[Assam] Convocation Gowns 'Barbaric Colonial Relics':???

[Chan Mahanta]

The following news from India:
  My question is why is it BARBARIC? It could be a whole lot of  
things,  but BARBARIC ? Is it that damned English language dogging Sri  
Ramesh too? Or am I missing something?And if that particular tradition  
is BARBARIC,  or otherwise un-Indian and thus undesirable,  then why  
pick on a gown? Why not throw out the entire Indian system of  
governance?  That has had a far worse impact on Indian life than  
anything else. There are many more undesirable traits that Indians  
have willingly accepted from their past colonial masters,  its own  
colonial outlooks  standing out for all to see.

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Convocation Gowns 'Barbaric Colonial Relics': Ramesh
BHOPAL | APR 02, 2010
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Stoking a potential controversy, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh  
today called as "barbaric colonial relics" the practice of wearing the  
traditional coloured robe at convocation ceremonies and publicly  
removed his own gown at one such event.

"I still have not been able to figure out after 60 years of  
Independence why we stick to this barbaric colonial relics," Ramesh  
said while addressing students at the seventh convocation of the  
Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM).

"I believe that these traditions are going on for ages and it is not  
at all necessary and not proper. With time we have to change and I  
strongly feel that this convocation dress should be changed," said  
Ramesh.

"Why do they wear caps, just to throw them in air for photographs," he  
added.

However, when his attention was drawn towards similar demands raised  
by two BJP ministers (Kailash Vijaywargiya and Archana Chitnis) in  
Indore last year during the convocation ceremony of Devi Ahilyabai  
Vishwa Vidyalaya (DAVV) that instead of gowns, degrees should be  
conferred in traditional dhoti-kurta, Ramesh said he don't want to  
involve himself in 'Swadeshi versus Videshi' (Indian versus foreign)  
debate.

Ramesh also posed a question as to why there cannot be a convocation  
with everyone sporting a simple dress.

"Why we cannot have a convocation in simple dress instead of coming  
dressed up as medieval vicars and popes," he asked, as he removed his  
gown worn over his trademark white kurta.

Ramesh's dramatic action drew a loud applause from the assembled  
gathering.