Ponting’s restrained comments before the India-Australia ODI series had seasoned journalists smiling. Many good-humouredly rued the lack of pre-match aggro!
For some it was a welcome relief to closely focus aggression onto the playing field, and not have it overflow into the wider India-Australia environment.
A series of triggers, sport-specific as well as off-the-field, have sent a negative signal about Australia in India over the past year.
Some of these triggers are:
Australia's Commonwealth Games chief Perry Crosswhite aggressively and repeatedly raising doubts about the security measures in New Delhi, stating that athletes would have to decide themselves whether to compete or pull out.
Persistent rumours that Australia was on stand-by as Plan B host, if India wasn’t prepared in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games
[Non-sport, but highest public impact] A spate of attacks that have dented Australia’s image as a country that welcomes Indians.
Impact on Australia’s image:
Country perceptions are formed in a cauldron of fact, first-hand experience and news.
At this nebulous frontier, basic questions matter: Do you feel welcomed – as an individual and a business entity. Are India/ Indians liked? What are the cultural/ social barriers to doing business?
On these counts, Australia’s image of being a tolerant & welcoming country has taken a beating.
This impedes new business initiatives with prospective Indian partners.
Let’s look back at why?
Rumours that Australia is geared up to host the Games should preparations for Delhi 2010 falter, was the first major negative signal that shot across the public graph a year ago.
When that subsided, reports of Indians, especially students being attacked started pouring in with alarming frequency. There are over Indian 90,000 students in Australia.
While the Indian media went overboard and sensationalized developments, the Australian media took a defensive-aggressive stance – neither of which helped.
Who loses out?
Mid-sized and small businesses from both countries have found it more difficult to establish partnerships. Uncertainty thrives in a negative environment, making it more difficult to trust.
While established business relationships may weather this tough patch more successfully, the current spell of uncertainty ‘might impact those who are thinking about doing business. In this case, perception is powerful and it would be good if that perception was universally positive, affirms Steve Manallack.
Statements such as, “Australia wants to benefit from India’s growing economy, but doesn’t like India [ns]” are not an exception in private business circles. Mid-sized businesses that are active at Indo-Australian business forums have found the going tough over the past few months.
In Australia, concerted efforts are being made by organisations such as Australia India Business Council which is deeply involved in working towards reduction in violence against Indian students, according to Steve Manallack, Vice President of the Council.
“Some of our sporting clubs are coming forward to work on a ‘buddy’ system which would link Indian students with local families. We feel this is a good idea for the long term’, adds Manallack.
Curbing triggers, strengthening trust
The attacks on Indians have thankfully tapered off and the local police are actively tracking this now.
However, the Commonwealth Games will continue to be a thorn in our sides, until the Games are done & over with.
The recent visit of Stephen Smith, Australia’s foreign minister was too little, too late in the day. Showing the ‘inspection of venues by Australia’s Foreign minister’ may have unwittingly strengthened negative perceptions, as media reports quote Smith reiterating ‘any decision to boycott the Games on safety grounds would have to be made by Australia's sporting federations’.
While the triggers in this case, are difficult to curb, I hope both India and Australia learn from the challenges of the past year and our bond, as a people and as tolerant, multi-cultural nations, are strengthened.
So besides gagging Perry Crosswhite, offering more [than three] hockey scholarships and praying that India wins some cricket matches against Australia during the upcoming series - what do you think Australia should do, to strengthen the country’s image in India?
