The YouTube channel Parithabangal has once again tried to peddle hate by portraying migrant workers from the North of India in an extremely poor light through their latest video, North Train Paavangal.
It seems as if they are taunting the Indians from the North of the country for their “uncivil” behaviour as the cause of the stampede that killed several at New Delhi railway station a few days ago.
In the video, we see the migrant workers from the north are stereotyped as consuming tobacco and spitting everywhere, overcrowding reserved train compartments, sitting on reserved AC coach seats despite having or not having a confirmed sleeper class ticket, listening to loud music without earphones, etc. The video also alleges that the north Indian workers have made themselves comfortable in regions like Madurai buying real estate and setting up their families and businesses.
The video does not evoke any sense of humour or laughter in any sense. And this is not the first time that the Parithabangal team has targeted migrant workers. About two years ago, they published a video titled “Vadakku Rail Pavangal” that had portrayed migrant workers from outside Tamil Nadu as unclean, unhygienic, lacking civic sense, and such.
The videos also portray the Tamilian passengers are very decent, well-behaved people with great order and as if they are perfect in following the rules and regulations.
2013 Little India Riots In Singapore
Let’s take a look back in history when migrant workers from Tamil Nadu primarily rioted in Singapore over the death of a fellow worker in an unfortunate traffic accident.
The 2013 Little India riot in Singapore, the country’s first major riot since the 1960s, erupted on 8 December 2013 after a fatal traffic accident involving a private bus and a 33-year-old Tamil Nadu construction worker, Sakthivel Kumaravelu. The incident began when Sakthivel, intoxicated, was asked to leave the bus for causing a disturbance. After alighting, he attempted to reboard the moving bus, lost his balance, and was fatally run over. Witnessing the accident, a crowd of migrant workers gathered, and anger quickly escalated.
Misinformation and rumours spread, including false claims that the bus timekeeper, Madam Wong, had pushed Sakthivel off the bus and that he had been left crying for help under the vehicle. The crowd, predominantly South Indian migrant workers, began attacking the bus, throwing bottles, bricks, and metal objects, shattering windows, and injuring Madam Wong and the driver, who hid inside to save themselves. Police and Certis officers arrived but were heavily outnumbered and attacked while trying to protect the bus and its occupants.
The riot intensified as the crowd flipped and burned vehicles, including police cars and ambulances, causing over $530,000 in damage. The rioters allegedly shouted, “Kill the woman, burn the bus“. Emergency responders faced communication challenges and a lack of coordination, delaying reinforcements. The Special Operations Command (SOC) eventually arrived in riot gear, dispersing the crowd and restoring order by 10:50 PM. In total, 62 people were injured, including 37 police officers. Authorities arrested 27 individuals, primarily Indian migrant workers, with some receiving prison sentences or deportation.
Parithabangal & Their Portrayal Of Migrant Workers
Almost always, the portrayal of North Indians in the Parithabangal videos is deeply classist and racist, blaming them for their own plight instead of acknowledging the system that keeps them in perpetual deprivation. As Tamil people, we understand this firsthand, having faced stigma in places where we migrated, such as Malaysia, and Singapore. This should make us more empathetic toward North Indians rather than looking down on them. After all, the 2013 Singapore riots give us a glimpse of how ‘poor and needy’ Tamil labourers behave when they migrate to other countries – Singapore, Malaysia, or the Middle East.
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