I wanted to blog on this topic long back but in a way didnt because i thought the world was becoming a more civil place , But once again a news article taunted the blogger in me
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/215522/racism-not-ruled-indian-students.html
One indian student was shot at point blank range and police are not ruling out racism as motive . I am saddened by the incident but am consoled by the fact that british police has arrested suspects and they have not ruled out racism as motive . This brings to my mind my recent visit to China . Every day from 8-11 pm i used to take long walks to go to my favourite restaurants 3 kms away . The route was dotted by restaurants and many areas were fairly isolated . But i never encountered any chinese looking to accost any other person . Many were minding their own business or if at all our paths crossed they were friendly . The same about all the restaurants and shops i visited . All of them were either neutral or friendly . And all of them were as fair as fairies and many especially the young women were reddish in their cheeks . And yes china is a country which has a 7000 year old civilisation and at present having one of the most rich economies . Coming back to my country india we too inspite of our "caste system " ,poverty we have since independance not killed nor injured people on the basis of race . Even our caste system and the laws are such that even verbal abuse against a lower caste is punishable by law .
Six months back i was in a domestic flight and near me was seated a british elderly couple . We started talking and there were a zillion potential topics we could have discussed but this elderly gentleman --a tourist who chose india among all the countries in the world --- was describing how he distributed the shampoo packets he took from his hotel to the cheering kids who welcomed him at a particular tourist destination in kerala . He was telling all this like a great king who had distributed alms to poor subjects . Generally avoiding conflict with strangers i politely stopped talking to him and went back to my jet airways brochure . In retrospect i was thinking about this tourist basically stealing the shampoo saches ( i dont do it from the hotels i visit .. thats cheap ) and distributing it to a group of cheery youngsters who were merely excited and friendly on seeing a foreigner and accepted his gift as they took it as a token of friendliness not because they were poor ( even beggars in kerala dont accept shamopoo packets -- the state of kerala has a high human development index )
Last week i met my uncles friend who is an indian now living in south africa . Discussions were interesting about the national parks , the indian diaspora in south africa , the economy ,lifestyle ,food etc . Then the question was asked about racism . The answer was unique . He described thus ...
"In the early 1990s during apartheid he went to work in south africa . During second day evening he and his friend seeing the nice weather went out at around seven pm for having a beer at the local restaurant/bar .Suddenly both of them were took by the collar and pushed out into the street . The reason that restaurant was not for blacks or indians . " I was astonished . 1990s is the period when countries in asia were undergoing or already undergone drastic development in all spheres . Physical violence or even verbal abuse against anyone was unthinkable . Then we asked what about nowadays in South Africa . He answered nowadays if we have any problem we inform the blacks and they take care of it .
Last but not the least a few months back many indians were brutally attacked in australia . It was not the attacks that were more alarming but the attitude of the police . There was even an explanation that indians take shortcuts through parks which australians avoid at night . My question is if police cant keep the country safe then what development we are talking about ?
Once again i am happy about the pretty girls in shanghai who served me food with a smile and the haircut i had in china by a punk haircut boy who smiled said "nihau " and cut my hair (that too in punk style ) .
Shanghai rocks ...and india rocks too ...
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/215522/racism-not-ruled-indian-students.html
One indian student was shot at point blank range and police are not ruling out racism as motive . I am saddened by the incident but am consoled by the fact that british police has arrested suspects and they have not ruled out racism as motive . This brings to my mind my recent visit to China . Every day from 8-11 pm i used to take long walks to go to my favourite restaurants 3 kms away . The route was dotted by restaurants and many areas were fairly isolated . But i never encountered any chinese looking to accost any other person . Many were minding their own business or if at all our paths crossed they were friendly . The same about all the restaurants and shops i visited . All of them were either neutral or friendly . And all of them were as fair as fairies and many especially the young women were reddish in their cheeks . And yes china is a country which has a 7000 year old civilisation and at present having one of the most rich economies . Coming back to my country india we too inspite of our "caste system " ,poverty we have since independance not killed nor injured people on the basis of race . Even our caste system and the laws are such that even verbal abuse against a lower caste is punishable by law .
Six months back i was in a domestic flight and near me was seated a british elderly couple . We started talking and there were a zillion potential topics we could have discussed but this elderly gentleman --a tourist who chose india among all the countries in the world --- was describing how he distributed the shampoo packets he took from his hotel to the cheering kids who welcomed him at a particular tourist destination in kerala . He was telling all this like a great king who had distributed alms to poor subjects . Generally avoiding conflict with strangers i politely stopped talking to him and went back to my jet airways brochure . In retrospect i was thinking about this tourist basically stealing the shampoo saches ( i dont do it from the hotels i visit .. thats cheap ) and distributing it to a group of cheery youngsters who were merely excited and friendly on seeing a foreigner and accepted his gift as they took it as a token of friendliness not because they were poor ( even beggars in kerala dont accept shamopoo packets -- the state of kerala has a high human development index )
Last week i met my uncles friend who is an indian now living in south africa . Discussions were interesting about the national parks , the indian diaspora in south africa , the economy ,lifestyle ,food etc . Then the question was asked about racism . The answer was unique . He described thus ...
"In the early 1990s during apartheid he went to work in south africa . During second day evening he and his friend seeing the nice weather went out at around seven pm for having a beer at the local restaurant/bar .Suddenly both of them were took by the collar and pushed out into the street . The reason that restaurant was not for blacks or indians . " I was astonished . 1990s is the period when countries in asia were undergoing or already undergone drastic development in all spheres . Physical violence or even verbal abuse against anyone was unthinkable . Then we asked what about nowadays in South Africa . He answered nowadays if we have any problem we inform the blacks and they take care of it .
Last but not the least a few months back many indians were brutally attacked in australia . It was not the attacks that were more alarming but the attitude of the police . There was even an explanation that indians take shortcuts through parks which australians avoid at night . My question is if police cant keep the country safe then what development we are talking about ?
Once again i am happy about the pretty girls in shanghai who served me food with a smile and the haircut i had in china by a punk haircut boy who smiled said "nihau " and cut my hair (that too in punk style ) .
Shanghai rocks ...and india rocks too ...
Haoon, looks like I'm commenting on all your blogs - perhaps because the subjects you talk about are close to me too. I could write a long response to this,but let me just say that I think India is one of the most racist and biased places I've seen. Look at the reaction to white foreigner compared to a black foreigner. I had mallus in my soccer team talking in a very bad way about the Northeast Indians in the team. You know about the atrocities done to the Dalits in North India, where caste is still a major issue. Could go on - but I'm stopping now.
ReplyDelete@ zahroof nana ... i agree . but except for a few pockets indians dont bash up on the basis of race or caste .. inspite of many people being illiterate , below poverty line etc .
ReplyDeletePhysical violence is unacceptable especially from "developed "countries .