Signature style

“This is known as the Muktsar style and has become popular over the last couple of years,” says Singh,who specialises in the style. “My father came to the university in 1962 when I was ten years old. Tailoring is a family profession and I have seen many styles come and go but this one is really popular,” adds Singh,who stitches three to four pairs in a day. “I have boys coming in to place two to three orders every day”. “The style originated from the Muktsar region of Punjab. There are many students from that area and perhaps the students here took a liking to it. It’s also a young style,” he says.

The outfit has come to imply a style statement that is not likely to fail. “Just like blue denims teamed with a crisp white shirt spells effortless style,it’s the same with the fitted white kurta-pyjama boys wear on campus,” says Gurpreet Gill,a law student. Unlike a ‘Pathani suit’ with its round kurta edges teamed with a salwar or a long-sleeved regular kurta that ends well below the knees (this often doubles up as a night suit for most Indian men),the PU campus kurta-pyjama is more macho in appearance. The kurta is snug,the sleeves short,with lapels on either side and the pyjamas like well-fitted slim pants. The kurta length is short and there’s no pleating anywhere.

Though having taken the cue from politicians,students seem to have tweaked the style quotient. “The outfit is very comfortable,especially during elections when we have errands to run and campaigning is on the high,” says Harpreet Multani,a supporter of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU). Multani,however,has a different take on the style. “I don’t think there’s any style called Muktsar style. It’s just that tailors in Muktsar are known to be the best in field. I got mine stitched there too,” says Multani who is joined by friend Harshvardhan Singh,campus president,SOPU in taking the style statement forward. “It’s an outfit that’s associated with leaders in our country and we’re following suit,” says Singh.

The outfit is however not just worn during election time. “Have you noticed how former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s kurta-pyjama is different from those sported by the Badals,” asks BA student Amrik Singh,clad in a crisp white pair himself. “Capt Singh’s is a Patiala style where he pairs a short kurta with a tight churidaar. It’s not a popular style with youngsters though,” he adds. Like most students,he owns more than a couple of pairs and never wears anything creased or dirty. “The pair should be spotless. The ladies are always impressed,” he signs off.