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In post-independence India, a few brave women came forward to do pioneering work with a strong focus on a social cause. Pupul Jayakar was one of these.
Pupul Jayakar, who was also involved in the Indian freedom movement, is best known for her work in reviving India’s impoverished handloom sector and working to improve the lives of handloom workers. Besides her work in the textiles sector, she was also instrumental in setting up the the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a trust that continues its work in restoring and preserving valuable heritage buildings in different parts of India.
Her career was controversial, in that she was often accused of being a torch-bearer for the Nehru-Gandhi family and part of a ‘coterie’. Yet, her achievements were significant too. For her contributions to the cultural heritage of India, Pupul Jayakar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1967.
Why we find Pupul Jayakar inspiring:
– Because she moved beyond her comfortable, ‘swish set’ world to work for a larger cause
– Because Indian handlooms are glorious and need more such champions
– Because she was a multi-tasker, with two biographies to her credit besides her work with culture and heritage
– Because she had immense confidence in herself and her eye for talent in art and craft
More reading:
The tapestry of her life
Obituary
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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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