Gora (racial epithet): Difference between revisions
usage in Sikhism |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Gora''' (or '''gaura''') is a [[South Asian]] adjective for a yellow-skinned or light-brown person, whether [[India]] |
'''Gora''' (or '''gaura''') is a [[South Asian]] adjective for a yellow-skinned or light-brown person, whether from [[India]], [[Pakistan]] or other regions. The word literally means "white" or "fair-skinned" in [[Indo-Aryan languages]] like [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] ([[Hindi-Urdu]]), and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]. |
||
Although the word distinctly means "yellowish", it is sometimes used informally to include any light-skinned person, whether light-brown, yellow or even white. In place names that date back to the colonial era - there are a number of graveyards in Pakistan such as the Gora Qabristan (the lighter-skinned graveyard) in [[Peshawar]],<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050612/dmag7.htm A vanishing landmark]</ref> the Gora Kabrastan in [[Karachi]],<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/review/archive/031002/review6.htm Grave business]</ref> as well as one in [[Chillianwala]], the site of a [[Battle of Chillianwala|famous battle]] involving the [[British East India Company]].<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/030824/dmag11.htm Battlefields of Chillianwallah]</ref> |
Although the word distinctly means "yellowish", it is sometimes used informally to include any light-skinned person, whether light-brown, yellow or even white. In place names that date back to the colonial era - there are a number of graveyards in Pakistan such as the Gora Qabristan (the lighter-skinned graveyard) in [[Peshawar]],<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050612/dmag7.htm A vanishing landmark]</ref> the Gora Kabrastan in [[Karachi]],<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/review/archive/031002/review6.htm Grave business]</ref> as well as one in [[Chillianwala]], the site of a [[Battle of Chillianwala|famous battle]] involving the [[British East India Company]].<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/030824/dmag11.htm Battlefields of Chillianwallah]</ref> |
||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
{{India-stub}} |
{{India-stub}} |
||
Revision as of 15:33, 12 November 2012
Gora (or gaura) is a South Asian adjective for a yellow-skinned or light-brown person, whether from India, Pakistan or other regions. The word literally means "white" or "fair-skinned" in Indo-Aryan languages like Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), and Punjabi.
Although the word distinctly means "yellowish", it is sometimes used informally to include any light-skinned person, whether light-brown, yellow or even white. In place names that date back to the colonial era - there are a number of graveyards in Pakistan such as the Gora Qabristan (the lighter-skinned graveyard) in Peshawar,[1] the Gora Kabrastan in Karachi,[2] as well as one in Chillianwala, the site of a famous battle involving the British East India Company.[3]
According to the Natyasastra, an Indian text, the term refers to "yellowish-reddish".[4] Because of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's explicitly yellow skin, he was termed "Gauranga".[5]
Usage in Britain and among anglophones on the Subcontinent
The term gora is often used by British Asians and among English-speaking South Asians in the Subcontinent to refer to white people, the feminine form being gori.[6][dead link] The plural term gore is also used to refer to white people of both genders. In this form it has taken on racial connotations so has acquired the status of a slur, though it is not inherently pejorative.
Usage in Sikhism
The term has been used to describe Sikhs of non-Punjabi descent, especially White Americans.[7]
References
- ^ A vanishing landmark
- ^ Grave business
- ^ Battlefields of Chillianwallah
- ^ Studies in the Nāṭyaśāstra : with special reference to the Sanskrit drama in performance, G.H. Tārḷekar, p. 138
- ^ P. 52 Chaitanya Mahaprabhu By Prem Lata
- ^ The Independent, 1 April 2004
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=YN9jC2_7UHYC&pg=PA985&lpg=PA985&dq=gora+sikhs+united+states&source=bl&ots=Bfint1_Hrt&sig=dEGyiSAjxd117ZpofR8cpYctX9I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VIcqUJ2YAoHA6AHB74GoDQ&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=gora%20sikhs%20united%20states&f=false
 | This India-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Pakistan-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |