6 NEW ZEALAND <strong>Friday</strong>, <strong>October</strong> <strong>23</strong>, <strong>2020</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> Why Dr Gaurav Sharma’s story is so inspirational for new migrants in this country? SANDEEP SINGH <strong>The</strong> story of Dr Gaurav Sharma’s rise in New Zealand parliament, which is indeed just a beginning yet, has so much to inspire that it instantly connects with almost every segment of the Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> community. <strong>The</strong>re is no escaping from the fact that every time a member of the Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> community rises in politics and becomes a Member of Parliament is a moment of pride and glory and deserves an undiluted appreciation and celebration. Be it the story of Labour Party’s recently re-elected member of parliament Priyanca Radhakrishnan or National’s outgoing MPs Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi or Dr Parmjeet Parmar, or former MPs including New Zealand First’s Mahesh Bindra or Labour Party’s Rajen Prasad, they all have been inspirational in many different ways. To be fair and respectful to all of them their individual successes and subsequent contributions – if not in anything else – then at least in instilling some self-belief within the community have always been hugely appreciated. In that regard, the inspiration from Gaurav Sharma’s rise in politics is of the next level as it makes an instant connection with everyone in the Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> community. First and foremost is Gaurav Sharma’s solid foundation in high-quality education. It is important to note for people of <strong>Indian</strong>-descent – regardless of their present countries of residence, one key defining element is seeing - “education as the ladder of upward social mobility.” For uninitiated, one of the very basic DNA of the entire <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora all around the world is the special place of “education” as the most valued “ladder for upward social mobility.” It is almost an unwritten rule and aspirations within a large segment of the <strong>Indian</strong>-descent people to provide best possible education to their children in the hope that high-quality education will lay the stepping stones for them to succeed in life. In fact, a large number of members of the <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora migrate to different parts of the world in pursuit of “better education” for their children. To give a context, for decades, India has been known as a global powerhouse for producing world-class graduates, doctors, engineers, and lately IT specialists and business professionals. In that respect Sharma’s phenomenal educational background as a child in Auckland Grammar School then as a medical Kiwi voter the true hero of Election <strong>2020</strong> • Continue from Page 3 However, the National Party’s fatal penchant to jump from one major disaster to another with metronomic regularity throughout Labour’s first term added momentum to the Labour juggernaut in no small measure. A series of leadership changes, an exodus of trusted old hands, messy exits, faulty policy making, miscalculated projections left little room for doubt in the mind of the voter. To top it all was leader Judith Collins’ pronouncements and demeanour during the debates and in public during the run up to the polls would have made the decision that much easier for several of the so-called ‘undecideds’. compassion and a well-meaning approach to the While her ‘crusher’ leadership style has its future of the planet and our future generations. votaries, it is clearly a shrinking number, as the Going forward, however, what the Kiwi result has abundantly shown. voter must now contend with is a monobloc This new Parliament clearly reflects New government, never seen before in New Zealand’s growing diversity today – a fact Zealand’s electoral history since MMP was that was either lost on the National Party or adopted in the 1990s. was deliberately ignored to please a certain constituency. <strong>The</strong> leadership has its <strong>The</strong> Kiwi voter seems to have rejected work cut out that narrow view of New Zealand rather To be inclusive in the exclusive mandate resoundingly. Media pictures of the new that the Kiwi voter has given it, the challenge Labour and National caucuses portrayed the is massive for Labour and its leadership – difference tellingly. As one media commentator especially navigating the New Zealand ship put it, the difference in the racial composition across choppy Covid-19 waters. of the two was stark. New Zealand voters Though it is famously said a day is a very have given themselves the opportunity to long time in politics, three years is not. <strong>The</strong> hear from multiple voices and influences with clever Kiwi voter will be keenly watching. the leadership that demonstrably believes in Dev Nadkarni is Founding Editor and and stands for the values of inclusiveness, Editor-at-Large, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> graduate in the University of Auckland and subsequent career journey as a medical doctor and overseas assignments in international institutions like World Health Organization and United Nations is something that reverberates with every Kiwi- <strong>Indian</strong> household. This is an aspiration secretly shared in every Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> household where parents work hard and strive to provide the best possible education to their children and expect them to shine in every aspect of their respective careers. In appreciation of this basic social ethos of our Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> community, the <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> had covered Gaurav Sharma in 2015 in our 'Face of the Week' segment, long