10. Dress (in general)

Dress is a very important factor of human civilization differentiating man from nude brute, and, therefore, this story of its evolution is very vital to the history of civilization of mankind.13 The roligious and social significance of dress is an index to psychological evolution. Man will undergo any trouble, any discomfort, in order to beautify himself to the best of his power 14 Along with dress came into being the art of spinning and weaving, dyeing, washing and purification of clothes giving rise to several classes of persons engaged in these occupations. 15 The Indian is perfectly suited to his environment, even his picturesque costume and the ornamental painting with which he adorns his body is in perfect harmony with his surroundings.16 13 14 15 16 The dress of the Indian men and women has Majumdar Girija Prasanna: Dress and other personal requisites in ancient India, Indian Culture, Vol.1,1934-35,P.207. Ratzel: History of Mankind, English Translation, 1896-98, i. 95. Majumdar G.P., Op.Cit., P.207. Grubb W.B.: An unknown people in an unknown land, the Indians of the Paraguayan chaco, 1911, P.55. also wide Dress and ornaments in ancient India C. Doctor, a thesis accepted by Miss Bhanumati for the degree of Ph.D. by the university of Bombay, 1952.

416 been a product of the soil eminently suited to the climate, and the art and style of dressing appears to have received thoughtful, scientific and aesthetic consideration.17