If you're too puzzled by the most random of titles, let me explain. I had recently been invited to a random hobnob's party at an eclectic lifestyle hotel in Hyderabad. The host of the party was a singer in a slow-jazz, two-piece band which was playing at the same hotel. One of the two members of the band was heading back to Australia after playing out his contract period.
The party started off with some of us playing games of pool with mock-wagers. The experience was fun, although I couldn't really hustle anyone for money at the game. :-D Thereafter, some guests left and the rest of us unknowns retreated to the singer's room to get a taste of some heady debauchery.
As the alcohol started flowing, the group of intellects who were sitting in a quaint corner discussing the randomness of life with their new-found intellectual muses, shed their hides and made conversation with the rest of the mortals, who were, oddly, all brown-skinned. It surprised me to see the manner in which the initial hesitance of the expats was shunned to freely dance and mingle with the Indian guests. By the end of the party, when most of us were highly inebriated, almost to the point of slurring, you could see a never-before met Indian business man exchanging numbers and e-mail ID's with a never-expecting-to-get laid-in-India single freshman from the US! I think I can safely assume that neither of them would even remember each other's names, considering the amount of rum gulped down that night!
Now, finally, coming to the reason behind the title. Most of the expats present were Australian, while the rest of us were all Indians. At the beginning of the party, the only discrimination that people were evidently making, as they did not know one another, was through the other person's skin colour. The way people of similar hides bunch up together and discuss 'their cultures'. While the Indians were very comfortable with their fellow desis, the whites were evidently feeling some discomfort and specifically reluctant about discussing any common controversies like Indian politics, Bollywood and most importantly, cricket. Of course, the statement is not intended to incriminate or hold anything against any of them, but just an observation. An observation which leads me to think that it is but human nature to discriminate, by colour, culture, physical appearance, sociability, etc.
"If I did not know 'white' from 'black', I'd not know of my 'grey' matter."
By 'Likes to Remain Anonymous'
Cheers!
Vidd.
Posts
