===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN 11/2005 9 September 2005 ===================================== In this bulletin 1. CSEAS Seminars this month 2. Seminar: The Hindu Right and Indian Nationalist Movement 3. Seminar: A Tibetan Garden in Calcutta 4. MAI PhD Seminar: Money Laundering and Capital Flight 5. MAI PhD Seminar: e-Learning at Tertiary Military Institutions (Malaysia) 6. Seminar: Australia as South Pacific Superpower 7. Engineering Education Conference 8. Seminar: Porous Boundaries and Divided Selves 9. ABERU 2005 Conference 10. Symposium: Religion, Finance and Ethics: Islamic and Western perspectives 11. Edward Gray Memorial Prize 12. India Update 2005 13. Seminar: Tibetan Treasure Finding 14. Books donation to Afghanistan 15. Monash Youth Ambassador to Cambodia 16. Audio and Transcript of 3rd Herb Feith Lecture 17. Thangka Conservation and Preservation Course 18. Seeking actors for Chinese play in Melbourne 19. Conference: Media and Identity in Asia 20. Conference: Community Development in a 'Global Risk Society' 21. Alice Thorner: A Personal Tribute 22. Website of the month: Australian Development Gateway ------------------------------------------- Item 1. CSEAS Seminars Thursday 15 September 2005 Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus "Reconfiguring religion, power and the moral order in Cambodia" Emeritus Prof David Chandler, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute --- Thursday 22 September 2005 Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus "Thaksin's war? Alternative understandings of the conflict in Southern Thailand" Professor Duncan McCargo, University of Leeds Abstract In this presentation, Duncan McCargo will argue that the violent conflict in the South of Thailand that has claimed over 700 lives since January 2004 is best understood as the result of domestic political issues, rather than a manifestation of Islamic militancy or 'terrorism'. The upsurge in violence is closely linked to misguided policies adopted by the Thaksin Shinawatra government, reflecting the prime minister's determination to make inept personal interventions in a wide range of sensitive issues. 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. Seminar on the Hindu Right and the Indian Nationalist Movement Monash Asia Institute 21 September 2005, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm Room S822, Level 8 South, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus "Aspects of the Hindu Right in India during the period of the National Movement." Speaker: Mr Kannan Srinivasan, PhD candidate, Monash Asia Institute This paper is not comprehensive: but examines three issues selectively which I believe have not been sufficiently discussed - The collaboration of the Hindu Right with the British Government of India; the collaboration with the Indian National Congress; the collaboration with European Fascism, and the British perception of European Fascism. ALL WELCOME Enquiries and RSVP (essential) to Juliet Yee with "Hindu Right Seminar" in the subject heading of your message. ------------------------------------------- Item 3. Buddhism Seminar Thursday 22 September 2005, 6.00 pm Level 7, Monash University Conference Centre, 30 Collins St, Melbourne Monash Asia Institute presents "A Tibetan Garden in Calcutta: The Third Panchen Lama's Fascination with India and its Legacy" An illustrated lecture by Professor Toni Huber (Zentralasien-Seminar, Humboldt University, Berlin) Professor Toni Huber is the world's leading authority on the tradition of pilgrimage in the Tibetan cultural world. His most recent work, The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain (Oxford University Press, New York, 1999) is considered to be a standard work on pilgrimage. Professor Huber's most recent research forms the basis of the present lecture. By the 18th century for a variety of reasons, the Third Panchen Lama caused a small temple and garden to be built in Calcutta and from its inception in 1778 it functioned as a centre for Himalayan pilgrims and traders, at least until the early 19th cent. The lecture will explore, with illustrations, the hidden reasons which led to its foundation and its fate after that time, including the current state of the temple and its garden in modern Calcutta. Details: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/events.html#huber Free and open to the public - ALL WELCOME RSVP (essential) to monash.asia.institute@adm.monash.edu.au with "Tibetan Garden" in the subject heading of your message. ------------------------------------------- Item 4. MAI PhD Confirmation seminar Friday 23 September 2005, 10.00 am Room S822, Level 8 South, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus "Money Laundering and capital flight" Speaker: Mr Kannan Srinivasan, PhD candidate, Monash Asia Institute It is my argument that what is called money laundering - that is the concealment and transfer of the profits of, or funds required for, crime such as terrorism that is criminal in every