Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath's dress code draws student ire

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, the city's prestigious fine arts college, sought to introduce a dress code for its students. And they struck back with a novel protest.

Authorities of the College of Fine Arts at CKP on Monday put up a notice banning students from wearing "provocative clothing" with "offensive lettering", and insisting on them wearing aprons for practical classes. In a few hours, some students retaliated by adorning the many sculptures on the campus with brassieres. While classes are functioning normally , a simmering discontent persists among students.

In the notice, Principal RH Kulkarni had reiterated guidelines in the admission policy that says students "are to dress with practicality and levels of respectability in mind, as our college is a place of learning and culture."

Women argued their choice of dressing is exactly about that practicality.

"I am studying sculpture, which requires me to sit on the ground the entire day to practice. We also work with chemicals. I can't wear full pants or salwar kameez, because it makes my work uncomfortable," said Shilpa (name changed), who prefers wearing shorts to college.

Principal Kulkarni told ET he had received complaints from faculty members over the past week about the students' dressing. "Teachers brought to my notice that students come to college wearing dresses that looked like bikinis. If students want to walk around wearing nothing, they can do it outside," Kulkarni said. "Every institution has rules. We have not stopped them from wearing jeans or t-shirts. All we expect from them is to wear clothes that are respectable."

A faculty member who spoke to ET backed the students. "If they are not allowed to be open in their approach to things, then what can they invent? Art cannot be experienced in a restricted environment. With the same yardstick, schools should ban taking students to Hampi, Belur and Halebidu where some artworks are purportedly provocative," he said.

Congress leader BL Shankar, who is the president of CKP , said he was not aware of the issue. "I will discuss with the authorities and take suitable steps to solve the issue."