They now call Australia home
Melbourne’s Australia Day parade is a huge success, reflecting the multicultural and harmonious pulse of this nation By TIM BLIGHT
Indians in Australia, of course, have two reasons to celebrate on January 26, as the day marks both Australia Day and India’s Republic Day. The centre of Melbourne came to a standstill with sections of Swanston Street and St Kilda Road closed for a parade of cultures. The day began with a military parade and presentation at the Melbourne Town Hall, before the procession turned and headed towards the Kings Domain Gardens on the CBD’s southern fringe. The military parade was followed by an extensive and colourful ‘parade of nations’, with up to fifty different nations, religious groups and support networks taking part.
The Indian contingent of the parade was represented by FIAV (The Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria). This umbrella organisation coordinated the combined effort which featured FIWAA (The Federation of Indian Women’s Associations of Australia), VIBC (Victoria Indian Business Council), AIBCV (Australia India Business Council Victoria) and FIMDV (Federation of Indian Music & Dance Victoria). Dressed in vibrant saris and kurtas, the large Indian group marched about midway through the parade proudly carrying both Australian ensign and the tiranga. Those marching came from a wide variety of backgrounds; north, south, east, west, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Parsi and Buddhist. The fact that so many cultures could be represented as just a sample of the Indian community, is testament to the rich cultural heritage of India which was equally celebrated as part of Australia Day.
Following closely behind the ‘Victorian Indian Community’ was a separate entry from the Sikh Council of Victoria. In true north Indian style, the largely Punjabi crowd danced along the street in a mélange of vivid turbans, and churidar kurtas beating tablas and dhols. Other South Asian cultures were present, such as West Bengal and Bangladesh who were represented by the Western Region Bengali School, and the Hare Krishna Movement, with several western followers. The Sinhala Cultural and Community Services Foundation marched just before the Indian section, holding the Sri Lankan flag aloft with wide smiles. A large group from Pakistan marched together as the Australian Federation of Pakistan Organisations and the Shamama Association of Australia represented Afghanistan.
Hardip Madan, chairperson of the Sikh Welfare Council of Victoria, spoke of the importance of raising children with multicultural awareness. Her organization teaches the Punjabi language to students, along with traditional dance and sport. Jasreen Banwait teaches some of the students, and proudly announced that only four weeks preparation had gone in to the Sikh Council’s exciting Australia Day display. Costumes had been generously organized by Ms Ajay Pal, while the dhol players were all volunteers, coordinated by Ms Madan’s son Richi who operates his own events company, Rhythm and Spice.
Further afield, the all-singing, all-dancing Filipino community was first to march, followed by kilted Scottish marchers and then the striking costumes of Australia’s neighbours, the Solomon Islands. Picture perfect Thai ladies came next with their male counterparts, some of whom wore seriously scary traditional Thai masks. Melbourne’s Turkish community waltzed along to music replete in red robes, although they couldn’t compete with the riot of colour represented by the Chinese community. Giant dragons, flags, hats and traditional costumes all contributed to make the Chinese entry one of the most memorable. Following them, the Falun Gong movement of China submitted a large gold float draped in spectacular bold ribbons and a complete marching band. More somber colours marked out the Lebanese entry, while the irrepressible Korean dancers and drummers kept the show going.
On a lighter note, Viking horns were worn by the group named “Danish (not pastry) people”, and “Slovaks in Australia”, the Sicilian and Macedonian communities continued the European theme. Buddhists and Muslims were represented by a group for their supra-national religions, while the Kurdish community represented a culture without a nation. Smiling and waving, Iranians, Burmese, Tibetans and Vietnamese marchers thanked Australia for their new home. Sponsored by RACV, vintage cars also featured in the parade, along with an over-the-top limousine which attracted hoards of youngsters, craning their neck to take a look. Noticeably absent was the Australian Aboriginal community, many of whom consider January 26 to be a day of mourning, not celebration.
Once the parade reached the Kings Domain Gardens, a carnival atmosphere ensued with lunch served, amusements for families and several of the cultural groups settling in for a picnic. Most visible were the Indians, particularly the Sikh community, who broke out into dance with members of other groups joining in. In a heartwarming display of humanity, Indians of all backgrounds danced to the beat of the dhol, along with Sri Lankans, Bengalis, Pakistanis and members of the Slovak, Scottish, Anglo-Australian and Danish communities. Meanwhile, nearby, the Hare Krishna movement spread the love with their irreverent dance and costume, inviting all who dared to join in. Those who were invited broke away to join a lunch at the Indian Consul General’s office.
Wandering around the gardens after the parade offered many an opportunity to reflect on their place in Australia. Kirandeep Kaur attended with her child, Sahed, and spoke of the positive style of government in Australia that has resulted in today’s modern nation. “It’s a harmonious society,” said Ms Kaur, who came to Australia from Delhi one and a half years ago. Asked whether she planned to stay in Australia, she smiled and said, “I’m not sure!” adding that she still called India home. Marie Singh, an Anglo-Australian whose husband Kanwarjit is originally from India, could not heap enough praise on India and the Indian people. “It is a lovely country, and lovely people.” While they reside in Australia, they were celebrating both Australia and Republic Days. Marie, who requires the use of a wheelchair following an accident, looked at an emotional Kanwarjit and announced that she was determined to walk again.
Neeraj and Aditi Kumar from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, said that after two years in Australia they still didn’t feel completely at home, but they were certainly comfortable here. When asked what they liked most about life in Australia, the couple commented that it had provided them with opportunities that they would not have had back home. “The infrastructure and order allows more opportunities,” said Neeraj. Meanwhile Ramesh Kathirvelu of Chennai has been in Australia for three and a half years, and said that he feels at home. Also citing the opportunities which life in Australia had presented him, he said that the most outstanding aspect of life in the country is the kindness of the people; “I’m really happy living here” he enthused. When asked about what Australia could improve, he claimed that the tax system is not necessarily fair, especially in relation to migrants.
Salima Abdul, of Dhaka, Bangladesh, said that she established herself in Australia quickly by meeting lots of people at her university. After eleven years here she now feels at home, and said that the South Asian community in Australia was important in making the transition. Raj Suresh who moved from Chennai to Australia nineteen years ago, said that he had seen major changes in the Australian Indian community in the time he had been here. “Absolutely, the population has increased, and awareness has increased in the wider community,” he said. When asked why he moved to Australia, the father of two echoed sentiments similar to others, citing “better opportunities”. “India and Australia are actually similar in some ways – so I felt at home very quickly,” he related.
Celebrations were capped off with a fireworks display at Federation Square in the evening. In defining Australia Day, Indian Australian Raj Suresh makes an important point on unity. Perhaps the bigger picture of unity is defined by the smaller examples of it; while Australia Day and Republic Day being held on the same day is somewhat symbolic, it is even more symbolic that while both Australia and India are heterogeneous societies, both are examples of harmony in diversity.
