Thank God I selected New Zealand over Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!

Australia has seen a series of racial attacks on Indian students. The most horrific case was that of Shravan Kumar, an automobile engineering student from Andhra Pradesh who is battling for life after being attacked by two youths in Melbourne. A hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received 30 percent burns after a petrol bomb that was flung into his home in Sydney. There have been at many incidents of “curry bashing” in Australia in the past month.

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan threatened to reject an honorary doctorate from a Brisbane university to protest at a wave of attacks on Indian students in Australia. New Delhi is furious over the incidents and summoned Australian High Commissioner to India, John McCarthy to the foreign office, to convey its concerns.

At times like these, it feels great to have chosen NZ over OZ for higher education. The hospitality of Kiwis has been stupendous. It was this welcoming attitude to various cultures shown by the Kiwis that has convinced many South Africans, Asians and Indians to make NZ their home. It has enabled many migrants like me to settle in well.

However, the omission of such important news comes as a surprise. The world is shocked and has condemned these inhumane attacks on Indian students in Australia. Where news channel reporters like Samantha Hayes do not fail to mention the ‘injustice’ done to homeless Slumdog child artist, or the slingshot call centers located in modest suburbs of Mumbai, it is hard to imagine that the news reporters didn’t even bother to report the injustice inflicted on Indians down under.

International students here are receiving anxious calls from aspiring students in India, who are now reconsidering their decision to take up courses with Universities down under and there is very little we can do to resolve their doubts. It’s a shame considering the new semester starts next month. International students boost the economy of our country by bringing in Foreign Exchange. And they need assurance of safety. In fact, any government's campaign to attract International students, in an effort to combat recession could remain a non-starter if the issue of racial attacks is not addressed.

My Views as published in India Newslink this week.....

http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/opinion/3265.html