The Faceless Doll

(The Faceless Doll is a Symbol of Unity and Acceptance in the Dominican Republic)

One of the permanent symbols of the Caribbean Island of the Dominican Republic is the 'faceless' doll. This unique doll is crafted from various materials, including fine porcelain, coconut fibre, and clay, adorned in diverse clothing styles. Its defining feature is the absence of facial characteristics.

The Caribbean doll represents more than just a child's plaything; it symbolizes cultural significance. Traditionally made by local artisans, these cloth dolls are shared with children or sold to tourists, symbolizing the region's rich heritage.

The faceless doll serves as a powerful reminder that external differences in colour, and appearance hold little value; what truly matters is the essence within. The term "doll face" colloquially refers to a person with a smooth, pretty face and a youthful expression, yet the faceless doll emphasizes that true beauty lies beyond the surface.

The Dominican Republic is home to a diverse population, with individuals of Spanish, French, African, and various other ancestries. The faceless doll symbolizes inclusivity, representing the harmonious blending of cultures that creates a unified community, much like a large family.

A folk story from Bharatvarsha (India) illustrates this concept beautifully. In this tale, all animals initially appeared identical, leading to confusion and an inability to form relationships. To remedy this, they decided to create distinguishing features. Over time, as each animal adopted unique characteristics, they learned to appreciate their differences. Whenever conflicts arose, they were reminded of their shared origins, fostering harmony and coexistence.

To make the story understandable, a story goes that once upon a time all animals looked the same. Some were fat, and some were thin, some tall and some short, but for everything else they were identical. The animals found themselves in a dilemma. They could not recognize one another... each one looked the same. No relationship could be built for the partners making the relationship could never be all identified. A solution had to be found. The animals called a meeting, and it was decided they would each seek some identification mark and place it before the others in the next meeting. A busy week followed. Some animals chose striped furs, but then the zebra and the squirrel had to work out the differences, not to mention the tiger. The elephant did not have enough time to spend on this and so went for a full grey or brown, but he looked so boring that someone pulled his nose and made it long, so the elephant would always look different. Finally, when they met a week later, they all looked distinctly different. The peacock had chosen lovely clothes but had got tired by the time it had to choose a vocal cord.

Those of the animals who had chosen thick fur went to live on the hills. The ones who had opted for slippery costumes went into the water. The chameleon was the trendiest for it changed colour in keeping with the context. Thereafter the animals lived happily, appreciative of each other. Whenever a fight broke out, they had to remind themselves that once upon a time they had all been the same. The differences had been created by them. This reminder brought them back to a harmonious state and once again they shared water and foliage amicably.

The teachings of various traditions emphasize the fundamental similarities among all beings, highlighting our shared hopes and aspirations for peaceful coexistence. For instance, Jainism teaches, "He who knows one, knows all," while Hinduism articulates, "That which is in the atom is in the world." Buddhism sees the Buddha in every living being, and Christianity views all as children of the same God.

A poignant example of this understanding is recounted about Prophet Muhammad, who stood in respect when a funeral procession passed, regardless of the deceased's faith. When questioned about the man's non-Muslim identity, he emphasized the common humanity shared by all.

In essence, the faceless doll of the Dominican Republic reminds us that outward appearances are insignificant; what truly defines us is our inner character.