<p>South Africa has lauded India's role in climate solutions and said the relationship between the two countries is strengthening. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in New York,&nbsp;South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said that&nbsp;India is&nbsp;certainly beginning to lead the way in key solutions to world problems. He also called Mahatma Gandhi&nbsp;a South African hero.</p>

<p>Below is the full transcript of the conversation</p>

<p><strong>WION:</strong> What is the status of the ties between India and South Africa?</p>

<p><strong>Naledi Pandor</strong>: The ties are extremely strong. India and South Africa are old friends, we have a lot&nbsp;of South Africans whose families originated in India. Their&nbsp;roots are still in India.</p>

<p>India also supported South Africa in the struggle for freedom. India has been a good friend of South Africa during the freedom [struggle], we continued to be partners in BRICS family and the relations are strengthening every year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;WION exclusively speaks to South Africa's foreign Minister Naledi Pandor</strong></p>

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<p><strong>WION</strong>:&nbsp;India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. How do you&nbsp;see it?</p>

<p><strong>Naledi Pandor</strong>:&nbsp;I think&nbsp;that it is very important for countries to&nbsp;commemorate leaders who have founded our democracies but who have also made an important contribution to the&nbsp;world political philosophy. Mahatma Gandhi, with his wonderful attention to non-violent&nbsp;struggle&nbsp;made a deep impression on our leaders like Nelson Mandela and in fact was a precursor to the concept of mass mobilisation which influenced much of the struggle for freedom in South Africa. So Mahatma&nbsp;stands for us as a great example and is&nbsp;remembered in South Africa as a hero of South Africa as much as he is considered a Mahatma in India.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WION</strong>: India has been focusing on providing a solution to the climate change issue... how do you see India's role?</p>

<p><strong>Naledi Pandor</strong>:&nbsp;Well, I think that India is&nbsp;certainly beginning to lead the way in showing what some solutions are and the speech that was made by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-unga-today-pm-modi-to-lead-from-the-front-252332">Prime Minister Modi</a> during the&nbsp;Climate Change Summit in the UN was a very important speech where he reported on the steps being taken by the government of India in order to address what is a massive global challenge. Solar energy, renewable sources of energy of all kinds, are very important. We are using solar,&nbsp;renewable, as wells as biomass as new sources of energy and of course India is renowned in advances in innovation, so we look forward to our collaboration with India to build even more solutions to climate change challenges that confront us. India has agriculture as one of the core basis of its economy, and similarly, South Africa relies on agriculture. We have to look at land recovery, new technology and&nbsp;at how to best use our water resources in order to respond to the challenges of climate change.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WION</strong>: You met with BRICS foreign ministers. What was the focus?</p>

<p><strong>Naledi Pandor</strong>:&nbsp;Well, I think that BRICS is an extremely important grouping because&nbsp;it holds up the values of cooperation and of multilateralism. For me, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brics-pushes-for-early-adoption-of-comprehensive-convention-on-international-terrorism-252288">BRICS</a> is a progressive global forum of countries that have among the largest populations in the region and that play a very important role both in regional affairs as well as world affairs. I believe the work that is being done in BRICS&nbsp;is going to&nbsp;illustrate to the world the value of partnership and collaboration. Our deliberations as foreign ministers&nbsp;went very well today. We got a report from Brazil, which is the current BRICS chair and we will have the summit in November. We also got the&nbsp;indication from Russia, who will assume the chair in 2020 as to what their&nbsp;plans and thinking are for their year of chairing the BRICS family.</p>

<p><strong>WION</strong>:&nbsp; What is your view on the Indo-Pacific concept?</p>

<p><strong>Naledi Pandor</strong>:&nbsp;&nbsp;We are members of IORA which is the Indian Ocean Rim Association. South Africa has been playing the leadership role there, this brings many nations together and I think that whatever we do with the oceans, we need to understand that we are drawing together many nations because I think oceans are a shared resource and they don't&nbsp;belong to a particular country.&nbsp;Therefore, whatever we do, any alliance that we build&nbsp;must understand these needs to be inclusive alliances who are all surrounded by the ocean benefit from it.</p>


South Africa has lauded India's role in climate solutions and said the relationship between the two countries is strengthening. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in New York, South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said that India is certainly beginning to lead the way in key solutions to world problems.

