What is ironic about the treatment of the young Indian man fleeing London's racism in Chapter 7?

After complaining to Theroux about the persistent racism he faced in England, the young Indian was kicked out of the author's train compartment because he did not have a first-class ticket. Ironically, the man assumed the Indian conductor was fawning toward the author by calling him "sahib," but it was actually the Indian who was told to leave. The man also did not seem to understand that Theroux faced the same staring the Indian faced in London.