I believe that I am %u2018civilised%u2019 enough to write this article. The timing just couldn%u2019t be any better than this. After watching the %u2018Celebrity Big brother%u2019 reality show on Channel4, reading articles and blogs in the British and world media, I believe that it is time for all to do some serious thinking. I feel that the western society must come into terms of what%u2019s is actually happening within their so called tolerant society. It is very easy to make an excuse that the reality show is after all a television programme and shouldn%u2019t be taken into consideration. This show has been viewed all over the world and discussed by the public and mass media. Sadly, more than 2.3 million teenagers do watch this reality show for the last 7 years in Britain. Don%u2019t the housemates know these facts? Doesn%u2019t the show reveal some reality? In the show, housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, Jo O%u2019Meara have had %u2018ganged up%u2019 against fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty and made fun of her English accent, nationality, ethnicity, 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 even called her a 'Dog', used %u2018very filthy%u2019 language repeatedly, 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, please define what is %u2018racism%u2019 in your terms? If you say %u2018Oh..no..it is nothing but just bullying%u2019, log into YouTube.com and watch the recorded show and then come back to read this article. It is quite easy to argue and dispute that all these were the result of total ignorance, stupidity and playground type bullying. Grow up!! Bullying and racism are not two difference things. They are indeed the same wine in two different bottles, served to two different people!!
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 chatrooms. Blair was forced to comment on this row. The next British prime minister-in-waiting 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!!!
I live in the United Kingdom, so I would like to see the whole issue in two mirrors. I honestly respect all %u2018Non-Racist British%u2019 in Britain. 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 blame it on God%u2019s politics!)
Let me begin with the very root cause of this whole issue. Even the Asians who were born and brought up in Britain are being classified as %u2018British Indian%u2019, %u2018British Sikh%u2019, %u2018British Pakistani%u2019 and %u2018British Muslim%u2019. This is how they are tagged in government forms and documents. How sick these race tags are? Aren%u2019t they British enough to be %u2018British%u2019? This is surely leaving negative impact on the minorities. They think that how much ever British they are, they will always remain as minorities in Britain. This is pure racial dejection. Then, what is the point of talking about that minorities are not integrating well into British society? The sad thing is that nobody seems to care about it including the British government. The same British government, every year does celebrate Diwali and Ed festivals in a spectacular manner!!! Surprised? I personally think that the British government itself is very confused about their racial policies or they are playing very tricky double game. This is clearly sending the wrong message among majority British. That%u2019s why many think and act that it is OK to racially abuse anybody from the minority British. The result is what exactly the world had witnessed in Jade-Shilpa%u2019s race row. It is time for the British government to wake up.
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 growing 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 with a second thought. The abuse and racial comments on Shilpa do 1,000% truly reflect the British and European societies attitude on racism especially on all non-whites. It is time for the western world to publicly admit that racism in all forms and size still does exist in the society. Because, many who receive racial abuse, usually tend to ignore rather than challenge it out. That doesn%u2019t mean they accept it at heart. It%u2019s a serious problem. Worth fighting than %u2018War on Terror%u2019. For all those who are not minority British, it isn%u2019t easy to realise how serious racism can be. Asians living and working in Britain such as students, doctors, nurses, solicitors, taxi drivers, teachers, shop owners, restaurant waiters, call centre personnel and even community police officers do often go through more or less the same kind of racially motivated verbal abuse. At the worst, get beaten by group of racist thugs. 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 don%u2019t call any non-Asian like that. I will 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.
The reality show indeed reflects the reality of British youth%u2019s attitude towards the society and living. I am not at all surprised to hear abusive language in reality show. Certainly you could hear them from groups of young boys and girls on British streets. Well..What else would you expect from the 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 the divorce rate is 40% higher than any European union country. There are various reasons for this social catastrophe. Today%u2019s young British are not well educated, they distance themselves from Maths, Science, and general knowledge subjects, they are very proud of binge drinking, smoking, sex on the streets, honking the car horns and yelling racist remarks. 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 with 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. 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 have the urge to learn new skills, acquire knowledge, and stay competitive in the global market. They probably don%u2019t want to know about globalisation as long as they can afford to buy fish & chips and pukha pies. All they know is to eat, to do binge drinking in 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.
