Such restrictions usually follow a sequence: Ban on jeans may lead to further bans, for instance, on bare heads; and it’ll go on and on and perpetuate. I don’t think this kind of compulsion is insignificant. This won’t save us from Talibanisation.
on a mid-Tuesday morning last week, Lahore’s Kinnaird College has a rather lazy feel. Girls, mostly in groups, loiter around the courtyard shaded by age-old trees; some hurry along
climate of conservatism and the perceived threat to security. It is sad that a universally accepted casual dress is being banned here,” says Prof Sirajuddin. She however believes that educational institutions have a reason to be cautious.
But, according to her, this is not necessar­ily the right approach. ”
S
The only way to fight Talibani­sation is by communal coming
together. Not be driven by con­tradictions and hypocrisies,” she urges.
Dr Hasan views ban on girls wearing jeans as an outcome of Talibanisation – “liberalism or enlightenment cannot be con-fined to dress code. We need a long-term policy and a short-term programme to fight obscu­rantism. A whole exercise in
psychological warfare is needed to change the mindset of the pub­lic.”
Not allowing jeans in today’s
times is a symbol of submission. It
has nothing to do with the general
perception of jeans signifying western
values and hence against our eastern
culture. In fact, it is all about the fear of
the Taliban marching towards us. Such pet­tiness about wearing jeans or sleeveless shirts or for that matter a black abaya will get us nowhere. Importantly, we have to find ways to be ourselves, our own selves. It’ll take loads of guts – and desperation.
I
probably to a lecture room, others cluster around benches or in verandas deep in some conversation… what’re they talking about; gossiping? I’m curious to know.
I look around to observe their dress code and see colourful dupattas, long and short shirts with loose trousers or shalwars, most­ly bare headed, an occasional black burqa – but no jeans.
My visit comes a week after the news of ban on jeans at KC gained some press cover-age. Reportedly, the KC administration imposed restriction on jeans and tight-fitted dresses in lieu of possible terrorist threats to liberal educational institutions. The students are instructed to wear eastern attire with a mandatory dupatta — and these measures, Dr Nikhat Khan, Principal Kinnaird College
Lahore, told an English newspaper, were in
line with the government notification on the
recommended security for schools and col?
leges.
But, Rubina Shahid, senior KC teacher, has a different point of view: “Media is unnecessarily getting caught up with the jeans issue and spreading panic in the soci­ety. It has nothing to do with Talibanisation.” She explains that KC has always advocated a modest dress code, which is cotton shalwar kameez with dupatta. “Jeans have been restricted on KC campus for years, just like sleeveless shirts, loud make-up and flashy jewellery – basically anything that’s ostenta­tious is not allowed,” she informs TNS.
She shows a `yellow card’ issued to a stu?
dent for wearing jeans in Oct
2008 to prove that the College
administration has kept a check
S ue on the students’ dress code.
“But perhaps have penalised them for violating it only in rare cases,” she states.
Like most other educational institutions realizing the Taliban threat, KC, too, has beefed-up its security. Students are checked at the gate, their bags are searched, and also the entry of cars inside the College premises has been restricted. “Now we are showing much greater security concern and are fol­lowing the rules more diligently – and in the process the students’ attire gets checked,” she says.
Shahid brushes aside as “rubbish” that KC is getting wary of the Taliban threat — and hence adopting possible precautions. At most she admits “the condition is insecure. We have to be careful”.
Some students of 4th semester English Literature though accept that the College administration has become more stringent with rules in recent days because of the increasing threat from the Taliban. “Men
stare at us when we enter or leave the Col­lege. We feel insecure. So, I feel, the dress restriction is for our benefit. The general environment is such that we have to show more restrain in our dressing up,” says Shahrina Farrukh.
Whatever the rationale behind the strict reinforcement of the dress code at KC – an age-old dress restriction or precaution against possible terrorist attacks, it encour­aged the Government College University to follow suit. The University has set up a
“Such restrictions usually follow a sequence: Ban on jeans may lead to further bans, for instance, on bare heads; and it’ll go on and on and perpetuate. I don’t think this kind of compulsion is insignificant. This won’t save us from Talibanisation.”
notice board at the main gate announcing restriction on wearing of jeans. GCU regis­trar Faisal Khursheed is reported to have said that the ban is for female students only.
The debate about jeans has occupied Lahoris for the whole of last week. So, what’s the problem with jeans? Rubina Shahid maintains that jeans are for casual wear, and “when girls wear them to the College their attitude towards education becomes casual too”.
Prof. Shaista Sirajuddin, Head of the Eng­lish Department Punjab University, believes, `Jeans are associated with the West, a specif­ic world order”. Hence, this aversion to denim trousers.
Dr Mehdi Hasan says that if an institu­tion has a fixed uniform then it is obvious that any dress other than the uniform is not acceptable. But in case of no uniform, any ban or restriction cannot be justified.” He recalls that there was a time when students, teachers and government functionaries were not allowed to wear jeans because it was con­sidered an informal dress. After Americani­sation of our culture it is now quite accept-able.”
What is behind the objection to jeans? “The real motive behind the objection to jeans appears to be prompted by the overall