It was just another day when I was getting ready to go to college. I got ready, descended the stairs and went to ask my mom for breakfast. There she stood in the living room scanning me top to bottom as if she was checking me out. Why do mothers always do this? I wore the jeans that I had bought recently. I used to wear jeans even before but not very often. Ever since I joined college, I wore jeans like I had no other clothing to afford. It was something I felt most
comforable in. And ofcourse, more chic. She muttered something under her breath which sounded like "Children of these days do not know the indian culture anymore. They have forgotten it."I don't remember what I had retorted back then.
Fast forward 3 yrs. Last friday, I wore my favorite pepe jeans and came down asking for breakfast. My mom again scanned me from top to bottom. :) Well, mothers are typical mothers. Over-protective about their children. But do you hear me complaining? I have always loved the attention. :P
Going back to the living-room scene, I heard this :"You have lost all the sanskriti. You dont abide by the Indian culture anymore". I frowned. This was it. I was frustrated with being accused of not following Indian culture any longer. I kept mum. Two days later, it was probably time for the showdown. Yesterday,after I went home from office, she served me hot cup of coffee and only both of us were at home. For once, I was neither exhausted by the traffic that delayed my arrival nor was I tired. I was all energetic and started talking to her. (which is a rarity on weekdays after I go home).
The conversation started from where I dont remember. But I heard a word and I was all ears. It was "Indian Culture". Bull's eye. This time I had to prove myself that I was in every way Indian. My mom and I were always at war of words :-) . Somewhere in the middle of the row, my dad used to intrude and stop further drama. He wanted to continue watching the TV, you know. :P
Okay, here continued the conflict of opinions. She told me, like always, "these days you find girls wearing jeans to temples also. They dont have respect for culture and tradition." I dont treat her opinions as anti-youth. It was how she was brought up and I respect every ounce of it. I told her, as long as someone knows how to dress in what kind of occasions it shouldnt be a problem. I loved this statement as I always followed it. :D I never wear jeans to any unsuitable occasions. Not that I was against it, I simply did not want to disappoint my mother. Knowing the comfort of jeans, I would wear it even while I was dying.
I continued the argument. I told her " Mom, tell me one thing. Jeans is something which leaves nothing uncovered. (If you wear a decent kurta/shirt on it, I mean). What do you say for the epitome of Indian culture,the famous Indian saree which one can use to dare and bare. Almost everyone knows that while draping a saree, it exposes some part of the stomach. It depends on how you wear it also. The Blouse can get as spunky as you would want it to be , that's with the
noolde strap blouses these days. If wearing saree was cultured , was wearing noodle-strap blouse too? ". She dint say anything. It's all in the mind, they say. So I say too. Times are changing, we know that. But it all depends on you as to how you carry your learnings and tradition. If an Indian woman astronaut goes on spaceship will she be condemned if she wears jeans? Or will she be applauded if she wears a saree? She would rather just wear an astronaut suit which would make her feel comfortable for that breath-taking journey of her life. Besides, it is such a pain to drape those 6 yards around you and walk comfortably, to be cautious of the pallu( which threatens to fall off if not attended to) and to arrange the pleats (the mastermind of all). If you happen to stumble upon them, you either trip foolishly or worse, fall flat on the earth.
As the saying goes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Evil always lies in the mind of the criminal.(This is my version). It is the way you see things. As for representing the country, I would prefer doing it by actions to doing it by dressing up.
Parting thoughts.. It is upto us to draw the line. Where to wear what and where not to wear what. No offence is meant in anyway. Saree was and will always be the most respected form of indian attire. And yes, it is still considered one of those attires which make women look irresistible.
