Delhi-based journalist, Mahima, lambasts the patriarchal mindset about how Priyanka Chopra should have dressed while meeting the PM Narendra Modi, in Berlin, on Tuesday. An exclusive on Different Truths.

When a strong woman is out in open to challenge the world, the world mostly infested with a patriarchal mindset, in turn, tries to put her down by all means. Seen and experienced these myself. But here we aren’t talking about me.

Indians, yesterday, made a sorry spectacle of themselves over the dress Priyanka chose to wear to meet PM Modi, in Berlin, during his Germany tour. The trolls pinned the dress as “un-sanskari”.

I have purposely chosen here not to include any of the tweets whether for or against. Reason? People with a misogynist mindset do not deserve a publicity. Yes, this too is a “different truth” which may not go down well with the media governed by social media these days. But that’s another thing.

What we are talking about is an independent Indian woman who is making the country shine worldwide with her sincere grit, determination, and talent. But how just a choice of a piece of cloth makes the people judge her otherwise.

“Leg show” in front of the Prime Minister…how shameful, frowned many!

She was advised to wear something ‘Sanskari’ like a ‘Sari’.

The most popular and sought after WIKIPEDIA describes saree as “A sari, saree, or shari is a female garment from the Indian subcontinent that consists of a drape varying from five to nine yards (4.5 metres to 8 metres) in length and two to four feet (60 cm to 1.20 m) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff.

Ahem! So legs are meant to be hidden and midriff to be exposed? Who decides that? The same society in which men wear Dhotis, Lungis, and Mundus as ‘Sanskari’ attires?

So does that mean these leg-showing menswear will now be undergoing transformation? Or does it mean that from the next time all the men who meet PM will be wearing Dhoti-Kurtas? Will the brilliant trolls enlighten me?

I really need to understand this ‘different truth’ from those who believe in it.

Meanwhile, the bindas actor has given it back in style by uploading a picture of hers with her mother. And guess what? They both have bare legs? Why? Because a woman is as free as a man to choose what she wears!

©Mahima Sharma              

Photos from the internet.

#PriyankaChopra #PriankaChopraLegShow #DhotiKurtas #NarendraModi #DifferentTruths

Mahima Sharma

A science graduate from Delhi University and MA in Mass Communication, Mahima began her career with E-Lexicon PR & Mutual PR and Hindustan Times. Soon, ANI (a collaboration with Reuters) got her aboard, where she spread her wings in TV, Print & Digital Journalism. In 2010 Rajdeep Sardesai’s flagship primetime show gave her, a dream job at CNN-IBN. From May 2017, she is a freelance journalist. She is a poet and a Sufi at heart.