The social location of British Indian men in Australia is complex and contradictory, as is their location within Australian history. They had to carefully negotiate a multiplicity of meanings around masculinity. While honouring notions of manhood learnt in their communities of origin, they might have found themselves positioned as unmanly and suspect as they plied the trade of hawker in the Australian countryside. The discourses of empire and the categorisation of certain types of Indians could disadvantage them but could also be used to claim respect within the Australian community. While the policies and administrative practices of the White Australia Policy restricted their opportunities to be husbands and fathers and denied their humanity, some could demand recognition of their rights as British subjects by emphasising Indian contributions to British military successes and could seek to be exempted from the more humiliating aspects of the procedures. While the aggressive masculinity of the organised labour movement attacked their presence in the labour market, there were other opportunities, especially for successful businessmen, to be accepted as good citizens. Fortunately, some Indian men, such as Otim Singh, were able to manipulate these contradictions and turn them to their advantage.