How an Indian woman dresses

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before 'western' influences hit mainstream sartorial choices): Exhibit 1

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes, indulging in a traditional Indian indulgence (before 'western' influence on Indian culture): Exhibit 2

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before 'western' influences hit their sartorial choices): Exhibit 3

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before 'western' influence): Exhibit 4

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before 'western' influence): Exhibit 5

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (hard to say whether this is before, after or despite 'western' influence): Exhibit 6

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before/after/despite 'western' influence): Exhibit 7

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (most likely before any significant cultural influence barring her own tribe, given the confidence of her stance and lack of shame about her body): Exhibit 8

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before/after 'western' influence?): Exhibit 9

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (before/after 'western' influence?): Exhibit 10

Indian girl wearing traditional Indian clothes: Exhibit 11

Indian girl wearing traditional Indian clothes: Exhibit 12

Indian couple wearing traditional Indian clothes (probably only for a special festive occasion and not the clothes worn in their daily lives): Exhibit 13

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (almost certainly despite 'western' influence, given the source of the photograph): Exhibit 14

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes: Exhibit 15

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (obviously, donned for the stage): Exhibit 16

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes: Exhibit 17

Indian women wearing traditional/modern/contemporary Indian clothes (and their own comfortable, traditional method of draping): Exhibit 18

Indian women wearing traditional/modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 19

Indian women wearing traditional/modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 20

Indian woman wearing traditional Indian clothes (and traditional woman's hat): Exhibit 21

Indian women wearing traditional/modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 22

Indian women wearing traditional/modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 23

Indian women wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 24

Indian women wearing traditional Indian clothes (obviously, donned for a stage performance): Exhibit 25

Indian woman wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 26

Indian woman wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 27

Indian child wearing traditional/modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 28

Indian women wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 29

Indian woman wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 30

Indian woman wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 31

Indian women wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 32

Indian women wearing traditional/modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 34

Indian women wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 35

Indian woman wearing modern Indian clothes: Exhibit 36

Indian woman's figure representing a 'yakshi' wearing what once must have been 'normal' clothes for a woman in some part of the Indian subcontinent: Exhibit 37

This is for all those who want to tell women what Indian culture is, or isn't, or what our great 'Indian' tradition and culture expects women to wear or not wear. Take a good hard look. We have worn all sorts of things depending on climate, comfort, and available technology. Also, depending on our desire. OUR NEEDS and DESIRE were reflected in OUR CULTURE. We exposed various parts of our bodies at all ages, at various times during our shared history and geography. And we will continue to do so. Learn to live with that.

Consider this a brief tutorial, those of you -- Yesudas, Madhu Kishwar, Mohan Bhagwat, Mamta Sharma, and politicians affiliated to a range of parties including the currently ruling BJP (Goa CM and Madhya Pradesh CM), TDP, NCP, TMC, CPM -- who have directly or indirectly suggested that 'western' influences on our clothing lead to assaults on our persons. You seek to confine us to Exhibit 24, 29 or 34 in the name of 'safety' and 'Indian' cultural values with no sense of the history or reality of Indian women's clothing. The truth is that none of these women were or are safe from sexual assault or harassment, with the possible exception of Exhibit 37. And that is because she is cast in metal and cannot experience an assault even if it is aimed at her body.

[Photos sourced from the internet. All sources linked to at the mention of the relevant exhibit]