Barkha Dutt Explores: How to Wear a Sari – From Kerala to Maharashtra & Indira Gandhi’s Style
In Inside Out, Barkha Dutt speaks with Malvika Singh on how the sari embodies India’s history, culture, and the strength of women across generations.
In this episode of Inside Out with Barkha Dutt, celebrated journalist Barkha Dutt engages in a heartfelt conversation with Malvika Singh, Publisher of SEMINAR, writer, curator, and cultural historian. Singh’s new book Saris of Memory captures not just the beauty of India’s textiles but the tapestry of lives, legacies, and emotions intertwined with the sari — a garment she calls a woman’s “second skin.”
Malvika Singh reflects on how textiles hold memories, friendships, travels, and traditions. For her, the sari is more than an outfit — it’s a canvas of freedom, individuality, and confidence. She recalls her influences, from Indira Gandhi, whom she saw as a style icon, to mentors like Pupul Jayakar and Padmaja Naidu, who shaped her understanding of art, culture, and womanhood.
The conversation beautifully explores how saris differ across regions — the nine-yard drape of Maharashtra, Kerala’s white-and-gold weaves, and Gujarat’s ajrakh prints — each telling stories of geography, livelihood, and heritage. Singh emphasizes that while modernization brings change, the sari continues to thrive through innovation, craftsmanship, and patronage.
As Barkha Dutt concludes, Saris of Memory is not just about fabric — it’s a living chronicle of India’s civilization, resilience, and the timeless grace of its women.
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