jurisdiction - and capital flight, often only criminal in the country of origin - are intimately connected. They use the identical methodology - which developed to aid capital flight - of overinvoicing and underinvoicing trade to transfer funds, and concealing illicit payments in legal transfers; of tax havens; and of the management of such funds, by the international private banking business. I look at examples from a variety of countries. The failure to regulate such transfers, tax havens and private banking is now exploited by terrorists, narcotics dealers and arms dealers. ALL WELCOME Enquiries and RSVP to Juliet Yee with "Money Laundering Seminar" in subject heading of your message. ------------------------------------------- Item 5. MAI PhD Confirmation seminar Friday 23 September 2005, 1.00 pm Room S822, Level 8 South, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus "The Need for e-Learning and Simulation at Tertiary Military Institutions: The Military Academy of Malaysia compared with the U.S. and Australian Experience". Speaker: Mrs Jowati Juhary, PhD Candidate, Monash Asia Institute This thesis identifies the need for e-learning and simulations at the Military Academy of Malaysia (MAM) with comparison to the U.S. and Australian military academies. The U.S. Military spends more money on e-learning and simulations than any other agency in the world. So how productive has their training programme been? This is a vital question for Malaysia. This confirmation paper takes the form of a literature review of the key defence, learning and technology issues. About the speaker Mrs Jowati Juhary is a faculty member of the Military Academy of Malaysia. Her studies at Monash Asia Institute, Monash University are sponsored by the Malaysian Government. Mrs Juhary holds a Bachelor Degree in Education and a Masters Degree (Applied Linguistics) from National University of Malaysia. She is interested in educational technology, applied linguistics and cross cultural studies. Professor A M Bagchi, Institute of Development Studies, University of Kolkata, will be in attendance in his capacity as co-supervisor with Professor A M Vicziany, main supervisor. ALL WELCOME Enquiries and RSVP (essential) to Juliet Yee with "e-Learning Seminar" in subject heading of your message. ------------------------------------------- Item 6. Seminar Monday 26 September 2005, 3.00 - 4.30pm Room W204, Menzies Building (11), Monash University Clayton campus "Australia as South Pacific Superpower: Lessons for the U.S.A.?" Gerard Finin Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Centre Australia's increasingly prominent role in the South Pacific presents an important opportunity for international leadership in strengthening and supporting Pacific island nations. Yet the record of successful Australian involvement in the region is mixed. Recent efforts by Australia to facilitate state building and advance regional integration appear to offer lessons for the global community, including the United States. How can Australia build on these lessons, both positive and negative, to improve its relations and gain stronger support among Pacific island nations? Will Australian policy regarding "preventive" intervention in the region come to serve as a model for marshalling the costly and long-term commitment needed to ensure the success of nation building endeavours elsewhere? Gerard "Jerry" Finin is Deputy Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He is affiliated with the University of Hawaii's School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies. His research focuses on politics and development in the Pacific islands region. Publications include "Coups, Conflicts and Crises: The New Pacific Way?" and "Small is Viable: The Global Ebbs and Flows of a Pacific Atoll Nation." He is also the author of "Contours of Cordillera Consciousness: Making the Igorot" (Ateneo Press, 2005). Enquiries and RSVP to Juliet Yee with "Aust - South Pacific Seminar" in subject heading of your message. ------------------------------------------- Item 7. Engineering Education Conference UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (UICEE, Monash University) 4th Asia Pacific Forum on Engineering and Technology Education 26-29 September 2005 Menam Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand The objective of the Forum is to bring together educators from the Asia-Pacific region to continue discussion about common issues in engineering and technology education; to discuss the need for innovation in engineering and technology education; and to foster the links, collaboration and friendships already established in the region; and to pursue the goals formulated in the action oriented agenda. This forum is partly supported by the Research Unit on Cultures and Technologies in Asia (RUCTA), Monash Asia Institute (MAI). For more information see: http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/uicee/meetings/4thAPFETE.html Enquiries: Mr Arun S. Patil, Forum Manager, UICEE, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University e-mail: uicee@eng.monash.