Über Desi over the ages has dispensed the occasional fashion tip or two [link].
Is Bappi Lahiri ugly?
A. Yes
B. Hell Yes
C. No – I’m Bappi’s Momma
D. Hell No – I’m proud owner of the audio tape of Bappi’s Indipop album “Night Lovers”
img: via The Telegraph
So needless to say, when I stumbled upon this dated but interesting post at the Marlinspike Hall [link] blog, I could not but help bring this up for discussion here. The discussion is based on an op-ed piece [link] in The Telegraph by Mukul Kesavan where Mukul points out how in general Indian men are exponentially uglier than Indian women.
Indian men were measurably uglier than Indian women. You don’t have to take my word for it: cursory surveys of marriages, morchas, classrooms, offices and homes will bear out this observation.
Mukul attributes this to (lack of) social graces and the callous attitude displayed by Indian men when it comes to their appearances.
If I was to be schematic, I’d argue that Indian men are ugly on account of the three Hs: hygiene, hair and horrible habits.
That’s 4 H’s, Mukul, but who’s counting.
But Mukul’s observations – some of them bang on target, some of them over the top – make for entertaining reading anyway. Seems like this op-ed piece combined with the UN Study on condoms and “size” [link] combine to form a double whammy on Indian men.
Naturally, this controversial proclamation leads to a rebuttal from one of the responders on the Marlinspike Hall [link] blog who posts this article about the new metrosexual Indian man who preenes for an entire 2 more minutes in front of the mirror than the Indian woman [link].
A survey by Gillette India indicates that Indian men now spend an average of 20 minutes in the mirror each morning, higher than the 18-minute average for Indian women. “Men of all ages are taking a keen interest in their appearance,” said the Gillette study.
This story carries some weight too. Given the rise in disposable income, rampant consumerism and media exposure, more premium is being placed on looks at least for the middle class and higher urban Indian man.
The Marlinspike Hall [link] blog prominently displays a picture of Telugu superstar, Chiranjeevi, as the quintessential ugly Indian man. Who would be your nomination for the “Ugliest Indian Man”?
The question here is, are Indian men truly light years uglier than Indian women? I would say it depends on the age group and social status – but as a nation there is probably some truth to that statement.
What do our readers think? Particularly the ladies?
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