Racism ? : Shilpa Shetty in Big Brother

Racism…? I am afraid this hue and cry against the “apparent” racist remarks by Big Brother inmates against Shilpa Shetty – the bollywood siren – is diluting the larger issues of racism and discrimination that exist all over the world.

In being overly politically correct, we are also in the danger of diluting one of the most fundamental rights - the right to freedom of speech and expression.

What is happening in Big Brother is NOT racism. This is a bunch of self centred silly girls being just stupid & silly. Shilpa is a gorgeous woman with a drop dead figure. The reaction of Jade Goody and others is just a jealous reaction to the great looking Shilpa.

What has surprised me is the reaction of Indian politicians and public back home.

In India, where Shilpa’s numerous fans have taken to street and burnt effigies of Jade Goody etal, cast system still divide communities and people.

Indians should be the last to make an issue of discrimination given the fact that the problem is still at large and acute in their own country.

More than 160 million low cast hindu “untouchables” known as “dalits” face rampant human rights abuse on a daily basis.

“Dalit boy beaten to death for plucking flowers"; "Dalit tortured by cops for three days"; "Dalit 'witch' paraded naked in Bihar"; "Dalit killed in lock-up at Kurnool"; "7 Dalits burnt alive in caste clash"; "5 Dalits lynched in Haryana"; "Dalit woman paraded half-naked"; "Police egged on mob to lynch Dalits" are some of the common headlines in the mainstream national newspapers in India.

Dalits are not allowed to drink from the same wells, attend the same temples, wear shoes in the presence of an upper caste or drink from the same cups in tea stalls.

Shilpa Shetty famously asks her tormentor Jade Goody “Am I not human ? What about me is so different ?”

I ask Indian public and the politicians who are crying foul the same question……Are they not human..? What about them is so different..?

Please guys, put your house in order!!!

Discrimination

Letters to editor column of 7Days is littered with interesting thoughts on racial discrimination at work place in Dubai.

We are constantly subjected to discrimination almost on a daily basis in one way or the other….it may be a job advertisement, an interview, entry to a club, a look, a gesture; why, even a seemingly kind patronising is discrimination in disguise and can be the unkindest cut of all.

It is easy to understand this phenomenon when you are at the receiving end….For a white man/woman it would not be very apparent unless the act of discrimination is very pronounced, which do not normally surface in a politically correct environment where people live with enforced civility!!!

Unfortunately, discrimination is present everywhere and take many forms…, I think it is only human; and often the result of conditioning that exist in our sub-consious minds.

1. Gender Discrimination
2. Religious Discrimination
3. Racial Discrimination
4. Regional Discrimination (this is the strangest…have you witnessed the discrimination meted out to South Indians – otherwise known as Madrasis – by North Indians in Bombay – oops Mumbai !!!)
5. Linguistic Discrimination
6. Discrimination on the grounds of Nationality
7. Discrimination based on appearance / physique / height
8. Lifestyle Discrimination

The only difference is that in Dubai, where there is no real law against discrimination, this is practiced without any fear of retribution.

What has often surprised me is the discrimination between an Indian Boss and his Indian Office Boy. The request for tea is almost always “Eh...bring tea”.

On the other hand a European Manager always asks for a tea with a please!!!

One can live with all the other forms of discrimination. Sure it hurts, but, it really doesn’t matter if you are denied entry into a club or if you are given an unfriendly / indifferent treatment in an upper class shopping mall.

Unfortunately, you are hit the most when discrimination manifests as a huge disparity in earnings, even worse, when one is denied the opportunity to earn a livelihood!!!