A Banjarin Jyotirmaya Thakur

acclaimed novel “The Color Purple” in 1983. It was a reply to the feminist who didn’t value the perspectives/ opinion of black women. The segregation came to an end in 1964 but the black women still faced socioeconomic discrimination, racism and classism. The feminist movement was limited to upper and middle-class white women. It failed to address the issue of a woman of colour. This fall of feminism gave light to the rise of Womanism.

The term Womanism is completely different from that of feminism. Walker defined womanists as “black feminists or feminists of colour who are committed to the wholeness and survival of the entire people (both men and women).” It is to be noted that Womanism is a multi-layered moment. Where feminism focuses on sexual identity, particular class and race, Womanism deals mostly with employment of women as a whole. Womanism fights not only for gender equality but also against violence done on both men and women.

In short feminism stands for Gender equality and aims for ‘Gender Reconciliation’ -”Women and Men both have their own unique place.” The concept of Gender Reconciliation says that both men and women are affected by the concept of “Patriarchy” and both need each other to establish a society named “Humanity.” In other words, we can say Womanism is the darker version of feminism that includes the voice of both white women and colour women, you are always marginalized in the text as well as in the media.

I have tried to write about the different waves of Feminism and Womanism as the bedrock of life. Feminism or Womanism as a movement having different phases such as activism, literary flourishment and advocacy of the rights of women hailing from ethnic and cultural minorities. I believe in Humanity as the extension principle of Feminism or Womanism.

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A Banjarin

I am a Banjarin – nomad girl, Searching to settle in a home. In a desert full of sand, Wherever I look flying like a dove, Cannot find a single grain of love. In the big market I sell Gems of rare kind, But cannot find a heart With tender love like mine. I greet everyone with a smile, To sell sweet talks is my guile. Some like my mass of hair, Some my sad eyes, Some of my voluptuous stares. Some careless flirting touch, Some invite me to their lair. A stranger I see every day, Disconcerted when our eyes meet, Sitting in cafe opposite on a corner seat, His eyes speak volumes of love for me, I am waiting for him to tell me how he feels!!!

Jyotirmaya Thakur Sevenoaks, Kent, England

Fashion Cloths for Different Body Shapes

Arya Pattnaik, English Teacher, Saraswati International School, Bhubaneshwar

We all love to dress up for different occasions and also want to look out of the crowd but the only mistake we often make is that we love to wear the clothes we like or see our favourite celebrities wearing. The result is we wonder why we don’t look as glamorous as they look even though we wear the same designer piece as they do. Well the secret is our body shapes. Yes we all have different body shapes and according to which we should choose our right set of clothes. Fashion transforms one’s self perception. It is how confidently we carry the clothes we wear. It won’t just influence the level of confidence but also signifies how other perceive you.

How to Understand YourBody Shape

Bodies come in a wonderful array of shapes and sizes – from petite and athletic, to curvy and tall. No two bodies are the same. So it’s really important to understand your body shape and which cuts, silhouettes, tailoring and proportions work for you.

Short guide to help you get to know your body shape and start to find your ideal looks. Start by getting a cloth measuring tape.

Discover Your Body Shape

• Oval Body Type: also known as oval shape. In this the shoulder and hips are narrow as compared to the waist.

Eg: Nikki Blonsky, Kareena Kapoor Khan.

• Triangle Body Type: also known as “pear” or

“cone” shape. In this type of shape, shoulders are narrow than the hips.

Eg: Angelina Jolie, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja

• Hourglass Body Type: also known as the perfect body shape. Shoulders are perfectly proportioned to the hips. Waist is smaller.

Eg: Jennifer Lopez, Priyanka Chopra

• Inverted Body Type : also known as a 'wedge' body type. Shoulders are wide as compared to the hips. Hence is is named as such.

Eg: Naomi Campbell, Bipasha Basu

• Shoulders: place the tip of the tape horizontally at shoulder height and wrap it across your shoulders to bring it back to where you first started. Don’t stretch or pull the tape, it should rest lightly on your body. • Bust: stand up straight and repeat the same steps as above, but place the tape at the height of your breasts, take the measurement at the widest part (nipple height). • Waist: take the measurement where your waist is narrowest (above the navel, below the ribcage). • Hips: measure across the widest part of the hips (where your glutes are at their fullest).

• Rectangle Body Type: also known as box and

‘square’ even though they’re anything but shoulders and hips are nearly equal, and there is little or no waist definition.

Triangular Cloths

Oval Cloths

Arya Pattnaik Bhubaneshwar, Odisha