After seeing the reports in the print and electronic media in India (like Ammo Australia - Eenadu), I could not stop myself from writing this post. Staying in this truly cosmopolitan city of Sydney for the last two years, I want to write down few of my observations.
Let us not say that the students from India are coming to Australia for studies and the Australians are attacking them as they are unable to compete with them. Let us refrain from saying so and stop irritating and humiliating the Indian students coming to Australia, the Australians, Australian Universities and the mongrels attacking Indians. Once we stop saying so, we can identify a proper context to discuss these attacks. Connecting these attacks on Indians with studies and racism and discussing them is like talking about Rakhi Sawant in the world economic forum.
For those who are still in the view propagated by the media, here is some first hand information. Anyone who has the experience of meeting Indians coming here for studies will immediately agree with the fact that a huge majority of them come here with very low grades and qualifications. Study is just a gateway to enter the country. Once in, all the concentration will be on leveraging the 20 hours work time and if possible more through illegal means. Time will also be spent on doing courses like bar tending, cooking, cleaning, washing, etc which are covered under the immigration program and not to forget going to pubs and discotheques. Interacting with the students will not give any feeling that they are here for studies, but just ended up here due to lack of opportunities everywhere else in the world or have too much money to blast on studies or came here after watching movies like Salaam Namaste and Dil Chahta Hai (believe me I heard it from lot of students here). And for the readers who are already fuming, yes, there is a little minority of Indian students who come to actually study.
Australian Universities too are not much bothered regarding attracting the best of the talent. They are happy as long as the seats in their universities do not go empty. The scholarships and aids given to students are almost zero compared to other countries. The thumb rule is, come here only if you can find the means to study. It is nice that you have good grades. But, we do not care much about them.
Also, let us stop looking at Australians like the Indian media wants us to believe. Australians are very friendly people with some ifs and buts. Their traffic and public sense are beyond our imagination. Their way of interacting with temporary overseas workers is commendable and delightful compared to the interaction with our own Indian managers. Many of you might have seen on TV how the Australian police handled the Indian protestors. Just compare it with the AIIMS Doctors strike few years back and how the Indian police handled it.
Like any other country, there is a section of people with no skills to earn a livelihood and spend their time on drugs and alcohol. Especially teenagers and an alarming number of them fall into this category. Most of them do not receive any money from their parents as they are expected to support themselves. So, when you are moving late in the nights and you appear vulnerable they might ask you for money or other valuables you have. It mostly confuses them why we come all the way to Australia to do these menial jobs which we can happily do in our country itself. It appears to them that Indians are not adding any value to their country, but are actually taking up their jobs.
Let us not say that the students from India are coming to Australia for studies and the Australians are attacking them as they are unable to compete with them. Let us refrain from saying so and stop irritating and humiliating the Indian students coming to Australia, the Australians, Australian Universities and the mongrels attacking Indians. Once we stop saying so, we can identify a proper context to discuss these attacks. Connecting these attacks on Indians with studies and racism and discussing them is like talking about Rakhi Sawant in the world economic forum.
For those who are still in the view propagated by the media, here is some first hand information. Anyone who has the experience of meeting Indians coming here for studies will immediately agree with the fact that a huge majority of them come here with very low grades and qualifications. Study is just a gateway to enter the country. Once in, all the concentration will be on leveraging the 20 hours work time and if possible more through illegal means. Time will also be spent on doing courses like bar tending, cooking, cleaning, washing, etc which are covered under the immigration program and not to forget going to pubs and discotheques. Interacting with the students will not give any feeling that they are here for studies, but just ended up here due to lack of opportunities everywhere else in the world or have too much money to blast on studies or came here after watching movies like Salaam Namaste and Dil Chahta Hai (believe me I heard it from lot of students here). And for the readers who are already fuming, yes, there is a little minority of Indian students who come to actually study.
Australian Universities too are not much bothered regarding attracting the best of the talent. They are happy as long as the seats in their universities do not go empty. The scholarships and aids given to students are almost zero compared to other countries. The thumb rule is, come here only if you can find the means to study. It is nice that you have good grades. But, we do not care much about them.
Also, let us stop looking at Australians like the Indian media wants us to believe. Australians are very friendly people with some ifs and buts. Their traffic and public sense are beyond our imagination. Their way of interacting with temporary overseas workers is commendable and delightful compared to the interaction with our own Indian managers. Many of you might have seen on TV how the Australian police handled the Indian protestors. Just compare it with the AIIMS Doctors strike few years back and how the Indian police handled it.
Like any other country, there is a section of people with no skills to earn a livelihood and spend their time on drugs and alcohol. Especially teenagers and an alarming number of them fall into this category. Most of them do not receive any money from their parents as they are expected to support themselves. So, when you are moving late in the nights and you appear vulnerable they might ask you for money or other valuables you have. It mostly confuses them why we come all the way to Australia to do these menial jobs which we can happily do in our country itself. It appears to them that Indians are not adding any value to their country, but are actually taking up their jobs.
Here are some tips worth following
1. Remember that this is abroad and not India. Keep in mind not to speak loudly in regional languages with friends and on the phone in public places, trains and buses. Not just Australians, it irritates fellow Indians also. Make it a point not to disturb others.
2. Do not move in vulnerable areas especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Keep the emergency number 000 on speed dial on your phone.
3. Contrary to what is reported, the number of police per thousand in Australia is one of the best in the world and much, much higher than India. They respond very fast in emergencies.
4. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights do not show off your mobiles, ipods and notebooks.
5. If you can’t stay away from discos and pubs on weekends, get out before brawls break out. Sydney Morning Herald reported that many Indians get beat up for staring at others and breaking into others privacy. Refrain from doing so.
6. Do not appear vulnerable. Maintain strong poise like a true Australian does. Be a good brand ambassador of India.
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