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By:

Ruddhi Phadke

22 September 2024 at 10:17:54 am

The eternal joy of sharing a saree

Pune's ‘Aapalee’- The Saree Library is one of its kind that celebrates sarees by making them accessible to everyone “Many women love sarees but don’t always have access to them or they find it inconvenient to wear them often. This thought was a trigger point to create Aapalee - The Saree Library — a space that celebrates sarees and makes them accessible to everyone,” says Pune based Pallavi Deshpande who at the age of 38 years, runs a business of renting out a wide range of sarees. Deshpande...

The eternal joy of sharing a saree

Pune's ‘Aapalee’- The Saree Library is one of its kind that celebrates sarees by making them accessible to everyone “Many women love sarees but don’t always have access to them or they find it inconvenient to wear them often. This thought was a trigger point to create Aapalee - The Saree Library — a space that celebrates sarees and makes them accessible to everyone,” says Pune based Pallavi Deshpande who at the age of 38 years, runs a business of renting out a wide range of sarees. Deshpande believes that women must wear sarees and enjoy the process without any hustle which seems difficult in today’s world in which everyone wants fast fashion and quick availability of resources. Deshpande’s love for sarees started at home watching her mother and grandmother drape sarees every day. Over the years, from being just a type of attire, sarees transformed into a strong connection to memories, stories, and identity. “One moment that stands out was when a friend borrowed a saree for her special event from my personal collection and said it made her feel truly herself. That simple joy of sharing sparked the realisation that sarees are meant to be worn, celebrated, and circulated — not just stored away. That thought planted the first seed for Aapalee,” said Deshpande. Deshpande has transformed the third floor of her bungalow located in Pune’s Nigdi where she stays with her in-laws, husband and her 6-year-old son into a saree renting studio. While her favourite saree type is a handwoven pure silk Paithani from her wedding collection— she explains how the saree type itself was a great trigger point for her to start this business. She said, “it represents the perfect blend of tradition, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty. It reminds me why I started this journey — to keep these weaves alive and accessible.” Deshpande runs the business with her partner, Amruta Kanetkar who comes from a makeup industry and styling background, which perfectly complements her creative and communication skills. While the business idea is not the first of its kind in India, what sets Deshpande’s Apalee apart from other businesses is its initiative of building a saree community. Deshpande said, “I have started with my friends and family. We all women possess heavy and expensive sarees that we end up wearing only once in 20 years. Women bring their sarees to our studio. We study the quality and decide the price of rent. When that saree goes on rent, we pay 20 percent of what we earned through that saree to the owner of the saree. This particular idea has got a lot of encouragement. This way, we have involved other women in our business who get an opportunity to earn money by sharing their sarees with us.” Aapalee offers a range of services. Firstly, it has over 400 sarees of different varieties from Kanjeevaram to Paithani to Georgette to many more that they give on rent. Besides, they also provide ready-towear already draped sarees for college going girls for a one-time occasion. Many women even get their own saree draped at the studio. Deshpande quit a very high paying stable job to start this business. Deshpande who was raised in Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh, finished her BSC in electronics in Gwalior and moved to Pune for Higher studies. There she completed MBA in marketing and has over 15 years of experience in handling projects at companies such as Cap Gemini, Accenture and a couple of financial institutions. She quit as an assistant project manager at JP Morgan Chase earlier this year and started this business of saree renting in July 2025. Deshpande said, “We’re still in our early stages, so our focus right now is more on building the community, curating quality sarees, and refining our services. But yes, the response has been very encouraging. For us, the biggest success is the emotional connection people are forming with Aapalee — the profits will naturally follow.” Having said that, Deshpande believes if you identify what you truly enjoy doing, and have family support, nothing can stop you from chasing a dream, as long as you have meticulously planned your finances.

Gun Violence in America

Updated: Jan 2

Gun Violence in America

On December 16, 2024, tragedy struck Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old student, Natalie Rupnow, fatally shot a fellow student and a teacher before taking her own life. Six others were injured, with two in critical condition. This devastating event is a grim reminder of the United States' ongoing struggle with gun violence, particularly in schools.


A Long History of Gun Ownership in America

The issue of gun violence in the United States cannot be discussed without acknowledging its deep-rooted history of gun ownership. The right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791, which states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”


Initially, this amendment was intended to empower citizens to form militias for self-defense during a time when standing armies were distrusted. Over the centuries, however, the interpretation of the Second Amendment has evolved. Today, it is often cited as a justification for individual gun ownership, a concept reinforced by landmark court cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which affirmed an individual's right to own firearms for self-defense.


Gun culture is deeply ingrained in American society, with nearly 400 million firearms in civilian hands—more guns than people. This level of accessibility, coupled with a powerful gun lobby led by organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA), has made significant legislative reform difficult.


Gun Violence in Numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearms cause approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the United States—equivalent to 109 deaths per day. This figure includes homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. Among children and teenagers, firearms are now the leading cause of death, surpassing motor vehicle accidents.


School shootings are a particularly horrifying aspect of gun violence in America. Since 1990, there have been over 800 incidents in K-12 schools, resulting in more than 500 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. High-profile tragedies such as the Columbine High School massacre (1999), the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (2012), and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attack (2018) have shocked the nation and the world, yet meaningful reforms remain elusive.


A Global Comparison

The United States stands out among developed nations for its high rate of gun violence. In countries like Australia, Canada, and much of Europe, strict gun control measures have significantly reduced firearm-related deaths. For example: By contrast, the firearm-related death rate in the United States is 12.2 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than other developed nations. The prevalence of guns and the lack of uniform gun control laws contribute to this disparity.


Challenges in Addressing Gun Violence

Efforts to reduce gun violence in the U.S. have faced significant obstacles. One of the most notable is the prohibition of federal funding for gun violence research. In 1996, Congress passed the Dickey Amendment, effectively barring the CDC from studying gun violence as a public health issue. Although the funding ban was partially lifted in 2019, its legacy has left the country with a limited understanding of the causes and solutions to gun violence.


Advocates have long called for measures such as:

• Universal Background Checks: Closing loopholes in gun sales to ensure that all firearm purchases are subject to background checks.

• Safe Storage Laws: Requiring gun owners to store firearms securely to prevent unauthorized access.

• Bans on Certain Firearms: Prohibiting the sale of assault-style weapons, which are often used in mass shootings.


The Debate Over Gun Rights and Reform

The debate over gun control in the United States often pits the rights of gun owners against the need for public safety. Opponents of stricter gun laws argue that restrictions infringe on constitutional rights and fail to address the root causes of violence, such as mental health issues. Proponents, however, point to the success of gun control measures in other countries and the overwhelming public support for policies like background checks.


A Way Forward

Despite the challenges, there is growing momentum for change. Grassroots organizations, survivors of gun violence, and some lawmakers are advocating for comprehensive reforms. The Madison school shooting serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of these efforts. As the nation grapples with its gun violence epidemic, it must look to both its history and the experiences of other countries to find a path toward a safer future.


(The author is a resident of US. Views personal.)

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