South Africa has lauded India's role in climate solutions and said the relationship between the two countries is strengthening. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in New York, South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said that India is certainly beginning to lead the way in key solutions to world problems. He also called Mahatma Gandhi a South African hero. Below is the full transcript of the conversation WION: What is the status of the ties between India and South Africa? Naledi Pandor: The ties are extremely strong. India and South Africa are old friends, we have a lot of South Africans whose families originated in India. Their roots are still in India. India also supported South Africa in the struggle for freedom. India has been a good friend of South Africa during the freedom [struggle], we continued to be partners in BRICS family and the relations are strengthening every year. Watch: WION exclusively speaks to South Africa's foreign Minister Naledi Pandor WION: India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. How do you see it? Naledi Pandor: I think that it is very important for countries to commemorate leaders who have founded our democracies but who have also made an important contribution to the world political philosophy. Mahatma Gandhi, with his wonderful attention to non-violent struggle made a deep impression on our leaders like Nelson Mandela and in fact was a precursor to the concept of mass mobilisation which influenced much of the struggle for freedom in South Africa. So Mahatma stands for us as a great example and is remembered in South Africa as a hero of South Africa as much as he is considered a Mahatma in India. WION: India has been focusing on providing a solution to the climate change issue... how do you see India's role? Naledi Pandor: Well, I think that India is certainly beginning to lead the way in showing what some solutions are and the speech that was made by Prime Minister Modi during the Climate Change Summit in the UN was a very important speech where he reported on the steps being taken by the government of India in order to address what is a massive global challenge. Solar energy, renewable sources of energy of all kinds, are very important. We are using solar, renewable, as wells as biomass as new sources of energy and of course India is renowned in advances in innovation, so we look forward to our collaboration with India to build even more solutions to climate change challenges that confront us. India has agriculture as one of the core basis of its economy, and similarly, South Africa relies on agriculture. We have to look at land recovery, new technology and at how to best use our water resources in order to respond to the challenges of climate change. WION: You met with BRICS foreign ministers. What was the focus? Naledi Pandor: Well, I think that BRICS is an extremely important grouping because it holds up the values of cooperation and of multilateralism. For me, BRICS is a progressive global forum of countries that have among the largest populations in the region and that play a very important role both in regional affairs as well as world affairs. I believe the work that is being done in BRICS is going to illustrate to the world the value of partnership and collaboration. Our deliberations as foreign ministers went very well today. We got a report from Brazil, which is the current BRICS chair and we will have the summit in November. We also got the indication from Russia, who will assume the chair in 2020 as to what their plans and thinking are for their year of chairing the BRICS family. WION: What is your view on the Indo-Pacific concept? Naledi Pandor: We are members of IORA which is the Indian Ocean Rim Association. South Africa has been playing the leadership role there, this brings many nations together and I think that whatever we do with the oceans, we need to understand that we are drawing together many nations because I think oceans are a shared resource and they don't belong to a particular country. Therefore, whatever we do, any alliance that we build must understand these needs to be inclusive alliances who are all surrounded by the ocean benefit from it.

'India showing way on climate change', says South African Foreign Minister; calls Gandhi a hero

<p>An old almost forgotten Sanskrit prayer has evocative Words <em>tamaso</em><em> ma </em><em>jyotir</em><em> </em><em>gamaya</em> that translates lead me from darkness to light. India has taken quite long to move into what the imperialist colonisers derisive called the ‘Dark Continent’.</p>

<p>Even after Independence, we have let stereotypes dominate our perceptions. It is in this context that one should welcome the sudden spurt of zeal in 'initiatives’ focusing on hitherto neglected countries in that resource-rich and strategically significant continent.</p>

<p>First of all, we must understand that countries on the eastern seaboard of Africa and particularly those situated in the Horn of Africa are our close neighbours with whom we have had millennia-old trade and cultural ties. This is where the non-violent weapon of <em>Satyagraha</em> was forged that was effectively deployed to liberate India from the colonial yoke.&nbsp;Nelson Mandela was inspired by Gandhi’s vision and his life. This has resulted in South Africa hogging the limelight most of the time.<span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>Francophone Africa and the territories under Portuguese and Belgian control have been neglected in comparison to the detriment of our national interest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What has awakened India from a stupor is the Chinese expansion on a frightening scale. The term ‘frightening’ may sound alarmist to some but the bitter truth is that it reflects ground reality. India has pledged $400 million in aid, and though, the figure appears large but it pales into insignificance to what China has been pouring in Africa since 2015. It has secured a naval base in Djibouti and competes with India in every arena from food to energy security. India simply can’t expect to match China in foreign or technical aid. Nor does our emphasis on Soft Power allowed us to gain any traction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We have not given due importance even to oil producing countries, with the exception of Nigeria, and have been unnecessarily squeamish and sanctimonious about dealing with countries in grip of violent strife bilaterally though Indian men in uniform have played a critical role under the flag of United Nations. We have canvassed support in Africa chasing the mirage of a permanent seat in the Security Council or other elections in international fora. We have failed to assess commercial and strategic opportunities until China has gained a first mover advantage blocking us effectively.</p>

<p>Its said ‘better late than never’ and this seems to be the only consolation we can derive from the recent announcement from the South Block that India is raising its diplomatic representation in several countries that till now were put in charge of concurrently accredited envoys ensconced in more hospitable Capitals. Be it the state visit of the President or the Prime Minister what is required is to follow up on promises and expeditious execution of projects.<br />
<br />
Let’s not forget that over a million Indians live in African Diaspora and Africa provides a useful gateway to Latin America. It's time we looked beyond the BRICS.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


An old almost forgotten Sanskrit prayer has evocative Words tamaso ma jyotir gamaya that translates lead me from darkness to light. India has taken quite long to move into what the imperialist colonisers derisive called the ‘Dark Continent’.

