P. S. Suryanarayana: For “a world of decreased nuclear risk”
Is a “world without nuclear weapons” a less-than-utopian goal which the global politicians of a misty future era could seek to attain? Taking a positive view, Japan and Australia have now begun to outline “ideas” about “practical steps” towards such a global order. Their move was timed for the end-February announcement that United [...]
Victoria’s Secret
It could not be a mere coincidence that a gentleman who can still be legally described as ‘Victorian’ a good century after the demise of the crusty Queen-Empress and the conservative era named after her, has exhorted Indians to look poor when we venture forth abroad. As the police chief of an Antipodean province that proudly bears the name of [...]
That’s a rich one
If you come to think about it, the police chief of the Australian state of Victoria Simon Overland was paying a compliment to Indian students when he suggested they “try to look as poor” as they can. In other words, he must have been referring to the natural look of ‘being rich’ that Indians abroad carry these days. It’s understandable [...]
Facts Down Under
The Australian police have charged an Indian who had claimed to have been burnt in a racist attack, as attempting insurance fraud. This follows the police’s claim that Ranjodh Singh, whose body was found in New South Wales last December, was killed by two other Indians. These claims still have to backed by a court of law, but it muddies the all [...]
India for Indians?
There is a sad irony in the fact that even as so many Indian politicians are happy to criticise racism in Australia, so few are willing to slam regionalism in India. So, we must applaud the courage of the few who do. From Mukesh Ambani to Rahul Gandhi, several thinking people have criticised the “Mumbai for Mumbaikar” chauvinism of the Shiv [...]
Well Said, Leander
For Leander Paes to dedicate his 11th Grand Slam title to India and Australia is to do something he has done as a matter of his professional duty for about two decades now. He has met the grandness of the moment at every milestone with the gracious gesture, whether it be his bronze medal at the Atlanta Games, his remarkable partnership with [...]
Don’t Go There
Just don’t go. That’s the latest advice the ministry of external affairs has given students planning to study in Australia. Ever since the wave of attacks on Indian students, the Indian government has repeatedly expressed concern. On January 5, it issued a travel advisory asking students studying, or planning to study, in Australia to take [...]
Peter N Varghese: Safety Is High Priority
The widespread media coverage of attacks on Indians in Australia has raised several understandable questions. Are Indian students safe in Australia? Are Indians being singled out? Why are these attacks happening? Are they racially motivated and what is being done to address the problem? Crime is never easy to dissect and crime statistics even [...]
Face The Problem
News stories about attacks on Indians in Australia, such as the latest one about two Indian nationals being assaulted in Brisbane, no longer cause surprise only resigned indignation. That in itself indicates the seriousness of the situation. So far, the Indian government's reaction to such attacks has been relatively muted. But this is unlikely to [...]
Fixing Things Down Under
The attacks on Indians, mostly students, in Australia keep hitting news headlines with disturbing regularity. The authorities in Australia don’t seem to either know what to do about it, or don’t seem to care about it. Apart from denying that the attacks are “racist”, there has been little done to reassure Indians seeking to travel to [...]