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 8. Seminar Tuesday 27 September 2005, 12.00 noon Room S822, Level 8 South, Menzies Building (11) Monash University Clayton campus 'Porous Boundaries and Divided Selves' Prof Jasodhara Bagchi Jasodhara Bagchi is currently Chairperson of the West Bengal Women's Commission and Adviser to the School of Women's Studies at Jadavpur University, Calcutta. She is also adviser to a number of other organizations, such as Majlis, a legal and cultural resource centre working in the area of women and minority rights. Professor Jasodhara Bagchi has published extensively in her areas of specialization - Nineteenth Century English and Bengali literature, Women's Studies, Colonialism and Cross-Cultural Studies, Media Studies - both in English and Bengali. Her latest edited books include "The Changing Status of Women in West Bengal 1970-2000: The Challenge Ahead" (Sage, 2005); (with Shubhoranjan Dasgupta), "The Trauma and the Triumph: Gender and the Partition in Eastern India" (Popular Prakashan, 2004). ALL WELCOME Enquiries and RSVP to Juliet Yee with "Divided Selves Seminar" in subject heading of your message. ------------------------------------------- Item 9. ABERU Conference 2005 The Monash Asia Institute is pleased to act as a sponsor with the Asian Business and Economics Research Unit for this conference. 29-30 September 2005 Link Theatre, Building S, Monash University Caulfield campus The Asian Business and Economics Research Unit hosts its conference on "Globalisation and Labour Mobility in India and China" on 29 - 30 September 2005. A number of prominent keynote speakers have been invited, among whom is Professor Amiya Kumar Bagchi, one of the most renowned political economists in the world today. Professor Bagchi of the Institute of Development Studies in Kolkata is presently Visiting Professor at Curtin University in Perth. At the Conference Professor Bagchi will speak on "The dynamics of segmented labour markets and migrations: China-India comparisons". Prof. Bagchi has authored over 250 academic articles and has authored and edited numerous books and monographs. The more recent of his works include "The Developmental State in History and in the Twentieth Century", (2004) and "Capital and Labour Redefined: India and the Third World" (2002) for which he was presented the Muzaffar Ahmad award in 2004. In recognition of his work in the field of banking and finance, the Government of India has this year conferred upon him the Padma Shri. This conference is partly sponsored by Monash Asia Institute, Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, Department of Economics (Monash University), Department of Management(Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University) and Business Development and Marketing (Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University). Full details about the conference: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/units/aberu/conference/index.php ------------------------------------------- Item 10. Symposium Saturday, 1 October 2005, 9.00 am - 4.00 pm Link Theatre (2nd floor, building 'S'), Monash University Caulfield Campus. "Religion, Finance and Ethics: Islamic and Western perspectives" This symposium explores the relationship between religion, finance, and ethics in both Islamic and Western perspectives. It considers the common principles lying behind the prohibition on interest in Islam and the Christian Middle Ages, as well as the practical ways in which contemporary institutional and regulatory structures attempt to put these principles into practice. The symposium brings together distinguished authorities in Western and Islamic law with specialists from the Department of Accounting and Finance and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology at Monash University. It is sponsored jointly by the Muslim Community Cooperative of Australia, the Faculty of Business and Economics, and the Faculty of Arts, Monash University. RSVP to Ibrahim.Abraham@arts.monash.edu.au by September 22, 2005. ------------------------------------------- Item 11. Edward Gray Memorial Prize 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 12. 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 13. Seminar National Gallery of Victoria 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, ------------------------------------------- Item 14. Books donation to Afghanistan The Monash Asia Institute facilitated the donation of almost 1100 books to the University of Kabul library in Afghanistan. The books include journals and other publications covering economics, politics, foreign policy and the social sciences. The publications were saved from the Faculty of Business and Economics' Donald Cochrane Library at the Clayton campus when it was undergoing refurbishment in 2003. Many of the books date from the 1960s can no longer be bought. The donation will assist in the rebuilding of the Library