Everyday racism in India

Some of my encounters with racism in India.

To the guy in college who thinks Northeast girls are "easy" and talks shamelessly with insensitive comments—your entitlement isn’t flattering; it’s disgusting.

To the colleague who jokes about my race, saying, “The more you laugh, the less you see,” mocking our “small and squinty eyes.” Do you even realize how that would make us feel? Or do you just not care?

To the ignorant person who says things like, “You all look the same.” Is it deliberate, or do you genuinely not think before speaking?

To the guy who looked at me, turned in my direction on the side of the road, and spat—literally. I know what you meant. I know what you were trying to say.

To the young boys who shouted “Chinese! Noodle! Chow mein!” at me as if it's hilarious. Where are you now? Have you grown up? Or are you still the same pathetic person, passing your bigotry onto others?

And then to be denied entry at a certain palace, well, it was Bangalore Palace, without a foreign entry fee. Unfortunately, I didn't carry my ID card to prove my nationality at that time. But leave that; I didn't want to enter after that anyway.

But here’s the truth. We Northeast people are not perfect either.

I’ve heard what we say about Indians who don’t look like us.
“They’re so dirty.”
“They smell.”
“Their food is gross.”
“I could never marry someone from down there.”

So yeah, it’s complicated. 

But can’t we do better for our younger generation?

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Alice Walker, The Color Purple: “It is because of this love that racism, as evidenced by belief in superior and inferior looks and mentalities, failed to impress me.”

Christopher Hitchens, Hitch 22: A Memoir (I haven’t read this one, but it’s a good quote). “What is it you most dislike? Stupidity, especially in its nastiest forms of racism and superstition.”

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Funny feeling: when we went to Vietnam, we blended in easily and kinda felt at home compared to our own country, India.