The name Priya Lalwani-Purswaney – echoes a successful businesswoman and a whip-smart translator, who has made it big in Taiwan. As part of the on-going India-Taiwan Relations series by TheNews21 — she shares with us her story of mastering multiple languages, making Taiwan her new home, and becoming one of the leading faces of the Indian community in Taiwan striving to bridge the two democracies beyond diplomacy
@the_news_21
Excerpts of the interview:
TheNews21: A first-generation Indian immigrant to Taiwan, how was your cultural-crossover from your hometown to Taipei?
Priya: I left India quite early in my life. Previously, I have been in Germany during my kindergarten years, in Nigeria for elementary and secondary, and university in Taiwan. During this time, I had only lived in India for about five year’s total. With this diverse history of living in so many countries, our family was able to adapt quite well to life in Taiwan. The fact that the Taiwanese people are so warm and kind definitely helped. I think Indians and Taiwanese share a similarly friendly and hospitable demeanour. Moreover, we lived and worked in the heart of town and mixed with the locals, instead of staying in the suburb where most of the foreigners stayed. This helped us to assimilate better with the local culture.
TheNews21: As the daughter of one of the earliest Indian professors at a Taiwanese University, and as one of the first Indian university students in Taiwan yourself, the lingual trait is part of your DNA. How did your father’s role at the varsity influence you in achieving the name you have carved for yourself today?
Priya: Both my parents played an important role in the linguistic qualities of both my sister and I. We grew up in a multilingual household. My father would speak with us in English and my mother in Sindhi. I had also learned German during my two-year stay there in childhood as well as Hindi in the few years I was in India. This early training in different languages helped us a lot in our Chinese language learning, and in a few months, we were able to follow what the teachers were teaching in class. Throughout his career, our father has taught us the value of hard work. His commitment to the teaching profession really shows in his work ethic, and even at age 80, he is still active in his university. Having done his MTech and PhD from IIT Kharagpur, he speaks Bengali, as well as mother tongue Sindhi. In 1972, he was the first one from his hometown to travel overseas for studies. During his Post-Doctoral in Germany, he picked up German as well. I think we are lucky to have got his talent for languages, and blessed to live in so many multilingual environments. Thanks to them, I have been able to build a long and successful career as an interpreter here in Taiwan.
TheNews21: Share with us your struggles with accepting, accommodating, and assimilating with a foreign language and Taiwanese culture.
Priya: Since I lived in many different countries before coming to Taiwan, I was used to adapting to and accepting different languages and cultures. My parents taught me the importance of being simple, kind, and hardworking. The language initially was a challenge, I would say, rather than a struggle. However, because we were completely immersed in the right environment, we took the challenge head-on, and within a year, we were able to converse in Chinese. This gave us the chance to learn and appreciate the Taiwanese culture, its people, food, music, beliefs, art, and culture. Having a growth mind-set really helps to see things in a positive way, and that in turn helps to turn struggles into opportunities.
Also Read: Leverage Mandarin-language to enhance India-Taiwan ties
TheNews21: How does the Taiwanese Government assist you in being able to live long term in Taiwan?
Priya: Living in Taiwan has become much friendlier and easier for foreigners who are able to contribute to Taiwanese society. There are several initiatives to allow for faster approvals of foreign professionals with the ‘Gold Card.’ Foreigners who have made special contributions can also apply for the ‘Plum Blossom Card.’ Permanent residency and citizenship are other routes to staying here long term. Taiwan’s success in dealing with the pandemic has made it a popular destination for potential residents. The government is moving toward a bilingual nation by 2030, so administrative services are becoming more foreigner-friendly in terms of language access.
TheNews21: Having worked for ITA and now heading your own enterprise, according to you how crucial is language in connecting the two democracies – both at government level and at private engagements?
Priya: Language is definitely very important in connecting any two nations. We have to understand the other side, and how can one expect to do that without understanding what they are saying. I would definitely urge students or workers on either side to take the rare opportunity of being in that environment to learn the local language. It is a pity that there are Indians who have been living in Taiwan for decades and still speak very little Mandarin. My language skills definitely have helped me, from the time we set up the office at ITA, the whole time I worked there, and even after that. Language has allowed me to enter a profession that I enjoy immensely and allows me to bridge communication gaps between different groups of people.
TheNews21: In an interview, you had said that a lot of Taiwanese companies close down their shops in India within six months of starting operations, due to language constraints. Does this issue persist? How are Taiwanese nationals (especially businessmen) taking to learning the Hindi-language and Indian culture?
Priya: I think the issue probably still exists, but hopefully it is better than before. Language is related to culture and habits and negotiations and more. So if that is a barrier, it can have consequences. The situation could be better because more Taiwanese companies are now keen to have a presence in India. So they are making more efforts to understand India better. This can of course be done through learning the language and culture. However, India is such a diverse country that there is no one language and culture that people can learn to cover the entire country. This increases the difficulty of Taiwanese nationals who are planning to learn the language. But as they say, where there’s a will, there is a way.
TheNews21: What are the reflections of India, its language and culture in Taiwan and Taiwanese people?
Priya: The opinion that Taiwanese people have about India has changed from “it’s very hot there” “everyone eats with their hands” to “India has a rich culture” “Indians are very good in math and IT”. Bollywood movies release in Taiwan have become popular and helped increase the understanding people have about India. The government is also helping to increase this understanding through various initiatives. For example, the General Association of Culture has just launched a series of animated YouTube videos featuring the traveling bear ‘Beeru’ on his journey of exploration to India. I was honoured to be a consultant on the project, and hope these videos help Taiwanese have a deeper understanding of India.
TheNews21: How has Taipei’s media sector evolved to date, since the time you made Taiwan your new home?
Priya: Taipei’s media has become more open, the number of channels has increased multifold. Like every other place, online media is taking up the bulk, and print and traditional media is going out. Twenty-four-hour news channels bring the latest stories to viewers. Some channels do have a political bias, but I am not sure of the current status.
TheNews21: Can Taiwan become the next big destination for Indians – in terms of tourism and employment?
Priya: Yes, I think it can. Indians like to travel, and coming to Taiwan could be a safe and economical trip that shows them the highest mountain peaks and the beautiful oceans and beaches in a gap of just a few hours. The people are so friendly and helpful. Taiwan is a ‘Chhota pack mein bara dhamaka (a big thing in a small package).’ No wonder it was called Isla Formosa.
TheNews21: Where do you see yourself and where would you like to see India-Taiwan relations in the next three years?
Priya: I think I would still be doing what I like, which is interpretation. I do not plan on retiring, instead, I would like to work till the very end. Also, Taiwan and India are a perfect match for each other. Whether it is in terms of cuisine, music, culture, film, or even IT. With Taiwan’s New South Bound Policy and India’s Act East initiative, I would like to see a bright future for India Taiwan relations. As netizens share and comment on each other’s tweets, let us ride this momentum and bring every alliance together in this milk-tea alliance.
