Yes, We are Racist!

Debyani Khobragade was charged by US authorities with committing visa fraud and providing false information and she was arrested and strip searched. Indian authorities responded in a furious manner and made it a matter of identity. Even the Indian population started protesting against this American act and a chaos in India-America relationship was seen at that time. However, some media pundits related it to civil-nuclear deal and other matters which are in the backdrop of the India-America relationship. Indians cannot accept this type of humiliation from a country which is powerful in economic and military spheres but Indian history is more glorious than the Americans. The Indian civilisation is more ancient than any civilisation of the world (common perception) and India is not the land of people who seek only material pleasure but every activity of Indians is related to more sacred spiritual existence, which is not the case with America. However, the second side of the story was also of an Indian who is poor, marginalised, alleged victim of exploitation but no one look up to this side because her story was not glamorous.

The same Indians having the glorious past killed one guy who does not possess quality history like the Indians do and most of the mainstream politicians and media persons could not see it a racist attack. Some gave the name of regionalism, result of common fight in Delhi etc. They think that ‘enlightened’ Indians cannot indulge in racial attacks. Regionalism is a problem for this country and it can be solved without any new act just the fundamental rights provided under the constitution is enough. The hypocrite Indian mass talk about the moral values and ethics they imbibe but never show in their activities. The situation of North-Eastern people or people of Mangoloid race is known to everyone in this country. They are stereotyped as prostitute, delinquent and the persons who eat dogs. Verbal, physical, economic and mental attacks are common in the capital city of this country. Considering the rich knowledge of geography, culture and history of Indian mass, we cannot say that they are making any wrong assumptions and even saying it an assumption or postulate will be a travesty of their knowledge.

After some days of the events, the hero of Indian mass politics had to do a rally in North-Eastern part of the country and suddenly, the stand of his party changed. But, hate crime did not stop here. Two more people were stabbed and one 14 years girl was raped in the city. The North-Eastern organisations demanded anti-racial laws and speedy justice in the case. "The Hindu" published about Rani Gaidinliu and a search for the history of North-East started. Suddenly, on conventional and neo-conventional media platforms, people started pouring support for North-Eastern people. Some of them talked about the relationship between state’s apathy and secessionist policy of North-Eastern part. An atmosphere of academic discussions and sympathetic attitude started but not at the price of anti-racial laws.

Tradition resists change and people fear change and this is the reason why change in the society is synonymous with continuity. No one, generally, loves tradition and everyone is apprehensive towards new systems and new structures. That is the reason why people in this country are not accepting racial discrimination imbibed in them even after knowing it. They deliberately believe in lies. But, if one will not recognize the problem then the solution of that problem is not possible. Indians will have to accept that they are race driven and victimises people on the basis of their putative social groups. Anti-racial law can provide confidence to the people of different race in this country and its proper implementation can bring down the crime against people of 'different' race and people like Somnath Bharthi will not be able to  defame the constitutional office. And, please do not tell me that it is not constitutionally possible after considering SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. This is the only legal way through which racist and self proclaimed enlightened Indians will be able to pay respect to “different others" and the concept of equity can be brought to provide social justice to the people of this country.

The preamble of our constitution says "we the people" but this we-ness has lost somewhere in the gallery of vote-bank politics, regionalism, and different forms of discriminations ranging from caste based to class and race based. The huaman beings who are an end-in-themselves are evaluated on utility. The deep divide in the contemporary society is providing impetus to organizations based on the concept of "primitive solidarity". To make our society better,  we will have to act for the betterment of all and it should be visible in our actions.