As a suffragist and a queer woman living in early 1900s Britain, Catherine embodied the saree’s spirit of resistance. Her queerness adds layers of meaning to the garment, transforming it into a symbol of living authentically, of rejecting the binary boxes imposed by patriarchy and heteronormativity. Seeing her saree on display at the Whitworth was a monumental moment for me — a queer, South Asian university student dealing with my own queer journey.
The saree’s symbolism in Catherine’s life resonates within the broader context of queer South Asian history and culture. For centuries, South Asia has been home to communities like the Hijra, who have existed outside of the gender binary. The Hijra have historically donned sarees, using the garment as a powerful expression of their identity. The saree, in this context, is more than clothing — it is a declaration of selfhood and resilience in the face of marginalisation — and the princess’ story is an empowering one that led me to a deeper understanding of my own history.
As I navigated my own queerness and transness, I initially felt a sense of distance from my heritage, as if the two parts of my identity were pulling me in opposite directions. Learning about Catherine through the metaphor of the saree helped reconcile these aspects of myself.
Her life showed me that to be queer and South Asian is not a contradiction — it is a legacy of resilience and courage, someone who dared to live authentically, a queer pioneer who inspires me and countless others. And the saree, shimmering in the Whitworth Art Gallery, represents so much more than its fabric and stitches — it represents the unyielding power of identity, heritage, and love, and for me, a way to weave together the threads of my identity and wear them with pride.
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