How was Miss India born?

The first person who thought about Miss India was Dr. Jhangiani, who was editor of Femina before me. In the sixties there weren't many women going to university and getting an education in English. The contest was therefore meant to promote the magazine and promote education. It was purely for college students to realise their dreams and aspirations in a way they wanted to.

Mumbai was the textile capital at that time and the textile industry supported us to promote textiles and the textile trade because that was one of the major foreign exchange earners for India.

We promoted the contest initially not with a view to winning but with the view that the girls should have the self-belief that they can do more than just take a degree and work as a clerk somewhere. It is important to remember that at that time (in the sixties) career options for women were limited and this contest opened many more avenues for girls.

They are people in their own right and have a right to their personality.

How do you think the contest has transformed itself?

An event has a life. With the evolution of time the product will change to keep in touch with the present time. We started to help women help themselves.

Today is the age of sensuality and being aware of one's body has come across in the Indian girl and woman.

Women today are in a challenging mode. Hence the contest has changed keeping up with times. The major transformation happened in 1992. The economy opened up in 1992; suddenly India was on the world map.

Indian beauties were now on the world map. We were more aware of the international standards of beauty and adapted and chose girls accordingly. Satellite TV came in '92 and the contest reached a whole world of people. Madhu Spare won in 1992.

There was a lot more coverage, a lot more publicity and we chose girls who fitted the western concept of beauty perfectly. We realised that if we had to compete internationally, our girls would have to meet those standards.

The Miss India contest is now talked about as being rigged...What is your take on that?

In 53 years, there has hardly been a scandal with Miss India. Initially the parents were equal participants in the contest as much as the girls.

I don't think the contest can be rigged at all. Remember that there are seven judges and on top of that anything that has unethical standards cannot last 50 years. Somewhere the whistle will be blown and people will find out the truth.

Even though people are talking about the contest being rigged, it has never been proved. Besides I have been associated with the contest for decades now. Nobody knows who the judges are till the day and time of the contest. They are privately chosen.

There are too many people involved in the contest. How many people can be influenced to rig a one?