NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose a red and yellow striped ‘pagdi’ or ‘safa’ for his Republic-Day look on Sunday, pairing it with a brown bandhgala jacket and pocket square.

The checkered cloth has seen working class folks through many hardships — from wiping sweat to using it as a quick-drying towel, a turban to carry head loads, an impromptu vegetable bag and even ...