुझे एक कब्रिस्तान में ले गई| रास्ते में उसने जो फूल खरीदे थे, उन्हें लेकर उतर गयी। मैंने उसे एक प्रश्न भरी निगाह से दे खा। उसने आँखों में आँसू भरकर कहा, “यहाँ मेरी बच्ची की कब्र है , बचपन में ही कुपोषण की वजह से बीमारियों की शिकार हुई और फिर एक दिन इस दनि ु या से चल बसी।“ उसी की कब्र पर वह फूल चढ़ाना चाहती थी। मेरे मुँह से कोई बोल न फूटे । वह भीतर चली गयी और मैं फूट फूट कर रो पड़ा। कुछ दे र बाद वह वापस आई तो बहुत संयत दिख रही थी| शायद वह जी भरकर रो चुकी थी और अपना मन हल्का कर चुकी थी। वह आकर गाड़ी में चुपचाप बैठ गयी और एक गहरी सांस लेकर बोली, “चलो, मुझे मेरे नए घर ले चलो।“ मैंने गाड़ी मोड़ते हुए धीरे से पूछा, “एक बार क्या वह अपना घर भी दे खना चाहें गी, जिसे वह छोड़ कर आ रही थी। “उसने एक आह भरी और थोड़ा सोच कर कहा, “हाँ एक बार दिखा दो, मैंने बड़ी मेहनत से उसे बनाया है । पर उसे भी इस दनि ु या के मक्कार लोगों ने छीन लिया।“ (क्रमशः)
वी.सी.ई. हिन्दी के मेरे अनुभव (3)
-कोमल पटे ल (ब्लैकबर्न केन्द्र, वी.एस. एल.)
(‘वी.सी.ई. हिन्दी के मेरे अनुभव’ श्रृंखला का तीसरा लेख प्रस्तुत है | इस लेख की लेखिका ने वी.सी.ई’. हिन्दी की परीक्षा में पूरे विक्टोरिया में तीसरे सर्वोच्च अंक प्राप्त किये हैं –संपादक)
आज से चार वर्ष पूर्व मैं अपने परिवार के अन्य सदस्योँ के साथ भारत से ऑस्ट्रेलिया दे शांतरित हुई। शुरुआत के दिनों में मुझे यहाँ सब-कुछ अजीब सा लगता था। ऑस्ट्रेलिया एक बहुसांस्कृ तिक दे श है और इसलिए यहाँ सभी जाति, धर्म व संस्कृ ति के लोग बसते हैं । सभी लोगों की भिन्न भिन्न पोशाकें, भाषाएँ और खान-पान से तो मैं आश्चर्यचकित हो गयी थी! विदे श में भारतीयों को दे खकर मन में अजीब सी शान्ति होती थी और आज भी होती है । पहले कुछ महीनों तक तो मुझे भारत की बहुत याद आती थी । ऑस्ट्रेलिया की मुख्य भाषा अँग्रेज़ी होने के कारण हमें सामान्य जीवन में सब ओर अँग्रेज़ी ही सुनायी दे ती थी| इसलिये, कोई हिन्दी में बात करे तो वह मुझे बहुत ही कर्णप्रिय लगता था। हिन्दी का हमारे भारत दे श के साथ एक अनोखा रिश्ता है जिसके प्रेम का अनुभव हमें हिं दी का उपयोग करते समय महसूस होता है । भारतीय भाषाओं के बिना मुझे ऑस्ट्रेलिया में उपलब्ध सुविधाओं में कमियाँ नज़र आतीं थीं ।ऐसे में ही मुझे अपनी सहे ली से हिं दी कक्षा का पता चला। उस समय की अपनी मनोदशा को व्यक्त करने के लिए मेरे पास कोई शब्द नहीं हैं | ऐसा अनुभव
करना स्वाभाविक है | हम किसी वस्तु करीब या नजदीकी संपर्क में होते हैं , तो हमें उसके लाभ और अच्छाइयों का महत्त्व समझ में नहीं आता। विदे शी धरती पर आकर हमें हिं दी भाषा का महत्व ज़्यादा समझ में आता है । हिं दी विषय के अन्तर्गत, शिक्षा व युवावर्ग की आकांक्षाएँ, त्योहार, सिनेमा, संगीत व नृत्य, पर्यावरण महान पुरुष, ऐतिहासिक स्थल, परिवार एवं मित्र, भारतीय जीवन शैली, नारी का समाज में स्थान, दे शान्तरण व काम काज की दनि ु या इत्यादि पर विचार विमर्श किये। मौखिक एवं लिखित परीक्षाएँ दीं| हिं दी भाषा के कर्मठ कुशाग्र और स्नेहशील शिक्षकों, शिक्षिकाओं, विशेषतः श्रीमती ठे ठी तथा उपकारी दोस्तों के साथ दो वर्ष कब समाप्त हो गए, उसका पता ही न चला हिं दी कक्षा में जा कर मुझे भारतीय वातावरण का एहसास होता था और साथ-साथ भारत की राष्ट्रभाषा को सीखने का अवसर भी प्राप्त हुआ| यह भाषा भारत में सबसे अधिक बोले जाने वाली भाषा है । हिं दी हिन्दुस्तान की राजभाषा है जो हमें भारतीय संस्कृ ति के साथ जोड़ती है । हिं दी कक्षा के काऱण हमारी भारतीय संस्कृ ति प्रजवल्लित रहे गी जिससे
