
A Shocking Workplace Incident Highlights Regional Prejudices Among Indians Abroad
A South Indian professional working in Canada recently encountered unexpected racism—not from a foreign national, but from a fellow Indian. The issue? His fluency in Hindi, or rather, the lack of it.
What Happened?
- The man, whose native language is Malayalam, was reportedly mocked by a North Indian colleague for not speaking Hindi.
- The aggressor questioned his cultural authenticity, implying that he had “forgotten” Hindi after moving abroad.
The Larger Problem: Internal Racism in the Indian Diaspora
- This incident reflects deep-rooted linguistic and regional biases that many Indians face, even outside their homeland.
- The expectation that all Indians must know Hindi disregards India’s linguistic diversity, where several regional languages are spoken by millions.
Reactions from the Community
- Many South Indians living abroad have expressed solidarity, sharing similar experiences of discrimination.
- Social media platforms are now flooded with discussions about the need to respect India’s linguistic diversity, even outside its borders.