Farsi to be one of India's 9 classical languages :-Rediff news Jan 16,2024

 

In a significant move to deepen cultural ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that the Government of India has decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in India under the New Education Policy.

"The government of India has decided to include Farsi as one of the nine classical languages of India in our New Education Policy," said Jaishankar, highlighting the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.

Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Iran, made the above remarks during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, H Amir-Abdollahian on Monday.

This recognition reflects a commitment to fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Farsi's rich heritage within the Indian educational framework.

Tamil was the first language in India to be accorded classical language status in 2004.

Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia are the other languages that have been declared classical languages in India by the central government.

"In addition to these classical languages Pali, Persian, and Prakrit; and their works of literature too must be preserved for their richness and for the pleasure and enrichment of posterity," according to India's National Education Policy-2020.  -- ANI

‘Allah will curse them’: Palestine civilians in Gaza ask Israel to ‘kill’ Hamas leaders 2 min read 15 Jan 2024, 07:13 AM IST Join usWhatsapp Livemint ( with inputs from ANI )

 

Palestinian civilians in Gaza express frustration with Hamas, asking the IDF to 'kill' them for pushing them '100 years into the past'.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has released audio recordings that reveal that several Palestinian civilians living in Gaza are highly critical of Hamas. They are asking IDF to “kill" those “dogs" who have pushed them “100 years into the past".

"Listen, listen to what the people around me are saying, may Allah protect us from you, Hamas," a Palestinian was heard telling an Israeli officer. "Allah will curse them, Allah will curse them and those that voted for them."

“May Allah bring disaster upon them. Our people are their hostages. Those dogs are taking advantage of their power over us," he added.

Israeli officers got a call from another civilian in Gaza. The man wanted Israel to take down Hamas leaders who are “sitting around in hotel rooms" abroad.

"Tell your leaders: Hamas people are abroad, outside of Palestine, screw them outside of Palestine, kill them. I am telling you in the name of our nation. I am sitting alone, and I'm screwed. Everything's destroyed. They're all abroad, sitting around in hotels. Sitting around in hotel rooms," the man said.

How do Israeli officers speak to Gaza civilians?

Israel has Arab-speaking officers of Unit 504 who speak to civilians in Gaza to get information. Gazans are encouraged to call the IDF if they have any information about Hamas leaders or about the hostages. However, the communication line is now being used by Palestinians to express their frustration about Hamas leaders, ANI reported.

Israel has offered ₹3.3 crore ($400,000) as a reward for information leading to the capture of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Hamas releases video of Israeli hostages

On January 14, Hamas released video footage of three Israeli hostages in Gaza. In the video, the hostages have asked the Israeli government to stop the offensive against Hamas so that they can be released.

The undated 37-second video of Noa Argamani, 26, Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, ended with the chyron: "Tomorrow we will inform you of their fate", Reuters reported.

(With agency inputs)

Mostly Punjabi students protest at Canada university after more than 130 ‘failed’ in one subject A student leader says international students, who pay ‘four times more fees’ than their Canadian counterparts, have been failed in the subject, forcing them to reappear for the exam in order to be eligible for admission to the next semester. :-The Indian Express

 

An indefinite sit-in by international students, mostly of Punjabi origin, outside Algoma University in Canada’s Brampton city entered day 4 on Sunday. The students say an information technology professor has flunked over 130 international students in what they allege is part of a ploy to mint money in re-examination fees.

The Montreal Youth Students Organisation (MYSO) and many social activists have extended support to the students protesting in the bone-chilling cold weather.

“On Saturday and Sunday, students along with MYSO members took out protest marches in the downtown of Brampton to gain public support. Students have also sent emails to the education department of Canada in this connection,” Mandeep, convener of MYSO, told The Indian Express. “On Monday, a day-long protest march will be taken out in Brampton and we appeal to like-minded groups to join the struggle of students.”

Balli Singh, a students committee member of the university, said, “The annual grading system needs changes and the university needs to consider our demand. We want a transparent system of paper-checking and students shouldn’t be burdened with the extra fee for appearing for an exam yet again.”

