‘One race: human race, one blood: red blood,’ read a banner held by an African student at a protest demonstration in the city on Saturday. That message of unity and harmony was what the African students along with other foreign students studying in the city, wanted to convey to the city and its populace.
However, this was marred by some tense moments as a group of about 25 self-styled Kannada activists marched towards the venue — Town Hall — shouting slogans against the African students, threatening a confrontation. They were apprehended and taken away by the police.
While around 200 African students gathered at Town Hall in the morning, around 100 students from 23 countries, including the African nations, stood in solidarity with the Tanzanian students attacked on January 31.
“We had a meeting with government officials on Friday night. They are working to punish the guilty. It is good to see them acting on the matter,” said Joseph, a student studying in south Bengaluru.
However, not all students were optimistic. Bob C., a Jamaican national studying BCA in the city and living here for three years, said the biggest issue for him remained safety during the night. “Any policeman or locals who see us coming late in the night are antagonistic to us. There is a mindset issue. We have many Indians settled in our countries running businesses as well. We come here only to study and we are hounded,” he rued.
Most of the foreign national students who came for the candlelight march at Freedom Park were from Asian countries. They said they did not feel the discrimination at the hands of the local community, but were witness to the discrimination that the African student community is subjected to.
Safra Hussein, a Sri Lankan student in the city, said: “Most of us students from Asian countries, probably are accepted because of the similarity of our cultures. But the African students stand out because of the culture and the local community is probably not equipped to handle this diversity,” she said.
I have lived in India for five years now, and most parts in Delhi. I recently shifted to Bengaluru and thought it was safe for us. But I stand corrected and we fear for our safety now. Police, the ones we look up to, are not even ready to look after us in times of strife. This makes us fear the worst. I feel Delhi is safer for the community than Bengaluru.
Erik E.M., Zimbabwe national, student of Acharya Institute of Technology, Soladevanahalli
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I have been living in the city for three years now. I don’t feel the entire city is racist. The attack on Tanzanians should not shatter the harmony among the communities. On part of the African community, I think we should let go of this incident and forgive the locals. I think that will let us live harmoniously again.
Nana Kofi, student from Ghana
