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Untouchables and Dark Skin
The ongoing prejudice some Indians face
I have loved my visits to India.
The smiling people, the history and culture, the sights and sounds. The amazing food.
I remember as a child visiting Juhu Beach in Mumbai, though it was Bombay back then. I remember the Queen’s necklace and visiting the Gateway of India and the Elephanta Caves. What I enjoyed the most, after the beach and parks, was going with relatives to the fascinating markets.
There were mounds of spices in the open air markets. There were also shops filled with gorgeous fabric, shoes, jewelry. Everyone haggled. My grandmother was an expert at it.
My grandmother had three servants. Two for the housekeeping and one who was a cook. But my grandmother made a few special dishes for us. My Mom helped.
As a child, I didn’t notice how badly some people were treated, aside from the beggars on the street. My parents scolded me when I gave some change to them. They told me that we could get mobbed if we did that.
However, my grandmother and parents treated the servants with respect. I later found out that my grandmother paid for any medical treatment they needed. She fed them well and made sure they got time off every day. They used part of that time to watch a TV show…
