Youth Media Watch

Young India is rediscovering the nation in desi ishtyle

By Mandira Nayar

Mera joota hai Japani,
yeh patloon Englishtani,
Sar pe lal topi Roossi,
Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani
—Shree 420

India’s own tramp, Raj Kapoor, carrying his potli, would have never thought that more than four decades later, his song could mean something completely different—description of the global, fashion-conscious desi.

The topi, however, is no longer Roossi; it is probably American. And it would not be red; it would be a plush plum, the colour of the season. The shoes would not be Japani; they would be handcrafted Italian or a cheap Chinese imitation of whatever Ferragamo ones are in fashion.
The trousers may be English, but they would not be short or tattered, unless they are distressed jeans. Indians are not tramps, and certainly not Charlie Chaplin copies.

The only sentiment that has stood the test of time and become more magnified is: “dil hai Hindustani”. For years, the confidence that Kapoor exuded in the song—“nikal pade hain khuli sadak pe, par apna seena taane”—was restricted to him and the romanticism in celluloid.
Now, the stride he was famous for has become part of the aam admi strut, with or without designer labels. Instead of staring through the window at the First World dining at the high table, India is rocking the party now.

Young India now has the luxury of looking in the rear-view mirror. It is like Jawaharlal Nehru’s discovery of India moment: a beautiful, complex land, with a rich history, tremendous potential, surmountable obstacles and, of course, a sense of romance.

And going back to your roots is only natural. Whether it is the epics—they have gone beyond the B.R. Chopra moment to become part of the new generation which wants to explore, contextualise and own them—or it is food (Indians are now delving into diversity in dals), for desis today, it is about finally becoming comfortable in their own skins.

From clothes to colts, Young India wants to connect with its roots, and even show them off.
Fashion today is not just about trend-setting dresses—though urban Indians are taking to them with a vengeance. It is also about handlooms. The mushrooming of Fabindia outlets across the country, from Kochi to Kolkata, is just one indication.

And we have ace designers, the “revivalists”, such as Ritu Kumar, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Rohit Bal promoting traditional Indian styles, offering beams of hope to weavers and artisans of rural India.
The roots have more to offer. Pachisi, gilli-danda and kabaddi are back with a bang, on the PlayStation. Traditional toys such as lacquer tops, whistles, marbles, cowrie shell games and board games based on themes from the Ramayana are slowly peeping out of the villages. Just wait till they catch the urban child’s eyes.

Step into Kavada Toy Hive, a project that aims to promote rural toys, in Bangalore, and one will realise how the desi top can give expensive Beyblades a run for its money.
No other horse breed can outrun the Marwari and Kathiawari horses that were once used by the Indian kings and warriors. The majestic horses, however, faded into oblivion, as the British, especially the memsahibs, found them too hot to handle.

But the Indigenous Horse Society of India, formed by a group of horse lovers in 1996, has been trying to preserve and popularise the exotic breeds. And today, the horses have made a name for themselves across the world.
What’s in a name? A lot, according to Young India, which wants to retain its ties to a more ancient past. For instance, a recent online survey reveals that names from the Vedas are the current rage among Indian parents.

Identity is not just about clinging on to a past. “I find that the food I like, the coffee I don’t like, the tea I drink, are all the rage. When I went to Sweden, I asked my friends if I needed to change my accent, so that I would be understood better. They looked at me and said Indian accents were cute,’’ says Sivasankar R., a techie who recently had a stint in Sweden.

The 24-year-old engineer, whose business card reads Shiv, hopes to start at least four companies, as he is a firm believer in start-ups because “Indians like to do things their way”.
Economic prosperity may be one factor. That India’s colonial master—the UK—came with its largest delegation post-1947 speaks volumes. But it is more than just about the money, though the green stuff boosts confidence in a way botox or silicone could never do. It is also about the mood, moment and finally growing up.

“Culture is no longer just about activists,’’ says Mahmood Farooqui, author, filmmaker and storyteller. “The middle-class has acquired comfort and they now want to acquire culture. That is why there are more readers, theatre audiences and listeners at concerts.”

A comfort level with the past reflects a certain maturity—even if it is looking at just the good stuffs as yet. It is not all about nostalgia, but the warm, fuzzy feeling of reminiscing does help the cause. “It is about replenishment,’’ says Rajeev Sethi of the Asian Heritage Foundation.
Back to the roots—replenished or just for a short visit—is not just a catch phrase, like breaking news. It is the way the wind is blowing. India is all set to discover herself. It may be GenNext’s version of the discovery at the moment—with sufi music on their i-Pod, running for their yoga class, drinking tulsi tea and chomping on an organic laddoo—but it is a beginning.

“Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat purani
Naye daur mein likhenge, mil kar nayi kahaani
Hum Hindustani, hum Hindustani...”
This was the song of the Nehruvian era. The kal for India today, doesn’t mean yesterday, but tomorrow. In a world that is changing so fast—that tomorrow’s technology is outdated today—the kal can only mean the aane wala kal.
And the future, like the party, has just come home.

A dose of tradition
Punjabi parents living abroad should no longer worry about their children losing touch with their heritage—a school near Mohali is dedicated to inculcating Punjabi values to NRI children. Mata Sahib Kaur Public School in Lakhnaur, affiliated to CBSE, teaches students classical music and the folklore of Punjab along with the history and tradition of Sikh gurus. On Baisakhi day, the students perform ?kirtan and recite gurbani in nearby villages.

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