Has India become an unfriendly country?
It is not safe for foreigners.
It is not safe for women
It is not even safe even for Indians of a
"particular" physical appearance from a specific
"geography" within India. What happened to the ancient Sanskrit maxim
of "Athithi devo bhava", which enjoins us to treat guests as gods?
What happened to our civilizational ethos, based on a long history of openness
and fairness?
In recent months there have been many instances
that have shaken our faith in this long-held belief. These have been widely
reported and commented on by mainstream media, but the debate, as it happens
too often in our bite-obsessed news culture, has sadly withered away. Until the
next time. Not all foreigners in India are tourists who are passing through.
Since liberalization India has become a global
hub for immigration. According to one estimate, there are around 54 lakh
foreign immigrants residing in the country. Obviously not all are diplomats.
Many of these expats have come in the past few years to tap into the opportunities
India has to offer, -- its complex and colourful culture, rich history and
growing economic clout. They are however only the latest wave of foreigners to
be drawn to our land. For centuries they have come as colonizers, missionaries,
volunteers and escapees from persecution in other countries. Few went back.
Most of them found a home and stayed to become part of the culture. This ability
of Indian society to accept, absorb and assimilate even those who were alien to
our culture stems from the deeply held belief that Guests are akin to God.
But no longer, it seems.
Foreigners residing in India now routinely face
racism and intolerance from xenophobic Indians. There is another sad and
despicable distinction that one notices about our behavior towards those from other
nations and cultures. The more affluent among them are treated better. 'Whites'
are treated better than those from African or Asian nations.
Anywhere else treatment of foreign emigrants would
be a political issue. Immigration and the influx of foreigners is a major
debate in Europe, the United States and other developed nations. It is not in India,
probably because political parties do not consider them as a vote-bank to be
courted. If they could vote, the political parties would be flocking to take up
their cause.
It is high time we recognize the need for the
right to live well and treated fairly FOR ALL. For that, firstly we have to
realize that we have a problem. We have to stop pretending to ourselves there
is no racism in the country. And our political parties need to take a
principled stand on this. Will they?
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