Should there or should there
not be a Uniform Civil code?
Should there or should there
not be a Modest Dress code?
While the former topic is controversial, may or may not be politically
provoked and still generates public ire, the latter however is less
contentious, morally motivated and yet spawns everybody’s interest. The
politicians are interested because they feel the modern child’s dress code aids
in the growth of criminal activities. The faculty is interested because they
feel it is a serious distraction from studies. The parents are interested
because it is a reflection of their upbringing. The child is interested because
it is a violation of freedom. With everybody’s interest in mind, this article
explores the foundation and the building up of the golden rule.
To begin with, the interest of the politician (as always) is to distract
the country from other pressing issues. It is ridiculous to even think that any
form of dressing (or undressing) can instigate rape. If that were so, modesty
within closed doors, would never be challenged. The aforesaid dastardly act is
nothing but a condition of a perverted mind.
The faculty interest (and rightly so) lies in the fact that the students
come to college with a purpose in life. Educational institutions demand an
exposure not of the body but of the mind. They are not menu cards where noodle
or spaghetti straps can be displayed. They are not platforms for a beauty
pageant where cleavages can be blatantly flaunted. These temples of learning
demand concentration not distraction. Intellectual and not fashion statements
should be made here. Fun and freedom can definitely be roped in but it does not
necessarily demand a shedding of the robes too.
As regards the children, they are a confused lot. While some want to
break free of restrictions by defying their parents, others unashamedly want to
just ape the West. While some dress to attract attention and others to
distract, many simply ape their friends. Yet all the time these young voices
keep crying hoarse about eve teasing. Why give it a chance to flourish in the
first place?
The question here is not about the length of skirts, depth of necklines,
width of jeans or the circumference of tank tops. It is also not about
tradition or culture. Neither is it about modernity or free will. It is about
indecency. There is a fine line between sensuality and vulgarity. There is a
finer fascination in absolute mystery. But the finest appeal lies in a reserved
dignity. The earlier a child understands this, the better.
Where the interest of the parent comes in, the topic becomes even more
intriguing. And frustrating! While some parents may actually encourage their
children to dress in a ‘modern’ way and some feign total indifference, others
simply have no choice. Today’s parents are like a carriage drawn both ways- the
children condemn them for being conservative and society condemns them for
being too advanced. Forbidden fruits being tastier, the conservativeness of a
parent is directly proportional to the stubbornness of the child. Permissible
rules being simpler, the more demanding a child is the more defensive a parent
becomes.
The modern generation is apprehensive of bans- especially those that are
imposed on them. They feel nothing calls for a ban, especially not the
inconsequential topic of mere attractions or distractions. There are a million
ways a person can be attracted or distracted, they argue. Dressing or
undressing need not be the only criteria. Can one ban a smile that distracts
others? Can one ban a hairstyle that attracts others? Can one ban a special
mannerism that distracts others? The queries are endless.
But the older generation is wise. They are
also an experienced lot. They are fully aware of the laws of attraction. Unlike
a child, a parent knows and understands how different they are from the laws of
distraction. While attraction keeps you focused on the person, appreciating
every act, every gesture, every idea (no matter what the dress code),
distraction takes your mind away. To a degenerating level, where focus from the
personality starts to fade and thoughts begin to wander- in a more lascivious manner.
We parents definitely want our children to be able to attract the
opposite sex. We do want them to grow up in an uninhibited manner. We do want
them to be accepted in the changing society as normal kids. We do want them to
move along with time. But we are also apprehensive of certain distractions. If
only the children understood these apprehensions. If only they could gauge the
tacit difference between the two laws.
Nargis Natarajan.