THE FADING COLOURS

Why are Indians scared of colours?

- Snigdha Jauhari

Have you ever wondered why in some countries, regions, cultures, people wear a riot of colours? On the other hand, people from some cultures, regions and socio-economic groups, wear clothes that are restricted in colours, hues and tones.

What could be the reasons?

What Is Colour?

Colour is defined as the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light. Colour has a frequency and a wavelength.

Look at it this way-the frequency and wavelength of different colours strike the eyes of all humans across cultures in exactly the same way. However, the interpretation of colour is varied, depending upon different geographies and cultures.

For example, who out of these will like colours more-singers who have been told to wear 'exciting colours' or officer-goers who have been told to wear muted colours?

So, you see, colour psychology or in other words, the interpretation and preference of colour is a learnt response. It is a product of social-conditioning.

A Slow Disappearance

You may have never heard of this before, but colour was disparaged and marginalised in the West for hundreds of years.

In 1840 AD, Goethe (German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, and statesman) wrote in his book, A Theory of Colour, "Savage nations, uneducated people, and children have a great predilection for vivid colours... people of refinement avoid vividness in their dress."

Charles Blanche, French Minister of Culture, stated in 1848, "Colour is the peculiar characteristic of the lower forms of nature..."