The Baggy Me

Earlier, the only thing I liked airy was my handbag. The bigger the better was the mantra and still is. The reason being, you can blindly stuff everything in it and being a working woman we are never short of those things. Starting from wallet to book and not to mention the various quint essentials like moisturiser to comb, everything is dumped into the black hole. In fact, we ourselves are sometimes surprised by its long forgotten contents when we consciously search for a particular item. It’s literally like a treasure hunt.

What was a fascination for just a bag has spread like algae to my taste in clothing as well. Blame it on the summer or the progressing age (I definitely think it’s the summer though!), these days I look upon distaste at tight fitting clothes. The roomier they are, the happier I am. Churidars give way to salwars, jeans to loose trousers or skirts and tight cocktail dresses to bohemian free flowing ones. One would be surprised how ultra chic non tight clothes can look as well. Comfort clothing is the new –in thing. Baggy does not mean you don a jute bag and strut around. Baggy can be structured and attractive too. My personal comfort dress code is a pair of cotton shorts and a size bigger white tee.

Ultimately one’s clothing is one’s own choice. Nobody knows your body better than you. So dress comfortably and stylishly! Some baggy outfits google threw up:

                  

 

Hypocrisy of Indian Society

India is well assumed to be a land of culture and tolerance basis its secular orientation and having a rich lineage of various religions and cultures. While with moving times, with higher level of education and growing standard of living, one would think, people to become more empowered and open minded. Unfortunately, the country is struggling to maintain a balance with changing mores. The divide is seen more in rural and semi-urban setups. People need to appreciate that being modern and being cultured can exist side by side.

Culture is demonstrated by how you behave with others, your respect for other living beings including animals and how good a human being you are irrespective of whether you are wearing a saree or a short skirt. There is a dress code for an occasion and one must adhere to it, be it a male or a female. The need of the hour is to respect people for not what they wear or their partying habits but for who they are.

Indian society is also hypocritical in so many ways! On one hand hoi polloi look down on girls because of their skimpy clothes, but if they go back in time they would find that many a mythological and historical characters (who are supposed to be the icons of virtue), wear the skimpiest of dresses! Talking about sex is taboo, while the country is the land of Kamasutra, the bible of all sex books. We even have many archaelogilicaly acclaimed temples which openly depict the various sexual positions! Sadhus indulging in orgies when they preach otherwise and appear so pious. We blame the West for our culture going haywire, little realizing that it makes us look like dumb sheep. We are not without mind, and we can take our own rational decisions. Frankly speaking, I look up to the Western society simply because they let their people be for what they are. There is no undue societal pressure, no preaching and if there is a certain style of life which people want to lead, they can pursue unless they are causing any harm to people around them, as their personal choice without being judged upon. Understanding the quote "you be and let others be" was never so critical before.

Another reason why India is digressing from its culture is because of the sudden rise in the average income levels. Nouveau riche show reckless behavior and feel that with expensive clothes, cars and jewelleries combined with habits of, smoking and drinking they become more cultured. While, being rich is not a crime, nor is smoking or drinking, but it is to be realized that these are not the only things that make you a cultured or a respected person. It has to come with an open mind, a more refined way of looking at things, being more empathetic towards others. At the same time, these habits of drinking and smoking should also not be a yard stick for judging a person. This huge gap in understanding the word “modern” is a serious flaw in our society.

The day we bridge this gap and look beyond the selfish opportunist religious view/opinions and the khap panchayats who try to rule our mind, we shall emerge as the true power. I am sure, I am not the only one waiting for the sun to rise on that evolved India and praying that it happens soon.

My favorite book

Of all the books that I have read so far, one book that remains closest to my heart and consider as my bible is “Little Women”. The book revolves around four young girls and their mother staying alone in poverty when the father is out fighting in an American War. The famous “Marches”

The story is told simply in a very non preachy way but still tugs at your heart for the goodness of the characters, their sacrifices, the teenage whims and fancies and obviously the pure romance and friendships. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March live in England and have very interesting characters. Meg is the oldest, responsible, a little vain of her beauty but very loving and simple. Jo is the tomboy of the house, boisterous, short-tempered, blunt and very clumsy but a sweetheart. (I really connect with Jo’s character without the goodie part!!). Beth is the lark of the family, shy , quiet, angelic and homely. Amy is the youngest kid. A golden beauty, sharp, arrogant , amazing painter and adamant. Written by Louisa M. Alcott, it’s a joyful ride into their lives but not without intermittent periods where tears are inevitable.

I read this book for the first time in my ninth standard and I knew right then it was special. I must have read it at least fifteen times post that. Whenever I am confused, just low, need direction, I dive into the Marches family and I come out of it happy and lightened. There are a lot of realizations that comes through when flipping through the pages. Obviously I am in love with it (Its not hard to guess!)

All I can say it’s a must read for all young girls and women. Just go with the flow without being critical about some tiny flaws that is there in almost every book, and get the larger picture and the message that these little women and their Marmee are trying to convey!

Happy Reading!!

P.S: If you have read it, I would love to know your views as well.