Dark skinned meenachis and settling for lesser machas

The Indian society is an ironic bunch where they glorify men with dark skin while shunning dark skinned Indian women. When it comes to marriage, these dark skinned women are expected to settle down with lesser, rejected men simply because they were seen as ‘not beautiful’. It is like an unspoken rule – dark indian women can’t expect much of their future husbands simply because they are dark. This rule applies to a meenachi even if she is has high academic qualifications (PhD, MSc, MBA) and a steady, well-paying job. Somehow, being dark disqualifies her by default as a desirable wife candidate in the eyes of the Indian society. You will not see any of the keepochi relatives promoting her to potentials suitors.

In fact, they will be mildly embarrassed to even mention to potential bridegrooms that the meenachi is dark skinned. Personally, I have come across an Indian aunty who was describing a dark skinned meenachi this way – ponnu nalla padichiruku, nalla velai, sambalam, ana konjum kari satti (the girls is well educated, has a good job and salary but is dark skinned). We were baffled with the reference to the skin colour. Why is there a need to refer to skin colour? Do people describe skin color when they talk about potential bridegroom? I have yet to see any of these aunties or uncles going – Paiyan nalla padichiruku, nalla velai, sambalam, ana konjum kari satti. No reference will be made about the macha’s physical appearances despite him being bald, obese with a pot belly or plain ugly. The focus will solely be on his education level, job and salary. However, when it comes to meenachis, you will see all kinds of physical description given on top of the academic, job and salary description. Somehow, the entire worth of a dark skinned meenachi lies in her skin tone.

One Indian aunty that we had an argument with, staunchly believes that Indian guys are entitled to fair girls. She says – ippo lam mappilai soppa irukkire ponnu than venum soldrangge, avanggalukku wife azhaga irukanum nu asaya irukatha? (Guys nowadays want fair girls only, nothing wrong with them wanting fair girls though). A dear friend of us who happens to be dark skinned even said her mum told her – potential mappilai kude ethir parkiraru (the potential bridegroom is expecting more). We were like what more he is expecting? This dark skinned meenachi is a PhD holder and she was rejected because she has a tanned skin colour. And how highly qualified the potential bridegroom is that he thinks he can reject a girl simply because she is dark? Somehow, finding a life partner for machas today is more of getting a trophy wife. One whom they can show off to their friends and family. A life partner should be more than just a pretty face but the Indian society fails to realize this and continue to define beauty as being fair skinned.