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simianwordstoday at 7:50 AM1 replyview on HN

I find it silly and patronising to call this colonialism.

Colonialism is when globalism? Much of Indians have no problem (I assume) with this.


Replies

patcontoday at 9:57 AM

Don't assume pls. I'd say "ask", and you can just ask AI if you're short on time to find a Indian with sufficient humility to answer cautiously

It will tell you Indians aren't monolithic, and artisans certainly DO mind (while elite or others might not, bc they are ignorant like you or I). It will also tell you that India has "geographical indication (GI) protections for crafts like Kanchipuram silk, Banarasi sarees, and Chanderi fabric specifically to prevent this kind of appropriation".

While an Indian "joe on the street", might not have an opinion, the slower and deliberate machinery of government (which is elected to protect interests of the Indian people) certainly has a problem with such things, and might gladly refer to colonialist tendencies.

Ask a human or an AI yourself, if you care enough to learn rather than just offer a confident take