And the reason for the outrage of social media activists was that the lyrics shame and scorn Beyoncé for her colour. Apparently, taking the meaning of the word ‘goriya’ in the lyrics to mean literally ‘fair woman’, netizens say that the songwriters and composers have displayed blatant colorism and racism. Beyoncé, as we all know, is black.
Outraged netizens have poured out their contempt and disgust at the lyrics in the only way they know nowadays – the video of the above song from Khaali Peeli has received 1.5 lakh dislikes on YouTube within hours.
No one has the common sense or rational thought to consider that the lyricist simply used the word ‘goriya’ to mean girl, and nothing else. The lyrics simply mean, “oh my lass, even Beyoncé would envy/covet/feel inadequate, were she to see your lithe, flexible body.” What’s the big deal in that!
Yet, this issue simply proves what we’ve suspected for far too long — we have reached the edge of our tolerance. In recent times, we’ve become a citizenry that takes offense at every tiny thing that doesn’t meet with our approval. Another person’s fundamental rights don’t matter to us anymore, it’s all about I, me and mine. Several celebs and YouTube videos have faced the brunt of our intolerance in the current scenario – receiving lakhs of dislikes from viewers.
Every other day sees a new issue being raked up and shredded to bits by social media arm-chair activists and keyboard warriors. Is it the raging Covid-19 pandemic that is making us behave this way? Or have we become too intolerant of our fellow Indians.
It’s the latter, we think.