Senior Analyst

Kindly Help with your input

I am currently doing some market research and problem-understanding of the Indian Salon/Parlour industry. If you could spare 5 min to fill out this survey it would be of great help - https://forms.gle/bG8Tb7i4KApBwnWM9 Thank you

Delhi has the most classist and racist (based on colour) people. Change my mind!

I have lived in different cities across India, and after graduation, I spent around four to five years working in Mumbai and Bangalore. During that time, I never really faced any serious discrimination based on my skin colour. Sure, there were a few casual jokes here and there, the kind people often make without thinking much, but nothing that ever felt too personal or offensive. That changed when I moved to Delhi. One evening, I was at a friend’s place. We were just relaxing and having a good time. At some point, her new flatmate, who had recently moved in, came home. My friend called her into the room to join us. She refused. We figured maybe she was tired or just didn’t feel like socialising, which is completely understandable. But the next day, when my friend casually asked her why she didn’t come in, her response was shocking. She said, very bluntly, “I don’t like to hang out with kaale log.” I’m a dusky-skinned guy, and to be honest, that has never been something I’ve paid much attention to. But hearing that felt like a punch in the gut. It wasn’t just rude. It was unapologetically discriminatory. That moment opened my eyes. After that, I started noticing more of it around me. The way people in salons behave, for example, how they treat clients differently based on skin tone. It’s not always loud or obvious, but it’s there. In the glances, in the tone, in the way suggestions are made. It’s a mindset that seems to be deeply rooted, and in Delhi, I felt it more strongly than anywhere else. This was the first time I truly experienced this kind of direct discrimination. It made me realise how normalised colour bias still is in some parts of our society. Moving out to some another city is an option, let’s see when shall I execute that option.

Google's AI Calls Businesses for You

- Google is testing a new AI feature called 'Ask for Me' that calls local businesses on your behalf to inquire about services and pricing. - Available to users in the Search Labs experiment, it covers services like nail salons and auto shops, providing a summary of prices and availability. - This follows last year's 'Talk to a Live Rep' feature, aiming to save users time by handling calls and waits for customer service. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/30/googles-ask-for-me-feature-calls-businesses-on-your-behalf-to-inquire-about-services-pricing/)