Breaking it up (I am an Indian)!!!

As I went about reading the newspaper today, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated towards an article – where some people (I really didn’t pay much attention to the cast; the story was disturbing enough) were opposing Angelina Jolie’s role in a forthcoming film which they believed should have been portrayed by a ‘black’. In other parts of the world, people are still simmering over why Shakira was roped in to sing ‘Waka Waka’ – the official FIFA World Cup song when the contest is itself being played out in Africa. I believe Shakira’s role only signifies ‘togetherness’ - which is promoted by the tournament!!!

That there are certain sections of people who believe in such distinction such as rich-poor, black-white and so on is just not understandable. I mean why do people have to resort to ‘divisionary’ practices just to satisfy their egos?? I can understand if some African star (or his/her supporters) would oppose Shakira’s choice for the song for their own gain – if he/she thinks they can bring in that same/more mass appeal worldwide by their inclusion or can do a greater justice to the song. But people who are totally unrelated are the ones promoting such bigotry thoughts. Why this is bad for us?? ‘Coz I believe this airing of views directly or indirectly, in some way has a potential to alienate our thought process in the long run.

People may say that such people do not affect them nor do their views make them biased. But then why is ‘black’ the first thing that comes to our mind when we hear Africa. Why is it that the recent Sprite ads show black people to depict Africans? This has crept up in our mind over the years of hearing views about Africa, hasn’t it?? I feel bad to admit that somewhere inside me, there is a bias against ‘dark-skinned’ women in the sense that I don’t find them attractive. Thankfully, I haven’t let such thoughts alter my behavior towards some of my very good “dark-skinned” friends some of whom are women.

Moving the contours of this discussion to our very own India, ‘hadd kar di hai yaar hamne’!! Some of the biases really are depressing while some manage to bring out a smile. While the traditional biases as mentioned above exists in addition to years old divisions like kshatriya, Brahmin etc – here are some innovative ones.

Khap panchayats have divided people among those with same gotras and those from different ones and have issued a ‘fatwa’ against same-gotra marriages (they believe that everyone of same gotra is one big family….so essentially any marriage in same gotra is between a brother and sister…..this is yet to be biologically proved). At the same time, there is some community which doesn’t allow inter-gotra marriages (I remembering some article about it). Where should then people marry!!! These people really ought to be part of national population control mission (no marriages – no population increase – simple as that). While religion-bias is still almost omnipresent and the people from north-east feel more and more alienated from India (more so because of certain people’s behavior), Shiv Sena is at promoting the ‘Marathi Manoos’ who is above all others. The leaders chosen by us want to have a caste-census as if other divisions are less.

I dread it when someone asks what I am – as in Punjabi, marwari n all. For record, I am Punjabi but I fail to understand such division. My father is from Kanpur (UP) and mother from Delhi – I am Punjabi by origin somehow. I fail to understand how this makes a difference neither have I tried to enquire about this. To top it, some tell me (playfully though) that I bring disgrace to Punjabis by not eating non vegetable food. Give me a break people!!! My choice of food now is a question mark on my ‘punjabi-ness’ though I don’t believe in this ‘punjabi’ thing. The last example is really funny. My firm actually has an unwritten rule of providing CRTs to fresher and LCD screens to those with minimum experience of 1 year. Though IT dept dismisses this theory, this is what we see. It seems some eyes are more precious than others. I know this bias really is inconsequential for someone else, leave alone have an impact on macro-economy, but this is how small un-needed divisions are created.

I agree some divisions are good too. Division of people in India into classes like ATL, BTL (below the poverty line) actually helps implementing programs for these people (though government’s implementation is still questionable). IPL has divided a cricket frenzy nation into groups. But barring a few incidents, cricket has been on the top. Our society works because of division of people into various labor classes viz. domestic helps, workers, businessmen etc. Well, I earn my bread and butter in market research sector segmenting people to identify market opportunities.

Thus, divisions form the basis of society when not promoted in fanatical ways. One may not be comfortable doing work of a domestic help but this in no way demeans her work and she deserves respect. Similarly, the world would be a lot better place if we respect everyone for what they are and not use distinctions in derogatory way. As the old adage goes – “United we stand. Divided we fall”. And when & if the census official does ask my caste, my response would be same as that of Amitabh Bachan – “I am an Indian”.