“Fair, slim and beautiful bride wanted”. This is the pre-requisite for marriage. Our obsession for fair skin is not new. America finally got over its racial fixation, but when will India get over it? India is not a fair-skinned country. It has its share of color tones. As we move towards the south, the white Aryan tone gradually varies giving way to wheatish Dravidian shade. Our chromatic convictions are pretty strong....no room for debate. It’s an axiom that white is better than the black. Many times I have had friendly arguments with my grand mom on this issue and she did believe fair skin was a bonus.
A few days back, nani’s friend happened to visit us. My nani was super-excited to meet her. It was delightful to watch them chirp like pony-tailed teenagers. I happened to overhear their conversation or you can call it unintentional snooping…Now who doesn’t like gossips? Some uncle’s wife’s cousin’s daughter was trying to get married but it seems her dark complexion was playing the villain! Then the friend, to my utter contempt, said, “Even your grand daughter is dark…how will you marry her off?” .Though slightly offended, I waited for my grand mom’s reaction. My nani brightly quipped, “Don’t worry Gita, Obama is the new president and black is the new white…you never know when people would start looking for intelligent dark women like Michelle as potential life partners.” Her friend’s ‘bowled over’ look was indeed a Kodak moment!
A few days back, nani’s friend happened to visit us. My nani was super-excited to meet her. It was delightful to watch them chirp like pony-tailed teenagers. I happened to overhear their conversation or you can call it unintentional snooping…Now who doesn’t like gossips? Some uncle’s wife’s cousin’s daughter was trying to get married but it seems her dark complexion was playing the villain! Then the friend, to my utter contempt, said, “Even your grand daughter is dark…how will you marry her off?” .Though slightly offended, I waited for my grand mom’s reaction. My nani brightly quipped, “Don’t worry Gita, Obama is the new president and black is the new white…you never know when people would start looking for intelligent dark women like Michelle as potential life partners.” Her friend’s ‘bowled over’ look was indeed a Kodak moment!
18 comments:
Well, it's actually nice to see someone from your nani's generation who actually believes that beauty is not skin deep :)
I think we, as Indians, are ultimately going to get over with the hype surrounding fair skin one day or the other. The younger generation specially isn't too obsessed with the idea of superficial beauty. The advertisements that come up in the matrimonial columns with clockwork regularity have more to do with the fact that our parents/grandparents are the once who are behind them :)
hey..ure nani is cool... :P
well..nice topic u brought up there...Il like to go with wat anurag said.
Since this post post had u in consideration...I jus happen 2 remember someone, rather appreciating ure persona with true conviction... :P
dun wana disclose nething else publicly...hehe ;)
keep writing...
@ Arunabh: I quite agree with you but as far as marriage(arranged) is concerned,it's not just the decision of the present generation! Keep visiting :)
@ Devarshi: ??!?? :P
Well aneesha i completely agree with you..we Indians do tend to favor the fair skin more...just look at all the adds..now there is fairness cream for the men also...
I myself have faced ridicule bcos of my skin colour...What these people don't remeber is that we Indians were called Blacks and the Britisher's whites...Still we have fixation with white skin..anyways a nice blog...
kudos to your granny!
now thts black magic :D
"when black will not be asked to get back, brown can stick around, yellow will be mellow, the red man can get ahead, and white will embrace what is right."
tht's all i ca say
Nice... your nani is super cool... and frankly i love the way u put some very generic things up on your blog.
Well i dont know... but i still think ppl are preoccupied with this concept even today... how much ever one tries to act cool, most of them simply cannot get over it.
Indians are among the most racist breed I think... nowhere else in the world do Fair & Lovely and Fair & Handsome sell as much for sure !!
@ Sanal: I was amused when 'Fair and Handsome' ad was aired...Aren't men supposed to be 'tall dark hansome' analogous to their 'fair slim beautiful' counterparts? Now Emami is trying to create a revolution:P
@Shamanth: Black magic it is!
@Ashish:This reminds me of an e-mail, I recieved some years back:
A black man talks to a white man
When I was born I was black,
When I grew up I was black,
When I go in the sun I'm black,
When I'm cold, I'm black,
When I'm scared, I'm black,
When I'm sick, I'm black,
When I die I'll still be black.
But you: When you're born you're pink,
When you grow up you're white,
When you go in the sun you turn red,
When you're cold you turn blue,
When you're scared, you're yellow,
When you're bruised, you're purple,
When you're sick, you're green,
and when you die you turn grey.
And you have the nerve to call me colored.
@Sai: Thanks Sai :D
I completely agree with you.We are this huge bunch of hypocrites.
People protest against dowry and burn their wives and daughter-in-laws back home;they engage in moral policing without bothering about the criminal charges against them!
hmm...overall i guess this era is about to end, as love-marriage count is on the rise, these unwanted differences will vanish soon...
but, I am cusrious to know sumthing else... :P
In ref 2 one of ure earlier comments
1. Is this Tall-Dark-Hansom thing really true?? cus i ve been hearing it since i was in 10th std
2. If yes, I wana know y d hell ?? I mean after drinking which kind of potion did women in general, came to sucha conlusion! :P
@ Devar: Ofcourse it is true! Heard of 'tall dark handsome knight in shining armour riding a white horse came along and swooped the PYT from the clutches of hysterical villian'...not like the one in 'jane tu ya jane na'...like the ones in fairy land stories? That's where the idea comes from! ;) :P
PS: Any more doubts,get back to me !
8(
Yea!....plenty!!
il get back on this...may be with a post like yours, to support this cause :P
ciao!
I had written a poem a few years ago on a similar topic...
My theme was "Wanted a slim, beautiful...wife"
Fat
Matrimonies aren’t meant for me,
Thin is what they want me to be.
Blunt and frank as well people are,
-My figure isn’t that of a superstar.
My parents are worried for my life,
Who’ll accept me, as a doting wife?
“Body”, perhaps drives this society.
Heart for the ruthless is a futile entity.
I have tried but nature defies me.
Surgery is something I don’t agree.
I have accepted myself the way I am.
About the people- I don’t give a damn.
I am fat but I certainly am not fragile.
For me, self respect is on top of the pile.
I know someone will love my heart.
Someday…society will make a new start.
@Jay: Dats a beautiful poem! Crisp and hits on the target...loved it :)
Keep Visiting!!
sad really how stuck up we are on skin colour... ironical in fact, considering the whole world sees 'us' as brown.
hey.... paati ko mere aur se bhi is baat ke liye khoob saara pyaar
:D
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