‘Infrastructure doesn't equal inclusion’: Oswal sisters on Switzerland’s systemic bias and ‘curry muncher’ taunts
For the global Indian elite, a ten-acre estate in one of the wealthiest countries on earth is often viewed as the ultimate symbol of having
For the global Indian elite, a ten-acre estate in one of the wealthiest countries on earth is often viewed as the ultimate symbol of having “arrived”. But for the Oswal sisters, Ridi and Vasundhara, their family's sprawling ₹1,649 crore Swiss property, Villa Vari, did not buy them immunity from what they say is a deeply embedded, systemic xenophobia. Following a viral video in which a local man hurled racist abuse outside their gates, the sisters shared with LiveMint the reality of being a successful Indian expat in Switzerland. The harassment captured on camera, the Oswal sisters said, was not an isolated incident of a rogue neighbour. Instead, it was the culmination of a culture of offensive stereotypes against Indians, which begins in classrooms where teachers ignore slurs like “curry muncher”. They also challenged the very definition of a “developed” nation, arguing that pristine infrastructure means little if a society's mindset remains aggressively underdeveloped. Also Read | Vasundhara Oswal calls out racism and xenophobia in Switzerland in viral post “If a country has so much prejudice against a nationality, they should put it on their website. Stop taking our education fees, our labour, and our investments.” — Ridi Oswal ‘Indians told to become more Swiss’ For many, Switzerland represents the pinnacle of the European dream, a safe haven of neutrality and luxury.
However, Ridi and Vasundhara's lived experience paints a starkly different picture of assimilation and exclusion. Since the Oswal family has had a permanent home in Switzerland for nearly a decade now, the recent harassment was not a mere misunderstanding levelled at a tourist, but a persistent reality for residents of colour. “I started studying in Switzerland when I was eight years old. I never felt like I belonged there, which is very important to highlight,” Ridi told LiveMint. “Growing up in a country where the culture is mostly unaccepting towards Indians is difficult. While they try to accommodate other cultures, Indians were almost told to stay back, change ourselves, and become more Swiss.” This pressure to assimilate, the sisters said, often targeted Indian core cultures. Ridi recalled being pushed to abandon her vegetarian diet simply to fit into the local norm, a subtle but pervasive demand to erase her heritage in exchange for acceptance. ‘Curry munchers’: Silent complicity of system The Oswal sisters highlighted that the foundation for adult prejudice is laid in Swiss classrooms, where institutional silence breeds complicity. Ridi pointed to the specific, targeted nature of the xenophobia she faced as a young student, and the alarming failure of authority figures to intervene.
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