No to Asian British!

If a German can be called a German, why can the same rule not apply to an Indian or a Chinese, asks Nabanita Sircar.

Once again we are confronted with the debate of identity. Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister, is considering proposals which would describe ethnic communities, such as us, as "Asian British" rather than "Asians". Unfortunately, painting different cultures with one brush shows a lack of understanding and sensitivity to all groups involved.

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Yet, in the same breath, the Minister talks of her plans of introducing this "double-barrelled" nationality by comparing it to the American way. And she even says, "In America they do seem to have this idea that you are Italian-American, or Irish-American. We don't do that here." True Minister, if we, in this country wish to follow the same trend, we need to identify ourselves as Indian-British, Chinese-British, or Pakistani-British. After, all the US does not say 'European- American'!

I have failed to understand, in all the years I have lived in this country, why the enlightened media of this country, and now even the Government, could never get this basic distinction right. If a German can be called so why can the same rule not apply to an Indian or a Chinese? Thankfully, Ms Blears, heading a new government commission on how better to integrate minorities, has said that she would ask whether they would rather be termed "British-Asian", or "Indian-British" rather than "Muslim" or "Asian". "I am going to talk to people and find out, how does that feel?" she said. "It is about your identity, and I think it's really important."

True, I agree religious identification of people, in these rather sensitive times is a pronouncement for disaster. Multiculturism cannot flourish under the banner of religion. But if people need to be identified more specifically, rather than being simply 'British' then it ought to be done by the country of their origin.

After all, when Government figures are published, be it on crime, education or business, the breakdown is always on the basis of the country of origin. One need not look further than that. Most of us are fed up of the term 'Asian'. Compare the two continents - Asia and Europe - see the vast contrast in population, size and cultures. How, then, can anyone justify clubbing these Asian countries under one group?

And, every ethnic minority person, be he or she a second or third generation British, has a certain sense of belonging or identity to the country of origin. And identifying us with our countries, will also give us a sense of responsibility to both, the country of origin and the adopted country. Its time now, the world has moved on, and this out-dated term 'Asian' needs to be dropped, from British vocabulary, when talking about people from the Asian sub-continent.

If a German can be German, and a British can be British, then why can't an Indian be Indian? It is time for us to make a determined effort to get that across to the Government.

Basere se dur, drop 'Asian', we are Indian-British or British-Indian!