By T Navin
Recently, demonstrations were witnessed in both Australia and the United Kingdom targeting Indian immigrants. In Australia, a coordinated “March for Australia” protest took place on 31 August 2025 across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. While the rallies were presented as a stand against “mass immigration,” flyers and social media posts explicitly singled out Indians, with one claiming, “More Indians in five years than Greeks and Italians in 100.” Members of the Indian Australian community reported feeling targeted by the fast-growing anti-immigrant groups, sharing experiences of abusive comments and a heightened sense of insecurity in workplaces and public spaces. Protesters argued that the rapid influx of Indians was driving up housing prices, overwhelming hospitals and schools, and straining public transport. They claimed that Indian professionals were accepting lower wages and thereby displacing local workers, while accusing the federal government of favouring corporate interests by “importing workers” to suppress wages. Beyond economic complaints, many marchers warned of an erosion of “traditional Australian values,” framing Indian immigration as a cultural threat.
Similarly, on 7 September 2025, the United Kingdom witnessed massive anti-immigration demonstrations under the banner “Unite the Kingdom”, led by far-right groups. Though framed as a broader protest against immigration, many participants targeted people of South Asian descent—particularly Indians—some of whom were reportedly chased through the streets. Demonstrators made inflammatory statements about boycotting Indian snacks such as onion bhajis and warned that Indian culture had become too deeply woven into British life. Protesters claimed immigrants were taking scarce housing, welfare benefits, and jobs, while online posts accused South Asian communities of failing to integrate. Some even suggested that unchecked immigration would irreversibly change the character of British cities and erode “British culture.”
While such protests capture headlines and emotions, they are not supported by evidence. A substantial body of research from economists, historians, and novelists paints a different picture—one in which migration is not a threat but a source of resilience, innovation, and justice. In Good Economics for Hard Times, Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo dismantle the myth that migrants depress wages or steal jobs. “The idea that migrants take jobs away from natives is not supported by the data,” they write, citing rigorous studies across multiple countries that show immigrants often fill labour shortages, drive economic growth, and bring dynamism to ageing societies. Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns chronicles the Great Migration of African Americans within the United States, illustrating how internal migrants were met with suspicion despite their contributions—a reminder that resentment toward upwardly mobile minorities is a recurring theme in history. Mohsin Hamid’s novel Exit West explores the emotional and existential dimensions of migration, portraying migrants not as invaders but as fellow humans seeking survival and dignity.
Other scholars reinforce this perspective. Steven Gold’s Immigration and the American Dream highlights how immigrants frequently become entrepreneurs, job creators, and cultural bridges. Indian immigrants in the UK and Australia exemplify this reality by running businesses, working in healthcare, and contributing to technology and academia. The Age of Migration by Stephen Castles, Hein de Haas, and Mark J. Miller frames migration as a structural feature of globalization—not a temporary crisis but a permanent and necessary part of modern economies. Anti-Indian demonstrations, the authors argue, misdirect public anger toward individuals while ignoring the systemic economic forces driving global mobility. Suketu Mehta’s This Land Is Our Land: An Immigrant’s Manifesto adds a moral dimension, describing migration as a form of justice and historical reckoning: “They are here because you were there,” he writes, arguing that resistance to migrants from former colonies overlooks the lingering consequences of colonial exploitation.
Indian immigrants themselves present strong arguments to counter these protests. They emphasize their economic contribution, noting that Indians fill critical skill gaps in healthcare, engineering, IT, education, and other sectors where domestic labour cannot meet demand. Far from being a burden, Indians pay taxes, start businesses, and create jobs—often contributing more to economic growth than they draw in social benefits. Many establish small enterprises, from restaurants and grocery stores to tech start-ups, that stimulate local economies. Their migration is based on merit and regulation, not circumvention of the law. Indian migration to Australia and the UK is heavily skills- and education-based, with applicants meeting strict visa criteria. Community leaders stress that Indians are not “taking jobs” illegally but coming through government-designed systems that actively recruit talent. They also highlight demographic realities: both Australia and the UK have ageing populations, and Indian migrants help balance demographics, sustain pension systems, and maintain essential services.
Beyond economics, Indian communities point to their record of social integration and cultural contribution. They participate in civic life, respect law and order, and enrich the cultural landscape with food, festivals, music, and art—ironically illustrated by UK protesters buying Indian snacks during the rallies against immigration. Indian representatives frame the targeting of their community as a violation of human dignity and anti-racist principles, arguing that singling out one ethnic group fuels hate crimes and undermines democratic values of equality and inclusion. Finally, they stress the two-way relationship migration strengthens. Large Indian student and professional communities deepen trade, education, and technological partnerships, benefiting both India and host nations. Personal narratives of long working hours, self-funded education, and responsible citizenship further reinforce the reality that Indian immigrants are contributors, not takers, in their adopted societies.
The recent protests in Australia and the UK may be loud, but they rest on fear rather than fact. Economic research, historical experience, and lived realities all show that Indian immigrants strengthen rather than weaken their host countries. They fill vital skill gaps, support ageing societies, create businesses, and enrich culture—outcomes that benefit everyone. As scholars like Banerjee, Wilkerson, Hamid, Gold, Castles, and Mehta remind us, migration is not a crisis but a cornerstone of modern economies and human progress. The challenge lies not in stopping migration but in nurturing understanding and inclusion, ensuring that fear does not override the shared benefits of a more interconnected world.
T Navin is an independent writer
21 September 2025
Source: countercurrents.org