The RSS and khaki shorts: a short history of Indian Sangh's earlier uniforms

 The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a Hindu nationalist group that was established in 1925. It is an aristocratic organization that has evolved from its foundational traditions and now has a head office in Delhi, and branches all over India, It also has several foreign branches in other nations. Its members are known as "swayamsevaks," and its membership is estimated to be between 10 and 20 million people. They have their own uniforms as well!

The khaki shorts have been worn since 1936 when a young RSS member was given short trousers as part of his school uniform. Dr. Hedgewar, a well-known designer, created the RSS uniform to represent simplicity and commitment. It is also said that khaki shorts were easier to wash than trousers, which is why they were popular with the RSS volunteers, who had to work hard in the fields of rural India.

What is RSS?

RSS stands for 'Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh', which is a group of volunteer paramilitary Hindus. RSS was an organization set up in 1925 by a physician from Maharashtra, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, as a result of ongoing civil riots at the time. This organization continues to stand even today, with some significant political personalities still being part of it.

Uniform of RSS and the upgradations:

The first uniform of RSS in 1925 was completely khaki, and it included a khaki cap, a khaki shirt, and khaki trousers. In 1926, lathi was an add-on to the uniform. Later on, in 1930, black caps took over khaki caps, and in 1940, khaki shirts were replaced with white shirts. Even long boots introduced in 1962 were replaced with regular light-shade shoes and khaki socks. The focus on khaki in the RSS uniform has gradually reduced, leaving only khaki shorts till 2016.

Khaki trousers replaced with dark brown pants:

In 2016, after a heated discussion, a consensus was reached among the Sangh's highest decision-making body, Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), at Nagpur. The decision was to replace khaki trousers with dark brown long pants. 

One set of people accepted this change while the other set portrayed strong opposition. The older Sevaks were quite hurt as the symbol of RSS for 90 years, khaki trousers would no longer remain. They felt a part of them being reduced by this change. On the other hand, many people, including youth interested in joining RSS, welcomed the decision. They expressed that the earlier khaki shorts were stopping them from joining the RSS, which would no longer be the case. Even the higher Sevaks in the Sangh readily accepted the change.

Bhaiyyaji Joshi, the then Sarkaryawah, stated that full-length pants are normal in day-to-day life, so they accepted it. He also added that the members of the Sangh have moved well with the times and have no hesitation in adapting to this change.

Inference out of commotion:

The ultimate output that stands over this issue is the attachment towards uniforms. Uniforms have a significant impact on the people who wear them. Unlike most people who say uniforms undermine the confidence of people, they actually boost morale, inject enthusiasm, and enhance the ability to dedicate themselves towards the job or work. 

Uniforms are a non-verbal communicative tool expressing the nature of an individual's profession, career, or commitment to society. Different people have different attachments and requirements when it comes to uniforms. Doctors require well-suited white coats, while lawyers require flattering black coats. The nature of the job, the environment of the workplace, and many other factors influence the choice of uniforms. The same factors have played a role in the change of the RSS uniform.

Conclusion:

A major concern around uniforms is the comfort factor. Comfort is based on several factors like the design of the uniform, suitability of design to the profession, the color and pattern of the uniform that projects the brand suitably, the fabric of the uniform that offers comfort given the weather and job role constraints, and the fitting of the uniform that does not hinder the individual from concentrating on the work. All these factors can be taken care of when the best uniform suppliers, like Parallel Plaids, are chosen to help. Experienced and adept at the task of creating uniforms, Parallel Plaids is the right choice for you and your organization’s uniform needs.