An old almost forgotten Sanskrit prayer has evocative Words tamaso ma jyotir gamaya that translates lead me from darkness to light. India has taken quite long to move into what the imperialist colonisers derisive called the ‘Dark Continent’. Even after Independence, we have let stereotypes dominate our perceptions. It is in this context that one should welcome the sudden spurt of zeal in 'initiatives’ focusing on hitherto neglected countries in that resource-rich and strategically significant continent. First of all, we must understand that countries on the eastern seaboard of Africa and particularly those situated in the Horn of Africa are our close neighbours with whom we have had millennia-old trade and cultural ties. This is where the non-violent weapon of Satyagraha was forged that was effectively deployed to liberate India from the colonial yoke. Nelson Mandela was inspired by Gandhi’s vision and his life. This has resulted in South Africa hogging the limelight most of the time. Francophone Africa and the territories under Portuguese and Belgian control have been neglected in comparison to the detriment of our national interest. What has awakened India from a stupor is the Chinese expansion on a frightening scale. The term ‘frightening’ may sound alarmist to some but the bitter truth is that it reflects ground reality. India has pledged $400 million in aid, and though, the figure appears large but it pales into insignificance to what China has been pouring in Africa since 2015. It has secured a naval base in Djibouti and competes with India in every arena from food to energy security. India simply can’t expect to match China in foreign or technical aid. Nor does our emphasis on Soft Power allowed us to gain any traction. We have not given due importance even to oil producing countries, with the exception of Nigeria, and have been unnecessarily squeamish and sanctimonious about dealing with countries in grip of violent strife bilaterally though Indian men in uniform have played a critical role under the flag of United Nations. We have canvassed support in Africa chasing the mirage of a permanent seat in the Security Council or other elections in international fora. We have failed to assess commercial and strategic opportunities until China has gained a first mover advantage blocking us effectively. Its said ‘better late than never’ and this seems to be the only consolation we can derive from the recent announcement from the South Block that India is raising its diplomatic representation in several countries that till now were put in charge of concurrently accredited envoys ensconced in more hospitable Capitals. Be it the state visit of the President or the Prime Minister what is required is to follow up on promises and expeditious execution of projects. Let’s not forget that over a million Indians live in African Diaspora and Africa provides a useful gateway to Latin America. It's time we looked beyond the BRICS. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

From darkness to light: India-Africa trade corridor offers multiple opportunities

<p>18th July, the day Nelson Mandela was born, is marked as Nelson Mandela International Day. For 67 years, Mandela devoted his life to humanity&mdash;as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.</p>

<p>As the world celebrates the 99th birthday of the leader, we explore&nbsp;at the state of Africans in India.</p>

<p><strong>Indians and Africans: Existing together, living separately</strong></p>

<p>On a rainy weekday morning, while driving past wedding venues and upmarket eateries on New Delhi&rsquo;s Chattarpur road, I took a left into Rajpur Khurd to enter a different world altogether. One that looks much like any other slum&nbsp;of the capital city, this one is inhabited by a sizeable number of Africans.</p>

<p>Having visited the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-are-tibetan-refugees-doing-as-dalai-lama-celebrates-his-birthday-17626">Tibetan</a> and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/a-sound-nights-sleep-afghans-hope-for-equal-refugee-benefits-in-india-13362">Afghani settlement</a> in the city, I expected it to be a colourful melting pot of authentic street food, cafes and other notable demonstrations of the community&rsquo;s presence. I was mistaken--there was no palpable sign of their existence--even though all of that was absent, it was a pleasant surprise to see a fairly large number of Indians as well. &quot;They coexist together,&quot; the overwhelming thought clouded my head. On asking, they confirmed that several &ldquo;habshi&rdquo; reside here. I am unsure if any of them even knew what that meant. The terminology was used without realising the sensitivity around it. Most of them happened to use it with harmless intentions.</p>

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<p>Incidentally, the word &quot;habshi&quot; historically referred to African and Abyssinian slaves and, thus, is a highly pejorative term.<br />
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Almost no Indian knew any of them personally. They would direct me to their houses or point to their shops but none said they were friends with them. It was a disheartening discovery. Neela, an Indian housemaid, even said that &ldquo;the police took a lot of them about a week ago&rdquo;. On enquiring why, she said &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know this. We are not informed about their whereabouts,&rdquo;. This brings us to the very obvious conclusion--even though the two communities share the same neighbourhood, they only exist together and lead very distinct, unshared lives.</p>

