International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2019

Racial and ethnic discrimination occur on a daily basis make millions of people lives difficult around the world. 

What is Racism?

Racism is the belief that characteristics and abilities can be attribute to people simply in the basis of their race and that some racial groups are superior to others. 

Racisms and discrimination have been used as powerful weapons encouraging fear hatred of others in times of conflict and war, an even during economic downturns.                     

How does Racism harm the society?

Racist extremist movements which promote populist, nationalist agendas are spreading in various parts of the world, fueling racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, often targeting migrants and refugees.

These dark forces menace democratic values, social stability and peace. When people are attacked, physically, verbally or on social media of their race, religion or ethnicity, all of social is diminished.

International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2019

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2019 was observed on March 21^st with the theme – mitigating and countering rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies.

International Day for the elimination of racial Discrimination aims to fight against all form of racial intolerance.

Why March this date had chosen?

On March 21^st, 1960 police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws” in Sharpeville, South Africa.

The United Nations General Assembly in 1996 proclaimed March 21 as international day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2019 are called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all firms or racial discrimination.

The Dark Face of Indian Racism           

In recent times there is a multitude of problem that African face in India, apart from their negative portrayal as criminal. Many in India often refer to the African people as “Nigerians” – almost as a term of abuse.

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In some instances, African students, conscious of their skin colour, said they isolated. There are approximately 60,000 Africans of different nationalities residing in India. Many have faced racial discrimination at some point of time during their stay in the country. Majority of Africans who have come to reside in the country are either pursuing higher studies or working.

According to the Association of African Students in India (AASI), ABOUT 25,000 African study in Indian universities draws by their high academic standards, low fees and the use of English language as the medium of instruction. Nigeria sends the highest numbers to India followed by Sudan and Kenya.

Most of the Africans in India are seen as criminals. Indian think they are drug –peddlers to burglars some of them are indulge in such activity but not all.  “It may be a brutal analogy to hear for some, but it is accurate in invoking the indiscriminate, unfair way in which negative stereotyping works.

 Indians slam racial attacks on other Indian abroad and describe them as hate crimes. But, the grievous attacks on African students in the act prove that Indians are no better than those whom they call racists.

Lakhs of migrants come from different parts of the country to big cities in search of better education and jobs. So do the people from the northeast and its vicinity. Chronic under development, inter-ethnic disagreements, the strong contestation with Indian state on the issue of self determination by multiple ethno-linguistic  groups and 59 years of military rule – under Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA,1958) in many parts of north-eastern states have crated enough pressure for people to migrate to big cities for better life prospects.

Racism is not Regionalism

Indian citizens face racism within India, it is important here to clear certain misconceptions. It is commonly believed that only people coming from northeast are likely to face racist abuse. Without much verification, victims of racist hate crimes are therefore immediately reported to be from North East.

So the issue of racism is sometimes deliberately confounded with the issue of regionalism. Although not cases or racial discrimination in metro cities are face by the people from northeast to note that even among them, it is mainly those with mongoloid features that end up being discriminated the most.

For instance, Bengali migrants from Tripura will face less discrimination than a Manipuri or a Naga. Racism is not limited to people from North East because non-North eastern people like gorkhas, ladakhis, and Tibetans who have mongoloid features also face the same degree of contempt and discrimination.

Conclusion

There is a need to repair the fissures and polarization that are so prevalent in societies today. There is a need to nurture mutual understanding and invest in making diversity a success. Even today, decades after the pseudo-science of the Nazi contributed to the holocaust, the world is seeing persistence—and even a surge- of neo Nazi thinking and white supremacy. People must bury such lies once and for all.

People have to resolve to fight racism and discrimination wherever it occurs. And promote nom-discrimination every country.