Praveen Gill, another students committee member, said, “Strict action needs to be taken against the professor who has played with the future of so many students, especially of international origin.”

Manpreet Kaur Longowal, a MYSO volunteer, said, “There are 10 subjects in the IT graduation course. It is surprising that the students have passed all the nine subjects with good marks. They have even cleared the practical of the Techniques of a System Analyst paper but failed in its theory exam, which is very surprising. A thorough inquiry needs to be done in this case.”

Meanwhile, the university has said that an investigation is underway. “We’ve contacted every student protesting grades from one specific instructor. Taking their concerns seriously, the Dean of Science is leading an urgent investigation. We acknowledge the stress these students face. We value academic integrity and the faculty of science is intervening to ensure fair assessments for each student,” it said in a statement.

Canada Calling: ‘Flunked’ Indian students reject university’s offer, want it to show they deserved poor grades Many protesters have alleged racial bias in the incident, though a vast majority of those who took the course and passed were Indian international students too. :-The Indian Express Jan 14,2024

Even as a major snowstorm walloped southern Ontario, and the mercury plunged well below zero, a group of Indian international students continued to camp out in the open in downtown Brampton on Friday evening, protesting against their university after receiving failing grades in their course exams.

This comes after the institute—Algoma University—said it would give the 32 students who flunked the course, even after a reassessment, another chance: a makeup exam that will be graded by a different teacher than the one who originally assessed them. However, students, who have been here for 11 days, insist the university hasn’t reached out to them directly and addressed the main demand, which is to prove that they indeed deserved those poor scores in the first place.

The students said their protest wasn’t a pressure tactic to overturn the result, as many are claiming on social media, but to clear their name.Many protesters have alleged racial bias in the incident, though a vast majority of those who took the course and passed were Indian international students too.The incident is a major PR disaster for Algoma, which depends heavily on Indian students for revenue. The university has three campuses in Ontario: in Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Brampton. It’s the Brampton campus that is its cash cow. Now, with videos of students raising slogans against the institution going viral on social media, it’s going to take some effort for Algoma to undo the damage. It must also be making other colleges, which depend on the same foreign student revenue model, queasy. Their students can expect more relaxed grading going forward as the institutions will likely strive to protect the bottom line.

Another ‘desi’ protest in Brampton

Speaking of bottom lines, there’s another protest going on in Brampton where (mostly Desi) landlords are up in arms to protect theirs. Their revenue model also depends on cooping up as many international students in their basements as they can. Legally, no more than four unrelated persons can live in a house. In Brampton, it’s not unusual to find 20 students staying together under one roof. Now, the City of Brampton, wary of the risks such overcrowding poses, including fire hazard, is launching a pilot project that would require landlords to obtain a permit for 300 dollars a year if they want to have tenants. At a time when mortgage rates are high, landlords are balking at the idea of having to cough up more dollars. And they have received support from an unlikely quarter, the very people the City wants to help: tenants. They say landlords will simply pass on the cost to them. “You saw what happened when mortgage rates went up: if their payment increased by 300 dollars, they raised the rent by 600 dollars,” a tenant, who is a former international student, said. “It’s going to come on us. We are going to have to pay ultimately.”

Canada plans cap on int'l students amid housing crisis, unemployment Miller said he will be looking at the possibility of setting a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing in both the first and second quarters of this year :-Business Standard

 

Amid the growing unemployment and housing crisis in Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Saturday said in the next few months, he will be looking at the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students living in the country, CTV News reported on Saturday.

The minister didn't specify the extent of reduction the government is planning on making in the immigration system.

In an interview to CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, the minister said, "This is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial governments "to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis."

"That volume is disconcerting," Miller said, with reference to the number of international students in Canada.

"It's really a system that has gotten out of control," he added.

Miller said he will be looking at the possibility of setting a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing in both the first and second quarters of this year.

