Just Race!

Just Race!

I find it quite interesting and intriguing when we Indians start taking notice of unfair practices on others outside our own country. Not once do we happen to turn around and look at our own very selves to figure out if anything is wrong with us.

I have been hearing and reading a lot about the racial discrimination being inflicted on Indian students in Australia. Personally, or rather humanely, I completely detest the very act and the people involved in them when it comes to discrimination, no matter at what level or on what grounds it would be of. As for the acts being conducted in Australia, well the less said the better!!! I suppose that is something to be taken up by the Australian Government internally and the Indian External Affairs Ministry with the Government of Australia. What I do know is, that I have never favoured or wanted to go to Australia or any other country for further education. Now with these set of fresh incidents there, I do not want to even visit that country, ever!

Coming back to my original point. We Indian’s, and yes I very much include myself in it, have made it a habit of sorts to have double standards, have become too judgmental of others for their actions, or the lack of them! Not once do we turn around and see what is happening within our own homes, our country, our society. Racism is deeply imbedded in the roots of this country, whether it  is based on religion, caste, creed, education, region or even social status for that matter. Today, I have examples of conversations with peers, friends, acquaintances, who consider themselves as being the educated lot, who have made snide remarks / comments on an individual (s) or a group based on the above criteria. I personally know of people (just as acquaintances, thank God for that!) who would befriend someone else just based on the color of their skin or the size of the house they stay in or the car they drive. Are they not being racists?

Does Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code not endorse discrimination? I know of instances, where citizens of this country hailing from the North – Eastern region are looked down upon thinking that all women from there are sluts (pardon the language) and all men from there are drug addicts. Whereas, we have been proven wrong time and again and the 2 recent most Indian Idols are living proof of that. We question the West, mainly the US, on discriminating people basis the color of their skin, do we, as Indians, not discriminate against the Africans or dark skinned people? Does our Government not endorse racism? Earlier it was the Reservations Bill, wanting to give equal opportunity to all Indian citizens, irrespective of class or caste and now it is going to be the Women’s Bill! Are these not provisions of racism. If we are trying to set up an equal society with equal opportunity for all, why is it that we need such bias’, at all?

More than pointing fingers at others, I would suggest we look at ourselves first and rectify where we lack as a society.