Prof. Nalin Sharda and his wife, Hema Sharda are well known people in the Indian community in Australia.
Armed with a PhD from India's elite Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Prof. Nalin arrived in Australia with his wife – Hema and a six month old child – Ankur, in 1984.
He clearly remembers his first day in Australia and vividly recalls how he chose to arrive in a new country on his birthday.
Equipped with Australia’s Permanent Residency, Mr. Sharda was excited to explore the new country and was impressed with what he saw in the first few hours after he landed in Perth.
#FirstDaySBS
Nalin's family Source: Angela Bailey
He remembers how warmly he was welcomed and a helping hand was right around on the first day. "I remember as soon as we landed, somebody came forward saying 'welcome and here you have money to call the hostel we booked for you'. I said 'that's fantastic' and he gave me 20 cents."
Nalin and his children Source: Angela Bailey
"In that taxi drive to the hostel (...) in Perth, I remember (...) on one side was Perth city. It was around 4 am, nobody on the road, only us. On the left side was Swan river. The reflections of the houses on that river... shimmering... it was so beautiful."
Nalin's wife and daughter Source: Angela Bailey
