Whether intentionally or unintentionally, I don’t think anyone can deny that there are some (or many) words in the Indian lexicon that are… distasteful, to say the least, and outright racist in many cases. 

While the seriousness of their usage depends, there’s no doubt the mental harm it can cause to the recipient of such words, which the society, at large, seems hellbent on ignoring.

From the early days in the school to right inside our very homes and offices, these words have been commonplace for years and normalised to the degree that calling out their usage, generally leads to the shaming of the very person pointing it out.

via GIPHY

Well, for whatever good it would do, here is a small, non-exhaustive list of words that Indians really have got to stop using:

1. The N Word

I don’t know who told you that being brown gives you a free pass to use the n-word, but I’m sorry to say you’re gravely mistaken. 

Even if you’ve got a black friend. Even if they once said you could use it, because—newsflash—black people are not a monolith

I remember when BLM protests broke out last year, this one Indian dude living in India, made a video where he said brown people can use the n word because we use it as a term of endearment???? and he also said that people "shouldn't read too much into it" and everyday I wish

— Ammz (@ammsosickofyou) January 26, 2021

And no, the other ‘variations’ of this word, even words like “h*bshi” that directly translate to the n-word and have somehow become socially acceptable substitutes, aren’t it either. We know what you’re referring to, and it’s not cool. 

Also, if you were wondering, yes, calling someone “kallu” is racist. 

2.  The R Word 

If you don’t know what I’m referring to, it’s the word “ret*rd”, which is so common in our lexicon, globally, that you’ll find it in books, literature, shows, you name it.  

The word has, for years, been used to put down individuals with intellectual disabilities, and has become a part of our everyday language. 

If you’re not autistic or any other disability

can you stop using retard as a slur? because it was used against autistic people, people with downsyndrome and many more people!! There’s other words to describe someone

— Myles is married to Riker ♡ 75 days (@beetwtinnit) March 4, 2021

Whether you’re using it lightheartedly or are actually referring to someone with a disability (even if not in a malicious manner), the use of this word is unacceptable. So the next time you want to lovingly curse out your friend, try to go for something that doesn’t reinforce stereotypes about an entire group of people. 

3.  OCD 

“Oh, I’m so OCD.” No, you’re not, you’re just talking about something you haven’t the slightest clue about. 

But, you protest if you hate messes and love keeping things clean and organised, so you must be having OCD, no? NO. And please stop saying you have it, or even Monica from Friends has it. 

In simple terms, someone who has OCD suffers from “excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviours (compulsions).” 

Now, this might manifest as an obsessive need for cleanliness and organisation, but it is certainly not the same as liking to colour-code all your notes and files, please give me a break.

People saying “You’re being so OCD” or “Wow im acting really OCD right now” dont have a clue what OCD is

OCD is fucking horrible... its having intrusive thoughts that can be violent/sexual/etc in nature and dealing with them through internal/external compulsions

It is pure hell

— Fey Vercuiel️‍⚧️️‍♿️ (@feymakes) March 1, 2021

This perception of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is, in fact, pretty harmful to individuals who actually suffer from it.  

Stereotyping an actual illness as a “perfectionist” or as just someone who “obsessively keeps things tidy” just serves to diminish the seriousness of the condition. 

4.  Ch*nk* 

The word may now land you in jail but tell that to the hordes of Indians, children and adults alike, who oh-so-lovingly refer to their Northeastern friends as “ch*nk*”, “momo”, “chow mein”, or any other racist BS in the name of friendly banter. 

© YRF

By using this word, you’re actually insulting the multiple communities of Northeastern individuals and essentially calling them “Chinese”. 

And no, it’s not okay even if your friend isn’t from the Northeast and merely has “small eyes” or “Chinese-looking eyes”, no matter how you might want to reason it. It's wrong. Period. 

the way my relatives call my sister chinki because she has small eyes,,,,, itna normalised racism???!!!!!??

— Bhavika (@bubblewrap101) September 18, 2020

And as a piece of advice in the pandemic: Equating Northeast Indians or Northeast Asians to the coronavirus is definitely racist and you are walking around saying so, you clearly need help. 

Bonus:  

5. "It’s Just A Joke!"

Not funny, didn’t laugh. 

If your definition of a joke serves to put down someone’s self-worth, reinforce harmful stereotypes, or even aid in creating a dangerous environment that can lead to violence against a community, then you need to evaluate your sense of humour. 

It’s the 21st century, and we really have to stop accepting ignorance as a way of life and start expecting better from each other.

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