===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN 3/2006 7 March 2006 ===================================== In this bulletin 1. Seminar: Historical hatred: the roots of Cambodian hostility toward the Vietnamese 2. Distinguished Visitor Seminar: Where Did Shakyamuni (Buddha) Die? 3. New MAI Lunchtime Seminar Series: 'Reports from Asia' 4. MAI Postgraduate seminar: Democracy in Indonesia and the Middle East 5. Saving the Earth: A Case Study from Java 6. Japanese Studies Centre Seminars 7. Indian Foreign Affairs Journal 8. Hugh Owen Memorial Prize for 2005 9. Exhibition: Japanese Woodblock Prints 10. Exhibition: Contemporary Miniatures and New Art from South Asia 11. Lecture: The Moluccan Museum in The Netherlands 12. Development Studies Seminars 13. A Special Seminar on Resisting Racism 14. Japanese Erotic Literature and Film 15. 35th Annual Conference on South Asia 16. Vacancy: Head of the South Asian Studies Programme, NUS 17. Website of the month: East Timor Women Australia ________ Item 1 CSEAS Seminar The Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute, weekly seminar series continues with a presentation by new ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr Trudy Jacobsen Thursday 9 March 2006, 11.00 am - 12.30 pm Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) South, Monash University Clayton campus Topic: "Historical hatred: the roots of Cambodian hostility toward the Vietnamese" Speaker: Dr Trudy Jacobsen, ARC Postdoctoral Fellow 2006-2008, jointly in the CSEAS, MAI and the Anthropology program, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts, Monash University Abstract: Cambodian antipathy towards the Vietnamese is deeply ingrained. Yuan, a term denoting Vietnamese ethnicity, is one of the most derogatory insults Cambodians can hurl at each other during an argument. Corrupt politicians are said to have links to Vietnam; prostitutes are popularly believed to be of Vietnamese descent. Pro-Vietnamese conspiracies are revealed every week in the press. Past sovereigns of Cambodia who were supported by the Vietnamese are loathed, whereas those placed on the throne by the Thai are lauded. In the past two decades, this hostility has often resulted in ethnic violence towards the large population of Vietnamese cobblers, tailors, and fishing families resident in Cambodia. Explanations for Cambodian ill-will towards the Vietnamese are vague and unsatisfactory, usually relating to a time in the distant past when the Vietnamese are alleged to have killed hundreds of Cambodians in the course of constructing a canal between the two countries, or elucidated in terms of Vietnamese encroachment of Cambodian territory over the past 150 years. So entrenched is the Cambodian hatred of the Vietnamese that the role the latter played in liberating Cambodia from the bloody Democratic Kampuchea regime in 1979 was quickly forgotten in a wave of resentment at the imposition of Vietnamese practices onto Cambodian culture in the 1980s. Yet many of these justifications for hostility appear to be unfounded. A Cambodian king of the seventeenth century, for example, invited the Vietnamese 'encroachment'; another turned toward the court at Hué for assistance against the Thai, setting a precedent for Vietnamese involvement in Cambodian politics. This paper explores these and other explanations for Cambodian hostility toward the Vietnamese in order to determine whether this 'historical hatred' is based in fact or is being perpetuated for more sinister political ends. About the speaker: Dr Trudy Jacobsen was recently awarded an ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship to come to the CSEAS, MAI and the Anthropology program, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University for three years from 2006-2008. Her ARC APD research project is entitled 'Sexual Contracts in Burma and Cambodia: Intersections of Desire, Duty, and Debt'. She has a BA Honours (1999) in history and anthropology, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Classical Languages East and West (2004) from the University of Queensland, where she also completed her PhD in History (2004), now published as "Women, Time and Power in Cambodia", Copenhagen: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Press, 2005. Before joining Monash Trudy was a Lecturer at the University of Queensland and a Research Fellow at the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance, at Griffith University. ALL WELCOME Enquiries, Dr Penelope Graham, Senior Lecturer and Head of Anthropology, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts, Director, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute and Executive Director, Herb Feith Foundation Email: penny.graham@arts.monash.edu.au ________ Item 2. Seminar: Where did Buddha die? By the distinguished Humbolt University Scholar Professor Toni Huber Wednesday 15 March 2006, 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Clemenger BBDO Auditorium National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne The lecture will be followed by questions and answers, afternoon tea and a viewing of the Gallery's Buddhist collection. Talk Title: "Where Did Shakyamuni Die? Tibetan Buddhism and the Shifting Terrain of the Buddha" Outline: This lecture calls into question the modern assumption of a stable identification of the original holy places in India that are associated with the life of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Drawing upon examples