Uniform in colleges? That’s like a bad gag

MUMBAI, November 12: A little known social organisation's big idea to introduce a uniform dress code for college students has been vehement...

MUMBAI, November 12: A little known social organisation’s big idea to introduce a uniform dress code for college students has been vehemently opposed by individual college managements, much to the relief of the concerned students.

The Jan Chetana Manch, which has been around for the past three years, recently submitted a resolution to the state ministry of higher education, with the intention of painting the college campuses in a single dull hue. Though the minister of higher and technical education Datta Rane has yet to react to the so called “mass awakening”, the Manch insists that a common uniform will ensure that colleges are “not treated as a place for fashion parade”.

The Manch organisers have thus reasoned in an official press release: “For higher education higher atmosphere (sic) is needed.” One of the organisers, Dr T Manwani, told Express Newsline that "if a certain college in New Delhi can debar girls from wearing jeans then why can’t Mumbai colleges go a step ahead and introduce uniforms?”

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“A uniform for college students will discourage the rich boys and girls from showing off by way of fancy clothes. We shall be intimating all the vice-chancellors of various universities in the state and also the individual college managements to drive home our point," he added.

However, he is also certain of the fact that a stricture like this one will be difficult to implement, but someone had to make a noble beginning. “In the hit Hindi film Beta Anil Kapoor has sported dhoti-kurta throughout the film, this only proves that not everybody is influenced by the western attire which at times appears vulgar,” reasoned Dr Manwani.

Students are reluctant to conform, though.

"It’s hideous, horrible and hilarious to have uniforms in colleges, it’s like going back to school!” commented a TYBA student of St Xavier’s College, Nicole D’Souza. Proud to be studying in one of the trendiest colleges in the city, Nicole added that though mini skirts and shorts are banned on their campus, students will simply stop attending the lectures if uniforms are thrust on them.

Principal P M Sule of D G Ruparel, agreed. “One cannot generally force young adults to wear uniforms; however, if the state is keen on introducing it we shall slowly implement the uniforms at the junior college level first,” said Sule.

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Principal M H Ajwani of HR college of Commerce was also of the view that uniforms should remain in schools only. “Though people say that children tend to develop an inferiority complex if they see others wearing better clothes, I feel that in college students should be able to get rid of such complexes and learn to see life beyond clothes,” he added.