2 Indians Who Have Made Lasting Impression in Australia.
We commonly hear a lot about Indian migrants in the US and the UK. Recently, we are hearing a lot of success stories about Indian-origin professionals occupying top positions in the IT sector and various other sectors. But, we seldom hear about the successful Indian immigrants in Australia.
Indian immigrants are an asset to the Australian economy as well. There are several Indians who have permanently migrated to Australia and have been contributing to the economy through their ventures and other activities. The Indian-origin population has also increased since 2016 owing to the wide range of opportunities in education and job. On one hand, the Indian students are moving to Australia for higher education and on the other hand, skilled professionals are migrating to set up a career in their respective fields.
Together, Indian origin and the residents are adding value to the economic and social setting in Australia. Among them, several people have achieved a lot and have become successful in their efforts.
Today, we are going to introduce two such Indian-origin citizens of Australia who are making their mark in the country.
Uppma Virdi:
Tea (chai) is a commonly consumed beverage in India. Every household, every street, and every restaurant will have chai on their menu. It is the chai that connects people and it holds a sense of nativity in India. Every nook and corner of India offers its unique recipes of chai (tea). It wouldn’t be wrong to say that these chai wallas do contribute to the Indian economy in their own way.
Uppma Virdi, who grew up in an Indian household, saw tea being served to the family members and guests regularly. It was her grandfather who was an Ayurvedic doctor, who often prepared Ayurvedic teas (which was different from the regular chai we drink as a beverage) which spurred her interest in chai.
She would carry various spices wherever she would travel and make chai for herself and her friends. This got her a name called ‘Tea lady’ among her friends who used to miss her chai when she was not around. It was then she started calling herself ‘Chai Walli’ (translated version of tea lady in Hindi). However, it was not until she moved to Austria for studies that she realized the significance of deep-rootedness in the culture and traditions.
It was there she started using her grandfather’s recipes in her tea and started selling it in the stalls. What started as a non-economic venture slowly turned into a full-fledged business venture because Uppma Virdi realized that Australians hardly knew about the ‘Indian tea’. So, through her efforts to educate Australians about Indian chai, her venture became even more interesting and successful.
She started a venture called ‘Chai Walli’ in Australia and it has even won many awards. Uppma Virdi has also been listed under Forbes 30 under 30 for her thought and creativity through this venture. No doubt, she is one of the most successful Indians in Australia who has taken her entrepreneurial journey to a different level with her unique venture.
Unmukt Chand:
Unmukt Chand is yet another interesting name who has been a successful Indian in Australia. A former India A and India Under 19 cricketer and captain changed his career when he was selected for Melbourne Renegades. Truely, it is an inspiring journey for this player who will be playing an International league from Australia.
