Hair-splitting issue!

Nilofar Suhrawardy
Freelance journalist

If there is one issue that two key BJP leaders cannot be viewed as in line with each other, it is their stand on the hair-issue. And this cannot be dismissed as just a hair-line matter. Though both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are particular about this hairy issue, they don't share any similarity on this front. Their styles are extremely different. Modi sports a beard and has enough hair on his head with the existing (or non-existing) receding hair-line hardly visible. Also, the colour is on the lighter side, with a few strands of black hair on his head as well as beard. In contrast, Yogi has created the impression of his hair still being totally black. The similar size of hair on his head and face gives the impression of both always being shaved at one go. The question of his sporting a beard is probably considered unethical by Yogi. He is said to entertain an anti-beard approach, particularly due to it being linked with Muslim clerics. Strange, he and his supporters haven't (apparently) thought of their key leader Modi's beard. If they did, quite a few hair-splitting issues may need deliberation.

Interestingly, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's hairstyle and stubble can be associated with his political activities. When he is actively engaged in campaigning, the stubble is normally there and the hair near his forehead a little ruffled. Perhaps, a little more research is needed on male politicians giving so much importance to their distinct hairstyles. This trend is visible throughout the world, including in the head of the US President. It seems that practically each hair is perfectly set on Donald Trump, with not one out of line. 

Among the Indian cricketers, Virat Kohli's hairstyle dominates. It overshadows the popularity of politicians' hairstyles among the Indian youth. As Kohli reigns on the cricket field, numerous young men opt for the Kohli-cut as their hairstyle. In this hairy domain, Kohli appears to be in the lead, even ahead of Bollywood stars. The male stars follow the trend of retaining their distinct hairstyle, as was done by Dev Anand and other stars. It may be recalled that as Dev Anand gained stature and grew in years, his hair played the role of making him look younger and sending the message that he was moving ahead at an accelerating pace on and off the screen. The increasing importance of the small screen(s) appears to have made most celebrities conscious of their image. One hair in the wrong place, too many hairs out of line or any such hairy affair can no longer be dismissed casually. 

Historically, it is difficult to say whether Mahatma Gandhi gave it much importance or not. His images as the leader of a non-violent freedom struggle display very few hairs on his head. Whether he had a full head earlier and too little later, he did not push them out of place. The Nehru cap played a major role in the little attention paid to the few hair strands of the first Indian premier, Jawaharlal Nehru.

The neo-age is witness to a hairy revolution among most people of all ages. The length of their hair, its parting, the receding hairline, together with whether they sport a clean-shaved look, the style of the moustache as well as the beard add hairy facts to images celebrities wish to promote. Though most male film stars tend to stick to one style, for specific movies and/or out of choice they do try different styles of beards and moustaches. And even a minor change in their beard or moustache doesn't take long to become a newsy issue. The variety in the kinds of moustaches sported by Aamir Khan in several of his movies cannot be missed.

The fairer gender doesn't have as many options as males. In sports, most female players and athletes have no choice but to keep their hair clipped. In contrast, men can show off, that too stylishly, their hairstyle, the beard or the moustache. Not surprisingly, in ads linked with hair — from anti-dandruff shampoos to conditioners — male models are as dominant as the females. They may be even ahead, if razor ads are also considered. Besides, regarding "fashion", just the Charlie Chaplin-moustache is enough to give their faces a comical look, moustache in line with their upper lips for the brisk appearance, curled upwards for either the rural, traditional or that of a negative character, downwards to add more to whatever their personality trait is, academic, business and so forth. 

Clearly, politicians, especially male leaders, are as much conscious about the 'hairy' issue as are other celebrities. This includes Arab leaders, who can afford to not bother about their receding hairlines because of their headdress. Nevertheless, their moustaches and beards mark their distinct personalities fairly prominently. In the subcontinent, of late, senior politicians have become more particular about hair, from its style to colour. Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's hairstyle attracted attention when the fast bowler ran on the cricket field. It still stands out. The hairstyle is almost the same as it was earlier, only the colour has changed a little. Please note, however rowdy the parliamentary sessions become, the hairstyle of most politicians remains undisturbed, with barely a hair out of line. Indian male clerics have the freedom to 'style' their long hair on the head as well as their long beards and moustaches. Hairstyles of an increasing number of cult leaders on the Indian politico-religious stage cannot be missed. With their heads covered or not, there is not much to talk about primarily simple and plain hairstyles of the female clerics.

Whoever spread the notion of fashion being predominantly a female-dominated domain was probably a male chauvinist bent on letting the world believe that men cannot be bothered about it as women. This notion is defied as men take the lead in the domain of hair-fashion!