Indians Are Racists … Yes!
Indian Caricatures
Racism In India
Travel in a Indian railway train and you will hear racist comments. Sardars are the eternal butt of racist jokes. North Indians make “Madrasis” the butt of their jokes – and Madrasis joke about North Indians. Maharashtrians crack jokes about Gujaratis and vice versa. Together, the Maharshtrians and Gujarathis joke about the ‘Thambis’, ‘Gurungs’ and ‘Bahadur’.
The whole country makes a joke about Indians versus the world – where Indians come out second best. There are other jokes about (in alphabetical order) Bengalis, Biharis, Christian ‘Pavs’, Haryanvi Jats, Malyalees, Marwaris, Muslims, Parsis, Sindhis, UP bhaiyyas – and nobody is spared. My apologies in case I have missed anyone out! Indian parents joke about their own “dark-er” children.
These jokes can be communal, on colour, history, behavioural traits of certain communities – but rarely on family. Parents, sisters, and wife are off limits.
How is the West different?
The West is very afraid of racism – and they should be. The Western model of genocide and racism, these jokes and ridicule, soon are taken as truth and character assessments are made. The demonisation begins and then the killing starts. The extermination of Native Americans, the Australian aborigines, the persecution of Roma Gypsies, the Jewish demonisation and the holocaust, the Irish, the Poles, the enslavement of the Africans and the subsequent discrimination - and other minorities have been persecuted, killed and massacred. Hence, this Western guardedness about racism.
Protest Against A Weak Anti Racism Bill
Racism is another form!
To see another kind of racism, travel to Hong Kong. Chinese taxi drivers and shop keepers compete for the ‘privilege’ of serving White customers. South Asians are a special target of such racial profiling. People of Indian origin possibly may not qualify to represent Hong Kong in Olympics, as they are not Chinese enough. White customers get lower rates at hotels and shops compared to others. Some Chinese companies parade White, Western investors – and the Chinese investors line up to follow ‘Western investors.’ In modern China, foreign investors are preferred over domestic entrepreneurs.
For a century, British colonial rulers did nothing about social discrimination. Finally, the Chinese authorities – in July 2008, moved to pass a law making such racist behavior illegal. I understand that Macau is also similar. This kind of racism in Hong Kong, is an interesting behavior to examine.
In Singapore, this fawning Chinese attitude is referred to AMTK – standing for Ang Mog Tua Kee syndrome. An innuendo laden phrase meaning ‘White Man With Big Stick!’. Ang Moh is semi-derogatory word for White Caucasions, actually meaning ‘red-haired’. Tua Kee is Hokkien for “big shot”. Literally, “big stick”.
What happens In India?
Do Indians practice Racism in the Western manner – especially the Anglo Saxon manner? But does any Indian community get demonized?
Not any where even close to western benchmarks. Are there pogroms against these sections? Isolated incidents, yes. But not a pattern. Yes, there are isolated villages where ‘harijans’ are killed – and ‘harijans’ these days kill back. Is it state sponsored – like the European persecution of the Roma Gypsies? Most definitely not – like it has been in the West. The British Colonial administration declared various communities as ‘criminal tribes’! But Indians did not use the ‘open season’ to kill or loot these ‘criminals’?
Indian Behaviour
This stems from the Vedic tradition. Indians believe that all are वासुदेवाय कुटुम्बकम ‘vasudevaih kutumbakam’ and ईसा वास्यो मिदं सर्वं ‘isa vaasyo midam sarvam’ (meaning we are all God’s family and God is in everyone and everywhere respectively).
The ‘demon’ Ravana was not demonised in Ramayana. There are numerous ‘causes’ which are given for his behaviour. Various Ramayana writers compete with other to give a balanced view of Ravana’s character. Similarly, in Mahabharata, Duryodhana and Shakuni are given balanced treatment. The ‘demon’ king Bali is shown as a just and fair character – whose only mistake is that he is the king of demons and cannot be allowed to become “too” powerful.
In modern India, when the Janata Party tried to demonise Indira Gandhi (like good Anglo Saxon chelas), they were soundly rejected – and Indira Gandhi won the very next election. Similarly, Gandhiji’s shortcomings and Nehru’s peccadilloes are discussed. India has the lowest prison population in the world – because we do not demonize people. Indian politicians with pending criminal proceedings are elected to the Indian Parliament.
India need not feel so paranoid about internal racism – but should be careful when it comes to the West. Also, Indians need not feel guilty about their own ‘racist’ behaviour and beat their breasts.
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we are not racists!! anyone who calls us racist is *@#
oops!
yes we are racist. do go so far with foreigners, we are often racist against our own country men of other religions castes. we have to fight this.