of the University of Kabul which was completely destroyed during the rule of the Taliban. For full story: http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20050831/afghan.html For you have books or journals excess to need, kindly contact us as we hope to deliver more books to the University of Kabul. ------------------------------------------- Item 15. Monash Youth Ambassador to Cambodia Shadow puppetry exponent and Monash Asia Institute honorary research fellow Ms Jane (Jai) Hartnell is heading to Cambodia next month as one of Australia's Youth Ambassadors. While in Cambodia Ms Hartnell will link up with World Education and work with shadow puppetry troupes to further their professional development and financial viability. Her 12-month trip has been funded by AusAid's Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program. The program places skilled young Australians aged 18 to 30 in developing countries through the Asia Pacific region for three to 12 months. The institute and Monash's Department of Fine Arts at the Caulfield campus provided a joint submission to AusAid to fund Ms Hartnell's project. Full story: http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20050831/ambassador.html ------------------------------------------- Item 16. Audio and Transcript of 3rd Herb Feith Lecture The transcript and audio file of the public lecture "Can Indonesia hold? Unity and diversity revisited" presented on 4 August 2005 by Dr Joan Hardjono at the third Herb Feith Lecture is now available at the Asia Pacific Website of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The transcript of the lecture can be read at: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/infocus/s1429967.htm To listen to the lecture online, visit the ABC Asia Pacific Website and follow the link under "highlights" on the right hand column: http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/ The CSEAS acknowledges with gratitude to Dr Joan Hardjono and the ABC for making available the transcript and audio files of the lecture. =============================================================== Other items of interest =============================================================== Item 17. Thangka Conservation and Preservation: A 2-Day Course 17-18 September 2005, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, Venue: TBA The Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation at the University of Melbourne is delighted to host this special course. The weekend will introduce participants to the care and conservation of Thangkas. Buddhist practitioners, art collectors, students; anyone with an interested in Thangkas and their preservation are invited to attend. Each day offers illustrated talks as well as question and answer time. Participants are encouraged to bring their own Thangkas as examples. The course will be led by international expert in Thangka conservation, Ann Shaftel. What is a Thangka? Thangkas are a Sacred Art form used in Buddhist practice. Thangkas are intended to serve as a record of, and guide to, contemplative experience. They are three-dimensional objects composed of a picture panel (painted or embroidered) on a textile mounting, and often include a silk cover, leather corners, wooden dowels at the top and bottom with metal or wooden decorative knobs on the bottom dowel. Biography: Ann Shaftel Ann Shaftel is an international expert on Thangka Conservation. She has published and lectured on Thangkas and served as Consultant and Conservator for monastic and museum collections for the past 30 years. Ann is a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation, Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation and a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators. Ann holds an MS in Conservation from University of Delaware/Winterthur, an MA in Oriental Art History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a BA from Oberlin College. She also worked and studied at the ICCROM Centre in Rome. She writes a syndicated newspaper column on Art Conservation, and appears on radio and television as a Guest Expert. Ann apprenticed to Tibetan master painters for 15 years and frequently interviews Buddhist teachers about Thangkas. Cost: $110.00 (GST inclusive) For enquiries please contact: Christine Elias, The Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, Tel: (03) 8344 7989, Email: celias@unimelb.