‘The way a sari is worn is a living dictionary of India’s stories’: Cultural historian Malvika Singh

Malvika Singh is a writer, curator, cultural historian and the publisher of many books as well as the journal of ideas Seminar. Books she has authored include New Delhi: Making of a Capital, Delhi: India in One City, Snowdon’s India and Bhutan: Through the lens of the King. Books she has edited include Delhi: The First City, Chennai: A City of Change, Hyderabad: A City of Hope, Kolkata: A Soul City, Lucknow: A City Between Cultures, Mumbai: A City of Dreams and Freeing the Spirit: Iconic Women of India. She has also worked extensively in theatre and cinema.

Her latest book Saris of Memory: A Memoir is a story of her varied and eclectic life and career spanning over five decades, as well as of India’s handloom revival since independence, told through her inimitable collection of rare handwoven saris – built up over a lifetime.

In a conversation with Scroll, she talked about the timelessness of Indian textiles, her efforts to revive handloom, and why it is crucial to preserve local forms of art and culture. Excerpts from the conversation:

Why use saris to tell a story of your life and times?
I got my first sari when I was eight or nine years old and from the age of 16, I only wore saris. I was passionate about fabrics, about the un-stitched length of woven cloth. It didn’t have to be a brocade or...

Read more