Ku Klux Klans of Punjab?
We, Indians, who have borne the brunt of racism, should never tolerate such acts in our own society. Hate crimes, which germinate as a result of intolerance towards social and cultural diversity have to be rooted out right from the nascent stage itself. We are unconsciously planting the seeds of racial discrimination when we appreciate our children as ‘ Fair…and hence beautiful’ and encourage them to apply the so-called fairness creams to enhance beauty. The conclusion, they generally draw is that what is fair is definitely beautiful, and what is not fair is ugly and ought to be despised. Contempt towards a particular being ( be it women, dalits, minorities, tribals or people with a different language or culture) arise as a result of superiority sense in the perpetrator. And this superiority sense may have been developed as a result of the individuals power, wealth or beauty. Here, he/she considers that the 'lesser beings' are born to be controlled and used for enhancing his/her happiness.They believe neither in equality nor in humanity. This very mindset has been the genesis for slavery, caste oppression, racial attacks and violence against women. Discrimination based on one’s colour, creed, caste, sex, religion or language should never be allowed to form a part of our civilisation or else we would be fighting many a Ku Klux Klan.
Courtesy : The HinduThis picture shows a poor, helpless father from Burundi in a state of dilemma on seeing the condition of his comatose son in Patiala, Punjab. The 24 year old student was brutally assaulted by the local boys, suspected to be a case of hate crime. The questions to be answered here are-
1) Would the Government be biased in dealing with this situation as the plaintiff is a poor man from a poor country?
2) What would happen if the victim was an American Citizen?