Based on my understanding of Indian society and discussions with few people, I feel racism in India can't be similarly placed as that of racism in US. This is because of the clear cut racial differences in US and majority (if not all) people appreciating and aware of the same. Unlike these, in India, people are grossly ignorant of different races amongst Indians viz. Aryan (North Indians), Dravidian (South Indians), Austro - Asian (tribals and aboriginals), Tibeto - Burman (Mongoloid features) and Pacific Ocean migrants (Andamans). But we can't rule out the eve-teasing incidents of North Eastern students, Africans and Andamans (like Jarawas). Are they due to conflict among different races or stereotypes about these communities and groups? They can be due to low interaction or communication between people coming from North East and rest of Indians. Different stereotypes and misconceptions might be generated on our own or through friends/media (Social/Observational Learning) leading to such ethnic strife. Same is the case for people coming from Kumaon and Garhwal region in Uttarakhand who are misconstrued as "Nepalis".
In this background, how should we categorise above acts of Indians - racist or mere ignorance? There can be a thin line between the two and deep psychological biases and prejudices may be the cause for such remarks by both aware as well as ignorant beings. Moreover, there has been hardly any emphasis at any level be it family, school, college, work, where one has been made aware of the flip side of using such denigrating and degrading remarks. In fact this "ignorance or unawareness" has been channelized by different groups in colonies, schools, colleges, workplaces etc. with vested (political, social, economic) interests to cause ethnic strife and conflicts.
Recently after Darren Sammy accused few players of using racist remarks that he couldn't comprehend then due to the language (Hindi). Instagram post of an Indian cricketer has triggered "Kalu" trending on Twitter (Twitter Trending #kalu). As many especially foreigners have construed this as racist comment/term, it has its genesis in White (Gora) - Dark/Black (Kala) divide and Indians' crave for the former (while denigrating the latter). Undoubtedly, the term has derogatory connotation and should not be used for anyone. But does it signify the racial hatred that is imminent in other racial attacks at US including the recent attack on George Floyd? It may or may not be the example of racism but something else. Many consider the usage of this term in India as banter/friendly gesture and informal way of denoting the skin colour of close friends without any feeling of hatred or bad against the other individual. At the same time, it is noteworthy to mention that this term is used for dark skinned individuals but its antonym (gora - white/fair) isn't used as often as the former. Can this be termed as colourism and not racism in Indian context? This demands a thorough anthropological, sociological and psychological analysis and studies, and is thus beyond the scope of this blog.
Finally, what is most crucial to highlight based on above instances and frequent news reports of attacks on people from North East and Africa is the low level of empathy and emotional sensitivity in modern humans. We expect someone to give a shoulder when we are hurt or sad, but intentionally and unintentionally are involved in such activities which seem to indicate our emotional bluntness and apathy. There are many that consider racism and casteism to be blood brothers (Racism and Casteism Blood Brothers). Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule have spoken on this and more studies might be needed for establishing a clear cut connection between the two. Way forward, in the recent times, something that is very disturbing has been observed all over the world including in the democracies like US, Austria, Finland, Hungary, India etc. It is the correlation between the increase in frequency of ethnic & casteist conflicts and rise of right-wing ideological parties. This will be more disturbing if causation gets established between the two. Certainly it will then throw more difficult challenges for the world especially in present times of pandemic when we should have been together more than ever.
To conclude, it is difficult to gauge the nature of racism (if it exists) in India. If yes, is it manifested in the same way as that in US (including recent George Floyd incident) seems a bit doubtful. Other factors like less interaction or poor communication (unlike US), people's ignorance and stereotypes (all these three related to each other) seem to complicate the manifestation of racism in India. Thus, what we witness i.e. ethnic strife in India might be actually borne out of other social, religious, political, economic factors and not racism per se. More wisdom and research in this stream will help the future decipher the topic in a much better manner.
No matter what these studies would point out in future, today what matters the most is realising and embracing the fact that "Black lives matter" as much as white lives. In present world setup, nothing can substantiate or justify the subjugation of the former by latter. If we can't ensure even self respect and dignity to these people (despite mentioning all those "good words" in UN charter and constitutions of democratic nations like India, US etc.), it's a shame on the world order and humanity (so called technocrat and intellectual beings). Let's pledge to treat all humans in a just, fair and respectful manner.
ReplyDeleteIn past decade many countries are electing governments inclined towards right ideology which might further aggravate the class/race divide... Unfortunate incidents such as George Floyd has many layers to it, racism, class divide, discrimination within the system...
It seems there is a sense of despair globally where powerful regimes are exploiting the inherent social issues to stay in power where as the desparation of the people with regards to quality of employment, quality and affordable education/health care facilities, housing, standard of living is driving them to either opt for a larger than life image or to stay out of troubles and maintain a dismal hope with the system.
You have really come up with a lot of aspects that are connected with the blog and its questions. Thanks Vishal for these insights. As far as the layers to George Floyd incident is concerned, don't you feel that racism is the innermost or core leading to outer layers like class divide and discrimination? In India, it might be wrong to presume that racism alone leads to ethnic conflicts but that is not the case with US.
DeleteAlso can you please elaborate on the 2nd para as that's sth I have tried to introduce in my blog but u seem to be explaining it in a novel manner. Thanks Vishal.
In my opinion, such controversial issues have distinct socio-cultural background. Almost every society has it's own kind of social separation based on race, caste, religion etc and such things have different socio cultural historical background. So we must be careful while equating such different issues of different society.
ReplyDeleteThis article also reflect this at some points. It was a good read.
Thanks Pratyush. We had a discussion when I had started writing this a couple of days ago and you might have sensed that while reading the blog.
DeleteI shifted the focus of my blog topic from relationship b/w casteism and racism and have tried to uncover does racism exist in India? Does usage of term "Kala"/Gora reflect our racist tendencies? Please give your opinion on this.
That was very point we discussed about and the impact of the conversation was quite visible. Article covers that aspect and reflects honest effort to answer the questions implied in blog topic. Honestly, this issue demands a series of articles and debates but you touched various essential aspects of the issue in this short article, which is commendable. 👍🏼
ReplyDeleteYour article indeed touched right notes taking the space and platform in consideration. Racial prejudices in India are encountered mostly in form of colourism or to physical structure as in case of North-east. As you have rightly pointed out. Also to add, racism in India is seldom seen in isolation, most of the times it is entangled with casteism. And hence it gets more pernicious. Even in our revolutions seem to overlap, as in Dalit Feminist movement in India has drawn parallels with the Black Feminist movement in the United States. But on the other hand this perception limits our idea of racism. We as Indians, the ones who were already victims of British acts of racism, refuses to see ourselves as racist perpetrators. And hence limit it to caste based discrimination (which per se doesn't have ethnic dimension and doesn't question the concept of Indianess). If you remember a similar thing happened in 2012 Richard loitam case, where on same lines north-east racial discrimination was turned into schedule class biasness, by the govt. We kind of move away from having straight forward discussions on racism, as our system is so weaved with casteism.
ReplyDeleteThanks Riya for such insightful comment. In fact many would agree that your comment is more thought provoking than my blog. You have rightly mentioned the possible link b/w casteism and racism. The level of conscious and sub-conscious bias we casteist Indians have might inhibit free discussion on racism. Please share more articles depicting the relation b/w the two -isms. Thanks Riya and please keep reading the blogs and sharing such analytical insights.
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