New Threads

Western Attire and Social Respect in the Nineteenth Century Calcutta

Abstract

Under the influence of British colonialism, Calcutta in nineteenth century underwent a number of changes. The interaction between the English and Bengali societies had exposed the latter to European tastes and culture. Within this ambit, European fashion was perhaps the most visible form of cultural adoption. With the dissemination of English education in the Bengali middle- and upper-class societies, Bengali men were indoctrinated in British values and tastes, which led them towards a sartorial exploration that was very different from their own. People who returned from Britain after completing their higher studies were often seen in British clothes, which was met with an ambivalent attitude. This paper intends to look at this sartorial exploration to understand till what extent was the European attire a marker for social respect in the Bengali community and how was one, who had donned such an attire, perceived in both the views of English and Indian communities.