Women’s right to culture and the freedom to wear what they are comfortable in are fundamental aspects of personal autonomy, bodily integrity, and freedom of expression.
This right encompasses the liberty to choose attire that reflects personal identity, cultural heritage, or religious beliefs, free from coercion, discrimination, or societal judgment.
One woman who embraces this right is Shaleeni Priya Singh.
Every weekday morning at Suva’s busy bus stand, amid the bustle of commuters and the rush of city life, she stands out.
Not because she wants attention, but because she admires the tradition of her ancestors.
Draped neatly in a sari, Shaleeni Priya Singh heads to Suva’s Ro Lalablavu House, her place of work at the Ministry of Finance. She has spent nearly four decades as a public servant.
For many in the capital, she is a familiar and comforting sight, a symbol of consistency, culture and dedication in a rapidly changing world.
After finishing school, Mrs Singh pursued further studies at the Fiji Institute of Technology before joining the Office of the Auditor-General in 1989 as an audit assistant. It was the beginning of a lifelong career in government service.
“I spent about 13 years at the Auditor-General’s Office,” she said.
“From 2000 to now, I’ve been with the Ministry of Finance.”
This month marks 37 years of her continuous dedication to Fiji’s ever evolving civil service.
A public servant at heart
Now stationed at the pensions office within the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Singh describes herself first and foremost as a public servant.
“We are customer-orientated here.
“I look after government pensioners and also assist other members of the public who come in needing guidance or information.”
Her work goes beyond just paperwork.
It is about service, patience and ensuring people feel respected when they walk through the doors.
Over the years, she has watched generations of pensioners pass through the office, many of them familiar faces and takes pride in offering assistance with dignity and care.
“It has been very interesting, because there’s always something new to learn.”
Life beyond the office
Outside her professional role, Mrs Singh is a wife and mother.
She married at the age of 24 in 1995 and is the proud mother of two daughters, born in 1996 and 1999.
Balancing family life with a demanding career was not always easy, but she credits strong values instilled by her parents, particularly her mother, for shaping her path.
Her mother, a retired civil servant herself, would unknowingly influence one of Mrs Singh’s most defining personal choices.
Inspired by her mother
Mrs Singh’s daily sari routine is not merely a fashion choice but a deeply personal expression of identity and heritage.
“What inspired me was my mum.”
As a young girl, she would help pleat and pin her mother’s sari before work, admiring the elegance and discipline it represented.
“I always asked her why she wore saris every day. She told me it was how she was brought up, that women wore saris whenever they went out.”
That memory stayed with her.
“I told myself that once I got married, I would stick to wearing saris. And I kept my word.”
While she wore salwar kameez and western clothing when she was younger, marriage marked a turning point.
From then on, the sari became part of her everyday life, at work, on buses and on the bustling streets of Suva.
Wearing culture in a modern world
In a time when western clothing dominates office spaces and city streets, Mrs Singh’s commitment to traditional attire has not gone unnoticed.
She has received curious questions, practical concerns and unsolicited advice, particularly about the heat.
Bus drivers, taxidrivers and passers-by have also stopped to comment, often with admiration.
“Sometimes they stop me just to say, ‘Aunty, you look beautiful in your sari’. It takes me by surprise, but it’s very touching.”
She believes the sari carries a quiet dignity that transcends age, body type or appearance.
“No matter what, a sari makes an Indian woman look beautiful.”
Preserving culture through clothing
Traditional attire is more than just fabric you put on for a special occasion or ceremony. It is identity, respect and continuity.
“When you wear your traditional outfit, it shows your background and it keeps your culture alive.”
She delights in seeing iTaukei women adapt sari material into sulu jaba designs and believes cultural exchange strengthens, rather than diminishes, identity.
In an evolving society, the simple act of choosing what to wear can hold deep meaning. For women like Shaleeni Priya Singh, clothing represents more than appearance; it reflects dignity and identity.
Her story highlights the importance of women having the freedom to express their culture through what they wear. When women are able to choose attire that reflects their identity and beliefs, they affirm their autonomy and keep cultural traditions alive in everyday life.