Asked why his government is only considering a cap now when the idea was floated months ago, Miller said there's a need to sort out numbers on a federal level before looking with "a little more granularity" at what individual academic institutions are doing in different provinces, possibly profiting off bringing in more international students, CTV News reported.

"We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we're actually verifying offer letters," Miller said, adding, "And now it's time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that is having in certain areas."

A cap on international students would not be a "one-size-fits-all solution" to housing shortages across Canada, Miller noted.

On the number of international students coming to Canada, far outpacing the number of homes the federal government is planning to help build, Miller also said housing is only part of the calculation when it comes to immigration targets. The pressing need to bring down the average age of the workforce also needs to be taken into consideration, he said.

While not going into specifics, Miller said a cap on international students is something the federal government is considering, "and will continue to consider."

"We have a sense of what those numbers would look like, what the reduction of those numbers look like, out of courtesy to my colleagues in the provinces, those are discussions that we're first going to have around the negotiating table," he said, adding that the financial needs of academic institutions is also a factor.

The federal government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants--both permanent and temporary residents--while the country faces an acute housing shortage.

Meanwhile, CTV reported citing The Canadian Press, which cited the internal documents obtained through an access to information request, the federal government was warned by public servants two years ago that its ambitious immigration targets could jeopardise housing affordability.

The Liberals have set targets aiming to bring in 485,000 immigrants this year, and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026.

Temporary residents, largely comprising international students and migrant workers, are another part of the equation, with more than 300,000 of them arriving in Canada in just the third quarter of last year.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

ELEPHANT LOVERS

 

                                                                      MADE OF WOOD

RAM MANDIR MOVEMENT WAS FIRST STARTED BY NIHANG SIKH BABA FAKIR SINGH KHALSA S IN 1858:-THIS FIRST POST ARTICLE DATED DEC 22,2023 SPEAKS ABOUT THE REAL TRUTH.

 

Ram Mandir inauguration: Did Nihang Sikhs start the temple movement over a century back?

In November 1858, Nihang Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa barged into Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, conducted a hawan and wrote 'Ram Ram' on the walls of the mosque. Now, his eight descendant has decided to organise a langar during the consecration of Lord Rama in the city next month

A religious flag is seen in front of the under-construction Hindu Ram Temple in Ayodhya on 9 July 2023. Reuters File Photo

The consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be held a month from today (22 December). Preparations are in full swing and are now in the final stages.

From revered saints to political leaders, actors and entrepreneurs, invitations are being sent to prominent personalities for the grand opening of the temple.

Recently, a Nihang Sikh declared he would organise ‘langar sewa‘ (Sikh community kitchen) during the consecration of Lord Rama in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024. His announcement has brought to the limelight the connection of Sikhs to the Ram Janmabhoomi.

Let’s take a closer look at the story.

Guru Nanak Dev’s Ayodhya visit

As per reports, Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, visited the site of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya in 1510-11 AD. Babri Masjid was not constructed at the time.

In its verdict on the disputed religious site in the Uttar Pradesh city in November 2019, the Supreme Court had taken note of Guru Nanak Dev’s visit which it said showed pilgrims went to see the site even before 1528 AD.

“It is found that in period prior to 1528 AD, there were sufficient religious texts, which led Hindus to believe the present site of Ram Janmabhoomi as birthplace of Lord Ram,” the apex court said in its judgement, as per Times of India (TOI).

Nihang Sikhs and Ram Janmabhoomi

In November 1858, Nihang Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa barged into Babri Masjid in Ayodhya as a posse of 25 Nihang Sikhs stood guard outside.

He erected a symbol of ‘Sri Bhagwan‘ (Lord Ram) inside the mosque and wrote ‘Ram Ram’ on the walls of the Muslims’ place of worship, reported India Today.

Baba Fakir Singh also organised a hawan and puja inside the mosque.

