Just Like That | Colonial clubs and the fetish about dress codes

Rajnath Singh, the raksha mantri, maybe a little surprised that the Kasauli Club, whose chairperson is the serving brigadier of the cantonment, could well stop him from entering the Club. This is because the Club, founded in 1898, still persists with an antiquated dress code, which allows men to enter wearing lounge suits, safaris, and blazers, but not what is the impressive trademark dress of the minister – an elegantly worn dhoti with a starched kurta. He may find it difficult too because the Club also insists only on shoes with socks, and bans sandals, even closed Peshawaris.