IIT-Kharagpur issues clarification amid row over convocation dress code

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur issued clarification amid the ongoing row among students, faculty and alumni after the prestigious institute gave a detailed dress code for students to follow on the convocation day.

On Monday, IIT-Kharagpur said in a statement that the dress code is not mandatory to follow, and students can wear whatever they want as long as it follows the normal code of conduct applicable to the occasion.

“The mail that was issued to the students regarding the convocation attire was mentioned explicitly due to the theme of the 69th Convocation. It is just a guideline for the students so that it becomes easier for them to comprehend and look the part on their special day…and does not fall under mandatory requisites,” IIT-Kharagpur clarified.

Last week, the institute issued some guidelines which stated that male students should wear a full-sleeved, knee-length, plain, solid white kurta for the upcoming convocation ceremony. It further said that the kurta must have a band collar (mandarin collar) and a straight hem; students must pair the kurta with a white vest as an undershirt and a white fitted cotton churidaar or pyjamas.

On the other hand, female students were asked to wear a plain, solid white cotton saree with a plain, narrow golden zari border and plain pallu. “Saree should be worn in the Parsi style, with pleated pallu. Pair the saree with a white petticoat,” the guidelines said.

The guidelines given by IIT-Kharagpur also mentioned what kind of footwear and accessories the students should wear for their convocation.

As per a The Times of India report, this strict dress code from the institute sparked a row among a section of the student body as they said that this instruction hinders their “personal freedom and choice.”

The report further stated that several students, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, decided to boycott the convocation as a protest against the issued dress code. “Last year, the students had to wear white or off-white kurta pyjama or sarees for convocation. But this year, the specifications are more elaborate, which has caused trouble for many,” An IIT-KGP research scholar told TOI.

Meanwhile, a senior IIT official said, “There have always been instructions on dress code. The specifications are there so that students dress according to the occasion.”