PARENTING QUESTIONED BECAUSE Of
The Mistake My Indian Parents Made
and why elders are not always right.
He whispered in his mom’s ears, “Ye wala colour mat lo, mai kala hu na!” (Hindi to English translation: Don’t buy this colour since my skin complexion is dark!)
My parents and my relatives instilled this in my 10–12-year-old brother’s mind who grew up observing my parents buying light-coloured clothes for him.
They believed that his dark skin tone would appear even darker when wearing bright colours.
Since the day my brother was born, his skin has been gradually getting darker.
Everybody at home bullied him with derogatory names like “black,” “kala” (black in Hindi), and “kalyu” (some variation of kala).
He himself became reluctant to buy brightly coloured clothes like red, yellow, black, and brown because that’s what he always heard.
Dear parents (and my relatives),
this is where you failed.
Unfortunately, you also made me do it because it was the only environment I knew.
Instead of making fun of him, you should have supported him in building confidence and self-love.