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<p>In the lanes of Rajpur Khurd extension, Indians and Africans exist together but live separately. (WION)</p>
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<p>The Indians residing in the area belong mostly to the lower-income group. They work mostly as cab and auto drivers, maids, ice-cream vendors and small-scale beauty parlour owners. On the other hand, the African population includes students and young professionals from well-off, middle-class families. Most of them claimed that they were denied housing in other localities. The landlords in this area charge very high rents from them--10,000-15,000 rupees which would have been impossible to get from Indian tenants--considering the extremely poor infrastructure and unsanitary conditions.</p>

<p><br />
<strong>Inside an African kitchen: &lsquo;We wouldn&rsquo;t treat our guests like that&rsquo;</strong></p>

<p>I ended up in a crowded, dingy alley that had African tenants--none of them too willing to talk. They seemed to be suspicious of me. I happened to notice the &ldquo;Jesus Never Fails&rdquo; boards on the houses situated in a lane opposite to a famous Shiv Temple.</p>

<p>Roaming around&nbsp;in the maze-like slum, the passersby led me to a building that they claimed was an African &ldquo;kitchen&rdquo; or restaurant. I had my doubts because it seemed like a tatty residential construction with no sign boards. On taking a dimly lit flight of stairs littered with cigarette butts, I reached what looked like the door of an average Indian flat. An African woman nervously opened the door, she probably saw me from the door viewer. When I inquired if I could get food, she refused. I assumed it was only when I am accompanied by her confidante, I would be allowed to enter. I found Collins in the markiet area, a friendly man from Congo, who took me to another so called &ldquo;kitchen&rdquo; in a similar unmarked, poorly constructed house.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The Indians residing in the area belong mostly to the lower-income group. On the other hand, the African population mostly includes students and young professionals from well-off, middle-class families. (WION)</p>
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<p>Collins has accepted racism to be a part of his identity outside Africa. &ldquo;I have widely travelled and it is everywhere. People is China are shy but they are more helpful than Indians,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>The &ldquo;kitchen&rdquo; was set in a double-bedroom flat--the lobby, permeated with the stench of cigarettes, was laid with a variety of tables, barstools, and couches. The multicoloured projections emanating from Chinese bulbs added to the look. I finally discovered the signs of cultural difference--hidden from the outside world.</p>

<p>The fridge was packed with beer and a table by the kitchen held a home audio system. Only one table was occupied. &ldquo;The crowd mainly comes in the evening. It&rsquo;s a real ball--we have live music sessions over the weekends. Only Africans come here almost all the time. We cannot publicise the place too much--it is underground after all,&rdquo; said the 35-year old Imani* from Kenya.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most of them come to India for quality education that is more affordable compared to the west. They are aware of the fact that adjusting in a new country would be difficult but the experience for some has been horrific beyond imagination &ldquo;Being teased and overcharged is one thing but the people here think that we are all criminals involved in prostitution or drugs. We wouldn&#39;t treat our guests like that back at ome,&rdquo; says Imani.</p>

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<p>The kitchen is a safe haven &ldquo;It is a place that reminds us of home--we feel we belong and are not looked down upon,&rdquo; she adds. African immigrants living in Delhi find a slice of home in the home-cooked meals and music of these kitchens.</p>

<p><strong>A business owner&rsquo;s message to the government</strong></p>

<p>Onuel Uka was unable to find the traditional African technique of clipping hair in India. He utilised the gap in the industry to open Salon Afriq, which is now a popular spot for African clientele. The staff and customers are from Africa but an Indian is rarely seen in sight. He came to India eight years ago &ldquo;India was not the original idea but it was god&rsquo;s plan,&rdquo; he said, who intended to go to Canada after a stop in India but happened to do his MBA from Stratford University, New Delhi. He did not expect it to be a rosy ride and the initial period of adjustment is described as &ldquo;painful&rdquo;.</p>

<p>When asked if he will recommend his friends and family to come to India, he said &ldquo;It depends on why they want to come here. If they have a good educational or job opportunity here, they should come. But if they have an option between India and the States, then obviously they should head to America,&rdquo; he explains</p>

<p>He also believes that his country is not any less than his present home &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not that we come here because we feel India is better than Nigeria. India is good but not good enough to be my home,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>There is only one main thing he misses about home &ldquo;It is the feeling of being at home. You do not feel like an outsider. Everybody has the same skin colour so they don&rsquo;t find you odd and you don&rsquo;t feel out of place,&rdquo; he sighs.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Salon Afriq is owned by 44-year-old Onuel who is happily married to an Indian woman (WION)</p>
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<p>Onuel like every other African in India is a victim of racism. &ldquo;I will explain through an experience. I visited a neighbour and their kid opened the door. When he saw me, he screamed and cried as if seen a ghost. I was so embarrassed. How is it the kid&rsquo;s fault? Children are innocent and they embrace what comes their way. The notion that our colour and physique is scary is planted in their head by the society. How is one expected to feel respected and accepted in such a society? Our president once said that &lsquo;If you ignore children, you are ignoring your future&rsquo; but how do we even interact with children in such a situation?&rdquo; I had no answer to his question.</p>

