===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN 12/2005 5 October 2005 ===================================== In this bulletin 1. CSEAS Seminars this month 2. CSEAS Postdoctoral Fellowship 3. Edward Gray Memorial Prize 4. Documentary Film: Acehnese traditional performing arts 5. Book Launch: State, Community and Neighbourhood in Princely North India 6. India Update 2005 7. Seminar: Tibetan Treasure Finding 8. Book Launch: State Terrorism and Political Identity in Indonesia 9. National Survey of Asian Studies Researchers 10. Website of the month: Harappa ------------------------------------------- Item 1. CSEAS Seminars Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus 6 October 2005 Charles Donnelly, PhD candidate, Monash Asia Institute, Monash University "Counter terrorism in the Philippines: The new Consolidated Anti-Terrorism Bill of 2005 and its likely consequences." 13 October 2005 Dr Alexandra Haendel, Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, MAI. "Space through the body in classical Southeast Asian temples." 20 October 2005 Dr Robert Cribb Senior Fellow, Division Pacific and Asian History, RSPAS, Australian National University "Species, race and ‘murder’ in colonial Indonesia: the orang pendek of Sumatra." 27 October 2005 Dr. John Prior, svd, Candraditya Research Centre for the Study of Religion and Culture, Ledalero, Maumere, Flores-NTT, Indonesia. "The Catholic church and land disputes: sobering thoughts from Flores in post-New Order Indonesia." ALL WELCOME Details of all CSEAS Seminars: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/cseasseminar05.html Enquiries for CSEAS Seminars: Dr Penelope Graham Director, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute Email: penny.graham@arts.monash.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 2. CSEAS Postdoctoral Fellowship An eleven-month Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) for 2006 is advertised on the Monash University website: A056171. Postdoctoral Research Fellow Closing Date: 31/10/2005 http://sssd.adm.monash.edu.au/employ/job.asp?refnumber=A056171&work=&staff=Academic&faculty=&keyword=&whichpage=5&pagesize=5 Below the text of the ad, 'More Information' enables you to click on 'Download Position Information (MSWord)' for full details, including the Selection Criteria. This should answer most questions and contains essential information on how to apply. Dr Penny Graham Director, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute ------------------------------------------- Item 3. Edward Gray Memorial Prize Closing date: 15 October 2005 Contribution to Australia Sri Lanka Relations The Australia Sri Lanka Council (ASLC) wishes to honour the memory of the late Edward Gray, and acknowledge his contribution to Australia and Sri Lanka. The prize of $500 will be awarded to the undergraduate or postgraduate student currently attending a university in Australia, whose recent work is judged by a panel appointed by the ASLC to have contributed most significantly to the Australia/Sri Lanka relationship and understanding. The person should be nominated by an academic who is familiar with his/her work. The award is advertised through Australian universities and is expected to be presented in November 2005. Submissions should be made by October 15 2005 to one of the addresses below and should include: - the CV of the applicant - name(s) of referee(s) - a copy of the eligible work, or testimony to the eligible activity, not exceeding 4000 words. Send to: Professor Marika Vicziany, Monash Asia Institute, Building 11, Monash University, Vic 3800, email: Marika.Vicziany@adm.monash.edu.au or Trevor Jayetileke, Secretary, Australia Sri Lanka Council Inc, 20 Throsby Court, Endeavour Hills 3802, email: asgsash@alphalink.com.au About Edward 'Eddie' Gray Edward 'Eddie' Gray passed away in Melbourne on 21/9/04, aged 85. He is survived by his wife Yvonne and three sons who reside in Melbourne. Eddie was a founding member of the Australia Sri Lanka Council and was Vice President at the time of his demise. He was also on the Board of Trustees of the Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation of Victoria. Eddie's life was dominated by his love for sport. He represented Sri Lanka as a contestant in Boxing at the 1948 London Olympic Games. After retiring from active sports he continued to support and promote any sport activity connected to Sri Lanka. His love for country and sports were synonymous. He moved to Australia with his family in 1977, but this did not prevent him from representing Sri Lanka as an official at subsequent Olympic Games. Eddie was an asset to the work of the ASLC with his organising ability and enthusiasm, his gracious manner, and his contacts with many friends and associates. We salute this famous son of Sri Lanka, and offer our prize as a mark of respect and admiration for this great friend of our two countries. ------------------------------------------- Item 4. Documentary film School of Music-Conservatorium, Monash University and Monash Asia Institute Thursday 20 October 2005, 5.00 pm - 7.00pm Burchill Rooms, Performing Arts Complex (Building 68), Monash University Clayton campus "Seudati: Percakapan dengan Seniman" (Seudati: Conversations with Artists) A documentary feature film in Bahasa Indonesia and Acehnese languages with English subtitle. Presented by Mr Iwan Amir, PhD student, School of Music-Conservatorium, Monash University Abstract Seudati is considered to be the foremost example of the Acehnese traditional performing arts. It is a combination of singing and dancing that can include social and political commentary. Combining live performances and conversations with seudati exponents, this documentary - the first on the subject - provides an extensive insight into this art form, which has at times earned support and at others drew condemnation from Acehnese elites throughout its history. The film, based on Amir's interviews with leading artists in Aceh in 2004, will run for approx 78 mins, followed by discussion, questions and answers. Enquiries: Professor Margaret Kartomi, School of Music - Conservatorium, Faculty of Arts Email: Margaret.Kartomi@arts.monash.