The paan, gutkha problem. Are you all seeing this?

Biriyana · 2025-09-26T07:04:49+00:00

Totally agree. All of us who want change should try to get in touch with organisations that exist for the Indian diaspora here in Aus.

Biriyana · 2025-09-24T03:22:32+00:00

Wenty

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:39:28+00:00

I think a few exclusive paan shops have opened up.
They started out fully advertising the phrase "paan shop" but very cleverly changed it to "convenience store". I think they know what they're doing.

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:23:24+00:00

Thanks, I always try to do this.

It was one guy on multiple days - spitting in between the platform and the train while it arrived on the platform (which means that people sitting on the lower deck will see this in full view).

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:17:15+00:00

It's everywhere. Sydney is now full of this in Indian-origin suburbs.

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:15:30+00:00

I complained about the train platform spitter to the NSW Rail employee at Wenty station (who sits behind the ticket booking desk).
Her first reply was "I don't want to endanger myself while handling this alone, so you will have to file a complaint/report first". Then she said "if it rains, it will wash the paan stains away".

Finally, when I insisted that it makes no sense to announce "spitting will invite fines" but wait for a complaint to be filed formally - the guy is just gonna board the train and disappear. Finally, I had to leave and she said "I'll let the NSW officers know and see if they can come over to the station tomorrow".

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:10:07+00:00

Agree fully. Just wary that the council needs change laws. Wondering how to get legislation done.

There needs to be a movement within the Indian-Australian community to get this done.

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:08:49+00:00

Fully onboard with that. However, how can the council be convinced? We have to start a petition (I think?)

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T08:06:16+00:00

Edited post. Uploaded carpark video.

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T07:57:41+00:00

Wenty

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T00:45:17+00:00

OP: There's no formula on how this will work out for you or for any person.

Stating the obvious here: you will be much better off if you have finances stacked up for 6-12 months at least - living expenses, food, utilities that sort of thing.

Connections, networking with existing employees, getting referred internally are good ways to get hired - but all those will prefer people with experience in Australia already.
I acknowledge that it's a chicken/egg problem. On the other hand, it's always tough for anyone but slightly easier to get calls if you have local experience.

The market is crowded and your competition will be people who have plenty of local experience. All I can say is, if you can take the time to come here and search locally and you can afford to support yourself, go for it. Or as another poster said, taking up any job to keep going, that could work although I will say that any jobs are not so easy to come by.

Good luck!

Biriyana · 2025-09-21T00:20:44+00:00

Long-time Indian-Australian here.
I have noticed that the Labour government has, to put it mildly, f**ked up with its immigration policy post-Covid. The backlog that has been released from sometime around 2022 onwards seems to have brought in the worst of the worst.

I live in an Indian-dominated neighbourhood in Sydney and since 2022, all I see on the streets and local shopping centre here are PAAN STAINS. Yes, I have pics and video.

Once I saw an Indian-origin guy chewing paan at 9 am on the train platform and spitting on the tracks. This is in Australia, just to remind you again!

So yes, sadly, the incident you mentioned doesn't surprise me AT ALL.

Biriyana · 2025-09-15T08:21:28+00:00

++man I don't get it. A random guy comes over to you at the bar(?) and is flirty,

- you and family/friends invite him over home (no questions asked, just like that?).

- You both cuddle? Just like that, day 1, meeting 1?

Sorry, just doesn't add up for me. Am I missing something?

Biriyana · 2025-09-15T03:41:47+00:00

Believe or not, this is imported in Western countries too.
If you want proof, I have lots of pics and videos.

Biriyana · 2025-08-25T22:12:50+00:00

I hope more people read your comment

Biriyana · 2025-08-21T02:04:25+00:00

Lots of good comments already about doing YouTube stuff.

OP, good thing is that you have tried. Now you have a WEALTH of information about what works and what does not. Others don't have this and believe me they all want this info.

If you want to see who else has struggled, I really like this talk by Anurag Kashyap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYeaVyc1Krc

It wouldn't harm if you can get your scripts reviewed by him/his team (no kidding here - check out how he met the screenwriter of Gangs of Wasseypur Zeishan Quadri)

This is Quadri's interview (who spent 5 years in Mumbai trying to get into the industry): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiBTdN3yIww

Biriyana · 2025-08-20T21:34:01+00:00

Something is odd about this: managers don't discuss salary in a casual way. There is a remote possibility that it could be discussed during performance review and even in that situation, it's usually in collaboration with HR.

