Sharkeswari Agha received a B.A., M.A., and LL.B. from the University of Allahabad; then she completed her Master’s degree in Education at U-M in 1930. In India, she later served as the head of the Teacher Training Department of Crosthwaite College for Women. [Source]

The lower part of a sari (or in its three piece avatar, the ghaghra or mekhla) usually falls below the ankles. While ubiquitous in our times, there is also a case for it being favoured in times past – see for e.g. the sari in this 1570 Deccan painting. Nevertheless other lengths have also been around – especially with the kaccha styles – though in the 20th century above ankle, mid-calf or above knee styles tended to be rural/tribal styles.

An exception is the late 1910s to early 1930s when mid-calf or above ankle lengths seem to have been an urban style. Though I have seen references to its local wear which seem to indicate it was an oddity, in most images I have seen this seems to be  a “when abroad” style adapted to the dress silhouettes of the 20s and for stockings and shoes, especially Mary-Janes. Today’s pic also has examples of this.

I have covered this before – see here and here

Now and then we have contemporary versions, a recent one I saw paired the sari with oxfords. A pity though that the modern 6-yard sari has become such a definitive style that commenters at the site do not seem to be aware that variations in sari drapes is not a distortion of a “classic drape”.