FATEHGARH SAHIB: A Patiala based pediatrician Dr Harshinder Kaur was honoured at Parliament of New South Wales(NSW) by Leader of the House John Aquilina with ‘Pride of Punjabi’ award for her social service towards humanity, creating awareness about female feticide at the world level and promoting her mother tongue.
Punjabi Council of Australia representative in an e-mail sent to this correspondent informed that John Aquilina welcomed Dr Kaur and thanked Punjabi Council of Australia for inviting such dignitary in Australia for receiving this prestigious award in the Parliament.
On receiving the award Dr Harshinder thanked the people of Australia and Punjabi Council of Australia for this honor. She described it as honor for whole of Indians and expressed her concern over the racial discrimination .
Suggesting the ways to tackle she said when various cultures are allowed to proliferate in any country it increase its power because different countries develop friendly relationship with the host country. She said it is requirement of Australia not to tolerate racism.
As regards Sikhs, all over the world they abide by this dictum of there guru-‘ manas ki jaat sabhe eko pehchanbo’ meaning all human beings irrespective of class,caste,race and religion are one and one should strive to locate the innate humanity in all. She congratulated Australians for becoming a living example of such thought as among 20 million people of Australia 5 million people are born in different countries and are preserving cultural heritage of all of them.
John Aquilina applauded Dr. Kaur for her work done in the field of female feticide. At one stage he became emotional when Dr. Kaur told some facts of crime against woman.
John Aquilina said that Australians fully support her cause and fight towards humanity. Aquilina was moved by Dr Kaur’s talk and asked his staff to make a CD of the talk so that it can be preserved and presented in the parliament session and the issue be raised at world level.
Other dignitaries present at this function were Moninder Singh , Prabhjot Singh Sandhu,Mandhir Singh Sandha and Kulwant Singh Bulara( Executive of Punjabi Council of Australia).
On November 23 Dr Harshinder will also be honored in Federal Parliament Canberra for her social services towards humanity. Australian NRI’s from Brisbane,Woolgoolga, Melbourne and Sydney have pledged to support Dr. Kaur for her cause when she addresses them.