In a country like Britain, racism doesn%u2019t just exist due to ignorance. Ignorance is the result of confusion. I could sense the fear of failure among British in this rapid world, in which they are struggling to keep up with the changes. Today%u2019s Britain is steadily losing its ground on economical, cultural, and social front, which were once the proud symbols of British colonialism. Also, the British are confused about their obsessed identity in multicultural Britain. Instead of turning it into their advantage, they are turning it away. In general, the British are not sensitive to accept other cultures into their lives. The Asians are far more broadminded, tolerant, patient when it comes to living in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society such as Britain. Even though, the Asians didn%u2019t integrate 100% into the British society, I would say that they are well on their way towards it or realising the necessity to do it.
The British public and politicians do think that the non-Europeans are culturally and economically invading all corners of Britain. They are getting jealous of dominant Asian minority. That%u2019s why there are tougher visa restrictions, delay in issuing visas, and recent %u2018motivated%u2019 HSMP revision to keep the %u2018Browns%u2019 away from Britain. Let me explain it a bit more. 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 the Asians. A very remarkable feat that the Scottish, Irish and Welsh trio couldn%u2019t able to do for several centuries and had totally failed. Also, majority of the Asians are educated, intelligent, beautiful in heart, hard working and economically prospering than ever before. 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. Thus, creating jobs for the British. Remember richest citizen of the United Kingdom is not a native British but India born Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. He has recently pledged £2 million pounds to the cash-strapped ruling Labour party, almost certainly bailing it out of financial crisis. 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. Without the Asians, the British public services and healthcare will crumble in matter of days. Without the Asians, the British economy will not survive for more than a month. I am not joking. So, I am prepared to put a bet that before the end of this 21st century, Britain will have an Asian Prime Minister.
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. Don%u2019t we? We have got several racial problems within our country and society. Don%u2019t we all know that the North Indians bully and discriminate the South Indians as %u2018Madarasis%u2019. The South Indians bully the North Indians by calling them as %u2018Biharis%u2019. We are the largest racist society on this planet, 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. Nothing has been changed significantly. When are we going to change it? Let us bring our house in order before pointing out finger at others.
One of India's great strength is its ability to adapt diversity. That%u2019s what India is all about. It is indeed a very 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 influential lady in India is sari wearing Italian born Catholic. I cannot think of any other country in the world that could accept such a diversified political scenario. This is truly remarkable and it works very well in India. Whereas, in the US, the Americans are still waiting to have a Black or Hispanic as American president and the US has been a democratic country for more than 200 years!!! Whereas India%u2019s democracy gained it%u2019s status 60 years ago, we have already had several minorities as presidents, prime ministers, chief ministers, ministers, military chief of staff, and supreme court judges. This is the great strength that India has. We are humans first, then Indians, then Punjabi, Gujarathi, Bengali, or Madarasi. Forget about race, religion and colour. So, It is time for us to do some reality test on ourselves. It is time for us to accept that we are really racists and do something about it. When we are going to announce that racism and discrimination in any form, any size is punishable crime and has no place in civilised India? We can. 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 on Jan 23, 2007 10:41 PM
UmaShankar, I've seen this long message in almost all the message boards related to shilpa shetty. I guess it's enough to post it once, don't you think? :)
Very well said. Lets me first mention it that I am a South Indian, but not too dark skinned, infact most of the people mistaken me to be from Haryana, UP etc. I do agree that Indians tend to oppose Racism based on who is the victim. People in North India have very little understanding of the people of the South. I also feel that it is changing for the good but still we definitely get easily overawed by a white skin. What the author mentions about prevalent Casteim is definitely on the mark. We only take sides on the issue of Reservation but never 'think' how to solve it in the interest of the Nation. I dont blame the common man, its the politicians who have created these boundaries & responsible for sustaining it.