s'i=Pt sm;c;r
‘ऑस्ट्रेलिया में हिन्दी’ विषय पर राष्ट्रीय कार्यशाला - २०१५
‘ऑस्ट्रेलियन नेशनल युनिवर्सिटी’, कैनबरा में ‘ऑस्ट्रेलिया में हिन्दी’ विषय पर एक राष्ट्रीय कार्यशाला (वर्क शाप) का आयोजन किया गया है | यह कार्यशाला, शुक्रवार, १७ जुलाई, २०१५ को सुबह १० बजे से शाम के ५ बजे तक चलेगी और इसमें शिक्षा, समुदाय तथा मीडिया में हिन्दी की स्थिति पर विचार विमर्श किया जायेगा| आशा है कि इस कार्यशाला
में लट्रोब विश्वविद्यालय, ‘वी.एस. एल’.,‘एस.बी.एस’, ‘नाटी’, ‘हिं दी-पुष्प’, रें जबैंक प्राइमरी स्कू ल, मेल्बर्न तथा ‘इं डो ऑस्ट्रेलियन बाल भारती विद्यालय हिं दी स्कू ल, सिडनी के प्रतिनिधि भी उपस्थित होंगे| इस कार्यशाला में भाग लेने अथवा अधिक जानकारी के लिए, डॉ. पीटर फ़्रेडलैंडर से निम्नलिखित पते पर सम्पर्क कीजिए – peter.freidlander@anu.edu.au
अंतर्राष्ट्रीय हिन्दी लघुकथा प्रतियोगिता के परिणाम
विश्व हिं दी सचिवालय, मॉरीशस द्वारा आयोजित, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय हिन्दी लघुकथा प्रतियोगिता में भागौलिक क्षेत्र ३ के निम्नलिखित कहानीकारों को पुरस्कृ त किया गया है – प्रथम पुरस्कार – आरती शर्मा (न्यूज़ीलैंड); द्वितीय पुरस्कार – रिद्मा निशादिनी लंसकारा (श्रीलंका) तृतीय पुरस्कार – आद्य शुक्ला (इं डोनेशिया) तथा प्रगीत कुंवर (सिडनी, ऑस्ट्रेलिया)
mhTvpU,R itiqy;\
१६ जून (गुरु अर्जन दे व शहीद दिवस), १८ जून (रमज़ान का आरम्भ), २१ जून (अंतर्राष्ट्रीय योग-दिवस), २ जुलाई (असाढ़ पूजा-दिवस), १८ जुलाई (ईद))|
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हरिहर झा रचित कविता संग्रह ‘भीग गया मन’ का लोकार्पण
शनिवार, ३० मई, २०१५ को, ‘साहित्य संध्या’ के तत्वाधान में, मेल्बर्न के ‘क्यू पुस्तकालय’ के प्रांगण में, मेल्बर्न में भारतीय कौंसल जनरल, माननीया मणिका जैन ने हरिहर झा रचित ‘भीग गया मन’ नामक ‘कविता संग्रह का लोकार्पण किया| इस संग्रह में हरिहर झा की विभिन्न विषयों तथा विभिन्न रसों में लिखी १६० कवितायें संकलित हैं और इसका प्रकाशन ‘हिं दी युग्म’ नई दिल्ली ने किया है | लोकार्पण के अवसर पर इस पुस्तक से चुनी हुई कविताओं का पाठ किया गया| श्री राजेन्द्र चोपड़ा तथा श्रीमती मृदल ु ा कक्कड़ ने हरिहर झा जी के सम्मान में कवितायें पढ़ीं और डॉ. दिनेश श्रीवास्तव ने हरिहर जी तथा उनकी पुस्तक का संक्षिप्त परिचय दिया| इस अवसर पर माननीया मणिका जैन ने हरिहर जी को उनकी पुस्तक के लिए बधाई दी और हिं दी-भाषी लोगों से अपनी भाषा के बोलने में हीनता का अनुभव न करने और अपने बच्चों को हिं दी सीखने के लिए प्रेरित करने को कहा| इस अवसर पर लट्रोब विश्वविद्यालय के कुछ हिं दी विद्यार्थियों ने अपने हिं दी प्राध्यापक, डॉ. इयन वूलफ़ोर्ड के साथ ‘किताबें’ शीर्षक कविता गा कर सुनाई, जिसे सभी ने पसंद किया| कार्यक्रम के अंत में, डॉ. नलिन शारदा ने उपस्थित लोगों तथा कार्यक्रम में भाग लेने वालों को धन्यवाद दिया| पूरे कार्यक्रम का संचालन, मेल्बर्न के प्रसिद्ध कवि, डॉ. सुभाष शर्मा ने बहुत रोचक ढं ग से किया| इस अवसर पर ली गई तस्वीरें निम्नलिखित वेबसाइट पर दे खी जा सकती हैं - http://www. sahityasangam.org/30-may-2015.html इस पुस्तक की समीक्षा के लिए दे खियेhttp://www.sahityakunj.net/LEKHAK/P/PradeepSrivastava/apne_samya_ko_ ukertee_kavitayen PustakSameeksha.htm अधिक जानकारी के लिए, लेखक से निम्न पते पर संपर्क कीजिए hariharjha2007@gmail.com.
