Behind The News is your round up of musings from the corridors of power. Senior Congress leader Ajay Tharayil lamented in a social media post about the younger generation’s apparent disinterest in khadi.
Published Jul 06, 2025 | 4:08 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 06, 2025 | 4:08 PM
Social media post by Ajay Tharayil and the attire of Congress leaders.
Synopsis: The Kerala unit of the Congress found itself embroiled in an unexpected controversy — over what to wear, khadi or any other attire.
In Kerala, known for its fiery political debates, the state unit of the Congress found itself embroiled in an unexpectedly stylish controversy this week — not over policy, ideology or elections, but over stylish shirts and mundus.
Yes, the hot topic wasn’t about governance or political strategy, but the fabric of choice: Khadi or casuals? It all began with a social media post by senior Congress leader Ajay Tharayil.
In his post, Tharayil lamented the younger generation’s apparent disinterest in khadi, questioning why today’s Congressmen were abandoning the party’s traditional attire.
“Why is the younger generation so angry with Khadar? Khadar is not just cloth; it’s the fabric of Congress secularism, a message, an ideal, and a powerful symbol against capitalism. Imitating DYFI’s dressing style is not new-gen politics, but an erosion of values,” Tharayil wrote, stirring up a debate that quickly gathered steam.
Khadi — popularised by Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of nationalism, self-reliance, and equality — was once inseparable from the Congress party’s identity. Gandhi wasn’t subtle about his attachment to the fabric, famously declaring, “I am a salesman of swaraj. I am a devotee of khadi.”
For decades, Congress leaders in their crisp, white khadi shirts and mundus embodied the Gandhian ideal of simplicity. But times, as they say, have changed.
Today, a stroll through Kerala’s Assembly or a Congress rally would reveal far fewer starched white khadi shirts and mundus. Instead, the younger brigade is opting for branded shirts, jeans, and coloured kurtas, reflecting not just changing fashion but evolving political identities.
The debate unearthed clear generational divides within the party. While senior leaders like Tharayil clung to the symbolism of khadi, others saw the conversation as trivial, if not outright irrelevant.
K Muraleedharan, senior leader and former MP, dismissed the debate, stating, “At a time when the state is grappling with serious issues, is this really what we should be talking about? Everyone has the right to wear what they please.”
Former Youth Congress vice-president KS Sabarinathan chimed in with a practical take. “The pearl-white khadi shirt isn’t a symbol of Gandhian simplicity anymore. It’s difficult to wash and iron at home. Coloured shirts are easier. What matters is the mind, not the clothes,” he wrote on Facebook.
In recent years, national leaders like Rahul Gandhi often spotted in T-shirts and jeans, and Shashi Tharoor, known for his flair for coloured kurtas and shawls, have already loosened the sartorial strictures of Congress.
The trend has seeped into Kerala too, with young MPs and MLAs like Hibi Eden, Shafi Parambil, Rahul Mankootathil, Mathew Kuzhalnadan, VT Balram, and Sabarinathan embracing casual chic over traditional khadi whites.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan offered a balanced view. “There’s no freedom struggle happening now. Khadi was a symbol once, and it’s still respected. But there’s no uniform rule on what to wear. I too wear all kinds of clothes,” he said.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Sunny Joseph was equally candid: “Youth can wear what they like. Clothes don’t make the man — it’s the heart and the mind that matter.”
Despite the heated exchanges, it was clear that this wasn’t a rebellion, but a reflection of evolving times. Congressmen, once defined by their khadi whites, are embracing modern styles while still holding on to the party’s ideological roots.
As Balram succinctly put it: “I don’t oppose Khadi. Wear what you’re comfortable in.” In a party that has weathered many ideological storms, a sartorial squabble might seem trivial.
However, as this week proved, in Kerala’s Congress, even wardrobe choices can spark a full-blown debate. And for now, it seems, the party’s dress code is: Anything goes — as long as the mind is right.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
