It is very nice article depicting the true facts of today's Indian generation. Yeah, Indians have been great and are even now. However, today politics and greed is influencing the whole nation. Everyone is thinking about themselves. The worst part is our political leaders, who are loosing their senses. They have to remember one thing that we achieved independence from Britishers who were outsiders and now we are going to give our independence back into the hands of an outsider, Soniya Gandhi.
With regard to Mother Teresa, she is a great person, however, the impression of India is not just because of her. It is created by many, not just one.
And as far as the caste system and Aryan and Dravidian is concerned, i don't see any differences. There is racism everywhere in the world, then why just talk about India. There is a famous saying like Opposite poles always attract each other. Likewise, Brown skin people like white and white skin people like brown. It is just a nature of human tendency to want something which is not there with in them, whatever it may be, either money, colour or any other thing. It is pretty hard that people realize it.
AMEN. That was so true. That was a beautiful article, and I wonder some of those things myself, staying in U.S. The only thing I do not agree with this article, is that Indians love Mother Teresa b/c she is white. I do not think its true, I think we just love her b/c she is a human helping another human. But overall, great!
It seems to me that the author was boosting up the white, while patting on the backs of brown. Well, I am not saying that author wrote something that is not true. But He sounded like a typical white. To get the article through the circulation and at the same time making indians feel that white is still ruling India, the author must have spent many hours to pull up his ideas in writing this article. Articles need to bring up the practical issues and possible SOLUTIONS, not the sympathy and boosting. We, Indians, appreciate the suggestions to improve our country's infrastructure and eradicate the proverty (from anybody and from any country). Jai Hind.
while i do not agree that the congress party officials were so keen to make sonia gandhi the prime minister because of her white skin.....i do agree with the mother teresa part...that is really the image of india she had carried abroad.
RE:trueeeeeeeeee
by Shyam on Aug 27, 2004 03:17 PM
Why do you blame Mother Teressa of having spoiled India's image abroad ? Is it not true milllions of our country men suffer from poverty and illness ? Blaming Mother Teressa is like blaming the mirror for having reflected the scars on ones face rather than useing the knowledge to treat and remove those defects.
Francois, The first part of your article seems to focus too much on appearances. Mother Teresa was white (who cares) and she "showed" the misery of millions to the world. I don't really care if that spoils India's "image". That misery and poverty had to be dealt with. Kudos to her for doing what she did. If the display of poverty brought India shame, I say its well deserved.
Politics has seen newcomers. John Kerry's running mate in the US is a newcomer. Coming into the 2004 general elections, Sonia Gandhi had already seen one general election and observed many from the sidelines. She is popular and likely as experienced as any to run the country. Objecting to her candidacy based on her skin colour is nothing short of apartheid.
There is an excellent point about the Indian preference of fairer skin. I have always pondered this. I have a couple of theories: 1. "Fashionable Appearance": The West rules when it comes to popular culture trends. Since most of those trends are seen with caucasian faces, Indians have to come to like it that way. 2. Caste system, and 'varna': You do manual work, you get tanned, get darker.
Not sure why, but the preference for lighter skin is unmistakable.
Well that was an interesting article and it was well drafted. I totally agree about the mistake that was done in India by choosing a wrong person for PM (ofcourse she is not the PM anymore) post but then that was not because she is a white skinned person it was because people thought that they needed a change in the government but unfortunately it was a wrong choice and IT WAS NOT BECAUSE she is white skinned. Ofcourse many people have liking towards the white skinned people but no one is crazy about the white skinned and no one is leaning towards the white skinned people and I believe the author has concentrated on 15% of the total population and I believe he forgot about our great president who is a great scientist who is a brown skinned person. I believe it is in India were people dont discriminate by race unlike most other countries in this world and I really dont agree to the fact that people in India as leaning towards white skin which is a total blunder! There are so many people who love brown skinned people and above all it is a human nature that the brown skinned like white skinned people but that doesn't mean that everyone is leaning towards browm skinned people.
I think the author needs to explore India much more and speak to the Indians specifically the new generation. Indians cannot be termed as brown skin through the average number of people are wheatish in color. If someone goes up north, people born over there are fair and have white skin. So are they not Indians?
Speaking about Mother Teresa, if she is honored as a Saint for helping Indian people, then it is an honor for India too. India can never run away from the fact that people are poor, many of them homeless too. Had Mother Teresa worked in Sudan,Bosnia or anywhere in this world, she would have always received the honor of being a Saint. India should consider itself fortunate for having such a role model.
The bottom line for India is no matter what color, race,religion or caste people belong to, they have be aware and realize their potential rather than having scams, corruption, internal conflicts and make India a developed country.
It would have been much better had Mr. Abdul Kalam been the prime minister. I really hope one day he becomes the prime minister of India rather than being the President.
I do agree most of we Indian have a liking for fair skin. But then the reason for congressmen to lick Sonias feet is not because she is white. They would have behaved the same way even if the colour of her skin had been as brown as a chocolate or as dark as a monsoon cloud. They pamper her because they see her as the representative of Nehru family. Congress as a party cannot survive unless a member of Nehru family leads it. Majority of Indian population are conditioned for accepting a dynastic rule. It started with the acceptance of Kings who were supposed to be descendent from the Dynasty of heavenly body like the Sun, Moon, and so on. Then it was the Moghals for nearly 300 years, then the British for 200 years or so and after freedom it has been Congress led by Pundit Nehru. After Nehrus death in 1964 the leaders in the congress did try breaking this dynastic leadership but failed. In mid 60s Congress started losing popularity because people who were not a member of the preferred ruling dynasty were leading the party. Had not Indra Gandhi taken the bold step of revolting against the king makers in her party and taking control of the Congress in the late 60s the party would have collapsed. So to project to the voting majority that a member of the Nehru dynasty will rule them if Congress is voted to power they forced the leadership on Rajiv Gandhi after his mothers death. After Rajivs death for the time being they have no other alternative but to co-opt their Soniaji as their leader. They pamper her not because of the colour of her skin but because their partys survival depends on a member of Nehru dynasty to lead them. The same way the BJP uses Ram and pride in Aryan Culture as their USP to voters.
The congressmans attraction to Sonia Gandhi or other Indians attraction to Mother Teresa is not for white skin. Mother Teresa has gained her respect and place in our heart because of her Services towards humanity. She has in no way tarnished Indias image abroad. When she went about caring for the needy, she did not hire a team of video and photographers to record the event to be displayed to other white skins as a marketing presentation material for earning a saint hood in due course. It is the media that is responsible for the negative publicity and Mother Teresa was in no way responsible it. Thank God Mr. Francois Gautier you have not accused Swami Vivakananda for adopting Nivadita as his sister because she was white skinned.
It is true Indians have preference for people with white skin. It is a very natural and human feeling. All of us find joy in desiring what we do not have and do not care much for what we already have. Since we posses a dark skin we have a desire and liking for fairer skin. Just like people of Europe or other fair skinned race have a desire to have a tanned skin. A woman in India is not admired just because she has a fair skin. She is admired for what she is irrespective of the colour of her skin.
