as an accompanying spouse at social gatherings I often find myself
gatherings I often find myself
gatherings I often find myself surrounded by lawyers and people from
surrounded by lawyers and people from
surrounded by lawyers and people from the corporate world some kind person in
the corporate world some kind person in
the corporate world some kind person in an attempt to get me to join the
an attempt to get me to join the
an attempt to get me to join the conversation will say so are you also a
conversation will say so are you also a
conversation will say so are you also a loyal or a housewife this is the moment
loyal or a housewife this is the moment
loyal or a housewife this is the moment I wait home I smile and reply I’m a boss
I wait home I smile and reply I’m a boss
I wait home I smile and reply I’m a boss you mom
you mom
you mom pupils dilate with curiosity and I rush
pupils dilate with curiosity and I rush
pupils dilate with curiosity and I rush in with fragrance stories from the
in with fragrance stories from the
in with fragrance stories from the perfume world typically these
perfume world typically these
perfume world typically these conversations steer towards sense of our
conversations steer towards sense of our
conversations steer towards sense of our childhood and how fragrance makers like
childhood and how fragrance makers like
childhood and how fragrance makers like me use stories to create perfumes so
me use stories to create perfumes so
me use stories to create perfumes so just as if our story has a beginning a
just as if our story has a beginning a
just as if our story has a beginning a middle and an end a fragrance has a top
middle and an end a fragrance has a top
middle and an end a fragrance has a top note a heart note and a base note the
note a heart note and a base note the
note a heart note and a base note the scent of rain on wet earth the smell of
scent of rain on wet earth the smell of
scent of rain on wet earth the smell of warm vanilla that makes you want to hug
warm vanilla that makes you want to hug
warm vanilla that makes you want to hug someone again just so that you can smell
someone again just so that you can smell
someone again just so that you can smell their air the smell of clean skin
their air the smell of clean skin
their air the smell of clean skin someone smiles someone’s eyes light up
someone smiles someone’s eyes light up
someone smiles someone’s eyes light up and someone will ask me for my phone
and someone will ask me for my phone
and someone will ask me for my phone number before the evening ends you see
number before the evening ends you see
number before the evening ends you see this is done so that we can sneak off
this is done so that we can sneak off
this is done so that we can sneak off privately to immerse ourselves in
privately to immerse ourselves in
privately to immerse ourselves in fragrance stories looking for something
fragrance stories looking for something
fragrance stories looking for something or many things to love there are reasons
or many things to love there are reasons
or many things to love there are reasons people tell these stories and one of
people tell these stories and one of
people tell these stories and one of those reasons is the same reason that
those reasons is the same reason that
those reasons is the same reason that you and I find ourselves here this
you and I find ourselves here this
you and I find ourselves here this evening people crave connection we will
evening people crave connection we will
evening people crave connection we will do anything or go anywhere if we know
do anything or go anywhere if we know
do anything or go anywhere if we know that it will result in a good connection
that it will result in a good connection
that it will result in a good connection wing from your spouse across a crowded
wing from your spouse across a crowded
wing from your spouse across a crowded room a hug a point of recognition from
room a hug a point of recognition from
room a hug a point of recognition from someone you admire these are things that
someone you admire these are things that
someone you admire these are things that we value these are things that make us
we value these are things that make us
we value these are things that make us see feel seen heard and loved and at its
see feel seen heard and loved and at its
see feel seen heard and loved and at its core every story is about connection so
core every story is about connection so
core every story is about connection so after a decade or so of dabbling now in
after a decade or so of dabbling now in
after a decade or so of dabbling now in fragrance stories imagine my
fragrance stories imagine my
fragrance stories imagine my surprised to find the same powerful
surprised to find the same powerful
surprised to find the same powerful connection in that timeless elegant
connection in that timeless elegant
connection in that timeless elegant garment that defines us as Indians the
garment that defines us as Indians the
garment that defines us as Indians the sari in an attempt to wear yes I know a
