Was it the length? The pleats? Or both? It couldn't have been the colour - when did
Khaki ever go out of style? So, why did millions of people snigger at the nearly 80-year-old dress code followed by members belonging to RSS cadres? It couldn't have been because of the exposed legs of those disciplined men (most of whom object to the exposed legs of women - disciplined or otherwise).
Perhaps the revulsion had to do with the peculiar cut of the knickers - these half-pants were neither shorts nor divided skirts. They were widely flared above the knees, and the waist belt was appropriately clinched, with convenient straps to keep the knickers up. Someone had invested a great deal of thought while designing the RSS uniform. It was weather-friendly, what with the wide leg width which allowed plenty of air in. Given India's sultry climate, and the mugginess in Nagpur, these ingeniously constructed
chaddis allowed wearers to keep cool and dry, even when the going was - errrr - torrid.
Chief Mohan Bhagwat (center) during an RSS function
Switching gear(s), eight decades later, is the worst idea. Those knickers were unique, for God's sake! They had created a huge impact in recent times. Some really cutting-edge fashion designers were incorporating the silhouette into summer collections as a tribute to the current political environment. And then came the rumour about a rethink on those amazing skirt-pants. Why is such a drastic decision being taken? By whom? Now the RSS troops will resemble troops everywhere!
Hey Bhagwan, sorry,
Hey Bhagwat - the identity of the
sevaks has been painstakingly established over years and years.
The
khaki shorts are synonymous with...with...never mind! Just like we automatically know who "the men in blue" are, we were familiar with the men in
khaki knickers. This was a good thing - it meant zero confusion when the drills were on. We would watch the exercises, listen to the speeches... and comment on the legs. Hairy? Skinny? Thick ankles? Bulky calves? Spindly? Full pants, if they do get adopted in the near future, will take away this thrill. We will be left with guess work.
Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari (extreme left)
knickers are a pretty cool statement - they say a lot about the wearer...the organisation. The total look (with the
danda) instantly places the wearer where he belongs (leave that to your perception/imagination). The new length may not be as convenient. Men run faster dressed in shorts. Fight more efficiently. They can jump over hurdles and chase foes that much quicker.
Khaki as a colour is excellent as it hides stains of all kinds and makes it easy to wash them away instantly.
Khaki is the colour of authority and power.
Khaki is on the approved list of politically correct colours. Women, children and the disempowered are generally afraid of men wearing
Khaki. But hello! Longer
Khaki pants are nothing short of blah! Have less personality. Less oomph. We want our RSS guys to look, dress and act like themselves. We want to be able to identify them easily - especially during a crisis. It's important to know when and where to run...now, we will get confused!
Ooops... unless that's the idea behind the makeover!
(Shobhaa De is an established writer, columnist, opinion shaper and social commentator, who is considered an authority on popular culture.)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.