Welcome – we need you.
Stand tall, confident and celebrate your “Indianness” and now also your “Aussie-ness”.
Open your heart to this new world, even if sometimes it might seem strange and perhaps harsh.
People are just people, we all want to be happy, and we all gain happiness through our connection with others – like you. It’s just that many of us don’t know this.
Did you know that 68 per cent of Indian-born migrants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, almost double the 36 per cent of Australian-born residents? Nearly a third hold postgraduate degree.
And Indian-born migrants have the highest proportion of top income earners of any group at 18.2 per cent, compared to 15.9 per cent of Australian-born residents, and the lowest share in the bottom income bracket.
You are more than paying your way, you are adding to Australia.
Now Indian migration is our number one source – replacing England. You are top of the tree and making us stronger.
Stay surrounded by your family and Indian friends, while you build relationships with non-Indian Australians like me – it is not one or the other, you can have it all and will be stronger for it.
Become the light of Diwali, the colour of Holi.
Keep your values – beliefs, religion, cultural background as your anchor. It is a big part of what makes you you, and what makes you important to us
Never lose the ability to accept success or failure as just “things” that come and go – this is what I have learned from India.
“Assimilate” is a misused term that often means “become more like us”. You will lose your superpower if you do. Make the most of your superpower as an Indian Australian and find your way forward with it – don’t lose something to gain something. Instead add something to gain something. Assimilation does not understand this.
Never forget one of the great Indian wisdoms – setbacks are inevitable, but in every setback, there are two things – the setback itself and your attitude to the setback. It is this second one that can keep you strong.
I hope you never confront hatred, but if you do, just remember that hatred cannot be solved by hatred, but by love alone. I learned this from India.
We are one. And we are many. Thank you for being in Australia.
Stephen Manallack
Blogger at Into India
Former President, Australia India Business Council (Vic)
Author “Soft Skills for a Flat World” published in India by Tata McGraw=Hill India
Into India 