sari in an attempt to wear yes I know a
sari in an attempt to wear yes I know a hundred saris last year that I had
hundred saris last year that I had
hundred saris last year that I had inherited from my grandmother I
inherited from my grandmother I
inherited from my grandmother I inadvertently started the hashtag 100
inadvertently started the hashtag 100
inadvertently started the hashtag 100 sorry packed the idea was simple you
sorry packed the idea was simple you
sorry packed the idea was simple you wore your saree and you told your story
wore your saree and you told your story
wore your saree and you told your story around it take for example the story of
around it take for example the story of
around it take for example the story of Jaya Pandey Jaya moved to the US with
Jaya Pandey Jaya moved to the US with
Jaya Pandey Jaya moved to the US with her husband and engineer they wanted to
her husband and engineer they wanted to
her husband and engineer they wanted to make it big they wanted to come back to
make it big they wanted to come back to
make it big they wanted to come back to India and they wanted to live happily
India and they wanted to live happily
India and they wanted to live happily ever after
ever after
ever after simple dreams the Jaya second son was
simple dreams the Jaya second son was
simple dreams the Jaya second son was born with autism as a young bride in a
born with autism as a young bride in a
born with autism as a young bride in a new country
new country
new country Jaya struggled with not just learning
Jaya struggled with not just learning
Jaya struggled with not just learning how to raise her child and cope with
how to raise her child and cope with
how to raise her child and cope with autism but also with society family and
autism but also with society family and
autism but also with society family and friends back in India who could not
friends back in India who could not
friends back in India who could not accept and understand Anand and his
accept and understand Anand and his
accept and understand Anand and his autism when Anand was alienated and
autism when Anand was alienated and
autism when Anand was alienated and isolated Jaya was alienated and isolated
isolated Jaya was alienated and isolated
isolated Jaya was alienated and isolated autism is represented by the color blue
autism is represented by the color blue
autism is represented by the color blue so Jaya wore a blue sari a hundred times
so Jaya wore a blue sari a hundred times
so Jaya wore a blue sari a hundred times last year and told their story there
last year and told their story there
last year and told their story there were stories of happiness stories of
were stories of happiness stories of
were stories of happiness stories of everyday struggle people saw this simple
everyday struggle people saw this simple
everyday struggle people saw this simple woman in a beautiful sari and empathize
woman in a beautiful sari and empathize
woman in a beautiful sari and empathize with her there were people from India
with her there were people from India
with her there were people from India who was so inspired by jazz stories that
who was so inspired by jazz stories that
who was so inspired by jazz stories that they reached out for help for their own
they reached out for help for their own
they reached out for help for their own children with autism better still other
children with autism better still other
children with autism better still other people reached out to give help then
people reached out to give help then
people reached out to give help then there’s the story of sir Anjana Ghosh
there’s the story of sir Anjana Ghosh
there’s the story of sir Anjana Ghosh and to hear sir Anjana tell her story
and to hear sir Anjana tell her story
and to hear sir Anjana tell her story is to relive this moment of idyllic
is to relive this moment of idyllic
is to relive this moment of idyllic youth
youth
youth Surrender fell sick just before her high
Surrender fell sick just before her high
Surrender fell sick just before her high school graduation the high school
school graduation the high school
school graduation the high school graduation is a moment of time that
graduation is a moment of time that
graduation is a moment of time that every Indian schoolgirl looks forward to
every Indian schoolgirl looks forward to
every Indian schoolgirl looks forward to it’s almost like a rite of passage into
it’s almost like a rite of passage into
it’s almost like a rite of passage into womanhood you wear a saree for the first
womanhood you wear a saree for the first
womanhood you wear a saree for the first time just before you leave high school
time just before you leave high school
time just before you leave high school and luck would have it Saran Jenna’s
and luck would have it Saran Jenna’s
and luck would have it Saran Jenna’s mother did not get her a new sari like
mother did not get her a new sari like
mother did not get her a new sari like all the other girls she insisted that
all the other girls she insisted that
