In short:
1) Rising racism against Indians in Western countries, with increasing hate crimes and discrimination.
2) Highlights key incidents, including the brutal attack on nurse Leelamma Lal in Florida.
3) Explores social media’s role in spreading anti-Indian rhetoric.
4) Calls for stronger laws, diplomatic pressure at the UN, and global action to protect Indian communities.
The recent brutal assault on 67-year-old Indian-origin nurse Leelamma Lal in Florida has brought renewed attention to the increasing racism faced by Indians in Western countries. The attack, which occurred on February 19, 2025, at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, left Lal with severe facial fractures after she was violently beaten by 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury. According to reports, the attacker openly admitted to the racial nature of the assault, stating, “Indians are bad. I just beat the s*** out of an Indian Doctor.” This horrifying incident has reignited concerns over the safety of Indian professionals and immigrants in Western nations.
Why Are Indians Being Targeted?
While Lal’s case is shocking, it is by no means an isolated incident. Across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, Indians have increasingly become targets of racial hatred, both online and offline.
Racism in the United States of America
In the U.S., racial attacks against Indians have become more frequent. In August 2022, four Indian-American women in Texas were harassed and physically threatened by a woman who told them to “go back to India.” The attacker, later identified as Esmeralda Upton, was charged with assault and making terroristic threats. Similarly, in California, multiple Sikh men were assaulted in hate-motivated attacks in 2023, underscoring the vulnerability of the Indian diaspora.
Additionally, anti-Indian rhetoric has intensified online, particularly targeting Indian professionals in tech industries. In 2024, after mass layoffs in Silicon Valley, social media platforms were flooded with xenophobic comments blaming Indian H-1B visa holders for “stealing jobs.” This narrative, fueled by populist politicians and right-wing media outlets, has further alienated the Indian community in the U.S.
Racism in Canada
Canada, home to one of the largest Indian diaspora populations, has also seen a drastic rise in racist incidents. According to a report by the Canadian government, hate crimes against South Asians surged by 143% between 2019 and 2022. Many incidents have targeted Indian international students, who are often subjected to verbal abuse, racial profiling, and even physical violence.
In 2023, an Indian student, Kartik Vasudev, was shot dead in Toronto in an apparent hate crime. That same year, anti-India protests erupted in British Columbia, with extremist groups vandalizing Hindu temples and defacing Indian flags. The rising tensions between pro-Khalistan groups and Indian nationals have only exacerbated the hostility against Indians in Canada.
Racism in the United Kingdom
In the U.K., Indians have faced an increase in racist abuse, particularly in public spaces. In 2022, a video of an Indian-origin man being attacked in Leicester went viral, highlighting deep-rooted racial tensions in the country. The incident was part of a series of communal clashes involving Indian and Pakistani communities.
In early 2024, reports surfaced of Indian students being harassed at universities in London, with many being subjected to racial slurs and derogatory comments. Additionally, there have been cases of workplace discrimination, where Indian professionals have reported being passed over for promotions due to their ethnicity.
Racism in Australia
Australia has witnessed growing racism against Indians, particularly among international students and skilled workers. Attacks on Indian taxi drivers and delivery workers have been repeatedly reported in cities like Melbourne and Sydney. In 2023, an Uber driver of Indian origin was brutally beaten by passengers who hurled racial slurs at him before fleeing the scene.
There have been discussions within Australia’s Indian community regarding social and cultural divides, which sometimes add complexity to their experiences as migrants. While broader racial challenges remain a pressing concern, community dynamics also influence how Indian migrants navigate their lives in a new country.
Racism on Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms have played a significant role in fueling anti-Indian sentiment. Platforms such as X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook have seen a surge in hate speech targeting Indians, with many posts ridiculing Indian accents, culture, and cuisine. AI-generated caricatures mocking Indians have become a growing trend, often going unregulated by tech companies.
According to a 2024 report by Stop AAPI Hate, online hate speech against Indians and South Asians doubled from 23,000 recorded incidents in 2023 to over 46,000 in 2024. Many of these incidents involved calls for banning Indian immigrants or restricting their access to employment in Western countries.