A 'dark' truth!

Racism is arguably the most ignored social evil in Indian society. Our obsession with the bright and fair has its roots in the times of British rule, when the darks and dusky were made to feel inferior to the whites.

The brutal lynching of the Congolese student is nothing but another quintessential of ferity faced by a lot in this country for centuries now. The black colour is seen as disease among the general masses, especially in North India. Then we have fairness creams, beauty products and their blatant propaganda everywhere, essentially to make your skin colour fairer.

Racism, black and white, is so deep seated in Indian society that even the songs, verbiage, and jocularity demean those with an unfair skin colour.   

Disrespecting an entire community in the name of humour is, sadly, very common in India. Satirist Kumar Vishwas was caught in controversy where he had used the term ‘Kaali Peeli’ for nurses from Kerala.

In 2014, a Delhi MLA had illegally conducted a ‘raid’ at residences of several African women in the national capital over prostitution rumours. However, the charges were never proved. The MLA won the immediate elections.

Then came a terrifying video of black youths being attacked at metro station by hundreds of daily commuters – the issue which caught international headlines.

However, racism is not something which can be removed overnight. As long as there are ‘black’ lists in our cell phones, ‘black’ Friday (to represent a bad omen) in our books, and a ‘black’ hole in our environment, it is very impossible to fight the black phobia in our psyche. Some would even find the title of this note contradictory. Sadly, it has entered in our speeches too.. ‘Black’ money!

The phobia needs to be injected out of our crests and mere platitudes from government’s side won’t work. Discrimination largely exists in India in the form of caste, creed and gender, and the one in the form of skin colour, generally goes unnoticed. But given India’s strong relations with African nations, the security of their nationals is one of the government’s top responsibilities.

India should never forget that a similar incident in South Africa had become the headspring of Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom struggle.