Unearthing the Relics of Bigotry: A Historical Examination of Racial Prejudice and Intolerance towards South Asian Communities in Australia

Yasir Ali, University of Karachi

“Bigotry is an endemic feature of Australian life. From the arrival of Europeans in 1788 through to today, intolerance based on an array of grounds including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability have ruptured community relations and harmed those people subject to prejudice and discrimination.” Malcolm Campbell. Australia is regarded as one of the world's trans-diasporic societies, where people from different cultures, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and races dwell. Yet, the rise and persistence of bigotry has alarmed policymakers. This study investigates the rise and persistence of prejudice and intolerance within the Australian context towards South Asian communities, with a special focus on the Pakistani diaspora. It also aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of racism in Australian history. This study holds substantial importance as it enhances the wider discourse of race relations in Australia by shedding light on the experiences of historically marginalized South Asian communities. It will also address questions such as why Australians are still carrying out acts of bigotry towards non-white migrants and why bigotry is deeply rooted in mainstream politics. The article utilizes a critical historical analysis approach incorporating various primary and secondary sources, including historical records, personal accounts, oral histories, and archival materials.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, International Migration, Migrant Populations and Refugees, Population Policies

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