The Nihang Sikhs also set up a platform inside the place of worship on which an idol of Lord Ram was placed, according to TOI. After this, a case was registered against the 25 Nihangs at the Oudh (as Ayodhya and nearby areas were called then) police station based on a complaint by Syed Mohammad Khateeb, the then muezzin (mosque’s officer) of the Babri Masjid, who called the incident an “open tyranny and high-handedness of the Hindus on Muslims”, as per India Today. 

“Because of conspiracy of Shiv Ghulam Thandedar Oudh government, the Bairagis (Nihangs) constructed overnight a chabutra (platform) up to height of one ‘Balisht’ until the orders of injunction were issued,” he reportedly said in the complaint.

A report by the Thanedar of Oudh, Sheetal Dubey, in November 1858, which was mentioned by the Supreme Court during its 2019 ruling, stated: “Today Nihang Singh Faqir Khalsa, a resident of Punjab, organised Hawan and Puja of Guru Gobind Singh and erected a symbol of Sri Bhagwan, within the premises of the Masjid. At the time of pitching the symbol, 25 Sikhs were posted there for security.”

It further said that Dubey had summoned Baba Faqir Singh and admonished him. Despite this, Baba continued to insist that “every place belonged to Nirankar (the formless divine)”, reported Indian Express.

A view of the construction site of Ram Temple in Ayodhya in November 2023. Reuters File Photo

The incident had flared up commnual tensions, with local Muslims complaining of facing problems in offering namaz at the Babri mosque.

“The Azaan of Moazzin was met with the blowing of conch shells by Hindus. A contentious situation was arising. The Nihang Sikh was evicted from the site and a record was maintained,” the apex court observed in its 2019 verdict, reported TOI.

Recalling this incident, the eighth descendant of Baba Fakir Singh, Jathedar Baba Harjit Singh Rasulpur, announced on Sunday (17 December) that he will hold a langar to serve devotees coming for the Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple.

He said he wanted to carry forward the devotion of his ancestor towards Lord Ram by organising the langar along with other Nihangs. “Now, when the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Rama is being done on 22 January 2024, how can I lag behind?” he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

“I have no affiliation with any political party and am only a bearer of eternal traditions. I had to face criticism while maintaining harmony between Nihangs and Sanatan Dharma because, on the one hand, I am an amritdhari (baptised) Sikh, but on the other hand, I wear rudraksha mala around my neck,” Baba Harjit Singh told the media in Chandigarh.

Nihangs are a distinct sect among the Sikhs, who are known for their martial skills. This order of Sikh warriors is identified by their loose, dark blue robes, turbans adorned with steel quoits (chakrams) and traditional arms such as swords and spears.

A ‘Nihang’ or Sikh warrior, wearing a traditional 425-metre-long turban holds his weapon before taking part in a procession during the Holla Mohalla festival in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, on 24 March 2016. Reuters File Photo

In October, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Lucknow that it was Sikhs who “started the Ram Janmabhoomi movement”, according to Hindustan Times (HT).

Speaking at Guru Granth Sahib Parkash Utsav at Lucknow’s Gurudwara Alambagh, he said, “It was Sikhs who started the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and their contribution can never be forgotten by any Indian. The Sikh community has done a lot to protect the Sanatana Dharma”.

Singh also talked about the 1858 incident involving Nihang Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa.

With inputs from agencies

TATA HOUSE A BIG SUPPORTER OF MODI IN DEVELOPMENT WORKS

Tata house has been a big supporter of Modi in development works but has been so professional that nobody from opposition raises a finger at Tatas. Consider this 👇👇

1. Tatas have constructed new Parliament building, a prestige project

2. ⁠Tatas are constructing the biggest airport of Asia in Jewar,Noida while they were never in airport business & concession agreement of GMR group with GOI for redevelopment of IGIAirport in Delhi was that any 2nd airport if & when built around Delhi will be awarded to GMR provided they match prices with lowest quote. This did not happen & GMR is in cold storage. 

3. ⁠outside GOI owned HAL, Tatas are only aircraft manufacturer who are building civil/military aircraft in brand new factory in Gujarat. 

4. ⁠Tatas have quietly taken over Air India as single bidder & are expanding it big time.

