Assimilate to get ahead Sam Varghese

MY FIRST REAL JOB was in a small newspaper in Bangalore as a proof reader. I went on to work for the Deccan Herald and Indian Express, initially doing editorial roles, and then sports reporting.

I moved to Dubai and worked for Khaleej Times, one of the biggest English newspapers in the Gulf. I sub-edited on their main news desk then became the Deputy Chief Editor and then Chief Editor. It was the most exciting phase of my career. It was very interesting to be in charge of producing an edition, to meet exacting deadlines and to work in a Government controlled press. You learn a lot under such an environment.

I migrated to Australia and joined The Age as a casual, and then went full time. I’ve now just completed ten years with them. I have done several roles, working in news and then sports. My role also involves a bit of production vibrant ethnic media. I hope we don’t have to wait too long before we have a quality Indian newspaper and an Indian community that speaks with one voice. I hope to see more Indian faces in mainstream media soon. Sometimes mainstream media does recruit from outside or from the small ethnic media. If some of the Indian newspapers were to produce quality writers, such people would be taken on board.

I don’t think the Indian media overdid the handling the issues of the international students and allegations of racism. It was incumbent on them to cover this issue and they did. They got mad and angry and their indignation drove their coverage. It is very important that the safety issue should be sorted out immediately. No one should go to another country and be attacked or get killed. Another main issue is the shocking quality of education in some of the colleges (some of them run by Indians themselves). Putting things in the public domain is the role of a newspaper. I think the Indian media has the capacity to run articles where they can inform students about their rights. There is hardly any reporting, and students are not complaining to the regulatory bodies. Indian newspapers can play a valuable part in telling people this is where to go to complain and not be afraid of deportation if they haven’t done anything wrong. The Indian media’s coverage was good, but on the other hand, I am disappointed that they haven’t covered the education aspects of it or made a lot of noise about the unfair practices.

The media’s role is to bring this complicated issue out in the public arena. It is about educating the community and that also comes from understanding what the law has to say. Indian newspaper editors to write letters to the mainstream newspapers on these issues and get them printed, because they will carry a lot of weight. It will be empowering for the entire Indian community to get results.

Things have changed for me over the years. I feel closer to my Indian roots because as you get older, you try harder to seek your roots. When you have your own children, you want to pass on what you know to them. The Indian was always there in me; I just had to rediscover her. The best thing that happened to me was that I had a baby. Even if you have the best career in the world, it doesn’t matter. Parenthood is better. I am very optimistic about the time that we will spend together, about what I can teach my daughter, but I will be telling her not to get into journalism!”

Sushi Das, a senior writer and columnist with The Age, spoke to Indian Link’s Preeti Jabbal. Read the full interview on www.indianlink.com.au