Can an Indian be a Racist ?
Recently, Pooja Bhatt, when asked about the controversy surrounding the South African actress and her, said that how can she being an Indian be called as a Racist. What does Racism have anything to do with being an Indian or not. Any body could be a Racist, immaterial of what color he/she is. Matter of fact, according to me, most of the Indians are racist, they just not only discriminate on the basis of color, they also discriminate on the basis of any factors that you can think of.
Instead of healthy babies, even now at this modern times most of the Indian parents, will ask for a fair beautiful looking babies. For most of us, beauty is being white/fair. I remember having a discussion about Halle Berry among my friends after she won her oscar, and one of my friends an Indian, told us that how can she be beautiful, she is as dark as his maid-servant at home. What do you call this feeling towards being dark ? Recently, a Florida based Gujarati motel owner was charged with Racism, he would not allow any African Americans in his motel to use the swimming pool, and the owner would allot them shabby rooms instead of the finer rooms, which was mostly given to the white people.
Most of us, would be really surprised to see a fair looking girl/boy among a bunch of slum kids, we would ask ourselves, "how come that fair kid is poor ?", isn't it ? If it doesnt reflect racism among us, what does it show ? I don't know, for me it is. Read through this article by Francois Gautier in rediff, which reflects some of my feelings. Go through some of the comments that this article has evoked. Too sad a white person has to let us know about our fascination towards being white.
More to follow about my feelings towards secularism.
12 Comments:
I read that article too in May around the time that "Saint" Sonia renounced the P.M post. It's a nice one. I agree with that many Indians are racists. Look at the kind of ads that Fair and Lovely runs. A year ago I remember seeing an ad where a girl who aspires to become an air hostess is unable to do so because she is dark. After using the cream, Lo and Behold, she is a jet setting career girl about who her parents couldn't be more proud of.
Frankly, I've noticed that many Indian girls feel more appreciated in America rather than India because there is no fixed concept of beauty where as in India you have this fixation on white skin, perfect nose, straight hair etc. Here one's attire, attitude, education, achievements and, most importantly, sense of hygiene, are taken into consideration as well and dusky is actually considered a beautiful color to be.
I read that article too in May around the time that "Saint" Sonia renounced the P.M post. It's a nice one. I agree with that many Indians are racists. Look at the kind of ads that Fair and Lovely runs. A year ago I remember seeing an ad where a girl who aspires to become an air hostess is unable to do so because she is dark. After using the cream, Lo and Behold, she is a jet setting career girl about who her parents couldn't be more proud of.
Indica,
Indica.rediffblogs.com
Frankly, I've noticed that many Indian girls feel more appreciated in America rather than India because there is no fixed concept of beauty where as in India you have this fixation on white skin, perfect nose, straight hair etc. Here one's attire, attitude, education, achievements and, most importantly, sense of hygiene, are taken into consideration as well and dusky is actually considered a beautiful color to be.
Hi Indica,
Yes it is very true, ads like Fair and Lovely, does promote a wrong image. And yes, in America, you do find a lot of liking toward the dusky color, i dont want to compare with America, but its sad to realize in India that a lot of discrimination happens towards the darker color and not a lot of action is taken against it.
Anybody can be a racist, if his general values about people & outlook to life is so...But ya sticking to the topic...i agree tht this affinity to whiter skin is becoming a craze, but is it right to associate tht with racism, in all cases ? In South India elders keep saying " Black is beauty". Black skin is supposed to have all the characteristics which embodies beauty .."Lakshanam" they say...Yes, the preference fr the fairer skin is certainly increasing but among a particular class, a particular life style.
I'm a south-Indian and have never heard of a comment complimenting darker colours from the elderly. I've heard of that kind of preference for darker-the-better in Africa, where a darker girl is considered to be more beautiful. But among afro-americans,the biggest problem the race faces is that African men these days prefer white/asian women over african origin women (Newsweek, 2003), thereby many african-american women are resigned to either marrying someone who may not be their equal or living alone. This problem is particularly so by the fact the gender ratios are skewed with women outnumbering men.
Indica
indica.rediffblogs.com
Excellent article. Of course Pooja and Mahesh Bhatt are racist. The two most talented people of the six finalists in the show were given the heave ho and we were left with the riff raff. Bollywood sends out messages that fair is beautiful.
You have ugly obese Punjabi women thinking they are superior than Southern women who are dark and beautiful. Its a corruption of the mind ...If you are fed Fair and Lovely ads all the time what can you expect.
Unfortunately Indians have been corrupted by Muslim and British influences regarding the superiority of fair skin. Within my own community there is not much of this attitude as most people are educated but I do think this attitude will prevail with the trend to being "Western".
The Bhatts are 50% children of the book typos and even if you get a sprinkling of that your mentality could be screwed unless you are spiritually strong.
Keep up the good work !
Hi Indica,
Yes, even i have not heard general complimentary comments about the black colour from the elderly.
But the point raised by you about the preference of White women by Afro-American men, is a similar issue, and also very historical. I have quite a few Afro-American friends, and we have discussed, this affinity of the Afro men towards white women, white men towards asian women, etc etc. And the possible reasons for these affinities.
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for your comments ? May i know your name ? What did you mean by "children of the book typos" ?
Srihari
Hi this is Harsh, Mr Anonymous I beg to disagree with you, to quote you "ugly obese punjabi women". The usage itself tells me a lot about your constitution, however, not getting personal, I would just like to say. Not all people in a society are the same. It take all sorts to make a world. And yes, as Hari mentioned, could you kindly reveal ur humble self ? !
When are you going to update next?
Hi,
I agree with the south Indian thing- iam black and have been told n number of times that" Kaaruppukku Naga Pootu kannala paarkanam" and " Karruppum oru rusi, kaanthalum oru suvai". May be that made me more sensible and free myself from the impact of Fair n Lovely
Hi, Im Govar http://govar.blogspot.com . What you say is right. There is a lot of discrimination around the world, and Indians are no exception. Whatever u say, people find issues of difference - Color, language, North/South etc.
Happens everywhere, even in top-notch b-schools. Leaves a lot to be desired.
i totally agree with you mahadevan. after being brought up in a brahmin family and seeing the indians in the u.s. i have realised that well-to-do/capitalist indians are the worst bunch.
k
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