Sachin Sharma

Tag: Discrimination

  • The Dark Side of Emotions: How “Hurt” Sentiments Fuel Injustice and Division

    The Dark Side of Emotions: How “Hurt” Sentiments Fuel Injustice and Division

    As Indians, we often judge people and things based on appearances alone, without fully understanding the situation. Our brains are wired to make quick conclusions. But when it comes to caste or religion, our perceptions can change in a dramatic way. We may suddenly feel compelled to defend our own caste or religion, even if we are not directly involved. This can lead to taking things personally and not being able to let go until the situation subsides.

    Recently, there were incidents in the state of Haryana involving the blocking of roads and railways, aggressive attacks causing damage to public property, theft from ATMs, and the setting of shops and malls on fire, all in response to the “Jat Agitation” demand for reservation. The national media was covering these events extensively.

    I wrote a Facebook post condemning the incidents and the demand for reservation by the Jats, who are known for being royal and rich, but are neither socially nor economically backward. To my surprise, some of my Facebook friends who are Jats started defending and justifying the protests. One of them even called me to ask if I was following a politician who was speaking out against the demand for reservation. I told them that I don’t have to follow anyone to see that what was happening was wrong and to speak out against it.

    What was interesting was that these friends who were defending the riots were not even participating in the protests. Some of them had previously spoken out against the idea of reservation. But now that their caste was demanding reservation, they suddenly had a change of heart.

    There were a few who spoke out against the riots, regardless of their caste, but the majority of people criticized them for bringing shame to their caste, as if the agitators weren’t already doing that. It’s difficult to understand how anyone could justify blocking a road, let alone the more aggressive acts that took place, just to demand reservation for one caste. It causes inconvenience to innocent people who have no part in this reservation controversy.

    Why is it that our caste or religion is more important to us than humanity and the greater good of people? I can’t help but wonder what would happen if people from ISIS or other terrorist organizations were of the same caste as my friends. They would likely cry every time a terrorist was hanged by the law and protest against it, just like they did for the reservation.

    This is why politicians are able to win elections through their dirty politics of caste and religion. It’s our emotional attachment to our caste or religion that is the biggest obstacle to our country’s development. We are the biggest fools in this conspiracy to keep people divided by caste and religion, but one thing is for sure – we won’t change.

  • Indian Men Online: A Wake-Up Call for Change

    Indian Men Online: A Wake-Up Call for Change

    It’s a sad reality, but many Indian men who try to connect with women from other countries on social media often face rejection. As soon as a woman finds out that the man trying to talk to her is Indian, she often chooses to avoid him. This can be frustrating for Indian men who are polite and respectful in their interactions with women, but unfortunately it’s a common experience due to the actions of other Indian men.

    Recently, an American woman decided to share her experience with Indian men online in an effort to shed some light on the situation. This woman, who loves to travel in India but doesn’t have a preference for Indian men, shared her thoughts with brutal honesty.

    She explains that on her social media pages, she is primarily approached by Indian men of all ages, states, religions, education levels, and jobs. And unfortunately, her experience has been that many of these men immediately ask personal and inappropriate questions.

    Some common questions include asking about what she is wearing, if her husband is home, if she gets along well with her husband, if she is currently in bed, and when she lost her virginity. These questions are often followed by even more inappropriate and offensive comments and requests.

    The woman goes on to explain that unfortunately, many American women will block these men at this point, as it is very offensive to be asked these types of questions. She also notes that Indian men will often ask to see photos, including requests for specific types of photos such as cleavage shots and images of her in jeans.

    The woman shares that she continues to engage with these men, despite their offensive behavior, because she believes that they are better than this. She feels that by patiently teaching them and helping them to understand the errors in their thinking, she can help them improve.

    The woman also points out the hypocrisy in the way that Indian men view Indian women versus white women. She notes that Indian men often view Indian women as “goddesses” and “pillars” who deserve respect, while viewing white women as objects for sexual gratification.

    It’s important to recognize that this woman’s experience is just one perspective, but it’s a valuable one that highlights the offensive and disrespectful behavior of some Indian men towards women online. It’s crucial for all of us to be aware of this and to actively work to change this behavior, by calling out and educating those who engage in it.

  • Breaking Barriers: Why Sunny Leone Deserves Equal Respect as Any Other Celebrity in India

    Breaking Barriers: Why Sunny Leone Deserves Equal Respect as Any Other Celebrity in India

    Sunny Leone is a famous Bollywood actress and businesswoman, but some people in India don’t think she deserves respect because of her past career in the adult film industry. But that’s not fair! Just because she used to be in porn movies doesn’t mean she’s not a hardworking and talented person.

    Lots of people watch porn, but they don’t like to admit it in public. Sunny Leone is just being honest about it, and she’s really good at her job. She’s also a professional, just like other famous actors and actresses in India. And she’s a good person too – she wouldn’t shoot a movie scene if she thought it would be bad for kids to see.

    Some people say that Sunny Leone is bad for Indian culture, but that’s not true either. People have been watching porn for a long time, way before the internet existed. According to Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, a sociologist and expert on the adult film industry, “Pornography is a normal and natural part of human sexuality, and it has been present in all cultures throughout history. It is not something that can or should be blamed for negative societal outcomes.” And lots of Indian movies and TV shows have adult scenes too. It’s not fair to blame everything on one person.

    We should respect Sunny Leone for who she is, and not judge her based on her past career. It’s not fair to call her names or say she’s bad for India. Everyone deserves a chance to live their life the way they want to, and Sunny Leone is no different.

    There are many other instances where famous people have broken barriers and overcome stereotypes in their respective fields. For example, Oprah Winfrey, who is now a media mogul and philanthropist, grew up in poverty and faced discrimination as a black woman in the media industry. However, she broke through these barriers to become one of the most influential and successful people in the world.

    Similarly, Ellen DeGeneres, a popular talk show host and LGBTQ+ rights activist, faced discrimination and even lost her job in the entertainment industry for coming out as gay. But she persevered and now has her own successful talk show and is a respected and loved figure in the industry.

    These examples show that it is possible to break barriers and overcome stereotypes, no matter how difficult it may seem. As Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor and author, says, “You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” It is important to recognize and respect the struggles and achievements of those who have broken barriers and overcome stereotypes, regardless of their past or present circumstances. And this applies to everyone, including Sunny Leone.