2³ ¾a'tr;Rã$^Iy yog-idvs¾ ke avsr pr .;rtIy k*'sl;v;s² meLbnR प्रस्तुत करता है – yog k;yRx;l; v mh;s.; árivv;r² 21 jUnâ Sq;n - iSp['gsR lej¹r seN$r² 400 ceL$enhm ro@² kIj¹bro² ámeLve s‹d.R-89 E-9â smy - subh 8³30 bje se dophr ke 4³30 bje tk k;yRÞm in"xuLk hw prNtu rijS$^exn aniv;yR hw) ”s b;re me' ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilye a*r k*'sl;v;s Ã;r; p[eiWt aNy sm;c;ro' v sUcn;ao' ke ilye f¹esbuk pr ConsulateGeneralofIndiaMelbourneAustralia a*r i$(v$r (Twitter) pr – Cgindia_melb dei%ye y; k*'sl;v;s se á03â 9682 4370 pr sMpkR kIijye)
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Sq;n- ifi¹ls hor åm² KyU áKew) l;”b[erI² koqm áCotham) ro@ tq; isivk (Civic) @^;”v ke nuKk@¹ pr² KyU (Kew), ámeLve s‹d.R-45 @I-6â smy - r;t ke 8 bje se 10 bje tk) p[vex in"xuLk hw) ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilE su.;W xm;R áf¹on-03 9555 4924â² hirhr Z; áf¹on -0433 178 377â y; niln x;rd; áf¹on -0402 108 512â se sMpkR kIijye) 4³ sùùk$ mocn keN{ - p[qm vWRg;\# sm;roh árivv;r² 21 jUnâ smy - subh 10 bje se r;t ke 8 bje tk ijsme' `relU ih's; k; ixk;r hué² idv'gt² inkt; c;vl; ke ilye ivXv-x;iNt ke ilye a;rtI v x;iNt-p;#² p[s;d v mh;p[s;d .I siMmilt hw) Sq;n - 1289 E² n;qR ro@² hiN$'g@el² meLbnR ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilye² arivNd ÅIv;Stv ko 0427 274 462 pr f¹on kIijye)
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ऑस्ट्रेलिया में बसनेवाली भारतीय पीढ़ियों को अपनी प्राचीन संस्कृ ति के साथ सम्पर्क बनाये रखने का अवसर प्रदान होता रहे गा। मैं विशेष तौर पर वी. एस. एल, हिं दी पुष्प व ऑस्ट्रेलियाई सरकार का धन्यवाद करना चाहती हूँ जिन्होंने मुझे एवं मेरे साथियों को अपनी भाषा ज्ञान की वृद्धि व अपनी संस्कृ ति से जुड़े रहने का मौका दिया। हिं दी कक्षा से मुझे जीवन में यह सीख मिली कि हम हिं दी भाषा का सम्मान करें ; इसकी शक्ति को समझें और इसका सदप ु योग कर अपने दे श का गौरव कायम रखें| अंत में भारतीय मूल के विद्यार्थियों को मैं यह संदेश दे ना चाहूंगी कि वे ऑस्ट्रेलिया के अन्य प्रदे शों में भी इस भाषा में दक्षता का ऑस्ट्रेलियाई प्रमाण-पत्र प्राप्त कर सकते हैं | राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर, ऑस्ट्रेलिया में हिन्दी को विक्टोरिया की ‘वी.सी.ई.’ तथा अन्य प्रदे शों की समकक्ष परीक्षाओं (जैसे ‘एच .एस.सी) के लिये तो मान्यता प्राप्त है ही| इसके अलावा, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय बैक्लॉरे ट (आई. बी.) की परीक्षा में भी एक विषय के रूप में हिन्दी का अध्ययन किया जा सकता है | तो क्यों न हम सब अपनी भाषा को सीखें और अपना भविष्य उज्जवल बनायें ।
ऑस्ट्रेलियाई हिन्दी राष्ट्रीय पाठ्यक्रम
राष्ट्रीय पाठ्यक्रम तैयार करने के लिए उत्तरदायी संस्था ‘अकारा’ ने सूचित किया है कि स्कू ल के आरम्भिक वर्षों से ले कर कक्षा १० तक हिन्दी के पाठ्यक्रम का प्रारूप तैयार है और निम्नलिखित वेबसाइट पर दे खा जा सकता है - http:// consultation.australiancurriculum. edu.au/ सभी हिन्दी शिक्षकों तथा हिन्दी शिक्षा में रूचि लेने वाले व्यक्तियों से से निवेदन है कि इस पाठ्यक्रम के बारे में अपनी राय ‘ऑन लाइन’ ‘‘अकारा’ को भेजें| साथ में संक्षेप में अपनी राय, ‘हिन्दी-पुष्प’ के सम्पादक को भी भेजें| आपकी राय भेजने के अंतिम तिथि १४ जुलाई, २०१५ है |
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पति-पत्नी
१. जब पत्नी कहती है – क्या कहा! तो इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि उसने सुना नहीं कि पति ने क्या कहा| इसका मतलब हैं कि वह अपने पति को अपना वक्तव्य बदलने का एक और मौक़ा दे ना चाहती है | २. यदि कोई पति अपनी पत्नी के लिए कार का दरवाज़ा खोलता है तो समझ लो कि या तो कार नई है या पत्नी नई है | ३. यदि पत्नी के साथ कार चलाते समय, पति का केवल एक हाथ ‘स्टीयरिं ग व्हील’ पर है तो वे नव-दम्पति हैं | यदि दोनों हाथ ‘स्टीयरिं ग व्हील’ पर हैं तो वे नव-दम्पति नहीं हैं | प्रेषक– डॉ. सुरेश गुप्ता, मेल्बर्न
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SUNDAY Language Program Hindi..................................9 am to 10 am – 93.1 FM BANGLA Urdu................................10 am to 11 am – 93.1 FM Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 Tamil...............................11 am to 12 pm – 93.1 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SB Radio 2 Hindi.................................8 pm to 10 pm – 88.3 FM Monday & Saturday Singhalese.......................8 pm to 11 pm –97.7 FM 6-7 PM GUJARATI MONDA Y Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 Hindi....................................3 to 4 pm – 93.1 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SBSPm Radio Bengali...............................4 pm to 5 pm – 93.1 FM Wednesday & Friday 4-5 PM Hindi...................................6 pm to 8 pm – 88.3 FM Indian (Fiji)..................................6 pm to 8 pm 88.3 HINDI Punjabi........................1 1 am to 12 Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 noon 92.3 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SB Radio 2
Daily TUESDAY 5 PM Hindi..................................... 6 am to 8 am – 97.7 FM Hindi.................................... 2 pm to 4 pm – 97.7 FM kannada Sydney SBS Radio 3
Melbourne SBS Radio 3 WEDNESDAY Tuesday 3-4 PM Hindi.................................... .6 am to 8 am – 97.7 FM Hindi......................................... 12 to 1 pm – 93.1 FM Nepali Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS1Radio 2 12 pm - 92.3 FM Punjabi............................ 1 am to Melbourne 93.1 FM & SB Radio Hindi................................... .8 pm to 29 pm – 97.7 FM Saturday & Sunday 4-5 PM
