What suburb do you live in and how long have you lived there?
I live in Craigieburn with my wife, Monica, and two boys, Rajat and Aditya.
What do you love about your community?
Sense of family. I love my multicultural community because the people you meet here become your family. Our community is a great place to raise kids – from parks and schools to its grounded and friendly people.
What, if anything, would you change about your community?
If I could change anything in my community, I would have a multicultural hub in Hume. I would create a multicultural hub because it would bring the community together. It would mean we could have more fun and bring more people together, especially children, who I believe are very important as they are the bright future of Australia.
What community groups are you involved with?
I love engaging with the newly arriving migrants and the broader Australian communities on a daily basis. I have 21 years’ experience working with different individuals and multicultural community groups, which taught me understanding of issues related to multilingualism, multiculturalism and multi-faith practices. My dream is to connect all these dots.
Tell us about the South Asian Community Link Group (SACLG)? What’s your role with the group and how did it come about?
SACLG was born out of the requirement for an umbrella organisation that caters to the needs of the South Asians in Australia. I am the founder patron and I help guide the team to engage with community, police, policy and political leaders. At SACLG we have developed a tradition of fundraising. During Diwali, we raise funds for various groups. We have raised money for the Royal Children’s Hospital, bushfire and flood victims and homeless people. This has made the South Asians aware about their role and responsibility towards the broader society. SACLG will continue to engage and work for the South Asian communities with a renewed focus on youth empowerment and support to women and the elderly in the community.
What do you enjoy about volunteering in your community?
I personally feel that life lived with others and for others is a better life than a life lived exclusively for one’s self … most importantly, a responsible life as a volunteer trains us to give, share and distribute love, compassion and happiness.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
I spend my spare time with elderly people, children with special needs and homeless people to give them a sense of belonging and to create strong bonds between each other as one big family.
