WE ARE RACIST TOO
- Madhukar Dama
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
The perception that Indians are "highly racist" is a complex and subjective claim, often rooted in generalizations drawn from specific incidents, cultural practices, and global interactions. It’s not a universally accepted fact but rather a narrative shaped by historical, social, and economic factors, amplified by media and anecdotal experiences. Below is an exhaustive list of reasons and examples commonly cited for this perception, grounded in observable patterns and cultural dynamics within and outside India as of March 31, 2025. I’ll avoid definitive judgments, instead presenting the arguments and evidence as they’re discussed globally, while noting that racism is not unique to India and exists across all societies to varying degrees.
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REASONS WHY INDIANS ARE CONSIDERED HIGHLY RACIST
1. Historical Caste System Legacy
- Reason: The caste system, dating back over 2,000 years, is often equated with racism due to its hierarchical structure and association with skin color (e.g., lighter-skinned "Aryans" vs. darker-skinned "Dravidians" in ancient texts). Though it’s a social construct, its legacy fuels perceptions of ingrained discrimination.
- Example: Dalits (formerly "untouchables") face ongoing prejudice, such as a 2020 case in Uttar Pradesh where a Dalit woman, Savitri, was beaten to death by upper-caste Thakurs for "contaminating" their garbage bin.
2. Colorism and Fair Skin Obsession
- Reason: A cultural preference for lighter skin, linked to colonial influences and pre-colonial ideals, leads to discrimination against darker-skinned individuals, often mistaken for racism globally.
- Example: Matrimonial ads in India frequently specify "fair bride wanted," and skin-lightening creams like Fair & Lovely (now Glow & Lovely) generate billions, reflecting societal bias.
3. Discrimination Against Northeast Indians
- Reason: People from Northeast India, with East Asian features, face racial slurs ("Chinky") and violence due to their distinct appearance, highlighting internal racial prejudice.
- Example: In 2014, Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, was beaten to death in Delhi by shopkeepers mocking his appearance.
4. Xenophobia Toward Africans
- Reason: Stereotypes of Africans as criminals or "inferior" fuel hostility, often tied to ignorance about Africa and colonial-era racial hierarchies absorbed by Indian society.
- Example: In 2017, African students in Greater Noida were attacked by a mob suspecting them of cannibalism after a local’s death, despite no evidence.
5. Regional and Ethnic Stereotyping
- Reason: Prejudices between North and South Indians, or against specific ethnic groups (e.g., Biharis, Bengalis), are mistaken for racism due to their intensity and visibility.
- Example: North Indians in Bengaluru often report discrimination, like being denied rentals for not speaking Kannada, as seen in multiple incidents in the 2020s.
6. Colonial Hangover
- Reason: British rule reinforced racial hierarchies (white superiority, Indian inferiority), which some argue Indians internalized and redirected toward others.
- Example: Mahatma Gandhi’s early writings in South Africa reflect derogatory views of Black Africans, later contextualized but still cited as evidence.
7. Treatment of Foreigners
- Reason: Hostility toward foreigners, especially those of darker skin tones, in urban areas contributes to the racist stereotype, often tied to economic competition or cultural insularity.
- Example: African students in Delhi (e.g., 2016 Tanzanian woman stripped by a mob) report harassment, contrasting with hospitality shown to white foreigners.
8. Media and Pop Culture Reinforcement
- Reason: Bollywood and regional cinema often portray dark skin negatively or stereotype foreigners, normalizing bias.
- Example: The 2018 Malayalam film Abrahaminde Santhathikal depicted Black Africans as villainous caricatures, criticized for blatant racism.
9. Lack of Racial Education
- Reason: Indian school curricula rarely address racism or its global history, leaving societal attitudes unexamined and perpetuating ignorance.
- Example: Social science textbooks still use outdated terms like "tribes" without critiquing their colonial implications, as noted by scholars in 2017.
10. Economic Competition and Scapegoating
- Reason: Success of Indian immigrants abroad (e.g., in tech) breeds resentment, which Indians sometimes counter with defensive prejudice against other groups.
- Example: In Canada, where hate crimes against South Asians rose 143% from 2019-2022, some Indian immigrants online express disdain for locals, escalating tensions.
11. Patriarchal and Caste Intersections
- Reason: Racism intersects with gender and caste, amplifying discrimination against marginalized women, seen as a broader racial bias.
- Example: Northeast Indian women in Delhi face sexual harassment and slurs like "easy" due to their appearance, as in the 2013 murder of Reingamphi from Manipur.
12. Political Rhetoric
- Reason: Politicians occasionally use racial undertones to rally support, reinforcing stereotypes and division.
- Example: In 2017, BJP MP Tarun Vijay’s remark, “If we were racist, why would we live with South Indians?” was widely criticized as exposing casual racism.
