The Myth of Racial and Ethnic Supremacy
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
15 May 2024
Meghan
Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, expressed her humility upon discovering her
Nigerian heritage through a genealogy test during her visit to Nigeria on
Saturday. Alongside Prince Harry, she is in the West African nation to promote
mental health initiatives for wounded soldiers and young girls.
Acknowledging
Nigeria as "my country," Meghan shared her eye-opening experience of
learning more about her heritage. She said, "Never in a million years
would I understand it as much as I do now. And what has been echoed so much in
the past day is, 'Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are
Nigerian'."
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, signs Lagos State visitors register
as she and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, visit the State Governor
House in Lagos as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of the Invictus
Games anniversary. (Image: AFP)
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It's
anthropologically heartening news! Famous Urdu poet from Aurangabad Sikandar
Ali Wajd wrote, "Door Tak Phaili Hain Jadein Har Shakhs Ki/ Tahzeebein Judi
Hain Aapas Mein/ Har Nasl Vaabsata Hai Kisi Doosri Nasl Se/ Kai Mumalik, Kai
Insaan Hote Hain Ek Insaan Mein...." (Well-spread are the roots of
every individual/ Cultures are mutually intertwined/ Every generation is linked
to some other generation/ An individual is an amalgam of many countries and
many humans).
So, all
talks of racial supremacy and ethnic cleansing are absolutely useless. In a
very long history of human civilization, we all have elements of many a culture
and civilization. The ideas of race, colour, country, continents etc. are human
constructs with a view to establishing the supremacy of one group, one culture,
one civilization and one religion over others.
Dr Radhakrsishnan’s
equally intellectual son S Gopal wrote, " A white man in Europe may have a
non-white ancestor at some point in time and a Brahmin may have a so-called
Dalit ancestor lost in a journey of generations."
Once the
myth of colour and racial hegemony is detonated, we're all equal individuals.
Acceptance of this fact can enrich all of us and make humans of all hues act in
unison. The walls of ethnic differences will eventually be demolished and
humans will emerge as one big family. It'll be humankind's shared futuristic
reality.
Let it take
thousands and lakhs of years to manifest. All great dreams take time to become
realities. Crystallization doesn't happen in a day. Coals take crores and
crores of years to turn into diamonds.
Remember,
Rome wasn't built in a day.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/myth-racial-ethnic-supremacy/d/132319
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