25/05/2023
I note with interest that the Lands Minister in the McGowan government has announced the renaming of Nelson Crescent to Sailani Avenue to honour the service of Indian Anzac, Nain Singh Sailani,
I don’t wish to minimise any part of Private Sailani’s contribution to the war effort of the British troops in the 1914-18 war. I would ask however, what consideration was given to renaming the street in honour of one of the Australian Aboriginal Anzacs? The reality is that Private Sailani would have gone back to a British Raj governed India and would have been entitled to either citizenship of India or been considered a British subject. Aboriginal Australians would have returned to their own traditional lands without a single benefit of citizenship being accorded to them. And that service should be recognised.
The Australian War Memorial indicates that around 1000 Indigenous Australians fought in the First World War. So there is no shortage of names to be considered.
It is also to be noted that the timing of the recognition of the Indian Anzacs was to coincide with the visit of PM of India, Narendra Modi to our country.
Disclosure: I am of Indian origin.
Suresh Rajan
