In 2017, an incident in a mall in Kolkata came as a shocking revelation of our engrained colonial mindset. A man was denied entry into the mall because he was wearing a dhoti. The mall and its authorities did face severe backlash for the incident, but it raised an extremely important question – In our quest for modernisation, urbanisation, and an inclination towards western cultures, have we begun to associate tradition, rather Indian, as lowly and unacceptable?
The question keeps lingering on as a similar incident took place in the country’s capital, Delhi, recently. According to a report by The Indian Express, A woman donned in ethnic clothing was denied entry into a bar by a member of their staff.
The woman took to Twitter to post a video of an employee of the Vasant-Kunj bar denying entry to her saying, “Ethnic is something we don’t allow”. However, the bar’s dress code mentions ‘Smart casuals’ and ‘No shorts and slippers’.
Does ethnic wear not qualify as “smart casuals”?
Have a look at the video here:
@bishnoikuldeep My shocking experience with discrimination at Kylin and Ivy, Ambience Vasant Kunj this evening. Denied entry as ethnic wear is not allowed! A restaurant in India allows ‘smart casuals’ but not Indian wear! Whatever happened to pride in being Indian? Take a stand! pic.twitter.com/ZtJJ1Lfq38
— Sangeeta K Nag (@sangeetaknag) March 10, 2020
People on the internet are outraged by the dress-code policy of the bar. Many called it ironic how a bar in India isn’t allowing customers wearing Indian clothing.
1.
What?? Which world do these losers live in? Everyone wants to be a firang under the guise of globalization, to much of it will kill our own culture.Never ever have I been stopped in any restaurant for Indian clothing rather always received compliment for wearing our ethnic attire
— Videshi Kesariya 🇮🇳🇳🇿 (@VideshiKesariya) March 11, 2020
2.
What the hell! If this Kylin & Ivy or any other restaurant still follow such colonial practices of not allowing guests wearing ethnic clothes, their licences should be immediately cancelled. Shame! @ArvindKejriwal @PMOIndia https://t.co/JdIdc4apiu
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) March 11, 2020
3.
Wow! In India, you can’t wear an Indian outfit in a restaurant..but western casuals. Crap!
I have dined in upscale restaurants in London/NY/Chicago- wearing ethnic Indian and no one denied an entry. Dear @PMOIndia @ArvindKejriwal @narendramodi This is unacceptable. Take action. https://t.co/JKBIiQpeDW
— Sadhavi Khosla🇮🇳 (@sadhavi) March 11, 2020
4.
A lot of bars and clubs around the world don't allow people in the 'national dress' into the bar and an outlet has the right to refuse entry on its rules. However, generalizing it to Indian wear is BS. And what is he wearing? A tuxedo?
This is nothing but double standards. https://t.co/jI5OLlSih7— Big Daddy Vin (@vinsinners) March 11, 2020
5.
Although the British have left India, the mindset of some Indians is still shackled by colonialism. In Japan, a Kimono can be worn for any event & is smiled upon – yet in India, you are not allowed to wear "ethnic clothes" to a posh joint but must wear the suit boot of the Sahib! https://t.co/TvNu6mXWr4
— Rev. Zenji Nio (& Team) (@NioZenji) March 12, 2020
6.
A restaurant operating in “India’s” capital, denies entry to “Indians” wearing “Indian ethnic” wear!
And we thought British left India 72 years ago 🙄
Such colonial, discriminating mindset in independent India, that considers Indian ethnic wear not so classy is despicable! https://t.co/duZyo3EqKf— Shaily Singh (@ShailySinghP) March 11, 2020
7.
This is discrimination. @HMOIndia must take cognizance and instructions should be given to @DelhiPolice to suspend the license of this place
— Dewdrop (@Dewdrop59486561) March 11, 2020
8.
This restaurant must be reported for discriminating against Indian and Indian dress code. Doing business in India and not allowing people with Indian dress? Go , do business elsewhere. Please report to Police and let your local politician know. @HMOIndia @DelhiPolice @PMOIndia
— dmishra2000🇮🇳 (@dmishra2000) March 11, 2020
9.
Probably because they thought women who wear ethnic are desi gawaar and their restaurant's class quotient would come down 🙄
— S (@MissSingh04) March 11, 2020
10.
Extremely shameful policy. This cannot be allowed to happen on Indian soil of all places. Who the hell do these people think they are. Probably owners family are bootlickers of british from before independence. British to gaye lekin colonial hangover gaya nahi abhi tak inka.
— MrGlassHalfEmpty (@mrGlassHfEmpty) March 11, 2020
After receiving severe backlash online, the bar went on to post an apology on their official Facebook account and said that nowhere in their dress-code policy is it mentioned that ethnic wear isn’t allowed.
“In light of the recent incident at Ivy, please accept this sincere apology from our end. We deeply regret and discourage such behaviour and are genuinely empathetic towards the sentiments and feelings of everyone that this situation may have hurt,” they wrote.
You may read the apology here:
In light of the recent incident at Ivy, please accept this sincere apology from our end. We deeply regret and discourage…
Posted by Ivy – The Island Bar on Friday, March 13, 2020
It is disturbing how some people tend to associate others wearing ethnic clothing as not “classy enough”. This mentality needs to change.