all the other girls she insisted that she wore one of her own heirloom
she wore one of her own heirloom
she wore one of her own heirloom Kanjivaram insulin Jenna’s mind this
Kanjivaram insulin Jenna’s mind this
Kanjivaram insulin Jenna’s mind this didn’t match the fashion trends of that
didn’t match the fashion trends of that
didn’t match the fashion trends of that time but to her surprise she won Miss
time but to her surprise she won Miss
time but to her surprise she won Miss Lucknow army public school it was a
Lucknow army public school it was a
Lucknow army public school it was a moment to remember but wait a year later
moment to remember but wait a year later
moment to remember but wait a year later she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a
she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a
she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a rare form of bone cancer but she finally
rare form of bone cancer but she finally
rare form of bone cancer but she finally managed to conquer but this changed her
managed to conquer but this changed her
managed to conquer but this changed her life forever this sari then was extra
life forever this sari then was extra
life forever this sari then was extra special because it represented a moment
special because it represented a moment
special because it represented a moment in her life it held within its precious
in her life it held within its precious
in her life it held within its precious pleats memories of a 17 year old when
pleats memories of a 17 year old when
pleats memories of a 17 year old when life was just perfect
life was just perfect
life was just perfect then there’s Alex Matthew who’s here
then there’s Alex Matthew who’s here
then there’s Alex Matthew who’s here with us in the audience right over there
with us in the audience right over there
with us in the audience right over there Alex is a young man from a very very
Alex is a young man from a very very
Alex is a young man from a very very conservative background in kerala alex
conservative background in kerala alex
conservative background in kerala alex struggled with his identity he struggled
struggled with his identity he struggled
struggled with his identity he struggled with reconciling his inner self with
with reconciling his inner self with
with reconciling his inner self with expectations of how a 25 year old boy
expectations of how a 25 year old boy
expectations of how a 25 year old boy should be and then one day alex wore his
should be and then one day alex wore his
should be and then one day alex wore his mother’s crisp white Kerala cassava sari
mother’s crisp white Kerala cassava sari
mother’s crisp white Kerala cassava sari and found his inner voice he found my
and found his inner voice he found my
and found his inner voice he found my amar my mother form here on stage in
amar my mother form here on stage in
amar my mother form here on stage in Bangalore magma is a drag queen who
Bangalore magma is a drag queen who
Bangalore magma is a drag queen who stands for feminism individualism and
stands for feminism individualism and
stands for feminism individualism and gender equality to watch Alex are to
gender equality to watch Alex are to
gender equality to watch Alex are to watch Miami perform on stage is to see
watch Miami perform on stage is to see
watch Miami perform on stage is to see Alex wanting you to see him the
Alex wanting you to see him the
Alex wanting you to see him the you to see him and it is truly amazing
you to see him and it is truly amazing
you to see him and it is truly amazing so we wore our saris and we told us
so we wore our saris and we told us
so we wore our saris and we told us stories using the hashtag hundreds re
stories using the hashtag hundreds re
stories using the hashtag hundreds re packed and they were amazing stories
packed and they were amazing stories
packed and they were amazing stories like these many of them were stories of
like these many of them were stories of
like these many of them were stories of grief happiness pain death
grief happiness pain death
grief happiness pain death triumph success great friendships were
triumph success great friendships were
triumph success great friendships were forged across the world this the sari
forged across the world this the sari
forged across the world this the sari which was up until them a cultural
which was up until them a cultural
which was up until them a cultural artifact became a medium for
artifact became a medium for
artifact became a medium for storytelling valuable and really
storytelling valuable and really
storytelling valuable and really meaningful connections were forged
meaningful connections were forged
meaningful connections were forged through the 6-yard journey it was
through the 6-yard journey it was
through the 6-yard journey it was through one of these connections that I
through one of these connections that I
through one of these connections that I found myself on a textile trail to learn
found myself on a textile trail to learn
