The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Towels serve as a status symbol

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Saturday, Sep 13, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Towels serve as a status symbol

S. Harpal Singh

ADILABAD: If the status of a VIP goes unacknowledged by people around him, it certainly renders meaningless his acquisition of importance, often after due sacrifice. Attaining VIP status is just half the battle won and so all important personalities are seen using different methods to ensure that commoners recognise their status.

The use of costly and colourful bath towels as cover over the chair by top officials is one such exercise apparently intended to set them apart from the rest. It is not just seats in offices that are draped with turkish towels. A towel is placed even on the seat used regularly by the ‘boss’ in the official vehicle.

Why they do it

Several officials who are known to place towels on the seats of their chairs were questioned on the rationale of doing so. Many of them kept guessing about the usefulness of such an act but, nobody actually claims to know the proper reason. “It absorbs sweat”, says one head of the department. He clearly ignored the fact that most of the offices of top officials are air conditioned. “It protects the skin against the ill effects of a rexine seat”, says another official who perhaps considers his skin to be more delicate than that of his subordinates who spend longer hours on more uncomfortable chairs. This official uses a plush chair in the office.

Anil Deshpande, who supplies the towels for most part of the year says the demand from Government offices is anywhere between 150 and 200 turkish towels every year. Though the price range is between Rs. 125 and Rs. 340 for the towels, those that cost around Rs. 200 are preferred.

“Many of my customers spend precious time in selecting the design and colour of the towel he quips.

When VIPs like Ministers come visiting, the bath towels on the seat allocated to them are changed with new ones. The Collectorate conference hall is one such place where towels on the seats used by VVIPs are changed frequently.

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Andhra Pradesh