From outer space, planet earth is fantastic. But a closer look, it’s racked by man’s petty prejudices that create social unrest and even wars. India’s rich cultural heritage is blotted by prejudices. The biased Indian has prejudices galore.
We Indians are easily offended by any act or incident of racism that is directed at us but we conveniently forget prejudices that we carry in our culture.
Except the fact that we are “Indian”, everything else is ambiguous here. Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Kutch to Kohima, each state has its own identity with diverse languages, cuisines, clothes, customs and climate.
We are historically complex in our ethnic relations. On one hand we are mutually influenced by our cultural practices and on the other hand we practice extreme discrimination in the form of ethnic violence.
In order to explain this duality I would like to highlight two elements — one is the caste system, which was invented by the Brahminical social order, tying up a considerable number of Indians a hierarchical mindset. This led to the exclusion of a massive part of the population. It did so with the help of several practices of untouchability which led to an extreme form of exploitation, harassment and discrimination.
The other one is racism which understandably provokes a fair amount of discomfort since it presents an unattractive picture which stands in sharp contrast to the official “unity in diversity” rhetoric. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite end there but includes religion, sex and region-based discrimination.
It is painful to believe that our society is divided on the basis of caste and colour. Another highly hypocritical contrast is discrimination based on gender. All of this is practised in our day-to-day life. In most advertisements it is found that women and men are always portrayed as fair and handsome.
Beauty is valued by the skin colour since the time of the Brahminical social order which was later reaffirmed by the colonial mindset.
The search of fair-skinned brides in newspaper advertisements is a classic example of deep-rooted beliefs and practices of gender-based discrimination.
Media has a heavy influence on people, and talking of the above, advertisements further reinforce this. There are so many cricket players and Bollywood stars endorse these fairness-enhancing cosmetics and creams, making people believe that success, beauty and power are determined by skin color. From “fair and lovely” to matrimonial advertisements, all of this is indicative towards an obsession with white skin, which clearly proves that our mindset is still backward, casteist and colonial.
We Indians are easily offended by any act or incident of racism that is directed at us but we conveniently forget prejudices that we carry in our culture. Calling people who come from the Northeast part of our country as “chinki” just because they have Mongoloid features, to address all South Indians as “Madraasi”, non-Bengalis in West Bengal as “mulki” and North Indians “Bhaiyas” in Maharashtra, all of these are merely different shades of racism.
In all of the above, we cannot leave behind foreigners who come to our country or reside here, especially the ones who are dark/black skinned.
On one hand we have celebrities like Aamir Khan doing advertisements to promote “atithi devo bhava”, meaning “guest is god” and on the other hand we have rising incidents of racist attacks on people of African origin. This has led to our country being portrayed as a racist nation. The problem has accentuated in the recent times due to incorrect profiling of these people as drug-peddlers, traffickers and those engaged in prostitution and other crimes by law enforcement agencies. The central government is responsible for protecting all foreigners regardless of whether they are students, tourists or citizens. It truly doesn't behove of a nation which claims to be multicultural.
Racism and xenophobia lead to hostility between nations on a larger level thereby leading to retaliation. We must not forget the recent incidents of attacks on Indian students in foreign countries, for example the incidents in Australia. If we want to be respected and treated as equals we must learn to practise the same.
“Practice what you preach” would indeed be an essential learning for us.
Daubing herself in black paint, artist P.S. Jaya made herself a human installation, walking around in Kochi, to raise consciousness against bias towards dark skin. It was a 100-day experiment for art teacher Jaya, following the suicide of Hyderabad University research scholar Rohith Vemula. “Being an artist, I am making myself a medium to convey my thoughts. Rohith’s suicide was an open evidence of how Dalits continue to face danger in society. I also find this an opportunity to interact with people, and deconstruct the notion of fairness when they approach me, curious to know my condition,” says Jaya.
Kalki Subramanian, transgender activist, poet
Prejudices affect psychological, physical and social well-being of minorities. Prejudices directly indicate the absence of justice and social acceptance. Such issues suppress all hopes. Indians love being honoured while we hesitate to honour others. Strangely makes us honour the dead while we ignore them when they are alive. Equipping individuals to be brave and smart against injustice will help them overcome their in-built prejudices. Give voice to the underprivileged and marginalised without hesitation.
Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People Watch
We are prejudiced as a nation because of our inheritance of caste discrimination and untouchability. India’s 77 questions to International Dalit Solidarity Network since 2008 at the UN NGO Committee in response to an application for Economic and Social Council status reflect this prejudice. Today, even Tamil Nadu, the land of Periyar, witnesses “dishonour” killings. The antidote is compulsory teaching of “human rights” in schools, a general value/moral education and heightened judicial sensitivity.
Jarpum Gamlin, Editor of daily Eastern Sentinel
Having studied and worked in the NCR region for over 15 years, I am certain that there are double standards of how the Northeasterners are treated. Though racial discrimination is rare in the upper middle class, it is sharper among working lower middle class and student community. Aggressive behaviour and tendency to assault owe to deep xenophobia and stems from the inability to accept other races and cultures. No amount of appeal, request or legal safeguard will cure the xenophobic tendency unless mainlanders are educated on the history, art and culture of the NE India. Northeast, its people and culture must be accepted for what they are.
Ashwin Mahesh, urban expert, IISC Professor
Historically our society has been divided and we have never been able to build a culture that believes in equality. Dislike of foreigners, especially Africans, is deep-rooted in our society. People are apprehensive about renting out their houses to foreigners because we are judgmental about people from other race. I find it comical when ministers say “we will protect the Africans in India”. It is not protection that is required but a culture of equality. Another factor is mob violence. This is due to a weak law and order situation.
