Racial Attacks on Indian Students : Public Platform !!!

Thank you! It's good to see someone talking sense. I'm a dark-skinned Indian and I've not faced any discrimination in Australia as compared to what I did in India...even the subtle forms of neighbours telling my parents that I should use fair and lovely and the like or strangers on the trains commenting on dark skin or being told by other nosey people to not go out in the sun. Aussies on the other hand, find our skin colour appealing. I will not say there is no racism at all...but it's not as bad as the media are making it out to be. And unfortunately, with what the media is doing, the few racists are only going to retaliate further because it will justify their views on Indians.
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Anandi says: June 09, 2009 at 06:09 AM IST

i really am of the opinion that all casteist indians must get a taste of their own medicine, how about unleashing some of these aussies in india? would india be ready to show off their true colours back home...i am sure these so-called racisits would be shell-shocked and surely change themselves ...for the better or worse would be for them to decide....!!
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Rame$h says: June 09, 2009 at 06:10 AM IST

The crux of the problem lies within India as quoted by the author. But its not Racism or casteism or any unforeseen problem quoted by the author. The ongoing cavalcade of disheartening incidents roots back to JUST one fact that people from India go to Oz or US or UK or any developed country in search of better opportunity or for better education. Have you ever heard people from India migrating to Somalia or Bangladesh? Are we failing to comprehend the present problem? It’s not just about any of those mentioned by author. It’s a direct translation of lack of opportunity. Why would Indians go to other nations when they have plethora of opportunity within India? Be it education or employment opportunity. Why would an Indian step out of the country when he finds opportunity within the country? Why would anyone work as a librarian or like few of them who feels ashamed to disclose the work they do abroad? Why should any Indian be treated inhumanely? Please do remember that countries like Oz & others need our students and brains to keep their country on an exponential growth scale. Viz-a-viz we are NOT dependent on them. Please create opportunities. Help retain the resources from being drained away to foreign soil. Help grow the nation.
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RC Sharma says: June 09, 2009 at 06:30 AM IST

Jug Suraiya is a hard core secularis. True to his color, he HAS to be anti Hindu at the drop of a hat.

He is known to be a hard core internationalists. Again true to his colors he must flrgellate Indians at the drop of a hat.

The problem is Australia is ATTACKS on Indians, he has forgotten. It is the boys and girls there who are the target. Their only crime is being INDIANS. They are not law breakers, they don;t riot, don't do terorist acts, do not denigrate and ibnsult local culture and religions. Staines did, and day in and day out, insult Hindus and Hinduism. But Jug Suraiya lost his sleep on his murder. Then he did not deal with the racial and religious persecution in Australia.

People like him should be compulsorily migrated to Australia abd left to face the heat.
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Matt says: June 09, 2009 at 06:46 AM IST

The Indians that were attacked today were actually attacked by people of Middle Eastern descent. We have a problem with multiculturalism at times, and the various groups getting along. Don't think its honky wonderland over here. The only times the whites rallied was when the life savers were bashed.
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RC Sharma says: June 09, 2009 at 06:56 AM IST

NorBlackNorWhite says:
June 08, 2009 at 12:21 PM IST

Well Said... so true..

Just assume if we had africans or dark skinned people in mainstream india, do u think we would let them live normally??

For record, there are thousands of African students in India. But none has been assulted, beaten or stabbed. They live as normally as they can in an alien culture.
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Savita says: June 09, 2009 at 07:11 AM IST

What does it mean ? People in any country have right to beat and assault us .
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anoop says: June 09, 2009 at 07:17 AM IST

I truly accept every word of this blog, as i go online to watch a video, i stumble upon a chat room which had members of north indian community abusing south indian people.. I certainly disagree of what is happening to indian students oz and definitely agree that actions need to be immediate... but also would like to bring to forefront as many have done here, that we need to clean up our homes also in this process since it has come to limelight the issue of racism. There are constant happenings in India and mostly to do with north Indians abusing south Indians because we dont speak national language and we are dark skinned. The sad thing is that we all forget once out of India we are recognised as Indians and not by our caste, community or region. Hence i request the media to converge into the issue rather than just constantly beating around the bush. I also have a hunch that whatever all of us say, media would just want to increase their viewers or readers and not to support the cause. I want to believe that i am proven wrong but the worry of it just being a dream is the issue.
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Savita says: June 09, 2009 at 07:36 AM IST

first of all I don't accept that India is a racist country .We have people from differet relegion and caste even then we are the largest democracy of the world .It's not a kid's game to maintain it .

Second there may be some incidents but we are growing well and learning from our expereinces .It's not India ,every country has its own history of recism and discrimnation.

But now time has changes no one can torture other in any country.OK

Second, It appears from this blog that we should not raise our voices and allow everyone to beat us and abuse us.If you see the condition of Indian students in Australia you will never write like that.

See it's evil of any society either it's Indian or anyother so we should fight against it.And not start debate like that as it is happening in a country so everyone has right to follow it anywhere.

That's shame !!!!!shame
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jiten says: June 09, 2009 at 08:01 AM IST

So jug ,
When a kid gets bullied in school or a women gets raped and comes back home you tell him you must have done something to deserve it or Better still you give examples of how you bullied kids in school and now its his turn to pay . I wish all those desis settled in australia who have questions about education and Etiquette of new students should not forget they also came here the same way why did they not go back after studies Every wants better life that is why Europeans moved to australia and US.what is wrong in Indians trying it now ?
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whatever says: June 09, 2009 at 08:48 AM IST

you are an idiot!
we all know indians are racist, but everybody has a right to live in india.
in this case, its a foreign country thats being racist ...that too with govt support...
so australia sucks!
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Rahul says: June 09, 2009 at 08:53 AM IST

Hello author,
I have lived both in India (North, South, East and North East) and abroad (Nigeria, Germany and now Singapore)and I have come to a conclusion that why Indians are not taken seriously..its is because of pseudo intellectual idiots like you. WHat you have described exists in every society..when I was in Bangalore I was descriminated against becaus ethey thought I was from teh North, in Shillong I was an outsider because they assumed I call think of them as "Chinki", in Nigeria I am a white man and in Singapore too occasionaly there are wibes I get coz I am Indian.Its a human mindset prevalent evereywhere but what is happening in Australia is a specific community is being targetted with extreme violence. The problem with people like you is you tend to take topics out of context and paint a totally n=ew irrelevant picture. The topic I believe , which needs to be given importance is how do we Indians work towards stopping these attacks not what are internal issues are....Internal racism is there everywhere be it Afrikans, sects in Japan or even Aussies when it comes to Aborigines...Take a look at the AUstralian media during and you will see they will pain the picture in a manner wherein these are simply random attacka and tell students not to be walking the stereets late..THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.....the issue is our countryment have been targetted in a planned manner and teh Gov of Australia should take responsibility..I agree Indians dont need to go to Australia to study..but no one has pointed out all the Australian Ubivs coming to India to get students ..its a mutually beneficial relationship...they earn money too...SO DEAR AUTHOR..KINDLY GET A SPINE AND FOR ONCE LOOK AT THIS IN CONTEXT
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Indian says: June 09, 2009 at 08:56 AM IST

First of all why heck are we there outside our own motherland, leave and come back and serve your own country. Our forefathers earned us freedom from them and our generation and back here in Aus/West/UK to help their economies grow etc...blah blah...
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Ram says: June 09, 2009 at 08:58 AM IST

Hi Jug, You have put this article very well. I agree to your views. I am extremely sorry for the happenings at Australia and hope the situation to get alright soon. We people must realize one thing that the threat is always present for any foreigner in foreign land. Today might be okay, but tommorow ... who knows. Most of us go abroad for studying/working and we are not generally invited by them atleast with a red carpet.. See the long queues at the US consolate offices.. You need to stand all the way.. The treatment they provide might be bad but still we want to make money at cost of our dignity. Many people have complained and whined asking people to come to Australia or UK or else where and see what is happening... If it is so painful, why still are you staying there ( Assuming you are not a citizen over there). You want to stay there to make money and prove your mettle in your own country by show-offs against your own countrymen.. People please grow up.. Before that, introspect yourself.. We all always seek the pride of working/studying abroad and pay in this way - loss of peace, anger vent outs, etc .. Looks like there is nothing for free... I m sorry if I sound harsh.
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Venkat says: June 09, 2009 at 09:03 AM IST

Never seen a more retarded article from Jug suraiya. In the craze to send ore eyeballs and improve TRP, this article is going overboard. Maybe Jug or his siblings needs to be sent to Australia and bashed up day in and day out for no apparent reasons and then called derogatory names in the name of race/color. It is one thing to call funny names on North-South divide(that is universal and not only in India), but it entirely another thing to stab someone with a screwdriver and send him to a coma without a trace of remorese or fear of consequences.
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VentiVish says: June 09, 2009 at 09:05 AM IST

I agree with your comments about racism in India, my ghanian friend who visited India last year was ridiculed, pinched, her hair pulled during our visit to Agra and Delhi. A friend's relative wiped his hand after shaking her hand in greeting.
Bringing this in context to the current attacks in Australia, I am indeed outraged. I have lived in London and Canada and have not been a victim of racism but I am aware of its existence.May I also point out thatwhite boys in Slough, London get beaten up by Indian gangsters and vice versa. This does occur and I am vehmently opposed to such behaviour. All I can say is that there is a need for change not only in our way of thinking against other races but also to stand up to the world with our heads up saying we are prepared to change we will not discriminate against and we will not tolerate being discriminated against.
However, I need to point out that Indians abroad do not try to fit in like the other cultures do including Germans, Austrians or the French. It works both ways we need to fight back against this discrimination and as Jug points out we do have an internal problem and unless we solve that we are not going to solve the bigger problem of racism directed towards us.
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k singh says: June 09, 2009 at 09:08 AM IST

I agree with what Jug is pointing out.Racism is bad , but its being practiced almost everyday in India, we are fascinated with fair skins , ( just see adv proclaimg goodness of fair skins ) . We have traditionally been a hyprocrite race , deeply casteist society. First lets put our house in order than preach world. To me Casteism is a greater crime than aything else.
Apart from jingoism , we are a divided community , Punjabis , Maharshtrians, Bengalis. tamil etc but never a Indian.
But all is not lost there is hope and new generations does not think much about and they are our only hope for a better united India.
What happens is Australia is bad and should be condemend but we should also put what we preach in practice in India
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Sangboi says: June 09, 2009 at 09:08 AM IST

For everything, there's a pros and cons. As the saying goes, "look before you leap", let's see first how we treated our own fellow citizens especially people hailing from the North-Eastern states like Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram who came to study, earn their daily bread by working in a small firm here at metro cities like Delhi,Pune, Bangalore,Calcutta and etc, how we treat them? Unknowingly we call them Nepali or Chini or Kanchi. We never thought how much would it hurt to put racist mark on someone. We are the selfish and racists than any others. We really deserved what we got in other countries. When we can not love our fellow citizens with all our heart or when we can not respect our unity in diversity within our country, we are bound to be call racists and feel the heat of others. We dont' even know how to respect a small group of communities from the North Eastern states who came here, but our voices was so loud when we are hurt in other countries. Unless we treat our citizens equal, we will feel the same heat wherever we are. Learn to Respect the dignity of others and we will reap the sweet.
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paku11 says: June 09, 2009 at 09:08 AM IST

Though I condemn the attacks on Indians, the questions that needs to be asked is why this issue is so prominent now? its not the case that there were no indians living in Aus before. I think that in recent times, the indian population has exploded with Aus education promoting the huge industry to India, giving licenses to ave uni/colleges to admit students from overseas. Combine that with lack of opportunities for Indians in India with both education and late job opportunities, it prompts lot of students to look at other avenues, foriegn unis with potential to stay back when courses are completed as one of the most viable option.
Consider this situation from the students's point of view: an ave family who has high hopes of their child to provide the family when he starts earning, goes out of their way to secure money either through savings, selling assests or through loans. All the while, knowing that somehow it will need to be rebuilt/repayed. then combine that with the extremely high fees that the students have to pay once in overseas uni. bear in mind everyone, right from the agent to the uni are here to make the money. The agents in India show all the rosy pictures to the potential student, not only abt the country but also abt the potential opportunities inspite of the restrictions on work hours. Thinking from the students point of view all they want once here is to look for those opportunities had donot worry abt what course they are doing.
I'm certain that 80-90% of them wont do the type of work they do in Aus in their home country.
I can vouch for that myself. but as long as they can convert the dollars into Rs, who cares and there is no social implications here as there would if they are in Ind.
on top of that they tend to hang on to their lifestyle they are used to in India, forgetting that it might not be suitable in foriegn country. But who can blame them to hang on to their identity.all in all,I think the current issue is the comnination of all.
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sirish says: June 09, 2009 at 09:13 AM IST

Jug,
Mate I am an Indian living in Australia for the last 8 years. I come from a defence background and lived in a protected cantonment kind of living for the first 15 years of my life. When I stepped out of that world to go to college, I realised the big divide between the north and the south. Most north indians dont even know how many states are part of south india. They behave like its a whole different country and vice versa.
Our bolywood movies project south indians and punjabi's in general as idiots.
Its these people who call others racists that annoys me.Such big hypocrites!
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Sanjay says: June 09, 2009 at 09:46 AM IST

It is indeed true that we Indians are equally racist and hiararchical in our genetic built-up. That is mainly because what we see India now, is mixture of various races, the Indo-Iranians, Mongoloids and Negritos. So race feeling is a natural instinct to us. All our myths have taught us to be racists, like Gods and Goddesses are fair, and Asuras are dark. Our Goddess of knowledge and wisdom Saraswati is white. Forget about an African student in Delhi campus, think about students who belong to our own country, those who are coming from North-East to Delhi for education.
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Sidd says: June 09, 2009 at 09:47 AM IST

I think a lot of members who have posted comments on the aforementioned article have not completely understood what the writer has tried to imply.. Here is what I think
Yes.. there have been various counts of racism in Australia.. Innocent students have been injured.. and nothing can justify the atrocious violence towards any human being leave aside Indians..

But the fact remains.. Australia is not a racist nation! The Indian media has tried to portray it as one... but no media has the right to do so... There may be racist elements there but it's moronic to type caste the whole nation as racist..

But Jug is right when he says that Indians are more racist than Australians can ever be.. and yes.. India is a nation with a lot of racists and we are more racist than any nation in the world..

I'm a North East Indian in New Zealand.. and I have heard of soo many counts of racism faced by the people from the north east especially in new delhi. Most of the people from the north East are treated as third grade citizens to an extend where N.E's find it appalling to even be called Indians.. for all the right reasons...

And no, the level of education doesn't change anything.. the most literate of people and the ost well endowed have been prejudices against the North Easterners.

This is the reason why I left India to pursue studies and interact with other cultures in New Zealand (I think the 2 Oceania nations are the best example of multiculturalism in the world with both nations having relatively new ancestry with a common mix of various ethnicities such as the Europeans the Asians and the Indians...

Whereas in India, a nation whcih lives with the slogan Unity in diversity, I don't find any sort of unity at all... there is so much prejudice everywhere, everytime and everyplace.. for a north eastern in New Delhi, for a north Indian in west India(mumbai) for a south Indian in North India... and the prejudice don't end.. its against women, against other religions
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Rahul says: June 09, 2009 at 09:50 AM IST

Not a single line of this article can be called misinterpreted by the writer but I am not sure in what way it helps at times like this. The other day it was the 11th attack. Its no different to the situation when indian students from institutes of national importance take to streets to protest against reservation and they are told by our parliamentarians that its necessary to compensate the downtrodden at the cost of other brighter kid's future becoz ur ancestors did this .. so who else would pay if not you ...

... a profound article with a bad timing.
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Gourav Khaneja says: June 09, 2009 at 09:55 AM IST

I completely agree that racism is a problem in India and we should try to deal with it.

But you can not use one's mistake to justify other's.
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cosmo oz says: June 09, 2009 at 09:56 AM IST

I'm an australian who has spent five years overseas including 5 months in india & nepal. My time there was very enjoyable, and i found the indian people on the main very friendly and accommodating. But i did see on a almost daily occurrence, discrimination on the basis of caste. Whilst no doubt some of the violence against indians in australian are based in racism, the majority of australians are very happy to have indians living here. They generally are polite and law abiding and respected as such. The majority of violence seems more opportunistic and is generally carried out by the lower socio-economic groups which naturally include refugee groups from the middle east and africa. Hence the assault on two men of 'middle-eastern appearance' by a group of some 200 indian nationals in sydney.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/09/2592953.htm

This shows more than a passing resemblance to the infamous cronulla riots where the targets of anger were members of the lebanese community. The riots came from community frustration with the lawlessness of many lebanese youth, and the perceived lack of police intervention.
Tribalism, rather than racism, along with the need to force attention onto the problem of a lack of security, where the triggers for both gatherings.
Please don't think most australians are racist, we have allowed many different groups into this country and the process of integration is a slow one. One of the negative side effects is higher crime and a society composed of different groups who will take a generation to overcome any differences and old baggage.
Hopefully the indian protests will result in the police and politicians here admitting we have a spiraling of violent crime and enforce tougher policing of crime and make the community safer for everyone.
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Karthik S S says: June 09, 2009 at 10:10 AM IST

This view is totally unacceptable. Probably the author is mistaking casteism with racist approach. This kind of discriminatory approach is present in every aspect of life and even between siblings, some are given more love and some less. When we talk of racism, we are speaking of someone who is taking the peaceful co-existence environment of other person.
Our internal casteism attitude accept these racist approaches.
I condone these australian-indians who have rallied behind the students and supported them in fight against such racist attitudes. They have in fact wished away these problems.
These are the people who are to be disgraced in articles after articles who have remained silent spectators and have not taken any measures to support the indian student community.
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Sriram Raghu says: June 09, 2009 at 10:21 AM IST

I agree with the blogger...i have heard an anecdote where a West Indian Cricketer was practicing in Chepauk Chennai when a voice in the crowd started shouting in Tamil ...karuppan..karuppan(blackie)
The cricketer is supposed to have quipped " What do you think you are white?"
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Karthick says: June 09, 2009 at 10:23 AM IST

While, I respect Jug for his columns elsewhere, I feel a bit uneasy to read this at this time. We all know what he said is true. But, there is some thing called timing.

A central minister questions some thing immediately after the mumbai blasts and pakistan takes note of that and says Indians only may have have been involved in Mumbai blasts.

And this blog is quoted to say that Indians are racists ( quoting indians) -- ref:
http://www.linkedin.com/answers/international/offshoring-outsourcing/INT_OFO/490971-47143631?browseIdx=31&sik=1244521861173&goback=%2Eahp%2Eabq_4_1244521861173_d_o_*2

it is a sort of style for many to criticize ourselves to get popularity. Apart from writing columns, are we doing anything to eradicate castism? We are the only country in the world that fights for a 'backward caste' tag so that we can get reservations in education and jobs. The same people benefitted will not consider themselves as creamy layer and surrender reservations.

Why dont you fight for merit based reservations, Mr Jug?

Kar
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arunesh kumar says: June 09, 2009 at 10:26 AM IST

INDIANS GETTING TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICENE,
Nothings wrong with indians moving out to seek better life,but whats wrong with biharis going to punjab,maharastra,aassam or rather anywhere,he is always seen as one who is stealing their jobs.
dravidians are clubbed as madrasis,north-eastern people living in delhi are just the same chinkis, immigrants to delhi are not welcome, coz they strain the economy,even though half the economy of delhi is propelled by immigrants,so that landlords and their extended family can just sit and eat,sitution is none better in any part of india,recently a group of non gujraati doctors joining as PG doctors in gujrat were beaten up by their gujraati counterparts,I have done my graduation from cosmopolitan city bangalore,till i reached there i had never thought of myself as north indian,just indian,but there i came to know i was not indian ,i was north indian,though those kannadigas have been fighting a never ending kaveri war with fellow southindians.
people with fair skin and self proclaimed best breeds of india,does menial jobs at restaurants & petrol pumps in america & canada,still thinks they are the best breeds,though most of the Nobels in india belongs to either bengaalis or tamils,none to the fairer skinned northindians.
my dear fellow indians charity begins at home,change your outlook towards other people & you will see this world accepting you with a little more warmth.
an eye for an eye will make this world blind.
-Mahatama Gandhi
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Ramesh says: June 09, 2009 at 10:28 AM IST

While, I respect Jug for his columns elsewhere, I feel a bit uneasy to read this at this time. We all know what he said is true. But, there is some thing called timing.

A central minister questions some thing immediately after the mumbai blasts and pakistan takes note of that and says Indians only may have have been involved in Mumbai blasts.

And this blog is quoted to say that Indians are racists ( quoting indians) -- ref:
http://www.linkedin.com/answers/international/offshoring-outsourcing/INT_OFO/490971-47143631?browseIdx=31&sik=1244521861173&goback=%2Eahp%2Eabq_4_1244521861173_d_o_*2

it is a sort of style for many to criticize ourselves to get popularity. Apart from writing columns, are we doing anything to eradicate castism? We are the only country in the world that fights for a 'backward caste' tag so that we can get reservations in education and jobs. The same people benefitted will not consider themselves as creamy layer and surrender reservations.

Why dont you fight for merit based reservations, Mr Jug?

You are a great columninst and I look forward for something that may bring some change in politicians, not the common people. If you can change one politician, you can chage 1 million common men who are whipped with passion by these politicians.

Ramesh
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INDIAN says: June 09, 2009 at 10:35 AM IST

CONGADUATIONS JUG ! ALAS THERE IS SOME ONE TO SHAKE THE EDUCATED AND AVERAGE INDIAN'S CONSCIENCE . YOU HAVE JOLTED HIM FROM HIS FALSE BLISS THAT INDIANS ARE SAINTS.INDIA'S LAIDBACK AND LETHARGIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS GROSS RACISM WITH IN INDIA IS BECAUSE THE CUNNING CAUCASIANS AND ARYANS HAD CLEVERLY WEAVED THE RACISM IN TO OUR SOCIAL FABRIC THROUGH CASTEISM AND MADE THE SOCIETY NUMB WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS PRESCRIPTIONS.YOU ONLY NEED TO PEEP IN TO ALL OUR MYTHOLOGIES, AND SCRIPTURES. ALL HEROES,HEROINS, WINNERS, ACHIEVERS AND POSITIVE ARE SHOWN AS WHITE AND ALL VILLAINS ,WITCHES,LOOSERS, AND NEGATIVE ARE SHOWN AS BLACK.
PLEASE WATCH "CHOTA BHEEM" SERIAL IF YOU WANT A PROOF HOW THIS ATTITUDE IS PERPETUATING. THE NAME OF THE NEGATIVE CHARACTER ITSELF IS "KAALIA".
JUST GO THROUGH THE MATRIMONIAL COLUMNS EVERY BODY WANTS ONLY FAIR SKINNED BRIDES. ALL DARK GIRLS HAVE TO SWALLOW THE BITTER PILL AND BE SILENT.
THE ART OF RACISM IS SO WELL PERFECTED IN OUR COUNTRY THAT EVEN OUR OWN DARK SKINNED INDIANS LOOK DOWN UPON NEGROES WHO HAVE TEMPORARILY COME TO OUR CITIES. THEY ARE SHUNNED AND THEIR COMPANY AVOIDED.
MY DUE SYMPATHIES TO THE VICTIMS IN AUSTRALIA
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Naveed Khan says: June 09, 2009 at 10:39 AM IST

Indian's should not be complaining about Aussies. Indians not are racist by color they discriminate by religion, region, language. I have yet to come across an Indian who has spoken well of Indians from Bihar or from Punjab. I always wonder why? Most Indians think Bihari's are uncouth, uncivilized and criminal minded people. They way Indians categorize other Indians it puts the worst of Racism to shame.
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Rame$h says: June 09, 2009 at 10:41 AM IST

The crux of the problem lies within India as quoted by the author. But its not Racism or casteism or any unforeseen problem quoted by the author. The ongoing cavalcade of disheartening incidents roots back to JUST one fact that people from India go to Oz or US or UK or any developed country in search of better opportunity or for better education. Have you ever heard people from India migrating to Somalia or Bangladesh? Are we failing to comprehend the present problem? It’s not just about any of those mentioned by author. It’s a direct translation of lack of opportunity. Why would Indians go to other nations when they have plethora of opportunity within India? Be it education or employment opportunity. Why would an Indian step out of the country when he finds opportunity within the country? Why would anyone work as a librarian or like few of them who feels ashamed to disclose the work they do abroad? Why should any Indian be treated inhumanely? Please do remember that countries like Oz & others need our students and brains to keep their country on an exponential growth scale. Viz-a-viz we are NOT dependent on them. Please create opportunities. Help retain the resources from being drained away to foreign soil. Help grow the nation.
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sandeep says: June 09, 2009 at 10:41 AM IST

Mr. Indian says 'Atleast we don't beat/harass foreigners just because they are from a specific country.'. Quite right - becoz we dont have the brains to understand where they are from but that doesnt prevent us from robbing, teasing or molesting them.
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kay says: June 09, 2009 at 10:51 AM IST

Instead of condemning the racist attacks, the author is busy scoring points talking ills about Indians. We never had incidents of violence in the country where a person was beaten up because he was black. There maybe people who would prefer fair skin, but that does not make a person racist.

Racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Hitler was racist when he persecuted Jews. When British ruled India, they had board in cinema houses - "Indians and Dogs are not allowed inside" - That was racism. When people are stereotyped as "Chinky", "Madrasis", I am sure it is friendly banter than intention to harm.

When MNS started movement to get rid of North Indians from Mumbai that was racist. I totally agree discrimination based on caste system is racism.

In Australia for last one month every day an Indian is being attacked with rods, knifes etc. Local thugs are asking the students to go back to India. More than racism this is case of Xenophobia "hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers". Its not time for introspecting our culture, but to openly condemn such acts.
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skb says: June 09, 2009 at 11:08 AM IST

I think the biggest racist in india is Raj thackrey.An indian is not considered an indian, in a different indian state other than his own! ......australia is too far.
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pramod says: June 09, 2009 at 11:20 AM IST

Great observations and well written - agree!! I read your story "Badger" in senior high in Kolkata about 15 years ago - it remains on my fav short stories.
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Ashish says: June 09, 2009 at 11:20 AM IST

well yes... we are religiously racist! but most of these lead to biases and not attacks.. most i said.. before you jump on it with examples :)
this particular aussie thing is a little too much.. and am also not sure if its entirely their doing..
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Shantanu says: June 09, 2009 at 11:39 AM IST

The article by Jug is somwhat off the point about what is happening in Oz. Jug's article incorrectly implies that it is all this hue and cry is about Indians not being able to withstand insults and they are quick to claim these are racial slurs (and further, that this is hypocritical since we ourselves use racial/regional slurs on each other). But my dear Jug, this is not at all about just racial slurs, this is about Indians getting actually beaten up and in some cases knifed. So, once again, this is not about Indians being mentall hit, it is about Indian bodies being physically hit. Further, we do not do these kind of things to others or to each other do we? So neither is there any hypocrisy about the hue and cry being raised about this actual physical violence. Do you now get it Jug?

I do agree w/ you, however, on the general concept that it would be a good idea for us Indians to put up a mirror to ourselves and do some introspection, and thereby improve ourselves. We, I think, are probably the most chalta-hai people in the world, like taking short cuts in almost everything, very very bania (i.e, money minded), shallow, and with very little emphasis on accomplishing good and great things in any field (just look at Bollywood nowadays, all the copying of Hollywood movies they do, and in general the shollow, silly garbage they turn out 99% of the time).
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Bhaskaran Subramanian says: June 09, 2009 at 11:39 AM IST

I would like to narate an incident while I was in Kolkatta. This was during thye summer of 2003. My company had intrusted the task of opening up a office in Kolkatta. Me & my partner from the sales department landed up in Kolkatta, no place to stay we choose a hotel near park street.
During the day both of us would roam around the city looking for possible accomodation & meet lot of people. While we were on our campaign trail on one hot afternoon, We decided to stand in front of a house the broker was showing us. I was facing my friend & suddenly I saw him shouting & he pulled me towards him. Little did I realise that there a santro driven by a KID just brushed my back. Now this hapenned in front of cops as well who were standing at the end of the road (Waiting to pick up a biker who could give them 100 rupees).
The driver got down & started apologising saying his mistake he was turning at such high speed he couldn't control his vehicle. I was shocked as I just escaped a near death experience.
Meanwhile the driver's elder sister, who lives next door came running & was curious to know what happened. The cops also joined hands to enquire what had just happened ?
I was still adamant on filing an FIR for rash driving. The driver's sister did a turn around & started shouting at us saying that we were standing in the middle of the round & his borther was driving normally. My jaws just dropped at the sudden change of events. There we were two strangers in the middle of nowhere. I complained to the cops but they didn't notice at all & instead told me & my partner to walk away as nothing has happened. They also told us that it will be in our interest only if we do not complain about the incident.

The moral of the story is we indians need to do a self introspection before we label any country of "Racism".
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sujit jadhav patil says: June 09, 2009 at 11:54 AM IST

Well whatever Raj is doing is proper.The media has just over hyped it.If the offices who are in the upper posts are doing cheating and just keep on recruiting the people form out side the maharashtra even though there are thousands of marathi people who are much much better than those people.Raj is fighting with those fool officers. Yes any citizen of india can work anywhere in country but it should not be like this....should understand this.A job or admission has to be given to a person on his high educational abilities and not on any cast or religion.THERE HAS TO RESERVATIONS ONLY ON THE BASIS OF WEALTH.POOR PEOPLE SHOULD GET RESERVATION.
Why we are not able to give people proper education in our own beautiful country?We have the ability then why so many people are going abroad?
Lets all stand up and serve our county to make it strongest nation in the world!
YES I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE ATTACKS ON MY INDIAN BROTHERS IN AUSTRALIA.... ITS JUST SHAME....
I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THE AUTHOR.... :P
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Charu Khopkar says: June 09, 2009 at 11:55 AM IST

I agree with the author entirely. He is not - contrary to the opinions of some bloggers here - justifying or rationalising the attacks on Indian students here in Australia. He is simply telling all of us very bluntly - Indians, NRIs and anyone else with Indian heritage - not to get on a moral high horse.

When I was in India (I live in Australia now), I remember being very annoyed at the fawning service provided to light skinned overseas visitors and the disgusting comments made about the black tourists. I remember the attacks on South Indians in Bombay in the 60s and 70s - even though many spoke fluent Marathi.

The Thackerays and their abhorrent idealogy and their violence is a manifestatation of our own prejudices and insecurities. Only when we see ourselves as Indians first and respect our fellow citizens for the "content of their character and not the colour of their skin" do we have any hope of redeeming ourselves.
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satish dhulipala says: June 09, 2009 at 11:56 AM IST

Naah. This guy is sidetracking the issue. Come any other day and talk about your racism in India. The moot point is the racial attacks predominately on Indians across the globe.
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yatindra says: June 09, 2009 at 11:59 AM IST

Indians Practice what you preach ,especaily media , Look into your own backyard first why are you not making noise and asking your MLA's to do something. India is the most racist country in the world . Iam from Fiji and Fiji indians have been living in Australia for past 30 years without any problems . Please indians from india leave your excess bagage about Caste,black,white etc when you come to australia , Have a reality check first how are you and indians aretreated in india . Look at TV ,Cinema , Have you seen Black skinned indians there eventhough almost 80 percent of population is dark skinned .
Wake up guys , Lets be equal as god made us
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Guptan Veemboor says: June 09, 2009 at 12:06 PM IST

As Mr.Parvinder Sing has pointed out we are practicing racism of sort in our own states when some parochial regional outfits obstructs people from other states. When we call Australia racist it is just like kettle calling pot black. Set ones own house before blaming others.
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munish says: June 09, 2009 at 12:23 PM IST

I don't think that an indian who has got some sentiments for own countrymen can speak like this.

First we are indian and we have to take care of our friends who are staying outside the country then we can take care of our internal matters.

I believe this kind of statement can be made by any one who is living in frustration
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Samuel Johnson says: June 09, 2009 at 12:33 PM IST

You people should not forget that almost all Indians go "ga ga" over white skinned foreigners even though they are back packers and good for nothing fellows in their own countries and treat your fellow Indians with disrespect in almost all Indian airports and their environs.
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Preethi says: June 09, 2009 at 12:37 PM IST

The life of a dark skinned South Indian student in Delhi campus is itself difficult, leave alone an African. Sometimes Indian students are treated better in foreign countries than other states in India. Apart from skin complexion, though we are outside India, caste rules. The Vienna incident among the Sikhs proves it. I completely agree with Mr.Naveed Khan that we Indians are racists showing discrimination based on language, caste, region and religion. Ofcourse, Mr.Raj Thackeray would be the greatest racist!
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Savita says: June 09, 2009 at 12:57 PM IST

Mr. Jug Suraiya ,if you are really a writer please try to understand the problem.Racism is a social evil and not good for any society either it's India or Australia.

So please don't say like that as it seems from you statement/blog that a comptetion on racism is going to start .And you are giving points who is going to win and who is going to lose.

We all are human beings and every country has it's own history eiether it's bad or good.And they are learning lessons from their exprience and trying to improve .You should not forget that Australia's Prime minister also said sorry to indigenous australians.

So please STOP DEBAT OR COMPETITION

AND FIGHT AGIANST RACISM
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SANJAY SHARMA says: June 09, 2009 at 01:01 PM IST

I agree totally with many of the writers here,it's like diff people faces diff experinces in life and their views depend on that,so we cannot say he or she is right or wrong.
Even our politicians are hassistant to place complaint in front of the aussies,because they know that they will bring all the racials fact in front of them,like scarlet rape case,russian girls diseperance from goa and many more,where no one has been punished till date for political compulsion.even indians cannot go and can settles in any part of india freely,they will call u imigrant/outsiders and many other names.You cannot buy land in many indian states, because politicans will losse votes of the locals.Is this not discrimination in there own wright?why do people want to go abroad to study? study here in india itself!no because going abroad is cheaper and you like comfort of well organised country and in india you cannnot,over here most of the universities r run by politicians and they r not allowing them admissions without heavy donations,and 99% of the student going abroad want to settle there only.so dont blame aussies or that matter to any country,first straitened your act togeather.
Indian goverment is getting back what it has given all this years.
If you want no one should come to your country/state then
why would they allow you into their country.
even votes r caste in this country based on colour white.so dont worry this will happen even more.
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Omprakash says: June 09, 2009 at 01:01 PM IST

I agree 100% with the author.South indians are treated like dirt above the vindhyas and are in general referred to as "Madrasis".Offcourse whats happening in Australia is not acceptable, but what goes around ....comes around.

