The Age of Raunch |
An affliction of Indian Culture is to continuously feel ashamed of any sense of natural sensuality. Perhaps more a disease conditioned into us by a society that wants to look like it refuses rape culture but does just that- look like it. We were always taught that we should somehow be ashamed of any skin that showed. We should not put ourselves in any position where men would want to look any further than the necessary glance and nod that's become a social custom. This 'modesty' is acorns on the tree compared to Islam and other cultural/religious modesties but thankfully I belong to neither. |
I'll spare you the long dramatic write on culturally forced body shaming and breaking those insinuations. I've already covered that in N U D I T Y . I've always had a sense of crushing conservative guilt and embarrassment in showing editorials that scream sensuality or expose skin. A tireless effort by my parents to "Keep me safe" and "away from predictors" instilled this guilt. It would be naive of me to deny the sensibility in their efforts but I think it's about that time where I void from the overbearing opinions of my semi-liberal Indian parents and affirm to my own conclusions.
THE PREMISE OF MY BEAUTY IS THAT I AM FAR MORE INTELLIGENT THAN I AM BEAUTIFUL. This is the mantra I adopted after I realized that you can never be the most beautiful girl in the world or the room. There will always be someone prettier, taller, dressed better or with a more appealing aura. Instead of concluding that my most recognisable and name making charecteristic would be beauty I will build all that I am on the conciousnesses of my mind. Before beauty fades it is outshone by the next pretty thing that stumbles into the lime light. I think it's far more stable to encure the light to recognise me for my concoiusness instead of its packaging. This doesnot mean that I need to feel ashamed of my body or skin. There is a fine line between seeking attention with skin and being comfortable in it. I am choosing to be comfortable but not letting that comfort define me. |
Photography by: @david_blaq