Mr Rajendra Chopra and wife Asha thank God that they have had a full life and says that they are happy to give back to a country that has been good to them
Mr Rajendra Chopra left India in 1966 when he was about 20 years old.
He did his masters in Canada and worked in senior management positions in Canada and in the States before he came to Australia in 1983.
“I’ve never really had a problem with jobs. Whenever I changed countries, it was always with employment in hand. I feel that if you are the right person, with the right qualification and attitude, you can get the job you want. This I have found to be true here, in Canada and America.”
This was at a time when there were not many Indians to be seen around Melbourne. “I remember one of the more important faculties which had thousands of students and only about eight students who were of Indian origin,” says Mr Chopra in an obvious reference to the number of international students we have here today. “In Canada, when I was there, I would lucky if I saw an Indian a week. There was only one Indian shop in all of Ontario and supermarkets did not have all these exotic vegetables.” Ontario is one of the largest states in Canada and its capital is Toronto which is a multicultural hub of Canada. One of the largest immigration groups into Ontario today are South Asians, including Indians.
However, Mr Chopra adds, “People were very receptive. Job opportunities were there for the right people. I had a job the very first day. I was mechanical engineer and had an MBA background as well.” He is a lucky man to have had a fair go in Canada as well as Australia.
He left Canada and reached Australia a married man in 1983.
“Asha is a great personality. I have three wonderful children who are all well settled,” he beams while talking about his wife and adds that his children are as proud of their Australian culture as they are of their Indian origin. “They are well-informed about both cultures.”
“I have three wonderful children and I have Asha to thank for that. I feel that is the toughest job in the world,” he says.
Mr Chopra has worked as an engineer contributing to some very high profile professors in faculties like the Yale Univesity in America. He is especially proud of his contribution to the very first baby car seat that got approval by OSHA or the Occupations Safe and Health of America.
After he retired, Mr Chopra along with a few of his friends saw that there were some things that they could do for the Indian community here in Australia.
“First of all, the people who moved here a few decades back are all retiring and they have time on their hands. Also, these people, are sometimes without their spouses and not only have time on their hands but find that they have no one to share their time with,” says Mr Chopra, “Since we have been blessed with health and we are still living, we thought that it would be a good idea to set up an association.”
That was how the Northern Region Indian Seniors Association Victoria was formed. Mr Chopra insists that he has not done anything extraordinary. It was something that came naturally to someone who feels that this country has been kind to him and wants to give something back.
“We have a working committee of five people. It was a legal requirement to have a working committee. It was formed in early 2008 and the main purpose is to have a place where the seniors could meet and greet. They meet people of their own age group once a month where there will be subsidized food and some sort of entertainment.”
“I have found that as you get older, you want to go back to your roots some more. You feel like speaking your language and getting involved in cultural activities. This is especially true of those who have been here for only one generation,” says Mr Chopra stressing that these meetings is a good way for those who have come here to help their children meet new people their own age and make new friends.
Apart from entertainment like music and dance, there are also information sessions organized. “Health, fitness and well being are some of the things we cover. There are sessions on yoga, Centerlink presentations where they advise us of benefits available from government and there are seminars on super management. Primarily, it allows us to spread awareness among the community about the problems that affect seniors. We also have generic sessions on topics like how to stay fit and active, diabetes, heart attack and strokes. These are all things that affect the elderly.”
“If they feel like calling in any distress situation they can do so. We can get them in touch with the right people,” says Mr Chopra.
Mr Chopra along with other members of the community work with Darebin Coucil. “They have provided us access to Senior Citizen’s hall in Northcote and the Mayor and staff of Darebin Council have been helping us in any way they can.”
Bothe Mr and Mrs Chopra are a very creative couple as well. While Mr Chopra’s hobby is writing poetry in Hindi, Punjabi and English, Mrs Chopra has a great love for music and loves to perform on stage. Mrs Chopra has learnt singing from Indian music teachers based in Australia. “She sings on stage whever she gets a chance.”
“In my teenage years, I used to write poetry and some have been published in the magazine that they used to have at that time called Sarita,” says Mr Chopra referring to his early days in Delhi. “I have had a few Hindi poems published here as well.”
“We have a recital once in two months at a specified venue. It’s a free event that is open to the public. They can come and share their thoughts and poetry with us.”
At the end of the day Mr and Mrs Chopra have two things to say: “One, as I always tell people, God has been good. Second, I feel that if I can put a smile on a person’s face, then I thank God for that ability.”
