Beauty is more than skin-deep; it is an inner attribute and it is eternal.
TEXT: NAMITA GUPTA
PHOTOGRAPHS: LUCKY MALHOTRA
We live in a country that’s obsessed with fair skin. While millions of people across the world, envy our brown skin and crave for it, we Indians are still basking in the so-called beauty associated with whiteness. It’s bizarre that even in today’s day and age, people are stereotyped based on their skin colour, not only in India, but across Asia and even Africa. #ItsNotFair, a concept close to fashion and lifestyle photographer Lucky Malhotra’s heart, is also something RITZ Magazine stands by with complete conviction.
So, what’s #ItsNotFair all about? “I have seen this discrimination happening around with women specially where they’re made to believe that being fair is of utmost importance. Once when my nine-year-old daughter wanted my permission to attend a birthday party of her classmate and could not recollect who it was by her name, she described her saying the one who is very fair. That line hit me and I asked her if she liked her own complexion? Although she said yes, I kept thinking about this for a while and soon started this campaign with the hashtag #ItsNotFair. Parents and the society are to be blamed as this thought creeps into a child’s mind because of them. If we are all encouraging in teaching our younger generation that taking care of one’s skin is more important than the colour of the complexion, I feel there would probably be no issues and it would help them grow up with confidence. Even the schools should take up this initiative, as I see lot of bullying happening around based on complexion. Even teachers should take this up and not favour students who are fair, giving them prominence in stage performances and breaking their confidence. Also, some North Indians discriminating South Indians is not fair. South Indians are blessed with great skin and they should be proud of it. Judging anyone based on their skin tone is demeaning. Even such matrimonial ads should be banned. Women are not commodities,” shares Lucky Malhotra, award-winning photographer, who has over 15 years of experience shooting for some of the top-notch brands, celebrities, campaigns, designers, hospitality, sports personalities, corporate heads and more.
Bindiya Banerjee, General Manager Sales & Marketing, South for the Citrus Group of Hotels and currently awaiting a new assignment.
Your thoughts on being dusky in a country like India where people are obsessed with fair skin: I’m not bothered about what others think about me. You let other people’s judgement affect you and that’s when it leads to your downfall. It’s sad that the people in India are judgmental and do not accept everyone for what they truly are. If I would have paid heed to the requirements of fair skin be it for a job, relationship, social acceptance or any other area in life, I would never have reached the position I am in now. What I did was being in action and being unstoppable to achieve what I wanted. In the process you learn that your attitude and personality is what takes you forward and not the colour of your skin.
Concept of itsnotfair, what it means to you and how you took being dusky in your stride: #ItsNotFair is creating ripples towards breaking the stigma of discrimination against dark skin. Although, I have never faced any discrimination personally, I have observed many whom I’m associated with going through the trauma. I remember a colleague who had the courage to stand up to one of her superiors on being called “Black Beauty”, and showing him his place. That’s our little win in the fight against this stigma of the society.
