India’s Operation Sindoor’s pre-dawn strikes on May 7 targeted terrorist camps across the border—and triggered reactions from the Indian diaspora in Melbourne.
For millions abroad, the conflict became paradoxically intimate. “Though miles away, India beats in every heart of ours,” said Dr Subhash Sharma, a prominent member of Melbourne’s Indian community. “Her joy lifts our spirits, her sorrows weigh heavy on us. Distance cannot dim the bond—it’s a love rooted deep, growing stronger each day. Wherever we are, our soul echoes: Vande Mataram.”
But beneath the patriotic excitement, people reacted in their usual divided ways. While some groups celebrated, others stayed uncomfortably quiet. The Indian Sun found many reluctant to speak on the record, but social media told a clearer story: platforms buzzed with overwhelming support for India’s actions, though differing views were sometimes met with criticism or labelled as unpatriotic.
Academic and music producer Pradip Sarkar, recently returned from India during the Pahalgam violence, offered a measured reflection. “In my lifetime, such confrontations have occurred several times. Sadly, innocent civilians on both sides are always the victims.”
He urged the diaspora to stay balanced. “The South Asian diaspora can promote peace and empathy between communities. We have far more in common than we often care to acknowledge.”
One prominent member of Melbourne’s Indian community, speaking anonymously, captured the tension. “This is undoubtedly a moment of triumph—a demonstration of India’s resolve to protect its sovereignty. But while we celebrate the military’s precision, we also worry about escalation, about families on both sides of the border, and about how this might affect community relations here in Australia. It’s possible to support India’s right to self-defence while also praying this doesn’t spiral into something worse.”
The polarisation became personal for some. Reena Anita Rana, founder of Indian Women in Australia, faced backlash after posting support for India’s actions on Facebook. “We are far from our motherland, and when something like this happens, all we can do is raise our voices through social media,” she said.
“I put up a post, and some people reacted strongly. The Indian government is not targeting civilians—Indian civilians were the victims of the April 22 attack. Yet, some in the media here are claiming that India killed a child and two others, without understanding the context. We are acting against terrorism. We want peace in this world. People need to understand that India is targeting terrorist camps, not civilians.”
Dr Pradeep Taneja, Deputy Associate Dean, International (India) in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne and a Senior Lecturer in Asian Politics, contextualised the divide. “Among the Indian and Pakistani diasporas in Australia, there is only a small group that actively talks about peace. Unfortunately, the majority tend to be driven by strong nationalistic rhetoric.”
“India’s military strikes could be replicated by Pakistan purely in terms of military capabilities. But India does not have terrorist training camps on its side of the LOC. Any Pakistani retaliation targeting Indian cities risks uncontrolled escalation. Yet nuclear deterrence will likely prevent the worst – both nations have delivery systems in place, and the international community will pressure them to de-escalate.”
Drawing sobering parallels, Taneja added, “We’ve seen worse—the Kargil conflict occurred just one year after both countries conducted their nuclear tests in 1998, yet it didn’t spiral into full-scale war. This strike targets specific terror groups linked to the Pahalgam attack, with clear limits. The Indian military’s precision signals they want containment, not war.”
Still, he offered a word of caution. “The diaspora doesn’t play a major role in this situation, but hopefully, these tensions aren’t played out on the streets of cities like Melbourne or Sydney—or in the US.”
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