Masterji in spotlight over UP’s proposed ban on male tailors, barbers & gym trainers

A recent proposal by Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission to ban male tailors, gym trainers or hair stylists from attending to women customers will not only destroy a rich social and cultural tradition, but also lead to joblessness at a time when jobs have seemingly disappeared. The proposed rule also interferes with women’s freedom of choice in basic day-to-day matters.

For well over a century, Masterji, or the senior-most tailor in any tailoring shop, has always been a fixture of any wedding or major ceremony in India as they visit households to stitch clothes not just for the bride or the groom, but the entire family. They have also been the go-to-person for any woman in a rush to get a garment stitched, repaired or adjusted.

So familiar is the image of Masterji that it has also moved from the real life to reel, as several Hindi films have featured the character in very central roles and in fact even entire films have like Ladies Tailor (1981) and several other versions of the same film in other languages and a remake in 2006.

Masterji has been a cherished figure in Indian society, a tailor whose craft went far beyond stitching clothes. For many women, Masterji is more than just a tailor, he is an artist and a magician who turned fabric into dreams.

However, recently in the name of women’s safety, the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission mooted a proposal that threatens to tear apart the delicate bond between Masterji and the women he serves and who rely on his skill, precision and trust.

Across India, even today the term Masterji often brings to mind the image of an elder, perched on a wooden stool in a workshop, his tape measure slung over his shoulders like a medal of honour. His hands move deftly, cutting and stitching fabrics into perfectly crafted blouses, lehengas, and salwar kameez. The sound of the sewing machine is his rhythm, the fabric his canvas. For countless women, a visit to Masterji’s shop is not just about measurements, it is a ritual of trust, tradition and timeless artistry.

Disbelief and dismay

Thus when the news of the proposed ban on male tailors catering to women clients emanated, it led to widespread disbelief and dismay.

“How can they say this? I have been tailoring for women all my life. I have been serving generations of women in this community. First, the mothers came to me for their wedding outfits, and now their daughters come to me for theirs. This is not just a business, it is a relationship built over decades of trust,” Ashok Gupta, 56-year-old a tailor at Jamalpur Mazra in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, who is also lovingly called Masterji by everyone in his locality, tells Media India Group.

For Gupta, the proposal feels like an insult to his craft. “I have been called Masterji out of respect. In some places, Masterji means teacher, but here it means tailor. Either way, it is a title I have earned through years of hard work. Why should I give it up,” he adds.

The proposal, which is said to prevent harassment by banning male professionals like tailors, barbers, and gym trainers from serving women, felt like a personal attack to him.

“What about the respect and rapport we have built over years? Are we all to be punished because of the misconduct of a few,” Gupta adds.

His shop is a second home for many women in his neighbourhood. Sunita Devi, a long-time customer, remembers how her wedding trousseau was lovingly stitched by him.

“Masterji has been our family tailor for 30 years. He knows exactly how we like our clothes to fit and we have never had a reason to feel uncomfortable with him. This proposal is absurd. Who else could replicate the intricate designs he creates?,” Devi tells Media India Group.

For young brides, Masterji’s shop is often their first stop after their wedding dates are fixed. The excitement of flipping through fabric swatches, choosing embroidery patterns and discussing the latest styles with him is a cherished memory for many.

“Masterji is not just a tailor, he is like a family elder who guides us through the process of creating something special,” Devi adds.

After hearing about the proposed ban, some tailors have begun installing CCTV cameras in their shops as a precaution. Mohammad Muslim, a women’s tailor since 24 years from Gomti Nagar, Lucknow expressed his frustration and concern.

“If a few people have done something wrong, it doesn’t mean that everyone should be punished. I have been running my shop with an all-male staff for years, and 99 pc of my clients are women. They have never once complained about any misconduct,” Muslim tells Media India Group.

“I put CCTV cameras up to reassure my clients and to ensure transparency, even though there was never a need for it before. My reputation is built on trust and respect, and this proposal feels like it undermines the relationship I have developed with my clients for over two decades,” he adds.

Muslim’s words reflect a broader concern among male professionals in traditionally female-dominated spaces. For him, tailoring is not just a livelihood but also a craft he has perfected over years of dedication.

“I love my work, and I take pride in making clothes that my clients feel beautiful in. It hurts to think that such blanket rules could destroy the trust I have worked so hard to build,” he adds.

