Comments on: Incredible India! http://indsight.org/blog/2005/06/16/the-colours-of-racism/ Charukesi Ramadurai muses on life, language, travel, gender issues, advertising and why she does not blog more often... Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:55:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: A trip to Jodhpur « Itchy Feet http://indsight.org/blog/2005/06/16/the-colours-of-racism/comment-page-1/#comment-109616 A trip to Jodhpur « Itchy Feet Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:35:41 +0000 /?p=453#comment-109616 [...] So here is some armchair travel to cheer me up as I sit and twiddle my thumbs at home. This one on the Marwari bastion of Jodhpur. My Jodhpur visit last October was not particularly pleasant; tourism there is totally geared towards the Western visitor. Domestic racism? But there is something magical about the Mehrangarh fort and the life it holds within its walls that somehow makes up for everything else. [...] [...] So here is some armchair travel to cheer me up as I sit and twiddle my thumbs at home. This one on the Marwari bastion of Jodhpur. My Jodhpur visit last October was not particularly pleasant; tourism there is totally geared towards the Western visitor. Domestic racism? But there is something magical about the Mehrangarh fort and the life it holds within its walls that somehow makes up for everything else. [...]

]]> By: A Time To Reflect » Blog Archive » A trip to Jodhpur http://indsight.org/blog/2005/06/16/the-colours-of-racism/comment-page-1/#comment-13018 A Time To Reflect » Blog Archive » A trip to Jodhpur Thu, 01 Dec 2005 13:09:08 +0000 /?p=453#comment-13018 [...] So here is some armchair travel to cheer me up as I sit and twiddle my thumbs at home. This one on the Marwari bastion of Jodhpur. My Jodhpur visit last October was not particularly pleasant; tourism there is totally geared towards the Western visitor. Domestic racism? But there is something magical about the Mehrangarh fort and the life it holds within its walls that somehow makes up for everything else. [...] [...] So here is some armchair travel to cheer me up as I sit and twiddle my thumbs at home. This one on the Marwari bastion of Jodhpur. My Jodhpur visit last October was not particularly pleasant; tourism there is totally geared towards the Western visitor. Domestic racism? But there is something magical about the Mehrangarh fort and the life it holds within its walls that somehow makes up for everything else. [...]

]]> By: POV » Blog Archive » Bharateeya BlogMela - a round up http://indsight.org/blog/2005/06/16/the-colours-of-racism/comment-page-1/#comment-9101 POV » Blog Archive » Bharateeya BlogMela - a round up Thu, 15 Sep 2005 19:06:30 +0000 /?p=453#comment-9101 [...] Annie has this really funny piece about an encounter with the Minister for Rural Development - Raghuvansh Prasad Singh. Amit has this excellent piece on the myth of liberalisation. There is a great discussion on this piece here. And as if to illustrate the point, Puneet has this surreal experience at a HDFC bank. Akshay has a similar time with broadband. Sumeet reflects why Indians are’nt Indians (in Australia) while Charu looks at where Indians don’t want other Indians (in Rajasthan). [...] [...] Annie has this really funny piece about an encounter with the Minister for Rural Development – Raghuvansh Prasad Singh. Amit has this excellent piece on the myth of liberalisation. There is a great discussion on this piece here. And as if to illustrate the point, Puneet has this surreal experience at a HDFC bank. Akshay has a similar time with broadband. Sumeet reflects why Indians are’nt Indians (in Australia) while Charu looks at where Indians don’t want other Indians (in Rajasthan). [...]

