The survey of the British Indian and Hindu community reveals that many individuals are facing prejudice due to misrepresentation in the UK media, stemming from a “colonial” focus on “cows, curry, and caste”. A significant 59% of participants report witnessing or experiencing prejudice due to media reporting on Hindus and Hinduism, with 79% stating negative perceptions of British Indians resulting from such reports. The nationwide survey, conducted by INSIGHT UK among 2,061 respondents, highlights concerns about biased reporting on India, leading to negative perceptions of British Indians (81%). Notably, 91% feel that reporting on India lacks balance, and 89% believe the UK media lacks impartiality regarding Hindu matters.
The survey underscores a specific distrust of the BBC, with 90% perceiving it as the most unreliable source of information about India and 91% finding it the most biased against Hindus. Complaints against both the BBC and The Guardian, the outlets with the highest complaint numbers, resulted in dissatisfaction among 98% of complainants. Additionally, 86% express non-support for the TV license fee funding the BBC.
The concerns raised are attributed to biased reporting and under-representation in the media regarding British Hindu/Indian issues. Respondents emphasize the need for the UK media to shed its “imperial and colonial hangover” and advocate for better sources and increased Hindu representation. In free-text responses, participants mention being mistaken as Pakistani, encountering hate on social media against Indians, and observing a media focus on “cows, curry, and caste”.
