===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN 6/2007 4 June 2007 ===================================== In this bulletin 1. Panel Discussion: "We are playing relatives" 2. Monash Arts Festival 3. Lecture: the movement of Buddhism into Central Asia 4. Seminar: the rise of radical Islam 5. 14th Annual Workshop on Southeast Asian Women 6. Library Display on Tibet 7. New books from MAI Press 8. New publication: "Controlling Arms and Terror in the Asia Pacific" 9. Invitation for papers: "Wanderings in India" 10. Conference: Muslim Students in Australian Universities 11. Announcement: Research & Action Grants for Disaster Risk Reduction 12. Website of the month: The Buddhist Council of Victoria ===================================== Monash Asia Institute and Monash University News and Events ===================================== Item 1. Book Review / Panel Discussion ‘We are playing relatives: A survey of Malay writing’ by Henk Maier (KITLV 2004) hosted by Centre of Southeast Asian Studies/Monash Asia Institute Thursday 7 June 2007, 4.30 pm Room S822, Menzies Building (11), Monash University Clayton campus. The book is unique for the way it approaches almost four centuries of Malay writing through one theoretical model, a strategy which has attracted varying appraisals. A further controversial feature of the book is its privileging of a category of ‘Malay writing’ well after the creation of the two largest nation states of the Malay-speaking world, Indonesia and Malaysia. Critics have praised the book for bringing fresh vision and innovative nuance to a format that scholars have previously attempted with limited success, and for the wealth of knowledge and expertise Maier brings to the task. Panel Participants: Professor Harry Aveling (Latrobe) Dr Joost Cote (Deakin) Dr Julian Millie (Monash) Mr Andy Fuller (University of Tasmania) Enquiries: Julian Millie (Julian.Millie@arts.monash.edu.au) ------ Item 2. Monash Arts Festival Saturday 9 June 2007, 10 am to 6.30 pm Monash University Caulfield Campus 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield (Melway Ref 68 F11) The inaugural "Arts in ACTION" festival on Saturday 9 June showcases the diverse range of research within the Faculty of Arts. There will be over 50 sessions of discussions, lectures, workshops, films, displays and performances to choose from. There are a number of sessions of interest to Asian Studies scholars including, "Imagining South East Asia through its cinema", "Global Media, "Journey Through Asia: History, Culture, Language", "Muslim Minorities & Islam Policy Studies", "Religion and Social Cohesion in Australia" and "The movement of Buddhism into Central Asia". This day-long programme is free and open to the public. For more details including the full program, visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/artsinaction07/ ----- Item 3. Special lecture on Buddhism Saturday 9 June 2007, 2.00 pm Room H2 37, Monash University Caulfield campus 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East 3145 'The movement of Buddhism into Central Asia' Mr. David Templeman, PhD Candidate, Monash Asia Institute Buddhism is frequently associated with the lands of India, China and Japan as well as South East Asia. However it has also had a long and interesting history in Central Asia. As the teachings of the Buddha followed trade routes into the heart of Asia, so the artistic and monumental forms which it adopted changed quite noticeably. This short talk will examine some of the teachings and how they altered to harmonize with the new Central Asian audiences. It will also examine some of the artistic forms which Buddhism adopted in the deserts of Asia's heartland. ALL WELCOME Enquiries: Dr Tony Donaldson, tony.donaldson@adm.monash.edu.au ----- Item 4. MAI 'Reports from Asia' Seminar Hosted by Monash Asia Institute, Global Terrorism Research Unit and Asia Society AustralAsia Centre Wednesday 13 June 2007, 1.00 pm Room W204, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus “The rise of radical Islam” Speaker: Sadanand Dhume, Journalist and Writer, Indonesia Bernard Schwartz Resident Fellow, AsiaSociety New York Sadanand Dhume is a journalist and writer with a long-standing interest in Asia. He will speak on his recently completed a book on the rise of radical Islam in Indonesia. As a former Indonesia correspondent of the Far Eastern Economic Review and The Asian Wall Street Journal in Jakarta, Sadanand covered Indonesia's economic, political, security and social scene. Before that he was the New Delhi bureau chief of FEER. The Asia Society (NY) Bernard Schwartz Resident Fellows Program promotes public dialogue on issues relating to the importance of Asia in the world and global economy. Participants in this one-year in-residence programme have a record of distinction and a commitment to engaging the broader public in better understanding Asia, and are selected from among the most respected leaders in the Asia Pacific and the US. The lecture is open and free to the public. RSVP to Dr Tony Donaldson, tony.donaldson@adm.monash.edu.au, with "Dhume Seminar" in the subject heading of your email. ----- Item 5. 14th Annual Workshop on Southeast Asian Women Fourteenth Annual Workshop on Southeast Asian Women Friday 22 June 2007 Monash University Clayton campus The workshop brings together researchers and others interested in the study of matters relating to Southeast Asian women, in any field, such as politics, geography, literature, the arts, history or health. Enquiries: Associate Professor Susan Blackburn, School of Political and Social Inquiry Email: sue.blackburn@arts.monash.edu.au See also: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/seawomen07.html ----- Item 6. Library Display on Tibet Now till July 2007 Books and other library materials on 'Tibet' are on display in the Matheson Library, Monash University Clayton campus, to mark the visit of the Dalai Lama to Monash University. The display includes some rare Tibetan manuscripts and other items, which have been generously loaned to the Library by David Templeman, a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism in the Monash Asia Institute. It also highlights a significant donation to the Library of serials, pamphlets and other material about the Tibetan democracy movement and human rights situation, received recently from the Australia-Tibet Council. Other items in the display are from the Rare Books, Chinese and Music & Multimedia Collections. The display is installed in the Music & Multimedia and Asian Studies Research Collection display cases, both located in the ISB wing of the Matheson Library. For more information, see: http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/news/2007/05-tibet.html ----- Item 7. New books from MAI Press East Timor: beyond independence