Indian Ministers Rebuke Der Spiegel for ‘Racist’ Cartoon

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Facts

  • A cartoon in the German magazine Der Spiegel caricaturing India as it becomes more populous than China has been criticized as being “racist” by Indian ministers.1
  • The viral cartoon compares the "development levels" of India and China. The cartoon depicts an overcrowded train of Indians passing a Chinese bullet train.2
  • Social media users and politicians have slammed the cartoon as being "racist" and "derogatory."3
  • Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda criticized the German magazine, pointing to Germany's difficult history of racism and the Holocaust as reasons the magazine should be extra cognizant of the impact of their allegedly racist and derogatory caricatures.4
  • According to the UN, India will overtake China as the world's most populous country this month.5

Sources: 1Guardian, 2Hindustan Times, 3NDTV, 4Business Today, and 5ITN.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Hindustan Times. India has a fast-growing economy that will likely pass Germany in terms of GDP shortly. This cartoon just goes to show the West's fears of India's success. This distasteful and xenophobic cartoon has no resemblance to India's reality.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Mint. India, particularly under Modi, is quick to dismiss any negative portrayal as malicious misinformation. While India has surpassed China in terms of population, China is still miles ahead developmentally and demographically. The talent dividend has not disappeared and China has more educated workers. Size is not the only thing that matters.