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 18. Seeking actors for play about Chinese students La Mama Theatre in Melbourne will be running a play entitled, "Kites of Broken Strings" in November or thereabouts. The play, written by Melbourne-based freelance playwright, Jianguo Wu, highlights the plight of those Chinese students who were left stranded in Australia after Tiananmen Square. There will be two versions of the play - in English and Chinese and actors are required for the different versions: For the English version: Three male Asian actors - The age range: one between 40 and 60, and two between 25 and 30. Two female Asian actors - The age range: between 22 and 30. For Chinese version: Three male Asian actors, fluent in Mandarin - The age range: one of them between 40 and 60, and two between 25 and 30. Two female Asian actors, fluent in Mandarin - The age range: between 22 and 30. Two male white Australian, fluent in Mandarin - The age ranges between 25 and 50. For further information, please contact Jianguo on 0423269917 or jianguo91@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------- Item 19. Conference 15-16 February 2006 Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak, Malaysia "Media and Identity in Asia" Submission of Abstracts: 30 September 2005 The debate over 'media/cultural imperialism' of the west has become complicated in the last two decades by the emergence of media technologies which allow messages and images, on the one hand, to be instantly broadcast across the globe; and on the other, to be produced relatively cheaply for narrow-casting to sub-national groups both within and across national boundaries. If the twentieth century was the era of the nation being imagined in print and broadcast media, then in the 21st century that imagination maybe under challenge by new technologies that enable the imagination of new politico-cultural topographies. The purpose of this conference is to address the shape of national, local, ethnicised and gendered identities being formulated by and in the media in Asia in the 21st century. The Media-Asia Research Group's inaugural conference is a collaborative effort between Curtin University's Bentley and Sarawak Campuses. More information: http://mediaandidentity.curtin.edu.my/ Enquiries: Media and Identity in Asia, Conference Secretariat Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia Email: marg2006@curtin.edu.my ------------------------------------------- Item 20. Conference hosted by Centre for Citizenship and Human Rights, Deakin University Community Development in a 'Global Risk Society' 20 - 22 April 2006 Melbourne, Australia Call for papers - due date: 30 November 2005 A number of social theorists are arguing that we now live in a global risk society where the identification of risk, risk assessment and risk management increasingly frame our everyday lives, often regardless of the objective reality of risk. Risk society enjoins us to think about threats and opportunities and to take responsibility for what happens in the future. The construction of risk society has important implications for the practice of community development. Community development is brought in to service civil society and the state, in times of disaster, to legitimate state action, and as a risk management strategy that offers to combat xenophobia and racism. Community development projects themselves are increasingly required to implement the tools of risk assessment, such as audits and evaluations. Community development programs also provide sites for creative risk-taking, for example, through the work of arts animateurs. Details: http://www.deakin.edu.au/arts/cchr/ Enquiries: Ms Anne OKeefe, Centre for Citizenship and Human Rights, Deakin University Email: anne.okeefe@deakin.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 21. Alice Thorner: A Personal Tribute by Sujata Patel Professor of Sociology, University of Pune Alice Thorner, my friend and collaborator died in Paris on Wednesday 24th August 2005. She was 87. She will be missed by many - Alice had wide contacts with four generations of scholars, activists and journalists with whom she observed, and joined forces to assess the manifold changes occurring in contemporary India. Though born an American, she was passionate about all things Indian. This passion was first instilled in 1939, when she met Indian liberal-left students in England where her husband, Daniel was doing research in the India Office Library on the railway system in India. She and her husband were part of a group of liberal and leftist intellectuals who looked with hope towards India when the Second World War was over with the death of fascism as a site for a new kind of social transformation, neither capitalist nor communist. She first visited India in 1945, and later came back in 1952 when Daniel took a sabbatical to do research on the agrarian situation in India. This visit meant for a year stretched out till 1960, when Daniel was asked to testify against himself and that of his colleagues by the Senate Investigative Committee, during the McCarthy years. When he refused to do so, his job and fellowship slipped out of his hands as did his passport. They remained in India and made it their home till 1960, when they shifted to Paris. In this period they did their best work as social scientists. Alice and Daniel were consistent dissenters without ever being ideologically close minds. This criticality fuelled all their work done on India including the masterpiece that they wrote titled, Land and Labour in India (now being reprinted as a new edition). These eight years of self-exile in