Good views Deepashikha. Racism is not new to either the westerners or Indians. In fact both of them are pursuing in their own way. Untouchability and issues of dalit in India could bear an eloquent testimony to the cause. I feel disgusted over the fact that still we have not been able to get rid of the colonial hangover and clung onto the believes of west. At this point, they have been encashing since the pre-independent time and same is more palpable in recent times with the globalisation.
Craving for Vitamin 'M'(Money) and stupid fame, might fetch lot many horendous experiences. The present episode is nothing but a wake up call for Indians to set standards for these imperial bastards within our own periphery. Let there be paradigm shift and solemnly recall Martin Luther Jr statement" I have a dream that one day we live in a nation where we will not be identified by the colour of our skin but by the content of our character." Let the emancipation usher in ...

Niranjan K N
Vijay Times, Bangalore
www.journodiary.wordpress.com
www.metroword.blogspot.com

Hello Deepshikha - interesting post. I hear what you are saying and I recognize your youthful view - I had the luxury of a similar black-and-white view once (no pun intended).
But this issue like most in life is not that simple. There are shades of gray.
Let us look at racism first - its easy to say that one should stand up against it but in practice thats much harder because racism in places like UK and US is not overt. It is not as if people will deny you something or say things which are racist to your face. In fact what you will see is that people will subtly alter their behavior with you compared with others. For example, in the check cash register in a shop, the clerk may smike and greet and talk to other customers and yet when you go to the counter you would get a frosty greeting. You can stand up and fight that - you have to learn to ignore it. Even if you stand up for it, the most you can end up with is an in-sincere apology.

Now, talking about the color of the skin and how Indians want to be fairer - I don't think this is racist. People all around the world want what they don't have. So, Indians and Chinese go to great lengths to be fair while the whites go to great lengths to be dark! In summer they go sunbathing and in winter they go to the artificial sunbathing salons. In US you get all kinds of sprays and creams to make your skin darker!
But yes - I do agree that the older generation Indians are obsessed with color and never to fail pass hurtful comments about other people's color.

yes i agree with the both of your opinions.
But Anand, if we dont stand up for ourselves no one will and if there are laws even in foreign nations, it becomes your duty to harness em, it may be difficult but not impossible. Forgivness comes from within and racism is an extention of ignorance and it becomes ones duty to forgive those who dont understand and make em understand that we are just as much human as anyone else and if an apology comes who are we to judge it as insincere? Ofcourse unless its repeated with same vigour.

The best we can do is stand up for ourselves, is that not what Gandhi did in South Africa, against the very same cause-"racism" which became the basis of much needed freedom movement.

I feel that we are more than the racist as there is untouchabality and the the section of people are not allowed to visit athe temple b'cause thaey are from a so-called differnt cast.
Cheers,
Mahtab

There is a thin line between castism and racsim and it does exist in all societies, however,its a sensitive issue worth many more words and for another time and another day...