British Indians make up 2–3% of the UK and are the largest ethnic minority in the UK. British Hindus make up ~1% of the population, and are predominantly, but not exclusively, Indian. Hindus are statistically one of the most law abiding, innovative and educated communities in the UK, but in the article are put down and described as “Radicalised”, “Casteist” and “Elitist”. In this post we will show how several lies, assumptions and negative stereotypes are used to justify racism against Indians, in a May 2022 article by the New Statesman.
Stereotype 1 — British Indians are Ugandan Asian Refugees
The article makes several references to the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1970s. 27200 Asians were expelled from Uganda and under 3% of British Indians were born in Uganda, according to the 2011 Census. The author of the article uses this stereotype to infer that British Indians are greedy elitists and highly skilled Indian workers who move to the UK bond with African-born Indians over their wealth. The author also seems to blame the Labour Party’s loss of Harrow Council on Indians! Only about 25% of Harrow is ethnically Indian — did they influence the other 75%?
Stereotype 2 — Indians are too stupid and pampered to take out the bins
In one of her most laughable attacks, the writer states, “The average wealthy Indian probably grew up with staff picking up after them; from their perspective, taking out the bins now that they live in London is enough of a struggle without adding the separation of food, recycling and green waste.”
The author jumps from one racist stereotype to the next, but doesn’t seem to understand that the data shows the opposite. Many London borough’s with the highest recycling rates in the UK have a significant Indian minority. Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, and Sutton all recycle at least 48% of their waste. To suggest that Indians are too stupid or pampered to be able to separate food, recycling and green waste is demeaning and racist.
Stereotype 3 — British Hindus are all “Hindu Nationalists”
The writer states, “A cocktail of patriotic pride and nostalgia for the motherland has united Hindu voters in support of the regime of Narendra Modi…and the nationalism of him and his party, the BJP”
The author “others” Hindus by asserting that they are supporters of the current Indian government. Firstly, the British Hindu community isn’t exclusively Indian and non-Indian Hindus are an integral part of our community. Secondly, to link all Hindus to the Indian government (when almost none of us even have the right to vote in India) displays a colonial, outdated and dangerous view that Hindus are “foreign” and possibly disloyal to Britain. Again, there is no evidence for this claim.
Stereotype 4 — British Hindus hate Pakistanis, because Hindus are “radical”
“When a radicalised Hindu voter sees prominent south Asians in the Labour Party (Sadiq Khan, Shabana Mahmood, Rosena Allin-Khan) they don’t see people who look like them — they see Pakistanis.”
The author names several British Pakistani politicians, some of whom received substantial votes from British Hindus. The author seems to be a proponent of the votebank politics which exploits religious and ethnic fault lines. However, the author glosses over the fact that several MPs (many Labour) have made anti-Hindu statements. Lord Nazir Ahmed, now a convicted paedophile, frequently accused Hindus of being radicalised and incited violence outside the Indian High Commission, where weapons were brandished and windows broken at one of his rallies. Some of the MPs mentioned by the author have shown solidarity with Kashmiri separatists but never acknowledged the genocide and exodus of 400,000 Kashmiri Hindus.
