AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 99 of 167 Very recently I decided that I need a new pair of shoes and made a visit to a shopping mall. There were many a shoe store but to my surprise I found that my choice was very limited when it came to shoes with lace. The display was only full of ‘Slip on’ types. In my interaction with the sales person I learnt that the tradition in Chennai demanded that one leaves his footwear outside a house/ shop/ office etc and hence men here preferred the ‘Slip on’ types over the laced ones. So for once it was the tradition calling the shots and not the knotty problem. While waiting to catch a flight at Mumbai airport a few months back, I did some window shopping at the terminal and I was amazed to see the variety of Neckties on display. The neckties today come in a hue of colours and designs. And what added to the charm of display was the beautiful way in which they were knotted. The well knotted ties took me back in my memory lane to my younger days when I learnt the art of knotting a tie from my Dad. My Dad had started his career in Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras in the early 1950’s and by virtue of sharing the work space with the Englishmen who were administering the mills, he had become well versed in many of the British styles and etiquettes. My Dad introduced me to two types of knots – Simple knot and Double knot. While tying a tie is no simple task, one can master it with a practice. It requires a lot of judgment to ensure the correct positioning of the knot while at the same time ensuring that the front and back end of the tie are also in their correct and desired length. The Co- Ordinates are important. An error of judgment will end you up with the back end being longer than the front end or the front end being too long that it extends below your belt. For me tie is an important part of a gentleman’s attire and it is not enough to have a good collection of ties in your wardrobe. It is very essential for every well-dressed man to acquire proficiency in learning how to tie a tie. With the advent of internet, there is many a step by step tutorial sites which guide a person to master the nuances of tying the tie. While the knotty problems of shoe lace and neckties may be common to many, there a few who are the ‘Putting one’s foot in the mouth’ type. Some of our Celebrities, Sportsperson, Politicians, Spokespersons, and News reporters are classic examples. They are apt at putting their foot in the mouth whenever they open it. These people will always tie them up in knots without realizing what they are saying. Politicians take the cake here and there have been many classy examples in the recent past in the wake of outbreak of COVID 19, issues on migrant labour, safety of women etc.