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Attacks on Africans is worrisome
As it is, mainland Indians haven’t always been especially considerate about those who are ‘different’ in their appearance or ways of life, such as the people of the northeast, whose Mongoloid features make them targets of derisory remarks of being ‘Chinki’ or Chinese.
Racist attacks against blacks in Bengaluru and New Delhi in February last year, in a Delhi Metro station last October, in Delhi a few days ago when a Congolese was killed and in Hyderabad against a Nigerian have justifiably raised fears of the prevalence of a so-called Afro-phobia in India.
Notwithstanding the promise of action by the external affairs ministry, the African envoys have expressed concern about the repeated attacks and the resultant insecurity among the black students and others from Africa living in India.
As it is, mainland Indians haven’t always been especially considerate about those who are ‘different’ in their appearance or ways of life, such as the people of the northeast, whose Mongoloid features make them targets of derisory remarks of being ‘Chinki’ or Chinese. In August, 2012, there was such an exodus from Bengaluru of panic-stricken northeasterners after a few cases of assault that special trains had to be arranged. With more than 10,000 African students making India their temporary home, the feeling of racial animosity among Indians against those who are not like ‘us’ appears to have unfortunately become much stronger.
To many, this perception is not very dissimilar to what the orthodox Hindus think about Muslims, which is why Hindus are generally unwilling to let out their flats to Muslims. Among the arguments against them are that they are non-vegetarian and that the men are promiscuous and lustful.
Although Indians claim to be broad-minded, the compartmentalization which has long characterized the lives of the Hindus and Muslims as well as the lower castes can give an idea of the mindset which is behind the attacks on ‘Chinkis’ and the ‘kalaa (black)’ citizens and residents. That the Indians are intensely colour-conscious is evident from the search for fair brides in matrimonial columns and also in the ads on fairness creams. If the former cannot be discouraged, at least the celebrities can be urged to desist from not only promoting the ‘fair and lovely’ ointments but also mocking them.
Amulya Ganguli