Let us first, set an example at home and eradicate racicsm in all forms... then make noise outside.
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Srihari says: June 09, 2009 at 01:02 PM IST

Well written... My kudos goes to you... We are all hypocrites. Remember the saying "POT Calling the Kettle Black".. At this time, it would help if the people making all the wrong noises would introspect themselves first.
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Krish says: June 09, 2009 at 01:17 PM IST

We Indians have been discriminatory for ages now. The illiteracy levels, intolerance to criticism, different interpretations of holy scripts, all have added to a society where living unitedly is unthinkable in much of India. Having said that, what is happening in Australia is a form of organized crime with tacit encouragement from the police. After all, Australian government and university representatives came to India, publicised the merits of their education system and invited the Indian students to join their universities paying hefty fees. They always have the right to send the students back to India on completion of the education. There is no need for the racially motivated attacks. We read this remark from a stupid Aussie that the Indians speak in their native language and not English. Would the Aussies speak Japanese if they are in Japan or Korean if they are in South Korea? In India, at least officially, the government is doing everything it can with incentives and laws to see that the lower castes are protected and uplifted. Foreign students seem to be going to Australia and paying to get bashed up. If only our education system was quality conscious, our students need not have gone anywhere. Sadly, apart from a handfull of good institutions, rest of the country has only private colleges charging hefty fees and teaching trash.
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Santhosh says: June 09, 2009 at 01:18 PM IST

Well ..at this time Debating is adding no value...except to take out Fustration at each other not Involved in these kind of attacks directly or indirectly .... we should be along side of those affected be it in a Indan Abroad or any human from any race cast creed or community ... and hoep that as tiem passes all are equal in planet Earth ...
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Shamik says: June 09, 2009 at 01:19 PM IST

Hi Jug,
Your story is nice for reading. First you go to Australia and face the heat. I am confident then you will not be able lecture like this. This is not the proper time and situation to criticise Indians, but to do something for the Aus living Indians.
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Abhilash says: June 09, 2009 at 01:21 PM IST

Well said and true. Our social integration involving people of different colours is pathetically weak. Arguments may be raised that our cutlure has been historically reclusive but that hardly qualitates our blatant racism towards blacks. As the author has pointed out, our treatment of blacks is equally abominable. Ask any black student about their treatment in colleges and you will get a list of grievances that would force a broad-minded individual to look in the mirror and wonder in what way we are different. Australia, like any other white nation, has its unforgivable history of discrimation but at least they are trying to repair part of that damage. They are providing opportunities for better study, employment and lifestyle and the simple request of asking us to follow their principles, at least in terms of social conduct, is quite understandable. We'd do the same if we attracted foreigners to our country.

But we Indians have a penchant for certain kinds of behaviour that isn't permissible beyond our society. Moving in huge groups, talking in native tongue loudly, dare I say spitting and defeacating in public, all these stupefying behaviours can only lead to one outcome: reprisals. And that's what's happening at the moment.

I, for one, believe it's not a simple case of colour discrimation in Australia. Sure there will be sporadic violence in such societies against darker coloured people because they have always assumed themselves to be socially superior. But we've never had such motivation or belief and yet we consider someone darker than us to be inferior. Quite unforgivable and shameful.
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Amitabh Saxena says: June 09, 2009 at 01:26 PM IST

I totally disagree when you equate calling names like chinky, mallu, Panju, gujju etc. with what is happenning in Australia. For your information, calling names exists everywhere. Ask a Danish person about Swedish guy, ask Englishmen about French or even Scottish. They show similar behaviour. You cannot justify beating and stabbing of Indians in Australia because they themselves have these names for fellow Indians and by this, trying to prove that Indians are more racist!
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manoj says: June 09, 2009 at 01:30 PM IST

Hi All,Apprecite your ideas of self assessmnets before we put fingers on others,but my dear jug,i dont understand why we indians intellectuals like you cant understand one thing that this is international matter we should be one,as we are taught fight among yourself but dont let the outsider to beat you,please stop this garbage of self assessments this is required when bihari students are been attacked in mumbai,or you write regularly about brotherhood in india,not for exteranl affairs,for me anything goes wron for an indian outside the country we should all condemn it to the core,no doubt what so ever he is after all he is indain,three cheers for all who raisedf their voice agaist the attacks on indians,& down to all who mixes up the internal & external issues.
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Shyam R Nair says: June 09, 2009 at 01:33 PM IST

I totally agree with this blog. We as Indians are excellent in being racist within India. I remember growing up in New Delhi in early 80s and being from south and dark skinned I was always at the receiving end of rascist comments. Kala Kaloota ....Madrasi..etc was most commonly used. This is precisely the reason why I hate staying anywhere in the North. Experiences like mine are not easy to erase. Even the media in India is to blame for a very large part they play. I mean ads like Fair&Lovely should be outrightly banned. Its is demeaning an individual just beacuse he/she is dark. How ridiculus is that? We as people have not yet moved on from the ideas that british empire left behind. We still like to see ourselves as mumbaiyites, mallu, kannadiga, bihari etc and not as Indians. Having said that I have seen how we as Indians behave outside of India. When we are alone we are all quite and timid, get a few of us together and we create havoc. Talking loud, running around etc. We simply do not respect other cultures and values. I am not saying that these attacks were all provoked by us Indians but can we say that we didnt provoke any one of them????? I agree with the qriter here that we do not like this issue because its a reflection of what we do to our own people within India.
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Flavian Hardcastle says: June 09, 2009 at 01:34 PM IST

Of course India is more racist than Australia. But it's so easy to use a small and unimportant country like Australia as a whipping boy for your own inadequacies.
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S. Kishore Kumar says: June 09, 2009 at 01:40 PM IST

The problem in Australia is not "racism". It is "racially motivated assault". Racism usually stops with discrimination and stops short of assault.

So, only when the Gujjus start sticking knives into teh Bongs - only then we are in an Australia-like situation.
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Narendra says: June 09, 2009 at 01:51 PM IST

Mr.Suraiya your words seem to be from some other planet.If a racist is quick to react to racism then our Constitution is also quick to react to theft,corruption,rape,burgulary,murder-are we all this too?
Your "airconditioned" comments on the happenings in Australia and focussing on the "Indians-bloody caste/sect divided Indians" seem to come out from some "Gora Babus" diary from the period of "british raj".It took so many years for US of A to get a 'black' president and the elimination of Martin Luther King, how many Dalits have "we" indians eliminated? With India being such a 'young' democracy our progress in social sectors is one of the best in the world-if you don't believe me then go to Australia and read this blog of yours after some "non racial" event happens to you or your relatives/friends.
Sure we have glaring social caste regional inequalities but isn't it our collective responsiblility to do something on this? With you being such a renouned personality what have you done in sorting out the "mess" on which you have written so easily about? What have people like you and me done for our office boys,maids,servants or the comman beggar on the streets? Just written and spoken to be content that "at least I think,so I am the best"!? If it so much "penetrates" your ideas to see India divided in caste,sect,colour divisions then why don't you do something on this,is your being a "writer" take away your ability to do to give something back to your country? or are you just writing because you want to make that morning tea more tasteful to the millions who read newspapers just before going to toilet to get fresh?!!
As a writer one must highlight all one feels about but surely this is a question of saying a big NO which is just as important when Mahatma Gandhi said "NO" to the Gora regime.If we take it then we better be ruled by anyone except our Constitionaly elected governments.
If our blood dosent boil on all this then are we worth existing?
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niks says: June 09, 2009 at 01:57 PM IST

First of all, the term racism, tends from the differnt kinds of races in the planet, like Indian, American, Austrailian.. etc... why are you bringing in the caste system into this? that is entirely a different problem which has deep roots into our community... which, if the goverment had any interest in abolishing, could have taken steps long back. Youe line "No wonder we can't stand racism"
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ABC Lawyer says: June 09, 2009 at 01:57 PM IST

Indians are hypocrites anyway - and that is an accepted fact!!
Look at the advertisemnts nowadays that keep trying to promote SO CALLED 'fairness' creams!! Its hilarious!! LOL....I mean - Grow up people!!! There r surely many many larger issues to life than these superficial ones!!! How shallow can one get?!!
Besides, if we look at the amount of eve-teasing and rapes that foreigner ladies face in India, they could pretty well start condemning us in a similar manner!!
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Rakesh Choudhary says: June 09, 2009 at 03:15 PM IST

No I don’t feel like you, but It is quite true about india, just classification is wrong, You call that thing a racism where I would call a social system of India. May be we call people by Gujju or Mallu or Madrasi but we don’t heart them we don’t beat them. But the situation in Australia or other countaries in quite different they attack on our people. I would like to ask you a question why we are discussing about India,instead of talking about Australia, what they are doing.You are not talking about whose fault is in fight. Whether indian or others are responsible ?
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Pinaki says: June 09, 2009 at 03:17 PM IST

I think this is an excellent article cause it is an ugly truth about we Indians.We have to look inwards and ask questions that why we have been singled out in the attacks when by and large most south asian immigrants face discrimination and bias or racism.
Many Indian students are out of touch with reality.They think the whole world is like Hindi movies.First we have to get our act together.The Chinese are much smarter than us.Many of us, show off,act smart,are arrogant,misbehave with women,try to take advantage of nice and good people.We should learn to behave.We invite lot of negative attention because of our own misdeeds.The govt of India should giveintensive orientation courses to all travellers and students or immigrants to foreign countries.We have to do our homework well first instead of acting like idiots.
Now no way I am justifying that what is happenning in Australia is ok.It is terribly bad and cannot be justified.But it has to be dealt intelligently.
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jay says: June 09, 2009 at 03:17 PM IST

yeah its true india is the most racist country...north doesnt likes south n south doesnt like north...we fight between each other...n 1 thing a girl is more safe in australia then she is in delhi...this attacks on indians are not racist...we r jus soft targets....n indian media did really bad on this matter...
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satvinder says: June 09, 2009 at 03:25 PM IST

Racism is bad in any form, in any part of the world.

You should learn to support the "right" thing and not divert attention to things that may be true but do not solve the immediate or the long standing problem.
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Ravi says: June 09, 2009 at 03:26 PM IST

Just a small example, if India loses a cricket match against England, because Andrew Flintoff takes five wickets, how would you react?
All the people who do not agree with this blog start abusing Flintoff because India lost because of his good performance, they never bother to think that he played for his team. And appreciating an opponent is never in our books. Whoever appreciates a person from other country, religion or caste is a fool and not patriotic.
In India patriotism is measured by how badly one can abuse people who do not belong to his country or religion or group.
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Raj Mirchandani says: June 09, 2009 at 03:30 PM IST

INDIANS HAVE THE HABIT OF BEING NICE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BAD WITH THEM AND TREAT PPL BADLY WHO ARE NICE TO THEM. WITH THIS AMAZING CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA, WE DONT HV ANY RIGHTS TO RETIALITE IF WE ARE A VICTIM OF RACISM COZ WE OURSELVES ARE VERY RACIST. INDIAN IS RUDE TO AN INDIAN BUT VERY FRIENDLY WITH THE WEST. INDIANS FEEL HANGING OUT WITH A WHITE PERSON IS A MATTER OF PRIDE. WHAT DO ALL THIS INDICATE. BE SMART, JUDGE PEOPLE BY THEIR CHARACTER AND NOT THEIR SKIN . I HV AUSSIE FRIENDS. NOT EVERYONE IS RACIST. I HV SEEN MORE INDIANS WHO ARE RACIST INFACT.
FORGET SKIN...YOU ARE CONSIDERED A WIMP IF U CANT SPEAK ENGLISH IN INDIA. IF U WANT TO APPROACH A GIRL IN A NIGHT CLUB , U NEED TO TALK IN ENGLISH...YOU CANT GO UPTO HER AND ASK " AAPKA NAAM KYA HAI JI" HAHAHAHA
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Nisha says: June 09, 2009 at 03:30 PM IST

I am an indian student studying in sydney.
1.indians come here for PR( permanent residence) so that they can settle here
2.they join local dabba third rate colleges (colleges which have 0 local students and which are run by indians)
3.with courses like cookery ( not hotel management) hair dressing, community welfare etc
4.80% cannot speak decent english
5.they stay in the most notorious n cheap areas...areas which are known to be bad
6.native residents keep moving out of the city centre as these ppl increase..
7.working hours here is 5 am to 5pm for firangs n for indians life starts after 5pm
8.when firangs go partying they drive...but we indian groups walk after 11 pm...every local phone on the street ll have an indian siiting down on the pavement and talking for hours
9.they go to adult stores /pubs n such places n invite trouble
10.nobody is out on streets after 7 pm except thursdays here...only indians n the local "druggies/bad kids/school drop outs"
14.there are more chinkis than us...but u don see a single chinki out after 7... but indians go shoppin only after 7
15.all trains have stickers saying plz sit next to guards compartment if u are travelling late...and there are 3 guard comparments...but..indians dont sit there...they sit somewhere in between so that they can stretch their leg and keep it on the other seat and play hindi music on loudspeaker.
16.there re no "original aussies" here..all re migrants

...then where the *** did racism come into pic!?
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jasmeena says: June 09, 2009 at 03:43 PM IST

yes, we are racists but we do not go about beating students studying here, we may say chinka, habshi etc but will surely not waylaid them at night and beat them up
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amitabh bachhan says: June 09, 2009 at 03:45 PM IST

Well said/I heard that if a girl is gory she pays less dowry in bihar.In india people are quite narrow minded and illterate.I mean they only keep their houses clean. See the filth in cities. cow pats,polybag,people wee on the walls, vomits on the roads,pooh flowing in drains just in front of houses,live in acute unhygenic conditions,through dead bodies in rivers, pooh on the railway tracks,I mean they can be taught all these things.In india breaking rules is considered a macho thing.once they are out of their country they follow rules,bear beatings,clean toilets and still go abroad.In indian police are so corrupt goodnessIf law protector are thugs how can be a public be clean.shame on you indians and shame on filthy aussies
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Hari Om says: June 09, 2009 at 03:52 PM IST

Everyone is using western glasses, even to look at India and her traumatic history, easily forgetting temples like Somnath destroyd along with countlss men dying, countless Hindu women done with and Hindu childrens murdered, raped and sold by invaders (even Hindu is not real thing, it only stads for rever Sindhu and given to us by foreighners!)No one speaks of foregin 'white skinned' and other criminals and child abusers and missionaries coming and hiding in India to destroy the fabric of India (Bharat for me) and covertely convert dalits to Christianity or Islam!) so that they can enslave them for ever! Please remember those who died protecting temples, please remember countless Rajput women and children who commited Jauhar to save this greatest nation on earth, the cradle of civilization! We do not need to be get rid of castes or what ever is from time immortal on this devine land, we can find faults and remove them, this does not make our history wrong! Everyone talks of 3000 or 5000 year old caste system (the result of western education) but easily forgets the heineous crimes commited by muslim and christian invaders in India, they easily forget the Goan inquistion, they forget then in NE (north east) Hindus have been driven out by this foreign funded missionaries and the covert game plan of Chrisitians in India is to torn this great nation apart! My fellow Bhartiy, please wake up and take a pride in your history, fortunately it is thousands of yeras old unlike a few hundred year old morons of the wolrd elsewhere! Don't be ashamed of castes, we never had 'dalit' word so famous a few decades before (it is also a by-product of Hindu bashing, covert Christian funded people). Be alert, lest we forget our great past.
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Avishek says: June 09, 2009 at 03:59 PM IST

Possibly the attacks are masterminded by the Australian Brother of Raj Thackrey ... Or the OZs got a great inspirations from the acts of MNS and will be soon launching ANS ... Australia Nav-nirman Sena ... Good Going ...
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Balanand J says: June 09, 2009 at 04:07 PM IST

Yes I agree with the author in that india is the most racist society on earth. I as a tamilian had experienced the worst kind of racism in North India. By contrast racism experienced in Australia is nothing compared to the racism south indians face in north india. In australia racism is indulged in by hooligans and anti social elements. But in north india even the normal decent educated middle class people behave in the most racist manner towards south indians. North indians are obsessed with white skin and will go to any extent to put down pwople who don't posses white skin. In north india each and every second of your life is miserable for a south indian while that is not the case in australia.
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John says: June 09, 2009 at 04:08 PM IST

Why talk about Australia, you can experience racism in our own country, in Goa. During the peak season, the most of the Goan restaurants do not like fellow Indians visiting them. All for money. They feel that letting Indians in their restaurants will disrupt their business with foreigners.
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Ravi says: June 09, 2009 at 04:09 PM IST

Excellent blog!!
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R V Subramanian says: June 09, 2009 at 04:20 PM IST

I am in full agreement with the views expressed by Jug having seen how the black coloured people are looked down upon by their own fellow Indians. Perhaps we should continue to obtain fairer skins, as we were over the centuries, from Central Asian hordes!
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Faiiz says: June 09, 2009 at 04:20 PM IST

Well written Jug,... Indians are the most hypocrite breed. Im a Hyderabadi, I stayed in been in Delhi for 6 months and i can vouch for what a southie can go thru there even being in a educated & posh society. I just hope i punch the same in a Northies face if i see them in Hyderabad, but the problem here is even the Hyderabadis pander upto a fair skinned Northie...so overall fair skin rulesss...Btw ppl talking abt Australia..No problems u guys can work here in petrol bunks, hotels here...slight chances are that if you roam around after 1 am, u may get hit here aswell. I had a friend who is studying in Ireland, he dint know how many planets were the solarsystem even in 2nd year of his engineering (he thinks they are 4 or 5).. Thats the junk we have. Ireland is gonna be enlightened.
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alex says: June 09, 2009 at 04:26 PM IST

i agree cent percent with jug.first make our own house in order and then balme oz.we have the worst crimes in india- bride burning,ragging till death and all sort of other filthy languages used aganist outsiders.Again have all regional parties which support only their part of state.Every one knows where the allocation of new trains happened when lallu and DMK minister was there in power.
again we have a feeling that now we are super power and we can display some arrogance.all these shows the lack of culture and upbringing.
i wont be suprised if there are more backlashes in oz, if indian students continue to show disrespect to aussies.before sending students to oz..let their parents first teach them some 'good behaviours'.
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sid says: June 09, 2009 at 04:29 PM IST

I visited Australia during 2000 olympics games. Found the people very helpful and courteous. A few people attacked and a couple of cars burnt makes our PM worried(may be rightly so) but when thousands are killed on street riots in India openly in front of cameras in Gujarath or Delhi(1984), there is hardly any police action.
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Nimish says: June 09, 2009 at 04:30 PM IST

We have been differentiated in Aus. because of origin not because of color. Example of matrimonial and others are not correct. Moreover, It is not correct to say, since someone does it , so they also get a right to do the same.
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taqi haider says: June 09, 2009 at 04:31 PM IST

i agree partially with the writer in india there is racism but isnt that true for all countries???all countries have racism and i beleive as the literacy level increases in our country we will be seeing less of it.i have mostly lived outside india but i did do my engineering from there recently and out of the 4 years i spent there i never felt out of place.i am a muslim and most of my freinds are hindus we never had a problem not once. but i have had foriegners tell me do u indians never say ur from india most indian's living outside india make it clear that they are from "kerela" , "mumbai" , "hyderabad" , "UP" etc..
i feel as long as we are in india we can say we are from which ever part of india we like but wen we go abroad we should be INDIANS.like it or not this is the plain truth i am 23 and apart from the 4 yrs for my engg i have lived mostly outside and this is the plain truth anywhere indians live in the world.
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Anant Kumar says: June 09, 2009 at 04:33 PM IST

RACISIM, DISCRIMINATION and deliberate EXPLOITATION of UNPRIVILEGED!!!

It is wise to read the blog “We’re even more racist than aussies” to learn and to practice in daily life and at your work place.

Wonderfully shows the colleague Jug Suraiya in his satirical column the deep rooted discrimination in India on two grounds, i.e. cast & color. Jabbardast!

While reading, following strikes to this Indian author in Diaspora: The murder / The killings / chopping of physical parts do take place a dozen times yearly in Germany on racial/ color basis, i.e. maximum sufferers are the blacks and the Turkish immigrants. This reminds the reader more of cast killings in India which is also no more one sided, i. e. from upper to lower vis a vis. The envy plays too a role, e.g. if many Turks or immigrants are reach in the society: “How come this Turk can drive BMW/ Mercedes/ Porsche?... He must be earning by criminal means?”

Like in India, the Government authorities, i.e. police and judiciary, in Germany have been regularly blamed of being not fair both from the NGO’s and from the law. The best example: The case of a black who was burnt to death in a cell at police station on 7th Jan. 2005. The accused officers came out free after an year.

The last few lines in the column can be seen as, a little joke, derogatory and also of ignorance. Like the German friends call Anant sometimes “Gandhi” some times “Ganesha”, good heartedly! They r helpful and they don't know and don't want to know much about “Gandhi” or “Ganesha” bcz after a full day a beer is waiting for them.

Cheers to Jug Suraiya! Aur Haan! More columns!

Anant Kumar
www.anant-kumar.de
Member of German Writers Association
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zahid awan says: June 09, 2009 at 04:34 PM IST

Quote:
joy says: June 08, 2009 at 12:56 PM IST
we may have names for people like chinky etc, but we dont beat up people because somebody is a mallu or maaru-right?. Our anti-racial slur, if there is any, is regional and not racial stock. we all belong to the same racial stock be it a mallu or gujju.
Unquote:
you must be living in fools paradise where else can you live. less than a year ago north and south indians were killed in mumbai and other places of maharashtra only because they were either mallus aur bhaiyas.

make it a habit to read newspaper daily and be realistic.
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Sanjay Wimani says: June 09, 2009 at 04:36 PM IST

I agree with what Mr. Suraiya has to say.
However on the basis of my own experiences what scares me is the physical aspects of racism in some of the western countries.

I am scared of being accosted by a young teenager and stabbed to death in the west for the colour of my skin.

Things, at the moment at least at still at the verbal stage in India.
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abhishek says: June 09, 2009 at 04:37 PM IST

I havent gone thru the article at all... sorry time is short... but I completely agree with you...
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John says: June 09, 2009 at 04:40 PM IST

Why talk about Australia, you can experience racism in our own country, in Goa. During the peak season, the most of the Goan restaurants do not like fellow Indians visiting them. All for money. They feel that letting Indians in their restaurants will disrupt their business with foreigners.
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fiveabhi says: June 09, 2009 at 04:40 PM IST

Atleast we agree and understand this,but the first world doesnot ever think they are racists,racism is this entire psyche of letting the third world down,what we have in India is complexes and internal problems which cant be called racism.
The Indian and chinese culture and the south american cultures are neevr given that kind of importance that is given to western arts,acrhictecturee and history..their culture..For they do suffer form a superiroty complex,i was myself attacked here in Dublin,Ireland.
And i saw two turkish men getting attacked-but they gave it back..they defende dthemselves,the problem is-we are by nature not defensive,and they take advantage of that.
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smj says: June 09, 2009 at 04:52 PM IST

i totally agrre with you Mr Jug Suraiya. Well said about the discriminiation esp the ones related to colour . and it is not necessary it should be between a noeth indian adn south indian.. It is quiet prevalent among the sounth indians too. You should see the no of requests going our for a fair and white girl... Its sad but true Indians are number 1 racisits - no one argue with me ... plenty have been killed on the basis of caste, religion...
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P.Paulraj says: June 09, 2009 at 04:56 PM IST

You are right. Even dark skinned South Indians hesitate to mingle freely with blacks from abroad.We hear stories from past and stick to wrong opinions.
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Abhiram Gandhi says: June 09, 2009 at 05:06 PM IST

If you are trying to justify attack on the student than you are just spreading bullshit... If your intention is to say that along with the demonstration against the attack on indians we also should not support injustice in India, I support you 100%.

I also know that many who went to Australia for higher studies, can't even speak english!!! They went there to do odd jobs and get visa by spending money!!! If such guys ar eattacked I am not going to shade tears..They should be punished and such monkeys should come back home and first become suitable enough to become graduate..I saw interview of person who was attacked. With that english he will not get admission in third grade college. Ausi uni should do their own evaluation how far they will go for just earninig money without evaluating quality. Also if they are taking so much of money at least provide security. Probably take some more fees to provide security to the student..
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mayang-ngamba says: June 09, 2009 at 05:07 PM IST

Well said. India is definitely the most racist country in the world and Indians are very much racist. There are some people who dont agree with it, and will not agree or admit that they are racist. Being an Indian and living in Delhi for quite a long time, there is not a single day I am not harassed or discriminate. Not hurting someone or not beating someone does not mean they are not racist. North India is the worst for racial issue.

There is no need to shout. First stop being racist. learn how to respect other and you will be respected.
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PANKAJ PARMAR says: June 09, 2009 at 05:07 PM IST

I agree truly that India is worst racist than any other country. Those who have been suppressing the underpriveledged and backward as well as dalit sections when they themselves are targeted they start yelling at the top of the voice. It seems that we Indians are not honest enough. Our History is littered with the suppression of dalits and backward people. In many instances there was practice of carrying human excreata on the head by backward class harijans. Even Gandhiji who has given this name called Harijans (childred of God) but practically are regarded as worst than animals. The Problem is that Indian philosophical and religious outlook lacks Both Moral Frame of Reference and Basis of Human Dignity and Equality. It is really an Irony to see that when you treat others as "untochables" while you yourselves when targeted suddenly all starts raising their voices. Why are we not ordering our own house ? Why have been silent when people have been referred and treated as Untouchable. Let us reflect on this issues.
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Abhijith says: June 09, 2009 at 05:08 PM IST

@Parvinder Singh: [Response to your comments stated on June 08, 2009 at 12:50 PM IST]
Brother,Unfortunately i totally disagree with your statement about tamilians being discriminated....la la la......... By the sounds of your comment, it leads me to believe that you are even unsure with the geography of Our India (re:kannada = karnataka...really?).It would be truly appreciated if you could either think again before you post such random posts with no factual justification. No Tamilian is facing any descrimination in Karnataka. For your knowledge there are Tamil medium schools in lot of places in Karnataka. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam movies have a very good market in karnataka.Its just a old habit of Indian media where we tag a label (communal or regional) to a small fight between two people or families. And and " North Indians being descriminated in South india or viceversa", ha ha ha ever heard of a incident where north Indian is descriminated in South India????, But a South Indian is tagged as " Madrasi" irrespective of the state he belongs ...:P. With random blurry messages like yours, I find no difference between you and the so called media who are busy trying their best to escalate tension in Australia.
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kumar says: June 09, 2009 at 05:11 PM IST

I agree. Australia is a good country.Melbourne is agreat place to live.Australia is no more racist than us.
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Raj says: June 09, 2009 at 05:12 PM IST

Its because of sentiments like this that Indians are attacked. You may say anything but we do not intentionallyattack any person anywhere.
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Prashant says: June 09, 2009 at 05:15 PM IST

I was going through so many comments written above, majority of them only verbiage with little making sense and written only to showcase their understanding and intelligence while some had some things really meaningful.
All the elite people should realize that "racism" so to say exists in almost all of us. Now this according to me is a blatant truth that the intelligentsia may write off out rightly. Oh yes, of course, this is not limited by boundaries. This attribute is wholly global... be it US, UK, Australia, India or any other nation. So if its so much omniscient, we can assume Racism to be an integrated part of human psychology. So, how can we say "Eliminate Racism completely... Stop this". But yes, racism has metamorphosed into different variants in different countries with the underlining principle remaining the same..."Prejudice, Bias and Aversion"... This principle continues to hold the roots of Racism almost everywhere.
Having said that (in short-we all are racists and Racism can and will never die), Racist intentions can be restrained nevertheless. This is the point where conflicts will rise and forceful clashes of ideologies follow. Some people are too biased to curb their long held beliefs and therefore try to push their thoughts on others where if the minds don't coincide, inviting further division. This is virulent and the upshots can only be imagined.
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Chandu says: June 09, 2009 at 05:16 PM IST

Hi Mr Jag Suraiya,
What you say is absolutely correct, even I have been trying to tell this to my friends all along. I was in Australia for 2 years, I did face a few comments here and there, but I felt I am not in a position to protest because I am more a racist than Australians, we call white skinned people " gore log"... In south india people look down upon north Indians and vice-versa, there is racisim based on religion, zones, states, color, caste and sex.... can we have any more of it?... I guess not....
and there are protests in India saying Australians are bad...
Bal thackrey said.. "Ban Australian players from IPL..." then shouldn't we be banning him and his nephew for creating ruckus every now and then, I think its time we clean our house rather than pointing at others..
A drug addict punched me and stole my phone in Melbourne and the govt of Victoria paid me compensation without me asking for it, I just went to police station and filed a case and I got a lot of money, I was not injured at all.. just in a bit of shock, do you think Indian police will do the same thing... atleast karnataka police will say "give me money to write a complaint" and over it I will be humiliated by the police...
Its time we grow up and realise the issues within us and then try to look at the world in a different way..
Hats off for writing this Mr Suraiya.
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egalitarian says: June 09, 2009 at 05:17 PM IST

examples you cited reflect the enormous diversity india hosts; for which we have developed few identifier words associable with different ethnic groups who are as good denizens of mother india as any one else
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Kabir says: June 09, 2009 at 05:18 PM IST

I would like to know what opinion Mr. Raj Thakre has on the issue of Indians being attacked in OZ.
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Sripat says: June 09, 2009 at 05:18 PM IST

The author mirrors my thought. We have a tendency in living in a illusory but perfect world where the other guy is always wrong. We have to face up to our reality. We will have to work towards raising above these centuries old manacles. Caste system is an idea that has gone corrupt. Not all that our forefathers did were necessarily right. We will need the courage as individuals to do what we think as right. The Govt. has clearly heard from the people that Caste politics is out. But will they rise above that and be truly secular?

It could be tempting to continue dwell on political expediency but they might as well learn from History. The Politico-socio-economic conditions that prevail now in India mirros the state we were in 8th r 9th century. The ruling class going after personal aggrandizement, the public apathy to the ruling class, a strong economy despite the effette ruling class, a sharp and increasing divide between the rich and the poor, massive corruption of the rule of law: A perfect setting for an external invader then. A perfect setting for an external invader now. This is a tailor made situation for a Taliban or a Communist tak over. Are we listening?
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Prasad says: June 09, 2009 at 05:24 PM IST

Not sure what this old man is harping about! If he knew that the Indians are that bad, what had he been doing these many years? The issue is not whether the Indians are the biggest racists in the world. The issue is that his fellow Indian citizens are being beaten-up just because they happen to be Indians (north as well as south). I have not heard of citizens of any other country being bashed up enmasse! Mind you these are not even permanant residents of Australia. Hence, they are still in your (your media) care. Grow up, idiot and defend your fellow citizens first and privately lament about your shortcomings.
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shash says: June 09, 2009 at 05:27 PM IST

Blog is biased to keep the agrees high. Disagrees are being marked as spam and rejected. Sorry state of affairs
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Vinod says: June 09, 2009 at 05:29 PM IST

I live in the US. At my local Dunkin Donuts, the Indians are equal opportunity racists - they abuse Caucasians and African Americans in Gujarati. Its fascinating to watch the power they feel knowing their targets don't understand what they're saying.
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anonymouos says: June 09, 2009 at 05:30 PM IST

Completely agree. We are a society drived by "casteism" Recently non marathians were beaten up in mumbai as their offence was they are north indians.In Chennai, if you frm north india,even autodriver can bully you to wall very easily.In IT companies,three guys from south standing with hindi speaking guy will never speak in hindi or english.They will speak in telugu or tamil and the other one is left down.Couple of indians being robbed at 2am and media has made a big hue and cry including burning of australia's PM effigy by political parties without any rhyme or reason.A point had been made and police is investigating and police here is more efficient and honest then our kakhi vardi.but burning effigy is really appalent and can trigger a backlash on the indian community .
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Sriram says: June 09, 2009 at 05:31 PM IST

I dont know whether we are the most racist people on earth, but from some of the comments above I can clearly see that we are so proud of our superiority that we are COMPLETELY incapable of hearing ANY negative opinion about ourselves.
Instinctive reaction is, here is someone criticizing India, he must be a horrible guy.
Shame on us as a country.
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Kapil says: June 09, 2009 at 05:35 PM IST

1. Agreed, Most Indians are heavily racial, but the racist attitude has never acquired violent proportions, as is seen across the world. The recent exception being in Maharastra & Assam.
2. The caste & race based discrimination is not only in India but across South East Asia and even in so called industrialized Japan
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snigdha says: June 09, 2009 at 05:36 PM IST

I agree with Jug completely. We are a racist country.
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rao says: June 09, 2009 at 05:38 PM IST

common now so you like fair skin doesnt mean you are racist then women in usa like to be tanned and men out here like tanned women and vise-verse so this means they are racist towards whites? I dont know what level of education now days is present within journalist communities i find only hatred for everything which is Indian in news papers now a days. .
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reddy says: June 09, 2009 at 05:38 PM IST

first of all it is good for us if we stop bashing Australia and give them a chance to correct, secondly I dont agree with what are you saying, the main falsify in your argument is just because we have racism in India doesn't mean others get a right to be racist and we should be grateful towards them.
you have to understand difference between racism and all the stereotype you said, that kind of steriotype is there even in USA calling Pennsylvanians as rednecks, stereotyping souhterns,californians and newyorkens is very common. there is a major difference here we may call a friend who is dark as kalia but it only fun just like calling a fat guy fat, how many times you saw someone pouring bear on madarasi ? a gujrathi?for being one? how many times some one threw a egg on you because you are dark? being fair is like wanting to be slim, that is not racism and dark girls still get married and love for westerners is like our love for English it is a reminisce of British raj, you speak in english you are great if you cant you are a looser it is etched in our minds that western culture is great but it has nothing to do with racism( and we call whites as gore but do we ever insult anyone or bash-em up because they are westerners?) and cast is our issue and we are dealing with it at many levels.
bottom line is our own problems would not give anyone a right to abuse us, just like you cant rape a Somali women saying rapes and murders are common in Somalia. common you grow up out of that British raj and stop fancying and rallying around west, to get some awards at the stake of your country.
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Vitthal Khandagale says: June 09, 2009 at 05:39 PM IST

Racist in india in worst than any other country.
Dr Br. Ambedkar fought his whole life for this reason. Poverty in india is only beacuse of Cast cast and only casts in india.
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cyrus says: June 09, 2009 at 05:40 PM IST

very nice blog.. this is exactly the same reply I gave when I was asked about racsim in germany..
look at what raj thakeray and party is doin in maharastra
we are defintely immature country and dont display/posses the same character which we expects from other..
god pls help us
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Angela Susan Mathew says: June 09, 2009 at 05:40 PM IST

Truly spoken Jug...it couldn't be any far from the truth. We keep separate glasses and plates at our homes for the people who serve us. We endorse, probably the maximum number of skin lightening creams...and what not. remembering my Senegalese neighbor who came to Delhi on an embassy posting and told me how she has been around the world but never felt so uncomfortable as she felt in India...where she would often hear people murmur behind her back "kaala...kaala". And there we go around the word complaining of racism!!!
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amit says: June 09, 2009 at 05:42 PM IST

You are 100% right
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Gerry says: June 09, 2009 at 05:45 PM IST

The only reason students go to Aus. is to work and not for study. There are cheaper and more attractive study courses here in India. These 'students' on landing, rush about for jobs putting them on a collision course with other groups of 'students' from other countries, besides the local Aussie people. There is no need for any Indian student to go to Aus. for 'study' unless the motive is to abandon India and settle down in a foreign land. In that case, there will inevitably be trouble sooner or later.
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MM says: June 09, 2009 at 05:45 PM IST

Here are some myths and truths:

Myth 1: We are a tolerent nation, with a 5000 year old "civilization" to back it up
Fact : We Indians can barely tolerate each other most of the times. Even with minor differences, we resort to yelling, name callind and worse. We treat our service classes like animals, they have no dignity al all.

