Indian(‘s) Racism
This is the most complex title I have ever written and is needed to take on a complex topic. Indians are subjected to racism, inflict racism to their own, also talk about racism on a global level. There is a craze for all things American, which has destroyed the psyche of millions worldwide, including myself. USA projects burning issues of their own on a global scale, exports pop-culture and American fashion through a variety of means including Hollywood movies, sitcoms, app stores, and global technology companies. This is what they term as the soft power of the USA, and it is this ability that pulls in millions of students and immigrants to her shores. There are better living standards in other countries(Norway, Sweden) cheaper education options( Germany, Sweden), faster PR policies(Canada, Australia, New Zealand). But the ability of this country to magnetize millions to her shores for study and work is immeasurable.
Godzilla or Aliens always land in New York and NASA always saves the world. Of late movies feature Indian and Chinese characters to offer the diversity mix. Though issues happening in the USA, are more global in nature, they are more unique and in varying levels in other countries. These issues are blown through the world, via their news channels, social media, and get undue attention than other equally burning issues. We, Indians being one of the largest economic well to do, immigrant groups in America, can subscribe to this local(read: USA) issue but also raise our voices to our old local(read: India) as well.
This article is in response to many Indians, both resident and non-resident clamoring support for black people in America. I stand for every human being in the world regardless of gender, race, color, sexual orientation, it is time, we imbibe humanity in us first before coining a term for it. What I fail to understand is many of them stood as silent spectators for many ills plaguing our society and rampant racism that is in the country. We play subtle, and there is no discrimination on the basis of the race since we are all one race. Aryan-Dravidian race theory is another, and I am a KG student in that, would not want to offer my quarter baked knowledge on it.
The United States of American is awesome in many aspects but chief among them is the real issues are being discussed, dissected, public rallies, and corporates jumping in the fray to support the real issues. When you had discrimination, you had affirmative action setting it right, white supremacist groups were banned in Reddit and social media, black athletes supporting their causes, famous black pop artistes penning songs in favor. It is never done, but it is always work in progress.
India is awesome, but we fail to discuss real issues in public forums or even between ourselves. I have never been a victim nor a perpetrator of racial injustice in my life, but have also been not part of any debates or discussions. I was shocked to hear many such issues happening in rural India, not far from where I live. It was a new lesson for me. Though I was not able to offer readymade solutions, it made me think of the other world, and be careful in not hurting the sentiments next time.
We Indians practice racism at every level on a conscious and unconscious level. It is not all of us, who practice it, but most of us. One famous anecdote said you could convert into another religion but never into another caste. It is a deep-rooted thing in you until your death. It is never upper caste vs lower caste, of late I feel, even the so-called lower caste people practice discrimination. It has to end for all, future generations should think like one and act as one.
Let us educate ourselves on democracy in our country, which is just an iota of imagination in many countries. Let us know about our epics and stories, our civilization beyond religion, even our religion and traditional practices. We had a reason for our old habits, just because we did not know the cause, does not mean it is wrong. Not all our old habits were right, but not all of them were wrong.
Sati, one of our practices was bad, but, it was medieval practice, never known in our ancient civilization, it was something that came in between and perished in between. At the same time, Native Indians were killed in millions in America, something we fail to know and acknowledge. The parallel is drawn to educate us that, every nation has their shortcomings, and it is our responsibility as citizens to right the wrong.
Caste-based honor killings still take place in rural parts of the country. Own daughters are being killed by their own parents in the name of honor. Educational certificated and documents are burned in a fit of rage against the couple. Group-ism exists in companies, movies, schools, and colleges. It is there, yet not there. It is like murphy’s law, you go and try to prove it, you cannot, but you know for a fact that it is there in plain sight. The real solution to a problem is acknowledging that you have one, and then go on to address it. If you fail to understand the hole in the bucket, it would keep draining water. Political parties, ride on caste-based fiefdoms, with one caste given prominence over other, different caste-based outfits have all adopted technology and are ruling the roost in social media platforms.
There is no honor in killing, the term be changed
I have observed in many Indians here and abroad, that we find fault in every system that is from India. We celebrate sports achievements but often ridicule our Olympic medal tally. How many of us have done any sport or offered support to anyone that we know, or will we encourage our kids to become sportspersons. We babble on a range of topics because it is easy. We have immigrated to another country for opportunities, fair enough. We find befitting salary and quality of living, great. But please do not throw the ladder that will be always yours. Even people from countries bad and worse than India, call it their motherland.
Imagine if you are a citizen of North Korea, we would have not known what is a democracy, free rights, the Internet, and the outside world. Imagine we are from a country in Africa, we would have not got an education or basic sanitation. We are blessed to be born in such a country, and she is making strides, slowly but surely.
An elephant does not sprint, but lives long and prospers- India is one.
There is no stopping us from supporting the ALS ice bucket challenge, and other social issues in other countries. Let us not forget when there are real issues at hand in our motherland and support for that as well, when it is needed. Let us learn about MLK, but first, learn about MK Gandhi who MLK idolized. We can rally our support for racism, but also oppose casteism which is equally ugly as well. This is not India vs USA topic, but one in which every person rallies for a true cause where it may be.
