Dress Code and Modesty

Deke Tourangbam *

Often in headlines of national dailies we see news of rape, exploitation and intimidation of north-eastern girls in the national capital Delhi. There has always been strong condemnation of such crimes but at the same time many a times fingers has been raised on the morality of north eastern girls.

There has been a general misconception in the minds of local population and northern plain people that people from North-eastern part of the country generally girls are of immoral characters. They dress scantily, are used to drinking and involve in other immoral activities.

Such general thinking has corrupted the minds of the local population and these in turn has resulted in the alienation of north eastern people right in the Capital of the country.

These have been visible many a times when North-eastern people try finding rooms and proper accommodation and have been refused by landlords to housed CHINKIES (ref by local people) saying they are uncivilized and immoral.

So how come such perception about northeastern people came to being? Who is at fault for all such things? No doubt such misconceptions haven't developed overnight and there must be reasons behind it.

Northeastern cultures are predominantly tribal in nature but with the advent of Christianity many changes have occurred. People's mindset has changed and has become suddenly westernized in outlook and dressing styles. Such things have come in conflict with the reserved and orthodox local populations.

Which is reason enough for the change in attitude towards North-eastern people?

Delhi is the capital of the country and many people from all parts of the country migrate here in search of better opportunities and jobs. Include migrant workers and laborers in large groups from male dominated societies like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh etc. Northeastern people though westernized in their outlook but not educated enough to get high paying jobs end up in cheap dwellings areas like Munirka, Kotla, Santiniketan etc where all the migrant workers also stay.

The migrant workers mostly males staying in groups are sex starved as they are staying far from their wives or don't have the luxury to afford girls friends.

At the same time high fashioned easily available northeastern girls become easy prey for them. It has been noticed that most of the rape cases involving northeastern girls has been committed by un-educated migrant class like Autowallas, Taxi drivers, Bus conductors and drivers etc.

There has been many debates regarding dress codes of North-eastern girls which been refused by many. Though it's quite true being a democratic country we have the liberty to live our own life according to our wishes. But we should learn to give respect to others feelings also.

Delhi predominantly a Hindu society has always been reserved as far as women are concern with a very less liberty given to them regarding lifestyle and dress codes. This has come in to conflict with our same ideas.

But nevertheless we are at the receiving end and we should learn to adjust to the same. We should always remember the saying that when in Rome do as Romans do.

Northeastern girls should learn to draw a limit between Fashionable dressing and indecency. Any thought provoking dresses should not be worn as we are responsible for our own safety.

We are in ourselves an ambassador for our community and should learn to safeguard the same with our sense of dressing and living standards rather than dragging the name of our parents and society into wrong things.

It has generally been seen that northeastern girls take undue advantage of the absence of their parents and involve into indecent activities giving a serious questioning to their upbringing process.

There are also local girls who dress the same with mini micro skirts and scantily dresses but the difference has always been the economic class differences.

Such girls especially from higher middle classes live in posh areas and have their own conveyances so they are seldom harm but just imagine a northeast girl wearing thought provoking dress coming out from the narrow lanes of shantiniketan or Munirka and walking up the main road to catch an auto late in the death night.

Is she doing a right thing?
Dress Fashionably But With Modesty.