It all started with Shravan. The Indian student community in Australia was galvanised to direct action when four Indian students were allegedly attacked by Aussie youngsters. The issue quickly picked up racial overtones. Several events like the Aussie PM condemning the attack and the Big B turning down an Aussie university's honour added shrill to the issue. Given Aussie's track record on racial matters, foul play could not be discounted and the Indian students are justifiably outraged. This post tries to sympathise with the student sentiments and comment on what they need to do.
Racism emanates from a belief that racial differences like colour etc render one race inherently superior to others. While globally the war against racism has come to an end with the fall of apartheid, still its vestiges are found in a few parts of the world. Australia has been home to racism in the past when the aborigines were abused and suppressed. The 1901 Constitution of Australia provides for the obnoxious 'races power' section which permits the government to discriminate against people based on their race. As this provision does not explicitly provide that discrimination could only be positive, negative discrimination is also possible within its meaning. This piece of legislation still remains intact with a few cosmetic amendments.
In the past 100 years a sea change has happened in the mindset of Australia vis-a-vis racial matters. The country has emerged as the favoured destination for student community. The education export industry in Australia is valued at over USD 15 billion. The Indian student community is more than 1100 strong and is growing with every passing year.
In the recent times there has been a spate of attacks on Indian students specially in the state of Victoria. Students allege that it is racism that is the driving the series of attacks. In the last week of May a group of four Indian students was attacked by unknown perpetrators. Shravan, one among the four victims, got seriously injured. Aussie PM condoned the act of violence and apologised to the student community. This incident happened to be the last straw breaking the patience of Indian student community who took to streets. The student movement was bolstered by a series of events like prominent Indians sympathising with the students and the alleged high-handed behaviour of the police officials.
Now it has reached a stage where the students have started organising vigilante groups and indulging in near-vandalism. Although the student protesters claim that they demonstrate peacefully, things seem to veer in the opposite direction. It is clear that the student community is suffering from lack of vision and leadership. Their end is valid and noble but the means they seem to deploy appears foul. This can jeopardise their quest for justice.
There is a need for the student community to exercise restraint and make sure that they do not give way to violence or vandalism. The student community is ill-equipped to face the might of the police or the government. Their strategy should be one that appeals to the better sense of the people and Government of Australia. They need to ensure that the affected are suitably compensated and the safety of the student community is protected. There is an urgent need for the students to demonstrate the bonafide of their protests and maintain their actions within the boundaries of law.
The stake of Aussie government is high in this issue. It is risking a huge source of revenue and its image in the international arena. Good sense shall definitely prevail in Canberra and the issue would be suitably addressed. But this would be possible, if and only if the students conduct themselves in democratically acceptable fashion. If things take turn to violence and vandalism then it is going to be a race to the bottom leaving the student community severely battered.
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