THURSDAY PUNJABI Hindi............................... 5.30 am to 7 am – 97.7 FM Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 9 pm – 92.3 FM Tamil.................................... 8 pm to Melbourne 93.1 FM & SB Radio 2 Sinhalese.......................... 1 1 pm to 3 am –92.3 FM Monday & Friday Punjabi............................. 9 pm to 10 pm – 93.1 FM 9-10 PM SINHALESE FRIDAY Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 Indian.................................. .8 Radio am to 29 am – 88.3 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SB Monday & Friday
11AM-12 PM SATURDAY Sinhalese............................ 7 am to 8 am – 92.3 FM TAMIL TSydney amil..................................... 12-12.30 97.7 FM & SBS Radio 2 pm – 88.3 FM Indian.................................... am to26 am - 92.3 FM Melbourne 93.1 FM & SB5Radio Monday & Saturday Punjabi.......................................... 12-2 am – 92.3 FM 8-9 PM Indian................................ 9 pm to 10 pm – 92.3 FM Punjabi.................................................. 11 pm to 1 am urdu Sydney 97.7 FM & SBS Radio24/7 2 Radio stations Melbourne FM & SB Radio 2(Subscription) Indian Link93.1 Radio Wednesday & Sunday 18000 15 8 47 6-7 PM Radio Santa Banta (Internet) Santabanta.com.au WORLD NEWS AUSTRALIA RADIO SydneyJhankar 1107AM88.6 & SBSFM; Radio 1 Thursday; 8 to Radio Every Melbourne 1224AM & SB Radio 1 10 pm; Contact: 94668900 or 0411247320 or Monday & Friday 9404 2111 6-7 am & 6-7 PM
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:
PLACES OF WORSHIP HINDU Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple 57 Boundary Rd, Carrum Downs, Melbourne, Vic 3201, Ph: 03 9782 0878; Fax: 03 9782 0001 Website: www.hsvshivavishnu.org.au Sri Vakratunda Vinayaka Temple 1292 - 1294, The Mountain Highway, The Basin, Vic 3154, Ph: 03 9792 1835 Melbourne Murugan Temple 17-19 Knight Ave., Sunshine VIC 3020 Ph: 03 9310 9026 Durga Temple (Durga Bhajan Mandali) Neales Road, Rockbank, Vic 3335 Ph: 03 9747 1628 or Mobile: 0401 333 738 Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Temple 197 Danks Street, Middle Park Vic 3206 Ph: (03) 9699 5122 Email: 100237.354@compuserve.com Hare Krishna New Nandagram Rural Community Oak Hill, Dean’s Marsh Rd., Bambra VIC 3241, Ph: (052) 887383 Fax: (052) 887309 Kundrathu Kumaran Temple 139 Gray Court, ROCKBANK Victoria 3335 Ph: 03-9747 1135 or M: 0450 979 023 http://www.kumarantemple.org.au/
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SHEPPARTON Gurdwara Sahib Shepparton 240 Doyles Road, Shepparton VICTORIA 3603 PH: (03) 5821 9309
JAIN Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh Inc 3 Rice Street, Moorabbin, Vic - 3189, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9555 2439 info@melbournejainsangh.org http://www.melbournejainsangh.org
Melbourne West Mosque 66-68 Jeffcott Street, Melbourne Ph: 03 9328 2067
4 Timbarra Crescent, O’Malley ACT 2606 (Australia), Tel: 61-2-62901676, 61-2-62901676, 62902769, 62901879 & 62901031, Fax: 61-262901073 Email: parepcanberra@internode. on.net, Postal Address: PO Box 684, Mawson ACT 2607 (Australia)
Broadmeadows Mosque 45-55 King Street, Broadmeadows Ph 03 9359 0054 Islamic Call Society 19 Michael Street, Brunswick Ph: 03 9387 7100
Sri Lanka Consulate
Islamic Centre of Australia 660 Sydney Road, Brunswick Ph 03 9385 8423
32A Brunswick Street ,Walkerville 5081 Melbourne , Phone: 9898-6760, 9248-1228 Email: rodney@techno.net.au
Australian Islamic Cultural Centre 46-48 Mason Street, Campbellfield Ph: 03 9309 7605
Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra
Coburg ISNA Mosque 995 Sydney Road, Coburg North
43, Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT-2606 Canberra, Australia, Ph: (61-2) 6290-0511, (612) 6290-0522, (61-2)6290-0533 (Auto hunting). Fax : (61-2) 6290-0544 E-Mail :hoc@bhcanberra.com
Coburg Mosque (Fatih Mosque) 31 Nicholson Street, Coburg Ph 03 9386 5324 Deer Park Mosque 283 Station Road, Deer Park Ph 03 9310 8811
Consulate of Nepal, Melbourne
United Migrant Muslim Assn. 72 George Road, Doncaster Ph 03 9842 6491, Footscray West Mosque 294 Essex Street, Footscray
SIKH
Heidelberg Mosque Corner Lloyd & Elloits Streets, West Heidelberg
CRAIGIEBURN Sri Guru Singh Sabha 344 Hume Highway, Craigieburn VICTORIA 3164 (see map), Ph: (03) 9305 6511 KEYSBOROUGH Gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib 198 -206 Perry Road, Keysborough VICTORIA 3073 (see map) LYNBROOK Nanaksar Taath, 430 Evans Road, Lynbrook VICTORIA 3975, (03) 9799 1081 HOPPERS CROSSING Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 417 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing VICTORIA 3029, Ph: (03) 9749 2639 WERRIBEE Gurdwara Sahib Werribee 560 Davis Road, Tarneit VICTORIA 3029 PH: (03) 8015 4707
Email: cyonzon@nepalconsulate.net.au Level 7, 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Ph: (03) 9650 8338 Email: info@nepalconsulate.net.au
Glenroy Musala 1st Floor, 92 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy
TV News
Islamic College of Victoria (Mosque) 201 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing Ph 03 9369 6010
SBS1 – Daily NDTV News - 11 am - Monday to Saturday. (From New Delhi, India). Urdu news SBS1 - PTV News – 9.30 am - Every Sunday – (From Pakistan).
