Race against racism

The answer is not simple. “Racism,” says Cindy from South Africa,“is about skin color and personality. It is the way you treat somebody. It is just being biased against certain people.” The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently issued directives to take better care of foreign students by conducting orientation programs and regular monitoring of colleges affiliated to the University where Indians are facing racist attacks. But the reality seems to be totally different. Foreign students in India have to face numerous difficulties. Most of the international students admit that though there is no racism in the campus of the Pune University,there are indirect ways in which locals discriminate against them. According to Cindy,when she went to the police station once,she was made to wait because she was ‘black’ and other foreigners who are ‘fair’,like those from Iran,were entertained before her. “Racism also depends upon which country you come from. If you belong to South Africa,people still treat you well. But people from countries like Somalia are treated very badly,” she adds.

The thin line between racism and discrimination fades away as international students are deliberately differentiated from the rest of the students. They have to face difficulties right from getting a place on rent to swimming in a common society swimming pool. Says F Kazemi from Iran,“In case of India,there is no racism per say,but there sure is a lot of discrimination. Right from the watchmen to government and administrative employees to police officers,everybody discriminates against them. Racism is about ethnicity,skin colour and religion. The attacks on Indians in Australia have their roots in politics. We condemn the attacks.”

Sadly,though,these international students themselves understand the importance of treating other such students with great care and respect. Our bureaucrats,though,remain uninformed about the importance of the same. Says Ahmed Wais from Iran,“When you differentiate between people on the basis of their actions,colour and accent you are being racist. Ultimately,international students are an investment for any country. It is hence completely foolish to attack foreign students. This leads to misrepresentation of your country.”

In today’s times,where countries are interdependent on each other for commercial and economic reasons,it is only sane to respect people coming from foreign countries and giving them fair treatment. Students coming from other countries try their level-best to adjust to their surroundings and we must help them to do so,instead of making their lives difficult. Dr Parisa from Iran elaborates,“Ultimately,everybody is the same. Students go to other countries with high aims and goals. And they try their level best to imbibe the culture of their host country,which could be something as simple as eating with hands in the Indian way. People of different countries should come together and help each other succeed and fight global problems such as recession and terrorism.”