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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For seventy-year-old Radhakrishna Pillai, the most relaxing time of the day was the morning hours when he took his routine walk at the Central Stadium in the city breathing fresh air, planning the day’s work and, of course, meeting old pals.But things changed all of a sudden and today Pillai is not even allowed to step into his usual walking place. Pillai is now trying hard to adjust with the next available option, the tarred road around the stadium. But what worries him most is the reasoning of the security personnel, the ‘most unkind’ in Pillai’s words, for denying him an entry to the stadium - for wearing a ‘mundu!’“I haven’t ever worn pants in my lifetime. And at this age, asking me to wear one is unkind,” he laments.Pillai is not alone. Many of his friends who were using the Central Stadium for years for their morning walks are now ‘wandering’ on the roads following a decision of the Sports Council, that manages the stadium, to allow only those wearing track suits or shorts for morning walks.Sports Council president Padmini Thomas said that there is an oral instruction to the securitymen not to allow those wearing ‘mundu’ into the stadium. She said the decision was following some complaints from lady walkers. Also, she feels that a dress code is good for those using a stadium for morning walks. The Council is making all efforts to provide a safe atmosphere for all walkers, she said.Though the Sports Council has its reasoning, many find the decision a contradiction with the government’s all-out efforts for promoting the traditional handloom industry in the state.Vijayan, a retired teacher, who was also ousted from the Central Stadium for his less-urban clothing, shared an anti-climax to his ordeal when he reached the Kanakakunnu Palace premises for the morning stroll. “I couldn’t but laugh when I saw a huge stone plaque there which bore a proclamation by the State Government requesting the public to wear traditional handloom wear,” he says.The stone plaque read thus: “All men, women and children in the state are hereby requested to wear traditional handloom wear, including ‘mundu’ and saree to uphold ‘our culture’ and to promote traditional handloom workers.’
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