From: skd@cacs.usl.edu (Suresh Damodaran Kamal)
Subject: Re: Bride wanted
Keywords: RACISM IN INDIA 
Organization: The Center for Advanced Computer Studies, USL
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 15:44:07 GMT

In article <ac.47@apmaths.uwo.ca> ac@apmaths.uwo.ca (alka chandna) writes:
>In article <1992Apr12.214848.8896@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> mpg8842@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Madhav  Parthasarathy) wri
>tes:
>
> What's wrong>  about wanting a well-educated or fair or 
>good-looking spouse?  To all the people who>  have been denouncing this as 
>discrimination, let me ask you a question.  Would you>  be willing to marry 
>an ugly person (arranged or otherwise)?  I know I wouldn't.  
>
>my reply:
>a ... fair .. spouse".  my understanding is that the word "fair", when used 
>in this context, refers to the extent of pigmentation in one's skin.  it is 
>well known in indian circles that a person (particularly this applies to 
>women, although men become victims of this prejudice as well) is considered 
>to be more attractive if they are lighter skinned. If this is what is 
>being referred to in these matrimonial postings, then YES, I DO HAVE A 
>PROBLEM WITH THEM.  
>	a fairly painful set of memories from my childhood brands me as 
>being "ugly" because i didn't have blonde hair, blue eyes or an acquiline 
>nose.  the small-minded hatred which characterizes racism is to be found 
>also in the arbitrary ways in which we define beauty.  there's much more to 
>the issue of desiring a "fair" bride than a benign personal preference.
>	
	If Mr.Parthasarathy wants a fair bride, its his preference. 
	So it doesn't make sense to make a point on racism among Indians
	based on his concept of beauty.

	As you mention the descrimination based on skin color, well, I was
	brought up in India, and I know it is very much prevalent in a 
	much greater degree in various forms in India. The reason possibly:
	many of the "upper(may be Aryan) castes" (by Manusmrithi) have fairer skin; and they
	have been economically and politically powerful than the various
	tribes (Scheduled) and Dravids for centuries. This might have caused 
	the association of skin color to beauty and power. This is on a
	down trend these days, perhaps due to the various grades of
	brown in the Indian race.  Political awareness among people may be
	another reason.
	
	One way to get through racism (the only way I know of) is to consciously
	try NOT to develop inferiority complex (which is very easy to develop)
	and develop friendship with at least one individual of the other 
	race/tribe. (Sometimes it is easier with the opposite sex!!).
	Then slowly expand your circle of friendship.

	I have seen bothsides of racism in India (as a cross product of
	different races/tribes) as well as in US. I think it is worse in
	India than here (Whites vis Indians/foreigners(in US) and "upper
	castes" vis "lower castes"( in India)).

	These days another type of "racism" based on language is developing
	in India. People who speak some languages are considered somehow
	superior to people who speak some other languages. (Eg: Tamil vis Hindi
	in N. India).

	Developing awareness among the masses through education is the only
	long term means to counter it, though many times political forces 
	try to impede this process, due to obvious reasons.

-Suresh	
--
========================================================================
Suresh Damodaran-Kamal                    Holler: 318-231-5808(O)
P.O.Box 42322                            	  318-233-8559(H)
Lafayette,                                  Email:skd9499@usl.edu 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian