Chaddi Out, Trousers In! RSS to Don New Khaki Uniform
Mangaluru: Bidding the traditional khaki knickers goodbye, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) launched the sale of its new uniform-brown trousers, at its headquarters in Nagpur. The change marks a radical departure, the first such in the organisation’s 91-year-history. The brown trousers are intended to attract youth “who do not feel so comfortable with the traditional knickers”. The decision to replace the khaki shorts with trousers was taken at the RSS’s Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha held at Nagaur, Rajasthan earlier this year. The new uniforms were made in Rajasthan and the first consignment reached Nagpur on Sunday.
The trousers will be on show at the first major event to be held on Vijayadasami in October this year at Reshimbag ground in Nagpur. Every member of the RSS has to purchase the uniform. “No one is excluded from this. Even the Sarsanghchalak [chief] has to buy his uniform,” as per a former RSS member and thinker. The price of the new attire has been kept at Rs.250 and the rest of the uniform — white shirt, canvas belt, black cap, black shoes — is also being sold along with the trousers.
The idea to introduce trousers was discussed within the RSS in 2010, but the media reported it and a dismayed RSS did not want to be seen implementing something that had already gone public. It should be noted that the second RSS chief, M.S. Golwalkar, never used the cap and stick because of his background in the Ramakrishna Math.
The familiar RSS dress symbolised by knickers was adopted in 1925, including leather belts, long black shoes, khaki cap and a stick. The first change took place in 1930 when the khaki cap was replaced by a black one, and this was followed by a white shirt in place of khaki. Again, in 1973, there was a third alteration when lighter shoes were introduced. The last change came in 2011 when Jain muni Tarun Sagar said the use of a leather belt was “not so related to non-violence”. The leather belt was overnight replaced with a canvas equivalent.
RSS units outside India are known as the ‘Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’ and its members are allowed to use trousers.
Inputs from YahooNews
Pic 2 and Pic 1 reminds me of our Yumreeki RampaNNA – now and then – some ‘Chalees saal baad’.
Good show ya RampaNNA. Praveena kush hua. 🙂
A pic says a thousand words. And lo – the pics posted of this piece are simply brilliant! And if truth be told, it reminded me of our Pyarelallu Yumreeki RampaNNA so much. OK agreed… I have seen neither hair nor hide of since our Saudi days. But since he and I have been chaddi-dosts. Literally! Only difference was that he was ACTUALLY wearing shorts – the shape, flare of bells, L x B and volume is shown in pic 2 (Disclaimer: the pic is NOT meant solely for mere illustrative purposes) while I was wearing the normal shorts. Lil… Read more »
India needs volunteers that will work with the poorest of the poor, in short – become a father Theresa by replicating the work by mother who will soon become a saint. Chaning of Uniforms, practicing lathi drill and making provocative speeches will not solve any of India’s problem, in truth it will make matters worse. The RSS has an army of volunteer man power, the resources, and intellect but lack the money to work like any of the worldwide charities and become like the Salvation Army, Red Cross and the scores of organizations we see in the West. If they… Read more »
Jay, each RSS member donates a months income as guru dakshina. Is that not a huge amount?
Each member donates A MONTHS income as Guru Dakshina…. – Aroona (Irani)? Well, there are some 6 million RSS chaddis in some 60k shakhas in India. Assume they earn an avg salary of 12k IRS per month. (some chaddis like Yumreeki RampaNNA’s earn 100 times more. So, EVEN if what you say is true, that figure is mammoth. It amounts to 6,000,000 Chaddis x 12,000 IRS = 72,000,000,000 IRS per YEAR which equates to about 1.080 BILLION USD per YEAR! Well, not exactly loose-change – EVEN for our Yumreeki ThyampaNNA who rides a Luna/Suvega out on the Yumreeki Range. So,… Read more »
Chaddi out,Trouser in! Really.
Does the so called ‘social organisation’ has gave up the principle ideology based on’ Bunch of Thoughts’?
Why the organisation need military style arms training which praised by the UP governor for social cause?
When are the giving up Hitler Nazi style salutes? Does it anywhere related to Indian culture?
Lastly,Chadi or Trousers is it Indian culture? Why not Make in India ‘Kasti’?
Jai hind
“Lastly, chaddi or trousers is it Indian culture? Why not Make in India ‘Kasti’? – Mr. Sheikh
Shhh… not so loud my friend.
Or else, our Yumreeki RampaNNA will allege that even YOUR your US Visa was rejected and that you are a Sanaaaathanaaaa Dharmaaaa Hater in addition to spending some 15 years in Saudi Arabia in a 10 x 10 foot room.