Our fashionista Prime Minister’s deep curiosity in issues sartorial is understood to all. His color co-ordinated, completely tailor-made bespoke ‘bundis’ create waves globally. But his feedback final week offered a grasp class in vogue policing. Literally so.
When he mentioned he knew the identification of the arsonists who burnt buses and destroyed public property, residents had been most impressed by his intelligence community. Share their names, we beseeched, o mighty Prime Minister. We anticipated our dynamic PM to launch an inventory of all these anti-nationwide individuals who had taken to the streets and indulged in anti-state actions for no obvious motive. Why had been they so offended? Behaving so badly? What else may the poor police do however drag them out and pulp them? But wait… did you not discover what these nasty individuals had been sporting? Come on… the Prime Minister says their garments had been a useless giveaway. And he knew precisely what to do with individuals like them.
Ever since that loaded comment was broadly shared, residents have been busy ‘curating’ their closets, rejigging their wardrobe, and throwing out garments that might make them immediate suspects within the eyes of the legislation. I additionally reviewed the contents of my cabinet and separated the outfits fastidiously. One bundle was labelled ‘Inappropriate’, one other, ‘Borderline’ and the third ‘Questionable’. Who is aware of what directive or Bill could also be launched and handed tomorrow?
DON’T JUDGE MY WARDROBE: As the 12 months comes to an finish, will we all want sartorial makeovers?
I’m pondering CDC — Compulsory Dress Code — is probably going to come up quickly. While we’re at it with CAA and NRC, why not go the entire hog and put the CDC in place as effectively? It’s uncertain whether or not Omit Shah (Bengali pronunciation — nothing private) will approve of the color inexperienced for each nationalistic citizen. White will get soiled simply. Blue doesn’t swimsuit us. Red is for communists. That leaves saffron. That’s it, then. All Indians should put on saffron! This will make it less complicated for police to do their purging… those that don’t conform to the uniform dress code will probably be declared non-residents and despatched to Pakistan. Where all these arsonists and protesters belong — sure — these sporting head scarves, hijabs and skullcaps. If they need to keep in India, allow them to put on saffron.
This is now not a joke. And if the widespread protests which might be rocking the nation are any indication, we’re getting ready to a serious seismic change in our society. A change that’s natural and passionate sufficient for individuals to danger their lives, take to the streets and problem the validity of CAA and NRC… I noticed a full-web page advert for a luxurious automotive with this cheery headline: “Say ‘hey’ to the future.” The accompanying textual content talked in regards to the automotive possessing “strength from within”. Goodness! The irony of all of it. I’m wondering if these protesting college students are within the temper to say ‘Hey’ to the long run, which is getting darker by the minute. But they positive as hell possess the ‘strength from within’ as they battle it out, with out flinching.
Ayesha Rena, who has develop into the face of the coed agitation and located a everlasting place on the earth’s iconography of protests (very similar to the Tiananmen Square man) will encourage 1000’s of different conscientious objectors by her brave act. Watching her tackle a posse of closely armed cops, backing off timidly, scared by a lady in a hijab waving her finger of their faces, was for many of us, the only most necessary optic of 2019. Yes, her hijab stayed firmly in place. And there it should stay.
As the 12 months rolls to an finish, I’m pondering of a sartorial makeover… so please go forward and establish me by my dress, Narendra Modi. I’ve no drawback. I at all times dress to kill! I’m planning to check out my very personal hijab check, beginning with the airport. I’ve acquired a couple of hijabs and can see if sporting one will make individuals react otherwise to me. Will I be subjected to suspicious stares? Be handled like a closet-arsonist in search of buses to torch? What in regards to the customary frisking? Will the ladies cops within the sales space take 5 minutes longer than regular, ensuring I’m not concealing a bomb underneath the pinnacle scarf? Since garments maketh the person (and lady), what if 1000’s of women and men in India took to sporting hijabs and skullcaps as a mark of solidarity, simply to confuse authorities in search of potential troublemakers? What will you do then, Mr Prime Minister? You might run out of jails to bharo. But residents won’t ever run out of their will to protest. And win.
DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the writer’s personal.
