It has being going on since time undefined. When we ask our parents why do we believe in this, they say because our grand parents taught them so. It is all over matrimonial sections of newspapers and, is by far one of the most popular gossip topics of kitty-wali aunties. Scratching your heads trying to decode what the riddle is all about?
Well, it is about the crazy obsession one develops for their ethnic/cultural/regional background. Most of us are taught that our ethnicity defines our superiority. And needless to say, this paves way to sheer dangerous love for one’s own background, love which translates into bad mouthing, arguments and, sometimes even serious communal fights!
So let’s get a go-ahead with some of the usual dialogues that people with solid fixation over their ethnic backgrounds never fail to come up with.
1. “What?! You’re planning to marry him?! You know his background right?”
“Your saasu will dominate you and keep track of your every move, he will stay lip-zipped, and you will end up being a sitting duck!”
2. “I need to find a son-in-law in the Brahmin Punjabi category, ONLY!”
Because otherwise her daughter will become “one of those”, and why would the family want that? *argh*
3. “My parents told me people from his side can’t be trusted “
“But hey, I can be careful some other time. I really need to look my best in the Halloween party tonight and he has the most funtashtik locket!” (At least, the locket brought them closer)
4. “My gawd! Her pronunciation is so weird and why is she wearing sindoor! Married at 18 or what?”
Ohhh, so it is because she is *insert cultural background*?! I had better change roommates asap or I’ll go crazy. (As if you weren’t already)
5. “Oh yay! So many people from my own ethnicity clan” *Hi-five you guys!*
“Hey guys, let’s distribute flyers and find others of our cultural family in the college. We can chat endlessly in our mother tongue and feel at home away from home, all the time. About those other people, who cares? Us same people have got to stick together.”
6. And so they be like,
“Girl, learn the language if you want to get what we are talking about or else, buzz off!”- And in their language they continued to discuss unity in diversity. Such a strange world.
7. “Haanji behenji, uski harkaton ne humari puri biradari ka naam kharab kar diya”
Spoiling the name of your clan, isn’t she, aunty ji?
8. “Why do you want to visit their religious place? Humare dharm ka kya?”
Because spiritual connection is only born when you worship the supremacy representing your background? And they said, God was one.
9. “Oh yeah, I am totally proud to be *insert cultural background*!”
Proud of what? Being a particular culture and not a human being?
10. “I will support this (so-called) politician, he fights for my people!”
Yes yes, he fights for you and against all those from different ethnic backgrounds who bring business to your city. Perfect way to rise and shine as a country, isn’t it?
Alongside progressing as a nation that buys expensive airplanes, why don’t we also progress as human beings? Let’s practice “unity in diversity” in real terms and respect each other, otherwise the time won’t be too far away when India will become a land of not many languages or ethnicities, but a continent of many small countries fighting over who is more superior. This time on a larger level.