The word shameez derives in the usual roundabout way
of languages and contexts from the French “chemise†which means “shirtâ€. The
garment has had several avatars—in medieval Europe it was worn by both men and
women. Through its various castings and recastings, one thing remained constant
about the garment; it was worn immediately next to the skin, as the buffer
between the body and its garments.
As a Muslim woman growing up in the small town of Aligarh in
Continue reading “The delicate matter of the shameez”
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is a filmmaker and journalist based primarily in Mumbai. She has also worked from Kabul, collaborating with Afghani filmmakers and TV professionals.
