Rather stark and rude title some might say. But then I don't write my thoughts clad in kitten gloves.
What triggered it some might ask. What else than stereotypical Desi thinking?
I watch a serial #EkMutthiAasmaan in which, two women get mothered by a common person. One as a much neglected daughter and the other as a over pampered ,tantrummy charge.
The ladies in question are BLACK AND WHITE.
Oh,for god sake's I am not talking of that cheap whiskey!!
They are chalk and ebony. One dark,pretty,with gorgeous eyes that positively GLOW with joy-de-vivre and the other, fair, bit of a looker but drenched in brattiness & bimboness.
True to Indian prejudice on dark skin,the story shows the darky, Kalpana as unfortunate,long suffering and neglected. To please the obsession for fair skin,the show showers luck,good fortune and attention on the bimbo,albeit not a Blondie here.
So would it surprise you that the fair girl gets the groom & the darkie is left crying?
Why is India so obsessed with white skin? For how many centuries? Why does Unilever proudly proclaim that 64% of Indian women use Fair & Lovely?
Are we not all same under the colour of our chamdi (skin)? Same blood,same muscle,same bones.....yet fair means better??? And when will such thinking stop???
Why do TV channels fear change so much that they just prefer to nod their heads and dare not do anything different?? They are the best tools to get through to people,yet money means much more than changing prejudices.
As for me,I know a "fair " amount of dark women,who are exquisitely sharp featured,accomplished and beauties ,inside out.
I much rather a dark friend with a lovely heart,than an arrogant fair person who thinks her fairness makes her a nice person.
What triggered it some might ask. What else than stereotypical Desi thinking?
I watch a serial #EkMutthiAasmaan in which, two women get mothered by a common person. One as a much neglected daughter and the other as a over pampered ,tantrummy charge.
The ladies in question are BLACK AND WHITE.
Oh,for god sake's I am not talking of that cheap whiskey!!
They are chalk and ebony. One dark,pretty,with gorgeous eyes that positively GLOW with joy-de-vivre and the other, fair, bit of a looker but drenched in brattiness & bimboness.
True to Indian prejudice on dark skin,the story shows the darky, Kalpana as unfortunate,long suffering and neglected. To please the obsession for fair skin,the show showers luck,good fortune and attention on the bimbo,albeit not a Blondie here.
So would it surprise you that the fair girl gets the groom & the darkie is left crying?
Why is India so obsessed with white skin? For how many centuries? Why does Unilever proudly proclaim that 64% of Indian women use Fair & Lovely?
Are we not all same under the colour of our chamdi (skin)? Same blood,same muscle,same bones.....yet fair means better??? And when will such thinking stop???
Why do TV channels fear change so much that they just prefer to nod their heads and dare not do anything different?? They are the best tools to get through to people,yet money means much more than changing prejudices.
As for me,I know a "fair " amount of dark women,who are exquisitely sharp featured,accomplished and beauties ,inside out.
I much rather a dark friend with a lovely heart,than an arrogant fair person who thinks her fairness makes her a nice person.
Candy, 1st of all brilliant topic. When the whole world has moved forward India is still living in the 17th century, where skin colour, caste & gender matters the most. It's such a shame dat Ghandhiji being an indian cud bring change in a foreign land while his own country continues with it's prejudice.
ReplyDeletechange is a big word used frequently by almost every1 bt applied by none. & television soaps,they start with the promise of being different & bring change in the society by giving good social msgs bt end up as a regular desi show with usual, predictable twists. EMA is no different.
& beauty without brains isn't really a good combo. Just being fair doesn't help. & Pookie darling is just fair, pretty not really!! See even her fair complexion cudn't earn her Raghavs attention. Her fair colour can't buy her the intelligence to stand 1st in xams. Bt still Kalpi faces failure always be it in achieving her own moms love or topping the xams or getting married to the love of her life. Well, the cvs do score a 100 in showing strong symbolism as Kalpi's dark comlexion is the symbolism of the prevelant darkness in her life.
P.S.- well did I mention I have missed ur blogs!!
@Jayati I think your reply was far better than my post! Beautifully written and explained.
DeleteAnd yes,every serial starts with "oh we are gonna be different,social issues will be addressed" but at the end of the day, they will only continue and perpetuate the ills of society even more. Glorify fairness,ill treat bahus, show weak or much philandering men and innumerable spineless husbands & sons!
How can India change,when TV channels don't want to bring change?
excellent post vixie, now this is what i know you are capable of........... you know i just thought about this same question myself few days back becos repeatedly i see even in today's society skin color makes a difference, but what do they tell a young woman who's of marraigeable age? skin color of the guy doesn't matter, toh why discriminate against women??? it's high time people opened their eyes and saw beauty is just skin deep and doesn't reflect the true personality inside............ i have a bengali friend who's very pretty to look at but darked skinned, she was rejected by all the guys in India, but a lucky guy in US chose her as is wife...... so in what way are we Indians forward? you tell me
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this myself. Whats up with the dark, intelligent doe-eyed, maid's daughter and the fair self consumed rich brat. storyline. I don't even understand the importance given to this Pakkhi character. coz they never really emphasized how much her parents love her. its more about how much importance Kamla gives to her while all the sacrifices are expected from her own daughter Kalpi.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this myself. Whats up with the dark, intelligent doe-eyed, maid's daughter and the fair self consumed rich brat. storyline. I don't even understand the importance given to this Pakkhi character. coz they never really emphasized how much her parents love her. its more about how much importance Kamla gives to her while all the sacrifices are expected from her own daughter Kalpi.
ReplyDelete