Myth 2: India is an egalitarian society where people can go anywhere and make a living
Fact: In most places with some resources like jobs etc, outsiders are looked down upon, I myself felt it when I had to relocate to another part of the country which is supposedly an IT hub for a job training. People would literally take you for a ride because you did not know the local language etc.
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Gaurav says: June 09, 2009 at 05:46 PM IST

Very True. Racism within Indians can be seen any where you go. You go to a restaurant and you can see the waiters hover around a foreigner while you get a 2nd or even 3rd rate service. You go to an airport and you see the Indian staff of any airline assisting foreigners while Indians are curtly told to stand in line. Unless we start treating ourselves as equals, we will always be subjected to racism and looked down upon in any country. When you are looked down upon in your own country, what should you expect others will treat you outside?
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**""WE INDIANS ARE SO ST**ID" ** says: June 09, 2009 at 05:47 PM IST

DEAR INDIANS

**THIS IS THE VERY REASON THE BRITS MANAGED TO RULE INDIA FOR SO LONG.**

AS THEY WERE KEEPING US BUSY IN THOUGHTS SUCH AS THE ONE WE HAVE INDULGED IN "WE ARE MORE RACIST THAN OZ".

THEY WERE BUSY KILLING AND BASHING US UP,AND SLAVING US FOR CENTURIES.

INDIANS LETS NOT BE SLAVES AGAIN!!!

JAI BHARAT MATHA KI!!!
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Deb says: June 09, 2009 at 05:48 PM IST

NorBlackNorWhite wrote that India is a third world country.Well, how do you know its a third world country?Just because someone said or stamped India as one?This is the first sign of racism in you.India was a rich country robbed by those who said its a third world country.
Sai..I second you.
Someone again wrote he came to Aus 11 yrs ago and now settled well. Well, where you got money from to come to Aus 11 yrs ago?Didnt you work hard to pay them off?Or you came from that family where parents need to spend their unaccounted money?All students come here and PAY MORE TUTION FEE than any domestic students and try to pay them off working hard.I dont see any wrong in that.We all want to live a better life..its human instinct.Dont mix up racism here.Then asking for more tution fee from overseas students is racism.
I dont think its any racist attack. Its just another stray incident encouraged by another.Youth here is Aus are out of control. We pay tax to the govt so that govt can pay them to live life without doing anything....thats bad.
I found Aussies are very friendly and helpful..but that may be me.
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Vitthal Khandagale says: June 09, 2009 at 05:49 PM IST

Racist in india in worst than any other country.
Dr Br. Ambedkar fought his whole life for this reason. Poverty in india is only beacuse of Cast cast and only casts in india.Humanity in india is lost beacuse of faith in religion with many upper and lower cast basis.Even it was not allowed the lower cast people to go to the temple and schools.
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Ray Edwards says: June 09, 2009 at 06:03 PM IST

Hi. I'm a "white" Aussie married to an Indonesian-Chinese immigrant, with 2 beautiful talented "mixed race" kids. I agree that you guys need to sort out your own problems with the caste system and racism but that doesn't mean that Indians here (Melbourne) shouldn't protest about violence. Alex says that Indian students are showing disrespect to Aussies and might provoke a backlash. I say thanks for their protests. They are doing what we should have done long ago - forcing our police and politicians to take action to make our streets and public transport safe. The students, and taxi drivers, who have also organised protests and street blockades and who are mostly African, Indian or Afghan, have earned our respect by standing up for their rights. In a way,the Indian students here have more clout with the politicians here than we do. By blockading streets with their protests and gaining attention in India, they have endangered our $2 Billion per year overseas student education industry. This contribution is vital to our colleges and universities, as our politicians are too cheap to adequately fund them with money from Australian taxpayers. Because of the financial impact of a possible drop in overseas student numbers, they are finally taking action to make us all safer. Remember, it's not just overseas students who are being bashed and robbed. And the attackers aren't always white Australians.
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SARING says: June 09, 2009 at 06:04 PM IST

HATS OFF TO JUG FOR WRITING SUCH AN ARTICLE, AN EYE OPENER IN ITS TRUEST SENSE, WE NEED MORE SENSIBLE AND BROAD MINDED AND BOLD PERSON LIKE YOU.. WELL I AM FROM THE NORTHEAST OF INDIA LIVING IN MELBOUNRE AND BELIEVE ME, MELBOURNE IS A FAR CRY FROM NORTHERN INDIA, DELHI TO BE PRECISE AS I DID MY GRADUATION IN THAT AREA, WHERE MY FRIENDS AND I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO LIVE EACH DAY,AMONGST THE NARROW MINDED AND PEVERTS...THEY MAKE OUR LIVES MISERABLE..MORONS...
NOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED AND IT'S THE INDIANS WHO ARE ON THE RECEIVING END NOW AND WHAT A REACTION???"HELLO! ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW MEAN AND EVIL YOU CAN GET IF GIVEN A CHANCE?" OF COURSE...ITS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT..AINT IT? BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN A FOREIGN LAND YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO...OPEN YOUR EYES....AND LET THE GOODNESS OF HUMANITY SOAK WITHIN YOUR SOUL.THEN THE BEATINGS WILL CERTAINLY STOP,a piece of advice..stop scratching your balls in public....DIG?
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khajan says: June 09, 2009 at 06:06 PM IST

Foolish things , he had gone mad . at least here we do not burn cars, stab people based on fair skin, region wise, and communally(except when to much aggravated) we dont stab mallus, punjabis its a way of identifying people of same culutre in this land of diversified cultures.
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****** TANNING IN AUSTRALIA ****** says: June 09, 2009 at 06:12 PM IST

TANNING IN AUSTRALIA

LIVED IN AUSTRALIA**

GUYS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ,HAVING A DARK COLOUR SKIN IS AN IN THING IN AUSTRALIA
AS BEING WHITE IS IN INDIA.

PEOPLE IN OZ SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BECOME TAN.

THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE SOLARIUMS,AND GUESS WHAT A SOLARIUM DOES,
IT GIVES YOU SKIN CANCER.

A LOT OF AUSTRALIANS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH SKIN CANCER DUE TO SOLARIUMS.

WELL THEY DONT JUST USE SOLARIUMS,THEY ALSO HAVE INSTANT SPRAYS WHICH CAN BE USED TO GET A QUICK TAN.

SO GUYS ITS NOT JUST INDIANS.GET SMART,GET SMART!!!. LETS KEEP OUR THIRD WORLD ThOUGHTS TO OURSELVES.
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David Kujur says: June 09, 2009 at 06:32 PM IST

Respected Sir,
A million praise to you sir. Your article gives us food for thoughts. Its not about agreeing or Disagreeing. We should condemn racism in all its forms everywhere. India should learn first. Casteism is the best example of Racism. In fact, it is 100 times more evil than what we call racism. I hope all the readers will realize this.

David Kujur,
TISS, Mumbai
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sujeewa says: June 09, 2009 at 06:35 PM IST

Well, I am my neutral best commenting here, as I'm neither Aus, nor Indian, non-white, and not practising India's "categorism" [ignore spell mistake, it is a new term :)] and aussie's racism. However I have lived in Aus, and had associated with Indians.

I am not agreeing with author that Indian students shud be racially abused and beaten as India practice "categorism". Every one is individual and one is not gonna pay for other's crime.

But Indians in Aus are in a way asking for trouble. I noticed most of them were very closed people whose point of view is always biased to their own side. In a moment where a fair decisions has to be made, Indians tend to take biased decisions [so are some chinese too]. Indians apply their known ways of life in Aus and Aus find them as cunning and cheap. Indians have arrogance which sometimes make them think as higher to thou. So comes trouble.

But Australia is the least place with fairness either. Underneath the aussie equal opportunity and fairness regulations run the habits of those who killed aborigines like cats and dogs. Australia is a Jackyl and Hyde in fairness. They do not internally mean what they say and "let's be fair". Underneath lives the savage of down under.

No matter what these racially biased attacks should be stopped. Closed eye stance of authorities is a shame. But Indians should get together and try finding the long term social balance and proper ways to adapt the new migrant's home a friendly place for them.

Only lasting peace will occur if two parties integrate properly with one another and find them as humans not as "indians" or "whites".

In a side note, it is time for india to stop her own injustice and categorism which as our writer says, million times worse than anywhere else.
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Abhijith says: June 09, 2009 at 06:38 PM IST

Response to Parvinder Singh
June 08, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Brother,Unfortunately i totally disagree with your statement about tamilians being discriminated....la la la......... By the sounds of your comment, it leads me to believe that you are even unsure with the geography of Our India (read:kannada = karnataka...really?) It would be truly appreciated if you could either think again before you post such random posts with no factual justification.
With random blurry messages like yours, I find no difference between you and the so called media who are busy trying their best to escalate tension in Australia.
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Jimmy Goyal says: June 09, 2009 at 06:44 PM IST

While Indians maybe racist , it stays within the country. However , when an indian is attacked ina foreign country , it is the responsibility of the country's media and govt to highlight he plight and pressurise the foreign govt into making a statement and take action. Two wrongs do not make a right.
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Gavin Martins says: June 09, 2009 at 07:11 PM IST

I cant't understand why Jug paints India in such bad light,this issue should be about security for an aspiring student.WHY THEN IS HE WASHING OUR LINEN IN PUBLIC???? DOESN'T THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW ABOUT OUR CASTES SYST,if not then they will be enlightened with his article.
We can't deny the caste syst in India,it still exists & will be part of our society for yrs to come. We are now condidered to be a developing country & our people are learning to deal with this new status( the last being THIRD WORLD). You talk about skin colour being prejudiced in India, thts also common in all parts of the world.
In your past comments, I haven't seen any support for students who are there to further their education & are paying huge amounts for it. The least the Oz Govt.can do is provide them security which is their right.Why are we putting up with this arrogance towards students/migrants????
Guess what wud happen if this happened to an American,Brit/European??? Their Govt's wud come down hard on that defaulting country,Our govt's have never supported our people/expats living in other countries. Just look at the state of our Embassies & the attitude of the staff workin in them,they feel embarrassed to help us out.Like other countries India will have its own issues, but that does not mean we should turn a blind eye to whats happenin in Australia, in protest aspiring students should boycott this country for further education & let the world know what Australia is all about, these kinda incidents should make any1's BLOOD BOIL!!!!! I am not a patriot, but I can recognise when there is Injustice & double standards & I think Jug's article here is giving fodder to Australians to carry on their attacks, he may be a respected writer, but for me this article has shown me which side of the fence he wants to be on.When overseas Indians mostly respect the laws of the land compared to other nationalities & THAT MY FRIENDS IS A FACT.Jst 1 question,WHICH COUNTRY IS AT FAULT HERE????????????????
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john says: June 09, 2009 at 07:15 PM IST

indians r getting the taste of their own medicine,,they r racist to chinkys and darker people of minorities in india,,,, whats up with indian flags in down under?its going to back fire more to indians there in oz
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Mihir Shah says: June 09, 2009 at 07:28 PM IST

The Aryans never invaded India. They were the original inhabitants of India.

The Aryan Invasion Theory was disproven 10 years back by Subhash Kak, David Frawley et al.

Jug, please change your Imperialist/Macaulay/Max Muller/JNU/Romila Thapar-esque mindset.
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Alok says: June 09, 2009 at 07:35 PM IST

One act of racism does not justify another. Racism should be deplored everywhere. No educated person argues that we need to reform the Indian society but that should not give an excuse to foreigners to racially discriminate against our fellow Indians. Your article might have made sense if it is not read in context with the Australian curry bashing. But in this context you seem to be justifying Australian racism.
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Viv says: June 09, 2009 at 07:41 PM IST

I agree 100% with the comments. In india across all levels people we should stop asking religion, language as they really become separators apart from the obvious skin colour. i think this mental alertness to skin colour we carry when we go out of india and whenever we have any problem blame it on racial descrimination. but if we are comfortable and confident with ourselves and our skin colour and our background i think we can integrate with world community faster.
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jai says: June 09, 2009 at 07:42 PM IST

its called getting the taste of your own medicine,this things happen within india but goes unreported,,,so if u live abroad respect their culture and manners, its called not speaking loudly,shouting,acting obnoxious (Typical indian trait)and trying to stare and pick up women in the streets ,club etc....<
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A Mathur says: June 09, 2009 at 07:58 PM IST

I agree 100% Jug. I am in the US, and one does feel an occasional undercurrent of racism. But the point is that it is subtle. You see a lot of racism on the blogosphere, not not much in everyday interactions. In India, on the other hand, racism of different kinds is overt and in-your-face. Indians being the biggest reciepients of racism around the world might just be a case of "what goes around, comes around".
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Madhulika says: June 09, 2009 at 08:14 PM IST

One can't blame Indians for being hopelessly hypocritic and racists. Everybody on this planet is a racist. Its natural of human nature to think of oneself as superior and point at something that does not appeal to them. It is visible more in India because of its extremely diverse culture seen nowhere else. The diversity is so large that it is like a group of so many different countries with their own language, culture and belief.
In other places, its one country vs the other (like in this case Aus vs India) and here its within the nation. Racism is everywhere...from my experience, in europe,i witnessed that people of a country spoke terrible things about the other neighbouring countries and its people. Germans hate Turkish.. the dutch hate germans... and germans find italian people retarded.... and vice versa......... and so on.......
I have never seen them make the headlines!!

I think its a one to one issue!!! Instead of acting like over-sensitive babies and wasting energy in making headlines one should sort it out himself.
....some one is bad to you; be worse to them and WHACK them back!!!!
and get going...........
nothing more n nothing less....
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V.Sivasubramaniam says: June 09, 2009 at 09:33 PM IST

Only because Jagsuriya said it, all are nodding YES.Ordinary men knew, that not a single Indian is respected by whites. It will be like that and always will be.
We too will encourage white skins among us to be recognised.Lokk at the advertisements of beauty products, insulting dark skinned ladies.Our women of darker skin have patience to absolve these advertisements.Discrimination is here to stay, even God cannot change it, so much is in the blood of most Indians.
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Pawan says: June 09, 2009 at 10:05 PM IST

Indian are more then racist. We descriminate our people in our own country based on caste ,based on gender, based on color, based on financial status, based on the cloths we wear etc...etc so many factors. When something happens abroad we make noises.This racism thing is media created.It was nothing else but a law and order problem and their police is far better than ours'.the indian students who went their for studies shall concentrate on studies and shall not treat their universaties as our universaties where everything happens except studies.
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Bipin says: June 09, 2009 at 10:18 PM IST

The article by Mr Jug Suraiya is an interesting read and the views expressed by Nisha who is studying in Sydney brings an interesting dimension to the debate.Australia is not only a land of immigrants but also a new country, with its own set of cultural values and unwritten rules of human conduct and behavior, like any other country! Foreign students should,therefore, seek guidance on these issues well before proceeding there for studies and also bear in mind that Australia is home to many Indian immigrants whose contribution to the country is highly regarded.
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chakkar says: June 09, 2009 at 10:22 PM IST

Just as an aside, Jug, the Aryan-invasion theory has been thoroughly dispelled. I'll be glad to guide you to good reading sources.

The caste system is about as bad, if not worse, than racism. Without mass education and open challenges to power structures based on caste, reform will move at continental-shift speed, i.e., a few centimetres a year.
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Rationality Personified says: June 09, 2009 at 10:35 PM IST

Is there a way to give a zero rating to this article? Because that is exactly what this deserves.
Another Indian who has zero confidence in his own identity and thus wants others to feel as bad as he does about himself. I feel nothing but pity for people who promote low individual and national self esteem.
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Rohit - LA, USA says: June 09, 2009 at 10:35 PM IST

I think the author has a valid point. However, i think racism in India amongst Indians is purely due to our diversity in culture and unfortunately that acts as a barrier rather than unifier. Its true Indians are shamelessly attracted to and intimidated by fair skinned people and frankly i do not have an explanation why but at the end of the day by in large i think everyone considers themselves as proud Indian.
What distinguishes between racism in India versus the Australia is that, India does not have a history as an occupying force, oppressing their native community and suppressing basic civil rights . Australia has a dark history of oppression and blatant racism and that inflates the argument of who is racist amongst them a lot than Indians.
Jai Hind.
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Mohan velu says: June 09, 2009 at 10:42 PM IST

WORD!! Mr Jug.. Indians are known to be more RACIST then the Americans.. Its funny, because i can relate on how RACISM against how the color of your skin can makes a difference. I was born to a a Tamil father and a Punjabi mix Eurasian mother, i don't look anything indian except that i love Indian food.. lol! But growing up with my mother's side was painful for me because, i was always subjected to name calling, relatives labelling me blackie and etc.. and as a kid, i was left with no choice but to keep quiet, and that in turn made me hated myself and my skin color. But thank god, i grew out of it and now that i just want to tell you guys that the tribal Indian mentality have to STOP, we need to be united just like how the Chinese are united. I believe that if Indian get together and put aside whatever stigma or false beliefs about another Indian brother or sister, our future generations will be a much better breed of people. love from Singapore
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****** TANNING IN AUSTRALIA ****** says: June 09, 2009 at 11:44 PM IST

TANNING IN AUSTRALIA

LIVED IN AUSTRALIA**

GUYS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ,HAVING A DARK COLOUR SKIN IS AN IN THING IN AUSTRALIA
AS BEING WHITE IS IN INDIA.

PEOPLE IN OZ SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BECOME TAN.

THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE SOLARIUMS,AND GUESS WHAT A SOLARIUM DOES,
IT GIVES YOU SKIN CANCER.

A LOT OF AUSTRALIANS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH SKIN CANCER DUE TO SOLARIUMS.

WELL THEY DONT JUST USE SOLARIUMS,THEY ALSO HAVE INSTANT SPRAYS WHICH CAN BE USED TO GET A QUICK TAN.

SO GUYS ITS NOT JUST INDIANS.GET SMART,GET SMART!!!. LETS KEEP OUR THIRD WORLD ThOUGHTS TO OURSELVES.
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Ronn Claude says: June 09, 2009 at 11:52 PM IST

Very ture, many aspects of our vibrant culture rests on bases of racism. Its disheartening to see it within our own country. I've never been a victim of racism given my 11 years of stay in Europe.
@ Madhulika, Italians ARE retarded (the ones I met atleast)
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emberness says: June 10, 2009 at 12:15 AM IST

The main problem which triggered all this debate was the racist attacks on Indian students by delinquent criminals. I am surprised by the amount of misinformation and inaccuracy in this debate including turning things around to find faults with the victims when INDIANS ARE NOT AT FAULT HERE
The other glaring inaccuracy is the broad definition of the word RACISM....INDIANS ARE NOT RACIST. What is described as racism is corruption and class prejudice or merely competition between individuals of different background in a once poor economy with high levels of competition for a small amount of resources and now rapidly growing economy with an equally high amount of competition for good jobs - this leads to competition between different regions and socioeconomic classes which is NOT RACISM. Racism is a white attitude which results from their superiority of position (over 200 years of trade dominance), and postcolonial throwbacks and imperialist attitude. It is NOT an indian feature ...the success of multinationals and outsourcing to India has shown that Indians can work with and welcome other nationalities and multiculturalism. Indians abroad have worked well with other races including black Americans and businesses in Africa.
Skin colour in India is a BEAUTY issue. It is possible a class issue which is prevalent in other countries eg blonde hair or red hair or blue eyes AND IRRELEVANT Most Indians like their skin colour. It is believed that people liked to have lighter skin because only wealthy Indians could afford to stay indoors and not work in the scorching sun which made their skin tanned and weather beaten. It was a sign of affluence just like Coco Channel made tanning popular in Western countries because only the wealthy could afford tropical holidays abroad. Tan was also a sign of affluence.
It is irrelevant to the issue of racist crime in Australia. Whether there is corruption or class issue in India is irrelevant
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emberness says: June 10, 2009 at 12:24 AM IST

I think the issue of skin colour is irrelevant...It is a class issue in India NIT RACISM It is mainly the appearance of western tourists that Indians find unusual and it draws attention to foreigners in India. Indians welcome working with other nationalities and races as the success of outsourcing and multinationals in India has shown. Indians are also proud of their own cultural heritage and wary of rascist attitude from westerners European and Americans Australians with postcolonial or imperialist ideas of superiority. Whether there is a class issue attached to skin colour is irrelevant to the case of racist attacks on Indians in Australia.
There is a prevalent low intelligent trashy 'racist''red-neck' culture in Australia encouraged by a racist fascist American culture- that's what comes across and that's what needs to be prevented.
Indians are not racist towards other Indians. Like mentioned before India is a diverse country with many regionalities and there is natural competition between the regionalities in India. I dont like the broad definition of the word racist as used in this context.
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Sunil, Riyadh says: June 10, 2009 at 12:36 AM IST

Who told black people are not in the mainstream.

Ever heard of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. They were black.

They are worshiped in temples.

I do not think I have to write anything more to express that there is no racism or 'colorism' in an average Indian's mind.

Thanks,
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emberness says: June 10, 2009 at 12:49 AM IST

These people are putting too much emphasis on the caste system (jumping on the caste system criticising bandwagon) People of all castes are entitled to education, employment, non discrimination and have even made to the level of member of parliamentthe only things that cause a barrier to people of lower caste is poverty and lack of resources or support - all things that Indians have done a lot to improve on )
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Skannath says: June 10, 2009 at 01:19 AM IST

Racism is an inherent character based on envy and quest for self being. It is seen manifesting as a society progresses, and it narrows itself on language, religion, color, race and in coming days it will go further to new grounds. Indians are silent spectator and partakers of racism in daily life, but are hurt and becomes conscious about it on foreign soil due to promise of equality there. We must eradicate racism here which has been prevalent in places like job, business, education where role of favoring communities exists.
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Arvind Singh says: June 10, 2009 at 01:29 AM IST

Jug,
One thing is sure that you are still a brown Britisher living in India. British left India but left slaves like you behind in India. Jug, you hate India, you insult your own people, you always find your own Indians guilty because in your slave mentality, a white man is always correct. If you say that we Indians are racist then what about Shia-Sunni divide in Islam, what about Protestant-Catholic divide in U.K. Jug, now that time is coming when India will punish foreign slaves like you. Jug, educated Indians like you are the real traitors in India. Jug, enjoy life to maximum because when we come in power, all foreign slaves like you will cry but there will be nobody to help you. Soon, Bharat Mata will stop requesting people like you that you should support your own Indian brothers and sisters instead of appreciating enemy foreigners, Jug, very soon Bharat Mata is going to punish people like you in a way which you foreign slaves have never expected.
To others- BE INDIAN, SUPPORT INDIAN whatever the conditions are. Don't hate India if you are highly educated and/or rich.
Jai Hindu
Jai Bharat
Arvind
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Aditya says: June 10, 2009 at 01:52 AM IST

Is author trying to justify the attack on Indian students.It took so many year for Mr jug to see that there is racism in India and write article? Since Indians are racist, Aussies can kill Indian students and Lebanese can attack Indian students.
I think Mr jug should be given highest award from KKK And British and Australian govt for being a humble supporter of there racism
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Indian says: June 10, 2009 at 01:54 AM IST

Hats off to you...My Jug...Indians are a huge racist themselves in India itself..let alone somewhere abroad..the thing about fair skin and dark skin is there in Indian and common, u come into a country, a land where there are only fair people, these things are bound to happen. But these racist acts also are contributed by the behaviours of the Inidans in the Public..the Inidans attract attention themselves for such acts . Racisim is bad, but let us correct ourselves and our system, before we try to correct and change other country system...Jai Hind
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Sacha says: June 10, 2009 at 01:57 AM IST

It is well pointed out by you that our country is not free from the racial discrimination but I don’t see your point here. So what!! Though I totally condemn the ads on TV about dark skin tone and cracking jokes at south-Indians, north-Indians etc. but that has not led to being beaten black & blue and hospitalization of our fellow Indians. And if it has, then it should get the appropriate media attention too. So why the comparison? We all should realize that racial discrimination either in India or Australia should be totally eradicated. So just because we are equally a racist country, should we let our Indian students suffer there in Australia just because they are in minority over there? I think this issue is getting the deserved amount of media support. I really wonder Jug, if you would have the same things to say if one of victims was a part of your family!
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Sriram says: June 10, 2009 at 02:21 AM IST

Hi Jug, hit the nail on the head. I live in the US and am exposed to mild forms of racism. But these clearly pale in comparison to what I face in India. Class, caste, skin color, economics et all. while we condemn OZ racism, mirror is a good object to look at, for a start.
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Sriram says: June 10, 2009 at 02:22 AM IST

Hi Jug, hit the nail on the head. I live in the US and am exposed to mild forms of racism. But these clearly pale in comparison to what I face in India. Class, caste, skin color, economics et all. while we condemn OZ racism, mirror is a good object to look at, for a start.
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norman mcnerny says: June 10, 2009 at 02:29 AM IST

well sir,
as per ur logic, then since we r so racialists ourselves, why on earth are we protesting the aussies? everytime there is a racist attack, lets remind ourselves that we r more racists in our country, so let alone the auusies, britishers. do not complain.
thank u for ur bright and brillinat ideas.in the war, what can we do if some of our own soldiers are giving some of our artileries to the enemy camp?
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K says: June 10, 2009 at 02:34 AM IST

I totally agree with this article.
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KP says: June 10, 2009 at 03:10 AM IST

even though i dont disagree with most of the article, the big difference is we're not killing/ injuring any one type of visitors to our country.
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Harsha says: June 10, 2009 at 03:35 AM IST

I have not gone through all the comments so forgive if there something I said is redundant.
The guy is true. So are all the guys against him. But I think what he means here is, dont just feed on Aussies, Start treating your own country men with respect. He means us to realize the pain, that a victim goes through. Dont just shout slogans against Australia, not that we should not, but also at the same time correct ourselves. The classic, example, When you point a finger there are four other fingers pointing at you.
We all know we wont realize no matter how many articles nor how many propaganda's. We wont change over night like one guy said, we need time. But what the Author says is correct as well. We need to shed light on our own ways of life after this ordeal settles down. We all know which not more than a week. The families will retort by saying, who cares about all this when my kids are going through trauma. True, all this will settle down soon, everything is going to be normal soon. Then what? Nothing wait till the next elections and the ever so ignorant Babu's and politicians will use this to get some more dumb voters to vote for them.
And how Ironic that Bollywood association is taking a so called ACTIVE part in this, by not conducting any shoots in Australia. What ever, one of the biggest racist conglomerate is bollywood.
I applaud the author for bringing up the Fair&Lovely add. The perfect example. When me and my friends get drunk and talk about things, the first thing that comes to our heads is this add we start of with this topic. I think they should ban all the adds that use color as a means to sell their stuff. Its cheap. And obviously will help kids from being embarrassed.

-Peace, A soldier who has no @***ing guts to fight the war at home, and hence hiding in the US of A.
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emberness says: June 10, 2009 at 03:36 AM IST

There are dark skinned South Indians who are cultured and educated and respected. There is no class distinction based on skin colour. There are high caste people who are stereotype.
I think the Aryan idea is a load of rubbish and irrelevant. Apparently Aryans came from the area immediately north or west of India ie central Asian region east of middle east region where the skin colour and appearance is similar to Indians and followed a culture similar to Indegenous Indian culture so there is no grounds for class or caste discrimination there AND NONE OF THIS IS RACISM UNDER ANY DEFINITION OF RACISM Racism is the territory of white people who considered themselves superior and were in a position of advantage ie wealthier or more powerful and is an attitude linked to imperialists of colonial times
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Jaimin says: June 10, 2009 at 03:50 AM IST

You may be right, but its not the right time to take up this point. You should have done this any other time, why did u come up with this now when the issue is more critical with our brothers in Australia. YOU MIGHT JUST NEED SOME FAME BY TAKING UP THIS ISSUE NOW. Now is the time to support our people there and give them mental or moral support. You have media with you,make some optimistic and favourable use of it. Use media to gather people and increase sense of unity in them. But make sure to write something about politicians, who dont act.
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Anusha says: June 10, 2009 at 04:41 AM IST

Hello Jug,

I think your article rings a very true note. I find that discrimination based on color is much less in the US, than in India.

However I would like to point out here that the term Habshi is derived from the Arabic word, Al-Habsh, which stands for Abyssinia... People from Abyssinia were called Habshi. It is true that most of these Abyssinians were brought as slaves/servants/warriors to India, but it was not exactly a derogatory term. It simply denoted their nationality. Maybe over the years, it may have been corrupted, but the word as such is not a pejorative.
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minns says: June 10, 2009 at 05:07 AM IST

I completely agree. And Racism does not leave us even in a foreign land, where supposedly, for the rest of the world at least, we are Indians. But within our own indianisms, we find ourselved divided by the southies, bongs, gujjus, punjus and north indians - the latter including all categories who are fair skinned and don't speak any dravidian language. But don't we bring this racism on ourselves? Look at how the southies just start conversing in their own language, least bothered about the company they are with.. how much more rude can it get? Invite them to a gujju feast.. and they are ready to criticize the use of sugar and the lack of spices as found in their own food...take them to a punjabi gathering and they can't stand women dancing along with strange men... unless we cannot accept and adapt to the diversity of cultures within India itself, its difficult for us to think global. Why are we then blaming the British, Aussies or Americans?
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Barbarian says: June 10, 2009 at 05:10 AM IST

OMG...I cant believe the comments on this article.
Dear Jugal Sariya...I am not sure if you have ever known anything about the life of the students abroad, but for sure I can say you dont really have appropriate and correct information all you know is reading bunch of news paper articles sitting home. I am in Australia for Last 7 years and you cant even imagine the pain the students go through here, not only students but most of the people here they are going through.

Well, if you look at the history, every country has the racism Australia- Abroginals and Aussies, United States- Blacks and Whites and so forth and how come on earth are we talking about Indians being the most racisist people...

Do you know what it is like to know one of your close friend has been bashed who eventually go into Coma and dosnt know if he is going to live or die?
Do you know what kind of trauma parents go through when they hear about their son going through all this?
Do you know how it feels to be laying in a hospital bed stabbed on you back just for couple of dollars or ciggarettes?
Do you know the fear when a group of thugs follow you latenight after coming from work?
Do you know how badly it hurts to be abused ?
Do you know how you feel and what kind of weird thoughts cross your mind when your wife, friend are late from work/University to home?
We know how it feels for all the situtations which we have been through
No you dont know anything all you care is to open a blog type in some sppeech and suprisingly some diplomats around you support you and also supply you with some missing points..I feel very sad for the people who have suffered..

And please for god sake if you dont know please stay there and been a Spectator. Please dont divert the topic and misguide people.

Finally, I would really love to thank and appreciate Mr Sai, Rajesh Verma, M S Sastry and Amogh and for all the people who raised their voices against such a shamefull and disgracefull topic.
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H.Kumar says: June 10, 2009 at 05:33 AM IST

I lived in Australia for 7 years. Australians, Australian police and Courts are 100 times fairer and better than Indian counterparts. Look at how fair their system is when they absolved the Bangalore doctor, Mohamed Hanif even though they had many circunstantial evidence against him. The Indian media always try to raise the bogie of racism when there are some incidents caused by some rowdy elements. Indian media still couldn't come out of the colonial days and, therefore, can see racism only with whites and cannot see it when they are widely practised in India in terms of colour, caste, money,power and social status etc. Our media itself is the biggest culprit practising racism in India and sees racism in the Western Countries forgetting the fact that those countries are having strict and fair set of laws treating everybody equal. Our media's cry is equivalent to Politician Mayawati calling a petty thief as criminal. I know you won't publish this.
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Barbarian says: June 10, 2009 at 05:36 AM IST

OMG...I cant believe the comments on this article.
Dear Jugal Sariya...I am not sure if you have ever known anything about the life of the students abroad, but for sure I can say you dont really have appropriate and correct information all you know is reading bunch of news paper articles sitting home. I am in Australia for Last 7 years and you cant even imagine the pain the students go through here, not only students but most of the people here they are going through.

Well, if you look at the history, every country has the racism Australia- Abroginals and Aussies, United States- Blacks and Whites and so forth and how come on earth are we talking about Indians being the most racisist people...

Do you know what it is like to know one of your close friend has been bashed who eventually go into Coma and dosnt know if he is going to live or die?
Do you know what kind of trauma parents go through when they hear about their son going through all this?
Do you know how it feels to be laying in a hospital bed stabbed on you back just for couple of dollars or ciggarettes?
Do you know the fear when a group of thugs follow you latenight after coming from work?
Do you know how badly it hurts to be abused ?
Do you know how you feel and what kind of weird thoughts cross your mind when your wife, friend are late from work/University to home?
We know how it feels for all the situtations which we have been through
No you dont know anything all you care is to open a blog type in some sppeech and suprisingly some diplomats around you support you and also supply you with some missing points..I feel very sad for the people who have suffered..

And please for god sake if you dont know please stay there and been a Spectator. Please dont divert the topic and misguide people.

