Australians no more racist than Indians
Updated On: 21 July, 2009 08:35 AM IST | | Khalid A-H Ansari
Khalidoscope explains the real reasons behind the attacks on Indian students Down Under
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Khalidoscope explains the real reasons behind the attacks on Indian students Down Under
For some time now, readers of this column have been asking why I have not written about the unfortunate and heinous attacks on our students in Australia, which have, understandably, caused great concern and consternation here at home.
The answer plain and simple is that, having been away from Australia at the time they took place, I do not have first-hand information about the true nature of the attacks, widely perceived in India as being racially motivated, but generally attributed alike by politicians and the Australian federal police, who seem to be in a state of continual denial, to a variety of factors other than racism.
The causes advanced in Australia range from recession-induced unemployment to loutish behaviour by drunks and druggies; from isolated theft-motivated assaults of hapless, less educated students (termed 'soft' targets) with poor English language skills who live in lonely low-rental suburbs and walk long distances to save cost of public transport, to wanton behaviour by non-white u00e9migru00e9 individuals or gangs.
For some time now, readers of this column have been asking why I have not written about the unfortunate and heinous attacks on our students in Australia, which have, understandably, caused great concern and consternation here at home.
The answer plain and simple is that, having been away from Australia at the time they took place, I do not have first-hand information about the true nature of the attacks, widely perceived in India as being racially motivated, but generally attributed alike by politicians and the Australian federal police, who seem to be in a state of continual denial, to a variety of factors other than racism.The causes advanced in Australia range from recession-induced unemployment to loutish behaviour by drunks and druggies; from isolated theft-motivated assaults of hapless, less educated students (termed 'soft' targets) with poor English language skills who live in lonely low-rental suburbs and walk long distances to save cost of public transport, to wanton behaviour by non-white u00e9migru00e9 individuals or gangs.
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In protest: Cops watch Indian students rally against racism in Sydney in June after a series of attacks on them in Australia. On Sunday, there were two more cases of "curry" attacks in Sydney and Adelaide. Read Next Story Trending StoriesLatest Photos |
