New Delhi: “Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden (two businesswomen who built cosmetic empires in US and other countries) may moan, but the army is pretty stringent on its rules on make-up. Here too - lipstick, nail polish and bindis, kajal, eye-shadow, mascara are out,” says the Indian Army in the book, 'Customs & Etiquette in the Services', published under the patronage of the Army earlier this month.
While some say that the book now codifies the condescending attitude the Armed forces has towards its women officers; the book and the Army onsist an officer should look one, irrespective of gender. Apparently, bling makes you look less of an officer.
The book insists that lady officers should “display the character expected of the rank and position” they possess.
Touted as “an officer’s constant companion”, the book was initially written by Colonel H R Roach in 1956 but has now been updated and revised by Major-General R K Arora, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the battle-axe division in the western sector, with the additional chapter on ‘lady officers’. Moreover, the ‘semi-official treatise’ has a foreword by Lt-General Thomas Mathew, the Adjutant-general at the Army HQ in New Delhi, responsible for discipline, welfare and manpower planning of the 1.13-million strong forces.
Diamonds and chunky jewellery are out; a single signet ring while in uniform on parade with the troops is allowed. Mangalsutras and thin chains are fine as long as they are not visible from above the uniform.
There’s even a decree on using ‘sindoor’: As long as the sindoor is not visible when a beret or a peak cap is worn, it’s okay.
While some snigger that the Army is now flaunting it’s lack of sensitivity towards ‘feminity’, a senior Army officer (on conditions of anonymity) feels, “We are not talking beauty pageant participants here, we are talking Officers. An officer has to look and dress like one.”
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