The Toronto Raptors Superfan says the secret to success for immigrants integrating into a new society—and for life in general—is quite simple.
Nav Bhatia spoke to a gathering hosted by the St. John’s Board of Trade on Tuesday about his love for basketball and the Raptors—but most importantly, the success of immigration.
Bhatia immigrated to Canada from India 1984. He says when he first started working he was often the target of derision—and understood in order to survive, he needed to be better than good.
He took a management position, 9 of 10 of his management team quit on him, because they didn’t want to work for a man with a turban.
— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) October 15, 2019
He says he always worked very hard and was blessed with god’s grace, but the key to success is simple: treat people like you wanted to be treated yourself. He says it has worked for him over the last 35 years, and he is sure it will still work today.
Bhatia says he also quickly became a “superfan” of Newfoundland. He says he heard about the island and its people, but now that he’s experienced it himself he knows for certain that the population are “so good and so nice.”
Bhatia says it’s a beautiful place, and he’s sure in the summer it’s even better.
He went to the Raptors and bought 3,000 tickets. They thought he was losing it.
He brought kids from all over from places like Sikh and Hindu temples, because he wanted them to integrate into society, and not go through what he had to.
He still does it once a year@VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/Hz789TDo4u
— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) October 15, 2019
Meanwhile, the Chair of the St. John’s Board of Trade says they decided to bring in speakers like Nav Bhatia to let people know of the many immigration success stories.
Janis Byrne says only a small part of Bhatia’s talk was actually about basketball. She hopes members can appreciate the perspective of immigrants and the things they have to face when they go to a new country.
Byrne says Nav spoke of the ignorance and hate he encountered, but how he dealt with it by being better than good, continuing to try and persevere.
She says that’s a lesson we can all take away. Whether you’re a newcomer or grew up here, Byrne says we all have to act out of love.