The issue of racism abounds in our society. Though we Indians come in all shades “Fair is superior/beautiful, dark is inferior/ugly” mantra has been sung and wrongly believed since ages. I have never encountered racism until the time came for me, to search for a spouse. Then I tasted it’s most vile form.
In the concept of arranged marriage/proposals set up by families, one of the initial questions asked is ‘What is her complexion?’ The minute it is known I am dusky/wheatish/dark/tanned (You see, Indians have a colourful vocabulary!), it negates all my achievements, educational qualifications, qualities and goodness of heart (if any!). How much more shallow can we be? Reducing an individual’s personality to that of her skin colour is one of the gross injustice we can do to any person.
My idea until now was, such racist prejudices doesnt exist amongst the educated class or the religious sections. I couldn’t have been more naive ! Take the Sunday edition of any Indian newspaper and looking at the page dedicated to matrimonials and with the number of ‘fair brides only’ advertisements, we see the open celebration of racism in our society.
How can we create awareness amongst people? How can we change this mindset? Where do we start from?
I share this beautiful verse from the Holy Qur’an :
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge. (30:22)
(The 365 prompts given by Daily Post has this prompt for today : “Think global, act local.” Write a post connecting a global issue to a personal one)
Linking it to NaBloPoMo.