5. ⁠Tata has expanded into takeover of IPhone factory to become biggest manufacturer of Apple iPhones in India

6. ⁠Tatas are going to build factory for manufacture semiconductor chips in India.

7. ⁠Let’s recall Tatas had started late in IT business vis a vis TCS & Wipro but are now no 1 rank in terms of revenues of IT in India. Tatas have long back diversified from still making, automobiles & chemicals - which were their traditional strongholds. Tatas are now getting big in defence platforms building like special purpose vehicles for Army etc. 

Tatas venture into any new business opportunities & have very deep pockets & non-controversial politically. I still recall when in Manmohan Singh era Nira Radia was hired as PR consultant directly reporting to Ratan Tata and Nira Radia tapes exploded in 2009 just before govt formation in 2009, she was immediately removed by Ratan Tata to keep Tata House away from controversies.

‘Unconstitutional’: Democrats lambast Biden over strikes on Houthis in Yemen without Congress permission By HT News Desk

 

Several high-profile Democrats slammed Biden, urging the White House to work with Congress before continuing the airstrikes in Yemen.

Several Democrats, including Indian American lawmaker Ro Khanna, came down heavily on US President Joe Biden for carrying out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen without receiving consent from the Congress. They called the action “unconstitutional”, stressing that it could lead to a wider Middle East conflict.

The US launched the airstrikes against Yemen after a string of drone and missile strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis.

“The United States carries a special, historic obligation to help protect and defend these arteries of global trade and commerce,” a senior US administration official told reporters on Thursday.

“And this action falls directly in line with that tradition. That is clearly reflected in both our national security strategy and the national defense strategy. It is a key conviction of the president and it is a commitment that we are prepared to uphold.”

FBI arrests Texas man for filming child gang-rape in mall restroom By Tuhin Das Mahapatra :-Hindustan Times Jan 12 2024

 

The suspect, 29-year-old Arthur Hector Fernandez III, has been charged with the sexual exploitation of children.

A shocking child sexual abuse case has come to light in Texas, where a man has been arrested for allegedly filming himself and six other men gang-raping two toddlers in a public restroom of a busy shopping mall.

The FBI announced this week that they received videos of the horrific crimes from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), which discovered them on the dark web. The videos show the abuse of two children, aged 2 and 3, in the restroom of the Houston Galleria, one of the most famous malls in Texas.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The accused, 29-year-old Arthur Hector Fernandez III, faces charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, as reported by KRIV. He was a former employee at the Galleria, where he allegedly lured the children and their families.

According to the report, one of the videos shows a male child lying on a changing table in a restroom stall while an unidentified man assaults him and Fernandez records the act with his phone.

Another child, a female, is seen in three other videos provided by ACCCE to the FBI. She is also on a changing table in one of the videos, where multiple men take turns raping her. Fernandez is among the perpetrators in at least two of the videos, authorities say.

Suspect exploited the parents’ work schedules to rape their children: FBI

The FBI said they were able to identify Fernandez through the clothing and accessories he and the children wore in the videos. They contacted the relatives of the two toddlers, who recognized the items and confirmed that Fernandez was a friend of theirs.

A relative of the first child told the FBI that they had to work on an unscheduled day and had no babysitter for their child. They brought the child to their workplace, where Fernandez volunteered to look after him. That was the only time the child was alone with Fernandez, according to court documents.

The documents state that this incident occurred on May 6 and that it likely happened at a restroom in the Galleria, which has “public restrooms, private stalls, and changing tables.”

A relative of the second child said they faced a similar situation when they took their child to work. Fernandez offered to babysit her, saying he would walk her around the mall and keep her entertained.

The relative also said that Fernandez watched their child two more times without them once in December 2022 and then on Oct. 31, when he took her trick-or-treating.

The FBI said they found evidence linking Fernandez to the crimes at his residence. They said they saw a pair of white, low-top Converse All-Star shoes on the floor in one of the videos, and they found three pairs of the same shoes at his address. They also seized several electronic devices that could contain sexual abuse material.