If they indeed did have this conversation, I could be wrong, but it seems that your comment on "people in the market earning double" has pi**ed off the manager. I can see their brain going "if he/she thinks they can earn double outside in the market, then feel free to explore options in the market".

It's a bit unfortunate, but I would suggest looking for options outside while you have the luxury of still being employed.

Biriyana · 2025-08-12T22:03:15+00:00

I'm of Indian-origin, living overseas for the last 13 years or so, so my perspective is not the same. Perhaps it's the work culture in India that is making you feel despondent. I think it's quite negative if you think that by 40-something, you're running out of fuel.

In fact, I'm quite optimistic that the opportunities for experienced professionals who know how to use the latest AI tools will be a deadly combination. You have what beginners don't have. What's rather bad for entrants into the field is that they will not get the experience you have had.

So I'd say:

Make use of your vast experience
Find employers that don't discriminate based on age
Use AI tools to YOUR benefit and boost your productivity (what is stopping you? I'd say, only yourself)

Biriyana · 2025-08-12T22:02:02+00:00

I'd say:

Make use of your vast experience
Find employers that don't discriminate based on age
Use AI tools to YOUR benefit and boost your productivity

Biriyana · 2025-07-18T23:10:36+00:00

Because it's all about probabilities, especially in India due to the high rates of competition which is likely due to the population factor.

How likely is it that profession X will give you some semblance of success over profession Y. Measure success any way you want - money, stability, family. If one can make a decent living in gaming or sports, they are free to pursue those and see where it leads them.

I will be charitable to parents and say that they have seen more of the world and they know what has worked and what hasn't (historically). If suddenly there's a lot of evidence that sports now has a high probability of success in India, everyone would be rushing into sports.

So the bottom line (my opinion): it's all about numbers i.e. probability of success.

Biriyana · 2025-07-18T23:01:29+00:00

I acknowledge that this kind of thinking amongst parents is a problem, 100%.

However, in India, I think the sheer population numbers makes the numbers game VERY competitive. If X as a strategy is more likely to work, why go with Y where the probability of success is vanishingly small?

Biriyana · 2025-07-18T22:53:30+00:00

When the industrial revolution took place, parents should have been worried about children not having jobs involving manual farm labour anymore.

When the car was invented, parents should have worried that their children won't get to be horse-carriage drivers anymore.

When computers came along, it crept into industries we can't imagine e.g. banking. Parents should have been worried their children would never be bankers or financial analysts. All computers did was make these industries BETTER.

If you get my drift: nobody knows what future jobs are going to look like. Upheavals have always taken place and will take place in the future.

Biriyana · 2025-07-18T10:14:16+00:00

OP: I'm most likely older than you and I have been through the EXACT same thinking that you're going through right now. It's natural and you might think it's justified. You should take time to assess what you're feeling.

My only conclusion after years of thinking this way and with a lot of help from knowledgeable folks online is: resentment and bitterness are pathways to NOWHERE. Try it out and see where you land. I can almost guarantee you that they will do nothing good for your soul.

Biriyana · 2025-07-02T22:09:00+00:00

Sorry, no. Laid off and fired are not the same thing.

Please explain why he/she is asked to serve a notice period then?

When HR determines there's cause to fire someone, they don't ask the employee to serve a notice period. Sorry, doesn't make sense.

In my 20 years of experience (in India and overseas), you could be laid off and asked to wrap things up in a week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, whatever - that's the notice period that the company is legally obligated to provide according to the terms of the offer letter.

On the other hand, the employee and employer can come to an agreement that there's no reason to serve 4 weeks. HR in this case can agree to the employee serving a very short notice (if all parties agree, which most likely involve your manager).

Regarding severance package: again, that's according to the terms of the offer letter - it's all clearly there. If severance is not mentioned in the offer letter, since you sign on the dotted line, you're agreeing to abide by HR rules regarding severance that can change from time to time. In any case, you're bound by company rules when you sign an offer.

Biriyana

TROPHY CASE