Are Indians the shyest people on earth?
Or is it simple prudery, the traditional taboo against showing skin, that makes a lot of Indians (particularly women) enter the sea fully-dressed?
Probably a bit of both.
Which is sad. Because surely there is a joyful sense of freedom in being unencumbered by too many clothes, in feeling the air and sun and sea on one’s bare skin: a freedom that only a swimsuit offers? In a swimsuit you are naked, and yet not naked.
But Indians tend to lack the natural unselfconsciousness that most foreigners have towards their bodies. A fat, aging, wrinkled woman in a bikini – completely unashamed of her body – is a common sight on the beach. But, generally, when Indians do wear swimsuits, they tend to do so only when they’re young and fit and can strut about with some confidence. I’ve seen fat ammas, in traditional nose rings, frolic in the sea, giggling and squealing like children. Wouldn't they enjoy themselves more without yards of sari hindering their every movement?
The sun worshippers glory in the human body, decorating it with tattoos, tanning it bronze in the hot sun, exhibiting it on the beach. And they do all of this with a natural grace and pride that is not usually evident in the rare Indian who wears a swimsuit.
To the villagers here, a blatant display of too much skin is a scandal, a cause for shame. Though the tourist in his or her skimpy clothes is welcomed with an oily smile, privately there is much censure of their “shameless” ways.
It’s a pity. There are places in the rest of the world where people hang out completely naked.
Indians don't have to go that far. All they need to do is shed their inhibitions along with their clothes - and enjoy the freedom of a swimsuit.
Friday, April 24, 2009
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6 comments:
I'm not too sure if too many typical, Indian women wax their bodies, so maybe, that's a bigger, truer hindrance than the six yards of fabric that they wrap around themselves.
I wonder what the shy ammas will do at the Cannes topless beach! I was there some years back and observed a certain kind of caste system at work- at the top of the heap were women who were veterans of toplessness and behaved very naturally – they went about their business as if they were fully clothed- the next came the first timers who were excited ,nervous and slowly undid their tops after watching the scene for some time– they would rush into the water to seek cover and only emerge after they were confident- the next were women who would lie on their stomachs and undo their back strap only – just to feel they have done something- the watchers of all this toplessness are males of all ages armed with dark glasses -some of them peer through a binoculars and pretend to watch the ships in the Mediterranean sea ! But the question is what do women really get from this exercise? Is it a sense of liberation, rebellion, the joy of breaking taboos, or do they want males to enjoy the sight? At a personal level , after my initial excitement wore out , my senses were dulled and it looked like flesh without the allure.
Sanjuayyar, that is the funniest reason I've ever heard for not wearing a swimsuit! But maybe you're right! Who knows.
Jayram - why do women go topless, you ask. Narcissism, exhibitionism. But also, perhaps, lack of inhibitions, the sense of freedom you get from being on a holiday in a strange country. Maybe also sheer disgust at male chauvinism and voyeurism. If a man can go topless, why not a woman? Truly. These are just societal hangups. If EVERYBODY walked around topless, after a point no one would even notice.
Voyeurism, is certainly not limited to males alone- although men are in a position to openly admit enjoying it –if you counted the number of reality shows across the world that feeds off this phenomenon you will be amazed- jane goody actually wanted to die before the camera and I am sure many people watched her- who do you think reads all the salacious gossip churned out by film mags? – I read a survey once that said the middle class housewives love to read about the affairs of stars as she feels special knowing the intricate details about her favorite star- I also think the human being is wired for voyeurism and we have a desperate media which taps into this and makes it a sort of acceptable game
You're right. We live in a voyeuristic world.
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