Shoe-doffing: From tradition to health & hygiene

An IAS officer in charge of a prominent Hindu mandir in Jammu & Kashmir found himself at the centre of a social media maelstrom last week because he seemed reluctant to remove his shoes for a pooja before the opening of the temple's souvenir shop. To be fair, he did not seem ideologically opposed; it was probably more to do with the tedium of removing the shoes and putting them back on. Had they been lace-ups, it would have been even more tiresome.

But it is also true that many, if not most, events such as inaugurations, recitals and even book releases and panel discussions in India are preceded by invocations or lighting a lamp. Therefore, these days many participants even take off their shoes before ascending to a dais or stage because of the presence of, say, an idol of Nataraja, Saraswati or Ganesha there. So, an IAS officer with 11 years' service would know that removing shoes is likely when attending such events.

Most major faiths endorse removing shoes in houses of worship but imbuing it with religious overtones is unnecessary. Taking off shoes before entering a place is not culturally alien to India or indeed many other countries. It is a gesture of respect and an effective hygiene measure; and the latter was endorsed by many during Covid. Bringing in dirt and goodness-knows-what indoors from the street is never a good idea. Why not regard it as a safety precaution?


In many cosmopolitan cities and elite circles in India, removal of footwear has been dropped as a general practice. Not only are shoes an integral part of personal style statements (famously encapsulated in Delhi's favourite line, 'Jaantey nahi main kaun hoon?'), which GK dude or SoBo babe would want to leave Gucci loafers or Louboutin stilettos at the door, easy prey for purloiners? Besides, many elite feet are not very attractive without their expensive cladding.

If feet are habituated to exposure, such as in chappals or sandals, baring them to public view or walking barefoot is presumably less of a trauma, though not always aesthetically pleasing given the toll that 'openness' takes on toes and heels. However, it is a fact that walking barefoot is healthy as it keeps ligaments, tendons and muscles toned, aids proper blood flow and prevents bunions and callouses. Why not regard taking off shoes as a health measure too?

With the practice of taking off shoes indoors regaining popularity and wearing slippers or sandals not always appropriate given climate and dress codes, easily removable footwear is clearly the right step. There are rules of thumb (or toes, in this case) for controversy-free and hands-free foot unsheathing and sheathing. These include opting for slip-on shoes with pull tabs and stiff heel backs that do not collapse when stepping in, and fixed or elastic laces if need be.

Malfunctions do happen when shoe-doffing is unexpected, of course. Victoria Beckham and Amal Clooney may not want to show off their bunions nor the Princess of Wales her corns if suddenly asked to remove their footwear. The then World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz in 2007 and King Charles III in 2023 were both espied with holes in their socks when they took off shoes to enter mosques. The IAS officer hopefully had no such hidden embarrassments!

Easy to wear (and take off) products should be a design development priority for the footwear industry worldwide, given the health and safety benefits of shoe doffing. But people must also realise that putting one's best foot (or feet) forward depends on being aware of prevalent and evolving cultural norms, and adjusting accordingly. The young IAS officer needs to do some sole, err, soul-searching on this issue. Barefoot administration is a worthy goal, after all.