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I am usually criticized when I extinguish the "Indian" etiquette and insist that I be called South African. The cries of "but you are Indian, do not deny your roots" are often the return.
But I sneak. I am South African and more and more frustrated to be labeled by the "Indian" label.
Like my parents, I was born in South Africa and I have never been to India, I have never had any connection with my ancestral roots and my education is deeply rooted in South Africa – I rarely enjoy Indian food.
I was actively involved in student politics and politically educated and mentored by the late Zwelakhe Sisulu – the son of founding founder of the ANC Walter Sisulu. I am the proud daughter of South Africa, not India.
My fight to claim my South Africa is not unique. The growing racial division and the Gupta scandal cast a shadow over every South African of Indian descent. They revived memories of past conflicts between Africans and so-called Indians in KwaZulu-Natal.
Beyond that, they also isolated Indian South Africans and let many members of the government fight for their political survival. No matter what support from them meets political hecklers on the part of the EFF, a party increasingly relentless to adopt apartheid-style tactics in KZN to gain support through its methods. Operation to divide and conquer.
Playing the "Indian" card – resurrecting past racial conflict – and referring to all South African Indians as "a Gupta" has made it increasingly difficult for many to be proud of their Indian roots and proudly South African. And, while I choose to be proudly South African, there is nothing wrong with those who choose to be proudly South African Indian.
Except, it is now a shame to boast of their Indian heritage. South Africans of Indian origin are often simply called "Indians", as if they had nothing to do with South Africa.
It has become a sign of shame for many, made derogatory by the actions of those who have simply used the South. Africa as a platform for their economic windfall.
Their actions are far from those of us who are proudly South African and consider this our country of birth. The Guptas looted and left, leaving all Indian South Africans tinged at the same time.
As one ANC politician told me, "we are never considered South Africans. We are just Indians, no matter how much we give to this country or how much we have fought in the fight. We will always be considered as Indians. "
As long as the voices of South African Indians remain mute in their patriotism, the FEP and other racists will continue to root the pejorative name and attempt to strip the South African Indians of their patriotism. [19659002] We must fight this by claiming the right to be called South African I choose my label I am not Indian My roots are here My ancestors were maybe from India but my roots and those of my parents are here.It is my country of birth and i am proudly south african.
Eating a curry from time to time does not make me Indian, so eating a pizza would not make me not Italian … Being the offspring of an indented or transient Indian does not make me less South African and why should I be forced to reduce my South African identity that I hold so much, because of that?
A friend has recently been denied a position higher than one between not because she failed to qualify, but simply because the position was to be awarded to an African woman – less qualified.
My friend has climbed the ladder to get the job, but will never be considered because she is "Indian" and the company does not want to Indian. That's the price paid for being South African-Indian.
As a mother of two teenagers, and a Turkish girlfriend, I fought a battle when their school chose to tag them after refusing to "Box on their registration form." – 10 years old.
The school decided to tag them – without my knowledge, until I received another form to sign. One of my sons was tagged "Indian" and the other "white."
In challenging the school, an exasperated official said to me, "Look at him, he is white" – speaking of him as "lonely". one of my sons, needless to say, they quickly retreated after threatening to sue.
It is understandable – and I agree – that apartheid has placed Indian South Africans in a better position, with more benefits despite the laws that deprived them of their rights.
They were more advantaged, less repressed and benefited from e more privileges, allowing them better education, housing and social status.
Redressing the imbalances of the apartheid legacy should not exclude our patriotism as South Africans. We are the first in South Africa and we should unite under this common umbrella.
Past inequalities must not be corrected to the detriment of exclusion, insult and isolation. This is not what served the struggle for an equal South Africa.
This is not the vision for which many fought and died. For those of us born and raised here, we are South Africans – regardless of our ancestral roots. It is a right that we must defend and defend, despite attempts to divide us.
I am proudly South African and I will continue to claim my label. Do not call me Indian.
The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Independent Media
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