Racial harmony website launched

Mayor Paul Pisasale with Manjit Boparai at the launch of the new website, www.aussieindiaharmony.com.

Sarah Harvey

NEGATIVE coverage of a spate of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne has prompted positive action in Ipswich.

The city yesterday hosted the launch of www.aussieindiaharmony.com, a website which allows members of the public to leave blogs or messages about their experiences and views on racial harmony between India and Australia.

Members of the Indian community, including Ipswich’s honorary Indian ambassador, Manju Jehu, and president of the Brisbane chapter of the Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Umesh Chandra, joined Mayor Paul Pisasale in denouncing what they referred to as misleading coverage of race relations in Australia.

Ms Jehu, who has lived in Australia for more than 30 years and proudly dons traditional Indian clothing, said she believed racism claims were grossly exaggerated, if not false.

“I have been here 31 years and dressed as an Indian the whole time, so why has nobody ever touched me?” Ms Jehu said.

“If people give me a hard time then I give them curry, but it doesn’t mean I need to put the whole of Australia down in response.

“Violence can happen for reasons other than race.”

The website is operated by Dhanush Infotech, an Indian company run out of its regional headquarters at Springfield.

Dhanush CEO DSN Murthy said he felt the website could contribute to the already good relationship between the two countries.

“I certainly want to give the right message about what we, as Indian people, feel for Australia and how we feel living and working in this country,” Mr Murthy said.

“We strongly feel that the reception, the hospitality, the commitment and the friendly attitude is beyond excellent.

“What I have seen in the media recently – the way the country has been projected – I felt in my heart that this is not really the ground-level reality.

“We want to make sure the Indian people in Australian can communicate the right message back to India.”