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Giri Sivaraman, Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, spoke with Nandini Sen Mehra about the larger questions of racism in Australia, the institutions and structures that need an overhaul, and the genuine concerns and issues that everyday Australians are facing, across communities and ethnicities.

He talks about the critical need to implement the anti Racism Framework that includes the establishment of the Anti Racism Taskforce with representation from government, institutions and civil society, something we at NRI Affairs have been championing as well.

In addressing concerns over the targeting of the Indian diaspora in inflammatory fliers being circulated by anti-immigration campaigners, he offers his perspective on preventive measures, the role of law enforcement in building trust in community, and what he considers of primary concern should a racist attack occur.

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When Rabbi Shergill says, ‘write the truest line you know,’ he isn’t only quoting Hemingway. In a way, he is capturing a lifetime’s quest for authenticity.
In word, in artistic expression , and in navigating a life that didn't always fit into neat boxes.
In this soulful conversation, he speaks of the awakening of his passion for Panjabi, which for him is the language of love, of his grandmother’s sweet phrases, of poetry rooted in everyday life.
He says art comes from an intimate corner of your being and to connect with Delhi is to connect with Delhi’s poetry.
He speaks of Tolstoy, of Bulleh Shah, Santana, Abida Parveen, of Shiv Batalvi, of Baba Farid.
He speaks of his father, an oriental scholar and the only true blue genius that he knew first hand.
He says today we don’t have artists, we have craftsmen, we have algorithms.
We speak of many things in a little over an hour, and in the end, I wonder: do we know Rabbi, the artist and the man any better than we did before?
In some ways, yes, we get a glimpse behind the veil, but yet, much of the enigma remains.
And in a way, I’m thankful for it.

Listen, like, share, subscribe. And perhaps take a moment to revisit the magic and memories of Rabbi Shergill's music.

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The 2025 Australian federal election has been called for May 3, 2025. Members of the 48th Parliament of Australia will be elected. All seats of the House of Representatives (150 compared to 151 in the previous election) and 40 of the 76 seats in the Senate will be contested.

Two exceptional thinkers and leaders, Sukhmani Khorana and Varsha Yajman join me on Pause to talk elections, media and civic literacy, disinformation, and the issues that impact the South Asian Diaspora.

Sukhmani Khorana is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Media at UNSW. Sukhmani has published extensively on migrant media, the politics of empathy and belonging, and self-representation for refugees. Sukhmani’s work on the Indian diaspora in Australia is considered foundational in the field.

Varsha Yajman is a speaker, podcaster, and advocate, with a keen interest in climate justice and mental health awareness. As a coordinator at SAPNA South Asian Climate Solidarity Network and a paralegal at Equity Generation Lawyers specialising in climate change litigation, Varsha actively engages in transformative work. Varsha's passion materialises in her podcast, "Not to be Controversial," designed to forge a community where young South Asians feel represented and empowered. In 2021, the Women’s Agenda acknowledged her as one of the 100 women resetting the world, and in 2022, Urban List recognised her as one of the 30 individuals poised to change the world by 2030.

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Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs