An Indian Canadian on Immigration, Integration and Racism

80% of Canadians now believe too many immigrants are coming here without adopting Canadian values.

I'm Indian, born, and raised in Canada by immigrant parents, so I wanted to understand why. I went through Canadian forums, comments from newcomers, and research on integration.

There was plenty of racism, but once I removed that, the same five reasonable concerns kept coming up.

First, public courtesy. Wait your turn in line, let people exit before you enter, hold the door, give people space, and keep your phone at a reasonable volume.

They're small things, but they show respect.

Second was personal hygiene. I'm saying this carefully because people use it to humiliate Indians.

Shower regularly, wear fresh clothes, and use deodorant, not just cologne to cover your body odor.

Strong cooking smells can also stay on clothing.

We spend half the year packed together indoors.

Being aware of how you smell is part of sharing space.

Third, make a real effort with English or French, depending on where you live.

Speak your own language at home and teach it to your children, but learn enough to know your neighbors, communicate with your child's teacher, and build relationships outside of the Indian community. Fourth is respect equality and personal boundaries.

Don't stare at women or assume friendliness means interest.

Men and women are equal here. That doesn't change based on what you were taught growing up.

And fifth was don't bring old divisions here.

Caste, religion, and what part of India someone comes from shouldn't decide who you hire, rent to, or respect.

Canadian laws still apply when nobody's watching.

Now, I'm not saying any of this because I'm ashamed of being Indian.

Indian food is the best. Our music is incredible.

We have great traditions, and nobody celebrates like we do. My parents kept all that when they came here, but they also adapted to the country they chose to call home.

It didn't make them less Indian. It allowed them, their children, to grow up proudly Indian and fully Canadian.

And racism is still a serious problem. Almost every post I'm seeing online with an Indian person, even when it has nothing to do with immigration, it's filled with hundreds of racist comments. It's been accepted as a norm now.

Statistics Canada also found that forty-five percent of South Asian Canadians have experienced racial discrimination over the previous five years. But calling every criticism racist stops us from hearing what actually may be valid.

Canada should respect what newcomers bring.

And when you chose Canada as home, you should also make an effort to become a part of it. Respect has to go both ways.