R. Nardhana Sri
M. Nakul
CSE 2, I YEAR
India, a nation where multiple cultures, languages, and landscapes coexist is on a transformative journey towards becoming a developed nation. In India’s fast-changing landscape, there still exists a puzzling problem. Even as India moves forward it still grapples with the unfairness and biases of the bygone age such as biases towards specific skin tones or preconceived notions about gender-based behaviour etc. To move forward as a country, we must confront these problems. This article will explore India’s journey, looking at how culture, rules, and our desire for progress all interact. We’ll argue for a change that celebrates differences and breaks old patterns.
Despite being one of the fastest developing countries in the world we still have concerns to be addressed. Recent incidents such as the disgraceful refusal of entry to an elderly man into the Bangalore metro on the ground of him wearing untidy clothes even though he had a valid ticket highlight the disparities and discrimination prevalent in our country.
The rush towards development often mirrors Western ideals, neglecting the rich tapestry of our own cultural heritage. Even after 75 years of independence, the mental colonisation has not left us and it marginalizes countless individuals, leaving them feeling alienated in their own land. This obsession with external beauty made a man poison his own 18-month-old daughter in a village in Andhra solely because of her dark complexion. This horrifying incident sheds light on how deep-rooted the obsession with skin colour is.
What does this say about the collective consciousness of our nation, especially when such attitudes persist despite decades of independence?
The answer and the bitter truth is that modern India still grapples with gender stereotypes that confine and oppress all genders. Boys are taught to suppress their emotions while girls are burdened with shame surrounding natural bodily functions like menstruation. It is quite disheartening to say that menstrual huts still exist in some parts of our country. A lot of women go through mental duress and physical discomfort due to lack of sanitation and hygiene. There have been actual reports of women dying due to extreme weather conditions, animal attacks, and snake bites.
The incidents we’ve discussed bring out the harsh realities that we often overlook in the face of development and progress. These realities expose the cracks in our society. It’s time to face these issues head-on. Let’s work towards a society where everyone is valued, no matter how they look, where they come from, or which gender they belong to. That will be the true measure of progress.