Huntingdale Mosque 320-324 Huntingdale Road, Huntingdale Ph 03 9543 8037
Readymade Garments
Al Nur Mosque 34-36 Studley Street, Maidstone
Roshan’s Fashions 68-71 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9792 5688
Meadow Heights Mosque Hudson Circuit, Meadow Heights
Raj Rani Creations 83-A Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9794 9398
Springvale Mosque 68 Garnworthy Street, Springvale
EMERGENCY CONTACTS EMERGENCY CONTACTS Police, Fire & Abulance ........................ Victoria State Emergency Service (SES)....................................... Traffic hazards and freeway conditions..........................
Gas escape........................................... 132 771 Poisons information........................ 13 11 26 Maternal and Child Line................ 13 22 29 Parentline........................................... 13 22 89 Kids Help Line......................... 1800 551 800 Lifeline (provides confidential telephone counselling)................. 13 11 14 Suicide Help Line.................... 1300 651 251 Animal Emergencies.................. 9224 2222
HIGH COMMISSION FOR PAKISTAN,CANBERRA
MUSLIM
Sankat Mochan Temple 1289 A North Road. Huntingdale Morning: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm daily Evening: 4:30 pm – 8.00 pm daily Site: http: www.sankatmochan.org.au Contact: 0427 274 462
BLACKBURN Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 127 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn VICTORIA 3130, Ph: (03) 9894 1800
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desi estyle 76 Foster St., Dandenong 3175 (03) 87744853; 0413707685 000
132 500 13 11 70
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Heritage India 54-56 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175, Ph: (03) 9791 9227 Site: heritageindia.net.au
southSouth asia times 33 Asia Times
quick community guide
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contd from previous page DVDs, Music CDs & Film Stuff Baba Home Entertainment 52C Foster St., Dandenong 3175, (03) 97067252 1st Migration PL, Suite 110, Level 1, 672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122
Travel Agents Gaura Travels 1300 FLY INDIA or 1300 359 463 info@gauratravel.com.au Supa Cheap Travel 381 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 3122 Ph: (03) 98194656; Mobile: 0420201155 info@supacheaptravel.com.au www.supacheaptravel.com.au Mann Travel 329 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 info@manntravel.com.au www.manntravel.com.au Travel House 284 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 Ph: (03) 95435123, Mobile: 0425803071 mail@travelhouse.com.au
INDIAN CONSULATE
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PHONE NUMBERS Phone Number for General Consular Enquiries(operational only during Consular Working Hours i.e. 0930 hrs to 1230 hrs, Monday to Friday) For PCC and PCC and Driving License Verification enquiries 03- 96825800 02 8223 9908/ 1900 969 969 Email ID for General Consular Enquiries consular@cgimelb.org Visa enquiries: visainfo.inau@vfshelpline.com Passport/Police Clearance Certificate/ Driving License Enquiries passportinfo. inau@vfshelpline.com, OCI/PIO Enquiries ociinfo.inau@vfshelpline.com CONSULAR SERVICES (Passport, Visa, OCI, PIO & Miscellaneous) Please note that all these consular services are handled by VFS Global (Indian Passport and Visa Service Centre) The Consulate General of India in Melbourne will continue to provide to residents of Victoria and Tasmania the following consular services, for which applications would have to be lodged directly with the Consulate: Miscellaneous OCI Services • Miscellaneous Consular Services (such as attestation of documents, transfer of visas from old to new passport, affidavits, birth certificates, life certificates, certificate required to transport ashes or mortal remains to India etc) IMPORTANT: The Consulate does not accept credit cards, EFTPOS, personal cheques or company cheques. Please send only money orders or bank cheques with applications sent through the post. Cash payments are accepted only at the counter.
