The way the question is phrased and the kind of response expected is to make Shilpa sound like some kind of greedy person. Shilpa has come to Britain as its guest and she wishes more people to know about her. I know a little bit about Bollywood but had never heard of Shilpa Shetty. Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta et al I know about but Shilpa was a complete revelation. I am so pleased she came here and I love watching her. I think she is a goddess.
Aishwarya Rai has been on Yahoo's people search at #1 recently . Shilpa is at # 4. India must be the first nation to come out openly about its findings re: Condoms. However I am not amused as it has become an every day joke on the popular American late night talk show Jay Leno.
perhaps the research should have said that the findings apply to a small minority. Surely not all Indians have small penises. ( the research came through findings from The Indian Council of Medical Research which stated that condoms designed to meet international specifications are too big for many Indian men) They must be kidding. I don't have a small penis. I use extra large condom and I am an Indian. Now everyone is laughing at us and making jokes about us. Especially Jay Leno who's talk show is based in Los Angeles. One joke he gave the other day was that if Americans call for tech support and they get some one in India who is giving them a hard time just remind them about their small manhood. Another joke was India can have all the oursourcing and the downsizing too. What is next ? Will SRK try to get some world spotlight next ?
May I suggest that you quickly try to book her on the popular American talk shows such as The View , Oprah , David Letterman , and the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Do not miss this opportunity to showcase the beautiful and talented Shilpa in the US as it is the biggest market for Hollywood. This may even open doors for her to act in Hollywood movies. One suggestion would be to pair her with Will Smith who has long wanted to act opposite an Indian actress and was known to have shown interest in Aishwarya Rai - who has for months avoided giving dates for the project. And now that she is engaged and may be quite busy with other projects in India with Abhisek - what better opportunity then for Shilpa to act in the Will Smith movie. Will Smith is a huge box office star and his movies take in millions in the first week of the opening and make multi millions. Shilpa can either be in a Hollywood movie or act in one of the ongoing TV soap operas. Bottom Line: This is the best opportunity for her. She is already showed up as the #4 on Yahoo most searched. So get going now.
The timing just couldn%u2019t have been better than this. I have been watching the %u2018Celebrity Big brother%u2019 reality show on Channel4. I believe that I am somewhat better civilised enough to write this article. After watching the show and reading series of articles in the British and worldwide media on the housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd (a disgraced former Miss Great Britain who had a saucy fling and bling with one of the contest judges in order to win her crown!!!!)and Jo O%u2019Meara, I feel that the world is coming into terms of what%u2019s is actually going within the British society. The three girls have had ganged up against fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty and made fun of her English accent, origin, nationality, were not prepared to call her by name, were reluctant to eat the roast chicken cooked by her, described her a %u201CPaki%u201D, the disgraced Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd even called her a 'Dog', used %u2018very filthy%u2019 language repeatedly in their conversation, and even asked her to %u2018Go back to the slums and find out what real life is%u2019. If this is not racially motivated abuse, define what is %u2018racism%u2019? If you say all this is nothing but just bullying, go and watch the recorded show in YouTube.com and come back to read this article.
Understandably, the feelings and emotions are now running high on all corners. The British media regulator ofCom and Channel4, which broadcast the show, had received more than 55,000 complaints from the public in just four days!! This issue heads in all local newspapers, news websites, blogs and posts. Tony Blair was forced to comment on this row. The next British prime minister-in-waiting Mr.Gordon Brown is having tough time in India!!! I believe that Indian Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh and Indian President Mr.Abdul Kalam are the only people left to comment on this issue!!!
As I live in the United Kingdom, I would like to see it in two mirrors. Keep aside the many %u2018Non-Racist British%u2019 in Britain. I respect them, as I am fortunate enough to have few of them as my friends, who understand that the colour of our blood is always going to be red but the colour of our skin is unfortunately not. (We usually blame it all on God%u2019s politics!!!)
