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Shradha Sharma's Taj Hotel Ordeal: Why Her "Padmasana" Pose Sparked Debate

YourStory founder Shradha Sharma faced public humiliation at Taj Hotel's House of Ming restaurant for sitting cross-legged. The manager criticized her traditional salwar kameez and Kolhapuri chappals during a Diwali dinner with her sister. Sharma argues that had she been a male celebrity, her behavior would have been praised as authentic and grounded. She's calling for written rules about seating positions and attire to prevent subjective enforcement of etiquette.

Key Points: Shradha Sharma Slams Taj Hotel Over Sitting Style Criticism

  • Sharma was reprimanded for sitting cross-legged while wearing traditional salwar kameez
  • Hotel manager objected to her Kolhapuri chappals during Diwali dinner
  • She questions why loud or offensive behavior goes unchallenged
  • Sharma suggests gender and class bias influenced the hotel's reaction
2 min read

Write down rules, specify how to sit and wear clothes: Shradha Sharma hits back at Taj Hotels

YourStory CEO Shradha Sharma demands written dress codes after being shamed for sitting cross-legged in traditional attire at Taj's House of Ming restaurant.

"Who fits in and who doesn't, and why is it that the middle class never fits in - Shradha Sharma"

New Delhi, Oct 23

Taj Hotels must write down rules, specify how to sit and wear clothes, said YourStory Founder and CEO Shradha Sharma on Thursday, after being reprimanded for sitting in “regular padmasana style” at the five-star hotel's fine dining restaurant House of Ming in the national capital.

Speaking to IANS, Sharma said that she "still can't comprehend what was wrong” with her choice of clothes, footwear, and the way she was sitting.

“This is like a general question in terms of how do we define etiquette and manners, and if it was, if you have rules and regulations, which I don't think anyone was breaking, then you write it down, specify that you have to sit like this, you have to wear clothes like this,” Sharma said.

She pointed out that “people don't get questioned for being offensive, being loud, wearing”, but she was insulted while being properly dressed and wearing proper footwear.

For the unversed, Sharma, who went to the Taj’s fine dining House of Ming to have dinner along with her sister during Diwali, was humiliated by the manager and asked to sit properly as other guests raised objections to her sitting cross-legged on the chair.

The manager also insulted her for the choice of clothes -- “traditional salwar kameez” and footwear -- “kolhapuri chappals”.

Taj Hotels declined to immediately comment on the matter.

“Whoever was the guest, where was I offending? Who could see my foot? Where was it visible?” Sharma told IANS.

She also stated that had it been a big celebrity or political leader in her place, they would have been saluted for being so humble and down to earth.

“If there was a big man in my place, and especially if there was a man, then he would say how authentic, how grounded.

“But I'm just a common person. So this is wrong (for me). And people say, she's being a gawar (illiterate) and she should go to dhaba and all that”.

On the social media rants on her viral post that sitting crossed-legged on a chair at a fine dining is “unhygienic”, she said: “My question is, what is unhygienic about this?”

“The larger question is who fits in and who doesn't, and why is it that the middle class never fits in,” Sharma said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I understand fine dining has certain etiquettes, the manager's approach was completely wrong. They should have politely informed her if there was a dress code or seating policy. Humiliating guests is never acceptable.
A
Aditya G
Shradha makes a valid point - if rules exist, they should be clearly stated. Many five-star hotels in India have become too westernized and look down upon Indian customs. Time to embrace our heritage with pride! 🇮🇳
M
Michael C
As a foreigner living in India, I find this incident surprising. Indian hospitality is world-renowned, and this seems contrary to that spirit. Cross-legged sitting is common in many cultures and shouldn't be considered unhygienic.
S
Shreya B
The class bias here is evident. If a celebrity sat like this, they'd be called "grounded and authentic." But when a common person does it, they're called "gawar." This double standard needs to stop. Well said, Shradha! 👏
K
Karthik V
While I support cultural expression, fine dining restaurants do have certain standards. However, the management should handle such situations with more sensitivity and clearly communicate their policies beforehand.
N
Nisha Z
This incident reflects

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