Doing away with the western convocation robes, the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) for the first time has decided a dress code for the fifth convocation, which is scheduled to be held on August 6.
Until last year, IIT-H students were allowed to dress up in clothes of their choice and the institute followed the practice of giving out western robes for the convocation. However, the institute has issued an elaborate circular to all the students graduating this year about the dress code for the convocation ceremony. The circular not only lists the kind of clothes that boys and girls have to wear but also attaches a few photographs for students to have better understanding of the dress code.
While boys have to wear white or off-white kurta pyjama, girls have to wear white or off-white saree/salwar kameez during the convocation. The institute will be providing khadi robes which are very different from the traditional black robes that students wore for years now. The khadi robes are brown in colour. As per the circular, the institute will provide the khadi robes to the students which they can take back along with them as a souvenir. A stall has also been put by on campus to sell Kurta Pyjamas to graduating students.
According to officials, this move has been made following the Central Government’s decision to promote the use of khadi. Apparently, even other Indian Institute of Technology across the country have placed orders for khadi robes. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has reportedly placed an order of 3,500 convocation robes made of khadi this year. The IIT Bombay will be giving out uttarias or khadi angavastrams to its students in the convocation ceremony this year.
In IIT-Hyderabad, close to 300 students will be wearing khadi robes and obtain the graduation certificate. The institute has called upon AS Kiran Kumar, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as the chief guest for the convocation. Apart from this, BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman, Board of Governors – IIT Hyderabad, Executive Chairman – CYIENT will preside over the ceremony.
For more details about dress code, click here. For images of the dress code, click here.