We Are Racists Too!

Whether or not TOI carries RK Laxman's daily YOU SAID IT, it'll definitely talk about some Indian getting assaulted in the now infamous Australia. Articles go on to say how racism is a problem faced by desis everywhere. I agree. But have we looked at what goes on in our house before checking out the shit in our neighbour's place? (The front-page article in the Pune Mirror dated Friday July 10 talks about some Naga students who were racially abused in Pune) To begin with, there's a bombardment of advts. endorsing Fair 'n Lovely, Pond Fairness, Fairever, Emami Fair & Natural, etc. for women. Shahrukh Khan and John Abraham do their bit by being the face of Himani Fairness Cream and Garnier Fairness cream for men. Why? I mean why this obsessive need to look fair? What's wrong if our skin produces that extra ounce of melanin??? Aren't we being racists here? Next come the super annoying matrimonial advts: Need a "Fair", good-looking and well-educated girl/boy blah blah blah... It's amazing how qualifications take a back seat and FAIR is the first word! Amazing priorities. What if your would be groom/bride is a money-sucking parasite, who has no respect for you or your parents? What if all that happens when they open their mouths is garbage flowing out? Ever thought about it? Why do we think girls or boys with darker complexions won't make good spouses? What are your reservations against them? And more importantly WHY??? Aren't we being racists here? A little conversation augmented the intensity of the issue all the more when we had a couple of Baba's colleagues along with their families over dinner at our place last weekend. It happened to be the all-Williams Wimbledon Ladies singles final on that day. One of the colleagues' kid in all its innocence, while watching the final, asked his mom "Why are Venus and Serena so dark?" The answer that came out from his mom was "Because they're Black/Negro". I just wanted to slap the woman real hard. Couldn't you have thought of anything better to answer your child? Aren't we being racists here? For many people, wearing an attire in black on auspicious days or during festivals symbolises something sad/evil. Why? Aren't these lame beliefs man made? What's the big deal? You like it, you wear it - shouldn't it be that plain simple? Aren't we being racists here? For all the filmy people (Bollywood) out there who might defend themselves saying "We ain't like that, we treat everyone equally"...I've one question - In the movie Fashion, Priyanka Chopra's character, Meghana Mathur feels she has hit rock bottom, after she finds herself having slept with an African-American. Why? Would she have felt the same had she slept with a Gora firang? And women in the theatre shed copious tears with her in the next scene. Aren't we being racists here? The answer is "YES, we are racists too!"