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India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Snatching Diwali, giving sex-gang tag: Indians abroad reject South-Asian label
When Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign, she also unveiled a platform titled South Asians for the People. But its messaging backfired. Many from the Indian diaspora reacted angrily to the label "South Asian" altogether. The backlash wasn't just online noise, it revealed a deeper discomfort with being grouped into a broad regional category that many feel erases India's unique identity. "India is at least 2,000–3,000 years old. 'South Asia' is a neologism meant to deny it," one comment isn't just a passing the UK and the US, many Indians are increasingly being vocal about the problems that come with this catch-all label. The term "South Asian" typically refers to people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Last month, Insight UK, which describes itself as a "social movement of British Hindus and Indians", raised a similar objection on its social media platforms. It also explained why many Indians are uncomfortable being lumped together with others under the term South Asian."Broader terms like 'Asian or Asian British' do not distinguish between Indian and other backgrounds as they can group together very different communities, each with distinct histories, cultures, and experiences," Manu from Insight UK told India Today term "South Asian" is increasingly seen by many Indians as a reductive label that erases India's distinct cultural and civilisational are over 1.8 million Indians in the UK and around 4.8 million in the US."Our identity is not defined just by land, it's a civilisational and cultural space that has existed for millennia. There is no confusion about who Indians are. But there is a deliberate effort to blur that clarity, to negate and dilute the distinctiveness of Indian identity," Pushpita Prasad for the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) told India Today festivals like Diwali and Holi, which are being termed South Asian, to racial profiling that isn't benefitting Indians, there's more to why Indians are questioning and rejecting the INDIANS SOUTH ASIANS BLURS CRITICAL DISTINCTIONThe term "South Asian" may sound neutral, but in practice, it often blurs critical distinctions between communities."For example, British Indians and British Pakistanis have different migration histories, religious demographics, and contributions to the UK," Insight UK explained."Labelling them together as 'Asian' or 'South Asian' obscures key differences, whether in workforce representation, health outcomes, or social experiences—making it harder to address specific needs or tackle inequalities."This broad-brush approach has real-world begins with cultural incorporation, which is more than just assimilation."Indian festivals like Diwali and Holi are increasingly being rebranded as 'South Asian' — a move that erases their Hindu roots and appropriates them into a vague regional identity," says Prasad from the New York Times recently did a piece on mithais and called them 'South Asian', when most of those sweets are unmistakably Indian in origin and cultural context."WHY SOUTH ASIAN LABEL IS DANGEROUS FOR INDIANSThe consequences aren't just cultural—they extend to how communities are perceived during moments of crisis."When negative events are reported in broad ethnic terms, reputational damage spreads unfairly," Insight UK notes."Hindus are significantly under-represented in UK prisons — making up just 0.4% of the prison population. Most Hindus in the UK are Indian. By contrast, as of March 2024, 18.1% of the prison population in England and Wales identified as Muslim," it adds."Given that most British Muslims are of South Asian origin and a large portion of them are Pakistani, it's reasonable to infer that a significant share of this group is of Pakistani background."The distinction becomes especially critical in the context of group-based child sexual Rotherham, Pakistani men were found responsible for 64% of child sexual exploitation cases and 62% of convictions under Operation for example, the infamous grooming gang crime in the UK on which PM Keir Starmer has now ordered a national euphemistic term "Asian grooming gangs" in use, has not only diluted the specificity but also unfairly stigmatises the broader Asian community, including Indians. The perpetrators of the organised sexual abuse of underage white girls are primarily Muslim men from distinction was also highlighted by Tesla boss Elon Musk in a tweet in Hindus and Indians point out that when sweeping labels like "South Asian" are used, they risk being unfairly stigmatised for crimes they had no role in. At the same time, positive achievements by Indians and Hindus in the UK often go uncredited or are diffused under the broader has led to growing calls for a more accurate and nuanced recognition of Indian and Hindu identities, distinct from other South Asian IS THIS GENERALISATION BENEFITTING?Categorising British Hindus and Indians this way also denies recognition to their achievements and what they have brought to the UK. For example, ayurveda, yoga and meditation – essentially Indian – would otherwise be labelled "South Asian".The term, many argue, not only obscures difference but also whitewashes both achievement and