Racism is Rampant, But Africans in India Hate the ‘Victim’ Tag

African students in India do not expect justice for racist attacks and want more integration in Indian society.

Nigerian students had held a protest against the arrest and cannibalism charges in March last year.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ Association of African Students in India)

“We don’t want to be looked down as victims anymore. What happened was unfortunate, but our struggles have not ended, and we are fighting hard to be accepted by the Indian society,” said Ezeugo Nnamdi Lawrence, member of the Association of African Students in India (AASI).

Around a year ago three students from Nigeria were assaulted inside Ansal Plaza, a shopping mall in Greater Noida, by an enraged mob under the pretext that the men were drug dealers.

The attack was led by a mob who suspected that Manish Khari, a local Class 12 student, had died after being drugged by certain African nationals. The attack was called a hate crime by outraged African nationals living in the Delhi-NCR region. But the Indian administration played it down saying the assault was the result of rumour mongering.

A Stagnant Court Case

A year later the victims of the attack feel quite disillusioned as justice seems to be nowhere in sight. One of the Nigerian men who was assaulted at Ansal Plaza and wished to remain anonymous said, “It’s been a year and we are moving on with our lives, because justice will always remain an illusion for us in this country.”

After Manish Khari’s death, his autopsy revealed that no drugs were found in his body, but the Indian administration has not come out with this information and publicly apologised to us. Our embassy is following up on the matter, but what can one expect out of diplomats?

One of the Nigerian men who was assaulted at Ansal Plaza

Nigerian student Endurance Amalawa was brutally attacked by a mob in Greater Noida (Photo: The Quint)

AASI member Ezeugo Lawrence told The Quint, “After the attacks an FIR was lodged, and cases were filed. Our embassy took over the cases as the news had made international headlines.”

We were told by our countrymen that justice will not be delayed. A year later not a single court hearing has transpired. I don’t even know what the status of those who were arrested is. I am sure they got bail.

Ezeugo Lawrence, AASI member

When asked about the embassy, Lawrence smirked and said, “The embassy’s role is to maintain bilateral relations between the two countries. Such events are pushed on the backburner so that commerce and trade isn’t hampered, till such an attack repeats itself.”

Changing the Narrative

Lawrence was clear on one thing – the need to change the victim narrative. “We come to India, because we perceive this country as a land of opportunity. However, when we reach here, the ground realities are so warped, and the Indian mindset so narrow, it distorts our own perception of the country.”

These attacks are just the tip of the iceberg, the problems are much deeper and rooted in prejudice. Playing the victim card is not helping our cause.

“Instead, we the student community from Africa, are busy mending bridges with the Indians. We are also planning to collaborate with the police in organising events which aim to sensitise the Indian society about us Africans,” he added.

Remembering Oliver

Ola Jason has been living in India for over seven years now. A part-time actor, he has even done small roles in regional films and Bollywood. Jason was also a close friend of Congolese national Masonda Ketada Oliver, who was brutally stoned to death in Delhi’s Kishangarh area in May 2016, a day before his birthday.

Oliver’s murder caused an uproar among the African community living in India. It shocked the Indian public as well. But incidents of racist attacks on Africans continue, and deep-seated racist attitudes continue to plague the country.

Masonda Ketada Oliver, 23-year-old Congolese, who was stoned to death in Kishangarh area of Delhi in May 2016.(Photo: The Quint)

Oliver was stoned to death! Doesn’t the system here realise that is a gruesome way to die? It was not as if those men and Oliver got into a fight and one of the blows ended his life; he was painfully stoned to death!

Ola Jason, the deceased Masonda Ketada Oliver’s friend

Oliver’s brother, who recently flew back to Congo before this story was published, is following up on the case, but according to Jason, the case has not moved forward.

As Jason puts it, “That Africans fear attacks on themselves is just the tip of the racist narrative in India. We Africans are here not just for education but also for employment and business opportunities.”

But do you see us working in any coffee shops or fast food joints or retail outlets? Unless there is integration of different races how can racism ever be addressed?