by palomino~
‘ kasto ramri, gori cha ni tyo kti’, no not me but I have heard this quite a lot. Lately I have come to notice that our people talk about skin colour a lot. Nepali people are tanned, semi tanned, fair, pale, semi-pale, beige in colour etc but it seems that we have a propensity to favour a particular skin colour. Not all of us are this way but certainly we have been involved in such a conversation ourselves or heard our mums or aunts say it. For some ‘to be fair’ is the way forward. Hence the market is flooded with products like ‘fair and beauty’ and ‘fair and handsome’ endorsed by celebrities such as SRK.
One of the theories is that wealthy people such as land-owners in the yonder days stayed in the comfort of their homes in the day time whilst their labourers slaved away under the sun tanning away with their skin colour also darkening. Hence, back in those days fairer people it was assumed were affluent and from the upper echelons of society. The French and the Victorians including gents powdered their noses and faces with white substances to appear to be of a lighter skin tone for such similar reasons. Another reason could also be the media (specifically Asian). There is fierce promotion of goods that make you look ‘prettier and fairer’ and now ‘fair and handsome’ too. Glossy magazine covers and big posters with flawless skin and fair good looks are advertised in abundance making it harder for the common man to identify with the human within.
In our aesthetically driven society looks matter and skin colour does to. But perhaps this is not such as bad thing as it focuses the mind of the individual in beautifying themselves and their lives which makes them happy. But certainly discriminating against somebody based on their colour type is wrong because it is so petty, it is so trivial, it is cowardly.
true….i agree with wht u said…and i admire ur work…:)
well, thts true…but i think trying to be fair also depends on the people…some people r happy not being fair too…but yes its a good thing you brought up this topic….too much importance is being given in appearing fair…and people have started to feel uncomfortable in their own color, ….but yes color definitely doesnt matter…cuz evryone is beautiful the way they r naturally…
another good and encouraging work from u palomino~
keep it up (Y)matters like this should be discussed…
“Tall, Fair and Handsome” – Def the norm of the asian society. Its so ironic how the western society craves for the skin-tone like us, yet we go though extreme measures to be “fair”. Sad!
Falling love with Palomino writings ! Keep up the good work!
in**
As a tall, dark and handsome Gentleman I think that our society (certainly the ones abroad) are coming around to the Idea that maybe the colour of our skin need not define us. I would be very ignorant if I stated that it is what is on the inside that counts. Of course we look for the aesthetic pleasures in life, but when it comes to it the colour of your skin should really not matter. I’ve managed to overcome it and its time the rest our society overcame it too.