Tarang Chawla is an Indian-born Australian writer, lawyer, activist, Commissioner and former Independent political candidate.

Tarang Chawla
Chawla in February 2017
CitizenshipAustralian
EducationMelbourne High School
Alma materThe University of Melbourne
Known forActivism, Writer, Lawyer
Board member ofAustralian Republic Movement

Following the murder of his sister Nikita Chawla in 2015,[1] Chawla became an activist against men's violence.

In November 2016, Chawla was named as the 2017 Young Australian of the Year finalist in Victoria.[2][3] In May 2017, Chawla was the recipient of the University of Melbourne Rising Star Award for Young Alumni.[4] In July 2017, Chawla was awarded the AFL Community Champion Award by the Carlton Football Club's Blues Foundation.[5]

Background and early life

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Chawla migrated to Australia in August 1988.[6]

Chawla attended Melbourne High School from 2001 to 2004, where he was SRC Vice President and awarded Full Colours for School Service.[7]

Chawla holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Media & Communications) double degree and a Diploma in Arts (Gender Studies) with first-class honours from The University of Melbourne.[citation needed]

Activism and advocacy

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Chawla is an advocate for the rights of victim survivors. Chawla is an Ambassador for White Ribbon, Our Watch and the InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence.[6]

Since 2016, Chawla has been an independent advocate for the rights of victims to the Daniel Andrews Labor state government as a founding board member of the Victim Survivors' Advisory Council and the Ministerial Taskforce for the Prevention of Family Violence.[8]

Chawla has written on men's violence against women, discrimination, racism, masculinity, gender equality and human rights.[9]

Chawla has written it the media and Australian television and radio networks.[10] Chawla was profiled by men's magazine GQ Australia in their March 2017 edition.[11]

Junkee named Chawla as one of the "young overachievers giving Australia a good name".[12] Australian magazine The Cusp named Chawla in their list of 18 young visionaries with a 'bold plan for Australia's future'.[9] Other visionaries included writer Benjamin Law, Yasmin Abdel-Magied and James Mathison.

Awards

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Chawla was named a Young Australian of the Year Finalist for Victoria in 2017.[2]

In May 2017, the University of Melbourne presented Chawla with the Arts Alumni Rising Star Award for his "leadership and community advocacy against violence in Australia."[4]

In July 2017, Chawla was presented with the Community Champion Award from the Carlton Blues Foundation in a special ceremony held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Carlton Respects Round during Round 17 of the AFL Premiership season.[5]

In March 2019, Chawla was named as one of the Impact 25 Award Winners by Pro Bono Australia, recognising him as one of the Top 25 Most Influential People Working for Social Change in Australia.[13]

In August 2019, Chawla was named as one of 12 Finalists for the Young Community Achiever of the Year in the India Australia Business & Community Awards. In October 2019 Chawla was presented with the Young Community Achiever of the Year Award at the India Australia Business & Community Awards.[14]

In October 2020, Chawla was named as one of Australia's Top 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians.[15]

2018 Victorian state election

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Chawla ran for the Victorian Legislative Council for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region.[16][17]

In the final results, Chawla received 0.33% of the primary vote and was unsuccessful in his bid to secure a seat.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Russell, Mark (13 November 2015). "Wife killer asked police to pick up dead body". The Age. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Tarang Chawla". National Australia Day Council. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Neale Daniher tapped as a true hero". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Congratulations to the 2017 Arts Alumni Award recipients". Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b Carlton Football Club (5 September 2017), Round 17 - Community Champion, retrieved 1 October 2018
  6. ^ a b "Tarang Chawla". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Melbourne High School Library". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Ending Family Violence: Victoria's 10 Year Plan for Change". www.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  9. ^ a b "18 Young Visionaries Share Their Plans For A New Australia". The Cusp. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Tarang Chawla: Warning signs before my sister Nikita was murdered". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  11. ^ Millar, Jake (24 March 2017). "Real Men On What It Means To Be Masculine In 2017". GQ. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Get To Know Some Of The Young Overachievers Giving Australia A Good Name". Junkee. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Impact 25 2018 Winner | Tarang Chawla". impact25-probonoaust. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  14. ^ "2019 IABCA Winners". iabca. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  15. ^ "40 Under 40 Awards - 2020 Winners". www.asianaustralianleadership.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Tarang Chawla announces candidacy for Victorian election after sister's brutal murder". SBS Your Language. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  17. ^ Younger, Emma (25 October 2018). "'Men need to step up': Family violence survivors run for Victorian Parliament". ABC News. Retrieved 25 February 2019.