<p>Being a business owner, he is distressed by the lengthy, tedious paperwork for renewals. He feels the government is not supportive enough &ldquo;Government should have some arrangement to issue temporary paperwork instead of cancelling licenses. There should be workshops and events organised for foreign students. They are very talented but do not know where to start from,&rdquo; he says. He is also worried about the impact of the implementation of GST.</p>

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<p>He is an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi as much as he is of Mandela &ldquo;Gandhi did so much in South Africa. Indian government should also initiate some event to honour Nelson Mandela for our community,&rdquo; he says.</p>

<p>Besides the struggles, the 44-year-old blushes when asked about his love life. He is happily married to an Indian woman with two kids pursuing studies.</p>

<p><strong>The outsider&rsquo;s party</strong></p>

<p>Amidst of all this, the community has learned to live with racism and at the same time found a place of their own. They blow off steam after a long day just like Indians do but away from them.</p>

<p>Greater Kailash market is a familiar area for any Delhiite. The elite crowd frequently cools off in the posh bars and lounges of the market. However, this time, I visited the place at an odd time--post midnight--when the outlets have almost shut down, the staff is winding up by cleaning and packing. The parking lots are deserted and the typical Delhi crowd is either heading home&nbsp;after party or looking for hangover cures. But for the African party-goers, the night had just begun.</p>

<p>In the basement of a mediocre club of the famed piazza, an underground, unofficial beanfeast was beginning to unfold. Loud thumping music, a bit alien but foot tap-worthy. If you aren&rsquo;t African or Northeastern&ndash;&ndash;you are likely to feel like an outsider, which is usually the case with these people when they are out of this pub, in the midst of the judgemental Delhi and its so called &quot;multicultural&quot; crowd. These outsiders here get a night out free from stares and slurs in a scene hidden only because most of us would never think to look for it.</p>

<p>Mostly everyone was tipsy, with a few people in clusters sitting around either making out, dancing, drinking or just talking.</p>

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<p>&#39;You don&#39;t have to be a foreigner to be an outsider&#39; says Gurmat from Manipur. (WION)</p>
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<p>The party organisers mentioned that it was a task to find venues that allow non-Indian crowd and, therefore, most parties happen after-hours and some off the record. An active DJ and party-enthusiast in his native country, it was difficult for Abeo* to enter the Indian entertainment industry. The crew dedicated a decade to create a parallel nightlife in the city. The main takeaway: Indians might find it weird to see a group of Africans or northeasters at their party, but this one has doors and arms wide open for anybody willing to pay the cover.&nbsp;The main agenda behind doing these parties is to create a space where nobody gets turned away for being who they are.</p>

<p>The tales of discrimination are narrated everywhere. A country which differentiates and rejects between the residents of the north and south, imagine what a person from a far off land may feel. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t have to be from another country to feel like an outsider,&rdquo; says Gurmat Durjoy who hails from Manipur.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dapper Salim* from Uganda studying at Sharda University talked about the &quot;dark&quot;&nbsp;realities of being an African in Delhi &quot;Very few Indians accept Africans. They take you for drug peddlers and racists only because your skin colour is not their preferred shade. It is pure hypocrisy--at one end Indians dislike being called brown and explain the horrors of racial rule by British, who considered themselves superior. They do the same to you. We are bullied, mocked, teased and even touched as if we are demons. I feel unsafe and cannot wait to head back home&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Almost every African migrant I spoke to, narrates the challenges of finding accommodation in the city. Many found homes but were later asked to leave by landlords as the neighbours complained of not &quot;feeling safe&quot; in their presence. They also complain of being classified as a Nigerian due to ignorance of the fact that Africa is a continent and not a country.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Next time you see someone from Africa--if you can&rsquo;t pass a smile, at least don&#39;t pass a racist comment,&rdquo; Salim said.</p>

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<p>The community has created a parallel nightlife over the time to cool-off in India&#39;s capital (WION)</p>
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<p><em><strong>*Some names have been changed to protect identity</strong></em></p>


If Nelson Mandela was alive, how would he feel about the Africans residing in India?

