Made in India

Just ahead of Republic Day, while waiting for the green signal at the busy NH Byepass in Kochi, a young North India woman knocked on the window of our vehicle. She was selling small Indian flags for Rs 30. Being made of low quality plastic my wife dissuaded me from buying. I noticed a few other girls and boys also selling such flags. The woman was wearing a skirt (lehenga), blouse (choli) and dupatta that also covered her head. It was quite colourful having some glitters and shining sequences that you normally see in fancy wear in India. Then I remembered the first lessons in political science in pre-university classes. India is often described in simple as a place where you find 'unity in diversity'.

Diversity  is often described in terms of number of languages spoken, caste, religious differences, ethnic and socio, economic divergence. It is said that a person from a north India might feel like a foreigner if he visits a South Indian city or village. That doesn't explain how such a nation stands united always. My thoughts again went to the young woman's dress or just any cloth normally worn by Indian rural women- Sari, Kurtis, salwar, lehangas  and dupattas. There are bright and luminous colours or combinations, layers of art work and sequences, fine embroidery and pleats. When worn with anklets and bangles, it is a delightful to the viewer and no western dress can be as vibrant. When men  wear long Kurta and dhoti their turbans will be colourful.

The  Indian psyche is also similar to the dress patterns a mix of the traditional, colourful, ritualistc, modern, simple but elegant.  That’s the reason the world looks forward to a heart that’s made in India (Ek Dil Chahiye that’s Made in India).