RSS May Lose Its Shorts for Trousers in Major Uniform Rejig

RSS may be going in for its first major uniform update and lose the traditional shorts in a bid to attract the youth.

RSS volunteers during Vijaya Dashmi function at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. (Photo: PTI)

RSS swayamsevaks’ traditional uniform, shorts, could soon make way for trousers, as the Sangh considers a new dress code to attract the youth, according to The Indian Express. A discussion on this was held last week at a meeting in Ranchi, where some swayamsevaks wearing the new uniform paraded before RSS members, according to sources quoted in the report.

There are two options being considered:

• A T-shirt, black trousers, the same black cap as the present one, white canvas shoes and khaki socks.
  
• A full-sleeve white shirt, pants – the proposed colours are khaki, navy blue, blue or grey – black leather or rexene shoes, khaki socks, a canvas belt and a black cap.

<p>The last change in the RSS uniform was in 2010, when the canvas belt replaced the leather one. Even that decision took two years to implement because of availability problem. From the inception of the RSS in 1925 till 1939, the Sangh had an all-khaki uniform, but in 1940, white shirts were introduced. Leather shoes replaced long boots in 1973 and later rexene shoes were also allowed as an option.</p>

<p><i>The Indian Express</i></p>

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