Nayonika Bhattacharya, 27, is a young solicitor who moved to Australia for her undergraduate law degree and never left. More recently, she has spoken out on her profound fear of being able to walk the streets of Sydney. Following a series of anti-immigration protests and an alarming rise in racially charged incidents, Bhattacharya finds herself constantly looking over her shoulder, anxious about potential racist attacks. Her experience paints a picture of a growing concern among the Indian and South-Asian diasporas across Australia. Now more than ever, they are subject to racist venom aimed at them.
Bhattacharya’s fears materialized when she encountered an individual shouting racial slurs at her in Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD). The slurs, such as “you curry muncher” and “smelly Indian,” made her feel unsettled and fearful of her environment. This incident is not the only such occurrence. Countless others from these communities are speaking out about the same experience, exposing a deeply troubling trend that has escalated in recent months.
The Broader Context of Racism
That’s the view of migrants’ contributions to society expressed by Ms Daizy Maan, co-founder of the Australian South Asian Centre (ASAC). Their contributions extend far beyond economic value. Yet, according to her, the racism faced by Indian and South-Asian Australians is most often dismissed and written off. “We shouldn’t have to prove our worth by constantly reminding people that we are grateful to be here,” Maan stated, reflecting on the challenges faced by these communities.
The Australian jurisprudential approach would disallow a disproportionate racial effect. More specifically, the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 makes racial discrimination unlawful. Yet many do not believe current legislation goes far enough to shield them from the growing wave of racial harassment. Bhattacharya is adamant about this. She argues that Indians, and anyone who looks Indian, are at a heightened risk when it comes to targeted communication that incites hate.
Maan recently suggested establishing a racism register in Australia. This system is a step to create space to report racism and hold racist behavior accountable, so it happens in a consistent and systematic way. Through this initiative, racial abuse experiences will be continuously collected and never dismissed or ignored. It truly creates a more inclusive society.
Voices from the Community
Sukhmani Khorana, an associate professor of media and migration, is another media critic who has condemned the increasing wave of racism. She emphasizes the importance of human rights organizations and political leaders to stand in opposition to these injustices. “Allies look like human rights organisations and political leaders,” Khorana asserted. Her advocacy urges a far more proactive response from those in power to protect marginalized communities discriminated against, through community engagement and data collection.
Khorana herself has been subject to racial slurs in-person as well, including being called a “Tamil tiger” and “dirty monkey.” She described the current atmosphere as more aggressive: “The racism around now feels more aggressive, violent, insidious and uncontrolled.” Countless others in India’s young Australian community have similar stories. These experiences all too frequently have made them feel that they are unsafe and unwelcome.
“Unless the community and government track and respond to the growing experiences of racism, these stories will be lost.” – Nayonika Bhattacharya
These heartfelt messages reveal the truth that racism is not only a personal experience. It’s a structural problem that disposes of whole Black communities. Just as many advocates underscore the value of education in fighting this widespread dilemma.
Education as a Tool for Change
Khorana reinforces the importance of raising awareness and education about racism. She feels that migration and ethnic diversity should be at the core of educational programs. This will go a long way in building understanding and empathy between all Australians. “It could be part of formal educational curricula, as well as broader community education programs,” she remarked.
Education advocates refer to this idea as “racial literacy.” It prepares participants to develop the skills needed to identify racial biases and work to dismantle them. These types of programs could serve as a powerful tool for changing societal perceptions, decreasing discrimination, and fostering inclusive relationships.
Local community members return to give their broken hearted and urgently first hand testimonies. They paint a picture of the current climate—one of fear and hostility—which exposes the urgent need for immediate change. Agi, another individual affected by rising racism, stated: “I grew up here in Australia, but the racism I’m experiencing right now feels worse than anything I’ve faced before.” This answer reveals a sad truth for those who used to be so comfortable in their own skin.
