RSS has dropped its identity with knickers
Finally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has gone for a historic makeover, at least in its dress code. The 90-year-old organisation has just replaced its trademark khaki shorts with brown trousers.
The decision, taken at the annual meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha at Rajasthan's Nagaur, has brought to an end a nine-decade-old tradition of wearing flappy knickers, which was synonymous with the RSS volunteers.
The right-wing organisation described it as a need to move with the times. "We are not rigid, so changing with time," said RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi, as he made the official declaration on the final day of Sangh's three-day meet, on March 13.
Describing it as a "major change", Joshi said, according to a India Today report, "Pants are a regular feature in today's social life, so we took our decision accordingly."
Even before the announcement was made, trolls had gone online, with cynics saying that not the dress code but the RSS' thinking needs a change.
But then jokes apart, what have shorts or trousers to do with Indian culture?
Since the Constitution was adopted in 1949, the RSS presents itself as a cultural organisation, which nevertheless advocates the Hindu nationalistic agenda under the banner of Hindutva.
Our great Indian history nowhere finds the mention of shorts, irrespective of whether it is khaki or not. Traditionally what started as loincloth evolved into our iconic dhoti and pyjamas.
But it was never about shorts or trousers. Shorts are a product of the Western society. And, so are trousers.
Historians believe that in much of the Western world, during the 19th and early 20th centuries, shorts were worn as a lower garment only by boys until they reached certain height or maturity.
The Second World War, however, brought a significant change in dress sense, when soldiers serving in tropical locations were seen wearing shorts. Subsequently, it became common for men to wear shorts. As of now, women too wear shorts, in countries including India.
Interestingly, when shorts have emerged as a fashion statement among young Indians, the RSS has gone for second thought to woo the youth.
The right-wing organisation, which wants its volunteers to wear baggy trousers, has demanded many times before that girls be banned from wearing Western clothing like half jeans.
But then from the “Emperor’s new clothes” to debate over what women should wear, clothing has often been a curious affair, even when Ramesh meets Suresh to relish chocolate before the tailor, who is asked to bring the much-needed change: "Babuji ki patloon ek phalang chhoti!"