[Being subjected to racism doesn’t give you an advantage—it does the opposite. It pulls you back, keeps you out of opportunities, and makes you question your worth. ]
Aaruni Abhishek
Background
When justice systems are slow, especially in cases involving racial discrimination, police violence, land rights, or child protection, the delay doesn’t just prolong suffering—it often erodes trust in institutions and deepens inequality. In many instances, the victims feel forgotten or ignored, the perpetrators continue without accountability, and the communities lose faith in the rule of law.
In Canada, for example, we’ve seen this in the delays of inquiries into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, or the slow responses to hate crimes and racial profiling cases. These delays send a message that certain lives are valued less.
Racial discrimination continues to be a global issue, and while many view countries like Canada as progressive and inclusive, that doesn’t mean they are free from systemic racism or everyday discriminatory practices.In Canada, racial discrimination has deeply impacted:
• Indigenous communities, who have faced centuries of colonialism, residential schools, land dispossession, and ongoing systemic neglect in areas like healthcare, education, and child welfare.
• Black Canadians, who experience racial profiling, over-policing, and employment and housing discrimination.
• South Asian, East Asian, and Muslim communities, who often face xenophobia, hate crimes, and cultural stereotyping.
What often worsens it is that the discrimination can be subtle, systemic, and deeply embedded in institutions—what many call “polite racism”. It’s not always overt, but it’s just as harmful. This conclusion is out of my own personal experience or observation.
Aaruni Abhishek is a Canadian professional and whistleblower known for raising concerns about privacy and data security violations in the Canadian banking industry, particularly during his tenure at Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group). His advocacy has drawn attention to systemic issues related to workplace discrimination, racism, and the treatment of whistleblowers in Canadian institutions.
He is a first-generation immigrant to Canada and has described his journey as shaped by values of integrity, justice, and civic responsibility. Mr. Abhishek worked in the Canadian financial sector, including a notable role at a TD Bank branch in Oakville, Ontario. In 2022, he raised concerns about a privacy and security breach at the branch, where confidential client information could allegedly be overheard by individuals using nearby ATMs due to architectural design flaws.According to Mr. Abhishek, despite repeated internal efforts to address the issue through TD’s hierarchy—including human resources, ombudsman offices, and executive leadership—no corrective action was taken. Instead, he alleges he was retaliated against for raising the concern, and his career progression was impeded.
Following his departure from the bank, Abhishek pursued his concerns through formal channels, including the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) and other regulatory bodies. He has spoken about facing racial discrimination during this process, claiming that both private and public institutions failed to protect whistleblowers or act on complaints from racialized individuals.
Mr. Abhishek has used platforms such as LinkedIn to share his story and critique institutional practices, often through ethical and philosophical lenses—drawing parallels to Stoicism, Samurai codes, and historical figures like Xenophon. His posts have garnered attention for combining personal narrative with broader social critique.
Public Discourse
Mr. Abhishek’s writings and image-based posts highlight what he describes as a broader pattern of silencing and marginalization of immigrants and minorities in Canadian workplaces. His criticisms extend to the CHRC, which he has accused of facilitating cycles of injustice by failing to hold employers accountable.His activism has sparked online discussions about institutional racism, ethical leadership, and the treatment of minorities in Canada’s corporate and regulatory systems.
Impact
What many don’t talk about is how systemic barriers like racism don’t just impact your emotional and mental well-being—they can also derail your career prospects. Despite my best efforts, despite my qualifications, I’ve often felt like I was swimming against a strong current that others don’t even see.Being subjected to racism doesn’t give you an advantage—it does the opposite. It pulls you back, keeps you out of opportunities, and makes you question your worth. The result? You get left behind. While others progress, you’re stuck, watching from the sidelines.
“I’ve faced the harsh truth that this kind of discrimination doesn’t just affect your present—it stunts your future growth, hindering your ability to advance in the job market. It breaks your spirit, but worse, it breaks your ability to move forward.”
For those who haven’t experienced this, it might be hard to understand. But for many of us, it’s a daily struggle—one that we can’t just ‘overcome’ or ‘move past.’ The impact lingers, not just in how you see yourself but in how others see you as well. I wish more people understood that overcoming racism isn’t just about ‘getting back on track’—it’s about breaking through a barrier that should never have existed in the first place.
Recognition and Criticism
As of 2025, Mr. Abhishek’s allegations have not been formally addressed in mainstream media. No formal ruling in his favour has been publicly documented, and critics argue that without third-party validation, the claims remain unverified. However, supporters view his efforts as part of a larger, necessary conversation about whistleblower protection and anti-racist reform in Canada.