Reading about the on-going debate over mini-skirts, I began to wonder whether they are more seductive than the midriff that we have been familiar with for a quite a long time. Today I read some blogger commenting on news of the President’s reported remarks over people trying to create a rift between him and the Chief Justice reminding of ‘Pontanona’ who was at liberty to fashion her blouse the way she wants. (Pontanona tamange haette ona vidiyata kappa-gathahaeki’). So let me symbolically refer to those who display these ‘new’ fashion trends as ‘Pontanonas’. No ill-will is intended. The pick is from our street level where I wallow these days enjoying the grim humour present at that level.
I remember seeing the midriff among those who wear saris for the first time when Indian film stars like Nargis, Nimmi and others visited ‘Ceylon’. We were university students at the time and I remember following them to Kandy from Peradeniya, perhaps, more to see these midriffs which was quite novel to us than for any other reason. Soon the midriff became fashionable among ladies here and now it has widened to expose the naval and much of the flesh round the belly in a big way. One sometimes wonders how the seven yards are tucked up so low without allowing to it to come down. These are some of the simpler thoughts that come to the minds of onlookers.
The midriff did not stay confined to the Orient. It soon caught up in the West and even replaced the mini-skirt which once tantalised the minds of men. Five years back, after a visit to London after a long time, I wrote about the midriff which had become part of the Western dress in a big way that summer. I could not believe that some females wanted to display their not –very – pleasing - to – look - at round pot bellies. They were certainly not expectant mothers. The first thought I had was revulsion than admiration seeing the protruding bulk. The idea is not different even when one sees a display of such bulky mass through a transparent sari.
Now, to come to the point, what do our moralists think of the midriff which could be considered far more common and seductive here than the mini-skirt? Don’t we have to start with the Sigiriya damsels if we start an onslaught on the midriff too? But the Sigiriya damsels are covering themselves with fine muslins! Perhaps, on saner counsel, we may let both mini-skirts and midriff to stay as necessary evils in a hot/humid climate. What think you?
The Island - B de S
