Is dress code mandatory at clubs?

The refusal of entry to a dhoti-clad High Court judge into a private club seems to have stirred the hornet’s nest in the state. Not only has the issue stoked a major controversy among the state, but has also raised a question about the sanctity of the traditional attire, a symbol of Tamil culture. CT took the opportunity to ask people if we need a dress code in the first place for such occasions.
Adam Sinclair, Indian Hockey Player I think people should be allowed to wear whatever they feel comfortable in as long as they don’t make others uncomfortable and invite dirty looks.Dhoti is very much part of our culture and even today, some of our top leaders are seen wearing it with pride. The clubs in question should be more open-minded when it comes to issues like this.
Shankar Vanavarayar, educationist Dress codes help us organize a meeting in a systematic manner, but at the same time, that should be in accordance with the stakeholders who are part of the system. It’s silly that we still blame the Colonial hangover for incidents like this as there were dhoti-clad people in the British Raj itself. As long as there is meaning to it and has a contextual reference, a dress code is more than welcome. But at the same time, it shouldn’t be at the cost of dignity and freedom of a person.
Shobhana Kumar, poet I think this is a way too frivolous issue to be discussed in the first place. We have to have a judicious understanding of what defines a dress code. Clubs and elitist organizations should see if their guidelines can be revised. The issue stirred up a hornet’s nest because there was a high profile person involved. There must have been incidents where commoners were not allowed inside. What defines a dress code can be looked over again, keeping our culture in mind.
Rajesh Govindarajalu, historian I personally believe that a dress code is not really needed for social gatherings and ceremonial occasions. People should be allowed to wear what they are comfortable in, as long as is it considered decent and acceptable. Clubs shouldn’t force people saying one should wear only dhoti or a particular outfit.We are evolving and we should understand that it is an individual's right to wear what they are comfortable in.
K Ilango, industrialist (CII Chairman-Coimbatore Zone) As an industrialist, I wouldn’t allow my employees to wear a dhoti inside the factory premises, keeping the safety aspect in mind. But at the same time, the elegance of the dhoti, our traditional attire cannot be overlooked. I think it’s up to the private clubs to decide what they want in their clubs and what not, as long as a gathering is held in the private area. The government shouldn’t interfere in every private space. But if there are bans in public gatherings, that’s not acceptable.