Buddhism Quote by John Keay
““In contemporary Indian sources these first marauding disciples of Islam are occasionally identified as Yavanas (Greeks),Turuskas (Turks) or Tajikas (Tajiks or Persians), but more usually as mlecchas. The latter term meant what it always had: foreigners who could not talk properly, outcastes with no place in Indian society and, above all, inferiors with no respect for dharma.””
About This Quote
Source History Book: The Great Mughals, 2007
Historical Indian texts labeled foreign Muslims as outsiders and inferior, reflecting deep social prejudice.
In simple terms: Foreigners were seen as inferior and outcasts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge cultural bias.
Themes
prejudice
identity
history
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- intercultural dialogue
- media representation
Key Concepts
sociology
colonialism
ethnocentrism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern societies label “others”?
- What can reduce such bias?
A Different Perspective
Labeling can reinforce division and hinder integration.
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