The Last Indian Lady

Sounds funny? Well, I see her almost everyday…Walking in a park, getting down from her chauffer driven car or local train alike , at the bank and in the house…

Even you will not miss her, for she is always dressed in an impeccable six yards sari clad upto perfection even if shes just heading for a walk...

What I am refering to, is this whole generation of Indian women born in the decade between 1945 and 1960. Mostly they are mothers today and many of them even grandmothers…

Though today you will see her in salwar suits for mere convenience sake, her real love is the saree. The long six yards piece of cloth that adorns a beautiful Indian woman. She would have graduated to  sleeveless blouses or fashionable cuts  but has still kept the beauty alive.

On the contrary ask women of my generation to head to work walk and even a party with a saree…and all we will do is give a big sigh! I am not saying we hate saree, but its just so difficult to exist in it for whole long days together…I love wearing a saree just like I love attending a wedding or a diwali dinner..but that’s only Occaisonal…it will take its brunt if its made an everyday affair.

To me wat they bring with them is the best of both the Worlds…the Western and our own heritage. They stepped out of their homes and went ahead to pursue their own career. Though it may only mean sticking to a bank or a school teacher’s job for their entire life, but what is significant is the act of promotion from a mere homemaker status.

She managed the work of office as well as the chores of a joint family and raised her kids with equal zeal. She cooked all meals and stored all the grains for the entire year. She made pickles at home and also worked late nights for year end closings in office. And all this in an elegant draped saree.

All we can do is merely appreciate this last genre of the true Indian women whom we are fortunate to witness so closely as our mothers, aunts and mother in laws.

The least we can do to keep their beauty alive is alteast practice 5% of our lives as they lived and rejoiced…in happinees and pain…with a gentle smile on their face…that truly describes the indomitable spirit of an Indian lady!