US resumes Russian oil imports, defies sanctions By Tuhin Das Mahapatra :-Hindustan Times Jan 12 2024

 

The US has resumed importing oil from Russia for the first time in more than a year, despite the ongoing sanctions imposed on Moscow over its military intervention in Ukraine, according to a Sputnik Globe report.

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the US imported 36,800 barrels of Russian oil in October and 9,900 barrels in November, worth $2.7 million and $749,500, respectively. The imports were made possible by specific licenses granted by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which oversees the enforcement of sanctions.

The EIA data also revealed that the US paid a premium for the Russian oil, as one barrel cost $74 in October and $76 in November, well above the “price cap” of $60 per barrel set by the US and its allies in 2022. The price cap was part of a coordinated effort by the US, the G7 countries, the EU, Switzerland, and Australia to reduce Russia’s income from oil exports, as a response to its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The US banned the import of oil, gas, and other energy resources from Russia in March 2022, along with other sanctions targeting Russian individuals, entities, and sectors. However, the OFAC has the authority to issue licenses for certain transactions that are otherwise prohibited by the sanctions, on a case-by-case basis.

The reasons behind the US decision to resume importing Russian oil are unclear, but some experts have speculated that it could be related to the global energy crisis, the geopolitical tensions with China, or the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Is Now Open | India's Longest Sea Bridge | Ata...

Doctors must write in capital letters: Court to Odisha, flags ‘zig-zag’ writing The Orissa High Court issued a directive asking the doctors of the state as well as private hospitals and medical centres to ensure that prescriptions, post-mortem reports and medico-legal documents are written in legible handwriting or capital letters.INDIA TODAY JAN 8 2024

 

Ajaya Kumar Nath

Odisha,UPDATED: Jan 8, 2024 16:22 IST

Written By: Sharangee Dutta

The Orissa High Court has directed the state's health department to ensure that all doctors write medical prescriptions, post-mortem reports and medico-legal documents in clear and legible handwriting or capital letters.

The directive was issued by Justice SK Panigrahi to the Chief Secretary of Odisha government, asking for the same to be circulated to all medical centres, private clinics, and medical colleges for better clarity and enhanced accessibility for both the judiciary and the public.

The court issued the order after hearing a petition filed by Rasananda Bhoi of Hindol in Denkanal district, following the death of his elder son, Souvagya Ranjan Bhoi, due to snakebite. The directive emphasises that clear handwriting should be followed while writing prescriptions so that there is clarity in the names of medicines.

"In many cases, the casual approach of most of the doctors while writing the post-mortem report is affecting the comprehension medico-legal documents badly and the judicial system finds it very difficult to read those letters and come to a definite conclusion," the High Court noted.

The court said that following a "zig-zag" handwriting has become a norm among doctors, which makes it difficult for common man and the judiciary to read those documents.

A similar order was passed by the Orissa High Court in 2020. At the time, the judge stated that a medical prescription should not leave any room for uncertainty or interpretation. It was passed after the judge found it difficult to read a prescription submitted by a prisoner seeking interim bail for a month to take care of his ailing wife.

WITHIN INDIA RACISM IS SO DEEP ROOTED THAT WE CAN NOT DENY IT.SO WE CAN NOT BLAME WHAT HAPPENS TO INDIANS OUTSIDE INDIA :-SOME EXTRACTS FROM WHAT INDIAN PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.

As per :Mr.Vivek Dosla Thru Quora

 Racism is induced into us from a very young age.

People are against reservation as a certain caste is getting benifits but do not want to talk about caste based discrimination.

This was my personal expirence I went to my friends house, her family is Morden and rich in their sense. They follow a strict vegetarian diet, they came to know that I eat non veg while talking. I completed my lunch then I was going inside the kitchen to put the plate back and wash my hands but her mom came running stopped me and told me to put the plate aside. I thought it's fine but later on my friend told me that I eat non veg so if I go into kitchen which has a pooja room, I would make it impure and she was very sorry about that. I was shocked that people still have issues like that.

