Hindustan Times
Indians attacked down under
There have been now several instances of Indians being targeted by some anti social elements in a few Australian cities. The attacks which are being defined as racial in nature have not only led to a feeling of great insecurity amongst the Indian community Down Under but could jeopardize relations between India and Australia. It is high time that adequate protection was granted to the Indians there and those responsible for such attacks were arrested and punished as per law of the land.
However, Indians who are studying in Australia also need to show a greater sense of responsibility and must cooperate with the authorities in every respect. While one cannot defend the Australian action by any yardstick, the Indian students must also not indulge in activities, which lower the image of our country. For instance there are some actions, which can irk anyone. In India too such actions by students cannot be condoned at any cost. For instance, a student or group of students hire a room on rent and inform the landlord that it is for just the three of them.
But once the room is in their possession, half a dozen or more occupy it and use it as accommodation. Obviously this is done in violation of the agreement reached with the landlord. Therefore an unhappy landlord may think of settling scores on some occasion or the other. No one can defend an assault but any action that can provoke an assault must be avoided. After all in a foreign land Indians have to behave themselves like they do when they stand at a long unending queue waiting for their turn at any US airport before the immigration counters. No one misbehaves and things run smoothly.
A friend of mine whose daughter and son are happily settled in Australia told me the other day that a number of students who go to that country for studying actually have different plans. Education is just a pretext to get away and start life afresh. Nothing wrong in this as long as they adhere to rules. But in many instances, the youngsters from here end up taking accommodation in areas where it is the cheapest. Very often these cheap areas also have toughies living there and all kinds of activities from drugs and prostitution are not something, which is non-existent. In these kind of surroundings, a brawl is easy to break out and Indians or others can be at the receiving end.
Indians have this huge tendency of inter acting with their fellow Indians and in many instances avoid any connection with the Whites. This also irks some hotheaded persons who feel that Indians were deliberately trying to insult them by not mixing around with them. A cultural island sometimes is not the best solution. It is said that while in Rome do as the Romans do.
I am not trying to dissect the reasons for the latest attacks but am just expressing some thoughts that have come to my mind. The reader does not necessarily have to agree with them but than thoughts are something which could lead to a solution. I have also witnessed discrimination in some of the western airlines where the white crew gives a preferential treatment to the whites at the cost of others. But these are realities and if one has to avoid such things one should travel by an Asian airline the next time. The services and hospitality is always better. But some western airlines like Lufthansa can match both hospitality and service of any Asian airline.
When we talk about discrimination we must not forget that there is enough of it on display in our own university campuses. Landlords around the Delhi University campus are often wary of giving a room to a Bihari or Oriyya because they are considered outsiders. Is that not equally shameful?
Australians have a long history of discrimination and racial record but than all Australians cannot be smeared with the same brush. Some of the Australian cities are not only the safest but most beautiful. Let us not become jingoistic and try and solve this problem with an open mind. No point blaming others if we cannot correct ourselves first.
(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Pankaj Vohra on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Filed under Capital Closeup, india · Tagged australia, discrimination, indian students, Racial attacks, yardsticks
Agree with you that all Australians are not racist. The attacks on Indian students are despicable acts by the low lifes and scum of the Australian community. These dregs of society will grab the opportunity to attack and rob anyone irrespective of who they are or what the colour of their skin.
Unfortunately scum in this society are treated with ‘kid gloves’ frustrating local Police and the recidivism rates would shock.
What else do you do when the law turns around and charges you for self defence?
Agree with you - When in Rome….. It appears that some of the studnets being attacked have commenced to retaliate. Well you must break a few eggs to make an omelette.
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I understand that some students do not behave rationally when in foreign countries. Whatever cases you have mentioned are all true and students should take care and try to gel in the environment they go to. But, I do not understand why are we downplaying the incidents of violence against Indians. When foreigners come to our country and some of them roam about the streets basically in their undergarments and do not care about the Indian culture or the environment here, do we ever talk about giving some knowledge to foreigners how to behave in India.
It is because of their dressing style that incidents of rape with some women happen. And all those incidents are handled firmly by the countries where those foreigners come from. What is wrong is wrong, whatever be the reason what happened to those students was wrong.
Indian government and Indians should not try to validate the actions of the wrong doers and should fight for their own people.
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Shashank Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Swati
It is frankly quite appalling that you are blaming the way women dress(indian or foriegn is irrelevant) for rape. There is no justification for it, and its shocking that you being a woman actually say things which resonate the words of groups like Bajrang Dal.
Second, you are using a term like Indian Culture which is a very dynamic concept. I’ve seen a lot of foriegners in my 21 years of life, some dress funny but I haven’t seen any in undergarments( I am not counting vests here, in that case i would have to include halters,sleeveless tops, spaghettis etc for Indian girls as provocative and a lot of men who i see on the road with dhotis rolled up to their loins and men scratching away to glory).
Finally, forget downplaying, I think the incidenmt has got its fair amount of media coverage. Infact its gone overboard with every attack being labelled racist in nature by the media without verification though it may not be.
A very measured article Mr. Vohra.
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The arguments in this article are quite valid and true to a large extent. also its more economic than racist. …. it only looks racist coz we consider ourselves to be racially abused even if we are called INDIANS…..
also, lets get real, students from India are not going there to get EDUCATED okay. its one of the first steps to get permanent residency and then settle down there. so all this STUDENT thing is quite hypocritical to me.
Also it should be considered that australians are unevolved as far as globalisation is concerned. they are an isolated nation with little or no international presence in current affairs except for cricekt and olympics… so naturally the influx of foreigners will ahve its social response in form of attacks… no society or civilization is immune from it.. there might be exceptions though….
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PS: i dont intend to say that the attacks are justified. but to say that these are unexpected events is quite naive. reference should be had to our own reaction to biharis from outside.
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