When Shruti Shah dances the night away this weekend, she would be showing off her latest tattoo — a miniature map of India on her nape.
“I am going to the US to pursue a three-year degree in computer engineering and was feeling sentimental,” she says, explaining the rationale behind the temporary, but unusual, tattoo.
While the older generation often laments that the youth lack patriotic fervour, Generation Next is busy celebrating Independence Day in its own way - by combining nationalism with popular culture.
“It is fashionable to flaunt Indianness and all that it stands for,” says aspiring fashion designer Sana Aziz, who has combined kitschy prints and fabrics to come up with a medley in saffron, green, blue and white hues.
“I have put together a few outfits for friends who are having a August 15 theme party, complete with paper Tricolours adorning the walls to using saffron, green and blue food colours for the dishes on the menu,” she says.
Chandan Nayar, a young caterer who claims to get hundreds of requests for tricoloured biryanis and other savouries on August 15 every year, feels that Independence Day may mean different things to different people.
“August 15 is no longer just about singing ‘Jana Gana Mana’ with patriotic fervor and saluting the national flag. These days it is celebrated more like a festival where one bonds with friends and family over good food and conversations,” he says.
The concept of freedom also provides fodder for the imagination while throwing up newer ideas for business ventures. “India inspires me and my works since there is so much political and religious chaos in the country,” says entrepreneur Neil Dantas, who designs T-shirts with slogans such as ‘Unity in diversity’ and ‘One India one people’.
His hot-selling designs this season include a saffron T-shirt with a map of India made of up several pixels with the logo ‘I in India’ and a green one with Om along with a moon and star signifying the Hindu and Muslim cultures.
“Why wear clothes splashed with Western ideology when India has so much to offer? Let’s be proud of our unique culture and legacy first,” says the entrepreneur whose other products include India-inspired accessories like bags and furniture.
