“No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them.” Elie Wiesel - Nobel Laureate

‘Hey, Nev, where were you when the shit hit the fan, dickhead?’

Barry Humphries, in ‘Les Patterson Saves the World’ (1987) - 20^th Century Fox

The spate of attacks on certain individuals of Indian nationality and/or antecedents in Australia recently, has brought the concept of ‘racism’ out into sharp relief around India, or at least among those whose vested interests are being served in keeping the issue alive in the mainstream media.

I am one of those with a vested interest in the issue, with a brother currently residing in Melbourne, and with two very impressionable years in my own life having been spent in Brisbane. In the time-honoured fashion of spurious debate, I shall begin to address my own feelings in this regard by posing a few questions that immediately appeal to me:

Why do so many Indians currently live in Australia?

Of the many foreigners currently living in India, how many do we know personally?

Do we know anything of Australian history and culture?

Do we assume that other nationalities (especially those of European heritage) are ignorant of Indian culture?

Do you know that India steadfastly supports the military regime in Burma, knowing fully well that it is continuing to commit atrocities on its own people?

Ever heard of the adage, ‘First get the log out of your own eye, before concerning yourself with the speck in your brother’s’?