Well, are Indians Asians?
You’re thinking what kind of idiot poses this silly question. You look at a map or globe and point out India smack in the middle of a humongous landmass marked Asia. Indians are Asians and that is all there is to it. Or is there more?
You’re mileage may vary, Dear Reader, but I’ve come across at least three different notions of what constitutes an “Asian”. The first and most obvious is the geographic argument that anyone hailing from the largest continent on the planet is an Asian. The second is the close approximation of those who are politically-aligned to the major cultural powers within geographical Asia. Finally, there are those who are considered to be ethnically Asian. These notions are neither clear, discrete, or completely overlapping.
Let us look at who is an Asian in greater detail. Is someone from Russia an Asian? Most of Russia is in Asia, but politically Russians can be considered aligned to the the rest of Europe. If a white Russian is born in Moscow the geographical argument would dictate that she should be considered a European, but this is also in line with popular political and racial notions. Now, what if this Russian is been born in Vladivostok, which is geographically in East Asia and thousands of miles closer to Tokyo than it is to Moscow? Or take the case of white Israelis born within geographic Asia. Do they fit the common political and ethnic notions of “Asians”?
The question of whether Indians are Asians is an interesting one. I’ve been told by many highly-educated individuals in the United States that I am “an Indian and not an Asian.” When asked to elaborate, I’ve been informed that Asians have physical characteristics that resemble individuals belonging to the predominant ethnicities of South-East Asia and East Asia. On a related note, I have also heard Pakistanis referred to as “Middle-Eastern, not Asian”, and that one clearly makes no sense at all, even to me. Indian Americans are a subset of Asian Americans according to the US government, but the person on the street often does agree with this nuanced hierarchy.
Curiously, all I need to become an Asian is to take a flight across the Atlantic. In the United Kingdom, British Asians include desis from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who form the predominant “Asian” community. East Asians are called “Chinese”. Also the word “oriental” does not have the racially charged connotations it does in most of North America. In short, if you believe popular definitions, East Asians are either Asians or Chinese; and South Asians are either Indian or Asians depending on which side of the pond you ask the question.
© Text, 2010-2012, Anirban
The definition on this issue is set by the stronger majority – Whites. Since they are in charge of economically stronger nations, we tend to give more weightage to them. For minorities in America to change the way they are referred, more of them would have to make the majority aware what the preferred connotation is.
I already think of Indians in America as Americans, just Americans. I am sure 20 yrs from now most Indians will move towards something similar. Why does it matter what Indians think? Well it matters what a superpower (hopefully in 20 yrs!) thinks as it goes some distance in setting definitions or debating over them.
Although you have not explicitly mentioned what YOU prefer, reading between the lines I think you would rather prefer to be called an Indian than Asian as it is..err…more niche. What you prefer would matter a lot in the post as you are a highly-educated individual too.
Thanks for your well thought out comments, Pavithran.
The “majority minority group” also play a role in setting the definition. A desi might be told that he or she look like a Mexican in Arizona, an Indian in New York, and a Pakistani in London.
And why only race as a tag? I’m a “North Indian” in South India, an “Bengali” in Delhi, and a “non-Bangldeshi Bengali” in the Northeast. In each case the dominant group has “tagged” me.
The definition of “Asian” clearly varies according to the culture that is classifying us. It may also have a lot to do with the “major” minority and the resultant stereotypes.
I’d go with Geographical classification because that has zero degrees of freedom. At most it’s South Asian vs Asian. Russia is a weird example because in ideology they have always thought of themselves as Europeans but the fact that they used to be classified as “Second World” implies that the feeling wasn’t reciprocated
I agree that the tag is based on the stereotype that the majority is familiar with based on interactions with the most common minorities.
All this is just semantics, isn’t it?
Even, consider the boundaries of the continent of Asia – IMO it is somewhat arbitrary. Unlike say, Africa or the Americas, Asia doesn’t really have any clear geographical cutoffs (the Urals on the West somewhat play that role).
