Believe me folks, if someone had ever suggested to me before today that I’d be writing on the topic of mundu on my blog, I’d have laughed my head off at them. But such is life that today I am doing just that. For those who are not aware of what a mundu is: It is just an un-stitched rectangular piece of cloth people wear by wrapping it around their waists (more on Wiki). If you want a more precise look at how it is worn take a look at this video (link).

Let me make it clear at the outset, people. I am neither pro mundu nor against, but plain neutral about it. For me, it is just attire worn by people of certain regions. Period. I extend to it the same courtesy that I would show any other clothing worn by people anywhere in the world. So it is hardly surprising that I balked when I read this,

“Personally I find Mundu quite disgusting.”

Actually speaking, unless there is dirt or muck sticking to it, there is nothing “disgusting” about a mundu. But then, I do agree that people have the right to have their own “personal” opinions about what is “disgusting” to them. Look at my own example: I am totally disgusted by people who are disgusted by what others wear. Yet I take it philosophically when the ‘disgusting’ word is used for mundu. Free country and all that you know, and the right to be “disgusted” is after all everyone’s very birthright. Right? Besides, am I not a champion of freedom of speech? So yeah, a declaration that the simple mundu is too “disgusting” for someone’s sophisticated tastes only makes me shrug and say ‘Bring on the ‘disgust’ in barrels, and happily drown yourself in it if you so wish! No skin off my nose.’

You know what amuses and amazes me? Sometimes it so happens that you hear (or read) a whole lot of sense from someone or other and are nodding away, suitably impressed when suddenly they go off at a tangent and spout something that leaves you in shock. Which is really speaking good (not the shock per se, but that people opened their mouth and let out what’s actually in their mind), for it is then that you get a glimpse of the invisible worm gnawing away from the inside of an the otherwise perfect looking apple. I thought I spotted one such worm when I read what followed the above “disgusted” statement.

“For me it’s only popular because it’s easy to take off (aid for forced sex).”

Actually the immediate reaction to reading this had been a severe pain in my lower jaw. You see, the jaw had dropped without warning on the hard cement floor in shocked amazement. When I was done with picking the jaw off the floor and rubbing it hard, I had still not recovered. I mean, I have heard of brainless idiocy brainy brilliance, but this, I thought, tipping my invisible hat with reverence, took the proverbial ignoramus cake. The popularity of the dress of a region had just been ARBITRARILY linked to forced sex without so much as by your leave. And ONLY for the reason that it is something that can be removed with ease.

What are you waiting for, all ye mundu lovers? Go drown yourself in a glass of water. And while on your way, don’t forget to take off your “disgusting” mundu and cover your faces with it. Oh the shame! To think that the reason our forefathers loved their mundu in the past, and the present day popularity of it among grandfathers, fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, sons, friends, neighbors et al is because it is convenient for them when the mood strikes for forced sex… Chi chi chi! How much more worse can it get?

Wait a minute. We women also wear mundu in good old mundu land. Does that mean we are  forced-sex (or easy sex) seeking damsels? Life is not worth living after hearing this. Pass me that mundu, please. Let me just go hang myself with it.

Note: If you cannot see the sarcasm, stay OUT of my page. I don’t suffer fools gladly. That is the reason I wrote this in the first place. I despair that someone actually said what they did. If you think about it, a sari or skirt, that is so popular among women, does not even need to be taken off. What does that make women who wear them and show off acres of their flesh? I don’t think the person who said the above gave a thought to that. If I stand for women not being judged by what they wear, I extend the same courtesy to men. Banning mundu (or any attire) will not make decent men out of indecent ones. If SOME men wearing mundu have harassed women, DON’T blame the mundu, blame the men who did it.