Gujarati

Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by approximately 57 million people worldwide, primarily in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is also spoken by significant diaspora communities in East Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Gujarati has a rich literary tradition and is the native language of Mahatma Gandhi.

In Australia, Gujarati speakers number approximately 15,000 according to the 2021 Census, with the community growing through skilled migration and family reunion. The community is concentrated in Melbourne and Sydney, with smaller populations in other capital cities. Gujarati Australians are predominantly from Gujarat's urban centres, with strong representation in business, pharmacy, healthcare, and IT.

Gujarati is written in its own script, derived from the Devanagari tradition but distinct — notably lacking the headline (shirorekha) that connects Devanagari characters. The script requires Unicode font support for correct rendering of conjunct consonants and vowel signs.

The Gujarati community is religiously diverse, including Hindus, Muslims, Jains, and Parsis (Zoroastrians), each with distinct cultural traditions and dietary practices. This diversity should be reflected in community communications rather than assuming any single religious identity.

For organisations, Gujarati serves a growing professional community. While English proficiency is generally high, Gujarati-language options support community engagement and cultural events, and are valued by older family members and newer arrivals.