Haryana opposes college gowns

Chandigarh: After announcing to introduce chapters from the Gita in school curriculum, the BJP government in Haryana wants to stop the practice of wearing gowns during school and college convocations.

A Haryana minister has openly denounced the long-standing culture of wearing gowns to such functions, saying the “gown-culture” was a practice that was inherited from the British, and that it needed to be terminated.

On Thursday, former President APJ Abdul Kalam echoed similar views in Kurukshetra, urging educational institutions to give up the practice of wearing gowns and coats, and instead wear the more Indian “angavastra”.

Institutions in quandary

The growing opposition to gowns in Haryana, especially from the saffron brigade, has left educational institutes in a dilemma, given that annual convocation events often require VIPs or ministers as chief guests who may or may not appreciate students in gowns.

A miffed Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij last week put off his scheduled engagement at a college in Ambala after learning that the programme involved giving away degrees to students dressed in gowns, said sources.

Former president Kalam was the chief guest at the annual convocation of the National Institute of Technology in Kurukshetra on Thursday.

While he did not make a fuss about the “dress code”, he said, “We are wearing this beautiful coat. I told your director that the British introduced this coat. We must have a coat of our own, our own uniform. Next time, introduce something unique that should be a beautiful ‘angavastra’.”