Edited by Damien Kingsbury and Michael Leach rrp AU$36.95 This is the most comprehensive study of East Timor since independence, examining the major themes of development, borders and security, politics and justice, resource and land management, education, and language policy. Covering the era from 1999 to 2007, and future prospects and challenges, this book is an invaluable resource for understanding the challenges facing the first new nation of the 21st century. Dilemmas of public university reform in Malaysia Machi Sato rrp AU$24.95 Since the mid-1990s, tertiary education in Malaysia has experienced great transformation. This book analyses recent reforms in the public university sector, giving a clear picture of institutions that are juggling different expectations and pressures from the social, political and economic environments. Enquiries: Emma Hegarty, MAI press, emma.hegarty@adm.monash.edu.au ------ Item 8. New publication "Controlling Arms and Terror in the Asia Pacific: After Bali and Baghdad" Edited by Marika Vicziany, 2007, ISBN 978 1 84542 405 Years after 9/11, the Global War on Terror is still not over. The deepening crisis in Iraq has been accompanied by rising violence in Asia, as the bombings in Indonesia show. The 18 specialists and policymakers who have contributed to this book assess how the security scenario in the Asia Pacific has changed in response to these events. An important addition to the literature on terrorism and security, this in-depth and comprehensive analysis of a complex and increasingly unstable region will be welcomed by political scientists, scholars, policymakers, and those seeking a better understanding of whether the Global War on Terror has changed the security architecture of the Asia pacific in a positive way. For more information email: info@e-elgar.co.uk or salels@e-elgar.co.uk See also: http://www.e-elgar.com ----- Item 9. Invitation to submit papers Deadline: 25th November 2007 Wanderings in India: Australian Perceptions Celebrating Literary Links between Australia and India Edited by: Rick Hosking and Amit Sarwal To celebrate Australia and India’s literary links, we invite articles (4000–5500 words) on Australian perceptions and representations of India, from the colonial to post-colonial times. Questions that can be reflected upon in the articles can range from orientalist, historical, political, social or cultural consciousness, experiences, (mis)representations, and perceptions of India as reflected through the consistently evolving corpus of literary works. Essays examining other thematic issues related to the colonial spirit, cultural shocks, appreciation, Australian familiarity with Indian sensibility, spirituality, sports writing, place names, domestic architecture and so on are also welcome. It may be useful here to compare the works from colonial and post-colonial perspectives. Articles that are interdisciplinary in nature and articles published recently in refereed journals or critical books are also welcome. Deadline: 25th November 2007; Word Limit: 3500 to 5000 words; Style: MLA. Please feel free to send your queries and articles (MS Word File) through email to: Rick Hosking – Richard.Hosking@flinders.edu.au or Amit Sarwal – sarwal.amit@gmail.com ===================================== Other News and Events ===================================== Item 10. Inaugural national 'Muslim Students in Australian Universities' conference hosted by the University of Western Sydney 3 and 4 September 2007 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Parramatta, NSW The University of Western Sydney (UWS) plans to bring together government, university and TAFE leaders as well as high school principals and representatives of the Muslim community at the two-day conference. The Conference aims to stimulate debate; it will discuss national strategies which universities may use in making provision for Muslim students; examine and further develop inclusive practices and teaching strategies; identify areas where adjustment is needed and the principles behind these; discuss issues associated with gender, discrimination and respect for difference; and to engage the Australian Muslim community in partnership and dialogue about educational aspirations, and local involvement. Enquiries: The Conference Secretariat PO Box 20622, World Square, Sydney 2002; E-mail: muslimconference@uws.edu.au Website: http://www.uws.edu.au/muslimconference ----- Item 11. Announcement: Research & Action Grants for Disaster Risk Reduction Deadline: 15 July 2007 The Research and Action Grants for Disaster Risk Reduction programme is designed to engage enthusiastic young students and professionals in developing countries in creating innovative links between research and action in disaster risk reduction. Applicants are invited to seek ways to cut across professional disciplines and to exchange knowledge and engage stakeholders from scientific and academic, civilian, public and private sectors. If you think that you have a project that will bridge the gap between knowledge and action in disaster risk reduction, and make your country, region, city or district safer - please apply. You may solve an urgent problem or document valuable lessons to be learned in the field; apply and test findings in a new physical, socio-political or cultural context; delve into subjects ignored by researchers in other places; or learn how to scale-up action, change policy, or link disaster risk reduction to other themes like urbanisation or climate adaptation. Application forms and other details: http://www.proventionconsortium.org/?pageid=32&projectid=5 ----- Item 12. Website of the month The Buddhist Council of Victoria services the Buddhist communities of Victoria. During February and March this year over 5,000 people came to the Melbourne Town Hall to see an exhibition celebrating the life of the Buddha and his 2550 anniversary. The exhibition included rare Buddhist art from all over the world, including India, Sri Lanka, Burma, China, Tibet, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Laos and Nepal, as well as many new interpretations created in Australia. The website includes photos of the exhibition taken by Ms Diana Cousens, PhD Candidate, Monash Asia Institute. http://www.bcvic.org.au/html/buddha2550.html =========================================================== The Monash Asia Institute Newsletter incorporates news items from the six research centres of the Monash Asia Institute, partner organisations and other groups working to promote Asian Studies in Australia. For further information about the Monash Asia Institute and this newsletter: http://www.monash.edu.au/mai/ To unsubscribe, please send an email to: monash.asia.institute@adm.monash.edu.au ===========================================================