To respond or not to respond is a political move but on social level action must be taken so that social ills all over the world can be removed. Stong nations take the immediate actions and weak are unable to act. Now take the case of human rights strong countires are loud and try to press the matter even in UNO.of poor and weak countries and is a mechanism to dominate the weak. Iraq invasion is such example. This racism is matter of HUMAN RIGHTS and must be aired loudly.
shilpa shetty joined the contest well knowing what happens on it. She is not representing india. She has been paid more than rs.3 crores for her act. if the racial slur had offended her she should have withdrawn from the show. She complains about the racial slur and she then retracts... money games.....
Arun Krishnan said it. Let me also add that it's the same whites whom we allege of being racist, that has voted out Jane Goody. That shows the sense and sensibilities that characterize the western societies on which we always take pleasure hitting hard, left-centre-right at the drop of a hat. Be it in films or real life. be it at forums, debates, class rooms, public and private places, we rate ourselves above the whites and the rest of the world and seize every opportunity to make fun of them, degrade them, talk at their back and if possible, try to attack and loot them when they visit our country. well, unfortunately, all of that behaviour and attitude is acceptable for a section of ignoramuses in our country. the issue here is not about racism per se. it's about the discriminatory mindset a group of people cultivate against people that does not share their lifestyle, beliefs, socio-political and economic background. As rightly pointed out by many, India is infamous for its casteist,parochial and religious discriminations that pervades all areas of life in our much-touted pluralist, open-minded, open-hearted country. if a similar incident was to happen in India and if jade were to be at the receiving end, i do not think, she would have received the same support from our noble country as much as shilpa did in the Great Britan. The issue, however, should help us self-examine and remove the log out of our own eyes before we get down to remove the speck out of the so-called whites. we are living in a world of global citizens and global village. that's one reality a large number of anachronic people should come to realize. gone are the days of tribalism,feudalism,colonialism and such dirty isms of the past. the society of the future will not, should not and cannot be divided along geographical boundaries.
Surprisingly with all this talk of North & South, nobody has actually noticed that the dame in question "Shilpa Shetty" is herself from south & all of India went up in arms against the remark and not just South India ... if I may put this in subtlely !!!
England is avery civilized country and they have their rules and norms to react and erradicate such untoward incidents .The fact that we have not reacted bitterly shows our maturity and critics may rate this as our eunachism.
Dear All Only wearer knows where the shoe pinches" It is easiest thing to wrtie articles and the messages on this message board but to be under is difficult and hard to tolerate. It is a matter of practice and not theory Shilpa had suffered. If one will not fight against the evil then it will not disappear, It is a matter of weak and strong. Strong like America,s Iraq can do anything and weak like India is helpless cannot do anything. We must raise the voice against tyranny, injustice and all other bad things otherwise society will not improve all over the world. We live in 21st century. Raise the voice against evil wheater it is India or outside India. Strong must not be escaped Mirgandra Agarwal
I am in conformity with Arun Krishnan about our own Indians who indulge various racist remarks be it the North Indians commenting on dark skinned South Indians or the upper caste mocking the lower castes. Though the intensity may not be that glaring in the metros and big cities, the caste divide is very evident in the rural India. The North of India is still to come out of their old myths that anyone from South India is the Madrasi and they do not know anything beyond that. For them a Madrasi, be it Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra or Tamilnadu, is a laughing stock due to their language and pronounciation. When we ourselves are throwing slurge on our own people, how do we expect the world to respect us.
Secondly Shilpa has entered the den of Big Brother on a purely commercial consideration and whatever she earns will not be contributed to any of the welfare activities of this country and its a purely personal economic decision. I feel the incident is blown out of proportion to gain mileage on personal front by the advocates of anti-racism and for political compulsions.
RE:loans based on religion
by anil b on Jan 22, 2007 01:31 PM
yes, i agree this will lead to huge scams and corruption. Indian banks will go to the dogs .This will not help those who need help .
