Not Racism but equally Discriminating

Last night, watched the movie “Crash”. Just like others who have seen this movie, I too found it touching, sensitive and most importantly, made me think about the world surrounding us; it’s like having a reality check.

Anyways, on our way back to the car park, my friend passed a remark saying that she is glad that these things don’t happen in our country. Now, I could have started arguing on this topic with her there and then, but chose not to since we all were shaken up by the movie.

Come to think of it, along with racist fights between the Hindus and Muslims which are mostly caused due to a handful of people with political agendas, we also have other discriminating attitudes which are equally degrading and pathetic. Everyday we hear, read, and see innocent people being refused and at times getting killed for voicing their right to lead a normal life in the name of casteism and untouchability. On the other hand, some people get away with privileges that they don’t deserve just because they belong to the “so called” minority class.

We commence riots disguised as protests against individuals belonging to other states, coming into Mumbai to earn a livelihood. We tend to label others on the basis of, what part of India they belong to, their position in society, their monetary income…fuck we even discriminate people on the basis of their residence in Mumbai city. For example the ones belonging to south Mumbai are considered classier compared to the ones residing in the suburbs.

Even in the 21st century, gender inequality is one of the major and critical reasons holding our nation down. Women are still perceived as baby making machines and are deprived of basic necessities that life has to offer. What makes this even more depressing and sickening is the fact that this attitude is not only limited to the villages and amongst the un-educated but also practiced by others falling outside these brackets. Just talking about sexuality in the open could subject a woman to public humiliation and abuse.

We discriminate people on the basis of skin color; fairer ones are considered more beautiful….at times men and women refuse prospect partners just because they are dark skinned. Homosexuals are shunned not only by society but also threatened, beaten and blackmailed by the hands of the law.

With plenty of on-going discrimination in our country, should we be happy that we don’t experience intensive racism as compared to western nations? Instead of feeding ourselves with useless fake pride, its time we get up and correct our own judgment about others around us.

Discrimination of any kind is an offence. It’s high time the world stops practicing it!