Sidin: You are what you wear’ is the new fashion mantra, or so they say. And the Dipjyoti Primary School in the eastern hill district of Panchthar seems to have lived up to this expression.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the school at Dabaiani village in Siding VDC-1 on Monday, the school management made the national dress—Daura Suruwal and Gunyou Cholo—part of the uniform for students and teachers alike.

The school distributed the national dress to its students amid the anniversary function. Now, students and teachers have to wear the Daura Suruwal (male) and Gunyou Cholo (female) to school for four days a week.

“We thought it was a good way of promoting the national dress, especially among the youth,” said Sunil Bantawa Rai, the school’s principal.

“It is a campaign to promote and preserve our culture, tradition and attires that receive least attention these days, especially from our younger generation,” he added.

Rai believes the step will encourage youths to preserve their rich culture while also instilling among them a sense of patriotism.

Local people have supported the school’s decision. The anniversary function was attended by the locals and school staffers, all clad in the national attire.

District Education Officer Yugamani Sewehang and donor Puroshottam Bhattarai were among the guests.

“Teaching about our culture and national values to children from a very young age is the need of the hour,” Bhattarai said, adding that other schools should also introduce the national costume.

Bhattarai, who has been regularly donating to the school for the past four years, also set up a scholarship of Rs 10,000 in the name of the late Dr Subramanyam Bhaskar of Madras Medical Mission Hospital.

source: The Kathmandu Post, 1 Dec 2011