Princess of Veils

In polluted Pune, the scarf is the ultimate face-saver for women on the move.

She carefully runs a blue streak of eyeliner on her eyelids. Even as it dries, her lips are outlined with a thin pencil and then filled in with shimmering pink lipstick, to go with her nail paint. Just a hint of blush on the cheeks and her face as pretty as a picture, Mitali is set for the day. You worry about the number of heads that will turn around to catch a glimpse of her on busy roads as she whizzes past on her two-wheeler. Well, you needn8217;t. For just before she leaves, the collegian picks up her scarf and in a jiffy it is dexterously swathed around her face in a manner that would give Sholay8217;s Kalia a life-long complex.. Only her eyes are left uncovered. Not for long though. A pair of dark glasses covers the kohl-lined eyes. Her cover-up job complete, Mitali strides out confidently to face the world.

Outside, Meera, Jaya and Sunita wait for her in a similar guise. And as the foursome straddle their gearless two-wheelers and zip off to the college, no one really gives a second glance to what might seem like an invasion from the Chambal. For Pune has got used to its Bandit Queens. It is a title painstakingly earned over the years but for women it is the most effective means of protecting their hair and faces against the sun and the high pollution levels in this city of two-wheelers.

8220;It is really the best way to protect your skin against the dust and the sun,8221; says Nabeela Nisar, an undergraduate student from Uttar Pradesh, studying in the city8217;s Wadia College, who feels compelled to don the mask even when she is riding pillion. Did she do the same in Uttar Pradesh? 8220;No. But then here I tend to move a lot more on the road,8217;8217; she says. It8217;s an opinion echoed by Niharika Jain, a 25-year-old advertising professional, who covers 10 km between her home and office on a two-wheeler, in a similar veiled avatar.

It8217;s not as if the city8217;s eves have not heard of discoveries like the helmet or the sun block. 8220;Carrying a helmet is so cumbersome,8221; says collegian Monica Pawar. Since helmet is not compulsory for those riding two-wheelers in Pune, many give it a miss.

Thus the city with the highest number of women two-wheeler riders in the country 8212; four lakh at the last count 8212; is also the one with the lowest sale of helmets. Probably, it can boast the highest sale of scarves. 8220;Covering your face with a scarf or dupatta is the easiest, cheapest and the most effective way of dealing with the pollution levels. Even helmets don8217;t keep out the dust the way a tightly tied scarf does,8217;8217; says Kavita Nanda, a schoolteacher, impervious to snide remarks about the pragmatic style statement.

8220;I don8217;t object to this style 8212; if one can call it that 8212; but what really irritates me is when a girl thus masked, waves out to me from the road. How am I supposed to know who is waving at me? And then if you don8217;t return the greeting there8217;s hell to pay later. I8217;ve gone through that,8217;8217; bemoans Vaibhav Patil, an engineering student.

Youngster Anita Bhavnani says the face cover also provides anonymity when required 8212; going for a date with your boyfriend, for instance. 8220;At least there8217;s no fear of your parents spotting you behind the guy on a bike,8221; grins the college girl.

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Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that the masked beauties have become an identity of the city 8212; to the extent that its denizens have stopped trying to either censure or analyse the mysterious and seemingly immutable phenomenon and have simply reconciled to it. In fact, a few years ago a French photographer even put up pictures of the veiled riders at one of his exhibitions dedicated to the city of Pune. The title? You guessed it 8212; 8220;The Bandit Queens8221;.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More