Finally, I would really love to thank and appreciate Mr Sai, Rajesh Verma, M S Sastry and Amogh and for all the people who raised their voices against such a shamefull and disgracefull topic.
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mandeep says: June 10, 2009 at 07:04 AM IST

Are you out of your mind......there is many incident happened still you have no sense what has happened. You are typical Gandhi vadi people. Because of yours type people, Indians always seen downward. There are so many problems with others countries also but they never come out and start beating dholes about it. They always feel that they are superior to others and make others to believe like that( haven't you read history, how British impress upon Indians that they are superiors to them and they are so successful at this that still Indians feel like that). Come on yaar....stop giving all this lectures and write something which helps this cause. Be like a Bhagat Singh and not like Gandhi.
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Sridhar says: June 10, 2009 at 07:44 AM IST

I entirely agee with suraiya.
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Sheldon says: June 10, 2009 at 07:47 AM IST

Mate! I live in Australia. And work in law enforcement. So far the only consistent racial abuse I get is from the Indians, the Pakistanis and the Bangladeshis.
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AustralIndian says: June 10, 2009 at 08:01 AM IST

Having lived in Australia for so long I completely agree that the Indian media has blown out the issue of Racism. My question is why only Indian male students are attacked & why not Indian families , are these attacks a result of Indian students getting into drug related gangs or is it because of indian students getting into campus gangs??
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SG says: June 10, 2009 at 08:17 AM IST

Hello Mr. Jug, I use to read your article in TOI in paper editions. I seldom go to News website because I believe, though media is way to connect people and information, it is also a way to brain wash and color people's imagination around the world. The pain and agony of real situation can only be felt by person present in it and not by some columnist sitting a secured house and probably guarded. While writing this feedback to your article, I am highly doubtful that you will read all of them because you like any writer had your opinion on Indian history and you took some chunks ( of course the bad ones) and framed your article. I am not sure if any of your family member have been a victim of racism or a physical assault in a foreign country with no one to help. In that case mostly likely you won't be able to understand the situation of parents and relatives of students who were injured.
Now for the part India being racist, probably you should read your history books or research more on some facts. 1. India is the only country which allowed people from all religion and places in the world to come and do business, learn and reap benefits ( even Jews) who were attacked in most of countries before by Christians and Muslims. 2. The word "habsi" or whatever is that is an urdu word and brought by middle eastern and arabs who invaded India. 3. Indian caste system was the way of living when it was devised during the times of its inception but people in power like in most country used it for their benifits for more power (just like big business men lobby political person for their advantage). 4. Its a genuine question did you ever looked deep into the real situation of India did you ever went across the slums in Mumbai and Kolkatta, don't you think the country with size of india supporting a population of over a billion have enough resources. Being a columnist did you ever tried to write about how to teach the youth to be more nationalistic, love their country as one.
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M. Sodhi says: June 10, 2009 at 08:18 AM IST

Indians are so thin skinned. I was embarrased to see grown Indian men screaming like little girls on the news and then making up lies about Indians being kidnapped, then bashing two innocent members of the public in Sydney. So guilty of what you accuse others of. I'm so shamed.
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Deb says: June 10, 2009 at 08:35 AM IST

@Sheldon
Which means you dont patrol the suburbs where Lebanese live. I have to take it with a pinch of salt that Indians racially abuse you.Do they abuse you because you are a white Aussie?Then those are not Indians.They dont come to Australia and abuse Australians..thats Lebanese.
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A.R.Dolas says: June 10, 2009 at 08:36 AM IST

The matter has already caught up with such huge response from the countrymen and media making it a hard subject to be digested and discussed upon for calling it purely a racial attack. The attacks though termed racist are not true in complete sense. Indians are and will bother the foreign country nationals because of their abilities to adjust and rise above others in the competitive environment. Mostly the Indian who is rated as an average in his own country performs to his best given the proper environment and freedom in other foreign countries. The case remains the same be it in the case of a businessman or as an employee of any organization. Thus he becomes a threat to the local population in the other country in terms of job and competitiveness under the given circumstances. This insecurity amongst the foreign countrymen is coming out in the form of direct attack on Indian nationals as a desperate measure, which is reported as a racial attack. It is like facing danger ends on both sides of a cliff. We have to stand strong and fight for the just cause and back our brethren in Australia.
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Toronto Dude says: June 10, 2009 at 08:38 AM IST

These days the Indian diaspora is abash with news on Aussie racism. I have never been to Aussieland but often heard Aussies are racists and use lots of slangs. I personally faced isolated incidence of racism in US, but never made hue and cry as I see thousand other Americans really good regardless of skin color. In Canada, which shares same British heritage as Australia scores better on this. I feel we should never judge people of any land through eyes of Hindu extremists, Muslim fundamentalists and White Christian supremacists. Indians are accustomed to isloated inland racist incidents thansk to Tamil fanatics, Bengali snobbists, North Indian racists, Kashmiri and Assamese terrorists, Marathi extremists, Bihari hoondlums but common people in these region don’t bother; they earn living through toil and hard work. I shamefully remember Aussie Graham Steins was burnt alive and foreigners are raped and duped in India, and note that LTTE was worst terrorist organization and Hindu…Shame to Aussie criminals and also shame to Indian criminals..All criminals are same irrespective of race and color…that’s the bottomline. I serious pledge the diaspora to think before labelling a entire community or country a racist or terrorist or snake charmers, likewise…Terrorism has no religion and racism has no country either. Unfortunately, the articles is in bad taste seeminly as India offers "non-violent" racism--the white Aryans never quashed Black tribals and Dravidians to marginality in likes of Aussie Aboriginies and Red Indians; heck I know how Indian treats Blacks (kala) with disdain, stereotyping them as thugs and own countrymen from North East as Chinaman(Chinkies)...But shame on Jug for being equally prejudicied against brown aam admi..afterall most Indians are hard working class away from political looters and social hooters (read media)....
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Ninad Vartak (Richmond, Virginia, USA) says: June 10, 2009 at 08:39 AM IST

You have raised some very interesting issues and I believe most of the issues need to be fixed as Indians look forward to playing a bigger role on a global stage. But I am not sure if it fits into the same vane as what it happening in Australia today.

First off, most things you have called out are born out of "prejudices" or "regional differences", not racism. Secondly, in Australia Indian students are getting killed because of racism. None of the things you have called out actually have lead to people killing other people who have attributes (e.g. different region or dark etc) they don't like. Even most aggressive of the movements (e.g. Shivsena) haven't resorted to such killing sprees.

I am not clear why you would like to connect the Australian killings to the issues you have raisd. In fact you owe an apology to the families who have lost their loved ones.

In fact if this had happened to a US citizen, govenment would have taken a stern stance. I am surprized with the stance of Indian government (read this as not aggressive enough).

But solving such issues have significant problems since most racists are so deep rooted in thier beliefs that no government can change their way of thinking. Also, such crimes are difficult to trace.

Only thing Indians can do is to look for alternatievs to Australia. If anything, this means Australians will loose the $13BN Indian student industry. With that we may see some actions from Australian government.

Also, most people have to learn to ignore the racist comments (similar to ignoring barking dogs) - but that doesn't take care of any other issues like physical harm. Racism a difficult issue to solve - most countries that have came close to solve it (e.g. South Africa, USA etc), have taken at least 3-4 generations. Best thing one can do is to stay away from the regions that are recists and government should go ahead with trade restrictions (e.g. South African cricket team ban).

Thanks,

Ninad
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Prapti says: June 10, 2009 at 08:42 AM IST

I completely agree with Jug. We are racist! The article hits the nail in the head!
However, I am also realising that racisim also somehow has been working to our advantage. While I have been subjected to some mild as well as real blatent racist comments during my stay overseas, I have also encountered multitudes of foreigners on being introduced to me asking "Hey tell me one thing...How come Indians are so smart?!!! There is atleast one Indian sitting on the top chairs of all the Big corporations and business houses." Needless to say these guys will then be extra careful during any discussion with you just so that they are not caught on the wrong foot while dealing with an Indian brain!
Whilst, I have been very bitter in the past about the racist overtures that I have received because of my skin color, I am slowly realising "It has its advantages!!!". I'd rather people discriminate me for being smarter than their countrymen, rather than for having a different skin color vis a vis their country men and ofcourse women.
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Tanvi Shah says: June 10, 2009 at 08:45 AM IST

Excellent article..couldnt agree more..
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Raj says: June 10, 2009 at 08:51 AM IST

White countries are very severely biased and racist against country like India whom they consider lower in many ways human intelligence, physical appearance, culture, food and poor socio-economic conditions. As an Indian you suffer racist attacks, discrimination and prejudice no matter which part of the world you immigrate. India is perceived as poor and backward country in the world because negative portrayal by biased western media for several decades. Indian Diaspora is so huge like 50 million people across the globe. Indo-phobia is on rise as Indians are most visible minority in the Europe, America, Australia, Middle-East and even Asia. Indian economic growth and countries affluence can change this, start make your country rich, contain population growth, have better politicians to manage the affairs of the country, a more transparent and accountable country, only than the situation will improve. If Indians migrate to other parts of the world they are prone to attacks from the unemployed, criminal elements of the society as they consider them job stealers. India needs aggressive campaign to market the country as progressive and modern country, not the country with caste problems, poverty, female infanticide, riots and religious violence which damages the countries reputation overseas. Learn to highlight your achievements from western media.
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Elise says: June 10, 2009 at 08:55 AM IST

11 cases in total, I think it is pathetic that people are ranting and raving about it being "racially motivated", there would be at least that amount of attacks on people per day throughout the entire country of Australia. These attacks aren't only on people of Indian decent. These crimes happen throughout the whole world, I wouldn't be so quick to judge my country (Australia) as racist. Concentrate on the issues within your own country, they are far far worse than what is going on in Australia. P.S I wouldn't call Australia unimportant, it may be misconstrued as racism....
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zain says: June 10, 2009 at 09:00 AM IST

Dear Sheldon,

Good to know that you work in the Law Enforcement of Australia and about your feedback.

Therefore according to your feedback.....which I think would have formed after many reporting to your departments....why was not task force or a commitee formed till today.

Was your dept waiting for a CATASTROPHIC EVENT to take place.

Was your dept waiting for few students to lose their lives

Was your dept not concerned about Indian Pakistanis and Bangladeshis...

there are many question.

you can answer atleast few of them
We
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Praveen says: June 10, 2009 at 09:05 AM IST

I am an Indian living in US and I feel i am more safer here in USA than in India anyday.There we dont even have a law that protects us.....North Indians feel they are the most fairest of all......Indians behave more ruder to people and dont mix with main stream so retaliation is bound to happen......I have been mugged abroad and also looked down upon becos of my skin but i dont expect much from them anyways but it hurts when your own countrymen look down upon you....
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Reema says: June 10, 2009 at 09:06 AM IST

Most of what you said is true....but , without sounding too rude, you are wayyyy too anti-India, being an Indian yourself! You have conveniently skipped the white-black episodes in the US (the umpteen news stories that travelled during the recent elections), the divide between "aristocratic" French and the "baker" French, Thailand where whitening creams sell more than baby food, Burmese Junta who completely refuse to acknowledge the Rohingya community as being Burmese....the list goes on!!
It's not fair to blame ourselves or our fellow Indians for the crimes committed on our own people..
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shravan says: June 10, 2009 at 09:11 AM IST

I have lived in Mumbai for 22 years. I have never lived in another metro before. The author has got it completely wrong. Addressing a Marwari as a Marru. A North East India as Chinky eyes isn't rasicst at all. We are just generalizing them or jus making light fun. We are not denying them their rights or bashing them up. Never in Bombay have I seen such an incident that there has been a difference between a Marathi and a Gujarati (except in Govt. offices and and when cops catch you on the road. The Marathis get away with the fine). I agree with you on the Dalit point, but the rest of your article is very naive.
Shravan, Mumbai
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Tinku says: June 10, 2009 at 09:11 AM IST

This writer is either a lier or has a depreciated mind. Firstly, cast system in ancient india was based on occupation not on colour, race etc. Secondly, indians r obsessed about lot of thinks, ie white colour, western culture. This is due to lot of factors not related to indian culture. Major factor being colonial rule for a v long time. Most of india wa occupied by foreign invadors for v long period, & locals were msitreated for what they were. Local indian culture was the target. They were humiliated due to their relious beliefs embranding hindu history as mythology & fair skinned invadors ruling india since BCE. After independence this has continued as hindus r embranded as fasists & communal & ignorant. This has added to degradation of hindu society. What has happened in Australia is part of same drama of trying to insult the indians for what they r. All the attacks r on Indians (not Paki's, Bagladashis). Indians r being attacked for their cultural beiefs, languages, food habits, living habits etc. Media is part of this as is the case of this slave indian writer (so called).
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Vinod Nambiar says: June 10, 2009 at 09:13 AM IST

So true... Frankly speaking it is perfectly ok for Gujju jains to taunt people who eat non-veg even disallow them to enter into the housing society. Same goes to Marathis for attack against Biharis. Infact, we have gone a step ahead with reservation system and have people taking adantage of such system and use it to their luxury.

We are nothing but a bunch of Hypocrats. Something like Aussies sledging. If we do.. then its ok, but when someone does it to us, its not ok. Craaap !!!!
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mia says: June 10, 2009 at 09:19 AM IST

It maybe called racism In Australia, but in India its called CASTE SYSTEM. Castes like other-backward-castes, scheduled-caste, scheduled-tribes, NE people etc are looked down upon and many times harassed, as if they are inferior race. These things are worse than racism and the rest of the world hardly knows this.
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Sanjiv says: June 10, 2009 at 09:21 AM IST

Your article states the obvious but does anything justify bigotry regardless of what form it takes? We use colour and caste. Caucasians use race, colour and another lately popular category 'nationality' to discriminate.
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sam says: June 10, 2009 at 09:25 AM IST

well.. u talking about racism in colour. Wat about the caste difference in India. Can the higher caste people sit together with lower class and eat with the same vessels. When that happen in india then we can talk or criticis about australia.... funny indians !!
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Mike says: June 10, 2009 at 09:26 AM IST

From the Australian news reports it would seem that the attacks are not racially motivated per se, but is a result of an ongoing law and order issue in that part of western Sydney. There is a problem with Middle Eastern youths rooming the streets causing trouble. Unfortunately some of the Indians have taken it upon themselves to attack people of Middle Eastern appearance. This will only result in retaliation by the Middle Eastern groups, which will make things worse.
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mithali says: June 10, 2009 at 09:29 AM IST

Hi,

Strange !!! but true...One has to accept this truth that in Indian North Indian doesnt like South Indian. If you are abroad, in Indian community we can easily make out that they keep south Indians separate from their activities.

SO IF THIS IS THE FATE IF INDIANS , HOW THEY CAN PROTEST AGAINST OUTSIDER ?
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Jayakrishnan says: June 10, 2009 at 09:42 AM IST

Indians should first learn to treat fellow Indians with dignity and respect. Isn't addressing someone as Bihari,Madrasi and Mallu are not act of racism..? Its a known fact whispering campaings always goes against traits and habbits of other sate people goes behind them always, even inside Indian offices.I have seen poor laboureres from Bihar are treated like animals in the Capital city of India. Is this not recism..? Isn't the act of Bal Thakery and Rajthakery targeting fellow Indians and killing them are racism...?
The Autralian incidents are more vandalism than racism, I believe.
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grenvill rana says: June 10, 2009 at 09:44 AM IST

mate!i've lived in australia for 5 years...being indian had problems only with indians (especially
north indians) not any other nationality..
i have noticed that community skills are nil,very aggressive in nature and think its their local backstreet.they need to change before asking others to change or go back
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Jayan Nair says: June 10, 2009 at 09:47 AM IST

Im not sure why this hype is going on. To put it bluntly - white men's English speaking democracies are the places that, given a chance, most of us Indians would love to be almost permanently. USA, Canada, England, Australia etc. A few incidents should not blind us. Criminals and violent youth are there everywhere. For a change, we should look at the racism amongst us and also the real racism faced by Indians in the Gulf countries. Here the Labour laws are close to slavery. A small fight with and Arab can land you in jail - Saudi, Dubai, Kuwait -its all the same story - more or less. Oh, lampooning the abusive and closed Arab mentality is not as fashionable as putting a generally free and generally fair Australia under the microscope!
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Kumar K says: June 10, 2009 at 09:55 AM IST

Sreesanth and his friends had a drunken brawl with his neighbours in Bengaloooru. (hope i did not miss out any u or o - another of our favourite nonsense - renaming history!).

Anyway, since Sreesanth is from Kerala and he was abusive in Karnataka, can this is be Sub regional racism. lol.
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bull says: June 10, 2009 at 10:04 AM IST

i live abroad and have seen how our own countrymen disgrace us with the way they behave....the only guys selling illegal booze on the streets in the middle of the night in barcelona are indians....the only guys staring at women like they were some animal are indians....the only people creating havoc in a restaurant are indians...the only kid howling in an airport is an indian...the only people trying to cheat the other is an indian...the only person with no traffic sence is an indian...c'mon guys , first you behave like illeterates and then expect people to respect you??? i know that everyone is not the same and the innocent get caught in the crossfire...but have you guys ever reflected on yourselves ....be the change you want to see in the world ....be inspired by what Gandhiji had said !!
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Ray L says: June 10, 2009 at 10:04 AM IST

Can anyone name a major Indian movie star that has dark skin? I may be wrong but all the major roles in Hindi movies seem to go to actors with a fair skin. Perhaps the real problem is that until iitself deals with the racism within its borders then they may be able to see that the Indian society in its present form is hardly acceptable
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bull says: June 10, 2009 at 10:06 AM IST

i live abroad and have seen how our own countrymen disgrace us with the way they behave....the only guys selling illegal booze on the streets in the middle of the night in barcelona are indians....the only guys staring at women like they were some animal are indians....the only people creating havoc in a restaurant are indians...the only kid howling in an airport is an indian...the only people trying to cheat the other is an indian...the only person with no traffic sence is an indian...c'mon guys , first you behave like illeterates and then expect people to respect you??? i know that everyone is not the same and the innocent get caught in the crossfire...but have you guys ever reflected on yourselves ....be the change you want to see in the world ....be inspired by what Gandhiji had said !!
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Anubhav Mishra says: June 10, 2009 at 10:07 AM IST

Hello Mr. columnist,

Don't you think you are diverting yourself from the main subject(rudimentary problem in India). Its because we lost a lot of people in war, lets loose some more soldiers or civilians. you are talking in this manner because you are not there at the receiving end in australia and you started digging your own history. Better take some lesson and save thme through your good repo in the reporting world. Do something and then put the examples in front of others and then you will get the right to comment on any of those things. One cannot feel what is the temperature running outside, in the AC room. I'm not very good at my english but hope you will get what i'm trying to say. Dig out the problem , why this thing is happening? People are going to Australia not only for studies, most of the people are going there so that they can settle down there vice versa why Australia is calling foreign students for their universities and then facilitating them with job and rights because they are earning revenues not for India's development. So case is equal for both end. Lets raise the voice and defend our people because these are our people. the things which you described its our internal problem we can solve it by setting examples like this, by showing solidarity to the world.
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Varadarajan Mudaliar says: June 10, 2009 at 10:10 AM IST

I don't disagree with the points you've made but comparing the racism of India which is hurtful and annoying to the racism of the West where one must fear random acts of violence or death is comparing apples and oranges. India's racism towards foreigners doesn't take on the violent form.
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digit saikia says: June 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM IST

We demand the Australian government to take strict action against those who committed such crime against Indian students. But having said that I must also blame those Indians who discriminates their fellow Indians on the basis of caste, ethnicity, looks and what not. We dont want to be discriminated abroad because we are minority there, then why discriminate others when you become a part of the majority in your own country?
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Ashok says: June 10, 2009 at 10:14 AM IST

Thoughtless analysis and confused thinking Mr. Jug. Any time somebody makes a broad sweeping statement like "Indians are the worst" etc. I have to cringe. We are human beings and have faults like everybody else and have plenty to fix in our society, the big ones being demographic pressure, poverty, environment etc.
If we are the worst, then why not declare "open season" on all Indians everywhere. Take it to the logical extreme; all Indians should be gassed starting with children. World War 2 was fought on that basis. Are you Mr. Jug, the only non racist Indian in the world? Have you been in apartheid South Africa? The violence and State sponsored terror on a spectacular scale was ignored for a long time by US, UK and Aus. Making sweeping statements demeans the issue. One has to introspect and make sure that justice is done both at home AND raise the issue elsewhere. And we cannot include every epithet uttered by everybody, either in jest or anger and criminalize it. We all say silly things but very few actually convert it into a crime. And all violent crimes is not racism; just violent crimes demanding the same justice. The very fact that we are talking about our local problems openly and addressing it albeit slowly, is a start. Australia is doing the same, they are not denying it.
On a final note; we should try to put ancient history aside, because we can get stuck there. Similarly, one cannot call all current day Aussies "children of criminals" as it is an unfair statement.
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Kulwinder Rao says: June 10, 2009 at 10:17 AM IST

What you write is true. Perhaps we are more racist than others because of the society in which we grow up. Our governance system has propagated castism in the name of affirmative action. We have divided the society and continue to do so. I wonder in how many countries in the World; Police records your caste while filing a report. Racial stereotyping is everywhere Bhayyias, Madrasis, Sardars, SCs, et all. Lets face it, the truth is you see only your own image in the mirror. However disquieting it may be!
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Anubhav Mishra says: June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM IST

Hello Mr. Jug,

Don't you think you are diverting yourself from the main subject(rudimentary problem in India). Its because we lost a lot of people in the war, lets loose some more soldiers or civilians. you are talking in this manner because you are not there at the receiving end in Australia and you started digging your own history. Better take some lesson and save them through your good repo in the reporting world. Do something and then put the examples in front of others and then you will get the right to comment on any of those things. I'm not very good at my english but hope you can understand what i'm trying to say. Dig out the problem, why this thing is happening? People are going to Australia not only for studies, most of the people are going there so that they can settle down there vice versa why Australia is calling foreign students for their universities and then facilitating them with job and rights because they are earning revenues not for India's development. So case is equal for both end. Lets raise the voice and defend our people because these are our people. the things which you described its our internal problem we can solve it by setting examples like this, by showing solidarity to the world.
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Deeps says: June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM IST

I completely agree with Suraiya this is exactly the first tihng which comes to my mind when people speak about racism in UK and US.Even there is descrimination between people who hail from different parts of same state.In Kerala people hails form Northern Kerala are considered far superior to people from Southern Kerala.Even to the extent in which people coming from northern part dont accept proposals from Southern region.So this kind of descrimination is so deep in us that why are we complaining about "Goras"?
Showing descrimination and getting beaten up by racisnm is differen,I agree. The other day i saw our minister declaring in NDTV that he dont consider attacks to Indian student ncommunity as Racist attacks but as criminal attacks so the families of victims first get our ministry to react against such attacks strongly.
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Gopi says: June 10, 2009 at 10:27 AM IST

Truly said...there's someone saying the truth which is bitter and irritating yet it's the fact...
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s says: June 10, 2009 at 10:33 AM IST

Cabbie faces court over boy's injury14:47 AEST Wed Jun 10 200927 minutes agoVIEWS: 0| FLOCKS: 0| 0 comments so farMore national news: Australia best prepared for flu: Rudd
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Jun 10, 2009
A taxi driver accused of running over a teenage fare evader has faced an Adelaide court.

The 15-year-old boy's leg was amputated after he was allegedly run over by Baljeet Singh in the city's west in April.

Singh, 21, appeared briefly in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with leaving the accident scene after causing serious harm, and causing harm by dangerous driving.

The court was told Singh is seeking permanent Australian residency, and was due to take a language test this weekend.

The court ordered Singh's lawyer take custody of his client's passport and adjourned the
Have a look at this you stupid people.
Indians are worst .They deserve the treatment they are getting.
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swim says: June 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM IST

I think you have no understanding of wesern countries. They have classes instead of castes and have always had them. If you r born in one class you will always be treated the same way by people from higher classes no matter how much wealth u accumulate. Also there is a regional divide in each country. It is silly for you to even think that it is the case only in India. Please do some research before bashing your own country people. Develop some self esteem mr surya and all others who are quick to put caste and regionalism as India specific problems.
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pradeep menon says: June 10, 2009 at 10:35 AM IST

Hi,
what have u been drinking before writing this article, it is pretty strong stuff.Anybody in their right senses will never equate what can at best be termed as mild prejudice with the senseless racist attacks on the poor indian student community.Your article is in poor taste and badly timed.

We as a country have total contradictions in fact it is a miracle that we exist as a nation.We dont care what happens to fellow indians anywhere. We shy away from a fight all the time.A nation of cowards and betrayers.
I dont know the future of this country when will we indans wake up? We need more right thinking people in media not agents of the western view as most of our english language journalists are but people with independent thinking. Our freedom came at a heavy price hope everyone remember that fact. Our future is one of hope and fear.
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Sumit Garg says: June 10, 2009 at 10:36 AM IST

so very true....

it took me 3 years to know that indians are so very racist...
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Madhukar Tanna says: June 10, 2009 at 10:36 AM IST

Dear Jug,
By puting catchy title and speaking on behalf of all Indians, you have raised the controversy at a wrong time. We are taling about physical abuse on younge Indian students here -You have completely missed the point and time to raise an important issue
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Jomesh James says: June 10, 2009 at 10:38 AM IST

I can't agree with Jug' more. India is littered with Racism, Castism & Religious divide.
I have been to many western nations & I observe that there is a lot more tolerance and grace shown in western countries towards outside people. You can see many Blacks & asians getting recognition in their national sports teams. having said that, there are thugs in every society & country. I completely condemn those thugs who attacked Indians in Australia. But having read some of the comments in the blog - that we in India dont beat up others, I would like to list down just a few of the more recent happenings in India:-
- Attacks on foreigners in Goa (reported rapes & even murders).
- Murders of foreign missionaries in India.
- Gujarat riots- killing people targetting them based on religion.
- Kandhamal violence killing innocents.
- Innumerous cases of rapes, attacks & murders on the India citizens from North-East - the so called Chinkis in Delhi
- Treatment of African students in Delhi universities.
- Attacks on (literally thrashing) North-Indians in Maharashtra.

Hope remembering just a few of these incidents open our own eyes before accusing other countries.
There sis a famous proverb "remove the wooden log in your own eyes before pointing at the dust in your neighbours' eyes". & "Those who have never committed crime may come forward & throw stone at an accused".
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Ashutosh Agrawal says: June 10, 2009 at 10:39 AM IST

On the outset article looks very intellectual, but is totally off-track and misleading. Author has confused discussing our differences as racism. Racism is when one person hates another based on some perceived difference. The element of hatred is important in racism. There are other misleading points too in the article.

Its not true when people say that for instance, a north Indian doesn’t like a south Indian and other stuff. Its not dislike, but a innate tendency of human to protect themselves in unfamiliar situations or with unfamiliar people. Humans wrap themselves in a protective cocoon, avoiding any conflict. Its later when ice breaks and slowly people get comfortable with each other, they lower their guard and start mixing.
I have worked both in various parts of India and internationally and let me say that it takes time to break down barriers, but that is not racism.

The author has totally disregarded the element of violence. A person can ignore a racial remark, because he knows that not all persons are like that. But when you are getting beaten up for that in random (its not politically motivated) and no one is coming to rescue, then things are different. And over that if law enforcement agencies fail to bring justice, then something is amiss at deeper level.

Every country has right to protect its citizens in another country and also every person has right to defend himself. My heart goes out to students in Australia and their family who are bearing brunt of hatred and still holding on.
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Abhinav says: June 10, 2009 at 10:43 AM IST

What is happening in Australia is really a gloomy situation and it is expected in the turbulent economic situation but definitely can not be forgiven. At the same time, politicians should stop blaming the Australian government and have a look at how foreigners are treated/misbehaved in India at most of the places. Even for Indians, living in any city of India is far more dangerous than living in Australia. You never know which public transport is going to run over you, you might be killed by your own fellow Indians for burglary, murders happen here every day. In any given city of India on any given day how many people are killed is such incidents. Everyone knows what that figure would be. Put a stop to such incidents in home country first, so that people might not think about migrating to places like Australia.
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Deepak says: June 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM IST

Wao... Shame Jug ...
That means .. we should not say anything to Indian students being beaten, thrashed, mugged in Australia... Just throw some more shoes on their faces because back in India ..their fellow country men are racist ... VERY GOOD....

now.. can you tell me why you have raise dthis issue now ... shouldn't our priority be saving those innocent students ??? don't you think by studying abroad and going places would relaese them of our traditional narrow-mindedness !!!
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Suman says: June 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM IST

Dear Sir,
While you made your point quite nicely, at the end you suggested that type casting in Indian society has been done by our society (which I guess was implicit) but what about Bollywood movies hammering the same streotypes year after year..what is the censor board doing?
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tasneem says: June 10, 2009 at 10:51 AM IST

You said it so rightly. Dont forget reality shows like sa re ga ma pa where the entire state/region are urged to vote for their "son/daughter" of the land. Judges blatantly show affinity to contestants belonging to their region. Even at Yale, when PC Chidambran was introduced as a fellow Tamillian Brahmin by an Indian HOD!! I almost fainted.
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Ruchit says: June 10, 2009 at 10:54 AM IST

If Indian students wanna avoid racism then they should avoid studying abroad. For proffesionals it is a different story though and they have to travel because of work reasons.
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ruc hit says: June 10, 2009 at 11:00 AM IST

@sam isn't eating in the same vessel gross no matter what is the caste of the other person.Yuk!!
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X Y Z says: June 10, 2009 at 11:01 AM IST

Beautifully written.
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Satish Gopinathan says: June 10, 2009 at 11:04 AM IST

Dear Jug,

This is one of the best topic I have read in recent times. A racist understands racist better. We have for ages believed and practiced "VARNA" in our society and becuase of that it takes us "Indians" not much time to understand a racist behaviour.
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INDIAN says: June 10, 2009 at 11:05 AM IST

WE CAN CALL OURSELVES EMANCIPATED FROM RACISM IN INDIA. 1) WHEN A DALIT OR A NORTH EAST INDIAN BECOMES A PM.( LIKE OBAMA IN US) 2) ALL CASTE BASED SURNAMES ARE BANNED IN ALL APPLICATIONS 3) WHEN WE STOP CHEATING WOMEN BY WORSHIPING HER AS GOD BUT KEEPING HER IN HER PLACE 4) WHEN WE START RESPECTING HER AS EQUAL.
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Dhiraj says: June 10, 2009 at 11:10 AM IST

"Ghar ka Bhedi Lanka Dhaye"......This is what you are trying to do.This is the time when we have to stand up together as an Indian.This is not the time when you have to dig up the past.Indian society is changing.But this will not happen in a fortnight.It will take time.I agree that we have some problems inside like..North Indian and South Indian..but when it comes about our country all North Indians as well as South Indians stands up together.We have many examples of this...
So please all of you...Be a true Indian..
Jai Hind.
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bull says: June 10, 2009 at 11:15 AM IST

i live abroad and have seen how our own countrymen disgrace us with the way they behave....the only guys selling illegal booze on the streets in the middle of the night in barcelona are indians....the only guys staring at women like they were some animal are indians....the only people creating havoc in a restaurant are indians...the only kid howling in an airport is an indian...the only people trying to cheat the other is an indian...the only person with no traffic sence is an indian...c'mon guys , first we behave like illiterates and then expect people to respect us??? i know that everyone is not the same and the innocent get caught in the crossfire...but have you guys ever reflected on yourselves ....be the change you want to see in the world ....be inspired by what Gandhiji had said !!
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Sipahi says: June 10, 2009 at 11:18 AM IST

Jug Suraiya , You talk about 'Fairness Cream' and say we are racial. Jaggu remember they are commercial products and want sell to the public, they dont care for your sentiments, selling the product is their first concern. So you cat label us racist on their stupid marketing tactics perhaps you belong to that stupid category yourself. Voilence is a different games altogether, no matter what we say and do in India we dont attack students. I wish you were one of these students who have suffered at the hands of 'Goras' then your attitude towards the whole episode will change !!!
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danny says: June 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM IST

I agree with Jug. I live in bahrain, a clear example of racisim is for the people frm state of karnataka requier 3 social club. They can't b united in 1 club. 1 dominated by Kanadika,1 dominated by manglorian christian another by tulu speeking from DK.If,living away from your country this is the senario i can just imagine how racist are we in our land??????
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danny says: June 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM IST

I agree with Jug. I live in bahrain, a clear example of racisim is for the people frm state of karnataka requier 3 social club. They can't b united in 1 club. 1 dominated by Kanadika,1 dominated by manglorian christian another by tulu speeking from DK.If,living away from your country this is the senario i can just imagine how racist are we in our land??????
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Anant Jain says: June 10, 2009 at 11:39 AM IST

Well fair enough...we Indians are racist of highest order...and it is deeply ingrained into our culture that we don't even acknowledge that we are racist. But does that mean that we are going to be treated like dogs accross the world, does that give Aussies a valid reason to assault Indians or is there behaviour a direct result of the various Indian casts treat each other? It is actually a commercial deal which Aussies are honouring. They come here, launch a high pitched campaign to attract the rich Indian students for their universities not out of any compassion or favour but for the moolah they would inject in the receding Australian economy. Indian students buy there promises, pay the hefty fee demanded from them and land up in Australia. They are peace loving and hardworking- almost a model immigrant. However having gobbeled up their hard earned dollars Aussies suddenly realise that they are black, short, bad looking, they smell of curry, ready to menial jobs at lesser price, speak different language (although they speak English as well), laugh loudly, talk loudly, dare to flash their I Pods and Laptops and above all more brainy hence a direct threat to local Aussies. Since they non-threatning types so bash them batter them. Well why? Did'nt your Govt. knew about Indians before inviting them? Afetr all If have paid the money you had asked for I do deserve to be treated well and since you are enjoying my dollars you got to put with me and my culture. It is a simple give and take deal. After all they are not indulging in any illeagal activity, are they? The problem is in the psyche of Australians, they respect the Individuals who have balls and guts. Who can stand up to them. Without respect there is no fear and without fear there is no love. So if Indian wish to respected they need to show some guts and take on Aussies or who so ever. If this means some guys will loose their lives then so be it.
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Jai says: June 10, 2009 at 11:40 AM IST

Jug Suraiya has the special ability to turn everything on it's head to please his white masters. It's not the average Indian who is racist Jug, it's people like you who promote these ideas for vested interests. How much do you get paid Jug to promote the Aryan Dravidian divide with the Aryan Invasion Theory? Time and again he comes up with the stupidest of articles. I wonder why times continues to hire him. I'm going to stop purchasing times because of Jug Suraiya. He always has the stupidest of opinions on things. Another time he was equating Disciplined Military with common criminals suggesting criminals be recruited into the Army for their "proven" aggressive behaviour, as if thats what it takes to be in the military. Is it so easy to become a journalist at Times of India that a complete moron like Jug gets in? Times could do better hiring a 5th grader than this moron of man who is aptly named Jug because that's what his head is, an empty vessel. He exploits a position of power where he holds much influence and uses it to do tremendous harm to the unity of India.
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Ken says: June 10, 2009 at 11:42 AM IST

