My encounter with racism
09-10-2009

Madan Menon Thottasseri

Content- No governments in any nation can erase the wrong deeds of previous regimes and re-write history. Color- prejudice and biased attitudes were thrust into societies around the globe which cannot be weeded out one fine morning.

Present governments, what ever be the political dogmas they adhere to should take concerted actions and help people to overcome the mental disabilities carried over generations through- out the world. The inter-national community of intellectuals should continuously thrive for reconciling differences between various groups of people belonging to different races, ethnic cultures etc.

The so called main-stream population in big cities can be given counseling for accepting people from far off countries hailing from societies unknown to them. The world should unite for simultaneous passing of legislations in all countries to foster cosmopolitan societies. Racial discrimination in US and Europe got shelter under popular politics and many new leaders emerged out in disguise who capitalized conflicting situations for smuggling of arms and other illegal trade.

At the same time one cannot undermine the efforts taken by governments in US and Europe all these years to control racism .Otherwise even Obama would not have raised to the position of 44th President of US! In fact, while addressing 100th convention of NAACP, Obama being President of US should have talked in detail for the consolidation of global human power to combat racism without high-lighting his precarious views on it.

Racism still prevalent in US in the very primitive way is known to all in remote parts of the globe. At times it not as an out-of-the-way incident and there is phenomenal increase in racial unfairness against indigenous people, non-whites and fellow black Americans.

Still there are vested interests in the police force, judiciary and local governments in US who are against the softened and rationalized internationalism being tried as a true guardian of democracy and to wage war against terrorism around the world after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The contrast is that the aftermath of the same attack and the growing terror threats there after wards intensified the inadvertent feeling of racism amongst even high placed Americans and they started suspecting the US diplomacy as more detrimental to their nation.

Probably the challenge to President Obama will be to disintegrate these lobbies by simultaneous quash of terrorism and racism while taking the mantle for refurbished democracy in United States. President Obama would have served beer to Dr.Henry Louis Gates Jr., the Harvard the black professor and Sgt.James Crowley, the white Police Officer from Cambridge and quell furor over the unseemly racial row into which all the three had inadvertently plunged the nation for two weeks in July, 2009.

He has to over come the political cost incurred to his person and position and avoid drawing any more negative reviews while handling any future controversial issues. USA is unique being the biggest multi-racial and multi-cultural democracy in the world and naturally what is happening in US will get replicated in European countries, Australia and Canada which are predominantly prone to racism.

We all know how the British, Portuguese, Dutch and French established Colonies in the name of trade and then captured regime from traditional rulers in all continents and set bad precedent for invasion, crush of peoples’ rights, exploitation of poor and uneducated, divide and rule, cross boarder terrorism, sabotage and even world war.

Actually racism originated from the never ending covetousness to capture power and exhibit domination then. There is no much difference in racism whether it is in USA, Canada, Australia or Europe and will never incorporate ‘human-face’ even under any models as academically quoted by many, either inherited from British imperialism or American despotism.

US, Canada, Australia and European nations required skilled technicians, Scientists, I.T Professionals and other Technocrats to accelerate the pace of their economic growth and thus kept their racial attitudes at bay while opening the door for immigrants. When the immigrant professionals compete and gain economic status despite the adverse conditions in early stages of career, they are put to discriminatory treatments.

Even top Indian Scientists associated with the US or Canadian Nuclear Reactors and have protection under high security Protocol will not be spared by protagonists of racism. Racism is not uncommon even in Russia or China. Russians have no media support for human rights movements in their mission for justice.

Thus violent ethnic and racial crimes hardly capture news headlines in print media or visual media. After the collapse of iron curtain due to the disintegration of erstwhile Soviet union in 1991,Russia opened up to international ideologies and cosmopolitan culture. The unfortunate economic crumple triggered by Mikhail Gorbachev’s Perestroika and Glasnost brought the common people into a sense of cynicism.

