Then wear a loincloth, designer tells minister

The controversy over a Goa cabinet minister's demand that miniskirts and bikinis be banned "to protect Goan culture" refuses to die down.

Ace fashion designer Wendell Rodricks has asked the politician to wear a loincloth to work, stop eating chillies, tomatoes and potatoes, and not use a desk and chair at the office if he believes in shunning Western influences and culture.

Rodricks's open letter to "The Goan Minister" does not name Minister of Public Works Sudin Dhavalikar, but it makes several allusions to the remarks made by Dhavalikar a few days ago when he called for a ban on bikinis and miniskirts at beaches and nightclubs.

The open letter, which has evoked tremendous support in the social media, said that the minister's utterances made Goans seem "non-progressive, archaic and dangerously right wing".

"Shirts (European), pants/pyjamas (Chinese/Central Asian), socks, T-shirts and baniyan; yes, your underwear too, kurtas (Central Asia and Ottoman, Moghul). That leaves you with a kashti or pudvem and a shawl or cloth to cover your torso. Will you agree to go to your ministry office in this attire?" asks Rodricks in his letter.

One of India's top fashion designers and known for his minimalist style, Rodricks drew on sarcasm to maximum effect in his letter while also lacing it with historical fact.

"By the way, it was not in Indian culture for Indian women to wear a bra or a sari petticoat. The former came from France, the latter from Victorian England. Also, when the coloniser came to Goa there were no cholis, except for the devadasis, who used a kind of choli," he said.

Dhavalikar attracted controversy when he recently said: "Young girls wearing short skirts in nightclubs are a threat to the Goan culture. This habit of young girls wearing short dresses everywhere does not fit the Goan culture. What will happen to it if this continues? We should not allow this. It should be stopped."

He advised women to stop drinking "because it is not good for their health".

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that although he agreed with the minister, there was no question of banning bikinis on Goa beaches.

Rodricks, a Padma Shri award winner, drew on his research for his book, Moda Goa: History and Style, which documents the history of Goan costume.

"Since we are on the topic of Indianness, you will have to also stop eating potatoes, tomatoes, chilli, cashew, chickoos, pineapples and many other fruits, vegetables and spices that were alien to India," he said in his open letter, adding that Dhavalikar would also have to "cut off the power, throw out the table, chairs, computer, telephone, cellphone, air-con, teacups, Rolex watch, Mont Blanc pen. All paper and files too (both invented in China)."

The designer accused Dhavalikar of trying to kill the vital tourism industry.

"Opinions should not be expressed until there is a knowledge of history and culture. We are a tourist state - please do not kill the goose that lays the golden eggs."