Wearing Indian Clothing....

I have lived on both sides of the sea for a fair amount of time so that puts me a comfortable place to comment on what I think is happening in our increasingly global culture. Back in the late 2000s, 2006-9 especially, were full of debates about losing touch with our culture. There was this unspoken unease about preferring English over the native language. And rightfully so, English is the language of the world nowadays. But the problem was bigger than that (and perhaps still is). People wanted their kids to learn English exclusively. Or, English and Hindi. Punjabi was secondary, unnecessary, and even rural and of low stature amount the elite/semi-elite. The literary tradition of my mother tongue was dying along with the slowly retreating readership. Had it not been for my dad's old left-leaning (aka commie) novels from the 70s through 90s, I would have never read any good Punjabi literature. There was none in class (same for hindi btw). We did the bare minimum learning our own tongues. I remember getting half a day off on diwali (and an exam the next day) even though almost all people in India celebrate diwali. We had no time off for Maghi or Baisa khi for some years. It broke the community's collective hearts that we were depriving our coming generations of their own values in favour of what is foreign and therefore, more enticing.
A movement spread around then. I was enrolled in Punjabi school. My peers had quidas to read the native alphabet. Books and op eds and songs were written about the importance of keeping true to your roots. And with the years as the movement has died down, my literature is breathing again. Movies (however good or bad) are being made again on what it is like to be a Punjabi. Kids still study punjabi. We have Bhangra schools and Teeyan celebrations. My community is living again.

That experience taught me how self-reliant we are. We can achieve what we want if we rise above our restraints.

Yes, there exists a certain shame in wearing salwar kameez out and about in the city. Multiple assumptions are made about your status, your education, even your open mindedness and political view from the way you dress. And that saddens me.

It irks me to no end knowing that being British or Americanized on the outside is somehow reflective of how liberal you are. Yes it is the colonial past still impacting our people, yes it is the white supremacy giving its stamp of approval that the only you will succeed (even in your own land) is if you are like them. That they and not you or your kind are the pinnacle of success.

That LSE and Harvard and not IIM or IIT ensure you will be rich and famous in the future.

I think your topic steered too into clothes or was interpreted that way because of the anecdote but I wanted to address the broader issue. Love to hear any other thoughts.