I am not surprised at all on this wildfire racial row. The three Big Brother gang girls are drop of the today%u2019s British society and surely reflect the new generation of future Britain. The Big Brother house is actually a small portrait of today%u2019s modern Britain. Don%u2019t mistake me? In a large portrait, this is how the great British society will exactly look like in next 50 years time. I mark my words. The abuse and racial comments on Shilpa do 1,100% truly reflect the British and European societies attitude on racism especially on all non-whites. There are many Asians and Indians working and living in Britain such as students, doctors, nurses, taxi drivers, school teachers, corner shop owners, call centre personnel and community police officers, who go through more or less same kind of racially motivated verbal abuse everyday. I swear on my words. I am not exaggerating it. I had gone through the same sort of abuse before and still go through it now and then. I have been called %u2018Indian%u2019 on many occasions in a tone, which is definitely not polite and friendly way that anyone would like to be called upon. I have to digest it without any choice. Once, I have made enough money to live without having to work for rest of my life, I will fly back to India for good from this arrogant, ignorant, economically, ethically and culturally failing western society.
I am not surprised to hear the girl gang%u2019s abusive language. Certainly you could hear them from groups of young boys and girls on British streets. Well%u2026What else would you expect from boys and girls of today%u2019s British society, where 13 years old lads and girls smoke, drink and use drugs, losing virginity at the age of 14 is just a matter of self-pride, having babies at the age of 15 is OK and becoming common, the average life span of a formal marriage is just over 16 months, many live together unmarried, many don%u2019t know who is their mother or father is and divorce rate is 40% higher than any European union country. The reality show indeed reflects the reality of British youth%u2019s attitude towards their society and living. The young British generation is not well educated, they distance themselves from Maths, Science, and general knowledge subjects, they are very proud of binge drinking, sex on the streets and desperate housewives culture, (a Popular TV serial. Ironically, it is being broadcasted right after %u2018Big Brother%u2019 show in Channel4) honking the car horns and yelling racist remarks on Asians. They are ignorant souls and sadly the face of future British society. Who is going to teach them about racial tolerance and respecting people as humans? Their stupid British prime minister is very busy in saying %u2018YES%u2019 five billion times a day to the arrogant American president on bringing back democracy and peace in Iraq and Afghanistan!!! In this nation, some think that waging war on a country is just like playing a video game in play station. It is OK to think like that in this so called developed country with underdeveloped people. Many British do have big attitude disorder and do think that the rest of the world is still ruled by their great grand fathers & company. They still do believe that the Sun will never ever set on their kingdom. What else I can say? The British public is not aware of what is happening within their country and in rest of the world. They don%u2019t care about globalisation, necessity to learn new skills, acquire knowledge, and stay competitive. All they know is to eat, to do binge drinking on 24 hour pubs (Yes. 24 hour pubs!!), to be illiterate (I bet many can%u2019t read and write English properly) and claim free government benefits to go on holiday abroad.
I could sense their fear of failure in the very near future. Because, today%u2019s Britain is steadily losing it%u2019s own ground. The British public and politicians do think that the non-Europeans are culturally and economically invading all corners of Britain. That%u2019s why there is soo much visa restrictions, delay in issuing visas, and recent %u2018motivated%u2019 HSMP revision to keep the %u2018Indians%u2019, %u2018Paki%u2019 and %u2018Browns%u2019 away from British shores. The British are getting jealous of dominant Asian minority. There is a reason. Let me explain it a bit. Today%u2019s great British politics, lifestyle, business, economy and national cuisine (Chicken Tikka Masala is the national dish of Britain since 2000!) are being greatly influenced by Asian society. A remarkable feat that the Scottish, Irish and Welsh trio couldn%u2019t able to do for several centuries and had totally failed. The British are losing their obsessed identity in today%u2019s multicultural Britain. Because, the British are not sensitive to accept and easily adapt other cultures into their lives. Whereas, Asians are far more broadminded, tolerant, patient when it comes to living in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society such as Britain. Though Asians didn%u2019t integrate 100% into the British society, I would say they are well on their way towards it or realising the necessity to do it. Because, Asians are educated, intelligent, beautiful in heart, hard working and above all economically stronger than ever before. What else? If the first wave of Asian migrants helped to revive the shops on Britain's streets, the second and third generation of Asians are now making their mark on the financial and business world. Now, India is the third largest investor in Britain next only to US and Japan. Indian companies are taking over many not-so-profitable British companies and turning them into profitable. Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal has pledged £2million pounds to the cash-strapped ruling Labour party, almost certainly bailing it out of financial crisis. I wish he could buy the labour party as he does with the run down steel plants abroad!! Remember richest citizen of United Kingdom is not a native British but India born Lakshmi Mittal. There is a list of endless contributions made by the Asians to today%u2019s modern Britain. It is just impossible to blindly ignore the imposing stature of Asians and Asianism in Britain. However, even the Asians born and brought up in Britain are being called as %u2018British Indian%u2019, %u2018British Sikh%u2019 and %u2018British Muslim%u2019. How sick these race tags are? We don%u2019t call any one in India as %u2018Indian Punjabi%u2019, %u2018Indian Tamil%u2019 or %u2018Indian Sikh%u2019. Without Asians, the British public services and healthcare will crumble in matter of days. Without Asians, the British economy will not survive for more than a month. But, are the Asians being treated well in Britain? Not with a broad mind, but with very clear purpose to use their skills and knowledge. So, I am prepared to put a bet that before the end of this 21st century, Britain will have an Asian Prime Minister. I am not joking.
