Australian
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Teacher’s notes

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This clip shows interviews with the Grewal family, including the eldest son Brian, his father Naseeb and his mother Herbhajan. Brian explains why he converted to Christianity from Sikhism, and how he came to meet his Anglo-Australian wife. Naseeb expresses his disappointment over Brian’s decision to become a Christian. He talks about visiting the temple when Brian was a young boy, and Brian being able to read, write and sing hymns in Punjabi. Herbhajan expresses her disappointment about Brian’s marriage, and later reveals that she wants her youngest son, Steven, who is still living at home, to marry an Indian girl. Herbhajan is interviewed in her native language, and English subtitles are used to convey her responses.

Educational value points

• The clip illuminates the emphasis placed on religion within the Indian community. India comprises approximately 80 per cent Hindus and 13.5 per cent Muslims (the third-largest Islamic population in the world); the remainder adheres to a number of other religions, with Sikhs comprising approximately 2 per cent of the overall population.

• There is a large Sikh community living in Australia whose members trace their origins to the Punjab region of India. The Gurdwara mentioned in the clip by Brian is the Sikh temple where Sikh scriptures are kept. The word 'gurdwara’ means 'the doorway to God’.

• The cultural conflicts that some second-generation Australians experience are highlighted in the clip. Many second-generation Australians such as Brian and Steven often have to reconcile the values of their family with the sometimes conflicting values of their friends, neighbours and work colleagues.

• The clip portrays the expectations of a traditional Indian family in regards to marriage. Within some Indian families there is an expectation that the children will marry Indians from the same community and religious faith. Many Indian marriages are arranged to achieve this; however, in both Australia and India, younger Indians are increasingly choosing their own partners as a result of their own changing cultural values.

• Members of the Grewal family are bilingual, speaking both Punjabi and English. This reflects the linguistic diversity of Indian society, both in India and abroad. The Indian Constitution recognises 23 languages, but Hindi is the official language. English is recognised as one of the official languages and most educated Indian people speak English in addition to their native language, particularly those living in Australia and other English-speaking countries. Punjabi is widely spoken in most parts of northern India and there are large Punjabi communities in Melbourne, Sydney and in Woolgoolga in northern New South Wales.

In the Grewal house.
Brian Grewal Becoming a Christian, for me, was my own personal choice. I didn’t go to some mass evangelistic thing and have somebody say to me that I should do this. It was my own personal choice.
Naseeb Grewal, Brian’s father Oh, about the conversion, I was naturally very, very disappointed because when he was a kid, he always go to temple with me, and read and write in Punjabi and all the hymns he was singing for me.
Herbhajan Grewal, Brian’s mother She speaks in Indian dialect with subtitles. One mustn’t give up one’s religion. The 'whites’ don’t give up their religion.
Brian It’s not enough for me to hear the scriptures read in the 'gurdwara’, to hear… and watch people bow down and then, um then go next door and drink alcohol, tell dirty stories, do whatever else as part of the culture. Now you might say that’s humanity, people are people, but it wasn’t enough for me, but … Come in, mate.
Steven Grewal, Brian’s younger brother, enters the house.
Brian How are you doing?
Steven Hi, everyone.

Brian, his wife Angela and his mother are in the kitchen.
Brian What’s for dinner, Mum?
Herbhajan Lamb curry and rice.
Brian Lamb curry.
Angela, Brian’s wife Yum.
Brian What else?
Herbhajan Okra.
Brian Okra! I love okra.
Angela How are you doing?
Steven Good to see you.
Angela and Steven hug.
Angela Good to see you too. Long time, no see.
Steven What have you got today? What’s today? Lamb? Chicken?
Brian Yeah, we just went through that.
Herbhajan Lamb curry.

A voice-over and subtitles appear over the scene.
Woman (voice-over, speaking in Indian dialect) Who lives with you?
Herbhajan (Speaks in Indian dialect) My youngest son.
Woman Is he married?
Herbhajan No, but I want him married.
Woman What are you looking for?
Herbhajan A tall and fair girl.
Woman An Australian girl?
Herbhajan No, I want an Indian.
Voice-over and subtitles stop

Steven Where is it?
Angela At home. I left it at home.

Brian I looked over the fence, and Angela was sitting in the back door next door, and we just got chatting. This is news to Dad – he hasn’t heard this story yet either.
Angela Mum heard it for the first time today, too.
Brian Yeah.
We see a photo of Brian and Angela on their wedding day with Brian’s parents.
Brian My mum did show me a few photos. You know, ‘This is a nice Indian girl, and that’s a nice Indian girl. Isn’t it great?’ And I thought, Yeah, Mum, they’re all great. There’s no question about that. But yeah, I’m happier married to an Australian person.