22/08/2026
Thank you Indians in Sydney for a wonderful celebration of India’s Independence. A labour of love (and tenacity!) from the indefatigable Nadeem Ahmed and Gurnam Singh.
It was wonderful to meet with many interesting people and be able to share a bit about our own work in building bridges at Hindus for Human Rights, Australia. A pleasure to speak briefly about our various interfaith. community and anti-racism projects with her excellency, Irina Thakur, the Deputy High Commissioner of India, Simon Chan AM, Warren Kirby MP, Ex Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Andrew Charlton, MP and the ever engaged Julian Hill MP.
A pleasure to discuss issues of common interest with Pawan Luthra, founder India Link, Moses Vedamuthu founder of Sohas Charity, Zia Ahmed OAM, founder of AMUST, my fellow Humanism Project member and his accomplished wife Mehar Ahmed. A catch up with other Humanism Project members and allies, Dr. Sukhmani Khorana and Apurva Mihire.
The thoughtfully curated performances reflected our true plurality and diversity. Every speech last night spoke of the value the Indian community brings to the cultural, social, economic fabric of this country. The range of parliamentarians and councillors, the heads of institutions and not for profits, leaders from across media and industry, all attest to the goodwill your collective, Indians in Sydney holds in this city as well as your personal ability to build bridges.
As Indian-Australians who came together last night in a celebration of Independence, it was also a moment to reflect on the value of pluralistic, multifaith societies where everyone belongs and feels seen and valued. It is our duty to resist all calls for monoculturism and ethnic or religious supremacy, whether in India, Australia or anywhere else in the world.
A society where people are humanists first, outside of all our other identities, is a society that can aspire to be just and fair; a country where everyone feels safe, where everyone belongs.
Your group is called Indians in Sydney, but last night it felt like a celebration of both India and Australia, and of multiple identities and cultures that not only co-exist, but thrive, together and with each other. A special night of celebration, of remembrance, and of promise.
Two moments stood out for me. One, a full throated cheer, Australia Mata ki Jai from the lovely Warren Kirby MP, a sweet and lighthearted gesture of unexpected cultural transferability, and a quiet conversation with a young lady from India, in hijab, who sat at our table.
She shared how offended and saddened she felt by the increasingly concerned questions she gets from people who ask her if, as a Muslim, she feels safe in India.
‘Why wouldn’t I, it is the land of my birth!’ she said. She has celebrated Diwali and Christmas with her neighbours, been in each others’ homes as children, eating without thought from mothers who would always have something to share with the kids. Why wouldn’t she feel safe?
I felt the depth of her feeling, and thought of all the ways in which we advocate for our community here, as people of a minority faith or a minority community. We want equal rights, equal dignity and opportunity, as we undoubtedly should.
Why can’t we want for others what we want for ourselves?
Perhaps events like this are important, not just to demonstrate the strength of our communities, but to practice empathy and inclusion.
To notice who is in the room and who isn’t. And find ways to build that big tent, that holds all of us, inspite of our differences, our eccentricities, our uniqueness, and still be able to say, i’m with my people.
We are all each other’s people.
Every last one of us.
The Humanism Project
