Watch: Indian woman shares ugly racism she faced abroad; details inside

Social media is often used to share thoughts and experiences, but it also shows the harsh side of things– like racism. A video by Shikha, an Indian woman living in Canada, has gone viral after she spoke about the racist comments she receives from some white individuals.

She shared her experiences in a clear and slightly humorous way, which got a lot of people talking. While many supported her, the video also led to discussions about how racism still exists in countries that are seen as diverse, like Canada.Shikha's viral postIn the video, Shikha appears confidently dancing, a direct contrast to the hateful comments she’s highlighting. The text overlay on the video reads, “Weird comments I get from white people as an Indian living abroad.”In her Instagram caption, Shikha added: “Glad they leave these comments only on social media. Face to face, they are so sweet.” In her video, Shikha laid bare the kind of racism she faces online– open, casual, and deeply offensive. She shared a list of messages that people have sent her, many of them anonymous, and shockingly blunt. Comments like “Get a deodorant first,” “You guys stink,” and “Go back, we don’t need you” were just a few among many.

Watch the video here:

Some messages were even more hostile and dehumanising. One read, “Deport these freeloading creatures,” while another mocked, “Go to Tim Hortons, you will feel at home.” Others used slurs like “Pajeets” or questioned her very presence in the country with lines like, “Why move where everybody hates you?” and “Find a food bank to eat.”Despite the hate, Shikha refused to be silenced. Wrapping up her post with confidence and clarity, she wrote: “Should I share more?? I mean, why?? Also, I am dancing and happy and doing what I want on my social media, their mean faceless comments can’t dishearten me.”Mixed responses: Support and skepticismShikha’s video, which has garnered over 577,000 views, quickly attracted a range of reactions. Many viewers were quick to support her and show empathy, offering messages of solidarity. One user commented: “Please don't be upset. We are with you. Keep going and shining forever. We know the hard work you’ve put in to come to this stage.” Another person added, “Yes, it's true, but your list is too much.”However, not everyone agreed with Shikha’s experience.

A few commenters questioned the authenticity of the remarks she listed. One individual wrote: “Absolutely untrue.” Another user remarked: “I’m living in Canada and to be honest, Canadian people are sweeter than Indians.” A third comment stated: “I never encountered this in Canada in the past five years. The people here are really sweet.”A long-time immigrant in the U.S. also weighed in: “I’ve been in the US for 11 years now...

faced a little racism but never heard such comments directly.” Disclaimer: The views and experiences mentioned in this article are based on a personal account shared on social media. Comments and reactions quoted here are sourced from public responses and do not reflect the views of The Times of India. The article does not intend to generalise the experiences of any community or nationality.