Meera Ashar । મીરાં
@meerashar.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Australian National University ll South Asia, History, Postcolonialism, Empire ll Mum to two boys: one canine & one human, knitter, storyteller ll
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
Margot Robbie is wearing Mughal queen Nur Jahan's necklace. It was gifted by her husband King Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), Akbar's son. Cartier acquired it (harummmph). Cartier's president later gifted it to Liz Taylor..blah blah.
Colonial loot around your neck.
'The obliterated shall be remembered'.
Colonial loot around your neck.
'The obliterated shall be remembered'.
January 30, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Margot Robbie is wearing Mughal queen Nur Jahan's necklace. It was gifted by her husband King Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), Akbar's son. Cartier acquired it (harummmph). Cartier's president later gifted it to Liz Taylor..blah blah.
Colonial loot around your neck.
'The obliterated shall be remembered'.
Colonial loot around your neck.
'The obliterated shall be remembered'.
“We found my three little nieces in the street. They say ‘ceasefire’ and all. What did those children do? What did we do?” Samer al-Atbash, an uncle of the three children killed in Gaza City, told Reuters.
Children and police officers among at least 30 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza
Deadly attacks launched day before border crossing due to open as part of ceasefire deal
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM
“We found my three little nieces in the street. They say ‘ceasefire’ and all. What did those children do? What did we do?” Samer al-Atbash, an uncle of the three children killed in Gaza City, told Reuters.
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council says he is heartened by the fact that Albanese is welcoming this visit and “bringing into line many of his colleagues who are a little bit more equivocal about it”
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
Legal challenge to Israeli president's visit - ABC listen
Some Jewish groups have welcomed plans for a visit from Israeli president Isaac Herzog next month, but a collection of Jewish and Muslim leaders say he should not be allowed in the country while he fa...
www.abc.net.au
January 30, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council says he is heartened by the fact that Albanese is welcoming this visit and “bringing into line many of his colleagues who are a little bit more equivocal about it”
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
While the dictionary may suggest that terrorism is when anyone uses unlawful violence for political means, many understand that the application of the term becomes impacted by 'other factors'...
chaser.com.au/general-news...
chaser.com.au/general-news...
January 28, 2026 at 7:52 AM
While the dictionary may suggest that terrorism is when anyone uses unlawful violence for political means, many understand that the application of the term becomes impacted by 'other factors'...
chaser.com.au/general-news...
chaser.com.au/general-news...
January 28, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
Long shot.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
January 26, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Long shot.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
26 January is a significant day for both countries I call home: Australia & India. A day marking an invasion in Australia & the birth of a republic in India. Two different attitudes to colonialism. But sovereignty was never ceded by either.
#AlwayswasAlwayswillbe #InvasionDay #auspol #colonialism
#AlwayswasAlwayswillbe #InvasionDay #auspol #colonialism
January 26, 2026 at 2:44 AM
26 January is a significant day for both countries I call home: Australia & India. A day marking an invasion in Australia & the birth of a republic in India. Two different attitudes to colonialism. But sovereignty was never ceded by either.
#AlwayswasAlwayswillbe #InvasionDay #auspol #colonialism
#AlwayswasAlwayswillbe #InvasionDay #auspol #colonialism
Am seeing lots of posts about how right Orwell was. Just a quick reminder that he was born in Bihar, colonial India, & served in Myanmar, then part of British India.
1984 is as much thinly fictionalised reportage as prediction of a dystopian future.
#Orwell #NineteenEightyFour #colonialism #Empire
1984 is as much thinly fictionalised reportage as prediction of a dystopian future.
#Orwell #NineteenEightyFour #colonialism #Empire
January 25, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Am seeing lots of posts about how right Orwell was. Just a quick reminder that he was born in Bihar, colonial India, & served in Myanmar, then part of British India.
1984 is as much thinly fictionalised reportage as prediction of a dystopian future.
#Orwell #NineteenEightyFour #colonialism #Empire
1984 is as much thinly fictionalised reportage as prediction of a dystopian future.
#Orwell #NineteenEightyFour #colonialism #Empire
“You know, they’ll say they (UK & AUS) sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that – and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
—From our shared-values bestest ‘military ally’
#auspol #RSL #ANZAC #ADF
—From our shared-values bestest ‘military ally’
#auspol #RSL #ANZAC #ADF
Angry RSL boss calls for official complaint over Trump 'insult'
The RSL president wants Canberra to lodge an official complaint over Donald Trump's "insult" towards Australian troops in Afghanistan.
www.thenewdaily.com.au
January 25, 2026 at 3:07 AM
The dancing women (Cyclopses as my kid calls them) offering some much needed relief from the awfulness & repression thick in the political air.
