Washed Khadar Mund, white shirt and a diary in his hand…he is a political leader! Irrespective of the political parties, this was the perception of the ancients about the look of a public servant. If it is a female leader, the dress will be a white saree or a khadi saree that is not at all colorful. But the women leaders of the changed era don’t wear white and white and go down to the people. Shailaja teacher, PK Mrs. Mercykuttyamma and Veena George wear colorful sarees. We also see KK Rama, U Pratibha and Veena Nair wearing churidar and doing public work.
They say loudly that it is not about the dress of the political leaders, but about the public action. Many young women leaders are of the opinion that we do not have to become someone else just because we are a political leader. Senior leaders also say that they need an environment to wear clothes of their choice. Asianet News Online talks about the changed dress code of women politicians.
‘You don’t have to live like an alien, you have to accept positive changes’: Thought Jerome
There will be many changes in the society. Public activists or political activists are people who are associated with society. Then it is always better that the political observers also accept the progressive changes within the society. Politicians are also traveling with the young generation. But there is no need to live like an alien in isolation from them. As we move with the younger generation, there will also be changes in clothing perception. What needs to be done is to accept positive changes. The pictures suggest that even AKG was wearing nice and colorful clothes. In other words, such a style of dressing continued even in those days. Now we know that Mrs. Teacheroka used to wear colorful sarees.
The most important thing is to be comfortable in any outfit. But you don’t have to wear Khadi itself. Wasn’t the Khadi movement started as part of the boycott of British-made clothes in the past? There is no need for it in this new era. And it’s not about the clothes, it’s about the action. Clothing is confident and comfortable. We never have the right to criticize what someone else wears.
‘The confidence you get when you go out wearing a white sari is something else’; Bindu Krishna
Not only in women political leaders, but in the political field in general, there are changes about the concepts of dress. There were many people who usually performed public functions wearing only pearly white clothes. In the Congress party, khadar clothing is considered very important. Earlier leaders used to wear only khadar clothes. When it was our time, it was a very difficult financial matter to say, “Buy Qadr.” If we have the money to buy one khadar saree, we can buy three cotton sarees.
When I was active in public work, I used to wear sarees with white borders. Men still wore pearly white khadar clothes. Today’s young people dress differently. Just like the youth walk in our country, the young leaders also walk in the same clothes. That change has also come to young women leaders.
A few of us still wear the same white saree in public events. I sometimes wear colored sarees. But the confidence you get when you go out wearing a white saree is different. It will also help in quick identification of the public worker. It can also be said that our identity has become a white saree. We wear white as part of a simple lifestyle. White is the color of peace.
Now coming women leaders wear all kinds of clothes. White and colored modern clothes will be worn. Why do schools have uniforms? There are those who have money to buy nice clothes and there are those who don’t. Everyone should feel equal. Among political leaders there are those who have money and those who do not. That’s where the white dress comes in handy. Whatever the case may be, clothing choice is an individual’s sole discretion. It is up to them to decide what to wear. All you need is a situation to wear clothes you like.
‘It is better to wear jeans when going to a protest’ : Veena S Nair
The most important thing for me is to wear comfortable clothes. Dressing for the occasion makes me comfortable. For example, if we go to a rally, if the police pull us away, if we wear a saree, it may not be comfortable. In such situations it is advisable to wear jeans and long kurta. But general society has an opinion about the way political leaders dress.
Political leaders need to wear comfortable clothes. I have visited the assembly. But some leaders then said that it is better to wear a sari to look serious. Sarees are required to be worn in some such venues. But I am more comfortable in churidar and kurti. Often we have to stick to a certain dress code because there is a section of people who criticize political leaders for wearing colorful and flashy clothes.
Shouldn’t politicians have churidar? U Pratibha MLA’s reply…
Earlier, CPM MLA U Pratibha was asked in Asianet News Online’s ‘Jimiki Kammal’ program whether she should change her appearance as a political leader. ‘When I was in my second year of LLB, I contested as a panchayat member. It was a surprise when I was told to wear a saree for campaigning that day. Being a political leader, I felt that I should change my appearance. He had to wear a sari and ask for his vote. But after that he went to see the people wearing Churdar himself. We don’t have to become someone else. It is enough to sit as we are’- this is what Pratibha said in that interview in 2019.
“One should not be controlled by another person’s dress. Recently I went to an event in my constituency. After that event, many people told me, ‘Comrade, saree is beautiful, come in saree’. I am not against saree, churidar or leggings. What can’t be agreed is supporting the revolution in Saudi Arabia and calling it bad when a comrade in his own branch criticizes it. It is a double standard’- these are the words Pratibha said then.
‘If women in politics are asked what they should wear, it is their choice. Indira Gandhi was very stylish. Modern designs of that time were worn. Indira Gandhi’s clothes were simple and elegant. But they were judged by their performance. Jayalalitha was evaluated in a different way. There is a lot of gossip about women in politics. There is no problem if a woman walks around in a white saree. They will even win the peace award of the year. There are changes in the ministers in the current assembly. Mercykuttyamma and Shailaja the teacher wear colorful clothes. We were able to start that way. No one has taught us to wear white and white when entering the assembly. What is needed is a situation to wear clothes of your choice.’- Pratibha personified.
Last Updated Mar 8, 2023, 9:03 AM IST
