Seventy-six years after Independence, India has at last started discarding protocols and practices introduced by the British.

Though defence forces world over pride in their history, their battle honours, their gallantry deeds and their strong traditions and decorum, yet change of status from a  Colony to an independent or a souvenir nation also bring in changes that at times can wash off some of these accomplishments.

Of late, India has been trying to give “Bhartiya” look to its forces. Things are being changed so as to demit them of their British legacy.

I have lots of memories of my interactions with senior defence officers, including those from the Judge Advocate-General (JAG) branch over continuation of  British traditions and conventions in the Indian  defence forces.

In 1989, I joined a group of Indian journalists from various media organisations for a 10-week War Correspondents’ Course. The Course took us to College of Combat in Mhow, various Infantry, artillery, armoured and missile units besides Air Force and premier Naval bases in the country. It was a great learning experience.

There was an incident worth remembering, as it was both pleasant and sour. One of our fellow journalists turned up in national dress – dhoti-kurta and Gandhian Khaddar cap – for the evening get together. A senior member of the Mess Committee quietly walked to him to request him to go to back to his room and change his dress failing which he may not be allowed to join the party. The journalist was shocked as he told the officer that he was in the national dress and should not be bared from attending the function.

The Mess officer, however, took him aside and politely convinced him to go back to his room, change and come back to join the event. He did.

Discussions during the evening meeting took a turn when one of other journalists politely asked the Commanding Officer of the Unit about the Dress Code and whether anybody who comes in the national dress of “dhoti-kurta and Gandhian cap” or “pyjama-kurta and Gandhian cap”,  would he be allowed into the Mess. The answer “No” surprised us all. How come in an independent country in the defence officers mess the national dress could be disallowed? Was the question everybody wanted to ask.

The CO, a warm and friendly man, however, very calmly explained that the defence forces abide their strong traditions, discipline and culture.

“Traditions do not change with the change of command,” he explained. When one of the journalists asked what if the Union Defence Minister comes in national dress of dhoti-kurta and Gandhian cap, would he  too, be turned back? The answer “Yes” shocked all of us.

But now, the Indian Navy has taken the lead. It has decided to allow its sailors and officers to come to the Naval Messes, Defence Officers Institutes in “Kurta-Pyjama and half sleeve jackets with  shoes or sandals.

The latest decision made public last week says that ethnic wear now enters the Indian Navy’s messes The “ethnic” dress of kurta-pyjamas, along with sleeveless jackets and closed formal shoes or sandals, can be worn by officers and sailors in officers’ messes and sailors’ institutes.

The Navy’s guidelines to its commands and establishments also lay down the colour and style of the attire which can be donned when “the prescribed rig is informal (open collar) or casuals” in the messes.

The new Naval guidelines specify that the kurta must be of a “solid tone”, with a length up to the knees. The cuff sleeves on the kurta can be adorned with buttons or cuff links. Additionally, the “matching or contrast tone” of the narrow pyjama has to be “in line with trousers, with elastic waistband and side pockets”, media reports said.

Furthermore, the straight-cut waistcoat or jacket will be sleeveless and embellished with a “matching pocket square”. It has been mentioned that women officers can wear “kurta-churidar” or “kurta-palazzo”.

“This new dress code is not applicable for warships or submarines,” the reports said.

Up until now, kurta-pyjamas for male personnel and even guests were banned in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), and Navy messes. The Indian traditional wear was only permitted on festive occasions such as Lohri and Diwali in the wardrooms, Officers’ Institutes (OI) and messes.

(Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience of 14 years with Reuters News and 30 years with The Tribune Group, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows.)