The CM, Mr. Tirvendra Singh Rawat, refused the robe describing it as a relic of colonial era; and hence suggested the adoption of a "purely Indian" attire for such occasions.

Brace yourself as Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, two days ago, refused to wear a robe at the 15th convocation ceremony of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun. The CM, Mr. Tirvendra Singh Rawat, refused the robe describing it as a relic of colonial era; and hence suggested the adoption of a "purely Indian" attire for such occasions.

What "Purely Indian" attire can be worn in a conovocation?

You suggest.

In the meantime, let's take this write-up forward.

Had the Uttarakhand CM wore the customary robe and the function concluded as per plan, the next day's newspapers, TV News Channels and News portals would have nothing to write about, except for the bland report of the Uttarakhand CM attending some convocation ceremony of some Educational Institution.

But by refusing the robe and linking it to some colonial legacy, the CM has made a simple convocation event into a big news.

By refusing the robe, the CM made the event as one about country's pride, ancient Wisdom, ancient culture and our roots.

In his speech, the CM said,

"The country should take pride in its ancestors, its ancient wisdom and culture and should not give up its roots," 

"the youth should serve their country with the same dedication as the Hanuman served Lord Ram. 

Have you thought of some "Purely Indian" attire?

If not, then lets take this article to the conclusion.

I don't think, there was any need for the CM to refuse the robe. The Education system we are following is Western, or purely colonial. It's not about some British Officer creating some selfish education system to subjugate us. The plain truth is : Irrespective of who rules us, or who we are; we have no clue about some better System -- An educational system which can replace the existing one. But that necessarily is not a bad thing either. If a civilization cannot invent, it can at least innovate. But the innovation must be for the major parts of the system. Not for the robe, which is just a customary part of it.

To conclude, there's a common Wisdom which says that in a celebration of any kind, the spotlight must be on the person whose achievement or Happiness is being celebrated. That's why we hear terms such as "The Birthday Girl/Boy" etc.

A University's convocation ceremony is meant for Congratulating the students of the university on attaining their degrees. hence, the spotlight must be on them.

If everything is relative to something else, then remarkably the other dignitaries attending the event, including Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul and Union Minister for Human Resource Prakash Javadekar, readily wore the robe.

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