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Is There A Strategy Behind Rahul Gandhi’s Half-Sleeved White T-Shirts In Peak Winters And Cold Of Delhi?

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Rahul Gandhi recently launched the ‘white T-shirt movement to raise awareness about economic inequality.

According to the movement’s site, “If you oppose rising wealth inequality, support economic prosperity for all, stand for social justice, reject the politics of religious discrimination, and seek peace and stability in the country, put on your white T-shirt and join the movement.”

The white t-shirt was chosen because it symbolises the movement’s “five guiding principles: Compassion, Unity, Non-Violence, Equality, and Progress for All.”

However, Rahul Gandhi has long been associated with the white T-shirt, similar to the Nehru jacket of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It does beg the question then, what strategy is behind choosing this white t-shirt in the political space?

Gandhi’s Significance For The White T-Shirt

Rahul Gandhi in January of 2023 explained his reason for wearing a white T-shirt even during the winter times after he met three poor girls who were “shivering in torn clothes” in Madhya Pradesh.

Gandhi speaking with The Indian Express in Ambala said, “I started walking from Kerala. It was hot and humid. When we entered Madhya Pradesh, there was a slight chill. One day three poor girls in torn clothes came to me and wanted to get a picture clicked. When I hugged one of them, she was shivering. On that day, I decided that I will put on a sweater the day these children get one. Till time I do not shiver, I will only wear a T-shirt.”

On his birthday last month, the ex-Congress chief in an X/Twitter post wrote, “I am often asked why I always wear a ‘white T-shirt’ – this T-shirt symbolises transparency, solidity and simplicity for me.”

Connected To The Masses

The basicness of the outfit, a simple white T-shirt and cargo or khaki pants also creates a connection with the masses who wear these same things in their general life.

Manickam Tagore, Congress MP and former leader of the party’s students’ wing NSUI, speaking with India Today in a May 2024 report said, “The labourers and youths across India are dressed in T-shirts and trousers. I think Rahul Gandhi’s choice of dress is connecting well with the working-class people.”

Professor Satya Suman, School of Fashion, World University of Design, Sonipat commenting on this said, “By wearing plain white T-shirts during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi projected an image of simplicity and solidarity with the common people, highlighting socio-political issues and reinforcing his message of unity and change.”

Image consultant and coach Suman Agarwal also seconded the sentiment saying, “His wardrobe screams ‘main alag hoon‘ (I’m different from the others) and I’m one of you. Not to mention it also helps him connect with the youth of the country.”

Agarwal also commented on Gandhi’s outfit and speech as being a way to connect with not just the masses but the youth itself, highlighting how her daughter and youngsters see Rahul in a different light that is not associated with the ‘pappu’ image he had earlier and are impressed to see a leader “who dresses and talks like them.”

Agarwal said, “His communication has become extremely candid. If you’re not talking about your competition, it reflects confidence,” while Sengupta added, “He chose to walk, not to ride in a motorcade. He chose to talk to the people and not at them.”

There has been a very deliberate move to shift Rahul’s image away from being the butt of the joke to using the youth slang and trends in order to connect with them. One way has been with youngsters making ‘daddy’s home’ edits and talking about Rahul having ‘daddy energy’.

Dilip Cherian, a veteran PR expert also said that the T-shirt is deliberately very youthful whereas the kurta-pajama is associated with the older generation.

Speaking with India Today he said, “He recognises that the Congress has lost the youth connect and has been branded a mamma-papa party. He is making a conscious effort to reach out to the youth.”


Read More: Why Is Rahul Gandhi’s Beard A Topic Of Discussion For The Common Man?


Connection With Nehru-Gandhi Politics

The white colour of the T-shirt might be connected to the Nehru Gandhi family and its own brand of politics. Rasheed Kidwai said, “Politicians fancy themselves as people who are clean and puritan, and have a ring of spirituality. White is associated with all those adjectives.”

The white colour was also started by the 1918 Khadi movement by Mahatma Gandhi and was later incorporated into the Nehru-Gandhi politicians too.

Rasheed Kidwai, author of several books on the Congress party said, “Nehru stuck to the achkan and kurta or white sherwani though they come in various colours. He had a preference for white. Sanjay Gandhi, too, wore all white. He popularised the Kolhapuri chappal and used to throw a shawl over his white kurtas in winters,” and how even Indira Gandhi “was never flashy and preferred earthy colours. She had a very good collection of sarees.”

Kidwai further added that Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi were also the ones who “popularised the white kurta and jeans look.”

Brand

Rahul Gandhi first started to wear the white T-shirt during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in September 2022 and still wears them despite the weather.

According to Taraa Vermaa Senguptaa, a personal branding coach “His simple t-shirt and cargo pants have been in direct contrast to the rest of the political class. Not to mention the unkempt, free-flowing beard during the Yatra.”

Sengupta also noted that his departure from the usual white kurta-pajama often associated with most Indian politicians, including Gandhi in the past, is being seen positively.

In a July 2024 Indian Express report she said “The starched white unblemished kurta pyjamas have always signified the class divide between the rich and the poor. Gandhi’s choice to wear the same white t-shirt day in and day out with the same cargo pants depicts a sort of camaraderie with the people. First impressions start with visual impact. And Rahul Gandhi’s choice of attire created the impact of a common man, one of the people.”

According to image guru Dilip Cherian, “It (the white T-shirt) sits on the bottom end of aspirational and the top end of accessible,” claiming that “The white T-shirt paired with blue jeans or cargo pants is a form of signalling, it’s a short form for Rahul Gandhi now,” and how “People find comfort in the familiar. That is exactly what Rahul Gandhi is striving for.”

Rasheed Kidwa, author-commentator, was also quoted by India Today saying that Rahul’s white T-shirt outfit projects a “youthful, business-like, casual and no-frills attached and a hands-on leader” while also being “a busy look. It gives the impression that either he has done something or is in the process of doing something, and isn’t holidaying.”

The decision to also wear the same white T-shirt in all weathers, even the biting, chilly cold of Delhi in January is certainly something that has worked wonders to give the internet something else to trend about than just Rahul being a ‘pappu’.

When in January 2023 Rahul halted his Bharat Jodo Yatra to visit the memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and several former prime ministers in Delhi it was certainly something that caught the attention of netizens with many making memes that were actually flattering to Rahul and asking about his fitness level.

Most branding and PR experts seem to agree that Rahul’s white T-shirt look also makes him look very much like one of the people and approachable.


Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: The Indian Express, India Today, Hindustan Times

Find the blogger: @chirali_08

This post is tagged under: Rahul Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi shirt, Rahul Gandhi white shirt, Rahul Gandhi white t-shirt, white shirt, Rahul Gandhi white t-shirt movement, Rahul Gandhi white t-shirt meaning, politics, indian politics,

Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.


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Chirali Sharma
Chirali Sharma
Weird. Bookworm. Coffee lover. Fandom expert. Queen of procrastination and as all things go, I'll probably be late to my own funeral. Also, if you're looking for sugar-coated words of happiness and joy in here or my attitude, then stop right there. Raw, direct and brash I am.

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