We are taught to be racist from a very young age, we are encouraged discriminate based on caste , creed, religion, region etc.

In my house It was some time back when I came to India to attend my relatives wedding. Then everyone were eating at one place and I see some of them eat separately outside and no one is asking them for anything. I dint know so I went there and was talking to them and asking them if they need anything and I took one of their kid inside our house then the whole family was shocked and asked me how can you do stuff like this don't you know who they are, I was perturbed about the situation and spoke to my mom and dad. They were like we r educated but they won't understand the logic behind equality it's waste trying to tell them .

Even now people whine about reserved seats and call people coming to uni on reserved seats low quality but they forget that for even the reserved category student he has to get the same grades as a non reserved student to complete his courses. People find reasons to hide their inefficiencies and blame it on reservation . If people want reservation to end then they have to do something about caste discrimination first.

Matrimonial sites are the best example to find out how racist Indian society is you can find every possible division, caste based, status based, region , religion etc.

We have issues when some Indian is attacked abroad and make a hue and cry about how racist the west is but when same incident happens in India to some African or even Indian rarely do someone actually standup against it.

See the fairness cream ads how racist and illogical they are and compare the same product’s ad in the west you will know how racist our society is.

We Indians are taught to be racist, sexist etc from a very young age that's why most of Indians don't even find anything wrong in many practices which are unusual and inhumane for the most of the world .

By Mukund Arya thru Quora Digest

Incident I'm narrating happened with me back in 2009 in Kota where I went for JEE preparation. I was looking for a PG room with my friend. In kota students usually prefers a single or double bed room rather than apartment. There was a nice single room with attached bathroom and other required facilities. Room rent was also fairly normal at just Rs 3000 which was located in Talwandi. Everything was perfect so we asked flat owner who was a lady in her mid 40s about other details. Here is our conversation:

Me: Aunty, it's perfect. So what's room rent?

She: Last year we charged 2500 but this year we've increased to 3000.

Me: It's okay. We still want this room.

She: Okay. Where do you study?

Me: In Bansal classes. P6 is my batch.

She: My son is also doing JEE coaching, he has joined Vibrant.

Me: Great. We thought about Vibrant but dad insisted me to join Bansal only.

She: Yes, Bansal is still the leader of all these coaching institutes here. So what's your father do?

Me: He is School Teacher.

She: And Where are you from?

Me: From Sitamarhi, Bihar. It's birthplace of Sita Ji.

She: Are you from Bihar?

Me: Yes aunty.

She: Sorry Beta, we don't rent our room to 'Biharis'.

Me: What? Aunty, I'm not like those 'Biharis' you are thinking.

She: Still I won't. I've very bad personal experience with Biharis. For me all are same.

Me: Aunty, you will definitely have a better experience. (I tried my best to convince her)

She: No. I can't help you, we have our own rule. Sorry!

My friend who was watching all this suddenly asked:

Aunty are you an Indian? You don't seem like one.

And the lady got furious over this question, she shut her door.

I returned to my friend's room with sadness and anger on my face. I was a bit shocked and quite ashamed too. I have never been insulted in this manner. I was never discriminated on the basis of my caste, religion or skin of my colour, but it happened all because I belong to some specific state. I can understand people can discriminate on the basis of religion or caste or colour though it's as heinous as anything but racism on the basis of the state? I don't know whether such type of racism exist in other part of world too. Yes we don't have traditional kind of racism in India but there exist a different form of this. Here is a poster from

The Logical Indian explaining our different type of racism:

​

​

Just think you've were denied a PG room or flat for such a stupid reasons:

Are you from Delhi? You must be a politician. I hate them.

Are you from Bengal? You must be a communist. Sorry, I'm capitalist.

Are you from Punjab? You must be an alcoholic. Sorry we don't like them.

Are you from Maharashtra? You must be a supporter of the Thackreys. Sorry!

