'Only connect': Chunder Loo, Monga Khan and Australia's fugitive South Asians

Abstract

THE PEOPLES OF the Indian subcontinent have a significant presence in contemporary Australian culture: as the second-largest non-European cohort of the population (after Chinese-born Australians) and the fourth-largest immigrant ethnic group; as Sri Lankan refugees languishing in offshore immigration detention; and as Melbourne taxi-drivers demonstrating against physical assault. More positively and more individually, we recognise the persons of test cricketers Usman Khawaja and Lisa Sthalekar; author, journalist and former SBS newsreader Indira Naidoo; comedian Nazeem Hussain; Melbourne artist Textaqueen; and Sydney rapper L-FRESH the LION – not to mention that other Lion, the Oscar-nominated movie starring Dev Patel in the character of adopted Australian boy Saroo Brierley. We are also regularly reminded of contemporary Indian Australians by the familiar image of Bengali hawker Monga Khan, one of the so-called ‘Afghan cameleers’ who sought exemption from the provisions of the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, and whose striking profile features in Peter Drew’s ongoing multiculturalist ‘Aussie’ street poster campaign.