Keeping my knitting skills sharp for when the revolution comes!
#auspol #knitting #tricoteuse #revolution
Keeping my knitting skills sharp for when the revolution comes!
#auspol #knitting #tricoteuse #revolution
January 23, 2026 at 4:19 AM
The dancing women (Cyclopses as my kid calls them) offering some much needed relief from the awfulness & repression thick in the political air.
Keeping my knitting skills sharp for when the revolution comes!
#auspol #knitting #tricoteuse #revolution
Keeping my knitting skills sharp for when the revolution comes!
#auspol #knitting #tricoteuse #revolution
Also thinking of the Indian Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi and the dark days of suspension of civil liberties in a democracy.
Many ordinary citizens were jailed for not toeing the govt line. The Indian Express, a mainstream newspaper, protested with a blank front page…
#repression #auspol
Many ordinary citizens were jailed for not toeing the govt line. The Indian Express, a mainstream newspaper, protested with a blank front page…
#repression #auspol
For some reason, I’ve been thinking a lot of the oppressive 1919 Rowlatt Act (also called the ‘Black Act’) that sparked nationwide protests in India, leading to the horrific Jallianwala Baug, Amritsar massacre…
#RepressiveLaws #auspol #colonialism #India
#RepressiveLaws #auspol #colonialism #India
Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu may be an offence under Australia’s new hate speech laws, Greens warn
Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke say the laws are needed to protect Australians – particularly the Jewish community
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Also thinking of the Indian Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi and the dark days of suspension of civil liberties in a democracy.
Many ordinary citizens were jailed for not toeing the govt line. The Indian Express, a mainstream newspaper, protested with a blank front page…
#repression #auspol
Many ordinary citizens were jailed for not toeing the govt line. The Indian Express, a mainstream newspaper, protested with a blank front page…
#repression #auspol
For some reason, I’ve been thinking a lot of the oppressive 1919 Rowlatt Act (also called the ‘Black Act’) that sparked nationwide protests in India, leading to the horrific Jallianwala Baug, Amritsar massacre…
#RepressiveLaws #auspol #colonialism #India
#RepressiveLaws #auspol #colonialism #India
Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu may be an offence under Australia’s new hate speech laws, Greens warn
Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke say the laws are needed to protect Australians – particularly the Jewish community
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:22 AM
For some reason, I’ve been thinking a lot of the oppressive 1919 Rowlatt Act (also called the ‘Black Act’) that sparked nationwide protests in India, leading to the horrific Jallianwala Baug, Amritsar massacre…
#RepressiveLaws #auspol #colonialism #India
#RepressiveLaws #auspol #colonialism #India
I’m sure many, like me, are confused and concerned about the new hate speech laws. One of the clearest explainers here:
#auspol #hatespeech #metahate
#auspol #hatespeech #metahate
Albo Explains What HATE SPEECH Is! #satire #shorts #fyp #australia #politics #comedy #funny #reels
YouTube video by Rupert Degas | Characters & Impressions
youtube.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:52 AM
I’m sure many, like me, are confused and concerned about the new hate speech laws. One of the clearest explainers here:
#auspol #hatespeech #metahate
#auspol #hatespeech #metahate
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
I’m calling the Peace Board The United Donations
January 19, 2026 at 5:39 AM
I’m calling the Peace Board The United Donations
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
I found out today that one of the forces pushing Trump the hardest for this Greenland shit is… the owner of Estée Lauder.
Sharing this here because they own SO MANY makeup brands and I bet a lot of you might like to join me in not repurchasing anything from this makeup brand family!
Sharing this here because they own SO MANY makeup brands and I bet a lot of you might like to join me in not repurchasing anything from this makeup brand family!
How a billionaire with interests in Greenland encouraged Trump to acquire the territory
US president’s friend Ronald Lauder – who first proposed Arctic expansion – is now making deals in the island
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:49 AM
I found out today that one of the forces pushing Trump the hardest for this Greenland shit is… the owner of Estée Lauder.
Sharing this here because they own SO MANY makeup brands and I bet a lot of you might like to join me in not repurchasing anything from this makeup brand family!
Sharing this here because they own SO MANY makeup brands and I bet a lot of you might like to join me in not repurchasing anything from this makeup brand family!
When my son was in kindy, he got a prize for being kind & helpful. One of his classmates was v upset by this, at which my kiddo offered him his prize. The teacher stopped my kid saying his friend would earn his own prize when he did something good.
I think teachers should run the world.
#auspol
I think teachers should run the world.
#auspol
'Very generous of her': Wong praises Machado for gifting Nobel prize to Trump
The foreign minister made the comments after she was asked if the US was creating a world order in which "might was right".
www.sbs.com.au
January 16, 2026 at 11:20 AM
When my son was in kindy, he got a prize for being kind & helpful. One of his classmates was v upset by this, at which my kiddo offered him his prize. The teacher stopped my kid saying his friend would earn his own prize when he did something good.
I think teachers should run the world.
#auspol
I think teachers should run the world.
#auspol
Apropos suggestions by the lovely Mr. Minns re. Bondi bridge, I am making a list of egregious Aus place names & statues that remain triggering & humiliating reminders of violence against First Nations & colonized people.
Please drop any that you might know & want to share in the comments.
#auspol
Please drop any that you might know & want to share in the comments.
#auspol
January 16, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Apropos suggestions by the lovely Mr. Minns re. Bondi bridge, I am making a list of egregious Aus place names & statues that remain triggering & humiliating reminders of violence against First Nations & colonized people.
Please drop any that you might know & want to share in the comments.
#auspol
Please drop any that you might know & want to share in the comments.
#auspol
Yes. And simultaneously tear down statues of colonial despots who remain larger-than-life-sized “ghoulish reminders” of the violence, atrocities & humiliation that my people—and so many Australians—have had to suffer!
#auspol #colonialism #Minns
#auspol #colonialism #Minns
January 14, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Yes. And simultaneously tear down statues of colonial despots who remain larger-than-life-sized “ghoulish reminders” of the violence, atrocities & humiliation that my people—and so many Australians—have had to suffer!
#auspol #colonialism #Minns
#auspol #colonialism #Minns
"There's a civil war coming. We're going kill all the f***ing male Indians, were going to drown all the f***ing kids and sell all the women…"
Sounds about right— this kind of racism against Indians starts in schools and communities, and has been going on for a long time.
#auspol #racism
Sounds about right— this kind of racism against Indians starts in schools and communities, and has been going on for a long time.
#auspol #racism
Indian truckies fed up with racist tirades over their CB radios
Some Indian truck drivers have copped so much racist abuse they have stopped using their CB radios.
www.abc.net.au
January 14, 2026 at 12:04 AM
As someone who studies political categories, it is interesting that Peter Malinauskas has placed the category ‘far-right Zionist’ into circulation.
Would help if he explained who inhabits this category of people that ought not to be invited/tolerated.
#auspol #Malinauskas #categories #academia
Would help if he explained who inhabits this category of people that ought not to be invited/tolerated.
#auspol #Malinauskas #categories #academia
I don’t know how Malinauskas is managing to make this even worse. This is a horrendous comment - the false equivalence here is horrific
January 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
As someone who studies political categories, it is interesting that Peter Malinauskas has placed the category ‘far-right Zionist’ into circulation.
Would help if he explained who inhabits this category of people that ought not to be invited/tolerated.
#auspol #Malinauskas #categories #academia
Would help if he explained who inhabits this category of people that ought not to be invited/tolerated.
#auspol #Malinauskas #categories #academia
The curse of being a historian is being able to read in this vapid document the complete contempt for First Nations people, voices of dissent, subaltern voices. It is basically a manifesto proclaiming: Henceforth all of the above will just be bypassed to ensure 'success'.
#auspol #AWW #AF
#auspol #AWW #AF
January 13, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
Louise Adler goes out with a bang
I cannot be party to silencing writers, which is why I am resigning as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week | Louise Adler
Cancelling the Australian Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah weakens freedom of speech and is the harbinger of a less free nation
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Louise Adler goes out with a bang
Reposted by Meera Ashar । મીરાં
A timely article given the debacle of the Adelaide Writers' Week. "...one of the wealthiest societies in human history, yet diminished and lost: a nation of rich cowards without even the courage to acknowledge our origins and far less the possibility of a better future..."
shorturl.at/2rIUj
shorturl.at/2rIUj
‘A nation of rich cowards’: Australia needs its dreamers but the arts are underfunded, undervalued and despised
We need a society that values its visionaries, those who go against the grain to create new dreams that reveal other ways of being
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:37 PM
A timely article given the debacle of the Adelaide Writers' Week. "...one of the wealthiest societies in human history, yet diminished and lost: a nation of rich cowards without even the courage to acknowledge our origins and far less the possibility of a better future..."
shorturl.at/2rIUj
shorturl.at/2rIUj
