The issue of attacks on Indian overseas students has been making headlines for the last four years. Many Federal and State Ministers from Australia and India have visited each other’s countries. Charges of racism and its denials are part of daily war of words. Excellent relations between the two countries have been tainted by the attacks. Many support the government response while others feel it is in a state of denial. Also, there has been uproar and support in Australia, India and other countries condemning the attacks. The complex issue has thrown up a young leadership which has stood up for the Indian students.
The eye of the storm is Gautam Gupta of the Federation Indian Students of Australia (FISA) -the most known Indian in Australia. Some consider him as the most dangerous man Down Under. Is he a true fighter for social justice or an unfettered radical? South Asia Times Editor NEERAJ NANDA talked to this brash young leader, a former Swinburne University student leader,often heard on radio and seen on TV in Australia, India and other countries.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: An article about you in a Sydney paper has the heading – “Is he the most hated man in Australia”? What do you say to that?

A: Hatred is a strong word and emotion. I believe that populist politics sometimes encourage corruption and it is better to be honest even if the risk is hatred by some. Even Mahatma Gandhi had experienced hatred and he acknowledged it.
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” he said.
I am probably a step or two away from winning.

Q: It also calls you the “Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala of Indian students in Australia”. Does that disturb you?

A: Many people have compared me with many personalities and I think it is only natural that we always benchmark people and actions with what we know. I have been accused of imitating a range of people from Gandhi to Malcolm X and everything in between.

Q: There is a feeling that your statements in the media are responsible for more and more attacks on Indian students in Australia. Who are these people and what is your reply?

A: I have personally experienced the discrimination and resulting humiliation that one has to endure. The choice for me was clear that I accept it as part of life or try my best to do something to improve the system. I have read a lot of books and one of my most inspiring words for action came from this little poem written by German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin Niemöller:
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

These people who are accusing me – probably are the people who would have supported the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela for fighting and speaking against apartheid. Because by the same logic, according to their view, he would have increased apartheid by speaking against it.

Q: You describe any attack or violence on Indian students as racist. How do you reach that conclusion?

A: Well, people can take and interpret anything I say to suit their convenience and own convictions. I do believe some attacks were racist and some were not. The only thing I suggest is that the Police must not be tainted by political interference. And not rule out anything including racism. I am glad that after years of campaigning we not only achieved the introduction of hate crimes act but also an admission from the Chief Commissioner of police that some attacks were definitely racist and they erred in ruling out race as a motive a little too early.

Q: The cops and the Victorian government have ruled out racism in most attacks. But you continue to harp on the issue of racism. Why?

A: Well, if they rule out racism then how will the hate crimes act be applied? Isn’t it a failure of the justice system then? Let us not forget that the Chief Commissioner admitted knowledge of the problem of violence against Indians for the past two years. It is clear that what they have done since that time has clearly not worked. The Police and the State Government has failed in its duty of care. They clearly need new ideas and new people and till now they have chosen to ignore any meaningful solution provided by us.

Q: Do you think Australia is a racist country?

A: Racism is present in every country including Australia. The question we have to ask is ‘Is Australia doing enough to stem out racism?’ I think there is a lot more that Australia can do. Let us start by confronting racism wherever we see it, as advised by Former defence Chief Gen. Peter Cosgrove. We have raised with the government and authorities the existence of online gangs targeting ethnic groups including Indians. Till date not even one person from any of them has been charged. Are we not giving tacit approval for such illegal activities by our silence? Verbal and mental attack can sometimes be more threatening and brutal than physical violence. Every time some Indian is attacked, they are made to feel responsible – when are we going to make the criminal feel guilty?

Q: Established Indians in Australia do not see eye to eye with you on the issue. For example, the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV) and other Indian organisations.

A: Well, generally I don’t participate in pitching one community group against another as it promotes divide and rule. However, as it is our community issue, I must say that it is annoying and deeply offending when some established Indians accuse young migrants for all problems. I can understand that some of them have lost quite a lot due to the cut in their income they made from cheap labour and money they gain from student recruitment. However, my focus in their welfare. I believe that every migrant deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and these associations have failed them by accusing them.
What surprised me, and continues to do so is when bodies like the FIAV support statements asking Indians to keep a low profile and refuse to condemn racist attacks and fail to acknowledge the excellent work done by young Indians.

Q: What is your opinion about the role of India and the Indian diplomats in Australia on the issue?

A: I think the diplomats are in a difficult situation. On one hand they have to follow their government and they also have to maintain good diplomatic relations with the host nation. In our situation, they now have to deal with a unique situation where there is a third front – young Indians, who are not happy with status quo and want changes.

