Indian dress code to replace colonial era black robes, caps for medical convocation ceremonies

PTC News Desk: The Health Ministry has decided to implement an "appropriate Indian dress code" for convocation ceremonies at AIIMS, INIs, and similar institutes.  On Friday, the ministry wrote to the heads of all central government-run medical institutions, requesting that they identify Indian attire as the dress code for students attending convocation, rather than a black robe and cap.

According to the health ministry directive, the current dress code is evocative of the colonial period and must be changed.

“I am directed to invite a reference to the PANCH PRAN (five resolutions) enunciated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. In this regard, it is observed that currently as a matter of practice black robe and cap is being used during convocation by various institutes of the ministry,” the order read.

“This attire originated in the Middle Ages in Europe and was introduced by the British in all their colonies. The above tradition is a colonial legacy which needs to be changed. Accordingly, it has been decided by the ministry that the various institutes of the ministry including AIIMS /INIs engaged in imparting medical education will design appropriate Indian dress code for the convocation ceremony of their institute’ based on local traditions of the state in which the institute is located," it added.

The ministry asked that a proposal in this regard be made to the concerned division within the ministry.