NEW DELHI: The Navy may soon allow officers and sailors to wear specified traditional Indian attire in messes, wardrooms and institutes. Apart from operational issues and combat readiness, the ongoing naval commanders’ conference is considering a “national civil dress for messes and functions” as an option for its personnel.
The options for the “national civil dress” displayed on the side-lines of the three-day conference, which were shown to junior defence minister Ajay Bhatt on Monday, include a short kurta with a formal waistcoat and narrow pyjamas as well as a band-gala suit.
“The matter is still under deliberation by the top commanders. If a decision is taken to allow a national civil dress, it will be with strict specifications and guidelines…it will be formal wear, in addition to the existing mess uniforms like the ‘Red Sea Rigs’ and formal western attire like lounge suits,” an officer said, on being contacted by TOI.
Kurta-pyjamas or other traditional Indian clothes for male personnel as well as guests are strictly not allowed in Army, IAF and Navy messes till now. Over the last several months, however, the Navy has been at the forefront of the drive to discard “vestiges of the colonial era” in the military arena in line with the government’s directive.
In December last year, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had said, “The PM articulated ‘Panch Pran’ from the ramparts of the Red Fort, which included ‘Gulami ki Mansikta Se Mukti’. In pursuance of that end state, the Navy will continue to proactively identify redundant or archaic practices, processes or symbols that could either be discontinued, or modified in consonance with modern day realities.”
Towards this end, PM Narendra Modi had “unveiled” a new “swadeshi” Ensign for the Navy, which included the removal of the red-coloured St George’s Cross from the flag, during the commissioning of indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on September 2 last year.
The Navy then also got a new President’s Standard and Colour as well as Crest in line with the “swadeshi” drive. Last month, the Navy had also put a stop to the practice of its officers carrying batons. “With the passage of time, carrying of batons by naval personnel has gradually become a norm. The symbolism of authority or power portrayed through the holding of the baton is a colonial legacy that is out of place in a transformed Navy of ‘Amrit Kaal’,” the naval directive said.
The options for the “national civil dress” displayed on the side-lines of the three-day conference, which were shown to junior defence minister Ajay Bhatt on Monday, include a short kurta with a formal waistcoat and narrow pyjamas as well as a band-gala suit.
“The matter is still under deliberation by the top commanders. If a decision is taken to allow a national civil dress, it will be with strict specifications and guidelines…it will be formal wear, in addition to the existing mess uniforms like the ‘Red Sea Rigs’ and formal western attire like lounge suits,” an officer said, on being contacted by TOI.
Kurta-pyjamas or other traditional Indian clothes for male personnel as well as guests are strictly not allowed in Army, IAF and Navy messes till now. Over the last several months, however, the Navy has been at the forefront of the drive to discard “vestiges of the colonial era” in the military arena in line with the government’s directive.
In December last year, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had said, “The PM articulated ‘Panch Pran’ from the ramparts of the Red Fort, which included ‘Gulami ki Mansikta Se Mukti’. In pursuance of that end state, the Navy will continue to proactively identify redundant or archaic practices, processes or symbols that could either be discontinued, or modified in consonance with modern day realities.”
Towards this end, PM Narendra Modi had “unveiled” a new “swadeshi” Ensign for the Navy, which included the removal of the red-coloured St George’s Cross from the flag, during the commissioning of indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on September 2 last year.
The Navy then also got a new President’s Standard and Colour as well as Crest in line with the “swadeshi” drive. Last month, the Navy had also put a stop to the practice of its officers carrying batons. “With the passage of time, carrying of batons by naval personnel has gradually become a norm. The symbolism of authority or power portrayed through the holding of the baton is a colonial legacy that is out of place in a transformed Navy of ‘Amrit Kaal’,” the naval directive said.