His story is a poignant reminder that blanket bans and generalised policies often overlook the nuances of individual lives and professions, leaving hardworking individuals like Gupta and Muslim caught in the crossfire.

In Indian households, the relationship with Masterji runs deep. His work is not just about clothes, it is about memories. The sari blouse that fit perfectly for a daughter’s wedding, the first school uniform for a young childrens, or the kurta for a festival, Masterji has been there for it all.

“Do people even realise how important Masterji is to our lives? Tailoring is an intimate craft. It is not just about measurements, it is about understanding the person behind the fabric,” Kavita Sharma from MD Law College in Agra, Uttar Pradesh tells Media India Group.

“Are we going to ban male doctors next? Instead of restricting services, the focus should be on stricter punishments for harassment and better training for professionals to ensure appropriate behaviour,” Sharma adds.

For many women, Masterji’s presence is a reminder of the balance between tradition and trust. He represents a time when professions were about relationships, not just transactions.

Women argue that this proposed ban will limits their choices. Aarti Yadav, a college student from Lucknow, shares her thoughts on the matter.

“Living in Uttar Pradesh, I am all too familiar with the challenges women face in terms of safety, but this proposal feels like an overreach, I understand the concerns for women’s safety, but banning male tailors, barbers, and even gym trainers from offering services to women doesn’t solve the problem. It is not about the gender of the person providing the service, it is about ensuring that everyone regardless of their profession respects boundaries. This kind of restriction just limits our choices as women and implies that we can’t make our own decisions about who we trust,” Yadav tells Media India Group.

Women feel that in a world where safety is paramount, the key is not to restrict choice but to empower it. Women should be free to trust their Masterji, just as they always have because some bonds, like perfectly stitched seams, are meant to last.

The proposed ban is not only on tailors but also on barbers, hairstylists and gym trainers also many of whom have years of experience catering to diverse clientele, are also raising significant concerns about the proposed restrictions. They argue that such measures unfairly stigmatise male professionals and fail to consider the preferences of customers who choose their services based on skill, not gender. For many, the decision feels like a personal and professional affront.

“I have been working as a hairstylist in a salon for years and I have built a reputation for my creativity and expertise. A large part of my clientele is women, who come to me because they trust my skills and know I can deliver exactly what they want, whether it is a haircut, styling, or a complex makeover. This proposed ban feels like it questions not only my professionalism but also the choices of the women who rely on my services. It is not just about my livelihood, it is about denying women the right to decide who they trust with their grooming,” Rajesh Mishra, who works in a salon in Agra tells Media India Group.

“Shouldn’t empowerment mean giving women more choices rather than taking them away? Instead of implementing such restrictive measures, we should focus on addressing individual cases of misconduct and improving workplace accountability. Blanket bans like these only harm honest professionals like me and the clients we work so hard to serve,” Mishra adds.

Many women who frequent gyms and fitness centres also argue that such measures do more harm than good, not only by curbing their freedom to choose but also by undermining male professionals who have dedicated years to honing their skills. A gym enthusiast Alpika Charan, a 33-year-old from Sitapur in UP, shared her perspective, underscoring the imbalance of female representation in the fitness industry and the importance of retaining personal choice in such matters.

“I have been going to the gym for years, and I have always worked with male trainers because they are more experienced. Gym culture has traditionally been male-dominated and while I am not saying women don’t know their craft, the reality is that there are far fewer female trainers. Male trainers understand the nuances of fitness deeply, and I have never felt uncomfortable or experienced any inappropriate behaviour. Why should my right to choose the best trainer for me be taken away,” Charan tells Media India Group.

“If the government is genuinely concerned about harassment, they should enforce stricter laws and harsher punishments for offenders, not restrict our freedom to make our own decisions. This proposal is illogical. Instead of solving the problem, it will only increase unemployment in a country where jobs are already scarce. We have every right to choose what is best for us, and such bans only show a lack of trust in our ability to make those choices,” she adds.

While the proposal by the UP State Women’s Commission has sparked widespread debate, it has not yet been imposed. For now, Masterji and many other professionals continue their work, albeit with a sense of uncertainty and fear that they might lose the trust and relationships they have built over the years. The looming possibility of such a ban casts a shadow on their future, but their commitment to their craft remains unwavering.