Much Ado About Kurta Pyjama

 "Sacrilege!", Kurta Pyjama(KP) in Officers Mess, no way.... that is the common refrain these days. We the true inheritors of the British legacy, dyed in the wool Angrez  can't digest this change in dress, which, as has been clarified is just another dress which may be permitted and not that the Shirts and Trousers have been jettisoned altogether. As though the Jodhpurs or the Bandh Gala were not enough, now this poor cousin has dared to step into the hallowed premises of the ultimate vestige of legacy of the Raj. For the hard core Lounge Suits/Combination attired suited booted sahibs, Kurta Pyjama was always just night wear, a sleeping suit nothing more than that. Dressed in Kurta Pyjamas, the officers would be slovenly, unkempt and obviously un-officer like, is how the narrative on social media has been flooded. By and large the majority view is that this decolonisation bit is being stretched too far, as long as it was restricted to the ‘matters military’ it was still ok, though even that was with a pinch of salt, but here this one seems to be an attack at the very core of our officer-hood. First the ranks cease to be "Petty", now we have to bear this ignominy on the core of our very being. As though it is the dress which makes us what we are, else we too would be just like the common Indians and we have to be different and superior only then can we be professionals. The example of our nemesis Pakistan is often cited as they switched to Pathan Suits and apparently that is the sole reason for their downfall. May be the real worry is when Kurta Pyjamas come in can Dhoti, Mundu-Veshti be far behind?

Kurta Pyjamas are offended naturally, despite their patriotic fervour they are out of favour of the supposedly most committed and dedicated nationalists, the Indian Armed Forces. After all they too are similar to shirts and pants except that the Kurta is not tucked inside and the pyjama is tied with a string, 'nada' and not a leather belt. The whole issue actually is that we are not supposed to be comfortable as the dresses in the mess are Blue Patrol with Pouch Belts and Wellington Shoes with spurs, Ceremonial Dresses where the neck tie keeps the throat asphyxiated and open collar the only dress which has a semblance of comfort is considered a casual and informal attire. Jodhpurs passed muster because the necks there are equally well covered and are almost like a country cousin of Blue Patrol jackets. So naturally how can we suddenly decide to choose such a piece of clothing to be added to the wardrobe, this has to be shunned and the supporters need to be shown their place. One needn't worry our military bureaucracy will find ways and means of converting this too into a ceremonial attire with the complete regalia of a jacket and the exact nature of the buttons, cuffs et al.  All white for the Navy, all black for the Armoured Corps and Combat coloured for the Pongos. While the serving have to be servile about it, so it is left to the veterans to be vocal in their views and they have every reason to be cross. Since they hung their uniforms and banished them in the closet permanently, they are permanently dressed in guess what, the kurta pyjamas and familiarity breeds contempt. They simply can't accept this retrograde step. We had graduated from the KP to western attire when the British came, which was supposed to be a sign of progress. KPs are deemed to be such a strong influence that the Armed Forces are supposed to be politicised by merely choosing this attire.

Be that as it may, it is my firm conviction that the Armed Forces have rightly steered clear of any traces of politicisation over the last 75 years and I am sure the present hierarchy too has been groomed with the same ethos, so this concern of Armed Forces shunning their apolitical character is misplaced. Let us accept this change in the right spirit, wearing Kurta Pyjama  is no cardinal sin which will shunt us out of the Garden of Eden.