Indian student Yashesh Shah says he feels safer around the city than in the western suburbs.
Since moving to Australia last year, Mr Shah has experienced three separate incidents of racially based abuse – all occurring in the Western suburbs in Sydney. One incident occurred in Parramatta when a group of students shouted racist insults and told him to go back to India.
On another occasion he was abused on a train in the presence of other passengers who stood by and did not intervene.
He also said many of his friends had experienced worse attacks, with one being badly beaten.
“Sometimes I feel worried. It’s obvious that the Indians are sensitive and even I am,” Mr Shah said.
“When my parents call me up to see what the situation here is, they are too worried about me because I am alone over here – I have no friends or family here. But this doesn’t mean I have to stop my life. I have to live my life, I have to enjoy my life.”
Mr Shah is currently studying as a postgraduate student at the University of Technology, Sydney. He says he feels less in danger of being abused or attacked while on campus. “Generally UTS students don’t face these problems because there is security all around UTS and … [the students are told] that if you find any problems just report to us and we’ll help you out.”
According to him, most Indian students turn to the western suburbs for cheaper accommodation. Once there, the chance of being targeted for racial abuse is higher, he said. “But if you want to live in the city it’s totally costly, so that’s why they’re migrating to those low-profile suburbs like Harris Park and Westmead which are the hotspots for attacks.”
Mr Shah said it was understandable that less Indian students would want to study in Australia. “Definitely Indian students will now look to other places [for study]. Because of what happened. People over there are thinking Australia is not a good country because all these incidents are happening and the cops are not doing anything and the Australian government is not doing anything.”
Professor William Purcell, UTS deputy vice-chancellor and deputy president of international studies, said there were no reported incidents of attacks on Indian students at the university. “The University of Technology, Sydney has the largest contingent of Indian Students in the State of NSW, at around 700,” he said in a statement.
“There have been no reported incidents involving any Indian students within the UTS community, nor have there been any reported cases of racial violence, either on campus or in the city precinct.”
UTS held a forum last year to discuss ways to improve the safety of international students. The university committed to a number of measures that included extending security at student accommodation and lobbying government for travel concessions for international students.
Mr Shah urged other students worried about discrimination not to let it ruin their stay in Australia. “What I want to say to the other students is that, yes it happens. Sometimes total discrimination happens – even I have faced that.
“But don’t stop [living], don’t lock yourself in the homes. Move out and enjoy your life because life is a beautiful gift.”
by Ehssan Veiszadeh