]]> By: AnonymousCoward http://indsight.org/blog/2005/06/16/the-colours-of-racism/comment-page-1/#comment-7600 AnonymousCoward Thu, 11 Aug 2005 03:29:29 +0000 /?p=453#comment-7600 Charu, I think enough hasn't been said on this topic. The hotel manager you encountered was obviously arrogant, but we see bigotry in India at every level and everywhere and everyday starting from home. My mom thinks of the maid ('bai') who does the dishes is a different species. She gives her food etc. everyday but with an attitude as if she's doing a big 'punya'. She gloats about the amount of food she gives the 'bai'. I love my mom, but this psychology (which is rampant in India) is the same kind of arrogance that the firangi's treated us with. We're all familiar with the 'pride' we have about our cultures and languages. Many of us consider our culture to be superior to the other cultures in India. When we see somebody we address them as 'sardarji', 'madrasi', 'musla' and many other crappy words. We always want to know the culture, religion, language of anybody we meet - and then we mentally stereotype and judge them - we're gurus at that. Man, I have countless examples of how our psychology is soaked in racism. And you know what, I'm not disgusted by it - its human nature - and at this point in time, our society has degenerated to a very low level. That's just the way it is - nothing to be angry about. And in my opinion we're already facing the consequences of our bad karma - its no wonder India is a poor country and everyday is a struggle - so we're already paying the price - therefore no need to feel ashamed or disgusted with ourselves. However, I do hope that all of us realize this and take steps to change our attitudes - it will take a 100 years but lets start at least. Let's learn from the Americans - its the most accepting nation in the world that I know of. Now please don't accuse me of being an american lapdog - because I'm not. Not everything American is good, but lets give credit where its due. They have done a *much* better job at reducing racism and bigotry than anywhere else in the world. I really hope that this aspect of America blooms even more. Indian Brothers and Sisters, at the risk of being labelled a traitor I would like to say that "I love you all - but not more or less than anybody else, 'cause all things living or non-living are creations of 'Kudrat'/God and therefore all are 'same' " Charu,
I think enough hasn’t been said on this topic. The hotel manager you encountered was obviously arrogant, but we see bigotry in India at every level and everywhere and everyday starting from home. My mom thinks of the maid (‘bai’) who does the dishes is a different species. She gives her food etc. everyday but with an attitude as if she’s doing a big ‘punya’. She gloats about the amount of food she gives the ‘bai’. I love my mom, but this psychology (which is rampant in India) is the same kind of arrogance that the firangi’s treated us with. We’re all familiar with the ‘pride’ we have about our cultures and languages. Many of us consider our culture to be superior to the other cultures in India. When we see somebody we address them as ’sardarji’, ‘madrasi’, ‘musla’ and many other crappy words. We always want to know the culture, religion, language of anybody we meet – and then we mentally stereotype and judge them – we’re gurus at that. Man, I have countless examples of how our psychology is soaked in racism.

And you know what, I’m not disgusted by it – its human nature – and at this point in time, our society has degenerated to a very low level. That’s just the way it is – nothing to be angry about. And in my opinion we’re already facing the consequences of our bad karma – its no wonder India is a poor country and everyday is a struggle – so we’re already paying the price – therefore no need to feel ashamed or disgusted with ourselves. However, I do hope that all of us realize this and take steps to change our attitudes – it will take a 100 years but lets start at least.

Let’s learn from the Americans – its the most accepting nation in the world that I know of. Now please don’t accuse me of being an american lapdog – because I’m not. Not everything American is good, but lets give credit where its due. They have done a *much* better job at reducing racism and bigotry than anywhere else in the world. I really hope that this aspect of America blooms even more.

Indian Brothers and Sisters, at the risk of being labelled a traitor I would like to say that
“I love you all – but not more or less than anybody else, ’cause all things living or non-living are creations of ‘Kudrat’/God and therefore all are ’same’ “

]]> By: Charu http://indsight.org/blog/2005/06/16/the-colours-of-racism/comment-page-1/#comment-4911 Charu Wed, 22 Jun 2005 09:53:30 +0000 /?p=453#comment-4911 Preetam, thanks for dropping by. My friend had a miserable two years in Korea - she was on a project for a software firm and still shudders at the memory...? as for Rajasthan, I have also had good experiences in my earlier travels... but this time was terrible - and it happened not just in jodhpur... just one thought about the lonely planet guide - wondering if firangis actually preferred such places - which cater only to them and not Indians? still writing to them will be worth a try, I guess.... Preetam, thanks for dropping by. My friend had a miserable two years in Korea – she was on a project for a software firm and still shudders at the memory…?
as for Rajasthan, I have also had good experiences in my earlier travels… but this time was terrible – and it happened not just in jodhpur… just one thought about the lonely planet guide – wondering if firangis actually preferred such places – which cater only to them and not Indians? still writing to them will be worth a try, I guess….

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