from the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the modern scholarship of Buddhist Studies, the lecture will propose an alternative perspective, namely that there has only ever been a shifting terrain of the Buddha which has been reinvented over time by a series of interested interpreters. Speaker: Toni Huber holds the Chair of Tibetan Studies at the Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany, where he pursues research and teaching on the anthropology and cultural history of Tibetan and closely related Himalayan societies. His scholarly interests include ritual and religion, social practices and attitudes relating to the natural environment, the ethnography of Tibeto-Burman speaking populations of the eastern Himalaya, and aspects of development and change in modern Tibetan societies. How to get to the National Gallery of Victoria: see http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvinternational/location.html RSVP with subject heading "Tibetan Buddhism Seminar" to Dr Tony Donaldson, tony.donaldson@adm.monash.edu.au ________ Item 3. New MAI Lunchtime Seminar Series: 'Reports from Asia' Time: Wednesday 22 March 2006, 1.00 pm - 2.00pm Room S822, Monash University Clayton campus In response to popular demand, Monash Asia Institute will soon launch a new lunchtime seminar series titled 'Reports from Asia' in which returning scholars will be invited to speak about their fieldwork experiences. "Reports from Asia: The state of music in Afghanistan" Dr Ahmad Naser Sarmast returned to MAI after a three-week field trip to Kabul in late 2005. The purpose of his trip was to assess the state of music and music education in Kabul, and to develop a project for the revival and promotion of music in Afghanistan. In this first of this seminar series Dr Sarmast will report on his recent experiences in Kabul in the context of his current research. Enquiries: Dr Tony Donaldson, tony.donaldson@adm.monash.edu.au ________ Item 4. MAI Postgraduate seminar: Mr. Louay Abdulbaki Friday 24 March 2006 Room S822, Level 8 South, Building 11 (Menzies) Monash Asia Institute, Monash University Clayton campus "Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Democratization in the Muslim World: Indonesia and the Arab World" Speaker: Mr. Louay Abdulbaki, PhD Candidate, Monash Asia Institute Abstract The presentation aims to explore and critically evaluate the theoretical approaches to the study of democratization in the Muslim world, in general, and in Indonesia and the Arab world, in particular. By analyzing some of the strengths and weaknesses of the modernization and political culture approaches, on the one hand, and the actor-oriented studies, that mainly focus on the roles and choices of political actors, on the other, this paper will hopefully provide valuable insights into the question of why Indonesia has successfully moved in democratic direction while the Arab world has not. The paper will also attempt at identifying some gaps in the literature, so that reflections for future direction and further research can be proposed. About the speaker Mr. Louay Abdulbaki is a PhD Candidate at Monash Asia Institute. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts (Islamic studies) with 1st Class Honours from The University of Melbourne, and a B. A. (Politics) from Victoria University. He is the author of two Arabic books 'The Roots of the Islamic Political Thought and the Stages of its Development' (Wahyul-Kalam, Beirut, 2004), and 'Against Modernity?! .. Modern Concepts in Contemporary Arabic Discourse between Abstraction and Concrete Connotations' (in press). Mr Abdulbaki writes regularly on Arab and Syrian politics. RSVP with subject heading "Indonesia and the Arab World Seminar" to Dr Tony Donaldson, tony.donaldson@adm.monash.edu.au ________ Item 5. Saving the Earth : A Case Study from Java Hosted by Monash Asia Institute and Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Thursday 6 April 2006, 11.00 am - 12.30 pm Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) South, Monash University Clayton campus "Saving the Earth : A Case Study from Java" Dr Lea Jellinek, Monash Asia Institute and Mr Iswanto, Polytechnic of Environmental Health, Jogjakarta About the seminar Plastic waste is choking the rivers, drains and rice fields of Java, Indonesia. The air is grey with the smoke of burning rubbish. In Jogyakarta, simple and appropriate technology combined with good leadership and community involvement, has encouraged a village of 800 people to separate and recycle their rubbish and re-green their community. This program is now spreading to other urban villages of Indonesia. About the speakers Iswanto, (MSc Tropical Medicine, BEd Environmental Health) is a Lecturer at the Polytechnic of Environmental Health in Jogjakarta. Iswanto has just arrived in Australia on his first journey out of Indonesia. He is on a three-month fact finding tour to learn about Australia's best practices in recycling, sanitation and water management for application in urban and village Indonesia. Lea Jellinek (PhD) has worked as consultant anthropologist for many international agencies and volunteers as a community development worker. She was Senior Lecturer at Melbourne University and is currently Research Associate at Monash Asia Institute, Monash University. Since 2003 Lea and her partner, Ed Kiefer, (MA, MSc) an environmentalist and health educator, have worked as advisors to the Sukunan Waste Management and Sustainable