The German neo-nazis infiltrated into Russia where certain white American supremacist groups even financed them. The depressed sections of society including educated unemployed young men were easily brainwashed and recruited for Neo-Nazi team which formed a big threat to the Russian government. In China there is wide criticism that the majority Han Chinese people are discriminating Uyghur Muslim community which pitted citizens to riots on racial lines at the Kashgar city.

Also the anti-Japanese sentiments still exist in china stemming from the war crimes of second Sino-Japanese war. It is not uncommon that even the highly educated and widely travelled professionals in China show undue respect to the people with white skin in corporate career, professions etc. even if they are less competent and discriminate others descended from colored or black race.

In Australia the racism is getting dimensions when it is combined with criminal attitude of local hooligans. The recent spate of racial attacks on Indian students in Australia may be mainly due to criminal opportunism supported by anti-social elements. The criticism against the failure of the Australian government to prevent the subverting of educational opportunities mainly vocational training by outsiders for permanent residency, dependence of educational institutions more on foreign students to off set the short fall in funding by the government, compromising the educational standards mainly for vacational training by accommodating foreign students with stumpy knowledge in English etc. are the external factors which supported the racial attacks against the immigrant student community.

Here in India, we have limited number of expatriates who are employed in exclusive skilled professions viz. Automobile Technologists, Aviation Pilots etc. May be after 15 or 20 years…what will be the quandary in the minds of common people in our big cities if they have to encounter more number of skilled expatriates in their daily practical life, engaged as taxi-drivers, bus conductors, auto drivers, plumber etc. who deny opportunities to them…. son -of –soils ?

International Forums should take initiative for eradicating racism in all forms by redefining the perceptions on “Human Rights” and “Nationalism” in a very broader sense. This will be mainly for citizens to know that “Human Rights” and “Nationalism” can go hand in hand without disturbing each other as long as people are educated enough not to disrespect other human race or cultures within or from outside the country.

Nationalism is not to be construed as a movement to repatriate any so called outsiders out of the country or confiscate their wealth, property or rights as happened in certain African nations. Nationalistic movements of many African countries lead to a novel racism wherein the black majority societies discriminate the white skinned and colored expatriates.

A nationalist political party have to focus for preservation of the country’s socio-cultural standings for which the country as a whole consisting citizens from all walks of life in different strata of society fall in line for showing support and respect to their motherland without giving an element of apprehension to ethnic minorities, people of other races who are contributing their might for the development of the nation.

The so called ethnic groups and minorities also have a responsibility to prudently get along with the mainstream population and integrate with them for any noble cause. Whether in US, Canada, Australia or UK, there is Politics which is responsible for the local citizens to have fanatical feelings of ‘threat’, ‘un-due competition’ or ‘jealousy’ while new entrants are equipped with specialized technical knowledge, excellent communication skills and enjoy high-profile status.

Can outsiders be given a normal life without giving some shock-treatments mainly to remind them that they are from far-off countries and have come only for better lifestyles, professional attainments and monetary gains? This is a question mainly asked in the minds of even restrained locals who are prone to chauvinistic preaching from any revolting source. Nationalism should not scare citizens by propagating the so called \'threat’ or ‘competition’ from immigrant people. Political outlook of a true nationalist party should give emphasis on “Human Rights” without any inhibitions and biased attitudes.

All citizens should be assured of their safety and security and guarantee protection from any sources which instigate racism and human rights violations. This will be possible only if an exclusive council with nominated members from the ethnic, minority and immigrant communities is formed in bottom level of Local Administration and Police Departments who can be contacted for any immediate assistance. Unfortunately in majority countries there are many so called Pro-Human Rights and nationalist movements which are positioning at opposite directions and either locking horns or keeping aloof from one another.

