It's been a while that I started writing a blog.Again it is to do with my lack of drive to write a blog every week than on any dearth of topics.It was an eventful week,Sensex crashing,India's win in T20,Chirnajeevi's daughter eloping...and on a private note,Metrozone's show flat seem to be ready for opening.
In all this,I somehow felt the incident involving Symonds at Vadodra and Mumbai needs special mention here.It is not always that Indians are accused of racism.In fact it comes as surprise that inspite of our "cultural heritage" preventing us from indulging in such despicable acts, "racist" tag seem to be attached to us.
No matter how hard it may sound,it is true.As someone(sorry could not remember the person's name) mentioned in the columns of The Hindu that there are multiple layers of racism in India intertwined in the name of caste,religion and creed,that we are too tired to notice them.Probably that is the reason why we as a nation overreacted to misdemeanour on Shilpa Shetty on the sets of 'Big Brother'.Although our collective consciousness did not even cause a faint ripple,let alone be stirred when our farmers committed suicide or when dalits are oppressed on a day to day basis.
I must admit that for over few millenia our society has accepted such acts on our brethren,that it has gradually got acclimatised in our social system.That's why a colored Australian was singled out for such racist slur.It is bit deep rooted in our medieval mindset.Personally I have witnessed Africans being jeered at by our countrymen...who themselves were not fairness personified.
Just look at those ads on face creams,which often promise you of fair skin,a dubious claim,and still do good business inspite of this.As per one of the market survey conducted by Business Line:
"Of the Rs 3,000-crore cosmetics and toiletries industry, the market size of the skin-care segment alone is estimated at Rs 1,200 crore."
Perhaps this almost fetish like obsession with fairness,again due to our cultural lineage,is making us racist.
Please pen your opinions.
Pic Courtesy: Sydney Morning Herald
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