18th July, the day Nelson Mandela was born, is marked as Nelson Mandela International Day. For 67 years, Mandela devoted his life to humanity—as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa. As the world celebrates the 99th birthday of the leader, we explore at the state of Africans in India. Indians and Africans: Existing together, living separately On a rainy weekday morning, while driving past wedding venues and upmarket eateries on New Delhi’s Chattarpur road, I took a left into Rajpur Khurd to enter a different world altogether. One that looks much like any other slum of the capital city, this one is inhabited by a sizeable number of Africans. Having visited the Tibetan and Afghani settlement in the city, I expected it to be a colourful melting pot of authentic street food, cafes and other notable demonstrations of the community’s presence. I was mistaken--there was no palpable sign of their existence--even though all of that was absent, it was a pleasant surprise to see a fairly large number of Indians as well. "They coexist together," the overwhelming thought clouded my head. On asking, they confirmed that several “habshi” reside here. I am unsure if any of them even knew what that meant. The terminology was used without realising the sensitivity around it. Most of them happened to use it with harmless intentions. On asking, they confirmed that several “habshi” reside here. I am unsure if any of them even knew what that meant × Incidentally, the word "habshi" historically referred to African and Abyssinian slaves and, thus, is a highly pejorative term. Almost no Indian knew any of them personally. They would direct me to their houses or point to their shops but none said they were friends with them. It was a disheartening discovery. Neela, an Indian housemaid, even said that “the police took a lot of them about a week ago”. On enquiring why, she said “I don’t know this. We are not informed about their whereabouts,”. This brings us to the very obvious conclusion--even though the two communities share the same neighbourhood, they only exist together and lead very distinct, unshared lives. In the lanes of Rajpur Khurd extension, Indians and Africans exist together but live separately. (WION) × The Indians residing in the area belong mostly to the lower-income group. They work mostly as cab and auto drivers, maids, ice-cream vendors and small-scale beauty parlour owners. On the other hand, the African population includes students and young professionals from well-off, middle-class families. Most of them claimed that they were denied housing in other localities. The landlords in this area charge very high rents from them--10,000-15,000 rupees which would have been impossible to get from Indian tenants--considering the extremely poor infrastructure and unsanitary conditions. Inside an African kitchen: ‘We wouldn’t treat our guests like that’ I ended up in a crowded, dingy alley that had African tenants--none of them too willing to talk. They seemed to be suspicious of me. I happened to notice the “Jesus Never Fails” boards on the houses situated in a lane opposite to a famous Shiv Temple. Roaming around in the maze-like slum, the passersby led me to a building that they claimed was an African “kitchen” or restaurant. I had my doubts because it seemed like a tatty residential construction with no sign boards. On taking a dimly lit flight of stairs littered with cigarette butts, I reached what looked like the door of an average Indian flat. An African woman nervously opened the door, she probably saw me from the door viewer. When I inquired if I could get food, she refused. I assumed it was only when I am accompanied by her confidante, I would be allowed to enter. I found Collins in the markiet area, a friendly man from Congo, who took me to another so called “kitchen” in a similar unmarked, poorly constructed house. The Indians residing in the area belong mostly to the lower-income group. On the other hand, the African population mostly includes students and young professionals from well-off, middle-class families. (WION) × Collins has accepted racism to be a part of his identity outside Africa. “I have widely travelled and it is everywhere. People is China are shy but they are more helpful than Indians,” he said. The “kitchen” was set in a double-bedroom flat--the lobby, permeated with the stench of cigarettes, was laid with a variety of tables, barstools, and couches. The multicoloured projections emanating from Chinese bulbs added to the look. I finally discovered the signs of cultural difference--hidden from the outside world. The fridge was packed with beer and a table by the kitchen held a home audio system. Only one table was occupied. “The crowd mainly comes in the evening. It’s a real ball--we have live music sessions over the weekends. Only Africans come here almost all the time. We cannot publicise the place too much--it is underground after all,” said the 35-year old Imani* from Kenya. Most of them come to India for quality education that is more affordable compared to the west. They are aware of the fact that adjusting in a new country would be difficult but the experience for some has been horrific beyond imagination “Being teased and overcharged is one thing but the people here think that we are all criminals involved in prostitution or drugs. We wouldn't treat our guests like that back at ome,” says Imani. Being teased and overcharged is one thing but the people here think that we are all criminals involved in prostitution or drugs × The kitchen is a safe haven “It is a place that reminds us of home--we feel we belong and are not looked down upon,” she adds. African immigrants living in Delhi find a slice of home in the home-cooked meals and music of these kitchens. A business owner’s message to the government Onuel Uka was unable to find the traditional African technique of clipping hair in India. He utilised the gap in the industry to open Salon Afriq, which is now a popular spot for African clientele. The staff and customers are from Africa but an Indian is rarely seen in sight. He came to India eight years ago “India was not the original idea but it was god’s plan,” he said, who intended to go to Canada after a stop in India but happened