All World
Gayatri Pariwar

(Meaning: We cover the sacred and the private (organs) with the right dress.)

The style of dress reveals a person's cultural affinities; it indicates that the person cherishes deep inside him particular cultural values.  Blind imitation of western dress is a pointer to thoughtless belief in superiority of western civilization and culture.  This tendency shows that such persons are cut off from their own cultural moorings. Their sense of pride in Indian culture and motherland has virtually died down.  Otherwise, why should they be reluctant to adopt the dress style of their own country?  Those who are desirous of treading the path of jivana sadhana should be conscious about their clothing.

The recent history of our country underlines the significance of this fact.  The great men who led the nation during the tumultuous days of the freedom struggle, had almost wholly received Western/English education.  Many of them had studied in England.  Some of them had even turned down high and prestigious posts like the I.C.S.  In the initial stages and during their studentship, almost all wore English style dress.  But when love for the nation began to stir them, their dress styles changed too.  Barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi could become Mahatma Gandhi only by adopting Indian dress and ethos.  His followers and associates, too, set out on the noble task of awakening the nation after adopting native style of clothing.

There is a touching incident having a bearing on this matter.  The world famous chemical scientist Dr. Prafulla Chandra Roy was Professor in Calcutta University.  As befitted a university professor, his apparel, too, was western.  Those were the days of the Independence Movement.  The whole country was resonating with national sentiments.  The sensitive heart of Dr. P. C. Roy could not remain unaffected by all this. Love for the nation began to stir in his bosom too.  But he was in a fix.  How could he pursue this love in the midst of his scientific work?  In what way could he serve the nation?  To find the answer, he met Gandhiji.  He was wearing western dress as usual at that time.  Gandhiji looked at him from top to bottom and said with a smile: "Roy Sir! What was the great hurry that you have come unclothed"?  Dr. Roy was perplexed.  Why was Mahatmaji talking in riddles today?  I have come fully clothed, yet he is saying that I am without clothes.  Gandhiji explained: "Nation can not be served properly under alien attire.  National values, national sentiments, national culture – these all have only one identity and that is our own national mode of dressing".  Now Professor Roy was able to understand the import of Gandhiji's words.  He completely changed his attire from that day and made the ethnic khadi his life-long companion.

Those who advance the excuses of dress norms operative in technical and higher education institutions should stand reminded here that there are so many persons working in our mission (Gayatri Pariwar) who have completed their technical/higher education in dhoti-kurta.  Students doing engineering studies including M. Tech. and that too from the best institutes of the country, donned dhoti-kurta and maintained the dignity of our culture.  There is a famous proverb: "Where there is a will, there is a way".  So the need is to generate the will; corresponding ways will materialize on their own.  With strong will power and overflowing love for one's culture, the entire course of life can be transformed, what to speak of the dress style.

The modes of dress prevalent these days reflect neither Indianness nor Indian culture.  The general wear on school and college campuses is expressive of only tastlessness and lack of decorum.  The situation at homes is no better.  It all indicates that our cultural sense is fast depleting.  Even from the health point of view experts regard the body-hugging and skin-revealing apparel as unsuitable.  It lies upon the young generation of the country to check and reverse this rapidly worsening trend.  Any appeal to those whose cultural sense has died and in whom national sentiments have almost dried up is futile.  But those, who have become indifferent for some other reasons, should wake up.  Let such brave young men and women come forward and, through their mode of dress, reflect their distinctive nationality and culture.

There are some important elements of a proper sense of dress.  The first is hygiene.  Not only the clothes but the body, too, should be kept clean.  Unkempt hair and uncut nails, for example, are a public announcement that we are not yet civilized.  The second element is selection of apparel in accord with the season.  The textile and the style both should match the different seasons - summer, winter and rainy.  The third point is about the general nature and form of the dress.  Instead of being very tight and body-hugging, it should be slightly loose-fitting.  At the same time, the cut should be such that the body could be properly covered. The fourth element concerns the understanding of our cultural roots.  There should be no glaring antagonism between the dress and the socio-cultural values.  As far as possible, the attire should be in conformity with our soil and our culture.  Our dress should announce to all that we are not only politically but also culturally independent and we have firm belief in the Indian ethos.  To make this belief strong, we will have to give proper direction to our imaginations and learn the art of putting them to right application.