Vastreneva vasaya manmana shuchim
- Rigveda 1/140/1
(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.