The recent Tannishtha Chatterjee comedy show row is just a symptom of the malaise plaguing our society. The real disease lies in the Indian psyche. Thanks to Tannishtha, who showed us a mirror….we were brought face to face with how ugly we really are. Right from fairness cream advertisements on TV to big hoardings on the streets, every where one is bombarded with stereotypes of beauty.
This is not the first time a celeb has taken offence due to unwanted comments from performers on Comedy Nights. Earlier, celebs like Anushka Manchanda and Lisa Haydon have been subjected to similar comments. In a country like India the colour of one’s skin plays an important role in every aspect of life. People get sidelined for jobs, matrimony, friendship and success if they aren’t the ‘right’ (read fair) complexion.
Fairness cream advertisements on TV have become a statement of society’s narrow minded, regressive thinking. But we continue undeterred, champions of a ‘fairer’ world, against every edict of inclusive, progressive, unprejudiced, and fair behaviour. Perhaps it would benefit us to remember that UDHR, (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) the Civil Rights Act of 1964, lays down that there should be no discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, and national origin.
