Being a dark-skinned person in India.
Well, from my view of life, I have had mixed responses. Responses based on situations, I have faced in my life. So, as most of you know India has a varied context of skin tones found in people mostly depending upon where you are from or what your hierarchical line says. Coming back to my experiences, I haven’t faced any such issues from my family. (Note: My father is of fair complexion while my mother is of fairly dark complexion.) So, I guess that explains my complexion (a little play of genes!). Moving on, in my school life, I have faced a lot of discrimination from people. Mind you, Not all. I know folks who are extremely cool with such realistic portions and some who are sort of stuck with a regressive mindset. If you are a dark-skinned persona in India, believe me… You won’t lack names. Any random stranger would give you a name based on your complexion. Well, I got some during my childhood too, moving up the ladder to teenage and now an adult. Yes, some people still call me “kaaloo” (means blacky in Bengali, that explains). But yeah things have reduced a lot. The sort of discrimination, I used to have during the period I grew up, still serves as fresh wounds. For the fact that I learned how to bandage those wounds very well. Your so-called friends would make fun out of you in situations. You may get rejected by your opposite gender (They may tell you that directly or indirectly- depends upon the person). Amidst all these chaos of wordplay goons, you may find yourself depleted of confidence, mental metal. I got some pretty mean things from folks like,
Are you visible at night?
You must be from a negro, How come in a bong fam?
Were you born in the Amavasya(New moon) night?
With such kinds of stuff coming from your coursemates.. oops Classmates, it must be demoralizing for you. But wait, life has a good side too, it isn’t that people always do such stuff. They do so because they find you vulnerable to all these insecurities. So, I got the thing, each time anyone passes something on my color, I simply give a smile at him/her. A very mean smile. Well, if you are not this type, then you might get serious about it, and give a hard look to them. With only them saying, “Bhai tu to serious hogaaya… hum to Mazak krr rahe the!”, and you explain why color shaming is totally uncool. Believe me, the former works ferociously on the other person’s consciousness(if they have any).
In the end, all that matters is accepting yourself for the way you were made. I am sure for the fact that most of the dark-skinned people do not get disheartened by the bullying of others and continue to lead a normal life. You cant change the way you look, and that has nothing to do with your life skills and knowledge. Many have understood that color shaming is not at all cool and have refrained from such activities. Little to do with the society, newspaper cuttings saying. “Fair complexioned” bride/ groom wanted. Billboards, tabloids glittering out all the fair looking personas.
A lot has to change. A lot is changing. I have seen what’s happening. And I wish, my son/daughter don't have to hear being called with those shaming names.
