Tracing The History Of The Iconic Indian 'Mooch’

Tracing The History Of The Iconic Indian 'Mooch’

“Mooche ho toh Nathulal jaise, warna na ho”- a dialogue so iconic, it is widely credited for boosting the self esteem of mustachioed men all over the country. The legacy of the moustache has long prevailed in our country, dating as far back as the Indus Valley Civilization. From our Gods, to movie stars, to the ordinary layman, the mooch has risen to become a symbol of machismo and pride, much to the annoyance of those who are unfortunately unable to grow one.

The history of the upper lips-holstery is an absorbing one, which can be traced back to the days of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. Mansohi Bhattachary’s “The Royal Rajputs: Strange Tales and Stranger Truths” pens a story from the court of Emperor Akbar, which narrates an episode after the passing away of Empress Jodhabai.

The royal barbers were instructed to make their rounds around the city of Agra, and as a sign of mourning, shave off the badges of manliness of the residents. This order caused an uproar amongst the people, namely the Rajputs, for whom moustaches were symbolical of a soldier’s honour and dignity. Even today, the Rajputs of Udaipur and Chittorgarh leave their beards untouched, as a testimony of dejection since the days of Maharana

Pratap, who refused to acknowledge the authority of Emperor Akbar. Fascinatingly enough, the individual holding the current world record for the longest moustache, an astonishing 18.4 feet, also happens to be a Rajput!

Ram Singh, Guinness World Record holder for longest moustache
Ram Singh, Guinness World Record holder for longest moustache

The mooch metamorphosed with the arrival of the colonizers. The British Army officers stumbled to earn their respect amongst the national troops, quite simply, because they didn’t fit in, whiskers-wise. Moustaches commanded respect, and the British had no choice but to begin sporting facial hair, in order to govern the soldiers.

Fast forward to about half a century later, and the ‘stache was still making news. The 80’s and 90’s were times of the criminal underworld uprising in India, and with Karim Lala, Dawood Ibrahim and Arun Gawli making the headlines, their distinctive mooches did not fall behind. Veerappan, the infamous dacoit and poacher of South India, fashioned a moustache so impressive, that almost 10 years after his death, LUSH (an international cosmetics company) made him their poster boy, and even put his face on the lid of their jar of Moustache Wax!

Veerappan Moustache wax by LUSH Cosmetics
Veerappan Moustache wax by LUSH Cosmetics

The tales of the grandeur of the mooch don’t stop there. According to some news sources, police officers in the state of Madhya Pradesh get paid a monthly bonus to grow moustaches, as it is believed that they give the wearers an air of authority. Care is also taken to make sure that the ‘stache styles do not look too intimidating, thereby creating a negative effect.

Following the wave of the influence of the mooch, Bollywood too seemed to adapt and edify the facial accessory. Films began to showcase villains sporting larger-than-life ‘staches, to compliment the nature of their evil roles, as they stroked their whiskers maliciously.

Movies like “Dabangg”, “Singham” and “Rowdy Rathore” influenced their audiences in massive ways, and glorified the moustache even further. South Indian cinema followed suit, and it became common practice for the protagonist to be mustachioed to the maximum. How else could they display their hunkiness, if not for the facial foliage?

Ajay Devgn, "Singham"
Ajay Devgn, "Singham"

The moustache is not left behind in the field of international art either. In 1945, Salvador Dali published a book dedicated solely to his moustache. Marcel DuChamps’ 1919 work, L.H.O.O.Q. is a parody of the Mona Lisa, which utilises the ‘stache to make social point.

One cannot forget the mustachioed self portraits of Frida Kahlo, which proved to be revolutionary in nature. Moustaches have also been used by used by artists to make characters distinctive and unique, as can be seen in the case of Charlie Chaplin, and a childhood favorite of the masses, the video game character, Mario.

Marcel DuChamp, "L.H.O.O.Q"
Marcel DuChamp, "L.H.O.O.Q"
Frida Kahlo, self portrait
Frida Kahlo, self portrait

Over the years, moustaches have undergone tremendous changes, but of late, the ‘stache’s magic has waned. Younger generations prefer a clean look over that of the handlebars, and are shying away from the shadow of a good old fashioned mooch. Nevertheless, the moustache continues to be a popular feature amongst the rural localites, where its significance remains intact and unchallenged- a symbol of prestige, virility and gravitas.

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