Padma Lakshmi, an Indian-American author, activist, model, and television host, was reared in the United States but keeps up with events in her homeland of India. Let me tell you that she was born in Madras (presently Chennai), India, into a Tamil Brahmin family. She eventually moved to La Puente, California with her mother and stepfather after immigrating to the United States at the age of four.
Not only that, but she frequently makes remarks about them and expresses her thoughts and ideas about them. She once revealed that she was bullied and faced racial violence as a kid growing up in Los Angeles, which prompted her to battle to overcome “internalised self-loathing.” She is a staunch supporter of women’s rights and an ardent champion of immigrant rights and the independent restaurant business.
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She has been a staunch critic of skin-lightening lotions sold to people of colour, particularly in non-white dominated countries. She’s also spoken up about her experiences with colourism in India and the United States.
Lakshmi claimed that she was raped at the age of 16 by her older lover, which she did not report, in a 2018 column for The New York Times. She added that a prior sexual assault she suffered at the age of seven by a relative of her stepfather influenced her choice to remain silent about the rape.
She was transferred to India to live with her grandparents for a year after alerting her mother and stepfather about the attack. She is always known for her outspoken attitude and attracts lots of attention. This time too, she made some comments that attracts a lot of attention, especially from India.
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Padma Lakshmi on growing anti-Muslim violence in India
She always made statements that made her headlines. Now this time, recently, she spoke out against ‘anti-Muslim violence’ and ‘communal hatred in India’ on her official Twitter account. She said,
“Sickening to see the violence against Muslims celebrated in India. The widespread anti-Muslim rhetoric preys on fear and poisons people. This propaganda is dangerous and nefarious because when you consider someone less than it’s much easier to participate in their oppression.”
Addressing the Hindus in India, she added,
“Fellow Hindus, don’t succumb to this fear-mongering. There is no threat to Hinduism in India or anywhere else. True spirituality doesn’t include any room for sowing hatred of any kind. People of all faiths should be able to live peacefully together in this ancient, vast land.”
She stressed,
“People of all faiths should be able to live peacefully together in this ancient, vast land.”
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In a later sequence of tweets, Lakshmi tagged news articles from international publications such as The Guardian and The Los Angeles Times on the Jahangirpuri clash between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Delhi, the violence in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone city during Ram Navami celebrations earlier this month and the role of social media in it, as well as how hate-filled songs are used to insult individuals of other faiths and communal violence.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 27, 2022
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While some applauded her for standing up for Indian Muslims and preaching about peace and unity, her stance did not sit well with others. Have a look at them:
Thank you so much for speaking out! As a progressive Hindu, we urge you to get in touch with us, and join us in building an inclusive, progressive Hinduism that rejects hate and stands up for human rights for all.
— Hindus for Human Rights (@Hindus4HR) April 27, 2022
Unfollowing. Hindus have been hunted in all parts of #India for decades. They are murdered every day in Pakistan & Bangladesh because of their religion.
You’re either purposely being obtuse or are ignorant.#Kashmir #Bengal #Kerala #Punjabhttps://t.co/SOEc18Ztpy
— Sheenie Ambardar, MD (@DrAmbardar) April 28, 2022
She has every right to speak for muslim victims of violence, I fully support that, but while doing so she must not whitewash Hindu victims of violence. You can raise your voice for one community without trying to deny the trauma faced by another community.https://t.co/UC4amRCMFf
— Ash (@ashindreamland) April 27, 2022
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How much are u usually paid for such tweets… (Which are basically propaganda driven and far from reality and too distant from where you live too…)
— gpkr (@gp_theelixir) April 27, 2022
Thank you for sharing this. It’s been so difficult to get light shed on the increased aggression towards Indian Muslims. We know that isn’t what India stands for. Love & peace to all.
— Ammara Essa (@Aey_dot_ee) April 27, 2022
On the 16th of April 2022, a Hindu–Muslim confrontation happened in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri neighbourhood, in the midst of a Hindu march commemorating Hanuman Jayanti. The altercation occurred during the third march of the day, which came to an abrupt end near a mosque where Muslims were praying for Ramadan. Many people were hurt, including a police officer, when stones were thrown and bullets were fired. A total of 23 persons were detained, including sixteen adults and two minors.
A ‘Tiranga Yatra’ was organised by Hindu and Muslim people of the region over a week later to send a message of peace and love.
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