With the National Library of Australia
by Sam Regi
In a project for the National Library of Australia, we are currently documenting the life stories of individuals from the Indian diaspora about their migration to Australia.
This project aims to capture the rich and varied experiences of Australians with Indian heritage, a rapidly growing and significantly contributing community in Australia. By adopting a broad definition of the Indian diaspora, including those with heritage tracing back to the pre-Partition Indian subcontinent and beyond, the project seeks to encompass a diverse array of stories.
Ashwin Khurana
Ashwin Khurana at home.
Ashwin Khuranna’s life is a testament to resilience, shaped by the echoes of Partition and the quiet sacrifices of his parents, who migrated from India to Australia in the 1970s. Growing up in Whyalla as one of the few Indian families, Ashwin grappled with the tension between his heritage and the desire to fit in. His journey—from boarding school rebellion to a teaching career, and later to London’s publishing world—mirrored his evolving relationship with identity, deepened by his wife Taylor’s passion for Indian history.
Yet life’s harshest turns—his brother Rohan’s death from cancer in 2022 and his son Sid’s terminal diagnosis—revealed the raw power of vulnerability and the universality of grief. Ashwin’s story, rich with displacement, discovery, and quiet courage, underscores a truth: every life, no matter how ordinary it seems, carries the weight of an extraordinary legacy.
Begum Janeth Deen
Begum Janeth at the Holland Park Mosque.
Janeth Deen’s life bridges continents and cultures, anchored by generations who carved opportunity from adversity. Her great-grandfather, Abdul Futtah Deen, and grandfather, Fazal Deen, arrived as Indian hawkers in Australia under the White Australia policy, hauling goods to remote stations while laying foundations for Brisbane’s Holland Park Mosque. Janeth’s father, Wazir, married Eunice Irene—a union blending German and Indian roots—and built businesses in wartime Brisbane, where Janeth witnessed her mother’s grit balancing ledgers amid air raids and the searing loss of a sibling in a house fire.
Defying her grandfather’s rigid traditions, she chose office work over familial expectations, pursued education during the Whitlam era while raising five children, and later reconciled her dual heritage through a Hajj pilgrimage that crystallized her Muslim identity. From founding Australia’s first Muslim op-shop to championing multicultural communities, Janeth’s journey—marked by quiet rebellion, faith, and service—embodies the quiet power of ordinary lives to shape history. Her story whispers: legacy isn’t inherited; it’s built by those who dare to bridge divides.
Tarun Preet Singh
Tarun Preet Singh next to the Canning River
Tarun Preet Singh’s journey into Sikh Australian history began unexpectedly in 2009 when he noticed a brass plaque at a gurdwara, mentioning Sikh cremations in the area. This small discovery led him to investigate the long but largely undocumented history of Sikhs in Australia. He traveled across the country, exploring archives and local records, uncovering Sikh contributions dating back to the 1860s in agriculture, trade, and transport. His research culminated in the co-founding of the Australian Sikh Heritage Association (ASHA) in 2014, dedicated to preserving and sharing this history.
One of his key projects, the Australian Sikh Heritage Trail in Riverton, Western Australia, highlights over 150 years of Sikh presence, including their struggles under the White Australia Policy, their role in WWI and WWII, and the establishment of the first legal Sikh cremation site. Born in Amritsar and later settling in Australia, Tarun’s passion for history has helped bring visibility to Sikh-Australian contributions, ensuring their stories are documented and recognised.
Umesh Chandra
Umesh Chandra at the Australian Indian Radio studio.
Umesh’s life is a journey of grit, adaptability, and quiet triumph, stretching from the sugarcane fields of Fiji to the bustling streets of Brisbane. His grandfather, an indentured laborer from Rajasthan, braved a perilous voyage to Fiji, forging bonds with fellow travelers that would shape their descendants’ lives. Umesh’s father, a stern but enterprising man, built a thriving furniture business and prioritised education, instilling values that would guide Umesh through his own challenges. Growing up in a sprawling Queenslander-style home, Umesh found joy in childhood mischief but faced early grief with the loss of his grandfather and a close friend—a tragedy that still lingers.
After studying in India, where he met his wife Usha, Umesh returned to Fiji to marry and join the family business. The couple’s life took a dramatic turn during Fiji’s first military coup, forcing them to seek refuge in Australia. Starting anew in Sydney, Umesh worked tirelessly as a cabinet maker and delivery driver, eventually moving to Brisbane to build a home and a future. There, he transitioned from construction to media, founding the Brisbane Indian Times and Australian Indian Radio, while Usha carved her own path in real estate. Together, they became pillars of the Indian community, establishing the Queensland Hindu Society and constructing a temple. Umesh’s story—marked by migration, resilience, and service—is a testament to the quiet power of perseverance and the enduring impact of community. It reminds us that even the most ordinary lives leave extraordinary imprints.
Harjit Singh
Harjit Singh at home in Perth
Harjit Singh’s family history is deeply connected to the upheavals of South Asian history, beginning with their displacement from Bannu (now in Pakistan) during the 1947 Partition, which severed their ties to their ancestral land. His parents, raised in Punjab but shaped by displacement, later migrated to Bahrain and then New Zealand, where Harjit was born before the family settled in Australia.
Growing up, Harjit witnessed his parents’ strong commitment to community service (seva), despite financial struggles, which left a lasting impact on him. Facing bullying and discrimination in school due to his Sikh identity, he found strength in his faith and undertook the Amrit Sanskar initiation at an early age, seeing it as a form of empowerment. Later, the post-9/11 climate intensified racial prejudice, and his experiences of being stereotyped fueled his activism.
While pursuing law and accounting, he transitioned from corporate tax law to a leadership role at the Australian Taxation Office, while simultaneously advocating for Sikh representation through initiatives like Turbans & Trust and the Australian Sikh Heritage Association (ASHA). His advocacy work, inspired by his own struggles, has focused on promoting Sikh history, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and challenging racial misclassifications, particularly regarding Sikh cameleers historically mislabeled as Afghans. As a father, he reflects on how younger generations navigate identity with greater ease, and through his initiatives, he continues to bridge cultural divides, promote awareness, and advocate for the rights of Sikhs in Australia.
Jim Varghese
Jim Varghese at the University of Queensland.
James Varghese’s life reflects a commitment to heritage, education, and leadership across continents and industries. Born into a Kerala Christian family and raised in Kenya, his father’s stance against the White Australia policy eventually led them to settle in Queensland. Education was central to his upbringing, with an expectation of careers in medicine or law. James began studying law but shifted to divinity, a decision that shaped his future in leadership.
His career spanned public and private sectors, from student activism to senior roles in the Victorian public service, where he served as Director General across Education, Main Roads, and other portfolios. During a period of reflection, he developed the "Three Frames" leadership model, focusing on performance, relationships, and alignment. Moving to the private sector, he led the development of Australia’s first master-planned city as CEO of the Springfield MasterPlan group.
Now leading The Leadership Company, James continues to mentor leaders and advocate for multiculturalism. His story highlights the role of adaptability and vision in leadership—demonstrating that influence extends beyond achievements to shaping lasting impact.