The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other Institutes of National Importance (INIs), as well as other Central Government medical teaching institutes in India, are required by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement a new dress code for their convocation ceremonies. This is a significant change in policy. This edict deviates from the long-standing custom of wearing black robes and caps in the European style for such celebrations. It was sent in a letter by Thawngzachin Chinsum Naulak, Under Secretary to the Government of India.
During the British colonial era, the black robes and caps—a remnant of the Middle Ages in Europe—were brought to India and have since become a mainstay of academic convocation rituals. However, the Ministry has determined that it is time to swap out these colonial-era insignia for clothing that honors India’s rich and varied cultural past, as the country continues to concentrate on decolonizing numerous facets of its culture and educational system.
The revised regulation highlights the need for each medical facility to create a convocation dress code that draws inspiration from regional customs. The goal of this strategy is to respect the cultural variety of the areas in which these institutes are situated. By include regional cultural components in the graduates’ dress, the Ministry hopes to increase the significance of the convocation ceremonies and give the graduates a stronger sense of cultural pride and identity.
Institutions are urged to work with regional craftspeople and cultural specialists during the design phase to guarantee that the new clothing accurately captures the history of the area. The Ministry has also provided guidelines for submitting suggestions for the new clothing code. The Secretary of Health will study and approve the suggestions to make sure they comply with national policies that support indigenous customs.
This modification is a part of a larger trend in India to review and update colonial-era customs in order to replace them with ones that more accurately reflect the nation’s own customs and values. The Ministry intends to strengthen the cultural relevance of the convocation ceremonies and foster a greater sense of pride and belonging among medical graduates by implementing a dress code that highlights local heritage.
Overall, this project marks a substantial departure from colonial legacies to a more indigenous and culturally relevant approach in academic ceremonies, recognizing India’s cultural diversity throughout its educational institutions.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