accountability. For British Indians, the consequences of being mislabelled run deep, impacting how they are seen in policy discussions, media narratives, and even statistical response, Indian community groups in the UK are preparing to push back more term itself emerged during 19th-century British colonial rule, initially used by colonial administrations as a label for people from the at times, it was deployed as a derogatory term, especially to describe individuals of mixed ancestry or those considered racially 'other' by colonial authorities. Over time, 'South Asian' became a more neutral and widely accepted descriptor for people from this region and their descendants living in the in the diaspora oppose the usage of the word 'South Asian'."The Indian diaspora reject the use of the term 'South Asian,' which is frequently employed by Western academics and media. They argue that this label, intended as a convenient regional grouping, tends to obscure India's unique cultural identity rather than celebrate it," Manu from Insight UK told India Today pushback against the term "South Asian" is not about semantics, it's about identity, representation, and fairness. For many Indians in the diaspora, being called South Asian feels like erasure. As calls grow for more precise recognition, it's clear: labels should reflect, not flatten, the rich diversity of those they claim to represent.- Ends advertisement
India Today
24-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
We are Indians: Desi diaspora in UK rejects South-Asian label
The Indian diaspora in the UK has expressed concerns over the use of the term "South Asian", which it says is used too broadly by Western media and academia. The Indian-origin people in the UK argue that Indian culture is itself diverse and broadening it further would take away from its uniqueness. Those with Indian roots do not want to be clubbed with their counterparts from Bangladesh and week, Insight UK, which calls itself a "social movement of British Hindus and Indians", raised a similar objection on its social media handle. It also explained in detail why there was a pushback against the South Asian label."The Indian diaspora reject the use of the term 'South Asian,' which is frequently employed by Western academics and media. They argue that this label, intended as a convenient regional grouping, tends to obscure India's unique cultural identity rather than celebrate it," wrote Insight UK. It further explained how India has a distinct history and a vibrant and rich culture with several languages, culinary traditions, and deep-rooted customs, which set it apart from many other nations in South Asia, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri are the largest ethnic minority group in the UK, with a population exceeding 2 million clubbing them in the same category, a "South Asian umbrella", the group argued it "oversimplifies complex realities and downplays India's historical significance".It also said the generalisation does not pay heed to "particularly its [India's] Hindu and Dharmic heritage".This generalisation also does not do justice to different social practices, gender realities, and the development of different nations."Moreover, the label overlooks the significant differences in social norms, gender dynamics, and even practical realities such as employment, educational trends, and incarceration rates," the post UK also gave an example of what this overarching would look like in European contexts."To illustrate, it would be akin to conflating Germany and Albania simply because both are in Europe ignoring the vast differences in language, culture, and history."Finally, it is said that being Indian is a matter of pride for many in the diaspora. South Asia does not cover the intricacies of the same."For Indians, being called 'Indian' is a matter of pride and a genuine reflection of their heritage not merely a regional designation. The 'South Asian' label, they argue, risks erasing the true depth and individuality of their identity, which is rooted in centuries of unique history and character," the post RESPONDS TO SOUTH ASIAN GENERALISATIONadvertisementPeople from the diaspora also responded to the post."If Indians do good: South Asians. If other South Asians do good: Their respective countries. If India does badly: India. If other South Asians do badly: South Asians. It's a whole narrative. Indians are one of the hardest-working, enterprising people with good work ethics. Indians should not be clubbed together with other notorious people with vile agendas," wrote one person on people also pointed out how Indians themselves are a large group, and, therefore, deserving of an own term."It is 1.4 billion people. Probably worthy of their own terms," wrote another person on the called out the duality of who is called South Asian and Indian."West mentality: If Indians do anything good: Asians. If Indians do anything bad: Indians. It's time West understood the difference. Indians are Indians," wrote a person on growing discomfort with the "South Asian" label among the Indian diaspora in the UK reflects a deeper call for recognition, not just of geographical origins, but of distinct cultural, historical, and social identities. As voices from within the community push back against broad-brush categorisations, they highlight the need for more nuanced representations.- EndsTrending Reel