Hi Jug,
Agree with all of your points. There is, however, another point abour what Indians are facing in Australia (I can tell because I live here):

The society here is more permissive than back home in India. New students are likely to assume that its a haven for debauchery of all kinds. Unfortunately, its not so.
Indians are also very loud in public. This is considered inappropriate out here. Talking loudly in a native tongue (and heaven knows we have plenty of them!) definitely causes negative sentiments against us.
My point is that just as in India we would expect "outsiders" to observe the local culture and values, so do the Aussies here.
We must bring India with us to Australia, but only in our hearts, not make it obvious in public.
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Raj says: June 10, 2009 at 11:47 AM IST

reading this opinion i would totally agree
but i think there is a far greater problem regarding Indians and their families living abroad in Western countries
many come to Canada, UK, or US and raise children
me being Canadian myself but born of Indian parents i continually feel these struggles constantly
we struggle to fit in society
us wanting to be social,party and date white ppl
i want to date but we are told that the white race
and me being an Indian boy, white girls are 'dirty, engage in wrong behaviour at the teen age, their cleaning habits differ than ours, kissing is wrong, they eat meat' and so on
isnt that racism in itself?
but no its just 'we want to preserve our cultural values' thats what Indian paretns tell their kids
if they really wanted that they shouldve brought us up in India
its ridiculous us Indian youth who want to still be Hindu but date others are forbidden to do so
we want the awkwardness to end and the acceptance to begin but most Indian parents forbid us to do so
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shah says: June 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM IST

Mr. Jug Surya - racism and discrimination is everywher but the violent physical attack is totally unacceptable.
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Anup Gupta says: June 10, 2009 at 12:01 PM IST

Mr. Jug....Whatever u have written is the fact..and I agree with you.But this is not the right time to write all these things....We should be unite at this time as Indians....We have our own problem and we will tackle it by ourselves.....but please don't try to dilutue this matter...about racial treatment in Australia or anywhere else in the world by just higlighting our internal issues...okay.please
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Bosci says: June 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM IST

Hey Jug ..i partly agree with you,even though i've never been a victim of racism..i do feel the fairness cream advertisements adds to the tension and the dilemma faced by thousands of indian women even now.Racism is inherent in indian as evidenced by the caste system.However, the caste system only divides the people into different cadres of superiorty.No indian culture encourages or even speaks of superiority to be administered with violence and acts of agression against those who belong to lower castes.What is happening in Australia is beyond reconciliation, and probably it has been so for quiet a while and never came up until the recent string of violence against indian students, that is totally unacceptable.
As far as existence of racism in India goes, yes we probably almost always desire the fair-skinned people when looking for a post in a company, or looking for a match online or an ad in the matrimonial column..however a lot of the "attitude" has changed among most people..in sensible ones atleast and hopefully the fairness creams advertisment and marketing team will use their heads in coming up with a better ad..but nothing as serious to call us racists...:)
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Desh says: June 10, 2009 at 12:08 PM IST

This is absurd piece of article. I have friends from Kerala, whom we call 'Mallu', friends from Gujarat, whom we call 'Gujjus', friends from U.P. whom we call 'Bhaiyya'. That does not make me racist since these guys are good close friends of mine since long.
The main difference, Mr. Jug is that a person in Bangalore does not stab a 'Chinky' from Nagaland for hate. A person in Pune does not beat a 'Madrasi' to coma for hate. Tell me, when did you last time hear someone in Delhi or Kanpur telling a 'Gulti' from Andhra to "Leave our state, because you are black".
Calling people by names of 'Bhaiyya', 'Sardar' or 'Anna' does not make Indians more racist, as you say...
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Bunny says: June 10, 2009 at 12:08 PM IST

For more on this issue check up on 'Race against caste' at this link
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Subverse/Race-against-caste/articleshow/4636449.cms
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Devaraj Bhat says: June 10, 2009 at 12:17 PM IST

Australia is a country with 2 crore ppl. as per the estimate around a lakh student studing in Melbourne alone. so after the studies they will settle there only. this is the reason why the local ppl are afraid of their future! may be they won't get job in their own country!! here in INDIA ppl won't like if the north indian comes and works in Mumbai or a south indian works in any of the north indian states, then how can the they expect Australians to treat us well.
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Matt says: June 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM IST

I completely agree with you Jug,
but this is not a good time to discuss the issue, just because you got a topic for your artical...!!!
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Biju George says: June 10, 2009 at 12:22 PM IST

I wondered whether we do have a non-biased opinion on such a sensitive issue. I almost combed all the major news websites and posted my opinions which were gladly not posted by them. After reading this blog I do believe we do have compatriots who see the other side of the coin. We are so eager to jump into the bandwagon of foreign racial abuses on our people where as denies rape and attacks on foreign students happening in our own home land as isolated incidences. Incidences where the hooligans claims our superior culture and rapes a foreign student is brushed off and ignored. It’s so easy to demean and instigate hatred but we fail to see that people like Lakshmi Mittal, Bobby Jindal, Arun Sarin, Swaraj Paul and so on lead and decide the fate of millions of these racial westerners where the presence of Sonia Gandhi in the party affairs stinks so much to the so called non-racial us. Funny thing is we distinguish ourselves within our country and biasing exists to the core when it comes helping people from our own states. Ask the migrants from other states in almost any city in India and you can get stories of discrimination. When marathis claim biharis taking away their jobs even though they both belong to the same country, think of what can happen across borders. Let’s quit all these racially abusive and culturally inferior country and return back to our mother land where even heaven seems to be belittled by the amount of warmth and brotherhood shown between hindus and muslims, sikhs and deras, yadavs and dalits, gujjars and meenas, and the list goes on.
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jude says: June 10, 2009 at 12:26 PM IST

I do agree...but to an extent. I dont hink indians are as racist as the australians...were are more peace loving as well.
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Esther Famhoite says: June 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM IST

I totally agree with your coverage on how Indians are so racist to people in their own country such as NORTH EAST INDIANS, South Indians, and African students. It is high time that Indians should truly know about their very own racism. "Before pointing fingers, always look within for the answers."
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B.L.N.MURTHY says: June 10, 2009 at 12:32 PM IST

It is armchair experts like this who comment on anything under the earth without knowing the ground realities who weaken our case .Does he mean that our students in Australia should consider them selves fortunate for being beaten by the white racists ? As regards having concern for Australian social &cultural sensitivities , has anyone ever advised these whites regarding our sensibilities when they come and misbehave in India? Our inferiority complex always results in criticising our selves rather than upholding our dignity.
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sandy says: June 10, 2009 at 12:34 PM IST

Totally agree with you. The article is very well written. I feel it totally depends on individual on how they get treated. I live in Australia. NOBODY has ever treated me badly. My work place loves me! I have never been ill treated or eve teased even once. There is fairly large population of Indians where I stay and I do not see anybody complaning even once. Having said these I do not think if we are put down we should accept it and go along. Raise your voice. But do not take law in your hand, whereever u are ..be it India or Australia.
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gautam says: June 10, 2009 at 12:43 PM IST

RACISM???...woh toh tumhare andar sabse zaada bhara hua hai...inspite of betterment of opportunities here in India...you chose to go to a foreign land. Do you know why?...because you always felt that the gori chamri is superior to your own, so you went to live with them. Some of you in hopes of having a blonde gori girlfriend!! You guys are yourselves racists...you think your race is inferior to theirs.
Abhi bhi time hai wapas aa jao...or get used to the beatings...or fight your own battles.
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K. Sengupta says: June 10, 2009 at 12:53 PM IST

As an Indian, I really fill shame about this article.
This is the time to stay together, not blaming ourselves.
I don’t understand why we always love to create controversy and naked ourselves in the font of the whole world!!!
I have been staying in Pune from 2000 and seen lot of Nigerians and Iranians around the City. But never seen or heard anybody is attacking them. They look so comfortable and secure.
It’s really shame.
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Chris says: June 10, 2009 at 12:56 PM IST

Well, non sense. How many Indians go killing others because someone looked of a color unlike them? That poor African on Delhi campus not included.
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Anurag Singh Negi says: June 10, 2009 at 12:57 PM IST

Well their has been a lot of feelings expressed by people but I think Jug is not trying to say that whats happening in Australia is right rather he's try to help our self to realize that we are not any different for Australians may be we are way ahead of them and we need to see the other side of the racisum and feel what we are doing in our own country discriminating on any criteria a human can think so its a wake up call for us to clean ous self.
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AussieChick says: June 10, 2009 at 01:15 PM IST

Well said. It is true. I' am an Australian girl. I must say that those who live in glass houses should'nt throw stones. All countries have their problems. And so does Australia. We are not perfect. But we are a beautiful and tolerant country. What is going on in Australia right now, is upsetting, however I do not believe the attacks are racial. They a crime-related, opportunistic crimes occuring late at night, when EVERYONE of all nationalities are at their most vulnerable. The riots now occuring in Harris Park, Sydney, are appalling. That kind of behaviour is shameful and will not do anyone any favours. You cannot ask the police to give you more protection and to find the people who are attacking you, and then start a riot yourself, because by rioting, you are taking up valuable police time which they could be spending finding those that attacked you! Ironic isnt it?
Additionally, India itself discriminates in so many ways. We only have to look at what happened in Gurijat between the Hindu's and the Muslims, to see how quickly things can get out of hand and end in tragedy.

I love India. It is my favourite country that I have ever visited. However, I' am an Australian. And I have no tolerance for riots or vigilante behaviour, and I dont know many australians who do! So I suggest we leave it to the police, stop being so sensitive and concentrate on integrating into australia. You can live and breathe your culture and religious beliefs in Australia, but do not segregate yourself, do not only speak your native language and try to understand that in Australian Culture- we abide by the law, or we go to jail and that applys to EVERYONE!
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H Mariappan says: June 10, 2009 at 01:26 PM IST

Mr Parvinder Singh, you need to get your facts right. You might have lived in Punjab all your life hence the comment. No Tamilian is treated badly in Karnataka there is dissent that they don't want to learn Kannada. I migrated to Karnataka from coimbatore and am telling you Kannadigas can speak many south Indian languages which makes them truly Indian. India is itself multicultural with each state having its own culture and language. Marathi's or Kannadigas are unhappy that people from north India do not want to integrate with the local states when they move down South or for that any where which would be the case in Australia too. People like you are the main cause of problems in this multicultural India, INTEGRATE AND BE AN INDIAN RATHER THAN BEING A NORTH INDIAN which ever state you are migrating towards, otherwise you will be KILLING the local culture. Are you an INDIAN??
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madhu sudan says: June 10, 2009 at 01:30 PM IST

hmmm i thought alot about this articles and mr.jug is saying about marriage add fair complexion.mostly indian people like white color of the skin coz they r not white and its same here in canada white people like brown color coz they r not brown,they go beach have sun bath.so imean to say that its not like we dont like black color or brown color human always like that stuff wut they dont have.i think i made my point. thanx
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Irshad says: June 10, 2009 at 01:34 PM IST

I agree with the article. Look at Mumbai, ONLY Marathi people will be given JOB in IT Department. Remember Shiv Sena People created a mess on Bihari's? Look at Reservation's Quota. Look at karnataka, where politician's are forcing Shop keeper's to have sign board in kannad. imagine if Australian declares a rule where in ONLY AUSSIES Should get a job? What if Americans start telling the same?I am in australia and i know the situation.
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Irshad says: June 10, 2009 at 01:37 PM IST

I agree with the article. Look at Mumbai, ONLY Marathi people will be given JOB in IT Department. Remember Shiv Sena People created a mess on Bihari's? Look at Reservation's Quota. Look at karnataka, where politician's are forcing Shop keeper's to have sign board in kannad. imagine if Australian declares a rule where in ONLY AUSSIES Should get a job? What if Americans start telling the same?I am in australia and i know the situation.
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Archie says: June 10, 2009 at 01:40 PM IST

I think this is more of a College/University fight between students, otherwise there are so many indians living is AUS, why they are not targeted also I don't understand why mostly only the Sikhs are attacked. I smell rat here.
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Parth says: June 10, 2009 at 01:47 PM IST

I think author has a valid point here..
I was raised in India and now I live abroad..
biggest proof that we are racist is that even though we live in there country, we dont mix or communicate with them.. most of the Indians I have seen tend to isolate them selves to other Indians, so you are putting away yourself from the mainstream..
I live in most conservative part of this country. I still follow the Indian lifestyle. Yet all my frnds here are non-Indians. They respect my traditions and are always eager to learn about them. Upto the point that sometimes they respect me more than someone from there community...
IF YOU WILL GIVE RESPECT TO ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING, THEY WILL RESPECT YOU IN RETURN.....AND VICE VERSA..
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Parth says: June 10, 2009 at 01:48 PM IST

I think author has a valid point here..
I was raised in India and now I live abroad..
biggest proof that we are racist is that even though we live in there country, we dont mix or communicate with them.. most of the Indians I have seen tend to isolate them selves to other Indians, so you are putting away yourself from the mainstream..
I live in most conservative part of this country. I still follow the Indian lifestyle. Yet all my frnds here are non-Indians. They respect my traditions and are always eager to learn about them. Upto the point that sometimes they respect me more than someone from there community...
IF YOU WILL GIVE RESPECT TO ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING, THEY WILL RESPECT YOU IN RETURN.....AND VICE VERSA..
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Kalpesh says: June 10, 2009 at 01:53 PM IST

Why they are going out side of india for studying where in india their are lots of institutes like IIT, IIM. If they want success fast by wasting money only then they have to face these things also.
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deep says: June 10, 2009 at 01:53 PM IST

I completely agree with Suraiya.This is the first thing which comes to even my mind when people talk about racism in countries like UK US.Leave other countries alone there is descrimination between people coming from different parts of same states.
People hailing from Northern part of Kerala won't even seek marriage proposals from southern part of Kerala.But yes showing descrimination is differnt from getting beaten up in the name of racism.Now talking about recent attacks on students in Australia,the other day I have seen our honourable minister declaring that its not racist attacks but criminal attacks,why is it that family of Indian students not getting government to react strongly to australian government if you are convinced that its really racist attacks.And also we indians carry our third world behaviour where ever we go which irritates the people out there.Why dont we try to understand and get in to the culture of the country where we are.
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Rahul says: June 10, 2009 at 01:54 PM IST

Is Reservation not form of racism when we can have more that 50 % reservation based on caste / when we have elections based on vote bank politics?
India is racist of all ...
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Saumya says: June 10, 2009 at 01:55 PM IST

Hello Mr Jug,

Well said...about the way we terat our fellow citizens in our country.
But here the thing is not how you are treated in your home, it is how people look at you ouside your home.
If There would have been any of your kin's who wouldahve been humilitaed or attacked in Australia, i m dman sure, you would have never poted such thoughts.
Sorry for the hard words, but it is beacuse of people like you, we are not able to put our views in a strong manner, or even complain in a effective way.
This is an issue i can say of national threat, where our fellow citizens are attacked by by a handful of people.
If not taken seriously by govt other than(Just by notifying OZ govt. our concerns), these things may and should get reciprocated.

Hope if u cant feel the pain of Indians In OZ..better keep your points with you only rather than publicising them.
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Rahul says: June 10, 2009 at 01:56 PM IST

Is Reservation not form of racism when we can have more that 50 % reservation based on caste / when we have elections based on vote bank politics?
India is racist of all ...
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Hary says: June 10, 2009 at 02:01 PM IST

I do pity for the students and Indians who are being targetted, but thats mugging and would not make that racial, as it will still heat up the tensions that are already. I'd say the media has done a very stupid job in doing all these hype and have added misery to the damage. Firstly we should respect the country for homing 1,00,000 Indians all these days, though we are foreigners to the country.
I'd say that all the hype has now made the native australians really mad and making the indian population so vulnerable and guilty(though not their fault) of making them targets for anger!!
please stop this nonsense...violence is 1000 times more in India than in other countries!
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John says: June 10, 2009 at 02:02 PM IST

The point of this article is:

Because we are racist, we should not expect better from a great country like Australia which is far more tolerant than us...
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n s parameswaran says: June 10, 2009 at 02:06 PM IST

I can agree with Mr Jag Suraya to the extent that we are hypocrites. there is no dispute on that. but i cannot understand nor can i agree when he gives our racism as the justification for racist attacks on us.
Yes there is racism in india and we have to fight it and remove it. But is removing racism in india going to ensure that we will not be attacked tomorrow in Australia. Do the australians attacking indians attack us because of our racism back home in india, are they aware of it at all.
No to both. they attack us because they are racist. as simple as that. we have to fight that racism there. Just because there is racism in india and because of that if we keep quite will racism in Australia disappear??
Mr Jug Suraya is confusing and mixing up two diferent issues and drawing wrong conclusions.
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Hindu says: June 10, 2009 at 02:08 PM IST

Do me a favor.... why dont you have an online debate or a live TV debate with me. It will take only 20 mins, for me to make sure you never write again. If you dont have brains, just accept it. We dont need clowns like you writing here..
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ap says: June 10, 2009 at 02:26 PM IST

You get the payback of what you do...This is exactly what is going on at present. When it comes to racism, india is the most racist country. We don't even spare our own countrymen. Just leave the Racism they should to North East people, we don't even spare our own by calling with different names, divide people with their caste, status....such nonsense you can find only in india. I am from North East and I know how they treat the people from there. But after all these odds i have survived far away from home in mumbai. But i feel mumbai is less racist compare to Delhi or other northern states and Tamil Nadu.
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Pushkar Karni Sinha says: June 10, 2009 at 02:27 PM IST

Well can't really deny the point u have made, i mean we do go around killing people in the name of caste and religion, and yes people are even harrased in the name of racism but the point is it is prevalent all over the world jst not limited to india with all these neo-nazi groups, religios groups. i dnt see why jst because some people do it, the others should pay for it and frankly how many incidents do come accross of blacks and whites or people from north being brutally attacked in india, thrown fire bombs at, stabbed in a bus or a train, i mean yes its not all hunky dory in India but then its notm so in other countries as well, and well iof people are questioning such ill-treatment they have every right to do so.
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Mahesh says: June 10, 2009 at 02:27 PM IST

We are not racist, you are Mr. Jug Surraya.

I guess Aussie racists have paid you to write this article. Shame on you!
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VT1947 says: June 10, 2009 at 02:44 PM IST

This is for Aussie Chick ... I appreciate that you love India. I am an Indian and worked in Australia for a year and finally decided to come back to my imperfect country. I came back as I have more respect, authority and responsibility at my work place. My child is happy to have friends. My wife can visit the neighbour's house and be with friends. As long as we lived there, we never were invited by our neighbours or office colleagues to visit their homes. My son managed to go to one but that was uncomfortable again.

Whatever you say, Indians are emotional people and very sensitive to aussie aggression. Australia still has to evolve as a multi-cultural country. The Aussie whites should show tolerance to other languages and other cultures. I have myself felt the racial discrimination ( thankfully no attacks) which is 100 times more dangerous than these occassional attacks. I have seen Indians forced to move about amongst Indians. No 'white' invites them to their homes or visits their homes. At work, they keep a distance and although very 'friendly' they are not 'friends'. Its us v/s them attitude.
I have been to US and the attitude though similar is far better than in Australia. Look at the Aussie cricket team. Isn't it disappointing?
But remember that the beauty is only skin deep.We are all the same from inside.
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vijay says: June 10, 2009 at 02:45 PM IST

I agree with you on most of your points though not completely.
Soon after the indian students were attacked in Australia there were protests being conducted in Mel and syd without any fear. But after the north indians were being attacked in Mumbai, Can a group of north indians dare to stage a protest there? No, they can't. Just for the simple reason that they will be bashed by a intolerant country like us.

How many times have we switched on the news and see a foriegner(Most white skinned europeans) being molested or being picked and raped in our country right by the rich to the poor. Noida, Delhi or Goa. You name it and we have a real national integration going on here.

If the Media is going to brand australia as 'RACIST'. Let them do it but first LET THEM BRAND INDIA AS 'RAPIST' and then brand Australia as RACIST.
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kahar singh says: June 10, 2009 at 02:59 PM IST

i m a kahar singh some body did (kahar) something in aus it happens everywhere i i m east indian and i think these all attacks were related to money thats all and this media is making a big deal and making money from it.u know why this guy (jug) put this article on first page just to get attention.its always happens that if wanna be famous do something differnt or talk opposite then people will know u . thankyou from kahar singh (its not real name i wrote just get attention)
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Anjan says: June 10, 2009 at 02:59 PM IST

Hey folks..
Its not good now to blame each other. Forget our internal dispute as of now. Come togather so that our words are recognised as a nation's saying. Remember, whatever we are doing in india internally matters but the thing is that now we have to join togather and say one word for the sake of people in Australia. Ofcourse whatever they are doing is not good. They say that they are a developed country. How can a developed nation can be so un-civilised ???
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Ajay says: June 10, 2009 at 03:01 PM IST

I just read 2-3 posts and found that something needs to clarified, as I am an Indian who studied here and now live here in Australia.

The fact is:
============
when you study here you need to make ends meet by taking odd hour shifts and living at the suburbs where the cost of living is low. These suburbs are where usually "dole bludgers" and drug addicts live, so your neighborhood is as safe as Brooklyn or Harlem in New york.

Why Indians get those late night shifts?
- Because those shift are "unsafe" and no one wants to take up those.

So, don't blame it anyone else blame it on bellboy!!
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Midnight Snacks says: June 10, 2009 at 03:05 PM IST

You kidding me !!! Jug ? Are you out of your mind? So what are you saying? If you come from a country that is racist in nature (like you explained India is) and you get some racial treatment in a foreign country, you just stick your tail between your hind legs and keep quiet? I am not quite sure if the attacks on Indian students are racial in nature or just opportunistic hooliganism but that does not mean that you just say nothing because you come from a county that is supposedly more racist ? I agree with you that we have problems in our country but we are talking about problems in their country.
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Anshuman says: June 10, 2009 at 03:06 PM IST

Does this article make any sense ? or this is a way author is trying to diversify the actual matter and also trying to justify the Ausis racism against Indians. I can not understand that how using a fairness cream is a symbol of racism, which the author is trying to prove.
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shiv says: June 10, 2009 at 03:19 PM IST

I fully agree with Mr. Jug....we are most racist in the world.
We r divided in all respect. First religions, caste, regions, colours etc...a particular cast or community shows there power and get all benefits. If you see most of the institutes or colleges or company ....there are one caste group will always dominate. I am just wondering why Indian always crying on racism.....even they are doing each moment in the country.
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Rama says: June 10, 2009 at 03:24 PM IST

I agree with the author. I am a south Indian brown in colour and I have heard some of my colleagues calling me that dark woman and discriminating me from other colleagues who are fair. They used to judge the other colleagues as beautiful and me 'ok' saying what to do you are black.
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Ruchi says: June 10, 2009 at 03:27 PM IST

Its anothetr problem in India.Even educated people dont want to accept the fact which is clearly in light to everyone.I am just astonished to read how people here are saying that India doesnot follow racism..Guys wake up !!Even in IT sector bit of Racism is existing in the names of States...and recently Thakre case I think every1 has forgotten where Marathis are urged to be racists against UP bhaiyas....Whatever Aussies are doing to India..is really sad and needs to be revolted..but now Its time to wake up..
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Shaji Nair says: June 10, 2009 at 03:30 PM IST

Indians are living all over the world and anyone who face any problems from the locals there has to deal themselves according to his/her choice opened depend on situation. Neither our Indian Govt. nor the local govt. cannot stop such things. As a NRI, living in the Middle East, we also face physical assults to fatal attacks from the bad elements, many have lost lives due to stabing by the strangers, many have their precious earnings, many became disable for life long, many have lost their cash, ID, Mobile phones are very common. We fully relise our limitations over here, the only choice opened to us is to either protect ourselves from those bad elements or leave the country for good. Indians at Australia or Newsland, or Canada are the same as Indians in Middle East, they have no exceptions. Even in our own country, South Indians are being harrassed or assulted by the bad elements of North India, Marathiies are attacking North Indians, and South Indians, Assemese are killing Biharies, Our own products of Nexals are killing many on daily basis everywhere in our country, Goondas are roaming everywhere in India. Is our own Govt. giving protection to every citizens? Why our own govt. do not do anyting to stop the Nexals (bulk killers)? Why our govt. could not safe many innocents from Raj Thackery's Goondas? Why our North Indians call South Indians as , Kaale, Kaaliya, Madrasis so on? Why? Why our people call a foreigner Gora? Inspite of our Supreme Court ruling, still ragging is being done in many collages and many parents lost their precious sons/daughters, many have stopped study, many have became mental patients. when our own people harrass us everywhere, why should we blame others? In nutshell, Indians are the most racist mentality people compared to anyone in the world. Those who live anywhere in the world must be prepared to face any challenge of their own, neither our govt. nor the local govt. is able to guarantee their protection 24x7x365.
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VT1947 says: June 10, 2009 at 03:31 PM IST

This is for Aussie Chick ... I appreciate that you love India. I am an Indian and worked in Australia for a year and finally decided to come back to my imperfect country. I came back as I have more respect, authority and responsibility at my work place. My child is happy to have friends. My wife can visit the neighbour's house and be with friends. As long as we lived there, we never were invited by our neighbours or office colleagues to visit their homes. My son managed to go to one but that was uncomfortable again.

Whatever you say, Indians are emotional people and very sensitive to aussie aggression. Australia still has to evolve as a multi-cultural country. The Aussie whites should show tolerance to other languages and other cultures. I have myself felt the racial discrimination ( thankfully no attacks) which is 100 times more dangerous than these occassional attacks. I have seen Indians forced to move about amongst Indians. No 'white' invites them to their homes or visits their homes. At work, they keep a distance and although very 'friendly' they are not 'friends'. Its us v/s them attitude.
I have been to US and the attitude though similar is far better than in Australia. Look at the Aussie cricket team. Isn't it disappointing?
But remember that the beauty is only skin deep.We are all the same from inside.
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Ruchi says: June 10, 2009 at 03:33 PM IST

Its anothetr problem in India.Even educated people dont want to accept the fact which is clearly in light to everyone.I am just astonished to read how people here are saying that India doesnot follow racism..Guys wake up !!Even in IT sector bit of Racism is existing in the names of States...and recently Thakre case I think every1 has forgotten where Marathis are urged to be racists against UP bhaiyas....Whatever Aussies are doing to India..is really sad and needs to be revolted..but now Its time to wake up..
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Graham Stains says: June 10, 2009 at 03:33 PM IST

Did we burn some aussies in India?
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manav says: June 10, 2009 at 03:34 PM IST

Aussiechick: You wrote:"...try to understand that in Australian Culture- we abide by the law, or we go to jail and that applys to EVERYONE!"

Apparently not huh! If you (and by that I mean Australians abided by your laws, then such incidents, in theory, would not happen. No? And, in so far as going to jail, how many of the attackers have been apprehended? How many have been sentenced to jail by your courts? And, talking about 'throwing stones at glass houses'...hmmmm...interesting, that your government does accept that some element of the attacks were based on race discrimination. Sure, we, that is India, can issue a blanket ban on all travel to Australia...the consequence would be that your education industry would collapse. But that is not the objective. Yes, we in India have our fair share of problems and we accept it. The question, of course, remains....do you?

Cheers!
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Madhu says: June 10, 2009 at 03:48 PM IST

What sort of a stupid argument is this? Yes, India has racist elements in it but how does that justify or give other people any rights to subject Indians to racial treatment? Murders, rapes, and yes, even terrorism happens within India. But when Pakistani terrorists attack us, would you say the same thing 'we have terrorists also, so let us clean up our country first?'.
Ridiculous argument.
Finally, regarding this "No wonder we can't stand racism. It reminds us disquietingly of the face we see in our own mirror.", yes, we can't stand racism. Why? Because IT IS WRONG!
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Suren says: June 10, 2009 at 03:49 PM IST

What is Jug trying to say here? Is he saying that the Indians in Australia deserve to be treated thus because of his opinion that Indians are more racist than the Australians?
And pretty sad that he ends his blog with "No wonder we can't stand racism. It reminds us disquietingly of the face we see in our own mirror." Does he intend that protesting against the injustice being meted out amounts to what he concludes in his blog? It is about bullying and it has got nothing to do with race, caste, sex or region. It has to be condemned, be it India or Australia or elsewhere.
And no doubt I see a hypocrite in Jug. He talks about matrimonial ads in his blog and I am quite sure he would have surely, to put it mildly, appreciate curvaceous and good-looking ladies while giving a cold shoulder to the ladies who don't come under his "good-looking" definition.
Better not to preach something that you can't practice.
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Akash Joshi says: June 10, 2009 at 03:49 PM IST

What is the point of this article? Your words mean well and agreed that we need to get our house in order, but this in no way okays student being beaten up by misguided bunch of people. The question is not if it was racism, but simply that this is not tolerable at any level.
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Pranab says: June 10, 2009 at 03:55 PM IST

Agree to most of it; except that please done single out North India in this... This is true in all parts of India. On lighter front, I have lived and travelled all over India and I say the following with expereince. Delhi is the first amongst equals. The discrimination towards everything and everyone created by God is equal. So not only an African student will hear ethinically degrading remarks; but so will a punjabi, a white, a baniya and a madrasi. Everyone cops it equally.
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Shuja Syed says: June 10, 2009 at 04:02 PM IST

I was dining in Mombasa, Kenya, when a young African child, in scorching heat, appeared on the scene asking for glass of water. The Indian owned restaurant rejected his plea and ordered him to get out. I stood up and threatened to walk out as well if the child is not given free glass of water. No wonder why Indians are kicked out of African continent. We are extremely racists. Beautifully, the Glorious Qur'an has said: We have created you male and female, different nations and tribes, so that you may recognize each other, not despise each other. Allah holds high to those who are the most pious ones". And keeping in line, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) has asked the first man (black - Bilal) to climb upon Kaba (house of God) and call for Azan, the Muslim prayers for Salah or Namaz.

Very unfortunately, the humanity has fallen into disgrace.

Very good artilce sir. Keep up the good work. Salam, shalom, peace and Namaste.
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Suresh says: June 10, 2009 at 04:07 PM IST

Why go that far into history when a glance at the matrimonial columns of Times of India will show you how steeped we ourselves are in colour based bias. Every prospective groom who is tall, dark and handsome seeks alliance from beautiful, fair and medium built girl! So much for our colour bias. But racial Australia is just not pardonable. Ever imagined this was a fall out of the economic downturn and the threat posed by the prospect of Indian students seeking employment in Australia? It is for real and soon we will see this in UK and Canada. Unless nipped in the bud, this has the potential of scarring our "Athithi Devo Bhava" image back home during holiday seasons and business visits by Australians.
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rajdeep says: June 10, 2009 at 04:10 PM IST

Thank you, Jug... finally some perspective...I am proud and delighted that this came from a Xaverian...Nihil Ultra!
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Joseph says: June 10, 2009 at 04:14 PM IST

Hello, I am an NRI stationed in Australia.

This is a country where everybody has a fair go. The Indian students in Australia should not spoil the great impression which the Indians here have made in the minds of Australians. We should not over react based on emotions. These students should keep in mind that 90% of them will stay here in Australia and look for a job once they complete their studies. So if you are not grateful to the country which looks after you in times of your need, that is what is called racism.
The politicians and students who are protesting and over reacting in India and Austrlia should understand, there are thousands of innocent Indians are in the jails of Gulf Countries who have never got justice and equal opportunity and are working worst than slaves. So Just remember the privilages you get in Australia. Before you raise the slogan of “Racism” you should look at yourself and learn that you preferred to study / work here and nobody forced you to here.
So while jumping on the streets and striking, just remember that you should not change the impression of a civilized country like India, which ultimately going to be make things difficult for Indians while staying here.
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pats says: June 10, 2009 at 04:15 PM IST

hey jug,
Nicely written, but now issue is going for the aussies racism not about India. If you like to speak something just come outside India for a month in UK or aus. then write how you feel. Just stay in london for no more than a week. Then you will realise how we indian are more advance in the respect of human and living life peace fully. We are made by our culture and gr8 education system. just reas history nobody able to conqure and rule over the india. Just britisher came and then knew that our culture is very strong, and impossible to break. so, they came for a bussiness and rueled by proving themselve as superior just because of people like your kind of thinking. No white or black skin makes differnce it's all about the thinking and how you look at the life and present it.. just think and do good research before writing anything. your article seems ok for India at specific community but for your information indian racism issue os global not within India. If you need more guidence how to write jsut contact indians who lives outside india they will definetly provide good info.. don't write this kind of article which create depression for indian within india.. what you can do is motivate people to fight against any racism, try to bring racist on good and equal opprtunity thinking by your article.. you can see this how many reply you got on you small and missing details information article. Best luck for next article and hope you will write in positive way which will help to lead indian youth in a strong way.
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Abe says: June 10, 2009 at 04:19 PM IST

I think you are really talking nonsense. You seem to be just making amountain out of a ant hole.

People like you are the once who come out with fantasie ideas and plant them in soceity.

Abe
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Bhai says: June 10, 2009 at 04:20 PM IST

Take it easy guys. First of all define who is Indian from origin (prove it with DNA test) and then pass comments. As for the article, this is great food for thought. As for the empathy and sympathy part, those who are hurt, come back to India and clean your own laundry before going abroad to dirty someone else's. Ha.
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Nikhil says: June 10, 2009 at 04:21 PM IST

Hi All,

Better shouting why dont we boycott Australia. Stop our fellow indians going to that place .For students there are many good colleges for higher degrees in India itself then y go Australia.

Best thing BOYCOTT Australia,then the Australian Govt can see the direct impact.
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Faizan Malik says: June 10, 2009 at 04:22 PM IST

What a way of justifying the racial acts in Australia. I agree Indians are racist but that does not give anyone right to treat them the way they have been in AUS. Poor analygy and poor constructioin on the argument you are trying to make. Like they say 2 wrongs don't make a right.
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usk says: June 10, 2009 at 04:26 PM IST

Yes we have recism between us. but if somebody from other country comes in, we respect bettter than anybody else.
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Abhinav Tiwari says: June 10, 2009 at 04:33 PM IST

The headline says "We're even more racist than Aussies"

The Aussies beat up defenseless Indians and call them with demeaning names.

