Gora (racial epithet): Difference between revisions
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'''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 [[ |
'''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 [[Hindi]] and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]. |
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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 in [[Peshawar]], which is a graveyard for Britons, <ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050612/dmag7.htm A vanishing landmark]</ref> as well as one in [[Chillianwala]], the site of a [[Battle of Chillianwala|famous battle]] involving the [[British East India Company]].<ref>[http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050612/dmag7.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 in [[Peshawar]], which is a graveyard for Britons, <ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050612/dmag7.htm A vanishing landmark]</ref> as well as one in [[Chillianwala]], the site of a [[Battle of Chillianwala|famous battle]] involving the [[British East India Company]].<ref>[http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050612/dmag7.htm Battlefields of Chillianwallah]</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:11, 26 May 2013
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 Hindi 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 in Peshawar, which is a graveyard for Britons, [1] as well as one in Chillianwala, the site of a famous battle involving the British East India Company.[2]
According to the Natyasastra, an Indian text, the term refers to "yellowish-reddish".[3] Because of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's explicitly yellow skin, he was termed "Gauranga".[4]
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.[5][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.[6]
References
- ^ A vanishing landmark
- ^ 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
See also
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