Benalla legend Siva Singh’s storybook ignites historical debate

It is authored by Benalla’s Alice Crichton, published by the Benalla Migrants Association and features illustrations by Swarangi Bhave.

It was recently launched at Benalla Library with members of the local Sikh community and the Consul General of India for Victoria and Tasmania, Dr Sushil Kumar, in attendance.

Local historian John Hanlon spoke at the launch about his fond memories of Siva Singh, stating he was pleased to see the book released.

However, not all historians share his joy.

Len Kenna, a member of the Australian Indian Historical Society in Melbourne, said he found the book's narrative that Siva was subjected to racism by the people of Benalla as inaccurate.

He said he was asked by the Australian Indian Historical Society to challenge those claims of racism.

Mr Kenna’s research is the reason there is a memorial to Siva Singh in the Rose City.

“We broke the story of Siva Singh and brought it to the attention of the people of Benalla,” he said.

“(We) erected the Siva Singh Memorial, which was unveiled on November 23, 2019.”

He said he thought the book was well presented in a hard-cover format.

“However, the illustrations depicted in the book in no way reflect the Australian environment in which Siva Singh, the principal character, lived and worked,” Mr Kenna said.

“Instead, they appear more like the English countryside and show Siva as a tall robust man, whereas Siva was a much shorter jockey-sized man.”

While those elements could be put down to the author’s and illustrator’s creative freedom, it’s the book tackling the difficult topic of racism that has caused him to speak out.

Mr Kenna said the author of this book discussed Siva’s inability to vote because his name was removed from the electoral roll.

Historical documents published via monumentaustralia.org.au/, which tells the history of Siva’s memorial in Benalla, state that his name was removed from the electoral role as part of the controversial white-Australia policy.

“It should be noted that Siva was a private man, and he appealed and asked for his name to be replaced on the electoral roll, this was rejected by the Court in Benalla,” Mr Kenna said.

“However, his name was returned (to) the roll by 1925 after the Sastri speaking tour.”

Mr Kenna said that tour was so well received by the public that the Prime Minister at the time, Billy Hughes, made sweeping changes including access to social security and full citizenship rights which reinstated Siva’s voting rights among other things.

“These changes, except for re-entry into Australia, brought Siva and all people of colour living in Australia on to equal footing with all other Australians,” he said.

“As for name-calling by the people of Benalla against Siva, there is only one report of this.

“It was when Siva was talking business with Mr G.E. Little, in Bridge St, when John Clark, who had been drinking alcohol, made a couple of remarks.

“Siva approached police Constable Wood on the other side of the street, and he charged John Clark with insulting language.

“When Clark appeared in court, he was found guilty. In the report of these proceedings in the Benalla Standard on August 30, 1912, Siva was described as ‘an Indian merchant of some standing in the district and also a grazier and landowner’.

“This clearly debunks the other assertions that he was harassed verbally on numerous occasions and discriminated against because of his race and colour.”

Benalla Migrant Association president Puna Gunaratne said the book was well-informed by the Benalla Historical Society and Benalla Family Research Group members about the historical events covered in its pages.

“I am not sure about the person who has assertions. However, we have conducted a detailed research and verified details to historical records.

“We are delighted about the storybook and how it has contributed to the current migrant community living in Benalla.

“I can confirm that no-one has mentioned any inaccuracy about A Benalla Story to the Benalla Migrants Association (the book publisher), Alice Crichton (the author) or the management team about the book.

“We have distributed this among local historians and historical societies at the book launch.”

If you would like to have a read of A Benalla Story, you can get a copy by emailing info@benallamigrants.org.au