Goodbye Knickers, Hello Trousers: RSS gets new uniform

In the biggest makeover the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has witnessed in its history, the unique khaki coloured knickers is replaced with brown trousers as the uniform.

Highly places sources in the RSS have told India Today that a decision on uniform change has been agreed on at the three-day meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha, which is underway in Nagaur, Rajasthan.

The decision to adopt brown trousers as new uniform has been taken to attract youths, RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said.

A formal announcement about the decision will be made during a press conference tomorrow.

For many decades the loose fitting, flappy khakhi knickers have been the most visible manifestation of RSS volunteers. A large section of the RSS now feels that the time has come to move on from the khakhi shorts but some old timers continue to hold out saying that there is no need to be swayed by fashion trends.

The colour of the trousers has been changed to brown, he further added. The members of the Sangh at the moment sport khaki shorts paired with a white shirt, along with a black cap as their official uniform.

Suggestions have come for changing the trademark khaki to blue or grey, keeping in the mind sensibilities of the new generation, which RSS says is flocking to its shakhas. RSS sources said the issue has been discussed since last year’s annual conference in Nagpur. RSS has allowed track pants in its shakhas for IT professionals.

When the proposal was last debated 5 years ago, it was rejected because of opposition from elderly members of the RSS.