Unni – Hi! Thanks for your comment. I think we can be optimistic. What are the reasons for my optimism? Do read Half The World.
India suffers from the worst kind of racism in the world. It does not spare even people of same race and they commit all sort of sins and crimes against the people of their own race and others in the name of low and high castes. For example by description the race of safaiwallas resembles the dominant kshatria caste. Cobblers also resemble the dominant caste. But both dominant castes lead others in committing heinous crimes against these lower castes. A crime against lower castes is not considered a crime and sin as conscience is non exixtent. Increasing incidents of heinous crimes and humiliation of the lower castes further multiplies by induction of antisocial elements in the police and administration.
Hi Alvin ‘Mollu’ -
Social oppression is real, it exists and an eternal enemy of justice – in all societies, at all times. Japan has the burakumin, Argentina’s cartonera is another example, favelas and marginais in Brazil, or more than 100 homeless people killed ‘for sport’ in the US.
Hence, Gandhiji’s focus on social reform prior to political reform – against Babasaheb Ambedkar’s (father of the Indian Constitution) push for political solutions. Gandhiji has solutions for this.
Unfortunately, nature and God are not perfect. But unlike the West, in India defectives and ‘seconds’ humans are not forcibly sterilised or lobotomised. Also we cannot forget that non-defective humans also make mistakes.
You must, however, note that there are very few Native American or Aborigines to protest about Anglo Saxon and Western racism. The ‘persecuted’ population of the ‘lower’ classes in India is larger than the entire EU and USA – and this population is growing. Unlike the Romani Gypsies in Europe (who have just about survived to tell the tale in spite of persecution) and the Native Americans and the Australian Aborigines (in Australia) who are close to extinction.All that the West has to do today is to apologise and carry on.
If you do want to take a second look, on the nature of social reform, click on these links embedded in this reply.
Travel in a Indian railway train and you will hear racist comments. Sardars are the eternal butt of racist jokes. North Indians make “Madrasis” the butt of their jokes – and Madrasis joke about North Indians. Maharashtrians crack jokes about Gujaratis and vice versa. Together, the Maharshtrians and Gujarathis joke about the ‘Thambis’, ‘Gurungs’ and ‘Bahadur’.
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Big deal! I’m sure it’s mostly friendly banter and rarely serious. You have to be a real sensitive person to feel hurt on those friendly jokes. MEN should be able to take it without any feeling of ill-will. And a majority of Indians, be that Sardars or Madrasis are cool. You must be an ISI agent to spread disunity this way.
The West takes racist jokes seriously because it isn’t damn funny over there! They still have like 30-40% populations especially in lower, working class who can be awfully racist.
Ashish – Yes, in India it is cool and funny. Very few mind it.
In the West, it is serious because jokes leads to stereo typing, next step is racism, followed by demonisation, and then – genocide. Native Americans, Afro-Americans, Australian Aborigines, Jews, – and now Islam have paid a price for this.
Please do read the post again.
Good article. Thanks.
About the “-and now Islam” part in your last comment, have you made a study of the source of Islam – the Quran and Hadiths?
Muslims are just as good (or bad) as anyone else, and it is wrong to stereotype them. But appraising Islam is different from stereotyping Muslims.
Jayesh – Thanks for your feedback.
Regarding Quran, Hadiths – After the study and comparison of these religions, by Kabir, Rahim, Guru Nanak Dev, I feel rather inadequate and small to do that – all over again.
Regarding Islam – The Indian Sub Continent has 7 major Muslim sects which are significantly different. One of these sects (from Gujarat) celebrate Diwali – and start their business books with new choupdas on Diwali. Only difference – instead of invoking Lakshmi, they invoke their own divinity. Indonesian Muslims look at Arjun (of Mahabharata) as their hero – while they practice Islam.
The West needs cheap Oil – and they need excuses to keep meddling in the Middle East. Hence, their demonization of Islam – and we are falling in this trap.
Also remember, Indian culture never demonizes. In fact, it humanizes demons – Ravana had his good points, King Bali was an epitome of righteousness.
May I suggest that you have a look at these posts which will expand on this idea.
The Carving Of The Middle East
Behind The Web Of Terror
India Lowers Guard
Elections – In The Land Of The Free
And this cartoon (click on the link given below) is possibly truer than we imagine. Do we want to become tools to achieve western objectives – and undermine our own interests.
http://picayune.uclick.com/comics/trall/2007/trall070319.gif
Hindian railways and Hindian airlines are racist. The stickers say it all. THese stickers say if you dont speak Hindi you are not Indian. That is why the Hindians dont have to learn any language. THis is reason why Hindi editorial once said Hindis are “arrogant americans within India”. That is why Hindian Airlines, Seth Airways, Air Hindia dont have Tamil annoucments in Tamilnadu while British airways, Lufthansa, Emirates all have.
