I am conflicted between modernity and tradition – the two big polarities of today. The more I blend in with the world, the stronger is this need to affirm my identity. Identity – such a strong word. I worry about my identity.
After all, what differentiates me from a French woman, or an English woman, or any other woman in the world? What is my signature? What is my USP?
The saree – yeah, that could be a start. It will get me solid bragging rights – and flaunt my Indianness in front of the world.
Cut back to my daily life. I run to the train station, hop on and off from a rickshaw, and come to a newsroom, everyday. Neither I, nor any of the girls in my office have the time to elegantly wrap themselves around a saree.
But a Saree campaign has piqued my curiosity. Started by Bengaluru-based friends, Ally Matthan and Anju Maudgal Kadam, it has women pledging to wear 100 sarees in the year 2015 and flaunting it on social media with the hashtag #100sareepact.
I want to be part of the two-sarees-a-week brigade. But how?
When one’s got no time to chase those pesky ladeej’ tailors for blouses. How about replacing the blouse with a crop top, then? And look, Sabyasachi has made this time-crunched fashion desperation a style statement.
And what do I do when I can’t distinguish the kantha print from the bandhani? Trust a graphic blouse to come to the rescue.
Maybe the whole six yards is a big commitment. And I am a bit of a commitment-phobe, let’s just say. How about a chunni gently embracing the waist on top of snug jeans? Yeah, now, we’re talking!
Meanwhile, the friends Ally and Anju plan to archive and document all Saree stories and snaps in a website, www.100sareespact.com, that is currently being built. Which makes me wonder – will my story be there?
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