Recently my friend pointed me to this article on a Times of India Blog. The author of the article raises the point that Indians are as racist as any other people, and gives the example of the preference for fairness prevalent in many matrimonial ads as well as fairness cream ads.
However, this author, along with the countless others, always go wrong here. Dont get me wrong - most Indians ARE racist, hell they might be even more racist than most other peoples. But I entirely disagree about this author's example that preference for fairness is racism. It is taken out of context from the Western civilization's tryst with racism and color.
Some time back, there was this huge uproar about two cheerleaders to an IPL match being given marching orders because they were dark skinned, and the media raised an uproar about Indian "racism". While this is the correct thing to do in a western context where racism and color are intertwined so closely, In the Indian context it is just a preference (albeit very stupid and insensitive) of Indians. If you think this is racism - tell me why are all the cheerleaders (or for that matter actors, tv anchors etc) good looking? Is it not racism against the not-so-good looking people? The author mentioned in the Times blog asks rhetorically - 'when did u last see a matrimonial ad seeking attractive, dark-complexioned life partner'? Well I suppose he saw may ads which were seeking - 'fair skinned, fat, short, unattractive life partners'!!
Many Indians have a preference for fairness. While it is despicable in itself, it is NOT racism. You never see a group of fair-skinned guys way-laying and assaulting a darker skinned guy in India. (It might happen with people from a different caste, religion, place etc). Preference for fair skin is as much a preference for a trait like being taller, skinnier or good looking. But noooo.... these are all just "silly preferences", but use color and it is actual racism. The Indian authors import even the opinions from western authors without bothering to mold it to an Indian context.
Which is what makes me so angry about these articles. While I completely understand a western author mis-reading an Indian's preference for fair complexion as racism, it is completely idiotic for an Indian author make the same mistake.
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