MELBOURNE: An elite Australian college has sparked a race controversy after it organised a "colonial- themed" party where Indians wearing traditional garments served guests present at the event.The St Paul's college, affiliated with the University of Sydney, had organised its yearly "upscale" dinner with an 'end of the British raj' theme, asking guests to come dressed in "white tie of colonial uniform" and served them Indian food.
College students, who arrived at St Paul's great hall dressed in immaculate black dinner suits with matching white handkerchiefs, were met by a team of Indian and south Asian waiters, dressed in colourful traditional cultural garments, who served them Indian delicacies and curries, the Sydney Morning Herald reported today.
But within days of the event, ideological war broke out at the university over whether the college was basking in the glory of colonialism and slavery. Before long, vicious vitriol began ricocheting across Facebook, the report said.
"I am Indian and I used to go to college. My relatives suffered in colonial India. This theme offended me and brought me to the brink of tears," one female student wrote.
