Always be yourself

Pranab Ghosh interviews Sabyasachi Mukherjee, fashion designer.

Never conventional

I had the same dilemma as that of Rabindranath Tagore — much like him, I, too, never believed in school. I got through school because of the drama, theatre and literature classes.

In India, most of the school education is more theoretical than practical. We need to have a broader perspective. You realise that school cocoons you in an unreal world. There has to be that marriage between what you learn from the universe and what is taught in class. I, however, didn’t face any problem as I had a hands-on approach, because I had always been a working student. I gave tuitions to partly fund my education as resources were scarce.

If you, however, want me to choose between knowledge and wisdom, I would choose wisdom. Knowledge can be imparted; wisdom cannot. You grow wiser through experience. Schools, therefore, should take students outside the classroom and make them interact with society.

I appeared for my Class X board exam from Sri Aurobindo Vidyamandir, Chandannagore, West Bengal, and Class XII from St Xavier’s, Kolkata. School disciplined me. Ours (Aurobindo) was an English-medium boys’ school. But we did not spend days discussing the prices of gadgets. We had a great sense of bonding, which I feel is lacking in today’s school kids. (Ironically), what I am today is because what I was taught at Aurobindo.

The wider world

The reason for my success was that I had a life outside the classroom. By the time I was in Class XII, I was a choreographer. I was at the helm of a modelling agency. I had practical as well as theoretical knowledge of fashion. I knew what sales tax was. I was expelled from Xavier’s thrice for organising fashion shows.

Between 1996 and 1999, I was at NIFT, Kolkata. I wanted to come to Delhi, but didn’t have enough money. However, I walked out of NIFT with all the major awards a student could get. Then I went to London, where I interned with a designer from Salisbury.

Coming back to India in 2001, I started my own label. NIFT made me a fighter — my ability to work for long hours without even a tea break comes from the stringent schedule that we had to follow at NIFT.

The first show

It was a show I did for the Confederation of Indian Industry in Delhi. Many big names like Anamika Khanna, Meera Muzaffar Ali and Kavita Bhartia took part in the show. They all gave me rave reviews. I was 26 then. To know that you are good and to be told that you are good are two different things.

Independent spirit

Today, the only way to commercialise yourself and build a brand is through an independent spirit. If you display a level of independence, others who do not have it will subscribe to it, and it would become an inspiration for them.

Professional high

I am the only Indian designer to be chosen by Browns in London. The store has been voted by all leading fashion magazines as one of the Top 10 fashion stores in the world.

Personal high

It felt great when I could meet my own financial needs without burdening my parents. It made me confident. I have never been bitter about the fact that my parents could not provide me with much, materialistically.

The secret of his success

Being myself — that’s my secret.

Advice to youngsters

Be yourself. Be idealistic as opposed to being materialistic. Idealism is the best route to finance. Be a responsible and ethical human being. There is no short-cut to success. Look inwards for resources and, finally, do not be apologetic about who you are and where you come from.

Author: HT Horizons

Date: 2nd Dec., 2009

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