Morning:
8°c
Quieten down, I say to those building up fresh outrage over Prince Charles and his polo buddy, Kolin Dhillon, aka "Sooty". While it was right to raise strong objections to Prince Harry's "Paki" joshing, this new furore is foolish. Dhillon, a multi-millionaire, says he doesn't mind the nickname given to him when he first joined Cirencester Polo Club way back in 1975. It is a "term of affection. You know you have arrived when you acquire a nickname" - a revealing comment. The most loaded immigrant can still crave acceptance.
One of my friends back in Uganda was married to an Indian barrister whose father owned race horses in Kenya and smoked Churchillian cigars. After they moved here the father-in-law joined two exclusive golf clubs in the English shires. The pompous gentleman's skin was very dark and so his circle of toffs called him "Inky". He too thought it was a mark of belonging. And it was. These chaps are of the same caste and will always stick up for each other. On the whole, colour prejudice is largely ignored in the interests of class solidarity.
On rare occasions this pact breaks down. A famous example is Prince Aly Aga Khan, father of the leader of my Shia Muslim community, who mixed with British aristocracy. He memorably said in the Fifties: "They called me a nigger and I paid them back by sleeping with their women."
I hope the ex-maharaja who lives in Lancaster Gate is reading this. He used to rage at me for not showing enough respect for the British establishment. Then one day he took me to lunch in Mayfair. A couple next to us muttered something about "Pakis". I was about to throw a fit and he hissed: "Don't make a fool of yourself. This is not that kind of place. They meant you, I think, not me." I left.
Such pedigree aristocrats from the Indian subcontinent are loyal to a fault. Their ancestors - even ones stripped of their power by the British - were always keen to pay homage to Queen Victoria.
Now enter the Asian nouveaux riches seeking snob value. Think of the Goodness Gracious Me Kapoors in their golf gear, happy to put up with bigotry as long as they could get into elite joints. Who are we to stop them? Kolin Dhillon is obviously embarrassed by this attention. He doesn't need or want shrill anti-racists anywhere near him. And we, surely, have more important things to do.
Reader views (11)
having lived in london for 4-5 years and being from Scotland i was called by various people "Jock". if i said anthing like "my name is Duncan" i was immediatley classed as a "chippy Scot". i worked in a very multi ethnic (as it would now be referred to) team in an architect's office and the only, and i mean only one, who "classed" the other by their nationality with the (in)appropriate nickname was a clown from "Saaf Lundin". he once said to me "C'mon Jock; we English (!)have got to stand up to these furriners". to him England = the UK. "its all the same init" was his attitude and very short shrift he got.
- Ron Oliver, Edinburgh Scotland, 21/01/2009 12:26
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Yasmin, I am horrified by your story about the Aga Khan.
How would this be viewed by a Muslim readership if one wrote about a very wealthy Englishman enacting the same type of 'revenge' with Muslim women?
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK, 16/01/2009 15:19
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Sooty is a very beloved TV personality with friends Sweep and Sue. It is no more insulting than calling someone Tigger (which is my nickname by the way)
- Clare, London, 16/01/2009 00:16
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I would regard Sooty in this instance as a term of affection. I am British with a swarthy complexion that tans quickly in the sun, and Portuguese Fisherman is one of my nicknames after pals have had had a few beers. Do I get upset? - get real....
- Laurence, Cyprus and London, 15/01/2009 16:05
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So what next Yasmin - establish a new government department, with appropriately renumuerated senior political advisors and civil servants, so people can register to have friends nicknames approved by the state? Perhaps we can have people "voluntarily" give their DNA at the application stage. If anyone is caught using an unapproved nickname, then the Met can send in anti terrorist officers to arrest the offenders.
- Joe, London, 15/01/2009 15:03
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Last year we went to Kew Gardens for first time and found that enjoyment of the place was much marred by noise of airplanes every few minutes. Kew Gardens should be a serene and tranquil experience I think. For that reason alone I would move the airport someplace else.
- Margaret Salafrio, St John's Wood, 15/01/2009 13:53
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what about calling people aussies, is that racist.
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk, 15/01/2009 13:29
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Good news, let this ridiculous Royal Family take one more step towards oblivion.
- James, London, UK, 15/01/2009 11:44
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To call someone with dark skin sooty is patronising.
In these upper class circles this is saying that we think you are rather fun, a great polo player and we accept you into our circle/club but here is a nickname for you just as a reminder that you are not actually one of us.
- O Beak, LONDON, 15/01/2009 10:21
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comment on racism and Prince Harry.Prince Charles
When did using abreviated version of a countryman become 'Racist'?
I have heard the term 'BRITS' used more times than I care to remember...perhaps David Cameron should take this 'affront' on board his 'eternal whinging' machine..
I always thought of myself as a lifelong Tory..BUT NO MORE!
If we cannot even support our Royal Youth the L***tics have definately taken over the A**lum..(not politically correct to use the full terminology).
- Inge, YORK..ENGLAND, 15/01/2009 10:10
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"...I paid them back by sleeping with their women".
These *are* people we're talking about here, right? So it's OK to 'play the sexism card' if you're Asian?
- Andy, London UK, 15/01/2009 09:35
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