How can we be more racist than them?
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Lloyd says: June 10, 2009 at 04:43 PM IST

Hello everybody, i have a few friends living in australia and all my friends are from Bangalore India. All my friends living in Australia say that the Indian students in Australia do not know how to behave themselves, when they see australian women dressed in a short skirt or a bikni top they act like animals they think women who wear clothes like that are easy girls to get and they act very cheap, i dont blame the Australians for being angry if anyone came to india and misbehaved with my wife my mother or sister i would definately do the same as the Australians did , u can openly see the state of how the men in Delhi act when they see women with a short top or skirt they go crazy, so please dont keep blaming people without knowing what the facts are.
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Anuj Singh says: June 10, 2009 at 04:53 PM IST

I totally disagree with the columnist because I think this is not right time to discuss these things.Racism in India is totally different issue than Austrlia.In India we are empowering our so called weaker sections at the cost of talented youth which is migrating on the large scale to the countries like Australia.Where they are performing well therefore the local student are feeling ignored and helpless.On the other hand inspite of giving support to our student we are debating on pseudo racism in our own country.This is the time when we should stand togather and speak in one voice.
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shams says: June 10, 2009 at 04:53 PM IST

TOI please pass these comments to government authorities so that they know about people's feelings.

We are selfish also along with racist.[ got an opportunity to write big essays on subject]
instead of concentrating on what to be done to help the students in AUStralia.

Atleast writer came out open and accept the understood truth and this can be biginningfor change.
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Suman Bhattacharyya says: June 10, 2009 at 04:56 PM IST

Jug, SPOT ON , as usual.
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Vikram Shenoy says: June 10, 2009 at 04:57 PM IST

first of all he uses a langauge, which tries to convey his bombastic nature (showoff of his vovabulary)rather than actual gist. So in this way the article is complete turn off. And then this is more decorated with authors stupidity when he shows his lack of knowledge of authenticity of aryan invasion theory. I stopped reading the article when he said,
"Why is dark literally beyond the pale for so many of us? Is it an atavistic throwback to the supposed superiority of 'white' Aryans vis-a-vis the 'non-white' original inhabitants of the subcontinent? "

For heavensake how many time WITH PROOF people have to prove that there are no ARyan invasion in India. Arya is learned and it can be for anybody. All the Indians WERE from India , they did NOT come from some other region as forced on us by White rulers to prove thier white-skin superiority. On one hand he tries to show Indias are racist, on the other by showing his support to Aryan thoery though indirectly Jug Sooriays shoes his honesty to what is Foreign. Afterll everone speaks ones heart doesnt it?
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Abhishek says: June 10, 2009 at 05:12 PM IST

I beleive that Mr. Jug Suriya has written has flavors of truth in it. Having said that, there are many countries where such incidents do happen, but if their fellow countrymen is attcked on a foreign soil, they will stand united against it.

The problem with recent abuses is not that we are more racist, but we lack unity which should be displayed by us in these times.

I disagree with Mr. Suriya that we are racist.
Evryone in this world has prejudices, why single out Indians, Americans, Australians, Chinese are also prejudiced people but these people stand united when faced with a crisis like this.

I could not beleive that Indian government did not take a single step towards resolving this issue. If we see the dream of being the superpower in this world, then we have to support our compatriots living abroad.

Lastly, i will say that Mr. Suriya has not seen a racial abuse, so he can afford to make comments like these. I am a victim of racial abuse and I know how demeaning it feels when your own countrymen does not come up and stand with you in such incidents, you even feel ashamed of telling anyone that you are Indianand that scar remains with your life permenantly......

So that is why I belive Mr. Jug is wrong here and we need to stand up and ask our government to take some steps for these fellow Indians. My heart greives for these peoplen and their families back in India.
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Akhil says: June 10, 2009 at 05:24 PM IST

Mr Jug,
Your blog here is politically correct. But have you ever lived outside India and then felt what racism is? A lot of indians are saying that we are more racist, what times are you all living in? Indians here are progressing, working late shifts doing all the jobs that an australian doesnt want to do. We are hard working people. Yes we do have caste system in our own country and that has been there for over 5000 years. It is part of your culture and our religious beliefs.
Speak to one of the victims and ask them what have they gone through and then you will understand what RACISM really means.
In Australia this is more about street violence and people getting hurt or killed. In india it is people like you who raise wrong issues at wrong time and make profit. Is this a issue to be raised now when so many indians are trying to unite. Come here and then you will see the unity. We all stand here hand in hand. If you have the power of pen use it to unite people and make the positive and proud, dont give a chance to people to raise fingers at each other. Please change your attitude.
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Sudhir Juneja says: June 10, 2009 at 05:50 PM IST

Having lived in Australia, I have found that there is a great deal of racial tone in Indians too. Every
Indian love calling the locals as GORAS and more dehati looking Indians as Desi (or Deshi).
These terms are well grained into the psyche of our Indian people using them. If the non-hindi speaking person does not understand that he is being called a Gora, it is as bad as some one calling an Indian as Black or Brownie.
We start calling foul when we are at the recieving end. There is a great divide in India of Desi and Yankee crowd. Both these refuse to merge. Is this not racism. Names are called here too.
So Racial abuse or racism in any form should not be tolerated but we must practice what we expect. Holding the moral ground is good. The things have got a bit hot because of the physical abuse associated with the slurs. There is no place for either in a civilised society. Irrespective of geographical location. We in Australia felt more ashamed on hearing the pro-marathi andolan and abuse of Non- Marathis in Maharashtra.
So please, lets condemn ANY FORM of Racism, outsourced as well home grown variety.
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Arvind says: June 10, 2009 at 05:51 PM IST

I think the author completely missed the point here. There is a crucial difference between action and thought;the tolerance of us Indians and the behaviour of the Aussies. Aspiring to be fair skinned does not make one racist, as aspiring for great wealth does not make one a thief. The stigma of racism (or a thief) is to be accorded only based on the action of the person and let the author of this article prove that Indians are racists based on our actions compared with the Aussies or any others.I find this a typical case of presudo-intellectual bashing his own country just for the sake of it or maybe the holier than thou attitude.
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Bhavik Shah says: June 10, 2009 at 05:58 PM IST

One should not comment if you haven't seen the other side of the river (in this case - ocean).

Identities should not mixed with humiliating comments (read racial slurs).

Writers forget that he is promoting "divisiveness" - lets get united - as indians - as human beings and protest racism.

Being in USA and travelled across many countries - I hear severe and mild forms of racial comments (e.g. go back to mumbai!! and my answer is - If Obama goes back to Kenya, I will go back to India).

What is most annoying is - Indians are not united.
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Niyad says: June 10, 2009 at 05:58 PM IST

I have been reading the comments posted here and most of them have baffled me to the core. For one, the post itself, at a time like this is beyond the pale of everything that would represent compassion and understanding. Jug, was it really worth it to make us feel more pathetic than we already are feeling? I am not being ignorant here. Most of us do know what we are; a good majority of us have not accepted it yet. I make it a point to let my friends know that we are no different when it comes to such things. But at such a time, when one of us is in near coma, when many of us are suffering injuries for not fault of theirs, pointing out that this was always coming to us does not help one bit. Trying telling that to the parents, brothers, sisters and friends who have to deal with what they are going through now. It is a time for reflection, not a time for grinding broken bones. When people like yourself have the power of the pen while many others don’t, we would all be happy if you would use it for support for the cause rather than disdain. No disrespect sir!!
A message for Indie, who went on and on about students going to Australia these days just to make a quick buck. What do want them to do brother, apologize for having dreams and aspirations? Maybe they should get your certificate first and then go to the Aussie consulate. The government doesn’t have an issue here ladies and gentlemen, but apparently a fellow Indian is not too happy about it. Way to go brother!!! I am sure your attitude will help matters a lot!!!
It’s only been a while since I have been living abroad and I haven’t had a personal experience of anything such but I cannot even begin to imagine what our clan must have gone through in Australia. There isn’t much I can do about it, but in my own way I would like to believe that my prayers would be the least I could do. A request from a fellow Indian, it is ok if you cannot join in, just don’t poke the battered.
Jai hind!!
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em says: June 10, 2009 at 05:59 PM IST

I dont think you can use treatment of black people by Indians as an example. Indians have a long history of working with Africans and black Americans/British. Indians abroad have worked well with black people and supported them in the fight against racism. Indians have a history of working with Africans in Kenya Tanzania and South Africa Caribbeans and have also fought against racism there - together with black people. Indians also good political relations with many African nations which stem from living and working with Africans as well as the non'alignment and other UN based political and NGO organisations.
People are making the assumption that there is antagonism between black people and Asians when there isn't.
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kalyan says: June 10, 2009 at 05:59 PM IST

Let me understand this.If one holds a prejudice against any person/location which can be categorized as a member which makes a whole, then the person is a racist.Anyone can be called a racist based on this definition. So stop intellectual discussion. This line of discussion has lead to several abuse of anti-racism laws too. In case of these incidents in Australia, is just means that indian students are not welcome there. They are being viewed as easy targets for people for quick bucks. They just need to increase the police patrol. If they don't, the regular australians will face the same kind of violence soon. When that happens we all shall realize , it is always a case of economics in play.
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Bhavik Shah says: June 10, 2009 at 05:59 PM IST

One should not comment if you haven't seen the other side of the river (in this case - ocean).

Identities should not mixed with humiliating comments (read racial slurs).

Writers forget that he is promoting "divisiveness" - lets get united - as indians - as human beings and protest racism.

Being in USA and travelled across many countries - I hear severe and mild forms of racial comments (e.g. go back to mumbai!! and my answer is - If Obama goes back to Kenya, I will go back to India).

What is most annoying is - Indians are not united.
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Pradeep Kumar says: June 10, 2009 at 06:01 PM IST

It couldn't be..

Is the point here that the racist attacks on Indians in Australia and Canada are justified because we are prejudiced in our beliefs and preferences? Or more likely it is that we have lost any moral high ground in protesting those countries because we are equally guilty.

We have to protest because a government is entrusted with maintaining law and order. That any version of racism thrives when such activity is not actively and effectively discouraged by the authorities. Or worse, possibly even encouraged with a sideways wink and a smirk.

It would be nice to claim moral superiority of a clear conscience and then act indignant. But then the point of this blog is perhaps that as we complain outside, we should, at the same time, clean our own house.

That has to be inarguable.
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Raj says: June 10, 2009 at 06:03 PM IST

All said and done, is there a point trying to justify what is happening in Australia by relating it to some of India's problem areas? I think someone in the capacity of Mr Suriya can do better if he tries to identify the root cause of what is happening in Australia and why is it happening now?
If it has got to do with the lifestyle of Indian students in terms of working off-hours and becoming easy targets for muggers, may be it is time that we think of taking care of Indian countrymen by generating safer options to earn pocket expenses.
If it has got to do with racism, the best that can be done is to suggest and reccomend better and more effective ways to raise the issue politically.
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abe says: June 10, 2009 at 06:04 PM IST

Mr Jug,
You have hit the bulls-eye with your article.100% the truth, and exactly my reading of the situation. We Indians, the worst of racists at the best of times ourselces, are just getting a little taste of what ew have inflicted on others.Call it cosmic justice...so much for our 5000 year cultural history...
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Vishal Rastogi says: June 10, 2009 at 06:11 PM IST

So Mr. Suraiya are you saying that we should not raise our voices against whats happening in Australia?
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Jay says: June 10, 2009 at 06:13 PM IST

I was in New Delhi in a restaurent. There were few indian customers in late afternoon. We were being treated nicely.... All of a sudden few Whites show up, all the waiters started serving them. We had placed an order of rice, it did not arrive at all. Even the bill was given to us early. Instead of serving and getting rid of unwanted Indians . They started idolising the whites... That day I realised how racist we us Indians are...
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sri says: June 10, 2009 at 06:27 PM IST

A complete nonsense. I do not want to waste my time further commenting more on this.
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Om Goel says: June 10, 2009 at 06:28 PM IST

You are 100% right.
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abs says: June 10, 2009 at 06:34 PM IST

The words 'even more' don't conform with the contents. We Indians dont cracked open someone's head due to colour of their skin.
Please! north Indians do like pale just like whites like tan. This is no argument to prove even more racism.
There might be more racism in India but article fell short of proving the point.
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Sunitha says: June 10, 2009 at 06:48 PM IST

I strongly condemn the attacks on Indian students.There is a way to react and represent the issue, so that we get benefitted of the outcome. This issue is not only for just 'Indians" but also many other communities in Austrlia. We need to obey the law and repect the country where we live in . At the same time we need to push our issue. I believe We need good leadership, support and alliance from local govt,politicians,spiritual leaders,police,media ,Training orgnizations,Students associations and federations,Human rights commission and so forth for an action plan. Reckon the past events happened with aussies, bangladeshi's in Australia.
We need to build support and should not act violent. We suppose to represent a country with Gandhian ideology ,values....If samething happens in India nobody is going to bother, but iam confident Aus Gov can do something.
I feel it is the shared responsibility of all the people living in Australia to maintain a secure peaceful and harmonious place.

Lets all come together and realize the importance of being human,respectful,tolerent to eachother...
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Ranjan K Kar says: June 10, 2009 at 06:53 PM IST

What's wrong with him? I suspect his head is not in the right place, and I doubt if he even has a heart!
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hatecaste says: June 10, 2009 at 07:01 PM IST

Fully Agreed. In fact Indian 'upper caste' are the worst racists. They are cunning to the core. They themselves do not want to mingle with the 'Dalits' even in foreign countries. They ill treat the good original inhabitant of India in villages even today. 'Brahmins' have created the caste system so that the caste's can fight among themselves while they loot India through Manuvadi. Hope good 'brahmins' repent and marry Dalits to compensate the ill doing of their fraternity to create a casteless society in due course.
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Rahul says: June 10, 2009 at 07:04 PM IST

u r talking nothing new everyone knows that, some people accepts it and some don't.
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Graham Stains FROM says: June 10, 2009 at 07:12 PM IST

GOD I DONT KNOW THIS PLACE ,THERE IS FIRE ALL AROUND ME ,OH AND GROTESQUE LOOKING CREATURES.

DEAR AUSTRALIANS ,LETS KEEP IN MIND I WAS INVOLVED IN A SCAM WHERE WE FOOLED TRIBAL PEOPLE INTO BELEIVING CHRISTANITY,WE WOULD HOLD A PICTURE OF JESUS AND FIRE IT UP AND IT WOULD NOT BURN AS IT HAD A CHEMICAL BASE ON IT.WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND THE PICTURE OF THE HINDU GOD WOULD BURN AS IT HAD NO CHEMICAL BASE ,SO THE TRIBAL PEOPLE BELEIVED IN CHRISTANITY.

I GUESS THIS IS THE REASON THEY BURNT ME.

WELL THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BURNT ME ,BUT HEY, FOOTY IS TO AUSTRALIA AS RELIGION IS TO INDIA.

AND FELLOW AUSTRALIANS LETS KEEP IN MIND THAT IF JESUS NEVER BOUGHT PEOPLE WITH SCAMS THEN WE SHOULD NOT EITHER .

HEY I GOT TO GO NOW ,MY BARBEQUE IS ON FIRE.
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Chander says: June 10, 2009 at 07:13 PM IST

I wonder if author has ever experienced what racialism is ! writing a blog for namesake is another thing. sure we call indians as mallu, punju, chinky etc but is that a reflection of racism. come to Dubai and you will know that you can not enter private social clubs because you are indian, come to USA and get shot because you they can not distingush between arabs and indians. has this author ever heard how it feels when a " GORA" tells you to go back to your country because they are so jealous of your success and prosperity. How does it feel when indians are specially targeted for delays in Visa and green card queues... This man has no touch with reality...
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Sipahi says: June 10, 2009 at 07:16 PM IST

So Jaggu you brand us more racial than the most. and justify it with your idiotic Fairness cream logic. In other worrds you justfy the violence on Indian students. One thing is for sure looking at your picture its confirmed humans are decendants of Simian's
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R.Kannan says: June 10, 2009 at 07:18 PM IST

Jug Suraya joins the long list of people who find fault in anything Indian. There are many things wrong in India but are attacks on Indian students justified ? Why does it take a call from Indian PM to get the Australian police to investigate the racist possibility in stabbing Indian students? The tragedy is that Jug finds nothing wrong in Aussies and condems Indians.
The crux of the matter is that anybody perceived to be weak and vulnerable , in any context, is subject to wrong treatment. Conversely everygroup which has some strength tries to exploit the situation. The attacks have laid bare the claim of Ausies to be considered as civilised. The Ausie PM is quick to react when Indian students attack their abusers but he remains silent when Indian students are attacked. Jug must be the only person, apart from Ausie PM, who thinks this is ok.
The bigger tragedy is that Indian journalists are focused on runing down India. Eg look at all the reporting on the Harbhajan - Symonds matter. The match refree just accepted the Ausie version that Bhajji had called Symonds a monkey and took action without bothering to give the Indians a chance. Judge Hansen was appointed following an appeal and he overturned the action and also virtually asked for action against Symonds. BCCI shamelessly did not persue the matter. Bucknor gave racial decisions against India for years. Yet all that is commented upon is Bhajji's reportedly calling Symonds as "monkey". Ponting , Clarke & Co got away with catches taken after multiple bounces but no Indian journalist talks about it.
A similar situation now exists. Jug would have been justified had he called for Indians to boycott Australia but he only find time to criticise Indians. Times of india should consider renaming itself as Anti India Times as it repeatedly carries such rubbish.
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Vijendra says: June 10, 2009 at 07:22 PM IST

I Strongly Agree with your Following suggestion.

"However, as only too many horror stories testify, the average rural Dalit fares worse on the human-rights scale than her 'kafir' counterpart in the worst days of South African apartheid"

Check the Example of Rural Dalit on following website

http://atrocitynews.wordpress.com/manuski-centre-khairlanje-report/
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Racist Kannan says: June 10, 2009 at 07:22 PM IST

These so called Indians who are so desperate to change their identity to be a australian or canandian or american ...Cry for racism .. Initially

they become more racist after spending few years in that country ... they treat these new seeking identity changers with more racism as they know the both side of being a indian and being the native

Beleive me these are the same people who after spending 5-6 years in that country ..start critisizing India... and hate to open/show that they belong to india .... ? what they say is
- In my last visit to dirty india.. i felt i
never belong to here and i must never comeback

They cry till they are on week side ... Once they know inside/outside and come on other side ... they become racist and they want to oppose people joining them ...

these guys develop somekind of DNA .. which push them for being oppurtunist ...

Govt of india must conecntrate on some other important issue then these ... Identify changers..
India is never going to get them back
they sing song depending upon the situation
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Hindu Responder says: June 10, 2009 at 07:25 PM IST

This is one of the most foolish articles I’ve ever read. What does this dim wit expect Indians in Australia, or anywhere else for that matter, to do? Does he want them to accept that racism as their fate and do nothing about it? If I were to listen to him I would start believing that bad treatment is something I deserve. I couldn’t disagree more. Fight against those who want to belittle and oppress you. Do not accept or expect anything else than First Class Citizenship. If you think you deserve to be well treated or ill treated, in both cases, you’re right. If you don’t respect yourself than nobody else will either. The author is a self hating Indian and would have been a British collaborator helping to keep this fellow Indians oppressed. I know we have problems in India and I know it is a still a third world country but that isn’t a reason for accepting discrimination. If you don’t fight back then they’ll think you’re weak and that will make the oppression worse. Besides, India is slowly becoming a First World Country.
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wiseindian says: June 10, 2009 at 07:27 PM IST

People look it as Sharukh Khan

- I am king khan of Bollywood (which hindi Cinema)
but in real life i hate to speak hindi openly or
hate to talk to people who i think not of my standard ... Am i racist NO ..NO ... I am star
People love me ... Watch for the queue's outside cinema halls ... But tht is my Job ..I am actually not like what i do on screen ... So AM I RACIST ..NO NO NO
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abhi says: June 10, 2009 at 07:28 PM IST

Mr. SUCK,oops Jug, u still living in rural India as far as caste is concerned. and for DU, don u think white, fair, dark etc. are common in young ones, who have stepped out from schools.
Have u heard about physical attack based on colour or ethnicity(African, Asian etc.). The eternal hatred to kill a race is not here in India.
Well sadly( but true) you are among those Indians who know how to write well in foreign language and using that pen slam your own countrymen to get some fkd up Booker.
Sad!1
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Krypton says: June 10, 2009 at 07:31 PM IST

HEY JUG, DO YOU SAY WE DO NOT REACT TO THE VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA?? AND IF SO WHY?

AT TOUGH TIMES WE ARE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER NOT POINT FINGERS.
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kRYPTON says: June 10, 2009 at 07:37 PM IST

Well Jug sir, you are a great writer but you have made a mistake this time finding fault in self is like committing suicide.
Pardon me to judge you on that
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Rahul says: June 10, 2009 at 07:40 PM IST

I totally dont agree with the writer. this is about protesting against racism when u r a victim not to avoid the topic by self introspection. We may be racist but here the question is about somebody else being racist. When we be racist somebody should complain. Why are we trying to defend on Aussie's behalf.
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saj says: June 10, 2009 at 07:42 PM IST

Racist attacks are never Justified, where ever it is. The fact remains that India is also a racist place, I know it first hand. We defenitly made ourselves a brand,but we should stop thinking that we have all the answers. Every culture thinks they are the most superior one. Totally agree with Suraiya, especially about black students in Indian campuses. I have black african friends come to India treated really bad! I remember being lost for words... and feeling frustrated about our stupid superior mentality,when they told me this! When it is white people, we suck up to them and when it is black african we think we are a bit superior!!! This mentality is true with in India between Indians. HOW INCREDIBLY STUPID! I am not talking about the 'internationals',(they are forced to change their arguments anyway, because they are mostly minority in foreign places) I am talking about the normal Indian public. Well the whole world is going a bit towards right anyway.
Leave the small town mentality and open our eyes, Hope our brothers and sisters in Australia are ok, retaliating is a good idea? May be yes. may be through different means, India is a relatively new country, but the culture is old, all the other cultures that somebody said we accepted with open hands... was FORCED UPON US!
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GKS Aus says: June 10, 2009 at 07:46 PM IST

why this issue is being discussed so loudly ?- because no body know the actual reason. I have experienced such things and after long observations i have few comments to make
- I have seen students from India who are rich and go to other countries only because maximum number of them are not capable of getting admission in India
- They do not know how to behave in Public - you can hear them from a distance in Resturants or public places - even in public transport
- Maximum students spend their time chasing girls or drinking
- they do not know how to be polite with others
- they think that they have right to do every things in other countries similar to India - going on a strike is their basic right in Australia
- This list is never ending but few more points which need to be considered are as follows
- How this thing started in Austrlia - was it really a racial attack or eve teasing
- who are they to go on strike and say that they are contributing to economy
- why they never think of so many Indians who are working or settled in Australia or other countries
- they have put others life in Danger

Hope the serious students in Australia convince these students and concentrate in thier studies
Life is easy in Australia - but people can not handle sudden freedom hence start behaving the way they are behaving now

there are lot of things which I have seen but i can not share but parents should also advised them to accompalish their mission for which they have been sent

There are chinese and students from other countries who never experience such things but only Indian and pakistani's have this problem - why ? worth giving it a thought
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Sean says: June 10, 2009 at 07:47 PM IST

Not suprising that Indians are attcked in Austrailia and the UK. Why are they being attcked, one of the main reasons is because of their fairly small framed physical size and that they tend to be short too in comparison to other races. If a group of teenagers/thugs sees a person of Indian descent on a train, or bus or walking the street listening to an IPOD,carrying a fairly expensive cell phone,wearing gold chains etc.. who do you think that they are going to attack. I am sure that it is surely not the lation person or the Black person or the White Person or the Chinese person.
Also too I am not condoning the actions of these thugs in Austrailia, but come to think of it, Indian persons are fairly thin and skinny looking in comparison to other races. You just have to look at the medals table every 4 years at the Olympics and see the poor display of the Indian Athletes, it is attrocios for a country of 1 Billion and counting. Also too people who display racist attitudes is just something that you will have to learn to deal with, and no matter how much legislation or laws are passed, no matter how many police are on the streets, it is very difficult to change persons attitude and mentality towards racism.
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clifford Fernandes says: June 10, 2009 at 07:50 PM IST

I agree with the author.We have religious, cast systems. Dalits are not allowed to sit on the same table as you.Bhiris are beaten up in Mumbai by MNS. I can go on endlessly. Wake up and sort out your own home first.
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Santanu says: June 10, 2009 at 08:02 PM IST

Thank you Jug, for an honest assessment. Having been part of several societies, I too feel Indians have the most segregative mindset, but there is a reason. India used to be different kingdoms, which often fought with each other, until only a few hundred years ago. The concept of Indian identity is fictitious. India should be equated to EU, where people speak different languages, eat different food, have different cultural traits, still having many common values, social ways to have a so-called European identity. We should understand this and move on. If regionalism and caste system have survived last 5000 years, it will not go away anytime soon. These divisions are eroding, but it will take time. Meanwhile we could band together and fight the bullies abroad.
I think Australia's problem is not racism. I think this is an economic struggle.The common Aussie has a social acceptance for hooliganism, which combined with blue collar intellect generates this dislike for Indians, who they suddenly see succeeding in their own country, earning twice as much as themselves.
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archana says: June 10, 2009 at 08:08 PM IST

Jug saab,i do agree that india has many sub-divisions based on region, caste etc but its only because of the fact that india is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual society. inspite of the innumerous divisions, india has stood as an example of Unity in Diversity and has shown tolerance which no other country would have, had it been this diversified. So, please dont just keep playing the blame game where we Indians only blame eachother during times like this and there by increasing the already existent ill-feeling towards the country and fellow indians(as shown by some money-thirsty, luxury-thirsty NRIs). India is changing gradually and be a part of change. and if want to see the change, spread out the good words of "equality" and "unity" instead of just sitting infront ur computers writing out blogs highlighting India-is-a-racist-country. And please pratice anti-racism urself if u really want to spread the word.
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Viks Kl says: June 10, 2009 at 08:54 PM IST

Mr Jug
I think sitting in your cosy surroundings you have passed your judgement on Indians while commenting on a issue that is unrelated to how we behave in India.Your logic is since we have caste etc issues in India so don't harp too much about the racist attacks in Australia.The real immediate and urgent issue here is that innocent students in Australia are getting by thugs in a country that calls itself civilized and how can we, Indian citizens and the government ,react so that Australia knows that India means business as far the security of its citizens is concerned.While our kids are getting pummeled in Aus. the only response you can come up with his is the self degrading one.I can assure you that your remarks are not intellectual but shows you live in your own wonderland.
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Tanya Shah says: June 10, 2009 at 09:33 PM IST

I thing Jug Suraiya speaks only for himself when it comes to observing factors for rascism, such as caste and skin colour. Most Indians these days are well-travelled and well educated and I for one don't value a particular caste or colour, when comes to making friends or dealing with business colleagues. Some of us Indians have even lived abroad so our insights towards rascism is NOT myopic as Jug Suriaya suggests. Yes there are idiotic people around and stupid commercials on TV which we may or may not have any control over. However India has for along time had social and government policies in place which discouraged fascism towards other castes and religions. Don't group all of us Indians under the same sterotypical negatives. There are 1 Billion plus of us and we don't all think or behave in the same way. There is NO JUSTIFICATION for RACISM- EVER regardless who is perpretrating it.
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dipanka says: June 10, 2009 at 09:37 PM IST

The logic in some of these posts are unbelievable. Is it so hard to condemn discrimination and racism in Australia AND India at the same time? Pointing the systemic discrimination that pervades Indian society does NOT make racism acceptable in Australia. Its the same phenomenon that needs to be recognized and condemned anywhere in the world. Jug Suraiya is merely pointing out the unpleasant truth; dont shoot the messenger.
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venkatesh says: June 10, 2009 at 11:08 PM IST

hey wise old man how much do u know about our culture and heritage. please do not comment with ur loose mouth about a nation which has let all the world to conquer on its wealth and let them live happily by earning their bread from our blood.Try to learn about our heritage in deep and then comment if not keep ur ears and eyes wide open to know the truth of our countries rich culture.simply spitting on our own faces by framing what a alien told is truth about our countries heritage is mere foolishness to the highest degree and that is what let the other person to rule us.If you what to know the reality of our heritage mail me for the details.
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True Human says: June 10, 2009 at 11:27 PM IST

Perfect article. it is true that we Indians are the most racist people on this planet, and then we complain about racisim in other countries. there are different kinds of discrimination going on in India on a daily basis. racism is just one of them. caste systmem has been there in India and still exists. discrimination based on religion, region, language, colour, ethnicity, etc. is so common in the everyday life of an Indian. Atleast in countries like Australia, Canada, USA, etc., there are laws against discrimination and the authorities are serious about enforcing them in most cases. Try and get Indian authorities taking action for any of these crims in India. they will just srug it off. First Indians should mend their own home and then point fingers at others. I have been living in Canada for the past 6 years, and have seen some racism, and yet the white people here respect you in most cases. But the fact remains, even in this country, even many of them having lived here for years, the most racist ethnic communities here are Indians and Pakistanis. So lets not complain about others. Arent the communal riots every now and then in India based on some kind of discrimination and hatred for the other community. So why are we complaining about a few attacks in Australia, when in India in these last 60 years, thousands of people have died in communal riots and other sorts of violent disturbances.
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S. Halder says: June 10, 2009 at 11:33 PM IST

Mr.J.Suraiya seems to mix up two different things.
Discriminaton based on skin colour exists in india, true, but rarely there is such blatant physical violence...; but just take a look at the Australian History... how they behaved with the Aborigenes is shameful! My heart goes out to these indian students. Future students, please think before choosing your destination!
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vishy says: June 10, 2009 at 11:43 PM IST

Jug surya, Im not sure where you live now but I live in UK, come here and have a taste of real racism. Calling some one punju,chinky or gujju is something but beating someone in the road and robbing is more serious. Come in UK and you'll see that no matter what you wouldn't be promoted to managerial positions you'll be made to wait unnecessarily in hotels when people came later are served. Take the example of air france. We don't do that in india. We don't beat someone because they are punjju or gujju or chinky. We dont abuse them when they walk in some pub like in UK or australia.
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True Human says: June 11, 2009 at 01:12 AM IST

Perfect article. it is true that we Indians are the most racist people on this planet, and then we complain about racisim in other countries. there are different kinds of discrimination going on in India on a daily basis. racism is just one of them. caste systmem has been there in India and still exists. discrimination based on religion, region, language, colour, ethnicity, etc. is so common in the everyday life of an Indian. Atleast in countries like Australia, Canada, USA, etc., there are laws against discrimination and the authorities are serious about enforcing them in most cases. Try and get Indian authorities taking action for any of these crims in India. they will just srug it off. First Indians should mend their own home and then point fingers at others. I have been living in Canada for the past 6 years, and have seen some racism, and yet the white people here respect you in most cases. But the fact remains, even in this country, even many of them having lived here for years, the most racist ethnic communities here are Indians and Pakistanis. So lets not complain about others. Arent the communal riots every now and then in India based on some kind of discrimination and hatred for the other community. So why are we complaining about a few attacks in Australia, when in India in these last 60 years, thousands of people have died in communal riots and other sorts of violent disturbances.
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Punith Ujwal Nayak says: June 11, 2009 at 01:16 AM IST

The ignorance of the common folk does not want to see the truth. All they want to do is live in self denial, think everything is permanent and does not happen to them. It is high time people realize our own flaws , admit the biases and try to live a good life.

what go around comes around. Thats the principle of karma
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suhas TUMKUR says: June 11, 2009 at 01:40 AM IST

U said it right. I was just telling the same thing to my white employees.......every word u have spoken is true.
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Student says: June 11, 2009 at 01:44 AM IST

I came across all the comments on this blog. One person says ours is a third world country: so what? Being an Indian you are discriminating yourself saying we are third world country so we cant expect the same treatment as first world country receives.
Racism and caste used to be in India and it is depleting now. There are many inter caste marriages going on and it is gonna vanish but it takes time. Young ones dont care about caste. I can say people who are old consider caste and as this blogger is aged he thinks racism is still in India. I am not criticizing you blogger, its just a psychological reason. This is not the time to find faults in us, it is the time to support and build confidence in students who are going to study in Australia. This is their future. Don't try to build a contradictory issue among us.
Everyone please support the students in Australia which would build courage in students to stay and finish their education and start their career.
Please change your attitude and change India. Getting attention in media is not important, think about your fellow Indians and their future.
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siddharth says: June 11, 2009 at 03:02 AM IST

thsi is the same author who was blaming india ('hindus') for mumbai attacks...can't expect anything else from a chian loving leftist...that being said, we, indians haev to improve ourselves..caste system was was a profession based scheme..but the 800 years of mughal and then british rule and our subsequent governments made a monster out of it. people like Suraya are the root cause of a severe lack of nationalism and thus pride inthe hearts of fellow indians and the reason India is so much maligned in westernmedia.
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RAJ says: June 11, 2009 at 03:05 AM IST

Finally, someone had the courage to tell the truth.
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vasu says: June 11, 2009 at 03:16 AM IST

we have to change ourselves first towards our existing barrier which is cast. we cannot tolerate the fact we hate each other for cast. we stand very low to argue for racism. most of the attacks towards Indian students in Australia are hyped and center staged. most of attacks could have been prevented. Indian students every where in the world have there own communities who support their cast people which itself is clearly racism towards fellow Indians. they have conflicts all the time with different cast. how good are we to raise an issue towards racism. Indian students have life threating action towards fellow Indians because of cast. who are more racist?
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Deb says: June 11, 2009 at 03:18 AM IST

@Sean, you surely was born in that era when Germanic tribes used to kill each other based on stature. Wake up man.Its not about size and frame. I know you dont pick someone of your size but this is about paying respect regardless of size and cultural background.Its about human beings. God!! I really wonder where you came from.
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Sunder says: June 11, 2009 at 03:19 AM IST

Yes I agree to the most part of what is being said. I live in America and see racism amongst Indians more than others. When was the last time you walk into a local Indian group and find others asking about your religion, family , where in India you are from , city or village etc? When were you not judged based on the family name?
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Aditya says: June 11, 2009 at 03:24 AM IST

The students who have gone to Australia belong to rich and high caste families. Why have they gone to study there when there are plenty of good universities and colleges here in India. It is just because foreign degree is considered better than Indian degree because those countries are of White people. The parents of these students take pride in telling their relatives that their son is studying in Australia. this gives them a sence of superiority in front of parents whose children are studying in India. At last I want to ask that what special degrees these students are studying which is not taught in India?
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coolvyakti says: June 11, 2009 at 03:30 AM IST

You are missing the point completely. In which city in India, do you see people being beaten up for their caste or color? Yes, there have been cases in India where dalits have been treated badly, even killed and raped - but not routinely, and neither is this act condoned by the media or accepted as "normal" by the rest of the country. What you are pointing out are the bias Indian's have towards the white skin; and that observation is correct and even though that is slowly changing - it does not compare with knifing, cutting or beating up people; which is what is happening down under.
Most of these biases due to skin color, class (wealth), origin, religion etc exist everywhere on this planet and is not unique to Indians alone. These biases show up if you care to observe - even if people are not bashed up for it.
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Sheldon says: June 11, 2009 at 04:12 AM IST

Dear Deb & Zain, the system is not perfect. It never has been and never will be. What I can promise you is that it is fair and objective. Deb to answer you, my area of jurisdiction includes Lakemba & Punchbowl - So i know a little bit more about the Lebanese community than maybe you do. And Zain, we do have the MEO unit that handles only the Mid-East criminal and anti-social elements. But if people are going to take to the streets in some jingo-istic quest for justice then you are only diverting precious resources to the mobs rioting on the streets than to us following due process and prosecuting the people actually responsible for the unrest. Understand this, THIS IS NOT INDIA, we choose to come here for a better life and are obligated to live by Australian Laws and norms. Rest assured that Law enforcement here (Unlike in India) does not have a price and the system works if you give it a chance.
Don't let your frustration make you a part of the problem, instead let your patience contribute to a lawful solution.
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Anurag says: June 11, 2009 at 04:42 AM IST

Talk about throwing the kitchen sink! Yes, Indians consider fair skin desirable. But are dark-skinned people segregated? Discriminated against? Not really - then how is this racist? And please don't fall back on matrimonials. Wanting a "fair" partner does not make one racist any more than desiring a "slim" partner. Secondly, you will find parochial behavior in every country, that is certainly not racism. Neither is xenophobia, which is what your "African student on Delhi campus" case is. (Do Chinese or Scandinavian students fare any better?). The only valid point is casteism, but that's a whole different story - it has nothing to do with "race".

