Anti-Racist Lent

Why this obsession with skin colour? Would you believe if I were to say that India is a racist country? Look at the commercial advertisements, review the excessive sale of cosmetics for fairness in India, observe the casting of actors in movies, take a look at the matrimonial ads; in these we would see the tentacles of the ugliest form of racism protruding. It often wonders me how racial we are even while naming the ‘beauty’ products – ‘Fair & Lovely’. This gives the message that only that which is fair is lovely. Who decides the yardsticks of beauty? Is beauty ascribed to skin colour? Casteism is invariably present in this nation and now racism is also at its rise. Shame on anyone who tries to define beauty on the premise of skin colour. Women are the most vulnerable victims of the pervasive racism in this country. Mudra Mukesh an academician, lecturer and researcher disturbingly writes;

In the mainstream, women are perceived as a collection of perfect hair, breasts, a tiny waist and the right skin colour and nothing more, and this is what is represented on TV and in the movies as well.  Every time someone has to ask about a bride and groom who are getting betrothed, the question pertaining to the man usually is “What does the boy do?”, and the comment regarding the girl is “Oh, she is very pretty!” So when a woman’s existence and self-worth is linked to her beauty (which must align with the ideal of beauty as constructed by the society), there will be instances where parlour aunties would want to rid you of all your “ugliness” to render you more attractive.

If we find the aforementioned fact to be way too revealing we are yet to know how disgraceful this country is turning out to be. RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) in outrageous and dishonouring acts by following the Vedic preaching and post-World War II experiments in Germany, is in the attempt of producing customized babies. RSS propagates that true Indians i.e. ‘uttam santatis’ should be of fair complexion and tall. This demonic racist interpretations of the RSS should be vehemently condemned. Tarun Vijay, an RSS protagonist disgracefully opines;

“North Indians are White (Aryans) whereas South Indians are Black (Dravidians) thus belonging to two different races. The Aryans of the North are doing a favour to Black South Indians by allowing the latter to stay with the former”.

India’s social fabric is very complex. Patriarchy, casteism, economic-religion-ethnic-linguitsic-cultural differences are to name a few. Now the nation does not have the strength to tolerate racism as well. A Facebook photo series, entitled ‘Dark is Divine’, by photographer Naresh Nil is subverting the unrelenting obsession with fairness by portraying gods and goddesses as dark-skinned.

In a 2015 paper, entitled ‘India and Colourism: The Finer Nuances’, published in the Washington University Global Studies Law Review, the author Neha Mishra writes:

Most Indians show apparent ignorance about the practice of exclusion and discrimination based on the skin tone of a person although it is a deep-rooted problematic practice embraced by both the oppressor and the victim. This single practice has become so widespread in India, more so in the past four decades, that it has taken shape along the same lines as “colourism” of the Western world. However, the manifestation of the colour discrimination in India differs as it hides behind various other variables…. Caste, class, religion, region, gender and economics are a few of these variables.

Christians are not far away in nourishing this obsession of fairness. Turn to the photographs of Jesus you possess. How could a middle-eastern Jew look like an American? The Christian fascination for fairness becomes explicit in the adoption and glorification of a westernized image of Jesus. Forensic Anthropology, a new scientific method helps us solve this dilemma. Using methods similar to those police have developed to solve crimes, British scientists, assisted by Israeli archaeologists, have re-created the most accurate image of the most famous face in human history - Jesus.

India celebrates the festival of Holi today. Holi is the festival of colours. A day when the colour barriers are overstepped and colours are celebrated. Holi could also be a festival which spearheads anti-racist campaigns. Holi ought to impart the message that there is absolutely no space for racism in this world as we vouch not only to accept but also celebrate the distinct skin colours of our fellow friends.

Lent is time to embrace and celebrate differences of any sort. Make this an anti-racist Lent. Counter the elements of racism - no matter however trivial they are – and oppose them tooth and nail.  I conclude with a true act of rebellion;

In 2016 P. S. Jaya, an artist living in Tripunithura, Kochi, painted herself black every day when she stepped out of her house. She walked the streets, boarded buses, went to teach art and painting at a private institute, met friends and family, hung out at restaurants – all the while coloured in a dark coloured skin. This was her protest against racism. This social experiment of Jaya should reverberate in each of our minds so that we never bear the ignominious yoke of racism. Amen

Prayers

Dn. Basil Paul