to do his MBA from Stratford University, New Delhi. He did not expect it to be a rosy ride and the initial period of adjustment is described as “painful”. When asked if he will recommend his friends and family to come to India, he said “It depends on why they want to come here. If they have a good educational or job opportunity here, they should come. But if they have an option between India and the States, then obviously they should head to America,” he explains He also believes that his country is not any less than his present home “It’s not that we come here because we feel India is better than Nigeria. India is good but not good enough to be my home,” he said. There is only one main thing he misses about home “It is the feeling of being at home. You do not feel like an outsider. Everybody has the same skin colour so they don’t find you odd and you don’t feel out of place,” he sighs. Salon Afriq is owned by 44-year-old Onuel who is happily married to an Indian woman (WION) × Onuel like every other African in India is a victim of racism. “I will explain through an experience. I visited a neighbour and their kid opened the door. When he saw me, he screamed and cried as if seen a ghost. I was so embarrassed. How is it the kid’s fault? Children are innocent and they embrace what comes their way. The notion that our colour and physique is scary is planted in their head by the society. How is one expected to feel respected and accepted in such a society? Our president once said that ‘If you ignore children, you are ignoring your future’ but how do we even interact with children in such a situation?” I had no answer to his question. Being a business owner, he is distressed by the lengthy, tedious paperwork for renewals. He feels the government is not supportive enough “Government should have some arrangement to issue temporary paperwork instead of cancelling licenses. There should be workshops and events organised for foreign students. They are very talented but do not know where to start from,” he says. He is also worried about the impact of the implementation of GST. It is the feeling of being at home. You do not feel like an outsider. Everybody has the same skin colour so they don’t find you odd and you don’t feel out of place × He is an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi as much as he is of Mandela “Gandhi did so much in South Africa. Indian government should also initiate some event to honour Nelson Mandela for our community,” he says. Besides the struggles, the 44-year-old blushes when asked about his love life. He is happily married to an Indian woman with two kids pursuing studies. The outsider’s party Amidst of all this, the community has learned to live with racism and at the same time found a place of their own. They blow off steam after a long day just like Indians do but away from them. Greater Kailash market is a familiar area for any Delhiite. The elite crowd frequently cools off in the posh bars and lounges of the market. However, this time, I visited the place at an odd time--post midnight--when the outlets have almost shut down, the staff is winding up by cleaning and packing. The parking lots are deserted and the typical Delhi crowd is either heading home after party or looking for hangover cures. But for the African party-goers, the night had just begun. In the basement of a mediocre club of the famed piazza, an underground, unofficial beanfeast was beginning to unfold. Loud thumping music, a bit alien but foot tap-worthy. If you aren’t African or Northeastern––you are likely to feel like an outsider, which is usually the case with these people when they are out of this pub, in the midst of the judgemental Delhi and its so called "multicultural" crowd. These outsiders here get a night out free from stares and slurs in a scene hidden only because most of us would never think to look for it. Mostly everyone was tipsy, with a few people in clusters sitting around either making out, dancing, drinking or just talking. 'You don't have to be a foreigner to be an outsider' says Gurmat from Manipur. (WION) × The party organisers mentioned that it was a task to find venues that allow non-Indian crowd and, therefore, most parties happen after-hours and some off the record. An active DJ and party-enthusiast in his native country, it was difficult for Abeo* to enter the Indian entertainment industry. The crew dedicated a decade to create a parallel nightlife in the city. The main takeaway: Indians might find it weird to see a group of Africans or northeasters at their party, but this one has doors and arms wide open for anybody willing to pay the cover. The main agenda behind doing these parties is to create a space where nobody gets turned away for being who they are. The tales of discrimination are narrated everywhere. A country which differentiates and rejects between the residents of the north and south, imagine what a person from a far off land may feel. “You don’t have to be from another country to feel like an outsider,” says Gurmat Durjoy who hails from Manipur. The dapper Salim* from Uganda studying at Sharda University talked about the "dark" realities of being an African in Delhi "Very few Indians accept Africans. They take you for drug peddlers and racists only because your skin colour is not their preferred shade. It is pure hypocrisy--at one end Indians dislike being called brown and explain the horrors of racial rule by British, who considered themselves superior. They do the same to you. We are bullied, mocked, teased and even touched as if we are demons. I feel unsafe and cannot wait to head back home" he said. Almost every African migrant I spoke to, narrates the challenges of finding accommodation in the city. Many found homes but were later asked to leave by landlords as the neighbours complained of not "feeling safe" in their presence. They also complain of being classified as a Nigerian due to ignorance of the fact that Africa is a continent and not a country. “Next time you see someone from Africa--if you can’t pass a smile, at least don't pass a racist comment,” Salim said. The community has created a parallel nightlife over the time to cool-off in India's capital (WION) × *Some names have been changed to protect identity

