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.