just returned from attending the 7th National Conference of Women's Movements, Affirming Diversities and Resisting Divisiveness in Kolkata.

have never attended any of the previous ones and have always heard of them. was an amazing experience. women from all over India, some women from Burma who are now living in India, women from Nepal and Bangladesh too. at any point there was a bable of different languages... hindi, assamese, english, nagamese,tamil, malayalam, kannada all grappling with each other and women getting themselves heard. dissonances- agreements, sorrow-happiness: all of this was a part of the daily lives there.

what struck me the most was that in this age of globalization and standardization of bodies, the Salt Lake Stadium represented diversity of shapes, sizes, identities.... small, large, big, fat, thin tiny, hairy, non hairy... everybody had a space and occupied it. completely contrary to what one could see represented on hoardings outside the stadium and in real life. thought a lot more about it on the way back.

was in a kingfisher airline flight and was amazed at the symmetry of the air hostesses. all of them seemed to have come out of the same factory that produces these bodies: fairly perfect figures, all fair and tallish. didn't anyone else apply or is it that kingfisher wanted to provide eye candy to diminish the boredom of the air journey ? and in complete contrast was the flight i took to kolkata. indian airlines and the air hostesses who appeared as they are. they did not fit any mould and therefore seemed more real. diversity was truly represented and in retrospect, i know that i was pleased to see them.

i know that a lot of people have a problem with the air hostesses on indian airlines...many complain of their rude behaviour, i agree with that. and many others complain of how they are not "smart" enough, or that they look like"aunties". and what is wrong with aunties? the "uncles" one sees on board are not tall, dark and handsome either! anyway, what one wants is good service.. not eye candy.. because there is not much that you can do with that on a flight but one can do a lot with good service!

we need to think more about the way that women are expected to conform to the new ideal of beauty which is all about being tall, fair, sexy ( in a conventional slim hipped, big breasts ( not too big),long legs kind of way) ! what happened to the days of just being who you are .. or am i going to be accused of promoting unhealthy ways of living or worse still be accused of being a feminist?????

on another note, what happened to the concept of dark men? fair and lovely for men seems to be doing good business........