Maureen Chao: US Diplomat under fire for 'Dirty & Dark' Comment

Indian Politicians Demand Maureen Chao Recall

US consulate official Maureen Chao is getting slammed in the Indian media over a comment she made while visiting SRM University Chennai.

In describing a heavily delayed train journey,  Maureen Chao told the kids, "I was on a 24-hour trip from Delhi to Orissa. But, after 72 hours, the train still did not reach the destination... and my skin became dirty and dark like the Tamilians." Chao, who is Caucasian, was describing her own experience as a student living in India.

'Expel Maureen Chao': Local Politicians

The Consulate General's Office was left with egg on its face, and released a public apology. PMK co-founder S. Ramadoss, though, wants Maureen Chao expelled. Jayalalitha, Tamil Nadu's chief minister, described Chao's remarks as "highly condemnable", saying, "You will agree that this remark of the vice-consul is an affront to all Tamils."

If you're a Caucasian diplomat in a non-white country, do whatever you can to avoid describing the locals as "dirty and dark". There's no good way to take that.

While overall US-Indian relations probably won't suffer much because of this, Chao's reputation in Chennai is definitely compromised.