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India Today Conclave

I Am Sorry I Used the Word 'Shame': Sabyasachi Mukherjee

The celebrity designer apologised on Instagram for hurting sentiments with his speech at the Harvard India Conference.

21 March, 2018
I Am Sorry I Used the Word 'Shame': Sabyasachi Mukherjee

"I think, if you tell me that you do not know how to wear a saree, I would say shame on you. It's a part of your culture, (you) need stand up for it," Sabyasachi had told Indian students at the Harvard India Conference, held on 10th February.

What was expressed as a response to the act of Indians all over the world becoming "socially insecure", went ahead to become a major headline and the celebrity designer couldn't have imagined to receive such backlash for his words.

According to a report by PTI, his remark met with a thundering applause from the audience, but was severely criticised by the Twitterverse. The designer who was responding to a question on the difficulties women face in draping a saree, said, the saree is the most wonderful dress in the world and people across the globe admire it, and identify Indian women with it.

"They are becoming socially insecure," he said. "Women and men are trying very hard to be something that they are not. Your clothing should be a part of who you are and connect you to your roots," he added.

But the word "shame" did not strike the right chord with people on social media, and offended many, being termed as patriarchal and anti-feminist.

[twitter ]https://twitter.com/thetanmay/status/962987060972765184" >

[twitter ]https://twitter.com/its_kritika/status/963061719240077313" >

[twitter ]https://twitter.com/JyotsnaBasotia/status/963062323589013506" >

[twitter ]https://twitter.com/tooth_crazy/status/963053198490652672" >

To clear the air, the acclaimed designer posted an open letter on his Instagram, saying he regretted using the word "shame", and the intention was majorly misconstrued as "misogynistic, patriarchal, and non-inclusive."

Here's the open letter Sabyasachi posted online:

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKnPy6HO-4/?taken-by=sabyasachiofficial" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKnZDUnUyt/?taken-by=sabyasachiofficial" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKnlttHXhx/?taken-by=sabyasachiofficial" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

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