If only they could have their elderly ailing parents over in Australia.
“I took the most challenging decision of my life a few months ago. But the current situation of my family gives me great relief and satisfaction about my decision”, says Australian citizen Nijesh Hirpara.
He and his pregnant wife Pooja, an Australian permanent resident, went to COVID-hit India after being given special permission to leave Australia in November last year.
Highlights:
- Nijesh Hirpara could not bring his parents and grandparents to Australia due to the border closure
- Medical conditions of aging family members forced the couple to return to India in 2020
- The soon-to-be parents got an exemption to travel to India, baby born in Jamnagar, Gujarat
Taking a tough call
Speaking to SBS Gujarati from Jamnagar in Gujarat, western India, Mr Hirpara said, “I noticed changes in my father's body movement and behaviour for the first time in 2018. It was the beginning of his depression and he had slowly begun to isolate himself socially. That was just the beginning of his health problems. He was then diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease.”
Huntington’s Disease is a progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene that can impact thinking skills, mood and movement.
In September 2019, my grandfather suffered a brain stroke. He was bedridden for about two months,” Mr Hirpara added.
His mother was the only one in the family to look after both ailing men.
“While my grandfather was on his way to recovery, my grandmother fell sick and has been bedridden since May 2020. She needed help in every routine activity. My mother did what she could do, but the situation was getting worse each day,” he added.
“Pooja and I decided to bring our parents and grandparents with us to Australia on a long-term parent visa to take care of them better.
“While we were exploring the visa options for them, Australia's international borders were slammed shut due to COVID-19 and it became impossible to bring them all to Australia in the near future.
We make our plans, but God has the last word, said Mr Hirpara sounding dejected.
Nijesh Hirpara (R) with his parents Source: Supplied by Nijesh Hirpara
It was the time when Mr Hirpapa had to decide whether they would go back to India to be with their family or wait until Pooja gave birth and travel with their newborn.
“Our doctor advised us not to travel after seven months of pregnancy. So, I decided to go before we become parents,” he recalled.
The couple thus got an exemption to travel to India in November on compassionate grounds.
Support from employers
Working as software developers, both requested their employers to allow them to work in India. While Mr Hirpara’s request was accepted, his wife’s was rejected.
“It was a sigh of relief for us as I could continue with my job. As Pooja was pregnant, her employer approved maternity leave for up to fifteen months,” Mr Hirpara said.
Giving birth in India
The Hirparas on a family outing in Gujarat. Source: Supplied by Nijesh Hirpara
The couple was very happy with the gynaecologist they were consulting in Adelaide but returning to India meant they had to find a doctor and a medical facility locally amidst the COVID crisis.
We were initially worried about leaving good facilities in Australia behind, but family was priority,” recollected Mr Hirpara.
'Family comes first in India culture'
Shining a light on the Indian family value system, Mr Hirpara urges the Australian government to consider adding parents to the list of immediate family members for travel purposes.
“Immediate blood relations are counted as a family in Indian culture. I do not understand how someone can think that their parents are not a part of the immediate family,” he says commenting on the definition of ‘family’ in the realm of Australia’s immigration system, which considers only spouses/de facto partners and children as a family.
“Family is very important, very close-knit in Indian culture. The interest of our parents takes priority over our own. It is my duty to look after my parents when they need a helping hand, and I did it”, added Mr Hirpara.
Pooja and Nijesh with their son Pranshu. Source: Supplied by Nijesh Hirpara
Right decision at the right time
Their journey may have been laced with many a speedbump, but all seems to have worked out well.
Sounding satisfied, Mr Hirpara said, “After arriving in India, we noticed positive changes in everybody's behaviour, especially in my father, who is suffering from Huntington’s Disease. Our grandparents feel comforted to see us. I am also helping my mother take care of my father and grandparents, which makes me very happy.”
Meanwhile, the couple has found satisfactory medical facilities for Pooja with a gynaecologist in Jamnagar.
Recently, they welcomed a baby boy.
“When I broke the news and showed the photo of my son to my grandmother, she was so happy, and I saw tears of joy in her eyes! These were priceless moments for us. I think we took the right decision at the right time”, he said.
Despite repatriation flights from India resuming from 15 May, the couple plans to continue staying in India until Pooja’s maternity leave expires. Mr Hirpara continues to work from home, for which he said he was “very grateful to his employer”.
Here's how to follow SBS Gujarati on our other digital and social media platforms.
- SBS Gujarati Website: Bookmark our website as a favourite.
- SBS Radio App: Download from or and listen to podcasts and our live radio program.
- Listen to news and interviews in Gujarati: Follow SBS Gujarati on , and
