The “ganvesh”, the trademark uniform of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, could soon look different. The easily recognisable khaki baggy shorts the cadres wear may make way for full-length trousers.
The organisation is understood to be thinking of the change to keep pace with the times and appear attractive for the youth, who refrain from using the shorts fearing teasing. The subject was discussed for an hour at the recently concluded Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal of the RSS in Ranchi.
“Some favoured replacing the shorts, while others opposed it. Those pitching for change said the organisation must change with the times and take into consideration the comfort level of the youth. Those opposing the change said the shorts were part of the RSS identity; it’s branding,” said Satish Modh, Konkan Prant Sahasangchalak of the RSS.
The organisation considered the change in the past, too. This time, a 12-member team, of its central executive members and prant pracharaks, will tour the country and collect the opinion on the ground. The committee will submit its report next year at the session of the All India Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body of the RSS.
RSS leaders said the cadre was most likely to wear shorts during the daily shakhas, but don the trousers during the ceremonial marches. The white shirt was likely to be retained, Mr. Modh said.
The members of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the international body of the RSS, wear trousers instead of shorts.
From the time the RSS was established, the “ganvesh” has been the marker of its cadre. Over the years, however, subtle changes have been made. The last change came in 2011, when leather belts were replaced with canvas ones because of the cost and poor availability of leather. Also, Jain Muni Tarun Sagar then pointed out that using leather belts did not reflect non-violence.
The RSS dress-code till the start of World War-II was the all-khaki uniform. “It was designed by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the first Sarsangchalak of the RSS, who chose it from the uniform of the Congress Seva Dal,” Mr. Modh said. The Seva Dal is the grassroots unit of the Congress formed in 1924.
In 1930, the khaki cap was replaced with a black cap, and in 1940, white shirts replaced khaki shirts after the British government banned the RSS “ganvesh” and its route marches. “After World War II broke out, private institutions were barred from conducting drills,” senior RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya said.
The next change came around the time of the Emergency, when the RSS dropped its military-style long boots for black shoes. The question of replacing the khaki shorts has been raised in the past too — in 2000, Mr. Vaidya said. The outfit decided to retain its uniform, as no consensus was reached on a major change. The RSS is once again re-evaluating the need for change. “The RSS is a progressive outfit and believes in change with the times,” Mr. Modh said.
