``Indians can take great pride in the many contributions that they have made to the economic growth and prosperity of Canada, Prime Minister Jean Chrestian, says.

``Canada is a nation that derives strength from its population as well as from its traditions of tolerance and mutual understanding,'' he says, as Indians occupy responsible positions in all fields, be it in politics, civil service, business, industry, banking, financial management, science and technology, engineering, medicine and legal profession. However, thousands of young Indian professionals say they are fighting for survival, being denied full use of their skills by the unfair and arbitrary barriers that sharply devalued their credentials and experience.

Many of them complain of being forced to perform unskilledsurvival jobs for years after they found their credentials are useless.

Yet in the Indian community living in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg and other parts of the country there is a vitality, a uniqueness, both frightening and inspiring: frightening because with so many conflicting voices it seems the community will destroy itself; inspiring because of the creativity and energy being generated there.

No one is more pleased than Herbance Dhaliwal or Herb as he is known, the first ever immigrant to have earned a berth in the Canadian cabinet, to see Indians become an influential community in Canada.

Describing Canada as ``mini United Nations," Herb, national revenue minister in the federal government, said ``it is land of opportunities. If you are hardworking and enterprising, you not only acquired prosperity for yourself, but contributed in a significant way for the overall development of Canada.

Herb talks about his meteoric rise from a five year old immigrant from a small town near Jalandharin India, way back in the later 80s, to a successful businessman of the 80s and the federal minister in the present regime.

Stien K Lal, deputy minister of consumer and commercial relations with the Ontario government, is another Indian who has broken all barriers in Toronto.

Narinder Bhalla, president of the Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Canada, said something should be done to check racism which forms part of the reality of life for Indians in Canada whether it is in the form of violent attacks, harassment in the workplace, subtle discrimination, or learning in the Eurocentric educational system.

He said since the 1970s, the Indian community has been one of the primary targets of vicious racist attacks in Ontario. Hate-related attacks against the community have also recently escalated. In the 1990's the Indian community has been further marginalised in a more systemic manner.

Referring to positive contributions of Indians in Canada, leading businessman Keshav Chandaria said about eightper cent of the Canadian economy is being run by Indians.

``They can do better if the government provide them capital, encourage their confidence, and accept and recognise their expertise and knowledge,'' he added.