(MELBOURNE) Address : 344, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia , P.O. Box No: 33247 Domain LPO Vic 3004 General phone: +61-3- 96827836 Fax No: + 61-3- 96968251 Web site: www.cgimelb.org
WORKING HOURS General Working Hours 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, Consular Working Hours 09.30 am to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday, (except on public holidays observed by the consulate)
MLG Lawyers Ronny Randhawa 144 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic Ph 9386 0204 & 138 Walker Street, Dandenong Vic Ph: 9793 9917 Mobile : 0402 256 712
International Students International Student Care Service (ISCS) www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/iscs Ph: 1800 056 449
Vera Lawyers Kusum Vaghela Level 1, Suite 2, 373 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Vic, Mobile: 0433 827 124
Property FIRST Property PL, Suite 110, Level 1,672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122
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south asia 34 South Asia Timestimes
SPECIAL ARTICLE
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Rohingya Muslims: Not a worthwhile cause for a Nobel Peace laureate? n
EW DELHI: Think Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and you will automatically think of Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi emerged from a decadeslong term in prison as a symbol of courage, bravery, honesty and democratic principles -- Bono even wrote a song about her. Suu Kyi is an active voice critical of the government in Myanmar, sitting in the opposition where she highlights issues such as the slow pace of reform, the need for constitutional change and the importance of human and democratic rights. However, google Myanmar and a glaring human rights issue will become obvious. At the time of writing, the country was escorting a boatload of immigrants at sea to a so-called “safe area.” The irony of the matter is that this boatload of people, and thousands others like them, have fled Myanmar because of lack of safety. To make matters worse, they have been denied entry into any other country -- Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia -- leaving them stranded at sea for months. Meet the Rohingya Muslim -- a minority community
It is under the legal system and the denial of recognition that the Rohingya continue to remain a stateless people.
that the UN calls one of the “most persecuted minorities in the world.” The extent of the persecution is evinced by the fact that Suu Kyi -the symbol of justice and human rights in Myanmar -- has never spoken out on the issue of granting the Rohingya their rights. Suu Kyi’s position is reflective of the fact that when it comes to politics,
human rights are nothing more than a trump card -used only when it serves political interests. In Myanmar, defending the Rohingya -- 800,000 of whom remain discriminated against based on their birth/identity -- would mean butting heads with the powerful Buddhist nationalist groups. This is a gamble that no politician
is willing to take, not even a symbol of human rights, justice and democracy. In fact, his continuation of denying the Rohingya the right to a nationality makes direct violence against the Rohingyas far more possible and likely than it would be otherwise. The system’s context lies in the 1982 Citizenship Act, which supersedes all citizenship
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regimes in Myanmar. The Act created three classes of citizens - full, associate, and naturalised. Full citizenship is reserved for those whose ancestors settled in Myanmar before the year 1823 or who are members of one of Myanmar’s 135 recognized national ethnic groups - which, according to the recent census, continues to exclude the Rohingya. Associate citizenship applies to those who have been conferred citizenship under a previous 1948 law, which requires an awareness of the law and a level of proof that few Rohingyas possess. CONTD. ON PG 35
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SPECIAL ARTICLE
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southSouth asia times 35 Asia Times
Rohingya Muslims: Not a worthwhile cause...
CONTD. ON PG 34 Naturalised citizenship is applicable to those who have resided in Myanmar on or before 1948, and here too, the Rohingya are denied citizenship as the government of Myanmar retains the discretion to deny citizenship even when criteria are adequately met. It is under the legal system and the denial of recognition that the Rohingya continue to remain a stateless people. Myanmar, which as a member nation of the UN is obligated to promote “universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction,” fails to do so for the Rohingyas who are subjected to policies and practises that constitute violations of their fundamental rights and freedoms. They face restrictions on movement, forced labour, land confiscation, forced evictions, extortions and arbitrary taxations, restrictions on marriage, employment, healthcare and
education. There is an element of political opportunism in reference to the Rohingya in Myanmar. In 1990, Rohingya were permitted to form political parties and vote in multiparty elections. Myanmar even accepted about 250,000 repatriated Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh in 1992 and 1994 issuing Temporary Resident Cards to some. Rohingyas were permitted to vote in the 2008 constitutional referendum and 2010 elections. In fact, in the 2010 elections the voting rights were tied to the promise of citizenship if the Rohingya voted for the military regime’s representatives. However, Rohingyas are yet to be included as a part of any reconciliation programme involving ethnic groups, with Myanmar’s President Thein Sein, in the wake of the 2012 violence, stating that the Rohingya could not and would not be accepted as citizens or residents of Myanmar, going as far as to asking the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to consider placing the Rohingya in camps outside of the country and resettling them to others. While it is true that Thein Sein and other Myanmar officials have had to moderate their position since due to external international pressure, Myanmar continues to violate UN convention by rendering the Rohingya stateless. A relevant convention is the Convention of the Reduction of Statelessness which obligates states to prevent, reduce, and avoid statelessness by granting “its nationality to a person born in its territory who would otherwise be stateless.” The Myanmar government is in clear violation of this convention, with hundreds of thousands of Rohingya having been displaced in the last 25 years. It is this system that has perpetuated violence against the Rohingyas in Myanmar, with violent clashes between the
country’s majority Buddhist population and the Rohingyas leading to deaths and displacement of the minority muslim community in 2012, 2009, 2001, 1978 and 1992, amongst other instances. In the most recent case of widespread violence in 2012, hundred of Rohingya villages and settlements were destroyed, tens of thousands of homes razed, and at least 115,000 Rohingyas displaced in camps in Myanmar, across the Bangladesh border, or further afield on boats. The UN has termed the Rohingyas one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, a condition aggravated by the role of countries such as Bangladesh and Thailand that have turned back genuine refugees, with Thailand’s military being accused in 2009-10 of towing hundreds of Rohingya out to sea in poorly equipped boats and scant food and water after they tried to flee Myanmar. Although Thailand “categorically denies” the charge, the
