An interesting social evolution underway

 An Interesting Social Evolution Underway

Me and my inclination to watch and listen. At this lovely upscale hotel, more like a resort, at Udaipur, in December 2023, well the wedding season is on. Relatives of the immediate two families going to be related by marriage are driving up. With the traditional drums and folk dancers welcoming each guest, even those not invited to the wedding are welcomed but then how can the staff make out. But imagine the befuddled looks of a couple or family just coming for sightseeing and getting a drummed up welcome.

But the real show is somewhere else. The marriage is the show. First you see the grandmas and aunts, the older types. Heads covered, permanently it seems, waddling in due to old knees, socks and chappals on, sitting around. But the diamonds are shining and big. Then comes the mother and the younger aunts, heads covered ever so firmly, speaking some English, moving around giving off positive energy on footwear they may not be actually used too, so still huffing and puffing and knees giving trouble. But the diamonds and platinum jewellery shines and sparkles and so do their bags and purses, some are a shade more evolved in tune with times today but the majority are still a bit here and there.

Papas, pot bellied and prominently and the coats and kurtas hanging over the protruding island which is the tummy, many chewing paan and nuts, talking business and politics and genuflecting to each other in order of their wealth and social pegs they occupy. In any case here the Namaskar involves a slight bending from the waist. Dealerships and margins were being discussed as also franchises and rentals. It’s boring. Just boring. The footwear is anything goes though it may be top notch in value. The men seem to run the businesses and have the ownership.

Then voila ! The girls, the young ladies! It’s a sea change and where from are they springing from ! It’s a damn social revolution. They just are mostly a total contrast. Dressed to kill, and in the late evening yesterday I was wondering how were their parents, such as they seemed, being comfortable with something so far removed from them. Daring by some, and the trends in vogue amply on show. It’s a virtual fashion parade. They stand out and how so. And then order their drinks with aplomb and ask questions which would put veteran bar tender to search their knowledge bank. Even chefs seem to be weary by the questions some must ask. In detail. One young thing told a waitress at breakfast, I know what I like for tea but you would never stock it or make it the way I like it. And her parents ate their breakfast in silence and seemed so far away removed from her and their nieces. And I saw at night the girl was more assured than the guy, who seemed a little out out by all the razzmatazz, it’s the ladies who are evolving for sure. Though it’s the men who seemed to be into politics and counting of votes. The young ladies were all into trends by film stars and fashion houses and jewellers, mostly. But there is a section. Still. Quiet, dressed conservatively, sitting demurely.

The boys strut around. Strut. That is the only word., Slicked up. Half feminine and masculine in dresses and fashion. Moving around self assuredly as their parents watch them with pride. That part is way too evident. And the fathers introduce them as meet my son and meet the owner of this dealership or that showroom. The sons know they are on a gold mine !! As they go about saluting elders by touching their feet. And are at home as they move around. All dressed to the hilt. But they are absolutely quiet before their Dad’s.

Just a thought. How many can lead the same lives at home, in the same lifestyle as it can be a bit of a suffocation in the still traditional cities as society evolves at varied levels. Hence maybe marriages at Udaipur and the like, enjoy, display the wealth splendidly but it remains within a small ecosystem. And the hotels do it with grace and in a refined way alright.

But to me the social revolution stands out. It’s a contrast of two to three worlds in one time capsule. More as I go along.

PS Not a guest at a wedding. But watching !! Enjoying !! And a tangent. We went to JMB to eat the traditional kachori. It was nice and way too large but full of chilies and the chutney was hotter. I had to eat an imrati to cool down. I even opened the door of the freezer and pulled out a bottle and gulped down the water. Just then a young fair, good looking well dressed lady walked in. I waited to pay my bill as she went about ordering all sorts of snacks with the repeated refrain Bhaiya Aur mirch Dalo, Aur mirch ka masala dalo. Put more chillies brother, more chillies in the chutney too. The more she said more chillies the hotter my mouth felt even after all the water and sweet! A nice mix this young lady, the traditional in food, yet self assured and dressed well in today’s trends!

And yes Udaipur has girls moving around driving ever so smartly. And going about their lives. The times are changing.

i asked the young man at the hotel about stores to buy traditional wear and he gave me the names of brands which are All India such as Manyavar ! The brands are everywhere now. The times are certainly changing.

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7Nalin Rai, Anita Sharma and 5 others