10 Lines About Racism: Causes, Impact and Ways to Stop It
This work has been verified by our teacher: 23.01.2026 at 10:49
Type of homework: Essay Writing
Added: 20.01.2026 at 12:16
Summary:
Discover 10 key lines about racism, its causes, impact, and practical ways to stop it, helping students understand and fight discrimination in India.
10 Lines on Racism
Introduction
Racism, a grave social evil, lurks not just in history books but in the little corners of everyday life. It is the prejudiced belief that one’s own group—be it defined by skin colour, caste, or religion—is somehow superior, giving rise to unfair treatment of others. Racism isn’t simply a distant Western notion; it shapes societies everywhere, twisting minds and hearts into accepting divisions based on birthmarks rather than merit.In the Indian context, racism blends with age-old casteism, colourism, and even regional stereotypes, weaving invisible walls around people. The importance of talking about racism is immense. It silently steals opportunities, dignity, and even lives. This essay aims to bring out ten key points about racism, offering both insight and a path for change, rooted in our Indian reality.
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Understanding Racism in Ten Key Points
1. Racism Means Judging People Unfairly Because of Their Background
Racism starts with seeing differences, but it grows dangerous when differences become excuses for discrimination. Instead of celebrating diversity, it marks those who do not fit a certain mould—whether due to skin colour, accent, clothing, or food habits—as ‘others’. In India, this could mean a North Eastern student in Delhi being taunted as ‘outsider’, or someone from a Dalit community being kept out of common spaces, not for their character, but for their birth.2. Racism Is a Global Issue, Expressed Differently Everywhere
Countries across the world experience racism in different avatars. While Western countries may often talk about Black and White conflicts, in our land, social divides dress up as caste and religious hatred. Historical events, like the apartheid era in South Africa or colonial rule in India, are reminders of how deep this poison runs. Nearly every society—whether shaped by colonisers or ancient aristocracies—faces the damaging effects of dividing people into ‘high’ and ‘low’.3. Colourism: The Indian Obsession with Light Skin
In India, fair skin is often advertised as a mark of beauty and privilege. Children hear these messages in jokes, in marriage advertisements, in popular TV serials, and in Bollywood movies. Countless young Indians—especially girls—grow up feeling inferior for their dark skin, internalising the belief that ‘white is better’. This obsession leads to discrimination at work, school, and even at home, curbing the ambitions of those born with deeper complexions.4. Casteism: India’s Own Version of Racism
Though technically not about race, caste-based discrimination functions much like racism. Whether it’s being denied water from the same well, seats in top colleges, or equal treatment by police, millions of Dalits, Adivasis, and other backward communities face such barriers daily. The Indian constitution, through laws like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, tries to level the field, but the mindset that someone is ‘less than’ because of birth persists. The stories of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who battled discrimination to rewrite India’s laws, remain powerful reminders of this injustice.5. Racism Is Both Illegal and a Violation of Human Dignity
Our Supreme Court, Parliament, and global bodies like the United Nations agree: discrimination based on birth is wrong, illegal, and against the spirit of equality. The fundamental rights in India’s Constitution make it clear—every citizen is entitled to dignity and equality. Laws are not magic, but they do offer hope and protection under which the oppressed can challenge injustice.6. Racism Sows Social Division and Violence
India’s history is filled with wounds caused by communal riots, lynching, and mob violence, often set off by racial or religious prejudice. When people start seeing neighbours as enemies just because of difference, it tears the very fabric of society. Stories like the Delhi riots of 2020 or the discrimination faced by people from the North East during the pandemic reveal the dangerous power of racism to destroy peace and shatter lives.7. Racism Blocks Opportunities
From playgrounds to boardrooms, those marked as ‘different’ often find the doors of opportunity shut. Even when meritorious, students may face extra scrutiny or discouragement. Talented professionals can be rejected in interviews simply for their name, accent, or skin tone. Through generations, racism keeps families poor, marginalises entire communities and steals their dreams.8. Racism Damages the Mind and Soul
More than marks and jobs, persistent discrimination weakens confidence, self-worth, and mental health. Young people bullied for their looks or background may start believing they are truly inferior, leading to anxiety, depression, and in extreme cases, tragic deaths. The story of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar whose suicide cried against systemic discrimination, highlights this emotional toll.9. Racism Makes National Progress Impossible
How can a nation progress when so many of its citizens are pushed behind because of social biases? True development is possible only when everyone has a fair chance, when genius is recognised and rewarded regardless of background. Our freedom movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi and inspired by Tagore’s dream of a country "Where the mind is without fear", showed that only unity and respect for diversity can build a strong India.10. Eradicating Racism Needs All of Us—Especially the Young
No law can erase racism unless hearts and minds change. It is up to each of us to refuse to laugh at offensive jokes, to challenge hateful statements in our classrooms and WhatsApp groups, and to treat all people—regardless of background—equally. As young citizens, our choices, friendships, and words can build an India where differences are strengths, not causes for hate.---
Deeper Reflection: Racism’s Roots and Resistance in India
The origin of racism, if traced back in time, comes from a mix of conquest, fear, and myths that labelled some as ‘pure’ and others ‘impure’. During colonial rule, the British fuelled divisions for their gain, using the lens of race to justify plunder and reinforce the divide between rulers and subjects. But long before, even in ancient times, Indian society was divided along caste lines, further complicated by colour prejudice.Our literature and films sometimes reinforce these stereotypes. Even beloved epics or folk tales, in their retellings, might underline differences. However, our culture also offers heroes who rose above prejudice: Dr Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule, and poets like Kabir and Ravidas, who rejected caste divisions and spread messages of equality.
Government efforts—reservations in education and jobs, anti-discrimination laws, and rising social campaigns—chip away at centuries-old walls. NGOs like Safai Karmachari Andolan or People’s Union for Civil Liberties work on the ground to bring justice and awareness.
Education is our most powerful weapon. When schools include stories of people who fought for justice, when textbooks open our eyes to diversity, they nurture empathy and understanding. Youth, with their energy and dreams, can set new social standards if guided well.
Globally, while countries like South Africa struggled for decades to end apartheid, reconciliation policies and truth commissions offer examples India can adapt: acknowledging historical wrongs and committing to inclusivity.
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What Students Can Do to Combat Racism
1. Check Your Own Attitude: Examine your language and jokes for hidden biases. 2. Speak Out: Don’t stay quiet if you witness discrimination at school or in public. 3. Make Diverse Friends: Reach out to classmates from different regions, communities, or religions. 4. Educate: Share books, movies, and real-life stories that promote equality. 5. Respect Differences: Take part in festivals, learn new languages, and appreciate all cultures. 6. Support Victims: Offer friendship and a listening ear to those who face exclusion. 7. Positive Social Media: Use your platforms to share anti-racism messages and challenge hate.---
Conclusion
Racism, in any form, is a wound on humanity. It divides families, sows hatred, wastes talent, and makes societies poorer in spirit and in prosperity. In India, it is a persistent enemy, wearing the faces of casteism, colour prejudice, and communal suspicion.Yet, through our constitution, our literature, our freedom fighters, and the daily acts of courage from common citizens, we are reminded that this is not destiny—it is a challenge, one that must be confronted by each generation afresh. If we want a country that lives up to the dreams of Gandhiji and Dr Ambedkar—a land of equal opportunities, where every mind can truly be "without fear"—then defeating racism is not just a goal, but a duty.
May we imagine and build an India where every shade, every surname, every talent is celebrated—an India for all.
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