An Indian IT specialist, Rohit Gupta, residing in Halifax, Canada, shared his perspective on what attracts people to live abroad. He argues that the main reasons for moving are not solely high salaries, clean air, or improved infrastructure, but rather respect for employees' personal time and achieving a work-life balance.
Rohit Gupta noted that people who have spent twenty or twenty-five years in India do not move abroad just for better air or water. According to him, the key difference lies in the corporate culture, where an employee's personal time is valued as much as their professional duties.
Gupta emphasized that if the workday ends at five o'clock in the evening, it is not expected that an employee will stay after that time just to please the boss. He gives the example that sometimes the manager himself leaves the office before his subordinates. In this environment, staying late at the office is not considered a sign of diligence.
Unlike the situation in India, where employees often experience stress when planning a vacation due to the need to arrange coverage and knowledge transfer (KT), in Canada, according to Gupta's experience, employees can openly discuss the need to take time off for rest, visiting family, or traveling. He added that the rules for granting leave depend on each company's internal policy.
Work-life balance does not mean reducing the workload. It implies a distribution of responsibilities that allows an employee to find time for family, rest, health care, and personal pursuits. Experts believe that this approach can reduce stress levels in the long term and positively affect productivity.
In recent years, many Indian companies have begun paying more attention to aspects such as flexible working hours, hybrid models, mental health support, and employee well-being. Nevertheless, the work experience varies greatly depending on the industry, company, and team.
Following the viral spread of the video, thousands of users shared their opinions. Many expressed a desire to have a similar work culture in their companies. Others noted that in some places, long hours in the office are still considered the norm. Some users also pointed out that the experience in India and Canada is not uniform, and many Indian firms are working to improve the balance for their employees.
The video went viral amid a global discussion about work-life balance, remote and hybrid work, burnout, and mental health, which intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic. Rohit Gupta's experience resonates with millions of working people because it touches upon a very relevant topic.
Approximately forty years after the visit of any Indian Prime Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited New Zealand. This visit goes beyond a mere diplomatic mission as it reflects the history of a country where the culture, talent, and hard work of Indians have earned their own recognition. New Zealand, which was once home to only a small number of Indians, is now home to over three hundred thousand people of Indian origin, prompting many to affectionately call the country 'Little India.'
A walk through the streets of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, can give the feeling of being in an Indian city. Indian restaurants, temples, gurdwaras, spice shops, Bollywood music sounds, and people speaking Hindi and Punjabi are found everywhere. In a country with a population of about 53 million, every seventeenth resident has Indian roots, and the Indian community is the fastest-growing immigrant community.
The most noticeable influence of Indians in New Zealand is seen on sports fields, especially in cricket. This game, once considered a legacy of the British colonial era, is now filled with talents of Indian origin. Rachin Ravindra, who has become one of the main figures in the New Zealand national team, hails from an Indian family, and his name is composed of the names Rahul Dravid and Shahid Tendulkar. Ish Sodhi, born in Ludhiana, Punjab, has been playing as a spin bowler for New Zealand for many years. Young players such as Aditya Ashok from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and Snehit Reddy from Vijayanagara are seen as future hopes, demonstrating the clear influence of Indian roots on the new generation of New Zealand cricket.
The influence of the Indian community is not limited to sports; it is also visible in New Zealand politics. Priyanka Radhakrishnan became the first minister of Indian origin in New Zealand, holding a position in the cabinet. She has gained recognition in matters concerning women, immigrants, and social justice. Dr. Parmajit Kaur Parmar, a Member of Parliament from the ACT party, actively supports economic cooperation between India and New Zealand. Today, major parties such as Labour and National also field candidates of Indian origin, as the Indian community has transformed into an influential political force.
Previously, the Gujarati and Punjabi communities predominated in New Zealand. However, in recent years, people from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and South India have also been migrating there en masse. Consequently, the Bihar-Jharkhand Association of New Zealand (BJANZ) was established, which plays an important role in passing on Indian culture to the new generation. Every year, the Chhath festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Mount Wellington and Auckland. Pilgrims stand in the water, offering tributes to the sun, while folk music from Bhojpuri and Maithili resonates in the air. The aroma of Thekua reminds one of all of Bihar. Besides Chhath, festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Basaki, Navratri, and Eid are widely celebrated.
A characteristic of New Zealand is that the Indian community integrates its culture with local traditions. BJANZ conducts many of its events jointly with the traditional Māori New Year, Matariki. Their message is: 'One sky, many traditions.' This contributes to the continuous strengthening of cultural ties between the Indian and Māori communities. The cultural influence of the Indian community is also evident through yoga. Thousands of people practice yoga annually in various cities across New Zealand on International Yoga Day. These events involve not only Indians but also local citizens, MPs, mayors, and Māori representatives. Yoga here has become part of mental health care and healthy lifestyle, not just fitness.
The Indian community is also firmly establishing itself in the New Zealand economy. Thousands of Indians work in sectors such as IT, healthcare, engineering, banking, and education. A significant number of Indians manage supermarkets, dairies, hotels, restaurants, transport, and logistics companies. Indian markets are fully developed in cities like Auckland and Hamilton, where everything from Indian spices to traditional clothing and sweets can be easily found.
Prime Minister Modi's visit is considered extremely important for relations between the two countries after nearly four decades. Cooperation between India and New Zealand in the fields of trade, agriculture, dairy industry, education, digital technology, defense, and Indo-Pacific cooperation is constantly growing. Thus, Prime Minister Modi's trip holds strategic and economic significance. Furthermore, it is a moment of pride for more than three hundred thousand people of Indian origin living in New Zealand.
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