Million Rupee Smiles Vs 2 Rupee Sweat

Two very different pictures stuck in my head over the week-end. The first was that of the three giggling Miss India's. Now a familiar annual photo-op.

Backed by an indulgent media, aggressive cosmetic companies and a desire to promote surface beauty above all else, this annual ritual of beauty celebration is the dumbest and amongst the most crass forms of consumerist imports from the West.

These women, supposedly represent India on a world stage. Qualifications include an intense and early aspiration, a beauty coaching regimen and a mechanical parroting of social conscience...These women then become the role models for a young and aspiring India!

The other far more liberating picture was that of these Tirupati women barbers who have stormed a male bastion.
Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam has broken away form an age-old tradition by allowing them to wield razors for tonsuring heads in the temple town, as part of the ritual of thanksgiving to Lord Venkateshwara for boons granted.

Currently there are 18 female barbers. They get paid a mere Rs. 2 for each tonsure. And they tonsure anywhere between 10-60 devotees a day!!

But of course, organised media does not have much space to show-case such grass-root changes! They are busy splashing manicured pictures of beauty. After all while the smiles are worth millions, the sweat costs a mere Rs. 2!