Indian Diaspora Surpasses UK in Australia for First Time

Indians are migrating to various nations spread far and wide across the globe, bringing significant changes in the demography of the foreign nations. India has overtaken the UK as the top country of those living in Australia.

The change is significant as it is the first time in Australia’s history that a non-British-origin migrant group has become the largest diaspora. The fact came to light in the report released by The Interpreter.

Though the largest migrant group in Australia, Indians are facing real challenge in being accepted by natives of Australia. Of late, there is a rise in the Anti-immigration movement in Australia with activists staging demonstrations like “March for Australia”.

The Indian diaspora, which was once celebrated for its economic contribution, is now being treated as a perpetual cultural outsider.

The Interpreter’s report drew the attention to another fact that the Indian diaspora’s participation and level of trust in public life is yet to be explored. Research has been done for a long time on the earnings of the migrant communities and the extent to which they have integrated.

Though analysts pointed out to problems like the Indian diaspora being framed as an economically successful model minority and Indian Australians being viewed as surplus actors making their entry into the country through cracks in the immigration system, The Interpreter says there is more to the Indian diaspora.

It suggests that Indian community should be treated as a diverse cohort whose internal stratifications — based on class, caste, etc. shapes their experience in different ways.

A temporary visa-holder going through cost-of-living pressures could have a different experience when compared to a permanent resident or an Australian-born Indian origin individual. Political views, media consumption habits also make the individuals have different experiences of the environment in which they are living in the foreign nation.