found myself on a textile trail to learn about the fabled Talia Rome on the tail
about the fabled Talia Rome on the tail
about the fabled Talia Rome on the tail Yahoo mal for the onion uninitiated is a
Yahoo mal for the onion uninitiated is a
Yahoo mal for the onion uninitiated is a form of double I cut EE cut is made in
form of double I cut EE cut is made in
form of double I cut EE cut is made in only four places in the world and
only four places in the world and
only four places in the world and amazingly two of those places exist
amazingly two of those places exist
amazingly two of those places exist right here in India so sleemoth e Mohan
right here in India so sleemoth e Mohan
right here in India so sleemoth e Mohan and I were walking along this dusty
and I were walking along this dusty
and I were walking along this dusty Village Road and we suddenly found
Village Road and we suddenly found
Village Road and we suddenly found ourselves followed by a group of men so
ourselves followed by a group of men so
ourselves followed by a group of men so we found ourselves being followed by
we found ourselves being followed by
we found ourselves being followed by this group of men and of course we
this group of men and of course we
this group of men and of course we panicked right so we’re walking faster
panicked right so we’re walking faster
panicked right so we’re walking faster these men are chasing us one of them
these men are chasing us one of them
these men are chasing us one of them started yelling man a seen a man a
started yelling man a seen a man a
started yelling man a seen a man a serious someone else wanted a photograph
serious someone else wanted a photograph
serious someone else wanted a photograph and in the panic that followed we were
and in the panic that followed we were
and in the panic that followed we were separated from the main group so we
separated from the main group so we
separated from the main group so we decided very quickly to get it over with
decided very quickly to get it over with
decided very quickly to get it over with this photograph and then carry on and as
this photograph and then carry on and as
this photograph and then carry on and as soon as the photo was taken we realized
soon as the photo was taken we realized
soon as the photo was taken we realized that one of the men was completely
that one of the men was completely
that one of the men was completely overcome with emotion his eyes had
overcome with emotion his eyes had
overcome with emotion his eyes had filled with tears as it turned out man
filled with tears as it turned out man
filled with tears as it turned out man achieve a man a cheer a literally
achieve a man a cheer a literally
achieve a man a cheer a literally translated to my sorry my sorry and he
translated to my sorry my sorry and he
translated to my sorry my sorry and he wanted a photograph with us because he
wanted a photograph with us because he
wanted a photograph with us because he recognized the sorry that he had woven
recognized the sorry that he had woven
recognized the sorry that he had woven himself he was overcome with emotion
himself he was overcome with emotion
himself he was overcome with emotion because he hadn’t seen a woman where his
because he hadn’t seen a woman where his
because he hadn’t seen a woman where his sorry in his
sorry in his
sorry in his one village you see they were too poor
one village you see they were too poor
one village you see they were too poor to wear what they made themselves so
to wear what they made themselves so
to wear what they made themselves so this incident shook me to the core
this incident shook me to the core
this incident shook me to the core because it’s short that our sarees that
because it’s short that our sarees that
because it’s short that our sarees that we love so much come with these stories
we love so much come with these stories
we love so much come with these stories that cannot be shared and they cannot be
that cannot be shared and they cannot be
that cannot be shared and they cannot be shared because there are no voices to
shared because there are no voices to
shared because there are no voices to share them wearing a sari is an everyday
share them wearing a sari is an everyday
share them wearing a sari is an everyday occurrence in rural India everyone wears
occurrence in rural India everyone wears
occurrence in rural India everyone wears a sari yet these stories cannot be told
a sari yet these stories cannot be told
a sari yet these stories cannot be told at this point I became interested in
at this point I became interested in
at this point I became interested in these untellable stories so I went on
these untellable stories so I went on
these untellable stories so I went on more textile trails to more villages and
more textile trails to more villages and
more textile trails to more villages and my worst fears were reconfirmed these
my worst fears were reconfirmed these
my worst fears were reconfirmed these stories are untellable because they are
stories are untellable because they are
