Chilligavva

Hailing from a multi ethnic country we definitely encounter racism in India. Some subtle, some not so subtle. The subtle variety lurks everywhere,but no one talks about it. Its funny to read about our sensibilities being offended when it comes to defending the ethnic slurs heaped on a gritty movie star, Shilpa Shetty, that too in a reality TV show. In the back of our minds, we do know that all this is make believe. In a country devoid of hot political topics, the discussion on the slur has even hit the British Parliament. Tony Blair what a welcome relief from the Iraq topic.. Likewise the American Press thats carrying the story too.. Phew…

Most Indians would agree that we as a race are very hypocritical. Read more about this in Suman’s Blog. All are equal, but some are more equal is the chant. If we were so magnanimous, why do all our matrimonal advertisements require fair pretty girls most of the time? [On an aside, of late the software caste has overridden all such restrictions!] How in social discussions we hear “She so FAIR and pretty no?” No wonder “Fair and Lovely” is still the hottest product ever invented.

Do you know how difficult it is growing up in a society that no matter what you do, its only your color that is rewarded? I grew up in South India. Most people I encountered are dark complexioned. If one hears the word “Lakshanamaa (tamil)” or “Lakshanangaa(telugu)”, you know how to translate that one. The single word conveys the total package of - attractiveness, well presented, pleasant. But when used to describe a bride, there is always the additional subtle nuance of “Fair Complexioned”.

Back in 1995-96, when I used to work in Chennai, I had a very fair complexioned tamil male colleague. We were discussing dressing styles, when I suggested that he wear a bright color like a red shirt as he could carry it off nicely. Imagine my surprise, when I encountered “I dont want to look like a bloody Sindhi!” in reply.

But what amuses me even further is that for all its Hindi denial, I used to see subtle signboards hung up on branches of trees in and around Adyar [A locality in Chennai], which would carry the equivalent of the message, “Hindi taught here”. I was puzzling over this secret Hindi clubs when my colleague enlightened me, that to get Central Government jobs, one had to know Hindi and practicality over principles was the norm of the day..

On the other side, when I first landed in the US, I had a couple of black neighbours who I used to talk to. Whenever any member of the Indian community who used to see me in conversation with them had “That expression!” [You are talking to a black guy! A big social no no..].

When I was a student, doing my post graduation, I saw how cruel we Indians could be. In my linguistics class we had a Tanzanian classmate. He wanted to date some girls. But our insecure male guys thought that they could pull a joke on him instead and chose to abuse the ‘Rakhi’ festival. In the hostel[dorm] they misinformed him that whoever ties the Rakhi on his hand would sleep with him. The girls in our class [who outnumbered the boys] made a beeline to tie a Rakhi and declare him their brother [Since he was black, they wanted to make it clear, that he was their brother only!!]. I met him in the evening and he wanted to know when I would be tying one on him. On further questioning, the whole story tumbled out, and I was more disgusted than him believe me!.

[ On an Aside: I personally do not like the festival as I do not believe in external forms of symbolic relationships. If one was to feel brotherly and be protective, they would anyway, with or without the Rakhi..]

With a country full of such emotional baggage, it is extremely silly to defend the honour of our citizen, aka Shilpa Shetty who is getting paid for all her distress. Logically she would be heading for a libel and distress suit, unless her contract is pretty tight. As far as “Big Brother UK” goes, they are getting exactly what they want.. Conflict and viewership.

In retrospect, I am also abetting the cause by writing about it.. But what the heck, I need some readers.. At the end of the day its greed and pragmatism over principlesI guess. [Win win win?]

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