According to Dr. Giti Upadhyay, a lecturer based in Pune, “I think the management that makes these rules must be careful while policing such matters as they are sensitive issues and may violate freedom of expression. Many times, we as teachers, fail to acknowledge that the students are mature people with strong beliefs. I guess a fine balance is what we need.”
“This debate is just an example of the fast changing cultural shifts; whether we accept the changes or not depends on individual perceptions. The mantra as per me for both the policy makers and the students is - don't be strict and don't complain just be watchful,” she adds.
Dress code: A need or a restriction?On the surface, the whole issue appears farcical and conflicting. At a time when Indian designers are making a mark in international fashion markets, academicians are discussing dress codes for college students!
But if we scratch the surface, the results get even better, to say the least.
“Clothing, especially women clothing, its style, length, cut and even colour have always been the favorite topic of discussions and debates. It's questioned sometimes by the politicians, sometimes by religious leaders, sometimes by self-elected moral police and now by academic disciples.” says Vinita Jagdev, a lecturer of economics at the Delhi University.
Vinita further exemplifies, “The French government insists that Muslim women should not wear headscarves to educational institutes. On the other hand, the Iranian government has ruled out that women should not only wear headscarves but also wear a chador (a robe, usually black, that covers the body from head to toe). A few months back, few maulanas issued a fatwa against Sania Mirza for wearing short skirts on the tennis court and now universities across India are in the race of imposing more than necessary rules on students to ensure the so-called appropriate form of attire.”