India's Iconic Bandhgala Jacket Under Fire: Is Colonial Legacy to Blame?
The bandhgala jacket, a staple of Indian Railways formal wear for over a century, has found itself at the center of a heated debate. The garment, renowned for its high collar and tailored fit, is now being targeted by the government's efforts to eradicate what it deems colonial hangovers from India's culture.
Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently declared that the bandhgala would be removed as part of the formal uniform, citing the need to rid Indian society of a "colonial mindset". However, proponents of the jacket argue that this is an affront to the garment's rich history and cultural significance.
For Raghavendra Rathore, an Indian menswear designer and descendant of the royal family of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, where the bandhgala originated, the jacket represents a distinctly Indian expression of royal tailoring. The design evolved over four centuries, influenced by Mughal courts and Rajasthani kingdoms before being adopted by the British as part of their military uniform.
Rathore disputes the notion that the bandhgala is a colonial relic, arguing that its evolution was shaped by both Indian and foreign influences. While it's true that certain elements, such as trims and tailoring, were borrowed from British uniforms, Rathore insists that the jacket itself remained quintessentially Indian.
As part of India's struggle to free itself from the legacy of British colonial rule, which ended in 1947, many traditional garments have been reclaimed as nationalistic symbols. The bandhgala, once a staple of European-style attire, has become an iconic representation of India's rich cultural heritage.
The decision to remove the bandhgala from the Indian Railways uniform is likely to spark debate among fashion enthusiasts and cultural purists alike. With Rathore expressing concern that replacing it with another garment would result in a loss of authenticity, one can't help but wonder what other cherished symbols of India's past will be next on the chopping block.
As the government continues its push to eradicate colonial legacies from Indian society, it remains to be seen how the bandhgala jacket will fare. Will it continue to be celebrated as an integral part of India's cultural identity or will it succumb to the pressure to conform to a more "western" aesthetic? Only time will tell.
The bandhgala jacket, a staple of Indian Railways formal wear for over a century, has found itself at the center of a heated debate. The garment, renowned for its high collar and tailored fit, is now being targeted by the government's efforts to eradicate what it deems colonial hangovers from India's culture.
Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently declared that the bandhgala would be removed as part of the formal uniform, citing the need to rid Indian society of a "colonial mindset". However, proponents of the jacket argue that this is an affront to the garment's rich history and cultural significance.
For Raghavendra Rathore, an Indian menswear designer and descendant of the royal family of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, where the bandhgala originated, the jacket represents a distinctly Indian expression of royal tailoring. The design evolved over four centuries, influenced by Mughal courts and Rajasthani kingdoms before being adopted by the British as part of their military uniform.
Rathore disputes the notion that the bandhgala is a colonial relic, arguing that its evolution was shaped by both Indian and foreign influences. While it's true that certain elements, such as trims and tailoring, were borrowed from British uniforms, Rathore insists that the jacket itself remained quintessentially Indian.
As part of India's struggle to free itself from the legacy of British colonial rule, which ended in 1947, many traditional garments have been reclaimed as nationalistic symbols. The bandhgala, once a staple of European-style attire, has become an iconic representation of India's rich cultural heritage.
The decision to remove the bandhgala from the Indian Railways uniform is likely to spark debate among fashion enthusiasts and cultural purists alike. With Rathore expressing concern that replacing it with another garment would result in a loss of authenticity, one can't help but wonder what other cherished symbols of India's past will be next on the chopping block.
As the government continues its push to eradicate colonial legacies from Indian society, it remains to be seen how the bandhgala jacket will fare. Will it continue to be celebrated as an integral part of India's cultural identity or will it succumb to the pressure to conform to a more "western" aesthetic? Only time will tell.
I mean, can you imagine if they just replaced all our traditional clothes with whatever Western stuff they like 
? The bandhgala jacket is more than just a piece of clothing, it's a part of our history and culture. It's crazy that some people think we should just ditch everything we've been given and start from scratch... like, no offense to the UK or anything 
. I mean, India's got its own unique style and it's time we celebrated that instead of trying to fit into someone else's mold 
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. I mean, it's just a piece of clothing, right? But at the same time, I can see how it could be seen as connected to India's colonial past 
. My grandma used to wear these jackets when she traveled by train, and they always made her feel so fancy 
. To me, the bandhgala jacket is a symbol of old-school elegance and sophistication 
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. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to hold onto some of our cultural heritage? 
But at the same time, I get why there's tension around this whole thing 
. It's like, do we really want to associate ourselves with a part of our history that was imposed on us by another culture? 
. They looked so proud and confident wearing them, like it was their own personal badge of honor 
. I feel like that's what the bandhgala jacket should be remembered for – as a symbol of our people's strength and resilience 
.
... I mean, think about it - the bandhgala jacket has been a part of India's formal wear for over 100 years! it's got its own unique style and history that's deeply rooted in Indian culture 
... if we start replacing all these traditional garments with something more "western", are we gonna lose a piece of ourselves? 
... I'm not sure if the government is being too heavy-handed with this one, but at least they're trying to spark some conversation 
...
. Like, can't they just let people wear what makes them happy? I mean, Ashwini Vaishnaw is trying to rewrite history and tell us that the jacket's colonial past is bad news? Newsflash: cultural exchange is a thing, guys! 
The British might've adopted the design, but it was shaped by Indian traditions too. And who are they to decide what's authentic and what's not?
india has been trading and interacting with others for centuries, why shouldnt we be proud of that? 
so lets just preserve our cultural heritage instead of trying to erase it 
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India's iconic bandhgala jacket is facing a major dilemma - should it be eradicated due to its colonial past or preserved as an integral part of Indian culture 
my grandma used to wear bandhgalas on special occasions and it made her feel so elegant & sophisticated 
can't we just appreciate the cultural significance without trying to suppress it? 
I'm all for being proud of our heritage but let's not forget where our traditions come from 
. It's like, I get what the gov't is trying to do, but can't they just leave it be? It's not all about colonial legacy, you know? The bandhgala has been part of Indian culture for ages, and it's still relevant today 
. I mean, Raghavendra Rathore makes some legit points about its history being shaped by both Indian and foreign influences 
. Let's just appreciate the jacket for what it is – a beautiful piece of Indian tailoring 
. We should be celebrating our diversity, not trying to conform to some sort of "western" standard 
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If a garment like the bandhgala can be both colonial and quintessentially Indian, then what's wrong with that? 
#IndianRailways #BandhgalaRevival
like, why not just learn from it instead of throwing it out the window? The bandhgala has been around for ages and its design is totally unique to India, I love how Raghavendra Rathore is fighting for it 
it's like trying to erase part of your family history - it just doesn't work that way 
the government should try to have a more nuanced approach to this issue 
. I mean, if you're gonna axe a piece of clothing that's been around for over 100 years, what's next? The Beatles are done with? No, seriously, let's not forget where this garment came from - it was originally designed by the royal family of Jodhpur and had nothing to do with colonialism 
. It's a pretty complex issue, and I don't think we should just throw out the baby with the bathwater (or in this case, the bandhgala jacket).