Racism: Begins at 'home'

Indians are known by many names. With about 415 spoken languages and several religions and cultures being practiced, India is indeed diverse but when they are abroad, they think they are more dignified and do not mingle with the locals.

CJ: Bronia Mrong

Tue, Jun 16, 2009 15:47:16 IST

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India Social Issues :

ANOTHER INDIAN student attacked in Australia – reads the news headlines yet again. Why? What is it about the Indian students that have invited attack from the Aussies? Is it really racism or is it something else?

Let’s have an honest analysis starting from ’home’ ie, India. What is India? A country with a diverse, rich culture with generations of royalties. Famous for its vibrant civilisations - right from the Indus Valley to the Mughal empire to the Maratha dynasty. And don’t forget the caste system.

So where does that put the Indians in the 21st century? Growing up in an Indian family is entirely different. Kids are raised up to respect their elders, religion and love its culture. These things are really wonderful except that the respect only remains for its own elders, religion and culture. Did we not a moment ago say that India is a diverse country; then, where is the respect for that diversity?

Amazingly, Indians are known by many names. Famously some of them are – Biharis (people from Bihar), UP wale (residents of UP), Mallus (people from Kerala), Dalits, Bongs (people from West Bengal), Nepalis (people who speak Nepali) and Chinkies (people from North East India). Keep in mind that all these terms are used derrogatorily.

With about 415 spoken languages and six known religions, doesn’t India seem like a confused nation?

Confused and left out is what one feels when one moves from one state to another within India itself. To add more displeasure to that – citizens who relocate within the country, receive illogical treatment from the locals. For example, when a student from North-East India moves to Delhi, they are treated differently. Why? It is because to an average Indian girl/boy their dressing and looks do not appear regular when in reality, dozens of locals imitate their dress sense. Remember the famous converse shoes or those slim-fit jeans.

This is not the only case. What about that Raj Thackeray attack on the people from Bihar. The end result: numerous SMSes, demanding his whereabouts during the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack. All this differentiation, leaves no choice for newly-relocated citizens but to set up their own community within the region. This situation is prevalent all over the country.

How then can one expect an Indian refusing to mingle with people from another state to adjust in another different country as a whole? According to a survey done through the Internet, most Indians felt that Indians are the most racist of all. Remember what Peter Russels (stand up Indian - Canadian comedian) once said in his show that there can be no greater racist than Indians.

Rohit*, a software engineer says, “A racist comment can come from as near as a dear friend.” According to Anuradha*, a student, “People are just scared because they don’t understand others’ culture.”

Back to Indian students in Australia. Do Indians feel that their way of life is superior and more dignified that they do not mingle with the locals? What about the Indians that have local friends, do they get into trouble? It’s time to analyse. Rather then segregating ourselves, we have to learn to mingle and accept each other. Alex*, who works in UK says, “I’m happier in the UK than being a North-East person in another Indian state.”

While foreigners are warm and helpful in their own country, there could be occasional problems with teenagers at times, which are controllable if dealt properly. The basic is learning to respect, no matter who you are or where you’re from. We must be proud of our unique nation but at the same time accept the facts about another’s culture, religion, etc. Besides that, our thought processes needs a major change. We need to eliminate racism from within ourselves, right from our home - we must find the one universal religion of brotherhood.

*Names changed to protect identity.

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Posted comments (7)

	I fully agree with the author. In fact, I would go one step further and suggest that it's something in us as Indians that attracts racism in others. I speak from personal experience, having been born and educated outside India. We had all colour of nationalities, Indian, Chinese, Thai....But it had to be Indians that were targeted . The others for instance, would fraternize with the locals, even marrying them and making a permanent home in the country of their birth.We Indians? We'd create a mini-India and perpetuate the ghetto syndrome. The host country's culture, history, social ethos etc? My average Indian never even heard about, leave alone study them. Even in the case of the local language, it used to be some sort of oddity coming across an Indian who could mouth it as masterfully as a local.Any wonder then that Indians are invariably targeted abroad, no matter where that abroad happens to be?Having said all this, I must hasten to add that it's NOT the ethos of being an Indian that's at the root of this victimization. The Indian ethos is amongst the most cherished universally. It's the over-layering of inner anxieties, insecurities and inadequacies on the intrinsic ethos that brings out the demon in the hosts.
	madmonk \| 17 June 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

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Bhallu | 17 June 2009

	A great and an honest article by the writer. Great country like India (yes its great) is a boon and miracle in the modern world. But what about Indians (people who are citizens), all of them are not great. Its a dreading truth that we no more respect the culture, religions of others. In India all live..Rajputs, Brahmins, Gujjars, Muslims, CHristians..EXCEPT INDIANS!!!Ironically Indian doesnt exists and those religions, caste which feels that their identity is in threat are living in foolish paradise..This is true for all religion.. We are more racist than any other country. Might looked strange, but Mahatma Gandhi wanted Britishers to remain in India for some more time, because he apprehended that boundaries might be unified but the citizens will be divided on caste, races etc. All said and done, I feel that media is also equally accountable for such situations..by highlighting this fact that a particular area is dominated by GUjjars, Lodis etc they bring it to the mind of people..who might not be aware of this..They treat unfairly with someone who is nationalistic in its approach...(No I'm not a BJP man in disguise)...But ultimately who owns the responsibility of all this mud..Ofcourse PEOPLE OF INDIA...afterall more than 70% of the population never discrimates with the other religions, race..these people will solve this problemSilver Line:My dear country men.. stand up to the most frightening war India has faced so far.. this time enemy is not from outside but from among us...Remember"Kuch baat hai ki hasti mit ti nahin hamari, sadiyon raha hai dushman daure jahan hamara"
	Whats in a name \| 17 June 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	Amazing piece this one is. People talk of racism in some other country when the same is happening just behind our courtyards. Wake up people coz i think someone rightly said "Charity begins at Home".
	Rohitash Raj \| 16 June 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse