New Delhi: Shradha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory, took to social media to call out Taj Hotel’s House of Ming after she was allegedly reprimanded for sitting cross-legged (in a padmasana posture) and wearing traditional clothing during a recent Diwali dinner with her sister.

In a post on X, Sharma shared a video recounting the incident, claiming that a restaurant manager confronted her for how she sat and what she wore — including salwar kameez and kolhapuri chappals.

“An ordinary person, who through hard work earns their own money, and comes to the Taj Hotel with their dignity intact -- even today, in this country, they have to face humiliation and insult,” Sharma wrote.
 

“And what is my fault? Just this, that I sat down in a ‘regular padmasana style’? Is it my fault that the Taj is teaching me how to sit, what to do?”

According to Sharma, the manager told her that "a lot of rich people come here" and she should "sit in a way" that aligns with the expectations of a fine dining restaurant.

“I don’t know what to wear, closed shoes,” she quoted the manager as saying.

Expressing her dismay, Sharma said, “I am wearing Kolhapuri slippers. And what I wear, I bought it with my own hard work and came here. But to come here and say that you sit with your feet down, this is wrong."

She further added, “And someone has an objection and a problem. And it shows that we are still reeking of this richness and this culture and this class. Why? I work hard, and that's why I am here. And I am paying for this myself. So, what is the issue?”

Despite her respect for Ratan Tata, an investor in her company, Sharma said she was “disappointed with Taj” over the treatment she received.

As of now, the Taj Hotel has not issued a response.

Her post has triggered an online debate. Many users expressed support.

“No one should ever face something like this. @TajMahalHotel, this isn’t just a mistake; it’s a serious failure,” one user wrote.

Another user criticised what they called a colonial hangover. “Padmasana isn’t the problem; the problem is the Macaulay-moulded mindset that still measures dignity by Western posture."

However, some pointed out that fine dining establishments may have hygiene protocols or etiquette standards and urged guests not to expect a “homely” experience in such spaces.


IANS