I am talking about way of life in the 1940's India.
Pardah/veil was a sign of shyness, self respect and that respect of others. Heads, shoulders and down below the hips were always covered by ladies. It also avoided eye to eye contact with others. While going out of house, ladies had to cover their dress with an Overall called burqa which covered head to toe; in white or black, with screen wide enough for the eyes to see through). Ladies who felt discomfort in this dress, used to wrap around a large sheet. Elders used to show love and affection to ladies by patting on heads lowered by ladies.
All women, were observing traditional pardah; muslims in burqa, shalwar, qameez; Hindus in Sarees; Sikh with dupatta, kameez/shirts below knee.
Heads were covered by all muslim men with Turkey-cap, Rumi-cap, fabric cap/topi or turbine, sikhs in turbin and hindus topi.
Men and women - all communities - were communicating with each other very respectfully.
We are now in 2009 and see dresses going shorter and shorter day by day and becoming more and more expensive in the name of fashion of the day. Nobody cares for the other. They say, they are in a free world and like to live and enjoy their lives their way. They say time has changed. They will not listen to the seniors. This is a new world, new environment, and new culture. Forget the old obscure mysterious traditions. They don’t mind side-kicking faith and discipline.
Email: sheikhmsarwar@gmail.com
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