My son did his MBA from Griffith University in Goldcoastand is now working for a bank in Sydney. About 4 yrs back I visited Australia. My son or I never ever experienced any racial discrimination by any Australian.These types of attacks are mostly seen in UK. I found Australians very friendly and always greeting you very warmly.I wonder what has changed in the past four years these to give rise to racial attacks in such a nice country. Is it recession and unemployment?

At Home, the media is up in arms repreatedly highlighting the plight of Indian students in Australia. Xenophobia, recism, segregation, apartheid, descrimination in any society in any form is non acceptable.
Dalits in Gujarat still continue to live in a marginalized situation. It is an open secret that the practice of untouchability, has become norm in several sections of society today. What we desperately need at this juncture are louder voices and shriller protests at home to set our own HOUSE in order.

Its not unusual to find Indian's being attacked. Australians keep complaining that their country is full to the brim with foreigners. I have met many Australian businessmen who have articulated this point of view.

Aussies are the most friendly people i have seen...all these things happen because of immature and uncivilized behavior of the students. I think there should be a crash course (how to behave)before they leave the home land.

Sir,
This has reference to the article on the above subject (Jun 12). India is a country known for its culture, heritage and civilisation. It is also known for its tolerance. The people of India wherever they reside follow the path of non-violace. Even when they are abused they give a chance to their opponents to correct themselves. But they seldom resort to violance or retaliate. But the spurt of violant incidents particularly in Victoria of Australia causes concern. There has been seven attacks on Indian students in Melbourne in the last one month.

Australia, on the ohter hand, is a country where racial discrimination existed. The Colonial racism, the Victorian era discrimination and prejiduces and not but the least the White Australian Policy. So the racist abuse by the Australiana against the Indian students cannot be ruled out.

Secondly some four lakh and odd students are reported to have been studying in the Australian Universities there. In search of good education and fat salary Indian students and young people migrate there. It is a fact that the standard of education in the Indian Universites have come to the low ebb due to certain faulty policies adopted. Add to it the commercialisation of education. So there is a craze among the Indian students for excellant education which is offered in foreign countries. So the new Indian government in India should see that quality and excellant education is made available to the whole lot of the student community locally. This will facilitate India students from going abroad. Since the Australia is reported to be earning a hefty sum of $12.16 billion from overseas students it is the bounden duty of the government Down Under to protect the interests of the overseas students. The crime rate in Australia is growing by rapidly. The seven continuous attack withing a short span of one month speaks by itself. Our students doing part time job there move at add hours carry with them costly things like gold rings, gold chains, cell phones, ipods etc on their person. This invites the robberers and thieves. Studetns should desist from this. The Victorian Police should see that the attack on Indian students is stopped forth with and the aththies are treated with respect.

N. R. Ramachandran, Ooty.

The attacks in Australia and USA have nothing to do with racism but the prevailing threat syndrome.
In a democratic world, pluralism does not imply that any 'diaspora' should dominate the locals/natives and pose as a threat to their identity and livelihood as well. Misconstrued pluralism can cost our world its true civility and produce a lot of mishmashed hippie-like societies.

I have been in Australia for 6 years now, and have never had any issues in this country. Australia is a land of opportunity and I think, only those indians who cannot make something out of this opportunity are taking part in all these rallies & stuff. The Indian media has blown this matter way out of proportion, creating a panic for even those who were feeling safe earlier and also not realizing that the whole thing could backfire on the entire Indian community in Australia.

Thats right this country has few who are a bit Racist. even when i went to apply for homes and as soon as we put down our name and wrtie Indians they would reject our application for leting us a home on rent. i spoke to one of the Property managers Of Barry Plant in Sunshine, Victoria and he said the previous time when house was let to Indians the owner of the property had problems so now he has decided not to let to any Indian as such which is not right coz i do have a gud tenant record as such which even the Propoerty manager knows about. i spoke about it to the property manager and he said keep applying someone would give it someday.

The incident manifests how safe we are as indians in india even in the wake of global economic crisis.

I did my MBA with the University of Auckland, New Zealand. At the last lecture of the Entreprenual Managment Paper, I took the opportunity of getting feedback of the classmates on starting business in New Zealand. After presenting a quick 5 minute business idea, I requested the classmates, all being KIWI's, excepting for 2 indians. I was shocked that the class did not want to provide any. Later at a cocktail party of the students, one KIWI told me that about 'Tall Puppy Syndrome', which means that KIWI do not like when someone may seem Superior to them.