Australia is a country that symbolizes multiculturalism. People from different countries come to Australia in search of better education and employment opportunities. This may seem heartening, and it really is; however, these migrants face many barriers such as language barrier, information related education and employment barriers and a host of other barriers, which make their integration to the Australian society more difficult than what they may have thought before embarking on a journey to this country. And it is not easy to inhabit a totally alien land for them till they are made to feel safe and at home.
This is precisely what necessitated the establishment of Bhartiya Samaj in Brisbane, a not-for-profit organization. Though Bhartiya Samaj’s origin was in New Zealand, its Brisbane chapter, led by Abhishek Sharma is an extension and expansion of the great work being done by its parent organization in New Zealand.
Perhaps no one appreciates such an organization more than the migrant herself. When as a migrant you reach a country you never had any experience of, you don’t find yourself at ease in the beginning. It is one thing to have collected information related to education and employment before reaching this country, but it is entirely a different thing to be faced with the situation of living here and find real opportunities. Every country has evolved its own systems related to education, employment opportunities, housing, cultural activities and expression, and so on. It takes an opportunity to interact with people of your kind culturally, and others who may be different from you but have come to Australia with similar aspirations. Talking to them brings solace that you are not alone, and that together the migrants can be a powerful force that cannot go unnoticed.
The question of cultural diversity is an important one. The richness of any culture depends on how much it is prepared to interact with other cultures, and even borrow certain elements from them. Culture also evolves with time, and great cultures have thrived due to this feature. Therefore unity in cultural diversity is what drives the mission of Bhartiya Samaj. Let people realize how important they are culturally, and also how other cultures are equally relevant and important. Multiculturalism is the value that builds strong societies and by extension, strong nations. This calls for showcasing of the food, attire, music and dance, and other elements of different cultures. People learn from one another, and as they do so, they progress individually and collectively. This is what Australia as a nation has taught the migrants who reach the shores of this great nation.
