14 December,2010 07:06 AM IST | | Hemal Ashar and Sudeshna Chowdhury
Indian ambassador to Washington, sari-clad Meera Shankar was patted down at a US airport, kicking off an Indo-US row. As America tendered a qualified apology, opinions vary about whether the sari is an apt garment to wear when flying to the West in an atmosphere of suspicion
Diplomacy went the whole six yards recently, when the sari-clad Indian ambassador to Washington, Meera Shankar was patted down as part of security procedure at an airport in Mississippi.
Even as Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna made all the correct political noises about taking this up with the USA, Hillary Clinton gave a qualified apology of sorts expressing her "regrets" over the incident.
u00a0
Shankar was searched after her diplomatic status was revealed and reports claim that the ambassador had been picked out of a security line at Jackson-Evers International on December 4, simply because she was wearing a sari.
Deter
"The incident might deter some women from wearing a sari while travelling to the West, the US in particular, but it won't deter me," says well-known singer Usha Uthup who swishes into performing halls with her kanjeevaram saris rustling gently. The six-yard drape is part of Uthup's persona ufffd the flowers (gajra) in her hair, the spectacles (sometimes) and spectacular silks, giving the grandma who makes you groove a style all her own.
Graceful
Adds Usha on the phone from Kolkata, "The sari is so graceful and dignified. It has existed since times immemorial. Earlier, women used to wear a long material draped around themselves. That was the ancient version of the sari which evolved over the years."u00a0 Usha admits to sometimes sporting a, "salwar-kameez while travelling for reasons of convenience, I was also advised by friends to avoid saris while traveling West because they made me stick out like a sore thumb, but it does not bother me."
Problems
For Usha, she has grown up with the six-yard garment, "my mother wore it, my sisters wear it, and I will of course continue wearing it. I do not understand the big hullabaloo about the sari."u00a0 Having said that, the singer does admit that the sari may be a bit of a problem, like, "I had gone to the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York just a couple of years ago. I was wearing a 'zari' sari on the occasion and I remember I passed through the sensors and they made the wildest sound. It was a huge noise. I went through them again and once again the sound occurred though there was nothing on me. I then realised and explained to them that my kanjeevaram sari was full off zari work (gold thread) and the metal was making that noise. So, yes, sometimes the sari might create some problems in this atmosphere of enhanced
security."
Admiration
Yet, for postal director Abha Singh, based at the CST post office in the city, frequent sari wearer,"the US has become extra cautious after the 9/11 attacks. One way to look at it is that it may be that their strict policies are working so well for them they have had no blast after that one incident, while we in India, continue to suffer. If this was part of the normal security drill, I would justify it. If not, then India needs to file a full-fledged diplomatic protest instead of this hue and cry and media jamboree." Abha, who was in the UK last month says, "Even in this climate of suspicion, the sari continues to evoke awe and admiration in the West. I was at the London School of Economics (LSE) for a course and while there, the Queen came in to inaugurate a new hall at the LSE. I wore a white chikan-work sari on the occasion, which evoked so much admiration."
Versatile
Fashion designers tout the timeless elegance and grace of the drape. Says Mumbai fashion designer James Ferreira, "the sari is all about tradition and versatility. For instance, internationally, it can be worn with the right accessories like a polo neck or a t-shirt and still look incredible. One can also drape it over thermals or bodysuits to keep you warm.
It is a single piece of fabric that is so inventive. It will always be a symbol of India and it
would be a shame if India loses it."
Sexy
Yet, fashion designer, Narendra Kumar, believes it is better to lose it rather than use it when, "flying West." 'Nari' as the Mumbai designer is known thinks cultural differences between two countries can lead to this. He says, "There is nothing wrong in wearing a sari, but it is how other people perceive it. In a Western garment the contours of the body can be seen but not in a sari. Traditional attire of a particular country may come across as a foreign element in another country. It is like people wearing sexy, short dresses and coming to India," he explains.
Bully
Fiery designer Shaina NC, who is synonymous with saris says, "This is humiliating for India and I think the US owes the diplomat an apology. The sari is an international costume which has replaced the cocktail gown in certain places. It is versatile and since it can be draped in so many ways, it is practical too. As Indians we should wear it with pride and the key I think is to wear a sari to prove a point. Why should we need to change because of this? It is time the US stopped bullying us."
Racism?
