Kids Corner

Below, first from bottom: proud mother, sikhchic.com columnist, journalist and broadcaster, Manpreet Kaur Singh.

People

Avi Singh Stands Tall Down Under

by ZOE LEWIS

 



A Rowville teenager who shows his sporting allegiances by wearing a bright headscarf similar to a turban features in a new exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.

Avi Singh, 13, wears a yellow and black patka when supporting AFL Club Richmond and a green and
gold patka when he follows cricket.

Proud of his Sikh religion, Avi is a budding cricketer who wants to play for Australia one day.

He recently captained Rowville Club Eildon Park under-13s to a grand final win.

And now he features in the exhibition Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours at the Immigration Museum that aims to challenge people to be aware of their identity.

Avi was asked to be part of the exhibition after someone saw an online article written by his journalist mother, Manpreet on sikhchic.com.

Mrs. Manpreet Kaur Singh wrote that Avi and his brother, Ronnie, 9, liked to wear patkas in their team colours and said sport broke down barriers, merging ethnic identity with that of their adopted country. She said Avi, who is in year 8 at the Knox School, had never had an issue with racism and always felt that he belonged.

‘‘Avi is always wearing brightly coloured patkas and the school lets him,'' Manpreet said. ‘‘Very often we don't acknowledge the good in society.''

And Avi agreed, saying ‘‘I might be different but I belong''.

He said he was excited to be part of the exhibition, which features a video of him playing cricket, one of his patkas and other Sikh objects.

The exhibition's lead curator, Moya McFadzean, said: ‘‘No matter where we come from, or what our life is like, defining our identity is vital to understanding ourselves and how we fit into the world around us''.

Collingwood footballer Harry O'Brien and noted chef Jacques Reymond are also part of the unusual show.

The permanent exhibition is on at the museum, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne, Australia, from May 11, 2011.

Admission is $8 adults and children are free.

For further details: museumvictoria.com.au/mmigrationmuseum

 

[Courtesy: Knox Leader]

April 29, 2011

 

 

Conversation about this article

1: I.J. Singh (New York, U.S.A.), April 29, 2011, 1:25 PM.

I often feel that just as the new edition of a book must be better than the old, in time every student must excel the teacher and every child must excel the parent. That's the only guarantee of progress and a better world. So our progeny must become better than us in the professions, sports and other avocations that they follow, as well as in Sikhi that defines them. And when I look at these two young men - Avi Singh here and Angad Singh in an accompanying posting today, I have no doubt that life is on the right track and all is right with the world.

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