RSS has shown courage by dropping its khaki shorts

The decision of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to change its uniform from khakhi shorts to brown trousers alters the political lexicon and removes a slur from it. Chaddiwala will no longer be a political insult though critics will argue that while previously supporters and swayamsevaks wore shorts discreetly below their pants, they can now do so officially.

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The khakhi shorts, besides inspiring the title of a noted book - Khakhi Shorts, Saffron Flags - co-authored by several academics in the early 1990s, has always been a subject of derision. For instance, the picture of Union minister Nitin Gadkari in RSS uniform became a widely circulated one because of the obvious similarity with the iconic pose of Sharon Stone lighting up a cigarette in Basic Instinct while being interrogated by police.

Jokes apart, is the RSS decision to change the visual identity of its cadre of any political significance? The issue of a cosmetic makeover has dogged the organisation for close to a decade because in many ways it has been more important than a fashion statement.

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The matter came to public notice in the period 2000 - 2004, or the Vajpayee era, when there were reports that the khakhi knicker was being short-changed of its eminent position. The argument during the summer months that year was that when RSS swayamsevaks abroad congregated, they did not wear the traditional costume but instead donned black or grey pants and white T-Shirts.

The reports that appeared in several sections of the credible media were attributed to organisational sources and mentioned that the plan was to dump the khakhi shorts by 2005 when the RSS was to begin the birth centenary celebrations of Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, one of the most revered Sarsanghchalak of the RSS who presided over the edifice for 33 years from 1940 to 1973.

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Yet, the RSS leadership - the Sarsanghchalak was KS Sudarshan, not known for innovation - eventually decided to remain loyal to the khakhi shorts. It simply did not have the chutzpah for the bold decision.

Though the proposal to alter the uniform was seriously examined by the RSS, reports on this irked the Sangh Parivar. In an issue of BJP Today (Volume 13), that was published by the party at the time, journalists were criticised for writing "profound editorials" on the matter.

Clearly, the decision announced on Sunday, 13 March 2016 demonstrates that reports were not wrong but that the RSS leadership has been able to muster courage only now to effect the change.

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Even after a few years, in 2008 when the reports about an impending sartorial change in the RSS began gaining ground, the All Indian Prachar Pramukh, Manmohan Vaidya declared that swayamsevaks would continue to don khakhi shorts till "2018 at least" when dressing for the daily shakha as well as for other formal meetings of the organisation.

This decision was taken after a ten-member committee examined the proposal. The principle argument for an image makeover was that the khakhi shorts - because of its ungainly appearance and also as ageing and often obese RSS leaders presented a ludicrous sight.

It was also contended that khakhi shorts were a major turnoff when it came to attracting the youth. Till the advent of Modi as electoral mascot of the Sangh Parivar, failure to attract new volunteers into RSS was cause for concern.

After not daring to bite the bullet for more than a decade, what has led to the RSS deciding that it is time to alter its style?

When KB Hedgewar founded the RSS in 1925, he soon felt the need to give a military character to his organisation. This was because of his emphasis on physically strengthening the Hindus so they could be more proactive during communal clashes.

Symbols that were given to the RSS from the late 1920s were also aimed at inculcating a military loyalty - lathi or the bamboo stick as a weapon of self-defence (and offence if the situation required); a flag (Bhagwa Dhwaj which is still given precedence over the national flag); and salutation (Namaste Sada Watsale Matribhoome - My salutation to you, loving motherland) were all aimed at evolving military kinship and unity for a cause - strengthening of Hindus and Hindu society.

The uniform which was added within five years of the formation of RSS was clearly influenced from foreign sources and early ideologues of the organisation are known to have been deeply charmed by European fascism and in time drew several elements from it.

The RSS has chosen this particular time to give short shrift to the khakhi shorts because the self-confidence level of the dominant leadership is at an all-time high. The government is by and large kowtowing to the ideological diktats of the RSS and the synergy is good between ministers and RSS leaders. This is reflected in the broad endorsement of the policy and programmes of the BJP government.

Critics of the RSS will of course argue that the organisation requires an ideological makeover and a not a cosmetic change. But this decision has been taken with a purpose - to package the RSS better. Even the visuals of the new swayamsevak in full-length trousers that are being circulated have a leaner look. And probably meaner!