42 African leaders to wear Modi jacket at New Delhi summit

So the Gandhi topi (hat) and Nehru jacket may soon become fashion icons of India's past, as the Modi jacket seems to have gained official status.

By Sujata Assomull

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Published: Tue 20 Oct 2015, 4:14 PM

Last updated: Wed 21 Oct 2015, 12:03 AM

Narendra Modi is ensuring that history books see him as India's greatest statesman in post-Independence India, a title that is normally bestowed on India's first prime minster Jawaharlal Nehru.

Modi's foreign trips and hosting of important foreign dignitaries are ensuring that he takes the message out to the world. He is definitely one of the most visible politicians India has ever known.

And now his signature bundi waistcoat has become a cultural phenomenon. Already e-commerce website from Amazon to Flipkart are selling their version of the Modi jacket on their retail portals. Last year, Modi gifted a 'Modi jacket' to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to India.

Next week, 42 heads of state and government participating in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit will attend the dinner wearing the same Modi jacket, specially designed by government agencies. Along with the 'Modi jacket' each attendee is being gifted an ikat kurta.

So the Gandhi topi (hat) and Nehru jacket may soon become fashion icons of India's past, as the Modi jacket seems to have gained official status.

From Narendra Modi's swearing in as India's prime minister on May 26, 2014 to the warm hug he gave US President Barak Obama when he visited India earlier this year, the 'Modi jacket' has always been the prime minister's outfit of choice.

sujata@khaleejtimes.com

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