Putting behind them a "raid" on their residences in south Delhi earlier
this year, many Africans say the Indian capital is still their "home"
and offers them an environment unlike anywhere else in the world.
"India is indeed a great country. The people here are much better than
in other countries, where discrimination against people from African
countries is severe," James Okumurah of Johannesburg in South Africa said.
A doctoral scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU),
Okumurah lives in south Delhi's Khirki Extension, where many other
Africans stay. Khirki was where Somnath Bharti, then the law minister
in the short-lived Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi government, led a midnight
raid, alleging that Africans staying there were involved in drugs and
prostitution.
"Certain Africans may be involved (in illegal
activities), but doesn't make every African the same," Okumurah
asserted. Peter Masai, who works with a multinational company in
Gurgaon, said after the Khirki Extension episode, more than 25 percent
of the people opted to to move out of the area and reside in other
parts of the city. Admitting that the episode clearly signified the
rise in discrimination against the community, Masai was, however, quick
to add that there were quite a few Indians who offered them help and
solidarity.
"A controversy like the Khirki Extension was unexpected and
shocking, and especially the way the (then) law minister alleged our
people of running a drugs and prostitution ring. But it was nice to see
that though a majority of the people in the area wanted us to vacate,
there were still many who didn't have any problems in renting us their
houses," said Masai, who belong to Zimbabwe. He added that it all
depends on people's "perception" of the community.
Ebre, from Nigeria,
said India is comparatively a better country to live in - and he even
has plans to settle here. "I am here because the people are good. I am
even planning to open a school here and develop my business in the
education sector," said Ebre who lives at Arjun Nagar, also in south Delhi. He also brushed aside suggestions of racial discrimination.
"People here cooperate and understand things. Following Bharti's raid,
I have not faced any racial discrimination," said Ebre.
Agreed James
Uhuru, and said that after the controversy, police have been more
attentive to the problems of the African nationals.
"I have seen police
personnel suggesting our girls not to be out late in the night, so as
to avoid any kind of problems," Uhuru, who belongs to Nairobi, said.
"It is very clear that India will always be a great country, but some
people need to change their perception towards the people from Africa,"
he said.
The majority of Africans come here to study, they feel that
education is one that drives them to the city. For many, the city is an
area of opportunity that helps them get everything at an affordable
rate. "Be it education or accessing health services, for us it is very
cheap here compared to the US or European countries," said Infunanya
Onyeke, who is from Kenya.
"Once you are away from home, a few things
happen but that doesn't mean we will leave here and go," said Onyeke, a
student at Delhi University.
IANS
