1.2 Billion Shades of Brown: Are We Racist?

India is a very diverse country. People of all religion and caste reside here. Constitutionally speaking, India is also one of the very few secular countries on this planet. Doesn't this sound quite clichéd? We have been taught right from our school days about the extent of diversity our country boasts in terms of area, religion and people. But in the present scenario, this fact is certainly not evident anywhere other than on paper. Be it in the television commercials, in the newspaper matrimonial or online advertisement, we have made a mockery out of this divergent label attached to our country.

A few days ago, a few Nigerian students were dreadfully attacked by a few brainless and immoral people. The incident not only brings into light the amount of racism which resides within the country but the type of attitude we hold for people with dark skin. Racism has long been associated with the Americans and Britishers in our textbooks. But in today’s India, segregation solely represents one of the many dark pathways in this big country. What happened in Noida with the Nigerian youths was a rather unfortunate matter. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

One of the many atrocious things brought about by the colonial rule in our country would be the obsession with fair skin colour. When we look at matrimonial advertisements or even various jobs like airhostesses, it gives us an idea about how this fascination has been integrated into our society. The cosmetics industry is a pure proof of the racism which is witnessed in this country. Indians spend buckets trying to beautify the skin to unlimited bounds. According to a report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India, the cosmetics industry is poised somewhere around $450mn. This is indeed a dingy and hapless gospel. A country comprising of people with the widest possible range of skin tones, fair carapace is put up as the first and major priority in matrimonial advertisements. Why are we so obsessed with the white skin? And this is just how the fairness cream industry is exploiting the mental preference of Indians. Being black or brown isn’t a stigma which we are so tormentingly trying to get rid of. The mere colour of the skin doesn't decide the type of person one is. Alas, today's society thinks otherwise. Sad.

How come they allow such disturbing ads to function?

On the dark lanes of the World Wide Web, there are ads which simply showcase the extent to which, we as Indians have plunged into. And even sadder is that there are sites which allow such ads to run on their pages. 

Heights of obsession towards fairness

We must first ask ourselves ‘How does colour of skin matter in life?’ Why is such importance given to the skin tone? Why do humans look down towards people having a dark skin? Who gave us the right to make fair skinned people superior than others?

Human Beings are all born equal, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or sex. It is the deplorable work of a few individuals which is why boundaries exist between human beings. It is the duty of us, as responsible human beings to bring equality back in our society. The incident in Noida was an eye opener. And it doesn't end there. Violence in any form towards anybody is a rather regrettable incident. Human development has long been a mere façade. Obstacles remain buried along this astonishing odyssey. Ignorance may be bliss but this is not normal times. Let us all finally join hands together for a better tomorrow.

Jai Hind.