That Shawl which embraces our soul

Summary

The author reflects on the cultural significance of the dupatta in Indian attire, recounting a personal experience of forgetting to wear one and the mixed feelings of freedom and nostalgia that ensued.

Abstract

The article titled "That Shawl Which Embraces Our Soul" delves into the author's recent oversight of not wearing a dupatta, an essential accessory in traditional Indian clothing, when accompanying her son to school. The dupatta, akin to Linus's blanket, is deeply ingrained in Indian culture as a symbol of modesty and tradition, often introduced to girls at a young age. Despite the discomfort of wearing multiple layers, including a cloth mask, the author acknowledges the dupatta's versatility and emotional significance, likening it to a shield and a source of comfort reminiscent of a mother's love. The piece also questions the societal rules dictating women's attire and expresses a longing for the dupatta's protective presence, despite the sense of liberation from not wearing it.

Opinions

The author ponders the societal expectations placed on women regarding clothing, particularly the mandatory nature of the dupatta in Indian attire.
There is a sense of nostalgia and emotional attachment to the dupatta, as it is associated with childhood memories and a mother's comfort.
The dupatta is seen as a versatile garment, serving various practical purposes beyond its cultural significance, such as a mask against the sun, a winter wrap, or a makeshift pillow when traveling.
The author expresses a complex relationship with the dupatta, feeling both constrained by its traditional necessity and a sense of freedom when not wearing it.
There is a subtle critique of the gender-specific dress codes and the unwritten rules that govern women's clothing, with the author questioning the origins and fairness of these norms.

That dupatta which was missed

Today I forgot the dupatta, in India if you wear salwar kameez, the dupatta is a must, I remember how my sister used to go to school with pinned dupatta. That year our school uniform was changed, from a blue pleated skirt and white shirt it was blue kurta, white salwar and white dupatta. Think of Linus clinging to that blanket, it’s something similar to that which you need to carry with you if you are wearing Indian clothes.

In our culture, the significance of dupatta is thought to a girl at a very young age, a piece of cloth which you need to carry with you to cover your modesty.

I don’t know who invented this dress code for women or who made this rule for us, sometimes I feel why this book of rules is only for a woman.

Coming back to today’s post I had to go to school with my son today to collect his books, the anxiety of taking a cab after such a long time was there.

To feel good I thought of Indian Colours but thanks to two bags which I was carrying one had umbrella the other had my wallet and other essentials I forgot about the dupatta.

I noticed in-cab about that missing piece of cloth but felt free too, it would have been an added responsibility to carry that piece of fabric with me along with two bags. The additional weight of the cloth mask was already there which was making me suffocated.

While waiting for him outside the school gate I met another friend, she too was in Indian Colours but without dupatta maybe she has become used to going out without that shawl wrapped around her like a shield, for me today it was different I felt free but I missed it.

I think because of the upbringing rooted in our mind, in summer if we would be out the same piece of cloth would be used as a mask to cover our face and protect it from sun rays, in winter it becomes that comfort which reminds us of our mother’s love, in dreams it becomes that edge which we hold when we are anxious that pallu of our mother’s saree and in real life it becomes that shield which protects us when we are travelling imagine travelling alone and stuck somewhere that same piece you can use as a pillow or as a cover. The many dupatta’s each holding a story, the many colours will be precious for me but my reasons are different.