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India Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Snatching Diwali, giving sex-gang tag: Indians abroad reject South-Asian label
When Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign, she also unveiled a platform titled South Asians for the People. But its messaging backfired. Many from the Indian diaspora reacted angrily to the label "South Asian" altogether. The backlash wasn't just online noise, it revealed a deeper discomfort with being grouped into a broad regional category that many feel erases India's unique identity. "India is at least 2,000–3,000 years old. 'South Asia' is a neologism meant to deny it," one comment isn't just a passing the UK and the US, many Indians are increasingly being vocal about the problems that come with this catch-all label. The term "South Asian" typically refers to people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Last month, Insight UK, which describes itself as a "social movement of British Hindus and Indians", raised a similar objection on its social media platforms. It also explained why many Indians are uncomfortable being lumped together with others under the term South Asian."Broader terms like 'Asian or Asian British' do not distinguish between Indian and other backgrounds as they can group together very different communities, each with distinct histories, cultures, and experiences," Manu from Insight UK told India Today term "South Asian" is increasingly seen by many Indians as a reductive label that erases India's distinct cultural and civilisational are over 1.8 million Indians in the UK and around 4.8 million in the US."Our identity is not defined just by land, it's a civilisational and cultural space that has existed for millennia. There is no confusion about who Indians are. But there is a deliberate effort to blur that clarity, to negate and dilute the distinctiveness of Indian identity," Pushpita Prasad for the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) told India Today festivals like Diwali and Holi, which are being termed South Asian, to racial profiling that isn't benefitting Indians, there's more to why Indians are questioning and rejecting the INDIANS SOUTH ASIANS BLURS CRITICAL DISTINCTIONThe term "South Asian" may sound neutral, but in practice, it often blurs critical distinctions between communities."For example, British Indians and British Pakistanis have different migration histories, religious demographics, and contributions to the UK," Insight UK explained."Labelling them together as 'Asian' or 'South Asian' obscures key differences, whether in workforce representation, health outcomes, or social experiences—making it harder to address specific needs or tackle inequalities."This broad-brush approach has real-world begins with cultural incorporation, which is more than just assimilation."Indian festivals like Diwali and Holi are increasingly being rebranded as 'South Asian' — a move that erases their Hindu roots and appropriates them into a vague regional identity," says Prasad from the New York Times recently did a piece on mithais and called them 'South Asian', when most of those sweets are unmistakably Indian in origin and cultural context."WHY SOUTH ASIAN LABEL IS DANGEROUS FOR INDIANSThe consequences aren't just cultural—they extend to how communities are perceived during moments of crisis."When negative events are reported in broad ethnic terms, reputational damage spreads unfairly," Insight UK notes."Hindus are significantly under-represented in UK prisons — making up just 0.4% of the prison population. Most Hindus in the UK are Indian. By contrast, as of March 2024, 18.1% of the prison population in England and Wales identified as Muslim," it adds."Given that most British Muslims are of South Asian origin and a large portion of them are Pakistani, it's reasonable to infer that a significant share of this group is of Pakistani background."The distinction becomes especially critical in the context of group-based child sexual Rotherham, Pakistani men were found responsible for 64% of child sexual exploitation cases and 62% of convictions under Operation for example, the infamous grooming gang crime in the UK on which PM Keir Starmer has now ordered a national euphemistic term "Asian grooming gangs" in use, has not only diluted the specificity but also unfairly stigmatises the broader Asian community, including Indians. The perpetrators of the organised sexual abuse of underage white girls are primarily Muslim men from distinction was also highlighted by Tesla boss Elon Musk in a tweet in Hindus and Indians point out that when sweeping labels like "South Asian" are used, they risk being unfairly stigmatised for crimes they had no role in. At the same time, positive achievements by Indians and Hindus in the UK often go uncredited or are diffused under the broader has led to growing calls for a more accurate and nuanced recognition of Indian and Hindu identities, distinct from other South Asian IS THIS GENERALISATION BENEFITTING?Categorising British Hindus and Indians this way also denies recognition to their achievements and what they have brought to the UK. For example, ayurveda, yoga and meditation – essentially Indian – would otherwise be labelled "South Asian".The term, many argue, not only obscures difference but also whitewashes both achievement and accountability. For British Indians, the consequences of being mislabelled run deep, impacting how they are seen in policy discussions, media narratives, and even statistical response, Indian community groups in the UK are preparing