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U. J. Raj

The Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, opted to wear the classic ‘suit and tie’ rather than the traditional Gorkha outfit and cap during his recent first official visit to India. This was a big surprise to his Indian hosts, particularly the political class. Prachanda made a sartorial statement that could provoke a review of the unwritten dress protocol followed by Indian leaders and politicians during their official trips ab road.

The Nepalese PM stuck to the formal western suit in his meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and even during the less formal India-Nepal Parliamentary Forum meeting.

It is probably time to review our own dress norms for such official visits abroad. Our dress code of ‘bandh gala’ or ‘Nehru Jackets’ along with trousers for official trips/functions was set in vogue primarily by the first Prime Minister Jawharlal Nehru. Probably it was an extension of Gandhiji’s “Swadeshi” movement.

The hand-spun tunics and formal wear were a reassertion of the new nationalism and sense of independence from colonial rule. But many of Nehru’s cabinet colleagues, including Finance Minister John Mathai and Defence Minister Baldev Singh, preferred to wear western formal clothes to office.

There was no formal dress code. However, the dress code popularised by Jawharlal Nehru at home and abroad had admirers in many newly independent countries. It was an inspiration for leaders like Ghana’s President Kwame Nkrumah, Indonesian President Suharto and, to an extent, even to Chinese leaders like Mao Zedong to devise and sport their own national dress. India’s immediate neighbours, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also gave up the initial preference for western formals and devised their own. It was obvious in the case of Pakistan. Its creator and first Governor-General, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan preferred wearing formal suits to office. Taking a cue from India, it changed to ‘sherwanis’ and Nehru Jackets.

In China, the dogmatic national dress code followed by Mao Zedong eased with the economic reforms and modernisation initiated by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. The Chinese leaders progressively said goodbye to the Mao tunic and opted for the western suit. Today, many Chinese leaders would outsmart the European leaders in their attire!

In India too, economic reforms and globalisation have brought in a change in formal dress norms. Many cabinet ministers and officials have taken to wearing western suits while travelling abroad. However, it is still a big ‘no no’ for senior leaders, including the President and Prime Minister. It was a welcome change to find that President Pratibha Patil during her recent trips abroad abandoned the practice of covering her head with her saree.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh would look more reform oriented if he opted for western dress while travelling abroad. Political circles in Delhi interpret the dress code signalled by the Nepal Prime Minister during the India visit more in line with the changing times and modernity.

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