Living Program. More information: Dr Tony Donaldson (tony.donaldson@adm.monash.edu.au) with "Recycle Programme" in subject heading of email. ________ Item 6. Japanese Studies Centre Seminar Programme in March 2006 The Japanese Studies Centre seminars will be held in the Auditorium of the Japanese Studies Centre, Building 54, Monash University Clayton campus Tuesday March 7, 1:00 pm "Comparative Philosophy as Nationalist Propaganda: re examining early modern constructs of the history of Japanese (Tokugawa) Confucianism" (Kiri Paramore, University of Tokyo) Friday March 10, 3:00 pm "Shadows of war: Australian memories of Japan" (Ryoko Adachi and Andrew McKay, Honorary Fellows, Japanese Studies Centre; authors of Shadows of War, Indra Publications, 2005) Commentator: Dr Charles Schencking, MIALS, University of Melbourne ALL WELCOME Enquiries: Ms Hiroko Liu, japanese.studies.centre@arts.monash.edu.au ________ Item 7. Indian Foreign Affairs Journal The first issue of the Indian Foreign Affairs Journal - a quarterly of the Association of Indian diplomats - is now available. The inaugural issue was launched by the Prime Minister of India Dr. Man Mohan Singh on February 16th, 2006. The journal is a Quarterly of the Association of Indian Diplomats. The editor of the series is Prof S D Muni, a leading scholar of regional security and a fellow of the Monash Asia Institute. An international board has been appointed and Prof A M Vicziany, Director of the MAI, has agreed to serve on it. To subscribe email: cupdel@cupind.com Website: http://www.foundationbooksindia.com ________ Item 8. Hugh Owen Memorial Prize for 2005 Hugh Owen Memorial Prize For 2005 Each year, the South Asian Studies Association awards a prize to the best essay on a subject connected with South Asia written in that year by an undergraduate student at an Australian university. The Hugh Owen Prize for 2005 has been awarded to Mr Michael Feller, a student at Monash University, for an essay entitled: "The Indian National Army: A Force For Unity in a Divided India". The judges, Kama McLean of the University of NSW, Adrian Carton of Macquarie University and Tim Allender of the University of Sydney (SASA Secretary), praised the generally high standard of the entries received, which augers well for the future of South Asian graduate research. ________ Item 9. Exhibition: Japanese Woodblock Prints Exhibition Dates Tuesday 14 February - Saturday 18 March 2006 East & West Art, 665 High Street, East Kew, Victoria 3102 Gallery Open Monday-Friday 11-5pm, Saturday 10-3pm This exhibition of unusual Japanese Woodblock prints includes Hiroshige, Sharaku, Kunichika, Eizan. Website: http://www.eastwestart.com.au ________ Item 10. LILA/PLAY: Contemporary Miniatures and New Art from South Asia Presented in conjunction with Festival Melbourne 2006, the Cultural Festival of the Commonwealth Games, Melbourne 2006 Exhibition Dates Wednesday 8 March - Saturday 1 April 2006 SPAN Gallery, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Special preview Presented by Haema Sivanesan, curator and visiting artist Wednesday 8 March, 6-8pm SPAN Gallery, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne This significant new exhibition will explore contemporary art from South Asia and the diaspora emerging from the tradition of miniature painting. Lila is the Sanskrit for play and also references miniature painting as it describes a characteristic thematic. Painting, sculpture, installation and video work from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia will be featured. Official website for Festival Melbourne 2006: http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Festival+Melbourne2006/ ________ Item 11. Lecture: The Moluccan Museum in The Netherlands This talk is hosted by the Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Deakin University Wednesday 8 March, from 4:00pm The Blue Room, Building B Room 2.20, Deakin University (for a map of the campus see http://www.deakin.edu.au/campuses/burwood-map.php) About the lecture The Moluccan Historical Museum in Utrecht was established in 1986 as part of negotiations between the Dutch government and representatives of the Moluccan community in the Netherlands, aimed at improving the poor relations that had existed from the arrival of Moluccans in 1951. The aim of the Museum is to preserve and to present Moluccan history and culture. As an institution, it is considered by the community of fulfilling an important role in transferring knowledge to future generations of Moluccans that live in the Netherlands. As traditional ways of transferring knowledge are changing, the role of institutions such as the museum is gaining more importance. Equally important is its role in telling the story of Moluccans to a broader audience. As the knowledge of the colonial past of the Netherlands is diminishing, the museum is becoming an ally in a more general attempt to include the colonial past (and the perspective of those involved) within the national history of the Netherlands. At the same time the migrant experience of the Moluccans in the Netherlands is gaining renewed importance within the present day of the nature of Dutch society and the way it is dealing with migrants. About the speaker Wim Manuhutu is a historian and has been director of the Moluccan Historical Museum since 1987. There is no entry charge and everyone is welcome Enquiries should be directed to Dr Joost Cote on 9244 3941 or joost.cote@deakin.edu.au ________ Item 