Haryana Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij today expressed strong reservation to the "colonial legacy" of wearing black gowns during convocation ceremony by the Degree recipients and asked the state government to consider introducing new dress code for such functions.
Vij said, he has written a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma in this regard, saying the colonial legacy of black gown as convocation outfit should be barred in the educational institutions of the state.
Asking the BJP government to stop the "slavery tradition" which has been continuing since the British period, he said, "Indian dress will be better in place of heavy black gowns used during convocations as a symbol of status."
It is to be noted that Vij had last month refused to attend the convocation function of SD College in Ambala Cantt as the students were putting on black gowns for the ceremony. Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was the chief guest.
Talking to reporters here today, Vij, an outspoken BJP leader, said he would personally meet the ministers and the BJP MLAs and persuade them not to attend such convocation functions where the students and the teachers wear black gown.
In his letter, he said he had suggested the chief minister to constitute a committee of academicians to finalise the design and colour of "Indian dress code for such functions."
Off white or cream colour could be the choice of the outfit, which could be shirt-trouser, salwar-kameej, kurta- payjama or a saree, he added.