Beats me why it is fashionable to berate ourselves, and create a mountain out of nothing.
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Ketan says: June 11, 2009 at 04:45 AM IST

You are very right. I grew up in Africa - I have seen first hand how Indians in Africa treat the local black people. Idi Amin threw out Indians from Uganda because he would not stand up for that BS - he went overboard, and I am not condoning his actions - just explaining his actions. For those Indians who understand Gujarati/Hindi, here are some commonly used racist words:

Kaadia --> derogative way of saying 'black people'
Jaadu/Jaadugar --> Dressed in black like magicians
Vaandra --> Monkeys

And of course, as Mr. Jug Suraiya points out, fair skinned is beautiful, dark skinned is ugly - look at movie stars, popularity of skin lightening creams, and ask your brother/nephew what type of a girl he prefers to marry - fair or dark? Ask your father if he would be ok with your marrying a black man or a black girl; and then ask the same about marying a white girl or white boy.

Of course, none of this is to justify Australians being racist. I am simply agreeing whole heartedly with Mr.Suraiya
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INDIANS WITH PRIDE says: June 11, 2009 at 05:34 AM IST

TO JUG SURIYA WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE HERE JUSTIFYING THE AUSTRAILIANS, WE CANNOT HELP SAYING THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE BROUGH DOWN THE NATION OF INDIA TO THE LOWEST, AND AGAIN AT THE LOWEST POINT AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL NATIONS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO DIGNITY, SELF-RESPECT, AND NATIONAL PRIDE.........SHAME ON ALL THOSE INDIANS WHO ACT WORST THAN COWARDS DO. EVEN AFRICAN SLAVES WOULD REVOLT. BUT THEN, WE ARE INDIANS, HAVING LEADER LIKE MANMOHAN WHO WOULD READILY SIGN ON ANY DOTTED LINE WITH SO CALLED SUPERPOWER TO SIGNOFF THE COUTNRY'S FUTURE IN SLAVERY..........WHAT TO EXPECT NOW........SHAME...............
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CP.BR says: June 11, 2009 at 06:17 AM IST

Jug, you should stick to your "funny" articles only. your non-serious articles are..well let's say not worth the paper they are printed on.

1. Caste is not equal to Racism. Caste is much more liberal, with high degree of social mobility and much more complicated than simple black-white discrimination.

2. Africans were not frowned upon because they were black.. Many Habeshi people were famous rulers in many parts of India, especially in Konkan and few rulers in Bengal as well. The Habeshis in Konkan were hated not because they were black but because they were fanatic muslim rulers who indulged in slave-trade and forcible conversions. But so was every Muslim ruler who was indulgent in such practises. Many of Habeshi rulers were loved by their subjects because of their just rule. Habeshi is geographical term referring to people from abyssinia or Habeshan or Eastern Africa.

3. The obsession for fair skin colour is Victorian in origin. And this is slowly decreasing..
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Jaix says: June 11, 2009 at 06:26 AM IST

I don't know why my comments are not posted but I find the whole premise of the article ridiculous. Sure we have our differences but can we only address this rampant attacks on Indians when we solve ours???
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Stan says: June 11, 2009 at 06:56 AM IST

To all my fellow Indians who still have doubts about whether Australia is a racist country or not, please visit this website http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48449193335

It clearly shows how highly they think of "Non-Whites" and our country in particular (calling India a shithole). These people need to be taught a lesson and our compatriots should have some shame and never set foot in that country again. Even those Australians who claim they are not racist think of us the same way. They only want to do business with us and thats why they're hiding behind the "I am not a Racist" mask.. wake up guys.
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lumgeng says: June 11, 2009 at 07:22 AM IST

whenever indian seems to be failure or unable to obtain any expected matter and if it does not come to right way, the issue of racist come up in paper. issue of black and white or so call high caste , low caste and regional ( North Indian in mumbai) this issue was condemn only in paper whereas Big netas and intectuallual maharastian did not come forward to safeguard this issue .not only this . we indian are more racial than any countries in world.if aussei adopt little bit so what ? in india it is common in the name of region.
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cheeti anil kumar says: June 11, 2009 at 07:24 AM IST

THAT SOUNDS REAL WE ARE THE WOSRT RACIST IN THE WORLD THAN ANYONE ELSE.
I HAVE BEEN LEAVING IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 3 YEARS AND NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THE THINGS I HAVE SEEN IN INDIA ESPECIALLY AT WORK PLACE .
IN INDIA IT IS CASTISCM WHICH IS ANOTHER FACE OF RACISM.
THERE IS LOT OF UNNECCASARY MEDIA ATTENTION IN INDIA .
THE OTHER DAY I WAS WATCHING A NEWS CHANNEL WHERE THERE REPORTER SAYS THE ATTACK ON INDIAN WHERE THE PERSON HAS SNATCHED A PHONE THERE OWN REPORTER SAYS IT IS ROUTINE ROAD SIDE ROBBERY BUT THE NEWS CHANNEL DEPICTS IT HAS A RACIST ATTACK HOW FAR IS IT ACCEPTABLE.
MY SUGGESTION WOULD TO MEDIA PLEASE GO THROUGH THE FACTS AND THEN SHOW THE REALITY
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Damien Kennedy says: June 11, 2009 at 07:30 AM IST

While I loved your article I still have problems with the broad sweep regarding Aussies as inherently racist. We just aren't. One of the frustrations all reasonable Australians face is that if any attacks or bashings happen for whatever reason to a group of people it is then put at the feet of 'white Australia '. Our press are vehement enough in their political correctness in dealing with these sensitive issues . We need more balanced and reasonable journalism such as yours . Perhaps politicians and social commentators with agendas will follow .
Yours faithfully and with respect,
Damien Kennedy
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Molly Thompson says: June 11, 2009 at 08:04 AM IST

To the foolish racist people of the modern world -

Just understand the SCIENCE of COLORS -
"WHITE COLOR IS MADE UP OF ALL COLORS INCLUDING BLACK, WHEATISH, RED GREEN BLUE ETC!!!! "
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Archana P says: June 11, 2009 at 08:16 AM IST

I was thinking along the same line when this issue cropped up. We are so racial and caste oriented people and when some one else is doing this to us then so much drama is created. At the time, how do we treat the foreigners for that matter to other states people in our country for example biharis were getting beaten by Marathis after all this we claim ourselves as non racist.
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sumit says: June 11, 2009 at 08:23 AM IST

No need to make such hue and cry about indians being attacked in Australia or Canada. We are hopeless, We can't even save people being tortured in Maharashtra,assuring someone in Australia is out of question.
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Deb says: June 11, 2009 at 08:53 AM IST

Sheldon,I have lived in Campsie for a while, have been to few "Lebanese" suburbs and seen footages of Middle-Eastern people abusing police. Let me assume those footages didnt led you to draw conclusion that you have been abused by Indians,Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. I am not sure about Pakistanis and Banglaseshis as I am commenting on attacks on Indian, but I will say again it will be very very hard to find any Indian abusing someone here in Australia.
To talk about law and how it works here..i work for the government and I am aware of corruption in this country.Only thing is you dont see it very often as it happens in "high places" and I am not supposed to see or say anything about it. Mind you, I have always said that I have found Aussies more helpful than any Indian...even more helpful than any Indian in India.
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Manoj Ghildiyal "manu" says: June 11, 2009 at 09:18 AM IST

I am full of anxiety and anguish about what is happening in Aus. Jug, I am partially agree with U as you have highlighted really gud points. We Indian are full of racism but we are coming out of it will take some time. My point is as Aussies claim themselves that they are the best educated and most civilized people of the world than attacking on Indian is a SHAME. What is happening in Aus is certainly a egg on our face. Sometime I get tangled to think over such imbroglios. Everybody who belongs to an upper cast or white colored contains a racism in their heart becoz of our living format and style. We used to call a rickshaw puller 'Bihari' and cannot forget Madrasi, Chinki so on and so forth... We need to take a concrete step to work upon it and chuck out the racism factor from our heart first and we will do it.

Cheers!!!
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Tom says: June 11, 2009 at 10:07 AM IST

Some people think racism is white supremacy.. Some others define it as discrimination.. DNA analysis shows virtually no significant genetic advantages or difference between racial groups. However, some diseases for example, are more prevalent in certain races over others.

A child is not born racist. If not exposed to racism in one's environment, there is no reason for one to become racist. A person cannot be characterized by the skin color or cultural background. Everybody should be treated fairly and with respect.

Indian Racism is like 'Pot calling the kettle black' ! Here is a nice song:

"Oho!' said the pot to the kettle;
"You are dirty and ugly and black!
Sure no one would think you were metal,
Except when you're given a crack."

"Not so! not so! kettle said to the pot;
" 'Tis your own dirty image you see;
For I am so clean -without blemish or blot-
That your blackness is mirrored in me"
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INDIAN says: June 11, 2009 at 10:10 AM IST

@ ALL THOSE "INDIANS WITH PRIDE" WHERE WERE YOU WHEN TAMILS OF INDIAN ORIGIN WERE FACING GENOCIDE. WHERE IS YOUR ONE VOICE.WHERE WAS YOUR NATIONAL DIGNITY,NATIONAL PRIDE,SELF RESPECT.
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noella says: June 11, 2009 at 10:33 AM IST

Some of the comments here imply that people think violence/verbal abuse based on caste or state is acceptable and racial violence or abuse is not.That is the very bigotry Jug Suraiya here is talking about
An indian calling another indian 'You chinky' is as abusive if not worse than a white man saying 'You Indian!'
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Punit says: June 11, 2009 at 11:00 AM IST

Dear Mr. Suraiya,
Spare a thought for Indian media who has got more important things to cover; like the rift between Dhoni and Sehwag, Hrithik's new found love etc.
The sensitivity of the "RACISM" topic is too hot to handle if the country gets divided in 2 halves - the Gandhi followers and Bhagat Singh followers.
That always has been the case with India. India almost every time finds itself divided with contrasting ideologies. Your topic does not help the cause. It is an excellent debate topic though the article I thought is chronically misplaced. Few points raised by you are correct but I don't think there is any one who is not aware of them. Showing true face is important. However, I would rather be not cynical.
About the Australian episode, I think every party has failed miserably in handling this sensitive issue. Attack on Indian becomes a racist attack, violent protests by Indians are a self defense mechanism. "Indian media" has the power to blow the droplet of water into an ocean. Attack on 11 Indians becomes a national issue. Australians are no better in handling the situation.
Just to conclude, the article is a good one but totally unnecessary.
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Gaurav says: June 11, 2009 at 11:04 AM IST

Add regionalism to this repetoire of indians. with all the xenophobiac tendencies of maharashtrians in Mumbai, India is indeed looking in mirror in Australia
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Vikram says: June 11, 2009 at 11:09 AM IST

Hi Jug, Have you been to - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Estonia, El Salvador, Finland, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Honduras, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Leishenstein, Libya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Soloman Islands, Samoa, Rwanda and a host of 200 or so countries and Islands. If you have not been to these countries how can you and others writing against Indian physche even dare to claim that India is the most racist country on the planet? Do you guys even know the difference in Caste and Race. OR do all those India bashing Indians think these are not the countries to be talked about and only US/UK/Aus and some European countries are to be compared with??? Complete nonsense article by Jug and wrong timing nevertheless. We all should stand united in this hour when fellow countrymen are being attacked in Oz for no good reason!
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Sam says: June 11, 2009 at 11:27 AM IST

722 comments, 100's of opinions.
Indians appear to think they are different to the rest of the world. Wake up, you happen to be the same: some ratbags, some angels. some noisy , some quiet. I'm sorry to give it to you straight, but you are neither very smart nor very dumb. Indians are just like the rest of the world. No better no worse. It's the leaders of India that limit Indians reaching their true potential in their homeland. Indians do well overseas, how come? If you want to make things better, why not start looking at a race problem as a race problem and not as an Indian or Australian problem.
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pawan kumar says: June 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM IST

well said........
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Prasad says: June 11, 2009 at 11:31 AM IST

absolute hypocrite... I just can not comprehend the idea of mixing the happenings in the overseas and the Indian cast system. May be the author wnats to be in the good books of Ozs for his vested interests. Instead of supporting the Indian students, here he starts the concoction of confusion. Very diabolical...
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Gary says: June 11, 2009 at 11:34 AM IST

I'm an Aussie (Perth) reading the TOI to gain a different perspective on this story. I would like to echo some comments that have come from some of the non-indian victims in the same area of Sydney and those of the Police Officer in charge. "Not all the attacks in the area are against Indians and not all the perpetrators are Middle Eastern or Aussies".

The fact of the matter seems to be that we have a spate of innocent people being hurt by vicous youths and the police are currently working towards putting a stop to it, end of story.

When youths attack as individual or as a gang they will abuse you both physically with violence and phycologically with anything they perceive to be a weakness. Geneder, race, stature, age, disability, nothing is sacred. Even though there may be racism/ignorance in the heart of some of these young men, I believe the term "Racist Attack" in this situation is a headline not a true motive.
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Augustine says: June 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM IST

Well said, we are divided on colour, caste, creed and status and the divide is starkingly contrast. We fail to see the beauty in black while we all tolerate the dirtiness if in whites and we are always lethargic - whether it is the tamils who are suffering or the sikhs who are marginalised, we are not concerned because we are regionalised -we fail to realise that we do not act as Indians and what happens to tamils can happen to gujjus later. all these despite that we are not wealthy & developed.
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Rocky says: June 11, 2009 at 11:57 AM IST

Totally agree.

Do we ever have a Dark-skinned hero/heroine in Hindi movies ? Bias or color discrimination is everywhere..Only Fair colored persons become Mr/Miss India !! Beautiful is skin-deeep in India.

Even in the so called eglatarian religions, we have a term Dalit-Xtians, Dalit-XX, Dalit-YY...Man and we complain about other regions/religions
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Pravin says: June 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM IST

I appreciate the writer about his views and retrospection. I read him in TOI. He has done his joob well to figure out and any how established that where we are racial but failed to understand/explain that we are not violent againts any race or color. It is like [Jo bhee jahan se mila usko jodkar prove kar diya kee hum racist hain.]
Indians have fights on language bases, and it started when the financial aspects are compromised/threatened.
I know many people will stand up and give example of Assam and Mumbai in the name of racismm, but this is all about occupying the significant financial junks by other than native residents of that place living since forever.
The situation in Australia is different we are not occupying there finanacial share..even studnents are paying for their education. So, why did it start there. Simply they are racist.

I feel very sorry about author's poor ground knowledge about social acceptance of gori chamri. 50% or more Indians are not fair and they are liked and respected and loved. The definition of racism has to be understand in its right sense here.
We have names like Kallu and Kale, it doesn't mean we are racist. If you call some body Monkey in India he will ask , What I am doing something like Monkey ? He will not link it to any race. He will link it to an action linked to that animal.

Now days it a fashion to point fingers to our culture, traditions in the name so called retrospection and analysis without knowing the facts.

Can some body from readers point if he/she is treated badly in India due to his color.

I don't agree with author about comparing ourselves with what happend in Australia. We are not killing any body in India due to their origin/orientation/nationality.

I would like to correct the author about habshi. They are called becuase of their eating habbits not color, please don't mind it sir.

This is my personal comment about the article.
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Abhay says: June 11, 2009 at 12:15 PM IST

I am shocked to see the reaction of media and government. Where were they when the attacks on north Indians was going on in Mumbai . If we can't keep people like Raj Tackhrey behind the bars we don't have any rights to question other government.First ask the goverment to make sure that Indians are safe in their own country then it should think about the people in other countries.
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T.R.Ramaswami says: June 11, 2009 at 12:24 PM IST

That's why even the media identifies the Speaker of the Lok Sabha more as a Dalit and does not tell us enough of her achievements.
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ashu says: June 11, 2009 at 12:56 PM IST

I guess India bashing is becoming quite a fashion nowadays. Thats the reason that an Australian issue is equated to Indian issue and the focus is being diluted. Its almost that people on this forum (Mr Jug to start with) are saying that discrimination in India is the cause of Indian students being beaten up in Oz.

Seriously, look at your arguements, the need to drive a connection to Indian issue is laughable and pathetic at best. Try explaining this to an Indian student is Australia, who has faced the attack that "because in India doscrimination exists, it is fair that you get beaten up in Australia". Like I said laughable, pathetic and absolutely with an intent to dilute the issue.
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Behroze Bilimoria says: June 11, 2009 at 01:03 PM IST

My family & I arrived from India in 1971 and have lived in this beautiful country since then. The Australians have embraced us and we have embraced them in turn. Never have we experienced any racism - in fact, it's quite the other way round: our white-skinned Aussie friends try so hard to lie in the sun just to be our colour!

Let me say in brief, racism is not related to colour, it's an "attitude". If one has an arrogant or superior attitude it can sometimes translate into "racism". As our Police Minister said here in Sydney today.... "Victims of crime that do occur in this area are not exclusively Indian, the perpetrators of those crimes are not exclusively Middle Eastern"

Crimes occur everywhere - there are bad elements in every country and with the economic situation these days and an ever-increasing drug culture, such crimes will increase. But victims should not think they are being attacked because they are brown-skinned or yellow or black. They just happen to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time and met up with some bad dudes.

Stay safe and stay happy in this impartial country - it has everything going for it. Just give it a go and learn about Australians and teach them about India - the cultural difference is all there is that stands in your way.

I love Australia and I love India.
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Vikram says: June 11, 2009 at 01:16 PM IST

India has been a country OR an area OR a civilization for that matter for 3000 to 5000 years. In the last 900 yrs or so when Casteism rose, we were attacked by Muslims and British invaders ruthlessly killing the native Hindus and dividing them on the basis of caste and treating us as inferiors This inferiority complex of which Mr Jug is a prime example has remained with us until now unfortunately. Lets wait for another 3000-5000 years before we compare other so called developed countries to India. Am pretty sure there will be many violents incidents in those so called developed countries too! And those would be inflicted by Natives on the foreigner coming in to study and contribute to their economy. Quite the contrary to Britsh and Mughal rule in India...Self bashing Indians Grow up, learn about our history, tradition, culture etc with an open mind before instead of hating ourselves!
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Srinivasan says: June 11, 2009 at 01:23 PM IST

Very true...we indians are the biggest racists in the world. First we need to correct ourselves first then look outside.
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dinesh Joshi says: June 11, 2009 at 01:32 PM IST

I am sorry to say that the authers mentality is clearly readable. Insted of supporting truth and stand with indian community overseas you change subject to your personel views. Let me remind that so called whiting cream is product of so called western and developed nation. Author need to remember this and iam sorry that TOI publised such articale which demoralised indian staying overseas.
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Soumya Mandi says: June 11, 2009 at 01:34 PM IST

Thanks for bringing this.But you have to agree on
one thing and that is racial attacks if any were more violent in Australia than they are in India.
So you can't compare these as per the attacks are concerned.
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Ragu says: June 11, 2009 at 01:49 PM IST

Indians they are racists themselves. In India They yell at Srdarji 12 bajgaye! At Biharis they Daku aya or say lalu. South Indians are set aside by north Indians because of their dark skin.
in one word every Indian is on or other kind of racist because they still follow the untouchable culture Specially Mangalore Hindus Brahmins keep the lower cast out of the prayer place and temples. This was taught to their children now theese students study in Overseas but lack forigen culture they never have smile on their face, do not mingle with whites may be freedome fight with whites reminds them most? on the other hand some Indian students celebrate noicy party on weekends after one drink they act monkeys they bang dishes like Dools and disturb the neighbourhood.
What students go for study is true as well they want to grab all jobs such as shop salesman, fuel fill, taxi drivers have you seen any student taxi driver in India? Whatever you do but have that happy smile on your face, but they lack this.........
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skb says: June 11, 2009 at 02:03 PM IST

Dear Jug,

Facts are welcome. But please do not try to represent India by using words "WE" espicially while expressing your opinions (eg I am refering to the last line).

I see your this writing as an attempt to dilute the seriousness of violent attacks on innocent people? How could you correlate these attacks to what is the racial situation in India...that too.. at this point of time ? Popularity contest... I think. Or may be some sense of guilt...or fear.

Violence / racial hatred are not correct whether done by anyone to anybody in any part of the world. And this is the time to condemn the on-going violence / racial hatred & appreciate the efforts those who are working to contain this; rather than diluting the seriousness of the matter in hand.

No hard feelings please.

Regards,

SKB
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DR S Siddegowda says: June 11, 2009 at 02:17 PM IST

A completely immature article and should not have been published in a national news paper. What is the author trying to convey here? Racism is just one of the faces of all the other evil things that man has created against humanity and it is time we stand up united to solve the problem. If you keep looking for excuses to sideline this issue with something else, we will never be able to find a solution to anything. The author is biased and does not deserve to be on a national news paper. Shame on you Mr Suraiya. If you intended to make a difference then you would have tried to find solutions and not hide behind other issues to put this one under the carpet.
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SINGH_BIHARI says: June 11, 2009 at 02:34 PM IST

Yes we are more racist. Now a days most aboused fellows are the BIHARIS. Thanks not only to Raj and Bal Thackrey but A good section of affluent people. And this is because BIHARIS are spread allover the country not only as labourers but also as students, and offocials at various levels.
All this compells some BIHARIS BIHARIS from even disclosing their identisies.

We are racist and that of the worst class.
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Raj says: June 11, 2009 at 02:38 PM IST

There is some element of truth in what Mr Suraiya is trying to convey in this article. I have been living in the UK for past six years and have never been subject to any type of racism. I am very dark complexed and had more problems in India, thats for sure. Now there is a fine divide in regionalism and racism. Irish hate English, Scottish hate english, english make fun of Irish and Scottish. When they are abroad they are simply British and are chums. So Mr Suraiya accepted that we Indians are very prone to communities in whole but out of India we are Indians and really try to help each other, and not once thinking of other fellow Indians race, caste or community. Yes, We Indians may have aggravated the situation somewhat, but in the end we never know what exactly happened. I will also advise those students living in Australia and organising protests march, THINK ABOUT GANDHIGIRI.
Trust me that man is not known for Mahatma for no reason. Mr Suraiya I have been a great fan of your writing since my childhood, always loved your stories.
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babuds says: June 11, 2009 at 02:38 PM IST

As the Australians and the neighborhood folks, where the attacks take place, themselves have stated that these attacks and robberies were taking place since so many decades. The Australian police were simply looking the other way while crimes being committed unhindered. So the Australians never moved out of their homes nor took trains/busses in the night for fear of being attacked. This could be a reason no Australian citizen was willing to risk their life and limb to work as a night shift taxi-driver or gas station attendant. The unsuspecting and unwarned Indian students lapped up these risky jobs, which involved moving in the nights alone. As the local gangs knew the police will not act, they had a field day in attacking Indian students and robbing them. The students fearing deportation by Australian Government never retaliated the attacks. This could have emboldened the gangs and the 'curry bashing' become a popular sport and fun even with the teen Australian girls. Due to the Indian students and the Indian media the lawlessness which was so far went unreported, became a world scandal. The Australian police has to do a lot of explaining to their own citizens what was their motive in tacitly allowing night crimes all these decades in the suburbs and rail stations of Australia.

Coming back, this article misses the point completely and is out of context and simply lacks analysis of any kind.
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SKS says: June 11, 2009 at 02:40 PM IST

Hey! this is not the time to discuss whats there and whats not there in india.. but we cant let outside our country happening same...
There are many drawbacks and good in india... it cant be changed in overnight. Good and bad is the faces of one coin, and there is no sense in curcing about our old problem and letting others die somewhere?..
When one cant oppose it why all these discussions? please stop it.
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Salam, from brussels says: June 11, 2009 at 02:41 PM IST

yes i agree that we indians are racist on issues like caste,religion and language,
we are proud of our history that we never attack the others country just for some money,
this aussies kids can kill somebody even for a cigarettes,
our kids never do that,
this shows in wat cultural so called developed countrys kids are growing up,

this so called developed countrys dont even respected their parents and god

how can they respect others

the only destination for this kids are prison with tougher laws.
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SKS says: June 11, 2009 at 02:50 PM IST

Dear ragu

for ur kind information ur still in pastense ..india has lot better changed than before...but still hereditary remains here and there.. cant help, needs time.

do you think all these changes is happend in one day...? please dont mention south , north , west , east..problem is behavioural... its purely dependent on individual person thinking...nothing to do with india... we cant change complete world man..... first make change in our own thinking... automatically world changes..when every one start doing the same.. atleast racist counts decreases :)to 0 Percent
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Saratchandran says: June 11, 2009 at 03:03 PM IST

Our wrongs and their wrongs are both wrongs. Both need to recognize that and move forward to be more tolerant and accepting of others who are dissimilar to us. It may be in the human genes to behave in this perverse manner. Even genes are modifiable and one can call it evolution. Let us all take the trouble to evolve from our programmed view of others and extend our friendship to others and expand our horizons of human experience!! We will all be richer in our experience of life itself!!
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RSP says: June 11, 2009 at 03:58 PM IST

Dear Mr. Jug,

Your article is untimely and irrelevant. If an Indian's daughter get raped in Australia or any other country, for that matter, the father won't right an article saying, so what it happened, the rapes happen in India as well, I won't prosecute the offenders. The problem, whereever it happens, is unjustified and deplorable, and should not be compared with problems of other countries. This attitude is myopic and simplifies the crime. Going by you no one should be protesting for anything, and just keep saying so what this happens in Denmark, Sweden, Indonesia etc. Please get your act together, sir, and if you can't agree with your countrymen, do not try to dent our solidarity with our protesting people in a foreign land.
Thanks.
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Sayantan says: June 11, 2009 at 04:02 PM IST

this is so so so true....
i hail from west bengal.. i was in karnataka for 7 years, and have faced different taunts of me being a bong and a north indian from fellow students, seniors and teachers as well. we were severely ill treated by anyone who understood we couldnt speak kannada.
ask any guy/girl from north india, he/she would tell u the same story. All north indians have faced it in bangalore. They all have anti- north indian sentiments. Hooligans target north indian techies in blr and rob them. Isnt this a kind of racism? But in india there's no human rights. you can always get away with it. actually the fact is it has become such a part and parcel of our life that we generally choose to ignore it.
I now live in london. till now , its been nearly 2 years, i have never faced any taunts for being dark skinned or for being an Indian whereas in karnataka it started happening in the 1st month!
The point is simple, we need to change our attitude towards our fellow Indians who hails from a different state.
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anantjit says: June 11, 2009 at 04:32 PM IST

There could not have been better timing than this to declare that india is more racist than australia.isn't it jug?He is the same person who declared that hindus are responsible for mumbai terror attack, and that was also well timed.i feel he is just attention craving that is really clear fron his articles.He writes with some bombastic voacbulary ,something that is literally nonsense.People like these should be ignored.I think TOI has to take some responsibility for not publishing these kind of articles , because what comes in our media also goes in australian media especially in the current scenario.Now if things like these are going to australian media from india side what do you expect from australians to take this matter seriously when indian media itself is not serious about it?By calling ourselves a more racist nation so racism done in australia is no big deal for us- is that how we show how serious are we for this matter?is that how we are going to bring justice to the victims in australia?if indian media is not going to support the indians in australia then just answer me this jug (or TOI) WHO WILL?
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jaytirth k says: June 11, 2009 at 04:51 PM IST

Though I agree with most of the points raised by the author, I find it surprising when a matrimony add is classified as racist. Whats wrong if someone wants a beautiful spouse? Don't the american fall for blondes? The person is not harming someone having a dark skin. It is just his choice of spouse.
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Prashant says: June 11, 2009 at 04:52 PM IST

Hey, Y we have expectations from australia when everybody in world knows about Mumbai incidents.
How our Netajis can ask australia to stop racism when they can't even stop this in Mumbai..

If want to be safe in whole world, start it from your own home.
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Pradeep Gairola says: June 11, 2009 at 05:11 PM IST

I agree with the Jug, we Indians need to be more mature in our behavior. However this does not liberate citizens of other countries who are attacking Indian mainly because we can be identified by colour of our skin
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J. BOGI says: June 11, 2009 at 05:47 PM IST

Protest we must, against racism in Australia, or any where . Racism is as hurtful as it is inhumane. It is generally carried out by people who feel inferior and inadequate about themselves, so they have to put others down to feel good about themselves. When we or our own become victims of racist attacks, it is painful to handle, this pain is multiplied when racist attacks are meted out to us by our own. Racism in Aus are cheap acts, & racism in India among our own selves is....
I think that Jug is very clear & good. While condemning those attacks he is pointing to the hypocrisy in us. How come we do not protest when Raj Thakare carries out racist attacks on Biharis or north Indians- our own-INDIANS ? Is it safer to protest in Australia than in Mumbai?
The rot of color, caste, language, state discrimination in our country is too foul. Can you believe that in the 21 century there are villages where animals may drink from the wells, but humans are not allowed because they are from low caste? That women can be paraded naked in public , with cameras rolling-because she is from low caste? That a Catholic Nun who took the holy vow of celibacy to serve humanity and God, would be paraded naked in full public view & raped because she is from a different religion? The list can go on and we would have no where to hide our faces. Even the darkest holes would not provide the hiding we would need if we but look into the racism that prevails in our mother land. The racism within is what defiles us, not what comes from the outside. The enemy within is more subtle and dangerous as it feeds on us & eventually destroys us.
Very subtly caste system has shrouded itself in tolerance proclaiming religion,giving itself god's approval for racism.It takes integrity & courage to see the log in our own eye as we try to clear the spe in others eyes.
Yet I see a glimmer of hope in Young India. No sir, we wont sit down & take racism. Arise young India, lets fight the enemy within & without.
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Shaunak says: June 11, 2009 at 07:16 PM IST

ha ha ..how easy was it to write that we are more racist..Finding a fault/faults is easier and usually admired in India.So it was obvious to get SOOO many comments to this blog. I personally didn't like the blog too much. I have always found we,the Indians have been using most of brains to criticize someone(mostly ourselves).
So I want to request people not to waste time writing and reading such stuff. News are sufficient material to read out. See there.. Indians students are racially abused in Australia.. Now where is your patriotism? Go fight..Dont say ki it is not at all related to me..Who knows next person will be your son, brother,..
first thing, race!=colour.
i think indie the person who has commented above from australia has a point..n that is true..& not only in australia..but indians do such stuff in all over world..but i want to know how he wants to relate this topic with the blog..Do u mean whatever is happening in aus is right?
but i want to say one thing.whoever goes abroad should create rather maintain image of india. That is the only way to create an Indian brand in the world..
jai hind!
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anon says: June 11, 2009 at 07:35 PM IST

we are racist, need to accept that..
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sivakumar says: June 11, 2009 at 07:56 PM IST

Few points :
1 . India is 20 Countries in one. Regionalism is
ofcourse only natural. We are doing much better
than europe for example.
2. Racism is there everywhere , but what we dont do in india is bomb someone because he is a bihari or marathi.. If we do we shouldnt tolerate it , be it Marathi or Aussie . We didnt tolerate Bihari bashing , So why does Jug want us to tolerate Aussies.
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ashu says: June 11, 2009 at 08:56 PM IST

And my sincere request to people who are diluting the issue on this forum. Specifically by diverting focus on Indian issue and writing anecdotes about "How they have faced discrimination in India"- IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU. NOT EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD IS ABOUT U. For gods sake this is about murderous attacks on Indians in Australia. Get your head out of your own ***** and focus on the ISSUE
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Sonny says: June 11, 2009 at 09:21 PM IST

Absolutely true!

As one of the readers was suggesting, look what the shiv sena did to our own people from the north? What do you call that? Oh, here is one more: after living in the US for 20 years I decided to come back to India and live in Goa. Guess what, to my surprise, when I went around to the beach front restaurants, the service was impeccable for the "white folks" but for our own people...well, you guessed it right. It was such a shock and shame for me to see how our own people discrimiate against our own people! As the author was saying the preference towards white skin is implicitly publized in all our TV commercials (like Fair and Lovely cream). If not the skin color, it is something else like you are a "gujju" or a "ghati" or a "madrasi" or you are brain dead if you are a sikh - I mean the list is endless in India. If you ask me, I think the white folks are generally more tolerable and receiptive than us Indians!
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abhishek says: June 11, 2009 at 09:35 PM IST

its very easy to spk like that sir...u have no idea what kind of an impact this can make..we are not racist..and im in australia..and yea few attacks are racist..whether u accept or not
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bali says: June 11, 2009 at 09:49 PM IST

lolll people here say that we do not bomb if anybody bihari or what...then what happened in maharastra ...where all shops of bihari people damaged....what you call if australian do not kill or beat indian but damage their property and bussiness
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checker47 says: June 11, 2009 at 10:56 PM IST

Talk about racism in India. I remember what the students at Aligarh called the Somalians who were studying there. Would you believe it they were called 'KALA BHOOT. Even then the Somalians were all praise for the Indian students there. Probably no one ever told them the meaning of Kala bhoot.
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Hardeep says: June 11, 2009 at 11:26 PM IST

A very well written article on a subject most journalists are afraid to approach - racism within our own boundaries. I have lived in India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Canada and Australia. Living in Canada right now. The most discrimination I have exprienced has been in India and Saudi Arabia. What makes the discrimination in India so unbearable is the fact that it is my OWN country!! It is high time we looked at ourselves first before shouting "racism" at others. And please, I am not trying to say that the problem of racism experienced by Indians living abroad will go away by doing so. We should make full use of the laws available to us: In Canada, you can file a "Human Rights complaint" with your provincial govt and they investigate the issue. But taking out rallies and burning cars will not help your cause at all.
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Vishu says: June 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM IST

Hmmm.. what you said is absolutely true. But, I think that DOESN'T QUALIFY THE WHOLE OF INDIAN SOCIETY AS RACISTS!

