War against mundus in Kerala

Kerala is a stickler for tradition.  The people of Kerala are extremely proud of their culture, their language, their festivals and their traditional Malayalam attire. That’s why; it is not a surprise to see auto drivers wearing their mundus instead of shirt and pants to work.

While the drivers are insistent on wearing the traditional and comfortable attire to work, the police are insisting on them wearing more civilized and formal attire. The Kerala police has decided to enforce the code of wearing khaki pants and shirt to all drivers of public transport vehicles and those not abiding these rules would be fined. The problem is not with the mundu per se but how the attire is being misued. Often, drivers fold the mundu to knee length and above, making it very uncomfortable for women and children passengers.

The Kerala police is only trying to do what is right but the Motor Workers Union continues to oppose and rebel against this rule. The tug of war between the mundu and khakis continue.