Anand Aggala

"Indian people are like fucking animals." While waiting to board a flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi, I moved to the side of a crowd in front of the jet bridge to catch up with my mother in line when I heard this man behind me say those words. His name is Joaquin Bonilla Garcia. He's a Spanish passport holder. When I called him out on his blatant racism, he remained silent. After the flight, upon realizing I had filed a complaint with the airline, he tried to tell me there was a "misunderstanding." But I heard him loud and clear. I'm sharing this for two reasons. 1) I believe in freedom of speech, and I believe just as strongly that words have meaning. I think hateful statements should bear consequences. I couldn't track him down, but I would appreciate your help in identifying his community and holding him to account. 2) Racism is alive and well, even (especially?) in unlikely settings. I wasn't expecting to hear this kind of language on a flight within South Asia, surrounded by South Asian people, from a tourist who was visiting the region voluntarily. As an Indian American, I feel the pressure to be extra conscious of my behavior when I'm a visitor in another country. Clearly, others feel the opposite, even more empowered to behave badly when they are away from home.