The feelings, opinions, prejudices you mentioned Mr. AUTHOR, can be easily found among many people in India, I agree. But again, we can see such things in our society because its instinctive, I think.

No single country, no single religion, no single culture ever completely includes the flavors of other countries, religion and culture respectively.
So, I guess its natural for a human being to feel different and reluctant to readily accept the OTHER PEOPLE(which we calls the racists victims).

Well, as we take great pride about our religion, caste, region, local-culture and all such stuff, its natural to have such a society, the one you described Mr. AUTHOR.

But the one who is educated and truly understands the importance, rather trivialness of the issue, would not mind to accept the OTHER PEOPLE as human beings as one is. I guess many of the working section and educated section would do that.

But as the LITERACY RATE OF INDIA is not so high, you can't really expect the INDIAN society to be fool-proof about the global issues. I think, Education plays an important role in increasing tolerance, in better social behavior and realizing a person that not everything should be INSTINCTIVE.

Coming to bartenders and receptionist or whatever, I know of many big and top MNCs where people with dark-complexion holding top-level jobs. Its when your company is unwanted and you don't get a good employee, you would try to want to keep some clients on focusing of issues other than quality to stay in business. I have a good example for you, a newly opened coaching institute or a hair-saloon. But, five-star hotels won't mind hire a brilliant Manager even if he has a dark-complexion, and vice-versa.

So, its a mix of few things, but mostly being unaware that one is actually, showing racism!
In short, its IGNORANCE, not RACISM that's there in our society, I think.
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sangita says: June 11, 2009 at 11:57 PM IST

Every country has their share of problems.you cannt compare them.Developed countries have also regional problems.you cannt justify racism in Australia just because we also have regional discrimination.You should say that this is wrong not we are wrong thats why this is happening to us.
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Ramil says: June 12, 2009 at 12:18 AM IST

it takes a racist to catch a racist - Are you serious? I am surprised that people still write such articles. Racism is racism.. have you travelled to any of these countries and felt racism first hand? So you mean to say that in early 1900 and before, the blacks experienced racism because they were racist?

Also .. if you have any real exposoure of living in any of the (so called) white country, you ill realize that they are equally racist as a country.. In US also the white is considered beautiful... Dont you think they use sun screen outside india? BTW who produces fair and lovely? The reason lots of developed countries do not see racism is that the low prevents that. Do you knwo that there are more than 900 organized hate/racist groups in US alone and that is 50% growth in last 5 years (from 600 5 yrs back).

Its all about education.. if lot of people in india react to color , is because they are not well educated.. they still believe in what we were taught by our invaders that bloack is dirty.. BTW Krishana was Black, kali is black and we worship them. I would hope that people like you do some world education and then bash the indians.. its teh human nature.. that they like their own and hate any one different then them - Its teh education & strong law that teaches us to accept and respect each other's differences. So instead of beating Indians for being racist, lets find teh root cause which is - ignorance and illitracy/lack of proper education & resources.
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Thokuchand Hazarimal says: June 12, 2009 at 12:27 AM IST

Bhayya's are beaten in Mumbai, now they also got beaten overseas. It is interesting why bhayyas get mostly beaten in their own country as well as overseas?

Thokuchand Hazarimal, Honolulu
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Sapna Sharma says: June 12, 2009 at 12:45 AM IST

Very well said, keenly observed. I agree with you that racism in India starts from morning "Jhaduwala" till the end of the day.... It seems to be very dull tail but fact. It needs to be spoted and being removed.
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dhi says: June 12, 2009 at 01:08 AM IST

I completely agree with the fact that we Indians are the victims of our own compatriots cause I have really felt it.
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Kunal says: June 12, 2009 at 02:30 AM IST

Yes, very true in many senses. It has been going on for years and will go on for years if we, as Indians don't stop the looking at each other with this hatred. I really feel ashamed by public behavior of Indians.

>>Recently, Raj Thakrey's party workers had beaten up some body from outer state.
>> Mayavati is asking for votes on name of being dalit.
>> We bifurcate educated people by endorsing reservation bill on name of caste or gender.
>> We call each other mallu, Gujju, and Panjus.
>> When we are in different country we tend to call each other " you desis".

You know what? where we are lacking at? Answer is self esteem.

BE proud of being Indians guys you are from land of Swami Vivekananda for whom everybody stood up and gave ovation. Why? He was utterly proud of being Indian Hindu. BE a real responsible Indiana and everybody will respect you.
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somebody says: June 12, 2009 at 03:14 AM IST

This is bullcrap. Just because there are atrocities committed in india, it does not excuse curry bashing that happens there. I don't understand this kind of navel grazing that some indians do! We have to oppose the discrimination that happens here, and also oppose it outside of india! If one applies the authors logic, then its not so bad if we all start thrashing maharashtrians! After all, MNS has attacked biharis... So no maharashtrian can raise his voice against any violence anywhere! What absurdity! Shame on you, Jug!
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Manju says: June 12, 2009 at 04:42 AM IST

racism is very common in india, against south indians it is more, it will lead to division of india, If you watch "The President is coming" movie then you know how racist indian movies are. Indian law should very strict on racism otherwise Goodluck for indian unity.
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Manjunatha says: June 12, 2009 at 04:52 AM IST

Jug Suraiya, I can see racisim in your story itself, You have wrote: Madrasis, who all live south of the Vindhyas and speak a funny 'Illay-po' language, For you it is so easy to degrade south indians as funny people, when western people feel same thing on hindi speeking north indians and if they write or say Indians, who all live in asia and speak a funny 'Illay-po' hindi language, then you wake up and you will say they are racist.
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mukesh says: June 12, 2009 at 09:42 AM IST

jug is is more than 100% right. Those getting beaten up abroad still prefer to live there when all the best things/oppurtunities exist in our homeland.
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Cliff says: June 12, 2009 at 10:52 AM IST

Obviously this is a highly sensitive issue. It seems that India, like most other large countries, is not a simple homogenous mass. It is a myriad of smaller, diverse communities that have looked at each other suspiciously for millenia. Even within the community, the existence of the caste system (which appears to be alive and well) indicates that there is a willingness to be segregated on the basis of "class" (read: relative wealth).
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KS says: June 12, 2009 at 10:59 AM IST

I totally agree with this article. Racism or casteism has such deep impression on our society that we judge others by their complexions and surnames. Most of us harbor a very strong contempt for other cultures, race and languages. The very example of this is the way we call others names like, a bihari working in Punjab is a ‘Bhayyia’ which doesn’t imply brother but a vulgar reference to a bihari labour or a dark complexioned person. Other examples of such references we daily use are; Mallu, Tambi, Madrasi, Chinky, Habshi, Phirang, Kattu, Kafir, Kalu, Schudu, Teli and many many more. While I totally support Indian students’ protests against racial attacks and their right to live/study/work with dignity and respect, at the same time I would like to exhort the Indians too, to look within themselves and honestly try to find out whether we also harboring a racist within ourselves consciously or otherwise.
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Cliff says: June 12, 2009 at 11:02 AM IST

In agonising about your own behaviour regarding bashing and being bashed, you need look no further than your own Mahatma Ghandi. Surely a prime model of humanity.
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Joseph C says: June 12, 2009 at 12:05 PM IST

Mr. Jag Suriya,
Thanks for yor brilliant analysis which hopefully will be an eye-opener to arouse the conscience of "Indians". Yes, the term Indian is a mismoner, and is akin to the term European. Europe is a continent comprising several nations, based on Spanish, Portughese, French, English, German, and Polish etc etc. However, ,India, as a suncontinent is a compartmentalized, fragmented NATION, made up of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telgu, etc etc, cemented together by the foreign glue English, and all the legacies of British rule. But, this India will forever, remain fragmented, since there wes NEVER A NATION CALLED INDIA to start with , but only a land mass India ruled by a wild bunch of debaucherers and rogues called kings and Maharajahs. Without an atom of doubt, this India (past, present and future) ia a racist society, and its leaders, including Mr. M. K. Gandhi were all racists. Thus, your statement. "For all India's official championing of the anti-apartheid crusade in South Africa's erstwhile white regime, north India at least is steeped in colour prejudice" reminds one of the prejudice and racist feelings of Gandhi towards blacks when he was in South Africa. He did not want any blacks to join his fight against the whites, and his gathering was exclusively for the brown skinned Indians, who "were a shade better" than blacks!
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Pasam says: June 12, 2009 at 12:19 PM IST

Absolutely true, the issue is not about sidetracking whats happening in Australia or elsewhere. The article is just trying to show how hypocritical our society is, have we ever been so vocal about the injustice happening to people in our own country? I think its taken for granted, people who are asking for us to understand the anguish of sufferings in Aus should look within. Having said that, i am for ensuring safety of our people abroad...!
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Neha says: June 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM IST

Well, as a part of coin two sides are always there. The Blog is good as far as its concerned to look into deep inside us.

But, right now wat's most important is to look on the whole matter from humane side. Teasing is a human tendency which starts from childhood in a person.But, as long as you dnt lift on hand on some innoncents...

Teasing, racism & then violence.. it grows like this.

& violence r beating innoncent is an punishable offence which is not forgivable.

I feel indians should not be soft targets and the people who got beaten should not ask mercy but learn to self defend themself.

in hindi.. Dabte ko aur dabaya jata hai...
but this is the time to unite, believe in ur own strength, we r not less then anyone.

Believe in yourself and dnt let anyone harm you. Put your all efforts in your self defence....
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Nitin Singla says: June 12, 2009 at 12:42 PM IST

I think you miss the point.. that is the internal matter.. an australian can say anything to an australian. that we should resolve ourself.. but someone do this to people of other country is not acceptable we all indians are united against it.. we are biggest racist if we do this against foreign people... and by calling someone madrasis or gujju is not big thing.. people use such vulgur languages these words nothing in front of them
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huh says: June 12, 2009 at 01:02 PM IST

Joseph C, don't be so frustrated at the failure of the attempt of the people of your group for their inability to convert this into a Christian empire. You are to be pitied indeed!
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ranjit says: June 12, 2009 at 01:05 PM IST

You are absolutely correct. We seem to be obsessed with the finrangs! I currently live in the UK and the most distressing fact is that Indians - especially first generation - are the most racist. Aside from the jobless and restless teens no whites takes part in harrasing US. You visit an Indian restauraunt and you inadvertantly notice that whites sitting next table, who came after you, is getting served first. I thought that might be because the dish I ordered was taking more time to prepare, but then I met a chef from one of the restauraunts and he said that they dont prefer to have Indian customers in an Indian restauraunt!! Shocking!
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Radiodoc says: June 12, 2009 at 01:13 PM IST

Indians may be handicappped by different races,castes and languages and that makes them divisive and immature especiallly when it comes to jobs and economics.But that is changing .To call that being racist is inaccurate.Its just exclusion demanded by needs.

Jug Suraiya articles mentions some old hats about regional divides and old jokes but fact of the matter is India is an excellent example of a surving multilayerd society.

Most white kids learn putting down foreigners from their parents or from the work place.Not in the school nurseries.
Unfortunately as the emerging economies demand their place in all spheres this discrimnation is bound to increase
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Subtron says: June 12, 2009 at 01:15 PM IST

Obviously India has the most descriptive and "well established" racism. Just because you dont beat someone, does not mean that the harassment is any less. With the proliferation of Indians in various countries, it is bound to happen that some people will be victims of random racist incidents. Overwhelming majority of Indians overseas do not get beaten or bruised in public or otherwise. People need to realize that a stunning 15 million Indians are living overseas. The odds of some being victims of various crimes is inevitable. Another thing we need to understand is that we are a very ugly race in western nations. Some of you may not like this comment, but it is true. Indians look extremely weird, especially the ones who like fools continue to keep their turbans, beards, moustaches, women wearning sarees and bindis, men walking in chapals, etc etc, only contributes in making our appearance look even more hideous and apparent. Now obviously not every Indian living overseas dresses like a clown, as perceived by others. Many Indians, are well spoken, speak clear english with little or no accent, well dressed and do not have body odor or food odor among many Indians, especially South Indians who unfortunately (not all, but many) smell like Sambar all day long. Once again, lets be clear on the fact that these are stray incidents, most Indians do not get attacked in other countries. And finally let us also undersand, that many indians are actually trouble makers in other countries. There are punjabi gangs in Canada and London, low wage workers in Dubai and Middle East, random chaos by South Indians in Africa and Asia and the list goes on. Let us focus on fixing racism and caste system in India. Incidents overseas are exaggerated and becomes a hyperbole, where in fact, very very few incidents actually occur, considering more than 10 million Indians go about their lives in other countries with much action.
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Michael says: June 12, 2009 at 01:28 PM IST

I am happy to see that white males are welcome in India. I live in the United States, where we are discriminated against (I have a MS degree and cannot find a good job). Perhaps I can become a bartender in India -- an American version of an "old colonial boy". (joke)

I am sad to hear about what is happening in Australia. I lived in Sydney in the 1960s, during the "White Australia" days. The government didn't want to admit people of color to the country then, because they feared they would get the same sort of racial unrest that was sweeping America at the time. Unfortunately, they were correct.

In the United States, Indians often get guff because they are confused with Moslems. Sikhs are the greatest target, because their turbans are mistaken for Moslem headdresses. Some of them were shot at after 9/11.

What gets me about all this "anti-racism" talk, is that the people promoting "equality" (namely, the rich) don't have to suffer for their actions. When integration was forced upon my school system, schools where whites had been getting good educations became cesspools of drugs, guns and even murders, and the blacks in the city didn't benefit at all. The whites in the suburbs, meanwhile, where the liberals tend to live, were not affected.

America now has a mixed-race President. This is not a sign of victory over racism (some 94% of Blacks supported him, showing themselves to be extremely racist); but rather, it is a sign that Americans now view the Presidential race as some sort of sporting event; and Blacks are commonly accepted as sporting figures.

Racism and bigotry are universal, and you cannot effectively legislate against these things. Blacks want to use the racism card, so they can get an advantage over whites; and visa versa. People need to love one another, on an individual basis; and you cannot legislate or demonstrate love into existence: It has to come from knowing that you are loved by God.
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AbdulRasheed says: June 12, 2009 at 01:41 PM IST

Manoj Bhatnagar you are absolutely right; but I don’t know how many of us can understand what exactly you say. There are many pints saying in this blog as India is more racist, which is lack of knowledge about the India and people of India. The first important matter is we Indians to understand the international communities and how the way they (Arians, Europeans, Arabs and Mugals) had treated India throughout the history. They only taken advantages from this beautiful land, and they made many palaces dirty and racist ideology. There is no real racism in the land of India, but it’s imported by such international trouble communities. Now things have become very clear ‘with the grace of Bhagavan’ that Indians understand we face trouble around the world. So we have to decide whatever passed in history to be forgotten and be one nation and be united in the development of a beautiful India to come back.
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Rakesh Panicker says: June 12, 2009 at 03:28 PM IST

Indians may or may not be racist but would not be attacking Australians or anybody in India. It will be an isolated incident, at best.

The problem is the attitude of Govt. of the day and of ordinary Indians. They dont give care. Be it Fiji, Malaysia, or Australia
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kHAIRUL says: June 12, 2009 at 04:26 PM IST

Writer is very clearly pointed out the matter.It is really a great concern of out sociaty.
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RACIST_SLAVISTIC says: June 12, 2009 at 04:31 PM IST

First is this a points game , as to decide who is more racial than whom, 2nd its not about being racist its about tolerant of others and not resolving to violence. I have lived in US and have experiences Racial ignorance, infact everyone has no matter which side of the spectrum you belong to...believe me there are more gangsta wannabes around in US that anywhere else.
But as a society they have matured enough to be able to handle that ; what we are seeing in Australia is blatant disregard of basic right of safety and coexistence ( with the law turning a blind eye to the attacks on Indian student community). It is not about meri race teri race se safaid kaise ...
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Pazza says: June 12, 2009 at 04:47 PM IST

If we are going to be judgemental about another country & it's way of life, we also need to take a long hard look at what happens in our own country!
The talk about skin colour very much exists in India, so why go looking beyond our own backyards?
For instance, 90% of the matrimonial ads in India read 'Wanted fair, beautiful bride for our son'!!!! Why doesn't anyone ask for a dark bride? Racism very much exists in it's own form in Indian society
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Goodwillwisher says: June 12, 2009 at 09:08 PM IST

This is one reason why conversions (to christianity/islam/buddhism) is wide spread in India. The "upper caste" people should act now to save the religion from becoming extinct. There are lot more things , in our religion, which are uniquely great to be followed and set an example to the rest of the world.
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INDIAN says: June 12, 2009 at 10:42 PM IST

@C JOHN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. TODAY'S INDIA WAS NOTHING BUT A LAND MASS RULED BY SO MANY SELF STYLED MAHARAJAS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND ENJOYING THE SO CALLED GOLDEN ERA.BUT GOLDEN ERA FOR WHOM? OF COURSE GOLDEN WITHIN THEIR LUXURIOUS FORTS WITH ALL COMFORTS WITH ALL WINE AND WOMEN . WHERE AS OUT SIDE THE FORT COMMON PEOPLE WERE KEPT DIVIDED ON CASTE BASIS TO CONTINUE THEIR RULE. MOST OF THEM WERE THE RAJPUT KINGS AND THEIR CHIEF PUNDIT ADVISERS INCLUDING IN SOUTH INDIA. IF THESE SELFISH KINGS AND THEIR ADVISERS WERE SINCERE THIS PART OF ASIA CALLED INDIA WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN SO MANY INVASIONS , CONVERSIONS, ETC. TO DAY TOO WE HAVE SO MANY SELF STYLED MAHARAJAS IN THE PARLIAMENT ONLY THEIR ATTIRE IS DIFFERENT. MIND IT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF! WHEN AND WHAT FORM IT WOULD TAKE IS ANYBODYS GUESS.
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*******NOTICE TO WESTERNERS************* says: June 12, 2009 at 11:37 PM IST

TRAVELLING TO INDIA.

IF YOUR INTENTIONS IN INDIA ARE
TO ABUSE LITTLE CHILDREN,DRUGS,PROSTITUTION,SELL CONTRABAND.

THEN I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU BE VERY CAREFULL AS INDULGING IN THESE ACTIVTIES
IS NOT SAFE FOR INDIANS IN INDIA AS WELL.

WE HAVE STATS SHOWING THAT IT IS ALWAYS THE WESTERNER WHO ENGAGE IN THE ABOVE ACTIVITIES THAT GET INTO TROUBLE IN INDIA.
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***********GRAHAM STEINES FROM*********** says: June 12, 2009 at 11:39 PM IST

GOD I DONT KNOW THIS PLACE ,THERE IS FIRE ALL AROUND ME ,OH AND GROTESQUE LOOKING CREATURES.

DEAR AUSTRALIANS ,LETS KEEP IN MIND I WAS INVOLVED IN A SCAM WHERE WE FOOLED TRIBAL PEOPLE INTO BELEIVING CHRISTANITY,WE WOULD HOLD A PICTURE OF JESUS AND FIRE IT UP AND IT WOULD NOT BURN AS IT HAD A CHEMICAL BASE ON IT.WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND THE PICTURE OF THE HINDU GOD WOULD BURN AS IT HAD NO CHEMICAL BASE ,SO THE TRIBAL PEOPLE BELEIVED IN CHRISTANITY.

I GUESS THIS IS THE REASON THEY BURNT ME.

WELL THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BURNT ME ,BUT HEY, FOOTY IS TO AUSTRALIA AS RELIGION IS TO INDIA.

AND FELLOW AUSTRALIANS LETS KEEP IN MIND THAT IF JESUS NEVER BOUGHT PEOPLE WITH SCAMS THEN WE SHOULD NOT EITHER .

HEY I GOT TO GO NOW ,MY BARBEQUE IS ON FIRE.

GRAHAM STEINES FROM
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********* INDIAN STUDENTS ARE WORRIED************* says: June 12, 2009 at 11:41 PM IST

.INDIAN STUDENTS ARE WORRIED, IF THIS GOES OUT OF HAND THEY MIGHT NOT GET THE PERMANENT RSIDENCY OR THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO FIND A BIBI WHO WILL MARRY THEM AND SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA.

WHAT THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE REASON AUSTRALIA IS TAKING ANY ACTION IS BECAUSE OF THE MEDIA AND SOONER OR LATER RACIST ATTACKS WILL BECOME POPULAR WITH PROFFESSIONALS AS WELL

.AUSTRALIA IS TRYING TO COVER UP ITS RACIAL PAST AND PRESENT AND THE ONLY THING MOVING THEM IS DEFINITELY THE MONEY AND MEDIA COMING FROM OVERSEAS.
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Prof.Ravi says: June 13, 2009 at 12:29 AM IST

Stupid reasoning when Indians are suffering. This sort of reasoning and arguments when you need to support the injured Indians is committing suicide, Indians are famous to committ. In Australia, as a foreign student, we should not suffer and we should fight to achieve safety for our kids
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Dhananjay says: June 13, 2009 at 03:59 AM IST

Before we through stones on other country, we must look in our backyard. Our Heart is filled with Racism to castism. One needs to be Fair inorder to be beautiful. No wonder why fair and lovely makes so much money. Right from child hood we are feed white is good, black is bad. we are the most hypocrite nation of all the nations and have double standards in every way of life.
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Srinivas says: June 13, 2009 at 06:05 AM IST

We are also the mostly likely ones to score a self goal by writing these kind of articles
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K Sanjiv says: June 13, 2009 at 08:00 AM IST

We Indians are certainly biggoted but that does not excuse some people in other countries attacking us. There are anti-social people in every society. What was required in Australia was a quick acknowledgement of the problem by police and politician and prompt action taken to eliminate the racist angle from the crimes. Remember that the previous prime minister John Howard won a general election on an openly racist manifesto so the the racial undertones certainly exist despite the stupid conformist comments from some Indians established in Australia. They are just coconuts, brown on the outside but white in the middle.
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Manoj Sharma says: June 13, 2009 at 12:52 PM IST

I am an Indian living in Sydney for last two years. What's happening is not racism as to the degree it happens in India. 99% of what is happening is with the students only.....which shows that it is a case of oppurtunistic crime as most of the students work during odd hours & travel in public transport & when faced with thugs...don't have much choice but to yield as they are much concerned about their future residency. Atmosphere in India is much more racist, egoistic & biased than what is here. I have travelled & lived in most parts of India and so can form this strong opinion in this regard.The value & respect that any human life carries here is many times more that what it is back in India. Having said that....the general image if Indians all over the world is not as good as it should be (dozzyness)...not the problem with the rest of the world...but with us Indians....we need to be much more accomodating, adjustable & unhypocratic when we are in India or go deal with the people outside.
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Vinod Nair says: June 13, 2009 at 12:58 PM IST

I do agree with your opinion. India is with more racisim all over the world so they were the one who is suffering a lot. You see, in india, we have difference between the religion, caste, color, village, district, state, etc. These are caused because of the policiticans becasue they want to get vote as a reult. You see, in Mumbai, MNS chief is fighting for marathi manus, for what? only to get vote. Do you think he want to do good for his state or his country? if so, why he is not raising voice aganist Australia, becuase he is doing the same by dividing states. Maharastra speaker had ordered to take sensus regardign how many marati people's working in pvt sector, why? The other's were not indians. If marati can only work in mumbai, then marati should only work in Mumumbai, then why they became president, ministers in central, these also one kind of racism.
Whereever you go in india you will hear a name for other state peoples, this is no racism, like that so many in india. As a Indian i am very ashamed of this and I beg our politician to stop moderizing new ways of racism to get vote. If they stop, the people will stop, and the whole will stop. I try to send message to all that racism is not only when an Indian hurt by others country mens, it is within indian, by state, by district, by village, by color, by community, by labor, by culture, by way of dressing, by language, so and so. Please stop all this and we will abuse others.
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Vijay Mehta says: June 13, 2009 at 02:57 PM IST

Why Jug?
You did not like my comments?
Where they too much towards the side of truth and facts?
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Sohail says: June 13, 2009 at 03:18 PM IST

well its party true when it come to racism Indians are in the same boat too.. colour and religion which you won't find that much abroad but you can't hide the fact that aussi are not racist example aboriginal there own people lives in tribe with limited facility. We aussi (indian origin)knows very well as we come across now n then.West do carry hate of racism its just a matter of internal and external visibility.
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bruno says: June 13, 2009 at 05:30 PM IST

Just remembered some incidents ten years back when I was in Chennai attending revision classes for CA final exams.
I had a scooter registered in Kerala. The tamil policemen were always eager to stop me and ask for a bribe saying it was illegal to drive a vehicle that is not registered in Tamilnadu.

When I went to a petrol station the attendant at the pump said this is tamilnadu if you want petrol speak in tamil.

I do not want to recount other experiences when I have been ripped off by autorickshaw drivers, scooter mechanics etc. Realizing I was new to the place they would try to cheat at every opportunity. I never felt safe in Chennai as you could at any time be pick pocketed or there is some fellow out at the corner waiting to snatch your bag! Anyway I have never felt that way yet in Australia where I have been living for the past two years. So anyone shouting at the top of their voices about the recent incidents in Australia should first consider if they feel safer in Mumbai or Delhi or Bangalore or Chennai or any other cities in India. If anyone feels unsafe in Australia they have a choice to go back. No one here is begging people to stay here and put up with suffering. No one is forcing students to come and suffer racism in Australia. Majority of the chaps who are shouting at the top of their voices about racism have only one motive in coming to australia on student visa. To obtain a permanent residency visa and live here which they will pursue at any cost. How else can you explain hordes of people from Punjab studying hair dressing courses when we recently heard about a Punjabi girl being denied admission to a punjabi college because she plucked her eye brows! stop, take a deep breath and think before being too emotional about the recent incidents.
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Mohammed Ali says: June 13, 2009 at 05:51 PM IST

INDIANS indeed more racest than anyone...... just last years North Indians have been looted, beated and forced to leave mumbai.....(Did our Govt. took any step????) so i believe better clean your home first before pointing fingures at others
when North Indians cant live peacfully in Mumbai how can we balme USA, AUS or any other citizens
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Mupinder Bir Singh says: June 13, 2009 at 06:40 PM IST

Message for Indie...
Dear, not every body is born with silver spoon in the mouth like you were as it seems from your note. 11 years ago you went to Australia for study(course not mentioned-May be its not available in INDIA) & you were given a lot of money by your father for your boarding & lodging & course fee. You were not in the need to work for your fees, etc. & may be lived in 5 bedroom villa with all facilities and have not seen any struggle in your life like that. Instead of encouraging people from your own country and fighting for them you are blaming them for the attacks by saying that some of them had it coming.
you asked a question that y people are coming here- to study or to make money...
I also ask you same question WHY you went there to study or to make money? If study, then are you so dumb that you didnt got a job back here in India...if not then are you still studying there, i dont think so. You also went with only one motive to get PR and make money. Please say truth, atleast to yourself & stop fooling your own self.JAI HIND
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sohaib says: June 13, 2009 at 06:46 PM IST

You forgot North Indians (Biharis/UPiites) being bashed up in Maharashtra
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KK says: June 13, 2009 at 06:51 PM IST

The real racism is where you supress another community physically, mentally, economically, etc. What we are seeing in Aus (exagerated by media) is people of darker skin getting beaten up, getting isolated by lighter skin people, not getting promotions, etc. This shows lack of tolerance for other color.

In India,we are much more tolerant to people with darker skin. We may not want to marry a darker skin person (changing rapidly) but we don't put road blocks for darker people to succeed. In addition, we don't attack somebody for being dark or suppress them.

Your comments about African people is completely different as Indians have never seen an African person walking down their streets until recently. Even then, we don't want to kill them. That shows how civil we are!
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Geet says: June 13, 2009 at 07:17 PM IST

I agree with Jug but only to a little extent... Being an Indian, I have realized one thing. What has caused the downfall of one of the biggest civilizations of the world to the "Developing nation" state. One reason was the discrimination of one section of people by another. This led to the external powers coming and conquering us and taking away our wealth. But again every cloud has a silver lining. Even after all these downsides, we are the only civilization that has preserved its culture. So my humble request to all the people who have stated abt India being racist... I dont think we can ever match up to many of the western civilizations. They also act as being non-racist but in their heart have all these racist thinking. These thoughts may be triggered by various factors like job security, cultural threat etc... So you cannot term a whole nation as being racist. This is only a few bunch that foster such feelings.
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ranjan says: June 13, 2009 at 07:22 PM IST

although I do agree that we inherently prefer certain complexions.... even among the caucasians they prefer blondes and poke fun at ginger-haired. its more or less the same difference. where racism becomes scary is when people are attacked and killed because of these differences......... having a dislike is abhorable but still not as bad as attacking or killing. so please dont flaunt your pseudo broad-mindedness
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Dr. Tarun Patni says: June 13, 2009 at 08:35 PM IST

IT IS REALLY SURPRISING THAT SO CALLED INTELLECTUALITY IN INDIA STILL HAPPENS TO BE IN ONLY SELF CRITICISM. ONE CAN TOLERATE A SARCASTIC REMARK FROM HIS OWN KIN BUT NOT FROM A PERSON OF SOME OTHER COUNTRY, WHICH HAPPENED IN CASE OF INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA. SO SELF CRITICISM IS NEEDED BUT DON'T BE COMPARITIVE , WRONG CANNOT BE GRADED.
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Nathan says: June 14, 2009 at 12:57 AM IST

Living in Melbourne, where the majority of these attacks have occurred, I feel that this isn't so much a race issue as much as a confluence of unfortunate circumstances.

The majority of Indian students here are housed in budget accommodation, further out from the city centre. They have no access to private modes of transport, and taxis are fairly expensive. In addition to this, on top of their studying duties many undertake part time jobs, often at night.

What this boils down to, unfortunately, is a large number of people of a particular nationality traveling vast distances by public transport every day, often late at night.

As a victim of multiple violent offenses while catching public transport, I would suggest that Melbourne does not have a racism problem as much as it has a violence problem. And although the vast majority of Australians are not racists, the kinds of people who commit these kinds of acts are not likely to be overly culturally sensitive in the first place.
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sam says: June 14, 2009 at 03:44 PM IST

You can read my view on "Victoria, the place to be and always remain"
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A BILLION POPULATION INDIANS ARE NOT THAT CRUEL says: June 14, 2009 at 08:58 PM IST

******COMPARED TO AUSTRALIA'S 18/20 MILLION******

TRY COMMENTNG ON THE TOPIC WHEN YOU GET A SCREWDRIVER
PUSHED INTO YOUR CHEST,
OR EASIER YET TRY PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF
THE INDIAN STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA,WHO ARE BY THEMSELVES .THINK ABOUT A SCREWDRIVER GOING DOWNN YOUR CHEST,
yOUR CAR GETTING BURNT,GETTING SLASHED BY A KNIFE OR WORST YET NOT ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT ANY FEAR IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD.

ARE YOU LIVING IN THAT SORT OF NEIGHBOURHOOD IN INDIA.

TRY GOING IN A TRAIN AFTER PEAK HOURS ,IN MELBOURNE.THE AMOUNT OF RACIAL ABUSE YOU COULD GET IS ALARMING/MAYBE EVEN BASHED UP.

PEOPLE ITS NOT JUST STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA THAT HAVE A TOUGH TIME, BUT INDIAN DOCTORS WHO WORK/OWN CLINICS AS WELL.THEY GET RACIALLY ABUSED OR BASHED UP MOSTLY IN COUNTRY AREAS, BY SHEPERD HERDERS.

VISIT AUSTRALIA BY YOURSELF FOR A YEAR ATLEAST AND THEM COMMENT.

(NOTE: ALL AUSTRALIANS ARE NOT RACIST,BUT MOST LOOK/TREAT INDIANS AS THOUGH WE ARE ABORIGINES!)
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vlad draco says: June 15, 2009 at 03:10 AM IST

i feel like im not from this country(ladakh "was" not in this country till 1947,but we're very patriotic rather than rebels) everytime i step out of my door i dont feel like im from this country... funny isnt it... but i guess my fellow indians dont realise anything anywhere..unity first starts from your own home.. and that home is india... start respecting diversity.. and india is not united *fact* and never was... a billion and a half each with an opinion.
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Waseem Moiz says: June 15, 2009 at 08:00 AM IST

Rightly said..We are racist. Never is it said what provoked the Ozzies to bash these students.
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Nazir Patel says: June 15, 2009 at 09:24 AM IST

What is disturbing about this blog is although the writer has a point about Indian being colour conscious i.e they are prejudiced towards the black skin and prefer to adore the white skin , however no matter where racial slurs occur , when it turns to beating up law abiding residents or Citizens because they are Indians is simply not acceptable. Indians in Australia are being punched and beaten and even killed. Law there should protect every resident and in this case Indians. And the perpetrators of crime against Indians should be brought to justice , they should be arrested and put behind bars. Period.
There is no excuse for this atrocity.
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Ugen says: June 15, 2009 at 10:14 AM IST

Indian supporters, including numerous British Indians who hugely benefit from the British system, booed the English T20 cricket team before their match against India on English home ground. If this is how Indians behave, I am afraid no one in the world will like them sooner or later. Today it is Australia, tomorrow it will be in South Africa, Canada, Britain, USA, Kenya, Zimbabwe... So, Indians who live abroad please introspect, respect your host country and their culture.
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dukkar says: June 15, 2009 at 10:14 AM IST

JS, you nailed the issue too well. :-) Congratulations!
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Jughead says: June 15, 2009 at 10:14 AM IST

Fine, what you say may or may not be the case. BUT it STILL DOESNT grant these uncivilized Australians to be violent on their civilized Indian patrons unless they want to show that they are true to their CRIMINAL descent.
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sunil jain says: June 15, 2009 at 10:34 AM IST

That is our internal problem. By writing such articles in the newspapers, you are encouraging the foreigners to be more racist. You should refrain from writing such articles in the interst of Indian community. It means we should also behave in the same manner with the white people in India.