accusations have some merit as about 650 Rohingya were rescued off India and Indonesia, some saying that they had been beaten by Thai soldiers. It is under these circumstance that rights groups have alleged that the Myanmar government is supporting a policy of “ethnic cleansing” of the Rohingya, with William Schabas, a member of the International Association of Genocide Scholars saying that “the Rohingya are the prima facie victims of the crime against humanity of persecution,” consisting of “the severe deprivation of fundamental rights on discriminatory grounds.” It is a combination of the actions of the Rakhine Buddhist majority and the inaction of the Myanmar government, within the context of a legal system that ratifies, condones, and perpetuates the systematic discrimination of the Rohingya in Myanmar. And there is no one speaking up for them. —TheCitizen
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south asia 36 South Asia Timestimes
CINEMA
Dil Dhadakne Do:
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Liberating cinema
By Saumil Gandhi
i
love aesthetics”, Zoya Akhtar had mentioned in a pre-release interview. Safe to say, this love is not limited to merely the visuals of her movies. Dil Dhadakne Do is a simple story told masterfully, with absolute and unwavering control over every department of film-making – both technical and creative. The result of this love is a liberating work of cinema. Liberating because she isn’t trying to compete with any other film. There isn’t a boxoffice goal in sight. There isn’t any conscious effort to “mark” her work with an auteur’s stamp. And yet, this absence of any overt signature is what makes her films the most difficult to ape, and therefore, they stand out as unique and, well, matchless. In this age where copying current boxoffice trends is the default way to conceive and create movies, Dil Dhadakne Do is a whiff of fresh sea breeze. As mentioned, the story is simple enough – a family’s journey to rediscover themselves and each other on a sea cruise vacation. One can call them a dysfunctional family, but the Mehras are hardly unique in their singularities or how they function as a family; they are in fact representative of how families are today, with all their quirks and complexes. One of the criticisms leveled against the film has been how stereotyped the characters are. Anil Kapoor
is the typical, self-made, rich and obscene Punjabi family patriarch, Shefali Shah is the long suffering wife and high society diva, Priyanka Kapoor is the overachieving progeny sidelined by both her father and her husband, and Ranveer Singh is the heir-to-be, the prince with the heart of gold who prefers to spend his time in the clouds rather than a corporate office. Clichéd? Sure. But there’s more. The stereotypes are used to make us comfortable, to take us in a world that we’re familiar with. They are a setup, and Zoya ventures much deeper than shallow characterizations, especially in the second half .The screenplay unravels each member one by one, and it is the subtle touches and deft details that she uses to reveal their true demons and complexes that are the highlights of the film. Take Shefali Shah’s character. All through the film, Anil Kapoor lampoons her because she can’t resist good food. It’s one of those things you expect a husband to do to his wife as a joke, and you don’t give it a second thought. Zoya takes this idea forward, and you’re taken aback at the brutality of the scene where Shefali is gorging on chocolate cake as a way of fighting her depression. It’s a superb example of subtly building on a character trait to give an absolute whammy of a scene, without having to even try for impact. The Mehra family that the mastiff introduces at the
beginning of the film isn’t quite as obvious as the one that sails off into the sun at the end of it. The effectiveness of showing this journey through the film is the thumping triumph of Dil Dhadakne Do, and one that other films will be hard pressed to match. The writing then, is just top notch. The layered – if slightly elongated – screenplay is topped of with the driest of humor. The writing is not shy of going big on catchy dialogue, but is always in control, springing those applauseworthy lines just when needed, and simmering with understated humor in between. The Pluto Mehra voiceover is a relatively weak link. The idea of comparing humans to animals is definitely on the ball, and much like a Wes Anderson film, it briskly aids the proceedings in the beginning of the film. But the sheer duration for which this is continued to be used becomes an overkill. Less would have been better. The key scenes though are simply brilliant. The family showdown after Anil Kapoor recovers from his “heart attack” has to be the riskiest scene for a Bollywood film. Ten times out of ten, this is the money shot scene in Hindi films. It’s where Pandora’s box of the family is not just opened, but cleaned up and turned over. It’s the ultimate catharsis, and it never fails to be a crowd pleaser. Yet, shunning high melodrama for wry humor, Zoya and Reema turn the
scene upside down. They spoof this idea and yet remain supremely effective in ensuring it does not take away from the resolution it is going for. Much of this effectiveness is thanks to the performances of the sprawling ensemble. Good acting feeds of good acting to become better, and you see that in the film. Ranveer Singh and Anil Kapoor garner maximum screen time, and you’re all the more happy for it. They give heart and verve to the proceedings, and are in control in the toughest of scenes with near perfect comic timing. Priyanka Chopra’s swag perhaps works against her role of a relatively meek girl dominated by her father first, and then her husband, but this is minor feedback for an otherwise balanced performance. Shefali Shah uses the silences given to her more effectively than other actors in her place could have used their lines. Farhan Akhtar is immaculately cool as always, as is Anushka Sharma. All in all, show stopping stuff. The background score is intelligently used. It is sparing, flowing in and out of the silences, and you barely hear it, but you will not fail to notice it. Unlike the music, which absolutely makes its presence felt. Making a swinging 60s debut about 20 minutes into the film, the music and the songs are a highlight, and treated as such. There’s no pretense in always trying
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to “take the story forward”; they’re entertaining in themselves, and need no justification for their presence. Effortless is the word that comes to mind when we think of Zoya Akhtar’s films. They are not forced in what they say, and they seem to be under no obligation to say what other people would like them to say. They embrace a gamut of emotions, yet present them to us in the most nuanced of ways. Dil Dhadakne Do has all these qualities and more. This is not a film that merits a discussion of “oh, it’s ignorant of the poor” or “oh, it’s set in a rich man’s world and is not relevant to everyone” (and those are absolutely relevant points to consider). But that is not the point of the film. It being set in this world is a matter of coincidence to the larger purpose of the film. The film is about the journey she takes us with the Mehra family, and it is the universality of her storytelling and her characters that are sufficient to make the film accessible to wider audience than what it’s critics give it credit for. Seriously guys, problem kya hai? Dil Dhadakne Do is neither the most technically flourished in form, nor the most profound in content. But it is such a complete film in what it wants to achieve – use cinema as a medium to tell a good, oldfashioned, new-age story. In that, it is peerless. —Upperstall
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south asia 38 South Asia Timestimes
OPINION
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The bumpy road to an Asian century i By Shyam Saran
