{"id":435,"date":"2018-01-05T22:04:42","date_gmt":"2018-01-05T16:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/museumofmaterialmemory.com\/?p=435"},"modified":"2020-08-04T09:10:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-04T03:40:11","slug":"three-objects-decade-old-affection-part-2-lost-found-gold-buttons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/museumofmaterialmemory.com\/three-objects-decade-old-affection-part-2-lost-found-gold-buttons\/","title":{"rendered":"Three objects of decades old affection, Part 2: The lost and found gold buttons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WORDS BY BELA KAPOOR
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY NAVDHA MALHOTRA
<\/strong>New Delhi, India<\/em>
<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think I saw these gold buttons for the first time during my sister’s wedding in the year 1979. They were so beautiful and unusual and I remember telling my mother immediately that I wanted them.When we were younger, buttons with ghungroos<\/em> (bells) and other trinkets were quite popular. These were so pretty and different that I just had to have them, and by <\/span>the time I was pursuing my Masters (in 1982-83), they were mine! I have seen photographs of myself in college where I’m wearing the buttons, which is why I know exactly how long I’ve had them for. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They used to belong to my maternal grandfather, my nana<\/em>, Sri Ram Puri, who must have bought them in the 1920s or 1930s. When he died, my mother received two sets of these buttons from my nani<\/em>, his wife. One was given to my sister, Dolly, and I got these ones. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are made from pure gold, and engraved with a geometric pattern. I use them regularly; as you can see, I have put them on a chain. This is not only because I don’t want to lose them, but also following in the tradition of how they were once worn. In earlier times, men used to normally have four buttonholes on their kurtas. Families that were well off had gold cufflinks, and in the same way they had these buttons. Men didn\u2019t usually wear jewellery so buttons like these gave them a chance to wear gold and accessorize, and very subtly state their place in society. <\/span>The set my sister has have m<\/em><\/span>inakaari<\/span><\/em> (enamelling) work on them and I’ve been thinking of asking her to give those to me as well, because I don’t think she uses them…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At all times, regardless of the fashion trend, I’ve had least a few kurtas where I simply attach these through the buttonholes using the chain. In fact, I’ve got kurtas specially stitched with the double button style – buttonholes on the top and the bottom-  so that I can use them. <\/span>People always notice them- perhaps because they are a fading feature in society, or maybe because of their beauty- and I tell them quite proudly that they belonged to my nana. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n