before he has laid out his political ambitions in the open. <strong>The</strong> story informs us that Sharma born in a place called Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, India, first arrived in NZ at the age of twelve, almost twenty years ago, and quickly started showing his talent in school and college education, which is indeed inspirational for everyone. Dr Gaurav Sharma’s CV minus his recent political success alone will establish chord with every house in Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> for decades, India has been known as a global powerhouse for producing worldclass graduates, doctors, engineers, and lately IT specialists and business professionals. community as a medical doctor (GP) who has previously been involved in public health, policy, medicine and consulting in New Zealand, Spain, USA, Nepal, Vietnam, Mongolia, Switzerland and India. He also has a Masters in Business Administration from <strong>The</strong> George Washington University in Washington DC where he was a Fulbright Scholar. <strong>The</strong> early struggles that new migrant families face in this country One another silent, but significant aspect of Sharma’s inspirational story is the immense challenges that almost every new ethnic minority migrant community faces in this country – the story of financial struggles, the economic deprivation and the will to survive against all odds in an altogether foreign country. In many interviews given to mainstream media, Sharma has opened his heart and explained his deep connection with Labour’s social justice movement emanating from the perils of homelessness that his father had to endure in early years of their settlement in this country – something which most members of Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> community. Nothing mentioned above is to dilute Sharma’s own h a n d w o r k , diligence, passion and commitment in his life journey so far, but to point the fact that his entire family’s story could very easily resonate with a lot of Kiwi- <strong>Indian</strong> households. <strong>The</strong>re would be many in the community who would be inspired by the arduous journey that his new migrant family has endured in this country. successfully NZ’s first ‘Diwali at the Mall’ event to be held in Wellington RIZWAN MOHAMMAD Wellingtonians will have the first-ever opportunity of experiencing Diwali celebrations in a shopping mall this weekend. Celebrations of major festivals like Christmas and Easter in the shopping mall is quite a global phenomenon, including in New Zealand, however, getting Diwali to enter into shopping mall will be something unique and reflective of our growing diversity and multiculturalism. Ekta New Zealand – a prominent community organisation, based in Wellington is leading a community effort in organising first of a kind “Diwali at the Mall” at North City Shopping Centre in Porirua, Wellington. Speaking to the <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> Sonam Srivastava, Ekta’s project lead for the “Diwali at the Mall” event said “this is the first time that a Diwali event is being held at a mall anywhere in Wellington. And this is significant. It is a reflection of how the country is becoming more accepting of the diversity that currently exists. We can celebrate and partake in each other’s festivals.” Sonam further added that the two-day event at the North City mall would allow shoppers to experience different facets of the festival of Diwali including dance, music, food and colourful decoration and perhaps participate in the activities too in the mall. “We, in Ekta, think that greater unity or Ekta can be achieved when we are able to have shared experiences, and it is this shared experience that is underlying our celebration,” Sonam added. North City mall will have a large rangoli made for people to see, sweets will be distributed for shoppers, children will be able to participate in Diwali themed activities, women can do Henna, there will be actual diyas (lamps) to light and take photos and lucky draws on both days. In addition to the activity list at the mall event, there will also be saree draping for women, turban draping for all visitors, taking pictures, create rangolis and fun activity for every shopper who wants to participate in the festival. <strong>The</strong> event will be held on Saturday and Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 24 and 25 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. but the decorations will be for entire two days at the mall. “Diwali at the Mall is about empowering the community and contributing to building a more inclusive New Zealand. “This event will lead up to the massive annual Wellington Diwali Festival at TSB Bank Arena, Shed 6 and Queens Wharf on Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 25,” Sonam added. <strong>The</strong> event is supported by North City Mall, Kiwi Community Assistance and Nikau Foundation, and there will be volunteers with Koha boxes at the mall during the event. Among the dignitaries who will be attending the launch will be former Governor-General of NZ, Sir Anand Satyanand, High Commissioners of India, Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia, the Mayor of Porirua, the Director of Office of Ethnic Communities and local Iwi elders and leaders.
“Learning English gave me confidence to make friends.” Your family member might have pre-paid for English lessons when they applied for their visa to New Zealand. Learning English will help your family member build confidence for their daily life. <strong>The</strong>y will be able to understand what happening in New Zealand and how it affects them. Ask the Tertiary Education Commission to check if your family member has money to use, and how to enrol for English lessons. Call 0800 601 301 or visit tec.govt.nz/pre-paid-English-lessons
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