What’s the best way to prove one’s not a raging racist? BJP’s Tarun Vijay took a shot at that question this week and revealed what can be described as the clearest evidence of a mindset gone so far wrong, it would take more than a few outraging headlines to fix. The MP was trying to explain that in diverse India, there was apparently no space for racism.
“If we (Indians) were racist, why would we have the entire South? Which is you know... completely Tamil, you know Kerala, you know Karnataka and Andhra. Why do we live with them? We have blacks, black people all around us,” said the minister. As if racism was limited to a few shades of colour.
For context, the former MP was attempting to defend his country in the wake of attacks against students from Africa. His statements though, are really not new. ‘Madrasi’ is still a word that collectively addresses the several languages and cultures that make up the states this side of National Highway 44. While the opposition said that his statements were shocking, DMK’s leader TKS Elangovan found it “funny”. Others blamed it on downright ignorance.
“It sounds very condescending. The generalisation that all of South is black, comes from ignorance. As a leader, who is also a part of the ruling party, he should be more responsible,” says Archana Rao, a designer. It’s claimed that nearly 30 per cent of India’s revenues come from the South of India. There were those on twitter who relied on similar data variations.
Tollywood actor and politician Pawan Kalyan didn’t hold back. “What is taken from the South and what is returned for its development reeks of bias. You want the revenue from South India, but you look down upon them. It’s unfortunate to see National political parties accommodating MP with such ideologies. These words clearly reflect your arrogance,” he tweeted.
To add a few thoughts before logging off, he fired off this tweet. “The national flag you host is designed by a South Indian and this is such an insult that a mere apology is just not sufficient to be forgiven. Such racist comments will hamper national integration,” wrote Pawan.
Others brought up old memories, while saying that racism and this obsession with race, region and colour only reflected our own double standards.“When I was studying in Chennai, the Tamilians would call me golti. Because that’s what most of them call Telugus. When I went to the States, I was called a Madrasi by my friends there, despite telling them that I wasn’t Tamil. My Pakistani friends would call me Hindustani so this sort of ‘talk’ is everywhere. While it is not right, one should also remember that it was how they were all conditioned to believe, and speak,” says Suresh Babu.
“Whether one accepts this or not, deep down in everyone’s hearts, there is this division and society overall has its share of double standards. When a child is born, everyone wants the baby to be fair. While growing up, many dream of a fairer complexion. That belief about skin is ingrained in us, which is why we tend to make such statements,” he adds.
For now though, Tarun Vijay has turned a different shade of red as attacks continue. “It shows the man’s limitations in terms of his thought process and education. One would assume that a person who is in a leadership position would be much more informed,” says danseuse Sandhya Raju.
And actor Prakash Raj is not even willing to accept the politician’s apology. “Tarun Vijay may have apologised, but he is a racist and that’s how people will view him.”
Sandhya Raju and Prakash Raj
Badminton ace Jwala Gutta believes the problem gets only worse because we don’t do anything about it. “We are a very tolerant country. When such issues come up, we talk about it for a day, have a few debates and make some noise. We are so used to being tolerant that nothing matters anymore and that is what needs to change first. If we’re talking about it, we also need to do something about it.”