Actor Neena Gupta known for her eclectic taste in saris, who is often very ethnically dressed chooses more caution when she says, "I have travelled overseas wearing saris and never faced racism. I have worn a sari so many times while flying abroad. I have never faced anything like this. I don't think there is racism involved here otherwise even people like me would have been targetted. There is something more to it than what meets
the eye. Moreover, in the West nobody cares about what you are wearing. I don't buy this claim that Meera Shankar was singled out because she was wearing a sari," she finishes.
Contours
For fashion designer Maheka Mirpuri, who has a studio at Prabhadevi, the aesthetic appeal of the sari is only growing, never mind airport security procedures. While some reports say that sari-clad women may be singled out for a pat down because of the 'folds' of the sari that camouflage body contours, Mirpuri differs,u00a0 "If carried off correctly, a sari can give you the sexiest silhouette. In fact, in the West there is a growing demand for the sari because it is charming and speaks volumes about Indian sensibilities."
Dignity
Dr Rukmani Krishnamurthy, technical advisor, Institute of Forensic Science, Govt. of Maharashtra and Principal Scientist, Ackruti Global Education Research Institute says, "I have worn saris all my life, flying to different countries.
I think they are a symbol of dignity and maturity. I endorse the view that the West is veering towards the sari, recently, at a house warming function in the city, so many foreigners had donned the sari," laughs the woman who admits to having a weakness for silk saris, "I have a huge collection from all over the country and though earlier I used to wear a sari daily, nowadays I wear it twice a week at work.
u00a0
Yet, I always opt for the six yards of elegance when in a meeting with senior colleagues." Krishnamurthy says she has travelled, "everywhere, the US, Hong Kong, Paris, in a sari, I was there (US) as recently as May this year." To top it all, the ex-director, Forensic Science Labs, Govt. of Maharashtra says, "I have often worn saris to scenes of crime too."
Genetics
Frequent flyer Sudha Narvekar (76), who has worn saris all her life, is shocked at the Meera Shankar incident and says,"I have worn a sari so many times and to so many airports in the world. I don't think wearing sari can cause such a problem."
Two doctors wrap up the sari support argument with Dr Pushpa Vyas (79) former lecturer at Nair Hospital, saying fiercely that, "The Meera Shankar incident will not deter me from wearing a sari the next time I travel abroad," she says. "I have and will always wear a sari irrespective of the place or the people around," she adds.
While Dr Rekha Davar, professor and head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at JJ Hospital and Grant Medical says, "I frequently wear saris abroad. In fact, I wore saris in the US when I was working as a green card holder from 1986 to 1989. Even recently, there was no problem. Even if we make a point of blending in and wearing Western attire for instance, we would still stick out because as Indians, we are genetically different."
Smooth
There, you have it then, a diversity of opinion from those to either wear saris or design them. All one can say about the sari-supporting women and gentlemen, may they never suffer travails in their travel and the road to their destination be as smooth as a silk sari.
Regrets from US
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed regret over the incident involving the frisking of Indian Ambassador to Washington at an airport in Mississippi.
Meera Shankar, wearing a traditional Indian sari, was pulled out of a security line at the Jackson-Evers International Airport on December 4 and "patted down" by a female agent of the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) as she was waiting to board a flight to Baltimore after delivering a speech on International Studies at the Mississippi State University.
Shah Rukh detained
The government reacted sharply to detention of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at an US airport.
Khan was detained by US Immigration officers, who wanted to know why he was visiting the US. Commenting on the incident, Khan said that he was detained as his name was similar to someone else's.
Another one
Another Indian diplomat to the United Nations Hardeep Puri was two weeks ago subjected to a turban pat down at the Houston airport.
u00a0
Sources said that even after the ambassador identified himself as a diplomat he was held for half an hour in a separate enclosure.
After Ambassador Puri was asked to remove his turban, he refused the US officials to carry out their search and directed them to refer to the rule book for diplomats.
Sources said that the officials then went ahead and referred the book and reverted with an apology after a span of 15 minutes.
However, despite the apology from the airport authorities, Puri went ahead and lodged a complaint and said that the officials were not following standard practices.
What isu00a0pat down?
Frisking (also called a patdown or pat down) is a search of a person's outer clothing wherein a person runs his or her hands along the outer garments to detect any concealed weapons or contraband.
In the United States, a law enforcement officer may briefly detain a person upon reasonable suspicion of involvement in a crime but short of probable cause to arrest; such a detention is known as a Terry stop.
After the October 2010 cargo planes bomb plot, the US increased air passenger screenings, and expanded a new, more thorough pat-down procedure for airline passengers.
