Famous designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who is one of the top Indian Fashion Designer, stated something horrible. Month back he criticised woman, particularly the young generation women for not wearing saree and for not knowing how to drape one. His comment was, “I think, if you tell me that you do not know how to wear a saree, I would say shame on you. It’s a part of your culture; (you) need stand up for it”, he even added, “Women and men are trying very hard to be something that they are not. Your clothing should be a part of who you are and connect you to your roots,” said the designer. “It’s a relationship of misunderstanding. It’s easy to wear a sari. Wars have been fought in sari. Even the Grandmothers have slept in sari and have woken up without any folds to I and you can’t do it even.”
Though he received a huge appreciation and applaud from the audience, later he received several twittered be-fitting replies. Here’s a letter to him from Jiyo Woman,
Dear Mr. Sabyasachi,
You have indeed raised a storm over morning cuppas all over India, especially in Bengali households over your comment. Yes, it is true that many of us don’t know how to wear a saree (properly). Frankly speaking, many of Bengali women in present generation don’t know how to wear a saree and many don’t even love wearing it. The reason for not wearing one is simply because it takes lot of time and expertise to drape, posing itself a challenge for a working lady like us, who’s rushing to work on a mundane Monday morning. For her it is difficult to manage on a public transport, while boarding a public transport these days on any street is nothing less than wrestling.
So, though many of us want to look sexy, in this sexiest dress of the world, the drape of 9 yards that you can meticulously adore your model with, we women of JIYO WOMAN feel that there is no ‘shame’ in not knowing to wear a saree. But, we thought it will be really great to talk about that woman who taught Bengali’s how to wear saree properly in modern way. No! That was not you, Mr Mukherjee. It was someone from a well-known Bengali family who taught the new generation the trick.
The modern way of draping a saree with the end of the drape thrown back around the shoulder, that to the left one in neat pleats was the effort of Jnanadanandini. Yes, you heard us right. You may ask us who was she? Well, she was a woman of the Tagore household, far ahead of her old times and she was very cognizant of western culture. Jnanadanandini was the wife of Satyendranath Tagore, he was the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore and the first Indian to join civil service. When Jnanadanandini spent two years in Mumbai with her husband and later returned to Jorasanko wearing the Bombay Style saree, which she flaunted to everyone in the Tagore household. She was mocked though, but never for a single second, had she chosen not to wear the new way of wearing saree. The common Bengalis started calling her style of saree as- ‘Saree style of the Tagore family’. She even advertised in the newspaper, just to teach others how to wear the sari the way she did. Many girls and wives from aristocratic family turned to her to learn the art of draping the 9 inch yards. Interestingly, she also introduced the practice of wearing chemises, blouses, petticoats even jackets with saree.
So yes, you’re not the first person to teach us not just blouse look mesmerising with a saree but a jacket can give a class look. It was Sunita Devi, the Maharani of Coochbehar and friend of Jnanadanandini, she added a small yet important feature, by pinning a broach to keep the drape in place. They gave a whole new look which a woman can appear, they even gave the attire a fusion look by wearing a small triangular piece of cloth on head like a Spanish mantilla.
Well, you see Sabyasachi, wearing a saree is no mean joke. Because not every Bengali girl is that much lucky to have a stream of designers and helping hand at home who would assist us to wear a saree like you make your models wear.
Yours sincerely,
On Behalf of Every Bengali Woman
