WEB CHUTNEY

Desi people are obsessed with gora rung (fairness). Being a dark-skinned desi girl is not easy. Here’s what happens when you are a not-so-gori desi girl:

1. People often call you kali because if you are not fair, you are black.

2. When someone tells you only fair girls are beautiful

3. Aunties in your family and neighbourhood keep suggesting totkas for lighter skin

4. People who advice you to use Fair & Lovely are the type of people you don’t need in your life

5. You hate the fairness cream adverts the most!

Especially the ones that tell you that your professional abilities are secondary to how fair and/or lovely you are.

6. There’s always that one lady at the parlour who suggests you should try bleaching your skin

7. While all your gori friends can get a tan without any regrets, your mom will give you an hour long lecture if you get a tan.

8. When your gori friend keeps saying, “I am getting dark”

9. Finding a lip colour or nail paint that compliments your skin is just impossible

10. Aunties tell you no one will marry you because of the colour of your skin

11. If the guy you marry is fairer than you, you are considered to be very lucky … very lucky!

The colour of your skin has nothing to do with what you do and deserve in your life. You don’t need to be fair for the aunties and boys!