Undermining Cultural Hegemony and Sartorial Identity in Ode on the Lungi: A Psychological Exploration

Author(s): Dr. Prakash Chandra Biswas, Abdullah Azad

Publication Date: March 12, 2024

Abstract

In Ode on the Lungi, Kaiser Haq presents the lungi as a symbolic flag of the subaltern, challenging Western cultural dominance and advocating for sartorial equality. Employing wit and comedy, Haq explores the psychological impact of cultural hegemony, shedding light on the subaltern’s sorrows as the once-prideful lungi becomes a source of shame. The article intends to look into the historical roots of the lungi, its significance in Bangladeshi culture, and its diminishing presence in the face of globalization. Haq, a self-proclaimed “lungi activist”, calls for collective resistance against the marginalization of this cultural artifact. Walt Whitman’s allusions and a comically promoted symbolic quest for sartorial equality in the poem underscore conflicts between non-white subalterns and Western values. This study deconstructs the psychological aspects of cultural hegemony and offers insights into how it affects traditional dress and cultural identity in an age of globalization.