Oprah’s Take on India Doesn’t Impress Indians

By ⋅ July 23, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
A scene from "Next Chapter: India". (Photo: oprah.com)

A scene from "Next Chapter: India". (Photo: oprah.com)

Today’s Geo Quiz takes us to Indian state of Rajasthan. Specifically, to Rajasthan’s largest city, the state capital.

It is also where Asia’s largest literary festival takes place. That festival was recently highlighted by Oprah Winfrey in a TV show.

So, do you know the Indian city we’re looking for?

Jaipur is the answer to the Geo Quiz. It is Rajasthan’s largest city and home to the Jaipur Literary Festival. Oprah Winfrey made a visit to the festival recently, and shot some interviews there.

They became part of series of TV shows called “Next Chapter: India” and they’ve just started airing on TLC in India.

But there’s a problem. Some Indians have found Oprah’s take on India stereotypical.

Anchor Aaron Schachter talks to Rajyasree Sen, columnist for the online newspapers Firstport and Newslaundry.

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Discussion

5 comments for “Oprah’s Take on India Doesn’t Impress Indians”

  • Brian Canaday

    You made the comment that Oprah represents Middle America,
    does not represent Middle America. I find her to have lost touch with reality
    when I have listened to her program. I also think that it is also unfair to
    Oprah to compare her to the common rabble just struggling to get by.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIRF6NSUUVT7HH5SOENQ5YITHQ goseecal

    Oprah, what do you use to eat a hot dog, hamburger or a pizza? Just curious.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/QQ4BJTVUZMN5TAGATTWJFOORBQ Ines

      Oprah does not eat.  She does not need to eat.  She lives on Oxygen…

  • WalterGThomas

    Anchor: “I think Oprah
    Winfrey represents what we call Middle America, right? The average
    American…she speaks for many Americans.”

     

    Wow. Just re-read that
    quote again. How shameless and pathetic.

     

    The anchor tried to
    sound so objective and smart, but you can hear the bias and ignorance loud and
    clear.

     

    First, he tried to go
    with the stereotype angle but failed miserably. The person, who was supposed to
    back him up in the interview, rejected the idea of Winfrey playing to stereotypes.

     

    Second, in a sorry
    attempt to recover from loss of face, he goes for plan B, The anchor next tried
    to paint the “average American” as morons as if he is one of the few that is educated
    and enlightened and the rest of the country is stupid and backward. Sounds like
    either a serious case of snobby elitism or utterly sad naivety.

     

    Third, the anchor tries
    to passes off a baseless opinion as fact. If he is going to do that, he needs
    to back it up with actual reporting.

     

    I have a few questions:

     

    1. How does he know that
    Oprah speaks for many Americans?

     

    2.Has the anchor ever
    talked to an “average American?” Or is that below him?

     

    3.What does “Middle
    America” and “average Americans” mean anyway? Are there other Americas? Outside
    America? Upper America? Are there above average Americans? Below average
    Americans?

     

    4.What was the purpose
    of this program?   If the agenda of this podcast was to bring
    awareness to stereotypes, the anchor did a great job by pointing out his stereotypes.

     

    To hear more ignorance
    from the very same anchor, please listen his comment about Netherlands baseball in the
    podcast “Cuban Baseball Play May Have
    Defected While in the Netherlands.”

  • WalterGThomas

    Anchor: “I think Oprah
    Winfrey represents what we call Middle America, right? The average
    American…she speaks for many Americans.”

     

    Wow. Just re-read that
    quote again. How shameless and pathetic.

     

    The anchor tried to
    sound so objective and smart, but you can hear the bias and ignorance loud and
    clear.

     

    First, he tried to go
    with the stereotype angle but failed miserably. The person, who was supposed to
    back him up in the interview, rejected the idea of Winfrey playing to stereotypes.

     

    Second, in a sorry
    attempt to recover from loss of face, he goes for plan B, The anchor next tried
    to paint the “average American” as morons as if he is one of the few that is educated
    and enlightened and the rest of the country is stupid and backward. Sounds like
    either a serious case of snobby elitism or utterly sad naivety.

     

    Third, the anchor tries
    to passes off a baseless opinion as fact. If he is going to do that, he needs
    to back it up with actual reporting.

     

    I have a few questions:

     

    1. How does he know that
    Oprah speaks for many Americans?

     

    2.Has the anchor ever
    talked to an “average American?” Or is that below him?

     

    3.What does “Middle
    America” and “average Americans” mean anyway? Are there other Americas? Outside
    America? Upper America? Are there above average Americans? Below average
    Americans?

     

    4.What was the purpose
    of this program?   If the agenda of this podcast was to bring
    awareness to stereotypes, the anchor did a great job by pointing out his stereotypes.

     

    To hear more ignorance
    from the very same anchor, please listen his comment about Netherlands baseball in the
    podcast “Cuban Baseball Play May Have
    Defected While in the Netherlands.”