stories are untellable because they are fast disappearing they are all without
fast disappearing they are all without
fast disappearing they are all without exceptions stories that revolve around
exceptions stories that revolve around
exceptions stories that revolve around the handloom in India now to weave a
the handloom in India now to weave a
the handloom in India now to weave a handloom sorry
handloom sorry
handloom sorry sometimes it’s not just a whole family
sometimes it’s not just a whole family
sometimes it’s not just a whole family that is involved but also a whole
that is involved but also a whole
that is involved but also a whole community people sit around they talk
community people sit around they talk
community people sit around they talk about patterns they talk about things
about patterns they talk about things
about patterns they talk about things that inspire them life that they see
that inspire them life that they see
that inspire them life that they see around them they weave their sorry they
around them they weave their sorry they
around them they weave their sorry they weave their story literally into the
weave their story literally into the
weave their story literally into the sari
sari
sari nobody talks about these sari stories
nobody talks about these sari stories
nobody talks about these sari stories before you and I share our sari stories
before you and I share our sari stories
before you and I share our sari stories these stories die silently before they
these stories die silently before they
these stories die silently before they leave the village
leave the village
leave the village what remains unsaid is that the artists
what remains unsaid is that the artists
what remains unsaid is that the artists and creators of our beautiful saris are
and creators of our beautiful saris are
and creators of our beautiful saris are slowly changing the canvas of their
slowly changing the canvas of their
slowly changing the canvas of their lives once bustling weaving centers have
lives once bustling weaving centers have
lives once bustling weaving centers have now become ghost towns with occupants
now become ghost towns with occupants
now become ghost towns with occupants moving to cities to look out for a
moving to cities to look out for a
moving to cities to look out for a better life to make it big right great
better life to make it big right great
better life to make it big right great change comes with great sacrifice and
change comes with great sacrifice and
change comes with great sacrifice and therefore these stories die before they
therefore these stories die before they
therefore these stories die before they leave the village why is this an idea
leave the village why is this an idea
leave the village why is this an idea that is relevant to you and me what can
that is relevant to you and me what can
that is relevant to you and me what can we do to capture and retell these
we do to capture and retell these
we do to capture and retell these stories so that they continue to inspire
stories so that they continue to inspire
stories so that they continue to inspire and all through the ages in India we
and all through the ages in India we
and all through the ages in India we have always been many people yet one
have always been many people yet one
have always been many people yet one people far more than you name it history
people far more than you name it history
people far more than you name it history geography food music literature art
geography food music literature art
geography food music literature art language politics and religion
language politics and religion
language politics and religion we have been unified by the sari that
we have been unified by the sari that
we have been unified by the sari that one constant in all our glorious
one constant in all our glorious
one constant in all our glorious diversity when the sorry dies the
diversity when the sorry dies the
diversity when the sorry dies the stories die the voice of women die the
stories die the voice of women die the
stories die the voice of women die the voice of men who make the saris die
voice of men who make the saris die
voice of men who make the saris die therefore we have to move forward from
therefore we have to move forward from
therefore we have to move forward from telling our own sorry stories to
telling our own sorry stories to
telling our own sorry stories to including these untellable stories so
including these untellable stories so
including these untellable stories so the registry of saris were set up with
the registry of saris were set up with
the registry of saris were set up with castle yeah sati Kumar and Apoorva
castle yeah sati Kumar and Apoorva
castle yeah sati Kumar and Apoorva sadhana’s not just to create learning
sadhana’s not just to create learning
sadhana’s not just to create learning and awareness of one among our weaves
and awareness of one among our weaves
and awareness of one among our weaves but also to give ordinary people like
but also to give ordinary people like
