Nurturing India’s Soft Power is the Best Antidote to Racial Discrimination

jun 11th, 2009

pramod has a very good point.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: प्रमोद कुमार
Date: 2009/6/11
Subject: Nurturing India's Soft Power is the Best Antidote to Racial Discrimination
To:

Nurturing India's Soft Power is the

Best Antidote to Racial Discrimination

 

NRIs have not paid sufficient importance to developing an assertive identity
 nor have they used India's growing soft power to their advantage

Bharatiya Pragna  (June 2009)

It is appalling to see the withdrawal symptoms of many Indians in Australia, in the wake of the continuing racial attacks. The solutions being offered by many students on community helplines 'to avoid racial attacks' makes you feel that they have fallen prey to the Stockholm Syndrome of sympathising with the bully.

Here is a list of such defeatist Dos & Don'ts submitted by Indian students to avoid racial attacks. All of them smack of the same slavish attitude towards the attackers and betray gross ignorance of their own fundamental human rights:

·         Anurag Gangwar, who graduated from the University of South Australia in 2006 writes, "Always remember: You are the one who came to 'Their' land. Try to mix up with them and understand their culture. 'They' will not come looking for you to start friendship… Never discuss cricket with your colleagues. Aussies can never accept that their team is not doing well and will release their anger in some form or the other. If they discuss cricket with you show your neutral only attitude. So next if you find out that Australian cricket team loses to Indian cricket team (which won't be a surprise any more!) then keep your excitement to yourself. Never criticize their team for not playing well, mind you!"

·         "Most Indian international students don't know basic manners. They shout loudly in public in Hindi or some other language. They pick their nose in public. They play Bollywood songs loudly on their phone speakers while on trains thinking everyone else wants to hear it too etc. They don't realise such behaviour is considered very bad manners here." – Karthik, Melbourne

·         "When one comes to a foreign land as students, one should leave the Indian way of life behind and be ready to adopt the lifestyle of the country one goes to. If you have come to Australia, adjust to the Australian way of life instead of hoping that Australians will adjust to your Indian lifestyle. Also the basic minimum is to know how to speak English properly." - Yatin Sony, Melbourne

Is there any wonder then that Indian students who nurture such a defeatist mindset are the prime targets for racial attacks? Instead of standing up to the bullies in unison, the whole community seems to be bending over backwards to accommodate the white supremacists. It is only in the late 18^th century that European settlements commenced on Australian mainland. There is no reason why the European whites should consider themselves more native to Australia than the Indian immigrants today.

How many Australian or other international students who come to India, for example, think of changing their dress code or not speaking in English or not discussing cricket during their stay here, in order not to offend the natives? Why is it that we do not hear frequently of such racial attacks against the Chinese or Middle Eastern students studying in America or Australia?

NRIs in general and Hindus in particular continue to harbour colonial residues which prevent them from asserting their identity clearly. We react only when the situation takes an alarming turn and our anguish cools off as the symptoms fade, without ever finding a lasting solution to the problem.

This is what happened with the Kashmiri Pandits too. They reacted en masse when the Amarnath Yatra controversy erupted but their emotions fizzled out soon and they went back to voting for the Congress party in the recent elections, the party which is primarily responsible for their plight today. Hindus all over the world react in a similar pattern.

It is true that the global economic recession has added fuel to the fire with the whites feeling more insecure in competition with the Indian graduates. And this is only likely to aggravate in the coming months.

Also, in the post 9/11 scenario of global religious conflict, the whites do not perceive much difference between the Islamists and the Indians. This is yet another failure of Hindu emigrants, who have always shied away from asserting their religious identity as Hindus in foreign countries.

To end racial discrimination against Indian students, whether in Australia or in America, what we need is a consistent and clear headed attempt to define and build the Indian identity instead of trying to erase it or compromise it as we have done all these decades by encouraging that ignominious 'South Asian' tag which the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have used to their advantage.

Here are some immediate action points which could help us crush the hydra of racism which is spreading its tentacles in countries where there is a significant Indian presence:

1.       The role of the Indian government in safeguarding the interests of the Indian Diaspora cannot be overemphasized. Does the Manmohan Singh government have the skill or the will to achieve this? Why can't the government of India seek an independent inquiry into the racial attacks in Australia, under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)? The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is primarily responsible for looking into violation of human rights against individuals and communities, particularly against cases of racial discrimination. The website of the UNHCHR which I just browsed through does not even make a mention of the attacks on the Indian students in Australia! Such apathy can only be blamed on the Indian government which is busy enjoying the spoils of power won after the recent Lok Sabha elections. The new external affairs minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is busy mouthing his concerns to TV channels to build his image, instead of issuing a stern demarche to the Australian ambassador demanding clear action to end the racist attacks.

2.       The Indian Diaspora must build an NGO to safeguard its human rights, provide legal assistance to victims of racial discrimination and lobby with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Australia is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and is bound by international human rights law to take steps to end racial discrimination against Indian students.

3.        Document each and every case of racial discrimination against Indians, not just physical attacks which we are witnessing today. For example, do Indians have freedom to practice their religion & faith? Do they have equal opportunities in education and employment? Are they allowed to participate freely in the social and cultural life of the people? Such documentation of violations can go a long way in building a strong case against racial discrimination against Indians. Individual cases can be filed with UNHCHR which can help in building international opinion against the offending countries.

4.       Make every effort to exploit India's soft power to create a positive image for the Diaspora. India's soft power grows out of our cultural influence, which is the most powerful weapon we have in comparison to any other country. The world community must perceive the Indian community's unique cultural traits – tolerance, social capital and devotion to education & hard work, which are the traits an ideal minority in a multicultural society is expected to nurture.

5.       The Indian embassies in foreign countries have a duty to educate every Indian immigrant about his /her rights as well as the laws and cultural finesse of the country to which they migrate, through a systematic and compulsory orientation programme. This will facilitate a smoother integration of the Indian immigrants into the native culture and prevent them from becoming awkward misfits.

6.       Finally, stand up to the bully; behave as a self-respecting Indian should, as a representative and a cultural ambassador of a country that is known for its history of racial tolerance. Compromise only when your freedom is infringing upon the rightful freedom of others and not merely to placate the racists.

– Pramod Kumar

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