Bombay were for Alice the most joyous and happy years together being her most creative. Singly and together with her husband, she researched on many aspects of Indian society and created concepts, categories and theories in the arena of demography, agricultural economics, and urban and industrial development. After Daniel's death in 1974, Alice started coming to India every year for at least three months. She collaborated with Indian social scientists and was affiliated to many Indian research institutes. From Paris she integrated three continents of scholars on India, the American, the European and the Indian. Her home became a salon where intellectuals could meet and discuss important issues and ideas regarding India, especially after the seventies when there was a serious rethinking being attempted in understanding whether India had indeed gone through a third path of development. In this context Alice started a new life, as a single woman and a professional and built a new research agenda-to study urban processes in India and to participate with other women scholars in understanding the gender question in India. Earlier she and Daniel had written for and were closely associated with the Economic Weekly, later called the Economic and Political Weekly. Now she urged the editor of EPW., to initiate a special thematic section titled, Review of Women's Studies. This marked a threshold in the growth of women's studies in India. The first set of papers from the Review has been jointly edited by Alice with Maithreyi Krishnaraj and published as Ideals, Images and Real Lives. Women in Literature and History. In early 1990 Alice approached me when I was in the Department of Sociology at the SNDT Women's University to organise a conference on Bombay. She had lived in Bombay and was interested in understanding how communities constructed the city in the 19 and 20 centuries and gave it a modern and secular identity. This conference was held in interregnum between the two phases of violence that occurred in 1992-3 and which initiated a pogrom against the Muslims in the city that questioned Bombay's secular character. Volumes from the conference (Bombay Metaphor of Modern India and Bombay Mosaic of Modern Culture), which I co-edited with her, reflected these concerns. Being a historian she remained an optimist all her life-yet she had been very disturbed by the developments of Hindutva forces in the last few years. She remained a humanist committed to liberal ideas and critical thinking and found it difficult to appreciate the new changes taking place in India. For the last fifteen years Alice and I have collaborated on many issues and concerns. Over time we have moved from being collaborators to being intimate friends. In her passing away, I personally, and all of us have lost a dear friend and a mentor. She will always remain a role model for many of us-of a competent professional and a compassionate thinker who believed in ushering in social change that can reorganise inequalities in India. I was in Paris last week-on Wednesday and Thursday, 18 and 19th August and stayed with her. I was on the way back from the US where I had attended two conferences. Despite being weighed down by physical difficulties she was interested in engaging with me and debating my arguments in these papers. As was her nature, she insisted I invite one colleague from Paris, whom I had met in one of the meetings. Over tea and cakes, she vigorously defended the argument that in France inequalities were on the rise. As I kissed her goodbye the next day, she reminded me to send her my papers of the conference. On Monday night, she was taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties and passed away on Wednesday morning at 11.30 am. Alice went as she lived-an intellectual who cared. ------------------------------------------- Item 22. Website of the month: Australian Development Gateway http://www.developmentgateway.com.au/jahia/jsp/index.jsp The Australian Development Gateway is a knowledge-sharing website, supporting people working in Asia Pacific countries to reduce poverty and promote sustainability. It is a mechanism for Australians and others in the Asia Pacific region to contribute knowledge and to engage in vigorous discussion. By accessing the ADG, people working in the field of development will be able to collaborate more effectively by sharing practical knowledge faster. They will be further empowered in developing policies and programs, researching issues, forming alliances and working towards sustainable growth and poverty reduction. The Australian Gateway is an integral part of the international initiative of the Development Gateway Foundation launched by the World Bank in Washington DC. The Australian portal is developed and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID. ======================================================================== 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 ========================================================================