'I felt like a demon', Africans in India point out on Mandela Day

<p>Envoys from African nations&nbsp;have condemned the Indian government for not taking &quot;known, sufficient and visible&quot; action against those who assaulted Nigerian students in northern India last week.</p>

<p>Calling it a &quot;xenophobic and racial&quot; attack, the African Heads of Mission said the incident was &quot;not sufficiently condemned by the Indian authorities&quot; and have called for an independent investigation by the United Nation&#39;s Human Rights Council, Indian media reports suggested.</p>

<p>The Indian government defended its position, saying:&nbsp;&quot;It is unfortunate that a criminal act triggered following the untimely death of a young Indian student under suspicious circumstances has been termed as xenophobic and racial.&rdquo;</p>

<p>India&#39;s ministery of external affairs also said that the investigations &quot;on the death of Indian teenager and the subsequent incident by local authorities are ongoing.&nbsp;The Government had condemned and described as unacceptable the incident of attack on a few Nigerian nationals in Greater Noida.&quot;</p>

<p>India&#39;s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has also promised for an &quot;impartial&quot; inquiry, though African envoys say the response is inadequate.</p>

<p>Multiple attacks on African students were reported from Greater Noida, 18 miles off central Delhi.</p>

<p>Nine Nigerians were attacked, including five who were wounded and two who were hospitalised with undisclosed injuries.</p>

<p>Attacks on Nigerians began when an Indian teenager died after taking drugs supplied by them.</p>

<p>The local administration in Greater Noida have dismissed claims of the attacks being racial in nature.</p>

<p>&quot;It is absolutely not a hate crime, nor&nbsp;is it some kind of anger against a race. A few people have spread rumours regarding the death of a youth which gave rise to anger. The incident happened in continuity of that,&quot; district magistrate Nagendra Prasad Singh said.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


The chiefs of missions of 43 African countries say the attacks were 'xenophobic, racial', & not sufficiently condemned by Indian authorities

Envoys from African nations have condemned the Indian government for not taking "known, sufficient and visible" action against those who assaulted Nigerian students in northern India last week. Calling it a "xenophobic and racial" attack, the African Heads of Mission said the incident was "not sufficiently condemned by the Indian authorities" and have called for an independent investigation by the United Nation's Human Rights Council, Indian media reports suggested. The Indian government defended its position, saying: "It is unfortunate that a criminal act triggered following the untimely death of a young Indian student under suspicious circumstances has been termed as xenophobic and racial.” India's ministery of external affairs also said that the investigations "on the death of Indian teenager and the subsequent incident by local authorities are ongoing. The Government had condemned and described as unacceptable the incident of attack on a few Nigerian nationals in Greater Noida." India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has also promised for an "impartial" inquiry, though African envoys say the response is inadequate. Multiple attacks on African students were reported from Greater Noida, 18 miles off central Delhi. Nine Nigerians were attacked, including five who were wounded and two who were hospitalised with undisclosed injuries. Attacks on Nigerians began when an Indian teenager died after taking drugs supplied by them. The local administration in Greater Noida have dismissed claims of the attacks being racial in nature. "It is absolutely not a hate crime, nor is it some kind of anger against a race. A few people have spread rumours regarding the death of a youth which gave rise to anger. The incident happened in continuity of that," district magistrate Nagendra Prasad Singh said. (WION)

African envoys slam Greater Noida attacks, demand UN probe

<p>A Kenyan woman, who had alleged she was assaulted by a group of men in India&#39;s national capital region earlier this week, withdrew her police complaint on Thursday (March 30).</p>

<p>Maria Burendi rowed back on her complaint after the local police observed discrepancies in her formal statement to them.</p>

<p>Burendi, a student in New Delhi, had told police that a group of men pulled her out of an Ola cab -- a local cab-hailing service -- &nbsp;that she was travelling and assaulted her. &nbsp;She said she was travelling&nbsp;to Greater Noida to meet her friend on Wednesday morning.</p>

<p>When the cab driver was quizzed by the police, he informed the woman was dropped at Greater Noida&#39;s Sector Omicron -- which roughly 65 kilomtres from central Delhi -- around 5.47am local time.</p>

<p>The police also tracked the GPS movement of the cab to find that the vehicle had not stopped during the journey at any point, according to a Hindustan Times report.</p>

<p>Later, a senior police official Javeed Ahmad tweeted that there were &quot;glaring loopholes&quot; in her story and were working to &quot;ascertain her motive&quot;.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The woman rowed back on her claims that she was assaulted by a few Indian men after police found 'loopholes' in her statement

A Kenyan woman, who had alleged she was assaulted by a group of men in India's national capital region earlier this week, withdrew her police complaint on Thursday (March 30). Maria Burendi rowed back on her complaint after the local police observed discrepancies in her formal statement to them. Burendi, a student in New Delhi, had told police that a group of men pulled her out of an Ola cab -- a local cab-hailing service -- that she was travelling and assaulted her. She said she was travelling to Greater Noida to meet her friend on Wednesday morning. When the cab driver was quizzed by the police, he informed the woman was dropped at Greater Noida's Sector Omicron -- which roughly 65 kilomtres from central Delhi -- around 5.47am local time. The police also tracked the GPS movement of the cab to find that the vehicle had not stopped during the journey at any point, according to a Hindustan Times report. Later, a senior police official Javeed Ahmad tweeted that there were "glaring loopholes" in her story and were working to "ascertain her motive". (WION)

'Assaulted' Kenyan woman withdraws inconsistent police complain

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African envoys slam Greater Noida attacks, demand UN probe

'Assaulted' Kenyan woman withdraws inconsistent police complain