Customs, Traditions Dress Codes et al..
A pluralistic, multilingual, multi-ethnic, multi-religious India
is coming to terms with scores of issues that need discussions, debates and
most of all resolution where possible. It is hence disconcerting to see dress
codes in institutions and clubs engaging the attention of
regional political 'satraps'. They have been compelled to protect their
sub national predilections on attires to be worn, through
legislations, orders and threats to managing committees of private recreational
clubs and institutions. As a sequel, some less informed civilians have now
begun to challenge dress codes enforced at recreational facilities for the
Armed Forces of India.
Customs and traditions play a vital role in the lives of men/women
in uniform. Rules of conduct and regulations/instructions, on almost all
activities pertaining to their existence in service, promote
camaraderie, discipline, mutual respect and honour.
It is not that our Armed forces have remained static and inflexible.
For instance, wearing of a tie in establishments has been done away with, many
decades ago. Aspirations of the younger generation have been accommodated so
long as they are reasonable and do not vitiate the disciplined environment or
hurt the sensitivity and sensibilities of both the old and the young.
Care and sensitivity has been on display when parents of passing
out cadets who have never worn trousers or any form of western attire for
instance, are received on these formal occasion and entertained in their
traditional attire. Why then can we not permit serving officers too in their
traditional dress for recreational purposes, as in a club?
Firstly, given the diversity of India, numerous attires and head
gear can be classified as traditional. Is it a kurta -pyjama, lungi or veshti, Dugli-Pheta and many more
combinations with colourful head gear too. It is for this reason that
Bandh- gala has been made a formal dress for occasions listed by the
Government of India. Even Ministers who do not wear trousers or other
western attire are seen in Bandh- gala when they attend formal occasions
abroad. Trousers and shirts can no longer be categorised as Western
attire, it is as universal as the English language is. That a dress code is an
accepted tradition world over proves that decorum and deportment are considered
to be a desirable attribute.
Secondly, just as the uniform binds people and brings dignity to
those who wear them, uniformity in dress code in clubs too gives a distinct
identity. Take for instance the Chinese, who for decades following the creation
of the Peoples Liberation Army, stuck to simple uniforms without rank
badges for both officers and men. Separate uniforms for officers and men were
introduce only in the 1990's after decades of experiment on egalitarianism failed
to achieve the desired end objective. Appropriate dress codes are enforced by
most institutions in the world.
Officers and soldiers must be seen to be conscious of their dress
even when out of uniform. People instinctively or subconsciously expect them
to be different from the others.
What needs to be changed or reinforced is the extant tendency to
pay less attention to the uniform one wears. Head gear is
an essential part of uniform. Walking in uniform on streets without
head gear makes a soldier or an officer incorrectly dressed and hence
indisciplined. Improperly dressed military men appear like disinterested
policemen. Insulting the uniform is the worst offense one can commit. This is
the reason why so much attention was paid to turn out, which is a clear sign of
discipline, apart from being an indicator of good morale.
In terms of traditions, perhaps it is time to Indianise some
useful customs followed by the Military. Dinner nights in our messes is a good
example. Dignified and solemn as they are, yet the process and procedures could
be termed as a bit anachronistic, when the band plays a waltz in the background
or when bagpipers burst on the scene. The oldies have to give way to the
generation which has no exposure to such grandiose procedures. Traditions
have changed with times even in Britain which may be on its way to losing one
third of its territory to Scotland! May be they did not change fast
enough.
We are infinitely more challenged in composition of our manpower and hence it would be prudent to start a debate on those customs and traditions
in our Military which are not relevant today.
