Getting married in India and relocating to Australia in less than 2 weeks, I quizzed Shyama about whether she would consider this as her honeymoon destination or just her ‘Sasural’ (in-laws place) with more friend in-laws than any relations?
Settling into married life, learning to literally live on her own and adapting to a totally new country, nothing was short of over-whelming for Shyama.
Shyama says, “I had to wait for 6 months before my visa status allowed me any work rights. With a background in Indian Classical Dance and Yoga, I just didn’t know how I would fit into Australia.”
Source: SBS
Australia (or Melbourne, specifically), was not what Shyama had imagined it to be. It was not a busy bustling city like New York or Mumbai.
She found that people enjoyed their personal time, took time out to catch-up with friends.
Being the newly-wed, Shyama had a lot of catching-up to do, initially she was a bit awed by the diversity of her husband, Pradeep’s friend circle.
Being invited by a lot of friends to their house, one thing Shyama noticed was how, each time they decided to catch-up with friends, her husband Pradeep had to mention to their hosts about Shyama being a vegetarian.
But, what warmed Shyama’s heart was the extent to which their friends went to make sure that she’s taken care of.
Shyama states, “my dream was to be a performer and stay a performer, but, Melbourne, also had other plans for me. Initially it wasn’t easy to start performing, especially when you are established back in India and suddenly have to start from scratch.
"With every community event I performed for, I had enquiries about teaching dance. Teaching was one thing I really was not ready for, not because I didn’t like it, but due to the commitment it required, it would mean a big responsibility.
"With much scepticism, we finally decided to start our School of Classical Dance and Yoga – Prakalpa Samskruti. I started with eight students in the Northern suburbs and 12 students in the South-Eastern suburbs.
Source: SBS
"I was advised to advertise in local magazines and community newspapers, but I was not ready for it. I always felt classical dance should not be commercialised, and felt the need to prove myself as a teacher.
"The news of our school spread by word of mouth and when we were ready to celebrate our first anniversary the school had grown much beyond what I had imagined.
"And as for my passion to teach yoga, I was shocked to see the style in which Australians saw and practiced yoga- especially in the fitness centres and gyms, Yoga became just another workout.
"As a traditional practitioner, it was difficult for me to see it that way, I decided to teach only how I learnt it – traditionally, following its holistic nature, and Melbourne accepted it.
"My local clients felt the difference (for good) and we started getting enquires for the Indian teacher who taught it traditionally.”
Shyama finds that multi-culturalism is in the spirit of Melbourne, and she got the opportunity to choreograph for many such cultural events organised by the council.
It was during a dance workshop that a belly dancer made references to the World’s Greatest Shave, a fund raiser for the Leukemia Foundation of Australia.
Shyama always felt that there was a need to do her part for the community, and thus she decided to go from almost a meter-long hair to zero hair, for a cause.
That still is one of the biggest decisions Shyama had to make in her life, letting go a very essential part of her identity.
Shyama recalls, “many friends from back home were aghast at the thought of me shaving my head, while friends here embraced it. There was not a single day when I felt different to everyone around me, or rather Australia never gave me a chance to think so.”
Shyama finds Australia to be a very friendly and easy going place, she mentions in detail, “back home in India they ask and discuss about racism in Australia, fortunately, never have I faced such experiences."
Source: SBS
Source: SBS
"There was an incident when I was travelling by public transport and a local man, who appeared to have been under the influence, was howling abuses over the phone and then at one stage, went around and touched a local lady inappropriately."
"I was shocked, but certainly didn’t react.
"He even egged the woman on and asked if she had a problem to which she nodded, “no” and avoided him as best as she could, still seated."
"Once he had moved on, I asked her why she didn’t react and what she told me was a gem – “he might be on drugs, we’re on a moving train, if I react and he is armed, I’m in trouble, so it is best to play it down”.
"Had this happened to non-local we would have termed it violence against women due to racial discrimination.
"But that day I learnt a valuable lesson, all kinds of people exist everywhere, it’s up to us how we want them to treat us.”
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