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Admit it: We're all racist like Giriraj Singh

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Kishwar Desai
Kishwar DesaiApr 03, 2015 | 15:58

Admit it: We're all racist like Giriraj Singh

So a minister in the Modi government makes a "casual" remark about the colour of a woman's skin, and all hell breaks loose. Ban him! Get rid of him! But isn't it time we looked at the deep racism we tolerate day after day in India, and embarrassingly for all of us, was there a kernel of truth in what he said? Wasn't it lucky all around that Sonia Gandhi was neither dark-skinned nor was she blonde and blue-eyed? Surely there is nothing wrong in saying this, as we have heard it in dinner party conversations in Delhi for ages! Even the Congresswalas will admit it! And so don't we know that, sadly, what he said was absolutely true!

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Ultimately, let's face it: (and there is an unintended pun here) the look of a leader today is essentially important. Television has spoilt us. Much like most air hostesses of yore, anyone in public life - TV anchors and politicians especially have to be good-looking, or take a lot of help from the cosmetics department. And I think I can say this legitimately because I was an anchor, and I know the effort that goes into prettying yourself up for the camera. Perhaps the skin colour was not important on TV but we do know that in real life, being dark-skinned in India has been a problem for a long time.

Good looks are also the driving force, especially in politics, not just in India but abroad as well and if you are fair, it certainly helps! Why are we shying away from admitting this dirty little secret? Is it just a coincidence that the younger spokespersons of all political parties all seem to be coming from the same factory? Often I find it difficult to distinguish one from the other, but certainly, the grooming and good looks are all there. And a lot of other unmentionables as well, because if I say the F-word, I will be condemned as a racist.

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And it's not just women, but it applies for men as well. In the UK we now have three young-ish men vying for prime minister, and each one of them works hard at looking good. And the question has been asked whether the UK would be ready for a black prime minister? Slowly, cabinet positions have been given to men and women of colour, but it will still take a while. And we know how tough it was for President Obama. But even after he won, people wondered that had he not been good-looking, would he have had the same appeal? These are tough questions for all of us as voters. And we should not be swayed by the packaging, and examine the ideologies and policies. But given that we have to rely on sound bites and speeches to choose our leaders, their demeanour, the looks, the grooming, the words might sway us.

Unless of course, the leader is so charismatic and carries such a strong message, like Mahatma Gandhi, that the looks just add to the charm! Or has marketing and spin changed all that ? Do we give more importance to the "fair and lovely" men and women, and disregard those of colour? Unwittingly, a debate has been started, and let's first admit that most of us think like the "racist" minister, before we begin to scream about it.

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Last updated: April 03, 2015 | 15:58
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