That title caught your attention, did it not?

Actually I wanted to write 'gets gang-banged', but then I do not know if the usage is right. Not to mention the fact that getting flamed equals getting gang-banged!

Essentially, Vulturo aka Saket Vaidya made a few nasty remarks about Madrasi chicks and how he prefers Punjabi ones, and all hell broke into loosies. Many of his regular readers did not like the observation, thought it was offensive, and some others thought it racist. A bunch fo people landed on his blog, some with reasonable observations, some offered logic and arguments, while some commented on Vulturo's looks with equal disdain. Some resorted to enthusiastic abuse.

As a so-called Madrasi, I thought I should offer my view here on the topic. I am from Kerala, was in Mumbai for 12 years or more, and now in New Delhi.

Let me say it clearly: I support Vulturo's right to be funny, offensive, nasty and if you want to call it so, abusive, remarks about Madrasi chicks. It is his blog, if he thinks Madrasi chicks are ugly, it is his right to believe so, say so and post so. He is perfectly within his rights to think and describe anyone as retarded, ugly, foolish, unpatriotic or just madrasi. It is his blog, his brain and his thoughts, and neither me or anyone else has a right to say that he should not think the way he does.

Oh, I also believe that I have a right to be offensive about other people, races, enthicities, groups, politicial affiliations, religions - and North Indians too.

The other part is about the word madrasi and its connotations. Whether it is in the same league as 'nigger'.

My response is, it is all in the mind.

Madrasi is a word which has often been used, and is still being used in a derogatory way to refer to anyone South Indian. So it is understandable that many who identify that word with abuse will get instantly angry.

On the other hand, it is also a word that is matter of fact word. I am a South Indian with friends from across India, and I am referred to as Mallu, Madrasi while I refer to people from other parts of the country as Gujju, Bhaiyya, Bihari, Panju, Bong, Tam, Chinky, Kalu, whatever. None of my friends care, and I do not bother to use those words with those who do.

Now, why do I not care about the word Madrasi? Because, despite what others call me, I refuse to get offended. It is not an automatic reaction to get offended - perhaps for some Madrasis and Bhaiyyas, it is. There, I have called you Madrasis directly, I have called you Bhaiyyas and Bongs, anyone feeling offended? Thank you. That was my intention. And you are a fool to feel offended because of me calling you a name. Who am I? How does I matter to you? These are just words, they have not been handed down from heaven, it is written in large lettering in the sky that Madrasi or Bhaiyya or anything else is an offensive word. And just because something was offensive to our parents or grand-parents does not mean that we should be offended by it too.

One obvious question - so how do I feel about the word 'nigger'? Let me tell you, nothing. I have never talked to a black man in my life, and we did not have slaves back home in Kerala, and so, the word has no meaning to me. It is just a word. Black people may feel offended by it, but again I say to them, you should not.

Turn it on its head, if you really feel offended.

I know lots of South Indians who are confident about their origins to refer to themselves as Tams or Madrasis or Mallus. I know North Indians who are happy to make fun of their stereotypes or call themselves Bhaiyyas.

It is time to break the chains, my friends, and abuse each other till kingdom come, till the words themselves lose their meaning. In fact, I think the wheels are rolling, and here come the kala madrasi, the illiterate bhaiyya, the rascal bihari, the lazy Bong, the cut-throat Gujju and Marwari, and all of us together! Stop us if you can!