By P Ramasamy
With all due respect to Fa Abdul’s views, I do not think it was necessary for this writer to delve into an issue that has no bearing on the future of Indians in the country. I am referring to her commentary titled “Black is beautiful. Really ah?” published in FMT on Nov 6, and have to ask her in turn: “Was it really necessary?”
Generally Indians, the majority being Tamils, are a dark-skinned ethnic group. The colour of their skin has not been a major impediment to their long history of progress and history. Even before the arrival of Aryans, Tamils being Dravidians, achieved progress and advancement in the ancient kingdoms of Mohanderajo and Harrappa.
Indians feeling inferior or thinking they are marginalised in Malaysia has nothing to do with their skin colour.
Indians’ progress or lack of it, can be found in how various ethnic groups have been managed over the years. Yes, those who are dark skinned might be conscious of their colour especially in the context where value is placed on being light skinned.
I can cite not one or two cases, but hundreds where Indian parents have accepted either daughters-in-law or sons-in-law who are dark skinned.
Stereotypes are not unique to Indians. Chinese and Malays have their fair share of stereotypes too. Amongst the Malays, there are many dark skinned individuals. Is the colour of their skin blocking their advancement? So, why single out Indians?
Fa Abdul is making a mountain out of a molehill by suggesting that the dark skin of Indians has been a major factor in preventing them from moving forward.
The examples and anecdotal evidence she put forward in her commentary were specious and did not demonstrate in any way the prevalence of skin colour in holding back Indians from progressing.
Her thesis mainly reinforced existing stereotypes about skin colour and how dark skinned individuals have lower self-esteem than others in moving confidently forward in society.
The fact that some Indian women seek white men as their spouses so their children do not look too Indian, is an insult to the vast majority of Indians who are proud of their origins and who want to lead a life of dignity.
Sorry, the issue of discrimination is broad-based and not necessarily related to the colour factor.
What is totally unacceptable is that the author has put her personal preferences and individual prejudices into a major sociological framework to explain Indian marginalisation. Nothing can be further from the truth!
The problem with writers like Fa Abdul is the tendency to conjure up a theory based on fictitious thinking, anecdotes and limited personal experiences.
The fault is not in the stars but in ourselves. The writer should not engage in some wild imaginings to create her sense of “reality”.
P Ramasamy is Penang Deputy Chief Minister II.
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