Experience of racism and discrimination in Indian society

I grew up in slums in India and we were poor. We wore clothes given by others, we couldn’t manage 3 meals a day and the meals we had were mostly rice, or white bread or chapatis . We didn’t have flip flops or shoes to wear. When I went to school first time, a teacher asked me where my flip flops were and didn’t understand my answer when I said that I don’t have flip flops.

I have experienced discrimination a lot in India but always for being poor.

Being treated badly for being poor by rich relatives — There are many incidents of poor treatment by relatives but this one experience always comes to mind first. I went to a relative’s home with my dad. We stayed at their home overnight. They made us sleep on the carpet in their balcony outside and didn’t give us pillows and gave one sheet to cover which I and my dad shared.

Being treated badly by classmate’s mom for being poor — A friend from my class visited my home and few minutes later her mom came by, slapped her daughter and told her to stay away from poor people like us. She thought I might use this friend for monetary help or favors.

Being mocked for being poor — When I went to diploma college first time, some senior students ragged me for flip-flops I was wearing. They mocked me for wearing bathroom slippers to college. They didn’t know that I had to borrow them from a friend to go to college. Thanks to that friend “Suman”, she not only lent me her slippers but her t-shirt and pair of pants so I could look decent on my first day in college.

Being slapped for looking poor — I was going in a bus to college one day and if you don’t know, it can get really crowded in public transportation in India. I got pushed in the crowd and my hand touched someone’s pocket. This man turned around and slapped me saying I was trying to steal his wallet. This happened more because I looked like a boy. When I started crying and was explaining, he realized that he slapped a girl but also said I looked like those people who pick pockets.

Discrimination against blacks in India — When I decided to move to US, the only thing my dad told me was ”Kisi kaale se shaadi mat kar lena wahan” which means “Dont marry an African there.”

Indian friend in US discriminating against blacks — My dad’s worst fear came true. My first boyfriend was a Cameroonian guy. Btw, he still remains my best friend. Once I got invited to an Indian event by a friend and he told me to not bring my African boyfriend. This happened to me more than once. I never went to any event where this was a condition.