 An
ode to save the Chiru
 New
Delhi, August 6, 2002: The most prêt statement
to be made at the Lakme India Fashion Week (LIFW)
came from leading fashion designers and a pop icon
here this evening. They said "NO TO SHAHTOOSH"
and urged people not to prey on the endangered Tibetan
Antelope just to make a vain, but gory fashion statement.
The heart-rending cry of the Tibetan Antelope,
also known as the Chiru, found a resonance in a paean
sung by Indian Pop icon, Usha Uthup. This is the first
ever song composed to conserve wildlife in India.
The event which, was a part of the ongoing
Lakme India Fashion Week was organised by Wildlife Trust
of India.
 Mrs.Uthup,
taken by the plight of the Chiru which is brutally slaughtered
and its wool is plucked to weave the exquisite Shahtoosh
shawl, decided to do her bit to conserve the Chiru after
a chance meeting with WTI officials in Kolkata recently.
She promptly penned the lyrics and composed the tune
for "My Shawl", which she rendered on the
stage.
Kiran Uttam Ghosh, recently appointed
WTI's "Ambassador Against Shahtoosh" called
the shahtoosh just a limp mousy brown shroud, and asserted
that there was no need to change oneself in death. She
felt it was not only illegal, immoral and expensive,
but ugly too.
Leena Singh contended that fashion
was just not about the body, but something that went
beyond the soul. Singh confessed to the audience that
she had saved two-three shahtoosh shawls for her daughters
wedding. But, following the latter's insistence, she
renounced the idea of ever harbouring such shawls.
Anjana Bhargav, who had been held
back at home throughout the day, said something deep
inside pulled her to the seminar. Bhargav said fashion
was believing in what is right.
Sathya Saran, editor of Femina,
pointed out that non-violence was always a tradition,
and urged the media to sensitize the wealthy about the
violence that was perpetuated on the Chiru to weave
the Shathoosh.
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