Our sustained campaign has forced the introduction of Student Officer at the Indian Consulate. From their initial response suggesting that ‘we can’t help as we are not designed to assist students’ they have changed to ‘we will do everything that we can’.
There is a lot more that they can do, by starting to be straight and supportive for the leadership that has emerged. By refusing to acknowledge the youth power, they have confused the State and Federal Government and maybe unknowingly harmed Indians and Indian cause in the process.

Q: Often the government and established Indians also blame the Indian media for over-hyping the issue and making it race related. What would you say to it?

A: Historically, it is the might of the pen and not the sword that has changed people’s opinion and bought in revolutions. How do we silence free speech? Even successful dictatorships have failed to curtail expressive creativity of people. Journalists have been executed in many countries for speaking their minds; fortunately India and Australia are not those countries. Both believe in freedom of speech and I have always urged people to keep that perspective.

We must also not forget that if the Indian media was not active in highlighting the injustices and systemic rort that existed in the education sector in Australia, we will still have the situation where thousands of victims would have suffered in silence, lost their money to dubious college operators and migration agents and thousands would have just lived their life without hope or redress.

Q9: You work full time for the FISA. How do you and FISA make your ends meet?
A: It is a problem area for me and indeed all representatives in FISA. I have done what every battler does, i.e. live on credit cards. However I must also acknowledge the support provided, in cash and kind, by a couple of philanthropists from Melbourne and Sydney. These gentlemen have paid some of my bills and now they are planning to institutionalise this support.

Q: You are so much visible in the Australian and Indian media. Do you have a political motive?
A: My political motive at this stage is limited to getting all parties to acknowledge and appreciate Indians as more than curry, cricket and Bollywood. It surprises me that every time and Indian is attacked, Police comes out and plays cricket and the politicians cheer them.
I want our politicians to take Indians seriously. Maybe it will happen once we have a politician who will champion our cause.

Q: Which political party or people in Australia have taken a correct stand on the student attacks?

A: As of now no political party has demonstrated any real interest or policy to socially and economically include Indians. However, this is a big election year and I hope to see major policy initiatives directed at improving the quality of life for all Indians.

Q: Do you belong to a political family or what does your family think about your activity?

A: I do not belong to any party. People have attributed my actions to be supportive of one faction or another but I can assure you and your readers that that is false. My intention has always been single-minded to champion the cause of Indians.

Q: How can the attacks be stopped? I mean steps that will stop them.

A: The issue of stopping attacks is very complex. It is not possible that there will be no crime. When politicians say ‘zero’ tolerance they really don’t mean it and nor should we believe them. There will always be a level of violence that we will have to live with. What is unacceptable is the over-representation of Indians as victims of crime by at least 3 times more than the State (Victoria) average.

I believe it must be done at three levels:
Government, Business and Social. At a Government level, we need a straight acknowledgement of the existence of a problem like provided by the Chief Commissioner and the Archbishop. This should be followed by allocation of resources to stem this issue. For example, redesigning taxis, legislating extra security at late-nights etc. Increased diversity in Police, Ambulance and other services will be helpful too.
Businesses have known to be innovative when it comes to problems. We must encourage businesses to take greater ownership to innovate solutions to improve safety for their staff. They may start by issuing cab-vouchers for late-night staff or wait for such safety measures are legislated for them.
At the social level, we must encourage greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures and this can happen by us partnering with AFL, having social events around BBQ and understanding the role of Church as a pillar of this society. Government can assist by funding education campaigns highlighting the contribution of migrants in the society and by launching an anti-violence campaign.

Q: Do you blame the education providers/universities for the current state of affairs?

A: I don’t think that anyone should be singled out as the cause of the problem. They are all part of system which is obviously broken. We cannot blame providers for being greedy when they are designed to earn money. We should blame the system that has failed to keep them under check.

Q: What is your greatest strength?

A: My will power, dedication and a never say die attitude. This when coupled with the support of my partner and parents make it easy for me to survive.

Q: Your message to Indian and other overseas students in Australia?

A: We must continue to work hard to ensure that Australia does not become Fiji for us. This is one of the finest countries that has a lot to offer. Hard-work, persistence and patience will help us to achieve the quality of life that we came here to find. It is important for us to be a brand of India in Australia and of Australia in India. Both countries have a lot in common and a lot that they can learn from each other. We are in a unique position to help with that transition.

- From the February 2010 issue of South Asia Times

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