Attacks on Indian students Down Under leave them anxious,but not deterred

After the attacks,Naik has been in touch with relatives and friends in Australia. “They did not even know about the incidents. Its only when I called and informed them that they came to know.”

Juhu resident Rishabh Shah,who will leave for his MBA in University of Sydney in July,said,“I have friends and relatives in Sydney. I will ensure that I am in a group whenever I am travelling. I have a lot of people to turn to in case there is any problem.”

Andhra Pradesh native Shravan Kumar was attacked with a screwdriver last week along with his three friends. Shortly thereafter,Baljinder Singh,25,was stabbed by assailants on Monday night. Another student Rajesh Kumar,a hospitality graduate,received 30 per cent burns after a petrol bomb was flung into his home that he shared with other Indians.

Study abroad counsellors across the city have been flooded with queries from parents about the safety of Indians in Australia and other countries. Prakash Mehta,director of Learning Edge,a student consultancy firm at Malad,says,“Parents want to know if their children will be safe. They ask me about areas and universities that are safe for Indians. As it is,they are worried about sending their children away. Now,they are even more concerned.”

Digambar Kale,director of Vile Parle-based Highgate Academy India that provides counselling and guidance to students going abroad,says there is no need for worry. He says he has never come across any such incident in over eight years of counselling and even as a resident of Melbourne for over 10 years.

“I have spoken to professors of Indian origin of a few colleges in Australia and they have all pointed out that in the recent cases of attacks,the motive does not seem to be just racism. There may have been other issues. I assure parents that these are just one-off incidents .”

Meanwhile,the parents of those studying in Australia now are a worried lot. Thane-based Riddhima Sarin’s son Sahil recently shifted base to Melbourne from Perth after graduating in business management. “I asked him to shift back to Perth which I believe is a safer city. Sahil told me that racial abuses keep happening. He has not experienced anything of this sort,” Sarin said.

Tardeo resident Nandini Barsule,whose son Santosh Barsule is doing a two-year programme in Tourism in Melbourne,echoed Sarin’s view. “My son tells me not to worry. But I am worried because he travels by train regularly at night.”