English Works

Mr Jayant Bapat, Nazi symbol ban important but don’t forget swastika’s original meaning

The Age, June 23, 2022

Our Purpose:

Study Mr Bapat’s writing style: emulate the writing style ; clear, concise and polished

Viewpoints: Use the metalanguage for comparisons to explore the differences between the Nazi and the Hindu swastika.

Explore connections between techniques – ie. Mr Bapat uses his personal/professional experience – but to make what point? If you don’t evaluate his viewpoint then you are just summarising his experience without a purpose.

Please revise: Analytical Vocab Builder

Comparisons, p. 13; Call to action; p. 19; Challenging mindsets: p. 43.

Do a paragraph on the first half.

Show deeper links between Dr Bapat ‘s personal migration story and his viewpoints:

  1. to show his identity as a proud nationalistic Australia; urges us to value multiculturalism; and tolerance – flag as symbol of pride and belonging
  2. to guard against the creep of neo-nazi racial intolerance. National sentiments can easily transform into hatred.

(Be concise, This is a difficult paragraph with difficult ideas. Explore his views and values/appeals and the purpose of his quotes.)

Paragraph 2:

The positive connotations of the Hindu swastika

Once again – evaluate the childhood memory attached to his grandmother and explore the poignant tone, emotive language etc. and purpose

See Summary English Extension

Maximum Meaning: Watch your generic statements

  • He gives insight to his “culturally rich Indian background” in order to reassure the readers that he has a sense of credibility.
  • He uses comparisons with Christians by referencing their cross highlighting their similarities. This is an attempt to get a large population to understand his views and sympathise with his argument.’
  • Having established his credibility on Australian culture, Mr Bapat is able to voice his concern that Australians need to value multiculturalism more.

Be analytically precise

  • This seeks to ally misconceptions (ABOUT WHAT) by highlighting the positive connections to the Indian swastika separating it from the Nazi Hakenkreuz.
  • He uses comparisons with Christians by referencing their cross highlighting their similarities. This is an attempt to get a large population to understand his views (ABOUT WHAT/ WHICH ARE?) and sympathise with his argument.

Work your analytical sentences

  • Viewpoint: In pursuit of a multi-culturally cohesive society, Mr Bapat supports the decision to ban the Nazi swastika which he believes represents a dangerous hate-filled mindset.   
  • Argument base/context: In support of the ban, he provides his own migration story to encourage members of the public to distinguish between a positive and a negative manifestation of nationalism.
  • Sentences: The rest – work your analytical sentences
  • Rework: Subsequently, he heightens the importance of the Australian flag to society, dwelling on the symbol’s ability to promote integrity and cohesiveness.
  • Analytical sentences: While supporting the positive values attached to the flag such as a sense of pride and belonging. he implores unsuspecting citizens to guard against the subtle transformation into its opposite — …..

Don’t overdo the metalanguage: the terms start competing with each other

  • At the basis of his argument, he acknowledges that while flags can represent unity and “immense pride” he substantiates that “this pride transforms itself to superiority and occasionally hate”.
  • Try: Argument base/context: In support of the ban, he provides his own migration story to encourage members of the public to distinguish between a positive and a negative manifestation of nationalism.

Don’t overdo quoting – too many quotes leads to a loss of subject

  • He argues that lack of appreciation for multiculturalism despite reciting “Australians let us all rejoice” has allowed the pride which we associate with “saluting the Australian flag” to transcend into a “notion of superiority and…hate”.
  • Convening upon his personal experiences in Australia as a Hindu, Dr Bapat proudly regards the country as “multicultural landscape”, (LOSS OF SUBJECT) emphasizing the sense of unity he has encountered from living in Australia for over fifty seven years.

For essays/ text response: please keep breaking down concepts.

  • Evaluate Mr Bapat’s key ideas about nationalism? What are the positive aspects (images/flag/anthem)? What are the negative aspects?

Watch terms such as “insinuate” and “imply” – can only be used with indirect meanings

  • Thereby, Bapat insinuates that the generational ingratitude for our multicultural society resulting in the display of many Nazi swastikas needs to be resolved with “education of such extreme groups” as it effectively breaks the cycle of ingratitude. 
  • He alludes to the Hindu swastika as an example, justifying how the esteemed figure, steeped in “auspiciousness, goodness and love” became a representation of “misplaced superiority and hate” in many communities.

Use a Nominal – instead of a “how” clause

  • However, Dr Bapat rearticulates his opinions on clarifying misconceptions about the swastika, stressing how the symbols are “literally poles apart” in connection with their meanings. ?  NEED TO REWORD

What are the positive and negative connotations of the swastika?

See Summary English Extension