Is this not racism?

I had written this article some time ago. But, I had not posted it then for some reason. Today, on the lunch table at office, we were chatting up with a Marathi guy and a fellow colleague jokingly advised him not to speak in Marathi in public in Delhi, lest he gets beaten up. Then, I was suddenly reminded of this article of mine. I hope it still makes a point.



In May and June 2009, there had been reports about attacks on Indians in Australia. These were alleged to be racially motivated by both Indians nationals and the media. Later, even the Australian Police admitted to their racist nature. Indians in Australia and back home were enraged. They had even retaliated by holding protests and attacking other nationals. Rallies were held in both Melbourne and Sydney. Impromptu street protests were held in Harris Park, a suburb of western Sydney with a large Indian population. The protests attracted attention from the international media, with coverage in India especially widespread and critical of Australia. So much so that representatives of the Indian government met the Australian government to express concern and request that Indians be protected. But what was most ironic was when members of the Shiv Sena held a demonstration outside the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, where effigies of Kevin Rudd were burnt.


I wonder what right they have to do so when they themselves are amok attacking over north Indians in Maharashtra. Is it not racism when Raj Thackeray makes critical remarks, themed around language politics and regionalism, about migrants from the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, accusing them of spoiling Maharashtrian culture and not mingling with them? Is it not racism when workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which phased out of Shiv Sena and has similar ideologies, assault North Indian taxi drivers and vandalise their vehicles in Dadar, Mumbai? Then again, Bal Thackeray issued an editorial titled "Ek Bihari, Sau Bimari" (One Bihari, Hundred illnesses) in Saamna, Shiv Sena's political mouthpiece, saying that Biharis antagonised local populations wherever they went and were an "unwelcome lot" throughout the country. Why does no one term this as racism?


Incidences of violence against North Indians and their property by MNS workers were reported in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Beed, Nashik, Amravati, Jalna, and Latur. Nearly 25,000 North Indian workers fled Pune, and another 15,000 fled Nashik in the wake of the attacks. Later on, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh was lynched in a Mumbai commuter train. In fact, such acts defy the rule of law and challenge the fundamental rights of the citizens to travel, study, reside and earn a livelihood anywhere in India.


There is a saying in hindi, "Doosron ke ghar patthar vohi phenke jiske khud ke ghar sheeshe ke naa ho" (He who throws stones on others’ houses should ensure that his own house is not made of glass.) Then with what right do we condemn the attacks in Australia. We ought to first look within and remember if we throw a stone in a muddle, we will end up splashing mud on our clothes too.