A couple of years ago,when Indian students were subjected to hate crimes in Australia,there was a huge uproar back home.The national media made headlines out of it while people cried foul.The racial attacks on Indian students were highly condemned with Australia being labelled as a 'racist' nation. But how morally worthy are we to accuse another country when racism is rampant in our very own backyard?
The attacks on an African student,23 year old Yannick Nihangaza stands testimony to this fact. The youngster from Burundi had enrolled into Lovely Professional University(!) ,Punjab for his degree in computer science. He was assaulted by a group of boys ,one of them apparently the son of a police officer.
Yannick was attacked for his color-BLACK. This racially motivated attack proves that we are no better than the Aussies.Is this the way we treat a student who has come to our country for his education? Where has 'Athithi Devo Bhava' gone?.
We make a hue and cry when we become victims of hate crimes abroad,but take a lethargic course when it comes to racist crimes in our country. It was only 2 months after the attack that the Punjab government had ordered a probe into the incident. A partly sum of rs 5 lakh has been provided to Yannick who is severely brain damaged. But is providing monetary relief the solution to this problem?
India has been considered as a tolerant nation for centuries together. But that reputation is now on the decline as racism is assuming dangerous proportions.There is nothing worse than getting abused for one's color.
I hope justice is delivered to Yannick and his attackers severely punished.Unless the society completely shuns racism,there will be many more such Yannicks.
The attacks on an African student,23 year old Yannick Nihangaza stands testimony to this fact. The youngster from Burundi had enrolled into Lovely Professional University(!) ,Punjab for his degree in computer science. He was assaulted by a group of boys ,one of them apparently the son of a police officer.
Yannick was attacked for his color-BLACK. This racially motivated attack proves that we are no better than the Aussies.Is this the way we treat a student who has come to our country for his education? Where has 'Athithi Devo Bhava' gone?.
We make a hue and cry when we become victims of hate crimes abroad,but take a lethargic course when it comes to racist crimes in our country. It was only 2 months after the attack that the Punjab government had ordered a probe into the incident. A partly sum of rs 5 lakh has been provided to Yannick who is severely brain damaged. But is providing monetary relief the solution to this problem?
India has been considered as a tolerant nation for centuries together. But that reputation is now on the decline as racism is assuming dangerous proportions.There is nothing worse than getting abused for one's color.
great post sahaana!
ReplyDeletethank u...:)
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