Attacks on African nationals show India has a racism problem

By: Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay 

Walk around – in the evening in this heat please – the Jama Masjid area and venture towards Chitlli Qabar Chowk. Right in the beginning of this lane, in rows of sweet shops before the by-lane that goes towards Karim’s, you will find trays of dark-coloured, almost black and half-solid sweet items which though carrying the suffix of halwa, is more like a barfi. 

Called habshi halwa because it is dark, it underscores how deep-rooted racism is in India. And stereotypes. Legend has it that when this desert was first made in the late 1940s, the first maker declared that it was made after boiling milk for more than eight hours. Because a liberal amount of sugar, rose water, ghee and an assortment of dry fruits were added to this concoction, it was claimed to have aphrodisiac qualities. 

Because it is believed Africans have immense staying power while making love, this dish is named after ‘them’.

 The word habshi though originally Arabic denoting Abyssinians is now a slur in India and may be elsewhere in the Indian sub-continent. 

The existence of this word in our popular culture demonstrates how deep-rooted racism is in India. Hardly had the memories of the Somnath Bharti led attacks on African nationals faded from public memory, we have a spate of attacks on legitimate residents from Africa in Delhi colonies and a few other cities. 

The situation got so much out of hand that it almost jeopardised Africa Day celebrations a few days ago and Samuel Panyin Yalley, High Commissioner of Ghana to India, read out a poem he wrote in memory of Masunda Kitada Oliver, the youngster who was beaten to death in Delhi.

“Someone must tell me…what did I do wrong?” he wrote.

This someone was not the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who tweets voluminously and did Tweet to greet people of Africa that day on Africa Day. But is that enough? 

Even the external affairs ministry told African envoys that “all criminal attacks should not be seen as racially motivated.” But this was contrary to what the envoys claimed. Anyone who tries to analyse the viciousness of the attacks will also conclude that these are no ordinary altercation but have the stamp of racial hate. 

Attacks on the African nationals have to be seen in the context of a the deep-seated Brahminical (in)sensibility in Indian society. 

We must visit out mythologies to understand that all villainous characters are painted black while the gods are fair. Goddess Kali, when on a murderous spree – the so-called raudra roop – is demonic in depiction. 

In most families, the fairer child is invariably the favourite and the kala is often made to feel like unwanted. There must be a reason for Fair and Lovely to be the most successful cosmetic product in India.

 Last year in October, the government brought the city to a grinding halt when hosted the Indo-Africa Summit. All gains of the Summit have been reversed by this inadequate response of the government. There have been retaliatory attacks on an Indian in Congo and the Indian community asked to keep their businesses closed. Travelling Indians in Africa will be insecure if the government does not become more proactive. 

There is no justification in brushing matters below the carpet and present the case of these attacks as just a law and order issue. Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj sent out a series of tweets reassuring African students of safety and swift action in the present case through a fast track court. 

But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Who will take the lead to advise the nation and its people that we must not discriminate among our guests because atithi devo bhava. I do not think the reaction of the government would have been so miserly if the attacks had been on citizens of western nations (but white-skinned). 

All claimed diplomatic gains by Modi in the past two years will come to a naught unless he is able to master soft skills in handling touch policy issues. A word or two in empathy or a public gesture will be worth more than a thousand events.

Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.

(Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay is a political commentator)

http://www.abplive.in/blog/attacks-on-african-nationals-show-india-has-a-racism-problem