Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 01, 2008
Rengineering Race
In an article "Wake up and smell the prejudice "published on cricinfo website, soumya Bhattacharjee writes that"In the wake of Monkeygate, Indians must confront the ugly fact that they are racist - unconsciously or otherwise". It transpires that the writer happened to be dark complexioned and is carrying the hurt from childhood when others referred to him as moila.
It is true that in India colour prejudice works but so does prejudice against the bald , they are called takla, which is hardly a complimentary or an endearing term. And there are many other groups. In Bihar the bus conductors refer to women as sawari if they are traditionally dressed and lady if they are slightly urbane looking.
It is therefore surprising the writer take Indian unconscious reaction as racist. they are anythingbut racist.they may have called the West Indies players kaloo but they also called the English players Gora.Now which of the two response is racist? If we go by what the writer wants us to believe Gora is complimentary. I think both are neutral words and mean no more than what they signify.In our country where every one with legal literacy has a PIL ready, the advertisement for fairness cream is not taken to court.It fulfils a need.If in a team which has players of different race, caste , colour and religion without realising their difference, it means we are race neutral.This is what angers the politically correct brigade.Why do Indians not recognise race and go paranoid about race relations? If they have no race talk them into believing. Those making monkey faces in baroda were creating nuisance against a player who they thought was arrogant.It must be viewed in the light of public show of hate that we experience often and what Arun shourie called our national pastime, "abuse".
It is true that in India colour prejudice works but so does prejudice against the bald , they are called takla, which is hardly a complimentary or an endearing term. And there are many other groups. In Bihar the bus conductors refer to women as sawari if they are traditionally dressed and lady if they are slightly urbane looking.
It is therefore surprising the writer take Indian unconscious reaction as racist. they are anythingbut racist.they may have called the West Indies players kaloo but they also called the English players Gora.Now which of the two response is racist? If we go by what the writer wants us to believe Gora is complimentary. I think both are neutral words and mean no more than what they signify.In our country where every one with legal literacy has a PIL ready, the advertisement for fairness cream is not taken to court.It fulfils a need.If in a team which has players of different race, caste , colour and religion without realising their difference, it means we are race neutral.This is what angers the politically correct brigade.Why do Indians not recognise race and go paranoid about race relations? If they have no race talk them into believing. Those making monkey faces in baroda were creating nuisance against a player who they thought was arrogant.It must be viewed in the light of public show of hate that we experience often and what Arun shourie called our national pastime, "abuse".
Absent Thee Felicity Awhile
The one off twenty 20 may be a one off low key performance or it may be a sign of the malaise of blow hot blow cold performance of the indian team. Dhoni in his arrogance said they would be treating this as practice.This in a situation when most of the glory these players have been basking in are in this form of the game.
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