to push back more term itself emerged during 19th-century British colonial rule, initially used by colonial administrations as a label for people from the at times, it was deployed as a derogatory term, especially to describe individuals of mixed ancestry or those considered racially 'other' by colonial authorities. Over time, 'South Asian' became a more neutral and widely accepted descriptor for people from this region and their descendants living in the in the diaspora oppose the usage of the word 'South Asian'."The Indian diaspora reject the use of the term 'South Asian,' which is frequently employed by Western academics and media. They argue that this label, intended as a convenient regional grouping, tends to obscure India's unique cultural identity rather than celebrate it," Manu from Insight UK told India Today pushback against the term "South Asian" is not about semantics, it's about identity, representation, and fairness. For many Indians in the diaspora, being called South Asian feels like erasure. As calls grow for more precise recognition, it's clear: labels should reflect, not flatten, the rich diversity of those they claim to represent.- Ends advertisement
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Robots replace hotel check-in staff — and a tourist freaks out when they talk back: ‘Don't look at me'
Is it artificial inn-telligence? Machines are seemingly rendering us obsolete in every sector, from manufacturing to the restaurant industry. In a recent example, an Argentinian tourist was taken aback after discovering that her hotel in Japan had replaced its receptionists with talking robots, as seen in a dystopian TikTok video with more than 845,000 views. 'The receptionists are robots,' wailed the traveler — who goes by @manuenalemania — in the clip, before panning to the cybernetic clerks, who stand stiffly behind the counter in white outfits and pillbox hats like something out of 'Blade Runner.' Advertisement 'Don't look at me, don't look at me, don't look at me,' frets the TikTokker as one of the robo-receptionists greets her. 3 One of the robo-receptionists at the Henn na Hotel in Tokyo. @manuenalemania/TikTok At one point, it even wishes her a 'delightful stay.' Advertisement She was reportedly staying at a Henn na Hotel — 'Henn na' translates to 'strange' in Japanese — in Tokyo, a chain that enlists a variety of humanoid hospitality bots to cater to guests, The Travel reported. The first Henn na opened in Nagasaki with the goal of revolutionizing the hospitality industry by providing visitors with more expedient service. There are now more than 20 branches of the futuristic inns, whose lobbies are staffed by either humanoid or — wait for it — dinosaur droids. Other high-tech amenities include interactive holograms and RoBoHoN, a mobile robot assistant. 3 'The receptionists are robots,' wailed the traveler. @manuenalemania/TikTok While the intent was to enhance the check-in experience, Manu found the experience extremely unsettling. Advertisement 'You scare me a lot,' she says to one of the automatons while checking in. She scans her passport at the automated kiosk and inputs the dates of her stay, after which the machine deposits a key card. 3 The Henn na Hotel in Tokyo. Ned Snowman – That's when the robot addresses her. 'Your check-in is now complete,' the droid rigidly declares. 'We hope you have a delightful stay at our hotel.' Advertisement It then bows, prompting the freaked-out Manu to exclaim, 'Ay noooooooo!' Commenters were similarly creeped out by the check-in droids, whose role appears to be purely cosmetic. 'You study hospitality for this,' said one, commenting on the phenomenon of robots replacing human staff. 'At least they didn't treat you badly,' said another, while others compared the bots to something out of the sci-fi thriller series 'Black Mirror.' Coincidentally, Henna has notably 'furloughed' over half of its 240 robotic staffers due to operational challenges, including malfunctions and a failure to meet guest expectations, which ironically created more work for their flesh-and-blood counterparts, the Travel reported. Many customers claimed that the robot receptionists would often misinterpret commands, highlighting the limitations of this so-called high-tech hospitality. Advertisement As such, Henna has hired more human employees to pick up the slack.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kompany closes door to Club World Cup action for Urbig
Although Bayern Munich have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup ahead of their final group game against Benfica, young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig will not get a chance to play. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany made it very clear at the pre-match press conference that Manuel Neuer will continue as the starting goalkeeper for the rest of the tournament unless he suffers an injury. Advertisement 'We discussed this very clearly,' Kompany said at the press conference following Bayern's arrival in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Tuesday's match against Benfica will take place. 'Manu's role is to take us as far as possible as number one - with his performances, leadership and qualities. There is basically zero discussion about that. When Manu is fit, we are all very happy.' Kompany added that simply being part of the Club World Cup squad is 'a very good experience' for Urbig, who declined a spot in Germany's U21 European Championship squad to travel to the United States with the club. 'We have a very good future perspective with Jonas,' he stressed.