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 5. Book Launch “State, Community and Neighbourhood in Princely North India, c.1900-1950” Author: Ian Copland Friday 21 October 2005, 1.15 pm Burchill Rooms, Performing Arts Precinct, Building 68 Monash University Clayton campus You are cordially invited to the launch by Professor Robin Jeffrey, Head of School of Politics, LaTrobe University and President of the Asian Studies Association of Australia of Ian Copland’s book, “State, Community and Neighbourhood in Princely North India, c.1900-1950” London: Palgrave, 2005 RSVP (for catering purposes) to Susan Grist, susan.grist@arts.monash.edu.au, by 18 October 2005. ------------------------------------------- Item 6. India Update Saturday 22 October 2005 Bank West Theatrette Curtin University of Technology Perth WA, Australia This year's India Update will consist of four sessions: 1. India's role in the Asian Region India-China economic and strategic linkages (Prof A. K. Bagchi) India's economic and political links with Singapore and South-East Asia (Faizal Yahya) 2. Australia and India - future economic and cultural relationships. The growth and internationalisation of Indian businesses. 3. Political developments in India and the performance of the new UPA national government. 4. India as a regional power: International and strategic implications Enquiries: Assoc Prof Bob Pokrant Director, South Asia Research Unit Division of Humanities, Curtin University of Technology email:B.Pokrant@curtin.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 7. Seminar The Asian Arts Society of Australia (TAASA) Wednesday 26 October 2005, 6.15 pm for 6.30 pm start Victorian Writers Centre, first floor, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street. "Tibetan Treasure Finding - An Ancient Tradition" Speaker: Ms Diana Cousens, PhD Candidate, Monash Asia Institute More information will be provided when details become available. Enquiries: Ms Diana Cousens, =============================================================== Other items of interest =============================================================== Item 8. Book Launch "State Terrorism and Political Identity in Indonesia: Fatally Belonging" Ariel Heryanto, The University of Melbourne, Australia, Routledge (September 2005) The book launch will take place at: The University of Melbourne’s Bookshop Tuesday, 18 October 2005, 5-7pm By Dr. Robert Cribb, Australian National University About the book Approximately one million innocent Indonesians were killed by their fellow nationals, neighbours and kin at the height of an anti-communist campaign in the mid-1960s. This book investigates the profound political consequences of these mass killings in Indonesia upon public life in the subsequent decades, highlighting the historical specificities of the violence and comparable incidents of identity politics in more recent times. About the author Ariel Heryanto is a Senior Lecturer at Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies, The University of Melbourne. His research interests include cultural studies, media and identity politics. He co-edited Challenging Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia: Comparing Indonesia and Malaysia (RoutledgeCurzon, 2003). For more details: http://home.pacific.net.au/~arielh/041537152X/index.htm RSVP by 11 October 2005, to Sheridan Nanscawen ------------------------------------------- Item 9. Asian Studies Research Survey WIN $100 WORTH OF BOOKS! The National Library of Australia and the International Centre of Excellence in Asia-Pacific Studies (ANU) invite you to contribute to a national survey of Asian studies researchers. We are gathering information on trends in current research on Asia, and whether researchers have access to the information and resources they need for their research. Are libraries meeting the needs of today’s researchers? Is a Google search enough? If you have a view on this, please fill in the survey, which will take no more than five minutes to complete. If you wish to remain anonymous, please enter in the email address field. You will find the survey at http://iceaps.anu.edu.au/asianstudies_survey.html The information gathered will assist ICEAPS, the National Library and university libraries to better plan library and information services to support Asian studies researchers. Analysis of the results will be presented to the National Library’s Asia Research Forum, to be held in Canberra at the National Library on 24 October. All are welcome to attend the Forum. For information, go to: http://www.nla.gov.au/asian/asiaforum/asiaforum.html All those filling in the survey will go into a draw to win one of two Asia Bookroom gift vouchers or online credit to the value of $100 each. The prizes will be drawn during the Asia Research Forum on 24 October by Sally Burdon, proprietor of the Asia Bookroom. Winners will be notified by email on 25 October. ------------------------------------------- Item 10. Website of the month: Harappa http://www.harappa.com/welcome.html Ancient Harappa, founded over 5,000 years ago, was one of the world's first cities. Today it is the first ancient Indus urban center being researched with modern scientific and multi-disciplinary tools. A number of the world's leading Indus scholars, particularly those working at Harappa, share their work on this website. The goal is to make this little known civilization's rich heritage and new discoveries accessible to a wide audience. The other half of the Website deals with the other end of Indian and Pakistani history, the Raj, through early media - especially photographs and film as well as lithographs, engravings, postcards and other paper ephemera. Some of this media is outside the subcontinent today. Much, like archival film, has already been lost. This site's objective is to bring these long lost images from obscurity into the daylight of the web. ======================================================================== 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.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/ To unsubscribe, please send an email to: monash.asia.institute@adm.monash.edu.au ========================================================================