difference between European dress code and Indian dress code
Answers
The European dress codes were different from Indian dress codes.
Example 1:
Case of turban and hat. These two head gears not only looked different but signified different things. In India wearing a turban was a sign of respectability more so in the company of social superiors. The turban could not be removed at will.
On the other hand, in the Western tradition the hat had to be removed before social superiors as a sign of respect.
Example 2:
Another such conflict related to the wearing of shoes.
Indians took off shoes when they entered a sacred place or homes, due to different reasons. They took off shoes before entering homes because of the dirt shoes collected on the roads. This was also because many people in Indian homes sat on the ground.
While entering sacred places shoes were removed not only because of the filth that stuck under, but also because leather was seen as polluting.
The British regarded this customary practice of Indians as a sign of respect. Many a British followed this etiquette when they entered courts of ruling kings or chiefs. They thus insisted Indians show the same shoe respect when entering courtrooms or government institutions.