Return of the Jholna Pai

I can't help laughing as I see modified versions of the jholna pai becoming hep these days. I don't think it has caught on much back home yet, but in Singapore it's doing rounds like crazy.

For the uninitiated, jholna pais are what journalists in movies back in the 80s used to carry about and go. They are also the bags that people in their 60s and 70s take when they go out. I remember how a few years back I would find the very idea of taking one out revolting. And it's back!

Of course, not in the same paccha-manjal-jingucha-plus-white-stripes style. Now they carry 'cool' pictures, words et al. One of my classmates last semester had one with a huge Om on it (Not shutting up, I asked her if she knew what it was - she said 'It's Indian' - oh, I didn't know that!!! She was non-Indian, by the way..)

Other friends of mine have funky coloured and funkily worded ones, and they look good! I remember my grandmother having one which I used to think was good even during those years when I detested the jholna pais; it was one with a camel painted on it, and looked what we would call 'ethnic and chic'. And if I remember right, some relative flicked it! :(

And talk about fashion doing a cycle!!!