I have never used a fairness cream, says actor Nandita Das

Good morning didirdquo chorused boys and girls in unison standing up to greet actor Nandita Das Das was ldquodidirdquo to the Std IX students at Shiv Srushti School in Kurla East on Monday morning She was the speaker at a programme held by Teach for India Das headlined a session called Unconscious Bias Colourism and prejudices impacting children and adolescentsDas started with asking the classroom ldquoTell me what discrimination meansrdquo When there was silence she elaborated ldquoDo you know of a word called differentiate We often hear statements like you are very tall you are short you are rich they are poorthese are differences When we treat a person based on solely these differences as better or not so good that is discriminationrdquoLabelling peopleDas who was effortless in her teacher role explained that discrimination labels people and reduces them to one aspect literally confining them to a box Das spoke from personal experience as she said ldquoSometimes you will hear people say she is so fairskinned like an actress She is so darkskinned how can she be an actressrdquo She told her listeners ldquoThe media would write in their papers lsquothe darkrsquo or sometimes lsquothe duskyrsquo Nandita Das They felt the need to qualify somehow Yet dark or dusky is just one part of my identity I love music nature I have a Masters in Social Work These are part of my identity too Labelling someone diminishes themrdquo Das added ldquoThe fairness industry is huge Today we may not have creams that use lsquofairrsquo in their name but the aim is the same I have never used a fairness creamrdquoAlso Read Mumbai Allrsquos not well at Fortrsquos Bhikha Behram WellThat hurtsDas prodded students to share their experiences A student remarked ldquoI have been looked at differently because of my skin colour My relative said she is dark look at her skin colour It broke my heart I stopped believing in myself because of these statementsrdquo Das seconded that angst stating ldquoIt does more than just hurt It makes you start believing you are different and lesser somehowrdquoCelebrate differences she stressedShe said about herself ldquoA relative used to tell me when I was a child you are too dark do not play in the sun I was advised to apply haldi turmeric on myself so that my lsquotanrsquo will come off When I was older I used to retort this is not my tan I have no need of detanning This is my skin I have lived with it and will die with itrdquoAnother student said ldquoI have had family members commenting lsquoyou are fair but you do not look so good your younger sister is dark but despite that she looks good You are too fat now you have become too thinrsquo I have realised some people will comment no matter what I have started responding stating lsquoI am happy my younger sister looks good she is my sister after allrsquordquo That earned her a round of applause from the classFaith biasA Muslim student then shared how she was chastised by relatives for dressing like someone from another community as she wore jeans and Tshirts and not salwarkameez That is when the interaction segued to religion caste and gender discrimination It could be that the girls were better communicators but it was important to note that it was more girls who spoke up about being judged for what they wore their skin colour or how they looked Das egged on the boys ldquoThe boys need to speak too If they do not have direct experiences I appeal to the boys to make a mental list about how their sisters are treated how their mothers and fathers are treatedrdquoLessons learntIn the end Das who had handled the class dexterously had some lessons for her young audience She wound up acknowledging the wisdom of children ldquoAdults do not like to admit that they are wrong especially to children I have a 12yearold son and he in fact is my biggest teacher He looks at the world through fresh eyes Keep conversations about these prickly topics going Being equal just and fair is a lifelong effort Do not be part of the problem be part of the solution for a more equitable worldrdquo