feudal mindset one that blindly imitates trends set by the elite in fact to the muslims of kerala the purdah fever came right from the middle east soili lived in saudi arabia for 11 years where i came across many wealthy women they all hide their fortune behind modest purdahs its the neorich who ape traditionally wealthy people are consistent in their tastes when i learnt this i started wearing a purdahsays suleikha a teacher from palakkadpurdahs of different colours however dont go down well with many muslim women says rahmadunnisa a final year bsc zoology student at siet college chennai its very purpose is to avoid attraction whats the use if you wear them in colourbut her classmate rizwana begum doesnt buy the purdah argument its not the dress that counts even without the purdah i can prove im a devout muslim through my conductyes in the olden days purdah stood for simplicity today diamond and goldstudded purdahs costing over rs 10 lakh apiece stand for aristocracy and elegance and perhaps a yearning for a distinct identity