Singer Sona Mohapatra has joined the social media protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, who made seemingly outrageous comments about women’s choice of dress. Speaking at a workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun, Rawat narrated a story of his plane travel when he had met a woman passenger, who was sitting next to him with two of her children. Rawat said that he was shocked to see the woman in ripped jeans even though she ran an NGO and her husband was a professor. The reason for Rawat’s disappointment was that the woman in ripped jeans did not present the right examples to children.
His comments went viral in no time evoking angry reactions from women activists, journalists and actors. Soon, women began to share their photos in ripped jeans just to wind Rawat up. Singer Sona Mohapatra, who became one of the most powerful vocies during India’s own MeToo movement, tweeted her photo wearing a ripped T-shirt and by displaying her bare knees.
She wrote, “I don’t wear jeans owing to the humidity & heat here but happy for this ripped T shirt with my संस्कारी घुटना’s showing!..& #GirlsWhoWearRippedJeans don’t need anyone’s permission in #India . We are the land of the glorious Konark, Khajurao, Modhera, Thirumayam, Virupaksha!”
Rawat had not stopped at issuing sermons to women on ripped jeans and how they were detrimental to Indian culture. He had also expressed his resentment to some girls showing ‘bare knees’ to exhibit their wealth. “Kainchi se sanskaar (culture by scissors) — showing bare knees, wearing ripped denim and looking like rich kids — these are the values being given now. Where is this coming from, if not at home? What is the fault of teachers or schools? Where am I taking my son, showing his knees and in tattered jeans? Girls are no less, showing their knees. Is this good?” Rawat was quoted as saying.