But We Are Friends… Racism Against Africans In India
By Ayodeji Aiyesimoju
16 October, 2014
Countercurrents.org
Everyone seems to have a mind-set about other people, tribes and nations whether or not they have had first-hand encounters with them. This is majorly a fall out of the information made available to them from various information sources, especially the media, which many times is not subjected to verification.
The common Indian perspective of Nigerians and Africans at large formed by the media has been quite sensational making the black race look so terrible and causing a sense of justification to the good people of Incredible India to mete out any form of hostility against these black skinned people. The Nigerian High Commission in India puts the number of its nationals residing in India at about fifty thousand. It is unimaginable that such a number of people wake up to the fear of hostilities the day may have in store for them.
Very recently, two students from Gabon and one from Burkina-Faso were attacked at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station by “unknown people” for unconfirmed reasons as various media have shown different reasons. The pattern of reportage of this occurrence as well as several others in the local media has been quite regrettable as it is usually laced with a tone of hysteria.
According to reports, Nigerians, topping the list of racial profiling and discrimination, receive all sorts of harsh treatments ranging from increased transportation fares to up to five times higher than the usual amount to higher costs for house rents, sudden eviction from homes, obvious mockery, lynching and even murder. A flashback at the October 31st, 2013 may confirm this; where a Nigerian national rumoured to have been involved in drug trade was found dead in Goa and notices were mounted in the city reading “We want peace in Goa, Say no to Nigerians, say no to drugs”. Also, AAP’s Bharti’s midnight raid of houses where Nigerians live in Delhi and forcibly making women to give urine samples in public to carry out dope tests was not well received by the victims and has recently been receiving some legal actions. More recent cases of molestation and battery have also been recorded.
On the contrary, the high number of Indians living in Nigeria, which is put at its millions by the High Commission, are having a great time there. According to Anvaya, an Indian who resides in Nigeria with her spouse and son, “Lagos (Nigeria’s commercial centre) has a huge and thriving Indian community, which hosts many Indian functions. One does not feel they are staying outside India. Indian groceries, vegetables and restaurants are present in the city and the Indian school offers a huge advantage, to those who eventually return to India.”She goes further to say that the Indian Language School (ILS) which has over 2000 students is allowed to run a CBSE curriculum and the environment is so conducive given the extra-curricular activities such as cricket, swimming and all. Also, against popular misconception, she says Lagos is safe and hospitable, expressing that their love for foreigners and children is exceptional. She further acknowledges that Nigerian children are so respectful and arguably more than their Indian counterparts. She shares all these views with several other Indians who reside in other parts of Nigeria.
Looking at the political and economic relationships between the world’s largest democratic country- India and the world’s largest black democratic country – Nigeria, there has been a level of mutual goodwill since the colonisation of both countries by Britain. Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Nigeria in 1962 strengthened the existing goodwill and Manmohan Singh’s visit in October 2007 boosted the partnership between both countries. India’s production is on the increase and Nigeria has been a big buyer of these products generating over 2.74 billion United States Dollars (about 17,000 crores) to the Indian economy. Nigeria has in turn been the major supplier of crude oil to India, enabling it meet its oil needs.
It is also overwhelming to know that there are over one hundred companies currently operating in Nigeria that are owned and/operated by Indians, such as Bharti Airtel, Indorama, Tata, Bajaj Auto, Birla Group, Kirloskar, Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, NIIT, ApTech, New India Assurance, Bhushan Steel, KEC, ONGC, Skipper Nigeria, Dabur, Godrej, Primus Super-Specialty Hospital, among several others in the medical, pharmaceutical and energy sectors to name a few.
This is to say that there are more reasons for Nigerians to be warmly received than mobbed. It is not to deny that there are some unruly and unpatriotic nationals who deserve the wrath of the law, but the onus lies on well-meaning people to report that to the corresponding authorities and let the law take its course. This will not only cause a reduction in crime rates of foreigners, it will make everyone feel safe, promote international ties and preserve democracy of this fast rising world force. Respect and love is reciprocal.
Long live India, Long live Nigeria, Long live our friendship.
The Author is a Nigerian Journalist and researcher currently undergoing postgraduate studies at Sharda University in Greater Noida, UP. Although not been a direct victim of high level discrimination, he lives in such fear due to recurring incidences of such which seems to be drawing nearer in psychology and proximity.
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