{"title":"Mr Para Paheer","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the inspiring journey of Mr Para Paheer, a remarkable individual whose life story captivates and educates readers across the globe. Mr Para Paheer is an author who has dedicated his work to sharing his harrowing yet hopeful experiences as a refugee, compellingly illustrating the indomitable human spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn his acclaimed book, \u003cem\u003eThe Power of Good People\u003c\/em\u003e, Para Paheer chronicles his perilous escape from war-torn Sri Lanka to Australia. Through vivid storytelling, he draws readers into his world of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. This memoir not only provides a profound personal history but also highlights the kindness and generosity encountered along the way, illuminating the impact of humanity and compassion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe works of Mr Para Paheer fall under the Biography \u0026amp; Memoir category, offering profound insights into the trials faced by refugees and the power of benevolence that transcends borders. These narratives are not just stories; they are vital, real-life testimonies that inspire empathy and understanding. Explore his collection to gain a better appreciation of the triumph of humanity in challenging times.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-power-of-good-people-by-mr-para-paheer-9780648066323","title":"The Power of Good People","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn May 2009, Sri Lanka's long and dreadful civil war was finally brought to a horrific end. Ruthlessly driven to a small strip of land on the tip of the island's north-east coast, tens of thousands of innocent civilians died, smashed by artillery, killed by snipers, denied medical treatment and starved to death beneath the baking sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis ferocious battle consolidated and highlighted the terrors of the preceding twenty-six years of war, characterised by vicious murders and desperate acts from both sides, where civilians were bombarded, kidnapped, raped and tortured with impunity. In such a vicious war, was there any room for humanity?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePara Paheer's story could be one of tens of thousands, except that he lived to tell the world of the horrors; but more importantly, to record and pay tribute to those, often courageous, people without whom he would probably not be alive. Para was a child born into a very poor Tamil family when one of the modern world's longest civil conflicts erupted. He was thirty-one when he was rescued from the Indian Ocean while sailing to Australia to seek asylum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI know that I would not have survived without help from many people. Many put themselves in danger and at least one person died for me. It's time for me to remember them, and to thank them … all the good people who helped me through those terrifying times when life was hard, and survival often only a matter of chance.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom my relatives and friends when I was growing up in Sri Lanka to Captain Brzica and the crew of the gas tanker that saved us from drowning in the ocean, I would like to acknowledge and say 'Nanri', the word for 'Thank you' in our Tamil language. So I say 'Nanri' to all the good people who have helped me - and others - to survive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile in Christmas Island Detention Centre, Para became penfriends with Alison Corke, a member of the Apollo Bay branch of Rural Australians for Refugees, in Victoria. On his release from detention in 2011, Para moved in with the Corke family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom our first letters, exchanged while Para was in detention and trying to improve his English, I knew he was an exceptional young man, with an astonishing tale to tell. I am proud to be helping him share his story and to find and thank those people who helped him survive, often against massive odds … Time and again, Para and I agreed that it is the little things that matter most - those small, often unremembered acts of kindness that can change someone's world. We all have the power to do something; only we can choose whether to use that power for the good.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46846586749164,"sku":"9780648066323","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20023013482418.jpg?v=1758913780"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/mr-para-paheer.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}