Since long the cosmetics industry, with the expenditure of millions of rupees, has been successful in making Indians believe that “fair is the real beautiful”.
Going by their commercials, as one of them shows, a girl who is dark is low in confidence and a failure in life. And as soon as a fairness cream comes to her rescue, her life changes miraculously. Life becomes so beautiful for her that the girl clears a job interview, becomes a pilot, gets the guy she wants, wins laurels for the nation and what not...!!
It makes you believe that you are low and inferior, just because you don't look fair.
Are we really that dumb to believe that ‘fair' skinned people go on to be more successful than the dusky-skinned individuals? Yes….sadly, we do believe them!
But yes, why else would there be an entire giant market space of nearly 200 crores for just ‘fairness creams' in India? And now with more guys also turning fair (thanks to ‘fair & handsome'), I am pretty sure, this figure will just keep rising.
If you doubt the raised point, then open any matrimonial page. The first thing you'll come across is ‘Wanted Fair, Slim and Beautiful'. Switch on the TV and every other fairness cream advertisement is going as deep as possible on their ethics to make us believe that without ‘being fair' we stand no chance of success in the society.
The colonial British rulers of past have also, to some extent, fuelled the thought that the whiter race is superior. Unfortunately, even after 68 years of Independence, we still seem to be stuck in the chasm of their colonial hangover..!!
Not just the common man but high profile politicians are also not behind in making sexist comment. Recently, JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav commented sarcasticically on complexion of south Indian girls. "Your god is dark like Ravi Shankar Prasad (present in the House), but your matrimonial ads insist on white-skinned brides," he said.
Adding more to it, another one, the Chief Minister of Goa Laxmikant Parsekar recently advised a group of nurses that they should not protest in the sun as it would darken their complexion and ruin their prospects of marriage.
Another BJP leader, union minister Giriraj Singh, blundered into a massive controversy with his racist comments on Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Till the time these influential people, whose each word and statement impact the masses strongly, will not stop making such comments, the common man also won't be able to overcome such lame thinking.
‘Fair equals beautiful. Dark equals ugly. That is the twisted 'wisdom' of the ages.'
Yes, this is the wisdom for ages but now it's high time we should thrash this thinking into bin.
There are several examples which show that despite being dusky, some of the ladies have reached at top positions in their fields and have been successful in carving a niche for themselves.
For an example, one may look at Bollywood diva Priyanka Chopra who despite being dusky in complexion has been successful internationally?
And yet another Bollywood diva Nandita Das who has done some of the most critically acclaimed movies. Regardless her complexion, the lady has achieved all stardom and fame. She herself is a part of organization 'Stay Unfair, Stay Beautiful' which deals with discrimination on the basis of complexion.
Even business women likes Chanda Kochar, Indra Nooyi are some of the leading ladies who are on the peak of their career regardless of their complexion.
As a country, we are too obsessed with fairness. Most Indians regard fairness very highly and denigrate dark skin. Men want fair wives, mothers want fairer daughter-in-laws and the list goes on but stop for a moment and think whether this dark and fair thing really matters? And if the deeds, skills and knowledge hold no account?
Don't forget duskiness camouflages blemishes better!
In Indian society there are so many harsh things that dark-skinned women hear every day. Yes, we look different from others, but instead of feeling inferior, let's take pride in that. Remember that success and happiness has no color. Go out and breathe your own colour, your interior beauty – that's more important!.
