Arysha Hosein :
Growing global hostility toward Indian migrants reflects a wider struggle over identity, inequality, and nationalism — not a rejection of one community, but a symptom of deeper divisions in an anxious world.
A Changing Global Mood
Across continents, from Toronto to Sydney, anti-Indian sentiment has been on the rise. Incidents of discrimination, online abuse, and political hostility have sparked difficult questions about whether the global welcome once extended to Indian migrants is fading — and why.
For decades, Indians have been among the most mobile and successful migrant communities in the world. From Silicon Valley engineers to British doctors and Australian students, they have helped power economies, research, and innovation. Yet, beneath this success lies growing unease. In countries like Australia and Canada, populist protests have accused Indian nationals of “taking over” housing markets and jobs — a claim driven more by economic anxiety than fact.
Rising costs of living, job insecurity, and strained public services make migrants convenient scapegoats. For many voters, blaming newcomers is easier than confronting deep-rooted policy failures.
Politics and the Rise of Nationalism
Migration has become a defining fault line in Western politics. In the United States, Indian professionals dominate the H-1B visa programme, drawing criticism from protectionist voices who claim they replace local workers — even though research shows they fill key skill shortages. In the United Kingdom, immigration has been weaponised in political campaigns. In Australia, government pressure over housing shortages has encouraged simplistic anti-foreigner rhetoric.
Diplomatic tensions have worsened matters. Canada’s 2024 allegations of Indian involvement in overseas intelligence operations strained bilateral ties and fed suspicion toward Indian communities. When international disputes spill into public discourse, diaspora groups often bear the brunt of the backlash.
Culture, Identity, and Misunderstanding
Beyond politics and economics, cultural misunderstanding contributes significantly. Indian migrants often maintain strong family networks, languages, and traditions abroad. While these enrich multicultural societies, they can sometimes provoke perceptions of separation.
Stereotypes portraying Indians as “unassimilated” persist, especially online, where nuance disappears and misinformation spreads rapidly. Viral videos and memes depicting cultural differences often reinforce prejudice. Yet these portrayals ignore the truth: most Indian migrants adapt, contribute, and integrate, balancing their heritage with civic loyalty to their host nations.
Echoes of the Past
The current hostility is not unprecedented. In 1972, Idi Amin expelled over 60,000 Indians and South Asians from Uganda, accusing them of economic domination. Similar resentment surfaced in Kenya, Fiji, and Malaysia. The pattern is familiar: during periods of crisis, visibly successful minorities become targets. Today’s climate repeats that cycle — only on a global scale.
A South Asian Reflection
For Bangladeshis and other South Asians, these events demand reflection. The discrimination directed at Indians abroad could easily extend to any of our diaspora communities. Our histories, cultures, and migration journeys are deeply intertwined. When one South Asian group is scapegoated, the shadow touches us all. It becomes not a question of nationality, but of how developing nations and their people are perceived abroad.
Moving Forward
The resentment towards Indians abroad is less about individuals and more about what they represent — ambition, mobility, and success in an unequal global economy. Host nations must strengthen inclusion policies and challenge populist narratives that equate migration with threat.
At the same time, South Asian diasporas should continue engaging in local civic life, countering misinformation through dialogue, and demonstrating that cultural pride and social integration can coexist.
Conclusion
The phrase “the world wants Indians out” is misleading. What the world truly struggles with is managing diversity in an era of economic insecurity and nationalist politics. Indians abroad are not outsiders but essential contributors to the societies they inhabit. Recognising their value — and protecting the dignity of all migrants — is crucial if humanity is to move beyond fear and towards coexistence.
(The writer is a sixth-form student at Cheltenham College, United Kingdom, and an aspiring international affairs journalist. She writes on global politics, migration, and social justice.)