On the other side, this whole issue raises the same questions about our own society. Are we Indians really not racists? Is it OK and justified to racially discriminate fellow Indians? But, it becomes an issue when Non-Asians dish it out on us? We actually don%u2019t respect fellow Indians in India and abroad. Do we? We have got several racial problems within our country and society. Don%u2019t we all know that North Indians bully and discriminate the South Indians as %u2018Madarasis%u2019. South Indians bully the North Indians by calling them as %u2018Biharis%u2019. We are the largest racist society on this earth, which practised and still practising all forms of racism, discrimination and bullying in the name of god, caste and culture. We are talking about it for more than 100 years. When are we going to change it?
One of India's strengths is its ability to accept diversity. In fact, it is quite remarkable for a country like India, where the majority of the population is Hindu. But our current president is a Muslim, the prime minister is a Sikh and probably the most powerful lady in India is an Italian born Catholic. You cannot think of any other country in the world that could accept such a diversified thing. This is truly remarkable and it works very well in India. In the US, for example, the Americans cannot even conceive of having a Black or Hispanic president and the US has been a democratic country for more than 200 years. Whereas India%u2019s democracy gained it%u2019s status just 60 years ago. This is the great strength that India has. So, It is time for us to do some reality test on ourselves. It is time for us to accept that we are racists and do something about it. When we are going to announce that racism and discrimination in any form, any size is a punishable crime and has no place in civilised India? Let us do it now before it is too late.
Our world will become a happy place to live when we love each other in heart and without discriminating anyone by their race, ethnicity, religion, faith, and wealth. Let's grow up. When we are going to be one big loud and proud Indians? It is shame on us if we can%u2019t do it. Share your views.
RE:SHILPA & BIG CELEBRITY RACISM
by jacqueline fiona franklin on Jan 20, 2007 06:53 PM
Well.That's quite a lengthy diatribe,and by the way,I'm British,and quite fully Anglo-Saxon..more or less..The sad thing is,I'd have to agree with a lot of this..! As difficult as it is,and as much as one might wish it were otherwise,the statistsics speak for themselves.I think it HAS got a lot worse,in the last 15 years,or so.People have become incredibly ignorant,and they seem proud of it.It scares the hell out of me.. However,there ARE always exceptions.Generally,I would consider that programmes like BB,for instance..are so much Pop culture..That,in itself,is what keeps the media machine trundling along..the garbage churned out to people who do want to read about tacky,pointless celebs..Please don't condenm an entire nation on whatever the Sun's front pages are this week..There will always be minorities,and also,degrees of everything.I live in a rural area,and there's not much ethnic diversity here.However,we've seen a rise in the number of migrant workers from newly joined member states of the EU,Poland,in particular,and soon,Romanians..I've personally observed,that while they're a popular topic to moan ABOUT..They are less likely to be verbally abused,directly..mainly,I say,because they're still Europeans.If they had brown or black faces,they'd be subjected to a lot more abuse than they already get...There's a general feeling,I've observed..Of them, as one man in a local pub had said..At least,"not being pakis" the sentiment seems to be that they're all foreigners,but some foreigners are clearly more acceptable than others.More,slightly ironic,given the circumstances,slightly Orwellian connections.. But I still have to defend the good people in my country.Not as a patriotic excercise,but simply for the refusal to believe that the actions of many idiots can ruin relations between right thinking people everywhere else..There is much wrong with the UK,and much wrong with India,and much wrong within British Asian communities.All this proves,is that People everywhere can be good and bad.To fall into the trap of pointing a finger,apportioning blame is too easy.What about a solution? What about coming up with something that might help negate the acidic erosion of the mindless injustices that simply