While it appealed to the masses, it certainly wasn’t an affordable piece of clothing. You would be lucky if you could get basic tailoring mends done at that rate today, forget getting a fully-stitched safari suit for an adult man. Along with the tailoring cost of Rs 45-50, this safari suit, once made, would last years. (While Bapu means ‘father’, I used it for my grandfather.) Bapu in his trademark safari with Amma, my grandparentsĪt approximately Rs 40 per metre, the safari cloth was a luxury. Come hail, storm, or the 500 days of Hyderabad’s summer, if my Bapu stepped out of home, this was his attire. This began to reflect in Bapu’s style as well-well-oiled hair, jutis and a safari suit. Cloth bought from the wholesale market sufficed for all their clothing needs.Īs the years went by, the business took off, and the family’s fortunes turned. The lady of the house made do with a handful of sarees, while younger kids used books passed down from the older ones. It simply meant that coarse cloth and wholesome food was all they needed for a good life. It did well enough to meet their basic needs-“ mota khana, mota pehnna, mast rehna,”-my grandmother often says, recalling the times. With help from family, he set up a small business, selling edible oil. Upon realising that the older sibling was taking advantage of him-minimal rations for food, some scraps for cloth and no money-the elders intervened, and my grandfather moved to Hyderabad to eke out a living for his wife, and their five children. He grew up in Rajasthan and helped his elder brother farm. From things that brought the world to our living rooms to tasty treats, take a nostalgic journey down memory lane!
In the series ‘Icons of India’, we take a look at the iconic objects that collectively defined the Indian experience over the past 68 years.