NOTE : I am not blaming the Australians entirely , neither am I saying that the attacks are justified. I am stating just ONE reason or rather viewpoint of the problem. No offence meant to anyone.
Nowadays there is almost a 90% chance that today’s newspaper will carry a report about yet another attack on an Indian in Australia. As an Indian, it obviously pains me to see such heinous crimes commited. But what got me really thinking is the whole media hype regarding the attacks as racist , making the Australians as the MUDEROUS VILLAINS and the Indians as the INNOCENT VICTIMS. Is racism the real reason for these attacks? That I cannot say. But the after- discussion on this issue led to an interesting viewpoint about the Indians living abroad.
Quite many foreigners came out to say that Indians also have themselves to blame because of the way they live and function in their countries. For example, disrespect for others sentiments. We Indians love pickles and spicy food, but the pungent odor is not bearable to the others. Still Indians insist on going their own way. Also a total disregard for hygiene and sanitation. You just have to look at the hanging underwears to realise what they mean. Many a times for saving money it is seen that the number of students staying in a room are more than 4 times of that permitted. The ‘Herd’ or the group mentality is something which the Indians seem unable to let go off. They like being secluded in their own world , making the natives feel aliented and in some ways threatened.
This , it seems , is the major reason why Indians are being targeted and not the other Asians (like the Japanese). Though this may not hold true for all cases, the behaviour may have acted as an ugly catalyst to the unrest. Thus the best way would be to let go of ill-formed notions and opinions and try to assimilate in their environment . Wouldn’t we want the foreigners who come to India to respect our culture and our way of living ? Following this, I believe , will definitely reduce if not totally stop the attacks.