“I have to stress again and again that I am not doing anything extraordinary. I’m just trying to do something for the community.I am just doing my best, making a living, bringing up children and now we would like to give back to a country that has been good to us.”
He did his masters in Canada and worked in senior management positions in Canada and in the States before he came to Australia in 1983.
“I’ve never really had a problem with jobs. Whenever I changed countries, it was always with employment in hand. I feel that if you are the right person, with the right qualification and attitude, you can get the job you want. This I have found to be true here, in Canada and America.”
This was at a time when there were not many Indians to be seen around Melbourne. “I remember one of the more important faculties which had thousands of students and only about eight students who were of Indian origin,” says Mr Chopra in an obvious reference to the number of international students we have here today. “In Canada, when I was there, I would lucky if I saw an Indian a week. There was only one Indian shop in all of Ontario and supermarkets did not have all these exotic vegetables.” Ontario is one of the largest states in Canada and its capital is Toronto which is a multicultural hub of Canada. One of the largest immigration groups into Ontario today are South Asians, including Indians.
However, Mr Chopra adds, “People were very receptive. Job opportunities were there for the right people. I had a job the very first day. I was mechanical engineer and had an MBA background as well.” He is a lucky man to have had a fair go in Canada as well as Australia.
He left Canada and reached Australia a married man in 1983.
“Asha is a great personality. I have three wonderful children who are all well settled,” he beams while talking about his wife and adds that his children are as proud of their Australian culture as they are of their Indian origin. “They are well-informed about both cultures.”
“I have three wonderful children and I have Asha to thank for that. I feel that is the toughest job in the world,” he says.
Mr Chopra has worked as an engineer contributing to some very high profile professors in faculties like the Yale Univesity in America. He is especially proud of his contribution to the very first baby car seat that got approval by OSHA or the Occupations Safe and Health of America.
After he retired, Mr Chopra along with a few of his friends saw that there were some things that they could do for the Indian community here in Australia.
“First of all, the people who moved here a few decades back are all retiring and they have time on their hands. Also, these people, are sometimes without their spouses and not only have time on their hands but find that they have no one to share their time with,” says Mr Chopra, “Since we have been blessed with health and we are still living, we thought that it would be a good idea to set up an association.”
That was how the Northern Region Indian Seniors Association Victoria was formed. Mr Chopra insists that he has not done anything extraordinary. It was something that came naturally to someone who feels that this country has been kind to him and wants to give something back.
“We have a working committee of five people. It was a legal requirement to have a working committee. It was formed in early 2008 and the main purpose is to have a place where the seniors could meet and greet. They meet people of their own age group once a month where there will be subsidized food and some sort of entertainment.”
“I have found that as you get older, you want to go back to your roots some more. You feel like speaking your language and getting involved in cultural activities. This is especially true of those who have been here for only one generation,” says Mr Chopra stressing that these meetings is a good way for those who have come here to help their children meet new people their own age and make new friends.
Apart from entertainment like music and dance, there are also information sessions organized. “Health, fitness and well being are some of the things we cover. There are sessions on yoga, Centerlink presentations where they advise us of benefits available from government and there are seminars on super management. Primarily, it allows us to spread awareness among the community about the problems that affect seniors. We also have generic sessions on topics like how to stay fit and active, diabetes, heart attack and strokes. These are all things that affect the elderly.”
“If they feel like calling in any distress situation they can do so. We can get them in touch with the right people,” says Mr Chopra.
Mr Chopra along with other members of the community work with Darebin Coucil. “They have provided us access to Senior Citizen’s hall in Northcote and the Mayor and staff of Darebin Council have been helping us in any way they can.”
Bothe Mr and Mrs Chopra are a very creative couple as well. While Mr Chopra’s hobby is writing poetry in Hindi, Punjabi and English, Mrs Chopra has a great love for music and loves to perform on stage. Mrs Chopra has learnt singing from Indian music teachers based in Australia. “She sings on stage whever she gets a chance.”
“In my teenage years, I used to write poetry and some have been published in the magazine that they used to have at that time called Sarita,” says Mr Chopra referring to his early days in Delhi. “I have had a few Hindi poems published here as well.”
“We have a recital once in two months at a specified venue. It’s a free event that is open to the public. They can come and share their thoughts and poetry with us.”
At the end of the day Mr and Mrs Chopra have two things to say: “One, as I always tell people, God has been good. Second, I feel that if I can put a smile on a person’s face, then I thank God for that ability.”
“I have to stress again and again that I am not doing anything extraordinary. I’m just trying to do something for the community.I am just doing my best, making a living, bringing up children and now we would like to give back to a country that has been good to us.”
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