Wanting What Is Not -I Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

How ye feel, O fair bird from far world?
A crow once asked a migrating bird:
It's hell being fair bird
In this— an all fair world,
I feel a common sort
Of no special import,
World always wants what's not, mark my word.
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Indian proclivity for a fair skin comes loud and clear for even a casual observer. Many Indian gods have been of dark skin: Krishna, Ram, Shiva, goddess Kali, to name but the most prominent. Draupadi, one of the most beautiful women in ancient India of Mahabharata was of dusky skin. So was Satyavati, mother of the epic's creator and sage Vyasa. And the list is long. This little ditty tries to probe into why. In western world of commonly fair skin, people like to tan their skin to acquire a darker tone.
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Reflections | 04.04.15 |