Are you Madrassi? You must be a Hindi-hater. We don't rent our room to such people.

And Are you bla bla bla....

The best way to respond to such questions is by my friend's way, ask the follow "Are you an Indian?".

From:

An Indian not a Bihari.

​

​PS: So many people arguing this case is not a case of Racism. Agree! If we go by definition of race, there shouldn't be any racism as we all are mixed race. We can't be specifically categorized in Caucasian or African or Mongolian. But there is clear discrimination exist in India based on ethnicity. Some time it's too generalized. Like all South Indians are not Madrasi or all UP-Bihar people doesn't speak Bhojpuri.

By Seemona A   thru Quora Digest

Iam currently in Hyderabad since past 7 months. Here racial & ethnic discrimination occur on a daily basis, hindering mental peace ! I am acutely conscious of being different & fear is a constant companion while stepping out. Because I have already been typecast as a Chinese looking girl here, I am constantly reminded that I am different and I know I'm judged by the way I look (yes i am from Northeast).

My friends here also call me "Chinese" but I don't mind it at all coz they don't mean anything discriminatory but the same hurts when somebody says this on the streets as it has to do more with the voice tone and the mannerism in which they address rather then what they are saying. Well it so happened that once I forgot my scarf and went out bare face & there were this group of kids (class 7-8 may be). I heard one of them saying "Oi dekh Ching Chong!" (Hey look ching chong) and then rest of the kids also started calling me "Ching Chong Ching chong". I ignored and kept walking.. But it really did hurt. This was the most recent incident and many such incidents keep happening and i have even faced eve teasing and taunting many times. If children aren't taught about cultural sensitivity and racial diversity in their home & schools then its obvious that this will just keep building up.

As the saying goes 'Charity begins at home', we are taught everything in our early years, to respect elders, how to behave with the basic morality that makes us human and how to treat people in general, these are the things that are engrained to us by our parents in our childhood but my question is that when it comes to teaching our children about cultural and racial diversity why are we failing as a society?

I'm sorry to say but some people in this place seriously lacks common sense and of course unaware of the diversity of our country. And that is how I came to the realization that COMMON SENSE IS NOT SO COMMON in the society that we live in. We must have basic etiquette to address people with respect and dignity. Why is it so difficult. Does it really cost a dime?

It takes massive discipline and strength to survive in a place like this. I have been living a monk's life for the last 7 months, just 2 months more (the only relief!)

I avoid going out because I don't want to be stared at. And if I do, my best companion "Scarf" is always there to protect me from those unwanted stares. I am always thinking about not offending others and about staying safe that's why I chose to stay silent and prefer staying indoors. Each time I hear about an incident, I feel 'tomorrow it may be my turn'. I even choose to dress in the most "sanskari" possible way I could, every single day, not to forget the scarf that covers my face so that nobody notices me coz I want to feel invisible in the road amongst the crowd. May be it worked 80% of the time. I would not advise northeast people to come here. I console myself saying this place is temporary for me and its just few months more and then I will be back home amongst my people living a normal "scarf - free" life. Its astonishing that I felt more free and independent at home coz generally people feel that when they are away from home (no one to question about whereabouts and all that stuff) but its total opposite for me.

Also, the hostel that I live in is a whole another episode. But since it was my decision to stay in this particular hostel on the basis of my priorities I won't complain (tired of doing that actually).

Also surviving this place because of the 3-4 friends I have here.

Living in a country as diverse as India, instead of finding differences that divides us why aren't we looking for the similarities that unites us. May be that would help us grow more as a strong country.

P.S.1- I really wish i could erase some of the hurtful memories that my brothers and sisters from northeast and other parts must have gone through.

P.S.2- I am not saying that everyone from outside Northeast is ignorant of whatever has been going on with what we from the northeast face. I have a ton of friends and good people from other parts of the country that are so genuine and loving people but we also cannot deny the fact that racism is something that is still an underlying problem of our country.

Still I m hopeful and optimistic that things will change, until then all we can do is educate the future generation about this gap we have created.