Curry bashing, bindi busters.....whose fault

Curry Bashing…bindi busters….whose fault?

A very interesting article in an English daily gave very insightful reasons as to why Indians are victims of racist attacks more than the Chinese or Japanese. It stated that the reasons we are targeted is because we are very closed in our outlook towards other cultures. Where else in the world would any mother travel with home grown vegetables and pickles, it states. Also, hate mails point towards Indians clothes smell of curry and that Indians urinate in their compound and we lack basic mixing with other culture social skills.

Here is what I think?

First of all, the world is divided into people who kick arse and people who get their arse kicked.

In the history of mankind, we have known the economically superior nations/leaders/dictators/kings always bullying/killing/enforcing rules on the economically backward.

Here are a few instances.

Hitler hated the Jews for no apparent reasons but the fact that he believed they are impure blood and used gas chambers to eliminate them.

The whites enslaved the blacks for times immemorial treating them like the scum of the earth believing them to be totally incapable of any skilled tasks or profession.

U.S. bombed Japan and were enemies for a very long time till the technological revolution made U.S. the single largest country importing Japanese goods.

We all know that the Chinese have the potential to become an economic superpower far ahead of the developed countries like the U.S., U.K., Germany etc.

Not only are the Chinese racing towards prosperity, their government and the people have started projecting themselves as powerful as well.

The Chinese Government, the Chinese traveler or the Chinese student today command respect.

Don’t be mistaken that their culture or food habits or social skills are better than Indians.

I would refrain from suggesting that the Chinese have poor social skills or living habits, but by experience, they are not better or worse off than Indians in similar aspects.

In the U.A.E., the Chinese Government insisted with the Sheikhs of all six emirates to give transfer ( ownership rights) rights of all fixed assets investment ( property, machinery, currency) and repatriation of profits, investment if they were to bring in investments through various channels namely Government / Private bodies ( Individuals and Corporations ). Result. – They are granted special visas to conduct business in the U.A.E. Believe it or not, though the size of investments would be comparable, the Indians don’t have it.

Lets talk about the current curry bashing in Australia. We all know that there are parts in Australia which are rampant in racist attacks than others. Its true for almost all immigrants or students living there.

A couple of years ago, according to a website, Chinese students were targeted in some parts of Australia and guess what happened. The Chinese students took to the streets and there was both diplomatic and non diplomatic pressure from the Chinese Government and large investors was exerted. They showed their financial muscle and the Australian Government took measures to curb such attacks quickly.

Now, in 2009, a similar story resurfaces. Indian students are being attacked. We bring in the largest cash flows in terms of student tuition fees to Universities of Australia in comparison to any other immigrant population. What do we do? We blame ourselves? Our reporters/experts tell us why we deserve to treated like this. They would even have us believe it. This is the modern version of apartheid.

Lets examine this.

The difference. Is the Chinese economy more progressive than the Indian economy ? Yes.

Is the Indian economy progress very low in comparison to growth in China? No.

Does the Government of China believe that they can protect their interests by protecting their citizens across the world? Yes

Does the Government of India believe the same? Yes.

Does the Government of China take enough measures to protect their citizens when a situation demands it? Absolutely

Does the Government of India take enough measures to protect their citizens when a situation demands it? Absolutely not.

It’s the same when it comes to the private enterprises or people in general.

Indians need to stick together in times of emergency instead of depending on the Government, or worse, believing we deserve it.

I would like to believe that we as Indians, deserve respect for the diversity of culture we bring to the world.

We bring the highest forms of respect and humility and tolerance towards other cultures.

We also bring a significant amount of Investments to both developed and developing economies.

It is important that we know that we command respect wherever we go, and get it.

Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Jai Hind.