Sharad Yadav calls South Indian women 'dark-skinned'

[coffee_rules]

maybe read again next time my point is that calling someone dark skinned is not necessarily racism. the intention behind it matters. we have a culture where even off-the-hand remarks where calling someone kaala or dark skinned is construed as racism even if there in no malicious intention. just pointing that out

Even you have used it many times. In some thread, you said " Yeh kallu log sudharenge nahin" or something on those lines. You might have said it without any serious racist feelings, but for a reader, you sound like a bigot. It is not light-hearted remark. Years of colonial rule have brought that mindset that fair skin is superior. It might be a joke, but it comes from deep-rooted malice towards dark colored people, without your consciousness. The point being, why is this issue even for a debate?

[hhunaeh]

I think he does it deliberately to wind people up..:cantstop:

[Book_Worm]

The Headline is incorrect. this is what he said: During the debate on the insurance bill in the Rajya Sabha last week, Yadav spoke on Indian's obsession for fair skin and said: "Your God is dark like Ravi Shankar Prasad, but your matrimonial ads insist on white-skinned brides." Referring to complexion of south Indian women, he said: "The women of the south are dark but they are as beautiful as their bodies... We don't see it here. They know (how to) dance." (ANI)

[Guldozer]

Your post defined what racism is.

Someone is racist if they discriminate someone on the bases of their race. If I say that white people have light skin, does that make me racist? The only reason saying someone is dark skined [in Asia] is considered rude is because of the inferiority complex asians have. We (or some) still consider English/white people to be superior than us.No other reason.

[Shivaji bhonsle]

Mentality of people in India itself is pathetic. Majority of population are dark skinned even in North India but they worship fair skinned Bollywood actors and actresses and use fairness creams and bleach their skin to appear fair skinned. Its because of years of being in slavery under foreigners who are fair skinned. I dont think that mentality and inferiority complex will go away anytime soon.

Majority of north India is fair skinned. But, that is nothing to proud of.

[vvvslaxman]

Someone is racist if they discriminate someone on the bases of their race. If I say that white people have light skin, does that make me racist? The only reason saying someone is dark skined [in Asia] is considered rude is because of the inferiority complex asians have. We (or some) still consider English/white people to be superior than us.No other reason.

The reason they are called is because of that. But what this guy said was not a fact. There are fair complexioned south Indians and there are dark skinned Northies as well. When you call entire south Indians as blacks based on skin tone and refer it as some kind of handicap (in a patronizing way) is racism.

[kubrickian]

Using the term "South Indian" itself is a broad generalization and factually wrong because there is no such thing as South Indian people. There are lots of differences among the people living in South states. Its like putting Rajasthanis and Punjabis in the same category.

[Desi Cartman]

What I find even more amazing is the discussion desis having about their skin color in terms of gora/kala when living overseas. We are neither American Blacks nor American Whites, we are somewhere in between and its not important. At least here I was hoping that desis would stop calling themselves "fair skinned" and realize that even if we want to call ourselves gora, we cant.

[Guldozer]

The reason they are called is because of that. But what this guy said was not a fact. There are fair complexioned south Indians and there are dark skinned Northies as well. When you call entire south Indians as blacks based on skin tone and refer it as some kind of handicap (in a patronizing way) is racism.

Fair enough. Can't disagree with that.

[vvvslaxman]

What I find even more amazing is the discussion desis having about their skin color in terms of gora/kala when living overseas. We are neither American Blacks nor American Whites, we are somewhere in between and its not important. At least here I was hoping that desis would stop calling themselves "fair skinned" and realize that even if we want to call ourselves gora, we cant.