promote more evil and discord between people ? I am 37 years old,female,yes,divorced and live with my elderly parents in a rural area,but I'd never give up hope for people to live peacefully,even while I assume that things may slide further into the mud in my own country..If you have a solution,or just want to work towards peace,then the answer is simple.Condemnation breeds only confrontation.Those of us who would prefer reason may be in a minority,but I greatly dispute some of the links you might make between what causes ignorance..The culture here is different,divorce is high,but then,I've never heard of an English wife being burned alive by her own family for money or dishonour.Yet,we still have domestic violence, just like India..Drawing comparisons between the two nations is facile,to some degree,and I fail to see your point in this.All nations at all times,have been at war,Empires are won and lost..India indeed,has a diverse culture, but so has the UK,I'm not sure what you're getting at,really.For a country you can drive across overland,in a day..the proportion of the non idigenous, non white British Citizens,is a good deal higher,I might imagine,than a lot of other places.France and Europe,are also facing similar race-related problems as the UK,and the (unknown) numbers of illegal immigrants in a country the size of ours,is genuinely very frightening to a lot of older people.And our population is an ageing one,depite the high rate of teenage pregancies! As an Anglo Saxon,who has never been to India,I can hardly condemn a whole nation by a few negative news articles in the papers or on the TV,anymore than I'd assume Pakistan is full of Islamic extremists who want to kill us all..There's no easy answer to the malaise of..apathy,ignorance and intolerance that has seeped into the genenal consciousness in recent years,here,on anywhere else,racism is more severe in Africa,to some degree,Tribal,Religious and cultural racism is rife and bloody,everywhere.The causes? ..poor educational standards,economic factors,religious persecution..common prejudice..? It's sadly,more of a Human condition,than attributable to any particular race,I believe!..whatever,I'm not a politician,and personally,left school at 15 after a fairly poor education myself,as did my parents and my siblings.But whatever is in me,comes from me,I don't consider myself to be the.. sole product of my cultural birthright,whatver it may be.. or even my personal experiences.I have a brain,I try to use it to the best of my sometimes,limited ability.I'd simply advocate striving to never stop questioning,thinking and actively trying to promote reasoned debate over strightforward,simple condemnation of an entire nation,race or section of society,lest I become as bad as them.Thanks for your time,and your views.
RE:RE:SHILPA & BIG CELEBRITY RACISM
by UmaShankar SathyaKumar on Jan 20, 2007 08:04 PM
Hello jacqueline,
Thank you for your time as well. Please be aware that my comments are not meant for entire Britain. Sadly, my comments are real and happening within the society in negative sense. That's what forced me to write the article. Big Brother have had no impact on me. Afterall, it is a TV show and far more unreal to real life. I have no doubt about it. I am sure all those 50,000 people who made complaints will agree. That is not the issue. Many relate to what was happened to them in the past and waiting for the time and tide to pour out on race issue. I am not saying all Whites are racists..all Europeans are racists...As I said I do have White friends. There are people who respect all as humans first and there are people who hate all and make racial abuse. It may be because of their ignorance. However, the society is made up of people, people make system that works for them, the systems must be equal for all. Unfortunately, that's not the case. That's the issue.
Since you have never been to India, I would like to inform you that due to the economic changes, the distance between castes are naroowing down. It's postive. But, not very significant enough.
Again, I didn't compare India and Britain in the same context. That's why I made comments on both countries seperately.
What the Shilpa (non)issue has done is, it has debunked Bollywood's bogus claims about "global domination". When a Bollywood star can be treated like dirt by Western semi-celebrities, it shows that Bollywood is no-where when it comes to the intl. mkt. It'll also deflate the overblown egos of our celebrities.
