Chappal Politics: What Your Footwear Says About Your City

News18

27-07-2025

Some say 'I have a government job," others say 'I'm running to tuition." It's not just what people wear. It's where they wear it. And why.
Welcome to Chappal Politics, an India-style anthropology of the ground beneath our feet.
Delhi: Floaters and Flip-Flops of the Working Warrior
In Delhi-NCR summers, nothing says 'Survival Mode" like the oversized velcro floater that is usually black, always dusty, and spotted on metro platforms, momos joints, and tuition line-ups.
It's the shoe of the salaried, the student, the delivery agent. It can go from bike to boardroom (if no one's looking). Why? Delhi walks hard. You need cushion, you need grip, and most importantly, you need to remove it easily at someone's house without embarrassment.
Mumbai's fashion may be sharp, but its chappals are brutally practical. Come monsoon, all bets are off. Bata rubber sandals, PVC slip-ons, or no-brand market floaters dominate.
No Mumbaikar trusts leather when the roads turn into rivers. Also, they walk a lot, from local stations to lanes, from vada pav stalls to Versova auditions.
Their footwear needs to dry fast, survive trains, and preferably not cost more than Rs399.
Bengaluru: Crocs, Sneakers, and the Startup Slouch
If the city had an official uniform, it would be faded jeans, oversized hoodies, and Crocs with socks. Bengaluru's tech crowd doesn't care what's stylish, only what's comfortable during a 12-hour shift or a coding all-nighter.
Outside Koramangala cafés, you'll see a footwear mashup: rubber sliders, unbranded sneakers, and sometimes barefoot yoga dudes. It's casual to the point of rebellion.
Also, the city's weather which is neither too hot nor too wet lets any shoe survive. So the rules are looser. You do you.
Kolkata: The Sandal of the Sceptic
Leather sandals with metal buckles. Sometimes dusty, sometimes shiny, but always carried with intellectual confidence. That's Kolkata.
This is the city of political protests and cultural lectures, and your footwear has to hold its own on College Street. You'll also see the classic Hawaii chappal, blue and white, Rs99, worn by rickshaw pullers and poets.
There's pride in simplicity. Flashy sneakers here still feel like outsiders.
Chennai: The Slip-on Code of Tradition Meets Function
White veshti? Then white sandals. Tailored trousers? Then tan sandals. Chennai walks the line between formal and devotional, and the footwear reflects that.
The city's heat makes anything closed-toe a punishment. Most residents prefer sandals that can go from temple to office to tea kadai. Also, slippers are expected to be removed often, at homes, shrines, or local Carnatic concerts: so slip-on ease is non-negotiable.
Shillong, Gangtok & Beyond: Mountain Grip Required
In hill cities, fashion may follow the terrain more than trend. You'll find high-ankle shoes, waterproof trekking sandals, and serious soles even at fruit stalls. Brands matter less than grip, especially in monsoon.
Sneakers here are worn with pride, even at weddings. You never know when you'll need to climb.
The Bigger Picture: Class, Climate, Culture
What India wears on its feet is more than climate response, it's coded by commute patterns, caste and class mobility, social acceptability, and regional pride.
Ever noticed how expensive shoes rarely step into crowded trains? Or how some slippers are 'only for temple"? Or how political rallies often see the same two or three styles?
We may all live under the same sky, but our soles walk different stories.
So, the Next Time You're Out…