Author: Nirad C Chaudhuri
Publisher: Jaico
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 185
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788179928936

Description

Culture in the Vanity Bag is an informal but ecological study of Indian clothing and adornment. It is mainly about the historical evolution of costumes and seeks to illustrate their relationship with different cultures that have been seen in India.

Chaudhuris descriptions are animated by great attention to detail, anecdotes, extracts from novels and Sanskrit texts. There is more in this book besides simple entertainment and elementary information.

REVIEW:

“Nirad Chaudhuri has been, throughout his long life, an erudite, contrary, and mischievous presence”
– Salman Rushdie

Contents

Preface
Introduction

PART I: ORDERS AND TAXONOMY OF CLOTHING
1.A Motley World
2.Natural Orders of Clothing
3.Affiliations and Adaptations
4.Two Worlds of Adornment
5.Jewellery and Clothes

PART II: CONFLICTS AND CONCEPTS
1.The First Battle of Clothes: Muslim Period
2.The Second Battle of Clothes: British Period
3.The Causes of the Conflict
4.Aesthetic Concepts and their Expression

PART III: THE CONTEMPORARY SITUATION
1.Battle Becomes Squabble
2.Decline and Fall of Clothing
3.Le Beau Monde
4.A Rootless Fashion
5.A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Epilogue