Letters to the editor

Community Leaders???

I was amazed to see (Indian Link Nov-1, 2009) how many “Community Leaders” we have!

A few months ago before the attacks and robberies on Indian students had started, I had raised my concerns to the local Indian newspapers about the behaviour of newly arrived Indian students on public transport and at local libraries. I don’t only refer to their talking loudly on mobile phones or listening to their ipods blaring loud bhajans and Bollywood songs, but also their breaking of rules like ticketless travel (pushing themselves behind valid ticket holders at the gates etc), kicking seats on trains with their feet and placing feet on the seats, dirtying our pavements by throwing garbage, spitting paan on any wall they find (especially behind Westfeild Parramatta), and lately even urinating in public and writing graffitti in Gujararti on trains!

I received a whole lot of criticism, insinuating that I had become a gora etc. Of course there was a lot of support. I had only appealed to our local media and the so called “Community Leaders” to use their means to educate our newly arrived students, mainly from rural areas, on some local etiquette. At that time it was clear that all assaults on Indian students were only for robbery. This was clear from the SBS program on the issue. The students themselves admitted that no language of racial hatred was used. The students could have been guided with advice about the safety of getting home late nights and maintaining a low profile. More Australians have been bashed, glassed, stabbed every weekend spending late nights in clubs and pubs than assaults on Indian students over the past one year. One agrees that physical violence of any kind is just not acceptable but it happens and can easily be prevented.

Instead what do our “Community leaders” and students do? They take to the streets demanding protection! Is it possible for any government to provide protection to each and every member of the society?? Are all governments going to demand an explanation for every foreign girl travelling in India molested, groped at, sexually harrased and even raped? Of course by making the whole issue of assault for robbery into a race issue, sadly today it has turned into one. Equally sadly, I think the behaviour of the students has gone far worse. One has only to go through the Parramatta area and one will see the tell tale marks of this, such as advertising accommodation seeking “Only Indian” or “Only Gujaratis”. Aren’t we asking for trouble?

I don’t think your newspaper has ever brought these matters out in open and in detail besides the token “integrate into the society, understand government systems and mutual respect” angle. And lately there have been quite a few instances of Indian students involved in crime, none of which have been raised by the local media or our media back home which otherwise screams “racial assault” at every opportunity.

On August 8 an Indian student has allegedly fled the country before being sentenced for culpable driving which killed one young Queenslander and seriously injured another.

On September 4 two Indian nationals on student visas had been arrested by cops for the alleged sexual assault of 17-year-old Gosford girl on a train. What about all the sham Indian recruiting agents who have been named by the students on ABC and SBS? I think it’s also time it be brought out in the open that a a lot of these students studying in Vocational colleges are studying subjects chosen by “agents” rather than a genuine interest in the field. Could this just be a way of legal people smuggling???

I think our so called “Community Leaders” will do well to address these issues and really help the students enjoy their education in Australia.

Kashi Mallya Parramatta NSW