Indian crowds and racism

Oct 16th, 2007

Sriram Ranganathan

Comments (39)

Listed under:

India, Australia, ODI, Players

There is a lot of discussion happening over whether Andrew Symonds had been racially abused or not. I have read so many articles on this that I feel compelled to put in my two cents on something I felt would blow over on its own, simply because it was too small. Don't get me wrong here; racism by itself is not a small matter to be dismissed lightly. But everything has to be seen on a case-to-case basis. I understand the Vadodra and Nagpur crowds might not have been the most sophisticated to have ever adorned the cricket grounds of the world, but whether or not they really understand what racism means is a point open for discussion.

Andrew Symonds says that the crowd made monkey noises at him. There are many questions that spring to mind here. What exactly is a monkey noise? I am sure I wouldn't be able to differentiate a monkey noise from an owl noise or any of those noises frequently heard on silent nights. I doubt if the crowds at Vadodra or Nagpur had such skilled people who could unflinchingly make those "monkey" noises at Symonds.

See, I doubt if Symonds is making up the story about having been taunted by the crowds. Our crowds are like that, and it would not be new behaviour if this indeed happened. They crowd might boo the players, they might shout insults at them, they might throw water bottles, they might make rude gestures and noises at them; I have seen all this happen during cricket matches held in this country and others. However, that anyone in the crowd should try to racially abuse Symonds is a startling claim to make, to say the least. I doubt if too many people in the crowds would even understand the concept of racism and the significance of Symonds, of all people in the Australian team, in that entire concept of racism, however they might interpret it.

For them, it would be a simple matter of taking the mickey out of one of the 'enemy', as the crowds would view the Australians. Even if the player in question was Mathew Hayden instead of Symonds, the crowds might have made the same taunts and the same noises, which Hayden might or might not have interpreted as "monkey" noises.

I have seen Indians cry 'racism' in many cases not necessarily related to cricket, in which racism might or might not be involved. The fact that we are Indian makes many people think that we would indeed be treated racially. Maybe it is our historical background that makes us think so, maybe it is our apprehension of the Western world, and sometimes, in the back of our minds, maybe some of us do indeed think of ourselves as inferior and hence every innocent behaviour becomes a sign of being insulted by the 'superior' beings. This is not a debate on how valid or invalid our claims of racism might be, but this is just to say that in our own lives, we frequently shout racism when this just might not be the case.

Symonds being the native Australian aboriginal he is might have faced racism many times whether in his own country or outside. Having probably had a history of being the victim of racism, he might always be a bit sensitive of when next he would be victimised. So when the crowds at Nagpur and Vadodra taunted him as they would any Australian, Pakistani, South African or Sri Lankan player, his "racist attack" sensors perked up.

Sadly, for all the fuss that has been created, I am sure the crowds for the last ODI and during any future tours of the country would have this new weapon with which to make a nuisance of themselves. Every time, taunts by way of words and noises, which cannot be barred from being brought onto the grounds, like the organisers do when it comes to the banning of bottles and other such items, would now be their new weapon because now they will realise that 'racial' taunts hurt. The same noises made aimlessly previously would now be converted into 'monkey' noises to disturb the players. The crowds might be smarter than that, but there will always be those elements who will not understand the damage they would be doing by using this new toy of 'racism' handed to them by the Australian team and the world media.

That is my humble opinion on this entire matter.

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Reader Comments

1. I know your comments to come out of ignorance, that is, to not fully understand the subject that you comment on. India itself produces some of the MOST rascist persons. (please read this article)(http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=kshow&kid=796) No other nation has such blatant racsim as she does! and it is imported through out the world, so when one gets a taste of her own medicine and find it awful, what then??

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=kshow&kid=796) No other nation has such blatant racsim as she does! and it is imported through out the world, so when one gets a taste of her own medicine and find it awful, what then??")">Notify AOL

HerbieC on Jul 1st, 2008

2. I do not understand why are we creating so much of an absolute imagination of some Australians. Haven't they in the past repeatedly used such words both on and off field? In case ICC feels so strongly then BCCI should and must bring to focus all previous such incidents including the one involving Ponting couple of years back when he was touring India under Steve Waugh.I feel Aussies are deliberately doing this to undermine Indian Cricket since we definately pose the biggest threat to their supremacy.