Customs and traditions

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.