AFVOA Newletters of Year 2006

Page 6 of 77 granted for more than half a Century. The regimental elan and pride stems from the uniform. We always like to be dressed appropriately whether on or off parade. Perhaps it has a lot to do with the very tough disciplinary life that we underwent during the formative years at NDA, IMA, OTA, the Training Ship INS Tir, and the Air Force Academy. Going for drill, standing on the cycle while pedaling so that the short’s crease did not crumple, hoping that all the 13 nails in the boot were intact, that all shirt buttons were of the same colour(lest you got booked for 3 extra-drills for technicolour buttons!!, a colourful phrase no doubt inspired by the then recent phenomena of Hollywood films in colour!!) , that the hosetop flashes were of equal length, conforming to the small wooden measure carried by the drill staff. Hoping against hope, that your squadron would be inspected by Sub Maj Bora(Assam Regt) and not by RSM Ayling (Grenadier Guards) and least of all by Capt Whig, the Adjutant from the Gorkhas. Bora could overlook a nail short in the boot; Ayling’s aversion was mainly for loose belts. Any loose belt would be lifted so high that the belt reaches above the shoulders of his six foot four inch frame; but Whig would spot you if you had a haircut more than 3 days earlier, and book you for the following three half-day afternoons at the Drill Square.!! 14. It pains us to see that even the services have become lax in observing the appropriate dress code. Many a time, the correct dress is not prescribed and followed, as appropriate for the solemnity and dignity befitting the occasion. Many serving officers feel that comfort should take precedence over correctness. But as a veteran I feel that propriety should take priority over comfort on such occasions. 15. Coming back to the dress code, I feel that there has to be not only a dress code, but also some uniform for both boys and girls even at college (I would be burned at the stake on campus for these draconian heretical views!!) 16. In the lopsided Tamil civilian world:- • it is considered appropriate for toddlers and kids going to KG and primary school to be dressed in ties, so uncomfortable for playing in this hot clime. • It is considered de rigueur for ladies dressed in nighties to go shopping and leave their kids in school. (a recent phenomenon). In any other country a Nightie is not seen beyond the four walls of the house!! • It is considered appropriate for a Tamil screen hero who is specially invited by the IT and Communications minister, for the release of a philatelic stamp on Tamil Nadu in the Capital by none other than the Prime Minister, to be unshaven, dressed in a shoddy loud T-shirt/pullover, when all in the audience, (excepting a few from Tamil Nadu!) including the minister who had invited him, were in suits. Perhaps he should have been subjected to a shave and putty parade by the minister before coming for the function!! • It is considered the height of seductive charm for leading ladies in our films to cavort around in nine yard “ madisar” saries gyrating alongwith the male superstars warbling double entendre lyrics of songs in a vulgar manner. 17. Such is the hypocrisy of the milieu that is representative of our beloved state, which went hammer & tongs at the actress (foreigner?) who just expressed her personal views. 18. There is an appropriate dress for every occasion that befits it. The Chinese were the first to adopt this, after the old order changed in Beijing. The drab Mao jackets were out. To do business with the West, they realized that they have to be elegantly dressed in suits. No wonder that they have zoomed past all expectations in uplifting their economy. Our brothers in business and industry are slowly coming to terms on this front. The adage, “clothes maketh the man” is sinking into the populace. ( Chennai has of course a long way to go in this regard. The