In a bid to remove another vestige of the British colonial era, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has decided to replace the traditional black robes and caps with Indian attire as the regular dress code for medical college convocations.
This change, which will come into effect from the next academic session, is aimed at embracing India’s cultural heritage in academic ceremonies.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a directive to all central medical institutions and teaching hospitals to develop a state-specific Indian dress code for their graduation ceremonies.
The letter, titled ‘Identification of dress code for Central Government Medical Teaching Institutes’, refers to the Panch Pran (five resolutions) outlined by the Prime Minister.
“In this regard, it is observed that currently, as a common practice, the black cap and gown are used during convocations in various institutes of the ministry. This attire originated in the Middle Ages in Europe and was introduced by the British in all their colonies. The aforementioned tradition is a colonial legacy that needs to be modified.”
“The Ministry has decided that the various institutes of the Ministry including AIIMS and other central institutes like PGIMER, Chandigarh and JIPMER, Puducherry among others engaged in imparting medical education shall devise an appropriate Indian dress code for the convocation ceremony of their institute based on the local traditions of the state in which the institute is situated,” the letter said.
The Ministry added that the proposal in this regard must be submitted to the respective Divisions for consideration and approval by the Secretary (Health).
First published: August 23, 2024 | 17:23 IS
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