RSS uniform's newest addition
RSS's new uniform has another addition - a 'brown coloured sweater' - that RSS swayamsevaks will wear from this winter onwards. The sweater's introduction was in response to demands made by RSS members from North/Central India where winters are usually severe. RSS members will don their new uniform for the first time on October 11 on Vijay Dashmi when RSS celebrates their 91st anniversary.
The RSS: A history
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar established the RSS as a volunteer organization to promote national values in 1925. It proclaims its ideal as upholding Indian culture and civilizational values more than anything else. Despite popular misconceptions, there are several Muslim as well as Christian members of the RSS, according to their official website. Today there are RSS shakhas or centers in over 50,000 villages across India.
Banned four times since inception
The RSS was banned four times since its inception. First in 1940 under the British rule, then in 1948 after the assassination of M.K. Gandhi, in 1975 during the emergency period and in 1992 after the Babri Masjid demolition.
How did the RSS uniform evolve?
The first uniform of the RSS consisted of khaki shorts, khaki shirt and a khaki cap. In 1930, a black khaki cap was introduced. In 1940, the British banned the RSS, perceiving it as a threat to British interests in India. The RSS then, dropped the khaki shirt (similar to police uniforms of the British raj) and replaced it with white shirts.
Last time the uniform was changed
In 2011, the RSS decided to do away with the leather belts that were standard issue for their uniforms. They were replaced by those made of thick canvas as they were cheaper and easy to maintain.
RSS to scrap its iconic shorts
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has decided to replace the iconic khaki shorts as part of its uniform. The decision was taken after a three day meeting at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. RSS General Secretary Suresh Joshi said, "We have changed our uniform. We move with the times and are not rigid. We have decided to replace the khaki shorts with brown trousers."
When will it be rolled out?
General Secretary Suresh Joshi said the details of when the new uniform will become functional will be worked out. Care would be taken to ensure that the new trousers would be comfortable while doing physical activities.
Pleats, flat fronts to make RSS fashionable
The RSS will have pleated pants for obese members and flat fronts for slim members in order to keep the look "fashionable and contemporary", according to spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya. The RSS is being assisted by a group of 12 women to design the new look. Fourteen manufacturing units in Gurgaon will make the pants from cloth procured from seven textile mills in Bhilwara, Rajasthan.
Khaki Pants: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's New Uniform
Khaki trousers, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) new uniform idea will be implemented from 11th October -its Foundation Day and Vijayadashmi. The sale of the same has begun at its Nagpur headquarters. The replacement of khaki knickers with khaki trousers was a decision arrived at an annual meeting of RSS's highest decision-making body, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), which took place in March'16.
