RACIZM: A HARMFUL VIRUS (Editorial)

There is a saying, “If one part of a human body is suffering from any disease then he is not physically fit and he needs a thorough check up. That disease is caused due to some harmful virus.” During the British Raj it can be said that India too was suffering from that disease. Indians were treated worse than labours within their own country, they didn’t have any fundamental rights and there was anarchy everywhere. They were racially abused for their brown skin and were tortured when they asked for a small share within their own homeland. Many Indians gave up their lives for the freedom of the country. Similarly Africans too were treated sub-humanely and were racially abused and had faced many derogatory remarks. But they never gave up and they faught for their independence and fundamental rights. One such example was the discrimination in the film industry between the blackskinned and the white skinned people. A Long time ago blacks were looked down upon because of the colour of their skin. To enter the film industry they started acting in theatres which were not acceptable by whites. Gradually these blacks were successful making inroads into the predominantly white dominated African film industry. Although, initially the lead roles were always performed by white Africans and the role of a servant or other secondary class were given to blacks. Later, through generations of constant struggle they managed to gain success in getting lead roles in film industry. But that was long time ago.

There has been remarkable development from the 18th century to 21st century. In this phase of global revolution, the countries are building good relations with each other. Over the years, India has developed good relation with the countries like China, Japan, America and Russia. Howe ever, India is progressing politically and economically but still it has not been able get rid of its old disease. Racial discrimination and corrupt politicians manipulating the public is halting whatever progress we have made as a country. Before independence the virus ‘racial discrimination’ was spread by the British but now the disease is spread by our own Indian politicians. India is divided between weaker and powerful sections of society. Powerful people like industrialist, politicians, and lawyers are crushing the weaker sections of society which includes farmers, rickshawpullars, and peasants for their selfish needs. No doubt the government of Nandigram is responsible for its crisis. The strategy applied to capture government land from peasants was extremely shameful. Politicians were enjoying the power and luxuries without caring about those peasants who were killed by the powerful butchers. Hundreds of people became homeless and many were orphaned. The government of Nandigram did not provide any compensation to those peasants who suffered the violence. It is sad that Indian politicians are so selfish that they only concentrate in building big companies and solving the problems of rich and powerful, whereas the problems of poor and illiterate people are silently kept aside. There is no difference between politicians and Britishers. To be rich and powerful always discriminated Indians on the grounds of their religion, culture and state.

The discrimination started just after the Godhra riots when our politicians divided us on the basis of our religion. Politicians themselves are responsible for the birth of terrorism and now, politicians are trying to divide us on the basis of the state we are born in. Raj Thakrey hurt the religious sentiments of North Indians by making derogatory remarks on “Chhat Puja.” He also made derogatory remarks on Biharis. He claims that Maharashtra belongs to the marathis and that the North Indians should leave ‘his’ state and work within their own respective states thereby going against our very basic fundamental right. Being a citizen of India we are free to stay and work in any state of India. This remark has created enough violence in all the states of India, essentially disrupting the livelihood of the very poor that is the taxi drivers and shopkeepers who were attacked and injured. How can an Indian tell another Indian which state to live and work in?

Politicians like Raj Thakeray are an embarrassment for our country although Raj Thakeray has only followed his own Uncle Bal Thakereys’ footsteps. Bal Thakerey had divided the people on the grounds of religion to attain maximum votes from Hindus. Similarly Raj Thakeray is dividing us Indians on the basis of State to increase his vote bank. If this carries on then soon there will come a time when each state will demand to have its borders sealed and fight to become a separate country. There was a time when we Indians were proud of our diversity but now this diversity is becoming a liability to be misused by politicians.