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"Everyday, I thank my fate...": Manu Bhaker, Neeraj Chopra celebrate 77th Olympic Day
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): Indian world champion and Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and double Olympic medalist shooter Manu Bhaker shared the Olympic Day wishes with their fans and fellow players on Monday. Manu, posted on her Instagram, saying that she everyday, 'thanks her fate and gods' for making it possible to live the dream of 'millions of athletes'. 'Everyday, I thank my fate, and my gods, that made it possible for me to live the dreams of millions of athletes. My shooting career is 9 years young, but like a desi, I have been an athlete ever since I gained consciousness. There is no dream that cannot be fulfilled and no destination that cannot be reached, but the fuel will only be honesty, hard-work and hope. To all the aspiring Olympic champions, including myself, it is just the beginning, we have so much more in us. Let's get it! Jai Hind!! #happyolympicday,' posted Manu on X. In the Olympics at Paris last year, Bhaker opened India's medal tally after she secured third place in the women's individual 10m air pistol event, becoming the first-ever woman shooter to win an Olympic medal for India. Following that, Sarabjot Singh and Bhaker won the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol (mixed team) event, which was India's first-ever shooting team medal. In her final event, she narrowly missed out on the historic grand treble and finished fourth in the women's 25m pistol shooting event. She missed out on the opportunity to become the first Indian to win three medals at the Olympics. The young shooter's sweet redemption came after a disappointing Tokyo Olympics campaign in 2021, where a malfunction in her gun cost her a medal. During the 10 m air pistol qualification round during the Tokyo Olympics, her gun malfunctioned, which caused her to lose a lot of time. She was left with a very short amount of time to carry out her quota of shots. She missed the top-eight finish required to qualify for the final round and finished at the 12th spot. In the 25-metre pistol event, she failed to qualify further, finishing in the 15th spot. Her 10 m air pistol mixed team event did not go well either, as she finished in seventh overall. Neeraj, who secured a gold medal in Tokyo and followed it with a silver in Paris, also posted a video of him practicing on X, saying, 'Happy Olympic Day! Together, #LetsMove and build a happier, healthier future.' Recently, Chopra once again proved his dominance on the global stage, winning the Paris Diamond League title on Friday night (local time) with a commanding first-round throw of 88.16 metres. Despite three no-marks in the middle rounds, his opening effort kept him on top throughout the competition. With new coach Jan Zelenzy in his corner, who holds the world record in men's javelin throw with 98.48 m effort in 1996, Neeraj touched the 90 m for the first time in his career as he came second at the Doha Diamond League last month. Olympic Day is celebrated annually on June 23, commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, which began on June 23, 1894, in Paris. The primary objective of Olympic Day is to encourage global participation in sports, regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. Since 2023, Olympic Day celebrations have aligned with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Let's Move initiative, which aims to promote physical activity and encourage people to move more every day. Baron Pierre de Coubertin formed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, leading to the first-ever modern Games held in Athens in 1896. (ANI)
Pink Villa
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
8 Vasantalu Twitter Review: Is Ananthika Sanilkumar-led romantic drama worth your time? Read 11 tweets to know
The Telugu romantic drama 8 Vasantalu has caused quite a stir on social media ahead of its big release on June 20. Backed by Mythri Movie Makers, the film stars Ananthika Sanilkumar, Hanu Reddy, and Ravi Theja Duggirala in lead roles. The film hit big screens on June 20, and despite clashing with some of the other anticipated movies, it seems 8 Vasantalu has maintained its footfall among audiences. Netizens have taken to Twitter to post their reviews after watching the film's FDFS. 8 Vasantalu Twitter review Well, the most overwhelming response to the movie has definitely been its hardcore romantic appeal. The Telugu romance has hit the right chords in terms of its genre and has been classified as a heartfelt movie. A large section of the audience has praised the brilliance of Ananthika as the lead heroine, who has delivered one of her best performances and done a perfect job of nailing her role. Many have tagged her work as fine and linear, which pairs up exceptionally well with the screenplay. Regarding the other aspects of the film, while some have found the narration to be quite lackluster and dull, others have claimed that the rich visuals compensate for this. The filmmaker's attempt to convey emotions and love stories in a poetic manner has also gained applause from viewers. Despite the positives, many viewers have also pointed out the factors that do not work for 8 Vasantalu. These include the underwhelming dialogues, lack of emotional depth, and a sense of pretentiousness in the second half, which has ruined the experience for many. More about 8 Vasantalu This movie marks director Phanindra Narsetti's second feature film after Manu in 2018. Furthermore, Ananthika, at just 17 years old, has been cast as the lead actress in the movie. Interestingly, the starlet has refused to accept any payment for the movie, a trait that the producers found to be a sign of real maturity.