IAF is also not welcome for the non-Hindians as exams are English and Hindi. Same with the Hindian Banks.
ஹிந்திக்கார அராஜகமம், ஹிந்தி திணிப்பு ஒழிக.
Indians are the closed minded people, they think that they know everything and the rest of the world is wrong. They considered themselves as smartest people on the planet. I Created topic called ” Is singapore a good place to migrate?” in the forum called http://www.india-forum.com/forums/index.php... whenever i wrote about the negative side of singapore they appauded it but whenever I wrote positive side of singapore, the forum administrators are not happy they pushed my topic from “General Topics” To “Trash Can”.
They Consider the chinese are racist but in reality they are the worst racist of all. Indians like to argue what they say is right and refuse to listen to others opinion. They are such a narrow minded people. Indians are the most racist in the highest order and most arrogant people on the planet. There are lot of caste(race) and religious discrmination in India when it comes to jobs and education.
Amercians, Europeans, Africans and Asians are like angels compared to Indians when it comes to racism. I and few others like me are ashamed to be an Indian sometimes.
Individual experiences can be distorted due to various reasons. Hence, your own experience, while important, is anecdotal.
Racism implies something else – altogether! The genocide of the Native Americans in Canada, USA and Mexico is racism. The genocide of the Aborigines in Australia is racism. The disappearance of Africans from Europe is a racism. The higher mortality amongst African Americans in the US today is racism.
The West has the lowest levels of religious and ethnic diversity – and India has the highest level of diversity. Hence, your conclusion is not based on any quantitative data – but on your impressions.
Reg. the ‘oppression’ in India – please note that a classic marker of oppression is reduction in population of the oppressed. Is it logical to believe that the ‘Brahmins’ in India (who) are less than 10% of the declining population can ‘oppress’ a population which is growing – and about 6 times larger.
Fact is that the poor of India owe their genesis to the dispossession of their property by the Colonial British Government – and concentration of property in the hands of the ‘loyal’ few.
Dear “Indian” – when you say that “Americans are better than Indians when it comes to racism?” are you kidding??
When did Indians ever murder hundreds of millions belonging to another ethnic group? Or enslave an Ungodly amount of people? In Western Europe, this was tradition from thousands of years. I and others have looked “like Mexicans our whole life here” and have experienced an ungodly amount of racism. Why do you think Virginia Tech happened? The poor Chinese kid was being harrassed daily (and cruelly) by his white co students! If you are in situation where it is majority any group here: expect daily taunting, obnoxious & offensive behavior (some friends went thru from majority black setting & anyone on the quieter side became total victim of their aggression, including women of different race). US is doing as much as it can though to end the racism & harrassment in professional environments but the truth is: it will always remain in any given parties’ hearts. A friend has heard Professors even say “Indians are just typing for the Americans” &numerous offensive statements from white women, looks, etc towards “Mexican looking” folk ie us Indian Hindu women. It was only a few years back after all that Zena was portrayed as killing Hanuman in Zena the Princess Warrior Show or Indiana Jones portraying Hindus as human sacrificing people *we don’t even meat in India & rarely if we do! Find Rig Veda vegetarianism in Google!!
The purchaser of flesh performs himsa (violence) by his wealth; he who eats flesh does so by enjoying its taste; the killer does himsa by actually tying and killing the animal. Thus, there are three forms of killing. He who brings flesh or sends for it, he who cuts of the limbs of an animal, and he who purchases, sells, or cooks flesh and eats it—all of these are to be considered meat-eaters.” (Mahabharata, Anu. 115:40)
“You must not use your God-given body for killing Gods creatures, whether they are human, animal or whatever.” (Yajur Veda, 12.32)
“One should be considered dear, even by the animal kingdom.” (Atharva Veda, 17.1.4)
“Those noble souls who practice meditation and other yogic ways, who are ever careful about all beings, who protect all animals, are the ones who are actually serious about spiritual practices.” (Atharva Veda, 19.48.5)
this, yet, you will still see “Indians sacrificed animals”..if we ever sacrificed animals, it was most definitely out of religious context.
India cannot be any worse or better than US…except we may treat foreign populations much better even. Foreign populations here experienced great genocides, slavery, looting…India does not have a minority which experienced these things (except Muslims but it was them killing miillons of Hindus since 700AD).
from http://www.danielnpaul.com/ChristopherColumbus.html “On Sunday, he described how Spanish, Portuguese and English invaders slaughtered millions of native inhabitants. The indigenous population of the Americas plummeted from 100 million at the time of Columbus’ arrival to just three million 150 years later.
