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Indian Club’s Ban on Dhotis in Favor of Western Attire Draws Protests Indian Club’s Ban on Dhotis in Favor of Western Attire Draws Protests
(about 5 hours later)
NEW DELHI — A regional leader in southern India on Wednesday condemned “sartorial despotism” after a posh, English-style cricket club denied entry to several men wearing traditional Indian wraparound garments, telling them they could enter only in “full trousers, shirts or T-shirts with collars,” as rules posted outside the club say. NEW DELHI — A regional leader in southern India on Wednesday condemned “sartorial despotism” after a posh English-style cricket club denied entry to several men wearing traditional Indian wraparound garments, telling them they could enter only in “full trousers, shirts or T-shirts with collars,” as rules posted outside the club say.
A judge and two lawyers wearing dhotis, four-yard lengths of unstitched cloth that are worn pleated and wrapped around the waist, were turned away last week from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu State, where they were planning to attend a book release event.A judge and two lawyers wearing dhotis, four-yard lengths of unstitched cloth that are worn pleated and wrapped around the waist, were turned away last week from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu State, where they were planning to attend a book release event.
Coming on the heels of a huge victory by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in national elections, the matter has received widespread publicity and has set off some protests, with politicians casting it as an insult by Anglophile elites toward traditional Indian culture.Coming on the heels of a huge victory by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in national elections, the matter has received widespread publicity and has set off some protests, with politicians casting it as an insult by Anglophile elites toward traditional Indian culture.
One group of activists delivered shipments of dhotis to the club as a sign of their indignation.One group of activists delivered shipments of dhotis to the club as a sign of their indignation.
Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu State, proposed revoking the licenses of clubs that do not allow traditional attire, and demanded an explanation from the club.Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu State, proposed revoking the licenses of clubs that do not allow traditional attire, and demanded an explanation from the club.
Calls to the club were not answered on Wednesday, and club officials have made no public comment. One, however, speaking on the condition of anonymity to NDTV, a news channel, said the ban on dhotis, which are secured around the waist with a loose knot, like a sarong, was intended “to prevent wardrobe malfunction under the influence of alcohol, nothing else.” Calls to the club were not answered on Wednesday, and club officials have made no public comment. One official, however, speaking on the condition of anonymity to NDTV, a news channel, said the ban on dhotis, which are secured around the waist with a loose knot, like a sarong, was intended “to prevent wardrobe malfunction under the influence of alcohol, nothing else.”
Club representatives “can’t say so in public,” the official added.Club representatives “can’t say so in public,” the official added.
Most large Indian cities have exclusive clubs that date to the British colonial era, with formal dress codes mandating Western clothes for men, including collared shirts to be worn tucked into pants. Indian politicians often prefer traditional dress and footwear. Shashi Tharoor, a former minister of external affairs, once described being turned away from his sister’s wedding reception for wearing a silk kurta, a traditional tunic.Most large Indian cities have exclusive clubs that date to the British colonial era, with formal dress codes mandating Western clothes for men, including collared shirts to be worn tucked into pants. Indian politicians often prefer traditional dress and footwear. Shashi Tharoor, a former minister of external affairs, once described being turned away from his sister’s wedding reception for wearing a silk kurta, a traditional tunic.
Ms. Jayaram called the episode an “insult to Tamil civilization and culture.”Ms. Jayaram called the episode an “insult to Tamil civilization and culture.”
Since the bylaws of the cricket club bar anyone who is “indecently dressed,” and make no mention of dhotis, Ms. Jayaram said it was illegal to have denied the men entry, calling it “sartorial despotism.”Since the bylaws of the cricket club bar anyone who is “indecently dressed,” and make no mention of dhotis, Ms. Jayaram said it was illegal to have denied the men entry, calling it “sartorial despotism.”
State legislators have said they plan to amend the law governing registration of private clubs to ban discrimination based on clothing.State legislators have said they plan to amend the law governing registration of private clubs to ban discrimination based on clothing.
The state’s main opposition leader, M.K. Stalin, took the same position, telling a newspaper, “Dhoti-clad Tamils made significant contributions in sending out colonial rulers 67 years ago.” The state’s main opposition leader, M. K. Stalin, took the same position, telling a newspaper, “Dhoti-clad Tamils made significant contributions in sending out colonial rulers 67 years ago.”
A lawyer from Chennai filed a class-action lawsuit on Monday against a number of clubs, including the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, the Madras Gymkhana Club and the Madras Boat Club.A lawyer from Chennai filed a class-action lawsuit on Monday against a number of clubs, including the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, the Madras Gymkhana Club and the Madras Boat Club.
The lawsuit contends that wearing a dhoti “is an integral part of our cultural context and daily custom and religion.” The dhoti was a pillar of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s campaign for independence from Britain, it says.The lawsuit contends that wearing a dhoti “is an integral part of our cultural context and daily custom and religion.” The dhoti was a pillar of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s campaign for independence from Britain, it says.
During her speech on Monday, Ms. Jayaram recalled an incident from the days of the British raj, when the mayor of Madras, as Chennai was known then, defied a directive from the governor, Lord Willingdon, to wear Western attire to greet the Prince of Wales.During her speech on Monday, Ms. Jayaram recalled an incident from the days of the British raj, when the mayor of Madras, as Chennai was known then, defied a directive from the governor, Lord Willingdon, to wear Western attire to greet the Prince of Wales.
“What is this club for us, when we have intimidated the English government?” she asked the legislators, who thumped on benches to express their assent.“What is this club for us, when we have intimidated the English government?” she asked the legislators, who thumped on benches to express their assent.