FEARS GONE ‘DOWN UNDER’

While TV screens and expert panels blare out updates and comments on the plight of Indians in Aussie land,city residents seem to be holding strong views on the matter. Walking into Café Coffee Day in Sector 11,a group of youngsters pleasantly surprise us with their cogent opinions. Gurumehar Singh,a third year student of Thapar University,Patiala,states emphatically,“Australian companies prefer Indians over locals because they are more hardworking. This is a backlash because of the growing resentment.” Anuranjini,studying Design in Bangaluru takes this a step further. “The Australian Government has been covering up numerous incidents for long and now needs to take action.” But Aprinder Singh Dhillon,studying Mechanical Engineering in Australia and in town for a holiday,strikes a different note. “My friends and I have never faced any kind of racism in Australia. I think it is the misguided youth who are troublemakers,” Dhillon feels that the situation can be handled through education,sensitization and friendly interaction.

Stepping inside Jupiter Consultants,a company that assists students go abroad,Kiran Gill and her husband GS Gill,provides us with valuable inputs. “Australia is a safe and multi-cultural society. Our organization is in constant touch with the parents of students living there. Besides,two of my daughters are living in Melbourne – none of them wants to come back. Till now we have heard of no complaints of racism. Prejudice exists everywhere – including our own country. Every society has bad elements but that doesn’t make everyone bad.”

Even the students are keen to pursue studies abroad. “You can step out of your own house and still be at risk. I think one should reach out and not be afraid,” chirps Meher Sidhu,studying Graphic Design in San Fransisco,as Sahil Bhambri,who’s pursing a course in Computer Science from Hyderabad,nods in agreement,“Given the opportunity and fat pay check,I would certainly go!”