‘Yes I am kaali, but you have a regressive mindset and ain’t no one got a cream for that’
Maria Sartaj brilliantly describes the most fatal “disease” an average Pakistani woman suffers throughout her life. She calls it “Kaala Rang”.
The patriarchal and excessively parochial society we reside in confines the standards on which a daughter-in-law is assessed to get married to the ‘perfect son’. While we take pride in relishing about being one of the least racist countries in the world, we tend to ignore the most important underlying facet in a woman’s life.
“Am I fair enough?”
“Bhai Sahab, gori rangat ke liye koi cream dikha den”
“Beta, dhoop main na raha karo, rang kala hojayega”
Keeping everything aside, when a woman reaches her early-twenties, she has to be mindful about all the qualities that could put her on a mother-in-law’s list. As unbelievable as it may sound, the attitudes of the 21st Century Pakistani people are petty and undeniably hidebound. These thoughts/interactions remain a crucial part for an average Pakistani woman who goes through the torment at the hands of those who narrow down the ‘must-have’ qualities for a daughter-in-law. It comes as of no surprise that the ‘Gol Rotis’ have been necessarily pushed down the list by ‘Gori Rangat’.
Seeing her dreams of a perfect married life shattered, she is unable to please her parents. She remains demoralized. Needless to say, the societal pressures are too influential in maintaining the imposition of the ‘Gori Rangat’ cultural norm. It’s absurd that her PhD is utterly useless in protecting her from this societal wrath.
In this myopic society of ours, the ‘gori rangat’ phenomenon goes beyond the marriage sphere. If you’re ‘kaali’, they might not grant you a job because there always is a ‘fairer counterpart’ as suggested by Maria Sartaj.
While all these aspects might not be explicitly present but deep down in a woman’s heart, she knows that to compete in this blinkered society, she necessarily has to invest thousands of Rupees on fairness creams. The future seems bleak, otherwise.
The reality is bitter but can’t be conveniently repudiated. What could turn the tables is to feel comfortable in your skin and feel good about yourself. Because for me, your color is NOT and NEVER will be your identity. Your identity is who you are, and NOT THE AMOUNT OF MELANIN IN YOUR SKIN.
