The
never crossed roads
Between the Silk and the Cotton. The Silk is
glamorous. The Cotton lacks lusture. The
former is seductive. The latter is comfy. One is smooth. The other is coarse.
The Silk stays only in the cupboards of the rich and the royals. The Cotton
finds its place in the sacks of the poor and the peasants. The demarcations are
distinct. The divide is wide.
The sophisticated Silk has woven many histories to
its credit. It is said that yearn for the Silk yarn compelled the Roman emperor
to discover a new route to China. The shimmer of Silk was irresistible for the
Huns, the Moghuls, the Zars and almost every other emperor. But, the humble
cotton has hardly entwined any story in its strands. It offers immense comfort
and never asks for maintenance. For centuries, the Cotton remained as the
chosen clothing material for millions of workers.
The dynasties disappeared. The kings lost their
kingdoms. The democrats became the rulers. The power shifted from one hand to
the other and so was the Silk. Like an infidel mistress, it slipped from one
arm to the other. While the Cotton stayed faithfully next to the sun-tanned,
sweat-soaked skins of peasants and labourers.
Globally, thoughts have changed. Lifestyles have
taken a new turn. But when it comes to the Silk and the Cotton, there is hardly
any distance covered between them. The Silk stayed with the haves like always
and the Cotton with the have-nots. They don’t come closer, let alone swapping.
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