The Warrior

Jewellery has quintessentially been seen as adornments of women that reflect

femininity and beauty. It's ironic how somewhere along the way, the idea of femininity
has merged with the idea of women being delicate, an euphemistic way of calling
women weak (yes, the weaker sex as "​they​" say). In fact, all attributes of womanhood
that accentuate beauty, be it women applying makeup to enjoying wearing jewellery,
just the idea that women want to look good has been viewed by society as them being
vapid. This idea is yet another gem that has befallen us from the treasure chest of
patriarchy.

In the 21st century, a young jewellery designer has proved that we do not have to
believe in this chauvinistic and monochromatic narrative. She has done this by
designing her Jewellery to double up as a weapon for self protection. She is a woman
who has beautifully melded her love for jewellery with her passionate opinion on the
stance she wants her gender to take in society. She saw strength where others saw just
a piece of adornment.

In fact this idea of jewellery representing security for women is seeped in the long
rooted Indian tradition of women owning and inheriting jewellery as "Stri dhan"
(women's health), which gave them solace and financial security as they could not
inherit property. In a way, her work is nothing but another manifestation of that security,
but this time literally in a physical way. And who would deny that the need of the hour is
self-defense, with the number of cases of crime against women increasing day by day.
It is quite ingenious to disguise jewellery for protection. As weapons they are easily
accessible, can be hid in plain sight, and at the same time look beautiful.

Ironically, the material and technique (i.e. reclaim metal and 3D technology) used to
make the self-defense jewellery, are entirely male dominated areas. There is indeed
some poetic justice in knowing that here is a young woman who is designing women's
self-defense jewellery against men using techniques predominantly used by men.

This shows that all aspects of her work are a reflection of the woman she has been
brought up to become by the women in her life and is striving to be. She doesn't want to
just look pretty, sit prim and proper and take what is being dished out. No, she wants to
look pretty and at the same time stand tall, not let fear overcome her. She fights her
own battles like the warrior she is. And her work which is sharp and edgy is a reflection
of that very fact and she hopes that we all become women who find the warrior within to
fight against what is wrong and unjust.
No doubt, we all wish and dream of a society, where women and men are equal in all
ways. We are waiting for the day, where women can freely roam the streets at any time
without feeling afraid and paranoid about their safety. Where they are not ogled or eve
teased. But we all know the sad reality is, that the world and particularly Indian society
is far from this ideal. Well till society plays catch up, ladies it's time to Arm up!!!

-Abhinanda Mallick
abhinanda.mallick@gmail.com
(13th June 2020, 02:44 AM)