but also to give ordinary people like you and me the chance to tell these
you and me the chance to tell these
you and me the chance to tell these untellable stories i have with me this
untellable stories i have with me this
untellable stories i have with me this evening
evening
evening one untellable story it’s the story of
one untellable story it’s the story of
one untellable story it’s the story of Rajiv Debnath a muslin weaver from
Rajiv Debnath a muslin weaver from
Rajiv Debnath a muslin weaver from calneh now Rajiv his family moved into
calneh now Rajiv his family moved into
calneh now Rajiv his family moved into calneh during the partition of Bengal in
calneh during the partition of Bengal in
calneh during the partition of Bengal in 1905 muslin itself has a tumult is
1905 muslin itself has a tumult is
1905 muslin itself has a tumult is history the British destroyed must
history the British destroyed must
history the British destroyed must muslin production and trade to further
muslin production and trade to further
muslin production and trade to further their own interests so when Rajiv’s
their own interests so when Rajiv’s
their own interests so when Rajiv’s family moved here
family moved here
family moved here they came literally to continue the art
they came literally to continue the art
they came literally to continue the art of creating
of creating
of creating cotton so fine that a spider’s web
cotton so fine that a spider’s web
cotton so fine that a spider’s web looks thick so Rajab grew up and decided
looks thick so Rajab grew up and decided
looks thick so Rajab grew up and decided he wanted to be an IT engineer and he
he wanted to be an IT engineer and he
he wanted to be an IT engineer and he went to the city and he found the city
went to the city and he found the city
went to the city and he found the city life was too stifling it killed his
life was too stifling it killed his
life was too stifling it killed his imagination he had no avenue to tell his
imagination he had no avenue to tell his
imagination he had no avenue to tell his stories through muslin and I asked
stories through muslin and I asked
stories through muslin and I asked Rajeev why he came back to weaving and
Rajeev why he came back to weaving and
Rajeev why he came back to weaving and he said to me you may think I make
he said to me you may think I make
he said to me you may think I make muslin but actually muslin makes me
muslin but actually muslin makes me
muslin but actually muslin makes me it makes me into a steadfast patient
it makes me into a steadfast patient
it makes me into a steadfast patient artist with the infinite power of human
artist with the infinite power of human
artist with the infinite power of human creation when the muslin stops then I
creation when the muslin stops then I
creation when the muslin stops then I stops this is an idea of India today I
stops this is an idea of India today I
stops this is an idea of India today I am wearing a saree whose silk is from
am wearing a saree whose silk is from
am wearing a saree whose silk is from Bangalore it was dyed and woven in
Bangalore it was dyed and woven in
Bangalore it was dyed and woven in Orissa embroidered in Calcutta and my
Orissa embroidered in Calcutta and my
Orissa embroidered in Calcutta and my blouse is from cotton that is made in
blouse is from cotton that is made in
blouse is from cotton that is made in Tamil Nadu and hand block printed in
Tamil Nadu and hand block printed in
Tamil Nadu and hand block printed in Andhra Pradesh like me it is connected
Andhra Pradesh like me it is connected
Andhra Pradesh like me it is connected to many parts of India for me this is my
to many parts of India for me this is my
to many parts of India for me this is my idea of an inclusive India I see in the
idea of an inclusive India I see in the
idea of an inclusive India I see in the audience today there is an a jock sari
audience today there is an a jock sari
audience today there is an a jock sari from Gujarat I think with that but I saw
from Gujarat I think with that but I saw
from Gujarat I think with that but I saw from I don’t know where but it has
from I don’t know where but it has
from I don’t know where but it has worldly art on it I see a kanji venomous
worldly art on it I see a kanji venomous
worldly art on it I see a kanji venomous well these are all ideas of India and I
well these are all ideas of India and I
well these are all ideas of India and I as I leave you I urge you to seek them
as I leave you I urge you to seek them
as I leave you I urge you to seek them out to find their untellable stories and
out to find their untellable stories and
out to find their untellable stories and make them your own so that we can
make them your own so that we can
make them your own so that we can continue to keep our idea of India alive
continue to keep our idea of India alive
continue to keep our idea of India alive it’s about time we connected
it’s about time we connected
it’s about time we connected [Applause]
”
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