In a move to end the British tradition of wearing convocation gowns as the official graduation dress code within Indian universities, the government is planning to replace the gown with traditional Indian attires, according to a report in Hindustan Times.
Quoting sources at the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, the report stated that the government was keen on giving the convocation ceremony a more Indian touch, and felt that gowns and caps worn in several educational institutions were reflective of a British legacy.
A notice will soon be issued by the ministry seeking suggestions from the general public on what kind of attire must replace the existing one.
"A notice will be issued by the ministry and all suggestions will be studied, following which a final decision will be taken. The attire should match with our climatic conditions and at the same time reflect our culture. We don't want to impose anything and that's why suggestions are being invited from all," HT quoted a senior HRD official saying.
In June this year, IIT Kanpur students wore kurta pajamas (for boys) and salwar kameezs (for girls) during their convocation ceremony. Last year, IIT Bombay chose khadi over colonial gowns as the official attire for their convocation ceremony.
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