So March to do, so March to celebrate

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Sue Advani (c) with Jodi and Julie at UIA's International Women's Day celebrations

Although the month comes in at number three on the calendar, it feels like the most action-packed time of year, says Poornima Koonath. And this year, the launch of the Who’s Who of Sydney’s Indian Community makes the times even more exciting

The month of March is special in many ways. Most of us turn the page of the calendar without giving it a single thought. But there are three months on the calendar that fascinate me, and March is one of them. To start with, it is the only month of all months on the calendar that has a feeling of movement about it.

The word ‘March’ is vibrant, active and positive. It is non-stagnant and dynamic.And there seems to be a real good reason behind it. History says that the month is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. The Roman empire is believed to be structured upon the zealous ideas of conquest, heroism and battles. Fighting for one’s country, kin and emperor equates to a steadfast and tenacious way of life. Hence Mars is the icon of these passionately proud, patriotic and heroic qualities. And so, it is not surprising that for many years March was considered the start of the new year. It also heralds the start of Spring. Britain used 25 March as the beginning of the New Year until 1752.

It may also be interesting to note that in early Roman history Mars was a God of spring, growth in nature and fertility—all symbolising new life and growth. In the Northern Hemisphere, Spring does begin in the month of March. As March is the third month of the year, according to numerology, the vibrational energy of the month resonates with the number three, which is all about expression, also demonstrating self-improvement and healing. Hence numerologists believe that during March, we become aware of communication. A good time I must say to pay attention to how we as social beings communicate with each other!

The activities that occur in the month of March complements what the month signifies. Saint Patrick’s Day, Ash Wednesday, Pi Day and International Women’s Day all fall in the month of March, which is also called the ‘Woman’s History Month’ with daffodil being the flower of the month. The Ides of March (15 March) is famous in the annals of history as the day Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. The notion of the Ides being a dangerous date was purely Shakespeare’s invention—the soothsayer’s warning to “beware the Ides of March”—being a turning point in Julius Caesar’s life.

March 17 is St Patrick’s Day. Irish gentry memorialised this incredible individual. St. Patrick was a fighter, an innovator and staunch in his passion for bringing awareness to the Christian faith. He was captured as a slave at a young age and ripped from his Irish homeland. He is said to have overcome his displacement, endured his time as a slave and clung resolutely to a divine vision of helping his Irish kinsmen. When he returned to his homeland, he single-handedly established a strong foothold of Christianity there. Hence St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is a day of festivities with people donning the colour green. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a solemn religious observance, which includes 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter Sunday. On this day, ashes are ceremonially placed on the heads of Christians either by being sprinkled over their heads or by being marked on their foreheads as a visible cross.

Around the World, Pi Day is celebrated on 14 March (3/14 for 3.14). There is no person who hasn’t used Pi while at school. The number was an indelible part of a Mathematics class. The mathematician Archimedes used polygons with many sides to approximate circles and determined the value of Pi. “Pi (π) is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same.”

The UIA team with the guests at their International Women's Day celebrations
The UIA team with the guests at their International Women’s Day celebrations

Every year, on 8 March International Women’s day is celebrated in countries across the globe to honour the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. This year the slogan is “Be Bold for Change”.

In Sydney, this day was celebrated at the Auburn Community Centre by the Women’s Steering committee of UIA. As is tradition, the team headed by Sue Advani draws attention to the various issues that affect the lives of women across the globe. This year all funds raised were donated to Ekal Vidyalaya, a people’s movement that began in 1986 with the intention of taking education to the villages of India. Ekal schools across the length and breadth of India place great emphasis on Women’s empowerment and education of the girl child.

Dr Marlene Kanga, a member of the Board of Innovation Australia and Chair of the R&D Incentives Committee which administers the largest innovation support program for industry in Australia via the taxation system, was the key note speaker. She spoke about the role of Indian Australians in Australia’s growth, the strengthening ties of trade between India and Australia, the advantages Indian-born Australian have over the general populace and what women must do to raise their profile in the area of employment, especially technology. Other speakers included Jodi McKay, member for Strathfield, Julie Owens, member for Paramatta, Geoff Lee, member of the NSW Legislative Assembly representing Parramatta and president of UIA, John Kennedy.

There is another very important event that is slated to happen for March. On 25 March, the Sydney chapter of the Indian Executive Club is being launched. On this occasion a dossier called Who’s Who of Sydney’s Indian Community is being published, to celebrate the burgeoning and successful Indian businesses and business men and women of NSW.

Putting this record together was an invigorating experience as I got to interact, learn and write about the success stories of nearly 40 individuals from different areas—entrepreneurs who have contributed greatly to growth of industry in the Australian and international market. The first Melbourne edition of this publication was launched in 2013 by Kiran Bedi, retired Indian Police Service officer, social activist, and politician.

Each year, the Melbourne edition is launched at the prestigious annual Indian Executive Club Awards. “The Who’s Who Publication forms a very integral part of the IEC ecosystem where entrepreneurs and executives from South Asian background mix to network and shape ideas,” says Kanwal Singh, who has spearheaded the inauguration of the Sydney chapter. “All efforts will be made to ensure that The IEC journey in NSW is as successful as the one in Victoria. Here in Sydney, I hope to work with the business community in the coming years to create something credible and lasting. This edition is a proof of how strongly local businesses have backed our vision to support, profile and recognise SMEs and executives from the growing Indian diaspora,” Kanwal Singh proudly remarks.

March is never without excitement, growth and new life. Let us enjoy this month that brings with it a multitude of reasons to celebrate.

 

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