13. Global Perception of Hypocrisy
- Reason: Indians decry racism abroad (e.g., in the U.S.) but overlook domestic prejudice, leading to accusations of double standards.
- Example: Support for Black Lives Matter in 2020 contrasted with silence on Northeast Indian harassment during COVID-19, when they were called “coronavirus.”
14. Stereotyping of South Asians Abroad
- Reason: Indian immigrants’ clannishness or cultural pride is misread as racism by host countries, feeding the narrative.
- Example: In the U.S., Indian tech workers are sometimes accused of nepotism, amplifying perceptions of exclusionary behavior.
15. Religious and Communal Bias
- Reason: Prejudice against Muslims or Christians is sometimes racialized due to historical “outsider” narratives, blending with ethnic disdain.
- Example: Assam’s 2007 attacks on Hindi-speaking laborers, blamed on ULFA, mixed ethnic and communal hatred.
16. Rural-Urban Divide
- Reason: Rural insularity fosters suspicion of “outsiders,” including those from different Indian regions, mistaken for racism.
- Example: Bihari migrants in Maharashtra faced violent backlash from MNS activists in the 2000s, labeled as “alien” invaders.
17. Lack of Multicultural Exposure
- Reason: Limited interaction with diverse races historically (unlike Western melting pots) fosters ignorance and stereotyping.
- Example: African students in India report being stared at or called “habshi” (a derogatory term) due to unfamiliarity.
18. Social Media Amplification
- Reason: Online platforms magnify Indian prejudices globally, giving racist comments disproportionate visibility.
- Example: Viral 2023 clips of Indians mocking Black athletes on X fueled international backlash.
19. Class-Based Prejudice
- Reason: Economic elitism blends with racial bias, as wealthier Indians disdain poorer, often darker-skinned groups.
- Example: Upper-class disdain for “dark” laborers in urban India mirrors caste-color dynamics.
20. Historical Narratives of Superiority
- Reason: Ancient texts (e.g., Vedic “Aryan” pride) and colonial reinforcement create a subconscious superiority complex.
- Example: The term “Dasyu” in Rigveda, linked to dark-skinned foes, is cited by critics as an early racial trope.
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EXAMPLES SUPPORTING THE PERCEPTION
1. Nido Tania Murder (2014): Beaten to death in Delhi for his Northeast Indian appearance.
2. Greater Noida Attacks (2017): African students assaulted over baseless cannibalism rumors.
3. Tanzanian Woman Incident (2016): Stripped by a Bangalore mob after an unrelated accident.
4. COVID-19 Northeast Harassment (2020): Manipuri woman spat on and called “corona” in Delhi.
5. Savitri’s Death (2020): Dalit woman killed by Thakurs in UP over caste-based “pollution.”
6. Gujarati Family Racism (2010s): Indian-American kids called “Blackies” by relatives in Gujarat.
7. Kannada Bias in Bengaluru (2014): Northeast student beaten for not speaking Kannada.
8. Malayalam Film Stereotypes (2018): Abrahaminde Santhathikal vilified Black Africans.
9. Tarun Vijay’s Remark (2017): BJP MP’s defense of racism exposed casual prejudice.
10. Matrimonial Ads: Persistent demand for “fair” brides in newspapers like Times of India.
11. Assam Laborer Attacks (2007): Hindi-speakers killed in ethnic violence.
12. Delhi Rental Bias: Northeast Indians and Africans frequently denied housing.
13. Skin-Lightening Market: $32 billion spent globally, with India a major contributor.
14. Quora Testimony (2017): African-American tourist called India “most racist” visited.
15. BJP Leader’s Speech (2022): A fake video was circulated depicting African comparison to Draupadi Murmu. This was found to be a fake video. But exposes how ruling as well as opposite parties may be using racism as a political tool!
16. Mumbai Hate Crimes (2021): Study showed 44.7% of Northeast racial incidents in Mumbai.
17. Roorkee Institute Attack (2020): African students beaten by guards in Uttarakhand.
18. South Indian Stereotypes: North Indians mocking “dark” Tamils as inferior.
19. Social Media Slurs (2023): Indians trolling Black celebrities online went viral.
20. Workplace Bias: African students in India report lower pay and job struggles.
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ANALYSIS AND CONTEXT
- Not Unique: Racism exists globally—India’s version is shaped by caste, colorism, and regionalism rather than a singular racial ideology.
- Perception vs. Reality: High-profile incidents and India’s global diaspora amplify the stereotype, though surveys (e.g., 2013 World Values Survey ranking India among “most racist”) are debated for methodology.
- Counterpoints: India’s diversity (2,000+ ethnic groups) and legal framework (e.g., Article 17 banning untouchability) challenge the “highly racist” label, though implementation lags.
This list reflects why the perception exists, not an absolute truth. It’s exhaustive but not definitive—racism’s roots and expressions in India are as varied as its people.
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