It is desirable that they join hand in hand and integrate peoples’ power, irrespective of race or nativity. Instead, many of them are centered on certain religion, region or racketeer–mafia groups propagating only local politics. Sometimes racism will appear in the form of deliberate provocations by redundant comments aimed to ridicule or belittle a person of different race or to look down up on his country of origin. Here is an example. During December, 1996 while myself,wife and children were at the historical museum in the basement of the 137 meter tall National Monument (MONAS) of Indonesia at Jakarta the capital city, I talked to a middle aged American journalist who has set out his country for a long travel to South-East Asia.


He was desperately trying for the confirmation of his return flight ticket to US either from Jakarta or Singapore at a time when there was big rush of air travel during the Christmas and New Year season. Knowing this myself and family have already programmed to leave for Chennai from Jakarta after a couple of days, with a week long stop-over at Singapore for holidaying. I advised him to seek out an alternative itinerary to U.S from Jakarta via Singapore - Chennai / Trivandrum/Cochin (First two are Capital Cities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala States respectively and Cochin is the port city in Kerala).

These cities in peninsular India are just three hours away by flight from Singapore. There will be a big rush for U.S and European destinations from South India also,and even if he has to wait 2-3 days for the connection flight from Chennai/Trivandrum/Cochin ( for onward flight to U.S.A via Dubai/London), it will be a blessing in disguise as he can plan for sight-seeing the archeological excellence of select beautiful temples of in Tamil Nadu, stay in a boat house in back waters of Kerala etc.

The person who was very formally collecting information and guidance from me turned silly and commended – “I would prefer not to visit your country where people die of starvation!” Probably he would have read on certain huger deaths in eastern India which appeared in the international print media then. Of course I was very much hurt but didn’t show any sign of torment and unperturbedly replied to him stating that there was some unfortunate isolated incident in a remote area.

Then I told him that there is no need for him to cite this as a predicament for not visiting India. I didn’t give him time even to blink and quietly reminded him that if he guides me to visit New York I will never ask him on number of people being killed everyday there by stray -bullets! He never expected a high- voltage response from me! He murmured “o.k.…..sorry…” and shook hands ….went on holding my hand for quite sometime as if I was more annoyed!

My wife who enjoyed the way I handled him couldn’t control and exclaimed… “Now we are sure that you will visit India soon for not just sight seeing but for sight learning our CULTURE as well!” He said \'Thank you… Thank you…\' in return to her comments. The U.S Journalist accompanied us in the lift to the fenced top floor of the fantastic marble obelisk to view the topped flame coated with kilos of gold and to enjoy the wild breeze while having the birds- eye view of Jakarta city and tiny islands in close vicinity.


He took our snapshots in his camera and rightly obliged us by taking family photos in our camera too. While leaving he told us that most probably he will be flying directly to U.S if ticket is available and will plan for an exclusive trip to India in next year after reading more on our culture and traditions. In fact with my still limited knowledge, I have helped him to know things on viewing the displays in museum on various matters relating to the rich cultural heritage of Indonesia, Hindu Kingdoms and temples, influence of Indian culture there, Portuguese and Dutch rules etc.

Further as he asked me, I have briefed him to rightly know on the suppression of human rights under the decades’ long dictatorial regime by President Suharto, then on-going Pro-democratic movement, ethnic- racial- separatist issues at certain islands and East Timor etc. I know that he wanted to formally thank me for all my briefings in the museum and also for enabling his clear understanding of issues prevailing then in Indonesia and South-East Asian region and praise my voracious reading and writing routine. He was silent for a short while and was rather hiding his face due to the guilty- feeling. He said only ‘Thanks… O.K’ but repeated four or five times!

Even now I enjoy glimpses of my encounter with racism from the unforgettable memory of MONAS. The beautiful photographs taken at MONAS remind me of the racist remarks in disguise against my country.Whenever any visitors to our house show keen interest to know about MONAS upon seeing our family album, my wife used to brief on the incident. Invariably each time our guest will praise me for the audacious handling of the sly US journalist!

The views expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily of expressindia.com
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