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".

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