n this column, Shyam Saran – a former Foreign Secretary of India, currently Chairman of the R.I.S. think tank and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi – argues that competing regional trade arrangements and investment regimes in the Indo-Pacific region, with no clarity on the contours of a new and emerging economic architecture, may well stand in the way of making the 21st century the ‘Asian Century’. NEW DELHI, Jun 1 2015 (IPS) - It has been apparent for some time that we are in the midst of a historic shift of the centre of gravity of the global economy from the trans-Atlantic to what is now becoming known as the Indo-Pacific. This is an emerging centre of economic dynamism and comprises what was earlier confined to the AsiaPacific but now includes the South Asian region as well. This is a region which now accounts for nearly 40 percent of world gross domestic product (GDP), which is likely to rise to 50 percent or more by 2050. Its share of world trade is now 30 percent and growing. This year, the region has become the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), surpassing the European Union (EU) and the United States. China has been the main driver of this historic shift, but other Asian economies have also made significant contributions. As the Chinese economy begins to slow, India shows promise of regaining an accelerated growth trajectory under a new and decisive political leadership. This will help extend the scale and direction of this shift. Its geopolitical consequences will be profound. It must be recognised that the economic transformation of Asia, in particular the spectacular growth of China, has been enabled by an unusually extended and liberal global economic environment, underpinned by the faith in globalisation and open markets. It has also been enabled by a U.S.led security architecture in the region which kept in check, though did not resolve, the long-standing political fault lines and regional conflicts over competing territorial claims and unresolved disputes. This relatively benign and supportive economic and security environment is in danger of unravelling precisely at a time when the situation in the region is becoming more complex and challenging. Paradoxically, this is partly a consequence of the very success of the region in achieving relative economic prosperity. “The danger is that instead of an inclusive and regionally integrated Asia, we may end up with exclusive and competing clusters, moving at different speeds, with different norms and standards. This may well undermine the very basis of Asia’s economic dynamism”
“Just as the world is moving towards multi-polarity, so is Asia … The economic fragmentation of the region and the competitive pursuit of security interests may well consign the Asian Century into a brief interlude rather than a millennial transformation”. Photo credit: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons are witnessing new trends in the region which, unless managed with prudence and foresight, may well sour the prospects of an Asian Century. The relatively open and liberal trade and investment regime, in particular access to the large consuming markets of the United States, European Union and Japan, is now under serious threat. Protectionist trends are already visible in these advanced economies as they struggle with prolonged economic stagnation which is the fall-out of the global financial and economic crisis of 2007-2008. Instead of the consolidation and expansion of the open and inclusive economic architecture that had hitherto been the hallmark of the regional and global economy, we are witnessing its steady fragmentation. In the Indo-Pacific region, there are competing regional trade arrangements and investment regimes, with no clarity on the contours of a new and emerging economic architecture. The United States is spearheading its Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which will include some Asian economies, but not India and China. China has countered by proposing a free trade area encompassing the current Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) membership. This will include China and the United States but not India and some of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies. The Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP) would include all ASEAN countries plus China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, but not the United States. And finally, there is the East Asia Summit process (EAS) which includes all the above-mentioned countries but also the United States and Russia. In the security field, too, we are
witnessing a growing salience of interstate tensions and competitive military build-up. The U.S.-led security architecture remains in place formally but its erstwhile predominance is diminished. The gap between the military capabilities of China and the United State is closing steadily. As China’s security footprint expands beyond its shores, it will inevitably intersect with the existing deployment of the forces of the United States and its allies and partners. Faced with an increasingly uncertain security environment and threatened by a more insistent assertion of territorial claims by China, the countries of the region, including Japan, Republic of Korea, members of ASEAN, Australia and India are building up their own defences, in particular maritime capabilities, and this itself is escalating tensions. There is as yet no emerging regional security architecture which could help manage inter-state tensions in the region. This includes the growing possibilities of confrontation between the United States and China. In the absence of such a regional security architecture, based on a broad political consensus and a mutually acceptable Code of Conduct, the region may well witness a heightening of tension and even conflict. These developments would inevitably and adversely impact on the dense network of trade and investment relations that bind the countries of the region together and erode the very basis of their prosperity. In this context, mention may be made of the Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative which seeks to deploy China’s surplus capital to build a vast network of transport and infrastructural links not only across the Indo-Pacific but also straddling the Eurasian landmass.
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The newly established Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) initiated and led by China would become a key financing instrument for the OBOR. China has also recently come out with a new Defence White Paper, which puts forward a new strategy of Open Seas, shifting the emphasis from coastal and near sea defence to an expanding naval presence which matches China’s growing global profile and worldwide location of Chinese-controlled economic assets. While China’s investment in regional infrastructure in Asia may be welcome, it will inevitably be accompanied by a security dimension which may heighten anxieties among countries in the Asian region and beyond. It is apparent from the above analysis that it is no longer possible for any major power in the IndoPacific to unilaterally seek a position of overweening economic dominance or military pre-eminence of the kind that the United States enjoyed over much of the post-Second World War period. Just as the world is moving towards multi-polarity, so is Asia. It is now home to a cluster of major powers with significant economic and security capabilities and interests. The only practical means of avoiding a unilateral and potentially destructive pursuit of economic and security interests would be to put in place an inclusive economic architecture underpinned by a similarly inclusive security architecture which provides mutual reassurance and shared opportunities for promoting prosperity. The economic fragmentation of the region and the competitive pursuit of security interests may well consign the Asian Century into a brief interlude rather than a millennial transformation. —Edited by Phil Harris
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