This policy is in line with the ‘Panch Pran’ issued by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the country breaks free from the colonial mindset and takes pride in its culture.
In an effort to decolonise and indigenise the education system, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently asked all central government medical teaching institutions, including the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), to wear traditional Indian dress during gatherings.
This directive is in line with the ‘Panch Pran’ issued by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the country break free from the colonial mindset and take pride in its culture.
The tradition of wearing black robes and caps at gatherings, which originated in medieval Europe and was adopted by the British colonial rulers, is likely to be changed.
The ministry stressed that this clothing was a “colonial relic that needed to be modified as part of the ongoing decolonization process in India.”
All institutes under the Ministry of Health, including AIIMS, have been asked to prepare new patterns of dress code for gatherings reflecting the cultural ethos of the state in which the institute is located.
For example, students in Punjab could dress in salwar-kurtas, while students in Kerala and Tamil Nadu could dress in saris. This approach is intended to reinforce the regional and cultural focus of the graduation ceremonies.
It is one of the “Panch Pran” or “Five Vows” announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Independence Day 2022.
These resolutions are intended to regulate India’s further development over the next 25 years, with emphasis on the complete eradication of colonialism and pride in India’s origins.
The aim is to promote a sense of community and responsibility among every citizen while shaping the development of the country in line with the Indian ethos.
