Double consciousness of Indian Thais amidst the veil of racial discrimination

Abstract

            Indian Thais, the minority in Thailand, have usually faced racial discrimination. Indian Thai physical and cultural differences, e.g., darker skin color, and Hindu religion, are used as tools to exclude them from Thais, resulting in perceiving themselves as non-Thai people. Such perception is different from their own perception of Thai people, based on their residency and citizenship. Therefore, Indian Thais experience an identity crisis. This qualitative research conducted eight online in-depth interviews with Indian Thais. The notions of double consciousness, suggested by William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, are employed to seek an understanding of how practices of discrimination against Indian Thai affect their identities. 

            The study suggests that Indian Thais unpleasantly experienced verbal and physical discrimination practices introduced by Thai people. Those experience separates Indian Thais from Thais, called the racial veil. The veil enhances the problem of double consciousness, caused by the different identities reflected through Thais’ views and their own senses. Consequently, Indian Thais define and view themselves in three ways: Thai, Indian Thai, and Thai and Indian. Moreover, the study found that experiencing the international social and cultural environments and appreciating Indian cultural roots help cope with the double consciousness of Indian Thais.