True.. We are "50 shades of brown" :cantstop: . Very few in India have that kind of complexion. The Kashmiris i have seen are like that. There are lot of blacks who are fairer than Indians. Yet they are called black. There is nothing like "fair" "very fair" "wheatish compleixioned Perri Reid singer is black. But in India she might have been called fair [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avtj8tdpr5Y]Pebbles - Girlfriend - YouTube[/ame]

[Desi Cartman]

BTW whom are we kidding, have you guys seen the "comedy" shows in the last few years making fun of kalas. I once saw Kapil Sharma ask one dark skinned male to stand up and then he humiliated him for a few minutes. I am all for free speech and adult humor but this is just a normal show. Look at other shows making fun of "madrassis" or just listen to some SRK jokes/songs about "south". I like listening to all kind of filthy humour but showing this to kids on a daily basis reminds me of crappy Pakistani shows of Umer Sharif.

[panther]

Srk is brown skin, but he is still the most famous bollywood actor, South indians are cool people You don't see them buying fair and lovely creams, but the so called fairer Northies are always buying fair and lovely, how do i know this? because I worked in retail and mostly north indians and pakistani women were buying these creams hardly any south indians, tamils etc.

[Guldozer]

True.. We are "50 shades of brown" :cantstop: . Very few in India have that kind of complexion. The Kashmiris i have seen are like that. There are lot of blacks who are fairer than Indians. Yet they are called black. There is nothing like "fair" "very fair" "wheatish compleixioned Perri Reid singer is black. But in India she might have been called fair

Yes many Kashmiris have a complexion and you can't tell if they are white or asian. I don't know how many Pathans you find in India but some of them look like white people too. But of course not all are like that as some of my cousins (Kashmirs) look white while others are dark skinned. But one reason for the obsession is also that people with light skinned are automatically considered good looking by some, and hence a feature that is craved for by many. Also gives the impression of being upper class. These are all things in the Asian society which would never change IMO.

[Desi Cartman]

for a change Im enjoying Arnab getting angry z865CDRAZXI

[AmreekanDesi]

BTW whom are we kidding, have you guys seen the "comedy" shows in the last few years making fun of kalas. I once saw Kapil Sharma ask one dark skinned male to stand up and then he humiliated him for a few minutes. I am all for free speech and adult humor but this is just a normal show. Look at other shows making fun of "madrassis" or just listen to some SRK jokes/songs about "south". I like listening to all kind of filthy humour but showing this to kids on a daily basis reminds me of crappy Pakistani shows of Umer Sharif.

you should watch SRK's Chennai express the racism against tamils in that movie is unbelievable and not even subtle but then again its not like the southies (for lack of better term) aren't equally culpable and guilty. FFS they hired a no-name white british actress and made her famous and recently cast her as an indian in a movie. unbelievable!!!

[Zelig]

you should watch SRK's Chennai express the racism against tamils in that movie is unbelievable and not even subtle but then again its not like the southies (for lack of better term) aren't equally culpable and guilty. FFS they hired a no-name white british actress and made her famous and recently cast her as an indian in a movie. unbelievable!!!

Amy Jackson was a well known model before she starred in "Madrasapatinam"

[Vilander]

by automatically inferring that calling someone 'dark-skinned' is racist also shows racism and bigotry on the part of the ppl who call others racist south Indians are dark skinned. that's true. but whats wrong in that?

Any prejeduce based on perceived biological diff amoung people is racist. south Indian ladies are all not dark skinned, neither are they all good dancers hence it is racist comment.

[vvvslaxman]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnAam9Hozwk]Seinfeld - Chinese mailman - YouTube[/ame] :hysterical:

[randomGuy]

Any prejeduce based on perceived biological diff amoung people is racist. south Indian ladies are all not dark skinned' date=' neither are they all good dancers hence it is racist comment.[/quote'] Corrction. Only negative judgements are racist. If one says black Caribbean people are fast runners, then that's not racist for ex. I don't think what Sharad Yadav said is racist, but it was simply a dumb comment

[GrandMasterSaxy]

How intelligent are our leaders. Wow' date=' speechless. No wonder India is shining. :hatsoff:[/quote'] He should be asked to resign. If any foreigner pass a racist comment, it's condemned from every corner of India (media/stars/ministers). But if it's commented by an Indian no one bothers.