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What started as an agreement between two friends, the #100SareePact, has become a movement that touches the lives of Indian women all around the globe.
We are all living reflections of our histories. We are the products of our culture and society. But our busy modern lives often force us to focus on the future to the extent that we forget the joy of reviving old memories. Two women realized this and decided to do something about this.
Anju Maudgal Kadam and Ally Matthan formed the #100SareePact in 2015 while lamenting all the sarees they had kept buried in their closets, and decided to wear a hundred sarees a year to relive all that they associated with those sarees. The pact became a social media sensation, drawing Indian women from all over the world to join in and share a piece of their lives on digital platforms.
The pact has since then taken her places, including recently to a TED talk #NayiSoch hosted by none other than Shahrukh Khan.
Anju Maudgal Kadam, also Founder of WebTV.in, steps on the stage all set for her TED Talk in a Banarasi saree in a modern fusion colour palette of yellow, coral and black. It looked like the hues of her saree themselves spoke about a coming together of both the historic and the contemporary. The first thing she spoke about was about the significance of this six-yard fabric, an attire that has existed since the Indus Valley civilization and that still represents the artistry and characteristics of every weaver who works on it.
“Why revive old traditions?” is a question I have heard many people ask and one that has been posed to her on endless occasions as well. To all who ask this, Anju reminds them of the impact this movement has had on the lives of hundreds of women. Something that brings a new direction to people’s lives cannot be old, she says, and the audience rises to applaud her answer.
Her talk ends on a thoughtful note. The #100SareePact became a link to connect Indian women and became a symbol of female solidarity and an umbrella to bring together all these women under a shared love.
If a shared love for one thing can bring us closer on the digital platform, why can this not turn into a reality of our society? Let us introspect and find ways to strengthen female friendships, but first watch her talk here.
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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