The aunty with attitude

She may combine saris with sneakers, be the source of all colony gossip and the butt of many jokes. But the idiosyncratic Indian Aunty is someone you don't mess with.And increasingly, women are waiting to attain that once-dreaded aunty-dom.
When Amitabh Bhattach arya penned the lyrics for Imran Khan's char acter in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, he was just voicing the fascination that the country has always had for the quintessential Indian Aunty.
She may wear sneakers with saris, be the source of all neighbourhood gossip and the butt of innumerable jokes.But she is also a young boy's fantasy, played the muse to many a Bollywood director and is an integral part of the Indian cultural psyche. Over the years, the perception of the Indian Aunty is changing -from a fashion disaster to a sexy siren to the aunty with attitude.And she is someone whom women are no longer afraid to turn into.
It's this desire to pay "homage to the fabulousness of aunty style and the importance of their role as transmitters of social and cultural knowledge and practices" that prompted Torontobased, Indian origin artist Meera Sethi's ongoing project `Upping the Aunty'.Sethi, who migrated to Toronto at the age of two, grew up with her mom's friends, or aunties, around her.
"These relationships were my inspiration for the project.`Upping the Aunty' aims to challenge our understanding of fashion, how it is defined and created. It also aims to celebrate and honour our aunties, their personal style and unique role in our lives," says Sethi.Her project was inspired by her conversations with South Asian friends engaging in "aunty-speak" and the numerous inter net memes and YouTube videos such as "Shit Indian Aunties Say".
As part of the two-part project, Sethi has created a street fashion blog (http:uppingtheaunty .tum blr.com) to document aunty style.
She came down to Mumbai in February this year, staying for four weeks and taking photos. "I consciously included aunties from various South Asian ethnic, reli gious, cultural and class commu nities," says 38-year-old Sethi, who chose her subjects based on their style. "About 60%-70% of the women I approach agree to have their photo taken and are mostly flattered and hon oured to have their style noticed and appreciated," says Sethi, who also shot Aunties in Toronto.
The second part of her project will consist of a series of mixed media paintings using some of the photos as inspiration, and she hopes to wind up the project by spring next year. The aunty has not always been treated so kindly.
"Young India uses the term mockingly . To that segment, an aunty is an annoying person (any woman over 35 qualifies), who wants to invade their territory, act and dress cool. When a young, single woman is dubbed "Áuntyji" that is the worst insult!" says writer Shobhaa De. However, the aunty has also long been an object of desire. "Savita Bhabhi is a good example of a hot aunty . Aunties occupy a special place in our movies.She is not a harmless, neighbourhood `'mausi"... rather, she is the tantalising seductress -the object of a teenage boy's wet dream," says De.
The definition of an aunty usually differs. For Sethi, she may or may not be a biological relation but is someone older than you, probably old enough to be your mother's friend. However, Rega Jha, editor, BuzzFeed India, says auntydom is very subjective. " An Indian woman who is significantly older than you is an aunty.So, when I was seven years old, I thought girls in college were aunties. Now the threshold is much higher. It's an Indian woman that you respect, fear, and are amused by , all in equal measure," says Jha, who was inspired enough to do a piece on the "26 Signs You Might Be Turning Into An Aunty Ji".
Jha feels that we are fascinated by aunties because in India, a country where the woman's importance is fraught and constantly under siege, there is this one breed of woman that nobody can mess with. "I think that as India via the internet and TV -has become more aware of global pop culture, it's become increasingly evident that this is such an idiosyncratic character type, and one that should be celebrated," says Jha.
According to her, the aunty will soon become someone women want to identify with. "The respect she command across the board is something I certainly aspire to, and I think that's the case for a lot of people. An aunty is the most badass avatar of the Indian woman. She doesn't take shit from anyone -and I can't wait to command that," she says. De also sees the aunty in a very positive way . "Today's aunty has attitude.She is on top of her game. And can handle being called `aunty' in public, without taking offence," says De.
Viji Venkatesh, country head, India, The Max Foundation, had no qualms being photographed for the project. "I am a grandmother and have lived in a culture that respects the older person and is accustomed to address people older than one with the `ji' suffix or as aunty , maasi...never by the first name, so I am totally cool with it," says the 62-year-old Mumbaikar.
Venkatesh feels getting cool is all in your mind, your perceptions and attitude. "When I had my second grandchild eight years ago I decided to have a couple of tattoos done. When people see those they says, wow, you are so cool ... I don't think the tattoos make me cool. My spirit within, which is young and forward thinking, is cool," she says. "Abhi bhi hai jawani, Zara si hai purani, Hai phir bhi jawani honey ji, Sharm bhula ke, Haa Thumka laga ke, Karo na thoda manmaani ji ..... Auntyji, auntyji, get up and dance...".