That said, I’ve always been baffled by the American habit of calling only East Asians Asians and creating a separate category for Indians. But this is a country that refuses to embrace metric systems. So what can you do?
(PS – yeah my comment doesn’t really have a point
)
I was reading this rant from this lady about how (and I quote) “Indians are poor replacements for Asians” and decided to write this post. It doesn’t really matter, but I’m trying to see if I can manufacture indignation here.
Oh such a favorite topic of mine. How many times have I cringed to see a certain group of Americans refer to Asian girls as hot and Indian girls as exotic !! It is painful sometimes to see how ignorant the Western world is to the reality.I have now given up and have accepted the fact that I shall have to actually respond to questions like – “You are from India. So do you speak Hindu ?” You touch a lovely chord. Enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading, dear friend.
The answer to the question you hear in the US, “Are you a Hindi who speaks Hindu?” is “no” unless you are Varun Gandhi.
Best wishes
On a similar note, a friend from near Madrid complained about how people here in USA have little idea about Spanish food. Most people confuse that with Mexican food. And his approach to the ‘problem’ is, “to hell with what these morons think ….”
one new post every couple of days!
Thanks for reading. I’m sure your friend from Spain must be happy with the way Spain are playing in soccer.
On another note, I’m keeping the posts much shorter. Also dreading the end of the World Cup.
i thought for the whites Indians and the rest are all Asians.uff! to hell with all that.
Listen to this…my neice who is a cute grade 6th for whom i am babysitting at the moment asked me if Germans were ALSO black(not one bit disappointed and still cheering for Germany).
pls guide me how best to explain her without sounding racist myself because i know we as Indians have this thing for the fair skin too.
Yeah don’t know myself how not to miss World Cup after it’s over.
And the World Cup is now over.
Thanks for commenting. You’ve stumped me with that question. It is very hard to discuss race without getting into stereotypes.
“You’re mileage may vary, Dear Reader”
ANIRBAN, HOMOPHONE TYPO! Be ashamed.
And yeah, I thought I had an idea of what this post would be, I’ve seen in plenty of movies and stuff how Americans tend to classify Asians on the basis of how much they look like South East Asian countrymen (or women). However, yeah, the Russia debate has been on my mind for quite some time. It’s actually quite interesting to think about.
Same-to-same yaar. Only a sameless typo (Bengali homophone there).
I’m glad you think it is interesting too.
Take care.
Stumbled on your site through twitter. Enjoyed reading most posts.
I hear you on this sentiment of “Are Indians Asians?”.
But while I always cringe at how brown people are always considered Indian irrespective of whether they are from India, Pakistan, Nepal or Sri Lanka, I also am guilty of considering all East Asians to be ‘chinky’, when they could be from China/Japan/Thailand/Korea/Vietnam/Cambodia/Singapore etc.
Im indian and im not brown im more tannish yellow i guess
Indians are Asian, what else would they be. People say they aren’t
because of the physical characterisitics the rest of Asia, but
logically they are Asian.
My understanding is: Asians have narrower eyes, Indian have broader. All Asians look the same…oops, have the same name!
Asians are whites, Indians are not!
Us Indians are Asians. We’re from the Asian continent, it’s that simple. Whether the middle east is called the middle east it’s still in the Asian continent, geographically. I don’t understand the debate. Do all Asians have to look the same? Does everyone in the North American or Europeon continent look the same? Why can’t the some Asians look like East Asians(like the Chinese/Japenese/Vietnamese/Cambodian/Thialand/Malaysian/Singapore/etc.) and others look like South Asians(Indians, Sri Lankans, & Pakistan are ALL different) and still be able to be called Asian? I don’t think it’s too fair to boot us from Asia like that. I also don’t think the term ‘chink’ is fair as it’s been related to racist connotations. Also I tended to notice Chinese boys a lot, they’re cute.
You are INDIAN not asian. Sorry but I will die before Indians are classified with real Asian people like Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc.. Indian not Asian.
Ignorant fool, Indians have been Asians since before you were born, in all probability. Either you’re trolling or you’re extremely stupid.