'Attacks on Africans painful in multi-ethnic India'

The recent attacks on Africans in the national capital "pained" Washington based Kenneth X. Robbins, curator of an ongoing exhibition on the history of Africans in India, and he believes that one has to be "patient" with a "multi-ethnic and sensitive" country like India.

"Africans have made a rich contribution to the history of India, and thus when I read about racial attacks on them especially in the capital of the country, it really pained me," Robbins told IANS here. He explained how African rulers in the 14th and 15h century built many forts in different parts of India and many of them also feature as principal subjects in portraits and paintings.

"India is a meritocracy where people of all races and religions come and succeed purely on the basis of their hard work," said Robbins.

Delhi has witnessed a spate of hate crimes directed against its Africans residents over the past few months

While three African students were attacked and assaulted by a mob at the Rajiv Chowk Metro station, near the city centre, last week, in another incident, Delhi's former law minister Somnath Bharti and 17 others were accused of molesting and assaulting Africans during a midnight raid on a house in south Delhi in January from where they alleged some African residents ran a drug and prostitution ring.

Robbins was quick to add that one had to deal with the people of India with patience.

"India is a multi-ethnic and sensitive society. You have to be patient with India," said Robbins citing the example of America which over the years has evolved into a society where racism is "just not tolerated".

"You can't even imagine abusing someone racially back home or you will have to face serious repercussions," said Robbins, adding that India needed a sustained campaign against racial discrimination and the exhibition which aims to build solidarity between India and Africa may be a first step towards it.

Robbins was all praise for the media as well for highlighting the attacks.

"The media did a commendable job as the news was put on the front pages of all leading papers. These incidents need to be highlighted," he said.

Being held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), the exhibition of photographs and texts from the Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Studies, New York, is titled 'Africans in India: A Rediscovery' is on till Nov 4.