Class 12 textbook in Rajasthan triggers ‘racism’ row

Jaipur: If promoting fairness creams was not racist enough, textbooks in Rajasthan have gone a step further to suggest that short and dark skinned people cannot be successful entrepreneurs.

Recently, an actor took on fellow Bollywood actors who promote fairness creams, saying, “We are not a racist country.”

Just as we watch in fairness cream advertisements, school textbooks in Rajasthan also suggest that physical appearances matter more to be successful in life than intelligence and hard work.

Now, according to a chapter on “skills development” for Class 12 students in government schools, “good height” and “beautiful complexion” are some of the essential qualities for an entrepreneur. “Jolly nature” is yet another important quality listed in the chapter in the textbook on “socially relevant schemes”, which highlights the flagship schemes of the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state.

Apart from uttam swasthya (perfect health) and shaleenta (calm), the textbook says that to be a good entrepreneur, one requires a prabhavshali vyaktitva (impressive personality), acchhi oonchai (good height), sundar rang (beautiful complexion) and gambhirta (seriousness).

Large portions of the books have been dedicated to include major schemes announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Vasundhara Raje, such as Budget announcements, Make in India initiatives and Resurgent Rajasthan investment summit.

The book is likely to add fuel to the ongoing controversy over racism. Recently, former BJP MP Tarun Vijay embarrassed his party, which is trying to get a foothold in South India, by saying, “If we were racist, why would we have all the entire south — Tamil, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra — why do we live with them? We have black people around us.”