12. Development Studies Seminars School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies The University of Melbourne First Semester 2006 Day/Time: Thursdays 12.30 pm - 2.00pm Location: Room B1.24, 221 Bouverie Street (Carlton) 9 March 2006 "Community Leadership - Women's Place" K'nyaw Paw, Karen Women's Organization & Jose Mott, International Women's Development Agency 16 March 2006 "Managing Development Programs in South Asia - A Long-term Perspective" Bruce Eady, Regional Senior Program Officer - South Asia, Oxfam Australia 30 March 2006 "Population Mobility, Agrarian Transition and HIV/AIDS in China" Dr Mark Wang, School of Anthropology, Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne 27 April 2006 "Soft and Hard Planning for Asian Mega-Urban Regions. Globalization, Indigenization and the Culture of Managing Urban Space" Professor Emeritus Terry McGee, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia 11 May 2006 "Conceptualising Processes of Civility in the Context of Conflict in Indonesia" Dr Wendy Mee, School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University 25 May 2006 "Humanitarian Assistance to Women in Post- Conflict Situations" Dr Susan Blackburn, School of Social & Political Inquiry, Monash University Enquiries: Dr Salim Lakha (Coordinator, Development Studies Program) Email: salim@unimelb.edu.au ________ Item 13. A Special Seminar on Resisting Racism "Diversity, Disadvantage, Discrimination: Migrants, Refugees and Racism in Australia" Friday, 31 March, 8:30am - 12:30pm NSW Parliament House Macquarie Street, SYDNEY 2000 About the seminar This seminar will endeavour to bring together the key people, religious and ethnic community leaders, to explore how to achieve respect for diversity and sustain harmony in our society. The aim is to devise a strategy to address contemporary race relationship and human rights issues, in particular resisting racism. Ironically harmony is at an all time low given the recent riots and violence. This seminar will seek to identify the barriers to harmony in the Australian community, and provide a forum where real solutions are explored. It is hoped that the outcome of this seminar will be a springboard to action that will make multiculturalism and respect for diversity a lived reality in the Australian community. Fees: $25 (Members), $50 (Non-members) Advance booking essential by Tuesday 28 March 2006, seats are extremely limited. STRICTLY NO BOOKING AT THE DOOR Enquiries should be directed to Maqsood Alshams on 0422 085 222 or maqsooda@save.org.au ________ Item 14. Japanese Erotic Literature and Film 12 April 2006, 5.15pm to 8.15 pm Theatre C, Old Arts Building University of Melbourne Lacanian Psychoanalytic Seminars Japanese Erotic Literature and Film Screening: "Odd Obsession" Directed by Kon Ichikawa Enquiries: Oscar Zentner, Department of History & Philosophy of Science o.zentner@hps.unimelb.edu.au ________ Item 15. Call for Proposals - 35th Annual Conference on South Asia The 35th Annual Conference on South Asia will be held from October 19 - 22, 2006 at the Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI. Please use our website at http://www.wisc.edu/southasiaconference to submit your panel, single paper or roundtable proposal. General submission instructions are included which we ask that you read closely. All related information regarding the conference is also given on our website. The deadline for a 200 word abstract is APRIL 1, 2006. Enquiries should be directed to the conference coordinator at conference@southasia.wisc.edu or call (608) 262-4884. ________ Item 16. Vacancy: Head of the South Asian Studies Programme, National University of Singapore Applications are invited for the position of Head of the South Asian Studies Programme (SASP) at the level of Associate Professor / Professor. This is a senior appointment. The successful candidate will be expected to possess an international research reputation and proven administrative experience and leadership qualities. A competitive remuneration package, based on the qualifications and experience of the candidate, can be expected. The appointment may be on tenure or term contract. Applicants must submit (1) a full vita and (2) a statement detailing the kind of contributions he / she can make towards the appointment. (3) In addition, applicants must arrange for three academic referees to write recommendations on their behalf. The deadline for all these submissions is 15 May 2006, and all materials should be sent to: Chair, South Asian Studies Programme Search Committee Office of Programmes, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, 5 Arts Link, Singapore 117570 Tel: (65) 6516 5276 (Miss Vani); Fax: (65) 6773 3291 Address for email submissions and further enquiries to faskinp@nus.edu.sg Websites http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/sas/ ________ Item 17. Website of the month: East Timor Women Australia http://www.timorwomen.org/index.html By empowering women through an equitable development programme, the ETWA (East Timor Women Australia Inc) aims to ensure that women play a major role in the socio-economic development of East Timor. The ETWA website offers you the opportunity to discover their programmes and gives information about how you can support their work. ===================================================================== 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 =====================================================================