Granted, India only after Islamic invasions: created caste discrimination (call it melting pot syndrome: outside ideologies influence thr greater population- Islam- if you research also took scores of slaves (millions of slaves) or another example: Christianity doesn’t technically endorse circumcision yet since the 40’s most American men have been circumcised (Islamic Judaism belief) – (http://www.noharmm.org/mothering.htm)
Here are Vedic texts which prove Indian system did not “take slaves” nor did our system discriminate:
Shabari’s chapter in the Ramayana proves that God loves all regardless of caste, creed, gender, race, wealth and faith. Ravana, a Brahmin was slayed by Rama. So it means that the Lord does not discriminate against anyone
Vedic people had no caste or Varna divisions by birth. Rig Veda – 7/64/2 & 8/11/6 call Mitra and Varun as Kshatriyas in the ‘powerful’ sense as neither they were Kshatriya born nor were there any Kshatriya race, then. Similarly, Agni is also called Vipra or Brahmin in the sense of ‘intelligent’. R.V (112/3) says: I am a carpenter, my son a doctor& my daughter a wheat grinder. This was possible as there were no caste or work distinction based on birth &
In the Mahabharata it clearly states neither birth nor sacraments nor study nor ancestry can decide whether a person is twice born a brahmin or a priest; character and conduct only can decide”
Re: widow treatment (Islam means submit in Koran – especially the women folk where men are allowed four wives but the women not so! & if a woman is raped in Koran, she must provide four witnesses!)
This rik also (X.18.8), confers upon a widow full right on house and properties of her deceased husband- Rik (x.18.8) blesses a woman at her second marriage, with progeny and prosperity in this life time::Go up, O woman, to the world of living; you stand by this one who is deceased; come! to him who grasps your hand, your second spouse (didhisu),you have now entered into the relation of wife to husband.
PS.
on the widow treatment, coincidence of course that it was only in the last couple centuries in which widows were treated so inhumanely.
I would like to add, that abroad, our Indian communities are mostly very unified- we marry across all borders & languages that make up India, attend Chinmaya mission, have our prayer rooms etc,. many of the communities do everything and anything they can to help Indians in India or abroad (my Uncle & Aunt set up an organization to help Indians here in states get adjusted)…please subscribe to the Indian newspapers to keep in touch (such as India Tribune). Most of us also ofcourse subscribe to the Indian channels on Dish Network.
I do not recall any harrassing situations in India growing up…nor have parents or other families when they visit for months at a time while here in US there are youtube videos of Anglo women out of nowhere yelling at “Mexican” girl on the street to go back to Mexico…horrific….hopefully things will get better here. And I am surprised about China harrassing Indians, but I am sure it stems from the time British were in India &perhaps their propoganda against Indians whether thru media or other channels.
China &India were friendly trading partners for 25+ centuries…perhaps the Opium war initiated by Uk to China during it’s time in India created minor animosity…India should bridge ties again as before &look at her history. I have taken a History course on Japan & Japan just like China were quite peaceful before being introduced to “Colonizers”- Japan had a wonderful hiearchial system which promoted peace, protection, and trade thru out the island. In the 50’s it set out to modernize & industrialize to keep up with the “Joneses” &the government subsidized quite a few industries &worked their pop. under difficult labor conditions (US Gdp & Gnp rose by 300% under slavery). Japan didn’t have slave labor in this past century, just difficult working conditions to meet the pressures of “modernizing” quickly to prevent “outside aggression and colonization”.
Well! It is not actually harassment! It just plain simple discrimination in Hong Kong. And maybe you are right, because the Chinese in Singapore is a very reasonable person. Travelling as an Indian to Singapore, I have never felt discriminated or harassed!
Maybe the Chinese attitude springs for Western distortion of Chinese history. The 19th century Western narrative went thus – the ‘main cause’ for the Chinese ‘eclipse’ by the West was because the Chinese were ‘split’. A united bamboo stalk is strong – but what happens to ’split’ bamboo went the Western explanation. In modern mainland China’s historiography, ‘splittist’ and ‘splittism’ are the worst crimes that any nation can commit against the Chinese nation. The Dalai Lama is a ‘split-ist’ and India is seen as giving ‘refuge’ to a ‘split-ist’.
I agree entirely that India and China should not let Western propaganda hijack the discourse. Between India, Pakistan and China, we are three nuclear powers, have nearly 40% of the world’s private gold reserves, nearly 50% of the world population – and economies growing at weighted average of nearly 7%.
And what are the reasons for our disagreements – Colonial Detritus!
Many Indians want to be white and believe in the theory of Aryans coming from Europe few thousand years ago. This theory has been contraditced based on MitoChondreal DNA analysis by Current Biology Institute while ago. The article correctly assess that the racism in India is currently not as bad as the racism in many other eastern countries.