[neilk]

It's surprising to you because North Americans have gotten used to saying "people of color" as if they were all united.

Upper-caste Indians basically see themselves as people on top of the racial hierarchy. In many ways they identify far more strongly with British or American elites than with Dalits.

[_hhkc]

I was more surprised because I assume they’ve faced their own fair share of discrimination from Americans

[saagarjha]

It's often hard for many people to empathize with people they view as being entirely separate from themselves, even when undergoing similar hardships.

[sudosysgen]

An amazingly astute trick by the British.

[tt433]

Replicated across the Empire, divide and conquer, or co-opt and exploit