Prime minister Manmohan Singh has never been seen in anything but his trademark powder-blue turban. But the Bharatiya Janata Party challenger Narendra Modi is not averse to sartorial experiments.
At his rallies, Modi makes it a point to don the traditional headgear of the state he is in. It is a sound career plan. If he becomes prime minister, he just needs to allot a spare room at his official for all the turbans, pagdis and topis he has collected over this years on the campaign trail. If he does not, he could make a living by hosting a walking, talking museum of male head-dresses.
The only hat he has ever refused was a skull cap offered to him by a Muslim. Despite India’s diverse headgear traditions, it seems even Modi has limits to what he will place on his head.
1. Modi attempts to disguise himself as the Hindu god Krishna.
He was, however, unsuccessful.
He demonstrated his ability to learn quickly on his second attempt.
2. Modi pays tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose
Modi betrayed his abiding love for playacting in a tribute to the freedom fighter in July 2012. But his faux-military topi didn't fool anyone into believing that he was a clandestine army recruit.
3. Modi does as the Rajasthanis do
Sonia Gandhi was searching for the central government, and the people of Rajasthan for a Congress government, said Modi at a rally in the state in November 2013. With his colourful turban, nobody needed to send a search party for him.
4. Modi, Jammu style
He did not mistake Jan Sangh founder Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee for Gujarati freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma in this speech in Jammu city in December 2013. He did, however, confuse the two a month earlier in Gujarat.
5. Modi calls the PM Maun-mohan Singh at a 2012 Himachal Pradesh rally
At the time, nobody knew that a certain “Saheb” was keeping mum about stalking an ex-girlfriend.
6. Modi fasts for 2002 riot victims at a 'Sadbhavna mission' in 2011
While Modi changed turbans faster than you could say “communal riot” during his three-day fast, he rebuffed a skull cap offered by a Muslim cleric. Two years later, his party members instructed Muslims to attend his rallies wearing the cap he rejected.
7. Modi upstages Manmohan Singh on August 15
Lalan College in 2013, Lal Quila in 2014, or so Modi might hope. He delivered his independence day speech in the Bhuj college only hours after the prime minister’s speech at Red Fort. It is unclear whether his plans for the 2014 election campaign extend to what hat he will wear if he comes to power at the centre.
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At his rallies, Modi makes it a point to don the traditional headgear of the state he is in. It is a sound career plan. If he becomes prime minister, he just needs to allot a spare room at his official for all the turbans, pagdis and topis he has collected over this years on the campaign trail. If he does not, he could make a living by hosting a walking, talking museum of male head-dresses.
The only hat he has ever refused was a skull cap offered to him by a Muslim. Despite India’s diverse headgear traditions, it seems even Modi has limits to what he will place on his head.
1. Modi attempts to disguise himself as the Hindu god Krishna.
He was, however, unsuccessful.
He demonstrated his ability to learn quickly on his second attempt.
2. Modi pays tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose
Modi betrayed his abiding love for playacting in a tribute to the freedom fighter in July 2012. But his faux-military topi didn't fool anyone into believing that he was a clandestine army recruit.
3. Modi does as the Rajasthanis do
Sonia Gandhi was searching for the central government, and the people of Rajasthan for a Congress government, said Modi at a rally in the state in November 2013. With his colourful turban, nobody needed to send a search party for him.
4. Modi, Jammu style
He did not mistake Jan Sangh founder Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee for Gujarati freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma in this speech in Jammu city in December 2013. He did, however, confuse the two a month earlier in Gujarat.
5. Modi calls the PM Maun-mohan Singh at a 2012 Himachal Pradesh rally
At the time, nobody knew that a certain “Saheb” was keeping mum about stalking an ex-girlfriend.
6. Modi fasts for 2002 riot victims at a 'Sadbhavna mission' in 2011
While Modi changed turbans faster than you could say “communal riot” during his three-day fast, he rebuffed a skull cap offered by a Muslim cleric. Two years later, his party members instructed Muslims to attend his rallies wearing the cap he rejected.
7. Modi upstages Manmohan Singh on August 15
Lalan College in 2013, Lal Quila in 2014, or so Modi might hope. He delivered his independence day speech in the Bhuj college only hours after the prime minister’s speech at Red Fort. It is unclear whether his plans for the 2014 election campaign extend to what hat he will wear if he comes to power at the centre.
