Suchi,
my friend is a lawyer. She was invited for an award for some social legal work she has done.
This was an international award.
As part of the celebrations they had an Indian celebration where the organizers also asked her if she would show-case Indian culture -- and asked her if she would participate as aishwarya rai's role and dance on stage to 'Kajra re'.
My friend declined because she said "mujhe naachne wali ka image nahin chahiye"... She wants to be seen as a competent professional only.
I dont know what you are saying that the village people asked anandi to dress like that ... nobody asked her to dress like that.
Have you seen japanese people receive an award? They dont come dressed in a kimono or slippers to an award function to showcase their country or culture. Always dressed in business suit attire.
I am not saying that anandi should not dress in her village attire -- but my god -- all that pasty make up and heavy jewellery will give people a completely wrong image of sarpanch bitiya.
The dress has to fit the occassion. If she were in a "flavours of india" beauty competition - sure! by all means wear all that jewellery and heavy makeup. But she is not going there as brand ambassador of rajasthan tourism. She is going as a competent sarpanch.