The numbers speak for themselves: in the last 10 years, almost 156,000 Indian subjects swapped their Indian passports for an Australian one.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, most migrants from India who receive their Australian citizenship are between the age of 26 and 40.
These young Indians embrace their new country with vigour and enthusiasm, building lives and futures in the land Down Under.
The numbers drop dramatically for aspiring Australian citizens from India who are in the 51 to 55 age bracket: only 1,840 citizenships were granted citizenship in the last 10 years.
Number of Indian nationals who acquired Australian citizenship in last 10 years. Source: Department of Home Affairs
The statistics for those who are 55 years and older are negligible.
Gokuldas Jadhavbhai Kantaria is among this small group - recently becoming an Australian at the ripe age of 65.
Gokuldas arrived on Australian soil in August 2014, on a permanent residency visa to live with his son and his family, who already were Australian citizens.
He thinks Australia is like heaven on earth.
"Australia offers plenty of opportunities to people from all walks of life, and I count myself lucky because I can see my grandson being raised in front of me," he said.
Gokuldas with his wife and grandson. Source: Gokuldas Kantaria
Giving back teaching Yoga
The former Indian national doesn’t just sit at home, enjoying his retirement. He also runs yoga sessions in the local community centre in Toongabbie, in Sydney’s west and says he feels that it is his responsibility to give back to his new community in some shape or form.
Becoming Australian citizens in their 50s
Another energetic couple is Meeta and Navin Joshi who migrated to Australia in 2003. They were in their mid-40’s when they made the big move.
A civil engineer by profession, Navin Joshi owned an established business in Bangalore, the southern city of India, and the family was well off.
Their son’s academic aspirations, and bright future in the all-important game of cricket, made them look beyond the borders of India.
Australia was their new country of choice. They sold their successful company and their lavish apartment, applied for a Business visa, and flew to Sydney embracing new challenges and new uncertainties in a completely unknown country.
Meeta and Navin Joshi (L) with his son Kunal and his family. Source: Navin Joshi
“I soon discovered that I was overqualified to get a builder’s license," says Navin.
"But I convinced the relevant authorities that I had a lot more to offer to the industry and then they allowed me to study some extra subjects for the Australian builder’s license anyway”.
He is now helping Australians build their dream homes under his successful property business, Kuber Homes.
Going back to college
Navin said, "At the age of 45, I went back to college alongside students half my age. I was determined to make my migration to Australia a success story."
His wife Meeta Joshi says that the family was well prepared for adversity and never thought about giving up and going back to India.
The family hit the Australian ground running, so to speak. In their early days, they made a point of talking to many people from various backgrounds and thoroughly familiarised themselves with the Australian culture and lifestyle which helped them settle in quickly.
Patience and persistence are keys
The Joshi family diligently followed every necessary step and received Australian citizenship when Navin was 54 and Meeta was 48.
According to Navin, "Every migrant has to go through a phase where they struggle without support from the extended family, but patience and persistence is the key."
“Hard work always pays off it is just a matter of time”, Meeta ended.
