Who decides what a woman should wear?

It is a question that India seems to answer differently depending on whether a woman chooses to reveal more or cover more.

I remember fighting my first election in 1996. I would travel through rural areas campaigning in a kurta churidar, with a dupatta loosely draped around my neck. The situation was extremely volatile, and many people were reluctant to come out and listen to me because of the fear of militants. Those who did come were mostly men, particularly young boys, for whom seeing a woman campaigning for an election was still unusual and highly amusing.

For me, however, the experience was not always comfortable. My dupatta would slip from my shoulders, and sometimes the wind would lift my shirt. Instead of concentrating on what I wanted to say, I found myself worrying about my clothes.

The next day, I opened my cupboard and found an abaya that I had brought back from Madina during my Haj in 1995. I put it on, took a scarf to cover my head and went out campaigning.

For the first time, I felt comfortable and liberated.

I no longer had to worry about my shirt clinging to me in the wind or my dupatta going haywire. I felt more at ease among the people who came to listen to my speeches and bombard me with questions about my father and his tenure as Home Minister.

It was still a difficult task. I was doing something I had never done before and had to find the confidence to speak to people in an atmosphere that was far from easy. But wearing an abaya and hijab made the experience a little easier for me.

Imagine if, instead of simply making that personal choice, I had been forced to go to court to seek permission to wear my abaya and hijab.

I am not advocating hijab for every woman. Quite the contrary. I firmly believe that every woman has her own understanding of comfort and freedom. Many women feel equally comfortable and liberated wearing skirts, dresses, bikinis or any other clothing of their choice. For one woman, covering her head may provide confidence and freedom, while for another, revealing her shoulders may........

© Indian Express