MELBOURNE, 9 October 2022: I have the privilege of being a small part of four times Labor MP, Jude Perera’s political journey. After I met him with my Sri Lankan origin friend Dr. Noel Nadesan, as both of us struggled and collaborated on publishing our monthly tabloids, Uthayam and South Asia Times, Jude was a natural subject, being the only South Asian MP in the Victorian Parliament. There was no way he could not be reported. He remained a symbol and hope of emerging South Asian communities, in the melting pot called Australia. Interestingly, I and Dr. Noel Nadesan politically shared a lot with Jude, what we inherited from our mother countries in South Asia.
Winning and being an MP four times is no mean achievement. In fact, the credit for this emanates from Australia’s multicultural ethos and the urge to serve the people. Now, Jude Perera’s autobiography is out, launched with a bang. The venue ‘Christ Our Holy Redeemer Primary School Hall’ was packed with people, MPs, political and community leaders. Jude addressed the gathering sitting on a chair, as his health demanded, and gave a short idea of the contents starting from his father being an activist of the Left-wing LSSP in Sri Lanka. No doubt, his observations of Left politics in Sri Lanka and later change in politics with the Labor party here, is a web of intricate facts. One has to read the book to know much more.
Donald Betts Jnr, his colleague & former Senator, State Parliament of Kansas, United States, who also was the MC at the function says, ” This story shows by and large that the path to power and influence is open and accessible to anyone willing to persevere and embrace the setbacks and frustrations of a process that is at times particularly daunting.”
Hundreds of people bought the book and Jude kept the pace autographing each one of them. His proud family (wife, son, and daughter) were around, and friends remembered nostalgic memories.
It was more than 20 years back that once, I, Dr. Noel and Jude were together talking about the South Asian people in Australia and it stuck with us to have a club or organization to unite the migrants from different South Asian countries. The aim was to tie them all in a common thread with mainstream Australia. The organization was formed and the rest is history.
Interestingly, we now have hardly any South Asian MPs in Victoria, except the one whose term ends in the upper House of the current Parliament. One wonders what is in store. Who will be the next to Jude Perera? `
I have not read the book. I hope to do it soon and write a review.
